Monday, December 5, 2016

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 7, 2016

DARK HORSE COMICS

SEP160038    ALIENS DEFIANCE #7    $3.99
AUG160082    BALTIMORE HC VOL 07 EMPTY GRAVES    $24.99
SEP160042    BOUNTY #5 (OF 10)    $3.99
AUG160052    CONAN OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 BIRTH OF LEGEND    $24.99
AUG160091    CREEPY ARCHIVES HC VOL 25    $49.99
AUG160128    GAME OF THRONES FIGURE SON OF HARPY    $24.99
JUL160084    PREDATOR VS JUDGE DREDD VS ALIENS #3    $3.99
OCT160062    RISE OF THE BLACK FLAME #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
AUG160019    STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION ADULT COLORING BOOK    $14.99
AUG160018    STAR TREK ORIGINAL SERIES ADULT COLORING BOOK    $14.99
AUG160056    WORLD OF TANKS #3    $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 7, 2016

IMAGE COMICS

SEP160715    ARCLIGHT #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT160671    BEAUTY TP VOL 02 (MR)    $14.99
OCT160559    BLACK SCIENCE #26 (MR)    $3.99
OCT160677    BLACK SCIENCE TP VOL 05 TRUE ATONEMENT (MR)    $14.99
JUL160815    BLUE MONDAY TP VOL 02 ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS    $14.99
OCT160604    CANNIBAL #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT160606    ECLIPSE #4    $3.99
OCT160610    GLITTERBOMB #4 CVR A MORISSETTE-PHAN (MR)    $3.99
OCT160611    GLITTERBOMB #4 CVR B JAMEUS (MR)    $3.99
OCT160683    I HATE FAIRYLAND TP VOL 02 FLUFF MY LIFE    $14.99
SEP160732    INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #13 (MR)    $3.99
SEP160733    ISLAND #13 (MR)    $7.99
OCT160552    MOTOR CRUSH #1 CVR A TARR    $3.99
OCT160553    MOTOR CRUSH #1 CVR B STEWART    $3.99
OCT160624    NAILBITER #27 (MR)    $2.99
SEP160787    ODYC HC VOL 01 CYCLE ONE (MR)    $49.99
SEP160780    ONE WEEK IN THE LIBRARY GN (MR)    $9.99
OCT160631    REVIVAL #45 (MR)    $3.99
JUL160771    RINGSIDE #8 (MR)    $3.99
JUL160775    SAVAGE DRAGON #218 (MR)    $3.99
OCT160707    SPREAD TP VOL 03 NO SAFE PLACE    $14.99
SEP168902    VIOLENT LOVE #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
OCT160646    VIOLENT LOVE #2 CVR A SANTOS (MR)    $3.99
OCT160647    VIOLENT LOVE #2 CVR B SANTOS (MR)    $3.99
OCT160648    WALKING DEAD #161 CVR A ADLARD & STEWART (MR)    $2.99
OCT160649    WALKING DEAD #161 CVR B CONNECTING ADAMS & FAIRBAIRN (MR)    $2.99
OCT160652    WICKED & DIVINE #24 CVR A MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR)    $3.50
OCT160653    WICKED & DIVINE #24 CVR B BARTEL (MR)    $3.50
SEP168790    WICKED & DIVINE 1831 ONE SHOT 2ND PTG    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 7, 2016

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT162003    A&A #10 CVR A LEE    $3.99
OCT162004    A&A #10 CVR B CHOI    $3.99
OCT162005    A&A #10 CVR C CAT COSPLAY VAR    $3.99
AUG161769    ADV OF BASIL AND MOEBIUS VOL 04 THE FATE OF ALL FOOLS    $18.99
OCT161333    ADVENTURE TIME #59    $3.99
OCT161334    ADVENTURE TIME #59 SUBSCRIPTION WARREN VAR    $3.99
AUG161391    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #1 SDCC EXC    $9.99
OCT161104    ANIMOSITY #1 5TH PTG    $3.99
OCT161190    ARCHIE 75TH ANNIV DIGEST #4    $6.99
SEP161295    ARCHIE TP VOL 02    $19.99
OCT161434    ARMY OF DARKNESS ASH FOR PRESIDENT ONE SHOT DREAD LTD ED    $19.92
AUG161917    ASSASSINS CREED TEMPLARS #8 CVR A CALERO    $3.99
AUG161918    ASSASSINS CREED TEMPLARS #8 CVR B MYERS    $3.99
AUG161919    ASSASSINS CREED TEMPLARS #8 CVR C FUSO    $3.99
AUG168226    ATOLL #1 (MR)    $3.99
OCT161045    AWAKE TP VOL 02 ESCAPE FROM GREMON    $14.99
OCT161623    BARBARELLA HC (MR)    $24.95
OCT161438    BATTLESTAR GALACTICA GODS & MONSTERS #2 CVR A MORGAN    $3.99
OCT161439    BATTLESTAR GALACTICA GODS & MONSTERS #2 CVR B WOODS    $3.99
OCT161341    BELLADONNA #3 (MR)    $5.99
OCT161346    BELLADONNA #3 BLOOD LUST CVR (MR)    $5.99
OCT161353    BELLADONNA #3 BLOOD LUST NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
OCT161347    BELLADONNA #3 KILLER BODY CVR (MR)    $5.99
OCT161351    BELLADONNA #3 KILLER BODY NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
OCT161349    BELLADONNA #3 NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
OCT161343    BELLADONNA #3 SHIELD MAIDEN CVR (MR)    $5.99
OCT161352    BELLADONNA #3 SHIELD MAIDEN NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
OCT161342    BELLADONNA #3 WRAP CVR (MR)    $5.99
OCT161350    BELLADONNA #3 WRAP NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
OCT161306    BIG TROUBLE LITTLE CHINA ESCAPE NEW YORK #3    $3.99
OCT161307    BIG TROUBLE LITTLE CHINA ESCAPE NEW YORK #3 SUBSCRIPTION POW    $3.99
OCT162039    BLOODY MARY GN VOL 05    $9.99
OCT161428    BOBS BURGERS ONGOING TP VOL 04 CHARBROILED    $14.99
SEP161393    BOOM BOX 2016 MIX TAPE #1    $9.99
SEP168396    BRITANNIA #2 (OF 4) 2ND PTG    $3.99
OCT161624    BY THE NUMBERS GN    $24.95
OCT161887    CHIMERA BRIGADE #3 (OF 4) CVR A DI MEO    $3.99
OCT161888    CHIMERA BRIGADE #3 (OF 4) CVR B QUALANO    $3.99
OCT161889    CHIMERA BRIGADE #3 (OF 4) CVR C MCCREA    $3.99
OCT161061    CIRCLE #1 CVR A ZHERNO (MR)    $3.99
OCT161062    CIRCLE #1 CVR B SHAVRIN (MR)    $4.99
AUG161810    COLDEST WINTER HC (MR)    $19.99
AUG161126    COMIC FANDOM QUARTERLY #8    $5.95
AUG161311    COMPLETE FRANK MILLER ROBOCOP OMNIBUS TP    $39.99
AUG161551    DEAN KOONTZ FRANKENSTEIN STORM SURGE HC SGN LTD ED    $39.99
OCT161445    DEJAH THORIS SOLDIER OF MEMORY TP    $19.99
OCT161529    DF BATMAN #1 DF EXC JAE LEE PLUS 2    $29.99
OCT161532    DF BATMAN TMNT #1 DF EXC ADAMS CVR SET    $39.99
OCT161516    DF CHAMPIONS #1 DF EXC CASSADAY    $19.75
AUG161601    DF DEADPOOL AND MERCS FOR MONEY #1 HAESER SKETCH    $79.99
OCT161531    DF HARLEY QUINN #1 DF EXC PLUS 2    $29.99
SEP161640    DF HARLEY QUINN MEETS BATMAN & JOKER DF TRIFECTA PK    $49.99
MAY161479    DF JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 DANIEL SGN    $19.60
OCT161528    DF JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 DF EXC KIRKHAM PLUS 2    $29.99
OCT161530    DF STAR TREK GREEN LANTERN #1 DF EXC LEE PLUS 2    $29.99
SEP161658    DF STAR WARS #1 DF EXC LAND CVR PLUS 2    $19.77
OCT161525    DF SUICIDE SQUAD #1 DF GEEK FUEL EXC TAN    $29.99
SEP161659    DF VADER DOWN #1 DF EXC COIPEL CVR PLUS 2    $19.77
JUL161914    DOCTOR WHO 12TH YEAR TWO #12 CVR A RONALD    $3.99
DEC151622    DRAGONS DEFENDERS OF BERK GN VOL 02 SNOWMAGEDDON    $6.99
OCT161781    EVIL DEAD 2 MERRY DEADITE XMAS ONE SHOT    $3.99
OCT161979    FAITH (ONGOING) #6 CVR A TAN    $3.99
OCT161980    FAITH (ONGOING) #6 CVR B RYP    $3.99
OCT161981    FAITH (ONGOING) #6 CVR C CAT COSPLAY VAR    $3.99
OCT161449    FLASH GORDON KINGS CROSS #2 (OF 5) CVR A HAMM    $3.99
OCT161450    FLASH GORDON KINGS CROSS #2 (OF 5) CVR B MARGARIDA    $3.99
OCT161451    FLASH GORDON KINGS CROSS #2 (OF 5) CVR C EXC SUBSCRIPTION    $3.99
OCT162113    GFT JUNGLE BOOK 2016 HOLIDAY SPECIAL CVR A OTERO    $5.99
OCT162114    GFT JUNGLE BOOK 2016 HOLIDAY SPECIAL CVR B WATSON    $5.99
OCT162115    GFT JUNGLE BOOK 2016 HOLIDAY SPECIAL CVR C ABEL    $5.99
OCT162116    GFT JUNGLE BOOK 2016 HOLIDAY SPECIAL CVR D GRANDA    $5.99
OCT161325    GIANT DAYS #21    $3.99
OCT161323    GOLDIE VANCE #8    $3.99
OCT161593    GRANT MORRISONS 18 DAYS #18 DECAY OF THE GODS LTD ED    $9.99
OCT161591    GRANT MORRISONS 18 DAYS #18 MAIN CVR    $2.99
OCT161592    GRANT MORRISONS 18 DAYS #18 SINGH VAR    $2.99
SEP161728    GRANT MORRISONS AVATAREX DIRECTORS CUT #2    $9.99
OCT161867    HARD CASE CRIME TRIGGERMAN #3 (OF 5) CVR A BURNS (MR)    $3.99
OCT161868    HARD CASE CRIME TRIGGERMAN #3 (OF 5) CVR B CHAMBERLAIN (MR)    $3.99
OCT161869    HARD CASE CRIME TRIGGERMAN #3 (OF 5) CVR C RODRIGUEZ (MR)    $3.99
AUG161808    HEARTTHROB TP VOL 01 NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN (RES) (MR)    $9.99
OCT162121    HELLCHILD THE UNHOLY #2 CVR A GOH (MR)    $3.99
OCT162122    HELLCHILD THE UNHOLY #2 CVR B MIRANDA (MR)    $3.99
OCT162123    HELLCHILD THE UNHOLY #2 CVR C GARVEY (MR)    $3.99
OCT162124    HELLCHILD THE UNHOLY #2 CVR D MAHLE (MR)    $3.99
OCT161282    JIM HENSON STORYTELLER GIANTS #1    $3.99
SEP168844    JIM HENSON STORYTELLER GIANTS #1 FOC INCV MORA VAR    $3.99
SEP168579    JONESY #5 (2ND PTG)    $3.99
OCT161176    JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS #3 CVR A REG AUDREY MOK    $3.99
OCT161177    JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS #3 CVR B VAR WILFREDO TORRES    $3.99
OCT161178    JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS #3 CVR C VAR DEAN TRIPPE    $3.99
JAN161703    KUNG FU PANDA COLLECTION TP    $12.99
OCT161261    LADY MECHANIKA STEAMPUNK COLORING BOOK    $12.99
AUG161370    LUCAS STAND #1 SDCC EXC (MR)    $9.99
AUG161376    LUMBERJANES GOTHAM ACADEMY #1 SDCC EXC    $9.99
SEP161401    LUMBERJANES TP VOL 05    $14.99
JAN161528    MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN COMP KING YEARS HC VOL 02    $49.99
JUL161780    MIGHTY ZODIAC #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP161179    MIRACULOUS #7 CVR A    $4.99
SEP161180    MIRACULOUS #7 CVR B    $4.99
SEP168674    MOTRO #1 (OF 10) 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
OCT161999    NINJAK #22 CVR A SEGOVIA    $3.99
OCT162000    NINJAK #22 CVR B BERNARD    $3.99
OCT162001    NINJAK #22 CVR C CAT COSPLAY    $3.99
OCT161897    NORMAN THE FIRST SLASH #1 CVR A ELLERBY (MR)    $3.99
OCT161898    NORMAN THE FIRST SLASH #1 CVR B JAKE (MR)    $3.99
OCT161899    NORMAN THE FIRST SLASH #1 CVR C SMITH (MR)    $3.99
OCT161900    NORMAN THE FIRST SLASH #1 CVR D LEONG (MR)    $3.99
OCT161901    NORMAN THE FIRST SLASH #1 CVR E SAOHIN (MR)    $3.99
OCT161269    OUR MOTHER GN    $9.00
JAN161704    PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR DIGEST TP VOL 03    $6.99
AUG161356    POWER RANGERS PINK #1 SDCC EXC    $19.99
SEP161333    PROVIDENCE #11 (OF 12) (MR)    $4.99
SEP161334    PROVIDENCE #11 (OF 12) DREAMSCAPE WRAP CVR (MR)    $4.99
SEP161336    PROVIDENCE #11 (OF 12) PANTHEON CVR (MR)    $4.99
SEP161337    PROVIDENCE #11 (OF 12) PORTRAIT CVR (MR)    $4.99
SEP161335    PROVIDENCE #11 (OF 12) WEIRD PULP CVR (MR)    $9.99
SEP161338    PROVIDENCE #11 (OF 12) WOMEN OF HPL CVR (MR)    $4.99
SEP161189    PUPPET MASTER #19 CVR A CARRILLO (MR)    $3.99
SEP161190    PUPPET MASTER #19 CVR B WILLIAMS (MR)    $4.99
SEP161191    PUPPET MASTER #19 CVR C LUMSDEN (MR)    $4.99
SEP161192    PUPPET MASTER #19 CVR D MANGUM (MR)    $4.99
OCT161072    PUPPET MASTER TP VOL 05 VACANCY (MR)    $11.99
OCT161179    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR A REG SANDY JARRELL    $3.99
OCT161180    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR B VAR BEN CALDWELL    $3.99
OCT161181    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR C VAR DEREK CHARM    $3.99
OCT161182    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR D VAR RON FRENZ    $3.99
OCT161183    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR E VAR HACK    $3.99
OCT161184    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR F VAR JAMPOLE    $3.99
OCT161185    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR G VAR PITILLI    $3.99
OCT161186    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR H VAR WILFREDO TORRES    $3.99
OCT161187    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR I VAR MICHAEL WALSH    $3.99
OCT161188    REGGIE AND ME #1 (OF 5) CVR J  VAR BLANK SKETCH    $3.99
SEP161738    REINCARNATE #4 (MR)    $3.50
OCT161643    SHADOWEYES SC DLX ED (MR)    $30.00
SEP161729    SHEKHAR KAPUR DEVI REBIRTH #4 MAIN CVR    $2.99
SEP161199    SLEIGHER TP VOL 01 HEAVY METAL SANTA CLAUS (MR)    $14.99
OCT161718    SPACE BATTLE LUNCHTIME #7 (OF 8)    $3.99
AUG161334    STEVEN UNIVERSE & CRYSTAL GEMS TP VOL 01    $14.99
SEP161392    TYSON HESSE DIESEL IGNITION ORIGINAL GN    $14.99
OCT161234    UBER INVASION #1 (MR)    $3.99
OCT161237    UBER INVASION #1 BLITZKREIG CVR (MR)    $3.99
OCT161239    UBER INVASION #1 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR)    $3.99
OCT161240    UBER INVASION #1 VIP PREMIUM CVR (MR)    $9.99
OCT161236    UBER INVASION #1 WAR CRIMES CVR (MR)    $3.99
OCT161235    UBER INVASION #1 WRAP CVR (MR)    $3.99
AUG169488    VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER #2 2ND PTG    $2.99
OCT161079    VORACIOUS FEEDING TIME #1 CVR A MUHR    $3.99
OCT161080    VORACIOUS FEEDING TIME #1 CVR B MEAT IS MURDER    $4.99
OCT161625    WEAPONS OF THE METABARON HC (NEW ED)    $19.95
JUN161642    WIDOW PROGENY #2 (MR)    $4.99
SEP168846    WONDER WOMAN 77 BIONIC WOMAN #1 (OF 6) 15 COPY FOC ROSS INCV    $PI
OCT161412    WONDER WOMAN 77 BIONIC WOMAN #1 (OF 6) CVR A STAGGS    $3.99
OCT161413    WONDER WOMAN 77 BIONIC WOMAN #1 (OF 6) CVR B ROSS    $3.99
OCT161414    WONDER WOMAN 77 BIONIC WOMAN #1 (OF 6) CVR C ACTION FIGURE    $3.99
OCT161415    WONDER WOMAN 77 BIONIC WOMAN #1 (OF 6) CVR D COLORING BOOK    $3.99
OCT161418    WONDER WOMAN 77 BIONIC WOMAN #1 (OF 6) CVR G BLANK AUTHENTIX    $10.00
OCT161310    WOODS #28    $3.99
OCT162042    YO-KAI WATCH GN VOL 06    $9.99
SEP168523    YOUNG TERRORISTS #1 3RD PRINTING (MR)    $6.99

MAGAZINES
OCT162225    BIRTH MOVIES DEATH MAGAZINE TIM BURTON ED    $6.99
JUN161208    BLEEDING COOL MAGAZINE #24 (MR)    $5.99
JUL162310    HOBBY JAPAN OCT 2016    $20.00
SEP162260    NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 27 #6    $5.99
MAY162096    RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #173    $9.95

BOOKS
OCT162164    1964 NEW YORK COMICON TRUE STORY BEHIND WORLDS 1ST COMIC CON    $29.95
OCT162194    ART OF ARCHER HC    $29.99
OCT162166    CONFOUNDING CASE OF COMIC COLLECTOR KILLER SC    $14.95
OCT162186    COSTUME MAKING GUIDE CREATING ARMOR & PROPS FOR COSPLAY    $22.99
AUG163170    FINAL FANTASY XV COMPLETE OFFICIAL GUIDE STANDARD ED SC    $24.99
OCT162167    KRAZY BLACK & WHITE WORLD OF GEORGE HERRIMAN HC    $35.00
OCT162154    MAGIKA ART OF MELANIE DELON SC (MR)    $14.95
OCT162155    MERCENARY FREELANCE ILLUSTRATION OF DAN BRERETON HC    $34.99
SEP162216    PETER BAGGE CONVERSATIONS SC    $25.00
OCT162035    POKEMON COOKBOOK HC    $14.99
AUG162203    POP CULTURE NOW GEEK ART ANTHOLOGY SC    $40.00
AUG162204    ROBERT CRUMB SKETCHBOOK HC VOL 01 JUNE 64 - MAR 66 (MR)    $39.99
OCT162178    RUNNING THROUGH CORRIDORS MARATHON WATCH DR WHO SC VOL 01 60    $24.95
OCT162179    RUNNING THROUGH CORRIDORS MARATHON WATCH DR WHO SC VOL 02 70    $29.95
OCT162180    SPACE HELMET FOR COW MAD TRUE STORY OF DR WHO SC VOL 02 1990    $19.95
OCT163215    WARHAMMER 40K ASTRA MILITARUM    $16.00
OCT163220    WARHAMMER 40K TALON OF HORUS    $16.00
OCT163217    WARHAMMER HAMMERS OF SIGMAR    $16.00

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Review: GENIUS #1

GENIUS No. 1
IMAGE COMICS/Top Cow – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman
ART/COLORS: Afua Richardson
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
COVER: Afua Richardson
VARIANT COVER: Afua Richardson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2014)

Rated M / Mature

Genius was a weekly miniseries originally published by Image/Top Cow in 2014.  It was written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman; drawn and colored by Afua Richardson; and lettered by Troy Peteri.  Genius focuses on a young woman who leads her community against an oppressive police force.  In 2008, Genius was also a winner of Top Cow’s “Pilot Season,” the annual event in which a reader vote decides which one-shots deserve to be transformed into longer comic book projects.

Genius #1 presents a kind of near-future scenario.  It is set in South Central Los Angeles where the African-American community is in revolt against the Los Angeles Police Department.  Shockingly, the leader of this revolt is 17-year-old Destiny Ajaye, who has a talent for military strategy and is a tactical genius.  Destiny has united the separate gangs of her neighborhood and community against a common foe, the oppressive police force.  Meanwhile, an agent of law enforcement, Reginald Grey, is looking for “Suspect Zero,” the unknown figure he believes to be the leader of this revolt.

I had heard of Top Cow's “Pilot Season,” but mostly ignored it.  I assumed that whatever Top Cow said it was – evidently a talent search of some kind – I thought that it was ultimately rigged.  I only started looking for Genius when I started looking for comic books drawn by Afua Richardson, a young African-American female comic book artist who has been getting some buzz over the last year.

What do I think of Genius?  Well, it is like nothing I have ever read.  It seems like a small press comic book simply because it does not seem like something Image would publish.  After all, I don't think any comic book publisher controlled, owned, and operated (let's face it) by white people would publish Genius, yet Top Cow did.

Genius, with its eclectic layouts, peculiar graphic design, and out-of-the-ordinary compositions, looks like a comic book someone would have to self-publish using a print-on-demand printer.  I am not saying this as criticism.  By the very nature of its story, Genius should be rebellious and against the grain.  It is after all about something that we need to face in the real world (and, for the most part, we do not).  Genius's original date of publication was timely and fortuitous.

When Genius was arriving on comic book shop shelves, America was in turmoil because unarmed African-American teenager, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.  The leadership of the Ferguson Police Department and the city's political class was doing everything it could to cover-up the killing and also to squelch protests against the police.  Later, the actions of the police department would lead many observers to believe that the cops deliberately sabotaged their investigation of the shooting in order to protect the cop that killed Mike Brown.

In this atmosphere, Genius was timely and relevant and remains so.  One could see it as prophetic, or as merely metaphorical.  One day, we might see this comic book as the vanguard of a revolution.  Genius's concept could be the idealized version, a realization, if you will, of something that needs to happen now or will happen in the immediate future of the United States.  I wish that Genius also becomes an attack against the white status quo in American comic books.  You should read this.


A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Yaoi Manga Review: TEN COUNT Volume 2

TEN COUNT, VOL. 2
SUBLIME MANGA – @SuBLimeManga

MANGAKA: Rihito Takarai
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: NRP Studios
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8803-2; paperback (November 2016); Rated “M” for “Mature”
186pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Ten Count is a yaoi manga from manga creator, Rihito Takarai.  Yaoi manga is a subset of boys' love (or BL) manga, which depicts amorous situations between male romantic leads.  Yaoi manga usually features explicit depictions of sex between those male leads.   Ten Count focuses on the developing relationship between two men, Tadaomi Shirotani, a corporate secretary who is a germaphobe, and Riku Kurose, the counselor and clinical psychotherapist who tries to help him.

Shirotani was opening his heart to Kurose, and the latter's 10-step program was helping the former.  Then, Kurose told Shirotani that their sessions were over.  As Ten Count, Vol. 2 (Chapters 7 to 12) opens, both are dealing with the repercussions of Kurose's decision.  In a state of shock, Shirotani has withdrawn into his home and refuses to leave – even for work.  When Kurose texts him and asks to see him, Shirotani will discover the secrets behind Kurose's actions.

[This volume includes the Ten Count bonus stories, “Kurose, Shirotani, and Clothing” and “Kurose, Shirotani, and (If There Were) Honorifics.”]

I wrote in my review of the first volume that it was okay that there was no sex in the first six chapters of Ten Count.  Sometimes, even yaoi manga is good at quietly building romance over a slow simmer of narrative.

That said, Ten Count Volume 2 is one of the most intensely sexual comic books that I have ever read.  I can say that creator Rihito Takarai surprises me by how she makes masturbation seem as sweet as a first kiss.  This kind of true romance will leave the reader breathless.  Still, the relationship between Shirotani and Kurose remains a fragile thing, intense orgasms aside.  The simmering will continue in future chapters of Ten Count, which I highly recommend.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, November 28, 2016

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 30, 2016

DC COMICS

JUL160396    AQUAMAN HC VOL 08 OUT OF DARKNESS    $22.99
JUN160385    BATMAN ANIMATED SER CHRISTMAS W THE JOKER AF    $28.00
SEP160231    BATMAN ANNUAL #1    $4.99
JUL160399    BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 09 GORDON AT WAR    $24.99
AUG160318    BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS TP VOL 08 BLOOD OF HEROES    $17.99
AUG160334    CYBORG TP VOL 02 ENEMY OF THE STATE (RES)    $14.99
MAR160332    DC COMICS ICONS WONDER WOMAN STATUE    $100.00
FEB160288    DC COMICS SUPER HEROES GREEN LANTERN HAL JORDAN BUST    $50.00
MAY160364    DC ICONS BATGIRL OF BURNSIDE DLX AF    $60.00
OCT160289    DIRECT CURRENTS #1 (Net)    $PI
AUG160327    GREEN ARROW AN ADULT COLORING BOOK TP    $15.99
MAY160361    HARLEY QUINN RED BLACK & WHITE HOLIDAY STATUE    $80.00
SEP160315    INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FIVE ANNUAL #1    $4.99
FEB160136    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #10    $3.99
FEB160137    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #10 ROMITA VAR ED    $3.99
SEP160316    NEW TALENT SHOWCASE #1    $7.99
AUG160341    ROBIN TP VOL 03 SOLO (RES)    $24.99
AUG160339    SINESTRO TP VOL 04 THE FALL OF SINESTRO    $17.99
SEP160282    SUICIDE SQUAD #7    $2.99
SEP160283    SUICIDE SQUAD #7 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP160290    SUPERMAN ANNUAL #1    $4.99
AUG160338    SUPERMAN THE GOLDEN AGE TP VOL 02    $19.99
SEP160330    WACKY RACELAND #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP160331    WACKY RACELAND #6 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 30, 2016

MARVEL COMICS

SEP168409    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #20 2ND PTG ALEX ROSS VAR CC    $3.99
SEP168410    BLACK PANTHER #7 2ND PTG STELFREEZE VAR NOW    $3.99
SEP161048    BLACK WIDOW #8    $3.99
SEP161088    DEADPOOL BACK IN BLACK #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP161089    DEADPOOL BACK IN BLACK #4 (OF 5) LIM VAR    $3.99
SEP168411    DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERERS SUPREME #1 2ND PTG ALBUQUERQUE VAR    $3.99
SEP161057    EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #16    $3.99
SEP160959    GHOST RIDER #1 NOW    $4.99
SEP161012    GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #2    $3.99
SEP161028    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #14    $3.99
SEP160882    IVX #0 (OF 6)    $4.99
SEP160883    IVX #0 DAVIS VAR    $4.99
SEP160884    IVX #0 LIM VAR    $4.99
SEP161142    LUKE CAGE IRON FIST AND HEROES FOR HIRE TP VOL 01    $24.99
AUG168727    MARVEL FREE PREVIEWS 2016 #3 (BUNDLE OF 25) (NET)    $5.00
AUG160991    MIGHTY THOR PREM HC VOL 02 LORDS OF MIDGARD    $24.99
SEP161128    MOON KNIGHT TP VOL 01 LUNATIC    $15.99
SEP161032    MS MARVEL #13    $3.99
SEP161011    NEW AVENGERS #18    $3.99
SEP161085    OLD MAN LOGAN #14    $3.99
SEP168412    PROWLER #1 2ND PTG FOREMAN VAR CC NOW    $3.99
SEP161143    SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK BY JOHN BYRNE TP RETURN    $39.99
SEP161103    STAR WARS ANNUAL #2    $4.99
SEP161104    STAR WARS ANNUAL #2 CHARRETIER VAR    $4.99
AUG160996    STAR WARS EPISODE III HC REVENGE OF SITH    $24.99
SEP160942    THUNDERBOLTS #7 NOW    $3.99
AUG160879    TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #12 CW2    $3.99
SEP161029    UNCANNY INHUMANS #16    $3.99
AUG161007    VENOM SPACE KNIGHT TP VOL 02 ENEMIES AND ALLIES    $19.99
SEP161139    VISION TP VOL 02 LITTLE BETTER THAN BEAST    $17.99
SEP161149    X-23 COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 02    $39.99
SEP161153    X-MEN ALPHA FLIGHT TP    $29.99
SEP161144    YOUNG AVENGERS BY HEINBERG AND CHEUNG COMPLETE COLL TP    $34.99