…as well as Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, and Eric Bana as Nero in this Star Trek image. They’re only head shots, but damn!

“[Genius] was something that had been sitting on the hard drive for a while, the idea of someone who had the brains and the motivation to galvanize untrained-but-battle-hardened troops into a fighting force. I caught a Discovery Channel doc one weekend a few years ago about those middle-of-the-country militias that are always hoarding guns and training in the nestle of nowhere. When asked why they’re training, one bloke said something like ‘You know what we’re afraid of? Those people out there, those gangsters in LA. They’ve been under fire. They know what it’s like to get shot at. And they know what it’s like to kill. They’re not afraid. When the big race war comes, we need to be not afraid, too.’ And I thought to myself, ‘What if you could marshal that power, direct its sharp edge? Who could do that, and why?’ And Destiny popped into my head, because she’s the last person you’d expect to be able to do that. So it made perfect sense.”

Marc Bernardin

Because you have to see this.

I think it’s fair to say that this has been a pretty loaded summer movie season when it comes to films based on comics. Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk have certainly put Marvel back on the map, after a series of misfires, while Hellboy returned with a bloody vengeance, easily topping its predecessor, and proving just how imaginative Guillermo Del Toro can be when he’s given total free reign. Even Wanted hit it big, despite deviating heavily from the source material. But could all those films pale in comparison to Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight? Early word is that this movie, even moreso than Begins, will redefine Batman on film. Some even believe it’s the standard by which all future comic book films should be measured. To say nothing of Heath Ledger’s portrayal as the Joker, with more and more talk of a possible Oscar nomination with ever passing day. At this point, I’ve heard too much to believe the film will be anything short of fantastic.

Pretty much picking up where the last film left off, Batman finds himself dealing with the reaction that comes from his presence as Gotham’s vigilante crimefighter. To put it bluntly, the criminals in Gotham are pissed!! If it’s not Batman they have to deal with, it’s this do-gooder punk Harvey Dent, Gotham’s new district attorney, who’s cracking down on crime so hard, even Batman is wondering whether or not he should just hang up the cape and let Dent take care of things. But with the crime bosses’ frustration, comes desperation. Thus introducing the Joker, a man so beyond insanity that he’ll prove how sane he is by driving everyone else in Gotham City crazy!! How far will the police and Batman go to stop this madman?!? Will they trade on their ideals, turn their backs on everything they believe in? Will it be worth it?

I definitely like what this film is trying to do, as all the main characters are pushed to extremes. Despite a common goal, Batman, James Gordon, and Harvey Dent all have very different ways of ridding Gotham City of crime, and I’m looking forward to seeing how these characters will undoubtedly clash. And it would appear that they’ll find themselves tested, and struggling with whether or not to cross the lines they’ve drawn for themselves. Gordon warned Batman about the threat of escalation, and the Joker symbolizes that threat. There’s no understanding him, no way of reasoning with him, he’s just nuts. There’s a lot going on in this film, but I have absolute faith in Nolan, who has always impressed me as a filmmaker. Even when he’s not 100% on point (Insomnia), he’s still better than a lot of filmmakers out there on their best day. Another five years, and Nolan will stand beside Spielberg and Scorsese as names that are synonymous with premiere filmmaking. When people were hyping M. Night Shaymalan as the next big thing as far as directors, Nolan was laying in the cut, thinking to himself, “Oh, I’ve got something for that ass!!” And I believe that this may just be the film to prove it.

Now, I still love Burton’s Batman films. Say what you want, but I still found them to be entertaining and enthralling films that very much captured the essence of Batman, or at least could tie back to a relevant era of the character. The first film was great it terms of just feeling like a pulp comic, and there was an atmosphere to it that really floored me as a kid, and still does today. I loved that you really couldn’t pinpoint what time period they were trying to represent, with the gangsters in 40s style suits, the Cagney-esque warehouse shootouts, etc. I loved all the unconventional choices made, especially with Michael Keaton as Batman, and a soundtrack by Prince, of all people!! All things considered, I don’t think it’s fair to discount Burton’s films as a lot of fans have done, regardless of what Nolan has done. That said, Nolan is really going for broke on this one. Ever since Begins, the approach has been to make everything as realistic as possible, and it certainly is appreciated. Shooting the film in Chicago certainly gives it the sense of scope and grandeur that really adds to the realism Nolan is going for. It’s also a kick to see how someone would plausibly do what Batman does, and know that all of the technology on film has some real-world inspiration. Although you have to wonder how much property damage Batman has been responsible for. He destroyed the monorail in the first film, and his approach to driving the Tumbler seems to be, “Oh shit, I just drove over a dozen cars and blew the freeway to smithereens! Ah, Bruce Wayne can pay for it!”

In terms of the characters and casting of those characters, Batman Begins certainly set a high standard, and The Dark Knight looks to raise the bar even higher. Honestly, I’m so burnt out on the praise being heaped upon Heath Ledger, that I’m starting to turn my attention to Aaron Eckhart, who has his own journey in the film, which will ultimately lead to him becoming Two-Face. Beyond that, we’ve got Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes, and while I personally don’t care for the character’s inclusion period, I can at least take comfort in knowing that a more capable actress is in the role. Then of course, there’s Gary Oldman returning as Lieutenant James Gordon, and I can’t wait to see where they take his character, because there was nothing I loved more about Begins than the establishing of his relationship with Batman. Aside from the silly coincidence of him being the patrolman that consoles Bruce as a child after his parents were murdered, I loved that the filmmakers actually showed him some respect and portrayed him as the independent, iron-willed cop that has come to an understanding with Batman, and isn’t just there like he was in the previous films, to the point where he served no other purpose than to be a punchline. So for giving Gordon back his dignity, thank you Gary Oldman and Christopher Nolan! As for Christian Bale, my only complaint about him is that his voice for Batman is still atrocious!!! It’s absolutely terrible, and I can’t stand hearing him talk when he’s Batman! Beyond that nitpick, he’s doing great. And I love him as the Bruce Wayne he chooses for people to see, because he really does straddle the line of “rich man’s douchebaggery” from time to time. It really sells the idea of why no one would ever suspect him of being Batman. Bruce Wayne in the public can always be seen with at least one model-quality female on his arm, and always has a subtle way of letting you know how filthy rich he is.

As it stands, I can’t imagine this film being anything but epic. In fact, I won’t settle for it being anything but epic, because too many freakin’ people have been gushing about how freakin’ epic it is!! And with it clocking in at over two and a half hours, even my bladder demands that it be epic, ‘cause if it’s anything less, it will make me suffer, I just know it!!

What do Tite Kubo and the Laker Girls have in common (besides a love of outlandish costumes)? Both will be at the Viz Media booth at San Diego Comic-Con to help promote Viz’s hottest shonen franchises. Read on for the full scoop!

San Francisco, CA, July 16, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an exciting agenda of personal appearances, screenings and convention exclusives for the 2008 Comic-Con International taking place July 23-27 at the Convention Center in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #4113.

The year 2008 marks the 5th Anniversary of VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP Magazine and also the 40th Anniversary of Japan’s largest manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, the source of some of the world’s most popular manga. These double milestones mean loads of events, appearances, announcements and many show-only exclusives during Comic-Con International 2008!

Highly anticipated by many excited fans will be an ultra-rare, in-person appearance by Tite Kubo, creator of the smash-hit BLEACH manga series, in the VIZ Media booth for two one-hour signing sessions on Saturday, July 26 at 10:00am and 3:30pm. This is the first time he will appear at any North American convention. Each signing session will be limited to 100 persons each. The first 50 fans who purchase a BLEACH item from the VIZ Media retail area each day from Wednesday through Saturday will each receive a special shikishi signing board and ticket as gifts. These gifts will qualify fans to attend one of the signing periods and receive an autograph from Kubo-sensei himself.

VIZ Media will also welcome Kubo-sensei, along with his editor, Mr. Atsushi Nakasaki, for a unique panel discussion about his work on Saturday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm in Room#7AB. Panel attendees will receive a limited edition BLEACH poster while supplies last. Throughout the convention, the VIZ Media Prize Patrol will be awarding prizes to fans dressed in BLEACH attire. Kubo-sensei is the creator of the wildly successful manga series BLEACH and ZOMBIEPOWDER. Both series are published domestically by VIZ Media and BLEACH is also currently serialized in SHONEN JUMP magazine.

A free theatrical screening of the BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY will be held on Friday, July 25 at 7:00pm at the Gaslamp 15 theatre located in downtown San Diego. A limited number of free passes to attend this special event will be available. Fans are encouraged to come by the VIZ Media booth to pick up one of the free passes while supplies last. Greeting guests at the screening will be KON, the lovable character from the BLEACH manga series. BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY is rated T for Teens.

The September release of Takehiko Inoue’s riveting basketball-themed manga series – SLAM DUNK – is also anticipated by many fans, and VIZ Media will highlight this upcoming title throughout Comic-Con with a variety of fun games and events including a very special in-person appearance by NBA star Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Also attending to celebrate the release of SLAM DUNK are two of the famed Los Angeles Laker Girls, who will be at the VIZ Media booth on Friday, July 25 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. SLAM DUNK is rated T for Teens.

VIZ Media will also headline a variety of panel discussions throughout the convention, beginning with a SHONEN JUMP panel on Friday from 10:00am to 11:00am in Convention Center Room #2. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet the editors and find out what they’ve got up their sleeves for 2009. Also on Friday, the VIZ Media Anime and Manga Panel will be happening from 3:00pm to 4:00pm in Room #2. The SHOJO BEAT magazine panel discussion is scheduled on Saturday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in Room #10.

Finally, VIZ Media is pleased to have the work of three significant manga creators – Takeshi Obata, Naoki Urasawa and Taiyo Matsumoto – nominated in three categories for the 20th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which are considered the Oscars of the comic book industry. Mr. Obata is nominated in the Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team category for his work on DEATH NOTE and HIKARU NO GO. NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER is a contender for Best Continuing Series and Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Japan. Mr. Matsumoto’s, TEKKONKINKREET: Black & White is also nominated in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Japan. The awards are scheduled for Friday, July 25 in Ballroom 20 at the Convention Center.

“This year’s Comic-Con International is especially significant for VIZ Media as 2008 marks the 40th Anniversary of Japan’s best-selling manga anthology, Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, as well as the 5th Anniversary of the widely-read North American counterpart, SHONEN JUMP, and we are excited to celebrate these double milestones,” says Evelyn Dubocq, Sr. Director, Public Relations. “VIZ Media will present a captivating array of fun activities, discussions, in-person appearances and product exclusives that will make each day of this year’s show a truly memorable event for new as well as veteran fans!”

VIZ Media will also be available for portfolio reviews on Sunday, the 27th, from 2:00pm to 4:30pm in the Portfolio area of the Convention Center. Artwork will be reviewed by Marc Weidenbaum, Vice President of Original Publishing and Eric Searleman, Senior Editor at VIZ Media.

“You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things… and for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate. And it’s not what America’s all about.”

Barack Obama

Time Stranger Kyoko, Vol. 1

By Arina Tanemura
Viz, 200 pp.
Rating: Older Teen (T+)

It’s the 30th century and all of the nations of Earth have united to form a single kingdom. The treasure of the people is their princess, Kyoko, but she’d rather attend school like a normal girl than fulfill any of her royal obligations. Her sixteenth birthday is approaching, however, and along with it the celebration at which Kyoko must finally appear before her subjects, putting an end to her incognito scholastic career.

Kyoko resigns herself to her fate, but her father offers her an alternative—if she can awaken her younger twin sister, who has been asleep since birth, and turn princess duties over to her, Kyoko can have her freedom. To do this, she must locate twelve godstones scattered around the planet and the twelve telepaths who can use them. When gathered, they can set into motion the giant clock upon which Princess Ui sleeps and use its power to awaken her.

I was pretty put off initially by the notion that Ui was to be awoken for the sole purpose of foisting princess duties upon her. Even though Kyoko intends to give her sister a choice in the matter, it’s still a thoroughly selfish aim. Quickly, though, Kyoko ends up revealing her identity anyway (to thwart a band of thieves who’re menacing her schoolmates) and her goal becomes simply meeting her sister.

Adventure ensues, with Kyoko gradually acquiring more powers and, eventually, locating the first of the telepaths. She’s often tempted to use her powers for selfish reasons, but usually ends up helping others in the end. Other hobbies include requiring rescue by her bodyguards and behaving irrationally.

There are some comedic elements to the story, though not all of them are a success. I giggled at the instructions for the issuance of a royal greeting (step 5: gesture flamboyantly!) and I like that Kyoko’s magic cane has a personality and dialogue, but I can’t stand the character of Chocola. She’s the King’s cat android pet, and I reckon I’m supposed to find her unbearably cute, but instead she just creeps me out.

As usual, Tanemura’s artwork features big eyes, lots of screentone, and a plethora of flowers. I was a little disappointed that she didn’t avail herself of the opportunity to draw the kirito—humans whose DNA has been combined with that of plants or animals—in a new and different style. Mostly, they just get things like pink hair or gold eyes. Kyoko herself has pointy ears, but no one has commented on them thus far, so I’m not sure if she’s supposed to a hybrid or not.

While I didn’t love this volume, I didn’t absolutely hate it, either. It’s true that neither the story nor the characters particularly engage me, but because the series is only three volumes long, it’s really not that much of a commitment to see it through to the end. I expect that I will do so.

As a final thought, I leave you with a topic: Arina Tanemura is the manga equivalent of Meg Cabot. Discuss.

Volume one of Time Stranger Kyoko is available now.

“You may have thought Meet Dave bombed because it’s the latest in a long string of unfunny Eddie Murphy movies… but it turns out there’s another reason. The movie bombed, at least in part, because Fox refused to market it as science fiction, believing that nobody likes SF, and especially not SF comedies. Whether or not you care what happens to the bland Dave, the explanation of why Fox buried it, in the L.A. Times, should concern you.”

Method Man HC
Method Man’s website
Entertainment Weekly interview with Method Man
Wu-Tang Clan website

The graphic novel inspired by the rapper debuts this week.

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction #1 (of 6)
Kevin Grevioux interview about ZMD

A new horror comic from the New Warriors writer.

Also this week:
Astro City: The Dark Age Book One HC
Batman and the Outsiders #9. Cover by Braithwaite.
Tangent: Superman’s Reign #5 (of 12). Pencils by Igle.
Perhapanauts #3
X-Factor #33. Pencils by Stroman.

Also notable:
Batgirl #1 (of 6). Cassandra Cain in an all-new mini-series.
Howard the Duck Omnibus. The late Steve Gerber’s great creation in one huge volume.
Mighty Avengers #16. Secret Invasion tie-in.

These are the panels for the San Diego Comic-Con of note for readers of this blog:

7/24
11:00-12:00 Indies in Comics— Do you intend to create the next great comic book, action figure, or the like? If so, you know that doing so as an independent can be difficult. What should you do? How do you get started? The Antidote Trust is here to answer many of your questions. TAT, the ultimate independent creators’ collective, produces comics, action figures—nearly anything—and rivals the industry’s top companies in quality and professional outlook. TAT is a diverse group, including men and women from across the country and from all ethnicities. Their projects range from sci-fi to standard superhero to Asian/Indian mythology to noir to twists on today’s society. These trailblazers will discuss making independent projects that challenge the majors in production value, originality, and professionalism. Room 2

11:30-12:30 From the K Chronicles to The Knight Life: Keith Knight— Help celebrate the release of Comic-Con favorite Keith Knight’s The Complete K Chronicles, a 500-page omnibus collection of the Harvey Award–winning comic strip. Knight will present his hilarious slideshow, chronicling his jump from self-published zines to award-winning comic strip, ending with his new syndicated daily strip, The Knight Life, recently launched by United Features Syndicate. Room 4

3:00-4:00 Disney: Race to Witch Mountain— What secrets does Witch Mountain hold? Stars Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino and director Andy Fickman talk about the mysterious, paranormal activity around Witch Mountain. Dwayne, Carla, and Andy will present the first look at the movie and answer audience questions as they talk about the thrilling action-adventure that is set to hit theatres in March 2009! Hall H

4:00-5:00 Superhero Superfiction— Superheroes don’t appear just in comics anymore. Authors discuss how to write superhero prose. Panelists include superhero prose authors Kevin J. Anderson (Last Days of Krypton), Michael Carroll (Quantum Prophecy: The Awakening), Professor Christopher Chambers (The Darker Mask), Vicki Pettersson (The Signs of the Zodiac series), Gary Phillips (The Darker Mask), Melinda M. Snodgrass (Wild Cards), Caroline Spector (Wild Cards) and Doselle Young (The Darker Mask). Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 5AB

:00-5:00 The World of Dabel Brothers Publishing— Find out everything Dabel Brothers Publishing has in store for the rest of 2008 and beyond. From The Dresden Files to The Wheel of Time, to their unannounced licenses and much much more, be there as Dabel Brothers Publishing announces the upcoming creative talent on Wheel of Time and brand new licenses that are sure to make a lot of people shocked and happy, all at the same time. Featuring some of the NY Times bestselling authors working with Dabel Brothers Publishing. Room 7AB

4:15-5:15 Afro Samurai: Resurrection Exclusive Worldwide Premiere!— Afro Samurai picks up his sword once again for the second installment of this critically acclaimed, funktastic anime! This action-packed panel features the creators behind the hit, including star and executive producer Samuel L. Jackson (The Spirit), original creator Takahashi Okazaki, musical artist The RZA (Kill Bill), and executive producer Leo Chu (Spike TV). Be the first to see the worldwide premiere of the exclusive Comic-Con trailer, dazzling artwork from the manga, and never-before-seen demos of the pulse-pounding video game. Room 6B

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Floyd Norman— Comic-Con special guest Floyd Norman talks about his long and varied career in feature film and television animation. His work includes Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pixar’s Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc., and many more fan favorites. Moderated by cartoonist and animation artist Scott Shaw! Room 7AB

7/25
1:00-2:00 Looking at Our World: Eye on the Present— Authors discuss how they use the supernatural in stories of contemporary society. Panelists include Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld), L. A. Banks (The Vampire Huntress Legend Series), Kate Brallier (The Boundless Deep), Marjorie M. Liu (The Iron Hunt), C. E. Murphy (The Negotiator Trilogy), Justine Musk (Lord of Bones), Lilith Saintcrow (The Dante Valentine Series), and moderator Samantha Sommersby (Forbidden: The Revolution). Room 3

1:45-2:45 Ghostbusters: The Video Game— Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and panelists from Sierra Entertainment and Sony Pictures Consumer Products discuss the eagerly anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game, due out this October. The panel focuses on what it takes to bring fans the next chapter in the Ghostbusters universe, including working with the original cast members and Sony Pictures Consumer Products to create a completely true and faithful interactive ghostbusting experience. Room 6B

8:30-11:30 The Spirit Presents the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards— The 20th annual Eisner Awards, the “Oscars” of the comics industry, will be given out at a gala ceremony. This year’s special them is “The Magic of Comics.” Presenters include comics creator/director Frank Miller (Sin City, 300, The Spirit), Spongebob Squarepants creator Tom Kenney, and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos, plus several other celebrities from comics, animation, and film.=2 0Other prestigious awards to be given out include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award and the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. The master of ceremonies is Bongo Comics’ Bill Morrison. Admission to the Eisners is free to all Comic-Con attendees—just be sure to bring your badge. Doors open for pros and VIPs at 7:30 and for attendees at 8:15. Ballroom 20

7/26
10:00-11:30 The Black Panel ’08— This is not the year to miss the Black Panel, and you know why! Featuring Method Man (The Wu Tang Clan), Reggie Hudlin (president, B.E.T.), Denys Cowan (B.E.T. Animation, “The Origin of the Joker”), Rusty Cundieff (director, Chappelle’s Show, Fear of a Black Hat) John Dokes (Marvel Comics), Dwayne McDuffie (Milestone Media, Justice League, Ben 10), and Faith Cheltenham (Tor.com). This is the definitive panel for what’s up in black and hip hop culture—and what a year it has been! Look out for some surprise guests. Hosted by Michael Davis (The Underground, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Black People, But Were Afraid to Ask). Room 5AB

10:15-11:15 Ben 10: Alien Force and The Secret Saturdays Sneak Peek— Join über-cartoon-creator-genius Glen Murakami and his crew as they discuss their hit new Cartoon Network show Ben 10: Alien Force. It’s your chance to get the inside story on all the new alien heroes—and, of course, all the bad guys! Accompanying Glen are story editor Dwayne McDuffie and voice talents Yuri Lowenthal (Ben), Ashley Johnson (Gwen), Greg Cipes (Kevin), and Dee Bradley Baker (Aliens). And that’s just half the excitement! Jay Stephens will also be on hand to talk about his mysterious and cool new show The Secret Saturdays. Room 6A

11:30-12:30 B.E.T. Animation— Don’t get up, it’s time for the second part of the “Black” block! Panelists include Reggie Hudlin (president, B.E.T.), Denys Cowan (senior V.P., B.E.T. Animation), Eric Rollman (president, Marvel Animation), Cort Lane (Marvel Animation), John Romita Jr. (way too many credits!) and some surprise guests who you will not want to miss. The Black Panther announcement was just the beginning… Room 5AB [Look for a Black Panther preview here too - R]

7/27
10:30-11:30 Zuda Online Comics— Read. Vote. Create. With those three little words, Zuda is changing the face of webcomics. Panel participants include Zuda staff Richard Bruning, Ron Perazza, Kwanza Johnson, and Da ve McCullough, along with creators Jeremy Love (Bayou), Bobby & Peter Timony (The Night Owls), David Gallaher & Steve Ellis (High Moon), Nick Doan (Pray for Death), Johnny Zito & Tony Trovarello (The Black Cherry Bombshells), Sheldon Vella (Supertron), and Caanan Grall (Celadore). Listen as they ramble incoherently, pausing occasionally to make a good point. Room 4

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Kyle Baker— Between the rich history of Nat Turner, the family hijinks of The Bakers: Babies & Kittens, and the wild war in Special Forces, it’s been a busy year so far for Kyle Baker! The Eisner Award–winning writer/artist talks about all this stuff and what’s next. Room 2

1:00-2:00 Marvel: TV Writers of Marvel— Heroes, Eli Stone, Carnivale, Underworld, and Big Love. You love these shows & films, but did you know the writers behind them are also at Marvel? Find out what’s in store for some of TV, movies, and comics’ biggest projects from the people behind them with Jeph Loeb (Ultimates), Aron Coleite (Ultimate X-Men), Joe Pokaski (Secret Invasion: Inhumans), Marc Guggenheim (Amazing Spider-Man), Daniel Knauf (Iron Man), Kevin Grevioux (New Warriors), and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (The Stand)! Room 7AB

I don’t see the point of this ridiculous Obama cartoon at all. I think it’s a needless cheap shot and The New Yorker should know better than to put it on the cover.

Are the Dabels publishing the Fall Out Boy comic or aren’t they?

If you’re a faithful Manga Recon reader, you may have noticed that several new reviewers have joined the team. Helping me, Erin, Ken, Chloe, and Isaac sort the manga wheat from the chaff are Phil Guie, Sam Kusek, and Michelle Smith. Here’s what they had to say for themselves:

Phil Guie is a freelance writer who lives in Brooklyn, New York. A liberal arts graduate with a degree in English, he is doing surprisingly well, and even has time to focus on his hobbies, which include movies and American comic books. Phil’s favorite film is The Third Man, and he can talk about superhero comics until the cows come home.

Sam Kusek goes to Emerson College in Boston, has an awesome girlfriend, and enjoys taking late-night rides through the city on his baby blue bicycle, Gloria. He wears tight pants and buys cartons of Vitamin Water… and why don’t they have Vitamin Water vending machines?! He loves (and often quotes) Scrubs and Home Movies, and has a great appreciation of local music and, of course, manga.

Michelle Smith has been writing manga reviews on her blog Soliloquy in Blue since 2006 and has amassed a diverse and extensive manga collection. She’s a musician, a math person, a voracious reader, a competent cook, and a new homeowner. Basara tops her list of favorite manga, and she shamelessly exploits all opportunities to urge people to read it.

Welcome aboard!

As for this week’s new arrivals, you’ll find something to suit just about every taste, from fanservice spectaculars (Alice on Deadlines, Nephilim) to fantasy-adventures (Dorothea), shojo romances (I Hate You More Than Anyone, Tears of a Lamb), and angsty vampire intrigue (Vassalord). My top picks for the week are Silver Diamond (Tokyopop), a peculiar sci-fi series with gorgeous artwork, gorgeous male leads, and enough plants to populate the New York Botanical Garden (don’t ask, just read) and Real (Viz), Takehiko Inoue’s gritty, funny drama about paraplegic basketball players. Want a second opinion? Then check out Ken’s glowing yet perceptive review of this decidedly adult story.

SHIPPING THIS WEEK
Alice on Deadlines, Vol. 3 (Yen Press)
Bizenghast, Vol. 5 (Tokyopop)
Case Closed, Vol. 24 (Viz)
Chibi Vampire, Vol. 9 (Tokyopop)
Daemonium, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
The Dark Good-Bye, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
Dorothea, Vol. 2 (CMX)
Elemental Gelade, Vol. 8 (Tokyopop)
Ellie Mamahara: Alley of First Love (BLU Manga)
Ghost Talkers Daydream, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
I Hate You More Than Anyone, Vol. 5 (CMX)
Martin and John, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Nephilim, Vol. 2 (Aurora)
Oh My God, Vol. 1 (Aurora/Deux)
Plastic Chew (Tokyopop)
Psychic Power Nanki, Vol. 3 (Tokyopop)
Real, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Rising Stars of Manga, Vol. 8 (Tokyopop)
Rolling, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Rose Hip Rose, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
Rurouni Kenshin VIZBIG Edition, Vol. 3 (Viz)
Samurai Deeper Kyo, Vol. 29 (Tokyopop)
A Seduction More Beautiful Than Love, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
Silver Diamond, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Spiral: Bonds of Reasoning, Vol. 4 (Yen Press)
Star Trek: The Manga, Vol. 3 (Tokyopop)
Suzunari, Vol. 1 (Yen Press)
Tears of a Lamb, Vol. 3 (CMX)
Tetragrammaton Labyrinth, Vol. 3 (Seven Seas)
Tokko, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Vassalord, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Your and My Secret, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)