The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction #713, May/June

Here’s what you expect in this month’s issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and ScienceFiction:

Novellas:

Bathleby The Scavenger

Novelets:

The End Of The Silk Road

Booksnight

Containment Zone: A Seastead Story

Short Stories:

The Fisher Queen

White Curtain

Presidential Cryptotrivia

The Memory Cage

The Shadow In The Corner

Departments

Books To Look For

Books

Plumage Of Pegasus: Nudge Not, Lest Ye Be Nudged

Films: Imitations Of  Life

Coming Attractions

Competition #87: Fan Mail

Curiosities

The Last of Us

We've all thought about it.  "What would it be like being one of the last people on Earth trying to survive an apocalypse?" 

Imagine living day to day scrounging for food, avoiding violent gangs and trying not to get killed by beast-like infected humans and wild animals.

That's the premise behind the award-winning video game: The Last of Us.  So strikingly realistic and graphic the game virtually puts players in the dark, dank, devastated and dangerous world of two unlikely survivors.

They must ply their way across destroyed cities, plundered and pillaged towns and villages and decimated countryside with only the faintest hope that others may have survived and that a remnant of civilization has somehow remained.

Haunting images, and breath-taking visuals coupled with intimate up close camera shots make The Last of Us so realistic players can almost taste death in the air.

Insight Editions celebrates The Last of Us with an oversize poster book filled with 40 removable posters taken featuring images from the video game.  Other posters feature movie marquee images, character profiles and more.

To complement the poster collection a special The Last of Us leather-like bound journal with sliding elastic marker is also available.  Blank pages allow The Last of Us fans to create their own end of the world journal.

Son of Batman

Several years ago a new (and surprising) character was introduced to the DC Comics Universe.  His name was Damian and he was (and is) the son of Batman given birth by Talia (the daughter of the arch nemesis of Batman: Ra's Al Ghul.  This all happened before DC revamped its universe and re-titled it The New 52.

 

Fortunately for DC Comics' fans Damian transitioned over to The New 52-with minor changes.  In fact, he and Batman shared a comic book together: Batman and Robin.

Damian was a trained assassin and when Batman agreed to raise him he tried (and sometimes failed) to curb Damian's killer instincts.  Eventually Damian came around.  Unfortunately he was killed-but there are hints he will be back.

Warner Bros. Animation has just released a new Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD Ultraviolet Combo that examines the genesis of Batman's sire and how he came about being with his father.

Ra's Al Ghul is a notorious villain in command of the League of Shadows.  He, and his daughter Talia, are training an army of assassins to literally take over the world.

When an unexpected attack occurs on the compound by Deathstroke, who wants to lead the League of Shadows, Talia is forced to flee, taking Damien with her.

She winds up in Gotham City and seeks the help of Batman who soon discovers who Damian is-his son!

Together Batman and Damian face off against the League and Deathstroke and through a series of moves and counter movies discover that the only people they can trust is each other.

The Son of Batman Combo includes not only the movie but several special features including the story of Damian Wayne, how the characters were designed, a special League of Assassins featurette, a sneak peek at the next DC animated movie and four bonus cartoons. 

Guess Who?

Childhood memories.  Everyone has them-albeit they might be slightly different.  Still, young impressionable minds tend to think similarly and special times, people and places tend to stick in as yet untarnished minds and when recalled bring back pleasant emotions and images.

Author Howard Eisenberg and artist Patrick Carlson have somehow miraculously bottled childhood memories in three books that illustrate, in both words and pictures, the delight of discovery young children share.

In Guess Who Neighborhood the excitement, fear and thrill of moving to a new house is explored.  Each facet of the movie from choosing a new home to live in to discovering unexpected surprises such as wildlife and a nearby playground are written in poetic form (easily understood by children) and accompanied by colorful and comical illustrations.

Summarily Guess Who Farm and Guess Who Zoo explore and ponder both locations.  Whether it's wild animal or domestic each have their own identities from buildings, to people and more.

For a pleasant trek down Memory Lane that is sure to bring back long ago feelings and images be sure to pick up the Guess Who series of books from Mascot Books.

Jerktastic Park

Move over Steven Spielberg!  There’ a new blockbuster in town.  Who needs dinosaurs when you can have Freaks in Darby Conley’s newest get Fuzzy collection: Jerktastic Park?  And what better jerk to head up the whole collection than Rob Wilco’s feisty, rude, crude, conservative prude and all-around cat food gobbling dude: Bucky Katt?  He, along with Rob’s dim-witted, eat-anything-that does-not-move canine Satchel manage to turn Rob’s world (and everyone else’s they come in contact with) upside down.

 

Follow Bucky and Satchel as they stumble through a new Bucky created reality show, fight AM radio conspiracies, have a martial arts face-off, spy on a ferret, discover what a ‘barrier’ means, encounter Jaws, meet Satchel’s French cousin, discourage telemarketers, rewrite history and….you get the idea.

For a fun and fur-lined frolic with a feline bent be sure to pick up a copy of Jerktastic Park from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Previews, May

COMIC BOOKS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

Life With Archie #36 l Archie Comics

Life With Archie #37 l Archie Comics

Extinction Parade Volume 1 Tp l Avatar Press

Extinction Parade: War #1 l Avatar Press

Adventure Time: Banana Guard Academy #1 l BOOM! Studios

Tuki: Save the Humans #1 l Cartoon Books

The Devilers #1 l D. E./Dynamite Entertainment

Chastity #1 l D. E./Dynamite Entertainment

Army of Darkness Gets Hitched #1 l D. E./Dynamite Entertainment

Don Rosa Library Volume 1: Son of the Sun HC l Fantagraphics Books

The Shadow Hero GN l :01 First Second

Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book Volume 1 HC l Harper Collins Publishers

Buck Rogers In the 25th Century Volume 1: Grievous Angels TP/HC l Hermes Press

The Life After #1 l Oni Press

Windsor McCay’s The Complete Little Nemo HC l Taschen America L.L.C.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen III: Century: The Complete Edition HC l Top Shelf

Productions

BOOKS

Robert Crumb Sketchbooks: 1964-1982 l Art Books

Marvel Comics: 75 Years of Cover Art HC l Comics

Doctor Who: The Official Annual 2015 l Doctor Who

Words For Pictures: The Art & Business of Writing Comics and Graphic Novels SC l How-To

Goodnight, Darth Vader HC l Star Wars

Star Wars: Jedi Academy Book 2: Return of the Padawan HC l Star Wars

MAGAZINES

Marvel Chess Figurine Collection Magazine #13-14 l Eaglemoss

Marvel Fact Files Special #4: Magneto l Eaglemoss

The Walking Dead Magazine #9 l Movie/Tv

Star Trek Magazine #50 l Star Trek

Star Wars Insider #151 l Star Wars

TRADING CARDS

Topps 2014 Football Trading Cards l Topps Company

Marvel 75th Anniversary Trading Cards l Rittenhouse Archives

Topps 2014 Chrome Garbage Pail Kids Trading Cards l Topps Company

APPAREL

Guardians of the Galaxy: “Fully Loaded” Black Spiral T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

Marvel: “Weapon Plus Rogers” Navy T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

Doctor Who: “3-D Glasses” Heather T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

Adventure Time: “Simon Card” Light Blue T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

Firefly: “Blue Sun” Charcoal Tank l Previews Exclusive Wear

Star Wars: “Boba Fett, Where?” Army T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

Deadpool: “3 Doo” Black T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

Star Wars: “Yoda Backpack” Sand T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

The Walking Dead: “Rick Walker” Black T-Shirt l Previews Exclusive Wear

Batman: 75th Anniversary Polo l Graphitti Designs

Star Trek: Uhura Deluxe Make-Up Bag l Geek Chic Boutique

TOYS & STATUES

Legacy: Game of Thrones Action Figures l Game Of Thrones

Guardians of the Galaxy Mystery Minis l Guardians Of The Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon Snap Back Cap l Guardians Of The Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy: Star-Lord Mask l Guardians Of The Galaxy

Breaking Bad: Jesse Pinkman 6-Inch Figure l Movie/Tv

Star Wars Black 6-Inch Action Figures l Star Wars

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classic Collector Figures l Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Shanna the She-Devil 1/4-Scale Statue l Marvel Heroes

Zombie Magneto Mini-Bust l Marvel Heroes

IMPORT TOYS

Marvel Comics: Thor “Avengers Now” Artfx+ Statue l Kotobukiya

Toho 12-Inch Series: Godzilla “1962” Vinyl Figure l Godzilla

Toho 12-Inch Series: Godzilla “1968” Vinyl Figure l Godzilla

Amazing Spider-Man 2: Spider-Man MAF EX DX Set l Amazing Spider-Man

Doctor Who: 11th Doctor Dynamix Vinyl Figure l Doctor Who

Doctor Who Figurine Collection #17-20 l Doctor Who

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker: Link Nendoroid l Nendoroids

Mazinger Z Scale Figure l Threea/Threezero

COLLECTIBLES & NOVELTIES

POP! DC Heroes: Deathstroke Vinyl Fig l Funko

POP! Rides: Ghostbusters Ecto-1 with Winston Vinyl Figure l Funko

Star Trek: Tricorder Replica Messenger Bag l Star Trek

Star Trek: USS Enterprise Gold Bottle Opener l Star Trek

GAMES

DC Comics Card Sleeves l Cryptozoic Entertainment

DC Deck Building Game Crisis Expansion Pack 1 l Cryptozoic Entertainment

The Walking Dead: Don’t Look Back Dice Game l Cryptozoic Entertainment

Machi Koro: The Card Game l IDW Games

X-Files: The Board Game l IDW Games

Justice League Strategy Game l WizKids/NECA

Star Trek Fleet Captains: Dominion Expansion l WizKids/NECA

DVDS & DIGITAL MEDIA

Ranma 1/2 Set 2 l Classic Anime

Journey to the West l Asian Cinema

Doctor Who: An Adventure In Space & Time l Doctor Who