Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 10, 2019

MARVEL COMICS

MAY190892    AGE OF X-MAN APOCALYPSE AND X-TRACTS #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAY190815    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25    $7.99
MAY190824    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25 BLANK VAR    $7.99
MAY190820    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25 GLEASON VAR    $7.99
MAY190822    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25 NAUCK CARNAGE-IZED VAR    $7.99
MAY190823    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25 POP CHART VAR    $7.99
MAY190744    AVENGERS #21    $3.99
MAY190745    AVENGERS #21 CHEUNG CARNAGE-IZED VAR    $3.99
APR198851    BLACK CAT #1 2ND PTG FOREMAN VAR    $4.99
MAY190834    BLACK CAT #2    $3.99
MAY190837    BLACK CAT #2 BROOKS CARNAGE-IZED VAR    $3.99
MAY190812    CHAMPIONS #7    $3.99
APR190955    DECADES MARVEL IN 00S TP HITTING HEADLINES    $24.99
APR190964    FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 SECRETS AND RUMOR    $17.99
MAY190778    GIANT SIZE X-STATIX #1    $4.99
MAY190779    GIANT SIZE X-STATIX #1 KUDER VAR    $4.99
MAY190740    INVISIBLE WOMAN #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAY190743    INVISIBLE WOMAN #1 (OF 5) HANS VAR    $3.99
MAY190872    IRONHEART #8    $3.99
APR190962    IRONHEART TP VOL 01 THOSE WITH COURAGE    $17.99
APR190985    MARVEL GRAPHIC COMIC BOXES X-MEN (BUNDLE OF 5)    $50.00
APR190953    MARVEL MONOGRAPH TP VOL 01 J SCOTT CAMPBELL COMPLETE COVERS    $19.99
MAY190804    MARVEL TALES CAPTAIN AMERICA #1    $7.99
MAY190829    MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #8    $3.99
JAN191092    MMW CAPTAIN AMERICA HC VOL 11    $75.00
JAN191093    MMW CAPTAIN AMERICA HC VOL 11 DM VAR ED 277    $75.00
APR190969    NEW MUTANTS EPIC COLLECTION TP DEMON BEAR SAGA    $39.99
APR190974    NEW X-MEN COMPANION TP    $39.99
APR198852    SAVAGE AVENGERS #2 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR    $3.99
MAY190910    SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #7    $3.99
MAY190786    SECRET WARPS WEAPON HEX ANNUAL #1    $4.99
MAY190787    SECRET WARPS WEAPON HEX ANNUAL #1 PACHECO CONNECTING VAR    $4.99
APR190961    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL TP VOL 09 EVENTPOOL    $15.99
MAY190912    STAR WARS #68    $3.99
MAY190913    STAR WARS #68 ANDREWS GREATEST MOMENTS VAR    $3.99
MAY190914    STAR WARS #68 CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
MAY190924    STAR WARS AOR CAPTAIN PHASMA #1    $3.99
MAY190927    STAR WARS AOR CAPTAIN PHASMA #1 CONCEPT VAR    $3.99
MAY190925    STAR WARS AOR CAPTAIN PHASMA #1 MCKONE PUZZLE PC VAR    $3.99
MAY190839    SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAY190840    SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN #4 (OF 5) LIM VAR    $3.99
MAY190797    THOR #15    $3.99
MAY190798    THOR #15 MCKONE CARNAGE-IZED VAR    $3.99
MAY190767    TRUE BELIEVERS ABSOLUTE CARNAGE CARNAGE #1    $1.00
MAY190768    TRUE BELIEVERS ABSOLUTE CARNAGE VENOM VS CARNAGE #1    $1.00
MAY190827    VENOM #16    $3.99
MAY190828    VENOM #16 LIM CARNAGE-IZED VAR    $3.99
APR198853    WAR OF REALMS NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS #3 (OF 4) 2ND PTG VAR    $3.99
MAY190726    WAR OF REALMS OMEGA #1 GARNEY VAR    $4.99
MAY190724    WAR OF REALMS OMEGA #1 WR    $4.99
APR190980    WEIRDWORLD TP DRAGONMASTER OF KLARN    $15.99
MAY190782    WOLVERINE AND CAPTAIN AMERICA WEAPON PLUS #1    $4.99
MAY190783    WOLVERINE AND CAPTAIN AMERICA WEAPON PLUS #1 BACHALO VAR    $4.99
MAY190799    WOLVERINE VS BLADE SPECIAL #1 (MR)    $5.99
MAY190800    WOLVERINE VS BLADE SPECIAL #1 SCALERA VAR (MR)    $5.99
MAY190763    X-MEN #1 FACSIMILE EDITION    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for July 10, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAY191838    13 ASTONISHING LIVES OF THE NEUROMANTICS GN (MR)    $19.99
MAY191699    ADVENTURE ZONE HC GN VOL 02 MURDER ON ROCKPORT LIMITED    $26.99
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MAY192056    BELLE OATH OF THORNS #1 CVR G BLANK SKETCH    $10.00
APR191721    BLUBBER #5 (RES) (MR)    $4.99
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APR191950    CARPENTER TALES SCI FI NUCLEAR ATTACK #2 (MR)    $3.99
MAR191876    CATALYST PRIME INCIDENTALS #19    $3.99
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APR192311    CERTAIN SCIENTIFIC RAILGUN ASTRAL BUDDY GN VOL 02    $12.99
APR192312    CITRUS GN VOL 10 (MR)    $13.99
MAY191274    COLD BLOOD SAMURAI #5    $3.99
MAY192107    COYOTE GN VOL 02 (MR)    $12.99
MAY192108    CRIMSON SPELL GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
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MAY191659    DF BATMAN #50 CSA EXC SILVER SGN BROOKS & KING    $80.00
MAY191660    DF DAREDEVIL #600 CSA EXC SGN MILLER & GRANOV    $299.99
APR191676    DF DCEASED #1 SGN GAUDIANO    $19.39
MAY181638    DF INJUSTICE VS HE MAN #1 SGN TIM SEELY    $19.80
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APR192315    DREAMIN SUN GN VOL 09 (RES)    $12.99
MAR191899    EMILINE KNIGHT IN TRAINING HC    $12.99
MAY192016    FALLEN WORLD #3 (OF 5) CVR A BOOTH    $3.99
MAY192017    FALLEN WORLD #3 (OF 5) CVR B DAGNINO    $3.99
MAY192018    FALLEN WORLD #3 (OF 5) CVR C WIJNGAARD    $3.99
MAY191930    FARLAINE GOBLIN TP VOL 02    $17.00
FEB192148    FUTARIBEYA MANGA GN VOL 05 ROOM FOR TWO    $12.99
MAY192195    GABRIEL DROPOUT GN VOL 07    $13.00
MAY192049    GENESIS ONE POPPY GN    $24.99
FEB191903    GERONIMO STILTON REPORTER HC VOL 02 ITS MY SCOOP    $9.99
MAY192061    GFT PRESENTS SWIMSUIT EDITION 2019 ONE SHOT #1 CVR A REYES    $5.99
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MAY192063    GFT PRESENTS SWIMSUIT EDITION 2019 ONE SHOT #1 CVR C SANTACR    $5.99
MAY192064    GFT PRESENTS SWIMSUIT EDITION 2019 ONE SHOT #1 CVR D DIPASCA    $5.99
MAY192232    GRAND BLUE DREAMING GN VOL 07 (MR)    $12.99
MAY191702    GRIMOIRE NOIR GN    $17.99
MAY191703    GRIMOIRE NOIR HC GN    $24.99
MAY191801    HERAKLES HC BOOK 03    $19.99
MAY192031    INCURSION TP VOL 01    $14.99
APR191823    INFINITY 8 HC VOL 04 SYMBOLIC GUERRILLA    $19.99
MAY192138    LEGEND OF ZELDA TWILIGHT PRINCESS GN VOL 05    $9.99
JAN192139    LENORE PINK BELLIES HC (MR)    $17.99
MAY191434    LOLA XOXO VOL 3 #1 CVR A    $3.99
MAY191435    LOLA XOXO VOL 3 #1 CVR B    $3.99
APR191843    LOVE A DISCOVERY IN COMICS HC    $18.99
APR191638    MERCY SPARX #13 (MR)    $4.99
MAR192015    MINIONS COLLECTION TP    $12.99
MAY191277    MIRACULOUS TALES LADYBUG CAT NOIR TP S2 VOL 08 TEAR OF JOY    $8.99
MAY192267    MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING GLORY OF THE LOSERS GN VOL 13    $12.95
MAR191456    MOBSTER GRAVEYARD #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAY191844    MORNING IN AMERICA #5    $3.99
APR191313    OBERON #5    $3.99
MAY191318    ORPHAN AGE #4    $3.99
APR192323    OUR DREAMS AT DUSK SHIMANAMI TASOGARE GN VOL 02 (MR)    $12.99
MAY192130    PERSONA 3 GN VOL 10    $13.99
MAR191458    PUNCHLINE #7 CVR B LONG SHOT VAR    $9.99
MAR191457    PUNCHLINE #7 MAIN CVR    $3.99
MAY192165    RIN-NE GN VOL 30    $9.99
MAY191956    ROBOTECH #22 CVR A SPOKES    $3.99
MAY191957    ROBOTECH #22 CVR B VEHICLE ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
MAY191958    ROBOTECH #22 CVR C BROKENSHIRE    $3.99
MAY191323    SECOND COMING #1 CVR A CONNER (MR)    $3.99
MAY191324    SECOND COMING #1 CVR B PACE (MR)    $3.99
APR191980    SHADES OF MAGIC #7 CVR A HERVAS    $3.99
APR191981    SHADES OF MAGIC #7 CVR B OLIMPIERI    $3.99
MAY191750    SHANGHAI DREAM TP (MR)    $17.95
APR192327    SORCEROUS STABBER ORPHEN GN VOL 02 HEED MY CALL PT2    $12.99
MAR191985    SOURCE #4 CVR A (RES)    $3.99
MAY191798    STILETTO TP VOL 01    $14.99
MAY191746    STRANGELANDS #1 CVR A MCKONE    $3.99
APR191399    STRONG BOX BIG BAD BOOK OF BOON #1 (OF 8)    $3.99
MAR191543    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 (MR)    $5.99
MAR191548    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 ATTITUDE (MR)    $5.99
MAR191549    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 ATTITUDE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191560    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 BEACH BABE (MR)    $5.99
MAR191561    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 BEACH BABE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191554    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 BLOWN AWAY (MR)    $5.99
MAR191555    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 BLOWN AWAY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191546    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 FEMME FATALE (MR)    $5.99
MAR191547    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 FEMME FATALE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191552    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 KILLER BODY (MR)    $5.99
MAR191553    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 KILLER BODY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191544    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191550    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 STUNNING (MR)    $5.99
MAR191551    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 STUNNING NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191563    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 SULTRY (MR)    $5.99
MAR191564    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 SULTRY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191557    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 WRAP (MR)    $5.99
MAR191558    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #1 WRAP NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAY191996    UPTON SINCLAIR THE JUNGLE GN    $24.99
MAR191347    VAMPBLADE SEASON 4 #2 CVR A BRAO (MR)    $4.99
MAR191348    VAMPBLADE SEASON 4 #2 CVR B BRAO RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
MAR191349    VAMPBLADE SEASON 4 #2 CVR C MACCAGNI (MR)    $4.99
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MAR191351    VAMPBLADE SEASON 4 #2 CVR E MARTIN (MR)    $4.99
MAR191352    VAMPBLADE SEASON 4 #2 CVR F MARTIN RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
MAY191937    WATCH DOGS #1 CVR A DAGNINO ART    $5.99
MAY191938    WATCH DOGS #1 CVR B HORNE    $5.99
APR191368    ZORRO MASTERS ALEX TOTH #1 LTD ED CVR TOTH    $9.99
APR191367    ZORRO MASTERS ALEX TOTH #1 MAIN CVR TOTH    $3.99

MAGAZINES
MAY191607    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1673    $PI
MAY191707    FILMFAX #154    $9.95
DEC181914    HORRORHOUND HALLOWEEN SPECIAL    $5.00

BOOKS
MAY191720    AVENGERS BATTLE ON MOON LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
MAY191890    CHILLING ADV OF SABRINA NOVEL SC VOL 01 SEASON OF WITCH    $9.99
MAY191877    DC SUPER FRIENDS BE BRAVE LIKE AQUAMAN SC    $5.99
MAY191721    DISNEY FROZEN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK LIBRARY    $24.95
MAY191722    DISNEY LION KING BIG GOLDEN BOOK    $10.99
MAY191723    DISNEY LION KING I AM SIMBA LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
MAY191724    DISNEY PIXAR TOY STORY LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK FAVORITES    $7.99
MAY192005    DON HECK WORK OF ART HC NEW ED    $14.99
MAY198009    DONALD DRAINS THE SWAMP HC    $19.99
MAY191815    FIRST DAY OF GROOT YR PICTURE BOOK    $12.99
MAY191725    FLUTTERSHYS FEROCIOUS FRIEND MLP LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
MAY191726    I AM HE-MAN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
MAY191727    I AM SHE-RA LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
APR192254    JK HARU IS SEX WORKER IN ANOTHER WORLD LIGHT NOVEL (MR)    $14.99
APR192255    LAST AND FIRST IDOL LIGHT NOVEL (MR)    $14.99
MAY191623    MAKING OF LION KING HC    $50.00
MAY191728    MINIONS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
APR192322    NEW GAME GN VOL 06    $13.99
MAY192046    POP MANGA DRAWIN 30 STEP BY STEP LESSONS SC    $16.99
MAR191977    SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 142 5 IVORY BOXES QUARTER OF 8    $14.95
MAR192284    SHIROBAKO ARTWORKS SC    $57.00
MAY191729    STAR TREK TOO MANY TRIBBLES LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
MAY191730    STAR WARS STARSHIPS SPEEDERS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
MAY191624    STAR WARS WHOS WHO CHARACTER STORYBOOK HC    $12.99
MAR191808    STNG USS ENTERPRISE NCC 1701D ILLUS HANDBOOK W COLLECTIBLE (    $49.95
MAY191625    TALES FROM HAUNTED MANSION HC MEMENTO MORI    $14.99
APR192349    TORADORA LIGHT NOVEL VOL 06    $13.99
DEC181844    WILD ADV OF ERB HC TARZAN & REVOLUTION    $34.95
DEC181843    WILD ADV OF ERB SC TARZAN & REVOLUTION    $19.95
MAY192004    WILL EISNER SPIRITED LIFE HC NEW PTG    $19.99

Review: KOMI CAN'T COMMUNICATE Volume 1

KOMI CAN'T COMMUNICATE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Tomohito Oda
TRANSLATION & ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: Eva Grandt
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0712-6; paperback (June 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Comi-San Wa, Comyusho Desu (Miss Komi is Bad at Communication) is the most recent shonen manga from creator, Tomohito Oda (whose previous manga was the series, Digicon).  VIZ Media is publishing Miss Komi is Bad at Communication in English in North America under the title, Komi Can't Communicate, as a graphic novel series.  Komi Can't Communicate focuses on a group of socially awkward high school students who try to help each other gain new friends and fit in with the other students.

Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 19) introduces a high school girl named Shoko Komi.  Her skin is porcelain, and her hair is silky.  Her large eyes are almond-shaped, and she smells good.  Komi is the most beautiful person most of her classmates have ever seen.  However, she has crippling social anxiety so bad that she can barely speak.  Most people think her silence is because of her “cool reserve,” so they keep their distance.  Her communication disorder is keeping her from making friends.

Into her life arrives a new classmate, an awkward boy named Hitohito Tadano.  He is timid and has average communication skills.  However, he recognizes that Komi is not aloof, but merely super awkward.  So Tadano decides to help Komi attain her goal of making 100 friends.  All he needs to do is get her to speak, a single conversation at a time.

[This volume includes bonus comics.]

I won't call the Komi Can't Communicate manga a great graphic novel... yet.  However, this series is one of those shonen (comics for teen boys) and shojo manga (comics for teen girls) mixes that offer readers young male and female characters forced together for a common goal, with some romantic elements, although that is not the central focus.

Komi Can't Communicate Graphic Novel Volume 1 is basically comprised of a series of comic situations.  The chapters vary wildly in size.  Many are only three to six pages each.  Others are 10 to 15 pages in length, with one being 19 pages long.  Regardless, Komi Can't Communicate is a situation comedy, and creator Tomohito Oda is quite adept at creating small situations out of this narrative's central conceit.

The characters have potential, but are mostly thin on personality this early in the series.  I have faith that over time, I will be surprised what depth they will gain.  John Werry, who writes the English adaptation for Komi Can't Communicate, shows quite a bit of skill at making the sometimes crazy, sometimes almost non-existent dialogue convey humor.

7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

----------------------

Review: Approbation's THE BEAST

THE BEAST - OGN
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Marcelo Salaza and Ricardo Mendez
COLORS: Schimerys Baal
LETTERS: Elisa Coletti
EDITORS: John P. Ward and Denise Thompson
COVER: Marcelo Salaza
48pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. / $2.99 U.S. comiXology; (2016; digital release date – August 31, 2016)

Rated: “M” for Mature / 17+ Only – comiXology rating

The Beast is a one-shot horror comic book from Approbation Comics.  It is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Marcelo Salaza and Ricardo Mendez; colored by Schimerys Baal; and lettered by Elisa Coletti.  The story focuses on a group of college friends (or “frenemies”), a mangled hunter, and an unidentifiable creature.

The Beast introduces college students:  Parker, Julia, Henry, Ben, Sue, Clark, Anna, and Kelly.  They take an RV into the woods to swim, to fun, and to fuck each other silly.  However, old rivalries and simmering grudges rear their ugly heads.  In fact, Ben is sure that Kelly is going to give him some shaky pudding, but he discovers something about her that brings out the beast in him.  Meanwhile, a hunter with a mangled arm and an unknown creature are awaiting them in the woods.

I have to say that The Beast is not one of Approbation Comics' better efforts, although it is an entertaining read.  As usual, however, B. Alex Thompson, the modern master of meat-grinder horror comics, turns in a gleefully violent tale of terror dismemberment

Artists Marcelo Salaza and Ricardo Mendez still seem to be in the awkward composition phase, but they work hard on the storytelling.  Colorist Schimerys Baal splashes enough red around to have us swimming in blood to read this comic book.  Letterer Elisa Coletti continues to keep lettering in Approbation Comics strong.

The Beast reminds me of Thompson's crazy-ass and crazy-as-hell original graphic novel, Southern Hospitality (which predates The Beast by a few years).  Both comics are about ordinary people who are really insane slash monstrous killers or are ordinary people who must learn to hack and slash other ordinary people to death.  As I said earlier, The Beast is not great, but this comic book is meat for the beast... you know is inside you.

6 out of 10

Buy The Beast at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------------

Review: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 (2019) – Legacy #276
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jason Aaron
ART: Mahmud Asrar
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Mark Basso
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Esad Ribić
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Daniel Acuna; Mahmud Asrar with Matthew Wilson; John Cassaday with Laura Martin; John Tyler Christopher; Kirbi Fagan; Adi Granov; Greg Hildebrandt; Esad Ribic; Jesus Saiz; Bill Sienkewicz; Skottie Young; Gerardo Zaffino with Rain Beredo
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2019)

Parental Advisory

Conan the Barbarian based on the “Conan” character created by Robert E. Howard

“The Life & Death of Conan” Part One: “The Weird of the Crimson Witch”

Conan the Cimmerian is a fictional “sword and sorcery” hero created by Robert E. Howard (REH).  Conan first appeared in the pulp fiction magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  Conan lived in Howard's fictional “Hyborian Age” and was a mercenary, outlaw, pirate, thief, warrior, and eventually a king, but because of his tribal origins, some characters that encountered him thought of Conan as a barbarian.

In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books with the series, Conan the Barbarian.  It is doing so again, having recently published the first issue of a revival of Conan the Barbarian.  It is written by Jason Aaron; drawn by Mahmud Asrar; colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by VC's Travis Lanham.

Conan the Barbarian #1 (“The Weird of the Crimson Witch”) opens sometimes during Conan the Cimmerian's prime as “a thief, a reaver, and a slayer.”  In Zamora, the city of thieves, his brutal prowess in the fights pits of Maul has attracted the attention of a comely young woman.

Conan has always cheated death, continues to cheat death, and perhaps, he always will?  The more he cheats death, the more his blood becomes imbued with the power of “Death Magic.”  It is that magic that the Crimson Witch and her death god, Razazel, needs.  Does King Conan know that?

The new Conan the Barbarian is a comic book that I can keep reading... at least for awhile.  For one, I am a fan of artist Mahmud Asrar and have been since I started seeing his work eight years ago.  His elegant compositions are pleasing to the eye, and his figure drawing creates the illusion of powerful figures in motion.  There is also a sense of dynamism even in characters that are depicted as moving not at all or as moving very little.

Colorist Matthew Wilson, one of best colorists working in comic book today, takes Asrar's beautiful art to an edgier place.  The red, yellow, and orange hues make the bloody sequences even bloodier, and the color turns the Crimson Witch's magic into a thing that rages and pulses.

Jason Aaron's story is good, but it is not as passionate as Asrar-Wilson's art.  However, Aaron has created a menace (the Crimson Witch) that it actually and legitimately dangerous to Conan, throughout his life.  I like that Aaron is willing to depict Conan as a brutal killer (and that Asrar and Wilson draws that cleaving, hacking, slashing, and beheading with glee).  Speaking of glee, the villains are gleefully murderous, and that is a good thing.  I have to give letterer Travis Lanham credit; he makes Aaron's script read like true-blue, bloody mayhem Conan the Barbarian.

Conan the Barbarian #1 (2019) is a good first issue.  It isn't great, but it doesn't have to be.  I was certainly hopeful that I would have a reason to be a regular reader of Conan the Barbarian again (which I have not been since the Reagan era).

7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

----------------------------------

Review: CHAOS CAMPUS #25

CHAOS CAMPUS: SORORITY GIRLS VS ZOMBIES No. 25
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Jose Henrique
COLORS: Anita Zaramella
LETTERS: Elisa M. Coletti
POST-SCRIPTING/POLISH: John P. Ward
EDITORS: B. Alex Thompson and John P. Ward
COVER: Jose Henrique
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (2015; digital release date – September 14, 2016)

Rated: Teen 13+ / 15+ Only – comiXology rating

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies created by B. Alex Thompson

“The Road to Salvation,” Part 1 of 4”

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies is a long-running horror-comedy and zombie apocalypse comic book series.  The creation of writer/comics impresario, B. Alex Thompson, Chaos  Campus is published by his company, Approbation Comics.  The series is set during a zombie invasion and follows the adventures of three members of the sorority, Epsilon Alpha Zeta Upsilon (EAZY):  ass-kickin’ Jamie Lynn Schaeffer, brainy and magic-wielding Paige Helena Patton, and sexy Brittany Ann Miller.

The previous story line, “The Pink,” ended with tragedy.  The new story line is the four-part “The Road to Salvation,” and it finds our heroines caught in a civil war, of sorts.  This story is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Jose Henrique; colored by Anita Zaramella; and lettered by Elisa M. Coletti.

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #25 opens to find Paige and Brittany imprisoned.  Luckily, the people doing the imprisoning surprisingly include Paige's brother, Tyler, and her mother, Morgan.  There is a happy reunion with Jamie, who is suspicious of their new circumstances.  But Jamie's troubles are just beginning.  Plus, meet the “Neo-Zombies.”

“The Road to Salvation” story line looks to be the next most-excellent Chaos Campus adventure arc.  This isn't the first time that an “evolved” zombie has appeared in the series, but this time, dear readers, we have the addition of some kooky family dynamics, via the Pattons, thrown into the mix.

Once, again we get a chance to enjoy creator-writer B. Alex Thompson's superb dialogue writing, especially in the case of Jamie's urban slash hip hop slang.  This “shiz” is not “wack,” and I am always impressed by how much “jive” Thompson can string together.

Jose Henrique's animation-inspired art offers excellent storytelling.  Anita Zaramella's anime-inspired coloring brings some extra zip to the story, a mixture of action, comedy, and action-comedy-horror.  Elisa M. Coletti's lettering and word balloons seem to dance away from intruding on the art, but adds some more zing to this spry episode.

I'll say something else that I have said before.  I don't know why Chaos Campus is not a multi-media franchise, already on our television and handheld device screens.

8 out of 10

Buy Chaos Campus #25 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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