ERIC'S "ALL-NEW AND IMPROVED HUMOR!"
COMICS NOW! NEWSLETTER VOL. 8 #10 - October 2006

INTRODUCTION
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Shortcut keys for the lose! No joke, I had seriously written the large majority of this newsletter when I discovered never to write newsletters in Outlook Express this month. Lemme tell ya, I’m a great user of shortcut keys and usually appreciate them greatly, however after hitting Ctrl+D in Outlook Express (yes, I actually write the newsletter into an email), I discovered that Ctrl+D is Quick Delete, a totally useless feature. What makes it particularly snazzy is that it doesn’t even ask if you’re sure. It just kills any work you’ve done since your last save and throws the email in the Deleted Items folder. YIKES!

Anyway, enough about me. In respect to all of my loyal readers, I have re-created the content, now with improved jokes and wittier… errr… wit.

IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE
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So many comics coming out this month…. Droooooool. Okay, so I’m most excited about another freakin’ Ultimate title. Darn it. I hate the fact that Marvel has enraptured me with the marketing madness that is the Ultimate series. I want it to be bad. Heck, everyone wanted the Ultimate series to be bad when they came out. But, noooooooo, Marvel had to make good comics and make us all want to buy them. Those bastards. At any rate, this month, it’s Ultimate Power. Reed Richards, supergeek, opens a dimensional rift in an effort to find a cure for The Thing (he never learns) and inadvertently brings the Squadron Supreme into the Ultimate Universe.

Oh, yeah, it’s time for a massive beat-down.

AUG0621015 Ultimate Power #1 $2.99 retail.
** 50%-OFF AT WWW.COMICSNOW.COM **

HUGE DISCOUNTS AT WWW.COMICSNOW.COM
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Aside from always offering 35% off the cover price of monthly comics with no minimum to buy, each month Comics NOW offers incredible deals on some of the newest titles out there. Just point your browser to http://www.comicsnow.com to order any of these titles below at huge discounts or any other comic at least 35% off the cover price.

Here are this month's deals:
50%-OFF COMIC DEALS:
AUG060264 Astro City The Dark Age Book 2 #1 $2.99
AUG060252 Authority #1 $2.99
AUG060258 Gen 13 #1 $2.99
AUG060218 Omega Men #1 $2.99
AUG060228 Tales of the Unexpected #1 $3.99
AUG062090 Criminal #1 $2.99
AUG062042 Doctor Strange Oath #1 $2.99
AUG062087 Hellstorm Son of Satan #1 $3.99
AUG062027 Irredeemable Ant-Man #1 $3.99
AUG062015 Ultimate Power #1 $2.99

40%-OFF TRADE PAPERBACK DEALS:
AUG060191 Aquaman Sword of Atlantis TP $12.99
AUG060269 Ex Machine Vol 4 TP $12.99
AUG060202 Green Lantern Revenge TP $19.99
AUG062115 Daredevil Devil Inside & Out TP $14.99
AUG062123 Essential Marvel Horror Vol 1 TP $16.99
AUG062121 Heroes Reborn Fantastic Four TP $29.99
AUG062111 Spider-Man The Other TP $24.99

THE BIZ
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NO TRANSFORMERS PREVIEW AT COMICCON

Okay, so I’m a little ticked. I got all excited last month about rumors that were spreading about the ComiCon being the release of the new, full Transformers preview. Apparently, that didn’t happen because no matter where I look on the Internet, I can’t find it. However, one bright spot, Peter Cullen, the original voice of Optimus Prime in the 1980’s cartoons, is back to do the voice of Prime in the movie. I can barely contain myself!

ALAN MOORE RELEASES STEAMY SEX COMIC

Okay, so if you’ve ever seen pictures of Alan Moore, you can see why I’m kind of worried about his new comic title called “Lost Girls” that’s described as a “pornographic work of art” in Wizard. I mean, really. This is like getting turned on by Crumb’s work. There’s something a little wrong here. On the flip side, Moore is an excellent writer, so who knows?

WITCHBLADE IS PREGNANT!

This is one of those Image series that was really, really good at first and then the writers realized that it wasn’t just going to be a mini-series and they kind of had to stretch for material in order to make it so that the comic could reach 100 issues. However, I must say that the concept of making Witchblade pregnant is almost good enough to make me start reading it again. On the other hand, I’m still reading Y – The Last Man and I’m so frustrated that he hasn’t reached Australia yet that I could just spit so maybe I just need to stick to one title that’s frustrating me at a time.

TITAN QUEST IS DIABLO! (AND IT’S OUT)

In a semi-related note, Titan Quest was released for the PC in July and let me say that if you liked Diablo in the least, you’ll love it. It’s set in Greece, Egypt, and the Orient and is an absolute blast if you like hack-and-slash. It should appeal to comic book fans of RPG-like comics, the Trojan horse series that have been coming lately, and most definitely Conan fans. Mmm…. Titan Quest goodness!

TOP-10 and TOP-100
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Check out Comics NOW! Inc.'s Top-100 on IRX Productions. Download the September 2006's Top-100 PDF file (it's 8KB!).

It's Comics NOW!'s very own Top-10 and Top-100 lists. This list is based on the internal sales quantities of the titles with Premiere being the big guns who pay the extra bucks to be listed first in the ordering system: Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, and Marvel Comics. The Independent list is everyone else, all those pea-shooters who no one really pays attention to... or do they?

Here's an example of how to read the format:

1. (3) The Amazing Eric Comic

"1." - the place of the title in the list this month

"(3)" - where the title was LAST month ("-" if it wasn't)

the title - this one should be pretty obvious

TOP 10 PREMIERE COMICS

1. (7) Civil War
2. (3) Batman
3. (2) Justice League of America
4. (9) Ultimate Spider-Man
5. (1) Amazing Spider-Man
6. (4) New Avengers
7. (5) Superman Batman
8. (6) Astonishing X-Men
9. (-) Detective Comics
10. (-) All-Star Superman

TOP 10 INDEPENDENT COMICS

1. (1) Transformers Stormbringer
2. (2) Transformers Evolution
3. (-) Transformers Spotlight
4. (-) Soulfire
5. (7) Battlestar Galactica
6. (4) Red Sonja
7. (6) GI Joe America’s Elite
8. (3) Transformers Generations
9. (5) Fallen Angel
10. (-) Classic Battlestar Galactica

THE GOOD STUFF
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DARK HORSE COMICS

WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO?

Okay, so the Sci Fi channel has released this reality show called Who Wants to be a Superhero? where eleven contestants are pitted against challenges designed by none-other-than Stan Lee (who, unfortunately, is just as freakin' cheesy as he's always been... I mean, really, does anyone say "Excelsior!" anymore?). I'm ashamed to say I actually watch this series and I'm always one or two really bad superhero puns away from just clicking "delete" on my ReplayTV. Anyway, Dark Horse is releasing eleven one-shot comics portraying each one of the different contestants in comic book form. This is really frightening.
By Stan Lee and Wells Hartley.
32 pages. One-shot. $3.50 retail each.

DC COMICS

SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #1

I loved Superman/Batman when the series first started. The first few storylines were rife with internal monologues that fleshed out the two characters and gave the readers insight into their love/hate friendship. Unfortunately, the series kinda went downhill when it was taken into the “alternate reality” fad that put Batman in a world where his parents didn’t die and Superman, well, he just got kinda mean. Blech! However, this annual promises to offer new takes on old concepts by offering a number of mini-stories that sound really interesting such as “How did Superman & Batman find out each other’s identities?” or “Why was Deathstroke after Bruce Wayne in one of his earlier assignments?” It sounds pretty cool to me.
By Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness.
48 pages. One-shot. $3.99 retail.

THE OMEGA MEN #1 of 6

Have you ever heard of the Omega Men? It’s one of the DCU’s five-million superteams and they used to be good guys. Something happens during One Year Later that convinces the remnants of this team that the universe is coming to an end. For some reason, that motivates them to go out on a rampage of killing, death, destruction, and shoplifting (well, maybe not shoplifting but other really naughty things). Of course, DC wants us to buy the comic to actually find out why they do this.
By Andersen Gabrych and Henry Flint.
32 pages. 6-issue mini-series. $2.99 retail.

SEVEN SOLDIERS #1

After an unforgiving onslaught of mini-series, we finally see the ongoing series of Seven Soldiers (or, as I like to call it “DC Comics’ Squadron Supreme”). Anyway, we’ve got a group of lesser-known superheroes who are all going to form a team (maybe) and fight crime. Included in the group are: Klarion, Zatanna, The Manhattan Guardian, Bulleteer, Mister Miracle, Frankenstein, and The Shining Knight. It’s always kinda scary when you’ve got a group of seven superheroes and you only recognize three of them and one of those three is a character from 1930’s monster movies.
By Grant Morrison and J.H. Williams III.
48 pages. Ongoing series. $3.99 retail.

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED #1 of 8

In an unexpected twist, DC comics has decided to release a maxi-series following the exploits of the new Spectre and his investigations into the dark hearts of men everywhere. I have a theory for you: if you like the Spectre, you’ll probably like this series. If you don’t like the Spectre, you’ll probably not like the series at all. How’s that for inner truth?
By David Lapham, Brian Azzarello, Eric Battle, Prentis Rollins, and Cliff Chiang.
48 pages. 8-issue maxi-series. $3.99 retail.

THE AUTHORITY #1

Back in the 1990s, Wildstorm Entertainment released a number of really powerful titles including one called Authority that featured a more realistic superteam. It was gritty, violent, and extremely dramatic. Now, it’s back and it looks to be promising more of what made it really popular back so many years ago. Rumors are flying that the first issue is going to start with a huge event and then the series will continue to build from there. Sounds exciting, eh?
By Grant Morrison and Gene Ma.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $2.99 retail.

DEATHBLOW #1

Deathblow features a dude named Michael Cray is a super-soldier owned (more or less) by a big corporation. As you’d probably expect from this storyline (probably because it’s been told WAY too many times before), Cray starts to question his superiors in an effort to determine who it is that’s actually pulling the strings. Surprise! Super-soldier decides to ignore his orders and fight for freedom and justice. Wow! Haven’t heard that one before have you?
By Brian Azzarello and Carlos D’Anda.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $2.99 retail.

GEN13 #1

It’s baaaacck. I sure do end up saying that a lot lately. Gen13 was Wildstorm’s X-Men back in the 1990s featuring a geeky girl named Caitlin who turns into a super-hot super-vixen who just happens to have the majority of her clothing/costume ripped off in every fight she gets into. I wish I could say I remember more of the original series, but I was a teenager way back then and I was… preoccupied… with other things going on in the series… obviously. I vaguely remember it being kinda good, tho’.
By Gail Simone, Talen Caldwell, and Matt “Batt” Banning.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $2.99 retail.

WORLDSTORM #1

Okay. So Wildstorm has re-released a bunch of new titles both this month and in a few of the preceding months. They also understand that a large majority of their readers were either too young, not born yet, or not at all interested when they released these titles the first time. In an effort to make life easier for everyone, Wildstorm is ever-so-nicely offering Wildstorm, a recap of what’s been going on in their universe. Of course, you’ll have to pony up the admission price if you want this title. Mmmm… money.
By Gail Simone, Christo Gage, Neil Googe, Doug Mahnke, and others.
32 pages. One-shot? $2.99 retail.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET #1

Okay, so I’m pretty sure that no one really cares about Freddy Krueger anymore (does anyone even remember Freddy Krueger anymore?). At any rate, DC has decided that October is a good time to revive any super-baddy from slasher films by giving them their own comic. Enter A Nightmare on Elm Street, the comic. I still haven’t forgiven this movie franchise for the unbelievable terror that was the NES video game. I’m not sure I can bring myself to consider reading the comic.
By Chuck Dixon and Kevin West.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $2.99 retail.

THE SANDMAN #1 SPECIAL EDITION

Sandman…. mmmmm. One of the most excellent series of all-time, DC is releasing a special edition of the debut issue of The Sandman… remastered. Seriously. They’ve actually gone back and improved the colors and everything. To make matters more exciting, they’re offering this title at the bargain-basement price of $0.50. You can’t go wrong. If you’ve never read The Sandman before, be prepared to go on a trade-paperback shopping spree the likes you’ve never seen because after reading the first issue, you’ll be hooked.
By Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg.
48 pages. One-shot. $0.50 retail.

THE OTHER SIDE #1 of 5

It’s a Vietnam war story! I’m so excited that it’s not a World War 2 story that I very well may read this title. In addition to that, it seems extremely interesting. It’s written from the perspective of two soldiers: one American and one Viet Cong. Basically, it’s a psychological introspective investigating what it must’ve been like to have to survive through the Hell of war simply for the opportunity to kill another human being.
By Jason Aaron and Cameron Stewart.
32 pages. 5-issue mini-series. $2.99 retail.

IMAGE COMICS

IMPALER #1

Sounds like a vampire story to me. A terrible blizzard hits New York City but that’s not the problem. Out on a cargo ship (New York to cargo ship… interesting transition), an “unfathomable horror” is about to be unleashed on the world, and, from the preview pages, it looks a lot like a vampire… which, to me, is very fathomable.
By Williams Harms, Nick Postic, and Nick Marinkovich.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $2.99 retail.

MARVEL COMICS

ULTIMATE POWER #1 of 9

In his never-ending quest to try and cure The Thing, Reed Richards has broken through a dimensional portal into the Supremiverse (really… seriously) and who should break through to come into the Ultimateverse but the Squadron Supreme. Woo-hoo! And, they’re here to arrest Reed for crimes committed in their world. Double woo-hoo! And, there are hot girls with snakes! Okay… now I’m just getting carried away.
By Brian Michael Bendis and Greg Land.
32 pages. 9-issue maxi-series. $2.99 retail.

AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #0 and #1

Amazing Spider-Girl is back. Sort of. Kind of? Well, anyway, the first Spider-Girl series lasted for 100 years and then, for some strange reason, Marvel cancelled it. Perhaps in an effort to be able to re-launch it and maybe get more readers this time around. At any rate, it IS a re-launch and it’s starting at #1 (well, actually #0). If the concept of a futuristic Spider-Girl who’s the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson-Parker (man, her name is just too long) appeals to you, you should grab both of these issues.
By Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $1.99 for #0, $2.99 for #1, retail.

THE IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #1

This comic is being marketed with the catch-phrase “The World’s WORST superhero.” That’s not a good sign. However, if written correctly, this could be a very funny comic. The premise is that a low-level employee at S.H.I.E.L.D. gets a hold of Ant-Man’s new super-suit and runs amuck, trying to be a hero for the modern world.
By Robert Kirkman and Phil Hester.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $2.99 retail.

DR. STRANGE: THE OATH #1 of 5

Dr. Strange has to solve his own murder! Nifty, eh? Anyway, he goes to the dark corners of the Marvel Universe to recruit D-list superheroes in an effort to figure out who murdered him and get his life back… literally.
By Brian Vaughan and Marcos Martin.
32 pages. 5-issue mini-series. $2.99 retail.

GIANT-SIZED WOLVERINE #1

Wolverine is incredibly incapacitated after having 5,000 machine-gun shells shot into him and then riding a giant robot 85,000 feet into the air before dropping from that height into a cornfield. To make matters worse, the people who created the giant robot send more people (and robots, assumedly) after him to finish the job. Fortunately, Wolvie was discovered by a little girl with an affection for strange creatures and a predilection for helping them heal. On the other hand, it sounds as though her family may be a group of inbred mass murderers. Oh, well… beggars can’t be choosers, right?
By David Lapham and David Aja.
96 pages. One-shot. $4.99 retail.

HELLSTORM: SON OF SATAN #1 of 5

I’ve never heard of Hellstorm before. I’ve been reading comics for over 20 years and have never heard of this character. Oddly, the description of this comic makes it sound like we’ve all heard of Hellstorm and that he was this unbelievably best-selling character or something. Batman? Sure. Superman? Absolutely. Optimus Prime? Most definitely. Hellstorm? Um… who? Are you sure you don’t mean Spawn? At any rate, Hellstorm is going to New Orleans to party (or something) and there’s a dark force at work stealing body parts for nefarious deeds (though I’m pretty sure there’s no way you can really steal body parts for other kinds of deeds).
By Alexander Irvine, Russell Braun and Klaus Janson.
32 pages. 5-issue mini-series. $3.99 retail.

CRIMINAL #1

Alright. I have a hard time even going through the description for this one. Lemme say this – it’s yet another crime noir fiction comic. There’s some guy who’s a “shoot-first-ask-questions-later” kinda guy who’s got a crime planned (that goes bad) and goes on the run (from other bad guys) in an effort to get away without dying. Like film noir? This is the book for you, I’m betting.
By Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.
32 pages. Ongoing series. $2.99 retail.

FINAL NOTES
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Holy crap! There’s a butt-ton of new comics coming out every lately, isn’t there? Or is it just me? At any rate, lots of new comics is always a good sign because in all of the unbelievably repetitious piles of crap, there’re often a good one or two. So, the more crap, the more kernels you can find. Wait. I don’t like where this metaphor is going at all. Ah, well. But, always remember, if you’re ever writing an important email, make sure to never, EVER, hit Ctrl+D. I mean, seriously, who really needs a shortcut key to delete the email while you’re writing it! C’mon!!!

And, as always, thank you for your business!

Eric Jacobson