Author: Stephen Schleicher

DC must be tickled pink over the Watchmen Trailer Effect.  Sales for the trade paperback have skyrocketed since July, and the book took a double dip at the top selling graphic novels for December.  Watchmen took the number 1 and number 3 spots on BookScan USA’s graphic novel list, with the paperback taking the top spot, and the newly released hard cover coming in third. Even though Watchmen is soaring high, Naruto still dominates the list with volumes taking the number 2, 5, 11 spots. via ICv2

The polystone statues from Sideshow Collectibles have been really great these last couple of years.  I’ve picked up a few by Adam Hughes, and have been extremely pleased with the size, price, and details.  The latest polystone diorama features The Punisher and Daredevil going at it. The latest addition to Sideshow’s line of Marvel collectibles is the Punisher VS Daredevil Diorama. This outstanding diorama is cast in heavy-weight, high-quality polystone, then hand-finished and hand-painted to exacting standards. Each piece is individually hand-numbered, then packaged in a durable foam shipping interior and beautiful full color box. The Punisher VS Daredevil Diorama…

A vile den of drugs and villainy If I had to run down a list of movies that have a special place in my heart, Touchstone’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit would certainly be on the list.  I really fell in love with the idea of cartoon characters living side by side with humans, and when you throw in a big mystery and a song and dance number, how could you not like this movie?  Image Comics’ Shadowline imprint just released Archibald Chases the Dragon, and it brings back almost all of the memories from that crazy rabbit film.

Press Release Written by Matthew Sturges, writer of the Eisner-nominated JACK OF FABLES, and his JACK co-writer, FABLES creator Bill Willingham, HOUSE OF MYSTERY: Room and Boredom Vol. 1 (Vertigo | January 14, 2009 | 128pg. | Color | Softcover | $9.99 US | ISBN: 9781401220792), collecting issues #1-5, takes a classic DC Comics concept into the twenty-first century. Everyone is a prisoner in one way or another, and Fig Keele—a feisty young architect who just happens to be running for her life—is no exception. Unfortunately for Fig, she’s ended up in the House of Mystery, a strange place like…

Of course he does, as this variant cover to Thor #600 clearly indicates. THOR #600 (NOV082404) THOR #600 DELL’OTTO VARIANT (NOV082405) Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, STAN LEE & CHRIS GIARRUSSO Penciled by OLIVIER COIPEL, CHRIS GIARRUSSO & DAVID AJA Wraparound Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL Variant Wraparound Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO Thor #600 arrives February 11, 2009, and features a cover price of $4.99.  This has to be due to the additional pages, right?  Or is this a portent of things to come? You can find out more about the issue, and what role Stan…

The minds behind the New York Comic Con have released its current list of panels for the show.  It’s quite a list, and there are panels attendees will really want to check out. Here’s a sampling of the panels I found interesting: BOOM! Studios: BIG! BOLD! BOOM! Join Mark Waid, Ross Richie, and Chip Mosher as they run down the most exciting new projects at BOOM! Including a special announcement by Mark Waid that is sure to make your head explode! (Friday, 2:15-3:15) The Business of Webcomics! LIVE!: Watch PVP Online’s Scott Kurtz take thematic suggestions from the crowd as…

One of my favorite moments of 2008 was all the viral marketing that sprang up around the various movies and major events in comics.  Even though the Watchmen movie is in turmoil at the moment, that hasn’t stopped the viral machine from launching The New Frontiersman website to hype the movie. The New Frontiersman is Rorschach’s newspaper of choice, so why not have a website dedicated to this bit player in the movie?  The website is only a dummy page at the moment, but it may spring to life as the release date (whenever that might be) draws near. I’m…

Bluewater Productions has announced it will have a special one-shot collector’s edition of William Shatner Presents in time for Free Comic Book Day.  Included in the anthology is an original prologue story from the upcoming Tek War series. This 12-page prequel takes place 4 years before the initial storyline.  The story centers on protagonist Jake Cardigan’s arrest and conviction for murder as well as Tek trafficking.  The story also  leaves several clues as to important plot points that will happen in the series.  We get an insiders look at the Tek War universe and the history behind Jake’s  troubled past.…

It just might be the case if you read between the words and spaces in a very vague JH Williams III post on his blog. Going through some Promethea files for reasons that will be made clear in a later post and thought I would put of some these into blogs. For those not familiar with the series – to the Wiki! Serialized in 32 issues on an irregular schedule from 1999 to 2005, the series explores Alan Moore’s ideas about art and magic, combining elements of superhero action, metaphysical theorizing, and psychedelic revelation, all focused on the adventures of…

If you are ready to shout “Yo Joe!” at your theater screen, you’ll be happy to know Paramount has finally launched the official movie website.  Presumably, the site will begin to feature more Joe-Goodness as the movie approaches release day, but until then, you can sign up for updates via e-mail. via G.I. Joe

I know George Lucas made a killing in the 70’s when he managed to secure the merchandising rights for Star Wars properties, that lead to those wonderful Star Wars bedsheets I used to have (sleeping with Princess Leia took on a whole new meaning), but check out the crazy stuff currently being hocked on eBay in an attempt to cash in on the upcoming movie. You are bidding on a pair of standard size (18 x 28 inches) pillowcase. 100% Cotton with 200 thread count! They are very soft and comfortable since we use the highest quality of garment in…

When Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man #583 arrives next week, it will feature a special story featuring Spider-Man fighting those who would prevent President-Elect Obama from being sworn in.  No, I’m not talking about Rumsfeld and Cheney, but real Spider-Man foes like the Chameleon. “When we heard that President-Elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics’ Marvel Universe,” says Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada.  “Historic moments such as this one can be reflected in our comics because the Marvel Universe is set in the real world.  A Spider-Man fan moving…

Arriving next week from Archie Comics are Archie & Friends #127, Archie’s Double Digest #195, and Sonic the Hedgehog #196.  The company has sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of the new issues that you can see for yourself, after the jump.

Warner Home Video has announced the complete “pre-Nolan” Batman films will be released on Blu-Ray on March 10, 2009.  This is really close to the Watchmen movie release date, and may be a further snub to 20th Century Fox and its desire to release the Adam West Batman movie on DVD. The collection inlcudes Batman (1989) – Jack Nicholson is The Joker, who emerged from a horrible accident as a maniacal criminal. Michael Keaton is the Caped Crusader, who emerged from a childhood trauma to become a masked crimefighter. Kim Basinger is Vicki Vale, the talented photojournalist desired by both…