NOTE: If you aren't interested in my Previews overview (I know it's very long), you can skip to my Super Bowl Summary from this morning, or my Super Bowl Ads Blog from yesterday night. If you aren't interested in those, my last Random Thoughts post is just a little further down.
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). The only item of interest to me is Scott McCloud's 24 Hour Comics. Nine stories, each written and drawn in 24 hours. I've seen (and enjoyed) Phil Foglio's effort, I wouldn't mind seeing some more.
Jumping past all the "big four" have to offer, I start the bulk of the book by looking at the solicit for Wizard (180). It says that "Wizard #151 is our annual April Fool's Special!" Uh, ok. I suppose that means more lame Aquaman jokes starring Black Manta. I'll survive.
Getting into the bulk of the listings, the first thing that jumps out at me is the aforementioned 24 Hour Comics from About Comics (192). I really want this book, and at $12 for 240 pages, it might just make the purchase list. We'll have to see.
Airship Entertainment is offering Girl Genius #11 (195). Excuse me whilst I shout for joy! Ahem. This is definitely one of the more fun books available on the stands right now, and I urge folks to give it a try. C'mon, the first one is free...
AIT/Planet Lar has a couple of interesting offerings this month. The first is Planet of the Capes (196) which is about superheroes transported to a world where superheroes are only fiction. While it's not the single most original idea ever, it is a nice twist to the genre. Could be fun. The second is Demo #6 (196). As I said last month, the acclaim for this series of standalone stories has been positive, and I've been tempted a few times to get an issue. I just haven't yet.
Alternative Comics has an "experimental" comic up, called Rabbithead (198). It claims to be heavily influenced by spaghetti westerns and Polish literature. Your mileage may vary.
Amaze Ink/Slave Labor has its usual pile of intriguing books. First up is an "Offered Again" book that I missed on the first go-round, Halo & Sprocket: Welcome to Humanity (200). I've read a little of Halo & Sprocket in the Free Comic Book Day offering, and I would like to get more. This appears to be a good jumping on point. Another book that jumped out at me was Ghouly Boys #1 (200). I'm a sucker for books about kids that don't fit in.
And then we get to Antarctic Press. First up is Angels 750 #1 (204) about a female motorcycle gang in 1972 Nevada. I'm not entirely sure why, as the art sample doesn't do much for me, but the book does intrigue me. Next item of interest is Dictators: Hitler #1 (205) which is an attempt to chronicle Hitler's life. This first volume is called "The Artist", and the series will run four issues. I'm mildly interested. Next up is I Hunt Monsters #2 (205), which is worth mentioning because Rod Espinosa is working on it.
Antimatter/Hoffman International is putting out a space-age Western called Madame Tarantula #1 (206). While it looks kind of fun, for some reason it sets off negative warning bells in my head, so I won't be trying it.
Black Boar Press has Springheeled Jack #1 (215) which only caught my eye because I saw the Jackie Chan cartoon episode that featured a baddy named Springheeled Jack who was determined to take revenge on the descendents of the wizard who imprisoned him. To be honest, now I'm kind of curious to look up the original legend. And I'm wondering, wasn't Jack The Ripper referred to as Springheel Jack, too?
And suddenly we run headlong into CrossGen (229). Only nine books offered on their list this month, and we're getting a whole third of them. We'll be getting Abadazad #4, El Cazador #6, and Way of the Rat #24. And we'll keep hoping they can pay their creative teams and everybody else they owe.
I meant to just flip quickly through Devil's Due Publishing, but I got caught by Lovebunny & Mr. Hell (246,254). It brought to mind a very funny sketch on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" in which the actors were singing about "Satan and the Schoolgirl", and so I had to read the solicit. And, when I stop to fully read a solicit, I mention it here. So consider it mentioned.
Eight Ball Graphics weighs in with Detached (267), a humor book about a guy who loses his head. Literally.
Gemstone (273) has the Disney books, and I will once again wistfully comment that I'd like to read these books. I have fond memories of sitting in the window of a friend's house on Hood Canal, while she went water-skiing I watched and waved... and read the stash of Disney comics they had left up in the attic. I think those were the first comics I ever really read, and I wouldn't mind getting some good ol' Uncle Scrooge comics to bring back those memories.
Obion Comics shows up with Along The Canadian (295). A Xeric award book, this appears to be a Western with supernatural elements. Looks intriguing.
Panini is putting out a book that will definitely be tempting hubby and I. Doctor Who: Iron Legion (300) is a reprint book of the old Marvel comics, digitally restored. Includes artwork by Dave Gibbons. Me want.
Sequent Media Publishing has an anthology called Prophecy (304) that has an impressive list of "various" writers and artists. Unfortunately, at $30, it's probably not going to make the list.
Silicon Times has a book called The Delicious Seasons (304) aimed at teen female readers. It's about a girl who loves to cook who goes to work as a chef for a picky eater. And you have to love the creator's name: Rainbow Buddy.
Sirius is putting out another non-Akiko Mark Crilley book: The Beast That Ate Morioka #1 (306). Yeah, we'll get it. It's Mark Crilley.
And that's it for the main comics section. On to books.
Science Fiction Poster Art (349) looks like a great review of SciFi movie posters, starting as far back, it claims, as 1902. With 192 pages, this could be a pretty cool book.
Straczynski Unplugged (351) is an anthology of JMS's short stories, including some of tales adapted from his writing for "The New Twilight Zone". Sounds fun.
JLA Young Readers: Aquaman's Guide To The Oceans (355). Stop laughing. I know, I know. I'm getting it anyway. It's a DK book, and DK is cool. I'm sorely tempted to get JLA Young Readers: Wonder Woman's Book of Myths too. And I wouldn't mind getting these for my nieces and nephews, too. They sound edumucational.
I don't usually mention trading cards, but the Complete Six Million Dollar Man Season 1 and 2 Cards just begs to be mentioned. Wow, I loved that show. But I don't want any trading cards about it. No, not even if I could get a Lee Majors autograph.
Just an interjection here. Every time I see "Hello Kitty" products now, I think of the Animaniacs comic book riff on Hello Kitty. At one point, the kitty holds up a sign that says "I have no mouth but must scream". I nearly passed out from laughing so hard at that, and it still gives me a chuckle *every* time I see any "Hello Kitty" products. Heh, kitty has no mouth. Heh.
In the toys section, I couldn't help but enjoy the sight of Sea Monkeys Action Figures (400,401). I'd prefer getting these to getting the original Sea Monkeys.
Next toy that jumped out was the Minimates, in particular the Lord of the Rings Minimates (404,405) and the Star Trek Tribble Kirk 2003 Con Exclusive Minimate (406). I can't help it, they're just so cute.
On the list of "Things I Never Want To See In My House" is the Buffy The Vampire Slayer Gentlemen Statuette (415,416) from the memorable episode "Hush". *shudder* No Thanks!
One DVD set caught my eye this time. The Fleischer Studios Superman 2-Disc DVD Set (483) which features all 17 of the animated Superman series that set a new standard for amazing animation, and holds up remarkably well even today.
And now I'll jump back to the beginning of the book and cover the major publishers.
We start with Dark Horse, who has the primo spot at the beginning of Previews. El Zombo (20) is about the friendship between a 10-year-old girl from East L.A. and an undead wrestler. Ok, that'll make you pause. Not enough to buy it, but it got a second look.
Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist Volume 1 (23) is almost enough to make me quit buying Dark Horse books. It collects two books that I bought, and adds new material. Look, if you are going to collect only two books, just release it as one book in the first place! And don't solicit a collection before the first issue has even come out, darn it! Wait a few months, at least. I feel cheated. That's not something you want your customers to feel, Dark Horse.
Well, Conan #3 (24) will make the list despite Dark Horse cheating its customers. And I won't dump Usagi Yojimbo #75 (33) either.
In the DC Listings: Batman Adventures #13 (94), Batman: Harley & Ivy #1, Birds of Prey #66 (95), Superman: Birthright #9 (98), Superman: Secret Identity #4, Aquaman #17, Fallen Angel #10 (99), Green Arrow #37 (100), Green Lantern #176, H-E-R-O #15, JLA #96 (101), JLA #97, JSA #60 (102), Justice League Adventures #30, Outsiders #11 (103), Plastic Man #5, Arrowsmith/Astro City (105).
Moving on to Image, I like the three page previews at the front of the listings. I'm not interested in any of the books, but it's a very good way to show them off. So, we're looking at Powers Vol 2 #2 (151) and Common Grounds #4 (161). Nope, nothing else.
And so, at last, we come to Marvel Comics. I refused the Marvel extra this month. It's just another piece of refuse that would get in the way. I can order just fine from the shipping list. With DC, I want to look for appearances of favorite characters in other books. With Marvel, we are buying one title based on the writer and one on the concept. We don't need no steenking preview, and I wish the price of Previews hadn't gone up to pay for it. Anyway, this month we'll be getting Supreme Power #9 and Amazing Spider-Man #507. My friend will be getting Thor #77, so I'll probably read that one, too.
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? Use the comments to tell me about a favorite book I didn't mention, or a book you are working on. I always like to hear about other projects. Also, if you know of a website for somebody up there that I don't have a link to, or notice that a link is incorrect, please let me know. It's really quite difficult to find information for some of these folks. But if I mention them, I want them to get as much attention as possible, and a web link will do that. And finally, if you actually read this far, thank you.
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