Current Comics Report for 7/7

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 7/7 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 7, 2005

DARK HORSE

FEB050074 FREAKS OF THE HEARTLAND TP $17.95

This was a fun story, and I would like to see the trade paperback format open the story up to more readers.

MAR050087 MIRROR MASK REALLY USEFUL JOURNAL $19.99
APR050093 POKEMON B0BBLE HEADS SER 2 GACHA CAPSULE PI

Dark Horse picked the perfect time to cash in on the Pokemon craze....of 1999.

APR050095 SIMPSONS BOBBLE HEADS SER 3 GACHA CAPSULE TOY (O/ PI

I must say - bobble heads are better than cardboard cutouts.

MAY050073 STAR WARS CLONE WARS VOL 5 THE BEST BLADES TP (O/ $17.95
FEB050185 STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE TP (STAR08611) $17.95

Seems a little odd to release this NOW.

Still, it's a good product.

FEB050053 STAR WARS EMPIRE #32 $2.99

Whether you are a Ron Marz fan or not, it is amazing how a pro like Marz just brings books like Star Wars Empire to a whole new level when he is writing the title.

APR050035 USAGI YOJIMBO #85 $2.99

DC COMICS

MAY050220 AQUAMAN #32 $2.50

Have they announced a replacement for Gleason yet?

Or is he still theoretically returning after the Green Lantern Corps mini-series?

And will Arcudi make Aquaman less of a jerk anytime soon?

I predict he will not.

Therefore, I will predict that this comic will continue being not that good.

MAY050273 AUTHORITY HUMAN ON THE INSIDE SC (MR) $17.99

Seriously, who thought that Authority was still hot enough to justify a graphic novel?

MAY050196 BATMAN DARK DETECTIVE #5 (OF 6) $2.99

I believe that Marshall Rogers' art has gone down in quality since he first Batman run with Englehart.

MAY050203 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #193 $2.50

I estimate that we will see some more really good Seth Fisher art in this issue.

MAY050222 BLOOD OF THE DEMON #5 $2.50

I believe that this team-up of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman will be better than whatever team-ups the three will have in Infinite Crisis.

DEC040346 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 INNER CASE PI
DEC040345 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 MASTER CASE PI
DEC040348 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 MONITOR AF PI

Things you will never hear:

(sound of wrapping paper being torn)

"WOW! A Monitor action figure! Just what I wanted! Thanks, Mom and Dad!"

"I am glad you like it. Happy Birthday, Son!"

DEC040350 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 PSYCHO PIRATE AF PI

Slightly more likely scenario:

"I am sorry, son, but this Psycho Pirtate was the only one left at the store."

DEC040347 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 ROBIN AF PI

Was Robin even IN Crisis?

I mean, for more than a few pages?

DEC040349 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 SUPERGIRL AF PI
MAY050225 DC SPECIAL THE RETURN OF DONNA TROY #2 (OF 4) $2.99

I predict more of the same from #1.

In that people who follow the story without a problem will be awarded a special prize from DC Comics.

MAY050292 DEAD BOY DETECTIVES DIGEST (MR) $9.99

Jill Thompson is good.

Dead Boy Detectives are good.

Therefore, I estimate that this comic will be good.

APR050371 ELFQUEST THE GRAND QUEST VOL 9 TP $9.99
MAY050227 FIRESTORM #15 $2.50

I enjoyed his first issue well enough, so I hope this issue will be good as well.

MAY050205 GOTHAM CENTRAL #33 $2.50

Gotta give it up..."What would happen if someone dressed as Robin showed up dead?" is an intriguing as all hell story idea.

MAY050277 INTIMATES #9 $2.99

I really enjoyed last issue, so I hope this issue is good as well. Someone else recently made the excellent point that this is already as far as Automatic Kafka got.

So congrats, Joe!

MAY050256 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #11 $2.25

This series is sooo much better than JLA.

JAN050385 KINGDOM COME SUPERMAN HAWKMAN RED ROBIN STATUE $89.99

Can you really market something to just three people?!

MAY050264 LOONEY TUNES #128 $2.25
MAY050269 MADARA VOL 4 (MR) $9.99
MAY050279 MATADOR #3 (OF 6) $2.99

I predict a big improvement with this issue. Let us see if Greg agrees.

FEB050339 OCEAN #6 (OF 6) $3.99

You just can't make us wait this long for a story like this.

Just wait and release it as an OGN.

APR050384 ROGUE TROOPER VOL 2 FORT NEURO TP $17.99
MAY050248 SON OF VULCAN #2 (OF 6) $2.99

As I said to Johanna recently, while Son of Vulcan #1 was a competent story...I do not think "competent" is enough.

MAY050247 SPACE GHOST TP $14.99
MAY050211 SUPERMAN THAT HEALING TOUCH TP $14.99

What a weeeeird title for the issues it is collecting (Rucka's Adventures of Superman).

MAY050303 SWAMP THING #17 (MR) $2.99

Really, this comic needs to be put out of its misery.

JAN050386 THE BATMAN BATMAN MAQUETTE $89.99

Could someone please explain what a maquette is?

APR050387 TRANSGENESIS 2025 VOL 1 ANCESTOR PROGRAM TP (MR) $17.99

Not a fan.

MAY050280 TWILIGHT EXPERIMENT #6 (OF 6) $2.99
DEC040353 VERTIGO DESTRUCTION MINI BUST $45.00

I think this is just the kind of niche-y product that will succeed.

APR058327 VILLAINS UNITED #2 SECOND PTG $2.50
MAY050305 Y THE LAST MAN #35 (MR) $2.99

Someone made a REALLY good critique of Y recently that I really was struck by.

Y is basically written like a box office blockbuster action movie.

And that is not meant as a compliment.


IMAGE

APR051665 AMAZING JOY BUZZARDS VOL 1 TP $11.95

Finally, the conclusion to the series...all in PRINT!

APR051657 BATTLE POPE COLOR #1 $2.99

I predict that this will be very cool.

MAY051529 BONEREST #1 (MR) $2.95

Is this a reprint title?

APR051721 DARKNESS #21 $2.99

Brian Buccellato?!?

I prefferd Tieri.

MAR051727 HUNTER KILLER #3 $2.99

Don't worry, Mark Waid, Silvestri's art also made Morrison's stories look stupid, so it's not your fault!

MAY051577 STRANGE GIRL #2 $2.95

Rich Remender is a good writer, so I have faith in the quality of this title.

MAY051539 WILDGUARD FOOLS GOLD #1 (OF 2) $3.50

This should be a lot of fun.

MARVEL

MAY051786 AMAZING FANTASY #10 $2.99

How WEIRD is it that these characters are going to be appearing in PAD's Hulk HoM crossover?!?

FEB058414 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE DOLLAR DIGEST PI

This isn't going to be reprinting Avengers #1-3, is it?

Because that would be a dumb idea.

MAY051769 DAREDEVIL VS PUNISHER #1 (OF 6) $2.99

I bet this will be awesomely cool.

APR051973 ESSENTIAL DAREDEVIL VOL 1 TP NEW PRINTING $16.99
APR051972 ESSENTIAL IRON MAN VOL 1 TP NEW PRINTING $16.99

I enjoy the Essentials.

MAY051806 EXILES #66 $2.99
FEB058413 FANTASTIC FOUR FIRST FAMILY DOLLAR DIGEST PI

FF #1-3 is better than Avengers #1-3, so I wouldn't mind that here.

MAY051739 FANTASTIC FOUR HOUSE OF M #1 (OF 3) $2.99

I love the idea of writing a Fantastic Four tie-in when the FF does not exist in the House of M universe.

Talk about putting a writer into a tough spot!

Bad enough that the guy had to write Gambit!

MAY051736 HOUSE OF M #3 (OF 8) $2.99

Here it is!

And knowing the ending?

All I can say is...yawn.

JAN058162 HOUSE OF M CASSADAY VARIANT COVER #3 (OF 8) $2.99
FEB058416 HULK HULK SMASH DOLLAR DIGEST PI
MAY051744 INCREDIBLE HULK #83 $2.99
MAY051738 IRON MAN HOUSE OF M #1 (OF 3) $2.99

I like Greg Pak, so I predict that this issue will be good.

MAY051792 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #5 $2.50
MAY051783 MARVEL TEAM-UP #10 $2.99

I think this issue will be the best one yet.

MAY051766 SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL #6 (OF 7) (MR) $3.50

This isn't over yet?

MAY051760 SPIDER-GIRL #88 $2.99
FEB058412 SPIDER-MAN AMAZING FANTASY DOLLAR DIGEST PI
FEB058415 SPIDER-MAN DOCTOR OCTOPUS DOLLAR DIGEST PI
MAY051761 SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #10 $2.99

Some good talent in this issue.

MAY051828 THING FREAKSHOW TP $17.99

Way to cash in Johns' popularity!

Only a couple of years too late. Hehe.

MAY051752 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #79 $2.50
MAY051742 UNCANNY X-MEN #462 $2.50

Any chance this issue WON'T be convoluted?

Not to say it won't be FUN.

FEB058417 X-MEN CHILDREN OF THE ATOM DOLLAR DIGEST PI
MAY051820 X-MEN NEW AGE OF APOCALYPSE TP $20.99

WIZARD

MAY052340 ASTONISHING X-MEN COLOSSUS WW LA EX BUST PI
MAY052341 EMERALD SHIELD GREEN LANTERN TOYFARE EX FIGURE PI
MAY052338 INQUEST GAMER HITCH HULK CVR #124 $4.99
MAY052344 YOUNG AVENGERS WW LA SKETCH CVR SGN CGC 9.8 PI

I love all the Please Inquires.

I foresee a lot of negotiations!

COMICS

APR052545 10TH MUSE ODYSSEY GN $9.99
APR052544 10TH MUSE VOL 2 #3 $2.99
MAY052478 A FEW DOLLARS MORE OZ THE MANGA #2 PI
APR053221 ALL NEW TENCHI MUYO VOL 6 TP $8.95
APR052950 ANGEL THE CURSE #1 BRADSTREET SIGNED ED $19.99
MAR052714 ARCHANGELS THE FALL #1 $4.50
JAN052630 ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD #4 $2.99

This book has really disappointed me.

DEC042525 ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD GLOW #3 PI

What?!?

They are printing this gem THEMSELVES?!?

Poor DFE!!

MAR052591 ATOMIC AGE TREASURY OF PULP ACTION VOL 1 TP (O/A) $12.95
APR053227 BASTARD VOL 8 TP (MR) $9.99
DEC043019 BECKETTS RACING CARD PLUS SPR SUM 05 #4 $9.99

I like when Becketts sneak into the comic section.

Then I can imagine a comic book about Racing cards.

That would be awesome.

APR052640 BETTY & VERONICA #210 $2.25
APR053057 BLACKPOOL #1 $2.95
MAR053056 BONEYARD VOL 1 COLOR ED TP $10.95
MAY052383 BUMPERBOY LOSES HIS MARBLES GN $7.95

This actually sounds interesting.

The story is just what the title says.

Think it will be one of those rare kids stories that is good, and not just "good...if you're a kid"?

APR053234 CASE CLOSED VOL 6 GN $9.95

I don't get it.

He's a teen detective turned into a boy detective?

Seems like a lot of effort for not much of a time change.

MAR052894 CINEMA PANOPTICUM HC (MR) $18.95
MAY052426 COEXISTING ONE SHOT $2.99

Andrew Drozd seems to be an interesting fellow. I think this project will bear that out.

FEB052898 CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON VOL 11 GN $13.95
APR052550 DAVID SHEPHERDS SONG #1 (OF 3) $2.99
MAY052435 DEAD EYES OPEN #1 $2.95
APR052540 DEAL WITH THE DEVIL #3 (OF 5) $2.99
MAR052815 DESIRE VOL 1 GN (O/A) (MR) $12.95
APR052861 DF BATMAN BEGINS MOVIE ADAPTATION SGN $29.99
FEB052788 DF BATMAN JEKYLL & HYDE #1 DOUBLE SGN $49.99
FEB052789 DF BATMAN JEKYLL & HYDE #1 REMARKED $69.99

Really?

70 bucks?

For a "remarked" book.

That's bold.

I like it!

Take them rubes!!

MAR052850 DF BATMAN VILLAINS SECRET FILES 2005 #1 SGN $39.99
JAN052728 DF GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH #5 SGN $49.99
FEB052809 DF HERCULES #1 SGN $19.99
MAR052882 DF TEEN TITANS #20 SGN $19.99

This is interesting...I do not know what to make of this. They do not say whether the books are doubly signed or not, but you HAVE to figure that's the only way that Batman Villains Secret Files is going for DOUBLE a Teen Titans issue, right?

JAN052708 DFE ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD FOIL CVR #3 $14.99

I like the guts to call your company "Dynamic Forces ENTERTAINMENT" when your books generally consist of just making alternate covers to previous titles.

I don't think this is what that movie (or the Jam) had in mind when it said, "That's Entertainment!"

APR053260 DOUBT VOL 3 GN $9.99
APR053207 DR SLUMP VOL 2 TP $7.99
APR052762 ELVIRA #146 $2.50
MAY052515 FATHOM #2 $2.99

I would like to hear the story of how J.T. Krull became the writer on Fathom. Who IS Krull?

Sounds like a post-apocalyptic character.

Maybe Krull is from the future!!

Sent to the past to write for a crappy comic book!

Also, why is this #2?

I thought Fathom only released #1s.

What gives?!?

Can't this be "1A"?!?!

APR053009 FINDER #37 (MR) $2.95

This book is cool.

APR053034 FSC SKETCH PAD JOURNAL $4.00
APR053257 FULL MOON VOL 1 TP $8.99

This sounds interesting.

A girl is given a reprieve from her illness to try to become a major pop singer by two magical beings.

Beats Jem!

APR053236 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 2 TP $9.99
MAR053088 FURRLOUGH #148 $3.50
APR053262 FUSHIGI YUGI GENBU KAIDEN VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR053263 FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 15 GN $9.95
FEB052640 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN NUDE SC (MR) $8.95
MAR052680 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN NUDE TOUR SC (M $8.95
FEB052639 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN SC (MR) $8.95
MAR052679 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN TOUR SC (MR) $8.95
MAY052375 HIP FLASK LADRONN SKETCHBOOK #2 ELEPHANTMEN (O/A) $10.00
MAY052374 HIP FLASK LADRONN SKETCHBOOK (O/A) $10.00

I was not a Hip Flask fan, but I DO like Ladronn. 10 bucks is actually pretty reasonable.

APR053271 HOT GIMMICK VOL 9 TP $9.99
MAY052763 HOUSEWIVES AT PLAY #14 (A) $4.95

Those Housewives...they are so naughty.

I would love to see Gerry Conway write a Housewives at Play comic.

That dude could write anything.

None of it would be particularly GOOD, but he could write anything.

APR053219 HUNTER X HUNTER VOL 3 TP $7.99
APR053237 INU YASHA VOL 22 TP $8.95
APR053272 IS VOL 2 GN $7.99
MAY052788 JANES WORLD #20 $4.95

I really enjoy Jane's World.

APR052546 JUDO GIRL #3 (OF 4) $2.99

This series has been intriguing.

APR052643 JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #3 $2.39
MAY052615 KITCHEN SINK & FRIENDS 6 GN SET (O/A) (A) PI
APR052740 KITCHEN SINK 6 ADULT GN SET (O/A) (A) PI
APR053208 KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC VOL 10 TP $7.95
MAY052819 LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOL 2 HC $39.99
APR052620 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE #2 $3.50
MAY052467 LUFTWAFFE 1946 SOURCEBOOK VOL 1 TP $5.95

This is intriguing.

This sounds like something that could be marketed BEYOND just comic shops.

MAR052988 MASTERS OF FANTASY JUST BETTIE PAGE S/N 500 ED (MR) $9.95
MAR053043 MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE VOL 3 #1 QUADRUPLE GATEFOLD CVR $9.95

When will the quintuple gatefold barrier be breached?!?!? WHEN?!?!

MAR053089 MILK #47 (A) $3.50

The solicitation copy for this issue includes the line "More hot girl-on-girl exploratory action."

How can it not be quality?

MAY052488 MYRIAD #3 (OF 6) $2.99
APR053209 ONE PIECE VOL 7 GN $7.95

This is a really fun comic book.

APR053273 OURAN HIGHT SCHOOL HOST CLUB VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR052646 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #95 $3.59
APR053274 PLEASE SAVE MY EARTH VOL 11 TP $9.99
APR053215 PRINCE OF TENNIS VOL 8 GN $7.95
APR053251 PROJECT ARMS VOL 9 TP $9.99
APR053275 RED RIVER VOL 7 GN $9.95
MAR053048 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 HORRORFIND ED (MR) $9.95
MAR053049 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 HORRORFIND SIGNED ED (MR) $19.95
MAR053046 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 SDCC ED (MR) $9.95
MAR053047 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 SDCC SIGNED ED (MR) $19.95

A slap in the face to SDCC that their edition is the same price as Horrorfind!!

They will never live this down!

APR053025 ROOM MATES VOL 1 GN (A) $10.95
MAR052886 RUMBLE PAK #4 (RES) $4.95
APR053216 RUROUNI KENSHIN VOL 16 TP $7.95
MAR052888 SAKURA PAKK VOL 1 TP $9.99
MAY052613 SCHOOL BITES VOL 1 GN DLX ED (O/A) $19.99
APR053130 SGT FROG VOL 9 GN (OF 10) $9.99
APR052774 SHI JU NEN #3 SIGNED GRAPHITE ED $19.99
APR053205 SHONEN JUMP AUG 05 #32 $4.99

Is anyone else freaked out by the fact that this comic sells more for the cards it contains than the stories themselves?

Should DC or Marvel try that as well?

DEC042763 STEVE DITKO READER VOL 3 TP $25.00

I enjoy the fact that products like these have a market.

APR052580 SWAMPFOX BIRTH OF A LEGEND GN $14.95
APR052733 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE VOL 3 PX LTD ED TP (MR) $34.99

PX?

Does that mean picture?

If so, I am impressed that they found pictures of the REALY Tarot Witch!!

She's hard to see in public!

MAR053233 TEZUKAS BUDDHA VOL 6 ANANDA HC (RES) $24.95
APR053087 THE NORM #9 $4.95

This is an online comic strip, right?

APR053258 TOKYO BOYS & GIRLS VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR053255 TOUGH VOL 3 GN (MR) $9.99
MAR052990 TRAILER PARK TERROR COLOR SPECIAL NELSON CVR #3 (MR) $3.99
MAR052989 TRAILER PARK TERROR COLOR SPECIAL TUCCI CVR #3 (MR) $3.99
APR053220 ULTIMATE MUSCLE VOL 7 GN $7.95

Wow.

This sounds like such a stupid comic book.

It makes that Mighty Ducks cartoon look like a genius idea.

APR053276 ULTRA MANIAC VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR053252 VIDEO GIRL AI VOL 12 TP $9.99
MAY052877 WANNABE #1 (MR) $2.95

This sounds intriguing.

But really, no better impetus than killing off the dude's pregnant wife?!!?

APR053217 WHISTLE VOL 6 TP $7.99
APR053035 WILDFLOWER TRIBAL SCREAMS DARK ONE CVR TP $12.99
APR053036 WILDFLOWER TRIBAL SCREAMS MARTINEZ CVR TP $12.99
MAR053322 WJHC ON THE AIR VOL 1 TP (O/A) $11.95
APR053042 WW2 ROMMEL #1 $3.95
APR053218 YU GI OH DUELIST VOL 6 TP $7.95

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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