Thursday, June 02, 2005

Current Comics Report for 6/2

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 (sometimes quite snarky, so be forewarned) comments.

Certain sections of the Current Report on the 6/2 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: June 2, 2005

DARK HORSE

MAR050057 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL VOL 14 LAST BLOOD TP (MR) $17.95
MAR050046 CONCRETE HUMAN DILEMMA #6 (OF 6) (MR) $3.50

I was reading an old Dazzler with art by Chadwick. It made me smile to see that a book of the quality of Dazzler had art by Chadwick and story by Archie Goodwin. Too much talent for such a silly book.

JAN050111 KOTOBUKIYA CHEWBACCA SOFT VINYL MODEL KIT $99.99
MAR050085 KOTOBUKIYA SCOUT TROOPER SOFT VINYL MODEL KIT $99.99

Why are these vinyl kits so expensive compared to the Yoda one? And if you're gonna spring for the hundred, you gotta get Chewy, right?

AUG040031 SHI JU NEN #4 (Of 4) $2.99

Enlighten me. This is about what, exactly?

DC COMICS

APR050326 AQUAMAN #31 $2.50

I predict that Arcudi will continue with his odd darkening of the characters in this title.

APR050315 BATMAN ARCHIVES VOL 6 HC $49.99

I predict that this will be super cool, and out of most people's price range.

MAR050358 BATMAN BEGINS CHRISTIAN BALE AS BATMAN BUST $45.00

Woah. Only $45! Unless, of course, DC is lying, and this is really a "mini-bust"!

MAR050361 BATMAN BEGINS KEN WATANABE RAS AL GHUL MINI STATUE $29.99

Wait...wasn't the Batman one CHEAPER? Odd.

MAR058274 BATMAN TALES OF THE DEMON NEW PTG $17.99

GREAT idea. This collection is good.

MAR050369 BATMAN VILLAINS SECRET FILES 2005 $4.99

Smart! Put the worst Batman artist on the cover of the Secret Files!

APR050305 BATMAN WAR GAMES ACT TWO TP $14.99
APR050329 BLOOD OF THE DEMON #4 $2.50

I predict that this issue will be an upswing from #3.

FEB058476 DAY OF VENGEANCE #1 SECOND PTG $2.50
APR050301 DETECTIVE COMICS #807 $2.99

Hmmm...Lapham on Batman...I predict a lot of sad, sad stuff.

APR050334 FIRESTORM #14 $2.50
MAR050406 HUMAN RACE #3 (OF 7) $2.99

Anyone buying this? Care to share why?

APR050396 INTIMATES #8 $2.99
DEC040343 JIM LEE BATMAN #608 POSTER $7.95
DEC040344 JIM LEE SUPERMAN #204 POSTER $7.95

$8 for a poster is too high. Tsk, tsk, DC.

APR050344 JSA #74 $2.50

I predict another useless crossover tie-in.

APR050362 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #10 $2.25

This book is a lot of fun.

APR050366 LOONEY TUNES #127 $2.25
APR050398 MATADOR #2 (OF 6) $2.99
APR050346 NEW TEEN TITANS WHO IS DONNA TROY TP $19.99

Smart idea.

MAR058202 OMAC PROJECT #1 THIRD PRINTING $2.50

What's up with these weak second printing covers? The same cover, only with a slightly different middle drawing!?!? Put some EFFORT into it, why don't you!!

APR050352 SEVEN SOLDIERS ZATANNA #2 (OF 4) $2.99

I predict more Promethea-esque goodness!

APR050357 SON OF VULCAN #1 (OF 6) $2.99

I predict the art will render this book difficult to follow.

APR050319 SUPERMAN #218 $2.50

What? No Infinite Crisis tie-in!?!

FEB050262 SUPERMAN BATMAN #20 $2.99

I predict that Loeb will continue his amazing story idea resurgence.

APR050417 SWAMP THING #16 (MR) $2.99
MAR050493 TRIGGER #6 (MR) $2.99
APR050400 TWILIGHT EXPERIMENT #5 (OF 6) $2.99

I like the art on this series.

APR050358 VILLAINS UNITED #2 (OF 6) $2.50
APR050419 WE 3 TP (MR) $12.99

Drool. Wish it was ten bucks, though.

APR050421 Y THE LAST MAN #34 (MR) $2.99

I predict a fun resolution to this story.

IMAGE

DEC041517 BURGLAR BILL #3 (OF 6) $2.95

I guarantee a fun story by Grist.

DEC041518 CASEFILES SAM & TWITCH #17 (RES) (MR) $2.50
FEB051590 IMAGINARIES CVR A MILLER #2 (OF 4) $2.95
FEB051591 IMAGINARIES CVR B TITUS #2 (OF 4) $2.95

It is silly when the company MAKES a creator do an alternate cover. This book is fun, by the way.

MAR051691 INVINCIBLE #23 $2.95

This will be good.

APR051682 MORA #3 $2.95
FEB051596 NOBLE CAUSES #10 $3.50

Ooh...I like this book, too.

MAR051700 PACT #2 (OF 4) $2.99

I predict that this will be a massive improvement over #1, but still not be good.

APR051689 SHADOWHAWK #2 $2.99
FEB051601 SMALL GODS #9 $2.95
MAR051704 SPAWN #146 (RES) (MR) $2.50

The last issue actually started an interesting new status quo on the book. Let's see if this issue continues it.

FEB051603 WALKING DEAD #19 (MR) $2.95

Why two Kirkman books in the same week!?!?

MARVEL

APR051888 AMAZING FANTASY #9 $2.99

I am pleased they just went with a different artist rather than try to overink Leonard Kirk into oblivion.

APR051925 EXILES #65 $2.99

Here it comes, Bedard...can you bring it all to a satisfactory resolution? I'm betting on no.

APR051956 FANTASTIC FOUR CLOBBERIN TIME DIGEST TP $7.99
MAR051907 FANTASTIC FOUR FOES #5 (OF 6) $2.99

This series seems so superfluous.

MAR051930 GAMBIT #11 $2.99
APR051867 HOUSE OF M #1 (OF 8) $2.99

Is there any chance of the STORY being significant rather than just the PLOT?

JAN058160 HOUSE OF M QUESADA VARIANT COVER #1 (OF 8) $2.99
APR051971 HULK GRAY TP $16.99

These Loeb/Sale things really read like OGNs, so this format should suit the story well.

APR051911 INCREDIBLE HULK #82 $2.99

Jae Lee's Hulk is so cool looking.

APR051877 LAST HERO STANDING #1 (OF 5) $2.99

I predict enjoyment if you love Tom DeFalco comics.

APR051918 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #4 $2.50
APR051929 MARVEL MUST HAVES NYX 4 & 5 $3.99

Wow...are these issues really "must have"?

APR051901 MARVEL TEAM-UP #9 $2.25
APR051930 ORORO BEFORE THE STORM #1 (OF 4) $2.99

I predict a fun, genial story. Then again, it IS a Sumerak story.

APR051890 SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL #5 (OF 7) (MR) $3.50
APR051876 SPIDER-GIRL #87 $2.99
MAR051899 STRANGE #6 (OF 6) $3.50

Man...what a terrible series THIS has been.

APR051936 UNCANNY X-MEN #460 $2.50

Really, rather than having an issue, why not just print out a sheet of paper pointing out where the X-Titles stand, continuity-wise, which is what this issue basically amounts to, really.

MAR051932 X-FORCE SHATTERSTAR #4 (OF 4) $2.99
APR051940 X-MEN UNLIMITED #9 $2.99

Ohhh...Fracton and Kieth on a story. Should be good.

WIZARD

APR052493 BTVS PALZ TOYFARE EX FIGURE (O/A) PI
APR052477 INQUEST GAMER CHO SPIDER-MAN CVR #123 $4.99
APR052478 INQUEST GAMER LEGO STAR WARS CVR #123 $4.99
APR052492 POWER MAN & IRON FIST MINIMATES TOYFARE EXCLUSIVES (O/ PI

What, they still have these? I am astonished.

COMICS

FEB052486 10TH MUSE VOL 2 PHOTO CVR FOIL ED SGN #1 $29.99

The extras outweigh the actual comic.

MAR053091 2000 AD #1438 $3.75
APR053188 66 THOUSAND MILES PER HOUR #2 (OF 12) (MR) $3.50

Who do you think is the best musician/comic book writer?

APR052494 A FINE LINE PRESS COLL (MR) $45.00
APR052998 ALIEN DICE VOL 1 TP $9.95
MAR053298 ANGEL SANCTUARY VOL 8 GN $9.99
APR052595 AP HOW TO DRAW MANGA NEXT GENERATION #6 $4.95
MAR053115 ATOMIKA #3 $2.99
MAR053304 BANANA FISH VOL 8 TP $9.95

Banana Fish is a fun title.

MAR053305 BASARA VOL 12 TP $9.99
APR053315 BECKETTS BASEBALL CARD PLUS JULY AUG 05 #18 $9.99
APR053317 BECKETTS BASKETBALL CARD PLUS SUMMER 05 #15 $9.99
MAR053239 BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER VOL 5 GN $7.99
MAR053116 BEOWULF #2 $2.99
MAR052600 BETTY #147 $2.19

Kathleen Webb is very underrated.

APR053062 BIRTH OF A NATION A COMIC NOVEL SC $13.95
MAR053084 BLACK BEAUTY GN $9.99
MAR053242 BLEACH VOL 7 TP $7.95
FEB052994 BLUE MONDAY VOL 4 PAINTED MOON TP (MR) $11.95

When's the next Blue Monday series?

MAR053315 BOYS OVER FLOWERS VOL 12 TP $9.99
APR052520 BY THE SWORD MANGA VOL 2 TP $9.99
MAR052969 CAL MCDONALD SUPERNATURAL FREAK MACHINE #3 (OF 5) $3.99

This book is fun. Get it, please.

APR052522 CHRONO CRUSADE MANGA VOL 5 TP $9.99
APR052527 CROMARTIE HIGH SCHOOL MANGA VOL 2 TP $10.95
MAR052978 CSI SECRET IDENTITY #4 (OF 5) $3.99
FEB052642 DANDY AND COMPANY ANTHROLOGY #4 $3.95
FEB052748 DARKSTALKERS ALVIN LEE CVR A #6 $2.95
FEB052750 DARKSTALKERS ARN CVR C POWER FOIL #6 PI

Please Inquire, as the demand might be SO great that we just can't let it go for under a million dollars.

FEB052749 DARKSTALKERS SKOTTIE YOUNG CVR B #6 $2.95
APR052870 DF BATMAN SGN #625 $19.99
APR052871 DF DAREDEVIL FATHER SGN #1 $29.99
APR052872 DF GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH JOHNS SGN #1 $19.95
FEB052804 DF JLA CLASSIFIED VARIANT CVR #1 REMARKED $69.99

I am pleased that DF gets special versions of comics.

FEB052803 DF JLA CLASSIFIED VARIANT CVR #1 SGN $19.99
APR052869 DF LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1 SGN $19.99
MAR052841 DF MONSTER WAR DRACULA DOMINATING EYE FOIL CVR #1 $14.99
DEC042592 DF SUPERMAN BATMAN #18 SGN $29.99

Loeb should tease McGuinness so much. "Pachecho's sig goes for more than yours!"

APR053182 DICK TRACY PACIFIC COMIC CLUB SET 3 $20.00
FEB053018 DOCTEUR MYSTERE VOL 2 THE WAR OF THE WORLDS HC (MR) $12.95
MAR052924 DONALD DUCK ADVENTURES VOL 12 TP $7.95
MAR052987 DOROTHY #3 (MR) $5.00
MAR053102 DRACULA VS KING ARTHUR #1 (OF 4) $2.95

The most natural combination I have ever seen.

MAR053247 DRAGONBALL Z VOL 20 TP $7.95
APR052564 DUE GN $12.95
APR052993 ECHOES OF THE LOST BOYS OF SUDAN $4.95
APR052568 EMO BOY #1 $2.95

This book looks like a LOT of fun. Seriously.

MAR053282 EYESHIELD 21 VOL 2 TP $7.99
MAR052765 FATHOM PRELUDE #1 $2.99

Prelude to WHAT, exactly?

MAR052770 FATHOM PRELUDE HIGH END LEE CVR #1 PI
MAR053083 FRANKENSTEIN PUFFIN GN $9.99
APR052535 FULL METAL PANIC OVERLOAD MANGA VOL 1 TP $9.99
FEB052445 GOLDEN AGE THEME PACK $44.95

What does this consist of, exactly?

APR052524 GUNSLINGER GIRL MANGA VOL 3 TP (MR) $9.99
APR052802 HACK SLASH VS EVIL ERNIE CRANK CVR B $4.95
APR052801 HACK SLASH VS EVIL ERNIE SEELEY CVR A $4.95

Hack/Slash AND Evil Ernie? How can this NOT be good!!

MAR053316 HANA KIMI VOL 6 GN $9.99
APR052999 HEAVY METAL HEARTS & FLOWERS A SCARY GO ROUND STORY $9.95
MAR053266 HIKARU NO GO VOL 4 TP $7.95
MAR053150 JING KING OF BANDITS TWILIGHT TALES VOL 4 GN (OF 6) $9.99
MAR052605 JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #2 $2.39
MAR053267 LEGENDZ VOL 2 GN $7.99
FEB052483 LETHAL INSTINCT #1 (NOTE PRICE ) $0.75

This is late, isn't it?

APR052838 LONG TIME RELATIONSHIP HC (O/A) (MR) $19.95
MAR053297 MAISON IKKOKU VOL 11 2ND ED TP $9.95
MAR052913 MANGA CALIENTE #2 (O/A) (A) $3.95
FEB052952 MAXIMORTAL TP NEW PTG $17.95

Good to see this getting a new printing.
MAR052971 METAL GEAR SOLID #9 $3.99

How annoying is it that you have to pick this book up to get Ashley Wood art?

MAR053223 MONKEY VS ROBOT NEW ED $10.00
APR052792 MY FRIEND DAHMER #1 (O/A) (MR) $2.95

Hehe...what a title!

APR052628 MYRIAD #2 (OF 6) $2.99
OCT042917 MYSTERIES OF THE RED MOON VOL 1 $12.95
MAR052542 NEXT EXIT #4 $2.95
MAR052634 NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SP #1 $3.99
MAR052638 NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SP GLOW CVR #1 $14.99
MAR052637 NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SP GORE CVR #1 $3.99
MAR052636 NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SP TERROR CVR #1 $3.99
MAR052635 NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET SP WRAPAROUND CVR #1 $3.99

If ever a book needed a glow in the dark cover, it was this book.

MAR053018 NOT QUITE DEAD #5 $3.99
APR052533 ORPHEN MANGA VOL 2 TP $9.99
MAR052607 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #94 $3.59

Does anyone know if Archie uses any actual plan when choosing reprints? Like a pattern or anything?

JAN052669 PAUL MOVES OUT HC $19.95
MAR053037 PHANTOM #6 $3.50
MAR052559 PILGRIM JAGER VOL 3 GN (OF 3) $9.99
MAR053066 REALITY SHOW GN (A) $9.95
MAR053086 RED BADGE OF COURAGE GN $9.99

Is this an actual adaptation? Neat idea.

MAR053268 RUROUNI KENSHIN VOL 15 TP $7.95
MAR052900 SCREAM QUEEN GN (MR) $12.95
MAR052962 SMOKE #1 (OF 3) $7.49

I love it when cool books have eye-catching covers like this one.

APR052671 STARGATE SG1 DANIELS SONG NOUVEAU JACKSON ED #1 $5.99
MAR053221 SUPER F$$$$$S #1 $7.00

This should be F$$$$$$n' sweet.

APR053071 TABLOIA #576 FIFTH ISSUE (MR) $5.95
MAR053034 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #11 $3.25

Anyone reading this series? I need more information before I predict about their quality!

MAR052640 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP #1 $3.99
APR052703 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP BLOODBATH CVR #1 $5.99
MAR052644 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP GLOW CVR #1 $14.99
MAR052643 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP GORE CVR #1 $3.99
MAR052642 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP RYP CVR #1 $3.99
MAR052641 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP WRAPAROUND CVR #1 $3.99

Do you think there's a "good story" variant edition as well?

JAN052815 THIEVES & KINGS #46 (RES) $2.95
MAR052918 TIJUANA BIBLES VOL 6 TP (A) $14.95
MAR052788 TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE #1 RED FOIL CON S/N ED $15.99
MAR053061 TREASURY VICTORIAN MURDER VOL 4 FATAL BULLET $8.95
MAR053062 TREASURY VICTORIAN MURDER VOL 5 MYSTERY MARY ROGERS HC $15.95
MAR053063 TREASURY VICTORIAN MURDER VOL 6 BEAST OF CHICAGO HC (O/A) $15.95
MAR053059 TREASURY VICTORIAN MURDER VOL 7 MURDER ABRAHAM LINCOLN HC $15.95

What the heck are THESE about?

MAR053295 TUXEDO GIN VOL 12 TP $9.99
APR052839 VERNACULAR DRAWINGS COLL SETH SKETCHBOOK HC (MR) $34.95
FEB052446 VINTAGE HEROES RETURN PACK $24.95
MAR052928 WALT DISNEYS VACATION PARADE #2 $8.95

I like these Disney collections.

APR052972 WILL EISNERS JOHN LAW VOL 1 S&N HC ED $50.00
MAR052777 XXXHOLIC VOL 5 GN $10.95
MAR053269 YU GI OH DUELIST VOL 5 TP $7.95
MAR053277 YU YU HAKUSHO VOL 7 TP $7.95
APR052910 ZED #6 $2.95

I read about this one on Newsarama. Seems interesting.

Well, that's it for me!

Be sure to check in to see if any of my guesses are even remotely correct, or to share your prejudices as well!

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