Every month I pre-order comics, trades and other related items from Previews magazine. Even though there is information online for just about everything, I still find the Previews catalog to be the simplest way to scan through the different items and to get some inspiration on what I want to buy.
There’s lots of stuff being offered by Diamond this month: Plenty of great stuff and plenty of crap too… So I will try to sort the wheat from the chaff and hopefully point out some good items that you might order or buy from your LCS or Online Retailer. Our taste may differ– so if you buy something and I hate it… Don’t blame me. I did my best to warn you!
The STATUS in the description of each product indicates the likelihood of whether I’m going to order it ranging from Firm Order as the most likely to a POS (Piece of Shit)– with everything else being somewhere in between. I’m sure you can figure it out!
The Black Beetle Vol 1 HC
152 pages
$19.99Status: Firm Order
Additional Notes: So not only is Francesco Francavilla a great artist– but he’s a decent writer too? Whowouldhavethunkit?
This comic is better than 95% of the shit that Marvel and DC put out. Buy it.
Nexus Omnibus Vol 3
424 pages
$24.99Status: Firm Order
Additional Notes: You simply aren’t going to find 424 better pages of comic book goodness for $25 this month!
Creepy Presents Steve Ditko HC
128 pages
$19.99Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: This stuff has been reprinted in the main series of Creepy Archives… But with special artists like Steve Ditko, it’s sometimes nice to have all the stuff in one book… Rather than having to root through 15 books to find the story you want.
S
uperman Unchained #1
$4.99
32 pagesStatus: POS
Additional Notes: 32 pages for $4.99? Uh right… Anyway, the last time Jim Lee drew a Superman regular title it was a complete abortion.
Anyone want to take bets on how many issues Lee can draw before he needs a fill-in artist?
Larfleeze #1
32 pages
$2.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: Because that Threshold book worked out so well, huh?
Justice League of America #5
40 pages
$3.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: There’s a coffin on the cover– so a superhero has obviously died… And here I am actually writing this like I give a fuck.
Action Comics #21
$3.99
40 pagesStatus: POS
Additional Notes: Written by Andy Diggle. LOL.
Suicide Squad #21
32 pages
$2.99Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: Written by Ales Kot? Ok, this might be a DC comic that isn’t shit. I’ll be keeping an eye on this one.
(Ed. Note – See what Locusmortis thought of Suicide Squad in IMJ’s Capsule Reviews.)
Camelot 3000 TP
320 pages
$19.99Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: This has been out of print for ages, so it’s about time DC did a new printing. Featuring art by Brian Bolland, from when he still bothered his arse to do interiors and didn’t just hack out a couple of covers every month.
1:1 Scale Yellow Lantern Power Battery and Ring Prop Replica
$199.95Status: POS
Additional Notes: $200 for a massive ugly lump of yellow plastic?
That sounds so enticing… I’ll have two please!
Superman The Man of Steel Statue
by Jim Lee
$79.95Status: POS
Additional Notes: POW! Take that, Siegel! POW! Take that, Shuster!
Mark Schultz’s Xenozoic Tales
Artist’s Edition HC
$Expensive
144 pagesStatus: Tempted
Additional Notes: One of the great creator-owned titles, Mark Schultz’s art is absolutely gorgeous!
Wild Blue Yonder #1 (of 5)
$3.99
144 pagesStatus: Trade-waiting
Additional Notes: The concept of this has me intrigued: A post-apocalyptic aerial adventure series. I’ll trade-wait this though, because sometimes IDW’s interior art isn’t as good as it should be.
Michael Wm. Kaluta – The Big Book
$59.99
304 pagesStatus: Tempted
Additional Notes: Kaluta is one of the best artists in comics business. This is a retrospective of his art from the 60s to the present day.
Lazarus #1
32 pages
$2.99Status: Trade-waiting
Additional Notes: Writer Greg Rucka. Artist Michael Lark. If those two creators aren’t enough to get you to buy this comic– then what the hell is wrong with you?
Prophet Vol 2 Brothers TP
172 pages
$14.99Status: Firm Order
Additional Notes: One of the best ongoing monthlies being published anywhere today.
I cannot recommend Prophet highly enough.
Strangers in Paradise Omnibus SC
2128 pages
$100.00Status: Recommended
Additional Notes: If you haven’t already read Strangers in Paradise, then this is the perfect opportunity to do so. $100 may seem like a lot– but for what you get, it’s a bargain.
If you still feel guilty about spending so much, then you could slip some hints to your significant other about how this would be a great birthday present or early Xmas gift.
Ballistic #1
32 pages
$3.50Status: Trade-waiting
Additional Notes: Mad-cap sci-fi adventure about a wannabe gangster and his drug-addicted foul-mouthed living gun? Sounds good to me! I want to read something batshit insane and funny that isn’t shit– and this might be it.
The Malevolent Mr. Burns #1
32 pages
$3.99Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: While DC feck around with those Villain’s Month cobblers, Bongo puts out a villain comic that might not be shit. (Well, Gail Simone is writing some of this book– so I might be wrong about the “not shit” part.)
Herobear and the Kid Special #1
32 pages
$3.99Status: Trade-waiting
Additional Notes: I vaguely remember seeing this series before but never really thought anything of it… But after seeing some sample pages this looks like some superb all-ages cartooning.
(Ed. Note – See what Locusmortis thought after reading this comic in IMJ’s Capsule Reviews.)
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Hit-Girl School Girl Statue
$299.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: I’d rather burn $300 dollars than give it to Mark Millar.
Magic Wind Vol 1 Fort Ghost GN
100 pages
$12.99Status: Firm Order
Additional Notes: I thought it unlikely that I’d ever see a translation of this series of Western graphic novels originally published in Italy.
This first book has art by the legendary Spanish artist Jose Ortiz.
Savage Wolverine #6
32 pages
$3.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: For anyone that thought Humberto Ramos was the worst Wolverine artist ever, welcome to Joe Madureira— who has never found a bit of anatomy he couldn’t draw badly.
Superior Spider-Man Vol 1 HC
248 pages
$34.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: “This story alone is likely to make it one of the greats” – CBR
“Stegman is the perfect Spider-man artist for this day and age” – Comicvine
“Slott shows how to craft a dastardly plot twist” – CBR
“Mainstream comic-book sites are a pack of fucking shills” –Locusmortis/IMJ
Kramers Ergot Vol 8
232 pages
$32.95Status: POS
Additional Notes: I would have bought Kramers Ergot Vol 7, except for its stupidly ridiculous dimensions. This volume at least has a normal size– and the art should be excellent.
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files Vol 20
320 pages
$32.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: I love the Case Files series of books but they are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment.
Luckily, this is probably the last volume with Mark Millar stuff and we’ll be back to quality John Wagner stuff in the next volume.
The War Machine GN
96 pages
$17.99Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: Dunno why they’ve left the Rogue Trooper name off this book– because that’s who the main character is.
This is a quality Dave Gibbons/Will Simpson story but beware– it has come out in a billion editions already.
Atomic Robo and the Savage Sword
of Dr. Dinosaur #1
32 pages
$3.50Status: Trade-waiting
Additional Notes: How could you not be tempted by a book with a name like that? I’m expecting the usual high quality from creators Clevinger and Wegener.
Shining Hearts Collection
of Visual Materials
192 pages
$39.99Status: Recommended
Additional Notes: This is a Tony Taka art book. That makes it a no-brainer if you like good cheesecake anime art.
Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin
Vol 2 HC
458 pages
$29.95Status: Firm Order
Additional Notes: These hardcovers from Vertical are amazing… This is the definitive Gundam manga!
Trajectory HC
64 pages
$19.95Status: Firm Order
Additional Notes: Stephan Martiniere is probably the best fantasy/sci-fi book-jacket artist working at the moment– which makes this art book a must buy.
Rogue Touch
288 pages
$14.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: Looks like Marvel is trying to get in on the Twilight style tween-fiction market. Rogue gets reimagined as a moody goth… Gimme a fuckin’ break!
Brick by Brick
304 pages
$26.00Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: So how did a small Danish plastics company become one of the toy industry’s biggest companies? This seems like a pretty fascinating story.
Of course the current Lego seems a lot different from the one I used to play with as a kid– back then it seemed to encourage imagination, whereas now it seems heavily focused on pushing certain Hollywood brands. Wow! That argument sounds familiar…
Animal Man Symbol T-Shirt
$18.95-$21.95Status: POS
Additonal Notes: Right, so a symbol that looks like a cross between a Dunce’s hat and a KKK hood is meant to symbolize Animal Man?
Did anyone bother to look at this design before they started printing them?
Strangers In Paradise
Anniversary Tour T-Shirt
$18.95-$21.95Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: T-Shirts for comics you can give to “normal” people without fear of social embarrassment are rare– so this shirt is perfect for fans and for non-comics folk too.
Superman The Man of Steel
Sub-Under Snapback Cap
$26.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: Perfect for the discerning trailer park resident.
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Domo Metal License Plate
$35.00Status: POS
Additional Notes: If you want your car to look as if it’s driven by a mentally deficient simpleton– then go ahead and buy this, you moron!
Batman Power Attack
Deluxe Action Figures
$19.99 eachStatus: POS
Additional Notes: If Batman was given a makeover by The Village People— this is what you’d get.
Skeptical Rice Buddy 11” Plush
$15.00Status: POS
Additional Notes: At least these plushes are so minimalist, the kids in the factory in Pakistan won’t have to lose too many fingers while sewing them.
Tokidoki Donutino & Donutina Plushes
$19.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: This brand uses Japanese imagery and terminology– but is as authentically Japanese as Scooby-Doo’s Xmas dump.
Boo The World’s Cutest Dog Plush
$22.00Status: POS
Additional Notes: That’s quite a claim to make… Too bad it doesn’t fucking look cute to me.
Star Wars Kenner IG-88
Jumbo Action Figure
$80.00Status: POS
Additional Notes: It may cost 80 bucks, but it does come with AUTHENTIC PEG HOLES… You bet yer ass it does!
Dawn Variant Edition Statue
$225.00Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: This looks like a really sweet statue, but Oh! The price!
Star Wars Business Card Holders – Han Solo in Carbonite & R2D2
$29.99 eachStatus: POS
Additional Notes: These are sleek and professional… Apparently. I’m sure your credibility will soar when you greet a prospective employer or client with this.
Doctor Who Chrome Tardis
Ceramic Teapot
$49.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: Insideman will probably like this.
Me, I’d prefer to get a crate of rotten memories than be given this as a present.
Maschinen Krieger SFAS
Fireball 05 Figure
$109.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: What in the flying fuck is this ugly piece of shit anyway?
Armor Girls Project Gundam Wing MS Girl Wing Gundam
Zero EW Version Figure
$63.99Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: This figure is ridiculous… Ridiculously awesome that is! It’s also the longest product name I’ve ever had to type– my fingers are nearly falling off at this stage!
Iron Man 3 Iron Man Face Ukelele
$49.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: I’d like to know what kind of drugs these product designers are on– cause I fucking want some!
Ultramarines Warhammer Blu ray
$24.99Status: Tempted
Additional Notes: I know I’ve called Games Workshop scumsucking bastards in the recent past, but I still can’t help liking some of their books and comics (although not their shitty overpriced plastic models.) This is an interesting sci-fi universe they’ve concocted .
Tiger and Bunny Set 2 Blu ray
$54.97Status: You’ll find it cheaper online
Additional Notes: The second half of the series– one of the better adventure/mecha adventures of the last few years.
Captain America (1990)
Collector’s Edition Blu ray
$14.97Status: Should only be used as landfill
Additional Notes: Some films are so bad, they’re good.
This Captain America movie is so bad, it’s fucking awful… Made with special defects rather than special effects.
True Blood Drinks and Bites HC
£11.99Status: POS
Additional Notes: A recipe book based on True Blood, eh?
Am I the only person who fucking hates this poor man’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
The Black Beetle Vol 1 HC 
Nexus Omnibus Vol 3
Creepy Presents Steve Ditko HC
uperman Unchained #1
Larfleeze #1
Justice League of America #5
Action Comics #21
Suicide Squad #21
Camelot 3000 TP
1:1 Scale Yellow Lantern Power Battery and Ring Prop Replica
Wild Blue Yonder #1 (of 5) 
Michael Wm. Kaluta – The Big Book
Prophet Vol 2 Brothers TP
Strangers in Paradise Omnibus SC
Superior Spider-Man Vol 1 HC
The War Machine GN
Trajectory HC
Rogue Touch
Brick by Brick
Strangers In Paradise
Superman The Man of Steel
Batman Power Attack
Skeptical Rice Buddy 11” Plush
Tokidoki Donutino & Donutina Plushes
Boo The World’s Cutest Dog Plush
Star Wars Kenner IG-88
Dawn Variant Edition Statue
Star Wars Business Card Holders – Han Solo in Carbonite & R2D2
Doctor Who Chrome Tardis
Maschinen Krieger SFAS
Iron Man 3 Iron Man Face Ukelele
Ultramarines Warhammer Blu ray
Tiger and Bunny Set 2 Blu ray
Captain America (1990)
True Blood Drinks and Bites HCA pretty good month for Comics, I think– but with no one publisher dominating the picks, you have to delve a bit deeper into the independent ranks to find the good stuff.
Not a particularly good month for Statues/Toys/Collectibles… I guess Summer isn’t the best time to be selling overpriced pieces of plastic. Let us know what you think of this month’s selection and if you’ve found any good (or weird) shit in your local comics shop.
