Penny & Aggie #4 to be cancelled?

Well, that sucks.

Penny & Aggie is a wonderful online comic by T Campbell and Gisèle Lagacé (Cool Cat Studio). Alias started to publish the strip as a four-issue mini, but now Campbell writes on his blog that issue #4 will be cancelled, due to "reasons [that] are strictly business". Meaning too little sales, probably. In a later post, he muses if this had something to do with the much discussed tightening of Diamonds solicitation rules. Campbell doesn't blame them, since he thinks their rules actually needed a bit of tightening, but still...

...that sucks... -_-;

Preliminary September Previews Fun

Had a little time on my hands today and the online order forms were already out, so even though it's not as useful now as with a real copy of Previews (not much point in evaluating unknown series by title alone), it already gives me the impression that the summer break is over and September (or November/December) will be quite an expensive month.


Dark Horse

First up are the first two of DH's Harlequin manga line. It's certainly something new and intriguing, but I really need more information about these before I order, especiall since I'm (pretty obviously) not part of the target demographic. That won't be too hard though, since I can't preorder them through Diamond anyways (they're not allowed to ship them outside the US). I have to get them from amazon.de after they come out.

SEP05 0013 HARLEQUIN PINK A GIRL IN A MILLION TP (C: 3 & 4) SRP: $9.95
SEP05 0014 HARLEQUIN VIOLET RESPONSE TP (MR) (C: 3 & 4) SRP: $9.95

Oh My Goddess volume 22, the third one in right-to-left format. I want to sample the new format with volume 1 before I decide if I really need to ditch my German volumes and replace them at this excrutiatingly slow pace (the German and French editions of OMG are both still mirrored LTR).

SEP05 0019 OH MY GODDESS VOL 22 RTL TP (C: 3 & 4) SRP: $10.95

Usagi does not need to be explained.

SEP05 0023 USAGI YOJIMBO #89 SRP: $2.99

I haven't read Penny Arcade in years. I really have to sample it again - and find out what part of the storyline will be in here. Something's puzzling me, by the way. This is listed at the Dark Horse site as scheduled for 2006-01-25. Did they solicit it one month early?

SEP05 0024 PENNY ARCADE VOL 1 ATTACK OF THE BACON ROBOTS TP (C: 4) SRP: $12.95

This has already been discussed elsewhere. It's a sub-optimal presentation of an interesting concept, but judging from some of the names that have been dropped I'll want to order it anyways.

SEP05 0027 SEXY CHIX TP (C: 4) SRP: $12.95


DC Comics / CMX

I started that series solely because of Middleton (and because it's short... less chance of an NYX-like muck-up). I think I don't even know what it's about, yet... ^^;

SEP05 0224 SHAZAM SUPERMAN FIRST THUNDER #3 (Of 4) SRP: $3.50

The first two volumes were quite well done, so I'm staying with the series (reminds me to order volume 3 and 4 soon).

SEP05 0285 MUSASHI #9 VOL 5 (C: 3) SRP: $9.99


Image

What the hell is that?

SEP05 1669 SPAWN MANGA VOL 1 TP SRP: $9.99

What shall I say... I like Kurtz' humor.

SEP05 1701 PVP #21 SRP: $2.99

When will Cho finally get around to publishing Liberty Meadows again? The last solicited issue is - what - half a year lat now. Shanna is finished now (and I'd prefer more LM to Zombie King).


Marvel

Yes, I'm only buying this series, for Wieringo. Crossovers are a red flag to me. I refuse to buy those other titles. That's what scans are for, if they can't write self-contained series. Sue me.

SEP05 1906 FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #2 SRP: $2.99

The first mini was a nice read. I hope the second will only get better.

SEP05 1968 X-MEN AND POWER PACK #2 (Of 4) SRP: $2.99


A.D. Vision

What's up with those lamers. Still no new Those Who Hunt Elves or Louie the Rune Soldier. The only reason I'm not totally pissed at them is that they're giving me so much Yotsuba&!.


Alias Enterprises

I still haven't read the last part of the Image mini, but I'll stay with the series. Wouldn't consider it all-ages, though, as it has been called elsewhere.

SEP05 2680 LULLABY #3 SRP: $2.99


Amaze Ink / SLG

I so want this. But why does it have to be 20 bucks?

SEP05 2703 RANKLECHICK AND HIS THREE LEGGED CAT SC SRP: $19.95


Antarctic Press

Gold Digger is like Usagi, a classic. (Don't lynch me.)

SEP05 2723 GOLD DIGGER #69 SRP: $2.99

If I hadn't seen a preview in another AP-comic I'd never have known that apparently Rod Espinosa is doing the art here. The cover I've seen certainly doesn't look like it.

SEP05 2724 METADOCS TYPE A #1

Isn't the first new Dunn-issue already a bit late? I hope he does it right this time around. Wasn't all that impressed by Heaven Sent or Quagmire USA.

SEP05 2727 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL #133 SRP: $2.99
SEP05 2729 NINJA HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK 2005 SRP: $4.99


Devils Due Pub.

Yes, I'm a sucker for early Salvatore. And since you can't read the man himself anymore (another victim of the brain-eater), I'll gladly take this.

SEP05 2893 FORGOTTEN REALMS DARK ELF EXILE SEELEY CVR A #2 (Of 3) SRP: $4.95


Girl Twirl Comics

Another regular.

SEP05 2964 JANES WORLD #22 SRP: $4.95


HK Comics

Final volume, it appears.

SEP05 2970 CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON VOL 12 GN (OF 12) (MR) SRP: $13.95


Museworks

Oooh. New Sinfest collection. And just when the month is already overfull.

SEP05 3029 SINFEST VOL 3 DANCE OF THE GODS TP (MR) SRP: $17.95


Oni Press

I think this might just be the most interesting newcomer this month.

SEP05 3053 OFF ROAD GN SRP: $11.95

The first volume was nicely done. I'll be waiting for this.

SEP05 3054 NORTHWEST PASSAGE #2 (MR) SRP: $8.95


Speakeasy Comics

SEP05 3088 GRIMOIRE #7 SRP: $2.99
SEP05 3096 SPELLGAME #3 SRP: $2.99

I hope they really pick up late Kandora's Jade Fire soon.


Tokyopop

It's gotten quite rare for me to order a TP-manga. But this vampire action/romance/comedy is just too good to pass over.

SEP05 3110 TSUKUYOMI MOON PHASE VOL 1 GN (OF 8) SRP: $9.99


Viz Media

Wacky premise, wonderful execution. Guy wakes up one day and has a minature girl instead of his right hand.

SEP05 3260 MIDORIS DAYS VOL 3 GN (C: 3) SRP: $9.99

I think the series will be over with vol. 16.

SEP05 3261 TUXEDO GIN VOL 15 TP (C: 3) SRP: $9.99

I only heard good things about this Shojo Beat title.

SEP05 3278 CRIMSON HERO VOL 1 TP (C: 3) SRP: $8.99

Category "if I had money to spare".

SEP05 3266 STEAMBOY NOVEL VOL 1 (C: 3) SRP: $17.99

Dark Horse's Harlequin gambit

Well, it's not really fresh news anymore - the press release (accessible in various places, e.g. Anime News Network) is dated June 1. Still, it's interesting enough to throw in a couple of comments of my own.

A 6 book deal starting the new line, 3 for younger readers (Harlequin Ginger Blossom: pink), 3 for older (Harlequin Ginger Blossom: violet). The first 2 books to be published in December. Those first titles have already been announced: A Girl in a Million written by Betty Neels with art by Kako Itoh (or Itou, as alternative transscription), Response written by Penny Jordan with art by Takako Hashimoto.

Harlequin has had a publishing deal with Ohzora Publishing Company for publishing manga adaptations of Harlequin novels in Japan (under the label Emerald Comics) for quite a while. The press release cites over 250 Harlequin manga published to date. As reported from various sources, samples of some of those manga may be seen at CuppaCafe.

What the press release didn't state was if those announced titles would be taken from their library of exisiting manga adaptations or if they would just use their resources (artists, etc.) and create something new for the US market. I did some digging, and I found two published manga from the japanese Harlequin manga line adapting the indicated novels and illustrated by the indicated manga-ka, so I suppose they'll just re-import those.

A Girl in a Million was published in March 2002 as Itsuka hanayume ni (something like Someday to be a bride... I think... my Japanese isn't that good). The ISBN is 4-87287-630-X and the book is listed at amazon and yahoo books.

Response came out in April 1999, titled Kakuu no rakuen (probably Fanciful Paradise or Fanciful Pleasure Garden). The ISBN is 4-87287-290-8 and the book is listed at amazon and yahoo books.

If you look closely at the covers at yahoo books, you can even see the original english titles of the novels. Both of them seem to be out-of-print now, by the way... at least amazon.co.jp doesn't sell them directly anymore.

Opposite Forces - "volume 2" vs. "version 2"

Opposite Forces is a fun little series written and drawn by Tom Bancroft. So far there exists a 4-issue mini, self-published through Funny Pages Press (you can still find sample pages there). For an overview of characters and premise I refer the interested reader to one of the many available reviews on the net (e.g. the one at Still on the Shelf). I learned of the series sometime in 2003 when I found a lonely #1 somewhere at a convention. Since #3 was already out by that time, I never got my hands on #2 and #3 of the FPP edition (though I took some steps towards procuring some copies, recently).

A couple of months ago, Alias Comics made their debut as a comics publisher... with a bit of an involuntary delay (which has been discussed in far more depth and breadth by the comics scene than the actual problem merited, IMHO). Opposite Forces is one of the properties they snagged for their second wave of titles. Diamond Previews May 2005 featured a solicitation for "Opposite Forces, volume 2 #1" (with a $0.75 price point), slated for a mid-July release. I didn't look any closer and just preordered the book, since "volume 2" definitely suggested new material to me.

As it turns out, though, it's more like a "version 2". A company rep recently posted on the Alias boards that the new books will be inked and colored versions of the FPP issues (which were for the most part b&w or even just pencils) instead of new material. The positive in this is that we'll finally get to see a polished version of the original series, the negative is that the solicitation in Previews was, even in hindsight, kind of misleading as a product description.

Personally it doesn't worry me that much. I'll take a second, better version of Opposite Forces over most of the current mainstream books any time, especially since I'm still missing the middle part of that arc. Also Mr. Miller of Alias was very nice and prompt in answering my question about this, and pointed out that it probably was some misunderstanding between Alias and Diamond and would be looked into.

Still, it won't be common knowledge yet, and I don't know in what way (and how soon) they'll manage to correct this in future solicitations (and a similar problem with Pakkins Land as well, though there the true facts were at least mentioned in the solicitation text), so even with the publication of #1 still more than a month away: the more sources for this exist on the web, the better informed potential buyers will be.

On a related note: I'm really curious to see how Alias will fare with the $0.75 introductory price point for most of the #1's in their second wave of titles (and also some of the first). Especially in comparison to Kandora Publishing, who are using a stratagem of $3.50 price point, but with a slightly higher page count, for their books. Interestingly enough, some Kandora titles (e.g. Jade Fire) were as late as the first ones of Alias (if not more), without the company getting as much flak for this (if any) as Alias did.

Who is this guy? And what's this Blog about, anyways?

A couple of words about myself: 26 years old, German, studying electrical engineering (automatic control), currently working on my diploma (kind of like a master thesis).

I've been reading comics in one form or another for most of my life. Got started on Micky Mouse magazine (which is still bigger over here than it's been in the US for decades) and Disney's Lustige Taschenbuecher. Then converted to German translated franco-belgian BDs and a narrow selection of German translated floppy-format super-hero fare. About 8 years ago the first German translated mangas started cropping up, like Appleseed, Dominion - Tank Police and other Shirow works. But it took another 2 years till the first right-to-left pocket books started the real boom. About that time I also found my first import shop for English language comics and discovered that there were US comics besides the super-hero genre.

At the moment most of the comics I buy are either manga (in German, English, French or Japanese language edition) or US small press books (indie, yes, but almost no art or underground comics). Germany's indigenous comics industry doesn't have much to offer me (with a few notable exceptions like Der Hartmut or Zuckerfisch), and French BDs (translated or in the original language) are just too expensive to follow more than a hand full of series.

The thought of starting a Blog didn't appeal to me very much, at first, but in the recent months I've been reading more and more Blogs by interesting personalities, while I myself just scattered my opinions over an ever-increasing number of webboards with disparate audiences. I think I'll try this for a change, as a way to concentrate my thoughts on subjects I care about in a single place. Nothing big, but my own. We'll see what comes of it.