The Shipping Forecast for August 22nd

Weird science! Talking apes! Men in rhinoceros costumes! These are the reasons you read comics! And they're all hitting the shelves this week.
20 August 2001

Every week in the Shipping Forecast, Ninth Art's team of brine-speckled fisherman critics take a look at the most notable new comic releases arriving on the shelves of your local store, with a little help from the Diamond shipping list.

Please note that the shipping list is a fool, and it's only a fool that trusts a fool.

CROMARTY PICKS:

POWERS #13 (MR) (Image)
The second issue of the new 'Groupies' storyline, in which Bendis looks at what may be the ultimate fanboy/girl fantasy - shagging superheroes. Difficult to know, based on last month's issue, where this will be headed. On the one hand, we can trust Bendis to deliver us a good story at the very least. On the other, after the disappointing previous 'Roleplayers' arc, it's beginning to look like Bendis is using POWERS as an excuse to slaughter sacred geek cows, when I for one would rather see him concentrate on a good crime story. Still - the covers are a nice touch.

ANGEL AND THE APE #1 (Of 4) (DC Vertigo)
To all the people complaining that Vertigo aren't bizarre enough any more, here is a timely reminder of that old adage: be careful what you wish for. We have Angel, a sexy private eye by day, society 'IT' girl by night. Yawn. And her partner is an ape. An ape who is both an aspiring comic book artist and a detective. Yes. Sure, this premise worked back in the 60s, when DC were riding off a BatWave of campy silliness. But bringing this particular comic back - "Vertigo style!" no less - and giving it to Howard Chaykin?! I dunno. This is one of those that could either be utter genius, or a contender for Worst Revamp Ever.

FISHER PICKS:

NEW X-MEN #116 (Marvel)
This is now being promised for the third week in a row! Yeah, right. Whatever. The last drips of enthusiasm left me over a week ago, I'm afraid.

TANGLED WEB #5 FLOWERS FOR RHINO (Marvel)
Morrison and Quitely, who used to do NEW X-MEN together, before they went into retirement or hibernation or wherever the hell it is they've buggered off to, have oft been hailed as a great working partnership. Fair enough, but while they're getting all the hype, TANGLED WEB sees the reunion of another great double act that deserves at least as much acclaim. Pete Milligan and Duncan Fegredo, who conspired on Vertigo's FACE, SHADE and the shamefully still-never-collected GIRL, are now at Marvel to tell a Rhino tale. The cover art alone is mouthwatering. The story - what happens when an idiot bruiser finally gets a clue? - is bound to feature Milligan's usual brand of romantic bitterness and poetic self-flagellation. Irresistible.

TOMORROW STORIES #11 (ABC/DC Wildstorm)
Sometimes called "that other ABC book. No, not LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. The other one." The reason this title is rightly regarded as something of a fifth wheel in the ABC canon is that it's so very uneven. "Cobweb" almost never fails to be a chore to read, "Splash Brannigan" and "First American" are horribly hit and miss, with a few too many in the miss column, and only "Greyshirt" ever proves consistently enjoyable. The title's best strip is "Jack B. Quick", but it rarely appears. However, this issue does promise an Art Adams "Cobweb", which can only be an improvement on Melinda Gebbie and Dame Darcy. Roll on INDIGO SUNSET, the Greyshirt miniseries.

DOGGER PICKS:

COFFIN TP (Oni Press)
This is a man kept alive by Cling-Film, for god's sake. It doesn't get more lunatic than this - a world where death has been conquered by something I use to wrap up the remains of my dinner. Well, perhaps that's not strictly true - there's Weird Science to explain it, too. As with last week's HOPELESS SAVAGES, you had your chance to take a look at this in the ONI PRESS COLOUR SPECIAL a few weeks ago. If you didn't give Phil Hester and Mike Huddleston's creation a look then, you won't have seen that the art is every bit as lovely as the story is mad. So take your chance to get a look at it now.

PROMETHEA #16 (ABC/DC Wildstorm)
Alan Moore. J.H.Williams. This really ought to tell you everything you need to know. While I agree with columnist Paul O'Brien that this book gets the readership you'd expect of an esoteric title like this, I'm still left faintly disappointed that it doesn't do better. Even if Moore's metaphysics leave you cold, these are two of the cleverest men in comics producing work that really is an object lesson in the possibilities of the form. Frankly, simple artistic appreciation should get this book a higher audience. Regardless, for my money, this is a book you can't afford to miss.

GERMAN BIGHT PICKS:

GIRL GENIUS #4 (Studio Foglio)
The fourth issue of this steampunk mystery thriller with a generous pinch of comedy, featuring the action-packed adventures of Agatha Clay, marks the book's transition from black and white to colour. Terrible old reactionary snob that I am, I fear the sudden garish brightness, but if colour brings more readers to this title, then bring it on. It may augment rather than swamp the art style, which is cartoony and packed with details that draw you into every panel. Co-authors Phil and Kaja Foglio have established enjoyably breakneck pacing, and have introduced a large cast of characters and established personalities so competently that most readers will understand perfectly what's going on and who's who. I'd recommend picking this up now before the plot moves on too far.

ANGEL AND THE APE #1 (Of 4) (Vertigo)
There are some folk who are worried about the re-emergence of monkeys into the zeitgeist of comics culture. They fear that all non-simian related comic titles will crumble into rubble like a statue on the shore. I say they're being a little over-dramatic. It's just a faddish retro revival having its time in the sun. Here's a sure sign that the fad's taken hold - the return of an old DC monkey comic with a modern twist. It's drawn by Philip Bond, an artist who's got the funk, has always had the funk and probably has a large chunk o' funk locked in his cellar in case of lean times, so there's no-one better suited to drawing this book. The writing team is AMERICAN CENTURY's Howard Chaykin and David Tischman. Covers by Art Adams - the man who makes monkeys the business.

COFFIN TP (Oni Press)
A comic that I wilfully overlooked when it was a series. Then I read the short story in ONI PRESS COLOR SPECIAL and felt like a bit of a prat. If this is anything like that short piece, than you'll be reading a work of sensitivity and understated lyricism. It will sneak up on your emotions and grad hold before you know what's happening. From what I know of the premise, a scientist traps his soul in his own corpse by using a machine known as 'the Coffin'. He then carries on after death to take care of unfinished business, but this involves taking care of loved ones and coming to terms with his new existence as much as it does revenging himself on his killers. I avoided this thinking it was steampunk-goth misery, but I'm glad to have the chance to correct my mistake with the trade.

Comics shipping in the US on August 22nd:

DARK HORSE

JUN010020 USAGI YOJIMBO #51 $2.99

DC COMICS

JUN010408 ACTION COMICS #782 $2.25
JUN010487 ANGEL AND THE APE #1 (Of 4) $2.95
JUN010413 BATMAN #594 $2.25
JUN010421 BATMAN ORPHEUS RISING #1 (Of 5) $2.50
JUN010468 CYBERNARY 2.0 #2 (Of 6) $2.95
JUN010401 DEADMAN DEAD AGAIN #4 (Of 5) $2.50
JUN010463 DEXTERS LABORATORY #25 (RES) (NOTE PRICE) $0.50
JUN010454 LEGION WORLDS #5 (Of 6) $3.95
JUN010502 MAD BATHROOM COMPANION #2 TP $9.95
JUN010471 MONSTER WORLD #4 (Of 4) $2.95
JUN010453 ORION #17 $2.50
JUN010480 PROMETHEA #16 $2.95
JUN010426 ROBIN #93 $2.25
JUN010494 SANDMAN PRESENTS DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #3 (Of 4) $2.50
JUN010458 TITANS #32 $2.50
MAR010454 TOMORROW STORIES #11 $2.95
JUN010479 WILDSTORM SUMMER SPECIAL $5.95

IMAGE

JUN011293 AGENCY #2 $2.50
APR011329 BATTLE CHASERS #9 $3.50
MAY011352 CLERKS THE COMIC BOOKS TP (MR) $10.95
APR011352 POWERS #13 (MR) $2.95
APR011353 RAIL $5.95
APR011361 TELLOS THE LAST HEIST $5.95

MARVEL

JUN011623 AVENGERS THE ULTRON IMPERATIVE $5.99
MAY011647 BROTHERHOOD #3 $2.25
JUN011604 DAREDEVIL #22 $2.99
JUN011591 DEADPOOL AGENT OF WEAPON X #1 $2.25
JUN011624 IRON MAN 2001 ANNUAL $2.99
APR011633 MARVEL KNIGHTS #14 $2.99
MAY011645 NEW X-MEN #116 $2.25
JUN011592 ROGUE #1 $2.50
JUN011601 TANGLED WEB #5 FLOWERS FOR RHINO $2.99
MAY011676 US AGENT #3 (Of 3) $2.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

MAY012408 ANIME ART GALLERY ART OF RANMA 1/2 $24.95
JUN011913 ARCHIE AND FRIENDS STARRING JOSIE & PUSSYCATS #51 $1.99
JUN011916 BETTY #103 $1.99
JUN011919 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #100 $3.29
MAY012315 BONEYARD #2 (O/A) $2.95
APR012031 CHASTITY SHATTERED #3 $2.99
JUN012270 COFFIN TP $11.95
JUN012374 DRAGONBALL Z PART 4 #9 (Of 15) $2.95
MAR011787 DREADSTAR TP VOL 4 SECRET OF Z $16.95
JUN012376 EL HAZARD PART 3 #2 (Of 6) $2.95
JUN011965 FUTURAMA COMICS #5 $2.50
JUN012319F GIRL GENIUS #4 (Note Price) $3.95
JUN012368 INU YASHA VOL 9 TP $15.95
MAY012122 MARTIAN SUCCESSOR NADESICO #26 $2.95
JUN012051 MAXION #21 (MR) $2.95
JUN012062 SCION #15 $2.95
JUN012331F SMILE VOL 3 #9 $4.99
JUN012061 SOJOURN #2 $2.95
JUN012210F VAMPIRE PRINCESS YUI VOL 1 TP $17.95
MAR012068 VAMPIRELLA MODEL SEARCH SPECIAL $2.95

MAGAZINES

JUN012356 ANIMERICA VOL 9 #8 $4.95
JUN012405J COMIC SHOP NEWS #740 PI

RELATED MERCHANDISE

JUN012355F JOHN BUSCEMA SKETCHBOOK SC $15.95

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

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