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NEWS ARCHIVE FOR 2005 (January 1-November 30):
SHOWCASE PRESENTS...SUPERMAN FAMILY!
Ace collected editions snooper Teisto posted at the DC FORUMS about the existence of a new Showcase Presents dedicated to Superman Family! Cub reporter Osgood Peabody took the ball and ran with it, getting confirmation from DC about contents. Says Osgood, the first volume will include "Jimmy Olsen #1-22, and Showcase #9 (the first Lois Lane solo). Future volumes will indeed collect all Jimmy, Lois, and Supergirl stories in chronological order."
Showcase Presents is rolling along nicely, with equal measures of super-popular runs of comics (Superman, Green Lantern) with the kinds of titles not likely to receive Archive treatment any time soon (Jonah Hex, House of Mystery.) Finally, we'll be able to read the stories from Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane that we've not had easy access. Though I still hope that one day, we'll see them in Archives as well!
TALKIN' TURKEY WITH DAVID GABRIEL
Marvel's Director of Sales and all-around nice guy David Gabriel took some time out
of his Thanksgiving holiday weekend to field questions from fans at the MARVEL FORUM. Here's a few nuggets culled from the chat:
• When asked about the future of the Atlas Era Masterworks, David said "As long as the sales are there, and we have the resources to do them, we plan to continue...we have lots to cover. It won't come all at once, but little by little."
• No current plans for working out the Master of Kung-Fu licenses.
• Marvel has plans to finish out Byrne's run on Fantastic Four in Visionaries volumes, but there are "no plans that I know of for the last Galactus story to appear in any collection", says David.
• Future printings of JLA/Avengers are under DC Comics' purview.
• "Ultimate X-Men 1/2 will be in the Vol. 6 HC," says David. "I think (the) page count got too high on volume 5...and look for a special book in March that will put the 1/2 issue into correct continuity."
That's just a hint of the wide range of questions he fielded during his gracious chats. You can check them out by following the link above. Thanks, David!
SCHEDULE CHANGES
More shipping changes for select collected editions to alert you to. One can't help but wonder if these things are more common as we get to the holiday time of year?
• Superman: In the Name of Gog is delayed a week to 12/7.
Keep in mind that the Powers HC production is under the supervision of Bendis, even though Marvel is publishing the book. Also, fans of Infinite Crisis will want to know that issues #3 and 4 are both going to be delayed two weeks from their initial ship time.
2005 MASTERWORKS SURVEY IS LIVE!!!
The 2005 Masterworks Survey is now live, and you can access it by clicking through THIS LINK. It's been a lot of hard work from the survey crew putting it together, so I hope you enjoy it!
There are tons of surprises to be found about Masterworks and other collected editions. Take your time and read through it. Discussion about the survey can be found at the Marvel Forums. There's a link directly from the survey, so we'll see you there!
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, November 30.
On the Marvel side, fans will want to make sure to check out Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 9, as it will be the first volume to go to press with the new paper stock. Gone is the super-glossy sheen of the Masterworks books of old. Here today is a white stock that is nearly gloss free. It is slightly whiter in tone than DC Archives, and less porous. To my eyes, it looks great, so be sure to take note of it when you are able to peruse a copy for yourself. Also shipping are two new printings of Essential X-Men Vol. 2 and Essential Silver Surfer Vol. 1, and the Punisher: River of Blood TPB, a classic trade with rare art in a Marvel Comic by none other than Joe Kubert! (More on that in tomorrow's update.)
And don't forget Giant-Size Invaders #2! For news on that, scroll down to the 11/9 News Update!!!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books:
• Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths HC
THANKSGIVING CONTESTS!
There are currently three contests going on at the Message Boards! Try your luck
at any of them and you might win free books! Here's the rundown:
• The prize for this THANKSGIVING CONTEST is two brand new Marvel TPBs or Digests. All you have to do to win is tell us what you're thankful for! That shouldn't be too hard, unless you're a sourpuss like Ebenezer Scrooge (or Scrooge McDuck) !
• Also at the Marvel Forums is a contest where you can win a free copy of JACK KIRBY VISIONARIES VOL. 2 HC, courtesy of MarvelMasterworks.com!
• Enter the contest at the DC Forums to win a FREE MASTERWORKS OR ARCHIVES from site sponsor Tales of Wonder. All you have to do is "Guess the Back Four" of Golden Age Hawkman Vol. 1 Archives!
Contest rules and deadlines are posted in each thread. Have fun, and enjoy that which you have to be thankful for! Good luck with the contests!
LIBRARY PAGES UPDATED
All the Marvel Library pages have been updated to reflect February solicits and information gleaned since the last revisions. If you aren't familiar with these parts of the site,
take a look through and check them out. You might find something you like:
ESSENTIALS
SCHEDULE DELAYS
Here's a rundown on shipping changes for select collected editions:
• Spirit Archives Vol. 17 is delayed a week to 11/30.
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, November 23.
Comic strip fans will have three books this week to enjoy. A new printing of the classic Adventurous Decade: Comic Strips in the Thirties trade is now out, and two hardcover volumes continuing the series of Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon hardcovers.
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books:
• Adventurous Decade: Comics Strips in the Thirties TPB
FEBRUARY SOLICITS
I've been out of town for a week, so thank you for your patience! I'll be catching up on
website stuff over the next few days, so be sure to check back soon. Here's an update on February
solicits for both Marvel and DC collected editions and other notable reprint projects:
BRAND NEW JOE KUBERT GRAPHIC NOVEL
It seems Joe Kubert has a brand new original hardcover graphic novel, and most of us had no idea it was happening! Shame on us for being behind the times on this one, but it's never too late to catch up! The thread
has a link to a number of preview pages, and this book is already available at Tales Of Wonder.
• Jew Gangster A Fathers Admonition HC
From the solicitation text:
By Joe Kubert.
ALL-STAR ARCHIVES....VOL. ZERO !!!!
Thanks to jedifish for digging this up and posting it at the DC FORUMS. SilverBullet Comics has posted February solicits for DC, and look what's scheduled:
ALL STAR ARCHIVES VOL. 0 HC
Written by Gardner Fox, Jerry Siegel, Bill Finger,
Jon L. Blummer, Ken Fitch, John B. Wentworth, and various
Art by Sheldon Moldoff, Martin Nodell, Bernard Bailey, Creig Flessel, Chad Grothkopf, Jon L. Blummer,
Everett Hibbard, William Smith and Stan Aschmeier From the Golden Age of comics — a special volume collecting the early individual adventures of the members of the Justice Society of America from ALL STAR COMICS #1 and #2 at a special price!
While ALL STAR COMICS #3 was unquestionably one of comics’ greatest milestones, issues #1 and #2 were also impressive in their own right. Virtually every founding member of the (yet-to-debut) original JSA lineup — minus Superman and Batman — was represented in these individual adventures, and most of the stories are written and drawn by their original creators. ALL STAR ARCHIVES Vol. 0 is the perfect preface to the 11-volume complete reprinting of every JSA adventure from the Golden Age.
Now the entire body of these “All Star” exploits is in print and available to all those who were there when they were published the first time around — or wish they had been!
Please note that this is an advance solicit for March 15, and it will clock in at 144 pages and be priced at $39.99.
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, November 16.
DC
Comics also releases the first six issues of Mark Waid and Barry Kitson's stellar Legion run with Vol. 1: Teenage Revolution. And for fans of classic Marvel comics, check out the Spider-Man vs. Black Cat trade, featuring
the first meetings between the slinky villainess and our Friendly Neighborhood Spidey!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books:
• Astonishing X-Men Vol. 2: Dangerous TPB
At this INTERVIEW WITH
PAUL LEVITZ at Newsarama, the head honcho of DC Comics drops the news that 2006
will see publication of a trade collecting the first batch of 70s JSA Comics. Here's
the important graf from the interview:
"And of course, there’s one other benefit that the Paul Levitz of 25 years ago never envisioned: the readily available trade paperback collection of the completed story arc. 'Knowing that this will come out in trade is a hoot—I’ve only had one trade paperback done of my writing from the old days, in fact. We’re scheduled to do a second, Justice Society book next year, thanks to all of the recent interest in Power Girl. But seeing this in trade paperback is something I’m looking forward to.' "
Hat tip to Bill Nolan for the link! MARVEL/DC HC SALE AT TOW
Site sponsor Tales of Wonder are running a nice little sale on Marvel and DC hardcovers,
as well as some statues and busts. Some of these collections have been on sale before,
while others are brand new. For complete lists of what's on sale, click these links:
• MARVEL HCs
And here are a few books that are worth noting:
$44.99: Ultimate X-Men Vol. 1-3 HC COMBO
This deluxe coffee-table book by Walter Mosley is out now, and it's getting some...interesting reviews! Hide the kids and get up to speed on this book, with some pictures from
BonanzaGuy and some four-color commentary from the MARVEL FORUM. At this point,
the many grievances and few lonely voices of defense towards this book have given way to one of the defining questions that has faced man since the first monster comics were drawn on cave walls: "What Is Art?"
Can we at least agree that any book that can generate such thoughtful discussion was
worth being printed in the first place? No? You sure? LOL! GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #2 PREVIEW
THE BAND IS BACK TOGETHER FOR GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #2
The team that turned the tide back in World War II are back again in an all-new 16 page tale by legendary writer Roy Thomas in Giant-Size Invaders #2. In an untold tale set during the forties Captain America, the Sub-Mariner, and the Human Torch are the Invaders once again in this special tale. This Giant-Sized issue not only features a new story by the Thomas, but a slew of classic Invader stories. Giant-Size Invaders #2 collects Invaders #1-2 from 1975 where the greatest heroes in the world, the Invaders, came together to battle the Axis powers with the fate of the entire world on the line. For completists, these two issues were originally meant to share the pages of Giant Size Invaders #2 back in 1975, but a last minute Marvel change, turned them into the single sized issues. And there is still more in this jam-packed issue as the three staples of the Invaders get their own stand-alone stories herein. Witness the Sub-Mariner tussle with the Torpedo Boat Terror from All-Winners Comics #1. Catch the Human Torch as he gets caught in the Carnival of Death from All-Winners Comics #2 and see Captain America crack the case of the Malay Idol from that same issue.
Y'see that? 16-pages of new Invaders story, reprints of the first two issues of the
classic 70s series, and backup strips culled from All-Winners Masterworks Vol. 1, so you
can preview before you buy if you are on the fence! This book is scheduled to ship on NOVEMBER 30, clocks in at
96 pages, and is priced at $4.99.
Visit this thread at the MARVEL FORUM for more preview images than the two highlighted
here at the Current News page. There's some gorgeous full page art from artist Jay Anacleto to gander at...see you there!
MASTERWORKS CORNERSHOP
I've updated the page dedicated to providing direct links to Masterworks from site sponsors Tales of Wonder and Amazon. A few more limited editions have sold out from TOW, and
there are a few more books to add to the "danger zone." These are books that are
either sold out or close to selling out at Diamond. I have formally addressed this
"danger zone" status by shading the appropriate volume number in gray. If you are shopping the Masterworks Cornershop and see a volume shaded in gray, and it's one you want, you
might consider moving it ahead of other books you might want.
Tales of Wonder stocks Masterworks in deep quantities, more than any other retailer out there...but even they eventually sell out. I hope you find this information of use, and
you can access it directly at the MASTERWORKS CORNERSHOP listings. Feel free to bookmark it as a status
report on which volumes are sold out, and which are getting close!
ABSOLUTE SANDMAN
The buzz is mounting ever since Neil Gaiman openly mused on the internet a few weeks ago about the possibility of a series of Absolute Sandman. And if you visit this thread at the DC FORUMS, you'll find that Wizard World Texas has helped move the story along even further, with DC editors dropping strong hints about just such a book.
Still no official announcement from DC about contents, scheduling and how far-reaching
an Absolute Sandman series will be, but a little bird tells me that we'll get something
in that vein soon. (Hat tip to dtaylor for the link!) Oh...and I'm ALL over this!!! Sandman is the only comics series I
ever loaned out to my sister. Yes, she loved it; it's weird seeing your sister get into
comics you're collecting. But she also lost the first eight issues! Let's see me loan out my Absolute volume to her...yeah, like that'll happen!
According to Silver Bullet Comics, this Pop Art Production will "focus on Marvel characters that were introduced in the 60s, with character bios written in the classic over-the-top style of the era." Check out this thread at the MARVEL FORUM for more details!
I will have more news on this closer to official solicit date; I'll also try and
get some preview pages so you can check it out first hand!
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, November 9.
And we finally see the frustratingly tardy Golden Age Human Torch Masterworks Vol. 1, which will represent the
fourth Golden Age Masterworks volume to see print. I've be eagerly awaiting this one for awhile, as much as I've enjoyed
the stories of Jim Hammond from the first Golden Age Marvel Masterworks volume. I'll likely be getting this one
on Wednesday, so I hope to put up an immediate report on the book and its quality. Also coming out is the hardcover
dedicated to breaking down the first issue of Fantastic Four into itty bitty pieces of poetic explication by noted
novelist Walter Mosley, Maximum Fantastic Four!
On the DC front, it's a light week, with DC's Manhunter title finally getting to stores in collected edition in the Manhunter Vol. 1: Street Justice TPB. And finally...check out that Spider-Woman Bust!!!! Made ya look! (We like Jessica
Drew around here, y'know!)
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books:
• Complete Jon Sable Freelance Vol. 3 TPB
When Marvel's Director of Sales shows his friendly face around the Marvel Message Boards, people come out of the
woodwork to pepper him with questions. And sometimes, doggone it, he'll answer them! Here's a few nuggets of knowledge he
laid out for you Marvel Maniacs:
• Look for an oversize HC reprinting October's Marvel Monsters Group one-shots!
• Expect to see the following HCs: Punisher MAX Vol. 2, Avengers Assemble Vol. 3, Best of Spider-Man Vol. 5, and
possibly Daredevil Vol. 5 and Alias Omnibus (the latter two being pretty safe bets, looks like- it's only a matter
of when.)
• Don't expect to see a Punisher Vol. 4 HC reprinting the last Marvel Knights material
• A future Marvel Milestones issue will feature a Steve Ditko theme, with the Godzilla-prototype story from
Marvel Spotlight #5, "Dragon Lord", being featured!
• He also clarified Marvel's Marvel Premiere Edition/Oversize HC policy in THIS THREAD. As it stands now, the possibility of certain MPE titles
reaching oversize HC is still in flux.
Thanks, David, for coming to the boards and sharing your information directly with the fans of this website!
MASTERWORKS SURVEY IS CLOSED
Once again, great thanks go out to everyone who took the time to take the survey! RELEASE SCHEDULE UPDATED
Check the sidebar on the left side of this page and you'll see January's HC/TPB release schedule
is all plotted out with links to both Marvel and DC product on sale at TOW. I'll be adding Dark Horse and other
publisher's books (focusing mainly on the classic trades and hardcovers they produce) as time allows.
This summer, Marvel and Graphic Imaging Technology released the first in what is now becoming a series of
comprehensive DVD-ROM collections of long comic book runs. That project centered around the first 500+ issues
of Fantastic Four, timed to coincide with the feature film release.
Next on tap is a collection of Amazing Spider-Man comics. It is to be released on 11/2 and is an upgrade
on last year's CD-ROM collection. It now includes all the Annuals that were missed the first time around, and it will
be on a single DVD-ROM disc.
Quickly following is a DVD-ROM gathering all issues of Uncanny X-Men, from #1 through #66, and then continuing with
Giant-Size X-Men #1, Uncanny X-Men #94 all the way up through #461, including all Annuals and Special Edition books.
And then, in January, Avengers will be released! (No exact details on content yet...). All the DVD-ROMs are available for 20% off at Tales of Wonder. Check them out at the links provided below, or scan the release schedule
on the left side of this page.
Here is the rundown on what's available- or soon will be- on DVD-ROM:
FANTASTIC FOUR: FF #1-519, all Annuals (1961-2004)
Also coming from Graphic Imaging Technologies in March 2006 is a non-Marvel Comics DVD-ROM project: FIFTY YEARS OF MAD MAGAZINE ON DVD-ROM
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, November 2.
Folks, we're starting to see a bunch of great books come out at a rapid rate...such is life for a collected editions fan when Christmas comes a 'calling. The last couple weeks
have been a small taste, and this week, we're really getting revved up. Marvel issues a couple trades of classic comics, including the crazy/kooky choice of Captain Universe: Power Unimaginable, which reprints all the past solo adventures of The Hero Who Could Be You!, and Excalibur Classic Vol. 1, which reprints the first batch of issues from
Chris Claremont and Alan Davis' team of England-based X-Men!
Throw in an oversize HC of Mark Millar and Terry Dodson's Marvel Knights Spider-Man Vol. 1, the first volume of Essential Marvel Two-In-One, and the Marvel Premiere Edition of Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung's Young Avengers Vol. 1: Sidekicks, and it's a busy week from Marvel. Also worth noting is the DK Publishing Avengers: Ultimate Guide hardcover, which promises to be
an A-to-Z guide for Avengers obsessives.
DC doesn't want to be outdone, however, and we see that they're publishing the last two of four Crisis-related trades: Villains United and The OMAC Project. Also slinking its femme-fatale way into comic shops is Catwoman: When In Rome, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale- in hardcover!
Oh, and don't let me forget to mention that you itinerant cowpokes might want to stick
your head in a comic shop and check out Showcase Presents Jonah Hex Vol. 1, the
newest offering in DC's line of B+W phonebook reprints!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books:
• Alchemy of Mirrormask HC NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, October 26.
A couple of books that were delayed briefly from Marvel: Thor Masterworks Vol. 4, which represents the first new Kirby Thor stories to reach Masterworks in over four years, and Marvel Visionaries: John Romita, Jr., a nice companion volume to dad's Visionaries book!
Speaking of delayed books, it seems as if the long-delayed Freebooters HC by
Barry Windsor-Smith has finally made it to a shipping container and it should be on
its way to comics shops around the world as we speak. Here's hoping!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books:
• Batman: Under the Hood TPB
ARE YOU READY FOR THE MASTERWORKS SURVEY?
It will be up later this afternoon or early this evening. It will go for approximately ten days. That gives us two full weekends and all next week! Check out THIS THREAD at the Marvel Forums to get a few hint at what you might be able to do to help yourself before you take the survey.
Be thinking now about what kind of Masterworks you'd like to see in the future!
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: SGT. FURY VOL. 1
WHA-HOOO! It’s time for Marvel’s first-ever war Masterworks with tales of Sgt. Nick Fury and his Howlin’ Commandos in thick of ol’ WWII! And for the icing on the cake, it’s a titanic team-up of the mighty talents of Sgt. Stan Lee and Infantryman Jack Kirby! That’s a pair storytellers so explosive you better make sure you keep your lid on when you read this one, soldier!
Prepare yourself for drama, intrigue, humor and action galore as Fury, Dum Dum Dugan and the rest of the Howlers battle more Nazis than you can shake a bayonet at, team-up with Captain America and Bucky, battle the nefarious Baron Strucker and Zemo, and set out to capture Adolf Hitler himself!
With a pedigree like that, get off your duff and reserve your copy today, goldbrick! That’s an order!
Collecting SGT. FURY #1-13
MARVEL/DC SOLICITS FOR JANUARY
I've consolidated all collected editions and reprint solicits on their own page, and
you can access them here:
I've also got a "sneak peek" page that has solicits for upcoming Marvel books
that have yet to be officially solicited. These are confirmed books that can move beyond
rumor and conjecture and can be expected to see publication sometime in the outlying
future. The list includes tentative release dates, but those will likely change as scheduling the official solicits comes nearer in time: NEW SHIP DATES FOR MASTERWORKS
New target dates for Masterworks:
GA Human Torch Vol. 1- 10/26
I'll update Marvel and DC solicit information tomorrow. I'll also have a nice preview
of Marvel trades of classic material coming your way in early 2006, including a few more
Essentials!
Over at the Bendis message boards, Warren Ellis piped in to state the following about
Absolute Planetary Vol. 2:
"It'll just be a huge bugger containing (issues) 13-27 approx."
Sound solid enough for you? More info on this as it becomes officially confirmed.
Thanks to Justin Fairfax for posting this on the boards!
From a DC Comics Press Release:
"In the October 24 issue of TIME, book critics Lev Grossman and Richard Lacayo named WATCHMEN as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present. The critically acclaimed WATCHMEN graphic novel, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, is the only graphic novel selected, and stands alongside literary classics including J.D. Salinger's Catcher in The Rye, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.
In the magazine, Lev Grossman writes that, "The story of a ragbag of bizarre, damaged, retired super-heroes reunited by the murder of a former teammate, WATCHMEN is told in fugal, overlapping plotlines and gorgeous panels rich with cinematic leitmotifs. A work of ruthless psychological realism, it's a landmark on the graphic novel medium. It would be a masterpiece in any time."
What do you think? Does The Watchmen deserve a place on such a high-falutin' list of
literature? You can discuss this with your fellow comics fans over at THIS THREAD at the DC Forum. And if you haven't nailed down your purchase of ABSOLUTE WATCHMEN, you need to! (Come on, it's one of the 100 greatest English-language novels since 1923!)
On deck this time around is a new six-issue mini-series devoted to Sgt. Rock and
Easy Company, pencilled by none other than comic art legend Joe Kubert! Here's the solicit copy for issue one:
SGT. ROCK: THE PROPHECY #1
Comics legend Joe Kubert returns to DC’s legendary unit in the all-new 6-issue miniseries SGT. ROCK: THE PROPHECY, based on a true story!
From North Africa to the Rhine, Sgt. Rock and the combat-happy Joes of Easy Company have faced insurmountable odds thrown at them by the Axis powers and lived to tell the tale. But when they find themselves caught in the No Man’s Land of the Balkans searching for a religious prize that could ultimately decide the outcome of WWII, have our heroes finally been given a mission that will stop them in their tracks?
It’s 1943, and World War II has reached fever pitch. Somewhere deep within a smoldering, war-torn village in Nazi-occupied Lithuania hides a secret treasure that must be found and returned to the U.S. — unharmed — by any means necessary.
It’s up to the trusted G.I.s of Easy to save the day. But once they discover what the “prize” really is, will they be able to follow through with the mission? More important, will they
want to?
Join Rock, Ice Cream Soldier, Bulldozer, Little Sure Shot and the rest of Easy this month for this hard-hitting and provocative tale told as only Joe Kubert could deliver it! (32 pages, $2.99.)
If you liked Kubert's original Sgt. Rock graphic novel from 2004 titled BETWEEN HELL AND A HARD PLACE as much as I did, you won't want to wait for this series to reach
trade! You'll do just what I'm gonna do: call up your comics shop and say "Reserve My Copy!" TWO MORE MASTERWORKS ANNOUNCEMENTS!
I gave a sneak preview on the message boards last night, but in case you haven't
come across that information, this website has the honor of announcing February and March's Masterworks offerings from Marvel:
As quick as you can say BLAMMO!, it's quite obvious that Marvel is taking no prisoners
with their Masterworks, as these two books will help prove (if you didn't already know
it by now!)
The fundraising time frame is now over, and my website and Tales of Wonder would like
to thank everyone who made it their intent to help put some charitable muscle behind your
comics purchases. I'd also like to thank Joe Pacheco for donating $50 through the paypal
link, and I'm going to match his donation above and beyond the proceeds generated
through the percentage of sales. Thanks, Joe!
Once TOW and I sort through everything, we'll formally offer a check to the North Fulton
Community Charities for their efforts in helping relocate Katrina evacuees who now
find themselves in the North Atlanta metro area...many who came with nothing but the clothes on
their backs. However small a difference we can make in their lives, it will be worth it.
Thank you for making that happen!
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, October 19.
It's a relatively light week, especially from Marvel, as there are just a smattering
of trades. Classic comics fans will want to note the inclusion of Avengers #57 reprint
along with Geoff John's 4-issue Vision mini-series in Vision: Yesterday and Tomorrow TPB.
And don't forget to take a look at the third "Marvel Monsters Group" publication of Fin Fang Four,
the newest "supergroup" to hit the Marvel Universe! There's also a classic backup that reprints
Fin Fang Foom's origin from Strange Tales #89 included.
DC has a couple considerable entries to sell to you: Plastic Man Archives Vol. 7 continues the
long-running series of Jack Cole reprints. I know many complain that this series is getting
long in the tooth, but it is nice to see at least one series on a fast-track to completion! Also,
there's the Superman in the Forties TPB, which collects fifteen
Superman stories from the decade that defined him!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books due to ship this coming Wednesday, the 19th of October.
• Cable/Deadpool Vol. 3: The Human Race TPB
Unfortunately, there will be further delays on shipping for Golden Age Human Torch Vol. 1 and Thor Vol. 4
Masterworks. Right now, they've been pushed back another week. More on this as information comes....
MORE ON MAXIMUM FANTASTIC FOUR
From Marvel's press release:
WALTER MOSLEY & MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS MAXIMUM FANTASTIC FOUR!
In 1961, Marvel Comics released the very first issue of FANTASTIC FOUR in a quiet storm of inspiration and creativity. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby took the comic book conventions and clichés of the time and turned them on their ear, lighting a fire under comics fans and co-creating a shared universe of characters and situations that continue to inspire creators to this day.
Numerous comic artists and writers unabashedly cite FANTASTIC FOUR as the genesis of a movement that literally formed the modern industry and in many cases their own careers. Literary writers from Jonathan Lethem to Michael Chabon have paid their tribute to the form. Now, there is Walter Mosley and MAXIMUM FANTASTIC FOUR, a new addition to the comic book format: comic book as art book.
The first coffee table art book that Marvel has produced on its own, MAXIMUM FANTASTIC FOUR presents the inaugural issue of comics’ most famous family in a super-size, digitally re-mastered, panel-by panel format. Mosley’s introduction and afterward to the large volume will be complimented with an essay by widely-recognized Kirby-expert Mark Evanier.
“Readers will witness a journey through a comic that, though reprinted many times before, has literally never been seen like this before," says Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley. “I fully realize that comic fans have heard statements like that many times in the past but I say it with the most sincerity I can muster: this is a book that belongs on the shelf of every single Kirby enthusiast, Fantastic Four follower, and comic book aficionado."
"I wanted to capture the feeling I had as a child when I would bear down and examine each panel with the kind of scrutiny that opens up worlds. I found that when I blew up the image--each panel comprising its own page--I was able to recreate that same experience. As an adult I can also see the parallels between some of the greatest painters and Kirby's compositions--from Goya to the grotesques DaVinci drew, on to some of the most dynamic painters of our last century. Jack Kirby's unique sense of composition and narrative put him in a league along with these masters."
Mosley is the award-winning author of such books as LITTLE SCARLET, THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT, FEARLESS JONES, and the continuing adventures of his well-loved character Easy Rawlins. The entire world of Mosley’s unique writings can be found at his website, www.WalterMosely.com.
MAXIMUM FANTASTIC FOUR is scheduled for release on November 2nd in comic shops and fine bookstores everywhere. It will feature a four-color dust jacket that unfolds into a giant full-color double-sided poster (25” X 36”); a matte laminated case with spot UV; and 224 interior pages composed mostly of high-resolution art.
There are lots of new books to let you in on that are scheduled for the early part
of 2006. I usually don't pass these on, but in these cases, I can report that they
are solid- they're not rumors or Amazon phantoms. Ship months for the books may be different come solicit time for a few of them, but you can
expect the schedule to closely resemble this list:
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JULY
Of special note is the second Omnibus volume, this one for Uncanny X-Men, due in
time for the X-Men 3 film. It will reprint Uncanny X-Men #94-131, Annual #3 and Giant-Size X-Men #1. Marvel's David Gabriel also passes on to folks on the Marvel Forum that
it will reprint all the letter pages, and "all new recoloring of some issues." That's
big news! Some of those issues need recoloring, let me tell you!
Also, a bunch of Essentials including two different Handbook Essentials, and Moon Knight, which has been confirmed to this site by David Gabriel as scheduled for February.
And last but not least: two new Visionaries books, including the second Jack Kirby volume! And look at this lineup from the advance solicit:
Captain America #1, Marvel Mystery Comics #23, Yellow Claw #4, Strange Tales #89, Two-Gun Kid #60, Love Romances #103, X-Men #9, Strange Tales #114, Tales Of Suspense #59, Sgt Fury #13, Fantastic Four #57-60, Not Brand Ecch #1, Thor #154-157 and Devil Dinosaur #1.
That's almost as good- if not better- than Vol. 1! X-Men #9, a Two-Gun Kid issue, a nice smattering of Golden Age and "Atlas Era" books, and two epics from FF and Thor. Top it off with Devil Dinosaur #1 and you have a classic combo of Kirby classics! (Yeah, I said 'classic' twice! Sue me!)
I'll have a list of 2006 trades shortly. And I'll also be announcing a couple more Masterworks in the next few days! Like the sound of that?
ABSOLUTE WATCHMEN MANUFACTURING ERROR
Diamond has stopped all further distribution of Absolute Watchmen until a manufacturing
error can be addressed. According to DC, sporadic complaints have
surfaced over defects that have spoiled the aesthetics of the book slipcase.
"Apparently the manufacturer rushed the shrink-wrapping and assembly so the sales sheets were still warm and some of the ink transferred to some of the slipcases. In other cases, excessive glue dripped from the book to the slipcase and other silliness," they said. So far, none of the testimonial posts from Absolute Watchmen owners at THIS THREAD at the DC Forums indicate they suffer from this issue. You might want to check your
book to see if it is damaged, and stand by for further word about what you can do.
Again, reports have only been sporadic, but DC has moved to inspect the problem before
any more books are distributed that might have to be returned.
What's the big deal about Captain Universe? If you don't know me by now, I first got
into comics in the early 80s as a youngster of eleven years old. Though I was an avid
collector of Claremont/Byrne X-Men, Byrne's Alpha Flight, and Miller's Daredevil, the
comics that really had me in their grip were the latter day efforts by the masters: Kirby
and Ditko. Machine Man was my #1 favorite, because both men had a hand in crafting X-51's
earliest stories. But another favorite was Captain Universe, which ran as a serial feature in the short-lived Marvel Spotlight Vol. 2 series.
Unbelievably, this odd little series is being reprinted by Marvel Comics in a trade due
on 11/2 called CAPTAIN UNIVERSE: POWER UNIMAGINABLE. I'd love to see this collection be a success, so Marvel is emboldened to try similar projects.
Yesterday, I posted erroneous information that the long-delayed Six From Sirius HC from Dynamic Forces met its revised shipping date of 10/12. I was wrong- neither the TPB, the HC, or the signed HC (no, not one of them) met the new ship date. When will the book
actually meet its ship date? Nobody knows right now. All we have is the solicit and our
pre-orders...but no book.
I'll have more on this sometime in the next week.
Another book that missed its ship date is worth mentioning, and it's called
Swampmen: Muck Monsters of the Comics. It's a historical account of comics' swamp
creatures, like Marvel's Man-Thing and DC's Swamp Thing. It's a 200 page softcover
that TOW is selling for $19.99, but it is shipping late, so
keep that in mind.
George Khoury, who is active on the message boards, helped put this book together, so
I'll start a thread at the CRISIS ON INFINITE COMICS message board and get his thoughts
on the book (and perhaps even a signal on when it will arrive in stores!)
Speaking of a "Crisis of Infinite Comics", DC is taking the interesting step of
staggering the shipping schedule of ABSOLUTE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. The book now been pushed back to ship on 11/30, and my guess is that pre-orders on Absolute Crisis outstripped- or were in danger of outsripping- the print run. Perhaps DC recalculated their print run and caused disarray in the taking of orders? I dunno...I'll check with
DC to see if they care to comment on this.
Regardless, I've spoken with TOW and if you've placed your pre-order for Absolute Crisis
already, you can expect to get it with the 11/30 shipping cycle, unless orders for
the book are allocated (ya never know!) Any future orders for the book will ship at
the still undetermined ship date. It could perhaps be in 2006.
My recommendation for ordering this book is to pre-order now. There is no precedent
for Absolute books going back to press, and oftentimes the print runs are low enough
that they sell out very, very quickly. I lingered a few weeks too long to purchase
Absolute Planetary, and it sold out, leaving me hunting one down on the back market and
paying a little more than full price. (Yes, I kicked myself!)
Marvel Director of Sales David Gabriel is at it again. Over at the MARVEL FORUM, he's brought the good news: Godzilla is attacking your city in January! Yes, everybody's favorite lumbering behemoth with lethally bad breath is coming your way in glorious
black and white! Since this is a licensed property, the arrangement between Marvel and Toho comes
down to Essential Godzilla getting only a single print-run, so this is one you're going to want to pre-order, friends! I'll pass on order information as soon as I get it.
And this is a good time to once again plug the MARVEL ESSENTIALS LIBRARY, newly updated for the 21st century!
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
The "Shipping This Week" list usually goes up Friday afternoon, but I've been so
busy with the 2005 Masterworks Survey and other website stuff, I haven't had a chance
to get to it until today! But that doesn't mean there's not some good books that started
shipping earlier today, so here's the rundown!
Probably tops on the list is a book that's not a comic book reprint at all, it's a reprint of the Complete Calvin & Hobbes. That right there makes it one of the must-own
books for any comic art fan. Bill Watterson retired from the comic strip business several
years ago, and while his presence is missed in the funny pages, the light-hearted eloquence of Calvin and his tiger friend Hobbes is available in a complete hardcover set of three-volumes with a slipcase.
Also, classic comics fans will want to make a bee-line for Stoker's Dracula, a Marvel Premiere Edition HC featuring reprints of the original comics from Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano, as well as all-new material that finishes the story that was never concluded! Check out the interview with MARK BEAZLEY for Tales to Astonish Masterworks Vol. 1. Part of the interview covers this particular collection!
Without further ado, here's a look at the highlights from TOW's list of books due to ship this coming Wednesday, the 12th of October.
• Complete Calvin & Hobbes ATLAS ERA MASTERWORKS
Front and center, Masterworks Maniacs! We have an amazing assortment of news 'n notes
for you regarding the Marvel Masterworks line. First, read up on an interview with
Masterworks editor Cory Sedlmeier, where we discuss the new line of ATLAS ERA MASTERWORKS. From there, you'll get the full scoop on the new breed of books with which Marvel is preparing
to shatter your senses!
Next, a couple new Masterworks to announce, with preview pages live for VOL. 56 and VOL. 57! Get ready for a
"monstrous" good time reading both those books! Also, check out the preview page for
Vol. 57, where Cory Sedlmeier and Mark Beazley take part in another in-depth interview.
That ain't all, either, brother...just keep checking in on this site in the next few days. The survey's comin', and that's not ALL the news fit to print...just all we could
get to today!
TWO SILVER AGE ARCHIVES IN FEBRUARY!
What are they?
Why, Doom Patrol Vol. 3 and Superman: Man of Tomorrow Vol. 2!
For more information on DC's January and February Collected Editions, including more Showcase Presents volumes, check out
THIS THREAD at the Message Boards!
THOR DELAYED A WEEK
Masterworks editor Cory Sedlmeier popped in to the message boards the other day with the following
note to Masterworks fans:
Thor v4 will be moving a week. We've been having a difficulties in printing the variant dustjackets of certain volumes (Cap'n Marvel, Human Torch, Thor). The richer-colored variants (Daredevil, Thor, Torch, Cap'n M) require special printing to achieve such a vibrant tone. Rather than settle for "almost," we've gone back to press on the variants for each one of these volumes to ensure that fans get a top-notch quality book.
To make the extra wait worth it, there will be a surprise in store for everyone when Thor v4 DOES arrive. I ain't uttering a peep more than that, but I think you'll all enjoy it a heck of a lot."
GA HUMAN TORCH PUSHED BACK ONE MORE WEEK
Marvel GA Masterworks editor Mark Beazley has posted information at the MESSAGE BOARDS about GA Human Torch Vol. 1 and another
week's delay in shipping. Says he:
"Wanted you guys to know that there was a problem with the foil stamp on the Variant Jackets - they were printing off register so parts of the marble were showing as white rather than the orange around the foil frame.
In order to give the printer enough time to reprint the jackets properly, the book is moving to 10/19. Both the regular and variant are shipping the same time.
We hope you all understand the delay."
All in all, when the book finally ships it will have been a month late, which is
approximately 64 years after its original publication. Thanks to Marvel for letting the fans know what's up so we
can plan our budgets accordingly!
I'm looking forward to attending the First Annual New York Comic-Con from February 24-26. In fact, I just bought my ticket for a weekend pass- only $35! I'm looking forward to
being at my first major convention ever, and I hope to see you there if you're going to attend. In fact, if you visit THIS THREAD at the Message Boards, you can pipe in on the discussion between people from the website and boards who are going to be there! I have something cool up my sleeve that I hope you can share if you come, so let us know if you'll be at the Con so you can get on the list and let us know your availability. (More on specifics as it develops!)
DC Comics, Dark Horse and Marvel are among the many publishers that will have a presence at this convention, but the comics pros who will attend is yet unclear. For more information on the Con, check out THIS LINK. And go to this link if you want to BUY A TICKET NOW!
MARVEL MILESTONES: ULTIMATE 1/2 REPRINTS,
Those of you who think the days of Marvel Collector's Item Classics or Marvel Tales are over must not know
about Marvel Milestones. It's a monthly title that reprints a collection of themed books that are either rare or
complement the Marvel zeitgeist of the moment. This month is a "HALLOWEEN" edition, chock full of monster comics
like Blade, Man-Thing and Satana. Last month was a Champions feature, with cool stories from Ghost Rider, Black Widow and Iceman.
November will carry a MARVEL MILESTONES that reprints two rare issues: Ultimate Spider-Man 1/2 and Ultimate X-Men 1/2.
To top it off, Marvel is including backup features from Golden Age Human Torch Masterworks, featuring the long-forgotten
Microman and Mantor the Magician.
Says Marvel: "Fans were asking us all the time when we’d be reprinting Ultimate Spider-Man ½ and Ultimate X-Men ½ - we probably get more requests for those than for any other books,” says Associate Editor of Special Projects Mark Beazley. “We try our best to use the Milestones books to meet the demands of fans, as seen in the recent reprinting of the UK Captain Britain story. And as an added bonus we’re throwing in two golden age stories from our Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch Vol. 1 HC – the first appearances of Microman and Mantor the Magician from the 1940s Human Torch #2…surely everyone remembers them!"
Here's a couple preview images from the book, to whet your appetite for not only the Milestones edition, but also
the GA Human Torch Masterworks, due to ship 10/12 from Marvel.
DC reports that it has sold out on a few collected editions of note: Sandman: Brief Lives HC and Absolute League
of Extraordinary Gentleman Vol. 1. But whereas one can expect to see the Sandman book have only a "brief death" on
the back market, one should not expect DC to bring ABSOLUTE LXG VOL. 1 back to press. If you haven't gotten this book
yet, I suggest you do so now.
Same with Absolute Planetary, which seemed to have sold out its print run overnight.
SITE UPDATES
I've got a big backlog of feature pages up on the website now- Marvel Hardcovers,
trades and digests. Each feature page carries as much information about the books
as I can fit in: cover images, resource data, contents listings, bonus materials information,
issue breakdowns and synsopsis, and a scanned panel image or two to give you a sample
of the artwork inside.
The basic idea is to give you more information about books if you're interested in adding
them to your collection. Check 'em out when you get the chance!
MARVEL HARDCOVERS:
FANTASTIC FOUR OMNIBUS VOL. 1
TRADE PAPERBACKS:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1: CHANGING PLACES
DIGESTS:
INHUMANS VOL. 1: CULTURE SHOCK
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Some news and notes to follow, but first, here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping today from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, September 5.
On the hardcover front, it's a milestone day as DC reprints comic's modern masterpiece by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons as Absolute Watchmen. They also follow up last week's doubleshot of Essential-style reprints with Showcase Presents Metamorpho Vol. 1. Also of note is a new edition of the V For Vendetta HC- more Alan Moore classics! (And don't miss Elfquest Archives Vol. 3. It's a big week for DC!
By contrast, it's a light week for Marvel Comics, with a few trades and digests of note, including the second volume of the Complete Age of Apocalypse. From Dark Horse, we
get a hardcover reprinting the next batch of stories from Kurt Busiek's Conan series, Conan Vol. 2: The God In The Bowl HC, and the several-months-delayed Rising Stars finally hits the comic store shelves, in a regular Omnibus-style edition and one
with a slipcase.
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books due to ship this coming Wednesday, the 21st of September.
• Absolute Watchmen HC
GA Human Torch Masterworks Vol. 1 will not ship on the reschedule date of 10/5. It will
ship the following week, on 10/12.
As noted in the recent BLAMMO! email, which many of you got as a blank text (sorry!),
Marvel has been able to finally hammer out a deal to bring a new matte paper stock to
its line of Masterworks, starting with FF Vol. 9, due in November (Vol. 54 for all you
counting at home!) Here's the copy from my BLAMMO! email:
"It's not a dream! It's not a mirage! Your wife didn't just smack you on the head with a frying pan (or maybe she did!)
Just when you thought Marvel's pursuit of a new paper stock for its Masterworks had hit a dead end, comes word from Cory
Sedlmeier about a new printer for our favorite books from Marvel!
Says Cory:
'Starting with Fantastic Four Vol. 9 the Masterworks will be printed at a new printer, R.R. Donnelley. They've been doing a superb
job on all our oversized hardcovers for years and we're very happy to have them as our long-term partner on the Masterworks.
What may interest readers even more, is that starting with this volume, we'll also be printing on a new paper stock. That's right,
starting with Fantastic Four Vol. 9 readers can look forward to the Masterworks printing on an 80# matte white stock that we're all very happy with.
A special shout-out goes to Raphael Rodriguez and Christine Slusarz from our manufacturing department for all their hard work and
patience (with pain-in-the-neck ol' me) in facilitating this process.'
The new paper Marvel will be employing for its Masterworks will be a white matte stock, with a far lower gloss than what the current paper
carries. So starting with FF Vol. 9, which is Vol. 53 in the Masterworks line, we'll get a new low-glare matte stock! I think this is great news
and I hope you do, too!"
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping today from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, September 28.
DC ushers in a new era in their collected editions history with the first volumes of Showcase Presents. They lead off their version of Essential B&W phonebook style
reprints with Green Lantern and Silver Age Superman. And don't forget, they
are priced at a very special introductory price of $9.99, which after discount from TOW
comes out to $6.99 to sample 500+ pages of comics! That's a great deal!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books due to ship this coming Wednesday, the 21st of September.
• Bigfoot TPB (Steve Niles, Rob Zombie, Richard Corben) DC/IMAGE SOLICITS FOR DECEMBER
Here is a link to the complete list of DC DECEMBER '05 SOLICITS. Check it out for a list of hardcovers and trades from DC Comics, due to ship in December.
I'd also like to highlight the following book by Image Comics:
THE WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
This deluxe hardcover features the first 24 issues of the hit series along with the covers for the issues all in one massive, oversized slip-cased volume. Perfect for long time fans, new readers, and anyone needing a heavy object with which to fend off The Walking Dead.
Retailers: This is a limited, one-time offer. This item will be limited to initial orders only and will not be reprinted.
Collects THE WALKING DEAD #1-24. (560 pages, $100 (regular), $150 (signed and numbered) This book has quite the buzz on the Masterworks Message Board as one of the best comics going, so I'm going to take that leap of faith and grab it myself. Please note that this is in the Omnibus format of Robert Kirkman's critically acclaimed Walking Dead, and this marks the second time that Kirkman has gotten cozy with Marvel regarding trade dress concerns. His first reprint of his Invincible series resembled Marvel's Oversize HC trade dress; now he takes on the Omnibus format. Kirkman is a rising star and one of Marvel's best new writers, helming titles like Marvel Team-Up and Fantastic Four: Foes. Plus, his creator-owned Invincible character is making a guest appearance in the Spidey team-up title. So it's cool to see how Kirkman is taking advantage of his positioning to craft collected editions that follow in the wake of Marvel.
NEWS UPDATE: 9/20 MARVEL SOLICITS FOR DECEMBER Posted at 8:15 PM by gormuu There are two- count 'em- TWO- Masterworks on the list of MARVEL DECEMBER '05 SOLICITS Get to scootin' over there and see what else is on tap!
At the Diamond Comics Retailer Summit in Baltimore, a contingent of Marvel Comics
sales representatives, led by Dan Buckley and our pal David Gabriel, pulled out some
big guns from their arsenal! Part of their presentation was a slyly conceived
slide presentation that did a slow reveal on much of what 2006 would have to offer.
For the full rundown on the presentation, visit this link at SILVER BULLET COMICS. (Hat tip to CJAotssE!)
I'll run through a few of the slides for you here that relate directly to collected editions! The first thing brought up to the retailers is
the oncoming publication of an oversized Eternals HC, reprinting the entire run of
the late 70s Jack Kirby masterpiece! What an unexpected surprise!
This marks a breakthrough for the Oversized HC line, in that it is reprinting complete runs of classic material before it appears in trade or Masterworks! Some might wonder why
Marvel would do this, but I would guess it has something to do with another slide they flashed directly afterward, indicating that Neil Gaiman would be scribing tales from the Eternals universe in 2006! Look for the Eternals to get a super high profile next year! Make Jack proud, Neil!
An oversized HC of Eternals has interesting implications for what we can expect from
Marvel's reprint line in the future. My guess is this won't be the last of this type
of project.
Next slide:
And speaking of Oversized Hardcovers, you can't get more Oversized than the Omnibus! The next Omnibus off the line will be Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1! Contents are unknown at this time, but this might stretch all the way through the Claremont/Byrne era.
And next:
Reaffirming to retailers that Masterworks are here and can no longer be ignored, Marvel reminded everyone gathered that there are plans for 18 books next year, breaking them down in category, and firming up the certainty of a Monster book next year and Rawhide Kid.
With 18 books of such varied stripes, there would seem to be not much to argue with when it comes to the content Marvel will be reprinting.
And finally:
Don't forget Essentials, which are planned to number a huge 24 next year! Good ol' Nova looks like he's going to get his due.
There's more in that article dealing with Marvel's publishing schedule in 2006, so read up on it and see if there's anything else that interests you! Until then, Make Mine Marvel!!!!
HELLBOY HARDCOVERS
CBR has the text of an online chat with DARK HORSE EDITOR SCOTT ALLIE, wherein one can read the following exchange between Allie and site user Stygian:
Stygian: Any possibility that "Hellboy" will be collected in Hard Bound editions, similar to "Sin City" this past summer? It just seems a natural.
Scott Allie: Mike and I do have a plan for "Hellboy" hardcovers...I have to formalize it. The idea is to collect two TPBs in one HC.
I've been eagerly awaiting Mike Mignola's defining work to get the deluxe treatment, and it looks like its time might be coming!
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, September 21. This is a HUGE week! Captain Marvel Masterworks Vol. 1 makes it a milestone month for the "50th Masterworks volume!" Kamandi Archives Vol. 1 is also a milestone, as it notches the first foray by DC's Archives into
Jack Kirby's 70s era.
And don't miss a couple trades that bring some of the 80s best comics back to press: Hulk Visionaries: Peter David Vol. 2 TPB, featuring the David era when it really started to cook (with the pre-superstar Todd MacFarlane doing penciling duties), and Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Beauty and the Beasts TPB, which gives us more of George Perez' great run telling the stories of the Amazon princess!
The long-delayed Infinity Crisis HCs, Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 6 HC, and the first Essential Ghost Rider will make this a week your wallet won't soon forgive you for!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books due to ship this coming Wednesday, the 21st of September.
• Batman: War Games Act Three TPB CAN YOU SAY....GA FLASH?
Run on over HERE, as fast as you can! Check out what appears to be
January's Archive offering?
I'll look to get official confirmation ASAP! (Thanks to David Stewart for digging this
one up!)
UPDATE: Yep! It's no mirage. That blur you see on the horizon is Jay Garrick!!! DC confirms the book, and here are the contents: Flash Comics #18-24 and All-Flash #1-2.
This is a book that is WAY past due, so it's nice to see it coming in early 2006. Can Barry Allen be far behind?
THE 54th MARVEL MASTERWORKS!
Want to know what the 54th Masterworks will be? It's coming in December, folks! And
MarvelMasterworks.com gets to make the exclusive announcement. It's Amazing! It's Astonishing! It's Suspensful and Fantastic! One look and you'll say "MAKE MINE MARVEL!" It's...
Oh, you want me to just quit the yappin' and announce, right? Well, why not CLICK THIS LINK and find out!
NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, September 14. Dr. Strange Masterworks Vol. 2 and Wlverine Classic Vol. 2 TPB hit stands after brief shipping delays, as does Absolute Batman: Hush. There's also a cool Black Panther statue that I'd love to have on my shelf...gonna have to wait on that one, though!
Here's a look at the rest of the highlights from TOW's list of books due to ship this coming Wednesday, the 14th of September.
• Absolute Batman: Hush ROBERT KIRKMAN'S INVINCIBLE HC SOLD OUT!
Image recently reprinted the first eleven issues of Robert Kirkman's Eisner-nominated Invincible in an oversized hardcover very much in the template of Marvel's line of oversize HCs. According to
Image, the initial print run of the book has sold out!
"After being in stores for less than a month, the INVINCIBLE ULTIMATE COLLECTION HC Vol. 1 has sold out!
The $34.95 oversized volume collects the first 13 issues of INVINCIBLE ("quite possibly the Greatest Super Hero Comic in the Universe") in one volume with extras and behind-the-scenes material.
The INVINCIBLE ULTIMATE COLLECTION HC was massively over-printed, almost three times it's initial orders, and thanks to the demand, Image Comics is going back to press on it! Not only that, Image is printing over double the initial print run, to make sure that copies are available through the holidays."
What with
Invincible appearing in an upcoming alongside Spider-Man in an upcoming issue of Marvel Team-Up, it sure looks like die-hard Marvel fans will want to keep this book on their radar screen. Tales of Wonder has copies of the first print still IN STOCK, so you should be able to purchase it at your leisure.
For those of you waiting for Dr. Strange Masterworks Vol. 2, it will be shipping next week, on September 14th, the same
day as Captain Marvel Vol. 1 was supposed to ship. However, Captain Marvel Vol. 1 is being pushed back so
editor Cory Sedlmeier can address some last minute printing issues with the dustjacket. According to the C-Man, "Printed jackets of Captain Marvel showed up today. The variant dustjacket coloring is waaaaaay off. The book is being bumped to figure out what the problem is and print new jackets."
The DJ might be the wrong shade of green, but according to Cory, "the interiors look great, though! The 16 pages of Colan pencils are fan-tast-tic!" Finally, Cory also wants fans to know that GA Human Torch is being bumped as well, with similar
issues of dustjacket printing errors. Cory admits that, as far as scheduling goes, "Our track record really sucks lately."
But I think most of the fans will agree that it's far better to have a well-produced and well-cared-for book than a volume that is sub-standard solely to meet a ship date.
Marvel's really ramped up production of Masterworks volumes lately. Combine that with the degree of perfectionism that
guys like Cory apply to the book, and we're bound to have scheduling delays of a week or two here or there. Not all
Masterworks books get the Rescheduling Blues, though, as Cory notes that "Thor Vol. 4 is all done and in the can!" So
expect to see that long-awaited volume in print and on time!
Also, other rescheduled books include Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 1 and Giant-Size X-Men #4, which are both pushed back a week- from 9/14 to 9/21.
DEVIL DINOSAUR AND FF/IRON MAN: BIG IN JAPAN
If you're like me, you're eagerly anticipating the flood of Monster related comics Marvel
is winging your way in October and beyond! The first of Marvel's four Monster One-Shots
that bows in October is DEVIL DINOSAUR, in which our favorite mutant dino and his caveman compadre take on the Ever-Lovin', Green-Eyed Hulk!
From Marvel:
'Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur is great fun,' says editor Mark Paniccia. 'If you’re looking for an escape from the usual offerings, this and the other three Monster books are just what you’ve been looking for, including Fing Fang Four, Monsters on the Prowl, and Where Monsters Dwell.'
'When this project was approved I was giddy for days!’ added Paniccia. 'The team assembled for the Monster Event are people who have a strong connection to the nostalgic and really wanted to be part of this and it comes across in the final product. You will feel like you walked through a time machine and picked this stuff up off the rack at the corner grocery store.'
Brought to you by Eisner Award Winning Eric Powell, Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur features the most savage of slugfests, the Hulk versus Devil Dinosaur. Plus, Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur contains the first appearance of the Hulk from way back in November 1960 with “ I Was a Slave of the Living Hulk” from Journey into Mystery #62 by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers."
And as if that ain't enough, I got the goods on some preview images! Click on the following links for the cover and
three pages from the book (images will open in a new window): COVER, SPLASH, DD/MOON BOY, and CELESTIALS.
Not to be lost in the shuffle is a project that is His Eminence of Masterworks editor Cory Sedlmeier's baby, a project he
notes is "full on big monster goodness!" That would be the zany limited series titled FANTASTIC FOUR/IRON MAN: BIG IN JAPAN! Written by Zeb Wells and drawn by Seth Fisher, the four-issue mini sends the Iron Avenger and
his four cosmic-powered buddies right into the path of giant monsters...in Tokyo, the mecca of monsters!!! (No word on if Godzilla or Gamera will
make an appearance!) Check out this piece of uncolored Seth Fisher pencils from the first issue: NEW BOOKS SHIPPING THIS WEEK FROM TALES OF WONDER
Here's the list of books you might be interested in that will start shipping from Tales of Wonder on Wednesday, September 7. Avengers: Serpent Crown sees release, as does the Engelheart/Rogers Coyote & Scorpio Rose TPB. Also
check out a couple under-the-radar releases like the Comics Creators on FF softcover, which includes interviews with every creator that has ever worked on Marvel's Fab Four, and the first volume of DC-era Star Trek reprints!< |
Spirit Archives Vol. 17 ships this week from DC Comics, reprinting the latter half of 1948s strips. At this point in the chronology, Will Eisner is back and in charge! Also, the first shipments of Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths begin to ship. I will be checking with TOW to make sure what their delivery arrangement will be with this title, as it was previously reported to be getting shipped in two different allotments.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 9 has been delayed a week, but if you're a fan of Marvel's First Family, fret not! Fantastic Four Vol. 3 HC ships this week, bringing to a close the incredible Mark Waid/Mike Wieringo run. Thanks to Waid and the gang for producing some of the World's Greatest Comics, and thanks to Marvel for commemorating this run in a complete library of three oversized hardcovers. Marvel fans will also want to check out the Marvel Premiere Edition HC Wolverine: Enemy of the State Vol. 2, which follows up the first storyline of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. Wolverine tales. 
A big thanks to Chance Fiveash for bringing this book to our attention in 
Last week, we finally got GA Human Torch Masterworks after weeks of delay. This week's offerings
includes yet more books that have been late or really late! Astonishing X-Men Vol. 2: Dangerous TPB comes
from Marvel, which fans of the Vol. 1 trade are happy to hear! Dark Horse, second to only Dynamic Forces
at being late with books, finally releases Concrete Vol. 2: Heights TPB and the first Tarzan: Joe Kubert Years Archives volume. And DC gets THUNDER Agents Archives Vol. 6 out on the streets with only a week's
delay, bringing that line of books to a conclusion.
Marvel has forwarded this website a beautiful batch of images from the upcoming
Giant-Size Invaders #2, featuring a passle of classic reprints along with a brand
new 16-page story by Roy Thomas. Here is the official solicit copy for this book
that's gonna be ALL WINNER!!!
February is the
likely month for the first in a new series of 48 page Marvel Handbooks, this one called
Marvel Legacy. The first book will cover the 1960s Silver Age era of Marvel Comics, aka "The Marvel Age of Comics!" Dig the newly commissioned Sal Buscema cover!
Sadly, it looks like THUNDER Agents Vol. 6, the final hardcover in that series, is not shipping as scheduled this week. I hope to get
a report on that delay, as well as when we can expect it, ASAP. Also, we see the release of Six From Sirius Vol. 1 from the legendary Dynamic Forces (he said with dripping sarcasm...) Except it's the TPB edition, NOT the promised hardcover! Moench/Gulacy fans deserve better than this! We want out hardcovers, DF!!!
Thank you for taking the 2005 Masterworks Survey! We had a huge response from you fans, and skimming over the early returns, I think there will be some exciting results that will surely
generate both interesting conversation and strong suggestions for Marvel. Right now,
Roy and I are going over the data, and in the next several days, I hope to have it
all compiled for your reading pleasure. I will send out a BLAMMO! email notifying you
when the survey results have gone up on the website.
Though this website is geared mainly towards collected editions (and don't let the
URL fool 'ya- it's more than just Masterworks!), every now and then I like to trumpet
a monthly comic that I figure- if you're like me- you're gonna want to own!
Popular novelist Walter Mosley wants to show you FANTASTIC FOUR #1 in a new way.
The entire project is the brainchild of Mosley, whose introduction to the FANTASTIC FOUR comic book was both an exciting and a very personal one. Growing up African American in the early Sixties and living with a father who disdained comics, Mosely saw certain truths and sanctuaries in the world of Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch, and the Thing, and became enamored of the powerful, striking art of the King of Comics, Jack Kirby. As an adult he attempted to recapture that magic feeling, that moment he “learned that entertainment, education, and art could all coexist in one form" by blowing up each page of FF #1 and view its detail in a fresh fashion. Mosley presented this approach to the art of Jack Kirby as a mass-market book idea to Avi Arad at Marvel…and the result is MAXIMUM FANTASTIC FOUR.
It's all explained at 
"Devil Dinosaur rules Prehistoric Earth. His ferocity is unmatched by the Small Folk and the Killer Folk. But two Celestials try to even up the odds by bringing a ferocious brute from the future back to take on Devil Dinosaur. It just so happens that this brute is the Incredible Hulk.