The Shipping Forecast has been providing Ninth Art readers with a heads up on the best new comics arriving at stores each and every week for the past six months, and it's still going strong. Don't forget, you can download the Shipping Forecast to your PDA, and be notified about updates by joining the Ninth Art mailing list (see front page).

The shipping list is subject to change. Visit the Diamond website for the latest details.

CROMARTY PICKS:

GRIP: THE STRANGE WORLD OF MEN #1 $2.50 (DC Vertigo)
Gilbert Hernandez, of Los Bros Hernandez fame, makes his Vertigo debut. Which makes me wonder why he hasn't done anything before at the imprint. Because they foolishly never asked him? Or because he didn't want to? Either way, giving someone like Gilbert a free reign to 'do a Vertigo' must surely be a good thing. "Mike Chang's worst nightmares about gender, identity and conspiracy theories are about to collide - and come true," the blurb copy says. Which tells us nothing. The cover picture, however - well, just look at it. That tells me all I need to know. Sold.

PLANETARY: THE FOURTH MAN TP (DC Wildstorm)
As if it weren't bad enough that DC takes an age to get around to releasing the collections of PLANETARY, they do so in hardback only for six months. Gee, thanks. So finally, this is out in softback, and I expect it to be a big seller; what with it finally answering the big mystery that occupied most of the series' first half, and everything. PLANETARY is a book you'll find yourself repeatedly re-reading, especially for John Cassaday's gorgeous linework. If you aren't already a reader, give yourself an early Christmas present; buy this and ALL OVER THE WORLD (the first collection) at the same time, set aside an evening, then devour them in one sitting. Satisfaction guaranteed.

GERMAN BIGHT PICKS:

GRIP: THE STRANGE WORLD OF MEN #1 (DC Vertigo)
You'd think that I, lone fishwife on this blasted rock, would know quite enough of the strange world of men already. What need have I of this particular funnybook? Well, it's by Gilbert Hernandez, which should be reason enough for anyone. GRIP apparently centres on the subjects of gender, identity and conspiracy theories, which sounds like a right giggle. Oh, all right, it won't be. However, it will be entertaining in all kinds of ways - sexy women, intricate plotting, brain-bending revelations - everything we've come to expect from Los Bros. Let's face it, any Hernandez work is a treat to be savoured, so grab this while you can.

TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES #1 (DC Wildstorm/ABC)
You wait for ages for a Hernandez comic and then two come at once. We really shouldn't be surprised to find that Jaime Hernandez has contributed a story to snuggle up with the other talents who flock around the name of Alan Moore. It's not specified which story Jaime's tackling, but knowing his affinity for cute women and science fiction (remember MECHANICS?) I'm betting that he's illustrating the Tesla Strong solo story. Art Adams is taking on the entirely new character of Jonni Future, and the rest of the talent comprises Paul Rivoche and Alan Weiss. This looks like carrying on the retro-flavoured tradition of the original TOM STRONG, replete as it is with time-tossed adventure and leopard people. Winter's drawing in. I'm reminded of watching old Flash Gordon serials. Time to fix up some popcorn and hot chocolate and curl up with TERRIFIC TALES.

TRANSMETROPOLITAN #51 (DC Vertigo)
Spider gets sicker. In all senses of the word. His health is declining, death is drawing near (or is it?) and like any journalist with a deadline he's getting less agreeable as time runs out in his search for the real story. The time for witty, reflective polemics on city life and every shade of politics is over for TRANSMETROPOLITAN: Now it's clobberin' time. If anything, TRANSMET is starting to read like Manga in Vertigo clothing - the tiniest smidgen of angsty rage, and then just a whole lot of rage. And hitting. Lots of hitting. Resulting in the spilling of bodily fluids. Lots of bodily fluids. It doesn't take long to read the more recent issues, but the pace of the ride makes it worth the admission.

FISHER PICKS:

FOUR WOMEN #2 (DC Wildstorm/Homage)
Good stuff, this. The first issue was a little thick with exposition and clumsy foreshadowing, and I admit, that kind of writing is a real hurdle, but if you can get past it, this story looks like being worth the effort. Four women (count 'em) go on a roadtrip to a wedding. And something terrible happens. We don't know what it is yet, but whatever it is, it tests their mettle and their friendships. This story will probably get collected in due course (like creator Sam Kieth's other Homage series, ZERO GIRL, hint hint), but the high tension apparent from the first issue's cliffhanger may mean that it's more rewarding in monthlies. It's a five issue series, and the first issue is still widely available.

X-FORCE #121 (Marvel)
I know, I know, you're sick of me going on about it, but the reason I'm mentioning it this month is that this is a jumping on point. The trade, released a couple of weeks back, ended with issue #120. If it tickled your fancy, then how can you resist rejoining the story with issue #121? (And as an aside; how's that for service? The trade comes out at a time when it can actually bring new readers into the monthly series, rather than, say, when the story has had a chance to progress a year. Or two. I'm looking at you, DC Vertigo.) If you didn't even get the X-FORCE trade, then there's probably no hope left for you. But buy this issue just in case. You might still be saved.

PLYMOUTH PICKS:

ANGEL VOL 2 #2 (Dark Horse)
After reading the roller coaster ride of fun that is Joss Whedon's FRAY, you'd think that his ANGEL mini-series would be just as good. Great action, characterisation, plot, art... right? Well, the first issue featured lacklustre art by Mel Rubi, only the vaguest semblance of a plot, and characterisation that seemed superficial at best. Maybe it's that Whedon is only listed as the co-author of the mini-series, maybe it's going to get dramatically better with part two. But be warned: Don't pick this up based on Whedon's reputation without first taking a good, close look.

SUICIDE SQUAD #3 (DC Comics)
Keith Giffen can't get a break. Starting in about the mid-90s, Giffen seemed to just attract books that were going to be cancelled out underneath him in an unstable marketplace, even as they started to look promising. (DIVISION 13, VEXT, AGENTS OF LAW, THE BOOK OF FATE, PUNX, TRENCHER... Ok, so maybe that last one wasn't so good.) Hopefully this will fare better - Giffen's telling really fun stories about a government strike force using superhuman prisoners that get their sentences reduced in return for their assistance. It's walks a fine line between silly and serious, and Giffen's mastered it. Maybe he's even found a series that will last this time, too.

Comics shipping in the US on November 14th:

DARK HORSE

AUG010051 ANGEL VOL 2 #2 (Of 4) $2.99
AUG010052 ANGEL VOL 2 PHOTO CVR #2 (Of 4) $2.99
JUL010035 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #60 SECRETS (3 OF 4) (MR) $2.99
SEP010017 DIABLO TALES OF SANCTUARY $5.95
SEP010027 PLANET OF THE APES #3 $2.99
SEP010028 PLANET OF THE APES PHOTO CVR #3 $2.99
SEP010059 STAR WARS JEDI QUEST #3 (Of 4) $2.99
AUG010083 SUPER MANGA BLAST #17 (MR) $5.99

DC COMICS

SEP010191 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #598 $2.25
SEP010172 DETECTIVE COMICS #764 $2.50
SEP010256 FOUR WOMEN #2 (Of 5) (MR) $2.95
SEP010207 GREEN ARROW BY JACK KIRBY $5.95
SEP010208 GREEN LANTERN #144 $2.25
SEP010254 GREYSHIRT INDIGO SUNSET #2 (Of 6) $3.50
SEP010265 GRIP THE STRANGE WORLD OF MEN #1 (Of 5) (MR) $2.50
SEP010186 HARLEY QUINN #14 $2.25
SEP010267 HUNTER THE AGE OF MAGIC #5 $2.50
SEP010212 IMPULSE #80 $2.50
SEP010221 JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #1 $1.99
SEP010187 NIGHTWING #63 $2.25
SEP010250 PLANETARY THE FOURTH MAN TP $14.95
SEP010237 SCOOBY-DOO #54 $1.99
SEP010228 SPECTRE #11 $2.50
SEP010251 STAR TREK VOYAGER ENCOUNTERS WITH THE UNKNOWN TP $19.95
SEP010229 SUICIDE SQUAD #3 $2.50
SEP010255 TOM STRONGS TERRIFIC TALES #1 $3.50
SEP010271 TRANSMETROPOLITAN #51 (MR) $2.50
SEP010230 WONDER WOMAN SPIRIT OF TRUTH OVERSIZED SC $9.95

IMAGE

AUG011139 10TH MUSE PHOTO CVR #7 $2.95
AUG011138 10TH MUSE ROGER CRUZ CVR #7 $2.95
MAR011263 HELLSPAWN #10 $2.50
SEP011101 LITTLE RED HOT BOUND #3 $2.95
JUL011214 POWERS SCRIPTBOOK $19.95
SEP011161
SEP011771ER #18 $2.50
SEP011131 WARLANDS AGE OF ICE #4 $2.95
JUL011241 ZORRO THE DAILIES TP $18.95

MARVEL

SEP011482 100 GREATEST MARVELS COUNTDOWN #1 $3.50
AUG011443 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #36 $2.25
SEP011469 AVENGERS CELESTIAL QUEST #3 (Of 8) $2.50
SEP011470 BLACK PANTHER #38 $2.50
SEP011437 CABLE #99 $2.25
AUG011495 DAREDEVIL VISIONARIES FRANK MILLER VOL 3 TP $24.95
SEP011472 DOOM EMPEROR RETURNS #1 $2.50
AUG011438 ELEKTRA #4 $2.99
SEP011429 ELEKTRA & WOLVERINE THE REDEEMER #1 $5.95
AUG011496 FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES TP $19.95
SEP011423 FURY #3 (MR) $2.99
AUG011429 ORIGIN #3 $3.50
SEP011454 PETER PARKER SPIDER-MAN 2001 ANNUAL $2.99
SEP011439 ROGUE #4 (MR) $2.50
AUG011417 UNCANNY X-MEN #399 $2.25
AUG011431 X-FORCE #121 $2.25
SEP011440 X-TREME X-MEN #7 $2.99

OTHER PUBLISHERS

AUG011748 ARCHIE AND FRIENDS STARRING JOSIE & PUSSYCATS #53 $1.99
AUG011752 BETTY #106 $1.99
AUG011755 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #102 $3.29
SEP011927 FIRST VOL 1 TP $19.95
SEP011929 SIGIL #18 $2.95
SEP011932 SOJOURN #5 $2.95
AUG011730 VAMPI #12 REG ED $2.99

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.