Reviews (5)

Keeps Getting Better
I'll have to admit that when I first started reading FAKE, I wasn't crazy about it. I liked it, bit I wasn't on my list of favorites. As I have progressed in the story, that has changed. I love watching how Ryo and Dee's relationship changes as time goes on. And let's not forget Bikky!! He's my favorite character in the series!!

Book 5 of FAKE is one of the darker books of the series. Ryo has to again deal with the mystery surrounding his parents death. His relationship with Dee is put under a lot of strain as Ryo becomes obsessed with finding out the truth. Also in Book 5 is a side story dealing with JJ and a friend from the Police Academy. JJ is forced to realize that not all officers share the same "protect and serve" ideals.

Overall, FAKE book 5 is full of angst, comedy and some very nice romantice scenes ^_^'.

Pretty pictures.
The non-working of the plot is worse then in the other volumes. The Guys behave like teenage girls. Pschychic characters from other comics show up in the Binki's storyline once again.

I am only reading this for pretty fictional boys kissing.

Don't listen to reviewer number 1!!
Fake 3 was just as good as the first two mangas. In this volume you do learn alot about Ryo and how hard his parents murders were makin g him feel. Dee as always was there for him when needed. Which in my opinion was very sweet! Buy the book! You most definately won't regret it. Ja-ne

A series that gets worse over time
I actually really liked FAKE when it first started out, but then just about at the third volume the story began to lack. The stories all seem like they have been used a million times and the characters arent really that believable anymore so thats why im giving it this rating. Thumbs Down-

Pretty good
I loved the story to this one. It explained a lot about Ryo's past and stuff. As always, Bikky was great and Dee was just hilariously funny. One new character in this book that I'd love to learn more about is Lai's brother. You'll see when you read it. I would definitely recommend this manga to anyone interested. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Give them their own series
I'm a sucker for B-level heroes, and a series using my favorite second stringers trying to revive their lost glory is something I can't miss. The book has a number of laugh out loud moments, although sometimes I tend to get bogged down by the numerous exchanges of dialogue, sometimes it crowds out the art inside the panels. The addition of Mary Marvel is perfect, it's a wonder why she wasn't there in the previous series. I'm actually looking forward to the next book (which I hope becomes a TPB soon) where Guy Gardner makes a return, rumored to be using his old yellow power ring.

Although Giffen and DeMatteis JL is more about the characters, as stated by the previous reviewer, I would've loved to see them in a "serious" fight, meaning, facing them against a legit DC villain (No more Manga Khan please). Again, my bias for second stringers saving the day shows here.

Nevertheless, it's a fun book worth picking up.

A Solid Return
A year or so ago, I rediscovered my brother's collection of JUSTICE LEAGUE comics from throughout the Giffen/DeMatteis run. I'd read them before, and re-reading them so many years later, I appreciated their unique style of humor- both urbane and extremely corny- as well as the extremely strong characterizations. I was more interested in the stories of Blue Beetle, Fire, Guy Gardner et. al. than I was in the endless death struggles of Superman and the like. I heard about an upcoming revival, but missed most of the run of this limited series. I only recently received this TPB collection and had a chance to go over the whole story.

Is it as good as the old days? Yes and no. As a limited series, it only has so much time to set things up, and some of the ensemble has changed (Ice, who was killed some time after Giffen and De Matteis' departure, is sorely missed), but the characters who do return are as recognizable as ever. What's more, they've grown. Beetle and Booster don't get along so well, the former having "grown up" in his own words, Bea is slightly more abrasive, and Max is no longer a big shot (though he talks like one.) A new addition, the naive Mary Marvel (the Cap's kid sister) fits very well into the group dynamic.

Oh, yes, the plot- Max decides to set up a small franchise of "people's heroes", summonable by 800 number, unwisely called "Superbuddies." He rounds up some of his old pals- L-Ron, Beetle, Booster, Captain Atom, Fire, Elongated Man and Sue Dibny- and persuades them to move into a shoddy storefront and open for business. Needless to say, carnage ensues before they can even get a phone call.

A lot of events are jammed into six issues, and I was disappointed in the rather swift (and not entirely convincing) resolution to #6. Then again, the old JLI was never really about plot- it was about the characters, and the group's dysfunction is as beautiful as ever. There are some great one-liners, and Kevin Maguire's art is superb (Bea looking more like a real person than she ever has.)

Giffen and DeMatteis are currently working on a limited series sequel, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE JUSTICE LEAGUE! Frankly, it seems to me they've got enough left in them for a full, unlimited run, especially if DC would let them play around with more of the old characters. That may be a vain hope- but it's nice to have the old gang back, however briefly.

Better Than The First Time
When I first heard about that Giffen and J. M were getting back together for another round of non stop laughs and adventure I couldn't wait to get hold of it. And it is worth every buck! For those who are thinking that it will never be as funny or good as A New Beginning, let me tell you that you are absolutely right! This isn't as good, it's much much better!
These two writers practically made the characters into what they are today. My only concern is that there were a few of my favourites from the original run these two had, missing. What is amazing is that there are no recycled jokes and everything is as fresh and new as can be. The characters have matured (and why not, it's been a while) and recruting them takes some effort but once the ball gets rolling you just have to be there.
This is one book that you will defintely want to have. Even if you are not a collector. Buy it because you won't ever regret it. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the official companion to seasons 7 and 8 of Stargate SG-1, Sci-Fi Channel’s top rated show, and one of the top-rated shows on all of cable TV!

Following on from Stargate SG-1: The Illustrated Companion, Volumes 1 to 3, which covered seasons 1 to 6, comes volume 4, coming right up to date, with full details of all the episodes in seasons 7 and 8! Featuring more exclusive new interviews with all the cast and crew, giving the in-depth, inside story of the hit sci-fi show; story synopses are followed by extensive commentary and detailed behind-the-scenes information.

As TV Guide says: "Forget Trek, Stargate is now the biggest sci-fi show on TV!" ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The ending to the "R" season.
The cool thing about this book and other SM comics is an instant replay is included, which has:
Information about Bunny's family and her friends {both her scout friends and her friends like Molly that have no powers}.
The people from the Black Moon {Nemesis}
A summary of what has happened in previous comics that are in this season {which includes #4 to this one}.
In the first chapter:
Sailor Pluto stops time and kills herself.
Black {Wicked} Lady transforms back to Rini and then becomes Sailor Minimoon.
Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion wake up.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Minimoon destroy Death Phantom.
The sailor scouts meet their future self, including Sailor Moon.
Rini goes back to the 30th century. See if she comes back to the present 20th century.
Second chapter:
Raye and Darien get a premination.
Rini goes to an amusement park and meets Hotaru.

Sailor Moon #7
Sailor Moon #7 is a wonderful end to the series. I'm not going to spoil for those of you who haven't read it but, you will find it not lacking in any qualties if your a moonie.

After the end of the 1st saga (in which Sailor Moon has to confront Wiseman) we begin anew with 2 mysterious People who always seem to be around when monsters are popping out of people.

This is a exciting chapter in the Sailor Moon Saga. I can't wait til' book 8!!!!

Good Comic
I really love it I like the beginning of it plus it starts the Sailor Moon S comic part.If you are really a moonie you should get this!

sooo cute!!
First of all I loved the cover of this book, not to mention the beautiful artwork inside! Naoko Takeuchi has done it again with book #7! I won't tell you much about the book (or it might spoil it) but I will tell you that this is the book where hotaru first appears-there's not much about her but hey....Anyway, I would recommend to buy book #6 first or you won't really know what's going on.
If you're interested in sailor moon, Nakayoshi magazine was were it all began. ......sailor moon #7 are very worth getting!!

love you SAILOR MOON!!!!!!!!!!!
I love Sailor Moon!Well...To be hounest...I love Mitchiru...Please,don't get me wrong...I really love her!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brilliantly Expanded Version of the Novel
Having read the book and seen the movie, I think this may be the definitive version of the story. I loved the book, and highly recomend it, but I really like the way Takami has expanded on the characters and the backstory for this Manga version. Unlike the movie where they had to cram a 600 page book into two hours, with this eight vollume manga they have the oportunity to expand that 600 pages into 1600 pages. Sure, you can't fit as much information on a comic page as you can a page in a novel, but almost tripling the length really gives Takami the chance to flesh some things out that were only hinted at or briefly mentioned in the book. Again, don't get me wrong, I loved the book, but based on the first two Manga (the first 400 hundred pages of the comic story,) I think almost every character and situation has been improved, expanded, and refined. Shuya becomes even more noble and likable (and you get to see more about why all the other students seem to like and trust him,) and almost every confrontation he has becomes even more tragic because Takami gives him the chance to be more vocal about not wanting to hurt anyone. Also, in relation to that, Takami spends more time explaining on why the people who force Shuya into fighting act the way they do as well. Another scene that I think benifits greatly from the new telling is the scene where the two lovers commit suicide to avoid having to fight and to avoid losing each other. It's a great scene in the book, but even better in the manga -- the artistic flashback as they jump is heartwrending. An anime magazine in their revue of the Manga tried to say the scene was done better in both the book AND the movie, which I found rediculous. The book is arguable, but in the movie the scene lasts maybe a minute, you get no background information, and you care very little. How that can be compared to the comic, I don't know, but I really think the whole revue in that particular magizine was way off base.

As for Giffen's dialogue -- I know some people have complained that he Americanized it -- well, to them I say "that's what he was supposed to do." It's a translation, and part of translating a book is getting the idea across -- not just the literal words. Japanese translated straight into english often seems vague, mystical, unclear, or just plain impossible to understand, and I'm sure English translated straight to Japanese is the same. When I read a translation, I accept that I'm not going to be reading the writers exact words, but that I will be reading his or her ideas instead. Giffen does a tremendous job in my mind of translating Takami's ideas into words the American reader can relate to, and I can't imagine a translation going any better.

As for the art -- it's very well done. Some of it is gruesome -- but hey, that's part of the story -- but at the same time, some of it is beautiful. The characters are nicely done and easily distinquishable, and the action plays out in ways easy to understand visualy. I really can't think of a single complaint, artisticaly speaking. Then again, I'm not sure I can think of a single complaint about this manga at all. I even made my wife read it, and she loved it as well.

In short, I loved the book, think the movie was pretty good (despite making some needless and overall plot weakening changes,) but feel that the Manga is the one that really tells the whole story and lets you know the characters the best.

Lord of the Flies on Amphetamines
Battle Royale raises disturbing questions. There are inevitable comparisons to 'Lord of the Flies', except that BR is that on amphetamines, plus hormones. Terrifying, and heart-breaking, this is a tale of friendship, love and betrayal, that should not be missed. This is the second volume of the manga, which is based on the book of the same name, which resulted in a movie.

Japan. The not-so-distant future. It is a nation run by a military dictatorship, which has control over the media and the country. This most popular of television shows makes 'Survivor' look like 'Sesame Street'.

It's simply called the Program, and it's the highest rated show of all time. In Japan, 9th grade is the last year of required schooling, the last year of junior high. And it is the year that 9th grade students are subjected to a state run lottery. But no one wants to win this lottery.

You've just woken up after passing out on your class trip. The 42 students in your class, including you, have just found out that they've lost the lottery: the class has been selected to be on the Program. It's a chance to be a star...if you live.

21 boys. 21 girls. The winner? The sole survivor. The Program has been on for years, and no one has ever escaped. You're trapped on an island, with an explosive collar around your neck. If everyone refuses to play, and if no one is killed in a 24 hour period, all the collars detonate, and everyone dies. Try to swim off the island? You'll be shot by the patrol boats; the collars are tracking devices, and transmit the health of the player. Hide, and hope to last things out? Well, the place is divided into grids on the map you've been given with randomly rotating danger zones. When an area is announced as a danger zone, you've 5 minutes to get out, or your collar explodes. Band together, try to take out the sadists who've done this to you and your friends? Ah, but they're located inside a permanent danger zone. You've all been given an assortment of weapons, ranging from knives, sickles, crossbows, shotguns, pistols, and semi-automatic machine pistols.

So, you're in the game. What do you do? What will happen to the class cute couple? Will she turn on him? Will he, high on fear and adrenaline, kill her? Will idealists keep to their ideals? Will the person that helped you one day, be driven to kill 2 days later? What will happen when fear, desperation, and hysteria strike? Could you, would you kill your friends? Could you, would you, kill the girl you had a crush on, the guy who you've dated, the friend you grew up with? And if you can't kill them...will they kill you?

Thought-provoking, this series is not for kids. This story uses graphic violence to drive home the horror of what has been done to these kids. There is gore, graphic gore, sex and rape. And it all is necessary; the rawness drives home the horror, shows the waste of lives. We often have flashbacks, showing the kids in prior times. Some of these are rotten kids, some of them are merely the products of a terrible background. Others are so sweet, so nice that you'll agonize should they die.

And die they do. By the end of the first two books, 15 are dead. There deaths serve to illustrate how no one deserves to die because of the actions of outside authorities, whether it is at the orders of mad government, or from the bullets of a moron shooting up a workplace or school. The morons who did Columbine would no doubt have gotten the wrong message about this book. But the violence serves not to glorify violence, but to excoriate it. It serves not to praise murder, but to condemn murder and those who kill.

This manga is about how incredibly precious life is. The only encouragement from the government? Try to die where there are at least two cameras, all the better for the DVD sales. ... Read more

Book Description

During her time as part of the X-Men, the woman known as Rogue has been many things: fighter, friend, soldier, lover...and now, daughter. When an X-Men mission brings Rogue back to her childhood home in Mississippi, she comes face to face with the demons in her past...and a terrible secret that has haunted her family since her birth! Only available in North America. ... Read more

Book Description

Hellboy creator Mike Mignola finally reveals Abe Sapien's bizarre history. Introduced in the first Hellboy book and featured prominently in the film, Abe Sapien has remained one of the most intriguing mysteries of Mignola's celebrated work. The recent Hellboy film steered clear of any origin story for Abe so that the tale could be told in Plague of Frogs. The story of Abe's origins unfolds as the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense try to stop the monstrous frog men from the first Hellboy graphic novel, Seed of Destruction. The plague begins its spread across America, lending an apocalyptic new direction to Mignola's stories. ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time, TCJ devotes a volume to the most popular comics in the world: Manga.

The now-annual Comics Journal Special Edition focuses this time on the phenomenal Manga (Japanese comics) invasion. In 2003, North American bookstore sales of Manga surged to an unprecedented $100 million—or 75% of the entire sales of comics! Which means it's time for The Comics Journal, the foremost magazine of iconoclastic criticism, to take a hard look at Japanese cartoonists and translated manga, and separate the wheat from the chaff.

Our cover feature is Manga superstar Hideshi Hino, whose 30-year career and inimitable style have put him at the forefront of Japan's horror genre. 2004 promises to be the year of Hino here in the States with the publication of English translations of all his major books starting in March with The Red Snake and Bug Boy. Hino will discuss his life and work in an exclusive interview and he will provide the original front cover artwork.

Our Manga section will also include our fearsome critiques of the best and worst of the genre, as well as essential interviews with or profiles of the most notable Manga artists, including Yoshiharu Tsuge, Kan Takahama, and the undisputed king of Manga, the creator of Astro Boy, Adolf and Buddha amongst so many others, author Osamu Tezuka!

Meanwhile, Vaughn Bodé, the legendary and enduring underground cartoonist (and current inspiration of graffiti artists everywhere) is given the full treatment with an illuminating profile by Bob Levin (The Pirates & the Mouse), a critical essay by Donald Phelps (Reading the Funnies), a rare interview, and exclusive excerpts from his private diaries. From the archives, we've unearthed a 40,000-word biographical essay of Thomas Rowlandson, the great 18th/19th century illustrator, caricaturist, and cartoonist, written by Art Young in1938!

Also: Bill Blackbeard profiles the madcap cartoonist Milt Gross, considered by some to be the first graphic novelist (this essay is amply illustrated with samples form strips such as Count Screwloose of Tooloose and Otto bad Blotto). Tom Spurgeon profiles Rowland Emmett, the brilliant Punch artist (and editor), whose whimsical cartoons graced the magazine for over half a century and who is perhaps best known as for designing the 'inventions' of Caractacus Potts from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Finally, there's our renowned comics section whose theme this issue is "Seduction," and that will include an international array of some of the most accomplished and innovative artists in the world. 180 pp. illustrated, with color section, 12" x 12". ... Read more

Book Description

Attention Lenore fans: Roman Dirge is back with an all-new storybook format tale. This time, it's the tragic story of a cat named Cat and his misfortunes in life caused by his enormously oversized head. Includes an all-new back up story by Dirge which he says isn't as good. You be the judge. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not what I expected
Thankfully, this book is pretty cheap. It had a couple of amusing bits, but I think it tries to get way too much out of a pretty ill-thought out idea. I must admit I did laugh out loud at the crotch joke. And the siamese page. It's just a shame that the narration was so shallow and poorly crafted. It was like reading someone's offhanded ravings typed into a web forum. The artwork, while good, is really not detailed or busy enough to compensate for this. The early Lenore series is much better.

Off on a tangent...
If you can appreciate when folks interject personal opinions when they tell a story or go off on tangents then you will love this book. I am not a fan of the morbid, this was just innocently stupid enough to amuse without getting too grotesque.
I would venture to let my 10 year old read it... But probably not a child younger than that. Enjoy, definitely worth the pennies it costs.

Absurdist juvenile death humor for snot-nosed punks?
Roman Dirge (with a name like that, it's no wonder he's obsessed with death) is the writer/artist for LENORE, THE ADVENTURES OF A CUTE LITTLE DEAD GIRL, an unfunny ongoing series that is exactly what the title says it is. This literalness seems to be Mr. Dirge's crucial limitation. Some idle phrases run through his head, and he doodles a few panels about them. Ergo the pamphlet at hand, THE CAT WITH A REALLY BIG HEAD AND ONE OTHER STORY THAT ISN'T AS GOOD. Take him at his word. The only thing he doesn't tell you is that THE CAT WITH A REALLY BIG HEAD isn't good either. Avoid this childish dreck from an author who can't spell "misshapen" and writes, "I like to think that magical lung beasts come out of my butt late at night to search for food."

My kid loved it!
I am always trying to find different things for my son to read, he really liked this one. I think it was because of the cute little kitty. hahahahaha

Nature and Its Mocking Tone
When I was a child and beginning to bury my mind in the shaded realms of Shel Silverstein, H.P. Lovecraft, Dark Horse Comics, and Edgar Allen Poe, I oftentimes wondered if these thoughts would be allowed to continue in the apex of adulthood. In fables, for instance, the forces of good seemed to triumph over evil as the years went by and try to turn readers from cynicism, and the realms of supposed art always frown upon the world of comic books. My parents didn't love the things I loved and the world seemed to shun the fanciful, and I feared that the movements of silliness as it plays hand in hand with the morbid would be lost. Enter people like Roman Dirge and his partner in writing crime, J. Vasquez, and I see that all those thoughts of growing up had perhaps been too hastily crafted.

Within The Cat With A Really Big Head, there is a short tale fleshed out about a cat that is, amongst other things, born with a really big head. Its short and actually a story being told on one page and is followed by a picture on the next, giving Dirge readers the worlds they are accustomed to while expanding them somewhat. Sometimes this leads to events that are tragically funny, horrible in their demented imagery that make people like myself chuckle, not for the smallest of children because people shield their kids from interesting ideas for some reason, and befittingly affordable. Attached to it is also the "and the other story that isn't as good," which deals with a little girl that dies and returns to ask why. It has more of a rhyming flow and laughs in the face of doom as well, making it a nice companion piece for the story.

For anyone who likes their paintings hung a little off-center and their stories told with an almost childlike curiosity, then this is the place for you. Life is wrapped and stuffed, propped up by the fireplace and commented on with laughter herein, and some people could perhaps find that offensive. Still, ignoring the naysayers is always fun and better still with enjoyable works, so I'd recommend buying this and feeding it to a mind you love. ... Read more

Book Description

The year is 1971.With mounting casualties and a rising anti-war sentiment, America's time in Vietnam is coming to a close.Yet in the isolated Valley Forge Firebase on the Cambodian border, Captain Frank Castle is one of the few soldiers still committed to the fight against the enemy.With dwindling reserves, Castle must stand against an impending Viet Cong attack that threatens to wipe out the entire American platoon.To survive the battle, what grim decision must he make that will forever alter the course of his life?In this acclaimed tale, superstar Garth Ennis reveals the never-before-told story of the horrors Castle was forced to face to come home fromVietnam alive, ending in a shocking twist that will forever change how readers see Marvel Comics' most famous urban vigilante. Collecting BORN #1-4. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Yeah , it's that good.
Despite having heard good things about this, I waited until a week before the Punisher movie release to pick this up. I'm a tough critic so for me to give something 5 stars, it has to be special. This one is. I've been a fan of Ennis's work on the Punisher and think that its the best Marvel currently offers. And this is among the best of that lot. From all that I heard about this before reading, I must say that I expected to be shocked, floored and left with my jaw open. I was all of those things and one very unexpected thing. The end gave me the CREEPS! I totally did not see that coming. After you read it you will understand.
I place this alongside "Welcome Back Frank" as Ennis's finest moment on Punisher. But be warned. This is extremely graphic and made for adults that enjoy being shocked and disturbed. That's what Ennis does best.

Heart of Darkness
The war brings the worst in people. War is the failure of civilization. It is the fall of humanity's and the great inadequacy of the human mind. It is a regression to the basic simplicity of animals. It is the loss of the divine power in each and every one of us.

In Garth Ennis's rendition and retelling of what might have been the driving force of the Punisher. War is the main driving force that makes the character who he is and not a certain aspect of his life. The Punisher is born when his family is gunned down by the mob, but the character was truly born when he was in Vietnam, living through the horrors of death and survival. Ennis is able to bring that into mind that the death of Frank Castle's family simply triggers what he has always been, a hellbent, murdering soldier. An aftereffct of the war. A survivor.

The story is very well done and actually makes the character more believable. If your family were gunned down, would you just exact revenge or go on a rampage against each and every killer in the world? You would definitely have your revenge and call it quits, but if you've been at war and tasted death and killed. Only then, would you want to generalize and start killing all the murderers and drug traffickers.

Garth Ennis has grabbed the essence of the character and knows what makes him tick. He makes him more believable. And in the story, he does just that.

Ennis writes another crucial story for any Punisher fan
An amazing look at how Frank Castle evolves from man to soldier of fortune during the Vietnam conflict.
Worth at least two readings for anyone that enjoys war stories or especially the Punisher

Brilliant, Ennis' best in years
In the tradition of the smash hit Origin: The True Story of Wolverine, Punisher scribe Garth Ennis has crafted Born; telling the never before seen story of a pre-Punisher Frank Castle during his third tour of Vietnam. While Born may start out as average, it quickly evolves into one of the bloodiest, most shocking, and expertly written stories that has ever come from the pen of Garth Ennis. This is by far Ennis' best work since his acclaimed Preacher saga, and he is without a doubt the best writer to ever pen the Punisher. The art by Darick Robertson illustrates all the graphic and gritty detail as he and Ennis both strike gold again as they did earlier with the Fury mini-series. The twist ending will actually make you look at the character of the Punisher much differently than before, and the unexpected impact will leave your jaw on the floor. Born is nothing short of brilliant, and deserves to be in every comic fan's library, even if you aren't a fan of the super hero genre of comics.

WOW doesn't even begin to describe this book.
Amazing story. Great art. Garth Ennis. Need I say more? A touching and great look into the mind of Frank Castle like only Garth Ennis can provide. The book also has really cool "special features" at the back including a storyline overview written by Garth Ennis, thoughts about the story by Darick Robertson, Vietnam photo references, page layouts, and character designs.

Get this book! ... Read more

Book Description

From the creators of Lone Wolf and Cub comes Samurai Executioner. It's true! Few know of this precursor to the legendary ronin saga, but before Koike and Kojima created Itto Ogami, they created Kubikiri Asa, better known to Lone Wolf readers as Decapitator Asaemon. He was the equal to Itto, bearer of the sword Onibocho, the man charged with the duty of testing the swords for the shogun. Shogun Executioner is based on the decapitator himself, in life before his fatal duel with Lone Wolf. Expect the same legendary drama, frantic action, and stoic samurai stature, combined with the exemplary art and storytelling that made Lone Wolf and Cub one of the most popular and influential comic books in the world! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The emotional and romantic peak of the series thus far
I am a devoted Battle Royale fan and sought out the manga after both reading the novel (which is now my favorite book of all time) and seeing the movie (which was plain awesome). I have all books so far as of July 20, 2004 and of all the books that have been released, Book 4 remains my favorite, barely above my second favorite, Book 6. After being thoroughly disgusted and turned off by the excessive and unnecessary pornography of Book 3, I began to lose faith in the manga series and ranked the manga as the worst of the three renditions of the BR story. However, with the sensitivity, beauty, and romance of Book 4 combined with the graceful (and graphic, obviously) violence, Battle Royale Volume 4 remains my favorite in the series and lifted the manga to the top of my BR list.

The volume chronicles the climax of the battle between the lovely Takako Chigusa and the dastardly and perverted Kasushi Niida, the tearing apart and the reunion of Shuuya, Noriko, and Kawada, as well as some backstory with both Mimura and Kawada. Book 4, for me, defines and brings out the best in the relationships between the central characters, especially that belong to the kind and devoted Noriko, the bleeding heart Shuuya, and the "badass with the heart of gold" Kawada. If you're the romantic otaku who loves a little violence and drama along with a love story, Volume 4 will surely please you. If not, move on to Book 6 where the action is much more pulse-pounding and emotional. But then again, love can blossom even on a battle field, even if your love affair is with a graphic novel.

Volume 4 is a little weaker than the previous books
I've enjoyed the first three graphic novels of the series immensely, but I found Volume 4 to be a little less enjoyable than the previous volumes.

I guess my main objection is that it didn't seem like that much happened in this book. Sure, a few more students died (I won't reveal any spoilers here about specifically who did what), but after I was done reading the book, I was left with the feeling that not much had happened. That's probably not uncommon for middle volumes in long series like this one; I'd expect that the pace will pick up in the next volume.

The art is as good as ever, and there are some truly creepy close-ups of at least one character who's gone mad. There is a decent amount of violence, including a very nice surprise in one of the scenes, and the graphic sex that was present previously in the series is absent from this volume (so if that turned you off the series before, you won't have to worry about that with this one).

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed Volume 4, and will definitely pick up Volume 5, but I do hope that the rest of the books are stronger than this one. Obviously, if you're new to Battle Royale, I'd advise you to start with Volume 1, you won't regret it!

The Pulse is Still There
After volume 3, which was still a good read, and yet, far from as good as the rest of the series, Ihave to say, volume 4 really brought the life back. First off, the extreme sex of the Fallen Angel chapter in book 3 is gone, replaced by what makes the series work, pulse pounding excitment, and amazing characters. Also, I have to say, the art and style are amazing,detailed, and beautiful and gruesome at the same time. It's still at four stars, mainly because of my attitude towards the main character, Shuya (I think thats his name). He still feels to much like a bleeding Romeo hero, although he does get better in this volume, by realizing his flaws. And his "heroic" (stupid) actions are not treated as something great. But still, he bugs me, so that brings my rating down one star... more like half a star.

Terrific Chapter In A Brilliant Saga! Do Not Miss!
As good as volume 3 of "Battle Royale" was, readers like me were turned off by the excessive sexual content in the end of the book. Thankfully, I can say after reading Volume 4, not only has the series made up for the fact, it's the best book so far into "Battle." It's a helluva book, for lack of a better praise. It begins with Takako and Kazushi batteling to the death with an ending that will leave you breathless! Then the series takes its most disturbing turn when it sheds the spotlight on Kaori, a nerdish student who cracks under the Game's pressure. Her chapters are so creepy, it's highly recommended not to read this book at night, as the artwork in these panels are the stuff of nightmares! Yet as frightening as the story builds, the writing gets more and more ingenious, showing us how much more "Battle Royale" resembles a war story than a satirical take on reality-television: like "Saving Private Ryan," students act as though they were soldiers in battle, doing everything they can to stay alive, help their comrades...or kill anything threatening. Best of all, the characters are well-defined; you really care for them. As you keep turning the pages, you're left asking yourself not "Who's going to die next?" but instead, "Geez, how much more can these guys take?" I have never invested that much interest into a cast in any other graphic novel, or even a written novel. Well, there is only one person I feel irratated at: Shuuya, with his goody-two shoe act and his naive attitude about life. I swear, everytime he blabbers about how life is precious, I begin to secrtetly hope someone would pump lead into his body! Could happen, which leaves me to eagerly anticipate the next chapter! (Anyone here knows how many volumes there are?). I haven't read the original novel or saw the motion picture yet, but after reading the magna, I don't whanna! BTW, try reading the books while listening to the "Kill Bill" soundtrack. It's great music to listen to for "Battle Royale"! (Here's hoping Hirono wins!) ... Read more

Book Description

From the pages of Love & Rockets, an intimate epic from south of the border.

For the first time ever, Fantagraphics is proud to present a single-volume collection of Gilbert Hernandez's "Heartbreak Soup" stories from Love & Rockets, which along with RAW magazine defined the modern literary comics movement of the post-underground generation. This massive volume collects every "Heartbreak Soup" story from 1993 to 2002 in one 500-page deluxe hardcover edition, presenting the epic for the first time as the single novel it was always intended to be.

Palomar is the mythical Central American town where the "Heartbreak Soup" stories take place. The stories weave in and out of the town's entire population, crafting an intricate tapestry of Latin American experience. Hernandez's densely plotted and deeply imagined tales are often compared with magic realist authors like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende (House of the Spirits). His depictions of women and Mexican-American experience have been universally lauded as the best examples the artform has to offer.

Luba, the guiding spirit of Palomar since the outset, has been hailed by The Nation, Rolling Stone, and Time magazine as one of the great characters of contemporary American fiction. Hernandez's work, in addition to the obvious magic realist comparisons, shares an affinity with other Latin American and Spanish writer/artists, like Frida Kahlo, Federico Garcia Lorca and Pablo Picasso, all of whom applied a surrealist eye to what they saw and experienced.

Palomar follows the lives of its residents from Luba's arrival in the town to her exit, twenty years later. Included are such classic tales as "Sopa de Gran Pena," "Ecce Homo," "An American in Palomar," "Human Diastrophism," and "Farewell, Mi Palomar." Palomar presents one of the richest accomplishments in the history of the artform in its ideal format for the first time, making it a must-have for longtime Love & Rockets fans and new readers alike. 500 pages b/w illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Visit to Palomar
I've loved the Palomar stories ever since a friend handed me "Heartbreak Soup" (an earlier compilation of a few of the stories). The characters are wonderfully real, the art is expressive, and the strange, strange stories are always entertaining.

What a treat to have all of the Palomar stories in one (huge) volume! I totally agree with the reviewer who said that now Jaime Hernandez should follow suit, and release "Locas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories" (or whatever title he likes, as long as it's the complete Maggie and Hopey).

Isn't it a bit over-rated?
I'm this Latin American guy that decided to take a look at these Palomar stories...
*
I don't know if being brazilian makes me see Latin American by another perspective, and look at these crude stories without great amazement!!
*
What to say about Palomar? Well, it's some matter of taste. You can like it! Maybe you can hate too... Maybe, like in my case, you can just say: "it's an ok book, couldn't be better? Sure the art isn't that attractive...". Or, perhaps, "is this supposed to be a great achievement in the medium?!!".
*
I really don't think these stories are great or exact the comic books I would give to a non-comic book fun (actually, if the guy is a non-comic book fun, it doesn't matter the book you give to him, he will continue to not like comic books! Isn't he a non-comic book fun? :) I hope you get my point).
*
Indeed, I think that the comics are a powerful medium, where you can (and maybe must) use elements that are not easy to made in the cinema without expending millions and millions with especial effects, and are quite impossible to be achieved with the same impact in written books.
*
I mean, just for an example, in comics, you can afford to have, like in Cerebus, a main character that is not an human, he lives normally with other people, and even manages to be a leader. People would say, "but why couldn't Cerebus be just a normal guy like all the others?". Maybe this is explained by Scott Mccloud in "Understanding Comics". The fact of having a caricature inside of a representation of a "real world" makes people get identified with the caricature, and produces a rich tool to express ideas.
*
A Cerebus movie would be very expensive to do, and since its public wouldn't be children (like a Scooby-doo, or a disney movie) maybe it wouldn't pay itself. On the other hand, a written book about Cerebus would never get the same effect than the comic version.
*
I think that as a comic fan I have the right to make this critique to guys that make a comic book and don't use the resources of the medium! I think this makes Palomar a bit poor!
*
Outside of this point, I really don't think this is an enjoyable experience. Palomar makes me remember of that tradition of some (mexican?) melodramatic stories... People here is always enduring a lot of difficulties, people suffer a lot, people is always ugly, they seem to be cursed by god, etc... Man, why can't these guys make something happy just to change a bit?
*

That's it folks. What I recomend to you is that you visit a comic shop near you (or a book store), take a glance at this book, read some parts and see if it is in your taste... For me, as I said, it quite was, there was a lot of good reviews, then I decided to buy... but I really don't know if it was a good idea... Just take care when you see things that are super-positive-rated, pseudo-intellectuals love to rate well what is in intellectual-vogue, even when they didn't really bother to read the material.

A living, breathing town...
Palomar is just shy of being an offbeat spot on your tourist map. Gilbert Hernandez, who created the Love & Rockets universe with brother Jaime, has focused much of his attention on this small Latin American town and its people, and over the years it has grown into a living, breathing town. Now, the many tales of Palomar have been collected by Fantagraphics in a new hardback edition that brings its simple joys and tragedies together.

The stories aren't always linear, and characters gain solidity as Gilbert leaps back and forth in the timeline, introducing some as children, some as adults, and filling in various romances, breakups and acts of violence along the way. Key friendships hold firm from start to finish, and it's fascinating to watch them evolve as some characters go their separate ways and others grow closer than ever.

Gilbert's black-and-white art is crisp, clean and realistic. His people are believable; some are beautiful, some ugly, others average -- like those you'd find in any town. Their personalities are also highly defined, and it's fun to see them change as the years roll along.

At Last!
I have been reading Love and Rockets for nearly 20 years and have always been rather partial to Beto's Palomar stories - although I do enjoy Jaime's stories as well. I have always hoped that all the Palomar stories would eventually be compiled into one volume, and here at last they are - and in this beautiful hardcover edition no less. Even though these are comics, the quality of the writing (including the artwork)is as strong as some of the best latino Literature (Beto's work is often compared to Gabriel Garcia Marquez). As such, I always felt that without the benefit of having the entire series contained in one volume much was lost in general continuity - and as a result the weight and depth of the work not entirely accessible or apparent. Now, the full depth and outstanding quality of Beto's masterwork is all contained in a single volume for anyone who might appreciates a quality piece of literature in a completely different way (with pictures).

The Comic Book to throw at "I don't read comics" people
I've read Love & Rockets since about 1984. When a new issue of L&R comes out, I always read the Jaime Hernandez half first. I admit it, his art is much more atttractive to me than Gilbert's, and I identify with his characters a lot more, too. But then I settle down and dig into the Beto half. Whereas Jaime's Hoppers sagas could be described as Latino-punk soap operas, it is Beto that is creating new folklore. As much as I love Jaime's clean lines and cute-as-hell females, it is obvious whose craft shows the most depth, the most texture, and the most care, not only between Los Bros Hernandez, but between them and nearly every other comics creator ever. Earthy, sublime, funny, absurd, horrific, romantic, pornographic (in a good way), and honest are only a handful of inadequate adjectives to describe aspects Gilbert's work. This volume represents a large portion of his life, both in terms of time spent creating the contents, and what I'm sure is inside him. To read this is to see a competely new world, one that is the pure encapsulation of one part of the real world.

Now, when is the Complete Maggie & Hopey coming out? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Love Hina 13
This is a very good volume of the wonderful Love Hina series. Many action packed events, lots of high suspence, a new hair do, and the resolution for the feelings of Motoko and Su, on how they feel about Keitaro. A great cliffhanger leaves you wanting the next volume, but keep in mind that the next one is the grand finale of the series. Too all you loyal fans, you will not be dissapointed (except for the new hair style). ... Read more

Book Description

In Pride & Joy, six young friends discover their parents are all secretly super-powered villains! Finding strength in one another, the shocked teens run away from home and straight into the adventure of their lives - vowing to turn the tables on their evil legacy. In Teenage Wasteland, the Runaways find a kindred spirit in a daring young stranger and welcome him into their fold. But will this dashing young man help the teenagers defeat their villainous parents... or tear them apart? Plus: who do you send to catch a group of missing, runaway teenage super-heroes? Marvel's original teen runaway crimefighters, Cloak and Dagger, make their first major appearance in years! In The Good Die Young, the world as we know it is about to end, and the Runaways are the only hope to prevent it! Our fledgling teenage heroes have learned how their parents' criminal organization began, and now they must decide how it should end. As the Runaways' epic battle against their evil parents reaches its shocking conclusion, the team's mole stands revealed, and blood must be shed. Which kids will still be standing when the smoke finally clears? ... Read more

Book Description

Dark Horse is tempted to call Little Lulu the "comeback comic" of the year, but truth be told, Lulu's been a treasured part of the entertainment canon for years! Dark Horse Books is proudly presenting the complete library of classic Marge's Little Lulu comics in a reader-friendly series of affordable paperback volumes. A rascally but good-hearted seven-year-old with an endless supply of sass, oodles of smarts, and a wild imagination, Lulu is truly one of a kind. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Read with Printing Errors
I love having the chance to read this material in a new package. It's clever, funny, and well cartooned. Unfortunately, in this volume, two of the stories later in the book have pages printed out of order. Otherwise, I'd give it five stars. ... Read more