Previews Review

Previews Graphic Novel Reviews | March 2006

This review is seriously late as I actually started it around 2 weeks ago, but to say I’ve been busy is an understatement. So I’ll post what I went through right now and make sure I dedicate some time properly every month for this. Every month the Previews Catalogue comes out that gives all the information regarding upcoming comics and graphic novels that will be out or in stores 3 months later. At Splash Panel we’ll be looking exclusively at the graphic novels and trade paperbacks coming out. Doing this effectively to point a out few things to keep an eye out for or even build a little bit of excitement before their release.

If you think I’ve missed something that I shouldn’t have please don’t hesitate to leave a comment I’m always looking for new recommendations.

Dark Horse

MICHAEL CHABON PRESENTS ADV O/T ESCAPIST VOL 3 TP $14.95
LITTLE LULU VOL 9 LUCKY LULU TP $9.95
CONCRETE VOL 3 THE HUMAN DELEMMA TP (MR) $14.95
HELLBOY VOL 6 STRANGE PLACES TP (MR) $17.95

GHOST IN THE SHELL STAND ALONE COMPLEX THE LOST MEMORY NOVEL $8.95
I actually bought the Anime of this but was seriously underwhelmed. I also have seen the second movie as well, however since it was a Japanese version where the subtitles were given to us via a computer I actually have ABSOLUTELY no idea what the movie was about so I’m going wait for a proper release to understand what to do. Mental note, buy the sequel to the original Ghost in the Shell.

LULLABIES FROM HELL VOL 1 TP $12.95
HAIBANE RENMEI ANIME MANGA VOL 1 TP $14.95
BERSERK VOL 11 TP (MR) $13.95
STAR WARS CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOL 5 TP $6.95

DC Comics

ROBIN TO KILL A BIRD TP $14.99
The only reason I’ve even bothered to highlight this book in particular is due to only one reason, Bill Willingham. He’s the man behind one of Vertigo Comic’s excellent Fables series and in his own right a very good writer. As I do actually rate the skill of a writer I can’t help but wonder what he’s gotten up to with a character as boring (for me at least) as Robin. This is probably one of those books I’ll pick up at the store and see if it actually looks interesting and I might even go so far and read the first issue, and make my mind up then and there.

BATMAN DARK DETECTIVE TP $14.99
NIGHTWING MOBBED UP TP $12.99
GOTHAM CENTRAL VOL 3 UNRESOLVED TARGETS TP $14.99
SUPERMAN ARCHIVES VOL 7 HC $49.99
SHOWCASE PREESENTS SUPERMAN FAMILY VOL 1 TP $16.99
SUPERMAN IN THE EIGHTIES $19.99
SUPERMAN RUIN REVEALED $14.99
BIZARRO WORLD SC $19.99
CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN STOLEN MOMENTS BORROWED TIME TP $16.99

GREEN LANTERN NO FEAR HC $24.99
It’s extremely rare nowadays that I will consider picking up a book soley on the talent behind the artwork. I tend to go for books that deliver the entire package as I’ve grown very disenfranchised with series that simply don’t deliver a full experience, both art and story. However Carlos Pacheco is a talent that has attached himself to some very exceptionally great stories in the past. Add to the mix the second superhero I ever got into (although I’ve not read a Green Lantern story in years..nearly 5 years) and you’ve definitely got my attention.

OUTSIDERS CRISIS INTERVENTION TP $12.99
SHOWCASE PRESENTS TEEN TITANS VOL 1 TP $16.99
SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY VOL 2 TP $14.99
WILL EISNERS SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL 18 HC $49.99

100 BULLETS VOL 9 STRYCHNINE LIVES TP (MR $14.99
I buy this series without thinking, on the day it’s released, and I devour it there and then. There is no doubt in my mind whether I should buy this, nor the time I should buy it. I don’t wait I just get it. If you’ve not gotten into this series yet, you’re that much poorer and in a way I pity you. It’s that good.

HELLBLAZER PAPA MIDNITE TP (MR) $12.99
Only reason I’m interested in this is due to the character’s portrayal in the Constantine movie. I thought that Papa Midnite was easily one of the most interesting characters and so I’m actually interested to see if this is something worthwhile picking up. Like Robin it’s probably one of those wait and see at the store.

HELLBLAZER LADY CONSTANTINE TP (MR) $9.99
I like Andy Diggle and I liked the covers by Phil Noto. Whether or not this mini-series will be worth the paper it’s printed on is another question. I have faith in Diggle so I’m definitely looking forward to flipping through this. I will say that based on the writer and the covers it’s more probable that I buy this than the other two maybes.

Image Comics

BALLAD OF SLEEPING BEAUTY TP $21.99
COLOSSUS GN $17.99
PACIFY GN $9.99

INVINCIBLE VOL 2 ULTIMATE COLL HC $34.99
I bought the first hardcover volume of this excellent series and it was a pleasant surprise. Kirkman’s done a very good job building this world and where I thought this was a pretty traditional superhero story, has been flipped on it’s head and it’s easily as good fun as when I was first reading Ultimate Spider-man from Bendis. The hardcover collections are slightly more expensive than the Marvel hardcovers but they’re packed with more special features and it’s an indie comic effectively so I’ll give the man some slack.

Marvel Comics

ULTIMATE IRON MAN VOL 1 PREMIERE HC $19.99
MARVEL MASTERWORKS ANT-MAN GIANT-MAN VOL 1 NEW ED HC $49.99
MARVEL MASTERWORKS GOLDEN AGE MARVEL COMICS VOL 2 NEW ED HC $49.99

ALIAS OMNIBUS $69.99
I’ve got this as both the first hardcover and the subsequent 3 trade paperbacks that complete the story. I whole heartedly recommend this series without reservation. Jessica Jones is an exceptionally well thought out character and the dialogue is very funny at times. The artwork by Michael Graydos is fantastic as well. Suits the series exceptionally well. I was actually extremely disappointed when he didn’t follow through to the next incarnation of this series (The Pulse). His work on this book effectively put him on my radar of creators I follow to see what they’re up to.

NEW AVENGERS VOL 3 SECRETS & LIES PREMIERE HC $19.99
THOR BLOOD OATH TP $19.99

RUNAWAYS VOL 5 ESCAPE TO NEW YORK DIGEST TP $7.99
Runaways are definitely something I’d like to get into as I’ve heard some seriously good things about this little the series. Obviously the man of the hour is Brian K Vaughan (he of Ex Machina and Ultimate X-men fame). The nice thing I guess is that Marvel released an oversized hardcover not too long ago so that would be a good start to the story I guess. I doubt they’ll do more of those as they seem to be coming out less and less, and replaced with their ‘premier’ hardcovers, which honestly doesn’t cut it for me, so I’ll be switching back to Marvel trade paperbacks in the future.

SPIDER-GIRL PRESENTS JUGGERNAUT JR VOL 1 SECRETS & DIGEST TP $7.99
ULTIMATE X-MEN ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOL 1 TP $24.99
X-MEN COLOSSUS BLOODLINE TP $13.99
CABLE DEADPOOL VOL 4 BOSOM BUDDIES TP $14.99

DAREDEVIL VOL 13 THE MURDOCK PAPERS TP $14.99
I guess I should talk about this since it’s Bendis and Maleev’s Daredevil run. It’s a fantastic run. I’m still waiting for the oversized hardcover the ties the entire storyline together. nearly 60 issues of daredevil by these two chappies. It’s a good and healthy run. I would even go so far and call it a classic run. If you’ve not had a chance to buy the hardcovers, do so you can’t possibly regret it.

CAPTAIN AMERICA WINTER SOLDIER VOL 1 TP $16.99
I can’t believe I’m even CONSIDERING buying a captain america book. I hate that character. Seriously annoys me. However there is one person that I respect a great deal and that’s Ed Brubaker. The man can write a story on cheese and I’d still be interested in buying it. Damn you Ed for making me get a Captain America comic book. I hope it doesn’t have too much flag waving.

BLACK PANTHER WHO IS THE BLACK PANTHER TP $14.99
SQUADRON SUPREME DEATH OF A UNIVERSE TP $24.99
INFINITY WAR TP SRP: $29.99
SILVER SURFER REBIRTH OF THANOS TP $24.99
DRAX THE DESTROYER EARTH FALL TP $10.99
ESSENTIAL NOVA VOL 1 TP $16.99
ESSENTIAL OFF HANDBOOK MARVEL UNIVERSE DELUXE ED VOL 1 TP $16.99
ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN VOL 1 TP NEW PRINTING $16.99
X-MEN MUTANT GENESIS TP $19.99

Adhouse Books

NOBLE BOY ONE SHOT $12.95

A. D. VISION

ANNE FREAKS MANGA VOL 1 TP $9.99
FULL METAL PANIC MANGA VOL 9 TP $9.99
CHRONO CRUSADE MANGA VOL 7 TP $9.99
FULL METAL PANIC OVERLOAD MANGA VOL 4 TP $9.99

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)

PATTY CAKE & FRIENDS VOL 1 TP $12.95

ANARCHY STUDIOS/HARRIS COMICS

VAMPIRELLA WITCHBLADE TRILOGY TP $12.95

ANNE FRANK CENTER USA

FAMILY SECRET VOL 1 GN $17.95

Dynamic Entertainment

RED SONJA VOL 1 HC SGN $24.99

DEL REY

GHOST HUNT VOL 3 GN $10.95
KAGETORA VOL 1 GN $10.95
PASTEL VOL 2 GN $10.95
WALLFLOWER VOL 7 GN $10.95

DRAWN & QUARTERLY

MY MOST SECRET DESIRE 10TH ANNIVERSARY ED HC $19.95

Fantagraphic Books

ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL TP $14.95
HANK KETCHAMS COMPLETE DENNIS THE MENACE 1953-1954 HC $24.95
SANDMAN PAPERS GN $18.95

IDW Publishing

TRANSFORMERS GENERATION 1 VOL 2 TP $19.99
Would you believe I actually missed out on the Transformers revive from Dreamwave Productions, mainly because I picked up the trade and it was a horrible book. Seriously bad production values turned me off the product. IDW have got a good track record of putting good stuff together so I’ll definitely have a look at this when it hits the stores in the not so distant future.

Moonstone

PHANTOM LEGACY GN $12.95
I think this is the Chuck Dixon story. I’m not a fan of Chuck. The stuff I’ve read from him have left me flat. El Cazador from Crossgen was looking like it had a bit of promise but that was cut short. Plus I’ve never read any Phantom in my life so I wouldn’t really know how to get into the whole purple man thing going on there. Obviously he’s an enduring character though otherwise he wouldn’t be popular enough to be published for such a long time.

Viz Enterainment

BEET THE VANDEL BUSTER VOL 9 GN $7.99
BLEACH VOL 12 TP $7.95
CLAYMORE VOL 1 TP $7.99
DRAGONBALL Z VOL 25 TP $7.95
ONE PIECE VOL 10 GN $7.95
RUROUNI KENSHIN VOL 25 TP $7.95
YU GI OH DUELIST VOL 14 TP $7.95
YU GI OH MILLENNIUM WORLD VOL 3 TP $7.95
YU YU HAKUSHO VOL 9 TP $7.95
EYESHIELD 21 VOL 7 TP $7.99
BASTARD VOL 11 TP $9.99
BEYBLADE VOL 10 TP $7.99
EXCEL SAGA VOL 14 TP $9.99
FLAME OF RECCA VOL 17 TP $9.99
INU YASHA ANI MANGA VOL 14 GN $11.99
INU YASHA VOL 25 TP $8.95
MIDORI DAYS VOL 5 GN $9.99
PROJECT ARMS VOL 12 TP $9.99
VIDEO GIRL AI VOL 15 TP $9.99
ZATCH BELL VOL 6 GN $9.99
TOUGH VOL 6 GN (MR) $9.99
KIKIS DELIVERY SERVICE FILM COMICS VOL 1 TP: $9.99
ANGEL SANCTUARY VOL 13 GN $9.99
BANANA FISH VOL 13 TP $9.99
BASARA VOL 17 TP $9.99
BOYS OVER FLOWERS VOL 17 TP $9.99
FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 18 GN $9.95
HANA KIMI VOL 11 GN $9.99
SENSUAL PHRASE VOL 13 TP (MR) $9.99
CRIMSON HERO VOL 2 TP $8.99
AISHITERUZE BABY VOL 1 TP $8.99
FULL MOON VOL 5 TP $8.99
MERU PURI VOL 4 TP $8.99
TOKYO BOYS & GIRLS VOL 4 TP $8.99
GOLGO 13 VOL 2 GN $9.99
NAOKI URASAWAS MONSTER VOL 2 TP $9.99

© 2006 Splash Panel.