Fantastic Universes

A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon , along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan , Battle Angel Alita , Witch Hat Atelier , and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.us . Here are Kodansha's July 2021 releases: July 2021 Digital Debuts We’re back once again an...

DC Comics recently celebrated 8 decades of hero Oliver Queen with the release of Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, and the incredible Green Arrow: 80 Years Of The Emerald Archer hardcover. Now, the publisher has announced that fans can read “Tap, Tap, Tap,” a silent, wordless tribute story from Denny’s son Larry O’Neil, for free on the DC blog. This 12-story anthology features a number of celebrated storytellers whose careers have been connected to Green Arrow. DC RELEASES SPECIAL DENNY O’NEIL TRIBUTE STORY FROM GREEN ARROW 80TH ANNIVERSARY SUPER SPECTACULAR Available Now to Read on DCComics.com, Larry O’Neil Celebrates the Legacy of His Father, Comics Icon Denny O’Neil, with “Tap, Tap, Tap,” Featuring Art by Jorge Fornes and Dave Stewart. “Tap, Tap, Tap” is a silent, wordless story from Denny’s son Larry O’Neil, with art from Jorge Fornes (Rorschach), and Dave Stewart (Plunge). The intimate look at Denny’s life chronicles the challenges and victories both i...

“Future State: Superman” Writers: Sean Lewis, Brandon Easton, Sean Lewis, Philip Kennedy Johnson, Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Jeremy Adams, Mark Russell, Marguerite Bennett, Brian Michael Bendis Artists: John Timms, Valentine De Landro, Cully Hamner, Michael Avon Oeming, Mikel Janín, Gleb Melnikov, Siya Oum, Steve Pugh, Marguerite Sauvage, Riley Rossmo, Scott Godlewski Color Artists: Gabe, Eltaeb, Marissa L ouise, Laura Martin, Jordie Bellaire, Hi-Fi, Romulo Fajardo Jr.,  Marguerite Sauvage, Ivan Plascencia Letterers: Dave Sharpe, AndWorld Design, Travis Lanham, Gabriela Downie, Carlos M. Mangual, Wes Abbott, ALW’s Troy Peteri Review by Steve J. Ray OK… WOW! I have to admit that when the  Future State  books took over all the DC titles back in January and February 2021, I only bought the  Batman related titles . This was partly down to finances, and also because, as everybody knows, Batman’s my favorite. Having now read and reviewed the  Justice League ...

By Fay Clark I don't think adults give enough love or props to Middle Grade book. Most people think they are just for kids. You, sir, would be wrong. One of my favourite genres is 9-12. The main characters just have so much more fun than adults in books! We also have a great deal of fun over on our Instagram page @FanUniverses . CHALLENGE 3 - READ A MIDDLE GRADE (9-12). Recommendation 1 - Percy Jackson and the Lighting Theif by Rick Riordan. I adore this series and everything it leads on to. I still read it every few years. Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp ...

“ Green Lantern: John Stewart – A celebration of 50 Years “ Writers: Dennis O’Neil, Len Wein, Steve Englehart, Christopher Priest, Jim Starlin, Ron Marz, Judd Winick, Geoff Johns, Tony Bedard, Peter J. Tomasi, Van Jensen, Robert Venditti, Stuart Moore, Derek Fridolfs, and Dustin Nguyen Artists: Neil Adams, Dick Giordano, Dick Dillin, Dave Gibbons, Mark Farmer, Joe Staton, Gil Kane, Mike Mignola, Carlos Garzón, Darryl Banks, Romeo Tanghal, Dale Eaglesham, Rodney Ramos, Ed Benes, Marcos Marz, Luciana Del Negro, Tyler Kirkham, Matt (Batt) Banning, Fernando Pasarin, Scott Hanna, Igor Lima, Rodney Buchemi, Geraldo Borges, Ruy José. Pat Broderick, Doug Mahnke, Richard Friend, John Delaney, Robin Riggs, and Eric Nguyen Credited Color Artists: Anthony Tollin, Steve Oliff, Linda Medley, Moose Baumann, Hi-Fi, Rod Reis, Nei Ruffino, Gabe Eltaeb, Marcelo Maiolo, David Baron, John Kalisz/Heroic Age, and Eric Nguyen Credited Letterers: John Costanza, Bob Lappan, Albert DeGuzman, John Workman, Kurt H...

By Fay Clark This might be the most difficult recommendation post I'll have to deal with. Even the other writers on the site said this was a head scratcher of a challenge! CHALLENGE 2 - READ A CONTEMPORARY BOOK NOT SET IN ENGLAND OR AMERICA. Recommendation 1 - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.  After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. Recommendation 2 - The Life Of Pie by Yann Martel.  The protagonist, Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, a Tamil boy from Pondicherry, explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 da...

By Fay Clark New month, new challenge, new recommendations. This month I this the challenges have been made a little bit harder. That just means I'm going to have to give you some GREAT recommendations to even it out. CHALLENGE 1 - READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN AUTHOR OF A DIFFERENT GENDER TO YOU. Recommendation 1 - Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. Written by a man, this is the start to one of my favourite series ever.  Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined. Recommendation 2 - King's of the Wyld by Nicolas Eames. Written by a man, this has got to be the closest to a D&D adventure fantasy without actually being one. I loved it, would clearly recommend.  Clay C...

Doctor Who: Missy #3 Writer: Jody Houser Artist: Roberta Ingranata Color Artist: Enrica Angiolini with Shari Chankhamma Letterers: Comicraft’s Richard Starkings Review by   Steve J. Ray Summary Doctor Who: Missy  #3 delivers a trip through the BBC archives, as the wonderful creative team of Jody Houser, Roberta Ingranata, Enrica Angiolini and Comicraft visit the 70s, 80s, and 90s appearances of the master, before dropping us straight into the modern era. Every iteration of the nefarious villain gets a cameo, and it’s wonderful. There are very few comics that are more “by fans, for fans” than Titans Comics’  Doctor Who . Postives This series is proving to be doubly entertaining, not just because Jody Houser’s writing a great story, but also because she’s leaving readers more Easter Eggs than the most generous bunnies after a lottery win. I spotted glimpses of “Terror of the Autons” (1971), “The Deadly Assassin” (1976), “The Keeper of Traken” (1981), and “The...