Simply a Downer

I finally finished reading not simple

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  This manga looks and reads like an American indie graphic novel.  The story is also really padded and way too much of a downer.  Not one of my more enjoyable reading experiences.

Babymouse in a Soapbox Car

I enjoyed reading Babymouse #12: Burns Rubber

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

VIZ Media Announces "Crown of Love"

Press release from VIZ Media:

HOW FAR WILL A BOY GO FOR LOVE? FIND OUT IN NEW MANGA SERIES CROWN OF LOVE


The Story of a Teenage Boy Who Becomes a Pop Idol To Get Close To The Pop Idol Girl He Adores

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the debut of Yun Kouga’s shojo manga (graphic novels for female readers) CROWN OF LOVE on February 2nd. CROWN OF LOVE is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, will be published by the Shojo Beat imprint, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Sixteen-year-old Hisayoshi "Kumi" Tajima wasn't looking for love. But after he accidentally bumps into teen idol Rima Fujio, he can't stop thinking about her. Living worlds apart, he'll never have a chance to meet her again. Until Rima's former agent Ikeshiba gives him the perfect opportunity – by turning Hisayoshi into an idol himself! Too bad Rima only sees him as competition for Ikeshiba's attention.

“CROWN OF LOVE offers a complex story of unrequited love between a pair of teenagers who are each on the brink of stardom,” says Elizabeth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director, VIZ Media. “Creator Yun Kouga has already attracted legions of North American fans with her popular manga series GESTALT, also published by VIZ Media, and we look forward to readers enjoying this new story about two driven characters who find out that fame and life in the limelight isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

Yun Kouga began her career as a manga artist in 1986 with the series METAL HEART, which was serialized in Comic VAL. She is also the creator of the popular series LOVELESS and EARTHIAN, along with many other manga and anime projects, including developing the character designs for GUNDAM 00.

For more information on this title, or other shojo titles from VIZ Media, please visit http://www.shojobeat.com/. [END]

Moonstone Books Gives Kolchak More Lovecraft

From Moonstone Books:

Kolchak: Lovecraftian Damnation

Story: CJ Henderson
Art: Robert Hack
Colors: Evan Shaver
Covers: Robert Hack, Doug Klauba
48pgs, color, $4.99

Long awaited sequel to The Lovecraftian Horror!

Tired of waiting for either fame or fortune, all Carl Kolchak really wants out of life is a good meal washed down by good Scotch. As you might guess, once again even such modest wishes aren't in the cards. This time around, the man in the pork pie hat is beset by not only an all-powerful horror from beyond, but one that has gained both a staggering intellect and Necronomicon! Told in “widevision”!

(Robert Hack cover=75%, Klauba cover=25%)

*RETAILER INCENTIVE: any retailer who purchases 2 copies of Lovecraftian Damnation & one copy of Lovecraftian Horror will receive one free copy of Damnation! [END]

Boise State Football Team to the White House?

Sounds like a good idea from Senator Orrin Hatch, as related in this Fanhouse article.

Paul Cornell, Andy Diggle and More at Forbidden Planet

Press release from Forbidden Planet:

TOP COMICS TALENT SIGNING AT FORBIDDEN PLANET

Forbidden Planet London is the flagship of comics retail industry, the mecca of geek and the largest store of its kind in the world.

And we’re delighted to be welcoming: -

Thursday 28th January 6 – 7pm: PAUL CORNELL signing Captain Britain
Thursday 4th February 5:30 – 7pm: THE 45 EVENT from Com.X
Friday 25th February 6 – 7pm: ANDY DIGGLE & JOCK signing The Losers

In Captain Britain and MI13: Vampire State, Paul brings us the tale of the King of the Vampires – and he’s back! What does he want with Spitfire? And how will an election help his cause? Surely Captain Britain and the rest of MI13 have a way to defeat him! Plus: Meggan is Captain Britain's wife, an X-Man in Hell. she get back to Earth in time to help her husband turn back Dracula and his evil invasion?

Our ‘45’ event brings together Andi Ewington and an all-star creator-cast for one of our famous and trademark free-form signings – no tables, no queues. With an array of fantastic Com.X titles on hand, this event blows away the barriers and gives readers and fans a change to mix and chat on a less formal level, grab some great sketches, and really find out what goes on in the world of comics!

Needing no introduction, The Losers was winner of the Best New Comic, National Comics Awards 2004, and nominated for the Best New Series, Eisner Awards 2004 – and it’s now a major motion picture. Come and meet the creators!

Some of the biggest names in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comics and Cult Entertainment have come to the FORBIDDEN PLANET London Megastore for signing events, including: Sam Raimi, Guillermo del Toro, Terry Gilliam, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, William Gibson, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett and Stephen King.

For more news about our signings please go to: http://forbiddenplanet.com/events/ [END]

Bluewater Comics Shipping in April 2010

Press release from Bluewater Productions:

Bluewater Comics for April 2010


Logan's Run #4
Artist(s): Daniel Gete
Cover Artist(s): Matt Bellisle & Greg Hiatt

WELCOME TO HELL! Logan and Jessica’s flight to Sanctuary takes them to the farthest reaches of the North, a thousand miles of dead glare-ice wilderness. Here they must face off against the ruthless Warden and his horde of cannibalistic prisoners as well as a half-crazed cyborg named Box who may or may not have altruistic intentions for the runners.

FAITH SERIES: JESUS CHRIST
Author(s): Don Smith
Artist(s): TBD
Cover Artist(s): Mike S. Miller

Bluewater Productions has pioneered and popularized the "bio-comic" genre with its series "Female Force" and "Political Power." Now Bluewater will make history again as it tackles the life of, arguably the most famous person in history, Jesus Christ. The book highlights different aspects of the life of Christ to show that Jesus of Nazareth was more than just a great man in history, but proof of a providential force at work in the universe.

The Claw and Fang
Writer: Mike Kutcher
Artist(s): Matias Basla
Cover Artist(s): A - Dan Brenton, B - Matias Basla, C - G.M.B Chomichuk, D - Steven Babb

A warrior king will be reborn! Hunted to extinction by a renegade Demon, the Firewoman is the last of her kind. She survives driven only by the hope she can bestow her power upon the one person able to restore balance, but the one she seeks has given up on life in the real world preferring a virtual one.

Roger Corman's: Battle Amongst The Stars #2
Writer: Martin Fisher
Pencils: Ben Hansen
Cover Artist(s): Ben Hansen & Azim

On the planet Olphen, a small group of alien defenders are preparing its people for the possible attack by the Malmori as they seek their reproductive technology. Meanwhile Zed and Corin are captured by Remlar, and he charges Sador to get the location of the Olphen planet from them, by any means necessary.

The Legend of Isis #12
Writer: Aaron Stueve
Pencils: Pedro Ponzo
Cover Artist(s): Jossie Lara & John Lam from IMAGE COMICS

Gaia reveals the truth to Isis . . . Isis doesn't take it well. Meanwhile, Scarab Queen and Lynx return to cause havoc in L. A., and Mr. Frederick figures everything out as "The Machinations of Dr. Love" comes to its climactic ending.

Female Force: Sonia Sotomayor
Author(s): Robert Schnakenberg
Artist(s): Cesar Feliciano
Joshua Labello with Azim

The Supremes have a new member! Meet the latest justice to don the black robes of America's highest court. Sonia Sotomayor rose from humble beginnings in a Bronx housing project to become only the third woman and the first Latina to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. Relive her historic journey in a comic book biography that's ripped from today's headlines.

Political Power: Rush Limbaugh
Author(s): Don Smith
Artist(s): J.B. Fernandes
Cover Artist(s): Jim McDermott

He has been called "the most dangerous man in America" as well as "the leader of a vast Right Wing Conspiracy." And many politicians, news pundits and commentators have asked, "Is he good for America?" Those questions are discussed, as well as the revealing story of how a simple football fan from Missouri changed not only the faces of the news industry and radio industry, but with the help of 20 million listeners a week, Rush Limbaugh changed the face of modern politics.

William Shatner Presents: Man O' War #3
Author(s): C.J. Henderson
Artist(s): Pat Broderick
Cover Artist(s): Pat Broderick

Benton Hawkes finally makes it to Mars, but the mystery that dragged him there only deepens. While trying to hammer out an agreement between the workers there and the Earth government, he barely escapes two more attempts on his life, only to discover that one of few people he has come to trust since leaving Earth is the main assassin assigned to kill him!

Vincent Price Presents #18
Author(s): Paul J. Salamoff
Artist(s): James Reekie
Cover Artist(s): Bill Zahn from PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS

A journey past a forbidding cornfield transforms into a nightmare for 9yr old Bobby Hollister when the local bullies force him to retrieve the mask from the nightmarish Scarecrow that watches over the crop. But things aren't always what they seem in this new tale of terror from Vincent Price because stuffing and straw are not the only thing sheathed beneath the scarecrow's mask. With a special cover by PIXAR artist Bill Zahn!

VSS Nemesis Rising (GRAPHIC NOVEL)
Author(s): Terrence Griep
Artist(s): Nadir Balan
Cover Artist(s): Nadir Balan

They say it takes a thief to catch a thief, and the glamorous field agents of VSS put this tenant to the test when they allow their newest member, the American sneak-thief Scarlet, to take point on her first full mission: hoping to derail on imminent coronation, an unknown scoundrel has stolen the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. It's up to Lark, Raven, Brooke, and Scarlet to steal back these vibrant symbols of the monarchy they have be paid to protect. But which of her teammates is spying on Scarlet? And why? It's thief versus thief and spy versus spy in this high-impact thriller produced by creator Darren Davis who joins writer Terrence Griep and artist Nadir Balan. [END]