Dark Horse from Diamond Distributors for April 6 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB110031 AXE COP BAD GUY EARTH #2 (OF 3) $3.50

FEB110011 BPRD DEAD REMEMBERED #1 (OF 3) JO CHEN CVR $3.50

DEC100055 CONAN HC VOL 10 IRON SHADOWS IN THE MOON $24.99

FEB110035 CONAN LEGACY FRAZETTA COVER #7 (OF 8) $6.99

JAN110086 LET ME IN CROSSROADS #4 (OF 4) SEAN PHILLIPS CVR $3.99

DEC100076 OUTLAW PRINCE TP $12.99

OCT108146 PERRY BIBLE FELLOWSHIP ALMANACK HC $24.99

FEB110032 SOLOMON KANE RED SHADOWS #1 (OF 4) GUY DAVIS CVR $3.50

JAN110116 USAGI YOJIMBO #136 $3.50

FEB110015 WITCHFINDER LOST & GONE FOREVER #3 (OF 5) $2.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 6 2011

IMAGE COMICS

FEB110384 BLUE ESTATE #1 (MR) $2.99

JAN110566 BUT I CANT DO ANYTHING ELSE ART OF ROB SCHRAB HC $24.99

DEC100477 CHEW #18 (MR) $2.99

FEB110455 DAOMU #3 (MR) $2.99

NOV100458 FIREBREATHER HOLMGANG #2 (OF 4) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99

FEB110386 GREEN WAKE #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50

FEB110472 INTREPIDS #2 (MR) $2.99

SEP100466 MADMAN ATOMICA HC $125.00

FEB110414 MADMAN NEW GIANT SIZE SUPER GINCHY SPEC ONE SHOT #0 $5.99

JAN110612 MEMOIR #3 (OF 6) $3.50

FEB110397 NONPLAYER #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

JUN100467 ORC STAIN #6 (MR) $2.99

DEC100454 POSEURS GN $16.99

JAN110624 WALKING DEAD HOODIE RICK LG $44.99

JAN110623 WALKING DEAD HOODIE RICK MED $44.99

JAN110622 WALKING DEAD HOODIE RICK SM $44.99

JAN110625 WALKING DEAD HOODIE RICK XL $44.99

JAN110626 WALKING DEAD HOODIE RICK XXL $47.99

FEB110410 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #14 (MR) $2.99

MAY100490 WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF #6 $3.50

JAN110633 WHO IS JAKE ELLIS #3 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for April 6 2011

COMICS

NOV100709 51 DELTA GN $14.95

JAN111297 ABYSS FAMILY ISSUES #2 (OF 4) $3.50

FEB111123 ALEX TOTH ADVENTURES JON FURY IN JAPAN SPECIAL ED $11.00

DEC101064 ANIMAL ACADEMY GN VOL 07 (OF 7) HAKOBUNE HAKUSHO $10.99

JAN110942 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #4 $3.99

JAN110944 BETTY #191 $2.99

JAN111364 BLUE EXORCIST VOL 01 $9.99

FEB110942 BOYS #53 (MR) $3.99

FEB110945 BOYS TP VOL 08 HIGHLAND LADDIE $19.99

JAN111155 BRING THE THUNDER #4 $3.99

DEC101060 BUTTERFLY GN VOL 01 (OF 5) $10.99

JAN110969 CHARISMAGIC #1 CVR A RANDOLPH $2.99

JAN110970 CHARISMAGIC #1 CVR B OUM $2.99

FEB111079 CHICAGOLAND DETECTIVE AGENCY GN VOL 02 MALTESE MUMMY $6.95

FEB110861 CHIP N DALE RESCUE RANGERS #5 $3.99

DEC101059 CLEAN FREAK FULLY EQUIPPED GN VOL 01 (OF 2) $10.99

FEB110796 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #4 (OF 7) MID OHIO VAR CVR (MR) $5.99

OCT100760 DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES GN VOL 02 DECIMATION $14.95

DEC101061 DEMON SACRED GN VOL 04 (OF 11) $10.99

JAN111359 DENGEKI DAISY GN VOL 04 $9.99

DEC100950 DF VAMPIRELLA #4 EXC VIRGIN CVR PI

FEB110834 DIE HARD YEAR ONE TP VOL 02 $12.99

DEC100789 DISTORTIONS UNLIMITED #2 (MR) $3.99

FEB111064 DOME HC (JUN073628) (MR) $19.95

DEC101063 EENSY WEENSY MONSTER GN VOL 02 (OF 2) $10.99

JAN111365 EYESHIELD 21 TP VOL 35 $9.99

FEB110841 FARSCAPE UNCHARTED TALES TP VOL 03 DARGOS QUEST $12.99

DEC100791 FEMALE FORCE ROSIE ODONNELL $3.99

MAR110853 FROZEN WASTELAND GN (NEW ED) (RES) $14.95

JAN110878 GLAMOURPUSS #18 $3.00

FEB110963 GREEN HORNET AFTERMATH #1 $1.99

DEC101123 GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 09 $15.99

DEC101065 HAPPY CAFE GN VOL 07 (OF 15) $10.99

DEC100731 HARBOR MOON GN $19.95

JAN111308 HAYATE X BLADE OMNIBUS GN VOL 02 (OF 3) $15.99

DEC100925 HONEY COLORED PANCAKES GN (MR) $12.95

DEC100926 INTENSE RAIN GN (RES) (MR) $12.95

FEB110849 IRREDEEMABLE #24 $3.99

AUG100955 JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES FOOL MOON #1 $3.99

DEC100792 JUDO GIRL SO YOU WANNA REVOLUTION #1 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC100929 KABUKI GN VOL 03 (OF 4) MOON (RES) (MR) $12.95

DEC100989 LEGEND O/T SCARLET BLADES HC $29.95

DEC101057 MAID SAMA GN VOL 08 (OF 10) $10.99

DEC100703 MEN OF MYSTERY #85 $29.95

FEB111077 MY BOYFRIEND IS MONSTER GN VOL 01 I LOVE HIM TO PIECES $9.95

FEB111078 MY BOYFRIEND IS MONSTER GN VOL 02 $9.95

JAN111085 NANCY HERNANDEZ & BLACK WIDOWS GN (MR) $15.00

JAN111382 NATSUMES BOOK OF FRIENDS TP VOL 06 $9.99

JAN111366 NURA RISE O/T YOKAI CLAN GN VOL 02 $9.99

DEC101058 PAVANE FOR DEAD GIRL GN VOL 01 (OF 5) $10.99

JAN118101 PEANUTS HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET CHARLIE BROWN HC $19.99

JAN111000 PENNY FOR YOUR SOUL #6 (OF 7) (MR) $3.00

JAN111374 POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 12 $7.99

DEC100793 POLITICAL POWER GLENN BECK $3.99

JAN111385 PRINCE OF TENNIS GN VOL 41 $9.99

JAN111273 RAINY DAY RECESS COMPLETE STEVEN COMICS TP $19.99

JAN111154 RAISE THE DEAD II #4 $3.99

DEC101067 RED HOT CHILI SAMURAI GN VOL 04 (OF 5) (MR) $10.99

FEB110705 REMAKE GN VOL 01 (O/A) (MR) $12.95

FEB111012 REUNION SC (MR) $19.95

DEC100927 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW GN VOL 02 (OF 2) (RES) (MR) $12.95

DEC100795 ROGER CORMAN PRESENTS DEATHSPORT #4 $3.99

JAN111367 ROSARIO VAMPIRE SEASON II TP VOL 04 $9.99

JAN110900 ROYAL HISTORIAN OF OZ #4 (OF 5) $2.95

JAN111360 SAKURA HIME LEGEND OF PRINCESS SAKURA VOL 01 $9.99

JAN111383 SEIHO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL TP VOL 05 $9.99

JAN111369 SHONEN JUMP MAY 2011 $4.99

JAN111361 SKIP BEAT TP VOL 23 $9.99

DEC101062 SKYBLUE SHORE SORAIRO KAIGAN GN VOL 02 (OF 6) (MR) $10.99

JAN111384 SLAM DUNK GN VOL 15 $9.99

DEC101056 STARCRAFT GHOST ACADEMY GN VOL 03 (OF 3) (MR) $12.99

JAN111362 STEPPING ON ROSES GN VOL 05 $9.99

DEC100990 TECHNOPRIESTS TP VOL 03 PERFECT GAME (MR) $18.95

JAN111217 TIMES OF BOTCHAN GN VOL 01 (OF 10) (O/A) $19.99

FEB110871 UNCLE SCROOGE #402 $3.99

FEB111183 VANGUARD FRAZETTA CLASSICS SC VOL 01 JOHNNY COMET (RES) $24.95

DEC100797 VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #27 (MR) $3.99

DEC101055 WARCRAFT SHADOW WING GN VOL 02 (OF 2) NEXUS POINT (RES) $12.99

MAGAZINES
DEC101466 BRICKJOURNAL #14 $8.95
NOV101122 CLASSIC MARVEL FIG COLL MAG #142 SILVER SABLE $12.00
NOV101130 DC BLACKEST NIGHT FIG COLL MAG #2 ATROCITUS $14.00
NOV101132 DC SUPERHERO FIG COLL MAG #76 BIG BARDA $14.00
FEB111278 DR WHO INSIDER MAGAZINE #1 $6.99
DEC101176 HOBBY JAPAN MAR 2011 PI
SEP101236 LEES TOY REVIEW #217 SPRING 2011 (NOTE PRICE) $6.95
JAN111471 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #33 NEWSSTAND ED $6.99
JAN111472 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #33 PX ED $6.99
NOV101117 TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #196 $5.95
NOV101178 WHISPERER DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 04 $14.95

Itsuwaribito vs. Itsuwaribito

I read Itsuwaribito , Vol. 2

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

I Reads You Review: LOVE LESSON (YAOI)

Creator: Hanae Sakazaki (cartoonist) with Translation by Design (translator)

Publishing Information: Juné Manga/DMP, paperback, 184 pages, $12.95 (US)

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-56970-737-1 (ISBN-13); 1-56970-737-5 (ISBN-10)

Rating: “M” for “Mature Audiences 18+”

Love Lesson is a collection of yaoi manga short stories from Hanae Sakazuki. Six short stories follow six couples and sometimes their friends, associates, and former lovers as they deal with the very painful first steps of new romance.

The title story finds mild-mannered math teacher, Haruto Shirai, fending off the aggressive advances of Akira Akagi, who is also a popular actor. Akira needs after school help because he is behind on his homework assignments, and Haruto begins to care deeply about his new pupil’s academic success. Or is there more to his concern than just being a good and caring teacher?

In “Uncle and Me,” Tohma discovers that he and his granduncle, Kiyomi, get along better with each other than they do with the rest of the family. The truth is, however, that Tohma loves his uncle – really, really loves him!

In this collection’s longest story, “Don’t Love Me Tender,” we meet the bed-hopping Tomo Miyazawa, the young man known by his many of his one-night stands as the “manslut.” Now, Ryo Harada, a saucy bartender and fellow college student, starts romancing Tomo. Although Tomo is ready to sleep with him right away, Harada insists that there be no sex until Tomo falls in love with him. That infuriates Tomo, but it also causes him to examine why he acts the way he does.

Some of the stories in Love Lesson are merely typical yaoi in which male characters take on the traditional roles of a heterosexual romance. That pretty much describes “Love Lesson” and “Blame it on Spring.” Other stories, such as “Uncle and Me” and “Don’t Love Me Tender,” address the personal and, to a lesser extent, social issues facing a gay couple. In fact, these gay romances are more complex in dealing with romance, self-doubt, and matters of the heart than a story like “Love Lesson.”

Although the background art is about as good as it is in most yaoi manga, the figure drawing by creator Hanae Sakazaki has an awkward quality that lends itself to depicting the emotionally charged content of a story like “Don’t Love Me Tender.” However, the art does nothing for a standard yaoi tale like the title story. Overall, Love Lesson is a pretty good collection mainly because Sakazaki offers as much heart-wrenching romance as she does sex. This makes the entire volume seem not so shallow.

B+

Slam Dunk Heaven and Hell

I read Slam Dunk, Vol. 15

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

Fantagraphics Books to Publish Paul Nelson Bio

Music Critic Paul Nelson Finally Gets His Due

MARCH 31, 2011, SEATTLE, WA—Fantagraphics is proud to announce Everything Is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson. Author Kevin Avery spent four years researching and writing this unique anthology-biography. This book compiles Nelson’s best works and also provides a vivid account of his life.

In the ’60s, Paul Nelson pioneered rock & roll criticism with a first-person style of writing later coined “New Journalism.” During a five-year detour at Mercury Records, he signed the New York Dolls to their first recording contract, and then settled back down to music criticism at Rolling Stone. Through his writing, Nelson championed the early careers of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Warren Zevon, The Sex Pistols, and The Ramones.

But in 1982, he walked away from it all. By the time Nelson died in his New York City apartment in 2006, everything he’d written had been relegated to back issues of old music magazines.

“My original idea for this book was simply to anthologize Paul Nelson’s best work so that today’s readers could discover, as I had in my youth, his elegant and brilliant writings,” explains author Kevin Avery. “But I soon realized that, in doing these pieces, Paul was ultimately telling his own story. And his story was so damn compelling it was impossible for me not to write about it.

American journalist, biographer, and poet Nick Tosches wrote the foreword to this landmark work of cultural revival, which stands as a tribute to and collection of one of the unsung critical champions of popular music.