New Trades Out 01/10/2014

It's a struggle to not just jump ahead to how much awesome is out from Image this week but I am honor bound by the ancient code of the alphabet to bring this weeks new trades as follows...

BOOM! STUDIOS

The only licensed comic worth a damn, The Mathematical Edition of the Adventure Time comics is a deluxe hardcover of original material. This volume features writing from Ryan North of dinosaurcomics.com fame and is totally um.... MATHEMATICAL!

Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Volume 4 HC
Jim Henson's The Musical Monsters Of Turkey Hollow HC
Secret History Omnibus Volume 3 HC

DARK HORSE COMICS

The joy of preparing new trades list and discovering awesome books previously outwith my papery knowledge! Presenting Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir. The story is adapted from unproduced Clone Wars, Season 6 screenplays and is Maul's final saga, centering on him waging war on Darth Sidious, Count Dooku and General Grevious. Collects #1-4

Art Of Naughty Dog HC
Art Of The Book Of Life HC
Concrete Park Volume 1 You Send Me HC
Edgar Allan Poe's Spirits Of The Dead HC
Eerie Archives Volume 17 HC
Loverboys HC
Star Wars Darth Maul Son Of Dathomir TP
Star Wars Volume 3 Rebel Girl TP

DC COMICS

We've had the Joker mask and the Court of Owls artist edition, this weeks latest and coolest Bat birthday bonanza comes in the form of a slipcase hardcover containing three trade paperbacks. Court of Owls. The Dark Knight Returns and Hush. You should own at least two of these already but if you don't now is the time, good value for money as well if you purchase from the Amazon.

Batman 75th Anniversary Trade Paperback Commemorative Collection
Batman Volume 4 Zero Year Secret City TP
Fables Deluxe Edition Volume 9 HC
Fairest Volume 4 Of Men And Mice TP
FBP Federal Bureau Of Physics Volume 2 Wish You Were Here TP
Injustice Gods Among Us Year Two Volume 1 HC
Justice League Beyond 2.0 Power Struggle TP
Teen Titans Go Titans Together TP (New Printing
Wonder Woman Volume 4 War TP
Wonder Woman Volume 5 Flesh HC

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Art Of Vampirella The Dynamite Years HC
Cryptozoic Man Volume 1 Decapitation Strike TP

IDW PUBLISHING

Ben 10 Classics Volume 3 TP
Complete Chester Gould's Dick Tracy Volume 17 HC
Flesh And Steel The Art Of Russ Heath HC
Samurai Jack Volume 2 The Scotsman's Curse TP
Skylanders The Kaos Trap HC
Star Trek Gold Key Archives Volume 2 HC
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 9 Monsters Misfits And Madmen TP
Transformers Windblade TP
What Fools These Mortals Be The Story Of Puck HC

IMAGE COMICS

So for the price of Marvel's latest Iron Man HC (and change for two singles) you could pick up the latest Image first volumes from the guys that brought you books like Ghosted and Scalped. The blurb for Nailbiter reads "like a mix between Twin Peaks and Se7en." *throws moneys* I've also really high hopes for Southern Bastards from Jason Aaron. If you have neglected to check out Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's mind blowing Manhattan Projects you can pick the first two volumes #1-10 in deluxe hardcover format (you really should!)

Blackhand Comics HC
Manhattan Projects Volume 1 HC
Nailbiter Volume 1 There Will Be Blood TP
Skullkickers Volume 5 A Dozen Cousins And A Crumpled Crown TP
Southern Bastards Volume 1 Here Was A Man TP

MARVEL COMICS

Bendis' brilliant All New X-Men gets the oversized HC treatment with a chance to collect #1-10 but be warned, Marvel are great at starting in this format and stopping two volumes in. There's a collection of all of Deathlok and Moon Knights early appearances as well. Please don't make me list them all, nobody else cares. I hear good things about the latest Moon Knight run which also gets its first release today. V.1's for Ghost Rider and Magneto round off a good week for Marvel and a great week for new trades over all. Rejoice!

All-New Ghost Rider Volume 1 Engines Of Vengeance TP
All-New X-Men Volume 1 HC
Deathlok The Demolisher The Complete Collection TP
Iron Man Volume 5 Rings Of The Mandarin HC (Premiere Edition
Magneto Volume 1 Infamous TP
Moon Knight Epic Collection Volume 1 Bad Moon Rising TP
Moon Knight Volume 1 From The Dead TP
New Mutants X-Force Demon Bear TP
Spider-Man Kraven's Last Hunt Prose Novel HC

New Trades 24/09/2014

A relatively quiet week of releases is made up for by one trade I really want today. In the last couple of weeks I have chewed my way through a tonne of books so I'm hoping to get some reviews up soon.

AVATAR PRESS

Rover Red Charlie Volume 1 TP

BOOM! STUDIOS

At 96 pages it's not the meatiest deluxe edition I've ever seen but for only £7.50 I would say it is definitely worth picking up this zombie horror from Keith Giffen and Kody Chamberlain. Collects #1-3, this highly original concept sees victims tagged with an ancient curse of death and rotting that they must either endure or pass on. I'm in!

Tag Deluxe Edition TP

DARK HORSE COMICS 

Captain Midnight Volume 3 For A Better Tomorrow TP
Lone Wolf And Cub Omnibus Volume 6 TP
Nightmare Carnival SC
Sally Heathcote Suffragette HC
Witcher Volume 1 TP

DC COMICS

I don't want to take the easy way out and always mention whatever Batman book is out this week by DC but the blog's about collecting and wow! This is a pretty collection. Including issues #13-17 of Snyder's Batman and replica vinyl mask. The Vertigo imprint continues it's reprinting of titles in double volumes and It's BKV again this week but this time it's Ex Machina book 3. Collecting #21-29 & Special #3

Batman Death Of The Family Book And The Joker Mask Set
Batman Gordon Of Gotham TP
Ex Machina Volume 3 TP
Flash Omnibus Volume 1 HC
Forever Evil Blight TP
Forever Evil Rogues Rebellion TP
Harley Quinn Vengeance Unlimited TP

IDW PUBLISHING

Crow Pestilence TP
Marvel Covers Artist's Edition HC
Maxx Maxximized Volume 2 HC
Star Trek Volume 8 TP
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents The Best of Wally Wood HC

IMAGE COMICS

Now the book I can't wait to pick up. Revival v.4 from Tim Seeley. The first three volumes have been laying down mysteries while answering some questions at an equal rate. The book I have long described as "not just another zombie book," Collecting #18-31 & Chew/Revival #1 this volume will see the story leave rural Wisconsin for the first time as Dana closes in on her sisters murderer

Chronicles Of Hate HC
Fatale Volume 5 Curse The Demon TP
Revival Volume 4 Escape To Wisconsin TP

MARVEL COMICS

Don't spend a penny on Bendis' GotG volume 2 if you haven't picked up the reprinting of Abnett & Lanning's seminal run that was just released a few weeks back. Not that the new title is awful, the A&L stuff is just a much wiser investment. If you're a fan of Marvel's new Epic Collections then this week it is the time for one of the most famous and over told origin stories in comic book history. THe Amazing Spider-Man: Great Power EC collects ASM #1-#17, Annual #1 and as always, material from Amazing Fantasy #15 (which I already have in 50 other TPB bonus material collections.)

Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Volume 1 Great Power TP
Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 2 Angela TP
Marvel Masterworks The Mighty Thor Volume 5 TP
Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 7 Digest TP

Todays New Trades 24/09/13

Long time no trades, my apologies to the masses who click on every Wednesday, desperate for the latest papery knowledge. Some cool stuff available this week,

The Walking Dead 100 project:

"Robert Kirkman and Skybound team up with the Hero Initiative to present 100 all-new covers envisioning the horrors of the bestselling The Walking Dead. This art book features brand-new pieces by The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, Paolo Rivera, Ryan Ottley, Rafael Albuquerque, and more! This book will never be reprinted and all proceeds go to the Hero Initiative and comic book creators in need!"

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Over at DC follow SHAZAM'S new 52 reintroduction with the SHAZAM! HC collecting: JUSTICE LEAGUE #7-11, 0, 14-16 and 18-21. Who doesn't love shouting SHAZAM! There is also the second volume of Vertigo's Preacher TPB reprintings, collecting: PREACHER #13-26, it's a really affordable way to read a book you should have already read, I recommend volume 1 first though.

You can collect the whole Ultimate Marvel "Divided We Stand" event with the new TPB by the same name. Why would you not want a book written by Bendis, Hickman and Humphries? Collecting: ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #13-18, ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #13-18 and ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN (2011) #13-18. There's also some Spider-Man 2099 action, building on the recent buzz. The X-Babies vs Avengers Babies is a good place to collect all the Skottie Young baby variants.


BOOM! STUDIOS

Adventure Time Volume 2 HC (Mathematical Edition

DARK HORSE COMICS


Art Of Akaneiro HC
Criminal Macabre Final Night The 30 Days Of Night Crossover TP
Eerie Archives Volume 14 HC
Sin Titulo HC

DC COMICS


Ame-Comi Girls Volume 1
Justice League Volume 2 The Villain's Journey TP
Justice League Volume 3 Throne Of Atlantis HC
Legends Of The Dark Knight Jim Aparo Volume 2 HC
Preacher Volume 2 TP
Shazam Volume 1 HC


IDW PUBLISHING

Doctor Who Prisoners Of Time Volume 2

IMAGE COMICS

Cyber Force Rebirth Volume 1 TP
Hip Flask Unnatural Selection HC (10th Anniversary Elephantmen Edition
Soho Dives Soho Divas Limited Edition HC
Soho Dives Soho Divas TP
Spawn Origins Volume 19 TP
Walking Dead 100 Project TP


MARVEL COMICS

Dark Tower The Gunslinger Last Shots TP
Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era Tales To Astonish Volume 1 TP
Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man Digest Volume 4 TP
S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury Vs S.H.I.E.L.D. TP
Spider-Man 2099 Volume 2 TP
Ultimate Comics Divided We Fall United We Stand TP
Young Marvel Little X-Men Little Avengers Big Trouble TP

Marvels Oversized Hardcovers

 

 

 

Outwith collecting hardcovers and paperback, another way to collect your favourite Marvel ongoing series is with their over sized HC's. Usually a year after the paperbacks and containing 2-4 story arcs these books are often very affordable compared to the equivalent number of paperbacks. For myself this means I can concentrate my money on other runs that are less likely to be collected in this format.

 

They are a pleasure to read, The larger pages beautifully display the artwork inside, (although in the case of the Matt Fraction, Uncanny X-Men OHC's, this also means more of Greg Lands art.) Well put together and bound they sit open perfectly on your lap and there's no gutter loss.

 

Some of my favourite so far include:

 

Invincible Iron Man Oversized HC, Volume 1

Fraction/Larroca

Issues #1-19

 

Daredevil by Mark Waid. Volume 1

Waid/Rivera/Martin/Rios/Kano/Pham.

Issues #1-10, 10.1; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 677

 

X-Force Volume 1.

Kyle/Yost/Crain.

Issues #1-11.

 

Spider-Man: Big Time Ultimate Collection.

Slott/Ramos.

Issues #648-662 & 654.1

 

Captain America: The Death of Captain America: The Complete Collection.

Brubaker/Epting.

Issues 22-42, Winter Soldier: Winter Kills.

 

 

 

 

The OHC I'm most looking forward to?

 

Hawkeye Oversized HC.

Fraction/Aja.

Issues #1-11, Young Avengers Presents 6

Comparitive pics.

 

Size difference compared to TP.

 

 

 

Without dustcover.

 

 

Left to right: Oversized HC, Premier HC, Trade paperback.

 

Mini Trade Reviews

As I have read loads of trades over the past month and fallen way behind on getting reviews done. I have decided to do a page of micro reviews. Feel free to comment if you are looking for more details on any particular volume.

Bedlam:
Nick Spencer.
Ryley Romosso.
Image Comics.

Easily the most stylish comic I have picked up in years. Ryley's use of subtle colouring, brought alive with vivid splashes of red paint that express a range of emotions brilliantly. The story, spins the classic hero/villain dynamic well and truly on it's head
10/10

Great Pacific:
Joe Harris.
Martin Morazzo.
Image Comics.

I love a good corporate espionage story and GP delivers. Slowly layering up the story in volume 1 and leaving me drooling for more.After his fathers death Sam Worthington III inherits a fortune and family business built on fossil fuels. We follow him to the Great Pacific trash pile as he works to reclaim the waste and restore his family name. Pirates, assassins,  giant octopuses and Polynesian myths ensue. Solid performance on the art from Morazzo. Another Image hit
08/10.

First X-Men: Children of the Atom:
Neal Adams.
Christos Gage.
Marvel Comics.

Weird mashing of Movie and 616 continuities, terrible art and awful dialogue combine to make this clusterfuck of a book one of the worst I have ever read from Marvel. Not even saved by the fact it was £5.
0/10

Avengers: Avengers World:
Jonathan Hickman.
Jeremy Opena/Adam Kubert.
Marvel Comics.

A welcome reigniting of the franchise which sadly stagnated towards the end of Bendis' run. The book is dripping with Hickman's trademark design elements and is going to be another great chapter in his big picture story telling for Marvel. Awesome new villains, a few cool new characters. Although I would have preferred a return of the Sentry over Hyperion. There's also the introduction of new habitats and a really smart new roster that has me really excited for what is to come. The first issue is a bit of a treat for fans of the Movie line up. Coipel's art is flawless as ever, which is a little unfortunate for Adam Kubert who's following work just doesn't stand up.
07/10