Comics and More

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops this Wednesday... Courtney Crumrin Special Edition (Volume 2): The Coven of Mystics HC - My favorite Courtney Crumrin tale from Ted Naifeh gets the hardcover treatment in this colored edition of the story. Other Noteworthy Releases Amulet (Volume 5): Prince of the Elves SC The Golden Twine (Book 1): Cat's Cradle GN Lenore: Swirlies HC Luz Makes a Splash GN Machine Teen: History 101001 TP Penny Arcade (Volume 8): Magical Kids in Danger TP Peter Panzerfaust (Volume 1): The Great Escape TP Phantom Lady #1 Rex Mundi Omnibus (Volume 1) TP Riven TP Showcase Presents: Tales of the Unexpected (Volume 1) TP Sonic Saga (Volume 1): Darkest Storm TP Star Wars: Clone Wars Omnibus (Vol 1): Republic War TP Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics (Volume 2) TP The Voyeurs GN

Kelly Sue Deconnick & Dexter Soy I was a huge fan of Brian Reed's Ms. Marvel series from a few years ago, so this title had a lot to live up to for me.  I've since enjoyed Carol Danvers in the pages of the various Avengers books, and overall I just really like the character.  When Kelly Sue Deconnick was talking about this series at C2E2 this year, she got me really excited for this new series.  Deconnick has this enthusiasm that's really infectious, so it was tough to not get excited about it really, she just kind of inspires you to want to support her books.  And it's great to see a female creator take the reins of a major superhero title, especially one starring a strong female character. Dexter Soy's art on this series was not what I expected it to be.  It's a rather dark style that looks almost painted, with a sort of bulkiness to the drawings.  And it looks really cool.  It's nice to see Carol as less of a waif of a g...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops tomorrow... Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #1 (of 5) - Following up his appearances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine , fan-favorite character Spike gets a solo adventure. Other Noteworthy Releases Astonishing X-Men: Northstar HC Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1 The Best of Archie Comics (Volume 2) TP Captain America and Namor #635.1 Captain Easy, Soldier of Fortune (Volume 3) HC The Complete Peanuts (Volume 18): 1985-1986 HC The Invisibles Omnibus HC Maya Makes a Mess HC Namor Visionaries by John Byrne (Volume 2) TP Only Skin GN Prophet (Volume 1): Remission TP Rock Star Super Diva GN The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1 Swamp Thing (Volume 1): Raise Them Bones TP Thunderbolts Classic (Volume 3) TP Wolverine and the X-Men by Jason Aaron (Volume 2) HC

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops tomorrow... Elektra: Assassin TP - One of my all-time favorite superhero comics comes out in softcover this week!  Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz' trippy and stunning Elektra: Assassin .  Do yourself a favor and add this to your graphic novel library pronto. Other Noteworthy Releases Aline and the Others GN Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1 Cable Classic (Volume 3) TP Classic Popeye #1 Creativity of Steve Ditko HC The Definitive Flash Gordan & Jungle Jim (Volume 2) HC Essential Warlock (Volume 1) TP Hawk and Dove (Volume 1): First Strikes TP Hulk: Season One HC Lizzie Newton: Victorian Mysteries (Volume 1) Making Of HC Manara Library (Volume 3): Trip To Talum & Other Stories HC Michael Avon Oeming's Victories #1 Peanuts (Volume 2) #1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classics (Volume 1) TP

James Asmus & Clay Mann With a nod to his past with Rogue, the X-Men, and as a teacher of young mutants, Gambit turns his back on the latest goings-on of the X-Men universe in favor of solo adventures in his new ongoing series.  It begins with Gambit naked in the shower and follows him around his apartment as he dries off, the panels and his surroundings strategically placed to keep the title PG.  Given what we've seen in some of DC's comics from The New 52, it's a welcome change to see a male character showcasing some skin, and if you know Gambit at all, you know that he's a sexy, suave ladies' man, so this depiction is perfectly in tune to this character.  Throughout the issue, Asmus and Mann attempt to remind us of how cool and charming Gambit is, and they do a real bang-up job of it.  Aside from the rugged stubble and sexy accent, we get down to the basics on another level as well, as the creators also play up the origins of the character as part ...

Here are the books that caught my eye in Previews Catalogue , for books shipping to comic shops in September... Sword of Sorcery #0 - Amethyst returns in a new series this month, thanks to Jem creator Christy Marx, who worked on a bunch of animated shows you probably remember from your childhood like G.I. Joe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles .  Also contains a Beowulf back-up story by Tony Bedard.  Great artists on this issue too:  Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan and Jesus Saiz. The Daniel Clowes Reader: Ghost World, Nine Short Stories and Critical Materials - Comics About Art, Adolescence and Real Life SC - Pretty self-explanatory, but this is a must for Clowes fans.  This also includes interviews and some stories reprinted for the first time. Gasoline Alley (Volume 1): 1964-1966 HC - This continues to collect the Gasoline Alley strip from when Frank King hands it off to Dick Moores and begins his lauded run. The Simon & Kirby Library: Science-Fi...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops today... Godzilla: The Half-Century War #1 (of 5) - James Stokoe ( Orc Stain ) brings us an eye-popping look at everyone's favorite giant monster. Other Noteworthy Releases Bernie Wrightson's Muck Monster: Artist's Edition Portfolio Cardboard GN Deathstroke (Volume 1): Legacy TP The Eyes of the Cat HC Gambit #1 Grendel Omnibus (Volume 1): Hunter Rose TP It Girl & the Atomics #1 The Little Prince (Volume 1): Planet of the Wind GN Neal Adam's Thrill Kill: Artist's Edition Portfolio OMAC (Volume 1): Omactivate TP RASL (Volume 4): The Lost Journals of Nikola Tesla TP Scott Pilgrim Color (Volume 1) HC Stephen King & Joe Hill's Road Rage HC Steve Canyon (Volume 2): 1949-1950 HC Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (Volume 1) TP

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops this Wednesday... No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics HC - From Fantagraphics Books, and edited by Justin Hall, comes this definitive collection of queer comics, featuring comics from over the past four decades from the likes of Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, Ralf Koenig and more. Other Noteworthy Releases Archie Archives (Volume 6) HC Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch One-Shot Dinocorps GN First X-Men #1 Hawkeye #1 Iron Man: Revenge of the Mandarin HC Judge Dredd: Inferno GN Monster Dinosaur HC RASL #15 Superboy (Volume 1): Incubation TP Superman: Action Comics (Volume 1): Superman and the Men of Steel HC Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Collection (Volume 3) HC

On this month's Comics-and-More Podcast , Patrick Markfort and I discuss the first two volumes of Dark Horse's archival reprint project of Italian creator Milo Manara's work. Reviewed: The Milo Manara Library (Volume 1): Indian Summer and Other Stories HC Milo Manara & Hugo Pratt The Milo Manara Library (Volume 2): El Gaucho and Other Stories HC Milo Manara & Hugo Pratt For further reading: X-Women #1 Chris Claremont & Milo Manara Manara Erotica (Volume 1) HC Milo Manara The Manara Library (Volume 3): Trip To Tulum and Other Stories HC Milo Manara, Federico Fellini & Silverio Pisu Check out these new solo videos from Patrick Markfort: New Comics 6/13 ( Spider-Men, Ultimate Comics: X-Men, Batman, etc) Godzilla movie review New Comics 6/20 ( Daredevil #14, Punisher #12 ) New Comics ( Supreme #65, Angel & Faith #11, Savage Dragon #180 ) More New Comics ( Fatima: The Blood Spinners #1, Prophet #26, etc)

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops tomorrow... The Underwater Welder GN - From Top Shelf comes this new graphic novel from Jeff Lemire, whose work I've been really enjoying lately on DC Comics titles like  Animal Man  and Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. Other Noteworthy Releases Artifacts Deluxe HC Batula HC DC Comics Presents" Wonder Woman Adventures #1 Debris #1 Elephantmen (Volume 5): Devilish Functions HC Everybody Loves Tank Girl #1 Fictionauts GN Green Arrow (Volume 1): Into the Woods TP Grifter (Volume 1): Most Wanted TP The Monolith HC National Comics: Eternity #1 Sakuran GN Secret Avengers by Rick Remender (Volume 1) HC Sergio Aragone's Groo the Wanderer: Artist's Edition HC X-Treme X-Men #1

Moyoco Anno Sakuran is a historical manga that follows a brothel in red-light district Yoshiwara, specifically one girl who rises to the top of her house, Kiyoha.  Kiyoha was sold into her service at a young age, and while we know from the get-go that she ends up as one of the most sought-after working girls around, we delve into her past for much of this manga, watching her rise to become the desirable woman we see at the beginning.  Starting out as a maid for the brothel, Kiyoha eventually learns the ropes under the care of the oiran of the house.  But Kiyoha is not happy with Tamakiku house.  She hates the restrictions, never being able to leave, being disciplined for her sharp tongue by being tied to a tree and splashed with cold water, and eventually, having to satisfy the men who come through while remaining detached.  She learns how to make love by watching it happen between adults, and by the advice the other girls give, and while she comes t...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops Wednesday... Captain Marvel #1 - I loved the last ongoing series featuring Ms. Marvel, so I'm excited to see Carol Danvers getting a new series as she steps into her new role.  This one's brought to readers by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy. Other Noteworthy Releases Adventures of Venus HC American Elf: Sketchbook Diaries of James Kolchalka (Volume 4): 2008-2011 TP Angel Para Bellum (Volume 1) Ghost Rider: The Complete Series by Rob Williams TP Herc: The Complete Series by Pak and Lente TP Men of War (Volume 1): Uneasy Company TP Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me GN Ooku: The Inner Chambers (Volume 7) Showcase Presents: Rip Hunter, Time Master (Volume 1) TP Smurfs (Volume 12): Smurfs Versus Smurfs HC/SC The Stuff of Legend Omnibus (Volume 1) HC Wandering Son (Volume 3) HC

Here are the books that caught my eye in Previews Catalogue , for books shipping to comic shops in August... Barbara SC - Another Osamu Tezuka work sees print, thanks to DMP !  This one's a 400+ page thriller. The Love and Rockets Companion: 30 Years (and Counting) SC - Interviews, unpublished art, posters and plenty more can be found in this companion to the ground-breaking series from The Hernandez Brothers. Also available this month, Love and Rockets: New Stories #5 . Hawkeye #1 - Hot off of the Avengers movie, Hawkeye gets his own ongoing solo series courtesy of Matt Fraction and David Aja. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike #1 (of 5) - Following up his appearances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine , fan-favorite character Spike gets a solo adventure. Essential Warlock (Volume 1) TP - Hard to believe that there are still more of these out there that need to be collected, but here's proof of that. Skippy: Complete Dailies (Volume 1): 1925-1927 HC ...

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, due in comic shops tomorrow... Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge (Volume 1): "Only a Poor Old Man" HC - More classic Disney!!  Carl Barks' classic Uncle Scrooge begins being collected here, courtesy of Fantagraphics. Other Noteworthy Releases Ant-Man: Season One HC Batgirl (Volume 1): The Darkest Reflection HC Big John Buscema Comics & Drawings HC Blacksad: Silent Hell HC Creepy Presents Richard Corben HC The Crow #1 Demon Knights (Volume 1): Seven Against the Dark TP Eerie Comics #1 Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman (Volume 5) HC Hellboy Library Edition (Volume 5) HC Hoax Hunters #1 Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days HC The Phantom Complete Sundays (Volume 1): 1939-1942 HC Punk Rock Jesus #1 Richard Stark's Parker: The Score HC Space Punisher #1 The Summit of the Gods (Volume 3) The Walking Dead #100

5 Centimeters Per Second Makoto Shinkai & Seike Yukiko The manga of 5 Centimeters Per Second is adapted from a 2007 animated film from Makoto Shinkai, by artist Seike Yukiko.  I've never seen the film, but this manga definitely feels very cinematic, and is really quite beautifully illustrated, with special attention given to detail, particularly when it comes to the environments the characters live in.  It's a very emotional story about a young boy, Takaki Tono, who falls in love with a girl in elementary school.  Unfortunately, his family moves around a lot and while they attempt to stay in touch, writing letters to one another over the years, and even taking a long train ride to see each other during a snowstorm, they eventually fall out of touch, words of unrequited love left unspoken between them.  Takaki's relationship with the girl, Akari Shinohara, shapes the rest of his youth and early adulthood, where he finds himself uncertain whe...

Happy 4th!  Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops today!! Punisher by Rick Remender Omnibus HC - Rick Remender's work on Marvel's The Punisher is all collected together in one hardcover volume for $99.99, a run that many people seem to like a lot.  Included here are Punisher #1-16 , Franken-Punisher #17-21 , an annual, a Dark Reign one-shot, a couple issues of Dark Wolverine , and the five-issue mini Punisher: In the Blood . Other Noteworthy Releases 5 Centimeters Per Second GN Batman: Earth One HC Batman & Robin (Volume 1): Born To Kill HC Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine (Volume 1): Freefall TP Crime Does Not Pay Archives (Volume 2) HC Dreadstar Omnibus TP Fables (Volume 17): Inherit the Wind TP Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (Volume 1) TP He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1 Hero Worship #1 Infernal Man-Thing #1 (of 3) Jiu Jiu (Volume 1) Peanuts (Volume 1) TP Secret W...

Attack on Titan (Volume 1) Hajime Isayama This Kodansha Manga Award-winning book takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where the remaining humans live behind a series of walls for their safety.  Earth has been overrun by giants that look like warped humans, and behave like savages, and seem to have a taste for human beings.  It's been a hundred years since the three walls were built to house the survivors, and while some of the remaining people explore the world beyond the walls to try to learn about the giants and fight them in their own territory (The Scouting Legion), it's mostly a taboo subject to speak of leaving their sanctuary.  Aside from The Scouting Legion, there are two other branches of the military in this world: Stationary troops, who protect the town and reinforce the walls, and The Military Police, who maintain public order.  Eren Jaeger wishes to join The Scouting Legion, despite the protests of his family, and once a titanic...

Here are the books that caught my eye in Previews Catalogue , for books shipping to comic shops in July... Captain Marvel #1 - I looooved the last ongoing series featuring Ms. Marvel, so I'm excited to see Carol Danvers getting a new series as she steps into her new role. Cursed Pirate Girl HC - My favorite graphic novel of last year gets the hardcover treatment with extra goodies, courtesy of Archaia.  This is a gorgeous book and stunning fantasy - comes with my highest recommendation! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures (Volume 1) - The Archie comics series begins to be collected by IDW in this series of books (following the recent 100-page spectacular) featuring the beloved stories based around the animated series. Space Punisher #1 (of 4) - This has got to be fun, right? National Comics: Eternity #1 - This stand-alone issue sees Jeff Lemire, who's doing awesome things at DC currently, take a stab at writing Kid Eternity. American Elf (Volume 4): The...

Sorry that this one is later than usual, but I will be getting back to posting more regularly now.  Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops today! The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen III #3: Century 2009 - Lots of good stuff comes out this week from the likes of Gilbert Hernandez, Kevin Huizenga and Eddie Campbell, among others, but I'm most excited about the latest League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .  Why spend your money on the questionable taste of Before Watchmen , when you can have the real thing, by Alan Moore himself?  Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill bring the League into current time, featuring a character very similar to one very popular boy wizard. Other Noteworthy Releases Archie Americana (Volume 4): Best of the 70's HC Attack on Titan (Volume 1) Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1 (of 4) David Mazzucchell's Daredevil: Born Again: Artist's Edition HC Defenders by Matt Fraction (Volume 1) TP Dinosaurs vs. Aliens HC Fat...

This is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday... Angel & Faith (Volume 1): Live Through This TP - This was one of my favorite books of 2011, and, I think, the best thing to come out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer 's continuation in comic book form so far. Other Noteworthy Releases Before Watchmen: Comedian #1 (of 6) Challengers of the Unknown by Jack Kirby Omnibus HC The Complete Flash Gordon Library (Volume 1): On the Planet Mongo HC Dark Horse Presents #13 Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. (Volume 1): War Monsters TP Incredible Hulk by Jason Aaron (Volume 1) HC Invincible Iron Man (Volume 9): Demon HC Lost Dogs GN Mars Attacks #1 Mars Attacks Classics (Volume 1) TP Mort Meskin: Out of the Shadows TP New York Mon Amour HC Spider-Man: Trouble On the Horizon HC Static Shock (Volume 1): Supercharged TP Team Cul de Sac HC Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse (Vol. 3): High Noon at Inferno Gulch HC X-Men: X-Club TP