DC Preview Review for April Pt 2

Well, once again Jim is getting pounded by snow which leaves me in charge. HEY HEY YOU OUT THERE! I see ya rollin' yer eyeballs. Stop that right now. I'm in charge today and you'll like. Now then, if y'all have settled down, let's get the show started.

BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM! TP
On sale May 5• 144 pg, FC, $12.99 US
(W) Mike Kunkel, Art Baltazar & Franco (A) Mike Kunkel, Stephen Destephano & others (C) Mike Kunkel
The magic word “Shazam” transforms Billy Batson into Captain Marvel — but now there’s a new kid at school: 14-year-old Theo Adam, who has his own alter ego as Black Adam! Collecting issues #1-6 of the acclaimed, all-ages series.
Lee: DC is really, really slow releasing this! Kunkel, of Herobear and Kid fame, wrote this and I’ve always wanted to read it. It’s from DC’s kid comics line so I’ll be able to share it with my kids. This is a highlight of the month for me.
Gwen: Actually this looks really cool. I still need to pick up the collected version of Jeff Smith's Shazam work.
Jim: This maybe the only way to make Captain Marvel work in today's market.
Lee: LATE UPDATE! I just realized that Stephen Destephano's name was attached to this! Destephano of the CLASSIC 'Mazing Man series, and cult favorite Hero Hotline. This was a buy before but it just became a must have!

DV8: GODS & MONSTERS #1
On sale APRIL 21 • 1 of 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
(W) Brian Wood (A) Rebekah Isaacs (C) Fiona Staples
The fan-favorite series DV8 returns with the eight-part “Gods & Monsters” arc written by critically acclaimed writer Brian Wood (Demo, DMZ, Northlanders) with art by up-and-comer Rebekah Isaacs (Drafted). In their short history, the mismatched band of superpowered losers, freaks and masochists of DV8 have seen a lot and done even more, but it’s nothing compared to this. As Gem Antonelli (a.k.a. Copycat) is debriefed in a holding cell, the story of how eight troubled teenagers were briefly gods to a prehistorical world unfolds against the backdrop of a cataclysmic disaster. “The Day I Tried To Live” is part one in this amazing and tragic story unlike anything set in the WildStorm Universe before.
Jim: If Brian Wood’s name was not on this as the writer, it would have been a easy pass, but I have to check this out for at least one issue.
Gwen: This doesn't grab my interest but I'll wait and see what Jim thinks about it.
Lee: If anyone can make this interesting, it’s Brian Wood. I bet it’s good and I bet it only marginally has anything to do with the original series. Of course, only being marginally associated with the original can only be better!

GARRISON #1
On sale APRIL 28 • 32 pg, 1 of 6, FC, $2.99 US
(W) Jeff Mariotte (A/C) Francesco Francavilla
Garrison may very well be the world’s most dangerous man. In a near future where everyone’s under surveillance, though, nobody knows anything about him – and federal agent Jillian Bracewell’s investigation into his identity could get her killed. Writer Jeff Mariotte (Angel, Desperadoes) returns to WildStorm with this 6-issue action/adventure miniseries spectacularly illustrated by Francesco Francavilla (Zorro)!
Jim: Loved Jeff’s writing in Desperadoes and loved Francavilla on Left on Mission, add in a good premise and I’m checking out this new mini-series.
Gwen: This looks like a lot of fun and has the potential to be a good story.
Lee: Mariotte is a great writer and that alone makes this worth investigating.

NEIL YOUNG’S GREENDALE HC
On sale June 9 • 160 pg, FC, $19.99 US • MATURE READERS
(W) Joshua Dysart (A/C) Cliff Chiang
Legendary singer-songwriter, musician and activist Neil Young brings one of his most personal albums, GREENDALE, to comics. Overseeing the work of acclaimed writer Joshua Dysart (Unknown Soldier) and fan-favorite artist Cliff Chiang (Human Target), they compose a graphic novel that explores a whole new dimension to the album that Rolling Stone voted as one of the best of its year.In the Fall of 2003, as the nation gallops into war, a politically active teenage girl named Sun lives, loves and dreams in a small California town named Greendale.Sun’s always been different. There’s been talk that the women in her family have all had a preternatural communion with nature. And when a Stranger comes to town – a character whose presence causes Greendale to, well, go to hell – she’ll find herself on a journey both mystical and mythical. To face the Stranger, she’ll unearth the secrets of her family in a political coming-of-age story infused with its own special magic.
Jim: Pass. Good writer, good artist, lame premise. Also when I was 16years old Neil Young played two songs for a concert and left because fans would not stop taking his pictures and I never got a refund.
Gwen: Just because the Umbrella comics did well doesn't mean they should let every song writer make a comic book.
Lee: I’m glad you’ve been able to forgive Young for something he did … 30? 40? years ago. That’s good of you.

CODENAME KNOCKOUT VOL. 1: THE DEVIL YOU SAY TP
On sale May 19 • 160 pg, FC, $19.99 US • MATURE READERS
(W) Robert Rodi (A) Amanda Conner, Yanick Paquette & Others (C) Joe Chiodo
Issues #0-6 of the 2001 series are collected at last! Meet Angela St. Grace, agent of the clandestine agency known as G.O.O.D. With her loyal assistant Go Go Fiasco, she battles the forces of E.V.I.L. The catch: G.O.O.D. is run by Angela’s mother.
Lee: I seem to remember this being good. Good story. Lots of good girl art. A fine mix of humor and good girl art, yes that’s the ticket.
Gwen: What kind of "catch" is that??? Lame solicitation.
Lee: HEY HEY Pipe down. Trust me… it’s quite the catch! It’s a HUGE catch… with lots of HUGE catchiness. Did I mention the good girl art?
Jim: Yo, that ass on that babe is the only thing selling that book.

Lee: Both of ya pipe down! It was well received at the time. I'm sure there's many a 19 year old looking to relive the comics of his youth. And what a comic it was!

SWEET TOOTH VOL. 1: OUT OF THE WOODS TP
On sale May 12 •128 pg, FC $9.99 US • MATURE READERS
(W/A/C) Jeff Lemire
The first five issues of Jeff Lemire’s acclaimed new series introduce Gus, a rare new breed of human/animal hybrid who was raised in isolation following a pandemic that struck a decade earlier. Now, with the death of his father, he’s left to fend for himself . . . until he meets a hulking drifter named Jepperd, who promises to help him. Jepperd and Gus set out on a post-apocalyptic journey into the devastated American landscape to find ‘The Preserve,’ a refuge for hybrids.
Jim: A wonderful series. Jeff Lemire has won my over as a fan and I loved the collected Essex County book that Lee has said was great many times before.
Gwen: This was a concept that could have been awful but ended up as a really well done story instead. I think it will read even better as a trade.
Lee: That’s me. Reading it in trade! I’ll confirm what y’all already know about how good it is in a few months.

STUCK RUBBER BABY HC (NEW EDITION)
on sale June 2, 224 pg, B&W 6.875” x 9”, $24.99 US
(W/A/C) Howard Cruse
The groundbreaking, award-winning semi autobiographical graphic novel returns in a new 15th anniversary edition featuring an introduction by Alison Bechdel, award-winning author of Fun Home.In the 1960s American South, a young gas-station attendant named Toland Polk is rejected from the Army draft for admitting “homosexual tendencies,” and falls in with a close-knit group of young locals yearning to break from the conformity of their hometown through civil rights activism, folk music and upstart communality of race-mixing, gay-friendly nightclubs. Toland’s story is both deeply personal and epic in scope, as his search for identity plays out against the brutal fight over segregation, an unplanned pregnancy and small-town bigotry, aided by an unforgettable supporting cast See some review art here
Lee: This was very, very well received and won all sorts of accolades. I’m glad DC is putting out a new hc version so that more people will get a chance to read it. This is great and I can’t wait for it!
Gwen: This certainly sounds interesting but probably a bit too much for me to attempt to delve into until classes are over.
Jim: Still a pass for me, I'm unconvinced this is a great work.

DC CHRONICLES: WONDER WOMAN STATUE SCULPTED BY TIM BRUCKNER
Wonder Woman, the epitome of female power, is the next in the popular DC Chronicles statue line, displaying strength and classic beauty in style. All DC Chronicles statues share a consistent base design, with a retro-styled logo further providing a sense of the period from which they originated.This limited-edition, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue measures approximately 7” high x 4.5” wide x 3” deep and is packaged in a 4-color box with a 4-color Certificate of Authenticity.Manufactured to order. On sale September 22, 2010 $99.99 US
Jim: So the old Wonder Woman is not as sharp looking as the old Superman statue. Plus she just looks a little odd to me and she is chained?
Gwen: It's not a Wonder Woman statue without chains!
Lee: I gotta say Gwen… I like how you think. Yes indeed, I do. What’s a woman without shackles?
Gwen: Not women Lee, just WW =P
Lee: Oh yeah. I knew that. That’s what I meant.

DC ORIGINS SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURE TWO-PACKS
Green Lantern6.75” h (modern)6.5” h (classic)
Wonder Woman6.75” h (modern)6.5” h (classic)
Superman6.75” h (modern)6.5” h (classic)
The Flash6.75” h (modern)6.5” h (classic)
Trace the history of some of the most popular DC Comics heroes with these special two-pack action figure sets!Each set includes two full-sized figures packaged together – one based on art from the character’s early appearances and the other based on art from the modern era.One two-sided collectible trading card featuring each character will also be included in each package.All figures feature multiple points of articulation and include display bases and character-specific accessories.4-color clamshell blister card packaging. On sale September 1, 2010
Jim: These are some weak a** action figures and the Superman look down right scary. The Wonder Woman old and new are funny as one is maidenly and the other a little slutty.
Gwen: Ugh. These are awful looking. I guess they won' make it to Jim's office.
Lee: These are good but I like how Superman’s neck looks broken!

JLA TROPHY ROOM: WONDER WOMAN TIARA, BRACELETS AND LASSO PROP REPLICA
The latest addition to the JLA TROPHY ROOM is the paramount replica for any Wonder Woman aficionado!All in one place is the Amazon warrrior’s gear - the tiara, two gauntlet bracelets, and the Lasso of Truth.Tiara is stamped and plated in gold-tone metal with a translucent star detail, measuring 2.75” high (front top point) and 1.5” high (sides) x 6.5” wide x 7.25” deep.Bracelets are plated in silver-tone metal, each measuring 5.25” high x 2.625” wide (top) and 3.25” wide (bottom) x 2.25” deep.The base is sculpted cold-cast porcelain, Classical Greek-inspired to display all the components of the replica in one place, and features a silver display plaque. It measures 7.25” high (to the top of the column) and 11” high (entire piece) x 9.75” wide x 9.5” deep.The lasso is comprised of braided gold-tone material with gold metal-plated endcaps, and measures 60” in length.Packaged in a 4-color box, with a 4-color Certificate of Authenticity. Limited Edition. Manufactured to order. On sale September 1, 2010 * Prop Replica * $325 US
Jim: I have mocked this stuff before, but I really, really want to know who is forking out $325 for this stuff.
Gwen: Oh, if only the lasso actually worked.
Lee: I’m really, really liking the way you think Gwen. Between the chains and the rope you’re really my kinda gal!!!!
Gwen: I'll be sure to pass that along to your wife...

Jim: Looks like a good month for DC and as always the OGN and new collected editions have most of my interest.
Gwen: A hit or miss month but I am excited about Brightest Day.
Lee: The month started slow but ended with a spanking! Gwen spanking… in a tiara and chains that is.
Gwen: Only if it's a pretty tiara!