The Shipping Forecast for January 28th

The January lull rolls on, so thank heaven for John Rozum and a return trip to MIDNIGHT, MASS, not to mention a chance to spend another night at the opera in the company of P Craig Russell.
26 January 2004

Welcome to the Shipping Forecast, Ninth Art's pick of the best and most notable new releases hitting comic stores each week.

COMIC OF THE WEEK:

MIDNIGHT, MASS: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS #1 (DC Vertigo)
A welcome return for an old lighthouse favourite, this series picks up pretty much where the original MIDNIGHT, MASS left off. If you haven't read the previous series - don't worry, the new series doesn't require prior knowledge. Adam and Julia Kadmon are happily married paranormal investigators. They have an assistant called Jenny, who had a Deep Dark Secret in the last series, but that's no longer the problem it once was. This time around, the problem revolves around an old demon adversary named Magellan, who is set on making a demon colony of the town of Hope Falls. Despite a weakness for portentous names, writer John Rozum has a knack for intriguing plotting and cracking dialogue (shown off best in the Kadmons' exchanges). Although the previous art team of Jesus Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti will be much missed, previews show that Paul Lee is a perfectly acceptable replacement. Again, the distinctive and atmospheric covers are provided by Tomer Hanuka. It's good to see this series back. Let's hope we see more of it in the future. (Hint hint, DC.) [German Bight]

ALSO THIS WEEK:

WONDER WOMAN #200 (DC Comics)
There are a lot of die-hard WONDER WOMAN fans in the world, but apparently not enough to make the book a best-seller. A lot of people picked up the title for the first time when Greg Rucka took over as writer, bringing with him artist Drew Johnson. I can count myself among those who had never read an issue of Wonder Woman's adventures prior to this current run, but I think I'm on the brink of conversion. Yes, it's all a bit WEST WING, and action seems to have taken a back seat to ideology so far, but there's clearly a real plan behind it all, and it's smarter than your average spandex. This 200th issue wraps up Rucka's first arc, and there's a bundle of extras to boot, including 'excerpts' from Diana's book, and contributions from Linda Medley, Ty Templeton and Rick Burchett among others. [Fisher]

BOOKS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

Because we can't always give you the most up-to-date shipping information, we'll also give you an occasional look at some of the best books that have recently shipped or are expected to ship in the coming weeks.

ROSE & THORN #2 (DC Comics)
This one sneaked past the lighthouse due to heavy fog last month. But having read that first issue, it has spiked my interest. It's a fine debut for the series from Funny Book Writer Gail Simone. Actually, anyone who prejudges this on Gail's back catalogue would be advised to leave their preconceptions at the door to the DC Universe. It occurs to me that Marvel would have chucked this out in a MAX series, but DC isn't afraid to show the darker side of its major continuity crossover potential (except where Vertigo/DCU crossovers are concerned, obviously). ROSE & THORN is a nice development of the split personality of the superhero, some of which was present in earlier versions of the character, with art by Adriana Melo and Dan Green that's reminiscent of PROMETHEA. Introverted and insecure by day, wild and uninhibited by night, Rose and Thorn really do seem like two people sharing the same body. This 'revamp' of an existing character could prove as successful for new and old readers alike as was STARMAN. [Forties]

THE P CRAIG RUSSELL LIBRARY OF OPERA ADAPTATIONS VOL 2 (NBM)
This welcome second hardcover collection of Russell's opera adaptations includes his versions of Maeterlinck's 'Ariane & Bluebeard' and Wagner's 'Parsifal', as well as two songs by Mahler. Most of the adaptations are in colour, but the best of the bunch as in my view is his sinister black and white adaptation of Leoncavallo's 'I Pagliacci', aka 'The Clowns'. It all sounds worryingly elitist, of course, but you don't need to know or even care about opera to enjoy this work. Russell is one of the medium's finest storytellers, and his every page is an exquisite work of art. These are epic tales of grand emotions played out with theatrical extravagance, and Russell gets it all down there in pen and ink. Plus, there are pirates, and knights in shining armour. What else could you possibly want? [Fisher]

PICKS OF 2003:

In the last of our special picks of 2003, German Bight and Forties makes their choices of personal favourites from last year.

GERMAN BIGHT: For a few of us, 2003 will be remembered as the year Alan Moore retired from the mainstream (again). But before he gave up the fat contracts, The Magus left us with a few last issues from the ABC imprint, including SMAX, giving us not only the return of characters from TOP TEN, but also Zander Cannon's first big art job in ages. SMAX brought together one of my favourite writers, one of my favourite artists, and some of my favourite characters, and the whole package makes me laugh indecently loudly. Moore crops up again in my top pick of anthologies - TOP SHELF ASKS THE BIG QUESTIONS. A large and diverse collection of work, it seems overwhelming, but is ideal for dipping in and out of as the mood takes you. Favourite pieces are down to personal taste, but a couple of standout sections are an interview with David Chelsea and the collection of tributes to Charles Schulz. Also giving me good cheer was Viz's decision to start publishing Osamu Tezuka's lifework PHOENIX from the very start (and, thankfully, in a more manageable size then their first, non-chronological, publication of one part). The combination of epic tale and leisurely publishing schedule will keep me happy for a good few years.

FORTIES: In ALIAS, Brian Bendis and Michael Gaydos presented readers with a mature study of the mind of a super-powered character within the Marvel Universe. Of course, they couldn't quite let Bendis loose on a central character, but several of them featured in the series. The start of last year saw Jessica Jones attempting to engage in a normal life, blind dates, occasional jobs and, of course, brushes with Marvel heroes. The year (and the series) finished with the story of the Purple Man and his part in Jessica's Secret Origin. In telling this story Bendis managed to subvert a number of superhero conventions - a character aware that they are in a comic; a truly secret origin repressed even by the character; and a multi-hero team-up crossover. Oh, and it's "Not an imaginary tale". Nabiel Kanan's THE BIRTHDAY RIOTS tells of events surrounding a London Mayoral election from the point of view of one of the campaign advisors. His family life - which had been a refuge for him - becomes entangled with his professional life, as two of his key relationships collide. Gracefully illustrated, with iconic yet emotional imagery for a taut operatic story without the soap.

THE SHIPPING LIST FOR JANUARY 28th:

Shipping details come courtesy of Diamond. Visit the Diamond website for the latest information, as the list is subject to change.

DARK HORSE

OCT030038 ULTRAMAN TIGA #5 (Of 10) $3.99

DC COMICS

NOV030195 BATGIRL #48 $2.50
NOV030192 BATMAN #623 $2.25
NOV030220 CAPER #4 (Of 12) (MR) $2.95
NOV030252 CARTOON CARTOONS #26 $2.25
NOV030202 CATWOMAN #27 $2.50
NOV030224 FLASH #206 $2.25
JUN030223 GLOBAL FREQUENCY #11 (Of 12) $2.95
NOV030227 GREEN ARROW THE SOUNDS OF VIOLENCE TP $12.95
NOV030229 GREEN LANTERN #173 $2.25
NOV030236 HAWKMAN #24 $2.50
NOV030272 HELLBLAZER #192 (MR) $2.75
NOV030231 JLA #92 $2.25
NOV030240 LEGION #29 $2.50
NOV030274 LOSERS #8 (MR) $2.95
NOV030279 MIDNIGHT MASS HERE THERE BE MONSTERS #1 (Of 6) (MR) $2.95
NOV030282 PRIDE AND JOY TP (MR) $14.95
NOV030246 REIGN OF THE ZODIAC #6 $2.75
NOV030211 SUPERMAN #201 $2.25
NOV030215 SUPERMAN METROPOLIS #12 (Of 12) $2.95
NOV030249 TEEN TITANS GO #3 $2.25
NOV030266 THUNDERCATS VOL 2 THE RETURN TP $12.95
SEP030307 TWO STEP #2 (Of 3) (MR) $2.95
NOV030268 WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #18 (MR) $2.95
NOV030250 WONDER WOMAN #200 (Note Price) $3.95

IMAGE

AUG031231 POWERS #36 (MR) $2.95
NOV031284 WILDGUARD CASTING CALL GRANT CVR B #5 (Of 6) $2.95
NOV031283 WILDGUARD CASTING CALL NAUCK CVR A #5 (Of 6) $2.95

MARVEL

NOV031506 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #503 (#62) $2.25
NOV031495 CAPTAIN MARVEL #19 $2.99
NOV031538 EMMA FROST #7 $2.50
NOV031496 HAWKEYE #4 $2.99
OCT035240 HULK GAMMA GAMES #2 (OF 3) (PU#602) $2.99
NOV031529 HULK GRAY #5 (Of 6) $3.50
NOV031493 HULK NIGHTMERICA #5 (Of 6) (RES) $2.99
NOV031490 INCREDIBLE HULK #66 $2.25
NOV031537 MYSTIQUE #10 $2.99
NOV031492 SILVER SURFER #5 $2.25
NOV031533 THE PUNISHER #2 (MR) $2.99
NOV031487 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #2 $2.25
NOV031502 ULTIMATE SIX #6 (Of 7) $2.25
NOV031539 VENOM #10 (Note Price) $2.99
NOV031517 X-STATIX #18 $2.99
NOV031518 X-TREME X-MEN #40 $2.99
NOV031565 X-TREME X-MEN VOL 6 INTIFADA TP $16.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

NOV032182 ABADAZAD #2 $2.95
NOV032050 ARCHIE #545 $2.19
NOV032640 BASARA VOL 4 TP $9.95
NOV032641 BOYS OVER FLOWERS VOL 4 TP HANA YORI DANGO $9.95
NOV031967 DEMO #3 (Of 12) (MR) $2.95
NOV032282 DUEL MASTERS #3 $2.95
NOV032245 GI JOE COBRA REBORN $4.95
NOV032060 JUGHEAD WITH ARCHIE DIGEST #190 $2.39
OCT032578 KOLCHAK NIGHT STALKER PAIN MOST HUMAN GN (MR) $6.95
OCT032580 MOONSTONE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER RETURNS $4.95
NOV032064 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #82 $3.59
AUG032174 PS238 #5 $2.99
NOV032656 RANMA 1/2 VOL 25 TP $9.95
NOV032136 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #24 (MR) $2.95
NOV032272 TRANSFORMERS GENERATION ONE VOL 3 #1 $2.95
NOV032659 TUXEDO GIN VOL 4 TP $9.95
NOV032360 UNCLE SCROOGE #326 $6.95
NOV032067 VERONICA #149 $2.19
NOV032361 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #641 $6.95
NOV032666 YU YU HAKUSHO VOL 3 TP $7.95

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

Ninth Art endorses the principle of Ideological Freeware. The author permits distribution of this article by private individuals, on condition that the author and source of the article are clearly shown, no charge is made, and the whole article is reproduced intact, including this notice.