Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 14 2012

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV110054 ART OF TARA MCPHERSON HC VOL 03 BUNNY I/T MOON $23.99

JAN120082 BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #7 JEANTY VAR CVR $2.99

JAN120081 BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #7 NOTO CVR $2.99

JAN120100 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2 CARNEVALE CVR $3.50

NOV110052 CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES HC VOL 01 $49.99

JAN120093 DARK MATTER #3 (OF 4) $3.50

JAN120134 GAME OF THRONES COASTER SET HOUSE SIGIL $9.99

JAN120132 GAME OF THRONES COFFEE MUG STARK $12.99

JAN120133 GAME OF THRONES COFFEE MUG TARGARYEN $12.99

JAN120137 GAME OF THRONES EMBROIDERED PATCH BARATHEON $4.99

JAN120138 GAME OF THRONES EMBROIDERED PATCH LANNISTER $4.99

JAN120135 GAME OF THRONES EMBROIDERED PATCH STARK $4.99

JAN120136 GAME OF THRONES EMBROIDERED PATCH TARGARYEN $4.99

JAN120131 GAME OF THRONES HAND O/T KING METAL PIN $12.99

JAN120129 GAME OF THRONES HOUSE SIGIL MAGNET SET $8.99

JAN120125 GAME OF THRONES JOURNAL DAENERYS $9.99

JAN120126 GAME OF THRONES JOURNAL THRONE $9.99

JAN120127 GAME OF THRONES MAGNETIC BOOK MARK SET $6.99

JAN120128 GAME OF THRONES PLAYING CARDS $4.99

JAN120076 LOBSTER JOHNSON THE BURNING HAND #3 (OF 5) $3.50

NOV110026 MONSTERMEN AND OTHER SCARY STORIES HC $24.99

JAN120104 ORCHID #5 $3.50

JAN120083 PC CAST HOUSE OF NIGHT #5 (OF 5) $2.99

NOV110045 ROBERT E HOWARDS SAVAGE SWORD #4 $7.99

JAN120095 STAR WARS AGENT O/T EMPIRE IRON ECLIPSE #4 (OF 5) $3.50

JAN120098 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC WAR #3 (OF 5) $3.50

JAN120084 STRAIN #4 (OF 12) (MR) $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 14 2012

IMAGE COMICS

JAN120574 ACTIVITY #4 $3.50

OCT110534 ARTIFACTS #15 $3.99

JAN120581 BLUE ESTATE #10 (MR) $2.99

NOV110387 DARKNESS ACCURSED TP VOL 06 (MR) $19.99

DEC118223 GLORY #23 VAR CVR 2ND PTG $2.99

JAN120585 GLORY #24 $2.99

AUG110441 LAST MORTAL HC (MR) $19.99

OCT110559 MARKSMEN #6 (OF 6) $2.99

JAN120526 MORIARTY TP VOL 02 LAZARUS TREE $14.99

DEC110564 NANCY IN HELL ON EARTH #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

JAN120599 PETER PANZERFAUST #2 (MR) $3.50

DEC110483 QUEEN CRAB HC (MR) $12.99

JAN120485 SAGA #1 (MR) $2.99

DEC110522 SPAWN 20TH ANNIVERSARY POSTER #1 (OF 4) $9.99

NOV110415 SPAWN NEW BEGINNINGS TP VOL 02 $14.99

JAN120536 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 14 $14.99

DEC118235 THIEF OF THIEVES #1 VAR CVR 2ND PTG $2.99

JAN120607 THIEF OF THIEVES #2 $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for March 14 2012

COMICS

JAN128240 ADVENTURE TIME #2 $3.99

JAN128109 ADVENTURE TIME #1 (3RD PTG) (PP #1011) $3.99

DEC111037 AMBIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP GN (MR) $12.95

NOV110711 AMOUR GN VOL 01 (MR) $14.95

NOV110712 AMOUR GN VOL 02 (MR) $14.95

DEC110815 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #227 $3.99

DEC110816 ARCHIE THE MARRIED LIFE TP VOL 02 $19.99

DEC111036 BEAST & FEAST GN (MR) $12.95

DEC111128 BLACK BAT GN (O/A) $8.99

DEC111038 BLUE SHEEP REVERIE GN VOL 05 (MR) $12.95

DEC111126 BUCKAROO BANZAI #1 (RES) $3.99

DEC111264 CHARMED #19 (MR) $3.50

DEC110832 COMEBACK KINGS #2 (RES) $2.99

SEP110834 COMICS THREE STOOGES (ONE SHOT) $3.99

DEC111081 COMPLETE CRUMB TP VOL 01 EARLY YEARS OF BITTER STRUGGLE $24.99

DEC111082 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 17 1983-1984 $28.99

JAN121272 CORTO MALTESE TP VOL 01 BALLAD OF THE SALT SEA $25.00

JAN120877 CROSSED BADLANDS #1 (MR) $3.99

JAN120878 CROSSED BADLANDS #1 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99

JAN120879 CROSSED BADLANDS #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JAN120871 CROSSED HC SGN ED VOL 03 PSYCHOPATH (MR) $34.99

JAN120870 CROSSED HC VOL 03 PSYCHOPATH (MR) $27.99

JAN120869 CROSSED TP VOL 03 PSYCHOPATH (MR) $19.99

NOV110923 DARK SHADOWS #4 $3.99

DEC111035 DEPRESSION O/T ANTI ROMANTICIST GN (MR) $12.95

DEC111054 DF NINJETTES #1 EXC RED CVR $5.00

OCT111079 DF WARLORD OF MARS #15 EXC RISQUE JUSKO CVR PLUS $19.99

OCT111081 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH #10 EXC RISQUE CVR $14.99

OCT111082 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH #10 EXC RISQUE CVR PLUS $19.99

DEC111064 DF ZOMBIE INVASION HAESER SET $69.99

JAN120937 ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST #9 $3.99

JAN120955 EXILE ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #1 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC111117 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 18 $10.99

JAN120861 FATHOM KIANI VOL 2 #0 CVR A NOME $2.50

JAN120862 FATHOM KIANI VOL 2 #0 CVR B TAKEDA $2.50

DEC110788 GEARHEARTS STEAMPUNK GLAMOR REVUE #2 $3.99

DEC111266 GFT DREAM EATER SAGA TP VOL 02 (MR) $15.99

DEC111268 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS TP VOL 02 (MR) $15.99

OCT111290 GFT PRESENTS NEVERLAND HOOK #4 A CVR GARZA $2.99

OCT111291 GFT PRESENTS NEVERLAND HOOK #4 B CVR MYCHAELS $2.99

NOV110690 GOLD DIGGER #136 $3.99

NOV110677 GOLDEN AGE GREATS SPOTLIGHT VOL 08 GOOD GIRL ART (MR) $29.95

OCT111283 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #68 A CVR YANG (MR) $2.99

OCT111284 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #68 B CVR QUALANO (MR) $2.99

SEP111301 GRIMM FAIRY TALES SINBAD TP $15.99

NOV110713 GRUNTS TP $14.95

DEC110799 HYPER ACTIVES GN (RES) $14.95

OCT111217 INTREPID ESCAPEGOAT TP $12.95

DEC111113 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #184 $5.99

DEC110823 MEGA MAN #11 $2.99

NOV110779 MISADVENTURES OF ADAM WEST ONGOING #2 $3.99

OCT111152 MONSTER HUNTER ORAGE TP VOL 04 (MR) $10.99

NOV110717 MOUSE GUARD BLACK AXE #4 (OF 6) $3.50

NOV110714 NIEVES GN (MR) $14.95

JAN121032 NINJETTES #2 (MR) $3.99

NOV110951 NOWHERE MAN #2 (OF 4) $3.99

NOV110791 ORBIT CAST OF DOCTOR WHO BK MKT ED $7.99

NOV110790 ORBIT CAST OF DOCTOR WHO DIRECT MARKET ED $3.99

NOV110792 ORBIT JACK KIRBY $3.99

DEC110899 POLITICAL POWER RON PAUL $3.99

JAN120823 PRIMORDIA HC W/ DUST JACKET (RES) (MR) $19.95

NOV110781 QUATERMAIN #2 $3.99

DEC110889 QUATERMAIN #3 $3.99

NOV110715 REDFOOT GN $8.95

JUL110800 RICHIE RICH DIGEST GN VOL 01 BOON UNDER THE BAY $6.99

DEC110802 ROMEROS REQUIEM GN (MR) $9.95

DEC110803 SCIONIC GN (RES) $14.95

JAN121215 SECRET HISTORY OF DB COOPER #1 $3.99

NOV110782 SHERLOCK HOLMES VICTORIAN KNIGHTS #2 $3.99

DEC110804 SIDESHOWS GN $9.95

JAN120925 SIMPSONS COMICS #188 $2.99

JAN121203 SMURFS GN VOL 11 SMURF OLYMPICS $5.99

JAN121204 SMURFS HC VOL 11 SMURF OLYMPICS $10.99

OCT111219 STUFF OF LEGEND TP VOL 03 $15.95

SEP110739 SUBCULTURE WEBSTRIPS GN RETURN OF THE KINGS THRONE (MR) $9.95

JAN121309 TWIN SPICA GN VOL 12 $13.95

DEC111045 UGLIES SHAYS STORY GN $10.99

JAN121319 ULTIMATE 7 TP VOL 01 $14.95

NOV110849 WAR GODDESS #6 (MR) $3.99

NOV110851 WAR GODDESS #6 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV110850 WAR GODDESS #6 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV110891 WARLORD OF MARS #16 (MR) $3.99

JAN121218 WASTELAND #35 (MR) $3.99

NOV110786 WILLIAM SHATNER MAN O WAR ONGOING #1 (MR) $3.99

MAGAZINES
DEC111297 COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1688 APR 2012 $5.99
JAN121376 DRAW #22 $7.95
JAN121398 HORRORHOUND #34 $6.99
DEC111333 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #120 $9.95
JAN121250 SUNDAY FUNNIES COLLECTED VOL 01 $30.00

Book Review: MM9

MM9
VIZ MEDIA/Haikasoru

AUTHOR: Hiroshi Yamamoto
TRANSLATION: Nathan Collins
COVER: Izumi Evers
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4089-4; paperback, Rated “T” for “Teen”
256pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $16.99 CAN, £9.99 UK

Hiroshi Yamamoto began his career as a video game writer, designer, and developer. As a fiction writer, he created the Ghost Hunter series and gained acclaim for his science fiction novel, God Never Sleeps. 2010 saw the publication of his novel, The Stories of Ibis, in English. In January 2012, Haikasoru, an imprint of VIZ Media, published a second Yamamoto novel in English.

Originally released in Japan in 2007, MM9 is a science fiction novel composed of five interconnected short stories. MM9 follows the challenging labor of a Japanese unit that fights giant monsters called “kaiju.” The kaiju are monsters/creatures of the Godzilla, 50-Foot Woman, and giant plant variety.

MMD is an acronym for Monsterological Measures Department, a special unit under the Meteorological Agency. The MMD is a special anti-monster unit in Japan that deals with “natural disasters of a high ‘monster magnitude.’” “Monster magnitude” is a measure and designation related to the size of a monster and how much damage it can cause with MM9 being the most powerful and most dangerous kaiju.

The stories follow the members of the MMD as they fight various kaiju. There is Ryo Haida, a top member of the MMD’s Mobile Unit, and Sakura Fujisawa, a soft-hearted young woman and a specialist of Mobile Unit, Vehicles and Transportation, and she’s actually a whiz at driving to avoid monsters. Yojiro Muromachi, Mobile Unit, Director, keeps these two in line and on the job. Yuri Anno is the resident astrophysicist, but she sometimes feels out of place. Department Chief Shoichi Kurihama sweats the details and the small stuff, but when he really needs to be in control, he’s the ultimate take-charge guy who can manage a crisis as well as anyone.

In the opening story, “Crisis! Kaiju Alert!,” a sea-based kaiju threatens Japan, but nothing about the way this kaiju moves or its composition makes sense. The MMD will have to solve this mystery in time to save the coast of Japan. In “Danger! Girl at Large!,” meet Princess, the girl who is taller than a five-story building… and growing. Is she really a kaiju or a science experiment? Sakura will put her life on the line to get all the answers. In “Menace! Attack of the Flying Kaiju,” Ryo Haida and his date, Eiko Hamaguchi, find their night-out interrupted by a radioactive, flying kaiju with Tokyo on its mind.

A TV camera crew follows the MMD in “Scoop! Twenty-Four Hours with the MMD!.” All is quite, but a plant menace may turn a documentary special into a disaster movie. In “Arrival! The Colossal Kaiju of the Apocalypse!,” meet the kaiju with an ages-old mystery of history behind it. And it may also be the end of the world as we know it.

In the eight years that I have written reviews for the Comic Book Bin, publishers have sent me copies of their manga titles for review. Sometimes, they also send copies of the light novels they publish.

I was surprised to find that the MM9 novel is not like other light novels, if it can be labeled a light novel, at all. Middle and high school students that already read novels can comprehend this, but while MM9’s subject matter is light (giant monsters), Yamamoto executes it in an inventive manner, which shows that he clearly intends on engaging adult readers.

Hiroshi Yamamoto’s novel shares elements and ideas similar to the Men in Black film franchise and Warren Ellis and John Cassaday’s Planetary. MM9 is a high concept like the former and a deeper excursion into subgenres like the latter. This is not just a novel about giant monsters and the characters that fight them. This is also science fantasy; in the sense that Yamamoto takes fantasy, mythology, and real-life faith and belief systems and builds a scientific structure in which the natural and supernatural are not opposites, but are related. They are part of the human condition and part of our history.

MM9 is smarter than you think, because you might think an author would not put so much thought into a novel about a special agency that fights giant monsters. On a scale of 1 to 10, MM9 won’t even settle for 9.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

House of Five Leaves: Imminence

I read House of Five Leaves, Vol. 6

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).

Oresama Teacher: Summer Break

I read Oresama Teacher , Vol. 7

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics.)

Second "Bleach" Character Book, "Bleach Masked" Now Available

VIZ MEDIA INVITES FANS TO EXPLORE THE SUPERNATURAL WORLD OF THE HIT MANGA SERIES BLEACH IN NEW BLEACH MASKED: OFFICIAL CHARACTER BOOK 2

Informative Character And Story Guide Features Extensive Data, Full Color Poster, Color Art, Creator Interviews And Much More!

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, offers BLEACH fans a treasure trove of information about the smash hit manga (graphic novel) series with the release of BLEACH MASKED: OFFICIAL CHARACTER BOOK 2 on March 6th. The new edition is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

Uncover the many secrets of BLEACH in this informative profile book that contains extensive data on the characters and storylines from Volumes 21-37 of the manga series (also published by VIZ Media; digital manga available on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App for iOS devices). The new release also includes exclusive color art, a full-color poster, bonus materials and a special interview with creator Tite Kubo. Step into the ghostly world of BLEACH like never before!

Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts – he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow, a malevolent lost soul, Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper and dedicates his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured spirits find peace.

“BLEACH fans will not want to miss the release of this enlightening new edition that contains plenty of interesting story and character background from the hit action series,” says Alexis Kirsch, Editor. “BLEACH is one of the world’s most popular manga titles, and this new edition is an ideal companion that will give manga readers plenty of inside information and back stories to their favorite characters as well as insights from creator Tite Kubo!”

BLEACH (rated ‘T’ for Teens) is author/creator Tite Kubo's second manga title. Kubo made his debut with ZOMBIE POWDER (also published in North America by VIZ Media), a four-volume series appearing in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. To date, BLEACH has been translated into numerous languages and has also inspired an animated TV series that began airing in Japan in 2004. Beginning its serialization in 2001, BLEACH remains a mainstay in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump. In 2005, BLEACH was awarded the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award in the shonen (boys) category.

For more information on BLEACH please visit Bleach.viz.com.