Monday, November 30, 2020

I Reads You Juniors November 2020 - Update #95

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Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:  

DC CINEMA - From ArsTechnica:   "Justice League: The Snyder Cut" black and white trailer - released Nov. 17th, 2020.

DC TV - From HBOMax:   See HBO Max's "Titans" Season 1-Episode 1 ("Titans," 2018) for free - for the time being.

From HBOMax:  See HBO Max's animated "Harley Quinn" Season1-Episode 1 ("Till Death Do Us Part," 2019) for free - for the time being.

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DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  DC Comics is re-imagining "Batman" character, "Poison Ivy" for the Summer 2021 young adult graphic novel, "Vines 'N Roses."

DC TV - From DCBlog:   Anna Diop of HBO Max's "Titans" shows off "Starfire's" new costume.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:  Here is the "Future State" page.

From DCBlog:  DC Future State Takes You Beyond Tomorrow

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   A 1939 copy of Detective Comics #27, which features the first appearance of Batman, sold for $1.5 million via Heritage Auctions.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Of the comic books that Marvel Comics is cancelling is its comic book adaptation of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."

UK COMICS - From 2000AD:   A look at Pat Mills and Rafael Busom's "Sugar Jones," as "The Best of Sugar Jones" collection arrives.

BOOKS - From BleedingCool:   Book publisher Penguin Random House has fellow publisher, Simon & Shuster," for 2 billion dollars.  That has created a mega-publisher and mega distributor with ramifications for comic book publishers.

DARK HORSE - From TheBeat:  Dark Horse Comics will publish an original graphic novel from famed comics cover artist and illustrator, Dave McKean.  Entitled "Raptor: A Sokol Graphic Novel," it will feature his first creator-owned character.

DC TV - From DCBlog:  HBO Max will stream, "DMZ," the four-part television adaptation of the Vertigo comic book series, "DMZ" (2005-12) from writer Brian Wood and artist Riccardo Burchielli.

MANGA - From GamesRadar:  Sony's investment arm, "Sony Innovation Fund," has reportedly invested in the new digital manga service, "Mangamo." 

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  A 7-foot tall statue of Batman is now on display in downtown Burbank, California.

DC COMICS - From Deadline:   DC Comics will introduce its first non-binary hero in "Kid Quick," who will appear in DC's holiday-themed comics anthology, "DC's Merry Multiverse."

COMICS - From THR:  Writer Steve Niles, the creator of "30 Days of Night," has formed a multi-platform production company, "Monster Forge Productions," with artist Shannon Eric Denton.

DC TV - From Variety:  The CW is cancelling its superhero TV series, "Black Lightning," after its upcoming Season 4.

MARVEL - From Previews:  Marvel Comics releases a trailer for the first chapter of "Enter the Phoenix," the new Avengers story line that opens in "Avengers #40."

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. will release "Wonder Woman 1984" Dec. 25th, 2020 in U.S. and to stream on HBO Max.  The film will reportedly be released overseas on Dec. 16th.

DISNEY BOOKS - From SFWA:  The Walt Disney Company apparently is not paying royalties owed to veteran novelist Alan Dean Foster for books he wrote and that they now own.

DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCovered:   Actress Amber Heard played "Mera" in Warner Bros.'s hit film, "Aquaman" (2018). Rumors say the studio will expand her role in the sequel and possibly develop a Mera film for her.  The latter is reportedly contingent on continued favorable rulings for Heard in her long-running and ugly legal battle with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp.

COMICS TO TV - From ComicBook:  Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan says that there is still a chance is notorious character from "The Walking Dead," Negan, might still get a spinoff TV series.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Hasbra has said that the Transformers and the X-Men will crossover in some way in 2021 as part of its "Tranformers Collaborative" line.

DC CINEMA - From BloodyDisgusting:   Zack Snyder teases a new look for Jared Leto as the "Joker" in "Justice League."

MANGA - From ANN:   Revered manga creator, Naoki Urasawa, who is best known for manga such as "Monster" and "20th Century Boys," says that he is making an anime.

MANGA - From Kotaku:  Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto, will start writing the sequel, "Boruto," beginning with Chapter 52.  Ukyo Kodachi has been writing the series since Chapter 1.

DC TV - From Deadline:  The CW is developing a "Wonder Girl" TV series and the series lead may be a Latina.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Vixen will apparently be the first feature in DC's upcoming digital anthology comic, "Truth & Justice."

COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Kaare Andrews talks about his new teen superhero, "E-Ratic."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Eisner Award-winning artist, Sanford Greene, said in an interview that he is working on comics projects with Patton Oswalt and Milestone Media.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:   Director James Gunn confirms that Sylvester Stallone has joined his film, "The Suicide Squad."

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:   Apparently, there is still lots of debate about the release date and release platform for "Wonder Woman 1984."  It involves Christmas Day, HBO Max, PVOD, etc.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:  DC provides a preview of "Week One" of the "Justice League: Endless Winter" event, which begins with titles shipping December 8, 2020.

DC COMICS - From THR:  DC Comics has announced a new anthology series, "Truth & Justice."  It will launch digitally with print releases to follow.  The series will showcase "the catalog of characters in the DC library."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Is DC Comics leaving comic book shops and quitting conventions?

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank's creator-owned series, "Geiger," will be published by Image Comics.

MARVEL - From Inverse:   An article about the comic book that inspired the upcoming Disney+ series, "WandaVision."  That would be Tom King's "The Vision" miniseries.

DC TV - From Deadline:  The CW is developing a "Black Lighting" spinoff series for the character "Painkiller," which actor Jordan Calloway will play.  The series will be developed via a "backdoor pilot," which is when an episode of an existing TV series (in this case "Black Lightning") will introduce Painkiller. 

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   All Batman publications from now through September 2021.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:   Japanese comic book publisher, Enmaku is publishing their first mini-series, Ninja World USA, aimed at the US market and released digitally on the 20th of November.

MARVEL - From BET:   Adidas And Marvel Will Release Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sneakers

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   More senior DC Comics staff has reportedly been laid off

CONVENTIONS - From BleedingCool:  ReedPop is moving the next editions of both "Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) and "Emerald City Comic Con" (ECCC) to December 2021.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Legendary X-Men writer, Chris Claremont, will be part of Marvel Comics' upcoming "X-Men: Legends" ongoing series.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Rumor says that writer Geoff Johns and artist Jason Fabok will produce a one-shot sequel to their mega-hit miniseries, "Batman: The Three Jokers."

FANTAGRAPHICS-DISNEY - From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books will collect the the "Uncle Scrooge" comics of beloved Disney comic book artist, William Van Horn, in "Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: Pie in the Sky: Disney Masters Vol. 18."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Marie Javins is now the full Editor-in-Chief at DC Comics.

DC COMICS - From ComicBook:   Karl Kerschl introduces the newest Robin, "Mia 'Maps' Mizoguchi."  She will debut in the upcoming "Batman: Black and White" relaunch.

MARVEL - From ComicBook:  Marvel publisher John Nee is no longer with the company. Nee was among a number of Disney employees furloughed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

BIDEN-HARRIS! - From BleedingCool:  Comics creator react to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris winning the 2020 Presidential election. 

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will collect writer Jesse Leon McCann and artist Min Sung Ku's "Krypto the Superdog" (2006-07) comic book series as a graphic novel in its "DC Kids" line.

MANGA - From 411Mania:  Yen Press announces Nov. 10 digital launch for Tetsuya Naito manga, "New Japan Academy."

DISNEY - From MousePlanet:   Writer John Korkis reprints an interview he conducted with classic Mickey Mouse newspaper comic strip artist, Floyd Gottfredson.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:   The publisher provides an exclusive first look at "Justice League #56," which arrives in story on or around Tues., Nov. 10th.

COMICS - From CBR:  Acclaimed comic book writer, Grant Morrison, comes out as non-binary.

TOYS-COLLECTIBLES - From BleedingCool:   The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to the 1980s with FiGPiN enamel pins.

COMICS - From CBR:  Dianne Buscema-Gerogianis is trying to recover multiple pieces of original comics art that was created by her father, the late great John Buscema. The art work was recently stolen from her family.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   The site has a preview of DC Comics' upcoming "Punchline #1"

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool:  Mike Mignola announces a line of books collecting "essential" Hellboy comics, "Hellboy Universe Essentials."

DC TO FILM - From YahooEntertainment:   Actor Joe Manganiello post a photo of himself sporting the blue mohawk that he will wear as the villain"Deathstroke" in Zach Snyder's "Justice League."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   The site reports rumors that say that DC Comics may be abandoning the idea of single "DC Universe."  It would be replaced by a kind of "omniverse" in which characters and comic books would have their own universe or at least play fast and loose with history.

COMICS UK - From 2000AD:   The new episode of "The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast Lockdown Tapes" podcast features artist Greg Staples, who has worked in comic books, video games, and movies and on "Magic: The Gathering" cards.

MARVEL - From ScreenRant:  How Marvel Comics' monsters changed the face of comic book heroes.

DC COMICS - From Newsarama:  Writer James Tynion IV is working on a second "Batman family" title for 2021.

COMICS TO FILM - From ShadowandAct:    Wesley Snipes denies that he tried to strangle director David Goyer on the set of the 2004 film, "Blade: Trinity," a claim made by co-star, actor and comedian Patton Oswalt.

INTERVIEW - From TheBeat:  Joe Grunenwald interview comics writer, Peter Milligan, about his new comic book, "Happy Hour" (Ahoy Comics).

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   George Perez's "Wonder Woman" gets the "Absolute" treatment.  "Absolute Wonder Woman: Gods And Mortals" will reprint Perez's classic run on "Wonder Woman #1-14" from 1986 and 1987 as well as his Wonder Woman work for "Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #26" and the "Who's Who Update 1987 #1-3."  360 pages long, for $125, the volume will be published on the 20th of July, 2021.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From Forbes: The site takes a look at Fantagraphics upcoming three-volume box set, "The Complete Hate," which collects the totality of Peter Bagge's seminal alt-comix series.  That includes all the issues of "Hate" (1990-98) and the "Hate Annuals" (1999-2011).

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics announces new young adult graphic novel and hero with, "Whistle: A New Gotham Hero," due May 2021.

COMICS - From BubbleBlabber:  A look back at Bongo Comics' "Treehouse of Horror" comic books, which are, of course, based on "The Simpsons" TV series' annual special episode of the same name.

MARVEL - From ValdostaDailyTimes:  A look back at "The Ulimates."

MANGA - From CBR: 10 Forgotten Manga Written By Legendary Creators Before Their Most Famous Works

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  With the news of the casting of the Disney+ "Moon Knight" series, the site offers "Who is Moon Knight and what are his powers?"

SCANDAL - From BleedingCool:  Tony Gushee, the owner of "Apache Comics & Toys" of Mesa, Arizona, is facing a murder trial!

PALESTINE - From BleedingCool:  In an interview for the CBC (Canadian state broadcaster) with acclaimed comics creator, Joe Sacco, the title of one of Sacco's most acclaimed works came up, "Palestine."  Later, the mention of the word "Palestine" was both censored and apologized for.

DC COMICS - From BusinessInsider:   Two Black former DC Comics editors describe the career obstacles they faced, from white leadership saying they'd never be promoted to their achievements being undercut.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  A beginner's guide to DC Comics horror.

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DC FUTURE STATE

From GamesRadar:  What is DC saying about the post "Future State" Batman title?

From GamesRadar:  DC Future State "Flash" will be part of a gender-swapped "Teen Titans."

From TheBeat:   A first look at "Nubai," the classic Wonder Woman character as she will be in DC Future State's "Immortal Wonder Woman."

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will make all their "Future State" comic books returnable for comic book stores.

From GamesRadar:  DC Future State Superman and Justice League January 2021 solicitations

From GamesRadar:   DC Future State Batman January 2021 solicitations

From GamesRadar:  "DC Future State" reveals the Next Batman, the fate of Bruce Wayne, and a whole new line of titles

From GamesRadar:  "DC Future State" details.

From THR:   DC Comics is starting 2021 by looking into the future of its superhero universe with "DC Future State," a two-month publishing event (January and February 2021) that offers glimpses at what might be coming for Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League.

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NOVEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Abaze for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press/Lion Forge for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for November 2020

DECEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  Albatross Funnybooks for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for December 2020 

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Chapterhouse for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for December 2020

From 2000AD:   Rebellion Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for December 2020 
From BleedingCool: VIZ Media for December 2020
 
JANUARY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  AWA for January 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Studios for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for January 2021 
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for January 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics - King in Black for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Titans Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for January 2021

FEBRUARY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for February 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for February 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2021
From TheBeat: DC Comics for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for February 2021 
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "King in Black" for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for February 2021
From 2000AD:   Rebellion Comics for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for February 2021
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for February 2021
From BleedingCool:   Zenescope Entertainment for February 2021


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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2020


 

BOOM! STUDIOS

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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2020

DARK HORSE COMICS

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Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2020

DYNAMITE

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2020

IDW PUBLISHING

JUN200629    GROSS EXAGGERATIONS MESHUGA COMICS MILET GROSS HC    $85.00
JUN208290    MY LITTLE PONY TRANSFORMERS #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG    $3.99
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OCT200458    TMNT JENNIKA II #2 (OF 6) CVR A REVEL    $4.99


Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2020

IMAGE COMICS

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OCT200200    FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #6    $3.99
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SEP200232    THAT TEXAS BLOOD #6 (MR)    $3.99
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OCT200236    WALKING DEAD DLX #4 CVR D ADAMS & MCCAIG (MR)    $3.99


Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2020

MARVEL COMICS

SEP200621    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #53.LR PHAM VAR    $3.99
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OCT200562    X-FACTOR #5 XOS    $3.99
SEP200753    X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE TP VOL 01 ALPHA NEW PTG    $34.99


Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

SEP208684    ACURSIAN GN    $17.99
OCT201914    APOTHECARY DIARIES GN VOL 01    $10.99
OCT201512    BACKTRACK #9 (MR)    $3.99
OCT201751    BAKEMONOGATARI GN VOL 06    $12.95
JUL201156    BATMAN JOKER WAR ZONE #1 CGC GRADED    $89.99
SEP201572    BELLE TARGETED PREY ONE SHOT CVR A VITORINO    $5.99
SEP201573    BELLE TARGETED PREY ONE SHOT CVR B BURNS    $5.99
SEP201574    BELLE TARGETED PREY ONE SHOT CVR C SANAPO    $5.99
OCT201120    BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #289    $7.99
SEP201146    BIGS AND TINY #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JUL200944    CAGASTER GN VOL 03    $12.99
SEP201160    CAPTAIN CANUCK SEASON 5 #1    $4.99
OCT201792    CHAINSAW MAN GN VOL 02    $9.99
SEP201223    COMPLETE HATE HC PETER BAGGE (MR)    $119.99
OCT201239    COVID CHRONICLES SC    $9.99
SEP201789    CUBE ARTS GN VOL 02    $12.99
OCT201498    DASH TP VOL 01 CASE OF MYSTERIOUS ZITA MAKARA    $24.99
OCT201487    DEEP BLUE #2 (MR)    $3.99
OCT201794    DEMON SLAYER KIMETSU NO YAIBA GN VOL 19    $9.99
JUL201151    DETECTIVE COMICS #1027 CGC GRADED    $80.00
JUL201152    DETECTIVE COMICS #1027 HAESER SGN RMRK    $80.00
MAR201829    DF BATMAN ADVENTURES CONTINUE #1 HAESER SGN SKETCH    $75.00
OCT201376    DF WALKING DEAD DLX #1 MOORE CVR CGC GRADED    $89.99
SEP201224    DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE HC ALL STARS    $14.99
SEP208834    DO NOT PET #1 SERVICE DOGS GRAPHIC TAIL    $4.95
OCT201805    DRAGON BALL SUPER GN VOL 11    $9.99
OCT201511    DRYAD #7    $3.99
OCT201237    E RATIC #1 CVR A ANDREWS    $3.99
OCT201238    E RATIC #1 CVR B DEODATO JR    $3.99
SEP201228    ETERNAUT 1969 HC    $19.99
SEP208040    GIGA #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
SEP208041    GIGA #1 DLX FOIL 2ND PTG    $9.99
JUL200937    GRAVEYARD WARS HC GN VOL 01    $24.99
JUL200938    GRAVEYARD WARS SC GN VOL 01    $19.99
OCT201064    HAPPY HOUR #2 (MR)    $3.99
SEP201621    HEAVENS DESIGN TEAM GN VOL 02    $12.99
SEP201557    HEAVY #3 CVR A DONOVAN    $3.99
SEP201558    HEAVY #3 CVR B DANIEL    $3.99
OCT201873    HINAMATSURI GN VOL 11    $11.95
SEP201795    IDEAL SPONGER LIFE GN VOL 07 (MR)    $12.99
OCT201795    JUJUTSU KAISEN GN VOL 07    $9.99
AUG201081    KILL A MAN OGN (RES)    $17.99
OCT201469    KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN SUN #8    $3.99
OCT201046    KNOCK EM DEAD #1    $4.99
OCT201259    LADY MECHANIKA OVERSIZED HC VOL 05    $25.99
SEP201051    LAUREL & HARDY CHRISTMAS FOLLIES #1 CVR A SHANOWER    $3.99
SEP201052    LAUREL & HARDY CHRISTMAS FOLLIES #1 CVR B PACHECO    $4.99
SEP201053    LAUREL & HARDY CHRISTMAS FOLLIES #1 CVR C RANKINE    $9.99
SEP201374    LOUD HOUSE HC VOL 11    $12.99
SEP201373    LOUD HOUSE SC VOL 11    $7.99
AUG201067    MIRANDA IN MAELSTROM #2    $3.99
AUG201143    MONSTER MEN HEART OF WRATH #1 CENTURY ED PULP CVR    $29.99
SEP208685    NEIL GAIMAN PIRATE STEW HC    $19.99
SEP201785    NEW GATE MANGA GN VOL 04    $11.95
OCT201116    NINJA HIGH SCHOOL INDIE WARS TP    $24.99
AUG201848    NO VAMPIRE NO HAPPY ENDING GN VOL 02    $12.99
JUL201803    NURSE HITOMIS MONSTER INFIRMARY GN VOL 11 (MR)    $12.99
OCT201806    ONE PIECE GN VOL 95    $9.99
AUG201822    PERFECT WORLD GN VOL 04 (MR)    $12.99
SEP201803    PETER GRILL & PHILOSOPHERS TIME GN VOL 03 (MR)    $13.99
OCT201385    PLEASE DONT STEP ON MY JNCO JEANS GN    $14.99
SEP201804    PLUS SIZED ELF GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
NOV191328    PRINCELESS RAVEN PIRATE PRINCESS TP VOL 09 BLACK FORT    $14.99
OCT201801    QQ QUEENS QUALITY GN VOL 10    $9.99
OCT201054    RED ATLANTIS #2    $3.99
OCT201747    RENT A GIRLFRIEND GN VOL 04 (MR)    $12.99
OCT201883    REPRISE OF THE SPEAR HERO GN VOL 03    $11.95
JUL201431    ROBOTECH ARCHIVE TP THE MASTERS (RES)    $34.99
SEP201002    SASQUATCH IN LOVE #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
SEP208835    SEEDS OF SPRING #1 (OF 15)    $4.95
OCT201802    SKIP BEAT 3IN1 TP VOL 14    $14.99
MAR202065    SMASH COMICS SPECIAL 2020 #1    $10.99
AUG201826    SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH US GN VOL 04    $12.99
OCT201793    SPY X FAMILY GN VOL 03    $9.99
AUG201536    STAR WARS CLONE WARS SCREEN COMIX VOL 01    $14.99
AUG201148    STARRING SONYA DEVEREAUX QUAD SIGNED ED    $25.99
JUN200936    TEETHER TP BIG BITE    $19.99
AUG201830    TO YOUR ETERNITY GN VOL 13    $12.99
AUG201889    TOKYO GHOUL RE GN COMPLETE BOX SET    $169.99
JUL200936    TRESE GN VOL 01 MURDER ON BALETE DRIVE (MR)    $16.99
OCT201807    TWIN STAR EXORCISTS GN VOL 20    $9.99
SEP201809    UZAKI CHAN WANTS TO HANG OUT GN VOL 04    $13.99
OCT201488    VAMP #4 (MR)    $3.99
OCT201803    VAMPIRE KNIGHT MEMORIES GN VOL 05    $9.99
OCT201664    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #5 CVR A CAMPBELL    $3.99
OCT201665    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #5 CVR B MACK    $3.99
OCT201666    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #5 CVR C DANIEL    $9.99
OCT201918    WANDERING WITCH GN VOL 02    $10.99
OCT201808    WE NEVER LEARN GN VOL 13    $9.99
OCT201740    WITCH AND BEAST GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
OCT201804    YONA OF THE DAWN GN VOL 27    $9.99

MAGAZINES

SEP201524    BACK ISSUE #124    $9.95
SEP201180    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1737    $PI
SEP201342    SCARY MONSTERS MAGAZINE #119    $9.95

BOOKS

OCT201303    ACTION FIGURES FROM ACTION MAN TO ZELDA HC    $55.00
SEP201147    ART OF CRASH BANDICOOT 4 ITS ABOUT TIME HC    $45.00
JUL201464    ART OF STAR TREK DISCOVERY HC (RES)    $49.95
SEP201755    BOTTOM-TIER CHARACTER TOMOZAKI LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 05    $14.00
AUG201234    CINEMATIC ART OF OVERWATCH HC    $45.00
SEP201813    HIDDEN DUNGEON ONLY I CAN ENTER LIGHT NOVEL VOL 02    $13.99
OCT201014    MARVEL UNTOLD NOVEL SC HARROWING OF DOOM    $16.95
JUL201826    PENGUINDRUM LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 02    $13.99


DC Comics from Lunar/UCS Distributors for December 1, 2020

DC COMICS:

Batman #104 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez), $3.99
Batman #104 (Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Catwoman #1 (Of 12)(Cover A Clay Mann), $4.99
Batman Catwoman #1 (Of 12)(Cover B Jim Lee & Scott Williams), AR
Batman Catwoman #1 (Of 12)(Cover C Travis Charest), AR
Batman Catwoman #1 (Of 12)(Cover D Blank Variant), AR
Batman Catwoman #1 (Of 12)(Cover E Jen Bartel Team Variant), AR
Batman Catwoman #1 (Of 12)(Cover F Gabrielle Dell’Otto Team Variant), AR
Batman Catwoman #1 (Of 12)(Cover G Bruce Timm Team Variant), AR
Batman The Adventures Continue #7 (Of 8)(Cover A Becky Cloonan), $3.99
Batman The Adventures Continue #7 (Of 8)(Cover B Justin Erickson), AR
DC Classics The Batman Adventures #7 (Cover A Mike Parobeck & Rick Burchett ), $1.99
DCeased Dead Planet #6 (Of 7)(Cover A David Finch), $3.99
DCeased Dead Planet #6 (Of 7)(Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), AR
DCeased Dead Planet #6 (Of 7)(Cover C Ben Oliver Movie Homage Card Stock Variant), AR
Dreaming Waking Hours #5 (Of 12)(Cover A Tiffany Turrill), $3.99
Far Sector #9 (Of 12)(Cover A Jamal Campbell), $3.99
Far Sector #9 (Of 12)(Cover B Meghan Hetrick), AR
Green Lantern Season Two Volume 1 HC, $29.99
Justice League By Scott Snyder Volume 2 Deluxe Edition HC, $39.99
Justice League Endless Winter #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Mikel Janin), $4.99
Justice League Endless Winter #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Daniel Warren Johnson Card Stock Variant), AR
Metal Men #12 (Of 12)(Cover A Shane Davis), $3.99
Metal Men #12 (Of 12)(Cover B Keith Giffen Team Variant), AR
Nightwing The Prince Of Gotham Omnibus HC, $99.99
Strange Adventures #7 (Of 12)(Cover A Mitch Gerads), $4.99
Strange Adventures #7 (Of 12)(Cover B Evan Doc Shaner), AR
Tales From The Dark Multiverse Wonder Woman War Of The Gods #1 (Cover A David Marquez), $5.99
Tiny Titans Beast Boy And Raven TP, $9.99
Wonder Woman Dead Earth HC, $29.99


Sunday, November 29, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: THE DRIFTING CLASSROOM Volume 3

THE DRIFTING CLASSROOM: PERFECT EDITION, VOL. 3
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Kazuo Umezz
TRANSLATION: Sheldon Drzka
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Molly Danzer
LETTERING: Evan Waldinger
EDITOR: Joel Enos
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0939-7; hardcover (June 2020); Rated “M” for “Mature”
768pp, B&W, $34.99 U.S., $46.99 CAN, £28.00 UK

The Drifting Classroom is the legendary shonen manga from creator, Kazuo Umezz.  Many manga creators, fans, and critics consider Umezz to be the most influential horror manga artist ever.  Starting in October 2019, VIZ began publishing a new, three-volume English language edition of The Drifting Classroom in its “perfect edition” format.  According to VIZ, The Drifting Classroom: Perfect Edition features an all-new translation, new content, and revised story elements – all gathered in a deluxe hardcover format.  The original eleven graphic novels in The Drifting Classroom series are collected in three hardcover omnibus books, each with a trim size of 5 3/4  x 8 1/4.

The Drifting Classroom focuses on sixth-grader Sho Takamatsu.  One morning, Sho's school, Yamato Elementary School, is apparently struck by the tremors of an earthquake.  People near Yamato discover that the school has disappeared after the earthquake; at first, they think the school was destroyed in an explosion.  However, Sho, the teachers, the students of Yamato Elementary, and a visiting pre-school child (Yuichi “Yu” Onodo) emerge from the school to discover that Yamato Elementary is now surrounded by what seems like an endless wasteland of sand.  They come to believe that in the aftermath of the massive earthquake, the school has been transported to the future.

As The Drifting Classroom: Perfect Edition, Vol. 3 (Chapters 30 to 42) opens, the surviving children are in Tokyo Station, the subway line beneath the ruins of Tokyo.  There, they learn the horrible truth about what happened to civilization and an even more horrible reality – the so-called “future humans.”

Soon, Sho and his schoolmates return to Yamato, but the group divides into two.  There are the students that follow Sho, and the students that follow the increasingly belligerent Otomo, who blames Sho for causing the event that catapulted them into the future.  The kids wage pitched battles, but will they come together to face multiple existential outside threats?

Later, the kids discover a future “Paradise” from the past, but the youngsters fall out among themselves, which leads to a series of horrible events.  Returning to the school, they learn that at least some of them may be able to return to the present day – with the help of Sho's mother, Emiko Takamatsu.  But will everything fall into place or will the children be stuck in the dark future?

THE LOWDOWN:  I have previously called The Drifting Classroom manga a mixture of horror and science fiction.  The science fiction side of the narrative follows the adventures of a group of elementary school students trapped in what resembles a post-apocalyptic world.  The horror element focuses on the students as they are engaged in constant brutal conflict that gradually, inevitably shrinks the population that was originally 862 humans.

The Drifting Classroom: Perfect Edition Volume 3 is the final volume of this “Perfect Edition” reprint series.  The chapters contained within also reveal another side of this manga.  The Drifting Classroom can also be described as a juvenile science fiction and fantasy adventure, filled with both wonders and horrors.  The truth is that after 2000+ pages of this narrative, Kazuo Umezz is as energetic as ever.  His imagination is a wellspring of wild ideas, weird creatures, and inventive twists of time and space.  Yes, many of the humans reveal themselves to be relentlessly savage and senselessly barbaric, but, at the end, Umezz brings time and space together for an unforgettable ending that offers hope – maybe even coming close to assuring it.

The translation by Sheldon Drzka and the English adaptation by Molly Danzer perfectly capture the hopefully sentiments and the gory details.  Evan Waldinger's lettering gives the dialogue and action a machine gun-like rhythm that carries the readers at a breakneck pace across the book from beginning to surprise ending.

I highly recommended the two previous volumes of The Drifting Classroom: Perfect Edition to fans of horror manga and to fans of classic manga series.  I give the third volume my highest recommendation because it is a must-read for fans of great manga.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  The serious manga reader – interested in the past as well as in the present and future of the medium – will want to read the VIZ Signature release of The Drifting Classroom: Perfect Edition.

10 out of 10

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

https://www.viz.com/
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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Saturday, November 28, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: YONA OF THE DAWN Volume 21

YONA OF THE DAWN, VOL. 21
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Mizuho Kusanagi
TRANSLATION: JN Productions
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane
LETTERS: Lys Blakeslee
EDITOR: Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9381-4; paperback (December 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Yona of the Dawn is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mizuho Kusanagi.  It has been serialized in Hakusensha's shojo manga magazine, Hana to Yume, since August 2009.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since August 2016 under its “Shojo Beat” imprint.

Yona of the Dawn focuses on the only princess in the Kingdom of Kohka, Yona.  She lives an ideal life, and her father, King Il, dotes on her.  Her faithful guard, Son Hak of the Wind Tribe, protects her.  Yona even cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, her cousin, Lord Su-won of the Sky Tribe.  However, everything changes for Princess Yona on her 16th birthday when the king is killed, and Hak is blamed.  Soon, Yona is on the run with Hak, but she is determined to reclaim her throne.  To do so, she begins a journey to find the Four Dragon Warriors.

As Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 21 (Chapter 118 to 123) opens, King Su-Won continues his advance into the rival nation of Sei.  Yona and Princess Riri of the Water Tribe were betrayed and became prisoners of Sei, working as slave labor on one of two forts being built along Sei's border with Kohka.  After their devastating siege of Lord Hotsuma's fort, Su-Won and company move on to Lord Kishibi's fort after not finding either princess at Hotsuma.

But Yona and Princess Riri have been separated, and Yona is alone and injured in a nearby forest.  Meanwhile, Lord Kishibi prepares to execute Riri!

[This volume includes a bonus chapter, “From Good Morning to Good Night.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  I find the Yona of the Dawn manga to be a hugely-enjoyable historical shojo romance manga, which is one of my favorite genres of manga.  I also like that it uses elements of Chinese history and mythology.

Yona of the Dawn Graphic Novel Volume 21 is a typically fantastic entry in this series.  In the case of this series, I think being “typically fantastic” is just “Jim Dandy!”  Seriously, despite the action of violent battle, creator Mizuho Kusanagi takes time to delve into the relationships between her core players.  Kusanagi also takes some time to further develop the steadily growing relationship between Hak and Yona.  It's intense and hot!  Let's keep reading, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of historical romantic adventure will want to try the “Shojo Beat” title, Yona of the Dawn.

A
9 out of 10

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



https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Friday, November 27, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: ONE-PUNCH MAN Volume 18

ONE-PUNCH MAN, VOL. 18
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: ONE
ART: Yusuke Murata
TRANSLATION: John Werry
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITORS: Jennifer LeBlanc; John Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9745-0946-5; paperback (December 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

One-Punch Man is a Japanese superhero franchise that began as a webcomic created by the writer-artist ONE.  Later, ONE joined artist Yusuke Murata to create a digital manga remake of One-Punch Man, and it began publication on Shueisha's Tonari no Young Jump website in 2012.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the digital manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint, beginning in 2015.

One-Punch Man focuses on Saitama, who wants to be a hero.  Beginning his superhero training when he is 22-years-old, he becomes a hero when he is 25.  He really does not look like a superhero, with his lifeless facial expression, bald head, and unimpressive physique.  But he beats the snot out of super-villains with one punch, and he even has his own disciple, the young cyborg, Genos (who really does not need any training).

As One-Punch Man, Vol. 18 (Chapters 88 to 90; entitled “Limiter”) opens, the civilians clash.  Some humans want to give in to the Monster Association.  They have formed the “Worship Party,” and plan on regularly offering human sacrifices to the monsters as a way to regulate monster predation of humans and perhaps, to stave off human extinction.  Meanwhile, human criminality rages on as there is an increase in crimes like robberies and break-ins.

Elsewhere, members of the Hero Association continue to search for Garo, the so-called “Hero Hunter.”  Garo, however, continues his bid to prove himself to the Monster Association as a potential member.  To that end, monster boss, Gyoro-Gyoro, sends two heavy-hitter monsters, “Insect God” and “King the Ripper,” to test him.  Now, Garo must fight these powerful, homicidal monsters and protect that sniveling brat, Tareo.

Plus, Saitama finds himself in the most awful predicament.  He might have to dine-and-dash!

[This volume includes bonus illustrations and bonus comics, entitled “Oops.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  Yes, dear readers, One-Punch Man manga continues to be my favorite superhero comic book.  Like the shonen manga, My Hero Academia, it is a Japanese take on the American superhero comic book.  And both are superior to American superhero comic books in many ways.

One-Punch Man Graphic Novel Volume 18 offers battle manga, but not to the extent that the two previous editions, Vols.16 and 17, did.  The Garo vs. Insect God and King the Ripper battle is quite exciting.  The rest of Vol. 18 is comprised of Saitama's humorous troubles and also plenty of theory on what makes a monster and on the concept of the “Limiter.”  This isn't one of the better recent volumes, but it does reveal Garo to be an increasingly superb character.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of shonen battle manga and of superhero comic books will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, One-Punch Man.

A
8.5 out of 10

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



https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Thursday, November 26, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: FOOD WARS Volume 33

FOOD WARS!: SHOKUGEKI NO SOMA, VOL. 33
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Yuto Tsukuda
ART: Shun Saeki
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
CONTRIBUTOR: Yuki Morisaki
LETTERS: James Gaubatz; Mara Coman
EDITOR: Jennifer LeBlanc
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0992-2; paperback (December 2019); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma is a shonen manga series written by Yuto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun SaekiYuki Morisaki also works as a contributor, providing the recipes for the series.  Food Wars! was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, from November 2012 to June 2019.  VIZ Media published an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series from August 2014 to June 2020 under two imprints:  first, “Shonen Jump Advanced” and then, “Shonen Jump.”

Food Wars! focuses on teenager Soma Yukihira.  He grows up cooking in his father's Yukihira Family Restaurant.  The 15-year-old wants to be a better chef than his father, Joshiro Yukihira (Saiba), so he hones his skills day in and day out.  His father decides to enroll him in a classy culinary school, Totsuki Saryo Culinary Institute, a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate.  If Soma Yukihira really does not want to attend Totsuki, how can he succeed?

As Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma, Vol. 33 (Chapters 282 to 290; entitled “The True Value of the Noir”) opens, Soma confronts his father, Joshiro, about his connection to the mystery man known as “Asahi Saiba.”  Saiba is connected to a group of underground chefs known as the “cuisiniers noir” that have invaded Japan.  Saiba has also been masquerading as Totsuki's newest teacher, “Mr. Suzuki.”

Joshiro not only tells Soma about Saiba, but he also hands his son an invitation to the “Blue,” a world-renowned cooking tournament for the best of the best young chefs from around the world.  But this year, for the first time, traditional chefs will clash with “underground noir” chefs.  Soma, eager for a rematch with Asahi, heads to a certain famous old castle in a famous city.  There, he will face the first of three gates of challenge.  Meanwhile, Saiba continues to romance the young woman he kidnapped, Erina Nakiri, and tells her his origin story.

[The volume includes recipes and miscellaneous illustrations.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Food Wars! manga continues to delve into the mysteries of the “cuisiniers noir.”  As the series moves towards its conclusion, our heroes are in deeper peril.

Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma Graphic Novel Volume 33 is just the antidote that we need to find out if our heroes will escape that peril.  Writer Yuto Tsukuda and artist Shun Saeki give the “shokugeki” (cooking battles) of this new story arc unique twists at every turn.  Every dish is a challenge, and even Soma is dealt a surprise.  Vol. 33 is the best of the recent volumes, which have all been pretty darn good themselves.

Adrienne Beck's translation is the perfect plate upon which to serve readers these piping hot dishes of intrigue and gamesmanship.  Letterers James Gaubatz and Mara Coman letter the utensils which the readers will use to taste this shonen battle manga plate by plate and move by move.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers hungry for good manga will want the “Shonen Jump” title, Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma.

A
10 out of 10

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


https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: PSYCHODRAMA ILLUSTRATED #2

PSYCHODRAMA ILLUSTRATED #2
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Gilbert Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez with Paul Baresh
24pp, B&W, $4.99 U.S. (June 2020)

“Mercy and the Devil”

Gilbert “'Beto” Hernandez is the prolific half of the comic book creating duo, Los Bros. (the other half being his brother, Jaime Hernandez).  Gilbert and Jaime are the creators of Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics Books), the seminal alternative comic book series, and perhaps, the greatest American comic book series of all time.

Gilbert has produced a number of solo projects including (the infamous) Blubber, Yeah! (with writer Peter Bagge), and Twilight Children (with the late Darwyn Cooke).  Gilbert's latest solo comic book project is the recently launched series, Psychodrama Illustrated.  According to publisher Fantagraphics Books, Psychodrama Illustrated is a new Love and Rockets spin-off focusing on the classic character, Rosalba Martinez, best known as “Fritz,” and on her extended family, especially Fritz's grand-niece, Dora “Killer” Rivera.  The series will feature stories about Fritz’s film career “that bend Fritz’s reality” and the “reality” of the comic book itself.

Psychodrama Illustrated #2 (“Mercy and the Devil”) opens not in the life of Fritz.  Instead, it opens in “Mercy and the Devil,” a strange movie about an ex-adult film actress (played by Fritz) and her grifter daughter, “Mercy” (played by Killer).  Mom and Mercy's relationship is played as if they are as all-American as... well, as mom and apple pie.  However, the specter of murder looms, and both mother and daughter have a penchant for taking men for the money.  But is one of the women taking men's lives as well as their money?  Or are both of them killer dames?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my review of Psychodrama Illustrated #1, I was and am a huge fan of Beto's Blubber comic book series.  I found Blubber to be in the tradition (or at least in the spirit) of Underground Comix with its brave and bold depictions of raunchy sex and surreal sexuality.

On the other hand, Psychodrama Illustrated comes across, if not personal, then, as the work of a visionary free to commit to paper whatever the hell he wants.  After all, the main narrative of Psychodrama Illustrated #2 takes place entirely inside the narrative of a film.  This is not the first time that one of Gilbert's stories takes place inside of a movie; many have, and some still do in Love and Rockets.  And this is a good thing, because Gilbert does it so well.

Gilbert is doing what he wants at his pace and in his way.  I find myself drawn to this series, and more so than with first issue.  I did not want Psychodrama Illustrated #2 to end.  After all, there is a strange allure to the combination of sex and death, and I am sure many men and women dream of engaging in sexual congress with a dangerous, even homicidal woman.  Yeah, the way Gilbert draws Fritz's gargantuan breasts annoys the f*** out of me, but in this comic book, I felt the most drawn to her that I have ever felt.

I am in love with “Mercy and the Devil,” and I want to experience... more of this particular kind of work from Gilbert.  I want whatever he wants do draw when it comes to Psychodrama Illustrated... and I could use some more right now.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Gilbert Hernandez's Love and Rockets comics will want to try Psychodrama Illustrated.

9 out of 10

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


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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: NOT YOUR IDOL: Volume 2

NOT YOUR IDOL, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Aoi Makino
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Nancy Thislethwaite
LETTERS: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1517-6; paperback (September 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
168pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £7.99 UK

Sayonara Mini Skirt is a shojo manga written and drawn by Aoi Makino.  The series has been serialized in the Japanese manga publication, Ribon Magazine, since August 2018.  VIZ Media is publishing an English-language adaptation of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series, entitled Not Your Idol, under its “Shojo Beat.”

Not Your Idol focuses on high school freshman, Nina Kamiyama, who wears slacks and has cut her hair so that she looks like a boy.  You see, Kamiyama was once “Karen Amamiya,” the “center” of the “miniskirt” pop idol, girl group, “Pure Club.”  In the wake of a brutal assault by a male fan, Kamiyama quits Pure Club, shuns her femininity, and starts dressing as a boy.  At Kaito High School, she keeps to herself, but fellow male student, Hikaru Horiuchi, realizes who she is.

As Not Your Idol, Vol. 2 (Chapters 4 to 6) opens, Horiuchi is under suspicion!  Is he really the stalker who attacked Nina six months ago when she was Karen Amamiya a.k.a. “Ren-Ren” and a member of Pure Club?  No, he's not, Nina insists, and she Horiuchi begin a serious relationship.  Still, someone else at Kaito High knows who Nina was once, so is she really safe?

Meanwhile, their classmate, Miku Nagasu, who is obsessed with getting the attention of boys, schemes to get Horiuchi all to herself.  Nagasu plans to do anything she can to get him, even if it puts herself in danger.  But when is dangerous just too dangerous?

[This volume includes a message from the author and an illustration.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The first volume of the Not Your Idol manga is one of the most shocking manga that I have read this year.  Its themes of violence against women and of obsessive fans captured my attention and yielded a lurid first volume.

Not Your Idol Graphic Novel Volume 2 is just as stunning.  On the surface, creator Aoi Makino offers tales of catty girls, determined pop idol handlers, and horny high school boys.  Underneath this tale of high school love triangles is a burning hot story of friendship and exploitation.  Friends do whatever they can to help one another, but the exploiters are like predators, using others for their own selfish ends with gusto.

Makino, however, almost seems to suggest that the exploiters may not really know what they want, which can also be said for the star couple of Nina Kamiyama and Hikaru Horiuchi.  The final 30 pages of Vol. 2 encapsulate this malaise of confusion, fear, and indecision.

Once again, the translation by Tetsuichiro Miyaki and the English adaptation by Nancy Thislethwaite yield a story that is hard to stop reading.  Inori Fukuda Trant's lettering conveys Not Your Idol's interior torments and slashing emotions.  Yes, you will want more, too, dear readers, when you try Not Your Idol.  This is one of those times that I can say that a really good second volume actually surpasses a really good first volume.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of edgy shojo high school dramas will want the Shojo Beat title, Not Your Idol.

10 out of 10

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


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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, November 23, 2020

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for November 25, 2020

BOOM! STUDIOS

SEP200960    ANGEL & SPIKE #16 CVR A MAIN    $3.99
SEP200961    ANGEL & SPIKE #16 CVR B MELKINOV VAR    $3.99
SEP200962    ANGEL & SPIKE #16 CVR C BOWYER VAR    $3.99
SEP200943    DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES #2 CVR A LEE    $4.99
SEP200944    DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES #2 CVR B JONES    $4.99
JUL200886    FIREFLY WATCH HOW I SOAR ORIGINAL GN HC    $19.99
APR201386    GHOSTED IN LA TP VOL 02    $14.99
AUG200966    JULIET TAKES A BREATH ORIGINAL GN    $14.99
SEP208829    LCSD 2020 DUNE HOUSE ATREIDES #2 (OF 12) FOIL VAR    $5.99
SEP208828    LCSD 2020 LUMBERJANES #75 FOIL VAR    $7.99
SEP208826    LCSD 2020 MIGHTY MORPHIN #1 FOIL VAR    $5.99
SEP208827    LCSD 2020 POWER RANGERS #1 FOIL VAR    $5.99
SEP208830    LCSD 2020 SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #1 FOIL VAR    $5.99
JUL200870    LUMBERJANES ORIGINAL GN GIFT SET    $39.99
SEP200964    MEGA MAN FULLY CHARGED #4 CVR A MAIN    $4.99
SEP209333    SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #10 2ND PTG    $3.99
JUL200921    SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN TP VOL 02    $14.99
SEP209334    UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG    $3.99
SEP200935    UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS #3 CVR A MAIN    $3.99
SEP200936    UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS #3 CVR B KHALIDAH VAR    $3.99
SEP208823    WE ONLY FIND THEM WHEN THEYRE DEAD #2 3RD PTG    $3.99