Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 9 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV120036 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #103 ABYSS TIME #1 $3.50

NOV120046 BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #17 NOTO CVR $2.99

JUN120048 CHERUBS HC $19.99

SEP120047 CONAN HC VOL 13 QUEEN O/T BLACK COAST $24.99

SEP120044 CREEPY COMICS AT DEATHS DOOR TP $19.99

NOV120045 EERIE COMICS #2 $2.99

OCT120039 GHOST #3 $2.99

SEP120064 OREIMO TP VOL 02 $10.99

SEP120062 RESET HC $15.99

SEP120050 ROBERT E HOWARDS SAVAGE SWORD TP VOL 01 $17.99

NOV120010 STAR WARS #1 $2.99

NOV120043 STRAIN #10 (MR) $3.50

NOV120042 TO HELL YOU RIDE #2 $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 9 2013

IMAGE COMICS

SEP120487 ARTIFACTS #24 [DIG] $3.99

OCT128377 BEDLAM #2 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50

NOV120547 CHANGE #2 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

OCT128376 CLONE #1 2ND PTG $2.99

NOV120548 CLONE #3 [DIG] $2.99

NOV120448 END TIMES OF BRAM & BEN #1 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

NOV120559 GUARDING THE GLOBE #5 [DIG] $2.99

SEP120502 HACK SLASH #22 CVR A SEELEY & BADILLA (MR) [DIG] $3.50

SEP120503 HACK SLASH #22 CVR B CASAGRANDE (MR) $3.50

MAR110585 INFINITE VACATION #5 [DIG] $5.99

NOV128050 LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE #1 2ND PTG $3.50

NOV120564 LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE #2 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

OCT120531 MIND THE GAP #7 CVR A ESQUEJO [DIG] $2.99

OCT120532 MIND THE GAP #7 CVR B OBACK $2.99

SEP120514 NON HUMANS #2 [DIG] $2.99

NOV120573 PERHAPANAUTS DANGER DOWN UNDER #3 CVR A ROUSSEAU [DIG] $3.50

NOV120574 PERHAPANAUTS DANGER DOWN UNDER #3 CVR B WILSON III $3.50

SEP120515 PETER PANZERFAUST #8 [DIG] $3.50

NOV120576 POINT OF IMPACT #4 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

NOV120454 REPOSSESSED #1 [DIG] $2.99

JUN120570 SAVAGE DRAGON #184 [DIG] $3.99

OCT120542 SPAWN #226 $2.99

AUG120531 SUPREME #68 [DIG] $3.99

NOV120474 THINK TANK MILITARY DOSSIER #1 [DIG] $3.99

NOV120585 WALKING DEAD #106 CVR A ADLARD & RATHBURN (MR) [DIG] $2.99

NOV120586 WALKING DEAD #106 CVR B ADLARD (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

OCT120557 HALO 4 SER 1 KNIGHT DLX AF PI

SEP121719 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 AF PI

SEP121725 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 CAM NEWTON AF PI

SEP121726 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 DEMARCO MURRAY AF PI

SEP121720 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 DREW BREES AF PI

SEP121721 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 LESEAN MCCOY AF PI

SEP121723 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 RGIII AF PI

SEP121722 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 TIM TEBOW AF PI

SEP121724 TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 31 VICTOR CRUZ AF PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 9 2013

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT121250 07 GHOST GN VOL 02 $9.99

NOV128076 ADVENTURE TIME #11 MAIN CVR NEW PTG $3.99

SEP121145 AIRBOY & AIRFIGHTERS TP DANGEROUS LIAISONS $19.95

SEP121126 ALEX TOTH ZORRO COMP DELL COMICS ADVENTURES HC $49.99

SEP121301 ALICE IN WONDERLAND TP (MR) $15.99

OCT120751 ARCANA THE BOOK GN (MR) [DIG/P+] $14.95

OCT120760 ARCHIE #640 [DIG/P+] $2.99

OCT120761 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #23 [DIG/P+] $3.99

JUL121017 ARMY OF DARKNESS ONGOING #8 $3.99

OCT121196 ARON WARNER PARIAH VOL II #1 (RES) $3.99

AUG121215 BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES HC VOL 02 $19.99

OCT120768 BETTY & VERONICA PROM PRINCESSESS TP $9.99

OCT121119 BLACK INCAL DLX HC VOL 01 (MR) $79.95

NOV120972 BRAVEST WARRIORS #4 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

SEP120727 CANCERTOWN TP BLASPHEMOUS TUMOURS (MR) $19.99

OCT121255 CASE CLOSED GN VOL 45 $9.99

OCT120737 CAVEWOMAN 2008 HEROES SGN REGULAR SKETCHBOOK PI

SEP120756 CAVEWOMAN GANGSTER #3 $3.75

NOV121196 CURSES FOILED AGAIN GN $15.99

OCT121373 DARK SHADOWS ANGELIQUES DESCENT GN $7.99

SEP121142 DAWN 2012 LINSNER SGN SKETCHBOOK (MR) $20.00

SEP121028 DEJAH THORIS & THE WHITE APES OF MARS TP (MR) $16.99

SEP120815 DEVIL IS DUE IN DREARY #2 (RES) $3.99

SEP121038 ETERNITY KILL TP $12.99

OCT120896 FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES TP VOL 01 $14.99

NOV120899 FATHOM #7 FAN EXPO CANADA 2013 TURNER CVR $10.00

NOV120898 FATHOM DEFINITIVE EDITION HC $99.99

SEP121197 FINDING GOSSAMYR #3 $3.99

OCT120866 FLAMING CARROT COMICS COLL LTD S/N HC VOL 02 (RES) $49.95

JUL120987 GAME OF THRONES #12 (MR) $3.99

NOV120963 GARFIELD #9 [DIG] $3.99

OCT121200 GIRL FRIENDS COMPLETE COLL TP VOL 02 (MR) $17.99

OCT120754 GOD MACHINE LEATHER BOUND ED HC (MR) $49.95

NOV120839 GOLD DIGGER HOLIDAYS SPECIAL #2 [DIG] $3.50

OCT121201 GUNSLINGER GIRL OMNIBUS TP VOL 06 $17.99

NOV121285 HALLIDAY & HOPPE PEANUT GN $15.99

NOV121345 HARBINGER (ONGOING) TP VOL 01 OMEGA RISING $9.99

OCT121174 HARVEY HORRORS CHAMBER OF CHILLS SLIPCASE ED VOL 01 $119.99

OCT121175 HARVEY HORRORS WITCHES TALES SLIPCASE ED VOL 01 $119.99

SEP120905 HIGHER EARTH #7 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

AUG120768 HOW TO DRAW STEAMPUNK PKT MANGA TP $14.95

OCT121202 I DONT LIKE YOU AT ALL BIG BROTHER GN COLL ED VOL 02 (MR) $16.99

SEP120779 INTRINSIC GN $14.95

APR121096 JACK JACKSON AMERICAN HISTORY TEJANOS CAUSE HC $35.00

OCT121203 JACK THE RIPPER HELL BLADE GN VOL 03 (MR) $11.99

NOV121094 JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN #1 $3.99

OCT120769 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #188 [DIG/P+] $3.99

JUL120979 KIRBY GENESIS CAPTAIN VICTORY TP VOL 01 $19.99

SEP121039 KIRBY GENESIS SILVER STAR TP VOL 01 $19.99

OCT121135 KOLCHAK & HONEY WEST ONE SHOT [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV121033 LEONARD STARRS MARY PERKINS ON STAGE TP VOL 02 $21.95

NOV121037 LEONARD STARRS MARY PERKINS ON STAGE TP VOL 06 $24.95

OCT121252 LOVELESS 2-IN-1 ED TP VOL 02 $14.99

OCT121251 LOVELESS GN VOL 10 $9.99

OCT120772 MEGA MAN #21 THOMAS REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99

OCT120721 MEN OF MYSTERY #88 $29.95

OCT120780 NEW CRUSADERS RISE OF THE HEROES #5 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99

SEP120737 ORDER OF DAGONET #2 $3.99

OCT121053 PLUME #1 $3.99

AUG121263 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS THE HEAP HC VOL 01 $47.99

OCT128368 SHADOWMAN (NEW) #1 2ND PTG ZIRCHER SKETCH CVR $3.99

NOV121340 SHADOWMAN (NEW) #3 REG ZIRCHER CVR $3.99

OCT121186 SHAKO GN (MR) $17.99

AUG120886 SILVER DARLINGS GN $14.99

AUG121062 SILVER SCORPION TP $19.99

OCT120775 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #244 [P+] $2.99

SEP121129 SPACE HUSTLERS GN $9.95

NOV120956 SPONGEBOB COMICS #16 $2.99

AUG120777 STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DIGEST VOL 03 FIELD DAY & OTHER STORIES $6.99

JUL120738 STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE VOL 2 #2 $3.99

NOV120983 SUPURBIA ONGOING #3 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

NOV121468 TARZAN O/T APE RETURN OF TARZAN ILLUS HC $29.95

OCT121207 WESTWARD #3 $2.99

OCT121298 WONDERLAND TP VOL 01 $15.99

OCT128371 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #6 2ND PTG ZIRCHER SKETCH CVR $3.99

OCT120741 ZOMBIE KID DIARIES GN VOL 03 WALKING DAD [DIG] $10.99

MAGAZINES
OCT121182 2000 AD PACK DEC 2012 (#1812 ONLY) $5.25

SEP121178 2000 AD PACK NOV 2012 #1808-1811 $21.00

OCT121183 2000 AD PROG 2013 $10.00

SEP121325 ALTER EGO #114 $8.95

OCT120654 CARS MAGAZINE #11 $4.99

NOV121490 CINEMA RETRO #25 $11.99

NOV121433 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1333 PI

SEP121326 COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1698 $5.99

OCT121331 COMICS REVUE PRESENTS DEC 2012 $19.95

NOV121495 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 64 $14.95

OCT121347 DR WHO MAGAZINE #455 $10.99

OCT120656 FAIRIES MAGAZINE #11 $4.99

NOV121471 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #255 DEATHLY HALLOWS CVR $9.99

OCT121360 FANGORIA #320 $9.99

NOV121419 HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #26 $6.95

SEP121387 HOBBY JAPAN DEC 2012 $16.60

OCT121184 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #331 $12.25

OCT120653 MARVEL SUPER HEROES #6 $4.99

AUG121516 MEGAMI NOV 2012 $16.60

AUG121517 NEWTYPE NOV 2012 $16.00

NOV121476 SCREAM MAGAZINE #14 $8.99

OCT121376 SFX #230 $10.99

SEP121404 SFX SPECIAL #59 A TO Z OF SCI-FI TV $17.99

NOV121496 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 68 $14.95

BOOKS
AUG128339 ART OF BORDERLANDS 2 SC $40.00

AUG121138 BETA TESTING THE APOCALYPSE GN (RES) $19.99

OCT121122 CHARLAINE HARRIS HARPER CONNELLY GN VOL 01 GRAVE SIGHT $25.95

NOV121441 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP EMPEROR O/T AIRWAVES $4.95

NOV121443 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP FIVE RIDDLES FOR ROBIN $4.95

NOV121442 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP FOG OF FEAR $4.95

NOV121444 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP FUN HOUSE OF EVIL $4.95

NOV121445 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP POISON IVYS DEADLY GARDEN $4.95

NOV121446 DC SUPER HEROES BATMAN YR TP REVENGE OF CLAYFACE $4.95

OCT121336 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP CAT COMMANDER $5.95

OCT121338 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP JOKER VIRUS $5.95

OCT121339 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP KILLER CROC OF DOOM $5.95

OCT121337 DC SUPER HEROES DARK KNIGHT YR TP SCARECROWS FLOCK OF FEAR $5.95

OCT121342 DC SUPER HEROES MAN OF STEEL YR TP DEMONS OF DEEP SPACE $5.95

OCT121341 DC SUPER HEROES MAN OF STEEL YR TP MAN OF GOLD $5.95

OCT121343 DC SUPER HEROES MAN OF STEEL YR TP PARASITES FEEDING FRENZY $5.95

OCT121340 DC SUPER HEROES MAN OF STEEL YR TP POISONED PLANET $5.95

OCT121348 DOCTOR WHO WHEEL OF ICE HC $26.95

OCT121307 FANTASY PLUS SC VOL 04 BEST OF 2011 FANTASTIC ART $29.95

JUN121469 FIREFLY A CELEBRATION ANNIVERSARY ED $49.95

NOV121482 GEEK HANDBOOK SC $14.99

NOV121351 JAGUAR GOD SNAKE BROTHERS REVENGE SC (RES) (MR) $24.95

OCT120974 NEAL ADAMS CONTINUITY PORTFOLIO $45.00

OCT120975 NEAL ADAMS SAVAGE SKETCHBOOK #1 $20.00

JUL121430 STAR TREK COMPLETE UNAUTHORIZED HISTORY HC $40.00

OCT121390 STAR WARS CLONE WARS WHAT IS SITH WARRIOR HC $12.99

OCT121391 STAR WARS CLONE WARS WHO ARE JEDI HC $12.99

OCT121392 STAR WARS SCOUNDRELS HC $27.00

SEP121195 STERANKOS HISTORY OF COMICS VOL 02 $15.00

AUG121377 VIRUS DAY OF RESURRECTION NOVEL HC $25.99

JUL121373 WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS ARCHIVES BK 05 9 OLD MEN FLIP $60.00

OCT121344 WARREN ELLIS GUN MACHINE HC $25.99

I Reads You Review: HUNTER X HUNTER, VOL. 25

Creators: Yoshihiro Togashi; Lillian Olsen (Translation and English Adaptation)
Publishing Information: VIZ Media – @VIZMedia, B&W, paperback, 208 pages, $7.99 (US), $9.50 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-2588-4 (ISBN-13); 1-4215-2588-7 (ISBN-10)

Rating: “T+” for “Older Teen”

Hunter × Hunter is a shonen manga (comics for teen boys) from writer/artist Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator of Yu Yu Hakusho. An adventure and fantasy comic book, Hunter × Hunter debuted in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump (March 3, 1998).

The main character in Hunter × Hunter is Gon Freecss. Gon discovers that his father, Ging Freecss, whom he thought to be dead, is actually alive and well. Gon dedicates himself to being what his father is – a great Hunter. Hunters devote themselves to tracking down priceless items and treasures, mystical places, magical beasts, and even other people. Those who pass the grueling qualification exam to become a Hunter also get access to restricted areas and amazing stores of information.

Hunter × Hunter, Vol. 25 (entitled Charge) continues the “Chimera Ant Story Arc.” As the midnight hour approaches, the Hunters are ready to make their charge against The King, brutal ruler of the Chimera Ants. The heroes have snuck into the capitol of East Gorteau. Shoot, Meleoron, and Knuckle will lead the first charge. Gon and his best pal, Killua Zoldyck, will lead the second charge, while Ikalgo will be the third charge and Morel the fourth. Chairman Netero and Zeno will sneak into the thrown room to assassinate the King. The narrative also offers revelations about Netero’s origins.

Outside the royal palace, Neferpitou, one of the elite Royal Guards, makes the first stand against the invading Hunters. Inside, the shape-shifting Youpi awaits. However, something reveals a surprising side of the King that no one could have predicted.

It has been over four years since I last read a Hunter × Hunter graphic novel. In an earlier review, I described the series as a “‘Bizarro’ Naruto,” filled with weird characters. What really makes Hunter × Hunter look unusual is the quirky style of the art, which looks like the kind of art one might find in an American indie or alternative comic book or even a small press superhero or fantasy genre series.

The page design and also the graphic design of the composition in each panel are also unique. That peculiar visual aspect draws the reader into the action, rather than freeze them out, the way a style, inappropriate for a genre, might. There is a kooky, surreal aspect that made me more interested in the story the deeper I got into it, while early into this volume, I was not at all interested.

Hunter × Hunter is rated for “older teens” (T+), but its strange character will make it appealing to shonen readers of all ages.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

2012 Comic Book Bin Awards Announced

written by Leroy Douresseaux

I am also a writer and quasi-editor for the website, the Comic Book Bin. A few years ago, the Bin initiated the Binnies (or BINnies), the site’s very own comic book awards.

The guy behind Binnies is writer/editor, Zak Edwards, who announced the results of the 2012 Binnie Awards (the Third Annual Binnies) at the end of this past week:

http://www.comicbookbin.com/Welcome_to_the_2012_Binnie_Awards.html

Third Annual Binnie Awards Winners and runner-ups:

Best New Series: Saga
Runner-Up: Hawkeye

Best Mini-Series: Bedlam
Runner-Up: Before Watchmen: Minutemen

Best OGN: The Underwater Welder
Runner-Up: Wild Children

Best Anthology: Dark Horse Presents
Rocketeer Adventures 2

Best Ongoing Series: Batman
Runner-Up: Rachel Rising

Best Artist: Terry Moore
Runner-Up: Matt Kindt

Best Writer: Scott Snyder
Runner-Up: Jonathan Hickman

Best Comic Adaptation: The Avengers
Runner-Up: The Dark Knight Rises

Biggest Surprise/Best Moment: Death of Agent Coulson
Runner-Up: Marvel NOW!

Biggest Disappointment: DC Comics
Runner-Up: The Dark Knight Rises

Best Publisher: Image Comics
Runner-Up: Valiant


For your interest, dear reader, here, is how I voted:

Best Writer:
Chris Ware – Building Stories (Pantheon Books)

Best Artist:
Chris Ware – Building Stories

Best New Series (An ongoing series that debuted this year):
Bad Medicine by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir and Christopher Mitten (Oni Press)

Best Ongoing Series
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ Media)

Best Mini-Series (The series should have either started or ended this year):
The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee with Scott Dunbier as editor (IDW)

Best OGN (original graphic novel):
Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank (DC Comics)

Best Anthology (we sometimes collapse this and OGN together if we can't fill up the space)
The Judas Coin by Walter Simonson (DC Comics)

Best Moment/Biggest Surprise
Marvel Comics: The Untold Story (HarperCollins) – a history of Marvel Comics by Sean Howe

Biggest Disappointment:
The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best Comic Adaptation:
The Avengers (Walt Disney Pictures/Marvel Studios)

Best Publisher
VIZ Media

07-Ghost: Meet Hakuren Oak

I read 07-GHOST, Vol. 2 (07-Ghost (Viz Media))

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

Review: STROBE EDGE Volume 2

STROBE EDGE, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Io Sakisaka
TRANSLATION: JN Productions
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Ysabet MacFarlane
LETTERS: John Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5069-5; paperback; Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Strobe Beat is a shojo manga from creator Io Sakisaka. Its premise asks, what if the guy that the heroine falls in love with is not available? That heroine is 16-year-old Ninako Kinoshita; the guy is Ren Ichinose. Just before summer vacation, Ninako tells Ren how she feels about him. But he turns her down...

As Strobe Beat, Vol. 2 begins, summer vacation is over and Ninako is ready to see Ren again. She hopes that she can still be friends with him. Will their first meeting since he rejected her at the train station be awkward? As if she didn’t have enough on her mind, there is a new boy, Takumi Ando, who keeps getting under her skin and in her way.

Ando isn’t the only new thing in Ninako’s school life. She meets the Rejected Alliance and also Ren’s girlfriend, Mayuka Korenaga! Plus, the bonus story, “Strobe Edge ~Another Light~” tells the story of how Mayuka and Ren met.

The Strobe Edge manga has some beautiful art, like so many Shojo Beat series. Graphically and visually, it reminds me of Miki Aihara’s shojo series, Honey Hunt. Like Honey Hunt, Strobe Edge has mean girls and impolite boys. This series is driven by the conflict within Ninako Kinoshita: how can she remain friends with Ren without bringing up the fact that she still loves him. Her obstacles are that she gets in her way and that the other students also make things difficult or awkward between Ninako and Ren.

Well, I’m a sucker for Shojo Beat teen romance, so perhaps, dear reader, you can take whatever I say with a grain of salt. I do think that this series must do something to stand out from the pack. Still, I look forward to the inevitable you-took-my-man confrontation between Ninako and Mayuka Korenaga.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux