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22 January 2010 Previews Blogging: January Edition - Everything Else
Every month, I go through Diamond's Previews to figure out what I want. From now until, I will blog about what I see that catches my attention. Keep in mind that most of my comic buying consist of #1s, collected editions (hardcovers or TPBs), or OGN (original graphic novels). I buy #1s to see if it's something that I will get later in a collected edition.

This covers everything else in Previews.



Page 196 : Okko: The Cycle of Air #1 (Archaia)
It looks like Archaia is back up and running. I love most of the work that they put out and I love their HC only position. If this wasn't being published by Archaia, I hope that we'd see the English translation at Marvel. Lovely work.

Page 225 :
Toy Story: The Return of Buzz Lightyear (BOOM!)
The Muppet Show Comic Book: On the Road(BOOM!)
Wall-E: Recharge (BOOM!)
My kids love these Disney books from Boom! and I would love to have them in HC format. However, I would never pay $25 for about 100 pages. Never.... so I'll be getting the TPBs. I still wish BOOM! would produce standard sized collected editions.

Page 264 : FX2: The Lost Land #1 (IDW)
Warmageddon Illustrated #1 Variant Cover artist, Uko Smith, is working on interiors on this title at IDW. The original series featured art by John Byrne.

Page 271 :



Li'l Abner Vol 1 (IDW)
The Library of American Comics starts collecting another classic comic. I've skipped out on many other of these classic comic collections, but I'm on board for Li'l Abner.
Torpedo Vol 2 (IDW)
The solicitation for Vol 2 made me look for Vol 1 which has not yet shipped. Jodi Bernet is a modern master and I look forward to reading this.

Wow, that's pretty short for everything else! I'm going back to include the FCBD books as well.



Page 18 :
Mouse Guard/ Fraggle Rock (Archaia)
I own both Mouse Guard HCs and anxiously await the newest series. There is no way I'm going to pass up a free Mouse Guard comic.
Shrek and the Penguins of Madagascar (Ape)
Toy Story (BOOM!)
These seem like no brainers when it comes to free intro books for young readers. These books should be all-ages so that parents will enjoy the books as much as the kids.

Page 19 : Marvel and DC
Marvel and DC just don't have my interest with either of these. I may pick them up just because they are from the BIG TWO, but I'm not particularly interested in Superman or Iron Man. Thor was interesting under JMS, but now that JMS has moved on, so have I.

Page 20 : Fearless Dawn (Asylum)
Steve Mannion always produces something just plain entertaining in a retro edgy way. I love his black and white art.

Page 21 :
The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics (Gemstone)
I've graduated from a collector to a reader, but I'm interested in seeing what wisdom Gemstone's guide will impart.
Library of American Comics #0 (IDW)
I'm interested in some of IDW's collections, but not enough to order them sight unseen. I'm getting this from Rip Kirby and Bloom County but could be won over by Williamson's Secret Agent Corrigan and Young's Blondie.

There are some more FCBD books that I may pick up like Atomic Robo, Owly, The Stuff of Legends, and Bongo's, but I'll see once I get there with the kids. For me, FCBD is largely about introducing them to comics that they would not normally check out.

I'll see you back here next month for more Previews.




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TAGS : comic books, Previews

20 January 2010 Previews Blogging: January Dark Horse, DC and Image Edition
Every month, I go through Diamond's Previews to figure out what I want. I blog about what I see that catches my attention. Keep in mind that most of my comic buying consist of #1s, collected editions (hardcovers or TPBs), or OGN (original graphic novels). I buy #1s to see if it's something that I will get later in a collected edition

This is the Dark Horse, DC and Image Edition.

DARK HORSE


Page 40 : Conan Volume 8: Black Colossus
As I've said over and over again, I love this Conan series. I love Conan in general, but Busiek, Mignola, and Truman have made this series  something special.

Page 41 : Barry Windsor-Smith Conan Archives
I already have these stories in the Chronicles of Conan TPB format, but the BWS run on early Conan from Marvel is worth having in HC format. I'd love to see then give the same treatment (but in black and white) to the Buscema, Chan and Alcala stories from Savage Sword of Conan.

Page 43 : Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars: The Jesse March Years
I'm glad to see this collection, but I'm nit buying it. I'm glad to see this collection because maybe it means that we'll see a better comic book adaptation of the Mars Trilogy. I would have considered buying this IF it wasn't $30 for 120 pages. Compare that 25 cents/page to 152 pages for Conan Vol 8 for $25 (16.4 cents/page) or 288 pages of the BWS Conan Archives for $50 (17.3 cents/page). For me that's a bit too much for material that I never cared about beyond it being Jon Carter.


DC COMICS
Lots of Blackest Night stuff that I don't care for. This event has really gone on for quite a while.

Page 71 : Detective Comics #863
It appears that Batwoman is continuing in Detective without JH Williams III on art chores. I'm not sure that Jock is a suitable replacement, but Rucka alone may be enough to have me check out the inevitable collection version.

Page 80 : First Wave #1
Any time you want to introduce a new character to the DC Universe, you do it with Batman. I'm not sure why we have Savage, Batman and the Spirit, but it'll be interesting to see how Azzarello plays with the pulp origins of these 3 characters.



Page 83 : Jonah Hex: No Way Back HC
I like that DC is trying out OGNs with their proven teams. DeZuniga on Hex with Palmiotti and Gray is a no brainer. Even the price is right.

Page 89 : Nemesis: The Imposters #1
Both Marvel and DC are releasing Nemesis books in the same month? That sounds like a move that could  lead to just a bit of confusion.



Page 92 : The Warlord #12
A fantasy comic with a Death Dealer homage isn't too original, but I like seeing Frazetta homages.

DC's TPB and HC pricing is all over the map. You have TPBs with similar page counts as HCs but only $2 less. There are 224 paged HC for the same price as 128 paged HCs.

Page 99 : Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965 HC
At any price and in any format, you can't go wrong with Joe Kubert  doing war comics. 200 pages for $25 buts this HC at the same price per page as a 32 paged comic for $4.

Page 106 : Ex Machina Deluxe Edition Book 3 HC
I'm a big fan of the DCs Deluxe Edition. I think I'mm buying every series that is coming out in the format. It helps that these series are some of the best that DC has to offer like Preacher, Fables, Tom Strong, Y: the Last Man and  of course, Ex Machina. I'm patiently awaiting for Sandman to be released in this format.

Page 107 : Sparta: USA #1
I have no idea what to expect with this book. It looks post apocalyptic yet set in modern times. I'm going to check out this first issue based upon the strength of the art and Lapham as a storyteller.



Page 116 : American Vampire #1
Stephen King is every where as DC joins Marvel and Del Rey in bringing Stephen King stories into comic format. This however is an original story with Scott Snyder co-writing. I'm very interested to see what King delivers.

Page 121 : 100% TP
This reminded me that I need to pick up 100% in HC format. Amazon has them in stock so Ultimate Comics (my local store) should be able to get me a copy

Page 126 : The Sandman Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes TP New Edition
DC is releasing the first new TPB of the Sandman series with the remastered art from the Absolute version. As I mentioned above, I'm holding out for the Deluxe Edition HC which can be too far off now.


IMAGE COMICS
Page 144/ 145 :
Haunt #6
Haunt Vol 1 TP
As of issue #6, it looks like Ottley is off Haunt and back to Invincible full time. Capullo and McFarlane are taking over the full art duties for #6 and only for one issue, so I wonder who will be taking over the series.

I read the first 2 issues of Haunt and I'm going to pick up this first TPB. I really reads much like the original Spawn, so  I'm hoping that the first TPB comes to some conclusion. If not, I'm definitely not picking up more.

Page 147 : Spawn Origins: Book One HC
I'm wondering why this book is missing issue #9. This is the infamous Neil Gaiman issue with Angela. I would say it was McFarlane being a dick and just not wanting to pay Gaiman for the reprint, but the more expensive Deluxe Edition included issues 1-25.  Issue #10 is my all time favorite issue of Spawn and I'd love to have it in HC format, but I'm not a fan of Miller's issue #11. So without #9 but with #11, I'm just going to skip it until McFarlane bites the bullet and gives me the collection I want. I haven't read Spawn in years, so I'm in no hurry to rush out and buy an incomplete collection.



Page 155 : Viking Vol 1: The Long Cold Fire HC
I was patiently waiting for a Viking collection fully expecting a TP, but they are delivering a HC. Even at over 16 cents/page, I'm willing to shell out for this book.

Page 157 : The Mice Templar Vol 2: Destiny Part 1 HC
Volume 2 coming out means that I have to finish reading Volume 1.


Up next, the rest of the book.


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TAGS : comic books, Dark Horse, DC, Image, Previews

18 January 2010 Previews Blogging: January Marvel Edition
Every month, I go through Diamond's Previews to figure out what I want. From now until, I will blog about what I see that catches my attention. Keep in mind that most of my comic buying consist of #1s, collected editions (hardcovers or TPBs), or OGN (original graphic novels). I buy #1s to see if it's something that I will get later in a collected edition.

Marvel
I start with Marvel because I buy a fair amount of Marvel and they are outside the main book in their own little booklet. When Marvel joins the rest of Previews, then they will cease to be first.

I did manage to read a copy of Seige #1 and the Origins of Seige. I'm not particularly interested in Siege, so I'm skipping a whole lot of pages here. I wish Marvel didn't tie most of its line to a single event, but I'll be happy to see what comes out on the other side.


Page 20 : Stephen King's "N" #1 (of 4)
I'll skip the singles for this an look for it in trade. I'm a moderate Stephen King fan. I don't have to read all his books, but I do find most of them entertaining. The same goes for the comic book adaptations. Not a big fan of Dark Tower, but I eagerly await each hardcover of the The Stand.

Page 22 : The Stand: Soul Survivor's #5 (of 5)
The end of this mini series means that my patience will be paid off in another month or 2 when Marvel solicits the next Stand hardcover.

Page 29 : Ultimate Comics New Ultimates #1
I've been looking forward to Cho's run on the Ultimates for a while. I'm not a big fan of Loeb's run on the Ultimates, so I'll be using this issue to try out the series. Any one taking bets about how regular this book will be with Frank Cho doing the art?

Page 57 : Pet Avengers #1 (of 4)
Who is buying variant covers on this title? Really is this even necessary?

Page 62 : Breaking into Comics the Marvel Way!
The target audience for this book is obviously creators wanting to break in at Marvel. I'm not sure why it's 2 issues instead of one, but it is what it is. I think this book could be could for any creator (writer, editor, artists) as it gives a inside look at the #1 publisher in the industry as they recruit and mold new artistic talent.

Page 70 : X-Men: Hope #1
I like Steve Dillon's work on Punisher and Preacher, but have a hard time picturing him working on any true super-hero comic. This just seems to be should an odd pairing when there are so many superhero artist not drawing superhero comics.

Page 85 : Millar and McNiven's Nemesis #1
The concept is what if the smartest toughest costumed bad ass (Batman) was evil (Joker). It sounds and looks as if Moon Knight finally crossed over or the Task Master stopped being a joke. I'll be interested in seeing if this mini series has a point beyond shock value and if McNiven can keep the series on schedule.

There's an IronMan movie coming out soon, so there are lots and lots of Iron Man collections. I'm skipping them all because I haven't really been interested in Iron Man.

Page 98: Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 11 HC
This should be the last volume for the original run of Ultimate Spider-Man. Ultimate Spider-Man (when not involved in the rest of the crap of the Ultimate Universe) is consistently one of the best Spider-Man tales being produced. I found the collections to be the best way to read the stories because the stories are written for the collection format. Often issues go by without very much happening.

This collection is the first collection since Bagley left the title. I look forward to seeing Immonen's take on the character.

Page 100 : Captain America : Reborn Premiere HC
Ed Brubaker has taken us on quite a ride with Captain America. He's brought back Bucky in a cliched but interesting storyline. He's "killed" Captain America and now they bring Steve Rogers back.



Page 102 : Ultimate Comics Spider-Man : The World According to Peter Parker Premiere HC
It's odd that Marvel would release this initial HC of the new Ultimate Spider-Man in the same month as the last HC of old series. While I hate the cover image as Spidey's face is too round, I enjoyed the first issue enough to grab this first collection.

Page 110 :
Spin Angels Premiere HC
Riftwar Premiere HC
Two more Soliel hardcovers means Marvel is getting even more of my money. All the Soleil titles have been solid, entertaining and most offer stories that are not being told in the US market.

Page 118 : Spectacular Spider-Girl : Who Killed Gwen Reilly? TPB
The title was cancelled but Spider-Girl stories still continue to be made and the collections still come out. Spider-Girl is like Busiek's Untold Tales of Spider-Man in spirit without the need to walk the tightrope of Spidey continuity.

And that's it this month for Marvel. Keep a look out later for the other major publishers.



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TAGS : comic books, Marvel, Previews

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