DAVE McKEAN DESIGNS NEW COVERS FOR THE SANDMAN LIBRARY
On the eve of the release of the highly anticipated original VERTIGO graphic novel THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS (JUN030253), DC Comics unveils new cover designs for the 10-volume SANDMAN Library. The new designs, created by award-winning artist Dave McKean, will appear on both the hardcover and trade paperback editions. They will become available as DC goes back to press on each title, beginning later this month with the classic THE SANDMAN: THE DOLL'S HOUSE (HC: STAR09732; TP: STAR08961).
"The first covers Dave McKean did were wonderful, but they lacked information on what should be read in what order," says Neil Gaiman. "The uniform covers that followed them gave all that information, but weren't as pretty. Dave's new covers are gorgeous and you can tell what order to read them in. And they look like the bestsellers that they consistently are."
"We were thrilled to work with Dave on these gorgeous new designs," says Karen Berger, VP — Executive Editor, VERTIGO. "They really make the books look more accessible to new readers, and still have all the style and imagination that Dave has brought to THE SANDMAN all these years."
"To be able to take a complete library of books and repackage them in a fresh, new way was a great opportunity and a design challenge," says Georg Brewer, DC's VP — Design & Retail Product Development. "Dave McKean has been associated with THE SANDMAN since the beginning, and working with him and Neil led to some truly exciting results."
For information on reordering the current printings of THE SANDMAN Library, please see pages 102-103 in the July issue of Previews (Volume XIII #7).
SOLD OUT!
Please note that the following items are now sold out at DC:
BATMAN: NOSFERATU (STAR08870)
THE DOME: GROUND ZERO (STAR08118)
FAMILY MAN VOL. 1 (STAR01612)
FAMILY MAN VOL. 2 (STAR01613)
FAMILY MAN VOL. 3 (STAR01614)
MENZ INSANA (STAR06752)
THE PROJECT VOL. 1 (STAR01800)
THE PROJECT VOL. 2 (STAR01801)
STRAY (STAR12929)
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS (STAR16092)
WONDER WOMAN: THE GODS OF GOTHAM COLLECTION (STAR13420)
ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK
The following titles are scheduled to arrive in stores on Wednesday, September 24. Make sure your store will have enough.
BATMAN #619
The stunning conclusion of "Hush," includes variant triple-gatefold covers spotlighting Batman's allies and villains.
BATMAN #619 STANDARD EDITION
The stunning conclusion of "Hush," with a recolored version of the main panel from the "Heroes" cover!
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #171 Batman uncovers the secret of Frank Sharp's power. BATMAN: TENSES #2
Concluding the spine-tingling story set during Batman’s first year!
CARTOON CARTOONS #22
Billy and Mandy go bowling with their pal, The Grim Reaper!
CATWOMAN #23
Catwoman’s “Wild Ride” continues with a stopover in Opal City!
EMPIRE #3
Golgoth’s trusted soldiers are given a drug that provides them with superpowers! Mature. FABLES: THE LAST CASTLE
(VERTIGO)
Learn the history of the beloved FABLES crew in this 48-page Special that acts as a prequel to the hit series. Mature.
THE FLASH #202
The Fastest Man Alive struggles to protect his fellow officers as the true identity of their killer is revealed.
GREEN LANTERN #169
Kyle takes off for uncharted regions of space to save Kilowog’s soul!
HELLBLAZER #188 (VERTIGO)
Gemma Constantine is caught between the monsters of Gruinard Island and those who brought her there! Mature.
JLA #87
The horrifying origin of the JLA's latest nemesis is revealed!
JLA-Z #1
A handbook to DC's greatest super-team featuring artwork by some of the biggest names in comics! THE LEGION #24
Legendary Legion artist Steve Lightle returns for an issue spotlighting Umbra!
THE LOSERS #4 (VERTIGO)
The Losers' mission to steal incriminating data from corrupt oil conglomerate Goliath goes horribly wrong. Mature. PROMETHEA #27 (ABC)
In Millennium City, a confrontation with Tom Strong forces Sophie to become Promethea!
REIGN OF THE ZODIAC #2
The wedding that will unite the House of Virgo and the House of Aries is here! SUPERMAN #197
Superman is getting sicker by the minute! Will Supergirl find the real cause of his malady?
SUPERMAN: DAY OF DOOM TP
Collecting the 4-issue miniseries revisiting the behemoth who killed the Man of Steel! SWEATSHOP #6 Meet more of Mel’s family than you ever wanted to in “I Have No Son” and “The Ex!” TERRA OBSCURA #4 (ABC) S.M.A.S.H.'s return to action is foiled by the null field!
THUNDERCATS: DOGS OF WAR #4 (WILDSTORM) The failed alliance between the Thundercats and The Mutants has left them in the War Dogs' dungeons.
TOR VOL. 3 HC
The final volume collecting Joe Kubert’s classic series!
WILDCATS Version 3.0 #14 (WILDSTORM)
Will the Halo Corporation's media consolidation become a threat to democracy? Mature.
Y: THE LAST MAN #15 (VERTIGO)
The fate of the two male astronauts who've been trapped in space is finally revealed! Mature.
DC DIRECT
VERTIGO: MERV PUMPKINHEAD MINI-BUST A limited-edition, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue measuring approximately 5 7/8” tall.
NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED
Be sure you've got enough copies of the following hot projects — check your orders and process any increases before Wednesday, September 24.
BATMAN #620 ($2.25, 32 pg.) AUG030170
In-store date October 22.
The award-winning 100 BULLETS team puts its indelible stamp on the Dark Knight with the first installment of the 6-part story “Broken City!” A dead girl’s body is found in a Gotham landfill, and the discovery sends Batman on a journey of self-examination that pits him against the Joker, Killer Croc and more! Written by Brian Azzarello with art by Eduardo Risso and a cover by Dave Johnson.
AVENGERS/JLA #2 (of 4) ($5.95, 48 pg., Prestige Format) AUG030203
In-store date October 22.
Round 2 of the comic-book event of the year is here! The titanic team-up the world has waited for continues as the threats that brought the heroes together in the first issue tear the teams apart! Guest-starring every character to ever belong to the Avengers and the JLA! Co-published with Marvel Comics. Written by Kurt Busiek with art and cover by George Pérez.
SGT. ROCK: BETWEEN HELL AND A HARD PLACE HC ($24.95, 144 pg. hardcover) AUG030283
In-store date October 29.
VERTIGO
Suggested for mature readers
100 BULLETS’ Brian Azzarello teams with comics legend Joe Kubert for a World War II tale that puts Sgt. Rock in the midst of a murder mystery behind enemy lines. When four German prisoners of the Easy Company are slaughtered, Rock must find the killer and keep his men alive. Written by Brian Azzarello with art and cover by Joe Kubert.
NEWS FROM THE MAINSTREAM PRESS
The "Media Mix" section of the September 14 Washington Post features a review of THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS that says, "This is what comics are all about: Powerful, strange stories enhanced by serious artwork... A+"
The September 14 New York Times Book Review includes a review of the Watson-Guptill book Mad Art, which Maud Levin calls, "a detail-rich collection of artists who have worked for MAD."
The September issue of Details names Pantheon's Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross as one of its "Eight fall reads you won't fail to finish."
The October issue of Vanity Fair mentions Pantheon's Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross in its "Hot Type" column.
The September 1 issue of Library Journal notes DC's publishing deal on ELFQUEST and the release of Pantheon's Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross. This issue also features a number of reviews, including LUCIFER: THE DIVINE COMEDY, writing, "Fans of THE SANDMAN series looking for more absorbing work in that vein need look no further." Also reviewed is BATMAN ADVENTURES: DANGEROUS DAMES AND DEMONS, in which MAD LOVE is described as "a surprisingly deep and tragic tale of obsessive love." In a review of THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES Volume 10, the magazine calls THE SPIRIT "...one of the most acclaimed of comics' Golden Age." On BATMAN: HUSH, the magazine notes, "[Jim] Lee's pencils, inked by Scott Williams, are detailed, realistic and dynamic; sexy women contrast with effective monochromatic flashbacks to Bruce Wayne's youth." HIGH ROADS is described as " an Indiana Jones-like adventure that's just a tongue in cheek as it sounds." On JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES, "...this book is aimed at younger readers, but longtime fans are likely to enjoy it as well." Billboard Books' DC Comics: A Celebration of the World's Favorite Heroes is cited for its "well-chosen color and black and white illustrations [which] make the book fun coffee-table browsing."
NEWS FROM THE TRADE PRESS
Comic Shop News #847 features a BATMAN cover by Jim Lee & Scott Williams, along with an article on BATMAN #619 and a sidebar about the upcoming BATMAN run by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. DC's VP — Sales & Marketing Bob Wayne discusses recently sold-out titles in "Going… Going… Gone!" This issue also includes a review of RED #1-2, writing, "Once again, Warren Ellis brings a major motion picture sensibility to comics, and the result is a quick-cut high-energy suspense-drama that plays better than any of this summer's big films."
The September 19 edition of Comics Buyer's Guide (#1557) notes upcoming releases for November including DANGER GIRL: VIVA LAS DANGER, SUPERMAN: THE KANSAS SIGHTING, and JLA: LIBERTY & JUSTICE. SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 is reviewed in "Reading Room," with S.A. Bennett writing, "Here's another DC comic book that deserves to be an instant sell-out." On WONDER WOMAN #195, which Brett Weiss calls, "an excellent jumping-on point for new readers." Maggie Thompson looks at ARROWSMITH #1 in "Comics Guide," calling it "comics fantasy at its best." Thompson also reviews BATMAN #615-617, writing, "[This is] for any reader with even a passing interest in Batman."
"In Brief" notes the upcoming releases of GREEN ARROW: THE ARCHER'S QUEST and THE JUSTICE SOCIETY RETURNS.
The September 26 edition of Comics Buyer's Guide (#1558) mentions the upcoming Batman comic strip on AOL. An article on the Cartoon Network series Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century includes an image of Dodgers in a Green Lantern uniform.
Watson-Guptill's DC Comics Guide to Inking is reviewed in "Reading Room," with Oliver Chin writing, "…this guide covers familiar ground in a manner that should satisfy both the armchair doodler and aspiring artist." Rob Salkowitz reviews RED #1, calling it "good, solid graphic entertainment for intelligent readers." DEATH: AT DEATH'S DOOR is reviewed in "Comics Guide," with Maggie Thompson writing, "It's funny and packed with details to delight."
The September issue of Tomart's Action Figure Digest includes a look at the Mattel Justice League Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, and Darkseid Action Figures, along with their weapons and accessories.
SMALLVILLE, JUSTICE LEAGUE AND TEEN TITANS EPISODE SCHEDULES
DC has been supplied with the following episode schedule for Smallville on the WB and Justice League and Teen Titans on the Cartoon Network. All times are Eastern and Pacific:
9/17 (8:00 pm) "Calling" (Smallville)
9/17 (9:00 pm) "Exodus" (Smallville)
9/20 (12:00 pm) "Deep Six" (Teen Titans)
9/20 (12:30 pm) "Savage Time, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
9/20 (9:00 pm) "Mask" (Teen Titans - New)
9/21 (10:00 pm) "Mask" (Teen Titans)
9/27 (12:00 pm) "Mask" (Teen Titans)
9/27 (12:30 pm) "Savage Time, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
9/27 (9:00 pm) "Mad Mod" (Teen Titans - New)
9/28 (10:00 pm) "Mad Mod" (Teen Titans)
Retailers are encouraged to share this information with their customers. Be advised that this schedule is subject to change.
SHARE THE RISK RETURNS
Retailers wishing to return the following titles under the terms of the SHARE THE RISK program must return the stripped covers to their respective Diamond Distribution Center using the SHARE THE RISK section of the Order Status Report for a packing slip.
Title
New entries and changes listed in bold italics Diamond
Item Code
Retailers Return Item to Diamond
RED #1 MAY030230 9/19/03
BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS #1 JUN030151 10/3/03
DR. FATE #1 JUN030173 10/3/03
HUMAN TARGET #1 JUN030247 10/10/03
SHIPPING CHANGES
THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY VOL. 2 OVERSIZED HC (WILDSTORM) APR030212 9/17/03 9/3/03
THE FILTH #13 (VERTIGO) JUN030245 9/17/03 8/27/03
JUSTICE LEAGUE PAINTED POSTER BY ALEX ROSS (DC DIRECT) APR030267 9/17/03 10/15/03
LOBO UNBOUND #3 JUN030195 9/17/03 8/6/03
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #171 JUL030145 9/24/03 9/10/03
JLA-Z #1 JUL030198 9/24/03 9/3/03
PROMETHEA #27 (ABC) MAY030222 9/24/03 7/23/03
TOR VOL. 3 HC JUL030221 9/24/03 9/24/03
VERTIGO: MERV PUMPKINHEAD MINI-BUST (DC DIRECT) MAR030288 9/24/03 9/17/03
Y: THE LAST MAN #15 (VERTIGO) JUL030251 9/24/03 9/17/03
ALL STAR COMICS ARCHIVES VOL. 9 HC AUG030199 10/1/03 10/8/03
ASTRO CITY: LOCAL HEROES #4 (HOMAGE) JUN030214 10/1/03 8/13/03
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS OVERSIZED POSTER — NEW PRINTING APR030254 10/1/03 10/15/03
SLEEPER #9 (WILDSTORM) JUL030234 10/1/03 9/17/03
SUPERMAN/BATMAN SECRET FILES 2003 JUL030168 10/1/03 9/3/03
100 BULLETS #47 (VERTIGO) AUG030271 10/8/03 10/1/03
TOKYO STORM WARNING #3 (CLIFFHANGER) JUN030233 10/8/03 8/13/03
TOM STRONG #22 (ABC) JUN030238 10/8/03 8/13/03
WORLD’S BEST COMICS: THE GOLDEN AGE DC ARCHIVES SAMPLER AUG030243 10/8/03 10/1/03
THE ATOM ARCHIVES VOL. 2 HC AUG030201 10/15/03 10/22/03
GREEN ARROW #31 AUG030217 10/15/03 10/8/03
THE JOKER MARIONETTE (DC DIRECT) MAR030287 10/15/03 9/24/03
KINGDOM COME: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE (DC DIRECT) MAR030289 10/15/03 9/10/03
KINGDOM COME: KID FLASH ACTION FIGURE (DC DIRECT) MAR030290 10/15/03 9/10/03
KINGDOM COME: RED ROBIN ACTION FIGURE (DC DIRECT) MAR030291 10/15/03 9/10/03
KINGDOM COME: SHAZAM! ACTION FIGURE (DC DIRECT) MAR030292 10/15/03 9/10/03
KINGDOM COME ACTION FIGURES SERIES 2 INNER CASE (DC DIRECT) MAR030293 10/15/03 9/10/03
KINGDOM COME ACTION FIGURES SERIES 2 MASTER (DC DIRECT) MAR030294 10/15/03 9/10/03
POCKET SUPER HEROES SERIES 2: GUARDIAN & GUY GARDNER (DC DIRECT) MAR030295 10/15/03 9/24/03
POCKET SUPER HEROES SERIES 2: SILVER AGE SPEEDY & WONDER
GIRL (DC DIRECT) MAR030296 10/15/03 9/24/03
POCKET SUPER HEROES SERIES 2: SILVER AGE SUPERGIRL &
BRAINIAC (DC DIRECT) MAR030297 10/15/03 9/24/03
TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES 2003 AUG030244 10/15/03 10/1/03
TOM STRONG’S TERRIFIC TALES #8 (ABC) MAY030226 10/15/03 7/30/03
GLOBAL FREQUENCY #11 (WILDSTORM) JUN030223 10/22/03 8/27/03
RED #3 (HOMAGE) JUL030230 10/22/03 9/24/03
THUNDERCATS: DOGS OF WAR #5 (WILDSTORM) AUG030263
10/22/03 10/1/03
SGT. ROCK: BETWEEN HELL AND A HARD PLACE HC (VERTIGO)AUG030283 10/29/03 10/22/03
TOM STRONG #23 (ABC) AUG030270 11/5/03 10/8/03
BATMAN/SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN: TRINITY #3 JUN030171 11/12/03 8/27/03
GLOBAL FREQUENCY #12 (WILDSTORM) JUL030228 11/26/03 9/24/03
THE NEW T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1 APR030203 TBD 6/4/03
THE NEW T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2 MAY030197 TBD 7/9/03
ARRIVING IN STORES THIS WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
TITLE
NEW ENTRIES AND CHANGES LISTED IN BOLD ITALICS. DIAMOND ITEM CODE
THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY VOL. 2 OVERSIZED HC (WILDSTORM)APR030212
ARROWSMITH #3 (CLIFFHANGER) JUL030224
BATGIRL #44 JUL030150
BATMAN ADVENTURES #6 JUL030151
BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE VOL. 2 TP JUL030155
BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #45 JUL030147
BIRDS OF PREY #59 JUL030159
CINNAMON: EL CICLO #2 JUL030179
THE FILTH #13 (VERTIGO) JUN030245
HUMAN TARGET #2 (VERTIGO) JUL030248
iCANDY #1 JUL030195
JLA/JSA: VIRTUE AND VICE SC JUL030199
LOBO UNBOUND #3 JUN030195
LUCIFER #42 (VERTIGO) JUL030250
OUTSIDERS #4 JUL030207
THE POSSESSED #3 (CLIFFHANGER) JUL030229
THE POWERPUFF GIRLS #42 JUL030219
ROBIN #118 JUL030164
ROBOTECH: THE MACROSS SAGA VOL. 4 TP (WILDSTORM) JUL030232
THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS HC (VERTIGO) JUN030253
SMALLVILLE #4 JUL030176
SMAX #2 (ABC) JUL030239
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #2 JUL030169
SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS #8 JUL030174
WONDER WOMAN #196 JUL030212
DC DIRECT
JUSTICE LEAGUE PAINTED POSTER BY ALEX ROSS APR030267
PROMO ITEMS
HORIZON #9 JUL030143 JUL035129
ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — SEPTEMBER 24, 2003
TITLE
NEW ENTRIES AND CHANGES LISTED IN BOLD ITALICS. DIAMOND ITEM CODE
BATMAN #619 HEROES COVER JUL035132
BATMAN #619 VILLAINS COVER JUL035133
BATMAN #619 STANDARD EDITION JUL030148
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #171 JUL030145
BATMAN: TENSES #2 JUL030158
CARTOON CARTOONS #22 JUL030214
CATWOMAN #23 JUL030160
EMPIRE #3 JUL030184
FABLES: THE LAST CASTLE (VERTIGO) JUL030245
THE FLASH #202 JUL030186
GREEN LANTERN #169 JUL030189
HELLBLAZER #188 (VERTIGO) JUL030247
JLA #87 JUL030197
JLA-Z #1 JUL030198
THE LEGION #24 JUL030205
THE LOSERS #4 (VERTIGO) JUL030249
PROMETHEA #27 (ABC) MAY030222
REIGN OF THE ZODIAC #2 JUL030209
SUPERMAN #197 JUL030167
SUPERMAN: DAY OF DOOM TP JUL030172
SWEATSHOP #6 JUL030210
TERRA OBSCURA #4 (ABC) JUL030240
THUNDERCATS: DOGS OF WAR #4 (WILDSTORM) JUL030236
TOR VOL. 3 HC JUL030221
WILDCATS Version 3.0 #14 (WILDSTORM) JUL030237
Y: THE LAST MAN #15 (VERTIGO) JUL030251
DC DIRECT
VERTIGO: MERV PUMPKINHEAD MINI-BUST MAR030288
ARRIVING IN STORES IN TWO WEEKS:
RELEASE DATE — OCTOBER 1, 2003
TITLE
NEW ENTRIES AND CHANGES LISTED IN BOLD ITALICS. DIAMOND ITEM CODE
ACTION COMICS #808 AUG030190
ALL STAR COMICS ARCHIVES VOL. 9 HC AUG030199
ANIMAL MAN: DEUS EX MACHINA TP (VERTIGO) AUG030272
ARKHAM ASYLUM: LIVING HELL #6 AUG030173
ASTRO CITY: LOCAL HEROES #4 (HOMAGE) JUN030214
THE AUTHORITY #6 (WILDSTORM) AUG030252
BAD GIRLS #3 AUG030202
BATMAN: CITY OF LIGHT #1 AUG030178
DETECTIVE COMICS #787 AUG030169
EXTINCTION EVENT #4 (WILDSTORM) AUG030254
FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 AUG030216
HARLEY QUINN #37 AUG030187
HAWKMAN #20 AUG030220
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #24 AUG030233
LOONEY TUNES #107 AUG030246
MAD MAGAZINE #435 AUG030285
ROBOTECH: LOVE AND WAR #5 (WILDSTORM) AUG030260
SLEEPER #9 (WILDSTORM) JUL030234
SUPERMAN/BATMAN SECRET FILES 2003 JUL030168
SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT #4 AUG030194
SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL TP VOL. 1 — NEW PRINTING AUG030197
SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL TP VOL. 2 AUG030198
TEEN TITANS #2 (2ND PRINT) JUN035296
DC DIRECT
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS OVERSIZED POSTER — NEW PRINTING APR030254
DC COMICS POCKET SUPER HEROES JLA BOX SET APR030255
JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATED SNOWGLOBE APR030265
