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The News Stand
Comic News - Comic Reviews
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The New Year is a time for new beginnings but, as is often the case, an ending must occur for the beginning to get underway. That's sort of how we are looking at things here at TNL as we announce that this is the final edition of The News Stand for the foreseeable future.
The reasons for this change can be found below, since, rather than just pull the plug and walk away, we've decided to give you a little trip down memory lane and review a bit of the history of this page, celebrate those who have had a hand in its production and also give you a peek into what the future may hold.
OUR RECORDS INDICATE...
...that The Nostalgia League first went "live" on July 21st, 1999. Conceived by Bill Stedman and Tom Mason (aided and abetted by yours truly and Chris Mason), the site consisted of a single web page with links to a message board and an off-site gallery. This all changed very quickly, however, and the site rapidly added new features and articles with seeming "super-speed."
MEMORY CAN BE A TRICKY THING...
...especially when there aren't a lot of written records (and the old rememberer is a bit slow on the uptake), but, as best I can recall, it was sometime within the first year or so that Tom and Chris created a character, The Crimson Collector, who had his own section of TNL where the focus was on films, TV and, since Tom had a hand in it, comic books. Now here is where I'm not real clear (and I hope that someone will correct me if I'm wrong), but I believe that the first incarnation of what would become The News Stand had its origins in The Crimson Collector's section, where it was called The Notebook. Here's the original logo, designed by the ever-talented Chris Mason:
WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME,...
...The Crimson Collector spun off into his own site and The News Stand became the place for comic news. How we managed to produce the page every two weeks is a mystery to me. Tom would send me news items, I would set them up for the web page and add my own commentary where I felt inclined and also produce a review for The Unabashed Plug Dept. for most every installment. Tom also contributed a separate page of reviews of current comics called "Views and Reviews." We had fun working with one another and really enjoyed putting the news together in this fashion (although the deadlines were a killer). Tom was really excited over our collaboration and especially liked having a place where he could squeeze in all the news he could find about Batman.
THINGS RAN ALONG...
...like a well oiled machine for a number of years and between The Comic Shop News, emails, web searches and Previews, the news just kept on coming. Then, in August of 2003, Tom passed away (much to my personal sorrow and the sorrow of others) and, for a time, The News Stand looked like it was going to grind to a halt. Willie Fong stepped in to give me a much needed assist: a position he held until sometime in '05, and his insight into new comics helped to keep the news fresh and really current. Once Willie moved on, continuing this page fell into my lap and I eventually switched the page to monthly frequency. The focus also changed and new comics and comic-type news got less coverage in favor of reprint editions of classic material, since I don't buy hardly any of the new comics currently out there.
THE CURRENT FORMAT...
...has worked pretty well, but over the last few years, the actual production time for the page been taking more and more of my time. Publishers are now soliciting their product up to 6 months (!) in advance of the release date and, for all this lead time, they are also missing their deadlines with amazing frequency—I've become a whiz at record keeping. More telling, I find that I've changed over the years we've been producing The News Stand. Tom's love of comics was infectious and it was his influence that not only kept me interested in new comics, but kept this page going after he was gone.
Currently, my personal interest in comics is still there, but kind of on the back burner. I don't think I've read a current comic in the last couple of years (I find the vast majority of them excreble with the remainder only slightly less so) and I've reached a bit of a saturation point with reprints as well, especially since I'm in the midst of paring down my personal library to a more manageable size (you say "Gee, I want to read that!" too many times and soon find you're knee deep in reprint volumes, but you're also torn by the desire to go back and re-read stuff you have that you haven't touched in umpteen years and you feel trapped....if you've ever experienced any of these symptoms, you're a collector—LOL!!). I do still love the comics of the past, however, and I've got a number of ideas of articles I want to write about these earlier times, but the types of articles I want to do need time to research and write. Something's got to give and I've decided that the time spent meeting the monthly deadlines of this page can be best used in other ways.
SO, AS I CLOSE THIS EXTENDED FAREWELL...
...I want to thank you for reading this page, whether you are a new reader or someone who has followed us over the years. For the most part, it's been fun sharing with you my insight into the numerous reprint volumes that are out there and digressions into the history of comics that make up those volumes. In fact, my only regret is that I've never been able to capture Tom's "Gosh! Wow!" feeling about comics: I think I spent too many years as a retailer for that.
I hope that you have been entertained by our commentary over the years and that we have helped you find some enjoyable volumes to fill your sagging bookshelf.
Thanks,
CSJRTGA
Here's the news...
BREAKING NEWS
Picked up from various Internet sites is the news that Diamond Comics will be phasing out their Los Angeles warehouse at the first of the year, which will eliminate any type of comic warehouse on the West Coast by March, 2011. All deliveries to the Los Angeles accounts will originate from the Diamond center in Mississippi and those stores who don't get their comics drop shipped directly to their stores (something that involves added cost) will be picking up their comics from a yet-to-be-determined drop point.
This news really shows how bad the sales of comics have become. Back when I was in the business, we had 2 different comic distributors with warehouses in LA and a third was moving into the area around the time I moved on. According to what I've read, Diamond had, at one time, over 20 warehouses across the US: now they will have 4. One of the fun parts of having these warehouses within easy driving distance was that we could pop in and pick up stock without having to resort to orders and then the waiting time (and cost) for shipment from another location. The warehouses also became a meeting place for comic dealers where we could compare trends and sales while we shopped the warehouse. Kind of makes me feel old, ya know?
AC COMICS
Nothing of interest this month.
DARK HORSE
John Carter of Mars: Weird Worlds
Dipping this time into the DC vaults, Dark Horse does a reprinting of the John Carter of Mars stories from Tarzan #207-209 and Weird Worlds #1-7 by Marv Wolfman, Murphy Anderson and Sal Amendola. DC had mixed results with the Burroughs properties back in the 70s and the John Carter series had its share of ups and downs. Originally, the plan seemed to be to adapt A Princess of Mars as a backup in Tarzan (included in this volume), but, when DC dropped the page counts of all their books, the strip was moved over to the newly created Weird Worlds title. Here it met with disaster as it was wrapped up with the second issue, but the ending is sort of squished into the beginning of the second Mars novel, The Gods of Mars. Further problems occurred as Murphy Anderson left after the third issue to be replaced by Sal Amendola: a penciller who was not suited to the Burroughs material, especially after Anderson's stylings. From that point, it was sort of like watching a train wreck, as bad art collided with questionable story (elements from other Burroughs novels started to creep in) and the entire series was mercifully put to rest with #7, where a hasty wrap-up put an end to the ugliness. And, contrary to what you hear from Dark Horse, Chaykin only did covers for a couple of issues and no interiors. So, I would suggest you run very far away from this one, since it ain't worth the time and money involved. SRP $14.99
Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago...Vol. 3
Reprinting the Marvel Star Wars series: this time #50-67 with art and story by Goodwin, Claremont, Simonson, Williamson and other folks (including inkers, for corn's sake!). I've been pleasantly surprised in re-reading these stories, since we took them for granted when they originally came out and, while popular, were not necessarily at the top of the "must read" pile. Today, they hang together really well, with Goodwin, especially, understanding how all the characters interact. I'm still waiting, however, for the promised stories that haven't seen print in the US. Worth a squint and inclusion on your sagging bookshelf. SRP $24.99
(Oops...the following came out in December)Little Lulu's Pal Tubby Vol. 2
More of John Stanley's Tubby strip, reprinted in full color from an unknown number of issues. Should be fun, but do give it a squint before you plunk down your cash. SRP $15.99
THOUGHT BALLOONS
This is as good a time as any to thank all of you who read the short pieces we plugged in here...you're emails were appreciated!
More commentary (including Comic Book Memories) can be found at Thought Balloons.DC
In one of those odd cosmic convergences, DC has no reprints on the schedule for the month of January. Probably off playing catch-up with those items that are late, or maybe they are reprinting some items.
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
The Green Hornet: Golden Age Re-Mastered #7
More reprints of the rather dull and boring comic book stories written by Fran Striker with art by the Bert Whitman Associates. The good news for you completists is that there is only one more issue to go! SRP $3.99
FANTAGRAPHICS
Nancy is Happy: Complete Dailies 1942-1945
Amidst plethora of kid comics that feature girls being reprinted, Fantagraphics jumps into the fray with a 3 year dose of Ernie Bushmiller's creation in her newspaper form. Nancy first appeared as the niece of Fritzi Ritz in the Fritzi Ritz newspaper strip, which had been created by Larry Whittington. Bushmiller took over the strip in 1925 and introduced Nancy in 1933, where she eventually proved so popular that the strip was retitled Nancy, with Fritzi (Aunt Fritz by this point) relegated to a supporting role. Bushmiller continued to produce the strip with minimal assistance until his death in 1982 and, according to what I've found on the web, the strip is still being produced today. This volume would make a fine companion to the John Stanley authored comic book stories and, also, a nice addition to your sagging bookshelf. Worth a squint. SRP $24.99
IDW
Amazing 3D Comics
Courtesy of IDW, we have another Yoe Books! collection that sounds really nifty, but tells us nothing of the actual contents. This hardcover purports to be an overview of 3D comics: a genre that had its major run back in the 50s. The ad from IDW even mentions that there will be stories and samples by Kirby, Ditko, Powell, Jaffee, Heath, Stein, Toth and that there will be introduction by Joe Kubert. Heck, there is even a pair of 3D glasses included in the book. But what stories are included? Heck if I know, since nobody is telling. So, you're on your own with this one and you may squint, or purchase, at your own risk. SRP $39.99
Chester Gould's The Complete Dick Tracy Vol. 11
After a long hiatus, IDW is continuing the Tracy series, this time reprinting the daily and Sunday strips from March 17, 1947-September 26, 1948. Coffyhead, Hypo, Bronko and others are introduced, along with the addition of Mumbles and, wait for it, the baby of B.O. Plenty and Gravel Gertie! Also, the Crime Stoppers Club is added at no extra charge. Great stuff and this volume, along with all the others, belongs up on your sagging bookshelf. SRP $39.99
HUH?
As more comic fans moved up into the ranks of comic professionals, and Marvel and DC were pretty much the only games in town, artists and writers would often poke fun at not only themselves, but also at the "competition" (the DC supporters referred to Marvel as "Brand Echh" while Stan Lee coined the term "Distinguished Competition" for references to DC).
Here's a panel from Superboy #198 (October, 1973) courtesy of Dave Cockrum:
While Clark buys the tickets, take note of the figures on either side of Lana as she enters the Horror Haven. For those out of the loop, on the left is Marvel's Man-Thing and, on the right, is DC's Swamp Thing: two characters that have been debated over the years as to which came first and whether one was a copy of the other (for the record, Swamp Thing came first, Man-Thing second and, except that they were both based on an earlier character known as The Heap, they had very little in common).
Kind of makes you go HUH?, don't it?
MARVEL
Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Battlefield Vol. 1
Reprints Battlefield #1-11 (which is the complete series so you've got to wonder why this is called "Vol. 1") by Heath Everett, Reinman, Maneely and a host of others. Battlefield was one of the war comics Marvel published in the 50s (there seem to have been as many as 4) and, unlike the other titles, it seems that the stories from Battlefield have never been reprinted before. Details on the title are very sketchy, but it seems that the title focused on stories about combat in WWII and Korea. While you won't find the quality that Kurtzman gave to his titles over at EC during the same time period, it still might be worth a squint, but do be aware that Marvel has raised the price on this one and you'll be shelling out an extra 5 bucks for the privilege of squinting. SRP $64.99
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 7
Reprints Uncanny X-Men #151-159, X-Men Annual #5 and Avengers Annual #10 by Claremont, Cockrum, Golden, Anderson and other pencillers and inkers. The stories here are okay, but are mainly return visits to characters and concepts that Claremont and Byrne introduced during their truly wonderful run on the title. The X-Men Annual is a story featuring Dracula and the Avengers Annual introduces Rogue and her battle with the Carol Danvers version of Ms. Marvel. Some good art, readable stories and worth a squint if you don't have this material in some other format. SRP $54.99
Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 5
Reprints Fantastic Four #41-50 and Annual #3 by Kirby, Lee and inks by Joe Sinnott. These issues, out of all the Kirby/Lee Fantastic Fours were some of the strongest ever done and introduced concepts that would become part of Marvel for years to come. After a tussle with the Frightful Four, the Inhumans make their introductory appearance and, if that isn't enough, Galactus and the Silver Surfer close out the volume. Great stuff that belongs up on your sagging bookshelf, if you don't have it any other form. SRP $24.99
PURE IMAGINATION
The Joe Kubert Reader
Reprints Kubert illustrated stories from the 40s and 50s that publisher Theakston says have never before been reprinted. Worth a squint. SRP $25.00
TWOMORROWS
Carmine Infantino: Penciler, Publisher, Provocateur
An overview of Infantino's career as a penciler and cover artist through his tenure as art director and publisher of DC. Lots of art and interviews along with the promise that the book reveals details about the comics industry never made public until now. The hard cover edition also includes a 16 page color section not found in the softcover. SRP Softcover $26.95 Hardcover $46.95
Alter Ego #99
A special issue focusing on the life of George Tuska from his early days for Lev Gleason to his work at Marvel and everything inbetween. Also, an interview with Al Sulman, who worked as the "personal associate of Stan Lee" back in the 50s. Plus, the usual features from the FCA. SRP $7.95
Back Issue #46
This issue spotlights "The Greatest Stories Never Told" and with lots of rare and previously unpublished artwork. Featured are Mike Grell's Savage Empire, Al Milgrom's aborted Fantastic Four graphic novel and inside info on John Byrne's Last Galactus Story. SRP $7.95
NEXT MONTH...
Well, there is no next month as far as The News Stand goes. Again, thanks for reading!
The Comics Rack
The Nostalgia League