------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE - ISSUE NUMBER 85 Edited by: David LeBlanc [ComicBkNet@aol.com] ________________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Page------>> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ------------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ This publication is brought to you by the members of the premiere BBS network for the discussion of comics books and the people who create them, The ComicBook Network!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, please address a message to: ComicBkNet@aol.com to be placed on the FREE subscription list. ________________________________________________________________________ T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! TRIVIA CONTEST......................... Guesses & Answers [3] CBN Insider ........................... News, gossip, & rumors [4] Bone Leaves Image ..................... Press Release [5] Xeric Winners Announced ............... Bebe Williams [6] Marvel stock drops again .............. Various [7] The Pen Is Mightier.................... Brian Matus [8] Words Hard as Steel ................... Brian Babyok [9] Top 150 for November .................. Matt High [10] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights [B] How to join ComicBook Network.......... BBS 101 [C] Bulletin Boards Linked into CBN........ CBN node list ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net by David LeBlanc BIG mistake last issue. Quest Comics is in New YORK not New Jersey. My sincere apologies to Pete King. Please welcome another new contributor, Brian Matus. He begins his new column, THE PEN IS MIGHTIER. . ., with a review of SILVER from Comicolor. Does anyone read the taglines at the end of EVERY issue of this mag? On the racks this week, in case you missed them: SHADOWMAN #1 (need I mention the letters page again?) BRAT PACK/MAXIMORTAL SUPER SPECIAL #1 CELL #2 THE AGE OF HEROES #2 ESSENTIAL VERTIGO:SANDMAN #6 AND this week, still on the subject of electronic communications, this bit of insight collected through Email and passed on to me by my nephew Scott. You know you're addicted when . . . Your eyeglasses have a web site burned in on them. You refuse to go to a vacation spot with no electricity and no phone lines. You finally do take that vacation, but only after buying a cellular modem and a laptop, and when you come home, you can't remember where you went. On the plane coming home, you have your laptop on your lap, and your kid in the overhead compartment. Your most erotic activity is telling your modem "faster...faster... FASTER!" You find yourself typing "com" after every period.com. You refer to going to the bathroom as "downloading" You start introducing yourself as "Jim at I-I-Net dot net dot au dot com." What's worse, the people you hang out with consider this to be normal. You step our of your room and realize that your wife/husband/parents have moved and you don't have a clue what happened. You buy one of those crying baby intercoms for you office so that, no matter where you are in the house, you can always hear that "ding" when new e-mail arrives. Your wife drapes a blond wig over your monitor to remind you of what she looks like. The ploy fails and you leave your wife for your monitor. All of your friends have an @ in their names. You can't call your mother. She doesn't have a modem. You believe nothing looks sexier than a scantily dressed man or woman illuminated only by a 17-inch SVGA monitor. Your refer to your age as 3.x. You laugh rudely and deliriously at people with 2400 baud modems. Your husband tells you he's had the beard for two months. Your wife tells you she's had the boyfriend for six months. You start looking for hot HTML addresses in public restrooms. You wake up at 3am to go to the bathroom and stop and check your e-mail on the way back to bed. You move into a new house and decide to Netscape before you landscape. You tell the cab driver your address is http://123.elm.street/house/bluetrim.html Your virtual girlfriend dumps you for a new net sweetheart with a larger bandwidth. You get a tattoo that says, "This body best viewed with Netscape 1.1 or higher" You ask a plumber how much it would cost to replace the chair in front of your computer with a commode, shower and refrigerator. You forget what year it is. During passionate moments, you keep wanting to click you "reload" button. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. You mate says communication is important in marriage. The answer? You buy another computer and install a second phone line so the two of you can chat. David LeBlanc [ComicBkNet@aol.com] Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: letters of comment, complete with the sender's Email address, may be used in future issues of the CBN E-Mag unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Email address will be withheld upon request. +++++ First, an appeal for letters of comment: From: tonyisa@ohio.net (Anthony Isabella) Date: Fri, 08 Nov 1996 23:37:53 GMT As some of you know, I am the "writer" of the letters columns that appear in the various X-FILES comics published by Topps. I'm always in need of interesting and well-written letters of comments on these comics. I especially need letters on X-FILES #21, which came out a few weeks ago. I don't have a single letter on this issue in my files. I also need letters on X-FILES #22 and X-FILES COMICS DIGEST #3. If you'd like to comment on these books, you can send your letters to me at my email address: Please include your real name, city, and state. If I use your letter, I'll send you a package of goodies from my legendary desk drawers. Neat stuff can be yours! Thanks for your help. Tony Isabella +++++ [Speaking of letters of comment, I have been reviewing the new Valiant Heroes and sending letters of comment based on the preview copies I have received. There is much enthusiasm on the nets from others who also got them and from those who bought the first 2 titles out. Here is a note from the Editor in Chief in response to reactions and reviews.] From: fabnic@aol.com To: comicbknet@aol.com Sorry about the MAN OF THE ATOM (MOTA) preview. We did the best we could under the circumstances and tried to have fun with it. At least we acknowledged we were screwing up every step of the way!! :-) Rest assured it is a BIG story (not one punch thrown though). Warren's script is uber-cool and Darick/Larry's art continues to come in smooth as silk. The final product will be worth the half-assed, balls-to-the-walls preview! Thanks for your kind words on NINJAK. Having signed out issue #2 yesterday, it keeps the fun going. Kurt, Neil and Michael are doing really strong work, building a foundation for, hopefully, a long time to come. Just a note, TROUBLEMAKERS #1 was severely under-ordered as far as we're concerned, and even with the buy 10 get 5 free program, we think this book is going to disappear off the shelves! The buzz about the QUALITY of the Valiant Heroes relaunch will have grown from XO to NINJAK to SHADOWMAN to TUROK by the time TROUBLEMAKERS hits the stores in late December, so I'm pushing it now! I don't want to see my baby (I'm on issue #4 and from my heart, this really is the best thing I've ever written) disappear because retail supply couldn't meet consumer demand. Buy it! Make it a sell-out! Create a buzz around the art (Kenny Martinez and Anibal Rodriguez smoke!). Thanks for all the support we've received on the rac.groups so far folks, it is greatly appreciated! - fabian +++++ From: PentaG To: ComicBknet Hi there, I'm Chris M in Pittsburgh and I just discovered your cool e-mail magazine! I would appreciate receiving it through my e-mail address at work. My address is PentaG@aol.com I just recently downloaded #84, mainly through curiosity and especially because of the "Cavewoman" review! I love that book, and the artist is fantastic!! Has Bud Root done any other comic/and/or other artwork? [I don't know, but perhaps one of our readers can provide the answer!] Thanks again and I look forward to my upcoming issues! If you take requests, I'd like to see articles on both J. Scott Cambell (Gen 13) and Brett Booth (Backlash). I understand Brett is coming out with his own book? True? [As much information that we provide here, it is very difficult to keep track of individual creators and their plans, or even remember what I typed last week! I am not sure what you mean by articles. We don't normally do interviews, although we have had them in the past and would welcome any free lance efforts in that regard. I don't often see someone ask for a review of a book they are already reading, which I assume is the case with you. If one of the guys wants to jump on either topic for their column they are welcome to. As far as my thoughts: I don't read Backlash. Gen13 is a fun book if you don't take it too seriously. Mr. Campbell has a big following for his art but I think it needs more depth. I like the facial work, and in particular the eyes he draws. His legs are generally drawn too long in proportion to the torso, this was most evident in the first mini-series. Lets face it, it is eye candy, not great art but nice to look at and easier than a lot of stuff out there. The plots are typical, nothing special. I guess that is the formula for success these days. Nothing too cerebral, plenty of flesh, a dash of humor and "with it" dialogue. It sure sells well.] +++++ [TRIVIA CONTEST] Last week's trivia question was submitted by Jay Perry (sorry I left his name out) >What is Flash Thompson's real first name? *** I have no idea, but I was at work late and this is the first time I've actually had a chance at answering first, so... My guess, in honour of the editor, is "David". I'll be happy if I was the first guess, but I probably don't get a cheezy prize for that, do I? Don Kirkby Sierra Systems Consultants, Inc. +++++ I'm going to take a wild guess... John? (which means he gew up to be the head basketball coach at Georgetown University, right?) Jason Sacks +++++ From: ComicDork What is Flash Thompson's real first name? I think it was Michael, but I'm rpobably wrong. I've got a headache THIS big! ::::makes space between hands:::::::: +++++ [That's it folks. Three wild guesses. ALL wrong. By the rules, Jay wins the CHEEZY PRIZE (tm) and the correct answer is . . . Eugene! - see Annual #3] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: The answer is: "Zee...zee...zee". What is the question? Prizes for best original answer as well as the correct trivia answer. IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE: The first correct answer to reach the editor wins the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm). The editor will be the sole judge as to which guess arrived first! Please be sporting and send only one guess at a time. LIMIT: ONE PRIZE PER MONTH PER PERSON! Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you can stump the readers! You MUST submit the correct answer with your question. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] CBN Insider - News, gossip and rumors from around the industry. Mark Waid has announced that he will be taking a year off from writing chores on THE FLASH for DC after nearly 70 issues. He and Brian Augustyn will take a break tentatively set at issue #130 and return 12 issues later. Their hand picked replacements are Grant Morrison and Mark Millar of whom Waid says, "With all deference to the other fine and talented comics writers in the field today, we told editor Paul Kupperberg, "If Grant and Mark turn us down, we'll just find a way to stay on the book. They're our one and only choice." We like AZTEK, and we love JLA. Grant and Mark, separately and together, have the same respect for the character and his rich heritage that we do, and we trust them above all others with Wally and his friends. +++++ SMASH Magazine reports that Six Flags Fiesta Texas Park will add a stage show this spring called "DC Comics Superheroes Live". The show will feature Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Green Lantern and foes The Joker and Lex Luthor. The show is said to be filled with spectacular special effects and the latest technology of theater illusions and stupendous stunts. +++++ From the this week's CSNsider in Comic Shop News #491, a lot of stuff we already told you about, plus . . . Superman/Madman: Hullabaloo is a three issue series written and illustrated by Mike Allred, coming soon; and he is also working on a 7 issue "Red Rocket 7" series to start in June. . . ABC has order 13 episodes of TIMECOP, a weekly TV series, for the 1997 fall season. Mark Verheiden is co-creator and supervising producer of the series. . . A DARK SKIES comic based on the TV show is not likely anymore but negotiations are ongoing with two publishers for a comic based on Chris Carter's new series, MILLENNIUM. . . CNN says that Tracy Beaulieau has signed with Event Comics and Dreamworks Entertainment after leaving Mystery Science Theater 3000 . . . T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is looking for a home says John Carbonaro who owns the rights and hopes to have a deal by year end. . . Marvel has announced price increases for January of their $2.95 books to $2.99. Marvel Heroes titles, such as Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Incredible Hulk and The Punisher will go to the same 40 page format as the X-books at the new $1.95 price. Uncanny Origins and Untold Tales of Spider-Man are the only $.99 books that will survive the hikes, the rest being dropped and some Harvey Comics characters will be introduced for young readers at $1.50. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Bone leaves Image Press release November 8, 1996 For Immediate Release From: Cartoon Books Contact: Vijaya Iyer/Karen Root (614) 224 - 4487 CARTOON BOOKS LEAVES IMAGE! Columbus, OH--Cartoon Books has announced that it is ending its eighteen month relationship with Image Comics. Cartoon Books founder, Jeff Smith, said that the primary reason for this move is to once again take control of all aspects of BONE's destiny. "We went to Image Comics when the future of the distribution system was quite uncertain," says Smith. "Since the distribution system has consolidated just about as far as it possibly can, Cartoon Books' original reasons for moving to Image have evaporated. Looking forward, we realized that it made the most amount of sense for us to once again consolidate all of the BONE comic book projects at Cartoon Books. By taking absolute control over the BONE comic book, we can once again have all of our diverse products together under one single banner. The time is right for BONE to rejoin our tremendously successful Cartoon Books BONE compilations, which are perennial best sellers and always in the Diamond Star System Top 10," says Smith. "The Cartoon Books/Image relationship has been mutually beneficial," says Vijaya Iyer, Cartoon Books' president. "BONE, which is consistently a top 100 title, is now available in more comic book stores across the country, thanks to Image, and BONE clearly helped Image diversify their product line." Image Comics Executive Director, Larry Marder agrees, "When Jeff and Vijaya first approached Image Comics, the comic book industry was sailing on some stormy seas. The Image partners were glad to see Cartoon Books once again charting their own destiny. BONE's presence forever changed the comic book community's perception of our company. We thank them for that and wish them well." "The switch will take place in two phases," according to Iyer. "It begins with product shipping in March, 1997. BONE #28 will be solicited by Cartoon Books. The BONE encore series will continue with Image Comics until they finish shipping in June 1997 with the reprinting of BONE #20. So remember to look for BONE #28 in the Cartoon Books section and BONE #17 in the Image section." ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Xeric Winners Announced From: bebe@artcomic.com (Bebe Williams) Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 The Xeric Foundation has announced its most recent grant recipients. A total of $24,680 was awarded to six comic book creators. The Foundation has awarded in excess of $309,000 to comic book creators and non-profit organizations since its first grant cycle in September, 1992. Established by Peter Laird, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Northampton, MA based foundation offers financial assistance to self-publishing comic book creators nationwide and qualified charitable and nonprofit organizations in western Massachusetts. Unfortunately, artists outside the United States are not at this time eligible to apply and anthologies will not be reviewed. The current grants cover the six-month period beginning February 1, 1996 and ending July 31, 1996. The next deadline and review dates are January 31, 1997 and March 1, 1997, respectively. The charitable organization grants were decided in June 1996 and announced separately. The artists receiving grants are as follows: Christine Shields - "Blue Hole" Thomas Galambos - "from Hungary" Steve Matuszak - "Most Likely to Succeed" John Kerschbaum - "The Wiggly Reader" Steven Peters - "Third Eye" Rafael Navarro - "Sonambulo: Sleep of the Just" For a brochure, write to: XERIC Foundation 351 Pleasant Street, Box 214 Northampton, MA 01060 The brochure can be read on the web at: http://www.artcomic.com/xeric.html or send email to: xericgrant@aol.com Kendall Clark Engelman Mr. Bebe Williams Daily Comics Syndicate for the Internet since Feb. 1995 http://www.artcomic.com On-Line Comic Books, too ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Marvel stock hits new low. With the results of the 3rd quarter now released, Marvel gave a less than stellar outlook on the rest of the year - with predictable results. The day of the release their stock dropped 1 7/8 to 2 3/4 and closed on Wednesday at an all time low of $2.56, less than a lot of the comics on the stands. The following is full of the business details as released by the company. ***** NEW YORK, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE: MRV) announced results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 1996. For the third quarter, Marvel reported a net loss of ($0.12) per share compared to net income of $0.19 in the year ago period. For the nine months, Marvel reported a net loss of ($0.27) per share compared to net income of $0.10 in the year ago period. Current year results were affected by lower publishing, trading card and licensing net revenues partially offset by increased toy and sticker net revenues. Current year results also include a non-recurring after-tax gain of approximately $0.12 per share from the sale of shares of Toy Biz, Inc. (NYSE: TBZ) in August 1996. As a result of continuing trends in its businesses, Marvel expects to report a loss for its fourth quarter ending December 31, 1996 of ($0.25) to ($0.30) per share and a loss for the full year ending December 31, 1996 of ($0.52) to ($0.57) per share; estimates of the 1996 loss are expected to include, before corporate overhead and new business development activities, an operating loss of $10-$15 million from Marvel Comics Group publishing and licensing operations, an operating loss of $10-$15 million from Fleer/SkyBox trading card operations, and an operating profit of $15-$20 million from the Panini international operation. Losses for the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 1996 do not include any special charges as discussed below. Marvel reported a net loss of ($0.58) per share for the quarter ended December 31, 1995, which included $25 million in restructuring charges and $70 million in additional return and inventory obsolescence reserves, and a net loss of ($0.48) for the year ended December 31, 1995, which also included $40 million in additional return reserves and inventory obsolescence from the quarter ended June 30, 1995. Given the unfavorable market conditions in trading cards and publishing, Marvel is evaluating whether there has been an impairment to goodwill and other intangible assets and is considering restructuring and other actions, all of which could result in substantial 1996 year end charges. As of September 30, 1996, Marvel had on its balance sheet goodwill and other intangible assets totaling approximately $600 million of which approximately $375 million relates to trading card operations. Based on preliminary planning, anticipated market conditions and restructuring and other actions as described above, the Company is currently forecasting an improvement in operating results in 1997, although it is not anticipated that such improvement would generate sufficient cash to service its existing debt. Preliminary estimates of the 1997 improvement are expected to include, before corporate overhead and new business development activities, an operating contribution of $5-$15 million from Marvel Comics Group, an operating contribution of $25-$35 million from Panini, and an operating loss of $10 million to a break even performance from Fleer/SkyBox. These estimates could be materially adversely affected by, among other things, changes in the Company's markets beyond current expectations. As previously announced, as a result of Marvel's third quarter loss, the Company failed to satisfy certain financial covenants contained in its credit agreements and had commenced discussions with its agent bank seeking waivers of these covenants and a restructuring of the credit agreements to provide for its cash requirements. Such a restructuring will ultimately require an infusion of new equity capital. Until Marvel receives these waivers, it will not be able to borrow additional amounts under its domestic credit facilities. In addition, as a result of Marvel's failure to satisfy certain financial covenants and in the absence of waivers as of this date, Marvel has re- classified the balance of its long-term debt to current liabilities. ***** NEW YORK, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE: MRV) announced that it has received a proposal from Andrews Group Incorporated for an equity investment in Marvel. As previously reported by Andrews, it is expected that any purchase by Andrews of equity in Marvel will result in substantial dilution to the existing Marvel shares, including the Marvel shares that serve as collateral for the Marvel holding company bonds. The proposed equity infusion by Andrews is expected to be subject to a number of significant conditions, including Toy Biz, Inc. (NYSE: TBZ) becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Marvel. A copy of the proposal has been forwarded to a special committee of outside directors, who are not affiliated with Andrews, for consideration. A complete text of the Andrews proposal follows. I am writing to propose, for your consideration, an investment by Andrews Group Incorporated ("Andrews") in Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. ("Marvel"), pursuant to which Andrews would acquire from Marvel a number of shares of Marvel common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Marvel Common Stock"), representing 80.1% of the outstanding shares of the Marvel Common Stock after giving effect to the acquisition (the "Andrews Investment"). The purchase price for the shares would be $350 million in cash or, at the option of Andrews, an equal value of shares of Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Toy Biz Common Stock"), of Toy Biz, Inc. ("Toy Biz"), or a combination of the foregoing. [Rest omitted to leave room for the reaction from the minority stockholders] ***** WILMINGTON, Del., Nov 14 (Reuter) - Eight shareholder lawsuits have been filed seeking to block Marvel Entertainment Group Inc from selling newly issued shares to Ronald Perelman, its controlling shareholder, at a steep discount to the market price. Some of the suits are purported class actions and some are derivative actions, court documents showed. In papers filed in Delaware Chancery Court, shareholders allege the sale price is "grossly inadequate" and the deal "will drastically dilute the interests of Marvel's public stockholders from about 20 percent to 4 percent." They also allege the proposed transaction constitutes "self-dealing" and is "deceptive." Spokesmen for Andrews and Marvel were not available for comment. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] The Pen Is Mightier... By Brian Matus SILVER #1 Comicolor Comics Writer: Cliff Van Meter Art: David Chlystek & Maria Beccari Recently, the shop where I get my weekly comic fix hosted a signing with Cliff Van Meter, as he was promoting his new book SILVER, published by Comicolor (if the name seems familiar, it's because they've been coloring and/or printing some of your favorite comics, take a look now, I'll wait). After speaking with Cliff for a while, I shelled out the two bucks for the advance copy (the regular price for 24 color pages, not bad), got it signed, and went home to check it out. Before I review the book itself, let me fill you in on some of the backstory. Silver is a vigilante in the classic pulp tradition, a la The Shadow and The Green Hornet. He wears a fedora hat, a long trench coat, gloves, and a silver mask (hence the name). There have been a series of Silvers since the 1930's, who leave behind silver coins stamped with the scales of justice as calling cards. Silver goes after villains "outside the law" and brings them to justice (which usually means shooting them dead). Needless to say, this doesn't put our hero in the local police's good graces, but it does leave room for some gorily entertaining visuals. This story arc is set in present-day Washington, D.C. The current Silver is killed, and his step-daughter, police detective Siobhan O'Kane, starts looking into some of the mysterious events surrounding her step-father's death, not knowing that he was the mysterious Silver. It is not revealed to the public that Silver has been killed, but she becomes suspicious when all of the records of the police investigation surrounding her step-father's death are removed from public record. Later, when she is going through his personal effects, she has a run-in with some government agents that try to convince her to end her private investigation, hinting at some type of cover-up or conspiracy surrounding her step-father's death. Needless to say, the issue ends with a bang that I believe will lead to her finding out about her step-father's past, and her becoming the next Silver. The artwork was good but not great, in what I call a "soft" style, reminding me at times of the stylized artwork of CREED, SNOWMAN, the TEKNO books, or much of the old ULTRAVERSE line of books. This is in contrast to what I refer to as a "hard" style, with lots of "hard" lines or edges like Frank Miller, Jim Lee, or Rob Liefeld (P.S. I don't need anyone to tell me that Frank Miller is light-years beyond Messers Lee & Liefeld, just accept the analogy and move on). The computer coloring and glossy paper might also be partially responsible for this look, again reminding me of the TEKNO and ULTRAVERSE line of books, usually bright, even when trying to be dark and moody. Don't take my comments the wrong way though, this book is still better looking than most of what the BIG 2 are pushing, and it is to the artists' credit that the story was as easy to follow as it was, as the dialog was scattered rather sparsely throughout the issue. Not that the writing was bad. Not every book needs lots of words blocking up the action (allow me to refer you to SIN CITY: SILENT NIGHT for a textbook example). The dialog served its purpose - it moved the story along, introduced and established the characters and backstory, and left hints of mysteries left to solve. The only caption is on the first page, allowing the characters words and actions to move the story along, emphasizing a more visual (cinematic or theatrical) style. Cliff told me that the company is planning on four-issue story arcs, to keep the book accessible to new readers, and that the D.C. location will provide an international flavor to the book and it's antagonists. I know I'll be around for a while to see how the series progresses. Write me and tell me what you think. Brian bmatus@suffolk.lib.ny.us ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] WORDS HARD AS STEEL by Brian Babyok Okay I know that at least one of you is alive and his name is Casey Lau. Casey is also a Bill Willingham fan as well as Matt Wagner. He also has a very cool web site at www.roguemedia.com.hk so check it out! Thanks for responding Casey and your secret surprise is in the mail. Now on to the reviews, although this week I'm trying something a little different. I am going to let you know everything that I bought and a little blurb for each. Let me know which way you prefer it. The rating system 1 = Buy it after your done reading my column. 2 = Give up the Mountain Dew for a few days and buy this. 3 = Read it if there was nothing good out this week and you have the cash. 4 = Buy a novel and avoid this comic. ***** Cyberella #5 - I like Howard Chaykin, and the humor is good but I'm not to sure if I like this book or not. 5 issues and I'm still not sure, can you say wishy washy? Weirdling Rating: 3 Fantastic Four #3 - Cool artwork and it brings back fond memories of the FF. WR: 3 Preacher #21 - I love Garth Ennis, and this book rocks. It features Preacher going after his vampire friend, Cassidy. WR: 2+ Angels of Destruction #1 - It was written by Brian Michael Bendis, what more needs to be said? How about it features a cover by the famous artist Sorayma. WR: 2 JLA #1 - Grant Morrison rules and so did the old Doom Patrol, add to that his dead on impression of Batman and this book gets my vote. WR: 1 DV8 #2 - How much darker can this book get and it's only issue two? It's written by Warren Ellis who is next to Garth Ennis on the favored scale. WR: 2+ Shattered image #3 - Why are they doing this book again? WR: 4 Ninjak #1 - It's Kurt Busiek what more could you ask for? Sure it's a little on the juvenile side, but what the heck. It has good artwork and a fun story. WR:2 Cable #39 - The Micronauts have returned! I loved the Micronauts and have the whole collection, I'm was just glad to see them. Saying that however, let me add that I really didn't like their reappearance into the Marvelverse. I hear that a Bug mini series is planned and I can only hope that it's better than his appearance in Cable. WR: 3 Daredevil #360 - Wow, when did DD get good again? I guess since Karl Kessel started writing him. This is not the grim DD this guy is a wise cracking, superhero in every sense of the word. WR:2 Starman #26 - Starman in hell. I was wondering where James Robinson was going with this story and I'm glad to see that he has finally resolved it. Let me just say that I did not like the ending. WR: 3 Storyteller #2 - Barry Windsor Smith's triptych of fun. BWS is nothing if not a great storyteller, the art and words mesh very well and the Young Gods story is very cool, I also enjoyed Paradox man. WR: 2 That's it for now and stay tuned for next weeks review of Kabuki: Skin Deep #1 among others. Questions, comments, anything? Contact me at weirdling1@aol.com ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] November 1996 Sales Stats AP's Matt Hey ho, here's the latest sales statistics for November, plus I've added a new column that shows the change in sales from the previous issue. I must point out that you cannot tell exactly how well a comic book is doing just by comparing one book to the next - you usually need to see how the sales trend over several issues to get a clear idea of what is going on. Furthermore, I hasten to add that virtually *all* books see a big drop in sales from the first to second issues, and frequently from the second to third issues as well (especially monthly titles), so if you see a big drop in sales for some new books in the charts below do not be surprised. ---------------------------------------------------------- Top-selling Comics for November 1996, based on pre-orders through Diamond Distributors. These figures do not include Marvel Comics. est. # # Title Publisher sold change 1 Superman Wedding Alb Coll Ed DC 227.1 2 Spawn #56 Image 157.8 -3.2% 3 Spawn the Impaler #2 Image 135.2 -21.8% 4 Curse of the Spawn Part 3 Image 131.3 -4.2% 5 DC Marvel All Access #2 DC 122.4 -18.8% 6 DC Marvel All Access #3 DC 118.7 -3.0% 7 Gen 13 #15 Image 116.9 -4.3% 8 Gen 13 Bootleg #1 Image 108.2 9 JLA #1 DC 104.2 10 Adventures of Superman #541 DC 94.0 +49.0%* 11 Action Comics #728 DC 91.6 +44.9%* 12 Superman Man of Steel #63 DC 89.2 +43.9%* 13 Darkness #1 Top Cow 84.4 14 Witchblade #11 Top Cow 81.3 -12.1% 15 Batman #538 DC 67.6 -3.6% 16 X-Files #24 Topps 67.3 -4.9% 17 DV8 #3 Image 66.4 -10.0%* 18 Superman #119 DC 64.2 +2.2% 19 Supergirl #5 DC 62.3 -7.6% 20 Detective Comics #705 DC 61.9 -3.6% 21 Adventures of Superman #542 DC 61.0 -33.4% 22 Action Comics #729 DC 60.4 -34.1% 23 Superman Man of Steel #64 DC 59.6 -33.2% 24 Batman Long Halloween #2 DC 56.6 -10.6% 25 Star Wars Golden Age Sith #2 Dark Horse 56.1 -14.0% 26 Superman Wedding Alb Stan Ed DC 54.9 27 Nightwing #4 DC 54.2 -4.4% 28 X-Files Season One #5 Topps 52.2 -7.3% 29 Shi #12 Crusade 52.1 -21.3%** 30 Green Lantern #82 DC 51.4 -29.0% 31 Batman Shadow of the Bat #58 DC 51.2 -5.2% 32 Batman Legends Dark Kn #90 DC 51.1 -1.0% 33 Thrillkiller #1 DC 51.0 34 Preacher #21 DC 49.8 -2.9% 35 Batman Blackgate #1 DC 49.6 36 Robin #37 DC 48.4 -5.7% 37 Flash #121 DC 47.5 -3.5% 38 Superman/Won. Woman Whom #2 DC 47.4 -11.2% 39 Flash Plus #1 DC 46.3 40 Star Wars X-Wing Rogue W #1 Dark Horse 46.2 41 Catwoman #41 DC 46.1 -4.8% 42 Purgatori Vampires Myth #3 Chaos 44.3 -9.3%* 43 Superman's Metropolis DC 42.8 44 Batman Chronicles #7 DC 42.4 -7.8%** 45 Wonder Woman #117 DC 42.3 -5.8% 46 Dark Chylde #5 Maximum Pr 41.9 +15.1%* 47 Dreaming #8 DC 40.8 -7.1% 48 Astro City v2 #4 Image 40.8 +4.1% 49 Cyberforce #29 Top Cow 40.4 -5.4% 50 World's Finest Superboy R #2 DC 39.7 -15.0% 51 Superman Wed Album Coll Next DC 39.5 52 Wetworks #23 Image 39.4 -8.4% 53 Azrael #25 DC 38.9 -4.4% 54 Teen Titans #4 DC 38.8 -0.5% 55 Shadowman #1 Acclaim 37.2 56 Maxx #28 Image 36.9 -5.1%* 57 Superboy #35 DC 36.3 -3.2% 58 Wonder Woman Plus #1 DC 36.0 59 Avengelyne Warrior Nun #1 Maximum Pr 36.0 60 Superboy Plus #1 DC 35.9 61 Weapon Zero #9 Top Cow 34.6 -3.9% 62 Crow Wild Justice #2 Kitchen Sink 34.1 +20.1% 63 Aquaman #28 DC 33.8 -1.2% 64 Batman Gordon's Law #2 DC 33.8 -17.8% 65 Impulse #21 DC 33.5 -2.9% 66 Hitman #10 DC 33.4 -3.2% 67 Ash 22 Brides #1 Event 33.4 68 Savage Dragon #33 Image 33.2 -1.5%* 69 Bone #27 Image 32.6 -3.6%* 70 Superman Adventures #3 DC 32.3 -6.1% 71 Avengelyne #7 Maximum Pr 31.9 -22.0% 72 House of Secrets #4 DC 30.9 -3.1% 73 Backlash #26 Image 30.7 -12.8% 74 Ninjak #1 Acclaim 30.3 75 Grifter #5 Image 30.1 -8.8% 76 Starman #26 DC 30.1 -3.8% 77 DC Universe Holiday Bash #1 DC 29.7 78 Books of Magic #32 DC 29.6 -3.9% 79 Dark Side #1 Maximum Pr 29.6 80 Superboy and the Ravers #5 DC 29.1 -8.5% 81 Legion of Superheroes #88 DC 28.6 +2.9% 82 Stormwatch #42 Image 28.3 -6.6% 83 X-O Manowar #2 Acclaim 27.4 -18.0% 84 Arcanum #2 Top Cow 27.3 -12.2%* 85 Glory Celestine Dark Ang #3 Image 27.2 -20.2% 86 Batman Robin Adventures #14 DC 26.2 -3.7% 87 Power of Shazam #22 DC 26.1 +8.8% 88 Legionnaires #44 DC 26.1 -4.4% 89 Strangers in Paradise v3 #3 Image 25.8 +1.6% 90 Predator Strange Roux #1 Dark Horse 24.2 91 Hellblazer #109 DC 23.8 -4.4% 92 Glory #17 Maximum Pr 23.7 -14.4% 93 Superman Wed Album Coll Ed DC 23.7 94 BW Smith Storyteller #2 Dark Horse 23.6 -24.1% 95 Vampirella of Drakulon #0 Harris 22.9 +25.1%** 96 Bloodhunter #1 Image 22.7 97 Allegra #4 Image 22.7 -12.7% 98 Lobo #35 DC 22.4 -6.3% 99 Sovereign Seven #18 DC 22.4 -3.4% 100 Tempest #3 DC 22.3 -6.7% 101 New Gods #14 DC 22.1 -4.7% 102 Wildstorm Universe 1997 Image 22.1 103 Lobo Death and Taxes #4 DC 21.8 -6.4% 104 Bloody Mary #4 DC 21.7 -12.1% 105 Simpsons #26 Bongo 21.7 -12.9% 106 Prophet #10 Maximum Pr 21.1 -26.2%** 107 Steel #34 DC 21.1 +10.5% 108 Green Arrow #116 DC 21.1 -3.7% 109 Evil Ernie #2 Chaos 20.8 -12.2% 110 Sandman Mystery Theatre #46 DC 20.7 -4.2% 111 Spectre #49 DC 20.7 -4.2% 112 Supreme #44 Image 20.4 +1.0% 113 Youngblood #14 Maximum Pr 20.2 -7.3% 114 Ghost #19 Dark Horse 20.1 -2.9%* 115 Black Lamb #3 DC 20.1 -7.8% 116 Leave It To Chance #3 Image 19.8 +0.5% 117 Terminal City #7 DC 19.4 -5.4% 118 Lady Rawhide #2 Topps 18.9 -27.6% 119 Ess. Vertigo Sandman #6 DC 18.4 -11.1% 120 Showcase 96 #12 DC 17.9 -10.5% 121 Night Force #2 DC 17.8 -29.4% 122 Species Human Race #1 Dark Horse 17.5 123 Time Breakers #1 DC 17.3 124 Aztek Ultimate Man #6 DC 17.0 -11.0% 125 Vampirella #1 Harris 16.7 126 Embrace Killing Me Softly #1 London Night 16.7 127 Black Pearl #3 Dark Horse 16.1 +9.5% 128 Body Bags #3 Dark Horse 15.9 +0.6% 129 Seekers Into Mystery #12 DC 15.4 -7.2% 130 Warrior Nun Scorpio Rose #2 Antarctic 14.9 -25.5%* 131 Poison Elves #18 Sirius 14.9 -5.1% 132 Fatale #7 Broadway 14.8 -3.9%** 133 Teenage Mutant Ninja Tur #5 Image 14.7 -11.4% 134 Mars Attacks Off. Movie #1 Topps 14.5 135 Cyberella #5 DC 14.3 -11.2% 136 Thrax #1 Event 13.9 137 Mythos The Final Tour #2 DC 13.7 -28.3% 138 Razor vol.2 #2 London Night 13.4 -44.6% 139 Bionix #2 Maximum Pr 13.2 -25.0% 140 Newmen #24 Maximum Pr 12.9 -11.0% 141 Heretic #1 Dark Horse 12.9 142 Blood A Tale #3 DC 12.9 -9.9% 143 Scare Tactics #2 DC 12.9 -33.5% 144 Labman #1 Image 12.7 145 ER Burroughs Tarzan #5 Dark Horse 12.7 -8.6% 146 Ranma 1/2 V #12 Viz 12.6 -2.3% 147 Gunsmith Cats Return Gray #4 Dark Horse 12.4 -2.4% 148 Power Rangers Zeo Youngbl #2 Image 12.3 -21.7% 149 Mars Attacks #8 Topps 12.3 +35.2%** 150 Vermillion #4 DC 12.2 -15.3% The top-selling comic books from publishers that did not quite make it into the top 150... 151 Verotika #13 Verotik 12.2 -12.9%* 152 Cerebus #212 Aardvark-Van 11.8 -3.3% 154 Armature #1 Olyoptics 11.6 174 Johnny Homocidal Maniac #6 Slave Labor 9.5 175 Hari Kari Live Untamed #0 Blackout 9.4 178 Mike Danger #8 Big Enter 9.2 -6.1% 185 Scud Disposable Assassin #14 Fireman Pr 8.9 190 New Bondage Fairies #1 Fantagraphic 8.3 198 Cavewoman #5 Caliber 7.1 199 Widow Luxura Blood Lust Ground Zero 6.9 201 Sonic the Hedgehog #43 Archie 6.8 +9.7% 202 Double Impact Lethal Strike High Impact 6.6 204 Creed Cranial Disorder #2 Lightning 6.5 -60.1%* 213 Vault of Horror #18 Gemstone 5.8 215 Cynder Hellina Special #1 Immortelle 5.6 217 Araknis #6 Mushroom 5.5 -5.2% 221 Walt Disneys Comics #608 Gladstone 5.3 -8.6% 222 THB The Cutie Pie Style #1 Horse Press 5.3 223 La Blue Girl #5 Central Park 5.2 -13.3% 225 Vamperotica #21 Brainstorm 5.1 +6.3% 245 Tribe #1 Good Comics 4.2 -23.6% 248 Bacchus #19 Eddie Campb 4.2 -4.5% 253 6 Lethal Origins #2 Byron Preiss 4.0 -35.5% 258 Spiderbaby Comix #1 Spiderbaby 3.9 264 Thieves and Kings #14 I-Box 3.7 -2.6%* 271 Cynder Annual #1 Liar Comics 3.5 273 Snowman #1 Entity 3.4 280 Dirty Plotte #10 Drawn Quart 3.1 292 Robotech the Movie #1 Academy 2.7 295 Stray Bullets #1 - relist El Capitan 2.6 296 Vampire Bayne #2 Comicolor 2.6 -35.0% The "estimated number sold" is an estimate of the total number of copies pre-ordered through Diamond Distribution, in thousands. The "change" is an estimate of the percentage change over the previous issue. An asterisk (*) indicates the previous issue was published two months ago (September), and a double asterisk (**) indicates the previous issue was published three or more months ago. Comic Book Market Share by dollar value, November 1996: Publisher Comic Books All Products 1 DC Comics 39.21% 32.92% 2 Image Comics 14.27% 12.08% 3 Dark Horse 6.09% 4.80% 4 Wizard Press 3.51% 2.74% 5 Maximum Press 3.39% 2.64% 6 Top Cow 2.84% 2.59% 7 Topps 2.59% 5.22% 8 Chaos! Comics 1.91% 1.56% 9 Viz Communications 1.54% 1.39% 10 Acclaim Comics 1.30% 11 Fantagraphics 1.27% 1.07% 12 Kitchen Sink 1.09% 13 Antarctic Press 1.08% 14 Gemstone Publishing .96% 15 London Night Studios .94% 16 Harris Comics .82% 17 Crusade Comics .79% 18 Sirius Entertainment .69% 19 Caliber .68% 20 High Impact Studios .65% Non-Top 20 Publishers 14.38% Note: This information was obtained from Diamond Distribution's DIAMOND DIALOGUE, which publishes various sales charts every month, and is available to comics retailers. This listing includes sales of all comic books (excluding Marvel) sold through Diamond, which constitutes 98-99% of all direct market comic book sales. This list only includes pre-orders, and does not include advance reorders, reorders, or cancellations. This listing also does not include trade paperbacks, magazines, or other non-comic items. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] New Comic Book Releases List by Charles LePage ncrl@fair.net NCRL: New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, November 20, 1996, compiled by Charles LePage. This is the *preliminary* list and is not complete. The completed list is posted weekly, usually Monday evening, at rec.arts. comics.info, http://www.america.net/~cslepage/ncrl.html, and Compuserve's Comics Publishers Forum. PUBLISHER, TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS ACADEMY Robotech: The Movie #1 (of 2), 2.95 ACCLAIM X-O Manowar #2, 2.50 ANTARCTIC Dragon Flux #3, 2.95 Fantastic Panic Vol. II #7 (of 8), 2.95 Hepcats #0, 2.95 Luftwaffe 1946 #3 (of 4), 2.95 Silbuster #18, 2.95 Tigers Of Terra #24, 3.95 ARCHIE Archies Double Digest #90, 2.75 Jughead #89, 1.50 Laugh Digest #132, 1.79 Sonic The Hedgehog #43, 1.50 BIG Mickey Spillane's Mike Danger #8, 2.25 COMIC SHOP NEWS Comic Shop News #492, free CRUSADE Atomik Angels #4, 2.95 Thundergod #3 (of 4), 2.95 Tomoe TPB, 13.95 Who Is Crooked Man #2, 3.50 DARK HORSE Big Blown Baby #4 (of 4), 2.95 Black Pearl #3 (of 5), 2.95 Chronowar #4 (of 9), 2.95 Comic Book #1, 5.95 Gamera #4 (of 4), 2.95 HPS Rock City, 7.95 Madman Comics Yearbook 96 TPB, 17.95 DC Action Comics #729, 1.95 Aquaman #28, 1.75 Aztek The Ultimate Man #6, 1.75 Batman & Robin Adventures #14, 1.75 Batman: D. Knight Returns 10th Anniversary Hardcover, 45.00 Batman: D. Knight Returns 10th Anniversary Retail Poster, 5.95 Batman: The Long Halloween #2 (of 13), 2.95 Blood: A Tale #3 (of 4), 2.95 DC Universe Holiday Bash #1, 3.95 Detective Comics #705, 1.95 Dreaming #8, 2.50 Gemini Blood #5, 2.25 Icon #41, 2.50 Kingdom Come Collectors Set, 8.51 Legion Of Super Heroes Archives #6, 49.95 Lobo #35, 2.25 Looney Tunes #27, 1.75 Mad Super Special #118, 3.99 Sandman Mystery Theatre #46, 2.50 Superboy #35, 1.95 Thrillkiller #1 (of 3), 2.50 Time Breakers #1 (of 5), 2.25 Wise Son: The White Wolf #3 (of 4), 2.50 Wonder Woman Plus #1, 2.95 FANTAGRAPHICS Zero Zero #14, 3.95 GEMSTONE Two Fisted Tales #18, 2.50 Vault Of Horror #18, 2.50 Weird Fantasy #18, 2.50 GLADSTONE Donald Duck Adventures #42, 1.50 HARRIS Vampirella Classic TPB, 12.95 HOMAGE Astro City Vol. II #3, 2.50 I BOX Thieves & Kings #14, 2.35 IMAGE Bone #26, 2.95 Curse Of The Spawn Dark Future Blood Lust #3, 1.95 Gen 13 #14, 2.50 Gen 13 Bootleg #1, 2.50 Grifter #5, 2.50 Leave It To Chance #3, 2.50 Newmen #22, 2.50 Shattered Image #4, 2.50 Spawn The Impaler #2, 2.95 Wetworks #23, 2.50 Wetworks Rebirth TPB, 9.95 KITCHEN SINK Atomic City Tales #3, 2.95 KRAUSE Comic Buyer's Guide #1202, 2.95 LIGHTNING Art Of Abrams #1, 3.5 Art Of Abrams #1 (Platinum), 9.95 MARK'S GIANT.. Doctor Cyborg #1, 2.95 MARVEL Abominations #2 (of 3), 1.50 Adventures Of Spider-Man #10, 0.99 Best Of Marvel '96 TPB, 19.95 Domino #1 (of 3), 1.95 Excalibur #105, 1.95 Ghost Rider #81, 1.50 Incredible Hulk #449, 1.50 Iron Man #3 (Heroes Reborn), 1.95 Iron Man #1 (Heroes Reborn)(Gold Signature Edition), ? Prime Vol. II #14, 1.50 Punisher #15, 1.50 Spider-Man #76, 1.95 Starlord #2, 2.50 What If? #93 (Wolverine), 1.50 X-Man #23, 1.95 X-Men #60, 1.95 X-Men: The Rise Of Apocalypse #4 (of 4), 1.95 MAXIMUM Battlestar Galactica: Journey's End #4 (of 4), 2.99 SLAVE LABOR Johnny The Homicidal Maniac #6, 2.95 Murder Can Be Fun #4, 2.95 TOP COW Darkness #1, 2.5 Weapon Zero #9, 2.5 TOPPS X-Files #23, 2.95 TRADING CARDS Star Trek: First Contact T/C Box #1, 49.50 ULTIMATE Warrior #3 (AA), 2.50 VIZ Animerica Vol. IV #11, 4.95 Maison Ikkoku Part VI #4 (of 11), 2.95 Sanctuary Part V #9 (of 13), 3.50 ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc to our e-mag, simply E-mail it to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com If you have access to the ComicBook Net, submit your articles for consideration in any ComicBook Net conference and leave me a message in the CBN: E-Mag conference giving me permission to use the article. Reviews of mainstream books are welcome and will get included when submitted from sources outside of CBN, they are not excluded off hand. We give more consideration to reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. If You write intelligent, coherent, and timely reviews of anything it will almost always be printed so give us a shot. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but anything sent to us will be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 SUBSCRIPTIONS ------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, please address a message to ComicBkNet@aol.com to be placed on the subscription list. THE CBN WEB PAGE http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as an annotated index and all back issues. You'll also find important information on how to join the conversation in the ComicBook Net, and other neat features like newly released comic book graphics, links to Jeff Mason's lists of Comic Book Company addresses and Comic Professionals Email addresses, plus other Comic Book related Web pages! LOCATING EMAG ISSUES -------------------- The latest issue is always available from all the systems linked into The ComicBook Network. You can also find the back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: COMICS, then choose the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. Most issues should also be available on Compuserve, Genie, as well as some non CBN affiliated Bulletin Board Systems. All back issues are also available on our World Wide Web page. COPYRIGHTS ---------- The Comic Book Net E-Mag is published by the many participants of The ComicBook Network. This is a compilation of articles and columns which were originally posted in the network's conferences or written specifically for this electronic magazine. Some articles are independent of any connection with CBN and are used with permission. All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The ComicBook Network. Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine (CBEM) is Copyright 1996 by The ComicBook Network. You may freely distribute or duplicate this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Please do not distribute except as the complete file as originally transmitted by The ComicBook Network. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [B] How to join the COMIC BOOK NETWORK (CBN) Bulletin Board Systems are scattered everywhere across the continent and the world, many of them are free! Chances are, if you have a modem you have the accompanying communications software. Using the Terminal Emulation software that came with your modem, you can dial up one of the many systems linked into CBN (see the listings down a few paragraphs). Most of the boards offer all the message echoes in the ComicBook Network... There are message bases devoted to all the bigger comics publishers, as well as big Small Press and Independent message bases, not to mention sections for general conversation, collecting, gaming and other forms of entertainment. If you are worried about long distance charges, worry no longer! Most if not all the BBS's offer a mail service from which you can download a .QWK packet of recent e-mail to read offline with a program called an offline mail reader. You can read & write messages at your leisure, and then upload your own messages & replies the next time you call your local BBS. There are many .QWK packet readers out there, for every type of computer system. They all give you a better explanation in their documentation than I can. These programs are available all over the Internet and are free to download from most BBS's. I recommend SLMR or OLX-TD for DOS to get started. These "mail runs" (dialing up, downloading the mail packet and uploading replies) generally take less than 5 minutes to accomplish, and at the average after-5pm/weekends/holidays long distance phone rates, that is LESS THAN $.75! See? Even less expensive than many of the commercial information services available! :) So what else can you find on free BBS systems? There are plenty of files for specific types of computers. Some systems also offer other types of message networks ranging from general topics to specific themes like sci-fi, role playing, games, music, etc. And, let's not forget online games. Join into the many different multiplayer games, each system sports different challenges. There's nothing like becoming the most powerful being in a online adventure! And when you _do_ log on, leave a message in The Bullpen conference to ALL, and introduce yourself to us! You're guaranteed to get plenty of replies and all the help you need to join in the fun! ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [C] BBSes Linked into CBN Here's the most up-to-date node listing for the COMIC BOOK NETWORK CBN Node Board Name Sysop Phone ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23:102/0 Warner Robins Net Host Jeff Floyd 1-912-929-3762 23:102/1 The Congressional BBS Jeff Floyd 1-912-929-3762 23:103/0 Russellville Net Host Robert Wood 1-501-968-3910 23:103/1 Karate & Comics &... Robert Wood 1-501-968-3910 23:103/2 The Factory Rick Brewer 1-901-885-9647 23:103/3 The Mystic Curtis Tesch 1-501-284-5503 23:103/4 Conway PC Users Group BBS Tim Stone 1-501-329-7227 23:104/0 Raleigh Net Host Walter Tietjen 1-919-833-3412 23:104/1 TI-Raleigh Maximus Walter Tietjen 1-919-833-3412 23:104/3 Psychotronic Richard Lee 1-919-286-7738 23:104/4 Electronic Hangover Richard Lee 1-919-286-4542 23:104/6 The Federal Post Frank Koza 1-910-436-2055 23:108/0 Melbourne Net Wayne Bell 1-407-253-8754 23:108/2 Never Never Land Wayne Bell 1-407-253-8754 23:109/0 Jacksonville Net Eric Cohen 1-904-363-6347 23:109/1 Extreme Online Eric Cohen 1-904-363-6347 23:110/0 Destin Net Keith Schultz 1-904-654-1631 23:110/1 Steel Dog Cafe' Keith Schultz 1-904-654-1631 23:110/2 Ghost's Realm Kie Dorton 1-904-689-6664 23:111/0 Lake County Net Thomas McNeill 1-904-357-0355 23:111/1 Programmers Citadel Thomas McNeill 1-904-357-0355 23:111/2 Ded Dudez Mike Burgess 1-904-343-7272 23:112/0 Area Code 305 Mitchel Waas 1-305-792-9622 23:112/1 Information Interchange Mitchel Waas 1-305-792-9622 23:202/0 Houston Net Jeff Watts 1-713-568-0825 23:202/1 The RASTER Line Jeff Watts 1-713-568-0825 23:202/2 Dream Sequence Biju Mathai 1-713-835-0965 23:203/0 Nearly Dallas Wayne LeMonds 1-214-494-3702 23:203/2 Star Streams Michael Rudolf 1-214-938-7115 23:203/5 Way Out There Justin Pasher 1-214-680-2755 23:205/0 Odessa Net Dennis Brown 1-915-530-2712 23:205/1 Orion BBS Dennis Brown 1-915-530-2712 23:206/0 Collinsville Net Jeff Bennett 1-918-371-0980 23:206/1 Snart's Dreamland Jeff Bennett 1-918-371-0980 23:206/2 CompuMate Danny Pelletier 1-918-663-3454 23:206/4 The Round Table Garett Merrill 1-918-274-0775 23:207/0 Killeen TX Net T.J. Gohl 1-817-699-2254 23:207/1 Young Blood T.J. Gohl 1-817-699-2254 23:208/0 OKC MetroNet Lonnie Johnson 1-405-787-2540 23:208/1 Beggar's Forum IV Lonnie Johnson 1-405-787-2540 23:208/2 Beggar's Forum IV Lonnie Johnson 1-405-787-2557 23:400/0 Saugerties Net Host John Dragun 1-914-247-9601 23:400/1 Starbase : RED DWARF John Dragun 1-914-247-9601 23:401/0 Mass Net John Harris 1-508-753-3767 23:401/3 Archives BBS John Viera 1-508-995-0085 23:401/7 Keystone BBS John Harris 1-508-753-3767 23:401/8 Call Again Soon Joe Johnson 1-508-791-8456 23:401/9 Muskrat & Heatwave Dennis Racine 1-508-984-4632 23:401/10 HellFire BBS Brock Cordeiro 1-508-979-8930 23:403/0 DC MetroNet Spencer Greenwald 1-703-415-1130 23:403/4 Crystal Aerie Spencer Greenwald 1-703-415-1130 23:403/6 Bifrost Kevin Carlin 1-301-779-9381 23:403/7 Vampyre Bar Darryl Pierce 1-301-698-5194 23:403/8 Womens World East BBS Net Wendy Dumser 1-301-445-1612 23:403/9 DataStorm Tarek Gordan 1-301-390-5243 23:404/0 New Hampshire John McNally 1-603-382-0338 23:404/1 Computer Castle John McNally 1-603-382-0338 23:404/2 Venom's World Ira Locke 1-603-743-4188 23:405/0 LI Net Host Tom Pemberton 1-516-422-4225 23:405/1 Asgard.TW BBS Tom Pemberton 1-516-422-4225 23:406/0 Philadelphia Net William Horton 1-215-365-5225 23:406/1 Comic Book Board William Horton 1-215-365-5225 23:406/2 Dark Lands Chris Ford 1-215-487-7315 23:407/0 RoachTel Net Eric Sears 1-716-647-9068 23:407/1 Generation X Eric Sears 1-716-647-9068 23:409/0 St Mary's County Net Linda Peek 1-301-884-9732 23:409/1 Shearata's Realm Linda Peek 1-301-884-9732 23:410/0 Bergen County Net Jacob Greenberg 1-201-722-1495 23:410/1 Bergen BBS Jacob Greenberg 1-201-722-1495 23:410/2 Cyberspace Arcade Rick Smorawski 1-201-440-0563 23:410/3 Unnamed BBS Edward Di Geronimo J 1-201-368-1866 23:410/4 Quantum Zone Wayne Robinson 1-201-307-9225 23:410/5 Virtual Connection Dmitry Korsun 1-201-796-7202 23:411/0 AreaCode 908 Tal Meta 1-908-830-8265 23:411/1 Phoenix Modernz Systems Tal Meta 1-908-830-8265 23:501/0 KY Net Todd Millhouse 1-502-867-0992 23:501/1 Lex Corp Todd Millhouse 1-502-867-0992 23:503/0 Windsor Net Gary Ranchuk 1-519-974-2976 23:503/1 The Trading Post ][ Gary Ranchuk 1-519-974-2976 23:503/2 The Snake Pit BBS Mark Godard 1-519-979-4251 23:505/0 Dearborn Hgts Net Anthony Palacio 1-313-565-8464 23:505/1 Int. Comic Network Anthony Palacio 1-313-565-8464 23:506/0 Gananoque Net Mike Serson 1-613-382-1788 23:506/1 Gananoque System Mike Serson 1-613-382-1788 23:507/0 Iowa Net Andy St.Pierre 1-319-359-4449 23:507/2 The Final Destination BBS Andy St.Pierre 1-319-359-4449 23:508/0 KC Area Net Brian J. Stewart 1-816-767-1488 23:508/1 The Oan Citadel Brian J. Stewart 1-816-767-1488 23:509/0 Ontario Net Michael Cross 1-519-850-9929 23:509/1 Dark Knight Michael Cross 1-519-850-9929 23:509/3 Mach 1 Tomasz Heiber 1-519-457-6771 23:509/5 Stargate: Above & Beyond Paul Nicolas 1-519-472-4938 23:510/0 Chi & Burbs Alex Gen 1-708-776-2395 23:510/1 Warp Speed Alex Gen 1-708-776-2395 23:512/0 Area Code 219 Rob Swanson 1-219-325-3655 23:512/1 Rob's BBS Arcade 1 Rob Swanson 1-219-325-3655 23:512/2 Rob's BBS Arcade 2 Rob Swanson 1-219-324-4713 23:600/0 Longview Net Host Jeanne Lejon 1-360-577-7358 23:600/1 Longview On-Line! Node1 Jeanne Lejon 1-360-577-7358 23:600/2 Longview On-Line! Node2 Jeanne Lejon 1-360-577-0276 23:601/0 Tacoma Net Host Robert Richards 1-206-272-8083 23:601/1 Alpha's Attic Robert Richards 1-206-272-8083 23:601/2 Area 51 Paul Powloski 1-206-538-9435 23:602/0 VanPortNet Robert Leveque 1-360-696-2440 23:602/1 Cyberotica Online Robert Leveque 1-360-696-2440 23:700/0 Mexico DF Net Emilio Karam 52-5-264-2994 23:700/1 The Gate Emilio Karam 52-5-264-2994 ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - End of another Issue .. see ya in the funnny papers!! "MARVELUTION: Grab your ANKLES TRUE BELIEVER!!!!"