Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Trick or Treat 4

Our fourth annual Happy Halloween Ten of a Kind! (With a shout-out to everyone's favorite Little Stuffed Bull)











(Trick or Treat 1 is here!) 
(Trick or Treat 2 is here!)  
(Trick or Treat 3 is here!)

Friday, October 26, 2012

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
3 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
4 (+3). Building Stories
5 (-1). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (-1). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
7 (+3). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
8 (-2). The Walking Dead, Book 8
9 (-1). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
10 (+1). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
11 (+8). Darth Vader and Son
12 (-). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3
13 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
14 (-1). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
15 (-1). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
16 (-7). The Third Wheel (Kindle)
17 (N). Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin vol. 2: Garma *
18 (-2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
19 (-2). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
20 (N). Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin vol. 1: Activation *
21 (-3). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
22 (-3). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
23 (-). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
24 (-2). The Walking Dead, Book 1
25 (+13). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
26 (+3). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
27 (-3). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
28 (+6). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
29 (+3). The Walking Dead, Book 2
30 (+5). Watchmen
31 (-4). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
32 (-5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
33 (+3). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
34 (+16). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2 *
35 (-7). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
36 (-6). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
37 (-16). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
38 (+2). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
39 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade
40 (-9). Batman: The Killing Joke
41 (+5) The Walking Dead, vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
42 (+1). Drama
43 (-1). The Walking Dead, Book 3
44 (N). Dilbert 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar *
45 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us
46 (R). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
47 (-14). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
48 (-3). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
49 (-23). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
50 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 7


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:
  • Only minor movement at the top of the chart this week. The Third Wheel stays at #4 on the overall books chart; How to Tell If Your Cat... is #29; The second WD Compendium is #30; Building Stories is #58; and the first WD Compendium is #62.
  • Two Mobile Suit Gundam manga pop onto the chart as pre-orders in the top 20, though they are not scheduled to be released until March & June of 2013. The only other new title this week is the 2013 Dilbert desk calendar.
  • Dead Watch: Fifteen WD collections on the chart this week, down one from last week.
  • Last week I noted that Saga had leaped into the top 20, but this week it has dropped off the chart as Amazon has marked it as 'Item Under Review' and it is currently not available...

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

As it Turns Out, Likely Never

Back in 2008, when Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man switched to a thrice-monthly publication schedule, I did a little math to figure out when the numbering of ASM would catch up with that of DC's Action Comics. Assuming continued thrice-monthly publication for ASM and monthly for Action, I determined that it would be in January 2020 with issue #1016.

But as it turns out, that's never going to happen. At some point ASM swtiched to twice-monthly publication, which would have slowed down the progression. But then last year DC cancelled all of their DCU titles and started everything over at issue #1, including the long-running Action. And now Marvel is cancelling Amazing with issue #700.

I suppose it's possible that at some point in the future DC will revert to the old numbering scheme for their titles. And I'd imagine that Marvel will at some point resurrect Amazing (I give it maybe a year...) If those scenarios happen (and if this blog is still around...) we'll recalculate.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover!


Bucky Barnes takes on a gorilla with a gun on the cover of Winter Soldier #5 (2012) by Lee Bermejo.

(Standard disclaimer about machine gun-toting gorillas not really being monkeys applies.)

Image courtesy of the Comic Book DB. Click on the image for a larger version.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (+1). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
3 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
4 (+8). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
5 (-). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
6 (-). The Walking Dead, Book 8
7 (-3). Building Stories
8 (-1). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
9 (N). The Third Wheel (Kindle)
10 (-1). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
11 (+5). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
12 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
13 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
14 (-3). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
15 (+3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
16 (+3). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
17 (-3). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
18 (+2). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
19 (+5). Darth Vader and Son
20 (+22). Saga Volume 1 *
21 (-11). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
22 (+13). The Walking Dead, Book 1
23 (-8). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
24 (+8). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
25 (-3). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
26 (-9). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
27 (-4). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
28 (+21). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
29 (-4). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
30 (-4). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
31 (-10). Batman: The Killing Joke
32 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 2
33 (+3). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
34 (+10). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
35 (-4). Watchmen
36 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
37 (-10). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
38 (-9). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
39 (-6). Big Nate Makes the Grade
40 (-10). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
41 (-13). The Hive
42 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 3
43 (-6). Drama
44 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 4 (Kindle)
45 (-). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
46 (R) The Walking Dead, vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
47 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 4
48 (-1). Dork Diaries 3 (Kindle)
49 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 5 (Kindle)
50 (R). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2 *


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:
  • After a week at #2, The Third Wheel moves back into the #1 slot (and is #4 on the overall Amazon books chart). How to Tell If You Cat... is #23 on the overall chart, just a shade ahead of the second Walking Dead compendium at #24.
  • Dead Watch: The new season of the Walking Dead television show aired this past Sunday to stellar ratings, and also served to remind people that there are Walking Dead comics as well. Sixteen WD collections appear on the chart this week, double the number from last week.
  • The Walking Dead surge didn't leave much room for new titles on the list; just one: the Kindle edition of The Third Wheel.
  • In its second week on the chart, Vaughan & Staples' Saga makes an impressive leap up into the top twenty.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
2 (-1). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
3 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
4 (-). Building Stories
5 (+1). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
6 (+2). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
7 (-2). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
8 (-1). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
9 (-). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
10 (N). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
11 (-1). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
12 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
13 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
14 (+3). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
15 (-4). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
16 (+15). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
17 (R). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
18 (+5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
19 (+2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
20 (-). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
21 (+6). Batman: The Killing Joke
22 (-8). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
23 (-7). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
24 (-5). Darth Vader and Son
25 (-7). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
26 (-11). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
27 (+1). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
28 (N). The Hive
29 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
30 (+2). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
31 (-2). Watchmen
32 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
33 (-11). Big Nate Makes the Grade
34 (N). Economix: How and Why Our Economy Works (and Doesn't Work)
35 (+1). The Walking Dead, Book 1
36 (+1). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
37 (-11). Drama
38 (N). Batman: The Dark Knight Vol. 1: Knight Terrors (The New 52)
39 (-6). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
40 (-). Big Nate and Friends (Kindle)
41 (R). Dork Diaries 2 (Kindle)
42 (N). Saga Volume 1 *
43 (+5). V for Vendetta
44 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
45 (-11). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
46 (R). Dork Diaries 3 (Kindle)
47 (R). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
48 (N). How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You 2013 Wall Calendar
49 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
50 (R). Batman: Hush



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 Oatmeal collection How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You slides back up into the top position upon its release this week, due to its astounding #3 ranking on the overall Amazon book chart. It brings with it the debuts of its Kindle edition and its 2013 wall calender, as well as the re-appearance of the first collection (5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin...) in the top 20. So a pretty good week for Matthew Inman.
  • Right behind it, The Third Wheel is #4 on the overall chart this week. The second Walking Dead Compendium is #25, and Building Stories is #64. On many weeks these rankings would be enough for the top comics slot.
  • Other debuts this week are Charles Burns' The Hive; the non-fiction comic Economix; the first New 52 collection of David Finch's Batman: The Dark Knight; and the first volume of Vaughan & Staples' Saga.
  • Dead Watch: With just a couple of days to go until the debut of the television show's third season, the number of Walking Dead collections on the chart remains at eight.

Friday, October 05, 2012

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
3 (+2). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
4 (+2). Building Stories
5 (+2). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
6 (+5). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
7 (-5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
8 (+6). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
9 (-5). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
10 (-). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
11 (N). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
12 (-4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
13 (-5). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
14 (+11). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
15 (+11). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
16 (-7). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
17 (-5). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
18 (-5). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
19 (+5). Darth Vader and Son
20 (-). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
21 (+2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
22 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade
23 (-8). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
24 (N). Sailor Twain; or, The Mermaid in the Hudson
25 (-8). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
26 (+3). Drama
27 (-8). Batman: The Killing Joke
28 (-10). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
29 (-8). Watchmen
30 (N). American Vampire Vol. 4
31 (-3). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
32 (-5). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
33 (-3). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
34 (-). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
35 (R). Marvel Encyclopedia
36 (+10). The Walking Dead, Book 1
37 (-). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
38 (-3). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 3: Knightsend
39 (N). Avengers vs. X-Men *
40 (+5). Big Nate and Friends (Kindle)
41 (R). Amulet #4: The Last Council
42 (-10). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
43 (N). Freakangels Complete Box Set
44 (-2). Sailor Moon 7
45 (-14). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
46 (+4). The Walking Dead, Book 2
47 (R). The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
48 (-15). V for Vendetta
49 (N). Criminal: The Deluxe Edition, Volume 2 *
50 (N). Berserk, Vol. 36




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:
  • Some shuffling of the chairs, but the top ten remains mainly the same this week, with Wimpy Kid still at the top. On the overall Amazon books chart, the top 5 are: #5, #18, #34, #43, & #51; an extremely strong showing from the comics items.
  • After being shut out of new titles last week, this week shows seven title making their debut on the top fifty chart, led by Hope Larson's adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time at #11. Other debuts are Mark Siegel's Sailor Twain; the latest collection of American Vampire; the collection of Marvel's event comic Avengers vs. X-Men; a box set of Warren Ellis's Freakangels; a hardcover Criminal collection; and the latest volume of Berserk.
  • Dead Watch: Eight Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, same as last week.