Monday, March 22, 2021

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 24, 2021

IMAGE COMICS

JAN210078    BIG GIRLS TP VOL 01    $14.99
JAN210053    BITTER ROOT #11 CVR A GREENE (MR)    $3.99
NOV208210    BITTER ROOT #11 CVR B BLANK CVR (MR)    $3.99
JAN218668    CROSSOVER #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
JAN218669    CROSSOVER #3 2ND PTG    $3.99
JAN218664    DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1 4TH PTG (MR)    $3.99
JAN218666    DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #4 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
JAN218665    DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #5 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
AUG200343    DIE DIE DIE #14 (MR)    $3.99
JAN210087    GETTING IT TOGETHER TP (MR)    $14.99
JAN218667    HAHA #2 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
JAN210197    HAHA #3 (OF 6) CVR A LANGRIDGE (MR)    $3.99
JAN210198    HAHA #3 (OF 6) CVR B RENTLER (MR)    $3.99
JAN210056    MOONSHINE #23 (MR)    $3.99
JAN210145    NAILBITER TP VOL 08 (MR)    $16.99
JAN210205    NOMEN OMEN #13 (OF 15) CVR A CAMAGNI (MR)    $3.99
JAN210206    NOMEN OMEN #13 (OF 15) CVR B DELLEDERA (MR)    $3.99
JAN210207    POST AMERICANA #4 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
JAN210211    RAIN LIKE HAMMERS #3 (OF 5) (MR)    $4.99
JAN210214    SCUMBAG #6 CVR A BENGAL (MR)    $3.99
JAN210098    SCUMBAG TP VOL 01 (MR)    $9.99
OCT200046    SKYWARD HC    $39.99
JAN218693    STRAY DOGS #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
JAN210219    STRAY DOGS #2 CVR A FORSTNER & FLEECS    $3.99
JAN210220    STRAY DOGS #2 CVR B HORROR MOVIE VAR FORSTNER & FLEECS    $3.99
JAN210163    UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY TP VOL 02 (MR)    $16.99


Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 24, 2021

MARVEL COMICS

JAN210568    ALIEN #1    $4.99
JAN210581    ALIEN #1 BLACK BLANK VAR    $4.99
JAN210577    ALIEN #1 GLEASON VAR    $4.99
JAN210572    ALIEN #1 MOMOKO VAR    $4.99
JAN210574    ALIEN #1 NAUCK HEADSHOT VAR    $4.99
JAN210571    ALIEN #1 RON LIM VAR    $4.99
JAN210579    ALIEN #1 YOUNG VAR    $4.99
JAN210651    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #62    $3.99
JAN210653    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #62 LAND SPIDER-MAN-THING VAR    $3.99
SEP200711    AVENGERS GATHERING OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
SEP200712    AVENGERS GATHERING OMNIBUS HC DM VAR    $125.00
MAR201032    BLACK PANTHER #24    $3.99
JAN210682    BLACK PANTHER #24 BARTEL SHURI WOMENS HISTORY MONTH VAR    $3.99
JAN210683    BLACK PANTHER #24 MICHAEL CHO BLACK PANTHER TWO-TONE VAR    $3.99
MAR201033    BLACK PANTHER #24 QUINONES VAR    $3.99
JAN210631    CABLE #9    $3.99
JAN210599    CARNAGE BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD #1 (OF 4)    $4.99
DEC208251    CARNAGE BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD #1 (OF 4) GLEASON WEBHEAD VAR    $4.99
JAN210600    CARNAGE BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD #1 (OF 4) INHYUK LEE VAR    $4.99
JAN210601    CARNAGE BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD #1 (OF 4) OTTLEY VAR    $4.99
DEC200661    CONAN THE BARBARIAN BY JIM ZUB TP VOL 01 INTO THE CRUCIBLE    $17.99
JAN210632    EXCALIBUR #19    $3.99
DEC200676    FANTASTIC FOUR EPIC COLL TP MASTER PLAN OF DOOM NEW PTG    $39.99
JAN210689    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #12    $3.99
JAN210690    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #12 HETRICK GAMORA-THING VAR    $3.99
JAN210537    KING IN BLACK SCREAM #1    $4.99
JAN210539    KING IN BLACK SCREAM #1 BROWN VAR    $4.99
JAN210538    KING IN BLACK SCREAM #1 SILVA STORMBREAKERS VAR    $4.99
JAN210667    MAESTRO WAR AND PAX #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN210668    MAESTRO WAR AND PAX #3 (OF 5) JIMENEZ VAR    $3.99
SEP200724    MARVEL PORTFOLIO HC PEACH MOMOKO    $50.00
FEB210002    MARVEL PREVIEWS VOL 05 #10 APRIL 2021 EXTRAS    $1.25
JAN210646    MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #24    $3.99
JAN210647    MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #24 LASHLEY MILES-THING VAR    $3.99
SEP200717    MMW DAZZLER HC VOL 02    $75.00
SEP200718    MMW DAZZLER HC VOL 02 DM VAR    $75.00
SEP200719    MMW INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 13    $75.00
SEP200720    MMW INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 13 DM VAR    $75.00
SEP200721    PUNISHER WELCOME BACK FRANK MARVEL SELECT HC    $29.99
JAN210547    SAVAGE AVENGERS #19 KIB    $3.99
JAN210548    SAVAGE AVENGERS #19 MICHAEL CHO BLACK WIDOW TWO-TONE VAR KIB    $3.99
JAN210715    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #8    $3.99
JAN218254    TASKMASTER #3 (OF 5) 2ND PTG GIANGIORDANO SKETCH VAR    $3.99
JAN218253    TASKMASTER #3 (OF 5) 2ND PTG VITTI VAR    $3.99
JAN210698    TASKMASTER #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN210699    TASKMASTER #5 (OF 5) TERRY VAR    $3.99
DEC200663    WEREWOLF BY NIGHT TP NEW WOLF RISING    $15.99
DEC200671    X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION SENTINELS LIVE TP NEW PTG    $39.99
SEP200727    X-MEN INFERNO OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
SEP200728    X-MEN INFERNO OMNIBUS HC DM VAR    $125.00


Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 24, 2021

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT201540    2000 AD #2212 XMAS 2020 SPECIAL    $13.00
SEP201390    2000 AD NOV 2020 PROG PACK    $28.60
OCT201538    2000 AD PROG #2210    $6.50
OCT201539    2000 AD PROG #2211    $6.50
NOV200980    21ST CENTURIONS #4    $5.95
JAN211498    AGENT 9 GN VOL 01 FLOOD A GEDDON    $12.99
JAN211499    AGENT 9 HC GN VOL 01 FLOOD A GEDDON    $18.99
OCT201501    AGGRETSUKO HC MEET HER FRIENDS (MR)    $11.99
JAN211372    ALLERGIC GN    $12.99
JAN211373    ALLERGIC HC GN    $24.99
DEC201188    AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY MONSTERS #3 CVR A WOLFER (MR)    $3.99
DEC201189    AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY MONSTERS #3 CVR B RACY LTD ED (MR)    $9.99
JAN211109    ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #318    $7.99
DEC201973    BEAUTY AND FEAST GN VOL 01    $12.99
NOV201647    BELLE THUNDER OF GODS CVR A SPAY    $5.99
NOV201648    BELLE THUNDER OF GODS CVR B VITORINO    $5.99
NOV201649    BELLE THUNDER OF GODS CVR C RUFFINO    $5.99
OCT201535    BEST OF SUGAR JONES TP    $13.99
JAN211611    BIANCA TP (MR)    $18.00
OCT201763    BL FANS LOVE MY BROTHER GN    $12.99
DEC201940    BL METAMORPHOSIS GN VOL 04    $13.99
JAN211568    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR A HERNANDEZ    $3.99
JAN211569    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR B MOMOKO    $3.99
JAN211570    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR C DAGNINO    $3.99
JAN211571    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR D HACK    $3.99
JAN218706    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR E FOC MOMOKO SKETCH    $3.99
NOV201602    BLOODSHOT 50 PROJECT TP    $9.99
JAN211526    BOOK OF LYAXIA #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN211523    CATDAD & SUPERMOM AN ELEPHANT NEVER FORGETS    $3.99
JAN211379    COLD DEAD WAR #1 (OF 4) (RES) (MR)    $3.99
NOV201447    DANCE CLASS HC VOL 11 DANCE WITH ME    $10.99
JAN211440    DEEP BLUE #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV201423    DELICATES TP    $14.99
NOV201250    DF KING IN BLACK #2 CATES SGN    $49.99
OCT201286    DISTANT WORLDS GN VOL 05 EPISODE 5    $11.95
DEC201943    DRUGSTORE IN ANOTHER WORLD CHEAT PHARMACIST GN VOL 01    $12.99
DEC201595    DRYAD #9    $3.99
JAN211482    EDWARD HOPPER GN    $24.95
OCT201117    EXCITING COMICS #8    $3.99
JAN211513    FRANK AT HOME ON THE FARM #3    $3.99
JAN211470    GERONIMO STILTON REPORTER HC VOL 07 GOING DOWN TO CHINATOWN    $9.99
DEC201944    GHOSTLY THINGS GN VOL 03    $12.99
AUG201100    GIRL GENIUS SECOND JOURNEY GN VOL 06 SPARKS AND MONSTERS    $25.00
AUG201101    GIRL GENIUS SECOND JOURNEY HC VOL 06 SPARKS AND MONSTERS    $50.00
JAN211394    GREETINGS FROM WASTELAND HC    $25.00
JAN211006    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR A SEGOVIA (MR)    $3.99
JAN211007    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR B JAE KWANG PARK (MR)    $3.99
JAN211008    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR C MEYNET (MR)    $3.99
JAN211009    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR D KUMMANT (MR)    $3.99
JAN211430    GUNLAND GN VOL 03 CODA    $19.99
FEB211171    HEIR GN VOL 01 (OF 2)    $25.00
DEC201945    HIGH RISE INVASION GN VOL 09 (COLLECTS VOL 17 & 18) (MR)    $19.99
DEC201946    HIMOUTO UMARI CHAN GN VOL 13    $12.99
JAN218619    HOLLOW HEART #1 CVR F 2ND PTG    $3.99
JAN211391    HOUSE WITHOUT WINDOWS TP    $19.99
DEC201947    HOW TO TREAT MAGICAL BEASTS GN VOL 05    $12.99
DEC201666    I FEEL LOVE GN (MR)    $22.99
JAN211329    I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN HC (MR)    $24.99
JAN211701    IN SPECTRE GN VOL 13    $10.99
JAN211530    LADY FREEDOM #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN211807    LAST ROUND ARTHURS GN VOL 02    $13.00
JAN211474    LOUD HOUSE SC VOL 12 CASE STOLEN DRAWERS    $7.99
DEC201902    LOVE & HEART GN VOL 01    $13.00
OCT201287    LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 77 COWBOY IN HIGH COTTON    $11.95
DEC201951    MADE IN ABYSS GN VOL 09    $13.99
JAN211358    MAKER COMICS GN BUILD A ROBOT    $12.99
JAN211359    MAKER COMICS HC GN BUILD A ROBOT    $19.99
JAN211111    MICHAEL TURNER CREATIONS HC    $125.00
JAN211052    MISKATONIC #5    $3.99
DEC201955    MISS KOBAYASHIS DRAGON MAID GN VOL 10    $12.99
OCT201537    MISTY WINTER SPECIAL 2020 ONESHOT    $11.00
AUG201732    MORRISON HOTEL GN    $19.99
JAN211085    MUTTS GO GREEN TP    $11.99
JAN211227    NECROMORFUS TP (MR)    $14.99
JAN211410    NINJAS & ROBOTS #5 CVR A ERIK KLAUS    $4.99
JAN211411    NINJAS & ROBOTS #5 CVR B STEVE MANNION    $4.99
FEB210978    NORTH STAR ONE SHOT    $6.95
JAN211425    PANTOMIME #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN211368    PARAKEET GN    $21.95
JAN211228    PARANORMAL HITMEN #2 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99
DEC201959    PRECARIOUS WOMAN MISS BLACK GENERAL GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
JAN211516    PROVENANCE OF MADNESS TP CVR A PAUL JACKSON    $19.99
JAN211517    PROVENANCE OF MADNESS TP CVR B CHRISTIAN DIBARI    $19.99
OCT201529    PS ARTBOOKS KONA MONARCH MONSTER ISLE SOFTEE VOL 01    $24.99
JUL201361    PS ARTBOOKS MAGAZINE ANARCHO DICTATOR OF DEATH    $13.99
NOV201063    PUNCHLINE #12 CVR A    $3.99
NOV201064    PUNCHLINE #12 CVR B BACK TO BACK VAR    $9.99
JAN211518    RABID WORLD #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
JAN211519    RECOUNT #3    $3.99
JAN211327    RED ROCK BABY CANDY HC    $29.99
SEP201396    RETURN OF SEXTON BLAKE ONESHOT    $15.99
NOV201856    ROLL OVER AND DIE GN VOL 01    $12.99
DEC201864    ROSE OF VERSAILLES GN VOL 04 (RES)    $38.99
OCT201288    ROUTE 66 LIST GN VOL 04 OKLAHOMA  TEXAS    $11.95
NOV200895    SEEN ORIGINAL GN RACHEL CARSON    $5.99
JAN211047    SHADOW DOCTOR #2    $3.99
JAN211362    SHADOW LIFE GN    $24.99
DEC201816    SHAMAN KING OMNIBUS TP VOL 01    $19.99
JAN211347    SHERLOCK BONES GN VOL 09 SEA CREATURE FEATURE    $7.99
JAN211348    SHERLOCK BONES HC VOL 09 SEA CREATURE FEATURE    $17.99
AUG201523    SILVER AGE CLASSICS KONA MONARCH MONSTER ISLE HC VOL 01    $46.99
AUG201524    SILVER AGE CLASSICS KONA SLIPCASE VOL 01    $56.99
AUG201525    SILVER AGE CLASSICS SPACE ADVENTURES HC VOL 06    $46.99
AUG201526    SILVER AGE CLASSICS SPACE ADVENTURES SLIPCASE ED VOL 06    $56.99
JAN211820    SO IM SPIDER SO WHAT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11    $14.00
JAN211492    STAR WARS MANDALORIAN SCREEN COMIX TP VOL 01 SEASON 1 (RES)    $14.99
JAN211229    STEAMBOUND #3 (MR)    $3.99
SEP201397    STRONTIUM DOG SEARCH AND DESTROY HC (RES)    $26.99
JAN211385    TAARNA (2020) #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN211528    THE EDGE #1    $3.99
JAN211798    TOILET BOUND HANAKO KUN GN VOL 08    $13.00
JAN211369    TWISTER GN    $17.50
JAN211230    VIETNAM HORROR #1 (MR)    $3.99
JAN211441    WOMEN DISCOVERERS GN    $19.99
JAN211222    YEAR ZERO VOL 2 #5 CVR A ANDREWS (MR)    $3.99
JAN211223    YEAR ZERO VOL 2 #5 CVR B ROSANAS (MR)    $3.99

MAGAZINES

JAN211275    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1753    $PI
NOV201446    DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #559    $13.50
OCT201541    JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #427    $13.00
NOV201511    SCREAM MAGAZINE #64 (MR)    $9.99

BOOKS

JAN211508    ART SLEEVES ALBUM COVERS BY ARTISTS HC    $50.00
JAN211395    BACK TO THE FUTURE DELOREAN TIME MACHINE USERS MANUAL    $29.99
JAN211823    BOTTOM-TIER CHARACTER TOMOZAKI LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06    $14.00
DEC201916    DATE A LIVE LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01    $15.00
JAN211827    DIRTY WAY DESTROY GODDESS HEROES NOVEL SC VOL 06    $15.00
JAN211367    DISNEY RAYA & LAST DRAGON LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $5.99
FEB211170    EYES OF GREEN ART OF RB WHITE SC    $25.00
JAN211586    FIREFLY ARTBOOK HC    $50.00
JAN211821    GOBLIN SLAYER LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11 (MR)    $15.00
DEC201968    GRIMGAR OF FANTASY & ASH LIGHT NOVEL VOL 14.5    $17.99
JAN211826    KID FROM DUNGEON BOONIES MOVED STARTER TOWN NOVEL SC VOL 05    $15.00
JAN211824    LAST ROUND ARTHURS LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04    $15.00
JAN211825    MAGICAL GIRL RAISING PROJECT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11    $15.00
DEC201970    MUSHOKU TENSEI JOBLESS REINCARNATION LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 09 (    $13.99
JAN211032    TERRY MOORE HOW TO DRAW EXPANDED ED SC (RES)    $18.99
JAN211830    WORLD STRONGEST REARGUARD LABYRINTH NOVICE NOVEL SC VOL 05 (    $15.00



DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for March 23, 2021

DC COMICS:

Action Comics #1029 (Cover A Phil Hester & Eric Gapstur), $4.99
Action Comics #1029 (Cover B Julian Totino Tedesco), AR
Batman Arkham Talia al Ghul TP, $29.99
Batman Black And White #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Becky Cloonan), $5.99
Batman Black And White #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Gabriele Dell’Otto), $5.99
Batman Black And White #4 (Of 6)(Cover C Simone Bianchi Two-Face Variant), $5.99
Batman Detective Comics Volume 5 The Joker War HC, $29.99
Batman Superman #16 (Cover A Ivan Reis & Danny Miki), $3.99
Batman Superman #16 (Cover B Greg Smallwood), AR
Batman White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Sean Murphy), $4.99
Batman White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Matteo Scalera), $4.99
DC Connect Checklist Poster #10, AR
DCeased TP, $19.99
Detective Comics #1034 (Cover A Dan Mora), $4.99
Detective Comics #1034 (Cover B Lee Bermejo Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Teen Titans Ruins #1 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $5.99
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover A Riley Rossmo), $3.99
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover B Derrick Chew Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover C Blank Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover D Yoshitaka Amano Team Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey The Hunt For Harley HC, $24.99
Swamp Thing The New 52 Omnibus HC, $125.00
Teen Titans Academy #1 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $3.99
Teen Titans Academy #1 (Cover B Jamal Campbell), AR



Sunday, March 21, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: 2016 SPIDER-MAN #1 Was a Strong Debut

SPIDER-MAN No. 1 (2016)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: Sara Pichelli
INKS: Sara Pichelli with Gaetano Carlucci
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Sara Pichelli and Justin Ponsor
VARIANT COVERS: Mark Bagley and Dexter Vines with Andrew Crossley; Michael Cho; Skottie Young; Adi Granov (Hip-Hop variant)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (2016)

Rated T

In 2011, Marvel Comics and writer Brian Michael Bendis introduced a Black, Brooklyn teenager as the new Spider-Man.  Specifically, Miles Morales, of African-American and Latino heritage, was the new Ultimate Spider-Man, the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler and web-slinger of Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics (or universe).

Miles has starred in two comic books series, Ultimate Spider-Man (or Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man) and Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man.  As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel, Miles gets a new comic book series, simply entitled Spider-Man.  It is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Sara Pichelli; colored by Justin Ponsor; and lettered by Cory Petit.

Spider-Man #1 opens with Spider-Man facing Blackheart – “Son of Mephisto” and “Prince of the Underworlds.”  Let's go back a bit.  At Brooklyn Visions Academy, Miles has failed with Julie, the gorgeous girl he wants to date.  He is also failing in school, which angers his mother (!), but does not really concern his father.  Back to Blackheart, who has killed several Avengers, so what's going on?

I really missed Sara Pichelli when she was not the artist on Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man, although David Marquez, the artist on that series, was quite good.  Still, only three pages into Spider-Man #1, and I was reminded of why Pichelli and colorist Justin Ponsor are such a damn good art team.

As for Brian Michael Bendis: the teen Spidey drama is as good as always; there aren't many pages of it, but Bendis does character drama in superhero comics better than it has ever been done – ever.  The action around Blackheart is hugely intriguing, so I have no complaints, just the need for more.

Of course, I am recommending this...

A

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for information on reprint or syndication rights and fees.


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Saturday, March 20, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: FOOD WARS!" Shokugeki No Soma Volume 35

FOOD WARS!: SHOKUGEKI NO SOMA, VOL. 35
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Yuto Tsukuda
ART: Shun Saeki
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
CONTRIBUTOR: Yuki Morisaki
LETTERS: James Gaubatz; Mara Coman
EDITOR: Jennifer LeBlanc
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1258-8; paperback (April 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma is a shonen manga series written by Yuto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki.  Yuki Morisaki also works as a contributor, providing the recipes for the series.  Food Wars! was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, from November 2012 to June 2019.  VIZ Media published an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series from August 2014 to June 2020 under two imprints:  first, “Shonen Jump Advanced” and then, “Shonen Jump.”

Food Wars! focuses on teenager Soma Yukihira.  He grows up cooking in his father's Yukihira Family Restaurant.  The 15-year-old wants to be a better chef than his father, Joshiro Yukihira (Saiba), so he hones his skills day in and day out.  His father decides to enroll him in a classy culinary school, Totsuki Saryo Culinary Institute, a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate.  If Soma Yukihira really does not want to attend Totsuki, how can he succeed?

As Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma, Vol. 35 (Chapters 300 to 308; entitled “The Divine Tongue's Despair”) opens, the “Blue,” a world-renowned cooking tournament for the best of the best young chefs from around the world, rages on.  This year, for the first time, traditional chefs will clash with the “underground noir” (or “cuisiniers noir”) chefs.  Soma, eager for a rematch with the noir, Asahi Saiba, who defeated him, heads to a certain famous old castle in a famous city where the event will be held.

Totsuki's brightest:  Soma, Megumi Tadokoro, and Takumi Aldini, as well as recent Totsuki graduate, Eishi Tsukasa, have joined the competition, but they are swiftly dispatched – except for Soma.  Now, their classmate, Erina Nakiri, who got to skip the early stages of the “Blue” because of her past achievements, is forced to face off against multiple opponents.  But who is doing the forcing?  Who is “Lady Mana,” and what does she have to do with the “curse of the 'Divine Tongue'”?

Plus, Soma finally has his rematch with Saiba!

[The volume includes recipes and miscellaneous illustrations.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Food Wars! manga races towards its conclusion.  The narrative prepares to answer the question of who is the best?

Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma Graphic Novel Volume 35 is the second-to-last (or penultimate) volume of the series.  There are some surprise reveals in regard to Erina Nakiri's past, and one of them is the answer to an obvious question.  Writer Yuto Tsukuda and artist Shun Saeki usually delve into the details of recipes, the processes of cooking, and the skills of the competing chefs.  In Vol. 35, they seem more intent on moving onto the final confrontations, so this volume lacks the full fun of the cooking battles that we have been getting since the very beginning of this series.

However, Adrienne Beck's translation catches the drama and conflict between characters in the raw and with edgy intimacy, so that takes the sting out of having only one cooking battle presented in some detail.  Letterers James Gaubatz and Mara Coman expertly close in on the focus on the dialogue and the exposition that prepares for the grand finale.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers hungry for good manga will want the “Shonen Jump” title, Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma.

A
8 out of 10

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



https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Friday, March 19, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan Volume 12

THE MELANCHOLY OF SUZUMIYA HARUHI-CHAN, VOL. 12
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Puyo
ORIGINAL STORY: Nagaru Tanigawa
CHARACTER DESIGN: Noizi Ito
TRANSLATION: Paul Starr
LETTERS: Abigail Blackman
MISC. ART: Noizi Ito; Gaku Tsugano
ISBN: 978-1-9753-1079-0; paperback (May 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
166pp, B&W with some color pages, $13.00 U.S., $17.00 CAN

Haruhi Suzumiya is a Japanese light novel series written by Nagaru Tanigawa and illustrated by Noizi Ito.  Released in 2003, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was the first novel in a series that saw ten additional volumes published.  Haruhi Suzumiya became a media franchise that included an anime television series adaptation, an animated film, two original net animation series, several video games, and four manga series.

One of those manga series was entitled The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan, the third of the four manga and the series' official parody.  Created by writer-artist, Puyo, The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan was first serialized in Shonen Ace in July 2007 and then, continued in The Sneaker, beginning August 2007.  The series ended in December 2018, and was compiled in twelve tankobon (graphic novel) volumes from May 2008 to May 2019.

Yen Press published an English-language edition of The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan tankobon as a 12-volume, paperback graphic novel series.  The first volume was published in December 2011, and the last was published this past May 2020.

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan begins with Kyon, an ordinary high school freshman who has long given up on his childhood dreams of encountering the fantastic and supernatural... or so he thought.  He meets his new classmate, the beautiful and eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya.  From the first day of class, Haruhi makes it very clear that her only desire is to meet aliens, time travelers, and psychics.  Kyon and Haruhi form the “SOS Brigade,” a school club created for the sole purpose of gathering together fantastic and supernatural beings.  However, Kyon learns that the initial members of their club are actually members of secret futuristic and alien organizations that have the single aim of keeping watch over Haruhi Suzumiya, as she is the pinnacle of some major calamity on the horizon!

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan, Vol. 12 declares that the series is over.  Because she is unbound by the laws of reality, however, Haruhi-chan's antics will never be over.  The gang gets cozy under the “kotatsu” to work out their problems.  There is a trip to a hot springs resort, and summer means the obligatory swimsuit chapter.  Plus, Haruhi-chan is a superhero, but she turns out to be a rather odd one.  This all leads up to the final chapter... or make that final chapters!

[This volume includes bonus art, a short story, “The Reciprocity” by Nagaru Tanigawa, and a color illustration gallery, featuring one illustration each by Noizi Ito and Gaku Tsugano.]

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan manga is new to me, as is the entire media franchise, including its original source, the light novel series.  Still, the concept sounds like loads of fun... and it is yet another Yen Press title that reminds me of the manga, Hayate the Combat Butler.

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan Graphic Novel Volume 12 brings the series to a close.  This is the volume that will mean the most to fans of Haruhi Suzumiya, especially those that like the franchise enough to want a parody of it.  Writer-artist Puyo, who also produced a non-parody manga adaptation of the franchise, is obviously quite familiar with the series.  Puyo manages to make these humorous vignettes funny even to a newcomer like me.

Half the chapters here are eight pages in length and the rest are four pages long.  Paul Starr's translation conveys the appropriate comic pace for either length.  In the end, The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan has a rather “neat” ending.  Haruhi-chan and company's antics will never end.

7 out of 10

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


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