Comments on: Coming Up: Books Due in February 2007

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:59:46 +0000

X-Factor is a good superhero book. It’s got a fascinating mix of characters trying to do the right thing. It tells stories instead of solely pandering to fanboy nostalgia or staring down the continuity navel. (When it does acknowledge the greater universe, it does so in a way that’s welcoming to all readers and often makes more sense of the events than the main books.) It uses superheroes to tell us more about humanity. I hope you give it a try.

By: StevenRowe

StevenRowe — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 20:23:30 +0000

I note that Im reading three of the four on your list – indeed, it’s almost like “one of these things is not like the other” – so what’s the appeal of X-Factor?
- which i admit to never having read…

(and nostalgia or “mindless fun” are certainly valid answers)

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:58:33 +0000

Oooh, that’s exciting news, if that happens!

By: Bill D.

Bill D. — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:32:32 +0000

If Amazon listings can be believed, we’ll also see volumes 3 and 4 for The Maze Agency in April and August respectively, IIRC. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

By: James Schee

James Schee — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 06:07:21 +0000

I’ll follow some friends smaller stuff in single issue format, but everything else I wait on.

Most sad thing I’ve heard of in the newest Previews is that Checker is doing some trades of the later CrossGen stuff. Not that they are responsible for it, but too bad most of that work is what those creators didn’t get paid for.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 02:31:21 +0000

I was assuming that this was one of those “everyone who’s included chips in” set ups, but you’re right, it could be otherwise. I didn’t care enough to do the research — I was carried away with my rant. I’m coming around to Tom Spurgeon’s way of thinking, that the barriers to entry in comics are too low. I do agree that I want to see more comics before I buy them, because I’m not as eager to find new works as I used to be.

By: David Oakes

David Oakes — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:55:40 +0000

“These days, I want the filter of a publisher selecting work; I want to know that they’ve passed certain barriers to entry to deserve my attention.”

Isn’t that exactly what an anthology does better than a website? Proof that someone went to the trouble to collect this work – and pressumably exclude others – and believes in it enough to risk money on publication?

(And as ubiquitous as the web may be, comics – and books, perhaps even moreso – remain a “buy it when I see it” kind of product. People may buy clothes electronically, or comparisson shop for cars on the web, but comics are something you want to hold in your had, literally weighing your interest. (Amazon has lessened this for books, though plenty of bibliophiles remain. Oddly, sequential cliffhanger comics, where you know you “have” to get the next issue, and almost always pre-order, don’t seem to be cracking web-sales. Go figure.)

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:49:58 +0000

I tried Newuniversal #1, but I just didn’t care enough to follow it. I’m not looking for more superhero books, though, unless they immediately grab me. (So I’m not blaming the comic.)

Preordering to get a discount is a fine thing; I tend to wind up with credit at various stores, though, so I like the flexibility of being able to pick up things wherever I can find them.

I hope you enjoy Elk’s Run!

By: Ralf Haring

Ralf Haring — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:02:36 +0000

My single issue purchases for February: newuniversal #3 and Thunderbolts #111. But I still preorder most of the collections because the discount is still usually better than if I waited and used Amazon.

I’ve heard people pushing Elk’s Run, so I’ll be ordering that as well after having skipped the issues.