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:

VOGELEIN: CLOCKWORK FAERIE TP (Fiery Studios)
When we at the lighthouse got hold of the first issue of Jane Irwin's striking series, it was an unexpected surprise. There are a number of people prone to scoffing at comics with elves or faeries, or other elements that might be traditionally regarded as fantasy, but in the face of a book like this, it's entirely their loss. With art that starts out at a standard even the harshest critic would find at least acceptable, and that shows improvement issue on issue, this story of, well, a clockwork faerie, and the trials she faces when she encounters a real faerie (albeit a debased and corrupted one) in the modern world, and the people that help her, is unfailingly charming, and certain to put paid to any lingering prejudices. [Dogger]

ALSO THIS WEEK:

THE MAXX VOL 1 TP (DC Comics)
Ten years after it began, Sam Kieth's groundbreaking series, THE MAXX, returns to comics with a new collection from DC/Wildstorm. Perhaps the only Image book of the early Nineties that made full use of the new creative and economic freedoms offered by the then-unique Image arrangement, THE MAXX reached new heights of narrative complexity, fuelled by the fever-dream surrealism of Kieth's artwork. Blending difficult topics like sexual abuse, mental illness, and the fractal life produced by modern society, THE MAXX comic was a springboard to one of the strangest American-produced cartoons in history, and serves as one of the high water marks for superhero comics for the period. DC is committed to putting the whole series in print and keeping it there for a long while, so dive into this series like no other without fear. [Trafalgar]

1602 #1 (Marvel)
Neil Gaiman's latest comics project has been kept tightly under wraps, a couple of promotional pieces notwithstanding, but the gist of it seems to be the adventures of the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe some 400 years ago. This sounds more than a little reminiscent of the 'Hob Gadling' story in SANDMAN to me, only set in the Marvel sandbox. Not that this is a bad thing, by any means, but Gaiman has described it as being 'really fun', so fans of his more cerebral and introspective work may not find this to their taste. For me, though, Gaiman adapting characters in novel ways - such as Captain America in the garb of a Native American - and Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove providing the visuals, is just too mouth-watering a prospect to miss. [Finisterre]

WONDER WOMAN: THE HIKETEIA SC (DC Comics)
It was recently revealed that Greg Rucka will soon be the first writer to write comics starring all three of DC's major icons in a single month - Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman - since Denny O'Neil in 1974. Of those three characters, Rucka's most associated with Batman. However, while he's one of the writers assigned to the new Superman creative teams, it's his take on Wonder Woman that may promise the most distinctive and defining superhero work of his career, given his apparent passion for the character. Readers can get an early taste of Rucka's Wonder Woman with this softcover reprint of THE HIKETEIA, featuring typically gorgeous JG Jones art, and a stand-off between Wonder Woman and Batman that demonstrates that Diana isn't a character to be brushed off lightly. [Fisher]

LOOKING AHEAD:

Sometimes we at the lighthouse pick a book, only to learn that its shipping date has been moved, or that we were given the wrong information. When this happens, we'll keep the recommendation in place, to serve as advanced notice of a book you need to keep an eye out for.

A SORT OF HOMECOMING #1 (Alternative Comics)
Damon Hurd is a writer of Big Emotions. His first book, MY UNCLE JEFF was proof that Philip Larkin's most famous lines apply not just to parents but the extended family as well. A SORT OF HOMECOMING reunites Hurd with his artistic collaborator Pedro Camello to tell a story about grief and revisiting the past. Hurd may have dubbed himself a "writer who can't draw", but he can certainly write well, and he can definitely script for comics. His work with Camello shows this off admirably, as you can see in the online preview. Hurd's dialogue goes straight for the guts, making the reader really feel a sense of loss in a few short speech balloons. On the visual side, Camello's sense of composition and good eye for contrast in his black and white art makes a complimentary impact. All in all, solid storytelling, extremely well done and worth the effort to seek out. [German Bight]

A SORT OF HOMECOMING is expected to ship in late September.

THE SHIPPING LIST FOR AUGUST 13th:

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

DARK HORSE

JUN030035 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL: SHADOWS ONE SHOT #81 (MR) $2.99
JUN030018 CRIMINAL MACABRE: A CAL MCDONALD MYSTERY #4 (Of 5) $2.99
JUN030046 OH MY GODDESS #100: DR MOREAU (PART 1 OF 5) $2.99
MAY030047 SUPER MANGA BLAST #34 $5.99
JUN030016 SYN #1 $2.99

DC COMICS

JUN030161 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #619 $2.25
JUN030170 AQUAMAN #9 $2.50
JUN030143 BATGIRL: YEAR ONE #9 (Of 9) $2.95
JUN030244 FABLES #16 (MR) $2.50
JUN030175 FALLEN ANGEL #2 $2.50
MAY030240 FILTH #12 (Of 13) (RES) (MR) $2.95
JUN030219 GEN 13 #12 $2.95
JUN030220 GEN 13: SEPTEMBER SONG TP $19.95
JUN030156 GOTHAM CENTRAL #10 $2.50
JUN030178 GREEN ARROW #29 $2.50
JUN030181 HERO #7 $2.50
JUN030182 HUMAN DEFENSE CORPS #4 (Of 6) $2.50
JUN030185 JLA #84 $2.25
JUN030188 JSA #51 $2.50
JUN030224 MAXX BOOK ONE TP (MR) $17.95
JUN030158 NIGHTWING #84 $2.25
JUN030210 SCOOBY DOO #75 $2.25
JUN030231 STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES #14 (MR) $2.95
JUN030165 SUPERMAN & BATMAN: GENERATIONS III #8 (Of 12) $2.95
JUN030203 WONDER WOMAN: THE HIKETEIA SC $17.95

IMAGE

MAR031265 ARIA: THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT #3 (Of 4) $2.95
MAY031277 DARKNESS: WANTED DEAD ONE SHOT $2.99
MAY031212 GI JOE #20 $2.95
JUN031242 GI JOE: FRONTLINE #11 $2.95
MAY031221 GI JOE/TRANSFORMERS #2 (Of 6) $2.95
JUN031265 HELLHOUNDS SINGLEY CVR #1 $2.95
JUN031289 MICRONAUTS #10 $2.95
MAY031238 MISPLACED #2 $2.95
MAY031252 POWERS #33 (MR) $2.95
JUN031313 PUFFED CROSLAND CVR #2 (Of 3) (MR) $2.95
MAY031281 WITCHBLADE #67 $2.99

MARVEL

JUN031595 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #56 $2.25
AUG021542 AVENGERS #59 $2.25
JUN031584 CAPTAIN AMERICA #16 $2.99
JUN031599 EMMA FROST #2 $2.50
JUN031630 ESSENTIAL HUMAN TORCH VOL 1 TP $14.99
MAY031511 EXILES #30 $2.99
JUN031568 FANTASTIC FOUR #502 (#73) $2.25
JUN031573 INCREDIBLE HULK #59 $2.25
JUN031567 IRON MAN #71 $2.99
JUN031597 KINGPIN #3 $2.50
JUN031581 MARVEL 1602 #1 (Of 8) $3.50
JUN035056 MARVEL MUST HAVES: WOLVERINE #1-3 (PU#582) $3.99
JAN021897 PARADISE X #1 $2.99
JUN031602 ULTIMATE X-MEN #36 $2.25

OTHER PUBLISHERS

MAY031995 ARCHIE #539 $2.19
JUN032581 BASTARD VOL 4 TP (MR) $12.95
DEC022982 BATTLE ROYALE NOVEL (MR) $15.95
MAY032105 BRATH #6 $2.95
JUN032385 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION: SERIAL TP (MR) $19.99
FEB031898 DORK TOWER #24 $2.99
JUN032157 DRAGONS LAIR: SINGE'S REVENGE #1 (Of 6) $2.95
JUN031982 FAREWELL GEORGIA #1 $6.95
JUN032164 JOHN CARPENTER'S SNAKE PLISSKEN RODRIGUEZ CVR ED #2 $2.99
JUN032076 JUGHEAD WITH ARCHIE DIGEST #186 $2.39
MAY032183 LETHARGIC LAD JUMBO SIZED ANNUAL #2 $3.99
MAY032113 MARK OF CHARON #5 (Of 5) $2.95
MAY032108 MERIDIAN #38 $2.95
JUN032078 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #78 $3.59
MAY032110 PATH #17 $2.95
MAY032363 QUEEN & COUNTRY: DECLASSIFIED VOL 1 HC (MR) $20.00
JUN032159 R A SALVATORE'S DEMON WARS VOL 2 #4: EYE FOR AN EYE (Of 5) $2.95
JUN032590 RANMA 1/2 TP VOL 4 2ND ED $9.95
JUN032588 RANMA 1/2 VOL 23 TP $9.95
MAY032114 RUSE #22 $2.95
MAY032332 SILENCERS #2 (MR) $3.50
JUN032254 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ANIMATED #3 $2.95
JUN032257 TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #14 $2.95
MAY031954 VAMPI VICIOUS #1 $2.99
APR032304 VAMPIRELLA/WITCHBLADE #1 REG CVR $2.99
MAY032021 VERONICA #143 $2.19
AUG032277 VOGELEIN: CLOCKWORK FAERIE TP $12.95
APR032369 WEREWOLF THE APOCALYPSE: FANG AND CLAW VOL 1 TP: RAGING
FURY $15.95
MAY031912 YELLOW BABY #1 $3.95

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.