moriarty@fluke.UUCP (The Napoleon of Crime) (05/06/85)
First of all, has anyone received the May 10th (#599) issue of THE COMIC
BUYER'S GUIDE late? Has anyone received it AT ALL (by mail)? I had to
pick it up at my local comic store, where the dealer mentioned his
issue hadn't been mailed to him, either. Is this just a local Seattle
matter, or what? Nerves before the big 600th issue? A communist plot?
Eh?
Oh, as to news (printed without permission):
19 SPIRIT strips, never before reprinted, will be featured in Will
Eisner's Quarterly. As if it's usual contents weren't enough reason
to buy it...
There's some SWAMP THING art missing... Bissette and Totleben are
offering a reward, no-questions-asked, for the return of the art, or
info leading to its recovery. From the looks of it, it disappeared at
DC. Frankly, this is an aspect of fandom I dislike quite a bit;
people who steal or forge artwork to make a buck (I know, no one knows
if it's stolen or not, but odds on...). Too bad the bugger who did it
will get a reward; frankly, torture strikes me as a better payment.
Why, one could leave him/her in a pond filled with vampires, and have
his/her blood sucked out of his/her toes! Ahem.
Two new titles are advertised: A new Vortex title, by Ty Templeton of
STIG'S INFERNO and Klaus Schoenfeld (Templeton gives much credit for
Stig's creation to Schoenfeld). The title is called KELVIN MACE
(Licensed to Hurt). Apparently, he was licensed to kill, but that's
currently on suspension.... Also, Keith Giffen and Robert Fleming will
be scripting, Rich Buckler pencilling, and Bob McLeod inking a new
title, "Codename: DANGER" (how strikingly original). Looks like Secret
Super Spys, except Fleming and Giffen can be counted on to do very good
work. We'll see...
The CBG published the top 117 comics, as ordered from Capital City
Distribution. That means, I assume, that these went mostly to direct
distributors, and not 7-Elevens and their ilk, so this is a not a key
to what "the whole world" buys. Secret Wars (gag) is #1, and X-Men #2.
Crisis is #3. Interesting notes: G.I. Joe is #23, which makes me
wonder about Marvel's #1 claims for the title. Marvel's Star comics
are at the very bottom. Several of my favorites, including Crossfire &
The Masked Man are disturbingly close to the bottom.
Plug time: Even if you're not into news, I suggest the guide for the
simple reason that the fan cartoons have some of the best yucks
anyplace, starting with Everett True (The Everett True Live-Action toy
is featured this week), Steppinwolf, and the anonymous little things
around here and there. I particularly like "This issue: Wanda {The
Scarlet Witch} becomes RITA HAYWORTH!" one. Oh, well, it's good stuff,
except for some rather tacky ads in the back...
"These are DARK TIMES for all mankind's HIGHEST VALUES!"
"These are DARK TIMES for FREEDOM and PROSPERITY!"
"These are GREAT TIMES to put your money on BAD GUY to kick
the CRAP out of MEGATON MAN!"
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
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{allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty
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