Cyberspace Comics market report, reviews and more

December 15, 2011

Famous Fanmail #89 J.M. DeMatteis

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 11:09 am

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

J.M. DeMatteis has written some of my favorite, gone-too-soon comics. He wrote the third Man-Thing series from Marvel’s short-lived Strange Tales line of comics. Unfortunately, the final parts of that story were written (and I think some even pencilled) but never published. A few years later, he wrote the whimsical (And Wizard of Oz inspired) Abadazad, published by CrossGen. And, when that comic publisher folder, it was snapped up by Disney. Hmmm… Disney now owns Marvel Comics so maybe there’s hope they’ll revive this fantastic series. Anyway, he got a letter printed in Fantastic Four #101 (cover date – August 1970).

Fantastic Four letters page with J.M. DeMatteis

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | J.M. DeMatteis
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four

December 14, 2011

Celebrity Cameos #25 Ronald Reagan

Filed under: Celebrity Cameos — Doorman @ 9:11 am

Some of the best parts of movies like Old School and Zombieland are their unexpected celebrity cameos. The same thing happens in comics, every once in a while. Here’s a look at another Celebrity Cameo!

In Marvel Comics Presents #40 (cover date: Mid-December 1989), Ronald Reagan is called for help when Wonder Man goes on a rampage. Reagan fans will probably not be excited about his portrayal in this issue…

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Reagan
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Reagan

December 13, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #89 Fantastic Four

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 12:20 pm

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

Namor the Sub-Mariner was re-introduced to the comics world in Fantastic Four #4 and, years later it’s cover was paid homage by Arthur Suydam’s “zombiefied” cover to Black Panther vol. IV #29.

Fantatsic Four #4
Fantastic Four #4
May 1962
Jack Kirby
Black Panther vol. IV #30
Black Panther vol. IV #30
September 2007
Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Black Panther
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four | Black Panther

December 12, 2011

One-Shot At Greatness #89 Daredevil 2099

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 9:20 am

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Daredevil 2099 #1Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: November 2004
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Karl Moline

This is one of several one-shots that envisions what the Marvel Knights relaunches would have been like if they were published in 2099. In this future version of the Marvel Universe, the government re-enacted the Mutant Registration Act. The super-heroes joined together to defy the government but were eventually overpowered and went underground.

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Samuel Fisk was raised in the shadow of greatness. His father would often remind Samuel that his grandfather achieved his goals by destroying his greatest enemy, Daredevil. In a bid to make up for his family’s crimes, Samuel has devoted his time and money to crime-fighting, now that he’s a grown man. As a testament to his guilt, he’s taken up the mantle of Daredevil and used his money to devise a powerful suit that amplifies his strength.

Unfortunately, his pursuit of crime-fighting has taken time away from his business and his family. On a slow night, Samuel decides to follow his wife and discovers that she’s sought attention from a suitor more willing to give it. And, it’s with this revelation that we discover Samuel’s days are spent as the Kingpin of Crime. His wife’s suitor is about to find out that he’s every bit as ruthless as his grandfather was.

Robert Kirkman (better known for writing/creating the Walking Dead) has created a truly interesting new take on the Daredevil mythos. And, the twist at the end has me wanting more! This story begs to be followed up on – how can one man balance being the Kingpin of Crime and a crime-fighter? How, Robert? How?!

On Ebay: Daredevil | Robert Kirkman | Karl Moline
On AtomicAvenue: Daredevil

December 9, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #39

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 10:22 am

Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!


Marvel Comics Presents #39
Cover Date: January 1990 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Jackson Guice


Wolverine in “Black Shadow, White Shadow” part 2
written by Marv Wolfman
art by John Buscema

The police have given chase to Wolverine, after he fled the scene of a crime (an entire city block was destroyed!). A Hong Kong woman named Mai offers him safety but only because she intends to recruit him to her cause. She, Hsiao and Ch’un need help to defeat Black Shadow. Wolverine rushes off to take down the ebon-hued villain only to be dispatched quickly by its icy touch and brute strength. But, before he can be destroyed, a new figure interrupts – a White Shadow.

Wonder Man in “Stardust Miseries” part 2
written by Michael Higgins
art by Javier Saltares

Wonder Man wakes to discover he’s in the blonde woman’s bed. She reveals she’s an actress named Amora Lorelei and she’s working on a biography of the Original Human Torch. It’s the very same film that Wonder Man just got a callback for. The two travel to the studio and Amora convinces the director to make Simon the leading man. As the filming progresses, Wonder Man and Amora develop a budding romance – meanwhile, a killer stalks the set and has taken his first victim – the director! Due to the nature of the death, it’s assumed that a super-powered strong man was the killer. Now, the police are out to get their prime suspect: Wonder Man!

Hercules in “All In The Family” part 1
written by Bob Layton
art by Bob Layton

Hercules and his son, Arimathes, have decided to end the Wilameanian Star Pirates’ 45 year reign of terror. The father and son team make short work of the plunderers and Emperor Arimathes of Wilamean sentences them to a rehabilitation camp. Meanwhile, his exiled mother, Layana, has managed to break free of her prison and pull together a band of “patriots” who intend to take back the throne of Wilamean from Arimathes … over the dead body of Hercules.

Spider-Man in “With Liberty And Justice For All
written by Bill Mumy
art by Aaron Lopresti

Spider-Man comes across four teens stealing crates from the university’s lab. After a little bit of work, he manages to track them all down and web them up. He then discovers that they weren’t stealing equipment but, rather, live animals. Animals that were going to be experimented on. The kids intended to steal them and bring them to a farm so they could safely live out their lives. And, while they have the best of intentions, they are still breaking the law … what’s a Spider-Man to do?

I’m really digging Guice’s cover version of Hercules – and it’s neat to see that Bob Layton followed up his two Hercules mini-series with the tale that has begun in this very issue. As for Wonder Man, it looks like he’s in the clutches of Amora Lorelei … you might know her better as the Enchantress. Although, it is strange that she’s using her sister’s name as her last name so I’m curious to see if they offer an explanation for that as the story progresses. The Spider-Man story was written by Bill Mumy – the actor who played Will Robinson in the 1960s Lost In Space TV series. It presented Spidey with an interesting ethics choice. And finally, these shadow creatures in the Wolverine feature are really quite bland … and blobby looking. Not really all that intimidating of a character design.

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Wonder Man | Spider-Man | Hercules
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Spider-Man | Wonder Man | Hercules

December 8, 2011

Famous Fanmail #88 Don McGregor

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 8:58 am

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Yet another letter from writer, Don McGregor, to the Fantastic Four. This one was published in Fantastic Four #91 (cover date – October 1969). Unlike his last letter, this one is praising the improvement he’s noticed in the series.

Fantastic Four letters page with Don McGregor

On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Don McGregor
On AtomicAvenue: Fantastic Four

December 7, 2011

Cyberspace Comics Market Report #16 Dec. 2011

Filed under: Cyberspace Comics Market Report — Doorman @ 11:28 am

Here’s a look back at the previous month in online comic sales.

Number of listings in eBay’s “comics” section: 1,600,063 (+5.92% from last month; -8.96% from last year)
Number of those that are Cyberspace Comics listings: 8,070 (-2.06%; +39.02%)
My “market share” of comic listings on eBay: 0.50436% (-7.54%; +25.29%)

Number of eBay comic listings that are auctions: 157,590
Percentage of eBay comic listings up for auction: 9.85%

My current eBay feedback (unique): 13,732
My current eBay feedback (total): 27,827
My positive eBay feedback score: 100%

Position Dollar Sales # of Current Listings
First Marvel Comics Marvel Comics (1,371 listings)
Second Bad Girls (↑) TPBs (875 listings)
Third Movie/TV (↑) Bad Girls (833 listings)
Fourth DC Comics (↓) Image Comics (733 listings)
Fifth Image Comics (↓) Other Indies (515 listings)

 

eBay just launched an incentive to encourage auctions this week. For a three day span, users are allowed to list up to 5,000 auctions for free. That’s why the number of comic auctions have more than doubled from their normal range.

 
Number of listings on Atomic Avenue: 1,486,037 (+0.58%)
Number of those that are in the Cyberspace Comics Store on Atomic Avenue: 45,068 (-0.18%)
My “market share” of comic listings on AtomicAvenue: 3.0328% (-0.75%)
My estimated “market share” of AtomicAvenue orders: 5.61% (-13.29%)

 
Number of members on ComicCollectorLive: 82,903 (+0.61%)
Number of listings in the Cyberspace Comics Store on CCL: 2,698 (+26.25%)
Number of unique listings in the Cyberspace Comics Store on CCL: 1,309 (+21.99%)

December 6, 2011

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #88 Squadron Supreme

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 9:47 am

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

Mark Gruenwald wrote hundreds of comics but the story that he was most proud of was Squadron Supreme. After he died, Marvel Comics published a trade paperback collecting the twelve-issue limited series and Gruenwald’s ashes were mixed into the ink! A new cover was provided for the collection by Alex Ross and was later paid homage to by Gary Frank.

Squadron Supreme TPB
Squadron Supreme TPB
August 1997
Alex Ross
Squadron Supreme vol. II #1
Squadron Supreme vol. II #1
May 2006
Gary Frank

On Ebay: Squadron Supreme
On AtomicAvenue: Squadron Supreme

December 5, 2011

One-Shot At Greatness #88 Magnetic Men featuring Magneto

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 11:05 am

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Magnetic Men Featuring Magneto #1Publisher: Amalgam Comics
Cover Date: June 1997
Cover Price: $1.95
Writer: Tom Peyer
Artist: Barry Kitson

When the DC and Marvel Universes merged in Marvel vs DC, a new one was created: the Amalgam Universe. This one-shot combined Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants with the Metal Men.

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Magneto discovers that his Magnetic Men (Nickel, Iron, Cobalt, Antimony, Bismuth) have gained sentience so, he creates new identities for them and sends them out to live amongst humanity. Now, alone, he journeys to the living dinosaur island of Krakoa to continue his mission of defeating his brother Will Magnus, who wants to destroy mutantkind.

But, the Magnetic Men aren’t given much time to enjoy their newfound “humanity”. They’re quickly attacked and defeated by the Sinister Society (Soniklaw, Kultron, Vance Cosmic, Deathborg, Black Vulture) and brought back to Chemodam and Quasimodox – who intend to take over the Magnetic Men’s bodies.

Magneto’s attack on his brother’s fortress is halted when his magnetometer beacon warns him that the Magnetic Men are in danger. He follows the beacon and frees them from the Sinister Society – and during the battle, they release that they all have a common enemy in Will Magnus. United in purpose, a new team emerges!

There’s a lot of action happening in this issue that leaves very little time for character development. It’s got an enormous cast of 14 characters to juggle around but, it’s still a fun read that takes little brain power to enjoy. Not the finest example of comic story-telling but the art sure is nice and shiny.

On Ebay: Amalgam | Tom Peyer | Barry Kitson | Magneto | Metal Men
On AtomicAvenue: Amalgam Comics

December 2, 2011

Guide to Marvel Comics Presents #38

Filed under: Guide to Marvel Comics Presents — Doorman @ 10:32 am

Marvel Comics Presents launched in 1988 as an ad-free anthology showcasing four eight-page features, stuffed inside a wrap-around cover. This guide will tell you everything you wanted to know about the series – and more!


Marvel Comics Presents #38
Cover Date: Mid December 1989 | Cover Price: $1.25 | Cover Artist: Mark Badger


Excalibur in “Having A Wild Weekend” conclusion
written by Michael Higgins
art by Erik Larsen

Finally reunited, Excalibur defeats Arcade by siccing the Merry Maladies (heroic versions of the Looney Toons – based on the Avengers) against his Loonies (the villain versions). While the battle rages on, they make for a hasty retreat back home.


Wonder Man in “Stardust Miseries” part 1
written by Michael Higgins
art by Javier Saltares

While on monitor duty for the West Coast Avengers, something infects Wonder Man‘s brain and causes him to go a little crazy. After a brief battle with the rest of the team (Hawkeye, Vision, Scarlet Witch), he quits the team. Soon after, he meets a mysterious blonde woman who seems to be luring him toward her.

Hulk in “Art For Art’s Sake
written by Bill Mumy
art by Marshall Rogers

Mr. Fixit (aka the Hulk) has been sent, by his boss Michael Berengetti, to collect a $109,000 debt owed him by Mr. Gruska. Additionally, there’s a little matter of interest to be collected, as well. And, to settle that debt, Berengetti demands that Gruska gets one of his record talents to put on a private concert. Unfortunately, the musician that he wants (Brian Newman) is a recluse and refuses to take Gruska’s calls. So, Joe Fixit is sent to do some … negotiating.

Wolverine in “Black Shadow, White Shadow” part 1
written by Marv Wolfman
art by John Buscema

Wolverine journeys from Madripoor to Hong Kong to discover that an entire city block has been destroyed – wiped totally clean! As he investigates the area further, he gets caught between city scavengers and police. But, he’s in town for other business, so he sneaks off towards his goal.

Excalibur’s feature concludes this issue and I’m not all that upset about it. Erik Larsen’s art was a pleasure to look at, and the nods to classic TV/Movies were fun but the storyline itself wasn’t very involved or complex. In fact, there’s not even a mention of why Arcade kidnapped them – or who he was attacking them for. Y’see, Arcade is usually a hitman, and assuming he wasn’t doing this as work-for-hire, the story never reveals his purpose for picking on Excalibur. The highlight was this issue’s double-page spread of the Merry Maladies vs the Loonies. It’s got Wiley Coyote (as Thor) smiting the Road Runner with the Acme version of Mjolnir!

After giving some other X-Men the spotlight (first Colossus then Cyclops followed by Havok), Marvel decided that it was time to give Wolverine another lead feature. Hulk’s story wasn’t anything to write home about and the first part of the Wonder Man story isn’t all that engaging, either. On top of that, I wasn’t a big fan of Mark Badger’s cover, either.

On Ebay: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Wonder Man | Excalibur | Hulk
On AtomicAvenue: Marvel Comics Presents | Wolverine | Excalibur | Wonder Man | Hulk

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