Down The Line - Previews review for September 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 July Previews for comics due to ship out in September 2005. Pre-ordering is your friend. If there's stuff you want in September, letting your retailer know before the end of July is the best way to make sure you get it. RANDY: As you read this, we're into the dead of summer, but we're looking ahead to books that will be coming out at the end of summer. This means that when you read these books, the weather will be cooling slightly, the summer crossovers will be winding down and kids everywhere will be bitching that they have to go back to school. Can comics salve their pain? DAVE: I've grabbed a random school kid off the street to answer your question, Randy. Talk, random school kid! "What are comics?" Sigh. 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: Long Hot Summer GN (Image Comics) - RANDY: I really enjoyed Eric Stephenson and Jamie McKelvie collaborating on "A Different Kind of Tension" in Negative Burn and loved Stephenson's story in Four Letter Worlds as well, so I'm quite pleased to see this original graphic novel solicited. The story is set in the Southern california scooter-obsessed mod scene, and it's about a guy, his best friend (who gets all the girls) and a girl who will come between them. The premise and the general approach of these creators makes me think this is going to be can't-miss material for fans of Chynna Clugston-Major's and Jen Van Meter's work at Oni Press. (page 138) DAVE'S PICK OF THE MONTH: Kamandi Archives Vol. 1 HC (DC Comics) - DAVE: "Beasts who act like men! Men who act like beasts!" So proclaimed the cover to the first issue of this ultra-trippy (and mighty cool) Jack Kirby series of the '70s. Clearly inspired by the socially relevant sci-fi of Planet of the Apes, Kamandi tells the tale of a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity is all but extinct and the world is ruled over by animals mutated into humanoid forms. Having picked up the original issues for cheap years ago, I recommend the series. It's some of my favorite Kirby art ever, and the action-packed stories are an insane microcosm of '70s culture and social issues. (page 75) RANDY: Because of the whacked-out Kirby take on this concept, and because of my fondness for post-apocalyptic stories, I'd pick up a trade collection (whether full color or black and white Showcase Presents format), but a $50 hardcover? Not so much. 7 Days to Fame #1 (After Hours) - RANDY: I hate reality shows. Just hate them. So I'm intrigued by Buddy Scalera's speculative fiction miniseries about a reality show wherein the contestants get seven days to tell their life story on television before killing themselves on the seventh day in the most creative way possible. Sounds dark, but potentially fascinating. (page 210) DAVE: I like this concept too, at least as fiction. Figure we'll probably see the real version within a decade or two. Maybe in Japan? Avengers: The Serpent Crown TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: It's nice to see Marvel continuing to collect classic stories like this one (Avengers 141-144 and 147-149). I've never read this stuff, written by Steve Engelhart and featuring the Squadron Supreme, Kang, and Immortus, but I've heard good word on it. Art by some dude named George Perez. (page M91) Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #11 (Bongo Comics) - DAVE: Even though I've stopped picking these up on an annual basis, I can't help but be impressed at the talent Bongo rounds up for 'em each year. This go-'round the Simpsons get the treatment from classic horror comic teams including Len Wein/Berni Wrightson (Swamp Thing) and Marv Wolfman/Gene Colan (Tomb of Dracula). Okay, maybe I'll pick up one more... (page 247) Birds of Prey #86 (DC Comics) - RANDY: Birds of Prey is always worth a read, but this issue in particular stands out because of one story-related reason (one of the team members is relocating to Metropolis, which sounds interesting) and because of the art chores on the issue. In addition to semi-regular artist Adriana Melo (from Simone's Rose & Thorn), we have guest art by Bruce Timm and David Lopez & Fernando Blanco (of Fallen Angel). (page 70) DAVE: Wow, Bruce Timm? Awesome, and Lopez is a true unsung talent. The Black Forest Book 2: The Castle of Shadows GN (Image Comics) - RANDY: The previous Black Forest was a really fun mixture of pulp adventure and Universal monsters, and I'm happy to see a sequel of sorts by the same creative team. This time out, the bad guy is a mad scientist who wants to build super-soldiers out of gorillas. If that isn't a great premise, I don't know what is. (page 135) Black Hole Collected HC (Pantheon Books) - RANDY: I've read a couple issues of this series and was stunned by the strange beauty of Charles Burns heavy, inky artwork and the strange premise about a sexually-transmitted plague that is mutating teens into something grotesque looking. This hardcover collects the series, which finally completed recently, and the reasonable price tag ($25 for 352 pages) makes it a must-buy for me this month. (page 315) DAVE: Burns' work is mindbendy stuff, a weird merging point between Tales from the Crypt and David Cronenberg. I think I may pick this up too. Black Widow 2 #1 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: I enjoyed the first couple issues of Black Widow from this creative team, but then sort of lost track of it. Might have to give the trade and this issue a look when it comes out, if I'm in a "gritty espionage" mood. Mostly, though, I'm still holding out hope that the Rucka/Kordey Black Widow will get collected at some point. (page M31) DAVE: Morgan's writing was hit and miss for me, but I'm somewhat interested in this because Sean "Sleeper" Phillips is doing the layouts, Bill Sienkiewicz the finishes. And the motion to collect the Rucka/Kordey material is seconded. Bloody Mary TPB (DC Comics/Vertigo) - RANDY: Wow, now that's a blast from the past. DC briefly tried a science-fiction imprint called Helix, and while Transmetropolitan made the transition to Vertigo, most of the rest never really got anywhere. One of the books that I liked, though, was a 2000 AD-style story of future warfare by Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra. I read the second miniseries, but never saw the first, and really never expected to see it collected. But here it is, another lost Ennis gem finding its way back into print. Now if only DC would complete his run on Hitman in trades. (page 110) Captain Nemo Volume 1 GN (Seven Seas Entertainment LLC) - RANDY: Young Captain Nemo and his ragtag crew aboard the Nautilus II battle a tyrannical French empire under the command of Napoleon IV in 1893. I don't know either of the creators, but you've gotta admit, that's an interesting concept. Could be swashbuckling fun. (page 320) DAVE: Didja catch that this is a manga, Randy? Looks pretty stylized in that sense, but it's definitely some slick art. Could be fun. RANDY: It's manga format and style, but I think this, like some of Tokyopop's new stuff, might in fact be created originally in English using more western storytelling techniques, so I think it will be more up my alley than a lot of manga I've found. Colonia Volume 2: On Into the Great Lands TPB (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: Loved the first Colonia trade, which tells the tale of a 17th-century boy who comes into contact with a very strange island. I wasn't sure there was going to be another trade, but I'm delighted to find out that there is, because this series is full of imagination, humor and terrific visuals. Fans of Bone and Akiko should check Colonia out. (page 210) DAVE: I like Bone! I like Akiko! So I should probably check out Colonia Volume 1 first, huh? Conan Volume 2: The God in the Bowl and Other Stories TPB - DAVE: I actually didn't care much for the title story of this collection (Howard fans, don't disembowel me!), but the other issues were all winners. In particular, I was impressed with Kurt Busiek's introduction of a new lady foil for Conan. Her past's as dark as pitch, but lent the book a gravity that will no doubt remind readers of the old Savage Sword of Conan magazine from Marvel. Strong work. (page 29) RANDY: Yep, good stuff all around, but then, all of the Dark Horse Conan books have been really good. And the first trade was just beautifully designed, so I expect no less from this one. The Covenant (Image Comics/Top Cow) - DAVE: If it weren't from Top Cow, I'd think this premise has some promise: a group of 13-year-old kids find out they're bristling with magical power while off at summer camp, and four years later their unnamed "mistakes" leave the camp haunted. The writer's from a TV show called Crossing Jordan...about which I know nothing. (page 167) RANDY: I actually enjoyed Crossing Jordan, which is set in a coroner's office and features the lovely Jill Hennessy and the super-cool character actor Miguel Ferrer amongst its ensemble cast. The writing I recall as being at least solid, although the show wasn't really "genre" in any way, so I don't know how those skills will translate to The Covenant, and like you, I am wary of the Cow. Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Absolute Edition (DC Comics) - RANDY: To those of you who bought the $100 deluxe Crisis hardcover a few years ago that DC marketing basically promised would never, ever be reprinted? Well, they lied. It's all here, in oversized format, with some new material, for the same $100. But this time they pinky swear not to reprint it again. Really. Honest. (page 69) DAVE: This is one of those books I've never understood the reverence for - in any format. I tried reading it once, and even as someone really familiar with DC heroes, it was like sanskrit to me. I hate the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach to superheroing, and I'm not much for "event" deaths either. I won't say anything bad about George Perez, though. That mofo can draw. RANDY: I actually liked Crisis when I finally read it a few years back, but then, I have a higher tolerance for event comics than you do, in general. But I don't like it well enough to want to burn $100 on it, even if Perez's work will no doubt look pretty sharp oversized and recolored. Daydreams & Nightmares: The Fantastic Visions of Winsor McCay SC (Fantagraphics) - DAVE: Fans of ultra-detailed, clean-line comic artists like Geof Darrow, Scott Kolins and Seth Fisher owe it to themselves to become acquainted with sequential art's original detail man - Winsor McKay. He's most famous for his meticulously drawn dream vistas in the turn-of-the-century comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland, but this book shines the light on the entirety of his non-Nemo work: other dream-inspired strips, surrealist illustrations, pictorial allegories, etc. (page 284) Desene: Sketches & Scribbles HC (Image Comics) - RANDY: Ovi Nedelcu, writer/artist of Pigtale, does very pretty artwork. I'm tempted by this one, even at the hardcover art book price tag, as Nedelcu's artwork really is gorgeous. (page 136) DAVE: It's true, it's true. I'm looking at the model sheets in the ad and the designs are as sharp and charismatic as anything from Warner Brothers or Disney. Drax the Destroyer #1 (of 4) (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Shit, another "re-imagining" of a cosmic character! We saw how well that worked for the Silver Surfer and Adam Strange recently - would it kill Marvel to find ways to update their characters without wholesale retcons? Marvel's cosmic stuff is just such a mess lately. Makes me miss the Englehart Silver Surfer material from the '80s, a good template for space adventure done right. Ah well, Keith Giffen writes this thing, and he just might find something interesting to do with it. (page M41) Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 1 TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: I've always had an affinity for Marvel's oddballs, from Moon Knight to Dracula to, yes, that hog-ridin' demon out of hell, the Ghost Rider. There's just something about the utter weirdness of his conception, wedding '70s stunt cycling with '70s occultism - it's almost like a modern folk tale or something. So to fellow fans and curiosity seekers, here's a cheap way to get your hands on over 25 issues of his earliest stories. Surely a good companion piece to the other weird Essentials on your shelf, Essential Luke Cage and Essential Werewolf by Night. Ah, '70s Marvel! Funked-up and cool! (page M94) RANDY: I share your appreciation for Marvel's weirder '70s creations... in theory. In practice, I actually haven't read a lot of them, and I don't know that I'm down for an entire Essential worth of Ghost Rider. However, I'm glad that Marvel is publishing these esoteric Essentials so that if I am in the mood, these characters will be available in print for me. Oh, and I would definitely buy an Essential Moon Knight covering the Doug Moench/Bill Sienkiewicz stuff. DAVE: And I'm gonna take this opportunity to say that if Marvel still has or could obtain the licenses... Essential Rom and Essential Micronauts, baybee! No joking here. I'll stop short of Essential Starriors or Essential Crystar, but Rom and the Micros were aces back in the days of Reagan and Valley Girls. Essential Spider-Man Vol. 7 TPB (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Honestly, I bought volume six of Essential Spider-Man and it has sat on my bedside table ever since, but I'll still be buying volume seven, waiting for the day when I get a little more time to read these stories. The Essentials are a great format anyway, but the Spider-Man stuff is probably some of my favorite '60s-'70s Marvel that I've read, so I'm very pleased to see the reprints continuing. (page M93) DAVE: This is maybe the Spidey era I'm least familiar with, but I know there's some suprisingly good stuff. Early Punisher stuff, early Jackal stuff, the weirdness of the Spider-Mobile, and the first appearances of cloning in the title (ages before the '90s excesses) - sounds good to me, and I like the Ross Andru art of the era. Ex Machina Vol. 2: Tag TPB (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - RANDY: The second trade of Ex Machina is finally here! Not much else to say, other than that I continue to love this series that mixes politics with science-fiction and features amazing artwork from Tony Harris, Tom Feister and JD Mettler. (page 101) The Fantastic Four Presents: Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: The Power Pack miniseries by Marvel was a bit of a bust, but the backup story, featuring "Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius" earned its buzz, being a cute, all-ages actually funny feature by Chris Eliopoulos, creator of Desperate Times. This one-shot collects not only the backup tales from Power Pack but new stories from Eliopoulos, and should sit nicely beside those Giant-Size Mini-Marvels and Gus Beezer books as worthwhile all-ages material from Marvel. (page M40) Fell #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith team up for a story about a detective newly transferred into an "urban trashzone." It has that distinctive Ellis stamp ("one detective has no legs") and the preview artwork looks like Templesmith's various work on 30 Days. I have a mild interest, but I expect that this creative team will appeal to many. (page 132) DAVE: I cruelly want Templesmith to leave the industry. I know it's harsh, but his success on 30 Days of Night seems to've given a new generation of artists carte blanche to not draw backgrounds. RANDY: Ouch. Harsh. But you have a point about the backgrounds. DAVE: Actually, I suppose Jae Lee preceded Templesmith, so maybe I should direct my wrath toward him... Frank Miller's Sin City Library (Dark Horse) - RANDY: $150 is way too rich for my blood, especially since I have the original Sin City hardcovers, but damn, this slipcased oversized hardcover collection of the first four Sin City stories does look swanky! (page 26) DAVE: Beyond my means too, but I do think Miller's stuff is worthy of this treatment. I'd still put him among the top five cartoonists working today. Even after DK2. Ghost Rider #1 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Put down that bong and lower the volume on the heavy metal for a minute so I can tell you... Ghost Rider is back! OK, more seriously, Ghost Rider became part of the "gritty Marvel trinity" in the '90s, along with Punisher and Wolverine, and one of the big questions I get from folks when I work at the comics shop is "Are there any new Ghost Rider comics?" So Marvel's basically printing money here. The question is, will it be any good? (page M26) DAVE: Well, the big draw is Garth Ennis, and even at his most excessive, the dude's pretty readable. I'm encouraged by the fact that this mini is being issued through the Marvel Knights line and not Marvel MAX, so maybe ol' Garth will hold off on his trademark excesses a bit. I just hope he gives us some actual story and a bit of the Johnny Blaze side of the Ghost Rider equation. I know of Ennis's fondness for extreme (read: two-dimensional) personalities like the Punisher, so I'm nervous that this might be nothing but Ghost Rider burnin' pavement and kicking ass. And believe it or not, I think the concept has more potential than that. By the way, the fully-painted art by Clayton Crain looks quite nice. Giant Monster #1-2 (Boom! Studios) - RANDY: I'm starting to wonder if, at the beginning of his career, Steve Niles made a bar bet about tackling every possible genre of monster fiction during his career. If so, he's more than halfway there, and Giant Monster is... well, pretty much what it sounds like. The cover by Nat Jones, showing a bloody corpse in a giant footprint, is probably a good indicator of the dark humorous tone. (page 250) The Goon: Fancy Pants Edition HC (Dark Horse) - RANDY: Despite my love of hardcovers, I don't know if I'll be checking out The Goon: Fancy Pants Edition, if only because I already have the trades. But again, this is a terrific deluxe package, and at 184 oversized pages for $25, much more affordable than the Absolute Crisis or slipcased Sin City fancy pants editions being offered this month. (page 24) Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1 (DC Comics) - RANDY: I had thought until recently that I was just as happy with Green Lantern on Earth as in space, but I've realized that I kind of like the space-based stories of the Corps, so I'm happy to see this six-issue miniseries. I wasn't sure at first of a collaboration between Geoff Johns (who I usually like on writing) and Dave Gibbons (who I usually don't), but the second issue of Rann/Thanagar War was kind of fun, and now I'm kind of intrigued to see where these creators take the new Corps. (page 73) DAVE: For me, space-based superheroing needs to grow up out of the classic space opera tropes and veer closer to the Star Trek/Babylon 5 model. In other words, I want adventure, but molded around stronger sci-fi concepts and maybe even some aliens who feel alien. No idea if Johns and Gibbons will be going this direction, but I'll give 'em their shot. Green Lantern: Rebirth HC (DC Comics) - DAVE: Bit of a rollercoaster for me, this book. When it was first announced, I was crazy-hyped for it. By the time it came out, I was so soured on the DC Universe that I didn't care. But then it turned out to be good, even great at times! Alas, the ending fell a little flat, and the DC Universe still seems an inhospitable place for the type of heroism Hal represents. So I figure the hardcover's out for me, but I do think I'll pick up the softcover whenever that hits. Van Sciver's art impressed throughout, and it's worth noting that this collection also includes Wizard Magazine's preview story. (page 74) RANDY: I really enjoyed Green Lantern: Rebirth, but not quite enough to get a hardcover version. We'll see if I maintain my interest by the time the softcover actually comes out or not. DAVE: The wait between hardcover and softcover can really dim casual enthusiasm these days, can't it? Grimjack: Killer Instinct TPB (IDW) - RANDY: Apparently, you can go home again, if that home is the shifting dimension city of Cynosure. The return of Grimjack, with trade paperbacks of the old stuff and a brand new miniseries by the original creative team, has been everything I could have hoped for and more. Can't wait to put this one on my bookshelf, and hoping that an announcement of another Grimjack miniseries is forthcoming soon. (page 301) DAVE: Good, modern pulp adventure, excellent Tim Truman art. Hack/Slash: First Cut TPB (Devil's Due) - DAVE: Here's a kind of schlocky book with a neat premise and enough wit to rise above its B-movie trappings. It follows the adventures of Cassie Hack, a sort of Goth Buffy in the business of tracking down movie-style slashers (think Michael, Freddy, Jason, et al.). Like Scream, Hack/Slash both spoofs its subject matter and revels a bit in it. It's even pretty creepy sometimes, and the art's been quite nice. I like it. I recommend this edition, collecting the three one-shots to date. (page 262) A History of Violence TP - New Edition (DC Comics/Vertigo) - DAVE: This isn't a new book, but it's getting a new release to coincide with the pending David Cronenberg movie based on it. Convenient, because I've never read it and it sounds like an interesting premise: small town man becomes a media celebrity after fending off some crooks trying to rob his diner. Turns out, though, his newfound fame brings to light his dark past putting him in danger once again. Written by John Wagner, best known as the creator of Judge Dredd. (page 112) RANDY: I've never read this, but having now heard the premise, I want to. I kept thinking "History of Violence" like an era-spanning examination of violent behavior, not the psychological term, and now that I know the deal, the story sounds much more interesting. With Road to Perdition out, this will be the second major movie based off of DC's defunct Paradox line, and I wonder if anyone up there is thinking about maybe putting some of this more mainstream genre stuff out through Vertigo to try and capitalize on Hollywood's interest. And, incidentally, create some pretty good stories for comics. DAVE: Guys I'd like to see on a new Paradox line: John Ostrander, Greg Rucka, Paul Pope, Paul Chadwick, Ed Brubaker, Phil Hester, and yes... Brian Bendis. RANDY: Hell yeah. I'd love to see something more mainstream (real mainstream, not comics mainstream, which means superheroes) from all of the guys on that list. Actually, I'd give just about anything to see Bendis step out of the superhero genre again. Lukewarm on a lot of Bendis stuff these days (if not all of it), but man, I still love Fortune & Glory, Jinx, Goldfish, Torso, etc. Brubaker and Rucka are another couple of guys I'd like to see rescued from the superhero ghetto to write some more real-life stuff. Of course, in this ideal world, people would actually buy non-superhero stuff in greater numbers, too. Hulk Visionaries: Peter David Vol. 2 TPB (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Another of these "volume ones" that I wasn't sure we'd ever see the volume 2 of. At any rate, David's early work on the Hulk isn't as good as his later work, but it's all foundation, and it all has its moments. This volume is the one that a lot of fans will probably be glad to see, as it starts off with the Hulk's battle with Wolverine (as drawn by Todd McFarlane) and concludes with the beginning of the Mr. Fixit/Vegas Hulk stories. (page M?) I Luv Halloween (Tokyopop) - DAVE: It's interesting to see Tokyopop expanding its line to include American creators. This time it's Keith Giffen (who did fine work adapting the dialogue for Tokyopop's Battle Royale by the way) with a Tim Burton-esque of trick-or-treater plotting revenge. A little too twisted to be my thing (preview here), but fans of the macabre, Gothy stuff like Johnny The Homicidal Maniac will likely dig. (page 339) Invincible Vol. 5: The Facts of Life TPB (Image Comics) - RANDY: Invincible goes to college, gets lucky and more in the continuing stories of one of the few truly new (and commercially successful) superheroes out on the market today. (page 142) It's Superman! A Novel HC (Super-Heroes) - DAVE: This interests me quite a bit. It's a prose retelling of Superman's origin staged as a period piece beginning in the Depression. I did a little poking around and saw that it's likely to have some Smallville influence, but also just as much Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay influence. The author's previous novels include a trilogy about a group of newspaper strip creators in the '30, and was illustrated by no less than Art Spiegelman. Bodes well, and I like the book's notion of Lex Luthor as a political boss of the era. (page 398) Jet Pack Pets TPB (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics) - RANDY: Tell me that's not a title that makes you want to see more. Sounds like all-ages fun, looks and reads a lot like the successful Cartoon Network digests DC has been doing. (page 220) DAVE: I'm getting a Rocky & Bullwinkle/Powerpuff Girls vibe, and that's a good thing. Kingdom Hearts Vol. 1 (Tokyopop) - DAVE: So weird I just might have to look in on it. Playstation 2 owners are probably familiar with the name Kingdom Hearts, that being the much-loved game that somehow merged the Final Fantasy series with Disney characters. I've only glimpsed it, but it looked as surprisingly cool as everyone said it was. Anyway, there's a manga of it. (page 342) Lost Dogs Volume 1 GN (Ashtray Press) - RANDY: The first ten pages of this book are previewed HERE, and it's fairly compelling stuff. The art has a weird quality to it, looking like it was done with markers, but there's some real quality to it as well (check out that cobblestone road). The story, about an eight-foot man searching for his wife and daughter by going out to sea and into underground boxing clubs, sounds dark but potentially uplifting as well, and the fact that the book won the Xeric Grant makes me think it's at least worth a look. (page 232) DAVE: I like that art. Wonder if this was inspired by the David Mazzuchelli story, "Big Man"? The Lost Squad #1 (Devil's Due Publishing) - DAVE: I mention this one because of the art. The premise is a pretty typical genre blender - a military squad in World War II that handles supernatural missions - but the cover is a neat bit of art from newbie (at least to me) Alan Robinson. Mary Jane: Homecoming Digest (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: This has actually been a very satisfying look at wistful high school romances, lensed through the world of Mary Jane and other Spider-Man supporting cast regulars. What I've liked best is that writer Sean McKeever hasn't been in a hurry to put Peter Parker and Mary Jane together. Gives the book a freshness and allows for some expanded characterization of players like Flash Thompson, Harry Osborne, and Liz Allen. Plus Takeshi Miyazawa's art is about perfect for the material. (page M82) RANDY: To no one's surprise, of course, a romance comic about Mary Jane and her high school chums has sold abysmally in the direct market, but hopefully now that the second miniseries has gone into the format it probably should have started out in, it will perform better. I hope so, because I've really enjoyed all the Mary Jane comics from the McKeever/Miyazawa team and would like to see more. Maximum Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: I'm such a huge fan of the Silver Age FF stories of Lee and Kirby. Alongside the Lee/Ditko Amazing Spider-Man, I think it's about as good as superhero comics gets. And yet...and yet...a fifty dollar book hardcover devoted exclusively to the first issue of the title?! That's sorta insane. FF #1 was good, but I think most everyone would agree it was later issues where the personalities really solidified and the title hit its stride. See, I'd buy a fiddy dollar hardcover devoted to, say, the original Galactus trilogy, but FF #1? Nah. Panel-by-panel commentary and analyses would be better served elsewhere. Comic historian types might dig this, though. (page M3) Moped Army Volume 1 GN (Cafe Digital Comics) - RANDY: Paul Sizer has previously done the sci-fi series Little White Mouse, which I've liked when I've read, but I'm even more drawn to Moped Army. The first 28 pages are available for preview HERE, and tell a pretty interesting story about a group of rich kids in aircars who antagonize some poorer teens who ride illegal mopeds in the devastated city below. (page 252) Naoki Urasawa's Monster Vol. 1 (Viz) - RANDY: Greg McElhatton and Alex De Campi over at Ninth Art have talked up this book, which sounds like that rare manga that might totally capture my attention. Certainly those two are opinions I respect, and the premise, about a doctor who saves the life of a young boy with a dark fate ahead of him, sounds interesting as well. The solicitation promises "conspiracies, serial murders and a scathing depiction of the underbelly of hospital politics." Score! (page 372) DAVE: I'm all over this. I've heard the theory that comics can't really convey horror (or its cousin, suspense), but I've started to find manga that put the lie to that. It's because manga is so cinematic, of course - lots of moment-to-moment stuff and such high page counts that there's room to really draw out tension. So... no big trick, but the point is, it works, and I'm always interested in checking out new examples of it. Owly Volume 3: Flying Lessons TPB (Top Shelf Productions) - DAVE: I don't think I've ever seen a cutesy comic so take the internet by storm as Owly. Critics everywhere have fallen in love with its sweet, sometimes melancholy tales of a lonely little owl, and if there's a single person not won over by its charming nature... that person should be beaten senseless. Alongside Akiko, I think this is the best book available for comic-lovin' parents to read along with their kids. (page 360) RANDY: Owly is one of those books where you think "it can't possibly be as good as everybody says, can it?" and then you read it and it's actually better than people have been saying. Give in... give in to the cuteness! Or, apparently, Dave will beat you senseless. Peng One-Shot (Oni Press) - RANDY: Sharknife is still on my "to be read" list, so I'm kind of recommending blind, except that I know that Corey Lewis's art style is terrific, and his crazy ideas (in this case "kickball," like baseball except with kicking) are always fun. (page 314) DAVE: Err, kickball's not exactly a crazy idea, Randy! Didn't you ever play it in elementary school gym classes? Professional kickball, however, does sound like a really fun basis for a comic. Plus, I peeked at the preview art and it's filled with ass-kickery. RANDY: You know, I did play kickball in school, but the "baseball except with kicking" description threw me off, even though in retrospect that's exactly what it is. At any rate, kickball comics? Takes a particular kind of sensibility and talent to pull that off, and I think Corey Lewis has it. Polly & The Pirates #1 (Oni Press) - RANDY: Ted Naifeh's Courtney Crumrin is a fantastic read, so I'm very interested in his newest creation, about a young girl named Polly with one foot in high culture and one foot in the pirate world. Sure to be a lot of fun, and with Naifeh on art, it's sure to look great. (page 314) DAVE: This looks very cute. Good cute, not Family Circus cute. RANDY: You better watch it with the Family Circus cracks, Dave. I hear Little Billy did some time, and his cute pleas of "Not Me" have let him escape the consequences of his psychotic temperament and violent tendencies. PvP Book 3: PvP Rides Again TPB (Image Comics) - RANDY: This volume of PvP contains some of my favorite stories, as Scott Kurtz turns his attention to Comicon, comic book stores and the world of fan film. (page 143) The Quitter HC (DC Comics/Vertigo) - DAVE: I can only take my Harvey Pekar autobiographical comics in small doses, but I do like 'em. This one's an original graphic novel telling the tale of Harvey's childhood and the early experiences that led him to "just give up" on so many things. Art by the talented Dean Haspiel. (page 117) RANDY: Count me in. I haven't read a lot of Pekar's stuff, but what I've read, I liked, and I really enjoy Haspiel's artwork as well. Rocco Vargas: Walking with Monsters HC (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: As a fan of old-school space opera like Flash Gordon, I've been meaning to check out this Euro entry in the genre for years. Rocco's a sort of intergalactic Cassanova and crimefighter, and the art by Daniel Torres looks insanely good - think Tintin's clean-line look doing retro-futurism in the Sky Captain tradition. Plus hot babes. (page 27) Runaways Vol. 4: True Believers Digest (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Marvel's done well with Runaways as a digest-collected book, and I congratulate 'em on keeping the momentum going. Happily the new Runaways series hasn't kicked off a new trade line, instead simply becoming "volume four" in the already-established line. I confess, I haven't been as big on the series since the relaunch, but it's always quality material. Been some good twists and turns in recent issues. (page M81) RANDY: Glad to see a new digest, been really enjoying the Runaways resurgence. However, I'm really hoping for another hardcover, because the shrinky size doesn't really do justice to the artwork, and I'd love to be able to stack up some more hardcovers to go with the giant volume one that's coming out soon. DAVE: Yes, bring them hardcovers on! Secret Voice #1 (Adhouse Books) - RANDY: My only exposure to Zack Soto's work has been in Project: Superior, but I liked what I saw, and this new book from Adhouse, promising "the strange adventures of the Smog Emperor, Dr. Galapagos, the Spectre Girls and more!" intrigues me. Especially since Adhouse's books are always beautifully designed. (page 204) Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle #1 (DC Comics) - DAVE: I'm still enjoying all of Grant Morrison's mega-opus, Seven Soldiers, so I'll be right there in line for his take on Mr. Miracle. Grant's shining the light on the original Mr. Miracle's apprentice, Shiloh Norman, revealing him as "the world's coolest escape artist, a cross between David Blaine and Puff Daddy." It might be some kind of blasphemy to have Grant Morrison bringing his hallucinatory stylings to the worlds of the surprisingly straightlaced Jack Kirby...or it might be exactly the kick in the pants the 4th World needs. (page 81) RANDY: Dude, I keep telling you: Grant Morrison is the modern Jack Kirby. I mean, a Jack Kirby who doesn't draw and has taken considerably more drugs in his lifetime, but in terms of crazy ideas, he's right there, and he's got that just left of center weird streak that Kirby had in his work too. Looking forward to this one, especially after seeing the stunning preview art by Pasqual Ferry. DAVE: I think to be the modern Jack Kirby you have to be a full-time artist, but to give Morrison his props, he actually does draw, at least casually. Didn't he do a number of the redesigns for Seven Soldiers? I remember seeing 'em in Wizard and the guy clearly has a strong design sense. Sgt. Rock's Combat Tales Vol. 1 (DC Comics) - RANDY: Much as I love the digest format, I've come to think it's not really right for superhero comics or indeed color comics originally published at regular size, at least in general. That said, $10 for 128 pages of full color Sgt. Rock tales? Hard to argue with that, even if I think the art won't reproduce perfectly at that size. (page 78) DAVE: What a weird, weird choice for digest format. Digests seem to appeal most to the kiddie set, but the venerable Sgt. Rock of Easy Company is surely known only in 30-and-up fan circles, right? And I see that DC's giving the same treatment to Wein and Wrightson's old Swamp Thing material. On one level - yeah, good material all around! - and yet on another level... WTF? RANDY: I'm not sure they're thinking kiddie set. Keep in mind, the bookstores are buying up the digests in droves as well, which makes these slightly less weird choices. I mean, Sgt. Rock is still kind of bizarre, but Swamp Thing and mainstream makes sense. Sort of. I dunno, maybe they're aiming for the PX comic shops in Iraq and Afghanistan? Lord knows there's a big (and growing) audience in the U.S. military overseas these days. Shazam/Superman: First Thunder #1 (DC Comics) - DAVE: Josh "NYX" Middleton at DC? 'Tis true, and while his specialty at depicting wispy adolescents seems better suited to a Mary Marvel miniseries, the preview art I've seen of this looks pretty snappy. 'Course, I'm a purist when it comes to Captain Marvel and don't like him operating in the same world as Superman, so the book's not really up my alley (especially with Judd Winick writing). Figure some of y'all will want to check it out, though. (page 64) RANDY: I'm open to other Captain Marvel interpretations, and I've liked a lot of Winick's superhero stuff, so my concern is less with the story and more with the art. It's not that Middleton's art looks bad, it's that, as you note, he's better off with the wispy adolescents. I'd rather see Middleton on something like Meridian or even his creator-owned (and vanished) Sky Between Branches rather than toiling away on superheroes that don't entirely fit his style. Sherman's Room #1 (After Hours) - RANDY: I talked about Chris Eliopoulos's comic-creating talents above on Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius. Sherman's Room is his new creator-owned all-ages book, about a bullied little boy who escapes into his personal fantasy world with space aliens, superheroes, and other surreal creations to get away from his overbearing family. Sounds fun, although black and white all-ages books are a tough sell to the kids, who really prefer color. (page 210) DAVE: Manga might end up changing that in a decade or so, but yeah, I can't help but feel any black and white book targetted at younger readers has really got its work cut out for it. RANDY: Fortunately, Eliopoulos does have an appealing art style and a sense of humor that's in tune with the young'uns, so I think Sherman's Room has a shot. Shotgun Wedding #1 (Speakeasy Press) - RANDY: Speakeasy is producing a ton of books, which I think is a risk in this market (did no one learn the lesson of Crossgen?), but a lot of their books look pretty good. There are four that jump out at me this month (as well as the notable solicitation of their first three trades, Helios, Atomika and Grimoire) and Shotgun Wedding is the first, alphabetically speaking. Written by Marc Bryant (whose work I've liked) and drawn by Jason King (whose art previews look good on his website), it's also got a great premise. To be specific, the premise is this: Romeo and Juleit recast as a battle between rival mob families, where the Romeo and Juliet of the piece hate each other but are forced into marriage as part of a truce by someone looking to take over both families. I'll definitely check out the first issue. (page 332) DAVE: I agree, looks interesting. The visuals seem like the comic book equivalent of the CGI-rotoscope animation in Richard Linklater's Waking Life. I'm not quiiiiiiite sure if I like it, but it's got possibilities. Showcase Presents (DC Comics) - RANDY: DC finally gets on the Essential bandwagon. Oh, they aren't calling it Essential, theirs are "Showcase Presents," but these are big, thick, black and white compilations of early comics or weird off-beat comics in their line. Great to have a way to pick up early DC stuff that doesn't require you to donate blood in order to pay Archive prices. The first two, Green Lantern and Superman, don't hold a lot of promise for me personally, but they're great choices. I'm more looking forward to the already-announced Justice League and Jonah Hex volumes. (page 80) DAVE: Bring on the Metamorpho reprints! It's the weird shit like that I'm looking forward to, and I do indeed hear Metamorpho will see print a little ways down the line. That and Jonah Hex. In a similar vein, I'd like to see the original Doom Patrol collected, and I expect I'll even end up tempted by those early Green Lantern issues. DC gets the thumbs-up for this. Copied from Marvel? Who cares. A good idea's a good idea. Sketchbook Adventures of Peter Poplaski HC (Denis Kitchen Publishing Co.) - DAVE: This one's an oddball, but it sounds cool. I don't know the name Peter Poplaski, but apparently he's done everything. Guy did underground comix in the '70s, mainstream work that included Batman and Superman covers, tons of sketchbook stuff, and in Googling his name, I even came up with courtroom sketches he did during the Gaiman/McFarlane trial and his name credited to the drawing of The Tinkerer from the original Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Whew! So, anyway, this is a big 'ol sketchbook of his work, with an intro by R. Crumb and back-cover blurbs from luminaries such as Will Eisner, Frank Miller and Harlan Ellison. I think I pretty much have to check this out. (page 259) Sleeper Book Four: The Long Way Home TPB (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - DAVE: Of course I'm picking up this final chapter in Ed Brubaker's supervillain noir, but I regret to say the payoff left me somewhat disappointed. For the story's many high points, though, I'll be happy to have it, and hopefully it'll read better in trade. (page 102) RANDY: I'm just glad to see the whole thing collected. Can't wait to read this whole series in a set of four trades as one big story. Yeah, the ending was not as strong as the rest of the book, but it was certainly solid, and the craft throughout was excellent. Small Press Expo (SPX) 2005 Anthology (CBLDF) - RANDY: I've missed the last couple years of the annual Expo anthology, because the "themed" issues didn't look as strong at first glance, but this year it's back to being freeform, and I might give it a look again. At $12.95 for almost 200 pages, it's a steal, and the "guest list" includes Charles Burns, Scott Morse, Seth and Andy Runton among many others. (page 253) Smoke & Mirrors #1 (Speakeasy Comics) - RANDY: Smoke & Mirrors is another intriguing Speakeasy offering this month, about the protege of a superhero and niece of a superheroine coming together to form a new crime-fighting team, with flashbacks to the original "golden age" adventures of Mr. Smoke and Miss Mirror. (page 332) Spellgame #1 (Speakeasy Comics) - RANDY: Dan Mishkin is a name that a lot of modern comic book writers may not know, but I remember hearing about his work on Blue Devil right about the time when I was starting to become aware that there was more out there than just Spider-Man, X-Men and G.I. Joe. I haven't ever read Blue Devil, mind you, I'm just saying Mishkin has a rep, and this story, about a stage magician in Vegas who begins to discover actual magical talent when magic leaks back into the world, sounds promising. Certainly the cover by Darwyn Cooke makes it look cool and fun. (page 332) DAVE: I think I remember Mishkin best for solid work on DC's D&D comics in the '90s, still among the strongest D&D comics ever produced. He seems like a solid dude, so sure, I'll try this out. Smoke and Guns GN (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: Isotope's Kirsten Baldock writes the story of cigarette girl gang warfare with art by the talented Fabio Moon. Sounds like a blast, more weird high-concept action/humor from AIT/Planet Lar. (page 210) Star Trek: The Next Generation Comics Classics Volume 1: Hero Factor TP (Titan Publishing) - DAVE: This one's just kind of historically notable: Titan Publishing has ended up with the Star Trek license and this volume begins their reprinting of all the old DC Next Generation comics. I don't remember any of these as being good, per se, but Trekkies should take note. Me, I'm still waiting on Tokyopop's manga Star Trek (not sarcasm - I think it's gonna own!). (page 333) Star Wars: Republic #81 (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: Remember the insanely cool battle on the Wookie planet in Revenge of the Sith? No? That's 'cause it didn't happen! Lucas played us all for chumps, teasing Wookie ass-kickery on the trailers and then giving the big furballs little more than a wink-at-the-camera cameo. Son of a -- ! So once again it's up to the ancillary Star Wars media to give us the cool stuff, in this case a three part expansion on the battle. With John Ostrander on writing and Jan Duursema on art, I expect goodness. (page 20) Star Wars: X-Wing-Rogue Leader #1 (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: Revenge of the Sith, you cannot defeat me! Original Star Wars crap is and always will be cool, and if I'm feeling any kind of Star Wars jones come September I just might check this Rogue Leader book out. The plot? Eh, something post-Return of the Jedi where X-Wing aces mix it up with vengeful Imperials, but it's the preview art that really caught my eye. Looks great! (page 18) Super Crazy TNT Blast #1 (Speakeasy Comics) - RANDY: Described as "the ultimate super hero Alamo," this tells the tale of cosmic threat The Magnate coming to Earth and allying with all of Earth's supervillains for a massive power grab. Potentially fun high stakes, high power level superhero stuff. (page 332) Supreme Power: Hyperion and Supreme Power: Nighthawk (Marvel Comics) - I have to mention these two new minis just because the mixed messages they send out amuse me. Here's Marvel right about to relaunch Supreme Power sans its adult Marvel MAX rating, and yet at the same time they're launching two Marvel MAX miniseries featuring Supreme Power characters! The books'll probably even overlap! What I'm picturing is Hyperion stubbing his toe in the general audiences Supreme Power, then flying off to his MAX miniseries just to shout out "Shit!". Come on, Marvel, make up your mind. (pages M66-67) Thor: Blood Oath #1 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Woo! More Scott Kolins art! If only I were a Thor fan. (page M43) DAVE: I haven't liked writer/artist Mike Oeming on all the recent Thor stories, but he at least talked a good game for this one on Newsarama a few weeks back. Because of that, because I do like Thor, and because Kolins always kicks ass, I'll give this thing a shot. True Porn Volume 2 TPB (Alternative Comics) - RANDY: You're gonna have to preorder this one, folks, because most comic shops won't have it for the shelf. But the first volume was actually pretty entertaining, ranging from titillating to disturbing to just funny. You can find a full list of who is contributing to this book HERE. (page 219) The Ultimate Casper Vol. 1 TP (iBooks) - DAVE: They ultimized Casper the Friendly Ghost?! No, wait, it's just a big ol' collection of stories about the all-ages ghost who looks like the spirit of Richie Rich. Never read 'em, don't trust 'em, but I think they'd go well in the younger readers section of most comic shops. (page 294) Unearthly Volume 1 GN (Seven Seas Entertainment LLC) - RANDY: Ted Naifeh makes another appearance in Previews this month, writing while someone named Elmer Damaso draws. The story sounds like bizarre manga premise, about a shy girl, a pretty boy and the most beautiful girl in school. Oh, and there's something about an identity-snatching alien that jumps into the fray. Sounds... odd. But odd can be good, and Naifeh is always very readable. (page 320) Vaistron #1 (Slave Labor Graphics) - RANDY: Andrew Dabb and artist Broussourir bring us the futuristic story of a "Road Killer" named Gabby who hijacks skytrucks and cars for a living. Terrific, detailed artwork and a fun sense of humor are evident in the nine-page preview I read, which includes such things as a truck driver and his personal protection robot fighting about his decision to buy a "personal service bot" and how it's a betrayal of their relationship as well as a terrific airborne gunfight. Well worth a look. (page 220) Will Eisner's Contract with God Trilogy HC (W.W. Norton) - DAVE: 544 pages in length, this new hardcover collects in one volume Will Eisner's seminal graphic novels, A Contract with God, A Life Force, and Dropsie Avenue. I'm not ashamed to say that what I've seen of these stories always struck me as overly melodramatic, overly sentimental (I'm more of a Spirit guy when it comes to Eisner), but just as someone fascinated with the evolution of comics, I might pick this up. (page 374) RANDY: My wife actually had all of these before we got married (good taste in comics being one of the many reasons I married her... I have no idea why she would marry me), so I'm unlikely to buy this... but I'm glad to see a notable collection of Eisner's legendary works given a spiffy hardcover treatment by a major publisher. Will You Still Love Me If I Wet the Bed GN (Top Shelf Productions) - RANDY: The guys at Top Shelf have excellent instincts, that is a funny title and when you describe someone as a mix between "Jeffrey Brown and James Kochalka," I'm interested. It also promises a rare happy ending in autobiographical comics. You can check out one of Liz Prince's short strips HERE if you want to get a taste of what you might expect. (page 360) Wolverine: Enemy of the State Vol. 1 TPB (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: I never thought I'd be saying this, given my general distaste for the over-exposed Wolverine and my disappointment in a lot of Millar's Marvel Universe work, but... the Millar/Romita Jr./Janson Wolverine run might just be some of the best action comics currently on the market. It's crazy over-the-top and best taken out of context with the rest of the Marvel Universe, but for pure fun and nice art, it's hard to beat. The only reason I wouldn't pick up this trade is if Marvel surprises me and issues an oversized hardcover of the entire 13-issue run, which I would snap up in a heartbeat. (page M88) DAVE: I still see Millar's excesses in this book, but of all of Millar's Marvel material, it is, in fact, the best. Strong action sequences, some neat guest appearances by other Marvel players, and the always terrific art of John Romita Jr. - it's very readable. Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Beauty and the Beast TPB (DC Comics) - DAVE: I *heart* DC for continuing the collections of this historic run from George Perez and Len Wein. Still the best stories Wonder Woman has ever seen. That is all. (page 86) Yenny #1 (Alias Enterprises) - DAVE: Randy and I were talking about this book the other day and we decided it sounded a lot like a manga premise: 22-year-old Yenny has the looks to be a supermodel, but alas, she's held back by a problem so many of us face: really big feet. She ends up sharing an apartment with her globe-trotting mother in Puerto Rico, alongside her mischievous iguana sidekick and a sea turtle named "Buke." Between modelling assignments, Yenny does odd jobs, plays volleyball, and interracts with her outlandish neighbors. It honestly sounds pretty charming, and the art looks like a cross between Vaughn Bode and Terry Moore - cartoony and sexy at the same time. (page 219) Turns out Yenny is also a long-running comics strip in the Liberty Meadows vein. By which I mean it has gorgeous cheesecake artwork and a slightly familiar (but still occasionally funny) comic strip humor vibe. It's moved around a bit, but you can sample the newest strips (and some of the archives) HERE. Email Randy Lander and Dave Farabee comments about this review.