Down The Line - Previews review for July 2005 by Randy Lander & Dave Farabee While my Snap Judgments reviews cover books as they are released, I'm as avid a follower of "what's next" as anyone else. So I've teamed up with Dave Farabee, fellow comic book store manager and equally avid follower of the industry, to do these monthly Previews reviews, covering the Diamond Previews that allow fans to preorder comics from their local retailer. This installment covers the May Previews for comics due to ship out in July 2005. Pre-ordering is your friend. If there's stuff you want in July, letting your retailer know before the end of May is the best way to make sure you get it. RANDY: We're in the dead of summer at this point, which means that both major companies are locked in a death struggle for the top of the sales chart involving huge events and crossovers. Since Dave and I aren't really focusing on Infinite Crisis or House of M in our comments, that also means that a lot of what we talk about here may not even get ordered by beleagured comic shop owners, so now is the time to place those preorders if you want to see something a little different than the two flavors of shock and awe being poured out of the big two taps. DAVE: Yep, can't emphasize the preordering enough this go-round. You never know when the next Bone or The Goon is staring you right in the face, so step to the plate and take a chance on some new stuff. And remember, if you're onboard a badass book before it gets hot, you can totally dog on all the Johnny Come Latelies who show up months later... It's your right, it's your duty. As you can see from the above, my comments will be the normal type, and Dave's will be in yellow. You might notice in reading these Previews reviews that we've decided to dispense with the Previews organization and just go strict alphabetical, in order to level the playing field between the big guys and the smaller publishers. To facilitate those seeking more information from the Previews catalog, each entry will include the page number of the solicitation at the end of our comments. RANDY'S PICK OF THE MONTH: The Surrogates #1 (Top Shelf Productions) - RANDY: One of the perks of being a reviewer is that occasionally I get preview copies of books that won't be out for months, and occasionally I know even when everyone else is ordering blind that something is going to be incredible. The Surrogates is one of those times. I've had the chance to read issues one and two of this, a full-color science-fiction miniseries from Top Shelf (in itself an unusual departure) and they are, quite simply, fantastic. The plot is a murder mystery, but it takes place in a world where people hardly ever come out of their home, instead sending out robot "surrogates" that they link up to in order to feel and live, and the story is as much about this widespread societal change and its implications as it is about who's killing these surrogate people in the name of an anti-technology agenda. Brett Weldele delivers some of the best art I've seen from him, with gorgeous, evocative color and as bonus features, each issue features little text pieces like a scholarly dissertation on surrogate technology or a transcript from a case surrounding one of the prime suspects in the murder case. Good speculative science-fiction is rare in comics, and The Surrogates is not to be missed. (page 358) DAVE: I think you just liked it because it was free. I keed! I keed! Sounds great. DAVE'S PICK OF THE MONTH: Strangehaven Volume 3: Conspiracies TP (Abiogenesis Press) - DAVE: I just recently picked up the first volume of Strangehaven ("Arcadia") and I was hugely taken with it. Follows the low-key mysteries surrounding an average guy who finds himself stranded in a small British village populated by a bizarre cast of likeable oddballs. There's a vaguely sinister tingue to things in this series, but just the same, I find myself enjoying the normal, intimate moments between the characters at the pub, at meals, at tea time... Yes, it's very British, and it's also one of the more remarkable comics I've chanced across all year. Time to play catch-up with volumes 2 and 3. (page 206) RANDY: Been hearing about this for a while, but the long delays between issues and the sense that it might just be too damn weird for me has kept me away. I guess I ought to actually give in to the good word of mouth and give it a shot, huh? Absolute Batman: Oversized Hush HC (DC Comics) - DAVE: Biggie-sized version of the overrated Loeb/Lee hit from last year. All 12 issues, a bonus story from Wizard Magazine, and enough Easter Eggs to make the faithful feel like dopes for buying two softcovers. Fiddy bucks, though. Hmm. I wonder if this behometh will ever make softcover? (page 64) RANDY: The Absolute format books generally don't, although lord knows I'd love a cheaper, but just as oversized, version of Absolute Planetary or maybe even Absolute Danger Girl. This is the first DC title to get the Absolute treatment, and I bet that the suits will be watching it closely to see whether further oversized DC reprints are warranted. At fifty bucks for 12 issues, the price is mildly insane, but it's all the Loeb/Lee stuff in one place, so I'm betting it will pay off for DC. The Adventures of Red Sonja Vol. 1: She-Devil with a Sword TPB (D.E.) - DAVE: I might be Robert E. Howarded out after all the Conan material that's seen print of late, but classic Marvel art by the likes of Neal Adams and Frank Thorne interests me, so who knows? (page 276) RANDY: Think my interest in Red Sonja is about nil, but I do have to give credit to D.E. for going with a trade dress that resembles Dark Horse's classic Conan trades, so that these can sit nicely on the shelf for all the old school Marvel barbarian lovers. The Adventurous Decade: Comic Strips in the Thirties TP (Hermes Press) - DAVE: One of my favorite comic-related books is R.C. Harvey's The Art of the Funnies, the first book to open my eyes to the golden age of cartooning in the '30s. Since then, I'm always on the lookout for new books that cover that era, and this long out-of-print outing from comic historian Ron Goulart looks to be a good 'un. Seriously, folks should check this stuff out. It was an era when comic strips artists were king - fought over by all the big newspapers of the era! - and comic strip art was better than ever before or since. (page 388) All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder #1 (DC Comics) - DAVE: As the DC Universe becomes more and more inhospitable to fun, I'm banking on this book to show folks how its done. It'll be risky, though. There's the volatile Frank Miller on writing (will we get "Dark Knight" Miller or "DK2" Miller?), and Jim Lee as the surefire crowd-pleaser on art (he's in my "solid" category, but I'll never be a fan). From what I understand of the All Star line, it's meant to showcase core DC heroes out of current continuity and in more classic environs (so Robin, for instance, will be Dick Grayson), while keeping the storytelling techniques firmly modern. The model story, we've been told, is Alan Moore's terrific Superman tale, "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?". A hit? A miss? We'll know pretty quick when it hits, 'cause retailers are gonna order this book in record numbers. (page 62) RANDY: Frank Miller has written my favorite Batman tales of all time, so the notion of him returning to DC's "Ultimate" style line is one of the few things that could have re-invigorated my fading interest in Batman as a character. Miller doing a brighter, fun Batman seems to run counter to his gritty Dark Knight Returns and Year One, but Miller was the one whose work laid the foundation for the "asshole Batman" that Dave and I both hate, and maybe he can be the one to lay the new foundation for a more fun, more human Batman as well. And Dave's right on the money... it hardly matters what we think, because with Miller and Lee on Batman, retailers are gonna order by the truckload and fans will show up for it, too. The question is, will they stick around? DAVE: I think they will. Poor bastards stuck around for Lee's art through Azzarello's Superman fiasco. They've built up their calluses. The Art of Josh Howard Volume 1 DC (Viper Comics) - DAVE: I've only read a single issue of the cult hit, Dead@17, but I liked what I read and enjoyed the "animated series"-style artwork. Anyhoo, fans of the series will almost certainly want to check out this modestly-priced collection for more of Howard's stuff. Sounds like the focus is on cartoony babes, which I've found to be a pretty universal theme in the sketchbooks of horny artists. And they're all horny. (page 362) Avengers West Coast: Vision Quest TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: I think I'll buy this. Reprints John Byrne's writer/artist turn on the series, focusing on a Scarlet-Witch-goes-nutty story that'd eventually be used to justify the colossally lame "Avengers Disassembled" arc. Tragic abuses aside, this stuff dates back to the days when Byrne was still "on", and since I only had a few issues as a kid (they were good!), I want the rest. (page M79) RANDY: See, I think this has more in common with "Avengers Disassembled" than you remember. Scarlet Witch goes all crazy and evil, Vision is destroyed and becomes an emotionless cipher and the whole Wonder Man-Vision-Scarlet Witch love triangle is introduced. Sure, Byrne also introduces the Great Lake Adventures, but when I first read it, I remember thinking that a lot of the characters were out of character and the writing was pure shock value. It's still coherent, though, so I guess it's got that going for it over "Read it again knowing what you know about the Scarlet Witch." Banana Sundays #1 (Oni Press) - RANDY: I have some interest in this because of my fondness for talking monkeys in comics, but what raised my eyebrows was to see the art on this book by Colleen Coover, best known for her work on cute lesbian erotic comic Small Favors. Coover's art style is really nice, and matching her up with this project (which sounds all-ages or at least more all-ages than lesbian erotica) ensures that it will be exposed to a wider audience, which is definitely good. (page 322) DAVE: Me, I'm about sick of the post-modern talking monkeys nods, but damned if this book don't look like fun. That cover art is terrific, too, reminiscent of the clean-line art of, naturally, Curious George. Bonerest #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: Whoever redesigned the Image solicitations should get some sort of comics industry-specific medal. Because something like Bonerest, which sounds mostly like pretentious goth fare in solicitation text, becomes a lot more clear (and clearly intriguing) when the facing page features four pages of sequential art from the book. At any rate, the art, by Hellblazer veteran Giuseppe Camuncoli, looks gorgeous, and Matteo Casali's writing (judging from the four pages) looks like well-paced fun. (page 138) DAVE: Interesting. 'Pears this series has already been a hit in Italy, Germany and France, and praise from the likes of Jim Lee and Brian Azzarello just adds to the allure. Bumperboy Loses His Marbles (Adhouse Books) - RANDY: I actually bought a little T-shirt for my daughter Katy featuring Bumperboy at the last San Diego Con, but somehow missed picking up any of the actual comics. So I knew the character, but not anything about the comic, when I saw that it had won a Xeric Grant and gotten picked up for publication by Adhouse, two things that will automatically make me sit up and take notice of an indie project. This one looks like pure, innocent all-ages fun, focusing on (of all things) a marbles tournament. It's not as super-cute and touching as Owly, but it's in the same ballpark. There's a pretty sizable preview HERE. (page 212) DAVE: Kind of a similar vibe to Kochalka's Peanut Butter and Jeremy, I think. Very cool. Love the scenes of the characters falling through the hole! Capote in Kansas GN (Oni Press) - RANDY: A story of Truman Capote doing research for In Cold Blood, fictionalized but told with an eye toward capturing the truth? Hardly your average true crime project, but then, I wouldn't expect anything less from Ande Park, whose Union Station true crime graphic novel was a gripping read. (page 322) DAVE: A pretty neat idea, and I need to get around to reading Union Station, don't I? RANDY: You really do. Knowing your love of Road to Perdition, I'm sure you would love Union Station. Cast #1 (Nautilus Comics) - RANDY: Now this is interesting. Cast is a teen soap opera comic that has apparently already reached issue four in the Phillipines. It caught my eye because of the cover art and the description, about a boy who decides to try out for drama at an all-girl school (presumably without the cross-dressing weirdness that such a premise would entail in manga), and the art and description on the website are also intriguing. Too bad there aren't any interiors to judge by, but if you have an interest in real-life drama comics or want to go from superhero/high school stories like Ultimate Spider-Man to a non-spandex variety, this might be worth a look. (page 315) DAVE: I poked around the "visual guides" they have listed for each character at the site - really nice cartooning! The Comics Journal #269 (Fantagraphics Books) - DAVE: When it comes to shining the spotlight on a given subject, The Comics Journal strikes with laser-like precision. This issue the focus is on a genre that's vitally important to the industry even if you're not reading it: no, not superheroes, but Shoujo - aka "girls' comics" from Japan. It's at the forefront of the manga boom, it puts the lie to the notion that "chicks hate comics", and it's got the subgenre that's made more than a few guys uneasy: "shonen-ai" (boy love). All the more reason to hear the big brains at the Journal see what makes it tick. (page 290) Conan #18 (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: It's a creative team-up of an issue and the players are notable indeed. Joining Kurt Busiek to co-write is his sometimes-pard, Fabien Nicieza, and more compellingly, the artists are the legendary John Severin and Bruce "Batman: The Animated Series" Timm! The promise of a morbidly humorous one-shot from these folks sounds good ta me. (page 25) Courtney Crumrin Tales #1 (Oni Press) - RANDY: More Courtney Crumrin from Ted Naifeh is always reason to celebrate. This series, which is the first in a series of one-shots, is even moreso, as it promises to show us more of the young life of Aloysius, one of the most interesting supporting characters in Courtney's world. (page 322) Daredevil vs. Punisher #1 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: I've honestly found David Lapham's arc on Detective Comics a little dark for my tastes, but when it comes to Daredevil and Punisher, there's almost no such thing as "too dark." At any rate, these two characters are a natural antagonistic pairing, and the artwork from Lapham looks really good. (page M30) The Dead Boy Detectives Digest (DC Comics/Vertigo) - RANDY: Pardon me while I go all hypocrite and betray my black and white indie sensibilities to gripe (mildly) about how much more I'd love this and Thompson's Death graphic novel if it were in the gorgeous color that she has used on her work on Dark Horse's "Stray" or the Little Endless Storybook. That gripe aside, even in black and white, Thompson's artwork is gorgeous, and the strange mixture of more kid-friendly sensibilities and Vertigo staples from the Sandman stable has worked really well for her in the past. I'm looking forward to this one. (page 112) Dead Eyes Open #1 (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics) - RANDY: It's another zombie comic, but this one looks a bit different, promising a blend of "politics, social satire and the living dead." I don't know the creators, but I've read the first eight pages in preview, and it's a really fascinating read. The zombies are the good guys, people trying to cope with the worst kind of tragedy and being hunted down by hit squads that just want to blow their heads off. It's not just played for laughs (although the kid asking her dad if he's going to eat her brains gave me a chuckle), but has a good emotional core as well, and nice art. (page 236) Defenders #1 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Though I have a full run of Justice League International, I've found that the humor of Giffen, DeMatteis & Kevin Maguire has a very limited shelf-life for me, and I had actually grown kind of tired of Formerly Known as the Justice League even before Identity Crisis ripped the soul out of it (and Countdown put a stake in the heart of the corpse.) That said, I find myself strangely drawn to the idea of these creators taking on the also-ran big guns of the Marvel Universe, the Defenders. Truly, very few creators have been able to handle Dr. Strange, Namor, the Hulk or Silver Surfer in a serious manner at all well, so maybe a comedic take will suit them better. The cover by Maguire hints at characterization for each team member, which is both a tribute to Maguire's skills and a tease about just where the writers are going with them. (page M36) DAVE: I'm planning to check this out. Thing is, just at the moment, I'd rather have a more serious take on the team. I'd give it the indie-cool cred that Bendis had when he first joined Marvel, slapping on Phil Hester as writer (guy knows weird, and he knows action too) and Mike Huddleston as artist. Huddleston drew Hester's brilliant horror mini from last year, Deep Sleeper, and is currently bringin' the Lovecraft on Vertigo's Mnemovore. The team would be Doc Strange, Valkyrie, Namor, Gargoyle, and Cloak & Dagger. I would edit, and the whole shebang would be in the top ten before the final issue of Secret War was out. Badabing! Alright, so it was a geek-out moment. It's still a good plan. RANDY: You had me until you got the message board fanboyish "I would edit," dude. But Hester and Huddleston on anything is solid gold, and I'd love to see these guys take a crack at a high profile project that would get them the larger readership they richly deserve. Emily the Strange #1 (Dark Horse Comics) - RANDY: At some point, "goth" became a genre. Probably somewhere between the popularity of Sandman and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. Emily the Strange fits right into this goth genre, with plenty of black, a macabre sense of humor and a deliberate strangeness that borders on the wacky. I have a low tolerance for this kind of thing, but even I can't deny being somewhat amused by the "Kangarooster" in the preview page and I expect that this comic will make Hot Topic shoppers and goth devotees ecstatic. (page 32) DAVE: Looks fun. I like when the kangarooster goes, "Cock-a-doodle-roo." I'm easy. Essential Killraven Vol. 1 TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Here's your esoterica of the month: a reprint of Marvel's cult '70s sci-fi/fantasy book about survivors in a world devastated by the Martians of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. Killraven's basically the Thundarr of his era, his adventures illustrated by luminaries as diverse as P. Craig Russell, Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, Gene Colan, and Joseph Michael Linsner (yes, they included his quite good Marvel Knights one-shot from a few years ago!). Can't beat this thing for weird. (page M94) RANDY: I enjoyed that one-shot, but Alan Davis's follow-up miniseries just bored the hell out of me. So I'm not sure I have any interest in Killraven classic. However, once I see the Spielberg/Cruise War of the Worlds flick this July, I might be in the mood for this kind of thing, which I'm sure is the thinking behind Marvel putting out this strange project. When it comes to the off the beaten path Essentials, though, I say Marvel, keep 'em coming! And when are we getting those Master of Kung-Fu and Power Man and Iron Fist Essentials? You know they've gotta be talking about them. DAVE: Damn, would an Essential Power Man and Iron First rule! I mean... damn! RANDY: I believe you meant to say: "Sweet Christmas!" Fat Boy & Harvey #1 (Axiom) - RANDY: Howard M. Shum's previous project from Axiom was Gun-Fu, a fun '30s action piece with a touch of hip-hop in the dialogue. This one sounds no less unusual, about a struggling actor and his kung-fu cousin from Hong Kong teaming up in L.A. to have "crazy adventures with Hollywood celebrities and rock stars." Gun-Fu fans, or those who get a kick out of the pop-culture/kung-fu fusion of Stephen Chow, might do well to check it out. (page 260) The Freebooters HC (Fantagraphics) - DAVE: Barry Windsor-Smith fans, don't pass this up! Collects all the chapters of the "Freebooters" fantasy series from his cult Dark Horse anthology project of the '90s, Barry Windsor-Smith: Storyteller. Not only does it include the unpublished final issue, but there are 50 pages of new material! This was a fun, raunchy little series looking at a Conan-type warrior whose best days were behind him. (page 291) Freshmen #1 (Image Comics/Top Cow) - RANDY: It's "co-created" by Seth Green, an actor and writer who has his hand in many things, which probably translates to him saying "Hey, here's this idea" and then having no more to do with it. So it's in the hands of unknown quantity Hugh Sterbakov as to whether Freshmen will be any good or not. Honestly, it sounds kind of funny, with the heroes having bizarre powers right out of a Toyfare sketch ("Quaker, the Amish kid who creates earthquakes with his belly"), and having Leonard Kirk on art will help, but it's all down to whether or not Sterbakov can write or not. I'll at least be checking in to see. (page 172) Gatesville Company #1 (Speakeasy Comics) - RANDY: Of the many Speakeasy offerings in the catalog, this is the one that caught my attention this month with its solicitation copy. Gatesville Company is about a ghost town where the souls of killers go in the afterlife from all over the world and throughout history. That premise caught my attention, but when I saw that the writer attached was Marc Bryant, who has written entertaining graphic novels like Overtime and Shangri-La, I became even more interested. (page 333) Giant-Sized Spider-Woman #1 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Had only one Spider-Woman comic as a kid... but... can't resist! This thing's a quirky li'l reprint number that includes Spider-Woman's first appearance, the first issue of her solo series, a later Claremont issue of said series (X-Men guest-starring, natch), and a new 8-pager by Brian Bendis. I'm buyin' it for the goofy old stuff. (page M40) RANDY: I'm no fan of New Avengers, but I do give credit to Bendis and Finch for bringing back one the cooler female heroes at Marvel Comics, complete with one of the few old school '70s costumes that actually holds up decades later. And a reprint of some of her old stories, rather than a new forgettable miniseries, is definitely the way to capitalize on it. G.I. Spy #1 (Boom! Studios) - RANDY: I've had plenty of nice things to say about this long-in-production project from Andrew Cosby and Matt Haley, and I'm glad to see it finally solicited as a comic-book miniseries instead of a teaser or preview issue. The preview that I have read is a lot of fun, pretty much James Bond meets Captain America in a World War II setting, and Haley's artwork is always a treat. (page 264) DAVE: I found an online preview. Looks sharp, real sharp. Gotham Central #33 (DC Comics) - DAVE: Somehow, Ed Brubaker's back for this new story arc (completed before his Marvel exclusive?) and there's also a new artist on the book - the monosylabically-named "Kano", formerly of H-E-R-O. I like his stuff and expect this issue will be worth a look to newbies who've yet to try the series. (page 68) Grenuord #1 (Fantagraphics) - DAVE: Wow, really digging the eerie, cartoony art for this six-issue mini based on the glimpses in Previews. Seems to be some sort of surrealist-noir story imported from Europe, and I'm interested. Getting a bit of a Peter Kuper vibe - a good thing. (page 291) Grounded #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: Image is really pumping out a lot of new comics these days, with a surprisingly high percentage that sound really good and an even more surprising percentage, in this oft-disappointing industry, of projects that deliver on their promise. Grounded is a variation on the "hero school" story, and has elements in common with the powerless kid in Aaron Williams's PS 238 or in Image's own Hero Camp, but it's still a twist on the genre that has life in it. And the preview pages from Paul (Captain Marvel, Spider-Man Unlimited) Azaceta look absolutely gorgeous. (page 140) DAVE: Image is really doing some cool stuff lately. They've lost some of the industry prominance they once had when they were just associated with quasi-Marvel heroes in the '90s, but the irony is that they're creatively stronger than ever. Don't be afraid to give some of their new stuff a try, home audience. Hellshock: The Definitive Edition TPB (Image Comics) - RANDY: Fascinating story of the supernatural and psychological suspense or pretentious mood piece that goes nowhere? Given the many blown deadlines of Hellshock (even by today's standards, when three months is an acceptable delay for an Ultimate book), it seemed that we were never going to find out. However, Image is soliciting the complete trade paperback of Hellshock, with the 22 page conclusion never before printed. Those of you who bought the original issues and are now unable to find out how it ends without re-buying all the issues you already have in a trade may commence justified bitching... now. Truthfully, I've liked some of Jae Lee's work quite a bit, such as his work on Inhumans and Sentry, so I'm curious to see what Hellshock is all about, and I'm curious to read Hellshock. But I'm also glad I didn't read it back in the day, or I'd be pissed at the return on my support for the book. (page 144) Heroes and Villains: The William Messner-Loeb Benefit Sketchbook (Twomorrows Publishing) - DAVE: Alright, we came out for Dave Cockrum when he went through rough times, now let's do the same for William Messner-Loeb! Me, I owe the guy for the good times he brought me reading the post-Crisis Flash, some great Johnny Quest comics I once stumbled across, and for his Sam Keith team-ups (The Maxx and Epicurus The Sage.) Long story, short, Loeb's incurred some serious medical expenses and generally fallen on hard times (Google his name for more). Many an amazing artist contributes to this pin-up book to help him out, and I'll be happily pre-ordering it. Samples (and some art auction contributions) can be found here on Neal Adams' home page. (page 360) Hip Flask: Mystery City (Active Images) - RANDY: Each year (or almost each year), Active Images produces a new one-shot using its character Hip Flask, just in time for convention season. Every year, it's a great read, and while Joe Casey is missing from the writing chores this time out, Jose Ladronn returns for some of the most jaw-dropping artwork in comics. Hip Flask began life as a hippo detective mascot for Comicraft, but Richard Starkings and company have transformed him into a dystopic science fiction hero with a really cool setting behind him, and these are always worth a read. (page 209) Hulk: Destruction #1 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Kind of interesting. New Peter David Hulk mini, only the Hulk sounds like a tangential character as the series apparently focuses on the origin of Hulk-baddie, The Abomination. I'm one of the rare fans who're indifferent to Peter David's Hulk stuff, but I'll check 'er out. (page M41) RANDY: Lots of love for Peter David's Hulk, but not so much for the Abomination that I think I'll be interested in an entire miniseries about him. Wish it was more of a Peter David focusing on tangential characters, from the Abomination to the Leader to the Pantheon. But then again, David has written some fantastic issues focusing on the Abomination, so who knows, maybe I'll get more out of this than I expect. Justice League Companion Vol. 1 (Twomorrows Publishing) - DAVE: Twomorrows always puts out readable and richly illustrated comic-history books, and this looks to be no exception. It's a spotlight on the Silver Age JLA, especially appealing for its innocence in comparison to current DC trends. (page 360) JLA Classified #10 (DC Comics) - DAVE: Warren Ellis writes, the phenomenally talented Butch Guice draws, and the covers appear to be digital art circa Batman: Digital Justice (anyone remember that fossil?). Promises to feature Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and some lovely Warren Ellis technobabble. (page 82) RANDY: Ellis wrote a pretty cool Justice League Unlimited episode that centered around his fondness for technobabble, but his stories focusing on the "big three" in Planetary crossovers and elsewhere have been a little too cynical and off the character mark for me. Interested, but not terribly excited. JSA Classified #1 (DC Comics) - RANDY: I hate multiple titles. Hate 'em. I think that multiple Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men books, etc. are choking the life out of the market and have more than a little bit to do with why the big two (and everybody else) has such trouble launching new concepts. I also think that they drain the enthusiasm off the main book, diluting the concept. So I'm not thrilled, in the long run, to see DC adding a new JSA ongoing. However, I am thrilled to see Geoff Johns and Amanda Connor collaborating on the long-awaited origin reveal of Power Girl, whose origins have been screwed up for a long time. This story's long overdue, and though I might rather have it as a Power Girl mini than the launching arc of another ancillary title, if you're gonna launch extra books, this is probably the way to do it. (page 84) DAVE: What's to know about Power Girl that the Adam Hughes cover doesn't already tell you? She's DC's biggest-titted character. Karma Incorporated #1 (Viper Comics) - RANDY: Viper Comics keeps getting these great concepts for their new books. Karma Incorporated is about a group of con artists, hackers and a hit man who go into business making other people miserable at the behest of their clients. Sort of a reverse private detective agency. Could be darkly humorous, could be played for drama, all I know is that I liked what I read of David Hopkins's stuff that I got at the STAPLE show, and the cover by Tom Kurzanski looks pretty sharp with a good design sense. Looking forward to this one. There's a nice-looking preview up at the Viper Comics website. (page 362) Kinetic TP (DC Comics) - DAVE: I almost can't believe DC is collecting this quirky little series that only went eight issues, but I expect I'll buy it anyway. It's the tale of a sickly kid who gains powers of strength and invulnerability without ever being able to leave his awkwardness behind. The scenes between the kid and his mother are especially touching in their painful truthfulness and Warren Pleece's art was the best kind of minimalism. Don't expect a strong ending, but check this out for the many parts where it went right. (page 85) The King GN (Top Shelf Productions) - RANDY: I loved Rich Koslowski's mean, dark take on cartoon characters in Three Fingers, so I'm interested to see him do an equally quirky take on Elvis in The King, the tale of an Elvis impersonator that folks start to believe might be the real Elvis. (page 358) Little Book of Horror: The War of the Worlds HC (IDW Publishing) - RANDY: I wasn't crazy about the watering down of the original text in Little Book of Horror: Frankenstein, but I was pretty happy with Morse's artwork and with the format. I expect the same will be true of The War of the Worlds, because Ted McKeever is the perfect choice for this material, even if I wish they'd just done excerpts from the actual novel instead of having Niles go all "younger readers" adaptation with it. (page 303) Mage Vol. 2: The Hero Defined HC (Image Comics) - DAVE: I don't want to cast any bad mojo towards this series - it's damn good! - but I'm still harboring a touch of resentment for having dropped fiddy bucks on the first hardcover only to see the softcover a few months later. On the other hand, discovering the modern Arthurian series I'd always heard so much about was a real treat, so...bad mojo retracted. And now I have to buy the second hardcover. (page 160) RANDY: I'm in the same boat, but I just recently read the hardcover, and I think, all things considered, I'd rather have the sturdier format. It would be nice, however, if Image could be more careful about typos when they're putting together the $50 deluxe version, at least leaving them off the back cover maybe? At any rate, looking forward to getting this, even at $50, and really hoping that someday we'll see Mage part three from Matt Wagner... although I'm not holding my breath. Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Sr. HC (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Awww, sweet! I was just thinking the other day, as I flipped through the pages of Marvel Visionaries: Steve Ditko..."are there any other O.G. Marvel creators deserving of the Visionaries treatment"? And I came up with two: Romita Sr. and Gene Colan. Marvel's doing great stuff with these and every damn Marvel fan in the universe should buy 'em and see how the original greats got things done. And now I'm ready for Gene Colan to get his Visionaries. Don't forget the Avengers story with the Weathermen! It was hokey but the art was great and it was, like, the first comic I ever bought! (page M75) RANDY: I managed to resist the Lee, Kirby, Ditko volumes, but damn it, John Romita Sr. might just get me to give in and start buying these things. And once I buy one, I'm going to want them all, if only because of how beautifully they are all designed to work as a set. If this theoretical Gene Colan volume does come out, that'll be it for the last of my resolve and I'll be buying all of them. Middleman #1 (Viper Comics) - RANDY: The concept on this one, sort of a "Men in Black" expanded to talking apes and monsters as well as aliens, isn't the freshest... but what interests me is the writer. Javier Grillo-Marxuach is one of the writers and supervising producers on Lost, which has turned the seemingly-barren concept of survivors on a desert island into one of the most watchable mysteries on TV. For that reason alone, I'll give it a look. (page 362) MOCCA: Will Eisner: A Retrospective (Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art) - DAVE: Though a little on the pricey side, this sounds like a wonderful tribute to the recently fallen legend, Will Eisner. It's a catalog for a museum exhibition of his work at The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - an exhibition Eisner himself helped set up! Looks to examine the entirety of his career and should be fine viewing for Eisner newbies and longtime fans alike. (page 315) RANDY: This is almost a must-buy for any comics fan, even at $25 for only 72 pages. I mean, it's an overview of Will Eisner's work, and the proceeds go to a really good cause. Mort Grim (Adhouse Books) - RANDY: Another potential gem from Adhouse, as award-winning illustrator Doug Fraser (does it make me a heathen if I've never heard of him?) presents the story of a "Pale Rider aboard an old pounded cop bike" searching for something lost. There's a brief preview that shows off how nice the art looks, but doesn't inform much about the story. Adhouse has a pretty good track record with me, though... (page 212) DAVE: Good art, worth a look-see. New Captain America Vol 1.: Out of Time TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Holy crap, even Cap has to get a "new" plastered in front of his name to fit the New Avengers/New Thunderbolts/New Man-Thing silliness?! Like I wasn't already torn as to whether I should pre-order this... See, Ed Brubaker's writing and Steve Epting's art had this series as an unquestioned fave for its first few issues, but the story is officially dragging and if the retconning from the most recent issue is what it appears to be... gah, my interest just tanked completely. I hope Brubaker pulls this one out of its dive so I can buy this, but I'm worried... (page M77) RANDY: We're in total agreement here, but I'll also add that the delays between issues have also sapped some of my interest, and make me doubt whether or not this trade collecting issues 1-7 (when issue four, with Epting basically M.I.A., just came out) will actually make its ship date. Hoping for a strong recovery, given how much I loved the first three issues, but more than a little wary. Nightwing: Year One TPB (DC Comics) - RANDY: It wasn't as strong an offering as Batgirl: Year One, but Nightwing: Year One, by Dixon, Beatty and McDaniel had some really good moments and was all told a pretty entertaining superhero yarn. Glad to see it getting such a quick collection from DC, and I'll definitely be adding this one to my bookshelf. (page 69) Night Mary #1 (IDW Publishing) - RANDY: Mary works in her father's sleep disorder clinic, using her power to enter the realms of disturbed dreamers and try to help them, only to find herself trapped in the mind of a serial killer. Sounds like the '80s flick Dreamscape crossed with J. Lo's The Cell, which is hardly the greatest pedigree in the world, except that writer Rick Remender and penciller Kieron Dwyer recently blew me away with Image's Sea of Red, so I'm in "check out everything they do" mode right now. And the preview art looks terrific. (page 304) DAVE: Did someone say Dreamscape?! Man, I'm THERE. RANDY: I knew that would get you. You're right, you are easy. DAVE: (And, yes, Remender and Dwyer really did turn out some quality material with Sea of Red #1.) Robert Jordan's New Spring #1 - DAVE: I tried to read some Robert Jordan stuff once, but it just sucked too hard. There appears to be a fanbase, though, what with the unending bestsellers and all, and who knows, maybe his work will translate better for me in a visual format? It's a prequel to his Wheel of Time tomes, adapted by Chuck Dixon and featuring some very nice art from Mike S. Miller (who drew the amazing Hedge Knight graphic novel). (page 324) Robot Vol. 1 (DMP Books) - DAVE: I can't help but recall the recent, wildly lush trade series, Flight, as I look at this manga anthology collection, rare both for being in color and for containing short stories. Check out the website here for more info and some nice art samples. (page 285) RANDY: Good catch. I've read a couple of DMP's manga titles and they just didn't click with me, as I'm notoriously picky about manga, but I might have to give this one a try. Even though I am more than a little creeped out at the naked little girl on the cover, and hope that it isn't an indication of some of the Japanese pre-pubescent girl fascination, which for me crosses the line from "every culture's got their differences" to "that's fucking disgusting." DAVE: Sounds like someone's got a case of the Mondays. Runoff Volume Two (Oddgod Press) - RANDY: I really enjoyed the first Runoff, about some weirdness in a small hick town, and have been anxiously awaiting the rest of the story. A little sad to see that this is part two of four, especially since it has taken almost a year to get the second volume, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of this quirky tale. (page 318) Sea of Red Vol. 1: No Grave But the Sea TPB (Image Comics) - RANDY: Wow, now that's fast turnaround. The first issue has just hit the shelves, and Image is announcing the collection of Sea of Red. I'm always nervous to whole-heartedly recommend an entire series based on a strong first issue, but Sea of Red #1 was a fantastic first issue, and the trade is a bargain-priced $8.95, so I can say without hesitation that I'll be picking up this trade, and commend those of you who are checking out Walking Dead to give this one a look as well. I'm also pleasantly surprised to see that Sea of Red is an ongoing, rather than a miniseries. (page 162) DAVE: I just hope the trade's on the same weird, smelly, textural paper as the comic. I ain't lyin', man! Felt like I was looking at old parchment, perfectly fitting for a creepy vampire/pirate tale. Serenity #1 (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: It's a movie-to-comics adaptation, true, but with Joss Whedon himself co-writing alongside another Firefly scribe (Brett Matthews), well... it at least deserves a shot. The preview art looks as detailed as Dark Horse's recent Revenge of the Sith adaptation and character likenesses are strong. (page 22) RANDY: Me, I'd rather see original tales of the Serenity crew and their world. But not from Matthews, whose work in comics has included Dark Horse's Angel mini (co-written with Joss Whedon) and forgettable fare like Spider-Man/Wolverine. So far I've been unimpressed with his comics writing, and I want to go into Serenity without any spoilers anyway, so I very much doubt I'll be picking this one up. But I can't wait to see the flick, and wish it were getting a summer release instead of one in September. An addendum: A fan emails to inform us that this is not a movie adaptation, but in fact bridges the gap between the end of Firefly and the beginning of Serenity. The Dark Horse solicits say it's "based on the film," which sure make it sound like an adaptation, but if this dedicated browncoat is correct, I'm suddenly much more interested. More to the point, though, Dave and I should also make clear that we've been onboard Firefly from the start, long before the DVD set made people realize how wrong they were to write it off early. DAVE: Ain't that the ruttin' truth! We've both been gung-ho for this show since the beginning, and still hold in mild scorn the Whedon fans who didn't give it its shot originally. Did I say "mild"? I meant "utter and complete". Seal Team Seven Graphic Novel (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: The solicitation copy spells out unnecessary details, but the full page ad on the previous page is where it's at: "The U.S. Navy vs. Atlantis. Any questions?" Just one... when can I get it? Nice-looking preview art from new name Roberto de la Torre, too. (page 226) Shadow Rock TPB (Dark Horse Comics) - RANDY: The Love Brothers, responsible for the underrated Fierce as well as a handful of projects that never quite materialized from Oni and Image, return with a very pretty looking graphic novel about kids living in a weird town and investigating weird goings-on. The solicitation copy references Goosebumps, and the promo art looks pretty cool. (page 30) DAVE: It's always hard to get kids to try comics that aren't based on a cartoon or a toy, but I think this one looks pretty sharp and appealing. Shuck the Sulfurstar #1 (Shuck Comics) - RANDY: Rick Smith's strange tale of a devil living in the small-town South returns, complete with charming phonetic southerner dialogue and Smith's terrific artwork. This time out, Shuck's in a play about angels and devils, removing his human mask to play the devil, until he's drawn to strange goings-on in the town of Thicket. This one's gotten a lot of praise, including some nice words from Bone creator Jeff Smith, and is worth a look. (page 326) The Silencers #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: The mob meets supervillain story that began at Moonstone moves over to Image for a new run. It took me a couple issues to warm up to this story, but with Fred Van Lente currently impressing in the pages of Amazing Fantasy, I'm more interested in ever than giving the book a second look. (page 146) Silent Dragon #1 (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - RANDY: This. Sounds. Awesome. Tokyo 2063, Yakuza and criminal conspiracies to overthrow the government, all written by Andy Diggle and drawn by Leinil Yu and Gerry Alanguilan? Sign me up! Diggle has shown an amazing facility with action in the pages of The Losers, and a strong hand with sci-fi in the pages of Adam Strange, and Yu has always done gorgeous work, although all too often he's been paired with writers I don't much care for. The creative team is fantastic, the premise is sharp and the three-page preview in these pages only serves to seal the deal, with fantastic imagery and promising action. (page 104) DAVE: Diggle's officially become a writer to watch, and Yu's an artist whose work I've liked on everything from the campy High Roads to Mark Waid's less-than-inspired Superman: Birthright. I think this is gonna be good, maybe real good. Strange Detective Tales: Dead Love #1 (Oddgod Press) - RANDY: Renfield and Igor are private detectives in '50s Hollywood, pounding the monster beat. Strange, fun concept, and the preview on the website looks like a lot of fun, as these two henchmen-turned-detectives try to track down a faithless zombie husband. (page 322) Sundown #1 (Arcana Studio) - RANDY: It's another horror/western blend, this time from the point-of-view of a New York reporter come to an Arizona town in 1880 on the trail of some ghastly murders. Terrific looking full-color artwork, and though I don't know either of the creators, I'm a fan of this genre blend. (page 247) Terebella Smoot and the Unsung Monsters HC (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics) - RANDY: Jon "Bean" Hastings has delivered fun books like Smith Brown Jones, Alien Accountant and the unfortunately cut-short Mad Science. Terebella Smoot is his newest project, a 48-page all-ages graphic novel about a young monster who gets lost on her way to the Monster of the Year celebration. Sounds like fun, is sure to look great. I'm buying this as much for me as I am to read it to my daughter when she gets a little older. (page 236) DAVE: Looks very cute, and if the cover art is matched in the interiors (as it should be - it's supposed to be fully-painted watercolor art throughout), I think this'll be a really nice project. I see a little Wizard of Oz, a little Pixar flavor. The Thing: Freakshow TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Geoff Johns proved to be an awkward fit at Marvel, but I've got a good bit of fondness for this Thing miniseries he wrote with art by Flash collaborator Scott Kolins. Less interesting is the one-shot being tacked on, Thing & She-Hulk: The Long Night. Between that and the 18 dollar price, I may pass. (page M89) The Tick: Days of Drama #1 (New England Comics) - RANDY: There's a new Tick comic, and though creator Ben Edlund isn't involved (he's moved on to TV, where he wrote for Angel and is doing some work on The Venture Brothers), the previous Tick comics without Edlund have generally been funny as well. However, while a new Tick comic is all well and good, I have to say that NEC is really dropping the ball with this property. Why aren't there some cool, slick new trades that collect all of the books in order, maybe even in that bookstore friendly digest-type size with numbers on the spine and all that cool stuff? Money to be made here, people, and a reinvigoration of your franchise besides. (page 318) DAVE: Seems like a good idea to me. The goofy humor of The Tick seems to connect with adults and kids alike, making digest releases an obvious format. Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas Manga GN (Disney Press) - DAVE: Weird enough to catch my interest...in spite of the Goth cult that's sprung up around this flick over the years. I actually think manga could be wildly suited to it. Err... except the musical numbers. (page 286) Ultimate Fantastic Four #21 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: I have to admit to some curiosity: this is the beginning of the story arc where the Ultimate FF will supposedly find a dimensional gateway to the mainline Marvel Universe. Millar writes, Greg Land draws, and I'll at least peek to see if Marvel's setting the stage for multiple earths or the merging of their two lines or anything wacky. (page M16) RANDY: It's a good creative team, but I can't help but feel that mingling the Ultimate universe and the Marvel Universe is a mistake in the long term. In the short term, of course, it's likely to be a fanboy dream and deliver huge sales for Marvel, and in this industry, short term seems to be all that matters. Wally Wood's Wayout SC (Pure Imagination Publishing) - DAVE: Holy shit, why isn't this book getting more press? It's a focus on the sci-fi and fantasy art of Wally Wood, fer Pete's sake! Here's the guy who outdrew every other EC artist when it came to babes, spaceships, and aliens, who influenced every illustrator-type artist (Frank Cho, Butch Guice, Mark Schultz), and whose work should be required viewing for all fans of comic book realism. According to the solicit, 90% of this material has never been reprinted since original publication. If you don't know his stuff, by all means: acquaint yourself. (page 323) Wannabe #1 (Naked Productions Inc.) - RANDY: A look at what vigilantism might look like in the real world is the best way to describe Wannabe #1. The first issue has some glitches to it, but it also has a lot of potential. I've reviewed it HERE. (page 315) Wildguard: Fool's Gold #1-2 (Image Comics) - DAVE: Bitchin'! More Wildguard stories from Todd Nauck, the only creator I've seen who's managed to build a genuinely fun superhero book around the "reality TV" gimmick that's been woven into dozens of lesser tales. Nauck wisely paces this series as one-shots and miniseries that'll eventually make for a snappy trade. Lookin' forward to. (page 148) RANDY: Nauck has indeed taken what could have been a fun one-off concept and turned it into a great occasional series. I'm especially looking forward to more "Where are they now?" features exploring the characters who didn't make the cut, especially since this time out includes one of my favorite weird Wildguard characters, the teleporter known as Travel Agent. W.i.t.c.h. Volume 1 & 2 GN (Hyperion) - DAVE: Apparently this teen-girl-oriented series is a pretty big phenomena in Europe, and it's not hard to see why. I see the wish-fulfillment aspects of Sailor Moon with the colorful visuals of a European comic (or Disney movie). Sounds like one for retailers to order heavy on (only five bucks for 128 pages!) and place near their all-ages books and manga sections. More info. (page 300) Y: The Last Man Vol. 5 - Ring of Truth TPB (DC Comics/Vertigo) - DAVE: Just a friendly reminder: excellent series. Catch up if you haven't! (page 120) RANDY: And another kudos to DC for speeding up production on these trades. This arc just ended in March, so those of us who buy this series in trade will have a lot shorter wait for the next chapter than we usually do. Email Randy Lander and Dave Farabee comments about this review.