Rachel Loves Comics

First Impressions 5/15

Dream Thief #1 - I was right; not my kind of thing. If you want some random violence, pick this one up.

The Dream Merchant #1 - I thought this one was pretty interesting, though the storytelling was a bit loose. Issue 2 will make or break this one for me.

Legend of Luther Strode #5 - The more I read, the more I think…that I liked the first series better.

Adventure Time OGN vol. 1: Playing with Fire - Cute, and little more romantic than the cartoon.

Comic Book Creator #1 - Opening this book drove home what a boy’s club comic writing/artistry is. Maybe future issues will look at a few lady creators. If you enjoy interviews, pick this bad boy up.

Hoax Hunters TP vol 2: Secrets and Lies - I think this series started strong, but couldn’t really keep it up. This is only my impression from a flip-through.

Iron Sky TP -Bluh.

MLP: Friendship is Magic #7 - The new arc just got interesting.

MLP: Friendship is Magic TP vol. 1 - Lovely TP, though I could do without the glitter on the cover.

Disgaea 3: School of Devils vol. 1 - Standard manga insanity.

Wandering Son vol. 4 - I was actually a little disappointed with this volume. Instead of focusing on the main characters and their growth, there was just a lot of junior high date drama. I thought that the description on the back didn’t match the interior of the book at all.

Costuming didn’t leave me much time for reading this week! More great books for next week ^_^

Comics I’ll be checking out this week

JIM Featuring Sif TP vol. 1: Stronger Than Monsters Now - I am seriously only checking out this marvel book because there is a kickass-looking norse warrior woman in somewhat reasonable (for a hero book) armor and a sexy shirtless dude behind her for no reason. It already has 10 points from me for bucking the system.

Akaneiro #1 - Dark Horse’s retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, reimagined in Japan. I give it a 50/50 chance. It’s either going to be awesome or seriously meh, possibly with a side order of offensive.

Dark Horse Presents #24

The Deep Sea One-Shot - Horror? A sub on a deep descent mission, lost for 55 years, is recovered, and full of “the horrific mysteries of the abyss.” Is it full of dumbo octopi? Those guys are cute.

Mind MGMT #11

Bounce #1 - I can get on board with a hero named “The Bounce.”

Nowhere Men #5 - I hope this one focuses on the crazy, mutated crew. 

Revival #10

Adventure Time #16

Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake #5 - WOOHOO! Love this book!!

The Alluring Art of Margaret Brundage - Not a comic, but the art of a classic cover artist.

AntaresTP  vol. 1 - This book takes place after the Betelgeuse books, which are still being released. Strange publishing choice.

Betelgeuse TP vol. 2: Caves - I haven’t had time to read volume 1 yet, but I enjoy sci-fi.

Drawn to New York TP - A journal filled with art and comics detailing 3 decades of the artist’s life in New York city.

Half Past Danger #1 - 40’s style pulp featuring Nazis, Dinosaurs, and at least one femme fatale.

Aesthetics: A Memoir TP - I don’t know a thing about Ivan Brunetti. I imagine I’ll learn something when I open this book.

My Dirty Dumb Eyes GN - Touted as being very funny and insightful; a series of shorts.

Make Good Art HC - Neil Gaiman’s “Make Good Art” speech, made into an artsy book.

The Property HC

Rocky & Hudson: The Gay Cowboys - A comic strip from Brazilian newspapers circa 1991. No idea what to expect.

The Man Who Invented the Daleks - Fairly sure this one isn’t a comic either, but who knows!

Thorgal TP vol. 7: Master of Mountains

Lone Wolf & Cub Omnibus vol. 1 - Interested to see just what’s included in this book, since the description hinted at a mishmash rather than something chronological.

Saturn Apartments vol. 7

Sunny HC vol. 1 - The new book from Taiyo Matsumoto, author of Black & White.

Holy damn, that’s a lot of stuff this week! With Fanime coming up this weekend, I may not have time to check it all out.

First Impressions 5/8

Chin Music #1 - I had a hard time with the art in this book. It’s difficult to take the main character seriously when his eyes are so kawaii. Ten Grand #1 does it better.

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong GN - You know. We were shorted this comic. I wonder why.

Poorcraft GN - I already love this  book, and have been looking forward to the time when Dr. Comics finally got it in stock! The perfect gift for anyone living on their own for the first time. Stumptown Best Small Press winner!

Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes HC - Matt Kindt’s exploration of humanity follows tradition set forth by the great Will Eisner.  This book is full of vignettes starring people who commit unusual crimes. One girl pathologically steals chairs. A man steals a painting far too valuable to flip, and instead cuts it into pieces, selling each one for a lesser amount and jumpstarting his career as an art dealer. I enjoyed the few stories that I read, and I’m already a fan of Kindt’s artwork.

Smut Peddler - This gorgeous anthology of erotic comics is targeted at a female audience, and collects stories previous published in zine form. Jess Fink, Erika Moen, Leia Weathington, and Blue Delliquanti are just a few of the superstars whose naughty handiwork can be found within this delicious collection! Stumptown Best Anthology Winner!

We Can Fix It GN - Pick of the week. Oh man. This book was way better than I was expecting it to be, and I was already expecting it to be freakin awesome. 

Will & Whit GN - I just don’t think I’m a fan of this author. Her stuff doesn’t resonate with me at all. This book reminded me of all of the stuff everyone else seemed to be into in high school that I just wasn’t interested in being a part of; especially the clunky romance bits.

You’re All Just Jealous of my Jetpack HC -These comics are hit or miss, but when they hit…oh man. Good stuff.

Comics I’ll be checking out this week

Dream Thief #1 - A man steals an aboriginal mask and is possessed by spirits that take over his body at night and do awful things, which he may or may not remember. Doesn’t sound like my kind of thing, but I’ll have a look.

The Fall of the House of Usher #1 (of 2) - Richard Corben’s adaptations of Poe have to be seen to be believed.

The Dream Merchant #1 - Somewhat cryptic description, but it seems that the main characters has dreams of something that the entire population of the planet has been forced to “forget.”

Legend of Luther Strode #5

Peter Panzerfaust vol. 2 TP

Adventure Time: Marceline & the Scream Queens TP - Finally! Hooray!

Adventure Time OGN vol. 1: Playing with Fire - I dig flame princess, so I am excite about this book.

Betelgeuse vol. 1: Expedition & Survivors - This book actually combines 2 volumes. Mark and Kim are sent to Betelgeuse to look for survivors of the spacecraft crash that killed 3,000 people seven years earlier. Two survivors tell them the colonisers had been divided over whether the indigenous creatures called Lums are as intelligent as humans. If they are, the humans would have been forced by law to abandon their colonising enterprise. 

Big Nate: Genius Mode TP - I enjoyed the first volume of this kids’ book that I read. Looking forward to reading one that isn’t sports-centered!

Comic Book Creator #1 - This is actually a magazine from Twomorrows with articles and interviews about/with comic creators.

Hoax Hunters TP vol 2: Secrets and Lies - I’ve fallen behind with this series. I think I’ll enjoy it more in trade form.

Iron Sky TP - Movie adaptation. Low expectations.

MLP: Friendship is Magic #7

MLP: Friendship is Magic TP vol. 1 - I’ll be buying this. Andy Price’s art is outstanding.

Remind HC vol. 1 & 2 - I read this online, and REALLY liked it. Looking forward to checking out the print copies.

Thorgal GN vol. 6 - This unassuming little series is a gem. If you like storytelling reminiscient of creation myths and legends, you will love Thorgal.

07 Ghost GN vol. 4

Disgaea 3: School of Devils vol. 1 - I hope the art in this book is as great as the art for the games.

Wandering Son vol. 4 - YES. YES. YES.

So many great books coming in just in time for my birthday! I’m working on my b-day tomorrow XD