Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 18 2012

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAY120051 ALABASTER WOLVES #4 $3.50
MAY120053 BPRD HELL ON EARTH DEVILS ENGINE #3 FEGREDO CVR $3.50
MAY120012 CONCRETE THREE UNEASY PIECES ONE SHOT $2.99
MAY120023 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #14 $7.99
MAY120019 FATIMA THE BLOOD SPINNERS #2 $3.99
MAY120061 RESET #4 $3.50
MAY120028 STAR WARS DARTH VADER GHOST PRISON #3 $3.50

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 18 2012

IMAGE COMICS

MAY120595 ACTIVITY #7 $3.50
APR120435 ARTIFACTS TP VOL 04 $16.99
APR120423 CARBON GREY VOL 2 #1 CVR A EVANS & LOH $3.99
APR120424 CARBON GREY VOL 2 #1 CVR B NGUYEN $3.99
MAY120608 GLORY #28 $2.99
MAY128120 SAGA #2 3RD PTG (MR) $2.99
MAY120624 SAGA #5 (MR) $2.99
MAY120626 SKULLKICKERS #16 $3.50
MAY120526 SUNSET HC (MR) $19.99

IMAGE COMICS/TOP COW PRODUCTIONS
MAY120603 DARKNESS #105 (MR) $2.99

Comics, Book and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for July 18 2012

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
MAY120009 PREVIEWS BACKLIST CATALOG 2012 $1.50

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
MAY120994 ADVENTURE TIME #6 $3.99

FEB121042 ADVENTURES OF VENUS HC $9.99

APR121302 AFTERSCHOOL CHARISMA TP VOL 06 $12.99

APR121215 ALICE I/T COUNTRY CLOVER CHESHIRE CAT WALTZ GN VOL 01 (MR) $13.99

MAY121295 AMERICAN ELF VOL 04 SKETCHBOOK DIARIES JAMES KOCHALKA (MR) $24.95

APR121216 ANGEL PARA BELLUM GN VOL 01 (MR) $11.99

MAY120845 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #231 $3.99

APR121175 ASTERIX OMNIBUS SC VOL 04 $19.95

MAY121156 BLOODY CHESTER GN $18.99

APR121270 CASE CLOSED GN VOL 43 $9.99

JAN120806 CUT THE ROPE SPECIAL DELIVERY GN $9.99

MAR120841 ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST #11 $3.99

MAY120979 EXTERMINATION #2 MAIN CVRS $3.99

MAY121282 FINDING GOSSAMYR #1 $3.99

APR121328 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #18 A CVR CAPPROTTI (MR) $2.99

APR121329 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #18 B CVR REYES (MR) $2.99

MAY121369 GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 02 NEW PTG $9.99

JAN128171 GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 02 NEW PTG $9.99

JAN128173 GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 04 NEW PTG $12.99

MAY121371 GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 04 NEW PTG $12.99

MAR120850 HELLRAISER TP VOL 03 (MR) $14.99

MAY128105 HYPERNATURALS #1 2ND PTG $3.99

MAY120951 INCORRUPTIBLE TP VOL 02 $16.99

APR121217 JACK THE RIPPER HELL BLADE GN VOL 01 (MR) $11.99

MAR120942 JENNIFER BLOOD ANNUAL #1 (MR) $4.99

APR121204 JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP (S&S ED) VOL 05 $19.99

APR121205 JUDGE DREDD WHEN JUDGES GO BAD TP $17.99

MAY120849 JUGHEAD #214 $2.99

MAY120850 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #183 $3.99

JAN120808 KUNG FU PANDA DIGEST GN SLOW FAST & OTHER $6.99

MAR121213 LUKE MCBAIN TP $14.99

MAY121274 MY BOYFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE GN COLL ED VOL 03 (MR) $15.99

MAY121182 NOT THE ISRAEL MY PARENTS PROMISED ME GN $24.95

APR121303 OOKU INNER CHAMBERS GN VOL 07 (MR) $12.99

MAY121018 PROPHECY #2 $3.99

APR120740 RACHEL RISING #9 $3.99

APR120885 RADIOACTIVE MAN HC VOL 01 RADIOACTIVE REPOSITORY $25.99

DEC111010 RED SONJA #67 $3.99

MAY120986 ROGER LANGRIDGES SNARKED #10 $3.99

MAY121232 SECRET HISTORY OF DB COOPER #5 $3.99

MAY120934 SIMPSONS COMICS #192 $2.99

APR121171 SMURFS GN VOL 12 SMURFS VERSUS SMURFS $5.99

APR121172 SMURFS HC VOL 12 SMURFS VERSUS SMURFS $10.99

MAY120859 SONIC UNIVERSE #42 REG CVR $2.99

MAY121284 STUFF OF LEGEND OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $29.99

MAY121043 THE SPIDER #3 $3.99

FEB120991 TOTAL RECALL TP VOL 01 $16.99

MAR120956 VAMPIRELLA #19 $3.99

MAR121062 WANDERING SON HC VOL 03 $19.99

MAR121003 WAREHOUSE 13 TP VOL 01 $19.99

JAN121049 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #13 (MR) $3.99

MAY128107 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #1 3RD PTG $3.99

MAY121315 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #3 REG KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC CVR $3.99

MAGAZINES
MAY121427 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1309 PI
JAN121377 JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #59 $10.95
MAY121406 JUXTAPOZ #139 AUG 2012 $5.99
APR121961 WHITE DWARF #390 $9.00
MAY121294 WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED #43 (MR) $7.00

BOOKS
MAR121354 DOCTOR WHO DECIDE YOUR DESTINY VOL 01 CLAWS OF MACRA $9.99
MAR121355 DOCTOR WHO DECIDE YOUR OWN DESTINY VOL 02 COLDEST WAR $9.99
APR121393 DOCTOR WHO SHADA LOST ADVENTURE HC $26.95
MAR121364 DOCTOR WHO WHERES THE DOCTOR $12.99
MAR121356 DOCTOR WHO YR ADV BOOK 01 HEART OF STONE DEATH RIDERS $10.99
MAR121357 DOCTOR WHO YR ADV BOOK 02 SYSTEM WIPE GOOD BAD & ALIEN $10.99
MAR121358 DOCTOR WHO YR ADV BOOK 03 ALIEN ADVENTURES $10.99
MAR121359 DOCTOR WHO YR ADV BOOK 04 SIGHTSEEING IN SPACE $10.99
MAY121404 HYMNS & WRETCHED OFFERINGS TO THE GOLDEN ONES S&N HC $24.95
MAR121060 JACK DAVIS DRAWING AMERICAN POP CULTURE HC (RES) $49.99
MAY121431 MARVEL SUPER HEROES VS VILLAINS EXPLOSIVE POP UP RIVALRIES ( $29.95

Case Closed: The Other Detective

I read Case Closed, Vol. 43 (Case Closed (Graphic Novels))

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Comixology to Distribute Fantagraphics Books Titles

FANTAGRAPHICS and COMIXOLOGY ANNOUNCE DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Love and Rockets: New Stories #1-4 Available Now To Help Celebrate 30 Years Of The Hernandez Brothers’ Groundbreaking World

July 14th, 2012 – San Diego, CA. / New York, NY. — Today in a wide-ranging panel celebrating the 30th anniversary of publishing the Hernandez Brothers’ groundbreaking Love and Rockets series co-publisher Gary Groth, president of the 36 year-old publishing house, announced Fantagraphics Books’ entrance into the digital age through a brand new digital distribution agreement with comiXology, the revolutionary digital comics platform with over 75 million comic downloads to date and a library of more than 25,000 comics and graphic novels.

To mark the occasion, Fantagraphics Books and comiXology have immediately made available the first four issues of the Hernandez Brothers’ phenomenal Love and Rockets: New Stories. Groth also announced that following Comic-Con, comiXology will debut Love and Rockets: New Stories #5 on the same day as the print release is available in comic book stores this September. Subsequently, Fantagraphics will begin to release certain titles from their extensive front list and back catalogue across the entire comiXology platform.

“Fantagraphics Books is one of the longest running, independent comic publishers around with an incredible array of titles. I’ve been chasing them for three years to be a part of our platform and am thrilled not only to bring their books to the digital world, but also to be a part of celebrating the 30th anniversary of Love and Rockets," said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. "I’ve long been a fan of Hernandez Brothers’ work, and couldn’t think of a better way to kick off our new relationship with Fantagraphics. There are many happy people in the comiXology offices today.”

"We’ve been exploring our digital options for a few years now, and the more I learned, the more I kept coming back to ComiXology," said Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics Books Associate Publisher. "Seeing these first four issues of Love and Rockets: New Stories in comiXology’s Guided View is exciting.”

Fantagraphics and comiXology worked closely together to acquire the highest resolution source material to make sure these volumes of Love and Rockets: New Stories look great in comiXology’s new high–definition comic format — CMX-HD — for Love and Rockets fans that are reading on the new iPad.

In early May, comiXology revealed they had crested 65 million comic and graphic novel downloads since the beginning of the platform, with 15 million of those downloads happening in 2012. ComiXology recently unveiled that only one month later in June they had hit 77 million downloads — an addition of 12 million downloads — continuing on a trajectory of record-shattering growth.


About Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books has been a leading proponent of comics as a legitimate form of art and literature since it began publishing the critical trade magazine The Comics Journal in 1976. By the early 1980s, Fantagraphics found itself at the forefront of the burgeoning movement to establish comics as a medium as eloquent and expressive as the more established popular arts of film, literature, poetry, music et al. Fantagraphics has since gained an international reputation for its audacious editorial standards and its exacting production values and continues to expand the comics medium by releasing the highest quality books.

About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology — in just five short years — has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform — — available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web — comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently chosen as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.

Jamal Igle to Launch Kickstarter Project

Since learning of its existence when comics creator Kody Chamberlain used it, I've been a fan of Kickstarter, the crowd sourcing website.  I try to post news about new Kickstarter initiatives from comics creators when I can.  Here is one from DC Comics' artist, Jamal Igle, that apparently begins August 1, 2012:

JAMAL IGLE KICKSTARTS CREATOR OWNED SERIES MOLLY DANGER

Former Supergirl artist launches his brand new creator-owned superhero series on Kickstarter.com

When Jamal Igle announced the end of his D.C. Comics contract in January of 2012, the number one question fans asked was "What's next?" Igle, who spent the better part of the decade as one D.C. Comics artistic mainstays on titles like Supergirl, Superman and Firestorm the Nuclear Man, was coy. Other than the recently released KISS comic book series from IDW, Igle had been unusually quiet about his plans until recently.

Now, the Inkpot award winning creator launches his Kickstarter campaign for "Molly Danger", A four book, hardcover, graphic album all ages action adventure series. Igle describes Molly Danger as "Astroboy meets the Powerpuff girls".

Written and drawn by Igle, Molly Danger is the story of the world's most powerful 10-year-old girl. A seemingly immortal, super strong hero, Molly has protected the city of Coopersville for the last 20 years.

Kept in constant isolation and watched closely by D.A.R.T. (The Danger Action Response Team) an organization created to assist in her heroic deeds and monitor her movements, Molly battles the Supermechs; A team of cybernetically enhanced beings with unusual powers. Molly longs for a real life, with a real family, something she's been told she can never have. Her life changes when D.A.R.T. recruits a new pilot, Austin Briggs. Briggs has his own motivations for joining the team, newly remarried; Austin is having trouble forming a relationship with his new stepson, Brian. Austin wants to use his connections to impress Brian, an avid Molly Danger fan. However things get turned on its ear when Molly and Brian form a friendship of their own.

"As the father of a young girl, I've found myself disheartened that there isn't a female superhero character for my daughter to read that hasn't been turned into a killer, or overtly sexualized. A character that isn't joined at the hip to a male hero or subservient to one." Igle said. Igle will write and pencil the series with inker Juan Castro (G.I.Joe: Snake Eyes for IDW, Incorruptible for Boom Studios, Elders of the Rune Stone) and Colorist Michael Watkins (Sonic the Hedgehog, Transformers).

Igle has also teamed up with Action Lab Entertainment, publishers of the Eisner award nominated series, Princeless, to handle the publishing and distribution of the series.

THE 30 DAY CAMPAIGN BEGINS ON AUGUST 1ST, 2012, All the funds raised will go to production and printing of a limited edition version of the first book, with an original cover, for Kickstarter contributors planned incentives include a limited edition membership card, posters, prints, a behind the scenes sketchbook and original artwork form the finished book.

"I believe in Molly, so much so that I'm putting my money where my mouth is. " said Igle. However, the project will not be funded at all if at least $45,000 is not pledged by Friday, August 31st.

"This is a project I've been wanting to do for over 10 years and I look forward to the opportunity to share Molly with the world." said Igle.

Join the Kickstarter campaign at http://www.kickstarter.com/ projects/mollydanger

ABOUT JAMAL IGLE
One of the most popular and prolific pencillers in the comic book industry, Jamal igle is an award winning artist and writer. Best known for his two year run as artist on the DC Comics series Supergirl with writer Sterling Gates, Jamal has been a professional jack of all trades for nearly 20 years drawing every title from Action Comics to Zatanna.

Review: OOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS, VOL. 7

OOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS, VOL. 7
VIZ MEDIA

CARTOONIST: Fumi Yoshinaga
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Akemi Wegmüller
LETTERER: Monlisa De Asis
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4220-1; paperback; Rated “M” for “Mature”
224pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN

Fumi Yoshinaga is the prolific female Japanese graphic novelist and mangaka known for her comics in the shojo and shonen-ai genres. She has created such manga as The Moon and the Sandals and Antique Bakery.

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers (The Shogun’s Harem) is her current series and began publication in 2005. This alternate-Earth story is set in Japan and imagines a strange new disease, called the Redface Pox, which kills young men and boys. The male population begins to fall in the 1600s to about one-fourth of the female population. Men eventually become protected as precious “seed bearers,” and women take on the roles traditionally held by men, including the role of Shogun. This story focuses on life at Edo Castle and is set inside its Inner Chambers, a sort of harem filled with men who serve the female Shogun.

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Vol. 7 (Chapters 23-26) opens with the death of (Tokugawa) Lord Yoshimichi. Her demise signals that various domain lords (daimyo) are jockeying to position themselves as the next shogun. Ietsugu, the daughter of Ienobu, the previous shogun, is only five-year-old and is also sickly and not expected to live long.

Ietsugu’s protector. Manabe Akifusa, believes Lord Yoshimune, lord of the Kii domain, is plotting to be the next shogun. However, Sir Gekko-In, Ienobu’s concubine and Ietsugu’s father, and his supporters in the Inner Chambers are standing in Yoshimune’s way. Ejima Shinzaburo, Groom of the Bedchamber and Senior Chamberlain of the Inner Chambers, will be the key to whether Yoshimune’s gets her way or not.

Also, a new shogun wonders if Japan is the only place that has been stricken by the Redface Pox. If so, does a lack of men capable of being warriors make Japan vulnerable to outside attack?

The seventh volume of the Ōoku: The Inner Chambers manga arrives over a year after the sixth volume was published. Creator Fumi Yoshinaga inserts enough captions and exposition to explain the characters and situations to him readers familiar with the series get familiar with this section in the narrative. New readers will need a little more context.

Early in the series, Ōoku examined gender roles in a society where male dominance suddenly became a thing of the past, a necessity after a plague had wiped out a significant portion of the male population. In fact, the plague continues to hang over the narrative. One of the most interesting things about this series is how Yoshinaga imagines what role reversal might look like in 17th and 18th century Japan. In a sort of alternate history/science fiction way, the Redface Pox plague can be used to explain Japan’s “closed country” police which began in the mid-1600s and lasted until the arrival of the United States Navy forced the country open in 1854.

Whatever themes and philosophies Yoshinaga wishes to explore here, she does through character drama and palace intrigue. Considering that this series has depicted brutal murder and assault, I can honestly say that what is in Vol. 7 is the most intense character drama yet in this story. I’m not naïve about the world, but I was astounded by the extent to which the characters playing in Chapters 23 to 26 were willing to go to get what they wanted. There is a real-world verisimilitude here that gives me the chills. I think readers will be interested to know that Fumi Yoshinaga never holds back here. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is drama writ out entirely in capitol letters.

A+