Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 16, 2016

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN161737     A&A #1 CVR A LAFUENTE     $3.99
JAN161738     A&A #1 CVR B KANO     $3.99
JAN161739     A&A #1 CVR C HAIRSINE     $3.99
JAN161740     A&A #1 CVR D CGC REPLICA HENRY     $3.99
JAN161741     A&A #1 CVR E BLANK SKETCH CVR     $3.99
JAN161246     ADVENTURE TIME ICE KING #3     $3.99
DEC151131     ADVENTURE TIME TP VOL 08     $14.99
JAN161290     ALL NEW CLASSIC CAPTAIN CANUCK #1 CVR B ROOTH     $4.99
DEC151006     ARCHIE TP VOL 01     $19.99
JAN161660     ASSASSINS CREED #6 CVR A POPE     $3.99
JAN161661     ASSASSINS CREED #6 CVR B WILDGOOSE     $3.99
JAN161662     ASSASSINS CREED #6 CVR C WITTER     $3.99
JAN161177     BART SIMPSON TP MASTER OF DISASTER     $15.99
JAN161235     BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA #22     $3.99
JAN161559     BLACK BAG #5     $3.99
JAN161383     BOBS BURGERS ONGOING #9 RARE HEALY VIRGIN ART ED     $50.00
OCT151290     CAPTAIN CANUCK 2015 ONGOING #7     $3.99
FEB161325     CAPTAIN CANUCK TP VOL 01 ALEPH     $19.95
SEP151089     CLANDESTINO #2     $3.99
JAN161030     CLOVER HONEY 20TH ANNIVERSARY ED GN (MR)     $14.95
JAN161560     COPS FOR CRIMINALS #5     $3.99
JAN161124     CROSSED PLUS 100 HC VOL 02 (MR)     $27.99
DEC150910     CRYPT OF HORROR #28     $29.95
JAN161448     DAN CLOWES PATIENCE HC     $29.99
JAN161384     DEJAH THORIS #2 RARE NEN VIRGIN ART ED     $50.00
JAN161360     DEVOLUTION #3 CVR A LEE (MR)     $3.99
OCT151417     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW VOWS #5 PONSOR SGN     PI
JUL151310     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 DF MIDTOWN EXC     $29.99
APR151452     DF PRINCESS LEIA #1 DF EXC TRILOGY SET PONSOR SGN     PI
MAR151317     DF SECRET WARS #1 GOLD ELITE HICKMAN SGN     $89.99
MAR151316     DF SECRET WARS #1 HICKMAN SGN     PI
JUL151305     DF SECRET WARS #2 MIDTOWN EXC BRADSHAW CVR     PI
JUL151306     DF SECRET WARS #3 MIDTOWN EXC KEOWN CVR     PI
APR151449     DF STAR WARS #1 DF EXC PONSOR SGN     PI
APR151450     DF STAR WARS #1 DF EXC TRILOGY SET PONSOR SGN     PI
MAR151321     DF UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 GOLD ELITE SOULE SGN     $89.99
DEC141475     DF WOLVERINES #1 SOULE SGN     PI
JAN161822     DIMENSION W GN VOL 01     $13.00
DEC158602     DISNEY WINNIE POOH CINESTORY SC COLL ED     $29.99
DEC151581     DOCTOR WHO 10TH ARCHIVES OMNIBUS TP VOL 01     $24.99
DEC151578     DOCTOR WHO 8TH #5 CVR A STOTT     $3.99
DEC151579     DOCTOR WHO 8TH #5 CVR B PHOTO     $3.99
DEC151580     DOCTOR WHO 8TH #5 CVR C EDWARDS     $3.99
JAN161525     DOORMAN #1     $3.50
JAN161643     DUSU PATH OF THE ANCIENT #2     $3.99
JAN161625     ELASTICATOR #1     $3.99
AUG151372     EVEN SO I WILL LOVE YOU TENDERLY GN     $13.95
JAN161545     FORGET ME NOT GN VOL 01     $10.99
JAN161175     FUTURE PROOF #10     $3.99
DEC151755     GFT ESCAPE FROM MONSTER ISLAND #2 A CVR BURNS (MR)     $3.99
DEC151756     GFT ESCAPE FROM MONSTER ISLAND #2 B CVR RIVEIRO (MR)     $3.99
DEC151757     GFT ESCAPE FROM MONSTER ISLAND #2 C CVR MILLER (MR)     $3.99
DEC151758     GFT ESCAPE FROM MONSTER ISLAND #2 D CVR REYES (MR)     $3.99
JAN161866     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #120 A CVR CHEN (MR)     $3.99
JAN161867     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #120 B CVR SANAPO (MR)     $3.99
JAN161868     GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #120 C CVR LUIS (MR)     $3.99
JAN161365     GRUMPY CAT & POKEY #2 CVR A UY     $3.99
JAN161366     GRUMPY CAT & POKEY #2 CVR B FLEECS     $3.99
JAN161367     GRUMPY CAT & POKEY #2 CVR C HAESER     $3.99
DEC151109     HELP US GREAT WARRIOR TP VOL 01     $19.99
JAN161626     HENCHGIRL #5     $3.99
JAN161676     HEROES GODSEND #1 CVR B PHOTO     $3.99
DEC151113     HIT TP VOL 02 1957 (MR)     $19.99
DEC150997     HUMAN RESOURCES GN     $14.95
JAN161494     HUMBUG #4     $3.99
JAN161766     IMPERIUM #14 CVR A CAMUNCOLI     $3.99
JAN161767     IMPERIUM #14 CVR B CAFU     $3.99
JAN161041     IRWIN ALLEN LOST IN SPACE #1 CVR A STANLEY     $3.99
JAN161042     IRWIN ALLEN LOST IN SPACE #1 CVR B PHOTO     $3.99
JAN161368     JAMES BOND #5     $3.99
JAN161236     JIM HENSONS STORYTELLER DRAGONS #4     $3.99
JAN161240     JONESY #2     $3.99
JAN160996     KINGDOM BUM #4 (MR)     $3.99
NOV151677     KODOJA #4     $3.99
JAN161546     LIVINGSTONE GN VOL 02     $10.99
JAN161369     LOOKING FOR GROUP #12     $4.99
JAN161344     LORDS OF THE JUNGLE #1 CVR A ROSS     $3.99
JAN161345     LORDS OF THE JUNGLE #1 CVR B CASTRO     $3.99
JAN161346     LORDS OF THE JUNGLE #1 CVR C BLANK AUTHENTIX     $10.00
JAN161238     LUMBERJANES #24     $3.99
JAN161689     MAN PLUS #3 CVR A ARAUJO (MR)     $3.99
JAN161812     MY NEIGHBOR SEKI GN VOL 07     $10.95
JAN161813     MYSTERIOUS GIRLFRIEND X GN VOL 01     $15.95
NOV151656     NIKOPOL TRILOGY VOL 01 (MR)     $34.99
JAN161788     NISEKOI FALSE LOVE GN VOL 14     $9.99
JAN161805     ONE PIECE 3IN1 TP VOL 15     $14.99
JAN161778     ONE PUNCH MAN GN VOL 05     $9.99
JAN161190     PAKNADEL & TRAKHANOV TURNCOAT #1     $3.99
JAN161549     PARADISE RESIDENCE GN VOL 01     $13.99
NOV151230     PITIFUL HUMAN LIZARD #5     $2.99
JAN161029     POWER BUTTON #0 (MR)     $4.95
AUG151670     PRE CODE CLASSICS WEB OF EVIL SLIPCASE ED VOL 03     $69.99
OCT151022     PRINCELESS RAVEN PIRATE PRINCESS #6 MAIN CVR     $3.99
DEC150973     PROJECT NEMESIS #4 REG CVR FRANK     $3.99
JAN161349     PROJECT SUPERPOWERS BLACKCROSS TP     $19.99
JAN161001     PUPPET MASTER #13 CVR A DA SACCO (MR)     $3.99
JAN161002     PUPPET MASTER #13 CVR B KILL COVER (MR)     $4.99
JAN161003     PUPPET MASTER #13 CVR C SKETCH KILL (MR)     $4.99
JAN161352     RED SONJA VOL 3 #3 CVR A SAUVAGE     $3.99
JAN161809     RIN-NE GN VOL 20     $9.99
JAN161691     RIVERS OF LONDON NIGHT WITCH #1 CVR A MCCAFFREY (MR)     $3.99
JAN161692     RIVERS OF LONDON NIGHT WITCH #1 CVR B RONALD (MR)     $3.99
JAN161693     RIVERS OF LONDON NIGHT WITCH #1 CVR C SULLIVAN (MR)     $3.99
JAN161694     RIVERS OF LONDON NIGHT WITCH #1 CVR D BLANK SKETCH (MR)     $3.99
SEP151552     ROY THOMAS PRESENTS PLANET COMICS SLIPCASE ED VOL 12     $69.99
JAN161561     SABER RIDER & THE STAR SHERIFFS #1     $2.99
JAN161106     SANTERIA THE GODDESS KISS #1 CVR A CAFARO     $3.99
JAN161107     SANTERIA THE GODDESS KISS #1 CVR B LORENZANA     $3.99
JAN161022     SECOND SIGHT #2     $3.99
JAN161517     SHIKARI FORCE HUNTERS #2     $2.99
JAN161793     SHURIKEN & PLEATS GN VOL 01     $9.99
JAN161178     SIMPSONS COMICS #227     $3.99
DEC151103     STEVEN UNIVERSE & CRYSTAL GEMS #1     $3.99
JAN161806     TERRA FORMARS GN VOL 11 (MR)     $12.99
JAN161004     TOMBOY DIVINE INTERVENTION TP     $14.99
JAN161202     UNCLE GRANDPA ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 TIME CASSEROLE     $14.99
JAN161618     US JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP VOL 11     $19.99
JAN161382     VAMPIRELLA VOL 3 #1 RARE ANACLETO VIRGIN CONNECT ED     $50.00
JAN161232     WELCOME BACK #6     $3.99
JAN161378     WILL EISNER SPIRIT #9 CVR A POWELL     $3.99
JAN160975     WOODY GUTHRIE & DUST BOWL BALLADS     $24.95
JAN161099     WORLD OF ARCHIE COMICS DOUBLE DIGEST #57     $4.99
JAN161746     WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR #5 CVR A JIMENEZ (NEW ARC)     $3.99
JAN161747     WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR #5 CVR B RYP (NEW ARC)     $3.99
JAN161748     WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR #5 CVR C CGC REPLICA HENRY (NEW ARC)     $3.99
JAN161780     YU GI OH ZEXAL GN VOL 08     $9.99

MAGAZINES
JAN161943     BACK ISSUE #87     $8.95
JAN161965     BATMAN VS SUPERMAN DAWN OF JUSTICE MAGAZINE     $9.99
JAN161948     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1500     PI
JAN161951     COMIC SHOP NEWS SPRING 2016 PREVIEW     PI
JAN161674     EVER AFTER HIGH #3     $4.99
NOV151899     HOBBIT MOTION PICTURE FIG MAG #10 ALFRID OF LAKETOWN     $16.50
DEC151832     HOBBIT MOTION PICTURE FIG MAG #11 DWALIN THE DWARF     $16.50
DEC151833     HOBBIT MOTION PICTURE FIG MAG #12 DORI THE DWARF     $16.50
NOV151898     HOBBIT MOTION PICTURE FIG MAG #9 BARD THE BOWMAN     $16.50
JAN161970     LOCUS #662     $7.50
AUG152021     MARVEL FACT FILES #100 SUPERHEROES COVER     $6.00
AUG152022     MARVEL FACT FILES #101 MOONSTAR COVER     $6.00
SEP151884     MARVEL FACT FILES #103 FEMALE THOR COVER     $6.00
SEP151885     MARVEL FACT FILES #104 IRON MAN BLEEDING EDGE COVER     $6.00
SEP151886     MARVEL FACT FILES #105 SPIDER-MAN VS DOCTOR OCTOPUS COVER     $6.00
OCT151931     MARVEL FACT FILES #107 ABOMINATION COVER     $6.00
OCT151933     MARVEL FACT FILES #109 CAPTAIN AMERICA VS HYDRA COVER     $6.00
NOV151897     MARVEL FACT FILES #113     $6.00
DEC151837     MARVEL FACT FILES #114     $6.50
JUN151759     MARVEL FACT FILES #90 UNCANNY X-MEN TEAM COVER     $6.00
JUL151897     MARVEL FACT FILES #94 IKARIS COVER     $6.00
JUL151900     MARVEL FACT FILES #97 CAPTAIN BRITAIN COVER     $6.00
SEP151877     MARVEL FACT FILES COSMIC SPECIAL #2 STAR-LORD     $32.95
OCT151927     MARVEL FACT FILES COSMIC SPECIAL #3 THANOS     $32.95
NOV151889     MARVEL FACT FILES COSMIC SPECIAL #4 GAMORA     $32.95
DEC151834     MARVEL FACT FILES COSMIC SPECIAL #5 GROOT     $32.95
NOV151920     MEGAMI FEB 2016     $18.00
NOV151921     NEWTYPE FEB 2016     $18.00
JAN161971     STAR WARS INSIDER MAG #164 NEWSSTAND ED     $7.99
JAN161972     STAR WARS INSIDER MAG #164 PX ED     $7.99
JAN161700     STAR WARS JEDI MASTER MAG #3     $4.99

BOOKS
AUG151563     ALEX RAYMOND ARTISTIC JOURNEY ADV INTRIGUE & ROMANCE HC     $75.00
JAN161905     DOCTOR WHO 365 DAYS MEMORABLE MOMENTS IMPOSSIBLE THINGS     $19.99
DEC151805     DOCTOR WHO ADIPOSE COLLECTIBLE FIGURINE & BOOK KIT     $12.95
JAN161802     LEGEND OF GALACTIC HEROES SC NOVEL     $15.99
JAN161542     MARVEL THOR DUELING WITH GIANTS PROSE NOVEL VOL 01     $9.99
JAN161888     MEMORIES LOST COLLECTIONS S&N SLIPCASE MINI POSTER ED     $35.00
JAN161899     MY LITTLE PONY GLORY & ILLUSTRATED BOOK     $9.95
DEC151743     NO GAME NO LIFE LIGHT NOVEL VOL 04     $14.00

Review: Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives Volume 4

FLASH GORDON COMIC BOOK ARCHIVES, VOLUME 4

DARK HORSE BOOKS
WRITERS: John Warner, Gary Poole
ARTISTS: Carlos Garzón, Frank Bolle
INTRODUCTION: Arthur Lortie
ISBN: 978-1-59582-717-3; hardcover
224pp, Color, $49.99 U.S., $54.99 CAN

Flash Gordon and the science fiction, newspaper comic strip that shares his name debuted on January 7, 1934. Created by Alex Raymond, the strip followed the adventures of Gordon and his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, on the planet Mongo. There, they battle the evil despot, Ming the Merciless.

The first Flash Gordon comic books were published in the 1930s and 1940s and were reprints of the comic strip. In the 1940s, Dell Comics began publishing Flash Gordon comic books with original stories from the mid-1940s to the early 1950s

Published by Dark Horse Books, Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives is reprinting Flash Gordon comic books that were produced by various publishers, including Dell Comics and Charlton Comics. Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives Volume 4 reprints Flash Gordon #19-27, which were published by Gold Key Comics from 1978 to 1980. Prior to Gold Key, there had not been a Flash Gordon comic book series since Charlton Comics’ Flash Gordon #18 hit newsstands in 1970.

According to the introduction to this volume by Arthur Lortie, Gordon’s nemesis, Ming the Merciless, was deposed as ruler of the planet, Mongo, in the 1930/40s continuity of the comics strip. Gold Key Comics staff writer, John David Warner restores Ming to power and returns Gordon, and his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, to Mongo to battle Ming. Warner sends the three on an odyssey through Mongo’s myriad regions as they try to build a coalition of kingdoms to defeat Ming.

Warner wrote issues #19-24, and writer/editor Gary T. Poole wrote the last three issues of the Gold Key series, #25-27. Columbian-born comic book artist and comics illustrator, Carlos Garzón drew every issue of the Gold Key series, except for two issues. Garzón was also an assistant to Al Williamson, a noted Flash Gordon comic book artist who had grown up idolizing Flash Gordon creator, Alex Raymond. The two issues not drawn by Garzón were drawn by New York City-born and bred artist and illustrator, Frank Bolle.

I received a review copy of Flash Gordon Comic Book Archives Volume 4 because Dark Horse was doing some shelf cleaning, getting rid of some books to make way for review copies of newer titles. I didn’t expect to like this because I mistakenly associated Gold Key Comics with substandard material, mainly because it has been decades since I’ve read a Gold Key comic book. I was wrong to prejudge these Flash Gordon comic books because I actually had a great time reading them.

Warner and Poole stick to the pulp fiction and weird fiction roots of Flash Gordon without being hokey. These are smoothly-written sword-and-fantasy tales that recall Silver Age DC science fiction and fantasy comic book titles. Both writers build tension by spinning Flash Gordon’s fiery, man-of-action nature: never use words when fists can be just as articulate, in diverse conflict scenarios. That is contrasted against the personalities of Gordon’s co-stars. Dale Arden is quick to lay her head on Gordon’s strong chest, but she is something of a woman-of-action herself. Combine her with the eccentric Zarkov, who is also not above kicking some butt, and the Gold Key Flash Gordon is unpredictable. This is because the co-stars are not window dressing simply meant to make Gordon look like the great White hero; Arden and Zarkov are also capable of moving the story forward and resolving problems.

Plus, Warner and Poole are quite inventive when it comes to creating settings and plots. Two that stand out for me are. Flash Gordon #21’s “Wolf in the Fold” is rousing political suspense thriller and moving love story (surrogate father and son). “The Enchanted City” from issue #27 is quirky and engaging.

Both series artists produce good work. Carlos Garzón’s compositional style and design recall both Raymond and Williamson, especially the latter. In many ways, the art is Williamson-inspired or has his visual sensibilities. Garzón’s art on issues #19-20 is not good. After a two-issue break, he returns in Flash Gordon #23 and hits his stride with his best Williamson-inspired work.

However, I prefer Frank Bolle’s two-issue run (#21-22). His solid figure drawing and draftsmanship give Warner’s scripts, for those two issues, added dramatic heft. Perhaps, I like Bolle’s work here so much because it reminds me of one of my favorite artists, the late and still great, Gil Kane.

I am glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this collection. I think Flash Gordon fans should definitely consider either purchasing this pricey volume or finding the originals through online dealers. The “pleasant surprises,” like this one are the books that justify archive editions.

B+