Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 30, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV181444    ACTUAL ROGER #1 (OF 5)    $1.50
OCT181336    ANIMOSITY EVOLUTION #10 (MR)    $3.99
NOV182278    ARAKAWA UNDER THE BRIDGE GN VOL 05    $17.95
SEP181901    BAD MACHINERY POCKET ED GN VOL 07 CASE FORKED ROAD    $12.99
NOV181617    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 (MR)    $5.99
NOV181626    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 BONDAGE (MR)    $5.99
NOV181627    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 BONDAGE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181640    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 KILLER BODY (MR)    $5.99
NOV181641    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 KILLER BODY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181618    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181630    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 PAINTED (MR)    $5.99
NOV181622    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 SHIELD MAIDEN (MR)    $5.99
NOV181623    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 SHIELD MAIDEN NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181632    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 SIMMERING RAGE (MR)    $5.99
NOV181633    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 SIMMERING RAGE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181634    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 STUNNING (MR)    $5.99
NOV181635    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 STUNNING NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181628    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 VIKING VIXEN (MR)    $5.99
NOV181629    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 VIKING VIXEN NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181636    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 WAR CRY (MR)    $5.99
NOV181637    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 WAR CRY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181620    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #11 WRAP (MR)    $5.99
NOV181523    BETTY & VERONICA #2 (OF 5) CVR A LANZ    $3.99
NOV181524    BETTY & VERONICA #2 (OF 5) CVR B FISH    $3.99
NOV181525    BETTY & VERONICA #2 (OF 5) CVR C SOOK    $3.99
NOV181547    BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #270    $6.99
NOV181809    BIRD & SQUIRREL GN HC VOL 05 ALL TANGLED UP    $18.99
NOV181808    BIRD & SQUIRREL GN VOL 05 ALL TANGLED UP    $9.99
NOV182102    BLACK KNIGHT #4 (OF 5) CVR A RIVEIRO    $3.99
NOV182103    BLACK KNIGHT #4 (OF 5) CVR B CASALLOS    $3.99
NOV182104    BLACK KNIGHT #4 (OF 5) CVR C BURNS    $3.99
NOV182105    BLACK KNIGHT #4 (OF 5) CVR D ATKINS    $3.99
NOV182043    BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT #3 CVR A MASSAFERA    $3.99
NOV182044    BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT #3 CVR B TOLIBAO    $3.99
AUG181493    CASPER CAPERS #3 KREMER VINTAGE LTD ED CVR    $3.99
AUG181492    CASPER CAPERS #3 SCHERER MAIN CVR    $3.99
NOV181869    CATALYST PRIME INCIDENTALS #15    $3.99
NOV181871    CATALYST PRIME KINO #13    $3.99
SEP181461    CAVEWOMAN A WIZARD A SORCERESS AND MERIEM #1 (OF 1) CVR G TA    $PI
SEP181907    COURTNEY CRUMRIN TP VOL 04 MONSTROUS HOLIDAY    $12.99
DEC182028    CYBER SPECTRE #1 2ND PRINTING    $3.99
DEC181878    DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER HC VOL 01 JOURNEY BEGINS    $24.99
SEP182100    DEEP ROOTS TP VOL 01 (MR)    $19.99
DEC181815    DF BATMAN #50 CSA EXC SGN BROOKS & KING    $69.99
DEC181814    DF BATMAN #50 SGN JOHNSON & KING    $39.99
NOV181724    DF BATMAN #50 SKETCH CGC GRADED EXC    $499.99
JUN181700    DF CATWOMAN #1 ARTGERM LAU CGC GRADED    $89.99
FEB181512    DF DAMNATION GHOST RIDER #1 CHRIS SEBELA SGN ED    $19.72
DEC181817    DF DARK NIGHTS METAL #5 COMICON SGN SNYDER & CAPULLO    $99.99
DEC181829    DF DC COMICS SAINT VALENTINES CELEBRATION PACK    $29.99
DEC181816    DF HEROES IN CRISIS #1 SGN KING    $89.99
DEC181830    DF MARVEL COMICS SAINT VALENTINES CELEBRATION PACK    $29.99
JUL181833    DF MMPR SHATTERED GRID #1 CGC GRADED    $89.99
DEC181831    DF MULTI PUB SAINT VALENTINES CELEBRATION PACK    $29.99
NOV182012    DOCTOR WHO 13TH #0 NYCC EXC CVR    $10.00
NOV181438    EDGAR ALLAN POE`S SNIFTER OF TERROR #4 (MR)    $3.99
DEC181866    EIGHTBALL PUSSEY TP (CURR PTG) (MR)    $12.95
NOV181446    FEAST OR FAMINE #2 (OF 3)    $1.50
NOV182177    FOR THE KID I SAW IN MY DREAMS GN VOL 01    $17.00
NOV181389    GIANT SIZE JINGLES #1 (OF 1)    $4.00
SEP182011    GIRL WHO DANCED WITH DEATH MIL SAGA TP    $22.99
NOV182235    GOLOSSEUM GN VOL 05    $12.99
NOV182094    GRIMM UNIVERSE PRESENTS 2019 #1 (OF 1) CVR A DIAZ    $7.99
NOV182095    GRIMM UNIVERSE PRESENTS 2019 #1 (OF 1) CVR B SANTACRUZ    $7.99
NOV182096    GRIMM UNIVERSE PRESENTS 2019 #1 (OF 1) CVR C ROYLE    $7.99
NOV182097    GRIMM UNIVERSE PRESENTS 2019 #1 (OF 1) CVR D TOLIBAO    $7.99
OCT181341    HER INFERNAL DESCENT TP VOL 01    $14.99
NOV181862    HERAKLES HC BOOK 02    $19.99
NOV181936    HILO GN VOL 05 THEN EVERYTHING WENT WRONG    $13.99
NOV181447    ICYMI #1    $0.99
NOV181890    INVADER ZIM #39 CVR A    $3.99
NOV181891    INVADER ZIM #39 CVR B    $3.99
NOV181980    JOHN CARPENTER TALES OF SCI FI TWITCH #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
OCT182053    KONOHANA KITAN MANGA GN VOL 03 (RES)    $12.99
SEP181908    LETTER 44 DLX HC VOL 02 (MR)    $59.99
NOV181990    LIFE IS STRANGE #3 CVR A LEONARDI    $3.99
NOV181991    LIFE IS STRANGE #3 CVR B GAME ART    $3.99
NOV181992    LIFE IS STRANGE #3 CVR C TSHIRT    $3.99
DEC181915    LOIS LOWRY GIVER GN    $22.99
NOV181911    LOUD HOUSE 3IN1 GN    $14.99
NOV181836    MIDWAY FROM PAGES OF COMBAT ONE SHOT GLANZMAN CVR    $9.99
OCT181956    NEWBURY & HOBBES #4 (OF 4) UNDYING CVR A BOULTWOOD    $3.99
OCT181957    NEWBURY & HOBBES #4 (OF 4) UNDYING CVR B WILDGOOSE    $3.99
NOV181810    NEWSPRINTS GN VOL 02 ENDGAMES    $12.99
NOV181811    NEWSPRINTS HC GN VOL 02 ENDGAMES    $24.99
SEP181519    NU WAY #5 CVR A KONAT    $3.99
SEP181520    NU WAY #5 CVR B MAVINGA    $3.99
OCT181887    OBLIV18N #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV181979    ODDWELL #5    $3.99
SEP181359    POWERS IN ACTION #1    $3.99
NOV181542    REGGIE & ME TP VOL 01    $10.99
NOV181892    RICK & MORTY #46 CVR A    $3.99
NOV181893    RICK & MORTY #46 CVR B    $3.99
NOV182016    RIVERS OF LONDON #4 (OF 4) ACTION AT A DISTANCE (MR)    $3.99
NOV182005    ROBOTECH #13 NYCC PARENT EXCLUSIVE    $5.00
JUN182014    SALAMMBO HC    $39.99
NOV182237    SEVEN DEADLY SINS GN VOL 30    $10.99
NOV182008    SHADES OF MAGIC #1 (OF 4) STEEL PRINCE NYCC COKER VAR    $5.00
NOV181957    SHADOWPLAY #1    $3.99
JUN181926    SISTERS BOX SET VOL 1-3    $29.99
OCT182013    SUBMERGED GN VOL 01 (MR)    $14.99
AUG182242    TANK GIRL ALL STARS HC (MR)    $29.99
NOV181672    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #114 (MR)    $2.95
OCT181538    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 (MR)    $5.99
OCT181561    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 BEASTLY (MR)    $5.99
OCT181562    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 BEASTLY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181553    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 BONDAGE (MR)    $5.99
OCT181554    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 BONDAGE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181565    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 CAT FIGHT (MR)    $5.99
OCT181566    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 CATFIGHT NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181541    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 GODDESS (MR)    $5.99
OCT181542    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 GODDESS NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181568    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 LUSCIOUS (MR)    $5.99
OCT181569    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 LUSCIOUS NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181539    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181556    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 PANDORA (MR)    $5.99
OCT181547    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 PANDORA FINCH NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181557    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 PANDORA NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181548    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 PANDORA RIO NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181551    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 PRIMAL (MR)    $5.99
OCT181552    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 PRIMAL NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181549    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 REBEL (MR)    $5.99
OCT181550    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 REBEL NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181559    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 STUNNING (MR)    $5.99
OCT181560    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 STUNNING NUDE (MR)    $7.99
OCT181544    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 WRAP (MR)    $5.99
OCT181545    THRESHOLD ALLURE #0 WRAP NUDE (MR)    $7.99
NOV181856    TO DRINK & TO EAT HC VOL 01    $24.99
NOV181448    UNIT 44 #1 (OF 4)    $1.50
AUG181445    VAMPBLADE SEASON 3 #8 CVR A COSTA (MR)    $4.99
AUG181446    VAMPBLADE SEASON 3 #8 CVR B COSTA RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
AUG181447    VAMPBLADE SEASON 3 #8 CVR C MASTAJWOOD (MR)    $4.99
AUG181448    VAMPBLADE SEASON 3 #8 CVR D MASTAJWOOD RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
AUG181449    VAMPBLADE SEASON 3 #8 CVR E MENDOZA (MR)    $4.99
AUG181450    VAMPBLADE SEASON 3 #8 CVR F MENDOZA RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
OCT181339    VOLITION #4    $3.99
OCT182052    YURI BEAR STORM MANGA GN VOL 01 YURIKUMA    $12.99
NOV181417    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 CVR A WINSTON YOUNG (MR)    $4.99
NOV181418    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 CVR B WINSTON YOUNG RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
NOV181419    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 CVR C TURNER (MR)    $4.99
NOV181420    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 CVR D TURNER RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
NOV181421    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 CVR E MENDOZA RISQUE A (MR)    $4.99
NOV181422    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 CVR F MENDOZA RISQUE B (MR)    $4.99
NOV181423    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 MENDOZA DELUXE CVR A (MR)    $9.99
NOV181424    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #56 MENDOZA DELUXE RISQUE CVR B (MR)    $9.99
JUL181555    ZORRO LEGENDARY ADVENTURES #2 BLAZING BLADES OF ZORRO LTD ED    $9.99
JUL181554    ZORRO LEGENDARY ADVENTURES #2 MAIN CVR    $3.99

MAGAZINES
DEC182006    CARTOONS MAGAZINE #19    $5.99
NOV181701    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1650    $PI
NOV181823    HORRORHOUND #75    $6.99

BOOKS
DEC181797    BIG BOOK OF SUPER HERO BEDTIME STORIES HC (RES)    $16.99
NOV182264    BOOGIEPOP .LIGHT NOVEL OMNIBUS VOL 02 (MR)    $18.99
NOV181835    BRIAN FROUDS WORLD OF FAERIE HC REVISED & EXPANDED    $35.00
NOV181499    CICADA HC PICTURE BOOK    $19.99
NOV181934    DC SUPER FRIENDS BE BRAVE LIKE BATMAN HC    $9.99
DEC182049    DC SUPER VILLAINS ORIGINS YR TP BIZARRO    $4.95
DEC182050    DC SUPER VILLAINS ORIGINS YR TP CATWOMAN    $4.95
DEC182051    DC SUPER VILLAINS ORIGINS YR TP JOKER    $4.95
DEC182052    DC SUPER VILLAINS ORIGINS YR TP LEX LUTHOR    $4.95
DEC181761    FAMILY IS A SUPERPOWER HC    $16.95
DEC182053    JUNIOR HIGH DRAMA GN    $14.95
OCT181880    LEGO HARRY POTTER ACTIVITY BOOK WITH MINI FIGURE    $8.99
DEC181762    SOCCER SHOWDOWN US WOMEN 1999 WORLD CUP WIN YA GN    $7.95
DEC181763    WIN FOR WOMEN KING TAKES DOWN RIGGS YA GN    $7.95

Review: SCARLETT'S STRIKE FORCE #1

SCARLETT'S STRIKE FORCE No. 1
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Aubrey Sitterson
ART: Nelson Daniel
COLORS: Ryan Hill
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER: Harvey Tolibao with Chris Allo
VARIANT COVERS: Nelson Daniel; Matt Horak with Ryan Hill; Luca Pizzari
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Marvel Comics and writer Larry Hama conceived and designed what would become the long running war-themed action figure and toy line, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, an update of the original “G.I. Joe” toy line (1964).  One of the characters they created was Scarlett, an original member of the “G.I. Joe Team.”  The members of the G.I. Joe Team are the good guys, and they fight Cobra, the worldwide terrorist organization, and its agents.

Marvel Comics even produced the G.I. Joe comic book (G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #1 – June 1982) and several related series, beginning in 1982.  Since 2008, IDW Publishing is the holder of the license to produce comic books based on the G.I. Joe property.  IDW's latest G.I. Joe related comic book series is Scarlett's Strike Force.  It is written by Aubrey Sitterson; drawn by Nelson Daniel; colored by Ryan Hill; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.

Scarlett's Strike Force #1 finds a Joe's team fighting mutated insects under the control of “Cesspool,” a Cobra official.  From Cobra's hidden base, the new “Cobra Commander” initiates a plan to create Cobra's new, monstrous foot soldiers.  Meanwhile, at the underwater G.I. Joe base, Lemuria, Scarlett and G.I. Joe field commander, Roadblock, launch a new strike team to take down the new Cobra Commander.  Rock 'n Roll, Quick Kick, Skywarp, Spirit, Cover Girl, Salva, Spitfire, Gung-Ho, Doc, Lady Jaye, Spectrum, Grand Slam, Lift Ticket: who will make Scarlett's Strike Force?

According to IDW, people are calling Scarlett's Strike Force “the best action comic ever!”  Of course, what I am about to say will seem snarky, but those people must have read a Scarlett's Strike Force #1 that is vastly different from the one I read.  Scarlett's Strike Force #1 is a bad comic book; in fact, I would have to be generous to even call it mediocre.  The story is poor, but to be honest, it does have the kind of dead-ahead, breakneck pace that a good action comic book needs.

The art is bad.  It is not that Nelson Daniel cannot draw.  Of course, he can; IDW would not give him an assignment if he could not draw.  The quality of Daniel's illustrations are the problem, however; at this point, Daniel's work would be appropriate for self-publishing via print-on-demand printing.  To charge readers $3.99 for a comic book featuring Daniel's awkward, unpolished art is quite frankly dishonest on IDW's part.

Well, the lettering by Taylor Esposito is pretty good.  If this comic book convinces anyone that it contains a good action story, that is because Esposito's lettering graphically provides most of this story's spark.  By the way, I think IDW may have already decided to cancel Scarlett's Strike Force after the third issue.

2 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: STAR WARS: The Last Jedi - The Storms of Crait #1

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI – THE STORMS OF CRAIT #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Ben Acker and Ben Blacker
ART: Mike Mayhew
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Marco Checchetto
VARIANT COVERS: Caspar Wijingaard; Movie Cover
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2018)

Rated “T”

“Storms of Crait”

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Storms of Crait #1 is a one-shot comic book.  It is a tie-in to Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), the second film in the “sequel trilogy” (after 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens).  The story is set on the planet of Crait, which plays a pivotal role in the last act of The last Jedi and which is also a setting of the 2017 novel, Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Leia, Princess of Alderaan (Claudia Gray, Disney Lucasfilm Press).  The Storms of Crait is written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker; drawn and colored by Mike Mayhew; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Storms of Crait #1 is set after the events depicted in the original film, Star Wars (2017).  The leaders of the Rebel Alliance are looking for a new location to establish their secret base of operations.  Princess Leia Organa suggests Crait, a “dead planet,” a mining planet.  There, she hopes to make a deal with Trusk Berinato, an old friend of her late father.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, the hero of the Battle of Yavin, is struggling with what he sees as mundane duties.  What he seeks is action and adventure, not tasks that are similar to the old farm boy chores he did on his former home of Tatooine.  Also, Han Solo does not realize how much he has become protective of Leia.  Perhaps, Luke and Han will discover their true feelings when their mission on Crait suddenly turns complicated.

I am a fan of Mike Mayhew, especially of his Star Wars comic book art.  His photo-realistic style is perfect to capture the likeness of actors who have played classic Star Wars characters for comic book art.  In The Storms of Crait, his Princess Leia is the perfect likeness of a young Carrie Fisher.  Mayhew's Luke Skywalker and Han Solo don't capture young Mark Hamill and younger Harrison Ford, respectively, in the way he does Leia/Carrie Fisher.  Still, he is quite good at making Luke and Han's emotions and facial expressions seem genuine.  It is as if Mayhew captured those expressions in photographic images.

Mayhew's seeming dedication to Leia makes sense as writers Ben Acker and Ben Blacker make Leia the centerpiece of this story.  This scripting duo does a good job capturing the established personalities of Leia, Luke, and Han, and their scripts offers plenty of Star Wars battle action and even a surprising lightsaber duel.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Storms of Crait #1 is not a great comic, but it is an entertaining Star Wars comic book.  Marvel continues to do a good job publishing Star Wars comic book stories that take place in the time between Star Wars (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980).  Thus, regardless of how you might feel about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, dear readers, The Storms of Crait #1 is for classic, original trilogy era fans.

7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: WE NEVER LEARN Volume 1

WE NEVER LEARN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Taishi Tsutsui
TRANSLATION: Camellia Nieh
LETTERS: Erika Terriquez
EDITORS: John Bae; David Brothers
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0302-9; paperback (December 2018); Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

We Never Learn is a manga from creator Taishi Tsutsui.  The series focuses on a group of high school students struggling to overcome their worst subjects on top of managing crushes and burgeoning romance.  VIZ Media is publishing an English language edition of the manga in a series of graphic novels.  The series will be published bimonthly under VIZ's “Shonen Jump” imprint.

We Never Learn, Vol. 1 (Genius and [ x ] Are Two Sides of the Same Coin; Chapter 1 to 7) introduces Nariyuki Yuiga, a high school senior from an impoverished family.  He is eager to secure a full scholarship, known as “the Special VIP Recommendation,” to college before he graduates high school. His principal agrees to give it to him, but there is one stipulation.

Nariyuki must tutor the two smartest girls in school, Rizu Ogata and Fumino Furuhashi, and make sure they get into their target colleges.  However, each girl wants to focus on a subject area in which she is not at all good!

The We Never Learn manga is a high school romantic comedy.  Because most of the lead characters are female, one might assume that this is a shojo manga – comics for teen girls, but it can appeal to both male and female readers – teen and older.

We Never Learn Graphic Novel Volume 1 will remind readers of such shonen romantic comedies as the recent Nisekoi: False Love and the classic Strawberry 100%.  Like such manga, We Never Learn has at its center, a male character, who gets caught in a relationship circle that includes two girls, at least in the beginning.  We Never Learn has, to start, an attractive love triangle.

We Never Learn, like Nisekoi, has three nice characters to start the love triangle.  Both girls are really smart, and are also pretty (of course).  At first, Taishi Tsutsui focuses on the two girls' area of expertise, but with each chapter, we start to see more of their personalities.  There is some fanservice in the form of a bikini shots and boob grabbing, but this series will thrive the more we like these characters.  Well, this is a good start, and I think we will be looking forward to each new volume of We Never Learn.

8.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: PROXIMA CENTAURI #1

PROXIMA CENTAURI No. 1 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Farel Dalrymple
BACK COVER: Wes Craig
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 13, 2018 – Diamond ID: APR180475)

Rated T+ / Teen Plus

Proxima Centauri is a new miniseries written, drawn, colored, and lettered by Farel Dalrymple (Omega the Unknown).  On Image Comics' website, this six-issue comic book is described as a “psychedelic science fantasy action comic book drama.”

Proxima Centauri #1 opens 4.243 light-years from Earth on “Proxima Centauri,” the manufactured, Jupiter-sized, dimensional nexus sphere orbiting a red dwarf star.  “The Scientist” Duke Herzog, Dr. EXT the Time Traveler, the ghost M. Parasol, Shakey the Space Wizard, and Dhog Dahog are among the beings held captive in this “confounding spectral zone.”

One of the captives, however, is determined to escape.  He is the teenage wizard adventurer, Sherwood Breadcoat, and he hopes to find a way back to his brother, Orson.  While trying to escape, Sherwood will have to deal with his confusing emotions, alien creatures, and all sorts of unknown, fantastic dangers... and maybe even more.

I have been interested in reading a comic book featuring the work of cartoonist Farel Dalrymple for over a decade.  I had not heard of Proxima Centauri or had not paid attention to it until comic book writer, author, and screenwriter, Warren Ellis, mentioned Dalrymple and Promixa Centauri in a recent edition of his email/digital newsletter (“Orbital Operations”).  Ellis compared Dalrymple to the legendary comics creator, the late master, Jean “Moebius” Giraud.  As an admirer of all thing Moebius, I had to pick up at least the first issue.

Proxima Centuari #1 reminds me of Moebius' dream comics.  I love the art and graphical storytelling here, which is a graphics package of splash pages, half-splashes, double-page spreads, grids, narrative illustrations, collage-like pages, etc.  The drawings, colors, and lettering form one graphic unit, a stream of consciousness in the language of the comic book.

I am intrigued and invigorated, and I am still trying to figure it out.  Still, I recommend this just for the way Dalrymple is telling the story, and Proxima Centauri #1 is so damn beautiful to behold.

8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for January 23, 2019

BOOM! STUDIOS

NOV181302    (USE DEC188260) BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 MAIN    $3.99
NOV188585    AVANT-GUARDS #1 (OF 12) FOC KEENAN INCV    $3.99
NOV181300    AVANT-GUARDS #1 (OF 12) MAIN    $3.99
NOV181301    AVANT-GUARDS #1 (OF 12) PREORDER FISH VAR    $3.99
NOV181304    BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 DUNLAP VIRGIN VAR    $3.99
OCT188638    BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 FOC SLAYER MERCADO INCV    $3.99
OCT188640    BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 FOC VAMP MERCADO INCV    $3.99
NOV181305    BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 PREORDER CAREY VAR    $3.99
NOV181303    BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 WADA VAR    $3.99
NOV181344    JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #6 (OF 12) MAIN CVR DEWEY    $3.99
NOV181345    JIM HENSON BENEATH DARK CRYSTAL #6 (OF 12) PREORDER PETERSEN    $3.99
NOV181336    LOW ROAD WEST #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP181333    NUCLEAR WINTER ORIGINAL GN VOL 02    $9.99
NOV181356    OVER GARDEN WALL HOLLOW TOWN #5 (OF 5) MAIN    $3.99
NOV181357    OVER GARDEN WALL HOLLOW TOWN #5 (OF 5) PREORDER HALL VAR    $3.99
NOV181355    SMOOTH CRIMINALS #3 (OF 12)    $3.99
SEP181314    SONS OF ANARCHY LEGACY ED TP VOL 01 (MR)    $29.99
NOV181362    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #24 MAIN PENA CVR    $3.99
NOV181363    STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #24 PREORDER SOUTO VAR    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 23, 2019

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV180211    ALIENS RESISTANCE #1 CVR A LA TORRE    $3.99
NOV180212    ALIENS RESISTANCE #1 CVR B JONES    $3.99
SEP180315    DANGANRONPA 2 TP VOL 02 ULTIMATE LUCK AND HOPE AND DESPAIR (    $12.99
JUN180343    EMPOWERED & SISTAH SPOOKYS HIGH SCHOOL HELL TP    $19.99
NOV180228    HELLBOY AND BPRD 1956 #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV180258    LIGHTSTEP #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP180287    POLAR HC VOL 01 CAME FROM THE COLD SECOND EDITION    $19.99
SEP180261    PROBLEM OF SUSAN AND OTHER STORIES HC    $17.99
NOV180273    STARCRAFT SOLDIERS #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
NOV180276    WITCHER #2 OF FLESH & FLAME    $3.99