Current Comics Report for 7/20

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 7/20 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: July 20, 2005

DARK HORSE

MAY050038 BILLY THE KIDS OLD TIME ODDITIES #4 (OF 4) $2.99

I'd love to see an episode of Win Lose or Draw between Kyle Hotz and Kelley Jones.

You know you would, too.

MAY050016 CONAN #18 (MR) $2.99

Dave Stewart might be the most deserving Eisner winner ever. Such amazing work.

MAY050039 GOON #13 $2.99

Eric Powell is no slouch, either. I hope you all at least take a LOOK at this series post its impressive Eisner total.

APR050086 MUSICAL WAR OF THE WORLDS T/S BLACK LG $17.99
APR050085 MUSICAL WAR OF THE WORLDS T/S BLACK MED $17.99
APR050087 MUSICAL WAR OF THE WORLDS T/S BLACK XL $17.99
APR050088 MUSICAL WAR OF THE WORLDS T/S BLACK XXL $19.99

So...what does "musical" mean?

Is the shirt actually musical?

Like, does it play a tune?

Is it like that shirt in that episode of the Cosby Show that Rudy stole money to pay for that had lights on it?

Remember how Rudy pretty much disappeared when Olivia showed up, even though she was still around?

That's sorta like Mike Carlin and Dan Didio.

MAR050082 STAR WARS CLONE WARS VOL 6 ON THE FIELDS OF BATTLE TP $17.95
MAY050035 TONY MILLIONAIRE DRINKY CROW PVC (O/A) $19.99

I thought PVCs were CHEAPER?

DC COMICS

MAY050289 100 BULLETS VOL 8 THE HARD WAY TP (MR) $14.99
MAY050215 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #642 $2.50

Was this moved up?

I thought someone mentioned that this was coming out the same week as OMAC #4.

In any event, I predict another issue of Superman that is subjected to crossover-itis.

MAY050272 AUTHORITY REVOLUTION #10 (OF 12) (MR) $2.99

Is this the last Brubaker project for DC for awhile?

MAY050199 BATGIRL #66 $2.50
MAY050200 BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #67 $2.50

Run, Rich Burchett!

Get away while there is still time!

MAY050201 BATMAN JEKYLL AND HYDE #4 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY050221 BIRDS OF PREY #84 $2.50

Having seen the art in this issue, all I can think is, "Why did it take this long for Joe Bennett to stop aping Ed Benes?"

It is a welcome change.

Very nice art.

MAY050259 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY VOL 1 BRING IT ON TP $6.99
MAY050224 DAY OF VENGEANCE #4 (OF 6) $2.50
MAY050198 DETECTIVE COMICS #808 $2.99

This is the first time that I have ever waited until a storyline is over before reading it.

That's how much faith I have in you to make it good, Lapham!

MAY050275 EX MACHINA #13 (MR) $2.99
MAY050230 FLASH THE SECRET OF BARRY ALLEN TP $19.99

The secret of Barry Allen is a lot like the secret in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World....basically just a way to keep a bunch of dummies occupied for awhile without actually giving them anything.

MAY050234 HUMAN RACE #5 (OF 7) $2.99
MAY050239 JSA CLASSIFIED #1 $2.50

I think people who saw Conner's cover without looking at the title are going to be quite disappointed when there are no blowjobs inside the book.

MAY050268 LAND OF THE BLINDFOLDED VOL 4 $9.99
MAY050296 LUCIFER #64 (MR) $2.75
MAY050261 MAD CLASSICS #1 $4.99
MAY050241 MANHUNTER #12 $2.50

NOTE: This book is NOT good enough to kill off Manhunter from Power Company OR Mark Shaw.

MAY050246 PLASTIC MAN #17 $2.99

I just LOVE how Baker is teasing DC.

His teases are so on the point and actually insulting.

Unlike Wizard's recent Twisted Toyfare, which gave the absolute WIMPIEST New Avengers parody ever.

I would not have thought it possible that someone could set out to "parody" something and end up with what they got, which ultimately ended up as "New Avengers is wicked sweet!"

Please, Toyfare guys, explain thyselves!!

MAY050263 POWERPUFF GIRLS #64 $2.25
MAY050206 ROBIN #140 $2.50

I actually kinda admire the fact that Willingham doesn't even pretend to pay attention to how other writers handle Batman's characterization.

MAY050253 TEEN TITANS #26 $2.50

I am pretty sure the whereabouts of Dr. Light between Countdown to Infinite Crisis and the latest Green Arrow are unaccounted for.

Johns...how could you let this be!?!?!?

MAY050258 TEEN TITANS GO VOL 3 BRING IT ON TP $6.99

IMAGE

FEB051583 ATHEIST #2 $3.50
MAY051558 GIRLS #3 (MR) $2.99

Third times the charm!!

Let's hope I see a character i can root for!

MAY058098 GIRLS 2ND PRTG #2 (PP #678) $2.95
MAY058099 GIRLS 3RD PRTG #1 (PP #678) $2.95
MAY051530 GROUNDED #1 (OF 6) $2.95
APR051666 INVINCIBLE VOL 1 ULTIMATE COLL HC $34.95

This is a really cool idea.

MAR051693 LULLABY WISDOM SEEKER #4 (OF 4) $2.95
MAR051728 RISING STARS VOICES OF THE DEAD #2 (OF 6) $2.99

Is this about someone who died waiting for Rising Stars #20 to come out?

MAY051538 SILENCERS VOL 2 #1 $2.99

What was volume one about?

DEC041583 STRYKEFORCE TP $16.99
MAY051540 WILDGUARD FOOLS GOLD #2 (OF 2) $3.50

I predict that this will be very enjoyable.

APR051714 WITCHBLADE #87 $2.99

MARVEL

MAR051920 ASTONISHING X-MEN #11 $2.99

The test beckons...will Whedon avoid silliness and NOT have the "Kitty and Peter impaled" scene be a dream?!?

MAY051749 CABLE DEADPOOL #17 $2.99

Chat with Fabian Nicieza this Thursday night at 10pm EST at Comic Book Resources! Moderated by me!

MAY051815 CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL 1 WINTER SOLDIER HC $21.99
MAY051764 DAREDEVIL #75 $3.99

I think we will get a satisfactory ending.

MAY051773 DEFENDERS #1 (OF 5) $2.99

I predict that this issue will give us a TASTE of what the reaction to Justice League #1 would have been if the internet existed in 1987.

MAY051825 DOCTOR SPECTRUM FULL SPECTRUM TP (MR) $16.99
APR051976 ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN VOL 2 TP NEW PRINTING $16.99
APR051977 ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN VOL 3 TP NEW PRINTING $16.99
MAY051807 EXILES #67 $2.99
MAY051782 GLA #4 (OF 4) $2.99

C'mon, Slott, we're counting on you!

If this ends with all of the GLA still alive...well, then that will be way too predictable!

Surprise us! Please!

MAY051737 HOUSE OF M #4 (OF 8) $2.99
FEB058520 HOUSE OF M DIRECTORS CUT #1 (OF 8) (PP #676) $3.99

Why have a directors cut?

Everything Bendis has ever said about anything eventually ends up in the comic, no?

JAN058163 HOUSE OF M PETERSON VARIANT COVER #4 (OF 8) $2.99
MAY051745 INCREDIBLE HULK #84 $2.99
MAY051793 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #2 $2.50
MAY051794 MARVEL ADVENTURES FLIP MAGAZINE #2 $3.99
MAY051771 MARVEL KNIGHTS 4 #20 $2.99

This issue will be good.

MAY051762 MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #16 $2.99
MAY051814 MARVEL MASTERWORKS X-MEN VOL 5 HC VARIANT ED $54.99
MAY051813 MARVEL MASTERWORKS X-MEN VOL 5 NEW ED HC $49.99
MAY051774 MARVEL MILESTONES DR STRANGE SILVER SURFER SUB-MARINER HULK $3.99

I love these. Great way to remind people about masterworks.

APR051922 MARVEL TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #1 $3.99
MAY051805 ORORO BEFORE THE STORM #2 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY051740 SECRETS OF THE HOUSE OF M #1 $3.99

Secret #1 - Easy way to raise money - throw together a pile of random clippings and call it a "Secrets of" book...charge four dollars.

MAY051746 SPIDER-MAN HOUSE OF M #2 (OF 5) $2.99
MAY051818 THE PULSE VOL 2 SECRET WAR TP $11.99
MAY051753 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #80 $2.50

Ultimate Moon Knight IS pretty cool.

MAY051751 ULTIMATES 2 #7 $2.99

Only five issues left on the Millar challenge!

MAY051763 WOLVERINE #30 $2.50

I predict that this issue will be nowhere nearly as cool as the last one.

MAY051823 X-FORCE SHATTERSTAR TP $16.99
MAY051804 X-MEN KITTY PRYDE SHADOW & FLAME #2 (OF 5) $2.99

Poor Paul Smith.

Chris Claremont...James Robinson....the dude who wrote one good series (Thor: Son of Asgard).

WIZARD

MAY052339 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST CVR #23 $5.99
MAY052335 WIZARD MICHAEL TURNER MILLENNIUM LTD ED DLX HC $29.99

They should sell these in art stores.

I want to see what the reaction would be like.

MAY052343 YOUNG AVENGERS WW LA SKETCH CVR CGC 9.8 PI

Question...does Wizard NOT own a piece of CGC?

PLEASE tell me they don't own a piece of CGC.

Because if they own a piece of CGC, then the idea of them selling CGC graded copies of comics....oooooh...that would boil my blood.

MAY052342 YOUNG AVENGERS WW LA SKETCH CVR SGN #1 PI

COMICS

MAR052558 10TH MUSE #1-6 COLL PACK $6.00
APR053065 2000 AD #1443 (NOTE PRICE) $4.10
APR053066 2000 AD #1444 (NOTE PRICE) $4.10
APR052508 AC COLOR BEAUTY IN ACTION PACK $17.95
APR052821 AIDEN MCKAIN CHRONICLES BATTLE FOR EARTH #1 $2.99
MAY052761 ANAL INTRUDERS FROM URANUS #1 (A) (O/A) $3.95
MAY052463 AP HOW TO DRAW MANGA NEXT GENERATION #7 $4.95
MAY052498 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #93 $2.25
MAY052499 ARCHIE DIGEST #218 $2.39
JAN052633 ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD FOIL #4 PI

Ah, so THAT's what PI means!

Please Ignore.

That makes a whole lot more sense, doesn't it?

APR052894 ARSINOE #3 (A) $3.95
MAY052737 ART & BEAUTY #1 (MR) (O/A) $4.95
MAY052503 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #135 $3.59
APR052895 BLOWJOB #14 (A) $3.95

Can't say they aren't proud of themselves at least!

MAY052790 BONE VOL 2 GREAT COW RACE COLOR ED HC $18.95
MAY052789 BONE VOL 2 GREAT COW RACE COLOR ED SC $9.99

I like that these are in print.

APR052684 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH #5 $3.99
APR052687 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH FOIL INC #5 PI
APR052686 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH PREMIUM CVR #5 $9.99
JUN052819 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH SERENITY ED #2 $5.99
APR052685 BRIAN PULIDOS MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH WRAPAROUND #5 $3.99
JUN052818 BRIAN PULIDOS WAR ANGEL FIERY REAPER ED #1 (OF 3) $5.99

He really needs to invest in some sort of seal, for the "Brian Pulido Seal of Aproval."

It would be much easier than just naming each title Brian Pulido's.

Think of the ink that would be saved!

FEB058555 BTX VOL 1-4 GN SET (PP #669) $19.99
MAR058096 CANDIDATE FOR GODDESS VOL 1-4 GN SET (PP #670) $19.99
MAY052810 CASTLEVANIA THE BELMONT LEGACY #5 (OF 5) $3.99

I like Su.

JUN052665 CHRONO CRUSADE MANGA VOL 6 TP $9.99
JUN052666 CROMARTIE HIGH SCHOOL MANGA VOL 3 TP $10.95
APR053060 DANGEROUS VOL 2 #1 (A) $8.99
MAY052513 DEADLY ARE THE NAKED ART OF JIM SMITH SC $9.95
MAY052759 DILDO #9 (A) $3.95
MAY052905 DOCTOR WHO DRAGONS CLAW (O/A) $24.95
MAY052904 DOCTOR WHO THE TIDES OF TIME GN $24.95

Is there any Gibbons art on this one?

MAY052775 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #330 $2.95
MAY052762 EROS GN 53 HOUSEWIVES AT PLAY NEW PTG (A) $19.95
APR052510 FEMFORCE FINEST HOUR PACK $29.99

My finest hour was the one where I decided not to buy a pack of Femforce comics.

MAY052685 FORGOTTEN REALMS DARK ELF HOMELAND CVR A #2 (OF 3) $4.95
MAY052686 FORGOTTEN REALMS DARK ELF HOMELAND CVR B #2 (OF 3) $8.95
JUN052796 FRANK MILLERS ROBOCOP KICKING ASS ED #8 (OF 9) (MR) $5.99

I guess Miller was just so concentrating on ass...THAT explains the Vicky Vale scenes in All Star Batman #1!!

JUN052828 FRIDAY THE 13TH SP PAINTED CVR #1 (MR) $5.99
MAY052937 GATESVILLE COMPANY #1 $2.99

This book sounds like it has some promise.

APR052593 GOLD DIGGER #65 $2.99
MAY052735 GRAPHIC CLASSICS VOL 12 ADVENTURE CLASSICS $11.95
MAR052478 GUNPOWDER GIRL & OUTLAW SQUAW GN $12.95

I like Don Hudson.

I also like sepia tones.

They make western comics look cooool.

APR052953 HEARTBREAKERS MEET BOILERPLATE GN $9.99
APR053634 HOWLS MOVING CASTLE FILM COMIC #3 $11.99
APR053635 HOWLS MOVING CASTLE FILM COMIC #4 $11.99
MAY052464 I HUNT MONSTERS VOL 2 #7 $2.99
MAY052917 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #233 $11.99
APR053072 KATMANDU #32 (RES) (MR) $4.99
APR052541 KILLER STUNTS INC #3 (OF 4) $2.99

This is a really fun comic.

Worth taking a look at.

JUN052820 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1/2 VENGEANCE ED $5.99
MAY052543 LADY DEATH DEATH GODDESS $2.50
JUN052885 LADY DEATH DEATH GODDESS GOLD FOIL CVR $5.99
MAY052545 LADY DEATH DEATH GODDESS LOPEZ CVR $5.99
MAY052544 LADY DEATH DEATH GODDESS NOUVEAU CVR $5.99
MAY052547 LADY DEATH DEATH GODDESS PLATINUM FOIL CVR PI
MAY052546 LADY DEATH DEATH GODDESS PREMIUM CVR $9.99

DO NOT BUY!!

DO NOT BUY!

There is NO Brian Pulido Seal of Approval!

These must have been made in, like, some sweatshop!

Little kids, stamping on foil until 10:00 PM, their hands blistering from the hot tin foil presses.

Thank god Brian Pulido warns us so we do not reward these monsters.

MAY052465 LEGENDS FROM DARKWOOD SUMMER FUN SPECIAL $2.99
MAY052942 LORELEI VOL 1 BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST TP (MR) $9.95
MAY052749 LOVE & ROCKETS VOL 2 #14 (MR) $4.50

Coooool.

APR053026 LUCIFERS GARDEN OF VERSES VOL 2 DARLIN NIKI HC $15.95
APR052599 MANGAZINE VOL 3 #67 $9.99
NOV042854 MARQUIS VOL 1 DANSE MACABRE TP (STAR14259) (MR) $18.95
APR052688 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH BELLADONNA #1/2 $2.99
APR052692 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH BELLADONNA ART NOUVEAU CVR #1/2 $2.99
MAY052641 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH BELLADONNA COMMEMORATIVE CVR #1/2 $5.99
JUN052881 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH BELLADONNA GOLD FOIL CVR #1/2 $5.99
APR052691 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH BELLADONNA MARTIN CVR #1/2 $2.99
APR052690 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH BELLADONNA RYP CVR #1/2 $2.99
APR052689 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH BELLADONNA WRAPAROUND CVR #1/2 $2.99

"Sir? What does an "Art nouveau cover" mean?"

(whip cracks)

"SILENCE! BACK TO WORK! WE NEED THESE PULIDO KNOCKOFF COMICS IN COMIC STORES BY THIS WEDNESDAY!"

MAY052777 MICKEY MOUSE AND FRIENDS #279 $2.95
MAY052776 MICKEY MOUSE MEETS BLOTMAN $5.99
MAY052753 MINESHAFT #15 (MR) $5.00
MAY052872 MINKENSTEIN #0 (A) $2.95
JAN052628 MU MARK LEE CVR A #4 $2.95
JAN052629 MU MINWOO HYUNG CVR B #4 $2.95
MAY052940 MUTATION #1 $2.99
JUN052827 NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST SP PAINTED CVR #1 (MR) $5.99

If only this was large enough to frame.

MAY052772 NIGHTMARE WORLD VOL 1 TP $9.99
MAY052473 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #130 $2.99
APR053048 NORTHWEST PASSAGE #1 $5.95
APR053640 OH MY GODDESS COMPLETE MANGA VOL 1 $18.99
MAY052941 PARTING WAYS NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCES OF PETER ORBACH GN $12.99
APR052777 RED SONJA #1 $2.99
APR052778 RED SONJA FIERY RED FOIL HIGH END ED #1 PI

If you counted each variant cover of Red Sonja as an actual issue, I think it would beat She-Hulk to issue #100.

FEB058556 RISING STARS OF MANGA VOL 1-4 GN SET (PP #669) $19.99
MAY052601 ROSWELL WALKS AMONG US TP (O/A) $12.95
MAY053059 SATANIKA TALES #2 (MR) $3.95
FEB058557 SCRYED VOL 1-4 GN SET (PP #669) $19.99
JUN053335 SERGEANTSTEIN GN $14.95
MAY052599 SIMPSONS COMICS #108 $2.99

I predict another strong performance by Ian Boothby.

MAY052516 SOULFIRE DYING OF THE LIGHT #0 $2.50

Holy crap!

I think Soulfire, rather than going FORWARD, is now actually going BACKWARDS! Now THAT's slow!

MAR052917 SPUNKY KNIGHT XXX #2 (A) $3.95
FEB052828 SUPERNATURAL LAW FIRST AMMENDMENT ISSUE $3.50

Coolness.

A cool book for a cool cause!

MAY052757 TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE #1 (MR) $4.50
APR053013 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #12 $3.25
JUN052826 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE SP PAINTED CVR #1 (MR) $5.99
APR053091 TRANSFORMERS WAY OF THE WARRIOR TP $7.95
MAY052509 VERONICA #163 $2.25

I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating...Dan Parent is one of the more underrated writer/artists in the biz.

MAY052479 WEAPONS FILE #2 $4.95
APR053022 WILD #13 (A) $3.75
MAY052874 WILD #14 (A) $3.75
APR053198 WIZARD KING TRILOGY BOOK 1 DLX HC KING OF THE WORLD (O/A) $39.95
MAY052627 WULF & BATSY #1 $5.95
JUN052660 YOTSUBA MANGA VOL 2 TP $9.99

Well, that's it for me!

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

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