Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 30, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR181925    2021 LOST CHILDREN #1 (OF 2) CVR A STOKOE    $5.99
MAR181926    2021 LOST CHILDREN #1 (OF 2) CVR B BOOK COVER    $5.99
MAR181927    2021 LOST CHILDREN #1 (OF 2) CVR C STOKOE B&W    $5.99
MAR182090    ACCA 13 TERRITORY INSPECTION DEPT GN VOL 03    $15.00
MAR181685    ADV OF JOHN BLAKE GN    $12.99
MAR182091    AKAME GA KILL ZERO GN VOL 07 (MR)    $13.00
MAR182092    ANGELS OF DEATH GN VOL 03    $13.00
MAR181185    ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #289    $6.99
MAR181178    ARCHIES TP VOL 01    $17.99
MAR181029    BABY BADASS TP VOL 01 (MR)    $11.99
MAR181941    BLOODBORNE #4 (OF 4) CVR A DEL RAY (MR)    $3.99
MAR181942    BLOODBORNE #4 (OF 4) CVR B GAME VAR (MR)    $3.99
MAR181076    BRILLIANT TRASH #6    $3.99
MAR181766    CATALYST PRIME KINO #6    $3.99
DEC171860    DARK SOULS COVER COLLECTION HC    $29.99
NOV171868    DEVILMAN VS HADES GN VOL 01    $12.99
JAN181608    DF MIGHTY THOR #700 GOLD ELITE SIMONSON SGN ED    $70.00
OCT171565    DF WALKING DEAD #173 HAESER JESUS HEAD SKETCH    $69.99
FEB181984    DURARARA RE DOLLARS ARC GN VOL 01 (RES)    $13.00
FEB181985    ECLAIR ANATA NI HIBIKU GN YURI ANTHOLOGY    $13.00
NOV172090    ELDER SISTER-LIKE ONE GN VOL 01 (MR)    $13.00
MAR181849    FORMIDABLES #1 (RES)    $2.99
APR181721    FORMIDABLES #2 (RES)    $2.99
MAR181023    GHOUL SCOUTS TWEENAGE WEREWOLF #3    $3.99
MAR181031    GINGERDEAD MAN MEETS EVIL BONG #3 (MR)    $3.99
MAR181032    GINGERDEAD MAN MEETS EVIL BONG TP (MR)    $9.99
DEC171100    GOLD DIGGER #253    $3.99
MAR181983    HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (OF 4) CVR A JONES    $3.99
MAR181984    HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (OF 4) CVR B SUAYAN    $3.99
MAR181985    HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (OF 4) CVR C BLANK CVR    $3.99
MAR181989    HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (OF 4) CVR G PRE-ORDER BUNDLE ED    $3.99
MAR181024    HELM #2    $3.99
MAR181081    HILLBILLY #10 (RES)    $3.99
MAR181910    JOHN CARPENTER TALES OF SCI FI VORTEX #8 (OF 8) (MR)    $3.99
MAR181162    JUGHEAD THE HUNGER #6 CVR A GORHAM (MR)    $3.99
MAR181163    JUGHEAD THE HUNGER #6 CVR B CHARM (MR)    $3.99
MAR181164    JUGHEAD THE HUNGER #6 CVR C WALSH (MR)    $3.99
MAR181025    JUPITER JET TP VOL 01    $14.99
MAR182099    KISS & WHITE LILY FOR MY DEAREST GIRL GN VOL 06    $13.00
FEB181995    LAID BACK CAMP GN VOL 02    $13.00
MAR181850    MAZSCARA #1 (RES)    $6.99
MAR181823    MELOWY HC VOL 01    $12.99
FEB181763    MERMAN IN MY TUB GN VOL 07 (RES)    $12.99
MAR181027    MIRACULOUS TALES OF LADYBUG CAT NOIR TP BUG OUT    $9.99
MAR181770    NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE GARDEN OF SECRETS HC GN    $29.99
MAR181068    PESTILENCE STORY OF SATAN #1 CVR A BRADSTREET (MR)    $3.99
MAR181069    PESTILENCE STORY OF SATAN #1 CVR B ROOTH (MR)    $3.99
MAR181903    PINKY & PEPPER FOREVER GN    $12.00
MAR181028    PRINCELESS RAVEN YEAR 2 #8    $3.99
MAR181994    QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) #6 CVR A OLIVETTI    $3.99
MAR181995    QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) #6 CVR B ULTRA FOIL SHAW    $3.99
MAR188175    QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) #6 CVR E PRE-ORDER BUNDLE    $3.99
MAR181802    RICK & MORTY #38 CVR A    $3.99
MAR181803    RICK & MORTY #38 CVR B SCOTT VAR    $3.99
MAR182125    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #5 (OF 6) CVR A CHEN    $3.99
MAR182126    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #5 (OF 6) CVR B SPAY    $3.99
MAR182127    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #5 (OF 6) CVR C MCCOY    $3.99
MAR182128    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #5 (OF 6) CVR D ABRERA    $3.99
FEB181712    SCARLET ROSE GN VOL 02    $9.99
FEB181713    SCARLET ROSE HC VOL 02    $14.99
MAR181202    SHRUGGED VOL 3 #4 (OF 6) CVR A RISSO    $3.99
MAR181203    SHRUGGED VOL 3 #4 (OF 6) CVR B GUNNELL    $3.99
MAR181870    STABBITY BUNNY #5    $3.99
FEB181840    STUFF OF LEGEND CALL TO ARMS #3    $3.99
MAR181049    SUBSPECIES #3 CVR A LOGAN (MR)    $3.99
MAR181050    SUBSPECIES #3 CVR B WILLIAMS (MR)    $3.99
MAR181051    SUBSPECIES TP VOL 01    $9.99
MAR181232    SURVIVAL FETISH #2 (MR)    $3.99
APR181656    TALE THOUSAND ONE NIGHTS HASIB QUEEN SERPENTS HC (MR)    $24.99
MAR181121    TALES OF ROGUES #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAR181368    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #110 (MR)    $2.95
MAR181122    TITAN #1 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99
FEB180978    TOYETICA #8    $3.99
MAR181026    TOYETICA TP VOL 02    $14.99
MAR181017    UNDATEABLE CEREBUS #1 (OF 1)    $4.00
MAR182006    VALIANT HIGH #1 (OF 4) CVR A LAFUENTE    $3.99
FEB181107    VAMPIRONICA #2 CVR A REG    $3.99
FEB181108    VAMPIRONICA #2 CVR B FRANCAVILLA    $3.99
FEB181109    VAMPIRONICA #2 CVR C HACK    $3.99
MAR181698    VIETNAMESE MEMORIES VOL 01 LEAVING SAIGON (MR)    $19.95
MAR181743    WAITING FOR SPRING GN VOL 06    $10.99
MAR181235    WE ARE DANGER #1 (MR)    $3.99
MAR180600    WHERE WE LIVE LAS VEGAS SHOOTING BENEFIT ANTHOLOGY TP    $19.99
FEB181174    WILDS #3 (MR)    $3.99

MAGAZINES
FEB182139    007 MAGAZINE #50    $16.99
APR181705    CARTOONS MAGAZINE #15    $5.99
FEB182129    DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #525    $11.99
FEB182135    HOBBY JAPAN MAY 2018    $20.00
JAN182188    MEGAMI APR 2018    $20.00
JAN182189    NEWTYPE APR 2018    $20.00
FEB182134    SCREAM MAGAZINE #48 (MR)    $8.99
MAR182214    STAR WARS INSIDER #181 NEWSSTAND ED    $7.99
MAR182215    STAR WARS INSIDER #181 PX ED    $7.99

BOOKS
MAR181077    ART OF JIM STARLIN LIFE IN WORDS & PICTURES HC    $49.99
APR181251    BOND VEHICLE COLLECTIBLES SC    $21.95
APR181300    BROKEN GLORY FINAL YEARS OF ROBERT F KENNEDY HC    $26.99
MAR181897    DIDNT I SAY MAKE ABILITIES AVERAGE NOVEL SC VOL 01 (MR)    $13.99
MAR182167    DOCTOR WHO COMP HIST HC VOL 70 12TH DOCTOR STORIES 250-252 (    $18.99
APR181366    DOCTOR WHO TARGET COLLECTION CHRISTMAS INVASION MMPB    $9.99
APR181367    DOCTOR WHO TARGET COLLECTION CITY OF DEATH MMPB    $9.99
APR181368    DOCTOR WHO TARGET COLLECTION DAY OF DOCTOR MMPB    $9.99
APR181369    DOCTOR WHO TARGET COLLECTION ROSE MMPB    $9.99
APR181370    DOCTOR WHO TARGET COLLECTION TWICE UPON A TIME MMPB    $9.99
MAR182188    HISTORY OF VIDEO GAMES IN 64 OBJECTS HC    $26.99
MAR181953    IMPERIALS IN EVIL TIMES MMPB    $7.99
MAR182081    NAPPING PRINCESS LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01 UNKNOWN ME    $14.00
MAR188458    OVERLORD LIGHT NOVEL HC VOL 07    $20.00
APR181577    SCIENCE COMICS ROCKETS GN    $12.99
APR181578    SCIENCE COMICS ROCKETS HC GN    $19.99
APR181498    SOLO STAR WARS STORY OFFICIAL GUIDE HC    $21.99
MAR181951    STAR TREK PROMETHEUS ROOT OF ALL RAGE MMPB    $7.99
DEC171695    THE LONE RANGER AND TONTO PROSE NOVEL SC    $19.95
MAR182708    WARHAMMER 40K CARRION THRONE PROSE NOVEL SC    $16.00
MAR182710    WARHAMMER 40K LAST HUNT PROSE NOVEL SC    $16.00
MAR182713    WARHAMMER WAR OF VENGENCE PROSE NOVEL SC    $21.00

Review: CURSE WORDS #3

CURSE WORDS No. 3
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Charles Soule
ART: Ryan Browne
COLORS: Michael Garland with Ryan Browne and Michael Parkinson
LETTERS: Chris Crank
COVER: Ryan Browne
VARIANT COVERS: Paolo Rivera; Ryan Browne
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2017)

Rated M / Mature

Curse Words is a new ongoing fantasy comic book series from Image Comics.  It is the creation of comic book writer Charles Soule (Twenty-Seven, Image Comics) and artist Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts, Image Comics).

Curse Words stars Wizord, a wizard from another world who appears one day in New York City, specifically Central Park.  Of course, the first people to encounter him end up in an unfortunate situation, but eventually Wizord is seen as the city's “sorcerous protector.”  A confrontation with a murderous rival, however, made Wizord do something terrible to the city, and now, he has to come up with an incredible fix-it.

Curse Words #3 opens on the Hole World where Ruby Stitch prepares for her assault on Wizord.  First, however, she has to complete a mission for her boss, Sizzajee.  Meanwhile, Wizord is drowning his trouble in alcohol at the local watering hole because he recently was stripped of his powers.  His familiar, Margaret the koala, has a plan, though...

Curse Words instantly impresses with its eye-popping art.  Still, I have been waiting for this series to fall on its visually striking face, and this issue, it finally did!  Naw, it didn't.  I just love this comic book even more.  Every page simply makes me want to hurry to the next page.  I am sure that some people see this on the shelves and think that it looks too weird.  Judge a book by its cover; weird is good , and Curse Words is a fantasy and magic comic book worth having.

I still think Curse Words could be a standout title.  It might already be...

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication and reprint rights and fees.

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

Review: SURFACING: Depth Perceptions #1

SURFACING: DEPTH PERCEPTIONS No. 1
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Nenad Cviticanin
COLORS: Santtos
LETTERS: Krugos
EDITOR: John Ward and Denise Thompson
COVER: Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Rated: “M” for Mature

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is a four-issue comic book miniseries from Approbation Comics.  It tells the story of a young man who visits an oceanic research facility where he discovers a creature of fairy tales and myth that should not exist.  Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Nenad Cviticanin; colored by Santtos; and lettered by Krugos.

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #1 opens with the reunion of childhood friends, Marcus Wright and Anton Parker.  Parker is in charge of an expensive ocean research facility, so Marcus assumes that he and Anton will catch up on old times before Anton makes a business proposal to him.  However, Marcus soon discovers that Anton has a mermaid trapped inside the facility, and the revelation of this creature of myth could change, ruin, or end Marcus's life.

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #1 is one of the prettiest comic books Approbation Comics has published to date.  The cover for the first issue features a gorgeous illustration and shimmering colors by Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz.  The interior art by Nenad Cviticanin is well-drawn and cleanly drawn line art, which results in strong storytelling, especially in conveying how what is said by one character affects another.  The colors by Santtos also reflect a clean and clear science fiction aesthetic.  In a way, the coloring here recalls the sparse but evocative color photography of the film Ex Machina.

This first issue also offers some of B. Alex Thompson's most effective dialogue writing; it is fun to read the conversations between the characters.  One can be forgiven for thinking that this is a Brian Michael Bendis script, but, no, it's Thompson's.  He is a polished veteran comic book writer, and he makes this first issue an effective tease for the rest of this series.  And I want more... of that hot mermaid!

8 out of 10

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #1's ComiXology page.

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: CHAO CAMPUS #22

CHAOS CAMPUS: SORORITY GIRLS VS ZOMBIES No. 22
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Bernard Gita and Luis Arellano
COLORS: Russell Vincent Yu and Alex Rayn
LETTERS: Elisa M. Coletti
POST-SCRIPTING/POLISH: John P. Ward
COVER: Kevin Wallace
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Rated: Teen 13+

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

“Smart Zombies, Part 2 of 2”

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies is a long-running horror-comedy and zombie apocalypse comic book series.  It is created by B. Alex Thompson and 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’ Jaime Schaeffer, brainy Paige Patton, and sexy Brittany Miller.

The current story line is “Smart Zombies,” which is set at a luxury hotel where a group of scientists hide a major secret.  This story is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Bernard Gita and Luis Arellano; colored by Russell Vincent Yu and Alex Rayne; and lettered by Elisa M. Coletti.

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #22 finds our intrepid trio meeting a talking zombie!  His name is Lucian and he maintained his intelligence through the process of death and zombie resurrection.  Jamie detests Lucian, but Paige is willing to hear what he has to say.  Also, the girls find that not all the scientists want them around, although one male scientist wants to... turn the page... so to speak.  Meanwhile, Lucian tests the limits of weird science and plots a new apocalypse.

It has been at least three years since I last read an issue of the main Chaos Campus series, although I did read the special issue, Chaos Campus: Extra Credit #6.  In the years since I first read an Approbation Comics title (well over a decade), I have noticed that B. Alex Thompson has become a stronger comic book writer and that has served Chaos Campus quite well.

The series, which tends to spoof just about every corner of American pop culture, still throws in a reference, here and there.  However, Chaos Campus has become a highly-polished horror comics gem.  The dialogue is sharp, and the action and drama are solidly constructed and written.  Thompson is also quite good at writing single-issue and two-issue stories.  I also think that Lucian looks to be a good, long-term adversary of our chaotic heroines.

So zombie fans should apply for admission to Chaos Campus; it is actually easy to start reading this comic book.  You can enter at practically any point in the series.

A-

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

Chaos Campus #22's ComiXology page.

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Review: ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM Volume 21

ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM, VOL. 21
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yusei Matsui
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Bryant Turnage
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9339-5; paperback (April 2018); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Assassination Classroom is a science fiction, comedy, and shonen manga from creator Yusei Matsui.  The series was originally serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, from 2012 to 2016.  VIZ Media published an English-language adaptation of the series in graphic novel, beginning in December 2014 and recently ending in April 2018.

Assassination Classroom focuses on the so-called “End Class.”  These are the outcast students of Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High.  They are trying to kill their teacher, and they have the perfect excuse.  Their teacher is the monstrous, alien-like octopus that recently destroyed 70% of the moon.  This creature becomes Class 3-E's teacher, whom the student name, “Koro Sensei,” and he promises to destroy the Earth after the 3-E students graduate.  Thus, it is up to these students to kill their teacher in order to save the world.  They are the “Assassination Classroom.”

As Assassination Classroom, Vol. 21 (Chapters 178 to 179 to Final Chapter; entitled Time to Say Thank You) opens, Koro-sensei is dead.  The students of the Assassination Classroom killed their teacher, but there are extenuating circumstances.  Now, the class prepares to graduate, but what does the future hold and how will the legacy of Koro-sensei affect them?

[This manga contains bonus manga, “Time to Come Home,” “Time to Go to the Izakaya,” “Time to Reveal Identities,” “Time to Say Thank You,” and “Tokyo Department Store War Journal.”]

The Assassination Classroom manga has reached the end of its run.  The series is often variations of the same, although the usual is usually quite entertaining.  It is like a sitcom about students learning to become assassins while trying to kill their other-worldly teacher, and creator Yusei Matsui finds comedy in characters as well as in situations.

Assassination Classroom Graphic Novel Volume 21 is the final volume of the series, but it is not so much a finale as it is a coda.  Vol. 20, in which the teacher is killed, is really the final volume.  With Vol. 21, Matsui offers a bit of sweetness to his readers.  There are some extra stories that Matsui produced to accompany the anime based on Assassination Classroom, and this volume also reprints the manga Matsui produced before this series.  I hope this series stays in print, and it probably will digitally.  Assassination Classroom deserves to find new readers for years to come.

A
8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for May 23, 2018

BOOM! STUDIOS

MAR181251    ADVENTURE TIME BEGINNING OF END #1    $3.99
MAR181252    ADVENTURE TIME BEGINNING OF END #1 SUBSCRIPTION DAGUNA VAR (    $3.99
MAR181279    BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA OLD MAN JACK #9    $3.99
MAR181280    BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA OLD MAN JACK #9 SUBSCRIPTION ACT    $3.99
MAR181255    LUMBERJANES #50    $4.99
MAR181257    LUMBERJANES #50 CONNECTING FISH VAR    $4.99
MAR181256    LUMBERJANES #50 SUBSCRIPTION FISH VAR    $4.99
JAN181365    MISFIT CITY TP VOL 02    $14.99
JAN181333    MOUSE GUARD HC VOL 03 BLACK AXE B&W ED    $99.99
MAR181307    RUGRATS #8    $3.99
MAR181308    RUGRATS #8 SUBSCRIPTION BRUNI VAR    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 23, 2018

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR180028    BLACK HAMMER AGE OF DOOM #2 MAIN CVR    $3.99
MAR180029    BLACK HAMMER AGE OF DOOM #2 VAR LEMIRE CVR    $3.99
MAR180095    BTVS SEASON 11 GILES #4 (OF 4) MAIN CVR    $3.99
MAR180096    BTVS SEASON 11 GILES #4 (OF 4) VAR JOVELLANOS CVR    $3.99
NOV170051    HALO RISE OF ATRIOX HC    $19.99
MAR180042    INCOGNEGRO RENAISSANCE #4 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180109    JOE GOLEM OCCULT DETECTIVE HC VOL 02 OUTER DARK    $24.99
MAR180086    WITCHFINDER GATES OF HEAVEN #1 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99