Taipei Dec 2010

Didn't find Norwegian Wood but managed to meet Kafka on the Shore.

{prologue} and Harris Bestselling Graphic Novels List Oct 2010

Thanks to Adan of {prologue}, here are the bestsellers from {prologue} and Harris (all 3 stores) for the month of October.

{ prologue }
1. Scott Pilgrim v6: Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour
2. Scott Pilgrim v1: Scott Pilgrim'S Precious Little Life
3. Scott Pilgrim v3: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness
4. Naruto v48
5. Scott Pilgrim v2: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
6. Scott Pilgrim v5: Scott Pilgrim vs. The Universe
7. Scott Pilgrim v4: Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together
8. Anne Frank Authorized Graphic Biography
9. Naruto v47
10. Conan and the Demons of Khitai TPB

HARRIS
1. Invincible Iron Man v2 HC: World's Most Wanted Book 1
2. Scott Pilgrim v1: Scott Pilgrim'S Precious Little Life
3. Kick-Ass Premiere HC
4. Peanuts 60th Anniversary Book
5. Naruto v40
6. Pokemon Adventures v29
7. Captain America: The Chosen Premiere HC
8. Infinity Gauntlet Premiere HC
9. Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 1
10. Scott Pilgrim v2: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Looks like Scott Pilgrim continues to be the champion. I'm a latecomer to the series but I enjoy it.
Heard the movie is good too so looking forward to that.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/-prologue-Bookstore-Singapore/138264343666

Darby

The debut that Ken Foo deserves.

Of course, Ken has done lots of other shit before this.

There's Dragon Glade from 2005 that Ken would rather have all copies burnt. But I'm holding on to my copy.

There're the mini comics he printed for the 1st STCC in 2008, which were compiled in Freedom Love Forever.

The story he did for Liquid City Vol 1, which was also compiled in Freedom Love Forever.

Freedom Love Forever.
http://kenfoo.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/freedom-love-forever-2/

And The Diary of Date King drawn by Ken and written by Adrian Teo. (publisher of Freedom Love Forever and the first 2 volumes of Troy Chin's The Resident Tourist)
http://kenfoo.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/the-diary-of-date-king/

And now, Little Disturbed Darby and the Melancholy Monsters, a hc b&w children's book that is actually not meant for children. Parents should unwrap this to check the content before buying it for their kids. Nightmares guaranteed.

But in reality, fairy tales are dark. Hansel and Gretel pushing that nice old lady into the oven? C'mon.

The first half of Darby reads like your typical too clever by half children's book - everything nice and jolly. The second half is classic Ken Foo, which is sick, sick, SICK.

But I take that back. It's actually sad, sad, SAD. It's true that at our core we are truly utterly alone. Maybe it's not something we want to tell our kids now, but sooner or later they will learn this. Our lives are mundane.

Ken always wanted to do a children's book, although he has not read many to form any preconceived notions of how/what a children's books should be. So this is unadulterated Ken Foo. Written/drawn/self-published.

Only 500 copies printed. Go get.

http://kenfoo.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/little-disturbed-darby-the-melancholy-monsters/

Ken will be at Prologue/ION on 6 Nov 2010, 2 pm. He needs your hug.

Kino Bestsellers Oct 2010

1. NARUTO VOLUME 49
by MASASHI KISHIMOTO

2. CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE
by CHRIS ROBERSON, CHRISSIE ZULLO

3. LIQUID CITY VOLUME 2
by SONNY LIEW (EDITOR), LIM CHENG TJU (EDITOR)

4. VAMPIRE KNIGHT OFFICIAL FANBOOK
by MATSURI HINO

5. BATMAN: LIFE AFTER DEATH HC
by TONY S. DANIEL

6. X-MEN: SECOND COMING HC
by ZEB WELLS, MIKE CAREY, MATT FRACTION, CRAIG KYLE

7. WORLD OF WARCRAFT SHAMAN GN
by PAUL BENJAMIN, ROCIO ZUCCHI

8. STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED VOL 2
by HAYDEN BLACKMAN, OMAR FRANCIA

9. IRREDEEMABLE VOLUME 4
by MARK WAID, DIEGO BARRETTO

10. AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOLUME 1 HC
by SCOTT SNYDER, STEPHEN KING

Deirram on erom

The idea of changing Spider-Man’s life with magic turned out better than I had expected. The Amazing Spider-Man had been quite dark before. Arcs like The Other are real intense, but not very interesting to me. It was a chance to beat up Spider-Man badly again (as if Kraven’s Last Hunt is not enough).

But now all that dark stuff is gone, and amazingly, Spider-Man is updated for this period of time. These new Spider-Man stories bring a lot of humanity. Just amazing. One of my favourite changes is Chameleon, back to his old self. No more fancy gadgets, but tons of creepiness. And what about the return of the original Rhino, where he had to battle the new one? I have never seen Rhino, the original one that is, in such glory. Pure, unbridled brute power and full of fury. That is what Rhino should have been, not some dumb comical villain who gets his horn stuck in something.

And what about all that drama Peter has to go through? What about the return of Harry Osborn? Bringing him back to the life is a huge bend in continuity. But who cares when you see him hang out with Peter. Peter now has a buddy again. It is just amazing. This is a wonderful franchise reboot.

Oh, and if you didn't figure it out...... Zatanna.

Where is the love?

Having told two Christians that I am an agnostic, they took the chance to preach to me. At some point, they asked me what I wish to do with people in life. And I told them I want to help. In reply, they pulled out one of the most utterly unbelievable religious arguments ever heard: if you do not believe in God and there is no God, then humans must have no value. It is God that gives humans value. And then they ask me, ”Why do you want to help people if they are worthless?”

If you do not love your neighbour, have tolerance at least, regardless of race, language, religion or ideology. Yes, I know not all Christians think in religious extremities.

Here’s to John Lennon.

Kino Bestsellers Sept 2010

1. CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE
by CHRIS ROBERSON, SHAWN MCMANUS

2. INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOL 5: STARK RESILIENT BOOK 1
by MATT FRACTION, SALVADOR LARROCA

3. SCOTT PILGRIM’S PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE VOL 1
by BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY

4. MAGISTER NEGI MAGI VOL 26
by KEN AKAMATSU

5. OTOMEN VOL 10
by AYA KANNO

6. SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR VOL 6
by BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY

7. THE AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD AND OTHER CURIOUS OBJECTS
by MIKE MIGNOLA

8. SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD VOL 2
by BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY

9. BLACKEST NIGHT
by GEOFF JOHNS

10. NARUTO VOLUME 48
by MASASHI KISHIMOTO