Archive for: August 2007

I’m back from vacation! I couldn’t believe the activity in my Inbox when I got back home. So much news and information, I thought the computer was going to explode. And what’s this about the rumors of the demise of the DC Archive program? I dive into that on the show and share some interesting information straight from the DC offices. And speaking of DC, looks like the Showcase line is a little rattled. I’m not too worried on that front, though. Looks like some things just needed fixing. I have complete faith in that program.

As far as other news: LXG: Black Dossier, Harbringer and Dan Dare (links are all in the posts below), I tell you all about them. I’ll try to cover some of DC and Marvel solicitations for November and December, respectively, next week, but I am curious as to the new What If? Annihilation book and what this may mean for an Annihilation Omnibus.

I have a new Question of the Month for September, which may or may not have anything to do with comic books and I tell you about two other podcasts making waves.

All-in-all it’s good to be back.

Chris

Links of note:
Comic Book Noise
Comic Book Page

Discuss this topic on the CCL forum

• DC has come out with a bunch of changes to their Showcase Presents line. Suspension of a few titles and the announcements of new ones along with new release dates.
• Diamond Not Carrying the Harbinger Hardcover - Retailers can obtain the book directly from Valiant Entertainment.
• Virgin will relaunch 1950’s classic British science fiction comic hero Dan Dare. To get up to speed on Dare, I suggest you go check out the 9 volume Trade Paperback series from Titan Books.
• Review: Stuart Moore on The Complete Peanuts 1965-1966
• Review: Leroy Douresseaux on Hank Ketcham’s Complete Dennis the Menace: 1955-1956
• Review: Joe McCulloch on Krazy & Ignatz: The Kat Who Walked in Beauty
• Review: Steven Flanagan on The Mammoth Book of Best War Comics, edited by David Kendall
• Review: Brendan Wright on Sandman Mystery Theatre Vol. 5: Dr. Death and The Night of the Butcher

• Check out my conversation with John Mayo. John and I talk about the June Trade Statistics. I’ll be adding this to my RSS feed today.
• Here is the art and a press release to both covers of the LXG:BD. Who is getting screwed here? The World market by not getting the book or the US market for getting two?
• DC Comics lists 30 of their Essential Graphic Novels and Trades! You’re not a real DC fanboy if you don’t own them all. On the good side, the guys over at the Collected Editions Blog give their thoughts.
• The Ultimate Spider-Man #100 Project is available from the Hero Initiative, Marvel Comics and Dynamic Forces. Don’t expect the Todd McFarlane cover. More on that in the show later this week.

• Some cool news came down from DC this week. Finally we’ll be getting the long awaited League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier on November 14. And if you haven’t heard already, this book will not be published outside of the USA by America’s Best Comics. At least not until the publishers realize what a blunder this will be and realize this is actually a very good way to make money and then they’ll release a second edition worldwide.
• All the Checklists (that can be found on the Release Schedule Page) have all been updated and I switched formats to Excel files. This means that you can download and customize them anyway you want.
• Speaking of the Release Schedule, everything has been updated through last Thursday’s Dark Horse of November solicitations; including the DVDs.
• Look for The Flash Companion from TwoMorrows Publishing in the summer of 2008. Contents include: An Interview of Cary Bates by Comicbloc’s own Heatwave the Rogue, A feature on Sheldon Mayer by Jim Beard, Rogue Profiles by THE Flash historian, Kelson Vibber
• Eddie Campbell has a real nice review of Meanwhile…: A Biography of Milton Caniff, Creator of Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon by RC Harvey HC. For only $35 you get 800 pages and a hardcover, can’t beat that.
• More on :01 First Second’s Total THB. It will run over 1,200 pages and will be published in a deluxe, oversize B&W edition as well as in regular color edition, will include the final chapter in the epic coming-of-age saga. Look for it in 2008.
• Allan Holtz, Strpper’s Guide, (a site I never knew existed) reviews, Nick Cardy - Comic Strips and Chester Gould - A Daughter’s Biography
• Lastly, I recorded my regular conversation with John Mayo on the Collected Editions statistics for books released in June 2008. Look for it on John’s website, Comic Book Page. I’ll release it on my feed, when I get back into town.

As you probably know by now, Mike Wieringo passed away Sunday at the age of 44. Today, on the show, we remember his work.
Chris

Links of note:
CCL Jeff Parker interview
Wordballoon Mike Wieringo interview

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• At the DC Nation Panel, it was hinted that there will be no collected editions of Young Justice, but we will get an Absolute Superman in 2008!
• At the Cup O’ Joe panel: Dan Buckley on “A hardcover edition of Civil War“? Buckley: “It will happen.”
• A preview of Ed Brubaker’s Captain America Omnibus
• Viz Announces Tekkonkinkreet: Black and White Omnibus Edition

• PW Comics Weekly reviews Elephantmen Volume 1: Wounded Animals
• Vertigo Announces Two Dysart Projects Neil Young’s ‘Greendale’ and ‘Unknown Soldier’
• Insight Editions will release The Hanna-Barbera Treasury by animation expert Jerry Beck in October
• The DC Comics Action Figures Archive by collector Scott Beatty will be released in November
• On the TV animation front Family Guy Kills R-Rated Episode
• Library of Congress to digitally preserve Doonesbury and Oliphant
• Dynamite Entertainment will give Raise the Dead Gets Hardcover Treatment

Podcast Award news kicks off this weeks installment. Again, my thanks to all of you who are helping me in this endeavor.
This weeks show has news about November’s new Spider-Man Masterwork, Volume 9 (Variant 86) to be exact, and also a new edition of Ascend. Grendel is also talked about and DVD-ROMs of Rolling Stone and Playboy.
My thanks to Damian, Kryptographik, for his voice mail and also to the many e-mailers this week.
This week I feature Marvel Comics, #1 writer, Ed Brubaker. His life, awards, writing style and his many Collected Editions. You won’t want to miss it.
Chris

Music by Hot Club of Detroit

Links of note:
Ed Brubaker Wikipedia
Around Comics - Ed Brubaker interview
Wordballoon with John Siuntres
Plan Nine Rock Show

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• Christopher Allen reviewed EC Comics Archives Two-Fisted Tales Vol. 1 a few weeks back
• Brandon Sheffield of Gamasutra interviews Jordan Mechner, creator of Prince of Persia and Karateka
• Michael Deeley of Silver Bullet Comics reviews The Complete normalman
• Collected Editions Blog reviews Blue Beetle: Shellshocked