Current Comics Report for 9/8

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.

Today's Comics Report features guest commentary from the folks at Ace Comics & Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, namely Ian Gould and our own Pol Rua!

Certain sections of the Current Report on the 9/8 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...

NOTE: P=Pol, I=Ian, and B=Brian. When there is no letter at the beginning, it is me (Brian, natch).

Shipping This Week: September 8, 2005

DARK HORSE

MAR050171 APPLESEED VOL 1 PROMETHEAN CHALLENGE TP (STAR10806) $16.95
FEB050082 AVP ALIEN CHOP FIGURE $29.99
FEB050083 AVP PREDATOR CHOP FIGURE $29.99

In China, the art of carving and engraving "chops", which are a device used to imprint a personal seal of identity, dates back over 3,000 years. Visitors to Hong Kong and other Asian cities discover a wide range of these unique items, generally carved in the shape of animals that symbolize the various birth years of the Chinese calendar.

Nowadays, seals are still widely used, and the art of seal engraving has become more, not less, popular than ever before. More note-worthy is that many foreigners are now able to appreciate this art form, which for a long time has been considered uniquely Chinese.

So....of course, let's make Alien and Predator versions!!

Nothing has ever made MORE sense!

EVER!

APR050023 CHRONICLES OF CONAN VOL 8 TOWER OF BLOOD & OTHER STORIES TP $16.95
APR050030 GRENDEL RED WHITE & BLACK TP $19.95

There is a LOT of great talent in this here collection.

DEC040056 KATSUYA TERADA THE MONKEY KING VOL 1 TP $14.95

P - Oh, are you aware of all the stuff we have to get indirectly in Australia? Titan Books, lots of Dark Horse manga, All the Viz titles...even the the DC CMX stuff!

I - And as of this month we can't get ANY of the Dark horse manga titles

JUN050027 LAST TEMPTATION 2ND ED HC $14.95
JUL050043 SERENITY MIDDLETON CVR #3 (OF 3) $2.99
JUL050045 SERENITY PHILLIPS CVR #3 (OF 3) $2.99
JUL050044 SERENITY YU CVR #3 (OF 3) $2.99

This story translates so well to the comic medium.

DC COMICS

JUL050217 AQUAMAN #34 $2.50

Aquaman fighting Tempest...and it's NOT tied into mind-wipes and/or Infinite Crisis?!?

Way to drop the ball, Arcudi!!

JUL050279 AUTHORITY THE MAGNIFICIENT KEVIN #1 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99

I think this title is funny, but I think we are stretching it a bit thin by now.

JUL050218 BLOOD OF THE DEMON #7 $2.50

I really do marvel at the ability of Byrne to work within the context of large crossovers.

JUL050266 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY VOL 2 READ ALL ABOUT IT TP $6.99
JUL050281 CITY OF TOMORROW #6 (OF 6) $2.99

I - God I want to like Howie Chaykin. Why does he keep pissing in my eyes?

B - I think he will be good on the upcoming Guy Gardner mini-series because he will be restrained by editorial.

I - Whatever will he do if all his women (including the ones from 500 years in the future) don't wear garter belts and he can't say blow-job at least twice per page?

I - American flagg was great - but it was over 15 years ago! Move on and give us soemthing new - or did owrking on Mutant X fry every last brain cell?

JUL050191 DETECTIVE COMICS #811 $2.50

Two months off is too much for me to get back into Lapham's Detective. I will tell you what, folks, I'll read the whole thing when it ends and I'll tell you what I think.

JUL050285 EX MACHINA VOL 2 TAG TP (MR) $12.99

P - Ex Machina TPB #2!!! *bounces*

JUL050200 GOTHAM CENTRAL #35 $2.50

I don't want this arc to ever end!

Because when it DOES, that means Brubaker is gone!

FEB050367 GREEN LANTERN AND GREEN ARROW COLLECTORS PLATE $59.99

FINALLY! Something for my fancy dinner parties that I am always throwing!

JUL050283 INTIMATES #11 $2.99
MAR050497 JLA ACTION FIGURE GIFT SET PI
JUL050236 JLA VOL 17 SYNDICATE RULES TP $17.99

I think that this will read much better in trade format.

JUL058196 JSA CLASSIFIED #1 THIRD PTG $2.50

The first second printing was a sketch of the Hughes cover. This is a sketch of the Conner cover. The next step back is to just print the blank piece of paper Hughes drew his on initially.

JUL050261 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #13 $2.25

Why can't everyone just write the Justice League like Adam Beechen?

JUL050265 LOONEY TUNES #130 $2.25
JUN050404 MAD ABOUT THE SIXTIES TP NEW EDITION $9.99
JUL050269 MAD MAGAZINE #458 $3.99
JUL050242 OUTSIDERS #28 $2.50

The Outsiders are giving up their headquarters?!? NOO!!! Not their headquarters!! We spent so much time there! We invested so much!!!

Oh wait...no one cares about the Outsiders.

JUL050271 PIECES OF A SPIRAL VOL 1 $9.99
JUL050245 SECRET OF THE SWAMP THING TP $9.99
JUL050248 SEVEN SOLDIERS GUARDIAN #4 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL050244 SGT ROCKS COMBAT TALES VOL 1 TP $9.99

P - Sgt. Rock's Combat tales! Rawk!

P - At last, DC's doing essentials. Took 'em long enough. Now I want my essential Captain Marvel, Spirit, THUNDER Agents, Blackhawk, Plastic Man and All-Star Comics, by GAWD!

B - This is the big test. How well will these sell?

I - I wish everything was reprinted in digest format.

I - I want a pocket-sized Watchmen.

P - That'd be a Pocketwatchmen.

B - Do you guys sell more of the digest comics? You guys sell a lot more of trades period, right? Because of the exchange rate?

I - We sell a staggering numbero of manga and Sin City.

JUL050208 SHAZAM SUPERMAN FIRST THUNDER #1 (OF 4) $3.50

P - I am frightened of 'First Thunder'. Captain Marvel is my favourite superhero ever and the covers are pretty as hell, but I hate Cap/Superman stories. They always seem to end with DC reaffirming that THEIR boy is the superior product.

P - It's like "Yeah, I know you outsold us in the day, but where are ya now... huh? HUH?"

JUL050252 SON OF VULCAN #4 (OF 6) $2.99

I think we'll get some cool "behind the scenes" superhero stuff in this issue.

JUN058272 SUPERGIRL #1 SECOND PTG $2.99
JUL050213 SUPERMAN #221 $2.50

Tying in to ALL of the Infinite Crisis minis! Bold! Bold!

JUL050309 SWAMP THING #19 (MR) $2.99

Please, someone, what is going on in this title?!!?

JUN058296 TENJHO TENGE VOL 3 $9.99
JUL050254 VILLAINS UNITED #5 (OF 6) $2.50

I predict that Deadshot vs. Catman will be cool.

MAR050429 WORLDS GREATEST SUPER HEROES OVERSIZED SLIPCASE HC $49.99

This is a clever concept, collecting all the oversized Ross/Dini stories.

JUL050310 Y THE LAST MAN #37 (MR) $2.99

FINALLY! Some full frontal!!

IMAGE

MAY051545 BAD IDEAS COLL TP $12.99
FEB051634 BATTLE OF THE PLANETS PRINCESS #1-6 READER SET $14.99

I - Why buy pseudo-Japanese comics soft-core pseudo-porn. You can get Hustler for less. Or save your money and hire a hooker.

FEB051635 BATTLE OF THE PLANETS PRINCESS #1-6 READER SET SGN $24.99

I - Why buy signed pseudo-Japanese comics soft-core pseudo-porn. You can get Hustler for less. Or save your money and hire a hooker.

P - Princess was awful. I always hate it when a comic which really needs to be in colour ends up coming out in B&W.

P - And seriously, with all that Udon influenced stuff, the colouring where they get that weird inner light cel shaded look is vital.

JUN058277 BONE REST 2ND PRTG #1 (PP #684) $2.99
JUL051705 CITY OF HEROES #5 $2.99

I really believe that Hickman and Tortosa are giving it their all, but I think this is just too tied up in the machinations of the game...which I do not know at all.

JUL051696 COVENANT VOL 1 GN $9.99
JUN051759 COYOTE VOL 1 TP $14.99

P - It's so good to see this cool old epic stuff getting dug up. Hasn't it taken them awhile to get to Coyote though?

I - Haven't read it isnce it first came out. Beautiful art by Marshal Rogers who's been unfairly overooked in recent years - not that his work on Dark Detective did him any favors

P - I read a couple of issues when it first came out and it looked weird but interesting.

Brian - Yeah, what the hell was up with Dark Detective? Why was Rogers so off on that book?

P - You can't go home again?

I - Maybe cause he's been doing newspaper strips fro the last decade.

P - It's like that Iron Man miniseries that Michelinie and Layton got together and did. It just wasn't as good.

I - I loved the recent Grimjack because on both writing and art it was even better than the first Truman/Ostrander run.

JUL051609 FELL #1 $1.99

I admire the loss leader aspect of this, but really, exactly who is the comic buyer who is going to pick up a Warren Ellis/Ben Templesmith collaboration because it is 2 bucks instead of 3?

I posit that that reader does not exist.

It reminds me of (although not as bad) the time Marvel had special "$1.99" issues of certain comics.

Instead of the regular $2.25.

WOAH! GOTTA HOLD THE MOB OF NEW READERS BACK!!

JUN058278 GROUNDED 2ND PRTG #1 (OF 6) (PP #684) $2.95
JUL051693 MAGDALENA VOL 2 #1-#4 SET $9.99
JUN051795 NOBLE CAUSES #13 $3.50

Ooooh...and evil family just like the Nobles! Clever, Faerber! Clever!

APR051687 PVP #18 $2.99
JUL051660 REX MUNDI #14 $2.99

For Greg's sake...

Wow! The Holy Grail finally revealed!

APR051706 RISING STARS BRIGHT #1-3 SET $7.99
MAY051591 RISING STARS VOICES OF THE DEAD #4 (OF 6) $2.99
APR051688 SEA OF RED #4 (MR) $2.99

Remender is on FIRE right now!

MAY051576 STARDUST KID #2 (OF 4) $3.50

For Chris' sake...

This book is NOTHING like Abadazad!!

JUN051843 WITCHBLADE #89 $2.99
MAY051583 WITCHBLADE ANIMATED COMIC & TOY SET $16.99

MARVEL

JUL051888 AMAZING FANTASY #12 $2.99

I predict that some writer in 2012 will kill off Scorpion in a really disturbing manner.

JUN051996 ARANA HEART OF THE SPIDER #8 $2.50

I estimate that this is the worst I have seen of Roger Cruz's art, and I was not a huge fan to begin with.

JUL051934 AVENGERS SERPENT CROWN TP $15.99

President Nelson Rockefeller.

'Nuff said, indeed!

JUL051907 CABLE DEADPOOL #19 $2.99
JUL051933 DISTRICT X VOL 2 UNDERGROUND TP $19.99
JUL051853 EXILES #69 $2.99

This is total nerd porn, traveling to Marvel's various alternate realities...but it is good nerd porn.

JUN058285 FANTASTIC FOUR DIR CUT #527 (BOGO OF NEW AVEN #6 HITCH VAR) PI

This is just absurd.

How many copies of these freakin' Avengers variants does Marvel HAVE, exactly?!?!

JUL051850 FANTASTIC FOUR HOUSE OF M #3 (OF 3) $2.99

This reminds me of that Negation mini-series that, while not technically part of the title proper, was really neccessary for the story to make sense. I fear this is repeating itself with this title.

JUL051868 GHOST RIDER #1 (OF 6) $2.99

P - Ghost Rider looks like it's going to be impressive. I'm hoping Garth doesn't sleepwalk his way through it again.

B - It isn't Grayson/Kaniuga, how bad can it be?

JUN058249 GHOST RIDER RIBIC VARIANT #1 (OF 6) $2.99

How boring have Ribic's House of M covers been?

JUN051976 HOUSE OF M #6 (OF 8) $2.99

Speak of the devil!

JAN058165 HOUSE OF M LAND VARIANT COVER #6 (OF 8) (PP #680) $2.99

Wow...even Land is outdoing Ribic.

JUL051849 INCREDIBLE HULK #86 $2.99
JUN058266 INCREDIBLE HULK LTD ED VARIANT #84 $2.99
JUL051848 IRON MAN HOUSE OF M #3 (OF 3) $2.99

This is another one. I bet this is going to have some big story development...that will not even COME UP in House of M proper. Or if it DOES, it will be, like, a page.

Weak.

JUL051899 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #7 $2.50

Comic Book Idol 1 winner Patrick Scherberger, represent!

JUL051881 MARVEL TEAM-UP #12 $2.99

I have been digging this book, but I estimate that even Kirkman can not make me dig a FULL ISSUE of Titannus' origin.

JUN058267 NEW X-MEN LTD ED VARIANT #16 $2.99
JUL051906 ORORO BEFORE THE STORM #4 (OF 4) $2.99

Please, please, PLEASE Mr. Sumerak, do not have this deeply rooted in the continuity of one of the worst eras of X-Men comics ever!!

JUN058268 PULSE LTD ED VARIANT #10 $2.99

P - What the hell is the Pulse variant?

P - Is the series THAT popular they can start doing variant covers for it?

B - It's the Hawkeye cover from House of M!

B - Clearly, what happened was that folks said "Hawkeye's back!! WOOHOO! LET'S BUY TWELVE!"

B - Clearly.

JUL051911 PUNISHER #25 (MR) $2.99

Who's the artist on this issue?

JUL051865 SPIDER-GIRL #90 $2.99
JUL051926 SPIDER-GIRL VOL 4 TURNING POINT DIGEST TP $7.99

I am so pleased that this book is successful. I just love that DeFalco still writes comics regularly. And that Ron Frenz draws them regularly. My cockles are warmed by the idea.

JUN058269 SPIDER-MAN HOUSE OF M LTD ED VARIANT #2 (OF 5) $2.99
JUL051910 SUPREME POWER NIGHTHAWK #1 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
JUL051915 ULTIMATE MARVEL FLIP MAGAZINE #4 $3.99
JUL051860 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #82 $2.50

I can't wait until this arc is over (although I am enjoying it), because it means we get Shadowcat into the books!

JUL051916 ULTIMATE TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #4 $3.99
JUL051847 UNCANNY X-MEN #464 $2.50

Davis to Bachalo...it is not quite Grummett to Jaaska...but it is close.

JUL051901 X-MEN COLOSSUS BLOODLINE #1 (OF 5) $2.99

This looks to continue the streak of X-Men mini-series that read like they belong in Marvel Comics Presents...in the later issues. I'm talking past Sam Kieth's run.

WIZARD

JUL052519 INQUEST GAMER DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CVR #126 $4.99

COMICS

JUN053119 2000 AD #1451 $4.10
JUN053120 2000 AD #1452 $4.10

P - 2000AD used to have good stuff in it... but these days it's 7/8ths crap and a Judge Dredd story. You spend your time waiting for a good story and then, at BEST, it's 6/8th's crap, a good story and a Judge Dredd story.

JUN053016 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #19 (A) $4.99

P - Okay, here's the deal. A G Super Erotic Anthology is just plain creepy. It's creepy creepy icky porn.

P - Anyone who reads it is a creep.

JUL053053 ADVENTURES OF BIO BOY #1 $2.99
MAR052589 APCOMICS COMIC EXPO LTD ED PACK $20.00
APR053003 BAKERS #1 $3.00

P - Ooh, Bakers is in this week! Yay Kyle Baker.

P - Definitely the Bridesmaid at this year's Eisners.

P - Damn that Eric Powell. How dare he be so talented!

JUN053215 BARBIE OF SWAN LAKE CINEMANGA GN $7.99
APR053630 BATTY & BATINA YOSHITAKA AMANO #1 $24.99
APR053631 BATTY & BATINA YOSHITAKA AMANO #2 $24.99
JUN052880 CAPTAIN CANUCK UNHOLY WAR 30TH ANNIV 3 PACK $6.99
MAY052594 CAVEWOMAN RELOADED #1 $3.95

I - What consenting adults do behind closed doors is now of my business. Whatsit Saunders is a pretty talented artist though.

MAY052926 CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE #4 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99
JUN053073 CISCO KID GUNFIRE & BRIMSTONE #1 (MR) (O/A) $2.95
DEC042608 CLOUDS ABOVE HC $18.95
MAR052897 COMPLETE CRUMB COMICS VOL 17 SIGNED HC (MR) $75.00
JUL052994 CONFESSIONS OF A CEREAL EATER SPECIAL SALE PACK $9.00

What is so special about this?

It's a good story, but is this both volumes for nine bucks? That'd be pretty cool.

JUL052824 DF ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN #1 ALT CVR LEE SGN PI
MAY052722 DF ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN BOY WONDER LEE SGN #1 $29.99
JUN052944 DF COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS #1 SGN PI
APR052862 DF GREEN LANTERN #2 SGN $19.99
JUN052943 DF JUSTICE #1 DOUBLE SGN $49.99
APR052841 DF RED SONJA RUBI ALT CVR REMARKED #1 $69.99
MAR052856 DF TOP TEN FORTY NINERS HC REMARKED $69.99

P - I love Dynamic Forces. It's like a whole section I can just skip when I'm doing the orders.

MAY052929 DRACULA VS KING ARTHUR #2 (OF 4) $2.95
JUL052887 EC SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES ANNUAL PACK (O/A) $37.80
JUL052849 EIGHTBALL LIKE A VELVET GLOVE CAST IN IRON TP NEW PTG (O/A) $19.95
APR052542 ELSINORE #3 (OF 9) $2.99
JUN053048 FATHOM #1 B&W CLASSIC ALTERNATE $9.99

Ah...classic Fathom black and white.

Remember the late 80s, when Ted Turner caused such an uproar when he wanted to colorize classic Fathoms?

That was a disgrace.

JUL053193 FRANKENSTEIN NOW AND FOREVER GN (O/A) $19.95
DEC042433 GARTH ENNIS 303 #5 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
DEC042434 GARTH ENNIS 303 WRAPAROUND CVR #5 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
JUL052995 GIPSY SPECIAL SALE PACK $8.00
MAY052912 HIT THE BEACH 2005 $4.99
APR052834 IRON WOK JAN GN #13 $9.95
JUL053034 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #235 $11.99
JUN052777 JUGHEAD #168 $2.25

No one ever answers me...should Jughead date?

JUN053331 KARE FIRST LOVE VOL 5 TP $9.99
JUN053287 KARMA INCORPORATED #2 (OF 3) $2.95
APR052621 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE RED FOIL CVR #1 $9.95
MAR052587 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE SGN #1 $19.95
JUN052684 LULLABY WISDOM SEEKER VOL 1 TP $9.99
MAY052429 MAGIC WHISTLE #1-4 SET (MR) $10.00
MAY052430 MAGIC WHISTLE #5-8 SET (MR) $10.00
JUN053032 MARS IDW TP $39.99
APR052803 MEGACITY 909 MARK LEE CVR A #8 $2.95

P - Megacity 909 looks like Ghost in the shell for people who don't like to read.

APR052804 MEGACITY 909 ZODDD CVR B #8 $2.95
MAY052909 MILK #48 (A) $3.50
JUL052738 MOPED ARMY VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
JUL053000 NABIEL KANAN SPECIAL SALE PACK $8.00
MAY052880 NORTH COUNTRY GN $13.95
JUN052744 OZ THE MANGA #3 (OF 8) $2.99
JUN053192 PSYCHIC ACADEMY VOL 1 GN & VOL 1 DVD BUNDLE $24.99
JUL053047 RUNES OF RAGNAN #1 (RES) $2.95
JUN052863 SCHOOL BITES VOL 2 GN $12.95
JUN052871 SHOCKING GUN TALES #1 (MR) $4.99
JUN053293 SHONEN JUMP OCT 05 #34 $4.99
JUL053044 SHUCK THE SULFURSTAR #2 $2.95
JUN052856 SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR #1 $4.99
JUL052785 SKETCHBOOK ADVENTURES OF PETER POPLASKI HC $25.00
JUL053064 SMOKE AND MIRRORS #1 $2.99

This is gonna be super awesome.

Or maybe awesomely super.

I get the two mixed up often.

MAY052716 SNK VS CAPCOM VOL 2 SVC CHAOS TP $13.95
JUL052655 SONIC SUPER SPECIAL #4 RETURN OF THE KING (O/A) $2.25
JUN052780 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #153 $2.25
NOV042423 SOULFIRE #5 $2.99

The cover is a woman in a bikini under a waterfall! How can it be anything BUT good?!?!

MAY052637 SOULSEARCHERS #73 $2.50
JUN053161 STAR TREK COMICS CLASSICS VOL 1 TO BOLDLY GO TP $19.95
MAY052715 STELLVIA VOL 1 TP $9.95
JUN052781 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #5 $2.39

I wonder which market they were targetting that hates Pals and Gals but is cool with "Tales from Riverdale"?

MAY053367 TENJHO TENGE MANGA #1 (MR) (O/A) $10.99
MAY053368 TENJHO TENGE MANGA #2 (MR) (O/A) $10.99
MAY053369 TENJHO TENGE MANGA #3 (MR) (O/A) $10.99
APR052903 TIJUANA BIBLES VOL 2 (A) $14.95
MAY053102 TUXEDO GIN VOL 13 TP $9.99
JUN053292 ULTRA MANIAC VOL 2 TP $8.99
JUL052578 VAISTRON #1 $2.95
JUL052595 VAMPIRELLA BLOOD LUST #1 & #2 SET $6.95
JUL052593 VAMPIRELLA REVELATIONS #0 (NOTE PRICE) $0.25

Think of the better uses of that quarter.

JUN053078 WILD #15 (A) $3.75
JUL053007 WILL EISNERS MOBY DICK HC (O/A) $15.95
JUN053049 WITCHBLADE #1-4 COLLECTED BOX SET $24.99
MAY052410 XIII #2 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99

Well, that's it for me this week!

Thanks to my guests, Ian and Pol!

Feel free to check back later to tell me how off my predictions were!

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