IMAGE COMICS
MAR200213 20XX #6 (MR) $4.99
JUL200189 AFTER REALM #3 $5.99
JUL200192 BLACK MAGICK #14 (MR) $3.99
JUL200193 BLISS #3 (OF 8) $3.99
JUL200198 DEAD BODY ROAD BAD BLOOD #4 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
JUL200205 GIDEON FALLS #25 CVR A SORRENTINO & STEWART (MR) $3.99
JUL200206 GIDEON FALLS #25 CVR B FRANCAVILLA (MR) $3.99
JUL200207 GODDAMNED VIRGIN BRIDES #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
JUL200211 LOW #25 CVR A TOCCHINI & MCCAIG (RES) (MR) $3.99
JUL200212 LOW #25 CVR B SCALERA & DINISIO (RES) (MR) $3.99
JUL200222 NOMEN OMEN #9 (OF 15) CVR A CAMAGNI (MR) $3.99
JUL200223 NOMEN OMEN #9 (OF 15) CVR B ANKA (MR) $3.99
JUL200229 SAVAGE DRAGON #252 (MR) $3.99
JUL208922 SPAWN #309 2ND PTG $2.99
JUL200236 UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #8 CVR A CAMUNCOLI (MR) $3.99
JUL200237 UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #8 CVR B STEGMAN (MR) $3.99
Monday, September 21, 2020
Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 23, 2020
Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 23, 2020
MARVEL COMICS
FEB201046 ABSOLUTE CARNAGE OMNIBUS HC $100.00
MAR201107 ACTS OF VENGEANCE TP MARVEL UNIVERSE $44.99
JUL200700 AVENGERS WEST COAST EPIC COLLECTION TP TALES TO ASTONISH $39.99
OCT191140 BLACK WIDOW POSTER BOOK TP $24.99
JUL208578 CAPTAIN MARVEL #20 2ND PTG VAR EMP $3.99
JAN201038 CONAN BARBARIAN ORIG MARVEL YRS OMNIBUS HC VOL 04 $125.00
JAN201039 CONAN BARBARIAN ORIG MARVEL YRS OMNIBUS HC VOL 04 DM VAR $125.00
APR201034 DAREDEVIL #22 $3.99
FEB200970 DOCTOR DOOM #7 $3.99
FEB200971 DOCTOR DOOM #7 MERCADO MARVEL ZOMBIES VAR $3.99
JUL208525 EMPYRE #5 (OF 6) 2ND PTG VAR $4.99
JUL200657 FANTASTIC FOUR ANTITHESIS #2 (OF 4) $4.99
JUL200658 FANTASTIC FOUR ANTITHESIS #2 (OF 4) ALEX ROSS SILVER SURFER $4.99
FEB201039 GOLDEN AGE MARVEL COMICS OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $150.00
FEB201040 GOLDEN AGE MARVEL COMICS OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 SCHOMBURG DM VAR $150.00
FEB201061 HEROES REBORN TP AVENGERS NEW PTG $44.99
JUL200653 IMMORTAL SHE-HULK #1 $4.99
JUL200656 IMMORTAL SHE-HULK #1 ALEX ROSS SHE-HULK TIMELESS VAR $4.99
JUL200654 IMMORTAL SHE-HULK #1 DI MEO EMPYRE VAR $4.99
JUL200655 IMMORTAL SHE-HULK #1 JOHNSON VAR $4.99
MAR200879 JUGGERNAUT #1 (OF 5) DX $3.99
MAR200881 JUGGERNAUT #1 (OF 5) GARNEY VAR DX $3.99
MAR200883 JUGGERNAUT #1 (OF 5) YOUNG VAR DX $3.99
JUL200660 MAESTRO #2 (OF 5) $3.99
JUL200661 MAESTRO #2 (OF 5) PEREZ VAR $3.99
AUG200002 MARVEL PREVIEWS VOL 05 #4 OCTOBER 2020 EXTRAS $1.25
FEB201042 MMW INCREDIBLE HULK HC VOL 14 $75.00
FEB201043 MMW INCREDIBLE HULK HC VOL 14 DM VAR ED 294 $75.00
OCT190995 SPIDER-MAN #4 (OF 5) $3.99
OCT190996 SPIDER-MAN #4 (OF 5) SLINEY 2020 VAR $3.99
JAN201035 SPIDER-MAN BEN REILLY OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $125.00
MAR201108 SPIDER-MAN GAUNTLET COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 02 $44.99
APR200977 SPIDER-MAN NOIR #4 (OF 5) $3.99
APR200981 SPIDER-WOMAN #4 $3.99
APR200982 SPIDER-WOMAN #4 TORQUE VILLAIN VAR $3.99
JUL208579 STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #2 2ND PTG VAR $3.99
APR201049 STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #5 $3.99
APR201050 STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #5 SPROUSE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK VAR $3.99
JUL200605 TALES OF SUSPENSE #39 FACSIMILE EDITION $3.99
JUL208580 THOR #2 5TH PTG VAR $3.99
JUL208581 THOR #5 4TH PTG VAR $3.99
JUL208167 THOR #6 2ND PTG KLEIN VAR $3.99
APR200916 TRUE BELIEVERS X-MEN SATURNYNE #1 $1.00
APR200915 TRUE BELIEVERS X-MEN SOULDSWORD #1 $1.00
MAR201099 VALKYRIE JANE FOSTER TP VOL 02 AT THE END OF ALL THINGS $15.99
JUL208582 VENOM #25 4TH PTG VAR $5.99
JUL208583 VENOM #26 3RD PTG VAR $3.99
APR201004 VENOM #28 $3.99
JUN209235 VENOM #28 STEGMAN VAR $3.99
JUL208584 WOLVERINE #3 2ND PTG VAR DX $3.99
JUL208585 WOLVERINE #4 2ND PTG VAR $3.99
JUL200583 X OF SWORDS CREATION #1 $6.99
JUL200588 X OF SWORDS CREATION #1 BROOKS WRPAD VAR $6.99
JUL200584 X OF SWORDS CREATION #1 MERCADO VAR $6.99
JUL208172 X-FACTOR #1 2ND PTG SHAVRIN VAR $4.99
Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 23, 2020
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
JUL201545 (USE AUG208061) AUTUMNAL #1 CVR A SHEHAN $3.99
JUL201546 (USE AUG208061) AUTUMNAL #1 CVR B GOODEN $3.99
JUL201394 ABC MONSTROSITY GN $19.99
JUL201762 ACCEL WORLD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 22 $14.00
JUL201761 ALCHEMIST SURVIVED DREAMS QUIET CITY LIFE NOVEL SC VOL 04 (C $15.00
JUL201780 ANCIENT MAGUS BRIDE ALCHEMISTS BLUE GN VOL 01 $12.99
JUL201092 ARCHANGEL 8 #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
JUL201275 BATTLECATS TALES OF VALDERIA TP VOL 01 (RES) $19.99
JUL201063 BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #287 $7.99
JUL201449 BLADE RUNNER 2019 #10 CVR A HUGHES (MR) $3.99
JUL201450 BLADE RUNNER 2019 #10 CVR B MEAD (MR) $3.99
JUL201451 BLADE RUNNER 2019 #10 CVR C GUINALDO (MR) $3.99
JUL201728 BRIDES STORY HC VOL 12 $17.00
JUN201156 BROOKLYN GLADIATOR #1 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
JUL201279 COLLECTED TOPPI HC VOL 04 $24.99
JUL201415 COMIC BOOK STORY OF BASKETBALL GN $19.99
APR202448 COSMO FAMILIA GN VOL 02 $12.99
JUN201237 DRYAD #5 $3.99
JUL201188 DUNGEON CRITTERS HC GN $22.99
JUL201187 DUNGEON CRITTERS SC GN $14.99
JUL201722 ECLAIR ROUGE GN GIRLS LOVE YURI ANTHOLOGY (RES) (MR) $13.00
JUL201008 EDGAR ALLAN POES SNIFTER OF TERROR TP VOL 02 $19.99
JUL201741 ELDER SISTER-LIKE ONE GN VOL 04 (MR) $13.00
JUL201550 ENGINEWARD #3 $3.99
APR208345 ENGINEWARD #3 CVR B HICKMAN $3.99
JUL201382 ESSENTIAL JUDGE DREDD AMERICA TP (MR) $25.00
JUN201157 FISHKILL #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
JUL201016 FOX & RABBIT YR HC VOL 02 MAKE BELIEVE $12.99
JUL201764 GENIUS PRINCE RAISING NATION DEBT TREASON NOVEL SC VOL 04 (C $15.00
JUL201766 GIRL WITH SANPAKU EYES GN VOL 01 (RES) $15.95
JUL201097 HOTLINE MIAMI WILDLIFE #1 (OF 8) CVR A MASSAGGIA (MR) $4.99
JUL201098 HOTLINE MIAMI WILDLIFE #1 (OF 8) CVR B MASSAGGIA (MR) $4.99
JUN201677 HOW TO BUILD DUNGEON BOOK OF DEMON KING GN VOL 06 (MR) $12.99
JUL201717 IF WITCH THEN WHICH GN VOL 01 $13.00
JUL201280 INFINITY 8 HC VOL 08 UNTIL THE END (MR) $19.99
APR201968 INVADER ZIM QUARTERLY #2 CVR A WUCINICH $5.99
APR201969 INVADER ZIM QUARTERLY #2 CVR B CROSLAND $5.99
APR201970 INVADER ZIM QUARTERLY #2 CVR C WILLIAMS $5.99
JUL201190 INVESTIGATORS GN VOL 02 TAKE THE PLUNGE $9.99
JUL201363 JO AN ADAPTATION OF LITTLE WOMEN (SORT OF) GN $12.99
JUL201364 JO AN ADAPTATION OF LITTLE WOMEN (SORT OF) HC GN $22.99
JUL201740 KAKEGURUI TWIN GN VOL 07 (MR) $15.00
JUL201720 KING OF EDEN GN VOL 01 (RES) $24.00
MAR201962 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #276 $5.99
JUN201546 KOIMONOGATARI LOVE STORIES GN VOL 02 $14.99
JUL201721 LAST ROUND ARTHURS GN VOL 01 $13.00
JUL201837 MANGA YOKAI STORIES GN $14.99
JUL201099 MARRIAGE HEAVEN AND HELL GN (MR) $14.99
JUL201248 MEAN GIRLS SENIOR YEAR GN $16.99
JUL200991 MILES TO GO #1 CVR A MOLNAR $4.99
JUN200899 MONSTER MEN #2 CVR A MARTINEZ (MR) $3.99
JUN200900 MONSTER MEN #2 PULP LTD ED VAR (MR) $9.99
JUN201158 MOON LAKE GN VOL 01 (OF 3) (MR) $24.99
JUN201682 MY ANDROGYNOUS BOYFRIEND GN VOL 02 (MR) $13.99
JUL201193 MY PENCIL AND ME GN $18.99
JUL201374 NORMA AND BELLY YR GN VOL 01 DONUT FEED SQUIRRELS $12.99
JUL201804 OUR TEACHERS ARE DATING GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.99
JUL201745 PLUNDERER GN VOL 05 (MR) $22.00
MAR202207 RAI (2019) #7 CVR A CASAS $3.99
MAR202208 RAI (2019) #7 CVR B DIAZ $3.99
JUN201242 RICK AND MORTY GO TO HELL #4 CVR A OROZA $3.99
JUN201243 RICK AND MORTY GO TO HELL #4 CVR B ENGER $3.99
APR201568 SABRINA SOMETHING WICKED #3 (OF 5) CVR A FISH $3.99
APR201569 SABRINA SOMETHING WICKED #3 (OF 5) CVR B BOO $3.99
APR201570 SABRINA SOMETHING WICKED #3 (OF 5) CVR C FEDERICI $3.99
JUL201743 SAGA OF TANYA EVIL GN VOL 11 (MR) $13.00
JUN201687 SERVAMP GN VOL 14 $12.99
JUL201548 SHADOW SERVICE #2 $3.99
APR208352 SHADOW SERVICE #2 CVR B ISAACS $3.99
JUL201742 SILVER SPOON GN VOL 15 $15.00
JUL200969 SWEET HEART TP VOL 01 (MR) $14.99
JUL201270 TRICK R TREAT OMNIBUS GN (RES) $29.99
JUL201749 TRINITY SEVEN 7 MAGICIANS GN VOL 21 (MR) $13.00
JUL200949 VAMPIRE OF BLINSH YR HC $17.99
JUL201056 VAMPIRONICA NEW BLOOD TP $12.99
JUN201473 VAN HELSING VS LEAGUE MONSTERS #5 CVR A VITORINO (RES) $3.99
JUN201474 VAN HELSING VS LEAGUE MONSTERS #5 CVR B WHITE (RES) $3.99
JUN201475 VAN HELSING VS LEAGUE MONSTERS #5 CVR C DOONEY (RES) $3.99
JUN201476 VAN HELSING VS LEAGUE MONSTERS #5 CVR D VIGONTE (RES) $3.99
JUL201813 WE SWORE TO MEET NEXT LIFE WHEN THINGS GOT WEIRD GN VOL 01 ( $12.99
JUL201621 WEATHERING WITH YOU GN VOL 01 (RES) $12.95
JUL201391 XIRA #3 (RES) $3.95
JUL201718 YOSHI NO ZUIKARA GN VOL 01 FROG WELL DOES NOT KNOW OCEAN $15.00
JUL201747 YOUTH ROMANTIC COMEDY WRONG EXPECTED GN VOL 14 $13.00
JUL201750 YOWAMUSHI PEDAL GN VOL 15 $24.00
MAGAZINES
JUL201130 COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1727 (RES) $PI
JUL208269 COMICS REVUE PRESENTS AUGUST 2020 $19.95
APR202110 HOBBY JAPAN JULY 2020 $20.00
APR202111 MEGAMI JULY 2020 $20.00
APR202112 NEWTYPE JULY 2020 $20.00
JUN201390 STAR WARS INSIDER #197 NEWSSTAND ED (RES) $9.99
JUN201389 STAR WARS INSIDER #197 PX ED (RES) $9.99
BOOKS
JUL201763 BACCANO LIGHT NOVEL HC VOL 14 $20.00
JUL201182 BAD GIRLS ART OF MARCELO TROM HC (MR) $39.95
JUL201754 BANISHED HEROES PARTY QUIET LIFE COUNTRYSIDE NOVEL SC VOL 01 $15.00
JUL201756 COMBATANTS WILL BE DISPATCHED LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04 $15.00
JUL201758 DEVIL IS PART TIMER LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 17 $14.00
JUL201820 DIDNT I SAY MAKE ABILITIES AVERAGE NOVEL SC VOL 10 $13.99
JAN201613 DOCTOR WHO AT CHILDHOODS END HC $19.99
MAR202147 DRACULA`S CILD MMPB $14.95
JUL201273 FENCE SC NOVEL STRIKING DISTANCE $12.99
JUL201409 FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE WORLD PREVIEW HC $24.99
JUN201690 HOW REALIST HERO REBUILT KINGDOM LIGHT NOVEL VOL 07 $13.99
JUL201823 INVINCIBLE SHOVEL LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 02 (MR) $13.99
JUL201757 KID FROM DUNGEON BOONIES MOVED STARTER TOWN NOVEL SC VOL 03 $15.00
JUL201755 KONOSUBA EXP ON THIS WONDERFUL BONUS LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01 ( $14.00
JUL201285 MARVEL FIVE SUPER HERO STORIES WORLD OF READING SC $7.99
JUL201760 MYSTERIOUS JOB CALLED ODA NOBUNAGA LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 02 $15.00
JUL200948 OUR LITTLE KITCHEN YR HC $17.99
AUG201292 PEANUTS BOOK HC $30.00
JUL201759 RE ZERO SLIAW EX LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04 $15.00
JUL201254 SIDESHOW FINE ART PRINTS HC $50.00
JUL201765 TORTURE PRINCESS FREMD TORTURCHEN NOVEL SC VOL 05 $14.00
DC Comics from Lunar/UCS Distributors for September 22, 2020
Absolute Dark Knight HC (New Edition), $99.99
Action Comics #1025 (Cover A John Romita Jr. & Klaus Janson), $3.99
Action Comics #1025 (Cover B Lucio Parrillo), AR
Aquaman #63 (Cover A Robson Rocha), $3.99
Aquaman #63 (Cover B Tyler Kirkham), AR
Batgirl #49 (Cover A Giuseppe Camuncoli), $3.99
Batgirl #49 (Cover B Mirka Andolfo), AR
Batman Beyond #47 (Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99
Batman Beyond #47 (Cover B Francis Manapul), AR
Batman By Paul Dini Omnibus HC, $125.00
Batman Superman #12 (Cover A David Marquez), $3.99
Batman Superman #12 (Cover B Lee Weeks), AR
Batman The Demon Trilogy HC, $75.00
Books Of Magic #23, $3.99
Dark Nights Death Metal Speed Metal #1 (Cover A Howard Porter), $5.99
Dark Nights Death Metal Speed Metal #1 (Cover B Peach Momoko), AR
DC Poster Portfolio Francesco Mattina TP, $24.99
Doom Patrol Weight Of The Worlds TP, $19.99
Flash #762 (Cover A Howard Porter), $3.99
Flash #762 (Cover B In-Hyuk Lee), AR
Flash Volume 11 The Greatest Trick Of All TP, $17.99
Justice League Dark #26 (Cover A Yanick Paquette), $3.99
Justice League Dark #26 (Cover B Kael Ngu Card Stock Variant), AR
Last God #9, $4.99
Legion Of Super-Heroes Five Years Later Omnibus Volume 1 HC, $150.00
Looney Tunes #256, $2.99
Shazam #15 (Cover A Brandon Peterson), $3.99
Shazam #15 (Cover B Francis Manapul), AR
Suicide Squad #9 (Cover A Bruno Redondo), $3.99
Suicide Squad #9 (Cover B Travis Moore), AR
Sunday, September 20, 2020
#IReadsYou Review: HASS #2
HASS #2
APPROBATION COMICS
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
WRITER/CREATOR: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ARTIST: Federico Santagati
COLORS: Alivon Ortiz
LETTERS: Krugos
MISC. ART: Cesar Grego
COVERS: Federico Santagati
32pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (2019)
Hass is a racial drama and crime thriller comic book miniseries from Approbation Comics. Hass #1 was first published in 2013, and it went on to earn two 2014 Glyph Comics Award nominations (“Best Cover” and “Best Writer”).
Hass is the story of Joshua “Josh” Jones, a freshman attending a college “deep in the heart of Texas.” First day on campus, Josh falls in love with fellow student, Maggie Stewart, but he has to work hard to get Maggie to give him a chance at romance. He will have to work even harder to confront the racism and the violence that his courtship of Maggie ignites.
Hass is written and created by B. Alex Thompson and is drawn by Federico Santagati. Colorist Alivón Ortiz and letterer Krugos join the creative team for the second issue.
Hass #2 opens twelve hours after the incident that ended the first issue. Josh is dealing with the terrible injury visited upon his body. Neo-Nazi associates of Maggie tattooed a Nazi swastika on the left side of his chest. Josh, furious with Maggie and no longer trusting her, sends her away.
Now, he plots revenge against his attackers, but what will he do when he meets the Neo-Nazis: Cole (the leader), Rocky (or “Shamrock”), Vargas, Gavin, and Sharky? What Josh ends up doing shocks even himself!
THE LOWDOWN: The back cover copy of Hass #2, like the back cover of the first issue, describes Hass as “William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet meets American History X” (the 1998 film). I think such a description makes for the kind of cover copy that can sell a comic book to curious readers.
So far, the first two issues of Hass offer some of B. Alex Thompson's (Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies) best writing. I prefer to describe Thompson's writing and Hass in general in bold strokes. It is bold, visionary, daring, ballsy, and shameless. It is also a pure joy to read. In comic books like Hass, Thompson goes against the grain in writing a comic books in a manner similar to what British comic book writers like Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, and Warren Ellis did.
I do not want to spoil Hass #2, but I can say that this is the kind of comic book that DC Comics wishes it could publish through it “DC Black Label” imprint. Hass is the kind of comic book DC's now-castrated Vertigo Comics imprint would have published. Anyone who reads it will see that it is the kind of “mature readers” comic book that will cause a sensation and an urge to get copies in the way that Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's Preacher did a quarter-century ago.
Underneath some beautiful cover art, artist Federico Santagati turns Thompson's bold vision into some powerful graphical storytelling. Santagati's dynamic and unconventional compositions are perfect for this unorthodox comic book. As usual, Alivón Ortiz's color accentuates the story and captivates the imagination. Krugos' lettering captures the subversiveness of this narrative and gives the story a rapid fire pace. Yes, indeed; kudos to this creative team for making Hass #2 a grand winner.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Readers looking for bold comic book storytelling will want Hass.
10 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/ApproBAT
http://alexthompsonwriter.com/
https://www.comixology.com/Approbation-Comics/comics-publisher/7396-0
www.ApprobationComics.com
The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.
---------------------------------
Saturday, September 19, 2020
#IReadsYou Review: POKÉMON: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
MANGAKA: Machito Gomi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Emi Louie-Nishikawa
LETTERS: Susan Daigle-Leach
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1552-7; paperback; (August 11, 2020); Rated “A” for “All Ages”
128pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £7.99 UK
Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise managed by the Pokémon Company, a company founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. The franchise was created by Japanese video game designer and director, Satoshi Tajiri, in 1995. The franchise began in 1996 as a pair of video games, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, for the original “Game Boy” handheld game console. Pokémon is centered on fictional creatures called “Pokémon.” Humans, known as “Pokémon Trainers,” catch and train the Pokémon to battle each other for sport.
The Pokémon franchise includes a number animated television series (known as “anime”) and animated films. There are also Pokémon manga (comics), and many are simply comic book adaptations of the Pokémon video games, anime, and films, although there are some manga that feature original stories set in the world of Pokémon.
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution is a 2019 computer-animated Pokémon film. It is the 22nd film in the Pokémon film series, and it is also a remake of the first Pokémon film, Pokémon: The First Movie. Released in 1998, it is also know as Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back.
In 2019, manga writer-artist Machito Gomi produced a manga adaptation of Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution. It was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, CoroCoro Comic, from May 15 to June 14, 2019. VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a single-volume, paperback graphic novel.
As Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution opens, a new Pokémon is born. It wonders where it is and what it is. It soon learns that it is “Mewtwo,” a clone of the mythical and greatest Pokémon of all time, “Mew.” Before long, Mewtwo meets the crime lord, Giovanni, the leader of the the criminal organization, “Team Rocket.” Giovanni reveals to Mewtwo that it was his doing that initiated the creation of Mewtwo, but when the crime lord reveals his diabolical plans for Mewtwo, the newly born and cloned Pokémon rebels.
Escaping from Team Rocket headquarters, Mewtwo heads to New Island where it seeks to find meaning to its life, but also plots revenge against human creators. Soon, Mewtwo calls forth the world's best Pokémon trainers and their Pokémon to Pokémon Castle to face his challenge. Ash Ketchum and Pikachu and their friends, Brock and Misty, and their Pokémon find themselves at the center of Mewtwo's rampage. With the future of the Pokémon world at stake, will our heroes be able to overcome Mewtwo’s challenge…and will Mewtwo be able to find a new meaning for its life? A surprise Pokémon appearance and a miracle may answer such questions.
THE LOWDOWN: For adults, the Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution manga will be a quick read. However, open adult minds will enjoy this manga as much as young readers will most assuredly enjoy reading it.
The Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution graphic novel is also a “kodomo manga” (comics for children), but because it is an adaptation of an important installment in the Pokémon franchise (the first Pokémon film), it could have a broad appeal across the generations of Pokémon fans, which goes back to the mid-1990s.
I am being totally honest when I say that Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution is both the best Pokémon manga or graphic novel that I have ever read and also is one of the most enjoyable comics that I have read this summer. Why is it a sheer delight? Writer-artist Machito Gomi captures the things that make Pokémon fun: the characters, the relationships, the positive attitude, the competition, the possibility for redemption, and the Pokémon.
Gomi's cleaning drawing style, which has a graphic style similar to certain kinds of anime, and the graphical storytelling both make for clear storytelling. The toning also gives the story a sense of weight and creates an atmosphere of mystery and dramatic tension that makes it feels as if there is something on the line for the characters. They all have something to lose, especially our heroes.
So I will call Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution one of the summer's delightful comic book and young reader graphic novel surprises.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Pokémon manga will want Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution.
8 out of 10
Monday, August 10, 2020
The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
-------------------------
Friday, September 18, 2020
#IReadsYou Review: KAKURIYO: Bed and Breakfasts for Spirits Volume 6
KAKURIYO: BED & BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS, VOL. 6
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
MANGAKA: Waco Ioka
ORIGINAL STORY: Midori Yuma
CHARACTER DESIGNS: Laruha
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Tomo Kimura
LETTERS: Joanna Estep
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1042-3; paperback (September 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
152pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits is a Japanese shojo fantasy manga written and drawn by Waco Ioka. It is based on Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits (also known as Afterlife Inn Cooking), a Japanese light novel series written by Midori Yūma and illustrated by Laruha. The manga has been serialized in Enterbrain's josei manga magazine, B's Log Comic, since 2016. VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shojo Beat” imprint.
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits focuses on Aoi Tsubaki, who inherited something great and terrible from her grandfather, Shiro – his ability to see the spirits known as ayakashi (yokai). Aoi, however, also inherited Shiro's massive debt to the ayakashi, and now, she’s been kidnapped and taken to Kakuriyo (the spirit world) to settle that debt. Kijin a.k.a. “the Ōdana,” who is an ogre and the owner of the inn, “Tenjin-ya,” wants Aoi to marry him to settle the debts her grandfather owes him... or she can be eaten by demons. But Aoi is determined to settle those debts on her own terms.
As Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 6 (Chapters 24 to 30) opens, Aoi looks forward to preparing a meal for the royal couple, Lord Nui and Lady Ritsuko. She is overjoyed at what this could do for “Yūgao,” her little restaurant located behind Tenjin-ya. So, Aoi will travel to the “Eastern Lands” to do some grocery shopping at a fancy imported food market.
Before she can buy a single ingredient, however, Aoi is spirited away and held captive in what seems like a giant crate. Aoi worries that she won't gain her freedom in time to cook for the royal couple. A good opportunity will be the least of her problems if she can't escape from the suddenly flooding prison in which she finds herself.
[This volume includes end notes.]
THE LOWDOWN: The Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits manga has turned out to be as good as I thought it would be. Of course, I am a sucker for shojo manga starring yokai (also known by the term “ayakashi”), and I have yet to find one I did not like.
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits Volume 6 epitomizes the series' dual tone, being both sweet and gentle and also dark and mysterious. Aoi is by nature a giving person whose warmth and generosity are most on display when she is cooking for and feeding even strangers who appear on her doorstep. On the other hand, Aoi will stand up for herself and her grit and determination carry her into the unknown with the readers following her into the mystery that is Kakuriyo.
Tomo Kimura's light and sugary English adaptation also captures the series' darker moments with an engaging sense of mystery. Joanna Estep's lettering always strikes the right tone, from the warmth of meal time to the allure of discovery and exploration. I can't wait for the next volume.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of yokai manga will want to read the Shojo Beat series, Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits.
A
9 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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