---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 212 4/30/99 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Ramblings`99 .......................... Rich Johnston [6] Tony Isabella's Journal ............... Tony Isabella [7] Interview: Mark Thompson .............. Paul Dale Roberts [8] Independent Voices .................... Rich Henn [9] Had Your Phil? ........................ Phil White [10] Random Thoughts in a Less Than Random World ............ Gary Sassaman [11] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [12] My View:ASTRONAUTS IN TROUBLE.......... David LeBlanc [13] Market Report ......................... Vincent Zurzolo [14] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [15] 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 strip: HEROES RERUN by Johnny Gonzales & a week's worth of the strip: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Just as I get used to having to stagger my Emag mailings to AOL so they are not blocked entirely (they don't like the same 4 or 5 messages sent to 400 of their users) I start having problems with emailing everyone else. I am not sure why this was, but by Monday lots of people NOT on AOL let me know they had not gotten the Emag, but I had not gotten more than the usual amount of bounce backs. So, as you all know, I sent it out again on Monday. Hopefully it won't happen again. If I was actually mailing the Emag from AOL I would have lost my account - which is what happened to Sean Jordon of Zentertainment and the WIZEmailer. The other recurring problem is the people who read this on the MAILING LIST of [SUPER HERO NEWS]. You can read the emag on the web site there since the webmaster posts the Emailed version there. The problem comes from people who sign up as a member of the list, which gets them those messages in their Email. Often they don't realize the volume of mail they will get from this service and start to write Email IN RESPONSE to the messages, asking to be removed from the mailing list. Trouble is that the list is configured to send such mail to the author of the original Email - not the manager of the mailing list. So I get it and cannot not remove these people from my list because they are not on it! SO I instruct them to get off SUPER HERO NEWS mailing list by mailing the manager of that service. I got 3 of those last weekend, the first time in several months. And I still get several new bounces every week from people who pass their mailbox limit. PLEASE - if you are using "FREE" Email learn how to use it properly - purge old mail from your mailbox regularly. Even the other services require that you not leave too much mail on there server - this is basic to almost any email service - but it seems people who use Hotmail, Juno, and a few others are most likely not to care and sooner or later let their mail fill up. And when I get the message that my mail won't get through I give you one more week to get it fixed. So take the time NOW to learn how your service operates in this regards. Big week, as is usual at the end of the month. Here are some of the products I recommend, other people will not agree. What a country! AWESOME ENTERTAINMENT Supreme The Return #1, 2.99 CRYPTIC PRESS/CS COMICS Quicken Forbidden #6, 2.95 DARK HORSE COMICS World Below #2, 2.50 DC COMICS Astro City Vol 2 #17 (resolicited), 2.50 Flash #149, 1.99 Flinch #1, 2.50 JLA #30, 1.99 League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen #3 (Of 6), 2.95 Legion Of Super Heroes #116, 2.50 LONESTAR Pantheon #4, 2.95 MARVEL COMICS Avengers #17, 1.99 Daredevil #6, 2.50 Earth X #3 (Of 12), 2.99 magazines Horrorbiz #4, 5.95 <--- Pick of the week! Now, you might be wondering why I would choose a horror mag as this week's pick, seeing how I am adamant about promoting comic books and not much else here. Well, the reason is that this issue of HORRORBIZ features an in depth interview with James Warren, of Warren Publishing. Many point to the EC horror titles as the epitome of the genre but it was Warren Publishing which began with FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND and followed with the great success of EERIE, CREEPY and later VAMPIRELLA that kept the newsstands stirred up with some great comics that could not be printed in standard format and expect to be sold. They certainly grabbed my attention growing up in that time. Jim's story is fascinating from the historic beginnings, to tragic set backs, to a renewed vigor and purpose today. The rest of the mag is pretty interesting as well. Check it out. David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: Letters of comment may be used in future issues of CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ From: "Roberts, Paul" Subject: Response. Open Letter to CBEM: Regarding Eddie Mitchell. By Paul Dale Roberts, MOE First off, thank you to the readers who have been supportive with their well thought out comments. I have remained silent, only because this is actually 'deja vu' for me. I have been through this before with Eddie Mitchell. Basically what it comes down to is that Eddie Mitchell hates me. I don't know Eddie Mitchell, don't care to know Eddie Mitchell and I have told Eddie Mitchell time after time before, if he doesn't like my reviews/overviews, then simply ignore them. How hard is it to scroll down to the next article? But, apparently Eddie still reads my reviews/overviews. The question is 'why'? In the past Eddie sent me a series of hate mail and I would spend my time answering these emails from the damned. But, what is the point? Why waste my time in corresponding with someone that has a set opinion? Eddie's opinion is Eddie's opinion and it is best to leave it at that. I will still continue being Paul. Being MOE. I will still continue ripping out overviews, interviews, newsletters, updates on my website, letter hacking and reading comic books. I'm like a machine. No matter who you are, either people will love you, like you or hate you. Eddie fits in the hate category and his stand will always remain. Then so be it. I don't walk on water. I don't think I am perfect, never said I was perfect and I do what I do for the sheer pleasure of doing it. If someone doesn't like the column, there is a scroll bar to the right hand side of the computer screen. Use the curser to bring it past the MOE overviews and.....WALA....just like magic you're at the next article. How simple can that be Eddie? Everyone please pay attention, this will occur again next year with Eddie Mitchell and we will be going through this once again. It sort of becomes the Paul and Eddie Show. I'll make sure to save this message, so I can use it again next year. Got to go, have some overviews to do (smile). MOE signing off until next time..... [And now that Paul has said his part, that will be the last word, unless they choose to carry on via Email. - DL] +++++ From: DneColt@aol.com To: comickaze@sprynet.com, DavidLeb@ix.netcom.com Robert: I'll tell you what I told the guy at Librarie Astro: I wasn't talking to you. You offer free bags and boards to regular customers, you offer free copies of Previews to regular customers (provided they meet a few reasonable conditions), and most of all, YOU FILL THEIR ORDERS. Let me clear up a few misconceptions. I'm NOT motivated by price alone -- far from it. Until recently, I've always shopped at stores that offered no discount whatsoever -- *because they gave me a reason to shop there.* Anyone who lives (or has lived in New York) probably know Jim Hanley's Universe. It's a great store (at least it was three years ago when I lived there). IF you want an issue of, say, Barry Ween or Castle Waiting, you don't have to make a point of ordering it. You can actually just go in and browse. For the entire time I shopped there, I never got a discount, never got a free bag or a free board, never a thing -- and I felt like I was getting my money's worth. Hanley's made it a privilege to shop there because they went out of their way to put everything I could possibly think I might want on the racks. But shops like this are few and far between. Where I live now, the shops flat out suck. It isn't that I judge the shops based on price -- it's that price is all that I have to differentiate them. At no shop in the city can I just browse. If I want Barry Ween or Castle Waiting, I have to order it or I don't get it. And If I do make a 60 to 90 day commitment by order books, I get none of the thing you offer you customers -- no bags, no boxes, nothing. (And yes, I fulfilled my commitment to the first store -- I bought every single book I ordered from him -- and will continue to do so until they all arrive). And finally: ++I still fail to believe that any retailer refuses to fill an advance Previews order for any title (that is not an adult title).++ I have trouble with it to, because it's so damn stupid. When it happens once, even twice, I'm willing to chalk it up to simple oversight. But when I sit down with the guy and say "look, I order a lot of obscure stuff out of the back of Previews, what can I do to call those order to your attention and make sure I don't miss out?" And then do exactly what he tells me, and I STILL don't get the goddamn books, I have to think one of two things: Either this guy is too stupid to place an order, or this guy is stupid enough to just ignore a customer. I'm sure your store is a good store, and as I said, I'm not talking about well-run stores, I'm talking to stores whose idea of "customer service" means they don't just beat you up and take you money when you walk in the door. There ARE a lot stores out there like that -- and there area lot of towns where the ONLY store is like that, and I think people deserve better. I would advise YOU not to take criticism of this nature so personally because -- once again -- it's not directed at you. D. +++++ From: Phillip White Subject: My Letter David, What was interesting about the announcement from ZENtertainment regarding AOL and e-mail restrictions was that I did not receive CBEM through my isp this week. I ended up downloading it myself on Sunday morning instead. Could all this be a reaction (over reaction) to the Colorado incident and general concern about the Internet's open forum? Let's hope not. Last issue, Robert, at Comickaze, sent letters to CBEM regarding recent columns by David Coulter as well as my own. He is absolutely correct to chastise me for "name calling" and I apologize for using the term "morons" to describe collectors who purchase multiple covers. I understand there are comic enthusiasts who are completist. For a period of several years in the early 1980’s, I attempted to collect every single Popeye comic book ever printed, from KING FEATURES through his Gold Key issues, good or bad. So, I understand how someone with a passion for, say, GEN13, might want to own all 13 covers of the same issue. I do feel that anyone buying new comics off the stand as an "investment" is probably deluding himself, but that does not excuse me from using a derogatory term. Please chalk it up as a feeble attempt to add a little spice to my pros. and style. Regarding the ongoing discussion between David and Robert on discounts and customer treatment of regular, big spenders vs. treatment of more casual customers, let me weigh in by reminding them that in comics, like life, there are always options. In my area we have three choices: 1.) Retailers who charge cover price seem to be the most popular avenue for fans. A few give discounts to their pull customers who are willing to invest a one-time membership fee, but there are no advance payments beyond that. Most Retailers here charge for PREVIEWS. When the market was stronger, most gave it away. 2.) Dealers at weekend table top shows offer 10% to 15% off cover price on comics and on PREVIEWS. They don't have much overhead. They also tend to only carry the cherry (top selling) titles, so selection is limited. You can forget indies with these fellows. 3.) Mail order subscription services give 25% to 35% discounts and a free PREVIEWS with your shipment. You pay in advance, two months early, and receive your comics several weeks after they hit the stands. Still, you can order anything listed in PREVIEWS. Like Retailers, discounts and offerings vary greatly from one service to another. It boils down to convenience, price and service. David has the right to choose a Retailer he feels gives him superior service and discounts, but not the right to expect these from any Retailer he chooses. Phil White +++++ Subj: Our 1300th ad in CBG From: BCEMYLAR@CWIXMAIL.COM (BILL COLE ENTERPRISES, INC.) Dear Friends and customers, It is with great pride that we announce our 1300th consecutive ad in the Comic Buyers Guide. Bill Cole Enterprises is the longest running continuous advertiser in their history. For this milestone, our President and CEO, Bill Cole, was interviewed by Maggie Thompson CBG editor. The full interview can be found in CBG issue #1330. We are adding new products to our line and our new 1999-2000 catalog will be ready for distribution shortly. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-781-986-2653. e-mail: bcemylar@cwixmail.com web site: www.neponset.com/bcemylar Once again thank you for allowing us to reach you through e-mail. +++++ Subj: 'Nuff Said! radio show info From: nuffsaid@escape.com (Nuff Said) 'Nuff Said!, the comic book interview/talk show, is on the air for a full hour every Tuesday at 10 PM on WBAI-FM, 99.5 in the New York City metropolitan area. Here's the schedule for some upcoming segments: Tuesday, May 4, 1999 - Jimmy Palmiotti, the writer, inker and co-publisher of Ash for Event (currently in pre-production from Dreamworks) and editor of the "Marvel Knights" titles from Marvel (Daredevil, Inhumans, Black Panther & Black Widow). Tuesday, May 11, 1999 - We're being pre-empted for the membership drive. Tuesday, May 18, 1999 - A two-hour show from 10 PM to midnight. We're still in the planning stages, but we'll be commemorating the 50th anniversary of Pacifica by talking about the comic books and comic strips of 1949, which turns out to be a pivotal year. Adventure strips were fading in the newspapers and super-heroes were fading in the comic books, being replaced by teen strips, "funny animals," and romance. Several companies went out of business and a new one started up: EC. 'Nuff Said! Tuesday, May 25, 1999 - Another pre-emption for the membership drive. 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). WBAI is a Pacifica Network station (if your local station carries any Pacifica programming (such as "Democracy Now" and Gary Null), they might be able to get 'Nuff Said! as well). WBAI is now at 120 Wall St., 10th flr, New York, NY 10005. --Ken Gale, interviewer and co-host ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [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: When the FANTASTIC FOUR first met the HATE MONGER, who help them defeat him? Bob (Law is Ass) Ingersoll once again was the quickest on the draw, since he was first to know it was Nick Fury who helped the FF. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Who did Jim Warren model VAMPIRELLA after? 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 From the Diamond web site at www.diamondcomics.com - Top Cow has announced that Marc Silvestri will illustrate an alternate cover for the double-sized Darkness #25 (APR990710D2/ $3.50), which will be painted by Dave Finch. See your retailer for availability. +++++ From the Comic Shop News at http://www.csnsider.com/ Steve Chung reported to CSN from Wondercon. Paul Dini is working on the humor strips Mutant Texas and Emu & Thylacine, and the two-issue miniseries Jingle Ball coming this fall from Oni Press. Kieron Dwyer is self-publishing his own comic, Lowest Comic Denominator (LCD). Mick Gray is busy, along with JH Williams and Howard Chaykin, on the 96-page hardcover, Son of Superman. Devin Grayson is working on a creator-owned series, User, for Vertigo, as well as The Weinbergs, her book about a superhero family travelling the country in a Winnebago, for DC. Gerard Jones, Mark Badger, and Randy Hoppe, the masterminds behind Lemon Custard.com, are launching their first continuing series, The Haunted Man, for Dark Horse. Jones is also writing Batman: The Fortunate Son and Superman: Man of the Century, both drawn by Gene Ha. Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett are continuing Heartbreakers as a series of self-contained volumes in a digest format, complete with color feature stories, guest artists, and activity pages. The second Heartbreakers Superdigest is due out this fall from Image Comics. Billy Martinez, who created Wildflower for Sirius Entertainment, is illustrating a three-issue miniseries, Forty Winks, written by Vincent Sneed. David Mack will launch a new Kabuki-Scarab series later this summer at Image Comics; he's also reached an agreement with Moore Action Collectibles to create a line of Kabuki Action Figures. Steve Leialoha is working on a new Sandman- related miniseries, Sandman Presents: Petrefax. Brandon McKinney's major project Journeyman will be appearing later this year from Image Comics. Pat McGreal is working on a Flash Elseworlds project, Flashpoint, with pencils and inks by Norm Breyfogle. Trina Robbins has completed a history of girls' comics, From Girls to Grrlz; look for it from Chronicle Books later this summer. Mike W. Barr is writing a four-issue prestige- format miniseries, JLA/JSA, which is a retelling of the historic first teaming of the two superteams. He's also looking for a new publishing home for his critically acclaimed mystery series The Maze Agency. In addition to the upcoming Teen Titans story appearing in Legends of the DC Universe, Marv Wolfman reports that he's also working on a four- part Raven story. +++++ COMICS 2 FILM at http://www.comics2film.com Fat Dog Mendoza (and Zippy the Pinhead) --------------------------------------- A source for Sunbow Entertainment informs Comics 2 Film that an animated TV series based on Scott Musgrove's Fat Dog Mendoza will begin airing next year, but not necessarily in the U.S. Sunbow is producing the series, along with Musgrove, and aiming the show at a 6-11 year old audience. Ravensburger of Germany and the Cartoon Network UK are co-producing. While, the show is slated to be broadcast on Cartoon Network UK, there is currently no U.S. broadcaster. Sunbow also has Bill Griffith's Zippy the Pinhead. That project is still in the early stages and no information is available. This very likely means that the show will not debut in the fall of this year, as we previously reported. Soulwind -------- FROM INDYWORLD: In a recent article appearing on the Indyworld website, Brad Cook interviewed Scott Morse about the current and future plans for his creation: Soulwind. The comic tells an intricate story which begins with a boy named Nick who has adventures on another planet. Morse told Cook that the comic is "turning into a big amalgam-type book of history and different theological beliefs." The article reveals great detail about Morse's plans for the comic and for himself. Eventually we also learn that Morse is working in film and is contemplating a Soulwind adaptation. Morse has worked in animation before as the art director on Hanna Barbera's Cow and Chicken. He also hopes to direct a screenplay that he's written. As for Soulwind, the creator envisions a series of animated features. Morse feels that a cable network would be the best forum for such a series. Cable TV could allow him more freedom to express the comic's non-linear storytelling as well as the sometimes violent content. However, Morse also recognizes that with movie adaptations comes a certain dilution of ideas. Working in self-published comics gives him the absolute creative control he prefers. "Visually and story-wise, I can do exactly what I want to do," he told Cook. "I can take opinions from whomever I want to take them from, and disregard whatever opinions aren't pertinent. Everybody's pretty hands-off with it. If it wasn't that way, I could do it myself, but a lot of [comic book] companies are opening up to creator-controlled projects, because they know that if you have a creator with a vision, you're going to get out a better product than a team of people." Conversely, making a film is a team effort. Morse told Cook that when making movies "you can't ever get complete and utter control of anything. There's always going to be someone putting in their two cents that's going to affect you one way or the other. It's just a matter of finding the right people and pitching the project right and getting your vision across to the people that are going to help you. That's what would make a good storyteller in general: communicating the ideas you have so that everybody can see the little movie playing in your head." Thanks to Michael Rhode of the Comics Research Bibliography. ++++ From the ComicWire on ComicResources.com, a rebuttal to Rich's RAMBLINGS `99: BAD DOG! ELLIS GIVES 'BULLDOG' RUMOR THUMBS-DOWN Internet comic book rumor maven Rich Johnston has been alleging that some of today's hottest comic creators are planning to bolt the big two publishing companies and set up a creator-owned shop for some time. This week, he put some more details on the theory. While most of the details of the theory listed on the Rich's Ramblings '99 site (http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/features/rrevs.html) have yet to be confirmed or denied, at least one of those named as being in on the plan is saying he doesn't know a thing about it. "I know of no such imprint, and certainly haven't been invited to join it," Warren Ellis told the Comic Wire on Wednesday. "I think I would have noticed." Johnston is alleging the new Image Comics imprint, to be called Bulldog, will feature a post-"Flash," post-"Captain America" Mark Waid, along with a veritable who's who of today's top creators: George Perez, Andy Kubert, Kurt Busiek (whom Johnston says would be leaving both Marvel Comics "Avengers" and "Iron Man") and Carlos Pacheco. Joe Kelly is allegedly interested as well, and he said Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison have been approached. Other creators named in the article, along with Image Comics representatives, could not be reached for comment this week. 'SLINGERS' KEEPS ON SWINGIN' Haven't we been here before? Internet rumors prematurely predicting the death of a Marvel Comics title? Yes, we have. Previously, "Taps" has been played for the very much alive-and-kicking "Deadpool" and MC2 line. This time, it's being played for another square peg of a Marvel title: "Slingers." But series writer Joseph Harris says not to worry: "'Slingers' is not canceled," he told the Comic Wire Wednesday. 'There has been nothing said of its cancellation. Our three-parter 'Raising Hell' plows through issues 10-12, and then sets us up for some even bigger things after that." Even if the series did go under, Harris wouldn't be unemployed: He's recently been tapped to handle the latest X-Men spin-off, a solo title starring the time-tossed X-Man Bishop. "As for ['Bishop: The Last X-Man'], I can't say anything just yet. We're still getting our details together. All I can say is ... it's not what you're thinking. That goes for everyone." +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.mania.com/newsarama/index.html Evil and Malice Scares Parents Image Comics and creator Jimmie Robinson have announced that Robinson's comic Evil and Malice will now go by the moniker The Adventures of Evil and Malice due to concerns voiced by parents over the original title. Many parents spoke with retailers, who passed their comments on to Image, which decided that the title needed to be a little more clear. "Image Central was getting some negative feedback from retailers on the effect of the word 'Evil' in the title from prospective customers who are moms," said Image. "Some of them are VERY reluctant to buy a comic book about 'Evil' for their child. The fact that's not what the comic is about -- is irrelevant. That's what they THINK the comic is about." According to Robinson: "My whole concept, and creation, came from the juxtaposition of title and art. That's the joke/pun. I never intended it just for kids. I understand Image's position, I just wanted older readers, sitting on the fence, to try the book as well. "However, adding 'The Adventures of...' personalizes the title, and reduces the ambiguity of what the book is about, from a face value. It's a move we can all live with." The Adventures of Evil and Malice is about two 12-year-old girls named Evelyn and Malinda who become superheroes in order to help their father, who is the most prominent bad guy in their town. When their attempts to thwart the plans of a new group of supervillains who want to knock their father off meet with mixed success, they are dubbed Evil and Malice by the local media. +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.AnotherUniverse.com/newsarama WINNER OF THE 1997 & 1998 INTERNET "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE In addition to the previously announced Superman vs. Predator 3-issue mini by David Michelinie and Alex Maleev, DC and Dark Horse have crossover plans (in various stages of development) for Batman/Tarzan, Superman/Terminator, The Joker/The Mask, and Green Lantern/Aliens. - Your Weekly Cliffhanger/Wildstorm Shippingg Update... The long-delayed Danger Girl #5 has been placed on the shipping schedule for 5/26, the same day Battle Chasers #6 is currently due. In addition, Divine Right #9 and #10 have been scheduled, with #9 currently due 5/5 and #10 slated for 6/9. - Word around the now-forming ticket lines ffor Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is that Dark Horse is planning a new Star Wars 64-page anthology title, Star Wars Tales, which is due for a September premiere. The title will feature stories set both in and "beyond" Star Wars continuity. WILDSTORM MEETS DC THIS JUNE Wildstorm has announced an added attraction for readers thinking about checking out their June "fifth week event" Wild Times, it's first since becoming an imprint of DC Comics at the beginning of this year. In addition to stories featuring various Wildstorm characters set in "imaginary pasts", each of the 5 Wild Times one-shots will feature a cameo from the DC Universe stable of characters. Here are the appearances according to information provided by the publisher - Wild Times: Deathblow, Norman Partridge (w), Tommy Lee Edwards (a) - Jonah Hex and Bat Lash appear in a tale set in the Wild West of 1899 featuring Deathblow as one of the last of the old-time gunslingers. Wild Times: DV8, written and illustrated by Kevin Altieri - Placing the team in WWII, Sgt. Rock and Easy Company guest star. Wild Times: Gen13, Joe Casey (w), Jason Johnson and Edwin Rosell (a) - Set in the "swingin" counterculture of the 1960's, Wildstorm's five hipster teens meet DC's original five hipster teens, the Teen Titans. Wild Times: Grifter, Max Allan Collins (w), Paul Smith (a) - Featuring the Phantom Stranger and Zatara, this prohibition era story sets up Cole Cash as an Elliot Ness-type who must clean up a town filled with in a town full of hustlers, mobsters and temptation...the last in the seductive form of the mysterious flapper known only as Voodoo. Wild Times: Wetworks, Mark Waid (w), Aaron Lopresti (a) - Lois Lane and mild-mannered Clark Kent appear in a story planted in the Cold War era of 1950's as the U.S. government calls on the wettest heroes in comics - WetWorks - to battle radioactive atomic seea creatures. +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail SeanJordan@aol.com and say SUBSCRIBE. During the last week of December 1999, DC Comics welcomes the new year with the year's final fifth-week event, VERTIGO V2K. Five one-shot specials will be released celebrating the so-called millennium (which many would argue doesn't begin to 2001...), which are tied together by the lone fact that all begin when the clock strikes midnight on 12/31/99. Included in the bunch is a story about four students trying to fix their computers, who accidentally set the world back to 1900, a story about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse visiting Times Square, and a tale of such VERTIGO characters as John Constantine (Hellblazer), Swamp Thing, Black Orchid, and the Doom Patrol at a New Year's Eve party. +++++ From the DCOnline newsletter; http://www.dccomics.com/newsletter.html To subscribe, or for questions or comments about the DC newsletter, please email DCWebSite@aol.com. ONLINE THIS WEEK Every super hero learns one way or the other that keeping track of the villains is essential. That's why we've added six new villain entries to the Secret Files area of dccomics.com! Which villains, you ask? Log on and find out! NEWS BYTES BATMAN BEYOND: THE MOVIE BLASTS INTO VIDEO STORES ON MAY 18 Animated Adventure Based on Unique Kids' WB! Hit Series Leads "Totally Batman" Titles From Warner Bros. Family Entertainment Batman Beyond: The Movie -- a new action-packed video based on the adventures of the futuristic crimefighter who stars in the hit Kids' WB! animated series -- will debut on May 18. The Warner Bros. Family Entertainment release, being offered in conjunction with Warner Home Video's year-long Century Collection promotion, will be part of a special group called "Totally Batman." Also included are the hits Batman: Mask of Phantasm, Batman and Mr. Freeze: Subzero, The Batman/Superman Movie and Superman: The Last Son of Krypton. All five titles are available at their lowest price ever. To further enhance the value, several premiums and discount offers will be included. There will be free Batman Beyond: The Movie posters on all videos as well as free comic books and rebate offers from Act II Popcorn and Jello Yogurt. Each video will include more than $300 in consumer savings offers (see below for a complete list). The Batman Beyond television series -- from the creators of the original contemporary Batman animated series, a four-time Emmy award winner -- has proved to be a super-hero in the ratings. It recently became the No. 2 program in its time period among boys aged 2-11. Based on this season's overwhelming response, the network has ordered 13 additional episodes for the start of their 1999-2000 season. The soaring popularity of the series has resulted in the development of other Batman-related products. Hasbro Toys has introduced a line of action figures and DC Comics is publishing a new comic book devoted to the superhero. A Web site created exclusively for the Caped Crusader can be accessed at www.batmanbeyond.com. With its futuristic look and feel, Batman Beyond is being touted by critics as leading a stylistic revolution in animation. Charles Solomon of the Los Angeles Times praised the "hard-hitting and fast-paced" series, quoting co-producer Alan Burnett, "Batman is a great character who embodies a sense of justice that everybody understands. He's so strong that we were able to open our minds to all sorts of possibilities and new story ideas." Batman Beyond: The Movie is set in the early 21st century when Gotham City has become an enormous megalopolis etched in neon with sleek futuristic vehicles, behemoth people movers and foreboding architecture. Amidst all the change, the aging Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter-ego, has retired his Batsuit. When a brave high school student stumbles onto the secret of Batman's true identity, a unique alliance is forged and an awesome hero is born. Armed with a dazzling array of advanced Bat-technology, the crime-fighting tradition is carried into the next millennium. Lending their voice talents to Batman Beyond: The Movie are Will Friedle (Boy Meets World) as Terry McGinnis/Batman; Kevin Conroy (Dynasty and the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne in all the Batman animated series) as Bruce Wayne; Sherman Howard (Lethal Weapon 2) as Derek Powers; Lauren Tom (The Joy Luck Club) as Dana Tan; Seth Green (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Nelson Nash; Teri Garr (Tootsie) as Mary McGinnis; Ryan O'Donahue (The Boys Are Back) as Matt McGinnis and Mari Devon (the Batman animated series) as Miss Winston. Batman Beyond: The Movie, produced and animated by Warner Bros. Television Animation under the creative supervision of Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Glen Murakami and Bruce Timm, is a Warner Bros. Family Entertainment release, distributed by Warner Home Video, a Time Warner Entertainment company. Its running time is 48 minutes. Kids' WB! is the WB Television Network's children's programming service. The following offers are included with all five videos in the "Totally Batman" series: * Continental Airlines: Travel discount of up to $125. * Healthy Choice Popcorn: Buy one 3-pack, get one free coupon. * Princess Cruises: $100 shipboard credit. * Visa: Limited edition Olympic 2000 pin with $100 Visa purchase of Century Collection videos. * Max Factor: Free book, "The 100 Greatest Stars of All Time," with purchase of one Century Collection video and $10 in cosmetics. * Warner Music Group: Free CD sampler with purchase. * WHV: Buy three WB Century Collection videos, get one free. * Hard Rock Cafe: Free CD with $20 Hard Rock Cafe purchase. ********** BATMAN BEYOND PROMOTIONAL COMIC ARRIVING EARLY Remember the BATMAN BEYOND PROMOTIONAL COMIC, announced last week as arriving in stores on May 12? It'll be arriving a week earlier on May 5. ********** ARSENAL HONORED FOR ADDRESSING DRUG ISSUE The Entertainment Industries Council, a 15-year-old national corporation which recognizes the ability of various entertainment mediums to address important social issues of our time, has bestowed a Certificate of Merit at its 1999 Prism Awards to the DC Comics miniseries ARSENAL, for how it dealt with the main character's drug addiction. EIC, Inc. describes this awards as "The top prize... presented to a select production... that best exemplifies the potential for addressing the drug issue through that particular type of effort" -- in this case, a comic book. 1999 marks the first year the Prism Awards had a category for comics. ARSENAL's writer, Devin K. Grayson, said "I feel very honored to have my work cited by the EIC, and know that Roy would be pleased to hear that some real good came of his fictional addiction -- too often in real life, the lessons are learned too late." ANIMATION EPISODE SCHEDULE THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES airs weekdays and Saturdays on the WB Network, and BATMAN BEYOND airs Saturdays. Times given are Eastern and Pacific. This schedule is subject to change. 5/3/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Over the Edge" (Batman) 5/3/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Speed Demons " (Superman) 5/4/98 (4:00 pm) -- "Animal Act" (Batman) 5/4/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Heavy Metal" (Superman) 5/5/99 (4:00 pm) -- "The New Kids in Town" (Superman) 5/5/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Chemistry" (Batman) 5/6/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Little Girl Lost -- Part I" (Superman) 5/6/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Little Girl Lost -- Part II" (Superman) 5/7/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Old Wounds" (Batman) 5/7/99 (4:30 pm) -- "In Brightest Day" (Superman) 5/8/99 (8:00 am) -- "The Demon Within" (Batman) 5/8/99 (8:30 am) -- "Fish Story" (Superman -- NEW) 5/8/99 (9:30 am) -- "Disappearing Inque" (Batman Beyond -- NEW) ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [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: 27 April 1999 American Bulldog Let the new rumours fly! Mark Waid and Andy Kubert are the creative team behind a new creator owned book from Bulldog, a new line distributed by Image Comics, which will see Mark and Andy leave Captain America to work on the new title. Mark will also leave Flash in the spring of 2000. Fellow Bulldoggers are Kurt Busiek, leaving Avengers and Iron Man, and Carlos Pacheco for a creator owned Bulldog book together. As for more Bulldog boys, well Joe Kelly is said to have taken an interest and Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison have been approached. This new Image writer-owned line will be distributed in early 2000. This rumour has been building for months, looks like its now taking shape. And Ramblings was there first! We'll be investigating this story with the creators involved and see if we're getting there with this rumour. Slung Out And Slingers is cancelled with issue 12. The House Of Ideals Talking of creator owned comics at Image, there are now some new guidelines to such books surfacing at Image. After a comics pro tipped us off, an Image founder was able to tell us that Larry Marder is coordinating new books of this sort so that the individual founders won't be swamped with hungry freelancers. The founders can recommend new books to take on and it's likely that these will go through. We're told that some creators had been playing the different Image founders off against each other - they'd get an offer from Image Central and would try to better that with a deal from a founder, so the company competed against itself. Now it's all down to Larry Marder. Bissette By Bids We've been tipped off by an eBay curio... Steve Bissette is selling off From Hell scripts that he acquired when trying to publish them. It's all over at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=95169500 but for those who would prefer not to sully their browsers with such exploitative commercialism can just read on. There is no existing category on eBay for these rarities, so bear with me a moment. This is a set of Alan Moore's scripts for the first seven chapters of the landmark graphic novel From Hell. As co-creator/co-publisher and editor of the anthology series Taboo in which From Hell was initially serialized, and packager/editor/co-publisher of the first (and only) volume of From Hell: The Compleat Scripts, I stored these scripts away a number of years ago (Note: As of Chapter Eight, Taboo had succumbed and Alan and Eddie were completing the serialized novel with Tundra and Kitchen Sink, ending my involvement). Unlike Alan's scripts for, say, Swamp Thing, for which there were indeed typed originals with Alan's hand-written corrections and notations, most of the From Hell scripts are of negligible value as manuscripts. None of this set are true originals. The first four scripts (for Prologue: The Old Men on the Shore, and Chapters One through Three) are photocopies, just as they were mailed to me by From Hell artist Eddie Campbell. To the best of my knowledge, the originals remained with Eddie in Australia. These four scripts were typed on Alan's typewriter (familiar to me from years of collaboration with Alan on Swamp Thing), peppered with spelling and punctuation corrections made by Alan. At the time, I had the scripts for Chapters Two and Three spiral-bound under clear plastic covers, and those are included in this set. These spiralbound copies are particularly sharp and well-preserved, though all are still white, crisp, and very legible. By the time work had begun work on Chapter Four of From Hell, Alan had abandoned his typewriter and began using a word processor. Thus, there were no "original manuscript" drafts of the From Hell scripts circulating between creative or editorial collaborators -- Alan would send the involved parties either print-outs from his printer, or photocopies. The scripts for Chapters Five and Seven are original printouts from Alan's printer; as you will see, Alan was still unfamiliar with the technology, and miscaliberated the margins for printing, so that pages scroll over the tear divisions between pages. He would therefore send them un-divided, folded as all computer paper was at that time. The pages for these two scripts are undivided, as Alan originally mailed them. They have been well cared for over the years, and remain in excellent condition. Chapters Four and Six were sent to me photocopied from Alan's printouts, and remain sharp, clean, and very legible. The script for Chapter Four will interest scholars of Moore's work for his meticulous attention to page design, with many pages enhanced with tiny "thumbnail" panel-design notations and sketches for Eddie to follow. I have also included a few extra documents, remnants of the work completed for the aborted From Hell: The Compleat Scripts project. These include: a photocopy of Alan's original ms. for the Introduction to the Compleat Scripts : Volume One; photocopies of Eddie Campbell's sketches completed specifically for the Compleat Scripts volumes, including a few which never saw print; my original typed ms. for the dust jacket copy; my introduction to the appendix, stapled to a complete photocopy of Alan's typed ms. for a promotional text written to accompany the debut of From Hell in Taboo 1 back in 1989; various typeset galley proofs for misc. pages of the published first volume; and a few scattered letters and notes related to the project, though none bear signatures of the participants. Sorry, autograph seekers. Though I wish to stress there are no "original" manuscripts per se, this is a very unique collection. There are literally hundreds of pages of script here. They are a wonderful read, and will be of interest to any and all fans of Alan Moore and scholars of the comics artform.Important note: There is no transfer of rights to reprint, copy, photocopy, print, or otherwise reproduce these documents in any form either implicit or explicit through this sale. The copyright to this material remains the exclusive property of the author(s). This collection is of archival interest, but no further transfer of rights or permissions is implied. These are the only copies in my possession. There is no reserve; Buyer pays actual shipping cost (and it's a hefty box!); Money orders, cashiers checks, Visa/Mastercard accepted. Be sure to include all info as it appears on your card, plus mailing address and a daytime phone number at which you can be reached. Thanks! Good luck, one and all. So there you go, Gull Catchers! Last checked, it was at just over $100, which is a complete steal. Pat And Arnie Pat Lee, swiper extraordinaire reports at the Buffalo Comicon that Dark Minds is up for the Schwartzeneggar movie treatment. They deserve each other, I reckon. Corrections And Clarifications Maybe I should make this a regular. Joe Nozemack from Oni writes "Just wanted to clarify. I talked to Garth for maybe two minutes at WonderCon. One of the guys who helps at the booth, but isn't actually an Oni employee hangs out with Matt Hollingsworth and so probably ended up hanging out with Garth also. No major schmoozing going on." We're also told by another contact "In one of your updates you wrote about Lobster Johnson by Mignola and Smith. And you said that they have patched up their differences. They haven't. The work was done before. More Corrections And Clarifications E-mail from Mark Waid and Kurt Busiek seems to throw doubt on the 'Bulldog' name, but the moment we hear any more, we'll tell. Dateline: 28 April 1999 Bulldog Bigger We've been informed that George Perez is also signed into the new creator-owned imprint from Image, whether called Bulldog or not, and the DeZago/Weiringo Tellos was originally meant to go with the line too, but the line wasn't ready when they were. However they may join up as the line launches. Any more rumours or info associated with this new line is appreciated. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Tony's Isabella's Journal Tony Isabella tonyisa@ohio.net Tony Isabella is a featured weekly columnist in the nation's largest comic book collector's publication, Comics Buyer's Guide. His satiric "Tony's Tips!" is a favorite among fans and industry professionals alike. A life long comic book fan, Tony began his career in 1972 as a comics professional as assistant to Stan Lee! He has worked in nearly every aspect of the business, from retailing, to distribution to writing. Among his credits is the creation of DC's first black super-hero, Black Lightning. Tony's latest project, the daily "Tony's Isabella's Journal" made its debut in June of 1997 on the world wide web exclusively through World Famous Comics, at http://www.wfcomics.com/tony The following is one of those daily columns . . . Tony Isabella's Journal #665 Today's lead originally appeared as my "Tony's Tips" column in COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1324 [April 2, 1999]. If you've already read it there, congratulations on buying such a fine weekly newspaper, one which also includes columns by Peter David, Mark Evanier, Bob Ingersoll, and Craig "Mr. Silver Age" Shutt. As a reward, you can skip down to the new stuff following said column. If you're not already reading CBG, you can still read both the reprinted material and the new stuff. But, after that, you should visit our CBG link page and order yourself a subscription to that publication. You'll be glad you did. ****** TONY'S TIPS "You don't know him like I do, Susan! All humanity is important to Batman--any life, no matter how insignificant in the public eye!" --Bruce Wayne, "One Bullet Too Many" CBG's "March of Comics" continues with the 1960s, the decade that sealed my fate...comics fan for life-wise. The Marvel Age of Comics had begun and I went from an occasional comic-book reader to a true-believing fanatic. By the end of the sixties, I was buying and reading all Marvel's comics, virtually all DC's books (I did manage to resist their romance titles until the 1970s), and a whole bunch of adventure, mystery, and super-hero stuff from ACG, Archie, Charlton, Gold Key, Harvey, Tower, and Warren. Marvel does a pretty good job keeping their early super-hero comics available through their great ESSENTIAL volumes and a wide assortment of trade paperbacks. DC had been neglecting the decade, but is finally and thankfully revisiting it with retro-annuals of Green Lantern and the Teen Titans. Most welcome to me was a trade paperback which seems specifically geared towards, not the hardcore comics collector, but a general audience. BATMAN IN THE SIXTIES ($19.95) gathers 17 tales from Batman's emergence as a pop culture phenomenon in an anthology that looks terrific and reads better. Editor Rick Taylor and design director Georg Brewer deserve a round of applause for this one. The cover of the collection is a "Murphy Anderson recreation" of Batman and Robin charging towards the reader with a sort of cool "pop art" background. This bad and bright baby can be seen across the length of a store; it definitely catches the eye. Besides the stories, BATMAN IN THE SIXTIES has text material (including an introduction by Adam West) and illustrated features that place the reprinted comics in their proper historical context. There is a fold-out map of the Batcave drawn by Frank Springer, and fold-out inside back cover cut-out figures of Batman and Robin. It's taking a great deal of will power not to cut them out and play with them. The pre-Julius Schwartz era of Batman is represented by five stories, all written by Bill Finger, penciled by Sheldon Moldoff, and inked by Charles Paris. "The Case of the Deadly Gems" is a murder mystery in just eight pages, marred by the artists obscuring key clues. "Bat-Mite Meets Bat-Girl" has my least favorite Bat- character of the era...and I'm not talking about the cute blonde. Bat-Man, like so many other elements of the pre-Schwartz Batmans, was proof that what worked for Superman didn't usually work as well for the Dynamic Duo. Part of the fun of re-reading these stories is remembering how I felt about them when I first read them. The other three Finger yarns in the book are the first Clay-Face/Matt Hagan appearance, a Joker tale, and what was, at the time, the first new Penguin story in years. I loved the somewhat open ending of the Clay-Face origin and the explanation of the Penguin's return to crime. Batman's "New Look" is represented entirely by stories geared to appeal to viewers of the Batman television show, but with less camp and more smarts. John Broome's "The Joker's Comedy Capers," drawn by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella, has the Clown Prince of Crime impersonating silent-movie comedians as part of a complicated robbery plot. This version of the Joker loves the game as much as he loves the loot. Insane? Well, maybe, but in a benign way that would disappear by the 1970s. Writer Gardner Fox delves into the mind of the Riddler in "The Riddle-Less Robberies of the Riddler," drawn by Moldoff and Giella. It's a fine story, much better than the Fox tale which follows it. "The Blockbuster Breaks Loose" (Infantino/Giella) is pretty much a punch-'em-up enlivened only slightly by the behind-the-scene plots of the mysterious Outsider. Bob Kanigher is represented by one of his greatest creations, the seductive Poison Ivy. There was an undercurrent of sexuality in many Kanigher scripts. "Beware of Poison Ivy" (Moldoff/Giella) definitely falls into the category. Following the Ivy debut is "Catwoman's Catnapping Caper," an rarity written by E. Nelson Bridwell as a Kellogg's cereal premium. It's drawn by Infantino and Anderson. "Batgirl Breaks Up the Dynamic Duo" (Fox/Infantino/Sid Greene) is one of my favorite goofy stories of the decades. Let's activate the SPOILER WARNING so I can do it justice. Batman falls into a swamp and contracts a strange swamp fever that will cause him to collapse in a matter of one to seven days. Knowing Batman's collapsing at a wrong time, say, when he's beating on bad guys, could be kinda sorta fatal, Batgirl and Robin conspire to prevent this by forming their own Dynamic Duo and getting to the crimes before the Caped Crusader. They believe Batman's sense of duty is so strong that he wouldn't do what any crime-fighter with the intelligence of a hubcap would do and take the week off. This isn't "No Man's Land" we're talking about here. This was a Gotham City you wouldn't mind living in. The punch line? Batman reverses his patrol route to get in on the action, collapses, and is rescued from death by the arrival of Batgirl and Robin...then admits to the youngsters they were right. Even if they had told him he had the fever, he'd have been too dumb to take it easy. Just for the record, gang, if you happen to notice me showing signs of this swamp fever, tell me about it right away. I promise I'll go lie down until it passes. There's one more notable thing about this tale. It marked the first time DC raised the possibility that Commissioner Gordon knows Bruce Wayne is the Batman. Okay, you can kill the spoiler warning now. Fan-turned-pro Mike Friedrich was an object of envy for many of us in the 1960s, but seldom more so than when he wrote "The Man Who Radiated Fear" for the landmark BATMAN #200 (1968). The story, penciled by Chic Stone and inked by Giella, retold the origins of both Batman and Robin as they battled the Scarecrow. This one had drama and heart to it, plus a bonus for readers like me. Two of the Scarecrow 's henchmen were named for Bat-fans Larry Raybourne and Biljo White. Friedrich is also represented by a two-part Robin solo story from the back of DETECTIVE COMICS. Penciled by Gil Kane and inked by Anderson, it's heavy on the action but still had, for the time, a realistic feel to it as Dick Grayson and some high school buddies deal with a teachers strike and unexpected violence. From the moment he started writing Batman stories for editor Schwartz--we won't talk about his Atom and Flash scripts--Frank Robbins was one of my favorites. One of his Batgirl two-parters, "Surprise! This'll Kill You!," is memorable for its, for the time, gritty caper plot, and for the sexiest Batgirl ever seen in comics, courtesy of Kane and Anderson. The book's other Robbins story, "One Bullet Too Many," was a landmark for the sixties. Dick leaves for college while Bruce and Alfred decide to streamline Batman's operation. They will move to a penthouse apartment in Gotham City proper as Wayne adopts a more hands-on approach to his charitable activities. It had some flaws; Bats sets a trap that almost gets the wife of a murder victim and ends up getting shot himself. In fact, it's the Gotham City police who actually bring the killer to justice. It was different, but it did seem like a sloppy showing for the world's greatest detective. Not to worry, Robbins got a better handle on the character within a matter of issues. And, though the Irv Novick/Dick Giordano art for the story was a little quiet, their work also got stronger very quickly. What I did like very much about "One Bullet Two Many" was the leading role Robbins gave Bruce Wayne. I've never bought into the notion that Wayne is no more than a mask for Batman. He's a good man in his own right and Robbins recognized that. Okay, now that I've waxed nostalgic for several hundred words, it's time to cut to the chase. BATMAN IN THE SIXTIES gets a huge recommendation from me. I think it's a collection that will appeal to people who rarely, if ever, enter a comic-book store, and appeal to the most avid of comics fans as well. The selection of stories and their presentation was excellent. However, it does leave me with a question for those fine folks at DC Comics. Namely: When do we get SUPERMAN IN THE SIXTIES and WONDER WOMAN IN THE SIXTIES? I have some room on my bookshelf. ****** DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that Laurie Rozakis, the wife of former DC Comics production manager and writer Bob Rozakis, is the author of such helpful tomes as THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO MAKING MONEY IN FREELANCING...and the CIGs to CREATIVE WRITING, SPEAKING IN PUBLIC, COLLECTIBLES, GRAMMAR AND STYLE, DEALING WITH IN-LAWS, SHAKESPEARE, AMERICAN LITERATURE...and, with husband Bob, THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO OFFICE POLITICS? Look for these volumes at your friendly neighborhood bookstore or, if they don't have them on hand, at your favorite online bookstore. And keeping watching the WORLD FAMOUS COMICS main page for the debut of Bob's trivia website. Mr. Answer Man has been working on some truly mind-challenging quizzes for WFC; you'll have a blast matching wits with the master. ****** TONY'S MAILBOX Shortly after my BATMAN IN THE SIXTIES review appeared in CBG, I received this from former DC editor RICK TAYLOR: I just wanted to write and thank you for the great review of BATMAN IN THE SIXTIES. I'm glad to see you got it across the board. My intent was to try and grab the baby boomer in the bookstore while giving the fanboy a rise, too. I'm told the sales are bearing me out. For the record, Robbin Brostermann and Steve Vance did the real design work. They happily realized every clunky idea I threw at them. It was Mark Chiarello who came up with the groovy background for the cover. It's a shame I'm no longer with the company; I had the Superman volume ready to rock and plans for Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash volumes. How did you like the TEEN TITANS LOST ANNUAL? I look it this way, I got to some fun dumb stuff that I enjoyed reading as much as producing. It's sad that the business in general has no idea how to capitalize or market its past. I think I gave it a decent shot. I'd say you definitely hit the bull's-eye, Rick. I haven't read that TEEN TITANS annual, but it just got moved into my "read soon" box...in tribute to the terrific job you and your team did on the Batman volume. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff. Tony Isabella April 4, 1999 ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] Interview by: Paul Dale Roberts silhouet9@aol.com Interview with Mark Thompson, Checker Comics Publishing a.. Where were you born and raised? Family life, schools attended? Born in California and moved to Ohio as a youth. Grew up in Dayton, Ohio and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio studying business. Worked in the publishing industry since 1992. b.. What was the first comic book you ever read? An early FF from Kirby and Lee ­ a classic and an inspiration. c.. For people unfamiliar with Checker Comics, can you tell us some of the titles you're publishing and what they're all about? Well thanks to the support of people like you and David LeBlanc over at CBEM, we're pretty happy with the buzz going around on the Internet regarding our books, but for the uninitiated: Checker Comics produces a diverse line of action comics, including Danger Ranger, Mutator, Templar and Chemical Warfare. Danger Ranger follows the paranormal crimefighting efforts of an FBI-employed superhero. Mutator is a techno-thriller with a basis in genetic engineering, where the protagonist is a genetic experiment in hyperevolution. Chemical Warfare has elements of the classic war comics with a futuristic setting where bio and chemical weapons have supplanted nukes and are being deployed in a U.S./China global conflict. Templar updates the mythic exploits of the Knights Templar, picking up from the "destruction" of the mysterious order during the inquisition. Templar has the remnants of the order going underground, secretly pursuing their mission for 800 years before resurfacing in the present day to take one side in a modern holy war that pits heroes of the great religions against one another. d.. How did you get started in the comics industry? I had been working on concepts for years, since my teens, and after I'd launched my publishing career and began to learn some of the ropes, I began advertising for artists to work with in Southwest Ohio. I was surprised by the level of talent available, and began working with Dave Berkebile, who pencils/inks both Danger Ranger and Mutator, fleshing out some of my concepts. What we came up with looked good, so I opened a studio in downtown Dayton, and began producing books. e.. Where is Checker Comics headed and why? As a lot of people are already aware, Checker ceased soliciting its products through Diamond Comic Distributors in September 1998 to focus attention on important issues in comics distribution ­ namely the need for returnable comics ­ and to explore the viability of direct mail order sales. We now offer our comics to retailers (returnable, of course!) and fans exclusively from Checker using e-commerce via the Web (www.checkercomics.com) or a toll-free number (877-7-BLACK-7). Though it has slowed production of our books (we have to finance future titles entirely through revenue on back issues), our web traffic and sales are on a steady climb. The recent focus on Internet-based comics sales as an alternative to the direct market viz-a-viz the whole Diamond/NextPlanetOver/Chuck Rozanski debate has helped, too. We intend to float some trial balloons for new titles in the form of ashcans over the Spring and Summer, and will continue the existing series as revenue permits. It's very difficult to predict one's future, though, in these tumultuous times in the comics industry. I'm beginning to explore the possibility of merging operations with another publisher, but no specific targets in mind yet. 6. Who are some of the talent behind Checker Comics? The writer on all the titles is a hack, and to tell you the truth, I can't even remember his name (actually, it's me), but the artists are an ultra-talented bunch: David Berkebile Danger Ranger, Mutator - Artist Art Director Berkebile's road to a career in comics began in 1993 while working as a graphic artist. It was then he met Checker Comics founder and publisher Mark Thompson at a party neither one remembers and began collaborating on preliminary projects which culminated in the launching of the company in 1997. David pencils and inks Checker's flagship color titles Danger Ranger and Mutator. Berkebile rhymes with Turkey Smile, but you can call him "Sky Hook." Jamie Hurtt Templar - Artist Jamie's distinctive and dynamic style has graced the pages of Strictly Underground's werewolf title, Crytown, and Infinity Comics' Lucas. He gets medieval on the interiors for Checker's series Templar, which debuted in March. Jamie is a native Daytonian who wisely relocated to Seattle before we lured him back here with small, shiny objects and hollow promises of some vague "career in comics." Anthony Fanning Chemical Warfare - Artist Tony pencils and inks Chemical Warfare, and has worked previously on projects for Boneyard Press and Eros Comix. His firsthand knowledge military science (from a Marine Corps stint and by working with the always well-armed Hart Fisher) suits him ideally for his work on our futuristic tale of apocalyptic biochemical conflict. While in the Marine Corps, he illustrated publications for the Infantry Training School and the Corps of Chaplins. He resides in Dayton and is married with two children. Daved Levitan Danger Ranger, Mutator - Coloring Daved worked for many years coloring the Mother Goose and Grimm Sunday comic strip for Pulitzer-Prize-winning cartoonist Mike Peters. The distinctive and instantly recognizable color theme Levitan brought to the funny pages was exactly what Checker wanted for our titles. Daved and his merry band of magic spectral elves at Dizzy Fish (don't ask) have outdone themselves on Danger Ranger, Mutator, and Templar. a.. How can someone get a hold of Checker Comics? What is the snail mail address/e-mail address/URL for Checker Comics? The best bet, and an option I assume is open to all your Internet-savvy readers, is to jump on our website at http://www.checkercomics.com. Snail mail is 257 Wayne Ave., Dayton, OH 45402, and you can e-mail us at info@checkercomics.com. b.. What are your hobbies and recreational activities? This time of year, I'm busy with my Rotisserie baseball squad ­ I'm a baseball fanatic. I enjoy reading comics, of course, but also wade through the occasional unillustrated book. c.. What is your favorite book? I keep waiting for something to come along and knock The Watchmen out of the top spot, but it ain't happened, and maybe it never will. And I do realize you're not asking what my favorite comic book is. d.. What comic do you read now? Everything I can for research/market awareness, but mostly Transmetropolitan for pure pleasure. e.. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring and why? Selma Hayuk, a picture of same, and the winner of a Selma Hayuk look alike contest. Why? f.. What do you think of the comics industry, pro & con? I touched on the cons earlier, and they're all related to distribution. The pros are an unmatched level of talent, creativity and technology creating fantastic comics. Unfortunately, the distribution model that we're using now can't get the diverse array of fine comics in front of their potential audience. g.. Where do you want to be 5 years from now? 10 years? I don't know where I want to be in five or ten minutes! h.. Do you see Checker Comics expanding? That's always the goal and the hope, but the market is so volatile right now it's tough to say. I've got lots of ideas, revenue permitting. i.. What are your favorite movies, TV shows and cartoons? This Is Spinal Tap, That ‘70s Show, What Dreams May Come. j.. What are your favorite characters from the Checker Comics universe? I'm partial to the Louie-DePalma-styled, cigar-chomping bureaucrat in Danger Ranger who heads the Cleveland DR operation. k.. Will we see any crossovers? It's really too early to tell, we're still trying to establish our series on their own merits before I could justify that. I don't have any innate distaste for crossovers, if done with the right partner for the right reason (a great story), and not just as a cheap sales gimmick. l.. This concludes the interview. Is there anything you want to add? Support independent comics publishers with your words and your dollars! Every fan needs to create at least one new fan each year -- don't hide your love of comics under a bushel, everyone needs to work together to bring comics back stronger than ever. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] Independent Voices Rich Henn rasmus@timespell.com [When not stressing at work doing the day job, Rich is stressing at home laboring over the next issue of TIMESPELL. He lives in sunny Maryland with his beautiful wife and their lazy Siberian Husky] Well, folks...sorry I've been incognito for a while. It's been a ROUGH last couple weeks, to say the least. In fact, Monday was the first night I've slept more than 3 hours. Why, you say? Well, putting together a comic book is never easy work. I've said it before and I'll say it again...don't do it thinking that you are going to make any kind of real money at it. Do it because you love it. Do it because it's something you're passionate about. Do it because you're having fun doing it. Soon as it stops being fun...STOP. Because it's never worth compromising you're health, sanity or your life outside the comic world. I do it because I've got a story to tell, plain and simple. It's something that I need to get out of my system. That said, TIMESPELL ##3 has shipped, it's on the road, and I'm very proud of this one. As a bonus, the Indy Spotlight in this issue features a clip from the graphic novel THE POLITICS OF MEAT, by Tom Peters, and featuring art by Steve (Whiteout) Lieber. It looks fantastic! Moving right along, I need to make a public apology to someone for misspelling their name in my last column. Steve Gerding of 4-Color Review did a wonderful review on Timespell not too long ago, and I mentioned him and his site when I did my critique on Wu-Wei. My most humble apologies, Steve. I hate it when people get my name wrong, and there is no call for carelessness. I am truly sorry for such a blunder. This past weekend was the Pittsburgh Comicon in Monroeville, PA. What a show! The George's really know how to put on a show. Well organized, streamlined, and nobody went home disappointed. Personally, I had the best time on Saturday night. After a wonderful dinner with Mike Zarlenga, Don Simpson, Mike Manley, Steve Conley, and the boys from That Rat Bastard, we headed back to the hotel for some more drinks and merriment. In one of the back rooms on the main floor, the CBLDF was having their first annual Mardi -party. It was a hoot and a holler, and I enjoyed some conversation with Steve Lieber. What a swell guy. We talked a bit about the Whiteout sequel, and I was surprised to learn that the author, Greg Rucka is merely 28 years old! Wow! And that guy is also a novelist, for those of you who don't know. He's written such books as Finder and Keeper. Plus, he's written some stories for the Batman line of comics. Afterwards, I headed to the bar where Mike Manley, Steve Conley, John Gallagher, Vince Sneed and John Peters started to discuss the possibilities of Y2K food. How in the hell that topic got started, I'll never remember...but we figured out that Mike Manley will indeed be in charge of Bartertown when society takes the Nestea plunge. Dry cereal, baby. That's the future! I can't remember when I've laughed so hard! Oh yeah...Apollo Smile was at the show. Lip syncing her little heart out and leaping all over the stage...perky and butt in the air. I overheard someone make the comment that she's the "Geek Diva". Yep. I guess she is. I'm wondering if I can get her on loan for this bachelor party I'm planning... George Perez did one of the greatest accomplishments at the show. A fine gentleman, George raised over $4000 for the Make A Wish Foundation, doing sketches the whole weekend! The local newspaper did a write-up on the show Friday night, and spotlighted none other than Rich (3 Geeks) Koslowski. What a great guy, Rich is. And what a great book. Now with Rich joining forces with Gary Sassaman for Geeksville, you can expect even greater things from these two guys. Well, I gotta run...I'm looking forward to tearing into the 3 Geeks #10, Bastard Tales #2, Wu-Wei #8 and...DAMN! Daredevil is actually out!!! Quick note to all of you retailers...the first 50 retailers to contact me via email, with an interest in Timespell...I will send you a signed copy of issue #3 free as a sampler. Until next time... ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] 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.] The electronic buzzer sounds. A scruffy guy with flaxen hair triggers it as he strides through the front door of the comic shop. It buzzes again for the girl who is close on his heels. Her second-hand Goth shop attire is reminiscent of the character Death, from Vertigo comics. As the two pass by, you glance up from the bins where you search in vain for a copy of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #4 in Near Mint condition, mistakenly priced at Fair. The fellow carries a beat-up cardboard box. The flex of his arm muscles suggests the box is heavy. From his smug demeanor it is clear the guy thinks he's about to cash in for big bucks and impress his lady. For her part, she's trying very hard to look bored, fanning herself with the dog-eared copy of WIZARD she carried in. Based on his upbeat attitude, you figure this is the first comic shop they have visited with his treasure box in tow. They approach the shop owner, who stands protected behind the waist-high barrier of his display counter. The guy sets the box down on the display case with exaggerated pomp and ceremony, attention befitting the Crown Jewels. You know what's coming. It's not going to be pleasant. You move as far away from the impending encounter as possible, rationalizing that this would be an excellent time to browse those 25 cent bins near the back of the store. Still, some sick sense of morbid curiosity, the same force that urges one to stare for hours at replays of a school shooting on CNN, forces you to watch the inevitable confrontation from your secure distance. From this distance, you can't make out the exact words being exchanged. There's no need. You've witnessed, even participated in, the ritual dance that is about to unfold. The owner's indifference causes the smirk to fade from the scruffy guy's face. It is replaced with a cocked eyebrow of suspicion as more words are exchanged. Then begins the pleading and entreaties that fall just short of the guy dropping to his knees. Finally, there is a glimmer of hope as the owner, rather begrudgingly, agrees to examine the contents of the box. The retailer's speed is uncanny, both cold and calculating. There's no sign of loving nostalgia or fan relish in his rapid, mechanical rummaging. This is strictly business. He's finished with the entire box in less time than you would take examine one Silver Age comic. He shakes his head. The blonde's face turns red with irritation. He yanks the box back from the owner and frantically riffles through its contents himself. Then, with a triumphant gleam, he extracts a limp comic wrapped in a yellowed plastic bag. He holds it aloft and points to the same issue, in all its enhanced metallic splendor, displayed in a Mylar Snug (r) on the wall behind the owner. The retailer responds with a shrug and points to a nearby box that you guess holds numerous copies of the issue in question. Then he gestures to indicate the store around him. He's talking "overhead" you think. Barking slurs that would make David LeBlanc reject this column, the scruffy blonde guy grabs the heavy box and storms out, almost forgetting his girlfriend. She follows, stopping at the door long enough to give the owner a stare that should kill. Then her burning gaze turns on you at the back of the shop and she shouts, "We're never coming back to THIS store! And I'm telling everyone not to shop here!" Then, she, too, is gone. The owner looks at you and shrugs an apology. You both know the couple is off to the next comic shop in town. They'll try a third and maybe a fourth before the harsh reality sinks in. His valued comic collection won't be paying for concert tickets after all. In fact, they won't even cover the cost of dinner at Denny's. They'll go home to their pad to sulk over how much gas and how many hours they have wasted today. They'll accuse all comic book retailers everywhere of being miserly crooks. And, they'll hold up that copy of WIZARD as evidence that all comic shop owners are swindlers. These two, like too many others, missed a key word when they bought WIZARD. That word is "guide" and you find it everywhere from OVERSTREET to CBG. It means to lead, direct, inform, and explain. Price guides merely suggest the value comics might sell for to a collector. They do not guarantee a comic's value or portray what a retailer is willing to pay. Unlike other collectibles, like coins, cards, stamps, beanie babies or pogs (remember pogs?) a comic's value is strongly tied to its condition, which, by its nature, is extremely subjective. Collectors view their comics as having more value because they have a personal relationship with them. To that blonde guy, his copy of the metallic covered wonder might have been the first or second comic he ever read. Each crease represents an additional reading and singularity. (Believe or not, I wish I still had that BATMAN comic Uncle Bob rolled up and used smash a fly with back in 1958.) Price guides all claim to base their estimates on retailer's actual sales data and attempt to give objective definitions to conditions. Still, there is a colossal breach between the values listed in price guides and the amount retailers are willing to pay for back issues, especially when it comes to comics published within the past ten years. This gap is so wide that it defies understanding. It is a discrepancy that drives casual and more recent collectors out of the hobby. OVERSTREET skates around the issue, taking a stance that those recent comics haven't been around long enough to establish a measurable value, and so it lists the majority of them at cover price. We know that many retailers discount new comics to their subscribers and pull customers. The discounts they receive from publishers allow them to do so and still make a profit. Does it make more sense, then, for price guides to reflect these discounted prices for recent comics rather than cover price, at least until such time that a resale history has been established? Better still, why continue to list the thousands of new comics coming out each year knowing that the majority will never be worth much on the resale market? Overstreet acknowledges it has no intention of listing every comic ever published. (While advance orders of OGRE #1 were about 9,000, the series doesn't meet their criteria for inclusion.) OVERSTREET is a price guide, not reference index. Wouldn't it better, then, if price guides only listed comics with a proven resale value and ignore those that are worth less than cover price? Perhaps then, collectors would have a better understanding of their comic's true value. PW ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] RANDOM THOUGHTS IN A LESS THAN RANDOM WORLD Gary Sassaman GSassaman@aol.com [Gary Sassaman is the Writer/Artist of INNOCENT BYSTANDER, you know...the "nice little comic (now titled "GEEKSVILLE") you can take home to mom."] I want to tell you about the Pittsburgh Comix Club. Spurred on, no doubt, by Bill Schelly's Hamster Press revised and expanded re-publishing of his fine THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMIC FANDOM, I've been looking over the few things I have left from the halcyon days of Pittsburgh Comix Fandom. It was quite a time and it was quite a club. The Pittsburgh Comix Club was really born of two men, Ben Pondexter and Greg Eide. In the summer of 1972, Eide opened what would be Pittsburgh's first real comics shop, in the small borough of Etna, north of Pittsburgh. Greg was going to law school at the time and started the shop to build his own collection and dispose of some of the things he wanted to get rid of. He knew from the beginning that a club would help the shop survive, and he started compiling a mailing list. Meanwhile in Shadyside, a quiet, mild-mannered male nurse named Ben Pondexter returned from the Comic Art Convention in New York City, full of ideas about starting a club. He eventually hooked up with Eide, got the list and started calling people. The rest, as they say (whoever the hell THEY are), is history. Now Pittsburgh had always been a hotbed of comics fandom. The above-mentioned Mr. Schelly was a Pittsburgh native, and he teamed up with Bethel Park resident Jim Shooter (who was already involved in DC Comics work under the watchful--and somewhat baleful--eye of Mort Weisinger) to produce a number of fanzine stories. Bill G. Wilson lived in nearby Clairton and published many issues of the wonderful THE COLLECTOR, an early 'zine that featured color art by some of fandom's finest. But the combination of Eide's shop and Pondexter's vision brought forth the first real comics club in Pittsburgh. And it was a strange club indeed. They immediately decided to publish a fanzine (an index of sorts to Steranko's History of The Comics), with a cover by Howard Bender. It was the first of many fanzines to come. The club met monthly and gathered more and more members even though Eide's shop was quite a trek for a lot of people. I joined the club in March of 1974 when I moved to Pittsburgh to attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Eide's eventually moved closer to downtown and the club prospered even more. (Twenty-seven years later, Eide's is still THE Pittsburgh comic shop and one of the best-looking, most well-organized, biggest shops in the country, with an incredible amount of back issues and merchandise. If you're ever in Pittsburgh, get yourself to 1111 Penn Ave. downtown, across from the Greyhound Bus Station, and be prepared to be amazed.) The club started out doing typical fan activities: Collection show-and-tells, visits to member's houses, trading at meetings, but it quickly became one of the more active clubs in the country. They were always trekking off to some convention, usually the New York/Seuling cons, but also the early San Diego ones, and usually made the trip to Tom Fagan's Halloween parades in Rutland, Vermont. The club often went as a costumed group to such affairs, the Avengers or the Legion of Super-heroes. Along the way, they picked up some out-of-town members such as Tom Hegeman and Mercy Van Vlack. And along the way, they published a fanzine titled PITTSBURGH FAN FORUM. The early issues were edited by Mark Lehrer (who went on to become an artist for the New York Post). With issue #33 the reins were dropped in my hands. At the time, I was living away from Pittsburgh, in my hometown of Tamaqua, PA, north of Allentown. I was working for a newspaper and had my hands on a professional typesetting machine, a stat machine and my own office. The PFF took on a very slick, digest-size persona, part fanzine and part club bulletin. We published it bi-monthly for a year and a half, including a combined issue that was also the program book for PITTCON '79. Yes, the Pittsburgh Comix Club did conventions. They never made any money, but they sure were fun, and early on they garnered the reputation for being the place to go for pros. Len Wein and Marv Wolfman always showed up. Wein showed up so many times uninvited and at the last minute as a fill-in for cancelled guests, that when it came time to give out awards, we named the statue the "Lennie" (to which Wein replied, "well, it's better than the Weinie..."). I still have mine. Most of the cons were held at malls, since it was one of the few places we could get almost- free space. It was interesting watching the mall-goers give the eye to Ben dressed as the Vision and Mercy dressed as the Scarlet Witch... The club offered a haven for a bunch of people who had an interest in something the general public frowned upon, namely comic books. It was a bunch of misfits, at times, and a greater cross-section of fans couldn't be found anywhere else. There were a couple of older collectors, one who collected pulps, one who fancied himself the be-all, end-all of dealers. There were young kids, trying like hell to become comics pros (out of all of the members, only Howard Bender went on to a career in pro comics). It was a lot like high school, with fights, petty jealousies, people outright hating each other. But through it all, Ben Pondexter held it together. Like some incredibly patient school teacher, he listened to everyone in his one good ear and made them all feel like they were a part of something big and worthwhile. Early on, Ben came up with the awkward-sounding tagline of the Pittsburgh Comix Club: Comics are the good times. Somehow even the awkwardness fit. In the early 80s, Ben's health started to slowly slide downhill and the club collapsed without him. He died soon after and the Pittsburgh Comix Club went with him. A few months ago, I spent a couple of sad, but somehow pleasant hours, looking through some stacks of things that Ben's mother had sold to Eide's. I came across an old picture of Ben and myself, very faded and blurry. Kind of like those times, twenty-some years ago, when I made the monthly trek to Eide's comics shop out in Etna, to help cram as many people as possible into a too-small space. I guess the internet, and publications like this, are the comics clubs of today. I'm sure somewhere, in some dusty backroom or basement of a very small comics shop, some store owner with a bit of intelligence and a lot of patience, lets a group of people meet once a month to discuss the thing they love: Comics. God, I hope so. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts silhouet9@aol.com [Paul promotes amateur and professional comic book artwork, scripts, storylines, and unpublished comic books with a newsletter called the Peoples' Comic Book Newsletter. Its website is at Jazma Comic Book Newsletter Productions at http://www.twmgrafix.com/jazma He is also a prominent letter hack, as anyone who reads comic letter pages would know. He is in production of his own self-published comic book called The Legendary Dark Silhouette and has copyrighted over 600 characters for his Jazma Universe.] MOE Sidenote: New indies on the racks this week at Broadway Comics & Cards are: Veils by Vertigo, Solarlord #1 by Image, Stone #4 by Avalon Studios/Image, Tsunami Girl #1 by Image and Doug Ten Napel's Gear #5! At A-1 Comics you will find: Tales Designed to Carry an Impact #3 by EC Comics, Legend of Lemnear by CPM Manga, Night Warriors #6 by Viz Comics and The Saga of Rusty Pirates by RA Comics. Remember, this is only a small piece of what these 2 comic book stores carry, they carry all the mainstream comics and a whole lot of other indies! For more information you can contact Wilson Lew, owner of Broadway Comics & Cards at: wilsonlew@sprintmail.com or Brian Peets, owner of A1 Comics at: A1Comics@quiknet.com The comic industry quote for the week: "Understanding and continued informational deliverance are the building blocks to a fortified foundation of strength, unity, solidification and team spirit". As quoted by Dr. Samuel Spead, Head Surgeon, Brunswick Canadian Hospital 1964. Multiverse Observer and Explorer signing off until next time..... Name: Ascension #13 Publisher: Top Cow Written by: David Quinn & David Finch Drawn by: Roger Cruz Brian Ching, Andy Park/pencils Marcelo Campos, Victor Llamas, Sean Parsons, Walden Wong/inks Price: $2.50 Comments: I want to give a cordial bow to the full Top Cow crew that writes and draws Ascension! I was so impressed with Ascension #13, every comic book is a masterpiece! I was dazzled with the awesome cover, then became entranced with the full story and the artwork....wow! Petra is having her own problems as she now has horrifying nightmares where she finds herself in this dreamscape facing off against the Dayaks. This is now mental torture for her during her waking hours. I hope that this doesn't cause her any mental disturbances and that she will still continue to be the same Petra. On page 3, they show Petra with jet black coal eyes, that has a very hypnotic effect, like I said before the artwork dazzles! Lucien and Andy are now trying to place the horror behind them, just like Petra, they find themselves mentally tormented by their stand against Grigorieff. Their future is unbalanced if the past consumes them. They need to carry on. I like the way it was described that the DCU is the cleanup detail for government screw ups. The action was plentiful and kept me highly entertained. Got to say this....Rowina is a angelic fox! Wait until you see this character! Marcus knows how to deliver a moving speech that carries an impact to the people of Minea and it was sort of frightening as the ancient rite of banishment came to play afterwards. Exceptionally well told story! Ascension really delivers and packs a whallop of a punch! MOE Sidenote: Coming soon is Gloom Cookie #1 by Slave Labor Graphics! SLG says: "This starts a story of unrequited love. Gloom Cookie is a gothic 'Strangers in Paradise', except with monsters under the bed. Coming this June from Slave Labor Graphics". This is a new gothic soap opera that will enchant and enthrall you. Gloom Cookie is an ensemble story with a wide variety of characters and a fancifully cynical storyline. Gloom Cookie deals with love, hate, acceptance and more monsters under the bed. One character named Sebastian struggles with disappearing girlfriends and things that go bump in the night. Written by Serena Valentino and illustrated by Ted Nafieh. Price of this comic: $2.95. Name: Batman Beyond 4 of 6 Publisher: DC Comics Written by: Hilary J. Bader Drawn by: Joe Staton/pencils Terry Beatty/inks Price: $1.99 Comments: A kid named Preston Leeds conjures up a demon named Axilano via the internet - Library of Congress website. Axilano has the power of the dark universe and for many decades was imprisoned by Merlin himself. It is up to Jason aka Etrigan to assist Batman in this darkest hour. Etrigan with the help of Kyle (a scientific nerd) manages to capture Axilano and place him in the confines of cyberspace. Axilano is no more of a threat! Cartoonish type of artwork, that serves the story well. Fun story. Check out the comic book and check out Warner Brothers Channel for the Batman Beyond cartoon! Name: Panic #10 Publisher: EC Comics Written and Drawn by Numerous Writers & Artists Price: $2.50 Comments: First story called "Captain Izzy & Washt upps". About a loser named Izzy who makes a living out of bending bobby pins. At some point of his life at this boring job, he gets a dangerous job looking over property holdings. With his new life comes gorgeous women and the laughs start from there. One point Izzy is asked why he didn't hit this thug and his reply: "because I didn't have anything clever to say". 2nd story is called "A Star is Corn" which is about Norman Mainliner, who is a big star. Norman is like Rodney Dangerfield, he gets no respect and there is plenty of slapstick humor. 3rd one is called "Punchlines" and that is exactly what it is. Non stop punchlines. Last is "Foreign Movies" which pokes fun at French, British, Italian, Japanese, Russian & American movies. Crazy humor, that will give you plenty of good laughs. Name: Tales from the Crypt #28 Publisher: EC Comics Written and Drawn by Numerous Writers and Artists Price: $2.50 Comments: 1st story is called "Forever Ambergris". Capt. Matt Starke tells his story on how he sidewalls his friend Ben to get his girl Eileen. During an off shore outing, they come across some ambergris, which is like floating gold. Ambergris is used for the most expensive perfumes. A deadly disease has been caught by certain crewmen and Ben is one of them. This disease is black rot. Black rot, basically rots all of your skin. Matt has Ben thrown overboard. What Matt didn't know is that the black rot from Ben's carcass interacted with the ambergris. When Matt brings back some perfume for Eileen, she catches the black rot from the ambergris that was used for the perfume. What Matt sees is pretty disgusting. 2nd story is called "The Proposal" and it's about a woman who looks for sugar daddies and one sugar daddy leads her to a vampire. How it's done is unique. Last story is called "The Sliceman Cometh". If you like stories about decapitated bodies, you'll like this story. Name: Prophecy of the Soul Sorcerer Preview Issue Publisher: Arcane Comics Written by: Eric Dean Seaton Drawn by: Steven P. Mundell/pencils Andy Owens/inks Price: $1.99 Comments: Wow! Spectacular colored artwork, that dazzles and has plenty of pizazz! Steven has a sharp eye for details and does magic with the penciling! Now to the story. Elijah Alexander, assistant New York D.A. who is married to Sydney Sanchez, one of New York's finest detectives, has now even more responsibilities. What those responsibilities are, we'll get to later. Let's meet Noah. Noah is a member of a race that protects Earth from agents of Hell. Noah is known as a soul sorcerer. Now there is another soul sorcerer, this soul sorcerer is the last of his kind. Those responsibilities now belong to...yep, you got it...Elijah Alexander! Armed with his Ankh, wearing one of the coolest costumes I have seen in a good while, Elijah aka Nighthawk the Soul Sorcerer has the Earth to protect. The sad thing, mankind isn't the wiser. Some highlights of the story is when it is brought into perspective that there are 3 books, the Bible, Qur'an, Torah. They all have the same characters and the same basic stories. This story of Nighthawk the Soul Sorcerer, gets the reader thinking about certain religious beliefs and how they do seem to interconnect. One crazy character that you might enjoy is Detective Durgan. He's like Mel Gibson in the movie "Lethal Weapon". I highly recommend this comic book. For more information, check out their website at: http://www.soulsorcerer.com Soul Sorcerer has the potential of making the Big 2 blink! It's a non-stop whirlwind of a story, that will leave you breathless! Brian Peets, owner of A1 Comics supports this comic book, because it has success written all over it! Name: Para Troop #6 Publisher: Comics Conspiracy Written by: Doug Miers Drawn by: Sam Fonseca/pencils Rob Lean & Tie/inks Price: $2.95 Comments: Riveting suspense as it is mentioned that element 115 has been stolen and given to the martian refugees. The Alien Diplomatic Zone, where you can't antagonize anyone you meet there, reminded me of the DMZ in Korea. As we walked around the North Korean / South Korean conference table, we couldn't make eye contact with the North Koreans, as this might antagonize them. Para Troop #6 was a highly charged story, filled with intrigue! When Max mentions on how his body blew up and I can see how it is now consumed by fire, I had to laugh at the humor as it is mentioned that he also lost some crucial equipment during this transformation. It's nice to have some humor in a very dramatic story. Everett Crandall and his MIBs will always hound Para Troop. Everett has a black heart and all he wants is the final curtains to fall upon Para Troop. His deal with the Para Troops is like making a deal with Satan. Everett is a great adversary for the Para Troop and his power is through the waves of MIBs he has programmed and his control of Area 51. I was shocked to see that Everett wanted Eddie to kill Max, Jasmine and Willow. I cheered when Eddie attacked Everett after hearing Everett's sour proposal. Max went through some mental anguish, after seeing the clone of his wife Carmen Vasquez destroyed. As domineering as Carmen was and being able to make Max fall to his knees, it left no choice for Everett. She had to be destroyed. Foolish for Everett to bring that clone in the first place, he should have done his homework and learn more about Carmen, before sending this clone to confront Max. The cliffhanger was a big jolt. I didn't expect Max to go nuclear after eating that Uranium 235. I was left wondering if Max was now dead. Thanks for the side story with Eddie, Willow and Quim kicking back and playing cards. It was quite interesting to see how their existence and purpose was brought to question. Para Troop hasn't had the time to play heroics yet, since the MIB are constantly after them. Will there lives ever be normal again? Nevermind, I think I know the answer. Exceptionally well told story! For more information you can contact Doug Miers at: Doug@comicsconspiracy.com Para Troop story moves like the March wind, it moves with a purpose. Doug has developed a sophisticated history for Para Troop and the more I read Para Troop, the more I want to know about this unique and strange team! Para Troop is mesmerizing! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [12] My View David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com [David LeBlanc is the Editor of the Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine. He is a long time fan of comics and the electronic media - having been the moderator of the comics forums on WME, FIDONET and the Comic Book Network. He and his wife are attempting to raise two teenage sons in a suburb of Worcester, Massachusetts. David supports his comic book habit by working as the Manager of Marketing and Sales for a privately owned manufacturer of electro-mechanical components.] ASTRONAUTS IN TROUBLE: LIVE FROM THE MOON #2 24 pages, black & white, color cover $2.95/$4.50 CAN Gun Dog Comics 4120 24th Street San Francisco, CA 94114 www.astronautsintrouble.com planetlar@earthlink.net Larry Young - Writer, Creator, Letterer Matt Smith - Artist Steve Weissman - Artist Matt Hollingsworth - Cover Color Last issue, the world's richest man revealed his plan to return man to the man and establish a permanent colony. He invited his favorite news team to witness a test firing of the rockets so as to get them on his side for good publicity. Meanwhile a band of eco-terrorists have infiltrated his company and plan to destroy his dream and, ironically, the animals that are part of the master plan. To stop their sabotage and save the mission Ishmael Hayes launched the mission early, taking the Channel Seven news team with him. Now there are these ships heading for the moon, in a less than optimal trajectory. This issue gets into the personalities and character of the people. Bennett, Hayes' body guard, show his mettle by taking charge. While in flight, the newsmen take advantage of the time by doing interviews to beam back to earth. During their down time they get to know each other a little better and tell stories of their past - letting us get to know them better. Meanwwhile, from the command ship, a startling revelation is made about one of the other rockets. This is a strong follow up to the first issue, building the characterization and motivations of the main characters. It is easy enough to get into without having seen the first issue so the new reader should not avoid picking it up if curious - you can always get the first issue later. The art is exceptional with just enough definition for distinct characters. Matt Smith does very well to provide action, emotion and atmosphere with simple but elegant style. The story is getting better as we move along, and while the first chapter needed something more this one is just enough to make you want more. The back up story is drawn by Steve Weissman and is quite a contrast in style, the characters being the cartoony kids his fans may be used to, but frankly is not necessary for the book. I'd rather have more of the main story. As a whole ASTRONAUTS IN TROUBLE is recommended as good entertainment value on several levels. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [13] Market Report Vincent Zurzolov vincentcoll@earthlink.net Hello out there in Comic book world! Howzit going? I am doing great. Every year right around my birthday (April 23rd- for those of you who forgot to send presents), one of my favorite Cons rolls around- The Wonder Con! I like it for many reasons. Sales are very strong. The food in Oakland is very eclectic and for vegetarians like Linda and me there is plenty to choose from, you have Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, Chinese and more. Our favorite restaurant there is the New World Vegetarian Restaurant it serves only Vegetarian (if it had parents they don't serve it!) fair. I had a curry veggie-chicken dish that was amazing-you could not even tell that it was not really chicken! Beautiful San Francisco is less than a half-hour train ride away. Believe me visiting San Francisco is quite a treat (ha-ha-get it Rice-a-Roni). From the scenic Fishermen's Wharf to the hippie Haight-Ashbury district S.F. has it all. One night after the show Mike Carbonaro, Gary Dolgoff, Conrad Eschenberg, my lovely assistant/girlfriend Linda and I went down to watch and listen to a great Jazz band- Elvin Jones and his Jazz Machine. They were amazing- this guy was 72 years old and was working the drums over like a boxer would a speed bag- non-stop pounding for literally an hour. From what I hear, afterwards the rest of the guys went out for a night on the towns. For those of you who know him you will be surprised to find out Gary Dolgoff is quite the dancer- the next Denny Terrio we hear. The next subject is my new obsession with toys from my youth. I have been buying Micronauts and Shogun Warriors. I also finally found mint in box Maskatron from the Six Million Dollar Man show. It is too cool. Now, not only am I a comic geek I am a toy geek to boot. Many of you have been very curious about the new third party grading service that is in development. I decided to share a letter from a customer about one aspect of the grading service it is as follows: Dear Vincent, Are you willing to repurchase comics you have sold if they grade less than you specified, once this grading service becomes available? Most coin dealers say they would but my experience, unfortunately, has shown otherwise. Third party grading has been used in coin collecting for years as I'm sure you know. Third party grading will bring investors to the hobby in a big way. I predict a mutual fund that purchases high grade, ultra high price comics, as happened with coins. While this may sound good at first, it will result in the hobbyist being priced out of the market, to some extent. Even with these downside risks a grading service limited to books with a value of over, say $250.00 would probably be a good idea. Submitting books worth under that would needlessly add to their cost. I would be very interested in this service since I plan to buy several Marvel keys and semi keys over the next several years. My response was as follows: As far as graded books are concerned I am going to wait to see what kind of acceptance they have in the market. If they are not accepted then we don't have to worry. If they are then we have to see how they are viewed- as too tight or too loose or right on the money. Now if you buy a VF book from me and it comes back from a third party grading service as a VF- I will buy it at a % of VF- just as I would buy at a % of VF+ if it came back as such- once again that is if their grading becomes an accepted standard. I think that is fair. How would you feel if a book came back VF+ and I said-Wait a second I only graded it a VF I am not going to pay you VF+ money- I think you would be annoyed. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves let's see what happens with the grading service acceptance- it is still very difficult for people to buy a book without opening it up. Sincerely, Vin Next month I am going to the Overstreet meeting in Timonium, Maryland. Topics to be discussed will include pricing in the new guide, the new grading scale and third party grading. I will report back to you on what occurs. I am expecting it to be very interesting, informative and fun. Wouldn't it be great if they had a wrestling ring where the dealers could duke it out and the winner could make up the prices for next year's guide? I can see it now, "Ladies and gentlemen in this corner from parts unknown weight unknown the team of Vicious Joe Verenault and Mighty Matt Schiffman against Nature Boy Mike Naiman and Gorgeous Gary Carter." Unfortunately I think the match would end up in a disqualification due to the use of a foreign object after Mike and Gary force ten copies of the CBM into every orifice of Joe V's body. This is just one man's dream and will probably never happen- shucks! Recent acquisitions include a collection of 150 golden age books purchased in upstate New York. A woman recently bought a home and found this stack of books in the attic. A Subby #1 in VF-, Archie Comics #1, #2, #3, #4, and small batches of high, mid and low grade Superman, Batman, Blue Beetle, Four Color, Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr., Human Torch and Police Comics. At the Wonder Con I purchased a great run of 60's and 70's Marvels. The 70's stuff was so nice we were tempted to call them the Oakland II Collection. Runs included Journey into Mystery, Thor, Amazing Spiderman, Marvel Team-Up, Incredible Hulk, Silver Surfer, Nick Fury, Strange Tales, Fantastic Four and Tales of Suspense. They are not on the site yet but will be soon. We also bought a really high grade collection of silver age DC and Marvel- chock full of Bats, Detectives, F.F.'s and horror stuff (also not available yet, but feel free to make requests). We have also purchased a small run of early Actions and Detectives and a low grade All American #16. Once again I have to say the comic market is rockin'. Record shows in Boston, Chicago and Oakland prove that this is not just a regional phenomenon. Wonder Con sales included Archie Comics #1 GD $1,900.00, Batman #3 FN- $1,800.00, Human Torch #8 VF- $2,000.00, Incredible Hulk #1 FR/GD $400.00, Sensation #1 FR/GD $1,350.00, Smash Comics #17 VG $200.00, X- Men #1 FN- $800.00, Superman #2 VG (staple reinforcement) $1,500.00, Superman #6 FN+ $1,000.00 and Superman Annual #1 VF+ $650.00. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [14] New Comic Book Releases List [NCRL] by Charles LePage ncrl@mediaone.net +++WINNER OF THE 1996 REC.ARTS.COMICS.* "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE+++ http://www.jacksonville.net/~ncrl New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, 5/05/1999, compiled by Charles LePage with information from Suncoast Comics. This is the *preliminary* list and is not complete. The completed list is posted weekly, usually Monday evening, at rec.arts.comics.info, http://www.jacksonville.net/~ncrl, and Compuserve's Comics Publishers Forum. "TPB" = "trade paperback". "GN" = "graphic novel". "AA" = "available again". "SC" = "softcover". "HC" = "hardcover". "S/N" = "signed/numbered". "AR" = "ask retailer about price". PUBLISHER TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS ACE COMICS Iron Wings #1 (Of 4), 2.50 AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS) Lenore #5, 2.95 Skeleton Key Vol 2 #1, 2.95 Slave Labor Peepshow Bundle #14, AR ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS Archie #485, 1.79 Archie Digest #164, 1.99 Sabrina The Teenage Witch #27, 1.79 Veronica #89, 1.79 CHAOS! COMICS Cremator Hells Guardian #5 (Of 5), 2.95 DARK HORSE COMICS Aliens Apocalypse #4 (Of 4), 2.95 ERB Tarzans Savage Heart #2 (Of 4), 2.95 Kelley Jones Hammer The Outsider #3 (Of 3), 2.95 Oh My Goddess The Fourth Goddess #1 (Of 8), 2.95 DC COMICS Action Comics #755, 1.99 Anarky #3, 2.50 Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight #119, 1.99 Batman The Gotham Adventures #14, 1.99 Birds Of Prey #7, 1.99 Crimson #10, 2.50 Cruel And Unusual #2 (Of 4), 2.95 Gen 13 #40, 2.50 Hellblazer Damnations Flame TPB, 16.95 JLA Year One TPB, 19.95 Martian Manhunter #8, 1.99 Night Tribes, 4.95 Preacher #51, 2.50 Scene Of The Crime #3 (Of 4), 2.50 Scooby-Doo #24, 1.99 Starman #55, 2.50 Superman Adventures #33, 1.99 Vext #5, 2.50 Wildcats Vol 2 #3, 2.50 Young Justice #10, 2.50 DRAWN & QUARTERLY New York Diary HC (resolicited), 24.95 EL CAPITAN BOOKS Stray Bullets #19, 2.95 FULL BLEED STUDIOS Pitt Crew #3, 2.50 HURRICANE COMICS Chassis #0, 2.95 IMAGE COMICS Complete Alex Roth Zorro TPB, 18.95 Michael Goldens Jurassic Park Portfolio #1 (Of 2), 28.95 Savage Dragon #60, 2.50 Solar Lord #2, 2.50 Spawn #83, 1.95 Witchblade #31, 2.50 Zorro's Lady Rawhide Other Peoples Blood #2, 2.95 magazines Comic Shop News #620, AR MARVEL COMICS Cable #69, 1.99 Captain America Sentinel Of Liberty #11, 1.99 Fantastic Four #19, 1.99 Spider-Woman #1 Variant Cover, 2.99 Spider-Woman #1, 2.99 Uncanny X-Men #370, 1.99 Wolverine Punisher Revelation #1 (Of 4), 2.99 ONI PRESS INC. Whiteout TPB, 10.95 PEREGRINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Digital Dragon #2, 2.95 SYPHER PUBLICATIONS Akemi #1 Revised Ed, 2.50 NCRL for the foreseeable future... TITLE OLD RELEASE DATE NEW DATE DC COMICS Batman: The Book Of Shadows 04/28 05/12 Battle Chasers #6 04/14 05/26 Battle Chasers T-Shirt LG 03/03 TBA Battle Chasers T-Shirt XL 03/03 TBA Crimson #11 05/12 06/09 Danger Girl Door Poster 03/10 TBA Darkchylde: The Legacy #3 04/28 05/19 Divine Right #10 04/28 TBA Divine Right #9 01/27 TBA Gen13 #41 05/19 06/2 Voodoo: Dancing In The Dark TPB 05/05 05/12 MARVEL Spider-Man Manga #30 02/10 TBA Spider-Man Manga #31 02/24 TBA X-Men Manga #25 02/03 TBA X-Men Manga #26 02/17 TBA X-Men Manga #27 03/03 TBA *Please Note: These dates are tentative. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [15] HYPE! Section Various viz-in vol. 11, no. 5 Your One-Stop Monthly Manga & Anime Connection! ITEMS SHIPPING AUGUST '99 Director of Sales & Marketing/Oliver Chin featuring_ POKÉMON: THE ELECTRIC TALE OF PIKACHU Viz graphic novel story & art by Toshihiro Ono b&w, 128 pages $12.95 USA/$20.50 CAN SHIPS 8/6 POKÉMON PERFECTION The smash-hit Pokémon comic series is collected in a low-priced Viz graphic novel! See the heroes of the TV series and video game in a new style in this fun-filled, all-ages comic collection. The graphic novel contains the entire 4-issue mini-series THE ELECTRIC TALE OF PIKACHU, plus four bonus color pages including all the covers from the limited series! IN THIS VOLUME: Ash Ketchum's Pokémon quest begins when he finds Pikachu living behind the wall of his house. His first challenge is to make friends with Pikachu, but it isn't easy with his rival Gary teasing him. Watch as Ash meets Brock and Misty; challenges Misty to a water Pokémon match at the Cerulean City Swimming Pool; goes in search of the elusive Clefairy; and must rescue his opponent Sabrina from a giant Haunter Pokémon! The adventure begins here! BLACK & WHITE #1 5-issue monthly series story and art by Taiyo Matsumoto b&w, 48 pages $3.50 USA/$5.25 CAN SHIPS 8/13 CITY OF WILD CHILDREN The popular title from PULP, drawn in a surreal style influenced by both Japanese and European comics, is now a five-issue limited series! Orphaned on the mean streets of Treasure Town, lost boys Black and White must steal, mug and fight to survive. Around them moves a world of corruption and loneliness, small-time crooks and neurotic police officers, and rival bands of yakuza and criminals who have plans for the once-fair city. IN THIS ISSUE: White has a taste of a normal childhood under the foster care of detectives Fujimura and Sawada. But out on the streets, Black is more violent than ever. And even more threateningly for Treasure Town, Kimura the yakuza has developed an ambition_and acquired a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver_ FUSHIGI YŰGI Animerica Extra graphic novel story and art by Yű Watase b&w, 200 pages $15.95 USA/$23.95 CAN SHIPS 8/13 ROMANCE OF THE FOUR KINGDOMS The hit shôjo (girls') manga is now the first ANIMERICA EXTRA graphic novel! When best friends Miaka and Yui open an ancient Chinese book, they find themselves transported inside into the Universe of the Four Gods, a parallel world strangely like ancient China. When Miaka is heralded as a priestess from another world, she must gather the seven Celestial Warriors to find her way home and fulfill a fate of adventure and romance. This enchanted graphic novel is imbued with the FUSHIGI YŰGI installments from ANIMERICA EXTRA Vol. 1, No. 1 through Vol. 2, No. 4. IN THIS VOLUME: To escape schoolwork and family problems, Miaka flees to the Universe of the Four Gods-and straight into danger! Attacked by slavers and bandits, Miaka is rescued three times by Tamahome, a handsome young martial artist with whom she falls in love. When they are captured by the Imperial guards, things look bleak until Miaka is proclaimed to be the Priestess of Suzaku! But even as a guest in the palace, Miaka must deal with the affection of the lovestruck Emperor Hotohori, and the ire of Nuriko, Hotohori's would-be bride. X/1999, VOL. 5 Animerica Extra graphic novel story and art by CLAMP b&w, 184 pages $15.95 USA/$23.95 CAN SHIPS 8/20 DRAMA AND DESTINY Apocalyptic fantasy by the masterful artistic team CLAMP, creators of MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH! After a mysterious six-year absence, Kamui, a young man with awesome psionic powers, returns to Tokyo to be reunited with his childhood friends. But two sets of occult forces want Kamui to be their pawn: the Seven Seals, who protect the mystic symbols embodied in Tokyo, and the Seven Harbingers, who want to destroy the city-and the Earth. As alliances change, as his loved ones are threatened, Kamui must choose a side-or is his fate already preordained? This cryptic graphic novel brings together the X/1999 installments from ANIMERICA EXTRA Vol. 1, No.1 through Vol. 2, No. 5. IN THIS VOLUME: As the Seals try to win Kamui to their side, the Seven Harbingers mount an assault on the shrine of the blind priestess Hinoto beneath the Japanese Diet Building. Reeling from the responsibility on his shoulders, Kamui flees to visit Kotori, his childhood friend, who does not realize his powers. But a hunter is on Kamui's trail_Plus, a bonus story featuring Sorata, never before printed! STEAM DETECTIVES, VOL. 2 Animerica Extra graphic novel story and art by Kia Asamiya b&w, 192 pages $15.95 USA/$23.95 CAN SHIPS 8/6 STEAMPUNK SUPERHEROES Anime-style action, American comics, and film noir meet in the stylish new mystery series by Kia Asamiya, creator of DARK ANGEL and SILENT MÖBIUS! In a past that never was, masked dandies, dastardly supervillains, and sentient machines stalk the streets of Steam City by night. Can wünderkind detective Narutaki, pretty nurse Ling Ling, and their robot Goriki thwart evil in this strange world? This graphic novel arrests the STEAM DETECTIVES stories from the last three issues of MANGA VIZION, as well as from ANIMERICA EXTRA Vol. 1, No. 1 through Vol. 2, No. 3. IN THIS VOLUME: The man who killed Narutaki's father returns! He's the Phantom Knight, a maniac in a mask and cape, and this time the boy detective must defeat his archfoe before midnight tolls death for Ling Ling atop the Steam City clock tower! Then Narutaki must solve a haunting in the house of a wealthy aristocrat. Finally, a series of tornadoes turns out to be engineered by the mad scientist Dr. Guilty, who is determined to defeat Goriki with his mighty new robot, Shadow Bolt No. 2! PULP VOL. 3, NO. 9 SEP '99 manga anthology b&w, 128 pages $5.95 USA/$8.95 CAN MATURE READERS ONLY SHIPS 8/6 MEET BAKUNE YOUNG! Introducing a new title! Beetle-browed Bakune is just an ex-high school bully, but his journey to fame begins when he beats a yakuza half to death for interrupting him in a pachinko game. Soon, organized crime is gunning for him_and Bakune is gunning for organized crime! Is he suicidal? Homicidal? Is there a method to his madness? Move over, altruists_the toughest man in Japan is BAKUNE YOUNG! Also in this issue: In STRAIN, Angel reveals his tragic life story. In BANANA FISH, Ash takes to the road with Max, Eiji and Shorter, fleeing New York only to end up in a bar in the middle of nowhere. In VOYEURS, surveillance expert Ken and teen madame Reika find themselves in a mutually compromising position. And in DANCE TILL TOMORROW, it's summer, which means Aya is trying to get Suekichi out of his bathing suit as soon as possible. But Suekichi didn't count on the temptations of Miyuki, the new girl in his life! All this plus HEARTBROKEN ANGELS, our regular columns and more! viz videos VIDEO GIRL AI : [ai, love & sadness] two complete episodes each volume in English or subtitled color, stereo, 60 mins. $24.98 English/$29.98 Subtitled SHIPPING 8/20 FINAL VOLUME! Based on the hit comic series now serialized in ANIMERICA EXTRA, Video Girl Ai is the story of shy schoolboy Yota Moteuchi and how his entire life was changed by a girl who came out of his TV one day. Funny, touching, sad, and lovable, Ai is the sort of video (and video girl) everyone wishes they could bring home from the video store. And now you can! Don't miss this climactic ending to the series! MAISON IKKOKU: DATE FOR FIVE two complete episodes each volume in English color, stereo, 52 mins. $24.95 USA SHIPS 8/6 PRIVACY NOT REQUIRED Kyoko and Godai go on a date in the city, only to find themselves followed by Godai's grandmother and their nosy neighbors from Maison Ikkoku. Is there any escape? Then, in a flashback story not shown in the manga, Akemi dates a yakuza! RANMA 1/2 OUTTA CONTROL, SUBTITLED EDITION: …THE HARDER THEY FALL two complete episodes each volume subtitled color, stereo, 52 mins. $29.95 USA SHIPS 8/20 RANMA_GETS WEAK? NEW SUBTITLED EDITION! Happosai's had enough of Ranma meddling in his affairs! When the perverse martial arts master lays some strength-reducing moxibustion on him, Ranma's about to learn humility the hard way! POKÉMON Vols. 8 and 9 (titles TBA) will be available in August from Pioneer. Please check Pioneer's promotional material for more information. viz comics POKÉMON: ELECTRIC PIKACHU BOOGALOO, #2 4-issue monthly series story and art by Toshihiro Ono b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/20 ALL-NEW ADVENTURES! Ash has finally collected enough badges to join the Pokémon League! But before he joins the league, he has to help a beautiful girl find the Leaf Stone to help her evolve her Vileplume. Meanwhile, Meowth makes a friend! SILENT MÖBIUS: INTO THE LABYRINTH #4 6-issue monthly series story and art by Kia Asamiya b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/6 DESPERATE MEASURES When Nami is absorbed by the Lucifer Hawk, her fellow A.M.P. officers are helpless to attack it without hurting their friend. Isozaki, the A.M.P.'s new commander, must take matters into her own hands… RANMA 1/2 PART EIGHT, #5 13-issue series story & art by Rumiko Takahashi monthly, b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/20 THE NEW FIANCEÉ When Ranma makes one bad move and one rude comment too many, Akane has had enough-and breaks their engagement! But now one of the other Tendo sisters must marry Ranma_and guess who steps up to put her name on the dotted line? INU-YASHA PART THREE, #6 7-issue series story & art by Rumiko Takahashi b&w, 40 pages $3.25 USA/$4.95 CAN SHIPS 8/6 THE ABYSS Miroku, the travelling exorcist, attacks Inu-Yasha with the strongest weapon at his disposal: the secret concealed beneath his left hand. NO NEED FOR TENCHI PART SEVEN, #5 6-issue series story & art by Hitoshi Okuda monthly, b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/27 BACK TO THE FUTURE The TENCHI MUYO! movie adaptation continues! As our time-travelling heroes settle themselves in the Tokyo of the past, the supervillain Cain appears and captures Tenchi's mom. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 0079, #6 8-issue monthly series story and art by Kazuhisa Kondo b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/6 PINCER MANEUVER Char Aznable makes an alliance with his old friend from military academy, Garmazabi, another general in the Zeon Forces. Can the Mobile Suit Gundam withstand a assault led by two great military minds? MAISON IKKOKU PART NINE, #5 10-issue series story & art by Rumiko Takahashi b&w, 40 pages $3.25 USA/$4.95 CAN SHIPS 8/13 KOZUE'S CHOICE Kozue, Godai's long-suffering girlfriend, must come to a decision about Godai. Will he tell her about his feelings for Kyoko? NEON GENESIS EVANGELION BOOK 4:7 7-issue monthly series story & art by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/27 ISRAFEL STRIKES Are Two Eva pilots better than one? After days of training, Shinji and Asuka must act in perfect synchronicity to save Tokyo-3 from the twin-bodied Seventh Angel. NEON GENESIS EVANGELION SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION BOOK 4:7 7-issue monthly series story & art by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/27 PRINTED IN REVERSE The same comic as above, but printed from right to left as it is in Japan, thus preserving the original orientation of this major manga series! DRAGON BALL PART TWO, #6 story and art by Akira Toriyama 15-issue monthly series b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/6 ROUND ONE_FIGHT! The final contestants for the World Fighting Tournament are decided: Goku, Kuririn, and six other champions, including a face from Goku's past! DRAGON BALL Z PART TWO, #8 story and art by Akira Toriyama 14-issue monthly series b&w, 32 pages $2.95 USA/$4.50 CAN SHIPS 8/13 THE FIST OF THE GODS As Goku and Vegeta's fight continues, Goku is forced to break his promise to Kaio-sama and used the dangerous second-stage Kaio-ken technique! viz magazines ANIMERICA EXTRA VOL. 2, No. 9 SEP '99 manga anthology b&w, 128 pages $4.95 USA/$7.50 CAN SHIPS 8/13 DREAMLAND ANIMERICA From shojo manga to science fiction, from fantasy to romance, ANIMERICA EXTRA brings you a stellar mix of the best of manga! In X/1999, in a lab deep beneath Tokyo, a team of researchers develops a psychic superweapon which may tip the balance of the world's fate. In FUSHIGI YŰGI, Miaka returns to the real world, only to find that her friend Yui is now missing. Is Yui lost in the Universe of the Four Gods? In SHORT PROGRAM, the most popular guy in school is begging to ask Chisato out. But why isn't she interested? In STEAM DETECTIVES, the Emperor of Steam captures Ling Ling, while Narutaki and Mr. King are powerless to help! And in VIDEO GIRL AI, the trenchcoated stranger takes the defective Video Girl to Gokuraku. Meanwhile, in the real world, her video box goes blank and all traces of