Bag and Board, Mar. 3 Edition

As we swing into March I’ve decided it’s time to take the Bag and Board column in a slightly new direction. March marks my third month writing this column for The Geek Effect, formerly Two Geeks and a Blog, and that means I’ve had ample time to discuss and point readers in the direction of most of the good titles that are currently being published. What I’m saying is, for fear of becoming repetitious, I feel it’s time to shake things up a little. Of course I’ll still highlight all that’s shiny and new each week, but titles that are in the midst of a huge, long storyline, like The Amazing Spider-Man, don’t need to be mentioned time and time again. Rest assured, if something startling is going to be happening to the old web head, I’ll let you know. The same with Batman and Superman and all your other favourites. But there is a lot of other news in the comic book world and I think carving out some space to talk about those items here is a good idea and will add a little more spice to the column.

If there’s one thing I’ve noted this week it’s a resurgence of pulp heroes. First and foremost, from DC Comics, comes its new First Wave universe. While I’m not certain that First Wave is the catchiest of titles for this new universe, I most definitely approve of the resurrection of Doc Savage in this comic. Along with the Doc comes The Spirit and Batman. As I mentioned, this is a completely new and different universe, separate from the regular DC universe. Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Rags Morales, you’ll find no super powered beings in this universe, only swashbuckling, fist fighting mortal men and a whole lot of action, adventure and danger.

Over at Dynamite Entertainment, writer Kevin Smith unveils the next generation of The Green Hornet. The description for this book says, “This is the one you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS! The stunning final pages of this issue will have fans talking for the rest of the year… and beyond,” thus setting up some lofty expectations to say the very least. Besides looking forward to this book all I can say is that I hope Smith has the entire first story arc in the can or, given his reputation for tardiness, this new Green Hornet might be very short lived.

While Marvel debuts a new horror title in Stephen King’s “N”, Avatar Press concludes it’s well received but seriously depraved horror book, Crossed. The Garth Ennis written finale is an extra-large, 40 page issue that offers no help, no hope and no escape; only the Crossed. If you like your horror bleak and brutal then this stomach churner might just be for you, but I’ve really got to warn you, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Promising more classic comic book content is an industry event that sees a merger of sorts between Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment and BOOM! STUDIOS. The official press release from yesterday had this to say:

March 2nd, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA - POW! Entertainment and BOOM! Studios announced a deal has been struck that will see the production of a series of three superhero titles presented by Stan Lee. These series will premiere from BOOM! Studios later this year.

BOOM!’s Editor-in-Chief Mark Waid, creator of BOOM!’s runaway hit series IRREDEEMABLE and its smash sister book INCORRUPTIBLE, will be writing one of the series. Two other series will follow, featuring A-list writers as a part of the creative team. Further announcements will clarify the teams and the timing for the roll-out.

This past December, POW! announced that Walt Disney Studios had entered into a first-look deal with POW! and currently has a number of projects in development where it is working closely with the world-renowned Lee.

The revelation of Stan Lee’s presenting a series of three superhero titles at BOOM! follows on the heels of a viral marketing campaign announcing “Stan’s Back” that hit the internet early last week. Across major comic book news sites and blogs last week, ads appeared teasing “Stan’s Back.” The L.A. Times’ Hero Complex & L.A. Times’ Brand-X also got in on the action, running the “Stan’s Back” campaign in print and on their respective website. All the banner ads linked back to www.stansback.com, a site which had only the “Stan’s Back” logo and nothing else disclosing additional information.

For one week, the internet was in a frenzy with comic fans everywhere trying to figure out what could the “Stan’s Back” teaser campaign mean. Today it has finally been revealed – Stan Lee is back, presenting a comic book series for the Direct Market comic specialty market that Lee was instrumental in fostering.

POW! Entertainment and BOOM! Studios had no further details at this time. More forthcoming.

And on that note folks, I’m going to shove the keyboard aside and suggest you do likewise; go read some comics!

As always, this week’s list is brought to you by Comic List.

AVATAR PRESS
Absolution #0-6 Complete Bag Set (Random Covers; First Printings), $24.99
Absolution #2 (of 6)(Paul Duffield MCM Convention Edition Cover), $3.99
Absolution #4 (of 6)(Juan Jose Ryp Auxiliary Edition Cover), $3.99
Chronicles Of Wormwood The Last Battle #2 (of 6)(Juan Jose Ryp Auxiliary Edition Cover), $3.99
Crossed #7 (of 9)(Jacen Burrows MCM Convention Edition Cover), $3.99
Crossed #8 (of 9)(Juan Jose Ryp Cheerleader Variant Cover), $3.99
Crossed #9 (of 9)(Jacen Burrows Regular Cover), $4.99
Crossed #9 (of 9)(Jacen Burrows Red Crossed Incentive Cover), AR
Crossed #9 (of 9)(Jacen Burrows Auxiliary Edition Cover), $4.99
Crossed #9 (of 9)(Jacen Burrows Wraparound Cover), $4.99
Ignition City #5 (of 5)(Gianluca Pagliarani Convention Edition Cover), $3.99
Supergod #2 (of 5)(Garrie Gastonny Auxiliary Edition Cover), $3.99

BOOM! STUDIOS
Dingo #4 (of 4)(Cover A Francesco Biagini), $3.99
Dingo #4 (of 4)(Cover B Paul Harmon), $3.99
Disneys Hero Squad Ultraheroes #2 (Cover A Magic Eye Studios), $2.99
Disneys Hero Squad Ultraheroes #2 (Cover B Magic Eye Studios), $2.99
Disneys Hero Squad Ultraheroes #2 (Magic Eye Studios Variant Cover), AR
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #9 (of 24)(Cover A Moritat), $3.99
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #9 (of 24)(Cover B Scott Keating), $3.99
Incredibles #6 (Cover A Ramanda Kamarga), $2.99
Incredibles #6 (Cover B Ramanda Kamarga), $2.99
Monsters Inc Laugh Factory Volume 1 HC (release not confirmed by Diamond Distribution), $24.99
Monsters Inc Laugh Factory Volume 1 TP, $9.99
Nola #4 (Cover A Erik Jones), $3.99
Nola #4 (Cover B Chris Brunner), $3.99
Wizards Of Mickey #2 (Cover A Vitale Mangiatordi), $2.99
Wizards Of Mickey #2 (Cover B Magic Eye Studios), $2.99
Wizards Of Mickey #2 (Magic Eye Studios Variant Cover), AR

DARK HORSE
Age Of Reptiles The Journey #3 (of 4), $3.50
Blade Of The Immortal Volume 1 Blood Of A Thousand TP (12th Printing), $14.99
Bride Of The Water God Volume 2 TP (2nd Printing)(release not confirmed by Diamond Distribution), $9.99
Bride Of The Water God Volume 4 TP (2nd Printing)(release not confirmed by Diamond Distribution), $9.99
Buck Rogers 1930s Collection Frame, $31.99
Buck Rogers 25th Century Frame, $31.99
Buck Rogers Collage Frame, $31.99
Buck Rogers Logo Belt Buckle, $21.99
Buck Rogers Ray Gun Belt Buckle, $21.99
Buck Rogers Ray Gun Cigarette Case, $29.99
Buck Rogers Rocket Man Belt Buckle, $21.99
Buck Rogers Rocket Man Cigarette Case, $29.99
Buck Rogers Small Card ID Case, $22.99
Buck Rogers Space Girls Unite Belt Buckle, $21.99
Buck Rogers Spaceship Small Card ID Case, $22.99
Buck Rogers Vintage Cigarette Case, $29.99
Buck Rogers Vintage Keychain, $12.00
Buck Rogers Wilma Cigarette Case, $29.99
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight Volume 6 Retreat TP, $15.99
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #33 (Twilight part 2 of 5)(Jo Chen Regular Cover), $2.99
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #33 (Twilight part 2 of 5)(Georges Jeanty Variant Cover), $2.99
Conan The Cimmerian #19 (Justin Sweet Regular Cover)(KOZAKI part 1 of 3), $2.99
Conan The Cimmerian #19 (Joseph Michael Linsner Variant Cover)(KOZAKI part 1 of 3), $2.99
Grendel Behold The Devil HC, $19.99
Lady Snowblood Volume 1 The Deep Seated Grudge Part 1 TP (3rd Printing)(release not confirmed by Diamond Distribution), $14.99
Mass Effect Redemption #1 (of 4)(2nd Printing)(release not confirmed by Diamond Distribution), $3.50
Mass Effect Redemption #2 (of 4)(2nd Printing), $3.50
Mass Effect Redemption #3 (of 4), $3.50
Pixu Volume 1 Mark Of Evil HC (New Printing)(release not confirmed by Diamond Distribution), AR

DC COMICS
Adventure Comics #8 (Francis Manapul Regular Cover), $3.99
Adventure Comics #8 (Aaron Lopresti ‘Adventure Comics 511′ Variant Cover), AR
Astro City The Dark Age Book 4 #2 (of 4), $3.99
Authority #20, $2.99
Authority Rule Brittania TP, $19.99
Batman Confidential #42, $2.99
Cartoon Network Action Pack #47, $2.50
Cinderella From Fabletown With Love #5 (of 6), $2.99
DC Classic Confrontations Batman Vs Killer Croc Statue, $250.00
Demo Volume 2 #2 (of 6), $2.99
Detective Comics #862, $3.99
Final Crisis Aftermath Ink TP, $17.99
First Wave #1 (of 6)(J.G. Jones Regular Cover), $3.99
First Wave #1 (of 6)(Neal Adams Variant Cover), AR
Great Ten #5 (of 10), $2.99
Greek Street #9, $2.99
Jack Of Fables #43, $2.99
Jonah Hex #53, $2.99
JSA All-Stars #4, $3.99
Justice League Cry For Justice #7 (of 7), $3.99
Justice League International Volume 4 TP, $17.99
Last Days Of Animal Man TP, $17.99
Looney Tunes #184, $2.50
Milestone Forever #2 (of 2), $5.99
Nemesis The Imposters #1 (of 4), $2.99
Planetary Volume 4 HC, $24.99
Sparta USA #1 (of 6)(Johnny Timmons Regular Cover), $2.99
Sparta USA #1 (of 6)(David Lapham Variant Cover), AR
Superman Brainiac TP, $19.99
Swan Volume 15 TP, $9.99
Sweet Tooth #7, $2.99
Transmetropolitan Volume 6 Gouge Away TP (New Edition), $14.99
Warlord #12, $2.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Boys #40 (Darick Robertson Regular Cover), $2.99
Boys #40 (Darick Robertson Virgin Art Variant)(Signed By Garth Ennis), AR
Boys Volume 5 Herogasm HC (Limited Edition), $29.99
Green Hornet #1 (Alex Ross Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet #1 (J. Scott Campbell Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet #1 (John Cassaday Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet #1 (John Cassaday Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet #1 (Stephen Segovia Regular Cover), $3.99
Green Hornet #1 (Alex Ross Black/White/Green Variant Cover), AR
Green Hornet #1 (J. Scott Campbell Black/White/Green Variant Cover), AR
Green Hornet #1 (J. Scott Campbell Shared Retailer Exclusive Variant Cover), AR
Green Hornet #1 (John Cassady Black/White/Green Variant Cover), AR
Green Hornet #1 (Stephen Segovia Black/White/Green Variant Cover), AR
Green Hornet #1 (John Cassaday Signed/Remarked ‘Surprise’ Variant Cover), AR
Robocop #2 (Premium Spot Color Variant Cover), $49.99
Zorro #20 (John K. Snyder III Cover), $3.50
Zorro #20 (Matt Wagner Cover), $3.50

IDW PUBLISHING
Belladonna (One Shot)(J.K. Woodward Cover), $7.99
G.I. Joe #15 (Robert Atkins Cover), $3.99
G.I. Joe #15 (David Williams Cover), $3.99
G.I. Joe #15 (David Williams Virgin Cover), AR
Sam Kieth Sketchbooks Volume 1 TP, $9.99
Starstruck #7 (Michael William Kaluta Cover), $3.99
Starstruck #7 (Michael William Kaluta Virgin Cover), AR

IMAGE COMICS
Chew #9, $2.99
Dead Ahead #3 (of 3), $3.99
Dragon Prince #1 (David Finch Black & White Lone Star Comics Variant Cover), $10.00
Forgetless #3 (of 5), $3.50
God Complex #4, $2.99
Spawn #196, $2.95
Sword #22, $2.99
True Story Swear To God #12 (Image Edition), $3.50
Underground #5 (of 5), $3.50
Witchblade #135 (Cover A Stjepan Sejic), $2.99
Witchblade #135 (Cover B Darick Robertson), $2.99