Monday, November 15, 2021

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for November 17, 2021

A WAVE BLUE WORLD
Bloody Hel GN, $24.99

ABLAZE
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 (Cover A Werther Dell’Edera), $3.99
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 (Cover B Michael Dialynas), $3.99
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 (Cover C Vincenzo Federici), $3.99
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 (Cover D Moy R. Fantastic Four #233 Parody Variant), $3.99
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 (Cover E Werther Dell’Edera Virgin Variant), AR
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 (Cover F Michael Dialynas Virgin Variant), AR
He Who Fights With Monsters #3 (Cover G Werther Dell’Edera Black & White Virgin Variant), AR
Maria Llovet’s Porcelain #4 (Cover A Maria Llovet), $3.99
Maria Llovet’s Porcelain #4 (Cover B Fabian Lelay), $3.99
Maria Llovet’s Porcelain #4 (Cover C Sabine Rich), $3.99
Maria Llovet’s Porcelain #4 (Cover D Yishan Li House Of Secrets #125 Parody Variant), $3.99
Maria Llovet’s Porcelain #4 (Cover E Maria Llovet Virgin Variant), AR
Maria Llovet’s Porcelain #4 (Cover F Sabine Rich Virgin Variant), AR
Maria Llovet’s Porcelain #4 (Cover G Maria Llovet Black & White Virgin Variant), AR

ABRAMS APPLESEED
My Mighty Marvel First Book Board Book Collection (not verified by Diamond), $64.99

ABRAMS COMICARTS
Dune The Graphic Novel Volume 1 Deluxe Collector’s Edition HC, $50.00

AFTERSHOCK COMICS
Almost American #3, $3.99
Chicken Devil #2, $4.99
Dark Red Year One HC, $39.99
Shadow Doctor TP, $16.99

AHOY COMICS
Snelson #4 (Of 5), $3.99

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Gold Digger Remastered Volume 1 TP (Signed Edition), $49.99

AMULET BOOKS
Piece By Piece The Story Of Nisrin’s Hijab GN, $12.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
World Of Betty And Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #10, $7.99

AWA STUDIOS
Not All Robots #4, $3.99

BEHEMOTH COMICS
Nine Stones #4 (Cover A Samuel Spano), $3.99
Nine Stones #4 (Cover B Samuel Spano), $3.99
Nobody’s Child #3 (Of 6), $3.99
Watch Dogs Legion #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Alberto Massaggia), $3.99
Watch Dogs Legion #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Alberto Massaggia), $3.99
Watch Dogs Legion #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Alberto Massaggia), $3.99
Watch Dogs Legion #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Gabriel Germain), AR
Watch Dogs Legion #1 (Of 4)(Cover E Gabriel Germain Back Alley Variant), AR
Watch Dogs Legion #1 (Of 4)(Cover F Gabriel Germain), AR

BLACK MASK COMICS
Godkiller Spiderland #1 (Cover A Nen Chang), $4.99
Godkiller Spiderland #1 (Cover B Nen Chang), $4.99
Godkiller Spiderland #1 (Cover C Nen Chang Uncensored Variant), $4.99
Godkiller Spiderland #1 (Cover D Anna Muckracker), AR
Godkiller Spiderland #1 (Cover E Maria Llovet), AR
White #4 (2nd Printing Jamal Igle Cover), $3.99
White #5, $3.99

BLACKBOX COMICS
Shi no Kage #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Gus Mauk), $3.99
Shi no Kage #4 (Of 6)(Cover B David Mack), AR
Shi no Kage #4 (Of 6)(Cover C David Mack Virgin Variant), AR

BLUE JUICE COMICS
Anne Bonnie Volume 3 From The Depths TP, $14.99

CHRONICLE BOOKS
Art Of Encanto HC, $42.50

CLOVER PRESS
Dracula Of Transylvania HC, $45.00
Cassidy’s Secret #2 (Cover A Antonio Fuso), $4.99
Cassidy’s Secret #2 (Cover B Antonio Fuso Metallic Ink Variant), $4.99
Great Gatsby #2 (Cover A Jorge Coelho), $4.99
Great Gatsby #2 (Cover B Jorge Coelho Foil Stamped Variant), $5.99

COFFIN COMICS
Hellwitch Sacrilegious #1 (Cover A Sun Khamunaki), $7.99
Hellwitch Sacrilegious #1 (Cover B Collette Turner Ceremony Variant), $7.99
Hellwitch Sacrilegious #1 (Cover C Joe Benitez Premium Foil Variant), $25.00
Hellwitch Sacrilegious #1 (Cover D Richard Ortiz Risque Variant), $40.00
Hellwitch Sacrilegious #1 (Cover E Jose Varese), AR
Lady Death Chaos Rules #1 (Premiere Edition), $20.00

COMIC SHOP NEWS
Comic Shop News #1787, AR

DAIKAIJU
G-Fan #133, $7.95

DEAD RECKONING
Last Stand Of The Tin Can Sailors GN, $29.95

DEL REY
Star Wars Thrawn Ascendancy Volume 3 Lesser Evil HC, $28.99

DEVIL’S DUE
Squarriors Volume 2 Summer #5 (Of 4), $4.99

DIGITAL MANGA DISTRIBUTION
Clockwork Apple GN$15.95

DRAWN AND QUARTERLY
Tunnels HC, $29.95

DYNAMIC FORCES
Batman The Imposter #1 (Of 3)(CGC Graded Edition), AR
Moon Knight #1 (CGC Graded Edition), AR
Spawn #321 (CGC Graded Edition), AR
Ultimate Comics Fallout #4 (Facsimile Edition)(CGC Graded Edition), AR
X-Men #1 (CGC Graded Edition), AR

EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe Novel Volume 1 Carson Of Venus The Edge Of All Worlds HC, $34.95
Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe Novel Volume 1 Carson Of Venus The Edge Of All Worlds SC, $19.95
Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe Novel Volume 2 Tarzan Battle For Pellucidar HC, $34.95
Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe Novel Volume 2 Tarzan Battle For Pellucidar SC, $19.95

EPICENTER COMICS
Zagor The Great Conspiracy GN, $21.99

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Complete Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck Deluxe Edition HC, $250.00
Complete Peanuts Trade Paperback Box Set 1979-1982, $49.99
Complete Peanuts Volume 16 1981-1982 HC, $22.99
Donald Duck And Uncle Scrooge World Of The Dragonlords HC, $29.99
From Granada To Cordova GN, $40.00
Happy Hour In America #2, $3.99
Man In Furs HC, $24.99
Peanuts Every Sunday Volume 9 1991-1995 HC, $49.99
Walt Disney’s Donald Duck Volume 16 Balloonatics HC, $29.99

GHOST SHIP
Booty Royale Never Go Down Without A Fight Omnibus Volume 2 GN, $19.99
Cat In A Hot Girls’ Dorm Volume 1 GN, $13.99

GRAPHIC MUNDI – PSU PRESS
A Chance Complete Edition HC, $29.95

HARPER ALLEY
PopularMMOs Presents Into The Overworld HC, $19.99

HERO COLLECTOR
Battlestar Galactica Designing Spaceships HC, $34.95

HUMANOIDS
Space Bastards #9, $4.99

ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE
Illustration Magazine #74, $15.00

INSIGHT EDITIONS
Jurassic Park The Ultimate Visual History HC, $70.00
Sideshow Fine Art Prints Volume 2 HC, $60.00
Ultimate Final Fantasy XIV Cookbook HC (not verified by Diamond), $35.00

J-NOVEL CLUB
Invaders Of The Rokujouma Collector’s Edition Volume 1 TP, $29.99
Invaders Of The Rokujouma Collector’s Edition Volume 6 TP, $29.99
Invaders Of The Rokujouma Collector’s Edition Volume 7 TP, $29.99
Invaders Of The Rokujouma Collector’s Edition Volume 8 TP, $29.99

KENZER AND COMPANY
Knights Of The Dinner Table Bundle Of Trouble Volume 70 TP, $15.99

KODANSHA COMICS
Drifting Dragons Volume 10 GN, $12.99

MAD CAVE STUDIOS
Bountiful Garden #3, $3.99

MAGNETIC PRESS
False Guard GN, $24.99

NBM
Love Me Please The Story Of Janis Joplin HC, $24.99
Silent Invasion Volume 4 Dark Matter GN, $16.99

ONE PEACE BOOKS
I Belong To The Baddest Girl At School Volume 2 GN, $12.95

ONI PRESS
Orcs In Space #5 (Cover A Francois Vigneault), $3.99
Weeaboo TP, $19.99

PAPERCUTZ
Magical History Tour Volume 6 Albert Einstein GN, $6.99

REBELLION / 2000AD
Brink Volume 4 TP, $15.99
Dreadnoughts Breaking Ground TP, $17.99

RED 5 COMICS
Carriers #1 (Cover A Elias Martin), $3.95
Carriers #1 (Cover B Jeff Johnson), $3.95

RENEGADE ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
Genghis Con GN, $19.99

SCOUT COMICS
Black Cotton #6 (Of 6)(per Lunar Distribution), $3.99
Commander Rao #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Fell Hound)(per Lunar Distribution), $4.99
Commander Rao #1 (One Shot)(Cover B)(per Lunar Distribution), AR
Lunar Ladies #3 (Of 3)(per Lunar Distribution), $3.99
Mapmaker TP (per Lunar Distribution), $14.99
Redshift #4 (per Lunar Distribution), $3.99
Thud #1 (Cover A Bryan Peabe Odiamar)(per Lunar Distribution), $3.99
Thud #1 (Cover B Jose Garibaldi)(per Lunar Distribution), AR

SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT
Classmates Volume 4 GN, $14.99
Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Volume 4 GN, $12.99
How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift Volume 8 GN, $12.99

SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT – AIRSHIP
Adachi And Shimamura Light Novel Volume 7 SC, $13.99

SQUARE ENIX MANGA
Wandering Witch The Journey Of Elaina Volume 3 GN, $10.99

STREET NOISE BOOKS
Queer As All Get Out GN, $18.99

SUBLIME
Sayonara Game GN, $12.99

TITAN COMICS
Blade Runner 2029 #5-8 Syd Mead Virgin Pack, $17.99
Blade Runner Origins #8 (Cover A Alan Quah), $3.99
Blade Runner Origins #8 (Cover B Fernando Dagnino), $3.99
Blade Runner Origins #8 (Cover C Robert Hack), $3.99
Doctor Who Empire Of The Wolf #1 (Cover A David Buisian), $3.99
Doctor Who Empire Of The Wolf #1 (Cover B Photo), $3.99
Doctor Who Empire Of The Wolf #1 (Cover C Abigail Harding), $3.99
Doctor Who Empire Of The Wolf #1 (Cover D Christopher Jones), $3.99
Doctor Who Empire Of The Wolf #1 (Cover E David Buisian Virgin Variant), $3.99
ExtraOrdinary Volume 1 HC (V. E. Schwab Signed Edition), $24.99
Gun Honey #2 (Of 4)(2nd Printing Kendrick Lim Metallic Ink Cover), $3.99
Gun Honey #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Jay Anacleto), $3.99
Gun Honey #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Fay Dalton), $3.99
Gun Honey #3 (Of 4)(Cover C Hor Kheng), $3.99
Gun Honey #3 (Of 4)(Cover D Photo), $3.99
Gun Honey #3 (Of 4)(Cover E Jay Anacleto Virgin Variant), $3.99
Ms. Tree Volume 3 The Cold Dish TP, $24.99
Star Trek Explorer Magazine #1 (FOC Edition), $9.99
Star Trek Explorer Magazine #1 (Newsstand Edition), $9.99
Star Trek Explorer Magazine #1 (Previews Exclusive Edition), $9.99

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT
X-O Manowar #8 (Cover A Rahzzah), $3.99
X-O Manowar #8 (Cover B Duce), $3.99
X-O Manowar #8 (Cover C Dave Johnson Pre-Order Edition Variant), AR

VAULT COMICS
Heavy #8 (Cover A Eryk Donovan), $3.99
Heavy #8 (Cover B Tim Daniel), $3.99
I Walk With Monsters The Complete Series TP, $15.99
Radio Apocalypse #1 (Cover A Anand Rk), $3.99
Radio Apocalypse #1 (Cover B Martin Simmonds), $3.99
Radio Apocalypse #1 (Cover C Tim Daniel), $3.99
Radio Apocalypse #1 (Cover D Chris Shehan), $3.99
Radio Apocalypse #1 (Cover E Richard Pace), AR
Radio Apocalypse #1 (Cover F David Mack), AR
Radio Apocalypse #1 (Cover G David Mack Foil Variant), AR
Wasted Space #25, $3.99

VIZ MEDIA
Beastars Volume 15 GN, $12.99
Children Of The Whales Volume 18 GN, $12.99
Hell’s Paradise Jigokuraku Volume 11 GN, $12.99
Urusei Yatsura Volume 12 GN, $19.99
Zom 100 Bucket List Of The Dead Volume 4 GN, $12.99

WAYNE ALAN HAROLD PRODUCTIONS
Virtuoso A P. Craig Russell Adult Coloring Book SC, $20.00

YEN ON
Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody Light Novel Volume 15 SC, $15.00
Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn As A Typical Nobody Side Story Light Novel SC, $15.00

YEN PRESS
Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon II Volume 1 GN, $13.00
Reign Of The Seven Spellblades Volume 1 GN, $13.00
Witch’s Printing Office Volume 5 GN, $15.00

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
Tales Of Terror Annual Goddess Of Death (Cover A Greebo Vigonte), $7.99
Tales Of Terror Annual Goddess Of Death (Cover B Igor Vitorino), $7.99
Tales Of Terror Annual Goddess Of Death (Cover C Ivan Tao), $7.99

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DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for November 16, 2021

DC COMICS:

Aquaman The Becoming #3 (Of 6)(Cover A David Talaski), $3.99
Aquaman The Becoming #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Khary Randolph Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman #117 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez)(Fear State), $4.99
Batman #117 (Cover B Jorge Molina Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), $5.99
Batman #117 (Cover C Rose Besch Retro Gamer Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), AR
Batman Secret Files The Gardener #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Christian Ward)(Fear State), $4.99
Batman Secret Files The Gardener #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Ejikure Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), $5.99
Batman Secret Files The Gardener #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Christian Ward Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), AR
Batman Vs Bigby A Wolf In Gotham #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Yanick Paquette), $3.99
Batman Vs Bigby A Wolf In Gotham #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Brian Level & Jay Leisten Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Blue And Gold #4 (Of 8)(Cover A Ryan Sook), $3.99
Catwoman Volume 5 Valley Of The Shadow Of Death TP, $16.99
DC Horror Presents Soul Plumber #1 (Of 6)(2nd Printing John McCrea Cover), $3.99
Dreaming Waking Hours TP, $29.99
Green Lantern #8 (Cover A Bernard Chang), $4.99
Green Lantern #8 (Cover B Juliet Nneka Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Justice League #69 (Cover A Jorge Fornes), $4.99
Justice League #69 (Cover B Alexander Lozano Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Justice League Endless Winter HC, $29.99
Legends Of The Dark Knight #7 (Cover A Karl Mostert), $3.99
Legends Of The Dark Knight #7 (Cover B Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Legends Of The Dark Knight #7 (Cover C Jorge Fornes Card Stock Variant), AR
Looney Tunes #263 (Cover A Derek Fridolfs & Dave Alvarez), $2.99
Nice House On The Lake #6 (Of 12)(Cover A Alvaro Martinez Bueno), $3.99
Nice House On The Lake #6 (Of 12)(Cover B Javier Rodriguez Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Nightwing #86 (Cover A Bruno Redondo)(Fear State), $3.99
Nightwing #86 (Cover B Jamal Campbell Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), $4.99
Nightwing #86 (Cover C Bruno Redondo Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), AR
Nubia And The Amazons #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Alitha Martinez), $3.99
Nubia And The Amazons #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Maika Sozo Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Other History Of The DC Universe HC, $29.99
Plunge TP, $17.99
Refrigerator Full Of Heads #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Sam Wolfe Connelly), $3.99
Refrigerator Full Of Heads #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Tiffany Turrill Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Robins #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Baldemar Rivas), $3.99
Robins #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Babs Tarr Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Suicide Squad #9 (Cover A Eduardo Pansica), $3.99
Suicide Squad #9 (Cover B Dexter Soy Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Suicide Squad King Shark #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Trevor Hairsine), $3.99
Suicide Squad King Shark #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Supergirl Woman Of Tomorrow #5 (Of 8)(Cover A Bilquis Evely), $4.99
Supergirl Woman Of Tomorrow #5 (Of 8)(Cover B Amy Reeder), $4.99
Superman Son Of Kal-El #5 (Cover A John Timms), $3.99
Superman Son Of Kal-El #5 (Cover B InHyuk Lee Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Superman Son Of Kal-El #5 (Cover C Travis Moore Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Wonder Woman Evolution #1 (Of 8)(Cover A Mike Hawthorne), $3.99
Wonder Woman Evolution #1 (Of 8)(Cover B Riley Rossmo Card Stock Variant), $4.99

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Friday, November 12, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: SURFACING #9

SURFACING #9
APPROBATION COMICS

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Nato Magalhães
COLORS: Santtos
LETTERS: Krugos with Jahch & J< Yellodragon
EDITORS: Denise Thompson and John Ward
MISC. ART: Cesar Grego with Alivon Ortiz
COVER: Cesar Grego with Alivon Ortiz
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Rated: “M” for Mature

“Psychic Touch”


Surfacing is a comic book franchise created by B. Alex Thompson and published by Approbation Comics.  The four-issue miniseries, Surfacing: Depth Perceptions, focuses on a series of encounters, sometimes violent, between humans and mermaid-like creatures.  The eponymous Surfacing is an anthology series in which each issue offers a story in which a mermaid finds herself trapped in or confronting the world of humans.

One of the more recent standalone Surfacing stories is “Psychic Touch.”  It is written by Thompson, drawn by Nato Magalhães; colored by Santtos; and lettered by Krugos with Jahch & J< Yellodragon.

Surfacing #9 (“Psychic Touch”) opens in an unnamed city.  An unnamed young man sits on his bed while using his laptop to search the job listings at a website named “KruJobs.”  He doesn't find anything of interest until he comes across a listing for “Local Paid Clinical Trial.”  The next morning, he is at a medical building where a bizarre surgery is performed upon him.  A few hours later, he has the ability to sense the feelings and emotions of others.  That leads to good things, bad things, and strange things when he meets some creatures of fantasy and myth.

THE LOWDOWN:  I enjoyed the miniseries, Surfacing: Depth Perceptions, very much.  However, I prefer the ongoing Surfacing series, not only because it is an anthology, but also because it really showcases B. Alex Thompson's imaginative storytelling.

On occasion, Thompson has written stories that go right over my head, which “Psychic Touch” does, to an extent.  “Psychic Touch” does not have any dialogue, but it is not a pantomime comic because it does have caption boxes and lettering effects.  Thompson offers an interesting concept, but the mermaid elements seem not thrown in so much as out of place.  Still, I think this premise does merit further exploration.

The art team of illustrator Nato Magalhães and colorist Santtos are good for this story, partly because their art is similar to Surfacing's regular art team of Ricardo Mendez and Alivon Ortiz.  Magalhães' compositions capture the vague but menacing atmosphere of this premise while Santtos' colors capture the shifting emotional states of the characters and also how jarring the changes in settings and environments in this story can be.  In conveying how overwhelming emotions and feelings can be for a psychic, Krugos and company successful pull that off in an interesting style.

I recommend Surfacing #9 to regular readers of this series, and I think readers looking for something offbeat will also like it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of fantasy comic books published by DC Comics' late imprint, Vertigo, will want to read Surfacing.

B+
7 out of 10

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



https://twitter.com/ApproBAT
www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: RED ROOM: The Antisocial Network #1

RED ROOM: THE ANTISOCIAL NETWORK #1
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

CARTOONIST: Ed Piskor
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Ed Piskor
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jim Rugg; Peach Momoko
64pp, B&W2-color, $6.99 U.S. (May 2021)

Red Room is a new comic book series from cartoonist Ed Piskor.  Piskor is best known for Hip Hop Family Tree, a comic book that chronicles the early history of Hip-hop culture and has been published in graphic novel and serial comic book form.  Piskor also produced the highly unusual history of Marvel Comics' X-Men in X-Men Grand Design, a set of three two-issue miniseries:  X-Men: Grand Design (2018), X-Men: Grand Design – Second Genesis (2018), and X-Men: Grand Design – X-Tinction (2019).

Published by Fantagraphics Books, Red Room is a 12-issue series.  Described by the publisher as “a cyberpunk, outlaw, splatterpunk masterpiece,” Red Room focuses on a murderous, dark web subculture in which a secretive audience pays to view webcam murders with crypto-currency.

Red Room #1 opens in Steel Valley, specifically at the Steel Valley Municipal Courthouse.  There, we meet longtime courthouse clerk, Davis Fairfield, who is about to get some terrible news.  His wife, Delores, and one of his two daughters, Hayley, have been killed by a drunk driver.  Now, Davis and his daughter, Brianna, a high school senior on the verge of graduating, must soldier on.  Luckily, Brianna has her friend, Taylor (“Tay-Tay”), but what does dear old dad have?  Where does he go for fun?

Davis Fairfield goes to a “Red Room.”  Red Rooms are places on the Internet with encrypted I.P. addresses.  Each Red Room is a webcam stream where viewers can watch a “torture star” murder another human being in the most brutal, savage, vile, and stomach-turning ways.  With the help of untraceable crypto-currency, a subculture of criminals has emerged in which one side patronizes the webcam murders for entertainment and in which the other side gleefully kills to entertain in what seems like the evolution of the snuff films of folklore.

Soon, Davis will find himself caught up in the machinations of murder-torture-porn entrepreneur, Mistress Pentagram, who has bloody ambitions for her “Pentagram Pictures.”  Who are these murderers, with names like “Poker Face” and “Sarah Jane Payne?”  Who are these victims, who could be you?  Who can stop this?!

THE LOWDOWN:  Red Room #1 is a science fiction comic book, albeit a dark one.  It has elements of dystopian sci-fi, speculative fiction, and contemporary drama.  It would be easy to call this new series depraved, which it is not.

Red Room trades in the depravity of humanity.  For all that it may be science fiction, Red Room, even with its exaggeration and inventiveness, is quite plausible, for the most part.  Let's not kid ourselves.  We don't have to go too far into cable and satellite television or online to find people during horrible things to their spouses, children, family, friends, co-workers, and strangers.  Mass shootings have become so frequent in the United States that they hardly register anymore with some people.

Ed Piskor's inventive depictions of torture and murder almost have a Tex Avery or Looney Tunes-inspired madness to them.  I find that this keeps me from loosing myself in the murders and then, forgetting the narrative.  It would be a shame to forget the story, but I understand why the cartoonist would depict the violence the way he does.  Piskor's Red Room has more in common with classic Underground Comics than the fantasy and horror comic books published by the defunct DC Comics label, Vertigo, or even Image Comics and BOOM! Studios.  Some of those comic books are satirical, but they are meant for the “straights.”

Red Room is a rebel vision, and Piskor's satire is closer to R. Crumb's than to Kurt Vonnegut's.  Like Gilbert Hernandez, Piskor is liberated in the way he can be scatological.  Red Room trades in trash culture in the creation of a work that speculates on a possible future for and direction of a segment of mass culture and entertainment.

Actually, the best thing that I can say about Red Room #1 is that I find it so intriguing.  From the first page on, I found myself drawn into its world.  Every page made me want more, and I really wanted more by the time I reached the last page.  And, dear readers, I have to recommend any comic book that gives its readers a first issue of 64 pages, especially when those 64 pages are all-new, all-different, all-good, and all-unapologetic.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Ed Piskor's work and of alternative comics as science fiction will want to read Red Room.

A
9 out of 10

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



Buy and/or subscribe to Red Room here: https://www.fantagraphics.com/collections/red-room

https://twitter.com/EdPiskor
https://twitter.com/cartoonkayfabe
https://www.youtube.com/c/cartoonistkayfabe
https://www.instagram.com/ed_piskor/
https://linktr.ee/edpiskor

https://www.fantagraphics.com/
https://twitter.com/fantagraphics
https://www.instagram.com/fantagraphics/
https://www.facebook.com/fantagraphics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtLxEaspctVar287DtdsMww


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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

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Monday, November 8, 2021

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for November 10, 2021

BOOM! STUDIOS

SEP210752 MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #8 CVR A KHALIDAH $4.99
SEP210753 MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #8 CVR B ARMENTARO $4.99
SEP210754 MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #8 CVR C HIDDEN SPARK VAR $4.99
SEP210795 MAMO #5 (OF 5) CVR A MILLEDGE $4.99
SEP210730 MIGHTY MORPHIN #13 CVR A LEE (C: 1-0-0) $3.99
SEP210731 MIGHTY MORPHIN #13 CVR B LEGACY VAR CARLINI (C: 1-0-0) $3.99
SEP210735 MIGHTY MORPHIN #13 CVR F FOC REVEAL VAR DEL MUNDO (C: 1-0-0) $3.99
SEP210721 REGARDING MATTER OF OSWALDS BODY #1 (OF 5) CVR A LUCA $3.99
AUG219024 REGARDING MATTER OF OSWALDS BODY #1 (OF 5) CVR C FOC REVEAL $3.99
JUL211059 SHORT WHILE ORIGINAL GN HC (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $29.99

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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 10, 2021

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUL210395 BERSERK DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 09 (MR) (C: 1-1-2) $49.99
APR210493 DUNE ATREIDES & HARKONNEN MAGNET PACK (RES) (C: 0-1-2) $9.99
APR210494 DUNE CHARACTER MAGNET 4-PACK (C: 0-1-2) $9.99
SEP210249 MAZEBOOK #3 (OF 5) CVR A LEMIRE $5.99
SEP210250 MAZEBOOK #3 (OF 5) CVR B HERNANDEZ WALTA $5.99
SEP210300 NO ONE LEFT TO FIGHT II #2 (OF 5) CVR A $3.99
SEP210301 NO ONE LEFT TO FIGHT II #2 (OF 5) CVR B $3.99
SEP210258 UNBELIEVABLE UNTEENS WORLD OF BLACK HAMMER #4 (OF 4) CVR A $3.99
SEP210259 UNBELIEVABLE UNTEENS WORLD OF BLACK HAMMER #4 (OF 4) CVR B $3.99

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Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for November 10, 2021

DYNAMITE

AUG210786 BARBARELLA #4 CVR J PARRILLO LTD VIRGIN (C: 0-1-2) $50.00
AUG210787 BARBARELLA #4 CVR K CHEW LTD VIRGIN (C: 0-1-2) $50.00
AUG210788 BARBARELLA #4 CVR L COHEN LTD VIRGIN (C: 0-1-2) $50.00
AUG210800 BOYS #1 PLATINUM FOIL ED (C: 0-1-2) $25.00
AUG210839 DEJAH THORIS VS JOHN CARTER OF MARS #4 CVR J PARRILLO LTD VI $50.00
AUG210841 DIE!NAMITE LIVES #5 CVR A PARRILLO $3.99
AUG210842 DIE!NAMITE LIVES #5 CVR B SUYDAM $3.99
AUG210843 DIE!NAMITE LIVES #5 CVR C LINSNER $3.99
AUG210844 DIE!NAMITE LIVES #5 CVR D ACOSTA $3.99
AUG210845 DIE!NAMITE LIVES #5 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
AUG218516 DIE!NAMITE LIVES #5 CVR L FOC BONUS LINSNER VIRGIN $3.99
JUN210880 ELVIRA LITHO ACOSTA SGN (C: 0-1-2) $69.99
JUL210985 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #5 CVR K CONNER LTD VIRGIN $50.00
JUL210986 INVINCIBLE RED SONJA #5 CVR L LINSNER LTD VIRGIN $50.00
SEP210583 JAMES BOND HIMEROS #2 CVR A FRANCAVILLA $3.99
SEP210584 JAMES BOND HIMEROS #2 CVR B GUICE $3.99
SEP210646 KISS PHANTOM OBSESSION #3 CVR A LEE $3.99
SEP210647 KISS PHANTOM OBSESSION #3 CVR B SAYGER $3.99
SEP210648 KISS PHANTOM OBSESSION #3 CVR C SEELEY $3.99
SEP210649 KISS PHANTOM OBSESSION #3 CVR D CELOR $3.99
SEP210650 KISS PHANTOM OBSESSION #3 CVR E PHOTO $3.99
AUG218891 KISS PHANTOM OBSESSION #3 CVR L FOC BONUS PHOTO VIRGIN $3.99
SEP210526 NYX #1 CVR A PARRILLO $3.99
SEP210527 NYX #1 CVR B BESCH $3.99
SEP210528 NYX #1 CVR C DAGNINO $3.99
SEP210529 NYX #1 CVR D VIGONTE $3.99
SEP210530 NYX #1 CVR E BLANK AUTHENTIX $3.99
AUG218956 NYX #1 CVR O FOC BONUS TMNT HOMAGE HAESER $3.99
AUG218957 NYX #1 CVR P FOC BONUS DANI $3.99
AUG218958 NYX #1 CVR Q FOC BONUS RUBI $3.99
AUG210883 SONJAVERSAL #9 CVR A PARRILLO $3.99
AUG210884 SONJAVERSAL #9 CVR B LINSNER $3.99
AUG210885 SONJAVERSAL #9 CVR C LEE & CHUNG $3.99
AUG210886 SONJAVERSAL #9 CVR D YOON $3.99
AUG210887 SONJAVERSAL #9 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
AUG218528 SONJAVERSAL #9 CVR N FOC BONUS LINSNER GREYSCALE VIRGIN $3.99
SEP210588 THE BOYS #3 DYNAMITE ED (MR) (C: 0-1-2) $4.99
AUG210599 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR A PARRILLO $3.99
AUG210600 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR B MAER $3.99
AUG210601 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR C BESCH $3.99
AUG210602 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR D EOM $3.99
AUG210603 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
AUG210604 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR F GUNDUZ $3.99
AUG210605 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR G LACCHEI $3.99
AUG218296 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR ZB FOC BONUS FLEECS & FORSTNER $3.99
AUG218297 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR ZD FOC BONUS RB WHITE ORIGINAL ART $3.99
AUG218298 VAMPIRELLA #25 CVR ZE FOC BONUS CASTRO & FORSTNER ORIGINAL A $3.99
AUG210626 VAMPIRELLA BESCH GOLD COLL COIN (C: 0-1-2) $29.99
AUG210627 VAMPIRELLA GONZALEZ GOLD COLL COIN (C: 0-1-2) $29.99
AUG210905 VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA #23 CVR I PARRILLO LTD VIRGIN (C: 0- $50.00
AUG210906 VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA #23 CVR J OLIVER LTD VIRGIN (C: 0-1- $50.00

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