Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 17 2012

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG120054 BILLY KIDS ODDITIES & ORM LOCH NESS #1 HOTZ CVR $3.50

AUG120060 BPRD 1948 #1 JOHNSON CVR $3.50

AUG120064 EX SANGUINE #1 (MR) $3.99

MAY120060 JOE GOLEM & THE DROWNING CITY DLX HC $99.99

AUG120049 MICHAEL AVON OEMINGS THE VICTORIES #3 (MR) $3.99

AUG120073 ORCHID #10 (MR) $3.50

JUN120050 SKY ART OF FINAL FANTASY HC BOXED SET $139.99

AUG120075 STAR WARS AGENT O/T EMPIRE HARD TARGETS #1 $2.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 17 2012

IMAGE COMICS

JUL120482 ACTIVITY #9 [DIG] $3.50

JUL120392 BLOODSTRIKE TP VOL 01 REBORN UNDER A BAD SIGN $14.99

JUL120489 CHEW #29 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

AUG120460 CYBER FORCE #1 [DIG] PI

JUL120494 DARKNESS #107 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

AUG120511 GLORY #29 [DIG] $3.99

AUG120520 IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #3 [DIG] $2.99

AUG120486 MIND THE GAP TP VOL 01 INTIMATE STRANGERS (MR) $9.99

MAY120569 MUDMAN TP VOL 01 $9.99

APR120550 NO PLACE LIKE HOME #5 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

AUG120476 NOT MY BAG GN [DIG] $12.99

MAR120500 SAVAGE DRAGON #182 [DIG] $3.50

AUG110541 SHINKU #5 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

AUG120492 SKULLKICKERS TP VOL 03 SIX SHOOTER ON THE SEVEN SEAS [DIG] $16.99

AUG128028 WALKING DEAD #100 3RD PTG (MR) $3.99

AUG120472 WALKING DEAD #103 (MR) [DIG] $2.99

Comics, Magazines, and Books from Diamond Distributors for October 17 2012

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

AUG121016 AFTER EARTH ONE-SHOT $3.99

MAY120823 AIRBOY DEADEYE #4 $3.50

MAY121379 ALICE IN WONDERLAND HC (MR) $24.99

AUG120798 BETTY & VERONICA #262 [DIG/D+] $2.99

AUG120799 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #206 [DIG/D+] $3.99

JUN120768 CAVEWOMAN NATURAL SELECTION #2 $3.75

JUN120769 CAVEWOMAN NATURAL SELECTION #2 DEVON MASSEY SP ED PI

AUG121252 CHARLES BURNS HIVE GN $21.95

AUG121235 COURTNEY CRUMRIN ONGOING #6 $3.99

JUL120816 DICKS $19.99

JUL120877 ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST TP VOL 03 $14.99

JUL121223 FINDING GOSSAMYR #2 $3.99

JUN121036 GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #18 (MR) $3.99

AUG121418 GFT SLEEPY HOLLOW #1 A CVR SEJIC (MR) $2.99

AUG121419 GFT SLEEPY HOLLOW #1 B CVR TRIANO (MR) $2.99

AUG121428 GODSTORM #1 A CVR SPAY (MR) $2.99

AUG121429 GODSTORM #1 B CVR CHA (MR) $2.99

JUL120725 GOLD DIGGER SWIMSUIT ANNUAL #1 $4.99

FEB121063 GRAY MORROWS ORION TP (MR) $39.99

APR121045 GREEN HORNET #29 $3.99

AUG121333 HARBINGER (ONGOING) #5 AJA CVR $3.99

AUG121332 HARBINGER (ONGOING) #5 SUAYAN CVR $3.99

APR120768 HOW TO DRAW ALIEN BABES & PRINCESSES TP $21.95

JUL121227 JAMES BOND OMNIBUS TP VOL 04 $19.95

JUL121204 JUDGE DREDD DIGEST TP DARK JUDGES (MR) $11.00

JUL121133 KITCHEN PRINCESS OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 $14.99

JUN121309 KUZIMU COLL ED TP (MR) $19.99

JUL121297 LIMIT GN VOL 01 $10.95

AUG120970 LOOKOUTS RIDDLE VOL 01 #2 $3.99

JUL120697 LOVECRAFT ANTHOLOGY TP VOL 02 $19.95

JUN121239 MAN OF GOD #3 $3.50

JUL121270 MARCH STORY TP VOL 04 (MR) $12.99

JUN121217 MIKE NORTONS CURSE GN $14.99

JUN121193 MORTENSENS ESCAPADES GN VOL 01 MYSTERIOUS MANUSCRIPT $6.95

AUG121221 NANCY DREW & CLUE CREW GN VOL 01 SMALL VOLCANOES $6.99

AUG121220 NANCY DREW & CLUE CREW HC VOL 01 SMALL VOLCANOES $10.99

AUG120947 PEANUTS VOL 2 #3 [DIG] $3.99

AUG120996 PETER CANNON THUNDERBOLT #2 $3.99

JUN121261 PHAZER #5 $3.99

JUN120761 PINOCCHIO VAMPIRE SLAYER GN VOL 04 WOOD & BLOOD PT 2 $10.95

JUL120967 PROPHECY #4 $3.99

FEB120904 SHADOW BLOOD & JUDGMENT TP (MR) $19.99

AUG120896 SIMPSONS COMICS #195 $2.99

AUG121237 SIXTH GUN #26 $3.99

JUL120774 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #241 HORN CVR $2.99

JUL120773 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #241 REG CVR [D+] $2.99

AUG120810 SONIC UNIVERSE #45 [DIG/D+] $2.99

AUG120872 STITCHED #9 (MR) $3.99

AUG120874 STITCHED #9 GORE CVR (MR) $3.99

AUG120873 STITCHED #9 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

JUL120925 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #76 DLX ED (MR) $19.99

JUL121278 TENJO TENGE GN VOL 09 (MR) $17.99

JUL121013 THE LONE RANGER SNAKE OF IRON #3 $3.99

JUL121163 THREE STOOGES GN VOL 02 EBENEZER STOOGE $6.99

JUL121164 THREE STOOGES HC VOL 02 EBENEZER STOOGE $10.99

AUG121015 THUNDA #3 $3.99

MAY121069 WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #17 (MR) $3.99

JUL120992 WITCHBLADE DEMON REBORN #3 $3.99

JUN121293 WIZARD OF ID HC DAILIES & SUNDAYS 1972 $19.95

JUN120826 WULF #6 (RES) $2.99

AUG121334 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #6 BRAITHWAITE CVR $3.99

AUG121335 X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #6 CHAR DESIGN CVR $3.99

JUN121205 ZOMBIES VS CHEERLEADERS MISADV OF BECKY & BOB #1 $3.99

MAGAZINES
AUG121304 ALMOST NAKED ANIMALS MAGAZINE #1 $4.99

AUG120654 CARS MAGAZINE #9 $4.99

JUN121466 CINEFANTASTIQUE PRES ULT GUIDE TO ZOMBIES $9.99

AUG121471 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1322 PI

AUG121537 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 62 BAMA CVR $14.95

AUG121536 DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 62 REG CVR $14.95

AUG121497 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #264 $9.99

JUL121201 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #328 MOVIE SPEC $13.00

AUG121451 JUXTAPOZ #142 NOV 2012 $5.99

AUG121533 LOCUS #621 $6.95

AUG120655 MARVEL SUPER HEROES #4 $4.99

AUG121505 SCREAM MAGAZINE #13 $8.99

AUG121540 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 65 $14.95

BOOKS
JUL121401 ANDREW LOOMIS CREATIVE ILLUSTRATION HC $39.95

JUN120803 ART OF BETTY AND VERONICA HC (RES) $29.99

JUL121284 BELKA WHY DONT YOU BARK NOVEL $25.99

AUG121521 ET EXTRA TERRESTRIAL FROM CONCEPT TO CLASSIC SC $24.99

JUL121383 FEAST UNKNOWN NOVEL $12.95

AUG121532 HELLO CUTIE ADVENTURES IN CUTE CULTURE SC $19.95

JUL121438 STAR WARS GALACTIC POP UP ADVENTURE HC $36.99

JUN121415 TOTALLY MAD 60 YEARS OF HUMOR SATIRE & STUPIDITY HC $34.95

JUL121300 VERY HUNGRY ZOMBIE HC $14.95

JUL122144 WARHAMMER 40K TREACHERIES OF THE SPACE MARINES MMPB $8.99

Albert Avilla Reviews: Red Hood and the Outlaws #0

Red Hood and the Outlaws #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artists: Pasqual Ferry, Ig Guara, Brett Booth

The Joker's Robin? The origin of Jason Todd as Robin. Lobdell is one of the best storytellers in comics. Poor, old Jason is raised by a hoodlum dad and a drug addict mom. Dad dies in prison, and mom overdoses. Jason does what he has to in order to survive. Batman takes him in, and he becomes Robin. He is a tough, gritty, brutal Robin.

Finds his mother in the Middle East, but this is a set up by the Joker. Jason goes in half-cocked; gets himself killed. Jason is resurrected by Talia al Ghul. This is a better resurrection than the previous one. Good job New 52. Then we get the old satellite dropped on our heads; The Joker shows up at the end of the story to tell us that Jason's rise to become was orchestrated by him.

This shocker made me respect Scott Lobdell just a little more. Another way to intertwine the characters of the Red Hood and the Joker. Lobdell is a masterful storyteller and I have been enjoying his work. I look forward to what he'll be doing with these characters and their rich backgrounds. We'll keep our fingers crossed, and possibly the team will expand its membership.

The only thing that I need to say about the art is look at Starfire on the cover.

I rate Red Hood and the Outlaws #0 Buy Your Own Copy.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Avengers Vs. X-Men Round 12

Avengers Vs. X-Men Round 12
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Story: Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman
Script: Jason Aaron
Pencils: Adam Kubert
Inks: John Dell, Mark Morales, Adam Kubert

(Possible spoilers)
There is no title to this story; it's Round 12. This is the battle of the year. If you read one comic this year, then you need to get a better job, get better friends, or hang around the comic shop a little longer. This is definitely the best one that I've read this month. A great balance of action and drama; I'm more of an aficionado of the action. We get the good old fisticuffs that we enjoy along with the heroic saving of human lives. The heroes use every ounce of their intestinal fortitude to defeat a powerful enemy. Finally, the Scarlet Witch and Hope knock the Phoenix out of Cyclops.

Interspersed with this beautiful action, we get the drama. A warrior who has fought for the light since his days as an adolescent is seduced by the darkness into believing that destruction is the path to his most lofty goals. Fighting to stop him: the mutant messiah and the destroyer of the mutant race. We have the fall of a great hero and the rise of another. Hope Summers just wants what we all want – to be our best self. She takes the Phoenix force and saves the Earth and the mutant race. The road we have traveled; Cyclops is a prisoner and Wolverine is the headmaster of his own school. Cap decides to take up the mutant cause. This event will have repercussions that will be felt across the Marvel Universe. The House of Ideas is still alive and flexing its muscles.

The series has been a showcase for Marvel's artists, and this round continues to give us the best of Marvel. Kubert and the crew are fantastic. From the temples of K'un Lun to every corner of the globe we get a celebration for the eyes.

You guessed it I rate Round 12 Recommend It To A Friend.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan - Kyoto in Darkness

I read Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 11

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

Book Review: Grant Morrison's SUPERGODS

SUPERGODS
SPIEGEL & GRAU

AUTHOR: Grant Morrison
ISBN: 978-0-8129-8138-4; paperback
E-BOOK ISBN: 978-0-679-60346-7
476pp, B&W, $16.00 U.S., $19.00 CAN

Born in 1960 in Glasgow, Scotland, Grant Morrison is one of the most popular and acclaimed contemporary comic book writers. He is known for such comics as Animal Man, All-Star Superman, Batman, Doom Patrol, and JLA, among others, for DC Comics and The New X-Men for Marvel Comics. He is also the author of one of my all-time favorite comic book series, The Invisibles. He was recently appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), so he is now Grant Morrison, MBE.

What I did not know is that Morrison had written a non-fiction book that was an analysis of superheroes. It was published in hardcover in July 2011 by Random House imprint, Spiegel & Grau. Now, Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach us About Being Human arrives in paperback. Morrison has also written a new afterword for the paperback to correct and clarify errors and omissions in the hardcover edition.

According to the press materials for the book, Morrison uses Supergods to explain why superheroes matter to us, why they will always be with us, and what they can tell us about ourselves – such as who we are. Morrison not only looks at superheroes, which he sees as powerful archetypes, but he also examines the writers and artists that created these characters. He explores the cultural, political, and social movements that he believes that led to the creation of specific superheroes at particular periods of time.

Morrison identifies four “ages” of the superhero. The Golden Age gave the world Superman and Batman and the characters they inspired or that were copies of them (to various degrees). The Silver Age saw the emergence of Marvel Comics, while the Dark Age was personified and defined by Alan Moore’s Watchmen. Morrison names the newest age the Renaissance because this is an era in which superheroes have exploded across the media landscape, in terms of mediums, formats, and platforms.

As a side story to this rumination on superheroes, Grant Morrison also talks about his own life. He tells how he first encountered superheroes and what they mean to his professional life.

Before beginning Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach us About Being Human, the readers may want to consider that this book is a subjective history specifically from the author, Grant Morrison’s point of view. Supergods is not an encyclopedia of superheroes. Rather, it gives a broad overview of superheroes in a manner similar to Larry Tye’s recent Superman: The High-Flying History of American’s Most Enduring Hero, which gives a broad overview of the history of Superman.

With that in mind, the reader can enjoy both Morrison’s wit and his personal and philosophical view of the history of comic books and superheroes. He mixes anecdotes with pointed commentary about superheroes and their creators and publishers. That doesn’t always work. Morrison’s section on Superman is boring, while his section on Wonder Woman and the eccentric love triangle behind her creation is a pleasure to read.

Readers familiar with Morrison know that his writing is not only imaginative and inventive, but that it also has flair. Readers who do not read comic books, but who are interested in superheroes will find Morrison’s humorous tone welcoming. They may be a bit put off by how Morrison plunges their brains into superheroes as if he were plunging them into cold water for a wake-up call. However, Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach us About Being Human is an effective way for readers to learn about many superheroes, and having Morrison doing the teaching is a good thing.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux