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:

SLEEPER TPB: OUT IN THE COLD (DC WildStorm)
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' SLEEPER, a tight, atmospheric espionage thriller, is one of the best new series of 2003. Super-powered secret agent Holden Carver has been planted as a "sleeper" in the organisation of criminal mastermind Tao. Carver is so deep undercover that only one person knows his true allegiance - and that person is in a coma. Carver is forced to continue playing his role as a villain while he waits for a way out, but as time goes on he finds himself starting to enjoy this life, making friends, and getting a girlfriend. But Carver suspects that it's only a matter of time before Tao finds him out. Each of the six issues in the trade both stand alone and take the overall plot forward into increasingly Le Carré-esque levels of tension. SLEEPER has been hamstrung by a very slow first issue and a general lack of Wildstorm marketing muscle. SLEEPER needs to continue, as it just gets better and better. If you're a fan of noir, or know someone who is, buy SLEEPER - it will keep you up all night. [Shannon]

ALSO THIS WEEK:

COURTNEY CRUMRIN IN THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM #1 (Oni Press)
This fisherman supposes that many of those checking the forecast are fans of Harry Potter, but aren't aware of Courtney Crumrin. Well, they will no doubt be pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a comic covering similar subject material with equal (if not greater) panache. Of course, Courtney Crumrin fans knew this anyway. So, the youthful magician Courtney returns in her third series, but this time the action has moved to the city, and to new creepy horrors endangering her friends. Creator Ted Naifeh writes and illustrates with assured style, and unlike stories about other infant wizards one might mention, CRUMRIN has a dark and genuinely creepy edge to it, and never succumbs to tweeness or overblown sentiment. A thoroughly good read for boys and girls of all ages. [Finisterre]

KYLE BAKER: CARTOONIST TP (Kyle Baker Publishing)
I'm not sure what's happened to Kyle Baker. He used to be one of the most original and exceptional talents working in mainstream comics, especially on books like THE SHADOW. Then he established himself as one of the foremost humorists working in the album format, with books like WHY I HATE SATURN and THE COWBOY WALLY SHOW. Now he's producing sub-par work on PLASTIC MAN and THE TRUTH - and the recent UNDERCOVER GENIE collection was disappointing to say the least. So I can't get my hopes too high for this debut book from Baker's own publishing house, which collects 128 pages of new Baker cartoons, including the 40-page 'The Bakers', telling the story of Baker's own marriage and fatherhood. Such is my love for Baker's earlier works that I'll probably pick this up. I can't in good conscience advise you to do the same. [Fisher]

SUPERFOLKS (About Comics)
Normally we fishermen throw back the books in our nets without any pictures in them, but the reprinting of Robert Mayer's SUPERFOLKS deserves a mention. Despite its lack of graphics, this little 175-page satire on life as a superhero has influenced many of the great comic writers, from Alan Moore and Grant Morrison to Kurt Busiek. The scene is Middle America in the late 1970s, and the protagonist is an unnamed superhero - the last survivor of the planet Cronk - who has hung up his cape as the age of superheroes is gone. But a world crisis has him digging out his ill-fitting uniform from a box at the back of his closet. His first flight in years has him smashing into a tree and swearing in PG-appropriate language. As he searches for the dark enemy behind the crisis, he struggles with his insecurities, dual identities, sex, and all the humorous ramifications of what it would really be like to be a super-powered crimefighter. Don't look for this book through Amazon - About Comics are only issuing 2,000 copies, with a new Dave Gibbons cover, to be sold via Diamond and at conventions only. [Shannon]

THE SHIPPING LIST FOR DECEMBER 17th:

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

DARK HORSE

OCT030025 GOON #4 DH ED $2.99

DC COMICS

OCT030212 BATGIRL #47 $2.50
OCT030213 BATMAN ADVENTURES #9 $2.25
OCT030211 BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #48 $2.75
OCT030236 CINNAMON: EL CICLO #5 (Of 5) $2.50
OCT030205 DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN TP $19.95
OCT030237 DEMON: DRIVEN OUT #4 (Of 6) $2.50
OCT030243 GREEN ARROW #33 $2.50
OCT030302 HUMAN TARGET #5 (MR) $2.95
OCT030277 KAMIKAZE #3 (Of 5) $2.95
OCT030219 NIGHTWING #88 $2.25
OCT030254 OUTSIDERS #7 $2.50
OCT030257 PLASTIC MAN LOST ANNUAL #1 $6.95
OCT030271 POWERPUFF GIRLS #45 $2.25
JUL030230 RED #3 (Of 3) $2.95
OCT030222 ROBIN #121 $2.25
OCT030259 ROSE AND THORN #1 (Of 6) $2.95
OCT030283 SLEEPER OUT IN THE COLD TP (MR) $17.95
OCT030228 SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS #11 (Of 12) $2.95
OCT030227 SUPERMAN: THE KANSAS SIGHTING #2 (Of 2) $6.95
OCT030289 THUNDERCATS ORIGINS: VILLAINS AND HEROES #1 $3.50

IMAGE

SEP031276 HEAVEN'S WAR GN $12.95
OCT031296 SAVAGE DRAGON VOL 8: TERMINATED TP $15.95
JUL031238 TRAKK MONSTER HUNTER STAN WINSTON STUDIO ED #1 $14.95
OCT031311 WILDGUARD: CASTING CALL MEDINA CVR B #4 (Of 6) $2.95
OCT031310 WILDGUARD: CASTING CALL NAUCK CVR A #4 (OF 6) $2.95

MARVEL

OCT031596 CAPTAIN MARVEL #17 $2.99
OCT031551 DAREDEVIL #55 $2.99
OCT031570 EMMA FROST #6 $2.50
OCT031572 EXILES #39 $2.99
OCT031595 FANTASTIC FOUR #508 (#79) $2.25
OCT031591 HAWKEYE #3 $2.99
OCT035117 HULK: GAMMA GAMES #1 (OF 3) (PU#598) $2.99
OCT031548 HULK: GRAY #4 (Of 6) $3.50
OCT035118 HULK: UNCHAINED #1 (OF 3) (PU#598) $2.99
OCT031566 NEW X-MEN #150 (Note Price) $3.50
OCT031579 RUNAWAYS #9 $2.99
OCT031555 SPIDER-MAN/DR OCTOPUS: OUT OF REACH #2 (OF 5) $2.99
OCT031544 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR POSTER $5.95
OCT031542 ULTIMATE SIX #5 (Of 7) $2.25
OCT031541 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #51 $2.25
OCT031561 UNCANNY X-MEN #435 $2.25
OCT031565 WOLVERINE #9 $2.25
OCT031574 X-TREME X-MEN #37 (Note Price) $3.50

OTHER PUBLISHERS

OCT032024 A SORT OF HOMECOMING #2 (Of 3) $3.50
OCT032781 ALICE 19TH VOL 2 GN $9.95
SEP032453 ANGEL'S WING #6 $2.99
SEP032291 APE ONE SHOT (MR) $4.95
OCT032779 BASTARD VOL 2 TP 2ND ED (MR) $9.95
OCT032784 BATTLE ANGEL ALITA VOL 1 TP 2ND ED $9.95
OCT032089 BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #64 $2.19
OCT032787 BIG O VOL 5 TP $9.95
SEP032156 BRATH #10 $2.95
OCT032569 CHIP ZDARSKY'S PRISON FUNNIES #2 (MR) $3.00
OCT032624 COURTNEY CRUMRIN IN THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM #1 (Of 4) $2.99
OCT032480 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #311 $2.95
OCT032788 DRAGONBALL Z VOL 14 TP SHONEN J ED $7.95
AUG032349 DRAKE THE DEMON BOX #1 (OF 3) $2.50
SEP032238 DREW STRUZAN OEUVRE ART BOOK HC $59.95
OCT032793 EXCEL SAGA VOL 4 TP $9.95
OCT032034 GLOOM COOKIE #18 (MR) $2.95
OCT032800 HOT GIMMICK VOL 2 TP $9.95
OCT032798 INU YASHA VOL 16 TP $8.95
OCT032104 JUGHEAD WITH ARCHIE DIGEST #189 $2.39
OCT032801 JUNKO MIZUNO'S PRINCESS MERMAID GN $15.95
OCT032802 KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC VOL 1 GN $7.95
OCT032564 KYLE BAKER: CARTOONIST TP (MR) $14.95
OCT032268 LA BLUE GIRL MANGA ED BOOK 5: SINFUL WRATH GN (A) $16.95
OCT032544 LORE #1 (MR) $5.99
OCT032629 LOVE FIGHTS #6 (MR) $2.99
JUL032217 MABEL NORMAND & HER FUNNY FRIENDS $4.95
OCT032625 MARQUIS VOL 2: INTERMEZZO TP (MR) $11.95
OCT032383 MEGAMAN #4 $2.95
SEP032168 MERIDIAN #42 $2.95
OCT032481 MICKEY MOUSE AND FRIENDS #260 $2.95
OCT032107 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #81 $3.59
SEP032402 PHANTOM #1 $3.50
OCT032804 PLEASE SAVE MY EARTH VOL 2 TP $9.95
OCT032108 SABRINA VOL 2 #53 $2.19
OCT032814 SAND LAND VOL 1 GN $7.95
OCT032018 SCURVY DOGS #3 $2.95
OCT032388 SENTINELS BOOK 1 TP: FOOTSTEPS (Of 4) (MR) $14.95
OCT032815 SHAMAN KING VOL 2 TP $7.95
SEP032417 SILENCERS #3 (MR) $3.50
OCT032816 SILENT MOBIUS VOL 12 TP: THAT'S ALL FOLKS $12.95
OCT032175 SIMPSONS COMICS #89 $2.99
OCT032283 SOJOURN #30 $2.95
SEP032243 TRANSFORMERS GI JOE #4 (Of 6) $2.95
OCT032818 VAGABOND VOL 8 TP $9.95
AUG032389 VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE VOL 3 TP: FIVE UNDEAD (MR) $20.95
OCT032286 WAY OF THE RAT #20 $2.95

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.