Visit our Web Site! URL: http://www.cris.com/~Xenozoid/ReadComix.html _____________________________________________________________________ The C O M I C R E A D E R S E - M A G ________________________ Issue #46 News - Columns - Reviews ________________________ For today's wired comic book fan! Monday, February 12th, 1996 _____________________________________________________________________ Contents: [1] From the Editor ............................. Ryan Brewster [2] Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Brewster [3] CSNsider #452 ............................... W. Batty, C. Biggers [4] Rants & Raves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Brewster [5] Reviews ..................................... Ryan Brewster [6] Top 200 Comics, February . . . . . . . . . . Antarctic Press [7] New Comics Release List ..................... Chuck LePage [8] Late Comics Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew S. Troth [9] E-Mag Info _____________________________________________________________________ [1] From the Editor Welcome to the NEW Comic Book Ne--er, I mean, Comic Readers E-Mag! You'll notice there aren't many big changes in this e-mag. The Comic Book Net E-Mag was popular enough, and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!", right? :) I hope it's not too much of a change for your current Bookmark files and whatnot to adjust to the new web site. The new site for this e-mag is http://www.cris.com/~Xenozoid/ReadComix.html, but I will keep http://www.cris.com/~Xenozoid/ComicBkNet.html up for awhile, pointing towards the new web site. Yes, I still want to bring message bases to the web. Whether or not this does happen depends on how much free time I have in the near future. Until then, though, I'll continue to crank out the e-mags. Another thing that will change with this e-mag is the sort-of-kinda-but- not-really cancellation of the Comicunications newsletter that I did for the old e-mag. All the news, reviews and editorials will continue, but they will be divided into separate sections within the e-mag. Please feel free to send me any questions/comments/complaints you have about the new e-mag! Best, --Ry Editor Xenozoid@cris.com _____________________________________________________________________ [2] Industry News, by Ryan Brewster Deaths Rock Comics World: 2/6/96 - Jerry Siegel, Bernard Baily, and Burne Hogarth all died recently. Siegel, co-creator of Superman and The Spectre, died Sunday of heart failure at the age of 81. Baily, co-creator of The Spectre, died last Friday at the age of 75. Hogarth, artist of Tarzan, died on Sunday. Marvel, Zanart Sign Licensing Deal: 2/8/96 - Marvel Entertainment Group has announced a licensing agreement with Zanart Entertainment, Inc, and manufacturer of collectible prints. Through the agreement, Zanart will design, package and market collectible prints featuring Marvel characters. Marvel Software Appoints CEO: 2/8/96 - Marvel has appointed Scott Marden chief executive officer of Marvel Software, a newly created business unit. Marden was formerly president and CEO of Philips Media. Dan Jurgens Creates New Teen Titans: 2/5/96 - DC Comics has confirmed the rumors that creator Dan Jurgens will revive the Teen Titans title, recently canceled. The new title will begin in August. Each character on the team will be a new creation of Jurgens', aside from team leader, the Atom. Fan favorite George Perez has been mentioned as the inker on the title. Peter David Leaves Hulk for Supergirl: 1/28/96 - Running rumor on the nets claim writer Peter David, who recently retired from Marvel's Spider-Man 2099 title, will also be leaving The Incredible Hulk, and will be writing an ongoing Supergirl series for DC Comics. [Editor's note - The above story has just been confirmed!] WildStorm Releases Lower-Cost Comics: 2/10/96 - WildStorm Productions will release a line of $1.75 comics, beginning in May. The new lower-cost comics will contain all-new material, unlike WildStorm's reprinted 99-cent comics. Hazard will launch in May, by Jeff Mariotte, Ray Allen Martinez and Gerry Alanguilar. Union will be relaunched the following month, from Michael Heisler and Randy Green. Bad Chemistry Runs Anyways: 1/23/96 - Author Gary St. Lawrence has announced that his two issues of Prime (written before Marvel's recent Purge), entitled Bad Chemistry, will indeed be published in the regular Prime series. Prime was one of the three Malibu Ultraverse series to survive the Purge, the other two being Rune and Ultraforce. Marlowe & Company Hits the Web: 2/8/96 - Marlowe & Company's new web site can be found at the URL http://www.marlowepub.com. The site will feature news, info about past and future publishing projects, and other stuff. Chuck Dixon Writes Captain America: 2/7/96 - It has been rumored, ever since Mark Waid announced that he would be stepping down as writer on Captain America once Liefeld & Co. took over, that writer Chuck Dixon would be writing the title. Hero Illustrated has just confirmed that rumor. Rob Liefeld will draw the comic for at least the first six issues. Gen13 Video Games in the Works: 2/10/96 - Electronic Arts and WildStorm Productions have signed an agreement to create games based on WildStorm's Gen13 comic series. Titles will likely be developed for the Sony Playstation, the Sega Saturn and PCs. Big Plans For Marvel's Star Trek: 1/28/96 - All but confirmed rumors circulating now state that Marvel has big plans for its Star Trek license (right after Marvel cancels all its other licensed titles). In August will be a one-shot X-Men/ Star Trek crossover book. Rumor has it the idea came from Paramount, not Marvel, and that Marvel is romancing author Chris Claremont for the writing job. In September, three ongoing series are planned to begin: DS9, Voyager and Star Trek: Unlimited, with stories from both the TNG and Trek Classic series. Later on, ongoing series for Star Fleet Academy and Enterprise: The Early Voyages (The pre-Kirk crew) are planned. Archie Salutes Canada: 1/25/96 - Archie and his friends reminisce about their many Canadian trips in Archies All Canadian Digest #1, shipping in May. The stories will be told as classic stories re-presented as flashbacks in framing sequences of new material. _____________________________________________________________________ [3] CSNsider #452, by W. Batty & C. Biggers This is the CSNsider #452, which will be in shops on 2/15/96. George Perez has a busy year coming up; he has announced that he'll be working on two titles, one for Marvel and one for DC. Perez will do the finishes and inks on Rob Liefeld's Avengers once Liefeld takes over the title later on this year; Jim Valentino will supply the plots over Liefeld's scripts, according to Perez. Meanwhile, over at DC, Perez will do the finishes and inks on Dan Jurgens' pencils for the all-new Teen Titans title launching later on this year; of course, Perez was vital in helping to make the second incarnation of Teen Titans a hit in the 1980's.... DC has announced that Peter David will be writing their new ongoing Supergirl series... X-Men and Star Trek? Insiders at Marvel report that this offbeat meeting will definitely occur in a one-shot that will help to kick off Marvel's new Star Trek line... DC's next Archives title will be a Flash Archives volume this summer... DC-ROM? DC has announced that they are investigating CD-ROM comics packages; no word yet on whether these would be hefty reprint volumes of hard-to-find material, collections of more current popular storylines, or something done just for CD-ROM... Extreme Destroyer: Prologue, the title that kicks off Extreme's nine-part crossover story arc, has expanded from 22 to 35 pages of story and art with no increase in price... DC Versus Marvel #1 has sold so well that, in spite of a massive overprinting, the entire first run of the book has sold out and DC has done a second printing to meet the demand... Image has combined Badrock #2 with Grifter to create Grifter/Badrock #2, a flip book... Savage Dragon #25 will feature two cover variants, with equal numbers of both being printed... Capital City Distribution reports that the new Wizards of the Coast Ice Age expansion, Alliances, will feature over 140 cards; they also say that Wizards of the Cosat will be offering another stand-alone expansion similar to Ice Age that wil include rules additions and more than 300 cards, as well as redesigned gift boxes containing two preconstructed decks and a larger, easier-to-read rules book... Also in the works from Wizards, according to Capital, is a stand-alone expansion, The Sabbat, for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle... White Wolf's next expansion for Rage, entitled War of the Amazon, is set for March release‹and this expansion is going to be limited, so take that as a word to the wise... John and Virginia Romita, longtime members of the Marvel comics staff, retired in mid-January... Warner Bros. has placed an order for a full sixty-five episodes of the new Superman Animated Series; plans are to air the first three episodes as a ninety-minute prime time special to introduce the series to television viewers... Grant Morrison has reported that he will take over the writing honors on the single Justice League title that will replace DC's current trio of Justice-League-related books later this year... Marvel's Star Trek titles will reportedly include Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, both based on current Star Trek syndicated television series; Star Trek Unlimited, featuring stories of Classic Trek and the Next Generation; Star Fleet Academy, based on the paperback series; and Enterprise: The Early Voyages, featuring the pre-Kirk crew of the Enterprise (Captain Pike, perhaps?). No Star Trek or Star Trek: The Next Generation ongoing title is being listed on the schedule, although limited series are possible (and of course, none of this is definite at this point)... HBO debuted its Fist of the North Star film on Friday, February 2nd; if you missed it, keep an eye out for reruns throughout the month... Edgar Rice Burroughs fans must be in heaven: not only has a full line of Tarzan action figures debuted, featuring characters from the Tarzan, Mars, and Pellucidar novels, but a Tarzan live-action syndicated series (described as being much more true to the feel of the Burroughs novels than the Ron Ely Tarzan series) is in the works for fall '96 premiere... Negotiations are underway to bring the syndicated Hercules and Xena series to comic books, although nothing has been finalized yet... CSN #452 features Oink from Kitchen Sink Press on the cover as well as more news and the Red K Awards Reader Responses. There's also a couple of last-minute news items that made it into CSN but aren't posted here. Visit our website: http://www.actwin.com/csn/ The CSNsider is now available via e-mail! In order to subscribe to CSNsider, send a message to majordomo@redweb.com. with a single line message saying: SUBSCRIBE csnsider (c)1996 CSN, Inc. wardo@netdepot.com cliffbig@netdepot.com _____________________________________________________________________ [4] Rants & Raves, by Ryan Brewster Something Different ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ by Ryan Brewster When a major comics publisher advertises that they are going to introduce something "Completely Different!", you can be certain that the "completely different" comic book will be more of the same... with maybe a few slight changes (which are not always for the better). In order to propel the industry into the 21st century, a comics publisher with some _power_ needs to come out with something that genuinely _is_ "Completely Different". As I mentioned before, the flash and pizazz of television and movies has overtaken that of comics. So a major comics publisher needs to come out with something that can offer more than "just" flash and pizazz. I say a _major_ comics publisher because, though many extremely well- done, self-published or independent comics (which offer something that IS "completely different") have been introduced, most if not all have been lost within the plethora of mediocre superhero fare that crowds the racks of comic stores. This publisher must make the product known and advertise it aggressively as well. So many excellent books have been doomed by publishers who under-exposed them because they wanted to devote a few more full-page spreads to comics which would sell well anyhow. To be "different", the book doesn't even have to be NEW! I'm sure DC and Marvel have enough clout to convince the writer of some cult classic to allow them to reprint their masterpiece. Such an arrangement is beneficial to both parties: the writer/artist gets his book the exposure it deserves, and the publisher offers a book that it already KNOWS is good to a wider audience. In bringing Jeff Smith's Bone comic (reminiscent of Walt Kelly's Pogo - highly recommended) to its line-up, Image Comics has already gotten a head-start against Marvel and DC. Now they just need to figure out how to market it well. Whether or not this different material is new, the material must be good. If DC comics offers a comic that sounds great - like: "Metropolis - A comic following the daily lives of Superman's city, which explores how the citizens of the city are effected by the superhero- supervillain encounters that occur every day.", and it is the most boring load of #@*($ that one has ever read, one is not apt to try out any more of DC's attempt at diversity. However, the writer has some terrific advantages in the medium that he gets to work with. In comic books, you don't have to worry about bad actors; the action and words are put together in the imaginations of the readers. What goes on between the panels is really where the action is, that's why writers can get away with such horrendous dialogue as you can find in so many comics today, and still have a successful comic book. What bothers me the most, however, is how creators of comics from DC or Marvel always seem to feel limited to science fiction or superhero fare. If a comic book is written in an earthly setting, without any superheroes or aliens, it already has a head start in the "different" department. The rest is up to the creator. Next Week: The Pen and Ink is Mightier than the Sword Ryan Brewster Xenozoid@cris.com _____________________________________________________________________ [5] Reviews Comics for review may be mailed to Ryan Brewster, 84 Bunker Hill St., Lancaster, NH, 03584. World Hardball League by Timothy B. Murphy, Andy Soliz and Thanh Tran Titus Press, 13 Woodlake Square Ste. #252, Houston, TX 77063 (Issues 1-4 have shipped. Back issues available from the above address) I have to admit that I have avoided all sports-related comic books like the plague. I love sports. I love comics. I didn't think I'd really like the two combined... World Hardball League surprised me with its combination of sports and comics. They have created a line-up of superheroes who play baseball, or athletes with superpowers, and the result is actually pretty enter- taining. Murphy, Soliz and Tran have put together a very readable series of comic books from what would seem to be a weak premise. If you like sports and comics (like you'd be reading this if you didn't like comics...), you may enjoy World Hardball League. Pantheon #1 by Debora Kerr and Steven S. Crompton Archer Books, PO Box 27686, Tempe, AZ, 85285-7686 (Write to the publisher for back issue info) Pantheon at first seems to be a rip-off of DC's New Gods. But when you get past the trivial similarities, the book is really quite original. The story takes place in a dimension of ethereal planes where the gods of all human cultures live. It mainly focuses on five of the gods: Tara, Kit-Ra, Set, Demi (who has had her own miniseries, I believe), and Ghede, as the investigate the strange destruction of some of their fellow deities. The story is entertaining, and the art is beautiful. Though black & white, the computer texturing adds flash and pizazz to the artwork. Definitely worth a look-see, and since it's relatively new, it should be easy to get into. Comic Buyers Guide #1162 (the new format) Edited by Maggie Thompson Krause Publications, Inc., 700 E. State St., Iola, WI, 54990 The Comic Buyers Guide has long been the best publication about comics one can buy, and with this issue, the trade journal celebrated its 25th anniversary by changing a few things. The important things are still there; Bumpkin Buzz is still on page 20, Peter David's But I Digress and Mark Evanier's Point of View columns are still around, and the Oh, So? letter column is still brimming with readers' opinions. But a few things have been changed. First of all, it's smaller (i.e.- easier to handle). Second, there are short little columns (called "towers") throughout the magazine. Finally, there's a glossy outer cover with a cool-as-heck Sergio Aragones drawing on it! There are a few other cosmetic differences, but besides that, the new Comic Buyers Guide is still the same great comic book industry reference it always has been. Do yourself a favor and buy a subscription, you save a ton off cover price that way. :) _____________________________________________________________________ [6] February's Top 200 Comics, from Antarctic Press (NOTE: This information can also be found at: http://www.texas.net/users/antarc/combined0296.html) This is a listing of the top 200 comic books (by number sold) for February 1996, as reported by Diamond Distributors and Capital City Distributors. Please note that these sales figures are not confirmed figures; rather, they are ESTIMATES based on information obtained from the two major distributors. For a more detailed report on how these sales figures were determined, see the notes at the end of the list. Sales = Total copies sold (1 index point = approx. 1000 copies) Dia# = Sales rank through Diamond Distributors CCD# = Sales rank through Capital City Distributors Rank Title Supplier Sales Dia# CCD# 1 Spawn #44 Image 175,200 1 2 Spawn #45 Image 172,700 2 3 Gen 13 Ordinary Heroes #1 Image 146,000 3 4 Spawn Wildcats #2 Image 137,900 4 5 Death Time Of Your Life #1 DC 95,900 5 6 X-Files #15 Topps 86,585 14 2 7 Shi Way of the Warrior #8 Crusade 80,100 6 8 Batman #529 DC 77,500 7 9 Dawn #4 Sirius 73,230 20 3 10 Wildcats #27 Image 72,900 8 11 Superman #111 DC 71,700 9 12 Detective Comics #696 DC 70,700 10 13 Action Comics #720 DC 70,700 11 14 Superman Man of Steel #55 DC 69,700 12 15 Witchblade #4 Image 67,400 13 16 Tomoe #2 Crusade 64,800 15 17 Batman Shadow of Bat #49 DC 61,700 16 18 Wetworks #15 Image 61,600 17 19 Weapon Zero #1 Image 61,100 18 20 Sin City That Yellow B #1 Dark Horse 61,100 19 21 Robin #28 DC 59,000 21 22 Star Wars Splinter Eye #2 Dark Horse 57,400 22 23 Catwoman #32 DC 56,200 23 24 Cyberforce #20 Image 56,100 24 25 Azrael #16 DC 55,600 25 26 Horseman #1 Crusade 53,400 26 27 Batman Chronicles #4 DC 53,100 27 28 Star Wars X-Wing Rogue #5 Dark Horse 52,300 28 29 X-Files Comic Digest #2 Topps 51,830 46 4 30 Wonder Woman #108 DC 51,800 29 31 Green Lantern #73 DC 49,800 30 32 Maxx #23 Image 49,700 31 33 Defcon 4 #1 Image 48,300 32 34 Flash #112 DC 46,000 33 35 Avengelyne Deadly Sins #2 Maximum Pr 45,900 34 36 Hitman #1 DC 45,100 35 37 Grifter #10 Image 44,900 36 38 Team 7 III Dead Reckon #2 Image 44,500 37 39 Superboy #26 DC 44,100 38 40 Glory #0 Image 42,800 39 41 Cyberpunx #1 Image 42,600 40 42 Star Wars Jabba Betra #1 Dark Horse 42,500 41 43 Backlash #17 Image 42,000 42 44 Prophet #5 Image 41,800 43 45 Glory Lingerie Issue #1 Image 41,700 44 46 Crow Dead Time #2 Kitchen Sink 41,420 1 47 Ripclaw #4 Image 40,300 45 48 Vengeance Vampirella #23 Harris 38,690 70 6 49 21 #2 Image 38,300 47 50 Stormwatch #33 Image 38,200 48 51 Lady Pendragon #1 Maximum Pr 38,100 49 52 Preacher #13 DC 38,100 50 53 Savage Dragon #26 Image 38,100 51 54 Man-Bat #3 DC 37,900 52 55 Bone #23 Image 37,800 53 56 Sovereign Seven #10 DC 37,200 54 57 Deathblow #25 Image 36,900 55 58 Maximage #3 Image 35,600 56 59 Aquaman #19 DC 35,500 57 60 Vampirella Strikes #3 Harris 34,970 76 9 61 Vamps Hollywood & Vein #3 DC 33,600 58 62 Youngblood #5 Image 33,400 59 63 Dart #1 Image 33,200 60 64 Bloodpool #1 Image 32,200 61 65 Books of Magic #23 DC 31,500 62 66 Tarzan vs Predator Core #2 Dark Horse 31,500 63 67 Lethal #1 Image 31,500 64 68 Evil Ernie Straight H #5 Chaos 31,400* 65 69 Ghost #11 Dark Horse 31,300 66 70 Cybernary #4 Image 31,000 67 71 Warchild #1 Maximum Pr 30,600 68 72 Starman #18 DC 30,500 69 73 Black and White #1 Image 30,100 71 74 Hellblazer #100 DC 29,800 72 75 Lobo #26 DC 29,300 73 76 Black Ops #2 Image 29,200 74 77 Aliens Mondo Heat #2 Dark Horse 28,400 75 78 Mister Miracle #1 DC 26,100 77 79 Simpsons Comics #17 Bongo 26,010 101 10 80 Power of Shazam #14 DC 25,600 78 81 Justice League Amer #110 DC 25,600 79 82 Chapel #6 Image 25,400 80 83 Legion of Superheroes #79 DC 25,300 81 84 Monkeyman and OBrien Spec Dark Horse 25,000 82 85 Thunder Agents #1 Maximum Pr 24,300 83 86 Black Anvil #2 Image 24,000 84 87 Spectre #40 DC 23,900 85 88 Battlestar Galactica St #3 Maximum Pr 23,800 86 89 Warrior Nun Areala Bk 2 #4 Antarctic Pr 23,185 109 11 90 Sandman Mystery Theat #37 DC 23,100 87 91 New Man #2 Image 22,600 88 92 Green Arrow #107 DC 22,200 89 93 Supreme #36 Image 22,200 90 94 Union #12 Image 22,100 91 95 Razor Torture #1 London Night 22,100 92 96 New Force #2 Image 22,000 93 97 Seekers Into Mystery #4 DC 21,900 94 98 Avengelyne Swimsuit #4 Maximum Pr 21,500 95 99 Invisibles #19 DC 19,800 96 100 New Shadowhawk #6 Image 19,700 97 101 Maggie the Cat #2 Image 19,700 98 102 Space Above and Beyond #2 Topps 19,640 120 22 103 Grendel Tales Devil May #3 Dark Horse 19,400 99 104 Showcase 96 #4 DC 19,100 100 105 Extreme Justice #15 DC 18,800 102 106 Industrial Gothic #5 DC 18,200 103 107 Guy Gardner Warrior #41 DC 18,200 104 108 Strikeback #2 Image 17,700 105 109 Man Against Time #1 Image 17,500 106 110 Satanika #4 Verotik 17,440 133 15 111 Killer Instinct #1 Acclaim 17,100 107 112 Tarzan John Carter War #3 Dark Horse 16,900 108 113 Cyberforce Origins Special Image 16,500 110 114 Cyberfrog #1 Harris 16,450 129 28 115 X-O Manowar #65 Acclaim 16,400 111 116 New Gods #7 DC 16,100 112 117 Swamp Thing #165 DC 16,100 113 118 Crush #3 Image 16,100 114 119 Firebrand #3 DC 16,000 115 120 Primortals #14 Tekno Comix 15,965 130 32 121 Godzilla #9 Dark Horse 15,900 116 122 Shade Changing Man #70 DC 15,400 117 123 Hawkman #31 DC 15,400 118 124 Lady Justice #10 Tekno Comix 15,215 138 33 125 Fatale #2 Broadway 15,100 119 126 Poison Elves #10 Sirius 14,990 140 34 127 Blood and Shadows #2 DC 14,800 121 128 Sliders #1 Acclaim 14,600 122 129 Bone #4 reprint Image 14,600 123 130 I-Bots #7 Tekno Comix 14,590 147 25 131 Hate #22 Fantagraphic 14,285 162 14 132 Satanika X Verotik 14,225 157 20 133 Mike Danger #10 Tekno Comix 13,935 145 37 134 Razor Uncut #19 London Night 13,700 124 135 Oh My Goddess Special Mys Dark Horse 13,600 125 136 Chiaroscuro Private #10 DC 13,600 126 137 Mr Hero Newmatic Man #16 Tekno Comix 13,380 148 42 138 Indiana Jones Sargasso #3 Dark Horse 12,900 127 139 Mask #12 Dark Horse 12,900 128 140 Mars Attacks #6 Topps 12,850 153 43 141 Cerebus #203 Aardvark-Van 12,705 163 24 142 Strangers in Paradise #10 Abstract St 12,350 169 19 143 Xander in Lost Universe #7 Tekno Comix 12,310 155 46 144 Turok Dinosaur Hunter #45 Acclaim 12,300 131 145 Casual Heroes #2 Image 12,200 132 146 Cyberforce Origins Spec Image 12,000 134 147 X #23 Dark Horse 12,000 135 148 Powers That Be #4 Broadway 11,900 136 149 Deathstroke #58 DC 11,900 137 150 Elfquest Hidden Years #28 Warp 11,870 164 29 151 Gunsmith Cats #10 Dark Horse 11,700 139 152 Walter Campaign Terror #1 Dark Horse 11,600 141 153 Elfquest Wavedancers Spec Warp 11,575 165 31 154 Elfquest Shards #15 Warp 11,430 167 30 155 You're Under Arrest #3 Dark Horse 11,200 142 156 Shadow State #3 Broadway 10,900 143 157 Legend Mother Sarah C #2 Dark Horse 10,600 144 158 Animaniacs #12 DC 10,500 146 159 Dakkon Blackblade World Acclaim 10,200 149 160 Elfquest Kahvi #5 Warp 10,135 173 40 161 Mutant Chron Golgotha #2 Acclaim 10,000 150 162 Elfquest Two-Spear #5 Warp 9,990 174 41 163 Bloodshot #49 Acclaim 9,800 151 164 Foot Soldiers #2 Dark Horse 9,800 152 165 Cynder Nira X Rifts #1 Immortelle 9,670 170 58 166 Ranma 1/2 V #3 Viz 9,570 5 167 Elfquest Jink #12 Warp 9,475 180 44 168 From Dusk Till Dawn Tekno Comix 9,400* 154 169 Dark Horse Presents #106 Dark Horse 9,400 156 170 Legends of Luxura #1 Brainstorm 9,340 171 60 171 3x3 Eyes Curse of Gesu #5 Dark Horse 9,300 158 172 Space Usagi #2 Dark Horse 9,200 159 173 Cyberforce #1 reprint Image 9,100 160 174 Adventures of the Mask #2 Dark Horse 9,000 161 175 Nira X Cynder Endang #1 Entity 8,600 179 64 176 Elfquest Rebels #12 Warp 8,565 185 48 177 Brinke of Destruction #2 High Top 8,550 184 50 178 Vampire Miyu #5 Antarctic Pr 8,255 190 45 179 Devilman #6 Verotik 8,150 186 57 180 Death Rattle #3 Kitchen Sink 8,060 7 181 Jugular #1 Blackout 7,980 183 67 182 Icon #36 DC 7,900 166 183 Battle Angel Alita VI #1 Viz 7,760 8 184 Cavewoman #1 Caliber 7,570 188 70 185 Avengelyne #1 deluxe Maximum Pr 7,400 168 186 Vamperotica #12 Brainstorm 7,035 191 74 187 Bad Eggs #1 Acclaim 6,900 172 188 Andrew Vachss Cross #4 Dark Horse 6,700 175 189 Armed and Dangerous #3 Acclaim 6,700 176 190 Static #34 DC 6,700 177 191 Star Wars Jabba Hutt Garr Dark Horse 6,700 178 192 Hardware #38 DC 6,300 181 193 Motorhead #7 Dark Horse 6,100 182 194 Scud #11 Fireman Pr 6,020 197 61 195 Fangs of the Widow #5 Ground Zero 5,985 193 78 196 Girl Presents Body Heat #3 Black Lace 5,980 202 49 197 Nausicaa Valley Wind V #8 Viz 5,890 12 198 Vault of Horror #15 Gemstone 5,800 187 199 Duckman #0 Topps 5,600 194 92 200 THB #7 Horse Press 5,560 205 59 *Note - Evil Ernie #5 from Chaos and From Dusk Till Dawn from Tekno Comix was only listed on the Diamond sales charts, and not on the Capital City sales charts. Comics published by Gladstone (such as Uncle Scrooge #38) was inexplicably left off the Diamond sales charts; it is possible that one or two Gladstone comics should be on the top 200 list. NOTES ON HOW THIS CHART WAS CREATED: Each month, Diamond Distributors publishes a trade publication called "Diamond Dialogue", which lists the top 300 comics sold by piece count. Also, Capital City Distributors publishes a trade publication called "Internal Correspondence" which lists the top 200 comics sold by dollar value. In February, Antarctic Press had nine items listed on the Diamond chart, and eight items listed on the Capital City chart. Since we know how well Antarctic Press books sold, it is simply a matter of simple math to determine what one "index point" equals on both charts. For example, in the February Diamond Dialogue, Vampire Miyu #5 is listed as having an "Order Index" of 6.9; we sold 5,362 copies through Diamond that month, so the one index point = 775 comics sold (approx.). (This figure also holds true for the eight other Antarctic Press books listed on the charts for that month). Similarly, on the Capital City charts Vampire Miyu #5 is listed as .3459% of Capital City's total sales for that month (by dollar value). So, one percent of Capital City's sales equals approximately $25,232 retail (approx.). This figure also hold true for the other seven Antarctic Press books listed on the Capital City charts. Using these two figures (Diamond index = 775 copies sold, Capital City index equals $25,232), it is easy to reorganize and combine the two charts. Please note in the month of February that the following publishers are exclusive through Diamond: DC, Image, Dark Horse, Acclaim, Maximum, Wizard, Gemstone (Russ Cochran and Overstreet), Broadway, London Night Studios, and Crusade. For Capital City, Kitchen Sink, Viz, and Coppervale are exclusive. Also, Marvel Comics is exclusive through Heroes World Distribution, and the sales figures for Marvel comics are not readily known, so they have been omitted from this chart. "Exclusive" means that comics from these publishers are available to the comics retailers ONLY through the distributor, and from no other source. It should be noted that these sales figures only represent pre-orders, and do not represent actual sell-through sales at comic stores. This chart also does not include order increases, reorders, or cancellations. However, order increases and reorders are generally only a very small fraction of total sales. Also, this chart only represents sales through Diamond and Capital City Distributors, which combined make up approximately 95% of the direct market. It does not represent sales through smaller distributors, such as Hobbies Hawaii, Big Picture, and Hobby Games, nor does it represent direct-to-retail sales, direct-to- customer sales, or newsstand distribution sales. COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Best, - "Travelling Matt" _____________________________________________________________________ [7] New Comics Release List, by Chuck LePage NCRL: NEW COMIC BOOK RELEASES LIST FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1996, COMPILED BY CHARLES LEPAGE WITH INFORMATION FROM SUN COAST COMICS. Statistics courtesy of WA This list is posted weekly, usually Monday evening. GO TO: * NCRL homepage for the latest lists and information. * http://www.mnsinc.com/hyworth/comics/new.html, for a beautiful "tabled" NCR list, and other comics info, courtesy of Thomas Aylesworth. * ncrl@computersmart.com to send any messages, including email subscription requests, which are always welcome! PLEASE READ- Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. Let me know if any of the names or numbers are wrong. "MR" means "recommended for mature readers". _________________________________________________________________ PUBLISHER * TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS _________________________________________________________________ AC * Femforce #90 (bagged edition), 5.95 ACCLAIM * Armed And Dangerous #3 (of 4)(MR), 2.95 * Eternal Warrior: Fist and Steel #1 (of 2), 2.5 ANTARCTIC * Best Of Furrlough #2, 3.95 * Ninja High School 1994 Swimsuit Special, 2.95 * Ninja High School Vol. V (paperback), 7.95 ARCHIE * Betty #36, 1.5 * Betty & Veronica Double Digest #57, 2.75 * Hanna-Barbera All-Stars #4, 1.5 * Sonic Vs. Knuckles Special #1, 2.0 ARIA * Distant Soil: Primordial Pack (signed), 35.0 * Distant Soil: Starter Pack (deluxe), 25.0 * Distant Soil: Immigrant Song (deluxe), 9.95 BIG * Isaac Asimov's I-Bots #5, 2.25 BISHOP * Rose And Gunn #6, 2.95 BLACKOUT * Hari Kari Private Gallery #1, 2.95 BLONDE AVENGER * Blonde Addiction #4, 2.95 BONEYARD * Flowers On The Razor Wire #8, 3.95 CALIBER * Kabuki Color Special, 2.95 * Kabuki Special Pack, 12.95 * Necropolis #1, 2.95 * Negative Burn #31, 3.95 * Oz Special Set, 14.95 CSN * Comic Shop News #451, free * Game Shop News #49, free DANCING ELEPHANT * Kane #11, 3.5 * Kane #4 (second printing), 3.5 DARK HORSE * Concrete: Short Stories 1990-95 (paperback), 14.95 * Godzilla #8 (of 12), 2.5 * Indiana Jones & The Sargasso Pirates #3 (of 4), 2.5 * X #23, 2.5 DARK MUSE * Dark Muse #4 (magazine), 3.95 DC * Azrael #15, 1.95 * Batman: Scar Of The Bat, 4.95 * Blood And Shadows #1 (of 4)(MR), 5.95 * Catwoman #31, 1.95 * Icon #35, 2.5 * Legionnaires #35, 2.25 * Ray #22, 2.25 * Sovereign Seven #9, 1.95 * Superman: The Man Of Tomorrow #4, 1.95 DRACULINA * Draculina's Cozy Coffin #4, 2.95 DRAT 'N BLAST * Scenes From The Inside #4, 5.5 * Scenes From The Inside #5, 5.5 * Scenes From The Inside #6, 5.5 DRAWN&QUARTERLY * Peepshow #7, 2.95 * Underwater #5, 3.5 ENTITY * Aster: Last Celestial Knight #3, 2.5 * Nira X Series III #3, 2.95 * Nira X/Cynder: Endangered Species #1 (deluxe), 12.95 * Nira X/Cynder: Endangered Species #1 (reg.), 2.95 FACTORY 12 * Factory 12 #2, 3.0 FANTACO * Amazon Woman #1, 2.95 * Bloodletting #5, 3.95 * Freaks Of The Heartland (paperback)(MR), 14.95 * Freaks Of The Heartland (deluxe)(MR), 45.0 FANTAGRAPHICS * Blonde: Double Cross (paperback), 11.95 * Clover Honey (paperback)(MR), 12.95 * Expanded Birdland Graphic Novel, 12.95 * Karate Girl (paperback), 12.95 * Liz & Beth Book II, 12.95 * Naughty Bits #18, 2.95 * Schizo #2, 3.95 * Super Taboo #2, 2.95 FIASCO * Megaton Man #1 (third printing), 2.95 FIRE MAN * Scud: Disposable Assassin #1 (2nd printing), 2.95 FULL BLEED * Pitt #10, 1.95 GLADSTONE/HAMILTON * Donald Duck #296, 1.5 HIGHLAND * Ehlissa #36, 2.0 IMAGE * Backlash #16, 2.5 * Crush #3 (of 6), 2.25 * Combat #2 (of 2), 2.5 * Cybernary #4 (of 5), 2.5 * Lethal #1 (of 2), 2.5 * Mike Grell's Maggie The Cat #1, 2.5 * Man Against Time #1 (of 6), 2.25 * Prophet Vol. II #4, 2.5 * Spawn/Wildcats #2 (of 4), 2.5 * Union #9, 2.5 * Weapon Zero #1, 2.5 * Witchblade #3, 2.5 KING HELL * Rare Bit Fiends #17, 2.95 KITCHEN SINK * Aviation Art: Russell Keaton (paperback), 24.95 * Li'l Abner Vol. XXII (paperback), 20.95 * To The Heart Of The Storm (paperback), 17.95 KNIGHT * Stormquest Universe Collector's Pack, 7.0 KRAUSE * Comic Buyer's Guide #1161 (magazine), 2.5 LADY LUCK * Shades Of Gray Comic & Stories #8, 2.5 * Shades Of Gray Comic & Stories #10, 2.5 LIGHTNING * Hellina/Double Impact #1 (A and B), 3.0 * Hellina/Double Impact #1 (nude), 9.95 MAGI * Tales From The Ravaged Lands #3, 2.5 MALIBU * Prime Vol. II #5, 1.5 * Terminator II Future War: Nuclear Twilight #3, 2.5 MARLOWE * Collected Sam & Max (hardback), 22.5 MARVEL * Cable #30, 1.95 * Captain America #450 (A and B), 1.5 * Conan #9, 2.95 * Daredevil #351, 1.95 * Ren and Stimpy #41, 1.95 * Sensational Spider-Man #3, 1.95 * Uncanny X-Men #331, 1.95 * Venom: Along Came A Spider #3, 2.95 * X-Men: Askani'son #2 (of 4), 2.95 MAXIMUM * Asylum #2, 2.95 * Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #2 (of 3), 2.95 MILLENNIUM * Action-Packed Pulp Pack, 3.95 * Black Reaper, 3.25 * Black Reaper: Foil Collector's Edition, 4.95 * Night's Children: Vampyr #4, 2.95 * Oz Squad Special, 3.95 * Red Moon #1, 2.95 * Red Moon #2, 2.95 * Vigil: Rebirth #1, 3.95 MOONSTONE * Arianne #1, 4.95 MU * Little Paw (paperback), 8.95 * Rhudiprrt Collection (paperback), 13.95 MULTICULTURAL * Cyberzone #1, 1.5 * Cyberzone #2, 2.0 * Cyberzone #3, 2.5 * Cyberzone #4, 2.5 * Cyberzone #5, 2.5 * Cyberzone #6, 2.5 MUSHROOM * Futuretech/Swarm Flipbook #1, 2.5 NBM * Snow White: Other Tales Of Grimm (hardback), 50.0 NORTHSTAR * Cenotaph: Cyber-Goddess #1, 3.95 * Mongrel #1, 3.95 * Tool #1, 3.95 PIPPEN * Whatcha Gonna Learn From Comics (paperback), 19.95 SIRIUS * Akiko On The Planet Smoo #1 (hardcover), 19.95 * Poison Elves #8, 2.5 STARLOG * Comics Scene #55 (magazine), 4.99 TABLET * Safe Haven #2, 2.5 TEDDY BEAR * Seymour #7/8, 2.5 TOPPS * Jason Vs. Leatherface #3, 2.95 * Lady Rawhide #4, 2.95 * Mars Attacks #5, 2.95 TOTALLY STUMPED * Last Forest #1, 2.75 VISIONARY * White Raven #7, 2.95 WARP * Elfquest: New Blood #35, 2.25 * Elfquest: Rebels #12, 2.25 WARRIOR * Cards Illustrated #27, 3.99 WELLS&CLARK * Arcana #6, 2.25 YENDIE * Aspiring Cartoonist #7 (magazine), 3.0 ZEN * Art Of Zen: DNA Edition, 20.0 _____________________________________________________________________ [8] Late Comics Report, by Andrew S. Troth This is the Late Comics Report for the week of February 8, 1996. The three latest items on the list are enclosed in asterisks (*): three for the latest, two for the runner-up, one for third place. Ties apply the same rank to all tied items. New additions to the list are enclosed in these: < >. See below for items that have been removed since last week's list, other cancellations, and the top three late publishers. NOTE: For the next few weeks, some listed DC and Milestone items will be preceded by this mark: + . These are books that have been pushed back by one week in order to accomodate a change in Diamond's shipping schedule. For the purposes of this list, they are still late, because consumers will still be looking for these products on their original release dates; however, I feel that some acknowledgement that this delay was due to a distribution change, rather than simple lateness, is in order. -=CORRECTION: A few weeks ago, I reported that The Book of Ballads and Sagas #2, published by Green Man Press, had been cancelled. This information was clearly incorrect, as the book in question was in stores last week. For the record, I took the information from the calendar page of Comics Buyer's Guide #1158. CBG has also realized the error and has printed a correction. The book is out there, folks; go buy it. -=These comics are LATE: -Academy Comics: Robotech: Mechangel #1 (Jan 23) Robotech: Return to Macross #28 (Jan 9) Robotech: The Sentinels Presents Feral World #1 (Jan 16) -Acclaim Comics: Armada: Baywatch - The Magazine #1 (Dec) Baywatch - The Magazine #2 (Jan) Fallen Empires TPB (Oct) Legend of the Fallen Angel on the World of Magic: The Gathering #1 (Jan) Magic: The Gathering - Legend of the Elder Dragons #2 (Jan) Valiant: Eternal Warrior: Fist and Steel #1 (Jan) Eternal Warrior: Fist and Steel #2 (Jan) X-O Manowar #63 (Jan) X-O Manowar #64 (Jan) -Aeon: Crush #3 (Jan) -Alaffinity: Greymatter #9 (Dec) -A.M. Works: Pervert Club #2 (Jan) -Antarctic Press: Asrial vs. Cheetah #1 (Jan 24) Fantastic Panic Vol. 2 #2 (Jan 24) F-III Bandit #7 (Jan 24) Hurricane Girls #4 (Jan 17) Ninja High School #50 (Jan 17) Shotgun Mary #2 (Nov 24; rescheduled for Dec 26) Silbuster #14 (Jan 17) Tigers of Terra #17 (Nov 24) Tigers of Terra Book Two TPB (Dec 8) Venus Comix: A-Bomb #10 (Jan) Genus #16 (Jan) Tank Vixens #3 (Dec) -Archie Comics: NOTE: While Archie comics usually ship on time from the publisher, they are subject to a consistent distribution delay, such that any Archie comic can generally be expected to arrive in stores 8-10 days after the date listed in solicitation. Only Archie comics which fail to reach stores within that time frame will be included in this list. -Aria Press: A Distant Soil #12 (Sep) A Distant Soil #13 (Dec) -Caliber Press: Dominique: Quick Shots GN (Jan) Exit #3 (Jan) Interface GN (Jan) Kilroy Is Here #6 (Jan) Oz #13 (Jan) Wordsmith #1 (Jan) New Worlds: Raven Chronicles #6 (Jan) Underside #2 (Jan) -Chaos! Comics: Evil Ernie: Straight to Hell #4 (Jan) Evil Ernie: The Resurrection - Director's Cut (Nov) -Claypool Comics: Deadbeats #16 (Jan) Elvira #33 (Jan) -Comico: Elementals #3 (Oct) Elementals Lingerie #1 (Nov) Oblivion #3 (Sep) Primer #1: Bathory (Nov) Primer #2: Bathory (Dec) Primer #3: Bathory (Jan) Red Dragon #1 (Oct) Strike Force America #3 (Nov) -Coppervale Press: Fool's Hollow #1 (Dec) Starchild: Crossroads #2 (Oct 31; rescheduled for Dec 26) Starchild: Crossroads #3 (Nov 14) Starchild: Crossroads #4 (Nov 28) Starchild: Metropolis #1 (Jan) -Cosmic Comics: Caged Heat 3000 #3 (Jan) Rock 'N' Roll High School #2 (Nov) -CPM Comics: Cyber City Part Three #2 (Jan) Project A-Ko GN (Nov) -Crusade Comics: Shi: Senryaku HC (Dec) Shi: The Way of the Warrior #7 (Dec) Shi: The Way of the Warrior TPB Revised Edition (Jan) -Dancing Elephant Press: Kane #12 (Dec) -Dark Horse Comics: Tarzan/John Carter: Warlords of Mars #2 (Jan 23) -DC Comics: + + + + + + + + + + + Sovereign Seven #9 (Jan 16; rescheduled for Jan 23) + Vertigo: + + Industrial Gothic #4 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6) + Sandman #75 (Jan 23; rescheduled for Jan 30) Sandman: The Kindly Ones HC (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6) -Double Diamond Press: Hepcats #13 (Aug) -Drawn & Quarterly: Crash Vol. 1 #3 (Dec) -El Capitan: Stray Bullets #8 (Jan; rescheduled for Feb 27) -Event Comics: Ash #0 (Jan) -Fantagraphics Books: Biologic Show #2 (Jan) Crap #8 (Jul) Erotic Art of Reed Waller Expanded Edition (Aug) **Human Diastrophism UK Edition (Jan '95)** Lena's Bambinas (Jan) *Little Nemo Volume 2 SC (Apr '95)* Little Orphan Annie 1935 (Jul) Omaha Vol. I #5 (Aug) Palestine Book Two TPB (Dec) Sidetrack City (Dec) Sleepy: The Early Daze (Dec) Suckle: The Status of Basil (Jan) Villa of the Mysteries (Dec) -Genesis West Publications: Last of the Viking Heroes: Nidhogger Lives HC (Jun) Professor Om #2 (Oct) -Gladstone/Disney: Disney Comics in Color Album #1 (Nov) Disney Comics in Color Album #2 (Nov) Disney Comics in Color Album #3 (Nov) Disney Comics in Color Album #4 (Nov) Disney Comics in Color Album #5 (Nov) Disney Comics in Color Album #6 (Nov) Disney Comics in Color Album #7 (Nov) -Horse Press: Buzz Buzz Comics Magazine #1 (Jan) THB #6 (Nov) THB-A TPB (Dec) -Image Comics: Maxx #22 (Jan) Extreme/Shadowline Studios: Avengelyne/Prophet HC GN (Dec) Combat #2 (Jan) Extreme Destroyer Epilogue (Jan) Extreme Destroyer Prologue (Jan) Glory #9 (Jan) Grifter/Badrock #3 (Dec) Knightstrike #1 (Jan) MaxiMage #2 (Jan) New Force #1 (Jan) New Man #1 (Jan) Newmen TPB (Jan) Prophet #4 (Dec) Prophet TPB (Jan) Supreme #35 (Jan) Violator/Badrock TPB (Dec) Youngblood #4 (Jan) Highbrow Studios: Savage Dragon: A Force to Be Reckoned With TPB (Jan) Todd McFarlane Productions: Spawn #42 (Jan) Spawn #43 (Jan) Top Cow Studios: Black Anvil #1 (Jan) WildStorm Studios: Deathblow #24 (Jan) Gen13 #8 (Jan) Grifter #9 (Jan) Union #9 (Nov; rescheduled for Dec 26) Union #10 (Dec) Union #11 (Jan) WetWorks #14 (Jan) WildCATs #26 (Jan) -Kitchen Sink Press: Father & Son #3 (Nov) Father & Son #4 (Jan) Grease Monkey #2 (Dec) Joyride (Jan) R. Crumb's Carload O' Comics (Jan) Will Eisner's Quarterly #1 (Nov) Will Eisner's Quarterly #2 (Nov) -Malibu Comics: ***Edge #4 (Nov '94)*** Handbook to the Malibu Ultraverse #1 (Jan) Mortal Kombat Kollection TPB (Jul) Phoenix Resurrection: The Aftermath (Jan) UltraForce/Spider-Man #1A (Jan) UltraForce/Spider-Man #1B (Jan) -Marvel Comics: Amazing Fantasy #18 (Jan 2) Bizarre #1 (Aug 1) Bizarre #2 (Sep 5) Doctor Who Poster Magazine #8 (Dec 12) Fantastic Four Unlimited #13 (Jan 16) Gargoyles #12 (Nov 28) Gargoyles #13 (Dec 26) Gargoyles #14 (Jan 30) Hammer Horror #8 (Sep 5) Infinity Gauntlet TPB (Oct 24) Life of Captain Marvel TPB (Oct 24) Playback #1 (Jul 4) Playback #2 (Jul 25) Silver Surfer #114 (Jan 30) X-Men 2099: Oasis (Jan 16) Marvel Music: Billy Ray Cyrus (Dec 5) Bob Marley #2 (Dec 5) Bob Marley TPB (Dec) Break the Chain #1 (Dec 5) KissNation #1 (Dec) -Maximum Comics Press: Avengelyne: Deadly Sins #1 (Jan) Battlestar Galactica: The Enemy Within #3 (Jan) Warchild TPB (Jan) -Milestone Media: + -NBM: Nina Vol. 2 (Dec) Tarzan Vol. 13 (Nov) Venus in Furs (Jan) Verdilak (Jan) -Pen & Ink Comics: Wandering Star #11 (Jan) -Penthouse Comix: Penthouse Comix #12 (Jan) -Retro Graphix: Strange Attractors #13 (Jan) -Sirius Entertainment: Dawn #3 (Nov) Poison Elves #9 (Jan) Safety-Belt Man #6 (Dec) -Slave Labor Graphics: Bleat #2 (Dec) Cambion #2 (Jan) Dystopik Snomen #3 (Jan) Java Town #6 (Jan) Little Mister Man #3 (Jan) Longshot Comics #1 Bookshelf Edition (Jan) Narcolepsy Dreams #3 (Dec) Seth Throb: Underground Artist #8 (Dec) Amaze Ink: Scarlet Thunder #2 (Jan) Skeleton Key #7 (Jan) -Spacegirl Publishing: Spacegirl #3 (Jan) -Spiderbaby Grafix: *Stephen R. Bissette's Tyrant #4 (Apr '95)* -Tekno*Comix: Isaac Asimov's I-Bots #6 (Jan) -Topps Comics: James Bond: GoldenEye #2 (Jan 9) James Bond: GoldenEye #3 (Jan 23) Return to Jurassic Park #9 (Dec 19) X-Files #13 (Dec 19) X-Files #14 (Jan 23) -Viz Communications: -WaRP Graphics: -Watermark: Harlequin GN (Dec) -=REMOVED from the list since last week: -Acclaim Comics: Valiant: PunX #4 (Oct; cancelled) -Antarctic Press: Best of Furrlough #2 (Jan 10; came out Feb 6) -Caliber Press: Apparition #1 (Jan; came out on time) Kabuki Color Special (Dec; came out Feb 6) Necropolis #1 (Dec; came out Feb 6) Negative Burn #31 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -Dancing Elephant Press: Kane #11 (Oct; came out Feb 6) -Dark Horse Comics: Godzilla #8 (Jan 23; came out Feb 6) Star Wars: Dark Lords of the Sith TPB (Jan 9; came out Feb 6) Legend: Concrete: The Complete Short Stories 1990-1995 TPB (Jan 2; came out Feb 6) -DC Comics: +Azrael #15 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6; came out Feb 6) Batman: Scar of the Bat (Jan 16; rescheduled for Jan 23; came out Feb 6) +Catwoman #31 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6; came out Feb 6) +Legionnaires #35 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6; came out Feb 6) +Ray #22 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6; came out Feb 6) +Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #4 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6; came out Feb 6) Vertigo: +Blood & Shadows #1 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6; came out Feb 6) -Drawn & Quarterly: Underwater #5 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -Fantagraphics Books: Clover Honey (Nov; came out Feb 6) Naughty Bits #18 (Dec; came out Feb 6) Schizo #2 (Dec; came out Feb 6) -Full Bleed Studios: Pitt #10 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -Image Comics: Creative Fire Studios: Mike Grell's Maggie the Cat #1 (Jan; came out Feb 6) Top Cow Studios: Witchblade #3 (Jan; came out Feb 6) WildStorm Studios: Backlash #16 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -King Hell Press: Rare Bit Fiends #17 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -Kitchen Sink Comics: Aviation Art of Russell Keaton TPB (Nov; came out Feb 6) Li'l Abner Vol. 22 (Nov; came out Feb 6) -Lady Luck Ltd.: Shades of Gray #10 (Dec; came out Feb 6) -Malibu Comics: Terminator 2 Future War: Nuclear Twilight #3 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -Marvel Comics: Bishop: Mountjoy Crisis TPB (Jan 30; came out Feb 6) Comix Zone #1 (Nov; cancelled) Comix Zone #2 (Dec; cancelled) Comix Zone #3 (Jan 30; cancelled) Doctor Who #230 (Sep 5; came out) Doctor Who #231 (Oct 3; came out) Doctor Who #232 (Nov 7; came out) Doctor Who #233 (Nov 28; came out) Doctor Who #234 (Dec 26; came out) Doctor Who #235 (Jan 23; came out Feb 6) Hammer Horror #9 (Oct 3; cancelled) Nightmare Circus #1 (Nov; cancelled) Nightmare Circus #2 (Dec; cancelled) Nightmare Circus #3 (Jan 30; cancelled) Venom: Along Came a Spider #3 (Jan 30; came out Feb 6) X-Men: Askani'Son #2 (Jan 9; came out Feb 6) Marvel Music: Elvis Presley #1 (Dec 5; cancelled) Elvis Presley #2 (Dec; cancelled) Flatlinerz (Dec; cancelled) House of Pain (Dec; cancelled) Public Enemy (Dec; cancelled) -Maximum Comics Press: Asylum #2 (Jan; came out Feb 6) Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #2 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -Milestone Media: +Icon #35 (Jan 30; rescheduled for Feb 6; came out Feb 6) -Sirius Entertainment Poison Elves #8 (Dec; came out Feb 6) -Tekno*Comix: Isaac Asimov's I-Bots #5 (Dec 26; came out Feb 6) -Topps Comics: Jason vs. Leatherface #3 (Dec 12; came out Feb 6) Lady Rawhide #4 (Jan 9; came out Feb 6) Mars Attacks #5 (Dec 12; came out Feb 6) -WaRP Graphics: Elfquest: New Blood #35 (Jan 11; came out Feb 6) -Wells & Clark: Arcana #6 (Jan; came out Feb 6) -=CANCELLED but never appeared on the list before: -=TOP THREE late publishers, by number of late items: 1. Marvel + Malibu Comics: 26 + 7 = 33 items (-15 since last week) 2. Image Comics 29 (-3) 3. DC Comics: 19 -=PUBLISHERS covered at present: Aardvark-Vanaheim, Aberration Press, Abiogenesis Press, Abstract Studio, Acclaim Comics, AC Comics, Adhesive Comics, Aeon, A Is A Comics, Alaffinity, Alpha Productions, Amaze Ink, A.M. Works, Angus Publishing, Animus, Antarctic Press, Anvil, Archie Comics, Argo Press, Aria Press, Art & Soul Comics, Astro Comics, Black Eye Productions, Black Lobster Studios, Bob Burden Studios, Bongo Comics, B Publications, Broadway Comics, Caliber Press, Cartoon Books, Cat-Head Comics, Chaos! Comics, Chiasmus, Claypool Comics, Comico, Coppervale Press, Cosmic Comics, CPM Comics, Crusade Comics, Dancing Elephant Press, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Double Diamond Press, Dramenon Studios, Drawn & Quarterly, Dreamwalker, Eddie Campbell Comics, Edge Publishing, El Capitan, Event Comics, Exhibit A Press, Fantagraphics Books (not including Eros Comix), Fiasco Comics, Fireman Press, Full Bleed Studios, Genesis West Publications, Gladstone/Disney, GraphXPress, Green Man Press, Hamilton Comics, Hanthercraft, Harris Publications, Heritage Press, Horse Press, I Box, Image Comics, King Hell Press, Kidgang Comics, King Ink, Kiss & Tell, Kitchen Sink Press, Known Associates Press, Lady Luck Ltd., Lightning Comics, Lohman Hills Press, London Night Studios, Malibu Comics, Mark's Giant Economy Size Comics, Marvel Comics, Maximum Comics Press, Meet Danny Ocean, Milestone Media, NBM, Neatly Chiseled Features, New England Comics Press, Nightwolf Graphics, Palliard Press, Patchwork Press, Pen & Ink Comics, Penthouse Comix, Planet Lucy Press, Retro Graphix, SCC Entertainment, Sirius Entertainment, Slave Labor Graphics, Spacegirl Publishing, Spiderbaby Grafix, Starhead, Tekno*Comix, Topps Comics, Tru Studios, Viz Communications, WaRP Graphics, Watermark, and Wells & Clark. -=DISCLAIMERS: This is a list of comic books that have *not* arrived in stores as of the date above. When they *will* come out is anyone's guess. Only comics, hardcover and softcover graphic novels, hardcover reprint collections, and trade paperbacks are covered. I will include an additional list of newly cancelled or resolicited items when possible. If you have any information regarding any item on the list, or if you think an item on the list has come out, please contact me. Not all distributors deliver items at the same time. Depending on your retailer and your retailer's distributor, actual on-sale dates may vary. cheers, andrew This list is posted every Thursday to Section 7 and Library 7 of the CompuServe Comics and Animation Forum and Section 1 of the CompuServe Comics Publishers Forum, and subsequently posted to the rec.arts.comics.info and rec.arts.comics.misc Usenet newsgroups and to the WWW at "http://users.aol.com/ncrlist/private/comics.htm", and is included in the CBN E-Mag (contact Ryan Brewster: Xenozoid@cris.com). _____________________________________________________________________ [9] E-Mag Info The Comic Readers E-Mag is published once a week. Subscriptions to the e-mag are available. You can be added to the subscription list, and have the e-mag delivered to your Internet e-mail box each week, by dropping a note to Xenozoid@cris.com requesting to be added. Back issues of the Comic Readers E-Mag (formerly the Comic Book Net E-Mag), as well as the latest issue in _hypertext_ format, may be found at http://www.cris.com/~Xenozoid/ReadComix.html. Thank you for reading the Comic Readers E-Mag! See ya next week! _____________________________________________________________________ Comic Readers E-Mag is Copyright (c) 1996 by Ryan Brewster. Columns are copyrighted by their respective authors. Distribute freely in its entirety.