
                   " C O M I C   B O O K   E - M A G "
__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Issue 5 - Volume 1 - April 16, 1995

     "Brought to you from the fine folks at the COMICBOOK NETWORK!"

                   Editors: Ed Dukeshire & Mike Imboden
__________________________________________________________________________
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                    T A B L E   O F   C O N T E N T S
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

       [-1-] The Bullpen ........................ Ed Dukeshire
       [-2-] The 25th Hour ...................... Mike Imboden
       [-3-] Reviews
              Prince Valiant - cards ............ Jeff Watts
              Dream Corridor #1 ................. Ryan Brewster
              Incredible Hulk #429 .............. Ryan Brewster
              Solar, Man of the Atom #46 ........ Ryan Brewster
       [-4-] Top 150 Comics for April ........... David Leblanc
       [-5-] CSNsider ........................... David Leblanc
       [-6-] Comicunications .................... Ryan Brewster
       [-7-] Feedback ........................... ComicBkNet@AOL.COM
       [-8-] BBSes Linked into CBN .............. CBN Staff

__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-1-]--/  THE BULLPEN  /----------------------------------------------/

 The Bullpen
 by Ed Dukeshire

  Here it is, man, a week sure flies by when you know you have the
  next edition coming out in less than seven days.  <g>

  Not too much happening in the feedback department.  I know you guys
  are out there, we can tell by the download counts. ;)

  Here's a little annoucement recently posted by Anthony Palacio in
  the CBN* "Comic Issues" message base --

 * = CBN is short for Comic Book Network

--

Area: CBN: Comic Issues
 Msg: #983 (of 998)
Date: 13-Apr-95 13:37:01
From: Anthony Palacio
  To: All
Subj: Tick & Ninja Turtles Interview

Greetings all!

I have recently acquired permission to do an email interview with Ben
Edlund (creator/writer/artist of the Tick) and Peter Laird (Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles co-creator), separately, of course.  If you have any
questions that you would like to be answered in the interview, please send
them to the addresses below.  If you don't have netmail capabilities, just
reply to this message and I may see it.  Also indicate who the question is
for.  Thanks.

Anthony

Internet:   anthony@comic.com                      BBS:
FidoNet:    anthony@1:2410/811                     INTERNATIONAL
ComicBkNet: anthony@23:505/1                       COMIC NETWORK
VirtualNet: anthony@1313001                        (313)565-8464

--

  So don't miss this opportunity!  Drop him netmail with your questions.
  Hopefully we'll be able to run the interview in the message bases or
  here in the e-mag.  Hey, another good reason to check out CBN...
  hee hee, hmmm, where's that listing of bbs numbers again?  Oh, there
  it is, at the bottom of this magazine.  <g>

  Quick note for users calling Mike Imboden's bbs "The Daily Planet".
  Mike will be down temporarily, his I/O board fried on him.  He should
  be back online on the 21st.
 
  Well, that does it for me this week.  See ya!

  -- ed

__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-2-]--/  THE 25TH HOUR  /--------------------------------------------/

 The 25th Hour
 by Mike Imboden
 
  We||, B|| and I had agreed that HE wou|d do the revew of the
  Marvelution pow-wow but it's been two days and nada - so......

  I'll just post some tid-bits and we'll wait and see if Bill's full
  blown report comes in.

  I started out Friday morning with my handy dandy Agent Dale Cooper
  Twin Peaks Official pocket tape recorder so I've got lots of info.
  Maybe I'll write up a little audio journal type of thing.
 
  On with the show!
 
   So by now you know that X-Man is making the jump back to normal
    continuity, right? You probably also heard that three other
    characters are coming "with" him. But who?
    Holocaust, Sugarman and that evil, nasty gene-splicing Hank McCoy!
   Colosus returns and joins Excalibur.
   X-Force gets new costumes.
   Thor and War Machine will be getting new looks when the Avengers get
    revamped later this year. Both look absolutely - hideous. Thor looks
    like an inbred cross between Spawn and Ghost Rider with blonde hair.
    I can't even describe War Machine.
   Ok, he's not invloved in the comic creating end of things, but
    Marvel big shot Matt Ragone agreed with me that the Spidey scribes
    had most likelt planned to have "Ben" turn out to be the real Peter
    but look like they've scraped that plan now.
   Marvel footed the bill for a big yummy buffet of ham, roast beef and
    lots of pasta salads. The Sheraton Washington's kitchen staff get's
    low marks across the boards for their dirty plates.
   Free coffee, croissants and bagels before the meeting - who can beat
    that huh? I dare ya to try!
   The show started with a nifty video montage that was made up of
    mostly 60's artwork, some 70's and a good deal of 90's and
    Ultraverse stuff. Seems they forgot about the 80's. That or they
    didn't want to show anything Jim Shooter had a hand in.
   My heart skipped a beat when they were mentioning all the rumors on
    ComicNet - then it dawned on me that they meant that pay service.
    See, even =I= get the names mixed up. Recount!
   X-Men 2099 line of Toy Biz breakable action figures. Whoop.
   Daredevil is finally getting out of that armor, (let me digress, but
    how the HELL is a guy who relies on his sense of hearing and touch
    supposed to operate in an outfit made up of something that doesn't
    exactly seem to be good for enhancing touch or sound), and will be
    slipping into his red jammies again.
   The Punisher, when he returns, will be a bad guy like he was when he
    first popped onto the scene some 20 years ago. Will this last? I
    doubt it.
   Avengers and West Coast, I mean, Force Works, will be crossing over
    and both lineups will change come August.
 
  That's just a sampling of what we learned. As I said, Bill has
  promised a full blown report, so we'll give him a few more days.

  Later!
 
  M!ke
 
__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-3-]--/  REVIEWS  /--------------------------------------------------/

   Title(s): Prince Valiant cards from Comic Images
Reviewed By: Jeff Watts

    Bought a box of Prince Valiant cards this week and wanted to let you
know what I thought of them......

For those who don't know, Prince Valiant was created by Hal Foster in 1937
and is one of the longest continually running comic strips in existance.
Created 2 years before Superman or Batman, Prince Valiant has appeared in
Newspapers, Comics, Hardback and Softcover collections and at least one
Hollywood movie.  Created by the late Hal Foster, Prince Valiant was and
still is a very popular character and has fans all over the world.

Hal Foster started out in commercial art and got his first big break in
1931 drawing the original "Tarzan of the Apes" Sunday pages while Rex
Mason drew the dailies.  Foster had a style that was obviously from the
old school of fine illustration.  Anyone lucky enough to own a volume
illustrated by Howard Pyle can perhaps see one of his influences.  He was
a master of proportion, perspective, shadowing and layout.  Some of our
modern artists should study some of his work to get an idea what true art
is.  In addition to this, he was simply a fine storyteller and gave his
characters a depth and realism that is lacking in many more modern
efforts.  If you get the idea that I am a fan of Foster and Prince
Valiant, you are right on the button!  Anyway, this review is supposed to
be about cards so I better mention something about them as well.

Produced by Comic Images, the Prince Valiant cards come with 48 packs
containing 10 cards each making a total of 480 cards per box which is a
huge number compared to a Fleer or Skybox offering.  The basic set
contains 90 cards, there are 6 "Chromium" chase cards, Medallion Card,
24-Karat Gold Hal Foster Signature Cards, and a 3 card subset.  Collation
of my box was right on target and broke down like this.....

A total of 5 complete 90 card sets       450 cards
32 sixtuples                              32
1 Chromium Card                            1
1 Medallion Card                           1
And for some reason 1 "Tank Girl" promo    1
                                        ______
For a grand total of                     485 total cards

Which happened to be 5 more cards than advertized.  I would have to say
that was darn fine collation, although I would like to have seen a few
more chase cards in my box, Comic Images promises only between 1-3 per
box.

Now to the cards themselves.  The first half of the cards illustrate the
inagural 1937 storyline and continues with major events up into the
1940's.  The second half concerns itself with the 1950's "Death of King
Arthur" storyline.  This allows one to see the progression Fosters artwork
made as it improved over the years.  About the only gripe I could have
with this set is the fact that normal sized cards are simply not large
enough to display some of Fosters more panoramic artwork.  I would love to
see some of his work in the "Collossal Cards" format.

Anyway, at a price of .75 to 1.00 a pack and boxes selling for $22 - $30,
I consider this a great value to Foster/Prince Valiant fans as well as
anyone who simply appreciates great classical artwork!

-Jeff-

Sysop of The RASTER Line BBS
Houston, Tx   (713)-568-0825

-------------------------------------------------------------------------/

   Title(s): Dream Corridor #1
Reviewed By: Ryan Brewster


                  SPOILERS: PLOT LINES DISCUSSED!!!           

 Ŀ
 Book: Harlan E.'s Dream Cor. #1       Price: $2.95  
 Ĵ
 Creative Team:                                       
                                                      
   Harlan Ellison (a-duh) writes and Eric Shanower    
   draws the Segways, John Byrne Writes/Draws         
   "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", Diana Schutz  
   writes and Teddy Kristiansen draws "Knox", and     
   Max Allin Collins (who is writing Mike Danger for  
   Tekno-Comix) wrote and Craig Elliot painted        
   "Turnpike".  *whew*.                               
                                                      
 

   I've always been partial to anthologies.  Perhaps it's my short
attention span.  I don't know.  That's what attracted me to this book.
That and seeing the name 'Harlan Ellison' on the cover.

   I am neither VOE nor FOE.  I was just about to call myself a 'Never Met
Ellison', when I realized that when sounded out, its anacronym (NME)
sounds suspiciously similar to 'enemy'.  So nuts to that.  I guess I'm a
NMHBILHW.  Heh.  Not quite as catchy, but it means "Never Met Him, But I
Like His Writing".

   This book is probably a love/hate sort of book.  I assume that all FOEs
absolutely ADORE the book, while VOEs most likely detest it.  NMHBILHW's
like me probably like it about as much as I do, which is to say, a lot.
NHOE's (Never Heard Of Ellison) may or may not like the book.

   The comics adaptations seem a bit abstract, deserving of the 'Celebrate
Diversity' stamp that its solicitation recieves in Diamond Distributors'
Previews magazine...  I'm afraid I'd be a bit lost in John Byrne's
adaptation of 'I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream' if I hadn't read Mr.
Ellison's prose version of it first.  The art is perhaps a bit mainstream
for the story, but Byrne gets his point across.  Next issue, I'll read the
comic adaptation first...

   'Knox' is wacky stuff.  Well, not wacky.  Bad word for it.  I keep on
going back to 'abstract'.  The painted art is much more suited to the
story.  I haven't read the prose version of the story, so I can't really
compare the two versions, but the comics version is very well done.  And
abstract.  Definitely abstract.  :)

   'Turnpike' is different.  A story about a trucker who wants to get
laid.  I don't know, perhaps _this_ should have been the one Byrne did...
The painting was okay, but a bit dark for the story.  The story _is_ kind
of dark, mind you, but I think Byrne could've done a better job on this
than "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream", although the latter is the
famous one.

   All in all, a good read.  Definitely worth the high price tag if you
like Harlan Ellison's writing, and if you're a NMHBILHW like me, those
segways help to make you feel as though you _have_ met the inimitable Mr.
Ellison.  If you're a VOE, avoid this like the plague.  >;)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------/

   Title(s): Incredible Hulk #429
Reviewed By: Ryan Brewster


                  SPOILERS: PLOT LINES DISCUSSED!!!           

 Ŀ
 Book: The Incredible Hulk #429        Price: $1.95  
 Ĵ
 Creative Team:                                       
                                                      
   Written by Peter David, drawn by Liam Sharpe,      
   inked by Robin Riggs.                              
                                                      
 

   "A Tale That Will Make You _ANGRY_" hollars the cover.  I wasn't quite
so angry, though.  Perhaps I just didn't have enough time to grow attached
to the young lady

   This book has certainly had a change of tone since #425.  Seems a bit
more...  intense.  More centered on Bruce & Betty.  It's going to take
awhile for me to get used to the new 'hulk smash' thing...  where Hulk
becomes Bruce when he loses his temper.

   Liam Sharpe's art seems out of place in this book.  Everything is
too...  exhaggerated.  Liam belongs in Image, or on the X-Books.  The art
is frankly distracting.  Not _bad_ art, mind you.

   Or perhaps I'm just spoiled by Gary Frank's art...  Idunno.

   Though a bit darker, grimmer and grittier (yet another to follow that
path...), this book still retains David's signature subtleties.  Snappy
dialogue keeps the book moving along swiftly, a well-done 'cliffhanger'
ending that ensures my return.

   I suppose it will take awhile for Sharpe's art to grow on me.  Mayhap
it is an important part of a new image (so to speak...) that the book is
hoping to attain...?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------/

   Title(s): Solar, Man of the Atom #46
Reviewed By: Ryan Brewster


                  SPOILERS: PLOT LINES DISCUSSED!!!           

 Ŀ
 Book: Solar, MOTA #46                 Price: $2.50  
 Ĵ
 Creative Team:                                       
                                                      
   Dan Jurgens Wrote an' Pencilled it while Dick      
   Giordano (!) inked it.                             
                                                      
 

   Well, I had just about given up on the Valiant books, when (wouldn't
you know it?) the universe has a Birthquake.

   This book has always been my favorite of the Valiant line, since Barry
Windsor-Smith's Alpha-Omega origin story.  But recently, the storyline
seemed to go nowhere, and the art, while certainly well done, was
absolutely _destroyed_ by the abysmal coloring jobs.  Or maybe it was just
the unique paper stock.  Something about the art really bothered me.

   This issue rings in a new 'era' in more than one way.  First, the
colors are done by the ever-popular Digital Chameleon.  Second, it is
written and (third?) drawn by Dan Jurgens, longtime favorite of us
Super-folks.  ;) And finally, it is inked by the superb (no pun intended)
Dick Giordano.

   Alright, alright.  I'm GETTING to the story!

   I must admit that I am a bit confused.  This is a COMPLETE change from
the Solar I've been reading.

   Did I miss an issue?

   If I hadn't been told previously what the general storyline is to be
about, I wouldn't have a clue what was going on.  And if I was a newcomer
to the book, I would have a completely different idea of what Solar, the
character, is.

   But since I _do_ know somewhat what's coming up, I can say with
confidence that Dan Jurgens' "stint" on the book is off to a great start,
and will be worth following.

   The art, if you haven't gathered from my comments above, is gorgeous.
The dialogue is clever and the plot moves along.  Worth the price of
admission, even though it has just gone up another quarter.

__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-4-]--/  TOP 150 COMICS FOR APRIL  /---------------------------------/

 Top 150 Comics
 By David Leblanc

Subject: INFO: Top 150 Comics April 1995
TOP 150 COMICS FOR APRIL 1995
Courtesy of Antarctic Press - Matt High
 
This is a listing of the top-selling comic books
scheduled for release in APRIL 1995.  Sales figures
are for >direct market sales< ONLY, as reported by Capital
City Distributors.  The rank on the left is by number
of copies sold; the rank on the right is by dollar value.
The index shows sales compared to Astonishing X-Men #4.
 
Rank            Title                   Company   Index $rank
 
  1  X-Men: Omega                    Marvel       134.5    1
  2  Mutants: Amazing X-Men #4       Marvel       101.6    5
  3  Mutants: Astonishing X-Men #4   Marvel       100.0    6
  4  Weapon X #4                     Marvel        97.6    7
  5  Mutants: Generation Next #4     Marvel        91.3    8
  6  Gambit and the X-Ternals #4     Marvel        88.6    9
  7  Factor X #4                     Marvel        85.0   10
  8  X-Man #4                        Marvel        84.8   11
  9  X-Calibre #4                    Marvel        81.1   12
 10  X-Men Chronicles #2             Marvel        78.0    2
 11  Spawn #31                       Image         73.2   13
 12  X-Universe #2                   Marvel        60.7    3
 13  Wizard: Guide to Comics #45     Wizard        51.7    4
 14  Ice Age #2                      Acclaim       40.0   18
 15  Superman #101                   DC            38.9   24
 16  Magic the Gathering: Shadow #2  Acclaim       38.5   19
 17  Adventures of Superman #524     DC            38.1   25
 18  Superman: Man of Steel #45      DC            38.0   26
 19  Action #710                     DC            37.6   27
 20  Pitt #9                         Image         37.2   29
 21  WildC.A.T.s #19                 Image         36.8   20
 22  Amazing Spiderman #402          Marvel        36.6   46
 23  Star Wars: Dark Empire II #5    Dark Horse    36.2   17
 24  Batman #519                     DC            34.3   35
 25  Spiderman #59                   Marvel        33.7   36
 26  Spectacular Spiderman #225 (d)  Marvel        33.2   14
 27  Web of Spiderman #125 (dlx)     Marvel        31.9   15
 28  Detective #686                  DC            30.9   42
 29  Cyberforce #13                  Image         28.3   38
 30  Batman: Shadow of the Bat #39   DC            27.7   48
 31  Batman: Legends Dark Knight #72 DC            27.7   49
 32  Ripclaw #2                      Image         27.1   34
 33  Azrael #5                       DC            26.5   51
 34  Hulk #430                       Marvel        26.5   52
 35  Shi Variant Cover #1            Crusade       26.0   54
 36  Robin #17                       DC            25.6   56
 37  X-Men 2099 #21                  Marvel        25.5   57
 38  Green Lantern #63               DC            24.6   62
 39  Glory #2                        Image         24.3   40
 40  X-Files #4                      Topps         24.0   43
 41  Amazing Spiderman Supersize #1  Marvel        23.2   21
 42  Venom: Carnage Unleashed #3     Marvel        23.1   33
 43  Backlash #7                     Image         22.6   44
 44  Catwoman #21                    DC            22.5   60
 45  Prophet #2                      Image         22.4   45
 46  Fantastic Four #401             Marvel        21.3   95
 47  Vengeance of Vampirella #13     Harris        20.5   41
 48  Warblade: Endangered Spec #4    Image         20.3   53
 49  Stormwatch #21                  Image         20.2   55
 50  Flash #102                      DC            19.6   85
 51  Superboy #16                    DC            19.0   71
 52  Spiderman 2099 #32              Marvel        18.8   75
 53  What If #74                     Marvel        18.6  114
 54  Elektra: Root of Evil #4        Marvel        18.4   47
 55  Fantastic Four: Atlantis #1     Marvel        18.2   31
 56  Savage Dragon #19               Image         18.1   58
 57  Maxx #15                        Image         17.9   80
 58  Justice of America #100 (dlx)   DC            17.8   32
 59  Batman: Gotham Nights II #4     DC            17.7   84
 60  Star Wars: Droids #1            Dark Horse    17.7   59
 61  Beavis and Butthead #16         Marvel        17.4   88
 62  Deathblow #15                   Image         17.4   61
 63  Teknophage #1                   Tekno Comix   16.9   92
 64  Batman: Jazz #3                 DC            16.8   63
 65  Aliens vs Predator: War #0      Dark Horse    16.6   64
 66  Aliens vs Predator: Duel #2     Dark Horse    16.2   65
 67  Captain America #440            Marvel        15.9  139
 68  Ghost #1                        Dark Horse    15.8   66
 69  Silver Surfer #105              Marvel        15.8  140
 70  Avengers #387                   Marvel        15.7  141
 71  Star Wars Galaxy Col Ed. #3 (d) Topps         15.6   39
 72  Codename: Stryke Force #13      Image         15.5   82
 73  Tales/Marvels: Blockbuster      Marvel        15.4   22
 74  Dragon: Blood and Guts #2       Image         15.2   70
 75  Stormwatch Special #2           Image         15.2   50
 76  Wonder Woman #98                DC            15.1  119
 77  Aquaman #9                      DC            14.8  121
 78  Union #3                        Image         14.8   73
 79  Power of Shazam! #4             DC            14.6  122
 80  Lobo #16                        DC            14.2   94
 81  Primortals #6                   Tekno Comix   14.2  116
 82  Others #1                       Image         14.2   78
 83  Lisa Comics #1                  Bongo         14.1   97
 84  Iron Man #317                   Marvel        14.0   81
 85  Knightmare #3                   Image         13.7   87
 86  Simpsons Comics #9              Bongo         13.4  103
 87  Books of Magic #13              DC            13.3   90
 88  Daredevil #341                  Marvel        13.1  170
 89  Badrock #2                      Image         13.0  149
 90  Mr. Hero #6                     Tekno Comix   12.9  125
 91  Lost Universe #5                Tekno Comix   12.8  128
 92  Doom 2099 #30                   Marvel        12.6  130
 93  Punisher #103                   Marvel        12.6  178
 94  Goddess #1                      DC            12.5   74
 95  Force Works #12                 Marvel        12.5   98
 96  Star Trek: Deep Space 9 #21     Malibu        12.5   99
 97  Shaman's Tears #8               Image         12.4  135
 98  Thor #487                       Marvel        12.3
 99  Brigade #19                     Image         12.3  100
100  Turok/Shaman's Tears #1         Acclaim       12.3  101
101  Bloodstrike #21                 Image         12.2  102
102  Rune/Silver Surfer #1 (dlx)     Malibu        12.2   28
103  Razor Swimsuit Special          London Night  12.1   77
104  Ghost Rider 2099 #14            Marvel        12.0  143
105  Ghost Rider #62                 Marvel        11.9  146
106  Hyde-25 #0                      Harris        11.9   79
107  Impulse #3                      DC            11.8  164
108  Bone #19                        Cartoon Books 11.8   83
109  Starman #8                      DC            11.5  120
110  Steel #16                       DC            11.5  153
111  Jonah Hex: Riders of Worm #4    DC            11.5   89
112  Aliens: Berzerker #4            Dark Horse    11.4  109
113  Supreme #27                     Image         11.4  110
114  Bloodwulf #3                    Image         11.3  111
115  Preacher #3                     DC            11.2  112
116  Star Trek Next Generation #72   DC            11.2  113
117  Tank Girl: Odyssey #1           DC            11.1  126
118  New Warriors #60                Marvel        11.1  115
119  Vampirella Classic #2           Harris        10.9   93
120  Punisher War Journal #79        Marvel        10.9  159
121  Ren and Stimpy #31              Marvel        10.9  160
122  NewMen #13                      Image         10.9  117
123  Batman Adventures #32           DC            10.8  176
124  Batman Adventures Annual #2     DC            10.6   72
125  Hellblazer #90                  DC            10.4  142
126  Classic Star Wars: Early Adv #9 Dark Horse    10.2  123
127  Groo #5                         Image         10.1  171
128  Punisher 2099 #29               Marvel        10.1  172
129  Showcase '95 #5                 DC            10.1  105
130  Star Trek #72                   DC            10.0  127
131  Fantastic Force #8              Marvel        10.0  198
132  Warrior Nun Areala #3 (reg)     Antarctic      9.9  107
133  Hero Illustrated #23            Warrior        9.8   68
134  Spectre #30                     DC             9.8  157
135  Mask #3                         Dark Horse     9.8  131
136  War Machine #15                 Marvel         9.8  132
137  X-O Manowar #46                 Acclaim        9.8  133
138  Star Trek: DS9: Maquis #3       Malibu         9.7  134
139  Thunderstrike #21               Marvel         9.7
140  X-O Manowar #47                 Acclaim        9.7  136
141  Dr Strange #78                  Marvel         9.7  179
142  Hulk 2099 #7                    Marvel         9.7  180
143  ClanDestine #9                  Marvel         9.6  137
144  Triumph #1                      DC             9.4
145  Guy Gardner: Warrior #31        DC             9.4
146  Punisher War Zone #40           Marvel         9.4  186
147  Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #6 Hamilton       9.4  187
148  Legion of Superheroes #69       DC             9.3  163
149  Power of the Mark #3            Image          9.3  145
150  Legionnaires #26                DC             9.2
 
***  Flash Statue ($150)             DC              .7   16
***  Spawn Deluxe Action Fig Ast #10 Todd Toys       .6   23
***  Spiderman Bonus Plan ($790)     Marvel          .1   30
***  Sandman World's End TPB         DC             3.2   37
170  Kill Your Boyfriend             DC             7.9   67
159  Heavy Metal July 1995           Heavy Metal    8.5   69
***  Batman: Knightsend TPB          DC             2.4   76
157  Legion of Superheroes Annual #6 DC             8.7   86
***  Big Book of Death               DC             2.6   91
168  New Titans Annual #11           DC             8.0   96
***  Spawn Action Fig Asst #101      Todd Toys      1.7  104
179  Ray Annual #1                   DC             7.4  106
200  Best of Heavy Metal Spring 95   Heavy Metal    6.5  108
***  Domu: Child's Dreams #2         Dark Horse     4.5  118
158  Flash Gordon #1                 Marvel         8.6  124
206  Ghost in the Shell #3           Dark Horse     6.3  129
***  Eleven or One: Angry Christ     Sirius         8.1  138
***  Cerebus: Reads TPB              Aardvark-Vana  1.4  144
175  Grendel Tales: Devil's Choic #2 Dark Horse     7.8  147
152  Freak Force #16                 Image          9.1  148
176  Metaphysique #1                 Malibu         7.7  150
 
Breakdown by company (by piece count, all books):
 
Company name:        Top 100  Top 200
 
Marvel                 35       59    (X-Men: Omega     /  1)
DC                     23       58    (Superman #101    / 15)
Image                  22       29    (Spawn #31        / 11)
Acclaim                 3       12    (Ice Age #2       / 14)
Dark Horse              5       11    (Star Wars D II #5/ 23)
Malibu                  1        9    (Star Trek DS9 #21/ 96)
Tekno Comix             4        4    (Teknophage #1    / 63)
Harris                  1        3    (Vengeance Vamp#13/ 47)
Topps                   2        2    (X-Files #4       / 40)
Bongo                   2        2    (Lisa Comics #1   / 83)
London Night                     2    (Razor Swimsuit #1/103)
Wizard                  1        1    (Wizard #45       / 13)
Crusade                 1        1    (Shi Variant #1   / 35)
Cartoon Books                    1    (Bone #19         /108)
Antarctic Press                  1    (Warrior Nun #3reg/132)
Warrior                          1    (Hero Illustr #23 /133)
Hamilton                         1    (Power Rangers #6 /147)
Sirius                           1    (Eleven or One    /167)
Immortelle                       1    (Cynder #1        /173)
Maximum Press                    1    (Black Flag #4    /187)
 
Breakdown by issue number:
 
Issue #:             Top 100   Top 200
 
  0                     1         3
  1                    12        26
  2                    11        16
  3                     5        13
  4                    13        17
  5                     3         7
  6-10                  7        18
  11 and up            48       100
 
Breakdown by price:     (Average price:  $2.70, down .04)
 
Price:               Top 100   Top 200
 
$1.50 and under         9        15
$1.51 to $1.95         42        67
$1.96 to $2.50         32        68
$2.51 to $2.95          5        19
$2.96 to $3.95         10        17
$3.96 and up            2         4
 
Note:  One index point equals roughly 1061 copies sold 
through Capital City.  Capital City Distributors represents
slightly less than 32% of the total direct market.
 
*David LeBlanc>             ComicBkNet@AOL.COM
 david.leblanc@gaquatic.iii.net  RIME->5179  FIDO 1:322/518
 
__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-5-]--/  CSNsider  /-------------------------------------------------/

 CSNsider
 by David Leblanc

This is the CSNsider from CSN #410, which will be in shops on 4/26/95.
It is reproduced in its entirety with the expressed permission of
COMIC SHOP NEWS!
 
Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon has been optioned by USA Network for animated
treatment; an animated series is possible by this fall/winter...
 
Fleer's Batman Forever Fleer Ultra photo-card set featuring images from
the upcoming film will contain a hologram (one of thirty-six in the
series) in each and every pack...
 
Mattel has reached an agreement with Top Cow Productions to issue a line
of Cyberforce action figures...
 
And speaking of Cyberforce, creator Marc Silvestri is taking a hiatus from
that title for the rest of '95 in order to work on a secret project yet to
be announced; "Marc is not taking a sabbatical," Top Cow's Nicole Merke
stressed.  "He will continue to work, concentrating on the animation and
this new comic book project"...
 
The last couple of issues of Jonathan Peterson and Kevin Maguire's
Strikeback! have been taken off the schedule at Malibu; readers may get a
chance to see the finale to this dynamic series later this summer...
 
DC is considering plans to add a new imprint, a science fiction equivalent
of Vertigo for sophisticated readers; it may all come together in late '95
or early '96...<p> Spider-Man is ready to rock this fall, with Joe Perry
supplying the music for the new Spidey theme song...
 
Bad news: according to Mike Baron, no more Badger series are in the works
in the foreseeable future...
 
Marc Silvestri and William Tucci have agreed to release a crossover
one-shot, Cyblade/Shi Special, in July; Silvestri will do one of the
book's two alternate covers, will Tucci will do the other...
 
A Warrior Nun Areala trade paperback and a second miniseries are on
schedule at Antarctic...
 
The high-profile Avengers-UltraForce crossover storyline set for August
release will lead into an even higher-profile (but currently very
mysterious) story arc referred to by Marvel and Malibu as "Black
September"...
 
Since Extreme Sacrifice, the winter crossover series, sold out so quickly
that some fans missed parts of the saga, Extreme and Image are collecting
the entire nine-part series in trade paperback in July...
 
The Magic: The Gathering logjam should finally loosen this May with the
release of Magic: The Gathering 4th Edition; this time around, land cards
will only be found in the starter sets and not in the booster packs...
 
A Crow Collectible Card Game, based on James O'Barr's hit miniseries, is
in the works...
 
And speaking of collectible card games, Marvel and Fleer are working on
several card games featuring various Marvel heroes; no word yet on whether
they'll all fit into one master card game format or function as
self-contained games...
 
And before we leave the collectible card game arena, have we mentioned
that negotiations are underway for an X-Files collectible card game?...
 
At last, Rob Liefeld's Maximum Press has set a release date for their new
Battlestar Galactica comic book series; look for the first issue in
July...
 
If you had trouble getting too enthused by the GI Joe Sgt. Savage toy
line, apparently you weren't the only one: the entire Sgt. Savage project
has been cancelled, with work already underway on a new GI Joe line.
 
CSN #410 features a cover feature on the Bloodshot from Acclaim, as well
as more news and the complete May Checklist.
 
The only way to get Comic Shop News is to visit a shop that carries CSN.
The publication costs the shops just $.10 each and is generally free to
customers. If your shop doesn't carry CSN, nag 'em until they do. After
all, isn't your business and satisfaction worth a dime a week?
 
Visit our WWW site!
http://www.actwin.com/csn
 
We just passed the 15,000 visitor mark after only seven weeks online.
Also, I just spent about an hour updating our hotlist, so all the links
are again current. I'll be surfing for more goodies to add to it soon, so
keep checking.
 
Ward Batty   wardo@jupiter.netdepot.com
Cliff Biggers   cliffbig@jupiter.netdepot.com
 
(c)1995 CSN, Inc.
 
*David LeBlanc>             ComicBkNet@AOL.COM
 david.leblanc@gaquatic.iii.net  RIME->5179  FIDO 1:322/518
 
__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-6-]--/  COMICUNICATIONS  /------------------------------------------/

 Comicunications
 by Ryan Brewster

                                               
                    
                        
                                           
                               
  ---------The Comic Book Net's Weekly Comics Journal---------- 
                       

Vol. 1, Issue #13                                 Monday, April 17th, 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


Andromeda Goes Belly-Up:
[Source: Antarctic Press]

4/13/95 - Andromeda Distributors has gone out of business.  They have
locked their doors, shut down their phones and will not be shipping any
more comics.  Andromeda was the 5th-largest distributor & the largest in
Canada, distributing about 1.5% of the overall direct market.
 

Eaton Returns to Primortals:
[Source: Larry Bogad]

4/12/95 - Scott Eaton will resume pencilling Leonard Nimoy's Primortals
for issues 7 & 8.  He previously pencilled the first two issues of the
Tekno-Comix comic book.


Wayne Manor Diagrams to be Published:
[Source: Toronto Hype! Comic Cafe]

4/11/95 - Batman: Designs, a one-shot due out later this year, will
feature never-before-seen designs of the new Batman costume, Robin's
costume, Wayne Manor and the Batcave.

   Another Bat-project in production is Batman: GCPD, about the Gotham
City Police Dept.  This looks to be adapted from the same strain as
ABC-TV's NYPD Blue.

   In related news, the Knightwing/Alfred one-shot will be pencilled by
the legendary inker Dick Giordano [Source: Comics News].


Wizard Dispels Rumors:
[Source: Marty Stever]

4/9/95 - Wizard Magazine WILL be available through Heroes World
Distribution.  Wizard will continue to be available through all other
distributors who normally carried the mag.  Wizard's sister publications
Collector's Sportslook and InQuest will not be carried by Heroes' World.

   Also, Marty (Direct Sales Manager, Wizard Press) denies rumors that
anyone is buying Wizard Press.

   In related news, a quick update on the 1/2 issue situation: Lady Death
and Gen13 #1/2's have completed shipping.  Ripclaw should be done next
week, X-O in two weeks and Bone in three.



Marvel and Malibu Get Intimate:
[Source: Comics News]

4/15/95 - In another project bringing the Ultraverse and Marvel titles
closer together, Marvel will release a title called Dream Team #1 in July.
Dream Team will be a 48-pg. pinup book of Marvel/Ultraverse characters
encountering one another.  Contributors mentioned will be Jim Balent
(Catwoman), Joe Quesada (Ash), Liam Sharpe (Hulk), Gary Frank (Hulk), Mike
Allred (Madman) and Ben Edlund (The Tick).



Darkseid & Galactus Get Hungry:
[Source: Hype! Comic Cafe]

4/11/95 - John Byrne's Darkseid/Galactus one-shot crossover will be
entitled "Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunker".  The story will center
around a young Silver Surfer leading his master to Apokolips and the New
Gods help fight him off.



Edgy Crossover:
[Source: Hype! Comic Cafe]

4/11/95 - The Marvel Edge titles - Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Ghost
Rider, Punisher and Dr. Strange - will crossover in a story involving
Nick Fury and the new Punisher.  The story will be called Double Edge and
will begin in the bookend Double Edge Alpha and end in Double Edge (guess
what!) Omega.


Big Hawk-happenings:
[Source: Comic News]

4/15/95 - In a future storyline, DC Comics' hero Hawkman will go insane as
a result of his experiences in last year's Zero Hour crossover.  The
storyline will feature the return of the Golden Age Hawkman.


Big Super-Happenings:
[Source: Dave Van Domelen]

4/10/95 - Alpha Centurion and Lori Lemaris will return to the Superbooks,
with the latter returning just in time to screw up Clark's engagement to
Lois...  Also, the Legion of Superheroes will travel to the 20th Century
and back, dragging Superboy with them.

   In related news, Mark Waid's summer crossover event Underworld will
center around the corrupting influence of power.  A demon will go around
from villains to heroes offering them power in an effort to corrupt them.
Lex Luthor will be juiced up enough to regain his former status as one of
DC Universe's premiere villains.


"Me too!", Cries Entity Comics:
[Source: Entity Comics]

4/10/95 - Astor #3 has shipped with two unannounced cover variations.
#3a, with a gold-foil enhanced cover image of ASTER with his companions
Shaiana and Ghayab, also has a coupon for a free ASTER phone card on the
back cover.  The card was drawn by Oliver Isabedra.


Elfquest Goes Online:
[Source: Warp Graphics]

4/15/95 - Warp Graphics has entered the online world with their opening of
Elfquest.Com.  Elfquest.Com, accessible via the World Wide Web, is an
Elfquest resource with previews of upcoming issues, never-before seen
artwork, contests, biographies and a store.  Access Elfquest.Com through
the URL:http://www.elfquest.com/


Lois & Clark Pronounced Victorious:
[Sources: Michael Hickerson and Ken Berczik]

4/13/95 - In the April 13th, 1995 issue of USA Today was an article about
the competition between L&C and SeaQuest, basically saying that L&C is
winning the ratings war - it has gone up while SeaQuest has gone down.  It
talks about the changes in the shows made for their second season and how
they've affected each show respectively.  ABC Executive Vice President
Preston Beckman is quoted as saying that L&C is a "slam dunk" for renewal.

>>>>>SPOILER WARNING: NEXT PARAGRAPH<<<<<<

   According to the article, L&C will end the season in May with another
big cliffhanger.  Executive Producer Robert Singer says Clark will propose
to Lois and next season "their relationship will change dramatically."

   Additionally, last Sunday's New York Times featured an article on Lois
& Clark in which it projected a rather long run for the show, especially
since it seems to have overtaken SeaQuest and is gaining on Murder, She
Wrote.


__________________________________________________________________________
Legal Stuff: Copyright (c) 1995 Ryan Brewster. Reproduce only in ENTIRETY.
---
  RM 1.3 02322   :-(  )  you backed your car over my toe

__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-7-]--/  FEEDBACK  /-------------------------------------------------/


 Send feedback to:

               America Online .... ComicBkNet@aol.com
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 PLEASE NOTE: Your comments may be included in future issues, unless you
              specifically request to the contrary.

__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--[-8-]--/  BULLETIN BOARDS LINKED INTO THE COMICBOOK NETWORK  /--------/

 +----------------------------+
 |  The ComicBook Network !!  |  A message network devoted to Comic
 +----------------------------+  Fans, Collectors, and Professionals!
                                 ----  ----------      -------------

  Here's the most up-to-date node listing for the COMICBOOK NETWORK

 - 5 new systems have linked in since the last issue!

           F=FIDO    Q=QWK    B=Both     *=Major HUB

 F  Gananoque System's BBS Gananoque    ONT  613-382-1788  Mike Serson
 B  The Trading Post ][    Windsor      ONT  519-974-2976  Gary Ranchuk
 F  Wall Street Pub        Houston       TX  713-398-9260  C. Lawrence Heath
 B  The Lost Realm         Williston     VT  802-864-7021  Joe Kanfer
 F  Comic Book Board       Philadelphia  PA  215-535-3055  William Horton

 F* Longview On-Line!      Longview      WA  206-577-7358  Jeanne Lejon
 F  House Atreides         Garland       TX  214-494-3702  Wayne LeMonds
 B* FIAWOL/MSConnections   Irving        TX  214-790-6472  Bobb Waller
 F  Star Streams           Waxahachie    TX  214-938-7115  Michael Rudolf
 B  The Dog's House        Gaithersburg  MD  301-216-0637  Andrew Ohnstad
 Q  Highlander's Inn       Brandywine    MD  301-579-2776  Eric Moon
 B  Zoneland BBS           Gaithersburg  MD  301-601-9731  Bob Hair
 B* The Daily Planet BBS   Frederick     MD  301-831-8057  Mike Imboden
 Q  Megabyte BBS           Gaithersburg  MD  301-977-0791  Matt Abrams
 F  Intl. Comic Network    Dearborn Hgts MI  313-565-8464  Anthony Palacio
 F  The Agency BBS         Davenport     IA  319-381-2906  Bill Liebbe
 F  Lets PC BBS            Oklahoma City OK  405-672-0615  Hyun Nam
 F* The Black Hole BBS     Oklahoma City OK  405-728-7960  Craig Smith
 F  Flamingo               Melbourne     FL  407-253-0782  Genie Bohn
 Q  DJ Dave's Domain       Agawam        MA  413-789-6533  David Scarpa
 F  The Gravity Guild      Etobicoke    ONT  416-778-6652  Gord Davis
 F* Karate & Comics & ...  Russelville   AR  501-968-3910  Robert Wood
 F  Rrydean                Cottage Grove OR  503-942-4561  Rory Dschaak
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 F  Performance Plus       Methuen       MA  508-688-5209  Brian Morison
 B  Keystone BBS           Shrewsbury    MA  508-753-3767  John Harris
 F  Viper BBS              Freetown      MA  508-763-2027  Matthew Reynolds
 F  Enigma BBS             Rochester     MA  508-763-5579  Chris Ferreira
 B  Call Again Soon        Worcester     MA  508-791-1281  Joe Johnson
 F  Global Aquatics BBS    Worcester     MA  508-798-5647  John Murphy
 F  HellFire BBS           S. Dartmouth  MA  508-979-8930  Brock Cordeiro
 B  U.S.S. Saratoga BBS    New Bedford   MA  508-984-1212  Justin Campeau
 F  Muskrat & Heatwave     New Bedford   MA  508-984-5321  Dennis Racine
 F  Metropolis BBS         New Bedford   MA  508-994-4687  Bob Racine
 F  Archives BBS           Acushnet      MA  508-995-0085  John Viera
 B  Asgard.TW BBS          West Islip    NY  516-422-4225  Tom Pemberton
 Q  Medics Meeting House   Hinsdale      NH  603-256-6931  Doug Munson
 F  Venom's World          Rollinsford   NH  603-743-4188  Ira Locke
 F* The Menagerie          Kalamazoo     MI  616-349-9438  Rick O'Dell
 B  Crystal Aerie          Arlington     VA  703-415-0134  Spencer Greenwald
 F* The RASTER Line        Houston       TX  713-568-0825  Jeff Watts
 F  Montmorenci Express    Montmorenci   SC  803-641-9090  Lloyd Vanfossen
 F  Young Blood            Killeen       TX  817-699-2254  T.J. Gohl
 Q  Oak Street BBS         Ft. Walton    FL  904-244-7434  Michael Fischer
 Q  Extreme Online         Jacksonville  FL  904-363-6347  Eric Cohen
 F  Nature Coast BBS       Weeki Watchee FL  904-596-6234  Kim Breckenridge
 F  Starbase : Red Dwarf   Saugerties    NY  914-247-9601  John Dragun
 B  Gotham City BBS        Spring Valley NY  914-426-3029  Gerald Schranz
 F  Orion BBS              Odessa        TX  915-530-2712  Dennis Brown
 F  Snart's Dreamland      Collinsville  OK  918-371-0980  Jeff Bennett
 F  Electronic Hangover    Durham        NC  919-286-4542  Richard Lee
 F  Psychotronic           Durham        NC  919-286-7738  Richard Lee
 F* TI-Raliegh Maximus     Raliegh       NC  919-833-3412  Walter Tietjan
 F  Crystal Winds          Raliegh       NC  919-870-9785  Mike Gurkin
 F* Allied Group           Kresgeville   PA  *MAIL ONLY!*  Robert Zellers


__________________________________________________________________________
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DISCLAIMER: This electronic magazine may be freely distributed in this
current unmodified form only.  All articles contained within are written
and copyrighted to their authors.
__________________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-EOF- See ya NEXT week!

