Thursday, January 31, 2013

Albert Avilla Reviews: Thunderbolts #1

Thunderbolts #1
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Steve Dillon
Cover: Julian Totino Tedesco

“Enlisted” (Spoilers)

Red Hulk is putting together the new team of Thunderbolts; that’s right General Thunderbolt Ross is putting together a team called the Thunderbolts. What great mind came up with that idea?

The story begins with the General setting The Punisher up for the mob. While General Ross is pitching his project to the Punisher, we travel with the General on his recruiting trip. He talks to the prospective members at moments when they just happen to be splattering the blood of bad people. The other recruits are just as adept at splattering blood as the Punisher. We have Venom with weapons! The mime-killer, Deadpool, will add a little humor. To add the feminine touch to the blood splattering, Electra will be stabbing her way through the criminal world.

With this team, the biggest concern will be that they don’t drown themselves in the blood that they spill. Spill is too weak of a word to use, because there will be blood erupting out of their victims. Another concern is will Deadpool be able to find a straight man to play off of? Think about it: Deadpool with Punisher, Venom, Electra, and old stick-up-his-butt Ross.

Daniel Way does manage to tell a good story through all of the blood. Old Thunderbolt is both introspective and illuminating in his conversation with the Punisher. The most fascinating thing that he said was that the military studied the Punisher’s tactics and emulated them. The question is will the Punisher be able to adapt to a team situation.

When you talk about a signature style, Steve Dillon stands out. He does not try to imitate the popular style of the day. Dillon does his thing. His tough gritty style fits the team. Guru EFX’s coloring actually compliments Dillon’s efforts.

I rate Thunderbolts #1 Buy Your Own Copy. #2 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Review: The Illicit Happiness of Other People

THE ILLICIT HAPPINESS OF OTHER PEOPLE: A NOVEL
W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. – @norton_fiction

AUTHOR: Manu Joseph
COVER: Jarrod Taylor
ISBN: 978-0-393-33862-1; paperback (January 2013)
350pp, B&W, $15.95 U.S.

For his first novel, Serious Men (2010), Manu Joseph won The Hindu Literary Prize 2010 and the PEN Open Book Award. Joseph, a New Delhi-based newspaper columnist and editor, has written a second novel, The Illicit Happiness of Other People: A Novel, which was recently published. This fictional work follows the efforts of a father to unravel the mystery behind his teenaged son’s suicide.

The Illicit Happiness of Other People is set in the late 1980s in Madras. Madras is the former name of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, India. The meat-eating, Catholic, Chackos’ family lives in a Madras housing community, where everyone is a gossip. And the Chackos are the talk of the town. Three years before the story begins, 17-year-old Unni Chacko committed suicide by jumping to his death.

Unni’s father, Ousep Chacko, was a once-promising writer. Now, he is a washed-out journalist who drinks too much at night. When he returns from a night of drinking, he makes a horrid scene for the whole block to hear; then, he stages his own nightly suicide attempt. Mother Mariamma had been an intellect and budding athlete; now she fantasizes about her husband’s death and loudly talks to herself about old wounds and hurts. Twelve-year-old brother, Thoma, is caught between his parent’s stormy lives. He wears his brother’s old clothes, and he fantasizes about a 16-year-old neighbor, Mythili Balasubramanium, a beautiful teen girl who was close to Unni, but ignores Thoma.

Unni had been a young cartoonist and creator of hand-made comic books. One day, the post office delivers a comic book drawn by Unni that had been lost in the mail since his death. Shocked out of his drunken stupor, Ousep picks up the investigation into his son’s suicide that he’d dropped not long after Unni’s death. Three years later, however, Unni’s old friends are no longer interested in talking about their friend’s death. Ousep won’t take “No!” for an answer, and he even discovers more people who were friends with or acquaintances of his son. Now, a father must face the troubling truths, vague answers, and haunting memories if he is to discover why his son killed himself. The big questions: Can he really find an answer, and will he be satisfied with it?

The Illicit Happiness of Other People is two things. Half of it is an observational novel, with Joseph’s rich prose composing a gigantic canvas, mostly about the Madras community. On the edges of this prose painting are depictions, here and there, of places outside Madras. Joseph studies class and society, and surveys how people socialize inside and outside the family. In this first half of The Illicit Happiness of Other People, Joseph weaves brilliant one-liners seamlessly into this colorful portrait of relationships and divides. Sometimes, this is a sharp satire, but it won’t poke away the viewer.

The other half (or so) of the novel is something akin to detective fiction or a mystery novel. Once Ousep meets Balki, an acquaintance of Unni’s, the tone of the novel changes. There are rumors and small amounts of local lore and legend around Balki, but this meeting really pushes forwards Ousep’s investigation, which often seems to languish during the first half of the book. The meeting of Ousep and Balki is The Illicit Happiness of Other People’s Chinatown moment, and it saves the narrative from drowning in sameness.

The novel that was philosophical, in a satirical way, becomes philosophical, introspective, and investigative. The author digs deeper into issues of family strife, troubled personal histories, and mental illness. The novel has some pointed things to say about the way teenagers tackle the perplexing nature of existence, or at least, that is the way I see it.

I read somewhere (maybe in the novel’s press packet) that Manu Joseph is a novelist who wants to be a cartoonist. After Ousep meets Balki, this novel’s prose started activating a torrent of visuals in my mind and imagination. In my mind, Joseph’s descriptions of Unni’s comics became comics I could read and scrutinize.

For half this novel, the words were clever, but the narrative went nowhere. To me, that is what keeps this from being a really great novel, but The Illicit Happiness of Other People: A Novel is still a very good novel.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 30 2013

DC COMICS

NOV120239 ALL STAR WESTERN #16 $3.99

NOV120166 AQUAMAN #16 $2.99

NOV120251 ARROW #3 $3.99

NOV120199 BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #1 $4.99

NOV120255 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #12 $3.99

NOV120194 BATMAN INCORPORATED #7 $2.99

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NOV120200 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #16 $2.99

OCT120261 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT GOLDEN DAWN TP $14.99

DEC120158 BEFORE WATCHMEN DOLLAR BILL #1 (MR) $3.99

DEC120161 BEFORE WATCHMEN DOLLAR BILL #1 COMBO PACK (MR) $4.99

NOV120153 BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #5 (MR) $3.99

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NOV120159 FLASH #16 $2.99

NOV120172 FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MEN #16 $2.99

OCT120299 GLOBAL FREQUENCY TP (MR) $19.99

NOV120220 GREEN LANTERN CORPS ANNUAL #1 (RISE) $4.99

NOV120292 HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #6 $2.99

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NOV120293 LOT 13 #4 (MR) $2.99

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NOV120312 DC COMICS SUPER HEROES BOOSTER GOLD BUST $69.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 30 2013

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NOV128053 ALL NEW X-MEN #3 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

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OCT120437 ANGORA NAPKIN HC VOL 02 $29.99

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OCT120396 TRANSFORMERS COMPLETE DRIFT HC $24.99

OCT120441 X-9 SECRET AGENT CORRIGAN HC VOL 05 $49.99

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NOV120050 ANGEL & FAITH #18 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99

OCT120056 CREEPY ARCHIVES HC VOL 15 $49.99

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JUN120062 GAME OF THRONES THRONE REPLICA STATUE $295.00

NOV128168 HELLBOY IN HELL #1 MIGNOLA CVR (2ND PTG) $2.99

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OCT128225 LEGEND ZELDA HYRULE HISTORIA HC LTD COLL ED $69.99

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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 30 2013

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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 30 2013

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
DEC120043 PREVIEWS #293 FEB 2013 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM PI
DEC120040 PREVIEWS #293 FEBRUARY 2013 $4.50
NOV120009 PREVIEWS TOYCHEST 2013 $1.25

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
NOV120968 ADVENTURE TIME #12 [DIG] $3.99

NOV120863 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #237 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV120865 ARCHIE THE MARRIED LIFE TP VOL 03 $19.99

DEC121203 ASTERIX STICKER BOOK $12.95

SEP121168 BAD MEDICINE TP VOL 01 $19.99

DEC121147 BEGINNING ONE SHOT $3.99

OCT120977 BLADE OF THE NORTH WIND GN $12.99

NOV121233 BLOODY MONDAY GN VOL 09 $10.99

NOV120827 CALVIN & HOBBES ATTACK OF SNOW GOONS NEW PTG $12.99

JUN121091 CAVE-IN GN $14.95

DEC120786 CAVEWOMAN GANGSTER #3 BUDD ROOT SP ED PI

DEC121206 CHRIS WARE BUILDING STORIES HC (JUL121170) $50.00

NOV121178 COMPLETE CRUMB COMICS TP VOL 03 FRITZ CAT (MR) $19.99

NOV121263 COURTNEY CRUMRIN ONGOING #9 $3.99

NOV120933 CROSSED BADLANDS #18 AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99

NOV120916 CROSSED BADLANDS #22 (MR) $3.99

NOV120918 CROSSED BADLANDS #22 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120917 CROSSED BADLANDS #22 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC120980 CROSSSTAR #7 $3.99

NOV121095 DAMSELS #5 $3.99

OCT121046 DARK SHADOWS #13 $3.99

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NOV120975 DEATHMATCH #2 MAIN COVERS [DIG] $3.99

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NOV120884 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS VOL 3 #2 CVR B LAISO $3.99

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OCT121059 FREDDIE STORIES HC (MR) $19.95

NOV120812 FUBAR WINTER SPECIAL ONE SHOT (MR) $2.99

NOV120954 FUTURAMA COMICS #65 $2.99

NOV121401 GFT SLEEPY HOLLOW #4 A CVR ERIC J (MR) $2.99

NOV121402 GFT SLEEPY HOLLOW #4 B CVR MYCHAELS (MR) $2.99

DEC121338 GIRLS ON TOP SC VOL 01 PIN UP ART OF MATT DIXON (MR) $14.95

DEC121337 GIRLS ON TOP SC VOL 02 MORE PIN UP ART OF MATT DIXON (MR) $14.95

OCT120738 GOLD DIGGER #146 [DIG] $3.99

AUG121036 GREEN HORNET #33 $3.99

OCT121199 HELLRAISERS GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHIES GN $22.95

OCT121300 IRRESISTIBLE TP (MR) $15.99

NOV121226 JIHAD HC $29.95

DEC121151 JONAH ONE SHOT $3.99

DEC121154 KING DAVID ONE SHOT $3.99

DEC120963 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #21 VIKING QUEEN CVR (MR) $9.99

DEC120962 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #22 AUXILIARY CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC120964 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #23 MESSY CVR (MR) $9.99

NOV121356 LIMIT GN VOL 03 $10.95

SEP121118 MARBLES MANIA DEPRESSION MICHELANGELO & ME GRAPHIC MEMOIR $20.00

DEC121155 MARTYRS ONE SHOT $3.99

DEC120882 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH #1 TASTY CVR (MR) $5.99

SEP121014 PANTHA #6 $3.99

NOV120992 PLANET OF THE APES TP VOL 04 $19.99

JUL121070 PRINCE VALIANT HC VOL 06 1947-1948 $35.00

DEC120773 REMAKE GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.95

DEC121156 REVELATION ONE SHOT $3.99

OCT120789 RICHIE RICH GEMS #48 $3.99

OCT121216 ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD HC VOL 03 $24.99

OCT121047 ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #32 $3.99

NOV120965 ROGER LANGRIDGES SNARKED TP VOL 03 $14.99

DEC121157 SAMSON ONE SHOT $3.99

OCT120989 SHADOW #9 $3.99

NOV120950 SIMPSONS ILLUSTRATED #5 $3.99

NOV121262 SIXTH GUN #28 $3.99

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NOV121018 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #78 (MR) [DIG] $2.95

DEC121166 TINTIN COLL FACSIMILE ED RED RACKHAMS TREASURE HC $60.00

DEC121167 TINTIN COLL FACSIMILE ED SECRET O/T UNICORN HC $60.00

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OCT121333 JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #60 $10.95

OCT121387 NICK CARTER DOUBLE NOVEL #1 $14.95

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OCT121999 WHITE DWARF #396 JAN 2013 $10.00

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DEC121335 ART OF PUNK ILLUS HIST PUNK ROCK DESIGNS HC $40.00

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DEC121391 FEMINISM IN WORLDS OF NEIL GAIMAN SC $35.00

DEC121393 GOLDEN GODDESSES 25 LEGENDARY WOMEN OF CLASSIC EROTIC CINEMA $49.95

DEC121382 JAMES BOND FAQ ALL THATS LEFT TO KNOW $22.99

DEC120968 TANTALIZE KIERENS STORY GN $19.99

Sunday, January 27, 2013

I Reads You Review: DENGEKI DAISY Volume 11

DENGEKI DAISY, VOL. 11
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Kyousuke Motomi
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: JN Productions
LETTERS: Rina Mapa
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5060-2; paperback; Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN

Kyousuke Motomi is female mangaka (manga creator) who debut in 2002 with the manga, No-Good Cupid! (English title). Her current series is Dengeki Daisy.

Teru Kurebayshi, an orphan, is the lead character in Dengeki Daisy. She lost her brother, Soichiro, but she wasn’t alone. Teru exchanges messages with DAISY, a mysterious figure who can only be reached through a cell phone her brother left her. Eventually, Teru learns that DAISY is Tasuku Kurosaki, a janitor who is always around when she needs him.

As Dengeki Daisy, Vol. 11 opens, Teru is frustrated at the lingering fear she feels from the threat of Chiharu Mori and her flunky, Akira. Teru is glad that Kurosaki is around to protect her, but she also wants to be able to protect herself. Meanwhile, Teru’s longtime friend, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, struggles with his deeply romantic feelings for Rena Ichinose, another friend of Teru’s. But Rena already has a fiancé.

That fiancé is a shady-acting business man named Kazuki Morizono. His actions will give Teru a chance to show her strength. Morizono brings up Kurosaki’s past as a hacker and endangers Rena. Can Teru protect her friend?

After first reading the Dengeki Daisy manga, I saw it as another romantic tale featuring a beastly male love interest, from the creator of Beast Master, Kyousuke Motomi. After reading Dengeki Daisy Volume 11, I now see it as a kind of manga version of American television soap operas. Why?

Dengeki Daisy borrows from several genres. It has a high school romance. The male love interest is an older man, while the female is a high school student, so there is a tad bit of a tawdry true romance feel to it. Kurosaki’s past as a hacker and Teru’s late brother’s life as a programmer adds an espionage angle. The series is also a light suspense thriller because of the threats of violence, personal destruction, and kidnapping. I could see a young Susan Lucci as perfect for a dramatization of this.

I like the soap opera and melodrama. This is a shojo high school romance that is not as comic as some shojo romances and is darker, in a theatrical way, than most. Readers looking for shojo romantic drama as American soap opera will like the Shojo Beat title, Dengeki Daisy.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Albert Avilla Reviews: Indestructible Hulk #2

Indestructible Hulk # 2
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Mark Waid
Pencils: Leinil Yu
Inks: Gerry Alanguilan

(Spoilers!)
Hulk, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a good premise. This new direction for the Hulk is an excellent idea. Banner has decided to embrace the idea of being the Hulk, and using him in situations where he can do good. Why keep a potential force for good relegated to the status of criminal?

The Hulk is the ultimate stick for S.H.I.E.L.D. to wield. You better be committed to whatever terrorism you are thinking about, knowing that the Hulk might be a consequence of your actions. Just think about the money S.H.I.E.L.D. can save. Why develop any weapons? All you need is a truck; put Hulk in the back, and drive to the scene. “What’s up now Hydra? Suck on this!” Drop off the Hulk, end of evildoing.

This issue is about Banner being a super-scientist on a level with Reed Richards. With this new situation, Banner will have time to work, which should have a calming effect on him. He has a goal of completing an invention a week. I can’t complete any of my chores on the honey-do list each week.

Iron Man pays a visit to check out the situation, but he is unknowingly set up by Banner for a good-old, stress-relieving butt-kicking. This story would be a good bridge between two good story arcs, but as it stands, it’s just an unnecessary character developing story. When we pick up a Hulk mag, we expect more Hulk-smash for our money, not a sparring match with Iron Man.

The art is passable. The coloring goes a little too far; it makes the art look like pieces of a puzzle. A lighter hand may make the art more engaging.

I rate Indestructible Hulk 002 Read a Friend’s Copy. #3 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter


Hunter x Hunter: Memory

I read Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 29

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Albert Avilla Reviews: Red Lanterns #14

Red Lanterns #14
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Peter Milligan writer
Artist: Miguel Sepulveda

“Home Is Where the Heart Is” (Spoilers!)

In the “Rise of the Third Army” event this is where the action is. The Red Lanterns are fighting the Third Army. The Red Lanterns have found their weakness and destroyed the creatures through their eyes. We are not talking about let’s subdue these creatures and take them in kind of action. This is fight to the death: tear off arms, body parts flying all over the place action. The Red Lanterns are able to defeat the creatures, but not without the lost of Skorch.

Atrocitus takes the remains of one of the creatures to Ysmault to find the origins of the creatures. Using his blood magic, Atrocitus learns that the creatures come from the DNA of the Guardians. These are some really gruesome scenes; if horror is your thing, then this is the book for you. Atrocitus’s animosity toward the Guardians is increasing. Atrocitus gives his Lanterns missions to seek out the blood of the guilty to feed the Red Power Battery; a leader delegating responsibility. Then, bam! The creature regenerates from a rat; you can’t get away from those little B’s anywhere in the Universe, and it attacks. Atrocitus, being the battle leader that he is, instantly comes up with a plan to destroy the creature. Artist Miguel Sepulveda gives us another blood-splattering, gore-fest page.

Atrocitus comes up with another plan to defeat the Third Army by using a synthetic army, the Manhunters. Rankorr is sent to Earth to get his vengeance and become a true Red Lantern. Atrocitus returns to Ayutt, his home planet, where he relives the destruction of Sector 666 by the Manhunters. If you like science fiction, superhero throw-down, and blood and guts action, then, look no farther.

Milligan keeps the action rolling, and when there is a pause in the action, it’s building up to some more action. Milligan keeps the intensity level high and the story is well done. The characters are exciting and vibrant; they are not just rage-filled maniacs running around the Universe, killing the guilty, but the rage does give these characters that certain spice to their personalities. Atrocitus is quite fascinating, with his intelligence and leadership shining through the rage. This book is a punch in the gut that sends shivers down the back.

The art is horrifically wonderful, and it accentuates the writing completely. After he has splattered this bloody rage throughout the book, Sepulveda surprises us with a landscape of a beautiful country town. What did his teachers say when they caught him drawing these scenes in elementary school?

I rate Red Lanterns 14 Buy Your Own Copy. (#2 on the Al-O-Meter Ranking)


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Review: NUMBER 13 #2

NUMBER 13 #2
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Robert Love and David Walker
PENCILS: Robert Love – @Robert33071
INKS: Dana Shukartsi
COLORS: Heather Breckel
LETTERS: David Walker with Robert Love
COVER: Robert Love with Christian Colbert
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Robert Love formed Gettosake Entertainment with his brothers, Jeremy and Maurice, in 1998. Since then, he has worked on a number of comic books, including Fierce (with his brother, Jeremy).

Number 13 is a new comic book series from Robert Love that he co-writes with David Walker. This science fiction tale is set in a world where a plague, Monstrum Morbus (the monster plague), turned people into mutated monsters (“the fected”) or killed them. Only a few humans remained (“the mune”), but they became like monsters as they slaughtered the fected and effectively ended the world. The story centers on a bionic amnesiac known as Number 13 (or Number Thirteen), who is trying to recover his past.

Number 13 #2 opens 60 years after the end of the world. Number 13’s creator, the Professor, recounts the beginning of the plague and the war that followed. He continues his search for 13, his “son.” Meanwhile, Mother Goose, the leader of a small “kingdom” of the fected, continues her manipulation of 13, because she hopes to use him as a defense against the mune who hunt her kind. Meanwhile, some of 13’s new fected friends strike out on their own, only to fall into a trap.

As did the first issue, Number 13 #2 shows the influence on creator/artist Robert Love of Jack Kirby and John Byrne (himself influenced by Kirby). Love has taken his influences and created something new, something that also recalls Vaughn Bodé’s post-apocalyptic-set comics.

Number 13 is like a Saturday morning cartoon, but reflecting Barack Obama-era diversity in terms of the characters and players. After reading the first issue, I was careful not to over-praise. Now, I know I’m right. Number 13 is simply fun to read. I can’t get enough, and I want to spread the Robert Love all over your reading list.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: NUMBER 13 #1

NUMBER 13 #1
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Robert Love and David Walker
PENCILS: Robert Love – @Robert33071
INKS: Dana Shukartsi
COLORS: Brennan Wagner
LETTERS: David Walker with Robert Love
COVER: Robert Love with Christian Colbert
PIN-UPS: Ibrahim Moustafa, Jeffrey Kimbler
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Robert Love of Gettosake Entertainment has a new comic book. It is entitled Number 13, and Love co-writes the series with David Walker. The series is a dystopian science fiction tale set in a future world of mutants and those who hate and fear mutants. Into this world, a young bionic man, with no memory of his past, searches for answers and for his creator.

As Number 13 #1 opens, we learn that a plague, Monstrum Morbus (the monster plague), turned people into mutants, or into monsters, as their human brethren saw it. The human race became divided basically into the two groups: the mune (immune to the plague) and the fected (those infected with it). The violence between the two groups caused the end of the world, as we know it.

Sixty years after the end of the world, the fected are a race of mutants looking for safe haven. A small band of them find a young man who turns out to be a bionic amnesiac known as Number 13 (or Number Thirteen). Neither Number 13 nor his new friends know that they are about to become pawns in a great struggle.

In terms of style and graphics, Number 13 #1 bears a strong resemblance to the comic books Jack Kirby produced for DC Comics in the 1970s. In fact, Dana Shukartsi’s strong inks over Robert Love’s pencils create an art style that is something akin to John Byrne’s Kirby-influenced work, such as the excellent Byrne series, Jack Kirby’s Fourth World.

Of course, that means comic book art that pops off the page and a comic book that is a fun read. The first issue is raw in terms of storytelling, but this will get better. I think many readers will feel the way I do; by the time, I reached the last page, I immediately want to see the first page of the next issue.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Fantagraphics Books Collects "Delphine"

Delphine by Richard Sala

128-page two-color (with some full color) 7.25" x 10" hardcover • $24.99
ISBN: 978-1-60699-590-7

A mysterious traveler gets off the train in a small village surrounded by a thick sinister forest. He is searching for Delphine, who vanished with only a scrawled-out address on a scrap of paper as a trace.

Richard Sala takes the tale of Snow White and stands it on its head, retelling it from Prince Charming's perspective (the unnamed traveler) in a contemporary setting. This twisted tale includes all the elements of terror from the original fairy tale, with none of the insipid saccharine coating of the Disney animated adaptation: Yes, there will be blood.

Originally serialized as a multiple Ignatz Award-nominated deluxe comic book series, Delphine is executed in a rich and ominous duotone that shows off Sala's virtuosity — punctuated with stunning full-color chapter breaks.

"Richard Sala is an artist, a superb craftsman and a very funny man." – Gahan Wilson

"I adore Richard Sala's Delphine." – Junot Diaz

"Richard Sala’s take on Snow White is as beautiful as it is macabre." – Comic Book Resources

ABOUT THE CARTOONIST: Richard Sala lives in Berkeley, California. His artwork been exhibited internationally and his animated serial "Invisible Hands" appeared on MTV's Liquid Television. He has done illustrations for many magazines and newspapers, including Esquire, Newsweek, Playboy, The Washington Post and The New York Times, and for work by writers including Lemony Snicket and Jack Kerouac. Delphine is his eighth book for Fantagraphics.


Review: DELPHINE #1

DELPHINE #1

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS/COCONINO PRESS
CARTOONIST: Richard Sala
ISBN-13: 978-1-56097-822-0; paperback
32pp, B&W, 8½ x 11, $7.95 U.S.

Delphine was a four-issue miniseries written and drawn by Richard Sala, the author of the comic book series, Evil Eye (Fantagraphics Books). The series was published from 2006 to 2009 in a joint venture between Fantagraphics Books and Italy’s Coconino Press.

Delphine #1 was the 13th book in the Ignatz series, a line of comic books published by Fantagraphics Coconino Press. Each individual Ignatz comic book was printed on heavy paper with cardstock covers in an oversized two-color format. Ignatz titles were part book, part magazine, part comic book (pamphlet), and part serialized graphic novel, and like a book, each edition in the line has a dust jacket. The oversized publishing format makes this look like a magazine, but the contents are all comic book.

In the first issue of Delphine, an unnamed young man disembarks from a train and finds himself in a rustic village that is surrounded by an ominous black forest. A university student, the young man is looking for a young co-ed with whom he's smitten. Her name is Delphine Penny, and the first time he asks for directions to her home (in a creepy wig shop), he gets a violent reaction. Soon, he's whisked out of town by a grumpy old man who offers to take him to Penny's address, but he eventually finds nothing but abandonment and a cast of way-too-sinister townsfolk.

Delphine is apparently Richard Sala's retelling of Snow White, but from the perspective of Prince Charming and in a darker context. A detail from the cover of issue one and an incident early in the narrative are the most obvious references to Snow White. The joy, however, will be less in the reworking of that particular fairy tale, and more about the experience of Sala's unique style and execution of storytelling.

He's been favorable compared to Edward Gorey and famed New Yorker cartoonist, Charles Addams, and I've even compared his visual style to filmmaker Tim Burton. Sala's writes mystery stories fully dressed in the trappings of dark fantasy and horror. Like the best horror stories, his characters often blithely saunter into mysterious small towns and villages or isolated peculiar locales, or even find mystery in their backyards. With a stiff upper lip, they doggedly pursue answers and often end up battling adversaries right out of fairy tales, myths, and B-movies.

Visually, it's easy to see why Sala draws comparisons to Gorey and Adams, and his art bears more than a passing resemblance to the films of Tim Burton, James Whale, and producer Val Lewton. The atmosphere of Sala's work is sometimes similar to the "Ichabod Crane" sequence of Walt Disney's animated package film, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.

Does this amount to anything? Yes, Sala's cartoons are engaging, darkly sweet confections with a hint of pop gothic. He's whimsical and macabre and puts a wry spin on terror. He's a natural born storyteller, but does with the pen and cartoons what the best oral storytellers do with the color, nuance, and tone of their voices - transport the listener to new worlds. Like the best comix and storytellers, Sala's work also sticks with you and leaves you wanting more.

A+

http://www.richardsala.com/
http://hereliesrichardsala.blogspot.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 23 2013

DC COMICS

MAY120292 BATMAN DARK KNIGHT ARCHIVES HC VOL 08 $59.99

NOV120206 BATWOMAN #16 $2.99

NOV120156 BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #6 (MR) $3.99

NOV120158 BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #6 COMBO PACK (MR) $4.99

NOV120210 BIRDS OF PREY #16 $2.99

NOV120244 BLUE BEETLE #16 $2.99

SEP120257 BOOKS OF MAGIC DELUXE EDITION HC (MR) $24.99

NOV120208 CATWOMAN #16 $2.99

OCT120250 CULLING RISE OF THE RAVAGERS TP (N52) $16.99

NOV120171 DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #16 $2.99

NOV120300 FABLES #125 (MR) $2.99

OCT120254 GREEN ARROW TP VOL 02 TRIPLE THREAT (N52) $14.99

NOV120213 GREEN LANTERN #16 (RISE) $2.99

NOV120215 GREEN LANTERN #16 COMBO PACK (RISE) $3.99

NOV120218 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #16 (RISE) $2.99

NOV120221 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #16 (RISE) $2.99

NOV120305 HELLBLAZER #299 (MR) $2.99

NOV120253 JSA LIBERTY FILES THE WHISTLING SKULL #2 $2.99

NOV120161 JUSTICE LEAGUE #16 $3.99

NOV120165 JUSTICE LEAGUE #16 COMBO PACK $4.99

NOV120249 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #16 $2.99

NOV120211 NIGHTWING #16 (DOTF) $2.99

NOV120212 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #16 (DOTF) $2.99

NOV120303 SAUCER COUNTRY #11 (MR) $2.99

NOV120185 SUPERBOY ANNUAL #1 $4.99

NOV120186 SUPERGIRL #16 $2.99

NOV120226 SWORD OF SORCERY #4 $3.99

NOV120168 WONDER WOMAN #16 $2.99

NOV120287 YOUNG JUSTICE #24 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 23 2013

MARVEL COMICS

NOV120669 A PLUS X #4 NOW $3.99

NOV120755 ASTONISHING X-MEN #58 $3.99

NOV120663 AVENGERS #3 NOW $3.99

NOV120734 CASTLE A CALM BEFORE STORM #2 $3.99

NOV120683 DEADPOOL #4 NOW $2.99

NOV120752 DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED #1 $2.99

NOV120679 FF #3 NOW $2.99

NOV120748 GAMBIT #8 $2.99

NOV120793 GAMBIT CLASSIC TP VOL 02 $29.99

NOV120741 MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #10 $2.99

NOV120762 MMW DOCTOR STRANGE TP VOL 02 $24.99

NOV120723 PUNISHER NIGHTMARE #4 $3.99

OCT120690 SECRET AVENGERS BY RICK REMENDER TP VOL 01 $19.99

NOV120712 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #20 $3.99

OCT120700 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES BY HICKMAN TP VOL 02 $19.99

OCT120701 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY NICK SPENCER TP VOL 02 $19.99

OCT120587 UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 NOW $3.99

NOV120620 UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 NOW $3.99

NOV120727 WINTER SOLDIER #14 $2.99

NOV120747 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #24 $3.99

SEP120708 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN TP ALPHA AND OMEGA $19.99

NOV120770 WOLVERINE SABRETOOTH REBORN PREM HC $24.99

NOV120649 YOUNG AVENGERS #1 NOW $2.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for January 23 2013

IDW PUBLISHING

NOV128011 BORDERLANDS ORIGINS #1 2ND PTG $3.99

NOV120399 BORDERLANDS ORIGINS #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV120373 COBRA ONGOING #21 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV120401 CROW MIDNIGHT LEGENDS TP VOL 03 WILD JUSTICE $17.99

NOV120395 GODZILLA ONGOING #9 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV120360 JUDGE DREDD #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

SEP120304 MAD ARTIST ED HC PI

NOV120330 MARS ATTACKS TRANSFORMERS (ONE SHOT) [DIG] $3.99

OCT128289 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #1 3RD PTG $3.99

OCT128291 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #1 BOX SET 3RD PTG $24.99

NOV120340 STAR TREK COUNTDOWN TO DARKNESS #1 $3.99

NOV120367 TMNT SECRET FOOT CLAN #2 $3.99

NOV120389 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION TP VOL 01 $19.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 23 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV120016 ANSWER #1 $3.99

OCT120021 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SPIKE #5 FRISON CVR $2.99

NOV120048 BUFFYVERSE SAMPLER ONE SHOT $4.99

NOV120022 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #20 (MR) $7.99

JUN120054 DEVA ZAN HC $49.99

SEP120045 EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 12 $49.99

NOV120023 MASSIVE #8 $3.50

NOV120025 MIND MGMT #7 $3.99

NOV120018 NUMBER 13 #2 $3.99

SEP120054 STAR WARS BLOOD TIES TP VOL 02 BOBA FETT IS DEAD $14.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 23 2013

IMAGE COMICS

OCT120512 BEDLAM #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

NOV120457 CHEW #31 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

SEP120438 FRANK CHO WOMEN HC BOOK 02 (MR) $24.99

NOV120464 HELL YEAH #6 (RES) [DIG] $3.50

NOV120467 IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #6 [DIG] $2.99

NOV120577 PROPHET #33 [DIG] $3.99

NOV128161 REVIVAL #5 2ND PTG $2.99

NOV120470 REVIVAL #6 [DIG] $2.99

NOV120514 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 17 $14.99

NOV120591 WITCH DOCTOR MALPRACTICE #3 [DIG] $2.99

NOV120589 WITCHBLADE #163 CVR A CHRISTOPHER [DIG] $2.99

NOV120590 WITCHBLADE #163 CVR B BERNARD & BENES $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 23 2013

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

AUG121055 ARMY OF DARKNESS ONGOING #9 $3.99

NOV120949 BART SIMPSON COMICS #79 $2.99

NOV120866 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #209 [DIG/P+] $3.99

JUL120978 BIONIC WOMAN #7 $3.99

NOV121384 BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 12 $11.99

NOV121386 BLACK GOD TP VOL 18 $12.99

NOV121387 BRIDES STORY HC GN BOOK 04 $16.99

OCT121133 CALLING DR LAURA GRAPHIC MEMOIR GN $16.95

DEC120814 CLAY COUNTY GN (RES) $14.95

NOV120901 DAN THE UNHARMABLE #9 (MR) $3.99

NOV120902 DAN THE UNHARMABLE #9 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120900 DAN THE UNHARMABLE TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99

AUG121100 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #20 RISQUE RED EXC (MR) $14.99

NOV121388 DISAPPEARANCE OF NAGATO YUKI CHAN GN VOL 03 $11.99

NOV121353 FLOWERS OF EVIL GN VOL 04 (MR) $10.95

NOV121118 GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS #3 GREEN FIELDS PT 3 (MR) $3.99

NOV121406 GFT ANIMATED SERIES ONE SHOT REG CVR SCHNEPP (MR) $3.99

NOV121342 HARBINGER (ONGOING) #8 REG SUAYAN CVR $3.99

NOV120987 HELLRAISER ROAD BELOW #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

AUG120827 HOMECOMING #3 CVR A LASIO $3.99

AUG120828 HOMECOMING #3 CVR B SMITH $3.99

SEP120997 JENNIFER BLOOD FIRST BLOOD #3 (MR) $3.99

OCT121123 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #194 $5.99

NOV121007 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #25 (MR) $3.99

NOV121008 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #25 SULTRY CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV121009 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #25 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

OCT120861 LEGEND OF OZ THE WICKED WEST ONGOING #3 $3.50

OCT120770 LIFE WITH ARCHIE #26 RUIZ CVR [DIG/P+] $3.99

SEP121034 LORD OF THE JUNGLE #12 (MR) $3.99

NOV121081 MASKS #3 $3.99

NOV120961 PEANUTS VOL 2 #5 [DIG] $3.99

SEP121015 PROPHECY #6 $3.99

NOV120952 SIMPSONS COMICS SUPERNOVA TP $15.99

NOV120874 SONIC UNIVERSE #48 [P+] $2.99

NOV120875 SONIC UNIVERSE TP VOL 04 JOURNEY TO THE EAST $11.99

NOV121389 SOUL EATER TP VOL 12 $11.99

OCT120897 STEED AND MRS PEEL ONGOING #4 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

NOV121259 STUMPTOWN V2 #5 $3.99

OCT121027 THE LONE RANGER #12 $3.99

NOV121123 THE SPIDER #8 $3.99

NOV121124 THE SPIDER TP VOL 01 TERROR O/T ZOMBIE QUEEN $19.99

OCT120865 URSA MINOR #4 (MR) $3.50

NOV121011 WAR GODDESS #12 (MR) $3.99

NOV121012 WAR GODDESS #12 SULTRY CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV121013 WAR GODDESS #12 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV121391 WONDERLAND #7 A CVR CHEN (MR) $2.99

NOV121392 WONDERLAND #7 B CVR REYES (MR) $2.99

NOV121334 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #9 PULLBOX NORD CVR $3.99

NOV121333 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #9 REG HAIRSINE CVR $3.99

MAGAZINES
NOV121436 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1336 PI

NOV121428 DC BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA FIG COLL MAG #1 1989 BATMAN MOVIE $20.00

OCT128313 DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #33 $11.99

JUN121444 FREAKY MONSTERS MAGAZINE #14 $9.95

NOV121473 HORRORHOUND #39 $6.99

NOV121494 LOCUS #624 $7.50

NOV121425 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 24 #1 $5.99

OCT120655 PHINEAS AND FERB MAGAZINE #15 $4.99

NOV121497 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #43 NEWSSTAND ED $9.99

NOV121498 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #43 PX ED $9.99

DEC121390 WALKING DEAD MAGAZINE #1 NYCC EXCLUSIVE COVER $9.99

BOOKS

NOV121390 BOOK GIRL & UNDINE WHO BORE A MOONFLOWER NOVEL $11.99

AUG121476 GOLDEN AGE OF DC COMICS 1935 - 1956 HC $59.95

DEC121135 HEAVY METAL THE MOVIE EXPANDED ED SC (MR) $24.95

SEP121335 HORROR COMICS IN BLACK & WHITE HIST & CATALOG 1964-2004 SC $55.00

OCT121136 KOLCHAK PAPERS GRAVE SECRETS NOVEL $14.00

OCT121309 PRIME DEFINITIVE DIGITAL ART COLL $59.99

NOV121477 TALES FROM LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL #2 SLITHER SISTERS $13.99

Sunday, January 20, 2013

I Reads You Review: ALL-NEW X-MEN #2


ALL-NEW X-MEN #2
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Marte Gracia
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
28pp, Colors, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

The Marvel Comics event, Marvel NOW, is a re-launch, re-vamp, or re-something. It means lots of new first issues and restarts. One new title has shockingly (to me) and totally captured my imagination and attention. That title is All-New X-Men by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Stuart Immonen. I have not been this excited about an X-Men title since John Byrne’s X-Men: The Hidden Years and Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s New X-Men.

All-New X-Men has started with a series of bangs. Cyclops/Scott Summers, one of the original X-Men, has become a highly controversial figure. Cyclops is the public face of a new mutant revolution. He and his teammates: Magneto, the White Queen, and Majick, are gathering new mutants as fast as they appear.

Meanwhile, the X-Men at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning: Storm, Wolverine, Beast, Iceman, and Kitty Pryde fear that Cyclops’ activities will trigger a mutant apocalypse. In a desperate bid to stop this from happening, the Beast/Hank McCoy goes back in time to ask the original X-Men for help.

As All-New X-Men #2 opens, the Beast confronts the original X-Men: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Iceman, and his younger-and-lacking-blue-fur self, the Beast. He wants them to return to the future with him so that perhaps, younger Scott, seeing the way older Scott is acting, will change things. But if the original X-Men decide to help, who says they won’t do it their own way?

Why is All-New X-Men so good? It’s simple. Brian Michael Bendis’ thoughtful, occasionally dense, and character-centric writing, which focuses on Marvel’s mutants, both as people and heroes, is ideal for an X-Men comic book. This opening storyline (“Here Comes Yesterday”) allows Bendis to define personalities and ambitions and aspirations. These are the things that drive the conflict within each individual and within the team, as well as within the larger mutant community and the larger world.

Stuart Immonen’s pencil art delivers compositions that capture the intimate moments and the superhero melodrama of Bendis’ script. It tells the story in a compelling and dramatic way that makes each moment and each panel necessary to the story. Inker Wade von Grawbadger gives the story even more dramatic heft, adding a dark overtone while also making the art eye candy. Immonen and von Grawbadger present some of the best graphical storytelling that X-Men comics have delivered in a decade, as far as I’m concerned.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Friday, January 18, 2013

Review: DUB TRUB: “Our World is in Danger Now!”


DUB TRUB: “OUR WORLD IS IN DANGER NOW!”
CANDLE LIGHT PRESS/Warning Comics – @candlelightpres

CARTOONIST: Carter Allen
ISBN: 978-0-9766053-7-9; paperback
PIN-UP: Jeremy Smith
108pp, Color, $10.95 U.S.

Dub Trub: “Our World is in Danger Now!” is a 2003 graphic novel from comic book creator, Carter Allen. Allen is a writer/artist and graphic novelist who has produced several comic book series and graphic novels. “Our World is in Danger Now!” is the first in a sci-fi adventure and comic space opera series that follows a pair of enhanced, female super-soldiers, who lead the fight against an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth.

Originally published in black and white, Dub Trub: “Our World is in Danger Now!” returns in a 2012 color edition. The book looks good, because, as I said years ago, Dub Trub should be in color.

The title characters of Dub Trub are Special Agent Red and Special Agent Black. Red is a brunette who wears red sunglasses, and Black is red-haired hellion who wears black shades. Like a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the X-Men’s Rogue, this duo is at the forefront of the fight against the Voyd, an extraterrestrial horde invading Earth. The Voyd essentially leads an interstellar Axis of alien races fighting on their side, such as the Khan’Leb, a mercenary race hired by the Voyd to help with human subjugation. Over land, air, and sea, with visits to the moon, New York City, and Moscow, Red and Black lead the charge in the fight to save Earth and humanity.

Not only have I previously read Dub Trub: “Our World is in Danger Now!,” I have also read the other Dub Trub graphic novels. Reading this color edition of “Our World is in Danger Now!,” however, I feel as if I’ve read it for the first time. The color makes the art pop off the page, and it also makes more obvious how Dub Trub relates to other science fiction, fantasy, and comic book works.

With the debut of new versions of such characters as Flash (1956) and Green Lantern (1959), the DC Comics of what is called the Silver Age of comics had a Space Age quality to it. It was a kind of futuristic, forward-looking attitude that remains with the publisher to this day. In terms of story and art, Dub Trub seems like a neo-Silver Age DC comic book. I can imagine Gil Kane and Julius Schwartz tinkering with this book.

Carter Allen also recalls World War II-era comic books with the Voyd ably stepping in for Nazi Germany and the Axis. In the last of the book’s four chapters, Allen juxtaposes WWII-like propaganda with the story of a lonely and weary foot soldier. I never thought of these things when I first read this book, but color brings out so much more subtext and layers to the story.

If you have not before, here is another chance to read Dub Trub: “Our World is in Danger Now!” It’s certainly prettier than before.

A

www.candlelightpress.com
www.dubtrub.com
www.warningcomics.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Afterschool Charisma: The Leonardo Da Vinci Foundation

I read Afterschool Charisma, Vol. 7

I posted a review at ComicBookBin.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

"Lenore" Character to Die in New Story Arc


A LENORE CHARACTER WILL DIE!

IN A NEW STORY BY ROMAN DIRGE!

Lenore creator Roman Dirge reveals a character will die in a terrifyingly hilarious new story! Who will it be? Who will survive… and what will be left of them? The four-part saga kicks off in March 2013!

Following this year’s unforgettable 20th anniversary celebrations, Titan Comics is pleased to announce four brand-new Lenore releases for 2013! Beginning March 28, 2013, the new storyline will see creator Roman Dirge murderize a key Lenore character from the cult comic series!

That’s right… one of these lovably undead monstrosities is taking a powder-nap, a vacation from existence, a sub-soil retirement, a journey into the void… Well, you get the grimly picture.

The new four-part story kicks-off in Lenore #8 and marks the beginning of the end for one of Lenore’s main characters; with a fight-to-the-death between two of the comic’s most beloved characters, but who will stand victorious and who will die…?

When a film crew from "Ghosty Toasty" TV show: “Where we toast that ghost!" turns up at Lenore's mansion in search of 'ghosts and ghouls' they get more than they bargained for: much, much more!

The new storyline will also reveal the shocking truth behind the mask of Taxidermy (Lenore’s most mysterious and sinister character) including his incredible history, which started back in the days of ancient Egypt.

“There will be an insane battle. I have already started designing the town of Nevermore, just so they can destroy it!” Creator Roman Dirge says.

Lenore #8 comes with two collectable covers drawn by Dirge! Retailers can order Lenore #8 from the February 2013 edition of Diamond PREVIEWS. For updates retailers can sign-up to the Titan Comics retail newsletter, here or follow @TitanRetail on Twitter.

Lenore #8 is available from comic stores on March 28, 2013. The series will also be available to read day and date on the iPad, iPhone, Web, Android and Kindle Fire, exclusively through the comiXology app and comiXology.com

To keep up-to-date with news from Titan Comics, visit www.titan-comics.com or join us on Facebook or Twitter.


About Titan Comics
Titan Comics is a bold new publishing initiative from Titan Publishing, offering readers the best new stories from new and established comics creators – and offering those creators a great deal to bring their stories to a worldwide audience!

From editorial to design, Titan Comics helps creators shape their ideas into the best comics possible – while they retain full rights over their creations and intellectual property.

Combining unique voices and idiosyncratic visions with strong marketing and a trusted brand, Titan Comics is the ultimate expression of our extensive editorial, design and sales experience.

Titan Publishing has been a purveyor of comics, graphic novels, fiction and licensed publishing for over thirty years.

Since 1981, we have been instrumental in the field of licensed film and television properties, including The Walking Dead, Star Wars, Transformers and Star Trek, as well as creator-owned successes such as Tank Girl and Lenore – but now is the time to nurture a new generation of creators, characters and properties.

As well as all-new monthly comics titles, Titan Comics continues to restore and reprint the best classic comics, bringing back seminal titles of yesterday in deluxe and lovingly-produced volumes.

Titan also has a broad and active digital portfolio, with all comics and magazines available for simultaneous purchase across major tablet and web interfaces.

Titan’s comic titles and trade paperbacks are distributed to the Direct Market by Diamond, with our trade paperbacks distributed to the book trade by Random House.

For more information, visit: www.Titan-comics.com

For information about Titan Comics new imprint, visit:

http://titan-comics.com/news/launch01/

Connect with Titan Comics:
www.facebook.com/comicstitan
www.twitter.com/comicstitan
www.twitter.com/TitanRetail


Case Closed: Forgiveness

I read Case Closed, Vol. 45

I posted a review at ComicBookBin.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Review: THE BLACK BEETLE #1


THE BLACK BEETLE #1
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

CARTOONIST/COVER: Francesco Francavilla
LETTERS: Nate Piekos (of Blambot)
PIN-UP: Mike Norton
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

“No Way Out” (Part 1 of 4)

Francesco Francavilla is an Italian comic book artist. Francavilla won the 2012 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards trophy for “Best Cover Artist” for providing cover art on such titles as Black Panther (Marvel Comics); Lone Ranger (Dynamite Entertainment), and Archie Meets Kiss (Archie Comics), among others.

The Black Beetle is a comic book character created by Francavilla. The character has been appearing on Francavilla’s blog and in the anthology series, Dark Horse Presents. The Black Beetle has more than a passing resemblance to DC Comics’ Batman because they share conceptual DNA.

The Black Beetle blends the aesthetics of pulp fiction, mystery, noir, and the superhero. The character is not only part superhero, but he is also a costumed vigilante and weird detective in the vein of such classic pulp heroes as The Shadow and The Spider, with some of Zorro and Sherlock Holmes thrown into the mix. Black Beetle is a super-heroic sleuth, and his base of operation is Colt City, a classic pulp and noir-type urban landscape. Black Beetle debuts in his own comic book series, entitled The Black Beetle.

As The Black Beetle #1 begins, the Black Beetle is about to make himself an uninvited guest in a meeting of two crime families, the Galazzos and the Fierros. In this summit, which will determine the future of Colt City’s criminal empire, Black Beetle sees an opportunity to take out two major crime bosses, Don Pasquale Galazzo and Joe Fierro. When the hero makes his move at Spencer’s, the neutral sight where this crime conference is being held, he discovers that he is not the only hunter.

The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 is clean comic book storytelling. This is classic, two-fisted, masked-man comic book action. It’s gritty and pure, lacking in pretension or the goal to be the soap opera version of character drama that most superhero comic books offer. This is the kind of pulpy mayhem that first made me fall in love with comic books.

I don’t think that I can adequately describe just how gorgeous Francesco Francavilla’s art is. Some of the pages use a standard comic book page layout, but most of them are more imaginative and inventive. Some pages resemble movie posters and movie theatre lobby cards; others are similar to narrative paintings. Some pages are designed as splash pages, but with details and assorted art embedded on them.

The Black Beetle is pure pop comics. Between the new Stars Wars series and The Black Beetle, Dark Horse Comics is doing their own version of Marvel NOW and The New 52. Dark Horse is just doing a better job of making classic seem so fresh.

A+

http://pulpsunday.blogspot.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Loveless: Mobile Suit Gundam /Loveless Crossover

I read Loveless, Vol. 10

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 16 2013

DC COMICS

NOV120250 AME COMI GIRLS #4 FEATURING POWER GIRL $3.99

NOV120205 BATGIRL #16 (DOTF) $2.99

NOV120190 BATMAN #16 (DOTF) $3.99

NOV120193 BATMAN #16 COMBO PACK (DOTF) $4.99

NOV120198 BATMAN AND ROBIN #16 (DOTF) $2.99

NOV120254 BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #10 $2.99

OCT120253 BATWOMAN TP VOL 01 HYDROLOGY (N52) $14.99

NOV120240 DEATHSTROKE #16 $2.99

NOV120233 DEMON KNIGHTS #16 $2.99

OCT120296 FABLES TP VOL 18 CUBS IN TOYLAND (MR) $16.99

NOV120232 FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #16 $2.99

NOV120285 GREEN LANTERN THE ANIMATED SERIES #10 $2.99

NOV120241 GRIFTER #16 $2.99

NOV120291 INSURGENT #1 $2.99

NOV120248 LEGION LOST #16 $2.99

NOV120247 RAVAGERS #8 $2.99

NOV120243 SUICIDE SQUAD #16 $2.99

NOV120184 SUPERBOY #16 $2.99

NOV120235 TEAM 7 #4 $2.99

NOV120237 THRESHOLD #1 $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 16 2013

MARVEL COMICS

OCT128347 ALL NEW X-MEN #2 2ND PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

NOV120661 ALL NEW X-MEN #6 NOW2 $3.99

NOV120708 ALPHA BIG TIME #0.1 $2.99

OCT120686 AVENGERS ACADEMY FINAL EXAMS PREM HC $24.99

NOV120700 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #11 NOW $3.99

OCT120683 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE BY BENDIS HC $34.99

NOV120705 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #16 $3.99

OCT128346 CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 2ND PTG JRJR VAR NOW $3.99

NOV120677 CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 NOW $3.99

OCT120685 CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER PREM HC VOL 04 $24.99

NOV120726 CAPTAIN MARVEL #9 $2.99

NOV120732 DAREDEVIL #22 $2.99

NOV120717 DARK AVENGERS #185 $2.99

OCT120688 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER TP LITTLE SISTERS OF ELURIA $19.99

OCT120692 FEAR ITSELF TP FEARLESS $29.99

OCT120704 GENERATION X CLASSIC TP VOL 02 $24.99

OCT128348 HAWKEYE #4 2ND PTG AJA VAR $2.99

NOV120688 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #3 NOW $3.99

OCT120707 MARVEL UNIVERSE END TP NEW PTG $19.99

NOV120744 MARVELS THOR ADAPTATION #1 $2.99

OCT120687 MIGHTY THOR JIM PREM HC EVERYTHING BURNS $29.99

NOV120631 NEW AVENGERS #2 NOW $3.99

NOV120722 PUNISHER NIGHTMARE #3 $3.99

NOV120643 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #1 NOW $3.99

OCT128349 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #1 2ND PTG RIBIC VAR NOW $3.99

OCT128350 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #2 2ND PTG RIBIC VAR NOW $3.99

NOV120710 ULTIMATE COMICS IRON MAN #4 $3.99

NOV120707 VENOM #30 $2.99

OCT120675 WOLVERINE MAX #3 (MR) $3.99

NOV120750 X-FACTOR #250 $2.99

NOV120753 X-MEN #40 $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for January 16 2013

IDW PUBLISHING

NOV120416 CHASING THE DEAD #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV120397 CROW SKINNING THE WOLVES #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV120369 GI JOE VOL 2 ONGOING #21 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV120407 HIGH WAYS #1 [DIG] $3.99

SEP120386 LIL ABNER HC VOL 05 $49.99

SEP120353 MAGIC THE GATHERING PATH OF VENGEANCE #2 [DIG/P+] $4.99

NOV120327 MARS ATTACKS REAL GHOSTBUSTERS (ONE SHOT) [DIG] $3.99

NOV120393 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT THUNDERCRACKER #1 [DIG] $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 16 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV120038 BILLY KIDS ODDITIES & ORM LOCH NESS #4 $3.50

NOV120030 BLACK BEETLE #1 NO WAY OUT $3.99

NOV120037 BPRD 1948 #4 $3.50

NOV120031 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #12 $3.50

SEP120048 CONAN TP VOL 12 THRONE OF AQUILONIA $19.99

NOV120041 EX SANGUINE #4 (MR) $3.99

NOV120096 GOOD LUCK TROLLS MYSTERY BOX SERIES 2 PI

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 16 2013

IMAGE COMICS

NOV120549 COMEBACK #3 (MR) [DIG] $3.50

NOV120550 CREATOR OWNED HEROES #8 CVR A MORSE (MR) [DIG] $4.99

NOV120551 CREATOR OWNED HEROES #8 CVR B CONNER & MOUNTS (MR) $4.99

MAY120604 DARKNESS #101 SIGNED SILVESTRI & HAUN CVR (MR) $20.00

AUG120509 ELEPHANTMEN #45 (MR) [DIG] $3.99

NOV120466 HOAX HUNTERS #6 [DIG] $2.99

NOV120497 INVINCIBLE TP VOL 17 WHATS HAPPENING [DIG] $16.99

MAY120616 LIL DEPRESSED BOY #15 [DIG] $3.99

NOV120442 ONE TRICK RIP OFF DEEP CUTS HC $29.99

NOV128073 SAGA #7 2ND PTG $2.99

NOV120578 SAGA #9 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

NOV120456 TODD THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #1 [DIG] $2.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 16 2013

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT121260 AFTERSCHOOL CHARISMA TP VOL 07 $12.99

NOV121338 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (NEW) #6 REG LUPACCHINO CVR $3.99

NOV120864 B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #231 [DIG/P+] $3.99

NOV121098 BIONIC MAN VS BIONIC WOMAN #1 $3.99

NOV121336 BLOODSHOT (ONGOING) #7 REG ANDRASOFSZKY CVR $3.99

NOV121228 BLUE BLOODS HC GN VOL 01 $19.99

NOV120904 CALIGULA HEART OF ROME #2 (MR) $3.99

NOV120906 CALIGULA HEART OF ROME #2 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120905 CALIGULA HEART OF ROME #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120843 CRAWLING SKY #1 [DIG] $3.99

NOV120912 CROSSED BADLANDS #21 (MR) $3.99

NOV120914 CROSSED BADLANDS #21 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120913 CROSSED BADLANDS #21 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

SEP121042 DARK SHADOWS #12 $3.99

SEP121063 DF VAMPIRELLA #25 RISQUE RED EXC $19.99

AUG121355 DOGS TP VOL 07 (MR) $12.99

JUL120735 DREAMWORKS ADVENTURE MAGAZINE #1 $4.99

SEP120772 DREAMWORKS ADVENTURE MAGAZINE #2 $4.99

NOV120892 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #7 CVR A GUNDERSON $3.99

NOV120893 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #7 CVR B LAISO $3.99

NOV120894 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #7 CVR C TORQUE PI

NOV121004 EXTERMINATION #8 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

NOV120997 FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #10 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

NOV120908 FASHION BEAST #5 (MR) $3.99

NOV120909 FASHION BEAST #5 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120924 FERALS #12 (MR) $3.99

NOV120926 FERALS #12 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120925 FERALS #12 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV121408 FLY VOL II #4 A CVR DEBALFO (MR) $2.99

NOV121409 FLY VOL II #4 B CVR ERIC J (MR) $2.99

OCT120889 FREELANCERS #3 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99

NOV121251 GARFIELD & CO HC VOL 08 SECRET AGENT X $7.99

SEP120994 GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #21 (MR) $3.99

OCT121035 GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE SPECIAL #1 $4.99

NOV121393 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #81 A CVR CAFARO (MR) $2.99

NOV121394 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #81 B CVR MYCHAELS (MR) $2.99

OCT121261 JORMUNGAND GN VOL 10 (MR) $12.99

AUG121017 KEVIN SMITH BIONIC MAN #15 $3.99

AUG121044 LORD OF THE JUNGLE #11 (MR) $3.99

NOV121238 MISSIONS OF LOVE GN VOL 02 $10.99

OCT121017 PATHFINDER #4 $3.99

NOV121119 PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #5 $3.99

NOV120951 SIMPSONS COMICS #198 $2.99

NOV120928 STITCHED #11 (MR) $3.99

NOV120930 STITCHED #11 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

NOV120929 STITCHED #11 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

SEP121026 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #21 (MR) $3.99

NOV120876 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #25 [DIG/P+] $3.99

MAGAZINES

OCT121323 BACK ISSUE #62 $8.95

OCT120867 BLEEDING COOL MAGAZINE #2 (MR) $4.99

SEP121322 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #190 VANCE ASTRO $14.00

OCT121318 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #191 CONSTRICTOR $14.00

OCT121317 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG SPECIAL GIANT MAN $28.00

NOV121434 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1334 PI

NOV121435 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1335 PI

SEP121323 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #22 RED HOOD BLACK PAWN $16.00

SEP121324 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #23 BATWING WHITE PAWN $16.00

OCT120652 DISNEY JUNIOR MAGAZINE #11 $4.99

NOV121423 JUXTAPOZ #145 FEB 2013 $5.99

OCT121361 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #130 $9.95

NOV121475 SCARY MONSTERS MAGAZINE #85 $8.95

SEP121337 SKETCH MAGAZINE #41 $6.95

BOOKS

NOV120819 AGENT GATES & SECRET ADVENTURES OF DEVONTON ABBEY GN $14.99

NOV121457 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ORIGIN STORY YR HC 2ND ED $8.99

OCT121357 COMPLETE JOHN THUNSTONE HC (RES) $40.00

NOV121459 MIGHTY AVENGERS AN ORIGIN STORY HC 2ND ED $8.99

OCT121382 NEIL GAIMAN CHUS DAY HC $17.99

NOV121483 TOY CONFIDENTIAL SECRET LIFE SNARKY TOYS SC $12.99

SEP121339 UNSTOPPABLE WOLVERINE AN ORIGIN STORY HC $8.99

SEP122053 WARHAMMER 40K RAVENWING MMPB $11.99

Sunday, January 13, 2013

I Reads You Review: THE HIDDEN


THE HIDDEN
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

CARTOONIST: Richard Sala
DESIGN: Richard Sala and Jacob Covey
ISBN: 978-1-60699-386-6; hardcover (2011), 8.25" x 8.25" (dimensions)
136pp, Color, $19.99 U.S.

The Hidden is a 2011 full color, hardcover, original graphic novel from cartoonist and comic book creator, Richard Sala. Sala is known for his comic book series, Evil Eye (Fantagraphics Books), and such works as Cat Burglar Black, Delphine, and The Chuckling Whatsit. Published by Fantagraphics Books, The Hidden follows a group of survivors of a mysterious worldwide catastrophe that seems like it could be an extinction level event for humanity.

The story begins on a day when strange creatures begin an assault on humans, and it seems as if dark forces are at war with nature. An indeterminate amount of time later, the narrative finds civilizations in ruins. We meet two wanderers looking for safe haven or, perhaps, someplace not in ruins. They are a young woman named Colleen and Tom, her boyfriend. The couple finds a middle-aged man asleep in a cave. Although he cannot remember his name, he does remember an old trading post that he claims is a safe place.

Along their journey, the trio meets another couple, Glen and Sally, who claim to have witnessed a horrific and surprising massacre. When the small band finally arrives at the trading post, they find more mystery. Colleen also begins to learn of the terrible conspiracy and dark secrets behind the man who cannot remember his name.

Richard Sala’s Delphine was a modern take slash re-imagination of the fairy tale, “Snow White.” The following is a possible spoiler: Sala’s The Hidden is a modernization of Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), but told in the context of our current times (which are beset by end-of-the-world fears). In fact, The Hidden goes beyond the end of Shelley’s novel, imagining a different fate for man, monster, and humanity. This graphic novel is essentially a parable about ethical-free, morality-light, cutting-edge science. Why do anything? Why play God? The answer to both questions is “because we can.” “Damn the consequences” is The Hidden’s unspoken refrain.

The back cover of The Hidden has a quote about Sala’s work from Publisher’s Weekly, which describes reading Sala as “an experience both jarring and fun.” That is quite true. I tore through The Hidden, flipping pages as if I were reading the latest potboiler, suspense thriller on the prose bestsellers’ list. I couldn’t wait to get to the next shocking and thrilling revelation.

The Hidden is jarring because of the action taken by the characters, both the leading actors and the bit players. Much of Sala’s work has a playful gothic aesthetic, similar to the mischievous macabre of Charles Addams and the lighthearted ghoulishness of Tim Burton. Sala goes past Addams and Burton. His comics contain moments in which the capricious nature of life and the seeming fickleness of existence delivers cruelty. This does not always appear as physical violence; sometimes, the result is a spiritual wound or a gash on the psyche. In The Hidden, the characters don’t do “playful gothic aesthetic.”

The Hidden is what Sala’s work always is, entertaining and bizarre, but it also reveals that Richard Sala isn’t just some guy drawing peculiar cartoons. Sala is a talent like no other. When I think of the comic book creator/hacks that are more famous (and perhaps wealthier) than Sala, it makes me realize that there may be a God, but there ain’t no justice.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


Psyren: Light

I read Psyren, Vol. 8

I posted a review at ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Review: 21st CENTURY BOYS Volume 1


21ST CENTURY BOYS, VOL. 01
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

WRITER: Naoki Urasawa with Takashi Nagasaki
ARTIST: Naoki Urasawa
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Akemi Wegmüller
LETTERS: Freeman Wong
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4326-0; paperback; Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
200pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

20th Century Boys is a science fiction and mystery manga from creator Naoki Urasawa. The series was originally serialized from 1999 to 2006 in the Japanese manga magazine, Big Comic Spirits. The series, a seinen manga (comics for adult men), was collected in 22 graphic novels (called tankobon in Japan). The series also has a 16-chapter sequel (of sorts), entitled 21st Century Boys.

20th Century Boys is concluded. The war is over. The “Friend,” leader of the worldwide cult known as the “Friends,” is dead. But has peace really come to Tokyo, after the world was on the brink of destruction? Many mysteries concerning the Friend remain, such as the Friend’s true identity. Are any of his diabolical plans still in motion? The answers may be in the memories of Kenji Endo, the returning hero and the Friend’s sworn enemy. Welcome to 21st Century Boys.

Naoki Urasawa’s 21st Century Boys, Vol. 1 (entitled Death of the Friend) picks up after the end of the Eisner Award-winning Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys. The Friend dies, but not before speaking cryptically to Kenji. The Friend’s stand-in, Sadakiyo, lies in a hospital. He is watched over by Kenji’s niece, Kanna, as she tries to understand what Sadakiyo is trying to tell her. United Nations Forces move into Tokyo, and Kenji prepares to makes a dangerous trip into the mind games of the Friends.

This first volume of the 21st Century Boys manga, the sort of sequel to the 20th Century Boys manga, offers more of the same, but not quite. The first series pitted a large cast of characters against a primary adversary, the Friend. In this new series, it seems as if the heroes are chasing ghosts and confronting a vaguely outlined adversary, so the series strikes an odd tone. It is as if creator Naoki Urasawa wants the characters to discover things about their pasts that are better left alone and unknown.

Comic book readers who loved 20th Century Boys will want the follow-up, VIZ Signature’s Naoki Urasawa’s 21st Century Boys.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux