20th Century Boys: Humanity in the Balance

I read Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys, Vol. 20

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Voltron Force: Meet the Cadets

I read Voltron Force, Vol. 1: Shelter from the Storm

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

I Reads You Review: KULL: THE CAT AND THE SKULL #4

KULL: THE CAT AND THE SKULL #4
DARK HORSE COMICS

WRITER: David Lapham
ART: Gabriel Guzman
COLORS: Garry Henderson
LETTERS: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
COVER: Jo Chen
28pp, Colors, $3.50 U.S.

Kull the Conqueror (also known as Kull of Atlantis) is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard (who also created Conan the Barbarian). Marvel Comics published the first comic book adaptations of the character in 1971. Now, Dark Horse Comics has the license to published Kull comic books.

The publisher’s latest Kull comic book miniseries is Kull: The Cat and the Skull. This story is an adaptation of a Kull short story first published in 1967, “Delcardes’ Cat” (also known as “The Cat and the Skull”). The series revolves around Kull’s encounter with Delcardes, one of the most beautiful women in the Seven Kingdoms, and an even more interesting creature, Delcardes’ traveling companion, the cat named Saremes. Because it is rumored that Saremes is of the old race, Kull is anxious to hear her counsel, as he takes on a serpent cult that is rallying under a powerful and mysterious wizard.

As Kull: The Cat and the Skull #4 begins, Kull’s trusted ally, Brule, returns to the palace, as Queen Igraine lies stricken. Meanwhile, the great serpent carries Kull to the world beneath the Forbidden Lake, where he encounters an ancient people enraged at his trespass. However, it is here where Conan will learn more about the fortune-seeing cat. Also, the identity of his true enemy is revealed.

I did not read the first three issues of this miniseries. I had forgotten about its existence until Dark Horse Comics was nice enough to send me a box of comics and books for review, and Kull: The Cat and the Skull #4 was among the books. First, I must say that the art by Gabriel Guzman and Garry Henderson (colors) is quiet pretty. It has an old timey feel that recalls Burne Hogarth’s Tarzan comic strip and Alex Raymond’s work on Flash Gordon. Thus, Guzman and Henderson’s work looks as if it belongs to the era when the Robert Howard short story, upon which this comic book is based, was written. [“Delcardes’ Cat” was first published three decades after Howard’s death.]

As for the script for this issue, it offers what amounts to at least two issues worth of story, yet there is no tension and little sense of conflict. Writer David Lapham presents every confrontation here as a chance for conversation. Seriously, everyone talks, threatens, begs, or makes grand proclamations. It’s so odd… and a little boring, and that’s a shame. There are imaginative scenarios and scenes here and some interesting soap-operatic subplots, but it all sort of dribbles away to anticlimax.

C+

Tenjo Tenge: Masataka Rising

I read Tenjo Tenge, Vol. 6 (Full Contact Edition)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Review: STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI – Force Storm #1

STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI – FORCE STORM #1 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.] 

STORY: John Ostrander and Jan Duursema
SCRIPT: John Ostrander
PENCILS: Jan Duursema
INKS: Dan Parsons
COLORS: Wes Dzioba
LETTERS: Michael Heisler
COVER: Gonzalo Flores - variant (Jan Duursema – main cover)
36pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

In the Star Wars Expanded Universe timeline, there is a period known as “Before the Republic.” This era occurs from 36,000 to 25,000 years before the Battle of Yavin, the climatic battle in the 1977 film, Star Wars, in which Luke Skywalker destroys the Death Star. Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi is a new series of comic book miniseries situated in the “Before the Republic” age.

The first miniseries is Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Force Storm. It takes place a few centuries before that time, 36,453 before the Battle of Yavin (also known by the acronym, BBY). The series takes readers back to the beginnings of the Jedi, then known as the Je’daii. On the planet Tython, in the center of the galaxy, these Je’daii (a word in the Bendu language that means “mystic center”) form an order of warrior monks that strives to maintain peace and to balance the mysterious power known as the Force.

In Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Force Storm #1, Je’daii Master Ketu recounts the birth of the order to two of his students. This includes the first great conflict in which the Je’daii must take an active role, The Despot War (a conflict that takes place 12-years before Ketu tells the story). Meanwhile, on the lush world of Tatooine, Predor Tul’Kar of the Infinite Empire culls Force sensitives with the help of his Force Hound, Xesh.

I was surprised when Dark Horse Comics sent me a copy of Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Force Storm #1. It must be obvious to them (and even some of you, dear readers) that I enjoy reading Star Wars comic books. I certainly enjoyed reading the Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Force Storm comic book.

The first 11 pages of issue #1 recount the beginnings of what would become the Jedi Order (thus, the term, “Dawn” in the title). I expected a different story. To me, at least, it lacks grandeur, as if this was something Stan Lee and Steve Ditko cobbled together for Strange Tales back in the 1960s. The story that is set in the present (Infinite Empire) is more interesting, and the character, Xesh, seems like a budding star.

The art by Jan Duursema is good, looking as right for Star Wars as any other comic book art. The storytelling is good, though a bit calm for Star Wars, but the Ostrander-Duursema team is a good one for Star Wars comic books.

[This comic book also includes a 4-page preview of Conan the Barbarian #1 by Brian Wood, Becky Cloonan, Dave Stewart, and Richard Starkings & Comicraft, with cover art by Massimo Carnevale.]

Dorohedoro: The En of History

I read Dorohedoro, Vol. 6

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 18 2012

DC COMICS

JAN120392 AME COMI RAVEN ANGEL OF AZARATH VAR PVC FIG (RES) $70.00

JAN120393 AME COMI RAVEN DEMON DAUGHTER VAR PVC FIGURE (RES) $70.00

FEB128152 BATMAN #6 2ND PTG $2.99

FEB120186 BATMAN #8 $3.99

FEB120189 BATMAN #8 COMBO PACK $4.99

FEB120237 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #3 $3.99

FEB120239 BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #7 (OF 7) $3.99

FEB128153 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #5 2ND PTG $2.99

JAN120305 BATMAN VENOM TP NEW EDITION $14.99

FEB120197 BIRDS OF PREY #8 $2.99

FEB120257 BLACKEST NIGHT SPECIAL EDITION #1 $4.99

FEB120233 BLUE BEETLE #8 $2.99

FEB120172 CAPTAIN ATOM #8 $2.99

FEB120202 CATWOMAN #8 $2.99

JAN120331 CINDERELLA FABLES ARE FOREVER TP (MR) $14.99

FEB120175 DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #8 $2.99

FEB120287 DOMINIQUE LAVEAU VOODOO CHILD #2 (MR) $2.99

FEB120284 FABLES #116 (MR) $2.99

FEB120208 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #8 $2.99

FEB120292 HELLBLAZER #290 (MR) $2.99

FEB120160 JUSTICE LEAGUE #8 $3.99

FEB120163 JUSTICE LEAGUE #8 COMBO PACK $4.99

FEB120236 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #8 $2.99

DEC110292 NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $75.00

FEB120203 NIGHTWING #8 $2.99

FEB120201 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #8 $2.99

DEC110314 SHOOTERS HC (MR) $22.99

JAN120315 SHOWCASE PRESENTS ALL STAR SQUADRON TP VOL 01 $19.99

FEB128151 SUICIDE SQUAD #7 2ND PTG $2.99

FEB120185 SUPERGIRL #8 $2.99

FEB120242 THUNDER AGENTS VOL 2 #6 (OF 6) (NOTE PRICE) $3.99

FEB120167 WONDER WOMAN #8 $2.99

FEB120277 YOUNG JUSTICE #15 $2.99