In loving memory of
Good Old DC Continuity
September 1986 – August 2011
A Service of Remembrance
Tuesday, August 30th, 10:00pm
Visitation at 9:30pm
Hosted by Fr. David Munchrath
Sales of Flashpoint #5 and Justice League #1 at Midnight
Monthly Archive for August, 2011
Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning…
Call it the end, Call it a new beginning. Call it a reboot, call it a re-birth. Whatever you are going to call it, I say it’s a reason to drink, er, I mean have a party.
And that is what we are doing Tuesday night. Nothing to elaborate – there won’t be streamers and stupid hats, well, maybe we’ll have Ronnie wear an Christmas elf hat – but there WILL be big sales/specials on nearly all the comics in the store, metal music (from the almighty Dio to the metal gods Slayer) and, of course, Free Beer! Sounds like a good night to me.
-Special Note-
Since this was written, I talked to a good a couple friends and they liked another buddy’s idea to have an actual Irish wake for DC history/continuity. So, for those of you who would like to gather a little early (between 9:30 and 10) we will have a special remembrance of the good times DC Continuity had. Bring some Jameson and join us. We’ll toast and celebrate the exceptional run good old continuity had. We’re going to miss you.
All this leading up to the midnight release of Flashpoint #5 and Justice League #1. That’s the good part. The bad part will be that we can’t sell any of the other books being released on Wednesday. Yes, I agree that is pretty stupid. Just how dumb, DC has made it clear they don’t even want the other stuff THEY are releasing later that day sold. Idiots!
(It is a pretty small week, however, there are some big books – like the new Angel launch from Dark Horse, The Goon, another issue of Uncanny X-Force as well as a hand full of decent Marvel books. To not allow retailers – who are dumb enough to stay open – the ability to sell this stuff… it’s just dumb.)
Still, why not come out, celebrate either the end or beginning of DC and drink some beer with Ronnie and me?
Labor Day Week…
Labor Day (Monday, September 5th) we will be open, like every year, from 8:00 to Noon.
Here is the thing though… DC is so committed to this re-launch of their books (and that is the first week with a lot of titles) they are going to ship them to us, at their expense, so that they are ready to go Wednesday morning. The rest of the shipment will be slightly delayed that Wednesday, because we will have to get it, unpack it and sort it. Not too much of a delay, but still, if you want your New DC books when we open, they will be there for you… thanks to DC.
Really Good Article Makes REALLY Good Argument…
Is DC, and all comic companies, making a big mistake about the directions they are going… in the cost of comics associated with their events?
II think we all know the answer is a big YES!! But it would be nice to see some data to back this up. WELL, Comic Alliance has a great bit of research with some fantastic conclusions. It really makes a good argument that the best thing that could have been done (and I agree whole heartedly) is to cut prices. One idea that is presented is take the Weekly Comics idea (printing on newsprint) and launch Action Comics at $1.99. Who wouldn’t buy it then?
Infinite Flashpoint Crisis…
When more and more started coming out about the New DC, Curt made the statement, “Wow, now I think I know what it was like for DC fans during Crisis on Infinite Earths back in the ‘80s.”
He is SO right on, but few of us were around to experience that… But Robot Six has a great article written by a collector who remembers back to what it was like for him in 1986.
ISU Lecture Series…
Was sent this by a customer of many, many years and I thought you too might find it of interest. Max Brooks is coming to Iowa just days before Halloween to lecture on, what else, Zombies.
Here is the info I have:
How to Survive a Zombie Attack – Max Brooks
Friday, October 28, 2011, 9:00 PM
Great Hall, Memorial Union
Max Brooks, author of “The Zombie Survival Guide,” is considered to be one of the world’s foremost Zombie experts. He has also won an Emmy as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and is the son of legendary comedian Mel Brooks.
For full speaker bios and a list of cosponsoring groups, go to www.lectures.iastate.edu. Other speakers include a Senior Editor of Mad Magazine and one of the members of the Discovery show Mythbusters.
This is an all DC weekly e-mail. Sorry, Marvel-ites, but you’ll get yours soon enough (keep reading, it isn’t all Unicorns and Rainbows in the dark.) Weird thing how quiet Marvel has been of late; creepy quiet. I’m sure they are more or less bidding their time and waiting out the DC barrage. Then will come out all guns firing soon enough… or has the tide turned?
The Eve of a Bold New Universe, or The Death of DC History…
On August 31st, we are having a midnight sale!! “What, WHAT?!!?” you exclaim!!
We are being given the opportunity to sell Flashpoint #5 and Justice League #1 at 12:01 AM on August 31st. So, we have decided to do it after a lengthy discussion with one customer that went something like this: “Do you want us to do this?” “Yes, I’ll be there!” “Okay, sure, we’ll do it.”
There is going to be a couple sales associated with it too and not just some crappy minor pittance of a percentage off either, it’ll be hefty, but I’m not telling you what it is until at least next week.
I can only sell the two new DC books, so, you’ll have to come back later in the day to pick up the good books on sale that day like Goon #35 or Usagi Yojimbo #140 (the best book being published!)
This Calls for a Drink
Now, some are excited about this New DC stuff… Some are more than apprehensive. However, being one to NEVER miss an opportunity or pass up a reason to drink, I give you… Free Beer too! Why not make a party out of it? Either it is the start of something glorious, something grand and something new. Is it a new continuity, a new universe and a much needed new beginning? OR…. It is the end of a good seventy plus years of continuity and history as well as the dumbest thing ever done in any industry? Either way you look at it… Ronnie and Matt will drink to that. So, come celebrate the beginning or the end, whichever way you look at it. The two idiots will be there at 10:00, comics on sale at midnight.
Other New Initiatives…
Yeah, I’m sure you know, but I’m in the apprehensive camp. I’ve gone from fright and anger when I first read about this, to hopefully optimistic, to a gradual building of disgust and irritation. However, I’m an old curmudgeon and “he hates everything anyway,” so, I guess my opinion doesn’t matter… and in this case, I’m happy to admit it doesn’t. Don’t let me be the one to decide for you.
If You Hate It, Return It.
All of the DC New #1 issues are returnable for a dollar of in store credit. We hope this gives you a slight safety net (about as small as the one the Flying Graysons were using) in your deciding to at least give a few of these books a try. It isn’t much, but it’s something.
Those who would say, “you would love to see this fail” are idiots. I’m not a publisher, I’m a retailer and though the industry would be in better, safer and smarter hands if I was running it (and Judd Winnick and Rob Liefeld wouldn’t have a jobs destroying comic books anymore) I do want/need this to at least succeed in sales for my shop. I wouldn’t do this, but I don’t get to make that decision.
But you’re an idiot, I think this is the best thing ever…
Good, I’m glad you think I’m dumb and now you get a chance to air your grievance… or more to the point, your review. A lot of people read this here blog thingy. It does take time to assemble, write and construct, so, I’ll let you help. I’ve already thrown down the gauntlet (yes, one with soul gems in it) to a few people to write me reviews of some new DC 52. Send it to me and I might use your review. No guarantees and I will be editing them.
New Takes on Old Ideas?
I’m apprehensive, yes, but a few bits are coming out to make me more interested in at least a few of these books. One, for example, is Wonder Woman.
The book is being written by Brian Azzarello, which in and of it-self makes me intrigued, but then he makes statements like, Wonder Woman “is not a superhero book; it is a horror book.” WHAT!!?!! Uh, really? Seriously? Okay, that is called a hook and I’m getting reeled in.
The quote came from a post on Bleeding Cool Sunday. Maybe this is how they should have marketed the book, paid less attention to, say, her lack of pants and if this is a horror book is Cliff Chiang the right artist? It doesn’t matter. I was going to read it, now I’m actually mildly interested.
Speaking of Wonder Woman, you need to read what Grant Morrison said about his long rumored Wonder Woman project. He was at a signing and speaking engagement for his book and commented on the history of the character and other long running (until September) characters. I found the comments about Batman and Superman most interesting:
“Superman spent his childhood baling hay on a farm,” said the Glaswegian writer, “he’s a working class hero and people don’t like that. Whereas Batman is a billionaire who sleeps until three in the afternoon, puts on a rubber suit and beats the shit out if poor people. Now that’s a wish fulfillment fantasy.”
Hmm. I’ve always said Superman was better, now I know why I’ve thought that. Thanks Grant, now I’m actually looking forward to Action Comics with a stance like that!
Quick Review, Longer Rant…
DC Retroactive Books by Various artists and writers
I was fairly unsure what to think of these when they were solicited. Most sounded like a cheap way to make a quick buck (not so much A buck, but FIVE bucks!) However, all I’ve read and enjoyed for what they are, literally, throwbacks to comic days gone by with artists and writers who were on them. It has been like taking a random comic from my wall of back issues or a joy ride through days lost to history.
The one, so far, I have enjoyed the most was the Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle 1990’s Batman Retroactive. I read a lot of these guys’ stuff from that era (which started in the late 1980’s. I want to point out the other big Bat-artist was Jim Aparo, but sadly, passed away a few years ago.) I used to be a much bigger Batman fan back about twenty years ago, I am a pretty big Judge Dredd fan now (Alan Grant wrote a LOT of Dredd) and I own a big Breyfogle art piece which hangs proudly on my wall. So, this may not be the best recommendation since it comes from a VERY biased source.
The issue is nothing special in story. You are getting a typical Alan Grant style story, which works well here in the ‘one and done’ storytelling style. A basic revenge story, Grant did many dozens of these in his day, but this one has a couple slight twists and features a forgotten Rouge Duo, Scarface and the Ventriloquist to boot.
It is the art that really blew me away. I love the fluid motion of Breyfogle’s work. With the modern coloring on it, I have to say it is some of his best work I’ve seen. I can NOT believe he doesn’t have a regular gig on a title. He beats so many artists work currently being phoned in… it just makes me irritated, but I suppose this could be said about a lot of guys who worked hard during the 90’s.
Maybe that’s just one thing that‘s to be learned/gained/appreciated by these retroactive comics, but not by us the reader, by DC and Marvel the big giant stupid conglomerate comic publisher. These old school guys still have it and frankly, I prefer their work to most of the stuff being shoveling at us these days. DC, in their new restarts, is using several people in roles they have never worked before (lots of artists as writers, is that a good idea?) and several people are being given multiple books (Judd Winick, JT Krul and Tony Daniel on two each, two too many for these guys, and Scott Lobdell on three.)
You have room for what seems to be poorly thought out ideas like – let’s continue to pick on Mr. Winick – Batwing and Catwoman and you don’t have room for say a lighter mood, more all ages, Bat family book featuring Grant and Breyfogle? Maybe I am old, or just see quality and talent better than execs at DC do.
Maybe the bigger problem at the core of what is good about these retroactive issues and so very wrong, in my eyes about the new 52, is a schizophrenic mind set. “Look at all this new restarted stuff, oh, and we are publishing all this old stuff that pays homage to our history… which we just threw out like a baby in the bath water.” You can’t have both. If you had tried harder, thought it out better, you could have bridged the gap better, but in the end it isn’t about paying homage to history, is it? It’s about profits in the here and now.
Returnability on New DC in September…
As you may or may not know, DC is launching a few new books in September. It’s been talked about by a few people here and there.
Well, we have decided to offer some kind of special or incentive to go along with this event; returnability.
We are going to offer the ability to return any new DC issue number one that you don’t like, for a dollar of in-store credit. (There will be a finite amount of time for these returns, but will, at the very least, run into the second week of October.)
This isn’t huge, but it does offer the ability to at least try some of these new books you might like, but wouldn’t have even tried if you hadn’t had some back-up option.
Here is what no one has actually said about this program:
“I have no idea if Swamp Thing #1 is any good. I’m interested to read this new take of a character I’ve enjoyed for nearly two decades, but what if I hate it? Hey, now Cup is giving me a dollar if I DO hate it, okay, I’ll give it a try.”
“Oh, I’m going to try all 52.” –two weeks later- “These are terrible, seriously, what was I thinking.”
“I don’t know if I’ll like this new continuity (is it even continuity?) but I’ll try this possible new… whatever… if I can return it for credit to buy my Dark Horse books.”
“WOW, this would be like buying my books at 1994 prices. Hey, most of these creators were working on books in 1994 and they sucked then too. I wish I could have gotten credit for those piles of crap.”
“Why does Catwoman have a bra on her head in this cover? Eh, I’ll give it a try. Woah, that horrible writer Judd Winick is as bad as you said he would be. Thanks Cup, for giving me a dollar back!”
“Stephanie Brown isn’t Batgirl anymore? (expletives deleted) Well, okay, I’ll try it if I have the safety net of a dollar credit if I hate it. WOW, this wasn’t that bad… Stephanie who?”
“I know, my money is on this one to be cancelled first too, but like a train wreck I just can’t look away.”
…or something like that.
And remember, we will be open at Midnight on Wednesday, August 31st for sales of Flashpoint #5 and Justice League #1. There will big specials as well as free beer, too.
Why Dark Horse is Awesome!!…
It is no secret; I am a fan of Dark Horse Publishing. I can easily say they are my personal favorite publisher as both a reader and a retailer and it was last week that reinforced this. Here is the story of why.
Set to go on sale last Wednesday was the final issue of Hellboy: The Fury. If you’ve read it or know of the happenings in it then you know how big of a book it is. So, it is extra bad when your sucky distributor, Diamond Comics, shorts you two-thirds of your order.
Yep, two thirds!! I didn’t even have enough to cover my hold lists. Throw on top of that they told me they would be headed to backorder, so I wouldn’t be seeing them anytime soon, if at all.
How does this happen? I thought I would go to the source and find out. No, not Diamond, I headed to Dark Horse.
Needless to say The Horse was none too pleased to hear that the distributor, who is supposed to hold a certain amount in reserve to cover missing and damaged issues during the shipping process, dropped the ball. (I should add that this is the second major screw up Diamond has given me as a present in two weeks.) However, with bad service from Diamond, Dark Horse rallied to my aid.
My Dark Horse rep, as I mentioned was none too happy, so he went around to the desks of editors and staff and scrounged up enough copies to cover the rest of my hold list customers and sent them to me… AT NO COST!! This is what service is called and though it is not my Diamond reps fault it is the company as a whole that is constantly failing this industry.
I can not say enough good things about my experiences with Dark Horse. They are a great company to work with.
Future Awesome from DH…
Need another reason to like The Horse; they have a hell of an awesome line up for this fall and early winter. In addition to the regular great publications they have been putting out they are adding two new regular series (or mini-series).
The first is Orchid. Written by former Rage Against the Machine front man Tom Morello. It tells the story of a teenage prostitute that learns she is more than the role society has imposed upon her. Set in a dystopian future (is there any other kind?) where sea levels have risen and forced new types of settlements for what is left of human kind. Dense wilderness surrounds these settlements and from which new kinds of new ferocious wildlife prey on the helpless. The high ground is the home of the rich who overlook the shantytowns and rule with an ironfist.
I’m a sucker for a good apocalyptic future story. Maybe it’s from growing up with Escape from New York, Planet of the Apes and Terminator as my movies of choice as a kid, maybe not, but this sounds great.
Making it extra great will be a special code with each issue that allows you to go online and not download the comic, no that is stupid (are you listening DC?) No, you get a song from Tom Morello which will serve as the issues soundtrack. This is without a doubt the best promotion for a comic I’ve ever seen. Variant covers are dumb in general, but they are made extra stupid when an idea like this comes along.
Orchid is set to go on sale October 12th.
Also coming this fall (December, as reported by Comic Book Resources) is Guillermo del Toro’s The Strain. It’ll be an adaptation of his books and written by the industry master of super creepy, super scary and super messed up storytelling David Lapham and though I hold David Lapham in high esteem, it is the artist that is, in my eyes the real cue; Mike Huddleston. Huddleston’s work has most recently been seen on Butcher Baker series from Image and the Homeland Directive trade paperback (a VERY good read.)
The story of The Strain is supposedly set for a 24 issue run, though I don’t know if that is all of the book series or just the first of the three novel adaptations. At least the first book tells the story of a New York outbreak of a vampiric virus.
A third great announcement from Dark Horse was that Brian Wood would be contributing to Dark Horse Presents in the near future. His short story is entitled The Massive and will tell the story of what a group of people who have fought against something all their lives are left after that thing comes to pass, in this case it is “massive” global catastrophe.
2nd Print News…
Rachel Rising and Severed, both first issues are going back to press.
Two big books that I reviewed last week (and liked A LOT) are headed back to second prints. Normally, I wouldn’t tell you or mention it in this column, but as you may want them or missed out on them (and I HIGHLY recommend both, you should be reading these) I thought I would make note.
I contacted Terry Moore (writer of Rachel Rising) about this and received word he is very happy about our first issue sales. I was pretty happy too, as we sold out with over triple the issues of the last issue of Echo. If we can just add to this but a little, it’ll put the book in our top sellers and THAT will make ME really happy.
The Dead Live?…
So it has been announced (or at least shown) that Fantastic Four #600 is due in November and on the cover… a flaming person?!!? What could this be? Has the Human Torch returned?
I don’t know, but it is not exactly a big shock that he would not be dead. Come on, we never saw a body… not that even seeing a body truly means the end in comics.
But with The Torch’s (if it IS the Torch?) return in November, who is next? Well… We already know that Cable is coming back in December (new series, Loeb and McGuiness.) Does that mean that Bucky is back in January?
I’m not getting into the big rumors that surround the Hulk, his possible death in Fear Itself and then the new Aaron/Silvestri book in October. Could he die and be reborn in the same month?
So, am I mistaken or was Marvel going to kill a major character every quarter? However, in one quarter they are going to bring ALL of them back?
I don’t even begin to understand the thinking of a major comic book company (i.e. major corporation) and all the stupid inter-workings of movies and video games and happy meals and theme park rides, and kids shoe deals and…. let’s just hope the stories are decent.
New DC at Midnight on August 31st…
I was asked last week by a customer if we would be open for a midnight sale of Fashpoint #5 and Justice League #1. I like the customer and as I’m usually up at 12:01am on a Wednesday, I said sure.
So, we’ll be having a midnight sale of these two issues, unfortunately, only these two issues will be able to be sold (don’t get me or a shop owner from Chicago started about on sale times.) However, because we won’t be able to sell any new books we will have a major back stock and trade paperback sale for anyone willing (or insane) enough to come in at midnight.
Ronnie might come in with me and there very well might be free beer available too! Might as well either toast the NÜ DC Universe (if you support the changes) or drown your sorrows (if you don’t.)
I’ll have more on this next week.
Get your new lists in…
If you haven’t submitted your revised DC pull list, please do. I’m going to pull any book on an old list unless you have specifically told me not too.
So, there’s a New Spider-man in town….
So, Ultimate Fallout #4 was out this week. (Yeah, I under ordered and am getting more in next week. Stupid Matt.) In it is the new Ultimate Spider-man, Miles Morales, debuts. Killing off and replacing any regular character in comic is going to illicit a response from the book’s readers. However, this has brought a response from non-readers.
If you don’t know, Miles Morales is half black and half Hispanic. Now you can guess who is elicited a response from.
But before I get to that, I want to tell you the positive side of this story. On Wednesday morning, I got to make two, hopefully regular future comic readers, very happy. The first was a regular customer, buying for his neighbor who asked him about it. The other was a young kid who came in looking for the book. Both kids are African-American. I was so proud of comics. I was proud that KIDS were interested in comics and especially the fact that an underrepresented minority was now represented as one of the biggest characters in comics. Things like this make you feel good.
Then I read some of the response to this. Just plain disgusting. When I first read about the rumors of Marvel doing this, I was of the mind, “eh, okay.” It’s the Ultimate universe for crying out loud, big deal. This is the place to make major changes you just wouldn’t do in the regular ongoing main universe series. If anything it is the least that any of these companies could do.
It is funny though that the response to it negative from people OUTSIDE the industry. Funny that comic book fans are either a good excepting group, not a pact of extremist racists or just don’t care. I’m banking on a little bit of all three.
Here is a great link for you. Stephen Colbert satirizing the right wing response to the whole thing:
www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/393822/august-03-2011/multiracial-spider-man
It is pretty funny. Keep watching and see the ThreatDown, it is even funnier.
I hate superhero movies…
Yep, everyone pretty much knows that I hate, no let me rephrase that, I HATE superhero movies. Nothing done in a filmed version of a comic book is better than reading that said comic book. None, zero, nada, zip….
There that said. I had to make a comment on the new casting of Superman. Have you seen this guy?
Henry Cavill, don’t know – him don’t care. He is no Brandon Routh.
I can honestly say I hated the last Superman movie, but it had nothing to do with Iowa’s native son. Brandon was great in it. His acting was one of the only bright spots in an abysmally bad film, superhero or otherwise. I just don’t see why we need a new guy in the suit?
Now I could go on… okay, I will. I’m no fan of the director on it either. Say what you want about 300 and Watchmen, Zach Snyder is not a good director. Bundle all this with what looks like the wretched new comic redesign of the suit… oh, craptacular all over.
But hey, go enjoy. When you are disappointed don’t come crying to me, I’ll be re-reading All Star Superman and very, very happy.
Lateness and Comics…
Found a great link on Comic book Resources today. It lists out the worst offenders of lateness still to come out. This is an ever growing problem and is constantly mentioned in questions and comments at cons and, I can tell you, whenever a retailer talks to a company.
In any creative field, lateness can arise. It happens and how a company or a creator responds, be it forthrightly or adversarial. Personally, I feel the companies need to disclose to us all why a book is late, so, when I found this little bit of research, it was… interesting to see some of the responses. Take a look.
The full list can be found here:
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33737
Review Time…
There is a lot of talk about new number ones. I agree; there were some great ones out last week. Two that absolutely blew me away and then there was a going away book which was such a great end to an amazing run.
Rachael Rising #1 by Terry Moore
This is the latest creator owned, produced and distributed book from master comic creator Terry Moore. I can say and have said a great deal about my love of Terry’s last book echo and will now continue that lovefest with this new one now.
“Death is not the worst thing that can happen to you.” – Plato
These are the words on a page that is all black except for a small drawing of a spider in some leaves, presumably in a forest. It is a pretty ominous way to start what has been promised to be Moore’s take on horror/thriller comics. The story is one of a woman finding herself in a shallow grave and awaking and needing to dig herself out. As the first issue rolls along, with some of the best art you will find on any book on the racks, you start to understand, as Rachael does, that she’s been murdered… AND she is slowly remembering who did it too.
I want to warn you, the first issue is a little bit of a quick read (however, I’m sure it was not quick to draw. Some of the pages in this issue are insanely complex in the amount of line work that was put into them.) I say quick, but only in the sense that an average read doesn’t study the panels like you should or will need to, to get the overall creepiness I think Moore was quite obviously going for. It is that second read where it REALLY comes out.
There is a lot of set up in this issue, but of course there is. Terry Moore is a master of character development. His story telling is surpassed by very few in this industry. He has the ability to show and tell so much in a facial expression or the lay of someone’s hair, but in the past he has done this in a character based drama and a sci-fi story. How will he do with horror and most likely, revenge? Well, if the first issue is any indication, he is going to do just fine.
I have a few issues left in the shop. There have been a lot of people complain about the new DC stuff or that they are unhappy with the overall direction or storytelling of some of their long term superhero books they’ve been reading for years. Please, listen to me… You like the medium of comics? You want to read GOOD comic book stories? Doesn’t have to be superheroes? I won’t lead you astray. Pick up Rachael Rising #1 (and the next book reviewed) you won’t be disappointed, or I’ll give you your money back. Yep, they are that good.
Severed #1 Written by Scott Snyder and Scott Tuft, Art by Attila Futaki
I figured this would be good, but was blown away by just how good… and in every aspect too. Writing and storytelling, art – color, pencils and style – this book has it all, oh, and a hell of a great hook to get you wanting more too.
The base story, set in and around World War I, is about a kid who has decided to run away from home and jump a train. This is going to be our main character. However, there is a secondary character who plays prominently to the developing story. I’m going to say no more as I don’t want to give anything away. Just know that by the end of the book, you might be seeing how the start of the story and the end of issue one, MIGHT be tied together.
Scott Snyder really is THE Midas of comics today; everything he seems to touch turns to gold. Not a single bad issue of anything he has written in comics since his arrival with American Vampire #1. I am told his short stories he published (and are now available collected) are quite good too. If you do not read American Vampire or his work on Detective Comics, you are doing yourself a disservice and of any of the New DC books, Swamp Thing is one of the few I am actually excited about. Snyder should be perfect for the strange mix of bayou horror/strangness Swampy is famous for.
But back to Severed, it was probably the third best book I read last week (sorry, Walt Simonson Artist Edition finally arrived and there was an Usagi comic out… no one could have beat those.) I am really amazed at how good of a publisher Image has become over the last few years. Slowly they have moved to putting out a majority of quality books and not just “whatever came along” or “whoever was willing to fork over the cash to try.” Image can be both a creator’s best friend and worst enemy. They are the tip of the “self” publishing iceberg. I’m not going to get into a whole long thing about how Image works, but you take your project to Image and costs can be very high to publish with them IF you can’t sell enough copies. However, lately they have started to become a go to for some of the best and brightest creations seeing life on our shelf. This only signifies continued growth for non-superhero storytelling and that is good any way you slice, or sever, it.
NOTE – I should have more copies, second prints, in on September 7th, which should also be the day the second issue ships. If you didn’t get a first print and would like a second, please let me know asap.
Jonah Hex #70 Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, art by Ryan Sook
I also wanted to comment, briefly, on a book that really needs to be recognized. Is it not amazing that Jonah Hex made it to issue 70? This has consistently been a great read month in and month out. Done in “one and done” storytelling for most of its run and with a plethora a great artistic talent gracing the pages… of this western. A western?… at 70 issues?… in today’s market? Amazing.
All the credit in the world needs to go to Jimmy Palmiotti for showing the modern comic book industry how it SHOULD and COULD be done, if they would just try a little harder.
Oh, and issue 70 was AMAZING!!!