Previews Review for October 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 Previews reviews, covering the Diamond Previews that allow fans to preorder comics from their local retailer. This installment covers the August previews for comics due to ship out in October 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) today, and Augie DeBlieck (Pipeline), Chris Butcher & James Lucas Jones (PopImage) and Johanna Draper Carlson (Comics Worth Reading), later this month, among others. Pre-ordering is your friend. If there's stuff you want in October, letting your retailer know before the end of August is the best way to make sure you get it. Wow, I knew there was something of a post-Con slump, as everyone has jammed all their new releases into the July and August months, but October is an incredibly light month for me. Very few new launches, only a couple of big creative team changes that hold my interest, and while there are a few things that raise eyebrows this month, they're more often than not raising them in a bad way. BIG FOUR PICK OF THE MONTH: Global Frequency #1 (DC/Wildstorm) - It looks like Warren Ellis has put together a modern-day rescue comic, reacting to a change in perceptions after 9-11. The project sounds fascinating, with a high concept that plays into Ellis's conspiracy sensibilities, albeit with a more optimistic viewpoint than I'd expect. The rotating art teams are all solid creators, and Wood's sense of design should make for some eye-catching covers. The only downside is that I wish we could have had Planetary finish up before Ellis launched into another new project, but it seems like this may be a year of revitalized creative output for him, so maybe we can have Global Frequency, Planetary, Morning Dragons, the final issue of Ministry of Space and all the other heavily hyped and intriguing projects that were planned for the last year or so. Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface #1 (Dark Horse) - I have never gotten around to reading my wife's copy of Ghost in the Shell that sits on our bookshelf, but I do mean to at some point. Regardless of my unfamiliarity with the property, though, the preview artwork by Dark Horse, along with the teaser copy, has me intrigued. See, Marvel, this is how you build hype using mostly art. Reveal #1 (Dark Horse) - I'm not one of those lamenting the loss of Dark Horse Presents or Cheval Noir... while I recognize what they contributed, anthologies are a hard sell with me, as much as they are with most of the comics market. Reveal sounds good in some respects (new work by Joe Casey & Sean Phillips, Paul Lee and Francisco Ruiz Velasco), but it's focus on some of Dark Horse's more lackluster properties, including a Buffy story by Scott Lobdell, Spyboy and Lone Wolf 2100, doesn't give off the creative freedom impression I'd prefer to get from an anthology. Of course, it is full-color, which is an interesting distinction from past anthologies. Basically, Reveal could go either way, but it seems like trying to bring in the sales to support independent creators with big-name properties isn't a strategy that's going to please the indy crowd or the licensed-comics followers, and may wind up being a comic that tries to be everything to everyone and becomes nothing for everyone instead. Frank Miller: The Art of Sin City HC (Dark Horse) - I love hardcovers. I've mentioned that before, right? And while I don't exactly have $40 in loose cash lying around, I'm very tempted by a hardcover volume spotlighting Miller's impressive work on Sin City. I'll have to take a look at this one when it comes into the shop, but if the production values are what I expect, it'll probably be added to my library. Batman #608 (DC) - I have great respect for Jim Lee, both as a talent and as businessman, but his art isn't the draw for me that it is for many. However, I do enjoy his art, and it looks like Loeb and Lee may be taking Batman in a sort of "back to basics", more super-heroic direction, which in my opinion is what they need to get a break from the enjoyable but sort of tiring neo-crime feel the books have had since No Man's Land. I expect this to be good popcorn comics. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Strikes Back HCs (DC) - I know it's a special project, but I'm encouraged to see DC doing a quick turnaround collection on one of their projects... maybe the glacial pace of their releases is melting. At any rate, I have two softcover collections of Dark Knight Returns and all three issues of Strikes Again, and I don't know that I want them in shiny new hardcovers... but I suppose it all depends on what else comes out that week, and what my reaction is to the third issue of Dark Knight Strikes Again is. The Sandman Presents: The Furies HC (DC/Vertigo) - Once again, Shelly Bond offers up a Sandman spin-off that is hard to refuse. Even though it's hardcover (read: pricey), the creative team of Mike (Lucifer) Carey and John (Books of Magic) Bolton is a very solid one, and the Furies are a concept that certainly has plenty of room for exploration. Mostly, honestly, it's Carey's name that draws me to this. I'm not enough of a Sandman fan to pick it up in hardcover, but I'm a shoe-in for the eventual softcover. G.I. Joe: Frontline #1 (Image) - I've lost interest in the new G.I. Joe series to some extent, but the reunion of original writer Larry Hama with the Joes has me interested, and Dan Jurgens on artwork is cool on two levels: One, he's a solid storyteller with a good style, and two, he doesn't do a lot of artwork these days, so I'm looking forward to seeing it on anything, let alone a nostalgic favorite. Noble Causes: Family Secrets #1 (Image) - One of the best super-hero series to fly under the radar in recent years, Noble Causes now relaunches as a series of monthly mini-series. It's a great way to help stoke sales and maybe capitalize on buzz, and it also answers the biggest complaint I had with the book, that I wanted more of it more frequently. Anyone who enjoys the soap operatic aspect of super-hero teams should really check this one out. Marvel Solicits (Marvel) - A few months back, Marvel made the announcement that they were changing their solicitations to remove all the useful information. (I'm paraphrasing, of course.) I still hate them. The only text we get is really cheesy and annoying hype, so what we've got is the same level of irritation and less actual information. And, of course, little to judge a book on since many of them feature work by cover artists rather than any interior art. It's a toss-up as to which anti-retailer Marvel policy is more annoying these days: No overprinting or the solicitations. Mekanix #1 (Marvel) - To put it mildly, I am no fan of X-Treme X-Men. However, the Claremont-written story that served as a Mekanix prologue in X-Men Unlimited #36 was pretty good, and featured one of my old favorites from the team. I'm still wary, but I hold out a little bit of hope that Mekanix may resonate with me where most of Claremont's post-return X-book work hasn't. Marville #2 (Marvel) - Wow. I'm almost impressed that Jemas and Greg Horn have managed to sink my respect for Marvel even lower than the U-Decide gimmick had. Sex appeal as humor can work, but it ain't working here. Combine this with the "She may be a hottie now, but Marrow is still deadly!" blurb and cover and the borderline offensive "an Afghani muslim joins the X-Men! How's that for controversial?" blurb, and the Marvel solicitations are becoming as infuriating to read through as the ones from Avatar and Chaos! this month. Killraven #1 (Marvel) - I have little interest in Killraven, but I do have interest in Alan Davis's work, and the interest he has had in this for some time should make this a somewhat personal project. Though I have no love for the character, I'll be surprised if I don't end up enjoying this project. Incredible Hulk Vol. 1 HC (Marvel) - Bruce Jones has reinvigorated the Hulk, but a big part of what has made it work has been his artists, John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer and Lee Weeks. Their work deserves the oversized format, and this should make one gorgeous book. If you prefer your Hulk in softcover, the second volume is also solicited this month, but for me, this is a book I want in hardcover, particularly with how gorgeous Marvel's hardcovers have been. Other Marvel Trades (Marvel) - Marvel's prodigious trade program continues this month, and the highlights for me are the long-running Avengers: Kang Dynasty TP (hope the rest of Busiek's run gets filled in in trade form as well) and new volumes of Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man and Cable. INDY PICK OF THE MONTH: Uzumaki Vol. 3 (Viz) - It was the political drama Eagle that got me into manga, and it has remained my unquestioned favorite, but Uzumaki almost has it beat in terms of anticipation. Uzumaki is one of the most creepy and effective horror comics I have ever read, and I can't wait to see how the story ends. If you haven't checked this manga out, and you like the horror genre, you owe it to yourself to grab volumes one and two of Uzumaki now. Madman Picture Exhibition Limited Edition HC (AAA Pop Comics) - Another of those tempting hardcovers, I'm not sure I can justify spending $30 on a collection of pin-ups, but the range of talent in this book is astounding. I know I'll be buying the softcover if I don't get this hardcover, but the promise of having work by this immense collection of talent is really hard to pass up. I wouldn't be too surprised to find myself ordering this before all is said and done. Doll and Creature GN (AIT/Planet Lar) - Weird science-fiction, horror and pulp all seem to combine in Doll and Creature, which sold me based on the names of the talent, the solid branding of Planet Lar and Larry's own description: "A cute chick plays the Harrison Ford role in Blade Runner with Frankenstein's Monster as her best friend." The Goon #1 (Albatross Exploding Funny Book) - I know nothing about The Goon, but I was sold by the funny comic strip that accompanies the full-page ad ("Where'd ya get all the dough for all those swell Goon comics?" "I sold granpa's heart medicine to some teenage hooligans!") and a quote from Jeff Smith that calls The Goon a "monster comic." For my money, we don't have enough monster comics these days, and we certainly don't have enough that have a sense of humor and are endorsed by Jeff Smith. Bogus Dead TP (Alternative Comics) - I'm all about the zombies, and a Halloween-timed trade of independent creators telling zombie stories warms my heart. Especially when those creators include Jim (Zombie Kid) Mahfood and James Kochalka, among many others. Likewise #1 (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor) - I must admit that I haven't read Ariel Schrag's work, although I picked up Potential on the strength of her Eisner nomination and just haven't gotten around to it yet. However, based on all the positive praise and the concepts of her book, which I believe are autobiographical high school stories, I'm prepared to guess that Likewise will be a good read. Youngblood: Bloodsport #1 (Arcade Comics) - Part of me wants to pass all this up, since I have no appreciation for Rob Liefeld's artwork and little appreciation of what I know of him as a professional. However, Millar is one of my favorite writers, and his interview at Newsarama made the team sound... interesting. Damn him! Gun Fu #1 (Axiom) - Animated style artwork, a killer title and a flashy ad that promises everything a fun book should have make Gun Fu interesting to me. The question is, will the creators turn out a comic that lives up to the humor of the premise, or will they fall victim to the common problem with funny premises, not delivering the gags needed to get beyond the surface humor? The Path Volume 1: Crisis of Faith TP (Crossgen) - It's become a little dour for me, especially with Way of the Rat providing a more fun-filled martial arts/Hong Kong film style of comic, but The Path has been a beautiful looking book, and on a light week, the trade may find its way into my pile o' stuff to buy. Sojourn Volume 2: Dragon's Tale TP (Crossgen) - Sojourn, on the other hand, continues to be the most beautiful book in Crossgen's stable (not a claim to make lightly, given their premium on art and high production values), and so I've been looking forward to the second trade in this series. Especially since this volume features one of the high points, one of the most incredible-looking dragons I've seen in comics. Transformers: The War Within #1 (Dreamwave) - I don't have the nostalgic appreciation for Simon Furman's Transformers that I do for Larry Hama's G.I. Joe, but I think it's interesting that both creators are returning to the titles that made them cult favorites in the same month. Just remember, every time you buy a copy of this book, Warren Ellis kills a kitten. Out of frustration. Wynonna Earp TP (IDW) - It seems I can't let a month go by without buying an IDW publication these days. I know Beau Smith mostly by reputation, but the idea of a sexy female gunslinger hunting monsters in the old west is exactly the kind of high concept that grabs me, and artwork by Pat Lee and references to Buffy, Dark Angel and Charlie's Angels (all guilty pleasures of mine) seal the deal. Getting the Sex Out of the Way (Meathaus Comics) - The actual idea for the book (facial tissue company spies on civilians) sounds weird as all hell, but it's a great title, and in my experience, it's the more out-there indy concepts that create the great books. Blue Monday: Dead Man's Party (Oni Press) - New Blue Monday is always reason to celebrate, but a Blue Monday story set during a costume party at Halloween? Score! Halloween is possibly my favorite holiday, something it seems that I have in common with Clugston-Major, and so I expect this issue of Blue Monday to hit my sensibilities even more than it usually does. Kissing Chaos: Nonstop Beauty #1 (Oni Press) - The first Kissing Chaos mini didn't grab me completely, but it was an unusual experiment that left me with questions, and this new series also sounds like it might be interesting. Subversive artist collectives, the weird and possibly psychotic Angela and a balance of conspiracy, crime and romance sounds right up Dela Cruz's alley, and mine. Pounded TP (Oni Press) - Perhaps my favorite new Oni project this year, Pounded gets the trade paperback treatment. This series is funny, but it has a heart, and it has some of the most beautiful artwork I've ever seen from Steve Rolston. If you missed the issues, buy this trade. It sits alongside Fortune & Glory and Breakfast After Noon as one of the Oni trades I think you must have in your collection. Holliday #1 (Saddle Tramp Press) - Horror and the old west have become the new fusion genre, and I kind of miss pure westerns, but I'm definitely interested in Holliday. I'm a fan of Doc Holliday, and tying his hunt for Ringo in with horror elements is an interesting twist. A visit to the Saddle Tramp Press website shows that all of the artwork is good, and there's enough on the site to convince me these guys know what they're doing and will turn in a good story. London's Dark GN (Titan) - This story, set in London during World War II, probably would have had more buzz back when James Robinson's name was on everyone's lips a few years back, but it still looks interesting, and I may give it a look when it hits the stands. Blood: The Last Vampire 2002 (Viz) - Another project I know largely by reputation, I've heard good things about Blood as a vampire story, and I'm anxious to check out this "update" of the story. The cover is certainly eye-catching, at least. Chicago Volume 1 (Viz) - Earthquakes, murders of an elite military squad and a bar called Chicago promise a noir action tale, and I'm anxious to see if that's what we'll get in Chicago. Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.