Vladivostok Circus by Elisa Shua Dusapin Review

A young costumier goes on a temporary assignment to make outfits for a circus in Vladivostok. Which she does. And then she goes home and makes costumes for other people someplace else.

Mimi's Tales of Terror by Junji Ito Review

Mimi’s Tales of Terror is Junji Ito’s adaptation of Shin Mimibukuro (“New Earmuffs”) by Hirokatsu Kihara and Ichiro Nakayama which is a collection of “true” ghost stories. Though, as Ito explains in his afterword, he took more than a few liberties in adapting it - adding details, expanding stories, although he did it with the original authors’ consent - so it’s more like an interpretation of the original than a straight adaptation (but it’s unlikely anyone would know if he hadn’t mentioned this as the book is out of print!).

Nightwing, Volume 4: The Leap Review (Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo)

Nightwing needs to protect Maroni long enough to testify in court - but his former associates are determined he won’t live long enough to do so. Tony Zucco, the man who killed Dick Grayson’s parents, leaves prison early and is soon up to no good, while Heartless continues his terror campaign in Bludhaven.

Hypericum by Manuele Fior Review

Teresa, an Italian girl in her early 20s, gets a job in Berlin as a scientific assistant to prepare an exhibit on King Tut’s treasure. There, she meets the bohemian Ruben and the two begin a whirlwind romance. Also, the story of Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb. And the two are connected… buh?

Conan the Barbarian, Volume 1: Bound In Black Stone Review (Jim Zub, Roberto de la Torre)

Marvel lost the Conan licence to Titan Comics along with the creative team of Jim Zub and Roberto de la Torre who also moved over, having previously worked on Conan at Marvel. I’m not a big fan of Conan or fantasy in general but I heard good things about this one - and maybe the title would be good without Marvel editorial’s stinkbomb touch?

Fast Charlie by Victor Gischler Review

Charlie Swift’s crew is gunned down by a rival mob boss and his own head honcho, Stan, gets taken. Out for revenge, Charlie swiftly (hehe) finds himself in the midst of a complex plan involving the Feds and the case he was supposed to hand over holds some very valuable secrets - secrets hired killers are after him for. Everybody’s on the run and everybody’s packing - but is Charlie fast enough to beat em all?

Tender by Beth Hetland Review

Carolanne and Lee fall in love. They get married, she gets pregnant, leaves her job, plays homemaker - everything’s going perfectly! But who’s that strange shadowy figure living in the nearby apartment that haunts Carolanne…

The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 7: Armed and Dangerous Review (Zeb Wells, Ed McGuinness)

Doc Ock wants to mess up Norman Osborn’s good streak - but Normy don’t wanna be baaad! Spider-Man gets astoopid agin for anuvver book!

In Utero by Chris Gooch Review

A young girl on a summer holiday program in an abandoned shopping mall meets Jen, a mysterious older girl with a secret. In the flooded basement car park is a giant egg and elsewhere in the building are hundreds of tiny brains. Somehow it’s all connected to a massive explosion that took out twenty city blocks 12 years ago - and whatever caused it is back to do it again…