Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 20 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS

JAN118119 BERSERK TP VOL 17 NEW PTG (MR) $14.99

MAY110025 CONAN ISLAND OF NO RETURN #2 $3.50

MAY110024 CONAN THE BARBARIAN MASK OF ACHERON $6.99

MAY110036 CRIMINAL MACABRE GOON WHEN FREAKS COLLIDE $3.99

MAR110040 DAMNED HIGHWAY FEAR & LOATHING IN ARKHAM $14.99

MAY110023 RAGE #2 (OF 3) $3.50

MAR110017 STAR WARS CLONE WARS YR TV TP VOL 06 STARCRUSHER TRAP $7.99

MAY110020 STAR WARS JEDI DARK SIDE #3 $2.99

MAY110019 STAR WARS OLD REPUBLIC #2 (OF 5) LOST SUNS $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 20 2011

IMAGE COMICS

MAY110495 ALL NIGHTER #2 (OF 5) $2.99

MAY110432 AVENGELYNE #1 CVR A LIEFELD $2.99

MAY110433 AVENGELYNE #1 CVR B GIENI $2.99

MAY110434 AVENGELYNE #1 CVR C BENITEZ $2.99

JAN110656 DARKNESS #92 (MR) $2.99

MAY110505 DEADLANDS MASSACRE AT RED WING ONE SHOT $2.99

APR110502 ELEPHANTMEN #33 (MR) $3.99

MAY110511 HACK SLASH #6 CVR A LIESTER & ROSENBERG (MR) $3.50

MAY110512 HACK SLASH #6 CVR B BELLEGARDE (MR) $3.50

MAR110589 MARINEMAN #6 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99

MAY110435 MARKSMAN #1 (OF 6) $1.00

MAY110438 REAPER #2 (MR) $4.99

MAY110440 REPULSE ONE SHOT (MR) $6.99

MAY110469 SPAWN NEW BEGINNINGS TP VOL 01 $14.99

MAY110479 TURF HC (MR) $39.99

MAY110534 WALKING DEAD #87 $2.99

MAY110538 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #29 (MR) $2.99

MAY110542 WITCH DOCTOR #2 (OF 4) $2.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for July 20 2011

COMICS

MAY111182 ABATTOIR #6 (OF 6) (MR) $3.50

MAY110912 AMORY WARS SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH 3 TP VOL 03 $14.99

MAY110824 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #7 $3.99

MAY110823 ARCHIES WEIRD MYSTERIES TP $9.95

MAY111122 ARISA GN VOL 03 $10.99

MAR111009 ART OF LADY DEATH SGN HC VOL 01 $49.99

APR101107 BIG ADVENTURES OF MAJOKO GN VOL 05 (OF 5) $7.99

MAY111272 BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 06 $11.99

FEB110730 BLEEDOUT HC (MR) $14.95

MAY110974 BOYS BUTCHER BAKER CANDLESTICKMAKER #1 $3.99

MAR110856 CYCLOPS #5 (MR) $3.95

MAY110944 DARKWING DUCK #14 $3.99

JAN111192 DF VENOM #1 REMENDER SGN ED $29.99

APR111016 DF WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #4 ADAMS BONUS (MR) $19.99

MAY110946 DISNEY TREASURY DONALD DUCK TP VOL 02 $14.99

MAY110851 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT LOTUS #1 (OF 3) CVR A NOME $2.99

MAY110852 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT LOTUS #1 (OF 3) CVR B FRANCISCO $2.99

MAY111125 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 14 $10.99

MAY110896 FEMALE FORCE MARTHA STEWART $3.99

FEB110733 FRAGGLE ROCK HC VOL 02 $19.95

APR110761 GOLD DIGGER PLATINUM TP VOL 02 $14.99

APR111267 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #61 A CVR YANG (MR) $2.99

APR111268 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #61 B CVR CACAU $2.99

MAY110842 HAUNTED CITY #0 CVR A RYAN $2.50

MAY110843 HAUNTED CITY #0 CVR B GUNNELL $2.50

MAY111044 KIM HARRISON HOLLOWS GN VOL 01 BLOOD WORK $23.00

APR111072 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #176 (NOTE PRICE) $5.99

APR111230 LA QUINTA CAMERA GN VOL 01 $12.99

MAY111277 LAON GN VOL 06 $11.99

APR110850 LOGANS RUN AFTERMATH #3 (RES) $3.99

MAY110929 MALIGNANT MAN #4 (OF 4) $3.99

MAY110899 MISADVENTURES OF ADAM WEST #1 $3.99

MAY111278 NABARI NO OU TP VOL 07 (MR) $11.99

JAN111312 NEPTUNE GN $14.00

MAY111127 NINJA GIRLS GN VOL 06 (MR) $10.99

APR110780 OLD CITY BLUES HC $14.95

APR111123 ONE SOUL HC GN $24.99

APR111236 OOKU INNER CHAMBERS GN VOL 06 (MR) $12.99

MAY111279 PANDORA HEARTS GN VOL 06 $11.99

JAN110930 POCKET GOD TP VOL 01 $14.95

MAY110902 RAIN #1 (MR) $3.99

APR110979 RED SONJA REVENGE O/T GODS #5 (OF 5) $3.99

MAY110909 SERGIO ARAGONES FUNNIES #1 $3.50

MAY111128 SHUGO CHARA GN VOL 11 $10.99

MAY110911 SIMPSONS COMICS #180 $2.99

MAY110834 SONIC UNIVERSE #30 $2.99

MAY111170 SONS OF LIBERTY GN VOL 02 $12.99

MAY111171 SONS OF LIBERTY HC VOL 02 $18.99

MAY110964 SPACE RACE CAMPFIRE GN $9.99

MAY110933 STAN LEE SOLDIER ZERO #10 $3.99

MAY111280 TIME AND AGAIN GN VOL 06 $11.99

APR111090 TINTIN YOUNG READERS ED GN CIGARS OF THE PHARAOH $8.99

MAR111053 WARLORD OF MARS #8 $3.99

MAR110823 ZEKE DEADWOOD ZOMBIE LAWMAN #2 HAMMER IN MY HAND $3.50

MAGAZINES
FEB111304 007 MAGAZINE ARCHIVE DR NO #1 $18.00
APR111288 COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1680 $5.99
MAR111405 DR WHO MAGAZINE #435 $8.99
FEB111301 HOBBY JAPAN MAY 2011 $24.25
MAY111309 JUXTAPOZ #127 AUG 2011 $5.99
MAR111441 SFX SPECIAL #50 ANIME $17.99

Leroy Douresseaux on SAMURAI’S BLOOD #2

SAMURAI’S BLOOD #2 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS/BENAROYA PUBLISHING

CREATORS: Michael Benaroya and Owen Wiseman
SCRIPT: Owen Wiseman
PENCILS: Nan Kim
INKS: Matthew Dalton
COLORS: Sakti Yuwono of Imaginary Friends Studios
LETTERS: John Aitken
COVER: Jo Chen (Variant cover by Nan Kim and Matthew Dalton with Jessica Kholinne)
28pp, Color, $2.99

Benaroya Publishing is a recently launched entertainment company that publishes comic books through Image Comics. Samurai’s Blood is a historical drama set in Japan from Benaroya Publishing.

Created by Michael Benaroya and Owen Wiseman, Samurai’s Blood is a six-issue miniseries that follows three young samurai from the destroyed Sanjo Clan. The trio follows an elaborate plan to get revenge on the men responsible for betraying their clan.

As Samurai’s Blood #2 begins, Jun cautions patience in their quest for revenge. Kajiro is mightily impatient, especially after Jun’s sister, his bethrothed, Mayuko is kidnapped. Jun and Kajiro takes on new identities, and they meet Horitomo, a sensei who trains Kajiro to be a better fighter.

One of the things that immediately stood out to me was how dense and layered the storytelling in this second issue of Samurai’s Blood was. Between the dialogue, captions, and philosophical exposition about the way of the samurai, this issue reads like a 56-page comic book instead of a 28-page one. Via his script and story, Owen Wiseman is determined to immerse his readers in this world, and if he fails, it won’t be for lack of information.

Artist Nam Kim is a good storyteller, and Matthew Dalton’s inking polishes some of the awkward aspects of Kim’s figure drawing. That aside, this composition and design capture the look of an authentic jidaigeki. I look forward to more.

B+

Tim Seeley to Write Dark Horse Comics' "The Occultist"

THE OCCULTIST ACQUIRES NEW POWER!

TIM SEELEY PENS MIKE RICHARDSON’S NEXT CLASSIC!

Dark Horse Comics is pleased to announce that Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) is bringing his rare mix of humor, horror, and heroes to the latest creation from company founder Mike Richardson!

The Occultist returns this fall, following its hugely successful one-shot released last year!

When a mysterious book of powerful spells binds itself to him, the fact that Rob’s life has been falling apart doesn’t seem like such a big deal. What do his girlfriend leaving him or his mountain of debt matter when mystics and demons are overrunning the town in search of the book—and him? To survive, Rob must learn to control the book’s unpredictable magic, while his life slips even further out of control . . .

Now, while harnessing his new powers as the Occultist, college student Rob Bailey must defend himself and those around him from a series of hired hit mages with unique magical abilities and a serpentine demon known as the Swordbreaker, all determined to kill him and to possess the powerful spell book known as the Sword!

Cover art by Steve Morris and variant cover art by Jenny Frison!

The Occultist is a comic you should be checking out . . . If you want more of a magically fun and yet grounded character tale then put your money in to support this.”—Comic Book Resources

On sale November 9, 2011!


About Dark Horse Comics
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, and comics legend Will Eisner, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of licensed comics material.

Leroy Douresseaux on Vertigo Crime's COWBOYS (OGN)

COWBOYS
DC COMICS/VERTIGO

WRITER: Gary Phillips
ARTIST: Brian Hurtt
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Lee Bermejo
ISBN: 978-1-4012-1534-7; hardcover
192pp, B&W, $19.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN

If my count is correct, Cowboys, by writer Gary Phillips and artist Brian Hurtt, is sixth (and the latest) Vertigo Crime graphic novel. Vertigo Crime is the banner under which Vertigo (a DC Comics imprint) publishes crime fiction in comics form.

Cowboys is set in a large, Los Angeles-like city and focuses on law dogs who work at the street level. First, there is Deke Kotto, an African-American(!) street cop with an eye for the ladies, a bad marriage, and a tragic event that changed his family. Then, there is the straight-laced Tim Brady, an FBI agent with a good marriage.

However, both serve demanding bosses. Captain Warren Tsong has his eye on being the next police chief, so he goads the versatile Deke, who can work both the gritty streets and the white collar suites, to deliver on big cases. Brady serves Special Agent-in-Charge Penmore, a racist fat ass who targets Muslims.

Tsong inserts Deke into the world of corporate espionage and white collar crime in order to snare Ian Scarpagio. Scarpagio runs Windscape Limited, a venture capital firm with some shady investors. If Deke, undercover as David Cates, can turn Scarpagio into a big arrest, Tsong believes his own big future is made.

Penmore has targeted Imam Aziz, whom he believes to be a radicalized American convert to Islam. Aziz is related to Mig Coles, a record mogul who may be using his Jamm Joint Records for dirty business. Penmore would love to bring down these two successful Black men, and sends Brady in undercover to infiltrate Mig’s empire as a Jewish wannabe player named Dan Roth.

Deke and Brady don’t know each other. So they don’t know that their separate assignments are actually connected. But is that connection tenuous or is it strong enough to strangle both men?

One could describe Cowboys as having an embarrassment of riches. There are too many characters, too many subplots, and too many settings. You can practically see artist Brian Hurtt’s (Hard Time, The Sixth Gun) struggles to squeeze all the elements visually and graphically into the story. It seems as if some of the panels are near bursting from story elements packed in so tightly. There is enough material here to create an ongoing Vertigo comic book series or AMC television crime series.

I’m not criticizing it, though. Cowboys, for all its crowded narrative, is a rock-solid page-turner. There aren’t many comic book writers who can offer both scenes of hardboiled crime action and moments of nuance and subtlety that tell a story within the main story, as Gary Phillips does. A good storyteller with a sturdy compositional sense, artist Brian Hurtt has the style and chops to dominate the crime comics genre.

Cowboys is simply a good read. It is a crime and character drama with lots of twists and turns, but best of all, it captures in a most surprising way the cynicism of our age. A justice system used as a personal fiefdom, innocent lives wrecked for naked ambition, and unabashed greed: one would think that Phillips and Hurtt were trying to write the great American novel. I’ll settle for a really good American graphic novel.

Fans of crime comics and Vertigo Crime must have Cowboys.

A-

Leroy Douresseaux on STAR WARS: INVASION - Revelations #1

STAR WARS: INVASION – REVELATIONS #1 (Series #12)
DARK HORSE BOOKS

[Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page.]

SCRIPT: Tom Taylor
ART: Colin Wilson
COLORS: Wes Dzioba
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Chris Scalf (alternate cover by Dave Dorman)
32pp, Color, $3.50

I remember Vector Prime, the 1999 Star Wars novel written by R.A. Salvatore that was the first installment of the New Jedi Order. In the Star Wars Expanded Universe, the New Jedi Order is an era that begins 25 years after the Battle of Yavin (or 25 BBY). This was the climatic battle in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope in which Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star. The novel also introduced an alien race, the Yuuzhan Vong, which I didn’t care for then, nor do I now. Anyway…

Star Wars: Invasion is a Star Wars comic book set in the New Jedi Order era. Star Wars: Invasion depicts the events of the Yuuzhan Vong War, in which an alien race from another galaxy, the Yuuzhan Vong, invades the Star Wars galaxy and wages war against the New Republic.

As Star Wars: Invasion – Revelations #1 begins, Luke Skywalker and a handful of Jedi battle the Yuuzhan Vong on Dantooine. Princess Kaye Galfridian and her mother, Nina, find themselves racing to the Empire’s territory, with refugees in tow. Meanwhile, Finn Galfridian, under the guidance of the mysterious Jedi Master Dray, infiltrates Coruscant to stop a plot against New Republic Chief of State Borsk Fey’Lya, but he discovers startling revelations about the leaders of the New Republic.

This first issue of Star Wars: Invasion – Revelations (which is the 12th in the Star Wars: Invasion series) directly depicts three storylines and indirectly a fourth. That’s quite a bit of material to follow, and I wasn’t really enjoying the issue… that is until I focused on one storyline.

Finn Galfridian’s story is interesting and gripping because it deals with so many engaging elements: his internal conflicts, his somewhat contentious relationship with Master Dray, and the Yuuzhan Vong plot against Borsk Fey’Lya, who isn’t that great a guy. Finn’s story has melodrama, soul-searching, intrigue, tension, and conflict – much of it played on the razor’s edge. This is the reason to buy into this storyline.

B+

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