TOP 5
Crazy weekend. Massees clamouring for WATCHMEN in droves, like Soviet village for toilet paper ca. 1980. Much work to be done today to quell our graphic novel "batty" customer base. Thus, I introduce the first in what will be an ongoing listing of the top selling wares Forbidden Planet's fancy schmancy new computer system reports. Hope you're doing well.
Top 5 Comics Sold 7/16-7/23z
Secret Invasion #4
Buffy season 8 #16
Astonishing X-Men #25
Batman #678
Mighty Avengers #68
Tog 5 Graphic Novels 7/16-7/23
Watchmen
Batman: The Killing Joke HC
Y: The Last Man v.10
Walking Dead v.8
Wanted TP
Top 5 Manga
Naruto v.30
Death Note v.1
Death Note v.3
Gantz v.1
Dororo v.2
Top 5 Toys
Tokidoki Cactus Pups Mini-figures
Hellboy 2 Hellboy
Kozik mongers Mini-Figures
Joker Dark Knight Head Knocker
Neca Alien Classic Figure
Top 5 DVDs
Batman Gotham Knight 2-Disk Spec. Ed
Batman Gotham Knight Single Disc
Robot Chicken Star Wars
The Batman Complete 5th Season
Avatar Bk3 v.4
Top 5 Ass't Merch
Wizard Magazine #202
Heroes Season2 T/C
FP Gift Cards
Toyfare #133
The Comics Journal #291
See You in Another Life, Brotha,
JEFF
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
California Here We Come!
By the time you read next week's Weekly Planet I and a few other of the irrepressible FP staff will be in sunny California, deeply immersed in the splendiferously geektastic grandeur of San Diego Comic-Con. I for one will sure miss you guys the next few weeks, but as lovely as you are and as much as I enjoy our regular (some of you weekly, some daily!I) repoire, I need some palm trees and the long-lasting taste comic/sf/pop-culture spectacle to end all spectacles!
But first, I gotta a bunch of stuff to prepare for our coming absence. Meaning what follows below isn't gonna be the usual JMAN banter. But don't let that stop you from reading on! What follows are publisher solicitations of the new comics on my shopping list this week. All are worthy books deserving your attention, your curiosity, and your buying dollar! Why? Beacause I've got great taste and I'd never purposely steer you wrong.
A quick note about these: The following information on each title can now be found under the 'COMICS' heading of our website each week, simply by clicking on the jpegs. This nifty new feature is powered by our buddies at Comixology.com, and I highly recommend you all explore their worthy site. They've got a ton of content, feature interviews and podcasts with some of the hottest creators in comics, a ton of comic listings, user reviews, previews of upcoming books.... They're jammed packed with features any inquiring weekly comic buyer would be interested in, if not drool over!
Releasing 7/16
Astro City The Dark Age bk.1 HC- Kurt Busiek(w) Bren Collecting the first eight chapters of the 16-part "Dark Age" saga, revealing the history of Astro City and shedding light on some of its greatest heroes! Book One, taking place in the early 1970s, follows two brothers — with one becoming a hero and another taking a far different path. Along the way, the long-standing secret tale of the Silver Agent and his fate is told at last, as the story shifts back to the 1950s and what made the Williams brothers turn out so differently. $29.99
Captain America #40- Ed Brubaker(w) Steve Epting(a) It's Cap versus Cap for the future of the American Dream as the Red Skull looks on in laughter! And Bucky learns the true identity of the man behind the other mask! The epic Death of Captain America continues in Part Four of "The Man Who Bought America" by the acclaimed team of Brubaker and Epting. $2.99
Marvel 1985 #3- Mark Millar(w) Tommy Lee Edwards(a) They're coming for us. The most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe are here—in our world—and they're not taking prisoners. The only people who stand between salvation and destruction are 13-year old Toby and his dad, who once was friends with the enigmatic Clyde Wyncham... continu[ing] epic super hero crossover, with far-reaching and surprising implications for the Marvel Universe! $3.99
Universal War One #1- Dennis Barjam (w,a) The European best-seller – now finally presented in English! In the midst of a latent civil war between the core planets and outlying planetary settlements, an immense wall has cut our solar system in two. The black wall absorbs all light and matter, and it's up to a band of soldiers facing courts martial to investigate the phenomenon. They're the men and women of the Purgatory Squadron. For which crimes are they here? And can they work together long enough to stay alive once they enter... The Wall? $2.99
Flight Vol.5- Kazu Kibuishi(ed.) The previous four editions of Flight have propelled this anthology to the forefront of the graphic novel industry, garnering award nominations, creating great buzz at BEA, Comic-Con and other like-minded conventions, and generally striking a fresh note among jaded comics readers. Featuring short work from some of comics freshest voices, each volume of Flight will challgenge readers with a range of storytelling not often found in the comics medium. $25.00
Aloha, Mr. and Ms. FP Customer!
JEFF
Thursday, July 10th, 2008
HIM STILL HERE
Me was somewhat diasppointed by poor effort of last Bigfoot hardcover, Me Write Book- felt and read like author/aritst Graham Roumieu go back to well, but well drier than Ashy Larry's skin. Much prefer original 2003 masterpiece In Me Own Words. Buy for all family and friends for they berfdays and holidays, make JMan's aunt pee own pants and lady friends swoon with lust. Now come the brand new Bigfoot: I Not Dead. Bigfoot books good again! Take excerpt from new book (just like look at clip on talk show only with just words and no charming Roumieu illustration and no Kimmel). The scene is Bigfoot pimping self to be your totem animal/spirit guide. Let's look clip:
I Be You Everything Do you suck? Get Bigfoot as spirit guide and suck no more. Listen: eagle stuck up, wolf a nut licker, bear a drunk. Bigfoot only good choice. A+. Spirit Animal Monthly describe Bigfoot: "...a delight. He pushes a role normally mired in tradition in new and exciting ways." Also good at parties. Black tie, Kegger, funeral, bris, whatever. Also good for kill you enemy. Me rates reasonable. Get complimentary pen.
Haw haw haw! Good, no? Pull off own shtick damn sight better than no-talent jerk Geiko cavemen rip-off artists, me tell you that. So if you looking to make grandma snarf her 7&7, or want older sis tell her friends you bad news trouble with good sense of humor (wink wink ;)), or want to impress cool kids with good books buy I Not Dead ASAP.
Ahem. if you're still with me there are many notable releases this Thursday, 7/10, including, but by no means limited to, the following:
I Kill Giants #1- Fan favorite and new FP buddy Joe Kelly (Deadpool) releases his first creator-owned book in some time and we're tickled silly. JM Ken Niimura provides sharp manga inspired art to this tale of fifth-grader Barbara Thorson, who carries a mythic Norse war hammer and kills giants. Or so she'd tell you. But what is she really battling? I've been eagerly anticipating this book for some time now and from what I've seen of this miniseries so far it should be swell. get yours.
Body Count SC- Heavy Metal reprints one of my fave TMNT stories from my angst-ridden adolescence! Written by Kevin Eastman with art by Simon Bisley, BC casts Casey Jones and Rapahel teaming up for one of the most butt-kicking comic books I'd ever read. In fact this was my first exposure to the hyper violent brush of Biz, and each page still enthralls me to this day.
Kyle Baker Nat Turner SC- Kyle's story of slave rebellion and anarchy and the involvement of his controversial titular character is one of the richest and historically accurate comics of its kind. This new, complete edition should be required reading for every American.
New York Four- the current king of comics that take place in our beloved home, NYC, Brian Wood, and his Local collaborator Ryan Kelly release this morsel under DC's Minx imprint (only 10 bucks!). I was given a copy of this book at MoCCA and read it promptly cuz I dig Wood. Heh. Featuring female NYU freshman protagonist Riley, the book depicts familiar haunts with accuracy and affection, but being the surly bastard I am, it did little to quell the disdain I hold for all things NYU. Normally I can get past such prejudice and view art with a textbook objectivity, but not this time pal!
Still: You may like NY4 a lot.
Captain America White #0- Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, they of Batman long Halloween, Dark Victory, Daredevil:Yellow, Hulk:Grey, etc. fame here turn their creative attentions to Captain America and Bucky in a WWII story.
Secret Invasion #4- Um, dopey as it sounds, retarded as it looks, redolent as it smells, putrid as it may taste to this writer I have only this to say about Secret Invasion: 'Nuff Said
It seems we're having to report the death of a notable SF or comic icon on a weekly basis, and that really bites. (NOTE: I did miss one especially notable eugoogley for Mr. Algis Budrys the other week, but, well, there ya go.) This week's unfortunate announcement is the passing of SF author Thomas Disch. I was first introduced to the writing of Disch by our old friend Pete Bonavita, who lent me the author's first overwhelmingly harrowing 1965 novel The Genocides, which I have yet to return to him... along with his DVDs of Star Trek TOS Season 2, his Simpsons Season 3, spare keys to his apartment, and a plethora of CDs that seem oh so quaint in the 21st Century.
But that's neither here nor there. I'll get 'em back to ya before the Rapture, buddy.
Though the man's cantankerous and abrasive personality are what many who met met him in passing will remember, but his friends and fans will lament an intense, talented, intelligent writer, whose work throttles readers' sensibilities and whose wit purees perception on every page.
"...The laziness of genius may seem, at lower altitudes, a great deal like exertion." -Disch
Keep It Fantastic,
JEFF
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
Notes & News, News & Notes
Not feeling a pressing need to focus on a singular item or event this week so I hereby present some bullet points.
* Our deepest and sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Turner, who passed away this past weekend. The popular Witchblade, Fathom, and Marvel/DC cover artist succumbed after a long struggle with bone cancer and his pleasant, gentlemanly demeanor will be sorely missed within the comics industry.
* WANTED, the graphic novel that last weekend's box-office hit film is based on, is in stock NOW! If you've not experienced the original comics do so at your earliest convenience. It's chock full o' zero moral value, penned by Mark Millar (who's is currently churning out approximately 17.64% of the comics on the new release rack you kids love so much) with pulse-pounding art by JG Jones, the artist of Final Countdown.
* Friday July 4th is... well, July 4th. For you ferners reading this, it's a terrifically indulgent holiday in which we Yanks celebrate our Independence from colonialism, giving ourselves an excuse to take the day off, blow stuff up, and eat charred meats. Well, not everyone has off. FORBIDDEN PLANET WILL BE OPEN. 11am-8pm. We'll be listening to WKCR Columbia Radio's Birthday broadcast tribute to Louis Armstrong all day long, and there's a wonderfully spiffy SALE (details on the back of the paper newsletter and are the Deal of the Week on our website) we'll be running for our intrepid customers!
* There's a ton of Hellblazer graphic novels outta stock at the publisher right now, and that I can't seem to get in from anywhere right now, so don't blame us for being out of something you're looking for, okay?
* Speaking of Bats, I highly recommend Batman: Murder at Wayne Manor: An Interactive Mystery by Duane Swierczynski and David Lapham (Stray Bullets, Silverfish). Picture the board game clue, mixed with some pop-up book goodies and mystery novels and you've got a clear picture of one of the most uniquely intriguing books to pass through our doors in some time.
* Julia Wertz returns to the Weekly Planet this issue. Check out this week's Fart Party comic!
* Naruto Manga Vol. 30 has hit our shelves!
* We have many, many copies of publisher Top Shelf Productions' free Seasonal Sampler collection, so if we don't offer you one ask for yours if interested in a hefty tome of choice cuts from some of today's best creators.
* I ain't making any plans for August 21st other than seeing Huey Lewis & the News on Coney Island. I also dig Phil Collins. Schmalzy I know, but I'm okay with it.
* Also relatively new to Forbidden Planet is a beaut of a hardcover, the Discworld Graphic Novels, featuring an adaptation of each of the first two internationally acclaimed Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett: The Colour of Magic and the Light Fantastic.
* This week kicks off Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi's run on Astonishing X-Men. Ya know what Ellis probably won't be doing? Making Marvel's Merry Mutants play friggin baseball! It's the 21st Century, for pete's sake, and I prognosticate that Unca Warren's take on this book will not be mired in dopey 70s sitcom/soap opera. but ya never know....
Well, it's been a thrill, as always. Have a perfect day.
Everybody here at FP says, "Bye." This is Jeff Ayers.
So long. Arrivederci. I'll send you a thought as I lie in
Astoria Park this weekend and that thought will be:
"Thank God you're you."
JEFF
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Comic Book Guy
""This will not do!""
It always amazes me peoples' varied perceptions of our cumulative geekiness as comic and SF fans. And were you in my position you, too, would struggle with the connotations the Mundanes associate with my work in a store that sells comics.
I was at my friend's birthday party this past weekend when it was remarked to me, "Oh, you're comic book Jeff..." While I was fully aware that this was an allusion to the birthday girl having at least two friends with the name "Jeff," and that I'd been designated by my occupation and not my general demeanor, the horrible- yet funny and occasionally true- stigma that Matt Groening, Hank Azaria, the Simpsons' writers, and dozens of dweeby comic store employees have attributed to people such as myself crept in my mind faster than the indigenous brain slugs of Seti-Alpha 5, and I found myself, once again, become much too defensive.
Like now.
For those of not in the know: the Simpson's character Comic Book Guy is also named Jeff. It was revealed in Season 16, episode 8, and has been a source of consternation for me since. Kinda hard to shake off those associations when you share a name with them. Y'know, that image of a lazy, obsessive dweeb whose adolescent fantasies and inability to deal with the real world plant him firmly on a stool behind the counter of The Android's Dungeon spewin sarcasm, insults, the kind of platitudes that come with an overly-compensatory superiority complex? Well that just ain't me. And to many a stranger I meet, I find myself having to demonstrate that often.
We should embrace that which we are, though. Gnothi Seauton. Know thyself. I am "Comic Jeff," a whole 'nother beast. And I realize that's a bit of a flip-flop of I am Not Spock/I am Spock proportions, but so be it. I am large, contain multitudes, and I am versed in Klingon, after all.
And yes, I've used it to get girls.
6/25 Releases on Comic Book Guy's shopping list:
Get Lost- by Ross Andru & Mike Esposito
The publisher (Hermes) solicitation for this book is spot on, so it shall be reprinted here: "Love Harvey Kurtzman's original MAD? [I do!] Then you will have to have Andru and Esposito's historic satire and parody magazine, Get Lost. Originally released in 1953, Get Lost delivered three groundbreaking, laugh-filled issues before Bill Gaines sued the magazine's distributor, shutting down production of the magazine. Even though Gaines lost the lawsuit, Andru and Esposito never produced more Get Lost. Hermes Press' historic reprint collects all three issues of the magazine on heavy coated matte paper together with an introductory essay by noted pop-culture historian Ron Goulart, an interview with Mike Esposito, and tons of documentary material in one volume. For this archival edition Hermes Press has painstakingly reconstructed Get Lost's artwork using the original black-and-white line art and recoloring it from scratch. Mike Esposito says it 'looks better than the original.' MAD's most noteworthy competitor is a treasure to behold for fans of Alfred E. Newman as well as comic book collectors, fans, and anyone looking for a good laugh."
Science Fiction Stuph
I don't think I've ever mentioned this to you cats before, but I'm a big, big fan of the SF and essays of writer Cory Doctorow. Well, while perusing his phenomenally interesting group blog/webzine boingboing.net the other day I learned he'd just won a Locus Award (his fourth in four years) for his novella "After the Siege," which was collected in his short story collection Overclocked (available now at FP) and graphically adapted in comic format in Cory Doctorow's Future Tales (also available). I really dig his stuff so congrats to Cory, and all the winners of this years Locus Magazine Awards, reprinted here:
SF NOVEL The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Michael Chabon
FANTASY NOVEL Making Money, Terry Pratchett
YA BOOK Un Lun Dun, China Miéville
FIRST NOVEL Heart-Shaped Box, Joe Hill
NOVELETTE "The Witch's Headstone", Neil Gaiman
SHORT STORY "A Small Room in Koboldtown", Michael Swanwick
COLLECTION The Winds of Marble Arch and Other Stories, Connie Willis
ANTHOLOGY The New Space Opera, Gardner Dozois ed.
NON-FICTION Breakfast in the Ruins, Barry N. Malzberg
ART BOOK The Arrival, Shaun Tan
EDITOR Ellen Datlow
MAGAZINE Fantasy&ScienceFiction
PUBLISHER Tor
ARTIST Charles Vess
Finally, I highly suggest you seek out, procure, watch, and enjoy a little documentary film titled "Tilt, The Battle to Save Pinball" from producer/director Greg Maletic. Every bit as good as last year's "King of Kong" this film "tells an account that any follower of technology, design, or business will find fascinating." A pinball fan myself (trip to the Pinball Hall of Fame countdown: 3.5 weeks) I found it doubly so!
Toodle Ooo,
JEFF
Friday, June 20th, 2008
Summer School
-"You were in the bathroom for six weeks?"
-"My zipper got stuck."
The solstice is nigh, ladies and gents, and, as we here at The Planet attempt to sort out, or at least quell, all the crazy that the season stirs up in our physical/psychological bio-chemistry, I thought we'd take a stab at gauging the state of Comicdom through some observations of Convention Season. Or at least a stab at sorting out but a a few of the millions of subtle nuances (like Baseball!) thereof, in easy to digest blurbs. Whatever. Fact is I could talk about comics, and the business of them til the cows hit the road, but here is neither the time, nor the space. So what follows each recommended new release below shall be a random thought on how some aspect of convention season and/or that book pertains to the larger scheme of things. Double whatevs. Just read....
Atomic Robo TP- by Brian Clevinger & Scott Wegener. This book collects the first six issues of the runaway surprise-hit of the last year. Meet Atomic Robo, mechanized tough guy, investigator of the weird, and creation of Nikola Tesla as he and his Tesladyne Action Scientists take on Nazis, giant ants, clockwork mummies, walking pyramids, Mars, cyborgs, and his arch-nemesis, Baron von Helsingard. I initially dismissed this comic as Hellboy and BPRD with a science fictiony slant, and though the creators do seem to wear that influence on their sleeves this book bursts with imagination, bites with wit, and is generally a helluva lot of fun. Also, this series features one of the more memorable coloring jobs I've seen in some time, courtesy of the talented Ms. Ronda Pattison. Highly recommended, even if you're a diehard fan of Mike Mignola's venerable demon.
For more Nikola Tesla comics check out a swell backlist item, Five Fists of Science, a niftily quirky, or quirkily nifty Image book from 2006 by Iron Fist and Casanova author Matt Fraction. And if you don't know who Tesla was? Your mother and I are very concerned about your edumacation and we suggest you look him up.
Convention Season Observation: Robots are sooo hot right now. From exhibiting artists' comics and paraphenailia to geeks' rabid frothing insatiable fandom for all things mech, from small press to Marvel: all the kids are into robots, cyborgs, androids, cylons, and droids.
Postage Stamp Funnies HC- by Shannon Wheeler. Regular WP readers and fans of the Onion will recognize these comics, here collected in a snazzy new Dark Horse edition, from their appearance in these pages. Terrific one panel gags are the name here, and Shannon, of "Too Much Coffee Man" fame, triumphantly wreaks havoc on the reader's funny bone.
Convention Season Observation: I enjoy laughter. Oh, mirth! Luckily I'm not at a loss for funnybooks. Comics can be funny! And Garfield is not funny.
Rabid Rabbit #8- For only six measly bucks you, too, can enjoy one of my favorite small press buddies' 64pg anthology of rad. In this issue the guys and gals pay tribute to The Beatles' White Album, with two page interpretations of each song and a host of other goodies by dozens of talented young artists. The Rabid Rabbit crew are one of the most consistent and reliable single-issue publishers out there, putting out diverse quality comics
Convention Season Observation: Cartoonists are all aspiring Chip Kidd's this year. Packaging, packaging, paper, paper... A new breed of "mini-comic" has invaded comicdom's fair shores, and to separate themselves from the noncoms (look it up) the small press has gussied up their work in the prettiest little packages you've ever done seen. I remember the days of copy machines and staples. How bloody quaint they now seem. Problem here is that all that terrific design and quality paper adds up to a bunch of dough, and purchasing even just a few books really hurts the wallet. Or that filing cabinet under my butt in my case.
One last note: As appeared in last week's issue, so should appear in this week's details on a Forbidden Planet co-sponsored night of Brooklyn Cyclones baseball at Keyspan Park on Coney island, Saturday June 28th. It's gonna be a dorktacular spectacle, and I encourage you and/or your families to join us for Super hero night. Catch some baseball on a beautiful summer evening, eat a hot dog, dress up as your fave super-hero (for real for real!) and have a great time. I'll be throwing out the fist pitch... wearing a cape. What larks, Pip!
"The biggest difference in my life if I was rich would be - I wouldn't have to think of something to say at the end of 60 Minutes every week."
-Andy Rooney
Have a Great Week,
JEFF
Friday, June 13th, 2008
A Change of Pace
This past weekend was intense. Internserino maximus. My mom's in town (she moved to San Fran a few years back) and arrived Friday evening- an evening of catching up with family who's tragically not seen each other in years and a wild evening that didn't conclude until 5am. Then it was back to FP for a hectic early morning shift in the fabulous world of geek retail. Luckily I got some rest Saturday night, but it was right back in the thick of things Sunday as Maryann and I ran around the MoCCA Art Festival for seven hours followed by a CBLDF party celebrating Rob Vollmar & NBM Publishing's graphic novel Bluesman.
And, frankly, I'm burned out on comics. Temporarily of course.
But thaz cool. Forbidden Planet's got tons of other items to offer, and while I'll probably rock my convention weekend wrap-up in next week's column, I don't often give the art books and toys and SF fiction we sell enough play as they deserve in these pages.... so let's get that going, shall we?
Art Books!
In case you haven't noticed, or you haven't been by the store in quite some time, we're currently and proudly carrying the full line of quality books from Ballistic Publishing, an independent company based in Australia. They're super high-end tomes highlighting the work of some of the best digital artists on the planet, and they are not to be missed. Don't believe me? Just you pick up a copy of EXPOSE 6, the newest in their line of annual anthology showcases, when it arrives later this week and you'll see! With 334 inspiring images prepared by 257 artists from 43 countries this series trumps my beloved Spectrum , and leaves it in the dust!
TOYS!
Two toys of particular note will grace our shelves when this issue of The Weekly Planet goes into circulation on Wednesday June 11th: The Dark Knight Batman and Joker 1/6 scale 13" toys from DC Direct!!! They're big, they're well-sculpted with a high level of detail and the Joker's clothes are made of better material than anything I own!
SF, Fantasy, Horror
In new release SF I recommend Alastair Reynolds new novel, The Prefect. Fantasy fans: you should be too busy playing the new 4th edition of D&D to care about new novels. And for you horror fiends out there, or more specifically vampire fans, we have all volumes of Stepenie Meyer's recent, and phenomenally popular Twilight saga.
Next week we'll pick back up on comics and convention season and whatevs. Til then...
I'm Ghost
JEFFY
Friday, May 23th, 2008
Eisner Award Nominees 2008 pt. 1
I had just completed my ballot for this year's awards, the self-described "Oscars of comics" established in 1987, named after celebrated cartoonist Will Eisner (The Spirit, A Contract with God) and presented annually at a gala event in July at San Diego Comic-Con, when I kicked myself for not having hipped the Weekly Planet's readers onto 2008's nominees. The Eisners celebrate the best works that comics have to offer, and are a reminder that there's an overwhelmingly diverse array of quality material to be enjoyed by all out there. And on Forbidden Planet's racks!
So, without further ado, I'll now present the first part of the Weekly Planet's exploration of this year's nominees. This is a rare year when I've had a chance to have read everything nominated and you'll find that I've boldened those books I highly recommend and which have not previously seen ink in anything I've written. Again, what follows in bold is not necessarily what I voted for, but, rather, are comics I strongly encourage you to check out ASAP.
Best Short Story
"Book," by Yuichi Yokoyama, in New Engineering (PictureBox)
"At Loose Ends," by Lewis Trondheim, in Mome #8 (Fantagraphics)
"Mr. Wonderful," by Dan Clowes, in The New York Times
"Town of Evening Calm," by Fumiyo Kouno, in Town of Evening Calm (Last Gasp)
"Whatever Happened to Fletcher Hanks?" by Paul Karasik, in I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets! (Fantagraphics)
"Young Americans," by Emile Bravo, in Mome #8 (Fantagraphics)
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Amelia Rules!#18: "Things I Cannot Change," by Jimmy Gownley (Renaissance)
Delilah Dirk and the Treasure of Constantinople, by Tony Cliff (self-published)
Johnny Hiro #1, by Fred Chao (AdHouse)
Justice League of America#11: "Walls," by Brad Meltzer and Gene Ha (DC)
Sensational Spider-Man Annual: "To Have or to Hold," by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca (Marvel)
Best Continuing Series
The Boys, by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson (Dynamite)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, by Joss Whedon, Brian K. Vaughan, Georges Jeanty, and Andy Owens (Dark Horse)
Naoki Urasawa's Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
The Spirit, by Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone (DC)
Y: The Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and Jose Marzan, Jr. (Vertigo/DC)
Best Limited Series
Atomic Robo, by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener (Red 5 Comics)
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, by Peter David, Robin Furth, and Jae Lee (Marvel)
Nightly News, by Jonathan Hickman (Image)
Parade (with Fireworks), by Michael Cavallaro (Image)
The Umbrella Academy, by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba (Dark Horse)
Best New Series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8 (Dark Horse)
Immortal Iron Fist, by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, David Aja, and others (Marvel)
Johnny Hiro, by Fred Chao (AdHouse)
The Infinite Horizon, by Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto (Image)
Scalped, by Jason Aaron and R. M. Guera (Vertigo/DC)
Best Publication for Kids
Amelia Rules! and Amelia Rules! Funny Stories, by Jimmy Gownley (Renaissance)
Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, edited by Jeremy Barlow (Dark Horse)
Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 andMouse Guard: Winter 1152, by David Petersen (Archaia)
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, by Peter Sis (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
Yotsuba&!, by Kiyohiko Azuma (ADV)
Best Publication for Teens
Laika, by Nick Abadzis (First Second)
The Mighty Skullboy Army, by Jacob Chabot (Dark Horse)
The Annotated Northwest Passage, by Scott Chantler (Oni)
PX! Book One: A Girl and Her Panda, by Manny Trembley and Eric A. Anderson (Shadowline/Image)
Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow, by James Sturm and Rich Tommaso (Center for Cartoon Studies/Hyperion)
Best Humor Publication
The Goon Noir, edited by Matt Dryer (Dark Horse)
Johnny Hiro, by Fred Chao (AdHouse)
Lucha Libre, by Jerry Frissen, Bill, Gobi, Fabien M(Image)
Perry Bible Fellowship: The Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other Stories, by Nicholas Gurewitch (Dark Horse)
Wonton Soup, by James Stokoe (Oni)
Best Anthology
Best American Comics 2007, edited by Anne Elizabeth Moore and Chris Ware (Houghton Mifflin)
5, by Gabriel Ba, Becky Cloonan, Fabio Moon, Vasilis Lolos, and Rafael Grampa (self-published)
Mome, edited by Gary Groth and Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics)
Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, edited by Jason Rodriguez (Villard)
24Seven, vol. 2, edited by Ivan Brandon (Image)
Best Digital Comic
The Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl,
Billy Dogma, Immortal, by Dean Haspiel
The Process, by Joe Infurnari
PX! By Manny Trembley and Eric A. Anderson
Sugarshock!, by Joss Whedon and Fabio Moon
Best Reality-Based Work
Laika, by Nick Abadzis (First Second)
The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam, by Ann Marie Fleming (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group)
Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow, by James Sturm and Rich Tommaso (Center for Cartoon Studies/Hyperion)
Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm, by Percy Carey and Ronald Wimberly (Vertigo/DC)
White Rapids, by Pascal Blanchet (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Graphic Album New
The Arrival, by Shaun Tan (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
Bookhunter, by Jason Shiga (Sparkplug Books)
Essex County, vols. 1-2: Tales from the Farm/Ghost Stories, by Jeff Lemire (Top Shelf)
Exit Wounds, by Rutu Modan (Drawn & Quarterly)
Percy Gloom, by Cathy Malkasian (Fantagraphics)
Best Graphic Album Reprint
Agents of Atlas Hardcover, by Jeff Parker, Leonard Kirk, and Kris Justice (Marvel)
Godland Celestial Edition, by Joe Casey and Tom Scioli (Image)
James Sturm's America, by James Sturm (Drawn & Quarterly)
Mouse Guard: Fall 1152, by David Petersen (Archaia)
Super Spy, by Matt Kindt (Top Shelf)
Best Archival Collection/Project Comic Strips
The Complete Dream of the Rarebit Fiend, by Winsor McCay
Complete Terry and the Pirates, vol. 1, by Milton Caniff (IDW)
Little Sammy Sneeze, by Winsor McCay (Sunday Press)
Popeye,vol. 2: Well Blow Me Down, by E. C. Segar (Fantagraphics)
Sundays with Walt and Skeezix, by Frank King (Sunday Press)
Best Archival Collection/Project Comic Books
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus, vol. 1, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Marvel)
Apollo's Song, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
The Completely MAD Don Martin (Running Press)
Daredevil Omnibus,by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson (Marvel)
I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets! by Fletcher Hanks (Fantagraphics)
Please also note that voting is limited to comics creators, editors, publishers, and retailers, and that, despite those limits, you're good enough, you're smart enogh, and gosh darnit: people like you. I'll be back next week with the conclusion of this list, including the creators nominated for the Eisner Hall of Fame and books we carry by them.
Eisner Award Nominees 2008 pt. 2
by Jeff Ayers
The self-described "Oscars of comics," the Eisner Awards were established in 1987 and are named after celebrated cartoonist Will Eisner (The Spirit, A Contract with God). Presented annually at a gala event in July at San Diego Comic-Con, the Awards celebrate the best works that comics have to offer, and are a reminder that there's an overwhelmingly diverse array of quality material to be enjoyed by all readers out there. Here is part two of The Weekly Planet's listing of 2008 nominees, which we're printing for you to use as a guide when shopping at the FP. These comics are exemplar of the many quality new books to grace our racks this year, and deserve all the accolades they've received and your hard earned bucks. I've boldened those books I highly recommend and which have not previously seen ink in anything I've written.
Best U.S. Edition of International Material
The Arrival, by Shaun Tan (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
Aya, by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Obrerie (Drawn & Quarterly)
Garage Band, by Gipi (First Second)
I Killed Adolf Hitler, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
The Killer, by Matz and Luc Jacamon (Archaia)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Japan
The Ice Wanderer and Other Stories, by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
MW, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Naoki Urasawa's Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
New Engineering by Yuichi Yokoyama (PictureBox)
Tekkonkinkreet by Taiyo Matsumoto (Viz)
Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms, by Fumiyo Kouno (Last Gasp)
Best Writer
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Criminal, Daredevil, Iron Fist (Marvel)
James Sturm,Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow (Hyperion)
Brian K. Vaughan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Dark Horse); Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC), Y: The Last Man (Vertigo/DC)
Joss Whedon, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Dark Horse)
Brian Wood, DMZ, Northlanders(Vertigo/DC); Local (Oni)
Best Writer/Artist
Jeff Lemire, Essex County: Tales from the Farm/Ghost Stories (Top Shelf)
Rutu Modan, Exit Wounds (Drawn & Quarterly)
Shaun Tan, The Arrival (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #18 (Acme Novelty)
Fumi Yoshinaga, Flower of Life; The Moon and Sandals (Digital Manga)
Best Writer/Artist—Humor
Kyle Baker, The Bakers: Babies and Kittens (Image)
Fred Chao, Johnny Hiro (AdHouse)
Brandon Graham, King City (Tokyopop); Multiple Warheads (Oni)
Eric Powell, The Goon (Dark Horse)
James Stokoe, Wonton Soup (Oni)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Steve Epting/Butch Guice/Mike Perkins, Captain America (Marvel)
Pia Guerra/Jose Marzan, Jr., Y: The Last Man (Vertical/DC)
Jae Lee, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (Marvel)
Takeshi Obata, Death Note, Hikaru No Go (Viz)
Ethan Van Sciver, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps (DC)
Best Painter or Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Ann-Marie Fleming, The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group)
Eric Powell, The Goon: Chinatown (Dark Horse)
Bryan Talbot, Alice in Sunderland (Dark Horse)
Ben Templesmith, Fell (Image); 30 Days of Night: Red Snow; Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse (IDW)
Best Cover Artist
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Lone Ranger (Dynamite)
James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse); Process Recess 2 (AdHouse)
J. G. Jones, 52 (DC)
Jae Lee, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (Marvel)
Jim Lee, All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (DC); World of Warcraft (WildStorm/DC)
Best Coloring
Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! (Renaissance)
Steve Hamaker, Bone, vols. 5 and 6 (Scholastic); Shazam: Monster Society of Evil (DC)
Richard Isanove, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born (Marvel)
Ronda Pattison, Atomic Robo (Red 5 Comics)
Dave Stewart, BPRD, Buffy, Hellboy, Lobster Johnson, The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse); The Spirit (DC)
Alex Wald, Shaolin Cowboy Burlyman)
Best Lettering
Jared K. Fletcher, Catwoman, The Spirit (DC); Sentences: Life of MF Grimm (Vertigo/DC)
Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! (Renaissance)
Todd Klein, Justice, Simon Dark (DC); Fables, Jack of Fables, Crossing Midnight (Vertigo/DC); League of Extraordinary Gentlemen:Black Dossier (WildStorm/DC); Nexus (Rude Dude)
Lewis Trondheim,"At Loose Ends," Mome 7 & 8 (Fantagraphics)
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #18 (Acme Novelty)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
Comic Art #9, edited by Todd Hignite (Buenaventura Press)
Comic Foundry, edited by Tim Leong (Comic Foundry)
The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)
The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael (www.comicsreporter.com)
Newsarama, produced by Matt Brady and Michael Doran (www.newsarama.com)
Best Publication Design
(The Complete) Dream of the Rarebit Fiend (Ulrich Merkl)
Complete Terry and the Pirates, designed by Dean Mullaney (IDW)
Heroes, vol. 1, designed by John Roshell/Comicraft (WildStorm/DC)
Little Sammy Sneeze, designed by Philippe Ghielmetti (Sunday Press)
Process Recess 2, designed by James Jean and Chris Pitzer (AdHouse)
Sundays with Walt and Skeezix, designed by Chris Ware (Sunday Press)
Hall of Fame- Four members of this prestigious group will join the ranks of HOF members Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Jack Cole, Jim Steranko and more. If you're not familiar with their work I'm listing excellent primer books next to their names for you to get acqainted with them butt-quick.
Matt Baker- It Rhymes with Lust (Dark Horse)
John Broome- Flash: The Greatest Stories Ever Told
Reed Crandall- Blackhawk Archives v.1 HC
Rudolph Dirks- Katzenjammer Kids (N/A)
Arnold Drake- Doom Patrol Archives v.1 HC
George Evans- Aces High (EC)
Creig Flessel- Detctive Comics covers #2-17 (N/A)
Graham Ingels- Crime SuspenStories HC v.1 EC
Mort Meskin- (N/A)
Tarpe Mills- Miss Fury (N/A)
Gilbert Shelton- Freak Bros.
George Tuska- The Art of George Tuska (TwoMorrows)
Mort Weisinger- editor Superman in the 50s, 60s
Len Wein- Swamp Thing Dark Genesis
Barry Windsor-Smith- Savage Sword of Conan V.1
Please also note that voting is limited to comics creators, editors, publishers, and retailers, and that despite those limits I think you're just swellerific.
Have a Culckety-Cluck-Cluck Day!
JEFF
Friday, May 16th, 2008
HELP
Salutations, all. Sorry to start off this week with a bit of a downer, but one of comics' greatest all timme artists is in the midst of some rather sever medical trouble, and I'd like to call attention to the situation. Mr. Gene Colan, seminal Daredevil and Tomb of Dracula artist, has fallen ill, his liver failing. A call has been raised to help out with his bills (an effort organized by writer Clifford Meth and detailed here: http://thecliffordmethod.blogspot.com) to send any get well messages his fans may wish to pass along. Cards may be sent to this address:
Gene Colan
2 Sea Cliff Avenue
Sea Cliff, NY 11579
If you've ever been a fan (and even if not) I implore you to lend your help and support to this fine gentleman and his family in whatever capacity you can. Thanks.
Releasing 5/14
LOST BOYS REIGN OF FROGS #1- You may know that I'm not normally inclined to recommend comics of lisenced properties. Sure there's an occasional exception (the Heroes Gn, some Star Trek comics, etc.), but I tend to be a bit snobbish in my assertion that they generally stink worse than Welcome to Shibuya-Cho columnist Mat Kerwin's lunch. Plus, if you kids like yer Star Wars and your Buffy, or, heaven for fend, yer Supernatural, it stands to reason that youse don't need my blathering recommendation to give their comics a try. So, in the realm of guilty pleasures let me tell ya: I'm vaguely excited by this release, a sequel to the 1987 movie The Lost Boys. While I've watched this movie on VHS and DVD as often as I have these past twenty years to gander at the foxy Jamie Gertz, it was always equally enjoyable (albeit on a much different and less adolescent level if you catch my drift) to watch the antics of Edgar and Alan Frog, vampire-hunting comic store employees played by Corey Felmdman and Jamison Newlander. Given such quirky characterization and comedic harrumphs to sate the twelve year old in us all, the Frog bothers were such a highlight that even I, the most crusty of crusty comic-snobs, eagerly anticipate and embrace Wildstorm's release of this series. Now if we could only get Bill Pullman or Jake Kasdan to author a comic of the similarly awesome Daryl Zero (from Zero Effect, a film I highly recommend if you've not seen it btw),- we might be onto a decent trend. Or something.
BATMAN #676 RIP & FINAL CRISIS SKETCHBK- Grant Morrison is once again given the keys to the DC kingdom, with a focus on shaking things up to its very core. We'll see how much leeway the higher-ups give our favorite comic writer- after all, they still have to sell Batman pajamas tomorrow- but we've been promised major changes, major twists, major everything. Batman #676, and it's continuing storyline, has been schilled by the publisher with such language as, "Who will live? Who will die? Who will be Batman? The answers are sure to shock you..." and feel free to insert skeptical remark here, but with the book's creative team it's assured to at least be interesting. DC is also investing a ton of storyline capital in Unca Grant and JG Jones' collaboration, Final Crisis. That #1 doesn't come out until the end of May (28th), but they're releasing this primer, a collection of sketches and character designs and script excerpts, to entice us into investing our monetary capital in the seven issue series and its concurrent spin-offs.
SOLEIL SKY DOLL #1- This might be the single most surprising title Marvel Comics has released in some time. The first release in a new partnership with French publisher Soliel, Sky Doll is such a stark departure from the normal Marvel fare of capes and cowls I almost did a double take when I saw the solicitation. In this internationally acclaimed best-seller Noa is a Sky Doll; a life-like female android without rights, who exists only to serve the State's needs and desires. Released from this form of slavery, she embarks on a journey of self discovery and rebellion in a sleek, sinister, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous sciffy universe. I am so curiously jazzed by this book, having seen these comics in their native language, but was sure I'd not soon see this stuff in English. Thanks, Marvel. Written by Barbara Canepa with amazing artwork by Alessandro Barbucci.
BOOSTER GOLD HC VOL 01 52 PICK UP- Collecting Booster Gold #1-6 and a brief origin story, this hardcover follows our favorite time-travelling narcissist as he tries to right the DC Universe's timeline, besieged by unseen forces and requiring a modicum of humility and anonymity that Booster must muster despite a lifetime of fame and fortune-seeking adventure. One of DC Comics' best titles published monthly, this series is the Quantum Leap of comics, and it's danged good.
Adios Amigos,
JEFFY
Friday, May 9th, 2008
Don'tchu Forget About Me
"It's hard to see with so many around You know I don't like being stuck in a crowd"
-GN'R
One of the problems inherent in the massive avalanche of quality and noteworthy comics published these days is the potential for something you'd wanna read to slip past your radar. It's difficult for books to stand out in such a crowded market, and even more difficult for us, the fan, the consumer to dodge the distinctly 21st Century bombardment of advertising, schilling, punditocracy, blog-o-rama that hypes the same stuph day in and week out ad nauseum. I'm regularly and increasingly made more acutely aware of this, and find myself, on the hand-selling level, having to champion titles that landed on our shelves with the thud of disappointing initial sales.
So, because Forbidden Planet has to spine out many graphic novels (no matter how worthy) for space reasons, and because not everything makes it to our new release rack every Wednesday, and because the human mind's eye simply cannot ingest and absorb (nor one's wallet afford) everything that is thrown at it, let's discuss some recent "lost" treasures.
Waldo's Hawaiian Holiday- The sequel book to Repo Man, the cult 1984 film triumphantly written and directed by maverick filmmaker Alex Cox and one of my favorite films of all time, was recently released to far less fanfare than deserved, and that's a danged shame. It's by no means as classic as its source film- like so many screenwriters' sojourns into our medium, it reads like a screenplay never ADAPTED to comic form; decent dialogue and a clever premise left to dangle like so many wind chimes as Cox the director never seems to surface within these pages to breathe that intense Repo Man life into 'em- but it's nonetheless essential if you're a fan. Discover our punk hero Otto as he returns to Earth ten years later in the Bush/Clinton/Gingrich nineties [shudder]. "A Repo Man's got all night, every night!"
Klassic Komix Klub- Johnny Ryan's (Angry Youth Comix) follow-up to last year's Comic Book Holocaust. Here the king of yuck desecrates over 100 of the world's greatest works of literature. Ranging from Homer's Odyssey to Dickens' Great Expectations to Hunter S. Thompson's Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (my fave strip) gets the savagely ludicrous Ryan treatment. Finally, all that time you wasted reading those dopey books your over-priced education required you plow through is rewarded! Please note, Johnny's books, especially KKK, are not for children, the elderly, newlyweds, people on prescribed neurological depressants or stimulants, and right-wing stiffs. They are not a thoughtful Mother's Day present, unless your mother's a whackjob. Klassic Komix Klub is not meant to be read on a New York City train full of over-your-shoulder readers, nor is it meant as a bedtime story for little Bobby. Sense of humor required. Contact a life coach if KKK gets in your eyes. Discontinue use if knees start to buckle from hilarity. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Green Arrow Year One- No joke. This HC collects a really good story by Messrs. Andy Diggle (w) and Jock (The Losers) (a) about the birth of the Emerald Archer, better known as Green Arrow. Jock's unconventional (esp. for a superhero book!) art makes this book one of the only GA titles I'd recommend to just about anybody.
Faker TP- Another book illustrated by Jock! Y'know, one of these days I'm gonna go out and get kidnapped, have some new stuff happen to me. Until then I'll likes what I likes and recommends what I recommends. Four friends party hard one night, like there's no tomorrow. The next morning, they are five. What if all reality lost a grip on you? Explore said conundrum in this this compelling psychological horror story from DC Vertigo.
Funeral of the Heart- by Leah Hayes. The first full-length collection of graphic short stories from the pen what created Holy Moly, one of our best-selling Fantagraphics single issues in years, . Were I to pick a successor book to Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children, FOH would be my pick, hands down. Ms. Hayes' new book, entirely created using scratch board, deftly and darkly displays the talent of one of NYC's most promising newcomers. Not only is FOH a terrific-smelling book
Aqua Leung- by Mark Andrew Smith (w) and Paul Maybury (a). The ancient city of Atlantis manifests itself in our world, pulling an average boy named Aqua into its magical, and formerly mythical saga, revealing the truth to him about his origin... including his father's savage murder at the hands of those in fear of his power. He must now begin a journey to take back his father's kingdom from the evil shark king and restore himself as the one, true unifier of the seas. I looooove this book. If you're too ig'nant or overly-crusty to dismiss this fine comic based on the story or pun of a title you're missing out. This imaginative tale is filled with delights, and is pure, unmitigated comic goodness. Artist Paul Maybury may wear his influences on his sleeve, but his execution is eruditic and whimsically fantastical beyond the telling. What monsters! Whatta book!
Til next time, kids: Let's go do some crimes! (Please note the above was a Repo Man reference, and was, by no means, and endorsement of crime by either the author, or The Weekly Planet. It don't pay, folks, and you will be caught!)
JEFF
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Unkiedev's Amazing Stuff
My poor pocketbook does NOT get the week off, as there are a plethora of amazing books out this week...What? Yes I'm a man and yes I have a pocketbook. What is wrong with you people? Shouldn't we all come together as a community and celebrate unity, not turn on each other like jackals? Why, just the other day I was driving my Hummer and... OH, now you have a problem with Hummers? Sure they're bad for the environment and kinda' annoying to other vehicles, but I have to drive something REALLY manly so people will stop giving me a hard time about my pocketbook!
The Nearly Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus, Fred Hembeck (w/a), Image
Fred Hembeck is a one trick pony...but that one trick is pretty great! Any comic fan who grew up in the 80's remembers his "Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe," a silly cartoon book in which the eponymous Hembeck does just that. Fred is a comics geek, and through his jokes and stories he's been playing with all the toys in the comic book box for decades. Simple jokes worthy of Mel Brooks team up with the cartooniest cartoon pen in the industry for more super-hero fun than a dweeb should probably have.
If you're like me you have a pocketbook, drive a hummer, eat only vegan (I have to do something to help offset the ecological blight of driving a Hummer,) and find that bad jokes and bad art = HILARIOUS!
Here in one volume are over 600 pages of solid Hembeck with a forward by Stan Lee. My advice: Buy this book, buy a coffee table and then put this book on it. Enjoyment and conversation will not ensue if you mix that order up. Fans of Hembeck may want to check out "the Magic Whistle" from ex-Sponge Bob scribe Sam Henderson, or any of Johnen Vasquez's material...especially his "Bad Art Collection."
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
Did you go? It was fun! A bunch of us die-hards standing out in the drizzle waiting for a bag of free goodies! One nice man brought his two dogs, and they were the toast of the line. He certainly had more girls talking to him than the guy who kept talking about HeroClix...just sayin's all. Folks who didn't make it out missed out on more then just the cold:
Hellboy: The Mole, Mike Mignola (w) Duncan Fegredo , Dark Horse
One of the best Hellboy stories since Mignola stopped drawing...maybe since Hellboy: The Island. This book also collects a great little B.P.R.D. tale as well. I'm sure both will be used as epilogs in forthcoming Hellboy collections, but even still this single book may be my pick for best single comic from Free Comic Book Day.
I'll admit to not having read ALL the free comic books yet. Stop picking on me! There's a bunch, alright? I was only getting over my imagined persecution over the vegan thing, let alone my reading habits. Next I suppose you'll give me a hard time over being an avid bow hunter, or for my love of burning the Amazon rain forest, or for randomly shooting folks out of my window. You people are so judgmental.
Still, this week's comics are the cat's p-jays: Dark Horse has Buffy #14, as well as Conan #50 (Should be good) and the new Indy Jones movie adaption. I'll wait till the movie, thanks. Marvel's got Spidey and Mighty Avengers, and DC has a nice Batman/Joker trade: Joker's Last Laugh. Image has Madman and Scud. Great darn week for comics. Great darn week.
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
Not So Iron-y Man
Hiya folks! Some of you fine people may have noticed my absence in the Weekly Planet last week (perhaps even rued, or possibly rejoiced my absence?) but it was a hectic and torrid state of affairs that forced the interruption of my streak of nintety consecutive weeks writing this column. I'd like to think Cal Ripken would've been proud, but he probably, in reality, would've just called me a little wuss for missing last week. Any time you wanna throw down, fantasy Ripken... I guess it's time to dig my cleats in again and start a new streak.
When last this corny crusader wrote here, he began to detail the nifty and varied Free Comics Forbidden Planet would be giving away this Saturday, May 3rd 2008. He continues here:
More FCBD 2008 Highlights:
Viz Media Shonen Jump- The Shonen Jump Free Comic Book Day issue will be 32 action-packed pages all about the world of Shonen Jump. It will not only include manga previews of three of the most exciting series - Naruto, Bleach and Slam Dunk - but it will also include coverage of many Shonen Jump manga series, from One Piece to Death Note, designed to introduce new readers to all that Shonen Jump has to offer.
Top Shelf Owly- Not one, but four all-ages tales. In this FCBD edition, you're not only presented with an all-new Owly adventure by Andy Runton, but also three other all-new, all-ages adventures from Owly's friends: Korgi by Christian Slade, Johnny Boo by James Kochalka, and Yam by Corey Barba! Perfect for everyone in the family... and be sure to keep an eye out for Owly
Gumby' Coloring Comic Book- this spectacular coloring comic edition speaks for itself- "Break out the crayons!"
DC Comics Tiny Titans- A comic series that is perfect for kids of all ages! See what life is like at Sidekick Elementary and meet the new staff. Follow the madness that ensues when Beast Boy gets a puppy friend. Witness what happens when the girls meet a pink stranger with a melted ice cream cone. Find out what makes Wonder Girl such a trendsetter. All your favorite Titans, in their cutest possible form, are here and waiting for you!
Drawn & Quarterly's Gegika Manga Sampler- bringing together excerpts from new releases by two early masters of Japanese comics: Yoshihiro Tatsumi's Good-Bye and Seiichi Hayashi's Red Colored Elegy. Both drawn in the early '70s, these comics are still as remarkable as ever and will be brought to North American readers this May. Tatsumi's short stories expand the prolific artist's vocabulary for characters contextualized by themes of depravity and disorientation in twentieth-century Japan, while Hayashi's landmark full-length poetic masterpiece beautifully captures the quiet melancholy lives of a young couple struggling to make ends meet. All ages.
Graphic Classics- Included are Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat," adapted by Rod Lott and Gerry Alanguilan; Arthur Conan Doyle's eerie mystery "John Barrington Cowles," adapted by Alex Burrows and Simon Gane; and fantasy master Lord Dunsany's "A Narrow Escape," adapted by Milton Knight. Plus a one-page fable by Ambrose Bierce, illustrated by Mark Dancey, and "Frankenstein" author Mary Shelley's medieval romance, "The Dream," adapted by Antonella Caputo and Anne Timmons.
TwoMorrow's Comics go Hollywood- A special 32-page behind-the-scenes guide, where you'll learn what's involved in taking a character from the comics page to the big screen! It includes: Storyboards from DC's animated hit The New Frontier (courtesy of Draw! Magazine)! Jeph Loeb on writing for both Marvel Comics and the Heroes TV show (courtesy of Write Now! magazine)! Details on the unseen X-Men movie (courtesy of Alter Ego magazine)! A history of The Joker from his 1940s origins to his upcoming appearance in The Dark Knight (courtesy of Back-Issue Magazine)! And a look at Marvel Universe co-creator Jack Kirby's Hollywood career, with extensive Kirby art!
Yen Press' Maximum Ride- Yen Press presents a sneak peak at Maximum Ride, the new manga series from America's #1 bestselling author James Patterson! Max and her "flock" are pretty normal kids... except for the fact that they're 98% human, 2% bird - and can fly! Now, the twisted scientists that created them want them dead. Who will survive?
... Indeed, there's a surplus of cool, free swag we'll be giving away this weekend. The first 250 people to come to Forbidden Planet for FCBD will get a bag of everything we received for the date (I've lugged one home myself earlier this week- they're huge. Better bring a forklift.), separated out and grouped into age 12 and over sets, and all ages sets for the kids. We open at 10:00am, and will give out free stuph all day, while supplies last!
Hope to See You Here,
JEFFY
Wednesday, April 25th, 2008
GHOST RIDER!! (ahem) WAIT, NO, GHOST WRITER.
Hello one and all and welcome to another week of comic fantasticism. If this week's article has a different sound to it than you're used to, it's probably because this week's role of Jeff will be played by Mat K., who you might recognize from our "Welcome To Shibuya-Cho" segment. Due to various post-Comic Con craziness and shenanigans Jeff is taking a little break from playing informant. Let me start off by pointing out that there hasn't been a short week in forever. I mean really, once upon a time, (like not even a year ago), there were barely enough titles to fill 3 rows of our 30 foot long shelves with new titles, and on those weeks where there were more than could fit, it was still manageable. Nowadays be barely ever get let than 4 rows worth. With 10 million different things coming out every week, and the whole industry in over drive, its hard to pick out some, but I still gotta make the effort. SO HERE'S WHAT'S GOOD:
In case any of you have been dormant for the last year, DC's follow up weekly series to 52 was called Countdown To Final Crisis, and this week is the final issue, well, that is issue 1. Technically things that count down count to zero, but the zero issue is something else and will be called DC Universe: Zero. Just thought you all might be interested in the culmination of the last years worth of writing that went into this latest weekly from DC.
Now I'm one to typically read comics based on TV shows, but I do love the writing and the cinematography of Supernatural. And this week sees the release of the new comic series Supernatural: Rising Son. The story of Sam and Dean going with their father while he hunts down demons in search of clues as to why his wife was murdered. But more importantly, it's the story of Dean's first demon hunt.
Lets wrap this baby up with all the things that I'm going to be reading this week, and you should too. First off there's Birds Of Prey (love me some Barbara Gordon), Fallen Angel (the best book that you're not reading!!), Hack/Slash the Series, the New Exiles (still filed under the letter "E"), X-Force (like X-Men if people actually bled when you gut them), Uncanny X-Men (my superhero guilty pleasure), and Young Avengers Presents (just because i needed to know what the hell happened to them all since Civil War and stuff. And thats it. Read on and enjoy the rest of this little periodical (especially the ever amazing manga/anime info section known as Welcome To Shibuya-Cho, it has more pretty pictures).
MAT K
Wednesday, April 18th, 2008
Welcome To Shibuya-Cho
So this past week marked another end of an era, at least personally. The final volume of the Witchblade anime was released. And even though the ads themselves pretty much tell you how it's going to end, (Spoiler Alert if you haven't watched it yet), that didn't make it any less depressing when Masane gives her life at the end, leaving little Rihoko behind. It was very climactic, you know, the kind of end that completely engulfs the last four episodes of the series instead of cramming it all into one dense episode. Now, Masane was the third in a line of concurrent Japanese bearers, and if you saw the series, you know Rihoko is going to be the fourth, and considering the blade has been waiting with Masane until Rihoko was mature enough, she must be something special, like some Japanese version of Sarah Pezzini. So I wonder just how long does the Witchblade wanna hang around Japan for?
At this point, there's only one more thing I would have liked to see from the series, and that's maybe a little glimpse of the future it kind stops right at Masane's death. I understand from a writing perspective that this was Masane's story, and with no her, there's no story, The End. But it would have been nice to see maybe how Rihoko and Takayama (her biological father) get along, how their friends react and recover, and how the city recovers from the massive I-Weapon attack. But oh well, unless they make a Witchblade Season 2, I'm going to have to turn to dojinshi and fan fiction.
On a related note, something else depressing happened as Witchblade ended, I found myself having nothing to watch, no new series to look towards the monthly release of. Claymore the anime is finally waking it's way to the states, but thats too far away. Today I noticed when I came into work two new fledgling series that I ignored before in my excitement over Witchblade's release. The second volumes of both these series just came in and we're waiting on their thirds. These two series are Tokyo Majin, and Black Blood Brothers.
In Tokyo Majin the fate of the world (as it always is) is in the hands of 5 students with powers and abilities of their own trying to stop Demons, Zombies, and Alchemists, as well as other evil things from trying to bring about the final Apocalypse, (since the first few didn't quite end the world enough apparently). And in Black Blood Brothers a new strain of super infectious vampirism hits the streets, two brothers travel to a special place where vampires and humans live in peace, but tension builds between human soldiers and vampire refugees. The thing that caught my eye in both these series? The art and animation is pretty hot in both of them. And the dark elements of both intrigued me. Thats what I've got for you people this week. Until next time!
Ja Ne!
MATT K
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Best Things in Life
How are ya, folks? My name is Jeff and I'm the store manager and print buyer for Forbidden Planet NYC. What you're reading is a copy of our weekly newsletter, and every now and then I find myself having to write this introduction- usually on weeks such as this when we give out even more of these things than the thousands we regularly distribute on New Comic Wednesdays. What's so special about this week to warrant an over-printing? Well, chances are you may be receiving this at any one of a buncha hip and happenin' events goin down in our fair city right now. From something as geekily monumentous as New York Comic-Con at the Javits center, or either of the two excellently bodacious, 21 and over parties we're sponsoring Saturday and Sunday nights, to something as deceptively mundane as New Comic Day, whatevs the case may be, what you've been given and now grasp in your grimy mitts is the cumulative efforts of a number of FP staffers and friends, and is a regular, if massively distilled, dose of the cumulatively fierce awesomosity that is the FP, New York's single greatest emporium for comics, graphic novels, toys, Sci-Fi, Manga, and millions of other items, he wrote without a hint of humility or regret.
Whew.
In this edition of the Planet I'd like to discuss the forthcoming Free Comic Book Day. FCBD is a single day (this years it's Saturday 5/3) when we, and other participating comic book shops across North America and around the world (but why wouldja wanna go any place else, really?) give away comic books absolutely free and specially created by the industry's major publishers to anyone who comes into their stores. How every store handles the hordes of free comic seekers is different, but here's how FP is gonna rock it this year: simply, the first 250 people to come to our store looking for free books will get a bag of every single comic we receiveve for the occasion, kids under 12 years old receiving bags of books specifically designed for all ages readers! We'll will be giving out hundreds of other free books the remainder of the day, while supplies last.
Here's part 1 of a guide to what we're giving away May 3rd, a mere smattering of the wonders you'll receive FREE. Part 2, will follow next week:
All Star Superman #1 FCBD Edition (DC Comics) Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's Man of Steel opus.
Antarctic Press TP- a selection of Eisner-nominee Rod Espinosa's thrilling saga of Neotopia! In a world where Man has finally learned to exist in harmony with Nature, the citizens of Mathenia live happily under their beloved Grand Duchess. Unknown to them, she is Nalyn, a commoner impersonating Nydia, the real Duchess. When Nalyn is kidnapped by an enemy country bent on bringing back the age of technological excess, she must lead her country to war!
Broken Trinity (Top Cow)- Brought to you by the First Born and Witchblade powerhouse creative team of Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic, Top Cow presents you with an epic tale of their three biggest characters/books, the triumvirate of Witchblade, The Darkness, and The Angelus!
EC Comics Sampler- Wally Wood's cover from Tales From the Crypt #26 wraps four classic stories from the EC Archives by some of comics' greatest creators of all time: Al Feldstein, Alex Toth and Harvey Kurtzman, Johnny Craig and the aforementioned Mr. Wood. Classic!
X-Men (Marvel)- In this gratis issue, the young mutant Pixie tries to save her town from a mysterious evil. But when the baddies prove too tough for any one hero to handle, Pixie calls in a little help from her friends. Guest-starring Cyclops, Wolverine, Colossus and the rest of Marvel's mightiest mutants, this spectacular story features the work of acclaimed scribe Mike Carey and fan-favorite artist Greg Land.
Hellboy (Dark Horse)- Hellboy creator Mike Mignola teams up with artist Duncan Fegredo for a look into Hellboy's nightmares, with John Arcudi and Guy Davis for a breathtaking twist to recent events at the Bureau - a preview of the events in the upcoming series The Warning, and with Hellboy Universe newcomers Joshua Dysart and Paul Azaceta team for another look into the world of their BPRD: 1946 series for an adventure from the early days of both the Bureau and its most famous member!
The Moth (Rude Dude)- The Moth returns with Steve Rude and Gary Martin, who are just getting warmed-up! If you missed the first 5 issues - fear not! This Free Comic Day special brings any newcomers out there up-to-date! Sexy bearded ladys, ill-tempered smoking midgets, and a 24-year-old in a Moth costume in charge of running a circus all await you.
International Graphic Noveld at Their Zenith #1 (Fantagraphics)-With a cover by Ganges artist Kevin Huizenga, this full-color comic provides special exclusive advance looks at seven Ignatz releases slated for later in 2008: Zak Sally's Sammy the Mouse #2, Richard Sala's Delphine #4, David (Epileptic) B.'s Babel #3, Marti's Calvario Hills #2, Sergio Ponchione's Grotesque #2, Leila Marzocchi's Niger #3, and the as-yet-untitled third installment of Gipi's "Wish You Were Here" series of graphic novelettes.
The Stranded (Virgin Comics)- What if your entire life - your childhood, your family, all your memories - was a lie? That is the question at the core of The Stranded, the inaugural title from the landmark collaboration between Virgin Comics and The SCI FI Channel! An epic adventure, The Stranded is here featured alongside Dan Dare in a special flip-cover edition for FCBD 2008. An icon since the 1950's, Dan Dare has been pulled out of retirement and into the outer reaches of the galaxy in this new series written by Garth Ennis!
All Ages Selections
Shonen Jump Sampler (Viz)- 32 action-packed pages all about the world of Shonen Jump. It will not only include manga previews of three of the most exciting series - Naruto, Bleach and Slam Dunk - but it will also include coverage of many other manga, from One Piece to Death Note!
Transformers Animated (IDW)- This special 2008 Free Comic Book Day edition celebrates the new Transformers Animated series. In this, their first official comic book release, readers will be treated to a special 30-page story featuring the debut episode of the animated series on the printed page! See the introduction of young Optimus Prime, veteran Ratchet, and newcomers like Bulkhead, as they go up against Megatron, Starscream, and the Decepticon forces!
Bongo Comics Free For All (Bongo)- Sample The Simpsons and Futurama in the comfort of your own comic collection with this special pocket-sized digest edition from Bongo Comics - boasting the best in humor comics! Marvel Adventures Iron Man (Marvel)- Iron Man! Spider-Man! Hulk! Ant-Man! The Mandarin! Marvel's Mightiest Merry Mugs vs. The Mandarin!
"And Remeber: I'll eat anything you want me to eat. I'll saw anything you want me to saw. So come on down, I'll... chew on the dog! Arroooo!"
And to Our Regulars Old and New: All the Best!
JEFFY
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
WAIT! Come Back!
As most of you should know by now, we're in the midst of a monumental SALE down here at The Planet. If you received this newsletter with your purchase of some of the terrific stuff we purvey and didn't know your items had been discounted, turn right the heck back around, baby, and take advantage of 15% OFF EVERYTHING WE SELL!!! Buy more stuff! Forbidden Planet needs to clear a lotta stock and storage space, and we hold a store-wide sale so rarely (the last one was about four years ago!) that it behooves you to come back as much as possible through Monday morning when the sale ends. Once more, in big, bold, and beautiful typeface:
15% OFF Everything Thru Sunday, 4/13!!!!!!
Oh, and one other upcoming event of ginormous note: New York Comic-Con is imminent, set to descend like a dorktacular mothership UFO upon our fair city next weekend. Forbidden Planet is still selling tickets to the Con, however supplies are limited, and will most likely dry up soon, so get yours ASAP. And, like TIE fighters scrambling from a Star Destroyer, there's tons of special events, ins, outs, and what have yous spewing forth from the Con's gaping maw. Not to be outdone, good ole FP is co-sponsoring an invitation only event with Image Comics, Evil Ink and Clutter Magazine to celebrate the release of Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez's new graphic novel of The Amory Wars. What's more, and what should tantalize, titilize, and entice you kids out there is The Forbidden Planet Post Comic-Con Party, Sunday April 20th!!! Everybody out there's invited to party your butts off with us at Arrow Bar, located at 85 Ave A @ 6th St. The shindig officially kicks off at 8pm with DJ Patrick A. Reid and his special guest The Qualia, but, aside from any other drink specials we'll have, there's a rockin Happy Hour from 5-9pm. Whenever you show up, show up. All the cool kids are going.
Releasing 4/9/08
Harlan Ellison's Watching- Kudos to Dark Horse Comics for their rootsy dedication in re-releasing classic yet ludicrously long out of print prose TPs from some of SF/Fantasy's most essential and influential authors. And I ain't talking 'bout those Aliens vs. Predator novels you've been after. Rather, such works as Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar series (lovingly adapted by Mike Mignola in comic form as Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser and available now at Forbidden Planet, as you may remember from an earlier column), and works by my favorite author Mr. Harlan Ellison- namely his rock n' roll novel Spider Kiss, and this new edition of Watching, his scathing, pertinent and timelessly relevant collection reprinting over fifty essays covering twenty-five years of cinema critique and expose. Featuring such faves as "Luke Skywalker is a Nerd and Darth Vader Sucks Runny Eggs", HE's Watching is essential reading for anyone who ever claimed to have a favorite movie, anyone who's spent hours and hours in a dark theater absorbing the flickering images and bombastic sounds, and anyone who's ever polished off a garbage can of popcorn slathered in "butter" topping in said theater and farted thier guts out for hours after. I already own this book in multiple formats, but the Dark Horse Edition is tops on my list of purchases for Wednesday the 9th.
Oh, and to the girl who kept the copy of Ellison's Shatterday I loaned her years ago, the hardcover first edition that Unca Harlan signed and dedicated to me, lent with a promise it would be returned in a few days by a salacious young woman I was enamored of, who returned a year later sans book and demanded I take her out to dinner lest I never see it again, I say this: There are better, more attractive and effective means of procuring a date than holding a fella's favorite tome hostage.
"See You at the Party, Richter!!!"
JEFFY
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
Not So Secret Invasions
There are some invasions of particular note this week, and not all of 'em feature pointy-eared alien baddies, shape-shifting their way into the pantheon of Marvel Comics' superhero troupe and thus infiltrating our society in order to enslave the human race a la Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Batt