Article 10: The Game Of Risk
By Paul O'Brien
The direct market is a flawed system for retailers and publishers alike, but DC is sticking with it. DC's latest initiative is a returnability programme for retailers, but is it a cynical move, and does DC have cause to be optimistic?

My Superman T-Shirt
By John Parker
John Parker believes in comics activism. But his fellow comic activists despair of him. Why? Because he will insist on wearing his Superman T-shirt. They say it sends the wrong signal about comics, but in his experience, it sends exactly the right one.

Minority Report: A Brief History Of Women In Comics, Part 2
By Rob Vollmar
The Three Faces Of Eve: Where did women turn as creators and as readers when offered few opportunities by the claustrophobic comics market of the 1970s? Rob Vollmar looks at three possible paths; ELFQUEST, Archie comics and the female superhero fans.

Editorial: Face It, Tiger - An Awfully Big Adventure
By Andrew Wheeler
Can Dan DiDio bring to DC the kind of energy and inspiration Joe Quesada brought to Marvel? Andrew Wheeler finds cause for hope in the DC new boy's recent interview. Plus, rockets, spies, and a minor miracle.

Article 10: The Price Is Right?
By Paul O'Brien
Thirteen Marvel comics are getting a 33% price rise. In the case of the books that are close to cancellation, it makes perfect economic sense - but what about those midtable books that are safely above Marvel's cancellation threshold?

Things To Come: Previews review January for comics shipping March 2003
By Chris Ekman
Get the monthly lowdown on the best books to pre-order from the Previews comics catalogue - including Jules Feiffer's PASSIONELLA, Troy Little's CHIAROSCURO and Jay Hosler's SANDWALK ADVENTURES.

Editorial: Camera Obscura - The Magic Pencil
By Alasdair Watson
Alasdair Watson makes his bid to be this year's doomsayer for the comics industry. Plus, a look at the British Library's Magic Pencil exhibition, which profiles the work of such exceptional talents as Posy Simmonds and Raymond Briggs.

Everybody Be Cool: Crossing The Line
By Kieron Gillen
Continuing his dissection of cool, Kieron Gillen looks at the relationship between credibility and transgression. Plus, unimpressed by Christmas, Kieron starts a new religion. Heaven help us all.

Editorial: Cassandra Complex - Brickbats And... Well, Mostly Brickbats
By Antony Johnston
Old toys were trendy, panties didn't sell, everything was a movie, bold new strategies were traded for old, and everyone - but mostly Marvel - got sued. Antony Johnston makes his pick of the headlines from 2002.

Article 10: 2002 Backwards
By Paul O'Brien
Another good year for Marvel, another so-so year for DC, but the big news is the bookstore breakout of manga. Ninth Art's lead essayist Paul O'Brien looks back over 2002, and examines the trends that may shape 2003.

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