Batman Leads DC Comics in May 2013

Batman Continues to Be DC Entertainment’s Best-Selling Comic in May - as June Looks to Be All Things Superman

New digital and print publishing initiatives solidify DC Entertainment’s place as industry leader, innovator

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BATMAN #20 continued the popular comic book's three-month reign as the top-selling DC Entertainment periodical, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in the world.

The Batman story by the bestselling team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo features the conclusion of the Dark Knight's two-part battle with the shape-shifting villain Clayface and serves as a prelude to June’s BATMAN #21 – the first part of “Zero Year,” the modern re-telling of Batman’s classic origin. Additionally, the month saw GREEN LANTERN #20, the critically-acclaimed conclusion of writer and DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns’ epic nine-year run on the series, clock in as the top DC book in total dollars and the softcover graphic novel SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 as the top DC Entertainment collection in sales to comic shop retailers, according to Diamond.

In celebration of Superman’s 75th anniversary, Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment revealed plans befitting the most popular and enduring super hero of all time. The celebration kicks into high gear next Wednesday, June 12 with the launch of SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1, also from writer Snyder and legendary artist and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee.

Ahead of the theatrical release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Man of Steel” on June 14, DC Entertainment announced a partnership with comic book retailers, libraries and bookstores across America to declare Wednesday, June 12 “‘Man of Steel’ Day.” Fans visiting their local comic book retailers on “‘Man of Steel’ Day” will receive a free copy of an ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1 Special Edition comic book, one of the most acclaimed Superman stories ever by the award-winning and beloved creative team of Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly.

“It’s a great time to be a fan of both Batman and Superman,” said Diane Nelson, President DC Entertainment. “The continued success of these iconic characters is further proof that DC Entertainment is the home to the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. For Superman’s 75th anniversary, we’re showcasing the character’s enduring greatness, from the first panel of ACTION COMICS #1 to next week’s SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1.”

This week also saw the company make two game-changing announcements in the areas of digital and print publishing. Earlier this week, Nelson and Lee unveiled DC2 and DC2 Multiverse — new digital innovations that will take comics to the next level of interactivity — at Time Warner’s “The Future of Storytelling” exhibition at the Time Warner Media Lab in New York. DC2 is a new feature that layers dynamic artwork onto digital comic panels, adding a new level of dimension to digital storytelling. DC2 Multiverse allows readers to determine a specific story outcome by selecting individual characters, storylines and plot developments while reading the comic, creating multiple options and end results for each digital comic chapter, leading the way in interactive comic book storytelling.

Additionally, plans were revealed for an epic month of September and beyond, as Lee and fellow Co-Publisher Dan DiDio announced that the company’s legendary villains would be taking over the entire publishing line as part of a month-long event aptly titled “Villains Month,” spearheaded by the seven-issue limited series FOREVER EVIL, from the powerhouse creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artist David Finch, and spinning out of the conclusion of TRINITY WAR, a two-month crossover involving the three ongoing JUSTICE LEAGUE titles this summer. Each of the “DC Comics – The New 52” regular comic book series for September will focus on a key foe and answer the question: “What happens when the villains win?” Each “Villains Month” book will also feature a never-before-seen printing innovation: 3-D Motion covers. Featuring five layers of visual scenery and completely lenticular stock cover, the groundbreaking initiative creates an unparalleled sense of visual depth and brings to life the most beloved – and evil – characters in the DC Entertainment pantheon of characters. The 3-D Motion covers - paired with the universe-spanning saga that is FOREVER EVIL and “Villains Month” - give comic shop retailers and core fans of the company’s print business a great event with lasting value and an engaging story.

Vertigo kicked off the summer in fine form, with the launch of the horror-tinged THE WAKE, from Snyder and writer Sean Murphy in May and this week’s ASTRO CITY #1, from the classic creative team of writer Kurt Busiek, artist Brent Anderson and cover artist Alex Ross. The series leads a pack of notable debuts coming down the line for the genre-defying imprint, including this month’s 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO #1 from the legendary team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso, July’s sci-fi adventure COLLIDER #1 by rising star writer Simon Oliver and artist Robbi Rodriguez and renowned writer/artist Jeff Lemire’s TRILLIUM #1 in August. More Vertigo news – including details about Neil Gaiman’s much-anticipated return to the world of SANDMAN - will be announced throughout this year.

Just a few weeks ahead of the debut of the BEFORE WATCHMEN deluxe collections, digital sales of the classic WATCHMEN paperback increased in May during a two-week promotion with partner Kindle. This uptick was also seen in overall physical sales.

The New York Times Graphic Novel Bestseller lists also featured a number of new additions from the DC Entertainment library, including DC Comics’ AQUAMAN VOL. 2: THE OTHERS, the second top-selling volume by JUSTICE LEAGUE’s dynamic creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artistic collaborators Ivan Reis and Joe Prado and THE AUTHORITY VOL. 1, from the iconic creative team of writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch.

MAD continues to bring humor to our lives daily on The Idiotical with parodies like “Drone Ranger” and “Obama and Christie: Jersey Shore BFFs.” And MAD Presents Superman #1, the Super Spectacular Summer issue featuring some of the most beloved Superman parodies and includes 7 new pages that put a uniquely MAD spin on the upcoming film, arrives in stores June 12.

The coming weeks will also see a refreshed and streamlined DC Entertainment website, featuring a homepage redesign, a more robust video section and enhanced, daily coverage and features of our products and news.


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 We Can Be Heroes—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.

Review: BREATH OF BONES: A Tale of the Golem #1

BREATH OF BONES: A TALE OF THE GOLEM #1 (OF 3)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Steve Niles and Matt Santoro
SCRIPT: Steve Niles
ART: Dave Wachter
LETTERS: Nate Piekos (of Blambot)
EDITORS: Scott Allie and Daniel Chabon
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2013)

Part 1 of 3

Steve Niles, the creator of 30 Days of Night and Criminal Macabre, is the co-creator of a new dark fantasy miniseries, Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem. Niles, who wrote the story with Matt Santoro, scripts the series, and 2012 Russ Manning Award nominee Dave Wachter is the artist. The series concerns the giant clay monster of Jewish legend, and its battle against Nazis.

Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem #1 opens in April 1944 and focuses on Noah, a young soldier. In the heat of battle, Noah recalls his youth, watching his father and the other men of his small European Jewish village leave for battle. Days turn into weeks as he awaits his father’s return. Then, he meets injured British pilot, Simon Richards.

For the most part, how many readers care what I think? I imagine in the scope of things that Dark Horse Comics cares more about a review at Comic Book Resources or at Newsarama than at I Reads You. That is regardless of how many reviews I Reads You has published in its short life.

But I’ll tell y’all what I think of this comic book anyway. I really like Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem. There is a touch of humanity about it that is similar to James Vance and Dan Burr’s recent graphic novel, On the Ropes. I’m not one of those people that get wood whenever I hear that Steve Niles is writing a new scary comic book. I don’t think he’s the Stephen King of American comic books, but still, I’m touched by his new work.

For the most part, the first issue of Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem is a historical drama about the home front during wartime. The lovely art by Dave Wachter is perfect to tell this story of a small village in Europe. The lovely ink wash texture helps to evoke the sense of longing and also the threat of danger on the horizon. Is this hand-drawn ink wash or computer-aided? I’ll be disappointed if it’s the latter. Bring on #2.

People who want good comics want Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: THE BLACK BEETLE: No Way Out #4

THE BLACK BEETLE #4
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

CREATOR/CARTOONIST: Francesco Francavilla
LETTERS: Nate Piekos (of Blambot)
COVER: Francesco Francavilla
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2013)

“No Way Out” (Part 4 of 4)

The Black Beetle: No Way Out, the miniseries by Eisner Award-winning artist, Francesco Francavilla, comes to an end. The Black Beetle, a comic book character created by Francavilla, blends the aesthetics of pulp fiction, mystery, and the superhero. He is a super-heroic sleuth, operating in Colt City.

The Black Beetle attempted to infiltrate a meeting of Colt City’s two crime families, the Galazzos and the Fierros. Shortly after he arrives at Spencer’s, the site of the meeting, the place goes up in a tremendous explosion – killing everyone inside. Determined to discover who came between him and bringing these gangsters to justice, the Black Beetle meets a wily adversary, the enigmatic Labyrinto.

The Black Beetle: No Way Out #4 opens as our hero races to Camp Creek. This woodland estate is where he will find Joseph “Joe” Fierro, A.K.A. “Faccia D’Angelo,” once thought to have been killed at Spencer’s, but who is actually alive. Camp Creek is also where The Black Beetle plans to have his final showdown with Labyrinto, whom he plans to take care of once and for all.

The thing about mystery fiction is that sometimes getting to the conclusion or answer or discovering whodunit is the best part. The resolution, or discovering of who the villain is, can be a little bit of a letdown, especially when what came before it is exceptionally good.

Everything leading up to The Black Beetle: No Way Out #4 was so good. While this last issue is good, it does not reach the heights of what came before it. I thought that a villain such as Labyrinto deserved a more potent last act than what we get here (although this might not be the last time we see him). The reveal and resolution are somewhat disappointing.

As for the art and graphical storytelling: both are still visually striking and pop on the page. I could not help but linger over certain pages, just to enjoy the beauty of Francavilla’s art. I’m ready for The Black Beetle’s return this fall.

A-

http://pulpsunday.blogspot.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Toriko: Reunion with Terror!!

I read Toriko, Vol. 16

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 12 2013

DC COMICS

APR130248 AMERICAN VAMPIRE THE LONG ROAD TO HELL #1 (MR) $6.99

APR130177 BATGIRL #21 $2.99

APR130161 BATMAN #21 $3.99

APR130164 BATMAN #21 COMBO PACK $4.99

APR130210 BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #15 $3.99

APR130235 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #3 $2.99

MAR130271 CATWOMAN TP VOL 02 NO EASY WAY DOWN $24.99

APR130192 CONSTANTINE #4 $2.99

APR130194 DEMON KNIGHTS #21 $2.99

APR130184 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #21 $2.99

APR130133 KATANA #5 $2.99

APR130238 MAD PRESENTS SUPERMAN #1 $4.99

MAR130294 MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ORIGIN OF HORDAK #1 $2.99

APR130179 NIGHTWING #21 $2.99

MAR130303 PREACHER TP BOOK 01 (MR) $19.99

MAR130281 RESURRECTION MAN TP VOL 02 MATTER OF DEATH & LIFE (N52) $14.99

APR130215 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #14 $3.99

FEB130219 STORMWATCH HC VOL 02 (RES) $29.99

MAR130282 STORMWATCH TP VOL 01 $19.99

APR130205 SUICIDE SQUAD #21 $2.99

APR130155 SUPERBOY #21 $2.99

APR130107 SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1 $4.99

APR130109 SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1 COMBO PACK $5.99

APR130190 THRESHOLD #6 $3.99

APR130149 WORLDS FINEST #13 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAR130312 MAN OF STEEL SUPERMAN VS ZOD 1:12 SCALE STATUE $124.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 12 2013

MARVEL COMICS

APR130668 ALPHA BIG TIME #5 $2.99

APR130690 ASTONISHING X-MEN #63 $3.99

MAR130732 ASTONISHING X-MEN GIFTED PROSE NOVEL MASS MARKET TP $7.99

APR130680 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #16 NOW $3.99

APR130669 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #22 $3.99

MAR130723 CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC VOL 01 CASTAWAY DIMENSION Z BK 1 NOW $24.99

APR130748 CAPTAIN MARVEL BY MANARA POSTER $8.99

APR130658 DEADPOOL #11 NOW $2.99

MAR130735 DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED TP $14.99

MAR130739 ESSENTIAL WOLVERINE TP VOL 07 $19.99

MAR130620 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #3 NOW $3.99

MAR130747 MARVEL NOIR TP DAREDEVIL CAGE IRON MAN $34.99

APR130695 MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #15 $2.99

MAR130737 MARVEL UNIVERSE WOLVERINE DIGEST TP $9.99

APR130611 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #6 NOW $3.99

APR130747 SAVAGE WOLVERINE SPIDER-MAN BY MADUREIRA POSTER $8.99

MAR138357 THANOS RISING #1 2ND PTG BIANCHI VAR NOW $3.99

APR130640 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #9 NOW $3.99

APR130673 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #27 $3.99

APR130652 UNCANNY X-FORCE #6 NOW $3.99

APR130667 VENOM #36 $2.99

APR130749 WASP BY MANARA POSTER $8.99

APR130644 WOLVERINE #4 NOW $3.99

APR130687 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #31 $3.99

APR130745 WOLVERINE COMIC READER TP #2 $3.99

MAR130738 WOLVERINE TP FIRST CUTS $19.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for June 12 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.

IDW PUBLISHING

DEC120502 COMPLETE LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE HC VOL 09 $49.99

APR130381 CROW CURARE #1 [DIG] $3.99

APR130394 DOOMSDAY.1 #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

APR130370 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CUTTER #3 [DIG] $3.99

APR130331 GI JOE HEARTS AND MINDS TP $19.99

APR130332 GI JOE IDW COLLECTION HC VOL 02 $49.99

APR130383 HALF PAST DANGER #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAR130412 MACHINE SABBATH HC $17.99

APR130364 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #8 [DIG/P+] $3.99

APR130360 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #11 [DIG/P+] $3.99

APR130318 THUMBPRINT BY JOE HILL #1 [DIG] $3.99

APR130354 TMNT SECRET HISTORY OF THE FOOT CLAN TP $17.99

APR130343 TRANSFORMERS PRIME BEAST HUNTERS #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

APR130340 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #92 [DIG/P+] $3.99