Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 21, 2016

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT168211    (USE OCT169223) WWE THEN NOW FOREVER #1 (2ND PTG)    $3.99
APR161332    4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT162008    A&A ADV OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG TP VOL 02 ROMANCE AND ROAD TRI    $14.99
NOV161208    ACCELERATORS TP VOL 03 RELATIVITY    $14.99
OCT161330    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #6    $3.99
OCT161331    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #6 SUBSCRIPTION DAGUNA VAR    $3.99
NOV161209    AETHER AND EMPIRE TP VOL 01 ETERNAL GLORY    $17.99
JUL161183    AFTER LAND GN VOL 01 (OF 3)    $19.99
SEP161735    AFTERMATH BIG CLEAN #4 CVR A (MR)    $3.50
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OCT162048    AFTERSCHOOL CHARISMA GN VOL 12    $12.99
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OCT161105    ALTERS #3 (MR)    $3.99
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OCT161668    ART AND EVOLUTION OF TWOKINDS HC    $29.99
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FEB161464    DF WALKING DEAD #150 DARYL SKETCH HAESER    $75.00
OCT161655    DISNEY MOANA MOVIE GN    $8.99
SEP161776    DISNEY STAR VS THE FORCES OF EVIL #3    $3.99
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OCT161719    INVADER ZIM #16    $3.99
AUG161314    IRREDEEMABLE PREMIER EDITION HC VOL 03    $29.99
OCT161309    JOYRIDE #8 (OF 6)    $3.99
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OCT161365    JUNGLE FANTASY IVORY #5 LUSCIOUS NUDE CVR (MR)    $7.99
OCT161273    KIM AND KIM TP VOL 01 (MR)    $12.99
OCT162058    KINIRO MOSAIC GN VOL 01    $17.00
OCT161467    KISS #3 CVR A BRADSHAW    $3.99
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OCT161469    KISS #3 CVR C PHOTO    $3.99
OCT168804    KISS #3 CVR G KISS ARMY PHOTO FOC CVR    $3.99
OCT161681    KISS HIM NOT ME GN VOL 08    $10.99
OCT161286    KLAUS & WITCH OF WINTER ONE SHOT    $7.99
OCT168134    KLAUS & WITCH OF WINTER ONE SHOT FOC INCV STEWART VAR    $7.99
OCT161317    KONG OF SKULL ISLAND #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
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SEP161364    LADY MECHANIKA LA DAMA DE LA MUERTE #3 (OF 3) MAIN CVRS    $3.99
SEP161517    LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 61 DAISY TOWN    $11.95
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OCT162030    MASTER KEATON GN VOL 09 URASAWA    $19.99
JUL161991    MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 28 MURDER FRAME    $19.95
JUL161956    MOORCOCK LIB HC VOL 04 WEIRD OF THE WHITE WOLF (MR)    $24.99
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SEP161949    MYCROFT #4 (OF 5) CVR A IANNICIELLO    $3.99
SEP161950    MYCROFT #4 (OF 5) CVR B CASSARA    $3.99
SEP161951    MYCROFT #4 (OF 5) CVR C LACLAUSTRA    $3.99
SEP161854    NANCY DREW DIARIES GN VOL 08    $9.99
OCT161721    NIGHTS DOMINION #4 (MR)    $3.99
SEP161886    NOT LIVES GN VOL 04    $12.99
OCT162060    OF THE RED LIGHT & AYAKASHI GN VOL 05    $13.00
OCT162061    OVERLORD GN VOL 03    $13.00
SEP161889    PANDORA IN THE CRIMSON SHELL GHOST URN GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
OCT161474    PATHFINDER WORLDSCAPE #3 (OF 6) CVR A BROWN    $4.99
OCT161475    PATHFINDER WORLDSCAPE #3 (OF 6) CVR B MANDRAKE    $4.99
OCT161476    PATHFINDER WORLDSCAPE #3 (OF 6) CVR C EXC SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $4.99
OCT161051    PETER DAVID ARTFUL #1 CVR A NEUBERT    $3.99
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OCT161053    PETER DAVID ARTFUL #1 CVR C HESS    $4.99
OCT162062    REINDEER BOY GN    $15.00
OCT161861    RIVERS OF LONDON BLACK MOULD #3 (OF 5) CVR A SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
OCT161862    RIVERS OF LONDON BLACK MOULD #3 (OF 5) CVR B WAITES (MR)    $3.99
OCT161863    RIVERS OF LONDON BLACK MOULD #3 (OF 5) CVR C BROOKS (MR)    $3.99
SEP161518    SAM GN VOL 03 MILLION WINTERS    $13.95
OCT161890    SAMURAI BROTHERS IN ARMS #4 (OF 6) CVR A MCCREA (MR)    $3.99
OCT161891    SAMURAI BROTHERS IN ARMS #4 (OF 6) CVR B KURTH (MR)    $3.99
OCT161892    SAMURAI BROTHERS IN ARMS #4 (OF 6) CVR C PERCIVAL (MR)    $3.99
OCT161276    SIMPSONS COMICS #235    $3.99
SEP161857    SISTERS GN VOL 02 OUR WAY    $9.99
SEP161858    SISTERS HC VOL 02 OUR WAY    $14.99
OCT161321    SLAM #2    $3.99
OCT161706    SP4RX GN    $18.95
SEP162179    SPIRIT HUNTERS #2 (OF 12) CVR A TOLIBAO (MR)    $3.99
SEP162180    SPIRIT HUNTERS #2 (OF 12) CVR B ORTIZ (MR)    $3.99
SEP162181    SPIRIT HUNTERS #2 (OF 12) CVR C SALONGA (MR)    $3.99
SEP162182    SPIRIT HUNTERS #2 (OF 12) CVR D WATSON (MR)    $3.99
OCT161604    STAN LEE CHAKRA THE INVINCIBLE HOLIDAY SPECIAL    $1.99
SEP162024    STREET FIGHTER UNLIMITED #12 CVR A GENZOMAN STORY    $3.99
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OCT162063    STRIKE THE BLOOD GN VOL 05    $13.00
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OCT162019    TOKYO GHOUL GN VOL 10 (MR)    $12.99
OCT162014    TOMIE COMPLETE DLX ED HC (MR)    $34.99
AUG161930    TORCHWOOD #4 CVR A YATES    $3.99
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SEP161864    ZODIAC LEGACY HC VOL 02 POWER LINES    $12.99
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MAGAZINES
OCT162230    LOCUS #671    $7.50
SEP162267    MARVEL SUPER HEROES MAGAZINE #25    $4.99
SEP162285    SCOOBY DOO MAGAZINE #37    $4.99
NOV162150    STAR WARS COLLECTIBLES PRICE GUIDE MAGAZINE    $29.95
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BOOKS
AUG162261    101 HORROR MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE    $14.95
AUG162262    101 SCI FI MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE    $14.95
OCT162091    ACCEL WORLD NOVEL VOL 08 BINARY STARS OF DESTINY    $14.00
AUG162211    AMAZING TOYS OF MARVIN GLASS 1950S TO 1974 HC    $24.99
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OCT162202    STAR WARS ROGUE ONE ULTIMATE VISUAL GUIDE HC    $30.00
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OCT163214    WARHAMMER 40K ANGELS OF CALIBAN    $17.00
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Review: THE FLAME BEARER

THE FLAME BEARER
HARPERCOLLINS – @HarperCollins

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

AUTHOR: Bernard Cornwell
ISBN: 978-0-06-225078-0; hardcover (November 29, 2016)
304pp, B&W, $27.99 U.S.

The Flame Bearer is a 2016 historical novel from Bernard Cornwell, a bestselling British author of historical novels.  This is the tenth book in Cornwell’s “Saxon Tales” series, his epic story of the making of England and his continuing story of Saxon warlord, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.  “The Saxon Tales” series is also known as “The Last Kingdom” series (named for the first novel in the series).  The Last Kingdom has been adapted into a television series.

The Flame Bearer finds Uhtred ruminating.  From the day it was stolen from him by his late uncle, Uhtred has dreamed of recapturing his family's fortress, Bebbanburg.  The great fort was built on a rock that was almost an island, a place conquered by Uhtred's legendary ancestor, “The Flame Bearer.”  It is massive and practically unconquerable because it can only be approached on land by a single narrow track and any way that it can be approached by sea can be observed and defended.  Bebbanburg is his, and Uhtred plans to take it from its current lord, his cousin.

However, Britain remains in a state of unease.  Sigtryggr is the Viking lord (and Uhtred's son-in-law) who rules Northumbria, the land north of the Saxon lands.  He has agreed to a truce with the Saxon Queen Aethelflaed of Mercia, the land that borders Northumbria.  New enemies, however, are making their play.  King Constantin of Scotland sees an opportunity to seize new land to the south.  Meanwhile, an old enemy among the Saxon heirarchy makes a move to take from Uhtred what is his.  Now, Uhtred must stop a war that could be a disaster for both the Saxons and Vikings and also outwit all those who plot against his claim on Bebbanburg.

Bernard Cornwell's novels have earned praise from many circles.  George R.R. Martin, the author of A Song of Fire and Ice (the inspiration for HBO's “Game of Thrones”), says that Cornwell writes the best battles scenes he has ever read.  USA Today has declared Cornwell “the reigning king of historical fiction.”

The Flame Bearer is only the fifth Bernard Cornwell novel that I have read, and only the fourth of the ten “Saxon Tales,” books.  I intend to play catch up because Cornwell's novels are a joy to read.  He is not just the “king of historical fiction.”  In the realm of this venerable genre, Cornwell is the “king of kings.”  If you like historical fiction and have not read Cornwell, life has robbed you.

In the previous novel, Warriors of the Storm, Cornwell presents Uhtred as a man in flux; in subtle ways, he was changing.  The Flame Bearer gives us Uhtred, a man and a warrior with a singular vision.  He's getting Bebbanburg the fuck back.  For all the vividly drawn characters, colorful locales, and sharp humor, The Flame Bearer is about its resolution, the bloody battle that will either return a domain to a lord or be the end of him.  A skilled writer and engaging storyteller, Bernard Cornwell makes you chase Uhtred and his warriors towards that exhilarating finale.

A

www.bernardcornwell.net

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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Review: BLACK WIDOW #1

BLACK WIDOW No. 1 (2016)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Chris Samnee and Mark Waid
ART: Chris Samnee
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Stephanie Hans; Tula Lotay; Phil Noto; Kevin Wada; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2016)

Rated “T+”

Black Widow is a Marvel Comics female superhero.  She was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck and first appeared in Tales of Suspense No. 52 (cover dated: April 1964).  When she was first introduced, Black Widow was Natasha Romanova, a Russian spy who did not wear a superhero costume.  She was an antagonist of Iron Man, but later defected to the United States, where she became an agent of the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D., and a member of the Avengers, becoming, of course, a superhero.

The All-New, All-Different Marvel presents a new comic book featuring Ms. Romanova, entitled (of course), Black Widow.  The series is written by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid; drawn by Samnee; colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Black Widow #1 opens with the title character fighting her way through an office section of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.  Black Widow has gone rogue and is fighting former colleagues.  She is now S.H.I.E.L.D. public enemy #1.  Why?

I have never read a single issue of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's Eisner Award-winning run on Daredevil, but I keep planning on doing so.  I did read their thrilling IDW Publishing miniseries, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, which I quite enjoyed (Encore! Encore!).

I'm curious about Black Widow because I am a fan of actress Scarlett Johanson's portrayal of the character in several Marvel Studio films.  So now I'm all like, let's read some Black Widow comics.  Well, this new Black Widow #1 is comprised of a long action sequence.  It is neither imaginative nor thrilling.  At the end of the book, Waid, Samnee, and editor Jake Thomas swear that we are in for something really good.  Just wait until the next issue... or the one after that... or the one after that...  [Just wait for the trade!]

This first issue is but a taste... OK.  So I'll give Black Widow #1 a grade of “B-” with the hope of a better grade on layaway.

B-

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.

--------------------------

Review: TALES OF THE BATMAN:Carmine Infantino

TALES OF THE BATMAN: CARMINE INFANTINO
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Gardner Fox, John Broome, Cary Bates, Gerry Conway, Don Kraar, Mike Barr, Geoff Johns
FEATURED ARTIST: Carmine Infantino
INKERS: Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson, Sid Greene, Bob Smith, Steve Mitchell, Mike DeCarlo, Sal Trapani, Mike Esposito, Neal Adams
COVER: Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson
ADDITIONAL ART: Jim Aparo, Adam Hughes, Bob Kane, Gil Kane, Charles Paris
ISBN:  978-1-4012-4755-3; hardcover (June 3, 2014)
520pp, Color, $49.99 U.S., $58.00 CAN

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Carmine Infantino (1925 – 2013) was an American comic book creator who worked as an artist and as an editor.  He began working in comic books in 1942 and was best known for his association with DC Comics, where he was a comic book cover artist, interior story artist, character designer, and editor.

Infantino was a major force during what is known as the “Silver Age” of American comics book.  In 1956, Infantino joined writer Robert Kanigher in DC Comics' first attempt at reviving a superhero from the “Golden Age” of comic books.  Kanigher and Infantino created an updated version of The Flash that would appear in Showcase #4 (cover dated: October 1956).  Infantino designed the Flash's now-classic red uniform with yellow detail and fashioned a new visual language to depict the Flash's speed, with both vertical and horizontal motion lines to make the Flash's figure a red and yellow blur.

In 1964, Infantino began his second DC Comics reclamation protect, when he was tasked with reviving the faded Batman line of comic book titles.  Infantino and writer John Broome introduced the “New Look” Batman and Robin in Detective Comics #327 (cover dated: May 1964).  Broome and Infantino abandoned the sillier aspects and fanciful characters that had crept into the Batman comics over the better part of two decades (such as Bat-Mite in 1959).

Under the guiding hand of this new creative team, the Adventures of Batman and Robin in both Batman and in Detective Comics took a detective-oriented direction.  Infantino's art for the “New Look” Batman and Robin was slick and streamlined.  He went away from drawing Batman in a style that was some variation of the art of Bob Kane, Batman's creator.  For the better part of three decades, most artists took their cue from Kane when drawing Batman comic books and newspaper comic strips, even if they already had their own distinctive style.

Carmine Infantino is the artist who visually and graphically and in terms of storytelling modernized Batman comic books.  From 1964 to 1968, Infantino was the lead comic book artist for DC Comics' flagship Batman titles.  Even when Infantino did not draw the interior art for Batman or Detective Comics, he usually provided the pencil art for the covers.

Infantino's work on the Batman titles over the four year period, from Detective Comics #327 to the cover of Batman #199 (cover dated: February 1968), for which he only provided the cover pencils, is collected in the hardcover comics collection, Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino.  Originally released in 2014, this full-cover archival collection also reprints Infantino's 1980s Batman work in Detective Comics #500 (cover dated: March 1981) and in The Brave and the Bold (issues 172, 183, 190, and 194 – 1982 to 1983).  There is also a story from DC Comics Presents: Batman #1 (cover dated: September 2004).

When I opened this book and saw the first page of Detective Comics #327, I was immediately struck by how different it looks.  Even 50+ years later, Infantino's art stands out as unique.  I have seen enough of the Batman comics that came before it to say this issue of Detective Comics represented a sort of evolutionary leap for Batman comic books.  In fact, in something unusual for comic books, Detective Comics seems new and “now.”  For a time, the relatively long lead time needed to produce comic books made them seem behind current events.  This comic book matched the looks, styles, designs, and visuals of the time, with some of the art resembling the design style known as “mid-century modern”.

Infantino made the world of Batman hip, modern, and urbane.  There is a James Bond quality to the graphical storytelling.  John Broome introduces adversaries for the Dynamic Duo that range from spectacular, colorfully costumed supervillains to conniving ordinary hoods.  Every one of them has fashioned some ingenious plan, wacky conspiracy, or over-thought murder plot that involves twists and turns and even secret agent-type gadgets.  Infantino's slick compositions and sleek draftsmanship make the entirety of a story seem more cool and stylish even when it ought to look like what it is – silly.

Infantino's “new look” Batman apparently inspired the mid to late 1960s, ABC television series, “Batman,” which starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin.  I also see the influence of Carmine Infantino's art on the Batman comic book artists that would follow him; Jim Aparo and Don Newton are two that come to mind.

If I had to offer specific reasons why you should buy this pricey book, I could name a few.  Well, this book reprints the first appearance of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl in the story, “The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!,” from Detective Comics #359 (cover dated: January 1967).  The book also reprints Infantino's Batman and Detective Comics covers.  Through his compositions for these covers, Infantino proves to be a master of motion, and these covers pulse with energy.  Sometimes, the entire cover illustration seems as if it wants to leap off the page because two dimensions cannot contain its vigor.

So, yeah, Batman fans, buy Tales of the Batman: Carmine Infantino.

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.

-----------------

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 14, 2016

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