#IReadsYou Review: HAYATE THE COMBAT BUTLER Volume 35

HAYATE THE COMBAT BUTLER, VOL. 35
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kenjiro Hata
TRANSLATION: John Werry
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Shaenon K. Garrity
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0567-2; paperback (February 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Hayate the Combat Butler is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kenjiro Hata.  It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from October 2004 to April 2017.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Sunday” imprint since November 2006.

Hayate the Combat Butler focuses on Hayate Ayasaki.  He begins working to pay off his degenerate parents' gambling debts when he is nine.  Before they disappear, his parents sell their son’s organs to the yakuza to cover their debts.  Hayate is working various part-time jobs to pay off the debts when fate brings Hayate to teenage heiress, Nagi Sanzenin a/k/a “Ojô-sama.”  She is the frequent target of kidnapping plots and of various schemes by people trying to get her money.  Hayate becomes Ojô-sama’s butler, zealously protecting her, while she falls in love with him.

Hayate the Combat Butler, Vol. 35 finds pop idol, Ruka Suirenji, ready to reveal to Hayate that she has a crush on him, but should she?  Ruka asks Ishizawa for advice, but Ishizawa also has a crush on Hayate?  So will Ishizawa help a love rival, and if she does, what form will the help take?

When the housemates discover that Katsura Hinagiku was once an aspiring guitarist and singer, how will they get the dispirited talent to take up her dreams again?  Then, Maria-san decides to take Nagi to a family restaurant … because it is the perfect place for Nagi to work on her manga.  Or is it?  Finally, everyone is worried that Ruka is too stressed, which is manifesting via physical ailments.  But she isn't the only one in need of a break from work.  So is Hayate.  When they find themselves alone, what will they do to relieve the stress?

[This volume includes a bonus manga, four-panel comics, and art.]

THE LOWDOWN:  I have managed to read the Hayate the Combat Butler manga four times this calendar year.  I am always happy to return to this manga and anime parody series.

Hayate the Combat Butler Graphic Novel Volume 35 is the reason I keep coming back, just as Vol. 34 was.  Vol. 35 is one of the series' best entries, making the previous two-volumes a dynamic duo, and the final story page of this volume surprised me.  I noticed the theme of “in love with Hayate.”  After all, creator Kenjiro Hata has made just about every female character in this manga in love with Hayate.  So everything goes along as normal, with each chapter being, more or less, self-contained.  Then, BAM! goes the shocker, and it is something that Hata does so well when he does present it – the Hayate the Combat Butler cliffhanger.  Dear readers, we gotta come back for more.

Also, I must mention John Werry, who provides a sparkling translation that captures the freshness of Vol. 34.  Then, there is letterer John Hunt's spry fonts that capture the romantic fun and games.  So, let's get to the next volume.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for comedy can find laughs in the “Shonen Sunday” manga, Hayate the Combat Butler.

A
9.5 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: TWIN STAR EXORCIST Volume 17

TWIN STAR EXORCISTS, VOL. 17
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yoshiaki Sukeno
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Bryant Turnage
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0949-6; paperback (February 202); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Sōsei no Onmyōji is a shonen manga series written and illustrated by Yoshiaki Sukeno.  The manga has been serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Jump Square, since October 2013. VIZ Media is publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a series of paperback graphic novels, entitled Twin Star Exorcists.  VIZ released the series first under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” imprint, and then, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint, beginning July 2015.

Twin Star Exorcists focuses on Rokuro Enmado.  He did not want to be an exorcist, but he met a mysterious girl named Benio Adashino.  This 14-year-old was serious about being an exorcist, and she wanted to fight the monstrous creatures called Kegare.  Because their destinies are intertwined, Rokuro and Benio are called the “Twin Star Exorcists.”  They are fated to marry... and to conceive the “Prophesied Child.”

As Twin Star Exorcists, Vol. 17 (Chapters 61 to 64) opens, the “Yuto Punitive Expedition” into Magano continues... going badly.  Rokuro has led his Enmado family into battle against the vicious “Basara,” Hijirimaru.  Now, Arima Tsuchimado, the chief exorcist of the Associated Exorcists, attempts to stop two powerful Kegare from entering the human world.  But can he be in several places at one time once he has to rescue Rokuro and company?  And just what were the Kegare really plotting when they struck out at the expeditionary force?

[This volume includes bonus drawings.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Twin Star Exorcists manga continues to deliver on this really intense current story arc.  This series is in a constant state of flux … until it focuses in on a singular moment in time, which is what it is doing now.

Twin Star Exorcists Graphic Novel Volume 17 is a scary read.  Creator Yoshiaki Sukeno has practically not only put the series' leads in mortal danger, but he has also put the entire good-guy paradigm at risk of annihilation.  For long time readers, this current arc is an excellent payoff for sticking with the series.  Actually, it is easy to keep reading Twin Star Exorcist because it is so good.

Tetsuichiro Miyaki's translation and Bryant Turnage's English-language adaptation are yeoman's work because of all the spell-casting featured in these chapters.  Kudos to Stephen Dutro for lettering those many, many spells in the perfectly-sized word balloons.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of action-fantasy, shonen manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” manga, Twin Star Exorcists.

A
9 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: SERAPH OF THE END Volume 18

SERAPH OF THE END: VAMPIRE REIGN, VOL. 18
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Takaya Kagami
CARTOONIST: Yamato Yamamoto
STORYBOARDS: Daisuke Furuya
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1065-2; paperback (February 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
184pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Seraph of the End is a Japanese dark fantasy manga written by Takaya Kagami and illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto, with storyboards produced by Daisuke Furuya.  It has been published in the manga magazine, Jump SQ, since September 2012.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language adaptation of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series, entitled Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign, since June 2014.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign is set in a world in which the trumpets of the apocalypse proclaimed the fall of humanity in the year 2012.  Vampires rose from the shadows and began their reign over the Earth.  A mysterious virus killed almost all adult humans, sparing those younger than 13 years of age.  The children were subsequently enslaved as livestock for vampires.  In 2016, the orphan, Yuichiro “Yu” Hyakuya, stepped forward, seeking revenge; his goal was and is to kill each and every vampire.

As Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign, Vol. 18 (Chapters 70 to 74) opens, Lt. Guren Ichinose leads his team back to Shibuya, Tokyo.  There, he has a meeting with Kureto Hiragi, who is the cold, cruel, and ruthless heir to the Hiragi family.  But the high-and-mighty Kureto has a problem.  He led a coup against his father, Tenri, and defeated him, but the godlike being, Shikama Doji, that possessed his father now possesses him.  Kureto needs Ichinose's help, but in what way does he need it?

Meanwhile, Shikama has his eye on Yu and the demon in his sword, Asuramaru, and he won't be easily stopped.  After all, Shikama also has his eyes on possessing someone else in the Hiragi family!

[This volume includes an “Afterword,” miscellaneous text, and a full-color mini-poster insert.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga is a dark fantasy series that features lots and lots of vampires.  I like vampire comics.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Graphic Novel Volume 18 pairs with Vol. 17, so that creators, writer Takaya Kagami and illustrator Yamato Yamamoto, can initiate major changes in the narrative.  This is a pivotal point in the narrative, but the authors make the story clear and clean.  The internal mythology and back story don't clutter so much as they illuminate.

Adrienne Beck's translation is clean and straight to the point.  Letterer Sabrina Heep offers steady lettering and emphasizes subtle sound effects.  So, like Vol. 17, Vol. 18 is certainly one of those payoff volumes for longtime readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of vampire manga will want to try of the “Shonen Jump” series, Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign.

A
9 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Book Review: SURVIVOR'S SONG

SURVIVOR SONG: A NOVEL
HARPERCOLLINS/William Morrow

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

AUTHOR: Paul Tremblay
ISBN: 978-0-06-267916-1; hardcover; 6 in x 9 in; (July 7, 2020)
320pp, B&W, $27.99 U.S.

Survivor Song: A Novel is the latest novel from author Paul Tremblay (A Head Full of Ghosts).  A suspense novel, Survivor Song follows two women, longtime friends, on a journey across an epidemic landscape to save one of the women... or, at least, her unborn child.

Survivor Song opens in the present or the near-future.  An insidious rabies-like virus, commonly called “super-rabies,” that is spread by saliva, has overrun Massachusetts.  Unlike rabies, this new disease has a short incubation period of an hour or less, and the infected quickly lose their minds and are driven to bite and to infect as many others as they can before they inevitably succumb to the infection.  Massachusetts has tried to limit the spread of this outbreak by putting the entire state (commonwealth) under quarantine and by initiating a curfew, but society is starting to break down, and the sick and the dying are inundating hospitals.

One evening during this outbreak, Dr. Ramola “Rams” Sherman, a soft-spoken pediatrician in her mid-thirties, receives a frantic phone call from Natalie “Nats” Larsen, a longtime and dear friend who is eight months pregnant.  It seems that an infected neighbor viciously attacked and killed Natalie's husband, Paul.  The super-rabies-infected neighbor also bit Natalie as she fought to save Paul.

Natalie's only chance of survival is to get to a hospital as quickly as possible in order to receive the super-rabies vaccine.  And she needs Ramola's help getting to a hospital.  The clock is ticking for Natalie and for her unborn child, and Natalie’s fight for life becomes a desperate odyssey as she and Ramola make their way through a landscape turned hostile by the outbreak.  Terrifying, strange, and sometimes deadly challenges push Nats and Rams to the brink, so will they make it in time to save Nats... or at least, her unborn child?

THE LOWDOWN:  Back in 2015, while looking through a list of review copies that publisher William Morrow's marketing department was offering to reviewers, I came across a book entitled A Head Full of Ghosts, written by Paul Tremblay.  I loved the title, and I was intrigued by the book's premise.  Although I thought it was well written, I really did not enjoy reading A Head Full of Ghosts, so the next time, William Morrow offered a novel by Tremblay, I passed.

When Survivor Song was offered, I was intrigued by both the title and the premise, especially the latter.  Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I have been interested in books, movies, and television programs about epidemics, pandemics, and outbreaks – either as works of fiction or non-fiction.

Even in the well worn genre of the “riveting novel of suspense,” Survivor Song manages to be fresh and surprising.  The novel is not like any other viral outbreak story.  It is detailed in a way that sets the reader in the scene, but without robbing readers of the right to fill in a scene or a setting with their own imagination.  Survivor Song is viscerally frightening, but the narrative is equally deeply emotional in a way that will make it resonate with readers.

Survivor Song is also something else.  It is timely and prescient.  Although I clearly understood this novel to be a work of fiction, I found myself often feeling that I was reading a long feature article about  our current, environmental mini-apocalypse, the kind one would find in The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, or any number of progressive magazines... or perhaps, a non-fiction book expanded from that kind of feature article.  Paul Tremblay has fashioned in Survivor Song a novel that is so chilling because it is so much about us and our times.  He is not afraid to sprinkle witty social and political asides that are obviously about President Donald, his cult, and sadly, about the rest of us who would turn into monsters the minute things (like society and comforts) start to break down.

Survivor Song is all too plausible because a version of its dark fairy tale is already happening.  Yes, it is a wonderful tale of friendship and commitment told as a road trip through insta-dystopia that will reassure you, dear readers, about humanity... but.  Damn, Paul Tremblay, what a wonderful novel you have written in Survivor Song.  Damn you, Tremblay, for telling the awful truth.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Paul Tremblay and fans of scary, but all-too-plausible novels will want to read Survivor Song.

10 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 23

BLUE EXORCIST, VOL. 23
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kazue Kato
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: John Hunt, Primary Graphix
EDITOR: Mike Montesa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1172-4; paperback (February 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
202pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Blue Exorcist is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazue Kato.  The manga has been serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square magazine since April 2009.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump Advanced” and “Shonen Jump” imprints since April 2011

Blue Exorcist focuses on Rin Okumura.  He has an argument with his foster father, the famous exorcist, Father Shiro Fujimoto.  That is how he learns that the Demon Lord Satan is his father!  Even after Satan suddenly appears and tries to drag him to hell, Rin is still determined to reject his demonic blood line.  He enrolls at True Cross Academy Private High School in order to train to become an exorcist.  Rin’s twin brother, Yukio Okumura, already an exorcist, is one of his instructors.

As Blue Exorcist, Vol. 23 (Chapters 104 to 108) opens, Lord Mephisto Pheles continues to take Rin on a journey into his and his brother's past.  Mephisto is more than delighted to use his time-traveling powers to show Rin what happened all those years ago.  Rin sees his mother, Yuri Egin, as a girl and watches her grow into a young woman.  He also sees his foster father, Shiro Fujimoto, who has a dark and troubled past.

Yuri has revealed her feelings about Shuri to him, but she is soon reunited with her “friend,” Rinka.  Rinka moves to the secret “Section 13.”  There, the exorcists are involved in the research of elixirs for immortality and in developing clones to house the spirits of demons.  Now, the most powerful demon of all is moving into a clone body.  Mephisto warns Rin, this story can only end in tragedy, and the tragic part may be about to begin.

[This volume contains bonus comics, art, text, etc.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Blue Exorcist manga has been one of the manga that I have read the most in 2020.  This calendar year, I have read six volume volumes.

Blue Exorcist Graphic Novel Volume 23 continues what has been an excellent run of volumes in this series, beginning with Vol. 20.  In Vol. 23, creator Kazue Kato balances a love story of sorts with the depiction of the conniving and abominations committed by the Knights of the True Cross.  For long time readers, it will all pay off in a tragic origin story that is about to reach its climax.

John Werry's usually excellent translation continues to reveal the story in delicate strokes with occasional intimate details.  John Hunt's lettering continues to convey the constant shifts in tone, especially in regards to Shiro Fujimoto's anger and bitterness.  These two contributors are preparing us for big things ahead in this series.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for dark magic and action comics will want to try the “Shonen Jump Advanced” title, Blue Exorcist.

A
9 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: BLACK CLOVER Volume 19

BLACK CLOVER, VOL. 19
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yuki Tabata
TRANSLATION: Taylor Engel, HC Language Solutions, Inc.
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0878-9; paperback (January 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Black Clover is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuki Tabata.  It has been serialized in the manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, since February 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint since 2016.

Black Clover focuses on a boy named Asta.  He and his friend, Yuno, are found abandoned in the village of Hage of the Clover Kingdom.  Both Asta and Yuno dream of one day being the “Wizard King,” the greatest mage in the land.  Asta has one big problem; he can't use magic.  When he is 15-years-old, Asta receives the rare “five-leaf-clover grimoire” (a book of magic), which gives him the power of anti-magic.  Can Asta become the Wizard King without being able to use magic?  Is he worthy of being in the “Magic Knights” squad, “the Black Bulls?”

As Black Clover, Vol. 19 (Chapters 173 to 183; entitled “Siblings”) opens, that battle between the Magic Knights and the reincarnated elves rages on.  The souls of vengeful elves that claim to have been killed long ago by humans have taken over the bodies of members of the Magic Knights.  Now, these elves are going to use their new bodies and enhanced powers to kill humans and then, to reclaim the Clover Kingdom as their own.

Now, at Clover Castle, Black Bulls captain, Yami Sukehiro; Black Bulls playboy, Finral Roulacase; and Black Bulls weirdo, Zora Idcalc take on the possessed Langris Vaude in a bid to save the King of the Clover Kingdom.  At the same time, Black Bulls member, Noelle Silva, is determined to prove to her brother, the snobby Nozel Silva of the The Silver Eagles brigade, that she can show prowess in battle.  Elsewhere, the elves plan to cast their ultimate spell that will overwhelm the remaining humans.  So where are Asta and the rest of the Black Bulls?

[This volume includes bonus material:  “The Blank Page Brigade;” an “Afterword;” and sketches.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Black Clover manga, with every volume, proves to be one of the best shonen battle manga available to English-speaking audiences.  Because I have read nine volumes so far this year, it has become one of my favorite titles.

Black Clover Graphic Novel Volume 19 continues the push into this shocking and edgy elves-possession story arc.  In Vol. 19, creator Yuki Tabata focuses on intense battle manga, showcasing the prowess of Black Bulls members other than Asta.  These veteran Magic Knights have to throw all their talents and skills at the powerful elves, so this volume is packed with big fights full of explosive magic.

Taylor Engel's English-language translation captures the interpersonal character drama that Tabata squeezes into the battles, especially that of the Silva family.  Also, Annaliese Christman lettering in this volume of volatile magic is simply impressive

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the top Weekly Shonen Jump manga will definitely want to try the “Shonen Jump” series, Black Clover.

A
9 out of 10

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


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I Reads You Juniors November 2020 - Update #95

"Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:  

DC CINEMA - From ArsTechnica:   "Justice League: The Snyder Cut" black and white trailer - released Nov. 17th, 2020.

DC TV - From HBOMax:   See HBO Max's "Titans" Season 1-Episode 1 ("Titans," 2018) for free - for the time being.

From HBOMax:  See HBO Max's animated "Harley Quinn" Season1-Episode 1 ("Till Death Do Us Part," 2019) for free - for the time being.

---------------- 

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  DC Comics is re-imagining "Batman" character, "Poison Ivy" for the Summer 2021 young adult graphic novel, "Vines 'N Roses."

DC TV - From DCBlog:   Anna Diop of HBO Max's "Titans" shows off "Starfire's" new costume.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:  Here is the "Future State" page.

From DCBlog:  DC Future State Takes You Beyond Tomorrow

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   A 1939 copy of Detective Comics #27, which features the first appearance of Batman, sold for $1.5 million via Heritage Auctions.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Of the comic books that Marvel Comics is cancelling is its comic book adaptation of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."

UK COMICS - From 2000AD:   A look at Pat Mills and Rafael Busom's "Sugar Jones," as "The Best of Sugar Jones" collection arrives.

BOOKS - From BleedingCool:   Book publisher Penguin Random House has fellow publisher, Simon & Shuster," for 2 billion dollars.  That has created a mega-publisher and mega distributor with ramifications for comic book publishers.

DARK HORSE - From TheBeat:  Dark Horse Comics will publish an original graphic novel from famed comics cover artist and illustrator, Dave McKean.  Entitled "Raptor: A Sokol Graphic Novel," it will feature his first creator-owned character.

DC TV - From DCBlog:  HBO Max will stream, "DMZ," the four-part television adaptation of the Vertigo comic book series, "DMZ" (2005-12) from writer Brian Wood and artist Riccardo Burchielli.

MANGA - From GamesRadar:  Sony's investment arm, "Sony Innovation Fund," has reportedly invested in the new digital manga service, "Mangamo." 

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  A 7-foot tall statue of Batman is now on display in downtown Burbank, California.

DC COMICS - From Deadline:   DC Comics will introduce its first non-binary hero in "Kid Quick," who will appear in DC's holiday-themed comics anthology, "DC's Merry Multiverse."

COMICS - From THR:  Writer Steve Niles, the creator of "30 Days of Night," has formed a multi-platform production company, "Monster Forge Productions," with artist Shannon Eric Denton.

DC TV - From Variety:  The CW is cancelling its superhero TV series, "Black Lightning," after its upcoming Season 4.

MARVEL - From Previews:  Marvel Comics releases a trailer for the first chapter of "Enter the Phoenix," the new Avengers story line that opens in "Avengers #40."

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. will release "Wonder Woman 1984" Dec. 25th, 2020 in U.S. and to stream on HBO Max.  The film will reportedly be released overseas on Dec. 16th.

DISNEY BOOKS - From SFWA:  The Walt Disney Company apparently is not paying royalties owed to veteran novelist Alan Dean Foster for books he wrote and that they now own.

DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCovered:   Actress Amber Heard played "Mera" in Warner Bros.'s hit film, "Aquaman" (2018). Rumors say the studio will expand her role in the sequel and possibly develop a Mera film for her.  The latter is reportedly contingent on continued favorable rulings for Heard in her long-running and ugly legal battle with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp.

COMICS TO TV - From ComicBook:  Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan says that there is still a chance is notorious character from "The Walking Dead," Negan, might still get a spinoff TV series.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Hasbra has said that the Transformers and the X-Men will crossover in some way in 2021 as part of its "Tranformers Collaborative" line.

DC CINEMA - From BloodyDisgusting:   Zack Snyder teases a new look for Jared Leto as the "Joker" in "Justice League."

MANGA - From ANN:   Revered manga creator, Naoki Urasawa, who is best known for manga such as "Monster" and "20th Century Boys," says that he is making an anime.

MANGA - From Kotaku:  Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto, will start writing the sequel, "Boruto," beginning with Chapter 52.  Ukyo Kodachi has been writing the series since Chapter 1.

DC TV - From Deadline:  The CW is developing a "Wonder Girl" TV series and the series lead may be a Latina.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Vixen will apparently be the first feature in DC's upcoming digital anthology comic, "Truth & Justice."

COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Kaare Andrews talks about his new teen superhero, "E-Ratic."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Eisner Award-winning artist, Sanford Greene, said in an interview that he is working on comics projects with Patton Oswalt and Milestone Media.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:   Director James Gunn confirms that Sylvester Stallone has joined his film, "The Suicide Squad."

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:   Apparently, there is still lots of debate about the release date and release platform for "Wonder Woman 1984."  It involves Christmas Day, HBO Max, PVOD, etc.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:  DC provides a preview of "Week One" of the "Justice League: Endless Winter" event, which begins with titles shipping December 8, 2020.

DC COMICS - From THR:  DC Comics has announced a new anthology series, "Truth & Justice."  It will launch digitally with print releases to follow.  The series will showcase "the catalog of characters in the DC library."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Is DC Comics leaving comic book shops and quitting conventions?

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank's creator-owned series, "Geiger," will be published by Image Comics.

MARVEL - From Inverse:   An article about the comic book that inspired the upcoming Disney+ series, "WandaVision."  That would be Tom King's "The Vision" miniseries.

DC TV - From Deadline:  The CW is developing a "Black Lighting" spinoff series for the character "Painkiller," which actor Jordan Calloway will play.  The series will be developed via a "backdoor pilot," which is when an episode of an existing TV series (in this case "Black Lightning") will introduce Painkiller. 

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   All Batman publications from now through September 2021.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:   Japanese comic book publisher, Enmaku is publishing their first mini-series, Ninja World USA, aimed at the US market and released digitally on the 20th of November.

MARVEL - From BET:   Adidas And Marvel Will Release Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sneakers

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   More senior DC Comics staff has reportedly been laid off

CONVENTIONS - From BleedingCool:  ReedPop is moving the next editions of both "Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) and "Emerald City Comic Con" (ECCC) to December 2021.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Legendary X-Men writer, Chris Claremont, will be part of Marvel Comics' upcoming "X-Men: Legends" ongoing series.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Rumor says that writer Geoff Johns and artist Jason Fabok will produce a one-shot sequel to their mega-hit miniseries, "Batman: The Three Jokers."

FANTAGRAPHICS-DISNEY - From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books will collect the the "Uncle Scrooge" comics of beloved Disney comic book artist, William Van Horn, in "Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: Pie in the Sky: Disney Masters Vol. 18."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Marie Javins is now the full Editor-in-Chief at DC Comics.

DC COMICS - From ComicBook:   Karl Kerschl introduces the newest Robin, "Mia 'Maps' Mizoguchi."  She will debut in the upcoming "Batman: Black and White" relaunch.

MARVEL - From ComicBook:  Marvel publisher John Nee is no longer with the company. Nee was among a number of Disney employees furloughed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

BIDEN-HARRIS! - From BleedingCool:  Comics creator react to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris winning the 2020 Presidential election. 

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will collect writer Jesse Leon McCann and artist Min Sung Ku's "Krypto the Superdog" (2006-07) comic book series as a graphic novel in its "DC Kids" line.

MANGA - From 411Mania:  Yen Press announces Nov. 10 digital launch for Tetsuya Naito manga, "New Japan Academy."

DISNEY - From MousePlanet:   Writer John Korkis reprints an interview he conducted with classic Mickey Mouse newspaper comic strip artist, Floyd Gottfredson.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:   The publisher provides an exclusive first look at "Justice League #56," which arrives in story on or around Tues., Nov. 10th.

COMICS - From CBR:  Acclaimed comic book writer, Grant Morrison, comes out as non-binary.

TOYS-COLLECTIBLES - From BleedingCool:   The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to the 1980s with FiGPiN enamel pins.

COMICS - From CBR:  Dianne Buscema-Gerogianis is trying to recover multiple pieces of original comics art that was created by her father, the late great John Buscema. The art work was recently stolen from her family.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   The site has a preview of DC Comics' upcoming "Punchline #1"

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool:  Mike Mignola announces a line of books collecting "essential" Hellboy comics, "Hellboy Universe Essentials."

DC TO FILM - From YahooEntertainment:   Actor Joe Manganiello post a photo of himself sporting the blue mohawk that he will wear as the villain"Deathstroke" in Zach Snyder's "Justice League."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   The site reports rumors that say that DC Comics may be abandoning the idea of single "DC Universe."  It would be replaced by a kind of "omniverse" in which characters and comic books would have their own universe or at least play fast and loose with history.

COMICS UK - From 2000AD:   The new episode of "The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast Lockdown Tapes" podcast features artist Greg Staples, who has worked in comic books, video games, and movies and on "Magic: The Gathering" cards.

MARVEL - From ScreenRant:  How Marvel Comics' monsters changed the face of comic book heroes.

DC COMICS - From Newsarama:  Writer James Tynion IV is working on a second "Batman family" title for 2021.

COMICS TO FILM - From ShadowandAct:    Wesley Snipes denies that he tried to strangle director David Goyer on the set of the 2004 film, "Blade: Trinity," a claim made by co-star, actor and comedian Patton Oswalt.

INTERVIEW - From TheBeat:  Joe Grunenwald interview comics writer, Peter Milligan, about his new comic book, "Happy Hour" (Ahoy Comics).

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   George Perez's "Wonder Woman" gets the "Absolute" treatment.  "Absolute Wonder Woman: Gods And Mortals" will reprint Perez's classic run on "Wonder Woman #1-14" from 1986 and 1987 as well as his Wonder Woman work for "Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #26" and the "Who's Who Update 1987 #1-3."  360 pages long, for $125, the volume will be published on the 20th of July, 2021.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From Forbes: The site takes a look at Fantagraphics upcoming three-volume box set, "The Complete Hate," which collects the totality of Peter Bagge's seminal alt-comix series.  That includes all the issues of "Hate" (1990-98) and the "Hate Annuals" (1999-2011).

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics announces new young adult graphic novel and hero with, "Whistle: A New Gotham Hero," due May 2021.

COMICS - From BubbleBlabber:  A look back at Bongo Comics' "Treehouse of Horror" comic books, which are, of course, based on "The Simpsons" TV series' annual special episode of the same name.

MARVEL - From ValdostaDailyTimes:  A look back at "The Ulimates."

MANGA - From CBR: 10 Forgotten Manga Written By Legendary Creators Before Their Most Famous Works

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  With the news of the casting of the Disney+ "Moon Knight" series, the site offers "Who is Moon Knight and what are his powers?"

SCANDAL - From BleedingCool:  Tony Gushee, the owner of "Apache Comics & Toys" of Mesa, Arizona, is facing a murder trial!

PALESTINE - From BleedingCool:  In an interview for the CBC (Canadian state broadcaster) with acclaimed comics creator, Joe Sacco, the title of one of Sacco's most acclaimed works came up, "Palestine."  Later, the mention of the word "Palestine" was both censored and apologized for.

DC COMICS - From BusinessInsider:   Two Black former DC Comics editors describe the career obstacles they faced, from white leadership saying they'd never be promoted to their achievements being undercut.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  A beginner's guide to DC Comics horror.

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DC FUTURE STATE: 

From GamesRadar:  What is DC saying about the post "Future State" Batman title?

From GamesRadar:  DC Future State "Flash" will be part of a gender-swapped "Teen Titans."

From TheBeat:   A first look at "Nubai," the classic Wonder Woman character as she will be in DC Future State's "Immortal Wonder Woman."

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will make all their "Future State" comic books returnable for comic book stores.

From GamesRadar:  DC Future State Superman and Justice League January 2021 solicitations

From GamesRadar:   DC Future State Batman January 2021 solicitations

From GamesRadar:  "DC Future State" reveals the Next Batman, the fate of Bruce Wayne, and a whole new line of titles

From GamesRadar:  "DC Future State" details.

From THR:   DC Comics is starting 2021 by looking into the future of its superhero universe with "DC Future State," a two-month publishing event (January and February 2021) that offers glimpses at what might be coming for Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League.

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NOVEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Abaze for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press/Lion Forge for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for November 2020

DECEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Albatross Funnybooks for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for December 2020 

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Chapterhouse for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for December 2020

From 2000AD:   Rebellion Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for December 2020 

From BleedingCool: VIZ Media for December 2020

 

JANUARY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  AWA for January 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Studios for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for January 2021 

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for January 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Kodansha for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics - King in Black for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Titans Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for January 2021

From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for January 2021

FEBRUARY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for February 2020

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for February 2020

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2021

From TheBeat: DC Comics for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for February 2021 

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "King in Black" for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for February 2021

From 2000AD:   Rebellion Comics for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for February 2021

From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for February 2021

From BleedingCool:   Zenescope Entertainment for February 2021

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