Radical Publishing Releases FVZA #3

FVZA: FEDERAL VAMPIRE AND ZOMBIE AGENCY #3 (3 of 3)

Writer DAVID HINE
Penciler WAYNE NICHOLS
Layout Artist ROY ALLAN MARTINEZ
Painter KINSUN LOH and JERRY CHOO
Letterer RICHARD STARKINGS and COMICRAFT’S JIMMY BETANCOURT
48 pgs, FC, $4.99

The final showdown between the living and the undead! When Hugo Pecos and the FVZA discover the plans of the European vampire council to infect the United States, they quickly locate the underground headquarters of the vampires in the city. As Landra and Vidal split into two squads to thwart the sinister plot of the undead, they realize that there is far more to their mission than simply extermination. A stunning revelation, a tragic death and a shocking betrayal await Landra as she journeys into the belly of the beast to battle the bloodthirsty and ruthless Chaucer and the queen vampire herself - Yaelis.

Featuring covers by Clint Langley and Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic.

FVZA #3 cover A: by Clint Langley–Diamond Code: OCT091058
FVZA #3 cover B: by Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic–Diamond Code: OCT091059

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Physical Attraction = Booty Call

I read Physical Attraction (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Michael Golden, Steve Scott Debut Sketchbooks at Planet ComiCon

Double Trouble at Planet ComiCon!

Michael Golden and Steve Scott Debut New Books at the show

Finally, the long-awaited and much anticipated, second in a series sketchbook, from artist/creator MICHAEL GOLDEN is NOW available! "Michael Golden: MORE Heroes &Villains," is in the house! And Planet ComiCon, being one of Michael's favorite shows, will be one of the first places where this book is offered!

Now for some bad news....somehow 420 of this already limited volume have disappeared somewhere between the printer in Hong Kong and our warehouse in New England--less than 600 available worldwide!

A follow up to the popular "Heroes & Villains," sketchbook of last year, this new volume is a must have for collectors of Golden's awesome storytelling and spot on illustration. Co-creator of Rogue from the X-Men, Bucky O'Hare, Spartan X, and illustrator on "Dr. Strange," "The 'Nam," "G.I. Joe," "Avengers," "Marvel Fanfare," and much, much more, none of Michael's art in this new book appears in any other art book or sketchbook on the market!

The volume itself is album sized, full color, and 48 pages in length, and features many of Golden's sketches from the 2009 season and some old favorites as well.

MORE good news for you fortunate few: If you do snag one of these books, it will be even more collectible. Be sure to get your order in now, or catch us at PlanetComiCon! Be One of the 600!

Comic artist STEVE SCOTT is debuting his new 32 page sketchbook as well, "Steve Scott Sketches," at PlanetComiCon to celebrate his first time appearing at the show! The book is limited to 1,000 copies, and comes in either signed editions or original sketch editions.

Steve's work can currently be seen on the upcoming "X-Men Forever" series with writer Chris Claremont. Not to mention that Steve is also the ONLY artist tapped by DC Comics to do any work relating to "Batman Forever," depicting the now legendary turn of Heath Ledger as The Joker. Look for Steve's work in the Blue-Ray disc release of the movie!

Steve is indeed certainly no stranger to media tie-in's. His work has also often been seen on the television show Smallville and in other special projects for DC Comics. As well as doing some darn good likenessess for the recent "Indiana Jones--Tomb of the Gods," comic book series for Dark Horse to tie-in with the recent Harrison Ford movie! In fact, George Lucas liked Steve's work so much that he purchased most of the originals to keep for himself!

Recently returned from a signing tour in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, and Spain look for more of Steve's work on "X-Men Forever," "Green Lantern," as well as some surprises to be announced soon!

Other guests joining Michael Golden and Steve Scott at PCC include: Lou Ferrigno, Mira Furlan, Helen Slater, Jane Wiedlin, Talent Caldwell, Tommy Castillo, Dave Dorman, Gary Friedrich, Phil Hester, Greg Horn, Joe Jusko, B. Clay Moore, Bill Morrison, Phil Noto, Ande Parks, Brian Pulido, Tone Rodriquez, Javier Saltares, Chris Sprouse, Cat Staggs, Rick Stasi, Arthur Suydam, Herb Trimpe, Ron Wagner, Renee Witterstaetter, and many more!

For more information on Michael Golden and Steve Scott and their work, contact: evaink@aol.com

For more information on PlanetComiCon taking place this next weekend, visit: http://www.planetcomicon.com/

#IReadsYou Review: KICK-ASS (Hardcover Collection)

KICK-ASS

MARVEL COMICS/ICON
WRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Tom Palmer
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
INTRODUCTION: Rob Liefeld

Kick-Ass was an eight-issue miniseries from writer Mark Millar (The Ultimates, Wanted) and artist John Romita, Jr. (The Amazing Spider-Man) published under Marvel Comics’ Icon imprint. Kick-Ass is also a graphic novel serialized as an eight-issue miniseries, perhaps, the first of a series of Kick-Ass graphic novels. Before I read it, I thought that I might like Kick-Ass, but after reading the recently published hardcover collection of the series, I can say that I absolutely love it.

The series focuses on Dave Lizewski, a normal teenager and comic book fan, who decides to put on a costume and become a superhero. The first time he plays hero, some thuggish black teens beat Dave’s ass into a coma. Dave’s second mission becomes an Internet sensation, from which he takes his superhero name, Kick-Ass. Dave is cognizant of what he is doing and understands the impact of his actions, especially after his activities spawn a wave of copycats, including a rich teen who calls himself, Red Mist.

However, with Kick-Ass’s popularity skyrocketing because of viral videos and because of those very same superhero copycats, Dave becomes hooked on this new lifestyle and addicted to the adrenal rush and danger that lifestyle entails. Then, Dave meets another costumed duo playing superhero, the extreme violence, father-daughter duo of Big Daddy and the sword-wielding Hit Girl. They play for keeps, cutting a bloody path through the world of mob boss, John Genovese a.k.a. Johnny G. Suddenly, being Kick-Ass may be more than Dave bargained for.

Early in the series, Kick-Ass is funny, sarcastic, and poignant in the way quality drama about the trials and tribulations should be. Then, the first time Dave becomes Kick-Ass and springs into action, the entire narrative turns vulgar, obscene, and deranged… in a way that is an absolute joy to read. Suddenly, John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Tom Palmer’s (inks) ugly art made sense. Visually, what these artists did was tell Millar’s story as a graphic narrative in the only way that would make it work. They had to produce comic art that could capture the rundown neighborhoods and gritty environments in which Dave lived. That art also had to depict the sudden and ferocious violence and its gruesome aftermath that defines the world of Kick-Ass.

The deeper into this crazy, kooky narrative I want, the more I wondered why Millar doesn’t do more of this. In fact, if comic book publishers want to attract more young male readers, they may want to consider publishing books like Kick-Ass, which could appeal to the guys who like 300 and Inglourious Basterds. I sat in a theatre watching Basterds with two young guys sitting a few seats from me, and they howled with delight and encouragement every time the characters did violence to one another. Those are probably shoo-in readers of comics like Kick-Ass.

DC Comics has spent the better part of a decade trying to find order in its fictional DC Universe and its 70 years of continuity. New readers won’t bother with comic books that navel-gaze like that. They will want comics that… dare I say it… kick ass. I don’t know what the hell Marvel Comics is doing – re-launching, re-imagining, and generally trying to make every two-bit character shiny enough for Hollywood… when they should just… kick ass?

All they need to do is look to this hot mess from Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. Kick-Ass is an inglourious basterd, and we need more Kick-Ass.

A

Buy Kick-Ass

IDW Become Diamond Distributors Premiere Publisher

From Diamond Distributors:

IDW Becomes Premier Publisher


First publisher to achieve higher status with Diamond since 1996;

Diamond and IDW strengthen their exclusive distribution relationship with new agreement and initiatives

Diamond Comic Distributors and IDW Publishing announced today that IDW has become the first publisher to advance to "premier" status since the classification was implemented in 1996. Diamond and IDW have signed a new, multi-year agreement that features a number of fresh initiatives, including premier status, in recognition of IDW's success as a top tier comic book and graphic novel publisher. Under the agreement, Diamond will continue to be the exclusive distributor of IDW comic books and graphic novels to the comic book specialty market, and to the bookstore market through its Diamond Book Distributors division.

"This change recognizes the growth and importance of IDW Publishing," said Diamond President and CEO, Steve Geppi, "and we look forward to working with them for many years to come."

Diamond VP Purchasing Bill Schanes added, "Since IDW began publishing, they have grown consistently each and every year, while at the same time establishing one of the best editorial, marketing, and business teams in our industry. They're easy to work with, understand our market, and are forging ahead with new strategies and plans to grow the consumer appetite for comics and graphic novels."

In April, Diamond's PREVIEWS catalog and PREVIEWSworld.com website will showcase IDW's new vendor status as the company moves to the "Premier Comics" section. IDW will have an exclusive section in the front of the catalog each month, highlighting their new offerings to comic shop retailers and customers.

"We are very pleased to have completed this groundbreaking agreement with Diamond," said Ted Adams, CEO of IDW Publishing. "By combining Diamond's leadership in distribution with IDW's ten-plus years in developing, creating and marketing comic books and graphic novels, we have created an ideal relationship for each of our companies. The comic book medium is trending upward in all parts of consumer awareness and we are proud to be a partner with Diamond for the future."

Key points to the agreement include:

Premier Publisher

Under the new agreement and as a result of the company's consistently strong market share, IDW will have premier status within Diamond and Diamond's PREVIEWS, including an exclusive section at the front of the monthly catalog.

Discount and Terms of Sales

IDW Publishing will remain in a traditional buy/sell relationship with Diamond, with their books continuing to be sold to comic shops under Diamond's Terms of Sale (unlike Diamond's brokerage arrangement with publishers like Marvel and DC Comics where Diamond acts as a sales agent). Discounts will remain unchanged at this time.

Final Order Cut-Off

IDW will be added to Diamond's Final Order Cut-Off Program sometime in the near future. "Since IDW is a traditional buy/sell vendor, we have some programming work to do, but we expect to have that finalized later this year," said Schanes.

Book Market Distribution

Diamond remains the exclusive book market distributor of IDW's publishing efforts. "We're extremely proud of the progress we've made in helping IDW grow its sales in the book store market over the last five years," said Diamond Book Distributors VP Sales & Marketing, Kuo-Yu Liang. "From their strong licensed properties to their successful launch last year of the Worthwhile Books line for kids, IDW has adeptly shown what products will sell into the book market channel."
ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS-the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and pop-culture related merchandise-Diamond is based in Baltimore, MD, and services more than 3,500 specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at http://www.diamondcomics.com/.

ABOUT IDW PUBLISHING
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro's The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; the BBC's Doctor Who; and television's #1 prime time series CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix. IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.

Moonstone Books Announces "The Phantom Generations" TPB

JUNE 2010 release:

The PHANTOM GENERATIONS TPB
Story: Tom DeFalco, Ben Raab, etc.
Art: Pat Quinn, Gordon Purcell, etc.
Cover: Eugenio Mattozzi
376pgs, b/w, 7” x 10”, $19.99

Includes two bonus never-before-published stories by Tony Isabella and Mike Bullock!

A monster-tome collection of the one shot comic novellas, with each story (by a different creative team) telling a tale of one of the 21 Phantoms!

Creators like Ben Raab, Pat Quinn, Tom DeFalco, Don Hudson, Mel Odom, Michael Stribling, Will Murray, Enrique Alcatena, Joe Bucco, Danny Fingeroth, Mike Baron, Alex Saviuk, Gordon Purcell, Greg Cox, Steven Grant, Justin Gray, and more!

I Reads You Review: PORTRAIT OF M&N, VOL. 1

Creators: Tachibana Higuchi with Jamie S. Rich (English adaptation) and Satsuki Yamashita (translation)
Publishing Information: TOKYOPOP, B&W, paperback, 206 pages, $10.99 (US), $13.99 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4278-1724-2 (ISBN-13)

Portrait of M&N is a new series focusing on two high school students with embarrassing, even debilitating secrets that cannot be shared with people outside their homes.

Fifteen-years-old Mitsuru Abe is attending a boarding school because at her last school, the students discovered that she is an extreme masochist who delights in receiving brutal beatings. Fate brings her into contact with fellow student, 15-year-old Natsuhiko Amakusa, and he turns out to be a narcissist who gazes at himself in a room full of mirrors. They help each other out and keep each other’s secrets. Then, another student, Hijiri inserts himself into their relationship, claiming to be in love with Abe. Is he really, and does Amakusa even care if another guy in love with Abe?

The moment I saw the cover for Portrait of M&N, Vol. 1, it made me want to read the book. On the credit page, Chelsea Windlinger is credited as “graphic designer.” If Chelsea did design the cover, I need to praise her; it is Eisner Award worthy.

As for the manga itself: if this first volume of Portrait of M&N is a good indicator (and I think it is), this will be a good series. Creator Tachibana Higuchi (Gakuen Alice) isn’t making fun of the leads’ personality disorders, but she’s mines humor in how Abe and Amakusa engage the rest of the world in spite of their afflictions. I’d say that Higuchi is being cruel to her fictional creations, except both Abe and Amakusa are so resilient. Higuchi has a way of placing her characters and their weird interior worlds in the context of the outside world that reminds me of the work of famed New Yorker cartoonist, Charles Addams. Portrait of M&N is macabre and has a wicked sense of humor in the vein of Addams’ classic cartoons. This is reason enough to embrace Portrait of M&N.

This is a wonderful read, and like a dark jewel with the power of enchantment, it won’t let you look away.

A

Buy Portrait of M and N Volume 1 (Portrait of M & N)