I
feel safe saying that I will be continuing this feature for the
foreseeable future. This is the third installment and I am having a
whole lot of fun writing these each month.
If
you don’t know, Previews
is the catalogue that Diamond Comic Distributors use to offer the
products they distribute to comic book stores around the country.
This is where you can view and order (through your favorite Local
Comic Book Shop) comic books, trade paperback collections, t-shirts,
books, media, and toys and other collectibles from hundreds of
different vendors that deal in geek-oriented merchandise. The genius
part is that you actually have to pay for your copy of Previews
for the privilege of ordering other things to pay for. It’s like
the Ren Fest except without the horse poo smell.
So
every month a new edition of Previews
is sent out to comic book stores. Contained in the pages within are
products that might be currently available or could be released
anytime in the next year; but typically about two months away. Or
sometimes never. I’ve ordered lots
of things that have just never come in. Without getting into the
specific politics of Diamond, let me just say that they aren’t
quite
a monopoly and also aren’t quite
the worst distributor anybody has ever dealt with in the history of
the universe.
Original
Sin – Marvel
This
is just the first thing I saw since it’s right on the cover of
Marvel Previews. Every new item I see regarding this event gets me
more interested, but this one is the most mind-blowing of all.
Apparently the Residents are now a part of this Marvel crossover. I
will gladly take them as Uatu’s replacement.
Sergio
Aragonés’ Groo vs. Conan – Dark Horse
This
might be the most successful attention-getting opening page I’ve
ever seen. Because… What
the fuck?
I suppose if Cerebus and Spawn can hang out this isn’t all that
surprising, but… wow. That’s something.
Chastity
#1 - Dynamite
I
could mention how much I’m enjoying Chastity
writer Mark Andreyko’s work on Batwoman.
Actually, I will. He’s been telling an entertaining, cohesive story
that doesn’t have me constantly wondering if I missed something.
It’s pretty standard fare, but it is fun and a vast improvement
over the previous crea
But
really it’s just that picture. How am I not supposed to like that?
I realize it’s aimed at the lowest common denominator, but
sometimes that’s me.
Rocket
Raccoon – Marvel (18)
In
this house Skottie Young is a revered name. We love his work. I
really, really
hope that this is an all-ages title because Lil’ Troublemaker loves
Rocket and I want him to be able to read this. Granted, I can already
tell that the Guardians
of the Galaxy
movie is chock-full of content that is not appropriate for him; but
he’s seen all of the other Marvel movies. I literally can’t tell
him no.
Teen
Titans #1 – DC (83)
I’m
not interested in the book, but that’s a beautiful page of artwork.
Star-Spangled
War Stories featuring GI Zombie #1 – DC (84)
Gray
and Palmiotti have earned enough good will for me to try this book,
despite the fact that I know nothing about GI Zombie. I can’t even
imagine this being relevant to my comic book interests, but those two
are magic.
Batman:
Death of the Family Book & Joker Mask – DC (143)
SOLD.
Not only do I think this is one of the best Joker stories ever put
together, I absolutely cannot pass up the opportunity to have my very
own Joker skin mask. That’s just awesome. Even though I wasn’t a
huge fan of Night
of the Owls,
I still kind of regret passing on that book/mask set just because it
was such an interesting and unique collectible. And I do like the
concept of the Owls. The story just got a little unwieldy.
Batman
75th
Anniversary Action Figure 4-Pack – Set 1 – DC Collectibles (167)
Wow!
These figures sure do look great together! What a tempting collection
of the various appearances of Batman. And to think – this is just
Set 1.
Of how many? I hope FIFTY!
Okay
– sorry. As a jaded toy collector, I can’t help but notice that
these are four previously released DC Direct/Collectibles Batman
figures that have just been repainted to match each other. And stuck
in a box together for seventy-five
dollars.
That’s $18.75 apiece, which is more than some of these repaints
sold for in the first place. While I think this is a really nifty
idea and that these figures do look awesome with matching color
schemes, sixty bucks would have been a lot more reasonable. Fifty
would have made this and future sets a no-brainer. I would love
to have a whole shelf of these. But that price point is just too
steep.
Thrasher
Suit Batman Deluxe Figure – DC Collectibles (173)
This
is from DCC’s new line of action figures that are designed directly
from specific artists’ styles. In this case it’s Greg Capullo.
The rest of the figures in this first wave look okay (except for that
butterface Catwoman), but there’s no way I can resist a giant robot
Batman. Yeah, I know it’s actually more of a mech – this is the
suit he used to beat down the Talons in “Night of the Owls”. And
it looks RAD.
TMNT
Original 1990 Motion Picture Special Edition – IDW (196)
Holy
recovered memories, Batman.
I
still have the original version of this adaptation at home, but I
haven’t looked at it in years. Looking at this listing suddenly
brought back the memory of using that adaptation as storyboards and
shooting my own version of the 1990 TMNT movie using my dad’s
camcorder with my action figures. I had completely forgotten that.
Obviously I had to sub in various other figures for the FOOT Clan
fight scenes, but I think it turned out pretty neat. I remember
putting the soundtrack cassette in and playing it during the
appropriate scenes.
I
have no idea what happened to that. I bet you anything I recorded
over all those hours of work at some point. Probably for wrestling.
The
Superior Foes of Spider-Man #13 – Marvel (M36)
I’ve
heard lots of good things about this book. I still haven’t dipped
into the whole Superior Spider-Man story, but I plan to. Really! I
do! Stop looking at me like that.
Anyway,
I just find this cover very appealing. I like the art and I like the
goofiness.
Silver
Surfer #5 – Marvel (M59)
First
I wanted to mention that so far this comic is exactly as fantastic as
I had hoped it would be. The story is fun and the art is Mike Allred.
Second
I want to mention that this is an outstanding cover.
Deadpool:
Dracula’s Gauntlet – Marvel (M67)
This
is a Deadpool book. Deadpool is the silliest character in regular
Marvel Universe continuity. So why in the world is the Dracula in
this book the stupid new 90s-looking Dracula and not the awesome
mustache-having Dracula that will always
be the true Marvel Dracula to me?
PAGE
OF SPIDER-MAN – Marvel (M82)
The
Amazing Spider-Man movie bust looks fantastic and I absolutely love
that pose. It’s different from the 300,000 other Spider-Man busts
and statues that have come out over the past however many years.
The
Green Goblin bust also looks phenomenal – not for the pose, but for
the amount of detail and the exposed exoskeleton (I guess) on the
left side looks very cool. I do, however, hate the character design.
I saw the movie last Friday (and am writing this Thursday night).
Maybe there are story reasons for Goblin to look so boring. Maybe he
mutates further and looks cooler. But I don’t like the Goblin or
Rhino designs from this movie based on what I’ve seen so far.
Side
Note: Check out yesterday’s review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2
to see how I ended up feeling about all of that.
Obviously
the Mego-style Spidey seems like a must-have for any toy collector. I
mean, it is
a must-have. But eighty
dollars?
Really? I know it comes with a bunch of stuff, but that is a
lot of
money for one figure.
The
Death of Archie - Archie
I
just feel like I should mention this. As good as Afterlife
With Archie
has been I feel like I probably shouldn’t dismiss this as a stunt
or scoff at the story or whatever. If I had to guess I’d say it
will probably end up being great. But I don’t care. I’m just not
an Archie guy! Sorry!
RoboCop
#1 – BOOM! Studios (311)
I
can’t help but notice this comic book is based in the continuity of
the original RoboCop
and not the dull remake.
Weird.
Titan
Comics’ Pages Full of Interesting Things (406)
I
sort of poo-poo’d Titan’s new Doctor Who comic book last time,
and that was partially based on their hilariously awful WWE comic book from years ago.
But I have to admit that Titan has done something very impressive
this month – they have created a two-page spread where everything
in the main splash panels appeals to me in some way. That’s just
weird.
I
don’t know exactly what The
Evil Within
is, but those are some appealingly horrifying images.
Sally
of the Wasteland is “a trip down the mutant-infested bayous of
post-apocalyptic Louisiana interrupted by giant killer crawgators!”
Yes. I would read that.
I
like Tank Girl.
I
know nothing about Johnny Nemo, but both of those images look cool. I
want to know more about Johnny Nemo!
Finally,
Black
Dragon
is by Chris Claremont and John Bolton. SOLD.
The
Big Butt Book 3D – Taschen (455)
This
is exactly what it says it is. A book full of pictures of butts. In
3D. I can’t decide if this is wonderful or if it’s a sign of the
final collapse of civilization.
“Boba
Fett – Where?” T-Shirt (475)
This
is fucking stupid. But I laughed out loud at it. What does that say
about me?
Mars
Attacks Dress (484)
Obviously
I am not the best person to judge female attire, but this is one
kickass dress.
Mechagodzilla
Vinyl Bust Bank – Diamond Select Toys (496)
I’m
going to put over DST’s banks in every single one of these articles
until all of the Phantomaniacs own one. Because they are just
awesome. These things seriously look so nice.
S.U.C.K.L.E.
Series 1 Minifigures – October Toys (510)
I’ve
always wanted some Sucklord toys, but have never wanted to spend the
money on them. These little guys are totally affordable, but I can’t
quite figure out how they’re coming from Diamond. They’re listed
at two bucks apiece as opposed to being priced as a set. I hope that
doesn’t mean they’re blind-bagged in a big box like other small
collector toys. But I’m sure it does.
The
Next Wave of ReAction Figures – Funko (519)
This
time around we’ve got Buffy
the Vampire Slayer,
Back to
the Future,
Pulp
Fiction,
and The
Nightmare Before Christmas.
The more of these I see, the more I think about the appeal of having
characters from all of these licenses in the exact same style. And
yeah – I know that’s been the point all along, but it’s really
starting to materialize now. If these start showing up at retail as
opposed to being something I have to order my wallet is going to be
in trouble.
300
Armor and Stuff (535)
Is
this still a thing? Or is Diamond just trying to clear these out of
the warehouse? Don’t get me wrong – if I was a ripped dude I
would happily run around Dragon Con in red underpants with a tureen
on my head. But I just can’t imagine there’s still a big demand
for this gear.
Side
Note: I have a bunch of pictures of such dudes from Dragon Con 2007:
I
wonder how many of those dudes still look like that?
Batman
Returns: Life Size Penguin Commando Prop (536)
Who
the heck buys this stuff?
Never mind. I know I would if I had too much money to know what to do
with.
Freddy
vs. Jason Statue – Bishoujo ((548)
Sadly
this is not the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. But it’s
up there.
Godzilla
Blu-Ray 2-packs
These
came in under my radar. I want them all. The Godzilla
vs. Biollante
I bought recently looks fantastic. It says these are scheduled to
ship in June, but they actually came out yesterday. Go to the
NeedlessThings Amazon Store
and buy them! Or use the handy links below.
Also
of Note
Once
again Marvel offered a catalogue full of beautiful and eye-catching
artwork while DC offered many images that led me to wonder how they
were chosen to represent books from a major comic book publisher. DC
did better this month than they did in my first installment of this
feature, but they still can’t touch the quality and style being put
forth by the House of Ideas.
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