NOTE: If you aren't interested in my Previews overview (I know it's very long), you can skip to my reviews of Smallville and Angel.
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, so you can follow along at home.
As usual, I'll start with the Splash Page (8-9). There are only two items of interest here. The first is the Clone Wars trade paperback. Considering how much better than the movies the Clone Wars cartoons were, I'd be tempted to get this. Not so much that I will, but tempted nonetheless. The other is the "Wacky Packages", and the only reason I'm mentioning them is because hubby-Eric, flipping through Previews last night, made an "oooo!" sound when he spotted them in the trading card section. I don't really remember them, myself, though this article says they were in production from 1967 to 1992.
Jumping on past the big four, nothing of interest in the Wizard section, so we'll start in on the main comics section.
As usual, the first company to have a book that jumps out at me is About Comics (203). In this case, the book of interest is Comics Prose which promises short stories by writers of comics, including Dennis O'Neil, Peter David, and Kurt Busiek. I may have to have a chat with hubby-Eric about getting this one. Ten dollars for ten stories isn't too bad. I'll also note that the Superfolks reprint appears to still be available. I still kind of want to read that one.
Abrams Comics (203) has two apparently European books to take a look at. One is Auschwitz, a fictionalized tale of the WWII concentration camp. The solicitation says that the creator, Pascal Croci, interviewed survivors to get the detail for the book. This is one that I doubt I could read. Maus was hard enough for me to get through. I will mention that I find the cover image Previews shows to be very disturbing... all too much like images of models and such, a pretty woman. I'm not sure whether this is because modern models are too depressing, or because the character image chosen for the cover is too pretty for the subject matter. Whatever, it bothered me enough to mention. The other book by Abrams is Voyage Into The Deep which appears to be a mix of historical fiction and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It sounds a little forced in concept to me, but intriguing enough to mention.
AIT/Planet Lar (208) has nothing I want this month, but they do have a nice listing of all the issues of Demo so far (209). I still keep hrming over them every month. Just not enough to actually put them on the list.
Alternative Comics has two books promoted on page 211, and it's worth reading the mini-interviews. I'm slightly intrigued by Salmon Doubts (210).
Amaze Ink/Slave Labor always seems to get in Flipping Through Previews for something or another. In this case I'm mentioning Pirate Club #2 (214), a book I first mentioned back in the Dec/Feb edition of FtP.
Another publisher that I always seem to mention is Antarctic Press. The first book I'll note is Dictators: Hitler #2 (214), the second issue covers "The Soldier", covering Hitler's WWI years. I was also going to mention I Hunt Monsters #3 because Rod Espinosa is working on it, but the solicit is making it sound a bit bizarre.
AP Comics is trying a APC Preview Book #1 (218), which will be quarterly and feature pages and artwork from their series. At $1.50 a pop, this is a good way to try and get the word out about their work. I'm tempted to get it even though none of their series appeal to me.
Ape Entertainment (220) kicks off the year of the monkey with an anthology about... apes. No, not really. This one features "fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, super-heroes"... it just has an ape on the cover to assure good sales. Ape Omnibus is planned as a quarterly 64 page book, to which upcoming artists and writers can contribute. See their website for details.
Arcana Studio is soliciting Ant #2 (222). Check out the website for artwork samples and more information.
If you don't know this already, I'm sure you must read only my blog for comic book news. Avatar Press is putting out Rich Johnston's Holed Up (232), which looks like a depressing black comedy. Yes, that Rich Johnston. From my readings of Lying in the Gutters, I can say I probably wouldn't enjoy this book. Your mileage may vary.
Bloodfire Studios solicits Kindergoth #3 (236), which I plan on ordering after getting the first two issues to review from the publisher. I liked it enough that I'm mildly peeved that another Bloodfire book that I have zero interest in says that it will have a Kindergoth short story in its ad on page 233. However, I'm only mildly peeved because Bloodfire has been a pretty cool company so far, and I'm sure the story will show up in another format somewhere.
Bongo Comics is putting out Futurama Comics #17 (236), the book that we can't seem to get off our pull list.
Checker Book Publishing is reprinting classic Star Trek comics as a trade. The Star Trek Key Collection (242) is quite tempting. I wonder if hubby-Eric wants it, too?
The CBLDF is reissuing the Hellboy T-Shirt (244). A few months ago I wouldn't have been caught dead in a Hellboy T-shirt, now I kind of want to get it.
And BAM! We're into CrossGen (248). I just hope they keep publishing. I keep wondering when each book we get from them will be cancelled. I think I heard somewhere that Way of the Rat is gone. And Abadazad isn't being solicited this month, so all we're getting this month is El Cazador.
After reading and enjoying the first collection of The Hedge Knight, I find myself somewhat interested in another Devil's Due Publishing adaptation of a story from Legends. The Wood Boy (270/276) by Raymond E Feist is part of the Riftwar saga. I can't help but wonder if this one will adapt as well the The Hedge Knight did.
Whoa! I almost missed it! Devil's Due is also adapting The Seventh Shrine (269/276) from Legends! Now I know I want to get both of these, but I think, because they are both two-issue minis, I might wait for a collection on both of them. Well, this gives me a little more reason to work on my review of Legends and Legends II. And I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on Devil's Due in the future.
Moving on after that moment of surprise, Dork Storm Press has a new book: Dr Blink: Superhero Shrink #0 (277) I'm not terribly interested, but it does merit a mention, as it will no doubt be hilarious. I'm tempted to get the Fairly Goth Parents T-Shirt for hubby-Eric, but although he would find it funny, he wouldn't have anywhere to wear it.
Fantagraphics is going to get some more of our money. The Lizard of Oz (290) is a graphic novel that "pays playful homage to, and parodies, the classic L. Frank Baum fairy tale". Yeah, hubby-Eric will want it. That's a no-brainer.
I Box Publishing has Thieves & Kings #45 (302). Recently this book has taken a turn for the better. Let's see if the quality stays up.
Moonstone Books has The Phantom #3 (310), which my friend will be wanting to order, and I will read.
And that gets me past the main comic book section. Moving on...
On page 366 there is a "Hello Kitty" reusable sticker book. I'm almost tempted. I wonder if I could get a thought balloon that says "I have no mouth but must scream"?
Two cool Justice League t-shirts show up on page 398. Both of them have classic Aquaman. I wonder if Super Hero Stuff will have them in stock soon? I might just have to get them.
I like this... Meddling Kids RPG (464): "Designed to help young children grasp the concept of roleplaying... a stand-alone game that allows novice players to take on the role of a group of teenagers who stumble upon a Wild Card - an anthropomorphic companion - and bad together to solve mysteries." Rooby-Roo!
In the Video section, there's a Lone Wolf and Cub DVD. I wonder if it's one of the good ones, or one of the edited ones?
And here's some frightening developments (494-495): Flintstones Season One DVD Set, Jetsons Season One DVD Set, Jonny Quest Season One DVD Set, and Scooby-Doo Where Are You? Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Set. I can't figure out if I'm interested in them or just frightened that they are going to be so easy to get.
Ok... hit the end of the book, so now it's time to bounce back and visit the big four publishers.
Just for kicks, let's do Marvel Comics (176) first. Let's see... Amazing Spider-Man #67 (#508) and Supreme Power #10. My friend David will be getting Thor #78 and Thor #79 (why two issues a month on so many Marvel books? It's getting really annoying.. Iron Man even has *three* issues out in May. Ridiculous.), so I'll probably read those.
Let's move on to Dark Horse, just to shake up the order even more. I've already mentioned the Star Wars: Clone Wars trade (18). This appears to be a digest. Could be fun.
There will be a Hellboy story in The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (24), but that's not enough to get me to buy it.
Conan #4 (28) makes the list. I haven't read issue one yet, so that could change. But I'll probably stick with it.
There's a new Usagi Yojimbo collection (31), but no new issues this month. I need to catch up on the collections soon. And keep loaning them to my sister. She seems to like the series almost as much as I do.
Continuing to jump around, let's move up to Image Comics. The second Age of Bronze hardcover is being solicited (135). I need to write to Eric and ask if he prefers me to order it through Diamond or directly from him. In any case, I'm getting the hardcover. It'll match my hardcover of the first collection. Which is available as a trade still, if you haven't got your copy yet.
Other than that, we'll be getting Powers Vol 2 #3 (153) and Common Grounds #5 (162). If you haven't been getting Common Grounds, you might want to check out an issue. All stand-alone stories, so you won't get stuck in an eternal story-arc.
In the Direct Currents section, Sea Guy (56) certainly jumps out at this Aqua-fan. Yeah, no chance of Aquaman, but it still intrigues. The art/story preview just makes me more interested in it. Firestorm (60) however, interests me almost not at all. The only interest I have in it is to find out if this will sort out the status of Earth's fire elemental, or if it will just add to the confusion. I think I'll pass. Richard Dragon (66) also interests me. The six-page preview on DC's site just made me more interested. This one is certainly a possibility.
There was never any question about us getting Justice League of America: Another Nail (78). I hardly even need the preview pages, though seeing more great Alan Freakin' Davis artwork is always cool.
I'm going to mention the new Batman toy line tie-in: Batman: Cyber Revolution (86). I'm mentioning it because the mini will include Oracle. Does this mean we'll get a solo Oracle action figure? I've been tempted to get the Birds of Prey set, just so I can have an Oracle figure. Moving on, I wonder if hubby-Eric will want the Empire Trade (87) because it includes a five-page preview and sketchbook? I do know that hubby wants Green Lantern/Green Arrow Vol 1 (90), and I want the DC 100-Page Super Spectacular (90). I'm torn by the New Teen Titans Archives Vol 2 (91), because I know that Aqualad shows up in it, but I don't know how much. What disappoints me is that they are reprinting 80s stories when there are plenty of tales from the 60s that are much harder to get ahold of that I, personally, would rather have. I was surprised when the first volume of this archive came out, I'm even more surprised it sold well enough to merit a second volume. Ah well, DC has the sales numbers, and I'm not an everyfan.
Getting into the main listings, here's what will make the list. From the Batman Section: Batman Adventures #14 (96), Batman: Harley & Ivy #2 (97), and Birds of Prey #67. In the Superman section we're getting Superman: Birthright #10 (98) and Smallville #8 (99). In the regular DCU section, we'll be getting Aquaman #18 (99), DC: The New Frontier #4, DC 100-Page Super Spectacular (100), Fallen Angel #11, Green Arrow #38 (101), Green Lantern #177 (102), Green Lantern/Green Arrow Vol 1, H-E-R-O #16, JLA #98, JLA #99 (103), Justice League of America: Another Nail #1, JSA #61, Justice League Adventures #31 (104), Outsiders #12, and Plastic Man #6 (105).
Hubby-Eric also mentioned that he's tempted to get The Powerpuff Girls #50 (107) because he wants to see them sucked into a mirror universe and meet the Powerpunk Girls.
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? I don't know about you, but I'm beat. This is always a long effort. But after I finish I generally have a very good idea of what I want to buy, and I get to give a little promotion to books that otherwise might get ignored. Yeah, it's worth it. And hey, if I missed something, please make comment on it. You might find something I missed. It happens. I almost missed the Majipoor comic from Devil's Due this month. I could easily miss something else.
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