Monday, August 10, 2020

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for August 12, 2020

IDW PUBLISHING

APR200785    CORTO MALTESE GN MU LOST CONTINENT    $34.99
JAN200775    DUNGEONS & DRAGONS INFERNAL TIDES #5 (OF 5) CVR A DUNBAR    $3.99
JAN200776    DUNGEONS & DRAGONS INFERNAL TIDES #5 (OF 5) CVR B CHARACTER    $3.99
MAR200815    GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO SNAKE EYES ORIGIN    $4.99
FEB200730    JUDGE DREDD FALSE WITNESS #2 (OF 4) CVR A ZAMA    $3.99
FEB200622    MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #89 CVR A PRICE    $4.99
FEB200623    MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #89 CVR B HICKEY    $4.99
FEB200744    SONIC THE HEDGEHOG FALLOUT TP SPANISH ED CONSECUENCIAS    $15.99
FEB200656    TRANSFORMERS GALAXIES #8 CVR A MIYAO    $3.99
FEB200657    TRANSFORMERS GALAXIES #8 CVR B CHAN    $3.99
APR200802    USAGI YOJIMBO COLOR CLASSICS #6 (OF 7) CVR A SAKAI    $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 12, 2020

IMAGE COMICS

JUN200235    ADVENTUREMAN #3 (RES)    $3.99
JUN200012    BIG GIRLS #1    $3.99
JUN200096    CRUEL SUMMER HC (MR)    $34.99
APR200257    EXCELLENCE #9 CVR A RANDOLPH & LOPEZ    $3.99
APR200258    EXCELLENCE #9 CVR B CLARKE    $3.99
JUN200262    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #26 (MR)    $3.99
APR200136    SONATA #12 (MR)    $3.99
APR200137    SONATA #12 3D EDITION (MR)    $7.99
JUN200271    STEALTH #4 (OF 6) (RES)    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 12, 2020

MARVEL COMICS

MAR200990    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #46    $3.99
MAR200991    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #46 BAGLEY VAR    $3.99
MAR200877    CAPTAIN MARVEL #19 EMP    $3.99
MAR200878    CAPTAIN MARVEL #19 OLIVETTI EMPYRE VAR EMP    $3.99
FEB201060    CAPTAIN MARVEL TP MANY LIVES CAROL DANVERS    $29.99
APR200851    EMPYRE #5 (OF 6)    $4.99
APR200855    EMPYRE #5 (OF 6) CHRISTOPHER 2-PACK ACTION FIGURE VAR    $4.99
APR200854    EMPYRE #5 (OF 6) DANIEL SKRULL KREE VAR    $4.99
APR200852    EMPYRE #5 (OF 6) LOZANO AVENGER VAR    $4.99
APR200853    EMPYRE #5 (OF 6) MICHAEL CHO FF VAR    $4.99
MAR200856    EMPYRE AVENGERS #2 (OF 3)    $3.99
MAR200857    EMPYRE AVENGERS #2 (OF 3) MORA VAR    $3.99
APR200859    EMPYRE CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 (OF 3)    $3.99
APR200860    EMPYRE CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 (OF 3) LUKE ROSS VAR    $3.99
APR200875    EMPYRE X-MEN #3 (OF 4)    $4.99
APR200876    EMPYRE X-MEN #3 (OF 4) TO VAR    $4.99
FEB200931    GHOST-SPIDER #9    $3.99
FEB200967    HAWKEYE FREE FALL #5    $3.99
APR201106    HELLSTROM TP EVIL ORIGINS    $24.99
MAR201116    HEROES REBORN TP CAPTAIN AMERICA NEW PTG    $44.99
MAR201023    IMMORTAL HULK #36    $3.99
MAR200916    MARAUDERS #11    $3.99
JAN201046    MMW FANTASTIC FOUR HC VOL 22    $75.00
JAN201047    MMW FANTASTIC FOUR HC VOL 22 DM VAR ED 292    $75.00
FEB201005    REVENGE OF COSMIC GHOST RIDER #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB201006    REVENGE OF COSMIC GHOST RIDER #5 (OF 5) LUBERA VAR    $3.99
FEB201049    SCREAM TP VOL 01 CURSE OF CARNAGE    $17.99
MAR201120    SPIDER-GWEN GN TP AMAZING POWERS    $12.99
MAR201104    SPIDER-HAM TP APORKALYPSE NOW    $15.99
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MAR201093    SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN TP ALIEN REALITY    $15.99
APR201001    VENOM #27    $3.99
APR209049    VENOM #27 STEGMAN VAR    $3.99
MAR200917    X-FORCE #11    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for August 12, 2020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN201530    AJIN GN VOL 15    $12.95
JUN201669    ANCIENT MAGUS BRIDE FAERIE CASE FILES GN VOL 01    $12.99
JUN201621    ANGELS OF DEATH GN VOL 10    $13.00
JUN200879    ANIMOSITY #28 (MR)    $3.99
JUN201624    AOHARU X MACHINEGUN GN VOL 18    $13.00
JUN200947    ARCHIE & FRIENDS ENDLESS SUMMER #1    $2.99
JUN200948    ARCHIE 1000 PAGE COMICS SPARK TP    $14.99
JUN201628    AS MISS BEELZEBUB LIKES GN VOL 10    $13.00
JUN200970    BEETLE & THE HOLLOWBONES GN    $12.99
JUN200971    BEETLE & THE HOLLOWBONES HC GN    $21.99
JUN200945    BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #285    $7.99
MAR202291    BEYOND CLOUDS GN VOL 02    $12.99
JUN200886    BILLIONAIRE ISLAND #4 (OF 4) (RES) (MR)    $3.99
JUN201610    BLACK BUTLER GN VOL 29    $13.00
MAR202010    BLACK JACKETS GN (MR)    $19.99
JUN201671    BLOOM INTO YOU GN VOL 08 (MR)    $12.99
FEB201895    BORDERLINES GN VOL 01    $19.99
JUN201572    BTS BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS GN    $27.99
JUN201514    CARDCAPTOR SAKURA COLL ED HC VOL 05 (OF 9) (RES)    $29.99
MAR202305    CELLS AT WORK CODE BLACK GN VOL 05    $12.99
JUN201511    CHOBITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY ED HC (RES)    $24.99
JUN201533    CITY GN VOL 08 (RES)    $12.95
APR201766    CONSTITUTION ILLUSTRATED GN    $14.95
FEB202103    CULT CLASSIC CREATURE FEATURE TP (Net)    $17.99
DEC191755    D WARD #3 CVR A ALEX SMITH (MR)    $4.99
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MAR201872    DAUGHTERS OF YS GN    $24.99
FEB202148    DESTINY LOVERS GN VOL 03 (MR)    $13.99
JUN200984    DEVILS HIGHWAY #2 (MR)    $3.99
JUN201531    DONT TOY WITH ME MISS NAGATORO GN VOL 03 (RES)    $12.95
APR201973    DRYAD #4    $3.99
APR201831    EC FELDSTEIN TERROR TRAIN HC    $35.00
APR202253    EDENS ZERO GN VOL 08    $10.99
MAR202087    EVERGLADE ANGELS #2    $3.99
JUN201521    FAIRY TAIL 100 YEARS QUEST GN VOL 04 (RES)    $10.99
JAN201857    FARTNITE CHAPTER POO #1 CVR A BACK AGAIN (RES)    $4.99
JAN201858    FARTNITE CHAPTER POO #1 CVR B LLAMA RIDERS IN SKY (RES)    $4.99
JAN201859    FARTNITE CHAPTER POO #1 CVR C FART PARTY (RES)    $4.99
JUN201588    FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST FULLMETAL ED HC VOL 10    $19.99
JUN200991    GATHERER GN (MR)    $14.99
JUN201544    GIVEN GN VOL 03    $12.99
JUN201523    GLEIPNIR GN VOL 07 (MR)    $12.99
APR208964    GRANBLUE FANTASY GN VOL 06    $12.99
MAR201791    GRIEVLING #2 (OF 2)    $7.99
APR201402    GUNG HO #7 CVR A  JUNG GI (MR)    $3.99
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APR201404    GUNG HO #7 CVR C KUMMANT ZACK & YUKI    $3.99
APR201405    GUNG HO #7 CVR D KUMMANT ESCAPING WHITE PLAGUE (MR)    $3.99
JUN201596    HAYATE THE COMBAT BUTLER GN VOL 36    $9.99
APR201932    HELLFIGHTER QUIN #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB201896    HER NAME IS SAVAGE GN VOL 01    $19.99
JUN201605    HINOWA GA CRUSH GN VOL 04 (MR)    $13.00
JUN201676    HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMON LORD GN VOL 08 (MR)    $12.99
APR202454    HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DEVIL GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
JUN201601    I DONT KNOW HOW TO GIVE BIRTH GN (RES)    $15.00
FEB201709    I KNOW YOU RIDER HC MEMOIR LESLIE STEIN (MR)    $24.95
JUN201602    I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I HATE YOU GN VOL 01 (MR)    $13.00
JUN201622    IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS DUNGEON SWORD ORATORIA GN VOL 12    $13.00
JUN201351    JOHN CARPENTER STORM KIDS MONICA BLEUE WEREWOLF TP    $17.99
JUN201352    JOHN CARPENTERS TALES SCIFI TP REDHEAD    $19.99
JUN200884    JOIN THE FUTURE #4 (RES)    $3.99
JAN201862    JUNIOR HIGH HORRORS APRIL FOOLS SPECIAL #1 CVR A GS X-MEN PA    $5.99
JAN201863    JUNIOR HIGH HORRORS APRIL FOOLS SPECIAL #1 CVR B POLTERGEIST    $5.99
JUN201614    KAKEGURUI COMPULSIVE GAMBLER GN VOL 12    $15.00
APR202406    KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD OMNIBUS GN VOL 01    $24.95
DEC191771    KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #273 (RES)    $5.99
JAN201865    KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #274    $5.99
FEB201836    KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #275    $5.99
JUN201587    KOMI CANT COMMUNICATE GN VOL 08    $9.99
APR202023    KYRRA ALIEN JUNGLE GIRL TP    $17.99
JUN201586    LEGEND OF ZELDA TWILIGHT PRINCESS GN VOL 07    $9.99
MAR201900    LIZARD IN A ZOOT SUIT GN    $12.99
OCT191617    LOLA XOXO VOL 3 #6 CVR A    $3.99
OCT191618    LOLA XOXO VOL 3 #6 CVR B CAMPTELLA    $3.99
FEB201708    LONELINESS OF LONG-DISTANCE CARTOONIST HC TOMINE (MR)    $29.95
FEB201901    LOUD HOUSE GN VOL 09 ULTIMATE HANGOUT    $7.99
FEB201902    LOUD HOUSE HC VOL 09 ULTIMATE HANGOUT    $12.99
JUN201609    MAGIA RECORD PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA GN VOL 02    $13.00
APR208820    MARVEL COMICS MINI-BOOKS COLLECTIBLE BOXED SET    $29.99
JUN200816    MIRKA ANDOLFOS UNSACRED #7 CVR A MIRKA ANDOLFO (MR)    $3.99
JUN200817    MIRKA ANDOLFOS UNSACRED #7 CVR B ANGELINA & DAMIANO IN LOVE    $3.99
JUN200818    MIRKA ANDOLFOS UNSACRED #7 CVR C DAMIANO &  ANGELINA  W MOM    $3.99
JUN200819    MIRKA ANDOLFOS UNSACRED #7 CVR D ANDOLFO PENCIL SKETCH CVR (    $3.99
APR201767    MOMS GN (MR)    $29.95
FEB201950    MOON GIRL TP NEW PTG    $17.95
FEB201710    NORI GN    $24.95
APR202027    NORTH BEND #4    $3.99
JUN201516    O MAIDENS IN YOUR SAVAGE SEASON GN VOL 07 (RES)    $12.99
JUN200985    OLD HAUNTS #3 (MR)    $3.99
JUN200992    OSIRIS PATH #3 (OF 3) (MR)    $3.99
APR201933    OVER THE ROPES TP VOL 01    $14.99
JUN201616    OVERLORD UNDEAD KING OH GN VOL 04    $13.00
JUN201517    PERFECT WORLD GN VOL 02 (RES) (MR)    $12.99
JUN201618    PHANTOM TALES OF THE NIGHT GN VOL 05    $15.00
JUN201685    PLUS SIZED ELF GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
JUN201585    POKEMON ADV COLLECTORS ED TP VOL 03    $17.99
FEB201843    POLLOCK CONFIDENTIAL HC GN    $19.99
JUN201608    PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA COMP OMNIBUS EDITION GN    $24.00
JUN201598    RASCAL DOES NOT DREAM OF BUNNY GIRL SENPAI GN VOL 01 (RES) (    $24.00
JUN200979    RESISTANCE #4 (OF 6) (RES)    $3.99
JUN201477    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #2 CVR A COCCOLO (RES)    $3.99
JUN201478    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #2 CVR B VITORINO (RES)    $3.99
JUN201479    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #2 CVR C NELLY JIMENEZ (RES)    $3.99
JUN201480    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #2 CVR D GOH (RES)    $3.99
JUN201207    ROCK & ROLL SET HC    $74.99
JUN200932    ROCKY & BULLWINKLE COMPLETE READER 9 COMIC SET    $29.99
MAR202304    SAIYUKI ORIGINAL SERIES RESURRECTED HC GN VOL 02    $22.99
MAR202011    SCORCHED EARTH GN    $19.99
FEB201488    SHANNA THE FIREHAIR ONE SHOT    $4.99
FEB201489    SHANNA THE FIREHAIR ONE SHOT RED FOIL VAR CVR    $9.99
MAR201811    SKY IS BLUE WITH A SINGLE CLOUD GN (MR)    $29.95
JUN201626    SPIRITS & CAT EARS GN VOL 09    $13.00
FEB201665    SUCCESS IS 90 PERCENT SPITE TP    $14.95
JAN201726    SWAMP HC YOSHIHARU TSUGE (MR)    $24.95
APR202247    SWEAT AND SOAP GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
MAR201812    SWEET TIME GN (MR)    $24.95
JUN201623    SWORD ART ONLINE HOLLOW REALIZATION GN VOL 06    $13.00
MAR202479    SYRUP YURI ANTHOLOGY GN    $13.99
JUN201620    TEASING MASTER TAKAGI SAN GN VOL 09    $13.00
JUN201526    THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME GN VOL 13 (RES) (MR)    $12.99
MAR201792    TOM DANCING BUG INTO THE TRUMPVERSE GN TP    $24.99
JUN201543    TORITAN BIRDS OF A FEATHER GN VOL 01 (MR)    $12.99
JUN201590    TROPICAL FISH YEARNS FOR SNOW GN VOL 04    $9.99
JUN200880    UNDONE BY BLOOD #5 (RES)    $3.99
APR202029    VLAD DRACUL #2 (OF 3)    $6.99
MAR201813    WENDY MASTER OF ART GN (MR)    $24.95
JUN200946    WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #101    $7.99
DEC191762    YANG GANG #1 CVR A    $4.99
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JUN201189    ZO ZO ZOMBIE GN VOL 08    $12.00
MAR201558    ZORRO TIMELESS TALES #2 CVR A    $3.99
MAR201559    ZORRO TIMELESS TALES #2 CVR B LTD PULP VAR    $9.99

MAGAZINES

APR201751    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1721    $PI
APR208205    LOCUS #715    $8.99
JAN202042    MEGAMI APRIL 2020    $20.00
FEB201996    MEGAMI MAY 2020    $20.00
JAN202043    NEWTYPE APRIL 2020    $20.00
FEB201997    NEWTYPE MAY 2020    $20.00
JUN201200    RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #195 (MR)    $9.95

BOOKS

JUN201637    86 EIGHTY SIX LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 05    $15.00
FEB202256    ANIMETA LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 03    $14.99
JUN200896    AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER SHADOW OF KYOSHI HC NOVEL    $18.99
MAR202485    BLOOM INTO YOU LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 02    $13.99
JUN201641    BOTTOM-TIER CHARACTER TOMOZAKI LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04    $14.00
JUN201633    DEMON SWORD MASTER EXCALIBUR ACADEMY NOVEL SC VOL 01    $15.00
JUN201643    DIRTY WAY DESTROY GODDESS HEROES NOVEL SC VOL 04    $14.00
MAR201848    ERB AUTHORIZED LIBRARY TARZAN HC VOL 01 TARZAN OF THE APES (    $29.95
MAR201849    ERB AUTHORIZED LIBRARY TARZAN HC VOL 02 RETURN OF TARZAN    $29.95
MAR201850    ERB AUTHORIZED LIBRARY TARZAN HC VOL 03 BEASTS OF TARZAN    $29.95
MAR201851    ERB AUTHORIZED LIBRARY TARZAN HC VOL 04 SON OF TARZAN    $29.95
JUN201634    FINAL FANTASY I II III 1 2 3 MEMORY OF HEROES LIGHT NOVEL SC    $14.00
FEB202257    HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMON LORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 09    $14.99
APR202421    HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMON LORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 10    $14.99
FEB202258    IF FOR MY DAUGHTER DEFEAT DEMON LORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 08 (    $14.99
MAR202137    INTERLINKED ART OF BLADE RUNNER 2049 HC (RES)    $50.00
JUN201642    LOVE MOM & 2 HIT MULTI TARGET ATTACKS LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06    $14.00
APR208821    LUMBERJANES ILLUS SC NOVEL VOL 04 GHOST CABIN    $8.99
FEB202259    MAGIC IN OTHER WORLD TOO FAR BEHIND LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 08 (C    $14.99
JUN200888    MAGICAL ADV PHOEBE & HER UNICORN HC GN    $14.99
JUN201573    MONSTER HUNTER WORLD OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS SC ART & INFO    $50.00
JUN201630    RASCAL DOES NOT DREAM PETITE DEVIL KOUHAI NOVEL SC VOL 01 (C    $15.00
MAR202488    REINCARNATED AS A SWORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 05    $13.99
APR202422    SEXILED PARTY KICKED ME OUT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01    $14.99
JUN201638    SWORD ART ONLINE LIGHT NOVEL GN VOL 20    $14.00
JUN201183    WONDER WOMAN WAY OF AMAZONS HC    $19.99

DC Comics from Lunar/UCS Distributors for August 11, 2020

DC COMICS:

Aquaman Deadly Waters Deluxe Edition HC, $39.99

Batman And The Outsiders #15 (Cover A Tyler Kirkham), $3.99

Batman And The Outsiders #15 (Cover B Cully Hamner), AR

Batman And The Outsiders Volume 2 A League Of Their Own TP, $16.99

Batman's Grave #9 (Of 12)(Cover A Bryan Hitch), $3.99

Batman's Grave #9 (Of 12)(Cover B Stephen Platt Card Stock Variant), AR

Dark Nights Death Metal #1 (Of 7)(Greg Capullo 2nd Printing Recolored Variant Cover), $4.99

Dark Nights Death Metal #3 (Of 7)(Cover A Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion Card Stock Foil Variant), $4.99

Dark Nights Death Metal #3 (Of 7)(Cover B David Finch Card Stock Foil Variant), AR

Dark Nights Death Metal #3 (Of 7)(Cover C Jerome Opena Card Stock Foil Variant), AR

Dark Nights Death Metal #3 (Of 7)(Cover D Doug Mahnke Card Stock Variant), AR

Dark Nights Death Metal #3 (Of 7)(Cover E Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion Black And White Card Stock Variant), AR

Dark Nights Death Metal #3 (Of 7)(Cover F Stanley Artgerm Lau Card Stock Variant), AR

DCeased Dead Planet #1 (Of 6)(David Finch Minimal Trade Dress 3rd Printing Variant Cover), $4.99

Detective Comics #1025 (Cover A Kenneth Rocafort), $3.99

Detective Comics #1025 (Cover B Lee Bermejo Card Stock Variant), AR

Flash #759 (Cover A Howard Porter), $3.99

Flash #759 (Cover B In-Hyuk Lee), AR

Green Lantern Earth One Volume 2 GN, $24.99

Green Lantern Season Two #6 (Of 12)(Cover A Liam Sharp), $3.99

Green Lantern Season Two #6 (Of 12)(Cover B Tony S. Daniel), AR

Hawkman #26 (Cover A Mikel Janin), $3.99

Hawkman #26 (Cover B Gerardo Zaffino), $3.99

Justice League Odyssey #23 (Cover A Jose Ladronn), $3.99

Justice League Odyssey #23 (Cover B Skan), $3.99

Justice League Of America The Silver Age Omnibus Volume 1 HC (New Edition), $99.99

Lois Lane And The Friendship Challenge TP, $9.99

MAD Magazine #15, $5.99

RWBY TP, $16.99

Superman #24 (Cover A Ivan Reis & Joe Prado), $3.99

Superman #24 (Cover B Bryan Hitch), AR

Wonder Twins Volume 2 The Fall And Rise Of The Wonder Twins TP, $16.99

Wonder Woman #750 The Deluxe Edition HC, $17.99

Wonder Woman #760 (Cover A David Marquez), $3.99

Wonder Woman #760 (Cover B Joshua Middleton Card Stock Variant Cover), AR

Wonder Woman The Many Lives Of Maxwell Lord TP, $16.99


Saturday, August 8, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: THE ALCHEMIST WHO SURVIVED... Volume 2

THE ALCHEMIST WHO SURVIVED NOW DREAMS OF A QUIET CITY LIFE, VOL. 2
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGA-KA: Guru Mizoguchi
ORIGINAL STORY: Usata Nonohara
CHARACTER DESIGN: ox
TRANSLATION: Erin Husson
LETTERS: Liz Kolkman
ISBN: 978-1-9753-0853-7; paperback (April 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
160pp, B&W, $13.00 U.S., $17.00 CAN

The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life is a fantasy manga written and illustrated by Guru Mizoguchi.  It is a manga adaptation of the light novel series of the same title, written by Usata Nonohara with character designs by ox.  Yen Press is publishing an English-language edition of the manga.

The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life focuses on a young woman named Mariela.  She awakens from a deep sleep that has lasted two hundred years to discover that she is the last alchemist alive in a place called Labyrinth City.  She wants to keep the fact that she is an alchemist a secret, but she does make a living brewing and selling potions.  With her bodyguard/assistant, Siegmund, at her side, Mariela wants to live the quiet life.

As The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life, Vol. 2 (Chapters 7 to 12) opens, Mariela is making good money selling potions, but she is warned that she must hide the fact that she is an alchemist.  She decides that she is going to live undercover as a chemist and seeks a guild license with the hopes of opening her own apothecary.  Meanwhile, Siegmund wonders if he is really of any use to Mariela, who once saved him poverty.

[This volume includes bonus manga, “The Humble Alchemist's Everyday Life: The Difference Two Hundred Years.”]

The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life manga  is another new title to me.  As I gradually delve deeper into Yen Press' catalog, I am finding manga that I like and may want to follow as a series.

The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life Graphic Novel Volume 2 is a quite pleasant read because Mariela is a quite pleasant, if not endearing, character.  I am not at all familiar with the light novel series upon which this manga is based, so I don't know its author, Usata Nonohara's intentions for the narrative.

However, this manga adaptation by Guru Mizoguchi presents this fantasy-set narrative as something like a medievalist slice-of-life serial.  The readers follows the everyday activities of Mariela, as if this were a domestic comedy-drama.  Erin Husson's translation gives the narrative an engaging quality and also hints at some darker moments to come later in the series.

Vol. 2 probably makes as good an introduction as Vol. 1, which I have not read.  I would recommend The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life on this volume alone because... well, I intend to read more.

7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees


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Friday, August 7, 2020

#Yaoi Review: ESCAPE JOURNEY Volume 1

ESCAPE JOURNEY, VOL. 1
SUBLIME MANGA/Libre Publishing – @SuBLimeManga

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Ogeretsu Tanaka
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Mara Coman
EDITOR: Jennifer LeBlanc
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0131-5; paperback (September 2018); Rated “M” for “Mature”
266pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S. (6.99 digital), $17.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Escape Journey is a yaoi manga from manga creator, Ogeretsu Tanaka.  Yaoi manga is a subset of boys' love (or BL) manga, which depicts amorous situations between male romantic leads.  Yaoi manga usually features explicit depictions of sex between those male leads.  Escape Journey focuses on two former high school lovers forced back together when they attend the same university.

Escape Journey, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5 plus “Last Escape”) introduces Naoto Hisami and Taichi Hase.  In high school, they were lovers.  Naoto thought they were dating, but during a heated argument, Taichi tells Naoto, “You're nothing but a fuck buddy I blow off steam with sometimes.”  That leads Naoto to dump Taichi's ass.

One year later, Naoto is a student at a liberal arts college, and he is still angry about what Taichi said to him.  So Naoto is shocked to discover that Taichi, a science track student, is also a student at this liberal arts college.  The two soon find themselves forced together, again, with Taichi being an aggressive seme (top) to Naoto's submissive uke (bottom).  Taichi pounds Naoto's ass until it is raw, and all Naoto can do is howl and pant in pain and pleasure.

Taichi, however, is not verbal about his true feelings concerning Naoto.  Does he want them to be a “couple,” again?  Naoto begins to wonder about their future when he discovers that a young woman and fellow student, Fumi Matsuyama, has a crush on Taichi.  Will this discovery finally end the slowly mending relationship between Naoto and Taichi?

[This volume includes “Escape Journey Bonus Story” and “Afterword.”]

Yaoi manga is not pornography.  Explicit depictions of sexual intercourse may be inevitable in this genre, but yaoi mangaka deliver boys' love stories that are about drama, character, and romance.  In the best of the genre, the creators also take their characters' careers, professions, jobs, and/or social status seriously.

Still, Escape Journey Graphic Novel Volume 1 features some of the most explicit depictions of sexual intercourse between two men that I have ever seen in manga.  The artist includes full depictions of Taichi's penis penetrating Naoto's anus, but there is often a white stripe right at the point of penetration.  Sometimes, a series of three white stripes will cover portions of an erect penis in a pattern-like fashion.  Also, sometimes, the erect cock and balls are entirely in white silhouette.

The “bonus story” contains this volume's most explicit depictions of sex... by far.  That is saying a lot, because the main chapters have plenty of intense sex, including a scene that would probably qualify as rape in the real world.  The last three pages of the bonus story are... a riot.

That aside, there is a sweet and edgy side to the romance in Escape Journey.  It is the story of boys who don't quite understand the emotional side of their relationship, although the sexual side is quite prodigious.  This first volume is about the journey Naoto and Taichi take to understanding the inevitable relationship that they will share.  I have to say that this is a rich rewarding read, both as a romance and as a sex romp.

9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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