Saturday, September 29, 2007

Dark Horse / Image Preview Review for December

Jim: I find that I look forward to the Dark Horse / Image solicitations more then the DC/Marvel ones because both companies usually have some new projects that are at something different then the standard fare at the big two. In all fairness to DC with Vertigo in their mix we do get some different things under that category also.
Lee: I agree. I find I am looking forward to Dh and Image far more than the big two these days. Mostly because I can read stories that aren’t tied into every other book. It’s nice to have some one-n-done story lines.

Starting with Image

INFINITE HORIZON #1 (of 6) story GERRY DUGGAN & PHIL NOTOart & cover PHIL NOTO
Image presents a re-imagining of The Odyssey: A soldier's long journey home after years of war in the Middle East. In the not-too-distant future a small group of abandoned soldiers are lead home by one man: The Captain. To get back he will have to cross half the globe and endure deadly encounters with many enemies including the Cyclops, and the Sirens...but first he will have to survive the final hours of the war! DECEMBER 5 • 32 PAGES • FC • $2.99
Jim: Now this sounds interesting. Take a classic story and updated to today and also present some ideas about the geo-political situation in our world. I’m signing up for this book.
Lee: This does sound interesting. I also find intriguing that so few books have been centered in the middle east these days. With all the upheaval you would think there would be more story lines. It’s good to see Phil Noto on art again. He’s a great artist.

THE CRYPTICS III story STEVE NILESart & cover BEN ROMAN
Those macabre menaces of the suburbs are at it again. Join The Cryptics – Drac, Sea boy, Wolfy and Hyde – as they rampage through the arctic in search of an old friend! Also featured in this landmark third issue, special gusts stories and art from all corners of the creepy comic community! DECEMBER 19 • 24 PAGES • FC • $2.50
Lee: I love classic monsters and who better to handle them than horrormeister Steve Niles. Now, the interesting twist is they are all little kids and this appears to be an all ages book. But, the cover is great. Penguins, werewolfs, and some strange kid with a brain floating in a fish bowl!!! What’s not to like???
Preview of an older issue at:
http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=005856
Just so you can see the art.
Jim: I don't know this book just missing the mark for what I look for in a comic. I can see its appeal, but without having small children around to read to, this has no hook to bring me in.

INVINCIBLE PRESENTS: ATOM EVE #1 (of 2) story BENITO CERENO art NATE BELLEGARDE cover CORY WALKER editor ROBERT KIRKMAN
From the pages of INVINCIBLE! You know her, you love her, it’s the girl after Invincible’s heart: ATOM EVE! Find out how she got her powers, and what shaped her into the woman she is today. Robert Kirkman presents a tale of tragedy and triumph that will have lasting effects on the INVINCIBLE series. DECEMBER 5 • 32 PAGES • FC • $2.99
Jim: Well given that I sort of like Invincible so this is another no brainer for me. I look forward to Invincible and Atom Eve actually getting together one day and having some additional back story on her is a good idea. Also I prefer this back story to be off from the regular series as not to bog it down.
Lee: You sorta like Invincible? That’s like saying the sky is sorta blue. ANYWAY. Invincible is good. Actually, I am surprised they haven’t watered the title down with all sorts of miniseries before now. I have no idea who Cereno is so I can’t really make a call on this. But, some research yielded http://www.fetorpse.org/bio.html which has all sorts of news on the creative team.

THE NEXT ISSUE PROJECT #1: FANTASTIC COMICS #24 story ERIK LARSEN, JOE CASEY, TOM SCIOLI, HOWARD CHAYKIN, TOM YEATES, FRED HEMBECK, ASHLEY WOOD, ANDY KUHN & B. CLAY MOOREart ERIK LARSEN, BILL SIENKIEWICZ, MIKE ALLRED, TOM SCIOLI, HOWARD CHAYKIN, TOM YEATES, FRED HEMBECK, ASHLEY WOOD & ANDY KUHNcover ERIK LARSEN
SAMSON! STARDUST! FLIP FALCON! SPACE SMITH! CAPTAIN KIDD! THE GOLDEN KNIGHT! PROFESSOR FIEND! SUB SAUNDERS! YANK WILSON! Some of the greatest creations from yesterday brought back to life by some of the greatest creators of today! Fans have marveled over the years as, one by one, characters from comics' Golden Age have been revived for a modern audience. The NEXT ISSUE PROJECT is an ongoing series that continues a classic discontinued title for a modern audience! All stories are complete, self-contained and cool as all hell! All books are Golden Age sized, but these aren't simply an homage to Golden Age comics: They're updated classics for a new generation by modern masters! DECEMBER 5 • 64 PAGES • FC • $5.99
Jim: Again a good concept and a fun idea. I’m not rushing out to the story and waiting for it to show up, but for $5.99 with that list of creators, I’ll take a chance on this book. Since these are all public domain characters that I probably never saw, I will miss how they are being revived and or changed as I have no reference point.
Lee: What a list of creators is right!!! But, it will depend on execution. Alan Moore did this once with the series “1963”. It was good but almost to good at capturing the feel of 1963 comics. The first issue should be worth checking out though.

OVERMAN #1 (of 5) story SCOTT REED art & cover SHANE WHITE
Brace yourself for an explosive journey into a doomed future. Set in an art deco-styled Pittsburgh of 2135, hired killer Nathan Fisher discovers the first clue of a vast, cryptic plot that will destroy the human race. OVERMAN combines hard science fiction with a surrealistic twist, from new writer SCOTT REED (High Strangeness, Last Odyssey) and critically acclaimed artist SHANE WHITE (NBM's North Country , and Image Comics Fear Agent). DECEMBER 5 • 32 PAGES • FC • $3.50 Art preview at: http://www.theovermancomic.com/ Artist info at: http://www.shanewhite.com/
Jim: Damn looks like yet another book that has me hooked and reeling me in. I love the “doomed future” type books, matches my world view (just kidding). Not sure of the creators, but the premise is enough to get me to try out issue #1. Still in just four projects Image has more excitement in their new ventures then DC and Marvel combined this month.
Lee: For those of you at home, Jim’s “doomed future world view” comment…. He wasn’t kidding. Image certainly is putting out different and interesting books these days. But, to control my spending I may wait for the trade on this one.

A RED MASS FOR MARS #1 (of 4) story JONATHAN HICKMAN art & cover RYAN BODENHEIM “ETERNITY”From the mind of comic book innovator Jonathan Hickman and pen of super-talent and Image debutant RYAN BODENHEIM comes A RED MASS FOR MARS. In a world that has survived every catastrophe imaginable, a new threat from beyond the stars looks to be the end of all humanity. A RED MASS FOR MARS tells the story of the last days of Earth and the one man who could save us all, but won't. DECEMBER 12 • 32 PAGES • FC • $3.50
Jim: Jonathan Hickman is a busy guy of all a sudden. I’m a little confused as why a book called Red Mass for Mars is about the last days of Earth (maybe a typo). Still with Hickman and that premise – worth at look at issue #1.
Lee: OK, enough is enough. You have picked EVERY SINGLE BOOK Image is publishing so far. Good grief already. How about some filtering, Buddy Boy? But, Image is riding the Hickman wave. Hopefully, he is able to continue the high quality work. And, random factoid of this posting, Ryan Bodenheim is the winner of the 2002 Wizard World art contest. Who knew?

TIM SALE: BLACK AND WHITE HC written by RICHARD STARKINGS & JOHN ROSHELL w/TIM SALEart & cover TIM SALE
REVISED AND EXPANDED!HEROES artist TIM SALE discusses his life and work in this comprehensive and lavishly illustrated volume. This is a new, revised and expanded edition of the original sold out and out-of-print TIM SALE: BLACK AND WHITE previously published by Active Images. Includes 16-page color signature.
DECEMBER 5 • 272 PAGES • BW • $39.99
Lee: OOOOHHHH. HC of Tim Sale artwork. Pretty!!! And cheap too.
Jim: This is why Lee is the art guy and I'm more the story guy. I love Tim Sale's art, but enjoy it when it is part of a good story also, so I'll pass.

HAWAIIAN DICK, VOL. 1: BYRD OF PARADISE TP (NEW PRINTING) story B. CLAY MOORE art & cover STEVEN GRIFFIN
The original acclaimed miniseries in a beautiful trade paperback, containing over fifty pages of exclusive bonus material, including creator notes, concept artwork, a pin-up gallery, a text piece by co-creator B. CLAY MOORE, web strips created specifically for image comics.com, and a lushly illustrated drink guide created especially for the trade by Eisner-nominated series co-creator STEVEN GRIFFIN.
Collects HAWAIIAN DICK, VOL. 1 #1-3
DECEMBER 19 • 144 PAGES • FC • $14.99
Lee: Since this has turned into a “HEY LOOK AT THIS” for every single Image book, I want to add my two cents. This was a great series from couple of years ago. Excellent crime book with outstanding art. You really can’t beat it for $15.
Jim: I have to borrow this one from Lee as I missed this series from before and it still is not drawing me in.

BONDS #3 (of 3)art & cover DURWIN TALON
Lee: OOOOHHHH. The naked chick has a wolf’s head so that makes it ok. NO NO NO! This books wins the Embarrassed to be a Fan Boy award just because the cover is extra pointless.
Jim: Well since I read Bonds #1, I know that this is due to the magic component of what is happening in the story, still hard to disagree with Lee.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!!!

BRIT #5 art & cover CLIFF RATHBURN
Lee: I stand corrected. Brit #5, with the tentacle that actually manages to get into the costume wins. Sorry Durwin your cover was pointless but Cliff’s creepy trumps pointless anyday.

Jim: The whole tentacle thing is just odd, especially since apparently it is a big turn on with some of the manga stuff. Creepy and perverted.

BRAWL #3 (of 3) story DAN HASPIEL & MICHEL FIFFEart & cover DAN HASPIEL & MICHEL FIFFE Post-coital mania tears the bloom off the rose in this final installment of Haspiel and Fiffe's tour de force of love and pain as Billy Dogma battles the lesser half of his better half in hopes of making everything wrong go right, and Panorama’s Augustus escapes the madness of a double-cross with a twist ending you never expected to see in comix.
Lee: Now, just to get back to reality, a cover worth looking at. I don’t know if the story is any good but this is a very good cover. I like it.
Jim: Lee is now just picking covers and knows I'm the one having to format this post with all these pictures.

KILLING GIRL #5 (of 5) story by GLEN BRUNSWICK art TOBY CYPRESS covers FRANK ESPINOSA & TOBY CYPRESS
It's the final battle: Sara is forced to face down her former mentor. But Nightmare has discovered that Sara has an "Achilles Heal." She actually has feelings for FBI agent, Charlie Baker. Nightmare plans to kill Charlie in front of Sara before eliminating her as well. DECEMBER 12 • 32 PAGES • FC • $2.99
Jim: I was very upset to see the Frank Espinosa fell off this book as the artist. I enjoyed issue #1, but feel a little cheated as the series will not have him as the artist for all five issues. Hopefully Toby Cypress will be a good replacement.
Lee: Well, you can check out Toby at http://tobycypress.blogspot.com/. While I agree, it would be nice to have Espinosa for the entire series, I would rather have an ending.

Tomb Raider Compendium Volume 1 Limited Edition Hardcover (W) Dan Jurgens, David Wohl, James Bonny, & Dan Slott (A) Andy Park, Adam Hughes, Billy Tan, Tony S. Daniel & more! Now a limited edition hardcover! Collecting TOMB RAIDER #1-50, TOMB RAIDER COMPENDIUM VOLUME 1 gives you the complete adventures of Lara Croft in one massive volume! Full Color 1280 pages $99.99 Limited Edition Hardcover
Jim: Was there a demand for this? Oh by the way a 1280 page book is just too damn big to be of any use other then a doorstop.
Lee: Ummmm, isn’t this the same size as Marvel’s Omnibus’s???? And you love those.
Jim: Actually Marvel's are usually much smaller. Their door stop was Amazing Spider-Man at 1008 pages I believe.

Over to Dark Horse


CITY OF OTHERS
STEVE NILES (W) and BERNIE WRIGHTSON (A) On sale Feb 27 FC, 112 pages $14.95 TPB, 7" x 10" Stosh Bludowski is a killer, born with the capacity for no apparent human emotion other than rage. Killing comes easy for Blud, and he makes a good living doing what's easy-until the day he meets two jobs in an alley who just won't die, and a grotesque mystery unfolds right in front of him. Soon, the remorseless killer is confronted by a reality he could never imagine, and he will be invited to make a decision once and for all . . . is he human, or is he Other?
Jim: Love this material and I may have to get the trade also. Bernie Wrightson’s work was missing from comics for way too long. The only issue I had with this series was it felt like a prologue to a series of stories about Blud.
Lee: For me, this is an Eh. I have lots of Wrightson in the collection. Lots of classic, peak Wrightson in the collection. If you have nothing else, start here but for me, I’m just not sure.

CUT - by MIKE RICHARDSON (W), TODD HERMAN (A), AL MILGROM (I), and MIKE MIGNOLA (Cover) On sale Dec 12 FC, 112 pages $9.95 TPB, 5 1/4" x 7 1/2"
The latest addition to the Dark Horse horror line is this chilling original graphic novel from writer and publisher Mike Richardson (The Secret, Cravan). Twentysomething Meagan Walters regains consciousness and finds herself locked in an empty room of an old house. She's bleeding from the back of her head, and has no memory of where the wound came from-she'd been at a club with some friends . . . left angrily . . . was she abducted? When Meagan peers through the door's keyhole, she starts to suspect that her captor isn't quite human . . .
Todd Herman (The Fog; The Goon: Noir) fleshes out the story with his moody, EC-influenced pencils, and comics stalwarts Al Milgrom and Dave Stewart bring them to life.
Jim: I will be passing on this book and wait for any reviews to see if I have any interest. Wonder how this Mike Richardson guy gets all of his stuff published?
Lee: Might have something to do with him owning the company. But that’s just a guess. Sounds interesting enough but I agree with the wait and see philosophy.


THE DEADLANDER #3 (of 4)
KEVIN FERRARA (W/A)
Lee: Since we had two awful covers, I think I can point out two good covers. I really liked Brawl #3, and I like this one two. It definitely works to draw the reader in.
Jim: Good cover, but do you know how many times I have had to add an extra photo and then redo all the damn spacing!

THE END LEAGUE #1
RICK REMENDER (W), MAT BROOME (P), SEAN PARSONS (I), and WENDY BROOME (C) On sale Dec 26 FC, 32 pages $2.99 Ongoing
A thematic merging of The Lord of the Rings and Watchmen, The End League follows a cast of the last remaining supermen and women as they embark on a desperate and perilous journey through a world dominated by evil, in hopes of locating the one remaining artifact that can save humanity-the Hammer of Thor. For his return to the world of comics renowned artist Mat Broome (WildC.A.T.S.) teams up with critically acclaimed writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent) for this, Dark Horse Comics's newest superhero series.
Jim: I’m trying it out as I like Rick Remender’s work, but not sure I need another super hero series.
Lee: I may have to try this too. Broome is a good artist and it’s nice to see his work again. And Remender is not slouch either. It’s definitely worth investigating.

FRAZETTA EGYPTIAN QUEEN STATUE
On sale Jan 30 12 1/4" tall, 12 1/8" wide, 11 7/8" deep Limited to 2000 units for worldwide distribution $350.00
ReelArt Studios and Dark Horse Comics are proud to present Frazetta's Egyptian Queen, the third offering of a four-statue collection inspired by the original artwork of one of the world's most beloved fantasy illustrators, Frank Frazetta. The fully hand-painted statue, as sculpted by Gabriel Marquez, depicts one of Mr. Frazetta's most famous works and was personally overseen and approved by the master.
Jim: Lee, you can get this for me as a late Christmas gift. I love how sexy Frank Frazzeta’s woman are and they are not those rail thin super models who are supposed to be so sexy.
Lee: I would get it for ya but she she looks fat. I know you don’t like rail models but there’s a difference between “full figured” and “OMG your a$$ just ate your thong!” I can’t spend money on something I know you won’t really, truly appreciate. BUT, you can buy me the Judge Dredd statue which is way super cooler.

GRENDEL: DEVIL QUEST
MATT WAGNER (W/A)
On sale Feb 13 FC, 64 pages $14.95 HC, 7" x 10"
In seven chapters, all written and lusciously painted by Wagner, the deadly cyborg Grendel-Prime pursues the past with singular purpose, even while the decadent and decaying world he has forsaken hunts him for reasons of its own. With each chapter a twisted relation to the children's rhyme, "Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief," this tightly crafted work is an essential piece of the Grendel canon, and a tie-in to Wagner's popular Batman/Grendel series. Lee: First off, I thought I had read everything associated with Wagner’s Grendal but I don’t remember this. I might have to dig in the collection to see if I have it. BUT, it appears that DH is putting the entire series in HC format. This is soooo cool.
Jim: I agree it is cool, but I want bigger hard covers, right now they are killing me doing all small hard covers.

THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOLUME 2
ROY THOMAS (W), BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH (A), and JOHN BUSCEMA (A)
On sale Feb 27 FC, 544 pages $17.95 TPB, 7" x 10"
In the mid 1970s a comics magazine was published containing some of the most exciting epic fantasy tales the world has ever known-The Savage Sword of Conan. Based off of the work of renowned author Robert E. Howard, each issue offered multiple thrilling tales of the legendary barbarian. The magazine was also a showcase of comics talent, headed up by Conan aficionado Roy Thomas. Now for the first time ever, these stories are being collected in a series of omnibus-style books, with over five hundred pages of classic sword and sorcery-for the complete Conan collector! Included in this volume are tales featuring the stunning art of such comics luminaries as Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Alfredo Alcala, Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom, Pablo Marcos, Walter Simonson, and many more. o The first time ever that The Savage Sword of Conan magazine has been collected.
Lee: Now this will be interesting. You see, SSoC was a B&W magazine which was outside of the comics code. AND, with the issues this reprints Marvel slipped in some nudity!!! That’s right big John Buscema drawing nekkid wimmens!!! WHA HOOOOO. I wonder if DH will reprint as published or edit like Marvel did on Tomb of Dracula????
Jim: I can not imagine Dark Horse worrying about nudity, if they edit it, I will be disappointed.

INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS VOLUME 1
WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS (W), DAN BARRY (W), LEE MARRS (W), DAN BARRY (A), LEO DURANONA (A), KARL KESEL (A), ANDY MUSHYNSKY (A), and more
On sale Feb 6 FC, 352 pages $24.95 TPB, 6" x 9" Indiana Jones is back in this massive volume recounting three of the most important discoveries in the career of the twentieth century's most adventurous archaeologist!
Containing the long-out-of-print stories, "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis," "Thunder in the Orient," and "Indiana Jones and the Arms of Gold," this substantial tome follows the intrepid Dr. Jones as he travels from Africa to Asia and nearly everywhere in between in a race against the Nazis for the world's greatest treasures. From lost cities, to ancient temples, to artifacts of legendary power, Indy will stop at nothing to preserve these prizes from the grasp of Adolf Hitler's evil minions. Collecting many long-out-of-print stories in one value-priced volume
Jim: Not something that I want, but nice to see all sorts of properties getting lower cost reprint treatments.
Lee: This actually sounds really good. As always I wish it were full sized but I’ll take what I can get. Messner-Loebs is a very good writer and it looks like a solid line up of artists. This has high “fun” potential and should be worth picking up.

Jim: Well a damn decent month from the smaller press big two. Nice to see someone is looking for some different projects and willing to take a chance.
Lee: This is just so much more interesting than the big two these days. It makes me excited to read comics again.

3 comments:

  1. Lee - you have obviously never seen a fat woman if you think the 'Egyptian Queen' is fat...

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  2. Oh that's not true. I live in the south. Home of fried chicken and grits. I KNOWS fat.

    Chalk this one up to creative license.

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  3. And without that license we would not have gotten “OMG your a$$ just ate your thong!” - my favorite line of Lee's in this post.

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