Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for October 20, 2021

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN211661 AGGRETSUKO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE HC $12.99

AUG211904 AGGRETSUKO SUPER FUN SPEC CVR A STARLING $4.99

AUG211905 AGGRETSUKO SUPER FUN SPEC CVR B STERN $4.99

JUL211337 ARCHIE 80 YEARS OF CHRISTMAS TP $9.99

AUG211506 ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #324 $7.99

AUG212245 ASADORA GN VOL 04 $14.99

AUG212316 ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 34 (MR) $10.99

JUL212286 ATTACK ON TITAN OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 VOL 1-3 (MR) $19.99

AUG211802 BANANA FOX GN VOL 02 BOOK EATING ROBOT $7.99

AUG211803 BANANA FOX HC GN VOL 02 BOOK EATING ROBOT $22.99

AUG211410 BEYOND THE BREACH #4 $3.99

JUL211710 BLACK BEACON #3 (OF 6) $2.99

AUG212229 BURN WITCH GN VOL 01 $19.99

AUG211606 CHARIOT TP (MR) $9.99

AUG211411 CLANS OF BELARI #4 $4.99

AUG211775 CRACKING TP (MR) $39.99

JUL218828 CZARFACE A CZAR IS BORN GN $19.99

JUL211507 DEATH & SPARKLES GN VOL 01 $12.99

JUL211508 DEATH & SPARKLES HC GN VOL 01 $22.99

JUN211268 DEATH BY LIFE #7 (OF 8) $3.99

JUL211619 DF AQUAMAN 80TH ANNI SPECIAL #1 SILVER JURGENS SGN $41.00

JUL211776 DRAGON KINGDOM OF WRENLY GN VOL 05 INFERNO NEW YEAR $9.99

JUN212088 EDENS ZERO GN VOL 13 $10.99

AUG212351 EVEN THOUGH WERE ADULTS GN VOL 03 (MR) $12.99

JUL211450 EVERYTHING IS SUPER GN VOL 01 $15.00

AUG212054 FAN FICTION MEM NOIR INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS HC $27.99

AUG211602 FIGHT GIRLS #4 $3.99

AUG212237 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST A NEW BEGINNING GN $10.99

AUG212352 GIGANT GN VOL 06 (MR) $13.99

AUG212170 GRIMM SPOTLIGHT CINDERELLA VS ZOMBIES ONE SHOT CVR A VITORIN $5.99

AUG212171 GRIMM SPOTLIGHT CINDERELLA VS ZOMBIES ONE SHOT CVR B MATOS $5.99

AUG212172 GRIMM SPOTLIGHT CINDERELLA VS ZOMBIES ONE SHOT CVR C ROYLE $5.99

JUN218921 GUN HONEY #2 (OF 4) 10 COPY INCV LIM VIRGIN (MR) $3.99

AUG212074 GUN HONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR A LIM (MR) $3.99

AUG212075 GUN HONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR B MCGINNIS (MR) $3.99

AUG212076 GUN HONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR C HOR KHENG (MR) $3.99

AUG212077 GUN HONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR D PHOTO (MR) $3.99

AUG218151 GUN HONEY #2 (OF 4) MCGINNIS VIRGIN FOC CVR (MR) $3.99

AUG211986 HARRY POTTER MAGICAL YEAR ILLUSTRATIONS OF JIM KAY HC $36.99

JUL212375 HER ROYAL HIGHNESS SEEMS TO BE ANGRY TP VOL 02 $12.99

AUG212321 HEROIC LEGEND OF ARSLAN GN VOL 15 $10.99

JUL212100 HOLLOW HEART COMPLETE TP (MR) $15.99

AUG211782 HORSE TROUBLE GN $12.99

AUG211783 HORSE TROUBLE HC GN $21.99

AUG212246 HOW DO WE RELATIONSHIP GN VOL 04 (MR) $9.99

JUN211429 HOWLING SNOW KUNG FU FABLE CVR A ENSOUL $4.99

JUN211430 HOWLING SNOW KUNG FU FABLE CVR B NG $4.99

AUG211833 JODOROWSKY LIBRARY ED MEGALEX HC (MR) $39.99

JUL212331 KINGDOM OF Z GN VOL 04 (MR) $12.99

AUG212358 KIRURU KILL ME GN VOL 01 $12.99

AUG212282 KONOSUBA LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 15 $14.00

AUG211670 LADY DEATH LUSCIOUS LEATHER SET (3CT) (MR) $34.99

AUG211667 LADY DEATH PIRATE LOST SOULS GOLD FOIL SET (5CT) (MR) $24.99

JUL212297 LOVE IN FOCUS COMPLETE COLL GN $19.99

JUN211942 MANGA CLASSICS ROMEO AND JULIET TP MODERN ENGLISH ED $19.99

AUG211799 MANU GN $12.99

AUG211800 MANU HC GN $24.99

AUG211335 MARIA LLOVETS PORCELAIN #3 CVR A LLOVET (MR) $3.99

AUG211336 MARIA LLOVETS PORCELAIN #3 CVR B SOO LEE (MR) $3.99

AUG211337 MARIA LLOVETS PORCELAIN #3 CVR C YISHAN LI (MR) $3.99

AUG211338 MARIA LLOVETS PORCELAIN #3 CVR D SABINE RICH (MR) $3.99

AUG211784 MARSHMELLOW & JORDAN GN $15.99

AUG211785 MARSHMELLOW & JORDAN HC GN $22.99

JUL212337 MONSTER GUILD DARK LORDS NO GOOD COMEBACK GN VOL 01 $12.99

JUL211690 MS MARVEL STRETCHED THIN HC GN $24.99

AUG211471 NATHAN HALES HAZARDOUS TALES HC COLD WAR CORRESPONDENT $14.99

AUG211819 NEVER NEVER #4 (OF 5) $3.99

AUG212238 NO 5 GN VOL 02 $22.99

AUG212248 NO GUNS LIFE GN VOL 11 (MR) $12.99

AUG211601 NOT ALL ROBOTS #3 (MR) $3.99

AUG212030 NUGGET AND DOG YR HC GN YUM FEST IS BEST $17.99

MAY211168 OBE OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE #4 (OF 4) $3.99

JUL211509 OKSI GN $14.99

AUG211981 PASS ME BY GN VOL 02 (OF 5) ELECTRIC VICE (MR) $20.00

AUG212306 PETER GRILL & PHILOSOPHERS TIME GN VOL 06 (MR) $13.99

JUL211324 PHOEBE & HER UNICORN GN VOL 14 UNICORN PLAYLIST $11.99

JUL211657 PORN BASKET HC (MR) $29.99

JUL212139 POSSESSIVE #3 (OF 3) CVR A RIVEIRO (MR) $5.99

JUL212140 POSSESSIVE #3 (OF 3) CVR B CHEN (MR) $5.99

AUG211883 PUP DETECTIVES GN VOL 06 MYSTERY MOUNTAIN GETAWAY $9.99

AUG211884 PUP DETECTIVES HC GN VOL 06 MYSTERY MOUNTAIN GETAWAY $17.99

JUL212078 SHADOWMAN (2020) TP VOL 01 $14.99

JUN211662 SHORT ORDER CROOKS SC $19.99

JUL211789 SMALL WORLD HC (MR) $29.99

JUN211431 STUD & THE BLOODBLADE #2 (OF 3) CVR A DOUGHERTY (MR) $4.99

JUN211432 STUD & THE BLOODBLADE #2 (OF 3) CVR B SANTALUCIA (MR) $4.99

AUG212182 TALES OF TERROR QUARTERLY 2021 HALLOWEEN SP CVR A BARRIONUEV $8.99

AUG212183 TALES OF TERROR QUARTERLY 2021 HALLOWEEN SP CVR B VITORINO $8.99

AUG212184 TALES OF TERROR QUARTERLY 2021 HALLOWEEN SP CVR C MATOS $8.99

AUG212332 THAT WOLF BOY IS MINE OMNIBUS GN VOL 02 (VOL 3-4) $14.99

JUL212106 UNFINISHED CORNER ORIGINAL GN $12.99

JUN211261 VALKYRIE SAVIORS #3 (OF 3) CVR A $3.99

JUN211262 VALKYRIE SAVIORS #3 (OF 3) CVR B SHAMBU POSIN IVY VAR $9.99

JUL212109 VEROTIKA REVENGE #1 $4.95

MAY211790 VISITOR TP $19.99

JUL212064 WAFFLE LOT OF NARWHAL & JELLY BOX SET $64.95

AUG211474 WE ARE THE SMURFS GN WELCOME TO OUR VILLAGE $12.99

AUG211776 WHY IS EVERYBODY YELLING GROWING UP MY IMMIGRANT FAMILY $19.99

AUG211801 WINGS OF FIRE GN BOX SET #1 VOL 1-4 $51.96

JUL212283 WORLDS END HAREM FANTASIA GN VOL 05 (MR) $13.99

MAGAZINES

JUN211881 BACK ISSUE #131 $9.95

JUN211882 BRICKJOURNAL #70 $9.95

JUN211883 COMIC BOOK CREATOR #26 $9.95

AUG211693 COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1783 $PI

JUN211884 RETROFAN MAGAZINE #17 $9.95

BOOKS

JUL211846 ALL THE MARVELS JOURNEY TO ENDS BIGGEST STORY EVER TOLD $28.00

AUG211840 ART AND SOUL OF DUNE HC (RES) $50.00

AUG212309 ASCENDANCE OF BOOKWORM FANBOOK VOL 01 $19.99

AUG211467 AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER KYOSHI NOVEL BOX SET $37.99

AUG212310 BY THE GRACE OF GODS LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06 $14.99

AUG212115 CHARLES ADDAMS A CARTOONISTS LIFE HC $29.99

AUG211984 CHRISTMAS PIG HC $24.99

AUG212345 CREEPY CAT GN VOL 01 $14.99

JUL211558 DC BATMAN`S WORLD READER LEVEL 2 $4.99

JUL212082 DRACULA ORIGINAL HC GN $39.95

AUG211469 GARBAGE PAIL KIDS HC VOL 03 CAMP DAZE $14.99

JUL212356 HAUNTED BOOKSTORE GATEWAY PARALLEL UNIVERSE LN VOL 01 $14.99

AUG212311 HER MAJESTYS SWARM LN VOL 01 $14.99

JUL211552 I AM OPRAH WINFREY YR HC $15.99

AUG212312 I SHALL SURVIVE USING POTIONS LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06 $14.99

AUG211700 LOVECRAFT COCKTAILS ELIXIRS LIBATIONS LORE OF HP LOVECRAFT ( $25.00

AUG211951 MARVEL SPIDER-MAN FAR FROM HOME DIE CUT HC $9.99

JUL212359 MONSTER GIRL DOCTOR LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 08 (MR) $14.99

JUL212110 PEANUT BUTTER & CRACKERS GN VOL 01 PUPPY PROBLEMS $7.99

JUL212236 SOLO LEVELING LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 03 (MR) $15.00

AUG211950 STAR TREK CODA NOVEL BOOK 02 ASHES OF TOMORROW $16.00

AUG211360 STORY OF MARVEL STUDIOS MAKING OF MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE $150.00

AUG211846 TOMB RAIDER OFF COOKBOOK & TRAVEL GUIDE HC $29.99

AUG212314 UNWANTED UNDEAD ADVENTURER LIGHT NOVEL VOL 02 $14.99

AUG212334 VAMPIRE DORMITORY GN VOL 01 $10.99

AUG212315 WHITE CATS REVENGE PLOTTED DRAGON KINGS LAP LN VOL 01 $14.99

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

Review: ALL TIME COMICS: Crime Destroyer #1

ALL TIME COMICS: CRIME DESTROYER No. 1
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS/ALL TIME COMICS - @fantagraphics @alltimecomics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Josh Bayer
PENCILS: Herb Trimpe
INKS: Benjamin Marra
LETTERS: Rick Parker
COLORS: Alessandro Echevarria
MISC. ART: Victor Martinez
COVERS: Jim Rugg; Johnny Ryan
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2017)

Crime Destroyer in “Human Sacrifice”

I was surprised to learn that Fantagraphics Books announced through a press release sometime late last year that they were going to publish comic books set in a new shared superhero universe.. Entitled “All Time Comics,” this imprint/universe would see the release of six comic books, each a stand-alone story featuring featuring a particular superhero or set of superheroes.

The hook with All Time Comics is that each title is a mash-up of and throwback to classic 1970s comic books, especially those published by Marvel Comics.  The first such title is All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer.  It is written by Josh Bayer; drawn by Herb Trimpe (pencils) and Benjamin Marra (inks); colored by Alessandro Echevarria; and lettered by Rick Parker.

All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is set in Optic City, a sort of fictional recreation of the rundown, in-a-malaise New York City of the 1970s.  Crime Destroyer, a superhero whose uniform shoulder pads have two large fists perched on them, is inside “The Penitentiary.”  He is there to see an old friend and former military buddy, “Titan,” who wants Crime Destroyer to find a family member named “Anji.”

It seems that Anji has disappeared, which she often does, but this time, she is apparently under the sway of rising cult leader, “The White Warlock,” leader of the “Wotan Cult.”  Crime Destroyer is ready to rescue Anji and deliver some serious beat-down to this cult and its leader.  However, local superhero, “Atlas,” does not want Crime Destroyer (who is from “Swan City”) operating in his city, Optic City.

All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is a retro comic book.  It reminds me of the kind of comic books the late, great Jack Kirby, who practically co-created the Marvel Universe in the 1960s, produced in the 1970s.  An example would be Kirby's own mid-1970s run on Captain America for Marvel Comics.  I think that All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is also quite similar to Marvel Comics titles produced in the 1970s and early 1980s that are either influenced by or are pastiches of Kirby's 1970s's comic book output.  Marvel Two-in-One Starring The Thing comes to mind, especially those issues produced by writer David Michelinie and artist and Kirby-copycat, Ron Wilson.

The artist for All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is the late Herb Trimpe, who drew this comic book before he died last year.  Trimpe, who drew the first comic book appearances of Wolverine of the X-Men, produced quite a bit of comic book art that was clearly influenced by Jack Kirby.  The art here is a bit rough around the edges and is quite chunky, but it also reminds me of the art the late Spain Rodriguez drew for his Underground Comix comic book, Trashman.

Here, Trimpe's pencils are perfect for this gritty and grimy tale of Crime Destroyer, a superhero that blends elements of Marvel Comics' urban superheroes/anti-heroes Luke Cage and Blade.  However, there is just a hint of cinematic hero, Mad Max, which gives this story a trashy, post-apocalyptic aura.  I still have not made up my mind if Ben Marra's inks help create such an aesthetic or works against it.

I do like Josh Bayer's storytelling.  Bayer does not take his story too seriously, but does take the comics to which he is honoring seriously.  This comic book is funny and action-packed, and the villain is a metaphor for the kind of people who are real threats to our real world.  By the end of this comic book, I really did want more of Crime Destroyer.

All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is not perfect, but I find myself still thinking about it.  Part of me does want more, and it is up to the readers to decide if they want more comic books like All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1, even if only for a little while.

B+

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for April 15, 2015

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN151443     ANGRY YOUTH COMIX HC (MR)     $49.99
JAN151569     AQUILA #1     $3.99
JAN150999     ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #260     $6.99
DEC141598     ARES & APHRODITE GN     $19.99
APR141151     BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SIX #3 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR     $3.99
APR141149     BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SIX #3 FRISON CVR     $3.99
FEB151200     BEE AND PUPPYCAT TP VOL 01     $14.99
FEB150971     BETTY & VERONICA #275 REG CVR     $4.99
FEB151641     BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR A DOE (NEXT)     $3.99
FEB151642     BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR B SUAYAN (NEXT)     $3.99
FEB151643     BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR C JOHNSON (NEXT)     $3.99
FEB151644     BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR D LAROSA (NEXT)     $3.99
FEB151645     BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR E BLANK CVR (NEXT)     $3.99
DEC141447     BOBS BURGERS #1 REYNOSO MIDTOWN COMICS EXC     $10.00
NOV141122     CAPTURE CREATURES #3 MAIN CVRS     $3.99
NOV140934     CAVEWOMAN ZOMBIE SITUATION #2 CVR A     $3.99
NOV140935     CAVEWOMAN ZOMBIE SITUATION #2 CVR B     PI
NOV140936     CAVEWOMAN ZOMBIE SITUATION #2 CVR D     PI
NOV140937     CAVEWOMAN ZOMBIE SITUATION #2 CVR F     PI
FEB151597     COLD MOUNTAIN LEGEND ORIGINAL DHARMA BUMS GN     $16.95
OCT141568     CROGAN ADVENTURES COLOR GN CATFOOTS VENGEANCE     $17.99
FEB151020     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 (MR)     $3.99
FEB151022     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 ART DECO CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151023     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 FEMME FATALE CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151024     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 HOMO TORTOR CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151027     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 MEGAFAUNA MAYHEM CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151025     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 RITUAL CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151028     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 TERROR BIRDS CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151021     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 TORTURE CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151026     CROSSED BADLANDS #75 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
JAN151036     CROSSED PLUS 100 #4 (MR)     $3.99
JAN151037     CROSSED PLUS 100 #4 AMERICAN HISTORY X WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
JAN151038     CROSSED PLUS 100 #4 CROSSED CULTURE CVR (MR)     $3.99
JAN151039     CROSSED PLUS 100 #4 FUTURE TENSE CVR (MR)     $3.99
JAN151040     CROSSED PLUS 100 #4 NEW WORLD ORDER WRAP BAGGED CVR (MR)     $5.99
JAN151044     DARK GODS #5 (MR)     $3.99
JAN151047     DARK GODS #5 DEITY CVR (MR)     $3.99
JAN151046     DARK GODS #5 SIREN CVR (MR)     $3.99
JAN151045     DARK GODS #5 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
NOV141414     DF AVENGERS X-MEN AXIS #1 MIDTOWN EXC MAYHEW     PI
FEB151389     DF DARTH VADER #1 DF EXCL GREG LAND CVR     $10.00
FEB151390     DF DARTH VADER #1 DF EXCL GREG LAND CVR PLUS 1     PI
DEC141473     DF SPIDER-GWEN #1 GOLD ELITE ED SGN ROMITA JR     PI
NOV141407     DF THOR #1 MIDTOWN EXC RENAUD     $19.99
DEC141481     DF WOLVERINES #1 REMARK HAESER WOLVERINE COLOR SKETCH     PI
NOV141408     DF WYTCHES #1 MIDTOWN EXC MURPHY     $19.99
FEB151314     DJANGO ZORRO #6 CVR A LEE MAIN     $3.99
OCT141643     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #9 REG COOK     $3.99
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JAN151129     ETERNAL #4     $3.99
FEB151004     EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS ANNUAL #1     $5.99
JAN150992     FOX (DARK CIRCLE) #1 REG CVR     $3.99
JAN151585     GAKUEN POLIZI GN VOL 02 (MR)     $12.99
FEB151781     GFT TALES OF TERROR #10 A CVR LUIS (MR)     $3.99
FEB151782     GFT TALES OF TERROR #10 B CVR GUERRERO (MR)     $3.99
FEB151783     GFT TALES OF TERROR #10 C CVR ERIC J (MR)     $3.99
FEB151762     GFT WONDERLAND #34 WELL DREAMS A CVR ORTIZ (MR)     $3.99
FEB151763     GFT WONDERLAND #34 WELL DREAMS B CVR EL TABANAS (MR)     $3.99
FEB151764     GFT WONDERLAND #34 WELL DREAMS C CVR WIMBERLY (MR)     $3.99
FEB151786     GFT WONDERLAND TP VOL 06 (MR)     $15.99
FEB151169     GIANT DAYS #2     $3.99
DEC141578     GIRL IN DIOR HC     $27.99
FEB151064     GOD IS DEAD #32 (MR)     $3.99
FEB151066     GOD IS DEAD #32 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151068     GOD IS DEAD #32 ENCHANTING CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151067     GOD IS DEAD #32 END OF DAYS CVR (MR)     $3.99
FEB151065     GOD IS DEAD #32 ICONIC CVR (MR)     $3.99
OCT140985     GOLD DIGGER TP VOL 07 GOLD BRICK COLL     $49.99
JAN151570     GRIEVOUS JOURNEY OF ICHABOD AZRAEL #2 PERCIVAL REG     $3.99
FEB151785     GRIMM FAIRY TALES VS WONDERLAND TP (MR)     $12.99
DEC141203     GUNNERKRIGG COURT TP VOL 01     $16.99
FEB151496     HARVESTER #3     $3.99
FEB150883     HERO CATS #5 MAIN CVR     $3.99
FEB151150     HEXED #9     $3.99
JAN150945     HOLY F*CK #4 MAIN CVR (MR)     $3.99
NOV141369     HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH COMICS MASTER EDITION     $19.99
FEB150879     INDIE COMICS MAGAZINE #9 (MR)     $6.49
JAN151317     JOHN CARTER WARLORD #5 CVR A BENES MAIN (MR)     $3.99
JAN151003     JUGHEAD & ARCHIE COMICS DOUBLE DIGEST #11     $4.99
DEC141352     KING THE PHANTOM #2     $3.99
JAN151495     KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #219     $5.99
FEB151115     LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #23 WITCHCRAFT CVR (MR)     $9.99
FEB151116     LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #24 BAD TEACHER CVR (MR)     $9.99
FEB151118     LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #25 COUNTRY CVR (MR)     $9.99
FEB151117     LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #25 FIRED UP CVR (MR)     $9.99
FEB151120     LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #26 CEO CVR (MR)     $9.99
FEB151119     LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #26 VIP PREMIUM CVR (MR)     $29.99
JAN151468     LAST MAN GN VOL 01 STRANGER     $9.99
FEB151450     LAST OF SANDWALKERS GN     $16.99
DEC141055     LEGACY GN VOL 01 (MR)     $14.95
FEB151478     LEGEND OF THE SCARLET BLADES HC (MR)     $29.95
FEB151274     LEGENDERRY VAMPIRELLA #3     $3.99
FEB151527     LETTER 44 #15     $3.99
FEB151175     LUMBERJANES #13     $3.99
JAN151586     MAGICAL GIRL APOCALYPSE GN VOL 03 (MR)     $12.99
FEB151357     MASKS 2 #1 RARE GUICE VIRGIN CVR     $50.00
FEB150980     MEGA MAN #48 REG CVR     $3.99
FEB151732     MONSTER TP VOL 04 PERFECT ED URASAWA     $19.99
FEB151685     MY NEIGHBOR SEKI GN VOL 02     $10.95
JAN158295     NINJAK #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
JAN150927     NUTMEG #1     $3.99
FEB151566     OLD WOUNDS #1     $2.99
FEB151197     PEANUTS VOL 2 #27     $3.99
JAN151613     PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR TP VOL 01     $6.99
JAN150925     PIRATE EYE EXILED FROM EXILE #3     $3.99
JAN150929     PRINCELESS PIRATE PRINCESS #3 MAIN CVR     $3.99
FEB151191     REGULAR SHOW #22     $3.99
AUG141001     SABRINA #2 REG CVR     $3.99
FEB151340     SHAFT #5 CVR A COWAN MAIN (MR)     $3.99
FEB151097     SIMPSONS COMICS #220     $2.99
FEB151526     SIXTH GUN DUST TO DUST #2     $3.99
FEB151451     SLEEPLESS KNIGHT PICTURE BOOK HC     $14.99
FEB151155     SONS OF ANARCHY #20 (MR)     $3.99
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Review: PETEY AND PUSSY by John Kerschbaum

PETEY & PUSSY
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

CARTOONIST: John Kerschbaum
ISBN: 978-1-56097-979-1; hardcover (October 2008)
126pp, B&W, $19.99 US

John Kerschbaum is a cartoonist and illustrator whose work has appeared in The Comics Journal, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and the Village Voice, among many. Petey & Pussy is a 2008 collection of interconnected comics shorts and short stories created by Kerschbaum that form a graphic novel.

The stars of the book are Petey & Pussy, two characters that form what is essentially a cat-and-dog comedy team. These funny, talking animals, however, have human heads, of which the outstanding features are prominent noses and balding pates. Several years before this book was published, the characters appeared in a comic book, Peter & Pussy #1, which Kerschbaum self-published through his Fontanelle Press.

Pussy is a rude house cat with a caustic wit and a sharp tongue, and his round spectacles gives him a Larry David vibe. He lives with a decrepit old lady who on the surface seems to be in the throes of dementia, but who has a surprisingly peppy step. Pussy shares the house with a legion of mice (including a smart one that seems to be a cross between Speedy Gonzales and Jerry of Tom and Jerry) and a falling-to-pieces suicidal bird. Pussy’s pal is Petey, a chunky, roly-poly dog with a fondness for drink. Petey personifies the blue collar bum. He is the kind of guy to go to if you need a partner in crime to help you do bad stuff.

Petey & Pussy chronicles their criminal misadventures. Their exploits include a boa constrictor, corpse dismemberment, and foiling a thieving niece. Along the way, Petey and Pussy always find time to drink at Joe’s.

On the back of Petey & Pussy’s book jacket, there’s a quote from Johnny Ryan, creator of Angry Youth Comix, which says, “Kerschbaum is one of the few cartoonists whose work makes me wince in horror.” That’s saying something, because Ryan’s own comix can simultaneously dry out and straighten out a Jheri curl. I’ve read some crazy comix, and while he won’t scare you under the sheets like S. Clay Wilson, Kerschbaum can be as raw as R. Crumb, Peter Bagge, and Ryan, who may be his closest comix cousins.

It is possible to see a similarity between Petey & Pussy and Looney Tunes. Kerschbaum’s work here does have a passing resemblance to the irreverently violent cartoons of Looney Tunes director, Bob Clampett, and the racy and risqué work of Tex Avery. In fact, Petey & Pussy has a cousin in modern animation, the work of Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy” and “American Dad”).

That said, John Kerschbaum has taken whatever influenced him and has developed his own weird, violently funny thing. No fan of adult funny animal comics (like Fritz the Cat) will want to miss Petey & Pussy. I don’t know enough about John Kerschbaum to say whether or not I’ll be praising his future work, but Petey & Pussy is some funny shit.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: Steven Heller's COMICS SKETCHBOOKS

COMICS SKETCHBOOKS: The Private Worlds of Today’s Most Creative Talents
THAMES & HUDSON, INC. – @thamesandhudson

AUTHOR: Steven Heller
DESIGNER: Ashley Olsson
ISBN: 978-0-500-28994-5; paperback
352pp, Color and Black and White; $44.95 U.S., $47.50 CAN

Steven Heller is co-chair of the MFA/Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program at New York’s School of Visual Arts. He is the author, editor, and co-editor of over one hundred books on design and popular culture. His works include Handwritten: Expressive Lettering in the Digital Age (with Mirko Ilic) and New Modernist Type (with Gail Anderson).

His latest book is Comics Sketchbooks: The Private Worlds of Today’s Most Creative Talents. A massive book (365 pages, 8.65 x 11.5), Comics Sketchbooks contains sketches, doodles, drawings, roughs, thumbnails, and even comics from some of the world’s most cutting edge and innovative artists and also some emerging talents. Over 80 artists open up their private sketchbooks and notebooks, from which Heller culled the hundreds drawings and samples that fill this fat (and phat) book. Even some artists who do not keep sketchbooks provided roughs and studies for this book.

Readers get a chance to see the thinking and planning and the experimentation, practice, and play behind the work and style of such artists as Charles Burns, Lilli Carré, Drew Friedman, David Mazzucchelli, Gary Panter, and Carol Tyler, to name a few. Readers can see into the sketchbooks of such legends as R. Crumb, Bill Griffith, Victor Moscoso, Bill Plympton, and Arnold Roth. Not every artist in this collection is specifically a comics artists, but according to Heller (in his introduction), all of them make comics as either their primary occupation or as part of their larger body of work.

Admirers, fans, and students of alternative comics and cartoonists will like Comics Sketchbooks. Still, some, like myself, may find this book missing things they wanted, which is a bit ungrateful. Why do I want more?

Obviously, Heller could not get every drawing that he wanted included in this book, for various reasons. One of the reasons is that some artists are self-conscious about opening their sketchbooks. Another reason is that some artists only actively sketch to prepare for upcoming projects, and may, in fact, discard such preliminary drawings and preparatory material once projects are completed.

So, the two pages of David Mazzucchelli just don’t seem like enough, although the sample of his typographical skills almost makes up for that. There are four pages of R. Crumb, but since Crumb has been publishing his sketchbooks and sketchbook material for four decades, the illustrations here won’t seem like anything new.

My minor quibbles aside, there is some spectacular material in Comics Sketchbooks from some major talents, known and little known. The six pages of sketches by Carol Tyler are a doorway into the wonderland that is the talent of this unheralded artist. The offerings from political cartoonist, Ann Telnaes, include several superb sketches of President Barack Obama caricatures. There is no way to prepare for the six pages of Joseph Lambert, which are crammed with drawings. I couldn’t help but return to his section several times.

It would be impractical for me to try to describe all the drawings in this book, all of it good, some of it even stunning, and even a few pieces that are (dare I say it) great. I will tempt some of you by saying that there are a few sketches in here that were proposals for covers for the magazine, The New Yorker, including one by the always fabulous Drew Friedman. This is a good book. Comics Sketchbooks: The Private Worlds of Today’s Most Creative Talents should be on comics fans’ wish lists. Steven Heller deserves some awards recognition, and certainly, at least, an Eisner nomination next year.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

The artist and cartoonists included in Comics Sketchbooks: The Private Worlds of Today’s Most Creative Talents:

Sotos Anagnos, Chris Battle, Lou Beach, Kaye Blegvad, Peter Blegvad, Russ Braun, Steve Brodner, Charles Burns, Chris Capuozzo, Lilli Carré, Seymour Chwast, Colonel Moutarde, R. Crumb, John Cuneo, Vanessa Davis, Kim Deitch, Julie Delporte, Eric Drooker, Drew Friedman, Manuel Gomez Burns, Bill Griffith, Robert Grossman, Benoit Guillaume, Cyril Guru, David Heatley, Rian Hughes, Kevin Huizenga, Nathan Jurevicius, Ben Katchor, Denis Kitchen, Jakob Klemencic, Thomas Knowler, Matej Kocjan, Nora Krug, Olivier Kugler, Peter Kuper, Joseph Lambert, Brendan Leach, Etienne Lecroart, Matthias Lehmann, Martin Lemelman, David Libens, Sebastien Lumineau, Patrick McHale, Matt Madden, Javier Mariscal, David Mazzucchelli, Rutu Modan, Saxton Moore, Victor Moscoso, Joanna Neborsky, Josh Neufeld, Mark Newgarden, Vladan Nikolic, Gary Panter, Bill Plympton, Max De Radigues, Laren Redniss, Arnold Roth, Marcel Ruijters, Johnny Ryan, David Sandlin, Seth, Peter De Seve, Robert Sikoryak, Posy Simmonds, Mark Alan Stamaty, Jim Steranko, James Sturm, Joost Swarte, Takeshi Tadatsu, Ann Telnaes, Simon Tofield, Jeremy Traum, Carol Tyler, Andres Vera Martinez, Lauren Weinstein, Tracy White, Signe Wilkinson, Run Wrake, Derek Yaniger, and Danijel Zezelj

Johnny Ryan in Los Angeles to Promote New Graphic Novel

Press release from Fantagraphic Books:

Johnny Ryan's PRISON PIT takes over L.A. Oct. 21

Fantagraphics Books invites you to join them for a book release party for the release of Johnny Ryan's mind-blowing new graphic novel, PRISON PIT!

WHAT: Book Release Party/Signing

WHO: JOHNNY RYAN & MARC BELL

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 8PM

WHERE: FAMILY, 436 Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036

323.782.9221

http://www.familylosangeles.com/blog/

Prison Pit is an original graphic novel from the pen of Johnny Ryan, best known for his humor comic, Angry Youth Comix. Prison Pit represents a marked departure from AYC or his Blecky Yuckerella weekly comic strip, combining his love for WWE wrestling, Gary Panter’s “Jimbo” comics, and Kentaro Miura’s “Berserk” Manga into a brutal showcase of violence, survival and revenge. Imagine a blend of old-fashioned role playing fantasy games like Dungeons & Dragons crossed with contemporary adult video games like Grand Theft Auto, filtered through Ryan’s sense of humor.

The book begins with C.F. (his full-name would be too horrifying to reveal here) being thrown into the Prison Pit, a barren negative-zone populated by intergalactic, violent monster criminals. In this first volume, C.F. gets into a bloody slorge war (a slorge is a giant slug that excretes a steroid-like drug called “fecid” that all the monster men are addicted to) with ultraprisoner Rottweiler Herpes and his henchmen Rabies Bloodbath and Assrat. The ensuing bloodbath is an over-the-top, hyperviolent yet hilarious farce worthy of Ryan’s inspiration, Kentaro Miura.

READ A PREVIEW OF PRISON PIT HERE:
http://www.fantagraphics.com/images/stories/previews/ppit01-preview.pdf

"Oh yes, it's finally here — Johnny Ryan's bloody sexual fight comic [Prison Pit Book 1], ...a two-fisted smash-up of international comics influence and the universal joy of tight-wound one-on-one combat, so tight that everything that comes out of a body becomes a weapon, and doesn't that have a way of mixing pleasure and pain? ... I liked this a hell of a lot." – Joe McCulloch, Jog - The Blog

"Perhaps the best and also craziest comic Johnny Ryan has made yet. Definitely adults only. There's no hidden meaning, deep metaphor, life lessons, etc. just crazy, funny action adventure. I hope he does 1,000 pages of this and it comes out as a huge weird omnibus." – Jeffrey Brown

"With nowhere near as much potty-mouth dialogue as in Ryan’s ridiculously scabrous Angry Youth Comix and Blecky Yuckerella, this combat-fantasy jape is a verbal pussycat in comparison, but that is offset by the nauseating blood, guts, and excretions splattered all over its ludicrously crude action. For splatter-movie fans and anyone trying to grok the splatter-movie ethos, not to be missed." – Ray Olson, Booklist [END]