---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 358 3/08/2002 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Nominated as FAVORITE COMIC EMAG in the 2001 EAGLE AWARDS! FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] Submissions, mailing address, web page [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] Interview: Ashley-Jayne Nicolaus and Matthew P. Schuster ........ Tim O'Shea [6] A View From the Cheap Seats ........... Rich Watson [7] Stream of Babbling .................... Tim O'Shea [8] Comics Culture Shrapnel ............... Kris Naudus [9] O'Shea's Offhand Opinions ............. Tim O'Shea [10] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [11] My View:TWO OVER TEN; POP GUN WAR; PVP; TRIPLE NOIR THEATER; NODWICK; LIVIN' LAVIDA DORKA ........................ David LeBlanc [12] Top 100 Comics for March .............. Diamond comics [13] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [14] HYPE! Section ......................... Various ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Mailed by Yahoo!: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag AOL text copies in Sci-Fi Library II - Keyword aol://4400:3990 HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring a week's worth of the online strips: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS AND DR. CYBORG by Alan Gross & Mike Oeming ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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@yahoogroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE send a message FROM the account to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.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 2002 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. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The ComicBook Network. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Back Issues, Web Page SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc. to our Emag, simply Email it to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com You must include your REAL name and a valid Email address in order to be published in this Emag. Sorry, we do not accept anonymous columns. Reviews of mainstream books are welcome and we encourage reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. If you write intelligent, coherent, and timely reviews of any comic book it will almost always be printed, so give us a shot. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. PLEASE, no material on Gaming, role playing, collectible card games or other hobbies or collectibles other than comic books. That also includes plugs for web pages UNLESS they are concerned with print comic books. We do not promote web comics as we do not consider them to be comic books. SEND US YOUR WORK ----------------- We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but any comic books sent to us *will* be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 Material is generally reviewed in the order received and be advised that we work a few weeks in advance so your review may not be in the magazine immediately. Advanced copies are therefore encouraged so the review will occur prior to your product hitting the stores. THE Comic Book Net WEB PAGE http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as all back issues and an annotated index. You'll also find important information and other neat features like links to the HTML version of the current issue of this magazine at DIGITAL WEBBING, [http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem], some of the comic companies and creators' web pages and many other Comic Book related links! You can also find some of our back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: COMICS, then choose the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. These are non-zipped text files. AOL search/keyword: aol://4400:3990 ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com Still resting after last week's humongous issue and a week on the road in the Lone Star state so this will be brief. As usual I brought a supply of comics to read - this time lots of stuff waiting to be reviewed. The results are in this week's MY VIEW. There is still a lot more so next week will hopefully get me current. Before I left I made my weekly trip to THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT, sponsors of our Anniversary Trivia Contest. As luck would have it the very elusive owner and entrepreneur Paul Howley was in the house, always a fun time. We got into a discussion of the Emag and Paul brought up something that others mention from time to time. Why aren't there more letters from readers of the Emag? There have been times in the past when a particular subject or momentous event in the industry invoked lots of comment from the readers. Even certain columnists seemed to draw more letters to the editor. I don't think the readers are all that different now, just the times and the lack of controversial topics maybe. Then there is the theory of buying a car. If you get a lemon you go back and complain loudly. If you have no problems do you write the dealer a letter of appreciation or stop by just to say what a nice car it is? Most people don't. Maybe you all don't think all so differently from myself or Paul or Rich or Tim or Kris think. I often advise new contributors not to expect much mail. I think people enjoy the columns but don't necessarily feel the need to write. Some people just mail personal comments to the columnists and that's cool. I am not asking for you to all of a sudden starting sending us letters. I will ask if you do feel strongly about something in one of the contributed columns, at least write that columnist a note. Now here are some new comics to check out: CROSSGEN COMICS Mystic #22, 2.95 DC COMICS Doom Patrol #6, 2.50 Hawkman #1, 2.50 <--------------pick of the week! DORK STORM PRESS Nodwick #12, 2.99 IMAGE COMICS Savage Dragon #94, 2.95 LITTLE ROCKET PUBLICATIONS Wild Stars Vol 3 #5, 2.95 MARVEL COMICS Alias #7, 2.99 Exiles #11, 2.25 Ultimate Spider-Man #20, 2.25 Funny thing happened on the way home. I got in the van at the airport for the ride home and who is there but a fellow comic book enthusiast that worked at That's Entertainment just back from a vacation in Hawaii with his family. We had a great ride back from Boston catching up. And waiting in the week's mail was a copy of WELCOME TO ELTINGVILLE on VHS direct from Cartoon Network. I'LL be reviewing that next time. But now it's SHOWTIME! 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, including those sent to the columnists, 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:the last mini Date:3/2/02 1:49:54 PM Eastern Standard Time From:EricMengel@msn.com Hey all, It's March and I'm back!!! I received my final mini-comic book from the printers yesterday and have already sold 25 copies of the initial 100. Want one? The mini-comic is twenty pages and costs $2.00. The Petey Buttons remain available and are selling well at $1.00 per button. All money goes towards the launch of BLIND MICE, my quarterly, full scale comic book debuting September. Want to help the cause? Here's the info: ERIC MENGEL, P.O. Box 2125, Tempe, AZ 85280 Eric Mengel www.blindmicecomics.com +++++ Subj:Comic book radio show info Date:3/7/02 4:18:46 PM Eastern Standard Time From:nuffsaid@escape.com Hi, folks, 'Nuff Said!, the comic book interview/talk show, is still on the air and over the internet for a full hour every Tuesday at 10 PM (eastern North American time) on WBAI-FM, 99.5 in the New York City metropolitan area. There are TWO live streams (via 2600.com and escape.com) that you can get from our web site, http://www.nuffsaid.net. If one access is unavailable, try the other. Everyone with the right software (and there's a free download link from our site) should be able to get through now. In fact, I was told by one of the techies that only one show fills every slot and it ain't 'Nuff Said! (It's Gary Null.) Upcoming shows are: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - I'm do a listener phone call segment (assuming we don't turn it into a memorial show at the last minute, again. I hope not!). WBAI-FM, 99.5, is a 50,000 watt station broadcast from the Empire State Building. Our signal usually gets out to New Haven, CT; Westhampton, L.I.; the Poconos of Pennsylvania, Orange County, NY and Trenton & Princeton, NJ. But via the internet for an even greater distance, natch. We cover the entire world of comics: golden age, silver age, contemporary, mainstream, independent, underground, foreign, strips and fandom. Hosted by Ken Gale (interviewer) with Mercy E. Van Vlack. WBAI is a Pacifica Network station (if your local station carries any Pacifica programming (such as Explorations, "Democracy Now" and Gary Null), they might be able to get 'Nuff Said! as well). For more information on the WBAI "situation" (a lot of you have asked me about it at conventions), I highly recommend checking http://www.glib.com. It's full of information, history and links covering several different points of view and is updated frequently (sometimes several times per day). WBAI-FM, 120 Wall St., 10th flr, New York, NY 10005. --Ken Gale, producer, interviewer and co-host ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] **THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE EMAG EACH WEEK IS ON OUR HOME PAGE!** IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THE TRIVIA, GO THERE FIRST ON FRIDAY NIGHT http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet 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 the original Valiant Universe, who killed Prince Albert? The winner of our 6th Anniversary trivia contest is Jeff Patrick who was the first to know it was not Solar or Archer but the Speakeasy Bims that killed bad boy Albert. Jeff wins the Complete Ballad of Halo Jones trade paperback from THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT of Worcester, MA. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Atlas, Thor, The Ring and Cupid belong to what super hero group? IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE Email your guess to ComicBkNet@aol.com or just REPLY to the message if you read the Emag in your mail. DO NOT quote the entire message! You MUST allow mail from ComicBkNet@aol.com to be notified if you win. 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. Winners will forfeit their prize if the Email notification is not accepted from ComicBkNet@aol.com LIMIT: ONLY ONE PRIZE every 4 weeks PER PERSON! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Network Buzz News, gossip and rumors from around the industry From: http://members.tripod.com/harveyawards/news.html HARVEY AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED; DORKIN & MILLIONAIRE TO HOST CEREMONY Northampton, MA, March 7, 2002 -- The Harvey Awards Committee is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2001 HARVEY AWARDS, recognizing outstanding achievements in the comics field during the past year. Named after the late cartooning genius HARVEY KURTZMAN and founded in 1988, the Harveys are one of the industry's oldest and most respected awards. The nominee list (based on comics publications which shipped during the calendar year 2001) has been compiled by tallying nominating votes from ballots mailed to over 2,000 industry writers, artists, editors, and other professionals involved in the creative aspects of the comics industry. Harvey Award winners will also be selected by comics' creative community through a Final Ballot. The Harveys are the only industry awards where both the nominees and winners are selected by the entire body of comic book professionals. Final Ballots are being mailed to the same professionals who received nominating ballots, with a voting deadline of April 10th. Eligible creators who have not received a ballot should contact the Harvey Awards Administrator Paul McSpadden by e-mail at pjcjmc2@att.net or by writing: Harvey Awards, P.O. Box 329, Northampton MA 01061-0329. This year's recipients will be honored at the 15th Annual Harvey Awards Banquet on FRIDAY, APRIL 26th (8:00 PM) at the PITTSBURGH COMICON. EVAN DORKIN, the creator of "Milk & Cheese," "Eltingville" and "Dork!" will be the evening's Master of Ceremonies for the third consecutive year. TONY MILLIONAIRE, creator of "Maakies" and "Sock Monkey," will deliver the keynote address. Dorkin and Millionaire have each received Harvey nominations and awards in past years. The awards themselves will be presented by some of the industry's most respected figures, and several of this year's nominees will be in attendance. Tables can still be reserved for the awards ceremony and banquet. Limited free seating is also available. For more information about the Harvey Awards Ceremony, please contact Renee George at the Pittsburgh Comicon at (814) 467-4116 or by email: pcomicon@wwainc.com 2002 Harvey Award Nominees BEST WRITER Azzarello, Brian- 100 Bullets, DC Comics Clowes, Dan- Eightball, Fantagraphics Marz, Ron- Scion, CrossGen Moore, Alan- Top 10, ABC Waid, Mark- Ruse, CrossGen Ware, Chris- Acme Novelty Library, Fantagraphics Two titles received the same number of votes for this category, resulting in six nominees. BEST ARTIST Cheung, Jim- Scion, CrossGen Cooper, Dave- Weasel, Fantagraphics Guice, Butch- Ruse, CrossGen Risso, Ed- 100 Bullets, DC Comics Ware, Chris- Acme Novelty Library, Fantagraphics BEST CARTOONIST Cho, Frank Clowes, Dan Cooper, Dave Smith, Jeff Ware, Chris SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR Ivan Brunetti for Haw! Evan Dorkin for Dork Sam Henderson for Magic Whistle Tony Millionaire for Sock Monkey Johnny Ryan for Angry Youth Comix SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION Acme Novelty #15, Fantagraphics Drawn & Quarterly, Vol. 4, Drawn& Quarterly Jack Cole and Plastic Man, Chronicle Books Peanuts: Art of Charles Schulz, Pantheon Books Spirit Archives, DC Comics BEST NEW SERIES Alias, Marvel La Perdita, Fantagraphics Legion, DC Comics Negation, CrossGen Ruse, CrossGen BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES Acme Novelty Library, Fantagraphics Eightball, Fantagraphics Hellboy, Dark Horse Comics 100 Bullets, DC Comics Scion, CrossGen BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY Acme Novelty Library No.15, Fantagraphics Atlas No. 1, Drawn & Quarterly Drawn & Quarterly Vol. 4, Drawn & Quarterly Eightball No. 22, Fantagraphics Ring of the Nibelung: "Sigfried," Dark Horse Comics Ruse No. 1, CrossGen Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, DC Comics Two titles received the same number of votes for this category, resulting in six nominees. BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM OF ORIGINAL WORK Golem's Mighty Swing, Drawn and Quarterly Mail Order Bride, Fantagraphics Name of the Game, DC Comics Pistol Whipped, Top Shelf Soap Lady Top, Shelf BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM OF PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED WORK Akira, Dark Horse Comics Alec: How to be an Artist, Eddie Campbell Box Office Poison, Top Shelf Berlin, Drawn and Quarterly Lone Wolf and Cub, Dark Horse Comics Palestine, Fantagraphics Two titles received the same number of votes for this category, resulting in six nominees. BEST ANTHOLOGY Bizarro, DC Comics Expo 2001, Small Press Expo Drawn & Quarterly Vol. 4, Drawn& Quarterly NON 5, red Ink The Comics Journal Winter Special 2002, Fantagraphics BEST INKER Burns, Charles-Black Hole Dell, John-Mystic Cooper, Dave-Weasel Digital Chameleon-Violent Messiahs Hennessey, Andrew-Sigil BEST LETTERER Clowes, Dan -Eightball Digital Chameleon -Akira Lamphear, Dave -Ruse Sim, Dave -Cerebus Ware, Chris -Acme Novelty Library BEST COLORIST Clowes, Dan -Eightball D'Armata, Frank -Crux Depuy, Laura -Ruse Kindzierski, Lovern -Ring of the Nibelung Ponsar, Frank -Scion Ware, Chris -Acme Novelty Library Two titles received the same number of votes for this category, resulting in six nominees. BEST SYNDICATED STRIP For Better or for Worse Liberty Meadows Maakies Mutts Underworld BEST BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL PRESENTATION Comic Book Artist Comics Journal Jack Cole and Plastic Man Jack Kirby Collection Peanuts: Art of Charles Schulz BEST PRESENTATION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL Akira, Dark Horse Comics Hey Wait, Fantagraphics Lone Wolf and Cub, Dark Horse Comics Nimrod, Fantagraphics Super Manga Blast, Dark Horse Comics BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT Complete Crumb, Fantagraphics Grasshopper and the Ant, Denis Kitchen Publishing Little Annie Fanny, Vol. 2, Dark Horse Comics Plastic Man Archives, DC Comics Spirit Archives, DC Comics BEST NEW TALENT Annable, Graham -Grickle Hall, Jason -Pistol Whipped Jason -Hey Wait McNiven, Steve -Meridian Moline, Carl -Fray BEST COVER ARTIST Burns, Charles -Black Hole Hughes, Adam -Wonder Woman Johnson, Dave -100 Bullets Noto, Phil -Birds of Prey Ware, Chris -Acme Novelty Library * * * Contact Information: For Press Information, email pr@harveyawards.org For a Ballot, email pjcjmc2@att.net For Awards Ceremony and Convention Information, contact Renee George at 814-467-4116, email pcomicon@wwainc.com, or visit http://www.pittsburghcomicon.com For General Information, contact Denis Kitchen at denis@deniskitchen.com +++++ The Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) is running a review of our 9-11: Emergency Relief benefit book (Alternative Comics; ISBN 1-891867-12-1) in their upcoming April 2002 issue. Owned by Scarecrow Press, part of the Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group, VOYA is a bimonthly journal addressing librarians, educators, and other professionals who work with young adults. The only magazine devoted exclusively to the informational needs of teenagers, it was founded in 1978 by librarians and renowned intellectual freedom advocates Dorothy M. Broderick and Mary K. Chelton "to identify the social myths that keep us from serving young people and replace them with knowledge." Broderick retired in early 1997, when Cathi Dunn MacRae became editor after twenty years as a young adult librarian in public libraries. Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) April 2002 9-11: Emergency Relief. Jeff Mason, Ed. Alternative Comics (503 NW 37th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609-2204), 2002. 200p. $14.95 Trade pb. 1-891867-12-1. Illus. Through their art and words, eighty-five artists and writers express their grief and horror in response to the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., and the ill-fated attempt that ended in the fields of Pennsylvania. With contributors ranging from well-known creators such as Will Eisner, Harvey Pekar, and Jeff Smith, to newer talents, such as James Kochalka, Frank Cho, Metaphrog, and Scott Morse, the intensely personal reactions to the horrific events are portrayed through the unique style of each. Some artists were in New York that day and witnessed the attack; others reacted from far away. Author, cartoonist, and fifth grade teacher Brian Clopper writes of how he, his students, and his family stumbled through that day. Citing the earliest estimated death toll, cartoonist Tom Beland, who lives in Puerto Rico, writes of how the deaths of strangers made him want to cling to his family and appreciate the simple things: "For 6,000 people ... coming home has lost its magic. But I appreciate this moment that much more." Editor and Publisher Mason himself gathered all the talent to depict their experiences in this volume that will benefit the American Red Cross. This collection is just one of several comic book projects to salute the everyday heroes, allow people into personal lives of creators, mourn the dead, and carry on for the living. Readers will respond to the diverse reactions on these pages, which might help them sort out their own thoughts and feelings about September 11. All libraries, including middle and high school media centers, should have this book in their collections ~Kat Kan Jeff Mason Alternative Comics http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics Phone: 352-373-6336 +++++ INKSTAINS - SVA STUDENT COMIC EXPO INFO Hello Everybody- I am proud to announce the first annual SVA STUDENT COMIC EXPO. This is going to be an open-to-the-public event that will be happening in the lobby of the E23rd St. building from 5:30-7:00PM on Tuesday March 26, and leading into the third Comix Decode event, which features comic artists Farel Dalrymple, Jessica Abel, and Howard Cruse reading and discussing their works in the SVA Amphitheater at 7:00PM, until around 9:30PM, and the event is hosted by Matt Madden and Calvin Reid. The idea of the Comic Expo is to allow students to peddle their wares to the general public. Feel free to sell any books that contain any of your work, whether it be an anthology or something totally of your own. SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS ILLUSTRATION AND CARTOONING DEPT & INKSTAINS PRESENT SVA STUDENT COMIC EXPO A Comic Convention Showcasing the Work of Students of the School of Visual Arts. TUESDAY MARCH 26 5:30-7:00PM @ 209 E23rd St btwn 2nd and 3rd Ave [New York] MAIN LOBBY Followed at 7:00 by: COMIX DECODE FEATURING READINGS AND DISCUSSION BY COMIC ARTISTS: FAREL DALRYMPLE JESSICA ABEL HOWARD CRUSE hosted by MATT MADDEN and CALVIN REID FREE ADMISSION TO ALL EVENTS! Questions- inkstains_sva@hotmail.com -- ************************* Jessica Abel comics: http://www.artbabe.com illustration: http://www.jessicaabel.com +++++ MERCURY MEDIA TAPS INTO CROSSGEN COMICS ON THE WEB Advertising Mega-Partner To Help Deliver New Readers Into Comics On The TAMPA, FL., March 4, 2002 - With the launch of CrossGen Comics on the Web, www.comicsontheweb.com, CrossGeneration Comics, Inc. has embarked on an ambitious campaign to associate top media partners to help promote and support the new program. One of the first is Mercury Media, one of the country's largest media buyers, who has stepped in to help push CrossGen Comics on the Web to mainstream consumer entertainment portals through subscription agreements and unique advertising deals that will expose CrossGen to millions of potential new readers. The specifics of the deal will remain proprietary between the two companies, but the primary benefit to CrossGen is that Mercury Media has goals laid out in the agreement to bring mainstream sites equaling at least a cumulative 50 million unique visitors to bear for Comics on the Web by summer of this year, breaking the 100 million unique visitor mark by year's end. The aim of CrossGen Comics on the Web, with its $1 per month subscription price tag, is to create a low-cost point of entry for new readers in places already populated by those potential new readers. "Mercury Media is one of the companies that has stepped up with a sense of vision and clarity about what it is we can achieve with Comics on the Web, and they found a great deal of value in that package," said Tony Panaccio, Vice President of Product Development for CrossGen. "Together we are going to do some things that will shock the industry. For years, comics retailers and fans have been asking for a `Got Milk' style advertising campaign to deliver the message that comics are an incredibly diverse and dynamic form of consumer entertainment. Mercury Media is going to help us do some of the heavy lifting necessary to bring that about." CrossGen has already partnered with a number of major Web portals to promote and distribute Comics on the Web to their existing viewership that currently totals millions of unique visitors monthly. In addition to primary consumer portal partner uclick - host of the consumer comics site ucomics.com, CrossGen has also stricken a deal with one of the nation's largest media buying organizations, Mercury Media, that will have Mercury act as an authorized business-to-business sales force that will effectively place CrossGen Comics on the Web in a wide range of consumer entertainment Web sites and other marketing channels. "This is easily the most compelling content play I've seen developed in a long time," said Clint Hodges, head of Interactive Sales for iMercury, Mercury Media's online division. Prior to joining iMercury recently, Hodges was in charge of sales for Carsey-Werner's online syndication division. "It's fast, it's robust and the stories are downright addictive. CrossGen's Comics on the Web have achieved the perfect balance between content, function and fast delivery over the Web. I see this offering becoming reasonably ubiquitous in a very short period of time, and we can't wait to sink our teeth into this project."After an initial two-month free trial period, a subscription fee of $1 per month will be charged. This subscription price allows for unlimited access to the entire library of CrossGen Comics on the Web. After the initial wave of 50 comics is available, CrossGen will release new issues weekly, all included for the same subscription price. Portals already onboard include: ucomics.com Coolbeansworld.com Comicon.com Grayhavenmagazine.com Silverbulletcomics.com Herorealm.com Comicscontinuum.com Slushfactory.com ORCAFresh.net CrossGen Comics on the Web will contain links to a list of CrossGen's Premier Retailers, including store names, zip codes and even road maps, allowing curious new readers a fast and effective way of finding a comic store in their area that is assured to carry CrossGen product. CrossGen Comics on the Web were designed to be read simply and easily by even the most novice of Web surfers or comic readers. The Flash- enhancements allow for quick download times even on the slowest of connections. The only waiting occurs as the first page image loads. Following pages load in the background, allowing readers to begin reading within seconds of opening Comics on the Web. Once a reader begins, they can simply roll their mouse pointer over the word balloons and the size of the word balloons increases to make viewing easier. Throughout their experience other features make CrossGen Comics on the Web simple to use and enjoy. "Story So Far" information is available during every issue. Character biographies and current issue descriptions are also available. And a handy Help function shows how to make every function work properly. To see and sample CrossGen Comics on the Web, go to: www.comicsontheweb.com About iMercury(tm) / Mercury Media iMercury(tm) is the interactive arm of Mercury Media (www.mercurymedia.com), the nation's largest independent media buying agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Over the last 13 years, Mercury Media has facilitated campaigns for such companies as NetFlix, Sony, TIVO, and Activision, and last year placed $120 million in media buys. Mercury Media extends this collateral buying power to iMercury™ to maximize marketing dollars online and leverages the staff's collective experience gained over more than seven years in the Internet aspect of the business to enhance client ROI. iMercury also employs POLARISÖ, the company's customizable, proprietary campaign management tool that gathers data unique to client specifications and tracks the value of every advertising dollar. +++++ Humanoids Unveils New Website At www.Humanoids-Publishing.com Los Angeles ­ March 4th, 2002 ­ Humanoids Publishing¹s new website went live today at: www.humanoids-publishing.com This site is a re-imagined website offering several new features including animations, discussion boards, and updated release schedules. "This is a really important step for us", said Ian Sattler, Marketing Manager for Humanoids. "This site is an avenue for fans to not only have a chance to get updated on our books, but communicate with us as well. For new fans, the website is a great way to be introduced to our publications. Personally, I¹m really looking forward to the future of the site, in terms of expanding it over time to include as many cool bells and whistles as possible. We¹ll always be trying to do something exciting, from contests to exclusive sneak previews of artwork. It¹s going to be a lot of fun." In addition to release schedules, back catalogue information, and discussion boards, www.humanoids-publishing.com also features news updates and links to flash animations. The flash animations are of special note as they are for two of Humanoids¹ more popular series, The Metabarons, and From Cloud 99. Also included are art submission guidelines and contact information for the company. Humanoids has also created a special section for retailers on www.humanoids-publishing.com , where they can register to receive updates on special ordering incentives and releases. "We are dedicated to keeping this website updated and relevant", said Dave Olbrich, Publishing Director for Humanoids. "Not only does that provide more value for fans, but it helps us in terms of information gathering and promotions. I hope that we can also use the site to increase our contact with retailers as well." +++++ MARVEL SLASHES TRADE PAPERBACK PRICES! The House Cuts Collected Edition Prices As Much As $3.00! As The House continues to experiment with new characters, creators, imprints and formats, the gang in the Bullpen is also examining entire publishing lines, including our recently overhauled trade paperback program. In an effort to deliver more bang for readers' bucks, Marvel is cutting prices from two to three dollars on all new volumes -- as determined by their individual page counts -- starting with collections that will reach stores in July 2002! Why cut the prices? And why now? "The simple truth is that we responded to feedback from retailers and fans," explained Marvel President and COO Bill Jemas. Likewise, Editor In Chief Joe Quesada gave this short but sweet reason: "I was looking at the tpb prices and thought to myself, 'Man, these are expensive.' Retailers and readers told us the same thing -- so we cut the prices." 'Nuff Said! Bill Rosemann Marketing Communications Manager Marvel Comics +++++ Subject: March Sequential Tart COVERS Jeff Alexander Jane Irwin INTERVIEWS Michael Gagne (Don Bluth Studios) Tom Fassbender & Jim Pascoe (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) John Lustig (Last Kiss) Mark Miller (Ultimate X-Men) Julio Valle (Amarillo, Havana Club Dreams, Strawhead) ARTICLES Spotlight On... Is There an Asian or Asian American Comic Style? by Kim De Vries Hopelessly Lost But Making Good Time part 12 by Pam Bliss The Ten Greatest Heroines in Comics Today According to Wizard Magazine by Rebecca Salek Shades of Blue by Jennifer Contino CON REPORTS \X/est Coast Peeps by Adrienne Rappaport APE on a Sunday by Jamaica Dyer Mangatastic by Anna Jellinek ATSUKAMASHII ONNA Under A Microscope - X/1999 Serenade by Sheena McNeil The Horror! The Horror! by Dani Fletcher Horror Roundup by Dani Fletcher The EVA Marathon part 2 by Trish Sebastian A Taste of Fear by Sheena McNeil The Scary Side of Anime by Sheen McNeil New Anime Releases by Jennifer Contino Dragon Ball A to Z by Alysson Wyatt Reviews: Anime, Manga, Anime Soundtrack CON REPORTS Katsucon 8 - The Little Con That Could by Trisha L. Sebastian CULTURE VULTURES Rant of the Month - Pass the Legolamb Please by Rebecca Salek Buffy Bites by Wolfen Moondaughter Reviews: Books & Magazines, Comics, DVDs & Videos, Events, Graphic Novels, Movies, Television, Web Comics COLUMNS 13 Questions - Jeff Alexander (Literary Graffiti) Declaration of Independents - Jane Irwin (Vogelein) Read This Or Die - Shades of Blue Redirected Male - We Don't Have That Kind Of Stuff Here by James Patrick Retailer's Corner - Emerald City in Clearwater, FL Tart To Heart - Elseworld's Finest Dear Kady Mae Going Postal CHATS Buffy Bites The Chat with host Wolfen Moondaughter every Thursday at 9 PM EST AO Official Anime and Manga Chat with host Danielle Fletcher Wednesday March 6th and Wednesday March 20th at 9 PM EST And introducing ... Hopelessly Lost The Chat with host Pam Bliss Tuesday March 12 at 9 PM EST STORE As always Sequential Tart has a wide variety of Tart gear available at our stores: http://www.sequentialtart.com/store.php COMMUNITY We welcome discussion about all topics comics related or not at our message boards: http://www.sequentialtart.com/cgi-bin/community/Ultimate.cgi +++++ Subj:THIS MONTH @ TOP SHELF Comics Fans Worldwide, Included In This Update: -- This Month In Diamond's "Previews": A PPublisher Spotlight -- A Complete Website Update: http://www.ttopshelfcomix.com -- A MoCCA Art Fest Update -- Recent On-Line Interviews & Reviews ********************************************************** THIS MONTH IN PREVIEWS! ********************************************************** If you check out the current Diamond's PREVIEWS catalog (Mar 2002 for books shipping in May), not only will you find the solicitation for Scott Mills' new WWI-based graphic novel, TRENCHES, but you'll also find on page 215, a PUBLISHER SPOTLIGHT on TOP SHELF (as part of "UNDER THE READING LAMP"). Diamond has graciously featured an article on our house – thank you, guys! -- and has also re-offered several of our titles this month: Good-bye, Chunky Rice; Big Clay Pot; Abe; and Cicada. If you haven't tried these books yet, Diamond is making it really easy for you to do so this month. We know you'll love 'em! TRENCHES by Scott Mills Scott Mills is back! And this time he hits the trenches. … Lloyd and David Allenby are two brothers with little in common, except the will to survive World War I. When they arrive in the trenches of the Western Front, they have no idea of the misery and violence that awaits them. Can an aloof Major be the father figure and guiding force in their desperate battle for survival? Or will the estranged brothers be swallowed up before they can come to terms with each other? Trenches … A beautiful story in an ugly war. -- $14.95 (US), 176 pages, 8 1/2" x 7", Graphic Novel, Perfect Bound, Color Cover, B&W Interiors, ISBN 1- 891830-28-7 ********************************************************** COMPLETE WEBSITE UPDATE ********************************************************** http://www.topshelfcomix.com http://www.topshelfcomix.com Just so you know, topshelfcomix.com has been completely updated. If you'd like to know what we're up to in 2002… What we have slated for 2003… Which From Hell, Birth Caul, and Snakes & Ladders pages are still available… What books we currently have in stock_ Just visit us and see for yourself. And to celebrate the update, we're running a special right now: Buy $100.00 of books on-line and get an extra $25.00 of books free! (not available wholesale) http://www.topshelfcomix.com http://www.topshelfcomix.com ********************************************************** MoCCA ART FEST UPDATE ********************************************************** All the tables for the SPX / EXPO 2002 in Bethesda, Maryland have now sold out! So, if you want to be involved in the East Coast Small Press Scene this year you better contact Kristen Siebecker soon to reserve your table for the first-ever New York small press show, the MoCCA ART FEST. Tables are selling out fast here as well, but if you make plans now you might still get in. MoCCA Art Festival June 23, 2002 11 am - 7 pm Puck Building 293 Lafayette Street New York City All entry proceeds will benefit the: MUSEUM OF COMIC AND CARTOON ART The official website for further information: http://www.moccany.org/events.html For questions, please feel free to e-mail Kristen Siebecker: MOCCAaf@aol.com Or call the MOCCA Art Festival hotline at: (212) 696-7945 ********************************************************** RECENT ON-LINE INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS ********************************************************** Newsarama's feature-length interview with Top Shelf (by Brian Saner- Lamken): http://www.comicon.com/cgi- bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=12&t=000136 (or just visit http://www.comicon.com and click on Newsarama) SequentialTart's interview with Top Shelf (by Jennifer M. Contino): http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/feb02/staros.shtml The Comics Journal's article on the "Small Batch" line (by Tom Spurgeon): http://www.tcj.com/241/r_minimal.html ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* See y'all at the Cons! Your friend thru comics, Chris Staros Top Shelf Productions PO Box 1282 Marietta, GA 30061-1282 USA staros@bellsouth.net http://www.topshelfcomix.com +++++ Superman tarnished by Kryptonite hair gel - lawsuit By Gail Appleson, Law Correspondent NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Superman trademark will lose its power if hair-care company Wella Corp. keeps selling its glowing green styling gel under the name Kryptonite, DC Comics alleged in a lawsuit Wednesday. Manhattan-based DC Comics, one of the best known publishers of comic magazines, alleged Wella's use of the fictitious radioactive rock on its label is "usurping ... the commercial magnetism of Superman" and tarnishing the Kryptonite trademark. Because Kryptonite gel appeared with a "TM" symbol the public might think there is an association between the gel and the character, giving Wella an unfair benefit from Superman's fame, the lawsuit alleged. The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks unspecified damages and a ruling stopping the Woodland Hills, California, company from using the name of the pretend material on any of its hair-care products. The suit also names Wella Corp.'s parent, Wella AG, as a defendant. DC Comics says Kryptonite, usually depicted as a glowing green substance, holds a particularly prominent place in the character's myth and is immediately recognized by the public. "As is undoubtedly well-known throughout the world, DC coined the term Kryptonite to represent an element from Superman's home planet, Krypton," the suit said adding that the word was first used in a 1943 Superman radio episode. "While Superman is virtually invulnerable and can withstand such things as a hail of bullets, he is helpless in the face of Kryptonite radiation," the suit said. In addition to using the name and color of Kryptonite, Wella classifies the hair gel as "their hair gel product with the strongest hold," the suit alleged. It said DC Comics became aware of the product in February and sent a letter of protest to Wella, demanding the company stop making and shipping the product. It alleged Wella refused. A Wella spokesman could not be reached for comment. +++++ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Gene Kannenberg, Jr. University of Connecticut genekjr@earthlink.net Phone: 860 450-1316 -- Fax: 860 486-1530 "The Building of The Cage": Noted French Comics Scholar Thierry Groensteen to Appear in Toronto at the 2002 Popular Culture Association Conference STORRS, CT, USA, March 5, 2002 - The Comic Art & Comics Area of the Popular Culture Association (PCA) is proud to present a lecture by Thierry Groensteen, one of Europe's most respected comics critics, at its North American meeting at Toronto's Sheraton Centre Hotel on Friday, March 15, 2002, from 8:00-9:00 p.m. in the Conference G room. Prof. Groensteen will present a lecture on Martin Vaughn-James' The Cage, an important avant-garde "visual novel" published in Toronto in 1975. This fascinating work has enjoyed a wide-ranging critical reputation in Europe and is regarded as a keystone in modern visual narrative. Having studied the notebooks and drafts of the artist, Groensteen will propose a new look at this innovative book. Thierry Groensteen served as the director of the Centre National de la Bande Dessinée et de l'Image (the comics museum in Angoulême, France) from 1993 to March 2001, and earlier as the editor of the influential French journal of comics criticism, Cahiers de la Bande Dessinée. He has written extensively on comic art for many years; his recent publications include Systèm de la Bande Dessinée (Presses Universitaires de France, 1999) and English essays published in Forging a New Medium: The Comic Strip in the Nineteenth Century (VUB UP, 1998; on Rodolphe Töpffer); Comics Culture : Analytical and Theoretical Approaches to Comics, (Museum Tusculanum Press, 2000; on comics and cultural legitimization); and in International Journal of Comic Art (vol 2. No. 2, 2000; on Gustave Doré). The talk will be introduced by Daniel Longo, Cultural Attaché at the French Consulate in Toronto, for an audience of conference participants. Thierry Groensteen's visit is made possible by the kind support of the Consulate General of France in Toronto, in conjunction with the Popular Culture Association. The Comic Art & Comics Area meeting is the longest-running and the largest annual academic conference on comic art in North America. Each year it presents the M. Thomas Inge Award for Comics Scholarship for the best paper given in the Area the previous year. This year the Area will offer eleven panels featuring over three dozen papers on all facets of comic art from around the world, in addition to the special lecture by Thierry Groensteen. The Area is chaired by Gene Kannenberg, Jr. of the University of Connecticut. For more information on this year's conference offerings, visit the Comic Art & Comics Area's web site: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~epk93002/CAC/. For more information on the PCA, visit http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~pcaaca/. For more information on Thierry Groensteen, visit http://www.mediadesk.com.fr/groensteen For more information on the Consulate General of France in Toronto, visit http://www.consulfrance-toronto.org/ Thierry Groensteen, "The Building of The Cage" Comic Art & Comics Area, Popular Culture Association Conference Friday, March 15, 2002, 8:00-9:00 p.m. The Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel, Conference G, Mezzanine 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Queries may be directed to: Gene Kannenberg, Jr. Department of English, U-4025 University of Connecticut Storrs CT 06269-4025 USA e-mail: genekjr@earthlink.net Phone: 860 450-1316 Fax: 860 486-1530 Gene Kannenberg, Jr. --- http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~epk93002/ Chair, Comic Art & Comics Area, Popular Culture Association http://www.ComicsResearch.org/ -- Gene@ComicsResearch.org Comics Scholarship Annotated Bibliographies +++++ March 6, 2002 Harris Comics For Immediate Release VAMPIRELLA TURNS A PAGE FHM Features New Model Maria DiAngelis, known better to comics fans as Vampirella, graces the pages of this month's FHM. On sale on March 12, the April cover issue has a three page feature on the model who is the newest face to represent the popular vampire character. "I was used to doing girl-next-door type of shoots," DiAngelis says in the interview, "but now I get to be sexy." FHM, the US edition, is in stores now and retails for $3.99. VAMPIRELLA #7 will be in stores March 20. Both FHMUS.com and VAMPIRELLA.COM host other photos of DiAngelis. For more information, contact Yoshi Aino (212) 462-9626 or yoshi@harris-pub.com +++++ MAX to the MAX in '02! After generating buzz, earning critical praise and proving that "mature reader" titles could crack the Top 50, Marvel's MAX line shifts into high gear in 2002, with a lineup of projects for new readers and jaded fans alike. "Not only are the books coming together great -- but they really cover a lot of different genres," said editor Stuart Moore. "We've got crime, horror, western, martial arts action, science fiction, satire, and more. There's something for everybody here." "Especially if you like your heroes cussing, naked and bathed in blood," added editor Axel Alonso. "Or your creators," MAX's weak sister editor Tom Brevoort punctuated. Appearing alongside the Blade II movie, the next ongoing MAX title to launch will be the monthly BLADE series, which hits stores on March 13th. Written by novelist Christopher Hinz, and featuring art by Steve Pugh and covers by Tim Bradstreet, this is an all-new approach to Marvel's deadly vampire hunter -- bringing the action and horror of the hit films to comics, with more than a few dark shocks along the way. In April, BLACK WIDOW: PALE LITTLE SPIDER presents a shocking erotic crime tale set in present-day Russia. "This one's going to surprise a lot of people," said Moore. "It's very disturbing." WIDOW is created by acclaimed crime writer Greg Rucka (ELEKTRA, Queen & Country) and artist Igor Kordey (NEW X-MEN, CABLE), with covers by Greg Horn. And in May, THE HOOD hits the streets, thanks to writer Brian K. Vaughan (Batman) and INCREDIBLE HULK artist Kyle Hotz. "This is the underbelly of the Marvel Universe, seen through a haze of smoke and covered in a patina of blood," explained Brevoort. "It's at once dark, morbidly funny, unashamedly violent, and unquestionably real. Our lead character, Parker Robbins, is an amoral sociopath -- and we're going to make you love him." APACHE SKIES, by John Ostrander and Leonardo Manco, follows in July. "Leo's fully painting this series, which really conveys the flavor of the Old West in a palpable manner. He's really taken his artwork to a whole new level," said Brevoort. "Plus, John and I get to use all of the twisted, violent material we were forced to soft-pedal in BLAZE OF GLORY (which itself is conveniently available as a trade paperback the same month)." If you're in the mood for a Summer blockbuster with a nasty twist, check out the all-new DEATHLOK limited series. "If you hated FURY, you're really gonna hate DEATHLOK," says editor Axel Alonso. "Think Waterworld -- only there is no the water and there is a plot. It's a sci-fi black comedy by 2000 Xeric Grant Award-winner Daniel Way and FURY penciler Darick Robertson." Also this Summer the long-awaited MASTER OF KUNG FU series leaps into stores, by the award-winning creative team of Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy. "MOKF fans ñ myself included -- are a near-fanatical lot," said Alonso. "So who better to revamp Shang-Chi than the creative team who made it great in the first place?" Reviewing a recent issue of ALIAS, Zentertainment.com recently raved that "It looks like a book that was already good will be getting even better" ñ and we certainly agree! MAX's inaugural title keeps gaining steam, with a new storyline starting in issues #11 and #12, both shipping in July. And the controversial CAGE and HOWARD THE DUCK mini-series will both continue to shock readers right through Spring. "I had to release this cover to HOWARD #3 as soon as it came in," Moore said. "It's just soooo wrong. And the book itself is twice as disturbing." "We knew we couldn't stand still with MAX," said Moore, "so we thought about changing our cover design. We had a three-hour meeting about it, but it just ended with Axel breakdancing, Tom fondling his beloved crowbar and everybody else giggling and pointing at Black Widow's -- uh, nevermind. Anyway, we compromised and decided to make the 'Explicit Content' cover label twice as big, then we went home." "Actually," Alonso revealed, "we just said we were going home, waved goodbye to Stuart, and then reconvened at the bar around the corner." 'Nuff Said! Bill Rosemann Marketing Communications Manager Marvel Comics +++++ From the SPLASH PAGE of Comicon.com at: http://www.comicon.com/splash/ COURT SAYS CAPTAIN AMERICA WAS 'WORK FOR HIRE'! MARVEL GETS CAP COPYRIGHT! March 6: Joe Simon's attempt to get the copyrights to Captain America has failed. Judge Casey, of the Southern District Of New York has granted all claims by Plaintiff Marvel Characters, Inc., against Defendant Joseph H. Simon in the case. A year ago, Marvel sought declaratory judgment stating that certain written notices issued by Simon concerning the copyrights to Captain America, are invalid and have no legal force or effect, and that Marvel is the sole owner of the challenged copyrights. In response, Simon asserted a counterclaim, seeking a declaration that the Notices are valid, that he is the author of the copyrighted works and that the copyrights revert to him on the effective date of the Notices. After the parties conducted discovery, Marvel moved for summary judgment. The Judge ruled: "The Court will not interfere in this legally-binding agreement. Because the Captain America Works were created for hire and all work done on the Captain America Works by Simon was done as an employee for hire, the protection offered by section 304(c) of the Copyright Act of 1976 is unavailable to him. Accordingly, the Court holds that Simon's claims of ownership of the Captain America Works in the Notices, and, therefore, the Notices themselves, are invalid and of no legal force and effect. In accordance with the Settlement Agreement, the Court awards Marvel declaratory judgment that Marvel is the sole owner of the copyrights in and to the Captain America Works." +++++ From the Comics Continuum at http://www.comicscontinuum.com/: JUSTICE LEAGUE GETS SECOND SEASON The Justice League animated series has been picked up for a second season, Cartoon Network announced on Thursday. The network has ordered 26 more half-hour episodes. The first season of Justice League also consisted of 26 half-hour episodes. The first season might stretch as late as September. Justice League has been a consistent ratings performer for Cartoon Network. Justice League's premiere on Saturday, Nov. 17 scored as the most-watched original premiere in Cartoon Network history with 1,770,000 homes and 4,114,000 different viewers tuning in. The premiere also posted the highest adult 18-34 rating (1.6) and delivery (755,000) for an original telecast. +++++ From Newsarama at http://www.comicon.com/Newsarama/ DC GOES BACK TO PRESS ON BATMAN #600 DC Comics announced today that Batman #600 has gone back to press for a second printing just two days after its initial in store date of February 27. The extra-sized anniversary issue features the first chapter of "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive," the follow-up to the "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?" storyline and Batman: The Ten Cent Adventure. The new story arc kicks off with the story "Scene of the Crime," by Ed Brubaker, Scott McDaniel and Andy Owen. The issue also includes three back-up stories drawn in "classic styles of the past": "The Mystery of the Black Bat," by Brubaker and James Tucker, "Joker Tips His Hat," by Brubaker, Stefano Gaudiano and Eric Shanower, and "The Dark, Groovy, Solid, Far-Out, Right-On and Completely With-It Knight Returns," by Patton Oswalt and Sergio Aragones. "This is a truly phenomenal issue, and we're happy to see retailers and fans responding to it so well," said Bob Wayne, DC's VP - Sales & Marketing. "The new printing will allow even more copies of the book to get into more hands." BATMAN #600 Second Printing is scheduled to be in stores on Wednesday, March 13. LOBDELL TO JOIN BUFFY TEAM Although contracts are yet to be officially signed, Dark Horse editor Scott Allie has told Newsarama that former X-Men writer Scott Lobdell is set to join DHC's monthly Buffy the Vampire Slayer title as its regular writer later this year. "Scott'll start on issue #51, after [current writers] Tom [Fassbender] and Jim [Pascoe] wrap up a big story, which Marti Noxon is providing some guidance for,” explained Allie. "Scott has some new ideas for how to do the comic, to really blow it out of the water and change everyone's expectations about what a Buffy comic could be. He wants every issue to be the big-budget Buffy movie that we're all hoping Joss gets to do someday. This is something I've gone for in the past, but could never quite pull off. I think Scott will be able to do it. He'll be able to give you a Sunnydale that wouldn't fit on the small screen. "This is what we're gonna do, and this is why I wanted to get Scott to sign on monthly. I'm going to give him more freedom than I've given any of the comics writers. In everything you've read so far, my hand has been fairly evident. Scott's got a better vision than I have of where to go with the book, in all honesty, and I'm going to get out of the way, and back him all the way. "When I called Joss to tell him I was courting Scott, he was all for it. He knows Scott's work, thinks he's a smart writer, and thinks that his idea of where to go is a good new beginning. "We're gonna do something surprising right in issue #51, his first issue, but I'm not sure I want to tell anyone about it until it comes out.” Allie added that current penciler Cliff Richards will continue on with the series. “I love what he's doing,” Allie said. "We're going to go to full-time painted covers by Brian Horton and Paul Lee.” SUPERBOY #100 SERIES' LAST DC Comics confirmed for Newsarama this afternoon the cancellation of the Superboy series with issue #100, a fact writer Jimmy Palmiotti independently confirmed this afternoon on DC's official Superboy message board. "Hate to do this here, but a lot of people have been asking me about this, and I got the OK from my friends at DC comics to talk about it,” wrote Palmiotti. "Superboy #100 will be the last issue in the series...for now. "It was not an easy thing to cancel this title they tell me. As you know, the sales numbers have been very low for a while on this title, and I want to give a big thank you to everyone at DC. for keeping the title around as long as they could. Just the fact that it reached 100 says a lot, in my mind at least. "There are a few people I want to thank for the time we had on the book...all the wonderful talent on the title, John McCrea, James Hodgkins, Anthony Williams, Walden Wong, John Cassaday, J.G. Jones, Kilian Plunkett, Humberto Ramos, Steve Dillon, Bill S, and especially series editor Mike McAvennie and my partner in crime Dan DiDio. “A lot of people are going to read that Dan was the one responsible for canceling the title, and to some extent, that is true, But you have to understand that it was the lack of interest and sales that are to blame for the books cancellation, not one single person. That is a real negative part of his job, but I understand that this is a business and past of business is to make sure titles can turn a profit, and not lose money. Superboy was the latter. "Well, it's not the end of the world and not the end of Superboy, that's for sure. You can't keep a good character down and I am sure he is going to pop up somewhere soon, you can count on that. “I really had a fun time working on this book and really want to thank everyone on these boards, the Superboy fan sites and all the wonderful emails I have gotten from fans everywhere during our very short run. They mean a lot to me and Dan, and that amount of positive energy, I hope, will flow right back into my keyboard and out on to other projects I am currently writing. I hope you guys will continue to support, or at least try something new from DC Comics. I'm telling you, you won't find a nicer group of people working in the biz anywhere else.” TANK GIRL RETURNS Titan Books has announced that it will represent the cult-classic Tank Girl with a series of reprints beginning this April. Created by Alan Martin and Jamie (Gorillaz) Hewlett, the character first appeared in the UK's Deadline magazine. Collected editions have been out of print for nearly a decade. Titan's first edition in April will feature a new introduction and new origin story by Martin, along with previously unseen material from Hewlett. "What we're doing - specifically - is reprinting the comic strip guts of Dark Horse's 1993 edition, which was colored from their own 4-issue black and white comics; which, in turn, were collected from Tank Girl's original home – the UK-based Deadline magazine, a style magazine which ran interviews, profiles, reviews, features - and a whole lot of comic strips like Tank Girl, Nick Abadzis' Hugo Tate, Milligan, Ewins & Dillon's 'Johnny Nemo', and lots of other great stuff," Boardman told Newsarama. "I've heard it said that the comic book enjoys a renaissance about once every ten years: from Superman in the forties to The Archies to Spider- Man to MAD magazine to Robert Crumb and the Freak Brothers to Judge Dredd and on to Tank Girl and the graphic novel in the eighties- ninetiesm" Martin said. "A decade has passed, so what now? ... Bugger me, it's Tank Girl again!" The first volume will run 128 pages, Titan's Jamie told Newsarama. "There will be 4 books in total - Tank Girl volume 1 to volume 3 by Hewlett and Martin, and Tank Girl: The Odyssey, by Peter Milligan and Jamie Hewlett. They'll be released throughout 2002 with the tentative dates of June for volume 2, October for volume 3, and The Odyssey in December. +++++ From Comics2Film at http://www.comics2film.com JEREMIAH -------- U.S. fans who enjoy Showtime's new show Jeremiah will soon get a chance to experience Hermann Huppen's graphic novels that serve as the basis. Ervin Rustemagic, who is not only an executive producer on the series, but has published the comic abroad for decades, told Comics2Film that plans are afoot to publish the books stateside. Rustemagic plans to bring the books to the U.S. under Venture, the joint-venture publishing imprint he founded with Mike Richardson and Dark Horse Comics. Although a firm release date hasn't been set, Rustemagic tells us that they'll be soliciting the book shortly. Jeremiah comics have not been published in the U.S. in over ten years. Previously they've been available to readers here via Scott Rosenberg's Malibu Comics. Six issues of Jeremiah were published between April and October of 1991. G-MEN FROM HELL --------------- After a long wait by fans in the U.S. it looks like Mike Allred's G-Men From Hell will enjoy a direct-to-video release this year. In a recent posting on his message boards the comic creator told fans, "I was recently invited to join the commentary track for the G-Men From Hell DVD." Comics2Film followed up with the film's producer and co-writer Rick Albert who confirmed the news. Albert spent recent days at the American Film Market where G-Men was screened and found its domestic distributor. "We're tentatively set for DVD and Video release of G-Men From Hell in June," Albert told us. G-Men From Hell stars William Forsythe and Tate Donovan as Allred's redemption seeking characters who first appeared in the Grafik Muzik comics. The film features a great cast which includes Gary Busey, Kari Wuhrer, Robert Goulet, Bobcat Goldthwait, Vanessa Angel, Gregory Sporleder and Paul Rodriguez. Christopher Coppola directed from as script by Robert Cooper and Albert. SPIDER-MAN ---------- The Comics Continuum reports that a behind-the-scenes special on the Spider-Man movie is being prepped for HBO. The cable net is tentatively set to debut the show starting April 19th at 10:45 p.m. Encore airings are scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 28 at 4 p.m. HBO Plus will also air the special. They've got it slated for Saturday, April 20 at 6:30 a.m.; Tuesday, April 23 at 11:15 p.m.; Monday, April 29 at 6:15 a.m.; and Tuesday, April 30 at 5:45 p.m. http://www.comicscontinuum.com Finally, fans who want to go for the ultimate spin should direct their browsers to the Official Spider-Man Website. The site has launched a sweepstakes giving web-heads a chance to attend the U.S. premiere of Spider-Man. You and a friend could win a trip for two from Orbitz.com and passes to the hottest movie premiere of the year. You could also win a PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the new Spider-Man video game, a 6-month Everquest subscription and much more! Check out the site for details. http://www.spiderman.sonypictures.com/ FROM HELL --------- IGN DVD reports that details of the upcoming home video release of From Hell have been announced. The movie, which debuted at #1 at the box office last year, is set to hit video store shelves on May 27th. The adaptation will be presented as a two-disc DVD set complete with a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 sound mixes. IGN DVD provides this list of special features: Disc One: Commentary by directors Albert and Allen Hughes. Disc Two: * Four featurettes including the HBO Special "A View From Hell". * 23 Deleted Scenes. * Alternate ending. * Interactive documentary. * Jack the Ripper: 6 Degrees of Separation - a making of documentary. * Image gallery. * Storyboard comparisons. * Mini-documentary "tour of the White Chapel". From Hell adapts Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's graphic novel of the same name. Johnny Depp, Heather Graham and Ian Holm star. http://dvd.ign.com +++++ From Beau Yarbrough's Comic Wire at: http://www.comicbookresources.com/ SPIDEY SPINS HIS WEB FOR TV GUIDE The movie comic fans are looking forward to the most this summer is naturally "Spider-Man." Many movie tie-ins and collectibles are planned and we got word of another tie-in that completists will want to get their hands on. CBR News has learned that in late April/early May TV Guide will feature Spider-Man on its cover, tying in with the "Spider-Man" feature film hitting theatre's May 3rd. Similar to the design of the Alex Ross "Smallville" covers from last December, the Spider-Man issue will feature four different covers by some of yesterday and today's top Spider-Man artists Current "Amazing Spider-Man" artist John Romita Jr. spoke with CBR News Thursday afternoon to share some details. The artists contributing to this special collectors-item issue are John Romita Jr., John Romita Sr., "Ultimate Spider-Man" artist Mark Bagley and Alex Ross, "Who obviously has a contract with TV Guide," Romita joked, referring to Ross' work on the "Smallville" issues. The cover image will be one complete cover chopped into four pieces with a continuous background. Romita Jr. will pencil the entire cover, which he describes as four stop action shots of Spider-Man swinging from his web. The first of the four covers will also be inked by Romita Jr. and features Spider-Man letting go at the apex of his swing and shooting another web to continue. Covers two and three, to be inked by Romita Sr. and Bagley respectively in their own style, will find Spider-Man in full swing. The fourth cover, to be finished by Alex Ross in his style, shows Spider-Man hitting the apex of his swing once again and shooting another web. The colorists for covers one, two and three will determined by the inking artist. While the finished piece will be 20 inches wide by 7 inches tall, Romita tells us that he's actually working on a 40x14 plate which will be reduced in size for final production. And how does John Romita Jr. feel about working with his father, Bagley and Ross on this special issue of TV Guide? "They'd all be lost without me!" +++++ From the DC Comics Online Newsletter at http://www.dccomics.com FLETCHER CHU-FONG NAMED MANAGER - EVENTS & RETAILER SERVICES Fletcher Chu-Fong, former Sales Manager at Marvel Enterprises and Price Guide Manager for Wizard Entertainment, rejoins DC's Direct Sales Department as Manager - Events & Retailer Services on March 4, reporting to Patricia Jeres, Director — Sales & Marketing Communications. Chu-Fong worked at DC from 1997 to 2000 as Direct Sales Representative. In this position, Chu-Fong is responsible for DC's presence at conventions and retailer meetings, including coordination of staff and freelancer travel and on-site convention events. Chu-Fong also acts as administrator of DC's retailer focus group — the Retailer Representative Program. In addition, he supervises various other retailer services. "We couldn't be happier to have Fletcher come home to DC's Direct Sales team," says Jeres. "His previous experience here at DC plus the added experience he's gained since he left us make him a strong addition to an already strong team." "I can't begin to say how happy, nay, ecstatic I am, coming home to DC Comics," says Chu-Fong. "To me, it will be like coming back to family. I like the people here. Their spirit and enthusiasm for their craft is unrivaled. It's a spectacular all-star cast of professionals dedicated to the fans, retailers and the whole comics community." Beginning March 4, Chu-Fong may be reached by phone at 212-636-5937 and by fax at 212-636-5599. In a related story, the coming weeks also will see Anne Rogers make the transition to her new position as Representative — Events & Retailer Services from her current position as Representative — Direct Sales. GARY ERSKINE TO ILLUSTRATE THE AUTHORITY #29 Please note that THE AUTHORITY #29, scheduled to be in stores on May 8, will be illustrated by Gary Erskine (VERMILLION), instead of Arthur Adams, as was originally solicited. HAWKMAN FEATURED IN NEW MINISITE AT DCCOMICS.COM DCComics.com spotlights the upcoming HAWKMAN monthly series in a new minisite that provides the solicitation text for issue #1 and desktop patterns, with an animated trailer to be added soon. DC TO COLLECT INFLUENTIAL MINISERIES SKREEMER SKREEMER, the 6-issue miniseries published by DC Comics in 1989, will see new life later this year in a collected edition from VERTIGO. The miniseries, written by Peter Milligan (HUMAN TARGET: FINAL CUT HC, X-Force) with art by Brett Ewins and Steve Dillon (PREACHER, WILDCATS), originally was published as a mature readers, DC Comics title. Its post-apocalyptic, crime-riddled plot prefigured some of the central themes explored in the VERTIGO line. "SKREEMER was ahead of its time," says Karen Berger, VP — Executive Editor, VERTIGO. "It was one of the first creator-owned projects DC published, and it's one we've always wanted to collect. With Peter's popularity increasing, thanks to his work on on X-Force and the excitement around the new HUMAN TARGET graphic novel, this seemed like the best possible time to publish it. We're thrilled to be collecting this Eagle-award winning series." Berger describes the project as "The Sopranos meets Finnegan's Wake." The series tells the story of Veto Skreemer, a ruthless but haunted gangster who rules a distopian America in the time that is known only as the "Era of the Gangs." With incredible art by Brett Ewins and Steve Dillon, you're sure to be mesmerized by this powerful, lyrical epic saga. DC STAFF TO ATTEND U.K.'S COMICS 2002 CONVENTION This May, a select group of DC editors will be on hand in Bristol, U.K., for the Comics 2002 convention. The attending editorial staff members are Karen Berger, Vice President — Executive Editor; VERTIGO; Mike Carlin, Vice President — Executive Editor; DC Universe, and Scott Dunbier, Group Editor — WildStorm; as well as Richard Bruning, Vice President — Creative Director. While at the convention, Bruning plans to conduct an informal talent search. "I'll be aggressively looking for experienced, top-notch talent who aren't not working for us today," says Bruning. Numerous writers and artists have also been confirmed as guests of the convention, including Charlie Adlard (THE MONARCHY), Gary Erskine (THE FILTH, THE MONARCHY), John Higgins (WAR STORY: D-DAY DODGERS), Adam Hughes (WONDER WOMAN, JUST IMAGINE STAN LEE CREATING_), Marc Laming (AMERICAN CENTURY), Andy Lanning (THE LEGION), John McCrea (SUPERBOY, THE MONARCHY), Grant Morrison (THE FILTH), Patricia Mulvihill (100 BULLETS), Dean Ormston (LUCIFER), Sean Phillips (WILDCATS), Warren Pleece (AMERICAN CENTURY), Greg Rucka (DETECTIVE COMICS), Peter Snejberg (JSA), and Chris Weston (THE FILTH). Two representatives from DC's Direct Sales department also will be in attendance. Comics 2002 takes place May 31 – June 2 in Bristol, U.K. For more information, visit the Comics 2002 website at www.sitsvac.org/C2001.html. A link to the National Comics Award (UK) voting ballot will be added to the dccomics.com in the near future. BACK TO PRESS! As part of DC's commitment to retailers and readers alike, selected items go back to press when quantities become low. The following titles have been reprinted and are available for order: BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE (STAR15169) (12th printing) THE SANDMAN: A GAME OF YOU TP (STAR07485) (4th printing) CRIMSON: HEAVEN AND EARTH (STAR10546) (2nd printing) NEWS FROM THE TRADE PRESS Comic Shop News #766 includes the article "Word Power," about the JUST IMAGINE STAN LEE WITH GARY FRANK CREATING SHAZAM! special. The "Comics in Your Future" column in the March 8 edition of Comics Buyer's Guide (#1477) reviews LAB RATS #1, with Robert Scott writing, "easily the most interesting work he's done since Next Men, LAB RATS is interesting, well-paced, and fun to read." Also reviewed is MIDNIGHT, MASS #1, which Cliff Biggers calls "the best new VERTIGO launch in a long, long while." In "The Reading Room," Oliver Chin looks at the new edition of the Watson-Guptill publication Batman Collected, calling it "a visual homage to a modern American icon." THE POWER COMPANY #1 is reviewed as well, with S.A. Bennett writing, "The first issue of THE POWER COMPANY is pretty strong." S.C.I.-SPY #1 is reviewed, too, with Brett Weiss praising its "solid SF premise nice art and clever wordplay." "Comics Guide" spotlights the "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?" storyline, with Maggie Thompson writing, "[the] script and art for each title are inviting, clear, and basic for anyone who's read a Batman comic book or seen a Batman movie." The "News & Notes" section of the April issue of Wizard includes the article "Morrison Gets Filthy," about the upcoming VERTIGO series THE FILTH. Also in this section is a "JLA/AVENGERS Update," and the article "A Savage Reunion with Superman," about the upcoming SUPERMAN/SAVAGE DRAGON: CHICAGO. "The Buzz Bin" includes items on Warren Ellis's exclusive agreement with DC, while "The Heat Index" cites the "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?" storyline. "Newsflashes" notes upcoming events including the "World Without Young Justice" crossover, the miniseries MIDNIGHT, MASS, and bestselling novelist Brad Meltzer's taking over as writer on GREEN ARROW. FLASH artists Scott Kolins and Doug Hazlewood illustrate a "Last Team Standing" that pits the Rogues Gallery against Spider-Man's greatest foes. In "The Perfect 10," the Wizard staff looks at the 10 best comics of the last 10 years, including THE AUTHORITY #15 (at #9), PREACHER #24 (#8), KURT BUSIEK'S ASTRO CITY #1/2 (#6), TOP 10 #7 (#5), THE SANDMAN #50 (#3), THE GOLDEN AGE #4 (#2), and ACTION COMICS #775 (#1). The article "Event Horizon" spotlights the 25 biggest events of the last ten years, including "Batman Replaced by Azrael" (#24), "THE SANDMAN Ends" (#23), "Superman Marries Lois Lane" (#22), "JLA Relaunches (#19), "JLA/AVENGERS Project Announced" (#17), "Stan Lee Writes for DC" (#16), "DC VS. MARVEL" (#14), "Superman's New Costume" (#12), "VERTIGO Line Created" (#10), "Miller Does Dark Knight Sequel" (#4), and "The Death of Superman" (#3). Wizard ranks the "Top 100 Covers of All Time," including GREEN LANTERN #1 (1941, at #89), SUPERMAN #1 (1939, #88), PREACHER #81 (#81), SUPERMAN #75 (1992, #77), BATMAN #232 (#71), KINGDOM COME #4 (#71), SUPERMAN #22 (1988, #65), BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE (#62), DEADMAN #1 (#61), SUPERMAN #14 (1940, #59), UNCLE SAM #1 (#56), SUPERMAN #442 (#55), CAPTAIN MARVEL JR. #4 (#53), ACTION COMICS #662 (#52), BATMAN #404 (#51), HIT COMICS #5 (#46), BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #1 (#44), DETECTIVE COMICS #574 (#42), SUPERMAN FOREVER (#41), BATMAN #9 (#35), THE NEW TEEN TITANS #39 (#23), THE HOUSE OF SECRETS #92 (#22), THE MAN OF STEEL #1 (#19), JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 (#17), CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #7 (#11), GREEN LANTERN #85 (1971, #4), and CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #64 (#2). The "Stuff" section includes the PHANTOM LADY, QUESTION, UNCLE SAM, and BLUE BEETLE ACTION FIGURES, as well as the SUPERGIRL and BATGIRL BY ALEX ROSS POSTERS and the CLASSIC LEX LUTHOR MINI-BUST, all from DC Direct. "Picks" highlights series including HAWKMAN, BATMAN, THE FLASH, JLA, JSA, ROBIN, while "Trading Post" looks at collected editions including BATMAN/HUNTRESS: CRY FOR BLOOD, DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES Volume 1, THE FLASH: BLOOD WILL RUN, GREEN ARROW: QUIVER, SWAMP THING: EARTH TO EARTH and TOP 10 BOOK TWO. BATMAN: THE 10-CENT ADVENTURE takes center stage in "Net Gains," with Wizard calling it the highest selling comic in a decade. "Ups & Downs" cites Batman titles as being on the way up, while "Treasure Hunt" suggests SWAMP THING #144 (written by Mark Millar and pencilled by Phil Hester) as one to search for and BATMAN/DEATHBLOW: AFTER THE FIRE as a miniseries to pick up. "Cool Swag" looks at the upcoming DC COMICS POCKET SUPER HEROES. The "Hot 10 Comics" chart includes THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #1 (at #2) and CATWOMAN #2 (#6). Issue #767 of Comic Shop News includes articles on Paul Levitz's promotion to President & Publisher of DC Comics and on the upcoming project JLA/PLANETARY. March "Hot Picks" include BIRDS OF PREY #41 and BATMAN #601, BATMAN/DEATHBLOW: AFTER THE FIRE #1, the BATMAN: NINE LIVES HC, THE FLASH #184, HAWKMAN #1, JUST IMAGINE STAN LEE AND GARY FRANK CREATING SHAZAM!, and the KING DAVID graphic novel. "Cool Collections" rounds up the collected editions BATMAN/HUNTRESS: CRY FOR BLOOD, DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES Volume 1, THE FLASH: BLOOD WILL RUN, GREEN ARROW: QUIVER, MAD ABOUT SUPER-HEROES, SWAMP THING: EARTH TO EARTH, and TOP TEN BOOK TWO. Collectibles noted in "Molten Merchandise" include the CLASSIC BATMAN MINI-BUST, the GREEN LANTERN ALAN SCOTT POWER BATTERY REPLICA, the WONDER WOMAN JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATED MAQUETTE STATUE, and the SANDMAN SOFT TOY 2-PACK FEATURING MORPHEUS & DANIEL. The "Tony's Tips" March 15 issue of Comics Buyer's Guide (#1478) looks at recent issues of WONDER WOMAN, with Tony Isabella writing, "[Phil] Jimenez certainly gives readers their money's worth." In the "Reading room," Oliver Chin looks at the Watson-Guptill publication Spy Vs. Spy: The Complete Casebook, writing, "This collection successfully and comprehensively puts the creations of the late Antonio Prohias into context." "Comics Guide" looks at THE KINDRED II and THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #2; also reviewed is THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: THE THESSALIAD #1-2, which Maggie Thompson calls "excellent." In "Ask Mr. Silver Age," Craig Shutt looks at the classic DC villain The Trickster. NEWS FROM THE MAINSTREAM PRESS The February 6 edition of the Los Angeles Daily Commerce features the article "DC Comics President Steps Down," about DC President & Editor-in-Chief Jenette Kahn's decision to leave the company. The February 17 edition of the Springfield, MA, Sunday Republican includes the article "Comics Writer Moves up Ladder," in which Michael Sangiacomo writes about Paul Levitz appointment as President & Publisher of DC Comics. The February 11 issue of Publisher's Weekly includes the article "Kahn Steps Down; Levitz Moves Up," in which Calvin Reid writes about the recently announced changes in DC's upper management. The March issue of the U.K. magazine Mojo includes the article "Respect," in which various musicians discuss their heroes, including Kiss leader Gene Simmons, who calls Superman "my first hero." The February 10 edition of the Syracuse Post-Standard includes the article "Move Forward_ into the Past," in which Jeff Kapalka reviews WONDER WOMAN #177, writing, "_Diana gets a call from the Justice League and changes from her civvies to her costume in a two-page spin taken right from the 1970s TV show_ I actually got a little misty." The March 1 edition of the Washington City Paper includes the article "Comic Relief," in which Christopher Porter talks to novelist Brad Meltzer about his upcoming work on GREEN ARROW. SMALLVILLE, JUSTICE LEAGUE AND STATIC SHOCK EPISODE SCHEDULES DC has been supplied with the following episode schedule for Smallville and Static Shock on the WB and the animated Justice League on the Cartoon Network. All times are Eastern and Pacific: 3/9 (8:30 am) "Pop's Girlfriend" (Static Shock – New) 3/9 (12:30 pm) "War World, Pt. 2" (Justice League) 3/9 (10:00 pm) "War World, Pt. 2" (Justice League – Widescreen) 3/10 (7:00 pm) "The Brave and the Bold, Pt. 1" (Justice League- New) 3/12 (9:00 pm) "Zero" (Smallville - New) 3/16 (8:30 am) "Brother-Sister Act" (Static Shock) 3/16 (12:30 pm) "The Brave and the Bold, Pt. 1" (Justice League) 3/16 (10:00 pm) "The Brave and the Bold, Pt. 1" (Justice League – Widescreen) 3/17 (7:00 pm) "The Brave and the Bold, Pt. 2" (Justice League- New) Be advised that this schedule is subject to change. +++++ From Rich Johnston, THE 2000 SQUIDDY JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR, in his ALL THE RAGE Gossip Column at: http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com RUMOUR BARRIER "I accept that the following material is rumour and gossip, intended to entertain only. "I won't repeat the information inside as fact. I understand if I want the truth, I will go to Silver Bulletins. "I enter freely with my mind open and my blinkers off." Now, onto the rumours. Lies, Larceny And Lollipops Kahn Ker-Ching!! I hear that details of Jeanette Kahn's salary package have been running around the freelancers. The figures they're naming? A sizeable $1.5 million_ that could buy three Bill Jemases_ or quite a few new Vice Presidents. Talking of which_ This Has A Rumour Value Of 4 Out of 10 Swing The Didio Watch out DC Universe fans, looks like Dan Didio is going a little axe crazy in his new positions. Watch for a number of titles to get the DC axe imminently_ including possibly his own co-written Superboy at #100? Talk about self -sacrifice. Also look for a bunch more exclusive contracts coming up_ This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out Of 10 Soap Dreams Peter Milligan writes for "Crossroads," Si Spencer writes for "Eastenders." Art Young used to write for "EastEnders and now writes for "Family Affair." What is it about comic pros that means they have to write for British soap operas? This Has A Rumour Value Of 9 Out Of 10 The Men From The Ministry So what news for fans of Ministry Of Space, with #3 unpublished and Chris Weston ensconced on The Filth? I hear that the script to #3 has now been fully written and Chris has committed to drawing 3 pages a month inbetween his filthiness. So, at least we know it'll come out in 2003. Probably. This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out of 10 Lost And Found UK fans gasping for their missing Elektra/Wolverine #2 will be pleased to know that it should be shipping to UK stores this week. This Has A Rumour Value Of 9 Out of 10 Title Fights Enjoy a nice sneak peek at Marvel's lineup beyond the latest Previews listings by browsing through the Marvel contacts pages at: http://www.marvel.com/about/contact_us/email.htm Me, I'll really looking forward to "Phoneix"… This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out Of 10 Another Gratuitous Mention of Paul Levitz Warren's e-mail list, From The Desk Of has been kicking into gear the last week or so. Here's a tiny clip from the last missive_ "I'm definitely spending the next two years writing shorter works. I've been talking to people at DC and Wildstorm about different formats -- one of which would be a big departure for DC, and Paul Levitz has already given the format the nod. Right now, I'm concentrating on completing the projects currently on my slate, but come summer..." To jump on board, e-mail to fromthedeskof-subscribe@yahoogroups.com This Has A Rumour Value Of 9 Out Of 10 Prize Fight And now All The Rage's main feature. After last week's Grant vs Mark punch-up, All The Rage is proud to present... Rob Liefeld vs Erik Larsen. Larsen was pretty much the only Image guy who supported Rob Liefeld in print. This week however, on the http://www.spinnerrack.com forums, it all kicked off bigtime. And I mean bigtime. This is the last article and it goes on for at least six pages. If you thought that Newsarama's Stormwatch article was overlong, you ain't seen nothing yet. After a Wizard feature on Image's 10th anniversary and why Jim lee and Rob Liefeld weren't included in the anniversary book, which featured a lot of slamming of Rob Liefeld, Erik Larsen wrote: "Gotta love that Wizard--they managed to quote me on all the crappy things I had to say while opting NOT to include the good stuff. The whole thing was a LOT more negative than it had any right to be but then--the truth is not as "sensational" I guess. Sorry to see Rob get all the crap dumped on him in there but I don't think ANY of us really came out looking too good. Bunch of lazy, talentless, overpaid slackers from the look of it!" Liefeld replied: "It's nice lip service, but very inconsistent with the crap that has been spilling out of his hole for the last several years." Larsen: "Whatever. Have a nice life." Liefeld: "Erik has said more than his share of crap the last few months. There was a CBR interview chock full o' venom from him. Then there's the Wizard, the Comics Journal, etc. blah, blah, blah. I used to view him as a friend but needless to say, I was foolish to do so." Larsen: "I actually DID ask the others about both Rob and Jim being included in the book. The others were not interested and in some ways it does make certain sense NOT to include them--they didn't actually go the distance after all. To get up on the podium you've gotta finish the race. Still, for the record, it WAS brought up even if it was ultimately shot down. "In all of my interviews I try to be both open and honest. That may not always sit well with folks but it's how I live my life. I've found that it's much easier to keep track of the truth than to keep your fictionalized story straight. In terms of Rob I've been nothing but honest. Sometimes the truth hurts. I don't believe I've said anything untrue in regard to Rob. "On the other hand--Rob seems intent on rewriting reality at every turn. I'm sorry that I'm unable to keep track of and back up whatever version he's concocted this week but he's made it pretty tough to follow. A quick read through any number of press releases and interviews Rob's given will shed light on a good deal of his glaring inconsistencies. I'm not going to dredge up dirt here. I have ammo aplenty but there's no point adding fuel to the fire. Still, despite all of this, I still think of Rob as a friend and I still enjoy looking at much of his work. I think Rob has talent--he lacks focus, to be sure, but there's an energy he brings to the page which makes for exciting comics. If I could make a wish it would be that Rob would concentrate on finishing a lot of the projects which were started and abandoned for various reasons. "Dangling plot-threads drive me nuts! I made an effort to wrap up everything I've started at Image even if it meant losing a ton of cash. I even saw through a few unfortunate projects that sucked hard just to see their stories get wrapped up." Liefeld: "It's not the truth that hurts, it's the lies. For years I've turned the other cheek and allowed the Image propaganda machine to perpetuate their lies. The reason being that I chose to use my energy to create and further my imagination and raise a family and live my life rather than get caught up in an endless volley of he said, she said. Truthfully, the Image debacle never hindered my career and my efforts outside of comics, so it didn't make much sense to commit time and effort defending my position. Here's the truth of the matter, the inside secrets of my divorce with Image. I had been planning an exit strategy for over a year and creating Max Press was a crucial part of that strategy. Don't believe me? Ask Larry Marder or Matt Hawkins about the press release we wrote twelve months prior to my departure from Image. Need more proof? Go look at your Diamon [sic] Previews from the summer of 96, you'll find both Youngblood and Supreme being transplanted from Image to Max Press. Anyone remember an event called Extreme Genesis? It was solicited in Max Press, it was the bridge that would send my Image titles to Maximum Press. For the uneducated, Diamond ads and solicitations must be submitted 4-6 weeks in advance of publication. This would correctly place all this activity around early summer 96. The Image divorce happened in fall 96. The calendar doesn't lie, even if Image partners do. I made the mistake of hanging around too long and by doing so, exposed myself to the "voted out" propoganda. I resigned, not like Nixon, who Erik references quite often, but as someone who had his bags already packed and had already begun to relocate his business to another address and zip code. Todd Mcfarlane ordered me to put my books, all of them, into Image. He argued that I was sending the wrong message to the public with multiple imprints outside of Image. I refused, and countered by asking him to get the other partners who weren't pulling their weight to increase their output. We were at an impasse they threatened to throw me out, I resigned and 48 hours later they sent out a release voting me out of Image. I had the comfort of a 5 million dollar contract under my belt with Marvel comics for Heroes Reborn, which afforded me the luxury of not looking back. Even though I only collected on 2.5 million of it due to my being canned off the assignment, it was plenty of insurance. Were there partners who were jealous of that deal? Absolutely, they know who they are and the efforts they went to in order to be a part of it. There were angry partners and plenty of tension and as a result, a few casualties. Check your calendars, do the math, check the dates and you'll find the truth. Erik has ammo to share, bring it on. I've heard all of it and there were no valid accusations. Just lies. Unpaid bills, unpaid freelancers, all proven to be lies created in a deliberate smear campaign that wasn't half as effective as the perpetrators of those campaigns had hoped. Larsen has often shared his opinion that the Extreme books were stinking up Image and hurting the imprint. It's hard to listen to such critical remarks from the publisher of DART. Not every comic project develops the way you hope it will and as a result there arte casualties along the way. But I stand by the books we published and the strong stable of talent that grew out of Extreme Studios. We had good instincts in recruiting promising young talent, many of whom have become cornerstones for the comics industry. Erik's starements do them and their work a disservice and disrespects the hard work and effort of those contributions. So you're proud you have a big mouth, do us a favor, keep it to yourself. I had a big mouth when I was a kid too, I grew up and learned to choose my words more carefully. "There was also plenty of hypocrisy within the Image partners as well. They would solicit Extreme inkers and colorists who had exclusive contracts with me and give them side jobs, but when I offer an under paid freelancer from their stable to draw a 3 issue mini-series, it's heresy. I'm not offended by the Wizard article, I gave up on comic book journalism along time ago, although I think there are guys on the net who are giving us all some hope. I'm not offended at not being part of the 10 year annish, I would have particpated, despite my own reservations because it would have been a treat to the fans and let's face it, they deserve better than what they're getting. I would not have approved of an expensive hardcover that prohibits access to loyal fans as a result of the bloated price tag. The hardcover would have functioned better as a compilation of individual, affordable commemorative issues available down the stretch. It's not fair, in my opinion to keep events such as Dragon's origin and Spawn's secret out of the reach of the casual, modestly budgeted buyer. It's a shame that the remaining partners didn't work harder to facilitate a special event commemorating Image's 10th year. Rest assured, Mark Millar and myself have cooked up a raucous celebration of Image's flagship title with Youngblood: Bloodsport. I've dissapointed plenty of fans in my time and learned how damaging that can be, I don't intend on repeating past mistakes." Larsen: "Rob--this is pure fiction and you know it is. You were there. In Image's membership agreement there was a week "cooling off" period written into it in regard to expelling a member. During the first vote, you voted NO. You know that to be a fact. You ALSO know that we got together a week later to make it official and that you faxed in a resignation ON THAT DAY minutes (literally) before the second vote could be taken. This is the truth and you know full well that it is. "That you had 'been planning an exit strategy for over a year' is irrelevant. Jim was planning to sell his company from day one. We ALL said and did things. We ALL made plans of what we might do but on the day of that first vote you did NOT leave and you did, in fact, vote to STAY. "I know full well that you needed cash and that Image Comics took more money than your own imprint and that that's why you planned to pull more books from Image but this does NOTHING to prove your case. At the end of the day, you DID hang around long enough to get voted out and you DID opt to leave minutes prior to being voted out. Had you opted to resign earlier I wouldn't have flown down to visit Image that day. "And Dart was three issues. It's a footnote at best. The quantity of poor quality books that came out of my office are a tiny fraction of the number we published but you could wallpaper your house with all of the copies of the pre-Moore Supreme comics, Team Youngblood, Brigade and all the rest. I've had a couple poor books--everybody has. "The reason that retailers wanted the books marked so that they could tell which studio produced it was so that more stinkers like Violator/Badrock couldn't slip by. There was a title with an inexperienced artist who was clearly substandard and yet the title, with the name Violator in front, gave the impression that Todd produced it--not you. THIS was a big factor that lead toward this action. I don't SEE the lies, Rob. I see a desperate kid caught up in his own web trying franticly to spread more BS. "You forget that you had a STUDIO crammed with guys who WITNESSED all of this. Hell, I was THERE when you proudly SHOWED me the cover of a Ron Wilson THING cover that you had ripped off and turned into a Youngblood cover (or Badrock--whatever). A whole MESS of us saw you going on about how cool it was that you did this and we ALL read the letter to CBG denying it when you were caught. It doesn't WORK, Rob--there are FAR TOO MANY people who don't have written evidence to support what they saw--but who saw it nonetheless. You can't escape it. "What I don't get--is why you don't simply come clean like a good Christian and try to learn from your mistakes. You don't HAVE to live like this. It's sad. It really is. "The Image Comics Hardcover is in line with book that have come from other publishers. It was patterned after the JLA: Earth 2 book in terms of price and page count and just as with that book, there will eventually be a less expensive trade paperback published later on. The purpose was to do something special that not only saw the remaining Image founders returning to their original creations but to give the bigger picture as well--an account of Image's history and other features. Loyal fans will be able to get these stories at a reasonable price while those that like upscale products can get that as well. "If you choose to do Youngblood in a standard format it SHOULD be priced as a normal comic book. When I reprint Dragon's origin at some point in a comic book format it will be priced as one as well. "This is a pointless argument. It's apples and oranges. To use an analogy Todd might use -- we're producing a car and selling it for the price of a car--you intend to produce a motorcycle and sell it for the price of a motorcycle. If we were producing a standard comic book and pricing it like a hardcover that would be one thing but we're not. It's hard to believe THIS complaint is coming from a guy who REAMED fans at conventions selling overpriced comic books with gold foil smeared on their covers." Battle, scared ex-employee of Dan Fraga, jumped in with: "Why is it that the only supporters Rob has, never actually know the guy? Because, if they really knew him, he'd have burned the bridge and they wouldn't be supporters. I absolutly agree that all of this stuff should be aired in private. Unfortunately, Rob is very much like a politician when it comes to public affairs: one way to the public and another behind closed doors. This charade needs to be exposed. as far as the All the Rage comment, no offense to Rich, but being in his column doesn't make me draw any better, sell more copies, or get me anything. So why make speculations?" Liefeld: "Okay, we've got a nice party going on here. Really quick,in response to Erik's fantasies, that's what they are. Say your lies enough times and maybe someday it will all be true. As for Mr. Fraga, his cred was shot a long time ago. We've already established that he's bitter and angry and in need of serious therapy and attention as witnessed by his numerous guest appearances here. Dan was not privvy to any of the details surrounding the Image divorce as evidenced by the fact that Erik Larsen sent no letter to me offering any explanation. I hope the fans are enjoying this parade as much as I am. We've got all sorts of visitors lately, who knows who'll show up next. "Another response to Erik's allegations, this one about me swiping some Ron Wilson cover. Get the facts straight bro. The cover was drawn by Brent Anderson who addressed this in a column in CBG saying that he didn't see the similarity. Never talked to the guy and he fired off a letter in my defense. The cover was taken from a still from the animated Youngblood promo that the Youngblood animators illustrated. The animated still was also heavily promoted as a free promo card in conjunction with the first Youngblood trading card set from Skybox. "The gold and silver books that we produced were given to fans FREE at conventions and sent FREE to retailers as thank you's for supporting us. We didn't charge for the gold and silver books. They were priced at 50-100 bucks by retailers and fans who created a demand for them. Another interesting FACT came from Matt Hawkins a former Extreme/Awesome employee who e-mailed me about a week after the latest Wizard came out and said that he never said to the reporter that I threw gold books into the crowds at conventions. He said he clearly explained and identified the person that threw the books as an Image promtions dorector [sic], but Wiz thought it sounded better presented if I was the perpetrator. Matt has no business with me and there is certainly no reason for me to intimidate me in any way as he currently runs Top Cow. He merely contacted me because he was acting as a good guy. There are plenty of good guys out there like Matt, and God bless 'em for having more important things to do a say than troll these boards stirring the pot like some others who need to grab attention for themselves. Much like Erik Larsen's proud claims that he speaks the truth, I merely presented my honest opinion that I questioned his sincerity based on his previous recent comments. Look what that has created, whew! Imagine if some serious mudd slinging took place here!" Fraga: "Rob. How can you look yourself in the mirror? You just can't stop lying, can you? I keep a journal buddy, I don't forget anything. Enough people in the office saw that letter Rob. I'm sure Eric S. wont say differently. As for bitterness: 2 things to be bitter about; lost time and a being naive enough to call you a friend. That said, you know where I stand on things, Bro." Liefeld: "Get back on your medication Dan. All is forgiven." And then Brian Denham pitched in: "Ahem. Thank you for remembering my name in an earlier post and finding something to attack me with. "You are blaming me- the artist of Violator v. Badrock, for being the catalyst that made the studios label the books they produced. I didn't know I was so important or infamous. Each studio had it's name on the books long before Violator v. Badrock came out. I think you even had your High Brow logo on your books before Violator v. Badrock. "You may not know the situation then, but Todd wanted Violator's name in front and Rob did too. Todd didn't want his character having second billing and Rob wanted the extra sales. Todd may not have liked it later, but he approved each page that went into that book. He was even in the studio giving me pointers. Jim Lee even called Rob up and congratulated him for finding me. "I have improved tremendously since then as any creator should. I was fresh out of the Marine Corps when I drew that book and I learned a lot doing it. I thank Rob Liefeld for jump staring my career and I thank Dan Fraga for spotting me and introducing me to Rob. "But, how dare you get on this board and attack young comic creators early work? Your early stuff and the early work of every Image creator was NO BETTER than anything Rob or Jim Lee's early talent were producing. I even think the early new Image talent far surpassed the founders abilities." Larsen: "Rob-the only reason I even came in here at all was to defend myself. You're calling me a liar and that is untrue. "I did, in fact send Rob a letter. Others at Image have copies of it. Rob knows this to be fact. "You need an intervention, Rob--I really don't know ANYBODY who's worked with you that DOESN'T have dirt to share. "WHERE are my lies, Rob? WHERE? Tell me what I said which is a lie and I will back them up with fact. Unpaid bill? FACT! Stiffed freelancers? FACT! Don't get mad at me because I won't corroborate your delusional propaganda. I have nothing to gain here by knocking you down-- but it offends me that you are going out of your way to smear me and Image in your attempt to promote yourself. If this is going to be an integrity pissing contest between the two of us you're going to come up short. There is no shortage of people willing to tell what went on at both Extreme and Image--and it's not that EVERYBODY is jealous of you or out to get you, Rob. The fact of the matter is that you ripped off a LOT of people--stiffed or shortchanged a LOT of freelancers-- didn't pay a LOT of bills-- you ran people out of business! It's reality, Rob. Deal with it" Liefeld: "The only reason you came in here was to defend yourself? Against what exactly? Erik, you and your pals will go to whatever EXTREME's that you feel necessary in order to perpetrate your crap. There's absolutely nothing you can do or say that will suprise me at this point. FACT. One of your partners told the comic media that I had stiffed him and that he wasn't paid in full from an assignment he did with me. Within a few minutes we sent out copies to all the comic press and of his cancelled checks (a cancelled check means that the check was cashed and cleared and returned to the party that paid it). That partner's lies were exposed and he was threatened with a libel suit and quickly retreated. This is how the partners work, they create fabrications which create a stink that follows long after the lie has been exposed. Currently I believe Image comics employs at least four people whom I once employed at Extreme, it wouldn't surprise me if they all began to spout similar crap in order to tow the line. Hopefully integrity will win the day, but, as I stated earlier, there is no lie that you won't tell in order to manufacture a stink. Let's get my attorney who went to meet personally with you and the others 48 hours after I had resigned, where he was told that there was still going to be a formal vote taken, because, according to one upset partner, 'Rob's not going to walk away from us.' Pathetic. The truth is I couldn't care less about the company and the remaining partners needed to retaliate. At least one of the former partners was honest with me when everything was said and done. He told me how furious certain partners were that I resigned and that, in his words, 'You got to leave and the press reported it as a resignation.' Believe whatever you'd like Erik, I don't care to change your mind, it doesn't change my world at all. Bring your accusors, I'll bring my defenders, it's all a wash in the end. As for jealous. Let's see, Jim Lee thought you were jealous, so did Todd, so did Whilce, so did I. We weren't the ones to claim that 'our pecking order in terms of popularity would change as soon as we left Marvel and could manufacture our own futures.' A mantra you chanted constantly in Image's early days until sales figures set the record straight. You were dreaming then, you're dreaming now. It's time to wake up. "McManus, In answer to your question, first there was a bad meeting that ended with an ultimatum to me about putting my books in Image, that was followed by the threat of a vote. That was followed by a resignation then two voting periods commenced, officiating their position to 'kick' out someone who had left the building. During this period, many people at Extreme were upset that I seemed to be taking it lying down and urged me to fight back, to explain my side of the story. But I was fortunate to have the wise counsel of two important friends who advised me to just walk away, to not get caught up in what they saw as a 'street fight.' It was not easy, but I tried my best to be polite and cool throughout the dilemma. Six years later, the dead horse continues to get beaten and it's definitely time to stand up and set the record straight. Image will always outnumber me, but I will stay the course. "Top three lies about Rob Liefeld. 1) Rob was voted out of Image 2) Rob filed bankruptcy 3) Rob caused riots at shows by throwing books into the crowd." Denham: "You are right. My art on Violator/Badrock sucked. I am not defending it. I am saying that every creator's first works blow. It takes time to learn the ropes and the only way you can do that is on a book. Rob paid for a lot of crappy pages I drew and I want to pay him back by doing some new art for him. I spent last year in studio at Top Cow and just learned. I have spent the last couple of years recouperating from hand surgery, raising my kids and drawing my ass off. I have some stuff coming out this year that I hope you watch for. The next book is THE DWELLING from CHAOS!, then a TRANSFORMERS cover, some more CHAOS covers, and then a new book that I can't name yet, and another book I can't name yet. I am currently drawing 2 books a month and going to school full time. Watch out for me. Woo-Hoo!" Larsen to Denham: "Guy--I don't know who a LOT of the people are who worked for Rob. You were one of a gazillion guys who wandered through there. "Nope. It was NEVER on the cover. The point was that retailers were confused when ordering as to which studio was producing which book. Violator/Badrock was a handy example of a title which blurred the lines and caused confusion and THAT was the reason we were requested to identify which books came from which studio in the pages of Previews. Whether it was this book or any number of others is not important. The point was that the request was made primarily so that retailers could help identify which books were Rob's books. "The point was that retailers wanted to know which books came from which studio-- it doesn't MATTER if Todd wanted his character to have first billing. YOU say that Rob wanted the Violator name first so the book would sell better--this only CONFIRMS that Rob was deliberately trying to deceive retailers in an attempt to boost sales! "You were not ready to be doing a high profile book like that. Your work was substandard and amateurish. A book where retailers are committing vast quantities of money is not a place to try out new talent. The book looked like hell. Sell through was pitiful and it hurt Image Comics' and Rob Liefeld's reputation and credibility. It bit--pure and simple. "My early efforts was not on titles that were ordered in millions of copies. My early work was on books that sold poorly. THAT is the distinction here. I'm not blaming YOU for being an amateur. I'm not blaming YOU for being a beginner. Hell, I didn't even MENTION you by name! I blame ROB for putting an amateur on a book that was ordered as though it were being drawn by a qualified professional. We ALL sucked at some point. There's NOTHING wrong with that! "Do I think you should have been given something to do? Perhaps. Do I think it should be a high profile miniseries with Alan Moore? Not at all. Sharing the wealth would be getting qualified seasoned professionals who could do decent work to do a line of high quality books-- not hiring every pimply faced teenager who could hold a pencil! Had the early days at Image meant getting REAL talent instead of amateurs our early days would not be looked back on with such disdain by the vast majority of fans, pros and retailers." Larsen to Liefeld: "If by "staying the course" you mean lying your ass off--I have no doubt this will be the case. There were two votes that had to be made--you said "no" when it came to being kicked out on the first vote. We were ALL THERE. You KNOW the truth. Your story is a lie. If you had "left the building" I would have had to reason to fly down to Orange County in order to make the vote that kicked you out official. "Why are you even disputing this? You KNOW what happened--there are six other people who were ALSO there that know what happened. ALL of them corroborate the facts. Why insist on repeating your delusional propaganda? It's NOT true. Fess up." Liefeld: "Okay, having returned from lunch and read all the posts... I will stop the insanity. I will give Erik Larsen the last word on all of this. There is no new ground left to cover and frankly, I'm tired." Hey! We were enjoying that! Ah well, same time next week. Oh, and I lied about the lollipops. This Has A Heavyweight Value Of 7 Out Of 10 Ebay Away All this week I'm putting bucketloads of comics, videos and DVDs on Ebay. All the prices include shipping. There's a bunch just gone up, there should be new stuff every night. Look for lots of stuff by JMS, Kevin Smith, Warren Ellis as well as bunches of indie work from the last 15 years. I need the space. You don't. So check here, and keep checking all this week. This Has A Pleading Value Of 7 Out Of 10 +++++ Diamond NEWS RELEASES March 1, 2002 Retailer Order Form Extras Available for Purchase Acting on the request of comics specialty retailers - and effective with the March Previews catalog - Diamond Comic Distributors is offering its customers the opportunity to purchase additional copies of the Previews Retailer Order Form. Currently, Diamond customers receive one copy of the ordering tool in their Previews Catalog Packs, and can order one additional copy for free via the Order Form itself. The new policy will enable retailers who would prefer more than two copies of the Order Form to purchase them at a Net Cost of $1.25 (MAR020014J). Lower SRP Offered on Great Eastern Large Wall Scrolls Beginning in March, Diamond Comic Distributors is offering Great Eastern's Large Wall Scrolls at a lower Suggested Retail Price (SRP) in the Prints and Posters section of the Previews catalog. Now available at an SRP of $17.99 (formerly $19.99), the Great Eastern Large Wall Scrolls solicited in this month's catalog include the Cowboy Bebop Smoking Wall Scroll (MAR023184H), the Dragonball Z Goku & Cell Wall Scroll (MAR023185H), the Mobile Suit Gundam Stardust Memory Pilot Wall Scroll (MAR023187H), the Trigun Insane Eye Wall Scroll (MAR023193H), the Yu Yu Hakusho Group Wall Scroll (MAR023195H), and many others. (Please Note: For a full listing, refer to the March Previews Retailer Order Form.) "We continue to find a great deal of interest in these collectibles from retailers and fans alike," said Diamond Purchasing Brand Manager - Prints and Posters Brian Jarosinski. "In order to make these wall scrolls even more attractive to consumers - and thereby help our customers sell more of them - we went to the vendor and negotiated a better SRP." Dialogue Changes Industry Analysis Reporting Effective with the March 2002 issue of Diamond Comic Distributors' Diamond Dialogue, the Industry Analysis section of the magazine has added market share and top product data based on actual sales. The data - which can be found on pages 13 and 16 off the publication - reviews actual sales from two months ago (i.e., the March issue will report on actual sales made in January). The section also continues to report market share and top product data based on Initial Pre-Orders for the same month. The new information considers all sales in the given period, including Reorders, and takes the form of an additional table of the top 20 market share vendors arranged according to All Products Dollar Share, Dollar Share for Comics, Magazines, and Graphic Novels, and Unit Share for Comics, Magazines, and Graphic Novels, as well as two new charts showing the Top 50 Comic Books and Graphic Novels and the Top 25 Products other than comic books and graphic novels for the period in question. Furthermore, the Top 25 Products based on Initial Orders has been removed from the section as it presented redundant information. In its place, Dialogue now runs the Top 50 Graphic Novels based on Initial Orders. Also, the Top 300 list has been reduced to the Top 200. (The Top 300 is still available online at Diamond's Retailer Website: retailer.diamondcomics.com.) "We are always striving to present more and better information to our customers," said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Roger Fletcher. "With graphic novels becoming more and more important to the retail product mix, and with Reorders becoming a larger part of the equation, we felt that this new set of reports helped more accurately reflect the overall sales picture. By eliminating some old or repetitive data and replacing it with more relevant statistics, we continue to work towards that goal." Collecting Supplies Ships, Summer Star System Catalog Solicited Comics specialty retailers readying themselves for the fast- approaching summer sales season can add two new Diamond Comic Distributors product catalogs to their retailing arsenal: the Collecting Supplies 2002 Catalog (JAN020002J) and the Star System Summer 2002 Catalog (MAR020005J). Shipping this month, the Collecting Supplies 2002 Catalog (provided free in equal quantities to retailers' individual Previews orders for January) offers retailers and consumers a complete listing of all supply products (bags, boxes, mylars, and much more) offered by Diamond. The catalog is still available for Reorder, with additional copies available at the Net Cost of 35› per copy, and carrying an MSRP of 75› each. Retailers looking to profit from Diamond's vast backlist of products will find the Star System Summer Catalog 2002 an essential sales tool. Whether used as in-store reference guides or offered to consumers looking for a place to find the perfect gift, this edition of the catalog - which features an expanded toys section - includes hundreds of top items chosen from the Star System backlist service, including trade paperbacks, games, models, and more. The catalog is provided free in equal quantities to retailers' individual March Previews orders, and carries an MSRP of $1.00 each. Additional copies of the catalog (MAR020006J) are available at the Net Cost of 60› per copy. New Features Announced for Reorders Online Comics specialty retailers who use the Reorders Online function of Diamond Online's Retailer Services Area can now see more of the titles they want in an improved screen format, and have an easy way to find items in a particular category. Previously, when a retailer searched for titles using Reorders Online, as many as 10 search results were presented in a horizontal format that - depending on monitor size - required scrolling from side- to-side to see in its entirety. Now, when a retailer searches for an item, Reorders Online returns as many as 20 items in a vertical list format - with or without accompanying thumbnail graphics, depending on the retailer's search criteria - that allows for easier scrolling and reading. An "Add Item to Order" button is conveniently situated directly below the space for entering a quantity in the far left-hand column of each item. Additionally, the search screen of Reorders Online now features a pull-down screen that lists all of the various product categories carried by Diamond Comic Distributors. With one click, retailers can opt to view search results from one of these options, or from among all 16 product groups. Retailers who want to explore this and other useful features of Reorders Online can do so by logging on to https://retailer.diamondcomics.com/main/reorders.asp. CSLS Celebrates Seventh Year of Operation Proven Service Offers Half-Price Registration Fee in March In May, the Comic Shop Locator Service (CSLS) - which makes it easy for consumers to find the comics specialty shops nearest them, and has given out more than 900,000 referrals to nearly 400,000 people since 1996 - begins its seventh year of operation. Sponsored by Diamond Comic Distributors, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Gemstone Publishing, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, and Wizard Entertainment, the CSLS allows comics fans in the United States and Canada to find the names and telephone numbers of up to three participating comics specialty shops within a 32-mile radius, simply by dialing the easy-to-remember number [1-888-COMIC-BOOK (266-4226)] and entering their zip code into the service's touch-tone interface. If there are no stores within the caller's area, the CSLS offers up to three different mail order services as an alternative. In July 1999, the service expanded to the Internet with an online version (http://csls.diamondcomics.com) that works in essentially the same manner as the phone method, with users entering their zip code into a graphical interface, which then rewards them with detailed information on the three stores closest to their location. (Please Note: Unlike the phone service, if two or more stores qualify for the third-furthest position, then the CSLS Online lists all such applicable stores.) The online version also contains the CSLS Global (which lets consumers in Ireland and the United Kingdom find specialty shops in their areas), and provides members the option of building profiles - an invaluable feature that allows them to inform consumers about their business, such as its specialties, hours of operation, etc. To commemorate the service's anniversary, Diamond is offering a special half-price rate for retailers who wish to register, and for current members who want to renew their registrations. For a limited time, specialty shops can sign up on a monthly basis for $5.00 per month, or annually for $50.00 per year. Mail order services that want to register during this time period can do so at the reduced rate of $100.00 per month, or annually for $1,000.00. (Normally, the cost of CSLS membership is $10.00 per month/$100.00 per year for regular shops, and $200.00 per month/$2,000.00 per year for mail order services.) The minimum registration period for the service is one year. "It is our belief that every retailer can benefit by registering with the service," explained Diamond Retailer Promotions Coordinator Allan Greenberg, "which is precisely why we have designed the program to be as affordable and as easy to sign up for as possible." Retailers will be billed on the first invoices they receive in June, with monthly registrants billed each month thereafter. Retailers who wish to take advantage of this special offer can do so on their March Previews Retailer Order Form (MAR020001-4J). Spring Sales with March Exclusives! With the warm weather of spring just around the corner, comics specialty retailers will find their sales rising right along with the temperature - especially if they stock their shelves with a number of great exclusives that can only be found in the March Previews! Previews Exclusives These items are available only through the Previews catalog. Behind the Mask of Spider-Man Previews Exclusive Special Edition HC (MAR022671E): Besides featuring insightful interviews with all the major filmmakers and stars of the fast-approaching Spider-Man movie, this special edition hardcover by author Mark Cotta Vaz also includes hundreds of unreleased photos and design illustrations for the much- anticipated film! Lord of the Rings: Mounted Boromir Miniature (MAR023405J): An excellent addition to any Tolkien enthusiast's collection, this miniature figure from Games Workshop's The Lord of the Rings Tabletop Strategy Battle Game depicts the valiant Boromir riding forth from Gondor to help the denizens of Middle-earth fight against the evil of hellish Mordor! Previews Exclusive Crow "I'll Love You Forever" (MAR02 2977-8H) and "Memories" (MAR02 299-80HH) T-Shirts: Each of these attractive shirts depicts a different image from James O'Barr's cult classic series, The Crow. Both come in L-XL sizes Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Burst Previews Exclusive T-Shirt (MAR023032-3H): Fans of the popular horror flick series (and Freddy Krueger, himself) can now add this pitch black, 100% cotton T-shirt to their wardrobe, which is available in L-XL sizes. Warren Ellis's Atmospherics Previews Exclusive HC with Sketch (MAR021990H): Limited to 500 copies - and shipped bagged with a Certificate of Authenticity - this limited edition collectible for mature readers features an all-new cover by illustrator Ken Meyer, as well as an original sketch. Perverts, Pedophiles, and Other Theologians Signed Edition GN (MAR021891F): Limited to 100 copies, this limited-edition version of the 96-page collection of Clifford Meth's dark fiction is signed by both the book's illustrator (and comics legend) Gene Colon and the author. The Coven: Tooth and Nail #1 Prism Foil Cover (MAR022002H): This variant cover of Avatar Press's The Coven: Tooth and Nail features a prism foil cover by popular artist Ron Adrian. Shipping bagged and boarded with a Certificate of Authenticity, the variant issue is limited to 500 copies. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Official Magazine #4 Previews Exclusive Edition (MAR022565H): Featuring a bloody good Previews Exclusive variant cover, this 68-page magazine includes exclusive interviews with the hit show's cast and crew, behind-the-scenes reports, and other Buffy-related news. Farscape Magazine #7 Previews Exclusive Edition (MAR022577H): Featuring an out-of-this-world Previews Exclusive variant cover, this issue of the popular 68-page magazine includes interviews with the series' creators and stars, as well as a wealth of information about the hit show's third season. Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles These items are specially created by Diamond's sister company, which works with toy suppliers to develop, manufacture, and market toy products for both specialty and mass-market retailers. Spider-Man's Rogues' Gallery: The Lizard Mini-Bust (MAR021839H): Guaranteed to ship in June, the Lizard is the first release in Diamond Select's all-new collectibles line celebrating Spider-Man's most notorious foes. Limited to 10,000 pieces, the bust measures 6" tall and 3 «" wide, and comes with a full-color Certificate of Authenticity. Ultimate Cyclops Regular Edition Mini-Bust (MAR021837H) and Special Edition Mini-Bust (MAR021838H): Sculpted by David Cort‚s, and designed in conjunction with Ultimate X-Men artist Adam Kubert, the bust is in scale with the rest of the Ultimate line, measuring 7" high. Packaged in a fully illustrated box (depicting a highly detailed comic book version of the bust itself) featuring all-new artwork by Kubert and colorist Rich Isanove, the bust is limited to a 10,000-piece total production run and comes with a full-color Certificate of Authenticity. The Special Edition Mini-Bust is limited to 500 pieces, and comes with a Mini-Print/Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Cort‚s and Kubert. Both mini-busts are guaranteed to ship in June. Marilyn Monroe Die-Cast Car Series: There's No Business Like Show Business Assortment (MAR023058H): Scheduled to ship in May, this gorgeous replica of a 1955 Chrysler 300 is adorned with images from the classic Marilyn Monroe film, and comes 1:64-scale, featuring real rubber tires, a metal body and chassis, an opening hood, and a detailed engine. Pink chase cars are also randomly inserted in case lots. Greg Horn Black Widow Poster (MAR021840E): Measuring 22 ¬" x 34" and printed on 100lb paper for longer life, this rendition of Marvel Comics' newest femme fatale by artist-extraordinaire Greg Horn is guaranteed to ship in May. Dawn Wall Scroll #2 (MAR023178H): Guaranteed to ship in April, this breathtaking, 27" x 34" rendering of Joseph Michael Linsner's four- color goddess features a detailed border designed to accent all-new Dawn artwork. Battle of the Planets Wall Scroll #2 (MAR023175H): Guaranteed to ship in May, the 27" x 34" wall scroll depicts the entire Science Ninja team as well as the evil Zoltar and his mighty agents of Specter. Art for all of these products is available upon request. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Interview Tim O'Shea tim_jen@mindspring.com Originally run at www.orcafresh.net This interview appears here with permission. A Story Destined for DC: An ORCA Q&A with the Writers Behind Haven If you've not heard of the writers behind DC's maxiseries HAVEN, there is a good reason. This is the first mainstream work for Ashley-Jayne Nicolaus (AJN) and Matthew P. Schuster (MPS). So ORCA decided it'd be good to find out how this all came about. My thanks to both writers for sharing their time and thoughts. Enjoy. --Tim O'Shea, ORCA contributor ORCA: When you came up with the concept of HAVEN, was it something you always believed should be set in the DC universe, or had you pitched it to other comic companies prior to approaching DC? MPS: We both felt that it was DC or bust. A big part of the story always was, "How will the rest of the world react to this?" And DC has the most cohesive universe and a good tract record in dealing with longer story arcs. Plus, it always seemed that the DCU characters actually had a real stake at what happened to their universe. That's kind of hard to explain but I could actually see Superman losing sleep at night worrying about Haven. I could visualize Batman trying to figure out what sort of problems Haven would cause. I could see Green Lantern flying around Haven, just in awe of how cool of a place it was. I could feel Wonder Woman's admiration of a people who had overcome so much. I could go on and on like this. With other companies, I never felt like their characters could empathize with HAVEN. Captain America, shows up, makes a speech, and hands out green cards. The End. It just never felt right. AJN: So in answer to your question...we never did pitch it to anyone else. We bugged DC about it and every editor there so they would just shut up and listen to this great idea we had. And like Matt said, it never felt right to put Haven anywhere else. ORCA: Some writers, when approaching comic book writing, draw upon several different influences to create their characters (i.e., James Robinson's approach to the Elongated Man [and his wife] in the later issues of STARMAN, drew slightly from the 1930s THIN MAN film husband/wife detective characters for inspiration). Can you point to any inspiration, movies, novels, other comics, from which you drew inspiration from for characters in HAVEN? MPS: Not really, we tried to ma