---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 196 1/08/99 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ 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! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Had Your Phil? ........................ Phillip White [6] Comic Book Dreams ..................... Douglas Thornsjo [7] Comic Abstracts ....................... John Barker [8] Random Thoughts in a Less than Random World ......... Gary Sassaman [9] Pipeline Commentary and Review ........ Augie De Blieck Jr [10] And Let Me Tell You Why ............... David Coulter [11] Independent Voices .................... Rich Henn [12] Odds & Ends ........................... Eddie Mitchell [13] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [14] My View:CHEMICAL WARFARE/DANGER RANGER VAMPIRELLA MANGA 2999 ......... David LeBlanc [15] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [16] HYPE! Section ......................... Various [A] Submission, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights, BBS Info ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring the exclusive comic strips: HEROES RERUN by Johnny Gonzales and ACTION COP by John E. Thompson ----------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 with the word SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT to be placed on the FREE subscription list. To drop it use UNSUBSCRIBE as a SUBJECT. See section [A] for the address to mail material to be reviewed. ______________________________________________________________________ All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine is Copyright 1999 by The ComicBook Network. You may freely distribute or retransmit this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Except for personal archiving, permission must be obtained from the individual authors to reproduce, retransmit, or publish any part of this magazine. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc First a word to all you people who are relatively new to Email, mailing lists, and especially FREE Email services like Hotmail, Webtv, Juno, and various other popular easy method to get email. These are not unlimited in the amount of mail they allow you to keep on their server. After a while your mailbox will fill up. Depending on the service you have to either configure your account to purge the mail at a certain limit, number of pieces, or duration of time or you have to physically purge it yourself. If you do not you will get no new mail and any sent to you will go back to the sender. When I get "mailbox full" messages I give it a try one more week later. The second time I delete the address. I cannot contact the person and if you let your mail box unattended for a week then you are not serious about keeping on the mailing list. If you are going to be away for a long time, and you get THAT MUCH mail you should temporarily suspend your mailing list mail and then start it up again when you get back. I had a rash of these bounces last week, and those people will have to figure out why they are not getting any mail and then sign up again once they do. This message is for those who may not know that there mailbox has a limit - even on AOL - so get familiar with your service! Next a public service announcement. This Sunday, January 10th, the USPS (that is the Postal service here in the U.S.) is raising the first class rate by one cent to $.33 for letter mail. Oddly enough, they are also LOWERING the rate on the extra ounce charges from $.23 to $.22 also on first class mail. So if you need 2 stamps, there is no change - it will still cost $.53 but instead of .32 + .23 it is .33 + .22. AND for every stamp after that it is only $.22 so you actually are going to gain if you mail a lot of stuff that needs more than 2 stamps. Why do I mention this? Well how much do you think it costs to mail those Cheezy Prizes(tm) for the Trivia Contest every week? *8^) People are already starting to notice the upcoming landmark 200th issue is not far away. It should be mailed on Friday February 5th. Long time readers will also remember that February is also the start of several anniversaries for the Emag. Issue 202 (Feb 19) will begin my third year as editor and 203 (Feb 26) will be our 4th Anniversary issue followed a week later by the Anniversary of our Trivia Contest. I already listed the very special people who make this Emag a success and carried us forward to reach these landmarks next month in our last issue. It is apparent we are doing something right. We have watched our peers come and go in the last few years. The former editor started his own Emag but is no longer on the scene. Another major effort by a few people lasted a bit longer and involved the efforts of several more people but it too is now gone. Still another similar type publication, run by an ambitious teen, has reverted to a webzine. While our publication is also distributed on the World Wide Web on two URLS it is the continued growth of our Email subscriptions that have kept it strong and brought in the columnists and letters of comment that keep us topical and vital each week. The fact that we continue to add subscribers every week attests to that fact. So, no need to get into that until the time comes - I just wanted to advise the new folks of the exciting times coming up, so stick around. If you stick around the local comic shop you should find these comics on the racks this week, which I suggest you check out; ABSTRACT STUDIOS Strangers In Paradise Vol III #20, 2.75 DC COMICS Adventures Of Superman #565, 1.99 Birds Of Prey #3, 1.99 Martian Manhunter #4, 1.99 Power Of Shazam #47, 2.5 (final issue) Preacher #47, 2.5 Teen Titans Annual 1967 #1, 4.95 Vext #1, 2.5 <--------- Pick of the Week! Wildcats Vol 2 #1, 2.50 Young Justice #6, 2.5 IMAGE COMICS Mage The Hero Defined #10, 2.50 ONI PRESS INC. Jay & Silent Bob #3 (Of 4), 2.95 Don't forget to check out the NEW Batman animated series this Sunday evening as they will preview it on KidsWB at 7:00 Eastern. 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 may be used in future issues of CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ Subj: Hypertime My...!! From: juricich@jps.net (Chris Juricich) Mark Waid's concept of hypertime's strongest point is that all the peculiar stories of the DCU now can exist and be'real'. As stated... "...- and for the most part, no one notices these discrepancies but the fans. In short, the reality of the main DC Universe is a lot more malleable than we've ever given it credit for and allows for more wonder and more possibilities than we'd ever imagined." ______________________ Implicit in this is that DC has now given carte blanche to now ignore continuity! This is a mixed blessing in that any continuity cops out there are not out of a job. There IS no continuity anymore, save for within their 'own' worlds or 'Kingdoms'. Writers can now write what they want and ignore what they want--hell, they can even make misTAKES and it won't matter! This series was essentially a gift to the fans to allow their Weisinger Superman or Kanigher Sea Devils or the Schiff Batman to now exist in alternate realities...Oh, let's just call it the Multiverse and dump this 'Hypertime' stuff. Come on! Chris Juricich Kickin' it in Berkeley, CA +++++ From: "Peter Teffer" Subject: Re: CBEM 195.1 >So, if you're missing the Marvel magazine (which is going to Previews) >and wish Marvel had a newsletter like DC or better, then check out >Marvel website at http://www.marvel.com or go directly to the subscribe >section at http://www.marvel.com/contact/mail/mmmadmin.html where there >are also some previous issues of it. > >Jose Silva I read Marvel comics too, and of course I'm subscribed to the MMM, but except for looking to what comics shipped this week (so I don't have to memorize the Previews) the contents of the MMM is old news. Thanks for listening too, and enjoy reading Marvel. Peter Teffer The Netherlands (peter-t@dds.nl) +++++ Subj: Bargain Bins & Business From: juricich@jps.net (Chris Juricich) I read with interest the comments by store owner Robert Scott in his response to the fellow who complained about back issue books prices being 'jacked up' 25-50¢ after having failed to sell on the rack. I personally have no objection to retailers making a profit on these books and increasing the price by the amount stipulated to cover overhead certainly seems reasonable. That being said, comic book shops are in tough times and while consensual(sic) wisdom seems to indicate that it may be getting better, my own purchasing patterns and buying preferences are changing with the times, as well as the comic book shops. I've bought comics with a collector's mentality now for over thirty years and have worked in the industry as well, not only behind the retail counter but as a publisher's sales manager as well. The funny-book business is not a stranger to me. The two factors that have most strongly affected my buying patterns have been two things. First, as I've gotten older (good god, am I really 45?) my reading preferences in terms of genre have spread wider than simple superheroes. Moreover, sitting down to read comics for more than thirty minutes at a time is a bear for me--I couldn't tell you why. This in itself could easily find me buying and reading less on its own, but when one considers the other factor of the relatively high price of comics these days, then you're looking at a sinking ship with its readers abandoning it across tv cable-lines, modems, satellite tv dishes, and other available forms of entertainment. All of this brings me back to what comics provide for most people: entertainment. And for most people, including a growing segment of formerly loyal comic book readers, comics can't deliver the entertainment value that their electronic bretheren can provide for less money. As a comics fan for a generation, I can't perceive of not having comics in my life or on my shelf. By the same token, I can't perceive of spending $1.99 for most any DC comic currently being put out (there are a half-dozen exceptions). As a result, by limiting my DC purchases to those books that might be found in the bargain bins for 25-50¢ apiece, I've gradually been able to gather near complete runs of the Superman, Legion, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Teen Titans, and other such publications for the past four years nearly entirely from the bargain boxes! After several months of collecting, if not a year or more, I can sit down (as I am currently!) with a run of practically every Legion book from 1996 through 1998 and read them all at once (or again, in 30 minute segments). I admit to occasionally buying some books at full price from bargain bins because of a lack of availability, but the point remains--I don't need to pay full price nor am I compelled to by virtue of a merciless collector's heart. Those who might argue that I'm unsupportive of my local comic shop need to know something else, however: I wouldn't buy the books when they were first racked at full price in any case as that damned entertainment value bug would get to me! 'Hmmm. Is Creeper #7 worth $2.50 to me? Naah. Oh, at 50¢, sure.' You might wonder what I choose to pay full price for. Fair enough. I buy Detective and up until recently, Chronos and Green Arrow. I buy most of the Elseworlds titles, varying trade paperbacks of Preacher and the occasional Vertigo or Helix mini-series. Other than DC, I'm reading Luba, PeepShow, Palooka-ville, Box Office Poison, Optic Nerve, Nowhere, Collier's, Eightball, and sundry others, all of which are, on average, about $2.95. I have no problem paying these prices for these books, but for superhero titles...$1.99 has pushed the envelope too far. Yes, it's a judgment call, but of course, it's my money and my time. My cup is constantly of the half-filled variety, and I have no fears about the future of the comic book joining buggy whip production plants or the artistic work of 'American primitives' (and as most probably haven't heard of that latter art movement..., I rest my case). There will always be comic books. I have no doubt. Whether there will be a thriving comic book industry with strong retail outlets...this I'm unclear about. I'm not certain that I'm a typical comic book reader any longer, now long past the ardently pursued and perused demographic that currently read and enjoy these damn funny books. Nonetheless, the readers of comic books these days are a devoted and peculiar lot, on the fringes of mainstream and in great danger of continuing their avocation and hobby as they grow grayer and other worldly concerns impinge on their free time. Retailers are going to have to become very innovative and clever as the 21st century envelops us all with its allure of cheap and ubiquitous electronic entertainment, for the comic book publishers have always proven to be slow and ponderous in their response to change. Bargain bins very presence is a testament to either poor purchasing skills or that a growing demographic is interested in better prices for their comics. Probably a combination of them both. The fact that those who rifle the bins for deals are already a part of the current regular readership of comics should be a sign for canny retailers to start thinking more seriously about their future. Food for thought, I hope. Chris Juricich Berkeley, CA +++++ Subj: 'Nuff Said! Hiatus update Date: 1/2/99 6:21:14 PM Eastern Standard Time From: menje@interport.net (Menje) We've received a notice of a change in our hiatus situation from Matthew Finch, Arts department director for WBAI-FM. Our last mailing stated that the last 'Nuff Said! would be on December 27. Our situation has changed, and we will now broadcast on January 3 and 10 which will then be followed by a 2 week pre-emption during fund raising. We have been told that we will return in February in a regular timeslot which is yet to be confirmed, but will most likely be on Tuesday nights at either 10pm or midnight, we'll keep you updated as the information becomes available. If calls and faxes to the station helped to bring about this change, we would like to thank those who have taken the time to show their support for our show to the station management. We also hope that those who can tune in the show will be able to follow us to our new slot. Ed Menje and Ken Gale producers of 'Nuff Said! the comics radio talk show on WBAI-FM 99.5 in NYC +++++ Subj: RESPONSE TO ROBERT SCOTT From: Keith (address withheld) Mr. Scott made a few comments regarding my complaints about over-the-top increases in price when a book heads to the back-issue bin... inventory of back issues and yet are unwilling to invest twenty five to fifty cents so that we are able to maintain that inventory. If stores are expected to sell back stock at 50-75% of cover then where is the financial inducement for us to provide back stock? Where do you think the cost of bags, boards, price tags and tape not to mention wages for those that do the bagging, boarding, taping and pricing come from?? >> I did not say this, nor did I mean to imply that retailers should do this (sell books at 50% off every day forever). Besides, where do you get "invest twenty-five to fifty cents"? That's not the TOTAL investment, you've added 25% (or 33%) to the original price when the book isn't even in a price guide yet! A 50-cent increase on a book like, just as examples, Oni's Whiteout mini or Muktuk Wolf'sbreath (or whatever that Vertigo book was) or even Superboy or Union Jack --all books that haven't exactly performed well-- is a BIG hike on something w/little demand. There isn't much call for back issues on Morbius or Lobo or Shade the Changing Man, and if someone is considering buying any issues of these books, a 50-cent increase is a bit high. A bag and a price sticker cost very little (a nickel at the most!). The 25-cent increase, AS i SAID, was an acceptable norm for EXACTLY the reasons you cited. Most retailers I have known create a back issue stock of MODERN books by getting STUCK with EXTRAS from their initial order (again, I refer only to MODERN books)... with the exception of X-books or the occasional KISS or BattleChasers (which both had good buzz at the beginning and continue to do well), i rarely see retailers OVER-ordering JUST to create backstock. If you, Mr. Scott, ARE doing that, and raising the prices to such an extreme, maybe you should focus more on ordering only what you can sell, and investing in back-issues that can bring you a fair profit without out-pricing the price-guides. to overorder so heinously that it is necessary for them to sell books at 50-75% off>> Or Marvel or DC can suddenly cancel a book (e.g. Chase) or start over at number 1 (e.g. Spidey) or a company can close its doors and go out of business, leaving what interest there may have been in the back issues to dwindle to absolutely nothing. The Valiant line (version 1 & 2), may have been good, but a comics fan is unlikely to shell out $3 and up for a back-issue of something priced in guides at cover, and, more so, where the story will never be finished and the character may never be seen again (I'm excluding the occasional person with idle curiosity who has recently discovered, say, David Michelinie's writing and wants to see what else he's done or what-have-you) Thanks for my time. (ahem) Keith +++++ From: Jerry Smith Subject: CBEM 195 LOC A few comments on David Coulter's "Top Ten Comic Book People Who Needed A Good Head-Slap in 1998": 10. Kurt Busiek. Kurt Busiek? Do you realize how much this guy loves comics? Why give him a pounding when he is almost personally reviving Marvel? It wasn't his fault he was sick, I wish everybody would get off this guy's back. I miss Astro City too, but really ... 9. DC and Marvel Editorial. I would make that Marvel Editorial only. DC made some fundamental mistakes, but at least they care somewhat about the fans. No one can make that accusation of Marvel. 8. Rob Liefeld Here, here. 7. Retailers Talk about not pooping where you eat ... 6. Chris Claremont I agree. If Chris wants to write the X-Men, why doesn't he write the X-Men? 5. Me "For buying the "X-Force/Champions" Annual." 'Nuff said. And an extra slap to Marvel for not numbering their annuals properly. 4. Jim Lee It is a bit ironic that, after dissing the big two, so many Image creators have gone crawling back to Marvel and DC? Never say never, guys. 3. THE COMIC-BUYING PUBLIC "For not buying Nexus. For not buying Chase, Major Bummer, and Young Heroes In Love. For not buying Marvel Universe. For not buying Touch Of Silver." I'd like to take up a collection to fund the continuation of Nexus. A group of fans could pay Baron and Rude out of a fund. I'm sure Dark Horse would publish if it didn't cost them anything, right? 2. Martin Wagner I have no idea who this guy is. 1. Ron Perelman, Carl Icahn, etc. It's good for the business in general if Marvel is healthy. Why do the moneymen insist then, on running the company into the ground? I have despised Marvel's product, attitude and business practices for over ten years. Why, oh, why did Kurt Busiek have to come along and ruin everything? Life was a lot less expensive before he started writing for Marvel. Finally David, it's a lot easier to tear down than build up. Why not a list of pros who deserve a pat on the back this year? People like Alex Ross, who continues to change the face of comics and is probably the best painter the industry has ever seen. Mark Waid, who can't write a bad story (Cap #14 notwithstanding). Frank Miller, who keeps giving censors hell and writing and drawing Sin City. George Perez, who's doing the best work of his career. Terry Moore, a creator who's writing puts you directly in the story. I'd rather look at the positive than the negative for the year. Sincerely, Jerry Smith jsmith@onlocationmm.com +++++ From: David Coulter - david102@netscape.net Jerry Smith wrote: >A few comments on David Coulter's "Top Ten Comic Book People Who Needed >A Good Head-Slap in 1998": > >Finally David, it's a lot easier to tear down than build up. Why not a >list of pros who deserve a pat on the back this year? I'd rather look at >the positive than the negative for the year. You're right, this is true. But I look at this as tough love. "I love you guys, but -- whap! -- straighten up!" Besides -- I'm allowed to be cynical (see this week's column to find out why!) >10. Kurt Busiek. >Kurt Busiek? Do you realize how much this guy loves comics? Why give >him a pounding when he is almost personally reviving Marvel? It wasn't >his fault he was sick, I wish everybody would get off this guy's back. >I miss Astro City too, but really ... This head-slap was delivered with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. Like I said, I love the guy's writing -- and if it were humanly possible to have him write every book that Marvel does, I'd buy them all, even the X-Men. But it's NOT possible, and to that end I'd rather have him do a few things well than a lot of things not-so-well. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] **THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE EMAG EACH WEEK IS ON OUR HOME PAGE!** IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THE TRIVIA, GO THERE FIRST ON FRIDAY NIGHT http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet/emag.htm QUESTION OF THE WEEK (Prizes donated by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - Worcester, MA) (DC COMICS & DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS, INC.) +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.+ LAST ISSUE'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: For what publication did John Byrne get his first professional pay as a writer? Once again Bob (Law Is Ass) Ingersoll is the trivia king as only he put together the NEW YEAR connection to the answer. John's first paid writing gig was for the comic book series SPACE 1999! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Looking back to the pre-crisis days: What reason did Lucy Lane give for not marrying Jimmy Olsen? 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! Messages with more than one guess will be disqualified. LIMIT: ONE PRIZE PER MONTH PER PERSON! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Network Buzz News, gossip and rumors from around the industry Marvel Entertainment unit sues writer over "Blade" WILMINGTON, Del., Jan 8 (Reuters) - A Marvel Entertainment Group Inc. MVL.N> unit has sued a freelance comic book writer in an ongoing dispute about who owns the copyright and trademark for the characters Blade and Deacon Frost. In papers filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Delaware, Marvel Characters Inc. alleged that Marvin Wolfman's claims to ownership of the two characters were "false and frivolous." His claims "have placed a cloud on Marvel's ownership of the Blade and Deacon Frost characters, and has and will continue to disrupt and interfere with Marvel's ability to license...its valuable intellectual property rights and to distribute the Blade' film," court papers say. On Aug. 23, the Detroit News reported that Wolfman sued Marvel Comics, its licensee New Line Cinema, and Time Warner for $35 million in a Los Angeles court. According to the report, Wolfman said he created the Blade character in 1972 but that Marvel never filed a copyright on his behalf. Blade is a half-man, half-vampire character played by Wesley Snipes, the report says. In its Delaware lawsuit, Marvel has seeks a court ruling that Marvel owns the copyrights for the two characters and that "Wolfman's purported claim of ownership is invalid and wrong." Further, Marvel seeks a trial to determine unspecified real and punitive damages. Wolfman was unavailable for comment. +++++ From the SPLASH page of www.comicon.com comes amazing stories of goings on at Marvel: RUMOR WATCH: PERELMAN LAWSUIT MARVEL CREDITORS SUE PERELMAN FOR $100 MILLION? While controversy continued to swirl around the messy bankruptcy of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT (see next story), rumors are flying that a group of disgruntled creditors launched a new $100 million lawsuit against financier RON PERELMAN in the last week of December. PERELMAN is the billionaire junk bond king who bought the once proud company, then led it to ruin, losing hundreds of millions of dollars for unsecured investors. Some of the larger creditors who took big hits in the bankruptcy were Ivan Snyder (who sold his Heroes World Distribution to Marvel for an undisclosed sum) and Scott Rosenberg (who sold Malibu Comics to Marvel). The SPLASH was not able to confirm if the two were part of the lawsuit. Developing. Thanks to The Fantom MARVEL BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE WANTS YOU! IF YOU DID BUSINESS WITH MARVEL, THAT IS In a surprise year end certified mailing, the court appointed trustee overseeing the MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT bankruptcy has threatened to drag over five hundred ex-employees, freelancers, suppliers and customers of the defunct company into court for vendor payments made during the 'post petition' period of their bankruptcy proceedings, which ran from late December 1996 through February of 1997. According to the complaint, filed in the State of Delaware, the persons named on the list have thirty days to answer or the court will rule in the favor of the plaintiff, namely Marvel's creditors. Apparently, some freelancers currently working for Marvel have already experienced deductions taken out of their checks. Freelancers appearing on the list include PAUL NEARY, WARREN ELLIS, MARK BADGER and BRIAN HITCH. In a statement to THE SPLASH, Paul Neary said: "Both Bryan and I have been summoned to make a response to the document by Delaware District court. This was to be copied to Marvel's solicitors. My response was to request more information. All I have is a flurry of forms, petitions and legal bluster which does not include information as to exactly on what grounds I should hand money to Marvel. Nor, incidentally, does it contain the address of Delaware district Court. For those who need it, it is as follows:- Delaware District Court, Marine Midland Plaza, 824 Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801 Marvel took quite large sums from the last few payments they sent me. I imagine the demand for a lump sum indicates that they have no plans to send any more cheques to me from which they can deduct. Freelancers still working for Marvel may find deductions occurring from future cheques...or maybe not. I don't know." Former Heroes World employee, LARRY SHELL, who now runs SHELL-TONE Productions, says it appears his severance pay is what the Trustee is after. "I cannot conceive why they are asking me, an employee of Heroes World/Marvel, who gave the company 10 years of his life, for money to pay their debts. I was not a vendor or other outside service provider and I received no renumeration that is not legally mine. How can they do this to me? Thanks for nothing, Marvel!" said Shell. Coincidentally, the new Marvel that emerged from bankruptcy, MARVEL ENTERPRISES, is taking flack for non-payment of royalties. Starwatcher Graphics says Marvel owes royalties to Moebius and Stan Lee for its 1998 reprinting of SILVER SURFER: PARABLE, and has so far refused to respond to numerous reminders. Starwatcher Graphics also alleges that Marvel has also broken other contractual obligations and is considering taking action against Marvel. Developing... +++++ Rock Hall Chief Is Avid Collector CLEVELAND (AP) -- Its attendance falling, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum hopes yet another new director -- one familiar with superhero feats -- can resurrect the money-losing shrine. Terry Stewart, 52, is a former top executive of Marvel Comics. He'll be the fifth director of the hall since it opened Sept. 1, 1995 at a cost of $97 million. Stewart, who starts Monday, is an avid collector of rock 'n' roll memorabilia himself. He has some 200,000 vinyl records, 5,000 compact discs, dozens of rare concert posters and 20 jukeboxes. ``I guess you could say I'm a fanatic,'' Stewart said. The museum said it lost $1.37 million as attendance fell from 867,000 in 1996 to 615,000 in 1997. The 1998 attendance was about 560,000. Stewart wants to push those numbers back up by luring return visitors with concerts, commemorations and more memorabilia. He supports a proposal by Jann Wenner, the hall's co-vice chairman and Rolling Stone magazine publisher, to boost interest by building a rock library and archive center. The tricky part will be coming up with new ways to market the museum without making it too commercial, Stewart said. ``We don't want to turn it into Disneyland or use theme restaurants,'' he said. That approach is markedly different from one he took while at Marvel Entertainment Group from 1989 to 1997. He oversaw the comic book company's entry into theme parks and developed Marvel-themed restaurants under a joint venture with Planet Hollywood. The market for comic books took a nosedive in the early 1990s, eventually forcing Marvel to seek bankruptcy protection. ``The blame can't all be placed on Terry even though he was at the helm,'' said Alexander Paris Jr. of Barrington Research Associates Inc. in Chicago. Stewart was a ``fun, enthusiastic sort of CEO'' while at Marvel and his office was filled with gigantic toys and a jukebox, Paris said. ``I was struck by his boyish enthusiasm for the company,'' he said. ``He'll do well as head of the rock museum.'' Stewart remembers being fascinated with records owned by a friend of his mother when he was growing up in the small town of Daphne, Ala., barely old enough to walk. ``I'd toddle over and ask him to play the bejesus out of them. He got so tired of hearing the records that he told me to take them home,'' Stewart said. When he got a little older, he would travel 40 miles every week to Mobile, Ala., to spend part of his $5 allowance on records. That passion grew in the 1960s, thanks to bargains at yard sales, junk shops and flea markets. ``The first day I went into a junk shop, there were mounds and mounds of records. I had a box of 45s in my hands and got it for just $1,'' he said. ``That was the beginning and I haven't found an end to it.'' Stewart has already decided on his first donation to the museum: a rare 1953 poster of the rhythm and blues group the Swallows. How he'll decorate his office is a tougher decision. ``It seems kind of overkill to bring a bunch of memorabilia in. Maybe a jukebox because I'll need a stereo. Some posters would be nice,'' Stewart said. ``There's so much to choose from.'' +++++ For : Arch-Type Studios/Dreamriders Workshop Contact : Mordechai Luchins/Cory Conrad PERIPHERY #1 - SHORT DELAY Due to a minor technical problem with the printing for Periphery #1, its store release will be delayed until the week of January 18th. "We're going to go over this issue with a fine-toothed comb rather than release a shoddy book," Arch-Type head Mordechai Luchins stated. Periphery is a b/w comic anthology co-published bi-monthly by Arch-Type Studios and Dreamriders Workshop. Each issue contains 48 pages of twisted fantasy from various comic creators, with a cover price of only $2.95US/$3.95CAN. For more information on Arch-Type Studios or Dreamriders Workshop, feel free to visit our webpages at members.xoom.com/ATStudios/ and www.dreamriders.com, respectively. +++++ Judges Named for 1998 Eisner Awards Entries are now being accepted for the 11th annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, to be given to the finest publications and creators of 1998. A Call for Entries has gone out to publishers throughout the comics industry. Publishers can submit any comic, graphic novel, or comics-related periodical, book, or item that was shipped to retailers between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1998. The deadline for submissions is March 19, 1999. The submitted items will be considered by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, who will select the final items to appear on the Eisner Awards ballot. This year's judges are: * Jon Cohen, owner, Beyond Comics, Gaithersburg, MD. Jon has worked in comics retailing since 1981, as a clerk, store manager, and finally owner of his own store. He is co-founder of the Small Press Expo (SPX) and has been actively promoting comics in the Washington, D.C. area by appearing on radio and TV and sponsoring programs for schoolkids. * Mike Schimmel, field representative for Diamond Comic Distributors. Mike, who has a degree in marketing from Baruch College in New York City, began his career in comics in 1992 working as a customer service representative for Capital City Distribution. Mike joined Diamond in 1996 and works with comics retailers in both Southern California and the New York-New Jersey metro area. * Len Strazewski, comics writer and college professor. Over the last 15 years Len has written comics ranging from Flash to Speed Racer to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Among other characters, he created or co-created Prime, Prototype, and Elven for the Malibu Ultraverse, Terror Tots for Caliber, and Jesse Quick for DC. He is currently a professor of journalism at Columbia College in Chicago. * Nancy Trempe, owner, Comics Unlimited, Westminster, CA. Nancy has been in comics retailing for some 18 years, having started out as a teenager traveling from city to city selling comics at conventions. After working in comics distribution and achieving a degree in business administration, she started working at Comics Unlimited (then called Comics Volume 3) in Hawaiian Gardens, CA in 1983. Nancy purchased Comics Unlimited in 1996. * Jonah Weiland, executive producer, ComicBookResources.com. A lifelong comics fan, Jonah started the CBR web site in 1995, and it has since become one of the most highly trafficked comic book sites on the Internet. Jonah is also the producer of the highly rated nighttime radio program, The Phil Hendrie Show, on KFI in Los Angeles. Those wanting to submit entries for the judges to consider must send one copy each of the comics or books to be considered and must include a cover letter indicating what is being submitted and in what categories. The tentative categories include best single issue, best short story, best serialized story, best continuing comic book series (at least two issues must have been published in 1998), best limited comic book series (at least half of the series must have been published in 1998), best new series, best title aimed at a younger audience, best anthology, best graphic album—new material, best graphic album— reprint, best archival collection, best U.S. edition of foreign material, best humor publication, best writer, best writer/artist, best penciller/inker (individual or team), best painter (interior art), best lettering, best coloring, best editor, best comics-related publication (book or periodical), and best comics-related item. A maximum of five items may be submitted for any one category, and the same item or person can be submitted for more than one category. Each imprint, line, or subsidiary of a publisher may submit its own set of entries. There are no entry fees. Creators can submit materials for consideration if: (a) their publisher is no longer in business; (b) their publisher is unlikely to have participated in the nomination process; or (c) they have severed connections with the publisher or have similar reasons for believing that their publisher is unlikely to consider nominating them or their work. All submissions should be sent to Jackie Estrada, Eisner Awards Administrator, 4657 Cajon Way, San Diego, CA 92115, before the deadline of March 19. The nominees will be announced in May, and ballots will go out to more than 5,000 creators, editors, publishers, distributors, and retailers. Votes will be tabulated by Melchior Thompson and Associates of Burlingame, California. The winners will be announced by celebrity presenters at the gala awards ceremony on the evening of August 13 at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The Eisner Awards are administered under the auspices of the San Diego Comic Convention, Inc., a nonprofit educational corporation. Anyone with questions about submitting entries for the awards can e-mail Ms. Estrada at jackiee@inetworld.net or call her at (619) 286-1591. +++++ From COMICS 2 FILM Website: http://www.comics2film.com Asterix & Obelix VS Ceasar -------------------------- FROM DARK HORIZONS: Dark Horizons tells us that Asterix & Obelix VS Caesar will make it's French Debut on February 3rd of this year.  The movie is a big-budget live-action adaptation of the Asterix comics.  Christian Clavier stars as Asterix while Gerard Depardieu will portray Obelix.  According to DH, the film is expected to play outside of France some time in the first half of 1999.   The Dark Horizons site also features some pictures from the set of the movie. http://www.darkhorizons.com Legion of Super-Heroes ---------------------- FROM WIZARD, THE COMICS MAGAZINE: The most recent issue of Wizard: The Comics Magazine reports that the The Legion of Super-Heroes may actually be the next DC Comics property to translate into an animated show.  Alan Burnett, producer of the Superman animated series, admitted this while taking responsibility for the fervor he generated over a potential JLA show last summer.  While it turned out that there would be no JLA animated series, Burnett told Wizard, "I mentioned at [Wizard's] Chicago convention that I was thinking of developing a JLA series, and I was at the time, but there got to be a problem with the rights.  Since then, we've shifted things over to The Legion of Super-Heroes for a group show in development." Some members of the LSH have already appeared on the Superman animated show. Burnett told Wizard that the WB is hoping that the teen-based Legion will appeal to the right demographic. Burnett also advised that the show is still in the early stages and the network might still pass on the show, "We're shooting for next season. We're writing material, and we're doing some art, and we'll show the powers that be what we have, and they'll make the final decision. It has nothing to do with the quality of the product, just with the mix of programming they want." http://www.wizardworld.com/ +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.AnotherUniverse.com Hyperwerk's Karl Altstaetter has confirmed that the series DEITY will relaunch at Image in June of 1999. Matt Howarth will restart his comic of the 1980's KEIF LAMA at ONI PRESS with a one shot this March. The animated music video for Pearl Jam's "Do The Evolution" has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Short Form Music Video category. The video was directed by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and Kevin Altieri, a Batman director and writer/director/producer of the straight-to-video Gen13 movie. It was produced by Terry Fitzgerald, president of Todd McFarlane Entertainment. IN other news, McFarlane plans to launch 6 new comic book titles in 1999. +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.mania.com/newsarama/index.html WINNER OF THE 1997 REC.ARTS.COMICS.* "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE Marvel will be releasing a paperback featuring the work of George Perez on the AVENGERS from the 1970's. AVENGERS VISIONARIES: THE GEORGE PEREZ COLLECTION will feature AVENGERS #161+2, #194-196, 201 and annuals 6 & 8. Ben Dunn plans to start a color version of NINJA HIGH SCHOOL set in 2000 called NHS:2000. Look for it in July. +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail SeanJordan@aol.com and say SUBSCRIBE. Sources tell ZEN that the USA Network is extremely interested in turning Randy Queen's hit WILDSTORM series DARKCHYLDE into an on-going series. The comic series is the story of 17-year-old Ariel Chylde, struggling with growing up, as well as the demon within her. The DARKCHYLDE series would remain true to the comic, with a BUFFY/CHARMED vibe. The long-awaited second issue of Queen's new DARKCHYLDE: THE LEGACY series reached shelves last Wednesday, with a 1-in-4 variant cover by Art Adams, and issue 3 should be out in April. Additionally, a top-notch line of DARKCHYLDE action figures created by MOORE ACTION COLLECTIBLES are due out this summer. Matt Wagner has revealed he will follow up his Jay & Silent Bob action figures with Dante and Randall. The GRAFFITI toys, based on the characters from Kevin Smith's CLERKS, are expected to premiere at the big San Diego ComiCon this summer. Wagner tells ZEN that they are trying to include backdrop dioramas of their respected stores with the figures, and he recently met with Smith to discuss accessories (DANTE: cash register, milk jug, carton of NAILS cigarettes, hockey stick, and a fold-out banner reading "I Assure You -- We're Open!" RANDALL: cash register, slacker cap, "Back in 5 minutes" sign, salsa shark bowl, and an assortment of mini porno tapes.) Plans also call for GRAFFITI to release another set of JAY & SILENT BOB action figures, this time as they appear in CLERKS, along with corresponding accessories, such as a boombox. In related news, the 10th issue of Wagner's latest MAGE series was released this week, and issue #11 will follow shortly, along with a second volume of his MAGE: THE HERO DISCOVERED, and a collection of issues #5-8 of the current series. +++++ From the DCOnline newsletter; http://www.dccomics.com/newsletter.html To subscribe, or for questions or comments about the DC newsletter, please email DCWebSite@aol.com. NEWS BYTES HIS TIME HAS COME -- HOURMAN! >From the pages of JLA and DC ONE MILLION comes a new hero who will make history... and if he doesn't like it, he can remake history. He's Hourman, the tarnished hero of the 853rd century who has decided to make his home in the present-day DC Universe in the pages of both JLA and the new, ongoing HOURMAN series. After being used as a pawn by the forces of evil during DC ONE MILLION, Hourman has given up a huge portion of the absolute power over time and space that was manipulated by the evil Solaris. But what he's got left -- flight, super-strength, and the power to travel through time, see the future and past of any being and manipulate people's personal timeline (controlling their age, etc.) during his daily "Hour of Power" -- is plenty. That's especially true with the JLA helping him learn what it means to be a super-hero. But to learn the most valuable lesson -- what it means to be simply human -- the JLA introduces him to his new best friend: "Snapper" Carr, the former JLA "mascot" turned modern-day beatnik. The super-cool Snapper plans to show Hourman ("Tyler" to his friends) the ins and outs of everyday life in Happy Harbor. Written by Tom Peyer (LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES), with art by the JLA IN CRISIS Secret Files team of Rags Morales and David Meikis and cover art by Scott McDaniel (NIGHTWING) and John Dell (JLA), HOURMAN will reveal the depths of a new hero whose powers make him one of a handful of DC characters capable of breaching the barrier into Hypertime (see the conclusion of THE KINGDOM for the details) and whose destiny will take him from the JLA to DC's next great super-team, the all-new JSA, later in 1999 -- that is, if Hourman can survive his first encounter with Amazo, the super- powerful android "ancestor" of Hourman who has all the powers of the JLA at his disposal! "As the first spin-off title from JLA and ONE MILLION, and as a new ongoing, HOURMAN is really an important launch for us at DC," says DC's Manager -- Direct Sales Ann Ivan. "I've already heard from some shops who have increased their orders in advance after seeing the special edition Wizard Presents: The Making of Hourman. Everyone is really excited about HOURMAN's fresh approach to superhero storytelling -- the way the creators have honored the claassic incarnation of the character, incorporated current storylines, and still come up with something really cool! I hope retailers will order enough!" HOURMAN is an ongoing series edited by Tony Bedard. Issue #1 arrives in comic- book stores February 10 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S. BATTLE CHASERS #5 UPDATE Please be advised that BATTLE CHASERS #5, originally solicited by Image in Previews Vol. VIII, No. 7, has been cancelled by Image. Although the issue has not been resolicited by DC Comics, it will be shipping to stores based on the orders for the resolicitation of BATTLE CHASERS #6 in Previews Vol. VIII, No. 12. Orders for BATTLE CHASERS #6, meanwhile, will not be based on its resolicitation in Previews Vol. VIII, No. 12 -- instead, the title will be resolicited again in Previews Vol. IX, No. 2. JLA/TITANS OVERSIZED POSTER ARRIVING EARLY The JLA/TITANS OVERSIZED POSTER, scheduled to arrive in stores on January 20, will now arrive a week earlier on January 13. JOE ORLANDO MEMORIAL SERVICE & SCHOLARSHIP FUND A memorial service for Joe Orlando will be held at the Time Life Building (1271 Avenue of the Americas in New York City) on Wednesday, February 10th at 3:00 pm, to which all his friends and admirers are invited. A Joe Orlando Scholarship Fund has also been established at the School of Visual Arts, where Joe taught for many years. Donations, made out to "Joe Orlando Scholarship Fund", may be sent to the School of Visual Arts at 209 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010. KIDS' WB! TO AIR SPECIAL PRIMETIME SNEAK PEEK OF BATMAN BEYOND ON JANUARY 10 With its Saturday morning premiere scheduled for January 16 at 9:30 am Eastern and Pacific times, the highly anticipated stylized, futuristic Batman Beyond animated series will have a special one-hour primetime sneak preview on Sunday, January 10 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm Eastern and Pacific times. Both the January 10 sneak peek and the January 16 premiere will be one hour in length, showing parts one and two of the first episode, "Rebirth". BATMAN BEYOND #1 arrives in stores on January 20. ANIMATION EPISODE SCHEDULE Warner Bros. Animation has supplied us with the following air schedule, which is subject to change. THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES airs weekdays and Saturdays on the WB Network. Times given are Eastern and Pacific time. 1/10/99 (7:00 pm) -- "Rebirth Part 1" (Batman Beyond) 1/10/99 (7:30 pm) -- "Rebirth Part 2" (Batman Beyond) 1/11/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Little Girl Lost Part 1" (Superman) 1/11/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Little Girl Lost Part 2" (Superman) 1/12/99 (4:00 pm) -- "The Terrible Trio" (Batman) 1/12/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Mxyzpixiliated" (Superman) 1/13/99 (4:00 pm) -- "A Little Piece of Home" (Superman) 1/13/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Sideshow" (Batman) 1/14/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Time Out of Joint" (Batman) 1/14/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Prototype" (Superman) 1/15/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Bane" (Batman) 1/15/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Cult of the Cat" (Batman) 1/16/99 (8:00 am) -- "Absolute Power" (Superman -- New!) 1/16/99 (8:30 am) -- "Mad Love" (Batman -- New!) 1/16/99 (9:30 am) -- "Rebirth Part 1" (Batman Beyond) 1/16/99 (10:00 am) -- "Rebirth Part 2" (Batman Beyond) ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] HAD YOUR PHIL? Phillip White ogre4@earthlink.net [Phil White has contributed articles and cartoons to Comic Buyer's Guide, Wizard and Cinefantastique. He has written comic books for Americomics (AC) and Mattel Toy Company and has self-published comic books featuring his own characters, including Ogre, Felony, and the acclaimed "I Hunt." He supports his comic book hobby, and his family, as director of marketing and sales with a medium sized software and remote data-entry company in Southern California.] KINGDOM COMES AND KINGDOM GOES DC ended 1998 with THE KINGDOM, a seven issue follow up to the 1996 KINGDOM COME series by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. Seven different artists were assigned to the various comics that comprise the chapters of this story resulting in very mixed results, from excellent to crapola. Even with the common denominators of writer Mark Waid and editor Dan Raspler on all seven comics, the quality varies. Waid is one of those writers who, when presented with exciting artwork, turns out an exhilarating script. Sadly, he also churns out mediocre scripts when the art is more commonplace. This came to my attention with his Captain America scripts. The Garvey illustrated tales are okay, but as soon as Kubert took over the pencils the dialogue and plotting got snappier. THE KINGDOM series is the latest example. The best of the seven comics, the one with the most interesting characters and story, is OFFSPRING. Frank Quitely provides remarkable pencils and inks, creating an extraordinary vision of The Kingdom and those who inhabit its alternate reality. Or, should I say, parallel timeline reality? Each page is a pure, detailed pleasure to behold and examined for many hours by young eyes. Quitely's interpretation of Offspring, the bouncing, rubber son of Plastic Man, is more original than any interpretations I've seen on Plas or the Elongated Man. Ever. While I could no more handle an ongoing Offspring comic than I could a Plastic Man comic, I would like to see Mr. Quitely handle the FANTASTIC FOUR just to see what he would do with Reed Richards. He could bring the F.F. detailed backgrounds we haven't seen since George Perez did a stint on that book. Waid gets right into the mood of this fantastic art to give us a sentimental tale chock full of good humor. I don't recall Offspring being part of the original KINGDOM COME series. Perhaps that is why the creators turn in their best work here. One problem I had with the comic was its continuity in relation to the rest of the series. A problem that rests squarely on the shoulders of editor Dan Raspler. The comic opens with a scuffle in a bar. We clearly see Manotaur, who has been busted on the orbiting satellite, The Green, for raising havoc. We also see Nightstar, who did said busting. Neither character could be in two places at once. We also see a character who appears to be Gog, who, it has been established, has already traveled back in time at this point and shouldn't be there. No where does the story point out that that bystander is actually Magog. The editor assumes that his readers will know the difference, but if they aren't deeply familiar with that 1996 series they can't. And isn't Magog the son of Superman and Wonder Woman, raised by Gog? No, that's Jonathan, who has power over Hypertime. The second best comic is the first chapter, or what they like to call a bookend comic, THE KINGDOM #1. I was not a big fan of Ariel Olivetti's art after his work on JLA: PARADISE LOST. There, his pencils ran the gamut from panel to panel. Some were detailed, noodly pin-ups. Some were just rough outline sketches. Very uneven. Here, on the other hand, his work is much more consistent and the panel to panel story telling improved dramatically. With THE KINGDOM #1 what you see on that detailed cover is what you get inside. Nice. Wade does a great job of luring the reader in and keeping them interested with one event after another, setting us up for a big climax. The next four issues take a giant step down in both the quality of art as well as the writing. These include KID FLASH, NIGHTSTAR, SON OF THE BAT, and PLANET KRYPTON. All are very average and lackluster. They are simply fill-ins. Padding. Adding nothing to the initial story. Another continuity problem crops up in PLANET KRYPTON. The title of the comic is the name of a restaurant introduced in the original KINGDOM COME series. That suggests this story is taking place in The Kingdom's parallel timeline reality, until Batman shows up. He's the Batman of current comics. Younger and without the exoskeleton of the future Kingdom Bats. It is an important story point that we are never told, even in the final chapter. That final chapter, sadly, is the poorest issue of the lot, THE KINGDOM #2 bookend issue. One gets the impression that it was penciled and inked in about two days by Mike Zeck and John Beatty. There are no panel backgrounds, no details, nothing to indicate one character's face from another. The villains size changes dramatically from panel to panel with no explanation. This is artistic dreck of the worst kind. Waid knows the art is crap and turns in a forced, contrived and hackneyed ending with run of the mill dialogue. By the time you reach the last panel and see Superman winking at you, you be ready to stick two fingers in your mouth in utter disgust. If you must examine this series, limit your investment to the first two titles mentioned above then thumb through THE KINGDOM #2 for the conclusion and put it back on the rack. If you buy the final chapter, be prepared to shell out $2.95, plus sales tax, for a horse hockey ending to what should have been a milestone story. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Comic Book Dreams Douglas Thornsjo thornsjo@uninets.net [Doug Thornsjo is a writer, cartoonist and graphic designer living in rural Maine. In the late '70s he opened Maine's first comics shop, Duck Soup. He has written about comics for CBG, Comic Book Week and Comic Talk. His fiction has appeared in Kinesis, The North American Review, Art Times and on National Public Radio. On-line examples of his fiction can be found in issue 3 of The Cortland Review (http://www.cortlandreview.com/) and Crania (http://www.digitaldaze.com/crania/) ] #5: "Drat, another fill-in issue!" This installment of "Comic Book Dreams" was supposed to be about something else. I decided to delay our regularly scheduled dose of vitriol, in part to buy me some extra time so that I could prepare something special for the next column -- but also to get something else out of my system before it slipped through the sieve I call my mind: Recently I logged on to Amazon.com and, on a lark, checked out their personal book recommendations. This is a feature by which they select a handful of titles that they THINK might interest you, based on the books you've ordered from them in the past. Imagine my astonishment, therefore, when I saw a book about baseball cards among their list of picks. Baseball cards? They must have the wrong duck. I'M not a baseball fan. I am SO not a baseball fan that I can't figure out why millions of people love the game. I don't morally censure, you understand, I'm a "whatever winds your clock" sort of guy. I just don't get it. What in the name of the world, I thought, made Amazon think that I'd be interested in a book about little squares of wasted card stock stamped with the images of overpaid brain dead ball-swatters? Then it dawned on me. YOU did this to me. YOU, the COLLECTOR. YOU, yeah YOU, the one who bought fifteen copies of The Supernaturals #1, not for the CONTENT (and who in their right mind would buy The Supernaturals for its content?), but to collect all five or seven or however many there were of those stupid MASKS that they stuck into the middle. Especially that "rare" werewolf one. YOU, the one who has to own all four variant covers of the latest X-Dweeb issue. YOU, the one who thinks that foil embossing is a major step forward in the art of the comic book. It was YOU. I had ordered some of Marvel's terrific ESSENTIAL reprint books through Amazon, and because I'd bought some COMICS material they just naturally assumed that I'd be interested in BASEBALL CARDS. Why? Because they're both COLLECTIBLES, right? BASEBALL CARDS and COMICS -- they're INTERCHANGEABLE, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, etc. Comics ARE collectible, but they are not COLLECTIBLES. Collectibles are things which have no intrinsic CREATIVE value of their own. Collectibles are things that you buy to put on the shelf. Hummell figurines. Bisque ornaments. Trading cards. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it. But collectibles offer nothing in the way of entertainment value: they are something to rest your eyes on. They are themselves, and offer nothing more or less than what they are. Comics are ENTERTAINMENT. When they stop being entertaining, they stop having any value -- as collectibles or as anything else. That's one reason why the industry is in dire straits today. Now as in the past, there is exceptional work being done in comics: but an industry doesn't thrive on the strength of its exceptions: it sinks or floats on the strength of its AVERAGE product -- and the AVERAGE comic book today is no more readable than postage stamp. Sometimes less. By catering to the collectibles market, comics publishers have bled their product dry of the creative content that is their real value. Which is as good a lead in to my next column as any... email: thornsjo@uninets.net website: http://www.ctel.net/~thornsjo/ ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] Comic Abstracts John Barker jbarker@inch.com [A native Iowan, John S. Barker lives in Brooklyn, NY and is a radio engineer and manager at an FM station in "The City". John does this last regular 'Comic Abstracts' out of some notion that he has some possible quasi- interesting commentary on the medium. Do not check out http://www.inch.com/~jbarker/comic for additional mayhem.] *** 1998 *** Nineteen Ninety-Eight wasn't exactly an unspectacular year in comic books. Not bad at all. It came and went, and I think the best question to ask is: Is the comic medium as whole in a better position now than it was a year ago? Are the companies going to produce better comic books that will entertain and challenge fans? The only answer I want to hear is someone or anyone from "The Comic Book Biz" to tell me: "We're going to keep making better comics! We will promise to keep rockin' and rollin' and making better comics! These comics we make can be better... they can help, they really can and we mean that. We can always do better. We're gonna keep tryin' if you guys keep tryin'! Let's keep rockin' and rollin', man!" * * kudos if you can tell me who I paraphrased. *** THE STRAIGHT POOP IN 1999 *** --> AVENGERS: Busiek and Perez serve up more of what they're famous for: Solid, entertaining writing, and peerless artwork. WHAT TO EXPECT: A slower, less interesting version of Astro City that comes out twice as often. And heck, it looks damn good. 1999 will be all about: roster changes. With so many Grade-B heroes, that's what constitutes Avengers storylines most of the time. I'd honestly enjoy seeing Warbird booze it up more often. --> BATMAN: Still my favorite hero. I like Dixon, Moench, and Grant, but I'm happy to see new talent working on these books. WHAT TO EXPECT: Well, duh! Batman spends some time in Jamaica for "No Mon's Land". I'll give the Batman titles two or three months to grab me. The setup is a stretch, so hopefully they're up to the task of suspending my disbelief. I want to enjoy this storyline. But I ask "why doesn't the JLA bail Batman and Gotham out?". The answer: they can't, it's a plot device. --> BATTLE CHASERS: White-hot artist Joe Madureira makes a new comic book cottage industry with this cute title. WHAT TO EXPECT: 4, maybe 5 issues in the 1999 calendar year. The noseless Wolverine will make a guest appearance. The questions rage on: Will Garrison ever fight again? Does he have a secret past with Red Monika? Does Knolan have a thing for Gully? Is Calibretto the last war golemn? Are Red Monika's breasts a commentary on the convention of large breasted woman, or is she merely a parody of that archetype? Did Amanda ever sleep with Billy? Joe Madureira help me out here! I'm dyin'! --> CAPTAIN AMERICA: I'll bet you're thinking "Cap will take on Red Skull". Well, the joke's on you then. Waid is defying predictability and stumping conventional superhero storytelling by having Cap kill the Red Skull off in three panels with the caption "this chump is hardly worth my time". WHAT TO EXPECT: The "Once an asshole, always an asshole" storyline kicks off in the summer. When Steve Rogers gets a little full of himself after finally dumping Sharon Carter, he starts being a complete prick to everyone he knows. Things finally come to a head when he recruits a new female 'Bucky' who eventually dumps him. Or will she? --> CATWOMAN: Jim Balent is well into the 360 issues of Catwoman he is contracted to draw. Catwoman is Selina Kyle, and though not nearly as cool as Miller's "Year One" Selina Kyle, she's a betty, nonetheless. WHAT TO EXPECT: What's not to expect? Plot devices drive Catwoman out of Gotham, where she steals stuff elsewhere. She returns for a Batman storyline. She defies gravity, steals stuff and eludes capture. Because she's a thief... see, that's what she is. --> DAREDEVIL: Quesada, Palmiotti, Kevin Smith, and David Mack attempt to return this book to greatness. WHAT TO EXPECT: Expect decent artwork and storytelling, for a change. Will Daredevil and the Black Widow knock boots? --> FATHOM: Is it just me, or does the chick in 'Fathom' look suspiciously like Sara Pezzini of 'Witchblade'? (Yeah, I know why they look alike. See, that was just a joke.) WHAT TO EXPECT: How should I know? I just look it over in the stands. BUT, and you can quote me on this, in 1999, look for people to die, a great secret to be revealed, a person very close to Fathom to turn on her, and a surprise shocking ending. Also, Fathom gets wrinkly skin from being in the water, and that story spans several issues. --> GEN13: As long as Gary Frank and John Arcudi don't leave this title, I'll be happy. WHAT TO EXPECT: Rainmaker's sexuality is explored. Fairchild, Rainmaker, and Roxie are revealed in various provocative poses. All members reveal various forms of teen angst, save for Grunge. --> HELLBLAZER: Yes! Warren Ellis! WHAT TO EXPECT: You will be able to REALLY look forward to the exploits of John Constantine month after month. Again. --> HULK: What? Haven't read Hulk since Peter David did that stupid "Onslaught" Crossover for this book. I still can't forgive Marvel. WHAT TO EXPECT: What else? Dumb Hulk. I'm not talking about Hulk's psyche, the book will be dumb. Byrne will relaunch it, his origin will reveal that Rick Jones was placed at the gamma bomb launch site by S.H.I.E.L.D., the gamma bomb triggered an x-gene mutation, the issues written by Peter David were a dream sequence, and Betty Banner will be brought back in three panels. 'Savage Hulk' will be relaunched, and Ron Garney will be forced to work on that title after 7 issues of "Incredible Hulk". --> INHUMANS: Paul Jenkins does a much better job with these second-rate heroes than John Constantine. Jae Lee is that guy who makes it all believable. Could there be a Hellshock/ Inhumans special in the works? WHAT TO EXPECT: I have no idea. I don't even know if this is a limited or monthly series. I'm just waiting for Black Bolt to say something? And what's with the dog? I'll never understood that dog. --> IRON MAN: Tony gets off the wagon! WHAT TO EXPECT: Since most new readers haven't experienced the clichéd-yet-overly dramatic "alcoholic hero" storyline, we will see Tony have a 12 issue "Iron Man's Drinking Tour" that ends with his "moment of clarity" on New Year's Eve '99. Then it's back to fighting the Controller, Titanium Man, Grey Gargoyle, and (insert lame Iron Man villain here). But then Stark Solutions gets bought by Mr. Stane's daughter, then it becomes 'Stane Solutions'. Then Michelenie and Layton are brought back in, and Tony Stark re-starts 'Circuits Maximus'. --> JLA: Rocks! This title absolutely Rocks! WHAT TO EXPECT: DC's greatest heroes take on and defeat the toughest villains ever! Sexual tensions between Superman and Wonder-Woman! Batman starts making fat jokes to everyone he meets! Look for JLA to kick some serious ass in '99, and to be an all-around awesome title to read, courtesy of Grant Morrison and Howard Porter. --> LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES AND LEGIONNAIRES:: Ain't puberty a bitch? WHAT TO EXPECT: Things get very... frisky... when Libido Lass is recruited unanimously by all the LSH guys. You thought the Sun-Eater was tough... Plus Jo Nah decides that his ghost 'Phantom Girl' just isn't cutting it. Then, due to a space-time anomaly, Keith Giffen comes back and writes and draws the book, the first panel he does says "20 years later". The Subs return! Infectious Lass! Terry Stewart! Sade! Kono! Kent Shakespeare! They're back! --> PREACHER: WHAT TO EXPECT: Other than Jesse Custer being reunited with Cass and Tulip, I have no idea what to expect. That's why this book is one of the most satisfying reads out there. Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon produce an incredible book with Preacher. --> SECRET DEFENDERS: WHAT TO EXPECT: ROM the Spaceknight joins Hercules, Brother Voodoo, and Son of Satan to take on the "Pantheon of Lame 70's Marvel Villains". Other than that, this book is such a secret that no one at Marvel actually know what's going on with it. --> SPAWN: WHAT TO EXPECT: Sheesh, I haven't read Spawn in ages. He's the guy who hangs out in an alley with bums and stalks his ex-wife, right? Snoozers. Sam? Twitch? Somebody kill these guys. How about some of you tell why there is any reason to expect ANYTHING with this book? --> SPIDER-MAN: Ummm... I have a deep personal conflict about purchasing/reading books written by Howard Mackie. But, I sucked it up and bought the first few books of the Spidey relaunch. WHAT TO EXPECT: You will learn that bad things happen when Byrne inks Byrne. Subsequently all characters are "Byrne Victims". Since most folks haven't loved Spider-Man/Peter Parker in a while, the creators of the book stop just short of saying "Love Me". Look for the creators of this series do everything they can to charm and woo readers. --> THOR: Once Marvel's M2 Universe dies in '99 (and it will, Jerry), DeFalco will demand to have this book back. WHAT TO EXPECT: DeFalco will kick Jurgens out of the book, and then you'll see what Herb Trimpe inking Ron Frenz will look like. I didn't read Thor before, and I don't read it now, so I'm guessing there will be lots of stuff having to do with Norse gods, the Rainbow Bridge, some love interest and Loki. Yeah, that's it, Thor '99: The year of Loki. --> SUPERMAN: I see London, I see France, I see... Li'l Superman? WHAT TO EXPECT: THIS JUST IN: The Superman titles will be making waves in 1999! Look for the MOST controversy EVER in Clark Kent/ Superman's life. There's a mayoral race this year in Metropolis, but there's a scandal with some of the young aides in City Hall. Fingers get pointed and it turns out... Clark Kent did some late night hanky panky? You'd be right if you guessed Luthor was tied into it all. Results of the tests come back and then all fingers (and DNA results) point to Superman. Will Lois leave or will she stand by her man? --> THUNDERBOLTS: With wacky Hawkeye at the lead of the group, look for the T-Bolts to once go through their personal dilemma's on if it's conscionable for them to handle the role of hero. WHAT TO EXPECT: Citizen V is revealed to have a link with the old NBC TV show about aliens: 'V'. Hawkeye recruits a bunch of out-of-work heroes from the 'Valiant' Universe, but fires them when the true Thunderbolts get bored with them and feel driven back to crime. Mach-1 wonders why Thunderbolt training sessions have denigrated into late-night beer sessions and "heroic excursions to bars". Mockingbird surprises Hawkeye when she introduces him to their daughter! --> TRANSMETROPOLITAN: WHAT TO EXPECT: Expect a surprise appearance by the still-living Hunter S. Thompson. And more truly fun work by Warren Ellis. --> WILDCATS: Look for this book to kick your ass in 1999. WHAT TO EXPECT: What's there NOT to expect?! California-boy Travis Charest has come back down to earth, and he's doing a monthly comic book! Nevermind that the over-rated Scott Lobdell is pinch-hitting. Expect some awesome artwork, great covers, more great artwork, and only needs a passable script by the former "Adventures of Superboy" scribe. Yeah, Wildcats #1 was supposed to come out in December, but Wildstorm didn't want Image to get the moolah. As Kramer might say: "Sucker!". --> WOLVERINE: With Erik Larsen needing some additional cash (since Save Dragon doesn't make him any money), he's taking over Wolverine because he feels he can do something interesting with the character and advance the title as a whole. WHAT TO EXPECT: Logan takes some time off the X-Men where he goes back to Madripoor and takes up his "Patch" identity. For three issues he helps an old friend and restauranteur 'Lao Feng' solve a mystery of missing Ponzu sauce. And the Silver Samurai is involved! Then he takes on a job working at a zoo taking care of monkeys. Through some strange (and gross) interaction with a certain breed of rhesus monkey he get's his adamantium back. That's what my Marvel contact told me, anyway. Look for this title to languish since Warren Ellis, Leinil Yu, Chris Claremont, Fabian Nicieza have nothing to do with it. --> X-MEN: The questions are will there be a cohesive art team that can produce something worth reading. Alan "The Man" Davis, Adam "I won't draw DC" Kubert and Brandon "Arcanuum" Peterson are in. Marvel made Leinil Yu da loosah! Only figuratively, though, it's a shame his artwork won't be seen on a monthly basis. WHAT TO EXPECT: You know; Magneto, hatred by mankind towards mutants, a summer or fall crossover, a roster change, and a 'event so big it affects all the other X-Titles'. After Mark Powers takes over writing chores, look for things to get boring, insipid, and unchallenging. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thank you, thank you... Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. I've been a CBEM reader for over two years, and a "columnist" for the past year and a half. I want to thank: David LeBlanc for putting up with my fussing and last minute contributions, David Coulter for giving me something to aspire to, and Noah Kuttler for being the guy I can 'shoot the gip' with about comics. I am also proud to call Marlan Harris and Phil White two cool fellow columnists. Comic Abstracts is now on hiatus for a few months while I work on some other stuff, but I'll return when 'The Authority' hits the stands. Meanwhile be on the lookout for sporadic "Comic Abstracts Specials". Look out next week... you haven't quite seen the last of me yet. -john s. barker jbarker@inch.com http:://www.inch.com/~jbarker ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] RANDOM THOUGHTS IN A LESS THAN RANDOM WORLD Gary Sassaman GSassaman@AOL.COM [Gary Sassaman is the Writer/Artist/Publisher of INNOCENT BYSTANDER, you know...the "nice little comic you can take home to mom."] I have this theory about comics. I think it's the coloring that's ruined them. Stupid, huh? But I think it's true. A lot of people will tell you it was the speculators that ruined it. The people who got into it in the early 90s, mainly sports card dealers, who started buying literally thousands of Adventures of Superman 500 when they saw how Superman 75 went through the roof. And the whole collector/speculator mentality that followed with variant covers. That distasteful part of the business still exists. I was at my local comics shop today and saw 5 or 6 Wildcats #1 covers. Why? Beats the hell out of me. I'm not going to buy any of `em, even thought the Travis Charest art sure is lovely. But I digress. Where was I? Oh, yeah. Coloring. I remember when Jim Lee took over the Fantastic Four. The art was so muddied up with over-rendered color and than printed on paper that couldn't absorb all the ink. It was a mess. The current incarnation of the FF is still unreadable, but for different reasons. But at least the coloring allows it to be read, if one desires to do so. Mark Texiera's Black Panther is another good example. The first issue of that looked like Mark painted the book in greytones and someone else added color on top of it. The result was a mess and it made not buy the book. I may buy the Jusko painted issues but I'll look at them first. So this is what I think. And take it for what it's worth, which is little or nothing. But I think comics were better-looking, and by contrast, better-reading, when they were colored more simply and more, well, garishly. All this modeling, all these highlights just junk them up. And I think the theory behind that is that kids today are more sophisticated and would react better (read: buy) to a more photographically rendered type of coloring. I think that's crap, pretty much. Look at how nicely colored the animated BATMAN comics are (and have been), first under Linda Medley (pre- Castle Waiting days) and now under Lee Loughridge. The storytelling is heightened by the coloring, not dragged down by it. And while we're talking about color, what's up with those damn VERTIGO books? Why do they all look so damp and dismal and brown? I almost died when there was actually a gradation in the new PREACHER (#47, pages 3 and 4). Can Jesse actually be living in a nice place? I was in a Pittsburgh comic shop a few years ago and a group of comics fans were discussing modern comics. And one of them said, "and they're all colored by computer! Think of all the people they put out of work for that!" And he was basically ticked-off because he thought computers had taken someone's job. Well, last time I looked this wasn't the Forbin Project. It still takes an operator, an artist, if you will, to color a comics page with a computer. It's not scan in a black and white page, push a button and voila! Color! Hopefully the person operating the computer is an artist and knows color theory. But I think somewhere along the line comics got away from a big part of their charm and attraction to young kids: Those awful, simple color schemes, dictated for years by printing technology. It used to draw me like a bee to honey across a crowded newsstand. And while I agree kids are much more sophisticated in the $1.99 a comic world than they were in the 10 comics for a $1.00 world, I still think something is missing that may solve, at least part, of the problem. Besides, the new comics don't smell half as good as their Golden and Silver age counterparts. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] PIPELINE COMMENTARY AND REVIEW Augie De Blieck Jr augie@nic.com http://www.nic.com/~augie/pipeline My apologies for the lack of a column last week, dear CBEM readers. It wasn't the holidays. I just forgot to forward the column out. So this week we have a compilation of reviews from the past couple of weeks for you to read. And to start off the new year with a bang, they're all positive reviews. UNCLE $CROOGE #318 contains chapter 3.5 of Don Rosa's "Life and Times of $crooge McDuck" epic, entitled "The Cowboy Captain of the Cutty Sark." It's rife with history, $crooge mythology, adventure, humor, and detailed artwork. The other highlight is one of the rare William Van Horn adventure stories. It's a rather odd tale for $crooge, actually, aside from just being an adventure. It reads much more like a hybrid between duck and super-hero comic, but is still very much entertaining and humorous. Entitled "Secrets," this one has a little bit of mystery, intrigue, science-fiction, and $crooge mythology added into it. I will say no more so as not to spoil any surprises, but it's a wonderful story. There are some other interesting things in this issue, including a nice Gyro Gearloose story from Carl Barks. And despite the commercial nature of some of the articles, I still found them fairly interesting. (I scoffed at the footnote to one article which noted that the back issue being referenced was still available to order from Gladstone.) And mayhaps most interesting and most telling for the future of the line is the layout of pictures from a big conference attended by many big-time $crooge fans, including but not limited to the people from Gladstone and Gemstone Publishing (Steve Geppi, et. al.) Draw your own conclusions. . . WALT DISNEY'S COMICS & STORIES #633 starts off with a wonderful holiday cover. It contains more interesting little articles, with some nice work from William Van Horn and Carl Barks. However, the capper to this issue is the inclusion of a story Don Rosa did years ago which Disney banned from publication in this country. "War of the Wendigos" finally sees print in America, despite its supposedly racist portrayal of Indians which Disney claims to see. (Most people don't see this, but you know what p.c. has done to wreck this country. . .) I'd love to know how they got permission to print this all of a sudden. Where'd the sudden policy change come from? (Actually, does it really matter? Hooray to Gladstone for publishing it!) Of course, the crass commercialization kicks back in again. Along the bottom of all the pages are little Carl Barks trivia bits. On the back cover, we're told that all the stories referenced in the trivia questions are still available as back issues from Gladstone! UGH Moving back to the super-heroic, HITMAN #34 hit the stands. I've never read this book before. I have a little bit of an idea as to what it's all about. And I generally like Garth Ennis' work, what little I've read of it. (THE DARKNESS comes to mind. I've skipped PREACHER, thankyouverymuch.) SO when I read the blurb on this issue I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did and I may have to go back and get the previous issues. Simply put, this comic is a better representation of America and what it's all about, as told through the dialogue between Tommy and Supes, than any issue of UNCLE SAM or CAPTAIN AMERICA has ever been. And Ennis is a Brit, if I'm not mistaken. (At the very least, he's from the UK somewhere.) It's a wonderfully-done issue, exploring some familiar ground of what it means to be Superman. But it also delivers a big punch at the end to leave you laughing. John McCrea's art is a little, well, weird for me to see when it comes to drawing Superman, but he tells the story well and was consistent. (This puts him about 5 leagues ahead of Howard Porter.) Even if you've never read HITMAN before, go pick this one up. It's worth it. Scott Lobdell is back and all over the place again. All of a sudden, he's attached to THE TENTH, WILDC.A.T.s, THE DARKNESS, and DIVINE RIGHT. I just know I'm forgetting one or two here. But the important one to consider right now is Jim Lee's DIVINE RIGHT #7. This is Lobdell's debut on the title and it's the best issue of the series so far. It's completely different from all the previous issues, and just tracks the relationship between Max Faraday and his love interest, Susanna Chaste. (Interesting choice of last name there, eh?) Have you wondered why a decent-looking female such as Susanna could be wooed by the "homely" Max? Well, here you have it. Finally, the second issue of John Byrne's GENERATIONS is his best work since NEXT MEN. This book covers 1959 and 1969. The book starts out funny, typical, and wacky. Then the second story kicks in, set in 1969. It's dark, tragic, shocking, and will make you stop dead in your tracks. It'll rip your heart out. And yet I still recommend it. There's a lot of good reading out there. Now you just need a lottery ticket to afford all of it. -Augie -------------------------------------------------- Augie De Blieck Jr. * augie@nic.com <*> Pipeline Commentary and Review: New Every Sunday: http://www.nic.com/~augie/pipeline ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] And let me tell you why .... David Coulter david102@netscape.net [David - who declared himself "Official Columnist Of the New Millennium, " and then thought better of it (deciding instead on "America's Weirdly Cool Columnist") -- lives with his family in Kansas City and pays the bills as Marketing Director for a computer consulting group. He likes Superman better than Batman, baseball better than football, and Mac better than Windows.] Well, I spent last week looking back over 1998, so I thought I'd take a minute this week to look forward into 1999, talk about what I'm looking forward to. Ummmm...... not much. I mean, there ARE things I'm looking forward to, except they all have a big BUT attached to them. Wipe that smirk off your face and read on, wiseass, I'll tell you what I mean ..... 1. I'm looking forward to Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and his line of America's Best Comics ... BUT ... given the track record for Alan's books over the last few years, I'm not expecting to get more than 3 books out of the deal before the end of the year. Granted, a lot of the problems with books like Supreme, Youngblood, and WildC.A.T.S. had more to do with Alan's publishers that with Alan, but it always seems to be something. For example, what's going to happen the first time someone at DC raises a red flag about content in one of his books? I know they SAY that Wildstorm will be operating as a mostly independent entity -- but DC is a corporation after all -- and corporations are notorious for they're nosiness. 2. I'm looking forward to Paul Chadwick's World Beneath -- solicited in this month's PREVIEWS. I'm beginning to see a trend of monster books developing, which I think is cool as hell, since I love monster comics. I also love Paul Chadwick's stuff, and I'm looking forward to seeing him do something other than Concrete. Not that I have a problem with Concrete -- far from it, in fact. I'm just excited at the prospect of something new and different from I guy who's work I really, really, dig ... BUT .... I don't think it'll last very long. Anything new and different seems to be greeted with tremendous apathy by the comic-buying public, and I doubt this will be any different. I hope this will last through the end of the year, but I'm not hopeful. 3. I'm looking forward to the next installment of Graham Nolan's Monster Island... BUT .... see the BUT for number 2. 4. I'm looking forward to Warren Ellis's Planetary and The Authority. They promise to be good, nihilistic fun in the same vein as his exemplary run on StormWatch .... BUT .... we all know what happened to StormWatch -- twice. 5. I'm looking forward to Alex Ross's covers on Earth X ... BUT .... I don't want anything to do with what's BETWEEN those covers. 6. I'm looking forward to some new work from Alan Davis... BUT .... it's on X-Men. Yuck. 7 . I'm looking forward to new issues of Hepcats, Xenozoic Tales, Age of Heroes, Nexus, Berlin, and Tyrant... BUT .... I don't think I'll see them this year. 8. I'm looking forward to new issues Quantum & Woody ... BUT .... I'm not holding my breath. 9. I'm looking forward to John Byrne's announced "Lost Heroes" project for two reasons -- First, he might actually be working with a real writer in the person of "Jolly" Roger Stern, and Second, it's a story with a beginning, middle, and actual end -- a rare treat in Superhero books -- so there's a chance we could get something compelling ... BUT .... It's at least a year away, and given Byrne's track record, I expect him to get pissed and storm out of Marvel long before then. And, finally ... 10. I'm looking forward to Vext, from Vertigo. It sounds funny, unusual, and very different. In fact, it sounds a lot like other books I enjoyed form DC last year -- books like Young Heroes In Love, Chase, and Major Bummer ... BUT .... we all know what happened to those books, so I don't expect this to last more than 8 issues. So there you go, my 1999 year in preview. Yes, I know it drips with cynicism, but I'm approaching my 30th year as a comic reader -- I'm ALLOWED to be cynical. Comments? Criticisms? Flames? E-mail them to david102@netscape.net or DneColt@aol.com. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] INDEPENDENT VOICES Rich Henn rasmus@timespell.com [When not stressing at the day job, Rich is stressing over the next issue of Timespell. He lives in sunny Maryland with his beautiful wife and their lazy Siberian Husky.] Bought a computer a few weeks back. Actually, it was right after the Thanksgiving holiday. One of those refurbished jobies. Cost about $700 with monitor, printer, zip, etc. Not bad, right? Wrong. Soon as I got it home, the system would continuously lock up on me. Not even a Ctrl/Alt/Delete would unlock it. So I had to bring it back. Those bastards had that thing for almost a month. On top of that, I was still waiting on the zip drive I had ordered. On top of that, it's the absolute WORST customer service I have EVER had in my life. You call, you get put on hold for 25 minutes....you get disconnected, you get transferred to the STOCK room of all places... yada, yada, yada. So when they tell me it's ready, I find out after I drive there (an hour away) that it's NOT ready. I test it, it's still locking up. So the tech, brain surgeon that he is, says "Well, it's either your motherboard, your video card or your software." No kidding. What the hell's left? Oh, but it will be ready tomorrow, he says. So now I'm back online, the computer SEEMS to be working, but anything is possible. So my advice is....DON'T EVER BUY REFURBISHED COMPUTERS. Especially from anyone at EASY COMPUTER SOLUTIONS in Beltsville, MD. Parts are probably hot, anyway. So I got to catch up on SOME reading over the holiday season. Not much, as I was babysitting the Timespell :Director's Cut from printer to shipping. Had some problems that had to be ironed out at the last second, and that caused all sorts of problems. But I think the end result works. What I read and should have skipped out on, was the last years worth of X-Men, both "Uncanny" and the regular version. Man, you're reading the same story recycled for 4 years. I'm almost ashamed of myself for even reading those damn things, but I kept hoping something exciting, almost ANYTHING would happen. The Spider man titles are absolutely WORSE than they've ever been. And now I'm reading that John Byrne and Roger Stern have been giving the go-ahead to write a maxi-series that will explain why the Marvel Universe is only 7 years old. DOESN'T ANYBODY GIVE TWO SHITS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE CHARACTERS?!! Guess not. Marvel will just continue to shoot themselves in the foot until the whole leg is amputated. My solution...? Just do it. Just freaking sell the characters, close the doors, and remember what used to be good from a bygone era. It's obvious that they have no original ideas left, good OR bad. It's obvious that they have no decent writers on ANY of their flagship titles. And that the only ideas that they can come up with is marketing moves. Cancel the title. Start again from a first issue. Cancel. Start. Stop. Fire our staff. Take freelancers to court for money paid out YEARS ago. They never earned it anyway, so what the hell, right? Riiiiiight. I think Marvel has finally reached a new peak with this unique way of raping their freelancers even more than they've been violated. It's just plain sad. So anything unique happen? Well, over the holiday I got to read a book by Chester Brown. "I Never Liked You Anyway" story and art by Chester Brown. Square bound paperback. Here's the great thing about this comic. I discovered it by accident. I was at a New Years Day party at my friend and co-writer's house, Russ Colchamiro. Russ has a good selection of paperbacks, most of which I've recommended to him over the years. But here was this one by Chester Brown. Intrigued, I picked it up and started to page through it. It's not a very difficult read, as some pages only have one or two panels. But the story is compelling, and often sad. It's the story of Chester growing up in high school, and the personal conflicts he faces everyday. Conflicts from within himself, his home life, his school life, his friends. What makes the story even more poignant is that it's an autobiography. There probably isn't very many people out there who hasn't faced their own sets of challenges every day. And growing up throughout the various stages of your childhood isn't very easy. Chester makes that very apparent withing the contents of this book. But it seems like the basic theme in this book is that of love and self expression. Young love. Parental love. Self love. The love shown by your friends. Not an easy subject to tackle, and when you're a kid, it's one of the most difficult things we face. How do we express ourselves? Most of us don't. Young Chester deals with it in the same way many of us do when we are kids. We keep it bottled up inside. One of the most emotional bits in I Never Liked You Anyway is closer to the end, when Chester's mother checks herself into an institution. When the confines of her mental state start to break down, and she is at the end of her life, even then, it's hard for Chester to say "I love you". It reminds us how short our time here is, and how important it is to tell those around us we care about that we love them. Our parents. Our spouses. Our friends. This book will move you and remind you of those rough days from our childhood. It will remind you how superficial we can be, without intention, and without malice. Until next time.... ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [12] Odds and Ends Eddie Mitchell memitch@worldnet.att.net [Eddie Mitchell lives in Louisville, KY with is partner of five years and three cats. Having read comics for most of his thirty-plus years, he believes strongly in both the medium and the message it can convey. His goal in life is to expose more sadly under-exposed comics to comics readers at large.] A Column of Reviews and Such I've been told, by those who know me well, that I'm the sort of person who can analyze something to death. I can't help it. I'm an introspective sort of person. I spend lots of time thinking about things. Therefore, I'm not quite through with 1998 yet, at least not as far as this column is concerned. I actually have a little bit more to say. And, since this is the first column of 1999, this is a good place to say it. (I know that the last CBEM was the first of 1999, but I wrote that column in 1998. This is the first one I'm writing in 1999.) 1998 wasn't my greatest year. I stressed out over a major work project that ran behind, needed a total rewrite, and took a couple of 70+ hour weeks to finish. This, of course, was after my office computer crashed, taking all my work with it and leaving me with a corrupt back up file I couldn't open. !998 was also the year my father had two heart attacks and two strokes, leaving my brother and me making decisions we thought we wouldn't be dealing with for another ten years at least. But, 1998 was far from my worst year. It had its highlights: family, new friends, classes I enjoy, a job I love. I got to go to the San Diego convention. My brother and his wife had their first child. I found some great new comics. My partner and I marked five years together. 1998 wasn't comics greatest year either. Despite all the joyous predictions of recovery, the market remained as unstable as ever. Companies producing great comics went under. Good comics went unsold, while load after load of crap flew off the stands. It was a rough year for anyone interested in more than average run-of-the-mill super-heroics. But, at the same time, I cannot remember a year when I spent as much on comics or discovered as many really good comics as 1998. There were some excellent titles out there, finding them was the challenge. I'd like to briefly comment for the last time about 1998 and express some of the hopes I have for 1999. If you'll bear with me, I'd like to convert to list format, for brevity's sake: LOWEST POINTS OF 1998: Fantagraphics Cutbacks: 1998 saw the end of several good series from Fantagraphics. Poot, Villa of the Mysteries, and the Lewis Trondheim reprints among them. I don't know which makes me feel worse: losing good comics like this; trying to read stories about how the comics market is improving in light of the death of truly groundbreaking and unique material; the shortsightedness of American comics buyers; or the fact that no one (other than me) seems to be talking about it. Black Eye Cutbacks: Canadian publisher Black Eye pulled back too, and will only occasionally be releasing books and not publishing single issues or series. Again, no comments from the American comic buying public. The Death of Kitchen Sink: The year ended on a sad note with the demise of one of the oldest underground/alternative publishers in the US. All I can do is think about the things that won't ever get published now: The Violent Cases Anniversary Edition, the From Hell Collection, etc, etc. At least some folks have noticed this one. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 1998: I don't do negative reviews here for a variety of reasons. It's too easy to trash something than to offer constructive criticism. Besides, there's so much out there that is mediocre at best, so were would I start? With a column devoted to comics that are falling below people's radar screens, it seems to me that it's a better use of my limited time and money to point readers to the good. However, a few things came out in 1998 that are calling for at least a tiny comment, so I'm indulging myself a bit for the sake of this year end column. 300: Was there ever anything of such mediocre quality that was so hyped and praised? If so, I can't remember it. Miller could illustrate the contents of his sock drawer and it would be a top seller. It would also be a better comic than 300. Mixxzine: There's a huge column/story about the funky crap Mixxzine keeps pulling to screw money out of manga and anime fans crying out to be written. This isn't the time or space for it, but maybe I'll get to it someday. In the meantime, let's just say that as long as Mixx keeps doing stupid stunts like printing two shrunken down, badly translated pages of story on one page of their magazine, then Viz has no competition to worry about in the field of translated manga. Vertigo: Remember the days when Vertigo comics used to be worth reading? I do. Unfortunately, none of those days happened in 1998. The whole line has degenerated into some kind of corporate caricature of what's "hip" and the result is forgettable comics that read exactly like telling stories by formula. I gave up on the line in April, meaning I now regularly by nothing from DC. I hold out feeble hopes for the Bagge/Hernandez series coming in the Spring. Maybe it will breathe some life into the line. Pete the PO'd Postal Worker: What's up with this? I got it on the strength of everyone's raves about it and I still can't figure out why. One joke told over and over and over again does not a comic make. PERSONAL DISCOVERIES OF THE YEAR: But not everything was a disappointment in 1998. I managed to discover some creators who were new to me and whose work made me sit up and take notice and then go out and search for more. Tim Brown (Brown Comix, Pulpspotting, The Obliviositer) Lewis Trondheim (Fantagraphics, The Nimrod, Measles, The Hoodoodad, Harum Scarum) Max (Drawn and Quarterly, The Extended Dream of Mr. D) Don't know these names? Take a look in past editions of this column in CBEM for reviews of their work. THE BEASTS THAT WILL NOT DIE: You can withdraw investors, send them in to bankruptcy and they still keep coming back again and again, spewing crap into the marketplace! There is no escape!!!! Run! Lock your doors! Stop them before they publish again!! Marvel Acclaim Awesome OTHER GOOD TITLES FROM 1998: I read a lot more than what gets into this column. The following titles rank among my favorites, but, since they seem to garner a fair amount of attention already, I have chosen not to include them in odds and ends. Until now, that is. What's a look back for if you can't let down your hair a bit? Bone (Cartoon Books) Castle Waiting (Olio Press) Akiko (Sirius) Thieves and Kings (I Box) Stray Bullets (El Capitan) A Distant Soil (Image) If you haven't read any of these titles, go down to your local shop and take a look. They're more than worth it, and should be relatively easy to find. LOOKING AHEAD: And finally, what are the Odds and Ends hopes and dreams for 1999? Like most of you, I've already made my resolutions and broken most of them, but I still have my secret dreams and plans for the year. I'd love to see a speedy end to this impeachment nonsense, so that Clinton can get back to running the country. I also hope I get accepted in to graduate school, even though it will mean a drastic change in my income. Finally, I would dearly love to have my writing published in a paying forum. As far as comics go, my hope is that there will still be a comics market at the end of the year. I'm not being facetious here. Even though 1998 proved to be better than my expectations in terms of reading material, but all of the clouds still linger overhead. Good stuff dies while crap flourishes. Readers are leaving in droves. Comics are ghettoized into out of the way shops that are unfriendly to new readers. The dominant format is a ridiculous, over-priced, flimsy pamphlet. Formulas and genres long tapped out still get most of the energy and attention. Creators who can neither write nor draw well are lionized as celebrities. And the distribution system is practically a monopoly with no eye to supporting the unique visionaries. (Just ask Joe Chiappetta.) Basically, the future's bleak and I can't help feeling cynical about it. I'll still keep hanging on while my reading pile gets smaller and smaller. I wish that the lessons of the past would one day finally be learned, but, with three months of Previews already out, I don't think that 1999 will be the year that happens. If ever. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [13] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts silhouet9@aol.com [Paul promotes amateur and professional comic book artwork, scripts, storylines, and unpublished comic books with a newsletter called the Peoples' Comic Book Newsletter. Its website is at Jazma Comic Book Newsletter Productions at http://www.twmgrafix.com/jazma He is also a prominent letter hack, as anyone who reads comic letter pages would know. He is in production of his own self-published comic book called The Legendary Dark Silhouette and has copyrighted over 600 characters for his Jazma Universe.] Name: Resident Evil #4 Publisher: Wildstorm Written by: Kris Oprisko, Marc Mostman & Ted Adams Drawn by: Rafael Kayanan, Ryan Odagawa & Norman Felchie Price: $4.95 Comments: Three great stories! The first one 'Night Stalkers' is about the evil Dr. Callos, who has combined bat DNA with human DNA and created monstrous bat creatures who spread the G Virus to humans. This all takes place in Saguaro Wells and when people start disappearing, the townsfolk first start blaming city youth gangs. Boy, do they have a surprise on their hands! The local Sheriff's son gets bitten by a bat creature and his transformation into a zombie is quite graphic! Leon, the hero of this story retaliates and wins! 'Special Delivery' is about the way Umbrella delivers their monstrous creations on an unsuspecting populace! One creature reminds me of the 'queen' in the movie "The Faculty". A definite monstrous delight! 'Zombies Abroad' has zombies attacking the crew on a passenger plane. The S.T.A.R.S. team goes to places like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Eiffel Tower, Oktoberfest in Munich in search of Umbrella's headquarters! Adventurous fun! If you haven't had the chance to check out Resident Evil, your really missing out! Superb artwork and high adventure horror stories! Coming soon from Wildstorm: The Authority (the front line, the last chance, the final defense, the only hope!), Planetary (it's a strange world, let's keep it that way!) and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore! Name: Vampirella Manga 2999 - Limited Edition Ashcan - Dec. 1998 Publisher: Harris Comics Written by: David Bogart & Seth Biederman Drawn by: Kevin Lau/pencils Kam Ling Ng/inks Comments: Surprises, surprises, surprises are in store for you at Harris Comics! Nope, I'm not talking about the Lady Death / Vampirella crossover either. How about a Manga Vampirella comic book? Yep, were talking about Vampirella in Neo-Tokyo, in the year 2999 AD. Vampirella isn't the only one in Neo-Tokyo. There is also her sidekick, Pantha. Vampirella protects Neo- Tokyo from Ninja Vampires, evil Samurais, crazed robots and berserk samurai robots! In this wonderfully laid out story, Vampirella and Pantha are fighting a crazed nuclear gigantic proportioned robot and the action is more jammed packed than Jean-Claude Van Damme's most recent movie 'Knock Off'. As Pantha has problems of jumping into a melee without strategy or logic, Vampirella has the problems of falling for someone instantly, without checking her own inner instincts. Luckily, for Vampirella, that Pantha can sense trouble and when Cupid's arrow hits Vampirella when she falls into the arms of her savior Johnny Banzai, it's Pantha who detects the trouble from this guy and she learns that he was the controller of the crazed nuclear robot! Wait until you see this artwork, Vampirella looks HOT Manga style! Fast paced stories that leave an impact!! Be on the lookout for Vampirella Manga 2999! Added bonus with this ashcan: penciled art of Kevin Lau and how he created the Manga look for Vampirella! Name: Creed #1 Publisher: Avatar Written and Drawn by: Trent Kaniuga Price: $3.95 Comments: Wow! Creed is back and you can only find it at Avatar! Creed has some history to it, if my memory serves me right, Trent started off with Creed at the Hall of Heroes publications and for awhile there, he had a pretty steady series going, in fact the main characters of Creed had did a couple of company crossovers. I haven't heard anything from Trent Kaniuga for awhile and then to my surprise, I found issue #1 of Creed by Avatar sitting on the racks! Trent is an exceptional artist and has a strong eye for detail. You will be amazed at the finesse and care he took, in drawing each panel! There is plenty of humor in this story and Mark gazes into a mirror and thinks how he accidentally took a nap in math class and how his punishment was to stay 3 hours after school. Mark loves entering his own world, a world known as Dreamworld. In this fantasy reality, you may encounter all kinds of creatures, islands in the sky, strange plant life, demons, etc. It's sort of like the Zelda Nintendo 64 video game meets Alice in Wonderland, when Mark and CJ (his frog) enter Dreamworld. Anything and everything can happen in this reality and believe me it does! For $3.95 you get plenty of pages, this comic book is pretty thick. You will laugh until your belly hurts, as CJ the frog and Mark get into some hilarious arguments. CJ the frog can morph into a dragon and when Mark wants him to do this, he refuses and it is comical on the way they interact, sort of like a Smothers Brothers routine. Great fun and plenty of adventure! If you liked Creed before, you'll like it even more! You even get an added bonus, with a short story called: The Goon! Also coming out by Avatar is: Alizarin's Journal and don't forget to check out the huge line of comic book titles that are published by.....yep, you guessed it....AVATAR! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [14] My View David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com [David LeBlanc is the Editor of the Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine. He is a long time fan of comics and the electronic media - having been the moderator of the comics forums on WME, FIDONET and the Comic Book Network. He and his wife are attempting to raise two teenage sons in a suburb of Worcester, Massachusetts. David supports his comic book habit by working as the Manager of Marketing and Sales for a privately owned manufacturer of electro-mechanical components.] CHEMICAL WARFARE #3 32 pages, black & white, $2.95/$3.95 CAN CHECKER COMICS http://www.checkercomics.com (sold exclusively on the Internet) Writer: Mark Thompson Art: Tony Fanning Design: Ann Bergman, Mike Gregg, Ben Rangel, A. Hubrich What if the next war involved not only the former Soviet Union and the US but China as well? Who would be the first to use nuclear weapons or would anyone dare open that pandora's box? The premise of this book is that the alternative weapons of mass destruction are far more likely to be used - those that are biological. They are also potentially more horrific in the was they can be designed and used. Previously we learned of border skirmishes in the siberian tundra lead to an alliance between Russia and the US against China. Meanwhile the Red Chinese took control of Taiwan and hold the civilians at key facilities and babies at key installations to ward off missile attacks, shades of Iraq. Meanwhile the black market flourishes in the trade of booze, drugs, guns, and white slavery along the soviet border. The armies guarding those borders are cautious about the use of chemical and biological agents potentially by the other side and more than a few are also mixed up in the black market. Two soldiers happen on a black marketeer and end up with something that holds the secret to a particularly nasty biological weapon. This one is selective but no one knows that until it is too late. Soon there is a secret plague being spread - but only some of the soldiers are dying. Even worse - the secret disease would just worsen if treated with normal medical treatment or precautions. Protective gear did no good and only the caucasians are affected. This is a frightening scenario which could not be too far fetched. Even more frightening is the actions of the unaffected. Whoever said war is hell had no idea how truly bizarre it could become. This is a very sobering comic but also one that tells a story well and captures your imagination with the things that may be happening or might come true in the not too distant future. The storytelling is top notch and the art is first rate as well. Tony Fanning uses a some varied layouts and perspectives that help the narrative as much as the dialogue. The team works as well as any together and the subject matter is well suited for the starkness of the black and white art. Of all the Checker comics this is my favorite for the unique subject matter and the superb production. This one is well worth the money. DANGER RANGER #3 24 pages, FULL COLOR, $1.95/$2.95 CAN CHECKER COMICS http://www.checkercomics.com (sold exclusively on the Internet) Art: Dave Berkebile Color: Dizzy Fish Character Design: Reggie Weaver Story: Mark Thompson Cover: Neal Adams This is the third part and conclusion of the first arc involving the Kandy Man who is really a ghost feeding on the hatred and fear of children - turning them into his witting minions as he goes on a mass murder spree. The government funded anti-crime project, the Danger Ranger has failed so far in his efforts to stop the reign of terror. This appears to be the norm for our hero who failed to stop the death of an innocent bystander in his first mission for the program and even now, with funding in danger of being cut, he can't even get transferred out of the Danger Ranger program. It will take more than smoke and mirrors to end this real danger, or will it? This is a highly visual comic with the bright dazzling colors provided by Dizzy fish and the jump-at-you panels provided by Dave Berkebile. This may appear to be another super hero entry into a crowded field but the production values are very high as is the creative energy in each part of the composition. This issue read pretty well on its own as it tells the background of the hero and the tragedy of his first case which is a theme in the prior two issues just mentioned in passing. It also covers the evil inherent in the Kandy Man and wraps up his immediate fate while leaving open the prospect that he could return. Checker puts out really fine product and this issue is a good example of what to expect. Check it out. VAMPIRELLA MANGA 2999 (Limited Edition Ashcan) 16 pages, black & white, digest size - not for sale (information on the full size comic not provided Harris Publications New York, NY Writers: David Bogart & Seth Biederman Penciller: Kevin Lau Inker: Kam Ling NG Letterer: Michael Conley/Kell-O-Graphics This is of course a promotional piece fro an upcoming comic. The first 10 pages is one of the stories that will appear and the rest is character designs and sketches. Kevin Lau has some really interesting lines in his work and I am always interested in looking at sketches in pencil to compare them to finished inked pages. Having no talent myself beyond basic stick figures I marvel at how well and artist can put together the elements of sa panel a page and story to make it not only tell a story but look appealing to the eye as well. The art team here is very capable in that regard. What I don't care for is the premise. I enjoy VAMPIRELLA done as a classic horror character. Some of the product Harris put out in the past year has really excelled in storytelling, as well as art. It seems they have also fallen prey to the urge to issue limited editions, variants and as many crossovers with other "hot" characters in the market. Now they are doing their Manga riff and this is not Vampirella or Pantha - it is two characters with the same names and a backstory to explain what is going on. Even by itself it is not a bad story - but if I want a real Vampirella story I want a real Vampirella. A babe with big eyes in a similar costume fighting giant robots just does not work for me. Perhaps those who are willing to buy this type of art in any comic won't mind. And as I said it is not bad - just not what I care to buy. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [15] New Comic Book Releases List [NCRL] by Charles LePage ncrl@mediaone.net +++WINNER OF THE 1996 REC.ARTS.COMICS.* "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE+++ http://www.jacksonville.net/~ncrl New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, 1/13/1999, compiled by Charles LePage with information from Suncoast Comics. 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.jacksonville.net/~ncrl, and Compuserve's Comics Publishers Forum. "TPB" = "trade paperback". "GN" = "graphic novel". "AA" = "available again". "SC" = "softcover". "HC" = "hardcover". "S/N" = "signed/numbered". "AR" = "ask retailer about price". PUBLISHER TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS NCRL for January 13, 1999 ARCHIE COMICS PUBLICATIONS Archie Double Digest #106, 2.95 Betty #71, 1.75 CHAOS! COMICS Chastity Rocked #4 (Of 4), 2.95 Steven Hughes Portfolio Reg Ed, 20 Undertaker Preview Reg Ed, 2.5 CPM MANGA Lodoss War Grey Witch #3, 2.95 Slayers #4, 2.95 DARK HORSE Buffy The Vampire Slayer Origin #1 (Of 3), 2.95 Dark Horse Presents #139, 2.95 Masakazu Katsuras Shadow Lady I Dangerous Love #4 (Of 7), 2.5 DC COMICS Animaniacs Featuring Pinky And The Brain #46, 1.99 Azrael Agent Of The Bat #50, 2.25 Batman Shadow Of The Bat #83, 1.99 Birds Of Prey TPB, 17.95 Books Of Magic #58, 2.5 Green Lantern #110, 1.99 Impulse #46, 2.25 Legends Of The DC Universe #14, 3.95 Legionnaires #69, 2.5 Minx #6, 2.5 Nightwing #29, 1.99 Resurrection Man #22, 2.5 Scooby-Doo #20, 1.99 Supermen Of America Collectors Ed #1, 4.95 Supermen Of America Standard Ed #1, 3.95 Tales Calculated To Drive You Mad #6 (Of 8), 3.99 Titans #1, 2.5 Transmetropolitan #19, 2.5 Wildcats Vol 2 #1, 2.5 HURRICANE COMICS Chassis Vol 2 #3, 2.95 IMAGE COMICS Aria #1, 2.5 Spawn #79, 1.95 Kabuki Circle Of Blood HC, 29.95 magazines Comic Shop News #604, AR MARVEL COMICS Alpha Flight #20, 1.99 Amazing Spider-Man #3, 1.99 Avengers #13, 1.99 Avengers Forever #4 (Of 12), 2.99 Battlebooks Iron Man, 3.99 Battlebooks Spider-Girl, 3.99 Battlebooks Thor, 3.99 Battlebooks Wolverine, 3.99 Generation X #49, 1.99 Iron Man #14, 1.99 Mutant X #6, 1.99 Spider-Girl #6, 1.99 ONI PRESS INC. Nobody #3 (Of 4), 2.95 SHARKBAIT PRESS Pete The Pod Postal Worker #7, 2.95 VIZ COMMUNICATIONS Dragonball #11 (Of 12), 2.95 Nightwarriors Darkstalkers Revenge #3 (Of 6), 2.95 Pulp Volume 3 #2, 5.95 Ranma 1/2 Vol 12 TPB, 15.95 YI IMAGINATION STUDIOS Float Trial Of Century #1, 2.95 NCRL for the foreseeable future... TITLE OLD NEW DATE DATE DC COMICS Superman: Sunday Classics HC W/Slipcase 11/25 01/13 The Flintstones And The Jetsons #19 01/06/99 01/13/99 JLA/Titans #3 12/30/98 01/20/99 Superman & Batman: Generations #3 01/13/99 01/20/99 The Big Book Of Vice 01/20/99 01/27/99 Divine Right #8 10/21/98 01/27/99 Essential Vertigo: The Sandman #32 01/06/99 01/27/99 Golden Age Flash Medium Statue 02/24 03/17 Crisis On Infinite Earths HC w/slipcase 12/02 TBA MARVEL Avengers #13 12/30/98 01/13/99 Battlebooks: Colossus 12/02/98 01/20/99* Battlebooks: Gambit 12/02/98 01/20/99* Battlebooks: Rogue 12/02/98 01/20/99* Battlebooks: Storm 12/02/98 01/20/99* Spider-Man: The Manga #27 12/30/98 01/20/99 X-Men : The Manga #22 12/23/98 01/20/99 Wolverine Winter Special 12/02 CANCELLED ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [16] HYPE! Section Various Subj: Danger Girl Press Release From: mjhawkins@earthlink.net (Matt Hawkins) DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD! Move over James Bond, the espionage scene just got a whole lot sexier! J. Scott Campbell's sassy spy, Danger Girl, is heating up the comic market like no other and our friends at Dynamic Forces and Wildstorm are upping the ante this month with a spectacular new one shot! The Dynamic Forces Premiere: Danger Girl Special #1 is an all-new, all-action, all-danger filled comic that will make your bad-girl collection look like a litter of puppies. How can we make such a bold statement you ask? The answer is simple, the Dynamic Forces Premiere: Danger Girl Special #1 is drawn by comics legend Art Adams! Art has long been a great influence on Danger Girl creator J. Scott Campbell and his cover to this comic will leave you breathless! This incredible cover sports an incredible shot of Abbey and Sydney, wearing nothing but suds and playfully inviting someone to join them. Make that someone you as you follow along in Valerie's fantasy of her leading the Danger Girls in place of Deuce. Where will this vixen's whims of fantasy take you...only the imagination of J. Scott Campbell, Art Adams, and Andy Hartnell know for sure, but it is certain to be a WILD RIDE taking you to the edge of the Cliff to Hang! How can we top that? How about if we throw in a special variant cover on every fourth issue drawn by J. Scott Campbell and inked by Art Adams? That's double the danger! To satisfy your every need, the Dynamic Forces Premiere Danger Girl #1 is also available in a signed version by the entire creative team of Campbell, Hartnell, and Art Adams! This month is Danger Girl Month from Dynamic, and what better way to celebrate it and the release of the DG Premiere than with these other great Danger Girl collectibles: * DYNAMIC FORCES PREMIERE: DANGER GIRL SPECIAL #1 EUROPEAN COVER! (Extremely limited import!!!!!) * DANGER GIRL #2 DANGEROUS COLLECTED ED DYNAMIC FORCES EXCLUSIVE GOLD FOIL COVER! * DANGER GIRL #3 DYNAMIC FORCRES EXCLUSIVE GOLD FOIL COVER! * DANGER GIRL "SURROUNDED" DYNAMIC FORCES EXCLUSIVE LITHOGRAPH! (Also available signed by creator J. Scott Campbell) * DANGER GIRL #1 COLLECTED ED DYNAMIC FORCES EXCLUSIVE LTD ED GOLD FOIL COVER! (Also available signed by creator J. Scott Campbell) * DANGER GIRL #5 DYNAMIC FORCES EXCLUSIVE ALTERNATE COVER GOLD FOIL EDITION! Whoa baby, Emma Peel, Jill Masterson, and Pussy Galore move over, there's a new Danger Girl in town! GOLDEN AGE GREATS REBORN! The Golden Age of comics has long past (yet still in our hearts), but DC Comics and Dynamic Forces are teaming up to turn 1999 back to 1939 with all new comics based on the greatest super-hero comics OF ALL TIME! Now you can be the first on your block to own All-Star Comics #1, National Comics #1, and Sensation Comics #1 all signed by some of the greatest creators of today (and you won't have to hit the lottery to own them!) Just imagine, the greatest comics of yesteryear all autographed by the greatest creators of the modern age: ALL-STAR COMICS #1 signed by Superman Michael Lark! NATIONAL COMICS #1 signed by Flash Mark Waid! SENSATION COMICS #1 signed by Wonder-Artist Dave Johnson! Grab up your paper route money and watch out for war-time propaganda, because tomorrow is yesterday with DC and Dynamic! Speaking of bringing back the past (and great memories), who didn't grow up with the incredible DC Vs Marvel Treasury Editions in the Seventies? We all did, and now you can bring a piece of your childhood home with an all new Superman / Fantastic Four Treasury Edition! Dynamic is bringing back that childhood you left behind by producing a special edition signed by Superman alumni Dan Jurgens and the main man himself, Alex Ross! If you thought the old Superman / Spider-Man Treasury was something, wait until you get a load of Alex's incredible cover over Dan's pencils for the Superman / Fantastic Four Treasury. It is guaranteed to leave you speechless! As if that wasn't enough to make you want to re-grow that afro you had when you were twelve, Dynamic also has the special JLA Lost Super Spectacular signed by one of the greatest Silver Age superstars and the ultimate Green Lantern artist; Gil "Green Lantern - the original Hal Jordan" Kane! Break out the polyester and platform shoes, the Seventies are back to stay! X-MEN X-TRAVAGANZA The X-Men have endured 35 years of prosperity and the best super hero adventures to ever see print. Now as part of their historic 35th anniversary celebration, Marvel Comics and Dynamic Forces are teaming up to give the fans the anniversary gift with the Dynamic Forces Exclusive cover edition of Magneto Rex #1 Alternate Cover! This ground breaking issue will change X-Men history forever and the most sought after version of the book will be the extremely limited alternate cover edition by Brandon "Brando" Peterson! This super-special comic is available in a signed edition that won't drain your pockets of silver, but will line your coffers with gold! Also as a part of our 35th anniversary celebration, we are offering an incredible X-Men & Friends 35th Anniversary Package that boasts an uncanny 35 comics (including the rare Magneto Rex #1 Alternate Cover, X-Men #80 Alternate Cover, Uncanny X-Men #360 Alternate Cover, and 32 other Marvel Comics)! As an X-ceptional bonus, two of the 32 Marvel Comics will be signed editions at no extra cost featuring Ron (I've drawn just about every comic character) Lim, Adam (Captain America) Kubert, Joe (Battlechasers) Madureira, and/or Darick (Transmetropolitan) Robertson! You get the gifts as Marvel and Dynamic thank you, the fans, for 35 great years of mutants, morlocks, and mayhem with the X-Men. ET TU NICOLA? They didn't think he would do it, but he has! Nicola Barrucci, President of Dynamic Forces, is paying homage to the greatest of the greats, William Shakespeare, by offering fans a special Ides of March Dynamic Forces Starter Package! No this package doesn't have lost Shakespearean manuscripts, but it does have the next best thing, fifteen hard-to-get classic comics at a give away price. The package includes five Dynamic Forces alternate cover limited edition comics, five convention edition or other rare exclusive comics, and five classic back issue comics. 15 comics On March 15th For $15 dollars! Oh Caesar would be jealous! Get thine self a pack and enjoy the finer side of literature, courtesy of your friends at Dynamic Forces! +++++ Subj: DreamWalker #1: Carousel Date: 1/8/99 1:45:01 AM Central Standard Time From: JenGregory Hi there, Just wanted to let the list know that the new series debut of DreamWalker #1: Carousel, is listed in this months Previews in the Avatar section for a March release. I'm very excited about the new DreamWalker series and hope that you will give it a read. What is this issue about: Karen begins a new job but finds it considerably more complicated than she anticipated. Cori's love life takes an unexpected turn, while Mrs. Tobias has some nagging concerns about her health. Also, Walter the cop is back, but for some reason Karen doesn't seem too happy to seem him. And amidst all this Karen returns to the dreamscape, finding certain familiar faces... faces she never thought to see again. DreamWalker's thoughtful, character-driven storytelling has garnered acclaim from industry magazines and internet reviews alike. This new story arc is the perfect jumping-on point. If you are unfamiliar with DreamWalker, it is an all-ages book about a 20-something, young woman named Karen Brinson. One day she realizes that she has the ability to project herself into other people's dreams. At first she has trouble accepting this, and tries to prove to herself that it isn't really happening. As time goes by however, she comes to the realization that either she really is "dreamwalking" or else she's losing her mind. If you would like to take a closer look at the cover to DreamWalker #1: Carousel visit: http://members.aol.com/jengregory/ This site is *really* temporary. Hopefully by this weekend the totally new and complete DreamWalker site will be up and running! DreamWalker: Carousel's can be ordered using Order No. Jan991143 in Diamond Previews Consumer. You may also want to flip over to the two really great ads in Previews on pages 199, 200 and the DreamWalker Spotlight on Page 202. There is also a special retailer incentive that is being offered, for every 10 copies ordered, you will receive a signed sketch. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at: JenGr