Sakura Hime: The Other Princess Sakura

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 4

I posted a review at (which has FREE smart phone apps).

VIZ Media at 2011 New York Comic Con

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR 2011 NEW YORK COMIC CON

VIZ Media Welcomes NARUTO Japanese Voice Actress And Announces NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS U.S. Film Premiere, Along With A Special Panel Discussions, Booth Activities And Giveaways

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced a packed schedule of events, panel discussions, promotional giveaways, theatrical film premieres, and rare guest appearances for the 2011 New York Comic Con, taking place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, October 13th – 16th. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 932.

The annual New York Comic Con is the largest gathering on the East Coast dedicated to comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Complete details on New York Comic Con is available at: http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/.

Digital technology and distribution has forever changed the way fans read and purchase manga, and VIZ Media will showcase its industry-leading VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad™, iPhone™ and iPod™ touch in a fun interactive demo as well as its online manga web portal at VIZManga.com. VIZ Manga currently features more than 40 popular manga series and over 400 volumes.

This year, VIZ Media is proud to welcome Junko Takeuchi, the Japanese voice of Naruto, who will participate in a special NARUTO SHIPPUDEN panel discussion on Friday, October 14th from 1:15pm to 2:15pm in Room 1A22. Come welcome the actress for her first-ever U.S. appearance, and hear her experiences performing the voice for the world’s most popular ninja!

VIZ Media will excite NARUTO SHIPPUDEN fans even more with a special U.S. theatrical premiere of the latest action-packed feature film. The NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: BONDS event will be on Saturday, October 15th at 6:00pm at the School of Visual Arts Theatre (SVA), located near the Javits Convention Center at 333 West 23rd Street. Join Junko Takeuchi to celebrate the U.S. premiere of this exciting new film. Check a posted schedule at the VIZ Media booth for designated times for free ticket giveaways! All fans that attend the premiere will receive a special Heroes of Anime gift bag that includes the new NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™: Ultimate Ninja Impact™ PSP video game from Namco Bandai Games of America (released on October 18th), in addition to other fun NARUTO collectibles.

VIZ Media is pleased to welcome Masayuki Ozaki of Sunrise, the co-creator and Executive Producer of the hit anime TIGER & BUNNY, currently streaming on VIZAnime.com. He will participate in a can’t-miss TIGER & BUNNY panel discussion, taking place on Sunday, October 16th from 1:15pm to 2:15pm in Room 1A03.

VIZ Media also welcomes VOLTRON FORCE head writer Brian Smith, and two of the lead artists, Jacob Chabot (Vol. 1) and Dario Brizuela (Vol. 3) from the upcoming graphic novel series for an in-person booth appearance and signing session at on Saturday October 15th & Sunday October 16th at 3PM.

Fans can hear exciting updates about the company’s upcoming releases, as well as get the scoop on groundbreaking new projects at the VIZ Media Panel, set for Sunday, October 16th from 10:45am to 11:45am in Room 1A23.

New York Comic Con visitors are also invited to sample VIZ Media’s ART FOR HOPE, a special limited edition digital art book anthology to be sold through the VIZ Manga App and VIZManga.com, with 100% of net proceeds supporting ongoing disaster relief efforts in Japan. Attendees can receive a limited edition ART FOR HOPE preview poster, available for a suggested minimum donation of $5, with all proceeds benefitting Architecture for Humanity.

Finally, don’t miss special product giveaways at the VIZ Media booth, including a special collectable 25th Anniversary tote bag, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN temporary tattoos, SHONEN JUMP screen wipes, and on Sunday, VIZ Kids Day, MAMESHIBA headbands, VIZ Kids manga samplers and full color posters featuring VOLTRON FORCE and MAMESHIBA.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at http://www.viz.com/.

The New 52 Review: SUPERMAN #1

SUPERMAN #1
DC COMICS

SCRIPT/BREAKDOWNS: George Pérez
ARTIST: Jesús Merino
COLORS: Brian Buccellato
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: George Pérez and Brian Buccellato
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 (cover date June 1938) and received his eponymous title with the debut of Superman #1 (cover date June 1939). In 1986, following a DC Comics line-wide re-launch, a second Superman #1 debuted (January 1987). With the current re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” a third Superman series begins.

As Superman #1 (“What Price Tomorrow?”) opens, the Daily Planet is undergoing changes that are cosmetic and substantive – both in major ways, and Clark Kent/Superman does not like it. The Planet has been merged with the Globe and both are part of the Planet Global Network (P.G.N.), with Lois Lane as a new boss. Clark doesn’t have much time to sulk about these developments because a gigantic alien being, seemingly made entirely of fire, is wrecking Metropolis.

It has been decades since I read George Pérez’s run on Wonder Woman as series writer/artist, which he did in the second half of the 1980s. Pérez was good at creating engaging ensemble drama and showed a talent for creating memorable supporting characters. With Superman, Pérez has several candidates for great supporting characters, including Morgan Edge, President and CEO of Galaxy Communications. It goes without saying that Pérez will have fun with Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s relationship. His dense storytelling brings a novelistic approach to comic book storytelling, so Superman will stand out from the rest of The New 52 because of that.

Series artist Jesús Merino’s art here reminds me of Jerry Ordway’s work on The Adventures of Superman back in the 1980s and 90s. Merino is delightfully old school, which means he can draw the characters and visually capture the details that bring out the rich storytelling in a dense script. Merino can do that in 22 pages, whereas many current artists would need 66 pages to come close to Merino.

A-

September 28th
AQUAMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/aquaman-1.html
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/batman-dark-knight-1.html
BLACKHAWKS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackhawks-1.html
FLASH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/flash-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/justice-league-dark-1.html
VOODOO #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/voodoo-1.html

The New 52 Review: DEATHSTROKE #1

"The best at what he does... alone!"

DEATHSTROKE #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Kyle Higgins
PENCILS: Joe Bennett
INKS: Art Thibert
COLORS: Jason Wright
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Simon Bisley
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

The DC Comics character known as Deathstroke first appeared in New Teen Titans #2 (cover date December 1980) and was originally introduced as “The Terminator.” Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, he was Slade Wilson, a mercenary who was completing the terms of a contract undertaken by his son, Ravager, to kill or capture the Teen Titans. The Terminator became Deathstroke the Terminator and eventually just Deathstroke, an assassin, mercenary, and anti-hero.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” Deathstroke gets another title series. Deathstroke #1 (“Back to Basics”) opens with Deathstroke in Moscow on an assignment to kill. However, offers for employment tend to come from people who want him to be a bodyguard, rather than a mercenary.

Suddenly, his “agent,” Christoph, finds him an assignment that promises to be difficult and dangerous. Deathstroke has been hired to kill German scientist and engineer turned arms dealer, Jeffrey Bode, but in order to take the job, Deathstroke has to accept assistance in the form of three young mercenaries. Does this sound like bad news? It’s worse than that.

A ruthless badass, Deathstroke has always been a cool character. One could even consider him the DCU’s Wolverine or Punisher. What Deathstroke hasn’t had that Wolverine and The Punisher have had is a bunch of hit comic book series, miniseries, graphic novels, etc. Well, Deathstroke has a killer of a first issue. If you’ve forgotten what a great anti-hero/villain Deathstroke can be and was (see the classic New Teen Titans and Tales of the Teen Titans) or if you never knew, then, be prepared to be thrilled.

Kyle Higgins has written an edgy superhero, crime comic in which the violence comes in sudden spurts and unexpected twists. It’s explosive and sometimes harshly matter-of-fact. The art by Joe Bennett (pencils) and Art Thibert (inks) features meaty compositions and sturdy and smooth inking. However, the storytelling is big like an action movie, but also brutally intimate, which lets the reader in close to Slade Wilson. That’s scary. Deathstroke is a man to avoid, unless you’re a reader looking for a good read about a dangerous man.

A-

September 14th
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-and-robin-1.html
BATWOMAN #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwoman-1.html
DEMON KNIGHTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/demon-knights-1.html
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/frankenstein-agent-of-shade-1.html
GREEN LANTERN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-lantern-1.html
GRIFTER #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/grifter-1.html
LEGION LOST #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/legion-lost-1.html
MISTER TERRIFIC #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/mister-terrific-1.html
RED LANTERNS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-lanterns-1.html
RESURRECTION MAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/resurrection-man-1.html
SUICIDE SQUAD #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/suicide-squad-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html

VIZManga.com and VIZ Manga App Have Fall Additions

VIZ MEDIA WELCOMES FALL WITH NEW DIGITAL RELEASES FOR VIZMANGA.COM AND THE VIZ MANGA APP FOR iPAD, iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH

Latest October Update Features Additions To 16 Popular Series, Including BLEACH And ONE PIECE Digital “Speed Ups” And New Digital Debuts Ahead Of Print Counterparts

VIZ Media opens the Fall season with a bevy of new manga (graphic novels) titles that will be available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad™, iPhone™ and iPod™ touch.

October first half of the month updates are highlighted by new additions to 16 top VIZ Media manga series. The update includes the continuation of a manga “speed up” for BLEACH and ONE PIECE that will bring both series up to date with their North American print counterparts by December. Two other notable releases – NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Vol. 5 and HYDE & CLOSER Vol. 6 – are also scheduled to launch digitally a day ahead of their print counterparts.

Additional new VIZ Media manga volumes launching include:

October 3rd:
BLEACH Vol. 26
DENGEKI DAISY Vol. 5
KEKKAISHI Vol. 14
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION Ch. 9
NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Vol. 5 – Debuts A Day Ahead Of Print!
OISHINBO Vol. 3
ONE PIECE Vol. 46
OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 11
RUROUNI KENSHIN Vol. 23

October 10th:
BAKUMAN Vol. 7
BLEACH Vol. 27
BLUE EXORCIST Vol. 4
FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN Vol. 7
GRAND GUIGNOL ORCHESTRA Vol. 4
HYDE & CLOSER Vol. 6 – Debuts A Day Ahead Of Print!
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION Ch. 10
ONE PIECE Vol. 47
ROSARIO + VAMPIRE II Vol. 6
SATURN APARTMENTS Vol. 3

VIZ Media’s digital manga platforms allow for universal access to read manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers and Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering over 40 series and 400+ volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

The New 52 Review: SUICIDE SQUAD #1

"Suicide solution?"

SUICIDE SQUAD #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Adam Glass
ARTISTS: Federico Dallocchio, Ransom Getty, and Scott Hanna
COLORS: Val Staples
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Ryan Benjamin
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

The DC Comics Universe has had two teams that have used the name, “Suicide Squad.” The first debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 (cover date August/September 1959) and was created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru.

The second Suicide Squad appeared in Legends #3 (cover date January 1987), the midpoint of the 1986 six-issue crossover miniseries. Created by John Ostrander, this was an anti-hero team of incarcerated super-villains that undertook high-risk, black ops missions in exchange for commuted prison sentences. With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” there is a new Suicide Squad comic book series.

Suicide Squad #1 (“Kicked in the Teeth”) opens with Deadshot being tortured. How did we get here? Deadshot was imprisoned in Belle Reve Penitentiary, a prison for metahumans and super-villains. He and six other inmates: Black Spider, El Diablo, Harley Quinn, King Shark, Voltaic, and Savant were offered the chance to see daylight by joining Task Force X. There first mission was to extract a rogue agent. Now, they awaken to find themselves prisoners in a dank basement, and their captors want information and are willing to kill to get it.

Although I’ve known of Suicide Squad, I have never made the effort to read it, although I was at times curious. I’m glad that I tried this new Suicide Squad title. It’s something different in superheroes, and not just because the heroes are really convicts. Writer Adam Glass takes his anti-hero protagonists and isn’t afraid to grind them up, lay bare their crimes and shames, and always have them on the ropes. If Glass keeps up this pace, he will have, in Suicide Squad, a comic book that people will have no excuse not to read – other than that they can’t afford to purchase it or don’t want to steal it.

By the way, Ryan Benjamin’s gorgeous cover looks dangerous and the interior art strikes the perfect tone for this nitty gritty team book.

A-

September 14th
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-and-robin-1.html
BATWOMAN #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwoman-1.html
DEMON KNIGHTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/demon-knights-1.html
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/frankenstein-agent-of-shade-1.html
GREEN LANTERN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-lantern-1.html
GRIFTER #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/grifter-1.html
LEGION LOST #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/legion-lost-1.html
MISTER TERRIFIC #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/mister-terrific-1.html
RED LANTERNS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-lanterns-1.html
RESURRECTION MAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/resurrection-man-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html

The New 52 Review: GRIFTER #1

GRIFTER #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Nathan Edmondson
PENCILS: CAFU
INKS: Jason Gorder
COLORS: Andrew Dalhouse
LETTERS: Wes Abbott
COVER: CAFU and Bit
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Grifter was one of the superhero characters that debuted in WildC.A.T.s #1 (cover date August 1992), Image Comics founding partner Jim Lee’s first work published by the then newly-launched company. Created by Lee and Brandon Choi, Grifter is Cole Cash, an incredibly adept fighter who is an expert in hand-to-hand combat and with most weapons, especially guns. Grifter also has mental powers, which he rarely uses.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” Grifter is the star of a new solo comic book series. As Grifter #1 (“17 Minutes”) opens, Cole Cash has arrived at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans for what should be an easy getaway from his most recent con. Then, why does he end up falling from the plane? Meanwhile, Cole’s brother, Max, gets a special assignment that will lead to an explosive family reunion.

First, I have to say that Grifter series artist, CAFU, has a drawing style that reminds me of the art of Paul Gulacy, which I consider a very good thing. CAFU has a good sense of both style and design in the way he poses figures and composes the content of a panel. His art both moves the story and also conveys a set of emotions and ideas within the panel.

Writer Nathan Edmondson has certainly presented a fast-moving story that grips you both with what it reveals and with the questions it raises. Still, I think CAFU brings a unique visual style and graphic narrative method that will make Grifter more than just another new series.

A-

September 14th
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-and-robin-1.html
BATWOMAN #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwoman-1.html
DEMON KNIGHTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/demon-knights-1.html
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/frankenstein-agent-of-shade-1.html
GREEN LANTERN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-lantern-1.html
LEGION LOST #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/legion-lost-1.html
MISTER TERRIFIC #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/mister-terrific-1.html
RED LANTERNS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-lanterns-1.html
RESURRECTION MAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/resurrection-man-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html

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