Reviews (3)

GIL KANE's Spider-Man
This answers the question, "When exactly did AMAZING SPIDER-MAN as a series go completely to HELL?" No-it WASN'T when John Romita stopped inking. It WASN'T when Gwen Stacy was murdered (which, after all these years, it turned out it was John Romita's...idea). And no-it WASN'T even when Stan Lee stopped writing "his" main character!!! NO!!! It was when GIL KANE started DRAWING the [darn] book, THAT'S when!!! Kane's people are UGLY, his anatomy is AWKWARD, and his storytelling has NO sense of fun or humor about it at ALL!!! Most of these I'd never read before, and I got the book mainly because it was a CHEAP way to fill these huge gaping holes in my Spidey collection. MY GOD!! Reading these is like watching the 6th season of HUNTER. Sure, Dee Dee McCall was still there, but the whole tone, balance and focus of the show had gone terribly astray, thanks to Fred Dryer's massive ego getting in the way.

There's a few issues with pure JOHN ROMITA art, which are a joy to behold compared to the rest. (Romita plotted "Vengeance In Viet Nam" all on his own, it was his big Milton Caniff tribute!) There's also a couple near the end which had Romita pencilling over layouts by JIM STARLIN! But overall, the tone of the series had gotten very dark, downbeat and pessimistic. In a word-- unbearable.

For anyone who'd wonder why I have NO interest in reading ANY new Spider-books ever again, here it is. I have BOXES of the stuff in my back room, and don't have the time for that right now-and that's the GOOD stuff! To me, there are 2 and ONLY 2 Spider-Man artists who matter-- Steve Ditko and John Romita. Everybody else is just wasting their time trying to fill their shoes. 30 years is a LONG time for a character to be living off his past reputation!

Stan "the Man" Lee ends his run as the writer of Spider-Man
Volume 5 of the "Essential Spider-Man" covers the end of Stan Lee's run as the writer on his most famous comic creation. Lee wrote through issue #100, then Roy Thomas penned issues #101-104, Lee returned for issues #105-110, and then Gerry Conway (the man who killed off Gwen Stacy) became Spidey's scripter with issue #111. Spider-Man's artwork features some major revolving door action as well, with John Romita (Sr.) inking Gil Kane and then doing the pencils again, then Kane taking over with a different inker, then... (you get the idea). Anyhow, the cover is wrong because John Buscema does not do any of the artwork (brother Sal does some of the inking); it is Conway's name that should be there instead.

Anyhow, this volume includes several pivotal moments in Spider-Man's history: the death of Captain Stacy, the infamous Green Goblin/Harry Osborn on drugs trilogy where the comic did not receive Comics Code approval, and the 100th issue where Peter Parker decides to concoct a magic formula to take away his spider powers and ends up growing two extra sets of arms instead (talk about weird science, huh?). The Marvel tendency to try and be realistic pops up as well as Flash Thompson returns from Vietnam with a story to tell. There is a nice bookend effect to this volume, which begins and ends with Doctor Octopus. I know the Green Goblin is the most important of Spider-Man's villain (knowing Spider-Man's secret identity sort of makes that a moot point), but overall I think some of the best Spider-Man stories involve Doc Ock, and it is not just because of the similarities of their animal totems. Also includes in these issues are Spider-Man visiting Ka-Zar in the Savage Land and the first appearance of Morbius the Living Vampire (a character that I could never take seriously). But then there is the Gibbon, a "villain" so bad even Spider-Man laughs at him.

It looks like Volume 5 might be the last of the "Essential Spider-Man" series, although this is just a bad hunch on my part. After all, Stan Lee stopped writing the comic at this point and the key issues of what would be the next volume are currently available as "The Death of Gwen Stacy." I have to admit that I do not mind that these comics are in black & white; certainly this helps to keep this a remarkably inexpensive series and the strengths of some of these artists (most notably Steve Ditko) actually stand out more without the color being added. There is also something to be said for not having to take your comics out of their bags to read them (or for having to pay big bucks to go out and buy all these back issues). I am looking forward to picking up some more of the classic Marvel comics from the Sixties in this format.

Truly Enjoyable!! Tells the Original Storyline in Movie!
My only complaint is that the book opens halfway through a continued comic with Spidey battling Dr. Octopus that should have included the comic just before. I actually haven't finished reading this yet because I have been enjoying it so much that I don't want it to end! I have read a chapter or two (monthly issue) each night. After just seeimg the movie SPIDER-MAN, I bought this on an impulse. I found it fascinating to see the "real" story as told by Stan Lee of how Peter Parker felt about Mary Jane (MJ), and there is an exciting battle with the Green Goblin that explains much about that character. In fact, even the first storyline of how Peter became Spider-Man is retold. What made me sad, however, was to realize that the movie messed up a wonderful opportunity of bringing these "classic" comics to life and instead followed a mediocre script that was inaccurate to the early comics. No wonder I hate how Hollywood retells historical events just for "entertainment value!" Still, these are fun and priced inexpensively. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excelent story!!
Honestly for the first volumes I though the story wasn`t really that great and IMHO the humor was lacking...a bit too simple if you may but in volume 2 it got better so I kept buying but i dindn`t expect this kind of surprside!! the story really kicked off and the drawing is superb as always I just wish they would give up in those annoying little things like the giant tomamtoe and a stupid-looking talking book do they really think that`s funny??or cute?? overall the story is great BUY IT!!

Nice book '_' bad ending!
Okay i really love this book! The problem is a MAJIOR cliff hanger ending! It starts off with a really girly-looking Demon named Lord Krayon.(He's not as cute as Raenef *_*) And he wants Eclipes a very good friend and teacher to Lord Raenef to come and work for him! He gets pissed off when he sees that Eclipes Turn down his offer to work with him to work for the kind, loveable, and very cute Demon Lord Raenef so he traps them in a female Demon Seers dream. The demons name is Meruhesae and in her dream Lord Raenef can't use his powers to evil them out. And to escape from her dream they need Karyon's perrmisson to leave. They end up finding Karyon and he wants to see if Raenef is worthy of Eclipes's loyalty, Trust, And friendship so he attacks Raenef and raenef can't use his powers in krayon's relam so elipes who finally finds them in time to save them from krayon's attack. Krayon who is super pissed off now attacks eclipes wounding him and Then the dead past demon lord Raenef comes up freaking everyone out askes that krayon returns Raenef and company to there relam. Krayon whom is total clueless why the dead demon lord came up to help his predisessor, he gose to see Meruhesae the seer she has no clue neither so they decide to hold na meeting. Raenef who is still beating himself up about all the trouble that he's caused eclipes wants to become a proper Demon Lord fast so he gets help from a book who says If what you'er after is frightening and has a miserable personallity that he'll get it. Raenef who is thinking of eclipes best intersest in mind argrees from nice, kind loveable, little boy to a evil hardened and merciless Demon lord. Everybody is not to happy about the new and rude Raenef at the end of the book Eclipes wants to know what turned his good friend into this evil demon who would all but love to destroy a village or two. Thats where it cuts off. bummer so this book is great and all but need to show what happens next i'm die'n to Know!

Evil floating book with glasses!!!!
This manga picks up where we left off: with a mysterious demon lord hovering over our heros. He thinks that Eclipse would be better off working for him instead of Raenef. This Crayola inspired demon lord puts Raenef to the test; if he fails, then Eclipse goes to work for Lord Krayon. Being the demon lord in charge of the dream world, Krayon tosses Raenef and co. into some demon's dream (I'm not telling u which demon! ^-^). I'm not gonna give anymore away, but the last few pages involve a floating book that I personally think is not to be trusted, but I know others who disagree. Just to be cryptic, Raenef's gonna change for the worse...poor Eclipse.... Anyways, at the end of the manga, several types of magic are explained, which is kinda interesting, but I would rather they just kept going on with the story.

wow
when i purchased volume 2, i thought that the story had died down a bit. but god am i happy that i felt like giving it a chance and buying 3 and 4. the artwork is beautiful, as always (eclipse and raenef are the best, no? =P) and the story definitely picks up. and this book leaves you with an evil cliffhanger...evil i tell you >_< im grieving over the fact that i have to wait quite a while for the 5th volume to come out T_T i fully recommend this volume...or series overall...

Can't wait for number 5!!!!!
For all you manga fans out there, this book is for you!! I absolutly fell in love with this series the second I picked it up in the book store. If ur a fan of dragon knights you'll really enjoy this series. It is very simalar to dragon knights, just less mello drama, but hey you just gotta love dragon knights!!!
Anyway, this book is just as funni as ever. It also provides a much needed plot twist. A demon lord comes to fight Raenef over Eclips, saying that he is a much better demon lord that little Raenef. Sure he IS a better demon, but WHO is the main charater here?! Anyway the original Raenef makes an appearence, further twisting the plot of this loveable series. In the end of the book you see a starteling change in our lovable little Raenef when he finnaly starts to act like a true demon lord. It's what Eclips has always wanted, but can he handle the new Raenef?! I really hope not, because I want the cute lovable one to come back. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next volume. THere are also some really cute and funni parts in this book, of course. but I wont spoil them just read the book, it's not like your gonna regret doing so!!!!!

:)have fun!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Chief Edwards retires from the Modesto Police Department a lonely man. On his way home, he hits a flying whale with his car, opening the beast's mouth to find a boy from a parallel universe named Jacobus. Chief discovers that a society of insect monsters want to kill this boy due to a mysterious virus that grows on his hand. He becomes a father figure to the boy and trains him how to survive insect monsters by becoming a great American ass-kicker. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of My Favorites (A bit of a spoiler, warning)
Another uniquely Yuu Watase manga.

Ten was another one, like 5, where everything happens at once, but it is a better one to leave off on if you have too.

Poor Aya is alienated, the people in school think she is a slut because of Aki, and to keep Yuhi safe she has to be terribly mean to him. She is really alone with Shurro and Chidori gone. But it isn't all bad Toya realizes, again, it doesn't matter that he doesn't remember Aya a part of his heart does and that is enough. Aya saves Toya by destroying the hypnosis machine that took Toya's memories, so he remebers her. He comes to save her and Alec helps them both to make an escape.

Alec poor thing felt bad about what he did to Toya and couldn't do that to Aya. He is so cute isn't he.

This one at the end is like an action movie. The illustrations are just gorgeous. I am waiting for 11.

I love this book
When i first read this book i could not belive what Aki did to Aya in the Libray of the school and Yuhi.The great thing is Toya starts to get his real memories back If you havent owned any of these books i really think that you should get them their really good. :)

Bittersweet
In this volume of Fushigi Yugi, Yui is on the brink of sumoning Seiryu. I'd say more, but that would seriously ruin the plot for everyone.
Main characters die in this volume. The art is more beautiful than ever before, and the story can be almost heart-breaking at times. An excellent read. ... Read more

Book Description

Youri, a pretty Japanese girl who just passed a college entrance exam, is ecstatic after her first kiss with her handsome childhood friend-turned-boyfriend, Himuro. Meanwhile, she starts to notice that water becomes agitated whenever she goes near it! One night, hands appear out of a puddle on the street and drag her into the water. She emerges from the water to find that she has been transported to an ancient village somewhere in the Middle East. She is then captured by armed troops and taken to the queen's palace, where she learns that the queen had her kidnapped so she can offer her blood as part of a ritual that will kill two princes in competition to inherit the kingdom. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A nice change
When I first picked up Red River I expected it to be an average 'girl travels to a different dimesion and saves the world' book. I was soon pleasantly surprised. This book has something for everyone. get it now!!

A wonderful manga by Shinohara Chie!
I first heard of Red River from my friend. She told me that I should give this a try since I love to read manga. Anyway, I bought the whole 28 books in Chinese and stayed up all night reading them..They are so hard to put down!! My husband came home from work only to find me still up and reading (I was reading when he left for work)! Imaging his horror! :O haha...

Yuri is a normal Japanese girl who suddenly got sucked into a puddle on the street and is brought to Anatolia in ancient Middle East.

The artwork is beautiful and the storyline is wonderful. The whole manga is such a page turner!!! It make you want to know what's going to happen to Yuri and Prince Kail next. The English version is on #5 now, still a long way to go, but it is worth the wait!! :) I am collecting the English version as well (for myself and my husband who cannot read Chinese) I am hooked on Shinohara Chie's manga ever since I bought the Red River! It is a wonderful manga that will leave you wanting to read them again and again...

Review of Red River Vol.1
After her first kiss with her boy friend, Yuri found out something strange happened in the water around her. One day, on her way home, a hand from a puddle of the street pulled her in to the ancient time in the Middle East. She couldn't understand what the people were saying so she ran away. She met a stranger in an alleyway when she was running. He kissed her to rescue her from the guards( which I think there is more). After the kiss, she seems to understand their language. She then be brought back to the castle by the queen of Haiti. She is the one that capture Yuri and she wants to sacrifice Yuri to the gods( which is lies). The queen only sacrifice Yuri because she wants her son to become the next king. The stranger, which is Kail, the third prince rescued her again by saying that she had lost her virginity to him so that she can not be use to sacrifice anymore. Kail then lets Yuri stay in his castle because the quen will try to get her back. What will happen next? Read and you going to find out! Enjoy!

Red River - slow growing addiction
I first heard of Red River from a review I read saying If you like Fushigi Yugi, then we recommend this. While me beinghuge fan of Yu Watase and all her works, especially fushigi yugi I decided to try this out even though it was not done by Yu .
When I first picked up my volume one I was a little put off, The art didnt seem to be has nice, and the story seemed a tad off, but I kept reading and by the end I was hooked.
I am such a sucker for the love story, true at first you think Kail is a jerk , but there is that under lying feeling of how much he cares and the sexual tension building up between them.
But romance isnt the only thing, the fight and war front story sections are more than enough to hook the male readers.
this is a very well rounded story and the artwork ,especially those of kail and yuri embracing are beautiful.
I wa sglad to be proven wrong from my first impression.
I just recently finished vol 4 and I am soo anxious for the nextone to come out.

Awesome
Funny at times, romantic and serious, i really have enjoyed the first 4 installments of Red River. Yuuri has found herself transported back to a time where iron is the most precious substance and mage craft is used to eliminate the candidates for the throne, one of whom is Prince Kail, whom Yuuri falls in love with. Under the psuedonym of Princess Yuuri, AKA the goddess Ishtar, Yuuri is a symbol of hope. As she finds herself becoming more deeply entangled in the world she has fallen into, she has to remind herself that her place is in Japan, during her time. But she still cares about the inhabitants and land of the Past and hopes to protect it. This is really a nice story, not too angst-ridden not too cloyingly sweet, just perfect! ... Read more

Book Description

Re-live more of the FF's classic exploits as they stand united against Dr. Doom, Annihilus and Galactus! Featuring the first appearances of the Kree and the microversal Psycho-Man! Guest-starring Spider-Man, Daredevil, Thor and the Warlock formerly known as Him! Lee and Kirby were the ones who started it all, and they kept it going in these cosmic tales! Collects Fantastic Four #64-83 and Fantastic Four Annuals #5-6. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Fantastic stories at a great price!
Another excellent tome in the "Essential" collection, this one covers the "mid" years of the Lee/Kirby run, between the outstanding inventiveness of the earliest material and the legendary run in the #40-#60 range that introduced Galactus, the Inhumans, etc. So what's the highlight here? Well, #20-#40 pretty much are reprinted, and even in black and white they mostly shine - the best stories include the origin of Dr. Doom, a slam-bang battle between the FF, the Hulk and the Avengers, an awesome confrontation between a powerless FF and Doom, and the introduction of the Frightful Four! Woo! Great stuff! I'm only knocking this down one star because of the hideous inking Kirby's pencils got on the first five or so issues included in this collection - it's slapdash and sketchy, awful stuff compared to Chic Stone's great inking in the last 2/3 or so of this mammoth book. Buy it!

The Glory Days of the FF vs. Galactus and the Silver Surfer
Volume 3 of "The Essential Fantastic Four" is the one we have been waiting for because with issues #41-63 and Annuals #3 & $ of "The Fantastic Four" we are talking the period where this truly was "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!" This is also where the FF have their greatest battle, against the threat of Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer, and Annual #3 presents the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Those stories alone would make this particular collection required reading but during this period Stan Lee and Jack Kirby also created the Inhumans and the Black Panther, substantially adding to the Marvel pantheon. But the clincher is that having come up with the ultimate FF story (everything is anticlimactic after you essentially stop a god from devouring your planet) there is another classic multi-part story as Doctor Doom steals the Surfers cosmic powers. Actually, I like those stories a bit more (check out the classic cover for issue #60), but then it is hard for Lee to go wrong with any sort of Silver Surfer story at this point in history.

Also, from an artistic standpoint I think Jack Kirby clearly reached his heights as an artist during this period, but a large measure of credit also goes to inker Joe Sinnot, who replaced Vince Colletta. Just compare the drawings of the Thing in the first story to those in the last in this volume and the improvement is obvious. If you go back to the first volume of "Fantastic Four" repeats the difference is even more striking. Kirby was also experimenting with zip tones, using photographs, working in a lot more in terms of backgrounds for his panels, and indulging in splash pages in the middle of stories. When you think of how long Kirby had been drawing comic books at that point in his career, the fact that his artwork could suddenly improve so dramatically is astounding. In terms of artwork and stories, this is as good as the "Fantastic Four" ever got in its celebrated history. When I think of the FF, the stories in this volume are the ones I remember best.

Companion piece for this great graphic novel
As great as this graphic novel was by itself, I know of one helluva great companion piece in the form of a book entitled "The Adventures of Darkeye: Cyber Hunter" whose odd manner of having log-entries over chapters seems almost like the script for a graphic novel, even though it is in the science fiction/high-tech and cyberpunk genre along with books like "Cryptonomicon", "Snow Crash", "Prey", and "Altered Carbon". Very fast-paced and visual as well as being very exciting due to its action-packed pages.

The World's Greatest Comic Magazine lives up to the name
Here began the best years of The Fantastic Four. Writer Lee developed real (albeit sometimes hokey) characters (this is, after all, a comic book) who each spoke in a voice unique to them (often lines of dialogue were attributable even without the pictures), and artist Jack Kirby reached his creative Marvel peak. A must for any fan of the genre, but particularly for the FF afficianado.

These stories teach two important lessons about the collaborative medium that is the comic book (particularly the dramatic/action/adventure/superhero book). The first is the importance of writing. Yes, you can tell a story with pictures alone, and Jack Kirby was better than almost anyone else at doing that. It was, after all, Kirby's talent in this regard (along with Steve Ditko's) that led to the development of what came to be known as "The Marvel Method", with artists drawing and often plotting before one line of description or dialogue was written). But just as the sound era made John Ford a better director (THE IRON HORSE is a very good silent picture; STAGECOACH-- made only a dozen years later-- is a great film), likewise Stan Lee's dialogue made Jack Kirby's great art into a great comic book. You only have to read much of Kirby's later work (especially for DC). While incredibly creative, imaginative, and powerful in its artistic vision, the dialogue (written by Kirby himself) is often stilted and, unless adopting an obvious accent, lacks specific characterization.

The second lesson is finding the right inker. Joe Sinnott's inking of Kirby's FF pencils took everything to a higher level: a vast improvement over Vince Colletta's earlier FF efforts. Yet even this is situational. Colletta's inks of Kirby artwork on Thor was the perfect match of inker with penciller with subject, just as the Kirby-Sinnott collaboration was perfect for the FF (and just as Syd Shores' inks were perfect for Kirby's Captain America). Very few inkers are good for all artists on all titles (Frank Giacoa comes to mind as being able to do this, and maybe Tom Palmer, but not many others).

And so in Volume III of THE ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR, "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine" begins to live up to its billing. See for yourself.

Jack Kirby at his best!
This is not only an excellent book, but it is also a classic study at how important an inker is on the penciller. Starting in issue 44, Joe Sinnott took over as inker of Jack Kirby's work and the result is startling. Sinnott dramatically improved the art and brought out the talent that Jack Kirby has.
The stores themselves and mixed, but the Galactus tale still holds well including the introduction of the Silver surfer. My personal favorite is the battle with Dr. Doom after he stole the Silver Surfer's powers. Doom pontificates in all his bravado and the FF finally realize (du) they are out of their league. If you've ever wanted to see why the silver age of comics was the silver age of comics, get this book! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Classic all the way!
I seem to be sucker for old classic manga/manwha. This is one of the better "snatch a girl from her world and dump her in a new one" stories. For one it deals with language barriers! That is something that has always annoyed me in the genre. There also seems to be an interesting story developing and there is a lot more to the hero than we're being told so far. I give it 4 stars because the art is old and it still isn't as good as some others in the genre.

Great book!
Undoubtedly it will call to mind Fushigi Yuugi with its familiar "girl ends up in another world" beginning, but, as the other reviews have stated, there are significant differences.The politics of the world are entirely different (and more interesting) and the secret Izark holds has the potential to be terrible for both him and Noriko.Another good thing is that there aren't simply hordes of men drooling to get together with Noriko.I wish they'd made this into an anime; I've always wanted cels of Izark!He's so very kakkoii!

Wonderful story all around
This is a wonderful story.Just read it last night and was hooked by halfway through.Since someone already said what goes on it, I'll just comment on technical stuff.

Now this is a pretty typicalmanga with some of the typical attributes:innocent and helpless high school heroine thrust into unknown world/circumstances, some cocky magic users, a few overreactions, a good bit of sappiness, some other types of extremes and a lot of heart.You can decide for yourself if any of these is bad or good.Personally, I think they rather fit the story so nothing is too over the top.Even the two unbeatable warriors of the story aren't two farfetched and you are just rooting for them to meet their match.

Continueing, we have a good storyline that is a little hard to predict more than a few pages ahead.You're pretty sure how these guys will react, but even when you're right, it has its own , if subtle, spin.The character's are pretty well rounded in this way.They show exasperation and don't understand the little high-schooler in their midst.Now, my only bad commment is that this is where things can be confusing.I don't believe she can understand them either, but it seems she can at first.Either way, I give both her and the author credit for deciding to try to learn the new language she's exposed to now.The other characters react pretty realistically to this as well. One even finds it cute!

The art is beautiful, always with that fake quality of course, but enough of the realistic edge that you eventually forget to see that until the next surreal image (usually a chapter start page).No one's face looks alike and the animals as well as the backgrounds are all drawn with care, clarity and precision.

This is a really good story and being a manga, you won't mind stopping if you get interrupted (a LOT easier to get back into), though you might for the first read of this book.If you're looking for a quick read don't buy this book, you'll get hooked on it.However if you want a good read, go for it.You'll have no regrets.

Different and good...
Since there's nothing about the story on Amazon I'll start there:
Noriko, a normal school girl, is walking around with her friends. While retreaving a ball she comes across a terrorist's bomb and it explodes at point blank. When Noriko comes to she's not dead but in a strange land. A land where she doesn't speak the language, death and violence are so common place it doesn't effect the locals, and where no one but a strange warrior named Izark can be trusted.

That's the beginning of From Far Away and to say any more I think would give too much away. I picked up Away on a whim at a bookstore and I was pleasantly surprised. I've read my share of 'girl in another world' shojo manga, and, I gotta say, Away has just gone to the top of my list.

The world seems very detailed and vast. Political issues are all ready in play. The use of a language barrier is not only refreshing and adds a lot of character developement, but is written in such a way that it doesn't ever get confusing.

Also the heroine isn't annoying and whiny or completely calm and together. She's some where in the middle; she freaks out at her situation at first, but then realizes that in order to live, and not be a burden to her protector, she's going to have to stay calm and be useful. In fact the real reason she really starts trying to learn the language in ernest is so she can help people and not be so helpless herself.

Our male lead is very interesting and mysterious. Izark is a warrior and has great powers. He also has his own sense of humor.

The artwork has an older look (it was originally drawn in 1993 I think) making it stand out from more recent titles. Everything is clean and detailed and flows wonderfully. The character and creature designs are great and individual (I didn't have any moment where I couldn't tell characters apart). Action scenes are fast and powerful, with no throw away filler frames. There's even a sense of building dread in some parts.

In conclusion, in this first volume of From Far Away it has lots of action, humor, originality, and the beginning of something bigger in terms of story. If it helps, the tone of it some how reminded me of Yumi Tamura's stories (Basara, Chicago), though I can't put my finger on it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Promethea Book 3: Trippy Occult Comics
I liked this 3rd volume better than the first two. The first volume, largely a tale of superheroics, tends to put you in mind of Wonder Woman. But by this volume, the story has morphed into a Madame Blavatsky/Theosophical Society-type occultic quest story. Two of the Prometheas set out to find the older, fatter Promethea's dead husband in the afterworld. They ascend several of the 10 nodes in the Kabbalist Sefiroth, each of which corresponds to a plane of reality. They run into Greek and Hindu Gods, Aleister Crowley, Death, various demons, and so forth. So there's a bunch of discussion about magic and metaphysics along the way, that sort of thing.

The visuals contain several nice special effects, including a moebius-strip path (with inverted and sideways word balloons) and a set of rotating panels that can be read clockwise or counterclockwise. I guess it's nothing exactly BRILLIANT, but the book demonstrates some neat things you can do with comicbook graphics that you can't do with film or prose. I think PROMETHEA has the best artwork in any of the ABC Alan Moore series.

Some readers might be disappointed by the relative lack of conflict in the story (compared to, say, the first volume). This is more of an exploration/discovery thing, and a pretty druggy one at that. A little irritating in a few places, but I thought it was kind of cool.

Promethea 3:
This book takes off in two directions. The second one (I'll come back to the first) introduces a new Promethea. That plays by the rules - there have been lots of them and will be lots more. This plane of reality just has one at a time, though. The new one embodies "punk", in attitude and style.

Promethea is a semi-mythic ideal of womanhood - certainly too rich and complex a topic to embody in any one person. Various Prometheas carry various parts of that vision: motherly, raw and angry, innocent, and sensual, but always powerful and involved. Some parts of the complete image are unpleasant but needed for the image to be complete, and that's where Promethea/Stacy fits. She exorcises demons by being more demonic than them.

The book's other direction explains why the first Promethea was off duty. She is on a trip through the mythic planes, led by a succession of spirit guides. She acts as a passive display of each realm she traverse, and that seems a real under-use of a very worthwhile character. It's a verbal and philosophical trip, but Promethea is a character of action. Worlds of fantasy, sensuality, and judgement could have been settings for active exploraiton of each idea, but Promethea just talked about them while passing through. I consider that an opportunity lost.

Still, the series is readable, well-drawn, and full of ideas well beyond the usual comic. Despite some flaws, I intend to keep reading.

A walk through pedantry
Moore has put everything he read on the tarot, the Kaballah, eastern mysticism, paganism and religion in his graphic novel. The result is a lifeless walk through a hodgepodge of references, humourless, boring to the extreme and not really interesting for the fans of the above mentioned fields. The text displays a false depth with no relation to the extremely slim narrative plot. When you think he has also authored the truly excellent "League"... you wonder what demon got into him.

A Journey, Tract, a Treat for your eyes.
There is no comic book being published today that even comes close to the beautiful, intelligent art in Promethea. J. H. Williams goes all out. The story is very challenging to the mind and spirit. Kabala stuff is not really my thing, but if Alan Moore cares about it enough to do it, I care enough to come along for the ride. This, along with Top 10, LOEG, and Greyshirt, is the best of the ABC line. And it is a good time to jump aboard.

In the 5th and final book, now being published in comic-book format, Promethea brings about the end of the world. But remember it is Alan Moore's version of the end of the world--so it may not be what you expect. Remember, too, the kind of generous swan-songs Moore did when he closed out his runs on Swamp Thing and other books he cared out. We may be in for something amazing in the final volume.

Even if you looked at Promethea when it first came out and found it confusing or preachy, I recommend taking a second look at it in collected form. It rewards close and repeated readings. And the examinations of occult theories turn out to be, for the most part, a metaphor for creativity and growth. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent as Always
This comic is one of the best reviewed that's being published today, and for good reason. This is an excellent comic. The characters are all very interesting, with some of the coolest super powers I have ever seen. Their interactions with one another are interesting and believable. The story is constantly twisting and turning so you're never quite sure who's good and who's bad. Just because this comic has super heroes in it does not mean it's for children. It is very mature and has complex storylines. All in all, If you like crime, secret organizations, superheroes, and mystery, then this comic is for you. If you even like one of those things then this comic is for you. If you like comics then this comic is for you. Am I making my point? ... Read more

Book Description

Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a shinigami and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family, but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged shinigami himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits, and along with Rukia, who is slowly regaining her powers, it's Ichigo's job to both protect the innocent from Hollows and to help the spirits themselves find peace. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

i wnat more!
I had looked at this manga many times before debating whether or not i should buy it.I finally did, and was very glad of it.Although it made my brother mad because he wnated to buy it (but i don't see what his problem is, he got to read it anyway!).Anyway, the plot is great and brings on a new look at the afterlife.The first volume left me wnating more and more.As did the second (havn't read the third yet).If you like shonen manga i greatly suggest it, even shojo readers will enjoy it!

by far one of my favorite manga
i'm 17 and my manga collection is around the 40 something books mark. so i know what i'm talking about. this not only has some of the best and most unique artwork, but it's funny. there are even some parts that i laughed out loud at. it has some of the best action sequences, and dialogue i've read. definitely one of the best manga series' i've read. i suggest buying this.and just when you think it can't get any cooler, then volume 5 comes around. i can't tell you much because it's integral to the plot, but it will probably blow you away. i like this series a lot, i would suggest it to pretty much everyone.

1 OF THE BEST SJ GRAPHIC NOVELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SWEET!I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE 2 VOL! I'M 11 AND I NO IT'S RATED T BUT I STILL SUGGEST IT!

1 OF THE BEST SJ GRAPHIC NOVELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SWEET!I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE 2 VOL! I'M 11 AND I NO IT'S RATED T BUT I STILL SUGGEST IT!

Amazing!!!!
My first impression on BLEACH was not good,after watching some episodes of it's anime version...up to episode#18(translated in english subtitles),I've change my mind and bought volume#1 at once!After reading the first volume#1...I saw differences from the manga and the anime,but that won't Stop me for being Fanatic fan of Bleach!!!This sure heck of a Series!!!!I love the couple Ichigo and Rukia!!!I want to see more.Now I got volume#1 of the manga now I should get the others,I'm already late...but there's a saying..."Slow but sure!". ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Get at least first 12 issues
Ok, this book is the beginning of the Maxx series. The story of Maxx that goes ontil first breakup of Dave and Julie is the best considering whole series (first 10-11 ish).

If you are a fan, get first twenty issues. Issues 12-20 are also about Dave and Julie. After that, story is about Mister Gone's daughter, her Maxx and it strays even more around ish 30 into some one shots and Friend of Maxx like stories. Maxx is 35 issues long, but first 10 issues are must get. They are best art/story combo EVER, and only story arc comparable to best stories of Sandman.

All you expected, but nothing more.
This book is great. It's all that it says it is, it's the first 6 issues of a fantastic comic series. Unfortunately that's all it is. I was really hoping for supplemental materials. Perhaps an interviews with Sam, or even just concept sketches, but this doesn't appear. On the content, I have to give it a good score, but for someone who has these six issues anyway, it doesn't give me anything new.
Also, the caption for the book is painfully innaccurate on this Amazon listing. To those of you unfamiliar with the book, neither Julie nor the Maxx are adolescents (Julie is literally a social worker, something that requires at least 4 years of college, and Maxx, well, he's a homeless person).

Amazing books for fans of being human
I hope you're in touch with your inner psychoanalyst: this reads like raw dream material. Like a dream, you don't have to hang on to the details or look for coherence as you go, but let yourself be guided by many perspectives and make up your own conclusions. The purple-clad hobo hero and his macho-feminist social worker friend are just two of the motley crew of characters than you never suspected graced back alleys and highway underpasses. You'll wonder who's right, selfish or deluded, caring, co-dependent or running away from themselves. You'll see the cost of dealing with hurt and abuse as well as not dealing with it. You'll learn that inner strength comes in many forms including battling armies of black and white existential doubts in a barren portion of your subconcious. You might hear some truths from the villain who aside from showering violence in a few reality planes also sends people on collision courses with themselves.

This should be required reading for anyone who's read psychology books but needs illustration from inside people's heads... It's got really funny bits and pieces everywhere, too. It'll blow your mind - and I felt better for it!

The Maxx Vol. 1
This volume chronicles the fist 6 issues of Sam Keith's The Maxx. The story basically introduces us to The Maxx (a homeless superhero who constantly flips back and forth to another reality against his will), Julie Winters (his social worker/leopard queen) and Mr. Gone (a deranged lunatic who knows the truth about both realities/the villain). There is a small guest appearance by the Savage Dragon, but mostly the Maxx's world is brushed upon in this volume. It's incredibly trippy but very, very cool. Check it out if you like to read things where you really gotta think, and want to think about it even more when you put it down.

MAXXIMUM ART
The Maxx is the most popular work of creator/writer/artist Sam Kieth. Maxx is a superhero who exists in the "real" world as a bum who lives on social worker Julie Winter's couch, but in the trippy "outback" world, Maxx is a superhero who defends Julie Winters against Mr.Gone and the nasty Isz's. Little does he know that Mr.Gone has actually invaded the "real" world and is attacking Julie Winters there!
The Maxx is ultimately a philosophical book that will make you question the reality of your surroundings.
Sam Kieth was one of the early Image Comics creators, and is known for his amazing artistic ability. A must read for any comics fan both for the artwork and the story...
Also check out Sam's version of the Maxx as done by Mtv's Liquid television on video.... ... Read more

Book Description

Old-fashioned role-playing games experience a renaissance on the World Wide Web. Twins Rena and Shugo are two middle school students who enter "The World" as level one game characters. When Shugo's character dies he is transported to another level where he is entrusted to bear the Twilight Bracelet by the mysterious Aura. Shugo must find out who Aura is and why she gave him this powerful weapon to protect his sister from the peculiar characters in "The World." ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This was AWESOME!!!
OK. This manga was incredible. The story line and art work are captivating and amazing. I have never seen the animae but this got me hooked. It is worth every penny that you spend on it. I read many different manga series and this I think could easily be one of the best that I have ever read. It is a little confusing if you have never played an RGP but dont let it stop you from buying it! I can't wait to buy the second volume and for the third to come out. BUY THIS MANGA, you will be very happy with your purchase.

Awsome, if you don't get it i don like you
.Hack is the most awsome manga book I've ever read! They made 4 .Hack games, an anime series and now the manga's finally out in america. It's 100% authentic manga meaning you read it right to left. It has almost 200 pages and it's so good I read it in an hour-and a half. What happens 2, 14-year old twins named Shugo and Rena enter a game called the world where they meet a lot of interesting players and one Shugo already knew. they won the charecters the dot hackers kite and Black Rose [see .Hack Infection.] Anyway it's the best book I've ever read. If you love Anime and vidio games but hate reading this is the book for you. It's rated T [thirteen and up] so it's not appropriate for young readers.

C-O-O-L!!!
I know this book SAYS it's rated T. But that doesn't mean you can't read it! I'm a pre-teen, and I read the whole thing in one day! It didn't even have alot of mature things in it! If your telling me, it should have an E rating. But anyway, the book was awesome!!! Especially the Cerberaus part when they fought him. And I also like the Japenese style of reading right-to-left. Plus I like the concept. It's halairious!!! I was laughing in my head at some parts. Like I said, T rating, E concept.

It doesn't get any worse than this
It doesn't get any worse than this. this is the worst manga I have ever read it is absolutely horrible plus it has no story. Pokemon had a better story than this I rather go read that manga than read this. alls they do is go around and talk and stuff like that want to know something amazing I can do that in my own backyard. this is a terrible manga and no one should buy it unless you buy it just to stomp all over it then throw it into the fireplace. overall this is the worst manga I have ever read.

The absolute worst
.hack//legend of the twighlight is the absolute worst manga I have ever read it can't get any worse than this i rather read pokemon. Their is absolutely no story. except they go into the world and do stuff WOO just want I want to read I can go and do that at my own house. If you like this manga their is something terribly wrong with you. It is so boring. The worst and sickest part is that the main charachter is in love with his sister. Most of the charachters are annoying and have no point. Overall this is horrible no one should read it. If you do buy it buy it just to stomp all over it and then throw it into the fire. You will see how bad it is once you get it. ... Read more

Book Description

Nausicaä finds herself on the edge of despair as she comes to realize the full extent of the ecological destruction that's ravaging Earth. Meanwhile, Queen Kushana of Torumekia plots to lead her troops back to the imperial capital and seize the crown. Nausicaä agrees to join Kushana and her people in the fight against the Doroks and her scheming brothers. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An opinion from a Japanese reader
Well, I have only read Japanese edition of the Nausicaa and don't know whether the English version is the same. But I would suppose they are the same since the cover drawing shown on AMAZON is identical to that of the Japanese edition.

While most Japanese anime are produced based on an original manga that was published, successfully, in a manga journal, the animes produced by Miyazaki Hayao are usually original and not based on a precedent manga. Miyazaki himself wrote somewhere that he gave up the career as a manga writer and focused on anime production. He is recognized in Japan as a great anime producer, of course, but not as a manga writer. Nausicaa is the only exception, with a good reason.

If you are familar with the modern manga drawings of, say, Otomo Katsuhiro, you cannot fail to recognize that the drawings of Miyazaki lack some strength the serious Japanese manga have achieved, looking rather like rough sketches or something. There is an essay on Nausicaa by Miyazaki himself in the Japanese edition, which I hope the American publisher has retained in the English edition. There, he said that he was urged and urged to publish the manga version of Nausicaa (this book) and finally forced to do that.

Mr. Miyazaki is known as an outspoken person. Then, what is this modesty about? Nothing, except that he does not want to admit that he could not fully express the notion in the Nausicaa in an anime and was forced to publish it in a manga format. OK, it's well done.

Anyone who love Japanese anime, must read!
My favorite Miyazaki movie, "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind"! Many people are saying that Nausicaa is similer to "The Lord of the Rings". I don't agree at all (Hey, I love The Lord of the Rings too by the way! Did everyone like Return of the King? I thought that was the best out of 3 movies). Nausicaa has storonger message for environmental disruption more than fellowship.
For this movie, Nausicaa, I recommend you to see movie first. Then you should read books because books go much deeper than movie. Nausicaa tries to stop other warring nations from destroying themselves and from destroying the only means by which their world can be saved from the spread of polluted wastelands.
Plus please read books over and over again. You won't get message right away. It's pretty complecated.
It might be too complecated for children. However, it does not means they should not read. They will feel diffarent and see more in this story when they grown up.

As an additional info., "My Neighbor Totoro", "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Princess Mononoke" are something which you should consider to just enjoy fantasy world.
I heard from many people didn't like "Spirited Away".
I love Miyazaki movie and normaly, I can get Miyazaki message from the movie easily but for this one, I couldn't get much message right away. So! I personally suggest to watch more than once. I realized later, it had meaning everywhere how much we pollute our planet and make us think there is something we can do for it. You won't realize that if you don't pay attention enough (just like what I did (...).

Children's version of story a little over children's heads
This english-language, hard-bound edition (along with a companion vol. 2) sets cels of Hayao Miyazaki's 1984 movie "Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind" against big-type text to create a children's book of the story. It's a lovely and very rare keepsake, and if you find it, it's something you'll want for your kids if only to give them a striking alternative to the usual Disney industrialisms and spineless child-psychologist-approved piffle.

One snag though: the Nausicaä story is very involved and somewhat difficult to follow, with a huge cast and many changes of scene. It involves a young, supernaturally-aware, pacifist warrior-princess in a feudal, post-environmental-apocalypse future when nature is trying to annihilate mankind in an effort to cleanse itself, and mankind's wars are only accelerating that process. The dust jacket suggests the book is actually meant for children 12-18, which I find problematic -- they're old enough at that age to follow the story, but probably too old to accept the children's-book format. Maybe the ideal reader is a 7- or 8-year-old wise beyond his or her years.

The movie that this book is adapated from has only been shown a few times in its entirety in English. An 80's adaptation by Roger Corman called "Warriors of the Wind" hacked over a half-hour of story and character development and is widely regarded as one of the worst pieces of anime butchery ever. Those who've read the manga will also notice the movie (and thus this book) make radical changes in details and plot, if not in theme -- the original story ran about 1,000 pages was years away from completion when the movie was made.

Tokuma produced similar books for the Miyazaki movies "Laputa Castle in the Sky", "My Neighbor Totoro", and "Kiki's Delivery Service". ... Read more