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UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v32.1
by Brian Domingos
Scenes From The Future: Part LXXVI
December 2nd, 2009
Welcome to the start of December 2009 and a brand new installment of "Until Your Heart Stops." We’ve begun a new month which means a new PREVIEWS catalogue, which showcases all of the items shipping through the comics industry. The books below are scheduled to arrive in stores at the beginning of next year, starting in February 2010 and beyond.
 First up this month is a Mike Mignola book from Dark Horse Books. (How often do I start a column with that, eh?)
Here, Mignola and artist Ben Stenbeck do a five issue miniseries featuring Edward Grey, the HELLBOY universe’s 19th century investigator of the occult. Grey works specifically for Queen Victoria and, through “In the Service of Angels”, he explores Victorian London’s dark places and comes up against The Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra.
It’s more wonderful world-building from Mignola with great art by Stenbeck, which looks like Peter Snejbjerg inked by Cameron Stewart.
This volume collects the five issue miniseries, “Murderous Intent” from MYSPACE DHP #16 by the same creative team and "Henry Hood: The Burial of Katharine Baker," published as part of “The Wild Hunt”, by writer Scott (THE DEVIL’S FOOTPRINTS) Allie and Patric (ABE SAPIEN: THE HAUNTED BOY) Reynolds.
Looks like a hell of a book.
WITCHFINDER: IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS, VOL. 1 TPB (PAGE 39, $17.99, Schedule Ship Date: 04/28/10; Order Code: DEC09 0046)
1.jpg) First thing I want to mention about the DC section of the catalogue is the new format of the Direct Current pages. It's an arresting, new look, when compared the previous months. It's a slight change with the text moved around a bit but it has added a tab to the images, which shows/reminds when there is a co-feature, which I think is a good idea.
Elsewhere, we've got a new HUMAN TARGET miniseries from creator Len Wein and artists Bruno Redondo & Sergio Sandoval. The book comes alongside the impending prime time Fox series, about Christopher Chance, the ultimate in bodyguards.
Now, I've talked about my love for Peter Milligan's HUMAN TARGET, which is mostly due to how clever the plots were and the psychological aspects of his version of the characters. Milligan's character would physically become the client and that sort of thing wouldn't work on network TV. We'd have someone else starring in the episode each week – which defeats the purpose of having a lead. It would be a cool concept, though. Wein is a little more action oriented, a little more straight, much like the aim of the TV show. Redondo's pretty new to American comics – he did the comic adaptation of the movie PUSH a couple of years ago. His style there looked a bit like Steve Dillon inked by Glenn Fabry, which is cool.
There's a back-up story here, too, from Peter Johnson (producer of SUPERNATURAL & CHUCK) and the titanic art team of Chris Sprouse & Karl Story. That's got some promise, right?
DC DIRECT CURRENTS FORMAT (PAGE 59)
HUMAN TARGET #1 (OF 6) (PAGE 76, $2.99, SSD: 02/10/10; OC: DEC09 0176)
 Dwayne McDuffie’s recent dubious run on JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA tried to do much with very little, with a fairly successful reintroduction of the Milestone characters in “When Worlds Collide”.
He’s off J.L.A. but he’s back with MILESTONE FOREVER to complete the stories that got cut short over ten years ago. He’s writing the official conclusions of STATIC SHOCK, ICON, HARDWARE, SHADOW CABINET AND BLOOD SYNDICATE along with classic artists John Paul Leon, Mark Bright, Chris Cross and Milestone founder Denys Cowan.
These new endings will wrap up existing plotlines and start new ones as the Milestone characters are integrated into the DC Universe.
I’m ambivalent towards the whole thing – I like the artists (Leon, ChrisCross & Cowan, at least) but I sometimes I think McDuffie is fighting hard to get these characters in print for not a whole lot. We’ll see how readers respond to these two prestige format issues.
MILESTONE: FOREVER #1 (OF 2) (PAGE 77, $5.99, SSD: 02/03/10; OC: DEC09 0178)
 Lots of collections from DC to talk about, so let’s get to it:
The first issues of Grant Morrison’s hit series BATMAN AND ROBIN get a deluxe hardcover. The two arcs have shown different aspects of Dick Grayson as Batman and Damion Wayne as Robin, while introducing dangerous new villains. It’s been a fun ride. Frank Quitely illustrated the first arc and he delivered on every level. His work was dynamic and his storytelling was like none other. He’s one of the best for a reason. That said, Philip Tan had huge shoes to fill on the second arc, and I think he did a decent job. There are some weird, muddled panels here or there, but for the most part, it looks cool and I think it’s better than anyone was expecting.
“Heart of Hush” collects Paul Dini’s final arc on DETECTIVE COMICS. He skillfully made something out of a nothing character like Tommy Elliott, aka “Hush” by developing his character and making him a real menace for Bruce Wayne. Hush’s purposes are exposed, his reasons are revealed and we see why he would actually care and do all of the bad things to Bruce. Dini picks up the substantial slack left behind by Jeph Loeb and makes the best of it. It’s a cool story that’s still playing out in STREETS OF GOTHAM. Best part, though, is Dustin Nguyen’s art, which is stellar and gorgeous as usual. He’s one of the best in the business and this story was actually worthy of his talents. Leave your Hush baggage behind - “Heart of Hush” is what made me give STREETS a shot in the first place – it’s worth a look.
BATMAN: INTERNATIONAL collects the recent BATMAN IN BARCELONA story as well as a couple of forgotten tales from around the world. I had high hopes for Mark Waid and Diego Olmos’ “Barcelona” but it wasn’t very good, was it? The main draw here, for most readers, should be “The Scottish Connection” from Alan Grant and two guys named Frank Quitely and Matt Hollingsworth. These guys kick the shit out of the script, with Bruce Wayne in Scotland attending a symbolic funeral for one of his ancestors and then fighting some grave robbers and hooligans. The art is perfect. I’ve got the prestige format book on my shelf. It’s one of my favorites. Also collected here is another Alan Grant story from BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #52-53 that he did with Arthur Ranson.
THE FLASH: REBIRTH hasn’t ended yet in issues but here’s the solicitation for a hardcover release in April. I’ve enjoyed the story but, as it’s not done yet, it might be too soon to say anything. That said, I love that it’s Zoom-centric. I love that guy. Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver have done another definitive story and I can’t wait to see what Johns has cooked up next.
Last month we got the first pair of FINAL CRISIS: AFTERMATH books and now here’s the rest. With “Ink” Eric Wallace and Fabrizio Fiorentino follow up on The Tattooed Man, a villain turned good guy due to the Life Equation (and general good feelings). Admittedly, I gave this the least amount of attention, only reading the first issue. The art looked nice. “Escape” came from Ivan Brandon, Marco Rudy and Cliff Richards: a spaced-out story of master of disguise, Nemesis, Vs the Global Peace Agency. They captured the bulk of the members of the DCU espionage community in the Electric City and Nemesis is fighting his programming. It takes him the six issues to figure it out but it’s fun watching him work out the angles. Brandon’s scripts caused me to laugh out loud a couple of times and Rudi and Richard’s art was a great fit.
Finally is Gerry Conway and Chris Batista’s LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN. I haven’t heard a damned thing about this book. I mean, I read the first issue, I know it’s got great covers by Brian Bolland. I know Batista did great work on 52 and it’s now his Buddy Baker that I see in my head. I’m just going to close my eyes and give this a shot. Sounds like a plan?
BATMAN AND ROBIN: BATMAN REBORN, VOL. 1 DELUXE HC (PAGE 85, $24.99, SSD: 04/07/10; OC: DEC09 0201)
BATMAN: HEART OF HUSH TPB (PAGE 85, $14.99, SSD: 03/10/10; OC: DEC09 0202)
BATMAN: INTERNATIONAL TPB (PAGE 85, $17.99, SSD: 03/17/10; OC: DEC09 0203)
THE FLASH: REBIRTH HC (PAGE 86, $19.99, SSD: 04/28/10; OC: DEC09 0206)
FINAL CRISIS: AFTERMATH - ESCAPE TPB (PAGE 87, $17.99, SSD: 03/10/10; OC: DEC09 0209)
FINAL CRISIS: AFTERMATH - INK TPB (PAGE 87, $17.99, SSD: 03/03/10; OC: DEC09 0210)
LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN TPB (PAGE 88, $17.99, SSD: 03/03/10; OC: DEC09 0213)
 I appreciate the efforts of a guy like Mark Chiarello – he’s Creative before Management, knowing a great idea when he hears one. They aren’t all dazzling financial successes (SOLO) but the enthusiasm and energy is there.
His latest endeavor is the weekly series with a brain, WEDNESDAY COMICS, which brought together over two dozen talented creators, to complete a 15 page, 14" x 20" broadsheet format issue every week. It’s created in a format that is a specific nod to the comics sections in Sunday newspaper.
It was mostly a success, with great sales and an amazing stable of writers and artists. Where else will you get Paul Pope doing Adam Strange? Or Neil Gaiman and Mike Allred doing Metamorpho? Kyle Baker’s Hawkman? It’s a brilliant idea that was worth the time and efforts.
Those bigwigs (along with Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso’s BATMAN) were obvious things to checkout but I think the real success was in the unknowns and the unexpected. Kurt Busiek’s GREEN LANTERN introduced the world to Joe Quinones’ clean lines and fun storytelling. THE FLASH by Karl Kerschl and Brenden Fletcher added layers of story by creating an IRIS ALLEN strip alongside the Barry story and using the weekly format to play with the sense of time and overall pacing. It’s probably the smartest pages of the series.
I’m excited, too, that there are some previously unpublished pages (THE CREEPER by Keith Giffen & Eric Canete being the must) to add to the value of the book.
Now, it’s going to be a little smaller than the original - 11 x 17 inches – but I think it’s still going to work. It’ll look great on your shelf next to your ABSOLUTE editions.
WEDNESDAY COMICS HC (PAGE 90, $49.99, SSD: 05/26/10; OC: DEC09 0221)
 Christos Gage and Chris Samnee’s AREA 10 is the fifth release from Vertigo’s Crime imprint.
It’s a police procedural that focuses on one cop, NYPD Detective Adam Kamen, and the investigation of an serial killer called "Henry The Eighth" who has left the decapitated heads of his victims all over the city. When Kamen is struck by the bad guy, he gets a brain injury to the "Brodmann Area 10" and he starts to suffer from hallucinations and a blurred sense of time. He can’t tell what is real and what isn’t, which makes for a trippy story. Kamen thinks it’s all tied into “trepanation”- the act of drilling holes into the human brain to unleash hidden and trapped abilities and knowledge.
Gage has always touted his crime-writing background (having written for Law & Order: SVU) and he’s had some hints at it in comics (via STORMWATCH: P.H.D.) but now it’s time for him to put up. It’s a cool concept that could spill into other books.
Samnee, this guy just gets better and better. His work on CAPOTE IN KANSAS impressed the hell out of me and his work continues to be unique and a stark contrast to his peers. He’s a master of light and darkness, and, based on the AREA 10 sample pages in the PREVIEWS, he’s brought his A-Game.
AREA 10 HC (PAGE 103, $19.99, SSD: 04/07/10; OC: DEC09 0262)
 “Brian Wood Month” hits Vertigo in February and there's a bunch of cool books. (What's weird is that I thought “Brian Wood Month” was in January?)
DMZ #50 is a celebratory issue of short stories illustrated by some of the best artists around: Riccardo Burchielli, Ryan Kelly, Rebekah Isaacs, Fábio Moon, JP Leon and others. That's a totally awesome group. I'm so happy for Wood & Burchielli, what with getting FIFTY issues. That's massive. Nice job, boys.
Then there's, oh yeah, Wood & Becky Cloonan are doing another six issues of DEMO - black & white with 32 pages (+ no interior ads). It's more in the same theme: real people with unreal problems and I'm expecting nothing short of another classic collaboration between Wood & Cloonan. I'm glad to see DEMO back.
And “Blood in the Snow” is the third collection of stories from NORTHLANDERS, this time collecting the various shorter arcs that have appeared since the start. The contents are as follows, “Lindisfarne”, art by Dean Ormston (#9, #10); “The Viking Art Of Single Combat”, art by Vasilis Lolos (#17); “The Shield Maidens”, art by Danijel Zezelj (#18, #19) and “Sven The Immortal”, art by Davide Gianfelice (#20). Of those, I've only read #17 and it's a 22 page technical look at a sword fight.
DMZ #50 (PAGE 111, $3.99, SSD: 02/10/10; OC: DEC09 0266)
DEMO VOL 2 #1 (OF 6) (PAGE 112, $2.99, SSD: 02/03/10; OC: DEC09 0267)
NORTHLANDERS: BLOOD IN THE SNOW, VOL. 3 TPB (PAGE 115, $14.99, SSD: 03/24/10, OC: DEC09 0278)
 Two of Vertigo’s newest books get trade paperbacks this March with the first volume of Peter Milligan’s GREEK STREET and the second volume of Joshua Dysart’s UNKNOWN SOLDIER.
“Blood Calls For Blood” is the first five issues of Milligan’s Greek tragedy and it’s just as twisted as its source material. The point is to reinterpret the eternal themes of the ancient tomes in modern times, showing the cyclical nature of life. It’s gruesome and grotesque but the point is well made. Davide Gianfelice’s expressive art sells the script, making the ghastly scenes easier to swallow.
“Easy Kill” (collecting #7-14) continues Moses “Patrick” Lwanga’s quest as Ugandan’s Unknown Soldier, attempting to change the lives of its people. The first tpb served as his origin story, finding out the Who and Why. This follows the What and How.
The art is by Alberto Ponticelli, a guy whose work I’d only seen on SAM & TWITCH, and it’s almost like he was waiting for this project to come along. He’s a solid fit for the book, because he is able to draw realistically with a hint of exaggeration, which lessens the blow of the harsh scripts. The final two issues (#13, 14) are illustrated by Pat Masioni, an artist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who lives in works in France, selling hundreds of thousands of books based on the wars in Rwanda and other such topics.
I like the idea of Dysart’s story here and I appreciate his efforts. I’m hoping UNKNOWN SOLDIER and GREEK STREET last a while still. I’ll be getting these two tpbs.
GREEK STREET #8 (PAGE 114, $2.99, SSD: 02/03/10; OC: DEC09 0272)
GREEK STREET: BLOOD CALLS FOR BLOOD, VOL. 1 TPB (PAGE 114, $9.99, SSD: 03/10/10; OC: DEC09 0273)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #17 (PAGE 117, $2.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0282)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER: EASY KILL, VOL. 2 TPB (PAGE 117, $17.99, SSD: 03/17/10; OC: DEC09 0283)
 The only monthly Marvel book I have to talk about this month is DAREDEVIL and Andy Diggle's second arc.
“The Left Hand Path” is a three issue story starting in #505, with Daredevil in Japan, attempting to bring the five branches of The Hand together under his control but, as you can imagine, they've got other plans.
The arc features a new artist and a co-writer. Antony Johnston (writer of WASTELAND, DEAD SPACE and the upcoming 1980s espionage series COLD CITY) will help out Diggle on the arc, much in the same way Matt Fraction worked with Ed Brubaker on IRON FIST and Rick Remender with Fraction on PUNISHER: WAR JOURNAL – and we know how that all turned out. Johnston is a great writer and it'll be cool to see what he and Diggle whip up.
Marco Checchetto does the fill in here, with a decent amount of quality work on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN in his pocket. He's a solid storyteller and has an organic style that'll work well. I like Checchetto but he's not enough like Roberto de la Torre for my liking. I'm concerned, though, because the regular artist on DD only bagged three issues before missing these.
I guess we'll see what happens here.
DAREDEVIL #505 (PAGE 38, $2.99, SSD: 02/03/10; OC: DEC09 0490)
 I’m covering some Marvel trade paperbacks below, but I wanted to separate these two hardcovers from that bunch.
I mentioned last week how much I enjoy Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca’s INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and now that they are into their “Stark: Disassembled” arc, which is a culmination of a year and a half of plotting and set up, you can get the whole 19 issue buildup in one book.
It’s 40 bucks and has the initial, “movie-friendly” plot, a quiet issue with Spider-man and then the twelve part “World’s Most Wanted” where Tony is stripped of his… everything – no money, no tech and the top of every Hit List in the World. It’s Tony Stark Vs Norman Osborn and it’s exactly what you are looking for in an IRON MAN story.
Then there’s the second DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS BY BRUBAKER & LARK, which completes the collecting of their run in oversized hardcovers. It’s #106-119 & #500 which comes from Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark, Clay Mann, Paul Azaceta and David Aja. It’s hard-hitting action as Brubaker strips Matt Murdock’s life back down to the bone.
It also features the arc he did with Greg Rucka (starting with #107) and the pair of Black Tarantula specials, DAREDEVIL ANNUAL #1 and “Blood of the Tarantula”. He co-wrote those with Ande Parks and they were illustrated by Leandro Fernandez and Chris Samnee, respectively. This is good news for readers as these two stories were not included in the Brubaker trade paperbacks.
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, VOL. 1 HC (PAGE 90, $39.99, SSD: 03/03/10; OC: DEC09 0579)
DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS BY BRUBAKER & LARK, VOL. 2 HC (PAGE 96, $75.00, SSD: 05/05/10; OC: DEC09 0592)
 A couple other quick Marvel collections:
The first five issues of Jonathan Hickman’s run on FANTASTIC FOUR get collected in a hardcover and I’m on the fence about it. I read – well, I tried to read – Hickman’s DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR miniseries and there’s just something inherently unlikable about the FF for me. Maybe the familial aspect of the book makes me uncomfortable? I don’t know. But I get zero enjoyment out of Pirate Ben Grim and don’t really give a shit about the rest of them either. I’ve tried but I can’t get into them. I tried the first issue of this and it’s more of the same “silly” dynamic between Ben and Johnny Storm and then there’s Reed who’s all aloof and Sue’s there with the kids and… yeah: even an interdimensional team of super geniuses can’t do it for me. And I said I’m on the fence and it’s true – I really liked Dale Eaglesham’s art… so that might do it for me. We’ll see when this comes out as a tpb.
Then there’s a massive – OK it’s all twelve issues of NEXTWAVE in one book. It’s Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen “taking the piss”, using unwanted characters like Machine Man and Boom-Boom from X-Force to show super team dynamics with hilarity and absurdity. It’s the usual Ellis fun and Immonen, man, he got the usual Ellis treatment where he’s a far better artist after working with Warren than he was when he started. He’s always had some talent but man, he does that issue in here where he apes all those different styles of art? He’s amazing. It’s really a fine piece of comic creating. I’ve got the two hardcovers. And I love them.
Finally, there’s lots of Howard Chaykin here in the DOMINIC FORTUNE collection, which is the recent four issue miniseries from Marvel MAX, the six part “digital comic” (whatever that means) and some classic reprints from 20+ years ago. That sounds good, right? As for the plot: Dominic Fortune is a square-jawed guy who gets into trouble and there are big bosomed women all over the place. It’s pretty much what you can expect from a topless Chaykin comic.
FANTASTIC FOUR BY JONATHAN HICKMAN, VOL. 1 PREMIERE HC (PAGE 100, $19.99, SSD: 02/17/10; OC: DEC09 0598)
NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E., ULTIMATE COLLECTION TPB (PAGE 111, $34.99, SSD: 02/10/10; OC: DEC09 0617)
DOMINIC FORTUNE TPB (PAGE 113, $19.99, SSD: 02/03/10; OC: DEC09 0620)
 Good golly, am I happy to see a new book from AiT/PlanetLar.
It’s been over a year since a new release (it was Adam Beechen and Manny Belo’s DUGOUT, for the record). They’ve been putting out consistently great comics for a decade now and I don’t see that ending anytime soon.
They put out Daniel Merlin Goodbrey’s previous work, LAST SANE COWBOY & OTHER STORIES which were “Odd”. They were short pieces with bizarre and profound concepts – I could tell that he had something else on the horizon.
NECESSARY MONSTERS was serialized and PlanetLar is bringing Goodbrey and Sean Azzopardi’s work in one book. I hope this means more big things from AiT/PlanetLar in 2010. I mean, it’s been ten years since AIT: 1959, Larry – it’s time.
NECESSARY MONSTERS OGN (PAGE 184, $12.95, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0641)
 A pair of books from Warren Ellis and Avatar this spring:
A collected edition – the five issue mini – of IGNITION CITY, a murder mystery set in the titular city with former astronaut Mary Raven arrives to find out the truth about her father’s death. It’s Ellis and his AETHERIC MECHANICS collaborator Gianluca Pagliarani. I only read a couple issues of the book but I thought that the cheap colors smothered Pagliarani’s detailed linework.
Then there’s the ridiculously named CAPTAIN SWING & THE ELECTRICAL PIRATES OF CINDERY ISLAND with his CRECY artist Raulo Caceres. I can’t really tell what it’s about yet, but it’s four issues and sounds like zany fun.
As usual, the Avatar books are reasonably priced, which I appreciate.
IGNITION CITY, VOL. 1 TPB (PAGE 199, $19.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0684)
IGNITION CITY, VOL. 1 HC (PAGE 199, $27.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0685)
IGNITION CITY, VOL. 1 DUAL SGN ED HC (PAGE 199, $49.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0686)
CAPTAIN SWING #1 (OF 4) (PAGE 200, $3.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0689)
CAPTAIN SWING #1 (OF 4) WRAP COVER (PAGE 200, $3.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0690)
 Phil Hester’s ongoing series from Boom! Studios, THE ANCHOR is weird mix of a couple different books.
It’s a little bit like LUCIFER and a little bit HELLBOY and the rest is THE GOON. It’s exaggerated cartoon artwork, humorous dialogue and over-the-top Lords of Hell scenery chewing. Two issues have shipped so far and there is not only a lot of material to read, but it’s packed with real characters and a hefty plot.
It’s a demon basher, Anchored between Earth and Hell, who fights the wicked. Brian Churilla’s art does a great job straddling the horror and the levity, much the way Eric (THE GOON) Powell or Mignola does with HELLBOY.
The first four issues will be collected for ten bucks. The fifth issue ships the same day, assumingly starting the second arc. I think it’s worth a look.
ANCHOR #5 (PAGE 207, $3.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0727)
ANCHOR, VOL. 1 TPB (PAGE 207, $9.99, SSD: 02/24/10; OC: DEC09 0728)
 It’s no surprise that I’m loving Willow Wilson’s AIR and therefore newly in love with Amelia Earhart. She’s a tragic figure in modern American history and even worse because it’s an open-ended story. AIR has continued her story but the presumed truth is that she disappeared without a trace, an aviator of skill and ability gobbled up by the sky itself.
“This Broad Ocean” is the Hyperion book from Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle, that looks to work much the same way that Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi’s book shed light on a day in the life of Harry Houdini.
These are written for 10 and up, so they are a little simplistic, but they are fun to read. I’m just looking for more Amelia action.
AMELIA EARHART: THIS BROAD OCEAN HC (PAGE 238, $17.99, SSD: 02/03/10; OC: DEC09 0881)
That’s a smaller month than usual, which is good. The last couple months have been large and my bank account and bookshelves could use a break.
As for December, it would normally be a 5-shipment week, but the one-two punch that is Christmas and New Year’s will mean no shipments the week of the 30th. It’ll be weird to not really have anything to buy that day. In the meantime, this week is kind of small, too, which I was expecting.
Upcoming…
Books and items shipping Thursday December 3rd, 2009
DEC084360 1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS ADVENTURES OF SINBAD #10 $2.99
AUG090714 28 DAYS LATER #4 $3.99
AUG090027 365 SAMURAI & FEW BOWLS OF RICE SC $16.95
OCT090683 A VERY ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS $3.50
SEP090634 ABSOLUTION #4 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
SEP090635 ABSOLUTION #4 (OF 6) CRIME FILES ED (MR) $3.99
SEP090636 ABSOLUTION #4 (OF 6) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
OCT090878 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY HC #19 (O/A) (MR) $15.95
SEP090019 ALIENS #4 (OF 4) $3.50
AUG091134 AMBER HAGERMAN DESERVES JUSTICE ONESHOT $3.00
SEP090778 AMEFURASHI GN VOL 02 (MR) $10.99
OCT091000 AMERICAN MCGEES GRIMM TP VOL 01 $19.99
SEP098046 ANCHOR #1 2ND PTG (PP #892) $3.99
SEP090393 ANITA BLAKE LC EXECUTIONER #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
OCT091040 ANNE STEELYARD GARDEN OF EMPTINESS GN VOL 02 (OF 3) $14.95
SEP090601 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #204 $3.99
OCT091039 ASTERIOS POLYP GN $29.95
OCT090847 ATHENA #3 $3.50
 - OCT090272 THE AUTHORITY #17
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99
The end of the Abnett & Lanning era is here and I'm sad to see them go. The last 17 issues have had The Authority backed into a corner: under powered, team members missing and effectively neutered. They needed Stormwatch to help out with a power source before they could really get back to business. It's been a lot of fun seeing the team like this, the once Gods of the Earth reduced to metahuman commonplace. Simon Colebly came out of nowhere to illustrate a bulk of the issues, adding the book's gloomy mood and tainted atmosphere. Drew Johnson has helped out over the last arc and been a pleasant change of pace. I'll be sad to see them all leave. There's a preview from the new creative team in this issue - a prologue of sorts. I can't wait to see she how that all works out.SEP091023 BABY & ME GN VOL 17 $9.99
JUN091129 BAKEGYAMON GN VOL 04 $7.99
AUG091111 BAKEGYAMON GN VOL 05 (OF 5) $7.99
SEP090780 BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS GN VOL 04 DAN & DRAGO $7.99
JUN090809 BARACK THE BARBARIAN #3 (OF 4) $3.50
OCT098007 BATMAN AND ROBIN #2 4TH PTG $2.99
OCT090210 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #38 $2.99
SEP090160 BATMAN THE CAT AND THE BAT TP $12.99
OCT090209 BATMAN THE UNSEEN #5 (OF 5) $2.99
JUL090078 BEANWORLD HC VOL 03 REMEMBER HERE $19.95
SEP090603 BETTY #183 $2.50
AUG090989 BINKY BROWN MEETS THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY GN (MR) $29.00
SEP090929 BIONICLE GN VOL 07 REALM OF FEAR $7.95
SEP090528 BLACK PANTHER TP DEADLIEST OF SPECIES $15.99
SEP090743 BLACK TERROR #5 HIGH END BLACK FOIL CVR PI
OCT090507 BLACK WIDOW AND MARVEL GIRLS #1 (OF 4) $2.99
 - OCT090183 BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1 (OF 3)
DC Comics
$2.99
Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins reunite again for a quick, three issue arc bringing the Flash characters into the BLACKEST NIGHT fold. We've seen Nekron and his issues with Barry Allen so far - and, in FLASH: REBIRTH, Zoom talked about his resurrection - and it looks like it's all coming together. Johns has a perfect handle on the Flash-family so it's a slam dunk. With Kolins, I haven’t been enjoying his self-inked art lately but I saw some preview pages and it looks great. I’ve got a good feeling about this.
OCT090187 BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #1 (OF 3)
DC Comics
$2.99
Greg Rucka returns to Wonder Woman and has her face-off against Black Lantern Max Lord. ahahaha... Art by Nicola Scott - should be GREAT.SEP091004 BLEACH TP VOL 29 $9.99
OCT090840 BOYS #37 (MR) $2.99
SEP090233 BROKEN BLADE VOL 02 $9.99
SEP091021 BUTTERFLIES FLOWERS GN VOL 01 (MR) $9.99
SEP091053 CAMPBELL & EBAS SKETCH COVER SET $25.00
OCT090499 CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR PRISONERS OF DUTY $3.99
AUG090612 CAPTAIN BLOOD ODYSSEY #2 (OF 5) (NOTE PRICE) $3.95
OCT090269 CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #44 $2.50
OCT090294 CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE #2 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
AUG090871 DAREDEVIL #501 ROMITA SR SGN ED PI
 - OCT090503 DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1
Marvel Comics
$4.99
OK, so, this is Bendis-written, which I'm not too excited about, but it's Chris Bachalo-drawn and it's about Captain Marvel, aka Marvel Boy. That's fun, right? Right. Marvel Boy doesn't like being lied to and Norman has... stretched the truth for a long, long time. This doesn't bode well for him and his Dark Avengers.SEP090377 DARK TOWER BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL #1 (OF 5) $3.99
OCT091002 DEAD SHE SAID TP $17.99
OCT090560 DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #898 $2.99
SEP090890 DEMONS OF SHERWOOD GN $19.99
MAY090828 DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 ALEX ROSS SGN EX CVR PI
OCT090895 DF CAPTAIN AMERICA #600 HOLIDAY PACKAGE $20.09
JUN090878 DF DAREDEVIL #500 ALEX ROSS SGN EX CVR $29.99
OCT090891 DF DAREDEVIL #500 ROMITA SR SGN ROSS EX CVR PI
AUG090872 DF DARK REIGN THE LIST HULK PAK SGN ED $19.99
MAY090829 DF INCREDIBLE HULK #600 ALEX ROSS SGN EX CVR $29.99
OCT090896 DF SPIDER-MAN #600 HOLIDAY PACKAGE $20.09
OCT090775 DINGO #1 $3.99
SEP090684 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #6 (OF 24) $3.99
AUG090035 DOCTOR GRORDBORT PRESENTS VICTORY HC $19.95
OCT090985 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #13 $3.99
OCT090987 DOCTOR WHO THROUGH TIME AND SPACE TP $19.99
SEP090702 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #348 $2.99
SEP090920 DONATELLO BRAIN THIEF #3 (OF 4) $3.25
SEP090234 EMMA VOL 10 $9.99
OCT090013 EMPOWERED ONE SHOT (MR) $3.99
OCT090647 ESSENTIAL X-FACTOR TP VOL 03 $19.99
AUG090204 EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 02 (MR) $29.99
OCT090641 EXILES ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP BOOK 03 $34.99
SEP090275 EXISTENCE 3.0 #1 (OF 4) $3.50
SEP091008 EYESHIELD 21 TP VOL 29 $9.99
OCT090514 FALL OF HULKS ALPHA FOH $3.99
AUG090702 FEMALE FORCE #8 BARBARA WALTERS $3.99
OCT090284 FREE REALMS #4 (OF 12) (RES) $3.99
OCT090963 GI JOE #12 $3.99
SEP090565 GLAMOURPUSS #10 $3.00
SEP090774 GOATS TP VOL 02 CORNDOG IMPERATIVE $15.00
AUG091090 GOGO MONSTER GN $27.99
OCT090936 GOOD NEIGHBORS HC VOL 02 KITH $16.99
AUG091136 GOTHIC YAOI BUNDLE WORKS OF DANY & DANY (MR) $32.99
- OCT090225 GREAT TEN #2 (OF 10)
DC Comics
$2.99
Tony Bedard and Scott McDaniel are doing this ten issue series examining the members of China's superteam, The Great Ten. The first one was much better than I expected. It delved into the motivations of Accomplished Perfect Physician, showing that it's a passed-through-the-generations type of status. It's a DCU version of The Doctor from THE AUTHORITY. McDaniel's art is pure McDaniel - it's exactly what you might expect.
 OCT090293 GREEK STREET #6
Vertigo/DC Comics
$2.99
Second arc starts here. As mentioned above, the first volume was solicited for March.OCT091004 GRIMJACK MANX CAT #5 $3.99
AUG090771 HACK SLASH SERIES #28 A CVR SEELEY (MR) $3.50
AUG090772 HACK SLASH SERIES #28 B CVR PARENT (MR) $3.50
OCT098068 HAUNT #1 3RD PTG (PP #895) $2.99
OCT098069 HAUNT #2 2ND PTG (PP #895) $2.99
OCT090361 HAUNT #3 $2.99
SEP090781 HELL GIRL GN VOL 06 $11.99
SEP091024 HONEY & CLOVER GN VOL 08 $9.99
SEP091030 HOSHIN ENGI TP VOL 16 $9.99
OCT091149 HOT GIMMICK VIZBIG ED GN VOL 03 (O/A) $17.99
OCT090302 HOUSE OF MYSTERY #20 (MR) $2.99
 - OCT090522 HULK WINTER GUARD ONE-SHOT
Marvel Comics
$3.99
I don't really give HULK comics any attention but this one, featuring the "Winter Guard" comes from the HIGH MOON creative team of David Gallaher, Steve Ellis and Scott O. Brown. You gotta support your friends, right?OCT090359 IMAGE UNITED #1 (OF 6) COLLECTORS ED $10.00
AUG090746 INCREDIBLES #3 $2.99
SEP090334 INVINCIBLE PRESENTS ATOM EVE & REX SPLODE #2 (OF 3) $2.99
SEP090437 IRON MAN REQUIEM $4.99
SEP090439 IRON MAN VS WHIPLASH #1 (OF 4) $3.99
AUG098064 IRON MAN VS WHIPLASH #1 (OF 4) SUPER HERO SQUAD VAR $3.99
SEP090226 JACK OF FABLES #40 (MR) $2.99
SEP091031 JOJOS BIZARRE ADVENTURE TP VOL 13 $9.99
OCT090226 JONAH HEX #50 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
 - OCT090229 JSA: ALL STARS #1
DC Comics
$3.99
I haven't enjoyed the Bill Willingham era of J.S.A. all that much but I have a good feeling about this new book, JSA ALL STARS. Matt Sturges is leaving Willingham behind to write the Power Girl, Magog and Hourman's training of the new kids. It's Stargirl, Wildcat III and Lightning and the rest of the young generation. Freddie Williams II will draw the book and he's never really done a book story. His ROBIN work was excellent and he and Sturges worked on "Run!" together, so there's history. Plus, the two of them did the framing sequence in the recent JSA 80-PAGE GIANT and for some reason, it really clicked for me. I like them together. So we'll see how it goes, with this second JUSTICE SOCIETY book.MAY090290 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA AF BOX SET PI
OCT090790 KILL AUDIO #3 (OF 6) $3.99
AUG090357 KING CITY #3 $2.99
AUG090979 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #156 $4.99
OCT091011 KODT BUNDLE OF TROUBLE TP VOL 29 $12.99
SEP090665 LEGEND OF ISIS (BLUEWATER) #7 $3.99
SEP091020 LEGEND OF ZELDA GN VOL 08 $7.99
SEP090887 LEGION PROPHETS #2 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT090992 LEGION PROPHETS #3 (OF 4) $3.99
AUG090032 LITTLE LULU TP VOL 21 MISS FEENYS FOLLY & STORIES $14.95
OCT090233 LOBO HIGHWAY TO HELL #2 (OF 2) $6.99
OCT090270 LOONEY TUNES #181 $2.50
SEP091029 MAGIC TOUCH GN VOL 05 $9.99
OCT090941 MAGIC TRIXIE GN VOL 02 SLEEPS OVER (O/A) (AUG084097) $7.99
SEP091003 MANGA BEST SELLERS TRIPLE PACK $19.99
SEP090388 MARVELS PROJECT #4 (OF 8) $3.99
SEP090389 MARVELS PROJECT #4 (OF 8) EPTING VAR $3.99
SEP090338 MICE TEMPLAR DESTINY #5 OEMING CVR $2.99
OCT090232 MIGHTY #11 $2.99
JUN090421 MILO VENTIMIGLIA PRESENTS BERSERKER #1 VENTIMIGLIA SGN ED $19.99
SEP090212 MIRRORS EDGE TP $19.99
JUN090045 MISERY OBSCURA PHOTOGRAPHY OF EERIE VON HC $29.95
SEP091025 MIXED VEGETABLES GN VOL 06 $9.99
SEP091026 MONKEY HIGH GN VOL 08 $9.99
AUG090854 MOOMIN COMPLETE TOVE JANSSON COMIC STRIP HC VOL 01 (O/A) $19.95
SEP091032 MUHYO ROJIS BUREAU SUPER INVEST TP VOL 14 $9.99
AUG090026 MYSPACE DARK HORSE PRESENTS TP VOL 04 $19.95
SEP090510 NEW MUTANTS PREM HC RETURN OF LEGION $19.99
SEP090907 NEXT MEN PREMIERE ED HC VOL 02 $50.00
SEP090782 NIGHT HEAD GENESIS GN VOL 01 (MR) $10.99
AUG090327 NIGHTMARE WORLD TP VOL 01 13 TALES OF TERROR (IMAGE ED) $15.99
SEP090298 NOBLE CAUSES TP VOL 09 $14.99
SEP091033 NORA LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM GN VOL 08 $9.99
OCT090278 NORTH 40 #6 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG091024 NORTH WORLD GN VOL 03 $11.95
OCT090553 NOVA #32 $2.99
OCT091119 NUNS WITHOUT GUNS GN (RES) $7.95
 - AUG090313 ONE MODEL NATION OGN
Image Comics
$17.99
Not everyone is getting ONE MODEL NATION this week, so ask around. It's the Image Original Graphic Novel by the guy from the Dandy Whorhols C. Allbritton Taylor and STREET ANGEL's Jim Rugg. I don't listen to the DW, but STREET ANGEL is a lot of fun.SEP091006 ONE PIECE TP VOL 23 $9.99
JUN091025 PHANTOM GENERATIONS #6 $3.99
SEP091035 POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 04 2ND ED $7.99
SEP090666 POLITICAL POWER #5 TED KENNEDY $3.99
MAY090847 POPEYE HC VOL 04 PLUNDER ISLAND $29.99
SEP090783 PRINCESS RESURRECTION GN VOL 07 $11.99
OCT090571 PSYLOCKE #2 (OF 4) $3.99
SEP090169 RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR TP VOL 02 $19.99
SEP091027 RASETSU GN VOL 03 $9.99
OCT090236 RED TORNADO #4 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG090017 ROBERT E HOWARD CHRONICLES SLIPCASE SET PI
JUL090802 ROBERT E HOWARD THULSA DOOM #2 ALEX ROSS SPOT COLOR CVR $50.00
SEP090669 ROGER CORMAN PRESENTS BLACK SCORPION #1 (MR) $3.99
SEP091007 ROSARIO VAMPIRE GN VOL 10 (OF 10) $9.99
OCT090428 SAVAGE DRAGON #155 $3.50
SEP090785 SAYONARA ZETSUBO SENSEI GN VOL 04 $10.99
AUG090237 SCALPED #33 (MR) $2.99
JUL090674 SECRET HISTORY BOOK 07 (OF 7) (RES) (MR) $5.95
SEP090786 SHIKI TSUKAI GN VOL 06 $11.99
SEP091011 SHONEN JUMP JANUARY 2010 $4.99
 - OCT098040 SIEGE CABAL DAVIS SKETCH VAR $3.99
SEP098227 SIEGE CABAL DAVIS VAR $3.99
SEP098228 SIEGE CABAL FINCH SKETCH VAR $3.99
OCT090467 SIEGE: CABAL
Marvel Comics
$3.99
So the "Dark Reign" is coming to a close and I'm actually almost sad to see it go. I thought the potential was massive and I feel like Marvel only took advantage of a little bit of the good graces. I guess maybe it's because I didn't read most of the stories, but I loved the Fraction IRON MAN and the Joe Casey ZODIAC was worth it all. Anyway, SEIGE is here with the bad guys finally losing and the "Age of Heroes" beginning all over again. It's another meeting with Norman Osborn's Cabal, his "Illumi-naughties," and it looks like they are finally at each other’s throats. (I hope that someone finally puts a bullet or two into The Hood - that guy has outlived his welcome.) Bendis writes, Michael Lark illustrates with colors by Matt Hollingsworth - shit, that's enough to get me to read this alone. MAY090085 SIMPSONS CLASSIC CHARACTER #3 MARGE $49.95
SEP090675 SIMPSONS WINTER WINGDING #4 $4.99
SEP091034 SLAM DUNK GN VOL 07 $9.99
SEP090609 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #207 $2.50
JUL090364 SPAWN ORIGINS TP VOL 03 $14.99
OCT090485 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #1 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT090486 SPIDER-MAN NOIR EYES WITHOUT A FACE #1 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99
OCT090481 SPIN ANGELS #4 (OF 4) (MR) $5.99
SEP091028 ST DRAGON GIRL GN VOL 05 $9.99
JUL090090 STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP VOL 01 SLAVES OF REPUBLIC $9.95
OCT090585 STARR THE SLAYER #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
OCT091006 STARSTRUCK #4 $3.99
OCT090540 STRANGE #2 (OF 4) $3.99
JUL091089 STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS TP VOL 02 CHUN LI $12.95
MAY091049 STREET FIGHTER TP VOL 05 KICK IT INTO TURBO $13.99
OCT090729 SUPERGOD #2 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
OCT090730 SUPERGOD #2 (OF 5) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
 - OCT090217 SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #10 (OF 12)
DC Comics
$2.99
It kind of seems like "World of New Krypton" is treading water at this point. But now Adam Strange is here and golly, I love Adam Strange. (It's the jetpack and the laser pistol.) I'll be curious to see what happens in March - when the series is all over and Superman's supposed to go home. I hear that Adam might be sticking around...
OCT090305 SWEET TOOTH #4
Vertigo/DC Comics
$2.99
Ooo... SWEET TOOTH is full steam ahead and the stakes get higher as Gus and Jepperd encounter another human/animal hybrid child. Lemire has given us action and suspense so far, and I don't see it slowing down.MAY090358 SWORD #20 (MR) $2.99
AUG091007 TALES FROM THE CRYPT BOX SET VOL 5-8 $29.95
AUG091146 TALES FROM WONDERLAND TP VOL 02 $12.99
OCT090861 TALISMAN ROAD OF TRIALS #2 CVR A MASSIMO CARNEVALE $3.99
SEP090172 TEEN TITANS DEATHTRAP TP $14.99
AUG090608 TERRY MOORES ECHO #17 $3.50
OCT091116 TEZUKA DORORO GN VOL 01 (O/A) $13.95
OCT091117 TEZUKA DORORO GN VOL 02 (O/A) $13.95
OCT091118 TEZUKA DORORO GN VOL 03 (O/A) $13.95
OCT090849 THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY #6 $3.50
SEP090462 THOR #604 $2.99
SEP090670 TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET #3 (MR) $3.99
OCT090541 TORCH #4 (OF 8) $3.99
OCT090960 TRANSFORMERS BEST O/T UK PREY #5 (OF 5) $3.99
SEP090228 TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP VOL 05 LONELY CITY NEW ED (MR) $14.99
SEP090516 TROJAN WAR PREM HC $19.99
OCT090489 ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #5 $3.99
OCT090555 UNCANNY X-MEN #518 $2.99
SEP090525 UNCANNY X-MEN FIRST CLASS TP HATED AND FEARED GN $14.99
JUN090084 UNCLE SCROOGE COMIC CHARACTER #3 GYRO GEARLOOSE $49.95
AUG090779 UNITED FREE WORLDS #6 (OF 6) (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
AUG090739 UNTHINKABLE TP $19.99
JUN090065 VAMPIRE HUNTER D NOVEL VOL 13 TWIN SHADOWED KNIGHTS 1&2 (MR) $14.99
SEP090671 VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #13 (MR) $3.99
OCT090241 WARLORD #9 $2.99
OCT090548 WHAT IF SECRET INVASION $3.99
SEP091037 WINTER DEMON BUNDLE (MR) $34.99
SEP090847 WOLVERINE WEAPON X 100 PROJECT TP $12.99
OCT090579 X-BABIES #3 (OF 4) $3.99
OCT090580 X-BABIES #3 (OF 4) STAR COMICS CHABOT VAR $3.99
OCT090563 X-FORCE ANNUAL #1 $3.99
SEP090788 YAGYU NINJA SCROLLS GN VOL 07 (MR) $13.99
SEP090797 YELLOW II GN VOL 01 (OF 3) (MR) $6.95
SEP090796 YELLOW OMNIBUS GN VOL 01 (OF 2) (MR) $19.95
SEP090789 YOKAI DOCTOR GN VOL 03 (MR) $10.99
SEP090790 YOKAIDEN GN VOL 02 $10.99
SEP091010 YU GI OH R GN VOL 02 $9.99 
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. And you can follow me on Twitter @bdomingos
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