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.
Wonder
Woman – DC (Front Cover)
I’m
not familiar with Meredith Finch, but I am a fan of David Finch’s
artwork. I think he’s a good match for a Wonder Woman book, except
that I’m not crazy about her face on this cover. She looks kind of
unsure or something. She also seems just a bit too petite. I mean
other than her boobs.
Itty
Bitty Comics: The Mask #1 (47)
I
wasn’t so sure about Itty
Bitty Hellboy
(thought it was a fun comic), but this one totally makes sense to me.
While the original The
Mask
comic book is a violent, bloody tale full of adult concepts, most
people are more familiar with the toned-down version presented in the
Jim Carrey movie. The concept is perfect for Art Baltazar and
Franco’s mischievous storytelling.
Gotham
By Midnight #1 – DC (79)
Who
wouldn’t want a series about spooky goings-on in Gotham City? I
think this sounds like a very solid concept. The only problem is that
I already buy too many comics. So something like this needs a strong
creative team for me to sign up. While I am familiar with both names,
Ray Fawkes’ Constantine
didn’t hook me and I’m not a huge fan of Ben Templesmith’s
style. Although judging from this page of art it looks like he has
tightened it up a bit.
The
Multiversity: Pax Americana #1 – DC (80)
Grant
Morrison’s (presumably) nutty and brilliant tale of alternate
Earths continues, this time with Frank Quitely providing the artwork.
I’m all-in for this event unless it just loses me in its glorious
Morrison-ness.
Lobo
#2 – DC (92)
Well
that’s an image that’s going to bunch up some fanboy panties.
I
just decided I think it would be awesome if the new Lobo was totally
just trolling the fanboys. Like, the creative teams got to tell the
most outrageous, fanboy-displeasing stories ever. Batman kills Joker.
Superman gives up. Wonder Woman gets rescued by Steve Trevor. Barry
Allen gets a personality. RAGE ENSUES.
Superman
#36 - DC (99)
That
is a FANTASTIC cover. Before I even knew what book it was, I wanted
it. The image leaps off of the page and the concept is powerful. Some
kind of masked man (or robot?) is pulling the Man of Steel’s head
apart while his heat vision goes bonkers. I WANT THIS BOOK!
Fortunately I’m already getting it. I’ve been enjoying Johns and
Romita, Jr.’s work thus far. It’s a great take on Superman and
their first issue was essentially, “About all of that New 52 crap
that nobody liked… forget it.”
Superman/Wonder
Woman #13 – DC (101)
Well,
crap. I love Tomasi and Mahnke. There’s no way I can’t at least
give this a try.
Batman
and Robin #36 – DC (106)
That’s
just a kickass cover. I don’t know what’s going on here or why
everyone is in Robin drag, but it looks cool. I wish they’d do this
as a poster because Lil’ Troublemaker would love it. Oh, and I
don’t know what’s going on because I do my best to avoid reading
the descriptions when it’s a comic I care about. Previews has
spoiled things in the past.
Batman:
The Jiro Kuwata Batmanga Book 1 – DC (119)
I
suppose this has been tied up in licensing or something, but it
probably should have come out a few years ago when Grant Morrison was
referencing it. I’m curious, but I don’t know if I’m that
curious. I am not a fan of Manga for the most part.
Batman
’66: The Lost Episode #1 – DC (123)
Holy
crap. This is fantastic. I’ve often heard about Harlan Ellison’s
unproduced script starring Two-Face, but I never even thought about
getting to read it. Now it’s going to happen. This is a very, very
cool thing to see happening.
Batman:
Arkham Knight Action Figures Series 1 – DC Collectibles (148)
For
once the figures are going to hit long before the game does. I don’t
really need a Harley Quinn that looks so similar to the one from the
first game, but with the way these figures have been improving
(mostly), I’ll go ahead and get one. The other three – Batman,
the Arkham Knight, and Scarecrow – look awesome. I particularly
like the look of the Arkham Knight and I’m dying to see this story
play out. I’m also thrilled that they’re following through on
Scarecrow’s threat from Arkham
City.
Death
Ankh Necklace – DC Collectibles (151)
This
is pure genius. I predict it will be one of the hottest-selling items
DC Collectibles has ever produced. And for all you young lovers out
there, take note – it comes out in February. Well, it’s scheduled
to come out in February. I wouldn’t put all of my Valentine eggs in
the Previews basket.
Angry
Birds/Transformers #1 – IDW (159)
Oh,
come on.
Edward
Scissorhands #2 – IDW (167)
I
don’t remember seeing the first issue last month. Or maybe it just
didn’t have such a striking cover. I really like this artwork a
lot. I have to admit to being tempted by this one.
Saga
Book One HC – Image (217)
Yes,
I already own all of these issues of the greatest comic book ever
published. But this edition contains what basically amounts to a
bunch of special features – interviews, sketches, that sort of
thing. Plus it collects everything in one handy volume. This gets my
absolute highest recommendation. EVERYBODY should buy it. Also, it
comes out in November so it would make a perfect Christmas gift.
AXIS
Stuff – Marvel (M 6/7)
All
three of these covers are very cool. The wicked grin on Storm’s
face reminds me very much of Marc Silvestri’s art back in the day
on Chris Claremont’s Uncanny
X-Men.
The Carnage
cover is just beautiful – one of those things they make into a
poster. And the Hobgoblin
one is just silly. Once again, Marvel is killing it in the covers
department.
Superior
Iron Man #1 & 2 – Marvel (M 14/15)
Have
you ever thought that the only thing that could make Tony Stark
cooler was a head sock like Gambit’s? Yeah, me either.
The
Complete Far Side Box Set – Andrews McMeel (256)
In
the words of the inimitable Gary Mitchel – I MUST OWN THIS.
The
Complete Calvin & Hobbes HC – Andrews McMeel (256)
This
is less of a must, oddly enough. I have a lot of the Calvin &
Hobbes collections, but I lost most of my Far
Side
books somewhere along the way. I’d love to have both, but this one
seems to stay in print fairly consistently. I’ll have to wait.
Django/Zorro
#1 – Dynamite/Vertigo (308/309)
Even
though I don’t plan on buying this (though I might pick up the
trade), I feel obligated to mention it. It is a direct sequel to
Django
Unchained
and it is written by Quentin Tarantino and Matt Wagner. That’s
crazy.
Nocturnals:
Legend HC (426)
Dan
Brereton’s Nocturnals
is one of my favorite comics of all time, but the description of this
book just doesn’t make it sound essential. It sounds cool,
but for forty bucks I need essential.
Enchantress:
The Illustrative Art of Dan Brereton HC (426)
This,
on the other hand, is five bucks less and features a ton of artwork I
might not have seen before. Brereton’s art is some of the most
mesmerizing I’ve ever seen. He’s one of the few that can create a
panel that I’ll just study and drink in.
 |
| Sorry this one looks so crappy. I know my method for capturing pics for these posts isn't the best, but I don;t have four hours to scan Previews pages every month. You should see the pictures I didn't use. |
The
Flash TV Show T-Shirts – Graphitti Designs (452)
I
seem to remember it taking a while for DC to license merchandise for
Arrow.
The show was hot from the start and I want to say it was the second
season before they even put out any shirts. They are not messing
around with The
Flash.
I like the logo shirt, but I think the title shirt would be better
with a silhouette of the Flash somewhere. Maybe running on the right
side. Also, DC should copyright a color called “Flash Red” and
all Flash
merchandise should be that color.
Harley
Quinn: Crazy T-Shirt – Graphitti Designs (453)
I
like this Adam Hughes art a
lot. I
don’t know exactly what it is, but I just dig this whole shirt –
the design, the colors, even the color of the fabric. I just think
I’d feel kind of weird wearing this shirt. I don’t have any
issues with sexy Harley Quinn; if you look back at the DC Animated
Universe her creators clearly intended sexuality to be a key aspect
of her character. But I’m not sure I could pull this one off.
Lots
of Overpriced Apparel (462)
Twenty-four
bucks for a beanie? Fifty-six to sixty for hoodies that are screen
printed and not embroidered? Ridiculous. I’d love to own the Xamot,
Browncoats, and Miskatonic hoodies; as well as the Browncoats beanie.
But those prices are absurd.
Legends
of Cthulu Action Figures (473)
LOTS
of people are jumping onto the retro Kenner-style figure bandwagon.
If everybody can keep the prices at ten bucks per figure I think
they’ll do just fine hitting whatever niche they choose to fill.
But twenty bucks per figure for these is too much. I’ve started
seeing Funko’s ReAction stuff at retail and while they look fun and
certainly poke at my nostalgia, I haven’t bought any. Once I find a
Gill Man I’ll definitely get him, but if I can avoid getting sucked
into the trap I will. I seriously considered getting Doc and Marty to
go with my DeLorean,
but up close they just don’t look good enough.
Anyway,
these Cthulu figures look awesome. I probably would
buy these at ten apiece just because they’d be a neat novelty for
my horror shelves. They even nailed the packaging – I would’ve
had a hard time opening these guys. But twenty bucks is too much.
Aliens:
Xenomorph Queen Ultra Deluxe Action Figure - NECA (474)
I’ve
been waiting for NECA to make this since the very first Xenomorph
figure was shown at Toy Fair a couple of years ago. It looks
absolutely amazing. But I am really, for real scaling back on my toy
buying and I just can’t spend a hundred bucks on this figure. It’s
huge – 30” long and 15” tall. I feel like she’s worth the
price. But I can’t do it any more than I could commit to the
awesome-looking Predator Blade Fighter.
Misfits
8-Inch Retro Action Figure - NECA (475)
Holy
cow, does everything
in this
month’s catalog have to be overpriced? I want both versions of this
guy, but I think I’m going to have to settle for the red one. This
is an awesome looking figure. I wish it were to scale with my one
sixth scale Misfits figures, but I suppose I’ll take what I can
get. I guess the big robe is what drove the price up on these. I
would think $24.99 would be the higher end cost for this kind of
figure, but NECA seems to be testing the limit.
Doctor
Who: The Impossible Set – Underground Toys (502)
Yes.
Everything does have to be overpriced. Two 5” scale figures for
$54.99. If this had been offered around the time that “The Snowmen”
actually aired I would have bought it. But now I’m over Matt Smith
and don’t like Clara nearly
as much as I did when she was Oswin. This comes in some fancy special
packaging, but I’m going to pass.
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