Monthly Archives: May 2009

Collecting the Publishers: Acclaim Comics

May 15, 2009
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In June 1994, Acclaim Entertainment (the video game company) bought Valiant Comics for $65 million and created Acclaim Comics. The purpose of this was so Acclaim could convert successful comic books properties into viable video game franchises. The most notable of this was Shadowman, created by Steve Englehart and David Lapham and Turok, Son of Stone which was first created in 1954. Acclaim would go in to cancel many of the Valiant line of comics, reboot old characters and in some cases create brand new ones. However, the Valiant Universe was separate from the Acclaim Universe, until 1999 when they merged with the planned six-issue, but only published three-issue, Unity 2002 by Jim Shooter, and Jim Starlin. Due to several lawsuits and a decline in their video game sales Acclaim auctioned off their comic book line in 2004. In 2008, Valiant Entertainment, Inc. was recreated (or reformed) but we’ll go over that in a future installment. For now let’s takes a look at the collected editions of the most famous original Acclaim Comics characters, Quantum & Woody, written by Christopher Priest and drawn by M. D. Bright and Greg Adams.

  • Quantum & Woody had a total of 23 issues (0, 1-17, 32 – a flash forward issue and 18-21). There have been four Quantum & Woody trade paperbacks:
    • Volume 1 The Director’s Cut collects #1-4
    • Volume 2 Kiss Your Ass Goodbye collects #5-8
    • Volume 3 Holy S-Word, We’re Cancelled?! #9-13
    • Volume 4 Magnum Force #14-17
  • More information on Acclaim can be found at the Valiant Entertainment site

CCL Podcast #219 – Star Trek Collected Editions 1967-2009

May 13, 2009
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Collected Comics Library Podcast #219
34,076Kb; 28m 51s

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Star Trek is the hottest thing going on right now. Over the weekend it took in over $79 Million and I have yet to see one bad review. Trek, of course, is one of those rare franchises (like Star Wars) that have succeeded across multiple channels, including TV, movies, books, video games and comic books. The last of which is sort of an anomaly when it comes to collected editions. Since Star Trek’s inception in the 1960’s, comic books have always played a role in helping to market the series, starting with Gold Key and then moving on to Marvel (twice), DC (and Wildstorm), Malibu and currently with IDW. With so many different Star Trek genre comic books are being published and so many companies holding the licenses the reprints and collected editions suffered. It only seems that now it is all coming together. IDW has not only made viable and interesting series of Trek comics again, but has also managed to reprint the older material from the 1980’s and 90’s with their line of Star Trek Archive trade paperbacks. So come aboard the USS CCL and boldly where no one has gone before – the universe that is Star Trek Collected Editions.

Also on the show the Marvel announcement of two new Masterworks for November – Deathlok Volume 1 (Variant Vol. 127), collects Astonishing Tales #25-28 and #30-36, Marvel Spotlight #33, Marvel Team-Up #46, Marvel Two-In-One #27 and 54, and Captain America #286-288, 352 pages, $64.99 and Golden Age Sub-Mariner Volume 3 (Variant Vol. 128), Sub-Mariner Comics #9-12, 240 pages, $59.99.

Lastly, this weekend is the Motor-City Comic Con. I’ll be there on Friday and Sunday. Please contact me if you are going, I’d be happy to meet up with you.

All this and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades, Forbidden Planet International (UK), and Library Binding Company.
Links of Note:
Blackest Night: Monthly or CE? discussion
Deathlok Masterworks discussion
Wrapped In Plastic podcast

In the USA…
Great books from In Stock Trades
 In the UK and Europe…
Pre-order books from Forbidden Planet International
Dark Horse for October
Book of the Month: The Flash Archives Vol 5 HC – 47% off
The Comic Book Podcast Companion TwoMorrows Publishing
Star Trek Countdown TP
Superman: New Krypton Vol. 1 HC
Legion Of Super-Heroes: Enemy Manifest HC
Showcase Presents: Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 TP
Batman: Scarecrow And Two-Face Year One TP
The History Of The DC Universe (New Printing) TP
Hellblazer: Roots Of Coincidence TP
Secret Wars II Omnibus HC
Secret Wars II Omnibus Variant HC
Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 4 HC
Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Marvel Comics Variant Vol. 116 HC
Cloak & Dagger: Child of Darkness, Child of Light Premiere Classic HC
Cloak & Dagger: Child of Darkness, Child of Light Premiere Classic Variant Vol. 23 HC
Spider-Man: Family Ties Premiere HC
X-Factor Vol. 6: Secret Invasion DM TP
X-Men 2099 Vol. 1 TP
Latest special: Marvel Masterworks The Inhumans Vol 1 – 40% off until Friday May 22nd
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Star Trek Countdown
Umbrella Academy: Dallas
Justice Society of America Black Adam and Isis HC
Showcase Presents Flash Vol 3
Teen Titans Changing of the Guard
Trinity Vol 2
Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection Book 1
Official H/B of Marvel Universe A to Z Vol. 9 Premiere HC
Annihilation Classic
New Warriors Classic Vol 1
Popeye Vol 4 Plunder Island HC
Epic Chronicles of Hagar the Horrible 1973-1974 HC
Jeff Smith Little Mouse Gets Ready HC
Surrogates Vol 2 Flesh & Bone
The Groo Treasury Vol 1

Collected Edition Blog browsing on Monday afternoon

May 11, 2009
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This weekend, May 15-17, I’ll be attending the 20th Anniversary of the Motor City Con. Over the years I’ve been to most of the Con’s including when they were held at the old Dearborn Civic Center and the Novi Expo Center. It’s always a good and well attended show and has always showcased excellent local talent. This year’s Guest of Honor is Princess Leia, herself, Carrie Fisher. Avatar Press will also be there along with comic book talent such as Guy Davis, Art Baltazar, Dave Aikins, Tim Bradstreet, Frank Brunner, Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Russ Heath, Dwayne McDuffie, David Petersen, Billy Tucci and my very good friend Shawn Amberger. Please drop me an e-mail if you are attending and I’ll be happy to buy you a drink after the show. Now on to a few links:

CCL Podcast #218 – Free Comics 2009! Now What?

May 6, 2009
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Collected Comics Library Podcast #218
28,638Kb; 24m 12s

http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Free Comic Book Day this past Saturday because that’s exactly what we talk about on this week’s show. I go over all the titles that were available and what collected editions are related to each title or Publisher. It’s a fun episode and can be saved as a reference tool, if you’re so inclined.

Also, there’s not too much news to report on this week, but I do go over some very important Shipping Changes from DC and Marvel that you will want to hear.

All this and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades, Forbidden Planet International (UK), and Library Binding Company.

In the USA…
Great books from In Stock Trades
 In the UK and Europe…
Pre-order books from Forbidden Planet International
Fantagraphics for July
Book of the Month: The Flash Archives Vol 5 HC – 47% off
The Comic Book Podcast Companion TwoMorrows Publishing
Y: The Last Man – The Deluxe Edition Vol. 2 HC
Justice League Of America: The Second Coming HC
Batman: The Resurrection Of Ra’S Al Ghul TP
The Flash Presents: Mercury Falling TP
Green Arrow/Black Canary: A League Of Their Own TP
Marvel Masterworks: Incredible Hulk Vol. 5 HC
Marvel Masterworks: Incredible Hulk Variant Vol. 115 HC
Spider-Man: Death And Dating Premiere HC
Essential Spider-Man Vol. 9 TP
Fantastic Four: True Story TP (DM Only)
Alias Ultimate Collection Book 1 TP
Ultimatum: X-Men/Fantastic Four Premiere HC
The Walking Dead Compendium, Vol. 1 TP
Noble Causes Archives, Vol. 2 TP
Spawn: Origins, Vol. 1 TP
Wally Wood Edge Of Genius SC
Latest special: Fables Deluxe Edition Volume One HC – 40% off until Friday May 15th
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Modern Masters Volume 23 Darwyn Cooke
Moon Knight Vol 5 Down South Premiere HC
Runaways Teenage Wasteland Premiere HC
Cable Classic Vol 2
Hulk Broken Worlds
Superman New Krypton Vol 2 HC
Transmetropolitan Vol 3 Year of the Bastard (New Edition)
Unknown Soldier Vol 1 Haunted House
Fables Vol 12 The Dark Ages
Tales Designed to Thrizzle Vol One HC
Years of the Elephant
Hack/Slash Vol 6 In Revenge And In Love
Dan Dare Omnibus
Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy Vol 8 HC

Collected Edition Blog browsing on Monday morning

May 4, 2009
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OK first things first, I liked the Wolverine movie. It wasn’t great, but it was a lot better then I expected. Some things were silly and unnecessary, like the boxing match, but Liev Schreiber was excellent and it makes me think how bad Tyler Mane was in the first X-Men movie. There’s talk of a sequel (or two more, really) and there’s a rumor of a Gambit movie. If the latter is true, I’d like to see Ryan Reynolds reprise his role as Wade Wilson and without giving a way any spoilers, there is a way they could do it.

As for Free Comics Book Day, I took the kids, up to the LCS and we were able to pick up Blackest Night #0, The DC Kids Mega Sampler and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I also purchased a Marvel Adventures Avengers Digest for Patrick and a Hanna Montana Digest (I’m not kidding) for Erin. A sale was going on in the store and I was able to find a mint condition copy of the 2008 Eisner Award Nominee for Best Anthology Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, edited by Jason Rodriguez (Villard), for 50% off. I thumbed through it last year, but never bought it. I even thought it should have won, but it lost out to 5, by Gabriel Bá, Becky Cloonan, Fabio Moon, Vasilis Lolos, and Rafael Grampa (self-published). I’ll doing my annul FCBD recap later in the week on the podcast. Now on to some links: