Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 28 2011

IMAGE COMICS

APR110489 ARTIFACTS #10 (OF 13) CVR A SEJIC $3.99

APR110490 ARTIFACTS #10 (OF 13) CVR B CHRISTOPHER $3.99

MAR110517 ARTIFACTS #4 (OF 13) PORTACIO B&W EXC VAR CVR $10.00

FEB110492 ARTIFACTS VOL 01 SIGNED ED TP $19.99

JUL110511 AVENGELYNE #3 CVR A LIEFELD $2.99

JUL110512 AVENGELYNE #3 CVR B GIENI $2.99

MAY110442 BOMB QUEEN GANG BANG TP (MR) $14.99

JUL110514 BREED III #5 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

JUL110517 DAOMU #7 (MR) $2.99

FEB110498 DARKNESS COMPENDIUM EDITION TP NEW PTG $69.99

JUN110539 ELEPHANTMEN #35 (MR) $3.99

JUL110463 ELEPHANTMEN TP VOL 04 QUESTIONABLE THINGS (MR) $24.99

JUL110522 EPOCH #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

JUL110526 HACK SLASH #8 CVR A LEISTER & ROSENBERG (MR) $3.50

JUL110527 HACK SLASH #8 CVR B JONES (MR) $3.50

JUL110453 LOVESTRUCK GN (MR) $16.99

JAN110658 MAGDALENA #8 CVR A CHA $3.99

JAN110659 MAGDALENA #8 CVR B BLAKE II $3.99

DEC100514 MAGDALENA BLAKE II LITHO S/N $29.99

JUL110478 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 12 $14.99

JUL110500 UNDYING LOVE TP (MR) $14.99

JUL110553 WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #39 (MR) $2.99

APR110531 WITCHBLADE #148 $3.99

Comics and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for September 28 2011

COMICS

JUL111208 1 800 MICE HC (MR) $22.95

JUL110839 ARCHIE #625 $2.99

JUL110840 ARCHIE & FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #9 $3.99

JUL111143 ARISA GN VOL 04 $10.99

JUL110842 BETTY #194 $2.99

JUN111238 BLOOD ALONE GN VOL 04 $10.99

JUN110857 CASPER AND THE SPECTRALS 3 PACK $4.99

JUL111325 CHARMED #14 A CVR SEIDMAN (MR) $3.50

JUL111326 CHARMED #14 B CVR PHOTO (MR) $3.50

JUL111144 CODENAME SAILOR V TP VOL 01 $10.99

AUG110850 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #2 (OF 7) CALGARY (MR) $5.99

JUL111059 DAYBREAK HC (MR) $21.95

JUN111366 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP FASTEST PET ON EARTH $4.95

JUN111367 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP HEROES O/T HIGH SEAS $4.95

JUN111368 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP MIDWAY MONKEY MADNESS $4.95

JUN111369 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP POOCHES OF POWER $4.95

JUN111370 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP ROYAL RODENT RESCUE $4.95

JUN111371 DC SUPER-PETS YR TP SUPER HERO SPLASH DOWN $4.95

JUL111145 DELTORA QUEST GN VOL 02 $10.99

APR111019 DF DANGER GIRL AOD #3 EXC BLUE CVR $14.99

JUN111082 DF KIRBY GENESIS #3 ROSS VIRGIN CVR $10.00

JUN111089 DF TERMINATOR ROBOCOP #2 SIMONSON VIRGIN CVR $14.99

JUN111086 DF WARLORD OF MARS FALL OF BARSOOM #2 JUSKO RED CVR $14.99

APR111141 DPD DOKTORMENTOR JAIL BABE SURGEON #3 (OF 3) (MR) $9.95

MAR111192 EAGLE ORIGINAL ADVENTURES TP VOL 01 $16.95

MAY111194 EPIC CHRONICLES HAGAR THE HORRIBLE HC 1976-1977 $19.95

JUL110879 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT VIOLET #3 (OF 3) CVR A MHAN $3.50

JUN110830 FEEDING GROUND HC (MR) $24.95

JUN111289 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 26 $9.99

JUL110924 FUTURAMA COMICS #57 $2.99

AUG111145 GERONIMO STILTON HC VOL 08 PLAY IT AGAIN MOZART $9.99

AUG110806 GRAVE DOUG FRESHLEY GN $19.95

JUL110771 GROWING UP ENCHANTED TP VOL 02 $9.95

JUN111212 HABIBI GN (MR) $35.00

JUL111154 HOLY TERROR HC (MR) $29.99

JUN111291 HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES TP VOL 04 $12.99

JUL110938 INCORRUPTIBLE #22 $3.99

JUL110940 IRREDEEMABLE TP VOL 07 $16.99

JUN110951 JENNY FINN DOOM MESSIAH TP $14.99

FEB110966 KATO #13 $3.99

MAR111202 KINKY AND COSY HC (MR) $15.99

MAY110810 KUNG FU PANDA DIGEST GN VOL 01 KUNG FU CREW $6.95

AUG110941 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #5 REFLECTED CVR (MR) $9.99

AUG110942 LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #6 AUXILIARY (MR) $3.99

FEB110956 LAST PHANTOM #9 $3.99

APR110762 LAST ZOMBIE INFERNO #3 (OF 5) $3.99

JUN111097 LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES TP VOL 04 $14.99

JUL111175 MIJEONG GN (O/A) $19.95

JUL111147 NEGIMA GN VOL 31 (MR) $10.99

AUG110852 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD DEATH VALLEY #1 (OF 5) PHOENIX CVR (MR $5.99

JUL118057 POKEMON ZOROARK MASTER OF ILLUSIONS GN (PP #985) $7.99

JUL111061 PURE PAJAMAS HC (MR) $22.95

MAR111075 QUEEN SONJA #20 $3.99

JUL110774 RACHEL RISING #2 $3.99

MAR111085 ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #13 $3.99

JUL111176 RUN BONG GU RUN GN (O/A) $15.95

JUL111150 SAILOR MOON TP KODANSHA ED VOL 01 $10.99

JUN111229 SHAKARA THE AVENGER TP (S&S ED) $19.99

JUL111190 SIXTH GUN #15 $3.99

JUN111201 SPELL CHECKERS GN VOL 02 SONS OF PREACHER MAN $11.99

JUN110814 STEAMPUNK FAIRY TALES ONE SHOT $3.50

JUL110968 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #70 (MR) $2.95

JUL111033 TERMINATOR ROBOCOP KILL HUMAN #3 (OF 4) $3.99

MAY111138 THAT MAN FLINT #0 $1.99

JUN110985 THREE MEN IN A BOAT CAMPFIRE GN $9.99

JUN111344 VAMPIRE ART NOW HC $29.99

AUG110943 WAR GODDESS #0 AUXILIARY CVR $3.99

MAY110995 WARLORD OF MARS #10 $3.99

JUL111192 WASTELAND #31 (MR) $3.50

MAR110884 WULF #3 $2.99

JUL110986 XXXHOLIC GN VOL 17 $10.99

MAGAZINES
MAR111433 007 MAGAZINE ARCHIVE CASINO ROYALE QUANTUM SOLACE $17.00
JUN111224 2000 AD PACK AUG 2011 $25.00
JUL111408 CINEFEX #127 OCT 2011 $12.50
JUN111358 COMIC HEROES MAGAZINE #8 $18.99
AUG111428 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL #51 $14.95
JUN111375 DR WHO MAGAZINE #438 $8.99
MAY111348 FANGORIA #307 OCT 2011 $9.99
JUN111225 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #314 $11.99
JUL111213 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #315 $11.99
JUL111420 LOCUS #608 $6.95
APR111337 MEGAMI #63 JULY 2011 $20.60
APR111338 NEWTYPE #50 JULY 2011 $16.00
JUL111340 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 22 #5 $5.99
MAY111352 SCREAM MAGAZINE #6 $8.99
JUN111403 SFX #213 $10.99
AUG111433 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL #53 $14.95
JUL111426 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #37 NEWSSTAND ED $6.99
JUL111427 STAR TREK MAGAZINE #37 PX ED $6.99

The New 52 Review: WONDER WOMAN #1

WONDER WOMAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Brian Azzarello
ARTIST: Cliff Chiang
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Cliff Chiang
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Created by William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman is perhaps the best known female superhero. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (cover date December 1941). Wonder Woman is a Princess of the Amazons (based upon the Amazons of Greek mythology) from Paradise Island, now known as Themyscira. Her powers include flight and super-strength, -speed, -stamina, and -agility, as well as being highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat.

With the exception of most of 1986, Wonder Woman has continuously appeared in her own comic book series for seven decades. As part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, Wonder Woman returns in a new comic book series. Wonder Woman #1 (“The Visitation”) finds a young woman named Zola under assault by creatures from Greek mythology. Hermes sends her to Wonder Woman (she prefers “Diana’) for help, but Zola’s problems are bigger than anyone (on Earth) imagines.

The word here is “efficiency,” which results in one of the best of “The New 52.” As of this writing, I’d put it in the top three. Brian Azzarello’s story is smooth in its intensity with a script that moves the action through different locales as it brings together several characters and subplots into one might conspiracy.

It’s the same with the art by Cliff Chiang. The art captures the intensity of the story and its fast pace, but with solid composition and storytelling that belies the story’s anxious pace. Chiang’s Wonder Woman is a slim, athletic dynamo, and his figure drawing will make you believe that an Amazon is a real thing.

Wonder Woman is a comic book I want to read again.

A

The New 52 Review: BATMAN #1

BATMAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORIST: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
COVER: Greg Capullo
32pp, Color, $2.99

After Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 (cover date May 1939), he debuted in his own self-titled comic book, Batman (cover date May 1940). The series began as a quarterly and became a monthly sometime around the end of the 1950s. Batman the ongoing series ran for 713 issues.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” we get a new Batman #1 (“Knife Trick”) from prose writer turned comic book scribe, Scott Snyder, and former star-to-be artist, Greg Capullo. The issue begins with bang as Batman quells a riot at Arkham Asylum with help from a surprising partner.

Then, it’s time to play civilian as Bruce Wayne and three of the four Robins: Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne attend a posh soiree. Headlined by Wayne, this gathering is about the future of Gotham City, but crime does not sleep as a mysterious and deadly figure makes his point.

Batman #1 strains to be a great first issue. Writer Scott Snyder seems to be trying too hard to convince readers that his new Batman is going to be a big deal, so his performance as a writer ends up being like an over-anxious young star athlete who won’t relax and “let the game come to him.” Even the riot at Arkham is mostly style and filler, but just misses being killer. The murder sequence at the end of this first issue is just a rehash of various scenes from the film, Se7en. Talent borrows, eh?

It’s much the same for Greg Capullo’s debut as artist. His compositions show the influences of manga, anime, Matt Wagner, Frank Miller, and while some panels and even a few pages are really nice, a lot of it seems like Capullo is trying too hard. Plus, inker Jonathan Glapion just makes it worse; maybe it will take a few issues for Capullo and Glapion to gel as a team.

This book and its primary creators show potential, but I have a feeling that “can they deliver?” is a question that will be asked for quite awhile.

B

VIZ Media to Release "Psyren"

NEW VIZ MEDIA MANGA SERIES PSYREN TAKES READERS TO AN ALTERNATE DIMENSION WHERE YOU’VE GOT TO FIGHT TO GET BACK HOME… OR DIE TRYING

A Teenager And His Friends Embark On A Dangerous Adventure To Alter The Future And Save The World

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the debut of the riveting action manga (graphic novel) series – PSYREN – on October 4th. The new series, by Toshiaki Iwashiro, will be published under the company’s SHONEN JUMP imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. PSYREN is also currently featured in VIZ Media’s monthly SHONEN JUMP magazine.

"Save me!" Those were Sakurako Amamiya's last words to her friend Ageha Yoshina before she mysteriously went missing. Now Ageha's on a quest to find her. He's convinced that the mythical Psyren Secret Society has something to do with the recent rash of disappearances. And now he seems to be caught up as a player in their very deadly game...

“Ageha Yoshina embarks on a dangerous adventure in this action-packed new series where he attempts to alter the future and save the world,” says Joel Enos, Editor. “Readers will be transported to Psyren, a stark wasteland inhabited by insect-like monsters, where Yoshina and his friends must complete missions assigned by the mysterious Nemesis Q if they ever hope to return home. PSYREN is a bestseller in Japan, where it also spawned a pair of popular novels. Don’t miss the new manga release coming in October!”

Manga creator Toshiaki Iwashiro was born in 1977, in Tokyo, and his debut manga series was the popular Mieru Hito (Divine Eye), which ran from 2005 to 2007 in Japan in Weekly Shonen Jump, where PSYREN was also currently serialized.

For more information on PSYREN, or others titles from VIZ Media, please visit ShonenJump.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at http://www.viz.com/

The New 52 Review: RESURRECTION MAN #1

RESURRECTION MAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITERS: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
ART; Fernando Dagnino
COLORS: Santi Arcas
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis

Resurrection Man is a DC Comics superhero created by Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett and Jackson Guice. The character had a comic book series that ran for 27 issues from 1997 to 1999. Resurrection Man is attorney Mitchell “Mitch” Shelley, who became the unwilling test subject in a nanotechnology experiment. The result rendered him immortal in an unusual way. Mitchell could still be killed, but the death would last only a few seconds or a few minutes. Then, Mitchell would be reborn with a superpower influenced by the way he was last killed.

The character returns in Resurrection Man #1, part of DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comics line, “The New 52.” As the story (entitled “Pronounced Dead”) opens, Mitch has just come back to life, tasting everything metal in the morgue. Then, he’s off to Portland, Oregon on a flight where he meets Sue, who is not what she appears to be. Who are the Phantoms of the Afterlife, and why is Mitch’s soul so attractive to every entity from above and from below?

I remember Resurrection Man; I remember ignoring it. Now, the more I read about it the more it sounds like a really interesting concept, so I might go back-issue hunting. Meanwhile, this first issue of the new series is a very nice read. It seems more like a Vertigo title than a mainline DC Comics title, but DC’s superhero line really needs a horror comics side, so this will do.

I’m not familiar with the work of writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, but if first impressions are important, I’m impressed. Of course, artist Fernando Dagnino, whose style does much to make this look like a Vertigo comic book, contributes dark compositions which create the dark fantasy vibe that Resurrection Man #1 does so well.

B+

September 14th
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-and-robin-1.html
BATWOMAN #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwoman-1.html
DEMON KNIGHTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/demon-knights-1.html
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/frankenstein-agent-of-shade-1.html
GREEN LANTERN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-lantern-1.html
LEGION LOST #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/legion-lost-1.html
MISTER TERRIFIC #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/mister-terrific-1.html
RED LANTERNS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-lanterns-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html

The New 52 Review: MISTER TERRIFIC #1

MISTER TERRIFIC #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Eric Wallace
PENCILS: Gianluca Gugliotta
INKS: Wayne Faucher
COLORS: Mike Atiyeh
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: J.G. Jones with Lovern Kindzierski
32pp, Color, $2.99

Mister Terrific was a Golden Age comic book character that first appeared in Sensation Comics #1 (cover date January 1942). Created by Charles Resizenstein and Hal Sharpe, he was a superhero who mastered martial arts, had a photographic memory, and was an Olympic-level athlete, as well as being a self-made millionaire.

In Spectre #54 (Vol. 3, cover dated June 1997), a young African-American male character, Michael Holt, who has a talent for learning, became the new Mister Terrific. Holt has an Olympic gold medal, owns Holt Industries, and is the third smartest man on the planet.

Mister Terrific #1 (“Software Update”) opens to find the titular character in London, England taking on a rival tech CEO and his biomechanical battle armor. After some internal exposition gives us some background on Mr. Terrific, strange things begin to happen. An ordinary guy gains the intelligence of someone extraordinary. Why is this happening and to whom will it happen next?

I see Mister Terrific as a blend of elements from Batman, Blue Beetle, and Iron Man, which all began as comics about rich playboy-types who became costumed adventurers and then superheroes. A more recent comparison is Hardware of Milestone Media, a smart black guy superhero, and I’d say that reading this first issue of Mister Terrific reminds me of reading a Milestone comic book.

Mister Terrific may go the way of Milestone Comics. One of the stores where I occasionally shop still had several copies (although I don’t know what they began with), and this first issue is NOT of such overwhelming high-quality that readers will be demanding that it stick around, as they would for a more high profile title. Mister Terrific is not at all bad; it’s just a little above average, which can be lethal for a comic book in a tight economy. The ending is interesting enough to make me come back, though, and I am curious to see where writer Eric Wallace takes this series.

B

September 14th
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-and-robin-1.html
BATWOMAN #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwoman-1.html
DEMON KNIGHTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/demon-knights-1.html
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/frankenstein-agent-of-shade-1.html
GREEN LANTERN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-lantern-1.html
LEGION LOST #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/legion-lost-1.html
RED LANTERNS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-lanterns-1.html
SUPERBOY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/superboy-1.html