I Reads You

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 8 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR130042 BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #21 NOTO CVR $2.99

JAN130085 BTVS SEASON 9 TP VOL 03 GUARDED $17.99

JAN130093 CHRONICLES OF KING CONAN TP VOL 05 BLACK DRAGONS $18.99

MAR130030 CREEPY COMICS #12 $4.99

JAN130082 CRIMINAL MACABRE NO PEACE DEAD MEN TP $17.99

JAN130117 FREAKS AMOUR GN $17.99

JAN138243 PATH OF THE ASSASSIN TP VOL 01 SERVING DARK (NEW PTG) (MR) $9.99

MAR130057 STAR WARS #5 $2.99

MAR130008 X #1 (MR) $2.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 8 2013

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 8 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR130906 12 REASONS TO DIE #1 $3.50

FEB131108 ACG COLL WORKS OUT OF THE NIGHT SLIPCASE ED VOL 01 $62.99

MAR131325 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (VU) #0 PULLBOX GARBETT $3.99

MAR131324 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (VU) #0 REG HENRY $3.99

FEB131182 BAKUMAN TP VOL 19 $9.99

MAR131234 BENNY BREAKIRON HC VOL 01 RED TAXIS $11.99

FEB131187 BLACK BIRD GN VOL 16 $9.99

FEB131181 BLEACH 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 05 $14.99

MAR130958 BRAVEST WARRIORS #8 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

FEB131184 CLAYMORE TP VOL 22 $9.99

NOV121313 CLINT 2.0 #7 (MR) $6.99

FEB130812 CRITTER (ONGOING) #11 $3.50

MAR131018 DAMSELS MERMAIDS #1 CVR A RENAUD $3.99

MAR131019 DAMSELS MERMAIDS #1 CVR B ANACLETO $3.99

FEB131126 DANCE IN THE VAMPIRE BUND GN VOL 14 (MR) $13.99

JAN131087 DARK SHADOWS #16 $3.99

FEB131193 DENGEKI DAISY GN VOL 12 $9.99

MAR131119 DF TRANSFORMERS SPOT TRAILCUTTER #1 EXC CVR $10.00

JAN131260 DON QUIXOTE COMP GN $27.50

FEB138478 DREW HAYES POISON ELVES #1 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99

FEB130765 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #10 CVR A GUNDERSON $3.99

FEB130766 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #10 CVR B ODAGAWA $3.99

FEB130851 FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES TP VOL 02 $14.99

AUG120830 FATHOM VOL 4 #9 CVR A KONAT [DIG] $3.50

AUG120831 FATHOM VOL 4 #9 CVR B CAFARO $3.50

FEB130793 FERALS #14 (MR) $3.99

FEB130795 FERALS #14 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB130794 FERALS #14 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

FEB130939 GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS #6 FALL & RISE PT 3 (MR) $3.99

MAR131411 GFT ROBYN HOOD WANTED #1 A CVR ARTGERM (MR) $2.99

MAR131412 GFT ROBYN HOOD WANTED #1 B CVR SEJIC (MR) $2.99

MAR131413 GFT ROBYN HOOD WANTED #1 C CVR TALIBOA (MR) $2.99

MAR131015 GRIMM #1 $3.99

FEB138429 HARBINGER (ONGOING) #0 2ND PTG $3.99

MAR131320 HARBINGER (VU) #12 HARBINGER WARS REG REEDER $3.99

FEB131110 HARVEY HORRORS WITCHES TALES SLIPCASE ED VOL 03 $119.99

MAR130895 HATTER M LOOKING GLASS WARS HC VOL 04 ZEN $24.99

MAR130894 HATTER M LOOKING GLASS WARS TP VOL 04 ZEN $14.95

MAR130925 HELLRAISER THE ROAD BELOW TP VOL 01 (MR) $14.99

FEB131170 HEROMAN GN VOL 04 $10.95

FEB131191 HUNTER X HUNTER TP VOL 30 $9.99

MAR131112 JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES GHOUL GOBLIN #4 $3.99

OCT121116 JOHNNY HAZARD DAILIES HC VOL 02 1946-1948 (RES) $49.99

FEB130728 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #192 [DIG/P+] $3.99

JAN131191 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #197 $5.99

FEB131175 LA CORDA DORO TP VOL 17 $9.99

MAR130848 LEGEND O/T SHADOWCLAN #4 DIRECT CVR A $3.99

MAR130849 LEGEND O/T SHADOWCLAN #4 DIRECT CVR B $3.99

MAR130850 LEGEND O/T SHADOWCLAN #4 DIRECT CVR C $3.99

MAR130851 LEGEND O/T SHADOWCLAN #4 DIRECT CVR D $3.99

FEB130816 LEGEND OF OZ SCARECROW #1 $3.50

FEB130815 LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST ONGOING #7 $3.50

MAR130989 LIBRARY CHIHOI HC (MR) $20.00

FEB130729 LIFE WITH ARCHIE #29 REG CVR [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR131194 LITTLE PRINCE GN $12.99

FEB130735 MEGA MAN #25 GATEFOLD CVR [DIG/P+] $2.99

FEB130667 MEN OF MYSTERY #89 $29.95

JAN130840 MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL HC BOOK 01 GOOD COP BAD COP $24.95

MAR130909 MYLO XYLOTO #4 $3.99

FEB131180 NARUTO 3-IN-1 ED TP VOL 05 $14.99

FEB131179 NARUTO TP VOL 61 $9.99

MAR131156 NOTHING CAN POSSIBLY GO WRONG GN $16.99

FEB131188 OTOMEN GN VOL 15 $9.99

MAR130993 PAYING FOR IT GN $19.95

MAR130940 PLANET OF THE APES CATACLYSM TP VOL 01 $14.99

MAR130994 PLAYBOY GN (NEW ED) (MR) $16.95

MAR131381 POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 16 $9.99

MAR131090 PROPHECY TP $19.99

FEB131183 PSYREN GN VOL 10 $9.99

FEB130662 RAVEN GIRL GN $19.95

MAR131158 RED HANDED FINE ART STRANGE CRIMES HC $26.99

MAR131095 RED SONJA ANNUAL #4 $4.99

FEB131113 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS THE HEAP SLIPCASE ED VOL 01 $119.99

FEB131124 SANDCASTLE GN $19.95

JAN131204 SAVAGE BEAUTY TP $11.99

FEB131134 SHADOWGIRLS HC $29.95

FEB131117 SLAINE GRAIL WAR GN (MR) $29.99

MAR131235 SMURFS GN VOL 15 SMURFLINGS $5.99

MAR131236 SMURFS HC VOL 15 SMURFLINGS $10.99

MAR130905 SNAKE PIT GETS OLD GN (MR) $16.95

FEB130741 SONIC SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #7 [P+] $9.99

MAR130914 SPONGEBOB COMICS #20 $2.99

FEB130868 STEED & MRS PEEL TP VOL 01 VERY CIVIL ARMAGEDDON $14.99

FEB131186 STROBE EDGE GN VOL 04 $9.99

MAR130929 SUPURBIA ONGOING #7 [DIG] $3.99

FEB131185 TEGAMI BACHI GN VOL 13 $9.99

FEB131075 TREASURY OF MURDER SET $26.99

MAR130915 TWO GUNS SECOND SHOT DLX ED TP $19.99

FEB138545 UBER #0 ENHANCED ED $4.99

MAR130868 UBER #1 (MR) $3.99

MAR130870 UBER #1 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR) $3.99

MAR130869 UBER #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JAN131051 VAMPIRELLA #29 $3.99

MAR131167 WALT DISNEY DONALD DUCK HC VOL 03 CASTLES SECRET $28.99

JUL120980 WARLORD OF MARS #24 (MR) $3.99

JAN131071 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #25 (MR) $3.99

MAR131303 WE CAN FIX IT GN (MR) $14.95

FEB131176 WE WERE THERE GN VOL 16 $9.99

MAR131300 WESTWARD TP VOL 01 $15.99

MAR130778 WILL AND WHIT GN $12.95

FEB131189 WINX CLUB GN VOL 07 $6.99

MAR131417 WONDERLAND TP VOL 02 $15.99

JAN131108 YOURE ALL JUST JEALOUS OF MY JETPACK HC (MR) $19.95

FEB131127 ZEROS FAMILIAR OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99

MAGAZINES

JAN131389 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #198 WICCAN $14.00

FEB131235 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #199 DEATHBIRD $14.00

FEB131236 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #200 HELA $14.00

MAR131439 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1351 PI

JAN131392 DC BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA FIG COLL MAG #6 DETECTIVE #156 $20.00

JAN131393 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #30 KILLER CROC BLACK ROOK $16.00

JAN131394 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #31 AZRAEL WHITE PAWN $16.00

MAR130697 DISNEY PRINCESS MAGAZINE #13 $4.99

FEB131254 DR WHO MAGAZINE #459 $9.99

MAR131491 ONCE UPON A TIME SOUVENIR SPECIAL MAGAZINE #2 $14.99

FEB131279 SCREAM MAGAZINE #17 $8.99

FEB131298 SFX #234 $10.99

MAR131504 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #45 NEWSSTAND ED $14.99

MAR131505 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #45 PX ED $14.99

BOOKS

MAR131463 DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIV MMPB ED EARTHWORLD $12.99

MAR131460 DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIV MMPB ED FEAR OF DARK $12.99

FEB130660 GOOD RIDDANCE GRAPHIC MEMOIR OF DIVORCE GN $17.95

FEB130661 LEGENDS OF THE BLUES HC $19.95

FEB131300 NEIL GAIMAN INTERWORLD TP $9.99

FEB131301 SILVER DREAM INTERWORLD NOVEL HC $18.99

MAR131430 UNDRESSED GALLERY OF FETISH WEAR SC (MR) $9.95

FEB131302 UNNATURAL CREATURES STORIES SELECTED BY NEIL GAIMAN SC $9.99

Monday, May 6, 2013

La Corda d'Oro: The Final Volume

I read La Corda d'Oro, Vol. 17

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

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Review: SHAME: Pursuit

SHAME: PURSUIT – BOOK 2 (OF 3)
RENEGADE ARTS ENTERTAINMENT

WRITER: Lovern Kindzierski – @Lovern
ARTIST: John Bolton
LETTERS/COVER DESIGN: Todd Klein
ISBN: 978-0-9868200-5-2; paperback (April 24, 2013)
64pp, Color, $9.99 U.S.

With his cousin Chris Chuckry, Lovern Kindzierski founded Digital Chameleon. The company revolutionized the art of creating comics by making Photoshop and computer coloring the industry standards. Kindzierski also writes comic books. His latest project is Shame, a series of three graphic novels that he writes and John Bolton draws and paints. Published by Renegade Arts Entertainment, the first book, Shame: Conception, was released in 2011. The second book, Shame: Pursuit, was recently published.

Shame is set in the Middle Ages, described as the infancy of humanity’s spiritual development. The series focuses on two witches, Shame and Virtue. Shame is Virtue’s mother and daughter, and Virtue is Shame’s mother and daughter – as far as I can tell. Their father is Slur, the willowy and physically shifting demon of ignorance. Shame imprisoned Virtue in Cradle Mound, a jail made of thorny vines and guarded by flesh-eating plants, monstrous birds, and Harpy-like nannies.

Shame: Pursuit finds Shame waging war on the world, destroying her rivals who are magic users and killing anyone else who gets in her way. Slur is always nearby to encourage Shame or prick her nerves. Meanwhile, Virtue comes closer to breaking free of Cradle Mound, but she will need help. That comes in the form of Merritt, a brave young warrior who is not quite like other warriors.

It is like nothing I’ve read in quite a while. Shame: Pursuit is a doozy, and I had a difficult time figuring out what was going on because I had not read the first book, Conception. I didn’t even know that this series existed until Renegade Arts Entertainment sent me a copy of Pursuit for review, although I think I had heard of Renegade Arts before I received the book.

I find the characters to be quite attractive and engaging, especially the lovable Merritt. Everyone, except Merritt, seems to be so devious and deceptive. Also, the story is weird, like a Ralph Bakshi animated fantasy film.

I really like the art for Shame by comic book artist and painter John Bolton, whose work I’ve admired for ages. There is a dreamy quality to his art that is ideal for fantasy storytelling. Bolton has been one of the few artists whose paintings for comic books are as effective as comic book art drawn traditionally with pencils and with pens and brushes for inking.

Bolton paints Virtue with a photorealistic touch, giving her the qualities like that of a model who walks the runway for the biggest shows and gets the all the magazine covers. What Bolton does with Merritt’s facial features, physique, and clothes is uncannily, eerily natural and genuinely human. I say witchcraft is involved in this man’s art.

Strange as Shame: Pursuit is, I want to find the first book, and I would like to read the final book.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

"Batman #19" Tops April 2013 Diamond Comic Distributors Charts

BATMAN #19 Tops All Comic Book Sales for April

On the eve of historic ZERO YEAR storyline, Batman titles remain firmly planted atop comic book shop, bookstore and The New York Times bestseller lists

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The dark, evocative and dramatic Batman stories of critically-acclaimed writer Scott Snyder and superstar artist Greg Capullo continued to catapult the iconic vigilante to the top of the sales charts in comic shops and bookstores in the month of April, announced DC Entertainment, the largest English-language comic book publisher in the world. April 2013 saw BATMAN #19 and DETECTIVE COMICS #19 clock in as the top-selling periodicals in units and dollars, respectively, to comic shop retailers, according to the world’s largest comic book distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors.

Batman’s success in the bookstore market was also impressive, with the Dark Knight taking four of the top 20 graphic novels in dollars and units, according to Nielsen Bookscan – including BATMAN VOL. 2: THE CITY OF OWLS, BATMAN VOL. 1: THE COURT OF OWLS and BATMAN: NIGHT OF THE OWLS – all featuring the work of the unstoppable team of Snyder and Capullo.

“Greg and Scott know Batman. Their work on the character falls under ‘instant classic’ – edgy, cinematic and suspenseful. They get to the core of what fans look for in a Batman story, and the response has been amazing. The best part? They’re just getting started,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment President. “At the same time, Batman as a character and icon continues to be one of our hottest sellers, whether it’s a digital title or game like INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, the epic anniversary issue that was DETECTIVE COMICS #19 or graphic novel collections of his adventures. If it’s Batman, it’s a success.”

BATMAN #19 was the first of a two-part tale spotlighting the New 52 debut of a key Batman rogue, the mysterious Clayface, and set the stage for BATMAN #21 – the beginning of the sure-to-be-historic BATMAN: YEAR ZERO storyline, a modern reinterpretation of Batman’s iconic origin, also by Snyder and Capullo. The storyline promises to give fans a unexpected look at how Bruce Wayne took his first steps toward becoming Batman.

As if pulling back the curtain on Batman’s formative days wasn’t enough in June, Snyder will be joining forces with DC Comics Co-Publisher and legendary comic book artist Jim Lee for SUPERMAN UNCHAINED, a new series featuring the hero’s classic supporting cast, villains and an all-new, all-powerful threat. Fans can get a glimpse of what’s to come in the series at their local comic shops tomorrow, as participating stores will be distributing copies of DC Comics’ Free Comic Book Day titles, which include the SUPERMAN LAST SON OF KRYPTON SPECIAL EDITION #1 (featuring a lead story by DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns) and the DC NATION SUPER SAMPLER #1, for our younger readers.

Batman’s presence was also felt in the accolades department, as BATMAN VOL. 2: CITY OF OWLS and DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2: SCARE TACTICS made The New York Times Hardcover Bestseller lists. Also on the list were the DC Comics titles EARTH 2 VOL. 1: THE GATHERING, and Vertigo titles AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOL. 5 and 100 BULLETS: THE DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR. Making their debuts on The New York Times’ Paperback Bestsellers lists are DC Comics titles SWAMP THING VOL. 2: FAMILY TREE and WORLDS’ FINEST VOL. 1: THE LOST DAUGHTERS OF EARTH 2, and Vertigo titles PUNK ROCK JESUS and THE UNWRITTEN VOL. 7: THE WOUND.

On the digital side, INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US dominated the sales chart in April, taking each spot of the top 15 selling titles. INJUSTICE is a true phenomenon, driving double digit sales percentage increases for the top 20 titles across all major distribution platforms: comiXology, Kindle Store, iBookstore and Nook Store. INJUSTICE print issues also continue to sell well, with each issue released to-date going back for additional printings.

Also in April, DC Entertainment launched a first-ever crowdfunding initiative for its We Can Be Heroes giving campaign. The crowdfunding initiative has already raised more than $120,000 by offering fun donation perks for fans, as well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences like hanging out with Geoff Johns at San Diego Comic-Con and a private hometown screening of MAN OF STEEL. For more information on We Can Be Heroes, visit www.WeCanBeHeroes.org

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched www.WeCanBeHeroes.org —a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League Super Heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Review: The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch #5

THE ADVENTURES OF NIKKI HARRIS THE CYBERMATION WITCH #5

CANDLE LIGHT PRESS/Warning Comics – @candlelightpres
CARTOONIST: Carter Allen
24pp, Color, $2.99 US (2013)

Let’s all go on a sea cruise, right?

She can match up with just about any space opera heroine, and she’s back. Nikki Harris, the Cybermation Witch, makes her annual comic book appearance in The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch #5, entitled “Hell on the High Seas.” This time around, Nikki is on a working vacation, but the work turns out to be a bit tougher than she expected.

Nikki Harris has traveled to the planet, Qua. This water world is a “pleasure planet of the colonial worlds,” and is apparently a popular destination with tourists the universe over. Among Qua’s most popular attractions are the hydrocruisers, which are ocean-going party vessels. Nikki has booked passage on one of them, the Pontoppidan.

However, Nikki isn’t onboard just to par-tay. She’s tracking another passenger, Dr. Elias DuHarm, who could lead her to a cabal that supports the Voyd, the alien horde that has invaded Earth. Vacation turns to terror, however, and it’s “Die Hard on a boat,” when Nautilie attacks.

The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch is a digitally-produced comic book series. Writer/artist Carter Allen renders the images, graphics, and texts using a computer and software. Early on in the series, the Nikki Harris comics, visually and graphically, seemed as stiff as early computer-produced comic book efforts (remember Shatter from First Comics?).

The most recent Nikki Harris color comic books are different. The art pops off the page, and even Allen’s compositions, with their Spartan production and design values, occasionally take on an exotic quality. Nikki’s brash personality and cowboy-hero persona come at the reader like one of her combat moves. This quirky, but sparkling sci-fi, super-chick series will grow on you, and you’ll be waiting for next issue.

A

www.candlelightpress.com

www.nikkithewitch.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux