I Reads You

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Magi: The Kouga Tribe

I read Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 3

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Review: LOVE AND ROCKETS: New Stories #6

LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES #6
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

WRITERS: Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez
ARTISTS: Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez
ISBN: 978-1-60699-679-9; paperback (September 2013)
100pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S.

Fall means a new volume of Love and Rockets: New Stories. Under a Gilbert Hernandez cover – featuring new player, “Killer,” Love and Rockets: New Stories #6 arrives with new stories featuring new characters.

Love and Rockets: New Stories is the third incarnation of the comic book series, Love and Rockets, rebooted as an annual, graphic novel-length package, resembling both a comic book and a literary magazine. L&R remains the creation of Los. Bros, the brothers Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez (with brother Mario occasionally contributing). According to the publisher, this publishing format is designed to appeal to the people who decide what will be placed on the shelves in bookstores.

Love and Rockets: New Stories #6 brings Love and Rockets into its fourth decade with a focus on new lead characters. Dora “Killer” Rivera, Gilbert’s new star is somewhere outside of the United States in the south of the border town of Palomar. Killer strikes a hammer-wielding pose on New Stories #6’s cover that recalls her grandmother, Luba, Gilbert’s signature character.

Killer (also known as “Sad Girl”) discovers that Maria, her great-grandmother (and Luba’s mother) starred in a 1950s crime movie. That leads her to begin to delve into the details of her family’s twisted history. She’ll also discover that not everyone is interested in history, ancient or otherwise, and she is about to get a ghostly visit.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Love and Rockets: New Stories #6, Jaime continues to explore his intriguing new character, Tonta Agajanian. Things start off innocently enough in “Fuck Summer,” as Tonta tries to get some attention from Eric Lopez of the garage punk band, Ooot.

Trying to get Tonta’s attention is Coach Angel Rivera, the new P.E. teacher at Bradbury’s Girl School. Coach seems to know a lot about Tonta, but Tonta does not think that she has ever heard of Rivera. “Tarzana Adventures” with “Pack Mules” will reveal all; keyword is “luchadora.” It’s not all fun and games. There is a dark mystery and something sinister going on in Tonta’s immediate and extended family that includes her older and squabbling half-siblings.

Each Hernandez bro approaches the introduction of new characters and storylines differently. Gilbert depicts Killer as forging her own way by delving into the past. Jaime has Tonta forging her way, but ensnared by the past. The high school student is seemingly not interested in her family’s past, nor does she seem particularly interested in her siblings.

Killer loves the intricate connections that extend from Palomar outside to the United States and other places beyond the border of the U.S. Gilbert, however, relishes muddying the past for his star, and making connections tenuous. Is memory reliable? Is history a story or fact? After awhile, I start to see Satchel Paige’s axiom about not looking back in Killer’s adventures. Gilbert’s final entry in New Stories #6 enforces that theme, but I know that I wanted Killer to turn around and look.

For Jaime’s Tonta, familial connections are not so much intricate, as they form a net. Or maybe, they are like those hooked-laden Cenobite chains that snake out from the darkness in Hellraiser movies. Jaime’s focus on Tonta is divided into 17 short stories in Love and Rockets: New Stories #6 (compared with Gilbert’s 8). They form one large story through which run three stories or subplots. Each one of the three recalls classic Jaime themes: music (punk), wrestling (Mexican), and family.

Unlike Gilbert’s stories, which seem to want to connect Killer to the past, Jaime seems determined to disconnect Tonta from the past, at least by my reading. The story of Tonta will be about her, not about her in a context of what came before her. This comes through in Tonta’s visits to the “swimming hole,” as when one character declares that she did not invite Tonta’s companion.

I find that in Love and Rockets: New Stories #6, Gilbert’s holds up his end of the volume better than he did in New Stories #5. Here, both brothers are like great athletes that use human growth hormone (HGH) to extend their peak performance into middle age. Los Bros. have found creative and artistic steroids, as they are producing Love and Rockets comics that are as good as they’ve ever been. Or maybe genius never gets old and keeps producing all-star work.

A

Review by Leroy Douresseaux

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

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 18 2013

DC COMICS

OCT130216 ANIMAL MAN #26 $2.99
AUG130305 AUTHORITY HC VOL 02 $34.99
OCT130227 BATMAN 66 #6 $3.99
OCT130201 BATMAN AND TWO FACE #26 $2.99
OCT130226 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #5 $3.99
OCT130195 BIRDS OF PREY #26 $2.99
SEP130270 BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 03 CLASH OF DAGGERS (N52) $14.99
SEP130305 FABLES TP VOL 19 SNOW WHITE (MR) $16.99
OCT130135 FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELLION #3 $2.99
SEP130272 FURY OF FIRESTORM TP VOL 03 TAKEOVER (N52) $16.99
OCT130211 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #26 $2.99
OCT130185 HARLEY QUINN #1 $2.99
OCT130153 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #10 $2.99
OCT130204 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26 $2.99
SEP130284 SHOWCASE PRESENTS STRANGE ADVENTURES TP VOL 02 $19.99
OCT130181 SUPERGIRL #26 $2.99
SEP130285 SUPERMAN VS MONGUL TP $14.99
OCT130263 TEEN TITANS GO #1 $2.99
SEP130274 TEEN TITANS TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY TO (N52) $14.99
OCT130139 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #6 (EVIL) $2.99
OCT130256 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS 100 BULLETS #1 (MR) $1.00
OCT130281 WAKE PART ONE #1 (MR) $9.99
OCT130154 WONDER WOMAN #26 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

JUN130317 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS HARLEY QUINN STATUE $124.95
JUL130286 INFINITE CRISIS ARCANE GREEN LANTERN STATUE $124.95
JUN130306 INFINITE CRISIS ATOMIC WONDER WOMAN STATUE $124.95
SEP130329 JUSTICE LEAGUE SHAZAM AF $24.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 18 2013

MARVEL COMICS

OCT130723 ALL NEW X-MEN #20 $3.99
OCT130682 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700.4 $3.99
OCT130684 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700.5 $3.99
SEP130805 ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 12 UNMASKED $29.99
OCT130646 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #22.INH $3.99
OCT130674 CATACLYSM ULTIMATE X-MEN #2 $3.99
OCT130712 DAREDEVIL #34 $2.99
OCT130733 DEADPOOL #21 $2.99
SEP130798 DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 09 $29.99
SEP130800 DEADPOOL TP VOL 03 GOOD BAD AND UGLY $15.99
OCT130713 FANTASTIC FOUR #15 $2.99
OCT130714 FF #15 $2.99
OCT130645 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #17.INH $3.99
OCT130735 LONGSHOT SAVES MARVEL UNIVERSE #4 $2.99
JUL130696 MMW ATLAS ERA STRANGE TALES HC VOL 06 $74.99
SEP130787 MMW GOLDEN AGE MARVEL COMICS TP VOL 02 $29.99
SEP130774 POWERS BUREAU TP VOL 01 UNDERCOVER (MR) $19.99
OCT130693 SCARLET SPIDER #25 $3.99
OCT130667 SECRET AVENGERS #13 $3.99
SEP130813 SPIDER-MAN GATHERING OF FIVE TP $29.99
OCT130688 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #24 $3.99
OCT130691 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #8 $3.99
OCT130709 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #16 $3.99
OCT130701 THUNDERBOLTS ANNUAL 2013 #1 $4.99
OCT130664 UNCANNY AVENGERS #15 $3.99
OCT130731 UNCANNY X-FORCE #15 $3.99
SEP130804 VENOM TP LAND WHERE KILLERS DWELL $15.99
SEP130806 X-FACTOR TP VOL 21 END OF X-FACTOR $14.99
OCT130725 X-MEN #8 $3.99
OCT130669 YOUNG AVENGERS #14 $2.99

IDW Publishing 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.

IDW PUBLISHING

OCT130370 BEN 10 #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130326 DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME TP VOL 03 $17.99
OCT130376 GHOSTBUSTERS #11 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130403 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE DISAVOWED TP VOL 02 $19.99
OCT130398 GI JOE COBRA FILES #9 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130348 GODZILLA RULERS OF EARTH TP VOL 01 $19.99
OCT130346 GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #7 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130349 ILLEGITIMATES #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP130367 KISS KIDS #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
AUG130407 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 BOX SET $49.99
AUG130398 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 CVR A RODRIGUEZ [DIG/P+] $7.99
AUG130399 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 CVR B BISLEY $7.99
AUG130400 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 CVR C FABRY $7.99
AUG130401 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 CVR D KALUTA $7.99
AUG130402 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 CVR E SIENKIEWICZ $7.99
AUG130403 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 CVR F SIM $7.99
AUG130404 LOCKE & KEY ALPHA #2 CVR G WRIGHTSON $7.99
OCT130344 MARS ATTACKS JUDGE DREDD #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130373 MR PEABODY & SHERMAN #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130357 MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #14 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130359 MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #10 LUNA [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130378 POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #17 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130362 SAMURAI JACK #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130339 SINISTER DEXTER #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130320 STAR TREK CLASSICS TP VOL 05 WHO KILLED CAPTAIN KIRK $21.99
OCT130317 STAR TREK ONGOING #28 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SEP130460 TARZAN RUSS MANNING NEWSPAPER STRIPS HC VOL 02 1969-1971 $49.99
OCT130413 TMNT ADVENTURES TP VOL 06 $19.99
OCT130407 TMNT KEVIN EASTMAN CVR GALLERY $3.99
OCT130410 TMNT NEW ANIMATED ADVENTURES #6 $3.99
OCT130405 TMNT ONGOING #29 $3.99
AUG130488 TRANSFORMERS ART OF PRIME HC $49.99
OCT130388 TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #97 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130385 TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #24 DARK CYBERTRON PART 5 [DIG/P+] $3.99
OCT130418 X-FILES SEASON 10 HC VOL 01 $24.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 18 2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT130034 BLOODHOUND CROWBAR MEDICINE #3 $3.99
OCT130060 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #114 $3.50
OCT130033 BUZZKILL #4 $3.99
OCT130029 CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #6 $2.99
OCT130022 CONAN THE BARBARIAN #23 $3.50
OCT130069 CRIMINAL MACABRE EYES OF FRANKENSTEIN #4 $3.99
OCT130046 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #31 (MR) $7.99
APR130084 DOMO JAPANESE MUG $12.99
AUG130070 EMPOWERED TP VOL 08 $16.99
SEP130019 GHOST #1 $2.99
OCT130055 ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #5 $2.99
OCT130073 KISS ME SATAN #4 $3.99
OCT130019 MASS EFFECT FOUNDATION #6 $3.99
OCT130047 MASSIVE #18 $3.50
AUG130069 MASSIVE TP VOL 02 SUBCONTINENTAL $19.99
OCT130048 NEVER ENDING #2 (MR) $3.99
AUG130112 NGE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT TP VOL 13 $9.99
AUG130126 POWERS FIGURE SET $24.99
AUG130076 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 15 $19.99
OCT130052 SHOOT FIRST #3 $3.99
OCT130057 SLEDGEHAMMER 44 LIGHTNING WAR #2 $3.50
SEP130063 STAR WARS DARK TIMES SPARK REMAINS #5 $3.50
OCT130010 STAR WARS DARTH VADER & CRY OF SHADOWS #1 $3.50
OCT130013 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE WAR #2 $3.50
OCT130015 STAR WARS LEGACY II #10 $2.99
OCT130075 STRAIN THE FALL #6 $3.99