Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 18 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
AUG130956 8BIT ZOMBIES ONE SHOT [DIG] $3.99
SEP131277 ACG CLASSICS COLLECTORS PACK $124.99
OCT130970 ADVENTURE TIME #23 MAIN CVRS $3.99
OCT131394 ARE YOU ALICE GN VOL 03 $11.99
SEP138339 ASH & THE ARMY OF DARKNESS #1 2ND PTG VAR $3.99
AUG131403 ASTERIX AND THE PICTS HC $14.95
OCT131314 AWKWARD SILENCE GN VOL 04 (MR) $12.99
OCT131358 BLOODSHOT & HARD CORPS #17 REG ROSSMO $3.99
OCT131395 BLOODY CROSS GN VOL 01 $11.99
JUL131213 BOY AND A GIRL GN $19.99
OCT130986 BRAVEST WARRIORS #15 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
JUN131172 BUCK ROGERS IN 25TH CENT GRAY MORROW YEARS VOL 01 1979-81 $49.99
AUG131137 CLIVE BARKER NEXT TESTAMENT #6 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
OCT131078 CODENAME ACTION #4 $3.99
JUN138036 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 05 1959-1960 (NEW PTG) $29.99
OCT131281 CON JOB GN $5.99
OCT130927 CROSSED BADLANDS #43 (MR) $3.99
OCT130929 CROSSED BADLANDS #43 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT130928 CROSSED BADLANDS #43 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT131396 DARK HUNTERS INFINITY TP VOL 02 $13.00
SEP131287 DEAN KOONTZ IN ODD WE TRUST TP SIGNED BOOKPLATE ED $10.95
AUG131238 DEJAH THORIS & GREEN MEN OF MARS #9 (MR) $3.99
OCT131303 DEPARTMENT OF MONSTEROLOGY #3 $3.99
OCT131375 DEVIL & HER LOVE SONG GN VOL 12 $9.99
MAY131098 DF SATELLITE SAM #1 MIDTOWN EXC $16.99
MAR131118 DF WARLORD OF MARS #30 RISQUE CVR $18.99
SEP131286 DIANA GABALDON OUTLANDER GN SIGNED BOOKPLATE ED $25.00
SEP131271 DISNEY FAIRIES GN VOL 13 PIXIE HOLLOW GAMES $7.99
SEP131272 DISNEY FAIRIES HC VOL 13 PIXIE HOLLOW GAMES $11.99
OCT131379 DOROHEDORO GN VOL 11 (MR) $12.99
OCT131353 ETERNAL WARRIOR #4 REG LAROSA $3.99
OCT131111 EVIL ERNIE TP VOL 01 ORIGIN OF EVIL $19.99
AUG131058 EXTINCTION PARADE #4 (MR) $3.99
AUG131060 EXTINCTION PARADE #4 END OF SPECIES CVR (MR) $3.99
AUG131059 EXTINCTION PARADE #4 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
SEP131233 FAIRY TALES OF OSCAR WILDE GN VOL 02 $9.99
JUL131064 GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS TP VOL 08 (MR) $16.99
OCT131439 GFT WONDERLAND TP VOL 03 $15.99
OCT131427 GFT WONDERLAND TTLG #4 A CVR LILLY (MR) $3.99
OCT131428 GFT WONDERLAND TTLG #4 B CVR NUNES (MR) $3.99
OCT131429 GFT WONDERLAND TTLG #4 C CVR MALSUNI (MR) $3.99
OCT131062 GRIMM #8 $3.99
APR131209 HARVEY HORRORS COLL WORKS BLACK CAT MYSTERY HC VOL 02 $47.99
OCT130845 HAWKEN MELEE #2 [DIG] $3.99
OCT131007 HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #11 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
OCT131397 HIGH SCHOOL O/T DEAD COLOR OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 (MR) $49.99
OCT131000 HIT #4 [DIG] $3.99
OCT130998 IMAGINE AGENTS #3 [DIG] $3.99
JUL131237 INFOMANIACS HC (MR) $22.95
OCT131370 ITSUWARIBITO GN VOL 10 $9.99
OCT131123 JENNIFER BLOOD FIRST BLOOD TP (MR) $19.99
OCT130952 KNIGHTINGAIL SHADOW DIVISIONS #6 $3.99
AUG131228 LADY RAWHIDE #3 $3.99
SEP131041 LARGO WINCH GN VOL 08 SHADOW $11.95
SEP138118 LEGENDS OF RED SONJA #1 REORDER ED $3.99
SEP138119 MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #7 REORDER ED $3.99
SEP131091 MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #8 $3.99
OCT131398 MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA GN VOL 17 $13.00
OCT130966 MIDAS FLESH #1 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
OCT131392 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM ORIGIN HC VOL 04 JABURO $29.95
OCT131231 NO 6 GN VOL 04 $10.99
OCT131366 NURA RISE O/T YOKAI CLAN GN VOL 18 $9.99
OCT131400 PANDORA HEARTS GN VOL 19 $11.99
OCT130983 PEANUTS VOL 2 #14 [DIG] $3.99
SEP131414 PUELLA MAGI KAZUMI MAGICA GN VOL 03 INNOCENT MALICE $11.99
OCT131362 REAL GN VOL 02 $12.99
OCT131045 RED SONJA #6 FRISON CVR $3.99
OCT131046 RED SONJA #6 THOMPSON CVR $3.99
OCT131030 RED TEN #5 (MR) $3.99
OCT130955 REX ZOMBIE KILLER #2 $3.50
JUL131248 ROY THOMAS PRESENTS CLASSIC PHANTOM LADY TP BOXED SET $79.99
SEP131049 SCAM #4 FINALE (MR) $3.99
OCT130958 SERGIO ARAGONES FUNNIES #11 $3.50
JUL130892 SERUSIS #4 $3.50
OCT130959 SIMPSONS COMICS #207 $2.99
SEP131293 SLAINE BOOK OF SCARS 30TH ANNIVERSARY HC (MR) $31.99
AUG130976 STEAM ENGINES OF OZ VOL 2 #1 GEARED LEVIATHAN [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT131393 SUMMER WARS GN PART 02 $14.95
JUL131373 SUNSHINE SKETCH TP VOL 07 $17.00
JUL131066 THE SPIDER #16 $3.99
OCT131367 TORIKO GN VOL 19 $9.99
OCT130890 TRISH OUT OF WATER #3 ASPEN RESERVED CVR $3.99
OCT130889 TRISH OUT OF WATER #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR [DIG] $3.99
OCT131402 UNTIL DEATH DO US PART GN VOL 05 $18.99
SEP131375 VALIANT MASTERS RAI HC VOL 01 $24.99
OCT131114 VAMPIRELLA #37 NEVES CVR $3.99
OCT131115 VAMPIRELLA #37 PARRILLO CVR $3.99
SEP131135 VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES HC VOL 08 (MR) $49.99
SEP130858 VERY ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS #5 [DIG] $3.99
OCT131058 VOLTRON TP VOL 02 TEN LIONS $19.99
APR131054 WARLORD OF MARS #31 (MR) $3.99
AUG131256 WARRIORS JAILBREAK TP $16.99
OCT131261 WASTELAND #51 (MR) $3.99
OCT130960 WONDERFUL WORLD OF LISA SIMPSON #1 $3.99
SEP130896 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #34 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT131345 X-O MANOWAR #20 REG ANDRASOFSZKY $3.99

MAGAZINES
OCT131524 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1383 PI
JUL131479 DIABOLIQUE #18 $9.98
SEP131544 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #467 $15.99
SEP131291 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #342 $12.25
OCT131518 JUXTAPOZ #156 JAN 2014 $5.99
JUL131492 MEGAMI OCT 2013 $16.60
JUL131493 NEWTYPE OCT 2013 $16.00
AUG131717 RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #140 $9.95
AUG131725 SUPERNATURAL MAGAZINE SOUVENIR SPECIAL 2014 $14.99
OCT131323 WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED #45 (MR) $7.00

BOOKS
OCT131107 ART OF DEJAH THORIS & THE WORLDS OF MARS HC (MR) $39.99
AUG131639 ASLAN PIN UP SC BOOK 01 NEW PTG (MR) $49.99
AUG131640 ASLAN PIN UP SC BOOK 02 NEW PTG (MR) $49.99
AUG131638 ASLAN PIN UP SC BOOK 03 (MR) $49.99
OCT131499 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 71 $14.95
OCT131480 DREARY & NAUGHTY ILLUS HC #2 FRIDAY 13TH OF FEBRUARY $14.99
AUG131720 GOTHIC & LOLITA BIBLE #48 $35.00
SEP131495 GUILLERMO DEL TORO CABINET OF CURIOSITIES LTD ED $750.00
OCT131500 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 79 $14.95
OCT131403 SPICE AND WOLF NOVEL VOL 10 (MR) $12.00
OCT131501 STAR TREK STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY STARFLEET LIBRARY DLX HC $79.99
SEP131289 SUPERGODS HC GRANT MORRISON SGN BOOKPLATE ED $28.00
SEP132372 WARHAMMER BANE OF MALEKITH HC $24.99

"Batman #25" Wins November 2013

Batman Tops Comic Book Sales Charts for November

DC Entertainment Continues Successful 2013

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Super Heroes dominated the November comic book sales charts, with DC Entertainment taking four of the month’s top five spots. Landing at #1 and #2 respectively were BATMAN #25 — the continuation of bestselling writer Scott Snyder and superstar artist Greg Capullo’s reimagining of Batman’s early days — and HARLEY QUINN #0, the debut issue of a new comic book series featuring the bombastic Batman femme fatale from co-writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti. Also on the list were SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #4 — by Snyder with cinematic art by DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee — and the villain-centric FOREVER EVIL #3 by megastar writer and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and popular artist David Finch, which took the #3 and #4 positions, respectively, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in the world.

The November numbers continued to cement 2013 as a success for DC Entertainment, a period that saw the company bring the world’s greatest Super Heroes to fans across the globe on all entertainment platforms and top the comic book sales charts eight of the last 12 months.

“We’ve had a banner year at DC Entertainment, where we experienced record-breaking sales, published compelling and captivating stories and continued to bring innovation to the comics industry featuring some of pop culture’s most beloved characters, including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment President. “We also continued to bring the best and brightest creators into the fold to work on our beloved characters and re-energized the market with a wave of new concepts from our DC Comics and Vertigo imprints.”

The year was also punctuated by an unprecedented array of in-development TV shows - including The CW’s successful drama ARROW, the launch of the entertainment web-series DC ALL ACCESS – which brought fans behind the curtain into the world of DC Entertainment - and the historic return of The Sandman with THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE. And with the close of the year comes the end of a year-long celebration of the world’s first Super Hero, Superman, as the company spent 2013 celebrating the character’s historic 75th anniversary, which was capped off with the announcement of a new theatrical release that will see SUPERMAN and BATMAN together for the first time on the big screen – both of whom will be joined by WONDER WOMAN, making her motion picture debut.

Looking forward, 2014 is positioned to be equally remarkable, kicking off with a Hall of Fame-level collection of talent contributing to January’s DETECTIVE COMICS #27, which celebrates the first appearance of Batman. The issue boasts a jaw-dropping list of contributing talent, including Brad Meltzer and Bryan Hitch, Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy, the legendary Frank Miller and more. Batman will also take center-stage as the company returns to weekly comics with BATMAN ETERNAL, focusing on the Dark Knight and his stories, supporting cast of heroes and villains. A second weekly series, THE NEW 52: FUTURES END, will give readers a glimpse at a possible dystopian future for our heroes later this year.

On the book trade side, BATMAN Vol. 3, THE JOKER: Death of the Family, BATMAN: The Killing Joke, BATGIRL Vol. 3, GREEN LANTERN: The End, JUSTICE LEAGUE Vol. 3, BATMAN Vol. 2, EARTH 2: Vol. 2 and Vertigo’s THE SANDMAN OMNIBUS Vol. 2, appeared on The New York Times Hardcover Graphic Book Bestseller list while SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 Vol. 3, BATMAN Vol. 2, and WATCHMEN all landed on The New York Times Paperback Graphic Book Bestseller list.

DC Entertainment’s November sales and promotions leading into Black Friday and Cyber Monday met with great success, with Digital First titles like LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, BATMAN BEYOND 2.0, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, BATMAN ’66 and SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 taking seven of the top 10 rankings for the month. New Digital First title THE VAMPIRE DIARIES also posted strong numbers for the month and entered the top 20. This rounds out a strong year for DCE’s critically acclaimed Digital First titles, lead by juggernaut INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, which will return in January 2014.

Leading developer and publisher of digital entertainment, Telltale Games, in cooperation with DC Entertainment, launched “Faith” Episode 1 of the five episode game series, The Wolf Among Us, based on Bill Willingham's award-winning comic book series FABLES.

It’s that time of year when The Usual Gang of Idiots at MAD Magazine compile “The 20 Dumbest Things” issue. This year’s MAD 20 cover, stars Miley Cyrus and Alfred as her unfortunate twerkee! In addition to the former Hannah Montana, this year’s compendium of the year’s dumbest people, events and things features President Obama, Anthony Weiner, Alex Rodriguez, Paula Deen, and many, many more! It’s on sale everywhere December 17.

About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Itsuwaribito: Onihime – Demon Princess

I read Itsuwaribito , Vol. 10

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Voice Over: Lunchtime Broadcast #2

I read Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy, Vol. 2

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

I Reads You Review: ARCHIE #634

ARCHIE #634
ARCHIE COMICS – @archiecomics

SCRIPT/PENCILS: Dan Parent
INKS: Rich Koslowski
LETTERS: Jack Morelli
COLORS: Digikore Studios
COVER: Dan Parent
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Archie Marries Valerie: Part 4 of 4 – “Here and Now!”

In Spring 2014, I started reading the Archie comic book series for the first time in years.  Archie #631 began a storyline that focused on a hypothetical romantic relationship between Archie Andrews and Valerie Smith of Josie and the Pussycats.  Apparently, the two characters had been paying special attention to one another for some time.

After Valerie and her family move to Archie’s hometown of Riverdale, the two become closer.  When the relationship takes a turn towards the really serious, Valerie goes for a walk down Memory Lane.  This is a magical street somewhere in Riverdale that allows characters to see possible futures.

Archie #634 (“Here and Now”) concludes the “Archie Marries Valerie” story arc.  The issue opens to find Archie and Valerie quite happy and touring as a musical act.  Things change dramatically when the two introduce their young daughter, Star, into their act.  Suddenly, the family finds itself getting unwanted attention.  Also, Memory Lane shows Valerie other possible futures.

When Archie #634 was originally published last year, it sold out before I could get to the comic book shop.  A year and a half later, I took advantage of a Mile High Comics sale to finally get a copy.  I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the story now as much as I did last year.  I wish that it would run longer, if for no other reason than to have regular Josie and the Pussycats, a childhood favorite about which I am still crazy in love.

Cheers to Dan Parent, the writer and lead artist behind this comic book.  As a big Josie and the Pussycats fan, I appreciate this story, but, in general, this is also a fun Archie comic book to read.

I’ll repeat myself:   if you ever read and liked Archie, you will read and like Archie again with this storyline.

A

www.archiecomics.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

A Devil and Her Love Song: Shin's leaving...

I read Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 12 (A Devil and Her Love Song)

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Book Review: NOS4A2

NOS4A2
WILLIAM MORROW/HarperCollins – @WmMorrowBks and @HarperCollins

AUTHOR: Joe Hill – @joe_hill
ILLUSTRATIONS: Gabriel Rodriguez
COVER: Shutterstock (Gingerman)
ISBN: 978-0-06-220058-7; paperback (October 15, 2013)
718pp, B&W, $17.99 U.S.

NOS4A2 is a 2013 horror novel from short story writer and novelist, Joe Hill, his third novel after Heart-Shaped Box and Horns.  Joe Hill is the penname of writer Joseph Hillstrom King, who is also one of author Stephen King’s sons.  Comic book fans may also know Hill as the writer and creator of the ongoing comic book series, Locke & Key.  NOS4A2 contains illustrations by artist Gabriel Rodriguez, who has drawn most of Locke & Key.

NOS4A2 (which can be pronounced, “Nosferatu”), focuses on two characters.  The first is Victoria “Vic” McQueen, whom we meet as a preteen and follow into adulthood.  Vic has a secret gift for finding things:  a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions, etc.  When riding her Raleigh Tuff Burner bicycle, Vic thinks of something she has to find, and the Shorter Way, a rickety covered bridge appears.  She rides into the bridge, and it takes her wherever she needs to go in order to find the thing for which she is looking.  It does not matter if the location is across her home state of Massachusetts or across the country.

The other character is Charles Talent “Charlie” Manx.  He is a murderer, who has a special way with children.  Manx likes to take children (mostly of elementary and junior high age) for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity license plate.  This old car, also simply known as “The Wraith,” allows Manx to slip right out of the everyday, “real” world, and into a world created out of his imagination.  Manx calls this world “Christmasland,” a bizarre amusement park where everyday is Christmas.  There, the children never age or die, and they stay with Manx forever.

One day, Vic McQueen went looking for Manx.  She became the only child to escape him.  Now, he is back for revenge against Vic and is more than willing to use her son, Bruce Wayne Carmody, as a pawn.

I found NOS4A2 to be imaginative, but also weird.  It mixes the character melodrama of Stephen King and the warped realities of Peter Straub (who has collaborated with Stephen King).  NOS4A2 is also too damn long.  Stephen King had published numerous novels before he could get away with being unedited (see The Stand).  Joe Hill has only been publishing for a short time, but already no one at his publisher was apparently willing to step in and cut this sumbitch of a novel down about 200 pages… or maybe even in half.

There are parts of this novel that are riveting, many involving Charlie Manx’s assistant, Bing Partridge.  In fact, Manx is a good villain and monster.  He is even worth discussing in detail.  Is Manx technically a child molester?  Vic McQueen, our hero, is not quite as good.  She has some similarities to Isabella “Bella” Swan of the Twilight novels, but Vic is not as endearing as Bella.  Vic takes Bella’s moodiness and turns it into mental distress that is more tedious than sympathetic.

NOS4A2 is a good read, but I often found myself not wanting to bother with it.  The last 200 pages really grabbed my attention and imagination.  I don’t think of this as a negative book review of NOS4A2; still, I have to be honest.  I think that NOS4A2 is a good book gone bad by its length.

B

www.joehillfiction.com
www.facebook.com/joehill


Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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