Yuki-Onna, Hannya, Onryou, Baku, Inugami - Japanese Demons And Spirits

Time to learn about more of the strange and weirdies out there.  Being prepared is always for the best!

I Don't Come Back Here Much But.......

Oh Feck -They DID!!! Historical Geeks Unite!!!

I am livid. Angry. Puce with rage.  Look at my face -see??????  Can you see I am angry???? I even wet my pants with rage!!!!!

Sorry but this aint Thor. This is Hollywood/TV fantasy poop.

And they DID put swords on the back. sigh

And....

I DO know its just movies but they have started turning Thor into a fantasy cliche.  And that other Hollywood fabrication (even used in US -alleged- "historical documentaries and when you see a muscle bound Julius Caesar twirling about using two swords you realise the History Channel has lost it!).

Baby Groot....rhymes with "puke" and the new Thor Ragnarok images...where's that bucket...

I did predict that it would not be long before Di$ney cuteness got into the Marvel movies and we had "Baby Groot" -oh the merchandising!! Oh the $$$$$$$$!

So, Thor was NOT the comic book Thor I grew up with. BUT I enjoyed the movies. Now Thor is a crew cut gladiator.  Was looking forward to Thor Ragnarok but NOT a two sword wielding gladiator rip off (and please DO NOT have him put the two swords in "on the back scabbards" which is ridiculous).

Cate Blanchett as Hela is the only thing attracting me to this movie. I always say "wait and see" but the images released.....thumbs down.

Marvel's Iron Fist | Colleen Wing | Netflix

Yōkai - Japanese Demons, Spirits, Gods 妖怪

Upcoming In Black Tower Super Heroes...

Cinebook The 9th Art -New Books!!

The following are NOW available from Cinebook or quality retailers.

Valerian 15- The Circles of Power

Authors: Mézières & Christin
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm

PAPERBACK
Number of pages: 64 colour pages
Publication: February 2017

ISBN: 9781849183260

Price: £8.99 inc. VAT

Broke, without a job, their ship almost a scrap heap, Valerian and Laureline are stuck on Rubanis, unable to pay for repairs. So when a trio of old acquaintances introduces them to the head of the local police, who is looking for independent agents for a risky – but well-paid – mission, they accept readily enough. But Rubanis is the most corrupt planet in the entire galaxy. How are they to find out who really holds the reins of power there?

I've written it all before. Great art and story and now that there is a movie out I'm guessing 'everyone' has been into this series for years! One of my all time Euro favourites!

Namibia - Episode 4

Authors: LEO, Rodolphe & Marchal

Age: 15 years and up
Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm
PAPERBACK
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: January 2017

Kathy Austin has already survived two assassination attempts – saved both times by intervention from her mysterious friends from outer space. Her superior, Sir Charles, finds it difficult to believe her as to the origin of such providential allies, but another incident, followed by a more official meeting, eventually convince him. Informed of the terrible stakes that hide behind the recent events, he sends Kathy back to Namibia with a new partner, on a mission she seems unlikely to survive...

Ahhh. The good old days of flying saucers and things start to get a little (?) darker but don't worry -Winston Churchill has a cameo in this one!

9 out of 10

Blake & Mortimer 24 - The Testament of William S.

Author: Yves Sente & André Juillard

Based on the Characters of E.P. Jacobs
Age: 10 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 72 colour pages
Publication: December 2016

ISBN: 9781849183390
Price: £8.99 inc. VAT

In Venice, a boating accident leads to the discovery of a 400 year old text bearing the signature ‘W.S.’ and promising the truth about the ‘Shakespeare mystery’. That very night, someone tries unsuccessfully to steal the precious document. The discoverer, Marquis Stefano Da Spiri, decides to send a copy of the document to a specialist of the Bard in London for stylistic authentication. As for the original, he entrusts it to an old comrade in arms from WW2: Captain Francis Blake…

I love the fact that the new team kept the rather complex panel layouts and there is nothing jarring that makes you think "This ain't P. Jacobs work!"  And we're up to volume 24....probably because real comic lovers are buying Cinebook.

Here's hope they survive post Brexit.

The Bluecoats 10 - The Blues in Black and White

Authors: Lambil & Cauvin

Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: January 2017

ISBN: 9781849183413Price: £6.99 inc. VAT

After another long day of charging, Blutch and Chesterfield make the acquaintance of Matthew Brady, a professional photographer dispatched by Pres..ident Lincoln to document the ongoing historic struggle. Photography, still a new invention, together with Brady’s talent for capturing the moment, are met with great enthusiasm by both the rank and file and the top brass. Inevitably, it’s not long before Blutch and Chesterfield are ordered to act as the artist’s protective detail – much to the sergeant’s disgust.

How do you show a light side to a brutal civil war? Well, this series has managed it while not hiding the fact of what it was.  I often wonder about the photographers who captured the American Civil War and what they felt/did...wonder no more! :-)

Yakari 14- Lords of the Plains

Authors: Derib & Job

Age: 6 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: November 2016

ISBN: 9781849183185Price: £6.99 inc. VAT

After a hunt that brought the tribe much needed supplies, Yakari is visited in his dreams by the buffalo, killed the day of his birth, whose pelt still serves as his blanket. Intrigued, the young Sioux and Little Thunder go see the great herd. From encounter to encounter, and by helping a young mother and her newborn calf against a particularly nasty wolf, Yakari learns to know those majestic animals so important to his own people’s survival...

You see, I like Yakari but this shows our own dumb human attitudes. Native Americans slaughter buffalo for "survival" yet an animal that also does that is "a particularly nasty wolf"?? People we are killing the wolves off again and I personally, am sick of seeing the evil wolves in movies, TV and comics that sets another generation of "I don't cares" minds to feeling it okay to not mind killing the "nasty" animals.  For that reason this book gets 6 out of 10.

Now, apologies if some of the cover scans look a little washed out -like the Blake and Mortimer one which is much, much better than shown- but I had to take them from Cinebook's website and that explains why there are no longer any interior pages shown on CBO -Cinebook aren't showing any.

Despite the publication dates shown, delays mean these are new releases and not ones I've just held on to.

Remember these books and MANY others can be purchased from the Cinebook site:

http://www.cinebook.co.uk/index.php

Here's Your Answer!

While really struggling to live from day-to-day I decided to pop back here quickly while I have the chance.

To answer Steve from Milwaukee and Kurt from Berlin: if after all these years and all the pushing I've done, if I haven't gotten sales that earn me a living yet I never will!  I did check and CBO posts on Black Tower Comics are getting record viewing figures.  The BTCG Face Book page is now getting views in the hundreds.

But no sales.

Now, off to resume legal battles!

Nerdzig auf der Manga-Comic-Con​vention 2017 - Der Trailer

Amazing City Diorama

Comiczeichner und Maler Miles Hyman in Paris

Mr Dilworth

Package received
Space Patrol....  :-)

RÉTRO COMICS 25 - Les Bugs de Lug 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Trailer #2 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers