Previews Review for August 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 June previews for comics due to ship out in August 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), Chris Butcher & James Lucas Jones (PopImage) and Johanna Draper Carlson (Comics Worth Reading), among others. Pre-ordering is your friend. If there's stuff you want in July, letting your retailer know before the end of June is the best way to make sure you get it. Though I don't have much interest in the nostalgia properties on either cover this month, there's a lot of good stuff inside this Previews. I was surprised to note how much interesting stuff DC had to offer me, and some of my indy favorites (like a new issue of Dork!) are coming out as well, no doubt timed for the early August Comicon in San Diego. BIG FOUR PICK OF THE MONTH: Point Blank #1 (DC/Wildstorm) - Hey, wasn't last month's pick an "Eye of the Storm" launch too? The "Eye of the Storm" mature readers line from Wildstorm is shaping up to be every bit as good as Planetary, Authority, Wildcats 2.0 and the other books that inspired this relaunch. Point Blank sounds right up my alley, with Grifter, one of Wildstorm's best anti-heroes, delving into the seedy underbelly of the world of super-villains. Brubaker will no doubt write this in the same vein as his Catwoman, giving us a very different approach to super-hero comics, and the interior artwork that has been previewed is some of the most detailed work I've ever seen. I first heard about Point Blank and it's follow-up series, Sleeper, at last year's San Diego Con, and I've been looking forward to it ever since. This is a month with a lot of highly anticipated projects, including Bigg Time, the relaunched Wildcats, and the next trades of Catwoman, Lucifer and Powers, but this one stands out as the one I'm most looking forward to. Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings TP (Dark Horse) - I have generally skipped the Maverick anthologies, because there has been a ratio of too few creators I really like to too many that I don't care for, but this year there are too many good names to ignore. Bendis & Oeming doing an autobiographical con story (always some of Bendis's funniest work, and I wish we saw more of it these days), Jason Hall & Matt Kindt of Pistolwhip contributing, Sam Kieth, Jim Mahfood, Frank Miller... it's an impressive list, and even better, it's essentially a trade paperback, my format of choice these days. Batman: Black & White Vol. 2 HC (DC) - I'm really glad that DC is finally collecting all those great black and white backups from Gotham Knights, as well as adding new ones, and I'm actually even glad that the project is getting the oversized hardcover treatment it deserves. However, I wish that they would also rerelease volume one as a hardcover, so that I could have both volumes in the same format... as is, I'll probably wind up waiting for the softcover version of this one instead. Batman: Bruce Wayne: Murderer? TP (DC) - This book actually will ship in two weeks, as it was rush solicited, but it's in this Previews, so I'll talk about it here. Despite a couple weak chapters and the sad lack of an actual ending, this was one of the more solid crossovers I've read, and it's an interesting chapter in the life of Batman and his supporting cast. How I ultimately feel about the book will rest on how well "Fugitive" wraps up, but I'm inclined to add this to my bookshelf. Catwoman: The Dark End of the Street TP (DC) - This one, on the other hand, should be on every comics fans bookshelf. It represents one of the best DC titles running this year, with a street-level/crime approach to Catwoman that is stylish and distinctive. Even better, this trade includes the backup tales from Detective that led up to the relaunched book. Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke are great creators who do great work as a matter of course, and this represents a pinnacle for both of them. Superman titles (DC) - I'm not a big fan of the Superman books these days, but I might give them a read in August, as each issue is getting a guest creative team, and a single issue story in each one. I'm particularly interested to see Geoff Johns and Brent Anderson work together on a midwestern baseball story in Superman, but I'm also intrigued by Jay Faerber of Noble Causes writing an issue and Chuck Austen showing us a "team-up" between Superman and a Metropolis cop. Green Arrow #16 (DC) - Though I've enjoyed Kevin Smith's run on this title, I have to admit that I'm more excited right now to read Brad Meltzer's take on the character than the remainder of Smith's story. The reason is pretty simple, and maybe not even that good: I associate novelists working in comics with Greg Rucka, who is one of my favorite writers going, and so I look forward to potentially seeing another great writer joining the ranks of comics scribes. Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga TP (DC) - One of the classic Legion of Super-Heroes stories finally gets back into print. Darkseid has a whole planet full of Superman-class aliens to reshape the galaxy to his will, and the only thing standing in his way is the enormous super-hero team known as the Legion. Even if you're not generally a Legion fan, this is classic science-fiction super-hero stuff with writing by Paul Levitz and art by Keith Giffen at his peak. Now if only DC would put together some trades of Legion Lost and Legion Worlds to support the new (and very good) series, I'd be even happier. The Authority: Kev (DC/Wildstorm) - At this point, I couldn't care less about The Authority, and though I expect this to be typically fun in Ennis fashion, I very much doubt I'll be picking it up. All I can see when I look at The Authority now, even with talents like Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry attached, is what might have been if various events hadn't conspired to destroy the title. And that's a shame. Wildcats Version 3.0 #1 (DC/Wildstorm) - To my mind, Wildcats 2.0 was the best work Joe Casey has ever done, and it was up there amongst Sean Phillips' finest work. It was espionage meets super-heroes, and I'm very glad to see it getting the promised relaunch treatment with "Eye of the Storm." I wasn't as sure about the new art team, but after seeing some preview art and that gorgeous cover, I'm anxiously awaiting this relaunch. I'm also anxiously awaiting, and still hoping for, a final trade of Wildcats 2.0, and maybe even a trade collection of the first six issues rather than just the hardcover version that was available. Bigg Time (DC/Vertigo) - Wow, has this one been a long time coming. I've heard nothing but praise for Ty Templeton's humorous Stig's Inferno and I've been anticipating this chance to read a new humor title by him for quite some time. It's an original graphic novel, which is great because it means we get the whole story all at once, and as a fan of Templeton's art and writing from Batman and Robin Adventures, I'm looking forward to seeing this. Lucifer: A Dalliance with the Damned TP (DC/Vertigo) - Perhaps my favorite arc of Lucifer so far is collected in this trade, as we get a look at the politics and finery of Hell, as viewed by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. Lucifer remains a terrific title, having long ago risen above the category of Sandman spinoff, and to my mind it reads much better in trade paperback form, where you can see the scope of Carey's tale. Carey takes over the writing chores on Hellblazer this month with #175, which should be quite good as well. Powers TP Vol. III: Little Deaths (Image) - Powers is one of the few series that I buy in both single issue and trade paperback formats, and I'm always glad to see another high production value volume come down the pipe. I'm surprised and pleased to see that Bendis and Oeming seem intent on reprinting everything, including the Powers Coloring Book, the hilarious issue #7 guest-starring Warren Ellis and the Wizard Powers #1/2, so that no reader will miss out on the complete Powers story. It also contains "Groupies," another solid arc from the Powers ongoing. Rex Mundi #0 (Image) - I've been reading Brother Matthew, the online webcomic about an alternative universe with magic and the Inquisition, and really enjoying it. Rex Mundi is set in that world, and it should be both beautiful to look at and a fascinating read. Writer Arvid Nelson really knows how to tell a mystery, and artist Eric J really knows how to set a mood, and with veteran colorist Jeromy Cox on board, this has all the hallmarks of the next new hit from Image. Rising Stars TPB: Visitations (Image/Top Cow) - Along the lines of the contents of Powers: Little Deaths, this one is for the completists out there, collecting not issues of the regular comic but the specials that have appeared in various places, including the #1/2 issue and convention previews. It's a little sparse, more of a prestige format than a full trade, but it should sit nicely alongside the three volume Rising Stars set when the series is finally completed (somewhere around 2004, if Straczynski's deadlines continue falling the way they have been.) Marvel Solicitations - This is the first month of Marvel's new "scant text, mostly art" solicitations, and I have two main reactions to it. One, they sure are pretty. And two, I hate them with all my heart. I expect them to make ordering comics much harder, and I'm disappointed to see so much cover art, when half the time the cover artist is not the same as the interior artist, and thus a poor offering to judge the comic by. I didn't find as much in the Marvel listings that I found exciting this month, and that may be coincidence and it may be that the listings didn't give me enough information to get me interested. Fantastic Four #60 (Marvel) - I've never been a huge fan of this team, but I have to admit that I'm curious to see this specially-priced relaunch of the team. I'm especially interested to see Waid and Wieringo working together again, as their Flash collaboration was terrific. Avengers & Avengers Icons: Vision (Marvel) - Geoff Johns's work at Marvel has not impressed me as much as his work at DC thus far, but I'm looking forward to his Avengers. The line-up of the team features some fairly obscure favorites being added to the roster, and Johns is writing one of the best team books going (JSA) for DC. Ultimate Marvel Team Up HC (Marvel) - I was planning on picking this up, even though the stories were hit and miss for me, largely because the art was generally so good. But $40 is too high of a price-tag, even for an oversized hardcover, when I only want two or three of the stories collected herein, and I have the best one (Punisher/Spidey/Daredevil) in the Best of Spider-Man hardcover already. Captain America: Red, White & Blue (Marvel) - On the other hand, an original hardcover featuring Captain America, with an impressive list of creators turning in stories, will definitely find its way onto my pull list. I expect that those who are buying Batman: Black & White Vol. 2 this month would be well-served to check this one out as well. Daredevil: Love's Labor Lost & Howard the Duck (Marvel) - Marvel has a pretty sparse selection of new trades this month, but as always it's an interesting mix. Howard the Duck is the latest MAX collection, and quite possibly a nice companion piece to the Essential Howard the Duck, and I'll have to take a look at the Daredevil trade when it's released, as I seem to remember liking those Denny O'Neil stories and you can never go wrong with artwork by David Mazzuchelli and John Buscema. INDY PICK OF THE MONTH: Three Fingers GN (Top Shelf Productions) - This appears to be sort of a "Behind the Music" for the cartoon industry, mixing a look at the strange politics and stories that are underneath every entertainment industry as well as treating the characters themselves like celebrities looking back on their time in it. This is rich territory, touched on in some Warner Brothers cartoons but never really explored in this manner, and I look forward to seeing what Rich Koslowski (3 Geeks) will do with it. Parts: The Sitcomic #1 (After Hours) - There are too many sitcoms on TV, but not near enough in comics, and another entry into the genre is welcome. Buddy Scalera has written some funny stuff for Wizard and for Marvel's Deadpool, and I'm looking forward to seeing his take on a sitcom in comic-book form. Black Heart Billy TP (AIT/Planet Lar) - I read and enjoyed this outrageous punk skater comic when it came out from Slave Labor, and I'm glad to see it rescued from low sales obscurity and turned into a full-fledged graphic novel by AIT/Planet Lar. This is outrageously funny stuff that should go over well with fans of Sky Ape, and also with a mainstream skateboarding crowd, and it deserves to find an audience. Where's It At, Sugar Kat?: The Thin of the Land TP (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor) - Last year in San Diego I got a copy of a mini-comic from Ian Carney that made me laugh out loud when I read it... at home, far away from the stacks of Sugar Kat and Pants Ant that I had seen in San Diego. I had planned to pick up the single issues this year, but Slave Labor has sweetened the deal by offering up a trade collection of a series I've heard nothing but good about. Sparks: An Urban Fairy Tale TP (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor) - Eisner nominations (and possibly wins, I can't remember) and unbelievable word of mouth, not to mention a flip through some of the issues, has had me contemplating this book as well, and with a comprehensive trade offered, I now have no further excuses. $36 is a fair amount to drop on a trade, but it's not a bad price for over 400 pages, either. The Red Star: Nokgorka Vol. 2 TP (Archangel Studios) - The first Red Star trade was a revelation, a stunning oversized collection that really did the epic artwork and story justice. Now on their own, Team Red Star finally produces volume two, and I expect it to be just as good. I also expect it to be late, but good things are worth waiting for. Herobear & The Kid Vol. 1 HC (Astonish Comics) - Speaking of late... Herobear seems to be on a yearly publishing schedule, which is finally what caused me to drop it, as it was moving far too slow and I figured I'd just pick up the collections. However, $50 for 5 issues is a bit steep, even for what I'm sure will be a gorgeous hardcover. I'd love to have this in hardcover format, and if the collection were oversized, I'd probably pick it up even at this pricetag, but as is it seems too expensive, especially in an already-expensive month. Futurama/Simpsons Special: Infinity Secret Crossover Crisis #1 (Bongo) - Now this sounds like too much fun for words. It's a bizarre pairing that almost shouldn't exist, but if done right, it could serve up the best aspects of both series. And Bongo has a tendency to do Matt Groenig's creations proud. Bone. Vol. 8: Treasure Hunters HC (Cartoon Books) - Nothing much new to add about this. I pick up every Bone hardcover, as they're reasonably priced and well-produced, and I hope that eventually I will have a complete story in a nice row of hardcovers on my shelf. Dead.Line Spiritus Sancti Vol. 1 GN (Cyberosia Publishing) - Though the preview book for Free Comic Book Day seemed to indicate that this book is not my particular cup of tea, Cyberosia has a good track record with me, and I'm sure that whether I personally enjoy the book or not, it will be a solid read. Burn #1 (Digital Webbing) - The artwork is either amateurish or stylish, I can't tell which from the covers, but it is unusual enough to draw me in, and the premise sounds like the sort of crime/action blend that is right up my alley. Paul Has A Summer Job GN (Drawn & Quarterly) - I haven't read Paul in the Country, but I'm struck by Michel Rabagliati's simple and effective linework on those covers, and next time I have some extra cash, I may have to check these books out. I'm reminded of Andi Watson's work, and that's never a bad thing. Lurid #1 (IDW Publishing) - IDW is shaping up to be a powerful force in the small press, as Lurid looks like another compelling and dark book. The inside life of exotic dancers could easily be exploitation and "sex sells" at work, but the promo image and the ad copy make it sound far more intelligent and interesting than that, and I'm always glad to see the range of material covered in comics expanded a bit. I'll be picking this one up, at least to give it a look. Jason & The Argobots #1 (Oni Press) - I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Kids love robots. J. Torres and Mike Norton are out to prove that once again, with the story of a young boy who befriends (or becomes) a robotic warrior. I've seen artwork from this one, and it's really great, and J. Torres has proven time and again to be a writer who can capture the sense of wonder and adventure needed to make a series like this work. Cut My Hair Illustrated Novel (Oni Press) - Originally published by Crazyfish/MJ-12, editor Jamie S. Rich's novel comes home to Oni, and if you missed it the first time, do not miss it again. Forget about the illustrations from Andi Watson, Chynna Clugston-Major, Judd Winick, Scott Morse and Renee French, all of which are of course terrific, this is a terrific "coming of age" story that reminds me of Nick Hornby's work. It's honest and raw and incredibly gripping, and well worth a read. Timeseekers #1 (Powerhouse Enterprises) - I love time travel stories in theory, but I've rarely found any that work for me in practice. I'll give this one a shot, however, if only because it's from the folks who do Defiance at Image and because the artwork looks kind of neat. I hope that the lettering on the comics is better than that on the ads, however. Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.