Previews Review for April 2002 by Randy Lander While my Snap Judgments reviews cover books as they are released, I'm as avid a follower of "what's next" as anyone else. Thus these Preview reviews, covering the Diamond Previews that allow fans to preorder comics from their local retailer. This installment covers the February previews for comics due to ship out in April 2002. Some other places to get more information on preordering, as well as other takes on what is most important in the previews, can be had from Chris Ekman (Things to Come) and Johanna Draper Carlson (Comics Worth Reading), among others. Well, in April I'll be celebrating (or maybe mourning) my 31st birthday, and though the major publishers have let me down a bit in terms of new offerings, the smaller publishers seem more than happy to give me stuff on which to spend my birthday cash. PICK OF THE MONTH: If I were only going to order one thing for this month, this would be it. Amy Unbound Volume 1: Belondweg Blossoming TP (Pug House Press) - It's an unfortunate truth that many comics readers just don't read mini-comics, whether it's due to prejudice against the format or simply the difficulty in acquiring them. Thankfully, one of my favorite mini-comics, the charming fantasy/coming-of-age story of Amy Unbound, is being published in a full-fledged trade paperback. This is the first big story arc that creator Rachel Hartmann has tackled, taking her 10-year-old protagonist Amy through the trials and tribulations of women in a fictional but well-realized medieval world. It combines the best elements of works like Akiko, Castle Waiting and Bone, and I can only hope that the sales on this volume will be enough that she will be consider printing more of the series in trade paperback form. If you want a sample of what Amy Unbound is like, skip over to http://www.amyunbounded.com/, where you can get a sense of the characters, the author, read some reviews and, if you are so inclined, order a few mini-comics to get a preview of what this book is going to be like. OTHER SELECTIONS OF NOTE: Batman in the Fifties TP (DC) - I shudder at the thought. This is a reprint of a Batman era best left buried, pitting a jolly caped crusader and his chipper chum Robin against aliens, talking apes and giant robots and introducing such characters as the Bat-Hound and Bat-Mite. Might be fun in a cringe-worthy way, like watching the Adam West television series, but I think I'll give this one a miss. Robin: Year One TP (DC) - This was a great read with beautiful artwork, and I'm glad to see it getting the trade paperback treatment, especially at a price that's about five dollars less than the original series. As a special bonus, the release of the trade means a re-offering of Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet, a prestige format standalone tale that shows Dick Grayson taking his "final exam" to get out of training and become Robin, and it has stunning artwork by Lee Weeks. Green Lantern: Legacy - The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan HC (DC) - As always, I plan on waiting for a trade paperback collection of this original graphic novel, which DC promises "will not be offered with an in-store date earlier than October 2002" (read: I should be able to get my softcover copy in October 2002). Joe Kelly has been very hit or miss for me with his projects, but Brent Anderson's artwork will no doubt be lovely, and I'm interested enough in the story idea to give it a look when the softcover comes out. Lab Rats #1 (DC) - A creator-owned series set in the DC Universe by a famed creator from the 1980s... because it worked so well for Sovereign Seven. I've honestly got little interest in a lot of what Byrne has to offer these days, and Lab Rats doesn't look any different, but I have to at least give DC credit for working such an innovative creators' rights deal, and I'm sure that fans of Byrne's recent work will be glad to have some new work to follow from him. High Roads #1 (DC/Cliffhanger) - An action-adventure title, set during World War II, with artwork by Leinil Francis Yu? That much excites me, it's just the writer, Scott Lobdell, who leaves me cold. Lobdell's work has rarely clicked with me, whether it's on high-profile super-heroes like the X-Men or intriguing creator-owned work like Hellhole and Ball & Chain. I'd like to believe that High Roads will be different, but I'm not holding my breath. Midnight Mass #1 (DC/Vertigo) - John Rozum, on the other hand, is a name I've heard far too infrequently in recent years, and I'm thrilled to see him working on a new mini-series from Vertigo. His work on the cult favorite Xombi from Milestone, as well as the X-Files, has shown him to have an off-beat sense of humor and involving writing style, and the story of a married pair of paranormal investigators sounds right up his alley. I might be a little nervous about the artwork by Jesus Sais, given my dislike of the art on JLA: Black Baptism, but I had the chance to check out some black and white copies at San Diego last year, and it looked pretty sharp. This is one to keep an eye out for. Athena Inc. #1 (Image) - The one-shot that presented this strange blend of espionage and science-fiction was an intriguing effort, and I'm glad to see the regular series following in its footsteps. The format is something like illustrated prose, which fits the beautiful painted artwork of Jay Anacleto and the writing style of Brian Holguin just fine, and this fits right in with my enjoyment of shows like Alias and Dark Angel. Bastard Samurai #1 (Image) - I've got an appreciation for samurai that I can't explain beyond "samurai are cool," and the stylish artwork of Kelsey Shannon and Mike Oeming makes for a strong visual argument as well. Throw in a modern setting, Yakuza involvement for a bit of crime flavor and an impressive preview in this month's Powers, and I'm definitely interested in seeing how this one comes out. Obergeist: Directors' Cut TP (Image/Top Cow) - I'm disappointed to see that the trade contains a "crucial scene not present in the mini or the one-shot," which seems like a cheap ploy to get those who already bought the series to pick up the trade for a few pages. However, that disappointment is for other people, as it was always my intent to wait for a trade on Obergeist, and now that it's here, I'll most likely be picking it up. Kabuki Vol. VI: Scarab HC (Image) - Though I'm anxious to read this, the last time I picked up a hardcover of Kabuki, it sat with the rest of my graphic novel pile until after the softcover was released. Since I'd rather have the softcover, I think I'll wait. However, what I've seen of the contents reprinted here is as impressive as the rest of Mack's Kabuki work, with more conventional artwork by Rick Mays but the same crime/psychological style in the writing. Black Widow: Pale Little Spider #1 (Marvel/MAX) - Greg Rucka and Igor Kordey on an espionage-centric book? I can't imagine a more perfect creative team, and I'm definitely onboard. Taking the sexy Black Widow into the world of underground bondage clubs would seem more in the realm of Avatar or Chaos!, but with talented creators at the helm, I expect this to be sensual, not lurid, and no doubt action-filled as well. Wolverine & Elektra: The Redeemer (Marvel) - I'm a little miffed that Marvel didn't release this project as an oversized hardcover in the first place, since I'd rather have it in that format, but I can't justify spending the money twice. However, if you're one of those who hasn't bought this series in its prestige format incarnation, trust me that this is well worth the money and the format, and probably one of the best things offered this month (even if it's not due out until May.) Daredevil: Yellow (Marvel) - I'm still unsure whether I loved this enough to pick up a hardcover or simply wait for a softcover edition, but the Loeb/Sale story of Daredevil's early days is definitely worthy of this deluxe format, and at $30 for the entire series, not a bad deal at all. Captain America #1 (Marvel Knights) - Honestly, if the rumors of Greg Rucka writing this were true, I'd be jumping up and down with excitement to read this. However, John Ney Rieber did turn in a few years on Books of Magic that I greatly enjoyed, and John Cassaday is a fantastic artist. I'm a fan of Captain America, and I'm interested to see if these creators can make him relevant and entertaining without losing the core of the character. Startling Stories: The Megalomaniacal Spider-Man (Marvel) - Peter Bagge on Spider-Man. It's a world gone mad. The basic premise, Spidey being guided by a less saintly Uncle Ben, is so simple that I'm amazed no one has used it in a "What If?" story before, and Bagge's approach is sure to be hilarious and over-the-top. I can't wait. Morlocks #1 and X-Factor #1 (Marvel) - The trend of more X-Men expansion is not a good one, given that paring down the line was job number one for Quesada when he took over at Marvel. However, additional mini-series are not as bad as additional ongoings, and both of these writers have earned my trust. Geoff Johns hasn't really let me down yet, and Jeff Jensen did a lot for comics with his reviews in Entertainment Weekly, plus both of these are looks at more unexplored corners of the mutant universe. Though I'm not looking forward to the addition of any new ongoings, I'm definitely interested in these two mini-series. Marvel Mangaverse #1 (Marvel) - Overall, I was pretty disappointed in the mangaverse, so I'm not really all that excited to see it making a monthly return. However, it's something different, a nice expansion of Marvel's style, and it seems to have gained some appreciation from the fans, so more power to Ben Dunn for landing the assignment. I don't know that I'll be watching with interest, but it seems many others will be. Deadline #1 (Marvel) - This one, on the other hand, I'm quite excited about, since I'm a fan of journalism stories and the "man on the street" viewpoint that this one boasts, and I'm an enormous fan of Guy Davis's artwork. In addition, what scripts and writing I have seen from Bill Rosemann have been pretty decent, so I'm interested to see what he'll serve up. Fury TP (Marvel/MAX) - Though I was unimpressed by the first issue of the series, I warmed up to it as the book rolled on, and it still feels like Ennis-lite, but it wound up being a lot of fun. In addition, Darick Robertson's artwork is beautiful as always, and I want to support the MAX line, so I'll be picking up the trade collection of this series. Cable: The Shining Path TP (Marvel) - Also a little uneven, thanks to an enormous cast of characters, this collection of the new Cable is remarkable for how different it is from all Cable interpretations that have gone before. Igor Kordey seems to quickly be gaining recognition as an artistic superstar as well, so this is a good read for those who want to see why he won such acclaim so quickly. True Facts TP (AiT/Planet Lar) - Possibly the best answer to "how do I break into comics?" you could give anyone, True Facts was a fantastic column by Larry Young over at Savant magazine about how to create comics, focused on doing it yourself. It's informative and often very funny, and the addition of new material, as well as a clean-up job to transform a series of Internet columns into a book, should make this a must-buy even for those who have read the online columns. Frayed Ends #1 (Alebrije Press) - This sounds like one part broken romance, one part slice-of-life and just a touch of fantasy, and it's a recipe for interesting comics. I'm fortunate to be receiving a preview copy of this comic for review, but if I weren't, I would probably order it based on the premise, a well-designed cover and advertisement and some interesting looking art. Halo & Sprocket #1 (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor) - The story of a robot, an angel and a young woman living together and dealing with the "idiosyncrasies of life" sounds like a lot of fun. I was drawn in by the mention of art by Oni mainstays Jim Mahfood and Mike Huddleston, but after seeing the preview at the Slave Labor website, I'm even more interested in reading this series. You can take a look at the preview of the series HERE. Forge #1/Edge #1 (Crossgen Comics) - Though Crossgen's books mostly aren't my cup of tea, they deserve to be credited for all they're doing right, and the Forge/Edge experiment seems to be one of those occasions. At first glance it seems a silly idea, a bunch of unmatched stories published in $10 compilations, and in fact these do seem a bad match for the direct market, where single issues or trades work. However, for a mainstream market, this kind of digest package is a great idea, and if Crossgen can get these distributed outside the comics shops, they could greatly expand their readership. I'd like to see some of the other big publishers like Marvel, DC and even Image give this a try as well. Revolving Hammer (Cyberosia Publishing) - Thus far, I've read two of Cyberosia's books and skimmed another one, and they've all been very good to excellent. Thus my interest in Revolving Hammer, an anthology from the publisher. It's a shame that they didn't mention the creators in the solicitation, however, as I believe they include such notables as Frightening Curves's Antony Johnston, as well as several other creators I like but can't remember at the moment. My Friend Dahmer #1 (Derfcity Comics) - And in the "weird as hell" category, we have this autobiographical comic about a friendship the author had with serial killer (and cannibal) Jeffrey Dahmer. It seems a little lurid and creepy for my tastes, but I have to give creator... er... "Derf" credit for doing something different enough to catch the eye. PVP Hat Trick #1 (Dork Storm Press) - I'm holding out for a full-fledged trade, but readers who enjoy Dork Tower, Knights of the Dinner Table or pretty much any kind of "geek humor" strip would be advised to check out the PVP Hat Trick, which collects all the original material from the first three issues of PVP into one affordable book. Since my biggest complaint about the comic has been reproductions of the online strips in small and unattractive formats, this will contain only the stuff I like about PVP, and that's quite a lot. Check out PVP Online for a daily sample. Transformers: Generation 1 #1 (Dreamwave) - I don't have the fondness for Transformers that I did for G.I. Joe, but this still pushes my nostalgia buttons. More to the point, the artwork released so far looks damn cool, including the promo posters with Optimus Prime and Megatron on them. I'm a little worried that a wave of 80s nostalgia could become a typhoon of poor spin-off products, but Transformers seems to be one of those properties worth bringing back, and I will no doubt descend into geekish nostalgia once again when Transformers hits the stands. The Forgotten #1 (Fintan Studios) - This sounds like a really intriguing murder mystery, and the solicitation gives me enough tidbits to make me very curious about the title. Though I'm unfamiliar with any of the creators, the ability to write such a compelling promo blurb bodes well, and the promo image from cover artist Tom Derenick is quite striking. Ex Parte #1 (Lone Star Press) - Similar to Supernatural Law, Ex Parte promises to take a look at how the law and super-heroes interact in the courtroom. It's described as a blend of Astro City and Law & Order, and if it can be only half as good as that combination sounds, I'll be anxiously awaiting each issue. Another mark in its favor is that Ex Parte will be single issue, standalone stories, so the only question is whether the creators can live up to the great potential of the concept. Boneyard Volume 1 TP (NBM) - I've heard nothing but good things about Richard Moore's comedy/drama story Boneyard, which features the unusual setting of a graveyard full of friendly undead. In addition, Moore's Far West, a fantasy/western, was a treat in both art and story. Moore seems to have a mind for unusual concepts, and the talent to deliver them in entertaining (and often humorous) style, and I'm pleased to see this series available in trade format so quickly. To Afghanistan and Back HC (NBM) - On the other hand, I haven't read much of Ted Rall, but the notion of a comic created by someone who jumped on a plane to Afghanistan right after the events of 9-11 is certainly an unusual one. I'm unsure that I want to try out a creator for the first time with a hardcover format, but if this ships on a slow week, or if there's a softcover, I'll definitely check it out. Dumped GN (Oni Press) - I'm not sure there are words more beautiful in the English language than "Original Graphic Novel by Andi Watson." Breakfast After Noon was fantastic, Slow News Day is even better, and I'm anxious to see what Watson will deliver in this newest project for Oni Press. The premise, a chance meeting with the potential for romance, sounds right up Watson's alley, and this is one of my most anticipated projects for April. Atomic City Tales Volume 1: Go Power TP (Oni Press) - Jay Stephens's work has been unusual and entertaining, and this reprinting of his early work sounds like a lot of fun. Stephens's approach sounds similar to Mike Allred's when it comes to super-heroes, and I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but the Atomic City Tales does sound like something unusual and funny. Pounded: The Official Comic Book Soundtrack CD (Oni Press) - Oni has delivered a few comics that are heavily influenced by music, including Hopeless Savages and Blue Monday. To create a soundtrack CD as a companion for their newest series Pounded is a stroke of genius, and I hope that this is such a success that it inspires future musical compilations. Tower #1 (Sirius) - Those of us who read The Waiting Place have already read Sean McKeever and Jason Alexander collaborating on a science-fiction story. Those of you who have not read "The Tower" yet should definitely pick up this issue, which collects the Waiting Place backup stories into one issue. Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.