Kekkaishi: Zero

I read Kekkaishi, Vol. 27 and posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

Leroy Douresseaux on BALTIMORE: THE CURSE BELLS #1

BALTIMORE: THE CURSE BELLS #1 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden
ART: Ben Stenbeck
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart (Variant cover by Francesco Francavilla)
32pp, Color, $3.50

Baltimore, or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire is a 2007 illustrated novel from Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and novelist Christopher Golden. Baltimore: The Curse Bells is the second comic book miniseries adapted from the novel.

The novel follows Captain Lord Henry Baltimore, an American military commander during World War I. After a ferocious battle, Baltimore discovers giant bat creatures feeding on his dead men. Baltimore slashes one, which in turn grievously wounds him, causing Baltimore to lose his leg. Baltimore has unknowingly wounded a great vampire, Haigus, who unleashes a vampire plague across Europe and goes after Baltimore’s family.

As Baltimore: The Curse Bells #1 begins, it is October 1916. Monsters are overrunning Europe, and Baltimore is the only one who can put an end to these horrors by finding and killing Haigus, the vampire responsible for this chaos. Baltimore is in Lucerne, Switzerland tracking Haigus, but all he finds is carnage and the monstrous and demonic creations the vampire has left in his wake. Baltimore tracks Haigus to Bludeschtag, Austria, the home of a strange convent and its silent bells.

When I first heard of Baltimore the novel a few years ago, I dismissed it as not worth my time. I still haven’t read it, so maybe it isn’t worth my precious time. The comic book, on the other hand, is worth my attention. I really enjoyed this. As I read Baltimore: The Curse Bells, I thought of Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley and Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker because I was reminded of the thoughts and feelings I had while reading both those books.

I am familiar with Mignola, and I have been a fan of his work for over two decades. I’m not that familiar with Christopher Golden, but like his work. In this case, both creators deliver. The biggest surprise for me is Ben Stenbeck, whose art reminds me of Joe Matt’s. Stenbeck’s cartoony alt-comix style works quite well for this series because he can draw fantastic creatures and settings. His compositions are solid and the storytelling hits all the right notes for the fright fest that is this series.

A-

FINDER: Target in the Viewfinder and Fixer

I read Finder Volume1: Target in the View Finder (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Leroy Douresseaux on B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: Monsters #2

B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: MONSTERS #2 OF 2 (Series #81)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
ART: Tyler Crook
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Ryan Sook with Dave Stewart
32pp, Color, $3.50

B.P.R.D. is a long-running comic book series starring the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD). This is the organization that fights the occult, paranormal, and supernatural in the world of Hellboy, the long-running comic book series and related books created by Mike Mignola. Each story arc is presented as a miniseries, with the latest being B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, a two-issue storyline.

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Monsters #2 finds Liz Sherman (Hellboy’s #1 female) ensconced in a weird trailer park full of hillbilly cult fanatics. Dumb as they are, the denizens of the trailer park have managed to make escape difficult for Liz. However, she has only two of the rednecks who aren’t cultists to help her.

My first reading experiences with a B.P.R.D. comic book turned out to be good ones. A trailer park full of black magic cultists is such a good idea, it’s a wonder it hasn’t appeared in film. Hell on Earth: Monsters offers art by promising newcomer Tyler Crook, an added bonus to the weirdness writers Mike Mignola and John Arcudi weave. Crook turns out to be just right for this story. I have to say it: Hell on Earth: Monsters is a hella good read.

A-

Dark Horse Announces Sell-Out of New "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Comic

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER—THE LOST ADVENTURES SELLS OUT!

August 9, MILWAUKIE, OR—In an amazing show of demand for Dark Horse comics, Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Lost Adventures has completely sold out of its entire first printing.

For three years, millions of eager fans tuned in to watch new episodes of Nickelodeon’s hit animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Ever since, fans have been hungry for more—and now their wait is finally over.

This volume collects the long-out-of-print, fan-favorite comics previously published in Nickelodeon Magazine and with the Airbender DVDs, over seventy brand-new comics pages, and bonus content. That’s twenty-six stories set in Airbender continuity, by a host of top-notch talent, many of whom worked on the original animated series.

Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Lost Adventures is a must-have for any Airbender fan! This is the latest release in an ongoing partnership between Nickelodeon and Dark Horse to bring you the very best in Airbender books.

While a second printing is in the works, hurry now to your local comics retailer and grab a copy from the first print run before they’re gone for good!


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.

Maoh Juvenile Remix: Grasshopper Action Meeting

I read Maoh: Juvenile Remix, Vol. 6

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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 10 2011

DC COMICS

JUN110328 ALL NEW BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #10 $2.99

JUN110341 AMERICAN VAMPIRE SURVIVAL OT FITTEST #3 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99

JUN110232 BATGIRL #24 $2.99

JUN110223 BATMAN 80 PAGE GIANT 2011 #1 $5.99

JUN110225 BATMAN AND ROBIN #26 $2.99

OCT100345 BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE STATUE DUSTIN NGUYEN $80.00

MAY110242 BATMAN IMPOSTORS TP $14.99

JUN110236 BIRDS OF PREY #15 $2.99

JUN110181 BOOSTER GOLD #47 (FLASHPOINT) $2.99

DEC100329 COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU HAWKGIRL STATUE $99.99

MAY110284 DARK RAIN A NEW ORLEANS STORY SC (MR) $19.99

JUN110214 DC RETROACTIVE GREEN LANTERN THE 80S #1 $4.99

JUN110206 DC RETROACTIVE JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA THE 80S #1 $4.99

JUN110210 DC RETROACTIVE SUPERMAN THE 80S #1 $4.99

JUN110224 DETECTIVE COMICS #881 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99

JUN110250 DOC SAVAGE #17 $2.99

JUN110189 FLASHPOINT CITIZEN COLD #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110191 FLASHPOINT DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110186 FLASHPOINT EMPEROR AQUAMAN #3 (OF 3) $2.99

JUN110188 FLASHPOINT FRANKENSTEIN CREATURES OF UNKNOWN #3 (OF 3) $2.99

APR110204 GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS HC VOL 01 $22.99

MAY110295 MADAME XANADU TP VOL 04 EXTRA SENSORY (MR) $17.99

JUN110234 RED ROBIN #26 $2.99

APR110199 SHOWCASE PRESENTS TRIAL OF THE FLASH TP $19.99

JUN110249 SPIRIT #17 $2.99

NOV100288 SUPERMAN FAMILY MULTI PART STATUE PART 1 $195.00

JUN110257 TEEN TITANS #99 $2.99

JUN110256 THUNDER AGENTS #10 $2.99

JUN110360 UNWRITTEN #28 (MR) $2.99

JUN110357 VERTIGO RESURRECTED JONNY DOUBLE #1 (MR) $7.99

JUN110168 WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS AFTERMATH #2 (OF 2) $3.99