Podcast #5 up and running

Our second reviewer, longtime comics writer Tony Isabella, makes his debut as a ComicMix podcast critic and spells out his rules and regulations. Archie Comics takes on Marvel Comics in "Civil Chores." More previews of this weekend’s NYCC. 

Mike Raub delivers the news and the goods on ComicMix podcast #5 — which you can get right now by pressing play:

 

Transcript

Program complete. Enter when ready. www.ComicMix.com Hi, here we go. It's the middle of the week and we're back. I'm Mike Raub. Another ComicMix podcast. This week we're going to look at when comics were a dime and all the great stuff we got this week for less than 40 cents. We'll talk more about the New York Comic Con. Time is coming and the Comic Con is being set up even as we speak.

And we're going to be there. But in the meantime, who else is going to be there? Some surprises we'll share with you on the way. And some news about something that's already started selling out and I haven't even read the first one yet. All that and more on… February 22nd, 2007. ComicMix. Well, here's something you never saw coming. The very first issue of Spider-Man's Back in Black event, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man number 17 has completely sold out at the distributor level of Diamond Comics and probably has gone for most retail stores at this point.

Now Marvel said they have at this point no plans to go back to press on friendly neighborhood Spider-Man number 17. And they're advising people to watch out for the next Back in Black titles. It'll be running an amazing Spider-Man, sensational Spider-Man and Spider-Man family. ComicMix.com Well, it had to happen. First you had Marvel Civil War, then you had DC's crises all over the place. And now Archie gets on the stick with Civil Chore. Listen to this. It begins when Archie complains to his father that he needs a raise in his allowance for all the chores that he does. Archie's dad tells him that if he doesn't like it, go on strike. So he does.

And then when he goes on strike, Jughead realizes if Archie's not making any money, who's he going to borrow from? So then Jughead goes on strike against Archie and you take it from there. The whole thing begins in Whose Side Are You On? Coming up in Tales of Riverdale Digest number 22, which will be along in July. Could be kind of fun. You know, a little bit later on, we're going to talk a lot about the New York Comic Con again as we get ready to go this weekend. But here's a note that you may really appreciate. Wendy Peeney, creator of ElfQuest, is coming back to appear at a special panel at the con to announce a major new project she describes as darkly, exciting and adult oriented. We'll give you a complete rundown on that next week. So look for that. ComicMix.com

Well, the other day we told you about some of the things coming into comic book stores this week. How about the things that aren't coming here? From DC Comics, there's been a couple of changes, starting with Justice League of America number six. That won't be around until the 7th of March. Same week will have Superman number 660, Superman Batman number 32, and Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters number eight, as well as Mystery in Space number seven. That's going to be a big week. Superman confidential number four has been moved to the 14th of March, as well as Teen Titans number 44. Fables number 59 is going to be along on the 21st of March. And Justice Society of America, as well as the Varian Edition number four has been moved to the 21st of March. www.ComicMix.com ComicMix.

Well, this week we get to unveil the second of our three comic book reviewers. And here's somebody who I hate to use the cliche, but has done it all. He's a comic book pro. He was a comic book collector for years, probably still is. And he even was a comic book retailer for a while as well. So he's got a whole bunch of different reasons to be mean and grumpy. My part in this is I finally get to share a microphone with a guy that I've known for a little over three decades. And that's a thrill. I'm Tony Isabella, and I've been reviewing comics since before most of you were born. Many of you know me, and now I get the chance to make a lousy first impression on the rest of you. Here are the ground rules. I review comics and stuff for the people who buy and enjoy them. I don't review them for creators, publishers, or even retailers. If I help some worthy soul sell a few more copies, that's a bonus, but it's not part of my job description. I don't run to the comic shop every week. In fact, I don't go to them at all. The nearest one is a half an hour away, and the last time I was there, the clerk seemed annoyed that I was interrupting his online porn enjoyment.

So don't expect me to review this week's comics unless someone sent them to me before they came out. I'll review whatever catches my eye at the moment that I'm writing this podcast. If your shop doesn't have it, just hit the internet, baby. And the answer to why I haven't reviewed a comic is likely that no one sent it to me. I don't guarantee reviews, much less favorable reviews, of the comic sent to me, but the chances of my reviewing your book goes up if you send it to me. Towards that end, you can email me at tony at wfcomics.com or send me stuff at tonyisabellapo box 1502 medinaohio 44258 Last rule, I'm 55 years old, bent and twisted with the ravages of 35 years as a comics pro. I tend to be grumpy on occasion. Treat me with respect, love me as you would a crazy old uncle and will get along fine. I think of myself as one of a kind. So in the remaining moments of this podcast, I'm recommending three other rugged individual lists. There are three people I hope to meet in comic book heaven.

Starting with Usagi Yo Jimbo. Cartoonist Dan Sakai's Rabbit Ronin is one of the best and most original creations of the past three decades. Set in the 17th century, its hero's journey has filled more than 100 issues with a mixture of short stories and novel length adventures. Action, characterization, drama, humor, and even horror are here in a series that also combines history and folklore in wondrous ways. Check out the comics of the collection. There's no such thing as a less than terrific Usagi Yo Jimbo book. Then we move to Jonah Hex. Western heroes don't come any more grim than this post-Civil War bounty on him. Justin Gray and Jimmy Pelme Adi's tight stories, usually drawn by the phenomenal Luke Ross, have made the current series DC's best title. Two trades have been published to date by them. You'll thank me for this suggestion.

Finally, Jughead. Archie's pal stands out from all other comic book teens. He's his own man, rarely swayed by fans. His skills are many, from culinary arts to outwitting Reggie with ease. He's a complicated man, but not even his women understand him, but they are intrigued by him. He's the most interesting of the Riverdale kids, and his book is the best of the Archie lineup. Craig Bouldman delivers clever plots, masterful setups, and witty dialogue. Rex Lindsay and Rich Kozlowski make with the exciting visuals. If you only check out one Archie title, this should be the one. Those are my three recommendations for this podcast. Have a great comics day, and we'll talk again soon. Alright Tony, thanks a lot. Now go take your medicine, and we'll talk to you soon.

www.ComicMix.com New York Comic Con The first issue of Brave and Bold from DC. Keep in mind at the Con this week will be George Perez, who's been honored with just about every national and international award the comic industry has ever had to offer. Of course, the new teen titans among his credits in the amazing first Crisis on Infinite Earths. George will be there signing and saying hi to people. And another gentleman who you're familiar with from our very website, ComicMix, Michael Davis, who his entire adult life is making a living off his imagination.

He's done amazing things, including being the co-creator of one of my kids favorite strips, Static Shock. The Emmy Award winning Michael will be along to say hi to all sorts of people and be sure to tell him you love what he writes on ComicMix.com And then there's this gentleman, the guy who created this little lady. Hey, aren't you that plant lady poison elky? Ivy, poison ivy. Sorry. Holly quid, pleased to meet ya.

Paul Deney, Emmy Award winning writer and co-producer of Batman Adventures and the Batman animated series. Five Emmys Paul won for his television work and seven Eisner's for his comic book work. And be along, bring along some of those detective comics as written lately and tell Paul you love what he does. Also Friday night, it's sci-fi Friday night again this year at the New York Comic Con. The Sci-fi channel presents a whole night of screenings with episodes of The Dresden Files and Battlestar Galactica that you'll be able to see days before they actually appear on the network. And you'll get a chance to get some free comics as well. The folks from Dynamite Entertainment are going to pass out exclusive copies of Painkiller Jane and Battlestar Galactica at the show on Friday night. If you want to go to the sci-fi screen, you know, you have to sign up beforehand. So do so on the website, NewYorkComicon.com or go right to it from our link at www.ComicMix.com.

ComicMix timeline, February 22, 1861. While this week the world was not the happiest of places, there was a major flare up of civil unrest in Africa. On the love scene though, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin declared their love in all the teen magazines. And the nation's capital saw John Fitzgerald Kennedy form something brand new. I have today signed an executive order providing for the establishment of a Peace Corps on a temporary pilot basis. Things were a lot happier in comics. We gladly shelled out 10 cents for the second issue of Hawkman and Brave and Bold, drawn by the incredible Joe Cupid.

It was the very best of children theater coming along in Superman number 143 when Bizarro met Frankenstein. And Green Arrow was the very first person inducted into the brand new Justice League of America in issue number four. On TV there was a real McCoy's to laugh at, Dobie Gillis to pine at. I loved Casper and Company on Maddie's Fun Day Funnies with those great old Harvey cartoons we've never seen before. And top of the list for one of the many westerns of the week, we loved the hero, Bat Masterson.

Hey, well, on the radio the words didn't mean a whole lot, but it was fun to dance to. The guy's name was Bobby V. Don't you know I can take it. I guess it for this time. We want more to go before the big New York show. We'll get all set for the comic con with one more cheese and then we're packing our bags and hitting the road. We'll have another look at a number of different things going on in a special surprise interview possibly for you as well. I can't talk about just trust me. See you in a couple days. Bye.

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