Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

IMAGE COMICS

MAR110569 68 (SIXTY EIGHT) #2 (OF 4) CVR A NAT JONES $3.99

MAR110570 68 (SIXTY EIGHT) #2 (OF 4) CVR B NAT JONES & JAY FOTOS $3.99

MAR118139 BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #2 VAR CVR 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99

MAR110573 BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER #3 (MR) $2.99

MAR110574 CARBON GREY #3 (MR) $2.99

MAR110576 DAOMU #4 (MR) $2.99

MAR110582 HACK SLASH #4 CVR A SEELEY & BADILLA (MR) $3.50

MAR110583 HACK SLASH #4 CVR B JONES (MR) $3.50

MAR118184 IMAGE FIRSTS DYNAMO 5 #1 (PP #968) $1.00

MAR118183 IMAGE FIRSTS ULTRA #1 (PP #968) $1.00

MAR110593 MISSION #4 $2.99

MAR110598 SKULLKICKERS #7 $2.99

MAR110601 SUPER DINOSAUR #2 $2.99

MAR110532 TATTERED MAN ONE SHOT (MR) $4.99

MAR110603 WALKING DEAD #85 (MR) $2.99

MAR118194 WALKING DEAD #85 KETNER VAR CVR (MR) $2.99

MAR110556 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR LRG $24.99

MAR110555 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR MED $24.99

MAR110554 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR SM $24.99

MAR110557 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR XL $24.99

MAR110558 WALKING DEAD T/S SURVIVAL TOUR XXL $27.99

MAR110608 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #21 (MR) $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for May 25 2011

COMICS

MAR111388 ALTER EGO #101 $7.95

MAR110959 AMORY WARS KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH 3 #11 (OF 12) $3.99

MAR111191 ANTHOLOGY PROJECT HC VOL 01 (O/A) (MR) $24.99

MAR111190 ANTHOLOGY PROJECT HC VOL 02 (MR) $29.95

NOV100923 APPROXIMATE CONTINUUM COMICS GN $18.99

MAR110865 ARCHIE #621 $2.99

MAR111185 ARISA GN VOL 02 $10.99

MAR111343 BEAUTY AND SQUAT BEARS HC $14.99

MAR111173 BLACKSMITH GN (RES) (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

MAR111174 BOOK OF LILAH GN (RES) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

APR110828 CALIGULA #1 (OF 6) AUXILIARY (MR) $3.99

MAR111048 CHARLAINE HARRIS GRAVE SIGHT GN VOL 01 (OF 3) $7.99

DEC101120 CHARMED #9 A CVR SEIDMAN $3.50

DEC101121 CHARMED #9 B CVR PHOTO $3.50

FEB111110 CLASSICS ILLUS HC VOL 13 IVANHOE $9.99

JAN111236 CLONK GN VOL 01 $19.95

AUG100795 CROSSED 3D GN VOL 01 (MR) $8.99

APR110824 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #2 (OF 7) AUXILIARY (MR) $3.99

NOV100917 DF DAREDEVIL REBORN #1 ROMITA SR SGN ED PI

MAR110998 DUCKTALES #1 $3.99

FEB111104 DUNGEON MONSTRES GN VOL 04 NIGHT O/T LADYKILLER $14.99

MAR111203 ELEPHANT MAN GN (O/A) $9.99

MAR111175 ENDANGERED GN (RES) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

MAR110822 EVEN THE GIANTS GN (MR) $9.95

FEB111009 FAFNER DEAD AGGRESSOR GN VOL 02 (RES) $9.95

MAR111182 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 13 $10.99

MAR111333 FORGET SORROW AN ANCESTRAL TALE SC $15.95

MAR110946 FUTURAMA COMICS #55 $2.99

FEB111203 GENTE TP VOL 03 (OF 3) $12.99

FEB111113 GERONIMO STILTON HC VOL 01 DISCOVERY OF AMERICA (O/A) $9.99

MAR111352 GFT DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 1) #1 A CVR BASALDUA $5.99

MAR111353 GFT DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 1) #1 B CVR SUYDAM $5.99

MAR111354 GFT DREAM EATER CROSSOVER (PT 1) #1 C CVR CHEN & EMBURY $5.99

FEB111230 GFT PRES TALES FROM NEVERLAND #1 (OF 3) A CVR AL RIO $4.99

FEB111231 GFT PRES TALES FROM NEVERLAND #1 (OF 3) B CVR PEKAR $4.99

FEB111008 GREAT PLACE HIGH SCHOOL GN VOL 02 S COUNCIL (MR) $12.95

MAR111033 HACK SLASH EVA MONSTERS BALL #1 (MR) $3.99

FEB110845 HELLRAISER #2 (MR) $3.99

NOV100701 HOW TO DRAW STEAMPUNK SUPERSIZE TP $24.99

MAR110971 INCORRUPTIBLE #18 $3.99

MAR111334 INFLUENCING MACHINE HC $23.95

APR110835 KANNAGI GN VOL 01 (OF 6) $10.99

NOV100885 KATO ORIGINS #9 THE HELLFIRE CLUB $3.99

MAR111016 KIRBY GENESIS #0 $1.00

FEB111004 LA BANKS VAMPIRE HUNTRESS TP VOL 01 $16.99

APR110920 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #2 AUXILIARY $3.99

FEB110734 LUCID HC $19.95

JAN111225 MEDITERRANEA #4 (OF 14) $2.99

MAR111279 MEGA MAN GIGAMIX TP VOL 01 $12.95

FEB110728 MERCY SPARX TP (ARCANA ED) VOL 01 $14.95

JAN111321 MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 19 DOUBLE AGENT (RES) $19.95

MAR111186 NEGIMA GN VOL 29 (MR) $10.99

DEC100764 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

DEC100765 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #5 (OF 5) GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC100766 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD #5 (OF 5) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

DEC100978 ONE #4 (OF 5) $2.99

JUL100754 PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR #3 (OF 4) $3.95

MAR110982 PLANET OF THE APES #2 $3.99

DEC100979 ROUTE DES MAISONS ROUGES #4 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99

FEB111205 SATURN APARTMENTS TP VOL 03 $12.99

MAR111184 SHUGO CHARA GN VOL 10 $10.99

MAR110948 SIMPSONS SUMMER SHINDIG #5 $4.99

JAN111226 SKELETON STORY #4 (OF 5) $2.99

MAR111233 SLAINE THE HORNED GOD HC (S&S ED) $25.00

FEB111112 SMURFS GN VOL 06 SMURFS & HOWLIBIRD $5.99

FEB111111 SMURFS HC VOL 06 SMURFS & HOWLIBIRD $10.99

MAR110987 STAN LEE SOLDIER ZERO #1 VAR SET $99.99

MAR110990 STAN LEE TRAVELER #7 $3.99

MAR111130 TAKE A JOKE TP $18.99

MAR111010 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #68 (MR) $2.95

FEB111005 THAT WAS GOOD GN (MR) $12.95

APR111087 TINTIN YOUNG READERS ED GN SECRET OF THE UNICORN $8.99

FEB111007 TYRANT FALLS IN LOVE GN VOL 03 (MR) $12.95

MAR111002 UNCLE SCROOGE MESSES BECOME SUCCESSES TP $9.99

MAR111204 VATICAN HUSTLE GN (O/A) $11.95

MAR111176 WARD 6 GN (RES) (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $8.99

DEC100733 WARSTONE GN $9.95

MAR111128 YEAH GN $19.99

FEB111006 YOUR STORY IVE KNOWN GN (MR) $12.95

JAN111083 ZFW ZOMBIES OF FOREIGN WARS #1 (MR) $3.99

MAGAZINES
JAN111442 DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #28 $13.99
MAR111420 HORRORHOUND #29 $6.99
MAR111453 LOCUS #604 $6.95
MAR111386 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 22 #3 $5.99

I Reads You Review: BLADE #9

BLADE (2006) #9
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Marc Guggenheim
ARTIST: Howard Chaykin
COLORIST: Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC’s Rus Wooton
COVER: Marko Djurdjevic
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S., $3.75 CAN

“The Big Fight”

Several years ago, Marvel Comics launched a new comic book starring Blade, their vampire hunter who first appeared in the 1970s horror comic book series, The Tomb of Dracula (#10, July 1973). Of course, Blade is best known for the trilogy of films starring Wesley Snipes as Blade. Marvel has had, at best, mixed success with Blade comic book series. [Although an African-American (Snipes) was the star and co-producer of the Blade film franchise, Marvel has never allowed an African-American to write or draw a Blade comic book series.]

Debuting in 2006, the most recent Blade series was written by television writer-producer, Marc Guggenheim and drawn by Howard Chaykin, a longtime industry veteran writer and artist, best known for the highly influential 1980s comic book, American Flagg! (although Chaykin has also been a television writer-producer). Guggenheim’s take on Blade was closer to the character in the comics than the one in the movies, and the series ran for 12 issues, much of it having to do with Blade’s origin.

Blade #9 finds Eric Brooks, a.k.a. Blade in London delving into his later mother, Tara Brooks’ past to discover her connection and his possible connection to the Order of Tyrana. The apparent head of this group is Lucas Cross, the man claiming to be Blade’s father. Meanwhile, at a London hotel, Union Jack, a vampire hunter, launches an attack on Blade’s colleague, vampire detective Hannibal King.

Evan as a back issue, Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin’s Blade comic book still feels fresh and new. Guggenheim wrote each issue as a self-contained story. While each issue is connected to a larger narrative, it can be read, comprehended, and enjoyed without reading other issues. Visually and graphically, Chaykin infused Blade with a sense of humor, irony, and a touch of satire.

Blade #9 epitomizes what Guggenheim and Chaykin did so well with the entirety of their Blade comic book series, and that was the creation of a serial drama in which each chapter was important unto itself. An individual issue did not need the overall story arc to validate it. This allowed readers to pick up any issue and get both a complete reading experience and the Blade experience.

Publishers Group West to Distribute Archaia Entertainment Graphic Novels

ARCHAIA ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS WITH PGW

Rising Graphic Novel Publishing Star Finds New Home for Book Trade Market and Beyond

Berkeley, CA (May 23, 2011) –Archaia Entertainment, LLC and Publishers Group West (“PGW”), a Perseus Books Group company, announced today that PGW will begin distributing Archaia titles in the US and Canada beginning June 20, 2011. The deal encompasses all of Archaia’s backlist titles, which include fan-favorites: Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, and The Killer, plus over 40 frontlist titles for the second half of 2011. Included are two major media tie-in releases: the illustrated prose edition of The Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes in July and an original graphic novel anthology to Relativity Media’s Immortals in September.

PJ Bickett, Archaia’s CEO, said, “We are forging powerful partnerships with industry leaders in all aspects of our business, underscoring Archaia’s arrival as a substantial player within the publishing world. PGW will be a key partner in our success, and with their world-class distribution they will allow Archaia to continue to expand our presence across the book trade, as well as in educational, library and international markets.”

“Archaia is a publisher to be reckoned with. They are consistently developing some of the most beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written titles across genres,” said Kevin Votel, PGW’s Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. “In a short time, they’ve become a leading brand and we’re thrilled to be working with their list.”


About Archaia Entertainment
Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned publishing brands, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Days Missing, Tumor, Syndrome, Artesia, Engineer, and an entire line of The Jim Henson Company graphic novels. Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year according to Ain’t it Cool News, Graphic Policy, and Comic Related, and was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending their popular brands into film, television, gaming, and branded digital media.

About PGW
PGW, a member of the Perseus Books Group, is a one-stop solution for world English language sales and marketing for independent publishers. Established in 1976, PGW is headquartered in Berkeley, CA, with a national sales office in New York City and a distribution center located in Jackson, TN.

One of the top ten book vendors in the country, PGW represents more than 100 independent publishers, who together are publishing some of the most topical, innovative, literary, and award-winning books available today. Major national and international bestsellers from PGW client publishers include Matterhorn (Atlantic Monthly Press), The Power of Now (New World Library), Strengthsfinder 2.0 (Gallup Press), and the Rick Steves Guidebooks series (Avalon Travel Publishing).

About the Perseus Books Group
The Perseus Books Group is an independent company committed to enabling independent publishers to reach their potential whether those publishers are Perseus-owned, joint ventures or owned by third parties. Member publishing programs include Avalon Travel, Basic Books, Basic Civitas, Da Capo Press, Da Capo Lifelong Books, Running Press, Seal Press, Vanguard Press and Westview Press, as well as partnerships with PublicAffairs and with Nation Books. Through Consortium, Perseus Distribution and Publishers Group West, the Perseus Books Group is the leading provider of sales, marketing, distribution, and digital services to independent publishers. For more information, visit our websites at http://www.perseusbooks.com/, www.perseusdigital.com/constellation.

We Were There: The Return of Yano

I read We Were There, Vol. 12 (See all Manga)

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

Image Comics to Publish New Sarkar/Gastonny Joint, The Vault

UNLOCK THE VAULT

Image Comics Reunites Sarkar and Gastonny In New Series

Image Comics is pleased to announce that writer Sam Sarkar and artist Garrie Gastonny (Warren Ellis’ Supergod), the team behind Caliber: First Canon of Justice, have reunited to unlock the horror and action within their new miniseries THE VAULT.

THE VAULT is about a small team of treasure hunters, struggling to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the "Graveyard of the North Atlantic." Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature's fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash.

"THE VAULT is kind of a contemporary Pandora’s Box story," explained creator and writer, Sam Sarkar. "Though it appears on the surface to be a pretty straightforward story, it has most of its mythology buried deeply. It gets uncovered both literally and figuratively as the pit gets excavated."

When asked how THE VAULT found its home at Image, Sarkar replied: "Well, I’m incredibly fortunate that most of the lasting gifts of Caliber were the relationships it helped to cement. Chief among them, David Elliott. Dave and I have soldiered through quite a few storms personally and professionally, and when I asked him to edit THE VAULT, he didn’t hesitate. There are few people I trust as much. I asked Dave what he thought the best way to release THE VAULT would be and Image was at the top of his list of publishers to approach. I’ve always been a fan of Image, not just because of their model, but because of the quality of titles they have represented and continue to represent."

THE VAULT #1 (1 of 3), a 32-page full color comic book, will be on sale in stores July 27th for $3.50 and is available to order in the June 2011 edition of Diamond Previews (Diamond Order Code: JUN110501).


ABOUT SAM SARKAR
Born in , Sam Sarkar is a 23-year veteran of the entertainment industry. He began his career as an actor and was one of the leads on the long-running, syndicated television series Neon Rider. Following the series, Sam decided to pursue writing and worked for the hit television series Beverly Hills 90210. Stemming from his work on the show, he also co-wrote a television pilot for Spelling Entertainment under the direct guidance of TV legend Aaron Spelling. Deciding then to embark on feature films, Sam took some chances, following a varied path of writing screenplays and working as a sound technician. In 2004, after working on several films with actor Johnny Depp, Sam was asked to help run Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, headed by Christi Dembrowski. As Senior VP at the company, he continues to serve the varied needs of as an executive, producer and writer.

ABOUT GARRIE GASTONNY
Having worked as a comic book artist and illustration lecturer, Garrie Gastonny now mainly focuses on illustration to avoid getting beaten up. Garrie also serves as Senior Artist at Imaginary Friends Studios. His credits include Warren Ellis' Supergod, Caliber: First Canon of Justice and Lady Death. For more information about the artist, please visit http://thegerjoos.deviantart.com/.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the . Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

De-Otomen Potion

I read Otomen, Vol. 10 (See all Manga)

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