----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: ***************************************** **** THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE OF **** ***************************************** THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 203 2/26/99 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 Guest Editorial ....................... Mike Imboden [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Ramblings `99 ......................... Rich Johnston [6] The Time Warp ......................... Mike Imboden [7] Interview: Jimmy Robinson ............. Paul Dale Roberts [8] Venting My Spleen ..................... David Groenewegen [9] And Let Me Tell You Why ............... David Coulter [10] Some Pages, A Cover, and A Few Staples. Marlan Harris [11] Had Your Phil ......................... Phil White [12] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [13] My View: Blythe:Nightvision ........... David LeBlanc [14] Top 100 Comics for February ........... Diamond Comics [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 [Special note: still time to vote for CBEM in the 1998 SQUIDDIES (as well as HEROES RERUN and ACTION COP in the Best Web Comic race!) - go to: http://www.innocence.com/~squiddy/squid-ballot.cgi An error in the script may have not properly recorded all ballots so if you want your vote to count you may want to try again. The vote taker can delete a double vote but can't recover a lost one. The voting has been extended to this Sunday 2/28. - D.L.] Welcome the the Fourth Anniversary of the Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine! We have been celebrating landmarks all month and finally hit the big one. Those of you who have been with us from the beginning know that we have had some ups and downs along the way. The cool thing about this type of publication is that you don't have to worry about saving those back issues - we do it for you. Yes, even you newcomers can hop in the wayback machine, otherwise known as your web browser and set the dials for http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet to relive the experiences we have had over the last four years. What you will find is a pretty interesting period in the history of the comic book medium. Some of the events of those four years are still being talked about today. Interestingly enough, a few people who participated on a regular basis in this forum have become better known to the comic reading public by their work in the industry. The names Benny Powell, J. Torres, and Chris Orr are just a few from the early days. Some contributors still with us today are making their mark with new and exciting products on the racks. We have also been fortunate to have people like Tony Isabella and Robert Beerbohm as major contributors adding a whole new level of discourse and a lot more subscribers. There are many more like Paul Dale Roberts and Charles Lepage who have consistently kept alive the fervor from which the idea of this Emag started. There are really too many to list, but we are grateful to them all for contributing to our success. In the spirit of the anniversary I read through the list of back issues and picked out a few highlights from our history. This is not the "best of" by any means, just things that caught my eye and show the diversity of the emag and a few things that made things interesting during our first four years. 2/27/95 - 1st issue edited by Ed Dukeshire, includes reviews by David LeBlanc and Chris Orr. 3/2/95 - 3rd issue we advertise our first internet Email address for feedback -> ComicBkNet@aol.com 5/15/95 - Issue #9 - we advertise for Email subscriptions. Emag being posted to files sections on BBS networks, AOL, Genie and Compuserve. 7/10/95 - Issue #17 - Ryan Brewster takes over the mailing list maintenance. 8/7/95 - Issue#21 - 1st web page set up at www.chris.com 8/13/95 - Issue 22 - Ryan Brewster becomes new Editor 8/20/95 - Bobb Waller begins column of new comics shipping. 10/1/95 - Issue #29 - "OUT OF AFRICA" begins - column from South Africa 1/21/96 - Issue #45 - Ryan's last issue, begins his own Emag 2/19/96 - Issue #46 - after nearly a month hiatus, the Emag becomes THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE with David LeBlanc as the new editor. Web page moves to its current home at http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet. Subscribers number about 200 2/24/96 - Issue #47 - 1st anniversary, 3/1/97 - First Trivia contest in memory of Seaborn Adamson - now the longest running feature of the Emag 3/15/96 - 50th Issue - Letter from 'NUFF SAID indicates we are being plugged on the radio 3/22/96 - Issue #51 - RECOMMENDED READING column begins written by Joe Torres (COPYBOOK TALES, SIREN) 4/1/96 - First SPECIAL EDITION - April Fools issue. 8/30/96 - Issue #74 - The NCRL becomes a regular feature making Chuck Lepage the longest continuous contributor to the Emag to date beside the editor. 9/6/96 - Issue #75 - divisible by 25 Variant cover issue. 1/10/97 - Issue # 93 - TIPS OF THE TRADE column begins by Larry Underwood (VOLUNTEER COMICS) 1/31/97 - Issue #96 - The Comics Newswire by Mike Doran begins 2/28/97 - 100TH Issue - 2nd Anniversary, Newswire changes its name to NEWSARAMA. 3/21/97 - Issue #103 - Robert Beerbohm writes in about the `73 Berkley Con. 4/4/97 - Issue #105 - Beerbohm begins his COMICS REALITY series 5/9/97 - Issue #110 - Review of ALTER EGO reprint, grandaddy of the fanzines. 7/4/97 - Issue #118 - NEWSARAMA moves to exclusive deal on MANIA 8/8/97 - Issue #123 - MINI-COMICS review column begins by John E. Thompson (ACTION COP) 9/19/97 - Issue #129 - Interview with Chuck Rozanski on his bid for Marvel. 11/28/97 - Issue #139 - QUOTE OF THE WEEK contest begins sponsored by ACCLAIM reps Lou Novacheck and Jess McCann 1/2/98 - Issue #144 - Online interactive HTML version begins on DIGITAL WEBBING 2/13/98 - 150TH ISSUE - Interview with Chris Orr, new head of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. 11/13/98 - Issue 188 - CBEM publicizes suit by Warren Publishing over VAMPIRELLA rights. 1/1/99 - Issue #195 - Subscribers now number 1135 plus several hundred hits per week on web editions. 2/5/99 - Issue #200 - largest issue ever! 2/24/99 - These comics show up at your local comic book store! ABSTRACT STUDIOS Strangers In Paradise Vol 6 High School TPB, 8.95 DC COMICS Astro City Vol 2 #16 (Resolicited), 2.50 <--PICK OF THE WEEK! Crisis On Infinite Earths HC And Slipcase Corrected Edition, 99.95 Doctor Midnite #2 (Of 3), 5.95 Dv8 #0, 2.95 Flash #147, 1.99 Gen 13 #38, 2.50 Hitman #36, 2.5 JLA #28, 1.99 League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen #2 (Of 6), 2.95 Legion Of Super Heroes #114, 2.5 Robin #63, 1.99 Supergirl #31, 1.99 Superman & Batman Generations #4 (Of 4), 4.95 Superman The Man Of Tomorrow #13, 1.99 Superman's Nemesis Lex Luthor #2 (Of 4), 2.5 IMAGE COMICS Savage Dragon #58, 2.5 MARVEL COMICS Earth X #1 (Of 12), 2.99 Iron Man #15, 1.99 OCEAN COMICS Wedding Of Popeye And Olive #1, 2.75 OKTOMICA ENTERTAINMENT Wisp #1, 2.50 Wonderlanders #2, 2.50 2/26/99 - Issue #203, CBEM celebrates its 4th anniversary with Email subscriptions topping 1200! Sit back, relax, and join us as we start year number five. NEXT WEEK: The 3rd Anniversary of our Trivia Contest! David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine GUEST EDITORIAL OUR CO-FOUNDER: MIKE IMBODEN Four years.... wow. If you asked me four years ago if I'd still be reading CBEM I would have chuckled. Ed and I never expected it to last very long, let alone four years. The BBS scene was starting to feel the effects of people finding out about the Internet and that there was a lot more to do out there then there was on a dial-up BBS. As a result, CBN - the reason behind CBEM - was taking a hit. The message bases were drying up and the number of member BBS systems was just starting to shrink after growing to nearly 100 boards across the country and into Canada and Mexico. Ed and I had spearheaded the whole CBN "movement" and it was admittedly a little painful to see our "baby" suffering. We had to do something! We figured the best way to get new participants was to advertise, and what better way to show people what we had to offer than to, well, show them. Thus, CBEM was born. David's told the tale in the past how CBEM was more or less a compilation of recent messages and a smattering of news. We wanted to whet the appetite of comics fandom and for a while it worked. But, like any dynasty, CBN lost it's lustre. However, and more surprisingly, CBEM was shining brighter than ever. Sure, it had it's dark days when it almost turned into ComicSquid or whatever the hell it was - but that was "BD" - Before David. Ed and I knew we needed someone to raise our "baby". Someone who could nurture and protect it. Someone who could help it grow and flourish. And with a "subscriber" base of darn near 2000 people I'd say we made the right choice. Thank you, Dave, for doing such a damn fine job at this. In these four years we've seen a lot of things happen outside of the world of comics. Things like; ***The OJ Simpson trial. Both of them. ***The Oklahoma city bombing. The less said the better. ***Bill Clinton won a second presidential race. A little over two years later he was impeached although acquitted of the charges. ***Mike Tyson was banned from boxing for biting Evander Holyfield's ears... He regained his boxing license only to put it in jeopardy after beating up a couple of old men in Gaithersburg, MD a short time later. ***The Green Bay Packers nearly created an NFL dynasty only to watch the Denver Broncos turn around and start their own. ***Michael Jordon won his two-millionth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls. Then retired. ***The Star Wars trilogy received a face lift and theatrical re-release. ***We learned, courtesy of Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerlich, that Macintosh computers are compatible with alien technology and that if you are an attractive African American woman with a son and a dog you can outrun a massive fireball barreling down on you through a tunnel. They also proved that all the special effects in the world can't "update a classic" ***We watched Kerri Strug vault the US Women's gymnastic team to a gold medal with a dislocated wheel. On a low note, a bomb went off in Centennial Park killing one and injuring 11. ***Tickle Me Elmo and Furby caused grown adults to wantonly slaughter each other in the aisles of toy stores across the country. ***The Macarena came. And went. ***Telecommunications Act of 1996 bans transmission of "indecent" material over computer networks. Thankfully the First Amendment prevailed and clearer heads beat it down. ***Beanie babies stormed the shores of comic shops everywhere. ***After enjoying the tales of the Scarlet Spider, Scottish scientists cloned a sheep in what they dubbed "Maximum Woolage" ***Viagra! 'Nuff said! ***We were blessed with a topless shot of Kate Winslett in "Titantic". This alone catapulted the movie into the record books as the highest grossing film of all time. ***The British Invasion played itself out again, this time in the form of the Teletubbies. Preschoolers everywhere get a glimpse of what college life will be like as they take a wonderful trip with Dipsy, Laa Laa, Po and the controversial Tinky Winky. ***Mark McGwire does the impossible and slams 70 home runs. ***Jesse Ventura one-ups McGwire in the "Impossible Department" and becomes governor of Minnesota. ***SEINFELD finished it's run. ***Stamps went from 29 cents to 32 cents to 33 cents. And many more memorable events that are too numerous to list here. In fact, therein lies a topic of discussion - what is YOUR most memorable event of the past four years? Personally, my life has improved tenfold during this time. I've gotten a college degree, watched as my second son was born and made a career change that has just about doubled my salary. My wife and I realized the "American Dream" as we bought a house and attained just about everything we had set for ourselves goal-wise. Yeah, a lot has happened in these past four years. What will the next four years bring us? Who knows. The only certainty that *I* can see is that the spirit of CBN will live on as CBEM, in one format or another, will continue to keep you up to date and informed. Four years... wow. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [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. +++++ From: BCEMYLAR@CWIXMAIL.COM (BILL COLE ENTERPRISES, INC.) Friday February 26, 1999 Well it finally happened! A major snowstorm hit the South Shore/Coast of Massachusetts yesterday and dumped between 15 and 20 of snow, depending on where you were located. We left early and apologize if your tried to call and got no answer. We do monitor our e-mail and that is the best way to get in touch with us both during and after business hours. INTERNET AND E-MAIL UPDATE. http://www.neponset.com/bcemylar For the past few months we have been improving our web site and our ability to e-mail our friends and customers. If you have access to the Internet, then sign up on our e-mail list. We do both web and e-mail specials only to those who go have signed to receive them. NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: As of March 1, 1999 our e-mail address will change to bcemylar@cwixmail.com Please change your records accordingly. Ordering On Line: You can order electronically in confidence when purchasing from BCE. Information that you send us over the web does not reside in a data base anywhere. Information is instantly e-mailed to us via a direct link to the internet backbone. Since we use a major provider (Cable & Wireless Company)Your e-mail is scrambled into thousands of packets, unscrambled at our providers site, and then sent directly to us. In fact, most computer hackers are looking for thousands of credit card numbers rather than just one sent randomly through the Internet. Please feel comfortable in e-mailing us your orders. LINKS: If you have a web site and wish to be linked with us, please send us all the necessary information. Upon review our Web master will make a determination for linking. Be advised that we will only link with those companies that have suitable material that our customers may wish to receive. WEB SITE DEVELOPER: Our web site was developed and is being maintained by D & S Associated at 19 Carroll Avenue, Westwood, MA 02090. Their phone number is 781-329-1344. e-mail address is enewsr@ix.netcom.com, or call their BBS at 781-329-3751. They now offer Internet Consultation, Web Hosting, and Web Design Services at very competitive rates. More information can be obtained at their web site http://neponset.com or call them directly. We highly recommend them. +++++ To: david102@netscape.net (David Coulter) From: Steve Chung (schung1968@juno.com) Hi! Enjoyed your column regarding autographs and Dynamic Forces. An autograph makes sense if you've met the person who's signing it in your presence and not in absentia. Otherwise, how do you know that it was Alan Moore who signed it? The only possible appeal about Dynamic Forces would be the so-called exclusive covers (which don't really thrill me, particularly the prices.) Favorite autographed book: At Wondercon last year, Julie Schwartz and Murphy Anderson signed my 1973 Superman Tabloid Edition (first book that my mom ever got me) and I got my picture taken with them, as well. Priceless moment, indeed! Steve Chung +++++ From: Daniel Frye (dfrye@mninter.net) To: david102@netscape.net Subject: Giant Robots and such I too love Giant Robots, shouldn't everyone? I hope you watched Batman Beyond two weeks ago, where he battled a nerdy kid that could control a giant robot called the Golem. And hey lets not forget Gigantor. But I think you are mistaken about one of your comic books: Machine Man The original Kirby comic was from his post-fourth-world return to Marvel, an era that brought us The Eternals and Devil Dinosaur. The first few issues are marginally interesting, but are nothing compared to the wonderful, sublime and disturbing Walt Simonson miniseries (reprinted a few years ago as Machine Man 2020). I think that mini-series was written by David Micheline and drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith, at least that's what I remember. Nice little piece you wrote, I love the fact you mentioned Jonny Socko and his Giant Robot. I tell people about that show all the time but no one remembers Dan Frye +++++ Subj: Comics & Entertainment Value From: juricich@jps.net (Chris Juricich) Hal Schuster's comments about comics in Thailand being available at about $3 and providing 840 pages of content was an astounding shocker to me. Boy, what a joy if comics in this country could follow that model. No doubt there would be a lot more kids reading comics than are currently, and there's where the future of this medium's proliferation lies: with kids reading comics. Even if the majority of them tossed the hobby or avocation as they grew up, it would keep the industry in better shape, but as we all know, there is a major stumbling block to this happening. Cost. 20 pages of story for $2? I don't think so, most parents will respond. Many have pontificated to a degree in the past that 'It's the story, stupid.' as the most important component, and granted, it is-- once the kids have the book in their hands. But how many books will find their way into a kid's hands at $2 for twenty pages? We all know that answer. One can cite competition from electronic entertainment as having contributed to the downsizing of the industry, but it still doesn't particularly explain how comics have degenrated in sales so horrendously in the past thirty years. Even in the 60s, sales were sliding but there was less an issue of cost at the time. With the concommitant rise in prices and the burgeoning of computers, videos, home gaming systems, and its ilk since the 80s, it's put the market precisely where it is: a ghetto of adult, literate aficionados who are willing and able to support the existing price point of your average comic book. Do I have an answer? No, but I have a suggestion. DC and Marvel have a wealth of editorial content from over 50 years of publication apiece. Why not do reprints on cheap paper in black and white or, if feasible, in color? Sell them returnable in the direct market. In this way they won't be screwing over their existing account base through Diamond and hopefully will bring in new readers. Much of this material is timeless, really. And for kids, savvy as they may be at an earlier age, much of the content from times past would be less objectionable to many parents. Is it practical? I don't know, but I put it out there for consideration. Otherwise, the future of this medium will continue to sit comfortably in its little niche, to probably get a bit smaller over the next few years and ultimately settle in its niche of entertainment. This in itself isn't a bad thing, I believe, as it will keep those smitten with the form happy and provided for. What do you think? Chris Juricich +++++ Subj: Apex One Graphics From: MGreczek To: ComicBknet David : Thanks for your vigorous and thoughtful review of "Delta, the Ultimate Difference". Although it appears you didn't enjoy the book, and I apologize that it didn't appeal to you, some misconceptions must be cleared up. First and foremost, whatever your beliefs are about the origin of life here on earth are, they are probably out of date. The latest thinking, from a majority of physicists and biologists, is that the components of life were formed in outer space. Vast carbon clouds have been discovered in large regions of the universe. Speculation has it that meteorites could have travelled through the clouds and, before they bombarded planets that got in the way, formed the basis for large carbon chain evolution on the inside of the meteorites themselves. Entropy would be the driving force for this evolution because it has been demonstrated that certain large carbon molecules can self-organize in order to make room for entropy. This self-organization potential is a vital link to understanding protein synthesis and then to understanding gene creation. The large carbon molecules' aimless interactions creates structures while maximizing entropy. Thus the maximization of entropy is driving the self-organization. Even now, thousands of meteorites hit the earth everyday. Occasionally you'll see them as shooting stars. But they leave a vapor trail full of organic material some of which could be genetic. This material falls to earth, enters the food supply, and all living things eat it. My picture of the "primitive" on page 2 is Adam eating the apple. He eats it and immediately knows the difference between good and evil. This legendary story has a ring of truth in it ! Our first ancestors ate food that had genetic material in it that eventually altered their brains, producing true self awareness. As I say on page 3, like it or not, you and me and all of us are products of this cosmic evolution, an evolution that assembled itself here, on this world, on this assembly station earth. Now given assembled genes have spawned our consciousness, what would it take to advance that consciousness ? You got it, an infusion of more genes. That's what the "Differential Device" does. In my sub-chapter "the beginning", I try to express the philosophical problems of differing approaches to consciousness. "the beginning" should make you think. The act of thinking should be entertaining. There is no doubt in my mind that somewhere on earth, even as I write this, genetic manipulation of humans by other humans is being done. For obvious reasons, it's kept out of the papers. I believe the reason for any human genetic experimentation would be to build better humans. But are they better or are they "frankensteins" ? Two more things and I'll let you go. Energy from the quantum vacuum field could have created the universe itself. The "many worlds" theory of quantum mechanics assumes the existence of alternate realities. For taking the time to write your review, I'd like to buy you a one year's subscription to The Journal of Consciousness Studies. Believe it or not, there are hundreds of scientists of world renown working on this subject. It's not fantasy, it's reality : you are star stuff, assembled here on this world. The clash of this fact with the other competing philosophies we hold dear will occur in the 21st century. Very Best Regards Michael Greczek mgreczek@aol.com [I already advised Mike to save his money. I have no desire to be enlightened about the latest thinking on self awareness. The review I wrote addressed the need for comics to be entertaining. If you lose sight of that in the passion of a cause or belief, you won't have much of an audience.] +++++ From:webink@pasdex.com.au David, Tony Isabella refers to Bill Mantlo in his column. I don't get CBM and haven't heard anything about Bill since the first reports of his accident. I'd really appreciate it if you or Tony could update us all. Bill was never my favorite writer but he always wrote with passion and conviction and that counts for a lot. Mention of Bill prompted me to write about something that has been bugging me for ages. Without wishing to sound like an American-bashing foreigner, the American medical system sounds like a total nightmare.I think there's a desperate need for a charitable fund (similar to the Legal Defence Fund) to assist uninsured American freelancers and their families during medical emergencies. Benefit books such as Images of Omaha and A Fall of Stardust are wonderful and show the field at its best but wouldn't it be better to have something more structured. Think what something like this might have done for Wally Wood. I know Wally's medical problems were only a part of the reason he took his own life but still who knows what might have happened if he'd been free of that particular burden. CBEM is great - keep it up. Ian Gould +++++ Subj: MIsc. From: CBPROFILES David- I wanted to congratulate you on your 3rd anniversary as editor of CBEM. I think I have been receiving it now for about a year and it has become my main source of news in the industry. I can appreciate all the hard work that goes into putting together each issue. I have also found that it is a very effective way for me to alert people as to what is going on with our projects. I just wanted to update everyone on the status of the special issue that Comic Book Profiles is doing on Archie Goodwin. As I have mentioned previously, we are donating all our profits from that issue to the scholarship fund that has been set up in his honor at the School of Visual Arts. Diamond recently agreed to donate the profits they make from the sale of that issue to the scholarship fund also. We have had a great outpouring of support from the industry for the project. Interviews that we have already done for the issue include Jeph Loeb, Walter and Louise Simonson, Paul Levitz, Denny O'Neil, Paul Davis, and Al Williamson. We have more lined up but not completed yet. We hope to have over 20 supporting interviews for the issue. If any one that worked with Archie would like to participate there is still time. Just contact me at CBPROFILES@aol.com Also, if anyone has any sketches that Archie did that they would like to share with us for use in the issue, let me know. The issue is tentatively scheduled to be released in July. Keep up the good work, Matt Poslusny editor Comic Book Profiles +++++ From: James Warren To: David102@netscape.net Subject: Your current piece on the Comicbook Net re autographs David (or should I call you Denny Colt?), Agree with you in fact and in spirit on fandom's attitude towards autographs. Never could understand why anyone - fan or no fan - could attach any significance to (what they think is) a signature, when they themselves were never around to see it written, never saw the writer up close, never had them say Hello, Thanks, Get Lost, whatever. As you so perfectly put it: I'd rather shake the hand of the person who did the things I admire - than to look at a "manufactured" signature that anyone could collect or sell. Whenever I'm asked by fans to sign anything, I make it a point to look into their faces, chat a line or two, and try to see inside this human being who shares my interests. If I could, I'd sit and have a cup of coffee with every one of them. What I've never liked - and always suspected was artificial - is the addition of the so-called autographh to a so-called Limited Edition piece, in order to make it appear more valuable or desirable. The provider calls this "good marketing." The customer says, "Wow, it's autographed!" I say it's bullshit. But then - what are the two of us, against the world? Sincerely, JIM WARREN Warren Publishing Company E-Mail: warrenpc@home.com +++++ Subj: 'Nuff Said! news From: nuffsaid@escape.com (Nuff Said) After three and a half years at midnight on Sundays, with ratings growing the whole time (no midnight show on WBAI did better), 'Nuff Said! is no longer a regularly-scheduled show on WBAI-FM in New York City. 'Nuff Said! was New York City's comic book interview and talk show. However, we're still not totally off the air, either. Ed Menje and I are featured producers on "City in Exile" every Tuesday at 10 PM. We only have 30-40 minutes, not an hour, so we can't always take listener phone calls, but we're still on the air regularly - for now. We are currently looking for a host to bring 'Nuff Said! to the internet. Tuesday, March 2, 1999 - Alex Simmons, the writer of "Race Against Time" and "Blackjack," neither of which are super-hero comics. Alex is also the organizer of a traveling exhibit of African-American artists in comics, currently appearing at the Comic Art Museum in Northhampton, Mass. Tuesday, March 9 - We've been at the current timeslot for just over a month. This'll be the first time since then that we'll be taking listener phone calls. No guest, just listeners. The on-air phone number is 212-209-2900. Call between 10:10 and 10:40 PM. WBAI-FM, 99.5, is a 50,000 watt station broadcast from the Empire State Building. Our signal usually gets out to New Haven, CT; Westhampton, L.I.; the Poconos of Pennsylvania, Orange County, NY and Trenton & Princeton, NJ. The show covers the entire world of comics: golden age, silver age, contemporary, mainstream, independent, underground, foreign, strips and fandom. Hosted by Ken Gale (interviewer) and Ed Menje (Engineer) and sometimes joined by Matthew Finch (host of "City in Exile"). WBAI is a Pacifica Network station (if your local station carries any Pacifica programming, they might be able to get 'Nuff Said! as well). WBAI has moved from the Eighth Ave. studios. We're now at 120 Wall St., 10th flr, New York, NY 10005. --Ken Gale, co-host +++++ From: memitch@worldnet.att.net (Eddie Mitchell) David-- As a sometime columnist here at CBEM I try not to write many letters to the letters page. After all, I already have a forum here and I hate to abuse my welcome. Besides, I'm such an opinionated guy that I'd be writing all the time! :-) However, a letter was printed in #201 that I just have to respond to, because it's so off base. Sorry that it's taken me a couple of weeks to get to this. After, I started this, I caught the flu and then had to spend most of my time catching up on work and school that I missed while I was sick. If this is too late to meet your timeliness standards, that's okay. At least it's off my chest. Anyway, Charles Willard said: > >I've been reading CBEM for around nine months now, and in that time I >must have read dozens of articles from those "prophets of doom" who >claim to have a full understanding of the comics industry and >economics. We keep saying that there isn't enough variety and that the >reason for the current state of affairs is because the superhero genre >is the only option available. Well, did you take a look at the results >from Tony Isabella's poll? Superhero comics were voted most popular >genre with 72% of the vote. The closest category was alternative with >less than 3% of the total vote. While I agree that many people like >more than one genre, it would be unreasonable to dismiss the popularity >of superhero books. Not too long ago someone wrote that we should give >up superhero books, even if we're forced to go "kicking and screaming". >In fact, there is probably a greater variety of "alternative" books on >the stands -certainly more than 3%- than ever before. This may be the >main reason for comic books having lost their "juvenile" label. And I >firmly believe that comic books need to cater for ALL ages, but >primarily for kids- because that's the age when they're most likely to >discover the medium. So if you want to make comics really "alternative" >then they should represent an alternative to movies and video games. First off, I'd love to know when comics lost the "juvenile label." Looking at both the material available and the general perception of comics, it's pretty obvious that this hasn't happened. Secondly, Isabella is known as a writer, fan, and promoter of super-hero comics (very little non-hero material makes it into any of his columns and even less non-mainstream stuff), therefore it's pretty logical to assume that the primary readers of his columns (and therefore participants in his poll) are super-hero fans. If you poll super fans and ask them what their favorite genre is, naturally they'll say super-heroes. This little poll proves absolutely nothing, other than the fact the Isabella's writing is reaching the folks he's targeting. Third, walk into any comic shop at random and look around. Then walk out and think about what just assaulted your senses. Chances are, all you're going to be able to remember are brightly colored costumes and bulging muscles. There may have been a tiny little section of some other stuff in a corner somewhere, but you'd never notice it. (Then again, chances are good that there isn't a section of other stuff, tiny or not.) For all practical purposes, the super genre is the only genre available. You have to be able to FIND the other material for it to be an option. Finally, while, yes, it is important to attract new and younger readers to the field, why do we consistently resist the idea of also attracting older non-comics readers by accepting the status quo of a market flooded with carp? And why has nobody ever bothered to see how long those new younger readers stick around? What happens when you outgrow super-heroes? (And it happens more than anyone is willing to admit. Aging fanboys like Isabella are not really that common.) Why does that have to mean giving up comics because of a lack of appropriate material? None of this means that those who are locked into the dead end alley of super-heroes have to leave that comfy niche. None of that means that the tired, worn genre of capes and tights has to dry up and blow away. What it does mean is that readers like me want to be able to walk into a shop and not feel like we've been assaulted by by Batman and the like. It means that we don't want to have to hunt among all the variant covered Image crap to find stuff like Palookaville. It means we'd like to know that Palookaville will indeed be there. It means a toning down of the juvenile and a slight shifting of emphasis to more intelligent fare, but it doesn't mean throwing the baby out with the bathwater. After all, I'm a customer with money to spend. Would it hurt to have the stuff available that I want to spend it on? Eddie Mitchell I promise there will be a column next week! +++++ From: "John Gavin Lighterness" <9639220@mull.sms.ed.ac.uk> Subject: Re: CBEM 202 I just finished reading issue 202 and felt I finally had to write to you, first to thank you for putting together such a great source of info and intelligent comment, and secondly to say how much I agree with your contributors. When it comes to Signed Books, they are only valuable as a reminder of the moment you and the creator met. They are both evidence of the meeting and a reminder of the circumstances surrounding the meeting. The issues of Doom Patrol which Grant Morrison signed for me are sitting on a shelf beside all the other issues of Doom Patrol, they are not on display or because they are not objects of adoration, but comics which are there to be read. Having said that, they do have a very special place in my heart. The review of the Companion to Kingdom Come struck a chord as well. I recently started re-reading many of my comics, and what a rewarding experience it has been. So I would strongly advise everyone else who owns a copy of Kingdom Come, to allow themselves the luxury of some "quality time " to lose yourself in it all over again. (If you want a real trip, try and read the whole of Grant Morrison's run on Doom Patrol in a single night. If that doesn't open the doors of your perception, then nothing will. And its legal too!) Well that's about it from me. Just wanted you to know that I appreciate all the time and effort you put into CBEM and hw much it brightens my week. +++++ From: bcrog@juno.com Hi everybody! I just thought I'd let everyone know that I have 50 copies of my book, the Brent Clark Rogers Guide to the DC Universe", left for sale. I'd really like to sell the rest of them soon, as I go to press for the next edition on the 20th of April. Every penny from the sale of the current edition goes for the printing cost of the 1999 edition. So I desperately need to sell these copies! And soon. Tony Isabella has been gracious enough to review not once, but twice! Both in his daily column at Tony's On Line Tips, (#558), but here as well. I sell the books for $32.00 each + $5.00 p&h. My address is Brent Clark Rogers, 316 N. Pine St. Shelby, Mi. 49455. If you have any questions at all, my e-mail address is; BCROG@juno.com Thank you for your time, Brent [This is one of the few non-comic book items we heartily endorse and recommend as a must-have for die hard DC fans! - DL] ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [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: WHAT IS THE SOURCE FOR THE CHAPTER TITLES IN MAGE:THE HERO DEFINED? Jeremy Finestone was the first to identify the chapter titles as quotes from Macbeth. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: What comic is considered the first of a regular series to be offered to the direct market only? 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 Enterprises, Inc. Announces Year End Results NEW YORK, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) today reported the following summary consolidated financial results for the year ended December 31, 1998: MARVEL ENTERPRISES, INC. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 Net sales $232.1 $150.8 Cost of sales 128.0 107.0 Selling, general and administrative expenses 97.1 72.1 Depreciation and amortization 26.4 21.1 Operating loss (19.5) (49.3) Interest expense (9.4) (.8) Other income, net .7 .4 Loss before income taxes (28.2) (49.7) Income tax expense (benefit) 4.4 (20.2) Net loss (32.6) (29.5) Less: preferred dividend requirement 3.4 -- Net loss attributable to common stock (36.0) (29.5) Basic and diluted loss per share applicable to common stock (1.23) (1.06) On October 1, 1998, the Company acquired Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. The Company financed its acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Group, in part, through borrowings under a bridge loan which must be repaid by September 27, 1999. The report of the Company's auditors on the Company's 1998 consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern due to the short repayment schedule for, and certain covenant defaults under, the bridge loan. As previously announced, the Company intends to repay the bridge loan with the proceeds of a proposed senior notes offering which the Company expects to be completed in late February 1999. The Company expects that its auditors will re-issue their audit report without the going concern explanatory paragraph upon the completion of the proposed senior notes offering and the application of the proceeds to repay the bridge loan. The senior notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character- based entertainment companies with operations in the licensing, comic book publishing and toy businesses. Through its ownership of over 3,500 proprietary characters, the Company has published comic books for over 60 years in the United States and numerous foreign countries. The Company licenses the right to use its characters in a wide range of products such as apparel, snack foods, video games and collectibles, as well as for television series and feature films. For additional company information visit the Company's corporate website at www.marvel.com. Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this news release regarding the Company's plans are forward-looking statements that are dependent upon certain risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the ability to integrate Toy Biz's operations with those of Marvel Entertainment Group, the inability to refinance certain indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Group, the Company's potential need for additional financing, pressure by certain of the Company's major retail customers to significantly reduce their toy inventory levels, the levels of media exposure or the popularity of the Company's characters and trademarks, consumer acceptance of the Company's new product introductions, the Company's dependence on Chinese toy manufacturers, U.S. trade relations with China, changing consumer preferences, production delays or shortfalls and general economic conditions. Those and other risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. SOURCE Marvel Enterprises, Inc. 02/23/99 18:03 EST http://www.prnewswire.com +++++ MGM Has No Movie Rights to Spider-Man, Hollywood Reporter Says Santa Monica, California -- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. has no movie rights to Marvel Enterprises Inc.'s Spider-Man character, Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz ruled, the Hollywood Reporter reported in its online edition. MGM is one of several companies that has fought for six years to lay claim to movie, movie distribution and home video rights to Spider-Man, which Marvel says it owns. Director James Cameron has long sought to film a Spider-Man movie, the Hollywood Reporter said. (Hollywood Reporter 2/23, www.hollywoodreporter.com) +++++ Marvel Enterprises Completes Rule 144A Offering of $250 Million Senior Notes NEW YORK, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) announced today that it has completed its previously announced offering of $250 million of 12% Senior Notes due 2009. The Senior Notes are non-callable for five years. A portion of the proceeds from the offering will be used to repay the remaining $185 million of the short-term bridge loan indebtedness incurred by the Company in October 1998 to finance its acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Additionally, the proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Eric Ellenbogen, President and CEO of Marvel, commented, "With the placement of these Notes and the payoff of our bridge loan, Marvel leaves behind the last significant vestige of its emergence from bankruptcy. We are very pleased with the solid endorsement of our business plan by Marvel's Note holders, evidenced by their commitment to this long-term financing. The resulting capital structure links perfectly with our strategic growth objectives." Mr. Ellenbogen continued, "We are putting together a strong, experienced management team that is focused on maximizing Marvel's prized assets. We believe the potential of our world-renowned character library remains largely unrealized. "Among our media-driven initiatives are film and television productions financed by third-parties; the expansion of our on-line presence and pursuit of interactive media opportunities; and, the creation and distribution of an animated programming library based on our characters. In the last month alone, X-Men and Fantastic Four movies have been announced by 20th Century Fox, a Blade sequel is being made by New Line Cinema, and two new television series, Avengers and Spiderman, are in production and will premiere on the Fox Kids network this fall. "In addition, we are refocusing Toy Biz's operations on higher margin toys and more Marvel properties. We are streamlining the business by discontinuing non-core operations and concentrating on our core licensing, comic book publishing and toy businesses." The Senior Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. +++++ The Comic Wire by Beau Yarbrough reported this week that DV8 will be cancelled in September. Mike Heisler, series writer, posted the news on the Crawlspace DV8 web site. +++++ COMICS 2 FILM Website: http://www.comics2film.com Generation X ------------ FROM THE DETROIT NEWS COMIC BOOK CONTINUUM: The Detroit News Comic Book Continuum recently reported on a conversation with Steve Melching, the writer whose name has been mentioned in reports on the Generation X TV series. Although Melching has been in meetings with Fox and Marvel he has not yet officially signed on for the show. Melching did tell the Continuum, "I can tell you that they're all taking this thing very seriously." The writer went on to say that the show would be, "concentrating on issues of teen angst, compounded by the fact that they're mutants learning to use their powers to save a world that hates and fears them." In regards to the character line-up, Melching would only say, "They've pretty much decided what the team lineup is going to be but all I can say at this point is that it will surprise you ... in a good way, I hope!" Spawn 2 ------- FROM THE DETROIT NEWS COMIC BOOK CONTINUUM: Terry Fitzgerald of Todd McFarlane Entertainment told the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum that the deal for the Spawn sequel has been inked. "We did sign the deal with [New Line Cinema] last week, though, so we are off and running," Fitzgerald told the Continuum. Fitzgerald had not yet heard if actor Michael Jai White would be returning for the title role. http://detnews.com/comicbooks/ +++++ Viz Comics have hit the mainstream! The new 3/1/99 issue of Newsweek (p. 48) reports "It's a Pokemon Planet!" Newsweek has finally given Pikachu the coverage he deserves and prominently features Viz's Comics Pokemon #1! Reaching 3 million readers per week, this is the next step in spreading the Pokemon phenomenon. The New York Times last week noted that www.pokemon.com is the 2nd most highly visited site in 12/98 among kids 2-11, following Nickelodeon's www.nick.com! Press, retailers and distributors: gear up on the comics and videos today and prepare for the growing fan onslaught! Oliver Chin Director of Sales and Marketing Viz +++++ LIBERTY MEADOWS GAINS INSIGHT New comic book to feature the internationally syndicated comic strip by Frank Cho BALTIMORE – The Insight Studios Group has announced it's acquisition of the comic book publishing rights to the popular LIBERTY MEADOWS syndicated newspaper strip. Insight plans to publish the LIBERTY MEADOWS comic book on a bi-monthly schedule. LIBERTY MEADOWS appears seven days a week, in newspapers around the world. The celebrated strip concerns the inhabitants of an animal sanctuary – a place for critters who have lost their natural habitats – or their minds. The animals are all a bit "funny", having made a tough choice between a sanctuary like LIBERTY MEADOWS or the Betty Ford Clinic. Brandy is the beautiful, resident animal psychologist, sure to catch the eye of any male reader. Comics historian R.C. Harvey points out that, "Cho is a master at rendering – and his heroine, Brandy, is a stunning example of his skill." Harvey also observed that, "Cho can play the medium like a virtuoso. His sense of timing is exquisite. Ditto his use of visuals to make his gag's point. It's a good thing Bill Watterson has departed the funnies pages of the nation because Cho can draw trees better than Watterson." Cho's strip is often compared favorably to Calvin & Hobbes and Berkeley Breathed's Bloom County. "LIBERTY MEADOWS is a natural fit for Insight," explained publisher, Mark Wheatley, "We've been handling Frank's UNIVERSITY2 collection for a while and that strip never stops selling. Also it doesn't hurt that Frank has a studio in our building." Cho's UNIVERSITY2 strip was the birthplace for most of the characters in LIBERTY MEADOWS. That strip ran for three years in the University of Maryland's DIAMONDBACK paper, gaining an intense cult status and several awards including the Charles M. Schulz award. The strip eventually went on to run in seventy other college newspapers. UNIVERSITY2 has sold 10,000 copies around the world and demand for the title is constant. LIBERTY MEADOWS is syndicated by Creators Syndicate. Creators has many well known features including B.C., WIZARD OF ID, RUGRATS and Ann Landers. Wheatley made the agreement with Creators Syndicate because, "Fans contact Frank by the hundreds. This is a daily ritual at the studio, going through Frank's fan mail. And every fan, I'm talking thousands, has the same request – they want to know how they can get LIBERTY MEADOWS in a collected form." Apparently, LIBERTY MEADOWS fans are accustomed to getting their way. They made news last year when the Washington Post attempted to drop the strip from it's comic pages. The newspaper was inundated with thousands of protests before the Post reinstated the strip. Along with reinstatement, the Post felt the need to report that the response to LIBERTY MEADOWS outstripped anything they had previously experienced. Wheatley wryly commented, "I don't think it's a good idea to come between a LIBERTY MEADOWS fan and their daily fix." The new Insight Studios Group comic book collection of LIBERTY MEADOWS strips will be a quality publication. In addition to providing new cover art for each issue, Frank Cho will oversee the production. His strips will be reproduced directly from original art, printed large enough to preserve the delicate line work. Each issue will present eight weeks of strips. The comic book will begin with the first episode and print every strip along the way. The LIBERTY MEADOWS comic book will also have heavy, graphic novel-weight covers since, as Wheatley points out, "Fans like to look at Franks drawings of Brandy over and over. We don't want the book to fall apart on them." The first issue of the new series will appear in June. Creator, Frank Cho is nominated for this year's National Cartoonist Society Ruben Award. When reached for comment on all the attention he and his creations are receiving he said, "I'm not wearing any pants." Liberty Meadows #1 Ships in June 1999 Price: $2.95 Color, card stock covers 32 b&w pages bi-monthly Published by: Insight Studios Group For more information contact: Mark Wheatley insight@clark.net P 410 661 6897 F 410 665 3597 INSIGHT STUDIOS http://www.clark.net/pub/insight +++++ NEWS: Rock n' Roll and comic book Superstar's videos debut on Nickelodeon James Kochalka's Hockey Monkey and Pizza Rocket kick off as kids' videos on Nickelodeon's popular Kablam! Gainesville, FL, February 26, 1999: Jimminy Kroekel, the kid-friendly pseudonym of comic book artist and rock musician James Kochalka, will make his video debut Friday, February 26, 1999 at 8:00pm Eastern on the popular Kablam! show on Nickelodeon. Friday's video, "Hockey Monkey", was taken from the hit album "James Kochalka Superstar" and converted into crazy Kablam! video style. The March 12 episode of Kablam will feature the even more loony "Pizza Rocket". These songs are so incredibly catchy people will wish they never heard them. Hilariously ridiculous and emotionally powerful at the same time, folks will wonder how such an idiot could create such brilliant music. James Kochalka's distinction as a "rock star" has been tempered more and more lately by his acclaim as a cartoonist. Critics and fans have responded like crazy to his ubiquitous and instantly recognizable one-pagers in comics and magazines across the U.S., to his many wonderful comic books, and to his amazing graphic novels. Now these two worlds have been combined to create some of the most amazing music videos ever to be broadcast! James Kochalka is one of the most prolific and distinctive artists in the comics scene today, his simple figures conveying a wealth of emotional nuance. Some of his most recent graphic novels include Quit Your Job, Tiny Bubbles, and Magic Boy and Girlfriend. Some of his most recent comic books include Monica's Story, The Horrible Truth About Comics, Triple Dare, and Mermaid. Kochalka is currently slated to release two new books, Peanut Butter and Jeremy from Alternative Comics, and Kissers from Highwater Books. The official Alternative Comics Web site is: http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics The official Highwater Books Web site is: http://www.highwaterbooks.com The official Nickelodeon Web site is: http://www.nickelodeon.com For more information please contact Alternative Comics publisher Jeff Mason at 611 NW 34th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607-2429. Phone: 352-373-6336. E-Mail: jmason@gator.net. +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.mania.com/newsarama/index.html Scifi.com reports that the fifth Batman feature film will star an unknown actor as a 20-year-old version of Batman similar to the one portrayed in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.AnotherUniverse.com/newsarama WINNER OF THE 1997 REC.ARTS.COMICS.* "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE Joe Pruett has been named as the new writer to Join with Rob Liefeld on CABLE. Pruett replaces Joe Casey. Chris Eliopoulos confirmed that his series DESPERATE TIMES has been cancelled as of #4. The solicited #5 and #6 will not ship. He says he will likely self-publish in some other format as the Image series was not a money maker. Ian Churchill's mini-series LIONHEART will debut from AWESOME at the July Chicago Wizard World `99 Convention. A Special Edition cover will be available only at the convention. Erik Larsen plans to introduce a new Marvel Girl, a character he introduced in Marvel Comics Presents #48-50, to the pages of Wolverine as Logan's hero in training. He also expects the adamantium skeleton to be returned in 1999. +++++ DCOnline newsletter; http://www.dccomics.com/newsletter.html To subscribe, or for questions or comments about the DC newsletter, please email DCWebSite@aol.com. ONLINE THIS WEEK Web message boards are here! Point your browser to dccomics.com and join in the discussions. Everyone is invited, and we hope to see you there! This move will not affect the DC Comics chat rooms on America Online. NEWS BYTES BACK TO THE GOLDEN AGE: THE JUSTICE SOCIETY RETURNS! In its time of greatest despair, the world needed heroes. In a time of great evil, the world needed justice. And during the last great war, the world needed the greatest heroes of all. And it got them. Now, the very first super-hero team -- the Justice Society of America -- returns to comics in a nine-book event thhat teams the legendary champions of the past, among them the original Flash, Green Lantern, Starman, and Sandman, with some of the finest writers and artists working in comics today. It's a brand-new story of the heroes in their heyday -- World War II -- as the JSA faces an enemy whose power dwarfs that of all the Allied and Axis nations combined. This thrilling saga is told in the pages of classic titles dating from the Golden Age, some unseen for more than fifty years: the 2-issue ALL STAR COMICS extra-sized "bookends" to the event, starring the entire JSA, and seven one- shots -- ADVENTURE COMICS #1, ALL-AMERICAN COMICS #1, NATIONAL COMICS #1, SENSATION COMICS #1, SMASH COMICS #1, STAR SPANGLED COMICS #1, and THRILLING COMICS #1 -- each featuring a pair of Justice Society members working on different aspects of the same case. Each title features striking cover art by Dave Johnson, with stylish, modernized versions of the books' original logos and a unified cover design and trade dress that echo DC's covers from the 1940s. Conceived by STARMAN co-writers James Robinson and David S. Goyer, "The Justice Society Returns!" event plays out over three weeks in March, restoring the original JSA to its former glory and sowing the seeds for an all-new, modern JSA, scheduled to debut in its own ongoing series later in 1999. An in-depth preview of "The Justice Society Returns!" event can be found in THE JUSTICE SOCIETY RETURNS! DIRECT CURRENTS SPECIAL, an 8-page newspaper co- produced with Comic Shop News, arriving in stores on March 3, two weeks before ALL STAR COMICS #1. Similar to THE KINGDOM DIRECT CURRENTS SPECIAL, this one- shot features interviews with the writers and artists involved with the books, as well as an array of other special features that are sure to raise interest in this landmark comic-book event. And look for a striking JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA POSTER, painted by STARMAN cover artist Tony Harris, arriving in stores on April 7. In addition to all of this, and timed to coincide with "The Justice Society Returns!", DC is offering a brand-new JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SUPER- SPECTACULAR #1 as part of the revival of a format that was to the 1970's what 80-Page Giants were to the 1960s: 100 pages (including covers) reprinting classic stories from the Golden and Silver Ages. With a new cover by Mike Collins and John Stokes, this first "lost" Super-Spectacular reprints the first Justice League story, "Starro the Conqueror" (from 1960's THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #28); the classic Adam Strange/JLA team-up "The Planet That Came to a Standstill" (from 1962's MYSTERY IN SPACE #75); the JSA's battle with their greatest foes -- the Injustice Society -- in "The Case of the Patriotic Crimes!" (from 1948's ALL STAR COMICS #41); and an offbeat "Time Pool" tale of the Silver Age Atom, "Suddenly...the Witness Vanished" (from 1973's DETECTIVE COMICS #432). "The excitement level for these books is pretty high here," reports Ralph Mathieu of Alternate Reality Comics in Las Vegas, NV. "People are especially looking forward to the James Robinson-written issues, as STARMAN is a local favorite. And Scott Benefield on SENSATION COMICS, Chris Weston on STAR SPANGLED COMICS, and Michael Lark on ALL STAR COMICS will definitely expose these up-and- coming artists to a wider audience. And we get Russ Heath drawing Hawkman and Wildcat in THRILLING COMICS! Thrilling comics indeed!" VERTIGO REVEALS THE NEW FACE OF HORROR WITH FLINCH A surprising array of writers and artists tell modern horror stories for the new millennium in FLINCH, a new ongoing VERTIGO anthology series (suggested for mature readers) that is everything you fear...and nothing you expect. And beginning the surprises is WILDSTORM's Jim Lee, who illustrates his first story for DC Comics in the pages of FLINCH #1. From surveillance technology gone amok to out-of-control cloning experiments, from double-cross murders in the Outback to corporate backstabbings by the water cooler, FLINCH takes a hard look at what scares us today, with culprits who are anything but usual. In FLINCH #1, "The Rocketman," written by Richard Bruning (ADAM STRANGE) and illustrated by Jim Lee (DIVINE RIGHT: THE ADVENTURES OF MAX FARADAY) updates the Icarus myth, as a fledgling inventor with his head in the clouds embarks on the ride of a lifetime; "Wolf Girl Eats" reunites the seminal horror team of Bruce Jones and Richard Corben as a traveling minister with gold in his eye and blood on his hands brings his act to a backwoods town with secrets of its own; and, in "Nice Neighborhood," written by Jen Van Meter (Dark Horse Presents) and illustrated by Frank Quitely (THE KINGDOM: OFFSPRING), a gang of suburban teenage girls comes face-to-face with the outlandish side effects of a certain "performance-enhancing" drug. The whole scary business is wrapped in a disturbing painted cover by renowned horror novel cover artist Phil Hale (Stephen King's Insomnia and The Drawing of the Three). Future issues of FLINCH feature writers and artists such as Garth Ennis, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bernie Wrightson, Paul Gulacy, Phil Jimenez, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Bradstreet, Kent Williams, Jim Woodring, Ted McKeever, Brian Azzarello, and Eduardo Risso doing their best to scare readers to death. Be afraid to miss a single issue. DC COLLECTS FIRST "NO MAN'S LAND" STORY ARC IN BATMAN: NO LAW AND A NEW ORDER COLLECTION FOR RUSH SOLICITATION In response to the overwhelming popularity of the "No Man's Land" storyline in the Batman titles, and the speed with which the early chapters of the saga have disappeared from comics shop shelves, DC Comics announces that it is releasing a special collection reprinting the sold-out first story arc: The BATMAN: NO LAW AND A NEW ORDER COLLECTION. Written by Bob Gale, with art by Alex Maleev, Wayne Faucher and others, the 112-page BATMAN: NO LAW AND A NEW ORDER COLLECTION reprints the double-sized BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND special, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #83, BATMAN #563, and DETECTIVE COMICS #730, without any ads, all for an affordable cover price of only $5.95. This collection features readers' first glimpses of the turf-war driven "No Man's Land" that was Gotham City and the mysterious heroine who adopted the name of Batgirl during Batman's three-month absence. As the city's criminals battle each other for territory, James Gordon leads what remains of the GCPD against the gangs that rule Oracle's sector even as reports of Batman's return to Gotham swirl around the ravaged city. This collection includes the original covers to the issues by Alex Ross (from BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND #1 -- STANDARD EDITION), Tony Harris and Jim Royal, J. Scott Campbell, and Alex Maleev and Bill Sienkiewicz. According to DC's Vice-President -- Direct Sales Bob Wayne, "This collection is the best way to give all of the readers who discovered 'No Man's Land' a bit late -- or who didn't get the chance to read these issues due to the quick sellouts -- a great jumping-on point for the rest of the saga." Retailers are unanimous in their endorsement of both "No Man's Land" and the need for an affordable collection reprinting its first sold-out issues. "BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND has been the best Batman series in a long time," says Kathy Bottarini of Comic Book Box in Petaluma, CA. "Keeping the same creative teams attached to all the issues in the story arc has made for a tightly woven story that deserves to be read as a collection. It will continue to have shelf life for a long time to come -- and it deserves to!" Tony Edwards, manager of Golden Apple in Los Angeles, CA, agrees: "Since these issues are no longer available, getting the book on the stands ASAP is of the utmost importance. In order for all of us to keep up the increasing momentum on the sales of Batman titles, we'll need this collection as an integral tool." "Sales have increased on all the Bat-titles," reports Kevin Halstead of Zanadu Comics in Seattle, WA, "with customers anxiously awaiting each new chapter to the story. With the first few chapters of 'No Man's Land' selling out immediately, fans will be quite pleased to find those issues in this handy collection. I expect sales on this to exceed the volumes which collected the early issues of JLA." 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, and BATMAN BEYOND airs Saturdays. Times given are Eastern and Pacific. 2/27/99 (8:00 am) -- "The New Kids In Town" (Superman) 2/27/99 (8:30 am) -- "Chemistry" (Batman) 2/27/99 (9:30 am) -- "Rebirth -- Part 1" (Batman Beyond) 3/1/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Speed Demons" (Superman) 3/1/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Make 'Em Laugh" (Batman) 3/2/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Tools of the Trade" (Superman) 3/2/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Read My Lips" (Batman) 3/3/99 (4:00 pm) -- "My Girl" (Superman) 3/3/99 (4:30 pm) -- "A Bullet for Bullock" (Batman) 3/4/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Perchance to Dream" (Batman) 3/4/99 (4:30 pm) -- "The Hand of Fate" (Superman) 3/5/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Sideshow" (Batman) 3/5/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Warrior Queen" (Superman) 3/6/99 (8:00 am) -- "Mad Love" (Batman) 3/6/99 (8:30 am) -- "Absolute Power" (Superman) 3/6/99 (9:30 am) -- "Rebirth -- Part 2" (Batman Beyond) +++++ PREVIEW OF PREVIEWS DIAMOND has updated the web site with information from the next PREVIEWS due to ship next week. Here are some of the things you will find when you get your copy. On the Cover... The ultimate comic adaptation of a movie kicks off in May, when Dark Horse releases both photo covers and art covers for it's four issue Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace mini-series. There's little hope that anyone will be able to avoid picking up both covers of this four issue mini-series, as it not only makes for a killer display, but will also be a highly sought-after collectible in years to come as the next wave of Star Wars films looms in the not-too-distant future. Don't believe us? Think we're just a lot of hot air when we say this series is going to go faster than cold beer at a rock concert? Well, you be the one to just take your time getting to the comics shop when this new series hits the shelves. When you do get to the store, and ask your retailer where he's racked the book, be prepared for his disappointment. On the flip side, it's everyone's favorite hamburger-face Hellspawn ready to kickstart his first comic book annual with a loud and thunderous pop! A man with talent for giving his characters neurosis, selfishness, and bad breath, writer Paul Jenkins creates a special madness-addictive story titled "Spawn: Blood and Shadows," assisted by the artistic pencils and coloring of Ashley Wood. Spawn's been described as many things before: a psycho man, an angel of death, a killer, a misunderstood anti-hero. All of those may be true, but now it's up to the satin-caped hellslave to think about what he's going to do about the Twilight Zone building in his favorite alley, and what his inexplicable role is with those who go to sleep every night with the cheapest bottle of hooch. Everything still seems to be broken, true, but Spawn can't help to think that a new ray of light may break through the opaque spider web that blocks the tunnel to peace, love, and understanding his place in the universe. Manga Takes Off With New Titles CPM Manga acquired the rights to publish the English language version of Kia Asamiya's Dark Angel. Known for his previous work on Silent Möbius, Dark Angel becomes Asamiya's fourth title published in the United States. In this issue of Previews, you'll find Dark Angel- a sword and sorcery epic in the tradition of Record Of Lodoss War and Ninja Scroll. Fans may already be familiar with the title due to its extended run in the Japanese anime magazine, New Type. In Dark Angel, Mr. Asamiya's ladies have never looked sexier...and the villains have never been nastier. Also debuting from CPM Manga is Tomoko Taniguchi's Call Me Princess #1, which launches the company's long-awaited new shojo (girls') manga line. This comic strives to take you back to the days when innocent high school puppy love put butterflies in your stomach and sketched hearts in your notebook. Young Mako, a freshman, is torn between her feelings for her first love, Yo, and newly arrived badboy, Ryu. It's a classic case of "he loves me, he loves me not" in this sure-fire hit that will have you reminiscing about those days of rushing between study periods and analyzing your chances for true romance. Paul Pope's Escapo Poised For Success American cartoonist Paul Pope's latest oversized comic project is set to explode into the outer stratosphere. Following a string of award-nominated oversized comics, Horse Press collects his original "Escapo" short story--along with two brand new Escapo stories--as well as the surreal, hilarious "Hidden Face Adventure," in one book-length graphic album. As described in The Comics Journal, "Escapo obliquely comments on the super-hero genre while telling another kind of story altogether." It is a life-affirming, romantic story set in a surreal, five-ring circus. In the three stories presented, we are introduced to Escapo, a scarfaced escape artist in love with a beautiful, if distant, tightrope walker. Through a series of thrilling scenes, we see Escapo strike a deal with Death, escape from life-threatening traps, and put his heart on the line to win the affections of Aerobella, the star performer of the circus. Pope's decision to publish part of Escapo in black and white was an aesthetic one. "I didn't think color added anything significant to the stories," he said. "If anything, it would possibly detract from their emotional impact. I thought stark black and white was better suited to the material." Despite his partiality to black and white, Pope chose to start the book with over two dozen pages in full-color. "The Hidden Face" is a kind of cartoon short before the main feature. The following Escapo stories are presented in Pope's lush, inky-black drawings. These stories make up the body of the book and read like "drawn poems," reflecting the broad range of human experience-from happiness to tragedy. "Nobody's gonna feel like they're getting shortchanged by this book," Pope assured, "I guarantee it's unlike anything else on the market today." The President Strikes Back Finally, Battlebooks climb into the most violent arena of all-politics! With Battlebooks, anyone can step into the embattled President's shoes and decide his-and the nation's-fate. "With Senators, Representatives, and lawyers all proverbially 'gouging each other's eyes out' on television every night, I couldn't ignore the idea of throwing Clinton and the rest of the government into the arena, with the 'we the people' to slug it out for them!" says Billy Tucci. "Although it steps outside of the comic universe, this battle is surely one that we can all get involved in." While the impeachment trial is now over, Battlebooks provides a way for you to again decide the fate of our President and his opposition. But the battles don't stop there...since these books are part of the existing Battlebooks universe, they can be played against any other Battlebooks character. So now that Congress is done with Bill, Captain America can have a shot at him next! Avatar, Rendition Launch Quantum Mechanics Avatar Press has announced their first foray into the science fiction genre with Quantum Mechanics, a star-spanning saga which will debut in May 1999 in a self-titled two issue introductory series, to be followed shortly by "Munhgo," the first in a line of Quantum Mechanics action figures from Rendition Figures. A video game and animated series are also in the early stages of development. "I've been saying since the beginning of Avatar Press that we would launch a science fiction property only when the right proposal crossed my desk," says Avatar Editor-In-Chief William Christensen. "And this is the one I've been waiting for. It combines the epic scope of Star Wars, the atmosphere of Blade Runner, and the action of Starship Troopers." "Comics is the perfect medium for this kind of story," adds Quantum scribe Barry Gregory. "There's no concern for special effects budgets, or set construction, and you don't have to pay union scale to all the hundreds of extras milling about in each scene. You just need a story and a great artist to put it all down on the page." And for that job Avatar tabbed artist Jacen Burrows. "We're creating a whole new...and original...sci-fi universe," Burrows says. "There are a lot of things in here that I don't think anyone's ever really thought of before. This is a very unique universe." Chaos! Universe Gets Ugly They're not for the innocent, that's for sure. Chaos! Comics offers sharp tooth poison this month that's sure to gnaw your leg off at the hip, courtesy of Founder/Publisher Brian Pulido's return to the pages of Lady Death, and two other TNT titles they hope will melt your eyeballs. Fresh, sharp razorblades are ready to be placed under your bedsheets, with Lady Death: The Rapture #1 being your required deadly reading now that Brian Pulido charges the white-skinned Lady with a mission to set off a chain of events that triggers the prophesied war between Heaven and Hell! This is the detonating event that leads directly to the Armageddon of the Chaos! Cosmos! For those who revel in juggling plastic explosives for a hobby, Insane Clown Posse arrives to pull your teeth out while you flip through the pages of their assault on innocent psyches. The origin of these horrible clowns is exposed in this issue, and you further learn how these maniacs lead The Dark Carnival to distort youthful memories and remake them into horror house-like medical examinations. You'll later want to explode after you learn the Undertaker's origin in Undertaker #3, where it's exposed how The Undertaker was taken from Earth and cast into slavery by the Embalmer in the underworld of darkness. You'll need to get a grip and maintain a steady heartbeat as this savage issue depicts the ugliness of the Undertaker's battle with The Embalmer in his corporate tower of terror--a sweaty, gritty, laceration-filled scuffle that leaves the Undertaker using his precious energy to slowly regenerate the wounds which threaten his life. Another Generation of Hate There is nothing more irresponsible and depraved than a slacker fanboy (or fangal) who sits down in a soft, comfy chair and spaces out on Peter Bagge's Hate comics for hours on end. It's not long before the readers start raving and jabbering. They hallucinate. They become paranoid. And they take vows to cast off responsibility so as to set up living quarters in some unsuspecting parents' basement underworld. Executives at Fantagrahics learned of this growing despicable, irresponsible behavior and did what any self-respecting corporate suits would do in the face of such bad publicity: they decided to ride the strange torpedo to the end, and release an all-new collection of Buddy Bradley's adventures in Hate Volume 5: Buddy's Got Three Moms TP. This trip is different, boys and girls. True grit misfortunes are exposed in full-color for this TP, which reprints issues #21-25 of Hate, so you can learn of the death of Pops Bradley and the return of Stinky. Plus, other madcap antics which will tempt you to give up your dreams and aspirations and become another Jersey concrete mall rat with a tendency to rage, bellow, and HATE! Two Good Ol' Boys With A Score To Settle Details are short in coming, but what we at the Preview Bullpen did learn is that Lex Luthor has found a way of pitting the Big Blue Boyscout against the savage Green Goliath so that both heroes take themselves out while Lexy buys all the rights to Michael Jackson's videos amid the confusion! OK, so, the Michael Jackson bit isn't true, but it is true that writer Roger Stern and artist Steve Rude have gotten together to create a match-up between the two titans which will make everyone scramble for house insurance that covers unnatural acts of God. At long last, Superman is set to clash with the Incredible Hulk (or, the Rampaging Hulk, or....) in a classic case of the immovable object against the unyielding onslaught. Parents, get ready to take the kids off the street as the gamma scientist who likes to wear torn purple pants sends Rick Jones, Lois Lane and Thunderbolt Ross running for cover when he faces down the last Kryptonian in a brawl that should make Tyson vs. Holyfield look like a pre-school fight at the playground. This 48-page one-shot is Steve Rude's first full book work for Marvel, and it's a real treat in that Rude is drawing the Hulk and company in a Kirbyesque style! To commemorate this special project, The Incredible Hulk Vs. Superman is also available in a limited signed edition. This is a high profile collectible that's sure to become as popular as the classic Superman match-ups that were featured in the late (but great) Marvel Treasury editions. So don't hesitate all you collectors "in-the-know." Snatch up this piece of comic history before its scattered to the winds of yesteryear. Back In The Saddle Again When you're hot, you're hot...and the public will stand on it's feet and scream its throat raw when they want more of something that's obviously too good to be true. Such was the case for Alan Moore's run on Awesome Entertainment's monthly title, Supreme. Fan reaction to this book was overwhelming, as many readers were blown away by Moore's genius for taking previous superhero histories, putting a modern Alan Moore-type spin on them, and then using such a hybrid to give Awesome a unique universe, history, and Ivory Icon character. What Moore originally did with Supreme is similar to what he's done throughout his comic-writing career: take a brick foundation, and build the next century's Buckingham Palace. With his first Supreme run, he brought retro, nostalgia, guts, and honor to Rob Liefeld's creation so that fans could sympathize and cheer for an archetypal hero who's been in our imagination since childhood. That magic is back, as Supreme The Return #1 picks up where the last story arc ended, with artists Chris Sprouse and Al Gordon bringing you the visuals. Moore is free once again to play with stereotypical villains and heroes, feed them into a meat grinder, and serve up a portion of processed full-color costumed adventure that keeps your fingers glued to the pages for the entire read. Get ready to fly with the angels again, folks, as our favorite Brit writer launches a new chapter in the history of a hero who is just as irresistible as a Super Friends marathon on a chilly Saturday morning. SUBmedia Launches Into Uncertain Comic Sea SUBmedia magazine ushers in a new era of comics reporting when issue number #1 ships in May, 1999. The magazine combines all the design sense and style of a modern cutting edge magazine with exciting and thought-provoking profiles of comics professionals--beginning with profiles on Grant Morrison and Ashley Wood--plus in-depth interviews with Barry Windsor-Smith and Bill Sienkiewicz. SUBmedia #1 includes pages from the unpublished Big Numbers #3, by Sienkiewicz, as well as pages from the upcoming The Monster, by Barry Windsor-Smith. Also included by the legendary BWS are previously unseen Gorblimey works and pages from a work-in-progress Superman story. With Grant Morrison, discover where all the unique angles and stories come from, and what inspires such a furious creative mind. Then see how young Australian talent Ashley Wood--though an eight-year veteran of the comics war--has recently bounded onto the scene for his work with Acclaim on Deadside and for the first-ever Spawn Annual, for which he was handpicked by Todd McFarlane himself. Expect each artist featured to be accompanied by dozens of pages of artwork, much of which has never before been seen. SUBmedia also features reviews of comics, music, film and games, columns by industry insiders, and more. Dan Norton To Illustrate Glamor Gal-Fest Penciler Dan Norton (X-Men, WildC.A.T.S.) has jumped on board to pencil Image and Liar Comics' Lady Pendragon/More Than Mortal crossover. Norton will join forces with the writing team of Sharon Scott and Matt Hawkins for the two-issue series scheduled for a May, June release. "Out of a long list of artists Dan was at the top," says More Than Mortal writer/creator Sharon Scott. "We were all very excited when he agreed to do it. The story has a much lighter theme than normal issues of More Than Mortal and Lady Pendragon, and Dan's story really brings that sense of fun to life." "I've watched Dan's work for quite a while now," says Lady Pendragon creator/writer Matt Hawkins. "He's an incredible talent and I'm glad we're finally able to work together on this project. He's turned in the first batch of pages already and they are awesome." As a service to you, the dedicated Previews reader, we offer this rundown of upcoming events and conventions. SHOW DATE LOCATION Mega-Con Mar. 5-7 Orlando, Florida International Collectible Mar. 13-14Pennsauken, N.J. Toy eXpo East Coast Hobby Show Mar. 13-15Philadelphia, PA GAMA Mar. 23-25Las Vegas, NV AggieCon XXX Mar. 25-28College Station, TX ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Ramblings 99 Rich Johnston twisting@hotmail.com [Renamed for the new year, Ramblings 99 continues to spread confirmed and unconfirmed news and rumours. It welcomes comment, especially comment that clarifies, refutes and corrects information already disseminated. Rich Johnston is an advertising copywriter, co-self publisher of Twist And Shout Comics, BBC comedy writer and comics columnist. He currently lives in South London, England. His column can be found online at: http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com All Ramblings e-mail received will be considered public domain and may be quoted.] This column is RUMOUR. Do not take anything here seriously. These RUMOURS are presented here as GOSSIP for their ENTERTAINMENT value. Dateline: 19 February 1999 Boom Back In The Box Rob Liefeld's back at Marvel. And Kaboom is back at Awesome. Anyone see the link? No? Well, it's rumoured that the reason that Kaboom stopped was that the money stopped. Liefeld's backers withdraw and Kaboom creator Jeff Mathusda was stranded. Until of course, some Marvel money comes Liefeld's way... it's been shown that Liefeld seems to be making sure that people who did work for him get paid, even if it's out of Liefeld's own pocket. And bingo, Kaboom is back at Awesome. A tale that ends happily. And there's so few of them these days. Geppi Gets In Gear Talking of interesting links... when Steve Geppi bought into Another Universe, everyone saw this as a sign that Diamond, of which Steve Geppi is in charge, was snapping up alternative means of distribution of comics and associated memorabilia. However, it was made clear that this was a purchase by Steve Geppi, not Diamond. And since Diamond is due to be bought up by DC in the imminent future, is this a way for Steve Geppi to ensure he's still in the comics distribution business? Only time will tell... Readily Available Sleaze. One of the greatest comics of all time has been Missing In Action for a while. Sleaze Castle got up to issue 8 and... vanished. It awoke, trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not its own. Hang on. Sorry, anyway, despite a few issues of the illustrated text story Surreal School Stories, starring the young Jocasta Dribble at Tycho Brae School For Girls, us Sleazoids longer for of the 'proper stuff'. And I've just had work from the writer man himself that Sleaze Castle 9, by Dave McKinnon and Terry Wiley has gone to the printers and will be released at Comics 99. Okay, I think Sleaze is great. You should too. From The Dungeon. Ever heard of a glutton for punishment? Bad dog David Bishop returns with more news of the end-of-1999 issue of 2000 AD. I'll hand him over to Dominatrix Mary. Why hello there David. I hear you've been a naughty boy. Just what have you done? "Nothing mistress, nothing, but Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill are reuniting for the final episode of Nemesis the Warlock in 2000 AD's end of the century special issue, Prog 2000. O'Neill has just agreed to draw the dramatic conclusion to the saga of the alien insurrectionist, once he has finished work on his current projects (including League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)." Well I think you need spanking for that David. Now bend over and reveal your buttocks. THWACK THWACK "Thank you mistress. Mills has begun writing scripts for Nemesis the Warlock: Book X - The Final Conflict. This will be the tenth and final book of the Nemesis saga and will wrap up all existing plot lines and story elements including whatever happened to Termight, Purity Brown and Torquemada." And why do you think I care? Here, let me grip your testicles in this desk clamp. SQUEAL! (The sound of the clamp, or David's reaction, I couldn't quite tell.) Now let me give you hand relief... while wearing a sandpaper glove. SCRAPE SCRAPE SCRAPE SCRAPE Tell me how you're feeling, David. Don't bottle it all up. "Nyeaaahhh.... the series will run in the final ten issues of 2000 AD, with Parts 1-9 drawn by Henry Flint. Then O'Neill and Mills will reunite on the series they co-created to present the final confrontation between Nemesis and Torquemada in the Terror Tube." Oh your voice is high pitched today. Are you getting closer, David? I hope I won't have to whip you... "The whole series will be published in black and white - just as Books I-IX were published between 1980 and 1989. When we decided to go ahead with the final book of Nemesis, it seemed fitting that it be published in black and white. Excluding short stories and one-offs, Nemesis has always been black and white - why change now?" SPURT. Well, I'll have to change my glove now, David. You just wait there and... drip. Thank you Mary, we'll leave David clamped in the dungeon until he, or any other brave soul willing to send us press releases, has something else to say. And just to reiterate, we welcome any and all press releases from comics companies. [Mike adds: Yeah, I'm sure they'll be lining up now. Is that Hart Fisher at the door?] Counting The Cost It's a tough life being a rumour columnist. Currently standing on four threats of legal action and two threats of physical violence. Talk about increasing our 'hits' counter... On the other hand, if you do have a problem with anything posted, talk to me. E-mail me at twisting@hotmail.com and have a friendly chat. I will withdraw articles (and have many times in the past) if they cause people hurt or harm and often simply putting your side of the story does you much more good. Dateline: 23 February 1999 Guiness Is Good For Superman. Deadpool and Fighting American artist Ed McGuiness is all set to join Jeph Loeb on Superman. He leaves his current book Mr. Majestic for DC/Wildstorm. Weezy Warlock. We reported that James Felder left the new Magus title for Marvel's Tech Line before it had even got off the ground. New Mutants readers will either rejoice or gnash their teeth at the news that past-Warlock/Magus writer, Louise Simonson has taken the assignment. Jim Lee Presents. So what is Jim Lee's big project for DC comics after Divine Right is wrapped up? Rumour of Superman and Batman aside, the current top tip is... a Vertigo book. Okay, let's go fantasy here, who wouldn't pay to read a Milligan/Lee Shade The Changing Man? Every Witch Way. Talking of Shade, we hear Chris Bachalo moves further and further away from Witching Hour. We already reported that DC haven't digned on this, but the Witching Hour announcement made Chris' name high profile in the right places again, certainly as far as creator ownership goes. Slingers Unslung. We hear from AOL that according to Joe Harris, Slingers isn't cancelled. We hope that's true and not just another case of the creative staff not being told what the editorial staff know. Again. Squiddy Back. The Squiddies have been rebooted due to a web page problem. As a result, everyone who voted should vote again. Especially if they voted for me. Go to the January Archive to see what I recommended then. I've noticed that Ramblings is on the board for best web page but that X-Flies isn't for best Web Comic. Fix that folks! (Unless of course, it really is crap). To read X-Flies for yourself click in the place where Mike Meyer adds a hyperlink, here. And to vote, go to http://www.innocence.com/~squiddy/squid-ballot.cgi ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] The Time Warp Mike Imboden imboden@netstorm.net "It's just a jump to the left. And a step to the right. With your hands on your hips. You bring your knees in tight. But it's the pelvic thrust - That really drives you insane. Let's do the time warp again!" In honor of this fourth anniversary of CBEM I managed to dig up some old and interesting bits of news that were on The Daily Planet BBS (my old BBS, one of the linchpins of the CBN universe) in late January/February of 1995 right around the time that CBEM took off out of the gate. This was during the dying days of my presence on CBN (due to lagging interest in the BBS scene in my area), but I luckily had these news items on a disk from when I backed up my entire system prior to pulling the plug. So now, here are are those bits o' news that originally were presented on TDPBBS, the only thing missing are the ANSI codes to neatly format and give color to everything and I imagine that no one will really miss them; ***Marvelution*** Marvel took great strides in their attempt to control the world in 1994. Spending money like it was going out of style, "The House of Ideas" snapped up numerous properties including Malibu Comics and Heroes World Distributors. The effects of the Malibu buy-out will be begin to become apparent when the first crossover between the two universes begins in Godwheel. The second purchase mentioned, that of Heroes World Distribution, is another story all by itself. As soon as the buyout was made public fans and professionals started to wonder what effects it would have on the direct market. A press release by Marvel explained that Marvel was serious about pursuing it's own line of specialty comic stores and the buzz was that Marvel might pull out of making their product available to other distributors, forcing retailers into doing business with Heroes World if they wanted to carry Marvel product. This was confirmed by a reliable source, but as of yet no word has filtered down from Marvel as to the validity of the rumor. _IF_ the rumor is true you can expect to see numerous changes hit the direct sales market some of which may be smaller stores being forced into closing their doors. This is fairly important news and we will try to make any updates available as soon as we know of them. (This update followed about two weeks later) ***Marvelution, Continued....*** As part of it's "Marvelution", Marvel intends to re-launch all of it's different lines this year. May sees the "Return of the X-Men" and a re-launch of the titles in the wake of the "Age of Apocalypse", the Spider-Man family of books gets it's treatment in June. July sees the "Marvel Heroes" family, (Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man et al), undergo it's facelift. Expect to see some changes along the way, one of which will be the cancellation of ALL of the Punisher titles which will result in the kick-off of ONE all new ongoing Punisher title later in 1995. Other events in the Marvel U; * Atlantis rises to the surface, the INhuman's Blue Area of the Moon is destroyed, The F4, FF and the Infinity Watch get involved in a global scale turf war. (side note, judging by promo scenes, it looks like the F4 will be comprised of Sue, Ben, Johnny and - Namor....) * Hawkeye returns as another member of the Avengers family falls, Cap takes aim at A.I.M. before he becomes totally useless... * The Spidey books see the debut of a new Green Goblin, the return of the 'real' Gwen Stacy clone, problems plague Mary Jane and the Parker's baby, the truth about Kaine and which clone is really the clone is revealed, a massive symbiote storyline that actually sounds interesting and, oh yeah, it's Aunt May that will die in ASM #400... ***Comico Returns*** After nearly two years of being out of the comic production game, Comico is poised to make a large splash as it re-enters the field in May of this year. Creators such as Art Adams, Geoff Darrow, Alex Ross, Simon Bisley, Tony Daniels and Bill Willingham are all set to help publisher Andrew Rev with various projects. Among these projects are "Oblivion", a six issue mini series to be written by CD-ROM game designer Jack Herman and drawn by Andy Dimitt, (Adams and Darrow are among others who will contribute to the series), and a new "Elementals" series written by Bill Willingham and drawn by "X-Force" artist Tony Daniels. ***Dark Horse Changes*** Dark Horse's Comics Greatest World becomes Dark Horse Heroes in April. As a result of "sweeping changes" in the way Dark Horse is approaching their superhero books, five ongoing monthlies will be published; X, Agents of Law, Ghost, Barb Wire and Motorhead. The line of comics will no longer be tied into a "universe" in which continuity and crossovers dictate the story telling but will instead feature "realistic portrayals of superheroes in a world where no binding rules of continuity get in the way of good stories". ***Movie News*** Production on a Mortal Kombat movie has begun. So far the only "star power" associated with the file is Christopher Lambert (of HIGHLANDER fame) who will star as Rayden, the Thunder God... ***Life After Batman:TAS....*** Now that production has wrapped up on Batman: The Animated Series, the producers are looking to develop new projects for Warner Brothers Animation. Batman:TAS executive producer Bruce Timm is currently creating designs for a Superman proposal which could air in the fall of 1995. ***Comics Turn 100 in February*** It was 100 years ago, in February of 1895, that the New York "World" tested it's new yellow ink by printing it on the nightgown of a bald waif-like character drawn by cartoonist Richard Outcault. The publication of that character, dubbed The Yellow Kid by readers, marked the start of the first comic strip. That strip led to the first collection of newspaper strips in 1899 and eventually to the publication of the first monthly comic book in 1922. ***Vampirella No More*** Vampirella model Cathy Christian and publisher Tony Lobito have created their own character and title. Leaving her role as Vampirella, Christian is now devoting her time to Avengelyne, which joins Rob Liefeld's Maximum Press imprint. Avengelyne is scheduled to make a debut this spring at conventions and will be released as two mini-series and specials a year. ***DC Comics Online Schedule*** Here is a tentative listing of the guests on America Online's DC Comics Online forum. Beau Smith (Guy Gardner) February 9, 8pm Mark Waid (Flash) February 16, 8pm Chuck Dixon (Robin, 'Tec) Week of February 21st * Garth Ennis (Preacher) Week of February 21st * Tom Joyner (Damage) March 10, 7pm Mike Carlin (exec. ed, DC U) Week of March 21 * Matt Wagner (Sandman Myst.) Week of March 28 * Tom Peyer (R.E.B.E.L.S '94) Week of April 11 * Gerard Jones (oodles of stuff) Week of April 18 * Bronwyn Carlton (Big Book of Death) Week of April 25 * * more specific times to be announced. These are open to ALL AOL users but will be limited to the first 500 people. ***DC Moves to New Paper,Formats*** Starting in March, all of DC's comics will move to new paper grades and jump in price. The new paper formats also replace the current "format" listings of New, Deluxe, Unique and Glossy with Mando, Rebax, Miraweb and Fracote respectively. Miraweb is a heavy gloss-coated paper offering better color separation and reproduction, Fracote is another type of gloss-coated paper stock and Rebax is a reformulated quality of paper implemented last year to replace Baxter paper. ***From Marvels to Kingdom Come*** Alex Ross of "Marvels" fame will be joining hot writer Mark Waid to team up on a DC project called "Kingdom Come". Kingdom Come is a four issue Elseworlds mini-series set in a future of intrigue and power struggles which will include established heroes such as Batman and Superman as well as some new ones. Says Waid; "We develop the next wave of heroes arriving on the heels of those we are familiar with, but they've made the world a more frightening place." Kingdom Come is scheduled to ship in early 1996. ***Shooter's at the plate - 0-2 count....*** ..and here's the pitch... Jim Shooter get's his third swing at running a line of comics. Shooter was named Editor-in-Chief of Broadway Video's new comics division. (Broadway Video is a large production and distribution company that owns such programs as Kids in the Hall, Lassie and The Lone Ranger). Shooter's first projects are POWERS THAT BE, a universe of science fiction and superheroes, and Electropolis, an electronic underground inhabited by characters known as "technomancers". (Strike three. Or was that a foul tip?) ***Valiant --> Acclaim*** In March Valiant Comics will "reinvent" itself as it launches "Birth Quake" which intends to restructure and redefine the Valiant Universe. Eight titles are being cancelled and the remaining titles will be the subject of a revamped and innovative editorial and creative approach. What's more is a new company name, Acclaim Comics, which will encompass not just Valiant, but the creator- owned line up, Windjammer, and the new line of licensed comics, Armada. Last, an influx of new talent such as Dan Jurgens, Norm Breyfogle, Paul Gulacy and Bart Sears look to make Valiant a viable line of comics again. ***Spider-Man *SPOILER*!!!!!!!!*** AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #400, (on sale in February), sees the death of a major, and I mean MAJOR, character. If you've been reading or lurking in the 4CN/CBN Marvel Comics Conference at all over the past few months you'll know who I said it was going to be. Who is it? Here's two clues; 1) I was right. Or, if you haven't been reading in the 4CN/CBN net at all, 2) After this death, BEN REILLY'S life will never be the same. ***Stan Lee's Back*** Marvel recently announced that Stan Lee, creator of more characters than you and I have fingers and toes combined, will be creating a new line of comics for Marvel called Excelsior. Excelsior is scheduled to launch in the second half of 1995 with 2 - 4 titles and then pursue a "slow, limited" growth ending up with 6 - 8 titles total. (I think this truly defines the term "slow, limited growth".) ***More News on BATMAN FOREVER*** Look for more "rooftop action" and plenty of before unseen parts in the third installment of the caped crusader's silver screen adventures. Lady Gotham, a Statue of Liberty type statue, PanAsian Town, Arkham Square and Arkham Asylum all will appear in BATMAN FOREVER. Also, the origins of both The Riddler and Two-Face will be done in the beginning of the film allowing more time for Batman in the rest of the film. We'll also see some new stuff on the utility belt like an improved Batarang, Batcuffs and a portable laser. The Batmobile will also sport a new "more menacing look" and the Batcave will be revamped and will feature the Batwing hanging from the ceiling. Contrary to earlier reports, The Riddler's real name will NOT be Lyle Heckensdorf but will remain Edward Nigma. The cast: Val Kilmer: Bruce Wayne/Batman, Nicole Kidman: Chase Meridian Jim Carrey: E. Nigma/Riddler, Tommy Lee Jones: Harvey Dent/Two-Face Production on the movie will take place in New York, LA and the Warner Brothers studios. It is scheduled for a June 1995 release. And that's that. It's kind of interesting looking back at some of that stuff now that we know how it all played out. And all of that was just in the first couple months of 1995! "With a bit of a mind flip, You're into the time slip. And nothing can ever be the same. You're spaced out on sensation, Like you're under sedation. Let's do the time warp again! Let's do the time warp again!" ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] Interview by Paul Dale Roberts Interview with Jimmy Robinson, Creator of Evil and Malice Question: Jimmy, Can you tell me something personal about your life? Personal? Like the fact that I'm a big Barry Manilow fan? Or something more like the fact that my publishing company is named after my two cats. How was it growing up? Fun. Never a dull moment with me. I grew up in the inner city. Serious ghetto action for me. But nothing like LA South Central, or New York's Harlem. I just had fun with what I had, which was my artwork. Where were you born? Native Californian here. Native Northern Californian to be precise. What was family life like? Dad took off early. It was just my mom and I. We did great. As an only child I got all the spoils. One of them being artwork, my mom heavily encouraged me. Schools? Mostly private schools. However, I did three years at a public arts school magnet program. It was great! I spent time with folks who later became successful artists. Mark Bode is one example ( son of Vaugh Bode, creator of Cheech Wizard ). Ever been expelled from school? No. I was an exemplary student. In fact, I graduated a year and a half early. I liked school, I didn't want to leave. Question: What was the very first comic books you read? For me, I think it was ROM Space Knight. I didn't get into comics until very late. I liked to draw, but I wasn't seriously thinking about comics at all. I had a friend who was into ROM SK, he got me to read it a few times. But there was another guy who helped me with my first comic, but to this day, I've never met him. He was like the comic book angel. He worked with my mom. I guess as his day job from his comic shop. He found out about my art, and he give me comics via my mom. He'd put post-its in the books to point out things. I don't know where he is now, I'd love to thank him. He gave me the entire George Perez Teen Titan line. Cool, 'eh? Question: Tell us something about Evil & Malice. What is this comic book all about? Well, unlike Jon, this is my first stint into humor of any kind. I'm doing a book that's just fun, not necessarily funny. Evil & Malice is about two twelve-year-old girls, Evelyn and Malinda who become superheroes to help their dad. Their father, THE BLACK EYE, has trouble when new villains threaten his turf. So the girls become superheroes to get rid of the opposing villains. Of course, they haven't told this to their dad, who might have a problem with his daughters playing hero. The results are pure chaos, and it's a fun story. They try to be good heroes, but they can't help it, they keep destroying everything. Question: What the heck is this ruckus about a Tour de Farce? Could you please elaborate? Well, I just wanted to add my two cents to the war of BALANCE. There's so much blood and sex on the comic shelves, I wanted to do something to help even the odds. I have nothing against the "mature" books in today's market, Tour De Farce is our attempt to rejuvenate the humor side in comics. Comics can entertain in many ways, humor is just one them, why not celebrate that. Question: And what is the Comedy Machine? Jon came up with this idea, though it may be a little less of a machine and more of a design with a theme. Trilogy has a tree as their icon. Jon wanted something that would represent us as well. However, I might need to alter my side a bit, Jon has a good following for his humor books, but I don't have an audience yet. I'm the new guy, so my side of the booth may point more to my book, than to an overall "theme". Question: Will there be other creators around during this tour de farce? Well, we're the core part of this whole thing, but as we travel about we'll pick up artists in their local areas for store signings and certain conventions. Then we move on to the next stop. Question: Where are the stops? Due to certain commitments we can't be together all the time, but the tentative stops, FOR ME, are: APE, WonderCon, Fanime, Chicago, Mid-Ohio Con, San Diego, SPX, and SuperCon. Then you have the store signings, which we're still taking submissions for. That should be most of the Northern California territory, plus some other areas, by car. Question: If someone is inquiring about the Tour de Farce, or Evil and Malice, how can they reach you? My website is still under construction at the moment. I had to get a domain name, so I'm taking the time to rebuild the whole thing. There should be Tour De Farce info on my site. In the meantime my email address, JimmyKitty@aol.com will have to do. You can also fax me at 510-638-3098. Question: Where do you want to be 5 years from now? 10 years? I've already done some production work for movies, and I want to venture into television next. Evil & Malice is prime for animation, so I'll be preparing that, as well. That's within my 5 year plans, along with more comics. In ten years I'd like to be fully integrated with entertainment in many categories. Comics, TV, Video games, animation, toys and movies. Todd McFarlane can't stay number one forever. Tell him I'm on my way. Question: Tell us something about the promotions for Cartoon Art Museum and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund? Jon set that up, he has all the low down on that. Question: Will this tour last 1 year? Yes, At the end of the year I assume we'll take a look, and see what needs fixing. At that point I'll know if I'm going to continue Evil & Malice as an ongoing series or as a series of one shots. However, I'm also planning to return to my other projects, and there's nothing funny in those projects. Hopefully the "tour" will generate more creators and give me the chance to continue my plans in other avenues. Question: Are you stopping by A-1 Comics in Sacramento? (smile) If you are, I will get you in touch with Brian Peets the owner, just let me know. (bigger smile). ( Laughter ) Well, I don't see why not. My only concern is Evil & Malice isn't available until June, so I don't have a physical book to pitch until then. Makes me feel kind of strange. Question: If there was anything besides comics that you could be doing, what would that be and why? Gah! Skateboarding. I skated half my life away until I was 25 or so. Then I decided that skateboarding wouldn't help me retire in peace. I'd be more like, in pieces. But if I lost my ability to draw....I'd be on my skateboard. I feel free when I'm skating, it's like creating for me. It's just me and the board and the tricks I can pull off. That's how I feel about comics. It's just me and the art board and the stories I can pull off. But I'm old and fat now, so if I lost my ability to draw TODAY, I think I'd hurt myself on a skateboard, the only thing I'd be free of, would be my senses. Question: What cartoons, tv shows and movies do you like? I watch a good deal of Anime. But on the home front I'm now watching some Batman Beyond, some BeastWars, and some Superman adventures. The rest of TV? Gah, I'm not a big fan of sitcoms, but I'll fess up to an attraction with Felicity and Cupid. Beyond that, I don't have time to watch TV so much. Question: What books do you like? In books, I'm into Pat Cadigan ( tea from an empty cup ) and Joseph Campbell's companion series. I just finished "Candide" again, by Voltaire. I like horror books, but I haven't got into one in a while. CyberPunk is my next love, but again, I think Cadigan is the last thing I've picked up in that field. Question: What comic books do you read now? In comics I read everything. You should see me at the store, I have the ability to get into almost anything. I figure why not? It's all food for the imagination, right? Currently, I've read "Oh, My Goddess", "Finder" and Gotham Adventures." But it goes much farther than that. I'm a big fan of zines too. Question: What hobbies and recreational activities do you participate in? Well, I mentioned skateboarding. I'm not going outside much nowadays, so there's not that many "recreational" things I'm doing. Hobbies would include ( if I had the time ) building models. I'm very good at building garage kits and preformed models. I can really get into that. If I only had the time. I'm in my garden/backyard a lot, I just fixed the bird feeder and pruned the trees. Question: If you were on a desert island, what 3 things would you want on that island with you and why? Reminds me of a Stephen King story. The outcome wasn't good. I'd like a good knife, a pet cat and a radio. I really like good knives, they are great resource tools. I don't like the fancy, threatening knives, they serve no purpose. The cat has to be there so I can talk to it. I'm a cat person what can I say. Lastly, the radio so I can hear about the outside world, and keep tabs on how crazy it's getting and maybe even a little music. Question: Are you two (Jon Hastings & Jimmy Robinson) going to be the next Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello of the comic industry? Naah. Like I said, my book isn't funny, it's just fun. Well, I think that. Many have said, it's funny. But I guess in a comedy situation I'd have to play the straight man. I'm not great with the jokes and all. Not my style. I'm a fun lovin' guy, but I'd rather hear someone else tell the jokes. In this industry, I'm a jack-of-all-trades. I've done pure sci-fi with "CyberZone", Twin Peaks style cyerpunk in "Amanda and Gunn", ER medical drama in "Code Blue", and now Superhero humor with "Evil & Malice". Next year I'd like to return to Amanda and Gunn and I have a host of other projects I'm itchin' to do. You just can't hold me on one subject for too long, so I'd make a terrible Costello. Question: What do you think of the comic industry (pro and con)? I'm in the "pro" category. I'm really loving where comics are right now. It's more of a "readers" market, that's great. There may not be as much money in it as before, but that's not what's driving me. I find comics a great form of communication and I'm fortunate to have a venue ( Image Comics ) to tell my stories. If not Image then I'd be self publishing again, just like I was when I started out. When the internet gets into shape I'll be there too. I don't really have any "cons". We're having the same problems that other industries are going through, it's just growing pains. Now growing TO what, is the question. Well, we just have to be ready for that. I am. Question: Will there be a crossover between Evil & Malice and Smith Brown Jones? I don't think so. Completely different books. Jon uses a text much better than I, so often, his humor is in the dialog. Whereas my work is kinetic, the image moves you along. I use imagery throughout the book in symbolic reference to get emotion and convey action. I think the mix wouldn't help the readers of the books to enjoy what they've come to love about our work ( well, Im crossing my fingers when my book comes out in JUNE ) Question: This winds up the interview is there anything you would like to comment on? Thanks for the interview! GAH, Thank you for doing this with us. And I hope everyone enjoys Evil & Malice when it hits in JUNE. There will be another Evil & Malice story ( 8 page short ) in the Slave Labor book "Love in Tights", so I guess that's like a sneak peak at the characters, prior to JUNE. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] VENTING MY SPLEEN David Groenewegen david.groenewegen@lib.monash.edu.au [David Groenewegen is 30, a librarian and sadly addicted to comics. He has been reading them since before he could read, and plans to keep on doing so. His first trip out of the house with his infant son was to a comic shop. Can't start 'em too young. ] In the most recent issue of Cerebus, Dave Sim announced (not for the first time) that he was no longer going to publish a letters page. Starting this year Vertigo have decided that they would rather print an extra page of ads than print their readers' letters. Am I the only one saddened by this? Letters pages have long been a way of making a connection between the creators and the readers. In some cases it has been the way that readers became creators. Dozens of writers got their first credit in a comic through the letters page, rather than on the splash page. Perhaps more important though, is the sense of connection that a good letters page can bring. I never liked Marvel comics because their letters pages always seemed such a feeble collection of "This comic is really cool" "Why can't Spiderman fight [insert name of character here]" and "Do I win a No-prize?" letters. You could tell they were being put together by some Assistant Editor at 2 am to fill up the space. They told you nothing, and added nothing to your appreciation of the comic. DC have been guilty of this too, but often you got a letters page written by a real creator. Many of my favorite books had letters answered by the person who created the stories. These creators printed letters that seemed to them to be relevant or note worthy. The Legion (when Paul Levitz was writing it) and the Invisibles both spring to mind. Ambush Bug used to answer his own letters, which I always enjoyed. The important thing about this process was that you got an additional insight into the creation of something you enjoyed. You felt that by reading and then writing about a book you might have a real chance of affecting the course of the story. You felt like you were playing a part. Now Vertigo is taking that away. Expect to see it happen elsewhere if their profits improve (this industry just loves hopping on the money spinning bandwagon) and that will be a great loss to them and to us. God knows the big companies seem oblivious to the desires of readers anyway, what will it be like if we have no forum at all? And the web will not replace this, at least not in the short term. Who knows which creators use the web? Where do they go? What are their email addresses? How many have been scared off by petty and vindictive criticism in the past? Now I'm not too worried about Cerebus' letters page, because I write to Dave when I feel like it, I know he'll put something else interesting in instead, and he wouldn't listen to me, no matter what I said about the book. Which is fine. But I know that because it was discussed in the letters pages. It's the other forums that I regret. Vertigo say that all letters will be read anyway, but how many people either won't know that it's an option, or won't bother because part of the thrill of writing a letter is the hope of getting it published and seeing your name in print. Maybe a name that will be responsible for a lot more comics in the future. David Groenewegen davidhar@lib.monash.edu.au ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] 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.] One of the things I've noticed about working on the Web for a living is how many godawful web sites there are out there. And one of the thing I've noticed being a comics fan on the web is how many bad comics web sites there are. But this week, I found a dandy one. It's called The Deadman Gallery, and it's by far one of the best-designed and thought-out fan sites I've ever seen. Oh, btw, the URL is: http://members.xoom.com/BostonBrand/index.html Go there now, and set a bookmark, because I guarantee you'll be going back. Eric Seffinga is the proprietor of the page -- and an obvious devotee of DC's obscure second-string stiff, Deadman. What he's done is put his entire collection of Deadman sketches on the site, in a sketchbook format so visitors can either pick the artist they like (how about Neal Adams, or Fred Hembeck, or Jill Thompson -- or maybe Bruce Timm?), or just flip through the sketches one at a time. I highly recommend just flipping through, because that's what makes the what so fascinating. Eric has commissioned an incredibly wide variety of artists to sketch Deadman for him -- and even if you have no interest in the character, it's still enlightening to compare 3 Geeks creator Rich Koslowski's take on the undead aerialist to, say, Mike Kaluta's or Bob Burden. It reminds me of a show I caught one on PBS many years ago about performing Shakespeare: Two actors, Patrick (Capt. Pickard) Stewart and some other guy were performing scenes from Shakespeare, and then switching characters and performing the same scene. It was fascinating to watch how different two actor's interpretations of the same material could be, even though both actors were taking basically the same approach. The Deadman Gallery takes the same idea -- all these diverse artists offering there take on the same character winds up being an interesting study in styles and interpretations. Far from looking at 20 Deadman pinups, you get some really fascinating pictures from the likes of Matt Wagner, Stephen Blue, Andi Watson. Seffinga is obviously aware of this, as he subtitles the site "a gallery of differing artistic visions." It HIS vision that particularly interests me: Either Seffinga REALLY loves Deadman (which is a possibility, we all have our favorite obscure character), or he just randomly chose the character and decided "what the hell, I'll get as many sketches of Deadman as I can." Personally, I'd like to know what he does when an artist has never heard of Boston Brand (there are a couple of sketches on the site from artists who -- I think -- hadn't). Anyway, it's a great site, go check it out. If anyone knows about more sites like this -- or if you have a site like this -- please let me know. Anyway -- that's all for this week ....... gotta run so I can get to the shop before it closes, see if my Crises book really turned up this week. Comments? Criticisms? Flames? E-mail them to david102@netscape.net or DneColt@aol.com. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] SOME PAGES, A COVER, AND A FEW STAPLES Marlan Harris mar93@aol.com [Marlan Harris lives and works in Burbank, CA.] VALENTINE (Red Eye Press) If I wrote out a synopsis of this comic, you would think creator/writer/artist Dan Cooney is ripping off Brian Bendis and JINX. Sure, VALENTINE is about a chick mercenary, not a chick bounty hunter, but it's still tough crime-fiction stuff and in black & white. And it's also not as good as JINX. But Cooney and Redeye Press are trying. The story is simple enough to follow and the characters are few (and also entirely recapped in the third issue. Hats off to Redeye for this.) The quality of the art changes panel to panel, progressively better in each further issue. The only way to pull off a noir- ish, realistic-ish comic like this is to draw from reference (also a requirement for budding comic artists of all genres) and some pages look like Cooney is doing such, but not all. VALENTINE also features some of the best and most innovative covers in a recent series. When you see the covers, you'll want to check out the insides, which is exactly what a cover is supposed to do. LOBO #50 (DC) Okay, I'll admit it - I'm a big sucker. I bought this issue because it had the JLA and Starman (the latter, in one panel) "guest-starring" in it. And, of course, Lobo kills everyone. Lobo was a joke that was almost kinda funny the first, say, ten times. I recall chuckling at something that was in the third issue of the first mini-series, but that's all I can say. How is it LOBO can go for over 50 issues, not even counting the endless mini- series before the regular one, but CHASE gets canceled before it gets a dozen? Writer Alan Grant must have a deal worked out with DC because his stuff - from regular series to Batman prestige-format comics - rarely rises above mundane. Artist Carl Critchlow deserves better work than LOBO. BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #114 (DC) Work by artists Dan Brereton and Tim Bradstreet is rare these days, especially on even one issue of a regular book, so many readers may have missed this issue, which is worth checking out. The story by James Robinson, whose work is also precious little these days compared to the output he had a few recent years ago, serves the story, which is Batman hunting down another killer. The interesting part comes in the art, not in the story. Penciller Dan Brereton, whose pencils are very loose and sketchy, teams with inker Tim Bradstreet, whose inks are incredibly tight and whose mastery of shadows, dark, and light is only a close second to Mike Mignola, and the results are an fascinating experiment. The work does not always hit the mark, as there are some pages where the combination of artists just does not work. But the artists occasionally find a sync, like Batman on the splash page and many of the panels featuring the story's villain. Perhaps when and if these artists collaborate again they can find a perfect middle ground between their styles, a sum much greater than the parts. But for now, an issue of great interest to anyone studying comic art. Any fans of Frank Miller must pick up THE COMICS JOURNAL #209 for probably the most definitive interview(s) on the man yet. There are two interviews, both quite lengthy (totaling 45 COMICS JOURNAL-pages for the whole thing), the first that gets well into Miller's creation method(s), his opinion(s) on current comics, and a study of most of his works, from the first in the 70's to 300, the most recent. The second is somewhat less interesting, as it's more of dropping in on a conversation between Miller and Gary Groth, TCJ's editor. Sometimes the interview is more about Groth and his opinions and some things the two discuss have little relevance to comics readers at all. But both will be widely informative and interesting to any fan of Frank Miller, past and present - and who isn't? mar93@aol.com Http://members.aol.com/mar93/BoneMachine.html ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] HAD YOUR PHIL? Phil 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.] Two weeks ago, in CBEM #201, I wrote about the cover of NICK FURY, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Vol