Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Current Comics Report for 6/29

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 6/29 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 22, 2005

DARK HORSE
JAN050091 BETTIE PAGE MINI BUST $44.95

Man...give Bettie esteem issues, why don't you!!

APR050019 BILLY THE KIDS OLD TIME ODDITIES #3 (OF 4) $2.99

What? Oh yeah, I totally knew that they were doing this project. No way did it slip my attention.

No way.

I am NOT a moron who missed out on a project by a creator (Eric Powell) that I like!!

Just saying.

DC COMICS
APR050388 ALBION #1 (OF 6) $2.99

I predict that this will be better than any previous Leah Moore project.

APR050390 AUTHORITY LOBO SPRING BREAK MASSACRE (MR) $4.99

I just love that Giffen, Grant and Bisley are still revisiting the Paramiliary Christmas Special FOURTEEN years later.

If I had told you, "Yeah, this would still be done in 2005" in 1991, would you have believed me?

APR050307 BATGIRL #65 $2.50
APR050302 BATMAN #641 $2.50
APR050308 BATMAN ALLIES SECRET FILES 2005 $4.99

I think that this is sort of a sign, don't you?

When a character "needs" TWO SEPARATE "Secret Files" to handle all his supporting cast...maybe the character is being extended a bit too much.

Just maybe.

Just throwing that out there.

A point to ponder.

One to grow on.

(As an aside, they make this big deal over Batman's helpers all leaving Gotham, but then they do an "Allies" Secret Files. Weeeird)

MAY050310 BATMAN JAPANESE IMPORT AF CASE SERIES 3 ASST PI

How did they sneak past the border patrol?!?!

APR050327 BATMAN SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN TRINITY TP $17.99
APR050365 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #10 $2.25
APR050394 CITY OF TOMORROW #3 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99

Maybe Chaykin is just losing me...but I just have not enjoyed this series.

JAN050387 CLASSIC ICONS OF THE DCU POSTER $7.99

Okay...get this.

"Classic Icons of the DCU" is....

Wait for it.

The cover of Superman/Batman #10.

Am I the only one who finds that kinda odd?

APR050383 COMPLETE INDIGO PRIME TP (MR) $19.99
APR050375 DEVIL DOES EXIST VOL 2 $9.99

Of course he does...

APR050335 FLASH #223 $2.50

...case in point.

APR050338 GREEN LANTERN #2 $2.99

"You know who isn't used enough? The Manhunters."

Yeah...pretty sure that phrase has never come out of any reader's mouth.

APR050407 HELLBLAZER #209 (MR) $2.75
APR050340 JLA CLASSIFIED #9 $2.99

I estimate that this will be the last truly enjoyable JLA Classified for awhile...unless you count dusted off Ellis scripts.

FEB050346 LOEG THE ABSOLUTE ED VOL 2 OVERSIZED HC $75.00

The absolute series continues to be absolutely awesome.

APR050403 LOSERS #25 (MR) $2.99
APR050408 LUCIFER VOL 8 THE WOLF BENEATH THE TREE TP (MR) $14.99
APR050349 OMAC PROJECT #3 (OF 6) $2.50

Question for the audience - do you think Rucka had the future Checkmate plot in mind when he made Sasha a member. I am not talking specifics (like Big Brother or Maxwell Lord, but just that Checkmate was going to be this big, evil organization run by bad guys), just generally...do you think he did?

APR050355 OUTSIDERS #25 $2.50

In last week's Teen Titans, Johns had one of the Outsiders say something about an other Outsider, and right there, in, like, two sentences of dialogue, Johns gave them more characterization than in the first 24 issues of this book.

MAR050468 PLANETARY #23 $2.99
APR050351 SEVEN SOLDIERS SHINING KNIGHT #3 (OF 4) $2.99

I predict that this book will be excellent.

APR050353 SOLO #5 $4.99

I estimate that Darwyn Cooke will embrace the Solo format more so than the first four participants.

JAN050388 SUPERGIRL FROM KRYPTON POSTER $7.99

I love it! They're just using up that entire run's covers!! Yeah, you work that Turner, DC!

MAR050392 SUPERMAN INFINITE CITY HC $24.99

Am I the only one who sometimes does not even know what the hell Carlos Meglia is drawing?

MAR050428 WONDER WOMAN #217 $2.25

My problem with the current Wonder Woman is that there is a decided lack of balancing her former selves on her head.

More balancing Wonder Woman's former selves on her head!

And don't forget them all surfing, too!

IMAGE
APR051656 AVIGON GODS & DEMONS GN (MR) $19.95
APR051658 BLACKLIGHT #1 $2.99
APR058297 GIRLS NEW PRTG #1 (MR) $2.95

New printing?

Do you think maybe they took out all the dialogue that made the STAR of the book into a gigantic asshole?

I'd like that.

FEB051642 KEU CHA PIRATE DARKNESS LITHO $19.99

Still searching for a Fourth of July present?

Search no longer!

FEB051594 LULLABY WISDOM SEEKER #3 (OF 4) $2.95
APR051686 PACT #3 (OF 4) $2.95

So far, this series is 1-1...this is a big issue then...which way will it go?

APR051690 SPAWN #147 (RES) $2.50
MAR051729 WITCHBLADE #86 $2.99

MARVEL
APR051884 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #521 $2.50

ALREADY with the "Isn't it weird that MJ and Peter live in a fancy building?" storyline?

Sounds to me like their stay is not going to last long, as JMS is buring off plot points like they was no tomorrow.

MAR051882 ARANA HEART OF THE SPIDER #5 $2.99
APR051964 BEST OF SPIDER-MAN VOL 4 HC $29.99

Do you think when they titled this project, they felt a LITTLE guilty?

I mean...Sins Past is "Best of Spider-Man."

That's shameless.

FEB058021 CAPTAIN AMERICA LTD ED VARIANT #6 $2.99

"Ya see, we only make a few second printings, right?"

"Right. So?"

"Well, since we only do a few, that makes it LIMITED EDITION, right?"

"I like where you are going with this!"

APR051898 FANTASTIC FOUR #528 $2.99

Kurt Addams had a great line about the Thing's money windfall when he pointed out that, hey, if Reed is having money problems, why doesn't Ben just lend him money?

BUSTED, JMS!

APR051950 FANTASTIC FOUR THE MOVIE TP $12.99

As I mentioned the other week, this was a smart move by Marvel, coming up with the idea of packaging the movie adaptation with a bunch of reprints.

Shrewd, Marvel.

SHREWD!

APR058048 HOUSE OF M COIPEL GATEFOLD VARIANT #1 (OF 8) $2.99
APR051881 LAST HERO STANDING #5 (OF 5) $2.99

FINALLY, Lyja is being shown her due!!

APR051906 MACHINE TEEN #2 (OF 5) $2.99

I'm sorry...this is taking too long.

He has GOT to know he's a robot by the end of #2.

Not "I think I am a robot!"

But his father has to let him in on it by the end of #2.

Not the beginning of #3.

End of #2.

Otherwise, this is taking too long.

You only have five issues to work with here, Marc!!

APR051920 MARVEL HEROES FLIP MAGAZINE #1 $3.99

What does this issue include?

APR051961 MARVEL MASTERWORKS CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL 2 HC VAR ED $54.99
APR051960 MARVEL MASTERWORKS CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL 2 NEW ED HC $49.99

Okay, so the variant is that one has a nice slip cover.

I apologize Marvel, that is a legitimate expense.

APR051910 MARVEL MILESTONES DR DOOM SUB-MARINER & RED SKULL $3.99

I guess I like this concept...but since this is basically just a big ad for the hardcovers...couldn't they lower the price a tad?

APR051924 MARVEL SELECT FLIP MAGAZINE #1 $3.99

And this one?

APR051968 NEW INVADERS TO END ALL WARS TP $19.99
APR051928 NEW X-MEN HELLIONS #2 (OF 4) $2.99

This series has been good.

It is a good thing they got rid of these writers from New X-Men.

That was sarcasm.

Just wanted to make sure you knew.

APR051900 OFFICIAL HANDBOOK MARVEL UNIVERSE FANTASTIC FOUR 2005 $3.99
APR051915 RUNAWAYS #5 $2.99

I estimate that we will hear about only one cry of

SPOILER WARNING!!!

Aww...it WASN'T Doom!!!

Just one.

SPOILER WARNING OVER!!!

MAR051888 SPIDER MAN HUMAN TORCH #5 (OF 5) $2.99

I really hope this is not the last we see of Ty Templeton for awhile.

He is a very good artist.

APR051933 X-MEN #172 $2.50

It IS kind of strange that Foxx's whole reason of being is that she looks really hot...but then when you see her, she's kinda weird looking.

Strange artistic decision on Larocca's part.

APR051871 X-MEN KITTY PRYDE SHADOW & FLAME #1 (OF 5) $2.99

I predict that this project will be improved immnensely by just concentrating on Paul Smith's awesome art, and skip the "story" aspect of the book.

APR051963 X-MEN PHOENIX ENDSONG HC $19.99
APR051914 YOUNG AVENGERS #5 $2.99

"The Young Avengers have a GAY old time!"

As I told Dorian, that is the natural progression for the solicitations for this comic, which have progressively gotten weirder and weirder with the whole "bring the gay thing up a lot in the solicits, but make sure we never actually address it IN the comic."

WIZARD
MAY052334 WIZARD COMICS MAGAZINE FANTASTIC 4 PHOTO CVR #166 $5.99
MAY052333 WIZARD COMICS MAGAZINE HOUSE OF M CVR #166 $5.99

COMICS
APR052948 (USE APR058144) ANGEL THE CURSE #1 (OF 5) $3.99

I do not know why it wants people to use a different code. Is this some kind of scam? Is the money from the sales of Angel The Curse #1 going to help some Nigerian guy move his money out of the country?

MAR052512 10TH MUSE VOL 2 #2 $2.99
MAR052513 10TH MUSE VOL 2 PHOTO CVR FOIL ED #2 $4.99

Wouldn't it be great if the cover was a photo OF a piece of foil?

APR052985 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #15 (A) $4.99
MAR053512 ALL TRANSFORMERS ENCYCLOPEDIA SC $17.99
MAR053503 APOCRIPHA 0 OFF BK $39.99
APR052638 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #162 $3.59
APR052721 BART SIMPSON COMICS #24 $2.99

What else has Jason Bates done?

APR052639 BETTY #148 $2.25
APR052934 BLACK ENCHANTRESS #3 $2.99
MAR053504 BRAVE FIGHTER SERIES MEMORIAL BK $52.99
MAY052561 BRIAN PULIDOS BELLADONNA MOONLIGHT ED #4 (OF 5) $5.99
MAY052565 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH SWIMSUIT PRISM FOIL CVR 2005 $12.99

When ISN'T Lady Death in a swimsuit?

MAR052652 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH #4 $3.99
MAR052655 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH FOIL INC #4 PI
MAY052560 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH PORTRAIT ED #1 $5.99
MAR052654 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH PREMIUM CVR #4 $9.99
MAR052653 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH WRAPAROUND #4 $3.99
MAY052563 BRIAN PULIDOS UNHOLY PRISM CVR #1 $12.99
MAY052564 BRIAN PULIDOS UNHOLY SURE SHOT CVR #2 $5.99
MAR052656 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL #3 (OF 3) $3.50
MAR052658 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL ADRIAN CVR #3 (OF 3) $3.50
MAR052660 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL PREMIUM CVR #3 (OF 3) $9.99
MAR052659 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL RYP CVR #3 (OF 3) $3.50
MAR052657 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL WRAPAROUND CVR #3 (OF 3) $3.50

I think all of this probably derived from a childhood trauma where Pulido called a seat, but his siblings ignored it.

So now, he lays claim to everything.

MAY052920 BURING SANDWICHES (MR) $7.95
MAY052907 CAVALCADE OF BOYS VOL 2 TP (MR) $14.00

Lyle recommends this series here.

Check it out.

He is neat.

APR052970 COMPLETE JON SABLE FREELANCE VOL 2 TP $19.99

With all these DVD collections and TPs, it is like the 80s never ended!

MAR053536 COSMODE #7 $24.99
FEB052758 COSPLAY KOROMO CHAN VOL 1 TP (RES) $9.95

A comic about cosplay could be funny, but geared towards cosplay READERS?

Maybe not so good.

APR052979 CSI SECRET IDENTITY #5 (OF 5) $3.99
APR052981 DAMPYR #3 SAND SPECTERS $7.99
MAR053505 DEAD OR ALIVE ULTIMATE BEST SHOT SC $44.99
MAY052572 DEMONSLAYER VOL 1 TP ALT CVR $19.95
MAY053042 DICK TRACY UNHOLY MATRIMONY $9.50

A collection of Gould strips from 1939.

How cool is THAT?

MAR053506 DIGITAL ANIME ARTWORK SC $64.99
MAR053544 DOLLY DOLLY MAG #6 $39.99
APR052944 ELKS RUN VOL 1 #2 $3.00
MAR052508 ELSINORE #2 (OF 9) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
JAN052366 ESSENTIAL ARSENIC LULLABY VOL 1 HC SGN $45.99
MAY052575 EXPOSURE SECOND COMING #1 (OF 2) (O/A) $3.50
MAY052576 EXPOSURE SECOND COMING #2 (OF 2) (O/A) $3.50
MAY052577 EXPOSURE SPECIAL #1 (O/A) $3.50

I can't believe Al Rio has to share credit with a writer for this book!

I mean, come on, man!

Busty female detectives?!?

You don't need a writer!

This writes itself!

FEB052562 EZRA VOL 1 EGYPTIAN EXCHANGE TP $9.95
APR052799 FORGOTTEN REALMS DARK ELF HOMELAND CVR A #1 (OF 3) $4.95
APR052800 FORGOTTEN REALMS DARK ELF HOMELAND CVR B #1 (OF 3) $8.95

Why is Cover B so much more expensive?

MAR053515 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST ANIME COMIC #2 $17.99
MAR053518 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST MANGA #9 $7.99
MAR053516 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST TV ANIMATION ART BK #2 $24.99
MAR053517 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST TV ANIMATION COMP BK MATERIAL SIDE $34.99
APR053264 FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 7 2ND ED TP $9.95
APR052904 GENIE #1 $2.95

Is this the manga Genie?

MAY052681 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #1 $2.95

I question the artist choice for this book.

MAR052590 GO GO GORILLA & JUNGLE CREW SUMMER SP $2.95
APR053113 GRAVITATION VOL 12 GN (OF 12) (MR) $9.99
APR053084 GRIMOIRE #4 $2.99
APR052964 HELL HOUSE VOL 4 TP $6.49
APR052905 HELL MICHIGAN #1 (MR) $2.95

Jolley fans! Pay attention!

I think this will be good.

FEB052759 HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOL 3 TP (RES) (MR) $9.95
MAR053507 HOWLS MOVING CASTLE FILM COMIC #1 $12.99
MAR053508 HOWLS MOVING CASTLE FILM COMIC #2 $12.99
MAR053509 HOWLS MOVING CASTLE ROMAN ALBUM $24.99

See, save a whole buck by buying the collection!!

APR053085 HUNGER #2 (MR) $2.99
MAY052721 I NEVER LIKED YOU (STAR15467) $15.95

We are lucky that this is available again.

Chester Brown is good.

APR053121 IMMORTAL RAIN VOL 6 GN (OF 6) (MR) $9.99
JAN052661 INFINITE RYVIUS VOL 2 TP $9.95

That is going to be a LOT of ryvius.

MAY052773 INTERNAL FURY #1 $2.00
MAY052578 JADE WARRIORS SLAVE OF THE DRAGON #1 (OF 3) (O/A) $3.50
MAR052506 JOHNNY CARONTE VOL 1 ZOMBIE DETECTIVE & REVOLVER GN $5.99
MAR053510 JUBEI CHAN 2 OFF GD BK $29.99
APR052644 JUGHEAD #166 $2.25

Should Jughead date girls?

APR053118 KARE KANO VOL 16 GN (OF 18) $9.99
FEB052761 KING OF FIGHTERS 2003 VOL 1 TP (RES) $13.95
APR053000 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #104 $3.99
MAY052566 LADY DEATH LEATHER & LACE 2005 KILLER BODY ED $5.99

DON'T BUY THIS!

It doesn't say Brian Pulido on it!!

I am sorry I ever doubted you, Brian!

I see now why it is important to protect your brand!

Stinking ripoff artists out there!!

MAR052515 LEGEND OF ISIS #1 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR052514 LEGEND OF ISIS VOL 1 BEGINNINGS TP $9.99
APR052504 LICENSABLE BEAR #1 (O/A) $2.95
APR052503 LICENSABLE BEAR #2 $2.95

Come on.

It is about a cute cuddly bear who goes around licensing himself.

That is just awesome.

APR052912 LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK TP $16.99

Stony should loooove this. I can't believe it wasn't available before.

APR052956 LURKERS TP $17.99

This is a nice pick-up to read in trade form.

APR053250 MAR VOL 2 GN $9.99
MAR052965 METAL GEAR SOLID VOL 1 S&N HC $50.00
APR052913 MICKEY MOUSE ADVENTURES VOL 4 TP $7.95
MAR052582 MR T #1 $3.50

Nice.

APR053004 NAT TURNER #1 $3.00
APR052788 NEGIMA VOL 6 GN (MR) $10.95
MAY052475 NHS ALPHABET PACK PI
APR052789 OTHELLO VOL 4 GN (MR) $10.95
MAY052477 OZ THE MANGA #2 (OF 8) $2.99
MAR052516 PAKKINS LAND VOL 2 #2 $2.99
MAR053519 PASH #1 $12.99
MAR052517 PENNY & AGGIE #1 (OF 4) $2.99

This is a fun collection of a fun strip.

APR052790 PERFECT DAY FOR LOVE LETTERS VOL 1 GN (OF 3) $10.95
MAR053511 RETURN OF NADIA SC $57.99
MAY052401 RICA TTE KANJI GN (MR) $15.00
MAR053542 S MAG WINTER 2005 $24.99
APR052836 SATIROPLASTIC HC (MR) $19.95
APR052951 SHAUN OF THE DEAD #1 (OF 4) $3.99
APR052952 SHAUN OF THE DEAD #1 SIGNED ED $19.99

A little trivia for you.

This project is drawn by Zach Howard, and it is because he was signed on to do THIS book that he passed on Batman Year One Scarecrow, but led him to suggest his studiomate, Sean Murphy, for the job.

The rest is "This Artist Is Good" history...hehe.

MAY052530 STARGATE SG1 DANIELS SONG ROYAL BLUE ED #1 $75.00

Holy crap!

72 bucks more because it is BLUE?!!?

I think more companies should just charge 1000 per book.

They'd only need a few dudes to buy it!

MAY053045 SURROGATES #1 (OF 5) $2.95
APR052935 TALES OF THE CHAMPIONS #1 $2.99
APR052732 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE VOL 3 TP (MR) $24.99

They should have called it Vol. III.

Roman numerals are classier.

And Tarot is a classy, classy book.

MAR053513 TRANSFORMERS FIRST SERIES COMPLETE SC $57.99

Wait...that can't be right, can it?

Is this like the Bone thing?

If so, that's kinda cool.

MAR053532 TRIGUN MAXIMUM MANGA #10 (NOTE PRICE) $10.99
MAR053533 TRIGUN MAXIMUM MANGA #11 $9.99
MAR052884 UNDERLORDS #4 $2.95
FEB052557 VAMPIRE PAGEANT ONE SHOT $3.50
FEB052641 VAMPIRE PAGEANT ONE SHOT SP ED PI
MAR053514 VIRGIN YOSHITAKA AMANO HC $77.99
MAY052797 W.I.T.C.H. VOL 1 GN $4.99

What in the cheese hell is this book about?

APR052791 WALLFLOWER VOL 4 GN (MR) $10.95
MAY053101 WOLFS RAIN VOL 2 GN (O/A) $9.99
JAN052570 X-FILES VOL 1 TP $19.95

Why hasn't THIS been put out yet?!?!

APR052552 XIII #1 (NOTE PRICE) $0.75
MAY052402 YURI MONOGATARI GN (MR) $15.00
FEB052584 ZOMBIE TALES #1 $6.99
APR053027 ZORRO #2 $2.95

That is it for me!

Well, those are my estimations!

Feel free to share your own, or just check back to see how wrong I was!

Read More

2 Comments:

Blogger Greg said...

Christopher - I bought it! How can you not buy it???? Have you no soul????

Okay, it's not that good. Later on I'll have a proper review of it. But it's MR. FREAKIN' T!

6/29/2005 07:06:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

The mighty desert is burning jired88 for the love of a bladeof grass who
shakes her head and laughs and flies away.
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