Elemental Gelade, vols. 1 & 2
Published by: Tokyopop
Writer & Artist: Mayumi Azuma
192 (172) & 196 (178) pages.
Original Language: Japanese
Orientation: Right to left
Vintage: 2002. US editions July and November 2006.
Translation: Alethea (1 & 2) and Athena (2) Nibley
Adaptation: Jordan Capell
Copy Editor: Peter Ahlstrom (1) & Stephanie Duchin (2)
Retough & Lettering: Jose Macasocol, Jr. (1) & Bowen […]

Dum de dum dum dum. It’s another Wednesday, and once again I’m looking at this week’s Diamond Shipping List and picking out what looks to be some of the better picks. It looks like Matt’s got you covered on the manga, so I’ll focus on floppies.
Hopefully I’ll get something good this week. […]

Snow, Vol. 1
Published by: Tokyopop
Writer & Artist: Morgan Luthi
192 (184) pages.
Original Language: English
Orientation: Left to right
Vintage: October 2006
Lettering: Lucas Rivera
Cover Layout: James Lee
Editor: Paul Morrissey
Publisher’s Rating: Teen, ages 13+
Rating: 3 out of 5
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Premise: Hub is an overlooked planet way on the edge of known space, so […]

Rex Mundi, Vol. 2 #1
July 2006
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Arvid Nelson
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Cover: J.H. Williams, III
Letters: Arvid Nelson
Co-Creator: EricJ
23 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5
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Premise: The Catholic Church never lost power in Europe. The French Revolution had no lasting impact, and we’re on Louis XXII. It’s 1933, there’s magic in the air, and a […]

Astro City: The Dark Age, Book Two #1
Publisher: Wildstorm
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Brent E. Anderson
Cover: Alex Ross
Letterer: John Roshell
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
24 Pages
Rating: 4 out of 5
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Premise: Two brothers’ parents are killed in 1959. They set upon different paths and find themselves on opposite sides of the law, but in similar […]

We’ve been going back and forth on Manga vs. Comics for a while, and likely could argue the various points for the next decade, or century. While baseless debate is what the internet is for… I think I might have one or two topics I’d like to cover before the sun goes nova, and given […]

It wasn’t that long ago (um, Wednesday) that I was complaining happened to mention in the comments to this post that the Diamond Dist. list wasn’t the best source for manga releases, and that there wasn’t a good alternate– at least none that I could find on the internet.
There still isn’t a good list, but […]

Mouse Guard, Vol. 4-6 (of 6)
Publisher: Archaia Studios Press
Story & Art: David Petersen
23 pages (each)
Rating: 4 out of 5
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Premise: Events and storylines start coming together as we race towards our climactic moment.
Synopsis:
In volume 4, “The Dark Ghost,” a hermit mouse has retrieved Kenzie and Saxon from outside the gates of Barkstone and brought him back […]

So last week’s column got a few manga fans in a little bit of a tizzy - not an all-out fanboy war type of tizzy, just a few disagreements with my remarks. Hopefully this week, I’ll put bandaids on their wounds while I kick American fanboys in the nuts (although again, that’s not my […]

Angel Cup, Vols. 1 & 2
Published by: Tokyopop
Writer: Dong Wook Kim
Artist: Jae Ho Youn
208 (190) & 200 (188) pages.
Original Language: Korean
Orientation: Left to right
Vintage: 2001. US editions June and October 2006
Translation: Grace Min (1) & Jumi V. Yang (2)
English Adaptation: Hope Donovan
Retouch & Lettering: Mike […]

Fireblast, Adventures in the 30th Century #0
Publisher: Masterpiece Comics
Writer: Ace Masters
Artist: Nichx
Letters: Michelle Fiorucci
Editor: Barb Caffery
17 pages
Rating: 1 out of 5
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Premise: Mack Fire is all set to open his private investigation firm when an assassin starts taking pot-shots at him.
Synopsis:
Mack Fire is an adventurer who has decided to open his own private investigation agency. […]

Mushishi, Vol. 1
Published by: Del Rey Books
Writer & Artist: Yuki Urushibara
240 (216) pages.
Original Language: Japanese
Orientation: Right to left
Vintage: 2000. US edition January 2007.
Translation & Adaptation: William Flanagan
Lettering: North Market Street Graphics
Publisher’s Rating: Older Teen, ages 16+
Rating: 4 out of 5
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Premise: Mushi are not quite bugs, […]

Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #162
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Date: February 1981
Cover Price: 50 cents
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Pencils: Dick Ayers & John Severin
Inks: John Severin
Colors: Glynis Wein
Letters: Jean Izzo & Jerry Feldmann
Editor: Stan Lee
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This was one of my favorite comics when I was a kid. I can’t tell you how many times I read it - […]

From the opening of hostilities last Thursday, it might seem like the Manga Militia is leading, but the All-American Comics Corps is holding its own, and in it’s effort to dominate the field early, the manga forces may have over-reached themselves and are staggering a bit– though as of today they are still in the […]

Utopia’s Avenger, Vol. 1
Published by: Tokyopop
Writer & Artist: Oh Se-Kwon
200 (188) pages.
Original Language: Korean
Orientation: Left to right
Vintage: 2004. US edition December 2006.
Translation: Woo Sok Park
English Adaptation: Jai Nitz
Copy Editor: Stephanie Duchin
Production Artist, Retouch & Lettering: Mike Estacio
Cover Design: Fawn Lau & Kyle Plummer
Editor: Bryce P. Coleman
Publisher’s Rating: Teen, ages 13+
Rating: 2 out of 5
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Premise: Gildong […]