SPACE

Be sure to check out the Small Press and Alternative Comic Expo this weekend.

Blackest Night Series 4 Figures Have Arrived!

This series includes Wonder Woman, who is surprisingly transformed by the happenings of the Blackest Night (Read the comics to learn more!); Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, in his new costume as a member of the prestigious Green Lantern Honor Guard; Black Lantern Firestorm, who was once a member of the Justice League but is now a part of the Black Lantern Corps; and Black Hand, who threatens to destroy everything the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps stand for, in ways no one ever dreamed possible.

All four figures feature multiple points of articulation and include a display base. Wonder Woman also comes with a lasso accessory, Green Lantern has a lantern accessory, and Black Hand holds Bruce Wayne's skull in his hand.

Stop by the shop today and get a set of these figures before they disappear like
all of the sets that have come before them.

Stang's Pick of the Month

WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE TP VOL 01

Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Fell) creates an all-eerie and humorous new series. Things are awakening in the city. Things that have a nasty habit of leaving mutilated bodies in their wake and it all reeks of demons and dark gods up to no good. Owing a favor to his lazy ghost cop buddy Trotsky, Wormwood, the gentleman corpse and his oddball entourage are brought in to investigate the case (or at least hopefully not stuff it up too much). This collection compiles the first miniseries, the original "Taster" issue, and covers, sketches, pin-ups and other cocktail napkin scribblings from Templesmith.

This is a not a book for the faint of heart. You need to man up here and be ready for a ride through the abyss that is known as Ben Templesmith’s mind. Think of this as Hellboy with some serious issues and a mean streak a mile long. Templesmith’s art is eery, creepy and just plain bizarre at times but the book is always fun. If you’re a Lovecraft fan and don’t mind it being twisted for one's  perverse pleasure, then this is the book for you.

Angela's Pick of the Month

Shortcomings

Shortcomings, Adrian Tomine's first long-form graphic novel, is the story of Ben Tanaka, a confused, obsessive Japanese American male in his late twenties, and his cross-country search for contentment (or at least the perfect girl). Along the way, Tomine tackles modern culture, sexual mores, and racial politics with brutal honesty and lacerating, irreverent humor, while deftly bringing to life a cast of painfully real antihero characters.

As a relatively new reader of graphic novels and a longtime reader of contemporary fiction, I found that Shortcomings was a perfect way to marry these two worlds and dive headfirst into the world of comics. The story follows a young man through many instances so many of us have been through – loss of love, struggle with identity, and awkward encounters. This makes the imperfect characters extremely accessible. As in his short stories, Tomine opts for black and white graphics and easy to follow dialogue. Definitely worth picking up!

New Arrivals April 21st

DV8 Gods and Monsters #1

The fan-favorite series DV8 returns with the eight-part "Gods & Monsters" arc written by critically acclaimed writer Brian Wood (DEMO, DMZ, NORTHLANDERS) with art by up-and-comer Rebekah Isaacs (Drafted). In their short history, the mismatched band of superpowered losers, freaks and masochists of DV8 have seen a lot and done even more, but it's nothing compared to this. As Gem Antonelli (a.k.a. Copycat) is debriefed in a holding cell, the story of how eight troubled teenagers were briefly gods to a prehistorical world unfolds against the backdrop of a cataclysmic disaster. "The Day I Tried To Live" is part one in this amazing and tragic story unlike anything set in the WildStorm Universe before.

Wood seems to be at his best when he's creating his own worlds and this is what he does here.  He takes some throw away characters and actually gives them some depth.  Although this issue is mostly set up, it left me wanting more.  Isaacs does a bang up job on the art.  She seems to float seamlessly between the action sequences and the more emotionally charged scenes. 

Firestar #1

Angelica Jones has been many things in her life. Daughter. Friend. Fiancée. Mutant. Hellion. New Warrior. Avenger. And, most recently, cancer survivor. Granted a second chance at life, Angelica has only one question for herself: What do I do with it?

This story starts out like many with a female superheroes - typical girl during the day, trying to balance relationships, friends, family and school coupled with the difficulties of abnormal powers. However, the story takes a touching turn when Jones' meets her dad's new girlfriend and daughter. Beautiful artwork and beautiful story completes our investment in these characters.

Joe the Barbarian #4 

Who are the mysterious Sorcerors of Inventoria, and why have they taken a vow of cowardice? The mysteries of the Iron Kingdom and its relationship to Joe's real world are revealed at last, and a new companion joins the doomed fellowship for a voyage into Ultimate Darkness. 

RASL TP Vol. 2 Fire of St. George

Jeff Smith's fast paced sci-fi thriller about an inter-dimensional art thief continues in this action-packed graphic novel. The secrets of RASL's technology and his hidden past are exposed when a mysterious lizard-faced stranger starts killing the art thief's girlfriends in multiple universes. The stranger knows that RASL used to work for the military-industrial complex on a project codenamed The St. George Array, and believes that RASL has stolen secrets that will unlock the power of the universe. Collects issues #4-7. Mature themes

 

For Odin! For Asgard! For your bookshelf!

Is your home or workspace constantly plagued by invading frost giants from Jotunheim? Kotobukiya offers the perfect solution - Thor Odinson, champion of Asgard.  Sculptor Shinya Akao has created a 12" masterpiece which is sure to draw the attention and awe of even non-Thor fans.  Now is the perfect time to build your shrine to the storm god.  With Thor set to make his theatrical debut in 2011, this will be hard to come by if you miss out now. 

-Whosoever owns this statue, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor!-

Okay... not really, but it's still awesome.

- Ryan

Mini-Review: Hope Larson's Mercury

Mercury, by Hope Larson

Set in both 19th-century and present-day Nova Scotia, Hope Larson's latest YA graphic novel intertwines snapshots of  the most important relationships in the average teenage girl's life with a tale of  mysterious strangers, old and new friends, family tragedy, and hidden treasure. 

When an enigmatic young man arrives at her family's farm with a business proposition, Gold Rush-era teenager Josey Fraser is enchanted by his tales of distant lands and develops a crush almost immediately; her stern, superstitious mother, however, knows better than to trust him.  Years later Josey's descendant Tara has a lot of adjustments to navigate- she's been sleeping on her cousin's floor ever since her house burned down, playing phone tag with her faraway mom, and preparing for public high school after years of in-home education.  Jumping between past and present, Mercury follows these young women as their lives are affected by mystical forces and shifting allegiances, and as they find new strengths of their own.

I really enjoyed the easy magical-realism of this story, and appreciated the girl's-eye perspective (a vantage point that is slowly becoming more common in fictional comics today, and it's about time!).   Larson's fluid lines are beautiful and easy for the eye to read.  Also fun is her creative use of symbols to reinforce subtle moments, like a potato covered with human eyes, or the word "swelter" rising from the ground like a shimmering wave of heat.   I'd recommend Mercury for fans of Faith Erin Hicks or Raina Telgemeier, or anyone who likes young adult literature!

Fun fact: Larson is married to Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O'Malley!  Her other works include Chiggers, Salamander Dream, and Gray Horses.

-Liz