It seems like forever since I've updated Yet Another Music Radio, but I've finally gotten around to it.
The new playlist is Alt Country - Music from the Edge, over three hours of music that goes against the grain of mainstream country radio.
You'll hear music from:
16 Horsepower; Adrienne Young & Little Sadie; Allison Moorer, The Be Good Tanyas; The Derailers; The Duhks; Gillian Welch; The Greencards; Jenny Queen; Jim Lauderdale; Julie Roberts; Kasey Chambers; Kathleen Edwards; Kelly Willis; Kim Richey; Laura Cantrell; Lori McKenna; Lyle Lovett; Maia Sharp; Mary Gauthier; Matraca Berg; Mindy Smith; Miranda Lambert; Neko Case; Patricia Vonne; Patty Griffin; Robert Earl Keen; Rodney Crowell; Son Volt; Terri Binion; Tift Merritt; and Todd Snider.
That's over 50 tracks of downhome joy!
Saturday, 18 March 2006
Friday, 17 March 2006
YAFQ: Create an Anthology
Yet Another Friday Question:
What kind of comics anthology would you create to attract a newsstand audience?
Archie have their digests, Disney & Nickelodian have occasional comics-only issues of their magazines, and Viz have done very well with their Shonen Jump & Shojo Beat anthologies. But still there is not much of an effort by comics publishers to target the newsstand--and by extension non-regular comics readers--with a thick value-priced anthology.
My recommendation would be for DC to put together an anthology for kids. They have a lot of reprint material to draw on from the past 10-15 years: Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny, Cartoon Network, and the animated Batman/Superman/Justice League. Add into that classic Sugar & Spike comics and they could easily put together a 128-page color monthly anthology in the $5-$6 range I should think.
Any other ideas out there?
What kind of comics anthology would you create to attract a newsstand audience?
Archie have their digests, Disney & Nickelodian have occasional comics-only issues of their magazines, and Viz have done very well with their Shonen Jump & Shojo Beat anthologies. But still there is not much of an effort by comics publishers to target the newsstand--and by extension non-regular comics readers--with a thick value-priced anthology.
My recommendation would be for DC to put together an anthology for kids. They have a lot of reprint material to draw on from the past 10-15 years: Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny, Cartoon Network, and the animated Batman/Superman/Justice League. Add into that classic Sugar & Spike comics and they could easily put together a 128-page color monthly anthology in the $5-$6 range I should think.
Any other ideas out there?
Dave's Dozen: Collections/GNs
Concluding my look through the March Previews (for items supposedly shipping in May), here are a dozen collections and graphic novels that I feel are worth your attention:
Skrull Kill Crew
(Marvel, $16.99, p. M105)
Grant Morrison reunites with Aztek parter Mark Millar and Zenith artist Steve Yeowell for a story that takes a throw-away event from an old Fantastic Four comic and runs with it to its madcap violent conclusion.
De:Tales
(Dark Horse, $14.95, p. 36)
Two of my current favorite creators, brothers Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba, put together a collection of short stories. Easily one of the top picks of the month.
Wonder Woman: Destiny Calling
(DC, $19.99, p. 91)
The fourth collection of George Perez's now-classic post-Crisis Wonder Woman. Feature guest art by Art Adams, Brian Bolland, and others.
Five Fists of Science
(Image, $12.99, p. 138)
I've been waiting for this OGN to hit for what seems like forever. Mark Twain & Nikola Tesla team up to bring about world peace, but standing in their way is Thomas Edison and an evil science cabal. Pure steampunk joy.
Tezuka's Buddha vol. 1
(Del Rey, $14.95, p. 262)
Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece is now available in an affordable trade paperback, so now you have no excuse for not picking it up.
Gorilla Gorilla vol. 1
(Disney Press, $4.95, p. 279)
Art Baltazar's Gorilla Gorilla strips from Disney Adventures get collected into an kid-friendly affordable digest.
Castle Waiting
(Fantagraphics, $29.95, p. 284)
Yes $30 may seem like a bit much, but it's really a bargain for a hefty hardcover collection of Linda Medley's charming medieval fantasy. If you only buy one graphic novel this month, make it this one.
Alan Moore: The Complete Future Shocks
(Rebellion, $21.99, p. 315)
These stories from 2000 AD will give you a good look at the early work of a writer who would go on to become one of comics' top talents. Nothing deep here, but a good deal of fun.
Aoi House vol. 1
(Seven Seas, $10.99, p. 318)
A great high concept for a harem manga: two college boys are kicked out of their dorm, and end up living in a house with a bunch of yaoi-obsessed fangirls.
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad vol. 4
(TokyoPop, $9.99, p. 332)
Rock 'n' Roll and teen angst. One of my current favorite manga series.
Oddly Normal vol. 1
(Viper Comics, $11.95, p. 349)
I enjoyeed the first issue and decided to wait for the trade, which is now here. Yay!
Phoenix vol. 7: Civil War
(Viz, $15.99, p. 358)
Anytime there's a new English edition of Tezuka's work, you should make a grab for it. Each volume in this, his magnum opus, is self-contained, so you don't need to worry about coming in on part 7--just dive right in!
That concludes Dave's Dozen for this month (previously I covered mainstream comics and indy comics). Come back next month for 36 (or so) picks.
Skrull Kill Crew
(Marvel, $16.99, p. M105)
Grant Morrison reunites with Aztek parter Mark Millar and Zenith artist Steve Yeowell for a story that takes a throw-away event from an old Fantastic Four comic and runs with it to its madcap violent conclusion.
De:Tales(Dark Horse, $14.95, p. 36)
Two of my current favorite creators, brothers Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba, put together a collection of short stories. Easily one of the top picks of the month.
Wonder Woman: Destiny Calling(DC, $19.99, p. 91)
The fourth collection of George Perez's now-classic post-Crisis Wonder Woman. Feature guest art by Art Adams, Brian Bolland, and others.
Five Fists of Science(Image, $12.99, p. 138)
I've been waiting for this OGN to hit for what seems like forever. Mark Twain & Nikola Tesla team up to bring about world peace, but standing in their way is Thomas Edison and an evil science cabal. Pure steampunk joy.
Tezuka's Buddha vol. 1
(Del Rey, $14.95, p. 262)
Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece is now available in an affordable trade paperback, so now you have no excuse for not picking it up.
Gorilla Gorilla vol. 1(Disney Press, $4.95, p. 279)
Art Baltazar's Gorilla Gorilla strips from Disney Adventures get collected into an kid-friendly affordable digest.
Castle Waiting(Fantagraphics, $29.95, p. 284)
Yes $30 may seem like a bit much, but it's really a bargain for a hefty hardcover collection of Linda Medley's charming medieval fantasy. If you only buy one graphic novel this month, make it this one.
Alan Moore: The Complete Future Shocks
(Rebellion, $21.99, p. 315)
These stories from 2000 AD will give you a good look at the early work of a writer who would go on to become one of comics' top talents. Nothing deep here, but a good deal of fun.
Aoi House vol. 1(Seven Seas, $10.99, p. 318)
A great high concept for a harem manga: two college boys are kicked out of their dorm, and end up living in a house with a bunch of yaoi-obsessed fangirls.
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad vol. 4(TokyoPop, $9.99, p. 332)
Rock 'n' Roll and teen angst. One of my current favorite manga series.
Oddly Normal vol. 1(Viper Comics, $11.95, p. 349)
I enjoyeed the first issue and decided to wait for the trade, which is now here. Yay!
Phoenix vol. 7: Civil War
(Viz, $15.99, p. 358)
Anytime there's a new English edition of Tezuka's work, you should make a grab for it. Each volume in this, his magnum opus, is self-contained, so you don't need to worry about coming in on part 7--just dive right in!
That concludes Dave's Dozen for this month (previously I covered mainstream comics and indy comics). Come back next month for 36 (or so) picks.
Wednesday, 15 March 2006
Dave's Dozen: Indy Comics
Continuing my look through the March Previews (for comics supposedly shipping in May), here are a dozen indy comics that I feel are worth your attention:
Aya #1
Jalila #1
Rakan #1
Zein #1
(AK Entertainment, $2.95 ea., p. 213)
These are those Arab super-hero comics you've probably heard about. I have no idea if any of them will be any good, but at the very least they should be interesting.
Rex Libris #4
(Slave Labor, $2.95, p. 218)
Yes, James Turner uses a lot of words in this comic. But he uses so many that he ends up being very funny sometimes. Do any of you non-librarians enjoy this comic?
Wonderland #1
(Slave Labor, $3.50, p. 218)
This is yet another of those 'what happened after Alice in Wonderland' stories, but since this grows out of Slave Labor's odd Disney license it is based on the Disney version, not the original. Also, it has art by Sonny Liew, which makes it worth picking up right there.
Gold Digger #75
(Antarctic Press, $2.99, p. 222)
Celebrating 15 years of Gold Digger with a special 75th issue--which is actually #129 if you count all three series, making it the longest currently-running creator-owned & operated comic. There's actually lots of Gold Digger this month, with a new mini-series, Throne of Shadows; a new Pocket Manga collection; a Swimsuit Special; and, if you want to catch up on everything Gold Digger, a 2-disc DVD-ROM set that contains every single Fred Perry-produced Gold Digger story to date.
Tinn Man #1
(Atlantis Studios, $2.95, p. 226)
Any comic that stars a smart African-American teen girl programmer and her AI robot is worth a look in my book.
Supermarket #3
(IDW, $3.99, p. 299)
Man, but wasn't the first issue the bomb? Best thing that Brian Wood has written, I think. And the art by Kristian Donaldson was supper spiffy and well-served by the high production values. Worth the $4, I should think.
Borrowed Time #1
(Oni, $6.95, p. 311)
Guy comes back from a trip to the Bermuda Triangle to a worls that is subtlely different from the one he left. I really like these sorts of stories, so here's hoping that Neal Shaffer & Joe Infurnari do a good job.
Queen & Country #30
(Oni, $2.99, p. 314)
Tara Chase is back in comics after the two novels where her life was put through a complete wringer. Rucka's mainstream work pales in camparison to Q&C, but I guess a guy has to pay the bills.
Thrud the Barbarian #1
(Thrud Comics, $2.95, p. 321)
Brit Carl Critchlow's barbarian spoof comes to the new world. Think Groo by way of Keith Giffen (in his Trencher days) and you'll get an idea of what this is like.
That wraps up my look at indy comics. (Sorry it took so long, but work and life have been kicking my ass these past couple of weeks.) A few days ago I highlighted mainstream comics, and in a few days I'll put up my Collections/GNs picks.
Aya #1Jalila #1
Rakan #1
Zein #1
(AK Entertainment, $2.95 ea., p. 213)
These are those Arab super-hero comics you've probably heard about. I have no idea if any of them will be any good, but at the very least they should be interesting.
Rex Libris #4
(Slave Labor, $2.95, p. 218)
Yes, James Turner uses a lot of words in this comic. But he uses so many that he ends up being very funny sometimes. Do any of you non-librarians enjoy this comic?
Wonderland #1(Slave Labor, $3.50, p. 218)
This is yet another of those 'what happened after Alice in Wonderland' stories, but since this grows out of Slave Labor's odd Disney license it is based on the Disney version, not the original. Also, it has art by Sonny Liew, which makes it worth picking up right there.
Gold Digger #75(Antarctic Press, $2.99, p. 222)
Celebrating 15 years of Gold Digger with a special 75th issue--which is actually #129 if you count all three series, making it the longest currently-running creator-owned & operated comic. There's actually lots of Gold Digger this month, with a new mini-series, Throne of Shadows; a new Pocket Manga collection; a Swimsuit Special; and, if you want to catch up on everything Gold Digger, a 2-disc DVD-ROM set that contains every single Fred Perry-produced Gold Digger story to date.
Tinn Man #1(Atlantis Studios, $2.95, p. 226)
Any comic that stars a smart African-American teen girl programmer and her AI robot is worth a look in my book.
Supermarket #3(IDW, $3.99, p. 299)
Man, but wasn't the first issue the bomb? Best thing that Brian Wood has written, I think. And the art by Kristian Donaldson was supper spiffy and well-served by the high production values. Worth the $4, I should think.
Borrowed Time #1(Oni, $6.95, p. 311)
Guy comes back from a trip to the Bermuda Triangle to a worls that is subtlely different from the one he left. I really like these sorts of stories, so here's hoping that Neal Shaffer & Joe Infurnari do a good job.
Queen & Country #30(Oni, $2.99, p. 314)
Tara Chase is back in comics after the two novels where her life was put through a complete wringer. Rucka's mainstream work pales in camparison to Q&C, but I guess a guy has to pay the bills.
Thrud the Barbarian #1(Thrud Comics, $2.95, p. 321)
Brit Carl Critchlow's barbarian spoof comes to the new world. Think Groo by way of Keith Giffen (in his Trencher days) and you'll get an idea of what this is like.
That wraps up my look at indy comics. (Sorry it took so long, but work and life have been kicking my ass these past couple of weeks.) A few days ago I highlighted mainstream comics, and in a few days I'll put up my Collections/GNs picks.
Tuesday, 14 March 2006
New This Week: March 15, 2006
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 Puffin's adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula by Gary Reed and Becky Cloonan, in a kid-friendly manga-sized black & white volume.
In other comics:
Antarctic have a new issue of Ninja High School (#136), the Oz the Manga Epilogue, and the 7th Gold Digger Pocket Manga volume.
Archie have the latest issue of Sabrina (#74).
Boom! have the second issue of Planetary Brigade.
Dark Horse have the 9th Samurai Executioner volume, collections of Chronicle of Conan (vol. 10) and Concrete (vol. 4), the debut of Conan: Book of Thoth, and the latest issue of the regular Conan (#26).
DC make silver age Superman fans happy with Showcase Presents Superman Family & Superman: Daily Planet collections, along with the OYL Superman #650. The rest of y'all will just have to make do with new issues of 100 Bullets (#70), DMZ (#5), JLA Classified (#18), Majestic (#15), Seven Soldiers: Bulleteer (#4), Infinite Crisis Secret Files 2006; and the OYL titles Birds of Prey (#92) & Green Arrow (#60).
DR Masters have the 17th(!) volume of Iron Wok Jan.
IDW have the penultimate issue of Angel: Old Friends (#4) and the debut issue of Spike vs. Dracula.
Image have new issues of Beyond Avalon (#3), Girls (#11), and The Walking Dead (#26).
Marvel have a collection of the better-than-you-thought-it-would-be Drax the Destroyer: Earth Fall; an Essential Godzilla collection; and new issues of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (#6), Fury: Peacemaker (#2), and Runaways (#14).
Oni have Hope Larson's Gray Horses.
Viz have the 6th volume of Tezuka's Phoenix.
And that wraps things up for this week. Enjoy your new comics!
The Pick of the Week is Puffin's adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula by Gary Reed and Becky Cloonan, in a kid-friendly manga-sized black & white volume.
In other comics:
Antarctic have a new issue of Ninja High School (#136), the Oz the Manga Epilogue, and the 7th Gold Digger Pocket Manga volume.
Archie have the latest issue of Sabrina (#74).
Boom! have the second issue of Planetary Brigade.
Dark Horse have the 9th Samurai Executioner volume, collections of Chronicle of Conan (vol. 10) and Concrete (vol. 4), the debut of Conan: Book of Thoth, and the latest issue of the regular Conan (#26).
DC make silver age Superman fans happy with Showcase Presents Superman Family & Superman: Daily Planet collections, along with the OYL Superman #650. The rest of y'all will just have to make do with new issues of 100 Bullets (#70), DMZ (#5), JLA Classified (#18), Majestic (#15), Seven Soldiers: Bulleteer (#4), Infinite Crisis Secret Files 2006; and the OYL titles Birds of Prey (#92) & Green Arrow (#60).
DR Masters have the 17th(!) volume of Iron Wok Jan.
IDW have the penultimate issue of Angel: Old Friends (#4) and the debut issue of Spike vs. Dracula.
Image have new issues of Beyond Avalon (#3), Girls (#11), and The Walking Dead (#26).
Marvel have a collection of the better-than-you-thought-it-would-be Drax the Destroyer: Earth Fall; an Essential Godzilla collection; and new issues of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (#6), Fury: Peacemaker (#2), and Runaways (#14).
Oni have Hope Larson's Gray Horses.
Viz have the 6th volume of Tezuka's Phoenix.
And that wraps things up for this week. Enjoy your new comics!
Monday, 13 March 2006
New Library Comics: Week of March 6, 2006
Here are the comics we got in for our library collection last week:
Abnett, Dan. Inquisitor ascendant. Book 1, The taint of Nicodemus / [Nottingham] : Black Library, 2002.
Boy trouble : gay boy comics with a new attitude /Seattle, WA : Boy Trouble Books, c2004.
Campbell, Eddie, 1955- Graffiti kitchen /Paddington Q, Aus. : Eddie Campbell Comics, c1998.
Eisner, Will. The contract with God trilogy : life on Dropsie Avenue /New York : W.W. Norton, c2006.
Abnett, Dan. Inquisitor ascendant. Book 1, The taint of Nicodemus / [Nottingham] : Black Library, 2002.
Boy trouble : gay boy comics with a new attitude /Seattle, WA : Boy Trouble Books, c2004.
Campbell, Eddie, 1955- Graffiti kitchen /Paddington Q, Aus. : Eddie Campbell Comics, c1998.
Eisner, Will. The contract with God trilogy : life on Dropsie Avenue /New York : W.W. Norton, c2006.
Sunday, 12 March 2006
Monkey Covers
Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover.
From 1975, it's the cover to The Jungle Twins #14, as Tono & Kono fight to save a damsel in distress from mutant gorillas. Mutant Gorillas! I love comic books!
(Standard disclaimer about mutant gorillas not really being monkeys applies.)
Image courtesy of the GCD. Click on the image for a larger version.
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