Welcome back to the Shipping Forecast, Ninth Art's weekly look at the latest comic book releases. Every Monday we'll show you the week's shipping list from Diamond, and our three fisherman critics will make their picks of the most noteworthy new books hitting the shelves. Please note that the shipping list is subject to change.

FISHER PICKS:

FOUR WOMEN #1 (DC Wildstorm/Homage)
I don't know much about this series, beyond that it tells the story of four women and one broken down car, but I'll be buying it anyway. See, it's by Sam Kieth, whose ZERO GIRL was, in my opinion, one of the best and most original mini-series of the past year. Kieth is an innovative artist and a highly imaginative writer, and ZERO GIRL proved he has one of the most impressive directorial voices in the industry. Kieth's stories tends to be difficult to characterise, but it's fairly eccentric, sensitive, convention-defying stuff, illustrated in a nervous and energetic style. Pick up FOUR WOMEN #1, and if you like it, you'll know to keep an eye out for the ZERO GIRL trade, out later this month. But don't worry, we'll remind you about that when it gets here.

EXPO 2001 (Expo)
This year's Expo in Bethesda, Maryland, was cancelled due to its proximity - both in space and time - to the September 11 terrorist attacks. In spite of this, the exposition's annual anthology arrived at the Ninth Art lighthouse last week. It contains first rate contributions from Alex Robinson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Bo Hampton, Roger Langdridge, Renee French, Pete Sickman-Garner, Art Spiegelman and many, many others. It's a bumper crop of first rate talents for just $7.95, and all proceeds go to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, so you'll be expanding your horizons and helping the industry, all for one low, low price.

100 GREATEST MARVELS #1 (Marvel Comics)
DC's Millennium Editions series was clearly a big enough hit that the company decided it wanted to milk it for as long as possible, so now those bold innovators at Marvel are shamelessly copying it, but with a uniquely Marvel twist. They're collecting their 'greatest hits' in chunky weekly comics, so you can't just buy the ones you like, and they're not even telling you what's in them until they hit the shelves. Great. Thanks Marvel. That said, while DC may have more iconic characters, Marvel has tended to tell the better stories, so I'll be interested to see what these collections contain. I'll only be browsing in the store, mind you.

GERMAN BIGHT PICKS:

CASTLE WAITING VOL 2 #6 (Olio)
One of the things you have to learn when you start to get into indies and self-published comics is that you sometimes have to wait for quality. It's unreasonable to expect someone who takes on the entire process of producing a comic not to have scheduling lapses, because what you're asking is that these creators not have lives. Still, it's been particularly nailbiting waiting for the next CASTLE WAITING. Not a hint of it since I wound up in this lighthouse, or for some time before that, either. But it's back, and my interest in the story of Sister Peace, the girl who ran away from the circus to join a convent, hasn't diminished one jot. Linda Medley's love of fairy tales and classic children's books shines off every page. Her artwork and Todd Klein's lettering give an immaculate "clear line" look to the entire book. Welcome back, CASTLE WAITING, we missed you lots. (The cover shown here is for issue #5.)

FOUR WOMEN #1 (Of 5) (MR) (DC Wildstorm/Homage)
Many people praised Sam Kieth's last series, ZERO GIRL, to high heaven. I found it frequently inspired, quirky and entertaining, but ultimately disappointing. I'm going to be a little more cautious about this all-female road trip story - whether or not I pick it up will depend on my budget. However, the premise seems good. It may even be based more around character development than around original ideas that aren't given the space to develop to their best - which is where my problems with ZERO GIRL lay. On the other hand, I've had a glimpse of a preview and found it to be confusing and disturbing. If that's your thing, then you'll love this. FOUR WOMEN should be very satisfying for old fans of Sam Kieth, and it has the potential to win over new ones. We'll see.

HUNTER THE AGE OF MAGIC #4 (DC Vertigo)
Tim Hunter's back; older, possibly wiser, certainly taller and sporting an oh-so-hip goatee. Some may carp about soap opera elements to this series, and taking into account the high concept - teen magus goes to magic school - it sounds a little like Dawson's Creek meets Harry Potter. However, don't dismiss this too readily. We know through HICKSVILLE that Dylan Horrocks is very good at interpersonal dynamics and secrets; the art of letting what isn't said be as important as what is. There are signs that he's just about to get into his stride with HUNTER. For those suffering from Vertigo faerie fatigue, I say this - remember how good BOOKS OF MAGIC was when it started? My gut feeling is that this is leading somewhere good.

ZOOMS ACADEMY FOR THE SUPER GIFTED #2 (Astonish Comics)
Everything we said about this last week still stands. Buy it.

DOGGER PICKS:

ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE: OPERATION BOLLOCK #2
Stop looking at me like that. This is funny. No, It's not Garth Ennis' finest hour. No, it's not going to scoop handfuls of Eisners, or convince your granny that comics aren't just for kids any more. I don't give a monkey's. It's funny. I could go on about how it's an adaptation of the sort of comedy that one finds in British shows like THE FAST SHOW and 'ALLO ALLO, and how it works as a counterpoint to Ennis' currents WAR STORIES, but sod all that. Buy this because it will make you laugh.

BLUE MONDAY: ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS #4
This will also make you laugh. Of course, this is the last part of Chynna Clugston-Major's Britpunk-flavoured American high school miniseries, which means it's a bit late to start buying it now, but this is Oni Press, so there'll be a trade. There's already a trade of the first series, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT. Buy that for now, and you'll be clamouring for the trade of ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS. If you don't find these stories to be charming, funny, and filled with teen energy, then see a doctor, because there's something wrong with you.

CROMARTY PICKS:

ROBIN HOOD & MINSTREL GN (Moonstone Books)
Paul Storrie made his name writing ROBYN OF SHERWOOD for Caliber, a kind of ROBIN HOOD: THE NEXT GENERATION piece. Now he returns to the Sherwood legends, this time writing about Robin himself, for Moonstone. This is allegedly a "director's cut" of the Alan-a-Dale ballad, spinning a complete story out of the rather sparse original tale. Storrie knows his Robin, and last week's VAMPIRE release from Moonstone show that their production values - and shipping schedules! - are on track. Full colour, a complete story, looks beautiful. Check it out.

TRANSMETROPOLITAN #50 (DC Vertigo)
Been a while since I picked this, but it's worth reiterating: this is one of the most essential comics being published right now, and here we're into the last leg, Year Five. Spider is dying, President "Smiler" is seemingly unassailable, and everyone's favourite filthy assistants are slowly turning into Spider themselves. Foul-mouthed, intelligent and uncompromising: all this plus pretty pictures.

Comics shipping in the US on October 10:

DARK HORSE

AUG010048 PLANET OF THE APES #2 $2.99
JUL010047 SUPER MANGA BLAST #16 (MR) (Note Price) $5.99

DC COMICS

JUL010380 ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE OPERATION BOLLOCK #2 (Of 3) $2.50
AUG010185 BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #22 $2.50
AUG010246 DANGER GIRL KAMIKAZE #2 (RES) $2.95
AUG010259 FOUR WOMEN #1 (Of 5) (MR) $2.95
AUG010230 GREEN ARROW THE LONGBOW HUNTERS TP NEW PRTG $14.95
AUG010272 HUNTER THE AGE OF MAGIC #4 $2.50
AUG010187 IMPULSE #79 $2.50
AUG010184 JOKER LAST LAUGH #2 (Of 6) $2.95
AUG010188 NIGHTWING #62 $2.25
AUG010243 SCOOBY-DOO #53 $1.99
AUG010237 SUICIDE SQUAD #2 $2.50
AUG010222 SUPERGIRL WINGS $5.95
AUG010189 SUPERMAN #175 (Note Price) $3.50
AUG010277 TRANSMETROPOLITAN #50 (MR) $2.50

IMAGE

FEB011252 DARK ANGEL PHOENIX RESURRECTION #4 $2.95
AUG011126 IMAGE INTRODUCES PRIMATE CVR A #1 $2.95
AUG011127 IMAGE INTRODUCES PRIMATE CVR B #1 $2.95
AUG011129 LAST SHOT #2 $2.95
AUG011141 MAGDALENA ANGELUS #1/2 $2.95
JUL011210 NOBLE CAUSES FIRST IMPRESSIONS $2.95
MAY011358 POWERS #14 (MR) $2.95
JUL011215 RANDY ODONNELL IS THE MAN #3 $2.95
APR00011398 SPAWN THE DARK AGES #28 $2.50
AUG011140 WARLANDS AGE #3 $2.95

MARVEL

AUG011450 100 GREATEST MARVELS #1 $7.50
AUG011455 BLACK PANTHER #37 $2.50
AUG011420 CYCLOPS #3 $2.50
AUG011411 FURY #2 (MR) $2.99
AUG011457 IRON MAN #47 $2.25
MAY011636 MARVEL KNIGHTS #15 $2.99
AUG011437 PUNISHER #5 $2.99
AUG011421 X-TREME X-MEN #6 $2.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

JUL011828E ARCHIE #515 $1.99
MAY012116 ASTRA #1 $2.95
MAY012332 BLUE MONDAY ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS #4 (Of 4) (MR) $2.95
JUN0012268 CASTLE WAITING VOL 2 #6 (RES) $2.95
JUN0012045 DARK ANGEL #28 $2.95
MAY012156 DEMENTED SCORPION CHILD #5 (Of 5) (MR) $2.95
AUG012222 DRAGONBALL PART 4 #3 (Of 10) $2.95
AUG012224 DRAGONBALL Z VOL 6 TP $12.95
JUN0012077 DREAMS OF THE DARKCHYLDE #6 $2.95
AUG011876 ELVIRA #102 $2.50
JUL011836E HOLIDAY FUN DIGEST #6 $2.19
JUL011839E LAUGH DIGEST #170 $2.19
AUG011899 LODOSS WAR DEEDLITS TALE #3 $2.95
AUG011908 MYSTIC #17 $2.95
JUL011922E PURGATORI DARKEST HOUR #2 $2.99
AUG012212 RANMA 1/2 PART 10 #7 (Of 11) $2.95
AUG012079 ROBIN HOOD & MINSTREL GN $5.95
AUG012231 SILENT MOBIUS ADVENT #4 (Of 6) $2.95
APR00012233 THB 6D MEK POWER #4 (Of 4) (RES) (Note Price) $4.95
JUL011842E VERONICA #119 $1.99
MAY011983 ZOOMS ACADEMY FOR THE SUPER GIFTED #2 $3.50

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

This article is Ideological Freeware. The author grants permission for its reproduction and redistribution 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.