Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 29 2012

IMAGE COMICS

JUN128113 CHEW SECRET AGENT POYO #1 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
JUN128117 CREATOR OWNED HEROES #1 2ND PTG (MR) $3.99
JUN120453 DARKNESS REBIRTH TP VOL 01 (MR) $9.99
JUN120548 DEBRIS #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
JUN120553 GRIM LEAPER #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
JUN120462 GUARDING THE GLOBE TP VOL 01 (RES) $16.99
JUN128118 INVINCIBLE #92 2ND PTG $2.99
APR120548 MORNING GLORIES #21 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
FEB120510 MUDMAN #5 [DIG] $3.50
JUN120480 PETER PANZERFAUST TP VOL 01 THE GREAT ESCAPE $14.99
JUN120567 PROPHET #28 [DIG] $3.99
JUN120572 SKULLKICKERS #17 [DIG] $3.50
JUN128162 THINK TANK #1 2ND PTG $3.99
JUN128119 YOUNGBLOOD #71 2ND PTG $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS
JUN120497 THIEF OF THIEVES REDMOND T/S LG $24.99
JUN120496 THIEF OF THIEVES REDMOND T/S MED $24.99
JUN120495 THIEF OF THIEVES REDMOND T/S SM $24.99
JUN120498 THIEF OF THIEVES REDMOND T/S XL $24.99
JUN120499 WALKING DEAD 2013 CALENDAR (MR) $14.99

IMAGE COMICS/TOP COW PRODUCTIONS
MAY120632 WITCHBLADE #159 CVR A CHRISTOPHER [DIG] $2.99
MAY120633 WITCHBLADE #159 CVR B BERNARD & BENES $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for August 29 2012

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
JUL120019 PREVIEWS #288 SEPT 2012 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM PI
JUL120016 PREVIEWS #288 SEPTEMBER 2012 $4.50

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

APR121200 2000 AD #1788 $5.25

MAY121255 2000 AD #1792 $5.25

MAY121256 2000 AD #1793 $5.25

JUN128134 ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE SCREAM QUEENS #1 2ND PTG $3.99

JUN121286 ALL ACTION CLASSICS WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ GN $7.95

JUN121162 AMULET SC VOL 05 PRINCE OF THE ELVES $12.99

JUN120806 B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #228 [DIG/D+] $3.99

JUN121170 BABY SITTERS CLUB SC VOL 04 CLAUDIA & MEAN JANINE NEW PTG $9.99

MAR120933 BIONIC WOMAN #3 $3.99

MAY121167 CHANGING WAYS GN VOL 02 (MR) $17.95

APR121178 COURTNEY CRUMRIN SPEC ED HC VOL 02 $24.99

JUN120880 CRITTER (ONGOING) #3 $3.50

JUL120835 CROSSED BADLANDS #10 AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99

JUN120853 CROSSED BADLANDS #12 (MR) $3.99

JUN120856 CROSSED BADLANDS #12 RED CROSSED CVR (MR) $6.60

JUN120855 CROSSED BADLANDS #12 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99

JUN120854 CROSSED BADLANDS #12 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC111105 DARK SHADOWS COMP SERIES HC VOL 05 $49.99

JUN121108 DF PATHFINDER #1 VIRGIN CVR $14.99

MAR121032 DF WARLORD OF MARS #20 RISQUE RED CVR $14.99

JUN121238 DR WHO CRIMSON HAND GN (RES) $31.95

JUL120833 FERALS #1 CALGARY CVR (MR) $5.99

JUL120812 FERALS #8 (MR) $3.99

JUL120814 FERALS #8 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

JUL120813 FERALS #8 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

MAY121101 FOSTER #1 (MR) $3.99

JUN120760 FUBAR SUMMER SPECIAL ONE SHOT (MR) $2.99

JUN121156 GALAXY MAN #1 $3.99

MAY121189 GOLDEN TWINE GN $9.95

MAY121195 GON GN KODANSHA ED VOL 07 $10.99

FEB120939 GREEN HORNET #27 $3.99

JUN121242 HARVEY HORRORS COLL WORKS BLACK CAT MYSTERY HC VOL 01 $47.99

JUN121243 HARVEY HORRORS COLL WORKS CHAMBER OF CHILLS HC VOL 02 $47.99

JUN121244 HARVEY HORRORS COLL WORKS TOMB OF TERROR HC VOL 01 $47.99

JUN121245 HARVEY HORRORS COLL WORKS WITCHES TALES HC VOL 01 $47.99

JUN120914 HELLRAISER #17 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

JUN120916 HELLRAISER MASTERPIECES TP VOL 02 (MR) $19.99

JUN120929 HIGHER EARTH #4 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

APR120772 HOW TO DRAW SCIFI SUPERSIZE TP $19.99

JUN128135 HYPERNATURALS #1 3RD PTG $3.99

JUN120937 IRREDEEMABLE TP VOL 10 $16.99

JUL120696 KEL GILLIGANS DAREDEVIL STUNT SHOW HC $16.95

JUN121065 KIRBY GENESIS TP VOL 01 $29.99

JUN120881 LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST #6 (MR) $3.50

JUN121291 LENORE SWIRLIES HC $17.95

JUN120898 LIL HOMER #1 $2.99

APR121016 LORD OF THE JUNGLE #7 (MR) $3.99

MAY121190 LUZ MAKES A SPLASH GN $8.95

JUL120749 MOUSE GUARD LEGENDS O/T GUARD HC VOL 01 LEATHER BOUND ED (MR $39.95

MAY120810 NATHAN HALES HAZARDOUS TALES GN VOL 02 BIG BAD IRONCLAD $12.95

JUL121249 NEAL ADAMS MONSTERS HC (OCT032763) $24.95

JUN121010 PATHFINDER #1 HIGH END FOIL CVR $10.00

MAY121235 PENNY ARCADE TP VOL 08 MAGICAL KIDS IN DANGER $14.99

OCT111130 PHANTOM COMP SERIES HC KING YEARS $49.99

JUN121039 PROPHECY #3 $3.99

JUL121219 PRYDWEN GODS AND MONSTERS GN $19.95

MAY121349 PUNISHMENT GN (MR) $12.95

JAN121073 RED SONJA #68 $3.99

JUL120750 RETURN O/T DAPPER MEN HC VOL 01 LEATHER BOUND ED (MR) $49.95

JUN121002 SCAM #1 (MR) $3.99

JUN121218 SIXTH GUN #24 $3.99

JUN120813 SONIC SAGA TP VOL 01 DARKEST STORM $11.99

JUN120814 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #240 HORN CVR [D+] $2.99

JUN120815 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #240 SEGA CVR $2.99

JUN120905 STEED AND MRS PEEL ONGOING #0 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

JUN121070 THE LONE RANGER SNAKE OF IRON #2 $3.99

MAY120968 VALEN OUTCAST #8 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

FEB120921 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #14 (MR) $3.99

APR121241 WARPED ADV OF SANDY AND ANGUS TP (MR) $19.99

JUN121042 WITCHBLADE DEMON REBORN #2 $3.99

JUN128136 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #1 4TH PTG $3.99

JUN121330 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #4 REG BRAITHWAITE CVR $3.99

MAY121476 CINEMA RETRO WHERE EAGLES DARE TRIBUTE SPECIAL $15.95
MAY121412 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #180 J JONAH JAMESON $14.00
MAY121413 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #181 SEBASTIAN SHAW $14.00
JUN121397 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG SPECIAL MOJO $42.00
JUN121412 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1315 PI
JUN121414 COMICS REVUE PRESENTS AUG 2012 $19.95
MAY121415 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #13 SCARECROW BLACK PAWN $16.00
MAY121418 DC SUPERHERO FIG COLL MAG #114 VIXEN $14.00
MAY121419 DC SUPERHERO FIG COLL MAG #115 HELLBLAZER $14.00
MAY121462 FANGORIA #316 $9.99
JUN121467 FILMFAX #131 $9.95
MAY121257 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #326 $12.25
JUN121446 MONSTER BASH #16 $8.99
MAR121385 NEWTYPE JUN 2012 $16.00

BOOKS
JUN121459 APE MAN UNOFF & UNAUTH GT 100 YEARS OF TARZAN SC $34.95
JUL121333 ART OF BARBARA JENSEN CLOTHING OPTIONAL SC (MR) $14.95
APR128347 BATMAN VAULT MUSEUM IN A BOOK SPIRAL HC NEW PTG $29.95
JUL121097 BIG BIG OVERSTREET PRICE GD VOL 42 $45.00
JUL120741 BIG FAT ONE COLL SKETCHBOOKS SC (MR) $39.95
MAR121403 BRIEF GUIDE TO STAR TREK SC $13.95
JUN121464 BY YOUR COMMAND UNOFF & UNAUTH GT BSG SC VOL 01 ORIG SERIES $34.95
JUN121392 CIRUELO BOOK OF THE DRAGON SC $17.95
JUN121422 CRACKS IN TIME UNOFF & UNAUTH GT DOCTOR WHO 2010 SC $32.95
JUL120742 DEVILS ADVOCATE ART OF COOP HC (MR) $39.95
MAY121444 FINDING NEMO KIT $9.95
MAR121338 HISTORY OF UNDERGROUND COMICS 20TH ANNIV ED SC $29.95
JUL121390 HOW TO SURVIVE A HORROR MOVIE TP $14.95
JUL121397 MISS PEREGRINES HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN $17.99
FEB121165 PERSONA 4 OFF DESIGN WORKS SC $39.99
JUN121317 STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN ARTWORKS SC $39.99
MAY121445 TOY STORY FILMS ANIMATED JOURNEY HC $60.00
JUN121314 VOYEURS GN $24.95
JUL121389 ZOMBIE TAROT ORACLE OF UNDEAD WITH DECK INSTRUCTIONS BOX $16.95

Review: BAKUMAN Volume 13

BAKUMAN, VOL. 13
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Tsugumi Ohba
ARTIST: Takeshi Obata
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Julie Lutz
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4208-9; paperback; Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Takeshi Obata is a Japanese manga artist. In his published work, he has been the artist in collaboration with a writer. Tsugumi Ohba is a writer of manga whose identity/gender is a secret (although I refer to Ohba as “he” or “him”). Ohba has twice collaborated with Obata, first on the controversial series, Death Note. The second is Bakuman, a shonen manga. This slice-of-life comedy/drama/romance is about two ninth grade boys who set out to become manga creators.

Akito Takagi is an aspiring writer. Moritaka Mashiro likes to draw. After the two meet in high school, Akito begs Mashiro to join him in creating manga, and they eventually become the manga team, “Muto Ashirogi.” They achieve success by getting their manga published in the magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump. After having two series cancelled, this duo creates its longest-running hit, PCP: Perfect Crime Party. But do these young men have what it takes to make it in the manga-publishing world?

As Bakuman, Vol. 13 (entitled Fans and Love at First Sight) opens, Moritaka and Akito learn that PCP is unlikely to become an anime, which was their goal for the series. Each begins thinking about his next move. One of their assistants, Shun Shiratori, is working on a proposal for his own series, entitled “Loveta & Peace.” Moritaka enters Weekly Shonen Jump’s “Love Fest” contest, which is to create a one-shot manga with a romantic theme, but without his writer, the young artist struggles. Plus, Muto Ashirogi gets to judge new talent and comes across a stunning new series proposal.

Practically every time I review the Bakuman (stylized as Bakuman。) manga, I write that it gets better. I like it so much that I just can’t stand it anymore. I find myself slowly reading it so that I can savor each page as if it were a delicious bite for the mind. Actually, Bakuman is one of several VIZ Media titles of which I receive review copies, so I can’t be playin’ around and taking my own sweet time with reading and reviewing.

Of all the comic books and books I’ve read about creating comics (fiction and non-fiction), this is my favorite. What makes it work is the superb character writing by Tsugumi Ohba; this series is a joy to read when you buy into the lives, conflicts, and desires of the characters.

The other reason Bakuman is such a success is artist Takeshi Obata, who is one of the best comic book artists working today. He is a master at composition and at fitting style and pace to capture the setting, plot, and mood at any point in the story. Some artists have trouble changing direction just once in a single issue or chapter. Obata can change multiple times on a single page. Bakuman is the work of supreme manga creators who have mastered their art.

A

Kaze Hikaru: Meet Matsumoto Sei

I read Kaze Hikaru, Vol. 20

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

I Reads You Review: THE ROCKETEER: CARGO OF DOOM #1

"Back in the sky high saddle, again..."

THE ROCKETEER: CARGO OF DOOM #1

IDW PUBLISHING

WRITER: Mark Waid
ARTIST: Chris Samnee
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Shawn Lee
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVERS: Chris Samnee with Dave Stewart – Cover A
Dave Stevens with Laura Martin – Cover B and Jetpack Comics Cover
Chris Samnee with Jordie Bellaire – Cover RIA
Chris Samnee – Cover RIB
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

The Rocketeer is a comic book character created by artist and illustrator, Dave Stevens (who died in March of 2008). The Rocketeer is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly, and his adventures are set mainly in Los Angeles in and after the year 1938.

The Rocketeer returned to comic books in 2011 in Rocketeer Adventures. Edited by Scott Dunbier and published by IDW Publishing, this anthology comic book was a tribute to Stevens and featured Rocketeer short stories from some of the premiere creators in American comic books. Now, the adventure continues in the new series, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, from writer Mark Waid and artist Chris Samnee.

The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1 opens in 1940. Cliff dons his Rocketeer garb and gear to rescue two people from a struggling airplane. One of those people is Sally, the young niece of Peevy, Cliff’s best pal and the one mechanic who can tinker with the Rocketeer’s jetpack. Sally has a mad crush on Cliff, and Cliff’s actress/bombshell girlfriend, Betty, is fuming about the crush and Sally. Meanwhile, something wicked has just docked at the port in Los Angeles, and the sinister mastermind targets The Rocketeer.

As much as I liked both Rocketeer Adventures series (or at least parts of Vol. 2), I wanted IDW to publish an actual Rocketeer story arc. I was excited to discover The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom while reading the list of comic books shipping this week (8/22/). I was immediately determined to get my hands on this comic book, and having just read it, I am not disappointed.

When Mark Waid is on, the comic books he writes are fun to read. In Cargo of Doom, he uses dialogue to form the characters for readers, and crackling dialogue is always preferable to a psycho-babble when it comes to developing comic book characters. This is why I think someone like Waid is more of a natural at creating comic book than other writers who seem to have some kind of quasi-literary credibility. Under Waid’s care, Peevy hasn’t been this spicy since Dave Steven’s original comics. As for the characters’ actions, Waid also makes that clear and straightforward, from the lecherous government agent to the mercurial Guptmann.

I had been planning on reading some comic books drawn by Chris Samnee, but I was reluctant to try some of his Marvel Comics work if that meant figuring out whatever is going on in the Marvel Universe. Samnee’s art bears similarities to the work of Darwyn Cooke, David Mazzuchelli (Batman: Year One era), and Bruce Timm, while remaining uniquely his own style. Samnee’s figure drawing is killer, and there is a bit of classicism in the way he poses characters, as if he were drawing human bodies for academic critics.

I must admit that I am not crazy about Cargo of Doom’s cover price, and I may ultimately balk at paying $20 to read the entire series. Still, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1 is one of the year’s best debuts.

A-

Review: A DEVIL AND HER LOVE SONG Volume 4

A DEVIL AND HER LOVE SONG, VOL. 4
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Miyoshi Tomori
TRANSLATION: JN Productions
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Ysabet MacFarlane
LETTERS: Monalisa de Asis
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4167-9; paperback, Rated “T” for “Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S. $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Manga creator Miyoshi Tomori made her debut in 2001 and created such series as Brass Love!! and First Boyfriend (Hatsukare). Her series, Akuma to Love Song is published in North America as A Devil and Her Love Song.

The series focuses on Maria Kawai, a teen girl expelled from the prestigious Catholic school, St. Katria, because of her difficult ways. She attends Totsuka High School, but even there, the students find her frank nature more than just a bit off-putting. However, Maria’s angelic singing voice catches the attention of two boys: the blond Yusuke Kanda, who wants to be everyone’s friend, and the dark-haired Shin Meguro, a rebellious, sullen boy. Can they melt Maria’s cold heart or will they end up being scorched?

A Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 4 opens just days before Totsuka High School’s coral singing competition. There is a huge rift in Class 1-C between Maria and two other girls, Hana Ibuki and Ayu Nakamura. Hana is the popular girl who is the chorus’ conductor, but she doesn’t show much leadership, as she is always conniving. Ayu is in love with Yusuke, and seems to hate Hana as much as she loves Yusuke.

Meanwhile, Maria is trying to convince the antagonistic Ayu to be true to her feelings. At the same time, Maria is also trying to encourage Hana. But that only causes an even bigger rift between Ayu and Hana. Pranks, sabotage, crazy teachers, and spineless boys: is there a place for music in all this craziness?

A long time ago, I saw the Kevin Costner-Whitney Houston movie, The Bodyguard, with a friend who was also a fan of Houston’s. After the movie was over, he said, “Man, all the black women in that movie were crazy.” A few days later, I was talking about the movie to a pal who worked at a record store, and he said, “Man, all the sistahs in that movie was crazy.”

Man, all the teenaged girls in the A Devil and Her Love Song manga are crazy. You might go crazy trying to keep up with all the back-stabbing, back-biting, plotting, and conniving. I wonder if creator Miyoshi Tomori is trying to depict these girls as dangerous, because I certainly consider them to be treacherous. Girls in shojo manga can be catty, but I like this series just because of the unvarnished bitchiness that Tomori presents. The feuding is fun to read, and although it gets a bit repetitive by the end of an entire volume, I’m curious about where this series is going.

B+

I Reads You Review: YOUNG JUSTICE #18

YOUNG JUSTICE #18
DC COMICS

WRITER: Greg Weisman
ART: Christopher Jones
COLORS: Zac Atkinson
LETTERS: Dezi Sienty
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

Young Justice is the ongoing, spin-off comic book series of “Young Justice” an animated superhero television series currently airing on Cartoon Network. “Young Justice” the television series focuses on the lives and adventures of the sidekicks and protégés of some of DC Comics’ biggest superheroes, which includes such young heroes as Artemis (Green Arrow), Robin, and Aqualad, among others.

Young Justice #18 (“Monkey Business”) begins with a wrap up of the team’s recent (mis) adventures. That includes a case involving Red Tornado and also a mission in India with Captain Marvel acting as den-mother. Now, Batman sends Aqualad, Robin, Superboy (and his pet Wolf), Artemis, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian into darkest (imaginary) Africa – the nation of Bwunda.

There, in the Bwundan jungles, they will find the Brain and Monsieur Mallah’s latest Kobra-Venom operation. Although Young Justice recently shutdown the Brain’s last such operation, the villain has an ally this time around, Ultra-Humanite, and he’s calling on Grodd to deal with the children.

My reviews of Young Justice, issue numbers 16 and 17, praised the art by Christopher Jones. Jones is a classic comic book artist in that he understands the visual and graphical storytelling that brings superhero comic books to life. His page layouts and style capture the eye, and his compositions sell the drama and action of the story. After Jim Lee on Justice League, Christopher Jones is the best artist on a Justice League title.

Sans co-writer Kevin Hopps, Greg Weisman offers a story that is darker than the previous story arc. In “Monkey Business,” Weisman places the young heroes in what clearly reads like a convincing perilous situation. More so than in the previous issues, I want to come back for the second part of this.

Young Justice #18 has a 4-page preview of Green Lantern: The Animated Series #7 (the comic book adaptation of the similarly named Cartoon Network animated series).

WRITER: Ivan Cohen
ARTIST: Luciano Vecchio
COLORS: Gabe El Taeb
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte

The story features my favorite Green Lantern villain, the Tattooed Man, and I enjoyed reading the preview. I will try to find a copy of this issue.

A-