Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for June 8 2011

COMICS
MAR110866 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #219 $3.99

FEB111080 ATOMIKA #12 (OF 12) (RES) $2.99

MAR111302 BAKUMAN TP VOL 05 $9.99

APR111076 BINKY GN VOL 02 TO THE RESCUE $8.95

MAR111301 BLEACH 3-IN-1 ED VOL 01 $14.99

MAR111314 BLEACH TP VOL 35 $9.99

MAR111315 BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 02 $9.99

FEB111171 BOONDOCK SAINTS MOB WAR #2 (OF 2) A CVR BRUNNER $3.99

FEB111172 BOONDOCK SAINTS MOB WAR #2 (OF 2) B CVR PHOTO $3.99

JUN100909 BOYS DEFINITIVE EDITION HC VOL 03 (MR) $75.00

MAR111316 BUTTERFLIES FLOWERS GN VOL 07 (MR) $9.99

FEB110784 CALIGULA #2 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99

FEB110785 CALIGULA #2 (OF 6) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JAN111402 CHARMED #10 $3.50

FEB110811 CLAW AND FANG #4 (RES) $3.99

MAR111317 CLAYMORE VOL 18 $9.99

FEB111042 CONGRESS O/T ANIMALS HC $19.99

AUG100796 CROSSED 3D HC VOL 01 (MR) $14.99

MAR111103 CUPCAKES OF DOOM GN $12.95

APR110898 DARKWING DUCK #9 ECCC GET-A-SKETCH VAR $9.99

MAR111082 DEAN KOONTZ NEVERMORE #3 (OF 6) $3.99

MAR111123 DF FANTASTIC FOUR #587 STAN LEE SGN ED $299.99

JAN111188 DF VAMPIRELLA #5 SEGOVIA RED EXC CVR $4.99

MAR111114 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #3 ADAMS EXC CVR (MR) $14.99

FEB111040 DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE HC VOL 01 DEATH VALLEY $29.99

APR110899 DONALD DUCK #367 $3.99

APR110869 FARSCAPE #20 $3.99

MAR110888 FEARLESS DAWN SGN 5 PACK $29.95

FEB110816 FEMALE FORCE KATHY GRIFFIN (ONE SHOT) $3.99

JAN111006 FEMALE FORCE RUTH HANDLER CREATOR OF BARBIE $3.99

DEC101147 FLEETWAY PICTURE LIB INDEX SC VOL 01 WAR LIBRARIES REVISED $37.99

DEC101148 FLEETWAY PICTURE LIBRARY INDEX SC VOL 02 THRILLER LIBRARIES $60.99

APR111256 FLY #1 A CVR EBAS (MR) $2.99

APR111257 FLY #1 B CVR ARTGERM (MR) $2.99

APR111258 FLY #1 C CVR ERIC J (MR) $2.99

APR111259 FLY #1 D CVR KIRKHAM (MR) $9.99

MAR111306 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 3-IN-1 ED VOL 01 $14.99

MAR111362 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #5 A CVR RHANDOLPH (MR) $2.99

MAR111363 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #5 B CVR SEELEY (MR) $2.99

MAR111356 GFT PIPER DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 2) CVR A MEDINA (MR) $2.99

MAR111357 GFT PIPER DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 2) CVR B RICH BONK (MR) $2.99

APR111079 GHOST IN SHELL STAND ALONE COMPLEX GN VOL 01 (MR) $10.99

MAR118189 GIRL GENIUS TP VOL 07 AGATHA & VOICE O/T CASTLE (NEW PTG) $22.95

MAR110812 GLAMOURPUSS #19 $3.00

FEB110702 GOLDEN AGE GREATS SPOTLIGHT VOL 05 REED CRANDALL $29.95

MAR111296 GRAND GUIGNOL ORCHESTRA TP VOL 03 $9.99

APR110972 GREEN HORNET AFTERMATH #3 (OF 4) $3.99

MAR111368 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #60 A CVR QUALANO (MR) $2.99

MAR111369 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #60 B CVR CUMMINGS $2.99

MAR111319 HOSHIN ENGI TP VOL 23 $9.99

FEB111041 ISLE OF 100000 GRAVES HC $14.99

SEP100964 JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES FOOL MOON #2 $3.99

FEB110817 JUDO GIRL SO YOU WANNA REVOLUTION #3 (OF 4) $3.99

MAR111297 KAMISAMA KISS TP VOL 03 $9.99

FEB111070 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #174 $5.99

MAR111321 LIBRARY WARS LOVE & WAR VOL 05 $9.99

FEB110819 LOGANS RUN AFTERMATH #1 (RES) $3.99

FEB111173 MAGUS #5 (OF 5) $3.99

MAR110874 MEGA MAN #2 $2.99

MAR110875 MEGA MAN #2 VILLAIN VAR CVR $2.99

APR111151 MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 01 GABRIEL SET UP NEW PTG (O/A) $19.95

APR111153 MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 03 TOP TRAITOR (O/A) $19.95

JAN111404 MONSTER HUNTERS SURVIVAL GUIDE #5 (OF 5) A CVR CALDWELL $2.99

JAN111405 MONSTER HUNTERS SURVIVAL GUIDE #5 (OF 5) B CVR QUALANO $2.99

MAR111299 NARUTO TP VOL 51 $9.99

MAR111323 NATSUMES BOOK OF FRIENDS TP VOL 07 $9.99

JAN111213 NICK CARDY ARTIST AT WAR HC SGN ED $39.99

JAN111214 NICK CARDY ARTIST AT WAR HC SKETCH ED $150.00

MAR111187 NINJA GIRLS GN VOL 05 (MR) $10.99

MAR110889 NINJAS VS ZOMBIES #1 $3.99

MAR111324 NURA RISE O/T YOKAI CLAN GN VOL 03 $9.99

MAR111325 ONE PIECE TP VOL 57 $9.99

FEB110820 ORBIT HOWARD STERN (ONE SHOT) $3.99

MAR111294 OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB VOL 16 $9.99

FEB110821 PAPARAZZI #2 (OF 4) $3.99

APR110754 PLASTIC FARM TP SOWING SEEDS ON FERTILE SOIL (MR) $19.99

MAR111308 POKEMON ADVENTURES PLATINUM VOL 02 $7.99

MAR111307 POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 13 $7.99

JAN111013 POLITICAL POWER HILLARY CLINTON $3.99

MAR111326 RASETSU VOL 09 $9.99

MAR111183 RAVE MASTER GN VOL 33 / 34 / 35 (RES) $19.99

DEC100803 RON EMBLETON WULF BRITON COMPLETE ADV PI

MAR111298 SAKURA HIME LEGEND OF PRINCESS SAKURA GN VOL 02 $9.99

OCT100802 SCOURGE #4 $2.99

MAR111327 SEIHO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL TP VOL 06 $9.99

MAR111328 SLAM DUNK GN VOL 16 $9.99

FEB110763 SOULFIRE VOL 3 #1 CVR A FABOK $2.99

FEB110764 SOULFIRE VOL 3 #1 CVR B TO $2.99

APR110907 SPACE WARPED #1 (OF 2) $3.99

APR110860 SPONGEBOB COMICS #3 $2.99

APR110888 STAN LEE STARBORN #7 $3.99

APR110893 STAN LEE TRAVELER #1 VAR SET $99.99

APR110892 STAN LEE TRAVELER TP VOL 01 $9.99

FEB110701 TERRY MOORES ECHO #30 $3.50

SEP101159 TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 14 $16.95

APR110968 TOTAL RECALL #2 $3.99

MAR111303 ULTIMO GN VOL 05 $9.99

MAR111295 VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 12 $9.99

FEB110909 VAMPIRELLA #6 $3.99

FEB118105 VERONICA #207 (KEVIN KELLER #1) VAR CVR $2.99

APR110800 VERONICA #207 (VERONICA PRESENTS KEVIN KELLER #1) $2.99

FEB110826 VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #29 (MR) $3.99

FEB110932 WARLORD OF MARS #7 $3.99

FEB110827 WRATH OF THE TITANS REVENGE OF MEDUSA #1 $3.99

MAGAZINES
APR111353 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 48 BAMA CVR $14.95
APR111352 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 48 REG CVR $14.95
APR111319 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #256 $9.99
MAR111415 FOR GREEN LANTERNS ONLY $3.99
MAR111416 HAL JORDAN DEFENDER OF EARTH YR NOVEL $3.99
MAR111417 POWER OF THE LANTERN PAPER MODELS SC $6.99
APR111354 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 49 $14.95

SELECT MERCHANDISE
APR111342 BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION FILM & TELEVISION CRITICAL ESSAYS SC $40.00

FEB118239 CONSTRUCTING GREEN LANTERN FROM PAGE TO SCREEN HC $35.00

DEC101126 FLINTSTONES OFF GUIDE CARTOON CLASSIC HC $13.95

DEC101127 JETSONS OFF GUIDE CARTOON CLASSIC HC $13.95

MAR111249 JOE SIMON MAN BEHIND THE COMICS HC $24.95

FEB111274 LAST RUN A QUEEN & COUNTRY NOVEL MMPB $7.99

APR111327 ZOMBIE HANDBOOK ESSENTIAL GT ZOMBIES HT AVOID THEM HC $14.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 9 2011

DC COMICS

JAN110404 ALL NEW BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5 $2.99

JAN110280 BATGIRL #19 $2.99

JAN110271 BATMAN AND ROBIN #21 $2.99

NOV100164 BATMAN INCORPORATED #3 $2.99

JAN110279 BIRDS OF PREY #10 $2.99

JAN110296 BOOSTER GOLD #42 $2.99

JAN110421 CINDERELLA FABLES ARE FOREVER #2 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

JAN110300 DOC SAVAGE #12 $2.99

JAN110302 DOOM PATROL #20 $2.99

NOV100227 GOTHAM CENTRAL HC VOL 04 CORRIGAN $29.99

DEC100248 GOTHAM CENTRAL TP BOOK 01 IN THE LINE OF DUTY $19.99

JUN100297 HEROES OF THE DCU BLACKEST NIGHT HAL JORDAN BUST $70.00

JAN110409 INFAMOUS #1 (OF 6) $2.99

JAN110427 IZOMBIE #11 (MR) $2.99

JAN110307 JSA ALL STARS #16 $2.99

JAN110247 JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #21 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99

JAN110297 LEGION OF SUPER VILLAINS #1 $4.99

DEC100186 OUTSIDERS #37 (DOOMSDAY) $2.99

JAN110289 SUPERBOY #5 $2.99

JAN110313 TITANS #33 $2.99

JAN110317 VERTIGO RESURRECTED FINALS #1 (MR) $7.99

JAN110414 VICTORIAN UNDEAD II HOLMES VS DRACULA #5 (OF 5) $2.99

JAN110314 WEIRD WORLDS #3 (OF 6) $3.99

DEC100219 WONDER WOMAN #608 $2.99

APR100323 WORLD OF WARCRAFT LICH KING ARTHAS DLX FIGURE PI

DEC100241 ZATANNA #10 $2.99

DEC100255 ZATANNA MISTRESS OF MAGIC TP $17.99

I Reads You Review: DETECTIVE COMICS #854

Detective Comics #854
DC COMICS

WRITER: Greg Rucka
ARTISTS: J.H. Williams III, Cully Hamner (backup)
COLORS: Dave Stewart, Laura Martin (backup)
LETTERS: Todd Klein, Jared K. Fletcher (backup)
40pp, Color, $3.99

Elegy Part One, “Agitato”

The Katherine Kane Batwoman began her reign over her very own Batman title in Detective Comics #854. Written by Greg Rucka, this issue is apparently part of the “Batman: Reborn” event, which, if I remember correctly, had something to do with the original Robin (Dick Grayson who now uses the first name, Richard) becoming Batman and Damien Wayne (Batman and Talia al Ghul’s lovechild) becoming the new Robin.

Apparently because Batman and Robin were busy at the time, Gotham City’s newest caped crusader, Batwoman, took on the responsibility of fighting the 13 covens that make up something called the Religion of Crime. Yes, DC Comics is now the “House of Ideas (Not).” That aside, what is now of note about Detective Comics is that Katherine Kane is a lesbian. Rucka even writes a rather dull scene in which Katherine and her lover have a very hetero you-don’t-bring-me-flowers slash you-don’t-sing-me-love-songs-anymore moment.

Dull is the word to describe Detective Comics #854. The fights are uninspired; the character drama falls flat, and the villains are just the latest in the mostly monotonous line of colorful, DC Comics baddies. Thank heavens for the art by J.H. Williams III (pencils and inks) and Dave Stewart (colors).

Williams and Stewart shine on the pages with Batwoman in action scenes. Their inspired art and graphical storytelling present Batwoman as a wraith, depicted in painted art against a backdrop of characters and settings whose colors are all muted to some extent by gray. These scenes look so pretty that I could eat them like candy. The Williams/Stewart art team also does good work on the Kathy Kane-civilian scenes, but even they seem a bit lackluster next to the visually striking superhero scenes.

Rucka redeems himself (a little) on the backup feature, which stars The Question. The venerable character, formerly a white man, is now a Latina named Renee Montoya. In the “Pipeline” story arc, she searches for a missing young Mexican woman. This looks to be the familiar human trafficking/Mexican mafia story, but at least it is better storytelling than the main feature.

B-