Twin Star Exorcists: Into Magano

I read Twin Star Exorcists, Vol. 2: Onmyoji

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter and Tumblr or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Review: STAR WARS #8

STAR WARS (2015) No. 8
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[A version of this review first appeared on Patreon. And visit the "Star Wars Central" review page.]

STORY: Jason Aaron
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS:  Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERS: VC's Chris Eliopoulos
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger with Justin Ponsor
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2015)

Rated T

Book II, Part I: “Showdown on the Smugglers' Moon”

I have already reviewed two issues of Marvel Comics' revival of its Star Wars comic book series, which began earlier this year and now includes two other ongoing series and two miniseries (thus far).  I reviewed Star Wars issues #1 and #7.  I did not expect to review another issue of Star Wars for at least half a year.

However, Star Wars #8 (“Showdown on the Smugglers' Moon”) introduces the new art team of penciler Stuart Immonen and inker Wade von Grawbadger.  As a team, they are known for their work on writer Brian Bendis' All-New X-Men and on All-New Captain America, in which Sam Wilson/The Falcon becomes the new Captain America.

When last we left our heroes (Star Wars #6), Princess Leia and Han Solo were traveling together, searching the galaxy for a suitable site for a new base for the Rebel Alliance.  They ran afoul of Imperial patrol ships and ended up landing on a remote planet in an uncharted region of the Outer Rim.  There, they have an even more shocking encounter when they meet a woman named Sana Solo, who claims to be Han's wife.  Sana is thinking about killing Han and selling out Leia, but the Imperials have plans of their own to pursue their quarry rebels.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker has just left his home world of Tatooine, where he discovered the secret journal left for him by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi a.k.a. “Old Ben Kenobi.”  However, Luke believes that he needs more information than what he has thus far found in the journal, if he is going to become a true Jedi.  So he decides to travel to the former home of the Jedi, but first he makes a stop on Nar Shaddaa, “The Smuggler's Moon.”

I must be honest and admit that I was shocked by the art that Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger delivered for their debut issue.  Combined with Justin Ponsor's gorgeous coloring, this team has delivered stellar work that blends the best of Adam Hughes, Bryan Hitch, and Kevin Nowlan.  Both in terms of graphical storytelling and style, Stuart and Wade create a kind of Star Wars comic book art that is classic Star Wars.  In addition, their Star Wars also recalls the vivid colors and snappy adventure storytelling of Marvel's 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy film.

Once again, the creators of a Marvel Star Wars comic book title have me chomping at the bit to read the next issue.  In the case of Star Wars, I am not ashamed to be a fanboy.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: YUKARISM Volume 4

YUKARISM, VOL. 4
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Chika Shiomi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: Rina Mapa
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7971-9; paperback (November 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

It seems as if VIZ Media published the first volume yesterday.  However, the English-language, graphic novel publication of Yukarism, the nostalgia-tinted historical romance, has come to an end.  Created by Chika Shiomi, this manga follows an accomplished teenaged author who can slip into time and  assume his past life as a courtesan.

As a 17-year-old high school student, Yukari Kobayakawa is already an accomplished author.  Yukari's historical novels are set in Japan's Edo Period of the early 1800s, of which he writes about with amazingly accurate detail.  Shockingly, Yukari has the ability to slip into a past life in the Edo period, where he is a beautiful, renowned courtesan (Oiran) named Yumurasaki.

As Yukarism, Vol. 4 (Chapters 14 to 17) opens, Yukari is confronted by his ailing health.  He seems to be afflicted by Yumurasaki's fatal illness from the past, and the reason may be because Yukari is spending more and more time in the past.

Yukari is apparently also taking his compatriots into the past.  In the past, fellow student, Mahoro Tachibana, was Shizuka Takamura, a witch-doctor who was in love with Yumurasaki.  In the Edo past, his temporary housekeeper, Katsuhiko Satomi, was Kazuma, Yumurasaki's bodyguard.  Caught in the mystic energies of the past, Mahoro believes that Kazuma killed Yumurasaki, so now, she must kill Satomi to save a life.  Are the three fated to repeat their tragic connection?

[This volume includes bonus manga.]

Like Chika Shiomi's prior series, the Yukarism manga is a short-run manga.  Yukarism Volume 4 is the final volume of this series.  The story is a fireworks-like display of mystic energies and time-shifting that rivals Steve Ditko's Doctor Strange comics.

The short bio at the back of this volume states that one of Shiomi's favorite artists is Gustav Klimt, and I can see the Klimt-ish in her art.  This final volume is filled with pages of lovely art, including many pages with big close-ups of romantic moments.  There is a happy ending, but it is as melancholy as it is sparkly and fizzy.  I like that Shiomi insists on complicating the little things and the big things.  Even here, the typical must be at least a little atypical.

Fans of Chika Shiomi will have four easy volumes in which to love the Shojo Beat title, Yukarism.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: BATMAN/SUPERMAN #21

BATMAN/SUPERMAN No. 21
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

WRITER: Greg Pak
PENCILS: Ardian Syaf
INKS: Vicente Cifuentes
COLORS: Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Ardian Syaf and Danny Miki with Ulises Arreola
VARIANT COVERS: Jock (Joker 75th Anniversary variant)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Truth Hurts” Part One

Superman and Batman have been teaming up in various comic books for decades.  The best known Superman/Batman team-up series was the long-running World's Finest Comics (1941 to 1986).  The current incarnation of a Dark Knight/Man of Steel team-up comic book is Batman/Superman, which is currently written by Greg Pak; penciled Ardian Syaf, inked by Vicente Cifuentes; colored by Ulises Arreola; and lettered by Rob Leigh.

Batman/Superman #21 (Truth Hurts” Part One) is essentially the first DCYou issue of the series.  As the story begins, Superman is fighting for his life, when he shouldn't.  You see, Superman has lost his powers (as seen in Gene Luen Yang and John Romita, Jr.'s run on Superman, beginning with issue #41), and the world knows that he is also Clark Kent.  A visit to Lex Luthor pays off in information.  The source of the thugs that are plaguing Superman seems to be located in Gotham City.  But Superman does not know about the current Batman...

I would normally not spend a dime on Batman/Superman.  If I want to read about Batman and Superman partnering up, I will read a Justice League comic book or find a back issue of World's Finest.  However, I decided “what the heck?” because I want to read as many DCYou first issues and first chapters as I can.

This actually is not bad.  Ardian Syaf's art, which is awkward like a teen boy struggling through puberty, and Greg Pak's functional storytelling capture the struggles of this “new era” in both Superman and Batman titles.  This comic book is worth reading just to see how the new status quo works out for DC Comics' “Big Two” characters as a unit, at least for the time being.  In fact, I'm curious enough to read a few more issues of (DCYou) Batman/Superman.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: MY HERO ACADEMIA Volume 2

MY HERO ACADEMIA, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Kohei Horikoshi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: John Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8270-2; paperback (November 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Mangaka Kohei Horikoshi created a short manga series, Barrage, that I enjoyed when VIZ Media published it in a two-volume set in 2012.  Horikoshi's new series, currently being published in Weekly Shonen Jump, is My Hero Academia, which VIZ Media is also publishing.

In the world of My Hero Academia, 80 percent of the population has superpowers called “Quirks.”  If you want to be a superhero, you enroll in the Hero Academy.  What would you do, however, if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?  Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but has no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes.  Then, Midoriya meets the greatest hero of them all, All Might, who gives him a chance to change his destiny…

As My Hero Academia, Vol. 2 (entitled Rage, You Damned Nerd; Chapters 8 to 17) opens, Midoriya is about to enter U.A. High School.  The 15-year-old has powers because All Might shared his abilities with him.  His mother is ever at the ready, even fashioning a superhero uniform for her boy.

The first day of school means an immediate course in battle training.  Is Midoriya ready?  He better be.  One of his opponents is a childhood friend/rival.  Plus, the villains arrive!

As a longtime fan of superhero comic books, I am delighted to read the My Hero Academia manga (thanks to a review copy from my VIZ Media rep).  Like Tiger & Bunny and One-Punch Man, My Hero Academia proves that manga can do superhero comic books that are every bit as imaginative as American superhero comics (if not more).

My Hero Academia Volume 2 finds our young hero Izuku Midoriya being thrown into the fire of serious field training.  Series creator Kohei Horikoshi shows that in superhero school, classroom study takes place on the field of battle, where saving lives is every bit as important as battling bad guys.  My Hero Academia has a comic side, but the series' humor does not come from mocking the superhero genre.  Horikoshi takes seriously the idea of being a hero – personal sacrifice to help others, and youngsters trying to learn that makes for good comedy and drama. Fans of superhero comics and shonen battle manga will want to enroll at My Hero Academia.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: THOR #337

THOR #337
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Walter Simonson
ART: Walter Simonson
COLORS: George Roussos
LETTERS: John Workman Jr.
EDITOR: Mark Gruenwald
EiC: Jim Shooter
32pp, Color, .60¢ U.S. (November 1983)

Thor, the Marvel Comics character, is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.  Marvel's the mighty Thor is the Asgardian god of thunder; possesses the enchanted hammer, Mjolnir; and is also a superhero, as well as being a member of The Avengers.

Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated August 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby.  For most of his 53 years of existence, Thor has possessed Mjolnir, which, among other superhuman attributes, grants him the ability of flight and of weather manipulation.

Thor has possessed that “enchanted hammer” for most of his comic book existence, but there have been times when Thor:  the Prince of Asgard, the one true God of Thunder, and the Odinson, has not possessed Mjolnir.  In fact, the current wielder of Mjolnir is a woman, Jane Foster, which means that she is now Thor.

Before this female Thor, the most famous example of someone wielding Mjolnir occurred in a story that started in Thor #337 (cover dated: November 1983).  This was the first chapter of the saga of Beta Ray Bill, and the first issue of comics creator Walter Simonson's acclaimed run as writer-artist of Thor, which was also known as The Mighty Thor.

Early in The Mighty Thor #337, Dr. Donald Blake, Thor's human guise, receives a surprise visit from Colonel Nick Fury, boss man of S.H.I.E.L.D.  Blake taps his cane, transforming into Thor, as he is whisked to the SHIELD Helicarrier.  Thor learns that a strange alien ship, with immensely destructive capabilities, is headed toward Earth.  Thor travels through space and forces his way into the ship, but he discovers that the ship can defend itself and it has Beta Ray Bill!

Although I owned several issues (and even a trade paperback) of Walter Simonson's run on Thor, I never owned issue #337.  Recently a friend of friend gave me a copy because he said that he had a duplicate.  Of course, I was grateful.

I think I did read #337 in trade paperback form, but I don't really remember it.  I don't know why there is a memory lapse, as #337 is an especially memorable issue of Thor.  Visually and graphically, Simonson recalls Jack Kirby's Thor comic books, but in his own inimitable style.  In a way, Simonson is a fantasy artist who can take weird and ludicrous people, beings, creatures, and environments and transform them into awe-inspiring art that seems plausible... even if they are only plausible in some fantastic world.

I think that this is what Simonson did.  He returned Thor to the fantastic world of Jack Kirby and expanded upon it.  The epic lettering of the great John Workman practically makes this comic book ring with thunder, especially when Workman adds sound effects.  Some of George Roussos' coloring hides the power of Simonson's compositions, but there are moments when the coloring perfectly gives a sense of the fire in Simonson's graphical storytelling.  After reading Thor #337, I am ready to find more duplicate issues...

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 11, 2015

DC COMICS

AUG150288     AMERICAN VAMPIRE TP VOL 07 (MR)     $14.99
SEP150250     BATMAN #46     $3.99
SEP150194     BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #6     $2.99
SEP150261     BATMAN BEYOND #6     $2.99
MAY150235     BATMAN RIP UNWRAPPED HC     $34.99
SEP150241     BATMAN SUPERMAN #26     $3.99
SEP150263     CATWOMAN #46     $2.99
SEP150206     CONSTANTINE THE HELLBLAZER #6     $2.99
SEP150211     DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #4     $3.99
SEP150309     DC PRESENTS LOIS & CLARK 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR #1     $7.99
SEP150323     FABLES THE WOLF AMONG US #11 (MR)     $3.99
AUG150270     GREEN ARROW TP VOL 07 KINGDOM     $14.99
AUG150170     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARKSEID WAR GREEN LANTERN #1     $3.99
AUG150173     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARKSEID WAR SHAZAM #1     $3.99
SEP150201     JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #15     $3.99
SEP150227     RED HOOD ARSENAL #6     $2.99
JUN150277     SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP TP VOL 02     $12.99
SEP150284     SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #63     $2.99
SEP150318     SLASH & BURN #1 (MR)     $3.99
SEP150231     STARFIRE #6     $2.99
AUG150279     SUPERMAN ADVENTURES TP VOL 01     $19.99
SEP150188     SUPERMAN AMERICAN ALIEN #1     $3.99
AUG150209     TEEN TITANS #13     $2.99
SEP150329     TWILIGHT CHILDREN #2 (MR)     $4.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

JUL150348     ARROW TV STARLING CITY POLICE BADGE     $30.00
JUN150335     BATMAN ANIMATED BAS HARLEY QUINN AF     $24.95
JUN150347     BATMAN ANIMATED NBA ROXY ROCKET DLX AF     $39.95
MAY150292     DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS HOLIDAY WONDER WOMAN STATUE     $124.95
JUN150345     DC COMICS SUPER PETS DEX STARR PLUSH FIGURE     $14.95
JUN150346     DC COMICS SUPER PETS STREAKY PLUSH FIGURE     $14.95