Archive for "Jun 17 2009"

Welcome To Sibuya-Cho

By Mat K.

Okay, all of you who keep up with me and my rants and reviews, remember the other week when I was going on about how 20th Century Boys has been falling behind and why Volume 3 wasn’t out already? Well, almost as if someone at Viz actually reads these articles, here it is! That’s right this week 20th Century Boys Volume 3 By Naoki Urasawa shows up this week. But don’t blow all your energy just yet, it’s an exciting week.

It’s also a Viz Big editions week. Fushigi Yugi 2, Dragon Ball Z 4, and Rurouni Kenshin 6 Viz Bigs are all coming in. Oh, and so is the new Shojo Beat Magazine for July. And TokyoPop thinks they can play the game too putting out the first Gravitation Collection. Though if we’ve learned anything from them, it’s that they only ever do first volumes of these things. At least we can trust Viz to finish out the series.

There are also 2 premier series that have got my antennae twitching. The first of which is the Lucky Star manga by Kagami Yoshimizu. A lot of the girls out there went mad for the anime, and the mechandise we have been able to get in, and how could you not? It’s so cute. And now’s your chance to read the cuteness. Okay, and the second book coming in is the third series to release in America by Yun Kouga (creator of Earthian and Loveless), called Gestalt. The premise? Ages ago the gods were at war. One god was cast out and found refuge on an island known only as G. I shouldn’t have to tell you the artwork is pretty, but it is, and definitely worth checking out.

Finally, got some DVD news for you all. A new Samurai Champloo thin pack box set came in and it’s only $69.99 (compared to the original box set that was closer to $180). There’s also the latest volume of Darker Than Black, and D. Gray-Man. There will also be much more showing up that I can’t even conceive of while I write this on Monday afternoon. Anyways, thats all this time.

Ja Ne!

Unkiedev’s Amazing Stuff

By Unkie Dev

I was hit on the head by a flying plank this weekend and ended up in a magical land of Ez. All I had to do was find the enchanted Wizard of Ez to get home, but along the way I was assisted by strange counterparts from the land of comics. There was the scarecrow of Brian Michael Bendis who needed some better pacing, the amazing tin-man of Dan Slott who just needed more exposure and the gormless has-been played by Frank Miller who was badly in need of some shame and self reflection.

THE TRUTH

Actually my weekend was nothing like that, but I did go to other lands…war torn and harrowing other lands, thanks to the animated film Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Based on the graphic novel of the same name Persepolis is an incredible portrait of growing up in the constant war-zone that is Iran, a story of constant repression and dread. You will never appreciate your American freedom more than when you’re confronted by those who can never have it.

MITE EXCITED

On the opposite side of the spectrum, I also got to catch the “Legends of the Bat-Mite” episode of the Cartoon Network’s new Bat-Cartoon “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.” This “MITE” be my favorite Batman yet, fun, colorful and exciting! Some of us never really bought into the ultra-violent Dark Knight that the Bat became, and held out hope for a Batman who could lick em’ while smiling. Well children of the 80’s, our Batman has returned. Not since Adam West did the voice of “The Gray Ghost” on the old Batman Animated show have I been this Bat-thrilled, as B:TB&TB brought along Bat-Mite, as voiced by Paul “Pee-Wee Herman” Reubens himself!

Go on e-bay and pick yourself up a copy of World’s Funniest, a DC one-shot from years back to get the best Bat-Mite story of all time! Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxylptlk, in an attempt to establish “Who’s cooler: Batman or Superman,” destroy not only the current DC universe but a few realities from the Elseworlds as well. Also, Grant Morrison presents Batman the Black Casebook, a trade paperback shipping this week featuring Batman in many of his weirdest issues ever! The casebook is a collection of reprints featuring Batman’s strangest cases from the 50’s and 60’s which Morrison drew inspiration from on his recent run, including the first appearance of Bat-Mite! The Black Casebook is in continuity, shouldn’t it be in your collection?

BAT-BRAINED

Ah, don’t listen to me. Everybody knows ole’ Unkiedev is a few batarangs short of a utility belt. Heck, my pick-o-the-week is the latest installment of Adam Warren’s Empowered vol. 5 from Dark Horse, a slightly risqué take on female super-heroes, their bodies and their body-issues. IF you like Warren, this is NOT TO BE MISSED.

Other than that I’m more stoked for this week’s Marvel Pets Handbook than I am about the big Captain America #600 introducing the new Bucky to continuity. I really hope Marvel Pets will have an entry on Ms. Lion. OOH! And Bill the mutant lobster! And Squirrel Girl’s assistant Skipper-Joe!

BOTTOM LINE

This week I’ve plugged the strangest confluence of comics in my columnist career, but that’s what’s GREAT about this industry! The variety of material is staggering. Remember to have fun and try new things. See ya’ at the Mermaid Parade!