Dorohedoro: The Hole is Not Hogwart's

I read Dorohedoro, Vol. 10

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

I Reads You Review: THE BOOKS OF MAGIC Book 1

THE BOOKS OF MAGIC, BOOK 1 (OF 4)
DC COMICS

WRITER: Neil Gaiman
ARTIST: John Bolton
LETTERS: Todd Klein
EDITOR: Karen Berger
48pp, Color, $3.95 U.S., $4.75 CAN (1990)

The Books of Magic was a four-issue comic book miniseries written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics.  The series focuses on a boy named Timothy “Tim” Hunter, who has the potential to become the world’s greatest magician.

Each issue (or “book”) was drawn by a different artist:  Book I by John Bolton; Book II by Scott Hampton; Book III by Charles Vess; and Book IV by Paul Johnson.  In addition to Hunter, the book also features four characters who take it upon themselves to introduce Hunter to the world of magic (as it exists in the DC Comics Universe):  The Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Doctor Occult, and Mr. E.  Constantine mockingly refers to himself and the others as “the Trenchcoat Brigade.”

The Books of Magic, Book I is entitled “The Invisible Labyrinth.”  The Phantom Stranger takes Tim on a journey through the history of the DC Universe.  The story begins with the Trenchcoat Brigade debating if and how they should help Hunter.  Eventually, the story moves the Phantom Stranger and Hunter back through time so that the boy can experience ancient figures speaking of the high cost of magic.  DC Comics magical characters that appear in Book I include, Merlin, Jason Blood, Dr. Fate/Kent Nelson, Zatara, and Sargon the Sorcerer/John Sargent.

If I remember correctly, I read one or two issues of The Books of Magic, but I did not read the story in its entirety until the first trade paperback collection, which had an introduction by author Roger Zelazny, was published in 1991 (I think).  However, I have not read the story since then (which is something like over twenty years), nor have I ever read the ongoing series that spun off from the original miniseries.

Reading The Books of Magic again, I am not only surprised by how humorous it is, but also how often the story shifts in terms of tone and mood.  Gaiman presents the gathering of The Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Doctor Occult, and Mr. E, as if it were a regular meeting between bickering old pals, which I thinks encourages the readers to want to get to know all four characters better or, in some cases, for the first time.  That humor is mostly conveyed in the dialogue, because John Bolton’s art, as effective as it is for most of the first book, does not capture the nuances and little bits of humor that Gaiman is giving to the characters in the first ten or so pages.

Bolton’s strength comes through once the Phantom Stranger and Tim Hunter begin their journey.  Gaiman portrays magic, not as a happy thing ready to pull anything out of thin air.  He is philosophical about it, imparting to his readers that it comes with a cost, in that magic may take much more than it ever gives.  Bolton depicts magic in all the diversity of its earthly incarnations, while encapsulating the interplay between the dark and the light, the beautiful and the unsightly, and the alien and the familiar.  Bolton makes DC Comics’ nonsensical ‘bible” of magic visually and graphically dark, ambiguous, intriguing, and even alluring.

The Books of Magic, Book I: The Invisible Labyrinth will make you want to read the rest of the series.  I had forgotten how special this series was and is.  I doubt DC Comics could do something like this again, even they tried.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Tegami Bachi: A Letter from Mother

I read Tegami Bachi, Vol. 14

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics)

Review: STAR WARS: LEGACY Volume 2 #5

STAR WARS: LEGACY VOLUME 2 #5
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

SCRIPT: Corrina Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
ART: Gabriel Hardman
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Dave Wilkins
EDITOR: Randy Stradley
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (July 2013)

Prisoner of the Floating World: Part Five

“Prisoner of the Floating World,” the first story arc of the recently launched Star Wars comic book series, Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2, comes to an end.  According to publisher, Dark Horse Comics, Legacy Volume 2 takes place “approximately 138 years after the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”  Legacy Volume 2 focuses on junk dealer Ania Solo, the great-great granddaughter of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo.

The storyline began when Miss Solo finds a battered Imperial communications droid and a lost lightsaber.  Because of these finds, Ania ends up on the run with her friend Sauk, an ice harvester and refugee from Mon Calamari.  Later, AG-37, an ancient assassin droid, joins them.  Meanwhile, young Imperial Knight, Jao Assam, searches for the master to whom he is apprenticed, Imperial Knight Yalta Val.  The quartet becomes involved in a Sith conspiracy centered on the building of a communications array in the Carreras System.

Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 #5 opens with Ania blaming herself for everything bad that has happened and rejecting any connections that she has to a family legacy.  Now, Ania finds herself racing between a planetoid and the space station that holds the Carreras System’s communications array, which are on a collision course.  The Sith behind this new conspiracy reveals himself as Darth Wredd, and he stands between Ania and her comrades and escape.

This final issue of Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2’s first story arc has forced me to make this clear.  Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 is the best new Star Wars comic book series of 2013 – better even than Brian Wood and Carlos D’Anda’s new eponymous Star Wars comic book series that has been getting a lot of attention.  Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2 is the best Star Wars comic book since Marvel Comics’ Star Wars (1977 to 1986).

Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2’s creative team of Corrina Bechko and Gabriel Hardman are creating Star Wars Expanded Universe fiction that recalls George Lucas’ original Star Wars films.  I don’t know how long Bechko and Hardman will work on Legacy Volume 2, as I’m certain Marvel or DC Comics will hire them away from Dark Horse, if they have not already done so.  In the meantime, we have this great comic book series.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: MAGI: The Labyrinth of Magic Volume 1

MAGI, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Shinobu Ohtaka
TRANSLATION: John Werry
LETTERS: Steve Dutro
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5951-3; paperback (August 2013); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is a fantasy and adventure shonen manga (comics for teen boys) from creator, Shinobu Ohtaka.  The series made its debut in Japan in Weekly Shonen Jump back in June 2009.  The manga made its American debut this week.

Magi is a manga set in an alternate recreation of the ancient Old World (perhaps, ancient Persia).  About 14 years before the story begins, several magic castles (of various architectural styles) began to appear.  Full of treasures and traps, these mysterious ruins are known as “Dungeons.”  Two new friends are about to embark on a dangerous and deadly adventure into a Dungeon to find fortune and glory.

Magi, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 7) introduces Aladdin, a scruffy young boy, who travels the world.  In his possession is a metal flute, and when he blows on it, out pops a headless, muscular, behemoth named Ugo; he’s a djinn.  Aladdin meets Alibaba Saluja, a young man who seeks his destiny in a dungeon.  Together, Aladdin and Alibaba enter Dungeon No. 7: Amon, which is inside the Oasis of Qishan.  Jamil, who is Lord of the Oasis of Qishan, is also interested in that same Dungeon.

The early chapters of the Magi manga were not particularly interesting to me.  Once Aladdin meets Alibaba, the story picks up its pace and also gains a purpose – the Dungeon quest.  When the main characters reveal their goals and obstacles, the story starts to get interesting.  Magi Volume 1 also gives a glimpse the adversaries to come for Aladdin and Alibaba.

The style of the art by Magi creator Shinobu Ohtaka is similar to the art of Yuuki Iinuma, creator of the Itsuwaribito manga.  That’s where the comparisons end, as Magi lacks the edginess of Itsuwaribito.  The rating for Magi is “T for Teen,” but the tone of the story will make it more attractive to middle school and ‘tween readers and not so much older teen readers.  Magi is a straight-forward, fun to read adventure, part Prince of Persia and part Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Readers looking for treasure-hunting adventure will want to try Magi.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 14 2013

DC COMICS

JUN130290 ASTRO CITY #3 $3.99
JUN130210 BATGIRL #23 $2.99
JUN130199 BATMAN #23 $3.99
JUN130202 BATMAN #23 COMBO PACK $4.99
JUN130250 BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #17 $3.99
JUN130279 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #5 $2.99
JUN130162 CONSTANTINE #6 $2.99
JUN130234 DEMON KNIGHTS #23 $2.99
MAY130253 DJANGO UNCHAINED #6 (MR) $4.99
APR130222 FLASH HC VOL 02 ROGUES REVOLUTION (N52) $24.99
MAY130224 FLASH TP VOL 01 MOVE FORWARD (N52) $16.99
JUN130221 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #23 $2.99
JUN130146 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7 (TRINITY) $3.99
JUN130149 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7 COMBO PACK (TRINITY) $4.99
JUN130167 KATANA #7 $2.99
JUN130216 NIGHTWING #23 $2.99
MAY130230 NIGHTWING OLD FRIENDS NEW ENEMIES TP $14.99
MAY130262 RIGHT STATE TP (MR) $16.99
JUN130255 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #16 $3.99
MAY130214 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 TP VOL 02 DETECTIVE $14.99
JUN130239 SUICIDE SQUAD #23 $2.99
JUN130191 SUPERBOY #23 $2.99
JUN130229 THRESHOLD #8 $3.99
JUN130175 WORLDS FINEST #15 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 14 2013

MARVEL COMICS

MAY130736 ALPHA TP BIG TIME $16.99
JUN130663 ASTONISHING X-MEN #65 $3.99
JUN130596 AVENGERS ARENA #13 $2.99
MAY130721 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE TP SCIENCE BROS NOW $16.99
JUN130656 DEADPOOL #14 $2.99
MAY138362 DEXTER #1 2ND PTG DEL MUNDO VAR $3.99
MAY130742 DR STRANGE AND DR DOOM TP TRIUMPH AND TORMENT $16.99
MAY130746 ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 09 $19.99
JUN130630 FANTASTIC FOUR #11 $2.99
JUN130625 FEARLESS DEFENDERS #8 $3.99
MAY130725 FEARLESS DEFENDERS TP VOL 01 DOOM MAIDENS NOW $15.99
MAY130733 FIRST X-MEN TP $19.99
JUN130572 INFINITY #1 $4.99
JUN130637 MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #17 $2.99
JUN130609 SCARLET SPIDER #20 $2.99
MAY130612 SECRET AVENGERS #7 NOW $3.99
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JUN130622 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #11 $3.99
JUN130604 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #30 $3.99
JUN130655 UNCANNY X-FORCE #10 $3.99
JUN130642 UNCANNY X-MEN #10 $3.99
JUN130650 WOLVERINE #8 $3.99
JUN130648 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #34 $3.99
MAY130729 WOLVERINE TP VOL 01 HUNTING SEASON NOW $17.99
MAR130728 X-FORCE PREM HC PHALANX COVENANT $39.99
JUN130700 X-MEN BATTLE OF ATOM BY ARTHUR ADAMS POSTER $8.99