Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 7 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR140991 ADVENTURE TIME FLIP SIDE #5 MAIN CVRS $3.99
MAR141430 ALL YOU NEED IS KILL GN VOL 01 (MR) $14.99
FEB141307 ANDROID ANGELS GN $14.95
MAR141405 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #20 CVR A CRYSTAL $3.99
MAR141406 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #20 CVR B WALSH $3.99
FEB140932 B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #238 $3.99
FEB141582 BAR MAID #5 A CVR NUNES (MR) $3.50
FEB141583 BAR MAID #5 B CVR QUALANO (MR) $3.50
FEB141584 BAR MAID #5 C CVR FRANCHESCO (MR) $3.50
FEB141320 BENITO MAMBO DLX HC $34.95
JAN141126 BLACK BAT #10 $3.99
JAN141127 BLACK BAT #10 TAN SUBSCRIPTION CVR $3.99
MAR141444 BLEACH 3IN1 TP VOL 08 $14.99
MAR140886 CALIBAN #2 (MR) $3.99
MAR140888 CALIBAN #2 TERROR CVR (MR) $3.99
MAR140887 CALIBAN #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
MAR141031 CHAOS #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX CVR $3.99
MAR141028 CHAOS #1 CVR A SEELEY $3.99
MAR141029 CHAOS #1 CVR B LUPACCHINO $3.99
MAR141027 CHAOS #1 MAIN CVR CAMPBELL $3.99
MAR141445 CLAYMORE GN VOL 24 $9.99
FEB141297 CLOCKWORK GAME GN $19.95
FEB141281 COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 21 1991-1992 $29.99
MAR141166 COMPLETE PEANUTS TP VOL 01 1950-1952 $22.99
MAR140926 CRITTER (ONGOING) #20 $1.00
MAR140876 CROSSED BADLANDS #53 (MR) $3.99
MAR140879 CROSSED BADLANDS #53 FATAL FANTASY CVR (MR) $3.99
MAR140878 CROSSED BADLANDS #53 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
MAR140877 CROSSED BADLANDS #53 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB141112 DARWINS DIARIES GN VOL 02 DEATH OF BEAST $13.95
OCT131001 DAY MEN PEN & INK #1 $9.99
FEB148400 DEAD LETTERS #1 (2ND PTG) $3.99
MAR140955 DEAD LETTERS #2 $3.99
JAN131129 DF UNCANNY X-MEN #1 CGC GRADED 9.8 $99.99
JAN131130 DF UNCANNY X-MEN #2 CGC GRADED 9.8 $99.99
NOV131064 DF WALKING DEAD #115 MIDNIGHT RELEASE CGC GRADED $99.99
FEB141121 EPIC #1 $3.99
MAR140869 FATHOM KIANI VOL 3 #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR A $3.99
MAR140870 FATHOM KIANI VOL 3 #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR B $3.99
JAN140836 FEMINIST BUT GN COMICS ABOUT WOMEN $20.00
MAR141003 GARFIELD #25 $4.99
FEB140898 GET FUZZY TREASURY TP JERKTASTIC PARK $18.99
MAR141505 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #97 A CVR REI (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
MAR141506 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #97 B CVR CAFARO (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
MAR141507 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #97 C CVR GARZA (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
MAR140900 GOD IS DEAD #12 (MR) $3.99
MAR140901 GOD IS DEAD #12 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
MAR140902 GOD IS DEAD #12 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
MAR140903 GOD IS DEAD #12 ICONIC CVR (MR) $3.99
MAR141366 HEY MISTER COME HELL OR HIGHWATER PANTS GN (MR) $14.95
MAR141449 HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT 3IN1 TP VOL 02 $14.99
FEB141630 KLINGON ART OF WAR HC $25.99
FEB141028 LIBERATOR EARTH CRISIS #2 (MR) $3.99
FEB141117 LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 45 TYING THE KNOT $11.95
MAR141447 MIDNIGHT SECRETARY GN VOL 05 (MR) $9.99
NOV130983 MISS FURY #10 CVR A TAN $3.99
NOV130984 MISS FURY #10 CVR B SYAF $3.99
NOV130985 MISS FURY #10 CVR C WORLEY $3.99
NOV130986 MISS FURY #10 CVR D CALERO $3.99
MAR141443 NARUTO 3IN1 TP VOL 08 $14.99
JAN140956 NECROMANTICAL #1 $3.99
MAR141442 NISEKOI FALSE LOVE GN VOL 03 $9.99
MAR141450 OTOMEN GN VOL 18 $9.99
FEB141119 PANDORA BOX GN VOL 04 GREED (MR) $11.95
MAR141451 PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE GN VOL 02 $10.99
MAR141311 POKEMON ADVENTURES GN VOL 22 RUBY SAPPHIRE $9.99
MAR141438 PSYREN GN VOL 16 $9.99
MAR141452 RANMA 1/2 2IN1 TP VOL 02 $14.99
JAN141107 RED SONJA #9 FRISON CVR $3.99
JAN141108 RED SONJA #9 HANS CVR $3.99
MAR140970 REVELATIONS #5 (MR) $3.99
FEB141018 REX ZOMBIE KILLER #4 $3.50
MAR141410 SHADOWMAN TP VOL 04 FEAR BLOOD SHADOWS $14.99
JAN140966 SHAHRAZAD #5 $3.50
MAR141300 SIXTH GUN #40 $3.99
MAR141448 STROBE EDGE GN VOL 10 $9.99
JAN140837 SUGAR BOOGER #2 $5.95
MAR140964 SUICIDE RISK #13 $3.99
JAN141152 THE LONE RANGER #24 $3.99
FEB141120 THORGAL GN VOL 15 CAGE $11.95
MAR141052 TUROK DINOSAUR HUNTER #4 $3.99
FEB148375 USAGI YOJIMBO TP VOL 03 WANDERERS ROAD $16.99
MAR141446 VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 18 $9.99
MAR141095 VAMPIRELLA SOUTHERN GOTHIC TP $19.99
FEB141321 WHITE LAMA HC (MR) $39.95
MAR140952 WOODS #1 MAIN CVRS $3.99
FEB140937 WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #39 $3.99
JAN141284 WWE ONGOING #4 $3.99

MAGAZINES
MAR141601 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1403 PI
FEB141632 DC BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA FIG COLL MAG #32 LEGENDS OF THE DARK K $20.00
FEB141636 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #57 ATROCITUS BLACK BISHOP $16.00
FEB141661 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #472 $9.99
MAR141610 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #265 HOBBIT CVR $9.99
FEB141647 ILLUSTRATORS MAGAZINE #6 $24.99
JAN141532 MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #6 CAPTAIN AMERICA WHITE KING $16.00
FEB141638 MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #7 RED SKULL BLACK KING $16.00
NOV131455 MEGAMI FEB 2014 $16.60
NOV131456 NEWTYPE FEB 2014 $16.00
FEB141666 SCREAM MAGAZINE #23 (MR) $8.99

BOOKS
FEB140897 COMPLETE CUL DE SAC SC BOXED SET $75.00
MAR141574 DOC SAVAGE NEW ADV SC VOL 07 PHANTOM LAGOON $24.95
DEC131415 DOCTOR WHO WHENS THE DOCTOR SC $7.99
FEB141621 EIJI TSUBURAYA MASTER OF MONSTERS SC $29.95
JAN141512 GODZILLA LIGHT & SOUND MINIATURE BOOK KIT $12.95
MAR141349 WEAPONS MASS DIPLOMACY GN $24.95

Itsuwaribito: It's MY Kaiten Party

I read Itsuwaribito , Vol. 11

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which has free smart phone apps and comics and Indiegogo campaign; follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: SAMURAI JACK #5

SAMURAI JACK #5
IDW PUBLISHING with Cartoon Network – @IDWPublishing and @cartoonnetwork

WRITER: Jim Zub – @jimzub
ARTIST: Andy Suriano – @wolfboy74
COLORS: Josh Burcham
LETTERS: Shawn Lee
COVER: Andy Suriano
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2014)

Samurai Jack created by Genndy Tartakovsky

“Samurai Jack and the Threads of Time” Part 5

IDW Publishing’s licensed Samurai Jack comic book series is a comic book adaptation of the Emmy-winning animated television series, Samurai Jack (2001-2004).  The series’ initial storyline, “The Threads of Time,” comes to a close

Written by Jim Zub and drawn by Andy Suriano, Samurai Jack was one of the best new comic book series of 2013.  What started out as a miniseries received the green light to become an ongoing series.  Hooray!

Like the animated series, Samurai Jack the comic book focuses on the samurai known as “Jack.”  Trapped on a dystopian, futuristic Earth, Jack fights an old enemy, the tyrannical, shape-shifting, demonic wizard named Aku.  Jack wanders this future, trying to find a method by which he can travel back in time to the era in which he belongs, Feudal Japan.  There, he can try to keep Aku from creating this troubled future.

Samurai Jack #5 finds Jack near the end of his journey to find the last of the Threads of Time.  Once in possession of all the strands, he can wind them into the Rope of Eons and therefore, rewind himself back to Feudal Japan.  Jack enters Aku’s fortress to find Aku in possession of the final Thread of Time.  Victory is in Jack’s grasp, but so is doom.

I have enjoyed reading the previous issues of Zub and Suriano’s Samurai Jack, and my determination to find and read every issue has been paid off with an excellent conclusion.  This final chapter in the opening story arc is a tour de force performance by Suriano and colorist, Josh Burcham.  Suriano’s art is kinetic, crackles with life, and practically stirs as if animated.  Burcham’s colors make the art pop off the page, bringing the graphics and story to life.  Samurai Jack the comic book is an outstanding pop confection, the kind of comic book that makes me keeping coming back for more.

A

www.jimzub.com
www.IDWPUBLISHING.com
youtube.com/idwpublishing
facebook.com/idwpublishing

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Manga Review: STROBE EDGE Volume 10

 

STROBE EDGE, VOL. 10
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Io Sakisaka
TRANSLATION: JN Productions
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Ysabet MacFarlane
LETTERS: John Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6448-7; paperback (May 2014); Rated “T” for “Teen”
184pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Strobe Edge is a shojo manga (comics for teen girls) from Io Sakisaka (the creator of Ao Haru Ride).  VIZ Media sent me a copy of Strobe Edge Volume 2 for review in late 2012, which was my first experience with the series.  Now, with the release of tenth volume, the series’ North American publication comes to an end.  I can say that in terms of graphic style and tone, Strobe Edge never changed.

Strobe Edge focuses on Ninako Kinoshita, a 16-year-old who falls crazy in love with fellow high school student, Ren Ichinose.  Just before summer vacation begins, Ninako first tells Ren how she feels about him, and that begins a complicated romance.  Things get even more complicated, but Ren changes Ninako’s world.

As Strobe Edge, Vol. 10 (Chapters 35-36 – the Final Chapter) begins, Ren wants answers from Ninako.  She’s not ready to give them.  Now, she fears that Ren is out of her life.  Is that what she wants?  That can’t be what she wants.  Takumi Ando, a boy who also loves Ninako, decides that now is the time to make his move.

[This volume includes a side story, “Strobe Edge ˜Manabu Miyoshi˜;” a “Strobe Edge Bonus Chapter;” and a bonus story.]

The North American version of the Strobe Edge manga comes to an end.  It is a typical high school shojo romantic manga, and Strobe Edge Volume 10 offers a typical happy shojo ending.  Creator Io Sakisaka ties up loose ends, but she offers a lot of extras for readers as she ends the story.  I am guessing that I am as satisfied with the resolution as anyone who has followed this series since the beginning.

Strobe Edge takes the easy way out to satisfy readers, but the lead characters go through enough, even in the end, to make readers earn that sweet happy ending.  I think that fans of Shojo Beat high school romance will want to try the Shojo Beat title, Strobe Edge.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #44

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #44
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Matthew K. Manning; Paul Kupperberg
PENCILS: Robert Pope; Roberto Barrios
INKS: Scott McRae; Horacio Ottolini
COLORS: Franco Riesco; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Pat Brosseau
MISC. ART: Vincent Deporter
EDITOR: Kristy Quinn
COVER: Scott Neely with Heroic Age
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

I continue my journey through the current Scooby-Doo comic book series with the forty-fourth issue of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?  Why is this happening?  I bought a subscription to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? via a fundraiser held by my nephew’s school last year, which involved selling magazine subscriptions.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #44 opens with “Island of the Jabberwockies” (written by Matthew K. Manning and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae).  The Mystery Inc. gang is traveling through what is apparently a series of interconnected islands.  The kids are headed to a beach on Fripp Island, but first, must pass through Hunting Island where they almost have an accident and definitely have a weird experience.

At the Fripp Island Hotel, they learn that vacationers are being pestered by deer and scared by the “Jabberwockies.”  Now, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo are also being terrorized, but they’re not too scared to investigate.

In “The Phantom of the Opal!” (written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Roberto Barrios and Horacio Ottolini), the Mystery Inc. kids are guests on “The Tad Williams Show.”  The arrival of the Phantom of the Opal means that the guests have to become mystery solvers.  When it comes to the identity of the Phantom, the kids have plenty of suspects because the phantom is obviously an embittered living person.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #44 has as a theme conniving showbiz types.  “Island of the Jabberwockies” is a quickie type story, but it is pointed in making its point.  Writer Matthew K. Manning also uses much of the 10 pages of the narrative to showcase the lovable silliness we’ve come to expect of that crazy duo, Shaggy and Scooby.

“The Phantom of the Opal!” is apparently a reprint (from the previous series, Scooby-Doo #153), but it is the better story of the two.  The main reason is because writer Paul Kupperberg squeezes enough subplots and characters inside a short story to create a separate graphic novel (or even miniseries).  The guest characters are fairly well-developed, complete with motivation and conflicts.

Surprisingly, even with only 12 pages, Kupperberg succeeds in making the mystery of the Phantom of the Opal an intriguing one.  I really got into solving the mystery of the Phantom’s identity (and my first choice turned out to be right).  I hope Kupperberg writes new Scooby-Doo comics.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Toriko: Chowlin Temple!!

I read Toriko, Vol. 21: Showdown at Chowlin Temple

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, and you can follow me on Twitter and donate, if you wish to my Indiegogo campaign.

May the I Reads You Be With You

It's May 2014.  Spider-Man and X-Men movies, oh my!

Welcome to I Reads You, a ComicBookBin web and sister publication (www.comicbookbin.com).  We write about the things we read:  mostly comic books, comics, and related books.  Sometimes, we’ll write about or link to other topics:  typically books, politics, and entertainment.

All images and text appearing on this publication are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.

By the way, Leroy has an Indiegogo campaign for his webcomic, Grumble: