Current Comics Report for 5/4/05

I thought this might be fun...

CURRENT COMICS REPORT

This is a report about what I think about the comics of this week, based upon Diamond's Shipping This Week list, as reprinted below, with my comments.

Certain sections of the Current Report on the 5/4 Comic Book Week contain forward-looking statements that are based on my expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include but are not limited to projections of books being good, writing performance, character flaws, artistic coolness and continued title stability.

Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Prognasticators Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

• A book being better than I thought it would be;

• A different creative team on a book;

• A different type of story than I thought it was;

• Differences in anticipated and actual performance by the writer and/or artist

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document.All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to me are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section..

Shipping This Week: May 4, 2005

DARK HORSE

JUL040271 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER ANGEL #1 (Of 3) (O/A) $2.95
FEB050067 CONCRETE HUMAN DILEMMA #5 (OF 6) (MR) $3.50

Am I missing out by not reading this series?

FEB050073 DAMN NATION #3 (OF 3) (MR) $2.99
JUL040318 DARK HORSE PRESENTS ANNUAL 1997 (STAR07552) (MR) $4.95
JAN050056 EISNER MILLER TP (RES) $19.95
DEC040022 JINGLE BELLE #4 (OF 4) $2.99

This will be good, and it will read just like #1, 2 and 3.

JAN050061 LITTLE LULU VOL 3 MY DINNER WITH LULU TP $9.95
FEB050095 SIN CITY SHOT GLASS (O/A) (STAR06693) $5.00

I just love how Dark Horse markets the craziest crap. Like "Simpsons' carboard cutouts." Who is buying cardboard cutouts?!?! What do you DO with a cardboard cutout of a Simpsons character?!?!

FEB050060 SUPER MANGA BLAST #51 (MR) $5.99

DC COMICS

MAR050353 BATMAN BEGINS CHRISTIAN BALE AS BATMAN STATUE $195.00

Only $195?!?! It would be a bargain at twice the price! I cannot think of a finer way of expressing my appreciation for Christian Bale appearing as Batman.

MAR050370 BATMAN DARK DETECTIVE #1 (OF 6) $2.99

This is a tough thing, because while their run on Detective was certainly good, do you realize that this mini-series will actually be LONGER than their actual run together on Detective?

MAR050431 BATMAN STRIKES VOL 1 CRIME TIME TP $6.99

Why even republish these? Just reprint the Ty Templeton issues of Batman/Gotham Adventures. Oh wait, I forget, for some reason, THIS is the Batman we are seeing on TV now. YIKES!

MAR050395 BLOOD OF THE DEMON #3 $2.50

I predict that this issue will be decent, but not as good as #2 or #1.

MAR050363 DETECTIVE COMICS #806 $2.99

Did I read it right at All The Rage? Is Lapham's run being cut down?

MAR050399 FALLEN ANGEL #20 (MR) $2.99

The last issue. Too bad. Luckily it was picked up by IDW. I anticipate that it will have a pun in it.

MAR050401 FIRESTORM #13 $2.50

How weird is it that Stuart Moore is going to be writing this book? I believe this issue will be lame, and will probably make SOME reference to Infinite Crisis (sucker bet, EVERY DC book must make a reference to Infinite Crisis!)

MAR050405 HAWKMAN WINGS OF FURY TP $17.99
MAR050464 INTIMATES #7 $2.99
MAR050482 JOHN CONSTANTINE HELLBLAZER SPECIAL PAPA MIDNITE #4 (OF 5) ( $2.99

Can the readers of this series please tell me what the point of it is?

MAR050410 JSA THE GOLDEN AGE TP NEW EDITION $19.99

What is this even reprinting?

MAR050412 JUSTICE LEAGUE ELITE #11 (OF 12) $2.50
MAR050434 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #9 $2.25

THIS series is fun, at least. I expect another cool issue.

MAR050387 LEX LUTHOR MAN OF STEEL #3 (OF 5) $2.99

I estimate that this issue will make 50 times more sense than Azzarello's Superman run, with better art.

MAR050440 LOONEY TUNES #126 $2.25
MAR050443 MAD MAGAZINE #454 $3.99
NOV040372 MARTIAN MANHUNTER STATUE (RES) $195.00

Now I am imagining some dude with ten fresh twenty dollar bills in his pockets being sooo torn! What $195 statue do I buy?!? Christian Bale as Batman or Martian Manhunter!?!

I never understood the whole "spending a lot of money on a comic book statute" thing.

I mean, if you just want to put something cool looking and comic book related on your shelf, then wouldn't a ten dollar toy do the trick as well?

Otherwise, it is not like you can invite friends over to show them your amazing comic book sculptures...can you?

MAR050467 MATADOR #1 (OF 6) $2.99

Devin Grayson AND it was pushed back from awhile ago. I estimate a winner!!

FEB050314 POWERPUFF GIRLS #61 $2.25

I saw the other day that Ivan Velez, Jr. was writing Powerpuff Girls. That just sounds so wrong to me.

MAR050491 PREACHER VOL 3 PROUD AMERICANS TP NEW EDITION (MR) $14.95

It is good to see DC keep their books in print. Let that be a lesson to you, Marvel (says Brian right after Marvel put Grant Morrison's full New X-Men TPB run back into print)

MAR050422 SEVEN SOLDIERS SHINING KNIGHT #2 (OF 4) $2.99

I anticipate that this will be the first Seven Soldiers issue to actually disappoint me.

FEB050261 SUPERMAN #216 $2.50

More of the silly Eclipso storyline, eh? I was just asking Tom Bondurant this the other day - do you think that no one even REALIZED that this is almost exactly the same story that was done in the Superman Annuals back in 1992?

MAR050388 SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS ARCHIVES VOL 4 HC $49.99

I bet this is a lot of fun to read...but what a big price tag.

MAR050492 SWAMP THING #15 (MR) $2.99

I predict that this issue will be almost indecipherable.

MAR050447 SWAN VOL 3 $9.99

I am a moron. Please explain who Swan is to me.

MAR050471 THUNDERCATS VOL 5 ENEMYS PRIDE TP $14.99

Ah....John Layman's political statement using the Thundercats. Not as bad as it sounds.

MAR050472 TWILIGHT EXPERIMENT #4 (OF 6) $2.99

I like the art on this series a lot.

MAR050424 VILLAINS UNITED #1 (OF 6) $2.50

Please just tell me that Gail Simone is not pals with Mike Chary. Please, just tell me that she read Total Justice and said, "Hey, this character seems interesting, I think I will use him in my Villains United book!" Because I thought it was silly back in 1996 when Priest based that Parademon character on Chary. Nine years later? It is not any better.

In addition, this is a big nit, but I will still pick it...before Meltzer said he was pathetic, when was Catman ever seen as pathetic (that has to do with Meltzer's Green Arrow, not this comic).

The Chary thing is not a big deal and the Catman thing has nothing to do with this comic.

As for the comic itself, I predict that this series will be as good as John Ostrander's Legends series. And I am a HUGE Ostrander fan!!

MAR050494 Y THE LAST MAN #33 (MR) $2.99

I predict that 355 and Dr. Mann will have some awkward moments. I really like Goran Sudzuka's art. Once Guerra comes back, they have GOT to find Sudzuka a book to draw!!

IMAGE

NOV041527 CASEFILES SAM & TWITCH #16 (RES) (MR) $2.50

This has been a fun storyline so far.

JAN051592 DEADWORLD #1 $3.50
MAR051675 FELT TRUE TALES OF UNDERGROUND HIP HOP ONE SHOT (MR) $2.95
AUG041568 HOUDINI MAN FROM BEYOND GN $16.95
FEB051645 MICHAEL TURNER WITCHBLADE #4 LITHO $19.99

Where do you hang your Witchblade lithos, people who buy Witchblade lithos?

FEB051646 MONSTER WAR MAGDALENA VS DRACULA #1 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR051678 NYC MECH BETA LOVE #1 $2.95
FEB051638 RISING STARS VOICES OF THE DEAD #1 (OF 6) $2.99

I anticipate that this will be pretty good.

FEB051600 SEA OF RED #2 (MR) $2.95
MAR051669 SHADOWHAWK #1 $2.99

I hope this is better than The Pact #1.

FEB051589 THE GIFT #11 $2.99
FEB051580 ULTRA VOL 1 SEVEN DAYS HC SGN $39.95
FEB051579 ULTRA VOL 1 SEVEN DAYS TP $17.95

You all should pick this up if you did not read the original issues.

MARVEL

MAR051880 AMAZING FANTASY #8 $2.99
JAN058082 CAPTAIN BRITAIN TP NEW PTG $19.99

Hopefully the credits will be right this time!

FEB051891 DAREDEVIL REDEMPTION #4 (OF 6) $2.99

I really do not know how this project got greenlit. The art is excellent, though.

MAR051961 ESSENTIAL DEFENDERS VOL 1 TP $16.99

Oooooh...this will be goooood!

FEB051921 EXCALIBUR #12 $2.99

I predict that Claremont will make a reference to a comic he wrote more than five years ago!

MAR051942 FANTASTIC FOUR #527 POSTER $5.95
MAR051901 GLA #2 (OF 4) $2.99

Someone told me that one character will die each issue until the end, where they are all brought back to life. Please note that down, because it will be incredibly lame if that actually occurs, as you cannot let your storyline be predicted by someone based on reading ONE issue. So do not let me down, Dan Slott!

MAR051947 HUMAN TORCH VOL 1 BURN DIGEST $7.99

Who came up with this idea? "Hey, remember that series we cancelled a year and a half ago? Let's reprint it!" Is Marvel going to do digests for Team America next?

MAR051894 MARVEL MILESTONES WOLVERINE X-MEN TUK CAVE BOY $3.99
MAR051877 MARVEL MUST HAVES ULTIMATES 2 #1-3 $4.99

I like the Must Haves program.

MAR051921 NEW X-MEN #13 $2.99

I predict that the word "Gay" or "homosexual" is not used in this issue.

FEB051875 POWER PACK #2 (OF 4) $2.99

I estimate that the Power Pack story will have action on it for....hmmmm....let's say, one page. Come on, Sumerak!! Characterization is great, and you've really nailed it, but there should be SOME action!!

FEB051926 ROGUE #10 $2.99

I predict Tony Bedard will delve into Rogue's continuity, and no one will ever refer to it again.

MAR051898 SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL #4 (OF 7) $3.50
MAR051951 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN VOL 5 SINS REMEMBERED TP $9.99
MAR051885 SPIDER-GIRL #86 $2.99

I predict that I will like this issue.

MAR051887 SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #9 $2.99

I estimate that Chris Yost will have a funny story in this comic.

MAR051948 ULTIMATE ADVENTURES ONE TIN SOLDIER TP (RES) $12.99

Ron Zimmerman did a good job on this series, but I am still amazed that they are reprinting it.

FEB051880 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #18 $2.25
MAR051955 X-MEN EVE OF DESTRUCTION TP $14.99

Colossus' death collected, just in time!!!

WIZARD

MAR052456 FANTASTIC FOUR WIZARD ACE ED #48 (O/A) $13.99

I like that they had to offer this one again. What, people do not want to buy a reprint of Silver Surfer and Galactus' first appearance, with a new cover, for 14 bucks?! What kind of sick world do we live in?!?!?

MAR052451 INQUEST GAMER TEEN TITANS CVR #122 $4.99
MAR052452 INQUEST VIDEO GAMES CVR #122 $4.99
MAR052455 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR SKETCH CVR SGN #13 PI
MAR052454 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR SUE STORM TOYFARE EXC BUST (O/ PI
MAR052457 WANTED #1 WIZARD ACE EDITION #1 (MR) PI
MAR052458 WOLVERINE #20 WIZARD WORLD TEXAS SKETCH CVR CGC 9.8 PI

COMICS

FEB053012 2000 AD #1433 $4.10
FEB053013 2000 AD #1434 $4.10
MAR052481 ACTOR DFE MAGDALENA PREVIEW BOOK (O/A) $3.00
MAR052482 ACTOR DFE TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN VOL 3 #1 FOIL ED $14.99
MAR052480 ACTOR DFE WITCHBLADE RED FOIL ED #48 $5.00
MAR052483 ACTOR IDENTITY CRISIS #7 SGN $29.99
MAR052484 ACTOR SUPERMAN #204 LEE & AZZARELLO SGN $39.99
MAR052479 ACTOR WITCHBLADE MAGDALENA VAMPIRELLA B&W SKETCH CVR $3.00

I will not mock the ACTOR titles, as they are actually doing some good.

FEB052563 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #91 $2.19

Why, exactly, is Archie FRIENDS with Reggie?

FEB052564 ARCHIE DIGEST #216 $2.39
DEC048073 ARMY OF DARKNESS ASHES 2 ASHES CON FOIL ED #1 PI

I love that..."Please Inquire." It is like those restaurants that sell lobster. Does the foil used to make the cover, like, vary in price? Do they mine for Army of Darkness variant editions? "There is a bumper crop this year of Army of Darkness variant editions, price them to move!" I am now imagining Jamie Lee Curtis dressed as a Swedish tourist trying to steal the crop reports of Army of Darkness variant editions...

JAN052693 ARMY OF DARKNESS VOL 1 ASHES TO ASHES LTD ED HC SGN $69.99
FEB053131 BATTLE ANGEL ALITA VOL 9 2ND ED TP $9.95
JAN052375 BEST OF THE WEST #50 $6.95
FEB052916 BIGFOOT #3 (OF 4) $3.99

Who draws Bigfoot?

MAR052893 BLECKY YUCKERELLA GN (MR) $11.95
FEB052608 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1/2 $2.99
MAR052729 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1/2 GOLD FOIL $5.99
FEB052611 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1/2 PREMIUM CVR $9.99
FEB052610 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1/2 RYP CVR $2.99
FEB052609 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1/2 WRAP CVR $2.99
JAN052512 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH #2 $3.99
JAN052514 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH PREMIUM CVR #2 $9.99
JAN052513 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH WRAPAROUND #2 $3.99
JAN052516 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL #1 (OF 3) $3.50
JAN052518 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL ADRIAN CVR #1 (OF 3) $3.50
FEB052694 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL GOLD FOIL CVR #1 (OF 3) $5.99
JAN052520 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL PREMIUM CVR #1 (OF 3) $9.99
JAN052517 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL RYP CVR #1 (OF 3) $3.50
JAN052519 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL WRAPAROUND CVR #1 (OF 3) $3.50

Hey, I think Brian Pulido has some books coming out....

FEB052989 BRUTAL PLANET 4 PACK $11.99
FEB053175 CERES CELESTIAL LEGEND VOL 11 TP $9.95
DEC042372 CHASE VOL 1 TP $9.95
JAN052469 COMPLETE DARKHAM VALE TP $32.95
FEB052910 COMPLETE JON SABLE FREELANCE VOL 1 TP $24.99

This sounds very cool.

FEB052834 COMPLETE PEANUTS VOL 3 1955-1956 HC $28.95

As does this.

FEB052918 CSI SECRET IDENTITY #3 (OF 5) $3.99

This, however, does not.

FEB052675 DEMI DJUSTINE 2 PACK (A) $10.95
JAN052727 DF FLASH #220 SGN $49.99
MAR052858 DF IDENTITY CRISIS #1 BAIR REMARKED $69.99
MAR052857 DF IDENTITY CRISIS #1 BAIR SGN $19.99
JAN052733 DF IDENTITY CRISIS #7 SGN $69.99
MAR052881 DF SUPERMAN BATMAN SGN #11 #1 $29.99
JAN052729 DF SUPERMAN FOR TOMORROW VOL 1 HC SGN $89.99
MAR052875 DF ULTIMATE IRON MAN ALT CVR #1 9.6 CGC GRADED PI
MAR052874 DF ULTIMATE IRON MAN ALT CVR #1 SGN $19.99
MAR052832 DF WANTED #6 F$$$ WIT ELIMINATED FOIL CVR (MR) $14.99
MAR052833 DF WANTED #6 S$$$ HEAD FOIL CVR (MR) $14.99
FEB052769 DF WANTED KILLER REVEALED LTD ED FOIL CVR #6 (MR) $14.99
MAR052872 DF WOLVERINE #25 ROMITA SGN $19.99
JAN052716 DF X-MEN END HEROES & MARTYRS #1 CHEN SGN $19.99

As an artist, do you ever get mad if you see another artist's signed book is selling for more money than yours?

FEB052777 DFE RED SONJA FOIL CVR #0 $10.00

Why the extra E?

MAR053435 DREAMLAND HC (O/A) $39.95

Who is this by? It is quite expensive, so I presume it is by someone good.

JAN052550 FADE FROM GRACE #5 $1.99
JAN052376 FEMFORCE NEW MILLENIUM COLL PACK $24.95
FEB052711 FERNANDO FERNANDEZS DRACULA GN (MR) $14.95
FEB052891 FLARE #5 $2.99

This is Mark Beachum, right? Anyone here a fan of Beachum's stuff? I never could get into his work.

FEB058366 FLOWER OF THE DEEP SLEEP VOL 2 GN (OF 2) (PP #666) $9.99
FEB053162 FLOWERS AND BEES VOL 7 TP (MR) $9.99
FEB053189 FROM FAR AWAY VOL 4 GN $9.99
MAR053296 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 1 TP $9.99
JAN052906 FURRLOUGH #147 $3.50
FEB052708 GENSHIKEN VOL 1 GN (MR) $10.95
JAN052634 GI JOE MASTER & APPRENTICE VOL 1 TP $12.95

This is a digest, right? Smart move.

FEB052741 GI JOE RELOADED #14 $2.95

I am a fool, but I have been enjoying Dixon's run on this title.

FEB052738 GI JOE VS THE TRANSFORMERS VOL 2 TP $14.95
MAR052566 GOLD DIGGER SWIMSUIT SPECIAL 2005 #1 $4.50
FEB052825 GRAPHIC CLASSICS VOL 3 HG WELLS NEW PTG $11.95
FEB052923 HELL HOUSE VOL 3 TP $6.49
FEB053023 JETTA TALES OF THE TOSHIGAWA VOL 1 DEFIANCE GN $6.95
FEB052945 JOHNNY RAYGUN QUAD PACK $8.95
MAR053094 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #231 $11.99
DEC042726 KOLCHAK TALES OF NIGHT STALKER #3 (O/A) (MR) $3.50

This is the book Kirk Jarvinen is working on, right?

MAR053016 LEVEL C VOL 2 GN (A) $9.99
FEB052673 LONE & LEVEL SANDS GN $9.95
MAR052575 LUFTWAFFE 1946 VOL 5 #3 $5.95
FEB052865 MICKEY MOUSE ADVENTURES VOL 3 TP $7.95

These are a good idea.

JAN052907 MILK #46 (A) $3.50
FEB053158 NO NEED FOR TENCHI VOL 3 2ND ED TP $9.99
FEB052709 NODAME CANTIABILE VOL 1 GN (MR) $10.95
DEC042728 PHANTOM #3 (O/A) $3.50

Paul Ryan is drawing the Phantom, right? Or is that the comic strip he is drawing?

MAR052543 PIRATE CLUB #6 $2.95
FEB053192 PLEASE SAVE MY EARTH VOL 10 TP $9.99
FEB053160 RANMA 1/2 VOL 17 2ND ED TP $9.95
FEB053161 RANMA 1/2 VOL 18 2ND ED TP $9.95
FEB053159 RANMA 1/2 VOL 30 TP $9.95
FEB052712 RICHARD CORBENS WEREWOLF GN (MR) $14.95

This sounds cool.

MAR052546 SERENITY ROSE VOL 1 WORKING THROUGH THE NEGATIVITY TP $12.95
FEB052677 SEX SQUAD NUDE CVR SGN #2 (A) $3.75
FEB052852 SEX WARRIOR ISANE XXX #4 (A) $3.95

I wonder which is the better book...Sex Squad or Sex Warrior. I estimate that it is Sex Warrior.

JAN052576 SOULSEARCHERS #71 $2.50
JAN052624 STREET FIGHTER VOL 2 TP $13.99
MAR052784 STYLISH VITTLES VOL 3 FARE THEE WELL TP (MR) $13.00
FEB053045 TRANSFORMERS LAST STAND GN $19.95

I like the idea of these.

MAR052785 TRANSFORMERS THE WRECKERS DIRECTORS CUT #2 $8.99
FEB053194 W JULIET VOL 4 GN $9.99
MAR052906 WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS GN $12.95

This sounds like a cool title. Anyone know what it is about?

JAN052377 WOMEN OF MYSTERY PACK $44.95
FEB053195 X/1999 VOL 18 INVERSION TP $9.95
MAR052485 ZIG ZAG #1 $5.95

That is all!

Feel free to share your thoughts, or just stop by later to see if I am right about anything...hehe.