by Josh Crawley

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Things have been a bit hectic around here, so we’re on a timetable this week. I just started Ghostbusters, and once it’s over, so is this column!

(For your reading pleasure, maybe you could watch a Ghostbusters trailer, as it took me much longer to type than it’ll take you to read.)

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Fear Agent Vol 1 HC

If you have any interest in this big ol’ over-sized hard cover whatsoever, I strongly urge you to preorder this book. Word on “the street” (a.k.a. Twitter) is that the print run will be limited to initial orders, and I’m guessing it once it’s gone, it’s gone for good!

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Batman #12

Honestly, this book doesn’t need me to help sell it. I really just wanted to mention how beyond exceptionally awesome this cover is!!!

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Batman: Knightfall Vol 3 KnightsEnd TP (New Edition)

Calling this a new edition is kind of like calling a grapefruit a new edition of an orange. My odd similes aside, the first two volumes of this series have been doing gangbusters sales in a short amount of time (despite the previous edition having been in print and selling well for years). Buy it sooner than later to be sure you don’t have to wait any longer than… I don’t know… molasses in winter?

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Stormwatch Vol 2 HC

This new hard cover series is the best way these landmark comics (from the desk of Warren Ellis) have ever been available! Whether you’ve read them before or not, check ’em out!

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He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #2

He-Man got some new clothes! Apparently, none of his other sets of clothes — of which there are actually a fair number — were clean that day

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Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1

Someone at IDW still hasn’t fixed the improper tilt of the logo, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be buying this book!!! Waid! Samnee! ROCKETEER!!!

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GI Joe / Transformers Crossover Vol 1

While I’m glad to see this 20+ year old material is being recolored, IDW has on numerous times left me underwhelmed with the colors on many of their books. Fingers crossed!

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Joe Kubert’s Tarzan of the Apes: Artist’s Edition

If you have the money and you’re not sure whether or not you’re going to want it, just go ahead and pre-order it, because they almost always sell out before they ship and rarely ever come back into print… and they almost always double in value in about a month.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13

Aw yeah, Andy Kuhn doing art for two issues!!! I love this new reboot so much!!! And if you’re one of those people who doesn’t care for how Michael Bay says he’s going to change things, stick it to him by buying this comic!!!

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Black Kiss II #1

Other than not having read the original, I’m already annoyed by the lettering on these preview pages. Ew.

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Comic Book Lettering the Comicraft Way

I kid you not, I didn’t even plan that. I didn’t know there was a new edition of this until I flipped the page. This book is so great I keep a copy of it on my desk all the time.

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The Darkness: Rebirth Vol 1

David Hine and Jeremy Haun are killing it on this book! Also, how can you beat five issues for under $10?!

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Glory Vol 1: The Once and Future Destroyer

I guess six issues for under $10 is even better! And this is another one of the few books I read monthly, so you know it’s worth checking out!

While you’re at it, check out Prophet Vol 1: Remission, too!

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Hack/Slash #19

Oh, hey, check it: the Hoax Hunters team of Michael Moreci & Steve (not to be confused with Tim) Seeley are writing an issue of Hack Slash!!!

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Revival #2

Speaking of Tim Seeley, here’s his & Mike Norton’s rural noir set in Wisconsin. Aw yeah, Wisconsin!

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Witchblade #160

That Tim Seeley guy again, writing some Witchblade, and that looks like the Spear of Destiny I see on the cover…

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Avenging Spider-Man #10

The second (of two issues) by Kelly Sue DeConnick, featuring Captain Marvel!!! I read a preview of the first issue today (and have seen art from numerous issues) and this book is going to be so great!!! Please trust me on this: you’re going to want to preorder this comic!!!

Oh, hey, handy links for Captain Marvel issues 2 and 3!!!

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Hawkeye #1

Matt “Defenders is super awesome & selling as well as Iron Man + Thor at the East side store” Fraction? Check. David “I make super awesome covers” Aja? Check. Kate “The Hawkeye codename was passed on by Captain America Steve Rogers” Bishop? Che– KATE BISHOP?! Hell yeah!!!

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Gambit #1

And don’t forget issue #2! Colors by Rachelle!!!

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New Mutants #48…

…and #47. I’m not too reserved on my dislike of Marvel pumping out so many books (and with seemingly little care to space them out with a regular frequency), but these fit-together/mirrored covers by John Tyler “my Witchblade covers are beyond Thunderdome” Christopher. Aw yeah, Hellions in pink!!!

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Brilliant #7

Honestly, this is just ridiculous.

Issue #4 has come up for Final Order Cutoffs (the thing where retailers can fine tune their numbers about 3 1/2 weeks before a book ships) for the past month, and it’s something like 4 months late anyways. The first thing that should happen — after being sure an issue is actually done so it can go to press as soon as final numbers are in — is not to keep listing books that won’t be out for another six months anyways.

Things like this aren’t helping creator-owned comics at all.

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Well, I didn’t really plan on ending on a negative note, but Ghostbusters is almost over and I’m ready to go to bed. Depending on how things go, maybe I’ll have another one of these for you next week (but don’t hold your breath, please).

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Josh Crawley may or may not be the keyboardist for Everclear. He strongly suggests you not bet that he is.