Archive for: March 2008
March 25, 2008
…and the cool news just keeps on coming: It’s being reported from the ComicsPro meeting in Las Vegas that the original CC Beck Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil will be reprinted in 2009. As you may know, these classic stories have been collected before in a very expensive and limited quantity omnibus some years ago (1989; $135.00; America Nostalgia Library). This comes as both relief and shock. As I said when I featured Jeff Smith’s MSoE a few weeks ago, it’s about time that DC dust off the originals and get to work on reprinting some classic Golden Age works. Whether it be for an Omnibus, Showcase or a Absolute Edition, I don’t really care, I’ have been clamoring for a new edition ever since I got wind of the Shazam! Archives. Thanks to Koete for the info.
March 23, 2008
 Just a reminder: No Podcast This Week! But I will be blogging, answering my e-mail, Twittering, and be available on the Forum.
Looks like someone read my last Blog post! Some long lost books have finally been green lit for production. First up: America Flagg; back in 2004 Image announced a Complete Hardcover edition, you could even pre-order it through Previews and Dynamic Forces. But due to various reasons the project was put on indefinite hold. Now after years, the book is back on track and should be released in July.
Also due out later this year is the first set (of 10) of the Complete Carl Barks Collection (Gemstone). Topping out at 960 pages and a cover price of $150, this set promises to deliver! ‘Remastered in more exceptional quality and color than earlier editions, the great tales of Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge McDuck, Gladstone Gander, and Gyro Gearloose are accompanied by a vast selection of archival rarities and fascinating new editorials by lifetime Barks scholar Geoffrey Blum. This initial boxed set includes Barks’ very first 1940s adventures, including “Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold,” “The Mummy’s Ring,” and “Pluto Saves the Ship!”’ This is due November 2008. Also, from Gemstone is the The Don Rosa Library Volume 1: 1987-1988 (December 2008, 208 pages $40). Restored, recolored, and furnished with numerous editorial features, here’s the first in a cracking, wakking Gemstone multi-volume series! Thanks to Eric Pavlat for the information. On with a few reviews:
March 21, 2008
 If you are reading this blog then I can safely assume that you’re somewhat interested in collected editions. You probably came by to check on the latest news, download a podcast, and grab some specific info on a book or two or maybe double check when a certain title is coming out. If you came by for any or all of those things, I give my sincere thanks, but to be perfectly honest; collected edition news has been a bit slow this week.
Sure there have been all the solicitations that we come to expect at this time of every month, the occasional “Amazon.com dump” and the Top 100 “Graphic Novels” for February. The Boys Volume 2 is #1, big surprise, eh? I will say I am happy to see a Showcase Presents: The Blackhawks on the Amazon list, you’ll remember my blog post from a few days ago. Other then that, there have been no big announcements and no misprints to speak of, no one seems to really care about the Superman Family mishap (where’s the outrage?). No, it’s been a slow.
So I have to go find some news or stir up the pot just make things interesting around here. Let’s take on Marvel. Looking at their solicitations for the month of June, one book stuck me as odd: Marvels - Premiere Classic Edition. Yes Marvels, with an “s”. Don’t read me wrong, it is “Premiere” and it is “Classic”, but I think that this book is just a bit out of place at this time. Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross’s masterpiece is being collected again for the umpteenth time. I dare you to walk into your LCS and see if no copy exists: back issues, Trade Paperback, Hardcover or the 10th Anniversary Hardcover from 2004. For those of you who collect the variant versions of the PC’s, it’s Volume #13. That alone looks strange. Why doesn’t marvel wait 11 more months and give it Variant #25? At least then they can call it the 15th Anniversary Edition. But look closer at the PC one and you’ll notice it has only 248 pages and collects #0 and #1-4, the same as the trade and regular hardcover. Sure I expect some new introduction, but it won’t bee vastly different from book already on my shelf. Except for the price, and that is a weird one, too. My first printing hardcover (September 1994) has a cover price of $35, while the new edition will be $25! And really, in this day and age of DVD extras don’t you want the full THX surround sound experience? Then spend $50 and get the 10th Anniversary Edition. With 400 pages, this book has everything you could ever want; all the issues, scripts, drafts and more. Think of it as a precursor to Marvels line of Omnibus’s.
In all honesty, it’s a great piece of work and everyone should own a copy, but I’m guessing you already do and there in lies the issue. To me, the Premiere Classic line is a way for Marvel to represent a storyline that has (or has not) been collected previously in a poor or mishandled way, allowing new and old readers to discover hidden gems from the Marvel vault in a new light. We have all read Marvels so nothing is new, and if you haven’t read it I implore you to go get the 10th Anniversary edition, it’s really the best representation of the work as a whole. And I really hope Marvel will get back to issuing classics, as in old and good and forgotten like they did with Avengers/Defenders War. Otherwise, we may just get Marvel Zombies as Variant #14.
March 19, 2008
 I join John Mayo and Bob Bretall on Comic Book Page to discuss the modern revivals of various Golden Age characters in Justice Society of America by DC, The Twelve by Marvel and Project: Superpowers by Dynamite Entertainment. We also talk a bit about The Next Issue Project from Image and the upcoming Avengers/Invaders series.
 Comic Book Page Modern Golden Age [50:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Collected Comics Library Podcast #164
55,233Kb; 58m 38s
http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/
This past weekend I was thinking of doing more interviews for the main feature of the podcast. But, as you know, the CCL is unlike other comic books podcasts, in that, artists and writers are not the main focus of a collected edition – the editors and management are. So Monday morning I sat down to do some work and fan out some e-mails. As it turns out I had an e-mail come to me! It was from a new company called Radical Publishing out of LA. The company is owned and operated by Barry Levine, who is a long time producer and has worked on several movies and soundtracks. Currently he is the Executive Producer of Rex Mundi, starring Johnny Depp. He has now started up Radical and he wants to get the word out about his company and all the exciting projects that are in the works. We also go into a bit of his background and involvement with 30 Days of Night and the exciting news that Radical’s own Hercules has been optioned for a feature film in association with Spyglass Entertainment.
To start off the show, I first talk a bit on Marvel’s May solicitations, shipping and product changes and a very short rundown of the New Releases of the Week.
Chris
Links of Note:
Collected Comics Library on Twitter
Radical Comics
Discuss this topic on the CCL forum
CCL Podcast #164 - Barry Levine, President of Radical Publishing [58:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
March 18, 2008
 I’ve been a bit under the weather today. My symptoms are grogginess, headaches, chills, stuffy nose and tiredness. Needless to say, I didn’t feel like doing much, but in essence that made me push on and I was able to get a number of things done. Including an interview with Barry Levine, President of Radical Publishing, this will be the feature for this week’s podcast (much more on that tomorrow). I also filled out three March Madness Brackets, not really work, I know, but I didn’t want to wait until the last minute — no crumbs. On with today’s links:
March 17, 2008
 Michael George has been found guilty. It has now sunk in that I used to shop at his store as a kid. It sure is a weird feeling. I guess I’ll ponder it for the night and blog more on Tuesday morning.
The Release Schedule has been fully updated with what is coming out this Wednesday and the latest DC and Dark Horse solicitations.
March 13, 2008
March 12, 2008
 Collected Comics Library Podcast #163
26,873Kb; 28m 23s
http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/
This week has been full of new and useful tools, for both you and I, here at the website and podcast: a new survey (which I encourage you to fill out), updated and new checklists, Comments are now turned On, a new Home button/link (it’s about time, eh?) and last, but not least, the CCL on Twitter. I’m most proud of the last one. I’ve been real hesitant to add a new social networking tool to my repertoire, but I now realize its full capability. Not only do you get to know what I’m having for dinner each night, but you can now get the latest news on collected editions as soon as it happens. So please join up and put me on your cell phone. And please do Twitter me so I can be a part of your network. Let’s make this the best it can be together.
For the show today I go over the above and a host of new books coming soon from Oni Press, Dark Horse and Marvel. For the feature today, I go into detail about Mark Millar’s Wanted TPB, soon to be a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie and you can win this copy!. I have to warn you though, the book will be very different from the movie - even if it’s rated R.
Chris
Links of Note:
Collected Comics Library on Twitter
Comic Geek Hoop Madness - Official Forum Thread and Sign-up Information
CCL on The Mayo Report: 2008-01 Trades
Discuss this topic on the CCL forum
CCL Podcast #163 - Wanted [28:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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