Down The Line - Previews review for November 2003 - Part One 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. 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 2003. 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. After a brief absence due to treatment for his pixie sticks addiction, I am once again joined by Dave Farabee. We're all proud of you for beating your sugar-based demons, Dave! DAVE: That whole experience taught me an important lesson, Randy: you've gotta hit rock bottom to finally realize the things that are really important in life. You know - comic books. As you can see from the above, my comments will be the normal type, and Dave's will be in yellow. Because Dave and I tend to run longer than when I was writing solo, we're breaking this down into two parts, starting with the "Big Four" (Dark Horse, DC, Marvel and Image) and covering the rest of the catalog in the next part on Thursday. BIG FOUR PICKS OF THE MONTH: Runaways Vol. 1 TP (Marvel) - RANDY: This is a criminally-underordered book, and I'm very disappointed in all of you that this isn't outselling it's Tsunami brethren like Venom or The Human Torch. Here's your chance to make it right, though... pick up this trade, which will feature the setup of The Runaways, brimming with excellent characterization, pretty artwork and a story that is unpredictable, a rarity these days. DAVE: I'm absolutely with you on this, Randy, and I'd have picked it as my Big Four choice as well if it wasn't going up against such a proven powerhouse as Elfquest. Runaways is a fantastic book. Its "kids versus their supervillain parents" concept is suprisingly original (and unpredictable), and I love the tone that takes me back to the days when Spielberg made suburbia cool and mysterious (E.T., Close Encounters, Poltergeist). Elfquest Archives Volume 1 HC (DC Comics) - DAVE: I recently re-read the first few volumes of my old editions of the Elfquest trades from Starblaze, and I'm still ready to purchase those classic stories in this new format. The series is just that good, and given that Wendy Pini is re-coloring the entire run (the sampler issue looked great) as well as re-lettering it, I feel confident this will be the definitive collection. I do question the fifty dollar format a bit - for that price I'd like my hardcover to be oversized - but I have zero hesitation in recommending the series. It's the quintessential fantasy comic, period. RANDY: Truly, it is a golden age for those of you who love elves. Conan the Legend (Dark Horse) - DAVE: And speaking of fantasy, here's a book that should get the blood a'pumpin' for all those folks cool enough to have been buying Marvel's Conan magazine back in the 70's and 80's. Technically it's not the first issue of Kurt Busiek's upcoming series, but rather a snazzy little 16-page prelude story along with an interview with Busiek and a sketchbook from the artist. And hey, it's only a freakin' quarter! "Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women!" RANDY: I don't even like Conan, and I'm looking forward to this. Almost made it my pick of the month, in fact. This is a cheap intro to Conan for those who haven't read it, and a nice "welcome back" to the hordes of fans that are out there for the character. Busiek's interview about the character a while back got me interested in seeing it, and I'm surprisingly excited by the prospect of a new Conan series from Dark Horse. B.P.R.D.: There's Something Under My Bed (Dark Horse) - RANDY: The B.P.R.D. one shots have all been hits with me, and this one looks like another. Though they've disappeared from the comics scene to work in film, I always enjoyed the work of both Joe (Slingers, Darkness Falls) Harris and Adam (X-Force) Pollina and I'm glad to see them back. Even more glad to see them collaborating on Mike Mignola's interesting B.P.R.D. characters. The Blackburne Covenant TP (Dark Horse) - DAVE: This collected miniseries had a memorable premise involving a bestselling fantasy novel being subconsciously inspired by black magic conspiracies in the Middle Ages. I read the first two issues, dug on the creepy vibe, and decided to wait for the trade to take in the story in one sitting. Hope it's cool. Hellsing v.1 TP (Dark Horse) - RANDY: Here's what I know about Hellsing: It's about a vampire in a red trenchcoat with a gun. Wait, I know one more thing: The anime is immensely popular. Not sure whether or not Hellsing will break through my personal "manga barrier" the way stuff like Gyo, Club 9 and Eagle did, but the concepts are interesting enough to intrigue, and whether it goes over with me or not is pretty much immaterial... my guess is that Dark Horse will do quite well with this one. Star Wars: Infinities - Return of Jedi #1 (Dark Horse) - DAVE: This is the third installment of what's essentially a Star Wars "What If?" series, and I like the pivotal event in question: an accident puts C-3PO out of commission such that he can't act as Jabba the Hutt's interpreter, so when Princess Leia arrives at his palace in disguise, interpretations go awry, and suddenly everything's blowin' up! I haven't followed the previous Infinities series, but the art looks so good on this one that I'll give it a look. Yes, even knowing it may have Ewoks. RANDY: You mean "What if Endor went up in a fiery ball of doom before the Rebels ever met the Ewoks?" isn't the premise of this one? I guess explosions at Jabba's Palace will have to suffice. Batgirl: Year One TP (DC Comics) - RANDY: After reading the first couple issues of this one, I stopped reading. Not because I didn't like it, but because I had confirmed my suspicions that the Robin: Year One team was telling another entertaining yarn, this one featuring Barbara Gordon's early years, and I knew that I'd rather read it as a trade. Yes, it's true, I can be one of those annoying "wait for the trade" people sometimes. It worked out this time, though, as I'll get a nice payoff of reading a mostly-new story that I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy. Batman: Detective #27 HC (DC Comics) - RANDY: I'm sometimes weirded out by what DC gives the big deluxe original hardcover treatment to. Michael Uslan was a producer on Batman and Batman Returns, but he was also co-writer on the abysmal Just Imagine Stan Lee series, and Peter Snejbjerg is a solid artist, but he's not exactly a sales barn-burner either. So putting the two of them together on an Elseworlds that puts Batman into the 1930's as part of an elite secret organization of detectives, while potentially cool, seems a bit odd. DAVE: Okay, first of all, Just Imagine wasn't abysmal - you're just a cranky modernist whore who's got no appreciation for Stan Lee's wacked-out, innocent, kid-friendly swingin' style. That said, this collection sounds weirdly incestuous even given the already inbred nature of the Elseworlds concept. Gonna pass on this one, even though I'm a Snejbjerg fan. RANDY: Hey, I love Stan Lee's stuff... I'm even got a weird fondness for the ultra-camp that was Ravage 2099. But Stan and DC just didn't mix, and anyone who thinks differently is clearly deranged. DAVE: Join us, Randy. You will be...a True Believer! Catwoman #25 (DC Comics) - DAVE: Mixed feelings here on the arrival of a new artist. I'm a fan of Paul Gulacy's art - this man was choreographing kick-ass superhero beatdowns when Jim Lee was still in diapers - but I've been positively enamored of the "animated noir" style that's defined Catwoman for the last few years, and hate to see it go. We'll see how it plays out, though. Ed Brubaker's still onboard and that counts for a lot. If you haven't tried the book before, folks, be sure and give this issue a shot. It's been one of DC's best-kept secrets for the past few years. RANDY: My feelings are a little less mixed and a little more on the negative side, as you know. Despite liking Gulacy's work and thinking he'll do a fine job, I think the change in style is a huge mistake. Give me Cliff Chiang or someone else with a different but similar style and I'll be happy, but going from Cameron Stewart's distinctive look to the Neal Adams-y Gulacy worries me. As you note, though, Brubaker is still on board, which counts for a lot. And this month also sees the publication of the second Catwoman trade, with Brad Rader and Cameron Stewart art and a brand-new story by Mike Avon Oeming. So I'll get my Catwoman fix one way or another. DAVE: Your... your "Catwoman fix"? I don't wanna know. Superman: The Kansas Sighting #1 (DC Comics) - DAVE: What if, my friends, Superman's pappy, Jor-El, secretly came to Earth to "test the waters" before sending his only son to live there? What if he was spotted by UFO nuts in Kansas whose investigations brought to light Jor-El's trips to a modern-day Superman. And what if, during those trips, Jor-El introduced the concept of the Kryptonian Anal Probe to the entire population of Smallville? Okay, I made that last part up, but the rest of the premise is accurate in this so-freaky-it-might-be-fun two-parter from "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" writer J.M. DeMatteis. RANDY: One clarification, here: This ain't a "What If?" or, as they're called at DC, an "Elseworlds." This whacked-out concept is in continuity. I'd be disgusted by it if I didn't think it was so completely ridiculous that it'll be widely ignored by Superman writers and mocked by most fans. However, I do think DC is missing a promotional opportunity in not printing up "I got probed by Superman's Dad" T-Shirts. Green Arrow: Archer's Quest HC (DC Comics) - DAVE: Following in the footsteps of the Kevin Smith Green Arrow hardcovers, novelist Brad Meltzer gets his run collected in the fancy-schmancy format. I really liked his first issue, then became lukewarm on the run and never saw how it played out. Given my renewed Green Arrow interest based on Winick's run and my bigtime love of Phil Hester's art, I may buy this...when it hits softcover. RANDY: We're on the same page here, except that I read the rest of Meltzer's run and remained lukewarm throughout. I'm still glad to see this collection, though, because it gives me a lot of hope that we'll see Winick's excellent run collected into trade paperbacks as well. JLA: Liberty and Justice (DC Comics) - RANDY: I've honestly lost a lot of my affection for Alex Ross's artwork. I don't think it's necessarily degraded or anything, I'm just kind of... "full"... when it comes to his art style. However, it's undeniably attractive to look at, and I was swayed back to this one not just by Ross's art but by Paul Dini on script and the price point. 96 pages, 10" x 13" for $9.95? That's insane, and there's just no way I can pass up a deal like that. DAVE: I echo your thoughts completely. For the first time in years, I'm actually excited about an Alex Ross project. My only cause for hesitation: Ross's Wonder Woman still looks like a dude. Teen Titans Go! #1 (DC Comics) - RANDY: I haven't heard the buzz on Teen Titans, but after being very wary of it myself, I've found that I kind of enjoy the cartoon. It's definitely aimed at kids not adults, but that's OK, and I find the whole thing to be a lot of fun for the most part. More importantly, so do the kids who come into the shop asking about Teen Titans, and I'm glad to see DC adding another title to their excellent cartoon tie-ins like Batman Adventures and Superman Adventures. I'm even more pleased that it features J. Torres, whose writing I've always enjoyed, and Todd Nauck (at least on the first issue) whose artwork I have liked as well. And if this project results in higher sales for some of Torres's projects or for Nauck's Wildguard series, that's even better. DAVE: Haven't seen the show yet, but like you, I'm always glad to see another kid-accessible comic. Can anyone match DC on these "adventures" titles? Other publishers have tried, but only DC really seems to know the formula that works. Danger Girl: Viva Las Danger (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - RANDY: Look, I'm not proud. I can admit to my human weaknesses. I love Phil Noto's artwork, and can't resist anything he's working on. What, you thought I was going to admit a fondness for the empty-headed (but fun) cheesecake that is Danger Girl? Well, OK, I've got that too. Noto's first adventure with the Danger Girls didn't really light my fire in terms of story, but the artwork was as good as I expected it to be, and I expect that will be the case here as well. DAVE: The solicitation has some really nice preview art and I've got a fondness for J. Scott Campbell's knowingly lightweight Danger Girl as well. On the other hand, I really only have an interest in the series when Campbell himself is on the art. Noto's good, but his work's a wee bit too stiff for the concept. Point Blank TP (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - RANDY: When I first read Point Blank, Ed Brubaker's lead-in to Sleeper, I really wasn't all that impressed at first. However, by the time the last issue rolled around, with a truly mind-f*cking surprise ending, I knew that I wanted to read the whole thing again, and that it would read better as one story. So I'm happy to see the Point Blank trade. Mind you, I'm even happier to know that we're getting Sleeper trades soon after, because that is one of my favorite books. DAVE: I missed this during its first run, but since I've fallen hard for Sleeper, this is a must-buy for me. Superman/Thundercats (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - DAVE: How far must we go before the nostalgia trend (and the nostalgia-crossover subgenre) finally coughs its death rattle? I got twenty on Snorks/Eightball. RANDY: I'm pretty sure you just gave Dan Clowes a heart attack. And before we get too high and mighty here, let's just remember that you and I have our nostalgia soft spots as well. I guess there is an audience out there that really wants to know who would win in a fight between Superman and the Thundercats. Or whether you can neuter someone with heat vision or something, maybe. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Book Two HC (DC Comics/ABC) - RANDY: I have the first League in hardcover, so I'll buy this one in hardcover to match them up. In general, I've enjoyed volume two more than volume one anyway, but I generally view League as a book that reads better in collected form, so I'm looking forward to reading it that way. Although given the delays on issue #6, this might wind up shipping about two weeks after the series itself ends. DAVE: I'll probably hold out for the softcover, but I'm sure this'll be a spiffy volume. The first series was better, though... The Sandman Presents: The Furies SC (DC Comics/Vertigo) - RANDY: I've read this one recently in hardcover form, and it's very odd but undeniably engaging. Mike Carey brings the same intricate plotting and strong characterization to the story of Lyta Hall as he does monthly to the pages of Lucifer, and John Bolton's painted artwork is gorgeous. Transmetropolitan: The Cure TP (DC Comics/Vertigo) - RANDY: The penultimate Transmetropolitan trade is released. Not much more to say than that - you already know whether this is for you or not. Just wanted to point it out. On The Road to Perdition Book Two: Sanctuary (DC Comics/Paradox) - DAVE: I've enjoyed this series. It is, honestly and truly, as close as comics have gotten to recreating the melodramatic hyperviolence of a John Woo movie (and I'm talkin' the good ones from Hong Kong). If you only know the family-friendly movie adaptation, you owe it to yourself to discover the blood-strewn comic that inspired it. This outing is especially notable as it features art by Steve "Whiteout" Lieber. RANDY: I liked Road to Perdition. But that's it. I've had no great desire to reread it, I found the movie pretty dull and I couldn't even get into the On The Road to Perdition Book One prequel. Steve Lieber on artwork raises my eyebrows, but I still just can't work up the enthusiasm for these projects. Glad they're out there for those who like them. 40 oz. Collected TP (Image) - RANDY: I have all these mini-comics, bought them in San Diego last year, and I love them. I am a huge fan of Mahfood's artwork, and I think the work he's done in the 40 oz. minis may be my favorite of his work, save perhaps We Love Porn. Good to see this stuff getting into print in a wider distribution, so the folks who don't hit the con circuit can enjoy more Mahfood-y goodness. Blokhedz #1 (Image) - DAVE: Reads the solicit for this new book: "Empire City & Manhatten on steroids. A parallel universe where Middle Earth meets the Hood." Hunh. Could be fun, could be a flop. I'll at least give it a look-see for novelty value. Cloudfall (Image) - RANDY: The creators of Tech Jacket and Brit throw a regular gal cop up against a murderous conspiracy that just killed the Governor. Given how much I enjoyed Brit, I think that the self-contained graphic novel agrees with these two gents as far as format goes, and the subject matter certainly sounds interesting as well. DAVE: Are you getting the same Top Cow vibe off the cover that I am, though? Hot redheaded cop posing with a torn, cleavage-revealing shirt? This, to me, is a warning signal. RANDY: No Top Cow vibe for me. I've looked at the promo several times, and haven't yawned once. G.I. Joe Frontline #17 (Image) - DAVE: Stupid nostalgia book turning me into a hypocrite! Okay, the reason I've got a touch of interest in this issue is that it's got the Joes' drill instructor, Beachhead, leading a team of new recruits into combat. Since one of my favorite issues of the 80's G.I. Joe comic was a showcase for the recruit screening process (my favorite guy who got cut: a bald lamer named "Funky"), I'll have to give this badboy a look. I hope Funky's back. RANDY: I'd mock you, but I have the same fondness for G.I. Joe that you do. Although I can mock your love of a guy named "Funky." Heaven's War (Image) - DAVE: It's historically famous black magick user Aleister Crowley in one corner and fantasy authors J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams in the other! The year is 1938, and even as a world war looms, Crowley is attempting to manipulate a war in Heaven to his advantage...unless the fantasy dorks can stop him! Gotta check this one out, and I'll be interested to see the art by Michael "Alias" Gaydos. RANDY: It's certainly an unusual concept, and though the writer is unknown to me, I like Gaydos's art and this gets points from me for being another Image original graphic novel. Powers Vol. V: Anarchy TP (Image) - RANDY: Powers still remains one of the few series that I'll fork out money for in both single issues and trade paperback form. This story came with some big shockers, and though I've had a few moments of doubt during Powers run, at this point, the creators have pretty much hooked me for life. At least until Bendis starts disintegrating, Dave Sim style, and starts having Walker spout off about how all the homosexual feminazis are trying to keep him down. Sei: Death & Legend (Image) - RANDY: Image has embraced the original graphic novel format, which is cool by me, and though I know all the projects won't be to my taste, this is another one that sounds interesting. Folklore about Japanese gods and goddesses, with an intriguing art style, makes this one look promising. That Image has linked it with Avigon, a woefully-underappreciated OGN for the goth crowd, also speaks highly of it to me. DAVE: It does look interesting. Nice cover art, too. Wish we could see more interior art in Previews... Wolverine: The End #1 (Marvel) - DAVE: This one's the latest in Marvel's very loosely scheduled "The End" series, where we get to see hypothetical final fates of our most beloved heroes. On the good side, there was Hulk: The End, which I thought was fantastic. Then there was Marvel: The End, which was really just another installment of those damn Thanos miniseries. Not so good. Wolverine: The End? Can't say as I'm interested, especially given that it's being written by Paul Jenkins, who managed to make Wolverine's origin sleep-inducing. As far as I'm concerned, Wolverine's best death was when he got cooked by a Sentinel in the famous "Days of Future Past" storyline. RANDY: What I want to know is, when will we get to see Shamrock: The End? People are crying out for closure when it comes to this culturally-sensitive portrayal of an Irish hero! Cable & Deadpool #1 (Marvel) - RANDY: I am familiar with the saying, "don't judge a book by its cover," but... Kee-rist. The decision to put Liefeld on cover duties for this ill-advised teaming of two characters I generally could give two shits about pretty much tells me the book isn't for me, but instead is for the fanboys who miss the 90's (and there are a lot of them left out there). And yet... Fabian Nicieza is writing, and I turn the page and see kind of nice art from Udon Studios artist Mark Brooks. Talk about your mixed signals! DAVE: C'mon, Randy, no one draws a scowling, feral face like The Liefeld! New X-Men #149 (Marvel) - DAVE: There's nothing else remarkable about this book other than the fact that it has an absolutely stunning cover of Xorn looking scary as hell. Great image. RANDY: Absolutely. Fantastic cover. Marvels 10th Anniversary Edition HC (Marvel) - RANDY: I own Marvels in comic-book form, and have never gone out and picked up the collection. Never really felt like I needed one, to tell the truth. But Marvels, a story I really loved, in the super-cool oversized hardcover format, with extra bonus material? There's just no way I can pass that up. DAVE: I think I'll probably pick this one up as well. I've always considered Marvels to be Alex Ross's finest project because the very premise - photographer documenting the Marvel Universe - played into his photorealistic style. And, like Randy, I love these big honkin' oversize hardcovers that Marvel puts out. I can't believe I'm such an Alex Ross whore this month. Unprecedented! Tsunami trades (Marvel) - DAVE: November sees the release of the first volumes of all the Tsunami trade paperbacks, and I'll be picking up at least two of 'em: Runaways and Mystique, both of them penned by Brian K. Vaughan of Y: The Last Man fame. The ones I'll be passing on: Venom, Sentinel, Namor, and The Human Torch. And on that note, that's it for this installment of Down the Line. Be sure and come back next time for part two, where we take a look at the rest of the Previews catalog, which includes cats and birds, robots and humans, seamonsters and super-heroes and monsters and land developers, all battling it out for supremacy in the comic-book realm. Email Randy Lander comments about this review.