Try Something Different: 6/29/05

Support Independent Comics!

Independent comics (and manga) being released tomorrow, 6/29/05, courtesy of ComicList. Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it.

Recommendations, sometimes blind, in BOLD. Which ones are YOU reading?

AAA MILWAUKEE PUBLISHING CO
Essential Arsenic Lullaby Vol 1 HC Sgn, $45.99

ABOUT COMICS
Licensable Bear #1 (AA), $2.95
Licensable Bear #2, $2.95

ALC PUBLISHING
Rica Tte Kanji GN, $15.00
Yuri Monogatari GN, $15.00

ALIAS ENTERPRISES LLC
10th Muse Vol 2 #2, $2.99
10th Muse Vol 2 Photo Cvr Foil Ed #2, $4.99
Elsinore #2 (Of 9), $2.99
Johnny Caronte Vol 1 Zombie Detective & Revolver GN, $5.99
Legend Of Isis #1 (Of 4), $2.99
Legend Of Isis Vol 1 Beginnings TPB, $9.99
Pakkins Land Vol 2 #2, $2.99
Penny & Aggie #1 (Of 4), $2.99
XIII #1, $0.75

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Oz The Manga #2 (Of 8), $2.99

ANTIMATTER/HOFFMAN INTERNATIONAL
Vampire Pageant One Shot, $3.50

APCOMICS
Mr T #1, $3.50

APE ENTERTAINMENT
Go Go Gorilla & Jungle Crew Summer Sp, $2.95

ARCANA STUDIO
Ezra Vol 1 Egyptian Exchange TPB, $9.95

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Archie Double Digest #162, $3.59
Betty #148, $2.25
Jughead #166, $2.25

ATOMEKA
Zombie Tales #1, $6.99

AVATAR PRESS
Belladonna #3 Siqueira Litho, $29.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Moonlight Ed #4 (Of 5), $5.99
Brian Pulidos Lady Death Swimsuit Prism Foil Cvr 2005, $12.99
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death #4, $3.99
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death Foil Inc #4, AR
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death Portrait Ed #1, $5.99
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death Premium Cvr #4, $9.99
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death Wraparound #4, $3.99
Brian Pulidos Unholy Prism Cvr #1, $12.99
Brian Pulidos Unholy Sure Shot Cvr #2, $5.99
Brian Pulidos War Angel #3 (Of 3), $3.50
Brian Pulidos War Angel Adrian Cvr #3 (Of 3), $3.50
Brian Pulidos War Angel Premium Cvr #3 (Of 3), $9.99
Brian Pulidos War Angel Ryp Cvr #3 (Of 3), $3.50
Brian Pulidos War Angel Wraparound Cvr #3 (Of 3), $3.50
Demonslayer Vol 1 TPB Alt Cvr, $19.95
Exposure Second Coming #1 (Of 2) (AA), $3.50
Exposure Second Coming #2 (Of 2) (AA), $3.50
Exposure Special #1 (AA), $3.50
Jade Warriors Slave Of The Dragon #1 (Of 3) (AA), $3.50
Lady Death Leather & Lace 2005 Killer Body Ed, $5.99
Stargate Sg1 Daniels Song Royal Blue Ed #1, $75.00

BASEMENT COMICS / AMRYL ENTERTAINMENT
Vampire Pageant One Shot Sp Ed, AR

BONGO COMICS
Bart Simpson Comics #24, $2.99

BROADSWORD COMICS
Tarot Witch Of The Black Rose Vol 3 TPB, $24.99

BUD PLANT
Art Of John Van Fleet HC (AA), AR

CHECKER BOOK PUBLISHING GROUP
X-Files Vol 1 TPB, $19.95

CHRONIQUE FATIGUE
Ending Time #1 (Cold Cut Distribution), $3.95
Our World #3 (Cold Cut Distribution), $3.95

DARK HORSE COMICS
Bettie Page Mini Bust, $44.95
Billy The Kids Old Time Oddities #3 (Of 4), $2.99

DEL REY
Negima Vol 6 GN, $10.95
Othello Vol 4 GN, $10.95
Perfect Day For Love Letters Vol 1 GN (Of 3), $10.95
Wallflower Vol 4 GN, $10.95

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
Forgotten Realms Dark Elf Homeland Cvr A #1 (Of 3), $4.95
Forgotten Realms Dark Elf Homeland Cvr B #1 (Of 3), $8.95
GI Joe Americas Elite #1, $2.95

DRAWN & QUARTERLY
I Never Liked You (AA), $15.95
Satiroplastic HC, $19.95

DR MASTER
Cosplay Koromo Chan Vol 1 TPB (resolicited), $9.95
High School Girls Vol 3 TPB (resolicited), $9.95
Infinite Ryvius Vol 2 TPB, $9.95
Junk Force Vol 1 Novel, $7.95
King Of Fighters 2003 Vol 1 TPB (resolicited), $13.95

EIDOLON ENTERTAINMENT
Underlords #4, $2.95

FC9 PUBLISHING
Genie #1, $2.95
Hell Michigan #1, $2.95

FIERCE COMICS
Internal Fury #1, $2.00

GEMSTONE PUBLISHING
Big Big Overstreet Price Gd Vol 35, $37.00
Life And Times Of Scrooge Mcduck TPB, $16.99
Mickey Mouse Adventures Vol 4 TPB, $7.95

HEROIC PUBLISHING INC
Black Enchantress #3, $2.99
Tales Of The Champions #1, $2.99

HOARSE AND BUGGY PRODUCTIONS
Elks Run Vol 1 #2, $3.00

HYPERION BOOKS
W.I.T.C.H. Vol 1 GN, $4.99

IDW PUBLISHING
Angel The Curse #1 (Of 5), $3.99
CSI Secret Identity #5 (Of 5), $3.99
Complete Jon Sable Freelance Vol 2 TPB, $19.99
Dampyr #3 Sand Specters, $7.99
Hell House Vol 4 TPB, $6.49
Lurkers TPB, $17.99
Metal Gear Solid Vol 1 S/N HC, $50.00
Shaun Of The Dead #1 (Of 4), $3.99
Shaun Of The Dead #1 Signed Ed, $19.99

IMAGE COMICS
Avigon Gods & Demons GN, $19.95
Blacklight #1, $2.99
Girls New Prtg #1, $2.95
Keu Cha Pirate Darkness Litho, $19.99
Lullaby Wisdom Seeker #3 (Of 4), $2.95
Pact #3 (Of 4), $2.95
Spawn #147 (resolicited), $2.50
Witchblade #86, $2.99

KENZER & COMPANY
Knights Of The Dinner Table #104, $3.99

KYLE BAKER PUBLISHING
Nat Turner #1, $3.00

NBM
Zorro #2, $2.95

POISON PRESS
Cavalcade Of Boys Vol 2 TPB, $14.00

ROBERT SATO
Buring Sandwiches, $7.95

ROSEN PUBLISHING GROUP
Rosen Library Graphic Novelists Art Spiegelman (AA), $23.95
Rosen Library Graphic Novelists Neil Gaiman (AA), $23.95
Rosen Library Graphic Novelists Will Eisner (AA), $23.95

SPEAKEASY COMICS
Grimoire #4, $2.99
Hunger #2, $2.99

TOKYOPOP
Gravitation Vol 12 GN (Of 12), $9.99
Immortal Rain Vol 6 GN (Of 6), $9.99
Kare Kano Vol 16 GN (Of 18), $9.99

TONY RAIOLA
Dick Tracy Unholy Matrimony, $9.50

TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
Surrogates #1 (Of 5), $2.95

TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
Modern Masters Vol 5 Jose Luis Garcia Lopez SC, $14.95

VIZ LLC
Fullmetal Alchemist Anime Comic #2, $17.99
Fullmetal Alchemist Manga #9, $7.99
Fullmetal Alchemist TV Animation Art Bk #2, $24.99
Fullmetal Alchemist TV Animation Comp Bk Material Side, $34.99
Fushigi Yugi Vol 7 2nd Ed TPB, $9.95
Howls Moving Castle Film Comic #1, $12.99
Howls Moving Castle Film Comic #2, $12.99
Howls Moving Castle Roman Album, $24.99
Mar Vol 2 GN, $9.99
Wolfs Rain Vol 2 GN (AA), $9.99

Buzzscope Reviews: 6/22/05

APComics 2005 Preview
Charging full-price for marketing promotions isn't cool. If this were a Free Comic Book Day offering, or even a $0.99 promo, it might have earned an A.

Catwoman #44
New creative teams are always a good time to peek in on a title you've never read before, or dropped a while back, and Pfeiffer and Woods get off to an entertaining start that's relatively accessible to new readers.

Deal with the Devil #2
Schwartzrock's art is solid, blue collar work that complements the real-world feel of the story. Unfortunately, it's more plot-driven than character-driven, and while sporting an interesting premise, its overall "potential" looks very different when it costs $2.99 versus $0.75.

Spider-Man: House of M #1 (of 5)
Waid and Peyer turn in an uninspired, by-the-numbers introduction to what is, essentially, an old-fashioned, if super-decompressed, What If...? story. It's not that it's bad, per se, but there's a certain "so what?" factor that comes from knowing it bears no consequences for any of the characters involved.

Be sure to check out all of this week's reviews from Buzzscope's crack staff of reviewers - some of the best out there, if I may say so myself. While you're there, sign up and leave some feedback in the forum. It's one of the more level-headed boards out there and while the usual suspects get the most attention, there's plenty of room to talk about good comics, too.

Peace!

Comment: Handicapping Batman Begins

As of Tuesday, June 21, Batman Begins has made $84,928,817 at the domestic box office, already ranking it as the 20th highest-grossing comic book adaptation ever. The Top 5 on that list are:

• Spider-Man: $403,706,375
  
• Spider-Man 2: $373,585,825
  
• Batman: $251,188,924
  
• Men in Black: $250,690,539
  
• X2: X-Men United: $214,949,694

Assuming a typical 50% dropoff this weekend, I'm guessing it'll leapfrog into the 13th spot, just behind The Hulk at #12 with $132,177,234. From there, though, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out, especially with the Fourth of July holiday next weekend which should boost its take despite War of the Worlds opening that weekend.

My prediction? Thanks to great reviews all around and the fact that its actually a pretty damn good movie, coupled with the likely bomb that will be Fantastic 4, I'm thinking it'll have some legs and pegging its final take at just under $200,000,000, beating out all of its predecessors except for Tim Burton's initial effort, and settling in at #6 on the adaptation list where it will remain until the sequel comes out and pushes it down a notch.

Fantastic 4? $125,000,000
Ghost Rider? $90,000,000
Superman Returns? $165,000,000
X-Men 3? $90,000,000 (Assuming they stick to next summer's intended release date.)

PS: Check out this piece about Marvel's slate of upcoming movies, including everything from X-men 3 to Captain America to Cloak & Dagger.

Pull List Review: June 2005

Here's what I'm currently buying on a regular basis, and why. What about you?

100 Girls
Because it's a great story, and Adam Gallardo's an interesting guy.

15 Minutes
Because it makes C-list superheroes interesting.

Action Philosophers
Because it's smart and funny and takes more than 5 minutes to read each issue.

Araña
Because I really wanted it to be good, and have been hoping it gets there. (Though, honestly, my hope is fading fast.)

The Atheist
Because it has an intriguing plot and a brother as a lead character who isn't a stereotype. (Well, not a bad one, at least, because he's definitely a bit of the stereotypical Sam Jackson badass.)

Atomika
Because of it's potential, and Andrew Dabb's a cool guy.

New Avengers
Because it's dumb superhero fun. No more, no less.

Young Avengers
Because it's way better than it has any right to be; good superhero fun without the dumb.

Batgirl
Because it's been pretty good under Gabrych's direction and I need a regular Batfix because Winnick has made Batman unreadable and Gotham Knights has been stagnant.

Black Panther
Because I want it to to succeed, and I love how Hudlin's making the fanboys lose their minds.

Captain America
Because Brubaker has made him interesting to me for the first time.

Captain Gravity And The Power Of Vril
Because Greg recommended it and he has pretty good taste.

Conan
Because Busiek and Nord have nailed the character and the setting, making both incredibly appealing.

Daredevil
Because the Decalogue arc looked interesting and, so far, has been great!

Death, Jr.
Because it was a random pickup that was surprisingly entertaining.

El Gato Negro
Because it's a self-published Latino character written by a Latino, and it's actually pretty good!

Elk's Run
Because it's got great atmosphere and art, and Joshua Hale Fialkov obviously has a passion for it.

Elsinore
Because I'm a sucker for atmosphere and this one has it in spades.

Ex Machina
Because it combines two of my favorite things, superheroes and politics, and keeps it interesting without ever being didactic.

The Expatriate
Because I have no idea what might happen next and I don't want to miss anything.

Ultimate Fantastic Four
Because Ellis nailed the characterization. (Unfortunately, Millar and Land are coming onboard to screw it all up.)

G.I. Joe: America's Elite
Because the introductory issue did its job by roping me in and making me curious about the characters.

Gotham Central
Because it is one of the most consistently good, sometimes great, comics being published right now.

The Grimoire
Because it's full-speed ahead fun and the raccoon, Chai, is one of the coolest characters EVER!

Alan Moore's Hypothetical Lizard
Because it makes me think about what I'm reading, after making me reread it twice.

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel
Because Lex Luthor has the potential to be a really interesting character when done right, and so far, Azzarello's been doing him right.

The Losers
Because I like Bruckheimer movies and Andy Diggle's a smarter writer than any of JB's screenwriters have been.

Lullaby
Because it's an interesting spin on fairy tales that proves all-ages comics don't have to be dumb.

Machine Teen
Because I loved what Sumerak did with Power Pack and Hawthorne's a fun artist.

Mora
Because Harmon's got talent and he's telling an intricately layered story that I haven't figured out yet.

Mu
Because I love Dungeons & Dragons and this is the closest I've come to it in comic book form.

NYC Mech: Beta Love
Because sometimes a comic leaves you breathless and giddy.

Papa Midnite
Because a brother's writing it and featured in it, and it's actually a pretty interesting story.

Powers
Because the letters column is often as good or better than the comic itself.

Random Encounter
Because never has the title of a comic been a more appropriate description of the feeling you get while reading it. And I love the art!

Runaways
Because I like Vaughan and would rather read his take on characters he created than the Ultimate X-Men.

Skyscrapers of the Midwest
Because it's quite possibly the best first two issues of a comic book that I've ever read.

Son of Vulcan
Because Beatty remembers comics used to be fun.

Western Tales of Terror
Because anthologies don't have to suck.

LINK: What's Next for Marvel Movies?

Avi Arad, Marvel's chairman and CEO, spoke with MTV.com about where several of the companies nearly 5,000 characters stand with regards to movie prospects, ranging from X-men 3 to Captain America to Cloak & Dagger.

• X-Men 3: Regarding Jean Grey's possible evolution at the end of the last movie, however, Arad says, "Dark Phoenix should not be the centerpiece of the movie."
  
• Wolverine: "2007/2008" film with Wolverine ("Totally different, just Wolverine's journey").
  
• Ghost Rider: Scheduled for August 2006, Arad refers to it as a "morality tale," and that it will have a PG-13 rating and a "Southern rock" soundtrack and ethos.
  
• Spider-Man 3: Due in theaters in May 2007, Arad confirmed that Dylan Baker will return as Dr. Curt Connors.
  
• The Punisher: Jigsaw will be the villain and it will be rated R. "[In the first movie,] blood and intestines should have been blown out on the wall, because that's the Punisher."
  
• The Hulk: "It's no secret, we took a lot of sh-- for Ang Lee's 'Hulk,' for all the wrong reasons... We couldn't get into the curiosity thing. Hulk having a butterfly land on his hand? He would never [smash it]. The Hulk would be curious. He is like a baby, in a way."
  
• Elektra: "I think Elektra is on ice now... If we could do her à la the 'Sin City' idea -- whoa."
  
• Captain America: "Captain America is the most famous character out there, by name. The biggest opportunity with him is as a man 'out of time,' coming back today -- looking at our world through the eyes of someone who thought the perfect world was small-town America. Sixty years go by, and who are we today? Are we better? I have a writer, and I have someone in mind to be the star, and I definitely have someone in mind to be the director."
  
• Iron Man: "It's been a war with [co-producers] New Line Cinema. I had a four-hour meeting with Nick Cassavetes in my house. If everything is cool, in the next few weeks there'll be an announcement about Nick writing it."
  
• Black Widow: "It's going to be ['X-Men' writer] David Hayter's directorial debut. David is very imaginative. Actually, his firstborn is named Natasha, so we think he is committed to the project."
  
• Silver Surfer: "Silver Surfer, from a spectacle standpoint, is second to none. It's 'Independence Day' meets Marvel, times 10... Galactus is a force of nature, not a being. That's all I'm saying."
  
• Ant-Man: "The Ant-Man is...a 'Honey I Shrunk the Superhero' kind of story."

Arad also discusses Daredevil, Black Panther, Cage, Cloak & Dagger, Nick Fury, Thor, Deathlok, and Namor. Check out the complete article at MTV.com.

Try Something Different: 6/22/05

Support Independent Comics!

Independent comics (and manga) being released tomorrow, 6/22/05, courtesy of ComicList. Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it.

Recommendations, sometimes blind, in BOLD. Which ones are YOU reading?

AEON
Bugtown #6 (Of 6), $2.95

ALIAS ENTERPRISES LLC
Deal With The Devil #2 (Of 5), $2.99
Judo Girl #2 (Of 4), $2.99
Killer Stunts Inc #2 (Of 4), $2.99
Lethal Instinct #2 (Of 6), $2.99

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Little Scrowlie #10, $2.95

ANIME WORKS PUBLICATIONS
Death Trance Vol 2 GN, $9.99
Kamunagara Rebirth Of The Demonslayer Vol 2 GN (Of 6), $9.99

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Heaven Sent Stand Alone Special, $2.99
I Hunt Monsters Vol 2 #6, $2.99
Ninja High School #129, $2.99

APCOMICS
APC Preview 2005, $3.50
Dark Mists #1 (Of 4), $3.50
Gloom #1 (Of 6), $3.50
Lexian Chronicles Full Circle #1, $3.50

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Archie #558, $2.25
Tales From Riverdale Digest #3, $2.39

ATOMIC DINER
Freakshow #7, $2.95

ATTA BOY
Hi Fructose Toysploitation Magazine Quarterly #1, $5.95

AVATAR PRESS
Alan Moores Hypothetical Lizard Tarot Cvr #2 (Of 4), $3.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Nouveau Ed #5 (Of 5), $5.99
Frank Millers Robocop Irate Officer Lewis Ed #8 (Of 9), $5.99
Friday The 13Th Sp Blood Red Con Ed #1, $4.99
Nightmare On Elm Street Sp Blood Red Con Ed #1, $4.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp Blood Red Con Ed #1, $4.99

BOYCHILD PRODUCTIONS
Beautiful Things GN, $13.99

BROADSWORD COMICS
Art Of Jim Balent Magick In B&W #1, $14.99

BURLYMAN ENTERTAINMENT
Doc Frankenstein #3, $3.50
Shaolin Cowboy #3, $3.50

COMIC CAVALCADE
Brian Pulidos Lady Death Abandon All Hope #1/2 Commemorative, $5.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
Conan #17, $2.99
Doctor Solar Man Of The Atom Vol 2 HC, $49.95
Hellboy The Island #1 (Of 2), $2.99
Jackson 500 Vol 1 HC, $14.95
Little Lulu Vol 4 Sunday Afternoon TPB, $9.95
Magnus Robot Fighter Vol 2 4000 AD HC, $49.95
Man With The Screaming Brain #2 (Of 4), $2.99
Manga Darkchylde #2 (Of 5), $2.99
Nail Vol 1 TPB, $14.95
Steve Rude The Moth Vol 1 TPB, $12.95
Whats Michael Vol 10 Sleepless Nights TPB, $8.95

DIGITAL WEBBING
Burn Destiny, $3.50

DRAWN & QUARTERLY
Walt & Skeezix Vol 1 HC, $29.95

FELIX COMICS INC
Felix The Cat Silly Stories #1, $2.50

FULL CIRCLE PUBLICATIONS
Full Cirkle Cvr A #1 Signed Ed, $9.95
Full Cirkle Cvr B #1 Signed Ed, $9.95
Full Cirkle Preview Book Signed Ed, $4.95

GEMSTONE PUBLISHING
Uncle Scrooge #343, $6.95
Walt Disneys Comics & Stories #658, $6.95

HK COMICS LTD
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol 1 Revised & Expanded Ed, $13.95

IDW PUBLISHING
Castlevania The Belmont Legacy #4 (Of 5), $3.99
Easy Way #3 (Of 4), $3.99
Grimjack Killer Instinct #5 (Of 6), $3.99
Karney #3 (Of 4), $3.99
Little Book Of Horror War Of The Worlds HC, $15.99
Metal Gear Solid #10, $3.99
Wasting The Dawn Novel HC, $29.99
Wasting The Dawn Novel Ltd S/N HC, $50.00

IMAGE COMICS
Flaming Carrot Comics #3, $3.50
Girls #2, $2.95
Gray Area Vol 1 All Of This Can Be Yours HC Sgn, $39.95
Iron Ghost #2 (Of 6), $2.95
Liberty Meadows Vol 3 Summer Of Love TPB, $14.95
Monster War Tomb Raider Vs Wolf Men #2 (Of 4), $2.99
Noble Causes #11, $3.50
Savage Dragon God War #3 (Of 3), $2.95
Sea Of Red #3, $2.95
The Gift #12, $2.99

INFINITY STUDIOS
Nananana Vol 1 GN, $9.99

MIDNIGHT SHOW
Grave Grrrls Destroyers Of The Dead #2, $2.99

MIRAGE STUDIOS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #22, $2.95

MOONSTONE
Phantom #7, $3.50

NBM
Boneyard #18, $2.95
Hardy Boys Vol 2 Identity Theft GN, $7.95
Hardy Boys Vol 2 Identity Theft HC, $12.95
Nancy Drew Vol 2 Writ In Stone GN, $7.95
Nancy Drew Vol 2 Writ In Stone HC, $12.95

ONI PRESS INC.
Queen & Country Declassified Vol 3 #1 (Of 3), $2.95

REBELLION
2000 AD #1441, $4.10
2000 AD #1442, $4.10

SHATTERED FRAMES
Angel Fire GN, $17.95

SHUCK COMICS
Shuck The Sulfurstar #1, $2.95

SIRIUS ENTERTAINMENT
Dogwitch #17, $2.95
Poison Elves Ventures #1 Cassandra #1, $3.50

SPEAKEASY COMICS
Wargod One Shot, $4.99

TITAN PUBLISHING
Comic Creators On Spider-Man (AA), $16.95

TOKYOPOP
Battle Royale Vol 13 GN (Of 14), $9.99
Beck Mongolian Chop Squad Vol 1 GN (Of 19), $9.99
Blade Of Heaven Vol 3 GN (Of 15), $9.99
Boys Be Vol 5 GN (Of 20), $9.99
Chrono Code Vol 1 GN (Of 2), $9.99
Dears Vol 3 GN (Of 6), $9.99
Doll Vol 5 GN (Of 6), $9.99
Fruits Basket Vol 10 GN (Of 14), $9.99
Get Backers Vol 10 GN (Of 26), $9.99
Gundam Seed Astray R Vol 3 GN (Of 4), $9.99
Heat Guy J GN, $9.99
Id Entity Vol 2 GN (Of 13), $9.99
In Dream World Vol 2 GN (Of 3), $9.99
King Of Hell Vol 10 GN (Of 10), $9.99
Mbq GN, $9.99
Peach Girl Vol 5 GN New Ptg (Of 8), $9.99
Phd Phantasy Degree Vol 3 GN (Of 8), $9.99
Princess Ai Vol 2 Lumination GN (Of 3), $9.99
Qwan Vol 2 GN (Of 3), $9.99
Remote Vol 6 GN (Of 10), $9.99
Rg Veda Vol 2 GN (Of 10), $9.99
Saiyuki Vol 9 GN (Of 9), $9.99
Sakura Taisen Vol 1 GN, $9.99
Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol 14 GN (Of 27), $9.99
Sorcerer Hunters New Ptg Vol 3 GN (Of 13), $9.99
Visitor Vol 2 GN (Of 5), $9.99

VIZ
Shojo Beat July 05 Vol 1 #1, $5.99

YAOI PRESS
Kingdom of Selfish Love TPB Vol. 1 (Cold Cut Distribution), $12.95

Buzzscope Reviews: 6/15/05

Batman Begins: The Official Movie Adaptation
While hitting all of the major plot points, there are several moments where Nolan must have altered the script during shooting to tighten things up that Beatty obviously wasn't privy to, completely ruining its function as an "official" adaptation of the movie and making its very existence ultimately pointless.

Black Diamond On Ramp
While the concept itself has potential, there's not much in this slight introduction to suggest that Young will pull it off thanks to its Marvel-style decompression and lack of any emotional connection to the lead character.

GI Joe: America's Elite #0
With Casey and Caselli at the creative controls, and a "one year later" storyline to ease any continuity concerns, as $0.25 introductions go, this is a pretty good one that doesn't merely rely on superficial nostalgia.

NYC Mech: Beta Love #2
Sometimes...a comic book comes along that connects with you on a subliminal level, tickling parts of your brain in ways that defy critical analysis and simply leaves you gushing like a mindless fanboy. NYC Mech: Beta Love is that kind of comic book.

Be sure to check out all of this week's reviews from Buzzscope's crack staff of reviewers - some of the best out there, if I may say so myself. While you're there, sign up and leave some feedback in the forum. It's one of the more level-headed boards out there and while the usual suspects get the most attention, there's plenty of room to talk about good comics, too.

Peace!

Retro: Runners #1-5

One of the best offerings from this year's Free Comic Book Day was Runners, a fun sci-fi comic that I raved about in my FCBD reviews for Buzzscope:

Atari Force was one of my favorite comics as a kid, and of course Star Wars remains one of the most influential movies I've ever seen, and Sean Wang's Runners evokes fond memories of both, with a welcome dose of humor thrown in the mix. Clever scripting and nice, clean artwork, I will be seeking out the other four issues to this series as soon as possible.

"As soon as possible" took a little bit longer than I'd hoped but I was thrilled to hear that Wang was releasing a Trade Paperback collecting the first story arc later this summer, and even more thrilled when I met him at Wizard World Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago and he gave me free copies of the full run! The best thing was that they fulfilled my expectations from the first issue and I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who's a fan of fun, fast-paced and, most importantly, accessible sci-fi. I know I'll be buying my own copy of the TPB when it comes out!

Wang's titular "runners" are a diverse band of charismatic space smugglers who move questionable cargo for profit, no questions asked. Led by Roka Nostaco, the vaguely elephantine proprietor of the freighter Khoruysa Brimia, they are collectively the distillation of the best of George Lucas' original Star Wars characters, as Wang throws in everything from Han Solo's hotshot bravado to Luke Skywalker's naive idealism, mixing and matching personality traits for a more appealing cast than Lucas could ever have dreamed up. The "Remastered" first issue offered for Free Comic Book Day introduces them as they head for a routine rendezvous, only to discover the ship they're meeting up with is under attack by raiders and their cargo is in danger. After fending off the raiders, led by the vain Hamron the Handsome, they discover a surprise amongst the wreckage...a mysterious woman of indeterminate origin and race. Her identity is but one of the sub-plots Wang spins into motion in this rip-roaring introductory arc that hints at a fully realized world lying underneath and begs for elaboration.

Wang handles the action and characterization extremely well with smart dialogue and a steady pace, working the serial format the way it's meant to be with each issue telling an entertaining story that never feels decompressed, while offering the requisite cliffhanger that keeps things moving forward. Collected as a trade - which is pretty much how I read the individual issues - it reads even better.

His character designs are pretty original and inventive, rivaling the sense of wonder I felt the first time I saw the cantina scene in the original Star Wars, and his line work is clean and highly detailed. It's the kind of black-and-white art that feels like an artistic choice as opposed to a budgetary one. There's a terrific character "sketchbook" in the second issue that shows the evolution of Grissom, a supporting character who appears in that issue, from her original conception as a male character back in 1996, to the female Wang ultimately went with, and it is impressive for the glimpse at the potential depth of the series that a supporting character received so much attention when the primary cast is 6-8 characters large, depending on whom you include. Factor in the detailed ships and environments Wang illustrates and it's no wonder that this labor of love has taken a few years to get through five issues.

I hate reviews that say things like "this should be a movie," because it can come off as slighting the comic itself, but in this case..."Runners should be a movie!!!" First, however, someone needs to sign this guy up and let him devote 70 hours/week to telling his story as a comic book because Dark Horse's Star Wars comics shouldn't be the best-selling sci-fi on the shelves. Slap an Image logo on this baby and you've got a smash hit!

Runners #1-5, (Serve Man Press, 2003-2005; $2.95/ea); Story & Art by Sean Wang.

Sidekick Delay

Sorry folks. Been a hectic couple of weekends. That and I'm not sure I'm disciplined enough for such a regimented format. And I think it's safe to say that folks who come here go to the blogs and boards I draw reviews and commentary from anyway -- very 'preaching to converted.'

Do you really need another review of Green Lantern #1?

So...what now?

I'm going to try to diversify the reading list a bit. Throw in more independents. Some Manga and actual fiction. We'll see how it goes. Hope you like and if you don't hope you tell me.

Thanks.

Meanwhile...saw Batman Begins last night. Excellent. Midnight show was not sold-out though. Not that I have shares in Wayne Enterprises but I am scared it won't be a commercial success.

What do you think? Am I inhaling fear gas?

Nonetheless, the crowd in the theater was abuzz after seeing the movie. It's nice to see fanboys happy.

Ciao for now.

Try Something Different: 6/15/05

Support Independent Comics!

Independent comics (and manga) being released tomorrow, 6/8/05, courtesy of ComicList. Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it.

Recommendations, sometimes blind, in BOLD. Which ones are YOU reading?

AARDVARK-VANAHEIM/WIN-MILL PRO
Following Cerebus #4, $3.95

AARDWOLF PUBLISHING
Conflicts Of Disinterest SC Sgn (AA), $9.95
Gods 15 Minutes Five Books Of Meth SC (AA), $17.95
Perverts Pedophiles And Other Theologians GN (AA), $9.00
Strange Kaddish Tales You Wont Hear From Bubbie GN 2nd Prtg, $11.95

ABSTRACT STUDIOS
Strangers In Paradise #74, $2.95
Strangers In Paradise Molly & Poo TPB, $8.95

ACES & EIGHTS PUBLISHING
Last Minute #6, $3.00

ADHOUSE BOOKS
Skyscrapers Of The Midwest #2, $5.00

AIT/PLANETLAR
Black Diamond On Ramp, $2.95

ALIAS ENTERPRISES LLC
Davids Mighty Men GN, $4.99

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Street Angel Vol 1 TPB, $14.95

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Fist Full Of Dollars Oz The Manga #1 Incentive, AR
Gold Digger #64, $2.99
Heaven Sent #11 (Of 11), $2.99
Mangazine Vol 3 #66, $9.99
Oz The Manga #1 (Of 8), $2.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Archie & Friends #92, $2.25
Archie Digest #217, $2.39
Betty & Veronica Double Digest #134, $3.59
Sonic The Hedgehog #150, $2.25
Veronica #162, $2.25

AVATAR PRESS
Brian Pulidos Belladonna #5 (Of 5), $3.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Adrian Cvr #5 (Of 5), $3.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Incentive Cvr #5 (Of 5), AR
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Premium Cvr #5 (Of 5), $9.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Raw Power Ed #5 (Of 5), $5.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Wraparound Cvr #5 (Of 5), $3.99
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death #3, $3.99
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death Foil Inc #3, AR
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death Premium Cvr #3, $9.99
Brian Pulidos Medieval Lady Death Wraparound #3, $3.99
Brian Pulidos War Angel #2 (Of 3), $3.50
Brian Pulidos War Angel Adrian Cvr #2 (Of 3), $3.50
Brian Pulidos War Angel Plat Foil Incentive #2 (Of 3), AR
Brian Pulidos War Angel Premium Cvr #2 (Of 3), $9.99
Brian Pulidos War Angel Ryp Cvr #2 (Of 3), $3.50
Brian Pulidos War Angel Wraparound Cvr #2 (Of 3), $3.50
Frank Millers Robocop #8 Platinum Foil Incentive, AR
Frank Millers Robocop Miller Cvr #8 (Of 9), $3.99
Frank Millers Robocop Obliterate Ed #8 (Of 9), $5.99
Frank Millers Robocop Ryp Wrap Cvr #8 (Of 9), $3.99

BLOODY MARY COMICS
Tales Of Bloody Mary #2 (Of 8), $2.95

BONGO COMICS
Bart Simpson Comics #19 (AA), $2.99
Big Beefy Book Of Bart Simpson TPB, $13.95
Simpsons Comics #107, $2.99
Simpsons Comics #92 (AA), $2.99
Simpsons Comics #93 (AA), $2.99

BRIAN BORU PRODUCTIONS
Ghosthunters #3, $2.99

COPPERVALE PRESS
Argosy Quarterly #3, $20.00

CRUSADE ENTERTAINMENT
Shi Ju Nen #2 Signed Graphite Ed, $19.99
Shi Px S/N Sketchbook, $39.99

DAKUWAKA PRODUCTIONS INC
Helios #4, $2.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
Conan & The Jewels Of Gwahlur #3 (Of 3), $2.99
Criminal Macabre A Cal Mcdonald Mystery Set, $10.00
Devils Footprints Set, $8.00
Man With The Screaming Brain Cvr #1 Black T/S LG, $17.99
Man With The Screaming Brain Cvr #1 Black T/S MED, $17.99
Man With The Screaming Brain Cvr #1 Black T/S XL, $17.99
Man With The Screaming Brain Cvr #1 Black T/S XXL, $19.99
Man With The Screaming Brain Mignola Black T/S LG, $17.99
Man With The Screaming Brain Mignola Black T/S MED, $17.99
Man With The Screaming Brain Mignola Black T/S XL, $17.99
Man With The Screaming Brain Mignola Black T/S XXL, $19.99
Spyboy The Manga Affair Set, $6.00
Star Wars General Grievous #3 (Of 4), $2.99
Star Wars Republic #76, $2.99
Super Manga Blast #52, $5.99
Syn Set, $10.00
Usagi Yojimbo #84, $2.99

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
Darkstalkers Vol 1 TPB, $12.99
GI Joe #0, AR

DIGITAL WEBBING
Eyes Of Asia #4 (Of 4), $3.50

DRAWN & QUARTERLY
Wars End Profiles From Bosnia 1995-96 HC, $14.95

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Barry Windsor Smith Opus Vol 1, $39.95
Barry Windsor Smith Opus Vol 2, $49.95
Blood Orange #1-4 Pack, $19.95
Glam Warp, $6.95
Peculia GN, $12.95

GEMSTONE PUBLISHING
Donald Duck And Friends #329, $2.95
Mickey Mouse And Friends #278, $2.95

HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE
Heavy Metals Dracula HC, $14.95

HK COMICS LTD
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol 2 Revised & Expanded Ed, $13.95
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol 3 Revised & Expanded Ed, $13.95

HOARSE AND BUGGY PRODUCTIONS
Western Tales Of Terror #4, $3.50

IDW PUBLISHING
Bigfoot #4 (Of 4), $3.99
Jon Sable Freelance Bloodline #2 (Of 6), $3.99
Metal Gear Solid Vol 1 TPB, $19.99
Wasting The Dawn Novel SC Ed, $16.99

I LOVE BUNNIES
Fluffy #3 (Of 4), $15.99

IMAGE COMICS
Adam Hughes Witchblade #86 Litho, $19.99
Battle Hymn #3 (Of 5), $2.95
Dale Keown Darkness #18 Litho, $19.99
Darkness Vampirella One Shot Reorder Variant, $2.99
Death Jr #2 (Of 3), $4.99
Freedom Force #6 (Of 6), $2.95
Hero Camp #2 (Of 4), $2.95
NYC Mech: Beta Love #2, $2.95

KENZER & COMPANY
Knights Of The Dinner Table #103, $3.99

LAST GASP INC
Cocaine Comix #1, $2.95
Cocaine Comix #2, $2.95

NITE OWL COMIX
Max Hamm Fairy Tale Detective Vol 2 #3 (Of 3)(AA), $4.95

ONI PRESS INC.
Scott Pilgrim Vol 2 Vs The World GN, $11.95

PENNY FARTHING PRESS
Captain Gravity And Power Of The Vril #5, $2.95

RADIO COMIX
Furrlough Finest Vol 2, $5.99

REBELLION
2000 AD #1439, $3.75
2000 AD #1440, $3.75
Judge Dredd Megazine #232, $11.99

SHOOTING STAR COMICS
Children Of The Grave #3 (Of 4), $2.99

SIRIUS ENTERTAINMENT
Temptress Art Of Scott Lewis SC (AA), $9.95
Tombstone Girls Portfolio (AA), $30.00

3 BOYS PRODUCTIONS
Students Of The Unusual #5, $3.50

TITAN PUBLISHING
Battlestar Galactica Vol 1 Saga Of A Star World TPB (resolicited), $19.95
Modesty Blaise Hell Makers TPB, $16.95
Wallace And Gromit Bootiful Game HC, $12.95

TOKYOPOP
Digimon Vol 1-4 GN Set, $19.99
Skull Man Vol 1-4 GN Set, $19.99
Wild Act Vol 1-4 GN Set, $19.99

TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
Aeiou GN, $12.00

VIPER COMICS
Oddly Normal #3 (Of 4), $2.95
Random Encounter #3 (Of 4), $2.95

Buzzscope Reviews: 6/8/05

Skyscrapers of the Midwest #2
A cynical, emotionally resonant tour de force of poetic impressionism whose overall effect is simultaneously heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.

Adventures of EBONYC #1
Danny Kimanyen's earnest, hip-hop-influenced spin on the kid superhero genre is chock full of potential...

Gotham Central #32
Rucka borrows from the classic horror story twist ending where karma comes around to settle its tab. As fill-in issues go, it's a solid effort that new and regular readers alike can enjoy, particularly notable for being a done-in-one story.

The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual
The perfect accessory for anyone who's ever dreamed of the vigilante lifestyle and answered the age old question of who they would rather be, Superman or Batman, with a derisive laugh: "Batman, of course."

Be sure to check out all of this week's reviews from Buzzscope's crack staff of reviewers - some of the best out there, if I may say so myself. While you're there, sign up and leave some feedback in the forum. It's one of the more level-headed boards out there and while the usual suspects get the most attention, there's plenty of room to talk about good comics, too.

Peace!

Comment: Synergy, A Summer Blockbuster Staple

With less than a week to go, the full court press is on to promote Batman Begins. I stated in a previous post that my Dad asked me when it comes out. The marketing gurus of DC's prized possession must be grinning ear-to-ear when they can get a 52-year old who was never into comics asking that question.

2-3 weeks ago the country had only been treated to a handful of trailers promoting the release of the film, but now they're bringing out the big guns.

Synergy is the name of the game, and all companies willing to pay, can play. Verizon Wireless has teamed up with Warner Bros., offering some cool content for your phone. They're offering games, wallpaper, and ring tones...all the bells and whistles to modify your phone. Lucas did the same by pimping out Episode III to Cingular. He actually went a step further, though, offering up the entire Star Wars franchise! Content for all six movies was available.

At first glance, this marriage of a communications giant and a comic book hero didn't seem like a natural fit. But then it hit me, cell phones have become the equivalent of a Happy Meal. Bear with me here for a second. You go to McDonalds because you're hungry, just like we buy cell phones, because we want to communicate. But you sure as hell aren't leaving McDonalds without the toy, or getting a phone without the gadgets. Granted, not everyone can get a cell phone with all the latest tech installed, but given the choice, which would you choose?

Unless you have a memo-taking, voice-activated, camera phone that can cook you dinner, all you have is a mobile phone. Cell phones are now becoming the adult versions of Happy Meals. Sure, the fries are tasty, and the burger's nice and greasy, but it's the Darth Maul Mini-BobbleHead we really want. The same now applies to cell phones. Sure we want the phone, but what we really want to know is how much other shit it can it do besides making a call. Part of Batman's allure is the gadgetry he sports while trying to thwart nefarious plots against Gotham. After putting some thought into it, this common thread of gadgetry made this merger feel natural.

The same can be said for Warner Bros. and NASCAR’s deal on June 19th at the Michigan International Speedway. This Nextel Cup race will be renamed the "Batman Begins 400." This is a strike right at the car fanatic. Warner Bros. has been pushing the gearhead angle for some time now. In fact, if I remember correctly, the first picture released from the film was that of the Batmobile, aka The Tumbler. If I'm not mistaken Nascar has the biggest fan base of any sport in the U.S., thus making this move a no-brainer.

Dan Romanelli, President of Warner Bros. World Wide Consumer Products, couldn't have said it any better: "We're looking forward to pairing the on-screen excitement of Batman Begins to the on-track excitement of NASCAR. A fast car, the Batmobile(TM), and a host of high-tech gadgets have always been key to Batman's success in fighting his way to victory over crime. As NASCAR's finest drivers take to the track on June 19 for the Batman Begins 400 at Michigan International Speedway, they will utilize all of the high-tech gadgets at their disposal to take their team to victory lane."

These are only two of the countless sponsors for Batman Begins. Wal-Mart has a big in-store event being held on June 18th. Multiple kiosks will be set up throughout their stores, each one featuring different content related to the film. Something like 97.3% of the world shops in Wal-mart. So if you're looking for exposure, that isn't a bad place to start.

Ultimately, I'm just stating the oblivious. This has been the MO for some time now with big-budget summer releases. It just makes me long for the days we went to the movies because they were actually good, not because we are bombarded with advertisements. At one point in time, good reviews and word of mouth influenced people to go see a movie. Now, we will never know if a movie can survive on its own. Too much money is involved to market the film solely on its quality. Fortunately Batman Begins has the best of both worlds. Warner Bros. is pumping millions upon millions to promote it, and critics like it as well.

So, if asked why my dad wants to see Batman Begins, my answer would be one word: "Synergy".

Ohh, my wife and a couple of friends saw the film on Friday in an advanced screening. In fact, the editor of this site was one of them. It is my understanding he was overheard saying the movie was "OK." We'll have to wait for his review in the coming days.

Review: Batman Begins

Just came out of an advance screening of Batman Begins and was fully intending to review it here but my mind is still reeling.

HOLY MUTHAFUCKING SHIT!!!!

You'll have to wait til next week for more than that because I don't want to spoil a single thing. And there's plenty to spoil.

Woah.

Tip your hat to David Goyer, Christopher Nolan and the entire perfectly-cast group of actors. Even Katie Holmes!

Buzzscope Interview: Alias' Miller In the Hot Seat

Miller owns up to mistakes, promises 30 years of comics

Alias Enterprises burst onto the comics scene a few months back, hot on the heels of a trio of successful titles published under the Image banner: Lullaby, The Imaginaries, and Lions, Tigers and Bears. With multi-page advertising spreads in Previews, and an all-out internet PR-blitz promoting their relatively little-to-unknown creators and/or properties and their $0.75 first issues, Alias was poised to make a bang throughout the month April with an aggressive slate of 12 brand new titles all scheduled to hit the stands before Free Comic Book Day. As the end of April drew nearer, however, not a single Alias-branded title had appeared on the racks, and questions were beginning to pop up on message boards across the internet.

"What happened to..."

Read the full interview here.

PSA: Independent Heroes

Support Our Independent Heroes
Benefiting CBLDF, A.C.T.O.R. and Independent Comics

Long Beach, NY -- June 9, 2005 - Independent Publisher Terminal Press is making an effort to benefit both industry veterans and future generations of comic creators with the creation of Independent Hero.

Their mission is to provide support to charities who protect our freedom and those who came before us, while creating an opportunity for up and coming comic creators to publish their work and contribute to the comic book industry.

Several products, including Reminderbands and T-shirts will be available for purchase through independenthero.com and in select retail locations with profits going to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, A.C.T.O.R. and the funding of an Independent Creator's comic title. Independent Hero will be accepting submissions through their website. A panel of comic creators will choose a submission, with a final vote by the comic fans. The chosen title will be printed and marketed by Terminal Press under the Independent Hero Imprint with profits once again going to CBLDF, A.C.T.O.R. and the selected comic's creative team.

Terminal Press owner, Independent Hero founder and comic creator Brian Ferrara's comment on this endeavor is, "I feel a responsibility to do whatever we can to help strengthen this industry, especially within the Independent Market. By giving time and effort to raise funds for two very worthy charities, while providing an opportunity for more independent creators to publish their work, I hope to raise awareness, do something positive and see others follow suit. If everyone decided to give a little bit back, we could ensure that this industry would thrive enough to be around for future generations to discover and enjoy."

More information, including submission guidelines, will be available at independenthero.com in the coming weeks. Terminal Press will be promoting Independent Hero at this summer's San Diego and Wizard World Chicago Comic Conventions, where donations will be accepted and Reminderbands will be on sale.

A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots, is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. More information is available at actorcomicfund.org.

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. More information is available at cbldf.org.

Buzzscope Preview: Skyscrapers of the Midwest #2

If you follow this site at all, you know that when I come across an indie comic I love, I pimp the hell out of it! 100 Girls, Fade From Grace, Western Tales of Terror and Elk's Run have all received an extra helping of rave reviews from me for being superlative examples of great comic books. I've even given away free copies of some of them to ensure they get into the hands of potential fans.

A while back, in January's Indie Spotlight, I raved about another comic, Joshua W. Cotter's Skyscrapers of the Midwest, a completely random discovery while browsing the indie racks at Midtown one day, saying: "Cotter beautifully communicates the raw emotion and vivid imagination of childhood, both in his words and his woodcut-style art."

Well, Cotter's back with his second issue, and it's arguably better than his award-winning first effort! I'll be reviewing it for Buzzscope next week, but I just posted a preview & interview for it to whet people's appetites. Check it out and then tell your retailer tomorrow to order it for you, if they weren't savvy enough to have already picked up on it. It's from AdHouse books, the fine folks who published the extraordinary Project: Superior anthology as well as the Free Comic Book Day standout, Superior Showcase.

House of M? Blah! Infinite Crisis? Yawn! Throw your pull list for a loop with something different...check out Skyscrapers of the Midwest #2.

Try Something Different: 6/8/05

Support Independent Comics!

Independent comics (and manga) being released tomorrow, 6/8/05, courtesy of ComicList. Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it.

Recommendations, sometimes blind, in BOLD. Which ones are YOU reading?

AC COMICS
Best Of The West #51, $6.95
Femforce To Die For GN, $15.95

ACTOR
Actor Darkness Prelude Foil Cvr Ed, $5.00

A. D. VISION
Yotsuba Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99

ADHOUSE BOOKS
Skyscrapers of the Midwest #2, $5.00

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Patty Cake & Friends Vol 2 #14, $4.95
Slave Labor Peepshow Vol 4 #6, AR

ANARCHY STUDIOS/HARRIS COMICS
Vampirella Magazine #1-3 Model Cvr Set, $24.95
Vampirella Magazine #4-6 Model Cvr Set, $24.95
Vampirella Magazine Special #1, $4.95
Vampirella Magazine Special Newstand Ed #1, $5.95

ANTARCTIC PRESS
AP How To Draw Chibi Super Deformed Techniques TPB, $19.95
Peebomanga Pkt Manga Vol 1 GN, $9.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Betty & Veronica #209, $2.19
Betty & Veronica Digest #157, $2.39
Jugheads Double Digest #113, $3.59
Sabrina Vol 2 #67, $2.19

ASPEN MLT INC
Fathom #1, $2.99

BLACK LIBRARY
Complete Liber Chaotica HC, $50.00
Hellbrandt Grimm Digest Size TPB, $9.99

BONGO COMICS
Futurama Comics #20, $2.99

BROADSWORD COMICS
Tarot Witch Of The Black Rose Dlx Ed #32, $19.99

BUD PLANT
Vic & Blood TPB, AR

CLAYPOOL COMICS
Deadbeats #71, $2.50

DARK HORSE COMICS
Blade Of The Immortal #102, $2.99

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
Army Of Darkness Shop Til You Drop Dead #3, $2.99
Megacity 909 Kano & Zack Cvr A #7, $2.95
Megacity 909 Mark Lee Cvr B #7, $2.95

DORK STORM PRESS
Nodwick #28, $2.99

EDICIONES LA CUPULA S A
French Kiss #13 (adult), $9.95

EL CAPITAN BOOKS
Stray Bullets #38, $3.50

EVIL TWIN COMICS
Action Philosophers All Sex Special, $2.95

EXHIBIT A PRESS
Supernatural Law #1, $2.95

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Bete Noire #1 (Of 4), $9.95
Modern Arf GN, $19.95

HK COMICS LTD
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol 4 Revised & Expanded Ed, $13.95

IDW PUBLISHING
Clive Barkers Thief Of Always Vol 3 TPB, $7.49
Silent Hill The Grinning Man, $7.49
Unauthorized Puffed Movie Adaptation TPB, $16.99

IMAGE COMICS
Age Of Bronze #20, $3.50
Age Of Bronze Vol 2 Sacrifice TPB, $19.95
City Of Heroes #2, $2.99
Earthboy Jacobous GN, $17.95
Elvis Presley Year In Gold 1956 AF, AR
Flak Riot #1, $2.95
Gray Area Vol 1 All Of This Can Be Yours TPB, $14.95
Negative Burn Winter 2005, $9.95
Stardust Kid #1 (Of 5), $3.50
Strange Girl #1, $2.95
Tenth Darkk Dawn One Shot, $4.99
Top Cow Triple Play, $0.99

MENTAL NOTE PRESS
Hoax #2, $2.95

MOONSTONE
Cisco Kid Gunfire & Brimstone #1, $2.95

NBM
Birthday Riots HC, AR
Confessions Of A Cereal Eater GN (AA), AR
Confessions Of A Cereal Eater Vol 2 GN (AA), AR
Fantastic Art Best Of Luis Royo HC New Ptg, $49.95
Gipsy Fires Of Siberia Vol 2 (AA), $4.00
Gipsy Vol 1 Gipsy Star (AA), $4.00
Lost Girl (AA), AR

NEW DIMENSION COMICS
Miracleman #17 Ruby Red Archive Signed Ed, $250.00
Miracleman #18 Signed Ed, $12.95
Miracleman #23 Platinum Archive Signed Ed, $99.95
Miracleman Apocrypha #1-3 Set, $29.95

ONI PRESS INC.
Little Star #3, $2.99

OPP
Holmes Periphery Flip Book, $3.50

ORIGIN COMICS
Temporary Cubes And Ladders #1 (AA), $3.95
Temporary The Real Me Part 2 #3, $2.95

PANTHEON BOOKS
Ice Haven GN, $18.95

POISON PRESS
Cavalcade Of Boys Vol 1 TPB, $14.00

SHANDA FANTASY ARTS
Katmandu Annual #5, $4.99

SHOOTING STAR COMICS
Nick Landime Vs The World Crime League #1, $2.99

SPEAKEASY COMICS
Phantom Jack Coll Ed TPB, $17.99

TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
Pencil Fight #2, $5.00

VIZ
Animerica June 05 Vol 13 #6, $4.99
Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M Vol 11 TPB, $9.95
Kare First Love Vol 4 TPB, $9.99
Sensual Phrase Vol 8 TPB, $9.99
Shonen Jump July 2005 Vol 3 #7, $4.99

Buzzscope Reviews: 6/2/05

Bet you can't guess which one was my favorite review?

Son of Vulcan #1 (of 6)
There's something of a pleasing throwback quality to Son of Vulcan, a worthy substitute for any pull list still tolerating the likes of Robin or Nightwing.

Ororo: Before the Storm #1 (of 4)
Solid work all around and should appeal to the avid X-fans as well as anyone looking for a strong female lead character or a respite from the House of M hoopla.

Atomika #3
Atomika is less "sequential art" than it is simply art, with a story attached. It's also a unique, intriguing and compelling concept that serves Speakeasy well as their flagship title.

Lethal Instinct #1
Holy craptacular comics, Batman! An appallingly amateurish effort that makes Secret War look like Watchmen.

Also, I was at Wizard World Philadelphia this weekend, attending some panels and scouring Artist's Alley for the good, bad and ugly. My coverage of DC's announcements is already up, here, and I'll have an Artist's Alley roundup posted later this week.

Be sure to check out all of this week's reviews from Buzzscope's crack staff of reviewers - some of the best out there, if I may say so myself - along with the Buzzscope debut of one of my favorite comics bloggers, Greg Burgas, and his Comics You Should Own column. (Sorry, CSBG guys!) While you're there, sign up and leave some feedback in the forum. It's one of the more level-headed boards out there and while the usual suspects get the most attention, there's plenty of room to talk about good comics, too.

Peace!

Comment: 9 Days and Counting!

Batman Begins opens June 15th, and the reviews are starting to come in. This weekend at Wizard World Philly's DC panel, lucky attendees were selected for an advance screening. Regular folks like you and me will have to wait a little longer to see DC's crown jewel in all its celluloid glory. I'm eager to see BB; hell, everyone I know is eager. Even my Dad, who's 52 years old and rips me for reading comics, asked me when it's opening!

I'm sure rambling fanboy reviews will be flooding the net soon enough, but here are two from the pros. Newsweek's Devin Gordan gives us the catch phrase "Batman is back," while Buzzscope's Sandy Collora lets loose with, "I absolutely LOVED it." Let me add that Collora knows what he's talking about. He has directed two short films, Batman Dead End and World’s Finest, that are classic Fan-Films. The guy clearly loves Batman so my expectations for it just got pumped up.

Over at IGN they've been doing plenty of stories on the Batman Begins video game. Being released the same day as the movie on all major consoles, it looks like it could also be a hit title for gamers. The most interesting aspect of the game is the fear mechanic developers have implemented. Check out the feature sections for streaming and downloadable video clips of gameplay.

Till next time...

Try Something Different: 6/2/05

Support Independent Comics!

Independent comics (and manga) being released tomorrow, 6/2/05, courtesy of ComicList. Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it.

Recommendations, sometimes blind, in BOLD. Which ones are YOU reading?

A FINE LINE
A Fine Line Press Coll, $45.00

A. D. VISION
By The Sword Manga Vol 2 TPB, $9.99
Chrono Crusade Manga Vol 5 TPB, $9.99
Cromartie High School Manga Vol 2 TPB, $10.95
Full Metal Panic Overload Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Gunslinger Girl Manga Vol 3 TPB, $9.99
Orphen Manga Vol 2 TPB, $9.99

ALIAS ENTERPRISES LLC
10th Muse Vol 2 Photo Cvr Foil Ed Sgn #1, $29.99
Lethal Instinct #1, $0.75

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Due GN, $12.95
Emo Boy #1, $2.95
Next Exit #4, $2.95

ANIME WORKS PUBLICATIONS
Pilgrim Jager Vol 3 GN (Of 3), $9.99

ANTARCTIC PRESS
AP How To Draw Manga Next Generation #6, $4.95

APPROBATION COMICS
Myriad #2 (Of 6), $2.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Betty #147, $2.19
Jughead And Friends Digest #2, $2.39
Pals N Gals Double Digest #94, $3.59

AVATAR PRESS
Nightmare On Elm Street Sp #1, $3.99
Nightmare On Elm Street Sp Glow Cvr #1, $14.99
Nightmare On Elm Street Sp Gore Cvr #1, $3.99
Nightmare On Elm Street Sp Plat Foil Incentive #1, AR
Nightmare On Elm Street Sp Terror Cvr #1, $3.99
Nightmare On Elm Street Sp Wraparound Cvr #1, $3.99
Stargate SG1 Daniels Song Nouveau Jackson Ed #1, $5.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp #1, $3.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp Bloodbath Cvr #1, $5.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp Glow Cvr #1, $14.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp Gore Cvr #1, $3.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp Plat Foil Incentive #1, AR
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp Ryp Cvr #1, $3.99
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sp Wraparound Cvr #1, $3.99

BIG POND COMICS
Dandy And Company Anthrology #4, $3.95

BUD PLANT
Dinotopia Land Apart From Time HC (AA), AR

CONTINUITY
Neal Adams Savage Sketchbook, $20.00

DARK HORSE COMICS
Blade Of The Immortal Vol 14 Last Blood TPB, $17.95
Concrete Human Dilemma #6 (Of 6), $3.50
Shi Ju Nen #4 (Of 4), $2.99

D. E.
Fathom Prelude #1, $2.99
Fathom Prelude High End Lee Cvr #1, AR

DEL REY
Xxxholic Vol 5 GN, $10.95

DERFCITY COMICS
My Friend Dahmer #1 (AA), $2.95

DESTINATION ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Transformers Universe #1 Red Foil Con S/N Ed, $15.99

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
Darkstalkers Alvin Lee Cvr A #6, $2.95
Darkstalkers Arn Cvr C Power Foil #6, AR
Darkstalkers Skottie Young Cvr B #6, $2.95
Hack Slash Vs Evil Ernie Crank Cvr B, $4.95
Hack Slash Vs Evil Ernie Seeley Cvr A, $4.95

DRAWN & QUARTERLY
Long Time Relationship HC (AA), $19.95
Paul Moves Out HC, $19.95
Vernacular Drawings Coll Seth Sketchbook HC, $34.95

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Scream Queen GN, $12.95

GAGNE INTERNATIONAL PRESS
Zed #6, $2.95

GEMSTONE PUBLISHING
Donald Duck Adventures Vol 12 TPB, $7.95
Walt Disneys Vacation Parade #2, $8.95

I BOX PUBLISHING
Thieves & Kings #46 (resolicited), $2.95

IDW PUBLISHING
CSI Secret Identity #4 (Of 5), $3.99
Cal Mcdonald Supernatural Freak Machine #3 (Of 5), $3.99
Metal Gear Solid #9, $3.99
Smoke #1 (Of 3), $7.49
Will Eisners John Law Vol 1 S/N HC Ed, $50.00

ILLUSIVE ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
Dorothy #3, $5.00

IMAGE COMICS
Burglar Bill #3 (Of 6), $2.95
Casefiles Sam & Twitch #17 (resolicited), $2.50
Imaginaries Cvr A Miller #2 (Of 4), $2.95
Imaginaries Cvr B Titus #2 (Of 4), $2.95
Invincible #23, $2.95
Mora #3, $2.95
Noble Causes #10, $3.50
Pact #2 (Of 4), $2.99
Shadowhawk #2, $2.99
Small Gods #9, $2.95
Spawn #146 (resolicited), $2.50
Walking Dead #19, $2.95

JMS PRODUCTIONS
Echoes Of The Lost Boys Of Sudan, $4.95

KEENSPOT ENTERTAINMENT
Alien Dice Vol 1 TPB, $9.95
Heavy Metal Hearts & Flowers A Scary Go Round Story, $9.95

KING HELL
Maximortal TPB New Ptg, $17.95

KNOCKABOUT COMICS
Not Quite Dead #5, $3.99

MIRAGE STUDIOS
Tales Of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #11, $3.25

MOONSTONE
Phantom #6, $3.50

NBM
Treasury Victorian Murder Vol 4 Fatal Bullet, $8.95
Treasury Victorian Murder Vol 5 Mystery Mary Rogers HC, $15.95
Treasury Victorian Murder Vol 6 Beast Of Chicago HC (AA), $15.95
Treasury Victorian Murder Vol 7 Murder Abraham Lincoln HC, $15.95

ONI PRESS INC.
Blue Monday Vol 4 Painted Moon TPB, $11.95
I Was Someone Dead Novella, $9.95

PUFFIN GRAPHICS
Black Beauty GN, $9.99
Frankenstein Puffin GN, $9.99
Red Badge Of Courage GN, $9.99

RANDOM HOUSE
Birth Of A Nation A Comic Novel SC, $13.95

REBELLION
2000 AD #1438, $3.75

SAF COMICS
Docteur Mystere Vol 2 The War Of The Worlds HC, $12.95
Mysteries Of The Red Moon Vol 1, $12.95

SALT PETER PRESS
Tabloia #576 Fifth Issue, $5.95

SILENT DEVIL PRODUCTIONS
Dracula Vs King Arthur #1 (Of 4), $2.95

SPEAKEASY COMICS
Atomika #3, $2.99
Beowulf #2, $2.99

TOKYOPOP
Clamp No Kiseki Vol 2 Magazine Collectable (Of 12), $29.99
Jing King Of Bandits Twilight Tales Vol 4 GN (Of 6), $9.99

TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
Monkey Vs Robot New Ed, $10.00
Super F$$$$$S #1, $7.00

TRUE BELIEVER PRESS
66 Thousand Miles Per Hour #2 (Of 12), $3.50

VIZ
Angel Sanctuary Vol 8 GN, $9.99
Banana Fish Vol 8 TPB, $9.95
Basara Vol 12 TPB, $9.99
Beet The Vandel Buster Vol 5 GN, $7.99
Bleach Vol 7 TPB, $7.95
Boys Over Flowers Vol 12 TPB, $9.99
Dragonball Z Vol 20 TPB, $7.95
Eyeshield 21 Vol 2 TPB, $7.99
Hana Kimi Vol 6 GN, $9.99
Hikaru No Go Vol 4 TPB, $7.95
Legendz Vol 2 GN, $7.99
Maison Ikkoku Vol 11 2nd Ed TPB, $9.95
Rurouni Kenshin Vol 15 TPB, $7.95
Tuxedo Gin Vol 12 TPB, $9.99
Yu GI Oh Duelist Vol 5 TPB, $7.95
Yu Yu Hakusho Vol 7 TPB, $7.95