----------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE LARGEST ISSUE TO DATE of THE COMIC BOOK NETWORK ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE Issue Number 481 7/23/2004 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Winner of the 2001 EAGLE AWARD as FAVORITE COMICS E-ZINE! 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] Interviews: Joshua Hale Fialkov ......... Richard Vasseur [6] Interviews: Billy Martinez, Rob Dunlop, Rich Stahnke ........................... Paul Dale Roberts [7] My Life With Comic Books ................ Paul Howley [8] Lines On Paper .......................... Bruce Canwell [9] Thoughts From the Land of Frost ......... Alex Ness [10] E-Dispatches From the Great White North!. Jonathan A. Gilbert [11] O'Shea's Offhand Opinons ................ Tim O'Shea [12] Suspended Animation ..................... Michael Vance [13] Silva Shado Reviews ..................... Sarah Haslett [14] ComiX-FAN Reviews........................ Eric J. Moreels [15] Rich's Reviews .......................... Richard Vasseur [16] What About Bob? ......................... Robert Taylor [17] M.O.E. Reviews .......................... Paul Dale Roberts [18] My View: GENERALISSIMO el BUSHO; SATYR; THE NODWICK CHRONICLES; PS238 .......... David LeBlanc [19] TOP 100 COMICS FOR June 2004 ............ Diamond Comics Dist. [20] New Series in August Previews ........... Previews [21] New Comic Book Releases List ............ Charles LePage [22] HYPE! & LINKS Section ................... Various _________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Mailed by Yahoo!: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag WEEKLY HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem ------------------------------------------------------------------ o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ ------------------------------------------------------------------ The ComicBook Network started 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) and is used with permission. Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine is Copyright 2004 by David L. LeBlanc. You may freely distribute or retransmit this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Except for personal archiving, permission must be obtained from theindividual 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. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [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. The weekly deadline is 7:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday - NO EXCEPTIONS! Late submissions are held over for the following week. 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 per se, only the printed media. 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 in the column MY VIEW. Send material to be reviewed 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! _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [1] On the Net David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com It wasn't planned this way, but this issue is our largest ever. Lots of Comic Con International pre-show hype, two weeks worth of columns and information from Diamond's latest issue of Previews add up to a lot of stuff. Despite what else you might read in this very issue, I still recommend IDENTITY CRISIS. Only two issues have come out and while some have voiced displeasure with certain plot elements or miscategorize the book as trashing the DC Universe, not even one third of the story has unfolded. I can understand not wanting to read about certain types of abuse and if that is central to the plot taking a pass, fair enough. But there is more here than has been revealed and much will happen in five more issues. You may find you have to get the collected trade next year after missing out on the regular issues. I have faith this will live up to the hype. Thanks for those who expressed good wishes for my vacation. We had a great time at the wedding and with our dear friends we don't get to see enough. The drive back was the down part of the trip. Torrential rains in the Garden State (that's New Jersey for you folks in Rio Linde) had us crawling up I-95 on Sunday afternoon. Next is the Howley wedding where we have to compete on the highway with 100,000 plus Nascar fans heading to the race in New Hampshire this weekend - along with people heading to the mountains for the weekend or the week on vacation themselves. Things should be back to normal after this weekend, but you never know what new surprises the world has for you. Sort of like going into the comic shop and finding these new titles on the racks: ABOUT COMICS 24 Hour Comics Day Highlights 2004 TPB, $24.95 ANGEL GATE PRESS Black Tide Breyfogle Cvr #10, $2.95 AVATAR PRESS Warren Ellis Strange Killings Necromancer #3 (Of 6), $3.50 DC COMICS Hawkman #30, $2.50 Outsiders #14, $2.50 Robin #128, $2.25 DIGITAL WEBBING Digital Webbing Presents #16, $2.95 DORK STORM PRESS Dork Tower #28, $2.99 <---------------------Pick of the Week! DREAMCHILDE PRESS Quantum Rock Of Ages #4 (Of 12), $2.99 IMAGE COMICS Savage Dragon #115, $7.95 MDC COMICS Gabagool #6, $3.00 WCG COMICS Rob Hanes Adventures #5, $2.95 magazines Previews Vol XIV #8, AR In other pop culture I watched the new series RESCUE ME on FX starring Dennis Leary. It is about New York City Firefighters and their daily life on the job and at home. Some are still coping with the losses from Sept 11, 2001. I found it riveting though heavy on the language. However, it is good drama sprinkled with just enough humor. In fact the characterizations are realistic - the way the fraternity of firefighters would act - playing pranks on each other, razzing the newbies, gambling on sports, and bitching about the job. I like it. I also enjoy The Amazing Race on CBS. It on of those reality shows but not about faking love interests or staged events for the cameras. It is a dozen pairs of people racing around the world, completing tasks to get clues to their next destination and stopping only when they get to a designated rest area. The last couple is eliminated and the race resumes 12 hours later. The bonus is they are travelling around the world, seeing places in most of the continents and we go along for the sightseeing tour. We learn a little of the culture, the landmarks and the customs at each place they stop. I find myself routing for some teams, and picturing myself in such a race - wondering if I could compete at their level. It is fun TV to escape from the cares of the real world for an hour. Sort of like a comic book adventure. Enjoy this monster issue and we'll see you next time. 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. +++++ From: Ben Howard Thanks very much David for taking the time to let us know about your review of THE WATCH: CASUS BELLI in the latest CBEM. Glad you are enjoying reading the series as it develops. The creative team will most definitely be taking your thoughts to heart. PS: Keep the good work you're doing on CBEM up! Ben Howard, Publisher Phosphorescent Comics http://www.phosphorescent.com.au +++++ Subject: LoC for CBEM 480 Date: 7/10/2004 9:52:32 AM Eastern Standard Time From: CraigJohnsonEsq To: ComicBknet A couple of comments on Bruce Canwell's column:- Thought Balloons clutter up art, whereas stick them in a caption (Matt Wagner uses different colours for different characters to great effect in Grendel: God And The Devil) and they free up panels - killing off thought balloons was one of the best innovations of modern comics. Switching from a "scoring from five with half-stars" to a "scoring from ten" system is all well and good, but what if you have a huge archive of prior reviews which readers can look at...should each one of these be manually updated to switch to the new system? I can understand the need for half stars when you say well, the book is better than average (three stars out of five), but not as good as a four star book. In any event, I think it's crazy to criticize a scoring system, when surely the important part of any review is the content? If I had my way, I'd remove all scores from all reviews everywhere - they are intrinsically meaningless, if anyone bought a comic because a reviewer gave it five stars out of five without actually reading the review itself, then they should be ashamed of themselves. In addition, a far better point Bruce should've made was scoring systems are intrinsically flawed by their very existence. Say you score a set of books out of ten. In this case, a score of 5 is average - 6 is above average, and 7s and above start getting into the best of the best. Except perception is such that 7 becomes synonymous with average, so you see books scoring 8 or 9 (or 4 or 4.5 stars out of five if you will) on a regular basis - which should mean that these are amongst the best the industry can achieve...similarly, using ABC as ratings, as Alex Ness does...C means average, so every single book he looks at is above average (minimum rating is C+)? I mean, A should be reserved for the best of the best of the medium, shouldn't it? It cheapens one's ratings to dish out As, A-s and even B+s on such a frequent basis...what is the difference between these three anyway? What tips a book from B to B+ to A- to A? Ratings are rubbish, full stop. Much better is Sarah's, Paul's and your way of dispensing with the ratings - just let the scores do the talking. Best, Craig. +++++ From: bruce.canwell@verizon.net To: ComicBknet@aol.com Subject: Re: Fwd: LoC for CBEM 480 Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 22:21:47 -0400 Hi, Craig -- Dave L. passed along your letter, which I was delighted to read. Getting feedback is always appreciated! If I may, here are my thoughts on a few of the points you raised: (1) "Thought Balloons clutter up art ..." How does a thought balloon clutter the landscape any more than a word balloon? Does this mean we should start putting all dialogue inside captions, too? As I noted in Installment # 28, I just don't geddit. (I agree with you that Matt Wagner knows how to use "thought captions" well. But for every Wagner or Frank Miller, we have how many writers using them poorly? Too many, in my estimation.) The crux of the matter is: word balloons, thought balloons, "thought captions," author-omniscient captions -- they are all tools that can be used or misused. Writers who dismiss thought balloons out-of-hand are, in my opinion, misguided. Regarding grading systems, (2) "...what if you have a huge archive of prior reviews which readers can look at...should each one of these be manually updated to switch to the new system?" I guess each reviewer would have to answer that for himself. I suppose if a reviewer had the time and inclination, he could knock himself out revising away his prior grading system, though that seems kind of "1984-ish" t'me. (3) "...a far better point Bruce should've made was scoring systems are intrinsically flawed by their very existence." Hey, much as I might agree with you, that's your axe to grind, not mine -- and you made an excellent case for your position in your letter! Unfortunately, grading systems seem here to stay (not just in comics: in TV, movie, and book reviews, too). Here's hoping your letter sparks a discussion in this forum about ratings systems in comics reviews. What do other CBEM readers (and reviewers) have to say on the subject? I'd be interested in finding out . . . -- Bruce Canwell +++++ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 20:26:25 -0700 From: paul howley pmca@together.net To: "ComicBknet@aol.com" Subject: an email about my column David, Here is an email I received regarding my chapter about the Norman Rockwell oil painting. You can include this in the E-Mag if you want. ...Paul Howley Hi Paul, Regarding your recent column about your interest in a Norman Rockwell painting: I can really understand you wanting to own a Rockwell. Those paintings just have an atmosphere of calm and joy about them. Hey, maybe someday Adam will be a famous and fabulously rich actor. He'll remember that story and the painting will come up for sale again. It will be Christmas morning, the fire in the fireplace a cheery red blaze, snow drifting down past the window, the smell of that turkey already roasting in the oven, and you're sitting in a room surrounded by your children and grandchildren. The tree is so big, it touches the roof and lights are sparkling all over it. Adam's son Daniel is being Santa. He exchanges a look with Adam. From behind the lowest, stooping branches of the tree, Daniel pulls out a very large, flat parcel and heads towards you... Yours truly, Amanda +++++ From: "Gilchrist Studios" agilchrist@comcast.net To: ComicBknet@aol.com Subject: Re: Review: YOUR ANGELS SPEAK Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 17:12:03 -0400 Dear David, Thank you so much. I'm humbled. Any success I have with YAS either artistically, or promotionally, It's God who gets the glory. Your review is one of the nicest I've ever had in my over 25 yrs of getting reviewed. Thank you. We will use your review on our site. God bless you, Guy [Just got the word that Guy's work is going to be published by Shanda Fantasy Arts. Look for an announcement in the Network Buzz in this issue. - D.L.] +++++ To: ComicBkNet@aol.com From: senft@worldnet.att.net Subject: now for something completely different Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 04:36:35 -0400 Something different: humor. To me, this was funny enough to bookmark. http://incrediblehulk.blogspot.com/ Mitchell [Check it out fans; it is a lot of laughs! - D.L.] _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] Due to costs, customs regulations, and logistical difficulties: THIS CONTEST IS OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE CONTIGUOUS 48 U.S.STATES! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A U.S. ADDRESS DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WIN THE PRIZE. 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 movie WEST SIDE STORY one of the Jets is reading a comic book outside the store before the war council. Who is the character featured in the comic? In the play it was Superman but in the movie it is Captain Marvel. Tony Baltulis got it first and wins JLA Rules of Engagement TP from Discount Comic Book Service. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the drug that got Batman out of his coma after being attacked by BANE? IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE Due to costs, customs regulations, and logistical difficulties: THIS CONTEST IS OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE CONTIGUOUS 48 U.S. STATES! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A U.S. ADDRESS DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WIN THE PRIZE. 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 the industry TOP COW THUNDERS INTO SAN DIEGO WITH SPECIALS, SIGNINGS, AND MORE Top Cow is gearing up for a fun-filled presence at the upcoming 35th annual San Diego Comic-Con International from July 21st to 25th. Nestled at Booth #1435, Top Cow plans to bring out the studio as company founder Marc Silvestri is joined by the artists and writers of your favorite Top Cow books! Hot exclusive books, loads of special guests, and lots of free stuff! You name it, Top Cow's got it: EXCLUSIVES! Top Cow is producing three cool variants for the show attendees: Wanted #4 San Diego variant - Featuring new cover art by Marc Silvestri, this limited edition of Wanted #4 is sure to fly outta the booth! Witchblade #76 sketch cover variant - This book features a combo sketch cover by co-creator Marc Silvestri and new Witchblade penciller Michael Choi! This hand-numbered variant is limited to a SCARCE 100 copies! Witchblade #1 sketch variant - We've gone back to the vaults to produce a new cover to Witchblade #1, featuring a new sketch by Tyler Kirkham! (Strykeforce, The Gift) This edition is limited to 1,000 copies! In addition, don't miss the Proximity Effect Graphic Novel! Be one of the first 200 people to buy it at the booth and get a FREE Proximity Effect CD, featuring music inspired by the series by various bands, and a FREE Jones Soda 'Proximity Effect' edition bottle! Finally, Top Cow is producing RARE lithographs for the convention! Measuring 13" by 19", these full-color, numbered lithographs depict your favorite Top Cow characters and covers by artists such as Marc Silvestri, Michael Turner, Eric Basaldua, Dale Keown, Adam Hughes, and more! GUESTS! Be sure to find your favorite Top Cow creators, including: * Marc Silvestri * Eric Basaldua * Paul Jenkins * Ron Marz * Tyler Kirkham * Michael Choi * David Nakayama * Matt Banning * Joe Weems * Matt Milla * Steve Firchow Top Cow is also hosting several special guests throughout the weekend! International model Masuimi Max will be meeting fans and signing autographs all weekend. Anthony Cistero and Eric Etebari, stars of the Witchblade TV show, will appear on Saturday morning to debut their new project "The Dreamless", with director Brian Metcalfe! Check the booth for more details on their signings! SIGNINGS! THURSDAY 7/22 2:00 - 4:00 TYLER KIRKHAM, DAVID NAKAYAMA, MIKE CHOI, JEAN-MARC L'OFFICER 4:30 - 6:30 ERIC BASALDUA, DAVID NAKAYAMA, RICK BASALDUA FRIDAY 7/23 11:00 - 12:30 PAUL JENKINS, RON MARZ, MARTIN MONTIEL, BATT, MATT MILLA 1:00 - 3:00 MARC SILVESTRI, DAVID NAKAYAMA, ARON COLEITE, JOE WEEMS, STEVE FIRCHOW 3:00 - 5:00 MARC SILVESTRI, ERIC BASALDUA, MIKE CHOI, TYLER KIRKHAM 5:00- 6:30 ERIC BASALDUA, TYLER KIRKHAM, MIKE CHOI, DAVID NAKAYAMA SATURDAY 7/24 10:00 - 12:00 ANTHONY CISTERO, ERIC ETEBARI, LAZAR (Witchblade TV show) 12:00 - 2:00 MARC SILVESTRI, DAVID NAKAYAMA, ARON COLEITE, JOE WEEMS, STEVE FIRCHOW 2:00 - 4:00 MARC SILVESTRI, ERIC BASALDUA, TYLER KIRKHAM, MIKE CHOI, MATT BANNING 4:30 - 6:30 ERIC BASALDUA, DAVID NAKAYAMA, MIKE CHOI, RICK BASALDUA SUNDAY 7/25 11:00 - 12:30 JAMES BONNY, RON MARZ, MIKE CHOI 1:00 - 4:30 ERIC BASALDUA, TYLER KIRKHAM, DAVID NAKAYAMA, MIKE CHOI Free autographs, sketches (time permitting) and more, as well as the chance to get Top Cow's newest books and posters, plus lots of free stuff, all at Booth #1435! Don't miss it! PORTFOLIO REVIEWS! Top Cow will be conducting pencilling and inking portfolio reviews during the convention. YOU MUST SIGN UP AT THE BOOTH IN THE MORNING TO GET A PORTFOLIO REVIEW TIME FOR THAT DAY. FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED. We are planning reviews for the following times: Thursday 4-7 pm Pencilling reviews Friday 11-2pm Pencilling reviews 2-3pm Inking reviews Saturday 11-1pm Pencilling reviews 1-2pm Inking reviews Sunday 11-1pm Pencilling reviews Once you get your time from signing up at our booth, please show up a few minutes before your designated time at Portfolio Review Area C, upstairs in the Sails area. +++++ THE ASTONISH FACTORY TAKES OVER SAN DIEGO Limited edition books, posters and The Lab and Spooner TPBs available for the first time. Toluca Lake, CA -- July 19, 2004 -- The Astonish Factory is excited to announce its plans for San Diego Comic-Con (July 22 to July 25). A number of events, limited edition and newly released books and posters, free stuff, and plenty of artist signings will be the order of the day - each and every day - at the convention. Mike Kunkel, creator of Herobear and the kid, says, "Scott [Sava] and I have been enjoying comic books and the San Diego Comic-Con for so long that we love to do extra special things for the fans." First off, The Astonish Factory will be giving away copies of the hit video game City of Heroes with all purchases of $50 or more. Supplies are extremely limited, so fans will be rewarded on a first-come-first-served basis. Additionally, an exclusive City of Heroes poster featuring art by Mike Kunkel, Scott Sava and Scott Kurtz will be given away for free. Mike Kunkel and Randy Heuser will unveil a special, Comic-Con edition of their children's book, The Land of Sokmunster ($14.95, ISBN: 0-9721259-2-2, 8 1/2" x 10 1/2", hardcover, 60 pages, full color). This limited edition features a blank, white cover -- the perfect cover for getting sketches by and signatures of the creators who take readers and 10-year-old Sam on a journey to the land of the socks and the evil Moth King. The Astonish Factory celebrates the 5th Anniversary of the Eisner Award winning Herobear and the kid at this year's Comic-Con. Fans will be able to get a limited edition Herobear poster to commemorate the event. And fans might just get a glimpse of the much-anticipated Herobear and Decoy: Field Trip trade paperback collection. Four special edition versions (each with a different cover) of Scott Sava's The Dreamland Chronicles will also be available. The covers feature art by Sava, Kunkel, Mike Wieringo, and Dean Yeagle. Two brand new books will debut at San Diego, but fans should make a point to get them early as only a limited quantity are being made available before they appear on retailers' shelves. The Lab: Hey...Test THIS! (Scott Christian Sava, $14.95, ISBN: 0-9721259- 3-0, 120-page trade paperback, full color) collects the critically acclaimed comics into one giant volume for the first time ever and includes all-new stories and never-before-seen activity pages. Spooner: Love is Strange (Ted Dawson, $14.95, ISBN: 0-9721259-4-9, 150-page trade paperback, full color) tells the humorous story of Roxanne and Spooner, two newlyweds whose daily life together will make readers laugh while at the same time think "That's so true!" Spooner is filled with full-color daily and Sunday comics, new stories, comics that didn't make it past the censors and lots more! The Astonish Factory encourages readers to: "Remember your childhood...and pass it on." ABOUT THE ASTONISH FACTORY Astonish Comics was founded in 1999 by Mike Kunkel. In September 2003, Kunkel merged his studios with Scott Christian Sava's Blue Dream Studios, forming The Astonish Factory. Under that umbrella is Astonish Comics, Astonish Books, Astonish Toys, and Astonish Studios. Having both worked in animation in Hollywood on numerous features and television projects, they strive to tell comic stories in a new way -- The Animation Way. Please visit at www.theastonishfactory.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Brian Petkash 813.784.8576 brian@sphinxgroup.com +++++ Beyond Time Goes to San Diego!! The long awaited San Diego International Comic Convention is just around the corner, and Beyond Time Comics will be there! From July 22-25, the largest comic convention of the year will be at the San Diego Convention Center. Visit www.comic-con.org for more information. Located at Booth #1131, Beyond Time Comics will have some exciting things lined up during the convention. John Hervey, creator and writer of "Black Tiger: Legacy of Fury" will be at the booth to sign Issue #3 of this mini-series, which will be debuting at the convention. We will have all three issues of "Black Tiger: Legacy of Fury" available for purchase. Special guests at the Beyond Time Comics booth will include actors Robin Shou (Mortal Kombat, Red Trousers), Muse Watson (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Mike Kehoe (creator of "Dark Agent"), and comic book artists, Jonathan D. Smith and Arne Starr. Visit the Beyond Time Comics booth for scheduling information. Mike Kehoe's "Dark Agent" will be screening at 2 p.m. and Robin Shou's "Red Trousers" will be screening at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 24. It will be a fun-filled weekend! When you come down to San Diego, make sure to stop by Booth #1131 and visit Beyond Time Comics. Aside from the Comic Convention, a few more updates to report: The Beyond Time Web site at www.beyondtimecomics.com is now updated! It is going to undergo a major makeover, so make sure you come back to it to see the changes! Producermag.com recently launched a section for comic book producers and posted an interview with John Hervey from Beyond Time. Read more at: http://www.producermag.com/index.php/comics_more/black_tiger/ +++++ Claypool at Comicon International Contact David Seidman, Marketing Director Home office: 310-652-4369 Cell phone: 510-295-8660 e-mail: davidseidman@earthlink.net Convention location: Booth 2102 in the Independent Publishers Pavilion at the front of Hall C Convention hotel: Bristol Hotel (619) 232-6141 YOU'RE INVITED... ...For Special Events and Giveaways at Comic-Con International Claypool Comics, a leading independent comic-book publisher, is inviting con attendees to its booth at Comic-Con International for a number of events and giveaways. The events will include: . Autograph signings by best-selling writer Peter David and other top writers and artists. . Free copies of SOULSEARCHERS AND COMPANY #59 or DEADBEATS #60, while supplies last. . Free copies of Claypool's catalog of back issues and sampler of new issues. . A 10 percent discount on any purchase over $25.00. . Bagged runs of comics for less than cover price. In addition, select visitors--retailers, journalists, distributors, and representatives of studios and production companies--will receive a free copy of Claypool's promotional pack, which includes information about Claypool, sample comics, sales tools for retailers, the back-issue catalog and new-issue sampler, and other items. These visitors may also buy comics for 50 percent off of the cover price. Here is the schedule of signings (subject to change, of course). Thursday 11:00 to 12:00: Artist Ronn Sutton (ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK) 12:00 to 1:30: Writer Peter David (X-Force, SOULSEARCHERS AND COMPANY) 1:30 to 3:30: Artist John Heebink (SOULSEARCHERS) 3:00 to 4:00: Writer Janet Hetherington (ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK Friday 11:00 to 12:00: Ronn Sutton 12:00 to 1:30: Peter David 3:00 to 4:00: Janet Hetherington Saturday 11:00 to 12:00: Ronn Sutton 12:00 to 1:30: Peter David 1:30 to 2:30: Artist Steve Leialoha (Fables, SOULSEARCHERS) 3:00 to 4:00: Janet Hetherington Sunday 11:00 to 12:00: Ronn Sutton 12:00 to 1:30: Peter David 1:30 to 2:30: Steve Leialoha 3:00 to 4:00: Janet Hetherington Or to put it another way: Peter David Thursday from 12:00 to 1:30 Friday from 12:00 to 1:30 Saturday from 12:00 to 1:30 Sunday from 12:00 to 1:30 John Heebink Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 Janet Hetherington Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 Friday from 3:00 to 4:00 Saturday from 3:00 to 4:00 Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 Steve Leialoha Saturday from 1:30 to 2:30 Sunday from 1:30 to 2:30 Ronn Sutton Thursday from 11:00 to 12:00 Friday from 11:00 to 12:00 Saturday from 11:00 to 12:000 Sunday from 11:00 to 12:00 ...And maybe more! Claypool, a leading independent publisher of humor and horror, is known as "the publisher of hidden treasures." For more information, contact David Seidman at the locations listed at the top of this announcement. +++++ Global Hobo makes camp at San Diego Comic-Con Global Hobo, handmade comics distributor, will attend Comic Con International 2004, sharing a booth with Sparkplug Comic Books, Alternative Comics, and I Will Destroy You. Global Hobo will display a wealth of handmade comics, including the new Monster Boxes by Lark Pien and Thien Pham, Seafood by Josh Frankel, Midnight Creep by Fredo, a new mini by Graham Annable, and a Slow Wave mini by Jesse Reklaw. Alternative Comics will debut the new Rosetta Volume 2, with work by Michael Kupperman, Lat, Craig Thompson, and others. I Will Destroy You will debut two new silkscreened posters designed by Tom Neely. We also present 8 new T-shirt designs by: Andrice Arp, Kathleen Lolley, Tom Neely, Lark Pien, Joe Sayers, and Gene Yang. Many of the artists will be scheduled to sign books, show original art, preview their new projects, and do small sketches. Find us at Comic-Con International, July 22-25, in booth 1620, right next to Last Gasp. Full list of artists in attendance: Trevor Alixopulos, Graham Annable, Andrice Arp, Ben Catmull, Josh Frankel, Dean Haspiel, Eric Haven, Levon Jihanian, Jeff LeVine, Kathleen Lolley, Tom Neely, Thien Pham, Joan Reilly, and Jesse Reklaw. Sparkplug Comic Books website: http://www.sparkplugcomicbooks.com Alternative Comics website: http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics I Will Destroy You website: http://www.iwilldestroyyou.com Global Hobo website: http://www.hobocomics.com For more information contact Global Hobo Dir. of Operations Jesse Reklaw at PO Box 11493; Berkeley CA 94712-2493. Phone: (510) 601- 1494. E-mail: jesse@hobocomics.com Jeff Mason - Publisher Alternative Comics Web: http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics Forum: http://www.talkaboutcomics.com/index2.php?c=28#alt +++++ Cold Cut's Indy Island at San Diego Comic-Con July 17, 2004 - Washington, DC. Due to the popularity of its previous years at the Comic-Con International: San Diego, Cold Cut Comics Distribution is once again hosting Indy Island (Booth 1901), a cavalcade of some of small press' finest, including Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Jim Ottaviani (Dignifying Science), Dan Taylor (Hero Happy Hour), the team of Chip Zdarsky, Ben Shannon, Kagan McLeod and Ray Fawkes (Infinite Kung Fu/Rumble Royale), A. David Lewis (Mortal Coils), Steve Vincent Devilboy), Peter Siegel (Killing Demons), and Joanne Ellen Mutch (Rummblestrips). In addition to bringing some of their award-winning and much- enjoyed titles, several of the Indy Island castaways will also be featuring specials for San Diego. Ottaviani will be offering his just-released Suspended in Language, centered on the life of science luminary Niels Bohr. "Einstein looked up to him, the Nazis wanted to kidnap him," explains Ottaviani, "His institute in Copenhagen hosted just about every Nobel prize winner in physics you can name (and then some), and Winston Churchill considered him by far the most dangerous man on the Manhattan Project...He was one of the most important figures of the twentieth century." Therefore, Ottaviani has brought a great deal of talent to bear on Suspended in Language, with art by award-winning artist Leland Purvis (Vox, Pubo), and illustrated footnotes by Jay Hosler (Clan Apis, The Sandwalk Adventures), Roger Langridge (Fred the Clown), Steve Leialoha (Fables), Linda Medley (Castle Waiting), and Jeff Parker (The Interman). Meanwhile, the Hero Happy Hour Special, premiering at Indy Island, also features an onslaught of creative talent as well. "With the help of everyone involved we've put together quite a diverse collection of stories. There's something for everyone in this book," says Dan Taylor. "Where else are you going to find a collection with the likes of Steve Niles, Dave Crosland, Scott Morse, Tom Beland, Todd Nauck, and all of the others under one cover?" Besides the regular barflies of series creators Dan Taylor and Chris Fason, the regular "Hero Happy Minute" back-up team of James Patrick and D.J. Coffman are occupying their regular stools at the bar. Other comic book writers and artists bellying-up to the bar are... The Master Minds team of Lance Karutz, James Denning and Aaron Sowd. Dan Wickline (The Conversation) and Brett Weldele (Shot Callerz). Neil Kleid (Ninety Candles) and Neil Vokes (The Black Forest). Scott Morse (The Barefoot Serpent). Jeffery Stevenson (Brat-Halla) and Diego Jourdan (Digital Webbing Presents) Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night), and Brandon J. Carr (PV Comics). Jim Keplinger (Ted Noodleman), Michael Scott (Interplanetary Grift), and Michael Russell (Interplanetary Grift). Dave Crosland (Heaven, LLC) Jon Hook (Digital Webbing Presents) and John Schuler (What Animals Think). C.G. Kirby (Freakshow) and Cal Slayton (Shades of Blue). John Kovalic (Dork Tower) Tom Beland (True Story Swear To God) Todd Nauck (Wildguard) Joanne Ellen Mutch, creator of the sci-fi/slice of life comic book Rummblestrips, teams up with singer/songwriter Matthew Mutch for the San Diego comic con in an effort to "share the music." Anyone who purchases all four issues of Rummblestrips will receive, for free, the music CD entitled Enter which was used in 2003 for an NBC documentary about the early explorations of the arctic. Rummblestrips, for those unfamiliar with Joanne's Friends of Lulu-nominated work, is a story based on an Earth where aliens arrived a while ago, and it's no secret. Rummble, a human girl, who's only passion in life is to be a famous writer, lives with a 6'5", completely metallic, smart-ass Eronorian named Crash. Enter, the accompanying CD, is a wonderful mix of rock and folk, sometimes reminding the listener of Leonard Cohen, other times, of Pink Floyd. All songs were written and performed by Matthew Mutch. Accompanying his BrokenFrontier PSGA-winning Mortal Coils: Bodylines trade paperback, A. David Lewis will be offering an extremely limited preview of his and mpMann's Lone and Level Sands trade paperback, due later this year. The Arcana Jane artist and comic book scholar are teaming up to present an alterative perspective on the events of Exodus in the Bible, this time told from the viewpoint of the Pharaoh's royal family! The Lone and Level Sands Preview book will premiere exclusively at Indy Island and be limited to no more than thirty copies; forthcoming information on the full 140-page original graphic novel can be found at www.captionbox.net/lals. Lastly, the gentlemen of the Great Lakes Ninja Brotherhood/Royal Academy, creators of Infinite Kun-Fu and Royale Rumble would like to remind folks that each of them has a web site online for contact beyond San Diego. Chip Zdarksy can be found at www.prisonfunnies.com, Ray Fawkes' site is www.pipersnow.com, and Ben Shannon's over at www.magnetreps.com. See you in San Diego under the giant palm tree (booth 1901)! Cold Cut Comics Distribution 220 N. Main St. Salinas, CA 93901 866-4-Cold-Cut (toll free) 831-751-7300 (voice) 831-751-1513 (fax) www.coldcut.com comics@coldcut.com +++++ PENNY FARTHING @ SDCC Penny-Farthing Press (PFP) announced recently the company's event schedule and debut items for the 2004 San Diego Comic-Con International. In addition to reduced book prices, special limited edition issues, and a new booth, PFP will offer fans the chance to meet industry professionals such as Howard Chaykin, Len Wein, and Mike Kunkel. "We are very excited by our schedule of events for Comic-Con this year," PFP Editor-in-Chief Marlaine Maddux explained. "Everything has come together this summer. The new books, the talent, and our convention specials will show old and new fans just how much they mean to us." For the convention, Penny-Farthing Press will present limited edition issues and posters and sneak peeks of upcoming books. Field Trip: Exclusive Convention Edition featuring the collaboration between Courtney Huddleston and Astonish Comics' Mike Kunkel will showcase Decoy and Herobear and the Kid in a special issue available to 1000 fans. Field Trip: Exclusive Convention Edition can be purchased at the special show price of $10.00, and attendees can watch Huddleston and Kunkel draw the cover while they wait. In conjunction with the Field Trip deal, Decoy fans can also get a taste of the upcoming anthology, Decoy: Menagerie which features stories and art by Mike Kunkel, Joshua Dysart, Ty Templeton, Martin Montiel and many others in the form of an ashcan preview. Available for $1.00, the Decoy: Menagerie Ashcan Preview will only be available at Comic-Con and will show the book in progress. Penny-Farthing Press will also commemorate the close of The Victorian title at the show by debuting the cover to the final issue by industry legend Howard Chaykin. The Victorian, Issue #25 cover will be displayed as a limited edition poster signed by Mr. Chaykin. Convention goers can stop by the PFP booth and meet this legendary artist, but are asked to keep signing material limited to two (2) items. Furthermore, Friday, July 23, will be declared Vic Day, and Victorian fans can meet writer Len Wein (Swamp Thing, Wolverine) and penciller Claude St. Aubin (Green Lantern) and buy The Victorian single issue comics for $1.00 each. In addition, the first issue of the upcoming reprisal of Captain Gravity will be available for purchase at the show for $2.00. The new six-issue mini-series displays the talents of Joshua Dysart, Sal Velluto, Bob Almond, and Mike Garcia, and will not be released to retailers until December 2004. Fans can purchase the issue five months in advance and can speak with writer Joshua Dysart about his work on the book. Apart from the individual title specials, Penny-Farthing Press will also offer con attendees sale prices on all merchandise. Single issue comic books will be available for $2.00 each, and graphic novels and children's books will sell for $10 apiece. A clearance table with a price range of $1.00 to $5.00 will be made available, as well as an autograph table for the following PFP artists and writers: Thursday, July 22 1:00-2:00 Courtney Huddleston Friday, July 23 11:00-12:00 Mike Kunkel and Courtney Huddleston 1:00-2:00 Joshua Dysart 2:00-3:00 Stephan Martiniere and Stuart Moore 3:00-4:00 Howard Chaykin, Claude St. Aubin, and Len Wein Saturday, July 24 1:00-2:00 Courtney Huddleston 2:00-3:00 Howard Chaykin, Claude St. Aubin and Len Wein 3:00-4:00 Stephan Martiniere and Stuart Moore 4:00-5:00 Joshua Dysart Sunday, July 25 12:00-1:00 Courtney Huddleston "Please stop by our booth," Maddux continued. "Pound for pound, our new booth, the merchandise, and specials we have to offer make PFP's involvement at this year's con an unbeatable deal. The fans will get more bang for their buck." Penny-Farthing Press will be located at space number 2535 on the Comic-Con floor and will provide additional information for attendees at the registration freebie table. Penny-Farthing Press publishes The Victorian, Decoy, Captain Gravity, PARA, Zendra, and The Loch, the first hardcover book in its Mythics children's imprint. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Herobear and the Kid is c of Mike Kunkel and Astonish Comics. +++++ Mile High San Diego Convention Report#1 Howdy! It's 4 PM on Wednesday afternoon, and the excitement is steadily building in the massive San Diego Convention Center as the dealers and publishers rush to finish constructing their exhibit stands. This process all began nearly 36 hours ago, with an incredibly long double line of trucks of all sizes slowly creeping their way into the cavernous loading docks. I was in line with our rented mini-van full of computers and supplies at 7:45 AM yesterday. Two hours later, I was still quite a distance from the unloading area when the dockmaster suddenly pulled his little golf cart up next to my window, and told me to pull into a side unloading area. Five minutes later, my pallets were whizzing into the convention center on a couple of forklifts. That simple act of kindness saved me at least another hour of waiting in line! I mention the waiting in line to unload because I want to give everyone a real sense of the frustrations and hard work that goes into mounting a large display in a national convention center. Over the 31 years I have exhibited in San Diego I have seen the complexity of the show grow, and any number of new onerous problems arise. The great news about this year is that our freight arrived just fine, our banners were hung, we got the right number of fixtures, and the initial response to the $100,000 in trade paperbacks display has been very positive. About the only negatives have been that one of the six new PC's we purchased for the show arrived broken, and that Diamond scrambled the books they sent us so badly that it has taken over 40 man-hours to get them back into alphabetic order by publisher. These aggravations will all be forgotten by tomorrow, however, as the positive energy of the show quickly helps mitigate the difficulties we have to work through to get our booth looking nice. Since I haven't yet had a chance to walk around the convention, I don't have any photos yet of other booths. Those will start appearing in tomorrow's newsletter. I did take a few shots of our booth as it was being constructed, however, so I am providing you with those as links. The thing to bear in mind about our booth this year is that we've intentionally gone with a very simple block and board shelving. My thought in doing this was that since we're trying to establish an image of having many thousands of inexpensive books, paying to freight our fancy custom bookshelves to the show might actually be counterproductive. I intentionally chose to instead make our block and board shelving look very bargain basement. I refuse, however, to go with straight undecorated block and board, as that is just a little too low rent of an image for a big convention. As an alternative, we decided to cover all our raw components with red vinyl cloth. Pam came up with this excellent idea, and ! it has drawn quite a few positive comments. Aside from working 12 hours a day, we've also had time for a couple of big family-style meals. Last night, after we finished working on the booth, I took 16 people to the Spaghetti Factory directly across from the convention center. Then my daughter Rowan, her good friend Rachel, and Terry Moore's son Trey dragged me off for a brief walk in the starlit darkness on the beach in Coronado. That was fun! I took one picture of Rowan with my little digital camera that turned out very cool, with a very strange moray background. That's it for today's report. I need to get of the computer now, as the room will be open to the public in just a few minutes. I don't want to forget to remind everyone about our special San Diego 50%-80% off all back issue sale that's in effect right now. We're going to be promoting that sale very heavily here at the convention, so don't be surprised if we sell out of a few scarce books from our online inventory by Saturday afternoon. If you want to work on your collection this week, place your online order as quickly as you can, while our selection is still the greatest! Happy collecting! Chuck Rozanski, President - Mile High Comics, Inc. Mile High Comics, 2151 W 56th Ave, Denver CO 80221 www.milehighcomics.com +++++ CBLDFNews A Letter from the Director The CBLDF is winning the fights that matter to your free speech. We need your support now to keep up this good and important work. Recent weeks have seen a flurry of free speech victories in battles the Fund's been fighting: On June 29, the Supreme Court upheld the ban on COPA, effectively quashing a law that would chill protected speech on the Internet and make the government more intrusive in how adults can read and see the material they choose to view. The Fund was there, fighting COPA from the start. Last week, Washington state's violent video game law was struck down. The law would have made it illegal to sell or rent games depicting violence against uniformed law enforcement officers. The court recognized video games as protected speech and declared that violence is neither legally obscene nor harmful to minors. The VSDA led the fight, which the Fund and our free speech allies vigorously supported. In the last season, we've also successfully held off the enforcement of unconstitutional display laws in Arkansas and Michigan that would effect how every retailer in those states does business. We are moving ahead towards killing those laws entirely. This is the kind of advocacy work that comics needs in order to be legally safe and creatively vibrant in these turbulent times. To keep doing this work, the CBLDF urgently needs your continued support. We need to you to join, either online at www.cbldf.org, or at this week's Comic-Con International: San Diego. At the Con there will be plenty of opportunities to support, from Saturday night's gala auction, to signings at our booth (4504/4506), to cool new t-shirts and premiums, including the return of Frank Miller's Band-Aid tee. However you choose to support the Fund, it will go a long way to helping us protect comics' free speech rights. There are new battles on the horizon, including John Ashcroft's potentially unconstitutional recordkeeping requirements for adult material as part of the Protect Act, and potential increases to the DoJ's obscenity unit. We're keeping close watch on these and other threats, but we can't fight them -- or even keep proper watch on them -- unless we have the money we need to do so. Support the CBLDF this week. Whether it's through membership, premiums, or any other donation, your dollars help us fight the important battles. Now is the time to support the fight. Charles Brownstein, Executive Director CBLDF Benefit Auction Comic-Con International: San Diego 2004 Saturday, July 24 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Room 8 Every year the professional community rallies behind the CBLDF at Comic-Con in San Diego to help us hold our best auction of the year. This year we've got another full slate of amazing one-of-a- kind pieces, all to be auctioned off by Defender of Liberty Chuck Rozanski. Some 60 items make up this year's benefit auction, with highlights including: * Jim Lee's Art Portfolio, with Batman and Joker sketch on back. This is the ultimate item for any Jim Lee aficionado. It's the portfolio that saw him through the transition from hot penciller to Image founder to superstar innovator behind today's top superhero comics. This is a one-of-a-kind item that is not to be missed! * John Romita, Jr, double page spread from Spider-Man #72. A beautiful action cityscape penciled and inked by the master craftsman of contemporary superhero comics. * Alan Moore's Voice of the Fire, signed and numbered edition #1/500. Alan Moore won't come to conventions, but he will support the CBLDF by donating this coveted #1 edition of his debut novel, published by Top Shelf Productions. * Matt Wagner original art from Trinity! * Batman limited variant edition action figure signed and sketched by Jim Lee, Jim Mahfood , Darwyn Cooke, with signatures from Brian Azzarello, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Lee Bermejo, and Alex Ross. * All this, plus original art, graphics, and more! Support the cause and find some of the best deals on one-of-a-kind comics art and collectibles at the CBLDF Benefit Auction! Here's the full listing: 1. George Walker & Neil Gaiman, "Murder Mysteries" Woodcut, signed & numbered, #31/50, donated by Biting Dog Press (www.bitingdogpress.com) 2. art spiegelman, In the Shadow of No Towers, signed and remarqued poster, donated by the artist 3. Tone Rodriguez, "Punisher & Citizen Pain" original pencil art donated by the artist 4. Drew Johnson, Ray Snider, Wonder Woman #197 p. 21, original art, donated by the artist 5. Phil Jiminez & J. Bone, "Catwoman," original drawing donated by the artist 6. J. Bone, "Poison Ivy," original drawing, donated by the artist 7. Alan Moore, Voice of the Fire, Signed & Numbered edition, 1/500 donated by Top Shelf Productions (www.topshelfcomix.com) 8. Sean Shaw& Kevin Nowlan, Gen 13 Bootleg #16, p. 8, original art, donated by Peter Koch 9. Wayne Boring, Davy Jones strip, original art, donated by Peter Koch 10. Gene Colan, Tom Palmer, Dracula #59, p. 10, original art, donated by Peter Koch 11. Stan Goldberg, Millie the Model #113, p. 2, original art, donated by Peter Koch 12. John Romita, Jr., Spider-Man #72, p. 2-3, original art, donated by Peter Koch 13. Michael Gaydos, Alias #23, p. 20, original art, also signed by Brian Bendis donated by the artist 14. Jon Bean Hastings, The Thing "Thingie", donated by the artist 15. J. Bone, Gabe Hernandez, original jam art 16. Jim Lee, portfolio, with sketch of Batman & the Joker donated by the artist 17. Ewoks, framed original animation cel donated by Original Cartoon Cels, Inc. 18. Batman variant edition toy, with sketches by Jim Lee, Jim Mahfood , Darwyn Cooke, with signatures from Brian Azzarello, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Lee Bermejo, and Alex Ross 19. Amazing Spider-Man #238, CGC 9.2, First Appearance Hobgoblin, donated by Graham Crackers Comics (www.grahamcrackers.com) 20. Steve Lafler, Bughouse painting, donated by the artist 21. Jaime Hernandez, original cover art, SPX 2003, donated by the artist 22. Neil Gaiman, "Notes on a Vegetable Theology," reproduced script, signed by the author donated by Rick Veitch 23. Jimmie Gownley, Amelia Rules, original art 24. John Workman, "When Larry Met Allie," signed & numbered color print, 1/2 25. Frank Miller, Harlan Ellison, Mephisto in Onyx, signed & numbered edition, #665/1,000 26. Danny Hellman, "Darth Dubya," original art, donated by the artist 27. Michael Zulli, "Your Painted Smile," original art, donated by the artist 28. Jim Ray's Aviation Sketchbook, donated by Graham Crackers Comics (www.grahamcrackers.com) 29. Uncle Scrooge #10, Dell, donated by Graham Crackers Comics (www.grahamcrackers.com) 30. Uncle Scrooge & Donald Duck Giant #1, donated by Graham Crackers Comics (www.grahamcrackers.com) 31. King Solomon's Mines, donated by Graham Crackers Comics (www.grahamcrackers.com) 32. Perfect Love #3, donated by Graham Crackers Comics (www.grahamcrackers.com) 33. Talent Caldwell, Peter David, "Incredible Hulk Donation Can" 34. JG Jones, Todd Nauck, Dave Johnson, Donation Can jam 35. Mike Mignola, "Hellboy" donation can, original drawing 36. Kent Williams, Dave McKean, Jon J Muth, donation can original jam 37. George Perez, Fantastic Four donation can drawing 38. Mike Weiringo& Karl Kesel, Fantastic Four #69, p. 2, original art 39. Frank Cho, Sketches & Scribbles, Signed & Numbered #1866/2000, donated by Baltimore Comicon, www.baltimorecomicon.com) 40. Michael Avon Oeming, Powers original art 41. JK Snyder III, Bernie Mireault, Matt Wagner, Grendel: God and the Devil, 5 page original art lot, donated by Matt Wagner 42. Darwyn Cooke & Khoi, Jam drawing 43. Lee Bermejo, Mike Norton, "Superheroes Gone Wild" Jam drawing 44. Neil Gaiman, Ted Naifeh, Mike Norton, Buzz, Sandman Jam drawing. 45. George Walker & Neil Gaiman, woodcut image from "A Writer's Prayer," #6/85, signed by the artist and Gaiman. 46. Bernie Wrightson & Mike Mignola, "The First Challenge," signed and numbered print, #87/300, donated by Allen Spiegel Fine Arts (www.allenspiegelfinearts.com) 47. Jeffrey Jones, "Belling the Slayer" signed and numbered print, #49/500, donated by Allen Spiegel Fine Arts (www.allenspiegelfinearts.com) 48. Jon J. Muth, "The Starling," signed and numbered print, #209/250, donated by Allen Spiegel Fine Arts (www.allenspiegelfinearts.com) 49. Charles Vess, "Dryad's Song," signed and numbered print, #462/500, donated by Allen Spiegel Fine Arts (www.allenspiegelfinearts.com) 50. Jackson Guice, Captain's Reverie, signed and numbered print #15/300, donated by Allen Spiegel Fine Arts (www.allenspiegelfinearts.com) 51. Jon J. Muth, Joan of Arc, signed print, donated by Allen Spiegel Fine Arts (www.allenspiegelfinearts.com) 52. Peter Bagge, Sweatshop #1, original pencil rough of cover, donated by the artist 53. Jon Bean Hastings, "The Sandman" Thingie, original art, signed by the artist and Neil Gaiman, donated by the artist. 54. Garth Ennis, Punisher #32, original script, donated by the author. 55. Larry Marder, "Beanworld," original drawing, donated by the artist 56. Darick Robertson, "The Hulk," original drawing, donated by the artist 57. Colleen Coover, "Nibbil," original color drawing, donated by the artist 58. Matt Camp, "Savage Dragon," original drawing, donated by the artist 59. Neil Gaiman & George Walker, "The Writer's Prayer," woodcut poem and art, signed and numbered 85/150, donated by Diana Schutz 60. Matt Wagner, "Trinity," original art, donated by the artist. The CBLDF needs your support at San Diego, and to get it we're rolling out all the stops. From superstar signings, to our biggest auction of the year, to the return of t-shirts you demanded and all new prints, we're offering you some of the best opportunities you'll ever have to reward yourself while supporting free speech. Visit us at 4504/4506 and see all of the following: Signings! Thursday: 2-3 PM: Greg Rucka -- The acclaimed author of Queen and Country and Wonder Woman 3-4 PM: John Totleben -- The visionary artist who breathed divine life into Alan Moore's Miracleman signs to benefit the Fund. Friday: 12-1 PM: Judd Winick -- The creatively versatile author of Barry Ween, Batman, and much more shows his support at this signing 1-2 PM: Jim Valentino -- Valentino premieres his brand new Normalman anniversary issue here and his all-new Captain Everything print to benefit the CBLDF 4-5 PM: Matt Wagner -- The creator of Grendel & Mage, and the author of Trinity signs to benefit the Fund. 5-6:30: Jim Lee -- The bestselling superstar artist signs your books to benefit the Fund. Limit 3 books per person, please. Saturday: 1:00 - 3:00 PM: Jim Lee & Brian Azzarello -- This is the big one! The team behind DC's bestselling Superman sign to benefit the Fund. Limit three signatures per person. You'll also be able to get Brian Azzarello drawings, a CBLDF exclusive! Sunday: 1:00 - 2:00 PM: Jim Valentino -- Stop by to pick up one of the great new Captain Everything prints! More signers to be announced, so stop by often ______________ Events! In addition to these signings, you can find out the latest in the Fund's Free Speech battles at the CBLDF panel on Sunday from 12-1 in room 7B. Charles Brownstein, Denis Kitchen, Louise Nemschoff, and other members of the CBLDF board will be there to give you the skinny and to make an important announcement about the future of the Fund. ________________ Items! While you're at the booth, be sure to pick up these new items: T-Shirts: Frank Miller Band-Aid tee shirt -- Out of print for three years and back because you demanded it, we have the all new printing of Frank Miller's Band-Aid tee shirt. The new design features Miller's evocative art on the front, without any distracting text and a bold "Fight Censorship!" logo on the back. Bratpack -- Back in print at last, Rick Veitch's superb Dr. Blasphemy shirt. Fight censorship in style with this cool item! Hellboy -- Back in stock! Mike Mignola's signature creation fights the grip of censorship in this popular style. Fancy Froglin -- Our most popular shirt is back in print with a "Fight Censorship" logo now emblazoned on the back. "I am wearing little pants to hide my genitals," Fancy declares, "It is the law!" A perfect shirt for any fun occasion. Prints: Captain Everything -- Jim Valentino's most "super" hero stands on a mountain with the flag behind him declaring proudly, "This is America, We Can Do Anything!" A funny print perfect for your favorite smart aleck. Mickey v. The Courts -- Rich Koslowski's editorial cover of Busted! finds its way onto this high quality CBLDF print. Billy Dogma Busted! -- Dean Haspiel's signature character is being dragged away in cuffs by the Undercolor Cop in front of the capital. A great color print by one of today's most talented indy artists. +++++ From: aharlib@earthlink.net Dear David, Here is an article I think newsletter readers will really enjoy! Cheers! Amy Comic Book Villains Are Made, Not Born http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/arts/bal- as.movies27jun27,1,6725134.story It's good to be bad One cruel scientific accident - and finding a superhero to hate - can turn an ordinary guy into a magnificennt movie villain. By Chris Kaltenbach Sun Movie Critic Let's hear it for the bad guys. They may be vile, they may be despicable, they may be nasty people who deserve every misfortune that comes their way. But without them, heroes would never have the chance to be heroic, and then where would popular culture be? And while we're at it, let's be honest - they're fun to watch, often more fun than the good guys we're supposed to root for. Admit it: Who would you rather sit down and have a beer with, Batman or The Joker? "I would venture to say that the villain is even more important than the good guy," says Joe Queseda, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, publishers of Spider-Man, X-Men, Daredevil and about a dozen other superhero titles that either have been or are about to be made into movies. "Often, it's the villains the fans are really anxious to see." But what makes a great bad guy, an adversary both powerful and compelling enough to challenge the superheroes of the comic book and movie worlds? What separates a common mugger from a guy with the means and ambition to rule the world? Is it enough just to be nasty, or are superpowers a prerequisite? Can anyone with a ray gun take on Batman and make audiences care? Can any mutant or victim of science-gone-awry make Spider-Man quake in his boots - and audiences quake with him? No, both comic and movie writers agree, it takes more than just brains or brawn or even bad attitude to create a villain that will keep superhero fans coming back for more. The best bad guys, it seems, are made, not born. "It's not like someone gets up in the morning and says, 'I'm going to conquer the world today,' " says Avi Arad, chief creative officer for Marvel Enterprises, charged with overseeing the comic-book company's film and television projects. "A comic-book villain cannot be born as a villain; he must be a victim of circumstances, someone who's been given a curse, or some tragedy, or power. A hero is being given a gift and uses it for the good of mankind; a villain will take the same gift, or curse, and use it against mankind." Latest evil genius On Wednesday, when Spider-Man 2 opens on about a gazillion movie screens nationwide, one of comicdom's most extraordinary villains makes the transition from paper to celluloid. Nuclear scientist Otto Octavius was a scientific genius, dedicated to the betterment of mankind, until a horrific accident (there are no minor accidents in the comics pages) leaves him with four additional limbs, each with a serious attitude problem, each extraordinarily powerful. Re-christened Dr. Octopus - Doc Ock for short - he soon embarks on a murderous rampage that only Spidey can hope to stop. "Dr. Octopus was a conscious effort on my part to try something different," says legendary comics creator Stan Lee, who introduced Octavius in issue No. 3 of The Amazing Spider-Man back in 1963. "He started out just being a normal scientist, and then I had my usual scientific accident, and there we go." Prospects for the twisted Dr. Octavius to make a lasting impression on movie audiences look pretty good. The first Spider-Man enjoyed the fifth-highest U.S. box-office gross of all time (with domestic receipts totaling $403.7 million); the cast that helped make the earlier film so memorable remains intact; and director Sam Raimi had more time and more money to lavish on his creation this go-round. Spider-Man 2 should prove a monster hit, meaning that Doc Ock will have little trouble joining the ranks of indelible comic-book villains who have successfully made the transition to the big screen. What a roster of bad guys he joins. There's The Joker, who made Batman's life so miserable; Catwoman, the feline femme fatale who left both the Caped Crusader's and audience's hearts racing in Batman Returns, the second Batman film; the fright-masked Green Goblin, who plagued Spider-Man; Magneto, nemesis to the X-Men; and evil genius Lex Luthor, arch-rival of Superman. Plus, coming to movie screens next year are two supervillains that comics fans have been salivating over for years. The Scarecrow, a connoisseur of fear who has long been one of the comics' most horrific bad guys, is at the center of the next Batman film (with Christian Bale donning the cape and bat ears), while perennial fan favorite Dr. Doom, egomaniacal ruler of the mysterious Balkan kingdom of Latveria, will take on the Fantastic Four. "I'm really excited to see what they do with Dr. Doom," says Queseda. "I have some idea what they're doing, but he just seems so cool, I just can't wait." It's alive! It wasn't so long ago that screenwriters and directors adapting comic-book characters to film were limited in what they could do logistically. It's no accident that the best of the Superman films used the brainy Lex Luthor as its main villain; all that was required was a bald guy who could use lots of big words. (It didn't hurt, of course, that Gene Hackman played him to perfection as a comic, but not too comic, foil for the guy from Krypton.) Doc Ock, for instance, would have been almost impossible without computer-generated special effects (the filmmakers also used puppeteers, but don't worry, Octavius is no Muppet). Likewise, Magneto's fearsome magnetic powers would have looked pretty hokey filmed against a conventional blue-screen. "With today's technology, we can bring life to any villain," says Marvel's Arad. By way of proof, he offers that the new Silver Surfer movie will feature an appearance by Galactus, a devourer of planets who tends to dwarf entire solar systems. "We played with that, and we found a way to do it," he says, declining to provide any details. "It's one we thought would be very difficult to do, but we found a way that is very exciting for us." Which means the only limitation is on the writers' imaginations, and the public's willingness to buy into it. Like most of the great adversaries who made the transition, Dr. Doom has a long history with the Fantastic Four. The heroes acquired their powers - one can stretch like a rubber band, one caan turn invisible, one can burst into flame and one is a walking pile of bricks - after an unexpected encounter with cosmic radiation. They've been going at one another for more than 40 years, but even that's not tops when it comes to super-powered grudges; The Joker and Batman first butted heads in 1940. "There's like a 50-year-old mythos that we kept sort of wanting to go back to, rather than get too wild," says screenwriter Lee Batchler, who, with his wife, Janet Scott Batchler, penned the script for Batman Forever, where the bad guys were both mainstays of the comic-book franchise, The Riddler and Two-Face. "It's such a fun world." Adds David Hayter, who worked on the screenplays for both X-Men and its sequel, X2, "Over the course of a comic book's life, you will find that one villain in particular keeps coming up, that the writers keep finding interesting things for them to do. You have to ask yourself, 'Who's the iconic villain here?' For us, it was Magneto." Order and chaos But surely, it's not just familiarity that breeds success when it comes to great bad guys. "For me, what always makes for a great villain is a character who is as close as humanly possible to the hero, either in background or in character history and character arc," says Marvel's Queseda, "the big difference between the two of them being that one took a big step to the right, one a big step to the left. ... The villain needs to be almost identical to the hero." This explains why Spider-Man, once a nerdy high-school science whiz named Peter Parker, keeps going up against mad scientists like Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina's Doc Ock) or Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin), or why the mutants who form the X-Men keep facing down renegade mutant Magneto. In the case of Batman, The Joker serves as a funhouse perversion of everything the superhero and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, stand for. "In some ways, the best villains are a dark image of the superhero," says Dan DiDio, who as DC Comics' vice president of editorial oversees that company's superpowered universe (which includes the granddaddies of the genre, Superman and Batman). "Look at Batman and The Joker - it's a force for order vs. a force for chaos. The worst thing about The Joker is the randomness of everything he does. It's hard for anybody to build an ordered structure while there is random chaos about you." It's also important that the bad guys not be all bad; their villainy has to arise from something other than arbitrary nastiness. Both Doc Ock and the Green Goblin, for instance, are scientists who have watched their life's work go horribly awry. And while Magneto is a superpowered mutant just like the X-Men, he's grown tired of being perse-cuted because he's different. Rather than use his power to help the world, he's opted to conquer it instead. Shouldn't the most powerful, he argues, be the ones who rule? "If you were sitting in a bar with Magneto and listening to his argument," says Queseda, "you're going to walk away either saying, 'I'm on your side,' or, 'I see your point, but I don't agree with you.' " As Arad explains it: "You have to see the humanity in the villain; otherwise, he's just a monster." That said, it's not enough that the villain be sympathetic, or that he be powerful, or that he be colorful. He should have an ax to grind - and not just against humanity as a whole. The best super-villains hold serious grudges against even the mightiest superheroes. "Look at Superman and Lex Luthor," says DC's DiDio. "Superman is this omnipresent being who's extremely powerful, and Luthor is basically an average man. His intense hatred of Superman is what drives him. He uses all his money, all his skills, all his knowledge against the world, all because of his intense hatred against Superman." The master's word Permit Stan Lee to have the last word - appropriate, since he helped create just about every supervillain in the Marvel universe. Dr. Doom, Magneto, Dr. Octopus, the Green Goblin - they're all his. He's the last of the giants who helped steer the comic book through its infancy in the 1940s, and more than anyone is the man responsible for their resurgence in the early 1960s. For him, the answer to what makes for a great villain is disarmingly simple - great writing. "I have a theory: that you can make anybody work well in a book or on the screen, if you write them the right way. You can take any character and make him interesting, if you think about it enough." Lee talks with a father's pride about his creations, refusing to play favorites. And while there are certain tricks to the trade he's learned over the years, he insists that making supervillains supercompelling is pretty basic. "You try to make them interesting and believable," he says from the California offices of POW! Entertainment, where he serves as chief creative officer and oversees projects in all major media. "You try to give them interesting personalities and make them somewhat unique, so that people will want to spend some time with them." Come Wednesday, when Spider-Man and Doc Ock show up at your friendly neighborhood movie screens, that shouldn't prove a problem. The article below from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by aharlib@earthlink.net. Fabulous article I hope you will want to post in the next newsletter. Vibes and hugs - Amy aharlib@earthlink.net Not Funnies July 11, 2004 By CHARLES McGRATH You can't pinpoint it exactly, but there was a moment when people more or less stopped reading poetry and turned instead to novels, which just a few generations earlier had been considered entertainment suitable only for idle ladies of uncertain morals. The change had surely taken hold by the heyday of Dickens and Tennyson, which was the last time a poet and a novelist went head to head on the best-seller list. Someday the novel, too, will go into decline -- if it hasn't already -- and will become, like poetry, a genre treasured and created by just a relative few. This won't happen in our lifetime, but it's not too soon to wonder what the next new thing, the new literary form, might be. It might be comic books. Seriously. Comic books are what novels used to be -- an accessible, vernacular form with mass appeal -- and if the highbrows are right, they're a form perfectly suited to our dumbed-down culture and collective attention deficit. Comics are also enjoying a renaissance and a newfound respectability right now. In fact, the fastest-growing section of your local bookstore these days is apt to be the one devoted to comics and so-called graphic novels. It is the overcrowded space way in the back -- next to sci-fi probably, or between New Age and hobbies -- and unless your store is staffed by someone unusually devoted, this section is likely to be a mess. ''Peanuts'' anthologies, and fat, catalog-size collections of ''Garfield'' and ''Broom Hilda.'' Shelf loads of manga -- those Japanese comic books that feature slender, wide-eyed teenage girls who seem to have a special fondness for sailor suits. Superheroes, of course, still churned out in installments by the busy factories at Marvel and D.C. Also, newer sci-fi and fantasy series like ''Y: The Last Man,'' about literally the last man on earth (the rest died in a plague), who is now pursued by a band of killer lesbians. CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/11/magazine/11GRAPHIC.html?ex= 1090648355&ei=1&en=98dd5e527b134c24 +++++ CLAYPOOL CLIMAXES! Publisher Offers an Entire Year of Big "Fear City" Events Most comics publishers offer only a few truly special issues in any year. Independent publisher Claypool Comics, however, plans to fill the 2005 issues of its two series set in the town nicknamed "Fear City," SOULSEARCHERS AND COMPANY and DEADBEATS, with issues that climax story arcs, upend characters' lives, and offer other events of the kind that usually come only once or twice a year. To help readers find these issues, the cover of each one will include the boldface words "A Claypool story-arc CLIMAX issue!" around the Claypool logo. Editor Richard Howell states, "We're always striving to stuff more entertainment value into each issue of each of our series--consequently, we've got an embarrassment of story riches. We're going to spend this next year amping them up and paying them off. This could be Claypool's most exciting year ever." To help new readers fully enjoy the stories, Claypool comics contain pages that explain the characters and summarize their adventures. This coming year, Peter David's hilarious super-hero comedy SOULSEARCHERS AND COMPANY presents: SOULSEARCHERS #70 Shipping in January "Entry Level!" By Peter David, John Heebink, and Al Milgrom Cover by Amanda Conner Kelly, the young witch who's part of the supernatural investigation team Soulsearchers and Company, infiltrates the stronghold of one of their enemies, the Woodstarke Bank, and learns secrets about the Soulsearchers that even she didn't know. SOULSEARCHERS #71 Shipping in March "Playing the Float!" By Peter David, John Heebink, and Al Milgrom Cover by Amanda Conner This issue reveals the Woodstarke banking empire's mysterious worldwide plot; meanwhile, the Soulsearchers become perilously overdrawn! SOULSEARCHERS #72 Shipping in May "You Don't Say!" By Peter David, John Heebink, and Al Milgrom Cover by Amanda Conner This issue addresses the mysterious Mimes, their involvement in the Soulsearchers' activities, and their connection to spymaster S.P. Onage. The Soulsearchers discover the Mimes' home base on the Grounds of Silence and get to the bottom of this enigma. SOULSEARCHERS #73 Shipping in July "Among the Missing!" By Peter David, John Heebink, and Al Milgrom Cover by Amanda Conner This issue reveals the secret behind the rash of kidnappings that has claimed seven of the Soulsearchers' pals, associates, and friendly enemies. SOULSEARCHERS #74 Shipping in September "Matriculation...is for Kids!" By Peter David, John Heebink, and Al Milgrom Cover by Amanda Conner This issue unearths the secret origin of Fear City's Golden Bough University, along with the curse that it threatens to bring from the past into the present. SOULSEARCHERS #75 Shipping in November "A Spanking-New Hope!" By Peter David, John Heebink, and Al Milgrom Cover by Amanda Conner Soulsearcher Peterson's lost love Heather returns, and along with her the Cantrips, the family of demi-demons into which she's married--and for which she's bearing the new avatar. Meanwhile, over in the vampire saga DEADBEATS: DEADBEATS #70 Shipping in February "Dark Shadows of the Past!" By Richard Howell and Ricardo Villagran Cover by Howell and Louis Lachance Dracula will visit Fear City and use his unparalleled power to extract all of the secrets of the vampire lord King Hermano from brainy hero Mason Collier. "No One Here Gets Out Alive!" DEADBEATS #71 Shipping in April By Richard Howell and Ricardo Villagran Cover by Howell and Louis Lachance The group of vampires known as Deadbeats adds a new, long-term fifth member, and fulfill the requirements of Dracula's "five-by- five" plan. This will be very bad news for some of Fear City's inhabitants, since the fifth member must initiate himself into vampirism by slaughtering his entire family. "The Many Faces of Brittany!" DEADBEATS #72 Shipping in June By Richard Howell and Ricardo Villagran Cover by Howell The "bipolar Brittany," restored to unlife and to her vampire lover Southie, has been shuttling between her devoted undead- lover personality and the angry woman who remembers that Southie is her murderer. "Stand With Me!" DEADBEATS #73 Shipping in August By Richard Howell and Ricardo Villagran Cover by Howell Monster Hunter Dakota Kane tackles a solo case, but it raises evil specters from the past of his boyhood friend Senator Van Sloan. "Bloodline!" DEADBEATS #74 Shipping in December By Richard Howell and Ricardo Villagran Cover by Howell This issue reveals exorcist Randall Hanson's deep, dark secret and will explain why he extracts and saves corrupt supernatural energy after each exorcism. "The Unkindest Cult of All!" DEADBEATS #75 Shipping in December By Richard Howell and Ricardo Villagran Cover by Howell The shocking return of the Bat-Cult, the crazed fanatics whose mania has already claimed the lives of the human hero Kirby Collier's parents, Adam and Rachel Collier. The "Claypool Climax!" issues will have the same cover price as other Claypool issues--$2.50 in the United States and $4.00 in Canada. +++++ FIDDLER'S GREEN ANNOUNCES JILL THOMPSON AS GUEST FIDDLER'S GREEN, A SANDMAN CONVENTION PO Box 527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527 info@fiddlersgreencon.org - http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/ For Immediate Release: 9th July, 2004 FIDDLER'S GREEN ANNOUNCES JILL THOMPSON AS GUEST We are delighted to announce that Jill Thompson will be a guest at Fiddler's Green, A Sandman Convention. Jill will be joining Neil Gaiman, Karen Berger, Todd Klein, Caitlin R. Kiernan and Charles Vess at this convention to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Jill Thompson is one of the most highly regarded artists currently working in the comics industry, acclaimed for her work on such comic titles as WONDER WOMAN, SWAMP THING, BLACK ORCHID, and SANDMAN. Her "Little Endless" characterizations are particularly beloved by SANDMAN fans. She co-created and illustrated the dark satire FINALS, and wrote and illustrated the manga-style book AT DEATH'S DOOR, featuring Death from SANDMAN. Her first children's book, THE SCARY GODMOTHER, has become a multiple book and comic series and was adapted as a television show, "Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktacular," which aired in Canada last year. Jill is the recipient of multiple Eisner and Squiddie awards. Contact: Randi Mason, Mimi Ko press@fiddlersgreencon.org Fiddler's Green, A Sandman Convention, will take place at The Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis, MN from November 12 through November 14 2004. All of the proceeds from the convention will be donated to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (http://www.cbldf.org/).More information about Fiddler's Green is available from its web site (http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/) or by writing to info@fiddlersgreencon.org DINNER OPPORTUNITY WITH FIDDLER'S GREEN GUEST OF HONOR FIDDLER'S GREEN, A SANDMAN CONVENTION PO Box 527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527 info@fiddlersgreencon.org - http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/ For Immediate Release: 19th July, 2004 DINNER OPPORTUNITY WITH FIDDLER'S GREEN GUEST OF HONOR Fiddler's Green Guests of Honor have agreed to participate in a special opportunity for our attending members who register early -- everyone who is registered as a Fiddler'ss Green attending member by *August 14* will have the chance to go to Friday-night dinner with a Guest of Honor! The chances are even greater for Comic Book Legal Defense Fund members (since Fiddler's Green is happening to support the CBLDF), so those who aren't already a CBLDF member, consider joining now! There will be eight seats available for each GoH dinner group. Six of those will be available only to Fiddler's Green CBLDF members. The other two will be available to Fiddler's Green members who aren't CBLDF members. For details of the lottery, please visit: http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/dinner.htm +++++ Cartoonist Jen Sorensen announces SLOWPOKE: America Gone Bonkers comic strip collection for September 2004 Jen Sorensen honored for second consecutive year by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Charlottesville, Virginia, July 10, 2004: Cartoonist Jen Sorensen, recently honored by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies for the second consecutive year for her self- syndicated 'Slowpoke' comic strip, has announced that Alternative Comics will release her latest strip collection SLOWPOKE: America Gone Bonkers in September 2004. Jen Sorensen's 'Slowpoke', which runs in numerous alternative newspapers around the country, won second place for "Best Cartoon" at the 9th annual Alternative Newsweekly Awards held June 25 at the AAN Convention in San Antonio. SLOWPOKE: America Gone Bonkers is Xeric Grant-winning cartoonist Jen Sorensen's second collection of her brilliant weekly cartoon "Slowpoke". Through her characters Little Gus, Mr. Perkins, and the terminally horny Drooly Julie, Sorensen slams the Bush regime, vapid trends, and corporate gluttony with her trademark brand of absurdist humor. The cartoonist said of her new collection, "America has always been a little bit bonkers, but in the past few years, we've entered new, uncharted realms of bonkerdom. If Americans would take a moment to think outside the flag-covered box and see themselves as the rest of the world now does, they'd be horrified." The cartoons in this timely comic treasury lampoon the Bush years, but they also take on the chaos of our cornball culture. From This Week in Geek Chic to the strange-but-true executive retreat where bosses learn to treat their employees like horses, this book is a bulging cornucopia of perversion and subversion, and big laffs to boot. "Slowpoke is a jab in the side of corporations, governments, and cargo-pants enthusiasts everywhere. Its creator, Jen Sorensen, is a funny, reliable, and wise contributor who never lampoons editors. Highly recommended." -Cathryn Harding, Editor, C-VILLE Weekly A Xeric Grant winner, Kimberly Yale Award nominee for Best New Talent, and Association of Alternative Newspapers award-winner, Jen Sorensen is rapidly becoming a prominent voice in the altweekly world. 'Slowpoke' made its debut in 1998, and has since spread to three out of four corners of the continental United States. It appears in such papers as the Silicon Valley Metro, VC Reporter (Ventura County), C-Ville Weekly (Charlottesville, VA), Local Planet Weekly (Spokane), as well as in the nationally- distributed Funny Times, Z Magazine, and Missouri Review literary journal. In 2001, Sorensen published a grant-funded collection of the first two years of Slowpoke strips, entitled Slowpoke: Cafe Pompous. Slowpoke was recently featured in Ted Rall's popular anthology, Attitude: The New Subversive Political Cartoonists. Sorensen's work is also highlighted in Trina Robbins' book, The Great Women Cartoonists. Jen Sorensen was a featured speaker at the first annual ACLU membership conference in Washington, D.C. in 2003. In addition to Slowpoke, Jen does freelance illustration for such magazines as Nickelodeon, National Geographic Kids, and Legal Affairs. SLOWPOKE: America Gone Bonkers by Jen Sorensen, for mature readers, 112 pages, 8" x 8", $12.95, Diamond Code: JUL04 2537, ISBN: 1-891867-78-4, September 2004. For more information about Jen Sorensen, visit her website at: http://www.slowpokecomics.com The Alternative Comics website is: http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics +++++ CHECKER, ACHEWOOD CREATOR ONSTAD INK THREE-BOOK DEAL First Trade Collection of "Funniest Comic on the Internet" Slated for November Publication DAYTON, Ohio -- Checker Book Publishing Group and cartoonist Chris Onstad have reached an agreement under which the publisher will collect Onstad's Achewood comic strip in a series of three trade paperbacks beginning in November. Checker's first Achewood collection (ISBN 0-9753808-6-9, $19.95, 180 pp. tpb), is as yet untitled, but is slated for November publication, and will collect Achewood strips from its debut in October 2001 through June 2002. Onstad began posting his on-line comic strip chronicling life at 62 Achewood Court, home to a dysfunctional and riotously funny menagerie of anthropomorphs and robots, on a daily schedule in late 2001 (he later launched a subscription-only Sunday installment in color on Serializer.net) . It quickly became a favorite of on-line and print opinion-makers - fans include syndicated columnists Dave Barry and James Lileks, cartoonists Tony Millionaire (Maakies), Jim Woodring (Frank) and James Kochalka (Sketchbook Diaries), and a vast and varied array of prominent webloggers. In just over two years, the strip has grown to a daily readership of over 10,000 and drives a merchandising mini-empire that has allowed Onstad to leave his day job and pursue Achewood as his sole vocation. Onstad is also a nominee for a 2004 Web Cartoonist's Choice Award for Outstanding Writing in a web comic. Checker Book Publishing Group was established in 2000, and is located in the Dayton, Ohio suburb of Miamisburg. Their books are distributed to the booktrade in the U.S. by Diamond Book Distribution, in Canada by Hushion House, and in the U.K. by Turnaround. American comics merchants may obtain Checker books from Diamond Comics, from FM International, from Cold Cut, and from Bulldog. In Canada, retailers can get them from Diamond, and from Snap! Entertainment. In the United Kingdom and on the European continent, Diamond and Turnaround Publisher Services supply the comics trade. Individuals seeking entertainment and enlightenment can find both in a Checker book. Locate them in finer comics and book stores or they can be had by mail order from one of the many Internet peddlers, including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Checker's own website (http://www.checkerbpg.com/order.html). +++++ eigoMANGA's Museum Exhibit SAN FRANCISCO, CA-July 12, 2004-The San Jose Art Museum will launch a new exhibit on July 26 during an opening night gala. Titled "Art of the Zines," this exhibit will include eigoMANGA's Rumble Pak as one of its premiere highlights. Copies of Rumble Pak's Issue #1 would be available for museum patrons to enjoy. The San Jose Art Museum's invitation to display an eigoMANGA publication is a great honor- no other manga has been in a museum exhibit before. The exhibit will run until October 3. EigoMANGA is also pleased to announce that Rumble Pak Issue #1 has been sold out. This volume's collector market price has doubled from its initial $5 value to $10 per issue. eigoMANGA DIGEST For Business Partners In order to solidify and strengthen alliances with our valued business partners, the executives at eigoMANGA decided to create a monthly newsletter in order to keep our partners aware of the company's developments. August 2004 Information about our television production is online and available on DVD for free. eigoMANGA has a desire to broadcast ANIME MIX nationwide so we have created a webpage about it for you to review. We have also Treatment Media Kits containing our pilot episode on DVD available for free if anyone is interested in viewing a sample of our television production. About eigoMANGA's Television Production: ANIME MIX is a 30 minute original music video show that incorporates a variety of topics targeting the Anime/ Manga audience in the US, providing entertainment that is currently unequaled in the market. It is presented by a host and is filmed on Anime style sets and at actual locations where the culture is portrayed. During the course of the show, it provides the newest, most demanded Anime music videos featuring today's hottest music. The show provides further entertainment and information by providing additional segments covered by a team of correspondents. Segments: 1. Coverage of the latest news including newly released Anime products direct from the Japanese and American markets. 2. Coverage of the latest popular events including conventions, concerts, and live events. 3. Exclusive interviews with leading industry professionals. With an upbeat sound track, modern graphics and special effects, the show provides a half hour of exciting entertainment to one of the fastest growing markets in the U.S. eigoMANGA CAMPUS INVASION eigoMANGA is producing it's 3rd annual CAMPUS INVASION event on October 10th 2004 on the campus of San Francisco State University. CAMPUS INVASION is an outdoor live event exposing university students to the world of anime through live concerts, exclusive anime releases, contests, as well as an anime industry career fair. eigoMANGA has also incorporated a "Rock The Vote" platform to register anime/university students to vote. eigoMANGA's publication in national chain retail stores! Media Play and Tower Records will be the first stores to carry eigoMANGA RUMBLE PAK starting October 2004! eigoMANGA/Tower Records In store Invasion San Francisco Event Tour eigoMANGA has partnered with the San Francisco Bay Area Region Tower Records stores to produce a series of live events in the San Francisco Bay Area to promote its release of RUMBLE PAK within the month of November 2004. Tower Records' "In Store Invasion" is an in store live event tour featuring live concerts Japanese rock bands/performers, autograph signings from eigoMANGA artists, many more features. eigoMANGA's First TV Commercial Look for eigoMANGA's first commercial promoting RUMBLE PAK on the Cartoon Network within the month of October. eigoMANGA's commercial will be broadcasted through Comcast to select cities. eigoMANGA creates manga advertising for Scion! eigoMANGA is pleased to announce an exciting promotional collaboration with Scion, Toyota's youth-focused brand of vehicles. In an arrangement with the major automaker, the eigoMANGA team, including Jeremy Ray, artist and creator of "Extinction Level Event," has designed advertising materials to promote Scion's XA and XB models. Proposed concepts showcase characters from "Extinction Level Event," "The Monkey Tale's and "Cool Downbeat," all stories featured in eigoMANGA's flagship manga anthology, RUMBLE PAK. Each design features the characters posing dramatically with Scion vehicles, or piloting the vehicles themselves. Oscar Gutierrez, Jr., General Manager as well as Head of Operations and Sales at eigoMANGA, hopes that the success of this joint effort will open the door to further promotional partnerships between the companies. eigoMANGA team speaks at Apple Store. The eigoMANGA team would like to thank Apple Computers, Inc., Apple Store - San Francisco, and all of the fans for making the event very successful and fulfilling! eigoMANGA in Art Museum The San Jose Art Museum will open a new exhibit during August 24, 2004 to October 24, 2004 featuring eigoMANGA's American manga series, RUMBLE PAK. eigoMANGA featured in Anime Insider magazine! ANIME INSIDER has an article about eigoMANGA in its current publication in stores now. Visit eigoMANGA.com for more news and features from eigoMANGA! +++++ The Boston Globe, Sunday July 11, 2004 features cartoonist James Kochalka in an article covering his books including Monkey vs. Robot (Top Shelf), Quit Your Job (Alternative), Fancy Froglin's Sexy Forest (Alternative), Fantastic Butterflies (Alternative/Highwater), and his focuses on his new American Elf diary strip collection from Top Shelf Productions : From The Boston Globe, July 11, 2004 THE EXAMINED LIFE This American elf By Joshua Glenn, Globe Staff "IF LIFE'S A silly ride, Kochalka is selling tickets." So wrote one critic about the Burlington, Vt.-based cartoonist and quirk- rock front man James Kochalka, whose James Kochalka Superstar albums and innumerable graphic novels are, collectively, a study in what philosophers have called "second naivete," or self-willed guilelessness. Kochalka's simple, meandering, bittersweet comics -- including "Monkey vs. Robot," "Quit Your Job," and "Fancy Froglin's Sexy Forest" -- may not be appropriate for kids. But you might call them kids' literature for grown-ups. (In Kochalka's 2003 graphic novel "Fantastic Butterflies," for example, the superheroes of the title use their powers to play softball and bake a cake.) CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2004/07/11/this_a merican_elf/ Jeff Mason - Publisher Alternative Comics +++++ OPEN LETTER - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alternative Comics needs your help! Please buy our books from your local comic book store to help Alternative Comics survive! Dear Comics Fans: I'm Jeff Mason making a direct appeal to you, our faithful readers, in a time of serious financial difficulty. If you could find a way to buy some of our books listed below, you would greatly help in our time of financial crisis. Please check off the books you want below and then buy these books from your favorite retailer. You can also use the checklist in the back of your copy of Alternative Comics #2 that was given out by your local comic book store on Free Comic Book Day. If your retailer does not stock our comics and books, they can use this form below as a way to order our in-stock titles form any of our distributors. Alternative Comics is suffering some very dire cash flow problems and I am turning to you for help. In the spring of 2002 our book trade distributor, LPC, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy owing Alternative Comics a lot of money. I had hoped that I could weather the storm by taking money from my savings and by borrowing on credit until receiving the agreed-upon 42% of what LPC owed us. Now over two years later, LPC is still in bankruptcy proceedings and I am completely out of savings and credit. In the past (prior to LPC) I had ample working capital - I had great credit terms with my various printers. Now (post LPC) I have absolutely no working capital and must pay up front to print every book. For each publication, I now wait for all of the retailer advance orders to come in to Diamond, then I contract Diamond to assign the payment they'd pay to me to my printer to print the book. This contractual agreement costs money and cuts into our razor thin margin. Lack of cash on hand has also caused me to have to shrink print runs on some books. This increases the cost per unit of each book, and speeds the looming reprint costs. I've been increasing my publishing schedule over the last two years, and in hindsight, I expanded too quickly. Alternative Comics is moving forward with a much more reasonable, much more foresighted publishing schedule, with some really amazing projects in the works! Alternative Comics' cash flow problems have been the only reason for not yet reprinting Bipolar #1 and Humor Can Be Funny as well as having been the only reason a number of books have been arriving late or re-solicited. I am asking you to please buy Alternative Comics books from your local retailers. In my fanciful imagination, the best result would be for retailers to quickly sell out of all Alternative Comics books in inventory to customers and hurriedly place nice reorders with distributors. Alternative Comics has no staff other than myself, so I am unable to handle orders directly. I ask that readers buy from your local comic book retailers, and retailers to buy from your favorite distributors. The single most important variable for our publishing efforts is the number of comics or books advance ordered by retailers. Retailers decide their advance orders of books based on what you, the reader, let them know you want to buy. Currently, we have the following books scheduled for release in September 2004. These books are in all of the distributors' catalogs right now. If you want to get copies of these books, please let your local comic book retailer know! JUL04 2534, A Few Perfect Hours and Other Stories by Josh Neufeld (Xeric Winner), $12.95 JUL04 2535, Escalator by Brandon Graham, $12.95 JUL04 2537, SLOWPOKE: America Gone Bonkers by Jen Sorensen, $12.95 JUL04 2538, Turtle, turtle by Jed Alexander, $11.95 JUL04 2539, Waterwise by Joel Orff (Featured Item), $14.95 If you can find it in your hearts to help Alternative Comics, I will be eternally grateful. Thank you, Jeff Mason Publisher - Alternative Comics Alternative Comics In-Stock Inventory: (All books are For Mature Readers unless otherwise listed) 81/2 Ghosts by Rich Tommaso, OCT032023 $3.95 9-11: Emergency Relief anthology, STAR14976 $14.95 A Fine Mess #1 by Matt Madden, STAR16707 $3.50 A Sort of Homecoming #1 (Of 3) by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello, AUG031946 $3.50 A Sort of Homecoming #2 (Of 3) by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello, OCT032024 $3.50 A Sort of Homecoming #3 (Of 3) by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello, DEC032049 $3.50 Aim to Dazzle #1 by Dean Haspiel, STAR18706 $3.50 At The Seams by Ed Brubaker, APR970889 $2.95 Bipolar #2 by Tomer and Asaf Hanuka & Etgar Keret, FEB031705 $2.95 Bipolar #3 by Tomer and Asaf Hanuka & Etgar Keret, AUG021800 $2.95 Bipolar #4 by Tomer and Asaf Hanuka & Etgar Keret, FEB031703 $2.95 Cusp by Thomas Herpich, STAR17617 $3.95 Fancy Froglin's Sexy Forest by James Kochalka, STAR19473 $12.95 Fantastic Butterflies by James Kochalka, STAR16427 $14.95 further Grickle by Graham Annable, STAR20266 $14.95 Gongwanadon by Thomas Herpich, APR042245 $4.95 Grand Gestures by Robert Ullman, STAR18392 $3.95 Grickle by Graham Annable, STAR13433 $14.95 Hi-Horse Omnibus volume 1, DEC032043 $11.95 Hickee anthology volume 1, STAR17747 $12.95 Hickee anthology volume 2 #1, JUL031924 $4.95 Lemon Kids #1 by Steven Weissman, DEC981048 $2.95 Magic Whistle #1 by Sam Henderson, JAN981201 $2.95 Magic Whistle #2 by Sam Henderson, MAY980959 $2.95 Magic Whistle #3 by Sam Henderson, NOV981083 $2.95 Magic Whistle #4 by Sam Henderson, OCT001841 $2.95 Magic Whistle #5 by Sam Henderson, JUL011796 $2.95 Magic Whistle #6 by Sam Henderson, JAN022172 $2.95 Magic Whistle #7 by Sam Henderson, JUN021977 $2.95 Magic Whistle #8 by Sam Henderson, OCT022291 $2.95 Magic Whistle #9 by Sam Henderson, DEC032045 $11.95 The Masochists by Nick Bertozzi, STAR16817 $14.95 Mermaid by James Kochalka, FEB981117 $2.95 Monica's Story by Jon Lewis, James Kochalka, and Tom Hart, NOV981084 $2.95 My Uncle Jeff by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello, STAR19971 $3.95 Never Ending Summer by Allison Cole, DEC032044 $11.95 Opposable Thumbs #1 by Dean Haspiel, MAY011908 $4.95 Peanutbutter & Jeremy's Best Book Ever (all ages) by James SEP031997 $14.95 Kochalka, Peanutbutter & Jeremy: Nest & Window Exchange by James Kochalka, STAR16762 $2.95 Quit Your Job by James Kochalka, STAR16112 $6.95 RabbitHead by Rebecca Dart, FEB042052 $4.95 Rosetta anthology volume 1, STAR16769 $19.95 Rosetta anthology volume 2, DEC032046 $19.95 Rubber Necker #1 by Nick Bertozzi, STAR18999 $3.50 Rubber Necker #2 by Nick Bertozzi, STAR19000 $3.50 Rubber Necker #3 by Nick Bertozzi, STAR18942 $3.50 Rubber Necker #4 by Nick Bertozzi, NOV031971 $3.50 Salmon Doubts by Adam Sacks, MAR042170 $14.95 Spectacles #1 by Jon Lewis, MAR970730 $2.95 Spectacles #2 by Jon Lewis, MAR970728 $2.95 Strum & Drang: Great Moments in Rock 'n' Roll by Joel Orff, STAR18518 $6.95 Subway Series by Leela Corman, STAR16775 $9.95 Sunburn by James Kochalka, JUL001552 $2.95 Sweaterweather (all ages) by Sara Varon, STAR18948 $11.95 Titans of Finance by Josh Neufeld and R. Walker, STAR16777 $3.50 Triple Dare #2 by James Kochalka, Tom Hart, and Nick Bertozzi, MAY021760 $2.95 True Swamp: Stoneground and Hillbound by Jon Lewis, JUN011872 $4.95 True Swamp: Underwoods and Overtime by Jon Lewis, JUL001551 $4.95 Urban Hipster #1 by David Lasky and Greg Stump, DEC022415 $2.95 Urban Hipster #2 by David Lasky and Greg Stump, DEC022416 $2.95 The Vagabonds #1 by Josh Neufeld, APR031923 $2.95 When I'm Old and Other Stories by Gabrielle Bell, STAR18175 $12.95 The White Elephant by Damon Hurd and Christopher Steininger, MAR042172 $8.95 Yellow Baby #1 by Jed Alexander, MAY031912 $3.95 Jeff Mason - Publisher Alternative Comics Web: http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics Forum: http://www.talkaboutcomics.com/index2.php?c=28#alt +++++ Marvel Board Authorizes $100 Million Share Repurchase Program NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--07/12/2004--Marvel Enterprises, Inc., (NYSE:MVL) a global entertainment licensing company, announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a $100 million common stock repurchase program. Pursuant to the authorization, Marvel may purchase shares from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions over the next eighteen months. Marvel's largest shareholder and Vice Chairman, Isaac Perlmutter, and its Marvel Studios' Chief Executive Officer, Avi Arad, have each agreed not to sell any shares while the repurchase program is in place. The authorization follows Marvel's redemption last month of its remaining long-term debt, freeing the Company to consider share repurchases as one use of its current cash holdings and future cash flows. Marvel currently has over $150 million in cash, certificates of deposit and commercial paper. Without any share repurchases, Marvel expects that year-end 2004 cash levels would exceed $200 million. "Robust cash flows and surplus cash are two attractive byproducts of Marvel's unique, risk-averse, business model. Given our continued confidence in Marvel's long-term outlook and our solid balance sheet, Marvel's Board of Directors believes share repurchases represent an excellent use of capital that enhances shareholder value over the long term," said Allen Lipson, Marvel's President and CEO. Marvel has no obligation to repurchase shares under the authorization, and the timing, actual number and value of shares to be purchased will depend on the performance of Marvel's stock price and market conditions. Marvel has approximately 115 million fully-diluted shares outstanding and has an approximate public float of 85 million shares. +++++ JAPANESE TOY GIANT MAKES NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT AT COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL '04 Over the past decade, Comic Con International: San Diego has taken on a more international flavor with the amazing works of Japan's anime and manga masters. And along with the comics and videos, various products based on their creations have become a staple at the show. This year, Japanese toy manufacturing giant, Kaiyodo - known worldwide for their amazing toys and statues based on some of anime and manga's most popular licenses - will have a full display booth attached to that of Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. (booth #2401), their official North American distributor. Diamond has prominently featured Kaiyodo products at their heavily-trafficked display at San Diego for several years. "San Diego has become our showcase event to preview and display the latest and greatest toys from around the world," stated DCD Import Toys Brand Manager, Frank Supiot, "and the addition of a free-standing Kaiyodo display at this year's show will introduce convention-goers to all of the great products Kaiyodo has to offer." Since this is Kaiyodo's first official full exhibit at an American trade show, the company plans to pull out all of the stops to make this one of the "must-see" displays for manga and anime toy enthusiasts in attendance. In addition to a display filled with a selection of their previously-released toys and statues (which includes items based on Fist of the North Star, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Front Mission, Votoms, Trigun, Devil May Cry, and more), Kaiyodo will also be previewing a selection of new statues and toys and exclusive North American premieres of: New Bome designer figure - Kirasaki Mai! Fist Of The North Star Jumbo Vinyl Figures! Fist Of The North Star Resin Busts! Devil May Cry Trading Figs Series Two! And Plenty of Surprises! While at Comic Con International: San Diego 2004, be sure to stop by the Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. area to visit Kaiyodo. +++++ Marvel Enterprises and Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment Division Call Upon ``The Avengers'' SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--07/19/2004--Lions Gate Entertainment (AMEX:LGF)(TSX:LGF): -- An Entire Team of Marvel's Best Known Super Heroes to Star in First Made-for-DVD Release in Multi-Picture Deal -- The Avengers Team, Including Captain America(TM), The Hulk(TM) and Iron Man(TM) Team Up to Make Their Animated DVD Debut Marvel Enterprises (NYSE:MVL) and Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment (FHE), a division of Lions Gate Entertainment (AMEX:LGF)(TSX:LGF), have announced that the first title to be released through their recent made-for-DVD agreement will be "The Avengers"(TM). The first installment of the multi-picture home video deal, the animated feature will cast some of Marvel's most popular Super Heroes including Captain America(TM), The Hulk(TM), Iron Man(TM), and Thor(TM). Production on "The Avengers" home video release -- which will be based on the best-selling Marvel Comics series "The Ultimates" -- has already commenced. The animated feature will be distributed by Lions Gate Home Entertainment and available in stores in early 2006. "'The Avengers' are a super hero team for the ages which combines many of Marvel's most popular and enduring characters into one cohesive unit," said David Maisel, President and COO, Marvel Studios. "They are a natural choice to launch Marvel into the fast growing made-for-DVD marketplace." Glenn Ross, President, Lions Gate Family Home Entertainment, added, "Production on this new title marks the next chapter in our ongoing relationship with Marvel. We're excited to be able to bring high quality animation and compelling stories to a very rich cast of top Marvel characters that will satisfy both the hard core Marvel fan as well as a broader audience that is looking for great action hero entertainment." Marvel and Lions Gate plan to develop, produce and distribute eight original animated made-for-DVD features based upon the extensive Marvel character library. Marvel is spearheading development and production with Lions Gate handling marketing and distribution. This agreement builds upon the existing theatrical relationship between Lions Gate and Marvel, under which Lions Gate released "The Punisher"(TM) to theatres earlier this year, starring Thomas Jane, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and John Travolta, and is currently developing theatrical film releases for Marvel's "Iron Fist"(TM) and "Black Widow"(TM) characters. +++++ Date: June , 2004 Contact: David Poulshock (503)872-9280 dp@reddoorfilms.com COMIC WRITERS AND ARTISTS LEAD OFF WRITERS CONFERENCE Portland, Oregon - ZAP! BANG! POW! Leading Northwest comic and graphic novel writers, artists and publishers are slated for a unique workshop at the 35th Annual Willamette Writers to be held August 6-8 at the Embassy Suites Portland Airport. Representatives from industry leaders such as Dark Horse Comics, Top Shelf, and Oni Press as well as leading authors and artists will explore the ins and outs of writing for comics, freelance cartooning, and how to break into the business. This first time event includes a comic panel discussion featuring editors Diana Schutz and Scott Allie of Dark Horse, Anina Bennett, Brett Warnock of Top Shelf, writer Jamie S. Rich, Shannon Wheeler, writer Skip McRobert of Bzzz Bee Cafe Publishing and others. "We are very excited to be able to offer this new feature to our conference," says Deb Stone, Conference Coordinator. "This genre has attracted the attention of many local writers and artists, as Portland is the third largest comic and graphic novel market in the country." The day will include a series of specialty workshops. Anina Bennett will speak on "Writing for Comics," followed by Skip McRobert and Alan Rowland on "Producing and Publishing Your Stories as Comics." Joe Spooner will discussing "Freelance Cartooning" and Shannon Wheeler will round out the day with "Writing Funny in a Visual Medium." Finally, in addition to the panel discussion and workshops conference attendees will be able to sign up for individual, one- on-one informational "pitch" sessions with Dark Horse, Top Shelf, Oni Press editors and area writers. Authors will also be on hand to sign their work in two signing sessions during the day. Willamette Writers is one of the largest writers' organizations in the U.S. Its mission is to provide and encourage a creative environment and support system for current and aspiring writers. The group's annual three-day conference kicks off Friday, August 6th with a full slate of specialty workshops and pitch sessions, ending with the evening's main event - "Short Films & Short Ribs." Cosponsored by the Oregon Film and Video Office (OFVO) and Oregon Media Producers Association (OMPA), the evening includes a western barbeque buffet and a screening of short films hosted by Hollywood Producer Frederick Levy. Author of the LA Times bestseller, "Hollywood 101", Levy will discuss his new book, "Short Films 101: How to Make A Short Film and Launch Your Filmmaking Career." Admission to the event is open to the public and conference attendees. Advance tickets and conference registration are available at www.willamettewriters.org. Early registration is recommended, since the conference often sells out early. Full Conference information is available at www.willamettewriters.com, or (503) 452-1592. +++++ Marvel Sues Disney Over Comic Royalties By GARY GENTILE LOS ANGELES (AP) - Marvel Enterprises Inc., creators of such comic book superheroes as ``Spider-Man'' and ``The Incredible Hulk'' is suing The Walt Disney Co. in a royalty dispute over animation programs aired on Disney's ABC Family channel. Marvel is asking for nearly $55 million in compensatory damages, interest and other fees it says it is owed for royalties generated by made-for-television episodes of ``Spider-Man,'' ``X- Men'' and ``The Incredible Hulk.'' The agreements at issue in the lawsuit, filed late Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, were made before Disney acquired Fox Family Worldwide in 2001. The lawsuit claims Disney has not kept accurate records of royalties due under those inherited agreements. Disney spokesman John Spelich said the company had not yet seen the lawsuit and could not comment. Episodes of all three shows were made in the late 1990s and Disney inherited the right to air them and sell the shows on home video and into foreign markets, the lawsuit claims. Marvel claims it is owed millions of dollars in royalties, including from the licensing of music associated with the shows. It also claims Disney failed to aggressively market the shows, especially in light of the popularity the three titles have gained from the successful theatrical movies made by other studios. ``Indeed, although Disney is the heir to these important rights, it has treated these profitable properties as second rate,'' the lawsuit states. The lawsuit, which claims $54.8 million in total damages, does acknowledge that Disney did pay some disputed royalties when asked. +++++ Jorgo (Jorg Schaller, webmaster of jorgo.org) A new web site has made it its purpose to review comics and thus make them more accessible for a greater public. What started out as a personal webpage has quickly evolved into a page of interest for comic fans thanks to the contributions of several gifted writers. The team of JORGO.ORG consists of reviewers from all age groups but they all share a love for comic art and are untainted by commercial interests. Truth to be told, JORGO.ORG reviews all kinds of entertainment, from movies, books and music to games but comics are and will be at the heart it. The website plans to extend their multi-language capabilities with reviews in Spanish. Give it a try, and if you think you could do better than some, help the site grow with your own reviews, news or articles :-) +++++ Marvel to Report Q2 Results and Host Webcast on July 29 NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--07/14/2004--Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) will release financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004 prior to the market's opening on Thursday, July 29 and will host a webcast at 9:00 a.m. EDT that day. On the webcast Marvel's management team will provide an overview of its financial results. WEBCAST URL: www.marvel.com (select "Investor Relations") or at www.fulldisclosure.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available for 30 days. +++++ TOMB RAIDER COMIC SYNCS UP WITH TOMB RAIDER VII VIDEO GAME Top Cow Productions, in conjunction with Eidos, Ltd, is announcing that the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider comic book will wind down its first volume and relaunch in conjunction with the release of the 7th Tomb Raider video game in the summer of 2005. Top Cow is participating in the re-design of the new game. Top Cow plans to end the 1st volume with issue #50, written by Dan Slott (JLA, She-Hulk), shipping to comic book stores in January. "Once we spoke with Eidos and realized they were changing Lara Croft up quite a bit it seemed a prudent course to wrap up what we're doing now and prepare for the newer version sometime late next year," says Top Cow President Matt Hawkins. Once Tomb Raider #50 has shipped, Top Cow still plans to release various Tomb Raider specials and one-shots before Volume 2 starts up again with the redesigned character. Top Cow will continue to produce new trade paperbacks of existing storylines and keep the issues in print. Top Cow was founded in December of 1992 and currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and 2 licensed) in the industry's Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise Witchblade was TNT's #1 original film of 2000. Virtually all of Top Cow's other properties are in development as feature films, live action television or animation. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and role playing games. +++++ CONTENT HOUSE SIGNS IAN FELLER TO MANAGEMENT DEAL Comics Industry Veteran To Help Production/Management Company Bring Properties To Life For Film, TV And Video Games Contact:Josh Morris 310-285-2071 josh@contenthousela.com July 19, 2004, Beverly Hills, CA - Content House, the Beverly Hills based production/management company, has added one of the most respected veterans of the comic book industry to its roster, signing Ian Feller to a management deal. In this role, Feller will act on behalf of Content House to locate and secure new intellectual properties that will then be shopped to Hollywood studios and videogame publishers. Feller joins a team of Kevin Cleary, Mark Saffian and Josh Morris that has already become known for its ties to the comics industry. With many current comics creators and properties already in their stable, Content House aims to increase its presence. The hiring of Feller is a move that is expected to bring more current creators into the fold. "When Ian expressed an interest in moving into production and management, I knew he was the guy for our team," said Kevin Cleary of Content House. "Ian's a long-time veteran of the comics industry and a guy that just about everyone knows and respects. I'm excited that he's joining us and I'm confident that this addition will strengthen Content House even more." Ian Feller has been involved in the comics industry for over a decade. His career began as a retail store manager before moving to the publishing side. He first served as editor of Comic Book Collector magazine before launching and serving as managing editor of Combo magazine. From there he moved to industry leader Wizard Entertainment and acted as promotions manager for the company's flagship title, Wizard: The Comics Magazine, and all the Wizard Specials. After leaving Wizard, Feller went on to CrossGen Entertainment where he helped launch the company in his role as manager of media relations before being promoted to director of corporate communications and then to director of ancillary publishing, launching two new publishing imprints for the company. Feller currently heads 813 Services & Solutions, a multi-purpose media-consulting firm. "I'm thrilled to be joining the great team at Content House," said Feller. "Kevin and Josh have done amazing things in the relatively short time that Content House has been in existence. They have an amazing talent roster and I look forward to adding to it with some of the great creators and properties that have been overlooked until now. I already have a few in mind and I'm eager to start pursuing them." "Ian is jumping into this new role with both feet," said Content House's Josh Morris. "He really has a feel for what makes a great franchise and I'm sure he's going to bring in a lot of high quality projects. Content House has just added a very valuable piece to our puzzle." About Content House: With a love of film, TV, interactive games and comics, Content House was formed in 2002 quickly establishing itself as one of the most respected production/management companies in the entertainment industry. With a track record of recognizing highly entertaining stories with memorable characters and universal themes Content House has set up numerous projects in film, publishing, videogames and comics. Content House's mission is to build an entertainment entity with strong partnerships extending outside of Hollywood to technological leaders such as Microsoft and Sega, allowing the company to produce great entertainment that's commercially successful across all mediums: film, television, games, publishing and more. Intellectual property creators and owners look to Content House as a partner providing new outlets as an alternative to large entertainment companies. They rely on and trust the team's expertise to take their creations to the next level. With its strong management team and alliance networks, its short term and long-term strategies for entertainment franchise building, Content House's business method has created a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. +++++ ACTOR COMIC FUND PLANS ON MAKING A SPLASH AT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL COMIC-CON First Time At Con To Include Many Special Booth Guests LOS ANGELES , CA (July 21, 2004) - Hold onto your hats! ACTOR Comic Fund will be invading San Diego with a big splash! Booth # 305 is set to include the best and brightest artists and writers who have graciously donated their time and talent to ACTOR, the first-ever not-for-profit dedicated to helping comic book creators in need. This year marks the Fund's first time at Comic-Con in what hopes to be an annual occurrence! Booth activities include a raffle for a 40th Anniversary Incredible Hulk statue valued at over $250.00. WHO: Thursday, July 22 Mick Gray (Promethea artist) signing will be at his artist alley table ff09: 11 am- 12 pm Ale Garza (Starjammers artist): 3 pm - 5 pm Friday, July 23 Leonard Kirk (Bloodhound artist): 10 am - 12 pm Jeff Parker (The Interman artist): 1 pm - 3 pm Saturday, July 24 Paul Chadwick (Concrete writer/artist): 10 am -12 pm Chuck Austen (Action Comics writer): 1 pm - 2 pm Leonard Kirk: (Bloodhound artist) 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm Sunday, July 25 Chuck Austen (Action Comics writer): 10 am - 12 pm Andy Smith: (Hawkman artist) 12 pm - 2 pm Ale Garza (Starjammers artist): 3 pm - 5 pm Paul Gulacy (Catwoman artist): TBA WHEN: San Diego International Comic-Con, July 22-25, 2004 WHERE: San Diego Convention Center, 111 Harbor Drive, San Diego A Commitment To Our Roots (ACTOR) Comic Fund is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. ACTOR creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and entree back into paying work. For more information, visit www.ACTORComicFund.org or call 310-286-0758 x440. For more information on Comic-Con, visit http://www.comic- con.org/. +++++ Platinum Studios, the comic book entertainment company headed by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg has announced an exclusive deal to acquire and develop Top Cow Productions, Inc.'s extensive library of characters and upcoming future projects for film and television. Marc Silvestri's Top Cow Productions, Inc., is the #1 independent comics publisher. With Top Cow, Platinum now has the largest independently controlled catalog of comic book characters and has development deals with every major Hollywood studio. The deal was crafted and negotiated by Top Cow President Matt Hawkins. "I woke up one morning and it just dawned on me that we do this. I spoke with Scott and Marc, and they were both immediately into it." The two companies have deals at every major studio, including Top Cow projects Wanted at Universal, Inferno at Warner Brothers, Rising Stars at MGM and Fathom at Fox; Rosenberg's Malibu Comics has the MIB franchise at Sony while Platinum has Cowboys & Aliens at Sony, Unique at Disney, Mal Chance at Miramax, and Nathan Never at DreamWorks. Rosenberg and Silvestri promise that this will be only the beginning. "The possibilities are limitless," said Rosenberg. Additionally, Top Cow (or its Image Comics label) will handle the distribution of most of Platinum's upcoming comics and graphic novels. Rosenberg and Silvestri's relationship goes back to the formation of Top Cow in 1992, when Silvestri and other top comics artists defected from Marvel Comics to form Image Comics at Rosenberg's Malibu Comics Entertainment, a move that shattered every sales record of independent comics (Malibu/Image had the first #1 slot ever for an independent), stunned the industry and made shockwaves throughout the business world. "We've always loved working together," said Rosenberg, "and they are the only comics publisher successful in launching original properties (not spin-offs or licenses) that have hit #1 on the Diamond Comics sales charts" "We had discussions with several producers and companies about making an overall deal," says Top Cow CEO Marc Silvestri. "With the success of Men in Black and Scott's active, impressive development slate I knew he was the right partner for us in film and television." Attorneys are Harris M. Miller II and Bob Wyman. +++++ From the july 19 new york times Thanks to Mitchell_Senft How a Meek Comic Book Company Became a Hollywood Superpower July 19, 2004 By MELANIE WARNER With his heroic instincts and superhuman powers, Spider-Man has saved countless old ladies, at least one screaming heroine and an entire subway of New Yorkers. But his biggest save yet in the Big Apple may be that of his creator, Marvel Enterprises. Marvel, which owns the rights to the Spider-Man character, has seen its fortunes soar from the "Spider-Man" movies. Over the last four years, thanks in large part to a steady stream of Spidey-related revenue, Marvel has gone from losing tens of millions of dollars a year to turning a profit of $152 million on revenue of $348 million in 2003. In addition to financial stability, Spider-Man's huge box office success ($821 million worldwide for the first movie and $285 million to date for "Spider-Man 2") has afforded Marvel unusual clout in Hollywood for movie deals featuring its other characters. Yet, particularly since the sequel opened at the end of June, Marvel's stock has been hammered, dropping from its 52-week high of $23.82 to $15.92 as of Friday. The apparent disconnect is partly explained by classic Wall Street logic: some analysts and investors worry that Marvel will be hard pressed to top Spider- Man, and that after two "X-Men" films, two "Blade" films, "Hulk," "Daredevil" and "The Punisher," it has used up all its well-known characters. "Show us which film other than 'Spider-Man' has been really successful on the toy shelves," said Peter Mirsky, an analyst at Oppenheimer, noting that toys and other film-related merchandise are Marvel's biggest generators of revenue and profit. Marvel executives insist that with a library of 4,700 comic properties, they have plenty of material. "Blade was totally unknown and those two movies were very successful and we're going into the third movie," Marvel's chief executive, Allen S. Lipson, said. "And unless you were in the comic book world, you didn't know Daredevil." The two "Blade" films generated combined box office sales of $278 million worldwide. "Daredevil" made $178 million. With the average worldwide box office of Marvel's eight films at $280 million, Hollywood executives are excited about the company's prospects. " 'Spider-Man,' 'X-Men' and 'Harry Potter' are the three continuing triple-A-plus, solid-gold franchises in the business right now, and Marvel's got two of them," says Tom Rothman, co-chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment, which produced "X-Men" and "Daredevil" and is making three more Marvel films. Begun 65 years ago, Marvel produces 60 comic book titles a month and maintains a loyal fan base and dominance in the market. But comic publishing contributes just 15 percent of the company's operating profits. Licensing revenue from films and related merchandise contributes 83 percent. "Somebody once joked to me that Marvel is nothing more than a bunch of lawyers and accountants," said Mr. Lipson, who is himself a lawyer and joined Marvel in 1999 as its general counsel. In the late 1990's, Marvel was in dire need of the skills of a good contract lawyer. Not only was the place a financial mess, having been plagued with a contentious, yearlong bankruptcy and a revolving door of chief executives, but Marvel had been giving away the crown jewels. Marvel, for example, received a small upfront payment of several million dollars for rights to "Men in Black," but got none of the $587 million the film pulled in at the worldwide box office. Determined to extract more value from Marvel's characters, Mr. Lipson joined F. Peter Cuneo, vice chairman of the Marvel board, and Avi Arad, chief executive of Marvel Studios in Los Angeles, and renegotiated all the deals for films not yet released. Eventually, Marvel extracted better and better terms, especially after the releases of "X-Men" in 2000 and "Spider-Man" in 2002. Generally speaking, today Marvel receives 2 percent to 3 percent of a film's worldwide sales, including DVD and cable. But in some deals, like the one with Lions Gate Entertainment for "The Punisher," Marvel receives half of the studio's profit. It is a measure of Marvel's elevated status in Hollywood that while the company contributes none of the capital for film production or marketing, it maintains considerable influence over the creative process. For "Spider-Man," Mr. Arad submitted an approved list of names from which Sony could choose a director. No changes, like costume alterations or additions of superpowers, can be done without Marvel's approval. Spider-Man, for instance, is not permitted to kill anyone. "These characters are our lifeblood," Mr. Lipson said. "We can't let a studio ruin a character for us." Late last year, Mr. Lipson and his team decided to extract more revenue from Marvel's license agreements with merchandisers. Mr. Lipson said he felt that having many companies selling the same product was keeping wholesale prices down. Now, instead of 12 producers of Spider-Man, Hulk and X-Men candy and 4 producers of sneakers, there is one of each, and the price they pay Marvel has gone up. But Mr. Cuneo, the vice chairman, acknowledges that Marvel is probably approaching its limit for negotiating better licensing terms, meaning that increased revenue will have to come either from higher box office sales or more films. There are risks, however, to pumping out too many movies. Mr. Mirsky, the Oppenheimer analyst, said he did not think America's toy shelves would support too many more superhero characters. Marvel executives say they are not worried about how to increase licensing revenue. Mr. Lipson said that international sales were a "huge untapped resource," and Marvel also has plans to expand into other media. Last year the company published a young-adult novel based on Spider-Man's love interest, Mary Jane, and Mr. Arad's group signed a deal with Lions Gate for eight animated DVD's for children. This time, however, Marvel will do all the development and creative work and receive not just a sizable cut of profits, but a majority of them, said David Maisel, chief operating officer of Marvel Studios. "I don't know any other company in Hollywood that could do that, " he said. +++++ GUY GILCHRIST BRINGS NEW PROJECTS TO SFA --- Guy Gilchrist, the syndicated cartoonist behind MUDPIE and YOUR ANGELS SPEAK, is bringing his strip creations to comic book life in partnership with Shanda Fantasy Arts, the leading independent publisher of anthropomorphic comic books. This will be an anthology of work from YOUR ANGELS SPEAK, MUDPIE, and NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS. MUDPIE tells the story of a young cat named MUDPIE, and his exciting adventures with his girlfriend Pawdette and his guardian angel, Angelmouse. It is scheduled to debut as a 40-page comic in February, 2005. YOUR ANGELS SPEAK is an strip cartoon utilizing angels of all ages, races, and nationalities who deliver inspirational messages. This SFA comic will be on the stands in December, 2004. Both comics are recommended for all ages. Guy Gilchrist has been an artist and writer of world renown for over two decades. As the writer and illustrator of children's books, his work has won international acclaim and multiple awards. The National Cartoonists Society has nominated Guy for the prestigious Reuben Award in the Best Book Illustrator category three years in a row. Guy won the award in both 1998 and 1999. As the syndicated cartoonist of NANCY, YOUR ANGELS SPEAK, NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS, MUDPIE, THE POETRY GUY, THE MUPPETS and THE ROCK CHANNEL, his work has been shown in both newspapers and museums worldwide, and is permanently enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Guy is a member of the National Cartoonists Society, Artists & Writers, and was on the Board of Directors of the now-defunct Newspaper Features Council. Today, with millions reading his syndicated cartoon classic NANCY, YOUR ANGELS SPEAK, as well as MUDPIE and NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS, and so many more enjoying his 40 plus books, Guy is enjoying the popularity that comes from so many years of doing the work he truly loves. His drawings and stories are filled with wit, charm, a strong faith in God, and honest down-to-earth appeal, with roots in the country roads & rivers of rural Connecticut, where he was born and raised. Guy Gilchrist started his children's book and cartoon career with Weekly Reader Books in the 1970s, writing and drawing comic books for children. Then, in 1980, he would audition for a job that would change his life: Jim Henson's Muppets! In 1981, Guy, with his brother Brad as co-writer, created THE MUPPETS comic strip for the late, great Jim Henson. THE MUPPETS comic strip was printed worldwide in over 660 newspapers daily from 1981 - 1986. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan invited Guy to be guest of honor at the Easter At The White House celebration. It was later that week that Guy's Muppets art work was permanently enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute. His Muppet artwork was chosen to be part of the touring "Art Of The Muppets" exhibit and has appeared in museums worldwide. Also in 1984, Guy Gilchrist, his brother Brad, and syndicated cartoonist Greg Walker (Beetle Bailey) created The Rock Channel comic for Cowles Syndicate. Since 1986, Guy Gilchrist has written 42 children's books and opened the Tokyo branch of Guy Gilchrist Studios based on the success of his award-winning, best-selling TINY DINOS and MUDPIE book series. In 1989, Guy's books won 3 Children's Choice Awards as best books of the year voted by the International Reading Council and the National Reading Council. Mudpie has been a star in several different mediums. He began as a series of eight books for children published throughout the eighties by Modern Publishing and MacMillan/Checkerboard Books. Then, Mudpie became a licensed property due to the book's success...and soon there were T-shirts, children's apparel, and stuffed animal versions of Mudpie, and his sister Punkin. Even Mudpie's mouse pal! The comic strip began in 1997. The NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS newspaper feature, starring Mudpie, is a wonderful family feature based on his award winning children's books. This popular feature is enjoyed by millions of newspaper readers around the world. Guy is very excited about bringing Mudpie into the new comic book medium. "The daily strip had begun as a children's-only feature and then evolved into a humorous adventure strip where Mudpie and his Guardian Angelmouse, along with Mudpie's girlfriend Pawdette, got involved in all kinds of quests, and journeys of the imagination. I can't wait to break out into bigger panels, and more pages, and give my art and writing the room to flourish! Mike and Carole have given me that opportunity." says Guy, about the upcoming MUDPIE #1. In 1997, Guy and his wife Angie began their own international publishing company. Gilchrist Publishing began with two books of poems and pictures written for children of all ages. NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS II: THE BOX SET is a sequel to the critically acclaimed NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS: A TRIP TO STORYLAND. In 1999, The Bank Street College of Education voted NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS one of the Best Children's Book of the Year. Most recently published are four paper-back books. NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS COMICS, featuring Mudpie, is a collection of the earliest daily MUDPIE comics and NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS GENIUS CLUB: LET'S DRAW CARTOONS! features drawing lessons from the syndicated NIGHT LIGHTS & PILLOW FIGHTS newspaper feature. Plan Nine Publishing recently published two more MUDPIE collections, "I'm Having A Bad Fur Day", and "When Cats Fly". The third MUDPIE anthology is slated for release later this year. Guy enjoys writing and drawing the classic NANCY comic strip as well, on which he partners with his talented brother Brad. NANCY appears in 400 newspapers worldwide, and is distributed by United Feature Syndicate. YOUR ANGELS SPEAK is Guy's most recently syndicated feature, launched by United Feature Syndicate on March 18, 2002. A weekly inspiration drawing created by Guy in hopes of bringing strength and joy to people, much like the angels that inspire them. "I believe my job is to be a positive influence, if I can, and to write and draw from the heart. I try to share God's love and strength through the ANGELS. It has become an important worldwide ministry." "Bringing the ANGELS into the comic book medium is a wonderful way to share the feature with more and more readers! My first love was always comic books, and I'm thrilled to be working with the Curtis family on this new and exciting project!" says Guy. Guy has toured the nation and the world with his inspirational talks. He is a frequent guest host on The Grand Ole Opry from Nashville, TN as well as many other national tv and radio shows. Guy lists as his greatest accomplishments: his daughter Lauren (24), his son Garrett (22), and his stepdaughter Julia (15), and convincing Angie Brown to marry him. He enjoys a good day of golf, cheering on The Boston Red Sox, writing hillbilly songs, singing ol' Hank & Elvis tunes, and most of all, looking forward to the mystery & magic of tomorrow. Samples of MUDPIE can be viewed at http://www.gilchriststudios.com/mudpie/mudpiecomics.asp while YOUR ANGELS SPEAK can be viewed at http://www.yourangelsspeak.com/ SHANDA FANTASY ARTS is the largest independent publisher of anthropomorphic comic books, now in it's ninth year of business. Earlier, it's key titles KATMANDU (written by Editor Carole Curtis) and SHANDA THE PANDA (written by Publisher Mike Curtis) had been printed by other publishers. In addition to these titles, SFA also produces Shawntae Howard's EXTINCTIONERS, (super-hero action), ATOMIC MOUSE (the 1950's Charlton hero for all ages), Steve Gallacci's ALBEDO (the space drama that started the anthropomorphic comic genre), FURRY NINJA HIGH SCHOOL (the furry version of Ben Dunn's trailblazing anime series) and several special projects and one-shots. YENNY by David Alverez (the popular webcomic) is set to debut this November. SFA titles and projects can be viewed at www.shandafantasyarts.net +++++ From THE PULSE by Heidi MacDonald and Jennifer Contino at: http://www.comicon.com/pulse/ MISSING FUNNIES IN PAPERS? Could the newspaper funnies soon disappear? An article at Newsweek reported Knight Ridder, a company which owns 31 daily papers across the United States, "is demanding a 20 percent reduction in the rates its papers pay for comics, while threatening the cancellation of more than $100,000 worth of business if the syndicates don't comply." In the article one unnamed executive said, "We're not allowed to collude as syndicates, but they're allowed to blackmail us into reducing rates? It feels wrong." Others are worried the reduction won't give up-and-coming cartoonists a chance. The article also noted that some large cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and San Francisco have already reduced their comics to save money. DIXON SIGNS W/ATP COMICS ATP Comics, a division of Across the Pond Studios, finalized a publishing contract with comic legend and writer Chuck Dixon ("Way of the Rat", "Nightwing") that grants ATP Comics the rights to Chuck Dixon's latest creator owned project, "Iron Ghost". "Iron Ghost" is an exciting tale of war intrigue that follows the adventures of a vigilante during World War II as he wages a one- man battle against the Nazi Third Reich. It follows the style of such masterpieces as Shadow or the Green Hornet. Accompanying Chuck Dixon is illustrator Sergio Cariello ("Metal Locus", "The Path"), and cover art by Flint Henry ("Sketch Magazine", "Batman: Bullock's Law"). "Needless to say I was pretty excited when Sergio (Cariello) said that Chuck (Dixon) was interested in publishing a new book he was working on with ATP." said Stephan Nilson, ATP President/EIC. "Obviously having someone like Chuck working on a title with our company is huge, but to have Sergio and Flint working on it too is just mind blowing." Sergio Cariello recently worked with ATP on "Metal Locus", a story soon to appear in "ATP Presents" #1. Chuck Dixon began his writing career writing for children's books such as "Winnie the Pooh" and "Raggedy Ann and Andy". Later he migrated into the world of comics with his first work for Comico's "Evangeline". Eventually his fine talents went to many publishers such as Bongo Comics, CrossGen, Dark Horse, Image, DC, Marvel, and many others. His great talents even led him to a Wizard Fan Award for DC's "Vengeance of Bane" which made headlines in 1992. "Production on this new title has already begun. Chuck's scripts are done and Sergio has started on the interior art. "Iron Ghost" will be promoted at all ATP convention appearances, as well as previewed on the ATP website at www.acrossthepondcomics.com with new character sketches and teasers. Scheduled to ship early 2005, "Iron Ghost" will be a 32-page full color comic book, published originally as a six-issue mini series to be followed by a monthly series. ANIME & MANGA GROUPS TEAM TO HELP KIDS WITH CANCER Anime News Network, in association with TOKYOPOP, FUNimation, Bandai Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Urban Vision, Animerica, and The Right Stuf International, announces a new initiative to bring hope to kids with cancer. Twelve-year-old Mitsuki Kouyama is a girl with a dream. She loves to sing with all her heart, and she wants to touch the world with her delicate voice. Between Mitsuki and her dream is cancer-a tumor in her throat that puts her life and voice in peril. Given only one year to live, she struggles through each day with little hope as her dream begins to fade. But a miracle saves Mitsuki. Two spirits visit the young girl, befriending her and giving her hope. With their power she can challenge fate and reach for her dream. She finds a new future. "Full Moon wo Sagashite" is fictional, but the story of Mitsuki Kouyama is one shared by tens of thousands of children across the country. One in every 330 children in the United States develops cancer before age nineteen. Killing more children than any other disease, cancer strips children of the chance to fulfill their dreams. And while today's research and treatment can give these children a fighting chance, money and medicine are not always enough to save them. For children like Mitsuki, the only hope is a miracle. That's where you come in. Today we're launching Project: New Future, a new program designed to encourage and reward North America's anime and manga fans for spending time with a child who's fighting cancer. The healing power of the human spirit, as so many doctors will attest, is unmatched. We're asking the anime community to channel that power. As a gift for volunteering at a local children's hospital or camp, Anime News Network has partnered with TOKYOPOP, FUNimation, Bandai Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Urban Vision, Animerica, and The Right Stuf International to send free anime and manga to all participants. "We are delighted at the opportunity to partner with Anime News Network for such a worthy cause," said TOKYOPOP VP of Marketing, John Powers. "We hope that we help bring attention to the Project: New Future campaign and ultimately encourage America's growing population of anime and manga fans to get involved." For many of us, cancer strikes at a very personal level. "As someone who has watched family members die from this disease, I am proud to have our organization assist in any way we can toward making progress in the fight against cancer," said Shawne Kleckner, CEO/President of The Right Stuf International. "I'm very excited to see Project: New Future finally get off the ground," said Jonathan Mays of Anime News Network. "It's been over six months in the making, and I can't wait to see the response through the anime/manga community." Cancer brings children a future of suffering and death. Together we can help them find a new future. For more details, please visit www.projectnewfuture.org or contact Jonathan Mays at jmays@animenewsnetwork.com . PAPERFILMS' TEMPEST OPTIONED TEMPEST, the latest creation from the Paperfilms writing team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, has been optioned for development by Double Nickel Entertainment and Catch 23 Entertainment. A blending of horror, romance and action, TEMPEST focuses on a small group of men and women who become aware of a supernatural phenomenon operating in their small town. TEMPEST, in the early stages of development by Paperfilms for a graphic novel, was pre-empted by Double Nickel in its pre-publication state. Lindsey Laughlin of Barnes Morris Klein Mark Yorn Barnes & Levine represented Double Nickel. The agreement was brokered for Paperfilms by its longtime representative, Ken F. Levin. Feature and television writer Richard Kletter will write the screenplay for Double Nickel. TEMPEST is the latest in a string of recent successes for Paperfilms. Last year, their BEAUTIFUL KILLER was acquired by Strike Entertainment and Universal Studios for a theatrical release starring Jessica Alba, and Paperfilms' original comic art properties over the last twelve months have drawn rave reviews, among them 21 DOWN from Wildstorm, and THE MONOLITH, from DC Comics. Film and television production company Double Nickel Entertainment is headed by Jenette Kahn, former longtime President and Editor-in-Chief of DC Comics, and Adam Richman, former Senior Vice President of Production and Development for Motion Picture Corporation of America. Paperfilms sells TEMPEST for feature film development "With TEMPEST, we knew right away we had something extraordinary and different from anything on the market and with the great folks at Double Nickel behind us, we were certain we had something special" said partner Jimmy Palmiotti, "It's a franchise in the making that will catch audiences totally unprepared and really make them care about what they are seeing, for a change" "Tempest has been a labor of love since its inception, mixing several genres in new and exciting ways," said Paperfilms' partner Justin Gray, "and we're thrilled to see it head toward the big screen." +++++ From THE BEAT by Heidi McDonald at http://www.comicon.com/thebeat/ TONY TWIST WINS AGAIN; MCFARLANE MUST PAY $15 MIL Round 4 of Tony Twist vs. Todd McFarlane ended with a decisive win for Twist, as a St. Louis jury awarded the hockey star $15 million, finding that McFarlane had illegally profited from Twist's name by naming a villain in SPAWN "Tony Twist." This is only the latest round of a legal battle that has gone on for several years. In 2000, Twist was awarded $24.5 million by a previous St. Louis Circuit Court jury. The decision was reversed on appeal in July of 2003, but Twist took the case to the Missouri Supreme Court which found that the use was "predominantly a ploy to sell comic books and related products rather than an artistic or literary expression" and ordered a new trial. The ongoing brawl has pitted two larger than life characters against one another - Twist once a popular hockey enforcer for the St. Louis Blues, and McFarlane the brash toy czar/cartoonist. Although McFarlane has often been on the less popular side of his many lawsuits, First Amendment observers agree that the decision could have a dangerous precedent for fair use, and have generally supported McFarlane in the case. According to the AP: "They made Tony into a Mafia boss," said James Holloran, an attorney for Twist, a former St. Louis Blues player. "He was involved in murders and kidnappings and rapes." The First Amendment doesn't allow an artist to use someone's name for commercial advantage, Holloran said. McFarlane's attorney disagreed. "The use at issue in this case is no different from Simon and Garfunkel's use of the name Joe DiMaggio in the song 'Mrs. Robinson,'" said Michael Kahn, one of McFarlane's attorneys. "He thought it was a cool name for a mobster," Kahn added. The St. Louis Circuit Court jury on Friday found that McFarlane and his comic book company, Todd McFarlane Productions Inc., had infringed on Twist's publicity rights and ordered them to pay $15 million. Kahn vowed to appeal the verdict. "This is just round four in this First Amendment battle," he said. "We will appeal this all the way." McG OFF SUPERMAN -- AGAIN According to The Hollywood Reporter director McG (CHARLIE'S ANGELS) in no longer attached to the long delayed Superman movie. Although a WB spokesman termed the parting amicable, it was also said to be over disputes in budget, casting, and shooting location -- "McG favored a New York shoot, while the studio favored Australia." Yep, sounds like it was all perfectly lovey dovey. This is the third or fourth time that McG has been on or off SUPERMAN. Since no picture is actually in the offing (despite occasional reports that location scouting has begun and so on) WB will continue its media blitz for the film by alternately hiring and losing directors Brett Ratner and McG, as they have been doing for the last two years. FORMER COMIC BOOK MAGNATE GOES TO THE BIG HOUSE Former comic book retailer Ross Rojek pled guilty on Friday to one count each of mail and securities fraud, according to The Sacramento Bee Rojek, 36, bound in chains and wearing Sacramento County jail- issued orange scrubs, admitted in Judge Lawrence Karlton's court that he had bilked investors out of millions by luring them to invest in fictitious companies. The crimes carry a combined maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine. Federal inmates must serve at least 85 percent of their time. Assuming he has no criminal past, Rojek likely will be sentenced to seven to nine years in prison, said James Arguelles, the assistant U.S. attorney on the case. He said prosecutors recommended the lowest level of sentencing permitted because Rojek admitted guilt and agreed to cooperate. Rojek claims to have information useful to prosecutors, Arguelles said, and depending on the value of that information, prosecutors might recommend further reduction of the sentence. Rojek had originally been charged with eight counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and three counts of money- laundering following an elaborate scheme to bilk investors in a phony "face recognition" technology. The scheme netted $1.2 million. He was also involved in securities fraud, selling shares in a real estate investment trust, American Equities Group LLC, which was purportedly in the business of reselling distressed property. This scam netted about $1.3 million. Rojek remains the object of vilification from former customers of comic book etailer Another Universe as well, over a long delayed DVD of MY SO CALLED LIFE. Bilking rapid fans of some obscure TV show is one thing; messing with the mail and stock is another -- when the Feds were called in, Rojek's days were numbered. For more details on Rojek's scheme, see The Comics Journal. HULK VS HULK...WHO WOULD WIN? Someone is suing Marvel, for a change...and it's a doozy. According to PWINSIDER, the WWE is suing Marvel for the use of the name "Hulk." It seems when Hulk Hogan came along to brighten our days and give little children someone to idolize (aka Hulkamania), Marvel was the one doing the suing, claiming that the Hulkster was nothing but a rip off of the Incredible Hulk. The WWE (then WWF) had to license the name from Marvel. Now Marvel claims the agreement is up, and the WWE is suing to maintain control in order to launch their upcoming video on demand service -- which inevitably will include many matches where the Hulkster executes his devastating legdrop of doom to vanquish his opponents. This differs from the original Incredible Hulk, who vanquishes his puny opponents by smashing them to atoms. +++++ From the Comics Continuum at http://www.comicscontinuum.com/: SMALLVILLE'S LOIS LANE Canadian actress Erica Durance has been cast as Lois Lane for the upcoming season of The WB's Smallville, sources have confirmed for The Continuum. The Lois character will likely be in at least four episodes. In Smallville, Lois will be a college freshman who comes to town to investigate the death of her cousin, Chloe Sullivan. Durance's television credits include Tru Calling and Andromeda. In Andromeda, she played the Collector Amira in the fourth- season episode "Time Out of Mind." SMALLVILLE UPDATE The WB has announced that the fourth season of Smallville will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. (ET). In other Smallville news, Erica Durance told The New York Post she feels "very lucky" to have landed the role of Lois Lane. "I feel very lucky, very grateful and very excited," she said. "But I know that if I get caught up in what this means to everybody else outside, then I won't be able to focus on enjoying the actual work." Durance said that Lois Lane was always her favorite female lead in comics. "Because she was so involved," she said. "She was always so involved in everything going on -- she's a go-getter, she was really in there, quite tough and kind of a hero in her own right." JESSICA ALBA JOINS FF CAST Jessica Alba has joined the cast of Fantastic Four as Storm, the Invisible Girl, sources have confirmed for The Continuum. Alba, 23, joins a cast that includes Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/Thing, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. Alba reportedly beat out such actresses as Elizabeth Banks (Betty Brant in Spider-Man 2) and Rachel McAdams for the role. Alba is perhaps best known for starring in Fox's Dark Angel television series. Her movie credits include Honey and the upcoming Into the Blue and Sin City. The cast of Fantastic Four is scheduled to appear at Comic-Con International in San Diego next week. SSS COMICS TO PUBLISH ZEN Canadian publisher, SSS Comics has acquired the rights to publish an all-new Zen comics series entitled, Zen: Bounty Hunter The black-and-white comic will be written by co-creator Steve Stern and illustrated by long time Zen artist Bill Maus. It will focus on Zen's exploits as an intergalactic mercenary. "This is an incredibly exciting development for Zen." said Stern, who created Zen with artist Dan Cote in 1987. "Whether you are a long time fan or encountering Zen for the first time, this book presents a whole new take on the alien hero." SSS publisher Saul Colt said, "Zen is a fantastic addition to our growing stable of characters and will fit in perfectly with the type of books we want to publish. I feel confident that this new series will capture the imagination of fans everywhere." Cote said, "An absolutely major event that will forever change the way you look at Zen will take place in Zen: Bounty Hunter #1. Fans attending Comic-Con International will have the opportunity to get a sneak peek at what this might be." Stern, Cote and Maus will appear at the SSS Comics booth at Comic-Con on Saturday, July 24. COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: DARK HORSE ROUNDUP Dark Horse Comics on Wednesday night at Comic-Con International in San Diego unveiled a poster of Mickey Rourke as Marv from the upcoming Sin City movie. The poster is at the entrance and larger versions above the Dark Horse booth at the convention. Dark Horse has also announced the John Landis is on board to direct Gone, a feature film based on Mike Richardson's short story "Gone" from The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings. Landis, who is also writing a comics project for Dark Horse, will be at the convention this weekend. Other comics projects unveiled by the publisher include: * Apocalypse Nerd, by Peter Bagge, in January. A Seattle-based computer nerd survives the apocalypse. * Samurai: Heaven and Hell, by Ron Marz and Luke Ross, in December. A samurai's true love has been kidnapped and he searches the world to find her. * Shadow Rock, by Jeremy Love, in June. A young boy befriends a ghost and goes in search of the truth behind his death. * Jingle Belle, By Paul Dini and Jose Garibaldi, in November. Santa's daughter gets into mischief. * Monkey King, by Katsuya Terada, in March. The baddest ape in ancient China is on an impossible mission to find the sacred scrolls of the Buddha. * Hipira: The Little Vampire, by Katsuhior Otomo and Shinji Kimura, in April. A vampire tries to find his way to Hell, which is like heaven for vampires. * Broken Saints, by Brooke Burgess and Andrew West, in 2005. Four strangers come together to face a coming darkness and learn that the greatest love is often the greatest sacrifice. * Teenage Vampire, written by Landis, in 2005. A young vampire creates chaos in a small town. COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: LADY DEATH MOVIE UPDATE ADV Films has targeted a Halloween release for Lady Death: The Motion Picture, the full-length animated movie based on Brian Pulido's character. ADV has two major promotional pieces at its booth at Comic-Con International in San Diego for the film, which was directed and produced by first-time director Andrew Orjuela. The screenplay was written by renowned writer Carl Macek, developer and story editor for Robotech; producer of the English-language version of Miyazaki's classic My Neighbor Totoro; and producer and director of the English language version of Vampire Hunter D. Composter Bill Brown, whose credits include Any Given Sunday, Ali and Finding Forrester, composed the original musical score. COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: TOP COW PRODUCTIONS ROUNDUP J. Michael Straczynski's Rising Stars resumes production in October, Top Cow's Joel Elad told The Continuum at Comic-Con International on Wednesday. Rising Stars #22 will ship in October, with #23 in November and #24 in January. Humankind #1, due in sores on Aug. 18, will contain an eight-page preview of Rising Stars #22. All of the issues will be drawn by Brent Anderson. In other Top Cow news: * Humankind #1, from Tony Daniel, has been finished and printed. "It's some of Tony's best art," Top Cow's Matt Hawkins said. Click on the thumbnails above for a preview. * After a previous solicitation order, Magdalena/Vampirella has been resolicited for a November release. * Tokyo Knights, a one-shot tied in with a Palisades Toys release, is targeted for a November release. Robert Napton is writing. * Elad said a new creative team for Tomb Raider has not been determined yet. The title's current run will end with #50, written by Dan Slott, and return next summer with a revamped look for the character. Top Cow is working with Eidos on Tomb Raider's new look. COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: THE RIDE The Ride continues at Image Comics with The Ride: Two for the Road, a one-shot scheduled for an October release. Concept creator Keven Gardner told The Continuum that the book will feature two self-contained stories. Chuck Dixon is writing one, drawn Doug Gregory, who has worked at LucasFilms. The other story is by Cully Hamner. Dave Johnson is providing the cover. COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: IDW PUBLISHING ROUNDUP IDW Publishing in October will release 30 Days Of Night: Bloodsucker Tales #1 as a standard 32-page comic book and a special signed edition. As an ongoing series, Bloodsucker Tales will be able to explore the fictional universe created by Steve Niles in greater depth. Each issue of Bloodsucker Tales contains two stories, one written by Steve Niles, the other illustrated by Ben Templesmith. For Niles's first extended story, "Dead Billy Dead," he is joined by newcomer Kody Chamberlin. Matt Fraction, known for Last Of The Independents, joins in with "Juarez," introducing Lex Nova, former private detective and free-range madman. "Juarez" will be illustrated by Templesmith. Said Niles, "Now that we've opened the vein, so to speak, we've realized there are many more stories to tell in world of 30 Days of Night, and Bloodsucker Tales will be the launch pad for those ideas." 30 Days Of Night: Bloodsucker Tales #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $3.99. The special edition signed by Niles sells for $19.99. In other IDW news: * IDW's CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations is back in October, with CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations: Rogue State. Here's how IDW describe the book: "When a mole inside CVO exposes the whole organization to danger, things look bad for America's first line of supernatural defense against global threats. With fellow agents being killed all around them, the vampire spies of CVO may find themselves out in the cold. CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations: Rogue State is a hyperfast-paced combination of horror and espionage written by comic book writer and novelist Jeff Mariotte with art by Antonio Vazquez." "I love the characters Alex Garner came up with for CVO," Mariotte said. "With this series I have more space than ever before to explore them, digging a little into their histories to see what makes them tick -- while at the same time telling an exciting story mixing spies and supernatural terror." The book will be 32 pages and will cost $3.99. Also coming in October from IDW are Silent Hill: Among the Damned by Scott Ciencin, Hyde by Niles and Nick Stakal and Meeednight Pulp: Lurkers by Niles and Hector S. Casanova. BRIEFLY DPS Film Roman and Rob Zombie have signed an agreement to produce an animated feature based on his Spookshow International comic book El Superbeasto. Zombie will serve as executive producer on the project as well as write the story. The story will follow the adventures of the crime-fighting secret agent El Superbeasto, a massive over-the- hill masked wrestler who has more interest in strippers than adventure, but still manages to get involved with murdering super-intelligent gorillas, Liverpoolian zombies, and Dr. Satan, a manic depressive mad scientist with a penchant for finding the perfect woman. Joining El Superbeasto on his escapades is his sister, Suzie X, a sexy super-spy adventurer, and her sidekick, a 10-foot tall robot named Marvin, an avid fan of Barry Manilow and Michael Bolton. "El Superbeasto is Austin Powers meets The Munsters by way of Hard Days Night," said Zombie. "The bizarre stories and insane characters are perfect for animation and DPS Film Roman is the best animation studio to bring the comic to life." At Comic-Con, Inkworks is displaying its Smallville Season 3 trading cards, which reach stores in October. Dark Horse's The Invincibles comic book will launch on Nov. 5. Merchandise involving DC's new animated series, Justice League Unlimited and The Batman, was previewed at Comic-Con, including action figures from Mattel and maquettes from DC Direct. +++++ From Newsarama at http://www.Newsarama.com/ CROSSGEN: FIGHTING OFF THE LANDLORD The most recent development in the CrossGen bankruptcy, the company's landlord, 580 Industrial, Ltd, has petitioned the court for relief from the automatic stay placed on CG's lease by the filing of Chapter 11, or, in the alternative, an order which would compel CrossGen to pay its post-petition lease obligations. The filing is 580's right, as a landlord, to seek relief from having a non-paying lessee which has filed Chapter 11, and is fairly common practice for a landlord with a lessee who has declared Chapter 11. Under the law, CrossGen (the debtor in possession) has 60 days after filing (June 18th, 2004) to either assume the lease (pay what is owed, any damages incurred, as well as guarantee that further lease payments will be made in a timely fashion) or reject the lease (walk away from it and vacate the premises, allowing the leasing company to find new tenants). CrossGen can also ask the court for an extension on the decision. After 60 days from the filing, the lease is assumed by the owner/leasing company to be rejected by the debtor in possession. That said, within the 60 day window, the debtor (CrossGen) is still obligated to perform its lease obligations, including paying rent. However, Chapter 11 has no remedy for a debtor who does not pay during that timeframe, forcing the landlord to appeal to the court for an order which will direct the debtor to pay what is owed, or vacate the premises. According to the filing, CrossGen owes $5,653.41 for June (pro- rated from the date of filing), and $14,133.51 for July. 580 Industrial states that it wishes to relet the premises currently occupied by CrossGen, but cannot, as CrossGen is in possession of the building, and is currently within its 60 day window. 580 Industrial's petition then, asks the judge to rule in its favor, granting one of three outcomes: 1) grant 580 relief from the stay and allow it to evict CrossGen and recover its property as is allowed under Florida state law (but currently barred due to the stay); 2) compel CrossGen to pay what it owes until it decides whether it will accept or reject the lease; or 3) if CrossGen is not able to pay what it owes, order the company to reject the lease immediately, and surrender possession of the leased properties. DH'S THE HIRE SIGNS WAID, BUSIEK, OTOMO, BRUCE CAMPBELL FOR STORIES Dark Horse and bmwfilms.com are bringing The Hire-the award- winning action series featuring the enigmatic hero capable of doing the hard thing for the right reasons-to the comics pages, with an original series set to hit in August. Just as the short film series The Hire brought energetic and cutting-edge directors like Ang Lee (Oscar and Golden Globe winner "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Sense and Sensibility," "Eat Drink Man Woman"), John Frankenheimer ("Ronin," "Grand Prix," "The Manchurian Candidate"), John Woo ("Windtalkers," "Mission Impossible II," "Face/Off"), and Tony Scott ("Spy Game," "Enemy of the State," "True Romance," "Top Gun") among others to the project, Dark Horse is bringing the same innovative spirit to the comic series. Each issue of The Hire will be a stand-alone story by a different top creator or creator team and will focus on the character known only as "The Driver." Teams will include Katushiro Otomo (Akira), Katsuya Terada, (Blood: The Last Vampire) Mark Waid (Kingdom Come), Kurt Busiek (Conan), and more. "I loved the bmw.com film series and when we got a chance to do comics featuring the character from The Hire I just couldn't say no," commented Dark Horse President Mike Richardson. "He's a great throwback to the film noir style anti hero with a heart of gold from the 40's." The talent we have lined up to bring this character to life on the comics page is just outstanding. Fans of the films, and comic fans in general, are in for a real treat!" Among the top creators on this project is popular cult film actor and author Bruce Campbell (Army of Darkness). Campbell will write a story called "Precious Cargo" with art by Kilian Plunkett. "First and foremost, it was a pleasure to work with Mike Richardson and Dark Horse. Those guys did a great comic series of Army of Darkness, so I'd always had a lot of respect for their taste as a comic book company," commented Bruce Campbell. "When The Hire came my way, I jumped on it, mainly because I had never written a comic book before and was intrigued by how a short story is converted to such a visual medium." Campbell continued, "Writing "Precious Cargo" was, by far, one of the trickiest ventures I'd ever wandered into because of its exacting nature, and because I had to think like a director the entire time." The first issue of The Hire kicks off with Scandal, a story written and drawn by the legendary Matt Wagner, (Grendel and Mage), where The Driver is asked to sneak a rich man's spoiled, scandalous daughter out of town. He thinks the worst he'll have to deal with are persistent paparazzi, but soon the bullets start to fly. Following Wagner's first explosive issue we've lined up some more of the leading lights from the world of comics, and we do mean the world! Future issues will feature the additional talents of: Francisco Ruiz Velasco (Lone Wolf 2100), Karl Kesel (Fantastic Four), Ariel Olivetti (Avengers), and Steven Grant (X-Men)! The Hire issue #1 (of 6) arrives on sale August 11, with a retail price of $2.99. +++++ From ComiX-Fan at http://www.comixfan.com/xfan SPIDER-GIRL TO SPIN MORE ISSUES IN 2005 Spider-Girl series writer Tom DeFalco has announced that the title, which has been dogged by threats of cancellation in recent times, has been renewed for another six issues. "Thanks to the efforts of Joe Quesada, Dan Buckley and Andy Schmidt - and ALL of you guys - Spider-Girl has been renewed for (at least) another six issues," DeFalco said in a post today on the Spider-Girl Message Board. "We are currently guaranteed to run until Spider-Girl #87. While #87 could be our last issue, we could also be extended beyond #87... if we can increase our sales. The little comic could that could is still alive - HOO- HA!" Spider-Girl was most recently saved from cancellation with issue #61 after Marvel committed to publishing it through to issue #67. The series was subsequently extended through to #74 prior to this latest extension. CAN OF WORMS #4: TRADING UP Welcome to the latest edition of ComiX-Fan's 'Can of Worms' where we take another sneak peek at some potential trade paperbacks and hardcovers coming out in late '04/early '05 from the big two, including Marvel's Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby and Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four hardcovers, as well as DC's Green Lantern: Legacy trade and Arkham Asylum hardcover. But first, the all-important... RUMOUR WARNING Before reading on, we need to make it clear to all that the material contained within this column is presented as rumour, unless expressly stated otherwise, and is intended for entertainment purposes only. Legitimate news can be found in ComiX-Fan's News and Features sections. If you reprint any information from this column, please clearly label it with an appropriate warning and provide a link back. This column is brought to you by X-World Comics and their X- Clusive Creator Edition signed comic books. Want a certified Catwoman: The Movie signed by artist Tom Derenick, or perhaps a certified X-Force #1 signed by writer Fabian Nicieza? If you do, then look no further than X-World! Now, on with the show... Online e-tailer Amazon.com is always a good source of information thanks to their advance listings of upcoming graphic novel releases, so we've gone and taken another look at what's on the horizon. Be aware that the following list is by no means complete, and that publication months and titles are always subject to change. MARVEL COMICS October 2004 Amazing Spider-Man TPB (J. Michael Straczynski) Best of Wolverine Vol. 1 HC Captain America: Homeland TPB (Robert Morales) Daredevil vs. Bullseye Vol. 1 TPB (Marv Wolfman/Archie Goodwin/Jim Shooter/Denny O'Neil/Frank Miller) Essential Fantastic Four TPB (Stan Lee) Essential Monster of Frankenstein TPB Essential Super-Villain Team-Up TPB (Gerry Conway/Steve Englehart/Archie Goodwin/Tony Isabella) Essential Tomb of Dracula Vol. 3 TPB Manga New Mutants TPB (Nunzio DeFilippis/Christina Weir) Marvel 1602 HC (Neil Gaiman) Marvel Age Mary Jane Vol. 1 Digest (Sean McKeever) Marvel Age Sentinel Vol. 2: No Hero Digest (Sean McKeever) Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Vol. 4 HC Punisher Max: In The Beginning TPB (Garth Ennis) Spectacular Spider-Man TPB (Paul Jenkins) Ultimates Vol. 1 HC (Mark Millar) Venom: Run TPB (Daniel Way) X-Force: Big Guns TPB (Fabian Nicieza) X-Men: Days of Future Past TPB (Chris Claremont) November 2004 Art of Marvel Comics Vol. 2 HC Avengers: Once An Invader TPB (Chuck Austen) Avengers/Thunderbolts: Best Intentions TPB (Kurt Busiek/Fabian Nicieza) Blade: Black & White TPB Captain Marvel: Odyssey TPB (Peter David) Essential Defenders TPB (Stan Lee/Roy Thomas/Steve Englehart) Essential Iron Fist TPB (Chris Claremont/Tony Isabella/Doug Moench/Roy Thomas) Essential Iron Man Vol. 2 TPB Incredible Hulk: Big Things TPB (Bruce Jones) Man-Thing: Whatever Knows Fear... TPB (Hans Rodionoff) Marvel Age Fantastic Four Vol. 2 Digest (Sean McKeever) Marvel Encyclopedia Vol. 6: Fantastic Four HC Marvel Knights Spider-Man: Down Among The Dead Men TPB (Mark Millar) Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 4 HC Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 4 HC Mystique: Tinker, Tailor, Mutant, Spy TPB (Brian K. Vaughan) Spider-Man Book One: The Doctor Is In Chapter Book Spider-Man vs. The Black Cat TPB (David Michelinie/Roger Stern/Marv Wolfman) Supreme Power HC (J. Michael Straczynski) Thanos: Samaritan TPB (Keith Giffen) Ultimate X-Men: The Tempest TPB (Brian K. Vaughan) Witches TPB (Brian Walsh) Wolverine/Punisher TPB (Peter Milligan) X-Treme X-Men: Prisoner of Fire TPB (Chris Claremont) December 2004 Alpha Flight Vol. 1: You Gotta Be Kiddin' Me TPB (Scott Lobdell) Cable/Deadpool Vol. 1: If Looks Could Kill TPB (Fabian Nicieza) Captain America & The Falcon Vol. 1: Two Americas TPB (Christopher Priest) Essential Thor TPB Excalibur Vol. 1: Forging The Sword TPB (Chris Claremont) Exiles TPB (Chuck Austen) Marvel Age Hulk Vol. 1 Digest (Mike Raicht) Marvel Age Spider-Man Team-Up Vol. 1 Digest (Todd Dezago/Mike Raicht) Marvel Holiday Special TPB Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Captain America Vol. 1 HC Marvel Masterworks: Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 HC Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game: Guide to Wolverine HC Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby Vol. 1 HC NYX Vol. 1 TPB (Joe Quesada) Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One TPB (Zeb Wells) Supreme Power: Powers and Principalities TPB (J. Michael Straczynski) Thor: Son of Asgard - The Warriors Teen Digest (Akira Yoshida) Ultimate Spider-Man: Carnage TPB (Brian Michael Bendis) Ultimate Spider-Man HC (Brian Michael Bendis) Uncanny X-Men: The End of History TPB (Chris Claremont) Venom vs. Carnage TPB (Peter Milligan) Weapon X Prose Novel HC (Marc Cerasini) Wolverine: Return of The Native TPB (Greg Rucka) January 2005 Daredevil: Father HC (Joe Quesada) The Pulse Vol. 1: Thin Air TPB (Brian Michael Bendis) X-Men: Day of The Atom TPB (Chuck Austen) X-Men: Dream's End TPB (Scott Lobdell) X-Statix Vol. 4: X-Statix vs. The Avengers TPB (Peter Milligan) February 2005 Amazing Spider-Man: Sins of The Past TPB (J. Michael Straczynski) Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted TPB (Joss Whedon) Avengers Disassembled TPB (Brian Michael Bendis) Daredevil: The Widow TPB (Brian Michael Bendis) District X Vol. 1: Mr. M TPB (David Hine) Elektra: Devil's Due TPB (Mike Carey) Mystique Vol. 3: Unnatural TPB (Sean McKeever) New X-Men: Academy X TPB (Nunzio DeFilippis/Christina Weir) Ultimate Fantastic Four: Doom TPB (Warren Ellis) Wolverine Legends: The End TPB (Paul Jenkins) March 2005 Hulk Visionaries: Peter David TPB July 2005 X-Men: Eve Of Destruction TPB (Scott Lobdell) August 2005 Punisher: River Of Blood (Chuck Dixon) Wolverine Bookshelves Wolverine/Nick Fury: Scorpio (Archie Goodwin) DC COMICS October 2004 Batman/Judge Dredd Files TPB (John Wagner/Alan Grant) Challengers of The Unknown TPB (Jeph Loeb) Doom Patrol: The Painting That Ate Paris TPB (Grant Morrison) Gen 13: Ordinary Heroes TPB (Adam Hughes) JLA: Trial by Fire TPB (Joe Kelly) Starman Vol. 9: Grand Guignol TPB (James Robinson) Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 3 TPB (John A. Byrne) Thundercats: Hammerhand's Revenge TPB (Fiona Avery) Wonder Woman: Challenge of The Gods TPB (George Perez) November 2004 Arkham Asylum HC (Grant Morrison) Authority Vol. 2: Harsh Realities TPB (Robbie Morrison) Batman: As The Crow Flies TPB (Judd Winick) Batman: Detective No. 27 TPB (Michael Uslan) Batman: Hush Vol. 2 TPB (Jeph Loeb) Devlin Waugh: Swimming in Blood TPB (John Smith) ElfQuest: The Grand Quest Vol. 5 TPB (Richard Pini/Wendy Pini) Fables: March of The Wooden Soldiers TPB (Bill Willingham) Golden Age Sandman Archives Vol. 1 HC (Gardner Fox) JSA: Savage Times TPB (Geoff Johns) Lovecraft HC (Hans Rodionoff/Keith Giffen/Enrique Breccia) Milo Manara's Odysseys of Giuseppe Bergman TPB (Milo Manara) My Faith in Frankie TPB (Mike Carey) Plastic Man Archives Vol. 6 HC (Jack Cole) Plastic Man: On The Lam TPB (Kyle Baker) Red Razors TPB (Mark Millar) Sandman Mystery Theater: The Face TPB (Matt Wagner) Son of The Gun TPB (Alexandro Jodorowsky) Superman: Birthright HC (Mark Waid) Superman: Man of Tomorrow Archives Vol. 1 HC (Jerry Siegel) Superman: True Brit HC (Kim Johnson) Teen Titans: Family Lost TPB (Geoff Johns) Teen Titans Go!: Truth, Justice, Pizza! Vol. 1 Digest (J. Torres) Teen Titans Go!: Heroes on Patrol Vol. 2 Digest (J. Torres) December 2004 Catwoman: Relentless TPB (Ed Brubaker) DC Comics Rarities Archive Vol. 1 HC ElfQuest Archives Vol. 2 HC (Richard Pini/Wendy Pini) Green Lantern: Legacy - The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan TPB (Joe Kelly) Hawkman Archives Vol. 2 HC (Gardner Fox) Jimmy Olsen Vol. 2: Adventures by Jack Kirby TPB (Jack Kirby) JLA: The 10th Circle TPB (Chris Claremont) Spirit Archives Vol. 15 HC (Will Eisner) Superman/Batman: Return of Supergirl HC (Jeph Loeb) January 2005 Batman: The World's Finest Comics Archives Volume 2 HC DC: The New Frontier Vol. 1 TPB (Darwyn Cooke) Doom Patrol Archives Vol. 2 HC (Arnold Drake) ElfQuest: The Grand Quest Vol. 6 TPB (Richard Pini/Wendy Pini) Justice League of America: Another Nail TPB (Alan Davis) Superman: For Tomorrow HC (Brian Azzarello) T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents: Archives Vol. 5 HC (Wally Wood) COMIX-FAN NEWS BRIEFS - JULY 11, 2004 NEWSFLASH! Sony has created an Official Website for the Spider- Man 2 Score. The site includes track listings and music samples, as well as the cover for the album. NEWSFLASH! Producer Tony Adams and Marvel Comics are looking to fashion Spider-Man into a musical, Variety reports. If all goes as planned, book writer would be Neil Jordan, and songwriters Bono and the Edge of U2. Julie Taymor is on board to direct. NEWSFLASH! Fans of Spider-Man 2 can watch a spoof of the film at Yahoo! Movies, as Spider-Man battles Doctor Octopus in a world comprised solely of LEGO pieces. The four-minute short, titled The Peril of Doc Ock, was created by Spite Your Face Productions, whose previous work includes the LEGO sequence from the Monty Python and the Holy Grail DVD and the Star Wars LEGO short, The Han Solo Affair. NEWSFLASH! Spider-Man 2 has been racking up box office records like crazy. Among the records amassed so far are: The biggest first six days ever with $180.1 million, surpassing The Matrix Reloaded, which earned $146.9 million. The top 4th of July opening in history with $88.3 million from Friday to Sunday, passing Men in Black II, which earned $52.1 million. The three-day total is also the biggest opening weekend ever for the month of July, passing Austin Powers in Goldmember, which earned $73.1 million. Spider-Man 2 surpassed the $200 million mark in eight days, with an 8-day total of $202.12 million, beating the previous record of nine days set by Spider-Man. NEWSFLASH! Sam Raimi recently spoke with the Irish Examiner, saying he was "flabbergasted" with the record-breaking box office of Spider-Man 2. Raimi said he and his brother were currently working on the story for Spider-Man 3, saying "We were working on it at the hotel last night and this morning. But I don't know what is going to happen yet." NEWSFLASH! Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro provided a quick update on the official Hellboy message board. Del Toro wrote that the Director's Cut DVD will come out in November, with three discs, all the same extras (minus the original commentary track), and with an extra disc full of features. He said the disc has his preferred cut and a new commentary track, and the special box edition will have a Sideshow Hellboy mini-bust. As for Hellboy 2, del Toro wrote, "The storyline for it has been approved Revolution and we are now clear to start the script." NEWSFLASH! USA Today spoke to I, Robot star Shia LaBeouf at the film's premiere, where he discussed possibly playing Jimmy Olsen in the new Superman movie. In the interview, LaBeouf said, "I met with McG today and talked about Jimmy Olsen and who's going to be playing who. The production's so locked down they said I can't even take the script home. I have to go to Warner Bros. to read it and then leave it there." LeBeouf did reveal several pieces of casting info, saying Jake Gyllenhaal is apparently no longer in the running for Superman and that "They're going to go with an unknown." He also added that McG is trying to lure Scarlett Johansson for Lois Lane and Johnny Depp for Lex Luthor. NEWSFLASH! The first teaser trailer for Warner Bros. Batman Begins will be shown with 20th Century Fox's I, Robot, Cinescape reports. I, Robot hits theaters on July 16, and Cinescape reports that the trailer will run at one minute, five seconds. NEWSFLASH! Ian McKellen posted an update on X-Men 3 in his latest Epost. McKellen wrote, "I hear positive news about the second sequel, which is likely to include Magneto. The start date, considering Bryan Singer's other commitments, couldn't be much before September 2005. There is as yet no script nor am I signed up." COMIX-FAN NEWS BRIEFS - JULY 17, 2004 NEWSFLASH! Empire Online recently spoke with Avi Arad about The Fantastic Four, where he described the film as a "funny, high adventure," confirming rumors that the movie will be primarily a comedy. "Buy you are going to tear up too. It's a bittersweet comedy." He also said, "Dr. Doom is going to be amazing.... Human, and serious." Empire Online also spoke with Ioan Gruffudd, who has been cast as Reed Richards. Gruffudd revealed that he hasn't seen a script for the film yet. Gruffudd revealed that the costumes will remain true to the comic, saying costumes will be a traditional, Spandex, blue Lycra suit with black leather boots, and that he will have Reed's traditional graying temples after he gains his superpowers. NEWSFLASH! Newcomer Erica Durance has landed the role of Lois Lane on the WB series Smallville, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. According to the trade, Durance will play Lois as a college freshman with no interest in journalism who comes to Smallville to investigate the death of her cousin, Chloe Sullivan. Sci Fi Wire has learned that Durance is contracted for 13 episodes, with the possibility of more if her character works well within the context of the show. Executive producer Miles Millar said at the WB's fall press preview that the Lana/Clark relationship has been "strip-mined," so they wanted to bring in some new faces and reenergize the romance in the show and get some new triangles going. Millar said that Durance just shot her first scene with Tom Welling, and the chemistry was "just awesome." Meanwhile, Jensen Ackles has been added to the cast as a regular. He will play the stubbornly independent heir to a rich Metropolis financial firm who becomes romantically involved with Lana. NEWSFLASH! Sci Fi Wire spoke with Smallville executive producer Miles Millar at the WB's fall press preview on the upcoming fourth season, getting a number of updates. Millar confirmed that Tom Welling will be seen flying in the season premiere, saying though "He doesn't fly as Clark. He flies as Kal-El. The first episode is all about visualizing the internal fight between Clark and Kal-El." Millar also revealed that Clark will discover a new power this year, though it will not be flight. Millar said the upcoming season will focus on Clark's senior year of high school, saying, "Clark Kent, at the end of this year, will really graduate. And we're introducing a whole new mythology as well that will involve Lana, Lex and Clark. And at the end of the season we pay off something that is huge in the Superman mythology. It all leads towards something. Diehard fans of the mythology will realize what it is pretty quickly, others won't." NEWSFLASH! 20th Century Fox has moved the release date for Elektra up from February 18 to January 14, 2005. NEWSFLASH! Jason Isaacs confirmed that he has filmed a small role for Elektra in an interview with About.com. Watch out for spoilers, though, as the actor describes his role in some detail in the interview. NEWSFLASH! X3movie.net has new quotes form production designer Guy Dyas about the use of the Danger Room in the X-Men movies. Dyas said he completed a very unique design for it that would allow Bryan Singer to do "all sorts of crazy things with the action, stunts and visual effects." He said he storyboarded the sequence with Adam Kubert. He planned to have Wolverine training in the Danger Room in X2, and that the set was half built and Hugh Jackman was trained and ready to go, though "production simply ran out of time." NEWSFLASH! Rebecca Romijn-Stamos will return as Mystique in X-Men 3, News.com.au, reports. Romijn-Stamos said, "I know because I signed on for a third, beginning in May, is what I heard." NEWSFLASH! Michelle Forbes has landed the central role of the mysterious Miranda Zero in Global Frequency, a midseason drama pilot for the WB Network, The Hollywood Reporter reports. Global Frequency is based on the DC Comics series by Warren Ellis. KryptonSite also reports that Aimee Garcia has been cast in the role of Aleph. NEWSFLASH! Spider-Man 2 will indeed open in select IMAX theaters on July 23. The IMAX Website has a full listing of which theaters the film will be playing in. NEWSFLASH! Maria Bello is in talks to star opposite Viggo Mortensen in New Line Cinema's A History of Violence, The Hollywood Reporter reports. The film is based on John Wagner and Vince Locke's graphic novel, and was adapted by Josh Olson and will be directed by David Cronenberg. Viggo Mortensen plays a father who receives unwanted national attention for a seemingly vigilante-style self-defense killing at his diner. Bello would play his wife. NEWSFLASH! Writer/director David Goyer recently answered some fan questions on the official Blade Trinity Message Board. Among the topics discussed, Goyer mentioned the following information: Goyer has talked with the studio about a possible Blade 4 and Nightstalkers spinoff movie, saying "Anything's possible." Goyer doubts Wesley Snipes will star in Black Panther, saying that "He's already so entrenched as Blade that another Marvel hero might be overkill." Goyer would definitely not be involved in a Daredevil sequel, saying "any sequels from here on out would be from films of my own." There will definitely be a boxed set of the three Blade films, probably around a year after Blade Trinity comes out. Goyer wrote, "We've tossed around the idea of Norrington, del Toro, and myself doing a joint commentary for all three films." Goyer hasn't been approached at all for the new Superman film, though he did write, "But I am talking to Warners about another potential DC property..." "Deadpool is on hold right now. I will definitely be doing another movie with Ryan [Reynolds] and Jess [Biel] (possibly with both of them in the same film). We're talking about various possibilities." "Will I do comics again? Some day. Probably with my buddy Geoff Johns." X-MEN'S SINGER FLIES OVER TO SUPERMAN According to various sources including Variety, Warner Bros. Pictures' upcoming Superman movie project has nabbed director Bryan Singer (X-Men, X2: X-Men United) for production that is expected to begin later this year. The much talked about Superman silver screen revival has experienced many a change in its cast and crew that go back several long years of fan anticipation. Production names that have been attached to the project in the past include screenwriter Kevin Smith (Jersey Girl), director Wolfgang Petersen (Troy), and most recently, director McG (Charlie's Angels movies). After McG left due to the time-honoured creative differences, Warner Bros. was faster than a speeding bullet to tap Singer for the project. Exactly whose script Singer will work from now in directing the Superman movie is still unconfirmed. But he is expected to bring along with him his two X2 cohorts, screenwriters and self- admitted comic fanboys, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris. Whether or not this means Singer, Dougherty, and Harris will remain involved with the third X-Men installment is still unclear. Though, if Fox insists on a Summer 2006 release, it seems unlikely because of the scheduling conflicts that would occur. "My interest in Superman dates back many, many years," said Singer, "I feel that Superman has been late in his return and it is time for him to fly again." +++++ From the DC Comics Online Newsletter at http://www.dccomics.com THE VILLAGE VOICE REVIEWS GOTHAM CENTRAL AND IT'S A BIRD July 14th, 2004 - "A dark, vengeful enigma, Batman has terrorized the underworld of Gotham City for 65 years. In the new graphic novel Gotham Central, he's more akin to a black hole-an unseen but implacable force perturbing the urban dystopia. Like the title characters in Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, who bumble through an existence defined only by their brief interactions with Hamlet, Gotham's cops see their leading man as more than a trifle nuts. World-weary from slogging after kidnappers, thieves, and murderers, Gotham's finest are outgunned when an arch-criminal like Mr. Freeze wreaks spectacular mayhem. The cops grimly pursue these "wacko costumed freak[s]," resenting that only "The Bat," with his secret fortune and preternatural invincibility, can finally vanquish them." "Teddy Kristiansen's kaleidoscopic watercolor styles-emulating everything from Attic vases to lo-res photojournalism-deftly track the characters' flights of fantasy and depressions. Icons bear our hopes and ideals, and through this personal story Seagle broadens Superman's shoulders just a little bit more." To read the entire article click here. http://www.dccomics.com/news/%3cbr%3e%3cbr%3ehttp:/www.villagevoi ce.com/print/issues/0428/baker.php THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS WINS 2004 LOCUS AWARD July 14th, 2004 - The winners of the 2004 Locus Awards have been named, with Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS from VERTIGO taking the award for "Nonfiction/Art" title. DC ONLINE ANNOUNCES SEARCHABLE GRAPHIC NOVELS CATALOG July 14th, 2004 - DC Online is proud to announce the launch of an expanded and SEARCHABLE Graphic Novels and Collection Editions Section of the DC Comics, Wildstorm, and Vertigo sites. For many months, we've been hard at work behind the scenes to fill out the backlist information for all of your favorite DC, WildStorm, Vertigo, Paradox and MAD titles. There are now over 700 entries, most of which include downloadable excerpts of interior art! That's thousands of pages of comics art - absolutely free to you. And, best of all, you don't have to go searching through long lists trying to find your favorite graphic novel or artist. For the first time ever, the Graphic Novels section is fully searchable. To check out the new digs, visit the Graphic Novels section now! DC ONLINE ANNOUNCES DC DISPATCH NEWSLETTER July 14th, 2004 - Hey, wouldn't it be great if you could get a list of DC, WildStorm, and Vertigo titles that are hitting stores this week, delivered right to your email inbox? Now you can! DC Online is pleased to announce the imminent arrival of the DC DISPATCH, a weekly email newsletter that will do just that! But that's not all .... the DISPATCH will also clue you in to news about upcoming projects, new stuff on the Web site, and more! CARTOON NETWORK AND DC COMICS ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION July 19th, 2004 - Cartoon Network and DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company, have entered a partnership that will bring innovative and high-quality new items to the collectors' market. DC Direct, a leading source for character collectibles, will produce, market and distribute new collectibles featuring characters from Cartoon Network's massive and growing library of animated favorites. Planned for release in 2005 are cold-cast porcelain statues featuring: Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy, the highly rated, rollicking comedy about three best friends who share the same first name Megas XLR , a new comedic action/adventure series about two normal guys, a female warrior from the future and their 80-foot- tall robot Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, the whimsical comedy from Craig McCracken, creator of The Powerpuff Girls. Other Cartoon Network properties to get the DC Direct treatment will be announced as they are closer to development. "Cartoon Network first launched into the collectibles space in 2001," said John Friend, Senior Vice President of Cartoon Network Enterprises. "Working with DC Direct, the leader in collectible products, expands our reach, quality and breadth of product into the marketplace." "This partnership broadens the reach of DC Direct's product line and provides us with a whole new universe to play with," says Cheryl Rubin, DC's Senior Vice President - Brand Management. "We are delighted to collaborate with our colleagues at Cartoon Network on bringing their wonderful treasure trove of characters to collectors." The initial wave of developmental concepts for the statues will make their debut on display at Comic-Con International: San Diego, July 21-25, at the DC Direct area of the DC Comics booth. Collectors will be able to view varying stages of creating a statue from concept drawings to painted prototype. These items will be offered to the comics specialty market and other markets simultaneously. +++++ From The SCOOP! at http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/ Action #1 To Be Auctioned With Opening Bid at Ten Cents! Industry News, Scoop, Friday, July 16, 2004 One of the finest copies of the fabled Action #1 comic book, the book that introduced Superman, is being offered at eBay auction by Lelands.com, the celebrated New York-based sports and pop culture auction house. The comic comes from The Charlie Sheen Collection. The actor obtained it in the mid-1980s from noted comic dealer Robert Rogovin, and it has been in his possession ever since. It has been graded a remarkable 6.5 (Fine+), with Slight Professional restoration (SP), by industry leader Comics Guaranty, LLC (www.cgccomics.com). So impressed were the people at CGC, in fact, that they have offered to display it at their booth at the San Diego Comic-Con show, which runs from July 22-25. Comic-Con is the leading comic book show annually in the US. The auction itself will begin at 7 p.m. PDT (10 p.m. EDT), on Sunday, July 18, 2004, and will end the Wednesday following the Comic-Con Show, (http://www.comic-con.org), July 28, at 7 p.m. PDT (10 p.m. EDT). It can be found on eBay by going to the seller site "Lelands.com." The comic will have an opening bid of 10 cents - the original cover price! "This is one of the ten best copies of this classic ever graded by CGC," noted Joshua Leland Evans, the founder and chairman of Lelands.com. "The comic will come with a letter of authenticity identifying it as the one and only 'Sheen Copy,' and that will make this one of the most special Action #1's out there. Action #1 is the most desired comic book in the world, and the 'Sheen Copy' may become one of the most coveted of the species." DST To Announce New Line at Comic-Con International Industry News, Scoop, Friday, July 16, 2004 Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC. (DST) will announce its next exciting collectibles line - based on all-new, original concepts by one of the comic book industry's leading creators - during a press conference held at the toy manufacturer's booth (Booth #2401) at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Friday, July 23 at 1:00 p.m. "We're joining forces with one of the comics industry's premier talents, which is big news - so big, in fact, that we're going to reveal it at one of North America's largest pop culture-related trade shows," said Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles Sales and Marketing Coordinator Scott Braden. "As for the details behind this announcement, both representatives of the media and fans attending this year's Comic-Con International: San Diego will learn more when they stop by our booth at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 23." Please note that during the press conference, a full-color, limited-edition print will be unveiled to the public based on designs of a forthcoming collectible release from the line. A signing will be held for fans and members of the press immediately after the media event. +++++ From Blair Marnell in his ALL THE RAGE Gossip Column at: http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com Write to him at: BlairM@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, on to the rumours . . . [NOTE: this column may be slightly edited for language. - D.L.] Out For Blood By Blair Marnell July 11 Well, I'm back. And I really enjoyed my week off. I'll have to do it again sometime. But the thing about being away from ATR is that I missed some stories. Like the whole Liefeld/Busiek flare up last week. And apparently, I can't even count on MillarWorld to be in the same place when I get back. Not to worry. we've got plenty of news and rumors coming right up. And we are under two weeks away from the biggest con of the year: San Diego. If things fall into the same patterns as last year, I'd say that DC, and most of the other comic publishers will make their major announcements at SD, while Marvel will largely hold off until Wizard World Chicago. In the interim, some bits and pieces will probably leak out. In fact, even the con schedule gives away a few surprises -- like Mark Waid on Voltron?! I didn't see that one coming. And once again, the con will be a multimedia experience. A lot of big name stars are coming to promote TV series, movies and DVDs. But it seems that even SD isn't safe from the ugly specter of Reality Television. Exhibit A: a panel on Saturday, called Reality Stars Unleashed!, which is more or less what it claims to be. Ugh. Who let them in? Crossroads There were several rumors flying around this week about ChrisCross' resignation from Firestorm after issue 5. According to some accounts, his departure was less than amicable. When reached for comment, ChrisCross replied: There were many factors as to why I left Firestorm. While I appreciated any opportunity to work with DC (heck, it's a paying job. What can I say?), there were many things that were promised to me before I even accepted the gig in the first place. I really wanted the opportunity to be on bigger projects and I felt that Firestorm was not a big enough project to get my name in a bigger arena of visibility. Through my career, I have been peppered with a litany of second tier and third tier projects, and I felt that since drawing some of the JLA books, I should at least be offered and was due the opportunity to work on flagship books. I'm a big boy, I can handle it. They figured that the character changing his ethnicity would be a big enough draw to revive the book from the ether. And they also told me that if marketing my name was of importance that they would really be pumping that book as if it were Superman and that Jim Lee himself was on it. Now you have to understand my ego. I have a pretty big one, but it's not out of control. No one can tell me with a straight face that I suck as an artist or as a storyteller. I really believe that I'm just as good or better than a great portion of the comics industry. And I triple-dare anyone to challenge that. So I believe that whenever someone asks me repeatedly to come on to a project, they get the best and there's nothing in the cards that says that they shouldn't follow through on their promises. I, in the beginning, was really gung-ho for the project. And I was told that I could pick whoever I wanted, and that I would get whatever I wanted in order to really make the book fly and to make me happy. I wanted a great inker, A-list. I wanted a superior colorist. I wanted great paper so that the work that I'd do for them would shine brighter than any other book they were presently publishing. I was told I could redesign Firestorm in any way that I wanted. I was lead to believe that I would get a rush of interviews from many sources. I heard that Dan Didio himself was quoted on one particular site as saying that this book would make my career. So it sounded like everything was ready to go. What HAPPENED was THIS: The first issue, John Dell was asked by Marvel to take on the assignment of inking Adam Kubert on Ultimate Fantastic Four, a top ten book. He took the book only because DC wouldn't give him an exclusive contract. I had one of the best inkers in the industry inking my art, and some people at DC were actually angry that the brother took a better offer. They allowed him the position to take a better offer. This made me unhappy. I was extremely happy for him, though. I was told to have free reign to design the new Firestorm. I did and after continuously letting me think they were liking the designs, they got nervous and decided that they wanted to go back to the original costume. This made me unhappy. I repeatedly saw articles on websites and magazines that featured Dan Jolley as the writer and not ChrisCross as the artist. Never one blurb on me, and it was only when I complained, did some of those people throw basic Q&A together to hush me. Lord knows. I didn't want another flashback where evidently the only artist on Captain Marvel was Peter David. It was only when I left that book did people actually notice what I contributed. And I did not want that to happen to me again on Firestorm. That stress made me unhappy. I'm extremely happy for Jolley, though. No joke. Things like the Jason Rusch character and his mother being colored dark-skinned after the agreement that he would be lightskinned was settled. People like to see characters that look like them. They can identify with them easier. After seeing him consistently colored in a darker hue, I started to think my suggestions weren't being heard. We African-Americans do come in different flavors, you know. And being told that people would think that Jason might be white regardless of the heavy African American features I put on him, didn't help. This, along with some personal stuff, also made me unhappy. But it paid the bills. And it wasn't totally bad. I got paid. I said that. Then there was the paper, and so on. The other side of this was I was offered a lot of bigger assignments while I was working on the book, but I turned them down, because as a professional, if you promise someone you're going to do something, you've got to come through. But soon, an offer came across the table that I couldn't pass up. And they really wanted me. And they put me in a position to really enjoy myself in taking my time to do the best work I can do. And they pay more. And I work less. Who could beat that! An artist loves having his or her ego stroked. Artists, or if you prefer, illustrators are like women in a relationship. We want to be reminded that we exist. When we work hard for you thinking only about you, we want you to sing your praises about us off the mountaintops. We get very upset after all the work we do to perform for Prince Charming only to find we've been played by some ghetto-Fabio; some brother one generation out of the projects talking about "Ah gots me a Bolex!" We like being told that our work was beautiful and that it matters and having people tell us how our work enriched their lives somehow. I know I like that. Especially the enriching part. I want to do work that matters. It doesn't have to be Spiderman, or Supes. But it wouldn't hurt if it was. And you get paid. I keep saying that. So, sometime in San Diego people will know what I'm up to. And we can talk about that at length when it's advertised. Maybe even show the Firestorm sketches to you guys. The ones that didn't get approved. They'll probably scare you the way they did DC. I don't think they were ready for 'em. But I have no hard feelings for the people I worked with at DC. Business is a hard mistress to massage, and a lot of times there are knots you have to break down in order to create even circulation. Don't give me a hard time! I can be Confucius if I wanna be! It was a learning curve. When the timing is right, I would work with them in a minute. With the right project, that is. In the end, all I want is to be respected, and to be offered assignments worthy of that respect. I've always gotten better with every page, and it's not too much to ask to want the offers to have the same ascension. But when I get to a point that I'm not happy with an assignment that I start to drag my deadlines because I'm not into it, it's better to admit defeat and let the assignment go and not make it worse for the editor(s) than to cause undue stress and affliction. Besides, my name is on that work. And there's something to be said about reputation. This Has A "Booyakasha" Factor of Eight Out of Ten He Is Legion John Cassaday has been working on a wide assortment of projects lately, including Astonishing X-Men and the occasional issue of Planetary. Somewhere along the way, he managed to finish a 54 page graphic novel for Humanoids entitled I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun. It was first published in Europe back in May, and will be translated and released by DC/Humanoids here in the US later this summer. Cassaday recently took the time to answer a few questions about his upcoming GN: BM: On I Am Legion, you're collaborating with French Screenwriter, Fabien Nury. How did you two come together? JC: I was approached by the Humanoids company a couple of years ago about the book. They pitched it to me in California and I loved what I heard. More than anything I knew I'd regret not doing it. After signing on, Fabien and I started emailing. The editors and myself all threw in our two cents about the story and Fabien crafted a wonderful story. I was immediately pulled in by his compelling dialogue. Never melodramatic and always believable. And English is his second language! BM: What's the story about? JC: It's a World War Two horror/thriller that spans Europe. There are intricate threads of spies, espionage and a strong supernatural current that becomes more evident as the plot unfolds. Crack it open and you'll be hooked. BM: Is the title based on the "My Name is Legion" quote from the Bible? JC: Yes, it's prominently placed in the book. You'll understand why... BM: Earlier, you mentioned your admiration for Nury's writing, including his ability to create compelling characters. Which aspect of this drew you into his story? JC: I'm intrigued by characters who have to do ugly things to achieve the greater good. There's a bigger picture in their sights and they know they must swim a river of shit to get the job done. Fabien has crafted several complicated and realistic characters. They all have true emotions and problems. Very human problems. They are fleshed out in order to make the more supernatural events feel fantastic, shocking and a bit unsettling. BM: As I understand it, the US printing will be at a reduced size. If this is true, will the aspect ratio be maintained? JC: It'll get shrunk, I'm afraid. Some of the dialogue may even be edited slightly if the room isn't there for balloons and captions. I can't say I'm happy about the change in size, but it shouldn't lessen the reading experience and I do understand DC's reasons for doing it. BM: Given that this is the first of three planned graphic novels, can you give us a hint as to where the story will go in future volumes? JC: The first book, The Dancing Faun is more or less the set-up book. There's plenty going on, but the real fireworks don't start until Book Two. It escalates into some mad shit through the second and third volumes. It's an intricate soap opera. We're still working out some kinks on the next two, but it's looking excellent. Fabien is a screenwriter in France and is writing Books Two and Three in screenplay format, per my request. I find it an interesting way to work and want to shake it up a bit. Fabien's very comfortable in the process, of course, so it work for both parties. I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun will be released on August 18th. For more info, check out the official I Am Legion website. This Has A "Supernaturally Bound" Factor of Nine Out of Ten Devil's Cut Wondering why the Daredevil: Director's Cut DVD was delayed without explanation earlier this year? According to what I've heard, it was held back in order to release it closer to the Elektra movie. In other words, corporate synergy. As for Daredevil 2, don't look for it anytime soon. It's believed that any potential DD or Elektra sequels will depend solely on the success of Elektra. And even if DD2 does eventually go forward, Ben Affleck is not expected to return. In related news, the first picture of Jennifer Garner in her "new" Elektra outfit recently appeared online. Elektra is currently scheduled to be released in theatres February 18, 2005. This Has A "Deadly Assassin" Factor of Seven Out of Ten Just Call Her Crazy Digital Webbing Presents #16 features the debut of Crazy Mary in a fully painted 12-page story. CM writer and creator Michael Colbert elaborates: Crazy Mary is part Cyber-Punk action and part Supernatural Horror. It's set in a world of the near future where people can and do have cybernetic enhancements, everything from holographic projectors in their hands to enhanced strength, generally known as "Upgrades". Mary is a bounty hunter/bodyguard with upgrades, but there is something else, as a side effect of her military upgrades she sees a ghost world overlaid on ours and can interact with creatures from this plane of existence. Or does she? The other theory is she's just plain crazy. Mary is a character I'm very proud of. I conceived her and her world in mid-1998, so I've been living with her for some time. Enough time, in fact, That she's taken on a life of own in my head. When I think of some action I want her to do she tells me whether or not she'd do it. It's not some weird psycho stuff, she's just a fully realized character. Mary isn't your typical big-breasted chick with guns. She's a badass, but a lot of what drives her isn't typical comic book motivations. Mary's history is covered, briefly, in the story. A career military she was a natural solider, it's really all she ever wanted. During her time in service she volunteered for Project Dragonfly dealing with state of the art cybernetic enhancements (Upgrades as they are called) giving her enhanced strength, speed, hearing and vision. But something went wrong and when her enhanced eyes were put in. She began seeing visions of creatures, energy patterns, manifestations of emotions and people's subconscious, supernatural things... Not "Dead People" but a twisted chaotic world that overlays and interacts with our own. She also refused to kill anymore. Project Dragonfly's caretakers judged her insane and discharged her. Eventually, after several years of travels and searching she attained a balance and certain level of peace with what happened to her, and she returned to become a "Freelancer" using her talents and upgrades for Bounty Hunting, Rescue, and Bodyguard work. This is where the stories step in. Also the whole driving theme of the world is about the subjective nature of reality, every story deals with this in one way or another... Is she crazy? Does she really see these things? Yes...No...Maybe. CM artist James Woodward (Flesh Angels) also checked in with a few words on his artistic approach to the series: The Crazy Mary story in Digital Webbing Presents # 16 was done in gouache and airbrush. If you look at some of the city backgrounds on the first few pages, you can see that I used Times Square as a model and even used some of the real signs, billboards and buildings and just made them larger and added architectural extensions that don't really exist today in Manhattan. The model from Crazy Mary was my ex- girlfriend. Between the 2 of us we had enough Latex clothes to dress her up in the costume and pose her while I painted. Woodward also revealed that a five page Crazy Mary ashcan comic will be available at the San Diego Con: Here is the first page of that 5 page story. I decided to go in a different direction with the art. I thought maybe heavy inks might give the "real" world of Crazy Mary a darker feel making the gouache painted "hallucinations" stand out even more. This doesn't mean that future Crazy Mary stories (and there will be future stories published under her own title) won't go back to fully painted pages, I just wanted to try something new with this and see how it goes. Digital Webbing Presents # 16 will hit this Wednesday, July 14th. As for the future of Crazy Mary, Colbert confirmed that an ongoing series is planned for later this year, with the creative team intact. Colbert also said that he and Woodward are lined up for a number of signings in Los Angeles and San Diego: We're at Golden Apple Melrose on July 14th from 6 PM to roughly around 8. We are also signing at Toy Mandala on Ventura Blvd on Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th 2-4 PM, Things From Another World in the Universal Citywalk on Saturday July 17th from 6-8 PM and we'll be signing at a Borders books in the Gaslamp District in San Diego each day after the Comiccon shuts down in the evening. See ya there! For more on Crazy Mary, check out http://www.whoiscrazymary.com and http://www.vonphantasi.com. This Has A "Girl, Interrupted" Factor of Eight Out of Ten Blood Will Pour Echo 3 Worldwide announced this week that it has acquired the comic license for the BloodRayne video game franchise. E3W President, Steven O'Connell (Tiger Wraith) explains how the deal came about: I was trying to think about which game out there would be perfect for the comic book treatment. Most of the games were first-person or third-person shooters but they didn't really have a detailed storyline. When I picked up the cover to BloodRayne and read the back, I was intrigued...so I purchased the game and just simply fell in love with it. Here was a sexy half-vampire running around shooting Nazis, throwing snide remarks around...how could you not love it? So, being that I'm from New Jersey and Majesco Games is located in New Jersey, I shot them an email. After a few weeks Product Manager, Liz Buckley wrote back. She told me to call her. I did. I told her my plans for the comic book if I was to obtain the license. She said put a pitch together - so I did. I knew Romano Molenaar (series artist) and shot him an email asking him if he'd be interested in helping me with the pitch. He loved the pictures of the character I forwarded to him so he jumped on board. He supplied me with a spec cover that was truly awesome (see attached picture). I then asked another guy I've known for a bit, Blond (Kevin Senft) to add the colors to it. He agreed. I put the whole thing together, sent it off to Liz and waited. I guess they loved the pitch because now we're producing the comic! For those who don't know anything about BloodRayne...she is a dhampir, born from the unnatural union of vampire and human. Raised and trained to hunt supernatural evil, Rayne is blessed with the powers of a vampire, but is also cursed with the unquenchable thirst for blood and a weakness to sunlight. As a writer, I think she has this deep history of untold tales that need to be told... BloodRayne will be released in a series of quarterly one-shots. The first one-shot, BloodRayne: Skies Afire will be written by O'Connell, with pencils by Romano Molenaar (Witchblade), inks by Marco Galli (Aphrodite IX) and colored by Blond (Masters of the Universe). It's currently scheduled for an October release. This Has An "I'm Not Bad, I'm Just Drawn That Way" Factor of Seven Out of Ten Spin Cycle If you haven't read the latest issue of Spin Magazine (with the Beastie Boys on the cover) you might have missed this: a one-page comic by Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts based on the exploits of the band, No Doubt. Looks like some good mainstream exposure for Conner and Mounts. but not so much for the naked guy. This Has A "Shriveled Drizzle" Factor of Eight Out of Ten Micahwatch Micah Wright resurfaced this week, in the "Liefeld Vs Busiek" thread over at MillarWorld. One poster wrote, "Nice to see you back around and out of seclusion. I really mean that. Start putting out some more comics now." To which, Wright replied: Hi. Thanks for the kind words. As for doing new work, oh, I will be... I WILL BE... I had pitched a LOT of book ideas to Wildstorm which are still mine. I'm shopping for Publishers right now. Give me about six months or so and I'll be up and dancing in a Diamond Previews near you. This Has A "ROTC" Factor of Six Out of Ten Six More Webs in the Shooter The oft endangered Spider-Girl has won yet another six-issue reprieve from cancellation, according to series writer, Tom DeFalco: Thanks to the efforts of Joe Quesada, Dan Buckley and Andy Schmidt--and ALL of you guys--Spider-Girl has been renewed for (at least) another six issues. We are currently guaranteed to run until Spider-Girl #87. While #87 could be our last issue, we could also be extended beyond #87...if we can increase our sales. The little comic could that could is still alive--HOO-HA! Thanks for being there! Tom D. Mayday Parker- The one, true Spider-Girl! Accept NO substitutes! This Has An "Amazing Fantasy" Factor of Seven Out of Ten Art for Show, Not Tell Some interesting pieces were on the Image Boards this week. An Adam Hughes Legion cover and a double-page spread from Return of Shadowhawk. An Unfortunate Twist of Fate In a late breaking story, Todd McFarlane has lost his latest legal battle with Tony Twist. Lost, and lost big. To the tune of $15 million. This all stems back to McFarlane's use of a character named Tony Twist in the early issues of Spawn. The real Tony Twist (a hockey player) sued and was even awarded $24 million by a previous jury, which was overturned on appeal. This latest verdict could also be overturned on appeal, or at least greatly reduced. I mean, who in their right mind thinks that the Tony Twist character was worth $15 million? Or even the real Tony Twist? But if the legal battle continues to go badly for McFarlane, it could threaten his toy and comic empire. To say nothing of the free speech implications. It's doubtful that McFarlane could afford a multimillion-dollar judgement against him. This isn't chump change. Even for him. Hey. you know who'd be really helpful for McFarlane here? Someone who'd be great to have on his side? Neil Gaiman. Maybe you've heard of him. He's a noted freedom of speech activist, a champion of creator's rights, an expert witness. Oh wait. Scratch that. This Has A "Standing At The Gates of Hell" Factor of Seven Out of Ten And that is it for this week. See you in seven. Later, Blair Five Days And Counting... By Blair Marnell July 18 It's almost here... the biggest con of the year. San Diego 2004. This week is just the calm before the storm. Which isn't to say we don't have a lot to talk about. So, we're gonna jump right into the news & rumors. Crossroads Revisited Following up on last week's story, ChrisCross checked in again with some additional thoughts on the subject: I was once told that for every person in the world, there is one mistake that a person spends twice the amount of time getting into, and four times the amount of that time getting out of it. My father at one time saw me distressed about something to the point that it started to affect me physically and out of nowhere gave me the advice that there is a difference between an accident and a mistake. An accident is something done with good intentions and out of one uncontrollable thing, it goes bad. A mistake is something that you knew was bad from the beginning, but you did it anyway. While the words expressed in the previous ATR article were no accident, in many ways it was definitely a mistake. It was never my intention to come across as an arrogant, self- serving, prissy prima donna. That article made it look like that I was difficult to work with; that I was a difficult person to be around. The perception I gave was that none of the people that I worked with were good enough to work with me. I hurt a lot of feelings when that article posted, and I have to be man enough to publicly fix it. And most definitely apologize. Chris Sotomayor called and left a message on my answering machine around 1:30pm on, I guess, the day after it posted. He sounded upset. Understandably. It hit me to read the article. I read it thinking, "this guy is a little full of himself", and then I realized that guy was ME. ...And it sickened me. I gave the perception of the type of man I've always strived NEVER to be. I gave the impression that other than John Dell, no one else that I worked with was A- list after him. That no one else other than me was doing their job. I came off like I wasn't a team player. And I feel REALLY BAD about that. The fact of the matter is that I came across like a blowhard publicly, and now I'm going to apologize to these people... PUBLICLY. I'd like to first apologize to Sotomayor. I've known him since college and he's been like a brother to me. I gave the impression that I didn't like his work and that he wasn't up to snuff. The fact is he's one the best digital painters in the medium in my opinion and he always seems to know EXACTLY what I want in order to make my work pop. As long as I'm in the industry, he will continue to work with me in any capacity not just because he's phenomenal at what he does, but also because he's just good people. I'm very sorry, Chris. Next, I'd like to apologize to John Dell. I put his business out in the street without even asking him if it was okay. If he wanted people to know why he left, he should have been the one to do so. I hope I didn't cause you undue stress, John. I'd like to formally apologize to Peter Tomasi. Now this is going to take some time. I sat in his office to tell him why I was resigning my commission on the book, which was of some severe personal stress from family issues and some of my own personal problems. This was not only true, but it was also 3/4 of the reason why I resigned. Mixed in with the 3/4's was also the fact that I was offered another assignment from another company. And we discussed it, and there was no animosity whatsoever. With that article, I practically demonized the man. And I came out looking like a hypocrite. My personal issues including the feeling that I wasn't being exposed enough on the book messed with me so much that I started to lose the drive to even draw. That in turn, caused me to continuously miss my deadlines. Now, Peter is a good guy and a family man and he's worked very hard to become Senior Editor. Editors nowadays have to handle anywhere from 10 to 18 books in a month, deal with twice as many artists and their personalities, and field at least a hundred phone calls a day. All that before lunch. And don't be in the way on a Friday. It's not an easy job and some of these guys have a bottle of Maalox on their desk. Sometimes they go home and still have to take their job with them. That is how stressful and demanding the job is. To know what the job entails and then post the thoughts that I said on the web in that way publicly minimized and dismissed his job and his work. Trust me when I say the saying "it's just business, it's nothing personal" is just the biggest bucket of bullcookies. I'm not surprised that he's angry and possibly a little hurt. Peter, I am very sorry. It was not my intent to create a caustic relationship between me, you and DC. I did this out of pure emotion and personal circumstance with no foresight that I would be looking like I was full of myself. Even though I feel had some legitimate beefs, it could have been handled differently and never at the behest of what you do or belittling in any way your role in the company. Which I really hope I didn't do. Like I said, I have no problem with you or DC and I hope with time you as a person will have it within your heart to forgive me if I've hurt you in any way. Hopefully, You and the people at DC can see this as my first and last offense, that you as a person can forgive my trespass, and that we can sometime in the future work together on something. At this point, it'll probably be "Ambush Bug: The Return", but it'll be the best Ambush Bug ever put out. And it's a paying gig. Next, I'd like to apologize to Dan Didio. Not only is he the Vice President of DC, but he once told me that he was an actual fan of mine! It doesn't hurt to have a VP as a fan. He was really the guy that got the ball rolling when he called my house and asked me to be on Firestorm. Me and my arrogant self said," I'd rather be on Superman or Batman". ...arrgh. Now that I think about it, I was being a brat even then. Sorry, Dan. But the real apology comes when I dropped your name in the middle of my rant. Even though I didn't mention you in anything morose, the fact that your name was anywhere near that insanity (here's the word again) demonized you. Again, that was never my intention. My apologies, again. And to the other inkers that took over, like Dan Green and Rob Stull. Your professionalism is top rate, You guys also are great people. Especially Rob, who's also been like a brother. He and I have some serious history and I hope he understands that I've always thought of him a better than Grade A. NO ONE inks like this man and he is one of the best inkers in the industry. I apologize to the both of them if they got wind of that article and thought that I thought otherwise. It had also occured to me that if I was being untoward to Tomasi and Didio, then Tom Brevoort deserves a gold medal for dealing with me for 3 years. He also expressed that he was a fan of my work, and there were many times that I blew up at him. It hadn't occurred to me until now that I was behaving so badly. If I was out of turn Tom, I'm very sorry, man. To you and all of the people at Marvel who I ran over with my bullishness. I have to remember that I'm 6'9" and 285lbs with a very deep and strong voice and that to a lot of people, when I make requests, it may sound like pure intimidation. I've been told by Tom that I have to learn how to be diplomatic. I guess after the mirror that was held in my face after this article, I'll definitely consider it. I'm very sorry if I was difficult to work with, guys. It won't happen again. It may seem to the fans and everyone else that Chriscross is backpedaling and getting desperate with all this apologizing. That's not the case. The beefs I had were legitimate, but there's a better way to administer it without creating havoc. There's something you have to know about me. I'm a Born Again Christian. Christian meaning Christ-like. I'm supposed to pattern my life using Jesus as an example. There's a biblical passage that says that wisdom is the principal thing. The most important thing. Patience is good wisdom. Thanksgiving is good wisdom. And I'm not talking about the holiday. HUMILITY is good wisdom. That article wasn't any of those things. See, as a Christian, I'm supposed to hold myself to a better standard. Not saying that I'm better than anyone else, but if Christ is my example then I must understand that the people in the comic industry: the editors, the presidents and vice presidents, the group editors, the associate and assistant editors, the accountants, the creators (writers, artists, digital- painters, letterers) even you fans, are all human beings. And sometimes, fans, we forget that. We creators and the like all read message boards and we are hurt sometimes because the messages can be so harsh. Brevoort, Quesada, Didio, Tomasi and everyone else in the medium have families; have wives or girlfriends or boyfriends. They have parents and grandparents. Heck, they could be grandparents themselves for all we know. The thing I'm trying to get across is that the written word is premeditated. Which means every word we put down in writing, digital or otherwise, has to be thought out before we put it out in the public. Words are such a powerful thing and if we're not careful and if we don't use wisdom, we can hurt people. What hurts me is that I forgot that. In coming across the way I did, even my friends who aren't even in the medium started arguing over the article. About who's right and who's wrong. The one thing I heard out my friend's mouth was that Chris is a great man, but the Chris I read in that article was an elitist snob. If he wasn't, it was sure a brilliant imitation. Ouch. Ow. That REALLY hurt. I've been apologizing to THEM all day. Finally, that's why you the fans are last to be apologized to. You should not have to see that kind of nonsense. We creators have a certain responsibility to maintain character with decorum. I was raised that a man has to know his limitations. That he must bear responsibility when messes up. Bear the brunt of the pain he caused and make it better. Fix it. If you cut someone, DON'T LET IT FESTER. Clean it and bandage it right away and let them know that you're sorry. I hope that this addendum bandages a lot of wounds that I created and that people see that I'm not the mean ogre that perception made me out to be. If you're going to go insane, people, do it in private. Not in public. This Has A "Making Amends" Factor of Eight Out of Ten Attack of the Little People I've heard that several BIG name creators have been invited to pitch a new Atom series. A lot of years have passed since the last time Atom headlined a series, but apparently the senior editors feel that the time is right for a revival. Word out of DC is that they haven't chosen a creative team yet, as they're still looking for the right combination of creators and concept to make The Atom a "top tier book." In other words, having him fight with birds just isn't going to cut it anymore. In other news of the "five-inch and under" variety, Daniel Way's canceled Ant-Man miniseries might just be released after all. Rumor has it that the miniseries is being retooled to fit into the Ultimate line of books, instead of the original Marvel Universe. This Has An "Incredible Shrinking Men" Factor of Seven Out of Ten Animators Assemble! The first direct-to-DVD animated movie under the agreement between Marvel and Lions Gate was revealed this week. According to the announcement, it's The Avengers, by way of Millar & Hitch: The 66-minute film will feature a cadre of Marvel's most popular characters, including Captain America, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Giant Man and Wasp. The animated feature, based on the Marvel Comics series "The Ultimates," is still in the script phase. Glenn Ross, president of Lions Gate's family home entertainment division, said he expects the complete film to be out on DVD in early 2006. Over at Millarworld, Mark Millar confirmed that he and Bryan Hitch are creative consultants on the film. In addition, there's a rumor flying around that members of the X-Men: Evolution creative team are also involved. However, there's no word yet on which studio is handling the animation. This Has A "Hulk Smash Freddie Prinze Jr.!" Factor of Eight Out of Ten Back to Smallville ***Smallville Season 4 Spoilers Ahead!*** Two new cast members were announced for the upcoming season of Smallville this week: Jenson Ackles as Jason Teague and Erica Durance as Lois Lane. Additionally, Smallville executive producer, Miles Millar dropped a few hints about the future of the series in an interview with Sci-Fi Wire. Among the revelations: Clark Kent, at the end of this year, will really graduate. And we're introducing a whole new mythology as well that will involve Lana, Lex and Clark. And at the end of the season we pay off something that is huge in the Superman mythology. It all leads towards something. Diehard fans of the mythology will realize what it is pretty quickly, others won't. This Has A "Cashing Jonathan Kent's Life Insurance Policy" Factor of Six Out of Ten Big Screen Monolith Rumor has it that Warner Brothers Studios is interested in bringing Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray's The Monolith to life as a live action movie. From what I've heard, discussions are still at an early stage, but look promising. This Has A "Hands of Stone" Factor of Eight Out of Ten Cinema Verte This was by far, one of the most eventful weeks in recent memory for comic properties in Hollywood. Aside from the three previous items above, the following announcements were made: Michelle Forbes (24) and Aimee Garcia (Las Vegas) were cast in the Global Frequency pilot. The release date for Elektra was moved up from February 18 to January 14, 2005. Jessica Alba (Dark Angel) was cast as the Invisible Woman in The Fantastic Four. Then there's the rumors. Gotta love the rumors. The best one this week was about Bryan Singer's possible involvement with the next Superman film. Which if true, would be a huge step towards revitalizing that franchise. Paired with Chris Nolan's upcoming Batman Begins, this could mean that Warner Brothers is finally ready to make quality DC movies again. But for every encouraging sign from WB, something else rears its ugly head. Like Catwoman, or the rumored Jack Black as Green Lantern movie, which looks more and more like it's real. And it wouldn't be Hollywood without the lawsuits. On Thursday, Marvel filed suit against Disney for "shortchanging (Marvel) on payments for cartoon series of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk and X-Men." So much for tying up loose ends... Still, it's easy to see why Marvel went ahead with the lawsuit. Disney appears to have seriously dropped the ball on utilizing the various Marvel animated series, particularly in the DVD releases. However, Disney does have an army of lawyers and deeper pockets than Marvel. The "House of Ideas" could be in for a hell of a fight... It'll be interesting to see how this one plays out. This Has A "Hurray For Hollywood!" Factor of Seven Out of Ten Alternative Aid Earlier this week, Jeff Mason, the publisher of Alternative Comics sent out a call for help to the comics community. When asked for more details, Mason replied: Late Tuesday night April 2, 2002, I received a bulk e-mail from David Wilk, the President of our then exclusive book trade distributor LPC Group. Wilk was e-mailing to let everyone know that his company had declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier that day. Alternative Comics had initially entered into the book trade contract with LPC to test the waters with them as a company. At first we were putting our toe into the water to test the temperature. Personally, I went with LPC because of my great interactions in the past with then LPC employee Robert Boyd and because a number of my comics publishing friends were also dealing with them including Chris Staros and Brett Warnock of Top Shelf Productions, Tom Devlin of Highwater Books, and Chris Oliveros of Drawn & Quarterly. The bankruptcy couldn't have happened at a worse time. Starting in about 1998 and 1999, the comics industry started to pull out of its steady decline of the '90s and the book market was really starting to take notice of graphic novels. I was expanding Alternative Comics quickly as we were experiencing better sales and sell-through in the book trade. LPC went out of business owing Alternative Comics a huge amount of money. Back in April 2002, I had a substantial publishing nest egg. I had accumulated much of this money since graduating from Law School in 1997 and becoming a private criminal defense attorney. I was still living the relatively inexpensive lifestyle of a college student while bringing in the salary of an attorney. LPC's bankruptcy was financially devastating to me, but because I had the stockpile of capital, I went forward as if it were business as usual. I should have reduced the growth of my publishing schedule, but did not. Diamond Comic Distributors started distributing books to the book trade, and I joined up with them. In 2002 and 2003 I published more than in the seven years prior. I did not foresee that the market could not handle six books a month from Alternative Comics. The remainder of my nest egg slowly dwindled away over the next two years, as did my credit. Toward the end of 2003 I realized that I had to take the foot off of the accelerator and slow down my publishing schedule. In October 2003, I stopped accepting unsolicited submissions, and as of June 2004, I finally got to the point of only soliciting one or two books a month to be released. Mason also reiterated how readers can help Alternative Comics stay afloat: Our preference is for our readers to support their local merchants and for them to purchase our comics and books at their local comic book retailer or bookstore. You can find a comic book store in your area by using the Comic Shop Locator Service; or call them toll free in USA at 888- COMIC-BOOK (888-266-4226). We maintain a list of Indy- Friendly Stores that are likely to carry many of our books. Mars Import is our exclusive online retailer. Please visit their site to order books from Alternative Comics. As for upcoming graphic novels from Alternative Comics, Mason had a few recommendations: September 2004 is the final month I had solicited more than one or two books. I'm hopeful that if readers are interested in reading these books they will advance order the books from their local comic book store. For September, we are releasing Joel Orff's second book, Waterwise, Brandon Graham's Escalator, Jed Alexander's Turtle, turtle, Jen Sorensen's SLOWPOKE: America Gone Bonkers, and we are distributing Josh Neufeld's Xeric grant-winning A Few Perfect Hours and Other Stories From Southeast Asia and Central Europe. Cartoonist Joel Orff is a perfect example of why I became a comic book publisher. Back in 1993 I stumbled across a comic that Joel Orff had self-published. He had printed only 1000 copies and the book is long out of print. Something about his work absolutely touched me. A combination of his lush inky artwork and his very personal storytelling moved me. I had to make sure that his work was widely available and that he continued to make more comics. As a comic book publisher, I have been able to let Joel Orff be Joel Orff, to let him be the brilliant cartoonist that he is, and to make it possible for him to share with readers everywhere. In May 2003, we released Joel Orff's widely critically acclaimed Strum and Drang: Great Moments in Rock 'n' Roll and in September we're releasing his second book, Waterwise. Imagine a cross between American Splendor and Alice in Wonderland...or imagine a cross between Carl Barks and Carlos Castaneda... Waterwise is the story of two old friends who are reunited for one night and wander together through a surreal, vaguely apocalyptic landscape, pondering life, griping about their circumstances, and trying to connect. Along the way they explore the nature of dreams, the fragile facade of civilization and the tenderness of a true friendship. Waterwise, deluxe graphic novel by Joel Orff; for Mature Readers; 128 pages; 6" x 9"; $14.95; ISBN: 1-891867-82-2; Diamond Code: September 2004; Starting in October 2004, Alternative Comics is only offering one or two books in any given month. For October, we are releasing Rick Smith's Baraka and Black Magic in Morocco. I re-solicited Baraka for October from earlier this year because of our current financial difficulties, and I'm hoping that it isn't overlooked and everyone remembers to re-order it! This stunning graphic novel details cartoonist Rick Smith's travels with his wife Tania throughout Morocco, from Tangiers through the Sahara Desert and on to Marrakech and Casablanca. From hassles with transportation and the locals to language barriers and drugged carpet sales, this travelogue is a whirlwind through pre-9/11 Morocco! Like Josh Neufeld's Xeric grant- winning A Few Perfect Hours in September, Rick Smith's Baraka is a travelogue graphic novel that whisks readers across the globe to savor exotic cultures, settings, and experiences. Baraka and Black Magic in Morocco, deluxe graphic novel by Rick Smith, For Mature Readers, trade paperback, 128 pages, b&w, 6" x 9", $14.95, ISBN: 1-891867-69-5; Diamond Code: AUG04 2362; October 2004. This Has A "Support Diversity" Factor of Nine Out of Ten Paranormal Research Continues Mike Mignola's next comic project is already well underway. BPRD: The Dead will be a five issue miniseries that follows up on the previous BPRD series (set in the Hellboy universe). Guy Davis is back on art, with John Arcudi (The Mask) coming onboard as co- writer. BRPD: The Dead is currently set for a November release. Expect an official announcement soon. This Has A "Hellbound" Factor of Eight Out of Ten Oddly Enough Oddly Normal is making the leap from web-comics to print, thanks to Viper Comics. Oddly Normal originally appeared on Girlamatic and has garnered rave reviews as one of the best "all-ages" comics on the net. Otis Frampton, the creator, writer and artist of Oddly Normal, elaborates: Oddly Normal is a coming of age story. The series will feature the adventures of a 10-year old girl with the most unfortunate name and the luck to go with it. The product of a unique mixed-marriage (her mother is a witch and her father is human), Oddly has grown up between cultures and she is the proverbial outsider. Her green hair and pointed ears have earned her mocking derision from other kids. On her 10th birthday, her parents mysteriously disappear and she is left in the care of her great Aunt, a citizen of a fantastical place called "Fignation". Unfortunately for Oddly, her experiences there will not be any better than it was on Earth. Oddly Normal is not the happiest kid on the block. She's basically an outcast wherever she goes, and the experiences she has in this series are going to shake up her world in a big way and make her realize a few things about herself. It's a story about change, and Oddly will be forced to do so. When asked which audience Oddly Normal is geared for, Frampton replied: Human beings, basically. That's my audience. The series is going to be a mix of humor, action, suspense and wild visuals, so hopefully it will appeal to a wide audience. You can call it an "all ages" book, if you like, but I'm not aiming it specifically at younger audiences. I'll be thrilled if kids read it, though. There aren't enough titles out there for the younger crowd, in my opinion. It seems that the battle cry, "Comics, They're Not For Kids Anymore" was a dangerous self-fulfilling prophesy for the industry. Titles like Jeff Smith's Bone, which appealed to young and old alike, were few and far between. And now we don't even have that. So hopefully, Oddly Normal will be a worthy addition to that market. Oddly Normal will be a 4 issue miniseries, and is currently scheduled for release in March 2005. This Has A "Bewitched" Factor of Eight Out of Ten Alright people, quick announcement time. Next week, I'm going to be in San Diego for the Comic Con, and I may not have access to a computer while I'm down there. So don't freak out if the column isn't up on Sunday. Worst case scenario, I'll get something up when I get back, Monday or Tuesday. As you probably guessed, I'll be actively looking for ATR material while I'm down there. But I can't be everywhere. So if any ATR readers at the con hear any good rumors or stories, please e-mail me at blairm@silverbulletcomicbooks.com. It'll be greatly appreciated. That's all for this week. San Diego, here I come... Later, Blair PS If anyone has any rumors, stories or news to share, please email me at blairm@silverbulletcomicbooks.com. Thanks to everyone who has been sending stuff in. It's greatly appreciated. +++++ Items found in Rich Johnston's "Lying in the Gutters" column at http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/ which are all rumors or gossip so take any of it with a BIG bucket of salt! Rich was chosen Best Comics Journalist in the 2003 Usenet Squiddy Awards, his fourth consecutive win. Write to Rich at: richjohnston@gmail.com Rich heard rumors . . . July 12 So who's the new Not-"New X-Men" writer after Chuck Austen leaves? Two possibilities: Greg Pak may be writing five issues of "X-Men." I'm also hearing that "X-Force" alumni Pete Milliagn may be A number of people believe that Marvel is in the process of returning to Consolidating lines, looking for short term sales at all costs, reducing risk and slimming down employees. I been told Marvel have hired Jim Shooter in an editorial consultancy capacity. Talking to the top execs, giving suggestions for many books, and they're being passed down to the shop floor without many people even knowing Shooter's involvement. Not only is the planned "Green Lantern" movie featuring the Kyle Raynor Green Lantern character, but the executive in charge of making the Green Lantern movie wants to make it a comedy. The choice for the ring bearer? Jack Black. I understand David Cronenberg is to adapt into film, the John Wagner and Vince Locke comic book "History Of Violence," starring Viggo Mortensen, before tackling Martin Amis' "London Fields." "History Of Violence" was, like "Road To Perdition", a Paradox graphic novel from DC's truly mainstream, creator-owned line. July 19 I'm visiting one of my oldest comics colleagues, Mike Meyer, over in Sherman Oaks, CA then driving down to San Diego for the comic convention. E-mail me on richjohnston@gmail.com, text or call me on 011447801350982 (or 0780 1350982 from a UK phone) if you want to hook up. Tell me if you've got a booth number and you want me to drop by. Otherwise The Field and The Hyatt will be good bets. I'll be with the Comics Unlimited table for the Eisners as well... Brian Pulido and William Christensen have bought Lady Death from CrossGen. They did so before CrossGen filed for bankruptcy. But it seems Christensen and Pulido did the deal with CrossGen Intellectual Property, a company which has not filed for bankruptcy. These legal loopholes, if they hold up, will see Avatar publishing Lady Death as part of their new Brian Pulido line of comics. The death of Ant Man in recent "Avengers" didn't bode for Daniel Way's "Ant Man" series, supposedly due later this year. I here the series has been given a new lease of life and has been retooled for the Ultimate line. I understand, through a recruitment agency, that Marvel executives, the owners of Marvel rather than editorial, have been headhunting Dan Didio for an unspecified position. Dan Didio's current contract is up in six months. Last week's Jim Shooter story, is now officially denied by Marvel and Shooter himself. Grant Morrison and Chris Weston want someone to make "The Filth" into a movie. But not just anyone. He wants Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, the men behind "Spaced" and "Shaun Of The Dead." Greg Pak, rumoured to be a possible writer for the "X-Men," currently with "Warlock" on the schedule, and a backlog of internally-highly-rated pitches and proposals at Marvel, is also the writer and director of "Robot Stories," released a couple of years ago but still doing the festival rounds. From "Western Tales Of Terror," comes "Western Tales of Terror" #1, featuring Steve Niles, Dan Taylor, Benito Cereno, and more. Issue 2 will feature Phil Hester, Todd Livingston, Eric J and Raven Gregory. Look for "Western Tales Of Terror" at table N16 at San Diego. I understand Jim O'Brady has bailed from Book One of the new "Starship Troopers" comic, though a replacement has been found (and apparently she's great!) and Jim will probably return for Book Three of Tony Lee's new series. In related news, Tony Lee and Paul Ridgdon have a deal with House Of Ra to option out "Mythlands" as an animated series in August. Recently Altenative Comics made an appeal to readers and retailers, as they dealt with the fallout from the collapse of LPC distribution. The remnants of Revolutionary Comics has chosen this moment to claim the trademark for Alternative, right on the heels of Mason's plea for financial help from his readership. I understand Dreamwave are currently doing a colourist recruitment drive. Limited numbers of the British charity comic magazine "Just 1 Page" will be on sale at next weekend's San Diego Comic Con, thanks to Studio Underhill's Harris O'Malley. He will be at booth P12 in the Small Press area, with debut copies of "Berserker: The Wild Hunt" #1, and his graphic novel "Between The Cracks: All Miracles Have A Price" as well as t- shirts and prints. "Just 1 Page" gives US comics fans a great opportunity to find out about the wide range of British comics and creators. From the famous, like Judge Dredd, Andy Capp, John Constantine and Alan Moore, to many less familiar to US folks, such as Face Ache, Frankie Stein and Misty. And there is a special tribute to the very British Bash Street Kids, their creator Leo Baxendale and the comic they appeared in, "The Beano." The magazine is over-sized 72 pages, 8 with colour, and features pin-ups, single page strips and articles about British comics. It will be on sale for $9. If it sells out, people can still buy copies online for $10 (?6) including postage. All proceeds will be donated to the Trinity Hospice in London. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [5] Interviews Richard Vasseur richardv@sympatico.ca Joshua Hale Fialkov Editor In Chief for "Western Tales of Terror" from Hoarse and Buggy Productions interviewed by Richard Vasseur. Richard: What Can you tell us about "Western Tales of Terror"? Joshua: WToT is a new horror anthology with (obviously) a western theme, in the tradition of the classic EC comics. Each issue features some of the best creators in the genre, paired with some young up and comers who I guarantee will all be household names very soon. Each issue is set up similarly to a golden age book (or perhaps more recently the old Marvel Comics Presents) with a continuing lead feature, and several stand alone 5 pagers. Richard: Why did you decide on a anthology about horror in the Old West? Joshua: I'm a huge fan of Westerns. My favorite western is somewhat of a horror film. High Plains Drifter (Clint Eastwood's 2nd movie as a director) is one of the creepiest, eeriest movies of all time, and the supernatural elements are more or less subtle and understated. The old west is a mess of lawlessness and mystery. Never knowing where trouble is going to come from just makes the genre rife with possibilities. Both genres are also really popular right now, and it seemed like a golden opportunity for me. Richard: You have a lot of talent working on this book was it hard to get them all onboard? Joshua: Not really. Everybody was really hooked in to the idea, and saw it as an opportunity to try something different. Steve Niles is a guy who's constantly trying out different sub-genres in horror, and this was an opportunity to try something he hadn't really done yet. Dan Taylor (or Hero Happy Hour) is probably one of the most talented writers I know, and is profoundly capable in the comics medium. I was just happy to give people a chance to see that Dan's not just a comedy writer. Benito Cereno and Nate Bellegarde (best known for their backups in Invincible, and Benito's upcoming Tales From the Bully Pulpit) are quite simply two of the most talented guys working in comics and you've seen just the tip of what they can do over in Invincible. They're just genuinely funny, smart guys. Our new comers Jared Bivens and Jay Busbee were both guys who sent in submissions and spent some time on our boards, and we were very, very impressed with their work, and decided to jumbo size the book to fit them in. Richard: When will the webcomic prequel be up at www.westerntalesofterror.com ? Joshua: The plan is to launch it in the weeks leading up to the books release, most likely starting in the end of September when orders for the first issue are due in. We ended up losing the artist who committed to them, so we're currently in search of an artist for them. Richard: Where do you see the future of this comic going? Joshua: We hope to be bi-monthly out the gate, and have the bulk of issue two just about ready to be sent out. We'd like to add other genre anthology titles, maybe as quarterly magazines. Really, the market being what it is, we want to test the waters and see if our take on the anthology book is something viable. For some reason, the anthology has gone out of fashion. For me, it's more creators, more stories, and best of all, you never know what you're going to get. Books like "Metal Hurlant" from Humanoids are perfect examples of just how good an anthology can be. Best of all? Don't like a story, skip a few pages and try something different! Richard: When did you first become interested in comics? Joshua: Like a lot of people in to comics right now, I was a huge fan as a kid, and then when the boom happened I lost most of my interest. It also happened to line up with me becoming aware that there were these things called "Girls" and they could be "Spoken To" and "Taken Out" among other things. That sort of ate up all of my comic budget. I stayed in to Graphic Novels, and would pick up occasional TPB's from time to time. Then in 2001-2002, I moved out to LA, settled into a job, had a live in girlfriend, and some extra cash. I had a buddy who was heavily into books, and he coaxed me back in with some of the great books that had started coming out again (a lot of Bendis and Vertigo), and now I'm a junkie again. Richard: What comics do you read now? Joshua: Everything. Really. Literally. The only books I stay away from are the bulk of the Superman books (although I love Azzarello and Lee's current run) and a lot of the licensed stuff. Course, I still read Voltron, but that's beside the point. I love comics. It inspires me to see what other people are doing with the medium, both doing well and doing badly. Learning about pacing, character development, and emotional involvement from a wide range of creators in one of the most satisfying things about reading comics for me. To watch how deftly Mark Waid balances huge action with interpersonal drama, or how Bendis manages to make talking heads seem dynamic and exciting, it inspires me and makes me want to be a better creator. Richard: Do you have you future projects planned? Joshua: Well, I have several pitches in various stages of readiness. I'm feeling pretty good about this book, so obviously my business partner and I are looking at which of our other books we should start moving on. But, unfortunately, publishing is very expensive, so we're gonna do everything we can to make this book the best book it can be, and hopefully that'll carry us through to our next few books. Richard: How did you get the job of editor in chief? Joshua: It's easy when you're paying for everything. I have a business partner who I work on all of my projects with. He's much more of the technical hand on guy, I'm much more the ideas guy (he's gonna hit me for saying that). We're a team, and all decisions get made by both of us, it was just easier to split Publisher and Editor in Chief into two titles. Richard: What are your duties as editor in chief? Joshua: I work directly with all of our talent, helping to massage scripts, and line up teams. I have a wonderful editor named Greg Matiasevich who handles all of the submissions and does cleanup on all of the scripts and finished pages. Essentially, I coordinate everything, and do my best to make sure everyone's happy and on time. It's exhausting, actually. Richard: Will you be attending any conventions? Joshua: We will be at San Diego Comic-Con, that's where the book will premiere. We unfortunately couldn't do Chicago, but, we're planning on Mid-Ohio-Con, SPX, and a few other shows across the country. If any of your readers are going to be at San Diego they can come by and visit us in the Small Press Area at table N16. Richard: Any last words of wisdom? Joshua: Heh. Buy indie books. Pre-order them! The industry is in bad shape for the big guys, that means it's in even worse shape for the little guys. Independent books strive to break 2000 copies. Isn't that insane? Think about how many people go to movies or buy video games or watch TV. Our medium has a lot of potential and it lies in the hands of the independents. Supporting them now helps to ensure there'll be a comics industry in the future. Also, Zombie Cowboys Rule. _________________________________________________________________ [6] Interview Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.com Interview with: Billy Martinez, Creator of Kickass Girl! Interviewed by Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Universe Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Question: Billy tell us about your new comic book Kickass Girl? Kickass Girl is about a girl named Katrina Vasquez and she is dealing with her mothers death and lives day to day with child abuse in her home. In the story she comes to a major crossroads. When confronted by a guardian angel and some appearances from a skeleton named Dave she must decide who to trust and if she is just going crazy. Michelle the ark angel has informed Katrina of a task she must complete that only she can perform. This mission will save the human race if she is able to complete it. The story deals on all levels from abuse to social and religious issues. These were things I too had to live through growing up in a abusive home. Question: Who are some of the main characters? Katrina Vasquez- aka Kickass Girl Lenny G. - psychic Dave- skeleton entity Michelle- ark angel Question: How did you come up with this concept of Kickass Girl? I really wanted to do a book that made a difference and to open peoples minds. So I came up with the story in that sense. But I also wanted to add a little of my experience to the character so it was real and could be related to. Some of us have grown up in abusive homes and had to make life changing decisions and I know we all hurt inside about very personal things that we never get a chance to discuss or share with others because of what we might feel others might think of us. Question: What other future projects do you have in mind? I plan to release the final 48 page conclusion to Kickass Girl in early February and then some trade paperbacks of Wildflower and Kickass Girl in summer and fall of 2005. After that I have a new series in the works for 2006 which all I can say is very dark and takes place in ancient times and parallels with the present day. I guess you could call it a ghost story but I'm not sure how to describe it. I'll let the readers be the judge in 2006. Question: What comic cons are you attending this year? My last show this year is the San Diego Comic Con July 22-25 and then it's back to the drawing board for my next issue. We plan to do Wizard Chicago next year along with A.p.e. and also San Diego again. Question: What recent movies have you seen and liked this year? Bubba Ho-Tep has got to be on the top of my list along with Spider- Man. In fact I just got back from seeing Spider-Man 20 and hour ago. Question: What comic books are you reading now? Gloom Cookie, Stupid Comics and Aleister Arcane. Question: Tell us anything else new that is going on in your life, since the last interview I did with you. Well, mmm? I have just finished a line of Kickass Girl Skateboards that will be available at the end of July. The thing I'm really excited for is Neko Press will be publishing a made for trade paperback comic by Jim Mahfood in summer 2005 entitled Smoke Dog. I am a huge fan of Jim's work. I think he is a genius when it comes to his ability to tell stories. I'm am blessed to be working with Jim on his project. Question: Give us your website address Billy. www.nekopresscomics.com and check out all of our cool books by all of our creators. Question: How can somebody contact you? by e-mailing me at wildflower2000@earthlink.net Question: If Kickass Girl became a movie, who would play the character parts and why? Let's get a movie deal first and then I will answer that. That's a tough one. Question: End of interview, any last words of wisdom? Follow your dreams and make the best out of this life! Peace Out Billy Interview with: Rob Dunlop, Writer of Tozzer! Interviewed by: Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Universe Online! Question: Tell us something personal about yourself, your family life, schools you attended. Heck, maybe something about your first girlfriend! Ok, some random facts. I read psychology at university, but quit after six months to become an artist. Then I studied illustration for four years, and when I left art school I decided to become a writer. So all in all, my adult education was thoroughly pointless, but I did get to drink a lot of beer. I don't remember much about my first girlfriend. We fumbled a lot. Right now I'm carefree and single, with no kids that I'm aware of. Question: For readers not familiar with Tozzer, what is this comic book about? Tozzer is an irreverent comedy, set in Hollywood, packed with celebrities and movie spoofs. Put South Park and Naked Gun in a blender, and then throw in the Farrelly Brothers and some ice cream. You might not understand Tozzer any better, but you'd have an extremely nutritious smoothie. Question: Who are the main characters in Tozzer? There are three central characters. Tozzer is the hero of the book. He was brought up in Sh*t Creek trailer park, but travelled to Hollywood to seek his fortune. His buddy Rod is a one-armed kid who's constantly getting into trouble. And then there's Hornie, a wannabe porn star. She likes Tozzer - as much as any other guy in her immediate vicinity. Question: How did you come up with the concept of Tozzer? Around three years ago, I was chatting to the artist, Peter Lumby. We were sick of all the Harry Potter hype, so we figured it was ripe for a satirical shafting. However, we wanted to create something with enduring appeal, so we decided not to focus exclusively on the boy wizard. The name "Tozzer" is supposed to indicate the cheeky/adult nature of the book, but it also sounds a bit like "Potter". Kind of. In Tozzer 2, we've moved away from the Potter parody. We're targeting the people, movies and issues which either touch us profoundly or make us laugh hysterically. For legal reasons, I can't name any of our targets. But please don't show Tozzer 2 to Michael Moore, Michael Jackson, or George Lucas. Question: What cons will you be attending? We're in the UK, so getting to the American cons is tricky. We were at the UK's Bristol festival in May, and we'll be at the London festival on October 23rd. Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? Ok, sales of comics are not what they once were. But I see a vibrant, exciting arena for putting out ideas, not something which is in terminal decline. New writers/artists can break into the industry relatively quickly, and with little investment. I don't think the same can be said of film, the theatre or traditional book publishing. For creators, it's a fantastic medium. Question: What is your website address? www.tozzer.com Question: How can someone contact you? http://www.tozzer.com/contact/contact.htm Question: Where can we purchase back issues of Tozzer? You can order the first graphic novel from your local comic shop. If you're in the US, the order code is STAR17209 - in the UK it's STAR73203. Question: What other comic books will be published by Ablaze Media? For starters, there's Tozzer 3, which will be another mini-series debuting next year. Then, hopefully more Tozzers after that. Hollywood is an everlasting source of material for us. But right now I'm working on something different, an "adventure comedy" which is maybe reminiscent of The Goon, Hellboy or The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Peter Lumby will also be the artist on this. Then I'll be writing a horror title and a futuristic thriller, before I get stuck into Tozzer 3. At the moment, everything I write is intended for publication by Ablaze Media, with Pete collaborating. We'll be bringing in more artists over the coming months. Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring and why? I'd bring the three members of Destiny's Child. Because I'd get pretty horny during those long, hot days -- and their tuneless warbling would help dampen my libido. Question: What recreational activities do you enjoy? Scuba diving, jet skiing, snowboarding, base jumping and inventing fantasy lifestyles which disguise my true nature as a pale indoor type. Question: What books do you read or have read? I no longer read novels. I can't enter another fictional world for that length of time, while I'm trying to create a world of my own in my writing. It's too much for my poor brain to handle. Oh, but I did read the Harry Potter books (that last one needed serious editing). Question: What comic books do you read now? I pick stuff up at random, rather than follow any one title on a monthly basis. Some of my recent favourites include The Goon, The Walking Dead, Bear and Street Angel. Question: What movies, cartoons, TV shows do you enjoy? I don't watch a lot of TV, but I do admire well-written comedies. Friends, The Simpsons and South Park have impressed me in the past, due to the quality of the gags. The Office was huge over here, but I never really got into it. I watch most movies on DVD, as opposed to at the cinema - unless there's something I think should be in Tozzer. Cinemas seem more and more pointless as home technology improves, but that's another topic of conversation! I did go see Spiderman 2, which was good - better than the first one. I'm generally a fan of gangster movies and anything with a healthy dose of black humour. "Happiness" was funny. "Along came Polly" was not. Question: What kind of hobbies do you have? I collect dust. Question: Off the wall question...ever experienced anything of the paranormal? Yes. I saw the Exorcist for the first time recently, and the scary parts had been mysteriously removed by what I can only assume was a malevolent spirit. Question: If there was a Tozzer movie, who would be playing the character parts? Tozzer: Morgan Freeman Rod: Max Von Sydow Hornie: Judie Dench Some CGI might be required to make them look eleven. But we've already talked to Morgan, and he's keen. Question: End of interview, any last words of wisdom? Stay out of trouble. Interview with: Rich Stahnke, Creator of Furious Fist of the Drunken Monkey! Interviewed by Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Universe Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Question: Tell us something personal about yourself. Maybe where you were born, something about your family background, schools you attended, etc. I was born and raised in North Carolina and still reside there. I have a BA in Sociology from North Carolina State University. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? I'm not sure of the first I ever read, but my parents bought comics for my brother and me when we were very young and I learned to read with comics. I do still have an old Marvel reprint western comic featuring the Two Gun Kid that I had as a little kid. It was bought of the newsstand and it's cover dated from 1974. Of course, the cover itself fell off many years ago. I clearly remember carrying that book around before I actually knew what the words for the stories were. Question: What were your favorite comic books growing up? Around 1978 or 1979, I bought issues 126 and 127 of Uncanny Xmen at a convenience store and I was hooked. That was the height of the Claremont/Byrne era. Through the 80s I read the Xmen, Teen Titans, Daredevil, Swamp Thing and Batman. Question: For readers unfamiliar with Furious Fist of the Drunken Monkey, can you brief us about the storyline? The title character is Chip. He's a down on his luck chimpanzee who'd rather sit around drinking beer than go to work. He has a sidekick who's a toad and they both can talk. Apparently they are the only known talking animals in their world, but most people take him in stride and pay his talking no mind. The first issue tells how Chip comes to possess a ring, of alien origin. Chip doesn't realize it at first, but the ring has the ability to transform into a power gauntlet (hence the furious fist) that enhances his natural speed, strength, and agility. He goes on to have his first experience using the glove, as he attempts to stop an attack by The Gene Gnome and his genetically altered henchmen. It's a comedy with some comic book type action. Question: What inspired you to create F.F.O.T.D.M? I've been drawing and creating characters all my life. For this one, the idea started with the title. I thought of the title and then worked my way backward to figure out what would be in a book with that name. Once I started hashing it out, I became affectionate of the characters and started concentrating on them. People who saw the drawings and I told about it, responded well to it so I continued developing the idea. Question: What other projects are in store for you? I'm currently working on the next issue of FFOTDrunken Monkey. I also take small breaks to work on occasional pin ups and cover ideas for other books. Question: Do you have a website and if you do, what is the URL address? I do have a small personal web site, which I'm in the process of revamping. The best place to get news and updates, plus preview material is www.morpheusforge.com. Morpheus Forge Entertainment is a group that I am a member of. It's not really a studio, but a group of creative people who mainly work in comics. Question: Tell us something about the main characters of FFOTDM. The title character is Chip. Chip is a talking chimpanzee who can't hold down a job and loves to hang out in bars and drink the day away. He has a toad sidekick, named Al, who goes everywhere with him. They're both outcasts, in that they're both talking animals in a world where that isn't the norm. The reason Chip can talk is a story coming later, but Al is a brilliant scientist trapped in the toad body due to an experiment gone awry. Question: How can somebody contact you? I can be emailed at stahnke@mindspring.com. Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why? A boat, a wireless laptop, and a flare gun. Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? Comics may not be seeing the level of sales that they were a few years ago, but I think it's encouraging to see the variety of titles available and the fact that comics seem to be getting a little more respect and coverage by mainstream media outlets. Question: What cons are you going to? I attended HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC in June. I'm hitting the Comicon International in San Diego, in July. I'm considering going to Baltimore in the fall and next spring I want to go to PittCon. Question: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites? I love the Simpsons and they inspire a lot of my humor for the book. I used to watch the X-Files all the time. I don't watch a lot of TV regularly right now. Question: What books do you read? The last couple books I read were Digital Fortress by Dan Brown and Diary by Chuck Pahliunk (spelling on that? Its the guy who wrote Fight Club). Question: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? Drawing and writing. Question: What comic books do you read now? I buy Daredevil, Powers, Astonishing Xmen, Trailerpark of Terror, Digital Webbing Presents, Batman, Liberty Meadows. Question: If FFOTDM became a Hollywood movie, who would play the character parts and why? I think the leads would be CGI creations. I think maybe Jack Black could do the voice of Chip. Question: That ends the interview, any last words of wisdom? Follow the golden rule and treat others the way you want to be treated. Show a little respect. Monkeys are funny. Buy my book. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [7] My Life With Comic Books Paul Howley pmca@together.net [My name is Paul Howley, owner of the Eisner Award winning pop culture collector's store known as "That's Entertainment" in Worcester, Massachusetts. Some people have called me the "luckiest man in the comic book business". My store has been around for over twenty three years and it's been a long and interesting combination of events and people that has brought my store to its current place. It is not my intent to boast or brag about my store or my life .I just want to tell you my story. See more about the store online at http://www.thatse.com ] Cast of Characters: Paul: age 38 Mal: my wife Adam: my son Cassy: my daughter Brian: an artist and my friend MY LIFE WITH COMIC BOOKS: THE HISTORY OF A COMIC SHOP - Part 87 After I finally forced myself to make the time available to help Brian finish photographing the toys that we wanted to include in our new product, 'Classic Toys Trading Cards,' we worked hard to write the descriptions for the backs of the cards while our good friend, Mark Marderosian, did the finishing touches on his computer layout of the final set of sixty-six cards. Mark also designed a full-color advertising flyer that we had our old printing friends at 'Associated Printers' of Grafton, North Dakota, print up for us. We sent these to 'Diamond Comic Distributors' so they could include these with the next order form that would be sent to almost every comic book specialty store in the United States, Canada, and England. I found a printer in 'up-state' New York who was able to print the cards in large sheets and then cut them into individual trading cards. To complete the project, they would put seven random cards into a foil package and put thirty-six of these packages into a box. The box would then be shrink-wrapped and twenty of these boxes would be put into one case. We sent the printer the computer disk with the sixty-six card fronts and backs on it so he could assemble these into the large un-cut sheet format. He produced a 'proof- sheet' for Brian and I to review before the cards were to be printed. I remember our excitement when we received this 'proof-sheet!' The cards looked great. We carefully looked at each card to be sure that there were no spelling errors and to be sure that the front of the cards matched the backs of the cards. When we were satisfied that everything was correct, we called the printer and gave him the permission to print the cards. I brought the 'proof- sheet' home to show my family. My fourteen-year old son, Adam, looked over the large sheet and said, 'Dad, why are there two Paul McCartney cards?' ARRRGGGGH! Somehow Brian and I had both missed this error! Luckily, we were able to contact the printer just before he printed the cards and he corrected his mistake. My agreement with Brian was that I would put up all of the money to produce these cards and he would be the main artistic guy. We'd then split any proceeds evenly. It was now time for me to send the printer the $42,000. Thirty days later we received the three hundred cases of 'Classic Toys Trading Cards.' We shipped out the cases that were pre-ordered through the comic book distributors and we began to enjoy the favorable reviews that the trading card publications wrote about our new product. Within a few months we had my original investment back and we still had about one hundred cases of cards left. Unfortunately, the trading card market was 'crashing' and the interest in our product faded. Over time, we eventually made a modest profit on these cards and this remains as the product I'm most proud of. For a couple of guys with no professional experience, we produced an excellent set of cards. Next chapter: Hey, Hey, It's Davy Jones from The Monkees! _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [8] LINES ON PAPER Bruce Canwell bruce.canwell@verizon.net [Freelance writer Bruce Canwell is a New England native who has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics. His essays have appeared in TOMORROW SF, THE CORTLAND REVIEW, COMIC BOOK WEEK, the PORTSMOUTH (NH) PRESS, and AMAZING HEROES. In the summer he is often found at Fenway Park; in the winter, he enjoys playing high-stakes poker against really dumb opponents.] Installment 29: Three Views of Buffalo Books View # 1: Fred and Ed at the Wheel & Denise in the Trunk I was back in the comics journalism game with a vengeance mere months after Fantagraphics's AMAZING HEROES magazine folded in the summer of 1992. Before the first November snowfall kissed New England earth, I was hired by a fellow named Ed Polgardy to write for a fledgling newspaper-about-comics being published by Buffalo Books. This venture was owned by Fred Greenberg, the impresario of Great Eastern Conventions who (as he once described himself) "had an extra $30,000 to play with and decided to try publishing." This was one of the rare times in my life when I successfully "networked:" Ed contacted me because we share a mutual friend, and I was at least partially responsible for connecting Ed with my amigos, Doug Thornsjo and Tom Field, who brought their own considerable talents to the periodical Fred would launch as COMIC BOOK WEEK. Doug had previously written a number of think-pieces for the COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE (today, you can find Doug's on-line comic strip QUIRK at www.uninets.net/~thornsjo/files/fresca.html), and Tom was a full- time (non-comics) journalist who had also written issue # 389 of INCREDIBLE HULK (he recently completed a TOMB OF DRACULA retrospective for issue # 6 of BACK ISSUE magazine; watch for it!). The freelance pool also boasted my former AMAZING HEROES editor, Tom Harrington, making Buffalo Books an even more comfortable fit for me. Fred and Ed offered a pretty good gig: my friends and I were the freelance nucleus of a new publication, Fred's convention connections meant we had access to the phone numbers of just about anyone in the comics business (this in the days when e-mail was far less prevalent than today), and COMIC BOOK WEEK paid well. I no longer recall Fred's rates for freelancers, but I know I cashed cheques totaling well over a thousand bucks for my CBW work. That's a sizable boost over the $10 per review I made at AMAZING HEROES! The Buffalo Books staff was uniformly professional, a pleasure to deal with: CBW had an urbane graphics designer who came with a cool name, Rolf Saint-Agnes. The assistant editor was a young lady who seemed to be the group's organizer and designated Level-Headed Thinker, Denise Trunk. Ed and Fred truly valued our work and our input; Fred especially solicited our thoughts, opinions, and companionship. He drove up to the Field home in New Hampshire to meet with Doug, Tom, and me and discuss his plans for Buffalo Books (and yak about comics in general). Tom and I met Fred in Boston months later, and also made a couple trips to the spacious New Jersey house he lived in during the early '90s. Fred needed all that space: aside from providing elbow room for his family and convention business, he turned several rooms into production space for Buffalo Books and also stored the plethora of pop culture products he owned. I recall one time Fred showed us a huge stack of recently-purchased Alex Toth production drawings for Hanna-Barbera; another time, Tom and I stumbled across the first several issues of ROLLING STONE, which had been leather-bound and forgotten about until we unearthed them. If memory serves, that was the same visit when Fred gave us copies of the issue of Archie's PEP COMICS in which he and his daughters appear as characters. COMIC BOOK WEEK debuted with an April 2, 1993 issue: 12 tabloid- size newsprint pages for $1.00. Thirteen issues later, after expanding to 28 pages for that same dollar, CBW suspended publication with its June 25th edition, done in by the notion there was no need to buy a comics newspaper when COMIC SHOP NEWS was available in most places free of charge. During its brief existence, CBW presented a wide spectrum of journalism, reviews, and columns. Issue # 3 devoted almost half its space to Tom Field's examination of censorship and comics, which featured interviews with Gary (Eros Comics) Groth, cat yronwode, Rick Veitch, and Steve Bissette.-- Doug Thornsjo served up a thoughtful critique of UNDERSTANDING COMICS and a follow-up interview with its author, Scott McCloud --Tom & Mary Bierbaum provided a lengthy LEGION/LEGIONNAIRES piece in issue # 9 -- Jean-Marc Lofficier, Gerard Jones, and Roy Thomas provided rotating columns -- Clifford Meth covered the revival of Marvel's MORBIUS in the 7th issue -- Dan DiDio provided an extensive look at the Kubert School in # 8 and a Jae Lee interview in the inaugural issue. Rick Parker contributed a regular gag-panel cartoon, "Fanboy," and Grass Green produced a continuity strip, "Crime-Crasher!" A handful of CBW's covers were rendered with panache by Brian Buniak. And me? What did I do to earn a chunk of Fred's money? My major claim to fame was a 30,000-word series titled "1993: The State of The Comics Industry," one segment of which ran in each of CBW's first ten issues. The series started by examining the "players" within the industry, breaking them down into three constituent groups: Creators (including publishers), Suppliers (distributors & retailers), and Consumers (from casual buyers to collectors to fanatics). Next week we examined Creators' Rights, then spent two weeks considering the Marketplace and ways it was being manipulated. Part 5 provided a look at the Merchandising of comics properties, followed by two segments spotlighting the upcoming projects of everyone from Marvel and DC to such now- vaporized publishers as Malibu and Kitchen Sink. Part 8 examined the state of comics Retailing, Part 9, Distribution (this before Diamond came to monopolize the industry). Part 10 offered closing thoughts from myself and many of the persons I had interviewed for the series. And there were plenty of interviews! Starting in January of 1993, I conducted over two dozen "State of The Industry" phone interviews, dealing with everyone Capital City Distribution's Milton Griepp to Dark Horse's Randy Stradley, from Dwayne McDuffie (then at Milestone) to Jim Salicrup of Topps. I spoke with four different retailers, literally from Maine to California. I solicited the opinions of Erik Larsen, Denis Kitchen, John Romita Jr, and then-President of Marvel Terry Stewart. This was a time-intensive process: I prepped for each interview, taped them as I conducted them, transcribed them myself (transcription is NOT one of my strong suits!) -- and then I was ready to start writing. As the series began to take shape, I determined what I wanted to say about the business, picked apart each interview to figure out which quotes belonged in which part of the series, and then had to type up the quotes and weave them into my own text. I needed to shape each part of the series into a cohesive work, but I also wanted each part to add to the breadth and scope of the overall series so the whole would be greater than the sum of its parts. It was fun while it lasted, and our time with Fred actually outlived COMIC BOOK WEEK. More about that next time. END INSTALLMENT 29 _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [9] Thoughts From the Land of Frost Alex Ness Alexander@popthought.com [Alex has taught college level history and is a full time father. His interests include cats, comics and militaria. His writings have been featured on SlushFactory.com, UGO.com, and are currently on the Popthought.com web site. ] Comics are fun Share the fun By Alex Ness Do you share comics? If not why not? I got to read a bunch of comics when I lived with my best male pal in college and we both shared what we liked. Also my beloved brother in law and I shared comics and he and I still read them and talk about them. Now you do not always enjoy what your buddies read but you will never know if you do not try. Also I have a habit of buying any good series I find in the cheapo bins. Giving it to a potential fan means that I might grow the industry and perhaps have another friend to talk comics with. Here is a fun site for sharing comics and while I cannot guarantee all trades, I suspect you can have a lot of fun there. I lift my copies of Infinity Inc and Knights of Pendragon in tribute to my pals, Russ Stewart and Phil Wallace, you guys rock. You know when you become a connoisseur life can get worse. You do not believe me? When I first tried sushi I liked nearly everything I tried. I was very easy to please. As my lovely wife Beth and I ventured deep into sushi restaurants my tastes became very defined. There was no amount of sushi variety platter that would thrill me. When I went into collectors mode of comicdom no amount or variety of comics, did not please me. Even bad comics could be appreciated as stinkery, like most Godzilla movies. Cheese quality could be good because a 50c comic was cheap and you could read it for 15 minutes or, 3 cents a minute. But now while I read a lot of comics I enjoy only a few. That means I read and appreciate some great comics, but there are only a few I read for pleasure above all. You probably might think then why review, well of course I know my biases from the start and usually ditch them at the door. I have reviewed favorably comics I would not buy nor did I "enjoy" but the quality was there. I have also reviewed with only modest grades comics I love because the level had noticeably dipped but I still enjoyed the book. So what I am trying to say I guess is that you should linger in the geek mode, enjoy what you read watch or play to the highest degree. Then celebrate when you graduate towards a more critical or mature view of the fandom you exist within. The more critical you are is good, as your enjoyment is that much more intense and deep. Once again this is a review column and I am thankful for all the comics submitted for review. From Alternative Comics: SAM HENDERSON'S MAGIC WHISTLE #9 WRITER/ARTIST: Sam Henderson So a guy is trapped by a boulder and tells his dog to go and tell his wife help and that he loves her. The dog crosses country, moving heaven and earth and finally arrives to tell the wife, and explodes. He was an exploding dog you know. This is a funny collection of silly, slightly dirty but always amusing cartoon strips. Some are in color, and there is a bit of commentary by the artist. There is a great deal of laughs here, and if you like your comics a bit nutty and raunchy then check this out. HI-HORSE OMNIBUS Work by assorted talent Edited by Arey, Arp, Reilly, & Som I tend not to like Anthologies. It is rarely because of the assorted work, it is more about the compilation's lack of focus. Unfortunately, I do not enjoy most compilations with a theme either. So I think that it is about the many hands at work that confuses/distracts me. There wasn't a stinker amongst the many stories here though, and I did enjoy the Gabrielle Bell story a great deal. In this collection the many stories and themes including: sucked into the television, monsters, spending time with father, a search for a working bathroom, a stranded pirate, and the miserableness of quitting smoking. Hi-Horse introduces a new generation of 18 comics innovators in this collection and I offer this work with my recommendations and an acknowledgment of my own limitations of the format of anthology. From AVATAR: Warren Ellis' Strange Killings: Body Orchard TPB Writer: Warren Ellis Artist: Mike Wolfer Due to unfortunate regrettably public notice of activities, Sergeant Major William Gravel was sent off to solo deniable duties. Before this Gravel was part of a spectacularly effective SAS team Alpha One Four. This series searches into William Gravel's strangely magic past. Also he investigates questions surrounding the Body Orchard? There is a notable amount of strange and vile events in this, but when you work black ops you expect such, and when you are a combat magician well then the strange and vile factor is far higher. This moves like the movie speed, with effects like Matrix and buckets of internal organs. You might think from that description that I did not like it. Well I did not like Matrix and only sort of liked Speed I felt like this was a gory carnival ride that while it was not perfect it was good. I chuckled at some of the events, and while I realize that that was not the goal, it still made me smile. Warren Ellis has been accused by critics and "fans" of writing too many comic books, and to some degree they could be right. After all if his worst books are as good as this he is far ahead of the pack and if he writes too much there will be only Warren Ellis books on the stands. Yeah I like his writing. The art was just OK enough but I thought it told the story well. From DC: TRANSMETROPOLITAN: One More Time WRITER: Warren Ellis ARTIST: Darick Robertson The final trade collecting Warren Ellis's and Darick Robertson's towering TRANSMETROPOLITAN. An amazing run, herein the story following a cyberpunk gonzo journalist comes to an end. Witness the end of journalist Spider Jerusalem as he faces his final showdown with the U.S. President. Spider must race the clock and the system as he tries to take down the Smiler before a lifetime of unlimited excess catches up to him, like the ultimate Karma, in the very worst possible way. Now as my previous review revealed I like Ellis's writing and in this series there is the added treat of Darick Robertson art. So you safely assume I liked this book. But beyond what I wrote above to describe this I cannot say what went on in this book. As the final volume Ellis wrote Spider into the corner through his life, habits and goals. Spider could not help to go out in any other way, but did he or did he not complete his, self described mission? I ain't telling. But I must say that after following this series for 5 years I felt ... satisfied by the ending. If you read the series but have not collected the trades I think you ought to buy this, because there is a far greater sweep of story as the arc reads in one powerful hour. If you never read the series this is not the one to pick up. It is the one you should avoid most. Ellis worked a tapestry and strikes in the end with a huge bang. Read the series. Buy the trades. From Wildstorm/ABC: TERRA OBSCURA TPB WRITERS: Alan Moore & Peter Hogan ARTIST: Yanick Paquette The writer Alan Moore made it clear when working on his imprint ABC at Wildstorm when it was an imprint of IMAGE that his work while about super powered folks that it was neither cynical nor ironic. These were straight forward stories that had a strange newness about them. I say strange because Moore was able to write in the super hero genre without obeying the many cliches that riddle it. Terra Obscura is a story about the heroes of a counter earth who seek to stop the break down of the world's technology due to a greatly powered magical being. This work evokes in homage the history of DC Comics super heroes and the infinite earths erased in the Crisis event of 1985 or there abouts. But beyond homage, this is a seriously excellent read. The dialogue and plot are top notch. The art has moments of brilliance but it is not to my taste in general. However that, this is good enough art, and beyond that this is a fine volume and I give it a large buy recommend. From Moonstone Books: MISTER MOTO #1 & 2 WRITER Rafael Nieves ARTIST Tim Hamilton My thesis for my master's degree at North Dakota State University was in part about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two. And that era and situation is where this interesting work happens. Painted upon a tapestry of real history with some fine mastery of the feelings and facts Rafael Nieves might have hit the jackpot here with me. With moody art by Tim Hamilton that looks like a 40s noirish film this could have been a perfect work for me. But it is not. The writing and the art are both good and bad in stretches. The story is intriguing but not well told, both in dialogue and story progression. The art is evocative but not clear. So the weaknesses of both talents comes through and their talents are not altogether complimentary. I often had to wonder what had just happened and while I realize this is a mystery I should have enough facts to decide what happened and I did not. I liked it, actually a lot, but this is fairly rough. REVIEW GRADES: From Alternative Comics: SAM HENDERSON'S MAGIC WHISTLE #9: B+ HI-HORSE OMNIBUS #1: B- Avatar: Warren Ellis' Strange Killings: Body Orchard TPB : B+ DC: TRANSMETROPOLITAN: One More Time TPB: A- From DC/ABC: TERRA OBSCURA TPB: A- From Moonstone Books: MISTER MOTO #1 & 2: C+ Alexander Ness The Land Of Frost Box 142 Rockford MN 55373-0142 ONLINE ARCHIVES: http://www.popthought.com/archives.asp?CMID=3 http://www.robingoodfellow.com/tftlof.html http://www.slushfactory.com/columns/an/ http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem 'Everything on earth is soon forgotten, except the opinion we leave imprinted upon history.' Napoleon, 27 November 1802, (to General Leclerc) _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [10] E-DISPATCHES FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH! Jonathan A. Gilbert edispatches@hotmail.com [Jonathan A. Gilbert is a freelance writer whose work can be found in comics and other publications. This column can be found online at www.twmgrafix.com or here on CBEM] DONAR: GOD OF WAR Vol. 1 No. 2 June 2004. StarVerse Comics. 32 pages (including covers) black and white small press comic. Cover art, art and story by Ryan Crouse. $3.00 U.S., $3.50 Canadian. Includes shipping and handling. As long as I've been a comics fan I've been a fan and avid supporter of small press comics which, many moons ago, used to be referred to as fanzines. As well as being the place where the pros of tomorrow more often than not get their start small press publications are where a fair amount of experimentation goes on with regards to story and art. When I review small press comics I take into consideration the fact that the publication, while innovative and just plain fun to read, are not at the same level of professionalism as the slicker comics. There are some obvious exceptions of course-most noteably the gone but not forgotten Blue Moon Comics Group-but for the most part the creators are just starting out and need to be encouraged as much as possible. Having said that let's get to the issue at hand; Donar: God of War Vol. 1 No. 2. StarVerse Comics-and its sole creator Ryan Crouse-has been publishing comics for a few years now with varying levels of success. The first issue of Donar: God of War was a fun read while HERO VS. VILLAIN had a lot to be desired. This latest offering from StarVerse/Crouse is the best I've seen so far from this publisher. Continuing the storyline from the previous issue Crouse fills in a lot of the holes from last time and Crouse's artwork continues to improve; particularly his inking. He is still a tad heavy on the blacks though but he definitely does now make better use of shading. And as with all the StarVerse titles Crouse has a particular vision as to how the panel layouts should be done which I've always enjoyed. He's willing to experiment in that area and that's definitely a good thing. All in all DONAR: GOD OF WAR Vol.1 No. 2 is a fun, enjoyable small press comic. My only real complaint is the price. For a small press comic it is a tad expensive in my view. Still, it's work taking a look at and if you'd like to order it or any of the Donar titles you can find out how by visiting http://starverse.dwnonline.com . Ryan Crouse can be emailed at star_verse@hotmail.com. Next time out I'll be reviewing Chimera Arts' THE COMPLETE SAGA OF THE VICTIMS tpb and in E-Dispatches #22 I'll be talking about the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles. Talk with you again. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Vol.4 and TALES OF THE TMNT Vol.2. Published by Mirage Studios. An overview. You all know the story of how Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird came up with the idea of four young heroes in half shells back in 1983 while watching television and how the 3,000 copies of the first issue of the black and white Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles published a year later grew into a cultural titalwave by 1989 which included toys, cartoons, full color comics and even, eventually, a couple of movies? While TMNT isn't quite as big in the public eye as it was in those wild and crazy days they are still pretty darn popular with not only a new cartoon series (appearing in Fox Kids in the U.S. and Teletoon in Canada) but lots of other neat stuff besides. There is also a new black and white TMNT comic from Mirage which made its debut with a December 2001 cover date and has been appearing for some sixteen plus issues. While Kevin Eastman is no longer a part of the lives of those little green guys Peter Laird continues to produce TMNT comics that are just as exciting as they were when they first hit the stands. If by the way when you think of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in comics form you think of the Archie Comic Publications version you probably regard TMNT strictly for young kids. Think again. While the Archie version of the Turtles-which were based on the original cartoon series-were fun to read they were in many ways not true to the original vision of the series. The Eastman/Laird version is far more complex in both character development and storyline and Peter Laird has continued this approach with his latest venture into the Turtleverse. I could tell you about the current storyline Laird has developed since Vol. 4 began but I would rather recommend everyone pick up the series and find out for themselves. I can though tell you that the Turtles are now in their thirties and in many ways have to deal with situations in their lives that 30 plus adults have to deal with including death. There also too is lots of neat stuff like aliens, superheroes and talking dinosaurs all done in the usual TMNT fashion. This series is a definite must read as is its companion title, TALES OF TMNT. TALES OF TMNT is written by Steve Murphy who not only has written TMNT stories in the past but is also one of the two creators behind the gone but not forgotten Puma Blues series. TALES OF TMNT basically deals with never before revealed events in the past lifes of the Turtles and their supporting cast making for some interesting reading. Up to this point there have been three plus issues of TALES OF TMNT. Now, before I tell you how to get a hold of back issues of TMNT and TALES OF TMNT I also want to recommend that you take a look at the new cartoon series. Unlike the original the current series is much closer to the original vision with a bit of an edge to it as well. Kids can still enjoy it but it definitely is aimed at a wider audience. So, if you'd like to check out what's going on in the Tutleverse these days you have one of two ways to go. First, check with your local comics shop to see if they have any back issues. If they don't then visit www.ninjaturtles.com and find out how you can order each and every issue of TMNT Vol. 4 and TALES OF TMNT Vol. 2. These are top notch series, folks. Don't miss them. Well, I've yet again run out of stuff to review so if anyone has anything they'd like to see covered in this column simply mail it to me at...Jonathan A. Gilbert/2-225 Colborne St./Box 10/Port Stanley, Ontario/N5L 1C2/Canada. Jonathan A. Gilbert is a freelance writer whose work can be found in comics, newspaper, magazines, fanzines and online. This column appears in Comic Book Emag which is located at http://members.aol.com/ComicBknet and at its homepage located at www.twmgrafix.com/edispatch/default.htm . Jonathan can be emailed at edispatches@hotmail.com. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [11] O'Shea's Offhand Opinions Tim O'Shea timmito@yahoo.com [Tim O'Shea is an interviewer for www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com These reviews are prepared exclusively for CBEM.] Birds of Prey 70 (DC) Maybe the utter abuse of Sue Dibny has me overly sensitive. While I love Simone's approach to BoP, I just feel that the characters have been on the defensive and essentially been the victims of abuse rather than heroes over the past several months. Babs Gordon in her present state is a victim, not the Oracle powerhouse constructed by Kim Yale and John Ostrander. Maybe Identity Crisis 2 (DC) Google "O'Shea + Meltzer" and pretty quick you'll be reminded how immensely I respect Brad's abilities. So it pains me to say this story is beneath his talents. I will not be buying issue 3. Sexual abuse trumps murder in Meltzer's effort to build suspense in this story. No District X 3 (Marvel) This book reminds me of Morrison's X-Men run-average storytelling falsely elevated by supposed socially relevant trappings. It gets me from point A to point B and through the entire journey of reading I'm bored. No Captain America 29 (Marvel) Kirkman, Eaton and Geraci are the ideal Cap creative team. It's visual and adventure ecstasy to a certain extent, but unfortunately the creators are saddled by this infernal Bendis Avengers Dissassembled malarkey. It's 50 percent incredible story bogged down by continuity/event marketing crap. No 4/Marvel Knights 7 I really love Aquirre-Sacasa's take on the family, particularly the dry wit of Reed. McNiven's art only makes the read that much more enjoyable. Yes JSA 63 (DC) I think Johns wants to write a Dr. Fate book, judging by this issue. I'm not complaining, but the Hourman/Rex subplot is dragging waaay too long. Yes Gotham Central 21 (DC) The series is running on fumes with this arc, to a certain extent. But no matter what, Brubaker's characters are immensely more three-dimensional than the average comic book. Yes Challengers of the Unknown 2 (DC) Chaykin's need to incorporate the talking heads element to this seemingly cumbersome tale bogs the work down further than it need be to work effectively. No Bloodhound 1 (DC) Jolley's writing clearly excels here, outside of restricting editorial mandates (such as with Firestorm). The fact that the art team of Kirk and Riggs have evolved to an even higher level of talent makes this book a must buy. Yes Fables 27 (Vertigo) A quirky read in the midst of a fairly quirky series. But you won't hear me complaining. Yes Nightwing 95 (DC) Grayson's grasp of the lead character slipped away somewhere in the middle of the Blockbuster arc. This issue does little to restore my faith in her ability to regain it. No Bite Club 4 (Vertigo) The coloring used in this book is in the same vein as the DC/Focus line (pastel washes). Bottom line: It stinks. It saps the energy out of Hahn's pencils and makes the book unmemorable for me. No Books of Magick: Life During Wartime 1 (Vertigo) An endorsement from Gaiman on the cover doesn't sway me. Ormston's pencils on this project leave me cold in the way Ted McKeever did years ago on that horrible Doom Patrol run. No Robin 128 (DC) Is DC editorial just making the books so bad everyone will beg for Dixon to return. As great as Willingham is in Fables, his Batman is one of the most stilted pieces of mischaracterization I've read since Chuck Austen's X-Men. No Adventures of Superman 630 (DC) Rucka writes one of the funkiest Mxyzptlk tales I've ever read. It's a goofiness I didn't think Rucka capable of pulling off, and Matthew Clark's pencils are just icing on the odd tasting cake. Yes Justice League Elite 1 (DC) Makes me appreciate Austen's JLA. That's not a compliment. No Flash 212 (DC) Johns loves the Rogues and his ability to write them makes me love it when he focuses on them. Yes Outsiders 14 This Fearsome Five arc doesn't pack the punch that Winick's past arcs have for me. No JLA 101 I wish Garney's pencils were being utilized on a more interesting story. More Austen shoehorning odd continuity quirks in established characters so he can tell his tale. No Action Comics 817 Austen's been surprising me and delivering solid tales with this series...until this issue. No Spider-Man (Marvel Knights) Having interviewed Millar about this book, I can honestly say the hype doesn't match the product. He delivers a conclusion to the first four-part arc with more dangling plotlines/questions than Chris Claremont has on a good day. No Pulse 4 (Marvel) Bendis' grasp of Ben Urich is the lamest since Ann Nocenti. No The Incredible Hulk 74 (Marvel) As bad as Jones is writing of Tony Stark, it still tops the worst Tony since the teenage Tony of years ago, the current Avengers Dissembled junk. Even then, this arc fizzled on me. No Identity Disc 2 (Marvel) Not anywhere as offensive as DC's Identity Crisis, but not that interesting either. And Rodi's normally a better storyteller than this work. No Iron Man 86 (Marvel) If Buckley and company find this to be solid storytelling I worry for the future of Marvel. It's boring rehashes of old Stark character flaws...again. No She-Hulk 5 (Marvel) This is the She-Hulk that Byrne couldn't deliver, a proper balance of comics and drama. Slott's approach works and I hope it's around for a long time. Yes _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [12] Suspended Animation Michael Vance MiklVance2@worldnet.att.net [Michael Vance was first published in The Professor's Story Hour chapbook at the age of eleven and became a professional freelance writer in 1977. Vance has been published in dozens of regional magazines and as a syndicated columnist and cartoonist in over 500 newspapers. Among his credits are: "Forbidden Adventure: The History of the American Comics Group," articles for "Starlog," "Jack & Jill" & "Star Trek: The Next Generation". He briefly wrote the comic strip, "Alley Oop" and his own strip for five years called "Holiday Out," that was reprinted as a comic book. Vance also wrote comic book titles including "Straw Men," "Angel of Death," "The Adventures of Captain Nemo," and "Bloodtide". His work has appeared in several comic book anthologies, and he is listed in the "Who's Who of American Comic Books" and "Comic Book Superstars". With novelists Mel Odom and R.A. Jones, he co-wrote "Global Star". He worked in newspapers for twenty-two years as an editor, writer and advertising manager, creating three successful newspaper magazines. Michael Vance is currently communications director of a nonprofit agency, the Tulsa Boys' Home, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a Christian] The PreHistory of The Far Side: A 10th Anniversary Exhibit by Gary Larson/published at $12.95 in 1989, 288 pgs, trade paperback from Andrews and McMeel/available at garage sales and on-line auctions. God bless garage sales and the sister-in-law who buys books for me, especially comic strip anthologies of The Far Side. I mean, c'mon, what's not to love about a single panel cartoon of insects facing a movie screen. The title of the movie is "Return of the Killer Windshield". Then there's the moose sitting with a can of beer in front of a TV. With a telephone cupped in one hoof, his wife says "It's the call of the wild". Who can forget Tarzan's ex-pression as he swings with his legs crossed from his tree-house to his tree-outhouse. There are hundreds of these simple doodles in The PreHistory of The Far Side, many in color. There are other wonderful delights as well. What's to not love about an art style that makes you think that you could draw Larson's stuff. Beautiful simplicity. Looks like its drawn on a cocktail napkin by someone not completely sober. And yet it works. There's a delightful section about Far Side cartoons that were un-comprehensible. I knew I wasn't the only one who didn't understand them. There is a revealing section on how Larson developed some of his off-the-wall ideas. I felt normal after reading it, and not many people think of me as normal. There is a wonderful collection of cartoons that got Larson in trouble, and a sampling of Larson's favorite Far Side panels. In short, this anthology is not only a terrific collection of one of the best comic strips ever produced, it is a tour inside Gary Larson's mind. Scary, but good scary. Fun scary. No, no, no. Great scary. This stuff is so good that you'll almost like your sister-in- law. This anthology is highly recom-mended, even if you have to buy it retail. MV 1) What is a graphic novel? 2) If "NBM became America's first graphic novel publisher" in 1976, how can Will Eisner's A Contract With God (1978/Baronet) be the first graphic novel? If you are interested in answers, you wont find them in Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Rise of the Graphic Novel. The Rise... is an essay on the short history of the graphic novel and the relatively long history of comic strips and books, the grandparent and parent of author Stephen Weiner's subject. 1a) One would think that Weiner would define the subject of his essay. But, in his defense, the definitions of the much older short story, novel, comic strip and comic book were only recently codified. Graphic novels are very young. 2b) The discrepancy in who was the first publisher and first graphic novel is impossible for this reviewer to resolve. There are other discrepancies. As example, it's difficult to understand why books about comics are included in an essay about graphic novels. But discrepancies do abound in The Rise... Will Eisner is a comics genius and deserves inclusion. Jules Feiffer (Tantrum), Wendy and Richard Pini (Elfquest), Alan Moore and Steve Bissette (Swamp Thing), Art Spiegelman (Maus), Neil Gaiman (Sandman) and others also played roles in the increasing popularity of the graphic novel. It's equally true that a single story told in a single volume adds nuances to comics that are difficult or impossible to achieve in a daily comic strip. But there the praise ends. Drum roll. Announcing an editorial comment that has nothing to do with The Rise... Graphic novels are not better than comic strips or books. They are simply different. They should be welcomed into the comics family, but should replace no family member. The Rise... is recommended for those curious about graphic novels. MV Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Rise of the Graphic Novel/80 pg. hardback, $14.95 from NBM/ available at www.ebmpublishing.com, and comic and bookstores. For a list of Vance's stories and comics, query MiklVance@Yahoo.com. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [13] Silva Shado Reviews Sarah Haslett silva_shado@yahoo.com [Known as Silva Shado on many boards, Sarah is most frequently found at HeroRealm.com and MightyMiniCon.com. She is a reviewer, moderator and columnist for both sites. At MightyMiniCon, her column "Under the Radar" looks at those comics that go unnoticed by the majority of comic book readers. At HeroRealm, her column "Independent Forecast," co-written with Juan Gamez, looks at the non-spandex titles in the current Previews. Sarah has read comics off and on her whole life, but really got into comics in 2000. In September of 2003, she started reviewing after realizing that there were good comics out there that no one was paying much attention to.] The new Independent Forecast is up for July. Check out all the witty banter between Juan and me as we take a look at comics coming out in September: http://www.herorealm.com/Editorials/IF/IFJuly04.htm Advance Review: Ryki 2004 International Comic-Con Edition Writer: Chris Sawyer Penciler: Sarah Parr Publisher: AYCE Comics Going to the San Diego Comic Con? Then head over to table P8 in the Small Press Pavilion and check out the debut of Ryki! The first 50 people who buy a copy get their choice of a pre-drawn sketch from Sarah Parr or the Ryki Soundtrack. Mixing fantasy and science fiction, this comic chronicles the adventures of Ryki, a young Eeko apprentice mystic, and his struggle with the technologically advanced Teku who control every aspect of Eeko life. This digest-sized edition has the first chapter plus a lot of extras (pin-ups, character evolutions, previews, etc.). Chapter 1 is called Endings, which it is, although it is also a beginning. We see Ryki living peacefully in the forest with his master Hideaki. Everything around them looks serene as they farm a small plot of land for food and Ryki learns from his master. But it is quickly evident that everything is not right as they talk and discuss how the Teku are trying to erase every trace of Eeko culture. Ryki leaves to go to market and runs into two Teku guards. Ryki uses his mystic skills to defeat them and continues on to the market. His friend helps him with supplies and to make a quick escape when more Teku guards show up looking for Ryki. These encounters, however, do not prepare Ryki for what he finds when he gets home. The Teku in their space gear look intimidating and very out of place among the trees and the peaceful Eeko. The way they speak is equally unnatural. At first it's quite jarring, but then you get used to it and it's easier to read. For example, the first time Ryki runs into the guards, one guard says, "Well, have what we here?" Then the other guard says, "Looks like out and about again the runt is." It's a quirk that sets them even further apart from the Eeko. The first time I saw Sarah Parr's art, I fell in love with it. It's very unique, yet is reminiscent of some very popular artists including Jeff Smith (Bone), Scott Morse (Soulwind), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Mike Kunkel (Herobear and Kid), and Mike Wieringo (Tellos). As for Chris Sawyer's writing, within the first two pages, I knew these characters and felt for them. They weren't two- dimensional, but had worries, hopes, and conflicts to deal with. Sarah Parr and Chris Sawyer have crafted a very moving beginning to what could be an epic story. Don't miss out on it. If you can't make it to San Diego - don't fret. AYCE Comics will be submitting it to Diamond in regular comic book format, hopefully to be in the Previews this fall. Visit their website for more information: http://www.aycecomics.com/ Advance Review: Horatios Cold and Eye Candy SDCC 2004 Specials Creator: Sarah Parr Publisher: AYCE Comics I've seen a few mini-comics before, but I didn't think they came this small! Horatios Cold is 3" by 3 1/2" while Eye Candy is almost 3 1/2" by 5". Each mini comic is packaged in a hand-cut cardboard folder to keep it safe. The cardboard is from different cereal boxes. On the outside are glued the logo of the comic and the AYCE Comics logo. These are very cute, fun and full of Sarah Parr's unique art. Horatios Cold is actually a little story in the vein of children's picture books. Each page has a picture and the text is written in rhyme. It follows the terrible plight of Horatio the dragon who has a cold and keeps lighting things on fire when he sneezes. Thankfully, he has a good friend named Sebastian who helps him hose things off. Sebastian looks like a purple duck- billed platypus. The comic folds out and on the other side are some sketches of Horatio and Sebastian. And don't forget to follow directions! The comic reads right to left, just like manga. Eye Candy is just that - pretty art to look at. This is a portfolio of Sarah Parr's art. She has a very cute, fun style. She is really strong at drawing animals and my favorites are her dragons. I hope one day she does a larger portfolio. I'd definitely pay for a regular comic-sized compilation of her art. The catch to getting your hands on these really cool mini comics is to go to San Diego Comic Con and go to table P8 in the Small Press Pavilion where you'll find these and other cool AYCE swag including shirts, posters, stickers, bookmarks and other AYCE comics. There'll be discount deals - the more you buy, the more you save. Visit their website for more information: http://www.aycecomics.com/ _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [14] ComiX-Fan Reviews Eric J. Moreels X-Fan Editor-in-Chief x-fan@bigpond.net.au From ComiX-Fan: http://www.comixfan.com/xfan UNCANNY X-MEN #46 Reviewer: Scott Williams, yoda905@yahoo.com Quick Rating: Good Story Title: Burning Sage! The End of History, 3 of 4 Wolverine, Storm and Nightcrawler fight... SAGE?!?! Written by: Chris Claremont Pencils: Alan Davis Inks: Mark Farmer Colors: Frank D'Armata Letters: VC's Rus Wooton Assistant Editor: Moore, Sedlmeier & Ryan Editor: Mike Marts Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada Publisher: Dan Buckley "The End of History" continues to put the Uncanny X-Men title back in familiar ground, which is either good or bad depending on your viewpoint. As I see it, it's only a good thing that this book is back to doing more or less what it does best, and under the man who does it best, Chris Claremont. But we've already been over that last month, so let's get right to it. The Fury is painted here as quite a formidable foe, taking control of Sage's body and uses its connection to all the X-Men to, well, pretty much just wreak havoc. Furious Sage attacks the 3 main players on the Uncanny stage; Wolverine, Storm and Nightcrawler. The battle takes up most of the issue and I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes; yeah, yeah, an evil force takes over one of the X-Men and they have to bring themselves to fight it. Not the most original, but the Fury is at least intriguing enough of an opponent that it holds my interest. It's an adaptable techno-villain that acts as a virus, attacking everything technological in hopes of becoming the supreme information network in all the world. Well, it's good to have ambitions. In all seriousness, the Fury is a passable one-time bad guy for the X-Men. I don't see it getting involved in too many big events, but it makes for a good 4-parter so far. He makes for a good opponent, and I say that partially because it seems like it's been a year since there's been a real enemy in Uncanny X-Men. There were the rednecks in "She Lies with Angels," the legal system in "Trial of the Juggernaut," and let's not forget Kurt's father, Satan Wagner. There wasn't anything to pose a real threat to the X-Men as long as I've been reviewing the book, so it's nice to see some really good conflict with an enemy of some legitimacy. Even if he's just a whacked-out modem with a complex. So, I don't know anybody who would be blown away by this issue, but by that measure nobody's going to put it down halfway through and shake their heads. It's a very solid story based around a really good fight scene and some other good X-Men-on-the-run moments. Hey, I can remember reading fight scenes not long ago that were cluttered, confusing, nearly illegible, barely lucid, just complete and utter messes. You get a sense that the X-Men - especially Nightcrawler - aren't just having a brawl but are legitimate tacticians at hand-to-hand combat. The fight is very well scripted, and the art is quite meticulous in presenting it. Alan Davis does a fantastic job on the issue's art. I was blown away by how much better is was in this issue and the previous - not easy sinceI liked him before, too! The layouts, angles, movements, all very well rendered, you get a real sense for the moment. Kudos also go to Frank D'Armata who colours this mostly- underground story and keeps the pages quite vibrant throughout. It's really quite a job they've done here, and if you didn't notice I'd suggest you go back again and check it out. So what we're looking at here is a very good X-Men comic. Good interaction between teammates, good fights, and even a clever moment involving a misunderstanding, Storm's dress and Kurt's image-inducer. Nothing fancy or sensational, and you could argue that they're just "playing it safe," but I for one see no crime there. As long as they continue to produce books that are so worthy of my time and effort, I'll gladly continue to buy, read, and review them here. Claremond, Davis & Co have produced a fine book here and they should be proud of themselves if they can continue that for any length of time. Something tells me that we're only at the beginning of something really good. This is the X-Men I want to read. STORY: 3.5 ART: 4.0 OVERALL: 3.5 ALPHA FLIGHT #5 Reviewed By: Michael C. Fisch Quick Review: Average Story Title: You Gotta Be Kidding Me! Part 5 Alpha Flight New takes on Alpha Flight Old! Writer: Scott Lobdell Artist: Clayton Henry Inker: Mark Morales with Avalon Colors: Avalon Letterer: Richard Starkings and Comicraft Assistant Editors: Cory Sedlmeier and Stephanie Moore< Editor: Mike Marts Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada Publisher: Dan Buckley I've said it before, and I'll say it again-humor, especially in a monthly periodical like comic books, is not the easiest medium to write in. The demands to keep the laughs coming in a fresh way so it doesn't seem stale yet still advancing the storyline and character development that came before intact is a challenging feat to say the least. So it can be forgiven that Alpha Flight #5 falls a bit short of expectations this month. Writer Scott Lobdell gives a valiant effort, but there's simply too much going on this issue for the humor to really take hold. It's a unique mesh of comedy and action that succeeds on some levels but falls flat more often than not. Unfortunately, as the penultimate chapter of the series' first arc, the opportunity for Lobdell to hit a home run was there. Plotwise, there was a lot going for the story-they are embattled by a "living spaceship," There is a deception of identities that leads to an epic battle, the new team meet up with their counterparts in the old Alpha Flight, and a potentially suspenseful climax develops that leads us into the conclusion of the arc. What happens is that the events come very quickly without giving the characters an adequate time to react to them, and thus the story unfolds in a predictable and rather unfunny matter. I'm not spoiling anything by revealing the team of Alpha Flight they encounter isn't anything more than the alien Plodex- it's obvious to just about everyone (except poor Major Mapleleaf) that they are fakes. The battle quickly degenerates into a series of one-on-one fights that has no clear ending-we assume our Flight won but other than with Shaman and Snowbird, there's no evidence of it. There's some simplistic dialogue that includes some obvious errors (Puck I refers to there being 13 Alphans present, I only count 12. Also, Centennial mentions watching The View in the dayroom, when prior to Sasquatch's visit he had been in a coma for a number of yeas and had probably never even heard of The View). Puck II's constant "eh's" are fast becoming an overused joke. And the opportunity for a climactic, suspenseful final scene leading into chapter six isn't fully realized. Which isn't to say that there aren't any good points about he comic. The true strength of any series lies in the interaction between the characters from month to month, and Scott Lobdell does an excellent job in the developing chemistry between these six people. Yukon Jack gets the best laughs this month ("Lady, I am a God among men"), and the brand of humor lent here-that he doesn't realize the absurdity of his comments or situation-works well. Major Mapleleaf continues to endear himself, and the annoyance that his teammates have with him is becoming part of his charm. Nemesis, who started this series as a promising character but has somewhat suffered the last two issues, seems to be making a somewhat unusual friendship (dare I say, romance? There both about 100 years old) with Centennial which could become an entertaining odd couple. The character I continue to have problems with is Zusha, the new Puck. She still really isn't showing much value to the team or comic, and I find the coincidence that she chooses her father's namesake for her own without knowing he's her father is a bit hard to swallow. It was good to see her in action though, especially against the Plodex version of the original Puck. Clayton Henry seems a bit of this month as well. While he continues to excel at his character's expressions and his fight scenes are becoming his specialty, there are enough panels that seem either rushed or poorly executed. Shaman's arsenal, which he believes is more than one human could possibly bear, consists of nothing more than a light breeze. Centennial's facial expression is quickly freezing into one of "elderly disappointment," and Yukon Jack's rather grizzly fate for Shaman is strategically edited to make it unclear. It was a delight to see the original Alpha Flight back in action but Henry clearly doesn't have as good a grasp on them as the newer characters. Heather Hudson in particular seems to need some work. On the other hand, the battles are crisp and clean and Zusha's moves are cool. Despite the assurances given on the recap page, the future of the title rests a lot on how this arc concludes, which will play a direct role in it's shelf life as a trade paperback, not to mention the many readers who may drop the title after the first arc if the series fails to fascinate. The potential for a hit is there, but Scott Lobdell, Clayton Henry and the gang have a big challenge ahead of them, made all the more difficult by a rather weak lead in. I certainly hope that they can pull it off, because this title certainly deserves its chance at greatness. ART: 3.0 STORY: 2.0 OVERALL: 2.5 DISTRICT X #3 Reviewer: Erwin Rafael, erafael@globalpinoy.com Quick Rating: Excellent! Story Title: Mr. M Part 3 (of 6) The mutant gang war heats up as the opening arc of the best mutant book in the stands continues... Written by: David Hine Cover by: Steve McNiven Penciled by: David Yardin Inked by: Alejandro "Boy" Sicat Colored by: Avalon's Andy Troy Lettered by: Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Rob Steen Assistant Editors: Cory Sedlmeier and Stephanie Moore Edited by: Mike Marts Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada Publisher: Dan Buckley If you asked me back in March what would be the best book that would come out of the X-Men Reload event, District X would not even come to mind. I picked up this series on a whim, not expecting much and just hoping that it would prove to be an entertaining read. Three issues in, it looks like the two Davids have proven me wrong as District X has undoubtedly proven itself as the best X-book Marvel is currently publishing. I know that I might earn the ire of a lot of you for this, but Hine and Yardin are really just blowing away their more celebrated colleagues in terms of quality of work and in terms of progressing Marvel's mutant concept. The gist: "Shakey" Kaufman finally made his move into "Filthy" Frankie's territory by making his play for Frankie's lucrative Toad-juice business. Little did he suspect the trouble(s) that would come with the Toad Boy. Meanwhile, it looks like Officer Ortega's "account" of the murder in issue #1 would finally come to haunt him. Incidentally, what is the enigmatic Mr. M's involvement in all of this? Marvel's X-books has always served as a metaphor for real-world discrimination as mutants try to live in a world that hates and fears them. It made for an interesting vehicle for social commentary for the writers. In fact, most of the X-Men's best stories revolved around this metaphor ("Days of Future Past", "God Loves, Man Kills"). However, I find the theme quite tiring nowadays because the writers kept on hitting the same notes over and over again for the past 40 years. How many times can we have stories about mutants chased by a human mob? Government mutant witch-hunts? Mutants massacred by bigots? Mutants exacting their revenge on humans? Been there, done that. District X is rooted to the same metaphor, as the very reason for the existence of the place is to escape the discrimination the mutants experienced outside the confines of the district. However, the traditional take on the mutant concept stops there. David Hine takes advantage of this unique setting where mutants are NOT the minority. It's good to finally read a story where mutants can sleep in peace not thinking about a Sentinel attack. Where mutants deal with their "powers" as a normal everyday thing. Where humans are the ones learning how to live with mutants. Where the bad mutant is not some geneticist zealot that has a mad-on against humans. Where mutants may be eyed by a human not with hatred but with fascination. Sure, discrimination is touched upon from time to time, but it's not the overarching concept. And it's this refreshing take that makes Hine the most progressive among today's set of X-writers. Another amazing thing about this X-spinoff is that it does not rely on an established character to carry it. While Marvel marketing would like you to think otherwise, this book is NOT about Bishop. Bishop is merely one of the fascinating characters that compose District X's acting ensemble. This issue features in particular the ganglords of District X, "Shakey" Kaufman and "Filthy" Frankie, and they are such amusing characters. Their "powers" are original and quirky and it's good to see a mutant villain that is not some insane megalomaniac intent on ridding the world of humanity. If there's one thing I would wish for this title, it would be for Hine to lighten up a bit and bring in some humor to the script. It's not really a dark and depressing book, but maybe our exploration of this fascinating corner of New York could be more fun. There are some funny moments, like Frankie's "display of power", but it would be better if we get a good laugh from time to time. Yardin and Sicat's art again complemented Hine's script perfectly, although it was not as sharp as last issue. I was particularly impressed with their handling of action scenes, as the art for the past issues have been generally quiet. Such flexible art style works well for the book, since its focus on a place, instead of a particular character, opens up opportunities to tell a variety of stories. District X ranks up there with Runaways and Daredevil as one of the best books Marvel is putting out right now. This is the X- book for the non-X-Men crowd - a fascinating exploration of mutants without the cliche social commentary and the spandex- filled superheroics. It has been lovingly labeled as Marvel's new "sleeper hit". I just hope it won't remain a "sleeper hit" forever. ART: 4.0 STORY: 4.5 OVERALL: 4.5 ULTIMATE X-MEN #49 Reviewer: Daniel M. McNea, d_mcnea@hotmail.com Quick Rating: Good Story Title:The Tempest: Part 4 "Bringin' the fight to the front door." Written by: Brian K. Vaughan Penciled and Inked by: Brandon Peterson Colors by: Justin Ponsor Letters by: Virtual Calligraphy's Chris Eliopoulos Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe Editor: Ralph Macchio Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada Publisher: Dan Buckley A special thanks to: Jay Leisten and C.B. Cebulski I'm not quite sure if I myself am to blame for creating such a build up in my own mind to the finale of 'The Tempest' storyline or if I can lay that burden upon Brian K. Vaughan's shoulders. Alright, we can split the encumbrance. Either way, Ultimate X-Men #49 certainly fell a little short of expectations. Last issue ended with a menacing Sinister looming mere feet from the doorstep of Xavier's and that made for a nice cliffhanger. Picking up immediately from that, Sinister penetrates the mansion and swiftly gets the drop on the head cheese. Before he can start check-marking his hit list, the junior class home team step up and show him what they're made of (conveniently for Sinister, they do this one at a time). While this is what I expected and wanted to happen and the battle does take up most of the issue, it ultimately left me still wanting. It was great to see each young mutant get a moment to shine while the elder X-Men race home, beratting themselves for not seeing the plot twist coming. However, the scenes became rather repetitive with them coming at him one by one. The story arc's title 'The Tempest' split many readers on where we were being led. Many initially assumed that it meant it was going to prove pivotal for Storm while other's drew conclusions that Vaughan's reported affection for Shakespeare meant he was going to present his twist on the classic tale of the same name. While it decidedly veered toward the former, it didn't feel like much of either really (unless of course our own Prospero was behind this shipwreck???) We are now presented with a kinder, gentler Storm but it would've felt more authentic had she garnered more direct attention and the focus not spread out among so many other characters. Of course therein lies a catch-22. We have moaned and groaned for ages that many of the characters were jipped face time and now Ultimate X-Men has a writer that ably splits up the attention so everyone gets a lil sumpin' sumpin'. Vaughan delivers moreso than not on what readers want so things like Rogue's sudden burst of chutzpah or the world's greatest telepath really getting snowed by Sinister can be overlooked. Right? The somewhat preachy exchange between Storm and Rogue was a bit heavy-handed, mostly because we see characters deal with the morality of whether to take a life or not so often it can become tedious but Storm's personal growth was needed and that was well reflected here. Perhaps her taking out Sinister would've made 'The Tempest' a more fitting title? This is why the issue is rated GOOD and not ABOVE-AVERAGE. It could even near GREAT at some instances but I'm not one to give those descriptives easily. Great, Excellent and Amazing are words I take at their paramount meaning and I cannot recall the last book I've read that was fitting of them, so GOOD is well, pretty damn good. The same can almost be said for Peterson's art. Three X's ain't to shabby. His run has been such a mixed bag though. Sometimes I marvel at his detailed touch and at other's I cringe at certain inconsistencies or facial expressions. This issue was no different. Should we assume Angel had time to flat iron his hair from his first curly locked glimpse to his straight tressed appearance when his turn to attack comes? Is the Jubilee-like look of Dazzler's power really indicative of what she's got? What's with these teenage boys being built like weightlifters? And is it me or does he really like the hair covering one side of the face? Nitpicks sure, but this is what ya start to grab hold of when you can basically cut and paste remarks from one review to the next. The teaming of Vaughan and Peterson has come to an end for now with the completion of their first arc as Andy Kubert returns for issue #50. I must say I am overall glad to see Vaughan remain and will continue to watch Peterson's work. Far from perfect though it may be, when the creative talent can still keep you interested through the ups and downs, that should count for something. ART: 3.0 STORY: 3.5 OVERALL: 3.5 EXILES #49 Reviewer: Jim Lemoine, jimlemoine@comixfan.cjb.net Quick Rating: Average Story Title: Mission Impossible Morph squares off against an Impossible Man gone insane! Written by: Tony Bedard Pencilled by: Jim Calafiore Inked by: Mark McKenna Colored by: JC Lettered by: Dave Sharpe Cover by: Mizuki Sakakibara Assistant Editor: Cory Sedlmeier & Stephanie Moore Edited by: Mike Marts Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada Publisher: Dan Buckley Exiles writer Tony Bedard dealt himself a hefty challenge: to write an issue of the series that is, honestly, no more than a mere fill-in, and to use a concept that would be very difficult to pull off with any level of maturity and that "relative realism" that all comics shoot for these days. I'm sure Bedard himself would admit that the root concept of this issue is pretty ludicrous. That said, the finished product would either fall flat on its face, or be a fun diversion in advance of next month's Exiles #50. The good news is, Bedard manages to makes this ridiculous idea of the Impossible Man taking over the world work. The bad news is, the rest of the execution is poor enough that the issue is still very obviously nothing more than filler. Bedard's Exiles are significantly more superheroic than they have been with past writers. Perhaps we're moving into a new era for the title, where alternate-reality-action moves to the forefront of the book in place of the deep character development that has been the hallmark of this series since its creation. Certainly, in Bedard's four "Exiles Reloaded" issues that we've seen so far, dialog and emotion have been relegated to the back seat in favor of two-fisted superhero battles. For some people that'll be a good thing... and for some, it'll be a bad thing. It's almost too bad that I fit into the latter category. As the cover (and antagonist) would indicate, this story revolves around Morph. Like former writer Judd Winick, Bedard seems to try to base his stories around certain individual members of the team, which is a great idea. That's what made Sunfire's time with Spider-Girl so powerful, and why it was so much fun to read the Mojo/Morph So Lame arc. So far Bedard has covered Namora (with the Earn Your Wings arc), and now it's Morph's turn. On the surface, it all looks good. However, scratch the surface and the Exiles reader is left somewhat unimpressed. Sure, this issue focuses on Morph... but it doesn't really have any great moments with him, nor does it change his character in any way or reveal anything that we never knew about him. Yes, Exiles #49 is a Morph story, but it's easily a throwaway Morph story, one that just gives us lots of things we've already seen. Strike Two is the fact that for all intents and purposes, the rest of the team might as well not exist in this issue. We receive absolutely no insight into Namora's head now that she's decided to stick with the team, and Beak just stands around, acts insecure, and does nothing. Blink barks out generic orders and Sasquatch sort of hulks around in the background. Only Mimic gets anything close to real character development in this issue, and even then it's only a fairly dumb assumption that he killed someone after swearing never to kill again. It's amazing that the creative team of Exiles spent so much time in the last three issues creating a highly implausible means to result in this team lineup... only to completely ignore the lineup in the next issue! Which brings us to Strike Three: this comic book isn't funny. Normally that's not a problem; lots of great comics aren't funny. However... when a story is based around humor... in fact, when the whole point of the story is the fact that a certain character is funny... that character needs to be at least somewhat entertaining. But Bedard's Morph doesn't even generate a slight chuckle. The jokes that Morph uses to restore the power of humor aren't actually funny in the slightest... they're the type of groaner you'd expect your kid brother to use (after he saw Fozzie Bear using them). What's worse, Morph's visual humor is pretty much completely gone. I could only find two instances in the entire issue of Morph doing something other than just stretching. For a supposed Morph spotlight issue, that's pretty weak. Oh, and the cheesy ending... don't get me started on the cheesy ending. It was like something from an old episode of Jabberjaw. The issue isn't all bad, though; Bedard surprisingly makes the Impossible Man a scary villain and a very real threat. The setup in this alternate world is interesting, believable, and just a bit spooky (which is a great mix). The Impossible Man manages to be decently funny, even when he's trying to kill people. And the return of Jim Calafiore and Mark McKenna on art duties was a very welcome and pleasant surprise. Calafiore and McKenna manage to make the team look great, even while Blink's spouting off generic lines and Morph is telling stories that don't even qualify as bad jokes. And their Beak... I don't think I've ever seen a more cowardly, pathetic Beak (and in this case, that's a good thing). This is the first time this art team has drawn new members Namora and Beak in this title, and they come through with flying colors. The big problem with this issue, really, is that there's no reason at all to care about it. You could go straight from Exiles #48 to Exiles #50 without ever knowing that you missed anything. Nothing of importance happens, none of the team have great moments, and we don't learn anything new about the characters. Blink barks off orders like a generic leader, Mimic mopes, Sasquatch just kind of stands there, Namora continues her caricature as a one-dimensional witch, Beak runs and hides, and Morph isn't funny in the slightest. It's kind of hard to recommend an issue like that. But then, now that I think about it, I did laugh out loud at that Wolverine Verb ad. ART: 3.5 STORY: 1.5 OVERALL: 2.5 _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [15] Rich's Reviews Richard Vasseur richardv@sympatico.ca [Rich has been collecting comic books for about 25 years. He belongs to two comic book clubs Jazma and ORCA. He has been writing reviews for Jazma's paper newsletter for about 2 years and has his own review page at www.jazmaonline.com] SPOILER WARNING: Some plot details may be revealed in these reviews! Title: Tabloia # 572 Publisher: Salt Peter Press Writer: Chris Wisnia Artist: Chris Wisnia Inker: Dick Ayers (on Doris Danger,,, Where Giant Monsters Creep and Stomp!) Price: $ 3.95 Comments: "The Lump" is a story with some mystery as it has you wondering who is that lump? How did they get there? What happened? So many questions and as you read this tale you will want to come back to have them answered. "Dick Hammer: Conservative Republican Private Investigator!", the story isn't that thrilling. The fight panels are well drawn and choreographed. "Dr. Debunko" shows us that people even when given an ordinary explanation they will take the unlikely superstitious explanation as truth. This tale was nicely written. The wolves in the graveyard are beautifully drawn. "Doris Danger...Where Giant Monsters Creep and Stomp!" is a classic comic story in the style of an old sci-fi movie. These anthology stories are interesting and they do get you thinking and wondering. You will find yourself compelled to return to these pages. The pin-ups by Thomas Yeates is reminiscent of Frank Franzetta a forest scene with a beautiful girl and monster. Gene Colen's chase through the graveyard is an exciting piece. Mike Allred has Madman facing a huge monstrous creature. The pin-ups alone are worth getting the comic for. Title: Headstatic Publisher: Fool's Child Comix Writer: Jay A. Hacker III Artist: Jay A. Hacker III Price: $ 12.00 US Comments: This is a huge comic with tons of stories. It contains all types horror, sci-fi, humor something for everyone. These are short stories only a page to ten pages long but once you start reading them you will not be able to put this book down. Some are statements about life, some just fun, a few are even incomprehensible. "The Death of Comics" has some very funny one liners. It shows different comedians delivering their routines. "Gas Man" is a fun little story with a Golden Age look back at a super-hero. You can guess what Ga Man's power is and no he doesn't carry a gas gun. "The Mannequin Muse" shows us what Mannequin's dream of. It is very well drawn and illustrated. "Something Dark & Ancient" is a beautifully drawn tale of mystery and Macabe. An ancient evil comes to visit and stays. It will have you thinking twice the next time you hear a bump in the night. "Silver Sin" featuring the character Dead Dick a dead detective in Dead World is a cute story with great art that shows off the dead people perfectly. These stories are but a small sample of what you will find in here. If you want something different give it a try. You won't be disappointed. Title: Marvel Age Spider-Man # 6 Publisher: Marvel Plot: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko Writer: Daniel Quantz Artist: Mark Brooks Price: $ 2.25 US, $ 3.25 Can Comments: This series just keeps the action coming. Vulture escapes and the battle is on as Spidey chases the Vulture. There is lots of Spidey puns as he teases the Vulture. The chase ends with Vulture caged in a pigeon coop. It looks good on him. The fight scenes are brilliantly drawn. The Vulture looks glorious soaring through the skies. Spider-Man is poised perfectly in each panel. Peter shows some real guts when he finally asks Betty out for lunch. Seeing Spidey web J.J.J.'s mouth shut was cute. Taking a look back at Spider-Man's early life and adventures is just plain old fun. Title: Iron Fist # 4 Publisher: Marvel Writer: James Mullaney Penciler: Kevin Lau Inker: Udon's Alan Tam Price: $ 2.99 US, $ 4.25 Can Comments: The cover is a bit cartoonish and not well defined. It does have a more manga look to it. Kevin Lau could have done better with it. The art inside is the same it needs more definition. It reminds you of a cartoon instead of a comic book. A little background info is given, Danny decides to keep the girl with him and help her against a renegade monk from K'un Lun. This issue was slow, it needed more to happen. Title: Amazing Spider-Man # 509 Publisher: Marvel Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Penciler: Mike Deodato Jr. Inker: Joe Pimentel Price: $ 2.25 US, $ 3.25 Can Comments: MJ is hired as a theatre actress. Someone notices she does have talent if she just puts her emotions into it. It is nice to see Marvel giving her career and life some substance. Than we get hit with a surprise. Gwen Stacy's letter shows up its her letter but she didn't send it. Who did? And why? You don't play with Gwen's memory not unless you want to get hurt. The writer's words have Peter talking in a level tone but there is no doubt someone is going to pay the hard way. Two people ambush Peter in the graveyard. They are strong and fast. So Peter has to retreat. As the male watches Peter leave he removes his mask revealing he looks like a young Peter. When Gwen took a trip to France was she pregnant did she have two children that Peter is the father of? It would explain there presence and how they got the letter and why they are upset and angry towards Peter thinking he abandoned them. Since they do not know he knew nothing of them. Two Spider children will make for an interesting story. The look back at Gwen's death is beautifully drawn. The Green Goblin looks every bit the insane evil creature he is. Title: Captain America & the Falcon # 4 Publisher: Marvel Writer: Priest & Bart Sears Artist: Bart Sears w/ Rob Hunter Price: $ 2.99 US, $ 4.25 Can Comments: The battle of Cap vs Anti-Cap is really hope vs fear. And hope is the last best hope when all else is gone. Hope will defeat fear and does. We get lots of action and its fast and furious. Watching Cap vs Anti-Cap is a brutal fight of two people evenly matched. Just the ones convictions are more intense. The artwork does portray Cap, Falcon and Anti-Cap with muscle bound bodies. It fits the story and characters. Cap is shown and presented as a symbol of the people and the best that they can be. Title: Astonishing X-Men # 2 Publisher: Marvel Writer: Joss Whedon Artist: John Cassaday Price: $ 2.99 US, $ 4.25 Can Comments: Ord makes a great villain he's skilled, armored and ready for the X-Men. But he wasn't ready for Lockheed and a face full of fire. There are a lot of problems between the team members. But hey they are X-Men and so they do function as a team. Even though Scott seems a little unsure and Emma is bloodthirsty. We need to see some of these animosities solved or lessened. This comic has a nice grouping of heroes, they just need to have some fun with each other. The art makes Wolverine and Cyclops look fantastic. The Beast's costume when he is in action looks strange with the big yellow X on his pants. Emma's and Shadow Cat's sensuality is not shown at all. They are beautiful women and that should be shown. A Doctor has discovered a cure for the mutant gene! Now how will this affect the X-Men? Title: Wolverine/Punisher # 4 Publisher: Marvel Writer: Peter Milligan Penciler: Lee Weeks Inker: Tom Palmer Price: $ 2.99 US, $ 4.25 Can Comments: The Punisher goes on a killing spree. He just starts killing anything that moves. In a town full of criminals its open hunting season for him. His only problem is running out of bullets. Even with the shooting it is not all that fast paced or exciting. The art is bland. Nothing stands out. The scenes take place at night so the coloring is to dark and doesn't show off the people well enough. Title: Batgirl # 53 Publisher: DC Writer: Dylan Horrocks Penciler: Dave Ross Inker: Jesse Delperdang Price: $ 2.50 US, $ 3.85 Can Comments: Batgirl, Robin and Oracle the sisterhood of the Bat taking on Penguin with his super destructive guns. This issue offers a unique perspective. We see how a henchman's life is.That he has a wife and daughter that love him very much. The daughter has no idea what he really does for a living. The henchman though uses his daughter for selling the stolen guns. Now here we should have looked more into the henchman's feelings but it focuses on the daughter and her belief in her dad. We just get a glimpse it should have been more. The new Robin looks good she has improved a lot under Batman's tutelage. Her and Batgirl work great together. The female Robin costume looks professional and still cute. Batgirl and Robin take out Penguin. Though his lawyers will have him out fast. It is great seeing these two girls swinging through the city side by side. These scenes are well drawn. They are poetry in motion. Title: JLA # 100 Publisher: DC Writer: Joe Kelly Penciler: Doug Mahnke Inker: Tom Nguyen Price: $ 3.50 US, $ 5.25 Can Comments: The Elite show up and totally annihilate the JLA. Of course it was all a plan. Mother Nature was angry and planned to destroy humanity since they couldn't work together. The JLA uses the Elite (Sister Superior, Coldcast, Menagerie and the Hat) as a threat to get all nations to work together and it works. Mother Nature is satisfied. So the JLA introduces another team the Elite. It was the Doom Patrol just before that. Is the JLA going to be used to introduce new characters only? Are we ever going to get back to featuring the JLA? The heroes are well drawn. The story though was good. Having Mother Nature as the villain and so instead of fighting her they tricked her. A fight would have caused more damage to the planet. So the Elite was used as fake villains to unite all of Humanity against them. It is nice to see people working together for a common cause. TitlE: Conan # 5 Publisher: Darkhorse Writer: Kurt Busiek Artists: Cary Nord with Thomas Yeates Price: $ 2.99 US Comments: Joseph Michael Linsner draws a tough and savage looking Conan posed ready to fight on the cover. The art is done in pastel colors which gives a more subdued lok to it. The story is also subdued as Conan frees his sword mates and they get ready to fight there way to freedom. Hopefully the pace will pick up next issue. Conan needs to be shown in the heat of battle. Title: The Grey Area # 1 Publisher: Image Writer: Glen Brunswick Penciler: John Romita, Jr. Inker: Klaus Janson Price: $ 5.95 US, $ 7.95 Can Comments: A dirty cop is murdered while out for revenge for his wife and son's death. You don't really know whether to love or hate Chance. To pity him or want him dead. Well he is dead now. What a strange place it is to where he goes. This story is just getting started. The drawings look great. The girls are sexy. The characters have lots of detail and a realistic look to them. The backgrounds are all filled in nicely. This issue introduces you to the main characters but it doesn't give you much of a clue as to what the story is going to be about. It does generate enough interest that you will want to find out though. Title: Fathom:Dawn of War # 0 Publisher: Aspen Comics Writer: J.T. Krul Penciler: Talent Caldwell Inker: Jason Corder Price: $ 2.50 US, $ 3.50 Can Comments: The water people are being kidnapped and held prisoner. So Kiani is going to lead a rescue mission. The preview drawings in the back look fantastic. Kiani is drawn as one hot looking babe. She also looks very tough and determined. The artists bring that across in their facial expressions. The color preview story is striking. The colors are outstanding. The story itself sets up the series beautifully. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [16] What About Bob? Robert Taylor smsuso@core.com A Weekly Examination of New Comics By Robert Taylor What About Bob: Catch-Up Week By Robert Taylor Back from vacation. The reviews are gonna be very short since I'm combining two weeks worth of comics. That said, I shall begin the ordeal... Action Comics 817 W: Chuck Austen A: Ivan Reis P: DC Comics G: 4/5 Another month, another solid issue from the creative team. Nicely balanced action and character development scenes, and the Jack Black rip-off was rather amusing in his comments about Supes' appendix. Not the best jumping on point for new readers, but still recommended. Aquaman 20 W: Will Pfeifer A: Patrick Gleason P: DC Comics G: 4/5 Everything from the first arc comes together fairly nicely, and I love how Pfeifer assures us that what we are seeing is only a prelude for the excellence to come. I'm not fond of the development of the villain in this story, but it's a small quibble since the creative team finally appears to have found its voice on the book. Birds of Prey 69 W: Gail Simone A: Ron Adrian P: DC Comics G: 4.5/5 Mostly setup, but still a grand time as usual on this sadly underselling title. The art captures Benes' style well, though I hope Adrian shows some development into his own artist soon, because just ripping off Benes will get old soon. Captain America 29 W: Robert Kirkman A: Scot Eaton P: Marvel Comics G: 3/5 A nice intro to the new creative team, going through all the necessary paces of what to expect later in the run. I'm interested, but I can't fully recommend it because I got the feeling it was about seven pages too short. Eaton's art is lovely as well, and I love Geraci's deeper style of inking. Exiles 49 W: Tony Bedard A: Jim Calafiore P: Marvel Comics G: 4.5/5 And the new creative team finally clicks with this wickedly funny stand alone. This should have been the first issue. Bravo! Fallen Angel 13 W: Peter David A: David Lopez P: DC Comics G: 5/5 Another brilliant issue from a brilliant creative team. A great jumping on point. Blah blah blah. Will someone PLEASE tell me why the hell you aren't picking this up? Fantastic Four 515 W: Mark Waid & Karl Kesel A: Paco Medina P: Marvel Comics G: 1.5/5 Seriously, what the hell happened? The book was perfect for so long, and now this turd is dropped on us? I'm very let down by both story and art, and now we've got another issue to suffer through, because seriously, I could care less at this point. Firestorm 3 W: Dan Jolley A: ChrisCross P: DC Comics G: 4.5/5 Now THIS is great stuff, the story and art meld perfectly, and that final panel makes me want the next issue right NOW! A perfect jumping-on point, as well, for those who were unimpressed with the first issue or just missed the boat. 4 #7 W: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa A: Steve McNiven P: Marvel Comics G: 2.5/5 Blah. Too bad the art is so nice. Green Arrow 40 W: Judd Winick A: Phil Hester P: DC Comics G: 2/5 After last month's high point to the entire series, this was quite the letdown. The Black Canary scenes even rang false, and I wanted so much more out of it. A darned shame, too, because Winick always captured my attention for his big arcs from the very first issue. HERO 18 W: Will Pfeifer A: Dale Eaglesham P: DC Comics G: 5/5 Heartbreaking, lovely, and darn-near perfect. This is the best issue of HERO ever, and you need to read it to believe it. Identity Crisis 2 W: Brad Meltzer A: Rags Morales P: DC Comics G: 1/5 Fine, completely trash the DCU for a simple ploy. Have fun. JLA 101 W: Chuck Austen A: Ron Garney P: DC Comics G: 4.5/5 I have a feeling if Superman: Metropolis, Action Comics and this were the first books to come out authored by Chuck Austen, he would have a substantial amount of buzz about him, because what he is doing over at DC is rather inspired, by trying to show the human side of its biggest heroes even if it means making them fail once and a while. Garney's art is amazing as well. JSA 63 W: Geoff Johns A: Jerry Ordway P: DC Comics G: 3.5/5 I'd follow Ordway anywhere, and although his two issue stint on JSA isn't blowing me away in either story or art yet, it's still diverting and enjoyable. Loki 1 W: Robert Rodi A: Esad Ribic P: Marvel Comics G: 5/5 Wow. I had zero expectations coming into this and it was simply a masterpiece issue! The story is fabulous, and the art is beautiful! Don't pass this up!!! The Monolith 6 W: Palmiotti & Gray A: Tomm Coker P: DC Comics G: 4.5/5 Well, I wasn't too happy to see the normal DCU integrated into this book, but this was the way to do it. Excellent. Mystery in Space 1 W/A: Various P: DC Comics G: 4/5 I was indifferent to the first story, but Morrison and Ordway blew me away with the second story. Worth your money. BTW I'm getting tired now so expect more one word reviews. The Pulse 4 W: Brian Michael Bendis A: Mark Bagley P: Marvel Comics G: 5/5 Excellent. Spider-Girl 76 W: Tom DeFalco A: Ron Frenz P: Marvel Comics G: 4.5/5 A very back-to-the-basics issue, and I loved it, especially the MJ moment. The new coloring is fab as well. Spider-Man 4 W: Mark Millar A; Terry Dodson P: Marvel Comics G: 1/5 Will discuss in more lengthy review. Superman/Batman 11 W: Jeph Loeb A: Michael Turner P: DC Comics G: 2/5 You know that twist everyone saw coming? It came. Teen Titans 13 W: Geoff Johns A: Tom Grummett P: DC Comics G: 4.5/5 Excellent prologue issue, and Grummett needs his own monthly now! Thor 82 W: Michael Avon Oeming A: Andrea Di Vito P: Marvel Comics G: 1.5/5 Even pretty trash is still trash. Ultimate Spider-Man 62 W: Brian Michael Bendis A: Mark Bagley P: Marvel Comics G: 3.5/5 A GREAT ending saves this otherwise dull issue. Ultimate X-Men 49 W: Brian K Vaughan A: Brandon Peterson P: Marvel Comics G: 4/5 Great work all around, if nothing groundbreaking. Cool Stuff I Saw This Week 1. Loki: Came out of left field and blew me out of the water. 2. DC: Almost everything with two notable exceptions hit, this was their two weeks! 3. Dale Eaglesham: And in one issue, he proves he is more than a match for anything writers can throw at him. I can't wait to see where he goes from here. 4. Chuck Austen: Two excellent DC Books from the most loathed creator in comics. That's right, bud! Prove everyone wrong! 5. The End of USM: Whoa, that was jaw-dropping and a perfect way to ensure my return next month. Book of the Week: Tie: Loki & HERO Worst Book of the Week: Identity Crisis...again Biggest Disappointment of the Week: Green Arrow Biggest Surprise of the Week: Exiles Best Writing of the Week: Peter David Best Art of the Week: People are gonna kill me because Ordway blasted two out of the park in one week, but I'm gonna go with Dale Eaglesham, who cemented his place in my "Artists to Watch" list. -Robert Taylor Read My Reviews And Columns at www.herorealm.com and www.jazmaonline.com _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [17] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.com [Paul promotes amateur and professional comic book artwork, scripts, storylines, and unpublished comic books with a newsletter called the Peoples' Comic Book Newsletter. Its website is at Jazma Comic Book Newsletter Productions at http://www.jazmaonline.com/ He is also a prominent letter hack, as anyone who reads comic letter pages would know. He is in production of his own self-published comic book called The Legendary Dark Silhouette and has copyrighted over 600 characters for his Jazma Universe.] SPOILER WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COLUMN MAY REVEAL SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE PLOTS OF SOME COMIC BOOKS, OR THE ENTIRE STORY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Name: Isaac Asimov's Derec - The Robot City Graphic Novel - Vol. 1 Panic in the Year Zero Publisher: ibooks Script: Doug Murray Art: Paul Rivoche Price: $7.99 Comments: Everyone is waiting for the new Summer blockbuster movie I, Robot, starring Will Smith. But, why should we wait for the movie when you can get an exciting comic book graphic novel called Derec? Derec is a man without a memory, stranded in a city of robots gone wild. There is a mystery woman that hangs out with him named Katherine and she seems to know everything about Derec. Derec doesn't know everything about his own past, but Katherine seems to know. On the planet called Robot City, all chaos ensues. Bit by bit, Derec's memory returns and it will be the key to a murder mystery on Robot City and will be the big key on why the robot inhabitants are now out of control and are headed towards a path of self-destruction. If you have a chance pick up Le Figaro Magazine #1235, featured on the cover is Tin Tin and there is a full length article on the popularity of Tin Tin. Name: King Hell 3 Publisher: Tokyopop Creators: Ra In-Soo and Kim Jae-Hwan Price: $9.99 Comments: Gamhuk urges Majeh to kill demons that have escaped the Next World. These demons are taking over and controlling the body vessels of recently deceased warriors. If this continues, the demons will be hard to stop. The artwork in this graphic manga novel is done with superb excellence. The demons are drawn uniquely and done in such a way that the demons look like they are jumping out of the comic book. This is a frightfest of fun, done Manga style! Name: Cyborg 009 - The Manga Publisher: Tokyopop Price: $9.99 Comments: The Double-Zero heroes make their way through Vietnam fighting a tremendous battle amongst new uprising insurgents. After the Double-Zero heroes have stepping in the frying pan called Vietnam, they step into a bigger fire when they come face- to-face with the Greek Myutos Cyborg Team. The powerful cyborg team have heard of the victories that the Double-Zero heroes accomplished in Vietnam and now have their own Tete-a-Tete offensive they want to pull on the Double-Zero heroes. When The Double-Zero heroes face down the Greek Myutos Cyborg Team, it becomes a battle royal that you don't want to miss out on! Name: Tozzer 2/ 1 of 5 Publisher: Ablaze Media Writer: Rob Dunlop Art: Peter Lumby Website: www.tozzer.com Email: pete-rob@tozzer.com Comments: In the reality of Tozzer, you will meet characters that are quite familiar with us, but yet unfamiliar. Take for example Madjax and Bubs, a composite of Michael Jackson and his pet monkey. Madjax and Bubs are lost in the desert and they are looking for "S" creek and run into the KKK. Madjax is trying to track down his greatest fan Tozzer. The whole book is hilarious and it's STRICTLY adult themed humor, not for the kiddies. There are many spoofs on popular films and don't be surprised to see Samuel L. Jackson holding a razor while the music plays in the background.... "clowns to the left of me - jokers to the right." You will run into a spoof character of Morpheus of the Matrix, you will see Samuel L. Jackson hanging around Yoda of Star Wars and you will meet Mr. Luke Gorgeous - the spoof character of George Lucas! If you were to pick up a Webster's Dictionary and look up the word outrageous, you will most likely find a picture of the front cover of Tozzer! This comic book dazzles the senses with the outrageously absurd! MOE Sidenote: As I enter the A1 Comics Stargate, the realities I encountered are as follows: Eightball, Autumn by SLG, Bite Club #4 by Vertigo, Scurvy Dogs #5 by AIT/Planetlar, The Technopriests by Humanoids, Steve Niles' Wake the Dead, Jeromy Cox's Vampyrates, Touch by DC Comics, Two-Step by Cliffhanger, Vampi - Vicious Circle #1 by Anarchy, Kindergoth #3, Midnight Mass by Vertigo, The Nice Guy by Fool Court Press, Nightjar, Preview 2004 by AP Comics, The Gray Area #1 by Image, Fierce #1 by Rocket Comics, Java by Committed Comics, Scurvy Dogs #5 by Andrew Boyd & Ryan Yount. Multiverse Observer and Explorer signing off until next time.... Name: Kindergoth #3 Creative Force: Lee Kohse & Jeff Zugale Price: $2.95 Comments: Lee Kohse and Jeff Zugale did a great job with this comic book! Lee did some hilarious writing on the script and Jeff knocks us out with his great cartoonish artwork! I really got a kick out of the alien who likes pork rinds. I like the small references, like in Kindergoth #3, there is mention of Star Wars. Just like Van Helsing, some of the characters of this comic book, call for help from the Vatican. Then to see my beloved boss Arnold Schwarzenegger in this comic book almost caused me a nose bleed from laughing soo much! Yep, Arnold is my boss, because I am a California government employee. I even got to shake Arnold's hand and once upon a time I was on his movie set in Los Angeles for True Lies (but that is another story altogether). When I thought I saw everything, then this comic book has a connection to the cattle mutilations and Roswell! I loved it, I loved it and I loved it! Keep up the good work! Name: Furious Fist of the Drunken Monkey #1 Publisher: Imperium Comics Creator: Rich Stahnke Price: $2.99 Comments: Wow! Rich Stahnke not only did a great job with the artwork, but also wrote a story that kept my attention throughout his exceptionally funny comic book! Right from the beginning, I got a kick out of the monkey who welcomes everyone to Wonderburger and tells the customers to try out the Wonder Combo, only to find out he sexually harrassed a lady customer by offering her a Wonder Weiner! The poor monkey loses his job and starts his odyssey that involves the bizarre (like a crashed spaceship), into a zany lifestyle from going from a plain talking monkey to a super monkey, encountering talking frogs and whatnot. This comic book is superb and I found myself snickering and laughing like a girl scout! Furious Fist of the Drunken Monkey #1 is on a roll, now let's see what #2 will bring! Name: Jack Staff #5 Publisher: Image Comics Creator: Paul Grist Price: $3.50 Comments: Great things come out of Britain. First it was Sherlock Holmes. Then Dr. Who. Then Harry Potter and now it's Jack Staff! After reading Jack Staff #5, I had a hard time putting it down. Paul Grist is a master in putting a story together and keeping the attention of the readers! I loved the colored artwork! I loved the way Jack Staff looks in his cool costume! I love the unique characters found in this comic book! And I even like Stewart and her exceptional power fist! Jack Staff is truly Britain's greatest hero! Wow! MOE Sidenote: As I (Jazma Man) walking with Paul Dale Roberts, MOE through the Hollywood Video Stargate and enter various realities, I found in the animation reality the following: The Triplets of Belleville, Tokyo Godfathers, Spirited Away (Manga), Robbie the Reindeer (CGI) and Dora the Explorer - Egg Hunt. In the horror genre, some of the great movies/realities that you can explore are: Tomb of the Werewolf, St. John's Wort, Shredder, The Shunned House, Mummy's Kiss, Near Death, Nine Lives, The Monster Hunter, Megalodon, House of the Dead, From the Grave, Fear of the Dark, The Fanglys, Blood, Adam & Evil. In the Action category we have: Sunstorm, Lady Jayne Killer, Game Over, Gone, Donnie Yen - Fist of the Red Dragon, The Eliminator and Agent Cody Banks 2. In the Sci Fi: Shadow Fury and Stardust. Multiverse Observer and Explorer signing off until next time.... Name: Quantum: Rock of Ages #4 of 12 Publisher: Dreamchilde Press Written by: Philip Clark Artist: James Rodriguez Price: $2.99 Contact Information: quantumcomic@hotmail.com Comments: If you like the USA Channel's 4400 TV series, you will enjoy this outstanding comic book. In the 4400 TV series, you learn about various characters with their unique powers that they acquired after abduction. With this comic book a group of people have unusual powers after being affected by the Quantum enchanted artifact. They discover their powers, they learn about their powers and the reader takes a seat and goes for the ride into an adventurous realm that will take you to many parts of the Multiverse via portals and interdimensional traveling. The Multiverse is in the equation, it could turn chaotic if our heroes don't make things right. What I enjoy about this comic book is that there is no way you can get lost with the story. They place a "Previously" on the backside of the cover, letting you know what previously happened in the story. They also have a great way of doing bios on all of the key players of the story. The reader is able to get attached to the character, like I am fondly attached to Skyler Hope, a very spunky lady with a foul mouth and is able to sing like a siren and disturb the sound vibrations around her causing a portal to appear. The story was quite dramatic and I enjoyed the Dr. Who reference that was made within this exciting story. Heck, Dr. Who is part of the Multiverse anyway, so I would expect someone in the quantum scope of things to run into a character like Dr. Who. Another thing I enjoy about this story is that characters from different realities argue amongst each other in regard to what their reality compares to another one's reality. Like for instance in one reality, the space shuttle accident occurs hindering our space exploration, while in another reality, the shuttle flight was successful so that reality has moon colonies. In Skyler Hope's reality, they play her songs on the moon! Get creeped out with one reptilian character named Saurius! Quantum: Rock of Ages is an experience out of the ordinary. Get prepared for an adventure of thrills! _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [18] My View David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com David LeBlanc is the Editor of the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine; which won the prestigious Eagle Award for Favorite Comic Book Ezine in 2001. He is a long-time fan of comics and the electronic media; having been the moderator of BBS comics forums on WME, FIDONET and the Comic Book Network. He and his wife live in a suburb of Worcester, MA and David works part-time at That's Entertainment, the Eisner-winning Comics and Collectibles store. David's favorite motivational phrase is: BEHOLD THE TURTLE, HE ONLY MAKES PROGRESS WHEN HE STICKS HIS NECK OUT! GENERALISSIMO el BUSHO Essays & Cartoons on the Bush Years by Ted Rall 6X9, 208 pages, black & white, cloth bound, $19.95 NBM Publishing Inc. www.nbmpublishing.com I struggled with doing a review on this one. First of all it is not a comic book, or a graphic novel or even a collection of comic strips. Well, it is almost the last one but the majority of the book is text so it borders on illustrated fiction, er... essay, depending on your point of view. You see a person who believes Fahrenheit 9/11 is a great "documentary" would also love this book and believe every word of it. If you are aware of the controversy surrounding Mr. Rall's recent cartoons criticizing the war, President Bush, and even US soldiers who gave their lives for what they believe in, than you can expect a lot more of the same in this volume. Like Mr. Moore, Mr. Rall appears to be on a crusade to do everything possible to change the public's opinion and possibly the administration through his work. Unlike some caricatures this one bears no physical resemblance to George W. The face is almost animalistic with a large nose, sharp teeth and long pointed ears. The cartoons themselves take every possible stab at G. W. and the war in particular and there is no mystery from one to the next as to Ted's opinions. Skimming the text is more of the same, but more intense. So, you won't get a detailed review. I don't care for the art, but he does put himself into it and clearly has passion for his work. I do not share his political views and am not going to waste my time reading 200 pages of propaganda. As I said, I review comics and graphic novels and even strip collections. I will leave detailed reviews of this one to someone who is interested in it. If you swing left you'll love it. If not, try something else. +++++ We received a number of trade collections of comics reviewed here in the past so a brief look again at some fine collections at good prices, (and the first two have back cover quotes from yours truly!): SATYR Volume 1 by Mike Indovia 5-1/2 X 8", 108 pages, black & white, $9.99 collects SATYR #0, 1, 2, and Color Special #1 (reprinted in B&W) Satyr Play Productions http://www.geocities.com/mikeindovia/Satyr.html satyrsfaction@aol.com The series follows the misadventures of Silenus, King of the Satyrs. Now satyrs are creatures of Greek myth that are horned and hoofed boys. Each story takes on one of the Greek myths and somehow gets Silenus and his friends involved in the story. There is the Cyclops faced by Jason and his crew - yep Silenus was there; King Midus, Oedipus and others get the satyrs mixed in somehow. Mike takes the basic story and adds some fun, slapstick, satire (or is that satyre?), and a few modern twists. There are even short recaps of the actual myths the comics are based on so you get educated too!. This book is the right size to take to the beach or on a picnic for light summer entertainment. Go for it. THE NODWICK CHRONICLES IV Obligatory Dragon on the Cover by Aaron Williams 160 pages, black & white, trade paperback, $15.99 collecting issues #19-24 of NODWICK Published by Henchmen Publishing Distributed by Dork Storm Press www.nodwick.com Aaron@nodwick.com When I want to take a break from the super heroes and slice of life drama I usually head for anything out of Dork Storm Press. Luckily they have the fertile talents of Aaron Williams who continuously puts out high quality entertainment that keeps the funny in funny books. This is his flagship title and this collection is a real gem. The tales center around a small band of adventurers in medieval times. They are Artax the wizard - sage of arcane knowledge, Piffany the cleric - font of goodness and niceness, Yeagar - warrior and alcoholic beverage connoisseur, and Nodwick the Henchman. A henchman is sort of a halfling that does all the heavy lifting and in Nodwick's case is the point man for any dangerous situation. Thanks to Piffany and lots of duct tape he has managed to survive multiple near-death experiences. There is even an index in this volume that catalogues the various times and issue number and page where the henchman of reknown nearly met his end, or in some cases did. That is the premise and in each issue they usually hire out for some quest like slaying a sea monster or retrieving a treasure of some sort. They often accomplish their goal but not in the way you or their employers would expect. There are lots of laughs along the way, pokes at pop culture abound and always Nodwick gets the short end of things. The gem of this volume is from Issue#23 subtitled, "The Lord of the Hirelings: Return of the Bling Bling". It is a spoof of The Lord of the Rings complete with elves, a gollum-type (another henchman), Nazgul-types and all the misadventures you would expect from the Acquaintanceship of the Ring. I cracked up the first time I read and again when I read it here. But then all of Aaron's stories are like that. This volume is a perfect place to sample what I am talking about. Look for the Obligatory (red) Dragon on the Cover. PS238 Volume 1 With Liberty and Recess For All by Aaron Williams 160 pages, black & white, trade paperback, $15.99 collecting issues #0-5 of PS238 Published by Henchmen Publishing Distributed by Dork Storm Press www.ps238.com Aaron@ps238.com If you haven't sampled this break-out hit from the back-up pages of NODWICK here is your chance to read the beginning of a great series about super-powered children and their school, PS238. This school is not known to the general public as it is three miles below the Excelsior Public School. That is to provide safety and security for the students and frankly the public above. All these students have special powers and some of them have not fully exhibited their limits. Some can fly, some have super speed, and often they look like young versions familiar super heroes in the mainstream comics. But many are unique creations of Aaron's own. The possible stories are endless as we see things from the point of view of the kids or the faculty and the hazards of education. Some snips are short but need not be long. An early one introduces Murphy the Prince of Daydreams, a fragment of his former self. Until his siblings can find the rest of his being he is a child and so came to the school. His effect on the family advocate. Miss Kyle is hypnotizing and the tip of the hat to his sister "Death" is spot on. There are kids who have telepathy and try to control the parents, a little version of the Hulk, and ironically the son of Ultima has no power at all - at least none that have manifested, but he has a nifty costume. Of course the school even has a solution for his training, so he won't get injured by the other students, by recruiting the aid of a local caped crusader. Soon a bunch of these kids start straying from the curriculum and lots of mayhem ensues. Half of the fun is the day to day situations that get complicated by the mischief kids with powers can get into. The rest is just plotted fun, something Aaron is a master at. You'll really like this title as it take a logical approach to a world full of powered kids and how to deal with them. Fortunately for us the solutions always bring a smile. _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [19] TOP 100 COMICS FOR June 2004 Diamond Comics Distributors Diamond's top 300 list each month reports totals for the products that have shipped and billed for the month before. Rankings are based on orders placed by comic retailers and reflect total units ordered and dollar values of total ordered. This is NOT a list of comics that sold the most copies to the consumers - it is a list of ORDERS by DEALERS that were actually sold, shipped and invoiced to the dealers by Diamond. Other distributors and sales to newsstands are not included. Items marked ** are In Stock at Diamond and available for reorder. TOP 100 COMICS for June 2004 Qty Ret In Rank Index St Title Price Pub 1 1 226.48 ** IDENTITY CRISIS #1 (Of 7)*** $3.95 DC 2 2 225.07 ** SUPERMAN #206 $2.50 DC 3 3 185.76 ASTONISHING X-MEN #2 $2.99 MAR 4 8 145.50 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #60 $2.25 MAR 5 9 140.46 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #61 $2.25 MAR 6 10 140.20 ** ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #6 $2.25 MAR 7 11 138.08 ** ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #7 $2.25 MAR 8 12 136.99 ** UNCANNY X-MEN #445 $2.25 MAR 9 13 134.35 ** X-MEN #158 $2.25 MAR 10 14 134.26 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #8 $2.25 MAR 11 15 132.26 ** ULTIMATE X-MEN #47 $2.25 MAR 12 16 130.85 ULTIMATE X-MEN #48 $2.25 MAR 13 17 122.59 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #509 $2.25 MAR 14 5 116.56 ** WOLVERINE END #4 (Of 6) (RES) $2.99 MAR 15 6 114.85 MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #3 $2.99 MAR 16 19 114.23 ** AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #508 $2.25 MAR 17 4 104.74 ** JLA #100 (Note Price) $3.50 DC 18 25 100.00 ** BATMAN #629 $2.25 DC 19 28 93.75 ** WOLVERINE #16 $2.25 MAR 20 24 92.23 ** TEEN TITANS #12 $2.50 DC 21 20 83.96 AMAZING FANTASY #1 $2.99 MAR 22 21 83.02 EXCALIBUR #2 (RES) $2.99 MAR 23 22 81.72 NEW X-MEN #2 $2.99 MAR 24 34 79.26 ** AVENGERS #84 $2.25 MAR 25 26 74.66 ** DAREDEVIL #61 $2.99 MAR 26 27 71.24 ** CONAN #5 $2.99 DAR 27 39 70.81 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #15 $2.25 MAR 28 42 70.14 SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #16 $2.25 MAR 29 43 69.28 ** FANTASTIC FOUR #514 $2.25 MAR 30 29 66.82 PUNISHER #7 (MR) $2.99 MAR 31 30 65.92 ** PUNISHER #8 (MR) $2.99 MAR 32 38 65.35 ** ACTION COMICS #816 $2.50 DC 33 18 64.87 ASTONISHING X-MEN #1 DIRECTORS CUT $3.99 MAR 34 56 63.51 ** FLASH #211 $2.25 DC 35 31 62.06 IDENTITY DISC #1 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 36 45 61.77 ** ADVS O/SUPERMAN #629 $2.50 DC 37 60 61.44 ** INCREDIBLE HULK #73 $2.25 MAR 38 32 61.20 MARVEL KNIGHTS 4 #6 $2.99 MAR 39 33 61.12 WOLVERINE/PUNISHER #4 (Of 5) $2.99 MAR 40 48 60.14 ** OUTSIDERS #13 $2.50 DC 41 51 59.24 ** JSA #62 $2.50 DC 42 36 58.60 ** WANTED #4 (Of 6) (MR) $2.99 IMA 43 66 56.58 ** ROBIN #127 $2.25 DC 44 7 56.24 ** JLA ANOTHER NAIL #2 (Of 3) $5.95 DC 45 37 55.26 POWERLESS #1 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 46 61 54.58 ** DOOM PATROL #1 $2.50 DC 47 40 53.17 ** AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS #4 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 48 41 52.93 EXILES #48 $2.99 MAR 49 44 52.36 ** TRANSFORMERS GENERATION ONE V3 #5 $2.95 DRE 50 47 51.01 ** X-MEN UNLIMITED #3 $2.99 MAR 51 49 50.28 ** CAPTAIN AMERICA #27 $2.99 MAR 52 54 49.97 ** BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #54 $2.95 DC 53 50 49.77 DISTRICT X #2 $2.99 MAR 54 52 49.52 ** CAPTAIN AMERICA #28 $2.99 MAR 55 53 49.38 ** AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS #5 (Of 6) $2.99 MAR 56 73 49.15 ** FIRESTORM #2 $2.50 DC 57 74 48.88 ** SPAWN #135 $2.50 IMA 58 55 48.55 ** CABLE/DEADPOOL #4 $2.99 MAR 59 57 48.36 ** SUPERMAN BIRTHRIGHT #11 (Of 12) $2.95 DC 60 59 48.11 ** DETECTIVE COMICS #795 $2.95 DC 61 23 47.75 ** SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2004 $4.95 DC 62 91 46.74 ** GREEN LANTERN #178 $2.25 DC 63 79 46.27 ** GREEN ARROW #39 $2.50 DC 64 62 45.22 THOR #80 $2.99 MAR 65 63 45.15 THOR #81 $2.99 MAR 66 84 44.76 ** SCRATCH #1 (Of 5) $2.50 DC 67 85 44.48 ** BIRDS O/PREY #68 $2.50 DC 68 35 44.45 ** OFF HBK MARVEL UNIVERSE SPIDER-MAN $3.99 MAR 69 65 42.61 ** CAPTAIN AMERICA & FALCON #4 $2.99 MAR 70 67 42.20 ** EMMA FROST #12 $2.99 MAR 71 69 42.19 GI JOE #31* $2.95 DDP 72 90 42.17 ** BATGIRL #53 $2.50 DC 73 101 41.87 ** NIGHTWING #94 $2.25 DC 74 68 41.84 ** SPIDER-MAN/DOCTOR OCTOPUS YR 1 #1 $2.99 MAR 75 71 41.14 IRON MAN #84 $2.99 MAR 76 72 41.12 IRON MAN #85 $2.99 MAR 77 105 40.92 MARY JANE #1 $2.25 MAR 78 75 40.80 ALPHA FLIGHT #4 $2.99 MAR 79 107 40.59 ** WONDER WOMAN #205 $2.25 DC 80 76 40.30 WITCHES #1 $2.99 MAR 81 78 39.64 ** EX MACHINA #1 (MR) $2.95 DC 82 77 39.14 ** MYSTIQUE #16 $2.99 MAR 83 80 38.41 ** THANOS #11 $2.99 MAR 84 81 38.39 SHE-HULK #4 $2.99 MAR 85 83 38.09 ** STREET FIGHTER #8* $2.95 DDP 86 99 37.90 ** HAWKMAN #29 $2.50 DC 87 82 37.68 SPIDER-MAN/DOCTOR OCTOPUS YR 2 #2 $2.99 MAR 88 102 37.36 FATHOM DAWN O/WAR #0 $2.50 ASP 89 88 37.02 ** Y THE LAST MAN #23 (MR) $2.95 DC 90 86 36.76 WEAPON X #25 $2.99 MAR 91 87 36.52 ** VENOM #16 $2.99 MAR 92 89 36.01 WITCHES #2 $2.99 MAR 93 110 35.48 FABLES #26 (MR) $2.50 DC 94 70 35.32 SPIDER-MAN 2 MOVIE ADAPTATION $3.50 MAR 95 92 34.93 ** GI JOE RELOADED #4 $2.95 DDP 96 179 34.86 ** WORLDS BEST COMICS DC ARCHIVES SAMP $0.99 DC 97 93 34.75 ** CHALLENGERS O/T UNKNOWN #1 (Of 6) $2.95 DC 98 95 34.64 ** BATMAN DEATH & MAIDENS #9 (Of 9) $2.95 DC 99 113 34.60 ** AQUAMAN #19 $2.50 DC 100 96 34.39 ** GI JOE MASTER & APPRENTICE #2 (Of 3) $2.95 DDP *** - Denotes returnable issue. TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS/TRADE PAPERBACKS Qty Ret In Rank Index St Title Price Pub 1 2 11.41 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN V9 ULTIMATE SIX $17.99 MAR 2 6 7.41 ** ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN VOL 6 TP $16.99 MAR 3 24 7.21 ** WALT DISNEYS VACATION PARADE $8.95 GEM 4 8 6.82 ** DARK HORSE BOOK O/WITCHCRAFT HC $14.95 DAR 5 11 6.66 ** HELLSING VOL 3 TP (MR) $13.95 DAR 6 1 6.33 ** BATMAN ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS V2 $49.95 DC 7 18 5.95 ** SPIDER-MAN 2 MOVIE TP $12.99 MAR 8 15 5.42 ** CATWOMAN NINE LIVES O/FELINE FATALE $14.95 DC 9 34 5.32 ** RUROUNI KENSHIN VOL 5 GN $7.95 VIZ 10 37 5.10 ** DONALD DUCK ADVENTURES VOL 6 TP $7.95 GEM 11 13 4.92 ** SLEEPER VOL 2 ALL FALSE MOVES TP $17.95 DC 12 10 4.87 ** HELLBLAZER HIGHWATER TP (MR) $19.95 DC 13 7 4.81 ** BATMAN BROKEN CITY HC $24.95 DC 14 33 4.75 ** INU YASHA VOL 18 TP $8.95 VIZ 15 21 4.61 ** UNCANNY X-MEN V6 BRIGHT NEW MOURNING $14.99 MAR 16 22 4.48 ** MYSTIQUE VOL 1 DEAD DROP GORGEOUS TP $14.99 MAR 17 5 4.43 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 4 HC $29.99 MAR 18 46 4.17 ** ON ROAD TO PERDITION BOOK 3 DETOUR $7.95 DC 19 9 4.08 ** PLANETARY VOL 3 LEAVING 20TH CENTURY $24.95 DC 20 36 4.07 ** GTO VOL 19 GN (Of 25) $9.99 TKP 21 23 3.84 ** STAR WARS CLONE WARS V4 LIGHT & DARK $16.95 DAR 22 43 3.84 ** AI YORI AOSHI VOL 4 GN (Of 9) (MR) $9.99 TKP 23 20 3.82 ** WAR STORIES VOL 1 TP (MR) $19.95 DC 24 26 3.80 HEDGE KNIGHT TP $14.95 DDP 25 25 3.73 ** USAGI YOJIMBO V18 TRAVELS W/JOTARO $15.95 DAR 26 44 3.67 ** KARE KANO VOL 10 GN (Of 13) $9.99 TKP 27 29 3.56 ** INCREDIBLE HULK VOL 7 DEAD LIKE ME $12.99 MAR 28 81 3.36 ** BATMAN ADVS VOL 1 ROGUES GALLERY TP $6.95 DC 29 3 3.35 ** AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 500 COVERS HC $49.99 MAR 30 4 3.32 ** SUPERMAN I/WORLDS FINEST ARCHIVES V1 $49.95 DC 31 88 3.20 ** BATMAN ADVS VOL 2 SHADOWS & MASKS TP $6.95 DC 32 48 3.17 ** ELFQUEST GRAND QUEST VOL 3 TP $9.95 DC 33 91 3.15 ** PHANTOM VOL 5 GN VALLEY O/GOLDEN MEN $6.95 MNS 34 49 3.13 ** SAIYUKI VOL 3 GN (Of 9) $9.99 TKP 35 30 3.08 ** APHRODITE IX TP $14.99 IMA 36 12 3.05 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 1 HC NEW PTG $29.99 MAR 37 41 3.01 ** FALLEN ANGEL TP (MR) $12.95 DC 38 79 3.00 ** KIDS WB JAM PACKED ACTION VOL 1 $7.99 DC 39 105 2.97 ** FREAK GN $6.95 IMA 40 31 2.94 ** MARY JANE 2 HC $14.99 MAR 41 14 2.91 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 2 HC $29.99 MAR 42 84 2.89 ** YU-GI-OH VOL 5 TP $7.95 VIZ 43 53 2.88 ** MARS HORSE W/NO NAME GN $9.99 TKP 44 56 2.84 ** TEEN TITANS KIDS GAME TP $9.95 DC 45 58 2.80 ALICE 19TH VOL 5 JEALOUSY GN $9.95 VIZ 46 59 2.75 ** WALKING DEAD VOL 1 DAYS GONE BYE TP $9.95 IMA 47 149 2.72 ** MARVEL AGE SPIDER-MAN/DR OCTOPUS OUT O/REACH $5.99 MAR 48 63 2.67 ** PRINCESS AI VOL 1 GN (Of 3) $9.99 TKP 49 16 2.65 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 3 HC $29.99 MAR 50 40 2.62 ** STAR WARS CLONE WARS V1 DEFENSE O/KAMINO TP $14.95 DAR 51 17 2.60 ** FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 1 HC $29.99 MAR 52 19 2.56 ** BEST O/SPIDER-MAN VOL 3 HC $29.99 MAR 53 70 2.55 FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 11 VETERAN TP $9.95 VIZ 54 115 2.49 ** YU YU HAKUSHO VOL 4 TP $7.95 VIZ 55 72 2.49 ** CITY O/SILENCE TP $9.95 IMA 56 73 2.45 ** TOKYO BABYLON VOL 2 GN (Of 7) $9.99 TKP 57 76 2.45 ** IMADOKI VOL 1 $9.95 VIZ 58 74 2.45 ** REAL BOUT HIGH SCHOOL VOL 6 GN $9.99 TKP 59 83 2.30 ** MAHOROMATIC AUTOMATIC MAIDEN V2 $9.99 TKP 60 126 2.29 BLEACH VOL 1 GN $7.95 VIZ 61 85 2.27 ** PEACH GIRL CHANGE O/HEART VOL 9 TP $9.99 TKP 62 86 2.26 ** PET SHOP O/HORRORS VOL 7 GN (Of 10) $9.99 TKP 63 35 2.21 BONE VOL 9 CROWN O/HORNS SC (RES) $18.95 CAR 64 90 2.21 CHEEKY ANGEL VOL 1 $9.95 VIZ 65 89 2.21 ** ESCAFLOWNE VOL 7 GN (Of 8) $9.99 TKP 66 39 2.19 ** ULTIMATES VOL 2 HOMELAND SECURITY $17.99 MAR 67 92 2.19 ** SUIKODEN III VOL 2 GN (Of 4) $9.99 TKP 68 135 2.18 ** HIKARU NO GO VOL 1 TP $7.95 VIZ 69 27 2.14 ** TAROT WITCH O/T BLACK ROSE VOL 2 TP $24.99 BRO 70 98 2.13 ** PRIEST VOL 12 GN (Of 15) $9.99 TKP 71 101 2.10 ** EVILS RETURN VOL 1 GN (Of 4) $9.99 TKP 72 104 2.08 ** JING KING O/BANDITS VOL 7 GN (Of 7) $9.99 TKP 73 109 2.06 ** VAGABOND VOL 11 TP $9.95 VIZ 74 107 2.06 ** PITA TEN VOL 4 GN (Of 8) $9.99 TKP 75 111 2.04 FULL METAL PANIC MANGA VOL 5 TP $9.99 ADV 76 112 2.03 ** PROXIMITY EFFECT GN $9.99 IMA 77 45 2.02 ** ELEKTRA VOL 4 FRENZY TP $17.99 MAR 78 38 2.02 ** JIST CREATING DC UNIVERSE BOOK 3 TP $19.95 DC 79 117 1.96 ** CULDCEPT VOL 1 GN (Of 3) $9.99 TKP 80 134 1.94 INU YASHA VOL 11 TP 2ND ED $8.95 VIZ 81 119 1.93 ** MODEL VOL 2 GN (Of 7) $9.99 TKP 82 121 1.92 ** EERIE QUEERIE VOL 3 GN (Of 4) $9.99 TKP 83 123 1.91 ** SAIKANO VOL 1 GN $9.95 VIZ 84 122 1.91 YOUR & MY SECRET MANGA VOL 1 TP $9.99 ADV 85 144 1.87 INU YASHA VOL 12 TP 2ND ED $8.95 VIZ 86 125 1.84 ** VAGABOND VOL 12 TP $9.95 VIZ 87 61 1.81 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN V1 POWER & RESPONSIBILITY $14.95 MAR 88 52 1.80 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 6 VENOM TP $15.99 MAR 89 130 1.80 ** VAMPIRE GAME VOL 7 GN (Of 12) $9.99 TKP 90 82 1.78 ** ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 7 IRRESPONSIBLE TP $12.99 MAR 91 132 1.77 ** HOT GIMMICK VOL 5 TP $9.95 VIZ 92 66 1.75 ** ALEX RAYMONDS FLASH GORDON VOL 1 HC $14.95 CHE 93 32 1.75 ** SCRAPBOOK UNCOLL WORK 1992-2004 TP $24.95 D&Q 94 133 1.75 ** KING O/HELL VOL 6 GN (Of 8) $9.99 TKP 95 137 1.71 ** TRUE STORY SWEAR TO GOD 100 STORIES $9.95 AIT 96 136 1.70 ** GIRL GOT GAME VOL 4 GN (Of 10) $9.99 TKP 97 55 1.69 MODESTY BLAISE VOL 1 GABRIEL SET UP $16.95 TIT 98 140 1.69 ** SUKI VOL 3 GN (Of 3) $9.99 TKP 99 28 1.69 ** COMP FRANK MILLER SPIDER-MAN HC $29.95 MAR 100 71 1.68 ** KINGDOM COME TP $14.95 DC JUN04 MARKET SHARES & ACTUAL SALES DATA Based on Actual Unit Sales of Products Invoiced in June 2004 Comics, Magazines, & Graphic Novels Publisher Dollar Share Unit Share MARVEL COMICS 37.25% 40.56% DC COMICS 28.02% 26.21% DARK HORSE COMICS 5.52% 5.02% IMAGE COMICS 4.19% 4.51% TOKYOPOP 3.88% 1.67% VIZ LLC 2.56% 0.92% WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT 1.94% 1.15% DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING 1.76% 1.50% DREAMWAVE PRODUCTIONS 1.30% 2.33% IDW PUBLISHING 1.08% 1.85% GEMSTONE PUBLISHING 0.83% 1.86% A. D. VISION 0.79% 0.25% FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS/EROS COMICS 0.70% 0.27% ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 0.52% 2.01% SLG PUBLISHING 0.47% 0.55% CARTOON BOOKS 0.35% 0.20% MVCREATIONS 0.35% 0.30% ANTARCTIC PRESS 0.35% 0.21% BONGO COMICS 0.34% 0.34% ONI PRESS INC. 0.30% 0.57% Other Non-Top 20 7.50% 7.71% _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [20] New Series Diamond Comics Distributors This list contains every comic or magazine with a #1 or #0 issue in Previews this month, allowing you to find new series quickly and easily! The list is arranged by publisher, and offers you the item code, title, and Previews page number for each item in question. Please note that the items on this product page may not be available at every store. Ask your retailer for more information when you order. Directions: 1) Print out this product page 2) Take this product page to your local comic book specialty store near you, and ask them to order the item(s) you want. 3) If you cannot find a store near you, check the Comic Shop Locator Service at 1-888-COMIC-BOOK or at http://csls.diamondcomics.com Publisher Previews Item Code Page# Title DC COMICS AUG040407 83 SOLO #1 AUG040429 92 TOE TAGS FEATURING GEORGE ROMERO #1 (MR) AUG040435 100 AUTHORITY REVOLUTION #1 (Of 12) (MR) AUG040439 102 OCEAN #1 (Of 6) AUG040441 103 RAZORS EDGE WARBLADE #1 (MR) IMAGE COMICS AUG041631 169 BATTLE OF THE PLANETS PRINCESS #1 (Of 6) MARVEL COMICS AUG041777 6 SABRETOOTH #1 (Of 5) AUG041804 24 STOKERS DRACULA #1 (Of 4) AUG041811 29 TOMB OF DRACULA #1 AAA POP COMICS AUG042312 199 GOLDEN PLATES #1 ABLAZE MEDIA AUG042318 199 TOZZER 2 #1 (Of 5) (MR) ACTOR AUG042332 203 ACTOR DFE TRANSFORMERS MICROMASTERS FOIL CVR #1 AMAZE INK-S.L.G. AUG042378 213 COCOPIAZO #1 ANTARCTIC PRESS AUG042427 218 PANZER 1946 #1 (C: 3) AUTOMATON AUG042478 230 8 9 3 #1 (Of 4) AVATAR PRESS AUG042485 230 STARGATE SG1 ARIS BOCH REG CVR #1 AUG042486 230 STARGATE SG1 ARIS BOCH PHOTO CVR #1 AUG042487 230 STARGATE SG1 ARIS BOCH PAINTED CVR #1 AUG042488 230 STARGATE SG1 ARIS BOCH WRAPAROUND CVR #1 AUG042500 231 GARTH ENNIS 303 REG CVR #1 (Of 6) (MR) AUG042501 231 GARTH ENNIS 303 WRAPAROUND CVR #1 (Of 6) (MR) AUG042517 232 NIGHTJAR HOLLOW BONES TAROT COVER #1 BIG POND COMICS AUG042547 236 DANDY AND COMPANY ANTHROLOGY #1 BROKEN HALOS AUG042565 240 MONA LISA EVE OF ALL SAINTS SP #1 (MR) BULLETPROOF AUG042570 242 RAVENOUS #1 (MR) AUG042571 242 RAVENOUS ALT NUDE CVR #1 (MR) (C: 3) BURLYMAN ENT. AUG042572 242 DOC FRANKENSTEIN #1 DEVILS DUE PUBL. AUG042639 269 BREAKDOWN CVR A #1 AUG042640 269 BREAKDOWN CVR B #1 AUG042641 270 DEFEX CVR A #1 AUG042642 270 DEFEX CVR B #1 DIGITAL WEBBING AUG042671 273 EYES OF ASIA #1 (Of 4) AUG042672 273 SAVIOR #1 (Of 3) DORK STORM PRESS AUG042674 273 DR BLINK SUPERHERO SHRINK #1 DRAWN & QUARTERLY AUG042677 274 BABEL #1 (MR) DREAMWAVE AUG042686 277 PAT LEES TRANSFORMERS GI JOE #1 DYNAMIC FORCES AUG042705 285 DFE TRANSFORMERS GI JOE ALT CVR #1 AUG042706 285 DFE TRANSFORMERS GI JOE GOLD FOIL CVR #1 AUG042708 285 DF SINGULARITY ALT CVR #1 AUG042717 286 DF SABRETOOTH SGN #1 (C: 2) AUG042718 286 DF TOMB OF DRACULA SGN #1 (C: 2) AUG042722 286 DF GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH JOHNS SGN #1 (C: 2) AUG042723 286 DF GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH VAN SCIVER SGN #1(C:2) AUG042729 287 DF AUTHORITY REVOLUTION SGN #1 (MR) (C: 2) 88 MPH STUDIOS AUG042738 288 GHOSTBUSTERS #1 (RES) AUG042739 288 GHOSTBUSTERS VARIANT CVR #1 (RES) EROS COMIX AUG042763 294 DEANNA OF THE DEAD #1 (A) (C: 3) AUG042768 294 SEX WARRIOR ISANE XXX #1 (A) (C: 3) HEROIC PUBL. INC AUG042799 300 FLARE #1 HIGHWATER BOOKS AUG042803 301 BRIAN RALPHS REGGE 12 AND FRIENDS #1 IDW PUBLISHING AUG042806 304 30 DAYS OF BLOODSUCKERS TALES #1 (MR) AUG042810 306 LURKERS #1 NBM AUG042878 315 THE LADY AND THE VAMPIRE GN (NEW PRTNG)#1(C:3) NOW COMICS AUG042890 316 "MEL MUDD, THE COMIC BOOK DETECTIVE DVD"#1 RAT RACE COMICS AUG042913 320 SOFT BOILED TALES ONE-SHOT #1 RORSCHACH ENT. AUG042919 321 LUCIFER FAWKES: BLOODFLOW #1 (MR) _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [21] New Comic Book Releases List [NCRL] by Charles LePage chuck@comiclist.com http://www.comiclist.com New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, 7/28/2004, compiled by Charles LePage with information from Suncoast Comics. This is the *preliminary* list and is not complete. The completed list is posted weekly, usually Tuesday evening, at http://www.comiclist.com and other places. You can receive this list each Tuesday via email by following the instructions at the web site, or you can email NCRL-subscribe@egroups.com PLEASE NOTE- Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. Let CHARLES know if any of the names or numbers are wrong. chuck@comiclist.com (Charles LePage) PUBLISHERS: If you know when your comics are going to be available through Diamond, please email chuck@comiclist.com so that he can place your comics on the appropriately dated list. Thanks! "TPB" = "trade paperback". "GN" = "graphic novel". "AA" = "available again". "SC" = "softcover". "HC" = "hardcover". "S/N" = "signed/numbered". "AR" = "ask retailer about price". PUBLISHER TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS DARK HORSE COMICS Conan #6, $2.99 Last Train To Deadsville A Cal Mcdonald Mystery #3 (Of 4), $2.99 Samurai Executioner Vol 1 TPB, $9.95 Usagi Yojimbo #77, $2.99 DC COMICS Batgirl #54, $2.50 Batman #630, $2.25 Caper #10 (Of 12), $2.95 Cartoon Cartoons #32, $2.25 Catwoman #33, $2.50 Crisis On Multiple Earths Vol 3 TPB, $14.95 DC Comic Presents Hawkman #1, $2.50 DC The New Frontier #5 (Of 6), $6.95 Doom Patrol #2, $2.50 Green Lantern #179, $2.25 Hellblazer #198, $2.75 JLA #102, $2.25 Justice League Of America Another Nail #3 (Of 3), $5.95 Kinetic #5, $2.50 Legion #36, $2.50 Losers #14, $2.95 Metal Hurlant #12, $3.95 Planetary #20, $2.95 Richard Dragon #3, $2.50 Sleeper Season Two #2 (Of 12), $2.95 Superman #207, $2.50 Superman Birthright #12 (Of 12), $2.95 Teen Titans Go #9, $2.25 Townscapes TPB, $17.95 Witching #2, $2.95 IMAGE COMICS Dawn Three Tiers #4 (Of 6), $2.95 Drowned GN, $9.95 Gray Area #1 (Of 3), $5.95 Tomb Raider Arabian Nights, $5.99 Witchblade #77, $2.99 MARVEL COMICS Amazing Spider-Man #509 Directors Cut (Pu #630), $3.99 Amazing Spider-Man #510, $2.25 Astonishing X-Men #3, $2.99 Avengers #500 (#85), $3.50 Excalibur #3, $2.99 Fantastic Four #516, $2.25 Marvel Knights 4 #8, $2.99 Mystique #17, $2.99 Powerless #2 (Of 6), $2.99 Powers #2, $2.95 Powers The Sell Outs TPB (resolicited), $19.95 Rogue #1, $2.99 Ultimate Fantastic Four #9, $2.25 Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol 1 The Fantastic TPB, $12.99 Venom #17, $2.99 Venom Vs Carnage #1 (Of 4), $2.99 Witches #4 (Of 4), $2.99 X-Statix #25, $2.99 OTHER COMICS ANIMERICA EXTRA AUG 2004 VOL 7 #8 $4.99 ARCHIE AND FRIENDS #84 $2.19 ARMY OF DARKNESS ASHES 2 ASHES #1 (MR) $2.99 ARMY OF DARKNESS ASHES 2 ASHES GID PHOTO CVR #1 (MR) PI BETTY & VERONICA #202 $2.19 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #126 $3.59 CERES CELESTIAL LEGEND VOL 4 TP 2ND ED CHIDORI $9.95 CERES CELESTIAL LEGEND VOL 8 TP $9.95 DUEL MASTERS #7 $2.95 EVIL EYE #12 (MR) $3.95 FATHOM CANNON HAWKE #0 $2.50 FUTURAMA COMICS #18 $2.99 GI JOE FRONTLINE VOL 1 MISSION THAT NEVER WAS TP $14.95 GI JOE REBORN VOL 1 TP $9.95 GI JOE VOL 1 REINSTATED TP $14.95 GUNDAM THE ORIGIN #12 $7.95 JANES WORLD #14 $5.95 KYLE BAKER CARTOONIST VOL 2 TP (MR) $14.95 LAUGH DIGEST #195 $2.39 LOVE & ROCKETS VOL 2 #11 (MR) $4.50 LUBA #8 (MR) $3.50 MAISON IKKOKU VOL 6 TP 2ND ED $9.95 NEON GENESIS EVANGELION VOL 5 TP 2ND ED $9.95 RANMA 1/2 TP VOL 12 2ND ED $9.95 RED STAR VOL 2 #5 $2.99 ROSETTA COMICS ANTHOLOGY VOL 2 GN (MR) $19.95 SENSUAL PHRASE VOL 3 GN (MR) $9.95 SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERIES VOL 2 TP $14.95 SHOULDNT YOU BE WORKING #2 (MR) $5.95 SKYSCRAPERS OF OZ GN (A) $9.99 STRANGERS IN PARADISE VOL III #67 $2.95 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #27 (MR) $2.95 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE DLX ED #27 (MR) $19.99 TRANSFORMERS ENERGON #26 $2.95 UNCLE SCROOGE #332 $6.95 WALT DISNEYS COMICS AND STORIES #648 $6.95 X 1999 VOL 15 TP $9.95 WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT Duel Masters And Todays Hottest Games Special Ed Foil Cvr, $5.99 Wizard X Batman Superman Cvr, $4.99 Wizard X Movie Wolverine Comic Wolverine Cvr, $4.99 ComicList for the foreseeable future... TITLE OLD NEW DARK HORSE COMICS Grendel: Devil's Reign #3 07/21/04 08/04/04 Star Wars: Empire #23 07/21/04 08/11/04 Star Wars: Republic #66 07/23/04 07/30/04 DC COMICS Superman/Batman #12 07/21/04 08/11/04 Teen Titans: Robin Maquette 06/16/04 08/18/04 IMAGE COMICS Bad Ideas #2 07/21/04 08/04/04 Bloodstream #3 06/30/04 08/11/04 Bloodstream #4 07/28/04 09/08/04 Brit: Red, White, Black and Blue 07/14/04 08/04/04 Casefiles: Sam and Twitch #10 07/14/04 08/04/04 Casefiles: Sam and Twitch #11 08/04/04 Clockmaker Act III 07/21/04 08/25/04 Dawn: Three Tiers #5 07/28/04 08/04/04 Frankenstein Mobster #5 Cvrs. A-B 08/04/04 Hellhounds #6+Incentive 07/07/04 08/18/04 Image Comics 10th Anniv. HC Reg./S&N 12/31/04 Jack Staff #7 07/07/04 08/18/04 Liberty Meadows Vol. I: Eden TP (Landscape) 08/04/04 NYC Mech #5 08/11/04 PvP #10 08/18/04 PvP #9 08/25/04 Rex Mundi #12 07/07/04 08/04/04 Savage Dragon #116 08/11/04 Small Gods #2 08/04/04 Something Wicked #4+Incentive 07/28/04 08/11/04 Spawn #137 08/25/04 Spawn #138 09/22/04 Spawn #139 10/20/04 Spawn #139 10/20/04 Spawn #140 12/31/04 Spawn #141 12/31/04 Spawn #142 12/31/04 Spawn #143 12/31/04 Spawn #144 12/31/04 Spawn #145 12/31/04 Spawn #146 12/31/04 Spawn #147 12/31/04 Spawn #148 12/31/04 Spawn: Book of the Dead+Incentive 12/31/04 Tom Judge: The Rapture/Universe TP 08/18/04 Walking Dead #11 08/18/04 MARVEL COMICS Avengers/Thunderbolts #6 07/28/04 08/04/04 Daredevil: Father #2 08/04/04 08/11/04 Essential Avengers Vol. 4 TP 07/28/04 08/04/04 Guardians #2 07/28/04 08/04/04 Marvel 1602 Vol. 1 HC 09/01/04 10/06/04 Marvel Age Spider-Man Vol. 3 Digest TP 07/28/04 08/04/04 NYX #5 (RES) 08/04/04 08/11/04 NYX #6 07/28/04 09/22/04 New X-Men Vol. 3 HC 08/04/04 08/11/04 Runaways #17 07/28/04 08/04/04 Runaways #18 08/18/04 09/01/04 Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One #3 07/21/04 08/18/04 Starjammers #3 08/04/04 08/11/04 Supreme Power #12 (MR) 08/04/04 08/11/04 Ultimates Vol. 1 HC 09/01/04 09/08/04 Wolverine/Punisher #5 07/28/04 08/04/04 _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ [22] HYPE! & LINKS Section Various THIS WEEK'S LINKS These are the website URLS to the regular items that are usually here every week or two: World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Yahoo Group CBEM http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem Trivia sponsors: Discount Comic Book Service http://www.dcbservice.com That's Entertainment http://www.thatse.com News: Diamond Comics http://www.diamondcomics.com Marvel http://www.Marvel.com The PULSE http://www.comicon.com/pulse/ Comics Continuum http://www.comicscontinuum.com/: Newsarama http://www.Newsarama.com/ X-Fan http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/ Zentertainment http://WWW.zentertainment.com The Comic Wire http://www.comicbookresources.com/ DC Comics http://www.dccomics.com ICV2 http://www.ICV2.com The SCOOP! http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/ Alternative Comics http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics CrossGen Comics http://www.crossgen.com All The Rage http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com Lying in the Gutters http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/ Columns: New Comics Releases http://www.comiclist.com Tim O'Shea http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com Paul Howley http://www.thatse.com X-Fan Reviews http://www.comixfan.com/xfan Paul Dale Roberts http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Richard Vasseur http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Michael Vance http://www.starland.com/sus Mark Allen Rich Watson www.revampscripts.com/board/Rich_Watson.shtml Jonathan A. Gilbert http://www.twmgrafix.com Sarah Haslett http://www.HeroRealm.com http://www.geocities.com/silva_shado Alex Ness & Jeremy Clifft http://www.Popthought.com +++++ PREVIEW OF PREVIEWS Diamond has updated their web site for the new PREVIEWS out this week. Writer/Ad Coordinator Vince Brusio is the designated editorial writer for Previews' "The Splash Page" which is our source material Devil's Due Dives Into New Territory From the start, Devil's Due broke from the gates with the speed and stamina of a well-bred thoroughbred, hungry for a title. Giving us retro '80s entertainment updated with 21st century aftertastes, they ushered in new comic book titles that included Street Fighter, Voltron, G.I. Joe, and Micronauts. Without missing a beat and resting on their laurels, the publisher then set its sights on publishing in the fantasy genre by issuing titles like Dragonlance and George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight. Now Devil's Due is poised to tell tales of superhumans. The opportunity to get in on the ground floor for a new emerging continuity is now. With their foray into publishing superhero comics, the stage is set for "Aftermath," which acts as the Devil's Due "universe" in which superheroes are active. The concept of "Aftermath" explains that while the world is pre- occupied with its usual scientific advancements, hunger, wastes, and charities, mankind reaches a new flashpoint. It is the aftermath of innocence. For mankind, childhood's end has been reached. And from behind the curtain steps Defex #1. This new title, written by the legendary Marv Wolfman, tells of five young people who wanted to change themselves...but may end up changing the world. Unknowingly, they alter themselves by way of an experiment in genetics. Their newfound abilities drive some of them to seeking careers in fame. Others want to profit from their powers. But what none of them knows is that they're all in danger from a world that never asked for them. This sci-fi super-hero amalgam is followed closely by Chuck Dixon's Breakdown #1. The first of a new breed of men, Jeff Carey thinks his superhuman abilities will make him feared by his countrymen. But just the opposite happens, as his peers accept him as their guardian. He is loved, admired, and even rewarded with wealth and fame for his heroism. But what should be a story of hope turns into a tale of tragedy when the world's first superhuman protector is struck down by irreversible fate. A revenge-driven vigilante who seeks justice takes Jeff's family away from him and drives the protector into seclusion. And the people who supported their protector are now left only with the promise of pain. Look for both Defex #1 and Breakdown #1 in the Comics section of Previews! Wolverine Turns "30" For the faithful out there, there's no need to rebuke our claim of Wolverine turning "30" - anyone who read the blockbuster Origin knows we don't mean Logan is literally turning 30. However, October marks the 30th anniversary of the feral, claw- popping scrapper! After his first appearance in Incredible Hulk #181, the pint-sized runt has been one of the industry's most popular figures! For the big 3-0, Marvel has a fireworks celebration planned like no other, beginning with the all-new creator lineup scheduled for Wolverine #20-21! This October, the blockbuster new regular creative team of Mark Millar and legendary artist John Romita Jr. kick off a six-part story with parts one and two of "Enemy of the State!" In this inaugural storyline, Wolverine squares off against everyone from the X-Men, to the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and even S.H.I.E.L.D.! Fans should also watch out for an ultra- rare limited edition incentive cover version of Wolverine #20, which Marvel is offering to stores that support Wolverine's re- launch this fall! And the festivities don't stop with that star-studded series, as Marvel announces the Best Of Wolverine Volume 1 HC - slated for bookshelves this fall, in plenty of time for the holiday season. Meanwhile, in Ultimate Spider-Man #66-67, Logan guest-stars for possibly the strangest crossover you could imagine. As if that's not enough, Marvel's prose imprint, MARVEL PRESS, debuts this month with the all-new adult fiction novel, Wolverine: Weapon X, a hardcover prose novel with a Greg Land / Richard Isanove cover that will knock your socks off (See Diamond Previews)! This is the first launch of a new line, during a Wolverine Anniversary month. This release will also be supplemented with house and trade advertising. Also, Uncanny X-Men #450-451 ship this month with the first two parts of the mysterious "X-23" storyline, by superstar creators Chris Claremont and Alan Davis, featuring a killer with Adamantium claws and hyper senses on the streets of New York. Is it Wolverine, or something far worse... While this question won't be answered in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Wolverine 2004, every other Wolverine question will. And this title, too, ships in October! As you can see, there's a lot planned for Marvel's furry, feral mutant this fall! Don't miss a single release! Check it all out in the upcoming Marvel Previews! Previews Wants Your Drawings Previews readers new and old have seen our "Previews Gallery" section feature some very talented artists over the years. The artists showcased both in our Previews catalog and our web site galleries have come from all walks of life, and they have submitted artwork depicting everything from superheroes in battle to strange and surreal collages that defy conventional criticism. But this month, we're going to let everyone know we'll be doing something a little bit different with the Previews Gallery, specifically the one we feature in the October Previews. We'll be renting the space out to the Grand Prize Winner of our "How To Draw Comics Previews Contest," as well as featuring it on the Winner's Circle of the Previews website. That's right. We're making it a game. We're raising the stakes. And we're offering a treat to the Grand Prize Winner. Think you're up to the challenge? What we want to do with the "How To Draw Comics Previews Contest" is open competition where contestants submit to us one page of original comic art about "New Comic Day." Simple as that. Entries will be judged by the folks here at Previews as well as a panel of established and prestigious comics creators, including Mike Allred, Michael Turner, and Tim Seeley. Between the judges, a lucky contestant gets to be king or queen for the day, because not only will we be featuring the winner's artwork in the Previews Gallery "Star Artist of the Month" spot, we will also be awarding prizes to the winning artist and the two runners up, with loads of How to Draw Comics-related merchandise. So how good are you? And how much can you pump us up over new comic day? We want you to let it all hang out and dazzle us. Sharpen those pencils and get out the Bristol board. Sit down to do what you do best, and then send it to us for the contest. Contest entries due by 8/27/2004. For more information, see the details on Previews Contest #8 on page 11. Teen Titans Put On Weight How can super-heroes be at their crime-fighting best when they're putting on the pounds? Is it possible for the Teen Titans to do their job if they're porking out? Surely, they've heard about the new low-carb diet plans. What's their excuse? No, the young ones aren't on a supersize McDonalds binge, they're just coming to your desk as the new Teen Titans Mini Paperweights. A total of five characters - Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven - can interlock to form a combined paperweight that spells out "Teen Titans." Each paperweight acts as a detailed figural piece that rotates on its base. One side of the base features the character's name written in English, with the name written in Japanese on the other side. So what's your excuse for misplacing those papers and pamphlets? If you're looking to keep your desk organized and secure, have the Titans hold down the fort - literally! Look for the Teen Titans Mini Paperweights in the Collectibles and Novelties section of Previews! Vampirella's Tricks for a Halloween Treat The sexy vampiress re-invents herself several times over for a new book that is essential spooky reading! Anarchy Studios and Harris Comics release Vampirella: Halloween 2004 for those of us who can't get enough pain and pleasure at the hands of the brunette bombshell. Yes, her insatiable appetite could mean the end of our own lives before we collect our retirement pensions, but it's worth it to be in her good company for this Halloween special. The book offers a full pint of bloody tales that features a variety of talented writers and artists, including Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner. It's twisted trick-or-treat adventures that focus not only on the shapely Vampirella, but guest stars like the buxom feline Pantha and Vampirella's circus pal, Ophidia. It will be hard not to join in the dances with death this Halloween should you pick up this comic, which is available in limited covers by Michael Golden and Dub and Grafiksismik Studios! Phenomenal art and sharp-tooth writing give this seasonal offering plenty of bite! Look for Vampirella: Halloween 2004 in the Comics section of Previews! Conan Done Old School Devout Robert E. Howard aficionados have a lot to clamor about when they pick up the ongoing Conan series from Dark Horse comics. Writer Kurt Busiek demonstrated in tales like "The Frost Giant's Daughter" how updated tales that were traditional in structure enabled him to stay faithful to the original Howard vision. But there is another manner in which Howard stories have come to life. Writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Mark Texeira serve up the one-shot Conan & The Daughters of Midora for readers who want to see the Frank Frazetta-style Conan swinging a broad axe. Meaning, those readers who like the old, grizzled Conan that's been hardened by years of head-chopping. The tired war horse whose bones may ache, but is not encumbered when it is time to mutilate. Who among us remembers the old black-and-white magazine Savage Sword of Conan? Those holding up their hands should approach the podium and re-tell those tales of old, because they serve as a reference for what's to come in Conan & The Daughters of Midora. Conan is not the young man we see in the ongoing series. He's a knock-down, hard-drinking, bare-knuckled, older barbarian. And the lines on his face are prominent. His charge is to rescue a king's favorite daughter who has been kidnapped by the king's sorcerer advisor. On his adventure, Conan is unfortunately accompanied by the king's other daughter, and she won't prove to be much help once the pair start to cross rough terrain and ultimately encounter the sorcerer's horde of zombie warriors. The cards aren't exactly stacked in Conan's favor. To find out how the Cimmerian holds up against bad odds that only seem to get worse, look for Conan & The Daughters of Midora from Dark Horse Comics in the Premiere section of Previews! Rising Stars Returns In 1999, J. Michael Straczynski went from writing television shows like Babylon 5 to creating comics...like Rising Stars. It was the writer's first attempt at playing in the comics arena, and he hit the ground running. Straczynski introduced us to an event that was responsible for 113 people born with superhuman power. It was a plausible X-Men scenario. Terror, suspicion, trust, beauty, and death would follow the legacy of these 113 people, who would come to be known as "The Specials." They would have a mixed history, as some chose to defend liberty, and others - like Critical Mass - would take the city oof Chicago hostage. What made Rising Stars unique? We came away from our reading summarizing that not all heroes wear costumes and good guys don't always do the right things. It was a very human super-hero book. We hadn't seen something like it since Kurt Busiek's Astro City. The scope of the book was big. It didn't just touch upon the lives of the Specials, it also touched upon the reactions of the parents of these children. It exposed the government's way of dealing with them. And it explored how the Specials related to each other. The last issue was published close to a year and a half ago. But now Rising Stars is back - and the end is in sight. Literally. The Specials have set out to change the world. One of them has now been elected as President of the United States. They are now poised to make the world change...whether it wants to or not. Everything starts to come to a head in Rising Stars #22, beginning the first part of a three-issue story arc titled "Phoenix in Ascension." Look for it from Image Comics in the Premiere section of Previews! Pat Lee Helms 80s Cartoon Crossover Pat Lee got the ball rolling with Darkminds. That series won him a lot of attention and critical acclaim, and as a result the penciler found himself doing things even for Marvel Comics. Now Lee has moved on from dark espionage tales and superhero comics to another of his passions. He's taking the excitement of classic 80s cartoons and funneling the energy into new Dreamwave comics just as kinetic as those cartoon episodes that kept us rooted and faithful. This fall, Dreamwave unleashes the comic crossover too big for any TV to contain: Pat Lee's Transformers/G.I. Joe #1. Expectations are high, of course. But artist Lee and writers James McDonough and Adam Patyk deliver the lightning in a bottle, as they not only incorporate key G.I. Joe players Shipwreck, Snake Eyes, and Rock- N-Roll, but also a rookie commander of the anti-terrorist Joe organization who butts heads to keep the veterans in line - and respecting his authority. Egos get in the way. Guys who have seen bloodshed and bullets suddenly have to take orders from the new kid on the block. And this work dynamic makes for rough going as the business of taking on terrorists involves a lot of trust. Can the Joe hard-liners trust the new commander, Flint, especially now that Cobra's superior firepower is boosted by the powerful Transformers? Look for Pat Lee's Transformers/G.I. Joe #1 from Dreamwave in the Comics section of Previews! Drawing Comics - From A to Z With the popularity of comics soaring, more fans are becoming aspiring creators. What better way to learn about what it takes to create a comic book than from the professionals? This fall, Tomorrows Publishing offers would-be creators that very opportunity. In the How to Draw Comics From Script to Print DVD, Write Now! Magazine Editor-In-Chief and former Spider-Man Group Editor Danny Fingeroth and Draw Magazine Editor-In-Chief and artist Mike Manley combine forces to bring fans an insider's look at the comics creation process. With years of hands-on experience from such companies as Marvel and DC, this step-by-step guide provides information on character creation, from the initial idea and script to its first appearance as a fully drawn and colored hero. Viewers get to watch Fingeroth and Manley in the brainstorming process, generating their own concepts. The pair discuss everything needed in the process, including scripting, penciling, inking, and more! The 90-minute DVD includes bonus features to supplement the tutorials and expose the secrets the comics pros use in their daily work. Look for How to Draw Comics From Script to Print DVD in the Magazines section of Previews! Transformers Across The Time Fold Writer Simon Furman and artist Dan Khanna have created a crisis for peace-loving Autobots. Unicron wants to crush these pacifist Transformers. The crunching of metallic limbs under his feet is a swan song he wants to broadcast across the universe, so he decides to exploit the universe for a pool of recruitments. In the Transformers Universe #1 Previews Exclusive Edition from 3H Productions, Unicron picks and chooses the lowest of the low - Decepticons with no hesitancy in their willingness to maim and mangle. They have but one mission: eradicate the existence of the Autobots. Optimus Prime, however, did not get to be an inspirational leader by waiting for the fight to come to him. Jumping into the same dimensional arena as Unicron, Optimus swells his ranks with heavy-hitters that harken back to the days when Beast Wars and Beast Machines were the bomb! Add to this flashback mix classic G1 characters and you've got the kickoff for an ongoing series that can't be matched! This Previews Exclusive edition features two different all-new covers as well as additional story content created exclusively for this inaugural Previews launch! Look for Transformers Universe #1 Previews Exclusive Edition in the Comics section of Previews. Bear in a Big Black House He lives in a big black house, which is actually creator Jamie Smart's twisted imagination. The creature we speak of is "Bear." He was born because Smart was introduced to comics like Tank Girl, Milk & Cheese, and Squee. From there, creating chunky artwork with off-beat dialogue became his new obsession. An off-the-cuff painting of "Bear" one day made everything fall into place for Smart. And since then, readers have picked up copies of Bear to read about a sharp and sarcastic stuffed teddy bear that suffers at the hands of his owner, Karl, and a deranged cat, Looshkin. Bear, the comic, is a mesh of too much bourbon and an extensive history of wacky cartoon predecessors. Read Bear, and you think of humor milestones like Ren and Stimpy and Calvin and Hobbes. But then you also think of gonzo British TV shows like The Young Ones. In short, Bear is a hodgepodge of sick laughter, and it's meant for those of us who love to laugh at the misfortunes of others! If you like to have fun with lawnmowers and flammable aerosols, we suggest you check out the collected adventures now available in the Bear Volume 1: Immortal TP. Look for it in the Comics section of Previews! Alex Schomburg's Legendary Covers Collected A celebrated artist from the Golden Age of American comic books, Alex Schomburg's famed cover art is being revived for a new generation. From the late 1930's to the late 1940's, Schomburg was responsible for the dazzling covers of over 500 issues of various comics, from Human Torch to The Green Hornet. Some of his most memorable comics works were for Marvel (then known as Timely) just before and during World War II, and the artwork featured some of the company's most classic characters in complex and exciting situations. This fall, fans can relive some of Schomburg's most poignant printed moments with the release of the Thrilling Comic Book Cover Art of Alex Schomburg HC and Deluxe HC. This book collects, for the first time ever, a host of tantalizing Schomburg treasures, which have individually sold for record prices in America's leading auction houses. Both the regular and limited editions feature everything from superheroes and jungle girls to robots and space adventurers from the pulp comic World War II era of history. Check out Vanguard Productions' Thrilling Comic Book Cover Art of Alex Schomburg in the Comics section of Previews! Encyclopedic Knowledge of DC History . DK Publishing has taken on the massive task of cataloging the DC universe in The DC Comics Encyclopedia HC. This massive 352- page tome is the sourcebook many fans have been waiting to see for decades. With information on over 1,000 classic DC heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, the book also has extensive entries on villains. Equal attention paid to Catwoman, the Joker, and other super-baddies! This book looks at 60 years'- worth of publishing from DC Comics, and is full of vibrant full- color artwork. Look for it in the Books section of Previews! Archie Comics Reprints The Fly . The beautiful thing about comics: fans continue to discover the history of the hobby through publishers who refuse to let the classics die. Case in point: Archie Comics releases Adventures of the Fly Vol. 1 TP, which reprints tales from 1959 and 1960, all painstakingly restored with faithful re-coloring. The stories were handled by such luminaries as Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Jack Davis, and Al Williamson! A foreword by Joe Simon introduces readers to this pioneering superhero title, which many credit as one of the inspirations for Spider-Man! Look for it in the Comics section of Previews! Strike Comic Gold with Allred's The Golden Plates . Mike and Laura Allred collaborate on one of the most bold and original comic book concepts with The Golden Plates #1. This 64- page graphic novel is the first in a series that adapts the entire Book of Mormon! The first volume starts at the beginning of the legacy, which follows the Prophet Lehi from Jerusalem, the establishment of the plates, and spectacular visions of the future depicted in the theology. Each of the events are illustrated by Allred and each volume includes archeological and anecdotal evidence at the end. Check it out from AAA Pop Comics in the Comics section! Garth Ennis is #1 in 303 . Fan favorite writer Garth Ennis is back with his newest creator-owned masterpiece, 303 #1! With the amazing artistic talents of Jacen Burrows and the luscious colors of Nimbus Studios, Ennis presents the story of a group of Russian Special Forces soldiers racing their British counterparts to an unimaginable secret, which will send the war-weary Russian General on a journey that will change his life forever! Check it out from Avatar Press in the Comics section! Decorate Yourself with Inu Yasha . Inu Yasha is one of the most popular anime/manga properties on the market today. The action and humor, complimented by the supernatural yet historical artwork of Rumiko Takahashi has captured the hearts of fans around the world. Now, fans of the beloved show can display their devotion to the series with the Inu Yasha: Kagome Faces Women's and Inu Yasha: Parchment Background Previews Exclusive T-Shirts! Both of these shirts are made of 100% cotton and feature an image from the hit show on the front of the shirt. Look for these items in the Apparel section of Previews! 30 Days of Bloodletting . The horror never stopped. It went on indefinitely. Because the problem is indefinite. Vampires have been among us since history books filled libraries. So how do you combat such a threat? First you need to know the extent of evil, and you accomplish such an objective by picking up 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales #1 from IDW Publishing. In this new story, you'll meet Lex Nova, former private detective and free-range madman. The violence intensifies to new levels in this storyline, illustrated by talented newcomer Kody Chamberlin. Look for it in the Comics section of Previews. The Matrix Guys Make a Frankenstein . Not since Star Wars had there been such an influential sci-fi film like The Matrix trilogy. The Wachowski Bros. were so successful with their films, they went on to do comic adaptations of the Matrix stories. And in the process, they formed Burlyman Entertainment. But don't expect just to see more stories about man versus the machines, as the publishing company is releasing Doc Frankenstein #1, created by comic luminaries Geof Darrow and Steve Skroce. A new twist on the Frankenstein mythos, this story won't feature Igor. Totally off the wall, this Frankenstein is a doctor of science, a "messiah" of science. And he's out to save us from the other monsters threatening mankind! Look for this off-beat tale in the Comics section of Previews! Convention Calendar As a service to you, the dedicated Previews reader, we offer this rundown of upcoming events and conventions. Convention Location Dates Comic-Con International (comic) San Diego, CA July 22-25 Wizard World Chicago (comic) Rosemont, IL August 12-15 Gen Con Indy (game) Indianapolis, IN August 19-22 Baltimore Comicon (comic) Baltimore, MD September 11-12 +++++ Archie Comics for November 2004 ARCHIE #553, Ships 11/24. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Santa Cause": A bump on the head turns grumpy Mr. Lodge into jolly St Nick- and the townsfolk end up with wads of cash instead of toys! SCRIPT: Craig Boldman. ART: Stan Goldberg. "The Big Problem": Archie decides that his girl problems are trivial compared to giving counsel to the elderly he finds out the man at the nursing home has the same problems! SCRIPT: Barbara Slate. ART: Stan Goldberg. "The Average Awards": Archie receives the "Average Good Citizen Award"... and wonders how he can improve his average! SCRIPT: Barbara Slate. ART: Stan Goldberg. ARCHIE & FRIENDS #87, Ships 11/10. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Pirates Ahoy": It's "Yo, Ho, Ho and a gaggle of fun" in this thrilling story of high adventure on the high seas! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Rex Lindsey. ARCHIE DIGEST #212, Ships 11/3. Full color digest format, $2.39 US. . The adventures of America's favorite teen continue with new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent. ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST # 157, Ships 11/24. Full color digest format, $3.59 US. Double your pages, double your Archie and double your fun in this double digest full of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent. BETTY # 143, Ships 12/1. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Baby, It's Frigid Outside": It's the coldest night of the year, but a date with Adam is sure to warm things up for Betty! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Stan Goldberg. "Family Business": A sample viewing of the "Nostalgia TV Channel" proves that when it comes to families, the more things change, the more they stay the same! SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Stan Goldberg. "Shop Till You Drop": Betty comes up with a way to shop despite having a low budget- become a "personal shopper" for others! SCRIPT: Bill Golliher. ART: Stan Goldberg. BETTY & VERONICA #204, Ships 11/3. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "A Decided Lack": Despite all their preparation, Betty and Veronica note a definite lack of Christmas spirit will the magic of the season prevail? SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Jeff Shultz. "Stressmas Time": Betty and Veronica decide they'll relieve Archie's holiday stress by sharing time with him. SCRIPT: Barbara Slate. ART: Jeff Shultz. "Elf for a Day": Betty has exhausted ideas for what to get Veronica (after all, she has everything), so she offers to be her "elf for the day," at her beck and call! SCRIPT: Barbara Slate. ART: Jeff Shultz. BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST # 129, Ships 11/10. Full color digest format, $3.59 US. What's better than a digest full of those teen dream queens Betty & Veronica? A double digest full of them! Featuring new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent. JUGHEAD WITH ARCHIE DIGEST # 198, Ships 12/1. Full color digest format, $2.39 US. If you think Archie gets into trouble on his own, check out the action when he teams up with Jughead! Featuring new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent. LAUGH DIGEST # 198, Ships 11/17. Full color digest format, $2.39 US. The timeless high school hijinx of the entire Riverdale gang are highlighted in this hilarious collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #90, Ships 12/1. Full color digest format, $3.59 US. The spotlight is on the wonderful cast of Archie supporting characters, in this double digest featuring new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT & ART: Various talent. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG # 143, Ships 11/17. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "The Original Freedom Fighters" Part 2 of 2: All good heroes have their own heroes, and this story tells the tale of the heroes Sonic and the Freedom Fighters looked up to. It's a tale of inspiration but also deception... the story of a traitor from within... and a potential warning for our heroes of today! SCRIPT: Romy Chacon. ART: Art Mawhinney (pencils) and Jim Amash (ink). "Father's Day": the latest installment of the popular "Mobius 25 Years Later" series-within-a-series. In perhaps the most emotionally charged chapter of the series so far, the story of Locke and Knuckles is explored. How will their relationship affect Knuckles' daughter, lara-Su; Mobius, and the future of the Guardians? SCRIPT AND ART: Ken Penders. VERONICA # 157, ships 11/11. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Just Plane Fun!": Veronica is looking to get away for the winter, but all she gets is stuck in an airport, when a blizzard grounds all departing flights! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent +++++ DARK HORSE COMICS FOR OCTOBER BIRTHDAY TPB Written and art by Meimu. In 2002, The Ring came to American silver screens and brought a whole new style of horror and suspense to the States. Based on a series of novels by Suzuki Koji, The Ring became a media franchise in Japan with its fascinatingly creepy, yet scientific and otherworldly subject matter. Not to mention its very scary "monster," the spirit of a girl whose body was dropped in a well many years past. As you'll find reading through Dark Horse's series of Ring manga, this story is rich with an undergrowth of science and hatred, of strong will behind the murderous ghost of Sadako. "Birthday," the fourth in a series of five Ring manga, is a trilogy of stories, each enriching the main storyline of the Ring series. "The Casket Floating in the Sky" centers on Mai Takano, and how she becomes wrapped deeper into Sadako's grasp. "Lemon Heart" tells of one of Sadako's early loves, and eerily wraps itself back into the plotline of Mai Takano. And finally the "Sadako" story goes into the depths of both Sadako's death and her rebirth. Slowly, the details of how The Ring truly works are trickling out into the daylight. 160 pages, black and white, $12.95, in stores on Nov. 17. BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #94 Written and art by Hiroaki Samura. "Last Blood, part 5 of 5. With revenge-lust hanging thick in the air, our main event is the deadly showdown between the starving and weakened Anotsu and his crazed, quick Shingyoto-ryu opponent, Iriya. Makie has evened out the playing field in a bloody flurry that puts Kill Bill Vol. 1 to shame, while Manji and Magatsu try to survive separate dogfights with Shingyoto-ryu swordsmen on the sidelines. Manji battles in order to be reunited with his beloved Rin, Magatsu engages his opponent in order to defend Anotsu, and any survivors of these gory encounters will face each other and their own shifting, uneasy alliances! This issue's dramatic cover mirrors the intensity inside, as Samura continues to reinvent the bushido grudge match with a sharp, modern edge. 32 pages, black and white, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 13. THE CHRONICLES OF CONAN VOLUME 6: THE CURSE OF THE GOLDEN SKULL AND OTHER STORIES TPB Written by Roy Thomas, art by John Buscema and Neal Adams. In the eight decades that have passed since prolific pulp writer Robert E. Howard created his seminal Sword and Sorcery adventurer, Conan, many other scribes have tried to recreate the passion and energy Howard infused into his stories. Few have come as close as comics writer Roy Thomas did during his long and influential run on Marvel's monthly Conan the Barbarian series back in the 1970s. Collaborating with the most acclaimed and talented artists of the time, Thomas wove a narrative tapestry of action, intrigue, and heroism that1s as powerful today as it was when it was published nearly 30 years ago. 160 pages, $15.95, in stores on Nov. 24. CONAN #9 Written by Kurt Busiek, art by Cary Nord and Thomas Yeates, colored by David Stewart, cover by Leinil Francis Yu. In the first arc, Conan discovered the horrible secrets of Hyperborea, a land he imagined to be wondrous and beautiful. Now he ventures into an even more treacherous setting