It's been a while, so let me deliver my final report on the service and product.

 

ComixPress

My ComixPress proofs were upload on 13 April 2010. About 9 days before I needed to receive them in Monroeville. I reviewed and okayed them. I was apparently sent an invoice 3 days later on 16 April 2010 and then a follow-up invoice on 20 April 2010. I received neither. However, I did receive a notice from Jodi on 21 April 2010 asking if I received the invoices. At this point, it was too late to have the items on time for the convention, so I cancelled the order. If I use ComixPress in the future, it will be only when I'm not in a time crunch. It's really disappointing that it took almost 4 weeks for them to send invoices (that I did not receive).

 

Ka-Blam on the other hand came through and we had the books a couple days before leaving for the con. My problem with the Ka-Blam books is simple the quality and printing.

 

1) The Strathmore covers don't bend too well, so the spine is more crinkled than creased. The process of folding the cover breaks the inks, so if you have a black band running along the front and back covers (like I did on the Tiegre book), then the black ink in cracked on the spine.

 

2) I had a element on both covers that was supposed to be parallel to the bottom edge of the cover. Because of the trimming on the cover, these elements were not parallel. For the extra $2 for the cover, I expected better attention to printing.

 

 

I don't think there will be a problem selling the books that I did receive, however, I will not be ordering any more.

 

 

I just went to the comic book store for the first time in about a month. I know it's been about a month because there's a new issue of Savage Dragon in my pull box. There was also a new issue of Orc Stain. I've dropped Orc Stain singles in favor of Orc Stain collections and removed a lot of comics that I were one shots that I have already purchased.

 

With that said, here what I did buy today.

 

 

Groo: The Hogs of Horder published by Dark Horse by Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier

 

The Stand: Soul Survivors adapted from the Stephen King novel written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa with art by Mike Perkins

 

Echo Volume 3: Collider by Terry Moore

 

Savage Dragon #162 by Erik Larsen

 

 

 

Avengers: The Children Crusade #1 written by Allan Heinberg, pencilled by Jim Cheung, inked by Mark Morales and Jim Cheung

 

 

 

Daytripper #8 by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba

 

Criminal Volume 5: The Sinners written by Ed Brubaker 

Madman Atomic Comics Volume 3: Electric Allegories by Mike Allred

 

 

 

Conan Volume 8: Black Colossus written by Timothy Truman art by Tomas Giorello and Jose Villarrubia

 

Richard Stark's Parker: The Man with the Getaway Face - A Prelude to The Outfit adapted by Darwyn Cooke.

This covers everything in Previews.

 

For me, Soleil is still Marvel's best line. I've yet to be disappointed in one of their hardcovers. I imagine that these 2 issues will be reprint with the previous 2 issues mini series.

 

I'm really curious to see this. I'm even more curious to see how this is going to be collected. I have to constantly remind myself that Karl Kesel is not the same person as Karl Kerschl.

 

This series is still going with no signs of cancellation. I've very happily surprised because hopefully I'll get at least one TPB of one of my favorite WCA couples.

 

I didn't realize that this was a mini series. The only reason I'm even mentioning this books is because Pacheco drew Steve's head really small.

 

Secret Invasion is now collected, so now I'll be able to make some sense out of what's going on. Why is Mockingbird alive and not a Skrull. I'll probably have to grab a Seige HC as well,

 

2 Soliel HCs this month means $45 leaving my pocket.

 

and that's all for Marvel previews.

There are covers with 9 Daredevil, 9 with Spider-Man, 9 with Wolverine, 6 with Iron Man and 5 with Deadpool. Remember when did Deadpool, Iron Man and Daredevil were B characters?

 

 

And now on to the main Previews book.

 

Page 26-27: 1 for $1 Program

Dark HOrse has 6 books that it will be making available for $1. the only one of the 6 that I;m interested in and haven't read is Usagi Yojimbo. The only other that I havne't read is Aliens Vs Predators and I have no intentions to read it.

 

Page 33

Originally, I had my doubts about how far Dark Horse would go with the Conan reprints from Marvel. There's only about 30 more issues with Buscema art. I'm along for the long haul, but they stories and art  do start getting weaker with Thomas and Buscema gone.

 

Allie won me over with the first Kane series from Dark Horse, so I'm along for the ride now.

 

Moon and Ba won me over with Daytripper and now I'll read anything by the 2 of them almost sight unseen.

 

One of the best comics to come from Sirius Entertainment was Scary Godmother. Sirius hasn't produced much since Drew hayes death and I feared that this book was be lost. It's great to see it being reprinted and hopefully we'll see new stories from Jill Thompson.

 

 

I had high hopes for DC's Earth One line of original graphic novels, but I have little interest in Superman and even less interest in Superman at 132 pages for $20.

 

There seem to be a lot of unfinished covers on DC books this month. This book is notable because it features an Adam Hughes Supergirl/Batgirl story.

 

This is not so much a Superman story as it is a story about Lex Luthor. Joker by the same team was a solid story so I'll try this one as well.

 

Astro City is a celebration of super hero concepts told from different vantage points. I'd loved almost every single issue, so it's time for me to start collecting this series once again and enjoy all this stories anew.

 

I go through these books as  soon as they come in. This is one of my favorite series of HCs. I still wish DC would give Transmetropolitan the same treatment.

 

I don't know a fantasy fans who isn't waiting to pick up this comic. I just hope IDW does a good job with the license. This is fertile ground for so many stories that I'm sure we'll see many D&D books rolling out soon. Andrea DiViro formerly of CrossGen's First and Brath is a good choice as the artist. He's grown much stronger as an artist while at Marvel.

 

I guess IDW printed a lot of these back in 2005 because they are soliciting the book again. Oddly enough there is nothing noting that it's an older book. I remember thinking it was expensive in 2005. I thought the original price was $19.99, but now it's $14.99, so I could be remembering incorrectly. The concept is Dracula with more control over blood and essentially a terrorist that Ronny Van Helsing must stop. I suspect this is a primer for new Sword of Dracula material.

 

Brief aside... 

IDW seems to be following in Dark Horse's tracks. They've been extremely successful with licenses and creator owned material.

 

This covers everything else in Previews.

 

I love Mouse Guard, but what's most interesting about this one is that Jason Shawn Alexander is contributing a story (which you only find out if you look at the ad on Page 224). Jason and I have been friends ever since Mike Norton introduced us at the Mid Ohio Con in 1999. His career in comics and fine art has flourished since that point and it's always good to see him do something outside his norm.

 

Also on the same page is Okko: The Cycle of Air #4 (of 4). I'll be looking at this HC when it comes out. Soleil and Archaia package some of the best stories in HC format.

 

This isn't a new listing as I'm sure I talked about Boom! HCs before. However, I would be more likely to buy a BOOM! HC of Incredibles if they collected more than one story arc AND if they were priced near $30. One story in HC for $25 seems a bit much when the TP is only $10.

 

At 6.5" x 9" the pocket edition is larger than manga size, but smaller than comic book size. I have no need for this, but I am waiting for the HC collection of the second 2 TPB.

 

I really hate creators that place their name in the title of their books. Sure Grant Morrison has earned the right to do so, but it still comes across as pretentious. Grant Morrison's stories are hit or miss with me, but the art (and the fact that this is a HC) have convinced me to pick it up.

 

I can't wait to finally have some English Humanoid HCs on my shelf. I hope this is one of the many to come.

 

If comic book stores around the US don't stock this book heavily, then they have no interest in growing their customer base. This is a no brainer. My generation (and older) will buy this out of nostalgia and pass it to their kids who will read them because they are cool looking comic. Get these comics into the hands of 5-8 year olds and you're on your way to hooking another generation on comic books.

 

Having not read any on the Scott Pilgrim series, I have no idea why everyone praises the series so much, but maybe with this last book coming out, I'll go back and read the first one.... maybe.... I said the same time about Naruto and I'm only 7 GNs into the 40+ GN series. Scott Pilgrim is only 6 series, so that much less a commitment.

This is the Dark Horse, DC, IDW and Image Edition.

 

 

Dr Solar is back. I don't really car,e but I thought I'd mention it. The art previews don't make me want to pick up this book at all. PASS.

 

Page 31:

I'll be honest and say that I haven't read through volume 1 of either of these collection series, but I'll get around to reading them one day and I'll be adding these collections to that pile of TPBs to read.

 

This is a collection of the Conan newspaper strips from 4 Sept 1978 until 12 April 1981. I'm not sure why this is labeled volume one as it covers the full run fo the Conan newspaper strip, so there will be no more volumes. Lately, I've been reading a lot of adventure newspaper strips. I'll be glad to add these Conan stories to that pile.

 

Page 33: Fear Agent #28

My buddy, Mike Hawthorne, is working on this (the last Fear Agent arc), so I'm looking forward to grabbing this and all the other Fear Agent collections.

 

 Empowered started out as a guilty pleasure as I love Adam Warren's American manga art style. However, his writing has always been his true strength and makes what started out a weird fetish superhero into a not to be missed original graphic novel series.

 

 DC COMICS

 Brightest Day is still going and DC dedicates 10 full pages to it.

 

I'm vaguely curious to see what NEal Adams will be bringing to Batman after all these years. I really hope this series is more than just Neal's awesome pencils and stellar inkers. I'm waiting for the HC collection for this one. A series like this is just begging for HC treatment. Of course, I said the same thing about Justice and I'm still waiting for a HC release.

I'm a bit disappointed that Schultz in no longer writing the series, but Moritat is still on art, so the first trade will have some artistic continuity.

 

I'm enjoying this series in Deluxe HC format which means with Volume 2, I'm almost 1/2 way through the series. It's political thriller mixed with just a little bit of the superhero and it's Brian K. Vaughn.

 

After reading the first TPB of this series, I've been interested in seeing where it will go after the first arc. It's a bit Harry Potter and leaves you wondering just who is Tom Taylor.

 

IDW

 

I doubt anyone who read Parker needs this prelude to decide if they are going to pick up this second adaptation. I think most of us will be picking up this one-shot prelude because we can't wait for the new OGN. I'm patient, I think I can wait.

 

 

I know that every creator need as much support for a new series as possible, but I think Sweets is strong enough to make it a TPB without me needing to buy the singles. Kody Chamberlain is a great talent. This story hits all his strong points as a storyteller. I hope it's successful and gives Kody the chance to do more projects similar to this in tone and genre.

 

Page 176-177: Dawn: Not to Touch the Earth

I used to be a huge Dawn fan and then I grew up, but it's still nice to see new Dawn material begin released... even if I'm not buying or reading it.

 

Page 182: Chew: The Omnivore Edition Vol 1 HC

Having made it through the first Chew TPB, I was hooked ont he series and ready to purchase the next TPB. Now I don't have to as the series will be available in my preferred format.

 

Page 183: Thej Crusades Vol 1: Knight HC

This was a Vertigo book that was released near the same time as Codename: Knockout. It's interesting that DC is reprinting Codename: Knockout, but not this series. Hopefully, this HC will lead to the rest of the series being collected as well, so I have a completed set of the series once again.

 

 Page 184: Four Eyes Vol 1 Forged in Flames TP

The art on this book is awesome.Having dragon fighting replace cock fighting as an underground sport is genius.

The wait for each issue was long. I'm glad I'm a trade waiter because I finally get the story without the pain of waiting for each chunk of the story to be released.

 

Page 185: Invincible Presents Vol 1: Atom Eve & Rex Splode TP

Invincible is hands down one of the best PG-13 superhero comics on the market. I'm glad to see these mini series collected. I'd love to see a series featuring Immortal and Dupli-Kate.

 

Orc Stain Vol 1 TP

These 2 collections being on my list should surprise no one.

 

And that brings this portion of my Previews walkthrough to an end. Join me back here for the next (and final) section for this month.