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Can’t Wait for Wednesday

May 1st, 2007
Author Kevin Melrose

Can't Wait For Wednesday!

It’s Tuesday afternoon, which means Chris Mautner and I return for another crack at the titles set to appear this week in a comics store near you.

For fans of superhero stories, the big releases are likely 52 Week Fifty-Two, which brings to an end DC’s year-long maxiseries — do we still call them that? — and World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker #1, which starts the windup to Marvel’s big summer event.

But there’s a little something for everyone, as Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo team up for Hellboy: Darkness Calls #1, Del Rey Manga releases the much-publicized Avril Lavigne’s Make 5 Wishes, and Top Shelf rolls out Christian Slade’s adorable-looking Korgi, Vol. 1.

As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

For our rundown, and the list of books set to appear this week in finer stores everywhere, just click “more.”

MAR070018 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #3 $2.99
JAN072400 ASTONISHING X-MEN #21 $2.99
MAR072108 RUNAWAYS #26 $2.99

Kevin: I was going to say, “Joss Whedon is in ur base writing ur comics,” or something equally ridiculous, but instead I’ll just point out that it’s apparently Whedon Week, as he trots out three books — three good books — and, at least momentarily, puts an end to some of the moaning about those slacker Hollywood types making our comics late and kicking our puppies.

FEB070244 52 WEEK #52 $2.50

52, Week 52

Kevin: This probably should be my pick of the week, but I have to be honest: I’ve only read a half-dozen or so issues of DC’s year-long weekly experiment. I didn’t dislike what I saw; it’s just that big, continuity-laden stories aren’t really my thing, and I couldn’t force myself to make that 52-issue commitment. Still, I have to give a lot of credit to everyone involved for keeping the series on schedule, and sustaining reader interest over the course of a year. Sure, there were occasional complaints of lulls in the story but, for the most part, fans stuck with 52. They loved it. They hated it. They talked about it. But most importantly, at least from a publishing standpoint, they bought it — to the tune of some 400,000 copies a month. Tomorrow 52 comes to an end, and readers say their final good-byes to Ralph Dibny, The Question, Isis, Osiris and others, then take a breath and dive into the next weekly series: Countdown.

FEB070317 FROM EROICA WITH LOVE VOL 9 $9.99

Chris: The best comic about a flamboyantly gay art thief who looks like Robert Plant and his attempts to woo the detective determined to catch him ever made. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.

FEB070294 SHAZAM! THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #3 (OF 4) $5.99

The Monster Society of Evil #3

Chris: My pick of the week. Reading Jeff Smith’s take on Captain Marvel, I realized I had given the character up for good, assuming that it would be nigh-impossible to translate what made the original comics so appealing to a modern audience. It’s nice to be wrong.

Kevin: It comes this close to being my pick, too, but I figured I’d spread the love a little. I realized yesterday that this is one of only a handful of comics that I truly look forward to; I only wish it weren’t ending so soon. I also had a half-formed thought about how odd, and perhaps telling, it is that Black Adam has been so seamlessly integrated into the DC Universe with JSA, 52 and World War III, yet Captain Marvel only really works in a self-contained world like this miniseries. That’s all. Hey, I said it was half-formed.

MAR070257 SUPERNATURAL ORIGINS #1 $2.99

Supernatural: Origins #1

Kevin: In an instance of corporate synergy, Warner Bros. unites one of its more popular TV properties — The CW’s pretty boys-in-paranormal-peril drama Supernatural — with its comics-publishing division for a prequel that centers on the early years of the Brothers Winchester. I watched last week’s episode, and caught the teaser for Origins, which is also promoted on the show’s website (where viewers can find preview pages and the toll-free number for the comic shop locator). Supernatural seems to attract a strong — for The CW, in any case — audience of young viewers. Female ones at that. It’ll be interesting to see whether they cross over to the comic in any significant numbers.

MAR072085 INCREDIBLE HULK #106 $2.99
MAR072086 WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE WORLD BREAKER $3.99<

World Breaker #1

Chris: Marvel gets a jump-up on their World War Hulk blockbuster with this pair of introductory issues. I was able to read a pdf preview version of these over the weekend. Lots of exposition as She-Hulk and Doc Samson sit on hotel couch and talk about why they shot Bruce into space, which is about as fascinating as it sounds. I must confess the idea of “Hulk vs. the entire Marvel universe” is not wholly lacking in appeal for me, but even so, you’re not missing anything if you avoid these issues.

MAR072062 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAST OF THE MOHICANS #1 (OF 6) $2.99

Chris: I have no idea whether this adaptation will be any good or not, but it’s appearance on the list makes me wonder: Why is it that every time a comics company decides to try a line of “comics classics,” they always pick this book? Seriously, it’s always Mohicans, Treasure Island and some Dumas book. Why not do adapt something else like Catch 22 or Pride and Prejudice? I’d even take A Separate Peace at this point.

MAR073095 CLARENCE PRINCIPLE GN $12.95

The Clarence Principle

Kevin: Here, finally, is my pick of the week. I’ve been looking forward to The Clarence Principle since SLG Publishing announced it back in February. There’s something about the juxtaposition of Shari Chankhamma’s adorable art and Fehed Said’s dark story that really appeals to me. From the press release: “Clarence, awakening in the bathroom where he died, wanders strange landscape as he follows the directions cryptic message written in the steam that has settle on the bathroom mirror: ‘FIND ME.’ This is no dream. This is death. A suicide, Clarence must find his way through the afterlife, meeting strange creatures and characters, in order to find the meaning of the life he chose to end.” You can read a preview at the SLG website.

FEB073807 KORGI VOL 1 TP $10

Chris: Cute doggies caper, frolic and avoid being eaten by trolls in a fairy-tale fantasy land in this graphic novel from the publisher that brought you Owly. You can see a preview here and a review from Jog here.

Here’s the full list of comics shipping this week:

DARK HORSE COMICS

MAR070018 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #3 $2.99
FEB070071 CITY OF OTHERS #2 (OF 4) $2.99
JAN070085 EDEN VOL 7 ITS AN ENDLSSS WORLD TP (MR) $12.95
DEC060037 FLOOD 3RD EDITION TP $14.95
NOV060045 GUNSMITH CATS BURST VOL 1 TP $10.95
FEB070064 HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #1 (OF 6) $2.99
MAR070091 JOURNAL SAMURAI CHAMPLOO $9.99
MAR070089 JOURNAL TRIGUN $9.99
JAN070093 STAR WARS 30TH ANNIV COLL HC VOL 3 DARTH MAUL $19.95
FEB070091 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #16 $2.99
DEC060047 STAR WARS LEGACY VOL 1 BROKEN TP $17.95
DEC060051 VAMPIRE HUNTER D VOL 7 NOVEL SC (MR) $8.95

DC COMICS

FEB070343 100 BULLETS #83 (MR) $2.99
OCT060301 52 ANIMAL MAN ACTION FIGURE PI
OCT060304 52 BATWOMAN ACTION FIGURE PI
OCT060305 52 BOOSTER GOLD ACTION FIGURE PI
OCT060303 52 ISIS ACTION FIGURE PI
OCT060302 52 SUPERNOVA ACTION FIGURE PI
FEB070244 52 WEEK #52 $2.50
MAR070193 ALL NEW ATOM #11 $2.99
FEB070264 ALL NEW ATOM VOL 1 MY LIFE IN MINIATURE TP $14.99
FEB070346 AMERICAN VIRGIN #14 (MR) $2.99
FEB070269 CHECKMATE #13 $2.99
MAR070255 DANGER GIRL BODY SHOTS #2 (OF 4) $2.99
FEB070348 DEADMAN #9 (MR) $2.99
MAR070168 DETECTIVE COMICS #832 $2.99
MAR070268 EXTERMINATORS #17 (MR) $2.99
FEB070317 FROM EROICA WITH LOVE VOL 9 $9.99
FEB070275 GREEN LANTERN #19 $2.99
FEB070288 HAWKGIRL #63 $2.99
OCT060316 JLA COVER TO COVER STATUE GREEN LANTERN $59.99
MAR070212 JONAH HEX #19 $2.99
MAR070231 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #33 $2.25
MAR070235 LOONEY TUNES #150 $2.25
MAR070251 MIDNIGHTER #7 $2.99
FEB070319 OMUKAE DESU VOL 4 $9.99
MAR070277 SCALPED #5 (MR) $2.99
FEB070294 SHAZAM THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #3 (OF 4) $5.99
FEB070298 SHOWCASE PRESENTS WAR THAT TIME FORGOT VOL 1 TP $16.99
JAN070269 SUPERMAN #662 $2.99
MAR070257 SUPERNATURAL ORIGINS #1 $2.99
FEB070301 TEEN TITANS #46 $2.99
MAR070258 WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY #6 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

FEB071879 ALIEN PIG FARM #1 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99
NOV061909 APHRODITE IX TP (NEW PTG) (APR041442) $14.99
DEC061905 DARKNESS LEVEL 3 BASALDUA CVR B $2.99
DEC061904 DARKNESS LEVEL 3 BRASE CVR A $2.99
DEC061890 SPAWN #167 $2.95
DEC061891 STRANGE GIRL #16 $3.50
MAR071858 TRIPPER MOVIE ADAPTATION ONE SHOT (RES) (MR) $5.99
DEC061874 WALKING DEAD SORROWFUL LIFE VOL 6 $12.99
JAN071930 WALKING DEAD VOL 2 HC (MR) $29.99
MAR071822 WARD O/T STATE #1 (OF 3) $3.50
NOV061889 WITCHBLADE DANI BEARER CVR B #105 $2.99
NOV061888 WITCHBLADE SARA BEARER CVR A #105 $2.99
FEB071926 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #3 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

FEB072117 ALL NEW OFF HB MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z UPDATE #2 $3.99
JAN072400 ASTONISHING X-MEN #21 $2.99
MAR072076 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #2 CWI $2.99
FEB072199 CIVIL WAR CAPTAIN AMERICA TP $11.99
MAR072149 CIVIL WAR WOLVERINE TP $17.99
JAN072440 CIVIL WAR YOUNG AVENGERS & RUNAWAYS TP $11.99
MAR072059 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN #4 (OF 7) $3.99
MAR072060 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN JAE LEE SKETCH VAR #4 (OF 7) $3.99
MAR072061 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN MCNIVEN VAR #4 (OF 7) $3.99
FEB078216 FANTASTIC FOUR PELLETIER 2ND PTG VAR #544 $2.99
MAR072160 FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES WALTER SIMONSON VOL 1 TP $19.99
MAR072067 FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #20 $2.99
MAR072081 GHOST RIDER TRAIL OF TEARS #4 (OF 6) $2.99
MAR072085 INCREDIBLE HULK #106 $2.99
FEB072130 IRON MAN #17 CWI $2.99
MAR072112 LONERS #2 (OF 6) $2.99
MAR072093 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #27 $2.99
MAR072062 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAST OF THE MOHICANS #1 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB078043 MARVEL ZOMBIES ARMY DARKNESS 2ND PTG VAR #1 (PP #759) $2.99
MAR072098 MARVEL ZOMBIES ARMY OF DARKNESS #3 (OF 5) $2.99
MAR072101 MS MARVEL #15 CWI $2.99
MAR072106 OMEGA FLIGHT #2 CWI (OF 5) $2.99
MAR072128 PUNISHER #47 (MR) $2.99
MAR072108 RUNAWAYS #26 $2.99
MAR072069 SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 $3.99
MAR072072 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #18 $2.99
MAR072162 SUB-MARINER TURNER POSTER $6.99
MAR072113 THUNDERBOLTS PRESENTS ZEMO BORN BETTER #4 (OF 4) $2.99
FEB072103 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #41 $2.99
MAR072168 ULTIMATE MARVEL FLIP MAGAZINE #25 $4.99
MAR072169 ULTIMATE TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #25 $4.99
FEB072154 WONDER MAN #5 (OF 5) $2.99
MAR072086 WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE WORLD BREAKER $3.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT

MAR073030 INQUEST GAMER MTG FUTURE SIGHT CVR #146 $1.99
MAR073049 WIZARD 1/2 2007 MOVIE 5 PACK PI
JAN073278 WIZARD EXTRA VOL 1 DIRECTORS COMMENTARIES SC $19.99

COMICS

FEB073699 2000 AD #1531 $4.10
FEB073700 2000 AD #1532 $4.10
FEB073515 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #57 (A) $4.99
JAN073671 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY MEGA BUNDLE #4 (A) $18.00
NOV063541 ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #10 SGN $29.99
FEB073082 ANCIENT BOOK OF MYTH AND WAR HC (MR) $19.95
JAN073944 ANGEL SANCTUARY VOL 19 GN $9.99
FEB073791 ANIMA VOL 4 GN (OF 10) $9.99
FEB073163 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #109 $2.25
FEB073164 ARCHIE DIGEST #234 $2.49
DEC063674 ASHLEY WOODS D AIRAIN AVENTURE #2 $4.99
MAR073361 AVRIL LAVIGNES MAKE 5 WISHES VOL 1 GN $12.95
FEB073331 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON APOCALYPSE #3 $3.50
JAN073530 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON APOCALYPSE FOIL CVR #2 PI
DEC063483 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON SILVER FOIL CVR #8 PI
DEC063486 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ZAREK PHOTO FOIL CVR #4 PI
FEB073918 BECKETTS BASKETBALL CARD PLUS MAY JUNE 2007 #24 $9.99
FEB073756 BLAME VOL 8 GN (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
FEB073801 BOYS BE VOL 13 GN (OF 20) (MR) $9.99
NOV063382 CAVEWOMAN RELOADED #4 $3.95
FEB073788 CHRONICLES O/T CURSED SWORD VOL 18 (OF 27) GN $9.99
FEB073372 CHUCKY OTTLEY CVR A #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
FEB073373 CHUCKY PHOTO CVR B #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.50
MAR073095 CLARENCE PRINCIPLE GN $12.95
FEB073657 COMPLETE OMAHA THE CAT DANCER VOL 6 TP (A) $12.95
MAR073330 DARK XENA #1 $3.50
FEB073792 DAZZLE VOL 5 GN (OF 9) $9.99
NOV063534 DF WOLVERINE #50 LOEB SGN $49.99
MAR073651 DOCTOR WHO ENDGAME TP (O/A) $24.95
MAR073653 DOCTOR WHO OBLIVION TP (O/A) $26.50
MAR073650 DOCTOR WHO THE TIDES OF TIME GN (O/A) $24.95
DEC063424 DOMINION #1 $3.99
FEB073789 DRAGON HUNTER VOL 16 GN (OF 18) $9.99
FEB073672 FIRST IN SPACE GN $9.95
FEB073763 GET BACKERS VOL 18 GN (OF 35) (MR) $9.99
MAR073380 GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #23 $3.50
DEC063472 GIANT SIZED RED SONJA #1 $4.99
FEB073751 GOOD LUCK VOL 2 GN (OF 5) $9.99
FEB073744 GRAND THEFT GALAXY VOL 1 GN (OF 3) $9.99
DEC063731 GRAPHIC UNIVERSE THOR & LOKI IN LAND OF GIANTS HC $26.60
MAR073850 GRIMM FAIRY TALES RETURN TO WONDERLAND #0 (MR) $0.99
MAR073439 HOUSEWIVES AT PLAY #17 (A) $4.95
FEB073802 HYPER POLICE VOL 9 GN (OF 11) (MR) $9.99
FEB073433 IN DUBLIN CITY GN (MR) $20.00
FEB073764 INITIAL D VOL 26 GN (OF 32) $9.99
FEB073706 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #257 $7.50
JAN073591 JUNK VOL 2 GN $9.95
FEB073804 KAMEN TANTEI VOL 3 GN (OF 4) $9.99
FEB073793 KAMICHAMA KARIN VOL 7 GN (OF 7) $9.99
MAR073283 KAMUI GN #7 $9.99
FEB073754 KILALA PRINCESS VOL 2 GN (OF 4) $5.99
FEB073805 KINDAICHI CASE FILES VOL 15 GN (OF 27) $9.99
FEB073807 KORGI VOL 1 TP $10.00
NOV063748 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE #12 (OF 12) (RES) $3.50
NOV063749 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE #12 SKETCH ED $4.95
JAN073792 LOVE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE OMNIBUS VOL 2 TP (MR) $11.95
JAN073593 LUNAR LEGEND TSUKIHIME VOL 4 TP $9.95
JAN073764 NASCAR HEROES #1 $3.95
FEB073650 PHANTOM #16 $3.50
FEB073749 PHANTOM VOL 2 GN (OF 5) $9.99
FEB073798 PHD PHANTASY DEGREE VOL 9 GN (OF 10) $9.99
MAR073395 PRINCESS PRINCESS VOL 3 GN $12.95
JAN073594 PURI PURI VOL 1 GN $9.95
FEB073321 RAISE THE DEAD #2 $3.50
FEB073790 REBIRTH VOL 20 GN (OF 20) $9.99
JAN073512 RED SONJA FIERY RED FOIL #21 PI
OCT063325 RED SONJA SILVESTRI EXC LTD ED BLUE SGN FOIL #4 PI
MAR073398 RETURN OF THE SUPER PIMPS #2 (OF 6) (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
FEB073555 SCARFACE SCARRED FOR LIFE #5 (MR) $3.99
MAR073280 SCHOOL BITES VOL 2 GN (JUN052863) $12.95
FEB073841 SHONEN JUMP JUNE 07 #54 $4.99
FEB073799 SHRINE OF THE MORNING MIST VOL 4 GN (OF 4) $9.99
FEB073174 SONIC X #19 $2.25
NOV063738 STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE #3 LIMITED MEYER COVER (MR $4.50
NOV063737 STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE #3 TONG CVR (MR) $3.50
NOV063736 STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE ENJETI CVR #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
JAN073298 STRANGERS IN PARADISE #89 $2.99
JAN073596 STRAY LITTLE DEVIL VOL 4 GN $9.95
MAR073951 TEACH ME TOO GN (O/A) (A) $12.95
MAR073950 TEACH ME VOL 1 GN (O/A) (A) $12.95
FEB073532 TRANSFORMERS ESCALATION #6 $3.99
MAR073503 TRANSFORMERS PRIME DIRECTIVE MOVIE PREQUEL #4 $3.99
FEB073540 TRANSFORMERS STORMBRINGER VAR CVR SLIPCASE $75.00
FEB073800 VAMPIRE DOLL GUILT NA ZAN VOL 3 GN (OF 4) $9.99
FEB073475 WALT DISNEYS VACATION PARADE #4 $9.95
DEC063428 WARHAMMER 40K CVR A #3 $2.99
DEC063429 WARHAMMER 40K CVR B #3 $2.99
MAR073273 WARHAMMER 40K PX VAR CVR #1 (O/A) $2.99
FEB073746 WARRIORS VOL 1 LOST WARRIOR GN (OF 3) $6.99
OCT063254 X ISLE #5 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB073279 YEAH I DREW IT PX SGN REMARKED ED $25.00

 
4 Responses to “Can’t Wait for Wednesday”
  1. Brett Says:

    Seriously, it’s always Mohicans, Treasure Island and some Dumas book. Why not do adapt something else like Catch 22 or Pride and Prejudice? I’d even take A Separate Peace at this point.

    Simple action based stories. I would love to see a good Catch 22 or a Slaughterhouse Five, but they aren’t nearly as visually easy or straightforward.

  2. Joe Lawler Says:

    I suspect it also has something to do with public domain and adventure books. I think a Pride and Prejudice adaptation could do well with girls.

    Catch 22 would involve getting the rights.

  3. del gorky Says:

    Both Chris’ and Kevin’s picks leave me cold. I’m not much of a manga fan and The Clarence Principle just didn’t appeal.

    My picks are Hellboy:Darkness Calls #1; a new Hellboy story is always worth having and this seems to be one with a major impact on future continuity.

    Surprisingly, my other pick is for Green Lantern #19. I’m not a huge GL fan but this comic has been delivering over the last couple of issues and the Tales of the Sinestro Corps backup is fun.

  4. Great White Snark Says:

    Three Joss Whedon books in one week. Color me flushed and giggly!

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