Down The Line - Previews review for January 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. Thus these Previews reviews, covering the Diamond Previews that allow fans to preorder comics from their local retailer. This installment covers the November Previews for comics due to ship out in January 2005. Pre-ordering is your friend. If there's stuff you want in January, letting your retailer know before the end of November is the best way to make sure you get it. I hate to start this thing off on a bitchy note, but... has anyone looked at the covers of Previews this month? On one side, an ad for those annoying little Marvel mini-mates (toys), on the other, a pitch for the upcoming Constantine movie. Look, folks, I know comics is seen as something of a bastard medium, that the money the industry makes is a pittance to the guys in TV, videogames, movies, toys, I know this... but do you think that we could manage to have some kind of comic book on one of the two covers of the monthly periodical that is the ordering tool for the industry? Is that crazy? Am I crazy? DAVE: I think I'm not as bothered as you, seeing it as just part and parcel of life in an industry where diversity of product is necessary to survive. That said, it does call to mind one of the memorable lines from Jurassic Park: Jeff Goldblum: "Eventually, you do plan to have dinosaurs on your dinosaur tour, right?" 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: Grimjack: Killer Instinct #1 (IDW Publishing) - I had a hell of a time selecting my pick of the month this time. Should I go with the Grimjack trade paperback from IDW, or the new Grimjack miniseries from IDW? Ultimately, I had to go with the new miniseries, simply because I've already read all the stories in the trade. Yes, folks, I'm a big 'ol Grimjack fan, having discovered the run when I first moved to Austin thanks to my local comics shop hooking me up with the back issues for cheap. If you've never read it, the basics are that it features a veteran of the cross-dimensional wars trying to get on with his life and troubleshoot in the multidimensional city of Cynosure. Cynosure crosses many dimensions, and there are different rules in each one. The tagline, which I love, is "Guns work some places, but not others. Swords work everywhere." Cool barbarian style fantasy mixed with gritty sci-fi and a love of rock and roll and other pop culture by the guys who gave us (together or separately) Hawkworld, Suicide Squad, Jonah Hex, The Spectre and so on, Grimjack was great, and I expect that greatness to return here. I'd also really love it if it boosted John Ostrander's profile in the mainstream again, because the man has not lost his skills, as those of us reading the surprisingly good Star Wars: Republic series know. (page 296) DAVE: Wow, I'm all over this. Ostrander laid down the muhfuggin' law on his DC books back in the day, but alas, I was too much of a mainstream whore to take in his fondly remembered Grimjack at the time. I'm really looking forward to playing catch-up on the reprints *and* checking out the new stuff you're talking up here. And like you, Randy, I'm looking forward to seeing this stuff boost Ostrander's Q rating. Guy absolutely deserves it, and speaking of after-the-fact recognition, I wonder if DC will ever consider a trade series collecting his Suicide Squad run? That's my real Holy Grail, and with Deadshot and Captain Boomerang getting high-profile stories lately even as Oracle (created in Suicide Squad) continues to be a fan-favorite...I wonder...I wonder... DAVE'S PICK OF THE MONTH: Freedom Force #1 (Image Comics) - I recognize that this is a goofy-as-hell pick, and would like to note that past picks have included such high-falutin' titles as Concrete: The Human Dilemma, Sandman Mystery Theatre, and Sleeper: Season Two... but the hell with all that seriousness! Let's have some fun! For those that missed it, Freedom Force was a video game released several years ago that amounted to the first great superhero team game. Set in the '60s and rooted in the uproarious style of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it had great characters and wild plots to leave any classic Marvel fan a'grinnin'. This mini is essentially an adaptation of the game's memorable story and Kirby-style visuals, including the villainy of Nuclear Winter and the heroism of El Diablo! I've seen a few preview pages already and it looks like a hoot. Stan should write the intro! (page 140) RANDY: Much as I loved Freedom Force, I bow to you, my friend, as the greater fan. Honestly, I'm not sure I have that much interest in seeing the dead-on Silver Age vibe of the game translated into comics, though. For one thing, adaptations tend to suck, and for another, I already know that story! That said, Freedom Force the game was a whole lot of fun, and if the creators can capture the same sense of fun in this comic, well, it's certainly the kind of thing I'm in the mood for these days. Apocalypse Nerd #1 (Dark Horse Comics) - RANDY: My interest in Peter Bagge's Sweatshop died several issues before the book succumbed to low sales, but I'm still curious to check out Apocalypse Nerd. Why? Well, several reasons. First, I always enjoy Bagge's sardonic style. Second, the notion of a comedic take on the apocalypse, melding Bagge's bitchy slackers to a seemingly incongruous sci-fi setting, sounds like fun. And third, the six issue length from the outset means it'll probably have the focus that the theoretically ongoing Sweatshop lacked for me. (page 20) Araña: The Heart of the Spider #1 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: The teen superheroine from Amazing Fantasy finally gets a name – Araña – and in a pretty hacky bit of promotion of the character as a Latina superhero, the solicit explains, "That's pronounced ah-rahn-ya, for all you gringos!" Hmm, I wonder if white dudes had to be told "it's pronounced 'Luke Cage,' honkys!" back in the '70s? Oh well. Cheesy ad copy aside, a headliner Latina superhero is a welcome thing – now it's just a question of whether writer Fiona Avery has the talent to make Araña a name that sticks. And let's just say... "Spidey sense tingling." (page M6) RANDY: As Johanna Draper Carlson pointed out in her "snarky comments" on Comics Worth Reading, it's interesting that the new super-hyped hispanic heroine has a costume that completely covers up any sign of her heritage, except of course for the bared belly that is de rigeur for teen superheroines these days. Honestly, though, I have a bigger problem with Araña, and that is that I found the book to be pretty dull. Kudos to Marvel for broadening their heroes a little more beyond the white male, now if they could just go for the hat trick and make her an interesting new character, we'd really have something. Banana Tail #1 (Banana Tale Press) - RANDY: Here's a paradox: Everyone complains that nobody makes comics for kids, but nobody buys the comics when someone makes them. Banana Tail is doing a lot of things right: It's in full color, it has a look that young kids will find appealing (using a focus group consisting of my 19-month-old daughter) and it's got an established pro (Mark McKenna, well-known inker) behind it. Check out the Banana Tale Press site and see how slick this thing looks. (page 238) Beyond Avalon #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: Now this is what I call a neat premise: After he went on to his final reward in Avalon, King Arthur had a daughter named Megan. Then her father disappears, possibly on a quest for adventure, and Megan goes out looking for him, taking his legendary sword (Excalibur, for those slow on the uptake) with her. And since the mists surrounding Avalon are gateways to other worlds and dimensions, her adventures could take her literally anywhere. So, great premise, and the question is, can the creators live up to it? Well, Joe Pruett is a familiar name, albeit not one I can immediately attach to any projects I've loved in the past, but Goran Sudzuka did some great work on the otherwise unremarkable Vertigo series Outlaw Nation, and I'm looking forward to seeing his art again. (page 131) DAVE: You know me. Dork for the fantasy genre. Of course I'll give it its shot. Birds of Prey: Sensei & Student TPB (DC Comics) - DAVE: I believe this is the second trade reprinting Gail Simone's strong run on Birds of Prey, and it represents my favorite story from her. Involves a forced truce between Black Canary and some of the baddest ladies of the DCU – Shiva and Cheshire, namely – and what really blew me away was the sheer aura of danger Gail created around these characters. Lots of twists, lots of great character interactions, lots of great fight sequences – pick it up! (page 73) RANDY: Second trade, and best story in Simone's run so far. This story is the one that made me such a huge fan of her run on the book, and I'm really glad to see DC committing to more trades of the series. One of the highlights of my January. Bizarro World HC (DC Comics) - RANDY: My indy cred is going to take a huge hit when I admit that I haven't read the first Bizarro Comics book, isn't it? Despite a roster of creators I really like, the Bizarro hardcover was too pricey, and I just haven't been in the mood for it enough to plunk down the cash for the softcover. However, this upcoming "sequel" of sorts has me inspired to give it another look, because scanning over the roster of talent for this book, I see a lot of names whose work I love. Highlights for me include Kyle Baker, Evan Dorkin, Farel Dalrymple, Harvey Pekar, James Kochalka, Derek Kirk Kim, Scott Morse, Andi Watson and Paul Grist, and several of those guys are on my borderline completist list. Yeah, I think I'll probably wind up picking this one up after all. (page 72) DAVE: I couldn't get into the first Bizarro Comics, but the artistic talent alone does make these projects tempting. Kochalka... Derek Kim... Morse....sheeeiiiit! Breach #1 (DC Comics) - DAVE: Former Marvel writer and Editor-In-Chief, Bob Harras, creates a mysterious new hero for the DC Universe and...well, we all know how well new heroes usually go over, but...uh...you might want to check this out? (page 74) RANDY: Harras had a shaky record at Marvel, both as writer, editor and editor-in-chief, but I have a fondness for some of his Avengers, so I'm mildly curious to see what he can do with a new hero in the DC Universe. Breach has a solid creative team, also featuring Robin and Batgirl Year One guys Marcos Martin and Alvaro Lopez, but the concept of the character doesn't exactly thrill me so far. Hopefully the execution will. Catwoman: Relentless TPB (DC Comics) - DAVE: I'm really torn on this one. On one hand, it reprints my least favorite arc from Ed Brubaker's run, featuring the grisly revenge of Black Mask, but I know there're any number of great moments throughout it and the art by Cameron Stewart and Javier Pulido is simply stunning. I'll have to call it when I see it. (page 58) RANDY: For me, this was a pretty simple decision. This is half of Cameron Stewart's run on Catwoman collected, and although I have it all in issues, I'll definitely be picking it up in trade. Classic 40 Ounce: Tales From the Brown Bag TPB (Image Comics) - RANDY: Another blast from the past from Mahfood, and for latecomer fans like me, that's good news. This is reprinted early stuff from Mahfood, which means it might be a bit rough, but it also includes a new short story, and it should all be good stuff if you're a fan of Mahfood's style. (page 135) Clive Barker's The Thief of Always #1 (IDW Publishing) - DAVE: This is the first volume in what appears to be a series of 48-page comics adapting the Clive Barker all-ages novel of the same name. We'll see how the story makes the translation. Preview art looks promising. (page 295) Combat Zone: True Tales of GI's in Iraq #1-2 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: This is just plain disappointing. One of the assumptions when Joe Quesada took over at Marvel was that we were going to see Marvel branching out a little, kind of like DC had 10 years ago, exploring genres beyond the superhero, but that really never happened, and instead we got the occasional genre blend like The Call which still had to feature supernatural or superheroic elements. Combat Zone, however, leaves the genre trappings behind for stories of GI's living through our current misadventures in Iraq, as written by an embedded journalist from the 82nd Airborne. An embedded journalist who happens to also be the editor-in-chief of American Enterprise Magazine, in-house print organ of a neo-conservative think tank. That means almost certain odds that this is going to be mindless "love it or leave it, you liberal pinkos!" propaganda. Which means I have no interest in reading it, and I think less of Marvel for publishing it. Nice that the right-wing zealots can get some comics, though. They don't have anything else, really... except all three branches of the government, 95% of talk radio and one of the 24-hour news networks. Poor babies. (page M21) DAVE: At least we've still got the good writers. Conan Vol. 1: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories HC (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: Who knew barbarianism would be such a delightful change of pace from everything else in comics, but that's absolutely been the case for the past few months as Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord have found a surprising hit with their new Conan book. This hardcover collects issue 1-6 of the series and portions of issue 7 (the bloody denouement), and at $24.95, seems weirdly pricey, but I can only assume there's a decent chunk of bonus material since the book runs 176 pages – it'd just be nice if the solicit mentioned such stuff. Reasonable chance I'll buy this. I'm really happy with what Busiek and Nord have done, and winter's a great time to read tales of barbarians in icy wastelands. (page 19) RANDY: Dark Horse generally doesn't do the DC style "hardcover first, softcover months or a year later" thing, but if any project deserves it, Conan is the one. This has been a big sales and creative success for them, and a big eye-opener for those of us who previously had no interest in Robert E. Howard's barbarian hero. Looking forward to this one, and if you're a fantasy fan who hasn't checked this book out, the hardcover makes a nice after-holiday present to yourself. Better yet, if you're just not a hardcover fan, Dark Horse is only going to make you wait until April to get your copy, instead of, say, April of 2005 or something. Couriers Volume 3: The Ballad of Johnny Funwrecker TPB (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: Is is Brian Wood month already? Followers of AIT/Planet Lar will know that for the past few years, January has been crowned Brian Wood month, and this year that means another installment of Wood and artist Rob G. on their New York street/action/chase sequence book The Couriers. This one turns the clock back to 1993 and looks at how Moustafa and Special, the lead characters of The Couriers, meet up and become partners. It will also undoubtedly include many cool scenes of fast-paced chases and stuff blowing up. (page 215) Daisy Kutter Vol. 1 TPB (Viper Comics) - RANDY: I lost track of Daisy Kutter after reading and enjoying the first issue, so I'm glad to see the series getting a collection so quickly. Gorgeous artwork from Flight contributor Kazu Kibuishi, a nifty western/sci-fi blend with Texas Hold'Em poker thrown in for good measure and a $10.95 price tag for 216 black and white pages means this one is definitely going on my wish list for January. (page 341) DAVE: It's been slipping under my radar, too, but I remember being much impressed with the artwork when I flipped through it, and the genre trappings sound like fun. Demo Scriptbook TPB (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: The other product of Brian Wood month is The Demo Scriptbook. AIT/Planet Lar does these kind of process books better than just about anybody else, and given how consistently excellent the Demo series has been, I look forward to this glimpse into the mind (and sketchbooks) of Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan for the entire run of the series. (page 215) District X Vol. 1: Mr. M TPB (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: District X was the big hit of X-Men Reloaded (remember that big marketing push?) creatively, although saleswise, it struggled. Same old story from around the comics industry, unfortunately, the really good stuff tends to be the stuff that struggles for sales. Fortunately, Marvel's "we trade everything" policy has its upside in that lower-selling books get their chance in this format, and I'm glad to see the first volume of District X on the schedule. Truthfully, I thought the book lost a little something in the last couple issues collected in this volume, but most of it is grade A stuff. Worth a look, especially for non X-Men fans who usually pass this kind of stuff up sight unseen. (page M74) Eric Red's Containment #1 (IDW Publishing) - RANDY: Zombies... in... space! That's the short version solicit for this one, which has a pretty good pedigree in writer Eric Red, who wrote the thoroughly entertaining vampire flick Near Dark as well as psycho Rutger Hauer vehicle The Hitcher. The art, by Nick Stakal, is likely to be in that scratchy IDW house style, which is a detriment to my eyes, but it's a style that is working for IDW, so I can see why they keep going to that well. (page 298) Essential Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1 TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: I'm turning into an old man. I know this because I'm more interested in Marvel's reprint output this month than in any of their new stuff. This volume continues Marvel's delving into their second-tier '70s titles – a worthy effort. The art by Sal Buscema and Jim Mooney might not whet the appetite, but the writers were definitely among the notables of their day: Gerry Conway, Archie Goodwin, Jim Shooter, Chris Claremont, and Bill Mantlo. (page M78) RANDY: I'm also worried about the onset of "oldmanitis," because this was one of the really pleasant surprises for me in Marvel's solicits as well. Of course, I still haven't read all of the Essential Tomb of Dracula volumes I've bought, or even cracked the covers of the latest Essential Amazing Spider-Man, so this might go on the "buy eventually" list for me rather than my January budget. DAVE: My new theory on reading Essentials and such is that you need to break up the reading a bit – maybe an issue a week or even an issue a month – thus recreating the serial effect the stories originally had. These stories absolutely weren't "written for the trade", and even though it's cool that they're being collected...ya gotta pace yourself! Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days TPB (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - DAVE: I've had a few quibbles here and there with Brian Vaughan's latest opus, a political tale tinged with superheroics, but by and large it remains extremely readable and Tony Harris's art is never less than excellent. For a mere $9.95 for five issues (one of 'em extra-sized), this is absolutely worth trying out.(page 105) RANDY: Ex Machina is quite probably my favorite new title of 2004, and it has pushed my respect for Brian Vaughan, Tony Harris and the rest to even higher heights. Glad to see DC really giving this one the push with their much-vaunted (and much successful) $10 trade deal. DAVE: Heh, "much vaunted." Such a comic booky phrase. RANDY: Says the old man. Fantastic Four: Foes #1 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Didn't care so much for Robert Kirkman's Captain America - does he have what it takes to spin same tales of the FF's greatest villains? I'm game to find out, especially with the more oddball dudes. Case in point: the first issue's devoted to The Mad Thinker and The Puppet Master. I actually believe this to be cool. (page M39) Follow Me Closely GN (Oni Press) - RANDY: This one was originally solicited back in May. Here's what I said then: Daniel Krall's artwork on One Plus One was a big part of what drew me to it in the first place, so I'm curious to see what he'll do with a project he is both writing and drawing. Follow Me Closely sounds quite odd, talking about a boy on the run from his father with his stepmother and a male-female assassin team that gets involved, and the solicitation describes it as "a pop-art, fashion-conscious escapade with a cool retro feel." There's about two or three too many buzz words for that description to really tell me anything, but there's also just enough to make me curious. (page 310) DAVE: I don't remember what I said at the time, but I'm guessing something non-committal yet vaguely interested. And I still feel the same! Four-Letter Worlds GN (Image Comics) - RANDY: I don't really consider myself an anthology guy in general, but there are a ton of good anthology projects coming out in January 2005 from a variety of publishers. The last time Image published an anthology, it was the excellent Flight, so I've got pretty high expectations for Four-Letter Worlds, in which the stories center around the theme of love, hate, fear or fate. Of course, with a talent roster that includes Chynna Clugston-Major, Matt Fraction, Mike Hawthorne, Phil Hester, Steve Lieber, Scott Morse, Steve Rolston and a ton of other creators whose work I love, I have no trouble believing this one will live up to expectations. (page 139) DAVE: Except for Dark Horse Presents, I've never really been attracted to comic book anthologies. Nice talent pool here, though, so I promise to at least try it. Frank Miller's Sin City 2nd Editions (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: I'm mildly bothered that these new editions of the first two Sin City collections have had an inch or so chopped off of 'em (the influence of manga format and pricing, no doubt), but I know the stories are killer, especially that first one. New packaging by award-winning book designer Chip Kidd and the quality nature of these ultraviolent yarns means you definitely need to pick 'em up if you've never read Sin City. And did I mention...more nudity than late-night Cinemax! (pages 16-17) RANDY: Me, I'm thankful I have the original Sin City hardcovers, because this is a book that should not be shrunk down to smaller size, especially if the price ain't gonna be chopped with them. I know it was Frank Miller's wishes rather than a publishing initiative or anything, but I think he's in the wrong here, and I'm also mildly annoyed at Chip Kidd for changing the perfect Sin City logo to something newer and more generic. For all my bitching, though, that's really just details, and the important thing to note here is this: Great Frank Miller art, fun unapologetic gritty crime stories, if you haven't read Sin City before, it's definitely worth checking out, even if the new volumes aren't what I think is the ideal presentation. F Stop GN (Oni Press) - RANDY: Oni Press continues to impress with their ability to find new talent, and F Stop looks like the home of another promising new talent. Artist Matthew Loux has a really cool style that looks like a nice cross between the minimalism of Andi Watson and the exaggerated anatomy of Adam Pollina, and pairing him up with Antony Johnston means we're likely to get a pretty good story out of this one. I'm especially jazzed to see Johnston returning to romantic comedy, because his Three Days in Europe was a pretty damn good example of that kind of genre. (page 310) DAVE: Premise: Struggling photographer finds his muse in the form of a Latina beauty, but can he keep the girl in the wake of his sudden success? Definite possibilities here. Gentleman's Game: A Queen & Country Novel HC (Bantam) - RANDY: If you're a diehard loyalist to your comics shop and haven't already picked this up from Amazon or Borders or what-have-you, you have the patience of a saint and your comics shop is lucky to have you. This is an amazing read, possibly the best Queen & Country story told yet, and essential reading for fans of the comics series, not to mention a good intro to Queen & Country if you're a Rucka fan who only knows his Wolverine or Wonder Woman work. It's in this month's Previews, so comics shops can finally order it. I don't know who to blame that timing screw-up on, whether it's Diamond or Bantam or the magical leprechaun who lives in my closet, but at least now it's available to comics shops for easy ordering. (page 372) DAVE: I'm buyin' it. The Goon Volume 3: Heaps of Ruination TPB (Dark Horse Comics) - RANDY: What more can we say about The Goon that hasn't already been said? Wackiness, violence and gorgeous art inspired by classic EC and other Silver Age comics, The Goon is always a lot of fun. Glad to see another trade paperback. Oh, and this one includes the Hellboy crossover, for you Hellboy completists. (page 31) DAVE: Enthusiasm seconded. Even though The Goon is so steeped in humor, it really strikes me as this decade's Hellboy, with its idiosyncratic horror vision and virtuoso art. Hulk Visionaries: Peter David Vol. 1 TPB (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: While Marvel seems hellbent on keeping in print 99% of its recent output, much better classic material languishes, and there are huge gaps in their trade library as a result. Occasionally, though, they throw us longtime fans a bone, and while I'm still awaiting my Roger Stern Avengers and Amazing Spider-Man collections, thank God they've finally offered up the first volume of Peter David's Hulk. Given the length of the run and the tendency for regime change at Marvel, I'm skeptical about whether they'll actually get all of his run in print before someone gets pissed off with somebody else, but I'll be buying every volume they put out. This is some of David's best work and some of the best superhero work in the '80s and '90s, period. Oh, and for those of you who follow artists more than writers, this is also some of Todd McFarlane's fondly-remembered stuff. (page M78) DAVE: I'm impressed with the Visionaries line, having long feared that Byrne's FF, Miller's Daredevil, and Simonson's Thor might end up wholly lost to the next generation of readers. Actually, that might still be the case (anyone but old guys actually buying these?), but it's great to have them out there. David's Hulk ain't my thang, but I'd buy either of the Stern collections you mentioned... Incredible Hulk #77 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Of course, the timing of Hulk Visionaries is no coincidence, but instead smart marketing synergy. Yes, the impossible has happened, and Peter David is returning to the pages of the Hulk. It's a five-part story and a one-shot at this point, but it's quite possible that if sales and fan reaction is good, he'll be on for another long haul. I'm hopeful (and honestly, almost expectant) that the reaction will be good enough for this to be the case. At any rate, not getting ahead of ourselves, this short run has art by Lee Weeks, an underrated artist if ever there was one, who did phenomenal Hulk work during the early days of Bruce Jones's run as well. (page M30) DAVE: Peter David's done a good job of talking up Hulk ideas in recent interviews. Good enough that even though I don't have any special attachment to his Hulk run (missed it, read it after the fact, and enjoyed...but no special attachment), I'll be checking this out. And on a related note: Buy Fallen Angel! Jack Hunter: G.I. Spy Preview (Atomeka) - RANDY: Atomeka Press is rapidly picking up more and more projects that I can't wait to see. G.I. Spy, a fun espionage book against the backdrop of World War II, sounded like fun when I first picked up the preview book in San Diego a couple years ago, but given the length of time, I was starting to think we might never really see it. This is probably the same preview I've already seen, but it also probably means that the series is a go from Atomeka, with writer Andrew Cosby and artist Matt Haley at the helm. (page 230) Jack Spade & Tony Two-Fist #1 (Cartoon Militia) - RANDY: Man, there are any number of forgotten treasures or underrated artists getting more exposure in January. Steve Rolston is a criminally under-used artist, and this is a look at some of his early stuff, which features two beer-lovin' guys, one of whom happens to be a penguin. Probably not gonna delve into the darkness of the human soul or anything, but should feature some really neat artwork and fun storytelling. (page 246) Jenny Finn #1-2 (Atomeka) - DAVE: I don't have much memory of this never-completed collaboration between Mike Mignola and Troy Nixey, but I'm looking forward to seeing it wrapped. It's a bizarre Lovecraftian yarn set in Victorian England, and if there's one thing I do remember, it's Nixey's stunning artwork. Well worth a look for Lovecraft geeks and Hellboy fans. (page 234) John Constantine: Hellblazer - Rare Cuts TPB (DC Comics/Vertigo) - DAVE: Even as I'm dreading the pending Keanu Reeves Hellblazer flick, I've been rediscovering my fondness for comicdom's greatest bastard in his home medium. This volume reprints a series of lost favorite stories that range the entire run of the series, most notably (at least for me) including issue #11, with its revelation of the life-changing events for Constantine that took place in 1978 Newcastle. I read that story years ago and it really effed with my head...in a good way. Support this and all the other great Hellblazer trades while boycotting the movie! (page 111) The Legend of Grimjack: Volume One TPB (IDW Publishing) - RANDY: Slowly but surely, everything I thought I'd never see again in comics is starting to appear. Legal hassles had tied up a lot of the really cool stuff from the indy companies of the '80s and '90s, but it's 2004 now and a lot of those hurdles have been cleared. And so, finally, we get Grimjack back in print. I gave my high concept overview of the series in my pick of the month write-up, so I'll just say about this trade that it's fantastic stuff, so good in fact that I'm planning on picking up the entire run of trade paperbacks despite owning the entire series. It deserves a collected treatment, and IDW is certain to give it high production values. (page 297) DAVE: Must buy! Truman and Ostrander! Manga Mover #1 (Boychild Productions) - RANDY: Another new manga anthology, perhaps a replacement for those who miss Raijin Comics? There's an interesting line-up here, and you can get a glimpse at the Boychild website, but given that the manga audience seems to really want the $10 and under digest format, I wonder if this format with new creators can find its market without a "killer app" creator or manga feature. (page 242) Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee HC (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: This is a damn cool series, spotlighting in slick hardcover format the best yarns of the rightfully deified founders of modern Marvel. Pretty much impossible to go wrong there, and this particular looks at the best material from Stan "The Man" himself. Includes major entries from every title he wrote and historical favorites like the Amazing Spider-Man issues where Harry Osborne become an acid-head, but it's the rarities and oddballs that interest me most: a satire on Frederic Wertham's '50s comic book witch-hunt, some twist-ending horror stuff with Ditko, and the two-page text Captain America story that was Stan's first Marvel outing. Know yer history, kids! (page M69) Masked Commander (Meridian Arts) - RANDY: Now this is kind of... weird. This comic, available now on Amazon but due in comics shops in November, features the adventures of fictional U.S. President James Weston, who has a masked secret identity as the superhero Masked Commander. I'm reminded of the really fun Armageddon: 2001 annual where Superman becomes President, but in reading Masked Commander, it becomes clear that the approach here is more one of parody, like mapping the Silver Age onto a political premise. If you're into the retro-goof stuff like Image's Big Bang Comics, Masked Commander might be worth a look. (page 306) Monon Street Power Collective Volume 1 TPB (Welsh Publishing Group) - RANDY: Another anthology from this month's Previews, this one caught my attention because it features talent from the animation and film industry. Given that many of my favorite cartoonists are those who have come in from animation (like Scott Morse or Darwyn Cooke), I'm curious to see what new voices I can discover here. There's also a theme, Power, and I've found that anthologies with a strong theme tend to be more focused and generally better reads. (page 349) Negative Burn: The Very Best From 1993-1998 (Image Comics) - RANDY: Then there's this anthology, which got my attention because I've heard of the Negative Burn anthology before. One need only look at the vast list of creators in this "Best Of" collection, which includes Neil Gaiman, Frank Quitely, Bendis, Terry Moore, Alan Moore and plenty of others, to see that it's going to be worth a look. (page 143) DAVE: Dammit, I said I don't like anthologies. Stop putting all these hotshots on 'em, comic companies! Nightwing #101-102 (DC Comics) - DAVE: I'll be honest – the morose turn the DC Universe has taken as a result of Batman: Wargames and Identity Crisis makes me want to bail on all but their most idiosyncratic books, but this "Nightwing Year One" tale holds some interest since it's essentially a flashback story. The fan favorite team of Chuck Dixon, Scott Beatty, and Scott McDaniel produces. Six parts, bi-weekly. (page 59) Pigtale #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: I'm always wary of the weird high concept. For every genuinely fun project, there are about five others that think they're "wacky fun" but are instead "quite stupid." Honestly, though, looking at the promo image and reading over the solicit, I like Pigtale's odds. The concept is very much of the wacky school, with a private eye in Portland hooking up with a talking pig on the run from his violent wolf stepbrother, but the vibe I get off of it is very much classic Looney Tunes, and that's no bad thing. (page 146) DAVE: I'll try it. If nothing else, this guy's a serious artistic talent, as his website attests. Seaguy TPB (DC Comics/Vertigo) - DAVE: My fondness for this wildly hallucinatory miniseries from Grant Morrison bounced all over the place during its three issues. It's hard to resist, though, with its quirky blend of social satire, psychedelic superheroics, and Saturday morning cartoon energy. Alas, I walked away disappointed, and if I end up buying this trade it'll largely be due to Cameron Stewart's career-peak artwork. (page 117) RANDY: I loved the first one, was lukewarm on the second and then came around a little on the third. I definitely felt like the story didn't live up to the full potential glimpsed in the first issue, but it was a great deal of fun, and it's got gorgeous Cameron Stewart artwork, plus it's that magic $10 trade price point that I love so well. Yeah, I know that technically that's more expensive than the original 3-issue miniseries, but I love me the books with a spine! Kudos to DC for trading this one, as I know they shy away from the 3-issue trades. Singularity 7 TPB (IDW Publishing) - RANDY: I generally have some trouble following Ben Templesmith's moody artwork, so I didn't have a lot of interest in his sci-fi miniseries Singularity 7. However, Templesmith's tale of seven men and women trying to save the Earth from an army of nanotechnology earned a great deal of praise from my reviewing partner Don as well as plenty of others, so now that I can read the whole thing in a trade, I think I might have to give it a look. (page 299) Small Gods Vol. 1: Killing Grin TPB (Image Comics) - RANDY: This one took me by surprise, but I lost track of it after issue two. Fortunately, Image is giving in to the buzz and giving the book a quick trade collection with the magic $9.95 price point, including sketches and other cool extras. Looking forward to seeing how the story of psychic cop Owen Young developed after those first two issues. (page 152) Spider-Man/Human Torch #1 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Some pretty interesting and unusual names on this outing: there's writing by Dan Slott of She-Hulk fame, art by underrated genius Ty Templeton (The Batman Adventures), and a cover by the great but little-seen-of-late artist, Paul Smith (The Golden Age). I'm pretty much neutral on the concept – a five part mini looking at Torch and Spidey's friendship over the years – but the talent roster means it earns a look. (page M17) RANDY: I'm a huge, huge fan of the Human Torch/Spidey friendship, so the concept is right up my alley. It's still a weird idea for a 5-issue miniseries, but Dan Slott's old school with modern touches style and Ty Templeton's slick and professional artwork means that it'll probably be really good. Looking forward to it. Spider-Man Unlimited #7 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Normally, this is a pretty forgettable book, but I had to mention that this issue has a collaboration between Bill Rosemann and Mike Perkins, both formerly of Crossgen. Rosemann, in addition to his duties at Crossgen, also wrote the excellent miniseries Deadline for Marvel, and I'm glad to see him putting his foot back in the Marvel door. I only hope that more Deadline is in the offing, even though truthfully I'd rather Rosemann were back with Marvel marketing or (even better) editorial, because I think he's one of the smartest guys in comics right now. (page M20) Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill #1 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Dang. Cult '80s badass, Beta Ray Bill, finally gets his own miniseries, and it's NOT his creator, Walt Simonson, on writing and art. Sorry, halfway decent team of Mike Oeming and Andrea De Vito... Bill's just one of those characters only Simonson writes (and draws) properly. (page M29) Superman: Strength #1 (DC Comics) - DAVE: Interesting prestige format mini gearing up here. It's a three-parter from Scott McCloud, who years ago did nice work with the first batch of comics inspired by the Superman animated series. Teamed with talented animated-series-style artist Aluir Amancio (he drew Millar's Superman Adventures stories), he spins a tale of Superman's earliest struggle with the moral limits of his powers. A strong creative team (including Alex Ross covers) means I check this one out. (page 65) RANDY: The last Superman prestige mini I read was Superman: Secret Identity (trade hits this week, folks!) which was one of the best Superman stories I've read in years. I don't expect Strength to live up to those heights, in part because I think McCloud's writing (except on Zot!) is solid but not exceptional and in part because the central concept isn't as clear as Secret Identity was, but I do think it'll probably be a good read. And Amancio's artwork was indeed exceptional on Superman Adventures. War Volume 1 TPB (Saddle Tramp Press) - RANDY: Another anthology (last one in this Previews, I promise), and this one from the publishers of the western miniseries Holliday. I was drawn to this one by the gorgeous Tom Mandrake cover, but also because I have a fondness for war stories. Another bonus: The lead story is by Damon Hurd, who has written fantastic slice-of-life tales like My Uncle Jeff and A Sort of Homecoming. (page 313) Wyatt Earp: Dodge City #1 (Moonstone) - DAVE: A Western comic by Chuck Dixon is a good start, and I expect the art by Enrique Villagran will be the icing on the cake (Dixon's collaborated with some amazingly talented south of the border artists). (page 307) X-23 #1-2 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Revealed: The secret origin of Wolverine's underage, two-clawed hooker daughter! (page M9) RANDY: And there you have it. I honestly don't understand the crush that folks at Marvel seem to have on this character. She showed up in NYX and Uncanny X-Men, and now she's getting a miniseries devoted to her? Are there any fans out there who actually care about this character, or is this, like Arana, a case of Marvel trying to pretend a new character is "hot" so that fans will line up like lemmings to buy into the hype? DAVE: I want to say that Marvel's shooting to capture the teen audience through identification (unlikely)... and instead just drawing in pervs looking for comics with teen girls hooking and wearing belly shirts. Whatever the case, I'm betting the Wolverine tie-in will push this one to semi-hit status. RANDY: Your market analysis just creeped me out, dude. Because I think you're dead-on right on all counts. X-Men #166 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Previous work by Peter Milligan at Marvel has included everything from the sublime (X-Statix) to the ridiculous (uh... pretty much everything else, but low points include '90s Elektra and the more recent Venom vs. Carnage and Wolverine/Punisher). I don't have high expectations that Milligan will approach this with his Vertigo writer's cap on instead of his Marvel paycheck writer's cap, but it's almost certain to be an improvement over Chuck Austen's run on the book. (page M45) Email Randy Lander and Dave Farabee comments about this review.