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UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v27.8
by: Brian Domingos

Natural Ghost

January 28th, 2009

I’ve slowly been moving through my “to be read” pile and it gets harder and harder every week as more and more new books arrive for me to check out. Once “Final Crisis” and “Dark Reign” get all worked out, things’ll settle down, but for now, I’ve got a bunch of first issues to plow through.

Here’s five more:

BLACK LIGHTNING: YEAR ONE #1 (of 6)

Writer: Jen Van Meter
Artist: Cully Hamner
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Format: Miniseries
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99

I don’t have a ton of history with Black Lightning. I’ve enjoyed his recent appearances in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA but I never read many comics in which he appeared. I have always been peripherally aware of him – mostly due to his name. I knew that he was a husband & father and he had a seat in Lex Luthor’s cabinet as Secretary of Education, which I thought was interesting at the time. This miniseries from Jen VanMeter and Cully Hamner, reestablishes these aspects of the character, set back in his first year of superheroics (hence the “Year One” moniker). Jefferson Pierce travels the country with his family, working in communities in need, turning around their failed education systems and righting the ship, so to speak. He returns to his home town – the Suicide Slum section of Metropolis – to work his magic on the High School there. He finds is overrun by “The 100”, the super-gang that’s been around Metropolis for decades. This first issue shows Pierce begin to get accustomed to the new environment, deal with his own familial issues and ultimately declare war on The 100. It’s interesting to read a “Year One” when I am completely unaware of the source material. It was all new to me, and it was a nice change of pace. I haven’t read a lot of VanMeter’s work but she did a good job making dated material fresh. It’s a modern version of a thirty year old story which is set in the past – not an easy task. It’s a fairly by-the-numbers plot but there’s some nice character work and it seems like something I’d enjoy reading. The main draw for me was Cully Hamner’s artwork. I’m a huge fan of his and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a large amount of his work. On top of that, he’s colored by studiomate Laura Martin, whom just happens to be on the best in the business. The colors are lush and vibrant, atmospheric and moody. I’ll likely pick up the collection of the whole miniseries. I can’t justify getting every issue of something I’d prefer as a trade paperback.

DARK AVENGERS #1

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mike Deodato
Colorist: Rain Beredo
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Format: Ongoing
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

“Secret Invasion” is over and the world according to Norman Osborn is here. His “Dark Reign” continues and his next big step is retasking the remaining Thunderbolts as the new Avengers. We’ve got Bullseye as Hawkeye, Moonstone as Ms. Marvel, Venom as Spider-man. Throw in a pair of former Mighty Avengers in Sentry and Ares, Wolverine’s son, Daken, in the brown and orange suit, Morrison’s Marvel Boy and Osborn in red, white & blue Iron Man armour and you’ve got the People’s Avengers. The thing about this is that it’s a decent comic idea, but my issue is with the execution. It was exactly what I thought it would be. I wasn’t surprised in any way. You look at the cover and you can draw your own conclusions. Bendis’ script covers the basic introductions (the motivations and “whys”) and that’s the issue. (There’s also some subplot stuff with Doom and Morgana le Fay but, man, that material never does anything for me.) Mike Deodato’s art is better than usual, but at times, the storytelling fails the script. He doesn’t have the chops that Mark Bagley or Alex Maleev have when it comes to interpersonal interactions. There are a couple times where I can tell that the figure’s face just misses the mark, and the moment passes without the intended emotion. I think a part of that is a lack of differentiation in the texture of Deodato’s lines. While it’s a unique look, at times it looks muddled and the figures can blur into the panel outlines. Which is weird, because there are also some tight layouts which really work. It all ultimately works, though, because I’m curious to see what else is coming. Now that Norman’s got his own Avengers – what’s his plan? What good does it do him, other than pissing off the real heroes?

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #8-9

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Sal Larocca
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Format: Ongoing
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99

The other side of Norman Osborn’s “Dark Reign” coin is Tony Stark – the “World’s Most Wanted”. The Skrull Invasion was possible due in part to the manipulation of the Starktech, which had been assimilated into nearly every factor of daily life. The problem: the Skrulls were everywhere and Tony Stark was to blame for the access. So we get Stark being hated and feared, Osborn taking control of H.A.M.M.E.R. (formerly S.H.I.E.L.D.), taking Stark’s job and his empire. The basis of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN now has Stark – a man on the run – coupled with his loyal assistant Pepper Potts and former S.H.I.E.L.D. commander, Maria Hill. Stark’s last action at his post was to download the entirety of the S.H.I.E.L.D. intel database into his brain, keeping that deadly information out of the hands of Osborn. His next plan, with the help of Potts and Hill, is to wipe that information out of his brain, essentially rendering himself inert. It’s an interesting story direction, but a strange one, if you’re looking for some longevity. Matt Fraction is destroying on this book, mixing espionage with future-speak with pop culture (two, count’m two CADDYSHACK references) into an engaging story focusing on the World’s Most Dangerous soon-to-be-Vegetable. Salvador Larroca’s art has morphed into this weird photo-realistic style recently and it works better than I thought it would. I thought the first couple of issues of this were weak, artistically, but after eight, he’s in the zone. There’s a lot to like about this book: the premise, the lead, the supporting cast and the villain. It’s a keeper.

MYSTERIUS: THE UNFATHOMABLE #1 (OF 6)

Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Tom Fowler
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Format: Miniseries
Publisher: Wildstorm/DC Comics
Price: $2.99

I wasn’t expecting much of this new Wildstorm book from Jeff Parker and Tom Fowler but I found it very enjoyable. It’s a standard set-up: meeting the main character from the eyes of the new girl but it’s an interesting cast with a unique premise and it worked well. Ella is a 20-something reporter hired by Mysterius to be his new assistant after she witnesses his working at a séance gone weird. She experienced it differently than the others and he offers her a job. That’s the bulk of the set up for the first issue but we see just how well-planned the book’s world is. Parker has clearly defined characters and the rules of how things work in the mystical atmosphere. Fowler’s art is a big part of that, as he uses an exaggerated art style, somewhere between real-life and caricatures to illustrate the characters. They are very distinct – Mysterious is has a large, bulbous, red-hued nose and thin, but for a large protruding belly. He’s not exactly an international man of mystery but he has a way with the ladies, nonetheless. Ella is short, sassy and somewhere between cute and homely. I should mention Dave McCaig’s colors for a second. His subtle style makes for some of the best looking books on the shelf. I was looking at Fowler’s art and it reminded me of another book I read recently – it happened to be from Ramon Perez’s JSA: CLASSIFIED book featuring Wildcat – which was colored by McCaig. So there you go. MYSTERIUS: THE UNFATHOMABLE is a planned six issue miniseries and I’m glad to see something like this at Wildstorm. The imprint has mostly superhero universe books and licensed comics these days and I’m happy to see it sustaining new books in different genres. I’m hoping it’s the beginning of a new trend. I’ll be sticking with the issues here because I have a feeling we likely might not see a collection of this down the line.

THE PUNISHER #1

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Jerome Opeña
Colorist: Dan Brown
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Format: Ongoing
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

I’m unsure as to why we need yet another new PUNISHER book, after less than three years of PUNISHER: WAR JOURNAL. P:WJ’s co-writer Rick Remender sticks around as the solo writer on the “Dark Reign” tie-in and he’s joined by his FEAR AGENT collaborator Jerome Opeña. Readers of this column know how big of a fan of Opeña’s I am, so this seemed like a book I needed to check out. The problem with it – well, there are a few problems with it. First of all, it’s a $3.99 book for 22 pages of Frank Castle Vs the Sentry and then thirteen pages of some nonsense called the “Punisher Saga”. The main story would have been a fine second issue, or even third, but as a first issue it doesn’t work all that well. We know who The Punisher is, but there’s zero explanation of who Sentry is and we don’t get any clarification of Frank’s motivation. He’s going to kill Norman Osborn. Why? What’s the point of this series? The other “Dark Reign” books have set the scene for the new status quo – this one has four pages of three pages of set up for shooting Osborn, then the Sentry gets involved so he doesn’t and it’s a foot race at that point. It’s a well written foot race – there’s some cool action stuff that Remender is very good at, but the plot is a little thin – especially at four bucks a pop. Opeña’s art is gritty and terrific. It’s perfectly complimented by Dan Brown’s muted, yellow and brown palette – something that doesn’t often occur. So I guess I need another issue or two, to even see why I’m reading this. That “Punisher Saga” crap was uncalled for and a dirty little surprise. I attempted to trudge through it but it’s a summation of thirty years of bad PUNISHER comics. It doesn’t even cover Garth Ennis’ Marvel Knights material – there’s three years of good stuff there and we get to hear about Frank’s fights with Vemon. I read that stuff when it came out 15 years ago – it’s not worth talking about again.

January crept by and February is upon us: meaning the end of the month and a new PREVIEWS catalogue. I’ll cover it in full detail next week but make sure you pick on up this week along with some other tasty books, as shown below.

Upcoming…
Books and items shipping Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

MAY080285 1966 LIVE ACTION TV SERIES BATMOBILE REPLICA $250.00
NOV084101 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #97 (A) $4.99
DEC083994 ADVENTURES OF CHARLZ FROM MARZ BOOK 01 GOING HOME $14.95
JUN084938 AH MY GODDESS BELLDANDY PVC FIGURE $129.99
DEC084446 AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY TP (O/A) $15.00
NOV088141 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 OBAMA 3RD PTG VAR $3.99
NOV082359 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EXTRA #2 $3.99
NOV083770 ARCHIE #593 $2.25
OCT084042 ARMY OF DARKNESS ASHS CHRISTMAS HORROR FOIL CVR (ONE SHOT) PI
DEC083800 ART OF PAUL DUFFIELD #1 (MR) $3.99
DEC083802 ART OF PAUL DUFFIELD #1 SGN PREMIUM ED (MR) $6.99
DEC083801 ART OF PAUL DUFFIELD #1 WIZARD WORLD TX ED (MR) $5.99
NOV084452 ART OF RONNIE WERNER SC (MR) $14.95
AUG085062 ART OF SHUNYA YAMASHITA RACHELLE FINE ART BUST $79.99
NOV083788 ASPEN SHOWCASE EMBER GREEN CVR $2.99
NOV083789 ASPEN SHOWCASE EMBER GUNNELL CVR $2.99
NOV082252 ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #12 (RES) $2.99
DEC084492 ATLAS OF ANATOMY HC $70.00
DEC085142 ATTACK GIRLS SWIM TEAM VS THE UNLIVING DEAD DVD SUB (MR) PI
NOV082326 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #21 DKR $2.99
OCT088169 BARACK OBAMA COMMEMORATIVE 1000 PC PUZZLE PI
OCT084465 BASTARD TP VOL 18 (MR) $9.99

NOV080139 BATMAN #685
DC Comics
$2.99

Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen’s Hush/Catwoman two-parter continues. I thought the first one was an interesting examination of Hush’s activities as “Bruce Wayne”. This one looks a little more action-packed, which is the good stuff.

NOV080148 BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #9 (OF 12) $2.99
SEP084706 BATMAN SILVER OUTLINE NECKLACE $16.99
NOV080192 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #1 $2.50
SEP080167 BATMAN THE MAN WHO LAUGHS TP $14.99
NOV084280 BATTLE VIXENS GN VOL 14 (OF 14) (MR) $9.99
APR084681 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SER 3 RAZOR AF $127.92
SEP080070 BERSERK TP VOL 27 (MR) $13.95
NOV083776 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #191 $2.49
DEC084565 BIBLE OLD TESTAMENT SERIES A T/C BOX PI
NOV084291 BLACK KNIGHT GN VOL 04 (OF 4) (A) $12.99
DEC084900 BLEACH ICON MESSENGER BAG $44.99
NOV080157 BLUE BEETLE #35 $2.99
JUN084128 BOSTON BLACKIE BLOODY SHAME GN NEW PTG (MR) $10.49
NOV083967 BOYS #11 (O/A) (MR) $2.99
NOV083969 BOYS #13 (O/A) (MR) $2.99
OCT084061 BOYS #18 BLANK CVR #18 (MR) PI
JUN084416 BRICKJOURNAL COMPENDIUM SC VOL 02 $34.95
APR084682 BSG RAZOR GINA PX AF $15.99
SEP084192 BUCKAROO BANZAI BIG SIZE #1 $4.75
SEP084194 BUCKAROO BANZAI BIG SIZE #1 LTD HANLEY TOMMY CVR $7.99
DEC084227 CAPACITY GN $15.00
AUG084214 CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #2 SPARACIO CVR $3.99
AUG084215 CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #2 YEATES CVR $3.99
AUG084972 CAPTAIN ACTION STATUE $149.99
NOV082366 CAPTAIN AMERICA #46 $2.99
NOV080200 CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #53 $2.50
NOV084701 CHARLIE BROWNS STRIPED YLLW T/S LG $17.99
NOV084700 CHARLIE BROWNS STRIPED YLLW T/S MED $17.99
NOV084703 CHARLIE BROWNS STRIPED YLLW T/S XXL $19.49
NOV084232 CITY OF DUST #4 A CVR LANGLEY $2.99
NOV084233 CITY OF DUST #4 B CVR REILLY $2.99
NOV084234 CITY OF DUST #4 C CVR TARGETE $2.99
NOV085172 CLAMP SCHOOL DETECTIVE COMP COLL DVD SET PI
DEC084880 CLASSIC DR WHO 12-IN TALKING R/C BLACK DALEK PI
DEC085115 CLAYMORE DVD VOL 03 (MR) PI
NOV085175 CODE GEASS LELOUCH O/T REBELLION DVD PART 02 PI
DEC085016 COLOSSEUM BOARD GAME (O/A) $60.00

NOV082430 CRIMINAL: BAD NIGHT, VOL. 4 TPB
Icon/Marvel Comics
$14.99

I’ve been itchin’ to reread my CRIMINAL collections and this will get me all caught up. There aren’t many creative-teams as good as Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.

OCT083888 CROSSED #3 (OF 9) (MR) $3.99
OCT083889 CROSSED #3 (OF 9) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
DEC083797 CROSSED SKETCHBOOK WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO ED (MR) $5.99
DEC085075 D&D 4TH ED FIGHTER POWER LEVELS COUNTER SET $25.00
DEC085077 D&D 4TH ED ROGUE POWER LEVELS COUNTER SET $25.00
DEC085079 D&D 4TH ED WARLORD POWER LEVELS COUNTER SET $25.00
DEC085080 D&D 4TH ED WIZARD POWER LEVELS COUNTER SET $25.00
DEC085047 D10 ELVEN DICE SET BLACK & WHITE (RES) PI
DEC085048 D10 ELVEN DICE SET BLACK & YELLOW (RES) PI
DEC085049 D10 ELVEN DICE SET RED & BLACK (RES) PI
DEC085050 D10 ELVEN DICE SET RED & WHITE (RES) PI
DEC085051 D10 ELVEN DICE SET WHITE & BLACK (RES) PI
DEC085052 D20 ELVEN DICE COLOR MIX BOX (RES) PI
DEC085053 D20 ELVEN DICE COLOR MIX SET (RES) PI
DEC085054 D6 ELVEN DICE SET BLACK & WHITE (RES) PI
DEC085056 D6 ELVEN DICE SET RED & BLACK (RES) PI
DEC085057 D6 ELVEN DICE SET RED & WHITE (RES) PI
DEC085058 D6 ELVEN DICE SET WHITE & BLACK (RES) PI
NOV082370 DAREDEVIL #115 $2.99
NOV082341 DARK TOWER TREACHERY #5 (OF 6) $3.99
NOV084999 DC COMICS 144 PC BUTTON PI
DEC085159 DC COMICS FLASH STOP MOTION AUDIO CD PI
DEC084477 DC COMICS THE WORLDS FAVORITE COMIC BOOK HEROES TP (STAR1897 $29.95
DEC085160 DC COMICS WONDER WOMAN MYTHOS AUDIO CD PI
SEP080169 DC LIBRARY SUPERMAN KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE HC $39.99
AUG082249 DEAD AHEAD #2 (OF 3) $3.99
NOV084345 DEAD AT 17 TP COMPENDIUM ED (O/A) (MR) $24.95
DEC085145 DEATH ROW GIRL DVD SUB (MR) PI
SEP083995 DF AVENGERS INVADERS #1 LUCAS HULK REMARKED $75.00
OCT084127 DF AVENGERS INVADERS #6 EX CVR $14.99
SEP084013 DF SECRET INVASIONS #8 SGN $29.99
SEP084017 DF ULTIMATE ORIGINS #1 DF EXC ALT CVR $14.99
NOV084490 DIARY OF A WIMPY KID HC VOL 02 RODRICK RULES (O/A) $12.95
NOV085048 DISNEY TRADITIONS DISNEY PRINCESS ER BASE $100.00
AUG084569 DOCTOR WHO BEAUTIFUL CHAOS HC $12.99
AUG084571 DOCTOR WHO STORY OF MARTHA HC $12.99
AUG084570 DOCTOR WHO THE EYELESS HC $12.99
DEC083809 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #10 WIZARD WORLD TX ED (MR) $5.99
NOV084004 DOUBLE TROUBLE GN (MR) $12.95
OCT082331 DRAGON PRINCE #4 JOHNSON CVR A $2.99
OCT082332 DRAGON PRINCE #4 SOOK CVR B $2.99
DEC084516 EAGLE ANNUAL OF CUTAWAYS SC $19.95
DEC084439 ED FOX GLAMOUR FROM THE GROUND UP HC (A) $39.99
NOV084285 ELEMENT LINE GN VOL 04 (OF 5) (MR) $10.99
OCT082356 ENDERS SHADOW BATTLE SCHOOL #2 (OF 5) $3.99

NOV080127 FACES OF EVIL: KOBRA #1
DC Comics
$2.99

NYC MECH author Ivan Brandon writes this and Julian Lopez, former OUTSIDERS artist, draws the new Kobra story. I like the idea of Kobra and it sounds like there’s a lot in store for him in the future.

SEP082334 FANTASTIC FOUR #563 $2.99
NOV080210 FERRYMAN #5 (OF 5) $3.50
NOV088149 FINAL CRISIS #6 (OF 7) 2ND PTG $3.99

NOV080123 FINAL CRISIS #7 (OF 7)
DC Comics
$3.99

It starts with Black Superman and will likely end with a bang. Can’t wait can’t wait can’t wait.

OCT080097 FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #5 (OF 5) $3.99
MAR084701 FINAL FANTASY XII ARTIFACTS JUDGE MASTER GABRANTH HELM $999.99
OCT080233 FIRE INVESTIGATOR NANASE VOL 01 $9.99
OCT084108 FIST OF JUSTICE #4 $3.99
DEC084440 FORBIDDEN EROTICA HC (A) $14.99
NOV080211 FRINGE #2 (OF 6) (RES) $2.99
NOV084287 GAKUEN ALICE GN VOL 06 (OF 15) $9.99
NOV085052 GALLERY OF LIGHT LITTLE MERMAID MINIATURE $65.00
SEP083808 GALVESTON #3 CVR A $3.99
SEP083809 GALVESTON #3 CVR B $3.99
DEC084992 GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #108 PI
NOV083938 GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS DEAR BILLY #1 $3.50
OCT084331 GENUS #89 (RES) (A) $3.99
NOV082374 GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #4 (OF 5) $3.99
OCT083896 GHOST SLAYERS AYASHI GN VOL 02 $9.99
NOV083715 GLAMOURPUSS #5 $3.00
NOV083716 GLAMOURPUSS #5 ZOMBIE VAR $15.00
DEC084459 GRAPHIC NOVELS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TP NEW PTG $29.95
NOV080225 GREATEST HITS #5 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
OCT080169 GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY FAMILY BUSINESS TP $17.99
SEP084704 GREEN LANTERN POWER RING SIZE 10 (O/A) $16.99
SEP084703 GREEN LANTERN POWER RING SIZE 9 (O/A) $16.99
NOV084275 GTO EARLY YEARS SHONAN JUNAI GUMI GN VOL 10 (OF 15) (MR) $12.99
NOV085190 GURREN LAGANN DVD SET PART 01 REG ED PI
NOV082276 HEATHENTOWN GN $9.99
OCT083929 HERO SQUARED LOVE & DEATH #1 (OF 3) CVR A $3.99
OCT083930 HERO SQUARED LOVE & DEATH #1 (OF 3) CVR B $3.99
NOV084407 HIGH ADVENTURE #104 $7.95
DEC084226 HOPALONG CASSIDY AN AMERICAN LEGEND LTHR ED (O/A) $300.00
NOV084154 HOTHOUSE THE LONG AFTERNOON OF EARTH GN $14.99
SEP083707 HOW TO DRAW CHIBI PKT MANGA TP $14.95

OCT080171 HUNTRESS: YEAR ONE TPB
DC Comics
$17.99

Mildly curious.

NOV082376 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #125 $2.99
JUN084912 INDIANA JONES ARTFX THEATER TEMPLE OF DOOM $119.99
NOV080231 JACK OF FABLES #30 (MR) $2.99
DEC084479 JLA THE ULTIMATE GUIDE HC (O/A) $19.99
NOV084159 JOURNEY TP VOL 02 $19.99
NOV083780 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #147 $3.69
DEC084566 JUICY HONEY 2008 PREMIUM EDITION T/C BOX (A) PI

NOV080168 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #23
DC Comics
$2.99

My wife is a HUGE Black Adam fan, so she’ been waiting on this. I’m not a Jerry Ordway fan, so I’m bracing for impact.

NOV084908 KANNAZUKI CHIKANE HIMEMIYA PVC FIG $49.99
NOV084909 KANNAZUKI HIMEKO KURUSUGAWA PVC FIG $49.99
NOV084026 KASPAR GN (MR) $12.95
OCT080237 KING OF CARDS VOL 06 $9.99
NOV084281 KING OF HELL GN VOL 22 (OF 28) $9.99
DEC083775 KNUCKLES #6 (O/A) $1.50
DEC085165 KOWAREMONO DVD (A) PI
DEC084160 KUSTOM KULTURE SC $29.95
NOV080165 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #50 $2.99
NOV084022 MAGIC LOVERS TOWER GN VOL 01-02 SET $15.95
DEC084178 MANHWA 100 NEW ERA FOR KOREAN COMICS TP $19.99
NOV082446 MARVEL 1985 PREM HC $24.99
NOV082447 MARVEL 1985 PREM HC DM ED $24.99
NOV082380 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #44 $2.99
OCT083751 MARVEL MINIMATES PUNISHER WAR ZONE BOX SET $15.99
AUG083647 MARVEL MINIMATES SECRET INVASION BOX SET $19.99
AUG083643 MARVEL SELECT CAPTAIN MARVEL AF $19.99
NOV082383 MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #3 (OF 6) $3.99
NOV082384 MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #3 (OF 6) B & W VAR $3.99
NOV084918 MASAMUNE SHIROW FIG SERIES #1 HYAKKISHO SHION $99.99
NOV084346 MIDDLEMAN COLL SERIES INDISPENSABILITY COMPENDIUM TP (O/A) $19.95
NOV084290 MISSILE HAPPY GN VOL 05 (OF 5) $9.99

NOV080064 MISTER X: CONDEMNED #2 (OF 4)
Dark Horse Comics
$3.50

I loved the first issue of “Condemned” and I can’t wait for the eventual collection. Dean Motter is a genius.

SEP082435 MMW GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA HC VOL 03 $59.99
SEP082436 MMW GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA HC VOL 03 VAR ED VOL 111 $59.99
NOV082330 MS MARVEL #35 DKR $2.99
NOV084229 NANCY DREW GN SC VOL 16 WHAT GOES UP $7.95
OCT085253 NARUTO DVD VOL 31 PI
DEC084874 NARUTO GAMMATATSU PLUSH $21.99
DEC084873 NARUTO KUSARI GAMA PLUSH $17.99
DEC084876 NARUTO NEJI PLUSH $17.99
DEC084875 NARUTO SHIKAMARU PLUSH $17.99

NOV082331 NEW AVENGERS #49
Marvel Comics
$3.99

The second issue of the new “Dark Reign” status quo. I like the idea of the book but the use of Osborn at the end of #48 left me cold. We’ll see what happens.

NOV082440 NEW AVENGERS HC VOL 03 $34.99
NOV082441 NEW AVENGERS HC VOL 03 DM ED $34.99
SEP083709 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #166 $2.99
DEC083816 NO HERO #1 (OF 7) MID OHIO CON ED (MR) $5.99
DEC083817 NO HERO #2 (OF 7) AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99
SEP084466 NORMAN SAUNDERS HC $39.95
NOV080236 NORTHLANDERS #14 (MR) $2.99
NOV082387 NOVA #21 $2.99
NOV084273 ORANGE GN (MR) $14.99
NOV084408 PHANTOM DETECTIVE SEP 1934 REPLICA ED $14.95
NOV084274 PIXIE GN VOL 01 (OF 4) $12.99
DEC084161 POPAGANDA ART & SUBVERSION OF RON ENGLISH TP $29.95
NOV084121 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES GN $19.99

DEC080017 PREVIEWS #245 FEBRUARY 2009 PI
DEC080021 PREVIEWS ADULT #245 FEBRUARY 2009 PI

It was a loooong month and now we’re looking to April. I’m eager to see what’s due. It’s looks like an expensive month already.

NOV082267 PROOF #16 $3.50
NOV082393 PUNISHER WAR ZONE #6 (OF 6) $3.99
NOV080218 PUSH #5 (OF 6) $3.50
NOV085024 QUANTUM OF SOLACE PLAYING CARDS $2.99
AUG084998 RAMBO 1/6 SCALE STATUE $150.00
NOV084284 RAVE MASTER GN VOL 32 (OF 35) $9.99
NOV084286 REBIRTH GN VOL 22 (OF 22) $14.99
SEP083923 RED SONJA #40 FOIL CVR PI
SEP083924 RED SONJA #40 HIGH END FOIL CVR PI
DEC083939 RED SONJA SHE DEVIL WITH A SWORD ANNUAL #1 (O/A) $3.50
NOV080130 REIGN IN HELL #7 (OF 8) $3.50
NOV084917 RENJI MURATA PSE PRODUCT #002 CHRIS PVC FIGURE $99.99
DEC085139 RESIDENT EVIL DEGENERATION DVD PI
NOV080213 RESISTANCE #2 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
AUG084100 RONINBEBOP SC $19.95
NOV084277 ROSE HIP ROSE GN VOL 04 (OF 4) (MR) $10.99
NOV082397 RUNAWAYS 3 #6 $2.99
NOV082279 SAVAGE #4 (OF 4) $3.50
NOV082268 SAVAGE DRAGON #144 $3.50
NOV083972 SAVAGE TALES #3 (O/A) $4.99
NOV083974 SAVAGE TALES #5 (O/A) $4.99
NOV083975 SAVAGE TALES #6 (O/A) (MR) $4.99
NOV083977 SAVAGE TALES #8 (O/A) (MR) $4.99
NOV082346 SCOURGE OF GODS #1 (OF 3) (MR) $5.99
NOV082347 SCOURGE OF GODS #1 (OF 3) US VAR (MR) $5.99
NOV084423 SCRYE #130 MAR 2009 $5.99
OCT084064 SDCC 2008 BOYS EX CVR $10.00
NOV082461 SECRET INVASION TP FANTASTIC FOUR $16.99
SEP083900 SHEENA DARK RISING #3 ANDRASOFSKY CVR C $3.50
SEP083898 SHEENA DARK RISING #3 FURGUSON CVR A $3.50
SEP083899 SHEENA DARK RISING #3 MCMANUS CVR B $3.50
NOV082399 SHE-HULK 2 #37 $2.99
OCT084948 SHINING WIND RYUNA ANI-STATUE $59.99
OCT080177 SHOWCASE PRESENTS HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOL 03 $16.99
NOV083796 SHRUGGED TP $24.99
NOV083855 SIMPSONS CLASSICS #19 $3.99
JUN080331 SINESTRO 1/6 SCALE DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE $89.99
NOV082401 SKAAR SON OF HULK #7 $2.99
NOV084156 SKATE FARM GN VOL 01 (IDW) $9.99
JUL083737 SKETCH MAGAZINE #38 $6.95
OCT084971 SMC IKKI TOUSEN EKITOKU CHOUHI PVC FIGURE $104.99
NOV082457 SPIDER-GIRL TP VOL 10 SEASON OF SERPENT DIGEST $9.99
OCT080175 SPIRIT TP VOL 03 $19.99
JUL084821 ST DLX ED CAPTAIN KIRK & ELECTRONIC CMD CHAIR AF $35.00
NOV082338 STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #5 (OF 5) $3.99
NOV084502 STAR TREK SINGULAR DESTINY MMPB $7.99
APR088247 STAR WARS DARTH VADER EP V ARTFX STATUE $99.99
NOV080080 STAR WARS LEGACY #32 FIGHT ANOTHER DAY PART 1 OF 2 $2.99
SEP080078 STAR WARS VECTOR TP VOL 01 CHAPTERS 1 & 2 $17.95
DEC084749 STREET FIGHTER IV 7-IN SERIES 1 AF $237.86

DEC083791 STREETS OF GLORY TPB
Avatar Press
$19.99

I haven’t seen, well, anything about Garth Ennis and Mike Wolfer’s western, STREETS OF GLORY. Anyone know if this is good or not?

OCT084960 SUPER ROBOT WARS DYGENGUAR 1/144 SCALE MOD KIT $299.99
NOV080140 SUPERMAN #684 (FOE) $2.99
DEC084480 SUPERMAN THE COMPLETE HISTORY TP (O/A) $18.95
NOV088017 SW CMG CLONE WARS BATTLES SCENARIO PACK $39.99
OCT084468 SWITCH GN VOL 06 $9.99
NOV084282 TANTRIC STRIPFIGHTER TRINA GN (MR) $10.99
NOV083887 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #54 (MR) $2.95
NOV080170 TEEN TITANS #67 (FOE) $2.99
OCT084952 TENGEN TOPPA GURREN LAGANN MOD KIT $10.00
NOV083951 TERMINATOR REVOLUTION #2 $3.50
OCT083776 TERRY MOORES ECHO #9 $3.50
NOV084276 TOKKO GN VOL 03 (MR) $10.99
DEC085141 TOKYO GORE POLICE DVD (MR) PI
DEC084411 TOMART ACTION FIGURE DIGEST KENNER LEGACY PACK 01 (OF 3) $24.95
SEP084578 TOPPS 2008 TRIPLE THREADS NFL T/C BOX PI

OCT082282 TRANSHUMAN, VOL. 1 TPB
Image Comics
$14.99

I like Jonathan Hickman’s work but sometimes I think it fizzles a bit. This one, a mockumentary about corporate cloning in the future, was more high concept than execution.

NOV080121 TRINITY #35 $2.99
NOV084278 TRINITY BLOOD GN VOL 09 (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
DEC085131 TSUBASA DVD VOL 11 PI
NOV083996 TSUBASA GN VOL 20 $10.95
NOV084288 TWELVE KINGDOMS NOVEL VOL 02 (OF 7) SEA OF WIND $8.99
DEC084065 ULTIMATE SPIDER MAN 100 PROJECT TP (O/A) $10.00
NOV082352 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #130 $2.99

NOV082467 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN: WAR OF THE SYMBIOTES, VOL. 21 TPB
Marvel Comics
$15.99

I barely remember the last ULT. SPIDER-MAN volume. I prefer Stuart Immomen’s art over Mark Bagley’s but the stories aren’t the same.

NOV082444 ULTIMATUM PREM HC MARCH ON ULTIMATUM $24.99
NOV080073 UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #3 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV080239 UNKNOWN SOLDIER #4 (MR) $2.99
NOV080074 USAGI YOJIMBO #117 $3.50
NOV085229 UTAWARERUMONO DVD BOX SET PI
NOV083746 VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA TP VOL 01 BLOOD RED QUEEN (JAN083341) $15.95
NOV083997 WALLFLOWER GN VOL 18 (MR) $10.95
NOV080137 WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #9 (OF 12) $2.99
OCT084364 WATCHMEN ART OF THE FILM HC $40.00
OCT084367 WATCHMEN FILM PORTRAITS HC $50.00
JUN080327 WATCHMEN MOVIE NITE OWL (MODERN) ACTION FIGURE PI
JUN080326 WATCHMEN MOVIE OZYMANDIAS ACTION FIGURE PI
JUN080325 WATCHMEN MOVIE RORSCHACH ACTION FIGURE PI
JUN080328 WATCHMEN MOVIE SILK SPECTRE (MODERN) ACTION FIGURE PI
OCT084365 WATCHMEN OFFICIAL FILM COMPANION HC $29.95
OCT084366 WATCHMEN OFFICIAL FILM COMPANION SC $19.95
DEC084400 WEIRD DETECTIVE ADV OF WADE HAMMOND #3 $18.00
SEP084987 WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE BULL BOBBLE HEAD $12.99
SEP084989 WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE CAROL BOBBLE HEAD $12.99
SEP084986 WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE DOUGLES BOBBLE HEAD $12.99
SEP084988 WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE MAX BOBBLE HEAD $12.99
DEC084413 WHITE DWARF #349 $8.00

NOV080207 WILDCATS #7
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99

The ‘Cats hit Defile and the Daemonites head on. This is the classic subject matter that I liked so much.

NOV083765 WIND RAIDER #1 (OF 3) CVR A HARDMAN & KELLY $3.50
NOV083766 WIND RAIDER #1 (OF 3) CVR B SUITOR $3.50
DEC083691 WIZARD MAGAZINE #209 DARK AVENGERS CVR $5.99
NOV088035 WIZARD MAGAZINE #209 DCU ONLINE LUTHOR CVR $5.99
DEC083690 WIZARD MAGAZINE #209 WATCHMAN MOVIE CVR $5.99
NOV082421 WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #11 $2.99
NOV080171 WONDER WOMAN #28 (FOE) $2.99
NOV088009 WONDER WOMAN #28 VAR ED $2.99
DEC084483 WONDER WOMAN THE COMPLETE HISTORY TP (O/A) $18.95
NOV083953 XENA VS ARMY OF DARKNESS WHAT AGAIN #4 $3.50
NOV082412 X-FORCE #11 $2.99
NOV082445 X-MEN PREM HC ORIGINAL SIN $24.99
NOV082417 X-MEN WORLDS APART #4 (OF 4) $3.99
DEC084872 XXXHOLIC BLACK MOKONA PLUSH $14.99
OCT084469 YAKITATE JAPAN TP VOL 15 $9.99
NOV082416 YOUNG X-MEN #10 $2.99
NOV084289 YOUR AND MY SECRET GN VOL 04 (OF 5) $9.99
NOV083866 ZOMBIE TALES #10 CVR A $3.99
NOV083867 ZOMBIE TALES #10 CVR B $3.99
DEC084512 ZORRO TELEVISION COMPANION SC PI

Next week is a new PREVIEWS column. Looks like a doozy.

Brian Domingos is the Editor-in-Chief at Popimage.com. Questions? Comments? Love Notes? Email him via brian@popimage.com. To submit a comic for review, please email him at the email link. We're always interested to see what people have to offer.

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