Friday, November 28, 2014

Amazon Top 50 - November 28, 2014

Batman: Death of the Family
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (R). Batman: Death of the Family Book and Joker Mask Set
2 (+13). The Complete Calvin & Hobbes (paperback)
3 (-1). The Walking Dead Compendium One
4 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning
5 (+7). The Walking Dead Compendium Two
6 (+13). Saga Deluxe Edition Volume 1 *
7 (+4). Marvel Encyclopedia
8 (-4). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
9 (-2). Dilbert 2015 Day-to-Day Calendar
10 (-). Goodnight Darth Vader
11 (-2). Darth Vader and Son
12 (-4). The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
13 (+8). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
14 (-8). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
15 (-1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2
16 (+2). Serenity: Leaves on the Wind
17 (-12). Saga Volume 4 *
18 (+2). Vader's Little Princess
19 (-6). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan
20 (-3). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
21 (+1). Saga Volume 1
22 (+3). Civil War
23 (+4). The Walking Dead Book 10
24 (+24). The Complete Peanuts 1991-1994 Box Set
25 (-4). Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal
26 (N). The Complete Far Side (paperback)
27 (+16). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
28 (-2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
29 (+12). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
30 (R). The Complete Calvin & Hobbes (hardcover)
31 (-7). Saga Volume 3
32 (+7). The Ultimate Minecraft Comic Book Vol. 1: The Curse of Herobrine
33 (+3). Batman: Year One
34 (-). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
35 (R). Seconds: A Graphic Novel
36 (-20). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift Part 3
37 (-7). Saga Volume 2
38 (R). The DC Comics Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Edition
39 (R). The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel
40 (R). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
41 (-18). Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
42 (-5). Maxine Boxed Calendar (2015)
43 (-11). Infinity Gauntlet
44 (-6). Attack on Titan 14
45 (R). John Constantine, Hellblazer, Vol. 1: Original Sins
46 (-6). Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year - Secret City (The New 52)
47 (-2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War
48 (+2). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
49 (-). Watchmen
50 (R). Sex Criminals Volume 1

Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

  • Out of nowhere, the Batman: Death of the Family Book and Joker Mask Set shows up on the top of the chart. The most likely reason is that there was some sort of lightning deal in the past 24 hours. It also likely means that some lucky comics fans will have a mask of a serial killer waiting for them under the Christmas tree this year. Happy holidays!
  • It's the start of the holiday shopping season, and that means that we're seeing box set collections of classic comic strips move up the chart. The Complete Calvin & Hobbes in paperback jumps to the #2 position, with the hardcover edition returning as well. The latest Complete Peanuts box set leaps up half the chart, and The Complete Far Side is this week's only new entry.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 26, 2014

Trees #7
Here is my weekly Pinterest board of this week's recommended new digital comics:

November 26, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week

Highlights include: Mind MGMT #28, Trees #7, The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #17, Road to Oz, ODY-C #1, Princeless Book Two, and more!


Follow Dave's board November 26, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week on Pinterest.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Amazon Top 50 - November 21, 2014

The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (-). The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning
2 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium One
3 (-). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
4 (-). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
5 (+4). Saga Volume 4 *
6 (-). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
7 (+3). Dilbert 2015 Day-to-Day Calendar
8 (-3). The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
9 (+3). Darth Vader and Son
10 (+1). Goodnight Darth Vader
11 (+2). Marvel Encyclopedia
12 (-5). The Walking Dead Compendium Two
13 (+3). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan
14 (-6). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2
15 (-1). The Complete Calvin & Hobbes (paperback)
16 (+5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift Part 3
17 (+1). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
18 (+4). Serenity: Leaves on the Wind
19 (+25). Saga Deluxe Edition Volume 1 *
20 (-3). Vader's Little Princess
21 (-6). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
22 (+2). Saga Volume 1
23 (-). Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
24 (+6). Saga Volume 3
25 (-6). Civil War
26 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
27 (-7). The Walking Dead Book 10
28 (+4). Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #8 (Kindle)
29 (+5). Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal
30 (+7). Saga Volume 2
31 (-). Monster Musume Vol. 5
32 (R). Infinity Gauntlet
33 (+9). The Essential Calvin & Hobbes
34 (-8). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
35 (R). Attack on Titan 1
36 (-8). Batman: Year One
37 (+8). Maxine Boxed Calendar (2015)
38 (-11). Attack on Titan 14
39 (-10). The Ultimate Minecraft Comic Book Vol. 1: The Curse of Herobrine
40 (+8). Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year - Secret City (The New 52)
41 (-5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
42 (R). Batman Vol. 5: Zero Year - Dark City (The New 52)
43 (-5). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
44 (R). Breaking Stephan: A Pearls Before Swine Collection
45 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War
46 (+3). xkcd: volume 0
47 (-7). Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons
48 (-9). The Complete Peanuts 1991-1994 Box Set
49 (-8). Watchmen
50 (-3). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)

Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:
  • The latest Walking Dead collection stays on top of the chart for the fourth week in a row. There are eight Walking Dead collections on the chart this week.
  • No new items this week. Well, actually there were new entries on Tuesday when I posted the delayed-from-last-Friday chart. But nothing new for this chart.
  • Besides Dilbert, the only comic strip desk calendar making an appearance this week is Maxine. When did Maxine become a thing?
  • You know what would maybe sell? A Walking Dead desk calendar...
  • The first Ms. Marvel collection remains on the chart again this week. That's really been Marvel's stealth hit this year, selling modestly well as a print comic, but doing much better than average in the digital and trade domains.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 19, 2014

The Multiversity: Pax Americana
Here is my weekly Pinterest board of this week's recommended new digital comics:

November 19, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week

Highlights include: Princess Ugg #5, The Multiversity: Pax Americana, Golden Age, Lumberjanes #8, Batman Adventures vol. 1, Jonah Hex: Counting Corpses, Zero #12, and more!

Follow Dave's board November 19, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week on Pinterest.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Amazon Top 50 - November 18, 2014

The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Tuesday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning
2 (+2). The Walking Dead Compendium One
3 (R). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
4 (+6). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
5 (-2). The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
6 (+3). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
7 (-3). The Walking Dead Compendium Two
8 (+6). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2
9 (-3). Saga Volume 4 *
10 (+14). Dilbert 2015 Day-to-Day Calendar
11 (+10). Goodnight Darth Vader
12 (+5). Darth Vader and Son
13 (+5). Marvel Encyclopedia
14 (-2). The Complete Calvin & Hobbes (paperback)
15 (-7). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
16 (-3). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan
17 (+8). Vader's Little Princess
18 (+4). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
19 (-12). Civil War
20 (+7). The Walking Dead Book 10
21 (+21). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift Part 3
22 (R). Serenity: Leaves on the Wind
23 (-3). Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
24 (-8). Saga Volume 1
25 (+20). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
26 (+5). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
27 (-22). Attack on Titan 14
28 (+9). Batman: Year One
29 (N). The Ultimate Minecraft Comic Book Vol. 1: The Curse of Herobrine
30 (-11). Saga Volume 3
31 (N). Monster Musume Vol. 5
32 (N). Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #8 (Kindle)
33 (-). John Constantine, Hellblazer, Vol. 1: Original Sins
34 (-23). Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal
35 (R). Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
36 (+3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
37 (-7). Saga Volume 2
38 (-10). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
39 (+11). The Complete Peanuts 1991-1994 Box Set
40 (R). Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons
41 (-26). Watchmen
42 (+2). The Essential Calvin & Hobbes
43 (-9). The Walking Dead Book 1
44 (N). Saga Deluxe Edition Volume 1
45 (N). Maxine Boxed Calendar (2015)
46 (R). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52)
47 (R). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
48 (-8). Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year - Secret City (The New 52)
49 (R). xkcd: volume 0
50 (R). Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It's Necessary, How It Works

Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

  • So yeah, the chart is coming out on Tuesday instead of last Friday. Because I forgot. I blame the cold weather. Sorry about that. Take the comparisons with an even huger grain of salt than usual.
  • The latest Walking Dead collection stays on top of the chart for the third week in a row. 
  • The Kindle edition of How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You is on sale for $1.99, leading to its sudden appearance back near the top of the chart. Presumably the twin halo effects of that and The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances push the print version up into the top five as well.
  • Serenity: Leaves on the Wind returns to the chart this week, because reasons?
  • The top debut this week is a Minecraft graphic novel. Which has apparently been out since March, so I have no idea why it is suddenly gaining traction. (Pre-holidays?)
  • Also debuting as the latest volume of Monster Musume, the latest digital issue of Injustice, the first hardcover Saga collection, and a Maxine box calendar.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 12, 2014

Batgirl #36
Here is my weekly Pinterest board of this week's recommended new digital comics:

November 12, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week

Highlights include: Itty Bitty Comics: The Mask #1; She-Hulk #10; Arkham Asylum; Batgirl #36; Captain Marvel #9; Alex + Ada #10; and more!


Follow Dave's board November 12, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week on Pinterest.

Friday, November 07, 2014

Amazon Top 50 - November 7, 2014

The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.


1 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning *
2 (+2). The Walking Dead Compendium One
3 (-). The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
4 (+1). The Walking Dead Compendium Two
5 (+35). Attack on Titan 14
6 (+4). Saga Volume 4 *
7 (-5). Civil War
8 (+5). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
9 (-1). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
10 (+5). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
11 (-4). Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal
12 (+37). The Complete Calvin & Hobbes (paperback)
13 (+3). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan
14 (-8). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2
15 (R). Watchmen
16 (+1). Saga Volume 1
17 (+9). Darth Vader and Son
18 (+15). Marvel Encyclopedia
19 (-). Saga Volume 3
20 (-8). Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
21 (+13). Goodnight Darth Vader
22 (+7). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
23 (N). Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #6 (Kindle)
24 (+21). Dilbert 2015 Day-to-Day Calendar
25 (+3). Vader's Little Princess
26 (R). V for Vendetta
27 (-7). The Walking Dead Book 10
28 (-19). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
29 (-18). The Infinity Gauntlet
30 (-6). Saga Volume 2
31 (-9). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
32 (+5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
33 (+10). John Constantine, Hellblazer, Vol. 1: Original Sins
34 (+2). The Walking Dead Book 1
35 (-). Batman Vol. 5: Zero Year - Dark City (The New 52)
36 (N). Bleach, Vol. 62
37 (+4). Batman: Year One
38 (+4). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
39 (-8). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
40 (-13). Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year - Secret City (The New 52)
41 (-20). Hawkeye Volume 3: L.A. Woman
42 (N). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift Part 3 *
43 (+5). Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
44 (R). The Essential Calvin & Hobbes
45 (-20). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
46 (R). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
47 (-24). Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson: Homecoming #1 (Kindle)
48 (R). Sex Criminals, volume 1
49 (N). Breaking Stephan: A Pearls Before Swine Collection
50 (N). The Complete Peanuts 1991-1994 Box Set


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

  • The latest Walking Dead collection stays on top of the chart for the second week in a row. WD has three of the top 5, and eight slots in the top fifty this week.
  • The top debut this week is a new issue of Injustice. Also debuting are new volumes of Bleach and Avatar, a new Pearls Before Swine collection, and a Peanuts box set.
  • At one point last weekend, The first Hellblazer collection was in the number one spot on the chart. The last couple of weeks it has peaked on the weekend, presumably as a result of the Constantine series airing on Friday evenings. But since these snapshots are taken earlier on Fridays, you aren't seeing those big bounces. Yet another reason not to trust this data at all...
  • Continuity note: This recap is being posted on Friday afternoon, but the data snapshot is from Friday morning. 

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Unpacking the DC Convergence Promo Image

Early this morning, DCE released a promo image for Convergence, their two-month-long crossover event that will replace their regular publishing schedule for April & May 2015 while DC moves their publishing operations from New York to California.

It will apparently feature a variety of alternate versions of DC characters from across the Multiverse battling it out, Contest of Champions style.

Here's the image:

DC Convergence promo

(Click for enbiggening—you're gonna want to...)

Each little hexagon in the image appears to feature characters from a different reality or part of DC's publishing past.

Time to put my expansive (and mostly useless) knowledge of DC history to use!

Starting with the panel on the top with a lone Batman, they appear to be:

  • r1 p1: A Batman. Not sure which one.
  • r1 p2: AN old grey bearded guy. This panel has me stumped.
  • r1 p3: These are the Freedom Fighters and Plastic Man, characters picked up by DC upon acquiring Quality Comics. They were on Earth X pre-Crisis.
  • r1 p4: Superboy and the Legion, old school Earth 1 style.
  • r2 p1: This looks like DCU right before Flashpoint, with Renee Montoya Question and Stephanie Brown Batgirl.
  • r2 p2: This looks like the 1990s DCU, with Hal Jordan Parallax, hook-handed Aquaman, Az-Bat, and Dead Superman replacement Steel.
  • r2 p3: Pre-Crisis Earth 2 form the early 1980s, with Infinity Inc. and the Justice Society of America.
  • r2 p4: Old school Crime Syndicate, from pre-Crisis Earth 3.
  • r2 p5: Former Charlton heroes, acquired by DC, in their Earth 4 incarnation that really only appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths (and not apparently the Earth 4 from Grant Morrison's Multiversity...)
  • r2 p6: Old school Shazam Family (acquired from Fawcett) from pre-Crisis Earth S.
  • r2 p7: Just some normal people on a street?
  • r3 p1: Soviet Superman, maybe from Mark Millar's Red Son Elseworlds?
  • r3 p2: I'm pretty sure this is the Kingdom Come Elseworlds.
  • r3 p3: This looks like straight-up pre-Crisis Earth 1. Likely Flashpoint (Thanks, commenter Daniel!)
  • r3 p4: More normal people on a street.
  • r3 p5: This looks like Batman & villains from the Red Rain Elseworlds?
  • r3 p6: Old school WildStorm, with Gen 13 and Deathblow.
  • r3 p7: Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew, in their pre-Crisis Earth C incarnation.
  • r4 p1: Kamandi and co., from the Great Disaster post-apocalypse by Jack Kirby.
  • r4 p2: This looks like the Brother Eye-dominated future from Futures End #0.
  • r4 p3: I can't place this one, and it's driving me nuts. Help!
  • r4 p4: (Obscured by the Big Bad's legs.)
  • r4 p5: Tangent Comics versions of DC characters.
  • r4 p6: From the far future of Morrison's DC One Million.
  • r4 p7: People standing in a field.
There are a lot of things here that I never thought we'd get to see again. Depending on how they're handled, I could be absolutely giddy come April. Or really disappointed...



Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 5, 2014

Flex Mentallo #1
Here is my weekly Pinterest board of this week's recommended new digital comics:

November 5, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week

Highlights include: Flex Mentallo #1, Kill Your Boyfriend, Gotham Academy #2, Street Angel #5, DC Comics Presents #1, Tiny Titans: Return to the Treehouse #6, and more!


Follow Dave's board November 5, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week on Pinterest.