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.
But
I’m not here to discuss that. I’m here to discuss a few of the
weird and/or wonderful items offered in this month’s edition.
Note:
When I wrote last
week’s Previews report
Marvel’s portion of Previews
was unavailable due to a printing error. This reinforces my belief
that Marvel’s decision to separate their section from the rest of
Previews is just silly.
Their
separate little magazine made it out to stores with last week’s
shipment, so I was able to peruse it over the weekend and found
enough to put together a smaller but still worthwhile post.
Also
– with the vast resources now behind Marvel Comics, do you think
it’s possible that they might one day decide to start their own
distribution system rather than working with the inefficient and
outdated Diamond? Or do they feel like a focus on digital
distribution is the way to go?
I
should start a new column called Speculation
From A Nincompoop.
Secret
Wars – (Cover)
On
one side we have a cast of true Marvel Legends – Reed Richards,
Black Panther, both Spider-Mans, Thor (I had to resist the urge to
call her “Lady Thor” or “Thor – the girl one” because she
is actually just Thor), Star Lord, Cyclops, and… two chicks with
New 52 collars. The top one kind of looks like Carol Danvers, but the
hair is wrong. The other one reminds me of Moira McTaggart, but I
don’t see her headlining a Marvel Event.
On
the other side we have Thanos, Willem Dafoe, The Black Noodle,
Boulderface, Lippy Finhead, Bobgoblin, Downward Glancing Girl, and
Steve.
I
don’t know who most of those people are.
It
just now occurs to me that I shouldn’t have turned my order form in
the other day, because I know there are a few Secret
Wars
books I’m going to want. Like DC’s Convergence,
I don’t really care what’s going on. I just like some of the
creators and scenarios they’re using.
This
is a big, fold-out cover that features some of the Secret
Wars books.
At first glance the only one of these I’m interested in is Future
Imperfect,
and that’s just because Peter David is writing it.
Side
Note: I read Convergence
#0 the other day and I think I actually understood everything that
was going on, which would make it a first for a DC crossover.
Since
today’s update is just Marvel, I might as well hit on all of the
Marvel books I’m currently reading, as well as any solicitations
that catch my eye.
Silver
Surfer (6)
This
is one of my favorite current comics and it is at or near the top of
the stack every week that it comes out. Dawn and Surfer’s
adventures throughout space have been over-the-top fantastic so far.
Silver
Surfer is
creative and fun in a way that few comics are. It reminds me somewhat
of Sandman
when it was at its lightest, as well as the old Marvel Star
Wars
comics. It’s high adventure that has consequence, but isn’t
heavy,
if you know what I mean. The relationship between Dawn and Surfer has
been handled wonderfully, and I don’t ever
talk about relationships in comic books.
The
Punisher (9)
This
is cool art and an awesome cover. I’ve gone back and forth on Frank
Castle over the years. I like the character, but I have found the
creative teams to be very hit-or-miss. I checked out after Rucka left
and I can’t say that I’ve heard anything about Nathan Edmonson’s
run (not that I’m in the comics loop or anything). I don’t envy
the guys that have to follow superstar runs on books. I loved Rucka’s
work on Punisher,
but I have no idea how it was received overall. Even if it didn’t
do well, his jump from DC to Marvel was such a huge deal that the
book had some extra stank on it.
Magneto
(10)
Cullen
Bunn’s Magneto
has been very good, but I feel like it’s been hampered – if not
outright crippled – by its forced inclusion in crossovers. Which is
something that has happened to a
lot of
my favorite books over the years. Even though I was reading Axis,
I resented its intrusion into Magneto.
This book started out with Magneto on a very personal mission and I
feel like the course has changed dramatically. I’m still enjoying
the book, but I wonder where the story would be if not for Axis.
And now we have another major event throwing the story off course.
And
Sugar Man. I’m never happy to see Sugar Man.
Ultimate
End (21)
I
think that Ultimate
Spider-Man
is one of the greatest comic books ever created. I was big into
Ultimate
X-Men and
The
Ultimates
for a while. I even checked out Ultimate
Fantastic Four
and some of the miniseries from the Ultimate universe. But right
around Ultimatum
they lost their way. The third Ultimates
was terrible. USM
was good right up to Parker’s death, and may have continued to be
good but that’s where I stopped buying it. I felt like the story
was complete and I didn’t have any interest in the rest of the
Ultimate universe at that point.
What
I’m saying is that there was a time when I cared very much about
Marvel’s alternate universe and wouldn’t have given a second
thought to buying this final chapter. But now I just don’t care. It
seems inconsequential. There were so many massive mis-steps that I
don’t feel like I have the investment necessary to need
a conclusion. To me that universe dies years ago.
Ghost
Racers (24)
Ghost
Rider has never been one of my guys, outside of when he was hanging
around Wolverine and Spider-Man in the 90s. But you don’t print a
picture of a ghost centaur cowboy with Gatling guns strapped to his
sides without me commenting on it. And my comment is this – good
job, Marvel. That eye-catching image prompted me to pay attention to
a book that I might otherwise have ignored. Now that I’ve read the
description for Ghost
Racers
I’m intrigued. It’s like Wacky
Races,
but with a bunch of dead people that have been damned to Hell. I
might have to check this out.
1602
Witch Hunter Angela (34)
I
like what Marvel has been doing with Angela and Kieron Gillen is
involved with this, but I never read Neil Gaiman’s Marvel
1602,
so I’m not sure I want to get into this. Not because I think it
won’t be good, but because I just don’t need to buy another book.
Amazing
Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows (36)
I
thought I had something to say about this, but I really don’t. So
much crazy stuff has been done with Peter Parker in the last decade
that I don’t know what to make of any of it. I love
Spider-Man, but he’s another guy that I really need the right
creative voice on to enjoy the books. This might sound stupid, but I
don’t feel like anybody has managed to capture the fun of the
Spidey books from the late 80s and early 90s. Or maybe I’m just
older and I don’t relate to Peter Parker in the same way that I did
then. I don’t know.
Giant-Size
Little Marvel: AvX (40)
Marvel
cutting Skottie Young loose on their universe sounds like one of the
best ideas ever. I can’t wait to read this. It’s the sort of
thing that makes me glad I don’t pay too much attention to the
comic book websites, because it’s absolutely delightful when
something like this takes you by surprise.
I
hope this is getting a poster.
Squadron
Sinister (45)
How
are you going to do a supervillain team-up book and call it Squadron
Sinister
and not include MISTER FUCKING SINISTER?
1872
(47)
I
like the idea of the “Avengers meets Deadwood”. I’m a big fan
of Evan Shaner’s artwork and I think it’s a perfect fit for an
Old West comic. I don’t really want to add more books to the pull,
but I don’t think I can pass this one up.
Future
Imperfect (52)
Yes,
thanks. I love this picture of Thing clobbering the Maestro.
Years
of Future Past (54)
This
is one of those books that hearkens back to my personal Golden Age of
comics, so I can’t pass it up. Plus, seeing Mike Norton’s art in
a Marvel book is just cool.
X-Tinction
Agenda (58)
Speaking
of hearkening back to my Golden Age of comics, this one really hits
me right in the nostalgia. Cameron Hodge is one of my favorite
X-villains and I always loved the original X-Tinction
Agenda,
even though parts of it were plagued with some absolutely rotten
artwork. I also have a bit of a soft spot for Havok, so a story
centering around him is fine by me.
E
is for Extinction (61)
As
far as X-Men eras go, Grant Morrison’s New
X-Men
is second only to the Claremont era in my opinion. This is supposed
to be a follow-up to Morrison’s work and I wouldn’t even hesitate
except for the fact that I dislike everything I see here. I know
Chris Burnham is pals with Morrison and that gives me comfort despite
the fact that I am not a fan of his art (plus he’s writing this,
not providing the art). But I hate
the art on this page. Like, really
hate it. To be clear, I am not saying that it is bad. But I hate,
hate, hate it.
And
yes – I understand that this is just the cover art. But knowing
Burnham’s style and seeing this, I can’t help but think that the
art in the book will also be something that I do not like. And if I
can’t tolerate the art, it doesn’t matter how good a story is. I
will be opening this before I buy it.
Incidentally,
I do like the layout and design of this cover. The style just makes
me nauseous.
Inferno
(69)
I
covered how much I love the Inferno
crossover in last month’s post
and in a look back at Inferno.
I’m super excited about this one.
Star
Wars (77)
Marvel
also produces other, entirely different “Wars” books. I’ve been
thoroughly enjoying this one. As I’ve said time and again, I was a
big fan of much of Dark Horse’s Expanded Universe, but there’s
something about this new Marvel run that feels somehow more right.
Maybe it’s the fact that this is all officially canon and that with
the Dark Horse stuff you always knew that it could be jettisoned at
any time. I’ve always said that good stories are good stories and
their place in continuity doesn’t matter, but I have to admit that
there’s something about knowing that things are official that adds
a bit of weight.
Plus
the books have just been spot-on so far. The characterizations and
stories fit right into what we know of that galaxy far, far away.
Darth
Vader (78)
This
has ended up being my favorite of the new star
Wars
books. Vader always makes for an interesting story with his own
strong will and agendas being suborned by his loyalty to Palpatine.
It’s a neat trick that even though I know where this all ends up
there are still many events and stories to be discovered on the path
to Vader’s redemption and demise.
Princess
Leia (81)
I
am enjoying this one, as well. I’m not crazy about Terry Dodson’s
art, but I feel like Mark Waid is doing a much better job of
redefining Leia Organa than that last Dark Horse book was doing.
Rather than just magically making her an ace pilot Waid is deepening
her character and her backstory in ways that don’t feel
contradictory to the character.
Groot
(82)
I’m
not familiar with Jeff Loveness, but Brian Kesinger is a phenomenal
artist that seems to have been heavily influenced by Berkeley
Breathed, who I think of as the greatest cartoonist of my time. I’ll
be buying this.
Howard
the Duck (85)
Even
though Howard’s adventures are grounded on Earth and significantly
lower-key than those being depicted in Silver
Surfer,
this book feels like a spiritual brother to that one. It has a sort
of independent spirit to it. The writing is tight and hilarious and
Joe Quinones art is fun and massively expressive – very similar to
Mike Allred’s.
Star
Wars: The Marvel Covers Vol. 1 (106)
Okay,
my first thought here is, “Well, this is stupid. Why would I buy a
book of covers.” But there was some incredible artwork on all eight
hundred and thirty-six of the variant covers that Marvel offered for
the gajillion-selling Star
Wars
#1. I think I’d actually like to have printed version of them.
Especially since some of the ones I wanted are selling for ridiculous
amounts of money.
So
yeah – maybe this isn’t so stupid.
Howard
the Duck: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (129)
No,
I am not immune to bandwagoning. I saw Howard in Guardians
of the Galaxy,
I picked up the excellent new comic, and now I want to read the old
stuff. I honestly think my only exposure to Howard prior to Guardians
was the old movie. I’m sure he popped up in comics I read from time
to time, but I am a Howard novice.
Giant-Size
Little Marvel: AvX #1 by Young Poster (148)
There
is a poster!
That’s
it for Marvel this month. Start putting your pennies in your Diamond
Select figural bank and remember to drop your order form off at your
Local Comic Book Shop!
As head researcher (although I already knew this) I feel I should point out that's namor, terrax, cervus, proxima midnight, black swan, and Maximus the mad on that cover. They are the evil cabal that namor assembled to stop the incursions when the illumanati wouldn't do it anymore.
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