Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 29, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

JAN150673     CASANOVA ACEDIA #3 (MR)     $3.99
MAY150489     COPPERHEAD #9     $3.50
MAY150513     GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS #10 CVR A BROWNE (MR)     $3.50
MAY150514     GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS #10 CVR B SEELEY (MR)     $3.50
MAY150555     INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #5 (MR)     $2.99
APR150649     LAZARUS #18 (MR)     $3.50
MAY150557     LOW #8 (MR)     $3.50
MAY158325     MANHATTAN PROJECTS SUN BEYOND THE STARS #1 2ND PTG     $3.50
FEB150616     MANHATTAN PROJECTS SUN BEYOND THE STARS #2     $3.50
MAY150558     MATERIAL #3 (MR)     $3.50
MAY150561     MYTHIC #3 (MR)     $2.99
MAY158263     MYTHIC #3 CVR B FEGREDO (MR)     $2.99
MAY150563     RASPUTIN #7 (MR)     $3.50
APR150554     SEX CRIMINALS #11 (MR)     $3.50
MAY150528     SOUTHERN BASTARDS #10 (MR)     $3.50
MAR150608     SPARKS NEVADA MARSHAL ON MARS #4     $3.50
APR150675     SPAWN #254     $2.99
MAY150566     TITHE #4 CVR A EKEDAL     $3.99
MAY150567     TITHE #4 CVR B EKEDAL     $3.99
MAY150569     WAYWARD #10 CVR A CUMMINGS & BONVILLAIN (MR)     $3.50
MAY150570     WAYWARD #10 CVR B STEINBACH (MR)     $3.50
MAY150576     WITCHBLADE #178 SMASHCON EX CVR     $10.00
MAY150571     ZERO TP VOL 04 WHO BY FIRE (MR)     $14.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

MAY150639     WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 7 AF WV2     PI
MAY150641     WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 7 AF WV2 FLU WALKER     PI
MAY150640     WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 7 AF WV2 RICK     PI

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for July 29, 2015

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
MAY150009     PREVIEWS BACKLIST CATALOG 2015     $1.50

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAY151068     ACCELERATORS MOMENTUM #3 (MR)     $3.99
MAY151479     AUTEUR SISTER BAMBI #3 (MR)     $3.99
APR151539     BABY SITTERS CLUB COLOR ED GN HC VOL 02 TRUTH ABOUT STACEY     $24.99
APR151538     BABY SITTERS CLUB COLOR ED GN VOL 02 TRUTH ABOUT STACEY     $10.99
MAY151194     CAPTAIN CANUCK 2015 ONGOING #3     $3.99
APR150989     COMIC FANDOM QUARTERLY #2     $5.95
MAR158553     COMPLETE CHI SWEET HOME TP VOL 01     $24.95
MAY150886     CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND HC     $29.95
MAY151022     CROSSED BADLANDS #81 ART DECO LTD ED CVR (MR)     $9.99
MAY151023     CROSSED BADLANDS #81 C DAY WORLDWIDE CVR (MR)     $3.99
MAY151019     CROSSED BADLANDS #81 MAIN CVR (MR)     $3.99
MAY151020     CROSSED BADLANDS #81 TORTURE CVR (MR)     $3.99
MAY151021     CROSSED BADLANDS #81 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
JUN151023     CROSSED BADLANDS #82 (MR)     $3.99
JUN151026     CROSSED BADLANDS #82 ART DECO LTD ED CVR (MR)     $9.99
JUN151027     CROSSED BADLANDS #82 C DAY WORLDWIDE CVR (MR)     $3.99
JUN151024     CROSSED BADLANDS #82 TORTURE CVR (MR)     $3.99
JUN151025     CROSSED BADLANDS #82 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
MAY151131     DEEP STATE #8     $3.99
APR151505     DEMONS & ANGELS HC VOL 02 CLAY WILSON (MR)     $34.99
MAY151422     DENGUE HC (MR)     $19.95
APR151674     DEVLIN WAUGH RED TIDE TP     $29.99
MAY151353     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 STAN LEE SGN     $699.99
FEB151407     DF ANT-MAN #1 GOLD ELITE ED STAN LEE SGN     $699.99
MAY151336     DF ARCHIE #1 DF EXC LEE & BONUS BOOK PK     PI
MAY151335     DF ARCHIE #1 DF EXC LEE CVR     $10.00
JUN151293     DF SECRET WARS #1 COMIXPOSURE EXC DELL OTTO     $29.99
APR151440     DF SPIDER-GWEN #2 DF EXC OPENA CVR STAN LEE SGN     $699.99
MAY151333     DF STAR TREK GREEN LANTERN #1 DF EXC LEE B&W CVR     PI
MAY151327     DF STAR TREK GREEN LANTERN #1 DF EXC LEE CVR     $10.00
MAY151331     DF STAR TREK GREEN LANTERN #1 DF EXC LEE VIRGIN     PI
MAR151311     DF STAR WARS #1 COMICXPOSURE EXC CHRISTOPHER CVR     $10.00
MAY151356     DF WALKING DEAD #139 GAUDIANO BLOOD RED SGN     $59.99
MAY151355     DF WALKING DEAD #139 GAUDIANO SGN     $29.99
FEB151606     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #13 REG LACLAUSTRA     $3.99
FEB151607     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #13 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
APR151719     DOCTOR WHO 12TH #10 REG HUGHES     $3.99
APR151720     DOCTOR WHO 12TH #10 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
MAR151533     DOCTOR WHO 9TH #3 REG SHEDD     $3.99
MAR151534     DOCTOR WHO 9TH #3 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
MAY151520     DRAGONAR ACADEMY GN VOL 07 (MR)     $12.99
MAY151512     DRONE FATAL ERROR #3     $3.50
MAY151141     ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK #8 MAIN CVRS     $3.99
MAY151231     EVIL ERNIE TP VOL 02 RISE OF EVIL     $19.99
MAR151058     FAIRY QUEST TP VOL 02     $14.99
MAY151436     FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 49     $10.99
MAY150884     FUBAR DECLASSIFIED TP (MR)     $11.95
MAY151067     FUTURE PROOF #6     $3.99
FEB151135     GEORGE PEREZS SIRENS PEN & INK #1     $14.99
MAY151718     GFT TALES OF TERROR #13 A CVR QUALANO (MR)     $3.99
MAY151719     GFT TALES OF TERROR #13 B CVR VALENTINO (MR)     $3.99
MAY151720     GFT TALES OF TERROR #13 C CVR ERIC J (MR)     $3.99
JUN151475     GOODBYE CHUNKY RICE PANTHEON ED NEW PTG     $15.00
MAY151082     HACKTIVIST VOL 2 #1     $3.99
MAY151522     HAVENT YOU HEARD IM SAKAMOTO GN VOL 01     $12.99
MAY151149     HELP US GREAT WARRIOR #6     $3.99
MAY150861     HERALD LOVECRAFT AND TESLA #5     $3.99
APR151205     HIT 1957 #4     $3.99
MAY151416     HOAX HUNTERS 2015 #5 (MR)     $3.50
MAY151571     ICE BAYOU BLACKOUT #3     $3.99
MAY151075     ILLUSTRATED BRITISH CLASSICS LAST OF THE MOHICANS SC     $33.99
MAY151624     IMPERIUM TP VOL 01 COLLECTING MONSTERS     $9.99
MAY151240     JUNGLE GIRL SEASON 3 #4 CVR A CHO     $3.99
MAY150862     KIDS OF THE ROUND TABLE #3     $3.99
JUN151399     KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #222     $5.99
JUN151400     KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 49     $14.99
APR151546     LAST ONES HC (MR)     $24.95
APR151501     LEAF HC     $24.99
JUN151347     LEVEL UP GN NEW PTG (NOTE PRICE)     $16.99
APR151691     MEANWHILE #3     $7.95
JUN151278     MELODY STORY OF A NUDE DANCER GN (MR)     $22.95
APR150954     MEN OF MYSTERY #97     $29.95
MAR151167     MERCY SPARX #8 CVR A RUFFINO (MR)     $3.99
MAR151168     MERCY SPARX #8 CVR B BROOMAL (MR)     $3.99
MAY151152     MUNCHKIN #7     $3.99
MAY151609     NINJAK #5 CVR A LAROSA (NEXT)     $3.99
MAY151610     NINJAK #5 CVR B JOHNSON (NEXT)     $3.99
APR151499     NOT FUNNY HA HA HC     $16.99
APR151293     ORIGINAL GHOST RIDER HC VOL 01     $49.99
MAR150957     PATH TO PROVIDENCE COLLECTOR BOX SET (MR)     $149.99
MAR151542     PEANUTS TP VOL 01 1950-1952 (TITAN ED)     $6.99
JUN151436     PHOEBE GLOECKNER DIARY OF TEENAGE GIRL GN REVISED ED (MR)     $18.95
FEB151567     PRE CODE CLASSICS STRANGE FANTASY HC VOL 01     $59.99
MAR151498     PRE CODE CLASSICS STRANGE FANTASY SLIPCASE ED VOL 01     $69.99
JUN151514     PRIMATES FEARLESS SCIENCE OF GOODALL FOSSEY & GALDIKAS SC     $12.99
MAY150859     PRINCELESS BE YOURSELF #2     $3.99
MAY150971     PSYCHO BONKERS #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR A     $3.99
MAY150972     PSYCHO BONKERS #3 DIRECT MARKET CVR B     $3.99
MAY151379     PUSSYCATS #3 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141335     RED SONJA #17 CVR A FRISON MAIN     $3.99
FEB151570     ROY THOMAS PRESENTS RULAH JUNGLE GODDESS HC VOL 03     $59.99
MAR151501     ROY THOMAS PRESENTS RULAH JUNGLE GODDESS SLIPCASE ED VOL 03     $69.99
FEB150967     SABRINA #4 REG CVR (MR)     $3.99
MAY151554     SCARLETT COUTURE #4 REG TAYLOR     $3.99
MAY151555     SCARLETT COUTURE #4 SUBSCRIPTION TAYLOR     $3.99
MAY151440     SILENT VOICE GN VOL 02     $10.99
MAY151073     SIMPSONS ILLUSTRATED #18     $3.99
MAY150946     SONIC BOOM #10 SPAZ REG CVR     $3.99
APR151414     SQUARRIORS #3 (MR)     $3.99
MAY151556     SURFACE TENSION #3     $3.99
MAY151287     SWORDS OF SORROW SONJA JUNGLE #1 VIRGIN     $50.00
JUN151196     TEEN BOAT HC GN VOL 01     $14.99
JUN151421     TERMINALLY ILLIN GN VOL 01     $12.95
MAY150863     VAMPLETS NIGHTMARE NURSERY #5     $3.99
APR151677     VCS HELL IN THE HEAVENS DIGEST TP     $11.99
MAR151449     WASTELAND TP VOL 11 FLOODLAND     $19.99
MAY150435     WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED #46 YOUTH ACTIVISM & CLIMATE (MR)     $7.00
FEB151683     X-O MANOWAR DLX HC VOL 02     $39.99
MAY151442     YAMADA KUN & SEVEN WITCHES GN VOL 03     $10.99

MAGAZINES
MAY151856     AIRBRUSH ACTION MAGAZINE #126 JUL AUG 2015     $7.99
MAY151849     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1467     PI
MAR151767     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #59 DETECTIVE #54 BATPLANE     $19.95
MAR151768     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #60 BATMAN #63 MOTHMAN     $19.95
APR152014     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #61 NOEL BATMOBILE     $19.95
APR152016     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #86 OWLMAN BLACK KNIGHT     $16.00
APR152017     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG CAP BOOMERANG #87     $16.00
APR152043     DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #488     $9.99
MAR151779     MARVEL FACT FILES #77 BLACK CAT COVER     $6.00
MAR151780     MARVEL FACT FILES #78 SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE COVER     $6.00
MAR151781     MARVEL FACT FILES #79 BATROC COVER     $6.00
APR152023     MARVEL FACT FILES #81 LADY DEATHSTRIKE COVER     $6.00
APR152024     MARVEL FACT FILES #82 ROCKET RACOON COVER     $6.00
APR152025     MARVEL FACT FILES #83 NOVA COVER     $6.00
APR152026     MARVEL FACT FILES #84 KINGPIN COVER     $6.00
MAR151783     MARVEL FACT FILES BINDER     $14.00
APR152027     MARVEL FACT FILES BINDER     $14.00
MAY151841     NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 26 #4     $5.99
MAR151771     STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG MAG #46 ENTERPRISE NCC-1701C     $20.00
FEB151860     TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #207     $6.00

BOOKS
JUN151417     ART OF GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE COMP COLL SUDA 51 SC     $39.95
JUN151726     BENDING STEEL MODERNITY & AMERICAN SUPERHERO HC     $60.00
MAY151767     BLACKER THE INK CONSTRUCTIONS BLACK IDENTITY IN COMICS SC     $29.95
MAY151788     FREEHAND FIGURE DRAWING FOR ILLUSTRATORS SC     $22.99
JUN151418     MORE HEROES & HEROINES JAPANESE GAME & ANIMATION ILLUS SC     $29.95
MAY151794     NEIL GAIMAN NEVERWHERE AUTHORS PREFERRED TEXT HC     $26.99
JUN151419     POSTERS OTOMO KATSUHIRO GRAPHICS DESIGN SC     $69.00
MAY151811     STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ATTACK OF CLONES     $4.99
MAY151814     STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK EMPIRE STRIKES BACK     $4.99
MAY151813     STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK NEW HOPE     $4.99
MAY151810     STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK PHANTOM MENACE     $4.99
MAY151815     STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK RETURN OF JEDI     $4.99
MAY151812     STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK REVENGE OF SITH     $4.99

Assassination Classroom: Time to Face the Unbelievable

I read Assassination Classroom, Vol. 4

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Review: INJECTION #1

INJECTION #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

WRITER: Warren Ellis
ARTIST: Declan Shalvey
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Fonografiks
20pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (May 2015)

Injection is a new comic book series published by Image Comics.  Injection is created by writer Warren Ellis and artist Declan Shalvey; the book is colored by Jordie Bellaire.  Ellis, Shalvey, and Bellaire were the creative team behind Marvel Comics' 2014 relaunch of its Moon Knight comic book, producing the first six issues.  According to publicity material for this series, Injection is apparently about five people who have to save the world from being too weird to support human life, a situation they apparently created.

Injection #1 opens at Sawling Hospital.  There, we meet Professor Maria Kilbride, who is being castigated by a stern older woman.  Through a flashback, we learn that Kilbride was part of something called the “Cultural Cross-Contamination Unit.”  We meet Kilbride's colleagues:  Robin Morel, Simeon Winters, Vivek Headland, and Brigid Roth.  Back to the present, it is time to start to learn how these five individuals “poisoned the 21st Century.”

At a slim 20 pages, Injection is all about set-up and vague introductions.  Am I intrigued?  Well, hell, every first issue of a Warren Ellis comic book intrigues me, but that doesn't mean I'll keep reading past the first issue.

However, I am reluctant to bail on Injection.  I was decidedly underwhelmed by the first issue of Ellis, Shalvey, and Bellaire's Moon Knight, but that turned out to be an especially enjoyable and unique reading experience.  The series actually got better and proved to be more imaginative with each issue.  Ellis and company leaving after six issues was probably a good thing; eventually, they could not have kept up that pace of originality.

Besides, whatever vagueness Ellis' story presents in Injection is topped by Shalvey and Bellaire's eye-grabbing, attention-trapping graphical storytelling.  The weird practically popped off the page in order to get inside me and to demand that I get at least one more Injection.  I would say that fans of Ellis' non-superhero work will certainly want to try an issue or two of Injection.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Yaoi Manga Review: LOVE STAGE Volume 1

LOVE STAGE!!, VOL. 1
SUBLIME MANGA– @SuBLimeManga

STORY: Eiki Eiki
ART: Taishi Zaou
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Wally
EDITOR: Jennifer LeBlanc
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7991-7; paperback (May 2015); Rated “M” for “Mature”
186pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Love Stage!! is a boys' love (BL) manga from the creative team of writer Eiki Eiki and artist Taishi Zaou that was serialized in Asuka Ciel magazine beginning in July 2010.  SuBLime Manga began publishing Love Stage!! in an English-language edition in graphic novel form back in May.

Boys' love manga depicts amorous situations between male romantic leads, with its subset, yaoi (which Love Stage!! is), being more explicit.   Love Stage!! is about an average guy from a family of celebrities who becomes romantically entangled with one of Japan's most popular young male celebrities and idols.

Love Stage!!, Vol. 1 (Chapter 1 to 5) opens in the past.  A small boy is dressed as a girl for a commercial shoot.  His costar believes that the girl is really a girl, and he never forgets her... him.  Ten years later, the boy who dressed like a girl is Izumi Sena, now a beginning college student.  He is an unrepentant otaku (fanboy) and wants to be a mangaka (a creator of manga).  The rest of his family is in show business, and they want Izumi to join the family business.

Meanwhile, Izumi's costar in that long-ago commercial is Ryoma Ichijo, a hot young actor and idol.  The commercial in which he starred 10 years ago is going to get an anniversary sequel, but Ryoma will not return unless that “girl” from the original reprises her role.  What will he do when he finds out that she is really a he?

While the Love Stage!! manga is a romantic comedy, the early chapters are more comedy than romance.  Love Stage!! Volume 1 is not just funny; it's delightfully funny.  In fact, it is so comedy oriented that when some... heaving petting suddenly occurs, the change in tone is quite jarring.

Writer Eiki Eiki is a master of BL and similar genres, as well as shojo manga.  Artist Taishi Zaou has a beautiful drawing style that is perfect for shojo manga and makes her boys' love manga exceptionally pretty.  Together, they create something unique, manga that transcends genre.  That is Love Stage!!, cute and funny and popping with energy and I think the best is yet to come.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: BATMITE #1

BAT-MITE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Dan Jurgens
PENCILS: Corin Howell
INKS: Corin Howell and Andres Ponce
COLORS: Mike Atiyeh
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Corin Howell with Mike Atiyeh
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

“Transplant”

Bat-Mite is a  DC Comics character that is part of the Batman line of comics.  Bat-Mite was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Sheldon Moldoff and first appeared in Detective Comics #267 (cover dated:May 1959) in the story, “Batman Meets Bat-Mite.”

Bat-Mite is an “Imp” character that is similar to Superman's adversary, “Mister Mxyzptlk.”  However, Bat-Mite idolizes Batman, but is a nuisance to Batman because of his impish activities.  Bat-Mite's appearance is that of a small, child-like man, and he possesses seemingly near-infinite magical power.

Now, DC Comics has a new thang going on, and it is a publishing initiative called “DC You.”  It's all about us, the readers... actually, the fans.  June 2015 alone sees the launch of over 20 new titles.  One of them is a new comic book feature Bat-Mite.  It written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Corin Howell and Andres Ponce, colored by Mike Atiyeh, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Bat-Mite #1 (“Transplant”) begins with the banishment of Bat-Mite, presumably from his home dimension.  When next we see him, Bat-Mite is interfering...err... helping Batman foil two criminals.  Things aren't what they seem, as Bat-Mite learns when he meets Doctor Trauma.  And Doc Trauma's latest Frankenstein-like scheme is positively... savage.

I laughed in derision when I read that DC was launching a Bat-Mite comic book, but I have to admit that I was curious about this new series.  I have loved Bat-Mite since I first encountered the character on “The New Adventures of Batman” Saturday morning cartoon series (Filmation, 1977).  I was later surprised to see that this new Bat-Mite comic book was only a six-issue miniseries, which makes sense, I guess.  I doubt that Bat-Mite is a character that can support an ongoing series.

Now, I won't be fake and claim that Bat-Mite 2015 is a great comic book, but I do like it a lot.  Dan Jurgens is an underrated comics creator.  Someone once described Jurgens as the kind of creator whose steady output of professional work kept the comics business operating in between brief but outstanding bursts of greatness that guys like Frank Miller dropped in to offer once a year or so (not the writer's exact words).

Well, Dan Jurgens – Mr. Professional – strikes the right tone for Bat-Mite as a character.  He is a pest, a confidant nerd.  He is funny because of his know-it-all superiority and sarcasm, but not necessarily because he is silly.  That is why I think that Jurgens could do much with this character if he were given the chance to produce a series of Bat-Mite miniseries.

Corin Howell and Andres Ponce make a good art team.  Howell's storytelling strikes the right tone because she maximizes physical comedy, especially facial expressions.  Howell makes Bat-Mite a character with believable motivation, attitude, and personality.  That is not necessarily easy.  Bat-Mite is always on the edge of being nothing more than a plush toy.

So, I am in with Bat-Mite for the long haul, or whatever kind of haul six issues make.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Review: RESIDENT EVIL: The Marhawa Desire Volume 5

RESIDENT EVIL: THE MARHAWA DESIRE, VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Naoki Serizawa
CONCEPT: Capcom
TRANSLATION: Joe Yamazaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Stan!
LETTERING: John Clark
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7376-2; paperback (July 2015); Rated “M” for “Mature”
168pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

VIZ Media's publication of the seinen manga, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, has come to an end with the publication of the fifth volume or graphic novel in the series.  An adult horror manga, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, serves as a comic book prequel to the story line of CAPCOM’s bestselling video game, Resident Evil® 6.  This iteration of Resident Evil introduces the highly virulent C-virus, and the manga explores the origins of this new outbreak.

The story begins with Doug Wright.  He is a professor in the Department of Sciences and Engineering at Bennett University, and he specializes in bacteriology.  He receives a letter from Mother Gracia, headmistress of Marhawa Academy, Asia's largest and most prestigious school.  Wright, who had a past relationship with Gracia, rushes to the school, with his nephew, 20-year-old Ricky Tozawa, in tow.  Deep in the jungle, Marhawa Academy is located within a giant, self-contained and self-sufficient complex.  There, Prof. Wright and Ricky find themselves caught in a deadly and growing tragedy that is an epidemic of zombie proportions.

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire, Vol. 5 (Chapters 33 to 39 – Final Chapter) opens as the remaining humans in the Marhawa Academy complex make their last stand against a legion of students, faculty, and staff turned zombies.  Ricky has joined a three-person team from the B.S.A.A. (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance):  Chris Redfield (team leader), Merah Biji, and Piers Nivens.

They believe that they have found a way to escape the campus, but before they do that, they must fight their way not only through zombies, but also through monsters.  The bio-organic weapon (B.O.W.), Nanan Yoshihara, swings her horrible tentacles when she isn't spewing deadly virus gas, and Bendi Bergara has undergone a horrible transformation.  Meanwhile, the Hooded Woman lurks in the background, carrying the truth behind the Marhawa Incident.

[This volume includes a “Special Epilogue.”]

Sigh.  The Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire manga has come to an end.  I want more.  No, I have never played any Resident Evil video games, nor do I play video games in general.  I have not read previous Resident Evil comics, but I am a fan of the Resident Evil live-action film franchise that began with the 2002 film, Resident Evil.  I enjoyed reading the manga more than I have enjoyed watching the films, which I have, for the most part, found entertaining.

Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire Volume 5 offers a satisfying ending, relatively speaking.  Zombie apocalyptic fiction has to break your heart for every time it gives you a good outcome.  Writer-artist Naoki Serizawa gleefully poured on the gore and violence, and he gave us some attractive characters, so that he could use some of them to break our hearts.  He put the reader right in the middle of the action.  I felt that I had to run every time the heroes did, and I felt like every page was about a fight for my life, just as the heroes were fighting for their lives.

Yeah, you might say that this is “just” a Resident Evil comic, so it can't be that good.  Well, it is just a great Resident Evil comic, and it is that good because it is classic monster comics.  Read it by flashlight, under a bed sheet, while something scratches at your window.  Fans of horror manga and zombie comics will want the VIZ Signature title, Resident Evil: The Marhawa Desire.

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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux (Support Leroy on Patreon)


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