Saturday, March 3, 2012

Review: THE ADVENTURES OF NIKKI HARRIS THE CYBERMATION WITCH #4


"Back to School"
THE ADVENTURES OF NIKKI HARRIS THE CYBERMATION WITCH #4
CANDLE LIGHT PRESS/Warning Comics
 
CARTOONIST: Carter Allen
40pp, Color, $5.00 US

The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch is a comic book series published by Candle Light Press. The series is created by illustrator and graphic novelist Carter Allen. Allen has created the Dub Trub series, the Man is Vox series (with writer John Ira Thomas), and produced the graphic novels, Atlanta and And the Sky Turned White…

After nearly two years since her last comic book, Nikki Harris, the Cybermation Witch, returns. The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch #4 (entitled “School Daze”) finds Nikki returning to her alma mater, Grantham Academy. This college is located in New Paris, a city on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons.

Grantham is considered one of the finest schools devoted to the teaching of Cybermation, and Nikki has been invited to be a visiting professor. Nikki is also reunited with Jeanie Carlisle, the younger sister of Annie Carlisle, Nikki’s now-deceased best friend. Not everyone is happy to see Nikki at Grantham, however, as the bitchy Headmistress goes out of her way to antagonize our heroine. There is also something sinister going on at Grantham, and it may be too powerful for even a Cybermation Witch to handle.

Writer/artist Carter Allen produces the images, graphics, and texts that become the art of The Adventures of Nikki Harris comic book digitally. With each issue, I’ve noticed that the production values and quality of the graphics has improved. This fourth issue is an ice cream fantasia of hot pinks and fluffy cotton candy pinks. Black vinyl reflects white in every direction, and red and gold explode to depict energy blasts.

Like previous issues, The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch #4 is a self-contained, single-issue story. “School Daze” is pretty much like other Nikki Harris tales, but in this latest issue, the dialogue is sharper, and Allen pays a little more attention to detail. For instance, there is a surprising explanation of “Cybermation” that makes as much sense as most explanations for magic and super powers in other comic books.

This is also a larger than usual issue of The Adventures of Nikki Harris (40 pages instead of the usual 24), and it still seemed too short for me. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another two years before Nikki returns. This quirky, but sparkling sci-fi, super-chick series will grow on you.

Visit the CLP store: http://www.candlelightpress.com/shop.htm

One Piece: Romance Dawn for the New World

I read One Piece, Vol. 61

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).


Thursday, March 1, 2012

SuBLime Website Offers Digital Boys' Love and Yaoi Manga

GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime KICKS OFF 2012 WITH TANTALIZING DIGITAL OFFERINGS

Bold New Publisher Releases Acclaimed Boys’ Love Manga LOVE PISTOLS, OKU-SAN’S DAILY FANTASIES, THE BED OF MY DEAR KING, And HUSBAND, HONEYMOON

SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate) and Libre Publishing Co., Ltd. (Libre Publishing), opens 2012 with a variety of notable new releases. Today, the company launches LOVE PISTOLS Vol. 1 by Tarako Kotobuki, HUSBAND, HONEYMOON Vol. 1 by Haruka Minami, OKU-SAN’S DAILY FANTASIES by Noboru Takatsuki, and THE BED OF MY DEAR KING by Sakae Kusama.

The new titles are rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers and carry an MSRP of USD $5.99 each. The $5.99 purchase price offers fans digital access to two versions of each manga volume on http://www.sublimemanga.com/ – a downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer, and via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

“Yaoi fans will not to want to miss this collection of exciting releases available now from SuBLime,” says Jennifer LeBlanc, Editor, SuBLime. “Haruka Minami and Tarako Kotobuki are two of the most acclaimed creators within the genre. We invite fans to visit the SuBLime web site to take advantage of the speed and ease of digital download, and to further explore these titles.”

LOVE PISTOLS by Tarako Kotobuki • Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers • MSRP: $5.99 USD • Available Now
Norio Tsuburaya is just your average, regular high school student—until the day when he drives his scooter into a garden wall and wakes up with the ability to see zoomans! His eyes aren't the only things affected—his pheromones are working overtime, and all the hot beast breeds at school are looking to mate... with HIM! Just when he thinks things can't get any worse, his heavyweight schoolmate, Kunimasa, "marks" Norio as his! What's an in-demand premium to do? Series is known as SEX PISTOLS in Japan.

HUSBAND, HONEYMOON by Haruka Minami • Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers • MSRP: $5.99 USD • Available Now
Sakuya and Shuji are a couple of love-struck newlyweds. Shuji is a hard-nosed section chief who, unbeknownst to his employees, sneaks away on his coffee breaks to gaze lovingly at pictures of his sweet Sakuya. Sakuya, on the other hand, struggles with the simplest of household chores, desperate to please his loving, hardworking husband. With the sudden intrusion of a handsome next-door neighbor, Sakuya’s days are about to be just as stimulating as his sexy nights with Shuji!

OKU-SAN’S DAILY FANTASIES by Noboru Takatsuki • Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers • MSRP: $5.99 USD• Available Now
Oku-san is a normal office worker who has one joy in life, to fantasize about his local deliveryman, Sudo-kun. To feed his fantasies and his desire to see Sudo-kun, Oku-san habitually shops online filling his room with useless and sometimes very erotic things. It’s all pretty harmless until one day his neighbor Yokoshima finds out about his secret hobby. Caught between two hot guys—at least in his mind—will Oku-san be able to fantasize his way out of this one?

THE BED OF MY DEAR KING by Sakae Kusama • Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers • MSRP: $5.99 USD • Available Now
A suite of emotionally resonant, romantic stories told by a critically acclaimed manga creator. In “The Bed of My Dear King,” an electrician called to a remote job deep in the mountains discovers the startling reasons behind the behavior of the house’s lone occupant, an eccentric young sculptor. In “Cherry,” an overachieving high school student forms an unexpected bond with a laid-back classmate. And in “Flowers,” the secrets surrounding a tragic death lead to an unexpected, and poignant, resolution.

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at http://www.sublimemanga.com/, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.


About SuBLime
SuBLime is a global yaoi/boys’ love manga publisher, and is a partnership between VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate). This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at www.SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.

I Ides of March You

Welcome to I Reads You, my blog about the things I read: mostly comic books, comics, and related books. Sometimes, I’ll write about or link to other topics: typically books, politics, and entertainment.

I’m Leroy Douresseaux, and I have another blog: http://www.negromancer.com/. I also write for the Comic Book Bin (which also has smart phones apps and comics).

All images and text appearing on this blog are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I Reads You Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #4

JUSTICE LEAGUE #4
DC COMICS

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Jim Lee
INKS: Scott Williams
COLORS: Alex Sinclair with Gabe Eltaeb
LETTERS: Patrick Brosseau
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams, with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Andy Kubert with Alex Sinclair
40pp, Color, $3.99/$4.99 (combo pack) U.S.

I consider Justice League to be the flagship title of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comic book line. And what a flagship it is – all big and shiny and full of pretty art and big action scenes. As I’ve written in previous reviews, Justice League may be mediocre for all I know, but I’m too in love with this series to think of it as anything other than fantastic.

Justice League #4 (“Part Four”) opens in the Red Room at S.T.A.R. Labs in Detroit, as Victor Stone emerges from his Promethium transformation. Shocked at what he’s become, Victor is about to discover just how transformed he is. In the wake of his sudden appearance, Aquaman must prove his mettle to some among the small gathering of superheroes: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash. Now, the adversary behind the inter-dimensional/alien invasion of Earth will be revealed.

It has been three months since I read the third issue of Justice League, which was a good thing. I needed to take a step back. The plan was to come back with the ability to take a critical look at this series. To hell with that! I love this new Justice League.

I was not a fan of Geoff Johns because I had read next to nothing of his work prior to this Justice League series, but I like what he is doing here. He has created an engaging dynamic between the characters, mixing rivalry, jealousy, and heroism into a pleasing character ensemble.

But let’s get serious. This is the Jim Lee show, with his able assistants, inker Scott Williams and colorist Alex Sinclair, also shining in their skill sets. I think action movies have influenced Lee’s storytelling as much as any comic book writer, artist, or writer/artist. Practically every page, even the ones with multiple panels, features one big panel that creates a sense of scale for the reader. It is as if Lee wants to remind us that this isn’t just another superhero fight; this is a Bruckheimer/Bay movie.

Williams’ macho inking makes the art seem real, but not photo-real, by depicting detail in everything from Steve Trevor’s uniform and gear to Victor Stone’s new body. Alex Sinclair’s colors shimmer, pop off the pages, and sometimes surprisingly, subtly create mood. Yes, I was right last year. This is good.

For extras, there are two pages of Flashes sketches by Francis Manapul and a (faux) dossier on S.T.A.R. Laboratories employees.

A


Tuesday, February 28, 2012

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 29 2012

DC COMICS

DEC110238 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #1 $3.99

DEC110235 BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #5 (OF 7) $3.99

DEC110205 DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #24 $2.99

DEC110309 GEARS OF WAR #22 $2.99

DEC118159 JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 2ND PTG $3.99

DEC110188 JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 $3.99

DEC110191 JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 COMBO PACK $4.99

JUL110255 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ARCHIVES HC VOL 10 $59.99

DEC110275 LEGION SECRET ORIGIN #5 (OF 6) $2.99

DEC110304 LOONEY TUNES #205 $2.99

DEC110325 SCALPED #56 (MR) $2.99

DEC110252 SHADE #5 (OF 12) $2.99

DEC110317 SPACEMAN #4 (OF 9) (MR) $2.99

DEC110265 THUNDER AGENTS VOL 2 #4 (OF 6) $2.99

DEC110302 TINY TITANS #49 $2.99

DEC110312 UNCHARTED #4 (OF 6) $2.99

DEC110328 UNWRITTEN #34.5 (MR) $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 29 2012

MARVEL COMICS

DEC110646 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #680 $3.99

DEC110688 ASTONISHING X-MEN #47 $3.99

DEC110605 AVENGERS #23 $3.99

DEC110700 AVENGERS BIG THREE TP $29.99

DEC110749 CARNAGE FAMILY FEUD TP $19.99

DEC110726 FEAR ITSELF BLACK PANTHER MAN WITHOUT FEAR PREM HC $19.99

DEC110725 FEAR ITSELF HERC PREM HC $19.99

DEC110653 FF #15 $2.99

DEC110745 FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN TP VOL 01 $15.99

DEC110747 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 08 UNFIXABLE $15.99

DEC110753 KA-ZAR BY MARK WAID AND ANDY KUBERT TP VOL 02 $24.99

DEC110649 MOON KNIGHT #10 $3.99

DEC110612 NEW AVENGERS #22 $3.99

DEC110732 PUNISHER BY GREG RUCKA PREM HC VOL 01 $19.99

DEC110733 PUNISHER BY GREG RUCKA PREM HC VOL 01 BLANK DM VAR ED $19.99

DEC110657 SIX GUNS #5 (OF 5) $2.99

DEC110736 SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC SPIDER-MAN TP $19.99

DEC110664 TWELVE #10 (OF 12) $2.99

DEC110728 ULT COMICS ULTIMATES BY HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 01 $24.99

DEC110630 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #7 WITH DIGITAL CODE $3.99

DEC110629 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #8 WITH DIGITAL CODE $3.99

DEC110734 UNCANNY X-FORCE DARK ANGEL SAGA PREM HC BOOK 02 $24.99

DEC110643 VENOM #13.4 $2.99

DEC110731 X-MEN LEGACY FIVE MILES SOUTH OF UNIVERSE PREM HC $19.99

DEC110740 X-MEN LEGACY NECROSHA TP $15.99

DEC110741 X-MEN PRELUDE TO SCHISM TP $14.99