---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 257 3/24/2000 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ 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] The Professor of Comics ............... Thomas M Read [6] Splitting Hairs ....................... Travis Clark [7] E-Dispatches from the Great White North Jonathan Gilbert [8] Independent Voices .................... Rich Henn [9] Post-Post Modernism in the Comics!!! .. Link Yaco [10] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [11] My View:FELIX THE CAT ................. David LeBlanc [12] Top 100 Comics for March .............. Diamond Distributors [13] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [14] HYPE! Section ......................... Various [A] Submission, Back Issues, Copyrights ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Mailed by ONElist: http://www.onelist.com/community/ComicBookNetworkEmag 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, FREE, please send a message FROM that account TO: ComicBookNetworkEmag-subscribe@onelist.com To UNSUBSCRIBE send a message FROM the account to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@onelist.com 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 2000 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 Well, I owe one of my regular readers a big thanks. A month ago I told the story of my father's lifelong dedication to helping others stay sober through Alcoholics Anonymous - this after a brief hiatus for the emag on the event of his funeral. One reader suggested I submit that editorial to another mailing list that regularly runs stories of real people and the heroic things they do. I read the guidelines and after much editing got it down to the required 500 words and submitted it. It was accepted for use and runs this week starting on the 21st. The place where this is organized is called HEROIC STORIES and their main page is at: http://www.HeroicStories.com the mailing list is sent from another web site and you can find the latest 7 issues at: http://www.lyris.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?visit=heroicstories I have read through several of the samples and each one is unique and from the heart, from real people talking about real people. I urge you all to check it out, especially aspiring writers out there. You will find that being a hero is more than having big muscles or guns. Hats off to Randy Cassingham, the publisher of Heroic Stories for this wonderful source of inspiring tales. And many thanks to Mitchell Senft for putting me in touch with Heroic Stories. At my age, my latest birthday was one of those lifetime milestones I mentioned a week back, the memory is the second thing to go. I forgot what the first thing was. Don't you forget to check out these new comics this week . . . FELIX COMICS, INC. Felix Cat-A-Strophic Wrestling Special #1, 2.25 <---Pick of the Week! MARVEL COMICS Black Panther #18, 2.50 ONI PRESS INC. Adventures Of Barry Ween 2.0 #2 (Of 3), 2.95 Oni Double Feature #12 (AA), 2.95 And I'll bet you thought I forgot to ask once again that if you have not yet cast your vote for this year's EAGLE AWARDS that you consider voting for this Emag as Favourite Comics E-Zine before voting ends next week. Click on the link at our web page or just copy & paste this URL into your browser and pick your favorites: http://www.comics-international.com/eagleawards/eagleawards.html Your consideration will be appreciated. David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: Letters of comment may be used in future issues of CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ Subj: Stan Lee Autobio Date: 3/20/00 2:13:56 PM Eastern Standard Time From: GMair8001@aol.com Hi, Comic Book Net, You can be of help to me and I would appreciate it if you would be. I am a professional author and am working with Stan Lee on his autobiography. Would appreciate any observations or material you have about his role in the world of comic books over the last 50 years. Also, appreciate your suggestions of other sources we can check with about this project. The book will be published by Simon & Schuster late this year or early in 2001. Thank you. Enjoy, George Mair GMAIR8001@aol.com +++++ Date: 3/17/00 10:12:29 PM Eastern Standard Time From: Kalelj@aol.com David, I thought that you might be interested in this article that appeared in a weekly newspaper in Virginia. As president of Virginia Association of Comic Shops I have been trying to get Diamond and the publisher to allow our members to pick up our books on Tuesday afternoon. We even set up a policy to insure that no one would release any books prior to Wednesday morning. So far we have been getting the run around. Jerry Ringi (kalelj@aol.com) Freedom of choice: Amazing Fantasy co-owner Jerry Ringi thinks there should be more than one distribution company for comic-shop owners. "I don't care how benevolent they are," he referring to Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. "They are still a dictator. They still have word." A Call To Arms Local comic-shop owners are joining forces to fight -not the forces of evil - but something just as serious: better rights. But they face almost impossible odds. F By Mike Kernels Heroes, real and imagined, can come in all shapes and sizes, with or with out capes. You don't need to consult a rule book, learn a secret handshake or cough up member dues to become one. You just need courage. Take Jerry Ringi, for example. While he sports a T-shirt bearing the Superman logo, and spends his days among one-dimensional cardboard cutouts of superbeings at Amazing Fantasy, the Chesapeake comic store he co-owns, he knows he's a mere mortal. And he's well aware that good doesn't always triumph over evil. But he's prepared to do battle anyway, while the fate of an industry may hang in the balance. Ringi is president of the 14-store and barely one-year-old Virginia Association of Comic Shops. Following Ringi's lead, these proverbial "Davids" want to receive their merchandise on Tuesdays - a day earlier than usual. That would give stores, which are typically short-staffed, more time to process items for Wednesday's scheduled release date, rack them and recover anything late or missing from the shipment. Sounds simple. But it's not. Timonium, Md.-based Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. is the industry's chief distributor. The literal Goliath. So far, it isn't budging. Its policy is ironclad. Comics can't hit streets nationwide until Wednesday, 12:01 a.m. No exceptions. That way, one retailer wouldn't be able to get his merchandise out before another. But Ringi detects a hidden agenda. "If they agree to do this, it will open a floodgate to all the other comic book dealers who want this to happen," says the 52-year-old co-owner. "They, too, can form an association. And that could lead to -maybe - a national group. "Diamond and DC [[Comics] and all the others wouldn't want that. If it goes nationwide, they have a big problem. We would have a say." Ringi means that retailers nationwide would have what his VACS represents here: a union. "I think we have a legitimate beef," Ringi continues. "It's going to be interesting to see what they do." So far, nothing. Roger Fletcher, Diamond's vice president of operations, reserved comment until company executives could meet to address the proposal. He expects a decision this week. "It's something we're in the process of considering," Fletcher allows. "I really can't tell you much beyond that." But the bigger question - and what's caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice - is whether comics represent a distinct market separate from magazines and books. If so, then Diamond's influence on the industry could be considered a monopoly and the basis for an antitrust suit. At Virginia Beach's Trilogy, where doors open at 10 a.m. and imaginations never close, co-owner Gerald Hogan, 37, thinks the comics community should be grateful; Diamond is practically providing a public service. "If they weren't there," he says "you probably wouldn't be buying comics right now." But Comic Kings owner Joey Boyack isn't happy. His biggest concern? Return-ability. Ordering is guesswork. Guess wrong, and there is no return to sender. "It sucks," fumes Boyack, 34. "Diamond's making the money. Marvel [Comic's] making the money And it's up to the dealer to get rid of the product. You have no alternatives. You gotta deal with the people because they're the only ones selling to you. If there was another competitor on the hill, the customer service would be better." And down the road at Comics & Things, manager Larry Webster thinks getting respect from Diamond is as elusive as a Pokemon. Other industries, he says, receive merchandise in advance with an implied trust from companies that it won't be on store shelves before their release date. Except, inexplicably, comics. "It's not about convenience, " he feels. "It boils down to enabling us to provide our customers better service." What's happening now was set into motion six years ago when comics went through a rough equivalent of the 1929 stock market crash. Like any industry, comics have had their share of successes and failures. But by the 1990s, the industry started to see unparalleled growth. In 1993, reading became America's favorite pastime again as collecting comics went white-hot, attracting 375,000 readers-due, mostly, to the slick marketing of DC's "The Death of Superman." Then the industry got greedy. Prices jumped dramatically. Quality dropped severely. Publishers cranked out titles continually (Marvel alone published 50). Readers revolted. Titles got canceled. The retailers who carried them - many of whom opened during the boom - went under. (Hampton Roads lost as many as 10 stores). Marvel complicated things when it started to distribute comics, presumably, to eliminate the middleman for more profit. DC, not wanting its books handled by a competitor, signed an exclusive deal with Diamond - as did two other top companies, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics-thereby dooming Capital, Diamond's main rival. Then Marvel's venture self-destructed. That left Diamond alone, the sole distributor for an estimated 98 percent of the comics market - and a convenient target for anything wrong with the industry. DC executive vice president and publisher Paul Levitz believes the situation works. "In a lot of ways it works more effectively for us," says Levitz by phone from the company's New York City headquarters. "It allows access to a wider range of inventory." Marvel, after repeated attempts for an interview over eight business days, did not comment. Neither would Image. "I feel for these [retailers]," says John Jackson Miller, managing editor of the Iola, Wis.-based Comics Buyer's Guide, the industry's Wall Street Journal. "They're on the front line. Everybody in the world wants their customers, but they don't have a lot of power on that end." Diamond may rule the market, Miller contends, but the company isn't trying to keep out competition; there just isn't any. "There's nothing preventing another distributor coming in," he adds "and taking these exclusives away from Diamond." When you ask comic author T - no punctuation, just T (short for Terrell) -Campbell about Diamond, the answers, unlike some of his character's punch lines, don't come easy. He sides with retailers. Then changes his mind. And back again. "I have," he professes "mixed feelings about this." That's because the company gave the Virginia Beach-born Gen Yer his start in comics earlier this year. When he needed a distributor for Faans, his first comic, Diamond was there, willing to give it some growing room to attract a fan base. He feels obligated to defend them, if, for no other reason, than few people will. "I think that an antitrust suit against Diamond would not be a good thing," says Campbell, 24, a computer programmer now living in Savannah, Ga. "It's really not Diamond's retaliation I'm worried about. I'm worried that if we succeed in demolishing Diamond, we're going to get caught in a secondary battle distracting us from our primary battle which is simple survival, and beyond that, a cultural fingerhold." Ringi doesn't want to hurt them, either. He's had a good relationship with them almost since the day six years ago he decided to find out what comics were like on the other side of the counter. "I don't care how benevolent they are," Ringi argues. "They are still a dictator. They still have the final word. They have to take [us] seriously. We're not going to fail because we're not going away. Not when a wrong needs to be righted. That's what heroes do. +++++ Subj: Receiving Credit where it's Due. From: PRoberts@CSD.CA.GOV (Roberts, Paul) David LeBlanc: The other day, I was asked by another email ezine why must I share my interviews, reviews or promotional information with other email ezines, such as the CBEM. I told them that it is because the CBEM is reliable. The CBEM comes out every Friday, they get the information out the quickest, that the CBEM is dependable. A few interviews that I have sent in the past, were posted in your ezine that following Friday. The creators were getting responses to their interviews on the Friday that it was posted. This is called efficiency. When the other unnamed email ezine had questioned me about it, they should take a long hard look in their own working standards. They may receive a interview and it takes them 3 weeks to get the information out. Because of this, I thank David LeBlanc and the CBEM for their expeditious methods in getting the news out! Sincerely yours, Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher Jazma Universe Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ [Paul's columns appear in several online and Email forums. We are glad that he gives us a ringing endorsement as a forum for his work and a bit saddened that others can't just be happy to spread the word about the fun of comics. D.L.] ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [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 Discount Comic Book Service at www.dcbservice.com where you can order most DC, Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse comics, statues and retail products for 35% off. +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: In recent Super-history, from whom did Superman rescue Kandor? Superman rescued the new Kandor from Tolos, and frequent winner Bob "The Law is a Ass" Ingersoll was the first with the right answer. He wins Superman & Batman: Generations Trade Paperback from our sponsor. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: What was the occupation of the person who became Concrete? 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 OnStar's Batman Spot to Debut on Academy Awards TROY, Mich., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Dateline Gotham City - General Motors' OnStar division will premiere "Minor Setbacks," the second in its series of TV spots featuring the incredible Batmobile and OnStar's safety, security and information service during the Academy Awards broadcast on Sunday. Before swooping down the side of a Gotham City skyscraper, Batman uses his wrist communicator to ask an OnStar Advisor to unlock the door of the Batmobile. The cockpit canopy slides open just long enough for Batman to drop into the driver's seat and roar away in the Batmobile. Seconds later, the "low fuel" warning light prompts Batman to contact his OnStar Advisor for the nearest filling station with jet fuel. OnStar provides immediate access to a very powerful driver information database and the assistance of an Advisor to deliver the wanted information in a friendly and helpful manner. In addition to being able to remotely unlock doors when the keys are left inside and provide directions to almost anywhere, OnStar can detect the deployment of an air bag, precisely indicate where the vehicle is and contact emergency help. OnStar and Warner Bros. Consumer Products partnered on this project because of the tremendous synergy between Batman and OnStar. "Batman uses some of the highest tech tools to fight crime," said Jeff Cohen, OnStar executive director of sales and services marketing. "And with OnStar now in the Batmobile, the value of the unique service becomes even more apparent and attractive to drivers." "We are pleased that the second commercial in this terrific campaign will premiere during the worldwide broadcast of the Academy Awards this Sunday night," said Joel Ehrlich, senior vice president, DC Comics Promotions and Advertising & Warner Bros. Consumer Products Promotions. "As one of the greatest superheroes of all time, Batman has become a celebrity in his own right and it is fitting that this debut will be part of such a star-studded evening." +++++ Avatar to Publish Avengelyne Mini-Series, Specials The company well known for publishing the hellish worlds of Warren Ellis' Strange Kiss and Quinn and Vigil's Faust turns its reach toward heaven with a series of mini-series and specials featuring Rob Liefeld's Avengelyne. The earth angel begins her journey at Avatar in July with Avengelyne: Bad Blood, a two issue mini featuring Avatar's trademark flare for combining indy comics attitude with big-company story, art, and production values. The series will feature covers by Al Rio, Matt Haley, and Tim Vigil, and interior art by Rick Lyon. "Avatar has done a fantastic job handling Avengelyne," says Awesome Comics president and Avengelyne co-creator Rob Liefeld. "The Avengelyne/Pandora crossover was top quality from start to finish, great story, great art, great color and production. Avatar has committed to maintaining the high standards and production values long associated with the Avengelyne franchise which bodes well for fans who can't get enough of Avengelyne." "The Avengelyne comics from Avatar are going to be about faith in more ways than one," laughs Avatar Press Editor in Chief William Christensen. "Because there are two points here that fans can utterly depend on: first, as Rob says, the books will all have great story and great art. We really sweat the details when it comes to putting out comics. And second, the books will come out. Avatar has an outstanding record of shipping what we solicit. Rob's vision has created something exceptional in Avengelyne, something her fans really respond to, and Avatar is going to deliver the goods to those fans." "But I think it's also safe to say that Avatar's going to take Avengelyne to places she's never been before, so if you haven't checked her out recently, this is a good place to start," Christensen continues. "To the Witchblade and Danger Girl fans of the world, I would say that Image and DC aren't the only places to look for a high-quality, beautifully drawn, fantasy/adventure comic. I think you will even find that some of us young upstarts have picked up where some of the older companies have left off." +++++ VETERAN COMICS WRITER DON MCGREGOR HOSTS NEW INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUP March 23, 2000 -- Don McGregor, veteran comics writer best known for his BLACK PANTHER and KILLRAVEN comics of the 1970s and his SABRE and DETECTIVES, INC. graphic novels of the 80s, announces the opening of his new Internet discussion group hosted by OneList [http://www.onelist.com/group/donmcgregor]. Located at http://www.onelist.com/group/donmcgregor, this discussion group is a free, subscriber-only service that allows fans to interact with McGregor in an ongoing, e-mail discussion about McGregors published work and ongoing projects. Since its debut in early March, McGregors OneList site has already attracted a strong core of subscribers -- including some familiar comics pros -- and McGregor has been a daily presence with anecdotes and insights about his storied career. In addition, McGregor announces that his three most recently-published graphic novels, SABRE, DETECTIVES, INC.: REMEMBRANCE OF THREATENING GREEN AND DETECTIVES, INC.: TERROR OF DYING, all are available at Amazon. com [www.amazon.com], and he encourages fans to spread the word -- and write their own reviews of the books.. Here's the Individual Links to each book. SABRE: THE 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582400598/qid%3D944247422/sr%3D1-5/002-0 347866-8536274 DETECTIVES INC.: A REMEMBRANCE OF THREATENING GREEN http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582400849/qid%3D944247500/sr%3D1-1/002-0 347866-8536274 DETECTIVES INC.: A TERROR OF DYING DREAMS http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582400970/qid%3D944247500/sr%3D1-2/002-0 347866-8536274 For more information or to contact Don McGregor, visit his personal website at www.donmcgregor.com +++++ Playmate Ruth Guerri Stars in DuckFeet Online Game ST. LOUIS, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Park Avenue Press and DuckFeet Internet Entertainment announce the release of its first movie trailer -- the preview of "The Web of Life" Internett game. The first interactive game on the Web where the reader of the comic book now plays a part in its 3D world. This thrilling preview takes a fast-paced look at the beautifully blended features of the comic book and adventure game. Log on at www.thewol.com . Now enter into the world of the WOL, explore its city streets and experience first hand its mysteries. The viewer steps into the vibrant pages of the comic book to explore the streets and rooms previously obscured by the page. You can watch as the beautiful models, such as Playmate Ruth Guerri, transform from digital photos into their comic book likeness and finally into the exotic 3D computer characters of "The Web of Life." "Readers can now enjoy both worlds together for the first time. They will definitely enjoy the comic and the game individually," said Terry Hinkle founder of Park Avenue Press and creator of "The Web of Life." "But together the comic and games is an incredible experience." The story of the WOL presents the struggle between two beautiful and powerful women. The WOL is a centuries old story of two beautiful and powerful sisters Amanda King and Eva Zed who are about to meet and finally fulfill their destiny. We begin the story where both sisters are close to gaining control of The WOL (The Web of Life) when an unexpected event happens and by chance a young woman named Mistral physically enters a portal in the Web broken millions of years ago. Their aim: to seize control over the most powerful force on earth and the final command over humankind's evolutionary destiny. Buried within this primeval power lie the answers to the Ancient Mysteries and supernatural forces that have mystified the human race throughout history. The comic book of the WOL is now available at comic book stores and the interactive game launches in early April. Join us in the battle for the ultimate power on earth "The WOL" www.thewol.com . Along with the excitement of interaction, the player is also able to earn special points that can be exchanged for WOL collectibles and related merchandise from its own Shoppin Mall. And in solving the penetrating mysteries, fantastic prizes will be awarded. DuckFeet Internet Entertainment bridges the gap between high-intensity paper comic books and 3D Internet gaming. Brilliant stories, from our popular paper comic series at Park Avenue Press are 3D illustrated on our Internet gaming sites. CONTACT: Terry Hinkle of DuckFeet, 314-621-0093, e-mail, hinkle@duckfeet.com; or Christopher Sansone of Ad Contact, Inc., 314-588-7177, e-mail, sansone@adcontacts.com, for DuckFeet +++++ From Comics2Film at http://www.comics2film.com LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN --------------------------------- Comic and screen scribe James Robinson (Starman, Freddy Vs. Jason) recently addressed a variety fan questions on the DC Comics Starman Message Board. After running though the various questions in regards to the Starman comics, Robinson directed his comments toward his screenwriting activities. "The screenplays I'm currently beginning should interest you guys too," Robinson told the fans. "One is an adaption of The Farthest Shore, the third book in the Earthsea saga by Ursula LeGuin. It's for the Jim Henson Company. The other movie is for 20th Fox and I'm sure you guys will think is cool. It's an adaption of Alan Moore's comic The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." We double-checked this with League producer Don Murphy, who confirmed that Robinson was "almost signed." Robinson would replace Alex Ayers (Marlowe) whose script apparently wasn't what the producers were looking for. Thanks to Hix for the tip. http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cg i?action=topics&forum=Starman&number=27 G-MEN FROM HELL --------------- Although the movie version of Mike Allred's G-Men From Hell will be ready for screening some time this year, it may not debut at the Cannes film festival as we had previously reported. Comics 2 Film spoke with Rick Albert, the producer of the movie. Albert told us that the movie is in post-production and moving ahead at a good pace. "We're in the process of finishing up the special effects and adding sound effects," Albert said. "With a little luck the picture will be ready for screening in the summertime. "I don't think it's going to be ready to screen at Cannes. It'll probably be finished, but it won't be ready in time to meet the qualification date." With post-production due to be completed soon, the producer will then seek a domestic distributor. It would be up to a distributor to decide when the movie will be released to audiences, but Albert feels that that a summertime release is feasible. C2F also received a tip that A Plus Entertainment was at the recent American Film Market representing the production. A Plus circulated a one sheet at the market, which can be viewed at their website. Included is an image of the movie's poster and thumbnails of all the characters in the movie. Finally, Mike Allred's AAA Pop website provides a complete cast list for the movie, including some names that haven't been mentioned here before: William Forsythe (Raising Arizona)......Dean Crept Tate Donavan (Hercules)......Mike Mattress Vanessa Angel (Kingpin)......Gloria Lake David Huddleston (The Big Lebowski)......Dr. Boiffard Barry Newman (the Limey)......Mr. Lake Kari Wuher (Anaconda)......Merete Morrisey Gregory Sporleder (The Rock)......Cheetahman Bobcat Goldthwaite (Shakes The Clown!)......Buster the robot Charles Fleisher (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)......Pete and Martin Zach Galligan (Gremlins)......Dalton Gary Busey (Lethal Weapon)......The Detective Robert Goulet (Beetlejuice)......Lucifer http://www.aplusent.com/ http://www.aaapop.com/ RAZOR, POIZON, HELL MARY ------------------------ Bharat Nalluri, who directed the forthcoming The Crow: Salvation, is said to be involved with the big-screen version of Everette Hartsoe's Razor. A communiqué from Everette Hartsoe Productions reveals that Nalluri has written a new treatment for the movie. Furthermore Paul Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Deathrace 3000) may direct. Another Hartsoe comic creation, Poizon has been pitched to Apix for a direct to video franchise. Hartsoe himself has written a screenplay based on the comic book Hell Mary. He'll serve as director on what is described as a "dark vampire feature." Filming begins in June of this year. TUTENSTEIN, LIGHT AND DARKNESS WAR, ANITA BOMBA ------------------------------------------------ FROM HOLLYWOOD COMICS: The Starwatcher Agency has been renamed and relaunched a Hollywood Comics. Hollywood Comics represents a number of comic- book creators in the fields of motion pictures, television, multimedia, internet, publishing and merchandising. A look at the website reveals the following updates to various comic book properties headed for the big or small screen: The Discovery Channel has signed a contract to develop an animated pilot based on Jay Stephens' Tutenstein (to be produced by Porchlight). Two more episodes of Jay's Jetcat animated series are scheduled to air on Nickelodeon's Kablam! in early 2000. Tom Veitch & Cam Kennedy's Light and Darkness War is now in development for live action feature film at Contraband Films. Eric Gratien & Didier Cromwell's Anita Bomba is now in development for animated TV series and Internet at WildBrain. http://www.hollywoodcomics.com/ BLADE 2 ------- FROM DAILY VARIETY AND THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Director Guillermo del Toro (Mimic, Cronos) was recently named as the director for the sequel to the highly successful Blade starring Wesley Snipes. Articles in both the Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety reveal that the director is on board to movie, which is called Blade: Bloodhunt. Del Toro will first direct a Spanish-language feature called The Devil's Backbone before starting on Blade in November. Del Toro told The Reporter that the sequel will be in "the style and action of the first one, but we will amp up the fear factor and make people very afraid." According to the Variety write-up, Snipes and co-star Kris Kristofferson are set to appear in the sequel. The screenplay is written by David Goyer, who wrote the original. Marvel Studios pres Avi Arad told Variety, "We are happy to have Wesley, Kris and David Goyer back because that is key to a franchise, but with Guillermo, we have another genre director with a unique vision and the opportunity to think of Blade not as a sequel but a whole new movie." Guillermo del Toro is also attached to the movie versions of Mike Mignola's Hellboy and Katsushiro Otomo's Domu. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ http://www.variety.com/ X-MEN ----- FROM VARIOUS SOURCES: A tipster for Dark Horizons reports a recent encounter with Cyclops' movie visor and sunglasses. The tipster apparently got a look at the actual visor prop that was used in the filming of X- Men. The prop was on display at an Oakley story in Irvine, CA. Alongside the visor was the ruby-quartz sunglasses that James Marsden wears with his civvies in the movie. Oakley designed the glasses and the visor for the movie. According to the tipster the ruby-lensed 'Juliets' (which is what Oakley calls this model of sunglasses) will be available for sale this summer. Meanwhile, Eric J. Moreels, one of the head X-Men fanatics over at the Fandom website invites readers to sample a track from the upcoming film. The X-Fan section has MP3 downloads of the Lunatic Calm Remix of Chinese Burn by Curve. This is the song featured in the X-Men trailer. After taking a tongue-lashing from Entertainment Weekly about the less-than-spectacular web-presence for the X-Men movie, Fox has begun making some additions to the official movie website. Fans can now download a new photo every week at the site. The first of such photos is a close-up of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, popping his claws. If these kinds of safe pictures don't satisfy you, Ain't it Cool News has displayed another new image from the movie. The image was guarded with heavy spoiler warnings, so we haven't looked at it. Fans who just "have to know" are encouraged to take a peek. Likewise, the X-Fan section of the Fandom site has unveiled a first-look at several comic covers that will be featured on the Dynamic Forces versions of Marvel's movie tie-in books. Thanks to Corona Coming Attractions for various leads. http://www.darkhorizons.com/ http://www.oakley.com/ http://www.fandom.com/x-men http://www.x-men-the-movie.com/ http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/ http://www.corona.bc.ca/ THE TICK -------- FROM CINESCAPE: According to a recent report from Cinescape, additional actors have joined Patrick Warburton (Scream 3) in cast of the live- action Tick pilot. Citing The Hollywood Reporter as its source, Cinescape reports that Jed Rees (Galaxy Quest) has signed on for the role of Arthur, Liz Vassey (Maximum Bob) will play American Woman and Nestor Carbonell (Suddenly Susan) is signed for the role of Bat Manuel. Although it is not made clear from the write-up, we are assuming that American Woman is the character previously known as American Made, and the Spanish Ban Manuel will be replacing the German Die Fledermaus. No word as give as to why (if our assumptions are correct) the character names were changed. Warburton is playing the title role. http://www.cinescape.com/ +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.mania.com/newsarama/index.html Punisher Collected Edition In the Works Marvel has announced that issues #1 and #2 of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's Marvels Knights limited series The Punisher are sold out and to meet retailer demand, they'll be offering Punisher: The Collected Edition, a reprinting of the first two issues in a single volume. Featuring a new painted cover by Tim Bradstreet, it will go on sale April 12th, the same day issue #3 of the 12-issue series is due. X-Men Cards Even though the X-Men motion picture won't be in theaters until July, comics fans will have a chance to enjoy images from the film a month earlier. Topps announced that in June it will be releasing an X-Men trading card set featuring images from the movie. Alan Moore Reveals Plans for ABC Imprint by Matt Brady Despite unfounded rumors, both DC and Wildstorm have confirmed that Alan Moore will remain on the America's Best Comics imprint for at least a second year. Now the questioning begins – what does Moore have planned for ABCY2? First off, Moore himself emphatically confirmed that he would indeed be staying with the imprint he founded for a second year. "DC has been behaving very well, and there have been no problems aside from some initial small ones,” Moore said. "The line seems to be going well, and the artists and writer seem to be enjoying the work, and the audience seems to be responding. With that in mind, I'm going to carry on with ABC as long as I can.” But staying with the line will involve a few changes. First up, the line's iconic hero, Tom Strong, which has been suffering from lateness, will get a scheduling shuffle. "If plans work out correctly, Tom Strong will begin bi-monthly production, and this will enable Chris Sprouse to draw the entire book,” Moore said. "Because we wouldn't want it to look as if we were less enthusiastic about Tom Strong, when in fact, quite the reverse is true, what we're going to be doing is bringing out another bimonthly book whose title will be Terrific Tales Featuring Tom Strong.” Moore describes Terrific Tales as complimenting Tom Strong the same way the early Action Comics complimented Superman. "In Terrific Tales, we'll have three eight-page strips, one of which will be a lead Tom Strong strip that I shall be writing and possibly Alan Weiss will be drawing,” Moore said. "Following that, there will be a Young Tom Strong strip which will be co-plotted by myself and Steve Moore [no relation], who was the guy who taught me how to write comics, and who's just getting back into comics after doing some academics work.” "Young Tom Strong, is set Attabar-Teru and will detail episodes from Tom's life between the age of eight and twenty. There will be a third story also written by Steve called Johnny Future. It has nothing to do with Tom Strong at all - it's a science fantasy strip with rocket packs and ray guns but with an interesting twist to it. I'll be co-plotting that strip with Steve as well. So with that, you'll be getting a Tom Strong book every month, but they'll both be bimonthlies. ” ABC editor Scott Dunbier added that Arthur Adams will be the regular cover artist for Terrific Tales, and that Tom Strong #11-#12’s two-part storyline will be entitled "Terra Obscura,” and both issues will be completely illustrated by Chris Sprouse. Along with Tom Strong, Top Ten will be going through some changes as well, most significantly, ending with issue #12, but in its own unique style. "The plans are that issue #12 will be the `end of season 1,’ for Top Ten The regular series will go on a hiatus and hopefully will be replaced by projects by Gene Ha and Zander Cannon.” Ha's Top Ten-themed project is tentatively named The 49ers, and will be set in 1949, during the construction of Neopolis. "It'll be a bit like the Untouchables, but with better costumes,” Moore said. "At the same time Zander, who we really don't want being unemployed and getting into trouble, will be doing a mini-series, the working title for which will be Smax the Barbarian, and of course will focus on the character Smax as he travels to his home dimension.” Moore also confirmed that two new alternating strips will rotate in to the Tomorrow Stories line-up, giving others a breather from time to time in the coming year. Promethea will continue as-is with no creative of scheduling changes. Regular Promethea artist J.H. Williams III is currently in negotiations to re-up for a second year's worth of stories. With Tom Strong moving to a bi-monthly title, co-plotting a second Tom Strong series, and ending Top Ten in favor of a graphic novel and a mini-series, Moore is hoping he can find the extra time to take on a couple of new projects for ABC. The first of these is the much-anticipated graphic novel with Jim Lee. The graphic novel with Jim will be called Comet Ranger,” Moore said. "It's a science fiction story, so that will be taking up some of that extra time. "What I'd like to do then, and this is very, very dependent on whether or not I can get the time or not, is publish an extra title called America's Best Comics Cascade which would be something very much in the line of the old Showcase series, in that it would have two or three issues of a particular artist and a particular new character, and this would give me a chance to work with a number of new artists who can't commit to long series, but who've expressed and interest in working with me, such as Glen Fabry, Brian Talbot, Brian Bolland, David Lloyd, Dave Gibbons, all of whom would obviously be very nice to work with. This would also give me the possibility of taking some of the characters from the shorter strips and giving them a tryout, one-off book of their own. This is something we're currently thinking of for Greyshirt, but this depends a lot upon what Rick wants to do, and Rick's end of things with DC. Hopefully Rick will be able to do more Greyshirt in the near future as a story in Comics Cascade which could lead to an on-going series. We'll have to wait and see.” Finally, Moore did comment on the scheduling problems that have plagued The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen of late. "Seriously, issue #5 should be out in shops soon. It's finished, but I still haven't thought up the back-cover quote for it yet, but otherwise, we're pretty much on schedule. So that should be out in a couple of weeks, and issue #6, I've got all but three pages written, and Kevin is about halfway through the art on that, so that should be following issue #5 with not as big as a gap as we've seen with the others. Hopefully in July.” Following issue #6 of LoEG Moore promised the beginning of LoEG Volume 2. "Volume 2 is concerned with events that happen later in 1898, most of which are principally related to the fact that H.G. Wells published War of the Worlds in late 1898. Saying `Mars attacks' isn't really giving away too much for the second volume.” Fanboy Tries Its Hand At Publishing Fanboy Entertainment, which to this point has specialized in prints, poster and T-shirts for manga fans, has announced the formation of Fanboy Comics, a publishing division that launches this May with the release of a Steam Detectives sketchbook entitled Pushing Pencils by artist Kia Asamiya. "This is not an entirely unexpected move for us,” said Fanboy Entertainment's C.B. Cebulski. “I guess anyone could have seen it coming. It's just another natural progression for Fanboy. Starting with prints, posters and T-shirts helped us gain some exposure as well as establish a foothold in the market. More importantly, it allowed us to gauge fan reaction to our new company and to our products before we took the plunge into the somewhat uncertain comic market. We have been extremely pleased with the market and fan response to our products and have decided to expand into comics at this time." "Pushing Pencils is a project that Mr. Asamiya is extremely excited about,” Cebulski explained. "He really enjoyed the Kia Asamiya Sketchbook that came out last year and wanted to take that idea and build upon it. He wants to do a series of longer, expanded sketchbooks for each of his individual manga and anime series. Last month, Asamiya-sensei opened up his sketchbooks to us and we ran wild choosing images together. We were shooting for 48 pages, but there are just too many gorgeous images and concepts that the fans just have to see! The Steam Detectives Pushing Pencils sketchbook will now clock in at 64 pages, packed with sketches and designs of the entire cast of Steam Detectives from the manga series, anime series and various toy lines. All your favorite characters will be there - Narutaki, Ling Ling, Lang Lang, Goriki, The Red Scorpion, The Phantom Knight, Shadow Bolt #1 and 2, and a few new surprises!" Fanboy is quick to explain that Pushing Pencils will not just be an ordinary sketchbook though. "Last year at Wizard World, Mr. Asamiya was shocked to see how many people showed up for his `How To Draw Manga' workshop,” said Cebulski. "He had no idea that many people wanted to learn to draw manga! So here, with Pushing Pencils, he thought he would take the sketchbook concept and include commentary on and examples of some of the techniques and styles he uses when drawing manga. He will be reviewing all the sketches we have chosen and try to offer fans insight into each piece and the thought processes he uses when illustrating his manga. While it will not be an official `How To Draw Manga The Kia Asamiya Way' guide, it will feature sequential sketch art and give fans advice and instruction on some of the finer points of drawing manga from one of the best. And as an added bonus, Mr. Asamiya will be illustrating and coloring an original Steam Detectives cover just for the sketchbook." Pushing Pencils will be followed in June by another Kia Asamiya sketchbook, Dark Angel Sword Strokes, a 48-page edition that will include sketches and commentary on both the new and old Dark Angel manga series. Further announcements regarding Fanboy's publishing plans will be made in the coming weeks. Chaos! Lets Fans Choose One-Shot Star Chaos! Comics has used the Internet to continue to draw together the worlds of the publishers and their readers. In similar fashion to DC's Millennium Reprints online voting, Chaos! Director of Marketing Adam Goldfine recently conducted an online poll that asked fans which character they most wanted to see in a story of their own. According to Chaos!, thousands responded and Vandala – who made her debut in Lady Death: The Crucible - was one of the top three choices. As a result, she'll be the star of her own July-shipping one-shot by the creative team of writer Len (Lady Death: Dark Millennium) Kaminski and artist David (Lady Demon) Brewer. According to the publisher, "Vandala, last of the Norse Goddesses, finds herself in a new place, a new Chaos! Cosmos where none of the rules or relationships are the same. Will her upbringing at the side of Odin, Lord of the Norse Gods, be enough to see her through?” "Vandala is a rare character in the Chaos! Cosmos," says Brian Pulido, Chaos! President and Publisher. "She's pure of heart and motivated to do the right thing. This adventure will test her limits and pit her against her greatest challenge - alone. As we showed with last year's Armageddon limited series and Lady Death: Dark Millennium, all bets are off in this new, Chaos! Cosmos, where none of the old rules apply. Will her new challenge be too much for her in the end?” The issue' standard cover will feature fully painted art by Dorian Cleavenger. Image Series Appears in Movie Comics reading moviegoers catching a showing of the new Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog, which opened in theaters this past Friday, March 17th might have noticed the frequent use of artwork from artist/creator Jimmie Robinson's Image Comics series, Amanda and Gunn. The cover art for issue 31 of that Image series is used as the artwork on a lunch box, which is carried throughout the film by a young girl (actress Camille Winbush) who befriends the film's star, Forrest Whitaker. However, Robinson reports that he had no idea his work was under "use" by the studio. “A friend called me, and asked if I knew my artwork was being used,” says Robinson, "so I saw the movie that night. I was expecting a quick background shot, or something. Little did I know it was being used extensively as a character design for the film". "I'm flattered the artwork was used,” Robinson continued, "it's clear, and obvious, someone at the studio read the series [Amanda and Gunn], because the girl's character, in the film, is a mirror version of the book's character. The lunch box is just a reflection of the personality. There's no coincidence". However, according to Image Central, how the studios gained "permission" for use of the artwork is still under question. Image Comics [Central], which prides itself as upholding creator's rights, reports "adamantly" that they gave no permission to any studio, nor would they even if asked. Any request by a film studio is always passed on to the individual creator(s). Image Central's policy is to not interfere with any ancillary rights with any of its creators, whether it's toys, animation, or film. When asked if he's concerned about the protection of his rights under Image, Robinson - who is currently working on another creator owned series with Image, Avigon, scheduled to release this fall – said, "Not one bit. Image is a haven for creators who seek a chance to get their work published. This one particular incident is a just unique misunderstanding. As far as I'm concerned, Image still has the best creator deals in the industry". Image reports that this is not the first run in with Hollywood and Robinson's Amanda and Gunn series. In 1998, John Asher studios (son of William Asher, famed from TV shows/sitcoms) had shown interest in creating a feature film based on the book. According to Robinson, communications fell off with disputes over casting. Robinson is also considering a return to the series, and is planning to team up with Brian Swenlin (writer for Disney and Warner Bros. TV shows). DC Raises Prices Matt Brady, Newsarama Beginning with its books shipping in June, DC Comics will raise prices on many of nearly all of its DCU, Batman and Superman - related titles from $1.99 to $2.25, following Marvel's recent trip past the $2.00 mark for its main line of titles. Several titles already priced at $2.25 will be bumped up to $2.50, while titles and formats priced at $2.50 and above will remain at their respective price points for the time being. Titles in DC's $2.25 price bracket now include: Superman, Superman: The Man of Steel, Adventures of Superman, Action Comics, Superboy, Supergirl, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash, Batman, Robin, Catwoman and Nightwing. Titles in DC's $2.50 price bracket now include: Azrael: Agent of the Bat and Impulse, both moving from $2.25 to $2.50, and the biggest price jumpers, Birds of Prey, Aquaman, Legends of the DC Universe, Martian Manhunter and JLA, all increasing from $1.99 to $2.50. Batman: Gotham Adventures, Batman Beyond, Superman Adventures, The Power Puff Girls, cartoon Network Starring, Dexter's Laboratory, Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes will remain at $1.99. When contacted for a comment, a spokesperson for the publisher said, "DC is not immune to the various economic pressures on comic book cover prices. Starting with June onsale books, we've increased some prices on our lower-priced titles. However, we continue to hold our $1.99 US cover price for all of our books aimed at all readers, including your youngest customers. The DC animation, Cartoon Network and WB titles are all staying at $1.99 US." +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.AnotherUniverse.com/newsarama WINNER OF THE 1997 & 1998 INTERNET "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE WORD ON THE STREET - In light of internet discussion regarding Grant Morrison and Marvel's the Fantastic Four - prompted by the writer's recent interview with pop culture web mag iFuse.com – Newsarama contacted FF editor Bobbie Chase to get the lowdown on the immediate future of the title following Chris Claremont's exit with June's issue #32. According to Chase, writer John Francis Moore is slated to join penciler Salvador Larroca for two interim issues, and then new writer and penciler Carlos Pacheco takes over with September's issue #35, as previously announced. "We have 16 pages in the drawer already,” reported Chase. "Spectacular!” For more on Morrison's FF plans, check out Friday's Daily Buzz or Newsarama Digest later in this week's Newsarama. - Star Trek fans wondering why one Federatioon starship – the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E - was notably absent during the Dominion War detailed in the Deep Space Nine television series can get their answer courtesy Wildstorm Productions this upcoming fall. Wildstorm Trek editor Jeff Mariotte tells Newsarama a Star Trek: The Next Generation hardcover project is in the early development stages. Written by best-selling science fiction writers Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta, and fully painted by Igor Kordey, the story answers the question `Why weren't Captain Picard and co. in the thick of things?’ "This book explains where they were, and what they were doing - battling an unexpected enemy on a second front,” explained Mariotte. - DC's Bat-office continues to do a little ccreative tweaking with their titles. Associate Bat editor Joe Illidge has confirmed that regular Azrael artist Roger Robinson will be moving over to pencil Devin Grayson's Batman: Gotham Knights with August's issue #8, which kicks of the 5-part storyline that will reveal the title's mysterious narrator. Inker John Floyd will remain with the series. Current Gotham Knights pencilers Paul Ryan – who's set to pencil GK issues #6 and #7 – and Dale Eaglesham, will move on to other projects. As for Azrael following Robinson's exit, penciler Sergio Carrielo joins Denny O'Neil and original/long-time series inker James Pascoe with issue #69, according to editor Mike Carlin. Carrielo's work with O'Neil can be seen in the current Green Arrow/Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight story arc. - A spokesperson for DC has confirmed that tthe ongoing series Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E.has been cancelled, its last issue being August's #15. - X-fans nostalgic for the art of former X-FForce penciler Adam Pollina can get a new fix this coming July in the double-sized issue #12 of Bishop: The Last X-Man. According to series writer Joe Harris, the Pollina will pencil a back-up story for issue #12 featuring Nom, "the gentle though powerful giant whom accompanies Bishop and his party on their march toward war with Trevor Fitzroy. “ - A few projects from DC and its various impprints have new ship dates. Planetary #10 from Wildstorm is now slated for 5/3/00. DC's Titans/Legion Of Super-Heroes — Universe Ablaze #4 is also due 5/3, as is Yeah! #9 from Homage. Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Tarnished Angel Hardcover collection is set for 6/7/00, ABC's Top 10 #9 for 6/21/00, and Cliffhanger's Crimson #18 has been moved up a week in the schedule, to 5/10/00. NEWSARAMA DIGEST – THE BUZZ THAT WAS - Brian (Sam & Twitch) Bendis and Ashley Woood's new ongoing series for Todd McFarlane Productions – "replacing" Spawn: The Undead on the TMP slate - has a title and a launch date. According to Bendis, the monthly, fully painted HELLSPAWN will debut "in a big way" this August. Calling it "disturbing and beautiful to look at", the writer said he and Wood "are attempting to put something out there that pushes us into new creative directions and to make something we are not seeing out in the comic book market.” "Spawn will haunt the comic and connect the stories. But not in anyway you are used to seeing,” said Bendis, briefly explaining the focus of the new series. "Ash's rendering and my interpretation are very, very different from what has come before.” Though preferring not to go into too much more detail, the writer did tell Newsarama somewhat cryptically, "One of the ongoing themes of Spawn is that there's a war going on between Heaven and Hell over Earth. Well, what if Earth doesn't care? What if the chaos that surrounds us everyday is because of that? And what does the chaos mean on a human level and what are the repercussions? - Grant Morrison's recent comments in an intterview with iFuse.com raised more than a few eyebrows when the writer announced that he'd be writing Marvel's Fantastic Four. In addition to that bombshell, Morrison also defined the familial dynamic within the team in a manner that included themes more at home in Deliverance and Oedipus than a mainline Marvel comic book. Newsarama tracked down the soon-to-be very controversial writer and asked him to expand on his comments, and he did so graciously, adding a little pepper as well. READER WARNING – if you hold the Fantastic Four in high esteem as the ideal American family, you may want to skip this one_or prepare to be American Beautyed when it comes to your view of comics' first family. "Yes, I'm working on a Fantastic Four four-issue limited series proposal with one of my favorite Marvel artists,” Morrison tells Newsarama. "It's not about 'incestuous tensions,' but when I reread my FF's to get the feel of the characters again, I noticed some very interesting stuff with my Freudian eye. Bobbie Chase reiterated that Carlos Pacheco is still slated to take over the monthly series as writer/penciler in September, as previously announced. For more details on that and more, check out this week's edition of Newsarama later this afternoon. +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail: subscribe@ZENtertainment.com MORE 'TICK' CASTINGS According to The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Jed Rees (GALAXY QUEST's Teb) has been cast as Arthur and Liz Vassey (Maximum Bob, All My Children) has been cast as American Woman (...who fans might know as American Maid...) in the pilot of FOX's live-action TICK series. The lead role in the comedy is played by Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld). http://www.hollywoodreporter.com http://www.fox.com 'WONDER WOMAN' BARBIE UNVEILED DC Comics heroine Wonder Woman will be at the WARNER BROS. STUDIO STORE in New York, New York this Saturday afternoon to introduce the WONDER WOMAN BARBIE. Dressed in the familiar red and blue costume and featuring a blue cape, red and white boots, golden crown, bracelets, and Lasso of Truth, the BARBIE will retail for a suggested $49.99. http://www.dccomics.com http://www.wbstore.com NEW DC FIGURES The action figures offered this October by DC DIRECT will be of Impulse and Max Mercury, a Mister Miracle Deluxe set featuring the New God escape artist with Big Barda and Oberon, and beanie-baby like toys of Death and Bat-Mite. +++++ 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. WORLDS COLLIDE – LITERALLY: PLANETARY/THE AUTHORITY: RULING THE WORLD PLANETARY is a top-secret organization within the WildStorm Universe investigating a century of covert metahuman activity, but it's cracked Entertainment Weekly with a review in its March 24 issue, calling it "provocative, eminently addictive, and top of its class". And the timing couldn't be more fortuitous as the "archaeologists of the impossible" investigate another Warren Ellis creation, THE AUTHORITY. In June, the two teams from opposite poles of the WildStorm world come together in a story of colliding universes, invasions from beyond space, massive destruction, megadeath, deranged gentleman-horror-writers with really big guns, and...eggs in PLANETARY/THE AUTHORITY: RULING THE WORLD, a Prestige one-shot from the writer who lauched both teams -- TRANSMETROPOLITAN's Warren Ellis -- with art by Phil Jimenez (JLA/THE TITANS: THE TECHNIS IMPERATIVE, THE INVISIBLES) and Andy Lanning (LEGION LOST). Topped with a dazzling cover by Jimenez, RULING THE WORLD finds the more- than-top-secret Planetary team covertly investigating the Authority, the pantheon-like team that considers the world its personal protectorate. But while Planetary investigates the Authority, the Authority is looking into something that leads directly to one of Planetary's most critical cases. Someone from the Authority's past is powering up the strange computer hidden deep in the Adirondacks that generates the weird map of the multiverse called the Snowflake... and something is coming through that map to threaten our world. Also in June, the secrets of WildStorm's most powerful team of super-heroes are revealed in the first issue of the 5-issue JENNY SPARKS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY miniseries. Written by Mark Millar (THE AUTHORITY, SUPERMAN ADVENTURES) with art by HITMAN's John McCrea (who also provides the covers) and inker James Hodgkins (LUCIFER), JENNY SPARKS reveals, for the first time, what happened between the untimely end of StormWatch and the debut of The Authority. Using Jenny Sparks's diary -- now in the hands of her replacement on the team -- as its core, issue #1 is dedicated to the mysterious Doctor and features a variant cover (on 1 in 4 copies) by the original AUTHORITY art team of Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary (soon to be working on JLA). Future issues showcase Apollo, the Midnighter, the Engineer, and more in an epic spanning a century of adventures. PLANETARY/THE AUTHORITY: RULING THE WORLD arrives in comic-book stores June 21 with a cover price of $5.95 U.S. JENNY SPARKS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY #1 arrives in comic-book stores June 21 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S. ********** NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES AND BATMAN BEYOND GARNER A TOTAL OF 9 DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATIONS Kids' WB! Animated series The New Batman/Superman Adventures and Batman Beyond earned a total of 9 Daytime Emmy Award nominations on Wednesday, including special nominations in special categories. The New Batman/Superman Adventures was nominated in the Outstanding Children's Animated Program category (to be broadcast as part of the televised Emmy Awards ceremony on May 19th ), while Batman Beyond was nominated for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program. Both shows were nominated -- included Batman/Superman twice -- for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition, as well as for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing Special Class. Batman Beyond was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing Special Class. The Emmy winners will be announced on May 13. THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES/BATMAN BEYOND EPISODE SCHEDULE Warner Bros. Animation has supplied DC with the following air schedule for the animated The New Batman/Superman Adventures and Batman Beyond on the WB Network, airing Saturday mornings and on weekday afternoons. All times are Eastern and Pacific: 3/25/00 (8:00 am) -- "Unity" (Superman) 3/25/00 (10:30 am) -- "Sneak Peek" (Batman Beyond-new) 3/27/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Heavy Metal" (Superman) 3/27/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Lost Soul" (Batman Beyond) 3/28/00 (3:30 pm) -- "A Bullet for Bullock" (Batman) 3/28/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Superman's Pal" (Superman) 3/29/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Two's A Crowd" (Superman) 3/29/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Judgement Day" (Batman) 3/30/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Beware the Grey Ghost" (Batman) 3/30/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Knight Time" (Superman) 3/31/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Speed Demons" (Superman) 3/31/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Hidden Agenda" (Batman Beyond) 4/1/00 (8:00 pm) -- "The Demon Reborn" (Superman) 4/1/00 (10:30 pm) -- "The Eggbaby" (Batman Beyond) 4/3/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Cult of the Cat" (Batman) 4/3/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Spellbound" (Batman Beyond) 4/4/00 (3:30 pm) -- "House and Garden" (Batman) 4/4/00 (4:30 pm) -- "The Prometheon" (Superman) 4/5/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Baby-Doll" (Batman) 4/5/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Love is a Croc" (B atman) 4/6/00 (3:30 pm) -- "The Ultimate Thrill" (Batman) 4/6/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Little Big Head Man" (Superman) 4/7/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Chemistry" (Batman) 4/7/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Joyride" (Batman Beyond) 4/8/00 (8:00 pm) -- "Fish Story" (Superman) 4/8/00 (10:30 pm) -- "Zeta" (Batman Beyond-new) ********** NEWS FROM THE MAINSTREAM PRESS PLANETARY was reviewed in Entertainment Weekly's March 24 issue, calling it "provocative, eminently addictive, and top of its class". STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E. writer Geoff Johns was interviewed in the Knoxville, TN News-Sentinel on February 25, and emphasized STARS' Courtney/Pat dynamic in the title by saying "We see people conquer gods who shatter dimensions, but we never see anyone deal with a stepparent." The passing of Gil Kane was featured in the Syracuse Herald-American on February 20, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on February 11, and in the "Page X" feature of the Asbury Park Press on February 11. Devin Grayson, Yvel Guichet, and editor Frank Berrios were featured on the front page of USA Today's "Lifeline" section on March 13 in a cover story on RELATIVE HEROES and young talent in mainstream comics. The new BATGIRL ongoing series was reviewed in the Modesto, CA Bee on February 10. REALWORLDS: BATMAN was reviewed in the Washington, DC Times on February 12, saying "DC Comics has come up with a great idea in giving comic-book readers another perspective on their legendary heroes_ the Realworlds line presents ordinary people melding with the mythos of DC's "supericons ." ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] The Professor of Comics Thomas Read trodimus@hotmail.com Last week we talked about my buddy Brett and his store, Comic Store West. I told you about Brett as a man, a friend, and a businessman. I saw Brett this Wednesday like I do every Wednesday. He was particularly happy, since it was a heavy Wednesday and I drop $30 with him. I for my hard earned money, and was it worth it? Yes and no. Its spring break all around so there is no class this week, so lets see what I read on my spring break. We start with Dark Victory number 6 of a 13 issue mini series. I can't say enough about this series. This is what Batman should be. Loeb's writing and Sale's art is one hell of a combination. I love Sale's rendition of the Penguin, what a little freak. I especially like Sale's work on the splash pages (which are usually 2 per issue) and double spreads (at least one per issue) and they never interfere with the story. This is a great mystery and I am glad that I didn't wait for the trade like I usually do. Good stuff, classic stuff. Next we come up to Superman the Man of Steel. I really like the Super-reboot of late, and it's a shame, cause I didn't like this issue. First we start with a good old fashion "gimmick" cover. A nice heavy card stock cover (with gloss) that opens.backwards? Ok. It wasn't a bad issue, but the science and language that Steel was speaking, was unreadable. However, Steel's niece alters Kelex's speech pattern, making for some more readable and more interesting dialogue. We also are treated to a new Fortress of Solitude (Big Blue is going to need one the way Lois has been acting) and something a little different. On page 20, Supes is affected when he tries to open the portal to the Phantom Zone. And what happens? He is shocked and recovers. But in the background we see the original Krypto, Bizzaro World and Supe's biological kryptonian parents in their original (70's) clothes. Something more to come? Could be. A decent issue, but not worth the $3.99; worth $2.99 definitely. I went and treated myself to a humor comic too, the Punisher #2. Now, this is the Punisher. This is a great series, and all violence is done "off-camera" so it is even more telling (depending on your imagination) and the situations of him dealing with criminals are great. Now two cops are assigned to the Punisher case (two idiots because the cops really don't want the Punisher off the streets). A great issue, a great series, but one complaint. What the hell is up with the lettering? It's all funkified (yes, I know that isn't a real word, but it is the only thing I can think of to describe the lettering) and stuff, but it serves no purpose. I could see if it only was used when the Punisher or another main character talk (Spacker Dave perhaps?) but it is too much for all the characters for the entire issue. Oh well, if that my only bug, that's not bad. JSA # 10. I love Wildcat, he's great. A tough SOB who won't stop until he is dead, and that's questionable at best. Not one of the best issues of JSA however. Wildcat alone against the new Injustice Society. But that's about it. Why? To steal something from the golden age Flash's lab. An issue to set things up for the future. Not bad, but not great. I will wait and see how this plays out, but JSA is losing my attention. But I will definitely stick around until Hawkman makes his new debut and then, we'll see. (I like Hawkman, but can't take another bad reboot) Ok.get the old 60s Spiderman theme song in your head and lets all read along. Spider-man... Spider-man... crappy story Spider-man. Mackie can't write to save his life... Byrne can't draw Spidey right.Spider-man... Spider-man. I bought both Amazing #17, and Peter Parker #17 on the same day. The story is.Venom's pissed because the Sinister Six made a fool out of him (not hard to do). Actually, they aren't bad issues, Venom mows down the Sinister Six pretty well and the new Electro costume looks great (when JR JR does it, `cause he incorporates some "white lightening" mask around his head. Similar to the old design). Sandman is failing apart, Electro and Kraven's son both get gutted, and Mysterio (who really shouldn't be alive, but what are you gonna do?) is up to his old tricks. The question this issue asks is "Does JJJ know Pete is Spidey?" Looks that way, but who knows. And hey, the Green Goblin is back next issue (Christ!) but get together everyone.its Byrne's last issue next month!!!!! Paul Jenkins (Inhumans) and Mark Buckingham (Titans) are on Peter Parker with issue 20. And rumor has it, Amazing might go bi-weekly and JR JR being the main artist. Plus, we have a Larsen three issues in here somewhere. Looks like they are going to be turning Spidey around. You didn't hear it here first... but even I'll agree this is a good move. Speaking of Mark Buckingham, I got the new Titans (#15). It is a good solid story about the interaction of all the original members (Arsenal wasn't an original member, I know...but). Solid characterization dealing with all the underlying problems that the team members are having with each other from the last year's worth of stories. No big super villains (till the last page) just a solid story and characters. Nice. Grayson is doing a wonderful job and I'll be sad to see her go. Grayson. I just praised her above, but in Gotham Knights, it wasn't so great. Its issue three and the first two have been pretty solid, but this one.not so. Re-animated dead bodies. Nice.if you are Deadman. Its part of a two parter, so I'll save my judgment till next month, but so far.well if you haven't anything nice to say. And I have nothing but nice things to say about Iron Man #28. I am not going to say anything, `cause you are just going to want to sit down and read this stuff. Do yourself a favor and get all of Quesada issues (26,27,28) and sit down and read them. This is great stuff, you will never see what is coming next and each issue tops the last. After two years since Heroes Return, Iron Man is back! And finally, speaking of being back, so are the X-Men and Chris Claremont! It's been 6 months in comic time since issue 99 and .what the hell is going on?! This is easily the most confusing comic because of the "unaccounted for" 6 month gap. But it does its best and there is a lot of stuff going on. I am glad it is jumped 6 months ahead because it provides a little mystery as to what is going on. Definite changes, definite new direction, definite characterization by the definite X-scribe. A definite must get for any X- fans. This week's article strayed a bit from the usual far I know. No real class, just a little spring break for all of you. It was a good solid comic week so go try something new this week just for the fun of it (I did, but I hated the title, so I won't bash it here, just wasn't my cup of tea). So, next week I will be back to shooting off my usual trap and answering my hate mail (no really I love you guys, especially that Cancuk and the English Language Poster Boy.its you guys that make my day!) So until next time, remember.I don't know.no one probably reads this far down so.remember."that the purple moon rises twice in the day when the seventh son of six midget horses eats yellow blueberries) Recommended Reading: The Joe Quesada issues of Iron Man. (26- 28 so far). Its good stuff, so give it a chance and do yourself a favor, don't skip to the end of any issues. You have been warned. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Splitting Hairs Travis Clark grizzld1@yahoo.com ["Splitting Hairs" is the work of the highly-opinionated Travis A. Clark. He hates working on computers so much, he is employed as a "computer guy." It makes sense in a karma type of way.] I never really liked Hal Jordan. Oh, I liked Green Lantern, mind you. Especially the idea of Green Lantern. Anything that he could imagine and if he had the will power, he could create. But Hal Jordan? Nah, he was too whiney, in a Spider-Man-Power-and-Responsibility way. How many times can Hal Jordan go back to the site where Abin Sur died and reminisce? Always sure of himself, but had to have a life-affirming talk to himself once a year. Now, I liked Alan Scott, or as I knew him, the Green Lantern of Earth 2. It was cool. In the days of color-coordinated heroes, we have a guy who dressed in red, yellow and purple. Excellent. Of course I have an affinity for the Golden Age heroes. When Hal Jordan died, I felt a great_ well, truth to tell, I didn't care. Personally, I think Kyle was a perfect replacement. No rules, no little blue guys, no weaknesses but time. So the whole hubbub of the GL Corps, and the return of Hal Jordan left me flat out cold. Now when they killed off Ollie Queen, that's a whole different rant. But what it comes down to is exactly how a character is written. And no, I am not blaming Gardner Fox. (That's a series of rants). Here's a few of things that turn me off from a character, or series: Making the protagonist an alcoholic, or other addictive personality. Beating the metaphor the comic book is based on to death (i.e. X-Men) Excessive whining. Instead of actual character development, writers end up giving characters quirks, which in the end is destructive to the comic book. There are those that say these character faults give readers a connection with the hero, but I disagree. I think the character faults take away from our definition of hero. Yes, a character can doubt himself or herself, but all the time? No. Then what use is the character, if all he or she does is soliloquize? A good use of doubting himself was a two issue story arc in The Mighty Thor, several months before Walt Simonson took over. Thor was faced with a cult of "Thor-ites" and at the same time, a Christian hero called The Crusader attacked him as a false god. Being worshipped for the first time in over a millennia and the charge of being false, Thor had to retreat back to Asgard to get advice from Big Daddy Odin. Of course, Thor got over it, and the self-doubt issue was tied up neatly in two issues. Or the Justice being an Avenger self doubt story line in the Avengers_ It lasted two years, but more or less it's over with. Not an entire comic about a character who second-guesses him or herself throughout the series. That's the way it's supposed to be handled. Anyway, back to Green Lantern. Hal's back, it seems, as the Spectre. Which bites, cause I liked Jim Corrigan. But maybe it'll hold those Silver Agers off from criticizing Green Lantern. Kyle's still around, and so is Alan Scott, so I couldn't be happier. Well, okay, I could be happier, but in this regard, I couldn't. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] E-DISPATCHES FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH! Jonathan A. Gilbert SeajayVentures@netscape.net [Jonathan A. Gilbert is a freelance writer, columnist and part-time radio broadcaster. When not writing for PCBN, JAZMA UNIVERSE ONLINE, and MAD SCIENTIST magazine he is busy working on a couple of books and redeveloping some of his previously published comics series including Young Immortals and Mister Chameleon - both of which he hopes he will eventually find a publisher for.] -------------------------------------------------------------- We've got lots of stuff to cover this time around, folks, so let's get to it. First thing on the agenda is the frequency of this column's appearance. To be honest with you I haven't quite made up my mind on that one but I'm going to aim for a bi-weekly schedule for the time being. That way I'll be able to review all the websites you alert me to and read all the comics you send me to review. And speaking of reviewing comics I'm in the process of putting together a special edition of E-DISPATCHES devoted entirely to reviews. But I am going to need your help. Basically what I am going to need you to do is mail me a copy of a title YOU'D like other folks to start buying. Now, it can be something you yourself are involved with or a title you feel is being neglected by comics fans everywhere. Exactly when this special column will be appearing I can't say for sure but it will depend on how soon you folks start sending me comics. So if you want to give me a hand with this my mailing address is... Jonathan A. Gilbert/E-DISPATCHES Reviews/225 Colborne St./ Port Stanely Ontario/N5L 1C2/CANADA. Thanx for helping me out with this, folks. The more you get involved with this column the more it will be a column you want to read. Next on the agenda is our regular website listings. Simon Perrins was kind enough to recommend his MAD MONKEY COMICS site which can be found at www.usby.freeuk.com. I'd like to recommend my friend Steve Addlesee's site which can be found at ... http://home.globalfrontiers.com/carcajou. A couple of other sits I'd like to plug belong to GIRASOL COLLECTABLES (www.interloc.com/~girasol) and CYBERAGE ADVENTURES (www.cyberageadventures.com). If you have or know of a website you'd like promoted contact me at SeajayVentures@netscape.net. --------------------------------------------------------------- As mentioned last time around the topic for this installment of 'E-DISPATCHES' is publishers who fail to pay comics creators. Those of you who aren't in the 'biz' would probably be amazed at not only how often publishers 'neglect' to pay their talent but who some of the neglected creators are. Back in the days when I was a member of SHOPTALK APA there was a sub-club of sorts within the membership of artists and writers who had been ripped off by a certain publisher that is no longer in business. To 'join' this sub-club all you basically had to do was relate your horror story of being ripped off by this publisher and you were in. While I won't, out of respect for my fellow creators, mention their names I will say that the people who were ripped off were at the time fairly well known in the comics industry. So what does that say? Basically it can happen to anybody. Luckily for me though I've only been burned a couple of times the last time being by by Brainstorm Comics back in the mid-1990s. Back in 1996 I was working full time for a now-defunct publisher but not wanting to put all my eggs in one basket as it were I decided to look around for a little extra freelance work. One company I contacted at that time was Dan Parson's ORPHAN UNDERGROUND COMICS for which I ended up writing an AETOS THE EAGLE story (and was paid for upon acceptance; thanx Dan; any time you want me to write something else for you I'll be happy to do so). The other publisher I contacted was Brainstorm Comics which, after a brief exchange through the mail, agreed to publish a story of mine titled 'Ode to an Unsung Warrior) in an issue of LEGENDS OF LUXURA. While the completion time for the story was pretty tight-by the time the contract arrived I had only a week or so to get the story finished and in the mail-I met the deadline and waited to hear back from them. As well as offering me a per page rate (standard for work-for-hire assignments) the contract stated that if BRAINSTORM didn't publish the story within a certain date the rights to the story would revert back to me. When I hadn't heard back from BRAINSTORM by the fall of 1997 I wrote BRAINSTORM and asked them what the status of my story was adding that if they hadn't published it (by this time the contract had run out) I was going to make use of the tale, minus their LUXURA character, elsewhere. I sent the letter, I believe, in early December of 1997 and finally in January of 1998 I received a reply. Along with an undated letter (in which it was stated that I would receive payment within the month) BRAINSTORM sent me four contributor copies as per the contractual agreement with my story in it (the issue was LEGENDS OF LUXURA # 3 for all you record keepers out there). It is now March 2000 and BRAINSTORM has yet to pay me the amount owed ($100 U.S.). I've written numerous letters to the company demanding payment via money order- I refuse to accept a check at this point as I am uncertain based on BRAINSTORM's non-payment that the check will be any good- but have no received a single response. Needless to say I am not happy with the situation and also needless to say that if BRAINSTORM ever does get around to paying me I will not be writing for them again; unless of course they pay me IN ADVANCE. Do I still hold out any hope that I will get paid? Well, believe it or not the answer is yes. As anyone who knows me will tell you I can be pretty darn stubborn when it comes to things like this. When I will get paid is a whole other matter but one day, some way, some how, I will. As I mentioned earlier though I've been luckier than most comics creators in that I usually do get paid. The biggest problem I seem to have with publishers is that they almost always seem to go out of business, whether due to floods or financial problems or whatever, just before they are about to start publishing. But that's a story for another day. Actually, it's a couple of stories. But there are comics creators who have had worse problems than I have with publishers and if any of them are interested in passing on their horror stories to me to share with you I'll be happy to do so. There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes in the comics business that comics fans aren't aware of and one of the purposes of this column and my other columns in PEOPLE'S COMIC BOOK NEWSLETTER is to pull back the blinds on these events. -------------------------------------------------------------- Next time around; well, I ain't exactly sure what I'll be writing about next time around. Paul Dale Roberts at the Jazmaonline Universe (www.jazmaonline.com) wants me to write about my exploits at SILVER GRIFFIN PRESS but I think I'll hold back on that one for a while. So I think I'll just leave it open for the time being. There will be new websites to tell you about to be sure, though. So see you in a couple of weeks, maybe three depending on how busy things get. And don't forget to send me those comics and website addresses. Maybe if enough of you send me website addresses I can devote my next column to that. 'Bye for now. ------------------------------------------------------------- JONATHAN A. GILBERT is a freelance writer and columnist and can be contacted via e-mail at SeajayVentures@netscape.net. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] INDEPENDENT VOICES Rich Henn rasmus@timespell.com [When not stressing at the day job, Rich is stressing over the next issue of Timespell. He lives in sunny Maryland with his beautiful wife and their lazy Siberian Husky.] Hello, all! Been a while since I've checked in. A lot has happened since then. We've lost some of the finest talent in the field, and the year has only just begun. No news made me sadder though than hearing about the death of Charles Schulz. Some of my earliest comic reading was from small hardcover reprints of early Charlie Brown/Peanuts. You will be missed, Sparky. In my last column I mentioned a contest of sorts for those of you out there actually reading my book! I've gotten a lot of good responses, but no correct answers. So allow me to drop a clue...the error I'm looking for is in the finale of the book. Grand Prize will now go to the FIRST correct answer! That's $20 cold hard cash, a signed limited Kromekote edition of Timespell #4, and an uncut press form from the interior of the book. Also, for those of you who had emailed me regarding Independent Voices #3...yes, David Napoliello and I have begun gathering folks to begin work on the new book. David is pursuing some big name talent for the cover art, and on the interiors we've got Colleen Doran, Carla Speed McNeil, John Gallagher, Steve Conley, Vince Sneed & John Peters, plus a few other bigger fish in the indy world that we are waiting for conformation on. Well, I sat and read EARTH X start to finish over the weekend. I have to say, I actually liked it. Quite possibly the first real Marvel stuff I've liked for a while, with the exception of Daredevil. The covers by Ross are brilliant, and of course put together make a nice poster. The art inside was nice, and reflected (very well, I thought) the overall dark tone of the book. The story itself reminded me of a book I'd read a while back by Robert McGammon called SWAN SONG. Kind of similar in a way to The STAND by Stephen King. You basically have your good side gathering forces and your "evil" side building up troops...and they're all going to eventually converge in the middle. I thought that Earth X was better read in one sitting and not a month by month venue, strictly because I tried that route last year when it started and got lost too quick. But as a unit, the series reads nice and smooth, with only minor plot holes. Highpoint of the book...Logan and Jean Grey as dumpy white trash. On the Indy comic stand point, I've been enjoying Mike Speranza's TROUT FISSION (again) and sat down to enjoy the run of WU WEI by Oscar Stern. I've mentioned Wu Wei before, and the great thing about that book is that is never ceases to amaze me. There's so much more here than simple story telling. Wu Wei needs to be experienced, not just read. The first half of the series is more like a head-trip on several different levels, and then Oscar gets to the "meat" of the book by converging on the lead story, instead of several different smaller ones. My shop FINALLY got in Wu Wei #9 for me, so I'm going to sit down and re-read the whole set, then get back to you on the review. This past weekend, March 18-19, I did the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. I've done some big shows, and as anyone who's been to the Big Apple Con knows, it's small potatoes compared to shows like Mid Ohio and Pittsburgh. However, this show proved to be the BEST show for me EVER. A big tip of the hat to show organizer Mike Carbonarrow and his partner Chris. I had a great time, got to sit next to a friend I hadn't seen since SPX and sold a boatload of books! Thanks, to everyone who came out to support Timespell! Although I hadn't had time to really read a whole lot lately (hence, the reason I haven't contributed an article to CBEM in a bit), I did manage to read the following. One book came out this week that I have been anxiously waiting on for a while. THE WAITING PLACE #3 Written by Sean McKeever Art by Mike Norton Published by Slave Labor Graphics What more can I say about the best slice of life comic out there today? I've raved about this book in the past, and I've got retailer Kevin Kangas of Empyre Comics in Glen Burnie, MD to thank for it! When Sean was doing the first volume of TWP a few years back, Kevin was going on and on about how GOOD this book was. I picked up the whole six issue run, sat down and read the set. It did indeed kick ass. The problem was, it took Sean over two years to pick up the series and get going again. The first volume left off with a drive by shooting, and the fates of certain characters unknown. For those of you who haven't read the first volume of TWP, go get it. I won't ruin anything with spoilers. But the second series picks up after a small amount of time has passed, and now focuses on not so much Scott Forbes, the clerk from the video store, but Jeffery Dietz, the high school hockey player who wears his heart on his sleeve. For those of you who remember the first series, Scott was the fellow who yearned for his high school sweetheart (now married to an old rival). After the events of TWP, volume 1 issue #6, Scott is now a shell of the man he once was, choosing to drown his sorrow in a bottle. Still an intriguing character (and my personal favorite), Scott Forbes climb out of the bottle he's mourning in is becoming an very interesting subplot. The character development in the series, the dialogue and pacing are just so incredibly well done. It goes without saying that this series is well deserving of an Eisner nomination or an Eagle Award. The art by Mike Norton is flawless, and fits the story in such a poignant and beautiful way. At first I thought the transition between the art done by the Fraim brothers in the first series and Norton on the second would be a rough one...but it's all the better because of it! As much as I like what the Fraim's did on series one, it's too bad Sean hadn't found Mike earlier in the game. If you haven't seen THE WAITING PLACE before, I urge you to find it now. Reading about the characters in Northern Plains, MN is simply the best and always at the top of my comic stack. I cannot wait for the collected trade! Until next time... ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] Post-Post Modernism in the Comics!!! Link Yaco linkyaco@aol.com http://members.aol.com/lexicon70s/index.html [Link Yaco has written comic books for several publishers. His comic collection, SPACE CHICKS AND BUSINESSMEN is due to be out from Fantagraphics/EROS in June, 2000. Paul Rudolph, lead guitarist for The Pink Fairies (Pigs from Uranus, et al) and many other art rockers e.g. Brian Eno (Here Come the Warm Jets) said, "I'm pleased to see that the comic art and story are way out enough for my warped tastes."] Will Eisner and MAD magazine were Post-Post. Steranko and Adams were PoMo. Let me explain. There is a large body of opinion as to what exactly Post-Modernism is (and whether it is hyphenated), let alone Post-Post Modernism (where, at least, everyone agrees on the hyphen placement). It is commonly agreed that Post-Modernism, or PoMo, as it has come to be called, was first defined in a near-legendary 1942 issue of Architectural Digest. There it was defined simply as the combining of Classical styles with Modern styles. For many, this definition applied to the rest of the social, cultural, and aesthetic world as well. The blending of Classical Realism with Abstract Modernism can be seen foreshadowed in the works of the post-WW1 dada-ists, who never hesitated to paint a mustache on a Mona Lisa. And like dadaism, PoMo lacked any moral underpinning, other than a vaguely anarchistic flavor. But dada was parodistic, and PoMo never was. It often had the flavor of parody, but was really more of a tribute. Andy Warhol is a decent example of a PoMo artist. His work took classically realistic images (e.g.; iconic photos of film stars) and combined them with abstract treatments. Unlike Abstract Modernism, where the point was the abstraction of realism, PoMo combines Realism with Abstraction. And the point of the exercise is open to interpretation. Post-Post Modernism, or Post-Post, as it is coyly nick-named by certain pretentious would-be intellectuals (e.g.; myself), was much the same but with one notable difference-MEANING! The same helter-skelter hodge-podge collision of Realism and Abstraction was used to drive home a point. Photographer Cindy Sherman, who reenacts Classical paintings with herself in male drag playing the roles of Renaissance notables, is a fair-to-middling example of how Post-Post can use the vocabulary of past art movements to make points about gender roles, realism and myth, objectification, and a host of social, cultural, and political issues. Like PoMo, Post-Post has a great sense of play, and the flavor of parody, but it is actually quite affectionate toward the subjects that it toys with. Although moralistic, it is gently so, more in the tradition of Mad Magazine or the related publication (produced by Mad staffer Paul Krassner) The Realist than Mother Jones or The Nation. If ever there was a medium that mixed disparate sources in a playful fashion, it is comics. Comics have been in the avante-garde of PoMo and Post-Post from the beginning. In the early '40s, Will Eisner's Spirit was presciently Post-Post just as PoMo was getting started. Eisner's polished, classically romantic heroic imagery (with which he had inaugurated the golden age of mainstream superheroes) was blended with cartoony abstraction, modernist experimental panel layout, and a host of arty shadow, lighting, reflection, and smoke-filled special effects that are the traditional tools of the modernist film maker. The combination was used to drive home points of urban alienation and cynical lassitude, themes utterly consonant with the collision of the classical and modern. Walt Kelly's early Pogo comics, also done in the early '40s, were similarly composed of detailed traditional brush work. The lush renderings and fine feathering were juxtaposed with the off-the-wall fantasy setting and characters. And here too, the moral import was subtly shaded irony. As well, Carl Barks' duck work from the same period contrasted abstract cartooning with carefully researched settings (often from The National Geographic Magazine). Barks' use of the Uncle Scrooge character also showed a nuanced approach to the morality of wealth that escaped cliché and combined attitudes of a Classical era with a Modernism cynicism. Sheldon Mayer's Scribbly, like Mad Magazine, delighted in standing the cliches of the comics industry on end. Mad utilized the shock of perfectly replicating the realism of the real world and combining that with the fantasy of comics. What Mad did with graphics, Mayer did with characterization. It is interesting to note at this point, that when Wallace Wood satirized Pogo for Mad (which was really guilding the lily, as Pogo was already satire to begin with), Walt Kelly tipped his hat to Wood by briefly renaming Pogo's swamp boat "Wallace Wood" for a few newspaper installments. For a purely PoMo take on comics, two West Coasties from Gold Key are under-appreciated exemplars of the style-Jesse Marsh and Russ Manning, in the '50s and '60s respectively, produced some outstanding and unusual conglomerations of Classic and Modern motifs. Marsh, with his simplistic, seemingly naive style, was often viewed as the Rousseau of comics. But his minimalism belied his sophisticated sense of visual design. In his John Carter Man of Mars series (originally published in the '50s and reprinted in the early '60s), he covered the walls of Martian dwellings with abstract art paintings and his architecture was outrageously abstract. Marsh worked with multi-media effects and used globs of rubber cement to produce textural ink blots for terrain and foliage. His invented alien creatures equally creative. Manning was, stylistically, Marsh's polar opposite. Manning had a slick Raymond-derived style that was, in surface detail, a direct contrast to Marsh's Caniff-inspired patchy brushwork. Both artists spent the larger portion of their career working on Tarzan. It was, however, lesser-known work that allowed them to experiment. With Marsh, it was John Carter, and with Manning it was the back-up feature to Magnus Robot Fighter. The back-up was another John, more or less-Captain Johnner and the Aliens. This sophisticated but small strip (usually six pages in length) showed Manning at his most imaginative. The height of this was achieved in an episode entitled "Nerves" in 1964. One page consisted entirely of shots of a spaceman crawling through panel after panel of splashes of pure color. This was achieved with the use of the technique called "color hold" where the black outlines of the form are not printed. When this comic was reprinted in the early '90s, the black lines were used and the coloring was clearly inferior to the original. Just goes to show that laser printing technology is only as good as the colorist, eh? In the early '60s, Stan Lee revitalized the entire industry with his concept of adult characterizations. But his innovations were turned into soap-opera cliché by succeeding generations of derivative writers. The original PoMo impulse was reverse-engineered into a more staid Classical form. In Lee's hey day, Jim Steranko and Neal Adams followed his lead and turned heads with their conjunction of a flat comics vocabulary with eerily three dimensional graphics and a hyper-realist emotionalism. Steranko and Adams used fish-eye lens distortions to make images leap off the page. This was what Kirby had accomplished with a less-sophisticated audience in the '40s. Kirby's full-page and double-page splashes, chaotically-shaped panels, and leaping figures were certainly an eye-full. Steranko and Adams, in the late '60s and early '70s, added a good measure of realism to the brew and juiced up the impact for a Vietnam-era audience. Adams was particularly effective with his finely-shaded photo-realist rendering, whereas Steranko, using a more conventional Eisner-esque approach to his surfaces, utilized actual photographs in his comics montages. Additionally, Steranko used unmistakable tributes to Dali-esque surrealism, Warhol-esque Pop art, and the brief style of Op art. Adams paid tribute to Op art and Fifth Avenue Abstraction with some darn fancy and out-right psychedelic uses of color splashes, color reversals, color "holds," and marvelously formless fields of cross-hatching. Curiously, however, the work of Adams and, even more notoriously, Steranko, was more PoMo than Post-Post, and more Modernist than Classic. The meaning of their work was secondary to the visual impact. Whether by intent or design, their stories were pretty hard to make sense of. Like a lot of Vietnam-era avante garde, they seemed to revel in abstruseness. Very heady stuff for comics, to say the least. But more a throwback to dada than the more forward-looking, from a Post-Post Modernist perspective, work of Eisner. It is predictable of twenty-something near-geniuses to reinvent Modernism, and mistake opaqueness and obscurity for profundity. Then they realize that this was all done to the max after World War One. Moving on is what Post-Modernism...and Post-Post Modernism is all about! In the early '80s, Alan Moore took the same realistic approach to character that Sheldon Mayer had in the '40s, Mad in the '50s, and Stan Lee in the '60s. Moore's Watchmen retooled the Charlton superheroes with menopausal characterizations, Mcarthy-ite politics, and toxically real nuclear physics. His illustrator, fellow Brit Dave Gibbons, attempted to utilize a Mad Magazine-like realism but, admirably proficient craftsman though he was, the effect had not nearly the impact one might have hoped for. Nonetheless, the result was one of the most notable Post-Post exercises in comics history. It is often compared with Frank Miller's reworking of the Batman mythos in his Dark Night story cycle of the same vintage. It is difficult to re-examine Miller's work with much excitement, however, as the material dates badly. This is not the fault of Miller, but rather because his work had such impact that it established a new benchmark that has become cliché, ultimately resulting in Tim Burton's innovative Batman movie that likewise engendered a succession of tedious franchise movies. As with Stan Lee, the innovation has become the cliché. In the proliferation of comics today, it is difficult to sort out any truly clear-cut examples of fully-realized artistic endeavors. In many of today's books, there are brilliant moments but few sustained fully realized concepts. Although the reputations of Adams and Steranko rests on a only few dozen books, that length of run seems dynastic compared to today's occasional bursts of creativity. With many of the major publishers' books selling in the tens of thousands rather than the hundreds of thousands, it would appear that today's creators have failed to ignite the same creative spark that their predecessors did. Perhaps what is needed is a POST Post-Post movement! Now what would that be? ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] 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.] WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COLUMN MAY REVEAL SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF OR ENTIRE PLOT DEVELOPMENTS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Name: Kenichi Sonoda's Gunsmith Cats - Kidnapped 5 or 10 Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Story and Art by: Kenichi Sonoda Price: $2.95 Comments: Gunsmith Cats 5 or 10 again was full of dramatic interplays and action! Rally, being the top notch bounty hunter that she is, knows about avoiding abandoned buildings, staying on busy streets, all to avoid ambush. She is the best of the best and as her story unfolds on how Rally's father owned a gun store and the horrifying events that transpired. On how a cold blooded killer killed her dad's store staff and mother, Rally becomes a bounty hunter to seek out the killer and her father. I believe Rally is subconsciously hindered from finding the killer and her father. The reason is, I believe she is scared of what she might find. This is a hunch and the reason why I gathered this conclusion is because she is an expert in her field and she should be able to find the killer and her father with ease. A dangerous hummer is used and you'll have to pick up this comic book to see what is going on. I will give you a hint, the action reminded me of the movie called Mad Max, starring Mel Gibson. It kept my blood pumping! Major suspense was focused in the story as the guessing game was played out to see if it what the reset code or disarm code that would get the restraining collar off her neck. Definitely a powerful story! MOE Special Note on Blue Moon Comics! There is a full-page Jazma Universe Online! ad in Infinite Tales #1 by Blue Moon Comics. In this ad it mentions certain individuals and companies by name. Here are a few that are mentioned: Alex dela Rosa; Super Hero News; CBC Web Mag; CBEM; Uproar Ezine; Interlude Press; NOISE; William Carlisle; Michael Vance; Darrell Goza; TW Montgomery; Steve Skeates; Jon Gilbert; Mark Cardoso; Tommy G. Doyle, Richard Vasseur, Timothy Brooks, Mark S. Pacella, Kirk C. Abrigo, William E. Holloway, Robert Humble, Steven R. Addlesee, Sidney Williams, Bill Knapp, Don McGregor, Ed Quinby, Jeremy Kirby and many others! Very cool ad. See what we had to say - don't worry only good positive information! You will also see 2 PCBN covers done by our very own Tommy Doyle in this ad! Also, the comic book is mind-boggling and watch for my review coming up this weekend! To order this issue, send $3.95 to: Lloyd Smith/Blue Moon Comics / HC 66 Box 1448, Barbourville, KY 40906! Do it now! MOE Sidenote: New at A1 Comics are the following comics: Protoculture Addicts 59; Maxion #4 - Record of Lodoss War by CPM Manga; Silent Mobius by Viz Comics; Pop Chibi Manga Vol. 1 - 3; Big Game by Antarctic Press; Tomorrow Man by Antarctic Press; Tsunami Girl #3 by Image; Black Heart Billy #1 by Slave Labor Graphics; Books of Lore - Storyteller by Peregrine Entertainment; The Detective by Sunset Strips; Lazarus - The Many Reincarnations #1 by Lodestone Publishing; Rare Creature by Slave Labor Graphics, The Rhinegold #1 by Dark Horse Maverick; Saint Angel #0 by Image; Spookgirl by Slaver Labor Graphics, Forty Winks/Buzzboy by Peregrine Entertainment; Haunted Man by Dark Horse Comics; Gloom Cookie #4 by Slave Labor Graphics, Little Gloomy by Slave Labor Graphics, The Bradleys #6; E.V.E. - Proto Mecha by Top Cow; War Against Crime #2 - EC Comics; Animerica Extra Vol. 3 - #4 - Viz Communications; Comic Book Marketplace #76 - Gemstone Publishing; Extra! #5 - EC Comics and a whole lot more! For more information you can contact Brian Peets, owner of A1 Comics at: A1Comics@sprintmail.com Multiverse Observer and Explorer signing off until next time..... ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] 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.] FELIX CAT-A-STROPHIC WRESTLING SPECTACULAR (March 2000) 32 pages, black & white, color covers, $2.25/$3.50 CAN WRITERS & ARTISTS Don Oriolo, Vic Scarpelli, Scott McRae, Dan Parent, Robert Wetterauw, JR Pete Fitzgerald, Rich Hedden, and Jenn Henning COVERS: Robert & Scott www.felixthecat.com Felix Comics PO Box 52 Hamburg, NJ 07419 Felix the Cat, the wonderful, wonderful cat Whenever he gets in a fix He reaches into his bag of tricks. Felix the Cat, the wonderful, wonderful cat You'll laugh so much Your sides will ache Your heart will go pitter-pat Watching Felix, the Wonderful Cat! That verse is indelibly etched in my memory - a testimony to the brainwashing effects of television. Way back when, I remember watching the adventures of Felix the Cat and wondering just what I would do if I had a magic bag that could be used to create things like giant eye droppers, or miniature airplanes to thwart the machinations of the Professor, Rock Bottom, and Master Cylinder. Later, after I had found comic books, I had the same fascination with a certain hero who had a ring that could create anything he wanted, but Felix started it. Now I find in my mailbox a comic book featuring Felix and all his friends and enemies. What a delight! This is a one shot special on the pro wrestling theme and even features "Felix" interviewing the real life Sargent Slaughter at a New York Comic Convention. Through the issue are ads for getting back issues 1-6 of the regular mag, joining the fan club, and buying all sorts of licensed merchandise for the Felix CAT-alog. I am not sure if the cartoons are still running in some form these days, but Boomers will really get a kick out of all this stuff for sure. In fact, I believe Todd McFarlane is a big fan. The issue itself is a good representation of the kinds of stories I remember from the old series. The Professor always trying to get the best of our hero, Poindexter coming up with some invention or scientific mumbo jumbo, Rock Bottom being the typical stupid heavy that gets clobbered in the end - it's all there. The art is a perfect rendition of those characters as they always have been. The humor is timeless and can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. In fact there may be a whole new generation just waiting for a well established character to come to the forefront with honest to goodness fun of a type not common these days. Parents out there should get these to introduce their kids to something they can both enjoy. It is a perfect way to get them interested in comics in general. As Felix would say, "Rightee - OH!" ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [12] TOP 100 COMICS FOR - MARCH Diamond Comics Distributors Rankings are based on orders placed by retailers and reflect total units ordered not dollar values of total ordered. Unit prices are given for reference only. This is NOT a list of comics that sold the most copies to the consumers - it is a list of ORDERS by DEALERS. TOP 100 COMICS - March 2000 Rank Title Cost/Pub. 1 X-MEN #100 $2.99MAR 2 UNCANNY X-MEN #380 $2.99MAR 3 WOLVERINE #150 $2.99MAR 4 JLA #41 $2.99DC 5 MAGDALENA #1 $2.50IMA 6 AVENGERS #28 $1.99MAR 7 SPAWN #96 $1.95IMA 8 DAREDEVIL #13 $2.50MAR 9 PUNISHER #2 (2 covers) $2.99MAR 10 FANTASTIC FOUR #29 $1.99MAR 11 TOMB RAIDER #4 $2.50IMA 12 CABLE #79 $1.99MAR 13 X-FORCE #102 $1.99MAR 14 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17 $1.99MAR 15 THOR #23 $1.99MAR 16 GENERATION X #63 $1.99MAR 17 GEAR STATION #1 $2.50IMA 18 PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN #17 $1.99MAR 19 BATMAN #577 $1.99DC 20 IRON MAN #28 $1.99MAR 21 BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #6 $2.95DC 22 BATGIRL #2 $2.50DC 23 CAPTAIN AMERICA #29 $1.99MAR 24 DETECTIVE COMICS #744 $2.50DC 25 X-MAN #63 $1.99MAR 26 MUTANT X #19 $1.99MAR 27 RISING STARS #6 $2.50IMA 28 SOUL SAGA #3 $2.50IMA 29 GAMBIT #16 $1.99MAR 30 JSA #10 $2.50DC 31 BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #3 $2.50DC 32 SUPERMAN #156 $1.99DC 33 NIGHTWING #43 $1.99DC 34 WITCHBLADE #39 $2.50IMA 35 BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #129 $1.99DC 36 ACTION COMICS #765 $1.99DC 37 ASTRO CITY VOL. 2 #22 $2.50DC 38 GREEN LANTERN #124 $1.99DC 39 SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL COLL. ED. #100 $3.99DC 40 PREACHER #61 (MR)$2.50DC 41 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2000 $3.50MAR 42 THE FLASH #160 $1.99DC 43 THE DARKNESS #30 $2.50IMA 44 CRIMSON #17 $2.50DC 45 STEAMPUNK #2 $2.50DC 46 INCREDIBLE HULK #14 $1.99MAR 47 X-MEN: THE HIDDEN YEARS #6 $2.50MAR 48 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #578 $1.99DC 49 THUNDERBOLTS #38 $1.99MAR 50 AVENGERS TWO: WONDER MAN & BEAST #1 $2.99MAR 51 WARLANDS #8 $2.50IMA 52 YOUNG JUSTICE: SINS OF YOUTH #1 $3.95DC 53 THE TITANS #15 $2.50DC 54 TOM STRONG #8 $2.95DC 55 YOUNG JUSTICE: SINS OF YOUTH #2 $3.95DC 56 WILDCATS VOL. 2 #9 $2.50DC 57 SPIDER-GIRL #20 $1.99MAR 58 SINS OF YOUTH: JLA JR. #1 $2.50DC 59 ROBIN #76 $1.99DC 60 PLANETARY #10 $2.50DC 61 TOP TEN #8 $2.95DC 62 AUTHORITY #13 $2.50DC 63 SINS OF YOUTH: BATBOY & ROBIN #1 $2.50DC 64 THUNDERBOLTS 2000 $3.50MAR 65 CATWOMAN #80 $1.99DC 66 CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 $2.50MAR 67 SPAWN: THE UNDEAD #10 $2.25IMA 68 BISHOP: THE LAST X-MAN #8 $1.99MAR 69 DARKMINDS VOL. 2 #2 $2.50IMA 70 SPAWN: THE DARK AGES #13 $2.50IMA 71 EXTREME FORCES #1 (4 covers) $2.99AWE 72 EVE PROTOMECHA #2 $2.50IMA 73 PROMETHEA #8 $2.95DC 74 SINS OF YOUTH: SUPERMAN, JR./SUPERBOY, SR. #1 $2.50DC 75 DEADPOOL #40 $1.99MAR 76 BATMAN: THE HILL $2.95DC 77 STAR WARS #16 $2.50DAR 78 SINS OF YOUTH: KID FLASH/IMPULSE #1 $2.50DC 79 GEN13 #51 $2.50DC 80 SINS OF YOUTH: STARWOMAN & THE JSA #1 $2.50DC 81 STAR WARS: CHEWBACCA #3 $2.95DAR 82 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #19 (2 covers) $2.95DAR 83 MARVEL: THE LOST GENERATION #10 $2.99MAR 84 SUPERMAN VS. THE TERMINATOR: DEATH TO THE FUTURE #4 $2.95DAR 85 SINS OF YOUTH: WONDER GIRLS #1 $2.50DC 86 TITANS/LEGION OF SUPERHEORES: UNIVERSE A BLAZE #3 $4.95DC 87 SPIDER-WOMAN #11 $1.99MAR 88 SWAMP THING #1 $2.50DC 89 GATECRASHER #3 $2.50WIZ 90 SUPERGIRL #44 $1.99DC 91 STARMAN #65 $2.50DC 92 BLACK PANTHER #18 $2.50MAR 93 SUPERBOY #74 $1.99DC 94 STAR WARS TALES #3 $4.95DAR 95 SINS OF YOUTH: THE SECRET/DEADBOY #1 $2.50DC 96 GEN-ACTIVE #1 $3.95DC 97 SAM AND TWITCH #8 $2.50IMA 98 SINS OF YOUTH: AQUABOY/LAGOON MAN #1 $2.50DC 99 BIRDS OF PREY #17 $1.99DC 100 BATMAN: HAUNTED GOTHAM #4 $4.95DC ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [13] 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, 3/29/2000, 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 AIT/PLANETLAR Astronauts In Trouble Space 1959 #3 (Of 3), 2.95 AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS) Gloom Cookie Curr Prtg #1 (AA), 2.95 Rare Creature #2 (Of 4), 3.50 Slave Labor Peepshow Vol 2 #4, AR ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS Archie #496, 1.99 Betty & Veronica Double Digest #88, 3.19 Veronica #100, 1.99 AWESOME ENTERTAINMENT Supreme The Return #4 (resolicited), 2.99 BLACK BEAR PRESS Toon Magazine #21, 5.95 CHAOS! COMICS Insane Clown Posse Pendulum #2, 5.95 Lady Death Dark Millennium #3 (Of 3), 2.95 CLAYPOOL COMICS Deadbeats #40, 2.50 Elvira #83, 2.50 CORSAIR PUBLISHING Dork Tower #8, 2.95 CPM MANGA Record Of Lodoss War Lady Of Pharis Book One, 15.95 DARK HORSE COMICS Aliens Vs Predator Xenogenesis #4 (Of 4), 2.95 Dirty Pair Run From The Future Timm Cvr #3 (Of 4), 2.95 Dirty Pair Run From The Future Warren Cvr #3 (Of 4), 2.95 Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan The Rivers Of Blood #4 (Of 8), 2.95 Ghost Vol 2 #18, 2.95 Super Manga Blast #1, 4.95 World Below II Deeper And Stranger #4 (Of 4), 2.95 Xena Warrior Princess #7, 2.95 Xena Warrior Princess Newsstand Photo Cover #7, 2.95 DC COMICS Action Comics #765, 1.99 Authority #13, 2.50 Batman #577, 1.99 Catwoman #80, 1.99 Dexters Laboratory #9, 1.99 Flash #160, 1.99 Four Horsemen #4 (Of 4), 2.50 Hitman #49, 2.50 Millennium Edition Superman #76, 2.95 Nightwing Love And Bullets TPB, 17.95 Supergirl #44, 1.99 Titans Legion Of Superheroes Universe Ablaze #3 (Of 4), 4.95 Wonder Woman #156, 1.99 Young Justice Sins Of Youth #2 (Of 2), 3.95 DIAMOND PUBLICATIONS Previews Vol X #4, 2.95 IMAGE COMICS Alley Cat #6, 2.95 Alley Cat Movie Poster, 3.00 Aria Coll Ed #1, 5.95 Chassis #3, 3.50 Darkminds Vol 1 TPB, 18.95 Darkminds Vol 2 #2, 2.50 Darkness Spear Of Destiny TPB, 12.95 Fathom #11, 2.50 Fathom Coll Ed #5, 5.95 Gear Station #1, 2.50 Hawkshaws #1, 2.95 Jinn #1, 2.95 Kiss Psycho Circus Magazine #5, 4.95 Lost Ones #1, 2.95 Magdalena #1, 2.50 Magdalena Poster #1, 5.95 More Than Mortal Art Gallery #1, 3.50 Mr Monsters Gal Friday Kelly #2, 2.95 Neon Cyber #6, 2.50 Rising Stars #6, 2.50 Savage Dragon #72, 2.95 Spawn The Dark Ages #13, 2.50 Spawn Vol 10 Vengeance Of The Dead TPB, 9.95 Top Cow Classics Ascension #1, 2.95 Wicked #3, 2.95 MARVEL COMICS Avengers #28, 1.99 Marvel The Lost Generation #10 (Of 12), 2.99 Wolverine #150, 2.99 X-Force #102, 1.99 TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS Hey Mister Trouble With Jesus, 2.95 ULTIMATE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT Fastball Express #1 (Of 2), 3.95 Super Sluggers #1 (Of 2), 3.95 VIZ COMMUNICATIONS Animerica Vol 8 #3, 4.95 Dance Till Tomorrow Vol 3 TPB, 15.95 Magical Pokemon Journey How Do You Do Pikachu #1 (Of 4), 4.95 Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Part 2 #5 (Of 5), 2.95 Neon Genesis Evangelion Vol 4 Coll Ed TPB (Star10357), 15.95 Ranma 1/2 Part 8 #12 (Of 13), 2.95 Strain Vol 2 TPB (Star09587), 15.95 WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT Gatecrasher #3, 2.50 Gatecrasher Variant Cover #3 (Of 4), 2.50 Wizard The Comics Magazine Batman Cover #104, 4.99 Wizard The Comics Magazine X Men Movie Cover #104, 4.99 magazines Comic Shop News #667, AR NCRL for the foreseeable future... TITLE OLD RELEASE DATE NEW DATE DC COMICS Batman: Haunted Gotham #4 03/29 04/26 Faith #5 01/26 04/05 JLA #41 03/29 04/05 Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 2 #22 03/01 04/05 Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Tarnished Angel HC 04/19 05/10 Planetary #10 03/08 04/26 Proposition Player #6 03/29 04/05 Speed Racer: Born To Race TP 04/05 04/12 Star Trek: Embrace the Wolf 04/12 04/19 Tomorrow Stories #7 03/01 04/12 Tomorrow Stories #8 04/19 05/10 Top 10 #8 03/15 04/26 IMAGE Age of Bronze #7 03/22 04/12 Alley Cat Movie Poster 03/29 04/19 Aria Collected Ed. #1 03/29 04/05 Aria/Angela #1 03/29 04/05 Aria/Angela #1 Incent Cvr A 03/29 04/05 Aria/Angela #1 Incent Cvr B 03/29 04/05 Aria/Angela #1 Incent Cvr C 03/29 04/05 Aria/Angela #1 Incent Cvr D 03/29 04/05 Aria/Angela #1 Museum Ed 03/29 04/05 Aria/Angela Blanc & Noir Ed. #1 04/19 Astounding Space Thrills #1 04/12 Big Bang #30 03/29 04/05 Big Hair Productions #2 03/29 04/05 Blood Legacy #1 04/19 Blue #2 03/29 04/12 Chassis #3 03/29 04/05 Cow #1 Spring 00 04/12 Crow Magazine #2 04/12 DarkMinds Vol. 2 #3 04/19 Darkness #31 04/19 Echo #1 Holochrome Ed. 03/29 04/12 Fear Effects Special #1 03/29 04/12 Go Girl #1 04/12 Hawkshaws #1 03/22 04/05 Hawkshaws #2 04/12 Intrigue #4 04/19 Iron Wings Vol. 2 #1 03/15 04/05 Iron Wings Vol. 2 #2 04/19 JUDGE #2 04/19 Kabuki Agents #4 03/22 04/12 Kabuki Classics #12 03/15 04/05 Kabuki Skin Deep 2nd Prtg TP 04/12 Kin #3 04/19 Kiss: Psycho Circus #28 03/15 04/05 Kiss: Psycho Circus Mag #5 03/15 04/05 Kiss: Psycho Circus Whispered Scream Vol. 3 TP 04/19 Lady Pendragon #9 03/22 04/05 M-Rex #3 04/05 Magdalena #1 Holofoil Cover Incent. 04/12 Magdalena #2 04/19 Mage: The Hero Defined Vol. 3 TP 03/22 04/05 More Than Mortal #7 04/05 04/19 Neon Cyber #7 04/19 Nine Rings of the Wu-Tang #4 04/05 Pakkins' Land: Forgotten Dreams #4 04/05 Parts Unknown: Killing Attractions #1 04/12 Powers #1 04/19 Primal Instinct Preview 03/22 04/19 Rising Stars #0 04/12 Rumble Girls #1 04/12 Saffire #1 04/12 Sam & Twitch #9 04/05 Savage Dragon: Gang War TP 03/15 04/12 Savage Dragon: Revenge HC 04/05 Shockrockets #1 04/12 Spawn #94 04/05 Spawn: The Dark Ages #14 04/19 Spirit of the Tao #15 03/22 04/12 Stone Vol. II #4 03/08 04/05 Stone Vol. II #5 04/19 Tin Can Man #3 03/29 04/12 Top Cow Classics: Ascension #1 04/12 Wahoo Morris #1 03/22 04/19 Warlands #6 04/12 Warlands Poster #1 03/08 04/05 Wicked #4 04/19 *Please Note: These dates are tentative. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [14] HYPE! Section Various PREVIEW OF PREVIEWS Diamond has updated their web site for the new PREVIEWS out next week. Writer/Ad Coordinator Vince Brusio is the designated editorial writer for Previews' "The Splash Page" which is our source material On The Cover... Catastrophic tidal waves are about to come crashing onto our craniums. On the front cover of Previews this month you'll notice that Transmetropolitan writer Warren Ellis has created a planet-shaking tale of change, secrecy, and power in a one-shot special illustrated by artists Phil Jimenez and Andy Lanning. This June we will see Planetary/The Authority: Ruling The World. It is a tale that Ellis has been kicking around for a while, and it seems he found the right art wizards to help him create a yarn that will dazzle, shock, and stimulate us. The story focuses on two monster teams from the Wildstorm universe. Elijah Snow and the rest of Planetary are keeping a close microscopic eye on The Authority. It's what Planetary does best: detecting anomalies that can stop traffic, or alter current events. And The Authority fits that description perfectly. But this isn't a simple stakeout. There's no room for a coffee break. A fearsome factory of revolution could take over our world if it is left unchecked. An old enemy of the Authority is hacking into the strange computer hidden deep in the Adirondacks that generates the weird map of the multiverse called the Snowflake. For all we know, if things don't swing our way, we could have a black hole for a back yard. While Planetary wants to control the Authority, and the Authority wants control over Planetary, a certain uninvited visitor may come calling through the back door. And the playing field could change. On the flip side, we see The Red Star from Image has been given the red carpet treatement. This new title is epic in its scope, as it details a story that affects countless of thousands of people who suffered cruelly under a despot that lost his sanity. Because this story depicts how an entire population got the shortest straw, it’s not exactly the sort of read that can pick you up on those glum and dreary rainy days. However, if you’re looking for a well-written, hard-hitting drama that’s about a nation’s heroes looking to reverse their position as soldiers to do the right thing by their country—then this is the comic for you. Do not expect a one-on-one battle of wills. There is no room for egos. The heroes of the Red Star must work together if they are to avenge the slaughtered millions of people who were ruined by the order of the mighty sorcerer, Imbohl. Writer/artist Christian Gossett — the artist that first designed the double-edged lightsabre from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace — utilizes an innovative new system of coloring that’s the same 3-D modeling technology as seen in today's best selling video games and animated features. So you not only get a story that touches your heart, but also freaks out your eyeballs! Plus, issue #1 sports a variant cover by Frank Miller! Look for Wildstorm’s Planetary/The Authority: Ruling The World from DC, and Image Comics’ The Red Star in the Premiere Comics section of Previews! From The Beginning Entertainment Distributors has added a new specialty to their already bulging menu. This month they’re giving you a comprehensive treasure map that will help you follow along with two of the hottest Image titles on the market. The Gear Station Prelude Exclusive comic helps you put into perspective the wild magical battles, romance and combat that fills up the pages of the smoking CGI full-color hit by writers Janak Alford and Dan Fraga. Enter the cave, and discover the earliest artifact that previews the monthly book, which is the next step in comics entertainment. To really appreciate this tale that’s steeped in the legend and lore of times past with computer-enhanced artwork, you need to