Archive for: November 2007
November 29, 2007
 Collected Comics Library Podcast #148
36257Kb; 38m 24s
It’s been a very slow news week mostly due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Even so, all the buzz has been about the newly announced six volume Starman Omnibus. You may recall I did a feature on Starman and his creator, Jack Burnley last January for episode #102. Today, I replay part of that feature and add new information to make it more current with the Omnibus announcement.
I also have some news regarding Valiant and the X-O Manowar Hardcover and just how that book may be distributed.
Other then that, I have details to the 4th Annual NCAA Football Bowl Contest. Full details will be available on Monday morning, but for now you can get a sneak peak at the prizes.
Lastly, I have a new Question of the Month and go over an extensive New Releases of the Week.
Chris
Links of note:
DC Noise with Peter Rios
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 CCL Podcast #148 - Starman Companion (Redux) [38:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
November 27, 2007
 Between the Thanksgiving holiday and comics not coming out until this Thursday, yes Thursday, there isn’t a whole lot of news or links. But I did manage to scrounge up a few.
November 24, 2007
 First off, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Sometimes things just go you way.
For years now many of us true fans of DC Comics have been clamoring for a reprinting of the Starman trade paperbacks ever since the original series ended. See, the trades were at best a jumble of the series, and left out many important key issues and mini-series. As reported a few weeks ago Starman is going to be repackaged and now we have the details from this press release from DC:
STARMAN, the acclaimed DC Universe series created by writer James Robinson and artist Tony Harris, will be collected for the first time in hardcover, on high-quality paper, in THE STARMAN OMNIBUS, a series of six volumes beginning in May.
This series will feature new covers by Harris, and will measure 6.75 x 10.25. Collecting the entire STARMAN series, plus the Starman Annuals, Secret Files, 80-Page Giant, The Shade miniseries and much more, these volumes include stories illustrated by Harris, Peter Snejbjerg, Chris Sprouse, J.H. Williams III, Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha, Guy Davis, Teddy Kristiansen, Lee Weeks and many others, as well as several stories co-written by David Goyer.
Scheduled to reach stores in May, THE STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC is a 448 page title collecting STARMAN #0 and 1-16, with a cover price of $49.99 U.S.
It appears that the Omnibus line has taken over the Archive line: Starman follows on the heels of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volumes 1-4 and The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus. Speculation can now begin as to what the fourth line will be now that Jack is coming to town Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, anyone?
And a special thanks to all of you who read my blog, download my podcast and use this site as a news, entertainment and resource tool. I could not to it without your continued support.
November 21, 2007
 Collected Comics Library Podcast #147
29,777Kb; 31m 29s
Happy Thanksgiving! While it may be a nice long relaxing weekend for you, it will be the exact opposite for me. Besides hosting 25 people for Lions football and dinner (yes, in that order) on Thursday, my sister is getting married on Saturday, which means that I also have to go to the rehearsal dinner Friday night. By Sunday, I’m the one who is going to feel like a stuffed turkey.
To start off, I talk about my involvement int he HERO for the Holidays Initiative, which I hope that all of you will support.
For the feature today, I discuss Aquaman (both Golden Age and Silver Age ) and the passing of his creator, Paul Norris. And you won’t want to miss my rant on Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane #12 , which is included in the Aquaman Showcase.
In other news, both DC and Marvel have released their solicitations and I hope to get those up on the New Releases page sometime this weekend. Also, I go over Marvel’s DCU program and I answer a Masterworks/Omnibus e-mail question.
Go Lions!
Chris
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CCL Podcast #147 - GA and SA Aquaman [31:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
November 19, 2007
This holiday season, the Collected Comics Library and the entire Comics Podcast Network is proud to partner with the Hero Initiative and sponsor the HERO FOR THE HOLIDAYS drive. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.
We encourage our listeners and fellow comic book fans to remember the Hero Initiative during the holiday season and consider making a donation to this organization. You can visit Hero’s website at www.heroinitiative.org to find out more.
To donate using a credit card or check through Paypal, send to HeroAuctions@aol.com.
To send a check through the mail, send to:
The HERO Initiative
11301 Olympic Blvd., #587
Los Angeles, CA 90064
HERO for the Holidays 2007 [1:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
November 16, 2007
OK, first of all these are just my initial impressions. I have not signed on to use the product – yet.
When I first read the headline “MARVEL LAUNCHES ONLINE COMICS INITIATIVE?” at Newsarama, I thought it was going to be the same old stuff going online. Either some brand new web comics or some very obscure stuff that anyone can get in any back issue 5 cent bin. Another thought that crossed my mind was that Marvel was finally going to release whatever has been gathered on their DVD-ROMs and put them online. It would make sense. It’s already been packaged and being sold as a digital product.
It turns out I was partially right. Marvel states that they will have an, “archive of more than 2,500 back issues, including the first appearances of Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Incredible Hulk”. Later they go on to say that they plan to, “offer a free sampler of 250 titles, and to protect current sales of comic books, new issues won’t be on the Marvel site until six months after they are published”.
For those of you who want to purchase your comics digitally this seems to be a good model. However, six months is right about the time a collected edition will hit the market. How will this impact THAT sale? My initial thought is not that much. Marvel will continue to produce monthly comics and then a collected edition in the same manner that they always do. The only difference I see is that Marvel will undoubtedly offer the “extras” that you usually find in a printed publication and probably not online. For example, sketch pages and commentary by the writers or artists. This will entice readers to but the printed project.
Secondly, notice the titles and the timing of these books. Almost the entire ”first wave” of 2500 classic comics has already been reprinted many times over. Masterworks and Essentials are the two most popular brands when it comes to reprints at Marvel. You can throw in the Omnibus line, too, as they collect roughly three Masterworks in one. Thanks to the “re-Mastering” restarting of the Masterworks a few years ago, the reproduction on these timeless books have never looked better (and that includes when they first came out). Essentials, too, have seen a new light of day and even that line has been given the care that it needs like placing the comics in the right order and touch ups here and there.
The new Digital Comics Unlimited line is just a natural progression and one that I intend to explore further. I plan on paying the monthly rate just to see what all the hubbub is about. One thing is for sure, I will have a tough time reading on my Dell. My eyes are not that great and after staring at the computer screen all day long, it’ll be tough to sit down, relax and curl up to my screen.
….developing
November 15, 2007
 Occasionally, when I get e-mail, besides all the comic talk that goes on, I get inquiries as to my golf game and why I don’t talk about it on the Podcast much anymore. The truth is, this past season was the least I played since I took up the game over 15 years ago. Reasons being family and cash. It is an expensive game and although I can golf for free at the Country Club (that I used to work at) we moved further away, so it’s not that easy of a drive. I did manage to get out with Patrick on the par-3, 9-hole course that is there and Patrick, who is 7 actually made a birdie on a 95-yard hole. I shot a 4. I still watch the Golf Channel whenever I can (which is almost every night) and I keep up on the industry. Now it’s November and I feel that I really missed out, but on the flip side my son is getting older and better and I soon will have a true partner. While it is fun to golf alone and you can really work on your game, golf is first and foremost a social activity and should be shared.
Speaking of Country Clubs, I can across funny, but all too true article on the increase of seniors and the lack of income that they contribute to their own club due to discounts. Take it for what it is worth. Also, If you are like me you hear a song or see a visual that sticks with you forever. In my case this comes across in the long running Lexus commercial, “Roadtrip”. In it a dedicated golfer searches for the greatest challenge he can find as he tours some of Scotland’s legendary courses, including Ross Priory Golf Club, Longniddry Golf
Course, The Glen Golf Club and Bamburgh Castle Golf Course. The beautiful and haunting music “Yellows and Blues” is by Jimmy Haun. I can only hope that Patrick and I will take a similar walk together someday, drink a pint and go read some old comics.
…And if you play golf, you’re my friend - Harvey Penick
Now on to my other passion:
- Tom Brevoort, Marvel Comics, on the good and the really bad of collected editions
- Sad, but true: Scott King, Executive Editor of Th3rd World Studios vs TSA. I’m going to keep this story in mind when I fly next.
- Even the Associated Press picked up Marvel: Digital Comics Unlimited whirlwind. I’ll have more on this and my experience on next weeks Podcast, but my very first impressions is this: what a crappy title. Marvel: DCU. Seriously, this is uncalled for
- PW Comics Week talked to IDW’s Chris Ryall. Don’t fret, Chris is slated to be on my show soon
- Take a look at the new Queen & Country Definitive Editions. Queen & Country is already available in Hardcover and softcover form. so I have no idea what is “Definitive” about them, but I do know that these are a bit smaller, think Dark Horse Omnibus size. There are four volumes, $19.95 and will be available December 12, 2007
- Review: Troy Brownfield, Newsarama The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier
- Review: Allan Holtz, Stripper’s Guide on Blondie - The Bumstead Family History
- Review: Mark Allen, Comic Book Bin on The Spirit: The Origin Years
November 14, 2007
 Collected Comics Library Podcast #146
40,572Kb; 43m 00s
Six months ago I talked with Joe Rybandt, Director of Marketing at Dynamite Entertainment. Today, Joe checks back in with us to give us an update on many of the cool projects coming out in 2008 including the Alex Ross Superpowers book (the monthly comic and a future collected edition), a classic Lone Ranger collection, and what may become of the Battle Star Galactica comic book now that it is coming to an end on the Sci-Fi Channel. Joe also talks a bit on being the sole Podcaster himself at Dynamite “and much, much more”. It’s a nice follow-up to our last conversation and I hope to being doing it again in another sixth months.
There is also a small sale at Top Shelf that you should take advantage of (I know I will) and Marvel has announced a SIXTH Printing to its’ Marvel Zombies HC. This time with an homage to Iron Man #128, Demon in a Bottle.
All this, including the New Releases of the Week and the winner of my Thor #1, (Michael Turner, variant cover) giveaway: Brad Schwartz, Romeoville, IL. Thanks to everyone who entered.
Chris
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CCL Podcast #146 - Back with Joe Rybandt Dynamite Entertainment [43:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
November 12, 2007
 Thanks to, Alan Brown, one of the posters on the CCL Forum, it looks as though Marvel will be releasing Howard The Duck Omnibus in March, 2008. It will collect Adventures Into Fear #19, Man-Thing #1, Giant-Size Man-Thing #4-5, Howard the Duck #1-33, Marvel Treasury Edition #12, and Marvel Team-Up #96. Has the world gone to hell or is it now the coolest place in the universe? Only Howard can tell us.
Also, this Wednesday we’ll see the re-release of three Marvel Omnibus:
- Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 1 HC and Variant Edition; $100; Collects Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-Man #1-38 and Annual #1-2, Strange Tales Annual #2, and Fantastic Four Annual #1
- Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 1 HC and Variant Edition; $100; Collects Fantastic Four #1-30 and Annual #1
- Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 1 HC and Variant Edition; $100; Collects Uncanny X-Men #94-131 and Annual #3, and Giant-Size X-Men #1
November 9, 2007
 Lot’s on my plate this weekend. Patty and I are going to try to take the kids ice skating Saturday and then we have to drop them off at the grand parents home so we can go to some sort of neighborhood bowling/ beer league. On Sunday, I’m sure we have something going on and in between it all I have to get some football in and try to read half of the Fourth World Omnibus Volume 2. Did I mention today, Friday, I’m updating the entire site?; from Books, Checklists and the Release Schedule (including the DVDs). Next weeks I plan on being even more busy with projects that will benefit everyone that comes to the CCL. On to today’s links:
- A couple of new Star Wars books are coming out in 2008: Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection (Fall) and Master of Deception, book nine of the Last of the Jedi series (February)
- Random House has acquired world English rights to four Iron Man book titles; two of which will tie in directly with the Iron Man movie, the other two will be original Iron Man novels, which will release after the movie
- On the heels of yesterdays Masterwork news, Marvel by way of their Marvel Masterworks website, has announced Atlas Era - Heroes Volume 2 Featuring Human Torch, Captain America and Sub-Mariner (Variant Volume 92). It will collect Men’s Adventures #27-28, Captain America #76-78 and Human Torch #36-38 and be released February 28, 2008. Looks like Cap lives after all
- Collected Editions Blog speculates about the newly announced Starman: The Complete Saga. I agree with everything, but I’d like to see an eight volume set and not four (or two!)
- What’s Bob Greenberger up to?
- Heidi MacDonald blogs about the many hardcovers and collected editions to make this week’s comics bestsellers on Amazon
- Review: Dave Wallace, Silver Bullet Comics on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume One: The Long Way Home (Dark Horse)
- Review: Rack Raids on Heroes HC (DC/Wildstorm)
- Review: Tom Spurgeon on Popeye Vol. Two: “Well Blow Me Down!” (Fantagraphics)
- Review: Joe “Jog” McCulloch on Tarzan: The Joe Kubert Years Volumes 1-2 (Dark Horse Archives). Look for my comment at the end
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Collected Comics Library Podcast #148
