Arriving 11/20/2019

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Arriving 11/20/2019

Interesting looking week, filled with many diverse things! I'm probably most excited about QUESTION: THE DEATHS OF VIC SAGE with art by Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz, but Maria Llovet's HEARTBEAT also looks keen, and does a new Umbrella Academy story with HAZEL & CHA CHA SAVE CHRISTMAS. On the book side, the clear winners are LITTLE BIRD (our December GN Club selection) and COURAGEOUS PRINCESS (our January Kids GNC pick!), and I also sense a fair amount of anticipation for the first trade of BLADE RUNNER 2019. SO much more under the jump: what looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 11/13/2019

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Arriving 11/13/2019

A very fine and strong week of comics! My pick for the week will be FAR SECTOR by N.K. Jemisin & Jamal Campbell, with Brian K Vaughan & Marco Martin's LCSD WALKING DEAD (on sale on Saturday!) close behind. Plus Garth Ennis returns to PUNISHER: SOVIET? Yes please! On the book side of the universe, we've got THE HOUSE by Paco Roca in English *and* Spanish releases -- that is our Nov selection for the Graphic Novel of the Month Club (www.graphicnovelclub.com/start) -- and WONDER TWINS (Our, er, January selection), and for something not a club pick, let's go with the FIREFLY: STING original GN? Like I said, great week, and soooooo much more under the cut -- what looks good to you?

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Arriving 11/6/2019

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Arriving 11/6/2019

What an outrageously interesting week of comic books! So many so, that we’re focusing exclusively on them this week! The big corporate book of the week is probably the relaunch of LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, but many would also claim NEW MUTANTS (or maybe X-FORCE) claiming that. In the creator-owned vein, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY is the big book, but B.B. FREE also looks pretty great, and I am psyched to get DRAGONFLY & DRAGONFLYMAN (nee THE WRONG EARTH) back on the shelf. And for a neat licensed comic, here’s more of THE MAGICIANS. See? No room for books, and I didn’t even mention the DC acetate covers, or…. well, there is a LOT under the jump. What looks good to YOU?!??!?

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Arriving 10/30/2019

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Arriving 10/30/2019

It's a fine looking week of pre-Halloween comics! The "Big book" is probably EXCALIBUR #1, but we're also looking forward to A BASKETFUL OF HEADS, and that PINK LEMONADE sure looks pretty interesting, no? On the book side is the imported Moebius book 40 DAYS SANS LA DESERT B, but it's chased closely by BLACK MAGE (We've got the Signing on Saturday), ooh and 260 pages of collected STREET ANGEL for $20? Count me in! So so much more under the jump — What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 10/23/2019

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Arriving 10/23/2019

Not a lot of big obvious hits this week, which leaves some more room for some smaller books. I am most excited by a new Gabrielle Bell in MY DOG IVY, but a new "jumping on" point for KAIJUMAX SEASON 5 is always welcome. COUNT CROWLEY, RELUCTANT MONSTER HUNTER has a nice cover, and I thought MONEY SHOT was a good giggle. And we have the first real post-HoX/PoX test with MARAUDERS #1. On the book side, I think everyone should own at least one classic Lee/Kirby story, so maybe BEHOLD GALACTUS is the one? Otherwise, I thought that the Chip Zdarsky SPIDER-MAN LIFE STORY was a fine read. Much more under the cut — what looks good to you?

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Arriving 10/16/2019

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Arriving 10/16/2019

The main periodical this week has to be the launch of the ongoing X-MEN #1 by Hickman -- how many folks will continue to follow the post-HoX/PoX material? But I'm just as excited for SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN as well as MARKED from Image. On the book side, I think the big excitement for several people is CRITICAL ROLE v1, while we also can spotlight local artist Ken Garing and GOGOR, and who doesn't love a new issue of MAD? Much more under the cut! What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 10/9/2019

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Arriving 10/9/2019

A week a bit light on the book format material, so we'll lean on periodicals to spotlight here at the top. I am most excited by a new Craig (BLANKETS) Thompson comic -- GINSENG ROOTS #1, but the book most of comics will be talking about is probably the wrap up of Hickman's X-Men mini series with POWERS OF X #6. On the DC side, THE AUTHORITY team of Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch bring you THE BATMAN'S GRAVE #1, and there's also a post-movie JOKER comic by John Carpenter (!). I also like the title of SHOPLIFTERS WILL BE LIQUIDATED, but then I work retail. In the book corner, I think the most exciting thing is Gilbert Hernandez's MARIA M finally completing. SO much more under the cut — What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 10/2/2019

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Arriving 10/2/2019

Interestingly-shaped week of comics this time, with the big lead comic being Matt and Brennan Wagner's GRENDEL: DEVIL'S ODYSSEY #1. Then Gail Simone tries to fix the Lion Forge superhero universe with CATALYST PRIME: SEVEN DAYS #1, while Charlie Adlard rolls on to his next post-WALKING DEAD project with VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING. Speaking of TWD, the fourth and final WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM ships this week, along with the last volume of THE WICKED & THE DIVINE, and for those long-time waiters, the HC collection of the first year of IMMORTAL HULK. And there is a TON more under the jump! What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 9/25/2019

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Arriving 9/25/2019

Sorry I missed last week's post, but we're back with a giant list of diverse comics! From the periodicals, the big book is probably HARLEEN #1, but I also have an eye on SFSX #1 and, oof, Sienkiewicz returning to NEW MUTANTS: WAR CHILDREN. On the book side, the clear winner is the Jillian Tamaki edited BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2019, followed closely by the final PAPER GIRLS volume, and for the younger THE SECRET SPIRAL OF SWAMP KID. All-in-all a PACKED week of funny books! So much more under the jump — what looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 9/11/2019

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Arriving 9/11/2019

Oddly shaped week. Usually I recommend three new debuts, but it was really hard this time -- two of those are essentially just re-numberings of older series they are trying to spike numbers higher on. First, the epilogue to Jason Aaron's run with KING THOR, followed by the return of TREES: THREE FATES, and finally, I haven't read it, but the cover art of VAMP from Mythos Press looked nice. On the book front, the clear front-runner is FREE SHIT by Charles Burns, but I also like the look of ONCE UPON A TIME IN FRANCE which won "best series" at Angoulême. Bringing up the back? A high-end version of UMBRELLA ACADEMY, oversized and with extras. So much more under the cut! What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 9/4/2019

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Arriving 9/4/2019

Not as big as last week, but this is still a pretty titanic ship week with things like DOOMSDAY CLOCK and SPAWN #300. For new launches, we're pretty excited about the return of PRETTY DEADLY, for the launch of SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN and for the return of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES MILLENNIUM. On the book side, absolutely every human should read the new version of THE NAO OF BROWN, while people also seem excited about BATMAN: DAMNED, and we like the classic reprints of MS TREE! Much much more after the jump — What looks good to YOU?

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A few new TILTING AT WINDMILLS for your pleasure!

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I just realized I forgot to link to these recent columns published at the Beat — I’ve been writing about retailing comics for the better part of three decades, and here are the most recent additions!

TILTING #275: Discussing how the “Direct Market” is changing in light of more graphic novels being distributed by “real book” distributors. Read it here!

TILTING #276: Why weekly-produced periodical comics really suck — even when they succeed! Read it here!

Arriving 8/28/2019

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Arriving 8/28/2019

The last two weeks were on the smaller side, but this week is ABSOLUTELY PACKED WITH COMICY GOODNESS! For comic debuts worth your eyes, I'd lean towards BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as BUFFY: CHOSEN ONES and MARVEL COMICS #1000, while on the book side, HARLEY QUINN: BREAKING GLASS is probably the big book, while others might think the HC of BATMAN WHO LAUGHS wins that nod. I also think GREASE BATS looks intriguing. But what looks good to YOU? Check under the jump for SO many more comics!

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Arriving 8/21/2019

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Arriving 8/21/2019

Interesting week of funny books! On the comics side, I think the best-looking debut is ADVENTURE FINDERS, with MARVEL ACTION CAPTAIN MARVEL and STRAYED not far behind. On the book side the clear winner is the SAGA COMPENDIUM v1 (the *first half* for $60? Wow!), but that cover on MAD MAGAZINE is close behind. Oooh, and DEBIAN PERL, DIGITAL DETECTIVE is actually our kids GN club pick for September, so hooray for that! TONS more under the jump! What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 8/14/2019

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Arriving 8/14/2019

Nice week of eclectic comics! I am looking forward the most the new Kieron Gillen book, ONCE AND FUTURE, but Zdarsky's WHITE TREES looks interesting too. Marvel has seven different #1s, but I'll give the nod to GWENPOOL STRIKES BACK. On the book front, it's a European reprint bonanza led by Druillet's LA NUIT, and backed up by the inexpensive softcover edition of Manara's BORGIAS. Want 'murican books? I'd nod to the collection of WAR OF REALMS. Much more under the cut! What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 8/7/2019

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Arriving 8/7/2019

Smaller week than the last two, but still full of vitamins and minerals! The lead book of the week is probably ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, but COFFIN BOUND and DEAD END KIDS also look like neat new launches. On the book side of things, look for a new NIB (SCAMS), the final volume of THE WALKING DEAD, and, hell round it out with SKULL-FACED BOOKSELLER. Much more after the jump. What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 7/31/2019

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Arriving 7/31/2019

Another terrific week for comics! The big pick for the week is almost certainly POWERS OF X, but I'm also going to recommend the first GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL, as well as the new Cullen Bunn joint, MANOR BLACK. On the book side, Simon Hanselmann's BAD GATEWAY is a great read, and we'd also recommend the first volume of Chip Zdarsky's DAREDEVIL. And for some back-in-print greatness, ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN. So so much more under the jump! What looks good to YOU?

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Arriving 7/24/2019

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Arriving 7/24/2019

I like the look of this week's new comics, with two MUST HAVE books for superhero readers -- Jonathan Hickman's X-Men relaunch begins with HOUSE OF X, and Sean Murphy returns with BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT. Both should be superb. Also worth your eyeballs is VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER if you want to get ahead of films, and in the "just because" category it is the penultimate issue of WICKED & DIVINE by Kieron Gillen (appearing LIVE at Comix Experience on Wednesday!) -- while on the book side, we have Jaime Hernandez's TONTA (our Graphic Novel Club selection for August -- Jaime will be here 8/24!) as well a nice thick and inexpensive version of the first Bendis MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN. So so so much more after the jump — what looks good to YOU?

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