Previews Review for May 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 March previews for comics due to ship out in May 2002. Some other places to get more information on preordering, as well as some very different 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. In May, we'll see a couple of hopefully big events for the comics industry. One is the Spider-Man movie, which Marvel looks plenty ready to capitalize on, and the other is Free Comic-Book Day, which most retailers will hopefully be ready to capitalize on. Judging by this month's Previews, though, it's Oni Press who will be ruling the comics shop come May. PICK OF THE MONTH: If I were only going to order one thing for this month, this would be it. Fables #1 (DC/Vertigo) - Bill Willingham's work at Vertigo has placed him on my very short "must buy" writer list, and I'm really delighted to see that he is getting an ongoing series. The premise fits his style perfectly, with the dark cast of various fairy tales (before they were sanitized for kids) existing alongside the modern world, and it sounds like an ideal setting for humor and imaginative characterization. And though I'm generally not a huge fan of rotating artists, the first two lined up sound pretty good, and I've come to trust editor Shelly Bond's judgment on artists as well. Fables seems more like early Vertigo style, without relying on the underpinnings of dark fantasy that Neil Gaiman created in Sandman, and I suspect it could become a major hit for them. OTHER SELECTIONS OF NOTE: Lone Wolf 2100 #1 (Dark Horse) - Lone Wolf & Cub wasn't my cup of tea, so I really didn't have much interest in a "futuristic re-imagining" of the characters either. However, that was before I realized that Francisco Ruiz Velasco, who did such phenomenal work on Battlegods, was doing the artwork. I'm still not quite intrigued enough to pick it up in single issue form, but if there's a trade, I'm pretty much onboard for that for the art alone. Angel: Long Night's Journey TP (Dark Horse) - I'm anxiously awaiting the end of Fray so that Dark Horse can publish the trade of that, but in the meantime, they've offered up Whedon's other foray into the Buffy comics, his four-issue Angel mini-series. Angel is co-written by Brett Matthews, and it takes a more super-heroic approach to the character, and I've generally found it to be decent but not really stellar. However, it's an interesting take on the television characters, and Joss Whedon fans could do a lot worse than to pick this up while waiting for the Fray trade. Green Lantern #150 (DC) - Despite my appreciation for Judd Winick, I still haven't been able to enjoy the adventures of Kyle Rayner. However, the 150th issue has got me intrigued, promising a possible return of the Green Lantern Corps and a look at the various other Green Lanterns. I doubt very much that anyone but Kyle will wind up Green Lantern at the end of the issue, but a return of the Corps would mean a return of one of the concepts that made Green Lantern enjoyable for me. The Absolute Authority Vol. 1 Oversized HC (Wildstorm) - I have all the original issues, and my enthusiasm for this series has been dampened by the editorial, scheduling and creative problems that finally ended the book, so I doubt I'll be picking up this oversized and expensive hardcover. However, for those who haven't gotten the series already, this will no doubt be a better presentation than the two trades, featuring better paper and an oversized approach that will do justice to Bryan Hitch's stunning artwork. Human Target: Final Cut HC (DC/Vertigo) - Human Target is one of the all-time great Vertigo mini-series, and one of the best action comics ever created. Having Milligan return to the character is enough to get excited about, but for DC to put it out as an original graphic novel instead of a serial format is even better. It's a shame that Edvin Biukovic isn't with us to provide artwork for this chapter as well, but I'm sure that Javier Pulido's work will be fantastic as well, and though I wish there were a softcover release rather than a hardcover, I'm prepared to pay $30 to read more of Milligan's take on this character. The Names of Magic TP (DC/Vertigo) - Indie favorite Dylan Horrocks, along with artist Richard Case, has changed Tim Hunter forever, and their take on the character began in this mini-series. This is a more adult look at Tim Hunter, less about the foibles of youth and more about the world of magic, and it's a fitting sequel for those who have only read Gaiman's Books of Magic as well as for those who followed the Books of Magic ongoing series by Ney Rieber and Gross. Bulletproof Monk TP (Image) - Bulletproof Monk was a gem that many (including me) overlooked when it came out, and I'm glad to get this second chance at it. With artwork by Mike Avon Oeming, I know it will be gorgeous, and the story sounds like a really great martial arts story. Powers #21 (Image) - It's another new jumping-on point for Powers, which remains one of my favorite titles month-in and month-out. The promotional image by Mike Oeming is fantastic, and the premise of the story sounds like the sort of "anti-hero" uprising story that is a staple of super-hero fiction, which ought to make interesting reading given the different point-of-view and approach that Powers provides. The Hood #1 (Marvel/MAX) - I love a good crime book, and Vaughan's story about a new super-villain sounds like exactly the kind of thing I'd like to read. Art by Kyle Hotz is icing on the cake, as I've really enjoyed his work on Incredible Hulk and The Agency. This seems like a super-hero story by way of Richard Stark or Elmore Leonard, and I can't wait to read it. Spider-Man Movie tie-ins (Marvel) - Marvel is verging on flooding the market with all their Spider-Man merchandise for the movie, but all of it looks so good it's hard to complain. Loeb and Sale are always entertaining, and the brief preview of Spider-Man: Blue #1 in Wizard has whetted my appetite for more of that. Spider-Man: Quality of Life #1 is written by my favorite current writer, Greg Rucka, with art by newcomer Scott Sava in a very unusual style. I actually saw some of this artwork in San Diego last year and was really impressed. And then there's the Ultimate Spider-Man Special #1, which features a jaw-dropping list of guest artists that makes Ultimate Marvel Team Up look like a mere drop in the ocean. With Axel Alonso at the helm, all of the regular Spider-Man books have been terrific, and this month is no exception, with guest artist Humberto Ramos joining Paul Jenkins on Peter Parker, Brian Azzarello co-writing a "Crusher" Hogan story with wrestler Raven for Tangled Web and the Green Goblin returning (with a new and hopefully better look) in Ultimate Spider-Man. Basically, when the Spider-Man movie hits, there will be no weak spots in Marvel's Spider-Man line-up, and that's impressive. Deadpool #67 (Marvel) - I know I mentioned Gail Simone and Udon taking over this title two months ago, but I just have to say... Dazzler in her original disco costume makes me laugh already, so I can't wait to see the full book. I really do suspect we'll be seeing something of a renaissance for Deadpool soon. G.I. Joe Vol. 2 & Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3 TP (Marvel) - I'm impressed with how quickly Marvel is turning around some of their trades, with a bi-monthly G.I. Joe release schedule and a new volume of Ultimate Spider-Man just after the arc has been finished. I wish that DC would follow the same trend with a few of their series. Blaze of Glory TP (Marvel) - On the other hand, this one took way too long to be collected. However, at least Marvel is rectifying that mistake now, reprinting this fantastic western action story by John Ostrander and Leonardo Manco, just in time for the sequel, Apache Skies, to come out next month. If you are at all a fan of westerns, you really need to pick up this book. Beautiful Killer Preview (Black Bull) - Leaving aside that Palmiotti's writing style has been enjoyable on work like Gatecrasher, Deadpool and Superboy or that Phil Noto's cover art from Birds of Prey caught my eye in a way only artists like Dave Johnson have before... Beautiful Killer still looks really intriguing. A female assassin isn't the most original concept in the world, but it's almost always an entertaining premise, and the artwork looks phenomenal. Madman Picture Exhibition #2 (AAA Pop Comics) - I missed out on this one last I was solicited, but it turns out that it is a collection of artwork depicting Madman from a variety of big names, including Kyle Baker, Brian Bolland, Matt Wagner and a bunch of others. This will be a real treat for fans of Madman, but even those who aren't fans of the character will find a lot to like in these pin-ups by a "who's who" of artistic talent. Crisis GN (Accomplished Productions) - I'm not overly familiar with Matt Busch's work, but I'm a fan of the original graphic novel, and $17 for over 200 pages is not a bad price. The promo image and the premise are intriguing, promising a serial killer/action story along the lines of The Bone Collector, and I'm inclined to give it a shot. The Waiting Place Volume 2 Book 1 TP (Slave Labor Graphics) - One of the best drama series on the stands, The Waiting Place has come to an end, and I'm glad to see Slave Labor giving it the collected edition treatment. This is the story of a small town and how a variety of high school kids react to that setting, and it's the kind of "mainstream" comic we could use more of. Clive Barker's Hellraiser Collected Best TP (Checker Books) - Though I'm not an enormous fan of Clive Barker, the talent roster on this trade is impressive. It features horror stories from some big names, including Neil Gaiman, Mike Mignola, Colleen Doran And Alex Ross, and if I were more of a horror fan I'd definitely be snapping it up. Way of the Rat #1 (Crossgen) - Though I was lukewarm to their early releases, Crossgen seems to have hit a concept goldmine lately, as each new release grabs my attention. The Path Prequel didn't disappoint, and I have high hopes for this comedy/action martial arts story written by Chuck Dixon. Jeff Johnson's artwork has always been beautiful, and it seems that a lot of the artists at Crossgen step a notch up in their artwork when they move down there, so I expect the book to be beautiful as well. We Three Kings #1 (Epoch) - I kind of wish that Rick Lundeen would do more than one-shots, as he clearly has a lot of ideas that could use some exploration. However, I suppose these one-shots allow hiim to explore a wide variety of ideas, and the notion of three powerful super-beings with a not-so-nice bent is one that is just as intriguing as the comedic So, You Want to be a Super-Villain? was. Finder Volume 4: Talisman TP (Lightspeed Press) - Not much new to add to this one, except that it's always good to get another volume of Carla Speed McNeil's epic fantasy story. The world-building going on in this series is unmatched, and the artwork is phenomenal. This is one of those series that never seems to get the recognition it deserves, but with McNeil keeping all the trades in print, I have hopes that soon enough it will. Mutant, Texas #1 (Oni Press) - I have a special fondess for this concept, since I live in Texas and have adopted it quite happily as my home. Mutant, Texas is one of those concepts that sounds like a perfect animated series, which is only fitting given that it was originated by Paul Dini, and the glimpses we got of Ida Red, the lead character, were some of my favorite moments in Jingle Belle. Art by J. Bone, the co-creator of Alison Dare, means that the animated style will carry through in the artwork as well. Shot Callerz #1 (Oni Press) - I was a little disappointed in Brett Weldele's work on Couscous Express, but the artwork I've seen from this series so far (including that cover... wow) have been nothing less than stunning. I'm also really glad to see Oni bringing another novelist onboard, and I can't help but remember that it was Oni who introduced me to Greg Rucka back in Whiteout. If Gary Phillips is even half as good, I expect this to be a great series, and perhaps we'll have another great writing talent in the comics industry. Skinwalker #1 (Oni Press) - Nunzio DeFilippis really impressed me with his work on "Officer Down," so I'm glad to see a new project from him. Supernatural crime is a genre I really like, and this has an interesting premise, that of a killer who can jump bodies and a police offer on his trail. Plus, with Brian Hurtt (from Queen & Country) and Arthur Dela Cruz (Kissing Chaos) joining in on art, this looks like a dream project of "creators I want to see more of." Oni's Month (Oni Press) - I've made no secret of my love for Oni's work, but May is an impressive month even with the standards I hold the publisher to. On top of three new series, there are new chapters of Pounded and Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things, both promising new series, and a new (and spectacular, trust me) artist on Queen & Country, which adopts a monthly schedule at last. Then you have the always well-designed Oni trades, collecting two of their best series, Adventures of Barry Ween Vol. 4: Gorilla Warfare TP and Nocturnals: The Dark Forever TP. I am not just blowing smoke here, folks; I truly believe Oni to be the best comics publisher going, and I truly believe May is one of their most impressive months ever. Fade From Blue #1 (Second 2 Some Studios) - Fade From Blue has several things going for it. For one, the premise about four sisters with a polygamist father is just enough of a mix between strange and normal familial relationships that I think it could be a good "slice-of-life" book. For another, the promo art piece looks pretty solid. And finally, the intro price is $1.00 for the first issue, which means there's really very little reason not to give it a chance. Shuck #1: Hallowed Seasonings (Shuck Comics) - Don and I gave this one a review a little while back, and I said a lot of what I had to say about it there... but I'll go ahead and repeat myself here and say that Shuck is very unusual and that the word "charming" just leaps to mind upon reading it. Akiko: Flights of Fancy TP Vol. 1 (Sirius) - This might be an ideal introduction to Akiko for those who haven't sampled the all-ages adventure series. Rather than the plot-heavy continuing story that is currently at five trade paperbacks and counting, this one includes various shorts and pin-ups that demonstrate Mark Crilley's talents. Trenches GN (Top Shelf) - Scott Mills blew me away with his mini-comic Cells and his graphic novel Big Clay Pot, so I'm glad to see him back for another go-round. This time out, his subjects are a pair of brothers in World War I, looking at the dynamics between brothers as well as the effects of war, and I expect it to be beautiful, thought-provoking and entertaining. Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.