Christmas Covers - December 4

Harley gets some dangerous Christmas presents on the cover of this year's Harley Quinn Holiday Special by Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts.

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Holiday-related comic book cover. (Click on the image to get a larger version.)

Come back tomorrow, and every day this month, for a new Christmas cover.

Just 21 more 'get-ups' until Santa!


(2013: Avengers Annual 2013)
(2012: The Simpsons #172)
(2011: Top Cow Holiday Special)
(2010: Looney Tunes #73)
(2009: Norsk MAD vol. 38 #12)
(2008: Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2)
(2007: Popular Comics #12)
(2006: Yogi Bear #11)
(2005: The Batman and Robin Adventures #3)
(2004: Dell Four Color #1154) 


(Also see: The 2014 Comics Should Be Good Advent Calendar)

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for December 3, 2014

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

December 3, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week

Highlights include: Alice in Sunderland, Teen-Age Romances #13, Secret Six #1, Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #7, Gotham Academy #3, Amazing Spider-Man #100.


Follow Dave's board December 3, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week on Pinterest.

Christmas Covers - December 3

The Simpsons mistake Marge's beehive hairdo for the Christmas tree on the cover of The Simpsons Winter Wingding #5 (2010) by Jason Ho & Mike Rote.

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Holiday-related comic book cover. (Click on the image to get a larger version.)

Come back tomorrow, and every day this month, for a new Christmas cover.


Just 22 more 'get-ups' until Santa!

(2013: Funny Stuff Stocking Stuffer #1)
(2012: Green Lantern #36)
(2011: Judge Dredd #6)
(2010: Dennis the Menace Pocketful of Fun #42)
(2009: Marvel Age #85)
(2008: Looney Tunes #97)
(2007: Marvel Holiday Special 1994)
(2006: Tom-Tom and Itchi the Monk #2)
(2005: Marge's Little Lulu #18)
(2004: Superman #369)

Christmas Covers - December 2

One percenter Richie Rich cares not for sustainability when it comes to trimming his ginormous Christmas tree on the cover of Richie Rich #42 (1966).

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Holiday-related comic book cover. (Click on the image to get a larger version.)

Come back tomorrow, and every day this month, for a new Christmas cover.


Just 23 more 'get-ups' until Santa!



(2013: Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker #34)
(2012: Betty and Veronica #204)
(2011: Sonic X #15)
(2010: Quantum Leap #3)
(2009: Casper Giant-Size #2)
(2008: Sabrina's Holiday Spectacular #2)
(2007: Sabrina, The Teen-Age Witch #77)
(2006: Dennis the Menace Bonus Magazine Series #111)
(2005: Limited Collectors' Edition #C-43)
(2004: Walt Disney's Christmas Parade #9)

Christmas Covers - December 1

It's time once again for our annual Christmas Covers event: twenty-five more comic covers with a holiday theme! It's our tenth year of bringing you seasons greetings through the joy of comic books!

We begin the 2014 season with Batman & Nightwing making their way through a mae of ornaments (and Mr. Freeze) the cover of Batman: Little Gotham #3 from 2012 by Dustin Nguyen.

Come back tomorrow, and every day this month, for a new Christmas cover.

Just 24 more 'get-ups' until Santa!


(2013: Archie Comics Super Special #1)
(2012: Marvel Treasury Edition #13)
(2011: Santa Claus Parade)
(2010: Archie's Holiday Fun Digest #6)
(2009: Holiday Comics #8)
(2008: Christmas Carnival)
(2007: Comic Cavalcade #5)
(2006: Justice League Unlimited #16)
(2005: Walt Disney's Christmas Parade #3)
(2004: Limited Collectors' Edition #C-34)

Amazon Top 50 - November 28, 2014

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.

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 26, 2014

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.

Amazon Top 50 - November 21, 2014

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.

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 19, 2014

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.

Amazon Top 50 - November 18, 2014

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.

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 12, 2014

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.

Amazon Top 50 - November 7, 2014

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. 

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:

(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...

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for November 5, 2014

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.

Trick or Treat 6

Our sixth 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!)

(Trick or Treat 4 is here!)

(Trick or Treat 5 is here!)

Amazon Top 50 - October 31, 2014

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 (+35). Civil War
3 (-2). The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
4 (-2). The Walking Dead Compendium One
5 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Two
6 (-). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2
7 (+33). Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal *
8 (+3). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
9 (+21). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
10 (-1). Saga Volume 4 *
11 (R). The Infinity Gauntlet
12 (-4). Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
13 (-1). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
14 (R). The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel
15 (-8). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
16 (-6). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan
17 (+3). Saga Volume 1
18 (-5). Batman: Death of the Family Book and Joker Mask Set
19 (+7). Saga Volume 3
20 (-13). The Walking Dead Book 10
21 (-5). Hawkeye Volume 3: L.A. Woman
22 (-3). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
23 (+15). Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson: Homecoming #1 (Kindle)
24 (+7). Saga Volume 2
25 (-1). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
26 (-1). Darth Vader and Son
27 (-9). Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year - Secret City (The New 52)
28 (+6). Vader's Little Princess
29 (-7). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
30 (N). Captain Marvel Volume 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More
31 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
32 (N). Civil War (Kindle)
33 (+8). Marvel Encyclopedia
34 (-13). Goodnight Darth Vader
35 (-21). Batman Vol. 5: Zero Year - Dark City (The New 52)
36 (-1). The Walking Dead Book 1
37 (-5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
38 (+4). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52)
39 (N). Attack on Titan: No Regrets 2
40 (N). Attack on Titan 14
41 (-14). Batman: Year One
42 (-9). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
43 (N). John Constantine, Hellblazer, Vol. 1: Original Sins
44 (R). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
45 (N). Dilbert 2015 Day-to-Day Calendar
46 (N). Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: "The Seven Cities Of Gold"
47 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear
48 (R). Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
49 (-5). The Complete Calvin & Hobbes (paperback)
50 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War


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:

• A new number one: The latest Walking Dead collection shambles to the top of the chart this week. Walking Dead takes four of the top ten, and ten of the top fifty this week.
• Marvel comes on strong this week, with their slate of movie announcements pushing Civil War, Infinity Gauntlet and Captain Marvel up the chart. Most impresive is the first Ms. Marvel collection: with no movie announced it still moves up into the top ten; likely a combination of a halo effect and an interest in the character outside of the traditional comics market.
• DC's presence on the chart this week is almost all Batman, the exception being the first Hellblazer collection, no doubt due to the debut of the Constantine television show.
• Also debuting this week are two Attack on Titan volumes, the 2015 Dilbert Day-to-Day Calendar, and an Uncle Scrooge collection.

The Old 51 - DC Comics for August 1992

It's the fifth and final week of our journey into DC's past. Previously I looked at DC's offerings for August 1982, August 1972, August 1962, and August 1952. This week I'm heading over to the DC Database Wiki to look at August 1992:

• Action Comics #680 (super-hero)
• Adventures of Superman #493 (super-hero)
• Animal Man #50 (super-hero)
• Aquaman #9 (super-hero)
• Arion the Immortal #2 (sword & sorcery)
• Batman #483 (super-hero)
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #35 (super-hero)
• Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #36 (super-hero)
• Batman: Knight Cries (OGN) (super-hero)
• Batman: Run, Riddler, Run #3 (super-hero)
• Batman: Shadow of the Bat #3 (super-hero)
• Black Condor #3 (super-hero)
• The Black Hood #9 (super-hero)
• The Comet #14 (super-hero)
• The Crusaders #4 (super-hero)
• Deathstroke the Terminator #13 (super-hero)
• The Demon #26 (horror/mystery)
• Detective Comics #647 (super-hero)
• Detective Comics #648 (super-hero)
• Doom Patrol #58 (super-hero)
• Flash #67 (super-hero)
• Green Arrow #65 (super-hero)
• Green Lantern #27 (super-hero)
• Green Lantern: Mosaic #3 (super-hero)
• Guy Gardner Reborn #2 (super-hero)
• The Hacker Files #1 (adventure)
• Hawkworld #25 (super-hero)
• Hellblazer #56 (horror/mystery)
• Ironwolf: Fires of the Revolution (OGN) (sci-fi)
• The Jaguar #13 (super-hero)
• Justice League America #65 (super-hero)
• Justice League Europe #41 (super-hero)
• Justice Society of America #1 (super-hero)
• L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #43 (super-hero)
• L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 #44 (super-hero)
• The Legend of The Shield #14 (super-hero)
• Legion of Super-Heroes #32 (super-hero)
• Martian Manhunter: American Secrets #1 (super-hero)
• The New Titans #89 (super-hero)
• Sandman #40 (fantasy)
• Shade, the Changing Man #26 (super-hero)
• Skull and Bones #3 (adventure)
• Star Trek #34 (sci-fi)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation #35 (sci-fi)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation #36 (sci-fi)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (sci-fi)
• Superman #70 (super-hero)
• Superman: The Man of Steel #14 (super-hero)
• Swamp Thing #122 (horror/mystery)
• The Web #12 (super-hero)
• Wonder Woman #56 (super-hero)

That's 32 super-hero comics, 5 sci-fi, 3 horror/mystery, 2 adventure, 1 sword & sorcery , and 1 dark fantasy; for a total of 51 comics published by DC that month.

The majority of the sci-fi titles are from DC having the Star Trek license; this was also the period when they were publishing the !mpact imprint, featuring super-hero titles licensed from Archie. It is also the time of proto-Vertigo titles such as Hellblazer, Sandman, Animal Man and Shade (Vertigo would launch in 1993).

Regular titles were $1.25—$2.12 in 2014 dollars—for 22 pages of comics. Upscale books (e.g. Sandman) were $1.50—$2.54 in 2014 dollars—for 24 pages of comics. Prestige format books (Batman: Run, Riddler, Run & Martian Manhunter: American Secrets) were $4.95—$8.40 in 2014 dollars—for 46-47 pages of comics. (Inflation figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.)

In August 2014, DC published a whopping 76 different titles! 60 super-hero titles, 8 horror/mystery, 5 fantasy, 1 sci-fi, 1 war, and 1 western. Many are $2.99 for 20 pages of comics; some are $3.99 for 22 pages of comics, a few are $4.99 for 35-38 pages of comics.


We can see that by 1992 the publishing landscape at DC was starting to resemble that of the modern day; more so than in 1982, and certainly much more so than in 1952!


That concludes our journey through the decades with DC. We hope that you enjoyed the trip!

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for October 29, 2014

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

Digital Comics Picks of the Week for October 29, 2014 

Highlights include: Wonder Woman #35, Mind MGMT #27, Groo vs. Conan #4, Fight Man #1, Ronin, Rachel Rising #29, and more!


Follow Dave's board October 29, 2014 - Digital Comics Picks of the Week on Pinterest.

Amazon Top 50 - October 24, 2014

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 Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances
2 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
3 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning *
4 (N). The Best of the Rejection Collection
5 (+4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
6 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War, Part 2
7 (-1). The Walking Dead Book 10
8 (-4). Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir
9 (+2). Saga Volume 4 *
10 (-3). Star Wars: Jedi Academy vol. 2: Return of the Padawan
11 (-3). Hyperbole and a Half (paperback)
12 (+1). Batman: The Killing Joke, Deluxe Edition
13 (-3). Batman: Death of the Family Book and Joker Mask Set
14 (-2). Batman Vol. 5: Zero Year - Dark City (The New 52)
15 (N). Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three #4 (Kindle)
16 (N). Hawkeye Volume 3: L.A. Woman
17 (+2). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
18 (+2). Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year - Secret City (The New 52)
19 (+3). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
20 (-3). Saga Volume 1
21 (-). Goodnight Darth Vader
22 (+4). Star Wars: Jedi Academy
23 (R). Age of Ultron
24 (+4). Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls (The New 52)
25 (-11). Darth Vader and Son
26 (-2). Saga Volume 3
27 (+11). Batman: Year One
28 (-10). The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War, Part 1
29 (+13). East of West Volume 3: There Is No Us
30 (-7). The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel
31 (+4). Saga Volume 2
32 (+9). The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
33 (-6). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
34 (-9). Vader's Little Princess
35 (R). The Walking Dead Book 1
36 (R). Watchmen
37 (-21). Civil War
38 (+5). Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson: Homecoming #1 (Kindle)
39 (+7). V for Vendetta
40 (-7). Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal *
41 (-1). Marvel Encyclopedia
42 (+8). Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (The New 52)
43 (R). Zen Pencils
44 (-). The Complete Calvin & Hobbes (paperback)
45 (+3). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
46 (-14). Sex Criminals Volume 1
47 (-18). The Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to War
48 (N). The Best of the Rejection Collection (Kindle)
49 (R). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
50 (N). Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor


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:

• Matthew Inman's latest Oatmeal book, The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances, comes in at #1 for the fourth week in a row. It is currently #145 on the overall Amazon books chart.
• The Walking Dead sales remain strong, taking five of the top ten slots. They'll likely remain very good while the television show is on the air, then spike right after the mid-season finale. 
• The top debut this week is The Best of the Rejection Collection: 293 Cartoons That Were Too Dumb, Too Dark, or Too Naughty for The New Yorker, which I'm guessing is exactly as its long subtitle describes. The Kindle edition also pops in at #48.
• Also debuting this week are the latest issue of Injustice, the new Hawkeye collection, and Lynda Barry's Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor (which may not technically be comics, but it's likely some very graphical collagey stuff from Barry and that's good enough foe me—YMMV).
• The trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron leaked early this week, and Marvel's Age of Ultron collection dutifully shows up on the top 50 chart. This despite the fact that it seems that the only thing the movie and the comic share is their title...

The Old 23 - DC Comics for August 1952

It's week four of our journey into DC's past. Previously I looked at DC's offerings for August 1982, August 1972, and August 1962. This week I'm heading over to the DC Database Wiki to look at August 1952:

• Action Comics #171 (super-hero)
• Adventure Comics #179 (super-hero)
• The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis #1 (humor)
• The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4 (adventure)
• Batman #72 (super-hero)
• Comic Cavalcade #52 (funny animal)
• Detective Comics #186 (super-hero)
• Flippity and Flop #5 (funny animal)
• Gang Busters #29 (crime)
• Girls' Love Stories #18 (romance)
• Here's Howie #4 (humor)
• Hollywood Funny Folks #48 (funny animal)
• The House of Mystery #5 (horror/mystery)
• Mystery in Space #9 (sci-fi)
• Our Army at War #1 (war)
• Peter Porkchops #17 (funny animal)
• Real Screen Comics #53 (funny animal)
• Sensation Mystery #110 (horror/mystery)
• Star-Spangled War Stories #131 (war)
• Strange Adventures #23 (sci-fi)
• Superboy #21 (super-hero)
• Superman #77 (super-hero)
• Tomahawk #12 (western)

That's 6 super-hero titles, 5 funny animal, 2 humor, 2 horror/mystery, 2 sci-fi, 2 war, 1 adventure, 1 crime, 1 romance, and 1 western; for a total of 23 comics published by DC that month.

We should note here that at the time, many of DC's titles were on a bi-monthly, quarterly, or other schedule. So titles like A Date with Judy, The Adventures of Bob Hope,  All-American Western, All-Star Western, Big Town, Dale Evans Comics, Fox and the Crow, Funny Stuff, Leading Screen Comics, Leave It to Binky, Movietown's Animal Antics, Mr. District Attorney, Secret Hearts, Wonder Woman, and World's Finest didn't have an August cover-date issue in 1952.

All titles were 10¢—90¢ in 2014 dollars—for around thirty pages of story (except for Batman, which was extra-sized but the same 10¢ price!) (Inflation figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.)

In August 2014, DC published a whopping 76 different titles! 60 super-hero titles, 8 horror/mystery, 5 fantasy, 1 science fiction, 1 war, and 1 western. Many are $2.99 for 20 pages of comics; some are $3.99 for 22 pages of comics, a few are $4.99 for 35-38 pages of comics.

(Of course, today's DC comics have higher quality production—coloring, paper quality, etc.—and creators tend to be which may or may not be worth the extra cost to you.)

Tune in next week, when we finish our journey through time and travel to 1992!