This week was going to be Samurai Week, but I threw in a book about psychics for spice – just to keep it interesting.

Dororo, Vol. 3
By Osamu Tezuka
Vertical, August 2008, $13.95

This is the third and final book in a samurai saga from Tezuka, the “godfather of manga.” (I’ve previously reviewed volume 1 and volume 2 for ComicMix.) I’ve seen references that say this series was truncated rather than continuing to its expected end, and that’s plausible from the book itself.

It does have something like an ending; the swordsman Hyakkimaru confronts and defeats his evil father, and parts from the young thief Dororo (whose secret he’s recently learned). But the stories of these main characters aren’t actually done – Hyakkimaru is not finished with his quest to become human again, and Dororo needs to grow up (and probably to battle some evil feudal lords on behalf of downtrodden farmers).

So this isn’t really the ending one would hope for – it doesn’t cut off, uncompleted, but there clearly were more stories to be told. (On the other hand, Tezuka left off work on Dororo in 1971, and lived for nearly twenty years afterward, which probably means something.) But the individual stories are still exceptionally well-told, in Tezuka’s characteristic clean lines, and the thematic undertones remain under, and deepen rather than threatening to sink the narrative. (more…)

Brendan Deenan, Senior v-p, Objective Entertainment, announced this morning that the delay behind Flash Gordon #1 had to do with a bad printer.  In fact, the 13,000 print run has been pulped a new printer secured.  As a result, the first issue, due out August 20, will now hit comic shops on September 24.  The second issue will come out on schedule, one week later.

Ardden Entertainment’s adaptation of Alex Raymond’s classic comic strip hero was previewed amidst much fanfare this spring with a zero issue. Deenan wrote the comic with artist Paul Green working under the guidance of Ardden editor-in-chief J.M. DeMatteis.

Their contemporary take on the character does not resemble the abortive Sci-Fi Channel series from 2007 or previous comic strip incarnations.

According to a release from Ardden, “Copies of the first ‘faulty’ issue have arrived at a location in the USA and Ardden is requesting that if any retailer or comic fan is offered these faulty copies for sale from anyone saying that they represent Ardden Entertainment LLC, they should contact the NY based company immediately. There is a reward for anyone who reports the sale of these copies. These faulty printings have the credits on page 3 whereas the new printings carry the creator credits on page 1.”
 

Martin Luther King was never a prisoner of war like John McCain. Nelson Mandela never flew a combat mission over Viet Nam like John McCain. Gandhi was never a commanding officer like John McCain.

According to right wing rhetoric, none of these people would be able to lead in America for they would be attacked for their lack of experience. What all of these people share with Barack Obama is the ability to inspire other people.

I am not suggesting that Obama is in any way in the league of those above, but there is something to be said for inspiring people.

Some people like the Republicans don’t see that. This from The party of Lincoln, as they like to say. The “party of Lincoln.” Wow, that is saying something. They always bring that up when they want to make a point.

Lincoln was President in 1861. It’s now 2008. That party is over.

How over? Lincoln is known for one thing and one thing only to the masses: he freed the slaves. He gave black people their freedom in this country. Did you see the sea of faces at the Republican convention? There were thousands of people there, and I’m not kidding when I say this: it looked like you could count the black people on two hands. How is it possible that the Republican Party frees black people from bondage and black people stay away from the Republican Party like Stevie Wonder stays away from driving the Indy 500?

I watched the “Country first” video that the RNC produced and showed at the convention. When images of Ronald Regan, Barbara Bush and McCain were on the screen the crowd went wild. When images of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks were seen… nothing.

No applause. No reaction. Nothing. (more…)

Andrew Pepoy, creator of The Adventures of Simone and Ajax, appearing here regularly, notified us that a stage play he helped conceive will be coming to New York at month’s end.  Here’s the official release:

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL AND CHICAGO TAP THEATRE PRESENT THE HOURGLASS AND THE POISONED PEN A SUPERHERO TAP DANCE OPERA 

SEPTEMBER 27 AND 28 AT THE MANHATTAN MOVEMENT AND ARTS CENTER (248 W. 60th ST.)

CHICAGO – When Super-heroes, live theater and tap dancing collide, the result is Chicago Tap Theatre’s The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen.  Part story ballet, part summer blockbuster and all rhythm, this is the production that set Chicago on fire. The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen is the sixth story show created by Chicago Tap Theatre, and the first revision of a previous production.  The show was created with the assistance of famed comic book artist and writer Andrew Pepoy (Batman, Fables, Simpsons). With a cast of eleven male and female dancers, all of whom excel in both tap and other forms of dance, and moments of intense action, irresistible humor and heartfelt emotion, choreographer and director Mark Yonally not only creates a whole new world for The Hourglass through his choreography – he also creates a unique new spin on the art of tap dance.

Follow the exploits of Elizabeth, as she and her best friend Daphne become The Hourglass and The Second Hand.  They duke it out with the nefarious Conductor and her violin-playing Trio of Terror. Ultimately, Elizabeth’s lame boyfriend, the vile Nick Prickley, gets possession of the source of the Conductor’s skills, the last sliver of wood from the Tree of Knowledge, which grants great and terrible powers. (more…)

Zits is one of the most consistently entertaining comic strips running today and a large reason behind the strip’s success is the varied supporting cast. The strip, introduced in 1997 and produced by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, has focused on 15-year-old Jeremy Duncan, his loving but seemingly clueless parents, and his friends. 

Among them is Pierce, last name unknown, who lives up to his name with piercings over most of his body, complete with braces for maximum metal. Now, readers will enjoy a spotlight on Jeremy’s band mate in Pierced, the thirteenth collection of strips from Andrews McMeel Publishing.  The 128-page book, part of the Zits Sketchbook subset, will be on sale in October, retailing for $12.99.

Readers will be treated to the complex character who is actually very courteous and was recently revealed to actually take out all the metal and put on preppy clothing for a change-of-pace. He’s extremely loyal and is almost militant in his care for animals and insects of all kinds.