August 31, 2010
This Isn’t A Library: New And Notable Releases To The Comics Direct Market
*****
Here are the books that make an impression on me staring at this week's no-doubt largely accurate list of books shipping from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. to comic book and hobby shops across North America.
I might not buy all of the works listed here. I might not buy any. But if I were anywhere near a comic shop, I would sweep into the store, cloak in hand, take off my mask and declare, "I have arrived."
*****
JUL100069 AMAZING SCREW ON HEAD & OTHER CURIOUS OBJECTS HC $17.99
JUL100073 BALTIMORE PLAGUE SHIPS #2 $3.50
JUL100072 HELLBOY THE STORM #3 (OF 3) $2.99
That is a lot of Mike Mignola-related material. He's become sort of a mini-publishing mogul, at least as far as comics lets you do that before you start breaking out the sweatshop floorplans.
MAR100143 UMBRELLA ACADEMY POCKET WATCH & STATUE SET $129.99
If I were going to be beat up for owning one nerdly object, I would hope it was a pocket watch. A fez wouldn't be bad, either.
JUL100110 BRIGHTEST DAY #9 $2.99
Do do sales relative to the last event series prove once and for all that comics fans would rather see characters die than brought back to life?
APR100462 KING CITY #11 (MR) $2.99
People are going to be digging into back-issue bins after this one for a while to come.
JUL100598 TASKMASTER #1 (OF 4) $3.99
I like a villain where the secret to defeating him is to not let him take video of you on his camera phone.
JUL100615 THOR FOR ASGARD #1 (OF 6) $3.99
It feels like there's something wrong with the market where folding extra series into the publishing mix makes sense give the relatively modest numbers these series are selling. It's like if TV somehow made it worth one's time to do multiple series spin-offs of shows like
According To Jim. Wouldn't we think it strange if there were four
According To Jim series and one-offs going at the same time? I think we would.
JUL101038 AMULET SC VOL 03 CLOUD SEARCHERS $10.99
More people may read this book than any three other books on the list combined.
JUL100741 ANTHOLOGY PROJECT HC VOL 01 (MR) $24.99
Humorous description of comic.
JUN100998 DRUNKEN DREAM & OTHER STORIES HC $24.99
The class of this week's offering, an engaging selection of stories from a very talented creator. The history, but the stories just work as weird, little stories.
JUL100890 LIFE & TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK HC VOL 01 (AUG090745) $24.99
I don't understand what permutation of this work is being published and at what point and where it all fits in with past publication efforts on this material, but it's really good stuff. If I were in a comic shop, I'd totally be checking this one out.
JUL101162 STITCHES GN $15.95
I had no idea that a paperback version of last year's well-liked and well-regarded book was due. Well, here it is. I like this cover better.
*****
The full list of this week's releases, including some titles with multiple cover variations and a long, impressive list of toys and other stuff that isn't comics,
can be found here. Despite this official list there's no guarantee a comic will show up in the stores as promised, or in all of the stores as opposed to just a few. Also, stores choose what they carry and don't carry so your shop may not carry a specific publication. There are a lot of comics out there.
To find your local comic book store,
check this list; and for one I can personally recommend because I've shopped there, albeit a while back,
try this.
The above titles are listed with their Diamond order code in the first field, which may assist you in finding comics at your shop or having them order something for you they don't have in-stock. Ordering through a direct market shop can be a frustrating experience, so if you have a direct line to something -- you know another shop has it, you know a bookstore has it -- I'd urge you to consider all of your options.
If I didn't list your comic here, that's because I'm busy being fearful of the new realities of comics publishing.
*****
posted 10:00 am PST |
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