Chicago Comic-Con

As always, it’s Wednesday again and time to head to the shop for a stack of new comics. My buys the past couple of weeks have been mercifully smaller but don’t get your hopes up. The fact that no Avengers titles came out this week—which is worth mentioning because I think there’s five of them currently—just means they all hit next week. In convention news, Wizard World Chicago is this weekend and, because I’m a loving fiancé, I won’t be going. Oh, and neither will Wizard or Marvel or DC. Me, I’ll be in Washington D.C. for a wedding. Wizard and the other big names, well that’s a different story. As the beleaguered Wizard Magazine seems to slip closer to the grave, its branding has disappeared from the once great Chicago-con and along with it the big four comic companies (Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse), all of which have announced that they will be a major presence at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) in April 2010. Come hell or high water, I’ll be there. So, as one convention passes another is born. Which is not to say that the old summer con is dead. Ticket sales are way down, and from what I’ve heard there’s no shortage of ex-wrestlers. One thing is for certain, you won’t have deal with mobs of Twilight fans while waiting to meet Mark Millar.

Here’s a look at the comics I’ll be picking up this Wednesday, Aug. 5. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Agents of Atlas #9
Amazing Spider-Man #601
Black Panther #7
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27
Captain America: Reborn #2 of 5
Doom Patrol #1
House of Mystery #16
The Invincible Iron Man #16
Justice League: Cry For Justice #2 of 6
Secret Six #12
Superman: World of New Krypton #6 of 12
War of Kings #6 of 6
War of Kings: Warriors #2 of 2
Witchfinder: In The Service of Angels #2 of 5

Thoughts on the pile: Joe Casey’s American Son storyline pulled me back into Amazing Spiderman and I gotta say, I’m glad to be buying a Spidey title again. I’m willing to give Johnathan Mayberry a chance on Black Panther mainly because Marvel has been kicking the pants off DC in the finding-new-talent department. Mayberry is a novelist, winner of multiple Brahm Stoker Awards (an annual prize for achievements in horror fiction) and is a martial arts expert who has been inducted into the international Martial Arts Hall of Fame for both mastering several disciplines and writing about them. Who better to write Black Panther? I don’t know if I’ve ever been simultaneously excited and uninterested in a comic but that’s where I’m at with Doom Patrol #1. I haven’t really cared about Doom Patrol since Grant Morrison’s run in the early 1990s. The team has gone through at least three incarnations since then, making its continuity hard to follow and its characterization schizophrenic at best. If J.M. DeMatteis can make me care about them again, great. If not, no big loss. I really enjoyed Robinson’s JLA: Cry for Justice #1 and am glad to hear it will be leading in to his run on the regular title. Had you told me Congorilla was going to be on his JLA team a year ago I would have called you insane, but that’s part of Robinson’s charm, I guess. I’m still having fun with Secret Six but, maybe it’s just me, I can’t stand Scandal Savage. Even her name is ridiculous. And even though no one else seems to be reading it, Superman: World of Krypton is still excellent.

Speculator Picks of the Week: These are comics that, for reasons discussed below, could sell out very fast. Buy them now for cover price or pay jacked-up internet prices later. You’ve been warned! The codes that follow the prices are used for ordering through your local comic shop.

Captain America: Reborn #2 of 5: 1:25 John Cassiday Variant

Captain America: Reborn

Solicitation: The race for Steve Rogers is on! On one side—BUCKY and the BLACK WIDOW and members of the AVENGERS and FANTASTIC FOUR! On the other—NORMAN OSBORN and HAMMER, THE RED SKULL and his evil hordes, with DR. DOOM waiting in the wings! And where… oh where, is the real CAPTAIN AMERICA? Ed Brubaker, Bryan Hitch and Butch Guice bring you the biggest Marvel comic of the year!

32 PGS
$3.99
JUN090439
Written by Ed Brubaker; Pencils by Bryan Hitch Inks by Jackson Guice; Cover by Brian Hitch; 1:25 Variant cover by John Cassaday Bryan Hitch.

Why it’ll go fast: This may sound eerily similar to the last Cap Reborn Variant I wrote about, but it still applies. Yes, there is a 1:70 variant for this book, but I’m picking the 1:25 cover for one reason: Price point. Retailers will be ordering huge numbers on this title for obvious reasons. Because of the high ordering, the regular cover will not be worth more than cover-price for the foreseeable future. However, the Cassiday variants, which will be more affordable and available than the 1:70 variants, could spark some interest. If for no other reason than they wont have a $50-plus price tag anytime soon, thereby pricing themselves right out of most collectors’ means. If you can find this variant for $15 less, I would pick it up.

Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #2 of 6: Marvel Comics

Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth

Solicitation: “HEAD TRIP,” PART 2—It’s the Merc with two mouths! It’s the Dawn of the Living Deadpool! It’s… oh, you get the point. Crash-landing in the Savage Land, Deadpool finds himself face-to-face with the last thing on Earth he ever expected to see: his own Zombiefied head! To make matters worse, the nasty little critter went ahead and bit a few of the locals, so Deadpool has to put the smackdown on some zombie cavemen if he’s going to have any chance at escaping and completing his mission. Did we mention that a crack team of Hydra mercenaries are waiting in the wings?

32 PGS
$2.99
JUN090589
Written by Victor Gischler; Pencils by Bong Dazo Inks by Jose Pimentel:Cover by Arthur Suydam; 1:10 Variant Cover by Tony Moore.

Why it’ll go fast: Issue number one of Merc w/ a Mouth sold out very quickly and for one reason: Deadpool is hot. Maybe because of the recent Wolvie film (which was terrible) or maybe because the character has always had a loyal following. Regardless, crime novelist and Punisher MAX writer Victor Gishler has been given the comic book equivalent of the L.A. Lakers coaching job with this new Deadpool title. People love Deadpool whether his book is good or bad. The character sells issues. Issue #1 is starting to see higher prices on eBay and it would surprise me to see it in the top 10 in sales for last month when the numbers come out.

The Red Circle: The Hangman: DC

The Red Circle: The Hangman

Solicitation: The Civil War claimed many lives… but one of those lives still hasn’t ended! Union doctor Robert Dickering found himself on the wrong side of the battle lines, and despite his heroic treatment of a fallen enemy soldier, he also found himself on the wrong end of a noose! But a shadowy power stepped forth in the twilit moments between life and death and offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse: to forever roam the Earth, saving the lives of innocents condemned like himself, or hastening the deaths of the guilty! But in taking the seemingly righteous mission of the Hangman, has he accepted God’s work? Or has he become the vengeful fist of the Devil himself? Featuring art by Tom Derenick and Bill Sienkiewicz, the acclaimed team behind REIGN IN HELL!

32 PGS
$2.99
JUN090172
Written by J. Michael Straczynski; Pencils by Tom Derenick; Inks by Bill Sienkiewicz; Cover by Jesus Saiz.

Why it’ll go fast: When given his own sandbox to go crazy in, JMS writes some pretty great comics. Those of you who read his “Rising Stars” and the presently unfinished “The Twelve” already know and are probably excited for the Red Circle titles. Basically, DC has handed JMS the Red Circle characters and allowed him to bring them back into DC continuity. Unfortunately, outside of Thor, JMS’s other titles don’t sell as well, so I’d be surprised to see piles of these Red Circle comics in most shops. However, the buzz on these titles will start circulating as we begin to see more of the Red Circle characters popping up in other DCU books.

Nerdy Question of the Week:

Last week was the first issue of Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturgis’ JSA run and I want to know what you thought. Coming off the wake of any Geoff Johns title can be disastrous (see Teen Titans for a perfect example). Did the new creative team live up to your JSA expectations?

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the comic nerd questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question below in the “Leave a Reply” section below. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint and post your comics in the “Ask A Worthologist” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

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This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday, Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here. Also, feel free to post your comments in the new “comments” section below.

I received an e-mail last week asking me what’s the deal with the absence of Wednesday Comics from my pull list? Especially after I talked it up so much. It’s a fair question. In short, it’s the newsprint. I can’t deal with it. My little collector brain just can’t wrap it’s self around newsprint comics. Maybe it’s just been too long since we’ve seen them. Maybe it’s because I’m terrible at refolding maps or the environmentalist inside me feels guilty. Regardless, there is no place in my collection for DC’s Wednesday Comics. That is not to say that I’m not reading Wednesday Comics and enjoying it. My Monday morning begins with coffee and Wednesday Comics. I still think the format is fresh and exciting and when reprinted in oversized hard-cover format I’ll be more than happy to add it to my collection. Until then, I’ll be reading Wednesday Comics at my comic shop every Monday morning. Feel free to drop in and say hi.

Now let’s talk new comics shall we? Below you’ll find my list of comics I’ll be picking up this Wednesday, July 29. This week is looks to be a lot more manageable than the past… 50 I guess. For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3 of 3
The Complete Dracula #2 of 5
Dark Reign: Young Avengers #3 of 5
Dark X-Men: The Beginning #2 of 3
Detective Comics #855
Fantastic Four #569
Justice Society Of America #29
The Lone Ranger #17
New Avengers #55
Secret Warriors #6
Superman #690: The Setup
Thunderbolts #134

Thoughts on the pile: DC has me right where it wants me as I will be buying anything with Blackest Night written on the cover from here on out. The only Dark Reign title I’m paying for this week is Paul Cornell’s Young Avengers because the guy writes good comics. If you guys would’ve listened to me his Captain Britain and MI:13 title wouldn’t be cancelled (no, I’m not letting this one go). Detective Comics is the best read on the stands presently. If you’re not reading Greg Rucka’s Detective you’re not just missing out on excellent comic fiction, you’re probably a jerk. I’m not sure why I’m finishing Mark Millar’s Fantastic Four story when he couldn’t seem to be bothered to do it himself. The last issue was confusing at best. It’s Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges’ first issue of Justic Society of America (see below for more) and I’m in for at least $3. I still love Brett Matthews The Lone Ranger, although it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen an issue, and want to give Dyanamite Comics more money on a monthly basis. Although not a big week for new comics, it’s a good one.

Now for my Speculator Picks of the Week. These are comics that, for reasons discussed below, could sell out very fast. Buy them now for cover price or pay jacked-up internet prices later. You’ve been warned!

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3 of 3: DC

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps

Solicitation: In this three-issue miniseries, writers Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi (GREEN LANTERN CORPS) reveal the secrets behind the Lanterns of BLACKEST NIGHT! Bear witness to Blue Lantern Saint Walker’s pilgrimage of hope, Star Sapphire Carol Ferris’ sacrifice for love, Green Lantern Kilowog’s courageous beginnings, Red Lantern Vice’s source of rage, Orange Lantern Blume’s bizarre creation, and the first appearance of the mysterious Indigo, leader of the Indigo Tribe!

40 PGS
$3.99
MAY090120
Written by Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi; Art by Doug Mahnke, Chris Sprouse and Ivan Reis.

Why it’ll go fast: Blackest Night is here and it’s huge! Huge, I tells ya. Expect to see all the Blackest Night tie-ins selling out every week. The Tales of the Corps series looked like it would be filler and background stories but issue #1 quickly changed those predictions. Now retailers find themselves reordering this weekly title before it even hits the stands. Pick up all three if you’re lucky enough to find them.

Detective Comics #855: Misterioso: DC

Detective Comics #855: Misterioso

Solicitation: “Elegy” part 2 of 4 by Greg Rucka and JH Williams III! Batwoman captures her enemy, a madwoman known only as Alice who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable extras—including Kate! But when the tables are turned, Batwoman finds herself in a hallucination slamming the present into a collision with the past, and the hints of a threat that will claim the lives of every man, woman and child in Gotham City.

And in the all-new co-feature starring the Question, Montoya’s quest to find a missing young girl turns deadl ; co-feature art by Cully Hamner.

40 PGS
$3.99
MAY090134
Written by Greg Rucka; Pencils by Cully Hamner and JH Williams III; Cover by Dave Stewart and Laura Martin.

Why it’ll go fast: The buzz on Rucka’s Detective is huge and for good reason, it might be one of the best reviewed comics in years. Personally, I agree with the masses and loved both stories in the first issue. J.H. Willams art could sell any comic but when added to the controversy of the first lesbian-driven super-heroine comic, this title becomes an instant sell-out every month. Let the morality and equality of super-hero alternate lifestyles debate begin! Truly a sentence made for a fiery comic discussion if I’ve ever heard one.

Justice Society Of America #29: DC

Justice Society Of America

Solicitation: A new era begins for the Justice Society of America as writers Bill Willingham (FABLES) and Matthew Sturges (BLUE BEETLE) take over the series with new artist Jesus Merino (SUPERMAN ANNUAL) just as two new recruits make their debut with the team! Strange happenings at the JSA Mansion are weird precursors to an all-out attack on all members of the team—all but one! And what is the strange connection that new members King Chimera and All-American Kid might have with the turmoil?

32 PGS
$2.99
MAY090161
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges; Pencils by Jesus Merino.

Why it’ll go fast: Following Geoff Johns on a title has got to be similar to taking the stage after The Who, circa 1970. I haven’t been a big fan of Willingham’s superhero-work in the past but love his Vertigo stuff. Here’s to hoping his JSA is better than his Shadowpact. As a retailer it would seem to make sense to order high on this one with it being the start of a new story arc and new creative team and all. However, sales have been plummeting on the title since Johns left (JSA #26, Johns’ last issue, shipped 81,200 issues in April. JSA #28, a fill-in issue by Jerry Ordway, shipped only 52,673 in June). Even if retailers up their orders it still won’t be to the levels the title was selling just two months ago which could create a shortage if all the Johns JSA fans decide to give issue #29 a chance.

Nerdy Question of the Week:

Without inviting a firestorm of rhetoric I’m going to just go ahead and put this one out there. Now, I’m leaving it to you guys to act like big kids and keep this one civil. Though Batwoman is not the first gay character in comics, she is the first to take the headlining role in a major DC title? Does Batwoman’s sexuality affect whether or not you’ll be buying Detective Comics? Remember, keep it civil.

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the nerdy questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question below in the “Leave a Reply” section below. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your comics in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

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Our Fighting Forces #158. A week after ordering on GoAntiques, I have my comic and am quite happy. I have my comic in hand and, to my delight, it is in the described condition. I am now going into a collector's fit, wherein I need to own all the DC Kirby war comics.

About a month ago, I wrote about browsing through GoAntiques, looking at some Bronze-age Jack Kirby war comic (read Testing the GoAntiques Waters – Buying a Comic Book Part I). I had not, at the time, purchased anything from a GoAntiques vendor, but I found several Our Fighting Forces comics and was smitten. I was even more so when I discovered an issue of Our Fighting Forces #158. At the time, I wrote that I was going to knuckle under and order it, and I promised I’d let you know how the whole process with GoAntiques went. Well, I’m here to report.

A week after ordering, I have my comic and am quite happy. Payment was easy and ran a little differently than other auction/shopping sites I have experienced. I agreed to purchase the comic, at which point an e-mail is sent to the seller to make sure the item is in stock. It’s not until the seller responds saying the comic is available that the buyer is asked to pay for the item, which I did using PayPal. There were credit card options offered as well. Shipping is decided by the seller, and most shipping rates can be found in the descriptions of the items. Six days later I had my comic and, to my delight, it was in the described condition, which has now sent me into a collector’s fit, wherein I need to own all the DC Kirby war comics. It’s a condition I’ll have to live with for the time being but one I’ll be satiating with the new hardcover collection of Kirby’s The Losers.

All-in-all, I found my GoAntiques experience to be a good one, with good communication from seller and a product that was represented very well. My criticisms come not with the site, but that some of the sellers are listing items for ridiculous prices. Now, of course, their will always be the school of thought amongst retailers and collectors both that the Overstreet Guide should be used as the bible of comic pricing, not just a “guide” to pricing comics. A theory that, in my opinion, only makes sense for the seller. It would be nice if we could all get top-dollar for our comics, but the truth of the matter is there is a real-world market out there that doesn’t pay much attention to the price guides. It seems that sites like eBay have become the ultimate nullifier to the comic price guide by showing what actual people are paying for comics new and old. Just because your price guide says a comic is worth $200 doesn’t mean you will be able to find a buyer willing to pay that price.

I would argue that GoAntiques could do a better job suggesting prices for sellers, or perhaps allow sellers to list similar books along side each other to allow buyers to pick their price along with their condition. Also, a feedback or reputation score for each seller would help with buyer’s confidence. In recent months, sites like eBay have tightened restrictions on their feedback policies watering down their meaning even more and perhaps GoAntiques would run into similar problems in the future. However, I did find it a little nerve-racking clicking the buy button not knowing how the seller I was buying from grades their comics. As I said earlier, I was happy, but the experience could’ve been even scarier had I been purchasing a $100 comic with no real knowledge of the seller.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

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Page 15 from Marvel's Defenders #1 (1972) drawn by silver-age legend Sal Buscema and inked by Frank Giacoia.

I receive a weekly newsletter from the Heritage Auction Galleries that is usually full of amazing comics and comic memorabilia that are so far out of my price range it makes me want to cry. Not to long ago I was staring at some early original Conan pages longing for a job that would pay me the kind a salary I need to support my addiction to original comic art. This week was no exception, and included original art pages from one of my favorite artists as a young collector.

Before he bought baseballs hit by steroid fueled pro baseball players and Canadian hockey franchises, Todd McFarlane was responsible for some of the best comic book artwork of the late ’80s and early ’90s. His run on both The Incredible Hulk and Amazing Spider Man are comics that will never leave my collection. My love affair ended with McFarlane shortly after he left Marvel for Image comics, but that is another story. My point is, when I opened this week’s email from Heritage Vintage Comics and Art auctions, I nearly fell off my yoga ball (I use it for posture reasons and to work on my core while typing) when I saw original McFarlane art from The Incredible Hulk #334 selling for $26. That was until I checked it out and saw why the price was so low; no Incredible Hulk. While being an excellent example of McFarlane’s art work, if I’m going to buy a page of his Hulk it better have the Hulk on it.

Now, below that auction was a different story, and this time the Hulk was there. Heritage has page fifteen from Marvel’s Defenders #1 (1972) drawn by silver-age legend Sal Buscema and inked by Frank Giacoia. The page features the Hulk, Dr. Strange, an unconscious Namor and the lesser known villain Necrodamus, who, I think, maybe only appeared once or twice before this issue. I wasn’t around when Buscema’s Defenders was originally being published and have never found high-grade copies of the back issues, but would definitely pay top dollar for Very-Fine+ copy of issue number one. Now, for an original page from issue number one, I’d be willing to knock over a bank if the plan was sound and I could trust the crew (I’ve seen enough heist movies to now what happens when you work with amateurs). By Friday, the bid was up to $600 for the page placing still in my price range but at the extreme upper-echelon. It eventually went for $1,314.50. Stupid bills! Stupid sense of financial responsibilities!

Defenders #1

Speaking of high-grade Defenders issues, also up for auction was a CGC 9.6 copy of Defenders #1. In Near-Mint condition, Defenders #1 (1972) guides for $185, but as CGC graded comics are famous for, I predicted this one would probably sell for two-to-three times that amount. Recently a 9.2 graded issue of Defenders sold on eBay for $250. I personally don’t own any CGC graded comics, and no it’s not just because I’m poor, but I do see the draw to a comic graded by a third party especially when buying vintage comics online. Whether or not a grade from a reputable grading company should add exponential worth to a comic is another argument however. One that I won’t get into here. Anyway, this comic finally sold for $776.75, which was more than I was thinking.

For those of you looking for other CGC graded comics, Heritage also offers a new service called ComicMarket that allows you to make an offer on comics that are being sold by private sellers using Heritage Auctions as consignment seller. The selection is, of course, amazing; however some of the asking prices seem pretty high. I’m not sure how the “make an offer” system works, but would love to hear from someone who has had made an offer to a seller.

I’m currently trying to convince WorthPoint of my need of an expense account so I can try this stuff out so as to better inform my readers of how it works but I think they’re on to my clever attempt at getting them to pay for my vintage comic addiction. Maybe if you guys flood them with emails they’ll go for it and I can finally buy that Defenders #1 I’ve always wanted.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

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Captain Britain and MI: 13

Still overwhelmed by my Watchmen experience yesterday—a series of unfortunate events prevented me from going this weekend—I found myself squinting at my computer screen last night trying to figure out how I was only expecting to buy ten comics this Wednesday and the alphabetical list I made ends with the letter “i.” Weird right? I suppose it just gives me some more time to catch up on Jason Aaron’s Scalped from DC/Vertigo. My friend Ryan loaned me the first three collections recently and I fell in love, with the book not him. Nicely done, Ryan. Also this week, the first in the Jack Kirby war comic collections hits the stands. The Losers by Jack Kirby collects issues #151-#162 of Our Fighting Forces and features a forward by Neil Gaiman. The other DC Kirby reprints have been a great way for collectors on budget to read some of the most influential comic work in comic history in excellent hardcover reprints.

With that said, let’s take a look at the new comics coming out this Wednesday, March 11. Below you’ll find the list of new comics I’ll be purchasing. For a complete list of this week’s comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Action Comics #875
Batman: Battle For The Cowl #1 of 3
B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #3 of 5
Captain Britain and MI: 13 #11
DMZ #40
Green Lantern Corps #34
Guardians Of The Galaxy #11
Immortal Iron Fist #23
The Invincible Iron Man #11

Like I said earlier, a weird list, right? Not much in the way of new series this week other than the Bat-event “Battle for the Cowl” (see my picks below for more on that). Although it’s a light week, there’s some real quality on the shelves. The best comic you’re not reading is Captain Britain and MI: 13, written by Paul Cornell (writer on the Doctor Who TV series). Cap and MI:13 has brought Count Dracula back to the fore-front of villains in the Marvel U and fans love it. In all seriousness, you need to give this series a chance. Lately, its sales have dipped to dangerous levels and rumors of its cancellation are beginning to circulate. It would really be a shame to lose a comic this good just as the series is finding it’s legs.

And now, on to the Speculator Picks of the Week. These are books that, for one reason or another, may sell out quickly and become instant collectibles. If you don’t pay attention and get to your local comic shop in a timely fashion, you could be paying way too much for these comics very soon. The codes you see listed below the solicitations are for use when ordering through your local comic shop.

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1 of 3: DC

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1 of 3

Solicitation: “Batman: R.I.P.” and FINAL CRISIS saw the end of Batman. Now, months following the disappearance of her protector, Gotham City sits at a precipice and it may be too far gone for Nightwing, Robin, Commissioner Gordon and the rest of the city’s heroes to save the day. Amid the fires, rioting, looting and gang warfare, one question rings out from the souls of Gotham’s desperate citizens: Where is Batman?
With guest-stars galore, the destruction of a sacred Gotham City institution and an ending that will have everyone talking, this three-issue miniseries event written and drawn by Tony Daniel (The Tenth) features the battle to take on the Mantle of the Bat. Who has earned the right? Who thinks they deserve it? Robin? Nightwing? Jason Todd? Two-Face? Catwoman? Batgirl? Who will ultimately win the BATTLE FOR THE COWL?
• 40 PGS
• $3.99 US
• JAN090180
Written by: Tony Daniel. Pencils by: Tony Daniel. Inks by: Sandu Florea. Cover by: Tony Daniel.

Why it’ll go fast: Regardless of whether or not you liked RIP and Final Crisis, chances are you want to know what happens next. Once again DC is going way out on a limb and giving the job of telling this story to an unlikely candidate, an artist. Tony Daniel, who, while being an accomplished comic artist, has had very little writing experience. Who knows, maybe Daniel’s fresh perspective will make “Battle for the Cowl” a triumph. However, maybe this is where the retailers draw a line in the sand. Since RIP, numbers on both Bat-books have dropped and the announcement that the second part of the Neil Gaiman Bat-story, in the pages of Detective Comics, isn’t coming out until April certainly isn’t going to excite anyone. The chatter on the fan sites isn’t what I’d call optimistic at this point but I still think this one is going to sell. It has all the hallmarks of the 1990’s “Reign of the Supermen” storyline that followed the “death” of Superman. None of us honestly believed that Supes was dead forever but we still all went along for the ride.

Resident Evil #1: DC/Wildstorm

Resident Evil #1

Solicitation: Capcom’s international video game sensation returns in March with Resident Evil 5 and WildStorm debuts the new prequel miniseries tying into the highly anticipated release! Find out what led Chris Redfield to Africa and learn the dark burden that haunts him! An absolute must-read for fans of the franchise and a starting point for new readers!

• 32 PGS
• $3.99 US
• JAN090264
Written by: Rick Sanchez. Pencils by: Kevin Sharpe. Inks by: Jim Clark. Cover by: Brandon Badeaux .

Why it’ll go fast: Say what you will about video-game-comic-adaptations, I personally don’t read them, but they sell. Wildstorm’s Gears of War adaptation sold only about 20,000 copies in the direct market (comic shops and book stores) and about 380,000 copies elsewhere (probably video game stores?). With the hype behind it’s video game release, this Friday, the Resident Evil 5 comic could easily out sell GOW based solely on franchise history. Gears of War: 2 games. Resident Evil: 5 games and three movies. Resident Evil wins even though the movies were terrible and I’m not excited about still having to stop and shoot zombies in the new game. Advantage Gears of War, purely on gameplay.

Rorschach 1:6 scale deluxe collector figure: DC Direct

Rorschach 1:6 scale deluxe collector figure

Solicitation: This 1:6 scale deluxe collector figure of the movie’s masked vigilante features an intricate and authentically detailed fabric costume with multiple layers, including a suit, boots, a Rorschach mask and accessories. Packaged in a deluxe 4-color window box with a fifth panel, the figure also comes with a display base.
• $99

Why it’ll go fast: Again, I apologize for bringing toys into our weekly comic blog but this one is amazing. If you have read Watchmen or recently seen the movie, which you should, you undoubtedly fell in love with the character of Rorschach and thought to yourself, “man, I need to drop a hundred bucks on a figure of that guy.” Well now is your chance. At $99 each, rest assured there aren’t going to be piles of these laying around, and those of us who want them are going to buy them quickly.

The Indy Comic of the Week will return next week.

Nerdy Question of the Week:

Several fanboys and comic creators have complained about the end of the Watchmen movie being different from the original comic, while the rest of the film was a virtual word for word adaptation. With out ruining it for those who haven’t seen the film yet, did you like or dislike the changes made to the end of the Watchmen movie?

Thanks again for your continued input and keep the answers to the nerdy questions coming. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask a Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Action Comics #1. An unrestored copy of Action #1 went up for sale on Feb. 27, and experts expect it to draw bids up to $400,000.

The first appearance of Superman in the pages of Action Comics #1, which originally went on sale in June of 1938, has long been considered the birth of the Superhero comics in America. Whether or not Superman was the first superhero is a discussion in and of it’s self, but one thing that is for certain: Action Comics #1 is one of, if not the, most expensive and rare comics in existence. Currently there are 100-150 known copies of Action #1 in varied conditions, and about 80 percent of those have been restored in some way.

It’s been a while since an unrestored copy of Action #1 went up for sale, but today on Comiclink.com, collectors can place their bid on one of the highest graded, unrestored copies of the comic in recent memory.

Graded in Fine condition (6.0 out of 10) by CGC, a professional comic grading service, this copy of Action #1 had not been part of the collectible comic market previously and made it’s public debut at the Comiclink.com booth at the 2009 New York Comic-Con. The owner’s identity is being withheld, but according to Comiclink.com owner Stephen Fishler, the comic was purchased for .35 cents in 1949-1950 in a used book store. The comic was then stored in the owner’s mother’s basement until 1966. Since then the comic’s owner has been waiting for its value to increase. Which it has.

Even though Action comics #1 guides for around $130,000 in Fine condition, experts are predicting this copy to sell for $400,000, due to the low number of unrestored copies in circulation. Another CGC graded, unrestored copy of Action Comics #1 in Good condition (2.0) sold for $85,000 in March of 2007, more than twice the $42,000 it guides for, on a similar comic book auction site. More recently, in May of 2008, a restored copy of Action #1 CGC graded at Very Fine + (8.5) sold for $116,512.50 on the Heritage.com vintage comics auction site. In 2003, Stephen Geppi, CEO of Diamond Comics Distributions, offered a $1-million-dollar reward for an unrestored copy of Action Comics #1 that would grade out in Very Good condition as graded by CGC.

Bidding for the comic started on Feb. 27 at $1 at 12 noon Eastern Standard time and as of 6 p.m. was already up to $200,200 with 36 bids. The auction closes on Friday, March 13 and collectors everywhere will be watching to see how high the winning bid will be. Click here to watch the bidding.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint–Discover Your Hidden Wealth

I’ve spent hours cycling through countless eBay auctions looking at comics that the seller swears are in mint condition only to receive a comic in Very Good condition at best. If you know what I’m talking about in that last sentence, then you know the difference between Very Good and Near Mint is huge. In fact, I’ve often argued that mint-condition comics do not exist, and even near-mint copies are hard to come by.

Yet, if you search “Mint Comics” on eBay, you’ll currently find more than nine pages of results. Near mint, maybe, but 10.0 mint condition, no way. I’m not saying all these sellers are frauds, but rather they don’t seem to have the knowledge that longtime collectors or even retailers have of their own comics.

This is where GoAntiques seems to have an advantage. Are there some sellers there are asking ridiculous prices for garbage comics? Yes. However, there seems to be a large group of sellers who have professionally graded their comics and actually know what they are talking about.

Our Fighting Forces #158. After browsing like a nerdy shark looking for a back-issue to sink my teeth into, I found this one on GoAntiques. I made the purchase, and will report on what I actually bought when it shows up.

This afternoon, I spent an hour looking at some Bronze-age Jack Kirby war comics on GoAntiques that I would love to own. As of yet, I haven’t made any purchases but will let you know about my experience when I do. I don’t think I can resist these Our Fighting Forces comics much longer. When clicking on the page, I found the layout easy to read and simple enough not to get lost in the details. Most of the sellers I clicked on stated the grade/condition of the comics and that the dealer was using the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide for their pricing.

I’m not saying that Overstreet is the end-all, be-all of comic-book pricing. Remember, just because a comic-book guide says something should sell for hundreds of dollars does not mean you’ll be able to find someone to buy it for that price. I do like sellers who state they are using Overstreet as their guide because it is well accepted and used by most professionals and collectors alike as a way to establish a condition grade and a fair price.

So I’m browsing like a nerdy shark looking for a back issue to sink my teeth into. One thing that could be improved upon is the taxonomy. Rather than just lumping everything into comics, it would be nice to see Golden, Silver, Bronze and Modern-age sections (by the way, if anyone from GoAntiques is looking for a nerd to help with comic-book taxonomy, I’m your guy). Not all of us can afford Golden-age comics or are even looking for them in some instances. Some of the sellers have included ages in their descriptions, and when I searched “Bronze-age” comics, I did find quite a few issues including the Our Fighting Forces #158 I keep coming back to. So maybe my taxonomy gripe isn’t warranted, or at least it wouldn’t be if more sellers would include the ages in their descriptions.

The next step is to buy, I guess. One thing that leaves me a little uneasy is the lack of feedback on the dealers. Maybe I’m missing something, but there doesn’t appear to be any. I’m sure this dealer is a fair-enough guy but reading someone else’s message to confirm this would put my mind at ease. Oh well, this is a learning experience, and I’m getting paid $10 dollars a word (chuckle), so here goes.

Checkout is pretty self-explanatory, paid with PayPal, but had the option of using my credit card, and now I wait. In Part Two of this story, I’ll talk about what happens next (how long the comic took to arrive, the condition, etc.). For now, I wait to hear from the seller to make sure they still have the comic in stock, which is a pretty handy function for store owners who want to have their inventory for sale in their brick-and-mortar store and on the Web. I’ll report back with my findings soon.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Before we get started let’s talk housekeeping. I’ve received a few e-mails detailing some problems with finding older “This Week” blogs, problems with posting comments and even some problems with getting in contact with me. I assure you I’ve read all your emails and forwarded them to the proper geeks and have been reassured by those same geeks that problems are in the process of being solved. There’s a lot of changes coming down the WorthPoint-pipe real soon here (no I’m not being replaced, as far as I know anyway) and they are all for the benefit of you guys. Stick around and you’ll see.

With that out of the way let’s talk comics. The yearly comic sales numbers have been released and it seems, once again, Marvel stomped DC in comic sales while DC whupped Marvel in Trade-Paper-Back sales. All in all not very surprising as Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” seems to have been a rollicking sales and critical success. The fans spoke with their wallets and bought a lot more Marvel Comics than DC. The numbers don’t lie. However, does sales success translate to collectivity? The short answer is maybe. For more on this question check out my other blog, “The Comic Speculator” where I’ll be taking a look at Marvel’s last big crossover event, “Civil War,” to try and predict where prices on the “Secret Invasion” comics will sit after the dust settles. Look for that blog later this week.

For now let’s take a look at this week’s new comics. Here’s my pile if comics for the week of Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. As always, I welcome your criticism, praise or threats of bodily harm based on what I am or am not reading/collecting. You may have noticed a new section below where you can respond to this article, it’s the perfect place to agree with or lash out at me for all to see! (No rhyme intended) For a complete list of this week’s new comics click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Action Comics #873
B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess #1 of 5
Captain Britain and MI: 13 #9
DMZ #38
Faces of Evil: Prometheus
Final Crisis #6 of 7
Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #2 of 2
Green Lantern Corps #32
Nightwing #152
Punisher: War Zone #5 of 6
X-Infernus #2 of 4

Now let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, these issues may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Amazing Spiderman #583, Obama Variant

Amazing Spiderman #583, Obama Variant; Marvel Comics; Written by Mark Waid; Art by Barry Kitson, Back up story Written by Zeb Wells; Art by Todd Nauck; 32 pages $3.99.

Solicitation: YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT! PETER PARKER ON A DATE! After the revelations of “Mind on Fire,” love is in the air for more than one member of the cast, and Pete finally gets some time out with the ladies (and who better to bring it to you than two men who both had dates as recently as 1987!?!). Amidst the romance, though, forces are gathering that will spell trouble for Peter in the months to come. And, to celebrate the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama, Marvel is proud to present an all-new story teaming up one of the world’s most recognizable political figures with the world’s greatest super hero, as President-Elect Obama joins Spider-Man in “Spidey Meets the President!”

Why it’ll go fast: As you may recall, a few months ago Batman may or may not have died in the pages of Batman as part of the “RIP” storyline. This issue prompted me to predict a huge sellout on the basis that DC would drop a press release to media sources everywhere, hoping the news papers and networks would pick up on the story and send people everywhere to their nearest comic shop to see how Batman dies. Well it didn’t happen. Whether DC dropped the ball on this one or no one cared, we may never know. Marvel on the other hand seems to have their PR dept in marching order and already this week CNN, NPR, and USA TODAY have run stories about Spidey meeting Obama in the pages of Amazing Spidey #583. Already pre-sales for the issue on eBay are going for $30-$50 and with the announcement of a second printing of the Variant cover it would seem the entire first print-run is spoken for before hitting the stands. Retailers had to order more of the regular cover of #583 than they did of Amazing Spidey #575 to be eligible to order the Obama variant. If they surpassed their order of #575, then the sky’s the limit; order as many Obama Variant as you want, although there’s no guarantee you’ll receive them all. The distribution of the variants seems to be a mystery, and the rumor of a10,000- to 20,000-print-run will make this comic extremely hot and hard to find. I wonder how a Sarah Palin variant would sell?

Faces of Evil: Prometheus

Faces of Evil: Prometheus; DC; Written by Sterling Gates; Art by Federico Dallocchio; Cover by Mauro Cascioli; 32 pages; $2.99.

Solicitation: It’s an all-new prelude to the upcoming, all-new JUSTICE LEAGUE #1! Prometheus once defeated the Justice League single-handedly, and with his latest lethal crime spree, he’s moved to the top of the heroes’ Most Wanted list. But what grave crimes has he committed, and what will he do to prevent capture? Learn the real face of evil that is Prometheus!

Why it’ll go fast: I love the current Faces of Evil event, but sadly, am still awaiting last week’s FOE: Grundy issue due to a shipping error at Diamond Comics. I’m still trying to get a solid answer on who was affected by this shipping error and will let you know as soon as I do. That aside, FOE takes a look at the villains that will be making problems fot the DC heroes in the coming year and Prometheus is one of my favorites. Writer Sterling Gates has been doing great work on the current Supergirl run and I’m excited to see how he brings Prometheus back to the DC villains “A-list.” While the numbers for orders on the first FOE issue aren’t available yet, I’m guessing this issue will be ordered much lower than the Geoff Johns Grundy issue based on the fact that, though he’s great, Sterling Gates isn’t a huge name yet.

X-Infernus #2 of 4

X-Infernus #2 of 4; Marvel Comics; Written by C.B. Cebulski; Art by Giuseppe Camuncol; Cover by David Finch; 32 pages; $3.99.

Solicitation: Darkchilde comes calling to the X-Men’s doorstep—and she’s not leaving without her Soulsword. The next pulse-pounding issue by C.B. Cebulski (LONERS, Drain) and Giuseppe Cammuncoli (MS. MARVEL, Intimates) is here and it’s shaking up the X-Men in a big way.

Why it’ll go fast: X-Men mini-series haven’t had the best reputation for sales or quality for quite a while now, however, X-Infernus seems to be the exception to the rule. Issue one was GREAT! I love the character of Magik, Illyana Rasputin (Colossus’ little sister), and can’t wait for her to return to the Marvel U (sans goat legs). I’m not the only nerd that loved this story, fans bought issue #1 by the fistful causing an instant sell-out at the printer and a second and third printing. If you can find issue X-Infernus #1 pick it up along with issue #2. It’s good fun for fans of both the now classic New Mutants, and the more recent New X Men Academy X.

The Indy book of the Week pick will return next week. For this week, I’m introducing yet another new section to stir up some discussion. It’s called the The Nerdy Question of the Week, where I’ll pose a question to you the reader and hopefully you’ll respond. Responses can come via email or using the “comments” section at below. This weeks question comes from a discussion a friend of mine and I had this past weekend.

If you had to reduce your pile to one comic a month (just one title) what comic would it be?

Post you answers below or feel free to e-mail them to me.

Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss new and classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

Matt Baum is a Worthologist who specializes in comic books.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques and Collectibles

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint Comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here.

This Wednesday is the day many of us Bat-fans have been waiting for. Since Grant Morrison took over Batman in 2006, the title has been a wild ride that has ultimately led fans and collectors to tomorrow’s final issue of “Batman R.I.P.” Although it had been rumored for months now, an article in the BBC news this past Monday made it official; as of tomorrow, according to Morrison, Bruce Wayne will not be Batman. Now, don’t panic. The article doesn’t say Bruce will be killed, which would seem counterproductive to the fan-base of not only the comic but the wildly successful Batman film franchise. The latest franchise that is. However, if anyone would kill Bruce Wayne it would be Morrison. I can picture him throwing his head back and cackling as nerds everywhere cry out silently, in all caps, on comic-fan-site web-boards across the Internet. Trust me, he’s not afraid to blow Batman’s head off and have his corpse eaten by rabid dogs, if you’ve read Morrison’s Invisibles or Hellblazer then you also know it’s true. I was tempted to skip work to find out Wayne’s fate; yes, I’m that big of a nerd. One thing is for certain, eBay will light up with issues of Batman #681 starting at midnight tonight. I’m not predicting a shortage, but who knows; we are in a recession. Maybe retailers cut back on their orders as readers began tightening their financial belts. We could have an instant Bat-sell-out on our hands. Maybe I will skip work just to be safe.

Also shipping this week; Rafel Grampa’s Mesmo Delivery is being billed as a road adventure in the vein of Convoy meets the Twilight Zone. Brazilian native Grampa’s art is some of the freshest and kinetic work I’ve encountered in years and I’m very much looking forward to his first major comic offering. Grampa has worked with Gabriel Ba (Cassanova, The Umbrella Academy) and Fabio Moon (Cassanova) and has done design work for the Cartoon Network, Diesel and Coca-Cola. Mesmo Delivery tells the story of Rufo, an ex-boxer tasked with delivering a secret cargo that even he cannot know of. If you can’t find a copy at your local comic shop demand they order one for you. Grampa is an up and coming comic talent that will probably be drawing some of your favorite books very soon.

Are you one of those pathetic fools that ignored the hype and missed out on the Marvel “Secret Invasion” storyline only to later find yourself pale and sweaty like a desperate junkie, digging through back-issue bins searching for long sold out issues of New Avengers? If you are, don’t blame me. I’ve been screaming about how good this storyline is since day-one. Regardless, now you too can join the cool kids on the “Secret Invasion” bandwagon with the New Avengers Vol 8: Secret Invasion Book 1 Premiere Hardcover. Vol 8 contains New Avengers #38-#42 which details the beginning of the Skrull Invasion that will be remembered as one of Marvel’s best crossover events. Available at comic shops everywhere for $19.95.

And now, as I do every week, my buy list for the week of 11/25/2008. For a complete list of comics shipping this week click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Batman #681
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #19
Captain America #44
Daredevil #113
DMZ #36
Guardians Of The Galaxy #7
Hulk #8
Incredible Hercules #123
Justice Society of America – Kingdom Come Special: The Kingdom
Nova #19
Secret Invasion: Inhumans #4 of 4
Superman #682
Thor: Man of War
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #1 of 6
X-Force #9

Remember to contact me with your questions, concerns, threats, and suggestions as to what I am or should be reading.

So let’s talk speculation. As you may or may not know, the whole purpose of this blog is to arm the comic nerd with the information he or she needs to make an informed and quality new comic purchase every week. While they might not be worth piles of money, they may be pretty hard to find in the near future.

Batman #681; DC; Written By Grant Morrison; Art by Tony Daniel; Cover by Alex Ross; $3.99

Why it’s hot: Don’t turn on your TV. Don’t pick up a newspaper, don’t answer your phone and for god’s sake if some nerd in your comic shop tries to ruin the end of this one smash their face in before they can make a sound. Bat’s #681 is the final chapter of “Batman R.I.P.” and it very well may be the death of Bruce Wayne. Normally I would say there’s not a snowflake’s chance in Baghdad DC would kill Batman, but that was before Marvel killed off Captain America two years ago and sold a million comics in the process. All bets are off the table. I have no idea what’s going to happen. The only thing we do know is after tomorrow Bruce Wayne will not be Batman.

Why it’ll go fast: I can think of 500,000,000 reasons why this book will sell out, the main being news coverage. The death of Batman is big news, especially after the Dark Knight grossed over $500,000,000 at the box office this past summer (get it 500 million reasons? Oh whatever. You wouldn’t know wit if it bit you on your…). Watch for USA Today and CNN to pick up on this story, they love these nerd headlines. Ill even go as far as to predict Conan O’Brien makes a joke about Batman’s death in his monologue. The point is when the media picks up on these comic stories people that don’t usually buy comics seem to come out of nowhere to do so. For a complete RIP checklist click here.

The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #1; Dark Horse; Written By Gerard Way; Art by Gabriel Ba; Covers by Gabriel Ba and Jim Lee; $2.99.

Why it’s hot: The Eisner Award winner for best limited series of 2007 returns with more of your favorite misunderstood heroes with parent issues in the long awaited second chapter of the Umbrella Academy. With every thing from news of an animated series to rumors of an upcoming film, My Chemical Romance front-man, Gerard Way’s Umbrella Academy couldn’t be hotter. (For the record I can’t stand the guys band but I have to admit, he writes great comics. Cheers Gerard).

Why it’ll go fast: The geeks are sold on this one. I, like many like me, fought the urge to read the first Umbrella Academy solely based on the fact that I couldn’t stand the band that the writer sang for. Month’s several brow beatings for being a music snob later I admit I paid way too much for issues one and two but have no regrets as I loved both the writing and Gabriel Ba’s incredible art. This is not to say that I am the King of Geeks leading all nerds to the shop to buy the new Umbrella Academy; which my finance will tell you is absolutely true. The buzz on this comic is huge so get to your shop early and hope it’s still there.

Body Bags #1; Image Comics; Written and drawn by Jason Pearson; $5.99.

Why it’s hot: Back in 1996 Pearson first introduced readers to Panda and Clownface, the father-daughter contract killer team and stars of Body Bags in a hyper-violent 4-issue mini-series from Dark Horse comics. Nine years later Pearson brought his family of killers to Image comics under the 12 Gauge imprint for a new short story. Call him slow, perfectionist, or whatever else, but Pearson and Body Bags are back again with their first full comic since 1996. Call me excited.

Why it’ll go fast: First of all, it’s been 12 years since readers have seen an issue of Body Bags and most didn’t read it in the first place. Those who did, myself included, fell in love with the iconic Clownface character and his penchant for extremely bloody murder. It was the 90s, I was a sick horror addicted youngster. Do I still care? We’ll see tomorrow. One thing is for certain; retailers are going to order a six dollar one-shot of a comic that hasn’t been seen for more than a decade with great hesitance. Don’t expect to see piles of this one laying around but if you’re looking for a violent romp with excellent art, Body Bags might just be the comic for you.

That’s it for this week true believers. Time for this nerd to get some shut eye. Have a happy Turkey Day. I’ll be preparing an apple-wood smoked bacon wrapped turkey with pear cider gravy and then reading the rest of my Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus while watching the dog show and of course, football. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

The Week in Geek 11/12

By Matt Baum

This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint Comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here

As a child I used to listen to my father talk about how much he loved the 007 movies, especially the Sean Connery films. My dad and I had very similar taste in films when I was younger. He loved the old Godzilla films, The Godfather parts 1 and 3 and he took me to see the Road Warrior when I was 6 years old. At that age I was pretty much into anything my dad said was cool, except the old Bond films. I just didn’t get it. Maybe it’s the same genetic trait that’s kept me away from Doctor Who to this day, but I just couldn’t get into the British super-spy-thing. It all seemed so cheesy. That was until the latest adaptation of Casino Royal with Daniel Craig as James Bond. Not only did it further my man-crush for Craig but the film recreated Bond as a human and a gentleman-spy/killing machine. I can’t tell you how geeked-up I am for Quantum of Solace and a new compendium of the Illustrated James Bond that hit’s comic stands this week.

Hermes Press’ James Bond: The History of the Illustrated 007 chronicles James Bond’s many comic appearances starting with his daily comic strips in the British Daily Express in 1958. Writer and Pop Historian Alan J. Porter examines 50 years of James Bond in comics in this 240 page soft-cover book available this Wednesday at a comic shop near you. Confession time: I’ve never read any James Bond comics but fully plan on checking out this book to figure out what I need to read.

In weird news, I’m not judging, just saying this piece of news is arguably weird, Walt Becker, director of Van Wilder and Wild Hogs makes his comic book debut this week. Now, you might expect the man that brought us the aforementioned cinematic gems might give comic readers a light hearted comedy comic. Well funny comics don’t sell so well but you know what does, fantasy comics. So, in the interest of sales, or perhaps throwing off the shackles of his Hollywood comedy pigeon-holing, director Walt Becker and Boom Studious bring us Last Reign: Kings of War. Kings of War takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where a new order of Knights (in armor) have risen to bring peace in a time of… Well, post-apocalyptic turmoil I guess. Knights in armor in a post-apocalyptic future from the director of Van Wilder; only in comics folks.

Now once again, here’s the list of comics I’ll be picking up this week. As always please send me your criticism or praises on what I am or am not reading. For a complete list of this weeks comics click here. For a comic-shop near you click here.

Action Comics #871 – More New Krypton!
Batman: Cacophony #1 of 3 – See “Picks of the Week”
B.P.R.D.: The Warning #5 of 5
Captain Britain and MI:13 #7 – My anti Dr. Who stance weakens with each new issue.
Eternals Annual #1
Green Lantern Corps #30
Justice Society of America – Kingdom Come Special: Superman – See “Picks of the Week”
The Lone Ranger #15
Nightwing #150
Wolverine #69 – Old man Logan continues.

Push #1 of 6; DC/Wildstorm; Written by Adam Freeman and Marc Bernardin; Art by Bruno Redondo; Cover by Jock; $3.50

Why it’s hot: Push is a comic prequel to the film of the same name starring Dakota Fanning that premiers in 2009. The premise centers around a top secret government group called “the Division” that is rounding up people with extra mental abilities to fight as psychic soldiers in an upcoming secret war. Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman, writers of Wildstorm’sHighwaymen and Top Cow’s Genius bring readers the first look at Push.

Why it’ll go fast: Truth be told it may not go fast at all. I didn’t even know that Push was a movie tie-in until I looked into the title. Most retailers, disappointed with the low sales of Wildstorm comics may pass this one up altogether. In fact, I’m guessing no one pays much attention to Push until the opening weekend of the film. Much like the Matrix comics that no one paid any attention to until the film turned out to be a blockbuster sci-fi classic, which now guide for more than $30.00, Push could be a big comic hit long after it’s publication. That is if the movie is a hit. If it sucks then just forget I said anything.

Batman Cacophony #1; DC; Written by Kevin Smith; Art by Walt Flanagan; Covers by Adam and Andy Kubert; $3.99.

Why it’s hot: Coming off the success of Zach and Miri Make a Porno it certainly seems that Kevin Smith is back. He’s learned his lesson after trying to go mainstream and has returned to his raunchy comedy roots, but that’s not all. Smith has returned to comics to give readers a Batman story starring Onomatopoeia, a villain he created during his run on Green Arrow in 2001. Smith and his good friend and movie extra Walt Flanagan team up for this special three-issue limited series.

Why it’ll go fast: Earlier I said that Kevin Smith is back, but closer to the truth might be, “If Kevin Smith can put out all three issues of Cacophony on schedule, then I’ll say he’s back”. In the past Smith hasn’t been known for finishing his books in a timely fashion. I would hope that all three issues of his Bat-story are in the can but, you never know. His two issue limited series (was it supposed to only be two?) Daredevil: The Target began in 2003 and was never finished and his six-issue Spider-man Black Cat began in 2002 and finished in 2006. I love Smith’s writing and am a fan of most of his films but don’t trust him when it comes to deadlines. Retailers that got stuck with piles of his Daredevil and Spider-man books due to ridiculously late issues might not trust him anymore either. I would expect to see orders on Cacophony #1 much lower than Smith’s past books but probably not hard to find until issue #2 ships. If it ships on time that is.

JSA Kingdom Come Special: Superman; DC; Written and drawn Alex Ross; Covers by Alex Ross and Dale Eaglesham; $3.99

Why it’s hot: Alex Ross. I shouldn’t have to say anything else. But I will. If you’ve been reading Johns’ Superman and JSA stories than you already know how great they are. If not then you probably hate comics or yourself and are just misplacing your frustration on some of the best superhero stories ever written. I am not exaggerating here. If you love superhero comics you need to read this one. I give you my personal money back guarantee on this one. If you don’t like the JSA Supes special box it up and mail it to me and I’ll send you a check for $3.99. Someday, maybe.

That’s all for now true believers. Until next week, keep the questions coming. Also, check out my other blog The Comic Speculator, where I discuss classic yet still affordable back-issue comics. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact me or post your question in the Comic Book community forum. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your titles in the “Ask A Question” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.