The Shipping Forecast for November 21st

The pick of the best new releases from our briny band. This week's catch includes works by Paul Dini, Yoshitaka Amano, Michael Jantze and Los Bros Hernandez.
19 November 2001

Welcome back to the Shipping Forecast, Ninth Art's weekly look at the latest comic book releases. Every Monday the crew at the Ninth Art lighthouse nominates the best and most interesting books about to hit your local store. The shipping list is subject to change. For the latest information, check out the Diamond web site.

GERMAN BIGHT PICKS:

JINGLE BELLE: JUBILEE ONE SHOT (Oni Press)
A seasonal holiday special. Those who've been paying attention will have noticed that I have a soft spot for compilation titles. Just give me an array of comics talent between two covers and I'm a happy little fishwife. It may be worth investigating the possibility that the editors of Oni have sold their souls as a job lot to the Devil, because they do have a knack for partnering up talent. ('Oni' means 'demon', don'cher know.) This is written by Paul Dini, with art segments by Steve Rolston, J Bone, Bill Morrison and (dig it!) Dan DeCarlo. All this plus pinups, puzzles and games from the likes of Sergio Aragones and Jill Thompson. A preview is available here.

LOVE AND ROCKETS VOLUME II #3 (Fantagraphics)
I can't find much information about this issue of LOVE AND ROCKETS, but, to take a wild guess, it'll be top quality, top notch storytelling by a couple of absolute masters of comics (and possibly their brother Mario, who contributes occasionally). Hopefully, Gilbert's latest storyline, 'Julio's Day', will carry on its leisurely way forward; Gilbert and Mario's 'Me for the Unknown' will provide more of its compelling blend of hardboiled politicised surrealist thriller; and, if we cross our fingers and ask nicely, Jaime will provide another window into the lives of Maggie, Hopey and company. You know you want it.

DORK SHADOWS (DORK TOWER TP VOL 2) (Dork Storm Press)
A bit of a cheaty pick this, because it's been in print for ages. However, as it's being resolicited then here's a golden opportunity to make with the hearty recommendations. Yes, it's a geekfest comic, but DORK TOWER is also funny, dammit. Even if you've never given long evenings over to gaming and you've never seen a D20. (Not that I have. Oh no. I'm just reading off a subculture crib sheet here. Honest.) For those of you out there whose formative years included even a smidgen of gaming or goths, this will be a real nostalgia trip for you.

PLYMOUTH PICKS:

NORM #0 (TheNorm.com)
I don't get to read Michael Jantze's strip THE NORM in my newspaper, so it showing up in other forms is a welcome relief. Not only is THE NORM genuinely funny (a real rarity these days in newspaper strips), but Jantze is able to actually tell interesting stories at the same time. This isn't a cringeworthy "gag-a-day" strip, this is something people would be falling over themselves to read if it was in comic book format. Now that it is, well, you've got no excuse.

LOVE AND ROCKETS VOLUME II #3 (Fantagraphics)
There are very few comics where the description involves characters sunbathing and you think, "This is going to be so well-written." I have complete and utter faith in Jaime, Gilbert, and Mario Hernandez that the new issue will have a wonderful mix of characterisation, drama, and emotion. It's awfully hard to find any other continuing series that is able to hit the mark so often. Don't worry if you've never read an issue before - the Hernandez Brothers will make your first experience a good one.

SKELEBUNNIES SPANKTACULAR (Slave Labor Graphics)
Despite the use of the word "spanktacular", this is not porn. It is, however, about two undead bunnies who twist and mutate the local wildlife, ride around on a fire-breathing demonic My Pretty Pony, yank off Satan's pants at ill-opportune moments, and generally do naughty things. Reprinting their hysterically funny original appearances in STITCH, Tommy Kovac's SKELEBUNNIES is perfect for warped people everywhere.

FISHER PICKS:

ELEKTRA & WOLVERINE: THE REDEEMER #1 (Marvel)
There are some very good reasons to be looking forward to this illustrated novella. The main two are that it's written by first-rate crime novelist Greg Rucka and illustrated by legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano. On the other hand, it's being serialised, with each issue costing six dollars, and it stars Elektra and Wolverine. My inner snob tells me fans of those two characters aren't likely to have much of an appreciation for this product, and I don't think Amano's fans were crying out to see his renditions of the characters either. It's nice to see Marvel diversifying its product in this way, and I certainly have high hopes that this'll be a quality story. That six dollar cover price means that I really don't know if I'll be buying it, though.

DAREDEVIL #27 (Marvel)
This is the second issue of Bendis' second run on Marvel Knights' DAREDEVIL, and if you can still find issue #26, it's a good time to jump onboard. Last issue contained a hefty dose of the familiar Bendis formula - it opened on a Latino gangster doing lots of talking, and then jumped to 'One Week Earlier', for goodness' sakes - but it seems to be working better here (and, after a terrible first issue, on ALIAS) than it does on POWERS. I'd had my doubts about Alex Maleev on this book - he's an excellent artist, but not someone I'd expect on a superhero title - yet he seems to be more than up to the task. Exceptional stuff.

DOGGER PICKS:

EAGLE VOL 4 TP (Viz)
It's not THE WEST WING, I admit. It's a deeply simplified look at parts of the American electoral process, and the characters are fairly easy to pigeonhole as "good" or "bad". But none of that matters. What we've got here is a story about family, and about finding your place, both within the family and within the world. And for all its simplicity, the political side of this book is still tense and gripping, full of intrigues and Machiavellian scheming. This is a cracking read, and excellent value for money.

JINGLE BELLE: JUBILEE ONE SHOT (Oni Press)
I should be grumpy about this. As much as I love Christmas, it belongs in December. I don't like the fact that adverts and decorations seem to arrive earlier and earlier each year. So you'd think that a festive one-shot like this turning up in November would get on my wick. But it's kind of hard to be upset about an offering that looks like so much festive fun. And given that Mr Dini has supplemented his own storytelling skills with the talents like Steve Rolston and J Bone, you'd have to be a miserable sod to pass this up. Even if the book isn't for you, I bet you know a kid somewhere that would love it.

Comics shipping in the US on November 21st:

DARK HORSE

SEP010022 GRENDEL THE DEVIL INSIDE #3 (Of 3) (MR) $2.99
JUN010061 STAR WARS INFINITIES A NEW HOPE #4 (Of 4) $2.99

DC COMICS

SEP010260 AMERICAN CENTURY #9 (MR) $2.50
SEP010182 BATMAN ORPHEUS RISING #4 (Of 5) $2.50
SEP010183 BIRDS OF PREY #37 $2.50
SEP010241 ESTABLISHMENT #3 $2.50
SEP010244 GEN 13 #71 $2.50
SEP010209 GREEN LANTERN TRAITOR TP $12.95
SEP010214 JLA GATEKEEPER #2 (Of 3) $4.95
SEP010219 JSA #30 $2.50
SEP010246 MONARCHY #9 $2.50
SEP010248 NINJA BOY #4 $2.95
SEP010224 ORION #20 $2.50
SEP010269 OUTLAW NATION #15 (MR) $2.50
SEP010225 PLASTIC MAN ARCHIVES VOL 3 HC $49.95
SEP010236 POWERPUFF GIRLS #21 $1.99
SEP010188 ROBIN #96 $2.25
SEP010252 STEAMPUNK #10 $2.50
SEP010194 SUPERBOY #94 $2.25
SEP010197 SUPERGIRL #64 $2.25
SEP010192 SUPERMAN THE MAN OF STEEL #120 $2.25
SEP010253 TALEWEAVER #3 (Of 6) $2.95
SEP010226 TITANS #35 $2.50

IMAGE

AUG011139 10TH MUSE PHOTO CVR #7 $2.95
AUG011138 10TH MUSE ROGER CRUZ CVR #7 $2.95
AUG011132 POWERS #15 $2.95
JUL011214 POWERS SCRIPTBOOK $19.95

MARVEL

SEP011475 CAPTAIN AMERICA #49 $2.25
SEP011461 DAREDEVIL #27 $2.99
AUG011434 DAREDEVIL YELLOW #5 $3.50
SEP011429 ELEKTRA & WOLVERINE THE REDEEMER #1 $5.95
AUG011440 FANTASTIC FOUR 1234 #4 $2.99
SEP011477 FANTASTIC FOUR WORLDS GREATEST COMIC MAGAZINE #12 $2.99
SEP011462 GHOST RIDER HAMMER LANE #6 $2.99
SEP011427 INCREDIBLE HULK #34 $2.25
SEP011473 IRON MAN #48 $2.25
SEP011479 NIGHTSIDE #2 $2.99
SEP011455 PETER PARKER SPIDER-MAN #37 $2.25
SEP011458 PUNISHER #6 $2.99
SEP011481 THUNDERBOLTS #58 $2.25
AUG011445 ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM UP #9 $2.25
AUG011425 ULTIMATE X-MEN #11 $2.25
SEP011424 US WAR MACHINE #11 (MR) $1.50
JUL011575 X-MEN POPTOPIA TP $16.95

OTHER PUBLISHERS

AUG012114 ADVS OF BARRY WEEN 3 MONKEY TALES #3 (Of 6) (O/A) (MR) $2.95
SEP012028F BATTLE POPE SHORTS #3 (MR) $2.95
SEP011934 CRUX #8 $2.95
AUG011875 DEADBEATS #50 $2.50
SEP011952 DORK SHADOWS COLL DORK TOWER TP VOL 2 CURR PRTG $15.95
SEP012250 DRAGONBALL Z PART 4 #12 (OF 13) $2.95
SEP012240 EAGLE VOL 4 TP $22.95
SEP012251 EL HAZARD PART 3 #5 (Of 6) $2.95
SEP012252 GUNDAM WING VOL 2 BLIND TARGET TP $12.95
AUG012047 HAMMER OF THE GODS #5 (Of 5) $2.95
SEP012133 JINGLE BELLE JUBILEE ONE SHOT $2.95
SEP015123 LADY DEATH LAST RITES #2 $2.99
SEP011851I LADY DEATH LAST RITES ALT CVR #2 $7.50
SEP011777 LAUGH DIGEST #171 $2.19
SEP011854 LEGEND OF THE SAGE #4 $2.99
SEP011855I LEGEND OF THE SAGE ALT CVR #4 $7.50
SEP011919 LODOSS WAR DEEDLITS TALE #4 $2.95 MAY012215 LOVE AND ROCKETS VOLUME II #3 (MR) $3.95
JUL012230F MURCIELAGA SHE BAT FLIPBOOK #2 (Of 3) $2.95
SEP011755 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL TEXTBOOK VOL 1 $49.95
AUG012166 NORM #0 $2.95
SEP011779 SABRINA VOL 2 #26 $1.99
SEP011930 SCION #18 $2.95
SEP011690 SHADOW REAVERS #4 $2.99
SEP011824 SIMPSONS COMICS #64 $2.50
SEP011729 SKELEBUNNIES SPANKTACULAR $2.95
SEP011923 SLAYERS SUPER EXPLOSIVE DEMON STORY #2 $2.95
SEP012203F SMILE VOL 3 #12 $4.99
AUG011730 VAMPI #12 REG ED $2.99
AUG011731 VAMPI #12 DLX ED $9.95
JUN012281 VICTORIAN #11 $2.95

The 9A Lighthouse Crew are Trafalgar, Shannon, Fastnet, Plymouth, Viking, German Bight, Finisterre, Forties, Dogger, Cromarty and Fisher.

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