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.
Aliens/Prometheus:
Fire and Stone – Dark Horse (Front Cover)
It’s
confirmed that Prometheus
is a prequel to ALIEN,
so I’m not quite sure how this is a crossover. I do like the
concept of tying the same storyline in across two different eras,
though. Dark Horse did this with their Star Wars books a few years
ago and it was pretty cool. With talent like Paul Tobin and Chris
Roberson involved I feel like this event will be well worth reading,
regardless of your feelings about Prometheus
(which I loved).
Teen
Titans Earth One – DC (Back Cover)
Once
again Previews has captured my interest with both covers. This one
catches my interest because of the involvement of the Dodsons and
Jeff LeMire, though the “Earth One” part doesn’t hurt. I loved
Batman Earth One and am really looking forward to the follow-up. The
Teen Titans aren’t necessarily favorites of mine, but I’m adding
this one to my order.
Grendel
vs The Shadow – Dynamite/Dark Horse (Inside Front Cover)
I’m
not particularly attached to either character, but Matt Wagner’s
involvement is a sure way to get me to pick something up. I’ve
never been disappointed by his work.
Halloween
Comic Fest (27)
This
is very exciting for me. I don’t know if this is a new thing or
what, but the idea of celebrating Halloween with cosplayers at the
Local Comic Shop just makes so much sense. Maybe the ESO Network
will be able to set something up somewhere in town. Goodness knows I
won’t be trying anything like that again.
Popular
Skullture: The Skull Motif in Pulps, Paperbacks, and Comics – Dark
Horse (74)
This
looks like exactly the sort of thing I enjoy. It’s a collection of
skull-related imagery from pulps… I don’t need to say this, do I?
I guess the title pretty much covers it. Anyway, this looks like a
cool book that might be full of tattoo fodder.
Batman
Animated Series Action Figures – DC Collectibles (124/125)
Well
here’s a problem. I wanted to review the first series before I
committed to the whole line, but here’s the second wave of figures.
And they look awesome and are all must-have characters. But the
pictures alone don’t do these figures Justice (pun intended) –
these DC Collectibles releases are packed with value:
Robin
comes with a bola, extra hands, an extra cape, and his grappling gun.
Joker
comes with a helmet, a knife, a telescope, a brick, a comb, a makeup
sponge, a pearl necklace, a Joker card, additional hands, and a
cologne bottle. That is an absolutely insane
(pun intended) amount of accessories. Especially when you consider
that Mattel’s MOTUC figures cost more and are having accessories
and paint decos cut almost constantly.
Man-Bat
comes with an extra set of winged arms, a pill bottle, and a tape
recorder.
Poison
Ivy includes additional hands and an assortment of chemistry bottles.
Perhaps
I should just call it quits on the Masters line and give that money
to DCC…
Batman:
Kelley Jones Gallery Edition HC– DC (135)
Kelley
Jones is one of my favorite artists of all time. His work on Batman
over the years has had a massive influence on my perception of the
character. Jones is one of the few artists with a really out-there
style that I can enjoy on a regular superhero title.
This
Gallery Edition is a new concept from Graphitti Designs that
reproduces the original pages of artwork from key portions of comic
book history. It looks awesome and fascinating and I think it’s one
of the better gimmicks to come out in recent years.
I
would love
to have this huge edition, but the $125 price tag is a bit too much
for me. Also, storing a 12x17 tome is no joke.
GI
Joe – IDW (138)
Just
when I was all ready to give IDW shit about restarting GI Joe again
I see that Karen Traviss is writing the new title and I am going to
have to add it to my pull list. Traviss wrote all of the incredible
Star Wars tie-ins that detailed the history of the Mandalorians. I
love her work and just can’t miss out on her writing one of my
favorite franchises ever.
It’s
worth noting that I intensely dislike the standard cover pictured
above, but I really dig the alternate Cliff Chiang cover:
I haven’t
addressed this before, but IDW’s “subscription variants” are
bullshit. The way they’re listed you would think that if this book
is on your pull list you would get the subscription variant, right?
Not so much. These work the same way as Marvel and DC’s variant
covers – the retailer must meet certain order demands to get any of
the incentive covers and there’s very little chance that your lowly
customer self is going to get it unless you pony up whatever grossly
inflated price the retailer sees fit to slap on it.
March
to Axis – Marvel
Ugh.
Apparently Marvel is making the conclusion of the awesome story where
Red Skull stole Xavier’s brain and combined it with his own a big
crossover event. Not that the story sounds bad, but it looks like I’m
probably going to have to buy some titles I don’t currently collect
to follow along.
It
runs through Magneto and Uncanny Avengers,
which are comics that I am reading, but the description makes it
sound like Magneto was unaware that a Nazi had stolen his former best
friend’s brain and I just don’t see how that’s possible.
Death
of Wolverine - Marvel (M5)
Do
you see that? At the top there?
“Regular
covers will each be rendered with weapon etched holo foil”
WEAPON
ETCHED HOLO FOIL.
I
don’t know what in the world that is, but I am fucking
excited.
It sounds awesome.
I’m the rare weirdo that still thinks all of the gimmicky cover
crap that killed the market back in the 90s was awesome. It wasn’t
the covers themselves that were the problems, it was the dumbass
speculators. There is nothing inherently wrong with a gatefold,
hologram, die-cut, acid-etched, Astroturf, 3D, glow-in-the-dark
cover. I encourage more of this sort of thing.
Edge
of Spider-Verse – Marvel (M10-13)
This
crossover and miniseries sounds totally absurd. I kind of like it. I
won’t buy the books, but I’ll pick up the trade when it comes
out.
Superior
Foes of Spider-Man #15 – Marvel (M22)
This
book continues to defy me not to buy it by having awesome covers. It
looks like this issue starts a new story arc, so maybe I’ll finally
give in.
Fantastic
Four Annual #1 – Marvel (M31)
I’m
tempted to pick this one up just because of how much I enjoyed Peter
David’s characterization of Valeria Richards when he used her in
X-Factor
a few years ago. But I have learned that it’s general a bad idea to
have expectations about characters that Peter David has written when
somebody else is using them. Nothing against James Robinson, but
there’s no guarantee he’ll write the youngest Richards the same
way.
Stephen
King’s The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three – The Prisoner
Marvel
(M52/53)
I
have to admit that I dropped Marvel’s Dark Tower books a while ago.
It’s not that they were bad, but I felt like they really got off
track somehow. I did not know that direct adaptations of the original
books were happening. I’d like to check them out.
Storm
– Marvel (M63)
I
almost
added this to my pull when the first issue was offered, but I am
getting so damn many books right now and a book with a female lead –
even one as strong as Ororo Munro – probably doesn’t have the
best chance at success. I love Storm and I love Greg Pak, but that’s
just how I feel.
But
now I find out that Forge, my favorite mutant, is in the book.
Dammit.
Original
Sin Companion HC – Marvel – (M79)
I
want to read Original Sin in its entirety, but I don’t want to
spend $125 on this hardcover collection of all of the tie-in books.
This thing collects a
ton of
issues and is probably worth the price and the most convenient way to
read them, but damn.
Captain
America: The Trial of Captain America Omnibus – Marvel (M82)
Ed
Brubaker’s run on Captain America is definitely on my must-read
list, but again – I just don’t want to spend this much on a book,
even if it is a reasonable deal. Might be time to consider that
Marvel app I keep hearing about.
Deadpool
& Cable Omnibus – Marvel (M84)
Marvel
needs to number all of the pages in its stupid little book. Are they
really saving that much money by only numbering every twelfth page or
whatever?
Anyway,
same deal with this omnibus. I want to read all of these. I think the
Marvel app is ten bucks a month and probably has all of these book s
that I want to read available. So for the price of one of these
omnibuses I could have access to a massive number of comic books.
Oh,
and go ahead and include the X-Men: Inferno Prologue on this list as
well.
The
Complete Calvin & Hobbes Slipcase Edition – Andrews McMeel
(241)
Sold.
I missed out on this when it was first offered a few years ago. Time
to pick it up and start sharing the greatest comic strip ever with
Lil’ Troublemaker.
Sabrina
– Archie Comic Publications (241)
I’m
adding this based purely on the excellence of Afterlife
With Archie,
which I am still thoroughly enjoying.
DMC
– Darryl Makes Comics (318)
I
have far too much love and respect for RUN DMC to comment on this
one, but I can’t not
comment on it. So here’s my comment:
DMC
is a graphic novel written by Darryl McDaniels (not McDonalds) of
legendary hip-hop group RUN DMC. There are some other writers and
several artists, too. It comes out in October and has 100 pages. Man.
Just look at that exciting cover.
Domino
Lady: Money Shot – Moonstone (344)
Check
out the ESO Network’s own award-winning Bobby Nash and his singular
pulp stylings. This Domino Lady adventure involves political intrigue
and mob drama as the heroine fights to protect her District Attorney
lover from danger and death!
WWE
Superstars #9 – Super Genius (355)
The
comic shop didn’t order the second issue of this for me and still
haven’t. I have the third issue in my pile, unread. I liked the
first issue well enough. It was certainly better than any other WWE
comic I’ve read. I mention all of this because all three of the
covers for this issue are awesome and make me want to pick the book
back up. Heck, just the fact that the title has made it to nine
issues is impressive.
Famous
Monsters: El Santo Hoodie (445)
I
didn’t order the t-shirt when it was offered, but a hoodie is so
much more practical to own than a t-shirt. This one a is pricey, but
I cannot pass it up. Even if I’m not wearing the mask this is a
kickass design that I will be happy to wear.
Marvel
Minimates Classic X-Force Box Set – Diamond Select (450)
I
don’t collect Minimates, but I do like them. This set really hits
all the right nostalgia spots for me and
looks really cool.
Universal
Monsters Metaluna Mutant Vinyl Bust Bank – Diamond Select (451)
I
told you guys that I was going to keep pushing the heck out of these
Diamond Select Toys bust banks until you all own one. I mean, look at
this thing! It looks as good as any statue I’ve seen! And for under
thirty bucks. I honestly believe this range from DST is the best
value offered in Previews.
Star
Trek: The Next Generation Enterprise D Electronic Ship – DST (456)
Crap.
I have
to order this. I don’t know what, exactly, I am going to sacrifice
to cover it and all of the other crap that’s coming out in October,
but this is going to be a pricey month. I’ve been craving this ship
since even before my recent Star Trek binge; which is still ongoing.
I am actually struggling at this very moment with watching more TNG
or watching RAW
when I get home. If Money
In the Bank
hadn’t been a mostly good PPV I’d definitely be watching Star
Trek.
The "All Good Things" Enterprise is also being offered again, but I just can't afford two of these things.
Batman
Retro 1966 TV Series Figures – Figures Toy Company (458)
If
I could instantly trade all of my Batman ’66 figures from Mattel
for what has been released from Figures I would totally do it. Mattel
seems to have dropped the ball on the line – as they always do –
and Figures is putting out some truly amazing retro-style figures.
The accessory pack alone is one of the coolest toy sets I’ve ever
seen. It just occurred to me to try to get somebody from Figures on
the podcast. I’ve been a fan of their company since they were doing
wrestling legends and Dracula. I would love to follow their growth
since then.
Nightmare
On Elm Street: 30th
Anniversary Ultimate Freddy 7-Inch Action Figure – NECA (468)
This
looks like a truly special and amazing figure, much like the Animated
Batman figures coming from DCC. It’s a great likeness of Freddy
Krueger and comes with all of the accessories you could want from a
first movie Freddy.
Monstarz
Re-Animator Herbert West Deluxe Action Figure – (470)
Re-Animator
is one of my all-time favorite horror movie franchises. All of the
movies are great. I’ve been dying for a Herbert West figure for
decades now. I ordered the sixth scale figure that was offered a few
years ago, but something happened and it never came out.
But
as much as I want a Doctor West (or two), there’s no way I’m
ordering these sight unseen. Especially not with a “PI” (please
inquire) as the price listing.
Firefly:
Malcolm Reynolds 1/6-scale Action Figure
That’s
a great likeness of Captain Tightpants and not a bad price for a
sixth scale figure. But I just can’t do sixth scale anymore.
Especially when there are going to be several more figures I have to
have. I’ll stick with whatever Funko offers in their lines and
consider myself lucky to have any Firefly toys at all.
Disney’s
Frozen Busts (481)
Frozen
is crazy popular and people are really
fucking crazy about it, so I am only going to say this here and once
and never again.
I
couldn’t stand Frozen.
I thought the songs were crap and the characters were bland and
underdeveloped. I think it’s the worst Disney movie I have ever
seen; like, including those crappy straight-to-video sequels they
were doing for years. I sat there and struggled through the whole
movie because everybody is so nuts about it and how good it is and
when it was over I could not believe what I had just watched was the
same movie or even that it had been produced by Disney. Aside from
the gorgeous visuals it felt like one of those shitty knock-offs you
find on Netflix – you know the ones. The adaptations of whatever
Disney movie is hot at the moment. The weird Little Mermaid and
Rapunzel features with shitty animation, bland voice acting, and just
enough difference from the Disney versions to not get sued. Frozen
felt like an original feature from the people that make those things.
I felt tricked.
So
there you go. I think Frozen
is
crap. I don’t expect anybody to agree with me and that’s the
beauty of the internet.
Re-Animator:
Finger Creature 1/1-scale Prop Replica (482)
Another
“PI”. The term “Prop Replica” gets thrown around a lot, often
being used inappropriately to describe a toy that is nowhere near the
quality of an actual replica. Most of the time misuse of the term
annoys me (like when Mattycollector does it); this time I hope that
it is being misused and that this is simply a foam latex construct
along the lines of something you would find at the Spirit Halloween
store because I want this thing very badly but also want it to be
under thirty bucks.
Doctor
Who: “The Time of the Doctor” 5-inch Action Figure Set –
Underground Toys/Character Options (503)
While
I disliked “The Time of the Doctor” almost precisely as much as I
loved “The Day of the Doctor”, I am thrilled to see this figure.
It means that the 5-inch scale line that I collect is continuing on,
even if it is in a limited form. Also, I get the Doctor in his
amazing purple coat! I never thought I was going to get a figure in
this costume. This set also includes Handles, which is great because
he was the best part of this lousy story.
Doctor
Who: Dalek Asylum Action Figure Set - Underground Toys/Character
Options (503)
I
don’t really need this set – certainly not for seventy-five bucks
– but those paint jobs look great.
The bronze Dalek is electronic, which sort of explains the high price
but not really.
Doctor
Who: Ace 5-inch Action Figure - Underground Toys/Character Options
(503)
This
is a slightly different Ace figure with a massively better head
sculpt. And her boom box and a painting. I don’t; want to pay
thirty bucks for another Ace, but the head on the first one is
just not very good.
Cosmos
Alien A Sofubi – Medicom (510)
Jeepers,
this thing is just a fucking nightmare.
Godzilla
2014 S.H. MonsterArts – Bandai (516)
I
wouldn’t ever pay this much for one of these, but I would love
to have one to compare to the NECA version.
Rocket
Raccoon Cap (526)
I
would wear this hat. But I have no idea what the sizing is or
anything. It looks like a fitted cap. Whatever happened to FlexFit
caps? Those were so awesome! I have two Ring of Honor FlexFit caps
because the first one fit so well. I used to have an Evil Dead one,
but a dog ate it.
Mad
Monster Party Masks (530)
I
want them all. I certainly can’t afford them, but I want them. They
look perfect.
The
Complete Blind Dead Saga DVD – Blue Underground (553)
Okay,
I wouldn’t order this from Previews, but if Amazon has it…
This
series gets my highest recommendation. I love these movies to pieces.
They’re so odd and so much fun to watch with a group of people.
Sometimes I get really nostalgic for the days when I had roommates
and we would just throw in random horror movies and enjoy them. These
were some of those movies.
Dog
Soldiers: Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray – Scream Factory (554)
This
is an awesome werewolf movie starring Sean Pertwee.
Leviathan
Blu-Ray – Scream Factory (554)
Undersea
horror starring Peter Weller. This and Deep
Star Six
are classics. I love undersea horror.
Pee-Wee’s
Playhouse the Complete Series Blu-Ray – Shout Factory (554)
This
and the Twin
Peaks
set are high on my list. Not a weird combination when you think about
it.
Also
of Note
Nothing!
There really weren’t any extra little tidbits this month.
However,
I will ask that you check back in on Friday for my Independents’
Day Special, where I’ll be talking about some cool comic books that
you may or may not have heard of.
Many thanks for the Domino Lady novel shout out, Phantom. I'm excited to see this one in stores. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteBobby
I used to purchase PREVIEWS to get to see cover arts and up coming comic. Sometime would use it to pre-order some new coming comic if I find it is interesting.
ReplyDelete