Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUN140016     BPRD PLAGUE OF FROGS TP VOL 01     $19.99
AUG140087     BTVS SEASON 10 #8 MAIN CVR     $3.50
AUG140097     COLDER BAD SEED #1     $3.99
AUG140071     FATHERS DAY #1     $3.99
JUN140081     GANTZ TP VOL 33 (MR)     $13.99
AUG140027     HALO ESCALATION #11     $3.99
AUG140075     POP #3     $3.99
AUG140010     PREDATOR FIRE AND STONE #1     $3.50
JUL140139     SKY ART OF FINAL FANTASY HC VOL 01     $29.99
MAY140082     TERMINATOR ENEMY OF MY ENEMY #6     $3.99
AUG140028     TOMB RAIDER #9     $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

IMAGE COMICS

AUG140641     DEAD AT 17 BLASPHEMY THRONE #3     $3.50
JUL130522     DREAM MERCHANT #5 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140644     DRUMHELLAR #10 (MR)     $3.50
JUN140550     ELEPHANTMEN #60 (MR)     $3.99
AUG140647     FIVE GHOSTS #13     $3.50
JUL148416     FIVE GHOSTS #13 CVR B BLANK SKETCH CVR     $3.50
AUG140543     GONERS #1     $2.99
AUG140657     LAZARUS #12 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140665     ODDLY NORMAL #2 CVR A FRAMPTON     $2.99
AUG140666     ODDLY NORMAL #2 CVR B GUILLORY     $2.99
AUG148326     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #1 5TH PTG (MR)     $2.99
AUG140671     REVIVAL #24 (MR)     $2.99
JUL140596     RISE O/T MAGI #1-4 SIGNED SET ED     $29.99
JUL140573     SHELTERED #12 (MR)     $2.99
JUL140577     STARLIGHT #6 CVR A CASSADAY (MR)     $4.99
JUL140578     STARLIGHT #6 CVR B CHIANG (MR)     $4.99
AUG140683     STRAY BULLETS THE KILLERS #8 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140567     WALKING DEAD #133 (MR)     $2.99
AUG140694     WICKED & DIVINE #5 (MR)     $3.50
AUG148290     WICKED & DIVINE #5 CVR B CLOONAN (MR)     $3.50
JUL140591     WILDFIRE #4 CVR A LINDA SEJIC     $3.99
JUL140592     WILDFIRE #4 CVR B STJEPAN SEJIC     $3.99
AUG140697     ZERO #11 CVR A ORTIZ & MULLER (MR)     $2.99
AUG140698     ZERO #11 CVR B HORROCKS & MULLER (MR)     $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for October 22, 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN141439     13 COINS #1 (MR)     $3.99
JUL148466     AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE MAGAZINE #1     $4.99
AUG141390     ALICE COOPER #2 RARE MACK VIRGIN ART ED     $50.00
JUL141405     ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF DIAMONDS BET MY HEART GN VOL 01 (MR)     $13.99
AUG141540     ANIMAL LAND GN VOL 10     $10.99
JUL141407     ARPEGGIO OF BLUE STEEL GN VOL 02 (MR)     $12.99
JUL141013     BEE AND PUPPYCAT #5 MAIN CVRS     $3.99
AUG141339     BIONIC WOMAN SEASON FOUR #2     $3.99
AUG141768     BLACK BIRD COMPLETE GN BOX SET     $149.99
JUL148303     BOBS BURGERS #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
AUG141506     BRAINSTORM #2 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141183     BUTTERFLY #2 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141293     CHAOS CHOSEN ONE SHOT     $7.99
AUG141161     CLIVE BARKERS NIGHTBREED #6 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141709     COMP QUANTUM & WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUS HC     $99.99
AUG141070     CROSSED SPECIAL 2014 (MR)     $5.99
AUG141071     CROSSED SPECIAL 2014 TORTURE CVR (MR)     $5.99
AUG141072     CROSSED SPECIAL 2014 WRAP CVR (MR)     $5.99
AUG141727     DELINQUENTS #3 BOARD GAME CVR DOE (VF)     $3.99
AUG141725     DELINQUENTS #3 REG CVR RIVERA (VF)     $3.99
JUN141198     DF AMAZING SPIDER MAN #1.4 SGN ALEX ROSS     PI
APR141189     DF AMAZING SPIDER MAN 1.1 GOLD ELITE LEE SGN     $699.99
MAY141396     DF BATMAN 66 MEETS GREEN HORNET #2 ROSS SGN     PI
JUN141199     DF BATMAN 66 MEETS GREEN HORNET #3 SGN ROSS     PI
FEB141255     DF MAGNETO #1 SGN STAN LEE     $399.99
APR141194     DF ORIGINAL SIN #1 STAN LEE SGN     $499.99
JUL140774     EMPIRE OF THE WOLF GN (MR)     $14.99
AUG141398     EVIL ERNIE #1 RARE MANGUM OLD SCHOOL VIRGIN ED     $50.00
AUG141397     EVIL ERNIE #1 RARE RAFAEL CHAOTIC GREEN ED     $50.00
AUG141395     EVIL ERNIE #1 RARE SEELEY CHAOTIC GREEN ED     $50.00
AUG141815     GFT DARK SHAMAN #1 A CVR KROME (MR)     $3.99
AUG141816     GFT DARK SHAMAN #1 B CVR MYCHAELS (MR)     $3.99
AUG141817     GFT DARK SHAMAN #1 C CVR QUALANO (MR)     $3.99
AUG141801     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #103 A CVR CHEN (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141802     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #103 B CVR QUALANO (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141803     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #103 C CVR METCALF (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141804     GFT INFERNO RINGS OF HELL #3 A CVR PANTALENA (AOFD)(MR)     $3.99
AUG141805     GFT INFERNO RINGS OF HELL #3 B CVR REI (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141806     GFT INFERNO RINGS OF HELL #3 C CVR VALENTINO (AOFD)(MR)     $3.99
AUG141826     GFT VS WONDERLAND #4 A CVR MALSUNI (MR)     $2.99
AUG141827     GFT VS WONDERLAND #4 B CVR EL TABANAS (MR)     $2.99
AUG141828     GFT VS WONDERLAND #4 C CVR PESSANHA (MR)     $2.99
JUL141409     HAGANAI I DONT HAVE MANY FRIENDS GN VOL 09 (MR)     $12.99
AUG141156     HELLRAISER DARK WATCH TP VOL 03 (MR)     $19.99
AUG140941     HERO CATS #2     $3.99
AUG141258     HUGH HOWEYS WOOL #4     $3.99
JUL141042     JACK THE LANTERN SALVATION #1 (MR)     $2.95
JUL141043     JACK THE LANTERN TP VOL 01 (MR)     $12.95
JUL140829     JUGHEAD & ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST ANNUAL #6 (NOTE PRICE)     $5.99
AUG141358     JUSTICE INC #3 CVR A FRANCAVILLA     $3.99
AUG141359     JUSTICE INC #3 CVR B HARDMAN     $3.99
AUG141360     JUSTICE INC #3 CVR C SYAF     $3.99
AUG141357     JUSTICE INC #3 MAIN ROSS     $3.99
AUG141364     LADY ZORRO #4     $3.99
AUG141584     LETTER 44 #11     $3.99
AUG141493     MAGIC WIND GN VOL 05 LONG KNIFE     $12.99
AUG141144     MEMETIC #1     $4.99
JUL140758     MEN OF MYSTERY #94     $29.95
AUG142824     MINECRAFT OFFICIAL MOJANG COMPLETE HANDBOOK COLL     PI
JUL141334     MONOMYTH #3     $3.99
AUG141765     MONSTER TP VOL 02 PERFECT ED URASAWA     $19.99
SEP141384     MOOMIN DLX ANNIVERSARY ED HC     $69.95
AUG141647     MOTHERLESS OVEN GN     $19.95
JUL141063     NEIL GAIMAN THE LAST TEMPTATION HC SGN ED     $75.00
JUL141369     NINJAGO HC VOL 11 COMET CRISIS     $12.99
AUG141545     NO 6 GN VOL 09     $10.99
JUL141411     NO GAME NO LIFE GN VOL 01     $12.99
JUL141446     ORDINARY HC     $19.99
AUG141376     RED SONJA TP VOL 02 ART BLOOD & FIRE     $19.99
AUG141204     REGULAR SHOW #16     $3.99
AUG141546     SANKAREA GN VOL 09     $10.99
AUG141527     SHAMANISM HC (MR)     $24.95
AUG141528     SON OF THE GUN HC (MR)     $34.95
JUL140840     SONIC SAGA TP VOL 06 MOGUL RISING     $11.99
JUL140771     SOUTHERN DOG #2 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141378     STEAMPUNK BSG 1880 #3     $3.99
AUG141577     STUMPTOWN V3 #2     $3.99
AUG141766     SUNNY HC VOL 04     $22.99
JUL141038     TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #88 DLX ED (MR)     $19.99
JUN141438     THIRD TESTAMENT HC VOL 01 LION AWAKES     $9.99
AUG141550     TOWER CHRONICLES DREADSTALKER #3     $3.99
AUG141551     TOWN CALLED DRAGON #2     $3.99
JUL141153     TWILIGHT ZONE #9     $3.99
SEP141441     USAGI YOJIMBO SC VOL 07 GENS STORY (NEW PTG)     $18.99
AUG141776     VAGABOND GN VOL 36 (MR)     $9.95
AUG141409     VAMPIRELLA FEARY TALES #1 ADAMS VIRGIN ED     $50.00
AUG141407     VAMPIRELLA FEARY TALES #1 JUSKO VIRGIN ED     $50.00
AUG141389     VAMPIRELLA PRELUDE TO SHADOWS ONE SHOT     $7.99
JUN141340     WASTELAND APOCALYPTIC ED VOL 04 (MR)     $39.99
AUG141749     WITCHCRAFT WORKS GN VOL 01     $12.95
AUG141013     WORLD OF ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #44     $4.99

MAGAZINES
JUL141385     2000 AD PACK SEP 2014     PI
AUG141958     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1427     PI
AUG141963     FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #276     $9.99
FEB141664     FANGORIA #336     $10.99
JUN141704     FANGORIA PRESENTS SCREAM FACTORY SPECIAL     $10.00
JUN141706     HOBBY JAPAN SEP 2014     $16.60
AUG141975     LOCUS #645     $7.50
MAY141879     MEGAMI AUG 2014     $16.60
AUG141678     MONSTER HIGH MAGAZINE #10     $4.99
MAY141880     NEWTYPE AUG 2014     $16.00
MAY141873     RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #149     $9.95
AUG141976     STAR TREK MAGAZINE #51 NEWSSTAND ED     $9.99
AUG141977     STAR TREK MAGAZINE #51 PX ED     $9.99
AUG141978     STAR WARS INSIDER #153 NEWSSTAND ED     $7.99
AUG141979     STAR WARS INSIDER #153 PX ED     $7.99
AUG141682     STAR WARS MAGAZINE #3     $4.99

BOOKS
JUL141640     BATMAN FILES SC     $45.00
AUG141850     BROM SKETCHES DRAWINGS & MUSINGS SIGNED SKETCHBOOK (MR)     $10.00
JUL141267     COLONIAL COMICS NEW ENGLAND 1620-1750 TP     $25.95
JUL141408     DANCE IN VAMPIRE BUND SECRET CHRONICLES (MR)     $14.99
AUG141874     GEORGE RR MARTIN ICE DRAGON ILLUS NOVEL HC     $14.99
AUG141919     ON SET WITH JOHN CARPENTER HC     $29.95
AUG141763     PRINCESS MONONOKE FIRST STORY HC     $34.99
JUL141679     ROBOCOP DEFINITIVE HISTORY HC     $34.95
AUG141923     SOFT NUDES FOR DEVILS BUTCHER FROM MENS ADV MAG SC (MR)     $29.95
AUG142791     WARHAMMER 40K ANGELS OF DEATH OMNIBUS SC     $17.50

Happy Marriage?! - True Married Couple

I read Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 8

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is asking for donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: TUKI #1

TÜKI #1
CARTOON BOOKS – @cartoonbooksinc

CARTOONIST: Jeff Smith – @jeffsmithbone
COLORS: Tom Gaadt
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Tüki is the latest comics project from cartoonist Jeff Smith, the award-winning creator of the comic book series, Bone and Rasl.  Tüki began publication in late 2013 as a webcomic published on Smith's website, Boneville.com.  Tüki has already won a 2014 National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award in the category of “Online-Long Form,” for webcomics.  About four months ago, Cartoon Books began publishing Tüki as a full-color comic book.  According to information found in the comic book, Tüki is the story of the first human to leave Africa.

Tüki #1 introduces the title character, Tüki, a male character.  Tüki belongs to one of the early hominid species, Homo erectus, which were apparently the first humans to harness fire and to leave Africa.  Tüki takes place during an as yet indeterminate time, but it seems to be several millenia after the Ice Age changed the world 2,000,000 years ago.  During his search for food and water, Tüki encounters a strange old man who belongs to another early hominid species, Homo habilus.  The old man insists that he has an important message for Tüki, or, at least, he thinks it's important.

The art in Tüki #1 is printed in the landscape format, so reading it is like trying to read several pages of a wall calendar.  Normally, I would be annoyed by this, except that the art is so beautiful, not only because of Smith's compositions, but also because of Tom Gaadt's lush and shimmering coloring.  As a visual experience, this reminds me of Walt Disney's classic animated feature film, The Lion King.

The story is intriguing.  It takes place in a part of human history in which so little is known, and that gives Tüki #1 the feel of a mystery story.  Smith's art captures the naturalism of living hand-to-mouth and by one's wits and the skills learned and experience gained.  This matter-of-fact way of survival adds to the sense of the unknown or even the unknowable.

There is always a sense of mystery about Jeff Smith's comics, as if there is a great unknown hiding far back in each panel, too far to be seen by the reader.  So I need to read more before I can definitively or at least solidly grade this, but I can say at this point that it's quite good.  I'm intrigued, so I will give it a tentative grade.

A-

http://www.boneville.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Review: VAMPIRE KNIGHT Volume 19

VAMPIRE KNIGHT, VOL. 19
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Matsuri Hino
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
LETTERS: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7391-5; paperback (October 2014); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Vampire Knight is a shojo manga series written and drawn by manga creator, Matsuri Hino.  The series premiered and was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, LaLa.  VIZ Media publishes Vampire Knight in North America, collecting the manga in a series of graphic novels.  VIZ Media recently published Vampire Knight Volume 19, the final volume of the graphic novel series.

Vampire Knight is set in and around Cross Academy.  This is a private boarding school with two classes:  the Day Class and the Night Class.  At twilight, the Day Class students return to their dorm and cross paths with the Night Class.  They don't know that the Night Class students are actually vampires.  Yuki Cross is the adopted daughter of Headmaster Kaien Cross, and she is also a pure-blood vampire.  Zero Kiryu is a human suffering from the curse of the vampire.  Together, they are the Guardians of the school, patrolling the hallways and school grounds to protect the Day Class humans from the Night Class vampires.

As Vampire Knight, Vol. 19 (Chapters 89 to 92 to The Final Night) opens, Cross Academy will be closed again.  This time it will become the headquarters of the Hunter Society.  Meanwhile, Yuki has stolen Zero's memories of her to free him, and she plans on giving her own life to turn her brother, the pure-blood vampire, Kaname Kuran, into a human.

Kaname, however, plans to die so that his body can create new vampire-killing weapons for the Hunter Society.  The other vampires are determined to stop him, and that means war between humans and vampires.  Eternity is at stake, and Yuki and Kaname try to change destiny.

So the Vampire Knight manga has come to an end, and I didn't see it coming.  I don't know if other regular readers of the series will be satisfied with this finale.  I'm not.  Vampire Knight Volume 19 is not of poor quality.  It just seems like an untidy semi-rush job on the part of creator, Matsuri Hino.  Or maybe I'm in denial.

Vampire Knight has always been melodramatic, edgy, and bloody, and Vol. 19 is certainly that.  As usual, all the characters seem emotionally, if not mentally unhinged in this final graphic novel, and that offers some enjoyable vampire soap opera.  To the end, it's all crazy love, so at least the narrative is consistent to the end.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #50

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #50
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Georgia Ball, Dan Abnett
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds, Anthony Williams
INKS: Scott Jeralds, Jeff Albrecht
COLORS: Candace Schinzler-Bell, Paul Becton
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Jenna Garcia
EDITOR: Aniz Adam Ansari
COVER: Scott Jeralds and Candace Schinzler-Bell
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (November 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

A little over a year ago, I bought a subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  The school my nephew attends was selling magazine subscriptions as a fundraiser, for the entire school or a for particular program – I don't remember.  While reading the fund-raising brochure, I saw that a subscription to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Was offered, and I thought, “I wanna read that!”  Well, issue #50 is the last of my subscription, and I am still deciding if I want to renew.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50 opens with “The Scare Witch Project” (written by Georgia Ball and drawn by Scott Jeralds).  Mystery Inc. is in British Columbia for some skiing, when they discover that the ski lodge where they are staying is being terrorized by a “spirit.”  That spirit is “The Dzunakwa,” a witch of legend that haunts the woods of British Columbia.  And, of course, the gang won't let any witch or spirit mess up their vacation.

“The Italian Hellion!” (written by Dan Abnett and drawn by Anthony Williams and Jeff Albrecht) finds the gang overseas in Venice, Italy.  Velma wants to see the sites of an historic city.  Fred and Daphne are there for the romance.  Of course, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo look forward to spaghetti, meatballs, and the annual Gelato Festival.  Instead, they find their plans delayed by the mystery of the “Phantom of the Canals.”  This ghostly gondolier has apparently come back to haunt Venice, but Mystery Inc. plans to put this phantom out of business.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50 offers two of my favorite kinds of Scooby-Doo adventures:  the mystery set in a snowy climate and the case set in an international locale.  “The Scare Witch Project” is the new story, and “The Italian Hellion!” is a reprint from the previous series (Scooby-Doo #56).  In fact, both stories feature the kind of faux-supernatural adversary similar to the types that appeared in early Scooby-Doo animated series.  I wouldn't mind seeing the Phantom of the Canals, again.

I also noticed something a little strange about the art.  Scott Jeralds replicates classic animated Mystery Inc. in “The Scare Witch Project.”  The Scooby gang members look like they should, and Jeralds also draws the other characters so that they are graphically and visually similar to the gang.  In “The Italian Hellion,” penciller Anthony Williams draws Mystery Inc. in their classic look, but the other characters look as if they were drawn by a different artist.  Odd, at least, I think so.

Should I continue past Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50?  I am having a good time...

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.