On The Shelves: 1/17/07

Reading is fundamental. Don’t waste your time reading bad comics out of habit!

My weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 1/17/07. The full shipping list, as always, is available at ComicList.

[NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com]

PICK OF THE WEEK

Batman: Year One Hundred
AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Tron #3, $3.50

As a casual fan who was intrigued by the first issue — which came out last April! — I’m quickly losing interest in Tron. IIRC, this issue gets a new artist, which may or may not help matters as Louie Di Martinis work was solid, if unspectacular.

BARON PUBLISHING LLC
Barrons Graphic Classics Hunchback Of Notre Dame SC, $8.99
Barrons Graphic Classics Moby Dick SC, $8.99
Barrons Graphic Classics Oliver Twist HC, $15.99
Barrons Graphic Classics Treasure Island HC, $15.99

These actually look pretty interesting, and considering I’ve avoided reading any of them in their original form, might be a good way to get a few required reading classics under my belt!

CARTOON BOOKS
Bone Vol 5 Rock Jaw Master Of Eastern Border Color Ed SC, $9.99

This is apparently the latest Scholastic color edition of Bone, from their GRAPHIX imprint, so I’m not sure why it’s listed under Cartoon Books. The first volume was excellent and I’m looking forward to getting through the entire series.

DARK HORSE COMICS
Conan #36, $2.99
Conan & The Midnight God #1 (Of 5), $2.99

The latest Conan spinoff is written by Joshua Dysart, who penned the excellent Captain Gravity and the Power of the Vril, so I’m really looking forward to this: “Barbarian hordes! Crafty political wizards! A profound emotional loss for an older, wiser Conan! Armies on the march! Every man for himself and Crom against all!”

DC COMICS
Batman Year One Hundred TPB, $19.99
Helmet Of Fate Detective Chimp #1, $2.99

I wasn’t familiar with Paul Pope’s work when I picked up the first issue of Batman: Year One Hundred, and it took the second issue to really hook me, but it’s a fun, dystopian future take on Batman that doesn’t ape Miller’s Dark Knight too much. (Recently read 100% and enjoyed that, too.) *** Dr, Fate is one of those random characters I have an inexplicable affinity for, largely because I love his costume. These one-shots are tempting, especially with the recently announced ongoing series launching in April by Steve Gerber.

MARVEL COMICS
Spider-Man Reign #2 (Of 4), $3.99
Storm Premiere HC Var Ed, $19.99
Storm Premiere HC, $19.99

Spider-Man: Reign may be an unabashed riff on Dark Knight, but the first issue proved there was some potential in the concept and I’m looking forward to reading Dan’s copy. *** A variant edition of the Storm hardcover? Some much for Marvel acting responsibly and “being willing to walk away from short-term money”.

NIGHT SHADE BOOKS
Bronze Novel Of Terror SC, $14.95
Hart & Boot & Other Stories, $14.95
Imaro Vol 2 Quest For Cush SC, $14.95

Not sure why these are listed with the comics as they appear to be novels, but Night Shade’s web site is worth a peek for fans of genre fiction. Imaro sounds particulary intriguing: “Imaro 2: The Quest For Cush is the second book in Charles Saunders’ series of African inspired heroic fantasy. It begins with the reunion of Imaro, and his kidnapped lover Tanisha, who has been taken to the ruined City of Madness. With the help of their new found friend, Pomphis, a Pygmay from the eastern forests of Nyumbani, they learn of the sorcerous forces that may have been behind the dark wizard that destroyed Imaro’s youth. ”

VIPER COMICS
Villains Vol 1 Thick As Thieves TPB, $12.95

I think I missed the final issue of this mini-series, which I was enjoying very much.

Magazines
Back Issue #20, $6.95

Midtown always seems to get Back Issue a week early, so I’ve already devoured most of this “Secret Identities” issue. There’s a great (and timely) interview with Steve Engelhart and Sal Buscema on Captain America’s days as Nomad, as well as articles on Firestorm, Moon Knight, the Question, and an impassioned defense of the much-maligned Vince Colletta by Bob McCleod.

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