Damn, everyone already spoiled my best joke -- yes, indeed, the logo really DOES look like "Justice League: Gay For Justice"

Plus, it has the Mikaal Starman (Gay), Batwoman [soon] (Gay), Congorilla (Maybe not officially, but compared to some of what I saw coming home through the Castro during Pride Weekend, suggestively Gay), Green Lantern & Green Arrow, without the Canary Beard, and Freddy Freeman who, to me, is the Gayest of the Marvel Family.

I guess there isn't anything particularly gay about either Supergirl or The Atom (OR IS THERE?!?!!?)

Anyway, yeah, that was pretty creakingly dialogued, but I thought the art was super-swell, and it had something I miss so so very much: a text feature of "What I'm thinking". I'm willing to add two grades to this JUST for that alone. I mean, the DC books have stopped even doing the "Next Issue:" boxes, even with simply the cover, which, to me at least is the simplest cheapest most effective tool to create excitement for your next issue.

My biggest problem with the issue is that at least two of the characters don't want JUSTICE, they want VENGEANCE, which is a completely different thing altogether. A exploration of the difference between the two could possibly be interesting, but it's really unclear at this point if they're going to explore anything like that at all.

When I put down this issue I thought, "Hey, that was GOOD", but after an hour or two reflecting on it, It's probably really only OK at best.

What did YOU think? (Like you didn't say so in Graeme or Douglass' threads...)

-B

Labels: Brian, Gay For Justice

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Now we'll look at the periodical comics. Again, under the jump...



Again, we'll start with sorting it by PIECES sold.

Yeah, the quarter book permutations win (and "10 for a buck" is counted as ONE item, not TEN), followed by Barack Obama and Spidey, followed by "back issue" as a generic item, then we get into the BUFFY's and other stuff. You'll recall that our '08 list was ABSOLUTELY dominated by BUFFY, but it spreads out a bit from there.

Here's the list:

Quarter Book - 10 for a Buck
Quarter Book - Single
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583
Back Issue
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21 CHEN CVR
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22 CHEN CVR
Dollar Book
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #23 CHEN CVR
BATMAN #686 (NOTE PRICE)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24 CHEN CVR
FINAL CRISIS #6 (OF 7)
FINAL CRISIS #7 (OF 7)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #25 CHEN CVR
DETECTIVE COMICS #853 (NOTE PRICE)
ASTONISHING X-MEN #28
FLASH REBIRTH #1 (OF 5)
UNWRITTEN #1
DARK AVENGERS #1
UNCANNY X-MEN #506
CAPTAIN AMERICA #600
ASTONISHING X-MEN #29
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #3 (OF 4) (MR)
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #2 (OF 8)
UNCANNY X-MEN #509
INCOGNITO #1 (MR) (C: 1-0-0)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #20 CHEN CVR
DARK AVENGERS #2
IGNITION CITY #1 (OF 5) (MR)
INCOGNITO #2 (MR)
NEW AVENGERS #49
WOLVERINE #71
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #22
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #4 (OF 4) (MR)
UNCANNY X-MEN #507
UNCANNY X-MEN #508
UNCANNY X-MEN #510
UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #2
WOLVERINE #70
KICK ASS #5 (MR)
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #4 (OF 8)
MIGHTY AVENGERS #21
Starter Set
BATMAN #684
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #3 (OF 8)
CAPTAIN AMERICA #46
FABLES #83 (MR)
FINAL CRISIS SUPERMAN BEYOND #2 (OF 2)
IGNITION CITY #2 (OF 5) (MR)
INCOGNITO #3 (MR)
NEW AVENGERS #50
THOR #600
BOYS #26 (MR)
ULTIMATUM #3 (OF 5)
WOLVERINE #72
DARK AVENGERS #4
FLASH REBIRTH #2 (OF 5)
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #1 (OF 3) (MR)
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #3 (OF 5)
KICK ASS #6 (MR)
LITERALS #1 (OF 3) (MR)
NEW AVENGERS #51
NEW AVENGERS #52
BATMAN #687
BOYS #29 (MR)
CAPTAIN AMERICA #50
DARK AVENGERS #3
NEW AVENGERS #53 DKR
BOYS #28 (MR)
UNCANNY X-MEN #511
UNWRITTEN #2 (MR)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #16
BOYS #27 (MR)
DETECTIVE COMICS #854
FABLES #81 (MR)
FANTASTIC FOUR #562
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #4 (OF 5)
BATMAN #685 (FOE)
BTVS TALES OF THE VAMPIRES ONE SHOT JO CHEN COVER
DARK AVENGERS #5 DKR
FABLES #80 (MR)
FABLES #82 (MR)
GREEN LANTERN #36
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #2 (OF 5)
DAREDEVIL #115
FABLES #84 (MR)
GREEN LANTERN #40
INCOGNITO #4
JACK OF FABLES #33 (MR)
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #23 (FOE)
NO HERO #3 (OF 7) (MR)
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #2 (OF 3) (MR)
ULTIMATUM #4 (OF 5)
ASTONISHING X-MEN #30
BOYS #30 (MR)
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #1 (OF 5)
CAPTAIN AMERICA #45
CAPTAIN AMERICA #47
CAPTAIN AMERICA #49
FLASH REBIRTH #3 (OF 5)
GREEN LANTERN #38

----------------------------------------------------

OK, same thing, sorted by DOLLARS SOLD. Done this way Quarter books drop way down (for 10 for a buck), or completely off -- but "Starter Sets", packaged runs of books (eg; "10 issues of BATMAN") soars right up:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583
Back Issue
Starter Set
BATMAN #686 (NOTE PRICE)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21 CHEN CVR
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22 CHEN CVR
FINAL CRISIS #6 (OF 7)
DETECTIVE COMICS #853 (NOTE PRICE)
FINAL CRISIS #7 (OF 7)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #23 CHEN CVR
CAPTAIN AMERICA #600
Quarter Book - 10 for a Buck
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24 CHEN CVR
DARK AVENGERS #1
FLASH REBIRTH #1 (OF 5)
NEW AVENGERS #50
THOR #600
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #25 CHEN CVR
IGNITION CITY #1 (OF 5) (MR)
DARK AVENGERS #2
UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #2
ASTONISHING X-MEN #28
FINAL CRISIS SUPERMAN BEYOND #2 (OF 2)
IGNITION CITY #2 (OF 5) (MR)
NEW AVENGERS #49
ULTIMATUM #3 (OF 5)
DARK AVENGERS #4
INCOGNITO #2 (MR)
ASTONISHING X-MEN #29
NEW AVENGERS #52
NEW AVENGERS #51
INCOGNITO #1 (MR) (C: 1-0-0)
DARK AVENGERS #3
NEW AVENGERS #53 DKR
BATMAN #687
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #3 (OF 5)
CAPTAIN AMERICA #50
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #1 (OF 3) (MR)
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #3 (OF 4) (MR)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #16
UNCANNY X-MEN #509
INCOGNITO #3 (MR)
DETECTIVE COMICS #854
DARK AVENGERS #5 DKR
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #4 (OF 5)
NO HERO #3 (OF 7) (MR)
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #2 (OF 8)
WOLVERINE #71
ULTIMATUM #4 (OF 5)
UNCANNY X-MEN #508
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #2 (OF 3) (MR)
UNCANNY X-MEN #507
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #4 (OF 4) (MR)
WOLVERINE #70
UNCANNY X-MEN #510
KICK ASS #5 (MR)
THOR #601
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #4 (OF 8)
UNCANNY X-MEN #506
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #3 (OF 8)
MIGHTY AVENGERS #21
NEW AVENGERS #54 DKR
NO HERO #5 (OF 7) (MR)
ANGEL #17
FABLES #83 (MR)
DARK AVENGERS UNCANNY X-MEN UTOPIA #1 DAX
WOLVERINE #72
FLASH REBIRTH #2 (OF 5)
KICK ASS #6 (MR)
INCOGNITO #4
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #20 CHEN CVR
LITERALS #1 (OF 3) (MR)
NO HERO #4 (OF 7) (MR)
BATMAN #684
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2 (OF 3)
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #4 (OF 5)
DARK AVENGERS #6 DKR
UNWRITTEN #2 (MR)
ANGEL #18
UNCANNY X-MEN #511
BOYS #26 (MR)
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #3 (OF 3)
SECRET WARRIORS #1
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #1 (OF 3)
FABLES #81 (MR)
BTVS TALES OF THE VAMPIRES ONE SHOT JO CHEN COVER
WAR OF KINGS #3 (OF 6)
FABLES #80 (MR)
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #3 (OF 3)
IGNITION CITY #3 (OF 5) (MR)
BOYS #27 (MR)
FABLES #82 (MR)
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #2 (OF 5)
ANGEL #19
FABLES #84 (MR)
GREEN LANTERN #40
JACK OF FABLES #33 (MR)
FINAL CRISIS SECRET FILES #1
GREEN LANTERN #36

These will change a lot, probably more than the books chart, when we get to the end of the year -- for example, Morrison's B&R has only been on sale for a month, and I'm going to get a lot more sales before THAT ride is done... but I like the snapshot anyway.

Still, it is very highly improbably that anything will beat that issue of AMAZING SPIDEY. Note, however, that that had NO follow-through impact whatsoever on the series...

Again, anyone see anything interesting to you?

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing, Sales Charts

Click Here to Read More...

Since the first half of the fiscal year just closed, let's take a quick look at Comix Experience's best-sellers, year-to-date.

Below the jump for those of you who don't care about these things...



Because of the formatting issues, I've decided to not attach ranking numbers to the chart. I figure you guys can count just fine!

I've gone a little past #100 -- this is actually our top 127 best selling items, because I wanted to have my own book appear on the list, ha!

This first list is PIECES sold. Yes, the first item is marked down books on sale. And, finally, something else breaks the Vulcan Death Grip that WATCHMEN had last year.

(Totally sorry for all of the Diamond bullshit in the listings. I COULD clean it up, but it would take a year and a day, and this is just for snapshot purposes, so there you go.)

Sale Book
LOEG III CENTURY #1 1910 (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
WATCHMEN TP (FEB058406)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 05 SP VS THE UNIVERSE (DEC084184)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE (JUL068351) (MR)
ALL STAR SUPERMAN HC VOL 02
LOEG VOL ONE TP (JUL068290)
CRIMINAL TP VOL 04 BAD NIGHT (NOV082430) (MR)
DMZ TP VOL 06 BLOOD IN THE GAME (MR)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES (MAR080241) (MR
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 03 WOLVES AT THE GATE (JUL080042)
FABLES TP VOL 11 WAR AND PIECES (AUG080229) (MR)
POWERS TP VOL 12 COOLEST DEAD SUPERHEROES
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 02 CYCLES (OCT058281) (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 04 SAFEWORD (APR058056) (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 05 RING OF TRUTH (MAY050306) (MR)
UMBRELLA ACADEMY TP VOL 1 APOCALYPSE SUITE
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 01 UNMANNED (OCT058020)
BOYS TP VOL 03 (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
FREAKANGELS TP VOL 02 (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 06 GIRL ON GIRL (SEP050317) (MR)
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 01 LONG WAY HOME (JUL070028)
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 04 TIME OF YOUR LIFE (C: 0-1-2)
FABLES TP VOL 01 LEGENDS IN EXILE (APR058372)
SANDMAN TP VOL 02 THE DOLLS HOUSE (APR058268)
THE FART PARTY TP
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 03 ONE SMALL STEP (MAR068027) (MR)
ALL STAR SUPERMAN TP VOL 01 (MAY080205)
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP (DEC058055)
BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC (NOV070226)
LOEG VOL TWO TP (FEB058407)
SECRET INVASION TP (NOV082460)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NOV068026) (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 09 MOTHERLAND (FEB070362) (MR)
ALAN MOORE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE GN (O/A) (NOV083804) (MR
BLACK HOLE COLLECTED SC
BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME (DEC073541) (MR) (C: 0-0-2)
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 02 NO FUTURE FOR YOU (FEB080102)
CRIMINAL TP VOL 01 COWARD (MR)
PREACHER TP VOL 01 GONE TO TEXAS NEW EDITION (MAR050489) (MR
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
BONE COLOR ED SC VOL 01 OUT FROM BONEVILLE
FINAL CRISIS HC
FREAKANGELS TP VOL 01 (SEP083753) (MR)
JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 05 TURNING PAGES (MR)
SANDMAN TP VOL 01 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES (DEC058090)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 01 SP PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE (MAY042851)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 04 SP GETS IT TOGETHER (JUN073779) (C:
TOP 10 TP BOOK 01 (OCT058279)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 07 PAPER DOLLS (FEB060341) (MR)
ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY HC #19 (MR)
PREACHER TP VOL 04 ANCIENT HISTORY NEW EDITION (MAY050299) (
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 02 VS THE WORLD (DEC042750)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 03 INFINITE SADNESS (OCT053132)
SWAMP THING TP VOL 02 LOVE AND DEATH (JUL058053)
BONE COLOR ED SC VOL 09 CROWN OF HORNS (C: 1-1-2)
BOYS TP VOL 01 (DEC078191) (MR)
CRIMINAL TP VOL 02 LAWLESS (OCT072158) (MR)
DMZ TP VOL 01 ON THE GROUND (MAR060383) (MR)
DMZ TP VOL 02 BODY OF A JOURNALIST (NOV060292) (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 03 STORYBOOK LOVE (MAY068085) (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 05 THE MEAN SEASONS (JAN050373) (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 10 THE GOOD PRINCE (FEB080297) (MR)
HELLBOY VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP
JOKER HC (JUL080124)
JUSTICE TP VOL 01 (FEB080252)
PLANETARY TP VOL 01 ALL OVER THE WORLD AND OTHER STORIES (FE
PREACHER TP VOL 06 WAR IN THE SUN NEW EDITION (MAY050301) (M
PREACHER TP VOL 07 SALVATION NEW EDITION (MAY050300) (MR)
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING HC BOOK 01 (MR)
SANDMAN TP VOL 03 DREAM COUNTRY (JAN058148)
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 05 (C: 0-1-2)
SERENITY BETTER DAYS TP (C: 0-1-2)
TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA HC (C: 0-1-2)
TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 01 BACK ON THE STREET (MR)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE (SEP051681) (MR)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE (MAR061834) (MR)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE (DEC061874) (MR)
WALTZ WITH BASHIR SC (C: 0-1-2)
100 BULLETS TP VOL 01 FIRST SHOT LAST CALL (SEP068078)
AIR TP VOL 01 LETTERS FROM LOST COUNTRIES (MR)
BATMAN RIP DELUXE EDITION HC
BPRD TP VOL 10 THE WARNING (C: 0-1-2)
DMZ TP VOL 03 PUBLIC WORKS (JUN070267) (MR)
DMZ TP VOL 05 THE HIDDEN WAR (APR080273) (MR)
EX MACHINA TP VOL 01 THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS (SEP058036) (MR)
EX MACHINA TP VOL 07 EX CATHEDRA (JUL080199) (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 04 MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS (OCT058021) (M
FABLES TP VOL 07 ARABIAN NIGHTS AND DAYS (MAR060384) (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 08 WOLVES (SEP060313) (MR)
FROM HELL TP NEW PTG (MR)
HELLBLAZER ROOTS OF COINCIDENCE TP (Diggle v3 of 3)
LOEG BLACK DOSSIER TP (JUL080193)
PREACHER TP VOL 05 DIXIE FRIED NEW EDITION (JUL050315) (MR)
RESURRECTION TP VOL 01
SANDMAN TP VOL 04 SEASON OF MISTS (OCT058022)
SCALPED TP VOL 01 INDIAN COUNTRY (MAY070243) (MR)
TOP 10 TP BOOK 02 (APR068255)
V FOR VENDETTA NEW EDITION TP (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 08 KIMONO DRAGONS (AUG060299) (MR)
A DRIFTING LIFE TP
BERLIN TP BOOK 02 CITY OF SMOKE (JUN083900) (MR)
BLACK SUMMER TP (JUL083705) (MR)
DMZ TP VOL 04 FRIENDLY FIRE (DEC070294) (MR)
EX MACHINA TP VOL 04 MARCH TO WAR (AUG060269) (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 09 SONS OF EMPIRE (MAR070271) (MR)
FUNNY MISSHAPEN BODY GN (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS NIGHT WITCHES TP (C: 0-1-2)
GOON TP VOL 07 PLACE OF HEARTACHE & GRIEF (C: 0-1-2)
JUSTICE TP VOL 03 (OCT080172)
NEIL GAIMANS CORALINE TP
PATH OF THE ASSASSIN TP VOL 15 BAD BLOOD PART 2 (C: 0-1-2)
PREACHER TP VOL 03 PROUD AMERICANS NEW EDITION (JUL068334) (
PREACHER TP VOL 08 ALL HELLS A COMING (SEP058101)
PREACHER TP VOL 09 ALAMO (APR078094) (MR)
SHORTCOMINGS HC (JUL073524) (MR)
SHOWCASE PRESENTS AMBUSH BUG TP VOL 01
SUPERMAN RED SON TP (NOV058130)
SWAMP THING TP VOL 01 SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING (APR058269)
TILTING AT WINDMILLS SC VOL 02
UNDERSTANDING COMICS THE INVISIBLE ART
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS (MR)
WARREN ELLIS AETHERIC MECHANICS GN
WARREN ELLIS CROOKED LITTLE VEIN MMPB
WE 3 TP (APR050419) (MR)


___________________________________________________

OK, same thing, but this time sorted by DOLLARS sold. It looks similar, but not identical:

Sale Book
WATCHMEN TP (FEB058406)
LOEG III CENTURY #1 1910 (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 05 SP VS THE UNIVERSE (DEC084184)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR)
SECRET INVASION TP (NOV082460)
POWERS TP VOL 12 COOLEST DEAD SUPERHEROES
ALL STAR SUPERMAN HC VOL 02
FABLES TP VOL 11 WAR AND PIECES (AUG080229) (MR)
BOYS TP VOL 03 (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
LOEG VOL ONE TP (JUL068290)
UMBRELLA ACADEMY TP VOL 1 APOCALYPSE SUITE
FINAL CRISIS HC
FREAKANGELS TP VOL 02 (MR)
FROM HELL TP NEW PTG (MR)
SANDMAN TP VOL 02 THE DOLLS HOUSE (APR058268)
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 03 WOLVES AT THE GATE (JUL080042)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES (MAR080241) (MR
CRIMINAL TP VOL 04 BAD NIGHT (NOV082430) (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 05 RING OF TRUTH (MAY050306) (MR)
DMZ TP VOL 06 BLOOD IN THE GAME (MR)
BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME (DEC073541) (MR) (C: 0-0-2)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER (MR)
BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC (NOV070226)
STARMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02
BLACK HOLE COLLECTED SC
LOST GIRLS DLX SLIPCASED ED CURR PTG
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 01 LONG WAY HOME (JUL070028)
FREAKANGELS TP VOL 01 (SEP083753) (MR)
SANDMAN TP VOL 01 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES (DEC058090)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 02 CYCLES (OCT058281) (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 04 SAFEWORD (APR058056) (MR)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE (JUL068351) (MR)
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING HC BOOK 01 (MR)
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 04 TIME OF YOUR LIFE (C: 0-1-2)
SWAMP THING TP VOL 02 LOVE AND DEATH (JUL058053)
TOP 10 TP BOOK 01 (OCT058279)
A DRIFTING LIFE TP
LOEG VOL TWO TP (FEB058407)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 09 MOTHERLAND (FEB070362) (MR)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 06 GIRL ON GIRL (SEP050317) (MR)
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 02 NO FUTURE FOR YOU (FEB080102)
BATMAN RIP DELUXE EDITION HC
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US (NOV068026) (MR)
PUNISHER BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS HC
HEAVY LIQUID HC (MAY080261) (MR)
THE FART PARTY TP
POPGUN GN VOL 01 (NEW PTG) (SEP071958) (C: 0-1-2)
WALKING DEAD HC VOL 01
WALKING DEAD HC VOL 02
JOKER HC (JUL080124)
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP (DEC058055)
CRIMINAL TP VOL 01 COWARD (MR)
PREACHER TP VOL 01 GONE TO TEXAS NEW EDITION (MAR050489) (MR
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 03 ONE SMALL STEP (MAR068027) (MR)
STARMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 03
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 01 UNMANNED (OCT058020)
BLACK SUMMER TP (JUL083705) (MR)
ALL STAR SUPERMAN TP VOL 01 (MAY080205)
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 07 PAPER DOLLS (FEB060341) (MR)
TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA HC (C: 0-1-2)
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 05 (C: 0-1-2)
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS TP VOL 01 ENGINES OF DESIRE (AUG083788) (MR
FABLES TP VOL 10 THE GOOD PRINCE (FEB080297) (MR)
PREACHER TP VOL 06 WAR IN THE SUN NEW EDITION (MAY050301) (M
PREACHER TP VOL 07 SALVATION NEW EDITION (MAY050300) (MR)
JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 05 TURNING PAGES (MR)
HELLBOY VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP
LOEG BLACK DOSSIER TP (JUL080193)
SANDMAN TP VOL 04 SEASON OF MISTS (OCT058022)
V FOR VENDETTA NEW EDITION TP (MR)
ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY HC #19 (MR)
BOYS TP VOL 01 (DEC078191) (MR)
WATCHMEN HC (JUL080172)
WATCHING THE WATCHMEN HC (AUG084300) (C: 0-1-2)
WALTZ WITH BASHIR SC (C: 0-1-2)
BOYS DEFINITIVE ED HC (NEW PTG) (JUN083805) (MR) (C: 0-0-2)
WATCHMEN THE ABSOLUTE EDITION HC (JUL080174)
Y THE LAST MAN DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 01 (JUN080308) (MR)
PREACHER TP VOL 04 ANCIENT HISTORY NEW EDITION (MAY050299) (
LOCAS A LOVE & ROCKETS BOOK HC VOL 01 (O/A) (MR)
COMPLETE PERSEPOLIS TP
FABLES TP VOL 04 MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS (OCT058021) (M
FABLES TP VOL 08 WOLVES (SEP060313) (MR)
OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE SC VOL 39 AVENGERS (O/A) (
SWAMP THING TP VOL 01 SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING (APR058269)
FABLES TP VOL 01 LEGENDS IN EXILE (APR058372)
BERLIN TP BOOK 02 CITY OF SMOKE (JUN083900) (MR)
SHORTCOMINGS HC (JUL073524) (MR)
UNDERSTANDING COMICS THE INVISIBLE ART
FABLES TP VOL 03 STORYBOOK LOVE (MAY068085) (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 05 THE MEAN SEASONS (JAN050373) (MR)
SANDMAN TP VOL 03 DREAM COUNTRY (JAN058148)
TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 01 BACK ON THE STREET (MR)
CRIMINAL TP VOL 02 LAWLESS (OCT072158) (MR)
JUSTICE TP VOL 01 (FEB080252)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 04 SP GETS IT TOGETHER (JUN073779) (C:
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE (MR) (C: 0-1-2)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 01 SP PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE (MAY042851)
PLANETARY TP VOL 01 ALL OVER THE WORLD AND OTHER STORIES (FE

At the end of the day I'm super happy with our sales patterns, and I think they show a pretty high level of diversity.

Anything interesting YOU see?

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing, Sales Charts

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Well, we've all already discussed BATMAN & ROBIN #1, but what about the REST of the Bat-books, mm?

BATMAN #687: Taking place *before* BATMAN & ROBIN #1, this does a pretty decent job in setting up Dick for the role, and getting him through the baggage. I wasn't too excited by the art, but then, all we have to do is wait a month and Mark Bagley comes on. Which is a weird shift from Ed Benes, really. Still, as a "#0", this does its job perfectly adequately, and Winick's usual scripting ticks are fairly well hidden. I guess I can give this a low "GOOD", but I think I'd be happier if I actually believed this would last more than a year or two, max. 'sfunny, this sort of makes me think of Cap-Bucky -- I think I'd actually PREFER if this was a no-tapbacks restart of the Bat franchise, because I really do think that Dick couldn't ultiamtely make a better bat...

RED ROBIN #1: This doesn't feel like Tim Drake to me -- Tim was always the "unobsessed" of the Bat-family... the one who did it because he WANTED to, because he was SMART enough and strong enough and fast enough, the one who would, eventually, someday be the Bat, but who would approach it as a detective as a guardian, not as a thug or bruiser. So, no, I don't see him having internal dialogue about breaking people's bones, or crossing lines, or any of that. Also, as a series-based premise, "I'm going to find Bruce" is pretty dead end, as well as being way too soon in the game to start unfurling. The scripting was fine, the art was solid, but it just didn't seem like the right character in the role, and doing stuff that was too far off in left field. This also makes the second of these that doesn't have a cliffhanger so much as just stopping because they reached the end of the issue. This first one is SELLING something like triple what ROBIN used to, but I'll be pessimistic about the long-term prospects. I thought it was pretty EH.

BATMAN: STREET OF GOTHAM #1: Based on this first issue, I'm pretty confused as to the premise of the book. I'm of the mind that when you have multiple books for one character that each one needs to have a VERY clearly defined premise, and I'm not seeing one here. Is it "Batman stories where Batman is slightly off camera" maybe? But that's not really a great premise. I tremendously liked the art, but there's little in the story that couldn't be done exactly the same with Bruce. Plus, can I say just how much I hate Hush as a villain -- he's simply not interesting, even a little bit, and I'm tired in trying to be convinced that he is. Hell, I find Firefly more compelling, because at least he has a shtick. As a first issue, I only sold-through about 2/3 of the average of Dini's DETECTIVE run moved, which is a really bad start, actually -- that's going to put this down into BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL range by issue #6. At least this issue sort of had a cliffhanger, but it was angled wrong, and it wasn't until my second reading for this review that I noticed the bat signal shape. I'll go with a mild EH

As for the Manhunter back-up, I pretty actively disliked it -- this felt like a desperation move "We really think you should like this, even though you've established that you don't, already, so, um, let's change the setting and the supporting cast, maybe that's the problem?" Well, no, the supporting cast was one of the things I vaguely liked about the original premise (not that much ever got done with it...), and yeah that last page note was just sour: "Jane Doe, BUM BUM BUM!" Um, what's that, and why the fuck should I care? I thought this feature was pretty AWFUL, and would resent being asked to pay an extra buck for it.


GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1: Another series I don't see having much in the way of legs -- this will be cute and charming for a few issues at a time, but as a premise, I sort of don't see it: these characters, in this continuity, don't sit all of that well together. Maybe if Dini was DRAWING it, too, then "cuteness" would be a major selling point. The art, by Guillem March, is nice enough, but I just don't see where this series could go that I'd want to follow. Also: there were a few what I personally would call storytelling problems with Bonebreaker's vague powers -- he punches through walls, and declares that he "powders" bones with his touch... but he touches Selina and Harley just fine with no apparent after-effects. Still, first week sales show it's selling better than SOG, so what do I know? OK

DETECTIVE COMICS #854: In a way this is like two years too late -- I could have sold the fuck out of this had it been released in the wake of 52. It is selling really well, out of the gate -- about triple Dini 'TECs, but once upon a day it would have sold as well as Morrison's B&R. It is really incredibly gorgeous, maybe the best looking book DC has published all year, but I wanted a smidge more meat on the story -- like the hows and whys and how the hell she does all of that heart surgery and why the Bat, and all of that. Plus, another "ran out of pages" ending, with nothing that screams "Come back and buy the next one, mister!" (other than the art, which IS fuckin' scrumptious) -- and yet I'll still say GOOD.

The Question back up was fine enough, I guess, but didn't have enough weight to it, and, again, ended at a really awful spot. A solid OK.

What did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

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Here is what is arriving this week to Comix Experience. Pretty solid week, without being overwhelming...

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #106 (A)
AGENTS OF ATLAS #7 DKR
ANGEL #23
ASTONISHING TALES #6
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #17
ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #3 (OF 4)
ATOMIKA #9 (OF 12) (RES)
AUTHORITY #12
BAD KIDS GO TO HELL #1 (OF 4)
BANG TANGO #6 (OF 6)
BATMAN AND ROBIN #2
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #31
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FINAL FIVE #4 (OF 4)
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #172
BOYS #32
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #26
CABLE #16
CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #1 (OF 5)
CHEW #2
CROSSED #6 (OF 9)
DAREDEVIL NOIR #4 (OF 4)
DEAD RUN #2
DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #1
DESTROYER #4 (OF 5)
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #8
EXILES #4
EXISTENCE 2.0 #1 (OF 3)
FANTASTIC FOUR #568
FARSCAPE STRANGE DETRACTORS #4 (OF 4)
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #3 (OF 6)
FINDING NEMO REEF RESCUE #1 (OF 4)
GEARS OF WAR #8
GRAVEL #12
GREEK STREET #1
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #38 (BLACKEST NIGHT)
GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH #1 SPECIAL EDITION
HERE COME THE LOVEJOYS #1 FATHER FIXATION (A)
HOT MOMS #12 (A)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #15 DKR
IRREDEEMABLE #4
JONAH HEX #45
JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #33
JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #1 (OF 7)
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #152
LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #6
LOONEY TUNES #176
MARVEL DIVAS #1 (OF 4)
MIGHTY #6
MUPPET ROBIN HOOD #2 (OF 4)
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #7
SAVAGE DRAGON #150 (NOTE PRICE)
SCOURGE OF GODS FALL #1 (OF 3)
SECRET SIX #11
SOLOMON GRUNDY #5 (OF 7)
SPAWN #193
STAR TREK WRATH OF KHAN #3
STAR WARS INVASION #1 (OF 5)
STRANGE ADVENTURES #5 (OF 8)
STRANGE EGGS JUMPS THE SHARK
SWORD #18
TERRY MOORES ECHO #13
TOY STORY MYSTERIOUS STRANGER #2 (OF 4)
UNBOUND SAGA ONE SHOT
UNCANNY X-MEN #513 DAX
USA COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
VERONICA #195
WAR OF KINGS #5 (OF 6)
WITCHBLADE #128
WITCHFINDER IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS #1 (OF 5)
Y THE LAST MAN #1 SPECIAL EDITION
ZOMBIES THAT ATE THE WORLD #4

Books / Mags / Stuff
BOYS TP VOL 04 WE GOTTA GO NOW
BRAT PACK NEW EDITION TP
BRAVE AND THE BOLD WITHOUT SIN TP
DAREDEVIL FATHER TP
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #25 DEADSHOT
EVERYBODY IS STUPID EXCEPT ME & OTHER ASTUTE OBSERVATIONS GN
FAR ARDEN HC
FORGOTTEN HC VOL 02
GIRL WITH A THOUSAND CURSES GN (A)
GOON TP VOL 08 THOSE THAT IS DAMNED
GREEN LANTERN RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS HC
HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #12
LONE RANGER TP VOL 03 SCORCHED EARTH
PRINCE VALIANT HC VOL 01 1937-1938
SOLOMON KANE TP VOL 01 CASTLE OF DEVIL
SPAWN ENDGAME TP VOL 01
SPIDER-MAN ELECTION DAY PREM HC
SUPERMAN BATMAN SER 7 BALANCED INNER CASE ASST (NET)
SYNCOPATED GN
VOICE OF THE FIRE SC NOVEL
WORLDS OF HP LOVECRAFT DAGON & OTHER TALES TP
WRITING FOR COMICS & GN WITH PETER DAVID REVISED ED


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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I don't think I've mentioned here that Ben and Tzipora are off in Israel to visit Tzipora's parents -- they've been gone for 11 days now (yes, during my birthday and Father's Day), and I still have 17 days alone to go.

I've been starting to get depressed over the last few days -- I've done all the cleaning chores, and blown through the laughs to be had in doing what I want when I want, and now I'm just feeling lonely and desperately wanting to hold my wife and child in my arms.

We're talking every day, via Skype, which certainly helps in seeing their faces and all (I'm able to keep reading to Ben nearly every day -- we just started book 12 of A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS), but, still, this is getting to be harder than I thought it would be, earlier on.

Working every day AND having to do all of the cooking/cleaning/shopping/whatever is also a big shift. Call me a big 'ol baby, but I haven't been single... well, since I was like 17 (and I'm 42 now), so I don't really know what being a bachelor is like, and I find myself getting exhausted, both physically and emotionally, earlier every day.

See, I sorta thought when they were gone I'd have MORE time for posting and stuff, but, perversely, it seems like I have LESS, and by the end of each day I just want to sit there and veg out. *sigh*

Anyway, if I seem gloomy (or, maybe more gloomy than normal), that's the reason...

Reviews... Let's get started! (Hm, of course I just got the call the truck is coming in under 30 minutes while I started typing, so let's see where I get)

RICHARD STARK'S PARKER: THE HUNTER HC: One of the rare perks of owning a comics shop is getting advance copies of stuff. Super-generally I don't bother reviewing any of it before the books actually arrive in the store (why get people all excited if they can't do anything about it), but I'm more than willing to make an exception in this case.

Damn, was that EXCELLENT.

I mean, no surprise, right? Darwyn Cooke is obviously a major talent, and this kind of gritty period piece is absolutely playing to the core of his strengths, but the main thing is that you can SEE it is a labor of love, that his heart and soul is there on every page.

I love the wonderful two-tone art, the character designs, the choreography, and just everything about it. This is a major work from a major talent and deserves a very prominent place on your book shelf when it comes out at the end of next month. Hell, buy two, you must have a friend who could get into this, too.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #600: Y'know, no matter what I have to say about this as a retailer who is watching out for my rights, it DID sell well, and it was a good solid value at 100 pages. The main story was, perhaps, a little too set-up-y for REBORN, but I quite liked the Stern and Waid stories, and the Golden Age reprint was a hoot (though, really, why was the Red Skull wearing a rising sun on his chest for half the story? That was weird). If every comic gave that kind of story value, no one would be bitching about comics prices... a solid GOOD.

Oh, frack, the truck is here already. More, I hope, tomorrow...

What did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian, lonely

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Biggest week of comics in quite some time -- I hope you've been saving your pennies...

2000 AD #1637
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #598 DKR
ARCHIE #598
ARCHIE DIGEST #255
ASTONISHING X-MEN #30
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #25 DKR
AVENGERS INVADERS #12 (OF 12)
BARACK THE BARBARIAN #1 A CVR OBAMA
BART SIMPSON COMICS #48
BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #6
CARS ROOKIE #3 (OF 4)
CEREBUS ARCHIVE #2
CHURCH OF HELL #2
CLEANERS #4 (OF 4)
DAREDEVIL #119
DARK AVENGERS #6 DKR
DARK AVENGERS UNCANNY X-MEN UTOPIA #1 DAX
DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #4 (OF 5) DKR
DARK REIGN HOOD #2 (OF 5) DKR
DARK REIGN LETHAL LEGION #1 (OF 3) DKR
DARK REIGN SINISTER SPIDER-MAN #1 (OF 4) DKR
DARK REIGN ZODIAC #1 (OF 3) DKR
DARK WOLVERINE #75 DKR
DETECTIVE COMICS #854
DYNAMO 5 #22
END LEAGUE #8
FANTASTIC FOUR GIANT-SIZE ADVENTURES #1
FARSCAPE DARGOS LAMENT #3 (OF 4)
FEMALE FORCE #4 CAROLINE KENNEDY
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK #2 (OF 6)
FREDDY JASON ASH NIGHTMARE WARRIORS #1 (OF 6) CV A
FRINGE #6 (OF 6)
FUSION #2 (OF 3)
GI JOE #6
GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1
GREEN LANTERN #42
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #39 CVR A RON ADRIAN
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #15
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #27
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #130
INCREDIBLES FAMILY MATTERS #3 (OF 4)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #34
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #28
KILLAPALOOZA #2 (OF 6)
LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #2 (OF 6)
LILLIM #4 (OF 5)
LITERALS #3 (OF 3)
MADAME XANADU #12
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #52
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT CAPTAIN AMERICA
MS MARVEL #40 DKR
MUPPET SHOW #4 (OF 4)
NEW AVENGERS #54 DKR
NORTHLANDERS #18
NOVA #26
PERHAPANAUTS #6
PREDATOR #1 (OF 4)
PVP #42
RED SONJA #45
RIFTWAR #1 (OF 5)
RUNAWAYS 3 #11
SECRET WARRIORS #5 DKR
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #6 (OF 6)
SKAAR SON OF HULK #12
SONIC UNIVERSE #5
SPIRIT #30
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #12
STAR TREK MISSIONS END #4
STAR WARS LEGACY #37 TATOOINE PT 1 (OF 4)
STARCRAFT #2
SUPERMAN #689
TALES FROM WONDERLAND RED QUEEN ONE-SHOT
TEEN TITANS #72
TERROR INC APOCALYPSE SOON #3 (OF 4)
THOR #602
THUNDERBOLTS #133 DKR
TIMESTORM 2009/2099 X-MEN
UNCANNY X-MEN #512
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #9
USAGI YOJIMBO #121
VIKING #2
WILDCATS #12
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #16
WOLVERINE NOIR #3 (OF 4)
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #3
WONDER WOMAN #33
X-FACTOR #45
X-FORCE #16 XMW
X-MEN FOREVER #2
YTHAQ NO ESCAPE #3 (OF 3)
ZORRO #14

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER TP VOL 01
ALTER EGO #87
ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE HC
AWESOME 2 TP AWESOMER
CALIBER TP VOL 01 FIRST CANON OF JUSTICE
CITY OF DUST TP VOL 01
CLASSIC DAN DARE HC VOL 11 PHANTOM FLEET
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #92 BISHOP
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #93 VALKYRIE
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #95 IMPOSSIBLE MAN
COMICS JOURNAL #298
DARK REIGN ACCEPT CHANGE TP
DC COMICS COVERGIRLS BARGAIN HC ED
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #12 TWO FACE
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #27 DEATHSTROKE
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #29 BLACK ADAM
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #30 CAPTAIN COLD
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #31 AQUAMAN
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #9 CATWOMAN
EMPOWERED TP VOL 05
ESSENTIAL DOCTOR STRANGE TP VOL 04
GANTZ TP VOL 05
GEEK MONTHLY JUL 2009
GOATS INFINITE TYPEWRITERS TP VOL 01
GOLDEN AGE STARMAN ARCHIVES HC VOL 02
GRAPHIC CLASSICS VOL 17 SCIENCE FICTION CLASSICS GN
GREEN LANTERN TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS TP
GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 06
HEAVY METAL SUMMER 2009
HERCULES TP VOL 01 THRACIAN WARS
IMMORTAL IRON FIST FRACTION BRUBAKER AJA OMNIBUS HC
IMMORTAL IRON FIST TP VOL 04 MORTAL IRON FIST
INDIANA JONES TP VOL 01 TOMB OF GODS
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES STORM FRONT PX HC VOL 01
JLA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 02
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #285
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #7 JUL 2009
LUIS ROYO DEAD MOON
MIJEONG GN
NEIL GAIMAN DAVE MCKEAN CRAZY HAIR YR HC
OUTLAW TERRITORY GN VOL 01
PATSY WALKER HELLCAT TP DM ED
PREVIEWS #250 JULY 2009 (NET)
REMAKE GN VOL 01
SHERLOCK HOLMES CASES O/T TWISTED MINDS TP
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #19 SPECIAL NEWSSTAND ED
SUPERMAN TALES FROM THE PHANTOM ZONE TP
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE TP VOL 07
TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 05
TREASURY 20TH CENTURY MURDER HC VOL 02 FAMOUS PLAYERS
TWISTED TOYFARE THEATRE TP VOL 10
VENOM TP DARK ORIGIN
WIZARD MAGAZINE #214 SPIDER-MAN ROMITA JR CVR


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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The newest TILTING AT WINDMILLS is up at Comic Book Resources.

Go. Read.

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing, Tilting

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On Monday I did another podcast interview with the Comic Geek Speak guys.

You can hear it right here.

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing

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Happy birthday to me! (No, really, it is my birthday -- and yet I'm working. What's up with that?)

Just for a quick follow up: The New York Daily News has now run the story that REBORN #1 is, in fact, the return of Steve Rogers. (It also doesn't say anything about CAPTAIN AMERICA #600, out this week, ah well)

...

...

...

That's me waiting for the phone to ring.

Yeah, not going to happen -- resurrections just don't pack the same punch that deaths do.

At the end of the day, Marvel decided to fuck with retailers in the hope that news would break big. That doesn't seem to have happened.

The shame of it is that if they had told us this at point of initial solicitation I could have played it up in store, I could have gathered subs and interest and preorders, and I would have had a stronger order placed because there would have been excitement about the "how" of it.

Now, not so much.

I'll sell plenty of copies, I'm sure -- but not "Civil War" plenty or "Secret Invasion" plenty, or, most certainly, not "Spider-Man and Obama big". Or even "Death of Captain America" big.

I feel bad for those retailers who bought/are buying the book at any of those kinds of "big" levels, BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET A PUBLISHER "GAME" THE SYSTEM.

At the end of the day YOUR orders determine what publishers do. If you automagically buy 10% more copies of a book to get that 1:10 variant cover, you're guaranteed they will do more and more variant covers. If you order blindly on the HOPE that there's a story published in the news, AND that that story will have meaning and resonance with the general public, then they're going to continue to do that, as well.

Just something to think about.

-B


(Oooh, seconds before I was about to hit "post" I got a call asking for CAP #600. As near as I can tell, no one in town bit on the early shipping thing? Anyway, he didn't sound like a civ, though I didn't interrogate him or anything)

Labels: Brian, retailing

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Here's what is coming this week....

ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #12
ACTRESS AND THE BISHOP #1
AIR #10
ALL NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #3 (OF 4) DKR
ANGEL #22
BARACK OBAMA THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE #1
BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #1
BETTY & VERONICA #242
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #195
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS ALL GIRL COMICS (ONE SHOT)
BOYS HEROGASM #2 (OF 6)
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #24
CABLE #15 XMW
CAPTAIN AMERICA #600
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #14
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #58
DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #4 (OF 5) DKR
DARK REIGN HAWKEYE #3 (OF 5) DKR
DARK REIGN MISTER NEGATIVE #1 (OF 3) DKR
DARK REIGN YOUNG AVENGERS #2 (OF 5) DKR
DARK TOWER THE FALL OF GILEAD #2 (OF 6)
DEAD AT 17 AFTERBIRTH #1 (OF 4)
DESTROYER #3 (OF 5)
ELEPHANTMEN #20 (RES)
EX MACHINA #43
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS #1 BENITEZ CVR
FALL OF CTHULHU NEMESIS #3 (OF 4)
FANTASTIC FORCE #3 (OF 5)
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH DANCE #2 (OF 6)
GENEXT UNITED #2 OF(5)
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #21
GROOM LAKE #3
HELLBLAZER #256
INCOGNITO #4
INVINCIBLE #63
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #14 DKR
JACK OF FABLES #35
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #151
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #16 (RES)
MAN WITH NO NAME #11
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #37
MARVEL PETS HANDBOOK
MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #3 (OF 4)
MASQUERADE #4
MIGHTY AVENGERS #26 DKR
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #6 (OF 6)
OUTSIDERS #19
PHONOGRAM 2 #3 (OF 7) SINGLES CLUB
POWER GIRL #2
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS CHAPTER TWO #0
PUNISHER #6 DKR
RED MASS FOR MARS #3 (OF 4) (RES)
REX MUNDI DH ED #18
SIMPSONS COMICS #155
STAR TREK WRATH OF KHAN #2
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OLD REPUBLIC #42 MASKS PT 1 ( OF 3) (C: 1-
SUPERGIRL #42
SUPERMAN BATMAN #61
TALES FROM WONDERLAND CHESHIRE CAT ONE-SHOT
THOR TRIAL OF THOR
TINY TITANS #17
ULTIMATUM SPIDER-MAN REQUIEM #1 (OF 2)
VIGILANTE #7
WAR MACHINE #7
WAR OF KINGS ASCENSION #3 (OF 4)
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #37 DKR
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #7 (OF 8)
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #20
X-MEN LEGACY #225
X-MEN ORIGINS GAMBIT #1
YOUNG ALLIES COMICS #1 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL
YOUNG LIARS #16

Books / Mags / Stuff
BATMAN THE BLACK CASEBOOK TP
BODY BAGS TP VOL 01 FATHERS DAY
BORIS VALLEJO & JULIE BELL ULTIMATE ILLUSTRATIONS SC
CINEFEX #118 JUL 2009
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #50 HAWKEYE
COMPLETE JUST A PILGRIM TP
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #10 RAS AL GHUL
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #11 LEX LUTHOR
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #28 SINESTRO
FAT CHUNK GN VOL 02 ZOMBIE
GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS WAR TP VOL 02
HITMAN TP VOL 01 A RAGE IN ARKHAM TP NEW PTG
LOST OFFICIAL MAGAZINE #23 PX ED
LOW MOON
MAGIC TRIXIE GN VOL 03 MAGIC TRIXIE & THE DRAGON
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS TP VOL 09 DIGEST
MICE TEMPLAR TP VOL 01
NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 03
NEXUS AS IT HAPPENED TP VOL 01
POWER PACK CLASSIC TP VOL 01
PUNISHER YEAR ONE TP
QUESTION THE FIVE BOOKS OF BLOOD TP
RED SONJA HC VOL 06
REQUIEM LE CHEVALIER VAMPIRE COLLECTION TP
REX LIBRIS TP VOL 02 BOOK OF MONSTERS
SEX LIES AND PRIVATE EYES (RES)
SIZZLE #42 (A)
SLEEPER SEASON 1 TP
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE SEASON 2 TP SOPHOMORE JINX
SPIDER-MAN NEW WAYS TO DIE TP
STARMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 03
T RUNT HC
THE IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN TP
ULTIMATE ORIGINS TP
WASTELAND TP VOL 04 DOG TRIBE
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO WORLD OF TOMORROW HC
WILL EISNERS SPIRIT ARCHIVES HC VOL 26 (RES)
WONTON SOUP GN VOL 02
X-INFERNUS HC
YTHAQ PREM HC FORSAKEN WORLD
ZORRO YEAR ONE TP VOL 01 TRAIL O/T FOX PX ED

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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So. Very. Tired...

2000 AD #1635
2000 AD #1636
ABSOLUTION #0 (OF 6)
ACTION COMICS #878
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #597 DKR
ANGEL BLOOD AND TRENCHES #4
ANNA MERCURY 2 #1 (OF 5)
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #132
BATMAN #687
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #30
BETA RAY BILL GODHUNTER #1 (OF 3)
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #5
BOOSTER GOLD #21
BPRD WAR ON FROGS #3 (OF 4)
BUCK ROGERS #1
CHANNEL EVIL #1
DEADPOOL #11 DKR
DMZ #42
DOCTOR WHO AUTOPIA (ONE SHOT)
ENDERS GAME RECRUITING VALENTINE
FABLES #85
FANTASTIC FOUR #567
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH ESCAPE #2 (OF 6)
FLASH REBIRTH #3 (OF 6)
GEN 13 #30
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #37
JSA VS KOBRA ENGINES OF FAITH #1 (OF 6)
LIFE AND TIMES OF SAVIOR 28 #3
LOCKJAW AND THE PET AVENGERS #2 (OF 4)
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #12
MISS AMERICA COMICS #1 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #132
PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #3 CVR A
PRIDE & PREJUDICE #3 (OF 5)
PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #71
REBELS #5
RED ROBIN #1
RESURRECTION VOL 2 #1
SAVAGE DRAGON #149
SCOOBY DOO #145
SHERLOCK HOLMES #2 (OF 5)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #201
SOUL KISS #5 (OF 5)
SPIRIT #29
STAR TREK WRATH OF KHAN #1
STORMING PARADISE #6 (OF 6) (RES)
STRANGE ADVENTURES OF HP LOVECRAFT #2 (OF 4)
STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS CHUN LI #3 (OF 4) A CVR DOGAN
SUPER FRIENDS #16
TERMINATOR REVOLUTION #5 (OF 5)
THOR TALES OF ASGARD BY LEE & KIRBY #2 (OF 6)
TITANS #14
TOY STORY MYSTERIOUS STRANGER #1 (OF 4)
UNCANNY X-MEN #511
UNCANNY X-MEN FIRST CLASS GIANT-SIZE SPECIAL #1
UNKNOWN #2 (OF 4)
UNTHINKABLE #2 (OF 4)
UNWRITTEN #2
VEIL #1
WALKING DEAD #62
WAR OF KINGS SAVAGE WORLD OF SKAAR
WITCHBLADE DARKNESS ANGELUS BLOOD ON SANDS (ONE SHOT)
WOLVERINE #74
X-FACTOR #44
X-MEN FOREVER #1

Books / Mags / Stuff
30 DAYS OF NIGHT 30 DAYS TIL DEATH TP
ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN HC
BLEACH TP VOL 27
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 TP VOL 02 HELL COMES TO BIRMINGHAM
COLOR OF WATER GN
CONAN HC VOL 07 CIMMERIA
DARE GN
DARK REIGN DEADPOOL THUNDERBOLTS TP
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG SPEC ANTI MONITOR
DOUGLAS FREDERICKS & HOUSE OF THEY TP (RES)
DRAGONERO TP
ESSENTIAL THOR TP VOL 04
EXCALIBUR VISIONARIES ALAN DAVIS TP VOL 01
FINAL CRISIS COMPANION TP
FINAL CRISIS HC
FLASH THE HUMAN RACE TP
FOUR FRIGHTENED WOMEN (RES)
HEAVY METAL JULY 2009
JSA SERIES 1 BALANCED ONE THIRD CASE ASST
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #6 JUN 2009
LEES TOY REVIEW #199 JUN 2009
PIXIE GN VOL 02 (OF 4)
RED TP NEW EDITION
RUNAWAYS TP DEAD WRONG
RUNAWAYS TP VOL 08 DEAD END KIDS DIGEST
SHOWCASE PRESENTS GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 04
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #18 SPECIAL NEWSSTAND ED
SUPERMAN LAST SON TP
SUPREME POWER HIGH COMMAND PREM HC
TOYFARE #144 MATTEL GHOSTBUSTERS CVR
WITCHBLADE ORIGINS TP VOL 02 REVELATIONS
X-MEN THE END TRILOGY TP
YOUNG LIARS TP VOL 02 MAESTRO
ZOMBIE TALES VOL 04 (OF 4) THIS BITES


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

I'm not going to speak for anyone else here, but there are weeks at a time where I just really don't have anything meaningful to say about that week's books, and I don't just want to post in order to post, y'know?

But I thought this was a nice week o' comics. Let's go!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #596 DKR: Man, Phil Jimemez was only on for one issue of this storyline? Foul! Say what you will, Spidey is more readable than it has been in a long-ass time. I'm still frustrated by the "DKR" intruding on each and every thing in the Marvel U (especially because it feels like we got at least another year of this to go), but this is still basically OK stuff.


BANG TANGO #5 (OF 6): I can't review this -- I haven't read past issue #1, but I do want to note that this is the first Vertigo comic ever where I've reduced my rack copy orders down to a single copy at FOC. I actually don't think that Vertigo is capable of selling a periodical mini-series any longer because of their trade policies. Here's the thing though: one subber, one rack copy sold -- why would I order any copy of a theoretical trade paperback of this story? Discuss.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1: Pretty, fun, but probably a little thin -- this was more of a vignette than a story, wasn't it? An extremely high GOOD, but it wasn't meaty enough to push it up much higher.

BOYS #31: I'm much less interested in this book when Robertson isn't drawing it. I really LIKE Ezquerra (or McCrea on HEROGASM), but when your name is above the title, then you should be drawing the book. Ennis very surprisingly kills a major character -- even if that character kind of doesn't HAVE a character yet. I would have thought we would have learned more before he got to that stage. I thought this one was oddly EH.

BTVS TALES OF THE VAMPIRES ONE SHOT: OK, this is goofy continuity point, but my understanding of the mythology of the Buffyverse was that when you became a vampire, "you" were effectively possessed by a demon who essentially took over your body and your memories (That's one of the reasons that all Vampires know "kung fu" the moment they rise, yeah?) -- and this would seem to completely ignore that concept altogether. It wasn't bad or anything, but shouldn't one follow the "rules" of the world you're in? Kinda EH.

CHEW #1: I think John Layman might have finally hit on the right concept for him. More darkly humorous than humorously dark, this concept seems fairly sustainable, and I enjoyed it quite a bit: GOOD.

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #2 (OF 6): I don't know about anyone else, but these FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH books have been utter retail death for us -- single copy preorders, under-one-hand rack sales, I've NEVER seen follow-up series sell this far below the series they have spun from. A teeny part of it was leading with the wrong books -- RUN is the adventures of Captain Loathsome, after all -- but even DANCE with a solid author, and the I-thought-people-liked-them-at-least-ironically Super Young Team sold less than 3 rack copies for me. And the best of the bunch -- last week's INK (a solid GOOD), was down to a single rack sale. Sheesh. And there's five more months of these things scheduled. I nearly doubt that I'll be carrying rack copies of ANY of them by the time we get to the end... Anyway, RUN #2 is slightly AWFUL.

IRREDEEMABLE #3: I really really want to like this, but even the creepy sexual thing at the beginning didn't work because there isn't any context for anything that is happening. I don't think that it's enough to have a hooky premise -- "what if Superman suddenly turned evil" -- what matters is what you DO with it. I can't get into the premise because I never "saw" him be good, nor do we know why any of this happened. I guess Waid thinks the "why" is the story? It really isn't -- it's the ignition. I guess we're supposed to feel for Scylla and Charybdis here? But why? They're absolute ciphers -- there's no real reason for us to care other than "look, a few more of the character boxes now will have an X through them!". Sorry, this is EH.

KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #151: Other than SAVAGE DRAGON and NINJA HIGH SCHOOL, are there any other independently produced comics that are currently being published, that have crossed the 150 bar? (if I was at the store, I could answer that easily with the POS, couldn't I?) And, y'know, support a whole writing staff? This is a really amazing accomplishment, ESPECIALLY because no one in the comics field other than me ever even mentions this book. You'd think Spurge or Ace or maybe even Deppey would at least mention KoDT every once in a while. (Or NHS for that matter)

The best part is it really is funny -- albeit it aimed very sharply at a specific niche audience (gamers). If I have complaints (and I have two), they are these: A) I just don't think the World of Hackcraft stuff (obviously parodying WoWarcraft) is even a third as funny as the tabletop stuff. "Table chatter" is what MAKES KoDT, in a lot of ways, and they just can't pull that off in the WoH sections; B) they're often juggling too many storylines at once, stripping some of them of their inherent drama. As an example: this month's chapter of "Gary Returns" basically just restated what we learned in part 1, with virtually no new information.

What KoDT really REALLY needs, though, is their own version of Essential or Showcase volumes -- 20-25 issues worth for $20 (or less); preferably parsed in storyline order so the reading experience is worth it. The most recent "Bundle of Trouble" (their version of TPs -- they're at.. um, 23? 24?) was really essentially "all middle" because of the choice of material that was in there, and was less than a good read for it.

I wouldn't recommend you start here with 151, (150 was a much better jumping on point), but I'd VERY much recommend buying a Bundle of Trouble and going from there. 151 was GOOD.

MUPPET SHOW #3 (OF 4): I was reading the comics at home and both Ben and Tzipora asked me "Why are you reading a Muppet comic, isn't that for little kids?" Cracked me up. Then Tzipora asked "And just what is Gonzo anyway?" (Well, I think she said "that creature" because she doesn't have them memorized, BUT THE POINT REMAINS), which was funny because that's the very plot of this issue. This is solidly GOOD stuff.

SOLOMON GRUNDY #4 (OF 7)
STRANGE ADVENTURES #4 (OF 8): I just want to observe that these are two DCU comics that I had to stop racking because I wasn't selling a single rack copy in the first few weeks. They both come out the same week, too, which is weird. Oddly, SOLOMON GRUNDY sells better than 2 or 3 other DCU books that I DO rack, because of sub requests from pre-#1's release. I was talking with Jeff Lester today about the shape of the business, and I think it is literally astonishing that there is a Jim Starlin comic I can't sell ANY rack copies of. I would not have pictured that as actually possible.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #133: Fuck. Seriously, you can't do a wordless comic for $4. FUCK, and no, you can't end your run on the book on such a downer note. Especially not a book like this. It is betraying the very thematic underpinnings of the book to do so. Completely ASS.

ULTIMATUM #4 (OF 5): plus, if you're going to do the Big Event, then you have to fucking get it out on time. AND have it be something more than just "Lots of people die, the end". This is really starting to smell like the last Wildstorm reboot to me, in terms of audience interest. EH.



As always, what did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

Click Here to Read More...

As hoped, Marvel has officially extended the FOC date for REBORN #1 to Tuesday June 16th, so we should have basic information about REBORN in place before our orders are due.

"REBORN FOC MOVED TO TUESDAY 6/16 TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR ORDERS!
Reborn #1 (MAY090412D, $3.99) is expected to receive nationwide mass media coverage on June 15, and in an effort to give retailers more time to adjust orders, the issue’s FOC date will be moved from Thursday, June 11 to Tuesday, June 16. The on sale date of July 1 is unaffected by the FOC adjustment."

Therefore, Comix Experience WILL now be able to rack the book.

See, complaining in public does occasionally do some minor amount of good.

However, everything about this sort of hinges on trust: how much does one trust Marvel to be able to "deliver" "nationwide mass media coverage". Clearly a news story has been brokered, but it is utterly an open question whether or not it will actually RUN (Any number of stories could very easily push it out of the "news cycle"), and, much MUCH more importantly, whether any one or not will CARE about whatever the revelation is.

There are several possibilities of what "Reborn" might be referring to, of course -- some suggest it might be the return of the Cap from "Truth: Red, White and Black", or, it could be the "Heroes Return" Cap (Since that version of Bucky is evidently in CAPTAIN AMERICA #600), or it could just be "our" Steve Rogers coming back from the dead. Or it could be something else. We won't know until 6/15. Happy birthday to me!

One of those stories might entice the general public (and the "Obama Grandmothers"), one won't even create a ripple within the Direct Market, and the last is likely to create a collective "So?"

(People seem to like Bucky-Cap just fine, after all)

If it IS the most obvious result (The return of Steve Rogers), then I'm willing to predict a still birth on this -- Brubaker's CAPTAIN AMERICA is a fine comic book, indeed, but rebirths almost never generate any real market heat, with the possibly notable exception of GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH which had on its side the fact that probably half (?) of GL readers actively disdained Kyle Rayner (the other half LOVED him), as well, to my mind, the idea that that would usher the return of the GL CORPS (Probably the best idea that comics, up to that point, had ever "thrown away")

It is worth mentioning (largely because this is getting fairly confusing) that CAPTAIN AMERICA #600, the putative lead-in to REBORN #1, will be "early released" on the Monday the news is meant to hit. For those who wish to pay for it, natch. That kind of direct shipping cost is fairly likely to run at about 5% of retail on the book, completely wiping out the benefit from the order incentive that Marvel ran.

But if the news DOES hit, there will be a bifurcation in the market -- because retailers have to pay the incoming shipping, additional staff and labor, etc etc, I'm not going to expect that a majority of retailers will actually pull that particular trigger. Which means the stores that DO will have a fairly hefty advantage. On the other hands if it is "just" "the return of Steve Rogers", I don't see a lot of civilian consumers biting -- people like death, they're less excited about returns.

(And, if you don't believe that, I'm sure I could act as a broker on AS MANY CASES of ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #500 as you might possibly want)

Comix Experience will not be one of those stores -- partly because we have Tuesday delivery, so paying 5% of retail for a (maybe) 24 hours advantage doesn't seem sensible to me; and partly because I'm not *expecting* any revelation other than "Steve Rogers returns" at this time.

What's horrifically fucked up about the CAPTAIN AMERICA #600 portion of this game is that that, effectively, most retailers had about a 3 hour window (on a Wednesday, fercryinoutloud -- when most retailers are frantically trying to help customers and don't have time to be obsessively checking email every 3 minutes) to make the decision whether to bring in those Monday CAPs or not. If you waited until Thursday it was too late to place order increases. Too bad, so sad.

Whatever these books end up being, however they end up selling, Marvel in my opinion handled this very poorly -- not giving retailers enough information OR time to make a properly formed decision. It was all "trust us".

And so far in this case, I'd argue they haven't given us enough reason to do so for these specific books.

On the other hand, they've generated a LOT of conversation, and way more "free press" then they would have otherwise, and I'm sure there are PLENTY of stores out there spiking their numbers up over all of these books. MARVEL is going to sell a whole lot more of these comics then they would have otherwise.

I just hope they sell THROUGH at retail.

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing

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Man, June already? Well, at least here's a great week of comics for that!

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #105 (A)
AGENTS OF ATLAS #6 DKR
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #596 DKR
ANGEL NOT FADE AWAY #2
ANITA BLAKE LC NECROMANCER #2 (OF 5)
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #199
ASTONISHING TALES #5
ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #2 (OF 4)
ATOMIC ROBO SHADOW FROM BEYOND TIME #2 (OF 5)
AUTHORITY #11
BANG TANGO #5 (OF 6)
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FINAL FIVE #3 (OF 4)
BETTY #180
BLACK PANTHER 2 #5 DKR
BOYS #31
BTVS TALES OF THE VAMPIRES ONE SHOT
CAPTAIN BLOOD ODYSSEY #1 (OF 5)
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 ANNUAL #1
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #38
CHEW #1
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #11
DAREDEVIL NOIR #3 (OF 4)
DARK AVENGERS #5 DKR
DEAD IRONS #4 (OF 4)
DEAD RUN #1
DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #3 (OF 5)
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #7
EXILES #3
FARSCAPE STRANGE DETRACTORS #3 (OF 4)
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #2 (OF 6)
FLASH GORDON #5
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #14
IRREDEEMABLE #3
JERSEY GODS #5
JONAH HEX #44
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #151
LOONEY TUNES #175
MIGHTY #5
MIGHTY AVENGERS #25 DKR
MUPPET SHOW #3 (OF 4)
NEW AVENGERS REUNION #4 (OF 4) DKR
NEW MUTANTS #2
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #6
PHANTOM GENERATIONS #2
PS238 #39
PUNISHER MAX NAKED KILL #1
ROTTEN #1
SCALPED #29
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #3 (OF 3)
SECRET SIX #10
SKAAR #11
SOLOMON GRUNDY #4 (OF 7)
SPAWN #192
STAR TREK CREW #4
STRANGE ADVENTURES #4 (OF 8)
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #4 (OF 12)
TIMESTORM 2009/2099 SPIDER-MAN
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #133
ULTIMATUM #4 (OF 5)
UNIVERSAL WAR ONE REVELATIONS #3 (OF 3)
UPTIGHT #3 (RES)
WAR OF KINGS #4 (OF 6)
WARLORD #3
WEREWOLVES ON THE MOON VERSUS VAMPIRES #1 (OF 3)
WOLVERINE REVOLVER #1

Books / Mags / Stuff
4 GIRLFRIENDS GN VOL 02 (A)
ALTER EGO #86
BATGIRL REDEMPTION TP
BIOGRAPHIC NOVEL 14TH DALAI LAMA GN
DEADPOOL TP VOL 01 SECRET INVASION
EUREKA TP VOL 01 (OF 4)
FARSCAPE HC VOL 01
GREEN LANTERN CORPS SINS OF THE STAR SAPPHIRE TP
HALO UPRISING PREM HC (RES)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY TP VOL 02 LOVE STORIES FOR DEAD PEOPLE
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 03 INJUSTICE LEAGUE
LOVE IS A PECULIAR TYPE OF THING GN
MIJEONG GN
OCEAN TP NEW EDITION
PUNISHER MAX HC VOL 05
SENTRY TP AGE OF SENTRY DM ED
SUPERMAN BATMAN FINEST WORLDS HC
TERRY MOORES ECHO TP VOL 02 ATOMIC DREAMS
TINY TYRANT GN ETHELBERTOSAURUS
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #178
TORCHWOOD GN RIFT WAR
UNCANNY X-MEN LOVELORN TP


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

Remember (because I DID forget until today) that new comics are on THURSDAY in the US this week, due to the Memorial Day holiday.

ALIENS #1 (OF 4)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #595 DKR
ARCHIE #597
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #16
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #24 DKR
AVENGERS INVADERS #11 (OF 12)
BACK TO BROOKLYN #5 (OF 5)
BATMAN IN BARCELONA DRAGONS KNIGHT
BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #171
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #57
CROSSED #5 (OF 9)
CURSED PIRATE GIRL #1 (OF 3)
DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #3 (OF 5) DKR
DARK REIGN HOOD #1 (OF 5) DKR
DARKNESS #77
ENDERS SHADOW BATTLE SCHOOL #5 (OF 5)
FALL OF CTHULHU NEMESIS #2 (OF 4)
FARSCAPE DARGOS LAMENT #2 (OF 4)
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK #1 (OF 6)
FUTURAMA COMICS #43
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS TANKIES #2
GHOST RIDER #35
GLAMOURPUSS #7
GODLAND #28 (RES)
GOTHAM GAZETTE #1 BATMAN ALIVE
GREEN LANTERN #41
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #14
HERO SQUARED LOVE & DEATH #3 (OF 3)
IGNITION CITY #3 (OF 5)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #26
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #129
JANS ATOMIC HEART
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #33
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #27
LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #1 (OF 6)
LITERALS #2 (OF 3)
LORDS OF AVALON KNIGHTS OF DARKNESS #6 (OF 6)
MAD MAGAZINE #500
MADAME XANADU #11
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #48
MOON KNIGHT #30
MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #6 (OF 6)
MS MARVEL #39 DKR
MUPPET ROBIN HOOD #1 (OF 4)
NEW AVENGERS #53 DKR
NORTHLANDERS #17
NOVA #25
RAPTURE #1 OEMING CVR
RED SONJA #44
ROBERT JORDANS NEW SPRING #6 (RES)
RUNAWAYS 3 #10
SONIC UNIVERSE #4
SPIDER-MAN SHORT HALLOWEEN
SPIRIT #28
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #11
STAND AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #3 (OF 5)
STAR WARS LEGACY #36 RENEGADE
STARCRAFT #1
SUPERMAN #688
SWORD #17
TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #33
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #56
TEEN TITANS #71
TRINITY #52
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #6 (OF 6)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #8
USAGI YOJIMBO #120
WAR MACHINE #6
WILDCATS #11
WOLVERINE #72
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #15
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #36 DKR
WONDER WOMAN #32
X-FORCE #15 XMW
X-MEN FUTURE HISTORY MESSIAH WAR SOURCEBOOK
X-MEN LEGACY #224

Books / Mags / Stuff
BART SIMPSON SON OF HOMER TP
BAYOU TP VOL 01
BERSERK TP VOL 29
CHICKEN WITH PLUMS SC
CONAN TP VOL 07 CIMMERIA
DAMES DOLL AND GUN MOLLS SC
DC LIBRARY ROOTS OF THE SWAMP THING HC
DEAD AT 17 ULTIMATE ED TP
DEATH DEFYING DEVIL TP VOL 01
ELEPHANTMEN HC VOL 02 FATAL DISEASES
ESSENTIAL X-MEN TP VOL 09
FLOWER OF LIFE GN VOL 04 (OF 4)
GALVESTON TP
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS TP VOL 02 DEAR BILLY
GEEK MONTHLY JUN 2009
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH TP ADDICT
INCOGNEGRO SC
INCREDIBLE HERCULES TP LOVE AND WAR
JOHN STANLEY LIBRARY MELVIN MONSTER HC VOL 01
JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE HEAVY METAL DREDD GN
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #284
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #5 MAY 2009
KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 26
LOST OFFICIAL MAGAZINE #22 SPECIAL PX ED
MARVEL ADVENTURES TP THOR DIGEST
MY INNER BIMBO TP
NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 02
POWER UP GN
PREVIEWS #249 JUNE 2009 (NET)
SHAKARA THE AVENGER TP
SIDE B GN
SINISTER DEXTER GN VOL 01 EUROCRASH
SPARROW JOHN WATKISS HC
SPECIAL FORCES TP VOL 01
SPIDER-MAN NOIR PREM HC
STAR TREK OMNIBUS TP VOL 01
STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP VOL 03 WIND RAIDERS TALORAAN
STAR WARS VECTOR TP VOL 02 CHAPTERS 3 AND 4
STATIC SHOCK REBIRTH OF THE COOL TP
THIS IS A SOUVENIR SONGS OF SPEARMINT & SHIRLEY LEE GN
TRINITY TP VOL 01
TRUE LOVES GN VOL 02
WIZARD MAG #213 PACHECO ULTIMATE AVENGERS CVR
WORLD OF WARCRAFT ASHBRINGER HC
X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT PREM HC
X-MEN WORLDS APART HC

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

The Direct Market is sometimes an awkward beast: publishers solicit books roughly 3 months before publication, which can lead to problems in releasing information in such a way that can spoil those upcoming titles. I am very sympathetic to these concerns.

Direct Market retailers, of course, buy comics non-returnable -- if we order too many copies, we simply eat them. This means we need as much information as we can possibly get at the time of solicitation so we can make proper, informed judgments of the saleability of a specific work.

There's no doubt this is a substantial conundrum -- in this particular aspect the publisher's best interests are diametrically opposed to the retailer's. They want to preserve suspense, we want as much information as is possible (in fact, the best possible world would be to be able to read every comic before we had to finalize our orders)

Marvel, over the last few years, has taken to making certain high-profile title's solicitations "Classified" where they provide retailers NO solicitation information at first, instead releasing it, typically, the final day that Final Orders are due. This is extremely annoying (I can't help build interest in a work via pre-orders if the first piece of hard information I receive is 3 weeks before a title ships), but we've been able to work with it fairly adequately to date because, generally, we were talking about essentially "just another issue of IRON MAN", and the trade off was "spoiling the end of SECRET INVASION", y'know? I have cycle sheet data for IRON MAN, I know the general range it is going to sell, I can work around it. As long as they finally give me the solicit by the time of Final Order Cutoff (FOC).

Which brings us to REBORN #1.

REBORN is a 5-issue mini-series. It is by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch. It is 32 pages long, in color, and retails for $3.99. That's every piece of information that we have. We don't know who or what is "reborn", and, really, we aren't precisely sure if that's the exact title of the final comic book. It certainly could be the return of the Steve Rogers Captain America, but it could just as easily be something to do with "Heroes Reborn", or even some version of Captain America that has nothing to do with Steve Rogers. It could also have nothing whatsoever to do with Captain America, regardless of what Rich Johnston is reporting. My point is we simply don't know.

Unlike previous situations with "classified" solicitations, this does not appear to be done to protect the conclusion of a line-wide crossover like CIVIL WAR or SECRET INVASION. As near as I can tell, no other comic is being impacted by this book in the short term. There's a possibility that this spins out of CAPTAIN AMERICA #600, I suppose? But that would be the absolute limit.

No, this is Marvel trying to "game" the system, as far as I am concerned -- trying to create interest in something in what I consider to be an underhanded way, and completely against the moral intent of the processes of the Direct Market.

And now we come to what I consider to be the real problem: Marvel has apparently pre-arranged press coverage with a tame journalist with embargoed exclusivity with one media outlet with a promise to go wide on it. This week's Marvel Mailer (a retailer-only mailing with Marvel news in it) they say the following:

"REBORN #1’s solicit and cover will not be revealed before its FOC date due to upcoming mainstream press regarding the series. Please see the Marvel page of Diamond’s Retailer Service Area for more information"

Going to that page, we get this detail (I'm not printing the details of the incentive deals):

"REBORN #1, by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch, will be receiving nationwide press on 6/15, possibly on par with the media coverage we received during Civil War.

However, this means that the solicit and covers for Reborn #1 cannot be shown before the FOC of 6/11. Marvel will do everything possible to ensure an overprint is on hand to counter huge anticipated demand, but the incentives below and qualifying for free variants will only be available for orders placed before FOC"

So, basically, Marvel is cutting the retailers out of the information loop in order to hopefully make a splash in the wider media. There are two problems I see with this strategy. One: depending on news going wide is a dangerous and risky move. What if 6/15 is the day that the President is assassinated, or we declare war on North Korea, or we find out a planet-killer asteroid is on its way, or whatever else of a billion things that could knock any media interest in ANY comics project into the garbage?

Two: like we saw with CAPTAIN AMERICA #25, if there IS press coverage, and we don't have the information to even attempt to order properly, then we can't capitalize on it.

As a retailer, I object to these actions. I find these tactics ethically abhorrent and morally repugnant, and flatly against the best interests of the Direct Market and it's constituent retailers.

If we let this pass silently, then we're telling them to do it again and again and again -- hell, why even actually solicit ANYthing? We'll accept that, right?

So, there's really only one thing I can do at this point to protest these tactics, and that's to decline to carry the book. Assuming that Marvel doesn't change their mind on this, before FOC time, I'm going to cut my rack copy orders to zero.

Obviously I will stock the book for any customer who is interested in preordering the title, but I can not, in good conscience, spend my own discretionary money on something that is against my best interests. To do otherwise would be to condone what Marvel is doing here. I have no other way to express my displeasure than voting with my dollars.

Marvel won't care, I'm sure. The thirty to, say, one hundred and fifty copies I might have sold (Depending on what the comic really is) won't make or break them. It probably won't hurt Ed or Bryan either, but I have to make a public stand in the only way I can.

But what else can I do? To participate is to say that what Marvel is doing is acceptable business. And it just isn't. Some times you have to stand on your principles, even if it costs you a little bit of money.

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing

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Hey look, Kids, Comics!

AGENTS OF ATLAS #5 DKR
AIR #9
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #594
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #6
ANGEL #21
ARCHIE DIGEST #254
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #3 (OF 3)
BLACK TERROR #4
BOYS HEROGASM #1
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #23
CAPTAIN AMERICA #50
CARS ROOKIE #2 (OF 4)
COMPLETE DRACULA #1 (OF 5)
CRIMINAL MACABRE CELL BLOCK 666 #4 (OF 4)
DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (OF 5) DKR
DOCTOR WHO TIME MACHINATION
EX MACHINA #42
FANTASTIC FORCE #2 (OF 5)
FANTASTIC FOUR #566
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH DANCE #1 (OF 6)
GEARS OF WAR #7
GI JOE #5
GIGANTIC #4 (OF 5)
G-MAN TP VOL 01 LEARNING TO FLY
GREAT UNKNOWN #2 (OF 5)
GREATEST AMERICAN HERO #3 (OF 3)
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #20
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #38
HELLBLAZER #255
HOTWIRE #3 (OF 5) PUGH CVR A
HULK #12
INCREDIBLES FAMILY MATTERS #2 (OF 4)
INVINCIBLE #62
JACK OF FABLES #34
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES STORM FRONT #4 (OF 4)
JUGHEAD #195
KILLAPALOOZA #1 (OF 6)
LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #5
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #35
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #36
MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #1 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #5 (OF 6)
NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #170
OUTSIDERS #18
PATRICIA BRIGGS MERCY THOMPSON HOMECOMING #3 (OF 4)
PLANET SKAAR PROLOGUE ONE-SHOT
PUNISHER #5 DKR
RESIDENT EVIL #2 (OF 6)
ROBERT JORDANS WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #0 REG CVR
SCOOBY DOO #144
SIMPSONS COMICS #154
SKRULL KILL KREW #2 (OF 5) DKR
STAR TREK ALIENS SPOTLIGHT ROMULANS
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OLD REPUBLIC #41 DUELING AMBITIONS PT 3 (
STEPHEN COLBERTS TEK JANSEN #5 (OF 5) (RES)
SUPERGIRL #41
SUPERMAN BATMAN #60
TERROR INC APOCALYPSE SOON #2 (OF 4)
THUNDERBOLTS #132
TIMESTORM 2009 2099 #2 (OF 4)
TINY TITANS #16
TRINITY #51
UNCANNY X-MEN #510
VIGILANTE #6
WARRIORS OFFICIAL MOVIE ADAPTATION #2 (OF 5)
WITCHBLADE #127 SEJIC CVR A
WOLVERINE NOIR #2 (OF 4)
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #2
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #19
X-MEN FOREVER ALPHA
YTHAQ NO ESCAPE #2 (OF 3)

Books / Mags / Stuff
ARLENES HEART HC
BATMAN MAD LOVE AND OTHER STORIES HC
BEN TEMPLESMITHS DRACULA GN
BIG BOOK OF BARRY WEEN BOY GENIUS TP (RES)
BOOSTER GOLD 52 PICK UP TP
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS TP VOL 07
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #90 WARLOCK
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG SPECIAL MAN THING
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #07 GREEN ARROW
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #08 WONDER WOMAN
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #25 DEADSHOT
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #26 PENGUIN
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG SPECIAL DOOMSDAY
GOON TP VOL 07 PLACE OF HEARTACHE & GRIEF
HEAVY METAL JULY 2009
HEROES TP VOL 02
INVINCIBLE TP VOL 10 WHOS THE BOSS
JOHNNY HIRO TP VOL 01
KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 25
KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE TP VOL 09
LEES TOY REVIEW #198 MAY 2009
MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 15 LADY KILLERS
MOON KNIGHT TP VOL 04 DEATH OF MARC SPECTOR
PLUTO URASAWA X TEZUKA GN VOL 03 (C: 1-0-1)
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL TP VOL 05 SECRET INVASION
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR TP VOL 01
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #18 SPECIAL NEWSSTAND ED
SUPERMAN ENDING BATTLE TP
THOR BY J MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI PREM HC VOL 02
THOR VISIONARIES WALT SIMONSON TP VOL 02 NEW PTG
TINY TITANS TP VOL 02 ADVENTURES IN AWESOMENESS
TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 02 LUST FOR LIFE NEW ED
ULTIMATE GALACTUS TRILOGY TP
WAR OF KINGS ROAD TO WAR OF KINGS TP
YOUNG X-MEN TP VOL 02 BOOK OF REVELATIONS


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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Whoops, forgot to mention it earlier in the day: you can find May's TILTING AT WINDMILLS right here

-B

Labels: Brian, Tilting

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Fairly big, if uninspiring, week:

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #104 (A)
ACTION COMICS #877
ALL NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #2 (OF 4) DKR
AMAZON #3 (OF 3)
ANGEL NOT FADE AWAY #1
AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #3 (OF 3)
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #29
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FINAL FIVE #2 (OF 4)
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #194
BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #89
BLACK PANTHER 2 #4 DKR
BOOSTER GOLD #20
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #5 (OF 5)
CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #4 GIORDANO MODERN CVR
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #13
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #37
CASTLE WAITING VOL II #15
DARK REIGN HAWKEYE #2 (OF 5) DKR
DARK REIGN YOUNG AVENGERS #1 (OF 5) DKR
DARK TOWER THE FALL OF GILEAD #1 (OF 6)
DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #2 (OF 5)
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #6
ELEPHANTMEN #19 (RES)
FABLES #84
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH ESCAPE #1 (OF 6)
FROM THE ASHES #1
FUSION #1 (OF 3)
GENEXT UNITED #1 (OF 5)
GRAVEL #11
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #36
GUERILLAS #4 (OF 8)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #13
HOWLING COMMANDOS #1
JACK STAFF #20 (RES)
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #150
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #150
LILLIM #3 (OF 5)
LOCKJAW AND THE PET AVENGERS #1 (OF 4)
MAN WITH NO NAME #10
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #51
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #11
NEXUS ORIGIN REMASTERED
ORACLE #3 (OF 3)
PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #2 JOE CORRONEY CVR
PRIDE & PREJUDICE #2 (OF 5)
PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #70
RAWBONE #2 (OF 4)
REBELS #4
SAVAGE DRAGON #148
SECRET SIX #9
SECRET WARRIORS #4 DKR
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #200
SOUL KISS #4 (OF 5)
STAR TREK MISSIONS END #3
STAR WARS CLONE WARS #6 (OF 6)
STORMING PARADISE #5 (OF 6) (RES)
STORMWATCH PHD #21
STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #6 CRUZ CVR A
STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #6 WANG CVR B
SUPER FRIENDS #15
SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES #4 (OF 4)
TERRY MOORES ECHO #12
THOR TALES OF ASGARD BY LEE & KIRBY #1 (OF 6)
TITANS #13
TRINITY #50
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #132
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #6 (OF 6)
UNKNOWN #1 (OF 4)
UNTHINKABLE #1 (OF 4)
UNWRITTEN #1
VIKING #1 2ND PTG (PP #862)
VOYAGES O/T SHEBUCCANEER #2 (OF 3) EYE O/T JADE DRAGON
WALKING DEAD #61
WAR OF KINGS ASCENSION #2 (OF 4)
WOLVERINE #73
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #6 (OF 8)
X-FACTOR #43
YOUNG LIARS #15
ZORRO #13

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALTER EGO #85
AVENGERS INITIATIVE TP VOL 03 SECRET INVASION
BACK ISSUE #34
BATMAN SCARECROW AND TWO FACE YEAR ONE TP
BRINKLEY GIRLS BEST OF 1913-1940 HC GN
CLOAK & DAGGER PREM HC CHILD OF DARKNESS
COMPLETE DICK TRACY HC VOL 07
ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 09
FLINCH GN VOL 01
FUTURE DIARY GN VOL 01 (OF 6)
GIANT ROBOT #59
HELLBLAZER ROOTS OF COINCIDENCE TP
I KILL GIANTS TP
ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #26
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED ILIAD TP
POTTERS FIELD HC
RETURN TO LABYRINTH GN VOL 03 (OF 4) (RES)
ROBINSON CRUSOE HC
SHOWCASE PRESENTS MARTIAN MANHUNTER TP VOL 02
SUPERMAN NEW KRYPTON HC VOL 01
TOYFARE #143 TWISTED TOYFARE OBAMA OBI WAN CVR
X-FACTOR TP VOL 06 SECRET INVASION
X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY HC
YOULL NEVER KNOW HC VOL 01 A GOOD AND DECENT MAN


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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Capsules, everyone loves them, here we go!

ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #1 (OF 4): I really like ASTRO CITY. I don't like "The Dark Age" all that much. It might because of the eons between releases (the letter column suggests this problem is solved during this particular run); or it might be because I just don't find the two brothers to be all that compelling (at least not such much to sustain a 16 issue arc). The idea of a look at a minion training camp in one of those "vast villain groups" is sorta amusing, but I'll be happy if AC goes back to the done-in-one storylines that characterized much of prior runs. OK.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #25 CHEN CVR: I don't necessarily have that much to say about this specific issue -- it's nice to see what the dealio with Dawn's shape-changing was all about, but I'm missing any real Big Bad Action (have we seen ANYthing in the "overall" story in the last half dozen issues? The last time was in "Time of Your Life" where they kinda acted stupid, and was abandoned in mid-threat, no?) -- it's a solid entry in the series, but it nearly feels like marking time to me. On the other hand, that cover is totally cool -- note perfect romance novel cover, with a slimy monster in the Fabio role. I'll still say GOOD.

CEREBUS ARCHIVE #1: Regardless of what you think about Dave Sim, getting a look into a "here's my journey as an artist and publisher" is pretty amazing, especially from stuff 30 years back when the market was a very different thing. Same concerns though, interesting, but they didn't have email. I hope this does well enough to continue for another 50 issues, at least. GOOD.

FIN FANG FOUR RETURN #1: *joy* Totally silly, and probably not actually in continuity, but I could easily read 4 of these a year. I laughed several times, and I'm ecstatic seeing more Landridge. Great cartooning, and great wit. VERY GOOD.

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #1 (OF 6): What I don't get, if you're going to spin off the "Final Crisis" "brand" is to launch with a series featuring a loathsome idiot, who isn't just unsympathetic, but someone who I'd actively like to see the Spectre mete out some Ironic Punishment to. And it's supposed to sustain itself for SIX issue? Really? From a craft perspective it's perfectly adequate, but this isn't a sales environment where "perfectly adequate" is sufficient. Especially in following up a huge blockbuster. Very EH.

IRREDEEMABLE #2: Stronger than the first issue, that's for sure, but too many of it's beats felt like them came from that issue of ASTRO CITY that riffed on the Superman/Lois secret identity thing. Plus there's a little too much "normalcy" in a world where an entire city has been wiped out like that. I'll give it one more issue to really grab me, but so far this is OK.

LOEG III CENTURY #1 1910: A nice return to form, with a solid and chilling story that's also clearly setting up way more in the future. I can't wait for the annotations! If you didn't really care for BLACK DOSSIER, you'll probably love this. I know I did. EXCELLENT.

NEW MUTANTS #1: While the title and cast is sorta Running to Stand Still (I mean, they're hardly "new"), this was perfectly competent, and maybe an eensey bit compelling. The book doesn't feel like it has a mission statement whatsoever, and that's probably the general problem with the X-books overall, but if you have a fond feeling for these characters, this should make you reasonable happy. Strongly OK.

POWER GIRL #1: What's up with the Phylis Diller face on the non-Connor cover? Jinkies! This character has just too much backstory, really, but I'd rather read this kind of Supergirl than the current one in the Super-line. And Amanda Connor's art is simply yummy. Did I ever admit publicly that it was only just a year or three back that I actually realized that PG was the Supergirl of Earth-2? No? I know, I am dumb as heck sometimes. I sorta want to give this a GOOD, but it's just below that line (but not by a ton), so: OK

SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #2 (OF 3): Hopefully Jeff or someone will be along shortly to tell me what I'm reading (that dumb thing a para ago? Never applies more than to Morrison comics!) -- I really LIKED it, but I didn't have a clue as to what was actually going on. Still "bulldressers" is kind of madly brilliant. GOOD, despite my stupidity.

SWORD OF MY MOUTH #1: I kinda wanted to like this (the art is swell), but that lettering made my eyes bleed. Lettering should never fight the art, ever. And the lettering (alone) makes me say AWFUL.


As always, what did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

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Just a quick note, because this one surprised me.

Back on April 1, we had our 20th anniversary, and I decided to run a small sale, with a donation to the San Francisco Food Bank. This was a one day, one shot event, and our means of promotion were pretty much just "word of mouth" (and a post here)

I just received a letter from the Food Bank's events co-coordinator which states we ended up with a donation of 130 pounds of food.

Da-yum. That's WAY more than I would have anticipated, so thanks to each and every one of you that stepped up. GREAT JOB, GANG!

-B

Labels: Brian

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Tom Spurgeon has Yet Another Excellent Essay on Diamond's new benchmarks. You should go read it.

Here's the thing though: let's assume that every rational human in the world agrees with the central premises of the argument -- every work deserves a chance on the market. I'll stipulate that; I certainly believe it personally.

Now how does that happen?

This isn't just an idle question -- the answer to that is, possibly, the most important question you might answer all day.

Tom, God love him, doesn't have any answers. Saying "it shouldn't be this way" really isn't enough.

Let's look at the components of the Direct Market, after the jump.



CONSUMERS: Honestly, a fair chunk of the issue is your own fault -- you, collectively, have decided that you aren't as interested in buying serialized comics as you once were. That's fair enough, and I Get It -- there's more being produced than you can possibly keep up with, and the Collected Edition is (nearly) always a better package: no ads, no waiting for the Rest, typically cheaper than its components, and so on. Like I said, I Get It.

But if you say "I'll just wait for the trade", you're automatically decreasing the size of the audience. Why? Because: x% of you will keep waiting even once the work is out. Another x% of you is going to balk at the prices needed to finance "OGN" work. Another x% of you are going to completely forget that the work is being produced -- if LOVE & ROCKETS is produced only once a year, where's the percentage for the Hernandez Brother's readership to come in looking for L&R more than once a year? ONCE YOU BREAK THAT PURCHASING HABIT, it is extremely hard to get it going again. If you're only looking once a year for something, then you're just as likely to only think of it every 18 months, 24 months, whatever.

You CAN change consumer behavior: make it clear that material will NOT be collected until x months, or by providing material in the serialization that will NOT be collected, maybe even ever. But what most needs to be done is to DRIVE CONSUMERS INTO THE STORES ON A REGULAR BASIS. "Alternative" and "art" comics have done a, frankly, shit job of that in the last decade. I suspect that war is already lost.

RETAILERS: Yes, some suck. Maybe even "many". Potentially (though, really, I don't think so, but let's grant the possibility) "Most".

Also: there aren't enough retailers, not by half. Tom's got to drive two hours to find one that may or may not have the item he wants in stock. The guy he links to on DC's "Wednesday Comics" project can't even get a good answer on whether or not his order will get filled -- that's mediocre (at best) customer service.

But retailers in hard goods are, by their very nature, conservative creatures. It is much more difficult to go out of business by selling out of something than it is from having far too much stock. This is just the reality of how things work. Even IF the store is dedicated to having the widest, most diverse stock, and is aggressive about tracking down as many things they can and making it trivial for the customer to find or reserve the item they want is going to have holes. I know I sure do. I can't stock EVERY comic. I don't have the physical room to do so.

There are ways around retailer's natural conservatism: free copies, returnable copies, extra discounts, well-orchestrated promotional plans designed to drive consumer interest and drive consumers into stores (be they DM or not), but all of those things cost money, time, and effort; things that, generally, are out of the range of some/many/most publishers to do.

But, seriously, look at the titles that have been impacted by the Diamond policy -- how many of them have had any particular lever designed to drive consumer and retailer interest?

PUBLISHERS: "I published it" is not a marketing plan.

I have all of the love and respect in the world for an outfit like Slave Labor -- they've been in the game long enough, and Vado's got reasonably good aesthetic instincts. And if someone wanted to advance the argument that, say, "if you've been a profitable publisher for [10, 15, 20] years, then Diamond should automatically distribute anything you care to print", I'd probably be willing to fight for that POV.

But "I published it" is not a marketing plan.

Heidi has a thread on this topic, too, and there's a comment over there from a consumer who talks about how he dutifully reads PREVIEWS every month, and fills out preorders, and he's a motivated and interested purchaser of James Turner and he still missed the "special" (sorta-#0) version of the book.

The orders on that version were low enough that Diamond decided not to stock the mini-series.

Cause, meet effect?

DISTRIBUTORS: Look, the central problem is Diamond has a semi-monopoly lock on Direct Market sales on four of the top five producers of comics (IDW, who was #3 for at least one month, is not a brokered publisher through Diamond, though I believe they ARE "exclusive" through Diamond within the DM). Or to put it another way: they control well over 80% of the volume that DM stores order through Diamond.

This really doesn't give any other DM distribution choice anything to work from except for "the crumbs"

[I added the "DM" qualifiers above because you can certainly order Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, IDW, FBI, etc etc from someone OTHER than Diamond, but you'd have to be fairly mental to do so, given the differences in discount between Diamond and other "ID" distributors (B&T, Ingram, whoever)]

Distribution is a hard game in the best of times -- its a really thin margin you're working on -- but I'd call it nigh impossible when you can't even access 80%+ of the potential sales.

Diamond believes that they need to cut unprofitable items from distribution. THIS IS SOMETHING VERY HARD TO ARGUE WITH. I sure can't suggest that one of my partners do something that doesn't make them enough money to continue operations. The only real argument is that they're cutting their nose to spite their faces -- that by knocking down books without giving them a viable and honest chance they're running a real risk of losing out on million copy sellers eventually down the line (otherwise known as the BONE argument), but I certainly can get why a distributor might not be interested in, y'know, playing the lottery. It seems to me that just a single BONE-level success MORE THAN outweighs the nickle-and-dime losses of a hundred other books, but the wrinkle is that by being contractually obligated to distribute whatever the fuck the "Big Four" decide to crap out means they're almost certainly losing money on a huge swath of THAT material.

(Like, say, most 1:10 variants -- those almost certainly are money losers for Diamond in most cases)

In other words, The Big Four are probably eating up most of Diamond's "mercy fuck" budget by overproducing a bunch of marginal shit that no one really wants. In a way, I feel like Diamond's policies are nearly aimed at Marvel and DC, but they contractually CAN'T dictate shit to Marvel and DC, so they have to do it where they're contractually able to do so.

This is changeable. Not easily so, but it is theoretically possible.

Possible scenario #1: The REASON the "Big Four" have brokered exclusive deals with Diamond, and the "next big ten" have non-brokered exclusive deals is because Diamond is basically the only viable choice. One publisher confided in me that virtually every non-Diamond attempt to distribute in the DM ended up going out of business owing that publisher huge sums of money.

So, possibility #1 is someone with stupidly big piles of money, and a WHOLE lot of patience sets up with the goal of directly competing, head-to-head, with Diamond. This person would be GUARANTEED to lose money (big huge scary towering piles of money) for AT LEAST three years. It is my understanding that Diamond brokerage deals are on something like 3-year revolving contracts. IF there was someone with equivalent infrastructure and staffing and knowledge and ability they'd at least have the possibility of luring Marvel away, and possibly several of the others, but, yeah, you could maybe get Marvel at contract renewal time, IF you could convince Perlmutter that they could save a few thousand dollars a quarter.

I don't see this scenario playing out because there probably isn't anyone rich enough who is also STUPID enough to try and take Diamond on head-to-head, on the POSSIBILITY that some pubs might switch... especially since they'd almost certainly have to UNDERCUT Diamond, and my understanding has been that Diamond wrote themselves a really stupid deal where they really don't make THAT much from distributing The Big Four. But it COULD happen, I guess.

***

Possible Scenario #2a: Geppi's non-Diamond empire continues to do what it appears to be doing right now: collapse. The Pop Culture Museum, Gemstone, whatever else, and they collapse hard enough to "Take Diamond With Them", and DC *has* to play its "too big to fail" clause that is reportedly in their contract, buying Diamond outright.

In this scenario, Marvel pulls out as soon as they POSSIBLY can, because they don't want their fortunes tied to their #1 competitor (especially when said competitor has become just a fraction of their new comics sales). Marvel finds someone else to distribute their comics, and, assuming said company doesn't completely fuck everything up, sending hundreds or thousands of comics retailers directly out of business (Cf: Heroes World) -- and that's a REALLY BAD ASSUMPTION -- then maybe just maybe you can start a viable second national distribution option.

Maybe.

***

Possible Scenario #2b: With no external prompting, Marvel decides to try the HWD option again. It could happen. Some of the people in charge are just nuts enough to try.

There would be a REALLY ugly couple of months though, but it, conceptually could lead to a second viable national distributor.

The real problem with either 2a or 2b is that you'd still be looking at NON-INDEPENDENT distribution -- both Marvel and DC, from good intentions or poor ones, are likely to make a lot of moves that would benefit themselves, but no one else. History, I think, is on my side on that one!

***

Possible Scenario #3: The Justice Department investigation of Diamond that Chuck Rosanski instigated was never CLOSED (to my understanding), but rather, put into abeyance. There's probably a much better legal term, but I don't know it.

Justice COULD reopen that investigation, and with a new administration in charge that is potentially much less pro-Big Business Monopoly, they could decide to split Diamond up.

I'm not so sure that this idea doesn't scare me more than 2a and 2b combined, in terms of short term fallout, but I guess it could lead to 2 viable national distribution organizations that would actually be open to potential competition. Probably not, but maybe.

***

Possible Scenario #4:

Someone like an Ingram or a B&T decide to try and court the DM, and to add periodicals and DM-like terms to their portfolio of services.

I think this is unlikely because there aren't enough viable free-agents amongst publishers to make enough of a profit from, but I suppose it COULD happen. Again, you'd be losing money for a good long while in getting this established, but, if you already have "a" distribution infrastructure in place (though one VERY DIFFERENT than what DM retailers would require!), you'd probably be losing a lot less money.

***

Possible Scenario #5:

Something Happens to make Diamond Realize the risk they're taking with Our Future. Like if, somehow, WARLORD OF IO becomes some sort of major international hit, on the level of TWILIGHT or something, and everyone could point at Diamond and say "See...?"

50/50 odds that would cause them to turtle even more, but, hey, you never know!

***

Possible Scenario #6:

Publishers of all shapes and sizes actively promote what they publish, creating consumer pre-order demand for all manner of "non-traditional" works, which spurs retailers to take more chances, and makes it so that Diamond's benchmarks never even come into play in the first place.

At the same time, publishers take a serious look at their offerings, and knock off all of the crap there really isn't any audience for (and yes, I'm including shit like DC doing a TP of the most recent EL DIABLO mini-series, which sold all of 4k copies of its last issue, sheesh!)

See, I sorta think that if you can't generate at least $30k retail in sales on your initial offering, then you probably shouldn't be publishing nationally anyway. That's like $10 per store! That's also WAY above Diamond's benchmarks, but what I'm advocating is publishers taking this kind of tack themselves, not having it imposed from the outside. AND I WOULD EQUALLY SUPPORT THIS THINKING FOR MARVEL & DC!

While this will never happen, this is the one genuinely plausible scenario which would basically guarantee material making it to market -- if you create a real and significant interest in and for your work, then it is likely to work for ALL participants.

***

Potential Scenario #7: the retailers all lose their minds tomorrow, and we mercy fuck the hell out of everything -- we order every single thing offered to us, in strong quantities, just because we want to see books survive. This is about as likely as a gigantic rainbow meteorite striking the earth, transforming us into a race of prancing unicorns who crap chocolate ice cream, but lets keep it on the table anyway. If I, and every other retailer who ordered rack copies of the WARLORD OF IO special, simply doubled our orders, we could have kept the mini-series alive. [Put aside that I still haven't SOLD all of the rack copies of WoIO that I bought!]

I actually DO have a Mercy Fuck budget... well, not "budget" per se, but I am willing to MF some books some times, if they're the kinds of things that I want to encourage my industry to become... but I don't think anyone is well-capitalized enough to sustainably do that over the long haul we'd be talking about, and it would only encourage more people with LESS talent to try to hop on our sweet sweet MF train.

***

Possible Scenario #8: People say "Aw fuck it", and just skip the DM altogether.

I wish these people luck.

Obviously it IS doable, because there ARE a tiny handful of people able to earn out and cash in whether that's through a mainstream book publisher or through the internet in some fashion, but I truly think that for every success that way there are going to be twenty crash-and-burn failures.

At the end of the day, I kinda don't think that if you can't get x thousand people to buy your physical, tangible $x comic book, that you're probably not going to be able to get enough sales from your digital version that only costs a fraction of $x to make up the same kind of revenue stream.

***

I really didn't structure this right -- I should have #6 be the concluding thought, because that's the only actually VIABLE plan in the bunch. AND, more importantly, it is the only one that doesn't rely on SOMEONE ELSE COMING TO SAVE YOU.

I might have missed one though, it's possible. Do YOU have any better ideas?

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing

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Now THIS is what a week full of comicy goodness is supposed to look like!

AGENTS OF ATLAS #4 DKR
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #593
ANGEL BLOOD AND TRENCHES #3
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #131
ASTONISHING TALES #4
ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #1 (OF 4)
AUTHORITY #10
BANG TANGO #4 (OF 6)
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL THE NETWORK #1
BOYS #30
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #25 CHEN CVR
CABLE #14 XMW
CEREBUS ARCHIVE #1
DAREDEVIL NOIR #2 (OF 4)
DEADPOOL #10 DKR
DESTROYER #2 (OF 5)
EXILES #2
FARSCAPE STRANGE DETRACTORS #2 (OF 4) CVR A
FIN FANG FOUR RETURN #1
FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #1 (OF 6)
FLASH REBIRTH #2 (OF 5)
GRAVEL TP VOL 01 BLOODY LIARS
GRIMM FAIRY TALES RETURN TO WONDERLAND ANNUAL #1
GROOM LAKE #2
HULK BROKEN WORLDS #2 (OF 2)
HUMAN TORCH COMICS #1 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #13 DKR
IRREDEEMABLE #2
JERSEY GODS #4
JONAH HEX #43
KULL #6 (OF 6)
LIFE AND TIMES OF SAVIOR 28 #2
LOONEY TUNES #174
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT NEW MUTANTS
MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #2 (OF 4)
MIGHTY #4
NEW AVENGERS REUNION #3 (OF 4) DKR
NEW MUTANTS #1
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #5
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #131
POWER GIRL #1
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #2 (OF 3)
SHRAPNEL #5 (OF 5) A CVR DJURDJEVIC
SOLOMON GRUNDY #3 (OF 7)
STAR TREK CREW #3
STRANGE ADVENTURES #3 (OF 8)
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #6 (OF 6)
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #3 (OF 12)
SWORD OF MY MOUTH #1
TERROR INC APOCALYPSE SOON #1 (OF 5)
TRINITY #49
UNIVERSAL WAR ONE REVELATIONS #2 (OF 3)
VERONICA #194 (NOTE PRICE)
WAR OF KINGS #3 (OF 6)
WARLORD #2
WITCHBLADE ANNUAL 2009 BASALDUA CVR A
X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #4 (OF 4)
ZOMBIES THAT ATE THE WORLD #3

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALIAS ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP BOOK 01
BATMAN THE RESURRECTION OF RAS AL GHUL TP
BLAZING COMBAT HC
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 04 TIME OF YOUR LIFE
CLASSIC GI JOE TP VOL 03
CLIVE BARKERS AGE OF DESIRE HC
COMICS JOURNAL #297
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
CREEPY ARCHIVES HC VOL 03
DR SLUMP TP VOL 18
ELIXIR GN
FLASH GORDON 75TH ANNIVERSARY SP HC
FLASH PRESENTS MERCURY FALLING TP
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY LEAGUE OF THIER OWN TP
JESUS HATES ZOMBIES LINCOLN HATES WEREWOLVES GN VOL 02 (OF 4
LOEG III CENTURY #1 1910
LUBA HC
MONOLOGUES FOR CALCULATING THE DENSITY OF BLACK HOLES GN
OLIVER TWIST HC
PARASYTE GN VOL 07 (OF 8)
POINT BLANK TP NEW ED
PUBLIC ENEMY TP VOL 01 (RES)
SGT FROG GN VOL 17
SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 01
SUPERMAN ESCAPE FROM BIZARRO WORLD TP
TANK GIRL REMASTERED ED TP VOL 01 (RES)
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #177
ULTIMATES 3 TP WHO KILLED SCARLET WITCH
UNDERGROUND CLASSICS TRANSFORMATION COMICS TO COMIX HC
WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01
WALLED IN GN
WALLY WOOD EDGE OF GENIUS SC
Y THE LAST MAN DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 02


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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Today is, of course, Free Comic Book Day, which is, despite what any Decemberist might say, The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year!

I was at the store for about 2 hours this morning (hey, I like having my weekends off, thenkyewveddymuch), and I'm always impressed by doing like 60% of a normal Saturday in the first 90 minutes of the day. That is, as the kidz say, "Teh aw3s0m3"

I really really love FCBD -- sure *I* have to pay for the comics to give away, but for the amount of business it drives, it is more than worth it; and the best thing is that, really, that's all I *have* to do. I know some people go nuts and put up tents and have massive signings and door prizes and events and whatever. I just open the door. I don't advertise it, or promote it, or really do anything other than open the door (with a smile), and it's always one of our best days of the year and that's just wonderfully awesome.

The overwhelming majority of people are awesome about it -- not being greedy, not trying to grab everything that isn't nailed down, not "misunderstanding" the intent or the realities. The best people are the families who bring in packs of little kids -- man those kids look... well, like kids in a comic book store!

Anyway, it is always worth thanking our partners for helping us pull off this event, and, especially, to face South (well, or West or North, depending where you are), and thanking Joltin' Joe Field, of Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff in Concord, California, for coming up with this idea in the first place. I really think this event, alone, has done more for comics and comic book stores than all of the Batman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, or Watchmen movies throughout time, put together.

Thanks, Joe -- you rock!

-B

Labels: Brian

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I finally set up a Facebook page, maybe five years late, I guess? I mean, heck, my DAD already had one (not that I knew that until I made my own), which really tells you that I am a late adopter... I also have one set up for the store, but I have this sneaking feeling we did something wrong, because people can't be "friends" to Comix Experience, only "fans"? Fuck, I have no idea what I am doing!

I don't really "get" the "social networking" thing -- I mean, is the idea to "gotta catch them all" and to add friends to anyone even slightly connected to your fields of interest? Or are you meant to actually only add ACTUAL friends? I don't really know. I've been limiting myself more or less to people in my address book or that I have some sort of valid personal connection to or communication with, but I keep thinking I should add ANY comics related person. But that seems gauche to me, some how. Opinions are certainly welcome!

What I also really don't get is how you people have time to keep up with all of this -- I mean, it seems to me, if I go the "anyone in comics" route, that I could spend 20-30 hours finding people and adding them, and that's before I even DO anything with MY page, or pay attention to any interest other than the Big One. Do all of these people just sit around at work all day NOT working or something? That's really the only thing that makes sense to me...

Anyway, if you use that thing, feel free to add me as a friend, and Comix Experience as a fan, because everyone likes big numbers, I guess.

Coming in 2014: maybe I'll "tweet" by then (though if I have THAT kind of free time, I'm probably doing something wrong!)

2000 AD #1627
2000 AD #1628
2000 AD #1629
2000 AD #1630
A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #103 (A)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #5
ARCHIE #596
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #198 (NOTE PRICE)
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #15
ATOMIC ROBO SHADOW FROM BEYOND TIME #1 (OF 5)
AVENGERS INVADERS #10 (OF 12)
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL THE UNDERGROUND #1
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #12 (OF 12)
CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR BROTHER IN ARMS
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #56
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #10
DARK AVENGERS #4
DARK REIGN CABAL DKR
DEAN KOONTZS NEVERMORE #1 (OF 6)
DR DOOM MASTERS OF EVIL #4 (OF 4)
ENDERS GAME BATTLE SCHOOL #5 (OF 5)
FARSCAPE DARGOS LAMENT #1 (OF 4)
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #4 (OF 5)
FRINGE #4 (OF 6) (RES)
FULL CIRKLE II #3 (OF 3)
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS TANKIES #1
GEARS OF WAR #6
GRAVEL #10
GREEN LANTERN #40
JUNGLE GIRL SEASON 2 #4 (OF 5)
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #26 COVER A
KABUKI REFLECTIONS #13
LITERALS #1 (OF 3)
MAD MAGAZINE #500
MADAME XANADU #10
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #15 (RES)
MARVEL 70TH ANNIV CELEBRATION
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #35
MARVEL ASSISTANT SIZE SPECTACULAR #2 (OF 2)
MASQUERADE #3
MS MARVEL #38 DKR
MUPPET SHOW #2 (OF 4) CVR A
NOVA #24
PHONOGRAM 2 #2 (OF 7) SINGLES CLUB
PROOF #19
RASL #4
RED SONJA #43
RUNAWAYS 3 #9
SHERLOCK HOLMES #1
SKAAR #10
SONIC UNIVERSE #3
SPAWN #191
STAR WARS LEGACY #35 STORMS PT 2 (OF 2)
SUPERMAN #687
SUPERMAN BATMAN #59
TEEN TITANS #70
THUNDERBOLTS #131 DKR
TRINITY #48
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #5 (OF 6)
UNCANNY X-MEN #509
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #7
WAR MACHINE #5 DKR
WITCHBLADE #126 SEJIC CVR A
WONDER WOMAN #31
X-MEN ORIGINS WOLVERINE #1

Books / Mags / Stuff
ABC WARRIORS SHADOW WARRIORS GN
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN FOR TOMORROW HC
ANGST BEST OF NORWEGIAN COMICS TP VOL 02
ANITA BLAKE PREM HC BOOK 01 LC ANIMATOR
ARCHIE HIGH SCHOOL CHRONICLES TP VOL 01 FRESHMAN YEAR
ASTOUNDING WOLF MAN TP VOL 02
BLUECOATS GN VOL 02 NAVY BLUES
CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 17 CREATION QUEST
CLASSWAR SERIES 1 COLL ED HC
DRAW #17
GREEN LANTERN CHRONICLES TP VOL 01
GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS WAR TP VOL 01
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY PREM HC EARTH SHALL OVERCOME
HOUSE OF M TP CIVIL WAR
IZNOGOUD GN VOL 03 DAY OF MISRULE
JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #52
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #283
LEES TOY REVIEW #196 MAR 2009
LITTLE LULU TP VOL 19 ALAMO & OTHER STORIES
MANHUNTER TP VOL 05 FORGOTTEN
MMW AVENGERS TP VOL 01
PATH OF THE ASSASSIN TP VOL 15 BAD BLOOD PART 2
PREVIEWS #248 MAY 2009 (NET)
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS TP VOL 01
QUEEN & COUNTRY DEFINITIVE ED TP VOL 04
RESURRECTION TP VOL 01
SECOND THOUGHTS GN
SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-WOMAN TP DIGEST
STAR WARS ADV TP VOL 01 HAN SOLO & HOLLOW MOON OF KHORYA
STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC TP VOL 06 VINDICATION
SUPERNATURAL RISING SON TP
THOR HC AGES OF THUNDER
THORGAL GN VOL 05 LAND OF QA
ULTIMATE IRON MAN TP VOL 02
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP BK 02 ULTIMATE COLLECTION
VIDEO WATCHDOG #149
WIZARD MAG #212 TOP 100 GN LAST 15 YEARS CVR

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists, Social Networking?

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Went to an advance screening of STAR TREK last night.

The situation was odd -- originally the screening was at the Metreon on Wednesday night. Then, suddenly, on Wednesday afternoon, around 3pm or so a messenger showed up with a note that the Wed screening was canceled, and it would instead be held at the AMC 1000 on Thursday instead. Weird.

What I don't know is what happened to people who showed up at the Metreon -- did they just get told to piss off, were they offered thickets to this show? What happened?

Well, they certainly didn't make it to the Thursday showing. The place was EMPTY. Maybe a quarter full, at best. I have never EVER been to an advance screening that was as empty as this one. Even the press seats were mostly empty.

(That's not as interesting as what happened in Austin, however)

So how was it?

Yeah, it was pretty enjoyable. The casting was keen, the writing was crisp, and I laughed and cheered and enjoyed the fan service. In terms of rebooting the franchise, it is a grand slam.

But it really isn't that good of a movie.

Let's get back to that, however.

[There will probably be SPOILERS after this point, so let's hide the rest after the jump]



If you think TREK is "about" the Kirk/Spock relationship, this is a super incredible affirmation of that. Chris Pine as Kirk doesn't ape any of Shatner's mannerisms, but he nails the core of the character nonetheless. Zachary Quinto's Spock clearly studied Nimoy closely, and he, too, nails it. They're both great, and the development of the relationship is the heart of this movie.

The rest of the cast is pretty great too -- the only two I didn't really feel were Chekhov and Sulu, but those two had very little to do, anyway. Uhuru, on the other hand, is probably a more significant character in the film than McCoy even, which is slightly strange I guess, but there you go.

There's an interesting choice to make this a hard reboot, but to explicitly make it a Parallel Universe. That's kind of ballsy, really, and while it both makes organic science-fiction sense AND allows them to change up any damn thing they like without offending "continuity", I can't think of something like that ever being done anywhere outside of comics. Will the "general public" be able to follow (or care about) any of that?

Particularly with the success of the hard reboot of the Bond Franchise, I'm not so clear exactly why they felt that they had to EXPLAIN the reboot. I think that most real trekkers are probably more interested in seeing more Trek than would be freaking out between differences between TOS and nuTrek. I mean, I don't like the new Phasers or Bridge all that much, but so what? Obviously they're going to update those kinds of things, whether I like it or not!

The thing is, other than giving you (effectively) STAR TREK: YEAR ZERO, the reboot IS the plot -- the creation of the parallel IS the "story". And therein lies the problem.

The villain, Nero, is utterly forgettable. And terrifically two-dimensional. Further, in the context of the story, his very existence in the story means he already accomplished his own goal -- because nuSpock is NOT Spock. The film makes a point of double underlining that with his relationship. nuSpock almost certainly isn't going to become "our" Spock, because things are unfolding differently in this parallel. Which means he's unlikely to do what he did. Further to that, "our" Spock done fucked up, which was not heroic, and there wasn't even the thought of an ATTEMPT to try and fix what they created. Meh on that.

There's also a bunch of unnecessary action sequences. One thinks they're trying to show "Look, we have a budget for once!", but I could have done without the flashbacks in Spock's vision, or the monster chase scene on the ice planet, or probably even half the combat on and with Nero's ship. They're not particularly exciting sequences, and they don't add anything.

So, walking out of the theater, I was like "YAY! Hm, that was OK" -- I'm ready to see the sequel RIGHT NOW, because now that all of the exposition is over, they've got a GREAT cast, and reasonable design, and maybe they can make a really really good STAR TREK movie next time.

I'd say this: TREK, to me, should properly be about US. In showing the rocky start of nuKirk and nuSpock, they got really close to that -- but the Science Fiction part of the story really needs to support and underline that mirror. That's not what we have here, so while this is a GOOD film using characters set in Gene Roddenberry's creation, it really isn't a STAR TREK film.

Once you see it, I'd love to know what YOU think...

-B

Labels: Brian, Star Trek

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I haven't done one of these for a while, so let's kick it OLD SCHOOL CRITIC style, with a quick look at ten titles out this week...

ASTONISHING X-MEN #29: I find Bianchi's art to have some beautiful, ethereal qualities, and I enjoy looking at it. On the other hand, I don't think he's much of a storyteller, and in reading the comic, I find that I'm just racing from balloon to balloon, letting that tell the story rather than the art. Overall, I'm digging the story, but the delays between issues are just killing the momentum. We're down by just over 50% from the first issue of the arc (and the 16 pages for $4 of GHOST BOXES didn't help matters one bit). This is certainly high concept stuff, and reasonably smart, but it doesn't really feel like it is happening to "our" X-Men. Overall, though: GOOD.

BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL ARKHAM #1: The plus here is that THREE new characters are introduced, which is what you'd hope that nearly any comic would give you. The downside is that it really isn't that interesting. Lots of blah blah blah and lots of covering things that have been in other comics already. I'm more favorably inclined towards this book simply because of the new characters, even if none of them really feel like proper Bat-villains, but everything about "Battle For The Cowl" seems like such a cash grab to me. EH.

DETECTIVE COMICS #853: A gajillion years late, but y'know what?, I liked it anyway. This is a good capper to Bruce Wayne as Batman...though he'll be back sooner or later, and maybe that's the point. Though I can't imagine much of the audience for this wanting to move on to "Battle for the Cowl #1" as the "next issue" box suggests. That's pretty discordant. Also: I never would have guessed, in a million years, that that guy in the Bar towards the end was meant to be Joe Chill, if the backmatter hadn't spelled it out... Anyway: VERY GOOD.

FANTASTIC FORCE #1: Christ, that fucking sucked. Here's your entire argument against throwing shit at the wall to see if it sticks... now you have shit covered walls! Clearly someone at Marvel realized either how shitty this was (or the numbers can in REALLY low) because this was solicited as an ongoing monthly book, and it is suddenly a 5 issue mini-series. That's going to be four issues too many. Boring characters, set in the stupid nu-earth idea from Millar's run. I can only hope that this puts a stake in the idea that the FF can support spin-off titles. It can't. Fuck, I think this was even worse than the 1994 version of the title. And that was really awful. If Marvel keeps up production of shit like this that there isn't any audience for, things are going to start looking like the late 90s again there... I think I ordered five times the number of copies as I'll actually need... and I ordered less than 10 copies. CRAP.

HULK #11: Big bat-shit crazy is fine, but for $4? Ugh, can't do it. Neither can my customers, it seems, as HULK sales have dropped by more than half since the price increase. So, naturally, they're going to go "back to" the "old" numbering on INCREDIBLE HULK, yet again, with the July issue coming in as #600. *sigh* This is solidly OK, but needs to be a lot better for $4...

IGNITION CITY #2: Ellis writes so many books that it is really hard keeping track of what is what and which is which. Hell, he had four new releases this week alone. This one is the real deal, though -- I like world setting, I think the underlying ideas are terrifically strong, and, while I don't LIKE the characters (who does in a Warren Ellis comic?), I found them all compelling. No, this is no PLANETARY, but it's damn damn close. (I didn't like the lettering, however) Pick this puppy up! VERY GOOD.

KICK ASS #6: I think Millar lost the thread here. Yes "ha ha" to the idea of the Punisher as an 11 year old girl, but this seems pointlessly digressive in a series that is wicked late already. Hey, but it already has a movie deal, so it must be good! Meh. There's a good line or two in here, and the heel turn at the end works adequately, but I can't even imagine ANYone wanting to see this as a movie. Good for Millar and all, but I'm calling it extremely EH.

SKRULL KILL KREW #1: Speaking of things from the mid-90s that Marvel really really shouldn't be going back to again, I present Exhibit B. Now all we need is a new NIGHT THRASHER monthly. Not QUITE as bad as FANTASTIC FORCE, but only by inches. There's no audience for this, especially at $4, and it repeats the mistake of the original by having unlikeable protagonists acting through a single, uninteresting note. Completely AWFUL.

THOR #601: Also in the $4 club, yet I find this pretty appealing. JMS really has infused a lot of new life into THOR, a character (and milieu, in Asgard) that I've NEVER found appealing. I'm now actually reasonably eager to check into this book each month (well, kinda each month). If I have a complaint, it is that there might be TOO much going on -- the subplot with the diner guy and whoever that chick is slowed things down a bit for me. But, at the end of the day, if you're going to charge $4 for a funny book, this is the level of density that I'm going to want. A sold GOOD.

X-FORCE #14: I think the art in this is nearly unreadable: too dark, too gory, and pretty bad at panel-to-panel storytelling (just what IS happening towards the end of the issue in the fight scenes?); I also just think "Ugh" with anything ever involving Stryfe or Apocalypse or any of that (again!) mid-to-late 90s bullshit... and yet... and yet... and yet I'm pretty much enjoying this storyline. I must be slipping. Solidly OK.



In terms of what I personally bought this week, I had more things this week than I have had in the rest of the month combined. I took home: BPRD TP VOL 10 THE WARNING, KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 24, and QUESTION TP VOL 04 WELCOME TO OZ. OK, that last one is sort of a mercy fuck because the series had lost its way by the time we get to these issues, but I like having the spines on my bookshelf.



As always: What did YOU think?


-B

Labels: Brian

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A slightly healthier shipment than the last few weeks. There are a few big books in here...

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #592
ANGEL #20
ASTONISHING X-MEN #29
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #23 DKR
AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #2 (OF 3)
BART SIMPSON COMICS #47
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL ARKHAM #1
BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #4
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FINAL FIVE #1 (OF 4)
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #170
BUCK ROGERS #0
DAREDEVIL #118
DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #2 (OF 5) DKR
DETECTIVE COMICS #853 (NOTE PRICE)
DYNAMO 5 #21 (NOTE PRICE)
ELEPHANTMEN #18 (RES)
EX MACHINA #41
FALL OF CTHULHU NEMESIS #1 (OF 4)
FANTASTIC FORCE #1 (OF 5)
FAR WEST BAD MOJO #2 (OF 2)
GEORGE R R MARTINS WILD CARDS #5 (OF 6) HARD CALL (RES)
GHOST RIDER #34
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #13
HELLBLAZER #254
HULK #11
I AM LEGION #3 (OF 6)
IGNITION CITY #2 (OF 5)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #25
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128 DKR
INVINCIBLE #61
JACK OF FABLES #33
JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #32 (NOTE PRICE)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #32
KICK ASS #6
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #47
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #5 (OF 6)
MIGHTY AVENGERS #24 DKR
MISTER X CONDEMNED #4 (OF 4)
NEW AVENGERS #52 DKR
NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #169
NO HERO #5 (OF 7)
OUTSIDERS #17
SAVAGE DRAGON #147
SCALPED #28
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #5 (OF 6)
SKRULL KILL KREW #1 (OF 5) DKR
STAR WARS DARK TIMES #13 BLUE HARVEST PT 1 (OF 5)
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OLD REPUBLIC #40 DUELING AMBITIONS PT 2 (
STREET FIGHTER IV #2 (OF 4) NG CVR B
SUPERGIRL #40
TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE #5
THOR #601
TRINITY #47
VIKING #1
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #12 (OF 12)
WARLORD OF IO & OTHER STORIES ONE-SHOT
WILDCATS #10
WOLVERINE ANNIVERSARY
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #14
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #35 DKR
WOLVERINE WEAPON X FILES
X-FORCE #14 XMW
X-MEN TIMES AND LIFE OF LUCAS BISHOP #3 (OF 3)
ZMD ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRUCTION #4 (OF 6)

Books / Mags / Stuff
APES & BABES ART OF FRANK CHO HC
ARMY OF DARKNESS XENA TP VOL 01
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS TP VOL 01 ADAMA
BPRD TP VOL 10 THE WARNING
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #89 GUARDIAN
CLASSICS ILLUS HC VOL 04 RAVEN OTHER POEMS
CURSE OF THE WERE-WOMAN GN
DARK TOWER TREACHERY PREM HC
DARKNESS VS EVA DAUGHTER OF DRACULA TP
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #08 WONDER WOMAN
FREAKANGELS TP VOL 02
GAMBIT CLASSIC TP VOL 01
GHOST OMNIBUS TP VOL 02
HACK SLASH OMNIBUS SC VOL 02
JUSTICE LEAGUE NEW FRONTIER BOX SET (NET)
KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 24
LEGEND OF PERCEVAN GN VOL 01 STAR INGAAR (RES)
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 12 JUMPING DIGEST
MAZO CHICHI (A)
NEW AVENGERS TP VOL 09 SECRET INVASION BOOK 02
NOVA TP VOL 04 NOVA CORPS
QUESTION TP VOL 04 WELCOME TO OZ
ROUGH STUFF #12
SCALPED TP VOL 04 THE GRAVEL IN YOUR GUTS
SHE-HULK TP VOL 08 SECRET INVASION
SHOWCASE PRESENTS LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES TP VOL 03
SPIDER-MAN 2099 TP VOL 01
TICK BIG BLUE DESTINY COMPLETE WORKS TP
WOLVERINE PREM HC NOT DEAD YET
WOLVERINE PRODIGAL SON GN VOL 01

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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The new TILTING AT WINDMILLS is up at Comic Book Resources: thoughts on 20 years, New York City, Going to the Well, and "amazonfail"

I'm nearly caught back up on all of my work, reviews again from me in a few days...

-B

Labels: Brian, Tilting

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Back from NYC, and I have sooooo much work to catch up on. Why do you always need a vacation from your vacation? *sigh*

I'll have some reviews in a few days, just let me get caught up and get my sea legs again...

100 BULLETS #100
ACTION COMICS #876
AIR #8
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #591
AMERICAN MCGEES GRIMM #1
ANGEL SMILE TIME #3
ARCHIE DIGEST #253
BETTY & VERONICA #241
BEYOND WONDERLAND #6 (OF 6)
CAPTAIN AMERICA #49
DARK TOWER SORCERER #1
DMZ #41
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #5
ENDERS SHADOW BATTLE SCHOOL #4 (OF 5)
EUREKA #4 (OF 4)
FABLES #83
FARSCAPE STRANGE DETRACTORS #1 (OF 4) CVR A
GODLAND #27
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #19
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #35
HALO UPRISING #4 (OF 4)
INCOGNITO #3
LEVITICUS CROSS #3 (OF 5)
LILLIM #2 (OF 5)
LORDS OF AVALON KNIGHTS OF DARKNESS #5 (OF 6)
MAN WITH NO NAME #9
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #10
MOON KNIGHT #29
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #4 (OF 6)
ORACLE #2 (OF 3)
PHANTOM GENERATIONS #1
PUNISHER #4 DKR
RAMPAGING WOLVERINE #1
REBELS #3
REX MUNDI DH ED #17
SI AFTERMATH BETA RAY BILL GREEN OF EDEN #1
SIMPSONS COMICS #153
SOUL KISS #3 (OF 5)
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #10
STAND AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #2 (OF 5)
STAR TREK ALIEN SPOTLIGHT KLINGONS
STAR WARS CLONE WARS #5 (OF 6)
STRANGE ADVENTURES OF HP LOVECRAFT #1 (OF 4)
SUB-MARINER COMICS 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL #1
SUPER FRIENDS #14
SUPERMAN BATMAN #58
SUPER-ZOMBIES #2
TEENS AT PLAY WINTER BREAK SPECIAL (A)
TERMINATOR SALVATION MOVIE ADAPTATION #0
TINY TITANS #15
TRINITY #46
UNCANNY X-MEN #508
VIGILANTE #5
WALKING DEAD #60
WOLVERINE NOIR #1 (OF 4)
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #18
X-FACTOR #42
X-FILES #6 (OF 6)
X-MEN LEGACY #223
ZORRO #12

Books / Mags / Stuff
100 PERCENT HC
ALEX TOTH GOES HOLLYWOOD SC
BATMAN LOVERS AND MADMEN TP
BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER TP VOL 11
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA GN ECHOES NEW CAPRICA
CTHULHU TALES TP VOL 04 DARKNESS BEYOND
DYLAN DOG CASE FILES TP
ESSENTIAL DAZZLER TP VOL 02
EXILES ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP BOOK 01
FIREBREATHER TP VOL 02 ALL BEST HEROES ARE ORPHANS
G FAN #87
GEEK MONTHLY FEB 2009
GEEK MONTHLY MAY 2009
HARDCORE HELLCATS IN 3D #1 (A)
HULK PREM HC VOL 02 RED & GREEN ADAMS CVR
IRON MAN TP LEGACY OF DOOM
JSA HC VOL 04 THY KINGDOM COME PART 3
LEES TOY REVIEW #197 APR 2009
MESS OF EVERYTHING GN
MIGHTY AVENGERS TP VOL 04 SECRET INVASION BOOK 02
PLANET OF BEER SC
PUNISHER WAR ZONE PREM HC RESURRECTION MA GNUCCI
RESISTANCE GN
SPIDER-MAN TP KRAVENS FIRST HUNT
STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION GN VOL 01 (OF 2)
SUPERGIRL WAY OF THE WORLD TP
TOYFARE #142 DC UNLIMITED WOW CVR
WAR IS HELL FIRST FLIGHT PHANTOM EAGLE TP
WOLVERINE TP LOGAN
WONDERMARK TP VOL 02 CLEVER TRICKS STAVE DEATH


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

I'm in New York City this week, which is why I've been otherwise silent for the last couple of days, and will be for the next few.

Our 20th anniversary thing went REALLY well -- we did more than 200% of a normal Wednesday, saw a lot of old and familiar faces, AND we got a ton of food donations for the San Francisco Food Bank, yay!

We went out to dinner last night with the astonishingly awesome Garth Ennis, the even more awesome Ruth Cole (*I* wouldn't have the stones to do an intercontinental yacht race, that's for sure), and Brian K. Vaughan. Such nice people, such great company.

Anyway, here's the one tiny bit of work I have to do this week, and now I'm done, so back to vacation!

1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #9
3 GEEKS SLAB MADNESS #3 (OF 3)
A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #102 (A)
ALL NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #1 (OF 4) DKR
AMAZON #2 (OF 3)
ANITA BLAKE LC NECROMANCER #1 (OF 5)
ANNA MERCURY ARTBOOK #1
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #130
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2 (OF 3)
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #28
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #193 (NOTE PRICE)
BOOSTER GOLD #19
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #4 (OF 5)
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #12
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #36
CLEANERS #3 (OF 4)
DAREDEVIL NOIR #1 (OF 4)
DARK REIGN HAWKEYE #1 (OF 5) DKR
DARK TOWER GUIDE TO GILEAD
DEAD IRONS #3
DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #1 (OF 5)
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #12
EXILES #1
GEN 13 #29
GREEN LANTERN #39 (ORIGINS)
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #37
HEXED #4 (OF 4)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #12
IGNITION CITY #1 (OF 5)
INFINITE HORIZON #4 (OF 6)
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #149 (NOTE PRICE)
LAST REIGN KINGS OF WAR #5 (OF 5)
LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #4
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #50
MARVEL APES AMAZING SPIDER-MONKEY #1
MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #1 (OF 4)
MASQUERADE #2
MICE TEMPLAR SKETCHBOOK #1
NORTHLANDERS #16
PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #69
SCOOBY DOO #143
SECRET SIX #8
SHRAPNEL #4 (OF 5) BROOKS CVR A
SOLOMON GRUNDY #2 (OF 7)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #199
SPIRIT #27
STAR TREK MISSIONS END #2
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #5 (OF 6)
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #2 (OF 12)
SWORD #16
TERMINATOR REVOLUTION #4 (OF 5)
TERMINATOR SALVATION MOVIE PREQ #4 (OF 4)
TERRY MOORES ECHO #11
TIMESTORM 2009 2099 #1 (OF 4)
TITANS #12
TRINITY #45
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #4 (OF 6)
WAR OF KINGS ASCENSION #1 (OF 4)
WARLORD #1
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #1
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #5 (OF 8)
YOUNG LIARS #14
YTHAQ NO ESCAPE #1 (OF 3)

Books / Mags / Stuff
AND THERE YOU ARE GN
CHARLATAN GN VOL 01 PRELUDES
DOCTOR WHO FORGOTTEN TP
GANTZ TP VOL 04
GREEN ARROW YEAR ONE TP
GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 05
HARVEY COMICS CLASSICS TP VOL 05 HARVEY GIRLS
HEAVY METAL MAY 2009 #123
HELLBLAZER PRESENTS CHAS THE KNOWLEDGE TP
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED HEROES TP
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #4 APR 2009
MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 HC
MARVEL ZOMBIES TP VOL 02
MOBY DICK TP
NARUTO TP VOL 42
NARUTO TP VOL 43
NARUTO TP VOL 44
POPGUN GN VOL 03
SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE DOOM PATROL TP VOL 01
SIZZLE #41 (A)
SKETCH MAGAZINE #39
STAR TREK COUNTDOWN TP
STILL I RISE GN
TALES FROM WONDERLAND TP
UNCANNY X-MEN HC MANIFEST DESTINY
WOLVERINE HC WORST DAY EVER
WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED #39


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

Don't forget: Wednesday is Comix Experience's 20th anniversary! Bring in a food donation for the San Francisco Food Bank, and receive a 20% discount on ANYthing in the store (including all of these new titles)

2000 AD #1625
2000 AD #1626
AGENTS OF ATLAS #3 DKR
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #590
ANGEL BLOOD AND TRENCHES #2
ASTONISHING TALES #3
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #14
AUTHORITY #9
AVENGERS INVADERS #9 (OF 12)
BANG TANGO #3 (OF 6)
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL MAN BAT #1
BETTY #179 (NOTE PRICE)
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #4 (RES)
BLACK PANTHER 2 #3 DKR
BOYS #29
BUCKAROO BANZAI ORIGINS #1
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24 CHEN CVR
CABLE #13 XMW
CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #3 MYCHAELS MODERN CVR
CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL #1
CARS ROOKIE #1 (OF 4)
DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #2 (OF 5) DKR
DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #4 (OF 4)
DEAD ROMEO #1 (OF 6)
DEADPOOL #9 DKR
DESTROYER #1 (OF 5)
DR DOOM MASTERS OF EVIL #3 (OF 4)
FARSCAPE #4
FLASH REBIRTH #1 (OF 5)
FRANKLIN RICHARDS APRIL FOOLS
GI JOE #4
GLAMOURPUSS #6
GRAVEL #10
GREATEST HITS #6 (OF 6)
HAUNTED TANK #5 (OF 5)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #12 DKR
IRREDEEMABLE #1
JERSEY GODS #3
JONAH HEX #42
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #25
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #149
LOONEY TUNES #173
MARVEL ASSISTANT SIZE SPECTACULAR #1 (OF 2)
MIGHTY #3
NEW AVENGERS REUNION #2 (OF 4) DKR
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #4
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #130 (NOTE PRICE)
PRIDE & PREJUDICE #1 (OF 5)
REMNANT #4 (OF 4)
SAVAGE DRAGON #146
SCALPED #27
SEAGUY THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #1 (OF 3)
SECRET WARRIORS #3 DKR
STAR TREK COUNTDOWN #4
STAR TREK CREW #2
STRANGE ADVENTURES #2 (OF 8)
SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES #3 (OF 4)
SUPERMAN BATMAN #57
TEEN TITANS #69
TEEN TITANS ANNUAL 2009 #1
TRINITY #44
UNIVERSAL WAR ONE REVELATIONS #1 (OF 3)
WAR OF KINGS #2 (OF 6)
WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO THE DEFUSER
X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #3 (OF 4)

Books / Mags /Stuff
4 GIRLFRIENDS GN VOL 01 (O/A) (A)
BATMAN THE HEART OF HUSH HC
BOMB QUEEN TP VOL 05 BOMBASTIC
CHRONICLES OF SOME MADE GN
DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR TP
DUNGEON ZENITH TP VOL 03 BACK IN STYLE
ELIXIR GN
FALLEN ANGEL TP VOL 06 CITIES OF LIGHT AND DARK
FREEDOM COLLECTIVE ONE SHOT
HELM TP VOL 01
HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #11
JONAH HEX BULLETS DONT LIE TP
JSA TP VOL 02 THY KINGDOM COME PART 01
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #282
PIANO TUNER GN VOL 02 (A)
PREVIEWS #247 APRIL 2009
RESIDENT EVIL FIRE AND ICE TP
STAR WARS OMNIBUS EMISSARIES AND ASSASSINS
TRIPWIRE SUPERHERO SPECIAL
VIDEO WATCHDOG #148
WARHAMMER 40K DEFENDERS OF ULTRAMAR TP
WITCHING HOUR TP NEW PTG


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

First off, the new TILTING AT WINDMILLS is up at Comic Book Resources -- it is all about the ComicsPRO meeting from last week, and also has a look inside Diamond's new warehouse.

But this week's bigger news is that on Wednesday, April 1st, it is the 20th anniversary of Comix Experience.

Whoa. Man, it sure don't feel like 20 years.

On 4/1, we're going to hold a food drive for the San Francisco Food Bank. If you bring a can of food in as a donation, then you will get 20% off absolutely anything in the store.

And, yes, Wednesday is New Comics Day; and, yes, that discount will apply to that week's new comics as well, so, y'know, it is kind of a good deal.

The discount will ONLY be given with a food donation, so do make sure you bring one, otherwise you'll have to run next door to the market and have to buy one, and you'll probably feel a little silly.

Anyway, I do hope to see you there, and I would certainly appreciate it if you can help spread the word. I'd very much like to have the big food barrel all filled up when they come to take it back the next day!

Finally, speaking personally, I know that I will be happy to take any and all donations of 20 year old scotch whiskey, and I'll be just as happy to share it with people who show up as well, so we can drink and have a good time too, as well as helping out a great charity.

Hope to see you there on Wednesday, April 1st, at Comix Experience!

-B

Labels: Brian, Tilting, Twentieth Anniversary

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Curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git!

Yes, I'm soooooo tired from the ComicsPRO meeting: as a Board member, I was up at 7 am most every morning, and asleep at 2am most nights, and I can never ever ever sleep in hotel rooms, so I do a lot of tossing and turning because the pillow isn't the right size or whatever.

I'll have a full write up on the event for TILTING this Friday, but in the short term let me say that I was amazed and impressed by my brethren; on how hard they wanted to work, on how completely professional they were in dealing with controversial issues, on how infectious their enthusiasm was. I strongly believe that more got done this weekend for the future strength and health of this market than any 3 San Diego Comic Cons put together.

But, the rest can wait: here's this week's shipping list...

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #101 (A)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #589
AMBER ATOMS #2
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #197 (NOTE PRICE)
AVENGERS INITIATIVE FEATURING REPTIL #1
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL COMMISSIONER GORDON #1
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #11 (OF 12)
BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #3
CAPTAIN AMERICA #48
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #55
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #9
CROSSED #4 (OF 9)
DAREDEVIL #117
DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #1 (OF 5) DKR
DARKNESS #76 IRVING CVR A
DEATH DEFYING DEVIL #4
ELEPHANTMEN #17 (RES) (NOTE PRICE)
FANTASTIC FOUR #565
FUTURAMA COMICS #42
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS DEAR BILLY #3
GEARS OF WAR #5
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #12
HACK SLASH SERIES #21 TITUS CVR A
HERO SQUARED LOVE & DEATH #2 (OF 3)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #24
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #127 DKR
INCREDIBLES FAMILY MATTERS #1 (OF 4)
INDIANA JONES & TOMB OF THE GODS #4 (OF 4)
JACK OF FABLES #32
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #31
MADAME XANADU #9
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #46
MIGHTY AVENGERS #23 DKR
MS MARVEL #37 DKR
MUPPET SHOW #1 (OF 4)
NEW AVENGERS #51 DKR
NOVA #23
ORACLE #1 (OF 3)
PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #1 SY BARRY CVR
PROOF #18
RUNAWAYS 3 #8
SKAAR SON OF HULK #9
SONIC UNIVERSE #2
SPAWN #190
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #9
STAR TREK ALIEN SPOTLIGHT TRIBBLES
STAR TREK LAST GENERATION #5
STAR TREK MISSIONS END #1
STAR WARS LEGACY #34 STORMS PART 1 OF 2
STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #5 CRUZ CVR A
SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES #2 (OF 4)
SUPERMAN #686
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #55
TERMINATOR SALVATION MOVIE PREQ #3 (OF 4)
THUNDERBOLTS #130 DKR
TOP 10 SPECIAL #1
TRINITY #43
UBU BUBU #4
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #5 (OF 6)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #6
USAGI YOJIMBO #119
WAR MACHINE #4 DKR
WAR OF KINGS DARKHAWK #2 (OF 2)
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #11 (OF 12)
WILDCATS #9
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #13
WONDER WOMAN #30
X-FORCE CABLE MESSIAH WAR PROLOGUE XMW
X-INFERNUS #4 (OF 4)
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #4 (OF 4)
X-MEN SWORD OF BRADDOCKS
X-MEN TIMES AND LIFE OF LUCAS BISHOP #2 (OF 3)

Books / Mags / Stuff
AMERICAN JESUS TP VOL 01 CHOSEN
AVENGERS PREM HC HAWKEYE
BACK ISSUE #33
BERSERK TP VOL 28
BOODY BIZARE COMICS OF BOODY ROGERS GN
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #86 SCORPION
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #87 LADY DEATHSTRIKE
DAREDEVIL TP LADY BULLSEYE
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #04 GREEN LANTERN
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #05 FLASH
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #06 TIM DRAKE ROBIN
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #23 SPECTRE
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #24 CREEPER
DESPERADOES TP OMNIBUS
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 01 LEGACY
HO HC
JLA CLASSIFIED CLASSIC ONE THIRD INNER CASE
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #4 APR 2009
MARVEL ADVENTURES FF TP DOOMED DIGEST
MOTHER COME HOME HC
MS MARVEL TP VOL 05 SECRET INVASION
SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY HAWKSMOOR TP
SECRET IDENTITY FETISH ART OF JOE SHUSTER HC
SECRET INVASION TP AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
SECRET INVASION TP THOR
SHOWCASE PRESENTS AMBUSH BUG TP VOL 01
SIMPSONS COMICS TP VOL 17 HIT THE ROAD
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #17 NEWSSTAND ED
STITCH GN
SUPERMAN BATMAN ENEMIES AMONG US TP
SUPERMEN FIRST WAVE OF HEROES (1939-41) GN
TED MCKEEVER LIBRARY HC VOL 03 METROPOL
TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 04
TICK THE COMPLETE EDLUND TP (O/A)
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #176
WALKING TOUR OF THE SHAMBLES SC NEW PTG (O/A)
WIZARD MAG #211 GOLD ALEX MALEEVE SPIDER-WOMAN CVR

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

ICv2 has the latest sales figures up; and they're reporting that GN sales are down by 9%.

Well, OK, but I'm reasonably certain that isn't a function of actual sales in the DM. Actually, it is almost certain that's really a function of Diamond moving their Memphis warehouse in February.

Starting February 4th, Diamond stopped ALL reorders so they could do the move. This was supposed to last for something like 10 days. But, even the "top sellers" didn't start flowing again until the end of the month. As of today, 3/17, they STILL haven't completed the move 100%. According to today's Diamond Daily (Gated, sorry) they've managed to move 17,800 of 20k SKUs -- there's still more than 2000 SKUs they haven't yet reactivated. *sigh*

February was the best of bad choices to move the warehouse -- Feb is usually a "dead" month, by and large -- but we had an unusual number of VERY strong books this February, including, yeah, WATCHMEN as well as things like BATMAN RIP and the 5th SCOTT PILGRIM book.

You wonder why your LCS didn't have SCOTT PILGRIM for most of February? It sure wasn't their fault (well, at least for the stores that know how to order) -- Diamond didn't fill a SINGLE reorder for it for 3-ish weeks!

ICv2 didn't bother to note this, but I'd sure hope that in the official record books Feb '09 gets an asterisk next to it because of the warehouse move (Are you listening John Mayo and John Jackson Miller?) -- given that reorders were effectively nil for 3-ish weeks in February, I think that ONLY a 9% drop should be looked at as a HUGE gain for the month; given the lack of reorders anything less than double digits is probably a positive.

(At Comix Experience, we had our best February in nineteen of them, despite being reorder-less)

There's probably going to be a certain amount of yelling this week in Memphis...

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing

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I'm hectic with the ComicsPRO Memphis meeting this week, so here's the list of what we're supposed to arrive...

2000 AD #1622
2000 AD #1623
2000 AD #1624
AGE OF BRONZE #28
AIR #7
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #30
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #588
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EXTRA #3
ANGEL #19
AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #1 (OF 3)
BAD DOG #2 (NOTE PRICE)
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #169 (NOTE PRICE)
BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #88
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #6 (OF 6)
BOMB QUEEN V #6 (OF 6)
CHURCH OF HELL #1
DARK AVENGERS #3 DKR
DEAD #3 KINGDOM OF FLIES
DEADPOOL GAMES OF DEATH
END LEAGUE #7
ENDERS GAME BATTLE SCHOOL #4 (OF 5)
ETERNALS #9
EUREKA #3 (OF 4)
FALL OF CTHULHU APOCALYPSE #4 (OF 4)
FRANK FRAZETTAS FREEDOM FRAZETTA CVR A
GHOST WHISPERER THE MUSE #4
GREATEST AMERICAN HERO #2 (OF 3)
GROOM LAKE #1
HELLBLAZER #253
HOTWIRE #2 (OF 5) PUGH CVR A
INVINCIBLE #60
JUGHEAD #194 (NOTE PRICE)
KULL #5 (OF 6)
LILLIM #1 (OF 5)
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #34
MAURA #1
MOON KNIGHT #28
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #3 (OF 6)
NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #168
OUTSIDERS #16
POTTERS FIELD STONE COLD ONE-SHOT
PUNISHER #3 DKR
RAWBONE #1
RED SONJA #42
SCOURGE OF GODS #3 (OF 3)
SIMPSONS COMICS #152
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #4 (OF 4)
STAR TREK COUNTDOWN #3
STAR TREK CREW #1
STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC #39 DUELING AMBITIONS PAR
STORMWATCH PHD #20
SUPER FRIENDS #13
SUPERGIRL #39
TINY TITANS #14
TRINITY #42
TRUE TALES O/T ROLLER DERBY DOPPELGANGER A/T HANGER
ULTIMATE X-MEN #100
ULTIMATUM #3 (OF 5)
UNCANNY X-MEN #507
VIGILANTE #4
VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #5
WATCHMENSCH
WITCHBLADE #125 BACHALO DANI CVR A
WOLVERINE #71
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #34 DKR
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #17
X-FACTOR #41
X-FILES #5 (OF 6)
X-FORCE #13
X-MEN LEGACY #222
YOUNG X-MEN #12
ZOMBIES THAT ATE THE WORLD #2
ZORRO #11

Books / Mags / Stuff
1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD TP VOL 01
ADVENTURES OF BLANCHE HC
AIR TP VOL 01 LETTERS FROM LOST COUNTRIES
ALAN MOORE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE GN
AMERICAN FLAGG DEFINITIVE COLL TP VOL 02 (RES)
BATMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 07
BATMAN HAUNTED GOTHAM TP
CINEFEX #117 APR 2009
COMPLETE JUST A PILGRIM HC
COURTNEY CRUMRIN TP VOL 04 MONSTROUS HOLIDAY
DRINKY CROWS MAAKIES TREASURY HC
FALLEN ANGEL OMNIBUS TP VOL 01
GEEK MONTHLY APR 2009
GOLDEN AGE SHEENA QUEEN O/T JUNGLE TP 02
HACK SLASH TP VOL 05
ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #2 2ND PTG
ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #25
JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE CASE FILES TP VOL 12
JUNGLE BOOK HC
LARGO WINCH TP VOL 03 DUTCH CONNECTION
LITTLE NOTHINGS GN VOL 02 PRISONER SYNDROME
LOST CONSTELLATIONS THE ART OF TARA MCPHERSON
LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 15 DALTONS IN THE BLIZZARD
MIGHTY AVENGERS TP VOL 03 SECRET INVASION BOOK 01
MY MOMMY IS IN AMERICA & SHE MET BUFFALO BILL HC
NECRONOMICON TP
NEW MUTANTS CLASSIC TP VOL 04
NIKOLAI DANTE BEAST OF RUDINSHTEIN TP
PLATINUM GRIT TP VOL 01
PLUTO URASAWA X TEZUKA GN VOL 02
POWERS TP VOL 12 COOLEST DEAD SUPERHEROES
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL TP VOL 04
RED STAR SWORD OF LIES TP VOL 01
RONINBEBOP SC
SOLEIL SAMURAI HC VOL 01 LEGEND
SQUADRON SUPREME TP PRE WAR YEARS
SQUADRON SUPREME TP VOL 01 POWER TO THE PEOPLE
TOR A PREHISTORIC ODYSSEY HC
X-MEN FIRST CLASS TP WONDER YEARS


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL #1: I had somewhere between low and no expectations for this. Ultimately, it would seem to be a placeholder of a comic: it seems unlikely, given what we know, that the "battle" will end up with any other than Brucie-boy back in control.

Like many DC comics, this feels needlessly brutal -- people getting eaten and blown apart and Underage Jailbait Unattached Feet and all of that; and, like many DC comics, this feels oddly unattached from continuity -- the Birds of Prey are disbanded in their own comic, and together here; this wouldn't appear to be post-FINAL CRISIS (though I guess it could be), and so on.

It also repeats several Been There, Done That plot points: blah blah someone brings the b-list villains together; blah blah, warring gangs fight over the Batman-less pie (though I liked the pig mask guys, that was cute); blah blah Arkham explodes (how many times does that make?); blah blah someone who Gets It Wrong is usurping Batman's costume; and so on.

But despite that, the execution is perfectly adequate. There's a basic attempt to give different characters different personalities. And there's at least somewhat of a mounting urgency in the narrative.

This is journeyman work -- perfectly acceptable in all ways, if not especially thrilling. And while I could have lived without the $4 price tag, at least there are 30 story pages, so the math isn't completely heinous. But it is hard to work up any real feelings about it either way: a textbook example of an OK comic book.

But you know who really should be the next Batman? Jon Stewart.

No, no, not the Green Lantern. Sheesh.

I was just very impressed with Stewart's assault on CNBC and Jim Cramer this whole week, and the face-to-face interview last night was absolutely riveting television. Stewart just plain HAMMERED Cramer, but did it without screaming or ranting or using much else other than reason and a plea for ethical conduct.

Jon Stewart is an American treasure, and his sense of Justice is just a soaring stalwart thing.

I wish we had ten of him.


-B

Labels: Brian

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Oh, I know I should have done it before -- really, at the end of the first season -- but I've finally deleted HEROES from my DVR recording schedule.

Oddly, it wasn't the inanity of the plots: between this week's scenes of the "bad ass" fed trying to turn super-powered people into suicide bombers (Ut? why would anyone, anywhere, draw a line between an explosives vest and the powers?), and the Sylar-finds-his-dad-then-doesn't-DO-anything, I would certainly have been justified.

No, it is the comics shop scenes.

I let the first one pass without comment ("Oog! A Gurl!?!? We don't get any of those in here!") because I was hoping it was a momentary lack of reason, and it would never be mentioned again, but this week they decided that Claire should work at the comics store, and they packed it full of sweaty nervous uber-geeks, panting and drooling over her.

To quote my sainted Irish mother: Nigga, PLEASE!

I've been in a whole god-damn lot of comics shops in my life, and, sure, there have been a few monumentally shitty ones, but the overwhelming majority of what I've seen have been locations that were open and inviting to all people of any shape size creed color or sex.

Here's the thing that really gets me: as an LA-produced show, the staff of HEROES has no shortage of excellent comics shops. Just off the top of my head: Earth-2, Meltdown, Golden Apple, Secret Headquarters, Brave New Worlds -- these are all world-class stores run by world-class retailers.

I'm going to assume that the HEROES staff shops at some of these stores, which makes this decision even more head-scratchingly fucked up.

I'd probably be a lousy comics shop in LA because I have a low-bullshit threshold, but I have got to say that if it was MY store that the staff was shopping in, I'd be telling them this week to take their business somewhere else.

You don't shit where you eat, you don't bite the hand that feeds you, and you don't insult your core constituency.

So, on behalf of every comics store that gives a fuck, that tries hard to be clean and diverse, that actively seeks to appeal to any person that walks in off the street: fuck you HEROES.

Fuck you very much.

-B

Labels: Brian

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Not a big week, this week, though there IS this awesome book called "TILTING AT WINDMILLS v2" that you should certainly be picking up...

30 DAYS OF NIGHT 30 DAYS TIL DEATH #4
ACTION COMICS #875
AMAZON #1 (OF 3)
ANGEL BLOOD AND TRENCHES #1
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #129 (NOTE PRICE)
ARCHIE DIGEST #252 (NOTE PRICE)
ASTONISHING TALES #2
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL #1 (OF 3)
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #27
BLACK TERROR #3
BOOSTER GOLD #18
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #3 (OF 5)
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #11
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #35
CITY OF DUST #5 (OF 5) A CVR IVAN
DMZ #40
EX MACHINA SPECIAL #4
FABLES #82
GEN 13 #28
GHOST RIDER #33
GI JOE #3
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #18
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #34
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #11
HEXED #3 (OF 4)
HILLARY CLINTON ONE SHOT
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #23
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #11 DKR
LIFE AND TIMES OF SAVIOR 28 #1
MAN WITH NO NAME #8
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #49
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #9
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT WOLVERINE
NORTHLANDERS #15
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #3
PS238 #38
PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #68
REBELS #2
REMNANT #3 (OF 4)
RESIDENT EVIL #1 (OF 6)
SCALPED #26
SCOOBY DOO #142
SIMON DARK #18
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #198
SOUL KISS #2 (OF 5)
SPECIAL FORCES #4 (OF 6)
STAND AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #1 (OF 5)
SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES #1 (OF 4) CVR A JUSTIN BLEEP
SUPERMAN BATMAN #56
SUPER-ZOMBIES #1
TITANS #11
TOP 10 SEASON TWO #4 (OF 4)
TRINITY #41
WALKING DEAD #59
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #4 (OF 8)
WRATH OF THE TITANS CYCLOPS ONE SHOT
X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY NIGHTCRAWLER ONE SHOT
X-MEN NOIR #4 (OF 4)
YOUNG LIARS #13

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALTER EGO #84
TOYFARE #141 PLAYMATES STAR TREK MOVIE CVR
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL HC VOL 03
CATWOMAN THE LONG ROAD HOME TP
ESSENTIAL POWER MAN AND IRON FIST TP VOL 02
FRANKLIN RICHARDS TP NOT SO SECRET INVASION DIGEST
GRAVESLINGER TP VOL 01
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL HC VOL 04
LOSERS BY JACK KIRBY HC
LUUNA GN VOL 01 (OF 3)
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS TP VOL 02
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TP PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
PERRY BIBLE FELLOWSHIP ALMANACK HC
SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE TP VOL 07 MIST & PHANTOM
SECRET INVASION TP INHUMANS
SECRET INVASION TP WHO DO YOU TRUST
SECRET INVASION TP X-MEN
SHOWCASE PRESENTS JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 04
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS PREM HC BERMEJO ED
SUPER FRIENDS FOR JUSTICE TP
TIJUANA BIBLES HC (A)
TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 01 BACK ON THE STREET
WARHAMMER CROWN OF DESTRUCTION TP
WONDERLAND HC (RES)
WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE HC VOL 01
ZOMBIE TALES TP VOL 03 GOOD EATIN
NEIL GAIMAN BLUEBERRY GIRL HC
TILTING AT WINDMILLS SC VOL 02


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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Here is what is coming this week:

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #100 (A)
AGE OF SENTRY #6 (OF 6)
AGENTS OF ATLAS #2 DKR
ANGEL #17
AUTHORITY #8
BACK TO BROOKLYN #4 (OF 5)
BANG TANGO #2 (OF 6)
BATMAN CACOPHONY #3 (OF 3)
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #192 (NOTE PRICE)
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #5 (OF 6)
BLACK PANTHER 2 #2 DKR
BOYS #28
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #23 CHEN CVR
C E MURPHYS TAKE A CHANCE #2
CABLE #12
DAREDEVIL #116
DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (OF 5) DKR
DARK TOWER TREACHERY #6 (OF 6) VAR
DEAD IRONS #2
DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #3 (OF 4)
DEADPOOL #8 DKR
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #4
FAR WEST BAD MOJO #1 (OF 2)
FARSCAPE #3 CVR A
FLASH GORDON #4
FRINGE #3 (OF 6) (RES)
GALVESTON #4 CVR A
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS DEAR BILLY #2
GOON #32 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
GOTHAM GAZETTE BATMAN DEAD #1
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #36
HACK SLASH SERIES #20 JONES CVR A
HAUNTED TANK #4 (OF 5)
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #4 (OF 8)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #11
HULK BROKEN WORLDS #1 (OF 2)
I AM LEGION #2 (OF 6) CASSADAY MARTIN CVR A
JERSEY GODS #2
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES STORM FRONT #3 (OF 4)
JONAH HEX #41
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #148 (NOTE PRICE)
KOLCHAK TALES ANNUAL #1
LAST REIGN KINGS OF WAR #4 (OF 5) CVR A
LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #3
LOONEY TUNES #172
MAD MAGAZINE #499
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #14 (RES)
MIGHTY #2
MILF MAGNET #1 UWE JARLING CVR
MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #5 (OF 6)
NEW AVENGERS REUNION #1 (OF 4) DKR
NO HERO #4 (OF 7)
SECRET SIX #7
SECRET WARRIORS #2 DKR
SHRAPNEL #3 (OF 5) OKON CVR A
SIR APROPOS OF NOTHING #5 (OF 5)
SOLOMON GRUNDY #1 (OF 7)
SPIDER-MAN HUMAN TORCH BAHIA DE LOS MUERTOS
STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 (OF 8)
SUB-MARINER DEPTHS #5 (OF 5)
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #4
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #1 (OF 12)
TERMINATOR REVOLUTION #3 (OF 5)
TERROR TITANS #6 (OF 6)
TERRY MOORES ECHO #10
TRINITY #40
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #3 (OF 6)
VERONICA #193 (NOTE PRICE)
VOYAGES O/T SHEBUCCANEER #1 (OF 3) EYE O/T JADE DRAGON
WAR OF KINGS #1 (OF 6)
X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #2 (OF 4)
X-MEN SPIDER-MAN #4 (OF 4)

Books / Mags / Stuff
ANNA MERCURY TP VOL 01 THE CUTTER
BEN TEN ALIEN FORCE GN VOL 01 BEN 10 RETURNS
BLEACH TP VOL 26
CLASSIC GI JOE TP VOL 02
COMICS JOURNAL #296
DAN DARE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 US ED
DANGER UNLIMITED TP
DC LIBRARY LOSH LIFE AND DEATH OF FERRO LAD HC
ERO SISTER (A)
EVANESCENT PASSION (A)
EXPLAINERS HC CURR PTG
FANTASTIC FOUR TP WORLDS GREATEST
FIRST TIME GN (A)
GALAXY QUEST GLOBAL WARNING TP
HOGANS ALLEY #16
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 01 FIVE NIGHTMARES
JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 05 TURNING PAGES
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL TP VOL 01
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #3 MAR 2009
KABUKI HC ALCHEMY
LAST ONE TP
LITTLE NOTHINGS GN VOL 02 PRISONER SYNDROME
NARUTO TP VOL 38
NARUTO TP VOL 39
NARUTO TP VOL 40
NARUTO TP VOL 41
NEW AVENGERS TP VOL 08 SECRET INVASION BOOK 01
NEW BRIGHTON ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY GN
NEXUS ARCHIVES HC VOL 08
NORTH WORLD GN VOL 02
PEZ SW CLONE WARS 12 PC DISP
SAMS STRIP COMIC ABOUT COMICS GN
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 05
SECRET INVASION TP NEW WARRIORS
SEEKERS INTO THE MYSTERY TP VOL 01 PILGRIMAGE OF LUCAS HART
SHAZAM MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL TP
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES TP VOL 10
STRONGMAN GN
SUPERMAN BRAINIAC HC
THE SAVAGE HC
ULTIMATE LIBIDO TP (A)
VIDEO WATCHDOG #147
WOLVERINE BY CLAREMONT & MILLER TP
WOLVERINE ORIGIN TP NEW PTG
WOLVERINE TP WEAPON X NEW PTG
WONDER WOMAN ANIMATED MOVIE DVD REG ED

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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We're a week or so from the real release of the WATCHMEN film. I've seen it. This is INCREDIBLY FUCKINGLY SPOILERY, so you must absolutely NOT read it if you don't want your watching experience potentially ruined.

Seriously, I almost felt I should hold it until actual release. So don't go below the jump unless you understand the ramifications of your actions.



Friday night... well, no Saturday morning, there was a IMAX screening of WATCHMEN, at WonderCon, roughly a week before the film is generally released.

They decided to be clever by having it at 11:55 PM (five minutes to midnight being a theme in the book, y'see), but, of course, with the various multiple levels of security to get in, and the desire to fill each and every seat in the place ("Who has an empty seat next to them, please raise your hand. No, only one person raise their hand") it didn't start until, ugh 12:30 or so.

Dave Gibbons gave a quick intro which was worth the price (or time) of admission by itself, kinda -- who doesn't want to watch WATCHMEN without Dave Gibbons standing there with you?

I managed to stay awake pretty much through the entire thing (though I started to nod off a little in the prison break sequences -- but I caught myself, and adjusted my seating until it was uncomfortable, so I could stay awake) -- we finally got out at like 3:30 am, ugh.

So, here's a review:

Overall, I did not like it.

It's utterly slavish to the comic in places -- amazingly astonishingly incredibly faithful. Then, in the same scene, completely absolutely and totally unfaithful. Obviously I get why having Rorschach vs The Psychiatrist being a single scene (instead of the 3-4 in the original) "needs" to be done for time reasons, but I don't understand why having, say, Dan and R's first encounter doesn't have R stealing all of his sugar so he can eat it through the rest of the film: that doesn't take any screen time, it is just incidental character movement that can happen while delivering dialogue. It isn't like you need, or want, to cut to a tight shot of him doing it.

All in all, the film is the Reader's Digest version: if it can plausibly be cut, it probably is. For example: the news vendor and The Kid are in the film, but they don't have a single line of dialogue. The Intersection is there, but nothing occurs on that spot. All in all I'd guess that roughly half the book makes it to the screen.

Its weird because I wish the film was actually worse, so I could honestly HATE it -- I walked out feeling totally disappointed, but not in a "stay the fuck away!" sense.

And it made me want to see the 6 hour version (that doesn't exist), kind of, but also afraid that would be just as wrong.

I was distracted by:

Rorschach's moving mask. It was distracting, and didn't really look right to me, with everything focused purely on the face (it goes around his entire head, after all) I also thought the "texture" of the mask was wrong.

Jon's massive cock. It is pretty big, alright, and you notice it in every scene it is in.

The Two Silk Spectres, anytime they had a scene together. Mom looked younger than the daughter, damn it! And neither of them was particularly a good actress.

The stupid scaled-up super-heroic nonsense. I'm not talking about the slow-mo jumping scenes in the trailer, actually most of those are out of context, and in the film they look pretty decent -- but things like The Comedian punching through solid concrete. With bare hands. When he's 70 and about to die. Everytime a non-Jon, non-Adrian character did super-heroey things, I wanted to die inside.

Dan's lack of those owl-wings hairs in the front. That's like Superman not having the spit-curl "S"!

The not beginning and ending the movie with the same image, damn it. Those images are there, but a few minutes to either side, weird!

But, really, the biggest problem with the film is I feel like they Didn't Get It, for several reasons. Namely:

1) It fetishized the violence. This is a seriously violent movie. Most of that violence is in the comic, but it is very very different in a comic than in a movie -- especially when the movie tends to use that speed-up, then slow-mo down technique for the action. Movies also have sound effects (you can hear shit breaking and tearing, yes), which the comic resolutely did not have.

2) It fetishized the heroes. Jon is built nearly like Ah-nold (and/or John Holmes, depending on the angle). Dan doesn't look like a broke-down middle-aged man. Everyone has Batman-Style fake muscles and all that. Only Rorschach fit my idea of being what he should be: being nearly-shockingly puny in size compared to the others.

3) Most of the "world building" is thrown out the window -- cigarettes aren't any different (not that we see ANY in the world, but still), nor do there appear to be cheap electric cars or any of that. OK, there's still a Gunga Diner, I guess, OK.

4) Dan and Laurie are explicitly still super-heroes at the end -- they even talk about taking Archie out. Yikes, NO.

5) The Final threat isn't the giant squid attacking New York for that 9/11 moment, but "'Dr. Manhattan' attacks the WORLD", yet only with Tricky Dick leading the change. Like, OK, lets assume Jon does go nuts and kill people... what the fuck could you POSSIBLY do to band together to stop him? That works even less as an ending, thematically. Esp. when Dan has that dumb fucking ass line about "We'll be OK as long as everything thinks Jon is still watching" or whatever.

No, no, no, and no. Have you ever READ the book, guys?

Here's what gets me: this is very much a perfect adaptation of WATCHMEN in several ways -- there are places where you're going to go "Ooh, NAILED it", but they go far enough from theme and incident that the human-ness in the story is a distant second to the spectacle and a literal read of the plot.

As I've said: no one reveres WATCHMEN for its plot -- it is its construction and characterization* that we marvel at.

I hope this does well enough that another 10 million people will seek out the book, I can tell you that, but I also sorta hope it doesn't make back its production costs, because hacking out a WATCHMEN II is actually almost possible with the new ending.

At the end of the day, I might say this was much like the film version of V FOR VENDETTA -- it entertained me reasonably well in the moment of watching it, but I walked out of the theater thinking they had misunderstood the fundamental philosophic underpinnings of the original work.

That opening sequence of "the times they are are a-changin'" with the semi-moving photos and the history of the world really made me think that maybe they made a version of WATCHMEN that while not-the-comic, was also pretty good -- that's a nice opening. But as the film went on and on, I thought it had less and less heart, and I was pretty disgustipated by the end of the film. On the Critic Scale, I'd absolutely call the overall thing an EH.

I can also say this: there's no reason that I could see to really see it on IMAX. Should be just fine on a normal-sized screen. This isn't like THE DARK KNIGHT, where there were IMAX-filmed scenes that demand that viewing. In fact, maybe just maybe that added to my sense of "Why all the spectacle?" because the shit was 100 feet high. I honestly might have liked this better on a television screen, really.

So, when you see it, what did YOU think?

-B

* = (Yes, Mr. Lester, that's more exact)

Labels: Brian, Watchmen

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A final word on my 2008 report on BookScan. Under the jump for everyone who is tired of this topic (which is probably most sane and rational people)




As a prominent retailer in a prominent market, who has a long-running soapbox on the retailing of comics, I do a fairly large number (3-6-ish) of interviews any given year, whether it be for various podcasts or newspaper features or whatever about the comics industry. Pretty uniformly, “what’s the size of the market?” is one of the primary questions that rises.

We have a paucity of real, viable data in this business. Other industries appear to have whole sub-industries designed just to analyze sales data. I guess the need to categorize, to define, to find out our parameters is one of the things that make us human.

In comics, we have exactly one public source of information: Diamond’s charts. They present data in a somewhat broken fashion. eg: they don’t include Diamond UK, until recently it topped out at 100 books (and not all that long ago, it topped at 100 comics, as well), and it also favors items that arrive at the beginning of the month’s cycle over those that arrive at the end of the month. There’s probably two or three more ways they aren’t properly reflecting the real market activity as well.

We understand these limitations, and, hopefully most people when they construct premises of market activity bear those limitations in mind.

We have no public data about any other sales in comics with the last remaining exceptions of those publishers (Just Marvel and Archie, I think at this point? John Jackson Miller, correct me if I am wrong here?) who still ship via a certain US Postal Service regulation and have to provide some sketchy (and, I've been told, often made up my some intern) sales information. We will, very occasionally, get some sort of vague public statement, usually rendered anecdotaly -- most recently probably Paul Levitz's comment that WATCHMEN was in the 1 million copies sold range in 2008 -- but certainly nothing that one can construct any kind of real understanding of anything at all, based upon just that.

Seven years ago I was told about BookScan, and that there WAS data being gathered on sales outside the DM. It wasn't public though, so I pushed and I pushed and I pushed at several dozen people, and I found a few sources that were willing to leak it to me once a year. And I thought if I was interested in this, other people probably were too. Given that it generally gets more commentary than anything I write the whole rest of the year, combined, I think this is justified.

Like any information stream, it is only useful to the extent that you look at it for what it is. As I understand it, BookScan is an accurate report of what sold through at the venues which report to BookScan. Those venues are, for the most part, the large chains, the major websites, the largest of the independent bookstores (Powell's, etc.) This isn't, by any means, any place that books can be or are sold, and it doesn't include libraries, schools, book clubs, strip clubs, gas stations, residences, warehouses, farmhouses, henhouses, outhouses or doghouses.

But, within the venues that it DOES represent, it represents 100% of the sales during the year-to-date.

I believe that I have been scrupulous about stating and restating this, and I even think that I've done some damage to the readability of the article by bending over backwards to say "of those reporting to BookScan" or some variant of that over and over again.

What I believe is that if the charts say that "Love & Rockets: New Stories #1" sold 719 copies, then, yeah it is a factual statement that from the day of its release to 12/31/2008 that Borders, B&N, Amazon, et al. sold under 800 copies in those venues, during that date range. (I put it that way because, of course, as a guy who runs a POS system, mistakes get made by clerks all of the time, so there's always going to be SOME kind of unavoidable "fudge factor"; but that factor is probably under 10% of the total)

That doesn't mean that xxxx copies were not placed into the distribution channel. That does not mean that xxxx copies won't eventually sell. That does not mean that xxxx copies didn't go into non-retail channels. That does not mean any of a whole host of things. It just means that from date of release to 12/21/2008, Borders, B&N, Amazon, et al sold under 800 copies of that item. Nothing more, nothing less.

Now if you (generically "you", not specifically so) want to believe that this datum holds no/limited value, I won't try to stop you. But I will choose to disagree.

WHY do I think it has some value? Because of pundits like (as Dirk says) Balan Bavid Boane, or one-name internet trolls who lurk in threads everywhere who like to insist things similar to "The Direct Market is a dying and useless system that is no better than a cancer upon the heart of all comics everywhere"

Tom has an excellent point that "no one in a position of any importance at any company has to my knowledge ever seriously dismissed the still-crucial Direct Market as a place to sell comics." So this much, at least, is down to my failure to differentiate between the light and the heat, as it were -- but I want these memes to die the dog's death that they deserve (and lets add "If only comics were anthologies printed on cheap newsprint, the audience would come flocking back" too, please)

But, yes, I'm guilty of falling prey to the heat. C'est la guerre.

And so for that, please let me apologize.

I do think there's some conflation going to among "legitimate" pundits -- I don't buy the argument that because [whatever] is still on sale in specific channels that it moots the snapshot nature of a BookScan list; those items are also still on sale in the DM as well after all, and we'll never know the final long-term sales of any book ever until after that book is no longer in print. I don't buy the argument that we should count library sales (or whatever) on [whatever] if we're not counting the same channels for [something else] -- and since we're unlikely to ever have that kind of clarity within our lifetimes, we work with what we DO have.

But, at the end of the day, BookScan is what it is, and, as far as I can tell there's no legitimate disagreement that BookScan is what it is: "100%" of the sales, within the date range presented, to the specific venues that report to BookScan.

Each year I try to remove more of my biases, and more of my silly shit from the analysis -- no one seemed to notice that this year I didn't have the last 4-5k words be about a comparison to the DM, like the previous five years! I don't think I'll ever be able to 100% remove those biases 100% of the time, because I'm human (and I think comparisons are largely inevitable). But I'm working on it, really I am!

Whether I succeed or not, I do firmly and fundamentally agree with this statement of Tom's: "Right here, right now, additional markets aren't just desirable, they're necessary. For many people the ability to operate in multiple markets is the difference between publishing and not publishing, and has been for several years now. For some folks, every single market of any value is the difference between making a modest living and making no living at all. For certain companies and titles it's the difference between existence and extinction."

In some ways, it is like what I say about Periodicals versus Perennials in the DM -- the periodical comic books provide the cash flow; the book format perennials provide the long term profit. DM orders tend to be of great significance as an upfront thing, and they're not returnable, and they tend to pay within 30 days from the Bank of Diamond -- basically No Risk/Quick Pay. Other markets are riskier, returnable, and generally slower to pay -- but as a long term investment may be very profitable if you get that big hit.

Either way, that's where I won't quibble with Tom even a little: all markets are needed, all venues are valid, all sales are good.

Anyway, just because I'm feeling silly, here's how I felt a little earlier in the week when reading Dirk's comments:

Labels: BookScan, Brian

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2:00-3:00 Everything You Wanted to Know About Comics Retailing—But Weren't Afraid to Ask!— Join ComicsPRO board members Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord) and Brian Hibbs (Comix Experience, San Francisco) for a free-wheeling exploration of the world of comics specialty retailing. Field and Hibbs are two of the industry's most vocal leaders dedicated to improving the profession of comics retailing. Get the inside scoop on ComicsPRO, Free Comic Book Day, the new edition of Tilting at Windmills and the proverbial more! Room 232/234

Hope to see you there!

-B

Labels: Brian

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At least the reorders are starting to flow again. Adding that to a larger-than-the-last-few-weeks shipment, and, like I thought, it is a big ass invoice this week.

Busy trying to get ONOMATOPOEIA out by tomorrow's deadline. More posting "soon"

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #99
ANGEL #18
ARCHIE #594
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #13
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #22 DKR
BART SIMPSON COMICS #46
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #10 (OF 12)
BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #2
BLANK COMIC BOOK
BLUE BEETLE #36
CAPTAIN AMERICA #47
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #54
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #8
CRIMINAL MACABRE CELL BLOCK 666 #3 (OF 4)
CTHULHU TALES #12
DARK REIGN FILES DKR
DARK TOWER TREACHERY #6 (OF 6)
DOCTOR WHO WHISPERING GALLERY (ONE SHOT)
DR DOOM MASTERS OF EVIL #2 (OF 4)
DYNAMO 5 #20
ELEPHANTMEN #16
ENDERS SHADOW BATTLE SCHOOL #3 (OF 5)
EUREKA #2 (OF 4) CVR A
FANTASTIC FOUR #564
FEAR AGENT #26 1 AGAINST 1 (PT 5 OF 6)
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #5 (OF 5)
GIGANTIC #3 (OF 5)
GREEN LANTERN #38 (ORIGINS)
HULK #10
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #126
JACK OF FABLES #31
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24 (ORIGINS)
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #148
LEVITICUS CROSS #2 (OF 5)
LORDS OF AVALON KNIGHTS OF DARKNESS #4 (OF 6)
MADAME XANADU #8
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #45
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #4 (OF 6)
MIGHTY AVENGERS #22 DKR
MISTER X CONDEMNED #3 (OF 4)
MS MARVEL #36 DKR
NEW AVENGERS #50 DKR
NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #167
NOVA #22
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #129
PROOF #17
REIGN IN HELL #8 (OF 8)
RUNAWAYS 3 #7
SAVAGE DRAGON #145 CVR A
SCOURGE OF GODS #2 (OF 3)
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #4 (OF 6)
SHE-HULK 2 #38
SKAAR SON OF HULK #8
SONIC UNIVERSE #1
SPAWN #189
STAR TREK COUNTDOWN #2
STAR WARS LEGACY #33 FIGHT ANOTHER DAY PART 2 OF 2
SUPERMAN #685 (ORIGINS)
SWORD #15
TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #32
TEEN TITANS #68 (ORIGINS)
THUNDERBOLTS #129 DKR
TRINITY #39
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #131
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #4 (OF 6)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #5
USAGI YOJIMBO #118
WAR MACHINE #3 DKR
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #10 (OF 12)
WASTELAND #24
WILDCATS #8
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #12
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #33 DKR
WONDER WOMAN #29
WONDER WOMAN #29 VAR ED
WORLD OF WARCRAFT ASHBRINGER #4 (OF 4)
X-FORCE #12
YOUNGBLOOD #8 OBAMA CVR
YTHAQ FORSAKEN WORLD #3 (OF 3)

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALAN MOORE THE COURTYARD GN COLOR PTG
BAREFOOT GEN VOL 08 MERCHANTS OF DEATH
BARFOOT GEN VOL 07 BONES INTO DUST
BEANWORLD HC VOL 01 WAHOOLAZUMA
CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 03 DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA
COMPLETE PEANUTS 1971-1972 VOL 11
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #02 SUPERMAN
EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 01
GIANT ROBOT #58
HUMBUG HC (RES)
MMW FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 01 VAR ED 02
MOME GN VOL 14
PREVIEWS #246 MARCH 2009
RONINBEBOP SC
SECRET INVASION TP BLACK PANTHER
SECRET INVASION TP RUNAWAYS YOUNG AVENGERS
SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERMAN FAMILY TP VOL 03
SKRULLS VS POWER PACK TP DIGEST
STARMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02
TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS TP VOL 01
TEZUKAS BLACK JACK PX HC VOL 03
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #175
VIOLENT MESSIAHS TP VOL 02 LAMENTING PAIN
WIZARD MAGAZINE #210 WANTED JG JONES CVR
WOLVERTON BIBLE HC GN
X-MEN LEGACY TP SINS OF THE FATHER

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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You can find my look at BookScan 2008 right here.

I'd strongly suggest grabbing the chart and saving it off before Jonah gets a C&D. Tomorrow will likely be too late!

Interested in your thoughts, as always!

Edit: Tom Spurgeon has some good comments here. For the record, Tom is 100% right: look at these with a grain of salt, then a chunk of salt, then an entire salt mine, because, at best, these numbers are just the visible tip of the iceberg.

I really really tried to make this clear throughout the piece: go and count how many times I say something like "to the stores that report to BookScan" or words to that effect. I keep being afraid that I'm hurting the readability with all of the ass-covering I do!



-B

Labels: BookScan, Brian, retailing

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This is about retailing and distribution and all that stuff, so I'm hiding it under the jump...



Right, so Chris Butcher has written a widely linked panic attack about Diamond "de-listing" over 1000 Viz backlist items.

As near as I can tell, however, he's concerned about a bunch of material that, well, doesn't sell. YES, some of the titles on the list are REALLY FUCKING GOOD COMICS, no doubt about it... but do they SELL is the question?

I also use Baker & Taylor as a source for books, an unlike Diamond's site, B&T has some neat tools on their pages, including real time inventory for not only what is in stock, and what is expected to show, but also for REAL THIRTY DAY DEMAND for those products.

I think that most of us can agree that DRIFTING CLASSROOM was the big "wait, what?!?" on the Diamond de-listing list -- thems some fine comics.

But when I search for DRIFTING CLASSROOM on B&T's inventory, for their west Coast warehouse (they have four: East, West, Midwest, and South) this BOOKSTORE FOCUSED distributor only has inventory on hand for two volumes, and their thirty day demand for ANY of the eleven volumes is... wait for it! ZERO COPIES.

Same thing for GOLGO 13.

Same thing for Tezuka's PHOENIX, pretty much -- 2 of the volumes have single copy demand, wow, big seller.

The secret reality of things is that a huge chunk of things that YOU like, or maybe even things that Butcher or me could sell a bit... don't sell at all well out in "the real world"

Like... you basically can't get ANY Drawn & Quarterly published titles from B&T. WHAT IT IS, and SHORTCOMINGS and maybe 3-4 others, but that's IT. BECAUSE THEY DON'T SELL FOR MOST STORES.

INCLUDING "not comics" stores, guys.

My new TILTING is on Friday, with a look at the 2008 BookScan numbers. While you're waiting for that, take a guess at what the BookScan reported sales for LOVE & ROCKETS NEW STORIES #1 was (remember, they changed TO an annual, spine-d format FOR the putative bookstore market). Write your guess on a piece of paper, and see on Friday how close you were.

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing

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I'll be completely honest with you: I know just about nothing about some of the backstagey bits of this site. I've never used a RSS feed in my life and don't really "get" it, because I'm a bitter old curmudgeon.

I only kind of understand how "hits" work, or advertising costs on the web, or any of that stuff -- I don't think I've looked a refer log in something like 5 years, and, while I have permissions to go get our metric information, I never really bother, because I'm more interested in the content than all of that stuff, y'know?

Anyway, long and short, yeah, Kate changed the way the RSS feeds work with the Savage Critic site, and she did it when the new gang came in (and aren't they all doing a great job already? Though... where's Eckert?!?!?), and it was done to try and get our hits up a bit in what I take to be a non-evil way.

We're going to take a look at traffic over the next few weeks, and see what happens with this new scheme, and the new writers, and see how things go. This may or may not be a permanent change, I dunno, but we're going to try it and see what happens.

Feel free to use the comments thread to voice your support or annoyance, but, honestly, you can stop emailing me. What I will say is that any such changes we make like this are aimed at paying the contributors more money for their efforts, and nothing more.

-B

Labels: Brian, Site News

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As you're probably not even slightly not aware of whatsoever, Diamond is in the process of moving their main warehouse from Memphis to Olive Branch. What this has meant is that there have basically been no reorders available for the last couple of weeks, as they make the move. Reorders aren't expected to start flowing in earnest until next week's shipment (and maybe not really until the week after)

Of course, as with this kind of thing, mistakes have been made. In my case, for instance, I placed an order for roughly 3 weeks worth of "critical" backstock before the cut-off date for the move. The IDEA was I'd stock up up front to tide me over while Diamond made the move (generally, I'm trying to only have enough inventory on hand for a single week's sales, using "Just in Time" ordering)

Buuuut, Diamond biffed my order. About a third of it came back as "confirmed/canceled" which means that Diamond is pretty sure they have inventory, but they couldn't find it when it came time to pick it. In the world I want to live in (and, in the world I USUALLY live in) you usually only get 1-2 C/C books any given week. Heck, typically Diamond is really good at their business, so I might only get 1-2 a MONTH. But that week, that CRITICAL week, we got about 30-40 lines canceled out.

Of course, when the shipment ACTUALLY arrived... well, another 40% or so of it wasn't in the box at all. Maybe it got shipped to another store, maybe they just lost them... there's no way to know for certain. Missing were such slow sellers as, say, WATCHMEN, which means I'm out of that book a month before the movie hits, yay!

I'm not exactly blaming Diamond here -- that kind of major move is a really big hard deal, but it is really screwing with both cash flow and consumer confidence.

I bring this up to you to observe that YOUR local comic shop may also be feeling this particular pinch: chances are their inventory is probably at the nadir for the year. If it is a well run, well stocked store, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO VISUALLY TELL -- I'm out of a lot of key material right now, but I STILL HAVE thousands of other books to sell... just not (some) of my best-sellers.

A pretty large number of stores don't have terms -- they're on COD and have to pay when UPS shows up, or else UPS takes those comics back away from them.

So, the upshot of this is that if you love your LCS (and hopefully both you do, and they've done things to earn that), the best thing you could do this week is buy an extra comic or TP this week. Is there something you've been vaguely eying, but have been holding off on? THIS is the week to buy it, because next week (before the new books are on their shelves) they're going to have this frighteningly massive bill as three weeks worth of reorders come pouring in at one time, and you'll REALLY help them if they have a few extra dollars in their war chest before that UPS truck shows up.

I don't usually write this kind of pitch, but this is a structural mechanical issue that is going to ding quite a few stores -- especially if they're financially "on the cusp"

(We're not, we have 30 days terms, and I've been building my war chest for a while now, but I know a lot of stores that might be in hot water come next week, so...)

Meanwhile, here's the list of stuff rolling in this week -- pretty much my smallest invoice in 15 years or more...


2000 AD #1620
2000 AD #1621
A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #98 (A) (C: 1-0-0)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #587
AMBER ATOMS #1
ANGEL SMILE TIME #2
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #196
BETTY & VERONICA #240
BIRDS OF PREY #127 (ORIGINS)
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #4 (OF 6)
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #22
DARK AVENGERS #2 DKR
DEATH DEFYING DEVIL #3
DYNAMO 5 #0
FIREBREATHER SERIES #4
GHOST RIDER #32
GHOST WHISPERER THE MUSE #3
GI JOE ORIGINS #1
GODLAND #26
GOLLY #4
GREAT UNKNOWN #1 (OF 5)
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #10
HELLBLAZER #252
INVINCIBLE #59
JUNGLE GIRL SEASON 2 #3
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #30 (ORIGINS)
KABUKI REFLECTIONS #12
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #33
MOON KNIGHT #27
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #2 (OF 6)
NEW EXILES #18
NYX NO WAY HOME #6 (OF 6)
OUTSIDERS #15 (ORIGINS)
POPBOT #8 (RES)
PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #67
RED SONJA SHE DEVIL WITH A SWORD ANNUAL #2
REX MUNDI DH ED #16
ROBIN #183 (ORIGINS)
SCOOBY DOO #141
SHRAPNEL #2 (OF 5) A CVR SUYDAM (NOTE PRICE)
SIMPSONS COMICS #151
SOLOMON KANE #5 (OF 5)
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #3 (OF 4)
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #8
STAR TREK LAST GENERATION #4
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #38 FAITHFUL EXECUTION
STORMWATCH PHD #19
SUPERGIRL #38 (ORIGINS)
SUPERMAN BATMAN #55
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #12 (OF 12)
TINY TITANS #13
TRINITY #38
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #60
UNCANNY X-MEN #506
VIGILANTE #3
WARRIORS OFFICIAL MOVIE ADAPTATION #1 (OF 5) REG CVR
WHATMEN (ONE SHOT)
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #16
X-FACTOR #40
X-FILES #4 (OF 6)
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #3 (OF 4)
X-MEN LEGACY #221
YOUNG X-MEN #11
ZOMBIE TALES #11
ZOMBIES THAT ATE THE WORLD #1 DAVIS CVR A

Books / Mags / Stuff
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 TP VOL 01 SECRET INVASION
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #84 SABERTOOTH
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #85 WINTER SOLDIER
COMIC FOUNDRY MAGAZINE WINTER 2008
COMPLETE TERRY & THE PIRATES HC VOL 06 1945-1945
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #03 JOKER
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG SPECIAL DARKSEID
DIANA PRINCE WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 04
EDEN TP VOL 11 ITS AN ENDLESS WORLD
ESSENTIAL CLASSIC X-MEN TP VOL 03
FALL OF CTHULHU GODWAR TP
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS TP VOL 01 NIGHT WITCHES
GEEK MONTHLY MAR 2009
GRENDEL DEVILS REIGN TP
HEAVY METAL SPRING 2009 #122
HIGH ROLLERS TP
JOHNNY BOO HC VOL 02 TWINKLE POWER
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #281
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS TP VOL 08 DIGEST
MOON KNIGHT PREM HC VOL 04 DEATH OF MARC SPECTOR
NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 01
PANTOMIME TP SCAD SEQUENTIAL ART ANTHOLOGY
PLUTO URASAWA X TEZUKA GN VOL 01
SECRET INVASION TP FRONT LINE
SECRET INVASION TP INCREDIBLE HERCULES
SECRET INVASION TP THUNDERBOLTS
SPARROW JIM MAHFOOD HC
SUPERMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 06
TEENAGERS FROM THE FUTURE SC
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 10


What looks good to YOU?


-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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I know we fuss and fight some times. Sometimes we fight about money, some times about even sillier things, but, baby, you have to know that we love you with all of our hearts.

We've been together a really long time, but for us at least, it just gets better with age. We honestly can't think of anyone else we'd rather wake up in bed next to each morning, and, I know, I know, sometimes we flirt with film or television or prose, but always always you're the one foremost in our hearts and minds.

So, this Valentine's Day, 2009, we'd like to rededicate our love to you, and offer you this: The Savage Critics: Wave Three!

Ladies and Gentlemen, to present our newest Savage Critics:

Tucker Stone!
Sean T. Collins!
Dick Hyacinth!
David Uzumeri!
Chris Eckert!

Can I get a "Holy shit!!!!"?

Yeah, I think the single finest line-up of comics reviewing talent under one banner (along with my half-assed ramblings) now got even crazily better.

Now that I've posted this, sometime later today (yeah, we planned this with military precision, yes!) you'll see the additions reflected on this page, and the guys will trickle in and post a introductory message. Please join me in welcoming them!

Gentlemen, the Tranya! I hope you relish it as much as I!

Happy Valentine's Day, Comics!!

-B

Labels: Brian

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First off: be sure to check in this weekend for big Big BIG news. I'm excited, and I think you will be too...

Here's some stuff I really liked this week:

THOR #600: now this is how all anniversary issues should be done! A meaty lead story that changes up the status quo (not that that status is all that quo, really, being that this is effectively issue #13), and ending on a pretty reasonable cliffhnager that not only makes me begin to think that "Dark Reign" could be potentially interesting and go some where, but that also seems rational and chilling. I might have even liked the lead story enough to praise this comic, but then it adds a gorgeous David Aja-drawn, Stan Lee-written story that DIDN'T suffer from Crazy Stan Overwriting; a lengthy "Mini-Marvels" story that condensing the last 3-ish years of Thor continuity into total hilarity; and five (!) Kirby reprints (all short ones, but still!). All that plus all 600 covers of THOR (and JiM, natch). Dang, what a sweet package, and worth every single penny of the $5 they're asking! VERY GOOD.

BATMAN #686: The first part of Neil Gaiman's imaginary story (but aren't they all?) about the Death of Batman. Not that this one has anything to do with the other couple of Death's of Batman running around lately, but that's hardly the point. Obviously this was pitched to Neil as being a similar ending to an era of BATMAN as Alan Moore's "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" was in SUPERMAN and ACTION, but Neil very wisely went the completely opposite direction with this one. I mean, not only did Frank Miller write as definitive "ending" to Batman as could be had, but I don't think Neil knew what Morrison's plans were when he scripted this.

Instead, Neil goes the other way, and makes this a series of "What Ifs" (more or less) about how the original Batman could have gone sideways, and I thought it was incredibly effective. The only thing that's going to mar this at all is that Andy Kubert's art has delayed the 2nd part back yet another month -- to, as of today, 3/18 -- which is horrifically sad when you think about it. Having the Kubert's exclusive to DC really didn't work out very well, did it? Anyway, this is completely out of continuity, and even more effective because of that. I liked it a lot: VERY GOOD.

INCOGNITO #2: There were some pretty meh reviews of issue #1, but I thought this one completely hit it out of the ballpark. To the point that, maybe, this should have been issue #1. Crisp and lean, and everything you'd want from a super villain driven comic book, including some nice backstory stuff. VERY GOOD.

WALKING DEAD #58: There has been, I think, a little wheel spinning going on in this book lately, but this issue really grabbed me by the balls, mostly by returning to a plot point from issue #1 (or was it #2?), and being COMPLETELY FUCKING CHILLING while doing so. Wow, on top of wow -- this is one of those issues that I think is not going to read as well in the middle of a collection, it's a very stand-alone thought and meditation on the premise of the series. Gotta go with EXCELLENT.

What did YOU think?


-B

Labels: Brian

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1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #8
2000 AD #1618
2000 AD #1619
3 GEEKS SLAB MADNESS #2 (OF 3)
ACTION COMICS #874 (ORIGINS)
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #29
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #586
ANGEL #17
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #128
AVENGERS INVADERS #8 (OF 12)
BATMAN #686 (NOTE PRICE)
BATMAN #686 VAR ED (NOTE PRICE)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS SPECIAL #1
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #26
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #168
BEYOND WONDERLAND #5 (OF 6)
BOOSTER GOLD #17 (ORIGINS)
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #2 (OF 5)
BRIT #12 (RES)
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #10
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #34
CASTLE WAITING VOL II #14
CAVEWOMAN PREHISTORIC PINUPS #6
DARKNESS #75 BERMEJO CVR A
DMZ #39
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #3
ETERNALS #8
FABLES #81
FIRE & BRIMSTONE #4 (OF 5)
GEARS OF WAR #4
GEN 13 #27
GI JOE #2
GRAVEL #9
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #17 (ORIGINS)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33 (ORIGINS)
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #35
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #3 (OF 8)
HEXED #2 (OF 4) CVR A
INCOGNITO #2
LAST REIGN KINGS OF WAR #3 (OF 5) CVR A
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #48
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #8
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT WAR OF KINGS
MARVEL TV GALACTUS REAL STORY
MASQUERADE #1
NEW WARRIORS #20
NIGHTWING #153 (ORIGINS)
PATSY WALKER HELLCAT #5 (OF 5)
PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #0
REBELS #1
SCALPED #25
SIMON DARK #17
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #197
SPIRIT #26
STAR WARS CLONE WARS #4 (OF 6)
STEPHEN COLBERTS TEK JANSEN #4 (OF 5)
SUPER FRIENDS #12
TERMINATOR SALVATION MOVIE PREQ #2 (OF 4)
THOR #600
THOR #600 DELLOTTO VAR
TITANS #10 (ORIGINS)
TRINITY #37
VIXEN RETURN OF THE LION #5 (OF 5)
WALKING DEAD #58
WOLVERINE MANIFEST DESTINY #4 (OF 4)
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #3 (OF 8)
X-INFERNUS #3 (OF 4)
X-MEN ORIGINS SABRETOOTH
YOUNG LIARS #12

Books / Mags / Stuff
30 DAYS OF NIGHT TP JUAREZ
ALL STAR SUPERMAN HC VOL 02
ASHLEY WOODS 96 NUDES HC
AVENGERS INITIATIVE PREM HC VOL 03 SECRET INVASION
BATMAN FALSE FACES TP
BATMAN RIP DELUXE EDITION HC
BLAKE & MORTIMER GN STRANGE ENCOUNTER
BONE COLOR ED SC VOL 09 CROWN OF HORNS
CTHULHU TALES TP VOL 03 CHAOS OF THE MIND
DARKNESS ACCURSED TP VOL 01 DIRECT MARKET ED
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #01 BATMAN
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #02 SUPERMAN
DC SUPERHERO FIGURINE COLL MAG #22 DONNA TROY
DEVILS PANTIES GN VOL 03
DMZ TP VOL 06 BLOOD IN THE GAME
ESSENTIAL AVENGERS TP NEW PTG VOL 01
GRAPHIC CLASSICS VOL 16 OSCAR WILDE
HULK TP VOL 01 RED HULK
IRS TP VOL 02 BLUE ICE
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TP TREASURE ISLAND
MIXTAPE HC VOL 03
NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA BALTAR TP
NOVA TP VOL 03 SECRET INVASION
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING HC BOOK 01
SFX #179
SHOWCASE PRESENTS AQUAMAN TP VOL 03
SPIKE AFTER THE FALL HC VOL 01
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #16 SPECIAL NEWSSTAND ED
SWORD TP VOL 02 WATER
TOYFARE #140 TRANSFORMERS REVENGE OF FALLEN CVR
VIGILANTE CITY LIGHTS PRAIRIE JUSTICE TP
WELCOME TO HOXFORD TP VOL 01
WONDER WOMAN WHO IS WONDER WOMAN TP
WRITE NOW #20

What looks good to YOU?


-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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I don't really have time to do this (I should be working on the BookScan stuff... next column is due in like a week, ugh!), but Lester bugged me about it, and I am also spurred by Chris Butcher's excellent post on the subject.

This is a little "insider baseball" so I am going to hide most of it behind the jump...



Some of this appeared in a post on the CBIA forum, but that's gated and most of you can't see that, so with a little editing, let me start...

One thing that I've always believed is that one of the mighty mighty strengths of the Direct Market was that anyone with a Pen and Paper, and a little talent, could get national distribution and Make a Name for themselves. That's (historically) very different than almost any other media where the barriers to entry are ginormous, and that the majority of both wholesale and retail clients are simply not interested in dealing with anyone who isn't already established. What we in the DM call "the small press" is usually referred to "vanity press" in other media.

I *liked* that the barriers to entry were generally low, because it brought us a regular influx of new talent producing exciting work on a regular basis. Much of that potential is now going to disappear with Diamond's new minimums and reorder rules (Periodical comics WILL NOT be available after 60 days, yikes!)

Part of the problem is probably that post-DC-exclusive Diamond was really really freaked out about being seen as "fair" to everyone (Understandable!), so they accepted a lot of items that were probably not the most rational to accept in the first place, things that WEREN'T ready for Prime Time, or brought nothing new to the market -- that, as much as anything else, has led to the catalog bloat.

PREVIEWS *is* a bloated, horrible beast. Despite Chris' assertion that, for The Beguiling, orders from the "back" of the catalog were higher than Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image combined, that's nowhere near the case for me -- most of the "back of the bus" items suck. No, not D&Q or Top Shelf or Fantagraphics or Viz or whomever you want to say... but all of those shitty shitty micro-press books that are NOT marketed or promoted, or anything other than weaker less interesting poorly created knockoffs of things that Front of the Catalog publishers are already doing. No, really, we don't need your shitty zombie comic book. We don't need your adaptation of some William Shatner novel, and we sure as fuck don't need your half-baked superhero universe.

What we DO need is "the next BONE", the "next" STRANGERS IN PARADISE, or CEREBUS or EIGHTBALL or GRENDEL or whatever title you want to fill-in-the-blanks with as a paradigm of slow-build-to-significance item.

Here's the real problem: Diamond's purchasing department. There are some really great guys working there, but they don't really have a great aesthetic judgment. That's not a knock, necessarily, but in 20 years of buying from Diamond I don't believe that they've EVER had a year where they had the entirety of, say, the Eisner nominees in stock at or around the time of the nominations.

I don't believe that Diamond would recognize the "next BONE". Not from hatred or anything, but because they have policies in place to be "fair", that for a decade or more essentially treats all projects as interchangeable widgets.

Those of you who have been doing this for a long time will recall that the late Capital City Distribution used to have actual opinion in their catalogs -- it was common to see "Looks amateurish, be careful", or the opposite in the listings, because THEIR purchasing department was encouraged to share their opinions to help sell more comics (or steer people from lesser work).

That's a GOOD thing. Distributors SHOULD be trying to sell the things they believe in, trying to take books up to their proper next level of sales. Keeping everything carefully neutral is likely to make you less enemies, maybe, but does both your client retailers and your listed publishers a pretty big disservice.

Diamond does have a few "spotlight" indications in the catalog -- "Spotlight" "certified cool", whatever... but they're not applied in what appears to be a rigorous manner, and there's no editorializing whatsoever.

Here's what I might do if I were Diamond: I'd try to hire Bob Shreck to be Czar of the Catalog. Not setting the orders or doing any of that, but going through the submissions to see what has promise and what doesn't. If there was someone there whose aesthetic judgment I implicitly trusted to be the advocate for stocking innovative work, with an eye towards finding and selling the "next BONE", I'd be a lot more enthusiastic towards this new policy.

I don't have any PROBLEM with Diamond wanting to get rid of unprofitable items, any more than I'd have a problem with a retailer deciding not to rack anything that he doesn't think he can sell 3 or more copies of, but I do think that Diamond's historical aesthetic judgment, and stocking support of that judgment, is clearly on the poor side. Diamond is TOO bottom line oriented when it comes to what they sell and support.

What I think is that if you are a guardian at the gate of a medium, there are things that you need to do to help support that medium. Maybe that's Pollyanna-ish, I don't know. But there are things that I carry that don't actually make me any PROFIT, but I carry them because it is what expected in a comic book store (or, at least, a good one in San Francisco).

Let me try this from another angle: Diamond, for maybe a decade there, didn't carry ASTERIX or TINTIN. I believe them when they said that they don't sell very well nationally for Diamond, but I don't think you can actually be a specialty comics distributor and not carry TINTIN and ASTERIX! Even if you only sell 10 copies a year.

I'm virtually certain we're going to lose the "next BONE", the "next SiP"; I'm afraid we won't have a place any longer for the next Dan Clowes of the world.

Heh, I was chatting with someone last week about the real unfairness (TO THE CREATOR!) if this business totally shifted to an OGN model -- how many 22-23 year old kids have the patience and discipline to get through the production of 100+ pages of comics content without reader and market feedback?

I flashed to LIKE A VELVET GLOVE CAST IN IRON, with was originally serialized in EIGHTBALL. This is a DEEPLY FLAWED work -- Clowes just didn't know how to end it, and it shows -- but I've still sold HUNDREDS of copies of this over the years. Knowing Clowes from that time, I suspect that had it been a GN-only work, he would have gotten to the point where it stopped working... and just stopped working on it.

And, flaws and all, I think we'd be poorer for it.

It's all supposition, I know, and I totally hope I am wrong, but I think lack of easy I-can-do-this-out-of-my-kitchen access to the marketplace is really going to come back and kick us in the nuts in ten years.

Some say "Well, BONE would still have happened because it had two things going for it: Jeff & Vijaya!" Yeah, maybe.

Other say, "Aw nertz to you, BONE would just be on the web." Mm, maybe, and maybe it would have continued enough to do the collections, and maybe, maaaaaaybe they still would have gotten the Scholastic deal.

But I'm just not sure about that, I really am not.

And even if they did, I, personally, don't just want to cede all of the sweet long green that we made from BOTH the serialization and collection of BONE. BONE used to sell 50-60 copies an issue for us. That's serious money, even compared to the overwhelming majority of Marvel and DC titles.

Diamond shouldn't be pushing away people from comics -- they should be trying, actively, passionately, enthusiastically trying to find that "next BONE". Because even if you make 100 mistakes trying to get there, it MORE THAN pays off once you find it.

Anyway, yeah, they need to hire Shreck!

-B

Labels: Brian, retailing

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I always felt bad for the professor and Mary Ann during that first season of Gilligan's island. I mean, not only were they stuck with a bunch of idiots, but they didn't even rate a mention in the theme song!

Last week I discussed DARK AVENGERS #1, but the whole Avengers franchise just got a semi-reboot, so here's "...and the rest", after the jump!



NEW AVENGERS #49: now I'm certainly hoping there's more to the Luke & Jessica's baby thing, because otherwise that was the single worst dangling plot thread wrap up in history, with absolutely no suspense or energy whatsoever. There's got to be more to this, right? Right? There's no logical reason for the "Jarviskrull" to do what he did, and there's certainly no real motivation in the pages here...

Does the kid even have a name? I just can't remember! I just flipped through the comic again, looking at all of Luke & Jess' dialogue and it's all "the kid" "the baby" "she" and so on. When Tzipora & I talked about Ben, even as an infant, we said his name ALL of the time.

Here's the weird one, too: this issue was solicited with a $3 cover price. It shipped with a $4 one. There's no extra pages. There's nothing special about this issue whatsoever, and NEW AVENGERS wasn't, I thought, one of the new $4 monthlies. Even if it was, it is completely tacky to raise the price after the book has been solicited and ordered.

(Our sales look to be down by ~20% on normal first week sales... though that COULD be post-SECRET INVASION burnout, hard to say so early)

But here's the thing: I don't know what the premise for this book is at this point. I guess, maybe, it is "street level rebels" -- but that's really a dull premise, as most of the post-CIVIL WAR adventures showed... and they don't have the advantage of everyone and their brothers "looking the other way" seemingly every issue - and given they're already presenting "NEW versus DARK!" as the centerpiece of next issue, it confuses me even more where this *or* DARK can go in the next quarter, next six months, next year.

I mentioned in my review of DARK that I was satisfied with the density of the storytelling for the price. I was very much NOT feeling that in this issue -- this just flashed past without any real depth or meaning to it. I can't possibly say anything better than EH, and even that's a LOW "eh".

For $4 a throw, it's got to be a lot better than that!


AVENGERS THE INITIATIVE #21: Christos Gage gets his A-List shot... on a book full of B-list characters! Spending the issue wrapping up a number of plot threads, I thought there was good humor and action chops on display here. I could have gone the rest of my life without seeing "Clor" again, but it was used here to adequate effect. I don't understand, really, how Trauma could take the lightning hit, but not the hammer blow, but that's really quibbly stuff.

Where this is going to end up going as a "Dark Reign" title is still a little unclear, but I'm going to assume that the basic intent of the book being "training ground for heroes" is going to stay effectively intact. It's not a bad premise, really, but there needs to be a core of characters that I really care about to keep it going.

I was amused by "Gorilla Girl's" self-awareness, though, and I'll give this a very high OK, bordering on "good"

MIGHTY AVENGERS #21: Dan Slott takes a step over sideways, and gives me the closest I've read to what I would consider an "Avengers" comic book in... well in four or five years, maybe? Big epic threat, powerful heroes, in-team and internal conflict, all in the Mighty Marvel Style. Now there's a premise I can kind of get behind. Even though this is decidedly "classic" in feel, it also feels really fresh because Marvel hasn't really done a comic like this in a while.

If Slott can keep this level of energy and tone, this could be a really fun ride. It isn't Shakespeare, but it is a return to a tone that's been missing from Marvel books for a while, and it feels like it has a distinct reason for existing, at least so far.

I liked it ($4 cover and all) -- GOOD from me.



What did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

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Happy Groundhog day!

Its all about the Scott Pilgrim this week, baby!

Actually, that just anchors a pretty good week of comics, take a look...

30 DAYS OF NIGHT 30 DAYS TIL DEATH #3
ADVENTURE COMICS #0 (ORIGINS)
AGE OF SENTRY #5 (OF 6)
AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 DKR
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #585
ANITA BLAKE VH LAUGHING CORPSE #5 (OF 5)
ARCHIE DIGEST #251
ASTONISHING TALES #1
AUTHORITY #7
BAD DOG #1
BANG TANGO #1 (OF 6)
BETTY #178
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6)
BLACK PANTHER 2 #1 DKR
BOYS #27
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22 CHEN CVR
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22 JEANTY CVR
CABLE #11
CHRONICLES OF DR HERBERT WEST #3 (OF 6)
COMIC BOOK COMICS #3
CREATURE FEATURE #2 (OF 2)
CTHULHU TALES #11 CVR A
DARK IVORY #4 (OF 4)
DEAD IRONS #1
DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #2 (OF 4)
DEADPOOL #7 DKR
DYNAMO 5 #19
EL DIABLO #6 (OF 6)
ENDERS GAME BATTLE SCHOOL #3 (OF 5)
EUREKA #1 (OF 4)
FALL OF CTHULHU APOCALYPSE #3 (OF 4) CVR A
FARSCAPE #2
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #3 (OF 5)
FRANKLIN RICHARDS DARK REIGNING CATS & DOGS
FREEDOM FORMULA #5 A CVR REILLY
FUTURAMA COMICS #41
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #34
HAUNTED TANK #3 (OF 5)
HOTWIRE #1 (OF 5) A CVR PUGH
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #10
I AM LEGION #1 (OF 6) CASSADAY MARTIN CVR A
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #22
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #10 DKR
JERSEY GODS #1
JONAH HEX #40
KULL #4 (OF 6)
LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #2
LOONEY TUNES #171
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #13
MAN WITH NO NAME #7
MIGHTY #1
NEOZOIC #8
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #2
PS238 #37
PUNISHER #2 DKR
RED SONJA #41
REMNANT #2 (OF 4) CVR A
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #4 (OF 4)
SECRET SIX #6 (ORIGINS)
SECRET WARRIORS #1 DKR
SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR #8
SIR APROPOS OF NOTHING #4 (OF 5)
SOUL KISS #1 (OF 5)
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #3 (OF 6)
TERROR TITANS #5 (OF 6)
TRINITY #36
WAR OF KINGS DARKHAWK #1
WITCHBLADE #124
WOLVERINE POWER PACK #4 (OF 4)
X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #1 (OF 4)
X-MEN LIVES AND TIMES OF LUCAS BISHOP #1 (OF 3)
X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT #5 (OF 5)
X-MEN NOIR #3 (OF 4)
X-MEN VS HULK #1
YOUNGBLOOD #7
ZORRO #10

Books / Mags / Stuff
08 GRAPHIC DIARY OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL GN
ARCHETYPE ART OF TIM BRADSTREET HC
AVENGERS NIGHTS OF WUNDAGORE TP
BEST OF VAMPIRELLA TP VOL 03 MORRISON & MILLAR
BIG SKINNY HOW I CHANGED MY FATTITUDE GN
COMPLETE CHESTER GOULDS DICK TRACY HC VOL 06
ETERNALS TP VOL 01 TO SLAY A GOD
I SAW YOU COMICS INSPIRED BY REAL LIFE MISSED CONNECTIONS (C
IN THE FLESH GN
INDIANA JONES FURTHER ADV OMNIBUS TP VOL 01
JESUS HATES ZOMBIES GN EXP ED (RES)
LEES TOY REVIEW #195 JAN 2009
MARVEL EUROPE TP
MINI MARVELS TP SECRET INVASION DIGEST
MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 DM ED
MYSPACE DARK HORSE PRESENTS TP VOL 02
NARUTO TP VOL 34
OISHINBO GN VOL 01 JAPANESE CUISINE
PARASYTE GN VOL 06 (OF 8)
PUNISHER MAX TP VOL 11 GIRLS IN WHITE DRESSES
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 05 SP VS THE UNIVERSE
SIMON DARK TP VOL 02 ASHES
SKELEBUNNIES GN
STAR TREK MIRROR IMAGES TP
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN TP VOL 01
TINY TITANS TP VOL 01 WELCOME TO THE TREEHOUSE
UNLOVEABLE HC GN


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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Hey, all of the cool kids are doing it, so I might as well join in too! What I thought of FINAL CRISIS #7 after the jump...



I pretty much agree with all of the gang; even Abhay in the comments -- I liked it, I disliked it, I loved it, and I hated it. All at various points, and sometimes even at the same time.

Sure, it's sometimes barely coherent, and you kind of NEED to read the annotations and commentary and interviews to really get all of the points of what's going on. But that's pretty standard for a Morrison comic, really -- I felt the same way about THE INVISIBLES or much of his JLA run, for example. But I always ALWAYS come away with a line of dialogue or an image or a thought that will stay with me, pretty much forever, and that's what a proper piece of art does for you, anyway.

I'm not a good enough of a critic (or, even more properly, a reviewer) to really handle a writer like Grant -- it feels to me like he casually threw out more ideas and concepts in just the last issue alone than pretty nearly the entirety of the non-GM/Johns-written DCU did in the whole of 2007 -- so I'm going to approach the rest of this as a retailer as well as with what my customers having been saying as well.

The major problems with FINAL CRISIS have less to do with the work itself, and more to do both with how it was POSITIONED into the marketplace, as well as its CONNECTIONS TO the DC Universe. None of this is Grant Morrison's fault, or even something he as a creative person should have thought much about.

But FINAL CRISIS wasn't ever positioned as "just a cool big story" or whatever -- it was positioned as the culmination of the narrative thrust of the DC Universe over Dan Didio's tenure. I don't want to go digging through old interviews to find specific lines, but certainly this is the sense that Dan has given over the last, dunno, 18 months or so, or at least I think any reasonable person would agree.

FINAL CRISIS is buried under the expectation of the "Crisis" in the title; it had to bear the weight of having a 52-part weekly lead-in (plus several other series like DEATH OF THE NEW GODS) to the series that ended up contradicting Morrison's story; and it had to suffer from the branding that not only impacted FC itself, but also RIP in BATMAN as well.

None of this is Grant's fault, of course, but it is inevitable that it will color the audience's reception of the work.

Y'know, art is supposed to challenge the audience's expectations. But commercial products are supposed to conform to them. Well, or at least support them.

If you add up all of the comics that are meant to be part of this overall plotline as Didio has positioned it in interviews, starting with that TITANS mini where they killed Donna Troy, through the build up to INFINITE CRISIS, IC itself, 52, COUNTDOWN straight through to FC, you're talking hundreds of dollars - perhaps in the $500 range. If you tried to READ it that way, you'd probably go insane, being given only crayons to write with in your padded cell. Extremely little of it adds up, or builds to anything of real lasting significance.

That's why I think FC was "the last straw" for a really large chunk of my DC readers. I have customers dropping DC titles left and right, and they tell me the reasons are that they're confused about DC continuity, and they feel like they're being sold things that are not what they were told they are.

Of course some commenter will suggest that this is the audience's own fault for not being discerning enough in the first place, and while as a human I might not disagree with you all that much, as a retailer who has to deal with the ultimate financial outcomes of these decisions, I'm not at all enthusiastic.

What FC is, in a lot of ways, is the culmination not of Didio's path, but of Morrison's. If you read this as the capper to an arc that began in ANIMAL MAN, through SEVEN SOLDIERS, and a number of other DCU books that Grant has written, then this reads a whole lot differently. In fact, I think he has utterly reversed the paradigm -- in ANIMAL MAN, Buddy is ultimately shown to be powerless because of his writer, while by FINAL CRISIS, the stand-in for the writers are undone by their own story.

Anyway, this and RIP were just positioned badly, with a tidal wave of expectations that they crumble in the face of. If there's any mistake that Grant himself is guilty of here it is that SUBMIT, SUPERMAN BEYOND and that two-parter in BATMAN are actually plot-essential to the story, but aren't included IN the story. BEYOND especially -- I'm not sure if FC works AT ALL without reading that. But I think all of those have plot points which were critical to have in the main series itself.

You can understand FC just fine without reading REVELATIONS or LoTW (and especially without REQUIEM or the SECRET FILES or whatever I'm forgetting) -- I don't think that is at all true for the other Grant books.

As an individual consumer myself, I'm not going to buy the announced FC collection -- because it doesn't have those in there. And I'm not going to buy a separate "companion" book, just like I refused the buy the split season sets of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Maybe maybe when they finally get around to putting out the Whole Schmeer Edition, I might still be interested in it, but who knows if I'll still care by then?

Beyond the EXPECTATIONS, the other prong of the problem is the CONNECTION TO the rest of the DCU. As much as everyone complains about being "forced" to buy umpty-jillion tie-in books, it is really worse when you throw a Crisis in the DCU, and THE REST OF THE DCU DOESN'T EVEN NOTICE.

The DCU will supposedly sync up "over the next few months", is, I believe, the phrasing, but that's really too late.

And I suspect that 98% of the kajillion ideas that Grant threw out there will never be followed up again, unless Grant himself does so.

At the end of the day, I'm personally happy with a comic where Superman destroys the embodiment of evil with a song, then uses the magical-wishing-machine to write us all "a happy ending". Superman is fucking awesome. I'm maybe a little sad he didn't wink at us after doing so, but that's about it. That makes it for me a GOOD comic.

But the retailer in me, who has watched the erosion of his DCU reader-base, and is looking ahead to the next quarter, and the next year, and the next decade, well I think this was AWFUL -- a confusing jumble of great frustration and no immediate follow-through, culminating the last couple confusing jumbles of great frustration and no follow-through.

I love Grant Morrison's DC Universe. I want to read much more that is set in that mold: where epic deeds of heroism are done in astonishing ways by bold & fantastic characters. But I don't see anyone else approaching the DCU that way... least of all the editors.

What do YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian, Final Crisis

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DARK AVENGERS #1: So this is my theory, and it may be wrong.

Marvel has been very good, maybe especially amazingly good about judging the zeitgeist when it comes to their recent big events. CIVIL WAR and SECRET INVASION were both pretty prefect distillations of the nation's feelings at the time of their initial publication, and that's why they resonated so well with the comics audience, and sold so well. That's what pop comics are supposed to do, of course: reflect ourselves back at us so we can know ourselves better. One can argue this is a tradition that goes back to the start of Marvel, as well: what else are most of the original Marvel characters but perfect pictures of America's fears of the Bomb, the commies, the generational changes between "the 50s" and "the 60s"?

So my theory is this: Marvel (and Bendis, one presumes) really really thought that Obama was going to lose the presidency. Maybe this is from liberal self-loathing; maybe it was just playing the odds -- hell, even here in liberal pinko San Francisco, there's very few of my peers who thought the black guy REALLY had a chance.

Storylines are planned months ahead of time, of course. And once you start something down a certain path, it really is hard to change that path in a group-planning environment.

Because I'm not sure how to otherwise really explain DARK AVENGERS #1 coming out the day after the inauguration of our 44th president. Tonally, it's completely wrong. Here's a man who, in his first week, has strengthened the Freedom of Information Act; is doing his initial interviews with "the Muslim world" trying to show them that America is not their enemy; is shutting down Gitmo.

And in DARK AVENGERS #1 a loathsome and insane enemy takes over super-heroic security of the country, installing twisted parodies of some of our favorite heroes as though they were the real thing, and is ruling based on fear and blackmail and psychosis.

Well, fair enough that I have a few conservative friends who might argue that IS the undercurrent of America '09, but I think they're fair from the majority opinion this time around.

I don't want this to become a big political debate or anything, but the dissonance between watching our President speak, and the workings of America in the Marvel universe is pretty breathtaking -- it's like going to the opera and finding out tonight's selection is the Sex Pistol's greatest hits!

So, yeah, I think they were betting on McCain winning this thing. Could be wrong, but that's my theory and I am sticking with it for the moment.

Putting THAT aside, how was the comic itself?

Actually, surprisingly GOOD.

There was some fine storytelling going on here -- everything you might possibly need to know is right there within the pages of the comic itself, and it unfolded organically, as well as with a reasonable amount of suspense. There was a density of storytelling that I haven't gotten from a Bendis comic in some time -- this is a "crowded" book, with lots going on, and a lot of insight into the individual pieces.

This is one of Marvel's new $3.99 monthlies, but if it keeps this density, that might even be a reasonable price to pay.

The art is lovely and moody, the script is strong, what's not to like?

My one concern is two-fold (hm, does that even make sense?) -- this book's premise is a bit too much like that of THUNDERBOLTS (and TBOLTS changes it's premise a little bit, kinda, to match to that), but because of the high profile nature of the title and the characters, I really really don't see how you can get a lot more than a year out of the premise.

At least TBOLTS had places to run after it's big surprising reveal -- those were, largely, minor characters, who were wide open to change, and there were a number of themes of heroism and redemption that could be explored because of that, in several different directions.

DA really doesn't have that option, as I can see it -- not only CAN'T characters like Venom or Bullseye change or be redeemed or become heroic, the audience would really hate them for doing so.

In some ways, DA's premise reminds me (a SMIDGE) of that of THE SHIELD: bad bad people in charge of your security, and they're going to do bad bad things along the way to enrich themselves as well. The problems that I see is that, unlike Vic Mackey, Norman and his psychos are at the top of the food chain, and there's nothing, no chain of command, no leaders above them to reign them in, or hold them back. At best, you've got public opinion, but that's a weak chain for storytelling. What makes something like THE SHIELD so compelling was "How the fuck do the bad guys get away with this, get out of eating the shit sandwich they made... hell, make someone else eat that sandwich?" BUt that's because they were under CONSTANT scrutiny and political forces arrayed against them.

Plus, I really liked Vic Mackey in a way, and his honor, however twisted, that put his family's life as his main goal (even if he fucked it up constantly by being, y'know, corrupt and evil)

Not so with Norman, not so with the rest of the cast -- I don't feel an "in" there, the character to root for, or a path that things can go that won't end up by issue #12 having to be in the same place as the conclusion of THE SHIELD. The Dark Avengers don't seem to have anything to strive AGAINST.

So yeah, flawed premise, hard to see how it can last, completely wrong for the moment in history... and yet I thought it was GOOD, nonetheless. So figure, eh?

What did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

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Just let me finish the order form and ONOMATOPOEIA (both due tomorrow), and I'll get a review up -- tomorrow latest.

Meantime, here's what is arriving this week...

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #97 (A) (C: 1-0-0)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EXTRA #2
ARCHIE #593
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #12 (RES)
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #21 DKR
BATMAN #685 (FOE)
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #9 (OF 12)
BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #1
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #191
BLUE BEETLE #35
BUCKAROO BANZAI BIG SIZE #1
CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #2 SPARACIO CVR
CAPTAIN AMERICA #46
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #53
CITY OF DUST #4 A CVR LANGLEY
CROSSED #3 (OF 9)
DAREDEVIL #115
DARK TOWER TREACHERY #5 (OF 6)
DEAD AHEAD #2 (OF 3)
DRAGON PRINCE #4 JOHNSON CVR A
ENDERS SHADOW BATTLE SCHOOL #2 (OF 5)
FACES OF EVIL KOBRA #1 (FOE)
FANTASTIC FOUR #563
FERRYMAN #5 (OF 5)
FINAL CRISIS #7 (OF 7)
FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #5 (OF 5)
FRINGE #2 (OF 6) (RES)
GALVESTON #3 CVR A
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS DEAR BILLY #1 (C: 0-1-0)
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #4 (OF 5)
GLAMOURPUSS #5
GOLEM ONE SHOT
GREATEST HITS #5 (OF 6)
HERO SQUARED LOVE & DEATH #1 (OF 3) CVR A
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #125
JACK OF FABLES #30
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #147
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #23 (FOE)
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #50
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #44
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #3 (OF 6)
MISTER X CONDEMNED #2 (OF 4)
MS MARVEL #35 DKR
NEW AVENGERS #49 DKR
NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #166
NORTHLANDERS #14
NOVA #21
PROOF #16
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #6 (OF 6)
REIGN IN HELL #7 (OF 8)
RUNAWAYS 3 #6
SAVAGE #4 (OF 4)
SAVAGE DRAGON #144
SCOURGE OF GODS #1 (OF 3)
SHE-HULK 2 #37
SKAAR SON OF HULK #7
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #5 (OF 5)
STAR WARS LEGACY #32 FIGHT ANOTHER DAY PART 1 OF 2
SUPERMAN #684 (FOE)
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #54
TEEN TITANS #67 (FOE)
TERMINATOR REVOLUTION #2
TERRY MOORES ECHO #9
TRINITY #35
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #130
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #3 (OF 6)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #4
USAGI YOJIMBO #117
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #9 (OF 12)
WILDCATS #7
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #11
WONDER WOMAN #28 (FOE)
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #2 (OF 8)
X-FORCE #11
X-MEN WORLDS APART #4 (OF 4)
YOUNG X-MEN #10
ZOMBIE TALES #10 CVR A

Books / Mags / Stuff
BATMAN THE MAN WHO LAUGHS TP
BERSERK TP VOL 27
BONE COLOR ED SC VOL 09 CROWN OF HORNS
CHARLIE BROWNS STRIPED YLLW T/S LG
CHARLIE BROWNS STRIPED YLLW T/S MED
CRIMINAL TP VOL 04 BAD NIGHT
DC LIBRARY SUPERMAN KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE HC
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY FAMILY BUSINESS TP
HUNTRESS YEAR ONE TP
JOURNEY TP VOL 02
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #2 FEB 2009
MARVEL 1985 PREM HC
ORANGE GN
PIXIE GN VOL 01 (OF 4)
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES GN
PREVIEWS #245 FEBRUARY 2009
SECRET INVASION TP FANTASTIC FOUR
SHOWCASE PRESENTS HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOL 03
SKATE FARM GN VOL 01 (IDW)
STAR WARS LEGACY TP VOL 05
STAR WARS VECTOR TP VOL 01 CHAPTERS 1 & 2
STREETS OF GLORY TP
TANTRIC STRIPFIGHTER TRINA GN
TRANSHUMAN TP VOL 01
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 21 WAR OF THE SYMBIOTES
VICTORIAS SECRET SERVICE TP
WATCHMEN MOVIE AF ASST #1
WIZARD MAGAZINE #209 WATCHMAN MOVIE CVR
X-MEN PREM HC ORIGINAL SIN


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

I'm nearly undrowned, but not quite...

Here's what is shipping this week (And, he said, editing the original post, while Monday WAS a holiday, it was not a UPS holiday, so comics are WEDNESDAY, per usual:

100 BULLETS #99
1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #7
2000 AD #1617
3 GEEKS SLAB MADNESS #1 (OF 3)
AIR #6
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #584
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #16
ASTONISHING X-MEN #28
BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #87
BIRDS OF PREY #126 (FOE)
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #2 (OF 6)
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #21
CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #7
DARK AVENGERS #1 DKR
DARK DELICACIES #1
DARKNESS #74 KEOWN CVR A
DOCTOR WHO FORGOTTEN #6
DR DOOM MASTERS OF EVIL #1
ELEPHANTMEN #15
EPILOGUE #4
FACES OF EVIL DEATHSTROKE #1 (FOE)
FALLEN ANGEL IDW #33
FINAL CRISIS SUPERMAN BEYOND #2 (OF 2)
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS NIGHT WITCHES #3 (OF 3)
GHOST RIDER #31
GIANT-SIZE GRIMM FAIRY TALES #1
GREEN LANTERN #37 (FOE)
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #9
HACK SLASH SERIES #19 SEELEY CVR A
HELLBLAZER #251
JUGHEAD #193
JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #31
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #29 (FOE)
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #147
LONE RANGER AND TONTO #2
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #32
MIGHTY AVENGERS #21 DKR
MOON KNIGHT #26
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #1 (OF 6)
NEW EXILES #17
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #128
PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #66
ROBIN #182 (FOE)
RUINS #1
SCOOBY DOO #140
SIMPSONS COMICS #150
SPAWN #188
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #2 (OF 4)
SPIRIT #25
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #7
STAR TREK COUNTDOWN #1
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #37 PROPHET MOTIVE PART 2
STORMWATCH PHD #18
SUPERGIRL #37 (FOE)
SUPERMAN BATMAN ANNUAL #3
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #11 (OF 12)
THUNDERBOLTS #128 DKR
TINY TITANS #12
TRINITY #34
UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL #2 DKR
VIGILANTE #2 (FOE)
WAR MACHINE #2 DKR
WEAPON X FIRST CLASS #3 (OF 3)
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #32
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #15
X-FACTOR #39
X-FILES #3 (OF 6)
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #2 (OF 4)
X-MEN LEGACY #220
X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY #5 (OF 5) CORRECTED COPY
YTHAQ FORSAKEN WORLD #2 (OF 3)

Books / Mags / Stuff
ANGORA NAPKIN GN
ARCHIE NEW LOOK SERIES TP VOL 02 JUGHEAD THE MATCHMAKER
BACK ISSUE #32
BATMAN THE STRANGE DEATHS OF BATMAN TP
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS TP VOL 06
COMPLETE ARANZI HOUR TP
ESSENTIAL WOLVERINE TP VOL 01 NEW PTG
FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES JOHN BYRNE TP VOL 00
FLASH EMERGENCY STOP TP
GANTZ TP VOL 03
GON VOL 07
GORGEOUS AND HUNG SC (A)
HARLEY QUINN PRELUDES AND KNOCK KNOCK JOKES TP
IMMORTAL IRON FIST TP VOL 03 BOOK OF IRON FIST
INDIANA JONES IDOL REPLICA BANK
IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD TP IRON HANDS
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #280
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA LIGHTNING SAGA TP
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SANCTUARY HC
MISS DONT TOUCH ME GN
PATH OF THE ASSASSIN TP VOL 14 BAD BLOOD
SECRET INVASION TP CAPTAIN MARVEL
SECRET INVASION TP HOME INVASION
SECRET INVASION TP WAR MACHINE
STUART & KATHRYN IMMONENS NEVER BAD AS YOU THINK HC
SUPERMAN SHADOWS LINGER TP
TED MCKEEVER LIBRARY HC VOL 02 EDDY CURRENT
TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 03
TOKYO DAYS BANGKOK NIGHTS TP
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #174


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

Personally, I think I did a really good job this month. You can judge for yourself, by going here.

Dirk Deppey calls the beginning A "feelgood throat-clearing", and I know why he does, but, honestly, a lot of that is the great feelings that Ben's school instills in me for the Future and America.

Like I JUST got back this morning from the school, and Jazz musician Marcus Shelby (who is one of the "Artists in Residence" there) just performed a concert for the kids. In between songs he talked about Obama's presidency, and MLK and Rosa Parks, and all of the first graders and Kinders got up to sing "We Shall Overcome", and I had a genuine lump in my throat.

It is easy to be cynical; but I'm trying to live for Hope these days...

Anyway, go read the column, lemme know what you think!!

-B

Labels: Brian, Hope, Tilting

Click Here to Read More...

Yay, ANOTHER week with very little different comics. Y'know, it is a lot harder to prevent "January is dead" from coming true when publishers don't send us much to sell! This is my smallest invoice in a really really long time...

ACTION COMICS #873 (FOE)
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #28
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL CVR GALLERY
ANITA BLAKE VH LAUGHING CORPSE #4 (OF 5)
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #195
ARMY @ LOVE THE ART OF WAR #6 (OF 6)
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #25
BIG HERO 6 #5 (OF 5)
BOOSTER GOLD #16 (FOE)
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #1 (OF 5)
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #9
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #33
CIVIL WAR HOUSE OF M #5 (OF 5)
CLEANERS #2 (OF 4)
DEADPOOL #6 DKR
DEATH DEFYING DEVIL #2
DMZ #38
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #2
DREAMLAND CHRONICLES IDW #7
E-MAN THE IDOL (ONE SHOT)
FABLES #80
FACES OF EVIL PROMETHEUS #1 (FOE)
FALL OF CTHULHU APOCALYPSE #2 (OF 4) CVR A
FINAL CRISIS #6 (OF 7)
GEN 13 #26
GHOST WHISPERER THE MUSE #2
GI JOE #1
GRAVEL #8
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #16 (FOE)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #32 (FOE)
I KILL GIANTS #7 (OF 7)
INVINCIBLE #58 (RES)
LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #1
LORDS OF AVALON KNIGHTS OF DARKNESS #3 (OF 6)
LOVE AND CAPES #9
MAD MAGAZINE #498
MANHUNTER #38
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #47
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #7
NIGHTWING #152 (FOE)
NOVA ORIGIN RICHARD RIDER
PERHAPANAUTS #5
PHANTOM ANNUAL #2
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #5 (OF 6)
RESISTANCE #1 (OF 6)
SIMON DARK #16
SOLOMON KANE #4 (OF 5)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #196
STAR TREK LAST GENERATION #3
SUPER FRIENDS #11
TERMINATOR SALVATION MOVIE PREQ #1 (OF 4)
TITANS #9 (FOE)
TRINITY #33
WASTELAND #23
WITCHBLADE #123
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #2 (OF 8)
X-INFERNUS #2 (OF 4)
X-MEN SPIDER-MAN #3 (OF 4)
YOUNG LIARS #11

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALTER EGO #83
ANITA BLAKE VH TP FIRST DEATH
ANNIHILATION CONQUEST TP BOOK 02
DAREDEVIL PREM HC BORN AGAIN
ECLIPSO MUSIC OF THE SPHERES TP
G FAN #86
GHOST TALKERS DAYDREAM TP VOL 03
HEAVY METAL MAR 2009 #121
HOUSE OF MYSTERY TP VOL 01 ROOM AND BOREDOM
HULK VISIONARIES PETER DAVID TP VOL 06
MARVEL ADVENTURES TP VOL 01 TRIPLE THREAT DIGEST
MYTH OF 8 OPUS GN DOOMED BATTALION NEW PTG
PARADE WITH FIREWORKS TP
PIGEONS FROM HELL TP
ROUGH STUFF #11
SHOWCASE PRESENTS HOUSE OF MYSTERY TP VOL 01 NEW PTG
SLUM NATION HC VOL 02 CRAZY OF LOVE
SLUM NATION HC VOL 03 LIKE A ROLLING STONE
SPARROW WILLIAM WRAY HC
TOYFARE #139 GI JOE MOVIE CVR
WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS HC VOL 02
X-FORCE TP VOL 01 ANGELS DEMONS
ZOMBIE COP GN

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

I'm nearly done with organizing my year-end figures for the accountant (should be done next week, I think), and I'm prepping to sit down with the 2008 BookScan numbers as soon as I get my hands on them. So I figure I'm still... 2 weeks? from doing regular review posting again.

I've just paid the Critics for the last six months of advertising (thanks for clicking through to our advertisers!), as well as the direct donations since June (Thank you to Evan D, Steven D, Ralph M, and Sandy M!), and everyone gets a cheeseburger! If you like what you read here, that's always a great way to show your support. Just sayin'.

But, I thought I should post something more than sales figures (and I'm SHOCKED about how few comments it drew this year... scroll down a bit and you can see CE's 2008 figures), without having to use the full part of my brain that I need to do proper reviews, so here's something new...

Every week I take home pretty much every comic that comes out, with the intent of staying up on what's going on. When I was a young man (and without a REALLY young man in my house who needs attention), I *did* get through everything in a week, but now...?

So, here's a list (with maybe some minor commentary) of the stuff even I didn't get around to reading this week...

30 DAYS OF NIGHT: 30 DAYS TIL DEATH #2: #1 didn't grab me by the throat as it were.
JACK OF FABLES #29: I alwyas have a hard time working up the enthusiasm
BACK TO BROOKLYN #3
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8: That "War of Kings" banner SCARES me

And from the week before...

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #31: This "Wolverine's Son" thing is just going on and on...
MISTER X: CONDEMNED #1: Hm, I wanted to read this one, just ran outta time
CAPT AMERICA THEATER OF WAR: AMERICA FIRST!
RUNAWAYS #5
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #21
PATSY WALKER HELLCAT #4: The delays between issues has leeched much of my original shining joy
DAREDEVIL #114: Really?
BILLY BATSON AND THE POWER OF SHAZAM #3: Like HELLCAT above, but also "really?" like DD...

Maybe I'll read those last three right now if there's time between unpacking the Baker & Taylor box and when the New Comics Truck arrives today...

So, what comics do YOU have sitting in a pile waiting for you to read them? And why won't you probably get to those specific ones?

-B

Labels: Brian, Didn't Make The Cut

Click Here to Read More...

Here's what is coming this week -- and note, I WAS WRONG two weeks ago... comics ARE on WEDNESDAY this week...

Of SUPER-SPECIAL note is CTHULHU TALES #10, featuring the scripting debut of the sensational comics find of 2009: Mister JEFF LESTER. Buy a copy, and let Boom! know that they (and every other publisher!) should hire him immediately!! If your local store doesn't HAVE a copy in stock, tell them to order one using OCT083937.

2000 AD #1615
2000 AD #1616
A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #96 (A)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #582
ANNA MERCURY #5 (OF 5) PAINTED CVR
AUTHORITY #6
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #167
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #1 (OF 6)
BLUE MONDAY THIEVES LIKE US #1 (OF 5)
BOMB QUEEN V #5 (OF 6)
BOYS #26
BROKEN TRINITY ANGELUS (ONE SHOT) STELFREEZE CVR A
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21 CHEN CVR
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21 JEANTY CVR
CABLE #10
CRIMSON GASH MEETS SATAN #1 (A)
CTHULHU TALES #10 CVR A
DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #1 (OF 4)
DETECTIVE COMICS #852 (FOE)
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #11
EL DIABLO #5 (OF 6)
ETERNALS #7
FACES OF EVIL GRUNDY #1 (FOE)
FULL CIRKLE II #2 (OF 3) (RES)
GRAVEL #7
HAUNTED TANK #2 (OF 5)
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #2 (OF 8)
HEXED #1 (OF 4) CVR A
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #9
HSU AND CHAN #8
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9 DKR
JONAH HEX #39
KULL #3 (OF 6)
LAST REIGN KINGS OF WAR #2 (OF 5) CVR A
LOONEY TUNES #170
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT DARK REIGN DKR
MARVEL SUPER HERO SQUAD HERO UP
MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 #4 (OF 4)
MERCY SPARX #2 (OF 3) MERHOFF CVR A
NO HERO #3 (OF 7)
NYX NO WAY HOME #5 (OF 6)
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #1
PUNISHER #1 DKR
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #3 (OF 4)
SECRET INVASION WAR OF KINGS ONE SHOT
SECRET SIX #5 (FOE)
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #3 (OF 6)
SHRAPNEL #1 (OF 5) A CVR LANGLEY
SPIDER-MAN FEAR ITSELF #1
SUB-MARINER DEPTHS #4 (OF 5)
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #2
SUPERMAN SUPERGIRL MAELSTROM #5 (OF 5)
SWORD #14
TERROR TITANS #4 (OF 6)
TERRY MOORES ECHO #8
TRINITY #32
VERONICA #192
VIXEN RETURN OF THE LION #4 (OF 5)
WALKING DEAD #57 (RES)
WOLVERINE POWER PACK #3 (OF 4)
WOLVERINE SWITCHBACK
X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY #5 (OF 5)
X-MEN NOIR #2 (OF 4)

Books / Mags / Stuff
AGENTS OF ATLAS TP
AMERICAN SPLENDOR ANOTHER DOLLAR TP
BIRDS OF PREY KIDS CLUB TP
CLASSIC GI JOE TP VOL 01
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #79 WONDER MAN
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #82 MOON KNIGHT
CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED DELUXE SC VOL 03 FRANKENSTEIN
COMPLETE LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE HC VOL 02
DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER TP VOL 03
DC UNIVERSE ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS HC VOL 01
DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE GN
DR SLUMP TP VOL 17
FANTASTIC FOUR WORLDS GREATEST PREM HC
GREEN LANTERN WANTED HAL JORDAN TP
GROO HELL ON EARTH TP
HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #10
HIM & HERS SMUGGLING VACATION GN
HUSTLERS TABOO ILLUSTRATED #8 (A)
INFINITY CRUSADE TP VOL 02
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #279
JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA SER 3 BALANCED INNER CS (NET)
JUSTICE TP VOL 03
KISS COMIX #186 (A)
KISS COMIX #187 (A)
KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE TP VOL 08
LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 14 DASHING WHITE COWBOY
MANGA SUTRA FUTARI H GN VOL 04 (OF 5) (A)
MARVEL ZOMBIES TP DEAD DAYS
NEW AVENGERS HC VOL 09 SECRET INVASION
RASL TP VOL 01 DRIFT
SECRET INVASION TP
SHOWCASE PRESENTS STRANGE ADVENTURES TP VOL 01
SPIDER-MAN PREM HC BLUE
TALES OF THE BATMAN TIM SALE TP
ULTIMATE ORIGINS PREM HC
ULTIMATE ORIGINS PREM HC DM ED
UNIVERSAL WAR ONE PREM HC VOL 01
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS (New Printing)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN
WORMDYE GN


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

Here is the same exercise, but this time with periodical comics. It, too, is under the cut.



Comics were slightly over 41% of my gross sales.

This is a list of SALES, not of orders -- though there are a few places where those numbers were exactly the same (there's one little really obvious clump of that in the 50s)

In reality, my #1 best selling "comic" was "Quarter Book - 10 for a buck", while #2 was "dollar book", and #3 was "Quarter book - single". That looked really weird and awful on the resulting chart, however.

You can see that, especially in the first half of the chart the watchwords are "Whedon, Morrison, Bendis"



1 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #13
2 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #11
3 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #12
4 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #14
5 DC UNIVERSE ZERO
6 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #16
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #15
8 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #10
9 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #17
10 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #18
11 SECRET INVASION #1
12 FINAL CRISIS #1
13 GIANT SIZE ASTONISHING X-MEN #1
14 SECRET INVASION #2
ALL STAR SUPERMAN #10
16 SERENITY BETTER DAYS #1
17 ALL STAR SUPERMAN #11
18 ASTONISHING X-MEN #25
19 ASTONISHING X-MEN #24
20 ALL STAR SUPERMAN #12
21 FINAL CRISIS #2
22 FINAL CRISIS #3 (OF 7)
23 SERENITY BETTER DAYS #2
24 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #19
25 ASTONISHING X-MEN #26
26 SECRET INVASION #4 SI
27 SECRET INVASION #7 (OF 8)
28 SECRET INVASION #3
SERENITY BETTER DAYS #3
30 SECRET INVASION #6 (OF 8)
SECRET INVASION #5 (OF 8)
32 UNCANNY X-MEN #500
33 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #7
34 DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #1
35 FINAL CRISIS #4 (OF 7)
36 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #3
37 ASTONISHING X-MEN #27
BATMAN #677
39 SECRET INVASION #8 (OF 8)
BATMAN #679
41 BATMAN #676
42 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #20 CHEN CVR
HELLBOY THE CROOKED MAN #1 (OF 3)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #5
45 FANTASTIC FOUR #554
46 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #6
47 FINAL CRISIS #5 (OF 7)
NEW AVENGERS #38
49 HELLBOY THE CROOKED MAN #2 (OF 3)
NEW AVENGERS #43 SI
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #10
52 NEW AVENGERS #44
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #1 (OF 5)
NEW AVENGERS #42
NEW AVENGERS #41
NEW AVENGERS #40
NEW AVENGERS #39
FANTASTIC FOUR #555
JUSTICE LEAGUE THE NEW FRONTIER SPECIAL
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #4
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #9
62 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #8
BATMAN #678
64 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #9
65 JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL SUPERMAN #1
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #2 (OF 5)
WOLVERINE #68
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #17
69 SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #1 (OF 4) (MR)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #10
ULTIMATES 3 #2
72 UNCANNY X-MEN #501
KICK ASS #4
MIGHTY AVENGERS #14
THOR #7
NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2
77 UNCANNY X-MEN #504
UNCANNY X-MEN #503
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #11
WOLVERINE #67
81 HELLBOY IN THE CHAPEL OF MOLOCH ONE SHOT
NEW AVENGERS #45
BATMAN #680 RIP
FINAL CRISIS SUPERMAN BEYOND #1 (OF 2)
TRINITY #1
86 NEW AVENGERS #46
HELLBOY THE CROOKED MAN #3 (OF 3)
RASL #1
89 WOLVERINE #66
UNCANNY X-MEN #499
DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #2
UNCANNY X-MEN #494
FELL #9
94 BATMAN #682
BATMAN #681 RIP (NOTE PRICE)
UNCANNY X-MEN #502
MIGHTY AVENGERS #16
MIGHTY AVENGERS #13
CAPTAIN AMERICA #36
100 FINAL CRISIS RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS #1
MIGHTY AVENGERS #17
MIGHTY AVENGERS #15
AVENGERS INVADERS #1
UNCANNY X-MEN #495
CAPTAIN AMERICA #35
CAPTAIN AMERICA #34
THOR #66

-B

Labels: Brian, Sales Charts

Click Here to Read More...

I still need to get a little more caught up with End of Year stuff before I start writing reviews again (it's really insane how Thanksgiving to Christmas kills me to do anything else whatsoever), but here's some data stuff to look at, if you're interested. You'll find it after the jump!



We ended the year up by 6% compared to 2007. That's pretty damn good for a nineteen year old business in a down economy, I think!

Here is a list of the Top 100 best selling "Book" items for 2008. "Book" is sometimes oddly categorized, but this is how Diamond uses the term -- which is why, say, NEW LOVE & ROCKETS #1 is on this list, and not on the "comics" side.

"Books" were just over 51.5% of my gross sales

Item #1 is more than 300% of item #2.

Item #2 is more than 200% of item #25. Item #25 is just under 200% of item #100.

A list that was JUST "released for the first time in 2008" would look VERY different than this one, of course -- this shows you the power of backlist!

There are also more than a few books on this list which could have risen dramatically if only there was ANY source for them (DM or Bookstore market) for all 12 months of 2008.


1 WATCHMEN TP
2 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES
3 Y THE LAST MAN VOL 1 UNMANNED TP
4 Y THE LAST MAN VOL 2 CYCLES TP
5 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER
6 BUFFY SEASON 8 TP VOL 02 NO FUTURE FOR YOU
7 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER LONG WAY HOME TP
8 FABLES TP VOL 10 THE GOOD PRINCE
9 THE FART PARTY TP
10 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 03 ONE SMALL STEP
11 LOVE & ROCKETS NEW STORIES #1
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 05 RING OF TRUTH
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 09 MOTHERLAND
14 BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 4 SAFEWORD TP
16 FABLES TP VOL 11 WAR AND PIECES (MR)
LOEG VOL ONE TP
18 BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC
19 JUDENHASS GN
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 07 PAPER DOLLS
21 DMZ TP VOL 04 FRIENDLY FIRE
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 06 GIRL ON GIRL
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 08 KIMONO DRAGONS
24 BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP
BLACK HOLE COLLECTED SC
COMPLETE PERSEPOLIS TP
DMZ TP VOL 05 THE HIDDEN WAR
WARREN ELLIS AETHERIC MECHANICS GN (MR)
29 UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE TP
30 HELLBOY TP VOL 08 DARKNESS CALLS
HELLBOY VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP
POWERS VOL 11 SECRET IDENTITY TP
SAM & MAX SURFIN HIGHWAY TP
SANDMAN TP VOL 01 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES
35 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY VOL 18 HC
ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 4 UNSTOPPABLE
CRIMINAL TP VOL 03 DEAD AND DYING (MR)
EX MACHINA TP VOL 07 EX CATHEDRA (MR)
FABLES TP VOL 01 LEGENDS IN EXILE
LOEG VOL TWO TP
V FOR VENDETTA TP
42 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY HC #19 (MR)
BOYS TP VOL 01
CRIMINAL TP VOL 02 LAWLESS
EX MACHINA VOL 6 POWER DOWN TP
SHORTCOMINGS HC
WALKING DEAD VOL 1 DAYS GONE BYE TP
48 SANDMAN TP VOL 02 THE DOLLS HOUSE
49 100 BULLETS TP VOL 12 DIRTY (MR)
LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN THE BLACK DOSSIER HC
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 02
52 BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC
BOYS TP VOL 03 GOOD FOR THE SOUL
DC UNIVERSE THE STORIES OF ALAN MOORE
DMZ TP VOL 03 PUBLIC WORKS
PREACHER TP VOL 01 GONE TO TEXAS NEW EDITION
57 ALL STAR SUPERMAN TP VOL 01
BUFFY SEASON 8 TP VOL 03 WOLVES AT THE GATE
FABLES TP VOL 02 ANIMAL FARM
HELLBOY VOL 07 THE TROLL WITCH & OTHERS TP
LAST MUSKETEER SC
PREACHER TP VOL 02 UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD NEW EDITION
WANTED GN (NEW PTG)
WE 3 TP
65 ARKHAM ASYLUM ANNIVERSARY ED SC
CASANOVA TP VOL 01 LUXURIA
EX MACHINA TP VOL 01 THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS
EX MACHINA TP VOL 02 TAG
FABLES 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL SC
FILTH TP
PREACHER TP VOL 04 ANCIENT HISTORY NEW EDITION
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOL 1 TP
SCOTT PILGRIM VOL 04 SCOTT PILGRIM GETS IT TOGETHER GN
TOP 10 BOOK ONE TP 01
ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE TP
76 ALL STAR SUPERMAN HC VOL 01
CRIMINAL VOL 1 COWARD TP
EX MACHINA TP VOL 03 FACT V FICTION
FABLES VOL 9 SONS OF EMPIRE TP
INVISIBLES TP #1 SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION VOL 01 (OF 7)
PREACHER TP VOL 03 PROUD AMERICANS NEW EDITION
82 BATMAN AND SON TP
BATMAN GRENDEL NEW PTG TP
BERLIN TP BOOK 02 CITY OF SMOKE (MR)
BPRD TP VOL 08 KILLING GROUND
BPRD VOL 07 GARDEN OF SOULS TP
FREAKANGELS TP VOL 01 (MR)
HELLBOY VOL 02 WAKE THE DEVIL TP
JOSS WHEDONS FRAY FUTURE SLAYER TP
LOBSTER JOHNSON TP VOL 01 IRON PROMETHEUS
NEW YORK FOUR
PROMETHEA BOOK ONE TP VOL 01
WORLD WAR Z ORAL HISTORY OF ZOMBIE WAR SC
94 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN PREM HC
DMZ TP VOL 02 BODY OF A JOURNALIST
EX MACHINA TP VOL 04 MARCH TO WAR
FABLES TP VOL 04 MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS
HELLBOY VOL 04 RIGHT HAND OF DOOM TP
JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 03 THE BAD PRINCE
JEFFREY BROWN LITTLE THINGS SC MEMOIR IN SLICES
PREACHER TP VOL 05 DIXIE FRIED NEW EDITION
PRIDE OF BAGHDAD SC
THE ARRIVAL GN
WALKING DEAD VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE TP

-----------------------------------------------------

Now, here's the same calculation sorted by dollars, instead, which changes some of the complexion of the list in fairly substantial ways. Suddenly you can see why $50+ HCs are being published!

1 WATCHMEN TP
2 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES
3 ABSOLUTE SANDMAN HC VOL 03
4 ABSOLUTE SANDMAN HC VOL 01
5 Y THE LAST MAN VOL 1 UNMANNED TP
6 FABLES TP VOL 10 THE GOOD PRINCE
7 COMPLETE PERSEPOLIS TP
8 BUFFY SEASON 8 TP VOL 02 NO FUTURE FOR YOU
9 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER LONG WAY HOME TP
10 BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME
11 WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER
12 LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN THE BLACK DOSSIER HC
13 Y THE LAST MAN VOL 2 CYCLES TP
14 FABLES TP VOL 11 WAR AND PIECES (MR)
15 BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC
16 JACK KIRBYS FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS HC VOL 04
17 ABSOLUTE SANDMAN HC VOL 04 (MR)
18 THE FART PARTY TP
19 LOVE & ROCKETS NEW STORIES #1
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 05 RING OF TRUTH
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 09 MOTHERLAND
22 SAM & MAX SURFIN HIGHWAY TP
SANDMAN TP VOL 01 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES
24 HELLBOY TP VOL 08 DARKNESS CALLS
POWERS VOL 11 SECRET IDENTITY TP
26 BLACK HOLE COLLECTED SC
27 ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 4 UNSTOPPABLE
V FOR VENDETTA TP
29 LOEG VOL ONE TP
30 UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE TP
31 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 03 ONE SMALL STEP
32 SHORTCOMINGS HC
33 HELLBOY VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION TP
34 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY VOL 18 HC
35 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 07 PAPER DOLLS
36 ABSOLUTE DARK KNIGHT HC
37 STARMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01
38 SANDMAN TP VOL 02 THE DOLLS HOUSE
39 ABSOLUTE LOEG THE BLACK DOSSIER HC
ABSOLUTE SANDMAN HC VOL 02 (JUN070259) (MR)
41 Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 08 KIMONO DRAGONS
42 Y THE LAST MAN VOL 4 SAFEWORD TP
43 BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP
44 BOYS TP VOL 03 GOOD FOR THE SOUL
DC UNIVERSE THE STORIES OF ALAN MOORE
46 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 02
47 BOYS TP VOL 01
48 WANTED GN (NEW PTG)
49 DMZ TP VOL 04 FRIENDLY FIRE
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 06 GIRL ON GIRL
51 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY HC #19 (MR)
52 COMIC BOOK TATTOO SC (C: 0-1-2)
53 LOEG VOL TWO TP
54 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN PREM HC
55 DMZ TP VOL 05 THE HIDDEN WAR
56 FILTH TP
57 ACME NOVELTY DATEBOOK VOL 2 HC
58 CRIMINAL TP VOL 02 LAWLESS
59 HELLBOY VOL 07 THE TROLL WITCH & OTHERS TP
60 LOST GIRLS DLX SLIPCASED ED CURR PTG
WATCHMEN THE ABSOLUTE EDITION HC
62 HOWARD THE DUCK OMNIBUS
63 OMEGA THE UNKNOWN PREM HC
64 ALL STAR SUPERMAN HC VOL 01
INVISIBLES TP #1 SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION VOL 01 (OF 7)
66 GRENDEL GOD & THE DEVIL TP
67 ARKHAM ASYLUM ANNIVERSARY ED SC
TOP 10 BOOK ONE TP 01
69 SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOL 1 TP
70 EX MACHINA TP VOL 07 EX CATHEDRA (MR)
71 KIRBY KING OF THE COMICS HC
72 FREAKANGELS TP VOL 01 (MR)
73 BONE ONE VOL ED SC
74 BATMAN GRENDEL NEW PTG TP
BERLIN TP BOOK 02 CITY OF SMOKE (MR)
JOSS WHEDONS FRAY FUTURE SLAYER TP
77 ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER HC VOL 01
CIVIL WAR TP
79 EX MACHINA VOL 6 POWER DOWN TP
80 BUFFY SEASON 8 TP VOL 03 WOLVES AT THE GATE
81 FABLES VOL 9 SONS OF EMPIRE TP
82 BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC
PREACHER TP VOL 01 GONE TO TEXAS NEW EDITION
84 POWERS VOL 1 WHO KILLED RETRO GIRL TP (NEW PTG)
85 CRIMINAL TP VOL 03 DEAD AND DYING (MR)
86 THE ARRIVAL GN
87 PREACHER TP VOL 02 UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD NEW EDITION
88 MAKING COMICS STORYTELLING SECRETS OF COMICS MANGA & GN SC
89 BPRD TP VOL 08 KILLING GROUND
BPRD VOL 07 GARDEN OF SOULS TP
HELLBOY VOL 02 WAKE THE DEVIL TP
LOBSTER JOHNSON TP VOL 01 IRON PROMETHEUS
93 BLACK SUMMER TP (MR)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL HC
95 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS TP VOL 01
96 100 BULLETS TP VOL 12 DIRTY (MR)
97 JOKER HC
98 FABLES 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL SC
PREACHER TP VOL 04 ANCIENT HISTORY NEW EDITION
100 BLANKETS GN (NEW PTG)

------------------------------------------------------

Always willing to listen, if you have any thoughts on any of this!

-B

Labels: Brian, Sales Charts

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Tom Spurgeon interviews Abhay as part of his ridiculously good Holiday Interview series.

Go read it here.

-B

Labels: Abhay, Brian

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Your first shipment of 2009... and it, mm, isn't very large at all. Let's hope this isn't setting the tone of the year...

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT NEW COMICS ARE ON FRIDAY THIS WEEK -- if you go into your LCS on Wednesday, they're going to sadly shake their head at you, and no one wants THAT.

Have a great New Year, everyone, and be safe out there!


30 DAYS OF NIGHT 30 DAYS TIL DEATH #2
A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #95 (A)
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #20 DKR
AVENGERS INVADERS #7 (OF 12)
BACK TO BROOKLYN #3 (OF 5)
BATMAN #684
BATMAN CACOPHONY #2 (OF 3)
BLUE BEETLE #34
CAPTAIN AMERICA #45
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #52
CYBLADE #2
DOCTOR WHO FORGOTTEN #5
FANTASTIC FOUR #562
FANTASTIC FOUR COSMIC SPECIAL
FINAL CRISIS SECRET FILES #1
GALAXY QUEST GLOBAL WARNING #5
GOON #31
GREEN LANTERN #36 (RES)
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #8
INCOGNITO #1
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #124
JACK OF FABLES #29
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #28
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #22
KICK ASS #5
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #49
MADAME XANADU #7
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #43
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #2 (OF 6)
NEW EXILES ANNUAL #1
NORTHLANDERS #13
PHANTOM #26
PROOF #15
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #26
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #4 (OF 6)
SCALPED #24
SIR APROPOS OF NOTHING #3 (OF 5)
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #4 (OF 5)
STAR WARS LEGACY #31 VECTOR PART 12 OF 12
SUPERMAN #683 NEW KRYPTON
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #6 (OF 6)
TEEN TITANS #66
TRINITY #31
ULTIMATE HULK ANNUAL #1
ULTIMATE X-MEN #99
VENOM DARK ORIGIN #5 (OF 5)
WAR MACHINE #1 DKR
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #8 (OF 12)
WHAT IF SECRET WARS
WINTERMEN WINTER SPECIAL #1
WOLVERINE #70
WOLVERINE MANIFEST DESTINY #3 (OF 4) MD
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #14
WORLD OF WARCRAFT ASHBRINGER #3 (OF 4)
X-FORCE #10
X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT #4 (OF 5)
X-MEN WORLDS APART #3 (OF 4)
YOUNG X-MEN #9 MD
ZOMBIE TALES #9 CVR A

Books / Mags / Stuff
CABLE TP VOL 01 MESSIAH WAR
COMICS JOURNAL #295
DEVILS PANTIES HC VOL 02
ESSENTIAL PUNISHER TP VOL 03
GIANT ROBOT #57
HULK GIANT-SIZE HC DM ED
JUXTAPOZ VOL 16 #1 JAN 2009
LOOKING FOR GROUP TP VOL 01
RUNAWAYS TP DEAD END KIDS
SCHOOLGIRL MANIA TP (A)
SEXUAL SERENADE TP (A)
STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP VOL 02 CRASH COURSE
SUPER TEEN TOPIA INVISIBLE TOUCH TP
SUPERMARKET TP (NEW PTG)
THOR VISIONARIES WALT SIMONSON TP VOL 01 NEW PTG
VIDEO WATCHDOG #146
VINYL UNDERGROUND TP VOL 02 PRETTY DEAD THINGS
WHY I KILLED PETER GN
WIZARD MAGAZINE #208 WOLVERINE MOVIE CVR
YOULL ALL BE SORRY MMPB


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

I can't quite figure out if something is broken with our blog, or what, but Douglas has had a post pending for 3 days that JUST WON'T PUBLISH, so I thought I'd post a little test thing here to see if it is his message, or if it is the blog

Just to keep things vaguely on subject, I was complaining in Tilting last week that December was horrible. And it mostly has been. However, this last week has been really terrific, and Christmas Eve was the best Christmas Eve we've had in terms of sales in nineteen of them... it doesn't look like the last minute surge will be good enough to send the month positive, but I think we'll be in the single digit loss, rather than the doubles so color THIS retailer happy-pappy. And, who knows, we still have five days left...

-B

Labels: Brian

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Here's your last shipment of 2008...!

New Comics Day is Christmas Eve, Wednesday, just like normal. Next week AND the week after, it moves to Friday.

Do your local comics store a favor and go and clear out your holds box before the end of the year. They'll thank you, as will their accountants!

If you're in San Francisco, and have nothing much better to do, we'll be having our annual Christmas party at CE, starting at 5 PM on Christmas Eve. Stop by for libations, and good people!

I'll try to squeeze out a few reviews tomorrow, but I've got to print ONOMATOPOEIA, so maybe not...

Happy Holidays to one and all...!


1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #6
ANGEL SMILE TIME #1
ARCHIE #592
ARCHIE DIGEST #250
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #11 (RES)
ATOMIC ROBO DOGS OF WAR #5 (OF 5)
BART SIMPSON COMICS #45
BATMAN #683
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #8 (OF 12)
BEYOND WONDERLAND #4 (OF 6) CVR A STEIGMAN
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #3
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #20
CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR AMERICA FIRST
CITY OF DUST #3 A CVR LANGLEY
DAREDEVIL #114
DARK TOWER TREACHERY #4 (OF 6)
DARKNESS #73 LUCAS CVR A
FALL OF CTHULHU APOCALYPSE #1 (OF 4) CVR A
FARSCAPE #1
FERRYMAN #4 (OF 5)
FLASH #247
FREEDOM FORMULA #4 A CVR REILLY
GALVESTON #2 CVR A
GEARS OF WAR #3
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #3 (OF 5)
GIGANTIC #2 (OF 5)
GREATEST HITS #4 (OF 6)
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #33
GRIMM FAIRY TALES ANNUAL 2008
GUERILLAS #3 (OF 9)
HULK #9
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #21
INDIANA JONES & TOMB OF THE GODS #3 (OF 4)
INVINCIBLE #57 (RES)
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #146
LORDS OF AVALON KNIGHTS OF DARKNESS #2 (OF 6)
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #6
MILK PRESENTS XXX MAS #1 (A)
MISTER X CONDEMNED #1 (OF 4)
MS MARVEL #34 DKR
NECRONOMICON #4 (OF 4)
NEW AVENGERS #48 DKR
NEW WARRIORS #19
NO ENEMY BUT PEACE ONE SHOT
NOVA #20
PATSY WALKER HELLCAT #4 (OF 5)
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #3 (OF 6)
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #8 (OF 8)
RED SONJA #40
REIGN IN HELL #6 (OF 8)
REMNANT #1 (OF 4) CVR A
RUNAWAYS 3 #5
SAVAGE #3 (OF 4)
SAVAGE DRAGON #143
SCOOBY DOO #139
SECRET INVASION REQUIEM #1 DKR
SHE-HULK 2 #36
SKAAR SON OF HULK #6
SONIC X #40
SPAWN #187
SPIDER-MAN BRAND NEW DAY YEARBOOK
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #36 PROPHET MOTIVE PART 1
SUPERMAN SUPERGIRL MAELSTROM #4 (OF 5)
THOR #12
TOP 10 SEASON TWO #3 (OF 4)
TRINITY #30
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #129
ULTIMATUM #2 (OF 5)
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #2
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #3
USAGI YOJIMBO #116
VIGILANTE #1
WHAT IF SPIDER-MAN BACK IN BLACK
WILDCATS #6
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #10
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #31
WONDER WOMAN #27

Books / Mags / Stuff
AMERICAN FLAGG DEFINITIVE COLL TP VOL 01
BEASTS BOOK 01 GN
DEATH I BLK HOODIE
HEDGE KNIGHT II TP SWORN SWORD
HOT BREATH OF WAR GN
HP LOVECRAFTS NYARLATHOTEP HC
LILLIAN THE LEGEND GN
LONE RANGER TP VOL 02 LINES NOT CROSSED
MAGENTA POWER OF PINK GN (A)
MAKA MAKA GN VOL 02 (A)
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 11 DIGEST
MIDNIGHTER TP VOL 03 ASSASSIN8
NARUTO TP VOL 33
NICE WORK VOL 01 (OF 2)
PREVIEWS #244 JANUARY 2009 (Net)
SALEM TP VOL 01
SIZZLE #40 (A)
SPAWN BOOK OF THE DEAD HC (RES)
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #15 NEWSSTAND ED
STAR WARS OMNIBUS RISE OF THE SITH
STATION TP
SWEET WISHES
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #173
ULTIMATES 3 PREM HC WHO KILLED SCARLET WITCH
WHAT IF CLASSIC TP VOL 05
X-MEN COMPLETE ONSLAUGHT EPIC TP BOOK 04
YOUNG LIARS TP VOL 01 DAYDREAM BELIEVER


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

You can find it over on Comic Book Resources!

As noted in the article, you can also pre-order Tilting at Windmills v2 TP, with the end of my tenure at Comics & Games Retailer, as well as my entire run at Newsarama, from any store with a Diamond account by using the order code of DEC084122, thanks to the loverly folks over at IDW, hooray!

Go ahead and preorder that copy and put some pennies into my pocket!

Feel free to drop any comments here, as well...

-B

Labels: Brian, Tilting

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Some good stuff shipping this week!

I've got to go write a TILTING though...

2000 AD #1613
2000 AD #1614
AGE OF SENTRY #4 (OF 6)
AIR #5
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #581
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #3
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #15
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #19 SI
BATGIRL #6 (OF 6)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #14
BEANWORLD HOLIDAY SPECIAL ONE SHOT
BETTY & VERONICA #239
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #190
BIRDS OF PREY #125
BLACK TERROR #2
BRIT #11 (RES)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #20 CHEN CVR
C E MURPHYS TAKE A CHANCE #1
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #6
CTHULHU TALES #9 CVR A
DARK REIGN NEW NATION
DCU HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2008
DEAD OF NIGHT DEVIL SLAYER #4 (OF 4)
DEADPOOL #5
DOG EATERS #2
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #10
EX MACHINA #40
FABLES #79
FALLEN ANGEL IDW #32
FEAR AGENT #25 1 AGAINST 1 (PT 4 OF 6)
GHOST RIDER #30
GHOSTBUSTERS THE OTHER SIDE #3
GREATEST AMERICAN HERO #1 (OF 3)
HELLBLAZER #250 (NOTE PRICE)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #8 DKR
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES STORM FRONT #2 (OF 4)
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #146
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #12
MANHUNTER #37
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #31
MIGHTY AVENGERS #20 DKR
MOON KNIGHT #25
NEW EXILES #16
PUNISHER MAX #65
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #2 (OF 6)
REX MUNDI DH ED #15
ROBIN #181
SAMURAI LEGEND #4 (OF 4)
SIMPSONS COMICS #149
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #1 (OF 4)
SPIRIT #24
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #6
STAR TREK LAST GENERATION #2
STORMWATCH PHD #17
SUPER FRIENDS #10
SUPERGIRL #36 NEW KRYPTON
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #10 (OF 12)
TERMINATOR REVOLUTION #1
TERRA #4 (OF 4)
THOR GOD SIZED #1
THUNDERBOLTS #127
TINY TITANS #11
TRINITY #29
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #59
UNCANNY X-MEN #505 MD
VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #4
WALKING DEAD #56 (RES)
WHAT IF NEWER FANTASTIC FOUR
WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE DOWN PUB (ONE SHOT)
X-FACTOR #38
X-FILES #2 (OF 6)
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #1 (OF 4)
X-MEN LEGACY #219
ZOMBIE TALES #8 CVR A
ZORRO #9

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALDEBARAN TP VOL 02 GROUP
ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES TP VOL 02
BATMAN PRIVATE CASEBOOK HC
BEASTS B0OK 02 HC
BIGGLES GN VOL 01 SPITFIRE PARADE
BOYS DEFINITIVE ED
CAVALCADE OF BOYS TP VOL 04
CINEFEX #116 JAN 2009
COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1650 FEB 2009
COMPLEAT NEXT MEN TP VOL 02
DARKNESS COMPENDIUM LTD ED HC VOL 01
END LEAGUE TP VOL 01 BALLAD OF BIG NOTHING
GEEK MONTHLY JAN 2009
GETTYSBURG GN
KRAMERS ERGOT HC VOL 07
LADY S GN VOL 01 HERES TO SUZY
LEES TOY REVIEW #194 DEC 2008
MIGHTY AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 03 SECRET INVASION BOOK 01
MOME GN VOL 13
NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER TP VOL 18
PROGRAMME TP VOL 02
QUEST FOR MISSING GIRL
SCREAM TP
SECRET WARS OMNIBUS HC DM ED
SHOWCASE PRESENTS BRAVE & BOLD BATMAN TEAMUPS VOL 03
SILVERFISH TP
SPAGHETTI BROS HC VOL 02
STAR WARS LEGACY TP VOL 04 ALLIANCE
SUPERMAN PAST AND FUTURE TP
SWALLOW BOOK 05
WARHAMMER 40K EXTERMINATUS TP VOL 01
WITCHBLADE COMPENDIUM VOL 01 LTD ED HC
WOLVERINE ORIGINS TP VOL 05 DEADPOOL
X-FACTOR TP VOL 05 ONLY GAME IN TOWN


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

I meant to say something last week (ugh, or was it two weeks now) when Spurgeon linked to Johanna's (we miss you!) note about the pending release of the last color BONE volume.

I volunteer at Ben's school library one day a week (what can I say... I believe in libraries!), and, man, do the comics circulate like crazy! I'm only in there one day a week, but based on looking at the shelves I think it is true for every day in there -- the comics circulate the INSTANT they get put back out on the shelves.

My responsibilities include checking in each classes books, as well as checking the kids out each week (basically, it's just retail, but it is free -- using POS to scan stuff in and out, the whole thing), and I quickly learned that the first thing I should do when I'm done checking everything in is to shelf the 741.5's. That's the Dewey Decimal System code for graphic novels. Virtually everything I shelve while the librarian is reading to the kids gets checked back out during the same shift. It is insane!

The King of 741.5? Jeff Smith's BONE.

Those always always always go back out the moment they come in (not even counting the Hold requests) -- even when the kids have to read them OUT OF ORDER, they freaking fly off the shelf. Our library has two full sets, and the Librarian is getting at least a third one in because they circulate so fast.

The only other books (at least during my shift) that circulate as fast are the Lemony Snickett "A Series of Unfortunate Events" books.. but even those aren't quite (to my eye) as consistent -- usually you can find 3 or 4 of the 13 volumes on the shelves (they also have two sets of those... I think)

I suspect that this couldn't have happened without Scholastic (as much as it pains the self-publishing lover in me), and it could not possibly have happened to a nicer guy. Jeff Smith is a sweetheart among sweethearts, and he deserves every single copy sold.

Obviously, this is just a snapshot of ONE Elementary school library, and ONE shift of that library, at that, but it is an awesome awesome thing to encounter every week, hopefully saying really good things about 21st century comics literacy and the future of the comics readership.

I love volunteering at school in general: watching the ASTONISHING gains the kids have made just blows my tiny little mind every time I think about it. It's been... 14 weeks, is that right? since Ben started Kindergarten. When he started he knew his ABC by sight, and he was pretty decent with the phonic sounds of the letters. He could JUST write his name (though oddly spaced, and nearly always with backwards "N"), but that was it.

Now he's writing (simple) sentences ("I see my _____"), and the characters are pretty correctly spaced and sized and facing. He can sound out a word and basically spell things about right.

What I find fascinating is that what we're meant to teach them isn't really how to do things exactly correctly, but for them to have the tools to do those things for themselves. In other words, my instinct when Ben asks "how do I spell...."? is to tell him how to spell it. "'Witch' is spelled 'W. I. T. C. H.', pal." But sitting in class one day a week, I've realized that what you do is actually turn it around. "How DO you spell that? What's the sound of the first letter?" "It is 'wuh', Daddy." "Right, so what is that?" "Uh...W?" "Exactly, you little rocket scientist! Good job!"

To the point where even if they're not spelling a word correctly (A "cuh" sound could be either a "K" OR a "C"), the important thing at this stage isn't that they're spelling it right or wrong (they're only five and six!), but that they're developing the tools to FIGURE OUT how to spell it. The actual spelling correctly part comes later -- confidence is the skill to install right now.

As far as I can tell, nearly EVERY kid in the class is making AMAZING progress... and thanks to their awesome awesome teacher, they're ENJOYING making that progress. Schoolwork isn't "work", it is FUN, which is EXACTLY the kind of attitude that I was hoping school would inculcate.

We feel hugely lucky that we got the Kinder teacher we got at the public school that we got -- for security sake I'm not going to really broadcast those details -- because we really won the lottery for the type of school environment we were hoping for where learning is something that not only every child sees has value, but that they encourage in one another as peers. I (naturally) think my kid is pretty inherently smart, but to have an environment that really works at encouraging that is something we weren't sure we were going to get from public school.

And it makes it even that much more exciting to volunteer into that kind of environment where you can help OTHER people's kids make the same kinds of leaps, too!

Kids WANT to learn, really. It's pretty awesome to watch them do so, so well.

******


A comic review? Sure why not...

SECRET INVASION #8: I'm not so bugged by the What of this, as I am of the How. I mean, no matter what, you've got to give the Marvel universe some props for changing up the status quo every few years, and doing so in FAIRLY organic ways. By this I mean, by and large, the things that have changed have largely flowed from character, rather than being imposed from above. Sure there's been a few mis-steps (most of them involving Spidey), but overall, the generalities of the Marvel U have been reasonably logical and satisfying.

YMMV, naturally.

While I might dun Secret Invasion for misreading the post-'08 Election environment (the ending feels a lot more suited for a McCain/Palin administration), you have to give it points for setting up what will POTENTIALLY be a story-rich new Status Quo. That doesn't mean that writers WILL be able to draw that potential out... but it is there.

But I'm more convinced than ever that Bendis just shouldn't be writing this kind of a story -- he's just not very good at it.

As a conclusion, SI #8 is marred off the bat by its structure: you WANT to see the Big Fight Scene at the end. We've had seven previous issues that were basically nothing than unimportant fights, and when we finally get to the Title Bout (as it were), Bendis decided that it's best to mostly cut away from it, or to handle it perfunctorily and via narration (!)

It opens with a completely pointless death -- one that isn't really relevant to the 150-ish pages that proceed it -- and one that can be retconned faster than Bendis drops to talking heads: Thor just sent her someplace that she'll end up getting saved. She'll be back faster than Mockingbird was, bet on it.

But even if it wasn't so trivially reversed, what sucks the most about it is that it was a punk death, where none of the characters involved were even remotely heroic. I have no problem with death (or even "death") in comics, but I do very much want for it to invoke heroism and sacrifice for the greater good. If the character who died did so by stopping the Skrull doppelganger she was most associated with by using a weapon based upon their technology, that might be one thing, but instead the character died from plothammer and fiat, where it wasn't even explained WHAT was happening, or really how it was resolved. Yuck, that's just awful storytelling, lacking any thematic resonance, IMO.

I also have to say that one of the few genuinely human relationships in recent comics has been Luke & Jessica's. I truly like those characters as "people", so for us to have a "The Dingos ate mah baby!" scene... and without ANY payoff; and with that being on top of what now appears to be a complete red herring of that "glowing eyes" thing... well, most of my goodwill is just utterly pissed away.

I'm also upset that the well-toted idea that the Skrulls had this religion, and that this was actually meaningful from a story perspective, and to have it all basically come to nothing in the end... sheer anti-climax. They had a real opportunity to make the Skrull newly significant in the Marvel U, and it all feels pissed away to me.

As for the "Illumi-naughty", I really am not buying it. Oh, it's a clever enough conceit, but not those characters in that way. I mean, really, do you think Doom and Namor and Loki are going to give 10 seconds consideration to Mr. Crazier-than-a-shit-sandwich, and the jumped up thug? Really? Emma doesn't make any sense to me either, in the post-San Francisco world. Gah, plus that coloring -- I thought Namor was a Skrull, at first...

So, yeah, I didn't like this as a comic. It was pretty stupendously EH, and your Big Finish to your Big Event needs to be a lot more than that.


What did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Ben, Brian

Click Here to Read More...

Fighting a cold again, brain failing. I have more things to say, but... tomorrow.

This is an extremely small week for 14 shopping days before Christmas...


100 BULLETS #98
30 DAYS OF NIGHT 30 DAYS TIL DEATH #1
A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #94 (A)
ACTION COMICS #872 NEW KRYPTON
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #27
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #580
AMBUSH BUG YEAR NONE #5 (OF 6)
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #126
ASTONISHING X-MEN GHOST BOXES #2 (OF 2)
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #24
BIG HERO 6 #4 (OF 5)
BOOSTER GOLD #15
BPRD WAR ON FROGS #2
BUCKAROO BANZAI THE PREQUEL #2 (OF 2)
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #8
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #32
CIVIL WAR HOUSE OF M #4 (OF 5)
COURTNEY CRUMRIN AND PRINCE OF NOWHERE
DARKNESS LODBROKS HAND (ONE SHOT) OEMING CVR A
DEATH DEFYING DEVIL #1
DETECTIVE COMICS #851
DMZ #37
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #1
ELEPHANTMEN #14
EPILOGUE #3
FALL OF CTHULHU GODWAR #4 (OF 4) CVR A
FINAL CRISIS #5 (OF 7)
FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #4 (OF 5)
GEN 13 #25
GHOST WHISPERER THE MUSE #1
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #15
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #31
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #8
I KILL GIANTS #6 (OF 7)
INVINCIBLE #56
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #27 SIGHTINGS
LONE RANGER #16
MAD MAGAZINE #497
MAN WITH NO NAME #6
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #46
NIGHTWING #151
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #127
PHONOGRAM 2 #1 (OF 7) SINGLES CLUB
PS238 #36
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #1 (OF 6)
RETURN OF THE SUPER PIMPS #6 (OF 6)
SALEM #4 (OF 4)
SAMURAI LEGEND #3 (OF 4)
SAVAGE DRAGON #142
SECRET INVASION DARK REIGN
SECRET SIX #4
SIMON DARK #15
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #195
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE SEASON 2 #5 (OF 5)
STAR WARS CLONE WARS #3 (OF 6)
SUPERMAN BATMAN #54
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #5 (OF 6)
TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #31
TERRY MOORES ECHO #8
TIME MANAGEMENT FOR ANARCHISTS #1
TITANS #8
TRINITY #28
UNCLE SCROOGE #383
WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #698
WHAT IF CAPTAIN AMERICA FALLEN SON
WITCHBLADE #122
WOLVERINE FLIES TO A SPIDER
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #1 (OF 8)
X-MEN SPIDER-MAN #2 (OF 4)
X-MEN WORLDS APART #2 (OF 4)
YOUNG LIARS #10
YTHAQ FORSAKEN WORLD #1 (OF 3)
ZMD ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRUCTION #3 (OF 6)

Books / Mags / Stuff
AMERICAN FREAKSHOW GN
ANNE STEELYARD AND THE GARDEN OF EMPTINESS GN VOL 01 (OF 3)
ARCHIES GREATEST HITS TP VOL 01
BATMAN JOKERS ASYLUM TP
BLACK CANARY 1/6 SCALE DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 20 DEMONS LAIR
BRAVE AND THE BOLD LORDS OF LUCK TP
BUCK ROGERS IN 25TH CENTURY DAILIES HC VOL 01 1929 1931
CAMELOT 3000 HC DELUXE EDITION
CAPTAIN AMERICA TP CHOSEN
DAREDEVIL MAN WITHOUT FEAR PREM HC
GREEN LANTERN SECRET ORIGIN HC
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY PREM HC VOL 01 LEGACY
HULK 100 PROJECT
JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 04 AMERICANA
JSA HC VOL 03 THY KINGDOM COME PART 2
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES THE MORE THINGS CHANGE TP
NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO TP VOL 01 BATISTA CVR
NOCTURNAL CONSPIRACIES NINETEEN DREAMS GN
NOVA ANNIHILATION HC
PX GN VOL 02 IN SERVICE O/T QUEEN
RED SONJA HC VOL 05 WORLD ON FIRE
RED SONJA TP VOL 05 WORLD ON FIRE
SGT FROG GN VOL 16 (OF 16)
SULK GN VOL 02 DEADLY AWESOME
TOYFARE #138 MARVEL UNIVERSE CVR


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

Something reasonably rare happened this week: SUPERMAN, BATMAN, and WONDER WOMAN all shipped in the same week.

SUPERMAN #682: I'm just not feeling this "New Krypton" storyline -- maybe because I agree with the idea that Superman works better when he's the "Last Son of Krypton". I can just barely accept Supergirl, too, but when there are Kryptonians everywhere (including, we're told, new versions of Superwoman, and Nightwing & Flamebird; not to mention Zod, etc.) I start not to care.

Superman is a hard guy to write, I get that, and not everyone is suited to him. I really like James Robinson as a writer, but Superman doesn't play to what I would consider his strengths as a writer (same with Greg Rucka, of the newly announced Superman-less ACTION)

There's nothing at all wrong with any of this -- in fact the story as presented is fairly solid. The Kryptonians decide to "clean up" Superman's problems, which leads to more strife, fair enough -- but I just don't have any affection for Kandor or Kandorians, except in some abstract pathos-driven view ("Oh, how sad they're trapped in a bottle, as one of Kal's greatest failures") -- one that put the "man" in "Superman", look HE can fail, too. I also like Kandor as a silver-agey plot device, as a way to show that Superman is still heroic, even without his "super" bits. But those are both based on KAL, not on Kandor itself, of any of its specific inhabitants.

This is somewhat similar to my Problems With Atlantis, if you think about it.

Like I said, the issue itself is competent -- I'd give it a high OK -- but at the end of the day I don't like the setup, and all I'm thinking is "how fast can we get them back in that bottle"?

Sounds like that ISN'T happening, however -- we're told that Kal goes off into space, and he won't be seen on Earth for some period of time. In fact, he's losing the starring berth in the title that started it all: ACTION. I just don't see how that's going to lead to compelling stories, in and of itself. I'm old enough to recall the last time he set off to space for an extended period, and thinking "Man, when is he going to get back to Earth?" in every issue.


WONDER WOMAN #26: This is probably going to be a bit unfair, but my first thought upon finishing this was "Women in Refrigerators!" -- the helpless civilians all sadistically slaughtered are all women, and we end up with Diana hung looking crucified. Ew.

There's some potentially interesting other stuff here, with the Old Gods returning (From where? And what the HELL are they wearing?!?!), and sounding like they're going to quit, which is presumably how we'll get the "manazons" we've been told about, which will lead to, we assume, the Wonder Not-Woman who will be "Olympian"?

We'll see how this all plays out, but I did think this comic was unnecessarily cruel, and not really focused on anything that I much like about Wonder Woman. OK.


BATMAN #681: I don't think the world needs another BATMAN #681 review, really, so let me just note that I felt like all of the reveals were undercut pretty much right away. Is he Thomas Wayne? The dialogue immediately afterwards would seem to indicate not. Did Bruce blow up in that helicopter? Considering the entire issue repeats again and again that Batman is the master of the contingency plan, let's call that one "unlikely".

Fuck, the local news, I guess having read it on Drudge, called me Friday night and wanted to shoot a story in the store. I'm not one to turn down free publicity, but I felt really awful on this one -- I don't want a bunch of civies coming in thinking this is Batman's "death" like they descended for Cap's. I said something like "It's more of a psychological death, than a physical one", but there I am on the channel 5 news report anyway. Ha!

Plus, since Morrison has directly said that this takes place before FINAL CRISIS, it would seem safe to assume that he DIDN'T "die", as such. Making both "what next?" and "why?!?!" to be extremely confusing questions for this reader.

I thought the issue itself was (again) competent, and things were certainly clearer on a single read-through than the earlier chapters, so, again, OK.

This week also brought us TRINITY #26, the half-way point of the series, a series we were told was ABOUT the "Big Three", but has since become about them NOT being around. Week-to-week, I'm enjoying it decently as a tale, but it doesn't feel like what it was billed at, and, beleive it or not, we're actually selling fewer copies than we were of COUNTDOWN at this same point. It, too, is OK.


I was reading some interview or feature in the last few weeks where someone, maybe Didio, maybe Johns, maybe Giffen said something along the lines of "The DC universe works if Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are working"

On the face of that, I'm not really certain that statement is true, but let's pretend that it is, without objection.

My question is: ARE they "working"? I, for one, really don't think so. In fact, what I see is playing a VERY familiar hand out over again.

Cast your mind back to the dark distant days of 2006. In those dim and hazy days, DC declared there would be a weekly mini-series exploring a year in the DCU, without Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman. While we didn't SEE most of that missing year for those three, the idea was the characters weren't the characters.

Right now, of course, we have a weekly mini-series that is showing the world as it would have been without Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman. There will be a "battle for Batman's cowl", Wonder Woman is going to be "replaced by manazons", and Superman is no longer unique, and is going off into space to not star in his own books.

Does current DC management only have ONE idea for how to make this all work?

And of course, this is all echoes of 1993 when Superman was dead and replaced by a bunch of like-a-looks, there was a battle for Batman's cowl, and Bat-rael took over and (well, a little later in 1994) Wonder Woman was replaced by the darker more vicious Artemis. Only real difference is they didn't have weekly comic books back then...

DC is in deep deep kimshee right now. Our BATMAN sales have dropped precipitously, and, trust me, Tony Daniel isn't going to bring them back. ACTION spiked up for Johns/Frank, but that never played into SUPERMAN, and that's all going to piss itself away right now, and WONDER WOMAN is back into decline again. Meanwhile anything b-list on the schedule is dying fast, and c-list stuff like REIGN IN HELL or RANN/THANAGAR WAR has dropped to, and I'm not kidding, where I'm now lucky to be selling a SINGLE not-preordered rack copy.

This is comics, and in comics reinvention is King, and every month a new issue comes out again that holds the potential to erase every sour thought... but DC needs to do something serious, and something fast because they're headed in absolutely the wrong direction right now.

What do YOU think?


-B

Labels: Brian

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New Comics Day is THURSDAY in the US this week, because of last week's Thanksgiving holiday. Don't come in early, or you'll feel silly!!

I'm finishing the order form today (I hope), so a review tomorrow, I believe.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #579
ANITA BLAKE VH LAUGHING CORPSE #3 (OF 5)
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #194
ARMY @ LOVE THE ART OF WAR #5 (OF 6)
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #10
AUTHORITY #5
BATMAN #682
BETTY #177
BOYS #25
BROKEN TRINITY WITCHBLADE BLAKE CVR A (ONE SHOT)
CABLE #9
CHARLATAN BALL #5
CHUCK #6 (OF 6)
CRIMINAL 2 #7
CRIMINAL MACABRE CELL BLOCK 666 #2 (OF 4)
CROSSED #2 (OF 9)
DARKNESS #72 LUCAS CVR A
DOCTOR WHO FORGOTTEN #4
DREAMLAND CHRONICLES IDW #6
EL DIABLO #4 (OF 6)
ENDERS SHADOW BATTLE SCHOOL #1 (OF 5)
ETERNALS #6
HACK SLASH SERIES #18 SEELEY CVR A
HAUNTED TANK #1 COVER A (OF 5)
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #1 (OF 8)
HULK FAMILY GREEN GENES #1
I HATE GALLANT GIRL #2 (OF 3)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #20
IRON MAN HULK FURY ONE SHOT
JINGLE BELLE SANTA CLAUS VS FRANKENSTEIN (ONE SHOT) CVR A
JONAH HEX #38
JUGHEAD #192
JUNGLE GIRL SEASON 2 #2
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #21
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #145
KULL #2 (OF 6)
LIBERTY COMICS A CBLDF BENEFIT BOOK (NEW PTG)
LOONEY TUNES #169
LORDS OF AVALON KNIGHTS OF DARKNESS #1 (OF 6)
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT SECRET INVASION AFTERMATH
MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 #3 (OF 4)
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #1 (OF 6)
MOON KNIGHT SILENT KNIGHT #1
MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #4 (OF 6)
NECRONOMICON #3 (OF 4)
NEW AVENGERS #47 SI
NEW EXILES #15
NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #165
NYX NO WAY HOME #4 (OF 6)
PUNISHER MAX X-MAS SPECIAL 2008
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #2 (OF 4)
SECRET INVASION #8 (OF 8) SI
SECRET INVASION FRONT LINE #5 (OF 5) SI
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #2 (OF 6)
SHE HULK COSMIC COLLISION
SHIRTLIFTER #3 (A)
SIR APROPOS OF NOTHING #2 (OF 5)
SOLOMON KANE #3 (OF 5)
SUPERGIRL COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #1
SUPERMAN SUPERGIRL MAELSTROM #3 (OF 5)
SWORD #13
TERRA #3 (OF 4)
TERROR TITANS #3 (OF 6)
TRINITY #27
VIXEN RETURN OF THE LION #3 (OF 5)
WEAPON X FIRST CLASS #2 (OF 3)
WHAT IF HOUSE OF M
WOLVERINE MANIFEST DESTINY #2 (OF 4) MD
WOLVERINE POWER PACK #2 (OF 4)
X-INFERNUS #1 (OF 4)
X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY #4 (OF 5) MD
X-MEN NOIR #1 (OF 4)
YOUNGBLOOD #6
ZERO G #3 (OF 4)

Books / Mags / Stuff
ALTER EGO #82
ASTONISHING X-MEN HC VOL 02 DM ED
ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS ARGOSY SMITH TP
BLEACH TP VOL 25
BUMPER BOOK OF ROY OF THE ROVERS HC
CALIBER HC VOL 01 FIRST CANON OF JUSTICE
CHICA GN VOL 02 (A)
CLEBURNE GN
CREEPY ARCHIVES HC VOL 02
DAREDEVIL BY MILLER JANSON TP VOL 02
DAREDEVIL PREM HC YELLOW
EROTICA UNIVERSALIS SC (A)
ESSENTIAL WOLVERINE TP VOL 05
FALL OF CTHULHU TP VOL 03 GRAY MAN
GLACIAL PERIOD GN 3RD PTG
GODLAND TP VOL 04 AMPLIFIED NOW
HEAVY METAL JAN 2009
HERCULES HC VOL 01 THE THRACIAN WARS
INFINITY CRUSADE TP VOL 01
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN PREM HC VOL 01
MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK TP VOL 04 DIGEST
MICE TEMPLAR HC VOL 01 THE PROPHECY
MISKATONIC PROJECT HP LOVECRAFT WHISPERER IN THE DARKNESS
PS238 TP VOL 06 SENSELESS ACTS OF TOURISM
RISERS GN VOL 01
SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERGIRL TP VOL 02
SPIRIT TP VOL 01
STAR TREK ASSIGNMENT EARTH TP
SUPERMAN BATMAN VENGEANCE TP
TEEN TITANS ON THE CLOCK TP
TINY LIFE GN
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #172
WALT DISNEYS CHRISTMAS PARADE #5 (RES)
WAR AT ELLSMERE TP
WASTELAND TP BOOK 03 BLACK STEEL IN THE HOUR OF CHAOS


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

BUFFY finally ships. I hope it doesn't kill the momentum the book had...

1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #5
2000 AD #1611
2000 AD #1612
ARCHIE #591
ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES #1 (OF 3)
BATMAN #681 RIP (NOTE PRICE)
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #7 (OF 12)
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #166
BIRDS OF PREY #124
BLUE BEETLE #33
BODY BAGS (ONE SHOT)
BOYS CLUB #2
BRIT #10
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #19
CAPTAIN AMERICA #44
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #51
CHRONICLES OF DR HERBERT WEST #2 (OF 6)
DAREDEVIL #113
DJUSTINES SLASHER GIRLZ #1 (A)
DMZ #36
DOG EATERS #1
DRAFTED #12
END LEAGUE #6
FERRYMAN #3 (OF 5)
FIGHT OR RUN #1
FUTURAMA COMICS #40
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS NIGHT WITCHES #2 (OF 3)
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #2 (OF 5)
GLAMOURPUSS #4
GOLLY #3
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #7
HOW TO BE A SERIAL KILLER BIRTH OF MIKE WILSON ONE SHOT
HULK #8
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #123
JACK OF FABLES #28
JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL THE KINGDOM #1
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #48
LOOKING FOR GROUP #5
MADAME XANADU #6 COVER A
MAN WITH NO NAME #5
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #42
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #5
MS MARVEL #33
NECESSARY EVIL #9
NEW WARRIORS #18
NORTHLANDERS #12
NOVA #19
PROOF #14
REIGN IN HELL #5 (OF 8)
RUNAWAYS 3 #4
SAVAGE #2 (OF 4)
SAVAGE DRAGON #141
SCOOBY DOO #138
SECRET INVASION INHUMANS #4 (OF 4)
SECRET INVASION X-MEN #4 (OF 4) MD
SEPTIC ISLE ONE SHOT
SHE-HULK 2 #35
SIMPSONS WINTER WINGDING #3
SKAAR SON OF HULK #5
SONIC X #39
SRG PRESENTS WOLVES OF ODIN ONE SHOT
STAR WARS LEGACY #30 VECTOR PART 11 OF 12
STRAW MEN #3 (OF 12)
SUPERMAN #682 NEW KRYPTON
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #4 (OF 6)
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #53
TEEN TITANS #65
THOR MAN OF WAR
TRANSHUMAN #4 (OF 4)
TRINITY #26
TRUE BELIEVERS #5 (OF 5)
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #128
ULTIMATE X-MEN #98
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #1 GABRIEL BA CVR
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #2
VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #3
WALKING DEAD #55
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #7 (OF 12)
WASTELAND #22
WELCOME TO HOXFORD #4
WILDCATS #5
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #9
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #30 XOS 5
WONDER WOMAN #26
X-FORCE #9

Books / Mags / Stuff
AMERICAN ELF VOL 03 SKETCHBOOK DIARIES OF JAMES KOCHALKA (MR
BAT LASH GUNS AND ROSES TP
BATMAN RULES OF ENGAGEMENT TP
BEST OF THARGS FUTURESHOCKS TP
CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC VOL 03 DEATH CAPT AMERICA
COMICS FOR IDIOTS BLECKY YUCKERELLA GN
COMICS JOURNAL #294
DRAGONLANCE LEGENDS TP VOL 01 TIME OF THE TWINS
DROP-IN GN
GREEN LANTERN ACTION FIGURE BOX SET
GREEN LANTERN CORPS RING QUEST TP
HEROES HC VOL 02 VARIANT EDITION
HUSTLERS TABOO ILLUSTRATED #7 (A)
JOBNIK GN
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #278
JUXTAPOZ VOL 15 #12 DEC 2008
LA MUSE GN
MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN TP ARMORED AVENGER DIGEST
MESMO DELIVERY GN VOL 01
NEW AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 08 SECRET INVASION BOOK 1
PREVIEWS VOL XVIII #12
SHOWCASE PRESENTS SGT ROCK TP VOL 02
SLOTH TP
TALES OF DESPEREAUX MOVIE GN
TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 02
TIJUANA BIBLES VOL 09 (A)
UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE LTD ED HC
VENOM BUST BANK
WIZARD MAGAZINE #207 GOLD JUSTICE LEAGUE CVR
X-MEN LEGACY PREM HC VOL 02 SINS OF FATHER
X-MEN LEGACY TP VOL 01 DIVIDED HE STANDS

What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

Just a couple quickie reviews so I don't feel bad...!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #577: I quite liked this issue as a done-in-one Spidey/Punisher team-up. Zeb Wells turns in an amusing script, and the art by Paolo Rivera is a really nice style seldom seen in mainstream comics -- kind of a bit like Paul Pope, really. I especially like his hand-drawn sound effects: check those "thwip"s on the cover! All in all a solid GOOD issue.

ASM is in such a weird place right now, generally, though: it's not that it isn't basically decent readable comics (it is!), but with the rush of publication and the rotating creative teams, it doesn't feel like it has the "throughline" that an ongoing title should have. If anything, it feels more like TANGLED WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (if you remember that book) than AMAZING. For us, at least, sales are bouncing all over depending on creative team, which means they've largely broke the HABIT of consumption for a big chunk of its audience. That's not smart for an ongoing title. Especially one produced so frequently.


BATMAN CACOPHONY #1: Unlike many of the critics, I thought this was amusing enough: basically how I would EXPECT a Kevin Smith penned Batman comic book to read (which wasn't the case with, say, GREEN ARROW or DAREDEVIL). I can fully understand why people might not want dick jokes and gay panic in a Batman comic, but I tittered a few times, and didn't feel like my time had been wasted. I thought the art was pretty mediocre, though, and I kind of doubt that Flanagan would be drawing a book like this without Smith at his back. All in all, I thought it was highly OK.


JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: SUPERMAN: For a long time I've wondered just what "non-painted" Alex Ross would look like, and now we know: pretty darn good if you like his photo-realistic style to begin with (which, sure, some people don't). I quite enjoyed both looking at this comic, as well as seeing the process in the back section (this felt more "worthy" to me than, say, the scripts from ASTX: Ghost Boxes). In terms of story, this was more filler than I would have expected: basically not a story, but an incident, and I want more than incident for $4, even if I really enjoy the art. Ross' writing is perfectly fine, and, as I said, I enjoyed seeing his art without the paint on top, so if working this way gets more pages out of him in a year, I'd be very happy to see him continuing to work this way. For the final grade, I'm going to go with a VERY high OK.


As always, what did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

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A surprisingly small week this close to the Holidays: publishers do understand that we need comics to sell in order to make money, don't they?

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #93 (A)
AGE OF SENTRY #3 (OF 6)
AIR #4
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #578
AMBUSH BUG YEAR NONE #4 (OF 6)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #14
ARCHIE DIGEST #249
ATOMIC ROBO DOGS OF WAR #4 (OF 5)
AVENGERS INVADERS #6 (OF 12)
BAD PLANET #6 (OF 12)
BATGIRL #5 (OF 6)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #13 RIP
BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #86
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #19
CASTLE WAITING VOL II #13
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #5
DEADPOOL #4
DOCTOR WHO FORGOTTEN #3
DYNAMO 5 #18
ENDERS GAME BATTLE SCHOOL #2 (OF 5)
EX MACHINA #39 (RES)
FANTASTIC FOUR #561
FIREBREATHER SERIES #3
FLASH #246
FOOLKILLER WHITE ANGELS #5 (OF 5)
GHOST RIDER #29
GOON #30
GREATEST HITS #3 (OF 6)
HELLBLAZER #249
HELM #4 (OF 4)
HERESY #2 (OF 4)
INVINCIBLE #55
IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD #35 SI
JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL MAGOG #1
KABUKI REFLECTIONS #11
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #30
MOON KNIGHT #24
PAX ROMANA #4 (OF 4)
PUNISHER MAX #64
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #25 SI
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #7 (OF 8)
RED SONJA #39
ROBIN #180
SAVAGE TALES #10
SCALPED #23
SIMPSONS COMICS #148
SPAWN #186
SPIRIT #23
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #5
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #35 VINDICATION PART 4 OF
STORMWATCH PHD #16
SUPER FRIENDS #9
SUPERGIRL #35 NEW KRYPTON
SUPERMAN SUPERGIRL MAELSTROM #2 (OF 5)
TALES TO SUFFICE #1
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #9 (OF 12)
TERRA #2 (OF 4)
THUNDERBOLTS #126
TINY TITANS #10
TRINITY #25
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #58
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #127
UNCANNY X-MEN #504 MD
UNCLE SCROOGE #382
WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #697
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #13
X-FACTOR #37
X-FILES #1 (OF 6)
X-MEN LEGACY #218 XOS 4
YOUNG X-MEN #8 MD

Books / Mags / Stuff
BACK ISSUE #31
COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1649 JAN 2009
LEES TOY REVIEW #193 NOV 2008
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG FIRST IMPRESSIONS HC
BATMAN GOTHAM UNDERGROUND TP
BPM GN
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS TP VOL 04
CROGANS VENGEANCE HC
DANIEL X ALIEN HUNTER GN
DEAD SPACE HC
FABLES TP VOL 11 WAR AND PIECES
FAR WEST PKT MANGA TP VOL 01
HEROES HC VOL 02 STANDARD EDITION
JACK KIRBYS THE DEMON OMNIBUS HC
LOVE AND CAPES TP
LUCHA LIBRE TP VOL 01
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 10 SPACED DIGEST
PUNISHER BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS HC
ROBIN VIOLENT TENDENCIES TP
SPACE RAOUL GN VOL 01
SPIDER-MAN PREM HC KRAVENS FIRST HUNT
STAN DRAKE HEART JULIET JONES TP VOL 01
STAR TREK ARCHIVES TP VOL 02 BEST OF THE BORG
STANS SOAPBOX THE COLLECTION TP
SWALLOW ME WHOLE
TIGER TIGER TIGER GN
ULTIMATE HULK VS IRON MAN TP ULTIMATE HUMAN
VEEPS HC
WALKING DEAD HC VOL 04
WANTED TP MOVIE ED
YOUNG X-MEN TP VOL 01 FINAL GENESIS
JEREMY FISH ROME ANTIC DELUSIONS SC
VERTIGO TAROT DECK SET 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

You can find it right here, if you haven't stumbled upon it already

-B

Labels: Brian, Tilting

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No time for this, but since it seems like everyone else is busier than me (ha, not possible, except maybe for Graeme, but that's his news, not mine), let me get in for at least one book from this week...

ULTIMATUM #1: Well, you have to give them points for actually DOING something -- there are several significant deaths here -- at least as significant as not the "real" Marvel U can be; and we're assuming there won't be any tap-backs on this. But, on reading this, I WAS genuinely surprised about what was going on, which is way way more than one normally expects from a superhero comic.

The big problem is there isn't a lot of story here -- despite the opening pathos of the proposal, there's lots of incident, but not actual story, to my mind.

Actually the BIG problem is that David Finch isn't really very good at storytelling -- I had to flip back and forth a few times to follow the events, and his use of space is really awkward. For example, New York is mostly underwater, including several far-above-ground rooms in high rises, but then the subway car holding the actually popular characters just gets lashed by what looks to be a little rain. Or the sequence where Sue pushes away the flood waters... how does that work exactly on that scope, and without knocking over buildings?

A high GOOD for concept, a mediocre EH for execution.

What did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

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Veteran's Day will NOT affect shipping of books this week -- Wednesday is New Comics Day, just as normal...

100 BULLETS #97
1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #4
2000 AD #1609
2000 AD #1610
ACTION COMICS #871 NEW KRYPTON
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #577
ANNA MERCURY #4 (OF 5)
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #125
AVENGERS FAIRY TALES #4 (OF 4)
BARTHOLOMEW OF THE SCISSORS #2
BATMAN CACOPHONY #1 (OF 3)
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #23
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #189
BIG HERO 6 #3 (OF 5)
BIG QUESTIONS #11
BLACK TERROR #1
BOOSTER GOLD #14
BPRD THE WARNING #5 (OF 5)
BRIT #9
BROKEN TRINITY #3
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #7
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #31
CITY OF DUST #2
CLEANERS #1 (OF 4)
CTHULHU TALES #8
DARK TOWER TREACHERY #3 (OF 6)
DARKNESS #7
DEAD OF NIGHT DEVIL SLAYER #3 (OF 4)
DETECTIVE COMICS #850 RIP
DREAMLAND CHRONICLES IDW #5
ETERNALS ANNUAL #1
FABLES #78
FALL OF CTHULHU GODWAR #3 (OF 4)
FALLEN ANGEL IDW #31
FANTASTIC FOUR TRUE STORY #4 (OF 4)
FIRE & BRIMSTONE #3 (OF 5)
GALVESTON #1
GEARS OF WAR #2
GEN 13 #24
GHOSTBUSTERS THE OTHER SIDE #2
GRAVEL #6
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #14
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #30
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #32
I HATE GALLANT GIRL #1 (OF 3)
I KILL GIANTS #5 (OF 7)
I WAS KIDNAPPED BY LESBIAN PIRATES OUTERSPACE #6 (OF 6)
JACK STAFF #19
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES STORM FRONT #1 (OF 4)
JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL SUPERMAN #1
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #145
LAST REIGN KINGS OF WAR #1 (OF 5)
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #20
LEVITICUS CROSS #1 (OF 5)
LONE RANGER #15
MAD MAGAZINE #496
MANHUNTER #36
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #45
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT PUNISHER MOVIE
MICE TEMPLAR #6
NEOZOIC #7
NEW EXILES #14
NIGHTWING #150 RIP
PS238 #35
SAVAGE DRAGON #140
SIMON DARK #14
SIR APROPOS OF NOTHING #1 (OF 5)
SIRIANUS #3 (A) (C: 3)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #194
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE SEASON 2 #4 (OF 5)
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #3 (OF 5)
STAR TREK MIRROR IMAGES #5
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #3 (OF 6)
TITANS #7
TRINITY #24
VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #2
WALKING DEAD #54
WOLVERINE #69
X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT #3 (OF 5)
YOUNG LIARS #9

Books / Mags / Stuff
BATMAN EGO AND OTHER TAILS TP
BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 03 WOLVES AT THE GATE
CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 16 ETERNITY WAR & OTHER STORIES (
CIVIL WAR HC
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #77 SENTRY
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #78 CRYSTAL
EXTERMINATORS TP VOL 05 BUG BROTHERS FOREVER
FABLES COVERS BY JAMES JEAN HC
FUZZ AND PLUCK SPLITSVILLE HC
FX TP
GEEK MONTHLY VOL 2 #12
GHOST RIDER TP VOL 05 HELL BENT HEAVEN BOUND
HULK PREM HC VOL 01 RED HULK
ITS THE LIFE IN HELL 2009 12 MONTH CALENDAR
JLA AVENGERS TP
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL HC VOL 03
LAGOON HC
LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 13 TENDERFOOT
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TP MAN IN THE IRON MASK
MELUSINE TP VAMPIRES BALL
MYTHOS HC VOL 01
NEW X-MEN BY MORRISON ULTIMATE COLL TP BOOK 03
PET ROBOTS TP
PETEY & PUSSY HC
POWR MASTRS GN VOL 02 (OF 6)
PUNISHER TP BARBARIAN WITH A GUN
SFX #176
STRAY TOASTERS TP (NEW PTG)
TED MCKEEVER LIBRARY HC VOL 01
THUNDERBOLTS WARREN ELLIS TP VOL 02 CAGED ANGELS
TOYFARE #137 WATCHMEN CVR
TWISTED TOYFARE THEATRE TP VOL 09
VIDEO WATCHDOG #145
WATCHMEN HC
WET MOON GN VOL 04
WRITE NOW #19
ZOMBIE TALES TP VOL 02 OBLIVIAN


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

An hour to vote, yeesh! Note to self: do early voting next year!!

BUT, if you get a long line, wait in it anyway. You would at Disneyland, and voting is way more important!

What I don't get is the most recent polls that show like 4-5% of people are still "undecided"? Who ARE these people? Whichever side you are on, it seems like these are pretty clear choices -- are they just randomly marking things off once they get into the balloting area? I literally don't understand!

If I were King, I'd want to make participating in Democracy a requirement of citizenship. If you don't vote, your taxes get tripled or something. Of course, I'd also give a "None of the Above" choice, and if that wins, then there's a redo with none of the current candidates being allowed to run...

It might not work, but it sure would be more fun!

I received FALLOUT 3 on Friday, and every non-working hour that Ben is asleep (and I'm not) has been put there. It's not really a proper "Fallout" game for me, as I really liked the "tactical" combat of "Action Points" to move or shoot or heal or whatever, but the mixture of FPS and "VATS" in FO3 is really addictive and compelling. I've barely made it more than the first steps of the main quest, preferring to wander around and search for stuff, but I am having a really good time with it.

I actually had to start over on the 3rd day because I was a little too free with shooting, and ran out of ammo/money/supplies (plus I remaximized my stats), but now that I've got the hang of it, I'm cruising along the radioactive ruins of Washington DC with style and aplomb. So far, I'd give it an easy GOOD...

Oh, Comics? Fine...!

ASTONISHING X-MEN GHOST BOXES #1: Yikes, only 16 pages of comics content for $3.99? When Warren Ellis "self-publishes" FELL, it is only half the price. Ignoring the price (how?!?), the content was fine -- I was kind of unclear on the "616" section, as isn't that supposed to be "our" Marvel earth? But I thought the Steampunk "889" section was pretty fun. If you somehow got comics for free, this might be a low GOOD, but at $4, it's extremely EH. I've cut 60% from my order for issue #2, and I still suspect I will have way too many copies left over. My biggest fear is that this will cripple sales on "regular" AST X-Men...

FINAL CRISIS: RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS: This would have been more satisfying had it not a) been billed as "Final Crisis" (since, if it is, I don't really see HOW), and b) didn't end on a "cliffhanger" of "now buy some other comics!" I rather liked the concept of the Red Ring's power replace the blood and heart of the bearer, and I very much liked the kitty Lantern, but otherwise I might have had too high expectations for this... and it didn't live up to them whatsoever. Very EH.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #26: The MOST AWESOME thing about this issue is that it introduces perhaps the most obscure DC character of all -- a character originally planned to run in the 1970s, but wisely canceled when Tony Isabella pointed out how misguided it was: The Brown Bomber. Read more about him right here.

When I got to that point in the story I just laughed and laughed and laughed (knowing the in-joke it references), so that was as much entertainment I've gotten from a comic in a long time.

The rest of the comic is fairly straightforward stuff, which, really, leaves the characters in the same place they started -- I was hoping for more of a change.

I also laughed a bit at the cover's "NOT AN ELSEWORLDS!" declaration.

So if you're crazy, like me, I can give it a GOOD, but if you're a normal reader, probably more of an OK.

DAYBREAK v3: I *think* that the latest volume of Brian Ralph's post-apocalypse comic is only available at the moment direct from Bodega, and I was *told* that they might not bother with distributing it through Diamond (nor are they available from Baker & Taylor). How this will yield even 50 stores in America selling it, I'm not entirely sure, and that's a real fucking shame, because I love this book. First person survival horror that's genuinely moving and scary. The best thing I read last week (and not just because I'm playing Fallout3, either), and it is really EXCELLENT.

ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY v19: Not sure why I liked this one much more than previous issues -- maybe because there's less distance in the storytelling? Opening with Rusty's fiction as though that were the main story was really wonderful, and just the right choice. VERY GOOD.

That's it for me: have to get ready for this week's comics...

What did YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

Click Here to Read More...

Another week, another pile of comics (sorry, swamped this morning... should have some reviews tomorrow, though!)

2000 AD #1607
2000 AD #1608
ADVENTURE COMICS SPECIAL GUARDIAN #1 NEW KRYPTON
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #576
ANITA BLAKE VH LAUGHING CORPSE #2 (OF 5)
ARMY @ LOVE THE ART OF WAR #4 (OF 6)
AUTHORITY #4
AVENGERS INITIATIVE SPECIAL
BACK TO BROOKLYN #2 (OF 5)
CABLE #8
CIVIL WAR HOUSE OF M #3 (OF 5)
DAREDEVIL & CAPTAIN AMERICA DEAD ON ARRIVAL
DEAD #2 KINGDOM OF FLIES
EL DIABLO #3 (OF 6)
FINAL CRISIS RESIST #1
FRANKLIN RICHARDS SONS OF GENIUSES
FREEDOM FORMULA #3 A CVR PUGH
GIGANTIC #1 (OF 5)
GRANT MORRISONS DOCTOR WHO #2
HAYSEED #1
HELLBLAZER PRESENTS CHAS THE KNOWLEDGE #5 (OF 5)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #7
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #7
IRON MAN END
JONAH HEX #37
JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #30
JUNGLE GIRL SEASON 2 #1
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #20
KULL #1 (OF 6)
LOONEY TUNES #168
LUCHA LIBRE #6
MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 #2 (OF 4)
MS MARVEL SPECIAL STORYTELLER
NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #164
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #126
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL ANNUAL #1
SALEM #3 (OF 4)
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #1 (OF 4)
SECRET SIX #3
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #1 (OF 6)
STATION #4 (OF 5)
STORMING PARADISE #4 (OF 6)
SUB-MARINER DEPTHS #3 (OF 5)
SUPERMAN SUPERGIRL MAELSTROM #1 (OF 5)
TERRA #1 (OF 4)
TERROR TITANS #2 (OF 6)
TOP 10 SEASON TWO #2 (OF 4)
TRINITY #23
ULTIMATUM #1 (OF 5)
UNCLE SCROOGE #381
VELVET ROPE ONE-SHOT
VENOM DARK ORIGIN #4 (OF 5)
VERONICA #191
VIXEN RETURN OF THE LION #2 (OF 5)
WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #696
WEAPON X FIRST CLASS #1 (OF 3)
WOLVERINE CHOP SHOP
WOLVERINE POWER PACK #1 (OF 4)
X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY #3 (OF 5) MD
X-MEN PIXIES & DEMONS DIRECTORS CUT
X-MEN SPIDER-MAN #1 (OF 4)
ZOMBIE TALES #7 CVR A

Books / Mags / Stuff
48 MORE ASHLEY WOOD NUDES SC
ABSOLUTE SANDMAN HC VOL 04
ALIENS OMNIBUS TP VOL 05
ANGEL OMNIBUS TP
AQUA BLESS GN (A)
AVENGERS THE INITIATIVE TP VOL 02 KILLED IN ACTION
BLUE EYES TP VOL 04 (A)
BOOSTER GOLD HC VOL 02 BLUE AND GOLD
BPRD TP VOL 09 1946
COUNTER X TP VOL 03
DAREDEVIL MILLER JANSON TP VOL 01
DIANA PRINCE WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 03
DOS TARINO LATEST ART BY ASHLEY WOOD SC
DRAIN TP VOL 01
ESSENTIAL HULK TP VOL 05
FISHTOWN HC
FREAKANGELS TP VOL 01
HERETIC GN
IMPALER TP VOL 01
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #277
LAST DEFENDERS TP
LIQUID CITY GN
MACK BOLAN THE DEVILS TOOLS TP
MAKA MAKA GN VOL 01 (A)
MAKE A ZINE WHEN WORDS AND GRAPHICS COLLIDE SC
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TP LAST OF THE MOHICANS
MICHAEL TURNER TRIBUTE GN
MISTER X ARCHIVES HC
MOON KNIGHT TP VOL 03 GOD & COUNTRY
NARUTO TP VOL 32
NEW TEEN TITANS ARCHIVES HC VOL 04
PARASYTE GN VOL 05 (OF 8)
QUESTION TP VOL 03 EPITAPH FOR A HERO
REX MUNDI TP VOL 05 VALLEY AT END OF WORLD
SHOWCASE PRESENTS WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 02
STAR TREK YEAR FOUR ENTERPRISE EXPERIMENT TP
SUPERMAN BATMAN SER 6
SUPERMAN VS BRAINIAC TP
TANK GIRL VISIONS OF BOOGA TP
TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE TP
UN-MEN TP VOL 02 CHILDREN OF PARADOX
WARHAMMER CONDEMNED BY FIRE TP
WATCHMEN THE ABSOLUTE EDITION HC - 5th Printing


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

It must be the last week of the month, here's a ginormous shipment!

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #92 (A)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #575
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1
ARCHIE #590
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #193
ASTONISHING X-MEN GHOST BOXES #1 (OF 2)
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #9
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #18 SI
BEYOND WONDERLAND #3 (OF 6)
BLOOD BOWL #5 (OF 5) KILLER CONTRACT CVR A
BOYS #24
CAPTAIN ACTION #1 MYCHAELS CVR
CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR OPERATION ZERO POINT
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #50
CHECKMATE #31
CHUCK #5 (OF 6)
CRIMSON GASH MEETS DEMI THE DEMONESS #1 (A)
CTHULHU TALES #7 CVR A
DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #4 (OF 4)
DEAN KOONTZS FRANKENSTEIN VOL 01 #5 (OF 5) PRODIGAL SON
FERRYMAN #2 (OF 5)
FINAL CRISIS RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS #1
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS NIGHT WITCHES #1 (OF 3)
GUERILLAS #2 (OF 9)
HELLBOY IN THE CHAPEL OF MOLOCH ONE SHOT
I WAS KIDNAPPED BY LESBIAN PIRATES OUTERSPACE #5 (OF 6)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #19
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #122
JACK OF FABLES #27 (RES)
JAZZ COOL BIRTH ONE-SHOT
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #26
KICK DRUM COMIX #2 (OF 2)
KILL YOUR BOYFRIEND NEW PTG
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #144
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #47
MADAME XANADU #5
MARVEL 1985 #6 (OF 6)
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #41
MARVEL APES #4 (OF 4)
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT ULTIMATUM
NO HERO #2 (OF 7)
NORTHLANDERS #11
NOVA #18 SI
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #7 (OF 7)
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS VOL 02 THE SUPREMACY #0
PROOF #13
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #6 (OF 8)
RED SONJA #38
REIGN IN HELL #4 (OF 8)
RESURRECTION ANNUAL #1
REX LIBRIS #13
SAVAGE #1 (OF 4)
SAVAGE DRAGON #139
SECRET INVASION THOR #3 (OF 3) SI
SECRET INVASION X-MEN #3 (OF 4) SI
SKAAR SON OF HULK #4
SOLOMON KANE #2 (OF 5)
SPAWN #185
SPIKE AFTER THE FALL #4 (OF 4)
STAR WARS LEGACY #29 VECTOR PART 10 OF 12
STREETS OF GLORY #6 (OF 6) (RES)
SUPERMAN #681 NEW KRYPTON
SUPERMAN BATMAN #53
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #2 Of(6)
SWORD #12
TEEN TITANS #64
THOR #11
TRINITY #22
ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #1
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #3
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #6 (OF 12)
WASTELAND #21
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #8
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #29 XOS 3
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #12
WORLD OF WARCRAFT ASHBRINGER #2 (OF 4)
X-FORCE #8
X-MEN FIRST CLASS GIANT SIZE SPECIAL #1
ZERO G #2 (OF 4)

Books / Mags / Stuff
ARCHIE AMERICANA SER TP VOL 09 BEST OF 90S BOOK 1
ART OF ALEX NINO SC
BAT MANGA SECRET HISTORY OF BATMAN IN JAPAN SC
BATMAN DEATH MASK COLLECTED EDITION
BAYBA LADY BROWN (A)
BERNIE WRIGHTSONS FRANKENSTEIN HC
BIONICLE GN VOL 03
CRYPTICS TP
CTHULHU TALES TP VOL 02 WHISPER OF MADNESS
DNAGENTS INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH ED TP
EMPOWERED TP VOL 04
ESSENTIAL MARVEL HORROR TP VOL 02
EXTREME CURVES PHAT GIRLS SC (A)
G FAN #85
GEEK MONTHLY VOL 2 #11
GHOST OMNIBUS TP VOL 01
GIANT ROBOT #56
GREEN LANTERN IN BRIGHTEST DAY TP
HEAVY METAL FALL 2008
HELLBLAZER FAMILY MAN TP
JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #51
JAYSON GOES TO HOLLYWOOD GN
JEWS IN AMERICA CARTOON HISTORY UPDATED ED
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES HC
JOKER HC
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA THE NEXT AGE TP
JUXTAPOZ VOL 15 #11 NOV 2008
LOEG BLACK DOSSIER TP
LULU & MITZI BEST LAID PLANS TP VOL 01
MAGENTA COLOR OF SEX GN (O/A) (A)
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED PREM HC ILIAD
NEMI HC VOL 02
NO FORMULA STORIES FROM THE CHEMISTRY SET GN VOL 01
NOTES OVER YONDER HC
OJINGOGO GN
OR ELSE #5
POPEYE HC VOL 03 LETS YOU AND HIM FIGHT
PREVIEWS VOL XVIII #11
PRINCE VALIANT TP VOL 01 KNIGHT ERRANT
RAY HARRYHAUSEN FLYING SAUCERS VS EARTH TP VOL 01
ROADKILL JIM KOWALKSI ADVENTURE GN
SFX #175
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL HC
SPIDER-MAN PREM HC WITH GREAT POWER
SPIDER-MAN TP A NEW GOBLIN
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #14 NEWSSTAND ED
SUPERMAN BATMAN SEARCH FOR KRYPTONITE HC
TICK THE COMPLETE EDLUND
TOKEN
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #171
TRAVEL SC
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 11 SALEMS SEVEN
VIOLENT MESSIAHS TP VOL 01 THE BOOK OF JOB
WILL EISNER SPIRIT POP UP GRAPHIC NOVEL
WIZARD MAGAZINE #206 SECRET INVASION
WORLDS OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TP VOL 02
X-MEN TP MESSIAH COMPLEX

What looks good to YOU?


-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

Click Here to Read More...

Two Big Events, done COMPLETELY differently.

This may or may not be a fair comparison between the two, as neither are finished: SECRET INVASION still has 13% left, while FINAL CRISIS has 43% remaining, but I sorta feel like I've seen enough to be at least in the general neighborhood of "fair"

What's interesting to me, from the top, is that these two series are really opposite as can be: SECRET INVASION seemingly takes place in a day (or two) of the Marvel Universe, ties into each and every book (with a small handful of exceptions), while at the same time not really conveying much information in most of those tie-ins, and doesn't really appear to have any higher theme than "punchfighthit!"

FINAL CRISIS takes place over what has to be weeks (if not months) of the DCU, while at the same time barely tying into the regular production of DC whatsoever. The ties ins that exists, however, seem to largely be crucial ones. And of course, it is rich with theme.

Both works are also the culmination of years of build-up from one of the "primary architects" of the respective universes -- Brian Michael Bendis, and Grant Morrison.

*****

SECRET INVASION purports to be huge in scope -- after all, there's only as few books that don't have direct tie-ins -- but the actual core event/series appears to be really very very small, and absolutely misnamed. The invasion comes, heroes fight in the Savage Land, and in New York, the end.

There's been seven issues of punching and hitting and fighting now, and virtually nothing has happened. Further, said invasion is just about the opposite of "secret" -- loud flashy spaceships filled with colorful and obvious warriors arrive, but there's very little stealth or infiltration going on once the series begins. In fact, some of the infiltration that occurred is confusing to me: so they swapped out Hank Pym and Jarvis, but there's not a lot that they appear to be actually DOING once the series gets going.

While this may have made the heroes off-kilter a tiny bit, it's not how *I* would have run an invasion. Yes, by all means, replace some of the heroes, but where's the real world in all of this? Shouldn't you be replacing heads of state, community leaders, media conglomerates, all of that? Wouldn't that have the greater long-term impact? Rather than living up to the title, which could have been fascinating in an "Invaders" (TV)/"V" kind of way, and pointed to some interesting long-term consequences, it all seems to hinge on 'splody fight scenes.

In fact, at this stage in the proceedings, I'm not sure how the (clever!) "Embrace Change" ads can possibly play out at the end of this -- if you're trying to win Hearts and Minds, you don't visibly blow the shit out of everything. Sure this may be commentary on the execution of the War on Terror, but for an ancient, spacefaring race with the resources to blanket the entire planet, it just seems like the wrong way to go -- and most importantly, it appears to me to be this way in order to give the comics readership their quota of 'splody.

There have been a LOT of tie ins to this -- most of which worked pretty poorly, but there's been a few I've loved. Despite the fact that the Avengers comics haven't actually, y'know, featured the Avengers for six+ months now, I've found the "backstory" issues of MIGHTY and NEW AVENGERS to have been really good. The only minor problem is that they're mostly looking back, instead of looking at the present. But that's where the "secret" part of the Invasion happened.

At the end of the day, it looks like Luke & Jessica's baby will be the Deus Ex Machina that puts the toys back in the box, plotwise, possibly with some sort of "No More Skrulls!" twist. One does not get the sense that there will be any significant Skrull presence in the world (or at least America) at the end of this -- the Skrulls haven't (seemingly) seized anything of particular value, so getting rid of them would seem to be (in comic book terms, at least) a fairly easy process.

One small note on this week's salvo: the latest issue of THUNDERBOLTS expands on the brief Norman Osborn scenes in issue #7 of SI, and does it in a much more focused and compelling manner. In fact, I'd maybe call TBOLTS #125 as SI #7.5, in terms of "importance to the Marvel U" (if what we're thinking "Dark Reign" means is actually what it is)

I like Bendis' writing, but after the second of these, I really don't think he's got the "right" chops for writing Big Superhero Epics. He's got a great ear for dialogue, and a clever mind for twisting expectations and plot points, but he's mediocre at best on action, and pacing a "big" hero story. In a way, it's like if, say, Quentin Tarintino directed a STAR WARS movie -- there'd be moments of sheer brilliance, I'm sure, and some cracklin' dialogue, but tonally, the pieces wouldn't match up to what the audience really wants.

Overall, I'd give SECRET INVASION (the series) at the 7/8ths mark an EH; I'd give the MIGHTY and NEW AVENGERS tie-ins at least a GOOD, and I'd be positive (in general) about the setting up of the NEXT new status quo for the Marvel Universe (though, again, I think the Skrulls are, at best, a blind for that new state)

The last thing I'll say is that it does look like Bendis "played fair" in his multi-year build-up towards this.


*****

FINAL CRISIS is a trickier thing to discuss rationally, one that has AT LEAST AS MUCH to do with how DC Editorial was spinning the build up to it as the comic itself.

Clearly FC is "bigger", more "epic", and possibly even more relevant to the DC Universe than SI is to the Marvel U, but DC Editorial has COMPLETELY screwed the pooch on this one. Not JUST from a wrong/inappropriate build-up via COUNTDOWN (as well as AMAZONS ATTACK/SALVATION RUN/Whatever that they insisted were relevant and important), but also from scheduling stories like BATMAN RIP and SUPERMAN NEW KRYPTON and the build up to DARKEST NIGHT in and around FC.

This makes FC feel "weightless" and irrelevant to the DC Universe itself, when it SHOULD be the spine and centerpiece of that fictional world.

Let me tell you a little story about my audience: I was, for the LONGEST time there, the prototypical "DC store" -- DC comics ALWAYS sold better than Marvels for us. This has ABSOLUTELY changed in the wake of "One Year Later" and COUNTDOWN. New DC series are largely non-starters for us, with anything that isn't "A-List" having the lowest rack sales I've ever seen, including my first month of business 19 years ago! Things like RANN/THANAGAR WAR or DC DECISIONS are having rack sales of ONE OR TWO copies for us. I could stop racking 80% of the DC line today, and I don't think it would have a significant negative impact on my sales. That's really painfully ugly. If it weren't for Morrison and Geoff Johns, DC would have nothing at this stage. That makes me deeply sad.

Nor do I have any great sense that things are going to turn around. When I read the DC house organ page a few weeks back where Didio was trying to get excited about post-FC, one of the bullet points was something like "What will happen to Black Lightning's Daughters?!?!"

...

Really?

Now, on one hand, it's not even SLIGHTLY FAIR to judge FC upon Didio and co's mistakes, but the strength of a fictional universe is on how all of the moving parts move and mesh together, and by how believable the "sales pitch" is. If you're trying to get people excited about a b-list character's family (which didn't even EXIST like five years ago?), then you've got nothing in your hand.

This can't HELP but play into reaction to FC. Since FC doesn't actually seem like it's taking place IN the "DCU" (it could be on Earth 59, for all the impact it seems to be having within/around the "mainline" books), it loses buckets of its impact. This wouldn't be SO horrible if the machine was running correctly, but with FC catastrophically off-schedule (and finishing with a different artistic team than the start), it just heightens the sense of distance.

Unlike SECRET INVASION, FC is tight and focused -- it's a quarter or less of the number of books feeding into it? That's a plus in a way -- how many times has the readership complained about having to buy "too much" stuff? -- but it feels distant and walled off to me.

The latest issue (#4) takes a jump of a few weeks. How many? Well, at least enough time to have new factories, to change all of the billboards in the nation, and the theater marquees. That would seem (to me) to be a significant amount of time, possibly months. That feels more like a (secret) invasion to me, at least.

A "ragtag bunch of freedom fighters" is left, though the choices aren't (to me) all that plausible -- Wonder Woman and Batman have fallen, but Black Canary and Green Arrow avoided it? Babs Gordon "turned off the internet", without having been converted by it? How does any of that work?

Relax, turn off your mind, and float upstream, I guess?

Still, I like what Morrison's doing here, and my customers seem to as well, FC #2&3 sold better than SI #2&3 (SI #1 kicked FC #1's ass, however) -- but person after person is saying "how does this tie into [insert storyline]?!?!" So it might be, for us, that my customer's haven't abandoned the DCU as much as the DCU abandoned THEM.

I'd give FC, to this point, a very high OK (maybe even a low GOOD), but there's no sense anywhere from anyone that the DCU is heading anywhere in particular in the post-FC game. That's going to be a major problem -- I don't for foresee a good 2009 for the DCU.


****

As always, what do YOU think?

-B

Labels: Brian

Click Here to Read More...

It's a field trip report for those of you who care about such things... find it under the jump... (with some cute pics, as well!)



It was just Ben's birthday, and is my wont, I took him for a trip. Theoretically, these are "father/son" trips, but this year Ben wanted Mama to come along as well, and since it's HIS birthday, we went along with his plan.

Like last year, we headed south for Disneyland (but I'm not set on this being a Disney trip every year... taking ideas for next year already, folks!), but because Mama was with us, we made it a little more of a production number than last year.

Last year it was a "day trip" -- we went in the night before, went straight to bed at a motel, then spent the whole day at the park. THIS year, we left butt-early on Sunday, and came back on the last flight on Monday night, giving us two full park days.

Also, because Mama was with us, we decided to not stay in the cheap motel across the street (I liked the Park Vue Inn... it is a clean place to sleep, about 1/3 of the price, AND it is actually physically closer to the front door of the park), and instead stayed at the Disneyland hotel. The only real advantage there is that the Disneyland hotel has a MUCH nicer pool, with a huge model of Captain Hook's pirate ship, and some water slides (which, uh, Ben can't actually use because he doesn't KNOW how to swim [yet], and we can't slide down in tandem). We made a point of getting in an hour or two at the pool because of that... but it really isn't worth the triple price by itself.

I've noted Ben's affection for Ariel from THE LITTLE MERMAID, which, can I say, it sorta surprises me that she doesn't have a bigger Disneyland presence, as she appeals to both boys AND girls, and she basically single-handedly saved Disney animation in the 1980s...

But she's got a little statue by the (heated!) little kid's pool, so here's the first of the cutie-pie pics....

From CE

(let's hope that worked... thanks to Jeff Lester for putting the pic up and giving me the HTML...)

Anyway, we started the first day at the California Adventure park, the newer of the two parks on the complex. We did this because, mostly, we'd never been there before (either together, or singly). It's alright, and it looks and feels a lot more like a "traditional" amusement park -- it sure felt to me that there were longer walks between rides, and it doesn't have that super-compact feeling that, say, Fantasyland has.

We started the morning by beelining to the... well, I don't remember the proper name, it's something like "Grizzly Mountain White-water rafting", and it's your basic water-coaster, except that it spins a bit, like a whitewater raft. It's fun, but we probably should have done the "Flying over California" ride first thing, because by the time we got back there at the end of our day, the line was WAY too long to wait through. Oh well.

We went over to the pier area, and no one was willing to go on the Sky Wheel with me (chickens!), not even with the non-moving cars. Bah. We did some sort of rise-and-drop ride, which Ben liked, but I was bored with, and Ben couldn't go on the big coaster (height reasons), so we opted for standing in line for the "hot new ride", Toy Story 4-D. That took nearly an hour (ugh!), but it was nearly worth it, as it is a really clever updating of the Buzz Lightyear Astro-Blasters in dland proper. With a 15 minute wait, we'd have done it several times, it was that cool, but the line was really hellish.

Then Ben wanted to go on the Merry-Go-Round, so we did that (it was King Triton themed, about as close to Ariel as we could get), and the ride operator decided, unprompted, that Ben should be "Prince Ben", and he got a little crown and was announced to all of the other kids on the ride. That was nice for the boy, though I noticed when he repeated the ride (no line for a carousel!) that the operator wasn't naming a prince or princess on each go round, so not sure what the thinking was there. Still, nice surprise!

By then we're hot and tired, so its food time. Ugh, this is the real difference in staying two days -- you're basically eating three meals a day on dland property, and they are EXPENSIVE. Yikes, brutally so...!

(I thought Tzipora's burrito was horrific, but my Chinese Chicken Salad was pretty decent)

We then wandered over to the "Bug's Life" area (so much space devoted to such a minor movie!), which is okay-ish, but is really aimed at teeny kids. Ben will be too old for that next year, but this year he was fine with the gentle rides, and the joke of a bumper cars, and especially the "sprinkler park" (which purported to teach you about how irrigation worked in large scale farming, but was mostly an excuse for kids to get SOAKED). It was a hot enough day that by the time we walked to the next section, Ben was mostly dry.

I quite liked the "Hollywood" area, which has this GIANT illusion of a summer day, and a street receding into infinity down it. Must be 60 feet high, and Ben and I talked about how they do that kind of visual trickery for film, so it was almost even educational. Had we more time, I kind of wanted to go into more of the exhibits in the Hollywood area (how animation is done, that kind of thing), but the day was quickly creeping closed, so we limited ourselves to the Monsters Inc ride (a classic "Dark ride", which like all of them, doesn't make a ton of sense if you haven't seen the movie) (Ben hadn't... but wants to now), and the Muppets 3-D thing which is AWESOME. Seriously, that one alone is worth the price of California Adventure admission, and if we had more time, I would have gone through it a few more times. It was both hysterically and injokey, but it also had some of the best 3-D I've ever seen anywhere, as well as environmental things happening in the theater. Great great stuff.

I wanted to do the Twilight Zone "Tower of Terror", but neither Tzipora or Ben did, and I got outvoted, so we headed back to the hotel for some swimtime. Overall, the Hollywood area was the only part of the CA park that I actually *liked*. the rest was fun, but not stellar.

After swimming for a while, the family was bushed. We ordered in some room service (ugh, expensive!), and Tzipora and Ben crashed, hard.

I was still awake enough (it was barely 9!), and Disneyland was open until midnight, so I left them sleeping and went on the prowl with myself. It's fun walking around by yourself in a park at night with your iPod giving you your own soundtrack, I have to say!

I tried to hop back over to CA, to do the TZ thing, but that park closes at 9. Um, OK. Dland it is, then!

Since I knew he was too small for it (4 more inches to go!) I made for the Indiana Jones ride. The first pass through was about a 30 minute wait, but after that a staffer said to me that the ride had a "single rider" option, and I could skip the line if I wanted to do it again. Which I did. Three more times.

Here's a good place to note this: most of the rides (in both parks) SUCK for three people. Why? Because most of the time most rides only seat two across, which meant one of us rode with Ben, while the other was stuck alone. And, OF COURSE, Ben wanted to do most of the rides with D-A-D-D-Y, leaving Tzipora as the third wheel. Not fun for her.

(Indy seats 4 across, which is why they can do single rider to fill in the holes)

So: go to Disneyland in multiples of two if you want to have the best time, is the lesson!

(And, ask for "single rider" on Indy, instead of standing in the line the first time!)

I also did the Haunted Mansion solo (twice), since I just love the Nightmare Before Xmas decorations this time of year.

I missed the fireworks, though, because I was waiting for Indy...

Anyway, we get up early on Monday to pack as much in as we can. Monday was the first time I'd ever personally experienced the Santa Ana winds. HOLY COW. Now I understand how those SoCal wildfires happen. Especially standing at the monorail station in "downtown Disney", it was like being inside of a shotgun, the wind was blowing so hard!

Once in Disneyland itself, it wasn't too bad, but man that monorail station was a rare form of torture!

Last year we went mid-week, and the lines were all pretty small -- except for last year's "hot new ride" (The Finding Nemo Submarine ride), which was at least an hour, and we skipped) -- nothing took more than, say, 15-20 minutes. THIS year we went during Columbus Day, so lines were AT LEAST twice as long. Another lesson learned! We did about 20-25 rides in '07, but this year I think we made a dozen?

Knowing my boy's taste, we stuck mostly to the Jungleland/New Orleans Square area in the morning -- Haunted Mansion (twice!), Pirates of the Caribbean (this is where Tzipora started to say "Wow, this is amazing!"), then Ben and I climbed around the Tarzan treehouse while Tzipora used the Single Rider trick to do Indy. (She was GLOWING after that one!)

Tzipora still wasn't done with indy when we were ready, so I talked the staff into letting me and Ben "do the line" for Indy. The line area is at least as cool as the ride itself, going through an "archeological dig", with runes on the walls, and spike traps and stuff, and even Indy's office in the back, where the normal line doesn't actually go (that's where singles and Handicaps line up). Technically, they were breaking the rules, but we got a personal tour of the Dig, and Ben was happier than a pig in shit, even without being able to do the RIDE. We got through it at about the same time as Tzipora did the ride, so we exited as a family which was nice.

It was hot then, and definitely Sit-Down time, so we did a no-line "Jungle Cruise" (Which Ben adored more than I would have imagined), and also did the Enchanted Tiki Room. It's easy to dismiss those kinds of rides as an adult, but 5 year olds really do seem to love them, plus they rested and refreshed us.

Off to Tomorrowland, where we did Star Tours, and Buzz Lightyear (twice!), and Space Mountain (Tzipora vows she'll NEVER do a coaster again, but Ben loves the mountain just like his Daddy, yes!). If the lines hadn't been so long, all day long, I probably would have tried to do Honey I Shrunk the Audience and the World of Tomorrow, but we were beginning to run short on time.

Tzipora, for some reason, was dead-set on doing Nemo, so I let her and Ben do that while I took a little chill-out time for myself, hurray. They said it was worth the 45 minute line, but I doubt that, myself.

Then it was the big one: Jedi Academy.

This is an outdoors, in-the-round kind of show, where a "Jedi Master" picked 10 or so kids to be "Padawans", and taught them how to use a lightsaber. They do this maybe 5 times a day, so only about 50 kids a day get to participate, out of the 10k+ that go through the park. Last year, I steered around it, but this year Ben was eager to try.

What's cool is that the floor opens up and Darth Vader (and sometimes Darth Maul?) comes out, and "fights" the kids.

Long story short, Ben was lucky enough to be one of the kids picked (it prolly helps that he looks like a young Luke Skywalker... and that his dad was standing behind him waving HIS hands as well!)

Let me tell you, as an American male who was 9 years old when STAR WARS was released (and I saw it 2 weeks-ish pre-release, too, with the print we watched having the Biggs-on-Tatoonie scenes), there was nothing NOTHING that's given me as much as a thrill since seeing Ben BORN, as watching him fight Darth Vader! Yah, boyeeee!

Now you can thrill as well...:

From CE

Our day was approaching done, but we had time for ONE more ride, and we picked a (probably THE) classic Fantasyland ride: Peter Pan. I wanted Tzipora to see a "classic" Dark Ride, and I think we picked well.

Then it was time to start heading back (already?!?!), with us still not making it back to Toon Town for the second year in a row.

FOR SURE *if* we go back again it will be midweek (I'll pull him out of school, if I need to) for the smaller lines mean being able to do a WHOLE lot more rides.

I'd say we had a great time -- Ben certainly did, which is the important thing, and he got to be a Prince, speak to Jack Sparrow, and fight Darth Vader, which was more than was on his agenda in the first place.

Bringing your wife, staying on dland property, staying for two park days, all of that QUADRUPLED expenses from last year, but I have no problem working a little harder to give the little guy that much fun. Next time (IF), we definitely go back to doing it CHEAPLY, however.

That was my trip, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it.


-B

(oh, and Virgin airlines? Very nice carrier. I'd take them again anytime, for sure)

Labels: Ben, Brian, Disneyland

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I'm nearly caught up, honestly -- and this week has both FINAL CRISIS *and* SECRET INVASION, so I think it will be time for the compare-and-contrast I've been threatening to Graeme for the last few weeks....

2000 AD #1605
2000 AD #1606
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #574
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #13
BART SIMPSON COMICS #44
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #6 (OF 12)
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #11
BETTY & VERONICA #238
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #165
BIRDS OF PREY #123
BLUE BEETLE #32
BROTHERS IN ARMS #4
CAPTAIN AMERICA #43
CRIMINAL 2 #6
CYBLADE #1 MAYS CVR A
DAREDEVIL #112
DC UNIVERSE HALLOWEEN 08
DEAN KOONTZS FRANKENSTEIN VOL 01 #4 (OF 5) PRODIGAL SON
DMZ #35
FAMILY DYNAMIC #3 (OF 3)
FEAR AGENT #24 1 AGAINST 1 (PT 3 OF 6)
FINAL CRISIS #4 (OF 7)
FINAL CRISIS SUBMIT #1
GHOST RIDER #28
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #1 (OF 5)
GI JOE A NEW BEGINNING #0
HELLBLAZER #248
HULK #7
INVINCIBLE #54
LADIES MAN (NET) (A)
MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #4
MS MARVEL #32
NEW AVENGERS #46 SI
NEW EXILES #13
NEW WARRIORS #17
RUNAWAYS 3 #3
SAMURAI LEGEND #2 (OF 4)
SCALPED #22
SECRET INVASION #7 (OF 8) SI
SECRET INVASION AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 (OF 3) SI
SHE-HULK 2 #34
SONIC X #38
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #34 VINDICATION PART 3 OF
SUPERMAN NEW KRYPTON SPECIAL #1
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #8 (OF 12)
TERRY MOORES ECHO #7
THOR TRUTH OF HISTORY #1
THUNDERBOLTS #125 SI
TINY TITANS #9
TRINITY #21
TRUE BELIEVERS #4 (OF 5)
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #127
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #1
USAGI YOJIMBO #115
WARHAMMER CONDEMNED BY FIRE #5 (OF 5) CVR A
WILDCATS #4
WOLVERINE MANIFEST DESTINY #1 (OF 4) MD
X-FACTOR #36
X-MEN LEGACY #217 XOS 2

Books / Mags / Stuff
ABC WARRIORS THIRD ELEMENT ROBOT WAR TP
AMERICAN PRESIDENTS SC
CATWOMAN CRIME PAYS TP
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #74 HAVOK
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #75 FALCON
CORRECTIVE MEASURES GN
DUNGEON MONSTRES TP VOL 02
EVIL DEAD TP
HAUNT OF HORROR LOVECRAFT PREM HC
HEAVY LIQUID HC
I LIVE HERE HC
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES HC VOL 01 PX WELCOME JUNGLE
JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE CASE FILES TP VOL 11
MAN OF ROCK BIOGRAPHY OF JOE KUBERT SC
MIGHTY AVENGERS TP VOL 02 VENOM BOMB
MORESUKINE GN
NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER TP VOL 17
NORTHLANDERS TP VOL 01 SVEN THE RETURNED
SHOWCASE PRESENTS WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 02
SKY DOLL PREM HC
SPIRIT FEMME FATALES TP
SSHHHH GN (NEW PTG)
STEVE NILES OMNIBUS TP
STRONTIUM DOG KREELER CONSPIRACY TP
ULTIMATE X-MEN TP VOL 19 ABSOLUTE POWER
VENICE CHRONICLES HC
WARREN ELLIS AETHERIC MECHANICS GN
WEAPON OMEGA TP
X-MEN LONGSHOT PREM HC
Y THE LAST MAN DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 01


What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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Go read the newest TILTING AT WINDMILLS on CBR!

-B

Labels: Brian, Tilting

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Just got back from Disneyland for Ben's 5th birthday party. Sheesh, I'm WRECKED.... and I have to spend today lifting and toting boxes of comics, hurray.

I'll have a report sometime soon, I think -- I have to get through New Comics Arrival, and Selling, then I have to write a TILTING, and somewhere in there I need to sleep, too, and get caught up on email, etc (68 mostly real emails just over the weekend, ugh)...

I'm getting too old for this shit!


A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #91 (A)
AGE OF SENTRY #2 (OF 6)
AIR #3
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #573 NWD
ARCHIE DIGEST #248
ASTONISHING X-MEN #27 MD
ATOMIC ROBO DOGS OF WAR #3 (OF 5)
BATGIRL #4 (OF 6)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #12 RIP
BOOSTER GOLD #13
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #18
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #6
CASEY BLUE BEYOND TOMORROW #6 (OF 6)
CHARLATAN BALL #4
CHRONICLES OF DR HERBERT WEST #1 (OF 6)
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #4
DARKNESS #6 KEOWN CVR A
DC SPECIAL CYBORG #6 (OF 6)
DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #3 (OF 4)
DOCTOR WHO FORGOTTEN #2
DYNAMO 5 #17
EPILOGUE #2
FABLES #77
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #2 (OF 5)
FINAL CRISIS ROGUES REVENGE #3 (OF 3)
FLASH #245
FOOLKILLER WHITE ANGELS #4 (OF 5)
GHOST RIDER #28
GHOSTBUSTERS THE OTHER SIDE #1
GRANT MORRISONS DOCTOR WHO #1
GREATEST HITS #2 (OF 6)
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #31 (C: 0-0-1)
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #6 SI
HAWAIIAN DICK #5
HERESY #1 (OF 4)
HULK MONSTER SIZE SPECIAL #1
I WAS KIDNAPPED BY LESBIAN PIRATES OUTERSPACE #4 (OF 6)
IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD #34 SI
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #19
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #11
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #29
MERCY SPARX #1 (OF 3) BLAYLOCK CVR A
MIGHTY AVENGERS #19 SI
MOON KNIGHT #23
NYX NO WAY HOME #3 (OF 6)
PHANTOM #25 CHECKMATE PART 5 (OF 5)
PUNISHER MAX #63
PVP #41
RASL #3
RED SONJA VACANT SHELL B&W ED
ROBIN #179
SCOOBY DOO #137
SECRET INVASION FRONT LINE #4 (OF 5)
SIMPSONS COMICS #147
SKRULLS VS POWER PACK #4 (OF 4)
SPIRIT #22
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #4
STAR TREK ROMULANS HOLLOW CROWN #2 (OF 2)
STAR WARS CLONE WARS #2 (OF 6)
STEPHEN COLBERTS TEK JANSEN #3 (OF 5) (RES)
STORMWATCH PHD #15
STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #1 CRUZ CVR A
SUPER FRIENDS #8
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #1 Of(6)
SUPERMANS PAL JIMMY OLSEN SPECIAL #1
TITANS #6 (RES)
TRINITY #20
ULTIMATE ORIGINS #5 (OF 5)
UNCANNY X-MEN #503 MD
WELCOME TO HOXFORD #3
X-MEN WORLDS APART #1 (OF 4)
YOUNG X-MEN #7 MD
ZORRO #8

Books / Mags / Stuff
ANNIHILATION CONQUEST TP BOOK 01
ART OF HEAVY METAL 2009 WALL CALENDAR
ART OF LUIS ROYO 2009 WALL CALENDAR
BATMAN CHRONICLES TP VOL 06
BREAKDOWNS PORTRAIT OF ARTIST AS YOUNG HC
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #76 MS MARVEL
COMIC FOUNDRY MAGAZINE FALL 2008
COMICS BUYERS GUIDE #1648 DEC 2008
COMICS JOURNAL #293
CROSSING MIDNIGHT TP VOL 03 SWORD IN THE SOUL
DEAR DRACULA HC
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS TP VOL 01 ENGINES OF DESIRE
DREAMLAND CHRONICLES TP BOOK 01
EX MACHINA TP VOL 07 EX CATHEDRA
GRANT MORRISON SC EARLY YEARS
ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #24
JLA THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW TP
JONAH HEX LUCK RUNS OUT TP
LEES TOY REVIEW #192 OCT 2008
LOST OFFICIAL MAGAZINE #19 PX ED
MAGIC TRIXIE GN VOL 02 SLEEPS OVER
MARVEL ADVENTURES THE AVENGERS DIGEST VOL 07
MORESUKINE GN
ROUGH STUFF #10
SCALPED TP VOL 03 DEAD MOTHERS
SENTENCES THE LIFE OF MF GRIMM TP
SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 BRAND NEW DAY
WALKING DEAD 2009 CALENDAR
WAR IS HELL FIRST FLIGHT PHANTOM EAGLE MAX PREM HC
WILL EISNERS SPIRIT ARCHIVES HC VOL 25



What looks good to YOU?

-B

Labels: Brian, Shipping Lists

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