Welcome to the Shipping Forecast, Ninth Art's pick of the best and most notable new releases hitting comic stores each week. Please note that shipping delays are expected this week to stores outside of the US.

COMIC OF THE WEEK:

JINGLE BELLE VOL 3: DASH AWAY ALL TP (Oni Press)
'Twas the night before Christmas, with homes full of toys;
Not a soul was getting comics, not even fanboys.
The kids were in bed, tucked up fast asleep,
Dreaming of BLANKETS and manga that's cheap.
But what's that we hear? That sound, that clatter?
Could it be Tara Chace, spying down from a ladder?
Why it's Santa's daughter, that siren of snow,
Here with a book all good children should know.
It's DASH AWAY ALL, a third volume of joy,
With jokes and good fun; better than some old toy.
She worked on it hard, with much effort, that's certain.
(Garibaldi and Dini? Don't look 'round the curtain.)
So keep your ears open, and hope for the best.
Or run to the comic store, along with the rest.
Just remember to leave out milk, cookies, and bologne;
Don't piss off that holiday vixen from Oni.
[Plymouth, with apologies for the really bad rhymes]

ALSO THIS WEEK:

STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES VOL 2 TP (DC WildStorm)
If you've never read STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES, take our suggestion and skip the first volume for now and start right here. This is where Micah Ian Wright's stories began to really click together, and with this collection of short stories, there's a lot to offer. From the horrific fate of Finland, to one of the strangest capture-and-escape stories you'll ever read, this book's got it all. Each of the short stories is carefully crafted to work as a stand-alone piece, while still fitting in to part of a greater whole. With guest artists like Tomm Coker on board to give Wright a hand, these are the issues that brought in readers who were scared by Whilce Portacio's art on the first six issues. Just good old-fashioned fun, here. [Plymouth]

VERTICAL (DC Vertigo)
When Shelly Bond first started talking about VERTICAL at Bristol this past May, every fibre of my being screamed "cynical marketing gimmick!" It's half the width of a normal comic book and is about someone who jumps off buildings - Vertigo, vertical, geddit? One shudders. But, whispered the voice of temptation, it's Mike Allred art. On this basis alone, it's worth a look. VERTICAL is the story of Brando, a 21 year old in 1965 New York with a thing for falling off buildings. He meets Zilly, a white-haired fashionista determined to climb her way to the top of Manhattan's social ladder. Romantic complications ensue. Yes, you can tell from even that brief description that the height metaphors are applied with the subtlety and grace of a sledgehammer. Yet for a story almost certainly born in the high-concept hell of an editorial brainstorm about Vertigo's 10th anniversary, VERTICAL shows plenty of promise. All credit to Steven Seagle, Mike Allred and Philip Bond for beating the odds and crafting a fun, extremely attractive Pop Tart of a tale. Just try to ignore the annoying format it's been squeezed into. [Shannon]

THE LOSERS #7 (DC Vertigo)
Perhaps the stand-out success story of the Vertigo line in 2003, THE LOSERS took a familiar and well-worn concept (team of elite special forces operatives fall foul of their evil overseers and go on the run, seeking revenge) and managed to turn it into one of the freshest and most interesting titles on the shelves. This is a testament to the skills of writer Andy Diggle and artist Jock. Unfortunately, Jock's involvement in this issue is limited to the cover, but BATMAN: EVOLUTION artist Shawn Martinbrough is a capable locum. In this issue (part one of a two-part story arc), the team go their separate ways to pursue unfinished business. Doubtless high-octane thrills and spills are just around the corner, so go on - take a chance and back a Loser. [Finisterre]

BOOKS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

Because we can't always give you the most up-to-date shipping information, we'll also give you an occasional look at some of the best books that have recently shipped or are expected to ship in the coming weeks.

WINSOR MCCAY: EARLY WORKS (CheckerBPG)
Here's something I'd love to have woken up to on Christmas morning - but I couldn't wait for Christmas, and bought a copy for myself. Winsor McCay is one of the undisputed greats from the earliest days of newspaper strips and animation - the Orson Welles of comics - and Taschen has already collected his pioneering LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND in hardback. Now CheckerBPG has put together a first volume of pre-NEMO strips, some of them a century old, including some from NEMO's thematic predecessor, 'Dreams Of The Rarebit Fiend'. The language and delivery are obviously dated, and the Jungle Imps (unwisely chosen as the cover illustration) may prove distasteful to modern audiences, but the art is exquisite and the visual humour is incredibly sophisticated. A rich and extraordinary slice of comics history. [Fisher]

THE SHIPPING LIST FOR December 24th:

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

DARK HORSE

OCT030047 CANNON GOD EXAXXION #20 (MR) $2.99
SEP030019 GRENDEL: GOD & THE DEVIL #10 (Of 10) (MR) (Note Price) $4.99
AUG035114 SHREK #3 (OF 3) $2.99

DC COMICS

OCT030206 BATMAN #622 $2.25
OCT030216 BIRDS OF PREY #62 $2.50
OCT030268 CARTOON CARTOONS #25 $2.25
OCT030217 CATWOMAN #26 $2.50
OCT030276 GEN 13 #16 $2.95
OCT030245 GREEN LANTERN: WILLWORLD SC $17.95
OCT030248 ICANDY #4 $2.50
OCT030249 JLA #91 $2.25
OCT030253 LEGION #28 $2.50
OCT030303 LOSERS #7 (MR) $2.95
OCT030286 STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES VOL 2 TP (MR) $14.95
OCT030225 SUPERMAN #200 (Note Price) $3.50
OCT030264 TEEN TITANS GO #2 $2.25
OCT030269 THUNDER AGENTS ARCHIVES VOL 3 HC $49.95
OCT030307 VERTICAL (MR) $4.95
OCT030291 WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #17 (MR) $2.95
OCT030265 WONDER WOMAN #199 $2.25

IMAGE

OCT031263 DAVID & GOLIATH #2 $2.95
OCT031296 SAVAGE DRAGON VOL 8: TERMINATED TP $15.95
OCT031297 SOMETHING WICKED BECK CVR A #2 (Of 4) (MR) $2.95

MARVEL

OCT031557 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #502 (#61) $2.25
OCT031590 AVENGERS #76 (RES) $2.25
OCT031582 INHUMANS #8 $2.99
OCT031585 NAMOR #10 $2.99
OCT031549 PUNISHER #37 $2.99
OCT031593 SILVER SURFER #4 (RES) $2.25
OCT031562 UNCANNY X-MEN #436 $2.25
OCT031583 VENOM #9 $2.99
OCT031569 X-STATIX #17 $2.99
OCT031575 X-TREME X-MEN #38 (Note Price) $3.50

OTHER PUBLISHERS

OCT032444 ANGRY YOUTH COMIX #6 (MR) $3.50
OCT032101 BETTY & VERONICA #196 $2.19
OCT032102 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #144 $2.39
NOV031963 DEMON CITY SHINJUKU MANGA VOL 2 TP $9.99
AUG032349 DRAKE THE DEMON BOX #1 (OF 3) $2.50
SEP032238 DREW STRUZAN OEUVRE ART BOOK HC $59.95
OCT032379 DUEL MASTERS #2 $2.95
OCT032273 EL CAZADOR #4 $2.95
OCT032234 ELVIRA #128 $2.50
SEP032134 HEROES ANONYMOUS #3 (Of 6) (MR) $2.99
SEP032439 JINGLE BELLE VOL 3: DASH AWAY ALL TP $11.95
OCT032106 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #100 $3.59
OCT032035 NIGHTMARES AND FAIRY TALES #7 $2.95
SEP032178 PATH #21 $2.95
SEP032402 PHANTOM #1 $3.50
OCT032628 QUEEN & COUNTRY #22 (MR) $2.99
NOV031962 SEVEN OF SEVEN MANGA VOL 2 TP $9.99
SEP032417 SILENCERS #3 (MR) $3.50
OCT032111 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #131 $2.19
NOV031964 STEEL ANGEL KURUMI MANGA VOL 2 TP (MR) $9.99
OCT032382 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ANIMATED #7 $2.95
JUL032312 THIEVES & KINGS #43 $2.95
OCT032483 UNCLE SCROOGE #325 $6.95
JUL031951 VAMPI VICIOUS #3 DOGAN CVR ED $2.99
JUL031950 VAMPI VICIOUS #3 LAU CVR ED $2.99
JUL031952 VAMPI VICIOUS #3 LTD LUCAS CVR ED $9.95
OCT032482 WALT DISNEY'S COMICS & STORIES #640 $6.95
OCT032546 WYNONNA EARP: HOME ON THE STRANGE #1 (Of 5) $3.99

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.