Yes, I'm still reading over your shoulder.

Danielle Leigh’s Reading Diary at Comics Should Be Good contains Hero Tales volume 1.

I can’t really follow all of this rant on the Brave and the Bold (ha, I totally wrote the Bold and the Beautiful at first) but you might like it.

I really enjoyed Solanin so I’m excited to get the manga-ka’s latest set of short stories even if, as Matthew Brady says, it isn’t as good.

Kate Dacey reviews Little Fluffy Gigolo Pelu -the title that my comic book store was supposed to be ordering for me over a month ago!  What the hell?

Not that I think Small is lying.  I’m sure he’s not.  However, it does, or should I say would, read like a formulaic childhood from hell turn to adult success if it weren’t for the artwork.  Small recognizes that he tells better stories when he’s silent.  He’s been silent a long time.  A ragged surgery for a cancerous tumor leaves him without a vocal cord.  At 14 he is physically trapped  in his own mind, unable to express himself.  He becomes his family’s quiet observer, an inconsequential scapegoat for his mother’s anger.

Small is at his best when his character don’t speak.  When his mother thwaks shut a cabinet, or his 6 year old self literally dives into his artwork.  His drawings carry their expressions so perfectly that often I could just skip the text.  I didn’t need to be told that the boy was angry, depressed and intrigued by his new speechless life- I could see it and in just one panel.  In fact I wish I could draw this review just to really give the sense at what art can do that a stumbling, rambling bunch of akward text cannot.

So, thanks Bill for forcing this one on me.

Of course, now my to-read list is even longer.

Did any of your favorite yaoi novels show up or not?

Today I’m just going to give a quick roundup of news:

According to Bleeding Cool, Marvel is releasing Civil War on the iPhone.  I don’t know why I’m so excited for this – I hope the first issue is free.  I can see myself reading superhero comics this way.  I’m not spending the money in the store but if it’s good enough I could drop a dollar on the phone.

This article from Publisher’s Weekly about teen reading habits is interesting.  What really jumped out at me was not that teens read graphic novels because duh but that, according to the survey, the most read graphic novel genre is romance.  Now, I’m generalizing but I think it’s a fairly safe generalization that more girls read romance.  If it’s the largest genre read then that leads me to believe that lots of girls read graphic novels which again duh.  Why haven’t the publishers caught on?

And just preparing for Halloween next year, this cracked me up.

There are a few complaints with the learning curve – mainly that there is a learning curve at all.  Moving from panel to panel takes a little finesse and getting used to.  If you tap too hard or in the wrong spot suddenly the whole page zooms in and it’s hard to get back.  In fact, a few times it did this all on its own and I was stuck sort of fumbling around this giant word balloon for like an hour.  Ok, not that long but it was awhile.  However, once you have it down, reading is surprisingly easy.  You can read in regular or landscape mode – a nice feature.

I was also surprised by how many good comics they have available.  I was expecting lots and lots of erotica combined with lots and lots of indie stuff.  Not that either of those aren’t cool but, eh, not something I necessarily want to use my precious battery life for.  However, right away I found Atomic Robo and my new favorite Nightmares and Fairytales.

The first issue or two is usually available for free and there’s access to reader reviews.  After that the cost is .99 cents.  Which, really?  .99 cents!!!  I’m paying it for Nightmares and Fairytales but only once a month so I’m really behind.  I can’t do it once a week and certainly not for multiple titles.

All in all, a great app for comic readers.  There needs to be a manga equivalent.

I guess I can’t get too mad since I could create my own and then have nothing to complain about but that’s a lot of work.  I finally found a Halloween themed Something Positive.

*note I meant to publish this on Monday but I guess I forgot – oops!*

1.  The Enterprising Vampire from 30 Days of Night.

OK, sure his idea didn’t go over so well but you have to admire the guy for trying.  Finding a town that spends a month in darkness?  Brilliant!  Admire him, then drive a stake through his heart because he is scary!

2.  Lestat de Lioncourt as played by Tom Cruise

This vampire is supposed to be sexy.  He’s not supposed to be clammy with long greasy hair.  I think he needs to have a poisoned drink then be reborn with another face…and better hair…and taller – oh forget it, he should just stay dead.

3. Nosferatu

This guy gave me nightmares for a week!  What kills me (heh) is that they air this movie during Halloween as if it isn’t scary.  Yes, it’s old but effective.

4. Kaname from Vampire Knight

What can I say? I’m on Team Zero.

5.  Cassidy from Preacher

I’m torn on whether I would actually try and kill Cassidy.  I kind of like him and drinking with an Irish vampire would be fun.  Except, on the other hand, he’s kind of a jerk.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

Since it’s been awhile I decided to check in on my favorite blogs -

Matthew Brady has a good review of Stitches.

David Welsh is working his way through the alphabet asking for your favorite shojo titles.  He’s up to B.

Kate Dacey talks about the Kodansha Akira reprint.