DC Preview Review For July Part 2 of 2

AS PROMISED PART 2

WONDER WOMAN #601
On sale JULY 28
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art and cover by DON KRAMER & MICHAEL BABINSKI
Best-selling comics writer J. Michael Straczynski (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, Thor) smashes all your expectations of Wonder Woman by lauching an all-new era for the Amazon Princess! Spinning out of the mind-bending events of WONDER WOMAN #600, Diana must face the biggest mystery of all – who destroyed Paradise Island?

Jim: Two of DC’s big three in the hands of one writer that is a bold move. Now will Wonder Woman smash JMS as she has so many writers?
Lee: Yes, she probably will.
Gwen: Wonder Woman kills all writers.

X-FILES/30 DAYS OF NIGHT #1
On sale JULY 14
1 of 6
32 pg, FC, $3.99 US
MATURE READERS
Written by STEVE NILES & ADAM JONES
Art by TOM MANDRAKE
Cover A by ANDREA SORRENTINO
X-FILES Cover B by TOM MANDRAKE
30 DAYS OF NIGHT Cover C by SAM KIETH
Two of the most popular horror properties of the last two decades collide in this harrowing 6-issue adventure of epic proportions! Co-writers Steve Niles (writer and co-creator of 30 Days of Night) and rockstar-turned-writer Adam Jones (the band Tool) team with the amazing, moody artistry of industry legend Tom Mandrake (THE SPECTRE, BATMAN) to unleash the ultimate comic culture crossover!
When evidence of a possible cannibal killer in Wainright, Alaska, draws the attention of the FBI, Agents Mulder and Scully draw the less-than-glamorous assignment. But all is not as it seems once the agents are on the ground. Not only has the long seasonal darkness begun to fall, but there’s something unnatural about a few of the locals. And what does a chilling, mysterious black ship have to do with the murders? Find out here! Co-published with IDW.

Jim: Like this was anything anyone cared about?
Lee: It’s ok and has great cross-over potential. I see why they are publishing it. I’m more interested to read the ideas of Adam Jones. His music in Tool is outstandingly angry and brutal. It’s a perfect fit for this material.
Gwen: What a strange cross-over. I mean, the X-Files had its day but its kind of dated now days.

WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE #1
On sale JULY 21
1 of 6
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by HORACIO DOMINGUES
Cover by NEIL GOOGE
1:10 variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
The fan-favorite series from Gail Simone returns as Sheriff Thomasina Lindo and the town of Tranquility’s unique inhabitants face a new crisis: the return of Mayor Fury from prison! Following the cataclysmic events in the previous series, Mayor Fury faced a trial for murder and was acquitted when the star witness refused to testify. Now he’s free and wants to come home to the town he loves, but a powerful foe from his past has other plans for Fury – and the entire town!
Acclaimed writer Gail Simone (WONDER WOMAN, BIRDS OF PREY) and artist Horacio Domingues (WILDCATS: NEMESIS) spin a new tale from the wondrously small town populated by larger-than-life superhuman citizens!

Jim: It was a cute series, but I’m not digging the groove from this solicitation.
Lee: I’m sold. I just re-read both trades and they were great. I’m all for more Tranquility!
Gwen: I'm interested, this was an fun but weird series. Also, it's good to see Gail Simone back on some of her old series.

CUBA: MY REVOLUTION HC
On sale SEPTEMBER 8
144 pg, Two colors, $24.99 US
MATURE READERS
Written by INVERNA LOCKPEZ
Art by DEAN HASPIEL
Cover by DEAN HASPIEL
From the moment Fidel Castro captures Havana in 1959, 17-year-old Sonya believes in the promise of the Cuban Revolution. A medical student who dreams of becoming a painter, she joins the militia and finds herself caught between idealism and ideology. As a volunteer medic at the Bay of Pigs, she’s imprisoned and tortured by her own comrades. Physically and emotionally scarred upon returning home, Sonya searches for fulfillment in art. But when she realizes that none of her efforts, by gun or brush, fall in line with Castro’s regime, Sonya must make agonizing choices between her family, her lover and her beloved country.
This graphic novel is inspired by the true experiences of first-time author and Havana-born artist Inverna Lockpez, with stunning art by the Eisner-nominated Dean Haspiel (THE ALCOHOLIC, THE QUITTER, AMERICAN SPLENDOR) in a lush red-and-black palette created by colorist José Villarrubia.

Jim: This sounds very cool. Of course I still think it is crazy that we have all of these embargo and stuff with Cuba to this day.
Lee: I’m a huge fan of Haspiel’s art so I’m sold.
Gwen: This is a neat concept, I'm definitely interested.

AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOL. 1 HC
On sale SEPTEMBER 29
192 pg, FC, $24.99 US
MATURE READERS
Written by SCOTT SNYDER & STEPHEN KING
Art and cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
From writers Scott Snyder and Stephen King, AMERICAN VAMPIRE
introduces a new strain of vampire – a more vicious species – and traces the creatures’ bloodline through decades of American history.
This first hardcover volume of the critically acclaimed series collects issues #1-5 and follows two stories: one written by Snyder and one written by King, both with art by future superstar Rafael Albuquerque. Snyder’s tale follows Pearl, a young woman living in 1920s Los Angeles, who is brutally turned into a vampire and sets out on a path of righteous revenge against the European monsters who tortured and abused her. And in King’s story set in the days of America’s Wild West, readers learn the origin of Skinner Sweet, the original American vampire – a stronger, faster creature than any vampire ever seen before.
Don’t miss out as Snyder and King set fire to the horror genre with this visionary, all-original take on one of the most popular monster stories!
This beautiful collection features a new introduction by Stephen King and bonus art including character sketches, variant covers and more!

Jim: Wow Scott Snyder’s series is getting the hard cover treatment right away. I wonder if Stephen King being the writer of half of the book has anything to do with it. As I write this I have read two issues of the series and Scott is knocking it out of the park with his work.
Lee: It’s getting rave reviews all over the place, including non-comic sites. I’m getting this.
Gwen: I've been loving Scott's work on this book and it's nice to see DC is going with a good looking format.

HAUNTED TANK TP
On sale AUGUST 25
128 pg, FC, $14.99 US
MATURE READERS
Written by FRANK MARRAFFINO
Art and cover by HENRY FLINT
The Haunted Tank is back in action in this collection of the 5-issue miniseries. African-American tank commander Jamal Stuart has his 21st century war ride in full battle rattle and is ready for anything“ anything except the spirit of Confederate Civil War General J.E.B. Stuart!

Lee: Wow is this a really late trade collection or what! Anyway, I remember mixed reviews when it came out so I hesitate to buy. But, I love Flint’s art so I’m tempted to buy. Did anyone actually read the whole thing?
Jim: I did and it was uneven at best. Personally I would skip it.
Gwen:What is this?? It sounds like something I'd make up for a pretend comic. Of course Werewolves on the Moon vs Vampires also sounds like a phony comic and it was real... and are Jamal and the ghost supposed to be arch-enemies or something? This concept just doesn't work for me.

THE LOSERS BOOK TWO TP
On sale AUGUST 4
480 pg, FC, $24.99 US
MATURE READERS
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by JOCK, ALÃ GARZA, BEN OLIVER & others
Cover by JOCK
International action and intrigue explode in the new title that inspired the 2010 Warner Bros. movie. Collecting issues #13-32 of the hit series, THE LOSERS BOOK TWO finds the hard-luck black-ops band flying from Qatar to Turkmenistan amid oily dealings and flying bullets. Includes a new introduction by Ian Rankin and new cover by Jock.

Lee: YIKES! This is a huge book. But, between this and the first trade you get the entire series. I’m sold. I may not like the Omnibus format but I’m starting to like these large size trades.
Jim: Vertigo never finished the smaller trades and I have volumes #1-#4, so having to re-buy issues #13-#25 is not making me happy to just have the complete run.
Gwen:Didn't this get made into a movie? Or was that unrelated?

BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 7 ACTION FIGURES
The hugely successful BLACKEST NIGHT action figure line continues!
Included in this seventh installment of the series are: Black Lantern Superman, back from the dead…again; Sinestro Corps Member Arkillo, dissenter defeated, forever forced to wear his traitorous tongue around his neck; Red Lantern Mera, with a rage-filled heart, she allows the Red Ring of Power to drown her; Black Lantern Terra with Scar, resurrected to prey on the hearts of her former team members, Terra teams with near-death survivor Scar in an effort to eradicate all emotion in the Universe.
All five figures feature multiple points of articulation and include a display base. Character-appropriate accessories are also included.
Red Lantern Mera - 6.5” h
Sinestro Corps Member Arkillo - 7.5” h
Black Lantern Superman - 6.75” h
Black Lantern Terra with Scar - 5.5” h (Terra), 4.5” h (Scar)
4-color clamshell blister card packaging.
On sale November 24, 2010
BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 8 ACTION FIGURES
The hugely successful BLACKEST NIGHT action figure line continues!
Included in this eighth installment of the series are: Black Lantern Black Flash, Professor Zoom’s reanimated corpse, holds curious sway over The Flash’s other undead rogues; Orange Lantern Lex Luthor, the new Orange Power Ring seeks out Lex Luthor for his avarice and lust for power; Indigo Tribe The Atom, with compassion and sense of duty stronger than ever, Ray Palmer serves as the binding force uniting the spectrum of power; Sinestro Corps Member Scarecrow, delights in instilling fear in others and is rewarded with the Yellow Ring of Power.
All four figures feature multiple points of articulation and include a display base. Character-appropriate accessories are also included.
Orange Lantern Lex Luthor - 6.75” h
Sinestro Corps Member Scarecrow - 6.5” h
Black Lantern Black Flash - 6.75” h
Indigo Tribe The Atom - 6.75” h
4-color clamshell blister card packaging.
On sale December 8, 2010

Jim: Maybe I can ask for these as birthday and Christmas gifts. I bet Gwen wants a Mera figure since it has the Red Lantern cat!
Lee: Aren’t we done with these yet? I’m getting tired of them. That’s not true, I was tired of them last month. How about something new.
Gwen: OMG rage kitty. I need one. Right now.

BLAMMOIDS! SERIES 4
Real compact with real impact!
BLAM! A funky, chunky collection of boldly designed toys that pack a lot of punch in a squatty body! POW! A striking, hyper-stylized twist on the world’s greatest heroes and their biggest foes. Too tough to call small you’ll want to collect them all! Packaged on a blister card, each measures approximately 2.5 to 4 tall with three points of articulation.
Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Brainiac, Zoom, Etrigan the Demon
On sale December 1, 2010, PVC/ABS Mini Figures

Lee: Then again, I ask for something new and I get this. What the heck are these things anyway?
Jim: Good question,but I have no clue what started this craze.
Gwen: Ahh! These are scary. Are they bath toys?


Jim: Another decent month from DC and I’m actually happy to not have any hard covers on my want list this month.
Lee: Except, for the American Vampire HC, it looks like a light DC month for me too.
Gwen: The bath toys have scrambled my brain. And I really want the rage kitty action figure.