---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 224 7/30/99 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] And Let Me Tell You Why ............... David Coulter [7] Stranger in a Strange Land ............ Jennifer M. Contino [8] Some Pages, A Cover, and A Few Staples. Marlan Harris [9] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [10] My View:Comic Book Profiles Archie Goodwin Tribute ....... David LeBlanc [11] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [12] 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 a week's worth of the online 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 Thought for the week: Why do so many people complain about about the amateur effort of others who are just trying to spread their love of the medium around? It is not like they are shelling out their bucks for professional commentary or information. We are just a bunch of fans comparing notes. Some are more enthusiastic than others and some have more gifts in the language arts than others. It is one thing do disagree with opinion or just not find any value from the writings of another but it is just plain rude to continually harass the object of your dislike with insulting Email. Wassup with that? Then suddenly, it him me. The problem is more than likely jealosy. Why else would someone continue to barrage someone about their "opinion" on a funny book? If you have a differing opinion, send a letter of comment, we print them all the time. Better yet, if you think you can do better, send in a column and I'll run it - if you are really serious about how things are "supposed" to be then show us how it is done. This is not directed at a specific person, but several who have at one time or another sought to claim they know better than one columnist or the other but when the challenge and the free forum was laid at their feet they either balked or put forth a slew of hate that did nothing to defend their argument. Like I said last week in response to one such letter - if you don't like what you get from one column, just go on to the next. Now, lets see what is worth looking at on the racks this week: CARTOON BOOKS Bone #37 (resolicited), 2.95 DC COMICS Flash #152, 1.99 JLA #33, 1.99 Legion Of Super Heroes #119, 2.50 Mr Majestic #1, 2.50 Planetary #5, 2.50 IMAGE COMICS Savage Dragon #64, 2.50 MARVEL COMICS Avengers #20, 1.99 Earth X #6 (Of 12), 2.99 PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS Previews Vol IX #8, 2.95 AND OUR "PICK OF THE WEEK" . . . Comic Book Profiles Presents A Tribute To Archie Goodwin, 3.99 Check out some updates on our LINK page - new comic effort SWEAT SHOP PRESS and an updated look at a new location for RIB. Next week we get our Adamantium plated cover back as we hit another divisible by 25 issue! 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: CBPROFILES@aol.com To: ComicBknet David- Comic Book Profiles: A Tribute to Archie Goodwin went on sale this week. All the profits from the sale of this issue (for both As You Like It Publications and Diamond Comics Distributors) will be donated to the Archie Goodwin Memorial Scholarship fund that has been set up at the School of Visual Arts. Now that the issue is completed I just wanted to take a minute and publicly thank some people that helped make it possible. First Diamond Comics and especially our rep. Frank Supiot were a tremendous support. Their help on this project went above and beyond what I was hoping for. Morgan Printing, especially Toni Thordarson, were also a great help in putting this issue together. If anyone out their is self publishing and have not checked out Morgan to print their books, they should. Their web site is at www.morganprinting.com I also wanted to thank John Jackson Miller of both the Comics Buyers Guide and the Comics Retailer for helping promote the issue. Lastly, I wanted to thank the readers of CBEM for their help. After this project was first mentioned here about a year ago, I had several people write asking to be a part of the project. I was glad to have their input. Matt Poslusny Editor Comic Book Profiles PS If you have not picked up the issue yet it should be on sale at your local comic book store. Or you can e-mail me and I can send you more info. [Read my review later in THIS ISSUE in the MY VIEW column and then run out and buy your copy of the ARCHIE GOODWIN TRIBUTE ISSUE! - D.L.] +++++ Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 11:14:09 -0500 From: greg huneryager Hi, I just want to let everyone know that the next Kansas City Comic Book Convention is going to be our best yet. Our big guest this time will be Barry Windsor-Smith so mark down October 23 & 24 on your calendar. Other guests include Doug Mahnke, Tom Nguyen and Rick Stasi. Our hotline number is [913] 451-4805. I will send in an update as the show gets nearer. Please add this show to your convention calendar. Thanks, Greg +++++ From: Silhouet9@aol.com Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 02:55:58 EDT Subject: Re: Stone Cold Steve Austin. I think it's great that Chaos! Comics is coming out with a comic book about Stone Cold Steve Austin, he's one of the best wrestlers out there and a very colorful character. He would make a great comic book character. Will Chaos! Comics continue with the Insane Clown Posse, now that they went over to WCW? Best, Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher Jazma Universe Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ +++++ Subj: Fwd: New (revised) From: Rapscall99 Rapscallion #1 Article by Ed Tarbusch A new and refreshing small press review magazine has hit the sequential art form. It is Rapscallion. A magazine devoted to the rogues of the comic form. What I like about writing this article is I don't have to write it. Instead, I have other sources that have written about Rapscallion saving me the time of telling you how great it is. "It reads better than Wizard", raves Bru-hed creator, Mike Pascale. "...I've become a supporter of Garou." ( A comic reviewed in Rapscallion.) "I've read and enjoyed your first issue, and can weel apreciate the effort and drive it took to get it out here. Congratulations!" Matt Levin, Walking Man Comics. "Rapscallion #1: Cool little zine devoted to comics, filled with reviews of small-press comics, and a couple interviews with their creators. If you want to look beyond the local comic-book store for your sequential art entertainment, this zine’s for you!" —Fred, Zine World. To order a copy of Rapscallion send $2 to: Richard Sullivan, 209 E. High Street, Orrville, Ohio 44667. Email: RapscaLL99@aol.com +++++ Subj: 'Nuff Said! radio show info & web site Date: 7/28/99 12:14:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time 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. We're also on the internet at www.wbaifree.org and www.2600.com as well. There's a link to each of those on our own web site: www.nuffsaid.net Tuesday, August 3, 1999 - No guest. A short monologue from me then phone calls from the listeners. (212) 209-2900 Tuesday, August 10, 1999 - Pre-empted for WBAI's mini fund drive. Tuesday, August 17, 1999 - Leonard Starr, 1950s DC artist for non-hero books (Dr. 13, Big Town, Gangbusters) and artist/writer on "On Stage", "Winnie Winkle" and currently "Little Orphan Annie." Annie's 75th birthday is coming up soon. He also wrote the excellent "Kelley Green" for a European audience. 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. But via the internet for an even greater distance, natch. 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-FM, 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: Which comic on sale right now has this in the fine print: "People with heart conditions or extremely weak constitutions are advised not to read this comic. You also should never go into the woods alone." John Hernandez was the first of many who knew or guessed the quote was from THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT from Oni. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: What was the first comic book material to stay on the New York Times' "Best Sellers" list for seven weeks? 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 PODS - A new Distribution System 7/28/99 Please send your email to PODS@mindshiftdesign.com ----------------- PODS stands for Publication Ordering and Distribution System. It is a new way of looking at distribution in the face of today’s current industry standards. PODS gives retailers the chance to order from several different publishers (our own PODS community) in one order via telephone, fax, e-mail or from our website. The PODS system will then sort and calculate the amount of money due each publisher, instantly sending the orders to them via email/fax/mail. PODS pays each publisher up-front for their order, supplying them with all the information necessary for shipping, including titles and numbers ordered as well as shipping addresses. Each publisher is responsible for shipping their own product, but the PODS System tracks the entire process, from order to delivery, ensuring that orders are processed smoothly - at every stage, retailers and publishers can be informed of the exact state of each order. Once the retailer receives the order they are billed by PODS, and the process begins anew. Retailers will only be billed for product received before the end of the current billing cycle. WHAT WE OFFER PUBLISHERS: --PODS allows small publishers to sell direect to retail stores around the country with little effort and sets the stage for an expandable community where information can be exchanged and many small volumes of product moved; making sure that each publishers product has a chance to be seen by the nationwide market. --It also offers retailers and visitors a mmuch more detailed and personal look at small publishers which so often get overlooked in today’s market of large publishing houses and companies. Making sure that the small publisher can still deliver the innovative and quality products that they always have, but to a larger audience that can appreciate it. --PODS is a NEW alternative for solicitatioon & Distribution, and a break from the rules & regulations of other Distributors. We also focus on Small-Press and Indy comics, giving more attention to those that deserve it. No minimum sales necessary. --A community of Publishers as Partners in Distribution. --Another place for soliciting your productt at no cost to the publisher. --Access to retailers with the specific purrpose of purchasing Indy comics, and a method of contacting them all each month. --Central location for advertising and sharring information with other Small-Press publishers. --Up-front payment for products ordered (shhipping costs included). --Solicitation for back issues with no timee restriction, we’ll even note a price increase or reduction if necessary. --PODS automatic system allowing updating oof products by publishers; price changes , availability and stock numbers. --Searchable database that will receive a llot of traffic, and increased orders for product. --A ever growing number of retailers who wiill be notified of new products instantly and who will get exposure to products. -- Statistics and reports, informing on howw often stock was purchased as well as how many and when. -- Inclusion in print publication catalog tthat is available to retailers every month. Publisher Disadvantages (vs. Competitors) - The task of shipping your own products - Extra admin work involved (updating databbase by internet/fax/phone) - 10% fee for our services (we purchase commics at 60% off cover price) -- For information on PODS and how it can help your business do business better, please contact us at 305-412-5589 or email PODS@mindshiftdesign.com to see exactly how you can benefit from joining the PODS community. The PODS website BETA 1.0 version should be active by August 1st. Please reply to this e-mail in order to be added to our mailing list for potential PODS publishers. -- Manny Vega PODS Admin - PODS@mindshiftdesign.com MindShift Design LLC Website - http://www.mindshiftdesign.com "Altering Perceptions, Creating Worlds" +++++ From: WingnutIBH@aol.com Subject: Brainbomb and Cartoonists in the Classroom Below are the specs on a project that is truly unique and is designed to take the comic's market into a bold, new arena. Book: Brainbomb Format: Color covers, black and white interior, squarebound Publisher: Behemoth Books Price: $19.95 Page Count: 274 pages Release Date through the Creators and Publisher: September 17, 1999 Availability through Diamond and FM International: March 2000 Cover 1 by Scott Morse Cover 2 by Cayetano Garza Covers equally distributed throughout print run. Story Contributors (All-new): CLAN APIS by Jay Hosler PATTY CAKE by Scott Roberts STARDUST AND THOR by George Broderick LEVI’S WORLD by Levi Krause THE WARRIOR by Kirsten Petersen ANATOMY OF A COMIC BOOK by J. Torres & Jeff Wasson AMY UNBOUNDED by Rachel Hartman MONSTERS IN BOXERS by Brian Clopper SMITH BROWN JONES by Jon “Bean” Hastings MR. BEAT by Chris Yambar PARADISE VALLEY COMICS by Pam Bliss GUTWALLOW by Dan Berger A HOME AWAY FROM HOME by Mark Burrier MAGIC PANTS by Jamie Cosley LIFEQUEST by Matt Vander Pol MAGIC INKWELL by Cayetano Garza THE UNIQUE BLEND by Scott Morse THE CASTLE OF NINETY KNIGHTS by Jason Lethcoe CONFRONTATION by Jenni Gregory MONSTERMAN by Mike Manley CAPTAIN MIGHTY by Neal Patterson & John Peters CAPTAIN HAPPY by Ted Tucker & Thomas Florimonte Behemoth Books is proud to debut their newest showcase project at this year’s SPX in Bethesda, Maryland on September 17th and 18th. Brainbomb, a 274-page showcase project designed as the centerpiece of a dynamic nationwide outreach program, Cartoonists in the Classrooms. With over half of the 28 contributors attending the show, Brainbomb is sure to be a prized autograph item for fans. Just What Is Brainbomb? “I bring all kinds of all-ages comics like Clan Apis, Akiko and Patty-Cake into my 5th grade classroom, and the kids eat them up,” says Brian Clopper, elementary school teacher and cartoonist. “The comics really spark their imaginations, and they want me to bring in more. Some of the more industrious students visit local comic shops to hunt down more copies of the books, but soon find it very hard to find the modern-day, elusive all-ages comic. Kids need easier access to all-ages comic storytelling. Since they aren't frequenting comic shops, we'll have to bring the comics to them.” Brainbomb gathers all-new work by many of the industry’s most creative all under one roof. Readers get an opportunity to read a sample story ranging from 4 all the way up to 36 pages (the average being around 9 pages) alongside cartoonist's bios and contact info for each creator. “Brainbomb and Cartoonists in the Classroom are designed to bring quality comic storytelling of the all-ages variety straight to the kids,” Brian says. “With the Cartoonists in the Classroom program,cartoonists visit the schools and present an entertaining program that focuses on one or more scholastic goals (See below). After the presentation, students are able to purchase a copy of Brainbomb at a discount and a copy is donated to that school’s library.” GOALS ¨ to present comic storytelling as a positive American artform filled with learning and entertainment opportunities ¨ to bring all-ages comic books to the hands of children ¨ to ignite the imaginations of students ¨ to share writing and drawing strategies with a focus on brainstorming ideas ¨ to promote literacy through comics, an American artform “After recently presenting a summer monster drawing class at a local public library that was so well attended we had to do two sessions, it’s very evident the kids are certainly thirsty for all-ages material that is fun, inventive and doesn’t insult their intelligence,” says Clopper. “I think bringing cartoonists into the classroom is an excellent motivator and a positive step towards establishing another generations’ comic literacy.” Marcy Jubach, a Maryland media specialist for Frederick County Schools remarks about the project, “Every school media specialist knows that the drawing books are the first books to be checked out at the beginning of the school year, never to return until the last week of school. Introducing students to the comic art form will kindle their imagination, expand their vocabulary and foster reading and writing. Brian Clopper and friends have created a program that will keep kids doodling, drawing and searching for the exact words for their own comic strip. What a wonderful experience for children!” In addition to over 22 snazzy comic stories, Brainbomb features these splendid bonus sections: CREATING A COMIC BOOK Brian Clopper and Ted Tucker take you through the steps of creating a comic and preview their newest project: Gideon Thump! HOW-TO-DRAW SECTION Learn how to draw flies, bees, robots, monsters, costume accessories and much more as each cartoonist (Lea Hernandez, Cayetano Garza, Matt Vanderpol and many others) shows you secrets to illustrating what they love to draw. INSTANT STORIES GALLERY Cartoonists: Tara Tallan, Josh Blaylock, Denise Drsata-Peters, Keelan Parham and Brian Clopper dare you to write stories about their characters. TEACHER LESSON IDEAS Find out how to incorporate Brainbomb into your classroom. Lots of brainstorming tips and loads of ways to help kids become risk takers with their writing and reading. Interested readers who can't make it to the SPX to get a copy and don't want to wait until March for a copy at $19.95, you can contact any of the creators and order one through the mail or you can send a check to Brian Clopper and he will mail one out to you at the end of September. Advanced orders through Brian Clopper received before September 1 will also be sent a free 16-page mini-comic. Contact info: Brian Clopper 21 Valley Park Court Damascus, MD 20872 WingnutIBH@aol.com +++++ From the SPLASH PAGE of Comicon.com at: http://www.comicon.com/splash/ PRO/CON TO CHART NEW NET TERRITORY FOR COMICS BUSINESS! PRO/CON LOOKS TO 'YEAR OF THE WEB'! July 28: The PRO/CON programming highlights have been released for this year's gathering at the San Diego Convention Center on Tuesday, August 10 and Wednesday, August 11 and it appears the the internet is taking center stage at the venerable confab of publishers and pros. Declaring that "In 1999 the business of comics is moving into uncharted territory," and that "A new century is upon us and it presents a new set of challenges to adapt to," Programming Director Charles Brownstein has set an agenda that builds on the declaration that 1999 is "The Year Of The Web." In a PRO/CON press release yesterday, Brownstein says, "The Internet is the issue on everybody's lips. With the establishment of e-commerce and the growth of online comics, 1999 has been dubbed "The Year of the Web." As new sites develop, the discussion of what the web means to the future of comics is just beginning." PRO/CON will offer a series of panels about the present state and future potential of comics on the Internet, including: BUILDING A WEB SITE FROM THE GROUND UP — What do you need to know to get yourself started online? Learn the nuts and bolts basics of starting a web site with next to no budget. THE SECRETS OF CREATING INTERACTIVE COMICS — With the wide availability of impressive multimedia technologies such as Macromedia's Shockwave and Flash, along with the emergence of high-speed, broadband connections, the Web is about to come into it's own as an entertainment medium. It's no secret that the Internet is having a dramatic impact on literally everything that it comes in contact with, and the comics industry will be no exception. The time has come to redefine the comic book and determine how these new technologies can dramatically effect both presentation and distribution. Listen and speak to the creative and business pioneers who are trying to reconcile their comic-book roots with the multimedia-rich World Wide Web. Panelists will include: Pete Maresca (Macromedia Shockwave) – Moderator, Mark Badger (lemoncustard.com) – speaker, Ben Olander (angrymonkey.com)- speaker, Thomas Apodaca (angrymonkey.com) – speaker, Greg Sanderson (Marvel Online) – speaker, Daerick Gross (Marvel Online) – speaker, John Nee (Wildstorm) - speaker Taylor (Undo Animations) - speaker THE FUTURE OF ELECTRONIC CARTOONING — What does the potential of the web mean to cartoonists? How does the new medium impact the comics art form? Discuss the reality and potential of working online and how it impacts the cartoonist’s craft. With: Scott McCloud, Bill Sienkowicz, Spencer Lamm, Mark Badger. TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT ON THE INTERNET —The Internet is an uncharted frontier for intellectual property law. What are your rights when working in this untamed terrain? Intellectual property attorney Michael Lovitz examines the state of trademark and copyright law online and what you need to know to protect your rights. HAS THE INTERNET KILLED THE NEWSMAGAZINE? — How has the internet impacted the flow of information in the comics industry? Are news magazines still vital for transmitting information to the industry, given the rapid pace of the internet? Steve Conley, Michael Doran, Maggie Thompson, Darren Hicks, Beau Yarborough THE ONLINE ECONOMY — Some of the year’s most progressive thinking and exciting theory for the future of comics involves the Internet, but what are the realities of working on the web? How do "Connect Sales," E-Bay, content and retail web sites, and micropayment theories figure into the overall equation of online commerce? Is the future of comics indeed online? Steve Conley (Comicon.com), Patrick O’Kelley (Amazon.com), Spencer Lamm (WhatistheMatrix.com), Paul Harrington (TheComicStore.com) In addition to the focus on internet issues, PRO/CON will also explore many of the legal, craft and business issues facing cartoonists and publishers. For more information, visit the PRO/CON website. *** SALES OF PULPED 'ELSEWORLDS 80-PAGE GIANT' ARE HOT! ELSEWORLDS $CORCHE$ ON E-BAY! July 30: When news broke on the SPLASH that DC had missed pulping copies of the ELSEWORLDS 80 PAGE GIANT, and that an indeterminate number of the banned comics had gone on sale in England and Ireland, an 'Instant Collectible' was born. Reports from internet auction site watchers this week have single copies of the one month old $5 book selling at over $100. A current auction of the title on ebay had soared to over $67 at press time, with the cut off date for bidding still five days away. The complete press run of the ELSEWORLDS 80 PAGE GIANT was ordered pulped by DC executives because of 'imitative violence' shown in panels of the story, 'SUPERMAN'S BABYSITTER', by Kyle Baker. Some of the panels depict Superbaby flying into a microwave oven, chewing on an electric cord, playing in traffic and holding up a cow while suckling on its teat. While apparently all copies in North America were destroyed, industry watchers estimate that two to three thousand copies escaped the order and ended up in consumers' hands in the UK. DC has not announced if they will reprint the book, either with changes to Baker's story, or without the story at all. Internet auction sites, especially the well known ebay, have quickly evolved into a new, lucrative and more streamlined market for back issues of collectible comics. Fans and collectors are able to put their items up for sale to the highest bidder and retain the full price of the transaction, cutting out the retailer middlemen who traditionally were integral to the old bricks and mortar market. In addition, interested parties can get real-time prices on the sale of items on line, making printed Price Guides look out of date and obsolete. The ELSEWORLDS 80 PAGE GIANT appears to have the distinction of being the first 'Instant Collectible' comic that could also be labeled an 'Internet Phenomenon'. +++++ COMICS 2 FILM at http://www.comics2film.com X-Men ----- On the other hand, rumors that Bruce Davison would play the mutant hating Senator Kelly have turned out to be true. Marvel Entertainment issued the following press release confirming that information. Note that the press release makes no mention of the rumored casting of Maria Bello as Jean Grey, which could be taken as an indicator that the role is not yet cast. Veteran actor Bruce Davison has joined the cast of the epic adventure film X-MEN, it was announced today. Davison will take on the role of Senator Kelly, a powerful opponent of the mutant heroes, the X-Men. An Oscar nominee and Golden Globe-, National Society of Film Critics-, and New York Film Critics Circle-award winner for his supporting performance in Longtime Companion, Davison also has appeared in the films At First Sight, The Crucible, Short Cuts, Six Degrees of Separation, Harry and the Hendersons, among many others. X-MEN is directed by Bryan Singer, whose credits include the Oscar-nominated The Usual Suspects and Apt Pupil, in which Davison co-starred. The screenplay is by Ed Solomon (Men in Black) and Christopher McQuarrie, an Oscar-winner for Best Original Screenplay for The Usual Suspects. The producers are Lauren Shuler Donner (You've Got Mail) and Ralph Winter (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Inspector Gadget). Executive Producer is Avi Arad (Blade). Also starring are Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Dougray Scott, Anna Paquin, Halle Berry and Tyler Mane. http://www.marvel.com Shadowman, Magnus, Damage Control and Inhumans ----------------------------------------------- Everyone's favorite voodoo jazz musician may be making the transition to the big screen soon. Producer Barry Levine of Takoma Entertainment Group told Comics 2 Film that a movie adaptation of the quirky Acclaim Comics character Shadowman is currently in the works. Michael Henry Brown (Dead Presidents) and Paul Aaron (In Too Deep) are currently developing a script. Scripting is scheduled to be completed within the next two months. If the screenplay looks good Levine is ready to take Shadowman immediately into production. Levine is also a producer on another Acclaim character: Magnus: Robot Fighter. The producer is currently hearing pitches from writers for this project. John Davis (Doctor Dolittle) and Akiva Goldsman (Lost In Space) are also producing. Levine has Marvel's Damage Control set up with Village Roadshow Pictures. Another very interesting Marvel property in the early stages at Takoma is The Inhumans. This one is a co-production with Pacifica Entertainment. Big Bang/Knights of Justice (and Knight Watchmen) -------------------------------------------------- Comic creator and screenwriter Steve Ross told Comics 2 Film that the filmed adaptation of Chris Ecker and Gary Carlson's Big Bang Comics will premiere at this years Comic-Con International in San Diego. The video, called Knights of Justice, features Big Bang favorites like Knight Watchman, Ultiman and Thunder Girl, and a new character called Masker. In the same way that the Big Bang comics capture the nostalgia of the books of yesteryear, the movie will also evoke a movie-serial feel. The 45 minute pilot video will air on Sunday, August 15 from 1:00-3:00 in room 7A of the convention center. According to Ross the movie is expected to be about 90% completed. Cast members will also attend the Con and the screening to sign autographs. Signings will take place on Saturday (8/14) from 12:00-3:00 and on Sunday from 3:30-5:00. Ross, whose written numerous comics for Antarctic Press, also told us he's completed a rewrite on a spec script for a Knight Watchmen feature. The script was initially written by Philip Cable, the man behind the Knights of Justice movie. Ross told us, "The original draft received the blessing of Big Bang creators Chris Ecker and Gary Carlson, despite having numerous faults (which were rectified in the re-write). The new draft having just been completed yesterday, I still haven't received word as to what they think of the new version." Ross went on to describe the feel of the screenplay, "Knight Watchman reads like a cross between a Republic serial and a Spider novel (with fist fights replacing the shoot-outs and killing). The 'thrown crate and/or furniture' count is very high. It's a fun family film that could be made on a very modest budget; however, the more money spent, the bigger the stars and sets..." Ross also hopes to bring Chesty Sanchez, his female-wrestler-turned-butt-kicking-crime-fighter concept to the big screen. http://www2.comic-con.org/comiccon/ Zippy, Fat Dog and Skeleton Key ------------------------------- America's beloved pinhead has stumbled on his way to the small screen. In an interview found on the official Zippy The Pinhead website, creator Bill Griffith talks about the troubled status of the Zippy animated TV show. "The whole show has fallen apart. Years of work just literally fell apart in a week, over budgets, nothing but budgets. Nothing to do with the scripts, or the characters, with the whole idea of the show, just money. This has happened to me before with feature films, not television. But I never got this close before. We had voices we were going to audition in New York. Everything was right at the edge of being made. ShowTime was going to be our broadcaster. They'd been developing this for nine months or so. We'd spent almost two years developing what's called the bible, a big, thick book with sample scripts, drawings of all the characters and how they relate to each other, what the stories would be like - an entire universe. It was developed through Sunbow Entertainment, this company that does TV animation." Although Griffith later says that he hopes the show may still come together, it will apparently happen without Sunbow. Our source at Sunbow told us that they no longer hold the TV option on the property and such rights have reverted back to Griffith. However, Sunbow is "full steam in production" on Scott Musgrove's Fat Dog Mendoza. That show should premiere on Cartoon Network UK early next year. Currently it lacks a domestic broadcaster. Also in the early stages at Sunbow is Andi Watson's Skeleton Key. http://www.zippythepinhead.com/ FROM HELL --------- FROM AIN'T IT COOL NEWS: Producer Don Murphy (Apt Pupil, Permanent Midnight, Natural Born Killers) spoke to Harry Knowles of Ain't it Cool News recently about the adaptation of Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's From Hell. Murphy reports that the movie is currently at Fox with the Hughes brothers (Menace 2 Society) directing. Rafael Iglesias (Les Miserables) is rewriting Terry Hayes' (The Road Warrior) screenplay. Iglesias' rewrite is to be completed in "four weeks" after which casting is expected to begin. However, the Hughes brothers may have a conflicting project which could delay things. Murphy described the story like so, "Well, it's the JFK of Jack the Ripper movies with amazing historical detail, a flawed detective that nobody expects to solve the crime, an unlikely love story, and a conspiracy that goes all the way to Queen Victoria herself. Chief Detective Fred Abberline has worked his way out of Whitechapel when he is sent back in to work the Ripper case by his superiors, who are members of a secret society and hope that, thanks to his drug habit, he'll never solve the case. Four women have been marked for death because of secrets they know...... and Abberline finds himself madly in love with one of them. He consults the Queen's psychics, young Aleister Crowley, fellow policemen, and the Queen's physician Sir William Gull - who might know more about the mysterious goings on that he admits!" http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/ Preacher -------- FROM CORONA COMING ATTRACTIONS: Corona Coming Attractions offered a rebuttal of sorts to the recent pessimistic stories regarding the development of a Preacher movie. The CCA scooper bearing the report tells of screenwriter, director and comic writer Kevin Smith addressing a panel at the recent Wizard World convention in Chicago. Smith, who is also a producer on the Preacher allegedly told the crowd that the movie was being made and he is helping the project "as much as he possibly can." So apparently fans needn't yet lose faith in Preacher. http://www.corona.bc.ca +++++ From the Comics Continuum of the Detroit News at http://www.detnews.com/metro/hobbies/comix/ Rob Liefeld is retooling his THE MARK script for Will Smith because he says the movie hit, THE MATRIX, had so many of the same scenes in it they would not be able to top it. He said, "I had a meeting with Will has his partner a week later - we had all seen The Matrix - and they had kind of beat us to our movie. They did a great job; we could never outdo that movie." +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.mania.com/newsarama/index.html Flash! Lobdell At Miramax Miramax has just announced that it has signed Scott Lobdell to a multi-picture first-look film, television and comics book development deal with Dimension Films. As a part of the deal, the first two projects in development for Lobdell will be a film adaptation of Hellhole, created by Lobdell and Adam Pollina and published by Top Cow, and a screenplay for a romantic comedy by Lobdell called "The Last Man on Earth." "Scott is a giant in the comic book universe," Dimension co-chairman Bob Weinstein says. "Dimension is thrilled to have a talent as uniquely creative as Scott join our team." Lobdell, a self-professed fan of Dimension and its chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein, is quite happy with the deal. "As a movie ticket buyer, I love the sensibilities that Bob and Harvey get to the screen. As a screenwriter, I couldn't hope to work with a more dynamic development and production team." And yes, as a result of the deal, and Dimension/Miramax's parent company, Lobdell is now a Disney employee - a very odd match indeed. Sable As Red Sonja? The pro wrestler Sable, a.k.a. Rena Mero, is reportedly in talks with KISS' Gene Simmons to play Red Sonja in a potential TV series based on the 1985 Brigette Nielsen film and the Robert E. Howard fantasy books and comics. Mero recently settled her lawsuit with the WWF and as a result cannot use her Sable name or professionally wrestle for three years. USA Today +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.AnotherUniverse.com/newsarama WINNER OF THE 1997 & 1998 INTERNET "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE Warren Ellis and Wildstorm Editor-in-Chief Scott Dunbier have confirmed that Ellis will also be leaving The Authority with issue #12 along with Hitch and Neary. In a statement regarding his departure, Ellis announced his exit and explained the awkward circumstances surrounding last week's announcement by DC... "I quit first. I want that on the record," said Ellis. "I was the first one to quit The Authority. And I knew I was going to do it all along." "I wanted to spend a year doing these three huge and stupid stories, each an escalation in scale from the last, and then leave. I wasn't going to top the third story, Outer Dark, and, frankly, I wasn't going to try. Bugger the consistency of years and the-show-must-go-on; people buy The Authority for the manic pop thrill of weird pretty pictures and big things blowing up, and so it was perfectly in keeping for the book that I produce these 3 lunatic widescreen crackhead action movies and then split up the Beatles." "And oh yeah, fans of the series will have one more project to look forward to in early 2000, a 48-page, prestige format one-shot, Planetary/The Authority: Ruling The World." JENKINS GOES ABOVE AND "BEYONDERS" Writer Paul Jenkins will be adding a new regular series to his schedule in the coming months, The Beyonders, for Todd McFarlane Productions. Illustrated by Ashley Wood, the project will be a monthly series, and though details are tentative and subject to change, according to Jenkins, current plans call for it to be published in a new Spawn Magazine (more details to follow if or when they become available). WORD ON THE STREET - Unless you've been living in a virtual caave the last few months, you probably know DC has very big and semi-secret plans for the Spectre come this September's Day of Judgment weekly mini-series "event". Well, whoever is under the cowl, it looks like the Spectre will once again be a major player in the DCU, as the publisher has confirmed that a new ongoing Spectre series is currently in the works. Edited by Dan Raspler, the series will be written by J.M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Michael Zulli and Vince Locke. - Newsarama has received more than a few emmails from Supreme readers inquiring of the status of issue #3 of Supreme: The Return. Despite being promoted in Awesome Entertainment house ads, the issue was never solicited in Diamond's retailer catalog, Previews, prompting fans to wonder if the series would simply skip from issue #2 to #4... Fear not, a 3rd issue is in the works. According to Rob Liefeld, Diamond Distributors accidentally omitted the solicitation, but have since order adjusted the issue and it's now scheduled to ship in August. - One of the more intriguing projects in DCC/Vertigo's year-end "Fifth Week" event V2K - 5 diverse projects marking the singular moment of midnight, December 31, 1999 - is Totems, a prestige format one-shot that features "pre-Vertigo" versions of Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Black Orchid, Doom Patrol's Cliff Steele, and Shade, The Changing Man, "together again for the very first time." Also featuring appearances by John Constantine, The Geek, Zatanna and Sandman, the project, written by Tom (Hourman) Peyer and illustrated by Duncan Fegredo, is according to DC, "a high-voltage eco-fable that looks back at Vertigo's roots. +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail: subscribe@ZENtertainment.com MAINFRAME Entertainment (ReBoot, War Planets) has signed an option agreement with SIRIUS Entertainment to develop a computer animated TV and direct-to-video series based on Jill Thompson's series of SCARY GODMOTHER children's and comic books. http://www.mainframe.ca Next month, SCIFI.COM's SEEING EYE THEATER will present a streamed reading of Neil Gaiman's new short story "Murder Mysteries." Actor Brian Dennehy will read voice the lead role in this radio-style dramatization, playing "Raguel, The Vengeance of the Lord," in a story which finds him called upon by Lucifer to investigate the very first murder in the literal "City of Angels." The first part of MURDER MYSTERIES will be posted on August 9th, and the second part goes online on the 23rd. http://www.scifi.com +++++ 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. ALEX ROSS, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS AND COMMISSIONER GORDON WIN WIZARD FAN AWARDS On Friday, July 16, the 1999 Wizard Fan Awards were presented at the Wizard World Chicago '99 convention, and DC took home three awards for either talent or projects published in 1998 -- Favorite Painter: Alex Ross; Favorite Supporting Character: Commissioner Gordon; and Favorite One-Shot or Miniseries: SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS. The winners were each a legacy in one way or another -- Alex Ross has won the Favorite Painter category for so many years in a row that it is widely referred to as the "Alex Ross Award", and this year's nod to Gotham City's embodiment of official law and order makes it two years in a row for Commissioner Gordon as Favorite Supporting Character. Finally, the writer-artist team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, who won last year's Favorite One-Shot or Miniseries for BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN took the award again this year for SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS. Loeb and Sale were also two of the biggest draws at the DC Comics booth at Wizard World, with hundreds of fans lining up each day to get their copies of BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN and SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS signed. Those who did received a bonus in the giveaway DC/Wizard- produced BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #0, which was given away at the table as well as being bagged with every copy of the upcoming Wizard #97. The giveaway issue paves the way for the beginning of BATMAN: DARK VICTORY, Loeb and Sale's newest 13-issue Batman maxiseries, the first issue of which will be solicited in Previews Vol. IX, No. 8. Showcasing villains that include Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze and the Joker, and introducing Batman's most trusted ally -- Robin -- the maxiseries mirrors the format of THE LONG HALLOWEEN (issues #1 and #13 extra-length, Prestige Format Specials with no ads, issues #2-12 standard sized with interior ads and cardstock wraparound covers), but tells a story that stands alone from its award-winning predecessor. As Gotham completes its journey from a city run by organized crime to one run by lawless freaks, the Dark Knight completes his transformation into the city's greatest defender while facing multiple threats, including the seeming return of Holiday. But, as readers of THE LONG HALLOWEEN remember, more than one person was responsible for Holiday's murders, so the question remains: Who is committing Holiday's crimes this time? And how many will die before Batman learns the truth? Meanwhile, arriving even sooner will be the hardcover collection of SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS, in stores September 22. Combining Loeb's and Sale's masterful storytelling with sumptuous blue-line color by Bjarne Hansen (all of whom were also nominated for Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS follows Clark's tenuous first steps toward the realization that even his great power has limits... and that, ultimately, the most powerful man alive is only a man. Leaving Smallville behind, he meets the woman he will one day marry, earns the hatred of his deadliest foe, and learns the lessons that will transform a simple farmboy into the greatest champion of justice the world has ever known. The already special story is made even more so in this edition, with painstaking care taken to reproduce the original issues and the addition of a translucent vellum dust jacket revealing a new illustration by Sale and colored by Hansen on the cover of the book itself. Make sure your store will have enough of these projects from one of the hottest creative teams working today! WILDSTORM AND DC COMICS ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE LICENSE FOR STAR TREK(R) COMICS A run-in with a new ninja-like race; a war over natural resources; and a device that has the potential to cause interdimensional havoc -- STAR TREK comic book fans are in for surprises beyond this galaxy. WildStorm and DC Comics announced today plans for the new line of STAR TREK comics with the launch of the Prestige one-shot entitled STAR TREK: VOYAGER(R) -- FALSE COLORS, scheduled to be released in November of 1999. STAR TREK: VOYAGER -- FALSE COLORS focuses on the popular character Seven of Nine. The story, written by Nathan Archer, tells of an encounter between the Starship Voyager(TM) and a mysterious craft. It looks like a Borg, sounds like a Borg, and acts like a Borg, so it must be a Borg, right? The answer to that question is just one of the surprises in store in this special issue. Nathan Archer is the author of several STAR TREK novels as well as other comic stories, most recently the upcoming novel Spider-Man: Goblin Moon, co-written with Kurt Busiek. "We believe the creativity and innovation of DC Comics' WildStorm Productions will bring a new excitement to the fans of STAR TREK and comics in general," said Andrea Hein, president of Viacom Consumer Products. "We are very pleased to be reunited with DC." "We're really trying to make our own mark on the world of STAR TREK," says Jeff Mariotte, WildStorm's Senior Editor and editor of WildStorm's new STAR TREK line. "We've tapped a number of creative talents who are brand-new to STAR TREK comics, and I'm certain that this new line will more than live up to the success of WildStorm's previous innovative licensed titles." According to Mariotte, "Many of the top creators in comics are life- long STAR TREK fans, but these are also the creators in highest demand, with the busiest schedules. By initially focusing on one-shots and miniseries instead of ongoing series, we can tap these resources, insuring the highest quality STAR TREK comics possible." Other upcoming projects include: * STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION(R) -- THE KILLING SHADOWS, written by Scott Ciencin. Novelist Scott Ciencin has written more than thirty books, including New York Times best sellers. His most recent is the original hardcover Dinoverse, which received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION -- THE KILLING SHADOWS, a four-issue miniseries, introduces readers to a ninja-like race called the Bodai Shin, heralds of a great evil known only as The Veil. Shrouded in legend, the Bodai Shin prove to Picard and crew that they're only too real -- and deadly. * STAR TREK -- CIVIL WAR, written by Ted Adams. Known to comics readers mostly for his work on WildStorm's licensed RESIDENT EVIL comics and the Spawn Movie Adaptation, Adams delivers a Prestige one-shot that puts Kirk, Spock and McCoy on the ground of a non-Federation planet embroiled in a war over natural resources -- a war that could have fatal consequences for the three officers since the transporter isn't working and they're caught in the crossfire. * STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION -- EMBRACE THE WOLF, written by Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski. In addition to being a successful novelist, Golden paired with Sniegoski to write the best-selling Wolverine/Punisher series. Sniegoski is also currently writing Bone, making him the only writer other than Jeff Smith to be allowed to write that popular character. This prolific pair delivers a Prestige one-shot: STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION -- EMBRACE THE WOLF is a sequel of sorts to the classic STAR TREK episode "Wolf in the Fold", often referred to as the Jack the Ripper episode. * STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION: PERCHANCE TO DREAM, written by Keith R.A. DeCandido. On a tri-gendered planet, where all three genders are required for procreation, a politician makes the mistake of winning office with only one marital partner. The Starship Enterprise(TM), sent in by the Federation to provide inaugural security, soon finds that passions run high on this issue, and a routine mission proves to be anything but. DeCandido is a novelist and the editor on a series of Marvel and WildStorm-based novels. This four-issue miniseries is his first actual comic book scripting work. * STAR TREK -- ALL OF ME, written by Tony Isabella and Bob Ingersoll. Well-known as columnists for Comics Buyer's Guide, Isabella and Ingersoll have collaborated previously on a Captain America novel. STAR TREK -- ALL OF ME is a Prestige one- shot about a brilliant, troubled scientist who went to school with Spock, and invites Spock to view his latest invention -- a device which can wreak interdimensional havoc if the crew of the Enterprise can't put the brakes on it. "I've made a real effort to bring exciting talents to this comics line," said Mariotte. "I'm using extensive connections in the science fiction community to approach some people not ordinarily thought of in terms of comics -- though people who, for the most part, have some experience with them -- who can deliver fresh ideas and approaches. There have been lots of STAR TREK comics in the past, and I'm determined that anyone who has read them will know at a glance that ours are different than anything they've seen before." WildStorm Productions is an imprint of DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., a Time Warner Entertainment company. Since 1938, DC has created over 5000 characters, including the world's most popular super-heroes: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. These and other characters have starred in comic books, movies, television, TV-animation, the Broadway stage and cyberspace. Viacom Consumer Products merchandises properties on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television and Viacom Properties as well as third-party properties. Viacom Consumer Products, a unit of Viacom Entertainment Group, is a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. STAR TREK (TM), (R) and (c) 1999 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. STAR TREK(TM) and all related marks are trademarks of Paramount Pictures. CLASSIC SUPERMAN RADIO SHOWS DIGITALLY REBORN ON CASSETTE Radio Spirits brings back the golden age of super-hero radio with a collection of the classic Superman Radio Shows from the 1940s. THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN WITH BATMAN & ROBIN ON RADIO AUDIO CASSETTE SET contains 119 digitally restored and remastered radio adventures on 20 cassette tapes all for a retail price of $59.98. The set, which is scheduled to ship in September, is offered in Diamond's Previews Vol. IX, No. 7. This is the fourth such collection to come out from Radio Spirits, including 1998's WORLD'S FINEST CLASSICS, an earlier collection of 4 CDs or 5 cassettes from Radio Spirits that is being offered again this month 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. 8/2/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Target" (Superman) 8/2/99 (4:30 pm) -- "The Lion & the Unicorn" (Batman) 8/3/98 (4:00 pm) -- "Baby Doll" (Batman) 8/3/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Brave New Metropolis" (Superman) 8/4/99 (4:00 pm) -- "The Main Man -- Part 1" (Superman) 8/4/99 (4:30 pm) -- "The Main Man -- Part 2" (Superman) 8/5/99 (4:00 pm) -- "House and Garden" (Batman) 8/5/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Action Figures" (Superman) 8/6/99 (4:00 pm) -- "Knight Time" (Superman) 8/6/99 (4:30 pm) -- "Legends of the Dark Knight" (Batman) 8/7/99 (8:00 am) -- "New Kids in Town" (Superman) 8/7/99 (8:30 am) -- "Chemistry" (Batman) 8/7/99 (9:30 am) -- "Dead Man's Hand" (Batman Beyond) ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [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: 28 July 1999 Kyle Baker Fails To Get His Own Copy Of DC Elseworlds 80 Page Giant... Until We Step In! It was a sad day when Kyle Baker e-mailed us asking for a copy of the DC Eighty Page Elseworlds book... I'd picked up a stack and had sold them all over two days on the internet. I was auctioning off an additional five copies, getting double what I'd previously charged. Of course, since the book wouldn't have caused so much, I decided to withdraw one copy from auction and send it to Kyle. And in return, the kind fellow will be sending an original Superbaby picture... which we hope to scan in for our loyal readers soon! Note: Mania have done a fairly thorough summary of recent DC policy on withdrawing material. They raise plenty of interesting points... and then fail to pin Paul Levitz down on any of specifics. Moore Stories Stuart Moore, senior DC Vertigo editor, has resigned his position. While never a source, Stuart was quick to reply to this column and was swift when answering enquiries. Comic book wise, he was responsible for the growth of great books at Vertigo. Specifically, after, shall we say, differences of opinion at Vertigo about Warren Ellis, it was he who got Transmetropolitan up and running, something I'll be grateful for. We wish Stuart good fortune in his next endeavour. And hopefully if there's been any juicy in-fighting, bitching and general back stabbing, we'll be able to report it. As for Terry Moore, Strangers In Paradise, like Invisibles, Sandman, Bone etc, the end is well planned, it's just the getting there that is indeterminate and the succeeding comic strip will be previewed in issues 24 and 25. As for Alan Moore, he lives in Northampton. Additional: Check www.comicon.com/splash for a fuller picture behind the scenes at Vertigo. Not as much back stabbing as we'd thought, sadly. Ah well, there's always Awesome... Loose Lips Forget the official announcements (Ellis leaves Hellblazer for reasons of principle, Hitch and Neary leave Authority for JLA , Travis Charest leaves most of Wildcats 4 for other people to draw (apart from 9 pages)), one intrepid Ramblings reader managed to get a Marvel person inebriated in the bar and got a tiny snippet about the oh-so-secret Jenkins and Lee project for Marvel Knights. No name was forthcoming, but the book is about a character supposedly created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby but was 'too powerful to be published'. This is also the reason no one can remember what the book's meant to be called! Sounds a bit like Maximortal territory to me. Of course it could just have been the drink talking after all. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] And let me tell you why .... David Coulter DneColt@aol.com [David - who declared himself "America's Weirdly Cool Columnist" in a misguided tribute to The Firesign Theatre -- lives with his family in Kansas City and pays the bills as Marketing Director for a computer consulting group. He's heard the old saying that the best comics ever published were the ones that came out when you were ten ... and he's not buying it. He knows there are good comics out there, he can hear them breathing.] For the past two weeks we've been reading all about Warren Ellis's trials and travails with DC Comics over "Hellblazer," an editorial fracas which -- ultimately -- drove him off the book. This is too bad -- for DC anyway, since now it means the boook's circulation will take another precipitous plunge unless they can convince Garth Ennis or some other notable Brit to write a few fill-ins (are Americans incapable of writing this comic, I wonder?). A great deal has also been made of the eleventh hour pulping of the "Elseworld's 80-Page Giant" over the Kyle Baker story. It also sounds like the Jill-Thompson-drawn "Finals" got a bit of editorial slapping around for its crazed shooter scene. What's with the sudden bout of editorial hand-wringing? I mean, okay, the two Vertigo titles dealt with crazed teenagers shooting up their schools, and we're all a little squeamish about that subject these days. But how could that be any worse than what goes on in the rest of Vertigo's books every month? I mean, good grief, have you been reading Warren Ellis's run on "Hellblazer" so far? Definitely not for the faint of heart. Or how about "Flinch?" Where the first issue was clever, the subsequent issues have degenerated into dumb splatterfests. If DC is worried about some nervous-nellie mom spying a school-shooting scene over her impressionable adolescent's shoulder, then why wouldn't they worry about her spotting the Satanic, flesh-eating orgy scene in the last issue of "Flinch?" And what's up with the "Elseworlds" deal? I read the story online (as have most of you, I'm sure), and I found it nowhere near as violent or offensive as -- say -- the classic Larry Niven short story "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" (which if you haven't read ... well, you're missing out big time). In fact, I found the story to be pretty cute (well, maybe the notion of John and Martha Kent getting it on was a little unappetizing). I mean, did Paul Levitz just wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something? It reminds me of the supposed flap over the appearance of JFK in a Superman comic. The story I always heard was that, in a 1961 issue of Action Comics, the story called for Superman and Clark Kent to appear in the same place at the same time (why he didn't just use one of his ubiquitous robots I don't know), a dilemma that Superman solved by revealing his secret ID to then-president Kennedy (after all, if you can't trust the President, who can you trust, right?). Trouble is, this issue hit the stands a week after JFK was assassinated -- so in addition to being dreadfully out of continuity (or maybe it was the first appearance of Hyper-Time?), it was also thought to be is slightly bad taste. Mort Wiesinger allegedly flipped out and defecated a mile-long brick when he found out it was too late to have the issues recalled. Supposedly, this incident spawned an editorial edict banning the depiction of any actual president in a DC Comic. But guess what? Very few people noticed. I mean, there might have been a raised eyebrow here and there, but I think if a grief-stricken, deeply offended public had stormed DC's offices, dragged ol' Mort out by his short hairs and strung him up on a lamppost, we would have heard about it. Now, of course, that story could be apocryphal -- I'll leave it to those with longer memories (and more extensive collections) than I to verify the facts of this one. But it does point out the fact that, in comics as in other mediums, fiction sometimes comes into uncomfortable confluence with reality (in column-writing, too. I find an odd resonance in the fact that I'm mentioning the tragically deceased father of another recently, and tragically, deceased public figure). Now, I suppose it's possible that Ellis's "Hellblazer" story was so gratuitously offensive that maybe even the hardened crew at Vertigo was sickened at the mere thought of unleashing such an awful spectacle on an unsuspecting public (if anyone could contrive such a monstrosity, it would be Ellis, and writer my much-loved colleague Tony Isabella has deemed -- in so many words -- utterly vile). But I deeply doubt it. I also deeply doubt that if Ellis's story had run there would have been a huge outcry from outraged parents (I mean, if the last issue of that book didn't send anyone ballistic, I don't know what would. Brrr.) By that same token, I seriously doubt that the Elseworld's 80-page Giant that Levitz ordered pulped would have provoked a rash of toddlers leaping off roofs (although wouldn't it be great if it had provoked a rash of super-powered toddlers suckling on cow teats? Now THAT would be something to see!). As Rich Johnston (our very own Matt Drudge) pointed out, Great Britain certainly hasn't seen a sudden plague of microwaved babies. No, I think people are just thinking about this a little too hard. Besides, anyone who climbs into a microwave because he saw it in a comic book pretty much gets what he deserves, don't ya think? I mean ƒ? natural selection, right? And if any of our cousins to the north or east has a spare copy of the Elseworlds 80-Page Giant they'd like to sell -- I stand ever-ready to have my mind warped. Comments? Criticisms? Flames? E-mail them to DneColt@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] Stranger in a Strange Land Jennifer M. Contino Jencomx3@aol.com [Jennifer M. Contino is 27 and a life-long lover of comics books and super heroes! While most girls were playing with Barbies and watching cute little shows, she was playing with Mego's and watching the Superfriends and any other super hero show she could find on the television! NOW almost 19 years later she owns over 26000 comics, has written some interviews for SEQUENTIAL TART--the online e-zine, is a frequently published letter of comment writer and is the official HOST of the DC COMICS chats on AOL! She is pursuing work in the comics field at DC and is trying to start her own independent comics company!] "What Price Victory?" I've been going through some of my old comic books lately. Every summer I usually start to feel nostalgic and pull out a box or two of old books and reread the classics! The original Justice League of America, the All Star Squadron, Uncanny X-men pre #200, the super hero 100 page spectacular's and 80 Page Giants, and most of the Limited, DC and Marvel series. There is one common factor out of the most memorable moments of the limited series or multi part adventures within a series that always sticks out in my mind--and I bet yours too--the ULTIMATE sacrifice of a hero in order to ensure victory! The 'death' of a hero! During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, we lost hundreds of heroes. However it was the sacrifice of Supergirl and Flash that most of us remember! Sure I watched in horror as Wonder Woman was reverted back to clay and as Dove and Kole were obliterated...but it was the death of Supergirl that brought a tear to my eyes---and the anguish of the remaining witnesses to her death! I couldn't believe she was gone. The Dark Phoenix saga was another storyline that had the ULTIMATE sacrifice involved....in order for the galaxy to live, Jean Grey had to die! Then there was Karma from New Mutants---the price of the kids disobeying the X-Men and Professor Xavier and trying to rescue one of their own..on their own...led to her death! Batman A DEATH IN THE FAMILY set records for many reasons and many FIRSTS occurred in that storyline. We, the readers, got to actually VOTE on the death of a hero. (*Hmm..we got to see the UNTOLD ORIGIN OF Phoenix..how many of you would like to read the version where Jason lived! AND do we really believe that Jason would have lived anyway since only 20 short issues later we were introduced to Tim Drake? SO how much say did we really have?*) I know there were many more sacrifices throughout the DC, Marvel, and indey universe! What I ponder about....is the 'replacement' heroes or the 'resurrection' heroes! Sure, we lost Supergirl in the Crisis, but just a short while later we had the Matrix and now we have most of the Supergirl mythos back...albeit in a strange form..but still back! Flash's mantle barely had time to cool before the Kid assumed the reins! The clay of WW was recreated. Phoenix rose from her own ashes with a story so incredible that even I was like...I CAN"T BELIEVE they are DOING this! Karma returned alive and well---well after the NEW MUTANTS SPECIAL EDITION and the X-MEN ANNUAL 9--as well as she could be! And we did get a new Robin (*Perhaps the best Robin--at least in the post crisis *ugh* world!*) Does the victory seem less hollow when the heroes are returned a year or so later? AND I have not even touched the 1990s storylines and the deaths of SUPERMAN, WONDER WOMAN, FLASH, GREEN ARROW, GREEN LANTERN, et cetera..the HEROES REBORN..the KINGDOM COME...because then I'd be taking up about twenty pages! AND I;m not counting the one shot heroes--those that are created just to die in a particular issue or storyline! (I.E. Erg--and he came back; Nameless; Metamorpho--although he came back too! etc.,.) I guess I was just thinking about the stories! I can't remember every part of the UNCLE SAM storyline from ALL STAR SQUADRON, but I can remember Baron Blitzkrieg killing the Red Bee. Bucky and Thunderbird blowed up reeeeal good too! The good guys always won--SURE...but again WHAT PRICE VICTORY? And..does the price diminish any when a 'replacement' hero is soon created to fill the void? ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] SOME PAGES, A COVER, AND A FEW STAPLES Marlan Harris mar93@aol.com [Marlan Harris lives and works in Burbank, CA.] THE 10 BEST ARTISTS WORKING IN COMICS TODAY This is a list designed to single out the best artists working in comics today. But first, a few ground rules: To help narrow down the possibilities, only artists doing monthly work are included. This does not include artists like Mike Mignola, who would certainly be on this list, and they might even work every day, but their work does not come out monthly. This could include artists whose books are late, like the Cliffhanger guys, though their books wouldn't be anywhere near this list, so it's a moot point. Artists who are also excellent writers are not included just because they're great writers. And, of course, it's based upon my opinion and this list could change month to month, if not week to week. I encourage discussion of this list and, even more, for you to compile your list and acknowledge the incredible 22 pages ­ or more -- that these people do on a month-to-month basis. This includes limited series, as long as they come out monthly. This list does not include inkers, who are, indeed, artists in their right. The ranking is arbitrary, not necessarily in this order. 1. John Cassaday, PLANETARY and DESPERADOES 2. George Perez, AVENGERS 3. Chris Sprouse, TOM STRONG 4. Mike Allred, MADMAN COMICS 5. Bryan Hitch, THE AUTHORITY 6. Steve Dillon, PREACHER 7. Jae Lee, INHUMANS 8. Jaime Hernandez, PENNY CENTURY 9. John Paul Leon, EARTH X 10. Duncan Fegredo, JAY & SILENT BOB (a Vertigo artist who you wouldn't think would be as perfectly suited for a goofy series by Kevin Smith as he is) And an honorable mention to John Romita Jr., artist on PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN and THOR, who may not be the best artist doing monthly comics, but is one of my favorites. Also points to him for not only doing two titles a month but also doing some spectacular work despite having poor writers on both books. And the most-improved award to Steve Skroce, whose work on GAMBIT has made me a fan of that series. Too bad they can't get a fill-in artist as good as him, though. I'm not sure what point I'm trying to make with this list, other than giving my critical skills a little exercise. Maybe that many of the really, really good artists, like Adam Hughes and Geof Darrow, just aren't doing monthly work? (Though I'd rather see them take as long as they like on a project than to see half-assed, dashed-off, but monthly, work.) Maybe that the legendary comics artists, like Joe Kubert and Gil Kane, just aren't doing monthly work (a cover for the LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE 80-PAGE GIANT and the awful JUDGMENT DAY: AFTERMATH don't count)? Maybe that too many artists, like Matt Wagner (on DOCTOR MID-NITE), though they are or really think that they are, are spending too much of their time writing the books when they can be drawing them? Maybe that Phil Jiminez seems really inconsistent on work, though he may be working every day of the month, doing all the mini-series that he does (though really very well, like JLA/TITANS) seems like his stuff doesn't come out regularly? Maybe that it's taking forever for Jason Pearson and Chris Bachalo to do their own personal works that it seems like forever since they've done a whole book? Maybe that I haven't read the new BIRDS OF PREY series, though artist Greg Land did some great work on the NIGHTWING & HUNTRESS mini-series? Maybe that I'm tired of waiting for Andrew Robinson and DUSTY STAR to return (though he did do a recent GEN 13 one-shot and a fairly poor X-MEN fill-in issue)? Maybe that I'm making a point by way of exclusion that John Byrne just isn't a decent artist anymore? Or maybe that I'm very happy Todd McFarlane isn't drawing more than he is? Your web site of the week: Check out an interesting essay on how DC Comics is becoming too politically correct: http://www.anotheruniverse.com/comics/features/pccomics.html mar93@aol.com Http://members.aol.com/mar93/BoneMachine.html ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] 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.jazmaonline.com/ 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: Great comics came out this week at Broadway Comics & Cards. Here is a list of some of them: Adam Kelley "Alexis", Happydale, Mobile Suit Gundam 0079, Gunner #3, Gen 13 #43 (Great story and I felt like I stepped into the movie "Sound of Music" - check out this issue and see why.), Wildcats #4 (watch out for genetically engineered terrorists and don't take your vacation at Stonekill, Ireland!), Superboy #66 (meet Llarry, Llouise and Tuftan the Tiger King, and no there not from the World of Disney!). Plenty to read over this weekend and if you want information about any of the above titles, email Wilson at: wilsonlew@sprintmail.com Recommended horror video for the week would be: Knocking on Death's Door (about a house with a nasty demon in it and how two parapsychologists try to deal with it!). Recommended sci-fi videos would be: Futurekick and Crossworlds (dimensional fun!). Multiverse Observer and Explorer signing off, until next time. Preview of Zorro: Matanzas! Written by: Don McGregor Overviewed by: Paul Dale Roberts, MOE Publisher: Zorro Publications, Inc. In the mail, I received a black and white copy of the first book of four, called "Zorro: Matanzas!" These four books will be printed in color. Below is my response to the publishers. This is a SPOILER letter, so if you don't want to know anything about this comic book, which ships out July 30, please stop here and DON'T READ ON. After reading Zorro: Matanzas! I was left with my mouth gaping wide open. I couldn't believe on how the story left such an impact with me, after reading it. Another masterpiece of artistic beauty and with words that flowed beautifully from panel to panel. Zorro is enchanting and Don McGregor has the 'right stuff' to keep it that way. I love the way the story starts off with Zorro and his most faithful horse named Tornado. Tornado proves worthy of Zorro and is an extension of his strength. Highly enjoyed the story of Toypurnia's uprising at San Gabriel Mission and the origin of the secret tunnels and the Fox's Den. I was quite surprised at the elaborate set-up within the Fox's Den, that Zorro now uses for his hideout. The spiral staircase, the different levels of the Fox's Den was simply amazing! The Batcave pales in comparison to this hideaway. Strong character development, as I learned more about Don Alejandro and his relationship to his son Don Diego. I see that there is some friction between these two, but there is also a loving relationship that goes all the way to the bone. Evil is in the midst, as Machete comes to Los Angeles for dire purposes, with his claim to be the representative of the King of Spain and the Minister Generals of Mexico. Machete with his love of slaughtering people is a major danger in Zorro's life and I can see why Zorro must keep a weary eye open at Matanza. I got a good laugh out of the way Zorro's alter ego Don Diego wiggles his way out of attending the Matanza, to his father. Don Alejandro shows his method of 'tough love' to his son, by burning his drawings, just to get his full attention. Will this friction amongst father and son ever smooth off? I doubt it, as long as Don Diego dons the cape and hat of Zorro. Don Diego's obligations as Zorro is prevalent over anything else. Don Alejandro is like most fathers, they expect the best from their sons and have expectations of what their son should be like. It is somewhat sad, that Don Alejandro doesn't know the full potential of his son and the heroics that his son plays out each time he wears the mask of Zorro. It will be quite interesting to see how their relationship fares in future issues. Where Machete goes, Zorro must go and it was a gorgeous depiction of Zorro riding his steed Tornado at the end of this story. The legend of Zorro continues and I will be around for the full duration of this legend through this comic book! If you want adventure and heart-throbbing suspense, then Zorro: Matanzas! is the place to be! Now it's time for me to get more thrills at: http://www.zorro.com ! Name: Alley Cat #1 Publisher: Image Comics Written by: Bob Napton & Matt Hawkins Drawn by: Bosco/pencils Tie/inks Price: $2.50 Comments: When I saw the eye-popping cover on Alley Cat #1, I knew I had to have this comic book in my collection! What I found was a superb story mixed with mystique and magic. The setting was perfect as the night falls upon the decadence of New Orleans. What Alley and Stacy feel in this city, is what I felt in the 1982 Mardi Gras that I attended in New Orleans. A place filled with mystery and awe. Of party goers who behaved like their was no tomorrow, of course I was doing the same thing at the time as I was blaring "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads on my way to New Orleans. I was in for a shock as this story continued with Stacy and Alley walking into the La Chat Noire, located in the French Quarter. There purpose being to purchase a negligee for Alley. Alley is persuaded to try on an unusual outfit by this mysterious elder woman, who appears out of nowhere. Alley states that the outfit feels like a second skin. A ghost attacks Stacy and kills her. Alley is tormented by the Marquis de Sade. This all occurs after Alley tries on the outfit. I see I will be riding a locomotive filled with suspense and wonder as I gather my thoughts pondering what is behind the outfit that Alley wears? Was the outfit made from the depths of Hell or from Heaven above? Will this outfit give Alley powers? Why does the Marquis de Sade haunt Alley's mind? Was it the Marquis de Sade's ghost that attacked and killed Stacy? How will Alley's life continue after Stacy's tragedy? There are so many unanswered questions and I will be around for the full duration of this series, to see what direction the creators are headed. Highly enjoyed the pullout poster of Alley Baggett, that was the dessert after digesting the full meal of this exhilarating story! Alley's recovery after being hit by the car was somewhat miraculous and was her outfit behind this? Marquis de Sade hounds Alley and what is his full sinister purpose behind this? There is a informative bio on the Marquis de Sade in this issue. Even though I already know about this man, it was nice to have a refresher course on his evil carnage. Bosco did a superb job with his penciling and I hope he continues to remain. Excellence on top of excellence is what Alley Cat is all about! BTW, if anyone doesn't know, Alley Baggett is a Playboy model. Name: Tooth & Claw #1 Preview Publisher: Image Written and Drawn by: Mark Pacella Comments: Received this preview of Tooth and Claw #1 in the mail. Below is my response to Mark Pacella. Mark gives us many tantalizing hints to show the reader where he is headed with the story and plays with our curiosity. Mark is an exceptional writer and artist and knows how to deliver a story that has an impact on the reader. There are some spoilers in my response to Mark, so if you don't want any give-aways, please do not read on. Even after reading the overview, you will still have to see the comic book for yourself to get the full effect. If this comic book was a movie, you would want to see it on the silver screen and not at home on your video, it has its own special effects right in the comic book! For more information, email Mark at: Tacmail123@aol.com Now to that response: After reading Tooth and Claw #1, I was completely swept away with the not too far away future of New York City 2002! What occurs under the full moon, or should I say the Harvest Moon....ahh, better yet, the Hunter's Moon is horror beyond compare. You didn't waste anytime in getting the action started with this high octane tale that borders on sci-fi and horror. Not only was the story powerful and explosive, so was the artwork and I was quite shocked to see that you are definitely a one-man show, as you did the artwork, along with the story. Both were done with perfection. There were plenty of twists and turns within the story to keep me guessing. The centralized characters Rachel & Jake have gone through a terrible ordeal with the disease that was practically killing them. As the flashback was thrown in on how Rachel and Jake have become were-creatures of the present is quite interesting. I see both were New York's finest police officers and something is stirring within their society. Something sinister, as their friend Cindy points out that people are turning up missing. The missing are not just no-names, but people with reputation and respect within their community. Yes, something is of array and whoever is behind this, could very well be behind the mysterious disease that Rachel and Jake have. The character development is moving smoothly with each character as I learned much about Rachel and Jake and later learn that 16 year old Cindy has had a traumatic childhood, since her family was gunned down. As my own conspiracy theories mount, I learn more into the story that their are bigger plans on the horizon as I am introduced to Amano the global overseer and Morb who is the ruler of Planet Tyrannous X. Morb has set a goal to conquer Earth and now has full access to the Cosmic Matrix. With this set in motion, Rachel and Jake have their own problems back on Earth, as they must confront their past with Tool and his goons. Tool thinks that Jake ripped him off of some dope during the days that he was a cop and Rachel tries to explain that it was a set-up. Tool is ruthless and merciless as he strikes out against Rachel and Jake. The cliffhanger was staggering for the imagination as a inter-steller wormhole transforms the alley where Rachel and Jake are and sucks them up into a void to where? Tool and his goons fire their weapons into the wormhole and to their astonishment, something evil comes out of the wormhole, but what is it? I see I'm going to have to keep my eyes open for the next installment of Tooth & Claw, there is no telling what is going to happen next! Standing ovation to Mark Pacella in showing the readers right from the beginning on what Rachel & Jake have become and then stepping back in their lives to show the reader how they got there! Brilliant take-off of this story! The artwork was fine-tuned and detailed and I can see that Mark took his time in getting this comic book done the right way! This epic adventure of Tooth & Claw will ensorcell any first time reader and will be more addicting than a cold Budweiser served during the Super Bowl game! Be there or be square and you know that I don't want to be square, so I will definitely be first in line to purchase #2!! Refined excellence and marvelous quality describes Tooth & Claw! Name: Sci Tech #1 Publisher: Wildstorm Written by: Brandon Choi & Jonathan Peterson Drawn by: Ed Benes/pencils Sal Regla/inks Price: $2.50 Comments: Sci Tech #1 had me hooked, I didn't know what was going on in the beginning as scene shifts from London 1899 to San Francisco 1999 took place. Just like something out of the movie "Wild, Wild West", here is this coal fed computer in 1899 and Professor Shaunnessey confronting the mysterious Ministry of Science - The Bureau of Patents! Then later on in the story, things really started rolling and I saw the direction this was headed as our hero Leo Lomax, top investigative reporter sees this laser induced fusion reactor and who appears out of nowhere, no other than the Special Department of the National Science Foundation - Patent Division! These strange guys have been around since 1899 and maybe longer! My conspiracy fever hit big time, there is something very sinister going on. But, let's talk about the beginning of the story as Mr. Lomax, an adventurous young man is enjoying the technological luxury of a De Zotti sport scar with a display system projected into the driver's window shield. Now that's a car! While Leo is enjoying this ride, little does he know that a team of government types are monitoring his moves via satellite com-links. Leo is destined for something big and I can't wait for the next issue to find out! Already our adventurous Leo saves the lives of the construction workers from a runaway tanker and does some last minute decisions using the vehicle to save lives! Leo is definitely the hero type. I enjoyed the side humor in this intense story, as Leo is asked on his opinion about the Face on Mars and he seems somewhat annoyed with this question. It was a comical situation, that had me laughing. Leo seems to be the type of guy that sets his mind on one thing and doesn't do anything to get sidetrack from his own set assignment. Leo is also somewhat of a rebel in heart and seems somewhat hard to control in a work environment. Leo knows how to make himself the hero and any retaliation from his boss would look foolish in the eyes of his co-workers. Yep, Leo knows how to play the system, I need to learn from this guy. Mysteries unfold as the drop of tea falls upon Leo's hand and is absorbed into his skin. What kind of tea was this and what will happen to Leo? Leo handles the minor issues of his life, by the way he handled the science write-up on the De Zotti car and had already emailed the report to his boss. The only thing on Leo's mind was to meet Bug aka Roger Chen and learn more about the laser induced fusion reactor. Now that he has seen it, what will he learn from the Special Department of the National Science Foundation? Well developed written story and the artwork was fabulous! After reading this, I had to keep looking over my shoulder as paranoia set in! I will be along for the ride. This story moves at a rapid pace that almost gave me a nose bleed! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] 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.] COMIC BOOK PROFILES: A TRIBUTE TO ARCHIE GOODWIN 72 pages, Black & White, 3 color cover, $3.99 US Proceeds from this publication are being donated to the ARCHIE GOODWIN MEMORIAL AWARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND at the School of Visual Arts in New York. A portion of the proceeds from back issues ordered using the order form in this issue will also be donated to the fund. DO NOT buy this book if all you want to do is feel good about sending money to a scholarship fund. If you want to feel good about that, write a check (even if it is for only $3.99) DIRECTLY TO THE FUND because THAT will put more money directly to the use it is intended for. This is a pet peeve of mine whenever a comic is used to raise funds for a cause. All of a sudden, well-meaning fans start hammering the fact that the comic is for a good cause and people should buy multiple copies to help save the children, aid the victims, clear the land mines, fill in the blank. Even though many people and companies in the chain of creation, publication, distribution and sale may offer their services for the cause - there are still minimal costs that are covered along the way and at the very least it is an inefficient means of collecting and eventually sending money to a cause. You can make an immediate impact by sending a check which goes through no middle man. So If you really think that Archie Goodwin deserves to be remembered and you want to do your part in contributing to the designated beneficiary his estate has chosen for such funds - send a check to: ARCHIE GOODWIN MEMORIAL AWARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND SVA Foundation School of Visual Arts 209 E. 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 Now that I am in deep doo-doo with the publishers of Comic Book Profile for telling you why NOT to buy this magazine, let me tell you why you should. Regular readers of the Emag and this column know that I am a firm supporter of CBP. With every issue they bring in-depth insight into a prominent person in the comic book industry. This is done with a full interview with the subject and then several columns of comment by that person's contemporaries - relatives, co-workers, employees, bosses, friends and other acquaintances. The issue is always filled with appropriate art from things the subject worked on - whether the subject was a writer, artist or editor. I have found this format to be a particularly effective way to get to know these people better since the variety of comment covers many different aspects of the person being studied. This provides an understanding not only of the talent and professional ethics of the subject but also the life experiences that motivated them and made them so respected by their peers. With Archie's death in 1998, many who knew him and appreciated his contribution to the industry knew we had lost one of the greats. Unfortunately, there is no in-depth interview with Archie, as is the norm in CBP, but there is plenty of material from the various contributors to make this issue a delightful read. It starts with his wife and children and some wonderful anecdotes of their life together. We read how he left college after one semester to pursue his dream in comics at the Cartoonists and Illustrators School - which later became the School of Visual Arts. Later it was a series of companies including Redbook, Warren, Marvel, DC, Warren, Marvel, ending at DC before losing his battle with complications from cancer therapy last year. Archie is arguably the most respected and loved editor that worked in the comics medium. His work also included many notable writing efforts and if wanted to he could have been a very successful cartoonist in his own right. Many will remember his self-drawn editorial cartoons in the covers of the EPIC line of comics which he headed up at Marvel. But he also made terrific contributions to Marvel in the late 60's, edited war comics and DETECTIVE at DC after that, lead the terrific success of WARREN in its early years, held the Editor-in-Chief job at Marvel for a year and of course ended with a group editor's slot on titles including STARMAN, AZREAL, LEGENDS of the DARK KNIGHT and BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN. There is really no need to relate the side stories that each of the contributors bring to honor Archie but I will say that Terry Austin's rendition of how John Byrne tried to get Archie to not hire Terry on UNCANNY X-MEN (John wanted Terry to work with him on TEAM-UP) is very amusing and says something about how skilled Archie was at doing what he had to do to get the best from everyone that worked for or with him. Other people who contribute this time are: Al Williamson, Jim Warren, Gene Colan, Alex Toth, Paul Chadwick, Louise Simonson, Micheal Kaluta, John Workman, Walt Simonson, Jeph Loeb, James Robinson, Paul Levitz, Mike Carlin, Denny O'Neil, Tim Truman, Chuck Dixon, Mark Wheatly, and more. As always Fred Hembeck has the "Final Thoughts" on the last page and there are many samples of comics from Archie's career, including the full story called SINNERS from Wally Wood's WITZEND #1 from 1966. Almost every single person in this issue ends with the same sentiment - they miss Archie. James Robinson goes so far as to say he is adrift without him and when he is finished with the STARMAN series he will be done with comics because it is not the same without Archie - pretty powerful statement! As you might guess, this special tribute issue gets my highest recommendation. I don't "do" ratings so just go out and buy the thing, it will be worth your while. I will miss Archie too. One reason is because with all the bad news, bitching, behind the scenes back stabbing and just plain dirt that gets out about this industry I have never heard or read a bad thing about him. I have always enjoyed the work he was connected with be it DAZZLER, or DETECTIVE, CREEPY or ALIEN LEGION or any of the rest. He has already gotten my vote for the CBG READERS SURVEY as the Favorite Editor of the Century. When he died my public comment was this: "If Jack Kirby was the King, Archie was surely the Crowned Prince." ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] 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, 8/04/1999, 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 DARK HORSE Erb Tarzans Savage Heart #4 (Of 4), 2.95 Gary Giannis Monstermen, 2.95 Oh My Goddess The Fourth Goddess #4 (Of 8), 3.50 Zombieworld Tree Of Death #2 (Of 4), 2.95 DC 100 Bullets #3, 2.50 Adventures Of Superman #571, 1.99 Anarky #6, 2.50 Authority #5, 2.50 Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight #122, 1.99 Batman The Gotham Adventures #17, 1.99 Big Book Of Grimm SC, 14.95 Birds Of Prey #10, 1.99 Crimson #12, 2.50 Divine Intervention Wildcats, 2.50 Finals #2 (Of 4), 2.95 Flash Annual #12, 2.95 Heavy Liquid #1 (Of 5), 5.95 Invisibles Volume 3 #7 (Of 12), 2.95 Looney Tunes #57, 1.99 Martian Manhunter #11, 1.99 Preacher #54, 2.50 Pulp Fiction Library Mystery In Space TPB, 19.95 Sandman Worlds End HC New Ptg, 29.95 Tomorrow Stories #1, 3.50 Young Justice #13, 2.50 IMAGE A Distant Soil #28 (resolicited), 3.95 Age Of Bronze Special #1, 2.95 Age Of Heroes Special #2, 6.95 Cygor #1, 2.50 Deity Revelations #1, 2.95 Fathom #8, 2.50 Kabuki Classics #6, 3.25 Mage The Hero Defined #14, 2.50 Monster Fighters Inc #2, 3.50 Nash #1, 2.95 Savage Dragon Revenge TPB, 13.95 Solar Lord #5, 2.50 Tellos #3, 2.50 Witchblade #33, 2.50 Zorros Lady Rawhide Other Peoples Blood #5, 2.95 MARVEL Avengers Forever #9 (Of 12), 2.99 Black Panther #9, 2.50 Deadpool #32, 1.99 Fantastic Four #22, 1.99 New Warriors #1, 2.99 Spider-Man Chapter 1 #12 (Of 12), 3.50 Spider-Woman #4, 1.99 Thor #16, 1.99 Uncanny X-Men #373, 1.99 Wild Thing #1, 1.99 Wolverine Punisher #4 (Of 4), 2.99 magazines Comic Shop News #633, AR NCRL for the foreseeable future... TITLE OLD RELEASE DATE NEW DATE DC COMICS Batman: Fortunate Son HC 07/21 08/11 Battle Chasers T-Shirt LG 03/03 TBA Battle Chasers T-Shirt XL 03/03 TBA Danger Girl Door Poster 03/10 TBA Darkchylde: The Legacy #4 08/04 TBA Divine Intervention: Gen13 08/25 09/29 Divine Intervention: Wildcats 08/04 09/15 Divine Right #11 07/14 09/01 Dreams Of The Darkchylde #0 06/16 TBA Elseworlds 80-Page Giant #1 06/30 TBA Flinch #4 07/28 08/11 Golden Age Flash Archives Vol. 1 08/25 09/8 Hellblazer #141 07/21 08/25 Justice League Of America Archives Vol. 5 07/21 08/11 Planetary #5 06/23 07/28 Planetary #6 07/28 09/22 Pulp Fiction Library: Myst. In Space TPB 08/04 08/25 Sandman: Brief Lives HC New Ptg 07/07 07/21 Starman #58 08/04 08/11 Superman: Whatever Happened To... New Ptg 07/07 07/21 The League Of Ext. Gentlemen #4 07/28 09/01 Tom Strong #4 07/21 08/25 Tom Strong #5 08/25 09/22 *Please Note: These dates are tentative. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [12] HYPE! Section Various From: John Kovalic THE BIG, FAT MUSKRAT CENTRAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER THINGY 24 July, 1999 * Secret Convention give-away! * DORK TOWER #5 is out NOW. * DORK TOWER #6 is PROGRESSING. * New DORK TOWER BUTTONS! Woo-wooo! * New DORK TOWER T-Shirts! Woo-wooo! * DORK TOWER nominated for a 1999 ORIGINS Award! Loses! Woo-wooo! * APPLES TO APPLES is selling out. * DORK TOWER 1999 World Tour update. * DORK TOWER Button Men Update! * Steve Jackson seriously peeved at INQUEST ************************************************************************ * Secret Convention give-away! If you make it to GenCon, San Diego or the Small Press Expo, stop by the booth and say the secret phrase ("Why a duck?")* for a VERY-limited edition freebie. *Marx Brothers fans will understand. ------------------------------------------------------------- * DORK TOWER #5 ("Last, Best Dope") is OUT NOW! Woo-wooo! It should be in stores soon, if it's not already. I've gotten some fan mail from New York, so I know it's gotten there. Other areas seem to be hit or miss. The first Fed Ex-ed box arrived last Saturday at WizardWorld in Chicago, so it was gratifying to have folks seek it out once they'd heard rumors of its existence. Upcoming schedule: DORK TOWER #6 (September/October) ("Goth Drops") will ship September 1 DORK TOWER #1 (reprint) (October) ("Heart of Dorkness") will ship October 6 DORK TOWER #7 (November/December) ("A Very Dorky Christmas") will ship November 3 DORK TOWER # 8 (January/February) ("High Sobriety") will ship January 5 Sometime in the summer of 2000, the DORK TOWER trade paperback will be released. This should include all of issues #1 through #6. No great name for it yet. Issues 1 is long sold-out, while 2 and 3 are now virtually sold out. You may still be able to find 2 and 3 in some stores, but there are minimal quantities left here in Madison. ------------------------------------------------------------- * DORK TOWER #6 is PROGRESSING. It's helping to make my August hell, but it should be on schedule, and I think folks will like it. It's a return to the longer stories of Dork Tower #2, 3 and 4. And it features the REAL return of Gilly the Perky Goth! ------------------------------------------------------------- * New DORK TOWER BUTTONS! Woo-wooo! The new DORK TOWER Buttons are back, and they look nifty-keen! Two sets of four, for $5.95 each (postage and packing included). Set One (stock number1066-1): the classic Matt, Ken, Igor and Carson buttons. Set Two (stock number 1066-2): Gilly the Perky Goth; "Roll the Dice! I want to see if I eat your spleen!"; "W.W.I.D? (What Would Igor Do?)"; "G.I.M.P. - Gothically Inclined Male Person." They'll be at GenCon and San Diego! Or you can see them all at the Dork Store (http://kovalic.com/sales/sales.html). Distributors won't pick them up for another month or so, but the stores soon after that. There certainly seems to be some strong retailer interest. ------------------------------------------------------------- * New DORK TOWER T-Shirts! Some of the new T-shirts are in, others are arriving soon. The few T-shirts left of the original "Gaming is Life" design are the last that will ever be made. Only 200 were created to begin with, so if you'd like one of these (now) collectors items, I'd advise acting fast. Unless you're size "L," in which case you can take your own sweet time, as just about everyone else who's size "L" has seemed to have done. (Note to self - cut down on size "L" for future orders.) I may or may not bring these to GenCon. Probably won't have them at San Diego, since I expect they'll be gone by then. But the new shirts look fab, I think. The DORK TOWER WORLD TOUR 1999: "WILL GAME FOR FOOD" T-shirts have the full con list on the back, rock-star style, and are done in fashionable fanboy black. The new GAMING IS LIFE T-shirts are on gray, in glorious four-color brilliance. The COLLECT CALL OF CTHULHU T-shirts are on black again (gamers LIKE size "XXXL." Gamers LIKE black), and reprint that most popular Unspeakable Oaf toon of mine that ran in Dragon. ...and finally... The SITH PARK T-shirts. I should be very, VERY ashamed of this one. To see them all, hit the Dork Store at http://kovalic.com/sales/sales.html. Thanks to Scott at Pegasus Printing for doing such a cool job with them. ------------------------------------------------------------- * DORK TOWER nominated for a 1999 ORIGINS Award! Loses! Yes, it's true.But I had the last laugh. The sweet, sweet beer of consolation tastes FAR better than the bitter, petty brew of celebration. Let's face it: when Sam Adams is your only friend, it tastes that much more toothsome. Actually, since this if Dork Tower's first year nominated, and since we only had three issues out at the time of nomination, I never really expected to win. It WAS a great honor to be nominated, though. And my heartiest congratulations go out to the Knights of the Dinner Table folks, who walked away with the well-deserved award. Thanks to everyone who voted for Dork Tower, by the way. Not sure what the final vote count was, but I'm told some official-types were expecting the upset. Major props to James Ernest for his job hosting the Origins awards ceremony, by the way. It was a terrifically cool ceremony. Even if you happened to be on the losing end of it. :-) ------------------------------------------------------------- *APPLES TO APPLES is selling out. Two clarifications from the last e-mail: The store in Maine sold 180 copies, not 1809. The problem came when I put the exclamation mark in parenthesis at the end, but missed the shift key. So "180(!)" came out as "1809!)". Don't want to mislead people. Still, the fact remains that blowing through nearly 5,000 copies of the game in about a month is a magnificent achievement by the Out of the Box (http://otb-games.com) folks. Second clarification: The game is DEAD easy to play. The MENSA review seems to have scared a few folks. Don't worry about it. It takes 30 second to learn, and 30 second to play a hand. It's a great game, and I feel *extremely* fortunate to have helped in its development and graphic design. It's a ton of fun, and LOTS of laughter is produced around the table when a game's in progress. The box of the second printing will be changed *slightly*, so that folks with a first edition may well find themselves with a collector's item on their hands. The second press run begins in August, so if you pick up a game before then, it's guaranteed to be a first edition. I'll update folks on the changes between first- and second- edition as I find more out. ------------------------------------------------------------- * DORK TOWER 1999 World Tour update. I'm exhausted. I'm wiped out. I'm only halfway through my schedule. The upcoming shows are: GenCon Game Fair (Milwaukee, WI, August 5-8) Comic-Con International (San Diego, August 12-18) Small Press Expo (Bethesda, MD., Sept. 16-19) Archcon (St. Louis, October 1-3) Essen Games Show (Essen, Germany, October 21-24) RockCon (Rockford, Il, October 29, 30, 31) Hope to see folks somewhere along the line! And remember the password ("Why a Duck?") for your freebie! ------------------------------------------------------------- * DORK TOWER Button Men Update! Spoke with the brilliant James Ernest at Origins. There will be some cool, new features on the Dork Tower Button Men. Still not sure whether they'll be released by Corsair, or by Shetland Productions (ie, me). But they will happen, and they will be enormously cool. ------------------------------------------------------------- * Steve Jackson peeved at INQUEST Lots of people asking for updates on the alleged plagiarism of Murphy's Rules that INQUEST magazine made (first detailed in the Muskrat-L Newsletter for May 1999). Murphy's Rules is a property fully owned by Steve Jackson Games. It is the only work I create that is owned by someone other than myself (but I love doing it, and I love working with Steve). INQUEST ran the following correction in issue #52 of the magazine: "Oops! We Goofed!": "We failed to credit the source for the `Reality Check' sidebar in IQG #50. It was the John Kovalic-illustrated `Murphy's Rules' column from Steve Jackson Games' Pyramid magazine. Sorry guys." Steve is of the opinion this doesn't go far enough, since it implies INQUEST had permission to take Murphy's Rules virtually word-for-word in the first place. So Steve sent off a VERY sharp letter. Should this be made public, I'll post it here. Now, I like the INQUEST guys -- some of them I like a lot -- but have to leave all this in Steve's hands, since he owns the feature. I feel comfortable standing behind whatever moves he makes on this front. I'll supply more info as things develop. ---- The Muskrat-L list is a monthly read-only mailing list, updating all who care on the doings of Dork Tower and other such scribblings of John Kovalic, including the comic strips Wild Life, Beached and the Unspeakable Oaf. ----------------------- DORK TOWER #5 ("Last, Best Dope") is OUT NOW! "Dork Tower," "Shop Keep," "Wild Life," "Murphy's Rules": at 'TOON CENTRAL: http://kovalic.com - e-mail: john@kovalic.com +++++ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 29, 1999 Contact: Matt Hawkins LADY PENDRAGON TURNS ONE CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF IMAGE'S LADY PENDRAGON Celebrating one full year of Image's Lady Pendragon series, November has been claimed as the anniversary month for the Arthurian heroine. To commemorate this event, November's Lady Pendragon #7 will be a double-sized issue fully painted by renowned fantasy painter Dorian Cleavenger. Image will also be releasing the first Lady Pendragon trade paperback, a special self-contained "Merlin" story and several other ancillary items during the month long event. "When I started doing Lady Pendragon I made a commitment to retailers and fans to put out a monthly book," says Lady Pendragon creator/writer Matt Hawkins. "With ten books currently under our belt in ten months, we're on target for a full twelve books for the year. It feels good to know that I've kept my promise. " The following product will be available as part of the Lady Pendragon Anniversary Celebration: Lady Pendragon #7 Part 1 of "Future Prophecy" Written by Matt Hawkins Painted by Dorian Cleavenger The first anniversary of Lady Pendragon's Image debut is celebrated with a special double-sized fully painted issue by Dorian Cleavenger. When Jennifer Drake discovers that she is worshipped as a messianic figure in the bizarre futuristic world of the Priestess, she decides to travel with her to this time and set the record straight! They are both surprised to discover that this world has been completely ravaged by a war between the opposing factions supporting science and magic! Dragon-riders versus space ships in a unique mystery delving into the philosophy of religion. Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action and Adventure at its best! FC 40 pages $3.95 Lady Pendragon: Origin of Merlin #1 Written by Matt Hawkins Art by John Stinsman and Peter Vale The origin of the mythical Merlin finally revealed! In a special story featuring Jennifer Drake, Guinevere, the Priestess, Morgana and several other new characters, elements of Merlin's secretive past are uncovered in a narrative tale told by the Egyptian god Anubis. Featuring the first appearances of over fifteen new characters, this one will definitely be a keeper! FC 32 pages $2.50 Lady Pendragon Origin Trade Paperback Art by John Stinsman, Andy Park, Ron Adrian and Hector Gomez Painted cover by Dorian Cleavenger The first six issues of Lady Pendragon are being packaged together in this deluxe trade paperback! Including the original Lady Pendragon one-shot (Vol. 1 #1), the three issue mini-series (Vol. 2), the hard-to-find Lady Pendragon #0 issue and the exclusive Lady Pendragon Prelude edition, this trade paperback is being designed by the Comicraft design team that does the Astro City trade paperbacks. Witness the origin of Jennifer Drake, Guinevere, Ishmael and the entire Lady Pendragon crew as the sci-fi, fantasy action-adventure tale of '98 is collected at last! FC 160 pages $14.95 Lady Pendragon/Alley Cat/Blue Poster #1 by Dorian Cleavenger This full sized poster by fantasy painter Dorian Cleavenger features Lady Pendragon, Alley Cat and Blue in one sensational poster! FC 24" X 36" rolled $5.95 Lady Pendragon Celtic Cross This special Celtic cross is made out of Sterling Silver and features the Lady Pendragon logo on the back. The perfect gift, anyone can wear a piece of Pendragon mythology around their necks. Sterling Silver $19.95 Lady Pendragon Mini-Bust Sculpture Sculpted by Greg Aronowitz Lady Pendragon is immortalized in this 6" cold cast porcelain mini-bust sculpted by Hollywood special effects maverick Greg Aronowitz. Comes in special collector's box with certificate of authenticity signed by Lady Pendragon creator Matt Hawkins. 6" cold cast porcelain $39.95 The Lady Pendragon anniversary celebration will be supported by ads in Wizard, Previews, Comic Shop News, Comic's Buyers Guide and through a special promotional poster created for the event. +++++ CLAYPOOL COMICS solicitations for OCTOBER, 1999: ______________________________________________________________ ELVIRA #79: Elvira's trapped into helping the too-cute Alliswell sisters (from their Wuzza-Wuzza TV series) repair their spell book; but there's the devil to pay when the demon Heckronomicus shows up to claim it - and them! It's all in "Charmed Lives!" by Frank Strom, Ronn Sutton, and Bruce Patterson. Also, what could drive Elvira into the clutches of weird little men? Find out, in "The Seven Deadly Dwarfs," by Jo Duffy, John Heebink, and Mike Manley. Color Photo Cover of Elvira B&W Interior 32 pages $2.50 REMEMBER: Claypool Comics can be ordered as back issues. Reorders can be placed for Elvira #73, 74, 75, 76, or 77 along with your order for #78. PLUS: All Claypool Comics have easy, reader-friendly intro pages on their inside front covers, making it simple to get a new reader started enjoying our stories. ______________________________________________________________ SOULSEARCHERS #39: Mystic Grove's "HorrorFest" kicks into high gear, but a sinister plot by the forces of Hell threatens the future of Soulsearchers — and an unhappy Peterson may pay a startling price for defending his friends! Don't miss "Festival of Lights!" by Peter David (with Richard Howell) with a special art job by returning SS-favorite Neil Vokes, with a carnival of a cover by Amanda Conner and Steve Leialoha). Color Cover B&W Interior 32 pages $2.50 REMEMBER: Claypool Comics can be ordered as back issues. Reorders can be placed for Deadbeats #33, 34, 35, 36, or 37 along with your order for #38. PLUS: All Claypool Comics have easy, reader-friendly intro pages on their inside front covers, making it simple to get a new reader started enjoying our stories. ______________________________________________________________ ELVIRA MISTRESS OF THE DARK TPBK "Comic Milestones -- Comics Format!" The very best of the adventures of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark as she faces foes both fearsome and farcical. Make sure you get your customers to sign a laugh-release so you wonít be responsible if they suffer harm from extreme amusement. The volume is an incredible 152 pages if sexy, silly, satirical sashays by Elvira. Buy it for your sexist roommate! Buy one for your feminist cousin! Your mother! Your job counselor! Everyone will enjoy Elviraó except those who have absolutely no sense of humor! Donít become one of them!! This collection features work from the first twelve issues of Claypool's Elvira Mistress of the Dark comics series, nominated by the British Comics professionals Society as Best Humor Comic (and they read it). Stories and Art by: Kurt (Astro City) Busiek, Paul (Batman Adventures) Dini (his first published comics work), James (New Shadowhawk) Fry, Terry (Mr. Miracle) Austin, Dave (X-Men) Cockrum, Ricardo (Strange Tales) Villagran, Jim (Spider-Man) Mooney, and a host of others! Every line approved by Elvira herself as being witty and/or curvaceous enough for her! New Photo Cover B&W Interior 152 pages $12.95 ______________________________________________________________ SOULSEARCHERS & COMPANY TPBK "On the Case" The early adventures of the funniest supernatural investigators that ever existed! Discover the roots of Bridget, Baraka, Kelly, Janocz, and Peterson in their first forays against the forces of farcical fright! This material had initial low circulation and is in high demand today. Including: "Puppet Dictatorship," a cadre of killer marionettes target kids'-show hosts; "Pastramia on Wry," introducing Creature-Feature; "Season of Misseds," the war between the dream-demons (Sandman parody); "Into the Woods," twisted excursions into fairy-tales; "Spin Cycle," Soulsearchers get a make-over into more commercial models (Image Parody). This riotously funny collection features work from the first six issues of Claypool's much-hailed Soulsearchers & Company comics series, nominated by the British Comics Professionals Society as Best Humor Comic (they read this one, too). Stories and Art by: Peter (Hulk, Aquaman, Spider-Man 2099) David, Amanda (Vampirella) Conner, Jim (Spider-Man) Mooney, Steve (Hitchhikerís Guide) Leialoha, and Richard (Portia Prinz) Howell. New color cover by original Soulsearchers artist Amanda Conner with Steve Leialoha; introduction by Peter David. New Color Cover B&W Interior 152 pages $12.95 ______________________________________________________________ DEADBEATS TPBK "New In Town!!" Five fearsome newcomers arrive in Fear City, and their first outreach is to murder four teen-agers on the beach. Theyíre the Deadbeats, a cruel and crafty vampire gang, and their mission could result in utter destruction of the entire town. Meet Dodger, Colleen, Mickey, and their so-called leader Southie, as they were presented for the first time. Discover why Deadbeats is the vampire saga with enough murder, sin, lust, and redemption to satisfy the most discerning reader. The early chapters of the vampires' invasion are presented in their integrity. Deadbeats is America's new favorite vampire epic, and this volume collects all the vital early issues of the story. This thrilling and terrifying collection features work from the first six issues of Claypool's much-hailed DEADBEATS comics series, with stories and art by Richard (Portia Prinz) Howell and Ricardo (Strange Tales) Villagran. Deadbeats has been nominated by the British Comics Professionals Society as Best Dramatic Comics Series (and they read it). And, as a bonus for fans -- Kathryn Leigh Scott of the original Dark Shadows television program has written a foreword to this collection. Vampire fiction -- especially that with a strong horror or sexual flavor -- is always popular, and Deadbeats has botth of those qualities in spades, in addition to the added allure of strong, continuing story momentum and lush, reality-based art. Any reader of Vampa, Vampirella, Lady Bathory, or viewer of Dark Shadows or Forever Knight would be happy to add Deadbeats to their ongoing list of "must-have" titles. Try it out and see! New Wraparound Color Cover by Howell and Villagran Foreword by Kathryn Leigh Scott B&W Interior 160 pages $12.95 ______________________________________________________________ THE PITCH Many retailers have found that their customers have expressed interest in all the critical praise that Claypool Comics have garnered, but are wary of committing to any line which is so hard to locate. Our TRADE PAPERBACK LINE is Claypool's commitment to making our earlier material continually available to the comics-store retail professional chain, with an eye towards solidifying the interest in a continuing consumer base for Claypool Comics. _____________________________________________________________ CLAYPOOL COMICS: They're GREAT! So BUY 'EM, already! ______________________________________________________________ If you have any questions about story content or distribution, please call me at (707) 887-1524 or fax (707) 887-7128. Thank you, catherine yronwode +++++ CHAOS! COMICS PRODUCT SHIPPING IN NOVEMBER, 1999. SPOTLIGHT ITEM STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN: #2 (OF 4) ITEM# SCA20 Written by Steven Grant. Penciled by James Fry. Painted cover by Roy Young Stone Cold's mysterious mission in the Texas badlands pits him against a vicious gang running drugs and weapons across the border. When the hunter becomes the hunted, can even The Rattlesnake stand against a merciless, homicidal army? STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN: #2 (OF 4).........................$2.95 Full Color. Terms: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN #2 PHOTO COVER ITEM# SCA2P Photo variant edition............................................$2.95 Terms: 60.75% for pick up / 60% shipped. SPOTLIGHT ITEM CHAOS! CALENDAR 2000 ITEM# XC200 Illustrated by Steven Hughes. Colored by Roy Young. The world will know you're a Chaos! Fiend of the Millennium with this incredible Chaos! 2000 calendar! Celebrate the darkness of the brand new millennium each and every month with spectacular new art by Steven Hughes and Roy Young. Chaos! Calendar 2000.............................................$10.95 Terms: 50% off retail. LADY DEATH: JUDGMENT WAR #2 (of 3) ___ITEM #LJW02 Written by Brian Pulido & Len Kaminski. Illustrated by Ivan Reis. Inked by Joe Pimentel. Colored by Roy Young. Captured by Lucifer, helpless, Lady Death must endure the most humiliating of assaults by her greatest enemy, while his doomsday machine, the Lucifer Engine rampages, destroying everything in its path. To save her most treasured allies, she must escape Lucifer's clutches, and then find a way to destroy a mechanical monstrosity powered by all the damned souls of Hell! Lady Death: Judgment War #2 (of 3)................................$2.95 Full Color. Terms: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. SPOTLIGHT ARMAGEDDON #3 (of 4) ITEM #ARM30 Written by Brian Pulido & Len Kaminski. Illustrated by Luke Ross. Colored by Starlight Runner. Earth dies screaming at the hands of Armageddon's minions, while Lady Death, The Chosen, Chastity and Bedlam join forces in one last assault on the Father of Fear himself, for the sake of all that live! Meanwhile, Purgatori plots to seize Armageddon's unspeakable power for herself. Plus: The Last Temptation Of Evil Ernie! Featuring the death of a major character! Armageddon #3.....................................................$2.95 Full Color. Term: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. FEATURED ITEM LADY DEATH vs. PURGATORI #1_______________ITEM #LVP01 Written by Brian Pulido & Len Kaminski. Illustrated by Mike Deodato, Jr. Colored by Roy Young. Painted Cover by Dorian Cleavenger. The ultimate down & dirty bitch-fight grudge match -- plus a cast of thousands! Purgatori and Lady Death lead their armies into all-out battle against each other in total, scorched-Earth warfare. No quarter will be given or asked -- neither the Queen of Blood nor Death's chosen Avatar will stop until the final death-blow has been delivered! Who lives? Who Dies? Lady Death vs. Purgatori #1........................................$3.50 Full Color, 40 pages. One Shot. Terms: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. LADY DEATH vs. PURGATORI #1 PREMIUM COVER ITEM # LVP0P Limited to just 3000 copies with art by Purgatori master artist Jim (Catwoman) Balent! Cardstock cover. Don¹t miss this one! Premium edition....................................................$9.99 Terms: 50.75% for pick up / 50% shipped. UNDERTAKER #9 ITEM #WU090 Written by Beau Smith. Illustrated by Manny Clark. Colored by Jason Jensen. The invitations have been sent, the bachelor party was a blast. It seems that the Embalmer¹s plan to force Jezebelle to be his bride will go uncontested. Kane is forced to prevent anyone from objecting to this unholy marriage, but the Undertaker plans to bust up this shotgun wedding in his own dark style. He has a real problem with wedding vows, and plans to rewrite them in his own image! Until death do you part? UNDERTAKER #9....................................................$2.95 Direct Sales Edition, Full Color, 32 pages, Monthly Terms: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. UNDERTAKER #9: PHOTO VARIANT EDITION ITEM #WU09P Photo Variant Edition............................................$2.95 Terms: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. EVIL ERNIE: WAR OF THE DEAD #2 (of 3) ______ITEM # EWD02 Written by Brian Pulido & Len Kaminski. Penciled by David Brewer. Inked by Curtis Arnold. Colored by Jason Jensen. Abandoned by Smiley, decaying, falling apart, held together only by barbed wire and his own overwhelming obsession with fulfilling his dream of Megadeath, Evil Ernie must face the combined forces of Dr. Price and Homicide, who are determined to stop him from gaining control of the NORAD nuclear missile system at all costs! Evil Ernie: War of the Dead #2 (of 3)............................$2.95 Full Color. Terms: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. SPOTLIGHT PURGATORI ZIPPO LIGHTER ITEM # PZL01 Illustrated by Mike Deodato, Jr. Purgatori on her very own Zippo lighter! The latest in our series of collectible Zippo lighters, this matte black lighter features Purgatori, the vampire bitch goddess as illustrated by the ever talented Mike Deodato, Jr! Bite this Bic! Purgatori Zippo Lighter ........................................$34.95 Terms: 50% off retail. SPOTLIGHT VIGILANTE 8 - Second Assault #1 ITEM # VL810 Written by Ted Adams & Kris Oprisko. Illustrated by Ryan Odagawa. Welcome to Vigilante 8, where two gangs of road warriors go head-to-head in the ultimate road battle! Based on the sequel to last year's best-selling Vigilante 8 video game, Vigilante 8: Second Offense, this is a story that takes place in the far-flung future and the very funky past. Lord Clyde of OMAR goes back in time to change the past so he can take over the world and the only group that can stop him are Houston and the Coyotes. It's vehicular manslaughter as only Chaos! can deliver. Vigilante 8 - Second Assault #1..................................$2.95 Full Color. One Shot. Terms: 60.75% for pick-up / 60% shipped. Written by Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko, the popular writers of such video game titles as Resident Evil, FutureCop, and Mortal Kombat 4, with art by Ryan (Savant Garde) Odagawa ! The Vigilante 8: Second Offense video game will be released by Activision in October. The Vigilante 8 comic book will be included in their promotional campaign, including a 6 million impression print ad campaign, Chaos! Comics links to Activision's website, and a one-page ad in the game instruction manual. (over 1.5 million copies in print) Retailers, don¹t miss out on this opportunity for new customers looking for this hot book! OFFERED AGAINS Lady Death Cloisonné Pin #1 ITEM# LPN01 Illustrated by Steven Hughes It's the Diva of Death coming at you cloisonné style! This gorgeous pin is sure to engulf all who see it in wonder and awe! Wear it with pride and let everyone know Chaos! is Where Darkness Dwells! Full Color Pin...................................................$6.00 50% off retail SMILEY MOUSE PAD ITEM #SMP01 Illustrated by Steven Hughes. Tired of waiting while your computer downloads files off the World Wide Waste? Fight back with Chaos! Comics' Smiley Mouse Pad! Steven Hughes' Smileyadorns this 7 x 8 inch mouse pad in full color along with Smiley's trademark "Have A Psychotic Day!" 7 x 8 inch Mouse Pad ............................................$9.95 Terms: 50% off retail SMILEY BUMPER STICKER _____ ITEM #SBS01 Illustrated by Steven Hughes. No Rad warrior can do without the Smiley Bumpe