Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 5, 2020

IMAGE COMICS

JUN200079    COFFIN BOUND #5 (MR)    $3.99
JUN200038    FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #1 (RES)    $3.99
JUN200076    FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #2 (RES)    $3.99
JUN200246    GODDAMNED VIRGIN BRIDES #2 (OF 5) (RES) (MR)    $3.99
FEB200181    ICE CREAM MAN #20 CVR A MORAZZO & OHALLORAN (MR)    $3.99
FEB200182    ICE CREAM MAN #20 CVR B MORAZZO & OHALLORAN (MR)    $3.99
FEB200185    LUCY CLAIRE REDEMPTION #5 CVR A UPCHURCH (MR)    $3.99
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APR208635    LUDOCRATS #2 (OF 5) 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
JUN208000    MIRKA ANDOLFO MERCY #3 (OF 6) 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
APR208954    NEGAN LIVES #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $4.99
MAR200240    ON THE STUMP #4 CVR A PRENZY (MR)    $3.99
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JUN200264    PRETTY VIOLENT #8 (RES) (MR)    $3.99
MAR200246    PROTECTOR #5 (MR)    $3.99
JUN200265    REAVER #10 (RES) (MR)    $3.99
MAR200250    SEX CRIMINALS #30 (MR)    $3.99
MAR200251    SEX CRIMINALS #30 XXX WADA VAR (MR)    $4.69
JUN200093    UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #7 CVR A CAMUNCOLI (MR)    $3.99
JUN200094    UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #7 CVR B ADLARD (MR)    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 5, 2020

MARVEL COMICS

FEB200986    ANT-MAN #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB200989    AVENGERS OF THE WASTELANDS #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR201005    BLACK CAT #12    $3.99
JAN208952    BLACK CAT #12 SKAN VAR    $3.99
FEB200996    CAPTAIN AMERICA #21    $3.99
FEB200997    CAPTAIN AMERICA #21 ZIRCHER MARVEL ZOMBIES VAR    $3.99
MAR201097    CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 03 LAST AVENGER    $17.99
MAR201113    CONAN BARBARIAN ORIG MARVEL YRS EPIC COLL TP COMING OF CONAN    $34.99
FEB201003    DEADPOOL #6    $3.99
FEB201004    DEADPOOL #6 PHAM MARVEL ZOMBIES VAR    $3.99
MAR201027    DR STRANGE #6    $3.99
APR200845    EMPYRE #4 (OF 6)    $4.99
APR200849    EMPYRE #4 (OF 6) CHRISTOPHER 2-PACK ACTION FIGURE VAR    $4.99
APR200848    EMPYRE #4 (OF 6) DANIEL SKRULL KREE VAR    $4.99
APR200846    EMPYRE #4 (OF 6) LOZANO AVENGER VAR    $4.99
APR200847    EMPYRE #4 (OF 6) MICHAEL CHO FF VAR    $4.99
FEB200788    EMPYRE HANDBOOK #1    $4.99
MAR200836    EMPYRE X-MEN #2 (OF 4)    $4.99
MAR200837    EMPYRE X-MEN #2 (OF 4) WERNECK VAR    $4.99
MAR200870    FANTASTIC FOUR #22 COELLO EMPYRE VAR EMP    $3.99
MAR200869    FANTASTIC FOUR #22 EMP    $3.99
JUN200674    FANTASTIC FOUR ANTITHESIS #1 POSTER    $8.99
MAR200888    GIANT SIZE X-MEN FANTOMEX #1    $4.99
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MAR201043    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5    $3.99
MAR200860    LORDS OF EMPYRE CELESTIAL MESSIAH #1    $4.99
MAR200861    LORDS OF EMPYRE CELESTIAL MESSIAH #1 CASSARA VAR    $4.99
JUN200673    MAESTRO #1 POSTER    $8.99
JUN200655    MAESTRO FUTURE IMPERFECT MARVEL TALES #1    $7.99
JAN201063    MARVELS AVENGERS TP ROAD TO A-DAY    $15.99
FEB200948    MARVELS SPIDER-MAN BLACK CAT STRIKES #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB201051    MORBIUS TP VOL 01    $15.99
MAR201121    OZ COMPLETE COLLECTION GN TP OZMA DOROTHY & WIZARD    $15.99
MAR201103    PUNISHER SOVIET TP (MR)    $17.99
MAR201100    SAVAGE AVENGERS TP VOL 02 TO DINE WITH DOOM    $19.99
JAN201040    SOLOMON KANE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
JAN201041    SOLOMON KANE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS HC DM VAR    $100.00
FEB201020    STAR WARS #5    $3.99
FEB201021    STAR WARS #5 SPROUSE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK VAR    $3.99
JAN209185    STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #1 2ND PTG VAR    $3.99
FEB208015    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #2 2ND PTG VAR    $3.99
MAR201045    STRIKEFORCE #9    $3.99
APR208886    THOR #3 3RD PTG KLEIN VAR    $3.99
NOV190948    THOR BY JASON AARON HC VOL 04    $34.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for August 5, 2020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR202084    ADV OF BYRON COMIC CAPERS ONE SHOT    $3.99
APR201966    AGGRETSUKO #5 CVR A AMIN    $3.99
APR201967    AGGRETSUKO #5 CVR B MURPHY    $3.99
MAR201869    ALL TOGETHER NOW GN    $12.99
MAR201870    ALL TOGETHER NOW HC GN    $21.99
JUN201581    AO HARU RIDE MANGA GN VOL 12    $9.99
JUN200942    ARCHIE & FRIENDS FOREVER TP    $12.99
JUN200941    ARCHIE EXPLORERS OF THE UNKNOWN TP    $8.99
JUN200944    ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #311    $7.99
JUN200943    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #282    $7.99
APR201974    BACKTRACK #5 (MR)    $3.99
JUN200977    BAD MOTHER #1 CVR A (MR)    $3.99
JUN200978    BAD MOTHER #1 CVR B BRADSTREET (MR)    $3.99
APR202306    BIBI & MIYU MANGA GN VOL 01    $10.99
JUN201574    BLACK CLOVER GN VOL 22    $9.99
JUN201579    BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL2 24    $9.99
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MAR208121    BROKEN FRONTIER GN    $39.99
DEC191363    CARSON OF VENUS EYE OF AMTOR #2 CVR A CARRATU    $3.99
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FEB202114    CONSPIRACY MEN IN BLACK ONE SHOT CVR A COLAPIETRO    $4.99
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JUN201569    DEMON SLAYER KIMETSU NO YAIBA GN VOL 15    $9.99
JUN200875    DISASTER INC #2 (RES)    $3.99
JUN201673    FAILED PRINCESSES GN VOL 01    $12.99
JUN201447    FINGER GUNS #4 (RES)    $3.99
APR208346    FINGER GUNS #4 CVR B HICKMAN    $3.99
APR201427    FIVE YEARS TP VOL 02 STALEMATE    $15.99
JUN201580    FUSHIGI YUGI BYAKKO SENKI GN VOL 01    $9.99
MAR202468    GAL GOHAN GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
MAR202470    GIGANT GN VOL 02 (MR)    $13.99
JUN201611    GOBLIN SLAYER SIDE STORY YEAR ONE GN VOL 05 (MR)    $13.00
NOV191449    GOLD DIGGER #273    $3.99
FEB201965    GUTT GHOST TROUBLE W/ SAWBUCK SKELETON SOCIETY GLOW IN DARK    $7.99
FEB201964    GUTT GHOST TROUBLE W/ SAWBUCK SKELETON SOCIETY MIGNOLA CVR    $3.99
JAN201846    HARROWING OF HELL HC GN    $15.00
JUN201451    HEATHEN #12 (RES)    $3.99
JUN201660    HINAMATSURI GN VOL 09    $11.95
JUN201358    HORIZON ZERO DAWN #1 CVR A ARTGERM    $3.99
JUN201359    HORIZON ZERO DAWN #1 CVR B GAME ART WRAP    $3.99
JUN201360    HORIZON ZERO DAWN #1 CVR C LOISH    $3.99
JUN201361    HORIZON ZERO DAWN #1 CVR D MAULINA    $3.99
JUN201362    HORIZON ZERO DAWN #1 CVR E MOMOKO    $3.99
JUN201363    HORIZON ZERO DAWN #1 CVR F BLUE LINE SKETCH    $3.99
JUN201568    JOJOS BIZARRE ADV 4 DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE HC VOL 06    $19.99
JUN201576    JUJUTSU KAISEN GN VOL 05    $9.99
JUN201584    KAZE HIKARU GN VOL 28    $9.99
JUN201680    MACHIMAHO MADE WRONG PERSON MAGICAL GIRL GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
APR202024    METALSHARK BRO 2 #1 ASSAULT ON HAMZIG ISLAND    $3.99
MAR202474    MISS KOBAYASHIS DRAGON MAID ELMA DIARY GN    $12.99
JUN201450    MONEY SHOT #7 (RES) (MR)    $3.99
JUN201578    MY HERO ACADEMIA SMASH GN VOL 05    $9.99
APR201821    NYMPH HC    $29.99
JUN201577    ONE PIECE GN VOL 94    $9.99
JUN201090    ONE STORY HC GIPI    $22.99
JUN201597    ORESAMA TEACHER GN VOL 27    $9.99
FEB202149    PARALLEL PARADISE GN VOL 02 (MR)    $13.99
APR201552    PATRIOTIKA #1 CVR A TORQUE    $3.99
APR201553    PATRIOTIKA #1 CVR B CAMPOS    $9.99
MAR202476    PETER GRILL & PHILOSOPHERS TIME GN VOL 01 (MR)    $13.99
JUN201452    PIRATES GREAT CHASE GRAPHIC NOVEL ADV HC    $22.99
JUN201570    PROMISED NEVERLAND GN VOL 16    $9.99
JUN201240    RICK & MORTY PRESENTS BIRDPERSON #1 CVR A STRESSING    $4.99
JUN201241    RICK & MORTY PRESENTS BIRDPERSON #1 CVR B TRIZZINO    $4.99
APR202328    ROSE OF VERSAILLES GN VOL 03    $38.99
APR202203    SAKI SUCCUBUS HUNGERS TONIGHT GN VOL 03 (MR)    $13.99
JUN201571    SAMURAI 8 TALE OF HACHIMARU GN VOL 03    $9.99
JUN201029    SHIRLEY & JAMILA SAVE THEIR SUMMER GN    $10.99
JUN201030    SHIRLEY & JAMILA SAVE THEIR SUMMER HC GN    $20.99
JUN201583    SHORTCAKE CAKE GN VOL 09    $9.99
JUN201688    SKELETON KNIGHT IN ANOTHER WORLD GN VOL 04    $12.99
JAN201961    STABBITY BUNNY #11 (RES)    $3.99
MAR202093    STAR BASTARD TP    $19.99
JUN201203    STRANGE PLANET HC NEW PTG    $15.99
JUN201167    STRANGELANDS #8 (RES) (MR)    $3.99
JUN201204    STRANGER PLANET HC    $15.99
MAR201453    SUPERBABES STARRING FEMFORCE #4    $5.95
APR202068    SUPERFOGEYS TP VOL 1 INACTION HEROES    $29.99
MAR201490    SWEET HEART #3 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
MAR201774    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #122 DLX LITHO ED (MR)    $19.99
APR201548    TEETHER #4 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUN200976    THE KILLING JAR GN    $19.99
MAR202264    TO LOVE RU DARKNESS GN VOL 16 (MR)    $13.99
JUN201606    TOILET BOUND HANAKO KUN GN VOL 04    $13.00
JUN201593    TWIN STAR EXORCISTS ONMYOJI GN VOL 19    $9.99
JUN201443    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #1 CVR A CAMPBELL    $3.99
JUN201444    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #1 CVR B DANIEL & GOODEN    $3.99
APR208354    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #1 CVR C MACK (Net)    $3.99
APR208946    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #1 CVR D FOIL MACK    $3.99
JUN201595    WE NEVER LEARN GN VOL 11    $9.99
APR201823    WINTER OF THE CARTOONIST HC PACO ROCA    $21.99
MAR202446    WONDER THREE 3 OSAMU TEZUKA GN    $29.95
APR208822    WORLD STRONGEST REARGUARD LABYRINTH NOVICE GN VOL 01    $13.00
JUN201334    YES IM FLAGGING QUEER HANKY CODE 101 ONE SHOT (MR)    $5.00
JUN201582    YONA OF THE DAWN GN VOL 25    $9.99
JUN201453    YOUR TOWN GRAPHIC NOVEL ADV HC    $22.99
FEB201395    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #71 CVR A MACCAGNI (MR)    $4.99
FEB201396    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #71 CVR B MACCAGNI RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
FEB201397    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #71 CVR C RUDETOONS REYNOLDS (MR)    $4.99
FEB201398    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #71 CVR D RUDETOONS REYNOLDS RISQUE (MR    $4.99
FEB201399    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #71 CVR E HERMAN (MR)    $4.99
FEB201400    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #71 CVR F HERMAN RISQUE (MR)    $4.99

MAGAZINES

MAR201801    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1720    $PI
FEB201995    HOBBY JAPAN MAY 2020    $20.00
JUN201023    MONSTER BASH MAGAZINE SPECIAL #5    $8.99

BOOKS

SEP191664    AMERICAN DAREDEVIL BATTLES OF LEV GLEASON MMPB    $24.99
JUN201202    ARCHIES RIVALS IN TEEN COMICS 1940S-1970S SC    $39.95
MAR202484    ARIFURETA FROM COMMONPLACE ZERO LIGHT NOVEL VOL 03    $14.99
JUN200824    ART OF INVADER ZIM HC (RES)    $35.00
JUN201193    BILL & TEDS EXCELLENT ADVENTURE GUIDE TO BODACIOUS LIFE HC (    $14.99
JUN201194    BILL & TEDS EXCELLENT ADVENTURE WHERE ARE WE DUDE HC    $14.99
JUN201201    CAPT MARVEL BEWARE THE FLERKEN PICTURE BOOK    $12.99
JUN200825    DISNEY BLOCK MAGICAL MOMENTS FOR FANS OF EVERY AGE    $16.99
JUN201033    DISNEY WHOS WHO REVISED UPDATED SC    $12.99
APR202392    EMINENCE IN SHADOW LIGHT NOVEL HC VOL 01 (RES)    $20.00
FEB202058    FANTASTIC PAINTINGS OF FRAZETTA DLX SLIPCASED ED    $69.95
MAR201699    FIRE & BLOOD 300 YEARS BEFORE A GAME OF THRONES SC    $22.00
JUN201635    KINGDOM HEARTS III 3 THREE LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 02    $14.00
JUN201014    LADY DEATH MORE NAUGHTY ARTBOOK HC (MR)    $40.00
JUN201015    LADY DEATH MORE NAUGHTY ARTBOOK SGN SPECIAL ED HC (MR)    $80.00
JUN200826    MARVEL CLASSIC STICKER BOOK    $12.99
JUN201151    MORE SEX BETTER ZEN FASTER BULLETS ENCYC HONG KONG FILM    $28.95
JAN208337    ROWLEY JEFFERSONS AWESOME FRIENDLY ADV HC    $14.99
JUN201032    STAR WARS DARK LEGENDS HC NOVEL    $14.99
MAR202490    TORADORA LIGHT NOVEL VOL 10    $13.99
MAR202146    WARLCOK HOLMES FINALITY PROBLEM MMPB    $14.95

DC Comics from Lunar/UCS Distributors for August 4, 2020

DC COMICS:

Aquaman Volume 2 Amnesty TP, $17.99

Batman #96 (Cover A Guillem March), $3.99

Batman #96 (Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman #96 (Cover C Jorge Jimenez Clownhunter Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman The Adventures Continue #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Joe Quinones), $3.99

Batman The Adventures Continue #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Dan Hipp), AR

Catwoman 80th Anniversary Paper Masks, AR

Collapser Volume 1 TP, $16.99

Dark Nights Death Metal Legends Of The Dark Knights #1 (Cover A Tony S. Daniel), $5.99

Dark Nights Death Metal Legends Of The Dark Knights #1 (Cover B Kaare Andrews), AR

DC Classics The Batman Adventures #3, $1.99

DC Designer Series Harley Quinn By Enrico Marini Statue, $155.00

DCeased Dead Planet #1 (Of 6)(David Finch Black & White 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $4.99

DCeased Dead Planet #2 (Of 6)(Cover A David Finch), $3.99

DCeased Dead Planet #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), AR

DCeased Dead Planet #2 (Of 6)(Cover C Ben Oliver Card Stock Movie Homage Variant), AR

Dreaming Waking Hours #1 (Of 12)(Cover A Nick Robles), $3.99

Dreaming Waking Hours #1 (Of 12)(Cover B Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn), AR

Dreaming Waking Hours #1 (Of 12)(Cover C Nick Robles Ruin Variant), AR

Far Sector #7 (Of 12)(Cover A Jamal Campbell), $3.99

Far Sector #7 (Of 12)(Cover B Stjepan Sejic), AR

Joker 80th Anniversary Paper Mask, AR

Justice League #50 (Cover A Doug Mahnke), $5.99

Justice League #50 (Cover B Travis Charest), AR

Preacher The 25th Anniversary Omnibus Volume 1 HC (August 4 per DC), $125.00

Strange Adventures #4 (Of 12)(Cover A Mitch Gerads), $4.99

Strange Adventures #4 (Of 12)(Cover B Evan Doc Shaner), AR

Teen Titans Go To Camp TP, $9.99

Wonder Woman Steve Trevor TP, $19.99

Wonder Woman The Last True Hero Volume 1 TP, $39.99

Young Justice #17 (Cover A John Timms), $3.99

Young Justice #17 (Cover B Mirka), AR

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

#IReadsYou Review: FOOD WARS! Shokugeki no Soma: Volume 29

FOOD WARS!: SHOKUGEKI NO SOMA, VOL. 29
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Yuto Tsukuda
ART: Shun Saeki
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
CONTRIBUTOR: Yuki Morisaki
LETTERS: James Gaubatz; Mara Coman
EDITOR: Jennifer LeBlanc
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0510-8; paperback (April 2019); 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.  The manga was serialized in 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 its “Shonen Jump Advanced” and “Shonen Jump” imprints.

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, 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. 29 (Chapters 245 to 253; entitled “Final Battle”) opens, the “fourth bout” of the Régiment de Cuisine Shokugeki begins.  There are three cards in each bout of the Régiment, pitting three members of Soma and his allies' group, known as “the Resistance,” against Totsuki's “Council of Ten.”  If the Resistance wins the Régiment, they save their expelled classmates and gain seats on the council.  If they lose, all students connected to the Resistance are expelled and Soma's father becomes a slave... of sorts.

First, the Council's Momo Akanegakubo battles the Resistance's Erina Nakiri with “brown sugar” as the ingredient.  Then, Satoshi Isshiki takes on the Council's Eishi Tsukasa and the ingredient is “rabbit meat.”  In the final card of the fourth bout, the Council's Rindo Kobayashi meets Takumi Aldini in a battle of “spear squid.”  All is going well until someone powerful decides to crash the judges table!

[The volume includes a recipes, illustrations, and a bonus story, "Our Golden Days On Moon's Shadow."]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Food Wars! manga is moving towards the end of the great shokugeki – a battle of chefs – that will decide the fates of many students.  That's just fine because this manga is usually at its best during the cooking battles.

Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma Graphic Novel Volume 29 is rolling along as it has been the past several volumes of this battle between the resisting students and the school's ruling council.  Then, writer Yuto Tsukada and artist Shun Saeki throw the readers for a loop with a suite of surprises in the last three chapters of this volume.

These surprises are the kinds of delights that hit shonen battle manga offer as tidbits and treats to keep readers coming back for more.  In Food Wars!, there is always another delicious dish.

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

A
9.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.



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

#IReadsYou Review: ONE-PUNCH MAN Volume 16

ONE-PUNCH MAN, VOL. 16
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: ONE
ART: Yusuke Murata
TRANSLATION: John Werry
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITORS: Jennifer LeBlanc; John Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0461-3; paperback (May 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

One-Punch Man is a Japanese superhero franchise that began as a webcomic created by the writer-artist ONE.  Later, ONE joined artist Yusuke Murata to create a digital manga remake of One-Punch Man, and it began publication on Shueisha's Tonari no Young Jump website in 2012.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the digital manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint, beginning in 2015.

One-Punch Man focuses on Saitama, who wants to be a hero.  Beginning his superhero training when he is 22-years-old, he becomes one when he is 25.  He really does not look like a superhero, with his lifeless facial expression, bald head, and unimpressive physique.  But he beats the snot out of super-villains with one punch, and he even has his own disciple, the young cyborg, Genos (who really needs no training).

As One-Punch Man, Vol. 16 (Chapters 81 to 84; entitled “Depleted”) opens, Gara, the so-called “Hero Hunter,” has a man-to-boy talk with Waganma, the child kidnapped by the Monster Association.  It seems that the boy has the latest edition of the “Hero Guide,” the publication that offers information on members of the Hero Association, including their rankings within the association and a detailed explanation of their powers and how they work.  Gara needs that because outside of that hideout is a group of eight heroes looking to take him down.

But Gara thinks that even by himself he can defeat this group of mostly “Class B” and low-rank “Class A” heroes.  What will happen, however, when Genos comes racing in...?  Or what happens when a powerful duo that is familiar with Gara visits?  Plus, Saitama fights his toughest battle to date – trying to beat King at video games.

[This volume includes the bonus manga, “Growth Process,” and also bonus illustrations.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The One-Punch Man manga is my favorite superhero comic book, right now.  Like the shonen manga, My Hero Academia, it is a Japanese take on the American superhero comic book.  As much as I like My Hero Academia, I am crazy in love with One-Punch Man.

One-Punch Man Graphic Novel Volume 16 is pure battle manga.  Vols. 14 and 15 were sheer joys to read, but Vol. 16 just wants to pound your face with page after page of fight comics.  The narrative does not move forward with this volume, but we can enjoy Yusuke Murata's amazing battle manga art.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of shonen battle manga and of superhero comic books will love the “Shonen Jump” title, One-Punch Man.

A
8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.



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

#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER: Volume 5

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa, Christine Dashiell, and Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0458-3; paperback (May 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Dragon Ball was a long-running Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.  It was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and was comprised of 519 individual chapters.  The hero of Dragon Ball was Son Goku, and the series began with the story of his childhood.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who has produced Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 5 (Chapters 25 to 28; entitled “The Decisive Battle! Farewell, Trunks!”) opens, Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks continue their battle on the “Future Parallel World” of Universe 7.  Their adversaries are “Goku Black” and Zamas, who have now fused into “God Zamas,” a being even harder to beat than its formidable progenitors.  And just when Goku and Vegeta think that they have beaten God Zamas, their problems multiple...

Next, Goku has been itching for an “interuniverse tournament” that would pit the greatest fighters of 12 universes against one another.  It turns out that two “Lords of Everything” want the same thing.  Thus, begins the “Tournament of Power,” in a way most unexpected by many beings, including Goku!

[This manga includes a bonus story that was originally published in the Jump Victory Carnival Official 2017 Guidebook.]

THE LOWDOWN:  I began as an occasional reader of the Dragon Ball manga, and I do enjoy the franchise.  The Dragon Ball Super manga, which is a nice fresh start for new readers, has made me a semi-regular Dragon Ball reader.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 5 follows Vols. 2 to 4, which moved the series beyond its original premise – the fight between Universes 6 and 7, and introduced the villains Zamas and Goku Black, as well as a future parallel world.  I will play spoiler and say that by the middle of Vol. 5, that Zamas-Goku Black story arc is resolved... with finality.  I'm glad, as I was tired of this story line.

This “Tournament of Power” feels like a return to classic Dragon Ball battle manga.  In between the end of the previous story line and the beginning of the next, Toyotarou draws a fantastic, fifteen-page battle between Vegeta and Beerus, which makes this one of the better recent volumes.  He also draws a large group of new characters, which makes this volume sound like a must-have for Dragon Ball manga fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A
8 out of 10

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


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