Yes! Yes! Yes!

The greatest Marvel solicitations text ever:

Do you like Ninjas? Do you like zombies? Do you like Wolverine? Would you like to see Wolverine fight ninjas and zombies? THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!!

(Thanks to BeaucoupKevin for the link and the quote.)

New This Week: December 15, 2004

Based on the NCRL list for this week's comics shipping from Diamond, here are a few things to look for at the local comic shop tomorrow:



The Pick of the Week is Thieves & Kings, vol. 5: The Winter Book from Mark Oakley & I Box. If you're looking for something to fill the fantasy void left by the ending of Bone, you should definitely check out M'Oak's Thieves & Kings. It's the story of Rubel, a young thief who is caught up in royal intrigue and a 1000-year-old war between sorcerers. The story is told in a combination of comics pages and illustrated prose passages. The Winter Book collects issues 37-45 of the series, so if you haven't read any Thieves & Kings before you may wish to start at the beginning with the first volume (The Red book).



In other comics:



Abstract has the third Strangers In Paradise Pocket volume.



Bighead has the Probablity Broach GN, adapting L. Neil Smith's novel of a Libertarian utopia.



DC has new issues of Adventures of Superman (#635), Birds of Prey (#77), Ex Machina (#7), Ocean (#3), Plastic Man (#13), the first issue of Trigger, a second White Lama volume, and the final issue of a little-known mini-series called Identity Crisis (#7).



Fantagraphics has another Krazy Kat compilation: Krazy & Ignatz 1933-34 Necromancy By The Blue Bean Bush.



Marvel has the first collected volume of Joss Whedon & John Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men; the seventh Powers collection (Forever), and new issues of Daredevil (#68), Fantastic Four (#521), Madrox (#4), and Ultimate Spider-Man (#70).



Random House has the new American Splendor collection, Our Movie Year.



Scary-Go-Round is making several titles available via Cold Cut, including the sublime Girl Spy!



Viz has three second editions of manga volumes in case you missed them the first time around: Banana Fish, vol. 5; Maison Ikkoku, vol. 8; and Phoenix, vol. 2.





Another light week, so attend to your slush pile and use your saved pennies to buy your mom a nice present.

Quick GN Reviews

Saint Legend, vol. 1

by Andy Seto

Alien demons threaten humanity, and only the Eight Immortals--former humans with the powers of gods--stand in their way. The art by Seto is great, with exciting action and vibrant colors, and the large format of this collection allows it to shine. The story, alas, is total tosh. It has all the depth of an early Image comic, with super-powered being showing up, posing, and fighting each other. It also reminds me of The First from CrossGen, which also featured mega-powered immortals fighting. It's just that the art is a heck of a lot better.

Rating: 2 (of 5)




Marvel Knights 4, vol. 1: Wolf at the Door

by Roberto Aguire-Sacasa, Steve McNiven & Mark Morales

The underlying plot--the Fantastic Four lose their fortune and have to take jobs like normal people--is entirely ridiculous. But since that was handed down by editorial decree, you can't really blame Aguire-Sacasa for it. Thankfully he makes the best out of a bad situation, and except for that lapse in the plot he writes a very good Fantasic Four, getting their personalities and interactions down well. The art by McNiven & Morales with colorist Morry Hollowell is, well, fantastic. Lots of detail and energetic when it needs to be. This could have been much worse, but the creative team rises to the occasion.

Rating: 3 (of 5)




Egg Story

by J. Marc Schmidt

Sad and joyful, playful and terrifying. Egg Story is the story of Feather & Five Spots, two young eggs who are ripped away from their home soon after being layed. They are gathered together with four other eggs in a carton and purchased by Julie, who stores them in her refrigerator. When Julie leaves on a trip, they escape and try to live their lives as free eggs. It's a sometimes funny and soemtimes touching story about the human condition, with a dollop of eggistential angst. It's a story that has a lot of heart. And eggs. And a ninja.

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

Christmas Covers - December 14

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Comic Cover Advent Calendar. Just move your mouse over the image to reveal today's special Holiday comic cover. Click on the image to get a larger version from GCD.



Today's cover is 1961's Sugar and Spike #32. The cover by Sheldon Mayer has the youngsters pondering one of the holiday's essential mysteries.



Just 11 more 'get-ups' until Santa!