Flipping Through Previews...

Yes, it's that time again... time for "Things in Previews That Look Interesting But I Can't Afford To Get (with a list of things I am getting just for contrast)". I'm going to start with the bulk of the book, and then come back and cover the "big four" at the end. Please remember, I'm listing what looks interesting. My actual purchase list is going to be much smaller. The numbers after each title are usually the page number in Previews Magazine, so you can follow along at home.

Let's start with the covers. Green guy on the front cover, it's the Legion, isn't it? Not very appealing to me, but I'm guessing it's appealing to the legion of Legion fans out there. The back cover is another one of those artsy covers that doesn't show much but looks pretty. Neither cover is really very interesting.

Moving on, let's hit the Splash Page (8-9). Three items on the left, Ultimates looks missable, Hunter/Killer looks like the same old spandex, but Concrete: The Human Dilemma is enough to warrant a second look. On the right, I'm not seeing anything I'm even remotely intrigued by. Let's move on.

Skipping over the "Premier" comics, I'll jump in on page 186 with the Wizard section. More Identity Crisis stuff, and a Flash 1/2 issue. The rest of Wizard's mags are just what you expect.

Pages 194 to 197 show off the Featured Items from the main comics section. Items of note to me are Proof of Concept from AIT/Planet Lar, which has a bizarre cover. I also love the title of The Big Big Little Book Book, which I'm assuming is about Big Little books, of which I have the Aquaman one for sure, and maybe one or two others hanging around.

Adhouse Books has a book called Skyscrapers of the Midwest #1 (204) which looks odd but cool. Looks like a collection of mini-comics. I'd need to see more art samples before I'd go after it, though.

Adv Films has taken over some pages of Previews. It's now to the point that I can't safely ignore ad pages within the main comic book section like I used to be able to. I have to check and make sure that the "ads" aren't the only solicits for the books they show. I find this annoying, as a lot of the ads in this section include images I don't really like to see, particularly poorly drawn badgirl artwork, which is why I started skipping over them in the first place unless something caught my eye. Now I have to check them a bit more closely. I just hope there's less ugly art now then when I first started taking Previews years ago.

AIT/Planet Lar's only offering this month is the previously mentioned Proof of Concept (218). An anthology, which I like. I'm not sure if it will make the list, but I would get it if money weren't tight.

Amaze Ink/Slave Labor has Street Angel #4 (221). I still haven't gotten my copy of issue #2 yet, so I don't know if I want to keep up with this one.

If you are looking for a sampler, APC Christmas Special (227) from AP Comics looks like it might fit the bill.

If you want a historical fiction-y book with supernatural elements, it looks like Point Pleasant #1 (228) from Ape Entertainment might be cool.

Blind Wolf Studios has a cute-looking book with a lizard scientist called Lunar Lizard (244). Can' tell if it will be any good, but it sounds fun.

If you want to get the Bone collections, but don't want to wait for the Scholastic versions, now is the time to get them. According to page 251, the collections will be taken off he market at the end of this year to make way for Scholastic's version. It's a shame, since there's no way I'll scrounge up enough money to get them before they are gone.

Committed Comics is putting out a Platypus Rex comic by my old convention friends Quenton Shaw and Mark Brill. I think I'll be getting this one just because.

There appears to be a new Nodwick collection (278) that features the earliest Nodwick tales. Dork Storm Press is officially one of my favorite publishers now.

Does anyone know anything about Jack Lake Productions? There is a book called Dorothy Gale: Journey To Oz #1 (314) coming out from them. Of course we plan on getting it, but it would be nice to know something about it before buying it. Is it just me or are there an awful lot of good Oz related comics being put out lately? Will this be added to the "good" list?

Mahrwood Press (318) is a new one to me. Their offerings appear to lean toward historical fiction, and look interesting enough to want to try out. I'm afraid I won't be able to spend the bucks on these, but if anyone in the blogosphere does, I hope you'll let me know.

The Rosen Publishing Group (325) has a nice series of biographies, including such notables as Abraham Lincoln, Sitting Bull, Alexander the Great, and Spartacus. They appear to be an educational publisher, so your mileage may vary. Personally, I'd love to try out one of the books just to see how well the material is presented. I'd probably go for the Alexander or Spartacus one, if I could snag one.

I was really looking forward to Silicon Times (326) FCBD offering of Delicious Seasons, but they canceled it. So now I have to decide if I want to order the book sight unseen, now that it's being solicited again.

And, amazingly, I'm through the main comic book section already. This seems like a light month...

In the Magazine section is another issue of Comic Book Digest (373), which now says it has previews from Image, Dreamwave, DBPro, and Arcana. At two bucks for 128 pages, it's still worth putting on the list.

Also in the Magazine section is a solicit for ISC Program Guide With Justice League Adventures (375), which is apparently a special issue of Justice League Adventures that features NASCAR racers helping out. I find myself uninspired. Especially since the price is twelve dollars.

If you liked The Science of Superheroes, the same team has come together to give us The Science of Supervillains (387). Yeah, I'm interested, but I'm also very poor. And I live near a very good library.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating A Graphic Novel (390) by Nat Gertler and Steve Lieber would be a no-brainer just due to the team... but it also sounds like it will be a fun book on its own. Again, I'm interested. Again, I'm poor.

The Brick Testament: The Story of Christmas (393) is going to have to go on my Amazon.com wishlist.

I do NOT need Farscape Trading Cards (412).

How many varieties of Uno (487) can you get? Nintendo, South Park, Ren & Stimpy, Simpsons... I think I'll stick with the plain old boring version.

You can get Snoopy or Charlie Brown as Soap on a Rope (489).

There are a few items of vague interest in the Gaming and Video sections, but nothing I feel like mentioning. Instead, time to jump back to the beginning and hit the big publishers.

Starting with Marvel Comics (176), the list has expanded quite a bit because David is interested in more books. For myself, I'll be getting Amazing Spider-Man #74/515, Supreme Power #14, Powers #7, and maybe Spider-Man India #2... since I ordered the first Spider-Man India. I might get some of the What If books, but I'm not sure. I'll wait and see what David gets, I think. It looks like he'll get New Avengers #2, Captain America #2, Fantastic Four #521, Captain America & The Falcon #10, Marvel Age Fantastic Four #9 & 10, and Tomb of Dracula #3. That's some list, and I'm allowed to read any of them I want.

Back to Image Comics. Battle Hymn (131) looks like a fun little book. If I had more money to spread around, this one would be one to try out. I'm definitely getting Noble Causes #6 (145), which is fast becoming a must-read... heck, has already become one. We'll also be getting the third trade, even though we've read the stories... getting them in color with a new story is too much to resist. Speaking of impossible to resist, Wildguard: Fire Power #1 (158) will make the list. I'll probably re-read the first mini before this comes, too.

Only two more, starting with Dark Horse. It's certainly tempting to get Concrete: The Human Dilemma #1 (17). I would like to read more Concrete. Hey, maybe I should check out the library! (Quick check followed by three reservations for Concrete books). Right then, moving on, I'll be getting Conan #11 (20). This has been a great book from the start. I'm fascinated by Samurai: Heaven and Earth #1 (23), but I'm not sure we can swing it. I've become a real fan of samurai books since I got addicted to Lone Wolf and Cub.

And finally we move on to the big one, to my main publisher. To DC Comics. Again, I'll do these by sections.

Batman (55-60): Detective Comics #801 looks interesting only because of one line in the solicit that says the back-up story features "the return of a classic Golden Age character!" I wonder which one it'll be? Not enough to make the list, but I'll be watching the reviews. It's possible that the answer is in the next solicit, for Batman #635. We'll see. Birds of Prey #77 will make the pull list, but I'm still hoping the book in general improves. At times I've felt like I'm getting this book just because it features Oracle.

Superman (61-64): Nothing of interest for me.

DC Universe (65-85): Aquaman #25 is the first issue by the new writer, and will be the test for whether the high standards set by Pfeifer will continue. I'll likely get Adam Strange #4, and Bloodhound #6 (I chose to buy the last issue, but not Firestorm). To my surprise, I'm slightly intrigued by Deadshot #1. The preview looks good. I'll be getting Fallen Angel #18, Green Arrow #45, Green Lantern: Rebirth #3, Identity Crisis #7, JLA Classified #2, JLA #109 (thank you Kurt Busiek for saving this book), JSA #68, JSA: Strange Adventures #5, Outsiders #19, Plastic Man #13, Solo #2, and Teen Titans #19.

Johnny DC (86-87): The Batman Strikes! #4 and Justice League Unlimited #4 will make the list, of course. Can't resist the kid books.

Beyond the Universe (88-93): Nothing for me.

Wildstorm (94-102): Astro City: The Dark Age #1 is the only one that makes the list, but it's the story we've been waiting for, and I'm looking forward to it.

Vertigo (103-118): Trigger #1 looks like a good concept, but I get so tired of dystopian future books. I won't get it, but I suspect a lot of people will like it.

DC Direct (119-126): That is one scary looking Scarecrow figure from the Hush series. The Martian Manhunter statue is cool.

And that is the lot. Done for this month. Whew.

So that's it for this month's "Things in Previews That Look Interesting But I Can't Afford To Get (with a list of things I am getting just for contrast)". Comments? Questions? Did I miss any really cool books that you know about and would like to point out? Do you disagree with something I wrote, and want to correct me? There's the comments, right below. Post something. And, yes, I accept review copies. I'm willing to give almost anything a try.