Down The Line - Previews review for November 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 September previews for comics due to ship out in November 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), Augie DeBlieck (Pipeline), 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 November, letting your retailer know before the end of September is the best way to make sure you get it. First of all, you'll note a slight change in the title to "Down the Line," a reference to stations further down the line, in keeping with our loose "train theme" that began with The Fourth Rail. Other than a change in title, the column is much the same as it has been. The last couple months have been light, but it looks like November will more than make up for it, with new creative teams, new titles and a ton of collected editions, just in time for the holidays. Particularly notable is the flood of material from DC, both in terms of new series launches and new trades. BIG FOUR PICK OF THE MONTH: Mek #1 (DC/Homage) - Both of my picks this month are cheats, because I've actually had the chance to see preview copies. In the case of Mek, a collaboration between Warren Ellis and Steve Rolston about teenage cyborg culture in the future, I haven't read the words. However, I have seen the artwork, and it is gorgeous, the best stuff I've seen from Rolston, even given how much I loved his Pounded work. Creator-owned science-fiction with a proven writer and a good artist who gets better with every project? That makes Mek an easy pick, and a tough book to pass up. Pubo (Dark Horse) - This one, on the other hand, is from a fairly new creator who has been getting a lot of buzz in all the right places. Leland Purvis created the independent book Vox, and it didn't sell so well. It sold well enough and got enough attention, though, that Dark Horse picked up this new, quirky-looking mini by the creator, which is good for Purvis (gets him out there again), good for Dark Horse (who could really stand to regain their "indy cred") and good for readers (because they'll get another chance to sample Purvis's work.) Cannon God Exaxxion: Stage 1 TP (Dark Horse) - This works as an argument for faster trade collections, or straight-to-trade manga. When I read the first couple chapters of this sexy and funny manga in serial format, I was convinced I was going to buy the trade when it came out. Now, months and months later, my interest has waned and my budget has moved on to other places. At any rate, though, Cannon God is plenty of fun, with the same blend of action, sex and comedy that fans of Gunsmith Cats would enjoy. Batman Backups (DC) - After the interminable Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, I'm ready for a break from the ancillary Bat-books, but they've got great back-up stories this month. In Detective Comics #776, the backup is by Nancy and Michel Gagne (Michel is responsible for the twisted, funny and beautifully produced Zed, and a very odd and compelling choice for a Batman-related story). Meanwhile, Brian Azzarello and Jim Mahfood collaborate on Batman: Black and White in Batman: Gotham Knights #35, and given where their sensibilities overlap, I expect this to be outrageous and fun. Batman: Bruce Wayne - Fugitive Volume 1 TP (DC) - Speaking of said crossover, here is part one of the collected edition. I liked large chunks of this story, and it was done mostly by writers I really like, but the inconsistency in the artwork and the extremely dragged out pacing of the story finally killed my enthusiasm for it. This is still really solid Batman stuff, but only if you're looking for a pretty major investment of time and cash and can put up with the occasional clunker of art or a story that has only passing relation to the plot. Batman: Year Two - Fear the Reaper TP (DC) - I'm glad to see this one collected again, even if it does have its flaws. While the story isn't phenomenal by any means, though, it is solid, and it's accompanied by work from Todd McFarlane and Alan Davis, and now includes the sequel, with art by a more-seasoned Alan Davis, to fill out the package. One of those "why did they let this go out of print again?" things, now corrected. Harley Quinn #26 (DC) - Honestly? I don't like Harley Quinn much outside of the animated series. When even Paul Dini couldn't interest me in her DC continuity counterpart, I knew the character just wasn't for me. That said, it'll be hard for me to pass up taking a look at this, based on artwork by Mike Huddleston (The Coffin) and Troy Nixey (Trout), even if I can't see their styles being appropriate to the book. However, it seems that the writing may also be going another direction, and although Andy Lieberman's name is new to me, the fact that he is credited for some of the writing on the Jon Stewart Show (which I enjoyed) got my attention. Superman: For All Seasons TP (DC) - Although I love all of the Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale collaborations, especially in their collected formats, Superman: For All Seasons is for my money the strongest of the bunch. It also had the best design, beating out even the gorgeous Daredevil: Yellow hardcover with a hardcover design that included a snazzy acetate slipcover. DC has let that hardcover go out of print, which means it's time for the softcover version, good for those on a budget or for those who missed out on the hardcover edition. The Flash #192 (DC) - I know, I talk this book up a lot, but I couldn't let the solicitation go by without mentioning that the storyline that starts in this issue sees the return of Grodd. Since the Grodd issue was one of my favorites in the Johns/Kolins run so far, I can't wait to see the follow-up story. JLA/JSA: Virtue & Vice HC (DC) - And speaking of Geoff Johns, I must curse him and DC for tempting me with this hardcover treat when I should be saving money. I may have to hold out for the softcover edition for budgetary reasons, but it's not an easy decision, because it's the same writers from the excellent JSA series, I love the idea of JLA and JSA team-ups, I loved the preview pages that I've read and I know that Carlos Pacheco's artwork is going to knock my socks off. JLA: Secret Origins (DC) - I'm not so sure about the weird coloring scheme being used for the book, but this sounds like another great gift idea from Dini and Ross, a chance to show off Ross's artwork and play around with some of DC's big icons. Not necessarily for me, but a pretty nifty idea. JSA: Return of Hawkman TP (DC) - Though the Darkness Falls trade contained some of the best JSA stories, Return of Hawkman is a continuation of the book when the creative team was really hitting its stride. Since Darkness Falls was so delayed, this one is also hitting on a more reasonable schedule for those who are trying to follow the series in trades, and given how expensive the back issues of this part of the run are, it's good for DC to make it more available quickly. Wildcats: Street Smart TP (DC/Wildstorm) - I've been waiting for this one. I loved Travis Charest's artwork on the relaunched Wildcats, and I loved where Casey and Phillips eventually took the book, but Lobdell's writing on this opening arc didn't really grab me. I'm just interested enough to see the seeds planted for Casey's run, and to have some of Charest's best art, that I will pick up a trade collection, but I was never interested enough to grab the hardcover. Desperadoes: Quiet of the Grave TP (DC/Homage) - Been waiting for this one, too, because it was a great mini-series in one of those rarely seen comics genres, the western. Mariotte turned in a great script with interesting characters and some spooky ideas and legendary penciller John Severin stepped in and provided some of the only artwork that could have matched up to John Cassaday's stunning work on the first mini-series. Zero Girl: Full Circle #1 (DC/Homage) - I'm surprised to see a sequel to Zero Girl, because the story seemed pretty good as a complete tale, but I'll reserve judgment until I see it. The first Zero Girl re-sparked my enthusiasm for Sam Kieth's work, and I'm curious to see if this second mini-series will overcome my less positive reaction to his recent work on Wolverine/Hulk. Vertigo Pop!: London #1 (DC/Vertigo) - While Vertigo Pop! is a neat idea, so far it has tackled cultures that I think are already over-exposed in comics, don't interest me personally, or both. London has certainly been explored in comics, and I'm not so much an Anglo-phile that I particularly care to explore it further, but as with anything, the creative team is king. In this case, the creative team is Peter Milligan (who hasn't missed with me yet this year) and Philip Bond (whose artwork I love even when the writing doesn't dazzle me.) This is one of those cases where even Marvel-style solicitations (i.e. no info beyond the creative team) would have hooked my interest. Tech Jacket #1 (Image) - Sounding like a more super-hero and less action-movie style take on Jackie Chan's The Tuxedo, Tech Jacket intrigues me on the basis of some impressive visuals from E.J. Su and the name of writer Robert Kirkman, who has proven that he can handle outrageous comedy or more straightline super-heroics pretty well with Battle Pope and Superpatriot. Ultimate Daredevil & Elektra #1 (Marvel) - I'm wary of Ultimate mini-series, just because mini-series from Marvel have a pretty high rate of, well, suckage. However, Greg Rucka's writing is always a draw, and Salvador Larroca's promotional image for this one is pretty enticing. I know it'll be well written, I'm pretty sure it will be beautifully drawn, and I'm hoping that we'll get a couple of "twists" on the characters ala the Ultimates, rather than staying as close to mainstream continuity as Ultimate Spider-Man has as it has gone on. Daredevil: The Target #1 (Marvel) - I'm not crazy about the movie-look Bullseye, and I'm not sure about Smith's take on the characters, but I've enjoyed Green Arrow, Spider-Man/Black Cat and (to a lesser extent) Daredevil by Kevin Smith, and I'm fairly sure I'll enjoy this too. Marvel Covers (Marvel) - Since Marvel isn't providing much in the way of actual information in their solicitations anymore, my comments have to be based largely on the artwork. So I'll point out a few that I liked this month. Ultimate X-Men #24 tugs at my fanboy heartstrings with a classic "fastball special" portrait, Agent X #5 continues Udon's tradition of strong covers with a clever "manga tchotcke" look, Avengers #60 has a classic George Perez headshot style approach and Fantastic Four #63 demonstrates that Mike Wieringo seems to once again be working at the top of his game. Eden's Trail (Marvel) - Futuristic manga-style western? Sounds a lot like Last Shot, or what I know of Trigun. Both of which had strong visuals, and I've liked what I've seen. This looks like an interesting experiment from Chuck Austen and Steve Uy, especially given that it is being published in the widescreen "Marvelscope" format. INDY PICK OF THE MONTH: Three Days in Europe #1 (Oni Press) - As with Mek, this is a cheat, as I've read the issue already and know how good it is. Antony Johnston shows that his skill is not limited to horror (Frightening Curves) or children's adventure (Rosemary's Backpack), delving into romantic screwball comedy with artist Mike Hawthorne. The premise is simple (and funny): Both halves of a bickering couple decides to plan a secret vacation to surprise their significant other and patch up their relationship. They pick the same date and two different locations. Hilarity (and strong characterization) ensues. Oni has done well with this sort of material before, usually from Andi Watson, and fans of Breakfast After Noon should not miss this one. Just A Pilgrim: Garden of Eden (Black Bull) - More fun auto-pilot stuff from Garth Ennis, as he gives us mind-controlling flesh-eating ooze in a post-apocalyptic world, where the only hope of a batch of would-be spacefaring scientists is a cannibalistic preacher with a shotgun. It's like Road Warrior, only with the cracked sense of humor of Garth Ennis and the entertaining visuals of Carlos Ezquerra. Tozzer & The Invisible Lap Dancers TP (Ablaze Media Limited) - You've got to love the title, don't you? Rob Dunlop and Peter Lumby seem to be airing for the Hollywood spoof area, and if the two-panel gag in the full-page ad is any indication, they've hit the mark. I don't know what to say about this one, as it's an unknown quantity, other than to say that they got my attention with a clever title, a clever ad, and a solid presentation (full color OGN). Oh, and they've got a website with some preview material. Myth Adventures Volume 1 GN (Airship Entertainment) - Back in high school, I read and loved the Myth Adventures novels by Robert Asprin. I also remember enjoying Phil Foglio's illustrations for the books, and it's nice to see that the full cartoon adaptations of the novels are being re-released by the Foglios. The Red Star Volume 2 #1 (CG Entertainment) - One of the big successes of Image is now the flagship of Crossgen's new creator-owned line, and I expect that not much will change for the reader. The art will still be gorgeous and the parallels to real world politics will still be intriguing. Since I found the pacing of the storytelling to be a little slow, I hope that we'll also continue to see the oversized trades published at Crossgen. Crux Volume 2 TP (CG Entertainment) - I gave this post-apocalyptic super-hero story a read when the first trade came out, largely on the strength of Steve Epting's work on Aquaman, and found it to be very engaging. Waid gave the characters a lot of personality (I hope that continues with Chuck Dixon's run, I'm only reading the book in trades) and Epting's artwork was just flat-out gorgeous, some of the best at Crossgen, which has built its reputation on gorgeous art and color. Supreme: The Story of the Year TP (Checker Books) - I have all the original issues of this one, but I'm still glad to see these issues collected into a more lasting form. Alan Moore, using a thinly-veiled parody created by Rob Liefeld, managed to show up most of the Superman books put out by DC in the past few years, infusing Supreme with a self-aware Silver Age goofiness that was endearing and clever without feeling overly retro. Johnny Nemo Volume One TP (Cyberosia Publishing) - I don't know this one, but it's by Peter Milligan, who lately can do no wrong in my eyes, and Cyberosia Publishing, who I have a great deal of trust in. Thus, what sounds like another 90s hyper-violent future tale goes on my buying list, sight unseen. Stylish Vittles: I Met A Girl (Dementian Comics) - This one I have seen, as I got a photocopied preview of a couple Stylish Vittles stories at SPX a couple years ago. Imagine my surprise to find that the creator was not doing Stylish Vittles comic books, but instead a full-on graphic novel. With a compelling art style and a true understanding of real teenage love and angst, I think Stylish Vittles is poised to be a big success in some circles. Previews and more info are available here. PS 238 #0 - Student Handbook (Dork Storm Press) - This one, a take on the ever-popular "school for super-heroes," has been teased in the Dork Storm books for a while as a variety of very funny strips. Aaron Williams (Nodwick) is taking a look at super-hero school in a much younger vein, with elementary school kids, and that gives this familiar setting a whole new angle. This issue is largely a collection of strips and an introduction of the cast, and I suspect it will be a good way of whetting the appetite for #1. Transformers Generation One TP (Dreamwave Studios) - Yeah, yeah, nostalgia is killing the industry, blah blah. Transformers: Generation One was a science-fiction/action movie on paper, far better than it had any right to be, and that's down largely to the strong production values of Dreamwave, the stunning artwork of Pat Lee and the solid writing by Chris Sarracini. If you're missing out on this simply because it's based on an 80s cartoon, you're depriving yourself of something pretty good. Transformers Genesis Art Book (Dreamwave Studios) - I'm also intrigued by the art book, even though I was never much of a Transformers fan. However, giant robots look cool, and to see them interpreted by a variety of artists, particularly those working in computer-assisted style, is certainly intriguing. This should make a good coffee-table book, and an absolute must for Transformers fans. Moonstone Noir: Boston Blackie GN (Moonstone Books) - Though my interest in crime comics has subsided somewhat in the past year, I still love the genre, and an original noir tale of a safecracker on the run for a murder he didn't commit still intrigues me. Especially when it's written by Stefan Petrucha, whose work on the X-Files comic way back when was really solid. Queen & Country: Declassified #1 (Oni Press) - More Queen & Country = good thing. More Queen & Country focusing on the active days of Head of Section Paul Crocker, as written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Brian Hurtt = even better thing. Looking forward to this one quite a bit. Two Over Ten Volume 1 TP (Second 2 Some Studio) - I missed Two Over Ten when it first came out, but Myatt Murphy's second offering, Fade From Blue, has been a really strong comic so far, and so I'm glad to see this trade paperback solicited. And as always with Second 2 Some, the price is so low it's hard to believe. Runners: Bad Goods #1 (Serve Man Press) - I can't fairly judge the talent on this book, having not read Sean Wang's work on Tick and Arthur, but the promise of Star Wars meets Smokey and the Bandit is too weird not to at least take a look at. Smugglers and space pirates can be a lot of fun, when done well and with the right sense of humor. Shonen Jump Volume 1 #1 (Viz) - Shonen Jump is not necessarily what I like in manga, but for younger kids, it looks like a home run. The impossibly popular Yu-Gi-Oh!, matched with perennial favorite Dragonball Z and a handful of other manga, in a giant manga package, should make a strong launch for Viz's publishing initiative. These giant manga compilations are an important push to get kids interested in comics again, and I wish them luck. Firefighter! Daigo of Fire Company M Volume 1 (Viz) - This one, on the other hand, is more what I look for in manga, a take on genres and situations that American comics would probably never touch. Eagle, a story of politics without a bit of science-fiction or fantasy to it, is what really drew me into manga, and this fairly straightforward look at a rookie firefighter looks like the same kind of thing. I'm also happy to see that they're releasing it as graphic novels, and in either right-to-left or left-to-right formats. Stray Toasters TP (Graphitti) - Usually I don't get past the comics sections in these overviews, and I still hold to my rule of talking only about comics and not about books, games or other merchandise, but Graphitti, known for their cool T-Shirts, is offering something more directly comics-related this month. Their fare tends to be overpriced and elite, such as the Earth-X and Daredevil collectors' editions, but Stray Toasters is simply a trade paperback, collecting creator-owned work from Bill Sienkiewicz from his time at Epic. I know very little about the story other than it is meant to be surreal, but I like Sienkiewicz enough to order it sight-unseen. Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.