Thursday, March 4, 2010

My Boyfriend is a Tramp, but He Makes a Good Martini

I read How To Capture a Martini (Yaoi)

I posted the review at the Comic Book Bin.  This is a hot yaoi manga from Makoto Tateno.  It even features incest.


Dark Horse Comics Donates "Mass Effect" Comic Book to U.S. Troops

U.S. TROOPS OVERSEAS SET TO RECEIVE MASS EFFECT: REDEMPTION


DARK HORSE COMICS TO DONATE 5,000 COPIES OF ISSUE #1 TO U.S. ARMED FORCES TROOPS ABROAD

In conjunction with the release of the third explosive issue of Mass Effect: Redemption, Dark Horse Comics announced today that they will be donating 5,000 copies of the first issue of this popular series, which has sold out across the country, to U.S. Armed Forces troops around the world.

Dark Horse will work with Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) to ensure that these issues of Mass Effect: Redemption make it into the hands of the men and women serving in the U.S. military throughout the world. Every year publishers’ donations of Free Comic Book Day issues are sent to troops via PMG, this time the annual payload will be stocked with thousands of issues of Mass Effect: Redemption #1 for America’s fighting men and women. Copies will make their way to military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as at bases in Europe and the Far East.

Mass Effect: Redemption tells the exciting back-story that led up to the events of Mass Effect 2, the recently released video game developed by the award-winning creative team at BioWare. The game’s lead writer Mac Walters takes up the pen to give fans exclusive insight into the events that unfolded between the conclusion of the original Mass Effect, and the beginning of Mass Effect 2. Scripted by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, The Invincible Iron Man) and drawn by Omar Francia (Star Wars Legacy), this four-part series explores the exotic and dangerous future Milky Way of Mass Effect, revealing previously unseen locations, aliens, and enemies of this rich science fiction landscape.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, stunning space exploration and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience. Mass Effect 2 was released on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe and has been rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB and ‘18+’ by PEGI (please visit www.esrb.org and www.pegi.eu for more information on ratings). For more news from the development team, please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect2 or visit the game’s official website at http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

For those who have yet to read the explosive comic series, both the first and second issues are currently available for download on iTunes for just 99 cents each.

Mass Effect: Redemption is the fifth title to arrive in Dark Horse’s ever-growing stable of comics available on the iPhone platform. Other titles available now include Gerard Way’s smash hit Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, Terminator: Death Valley, and multiple titles the critically acclaimed line of Star Wars comics.

For more information, please visit http://www.darkhorse.com/Features/Mobile.


About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as The Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, Serenity and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as one of the world's leading publisher of licensed comics material.

About BioWare
BioWare develops computer, console, handheld, mobile and online video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's best-selling titles, including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™ and Neverwinter Nights™ series, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™ and Sonic™ Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (for the Nintendo DS™). Original BioWare-created intellectual properties include Jade Empire™ and the 2007 Game of the Year, Mass Effect™. With studios in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montréal (Québec), and Austin (Texas), BioWare is hard at work on the epic fantasy roleplaying game, Dragon Age™: Origins, Mass Effect 2™, the epic sequel to Mass Effect, and the story-driven massively multiplayer game, Star Wars®: The Old Republic™, as well as several unannounced projects. In 2008, BioWare was acquired by the world's leading electronic entertainment publisher, Electronic Arts. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com

*BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS Freestyle™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

*BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. . All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

I Reads You Review: ALICE IN THE COUNTRY OF HEARTS, VOL. 1

Creators: Soumei Hoshino (art) and Quinrose (story) with Lianne Sentar (English adaptation) and Beni Axia Conrad (translation)
Publishing Information: TOKYOPOP, B&W, paperback, 190 pages, $10.99 (US), $13.99 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4278-1769-3 (ISBN-13)

I’m assuming that you, dear reader, are aware that the new Disney film, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (starring Johnny Depp), is not another film adaptation of the original Lewis Carroll story. The people involved are calling it a sequel, although it looks like a sequel of a re-imagined Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The manga, Alice in the Country of Hearts, from writer Quinrose and artist, Soumei Hoshino, is also a sequel of sorts slash reimagination. Once again a girl named Alice goes down the rabbit hole, but that’s not quite the way it goes in Alice in the Country of Hearts, Vol. 1. Alice Liddell finds herself abducted by Peter Rabbit, a man with rabbit ears, who takes her down a giant, dark hole in her family’s backyard. Their destination is Wonderland.

This Wonderland is a place where a mafia boss (Bloody Dupre and his “Hatters”) feuds with the head of an amusement park (a man named Mary Gowland or Merry-Go-Round). The Queen of Hearts is named “Vivaldi” and speaks of herself in the first person plural. The master of the Clock Tower, Julius Monrey, may be involved in a bloody business involving corpses. Everyone loves Alice, but they also carry guns, which scares her. Alice wants to go home, but can she when so many people have plans for her, even diabolical plans?

While it is both imaginative and an imaginative take on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice in the Country of Hearts is a bit too quirky, believe it or not. The oddness is not in the concept, but rather in the storytelling. The pacing and characterization are awkward, which is a shame because this has potential. This is less a story than it is some weirdness acting like a narrative. This manga does have a nice edge to it, like a razor blade with a dark candy shell. Problems aside, readers looking for a manga take on Alice in Wonderland should try Alice in the Country of Hearts.


Buy Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 1


Gilbert Hernandez at Emerald City Comicon and Fantagraphics Bookstore


Alternative Comics Luminary Gilbert Hernandez at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, March 13.


Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of original artwork and book signing by celebrated cartoonist Gilbert Hernandez on Saturday, March 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Gilbert will be Fantagraphics guest at the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle on March 13 and 14. The reception at Fantagraphics Bookstore serves as the official after-party for the convention, so expect to see a wide array of comic book professionals in attendance.

Together with his brother Jaime, Gilbert Hernandez revitalized the moribund comics medium nearly 30 years ago with the inspiring series LOVE & ROCKETS. Los Bros. Hernandez created socially relevant stories illustrated with stunning artwork that would influence generations of cartoonists that followed. Their work reflected America’s emerging multicultural social environment and restive youth culture in an accessible manner that attracted a diverse and devoted readership. Their stories continues to resonate and the Love & Rockets franchise remains a signature of Fantagraphics Books.

The exhibition and book signing celebrates publication of LOVE & ROCKETS BOOK 25: HIGH SOFT LISP. The book follows Rosalba “Fritz” Martinez - bombshell, former punkette, former psychiatrist, “Z” movie star — in this supremely sexy, constantly surprising graphic novel. Hernandez has taken a suite of stories originally serialized in Luba's Comics and Stories and the second volume of Love & Rockets, and fleshed them out with new pages, creating an original and inventive that, through its connections to his main character Luba, works both as a standalone graphic novel and a further exploration of his rich, fictional world. Longtime fans and new readers alike will delight in this superbly rendered tale.

This event coincides with the colorful Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack featuring visual and performing arts presentations throughout the historic neighborhood. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street, at Airport Way S. only minutes sought of downtown Seattle. Open every day. Admission is always free.

Listing Information:
Gilbert Hernandez: HIGH SOFT LISP
Book Signing and Art Exhibition
Saturday, March 13, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Exhibition continues through May 5, 2010
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.). Seattle, WA 98108. (206) 658-0110
Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 3 2010

DC COMICS


JAN100253 ADVENTURE COMICS #8 $3.99

DEC090242 ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK FOUR #2 (OF 4) $3.99

JAN100326 AUTHORITY #20 $2.99

NOV090206 AUTHORITY RULE BRITTANIA TP $19.99

JAN100248 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #42 $2.99

AUG090268 BATMAN VS KILLER CROC STATUE $250.00

JAN100322 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #47 $2.50

JAN100354 CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE #5 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

JAN100350 DEMO VOL 2 #2 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

DEC090156 DETECTIVE COMICS #862 $3.99

DEC090210 FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK TP $17.99

JAN100264 FIRST WAVE #1 (OF 6) $3.99

JAN100268 GREAT TEN #5 (OF 10) $2.99

JAN100352 GREEK STREET #9 (MR) $2.99

DEC090270 JACK OF FABLES #43 (MR) $2.99

JAN100271 JONAH HEX #53 $2.99

JAN100274 JSA ALL STARS #4 $3.99

DEC090192 JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #7 (OF 7) $3.99

DEC090212 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL TP VOL 04 $17.99

DEC090213 LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN TP $17.99

JAN100323 LOONEY TUNES #184 $2.50

JAN100269 MILESTONE FOREVER #2 (OF 2) $5.99

JAN100283 NEMESIS THE IMPOSTORS #1 (OF 4) $2.99

NOV090207 PLANETARY HC VOL 04 $24.99

JAN100332 SPARTA USA #1 (OF 6) $2.99

DEC090218 SUPERMAN BRAINIAC TP $12.99

NOV090249 SWAN VOL 15 $9.99

JAN100364 SWEET TOOTH #7 (MR) $2.99

DEC090284 TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 06 GOUGE AWAY NEW ED (MR) $14.99

JAN100292 WARLORD #12 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 3 2010

MARVEL COMICS


JAN100552 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #623 $2.99

DEC098266 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #623 JUSKO VAR (PP #904) $2.99

DEC098437 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #32 2ND PTG ASRAR VAR (PP #906) $2.99

DEC090585 BLACK WIDOW PREM HC DEADLY ORIGIN $19.99

DEC098425 CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6 (OF 6) 2ND PTG VAR $3.99

JAN100535 DAFFODIL #3 (OF 3) (MR) $5.99

JAN100545 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #895 $2.99

JAN100583 FALL OF HULKS SAVAGE SHE-HULKS #1 (OF 3) FOH $3.99

JAN100517 GIRL COMICS #1 (OF 3) $4.99

JAN100576 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #24 $2.99

DEC090579 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 01 $39.99

JAN100641 IRON MAN ARMOR WARS TP NEW PTG $24.99

JAN100640 IRON MAN DEMON IN A BOTTLE TP NEW PTG $24.99

DEC090513 MIGHTY AVENGERS #34 $2.99

DEC090614 NEW AVENGERS REUNION TP $14.99

JAN100537 PRELUDE TO DEADPOOL CORPS #1 (OF 5) $3.99

JAN100631 PUNISHER MAX BUTTERFLY #1 (MR) $4.99

JAN100607 REALM OF KINGS SON OF HULK #2 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC090622 SPIDER-MAN AMERICAN SON TP $16.99

JAN100559 SPIDER-MAN MAGAZINE #10 $6.99

JAN100529 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #4 (OF 4) $3.99

JAN100530 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #4 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99

JAN100690 STARR SLAYER TP A STARR IS BORN $19.99

JAN100524 STEPHEN KINGS N #1 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC090594 STRANGE TALES HC $29.99

OCT090488 ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #5 $3.99

JAN100547 ULTIMATE COMICS NEW ULTIMATES #1 $3.99

JAN100621 WOLVERINE WEAPON X #11 $3.99

JAN100688 X-MEN FOREVER TP VOL 02 SECRET HISTORY OF SENTINELS $16.99

JAN100611 X-MEN HOPE #1 $2.99

JAN100533 X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #4 (OF 4) $3.99

JAN100534 X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #4 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 3 2010

DARK HORSE COMICS


JAN100138 AGE OF REPTILES JOURNEY #3 (OF 4) $3.50

NOV098016 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 01 BLOOD OF A THOUSAND NEW PTG $14.99

NOV090048 BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 06 RETREAT $15.99

DEC090081 BUCK ROGERS 1930 COLLECTION FRAME $31.99

DEC090082 BUCK ROGERS 25TH CENTURY FRAME $31.99

DEC090083 BUCK ROGERS COLLAGE FRAME $31.99

DEC090084 BUCK ROGERS LOGO BELT BUCKLE $21.99

DEC090085 BUCK ROGERS RAY GUN BELT BUCKLE $21.99

DEC090086 BUCK ROGERS RAY GUN CIGARETTE CASE $29.99

DEC090087 BUCK ROGERS ROCKET MAN BELT BUCKLE $21.99

DEC090088 BUCK ROGERS ROCKET MAN CIGARETTE CASE $29.99

DEC090089 BUCK ROGERS SMALL CASE $22.99

DEC090090 BUCK ROGERS SPACE GIRLS UNITE BELT BUCKLE $21.99

DEC090091 BUCK ROGERS SPACESHIP KEYCHAIN $12.00

DEC090092 BUCK ROGERS SPACESHIP SMALL CASE $22.99

DEC090093 BUCK ROGERS VINTAGE CIGARETTE CASE $29.99

DEC090094 BUCK ROGERS VINTAGE KEYCHAIN $12.00

DEC090095 BUCK ROGERS WILMA CIGARETTE CASE $29.99

JAN100182 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #33 TWILIGHT PT 2 (OF 5) JEANTY CVR $2.99

JAN100181 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #33 TWILIGHT PT 2 (OF 5) JO CHEN CV $2.99

DEC090028 CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #19 JUSTIN SWEET CVR $2.99

DEC090027 CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #19 LINSNER CVR $2.99

AUG090020 GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL HC $19.99

DEC098478 MASS EFFECT REDEMPTION #2 (OF 4) CURR PTG (PP #907) $3.50

JAN100130 MASS EFFECT REDEMPTION #3 (OF 4) $3.50