E-MAIL THE AUTHOR | ARCHIVES

This Week's Sermon - Against All Odds

By Britt Schramm

November 8, 2004

Okay, I’m still basking in the afterglow of the Sox’s World Series victory (and yes, I’ll be milking this for some time; so get use to it). To finally see the old ball club beat a supposed 86-year curse after years of getting to the brink of winning only to find a way to lose was quite satisfying for this old diehard Sox fan. And while thinking about those boys of summer battling back from the abyss and not only winning the Series but with a sweep got me thinking about some of the comics out there that might be facing the same equivalent of a four game sweep in the comics biz – cancellation.

With that in mind, I decided to be like Hammerin’ Hank and provide my prognostication on some of the newer monthly titles that are on the market with an eye for their survival. Some will be easy to pick while others will require the all-knowing powers that only I have at my disposal. But prior to giving out the inside knowledge from someone who’s attached to the comics industry about as much as Ashlee Simpson is to singing live on TV, here are the rules.

(Handicapping Rules: The summary and odds for each title are not meant as reviews per se. They are just an indication by word of mouth, a look at the monthly sales [if available] and the intangible “buzz” that’s associated with each title. The use of odds and any information given for these predictions is intended for entertainment purposes only. The actual application of these odds within a gaming environment is strictly prohibited. However, if the usual house “contribution” has been forwarded to my person in exact amount of 45% of all bets made, then, I’m cool.)

Alright, enough with the legalese, let’s get on with the picks.

• Sure Things/Locks

  ASTONISHING X-MEN (Marvel) – If there was anything like a lock in the business, it would be this one. Joss Whedon has been making fanboys and fangirls simultaneously crossing their legs in excitement with his BUFFY and ANGEL TV series as well as the excellent FIREFLY series which was given the axe faster then Jason Alexander (Britney’s ex but it could be applied to the TV actor if LISTEN UP doesn’t get picked up by CBS). Whedon gets tabbed to pen X-Men when Grant Morrison was scheduled to jump over to DC. But to ensure that this series would stick around awhile, the powers that be nab Cassaday (of the wonderful PLANETARY series) to do the art. And the fans came back in droves. Close book. End of story.

  Odds: 2 to 3

  POWERS (Icon/Marvel) – Here’s another gimme. And to be truthful, this isn’t really a new series. It just moved from Image to Marvel’s new creator-owned imprint, Icon, since Marvel is doing their best to create a Brian Michael Bendis monopoly. For those who don’t know, Bendis and penciller Michael Avon Oeming are putting out the best damn grittiest cops and capes book out there. And thank god, it hasn’t lost any of its grit because it wouldn’t be a POWERS book without at least ten to fifteen f-bombs and an occasional boob shot. God Bless Bendis.

  Odds: Even

• Safe Bets

  PULSE (Marvel) – See above. It’s another Bendis book. Actually, this series is an all-ages conversion from the Marvel MAX title, Alias. Some people might think that there may be some risk toning down some of Bendis’ more colorful language into a more mainstream title but with his success being Mr. Ultimate (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, ULTIMATE X-MEN, ULTIMATE FILL-IN-THE-BLANK), I think that this one will be around for a little while.

  Odds: 2 to 1

  CONAN (Dark Horse) – With the resurgence of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, it was a good time to put out this book about this Cimmeran warrior created by Robert E. Howard. And it doesn’t hurt that the book is being written by the great Kurt Busiek of MARVELS and ASTRO CITY fame. And Cary Nord’s artwork is the best that the characters’ seen since BWS (Barry Windsor-Smith). My bud, Murray, is always professing his love of this book. As a point of reference, this guy has been labeled by our gang as the grumpy, old man of the group. So, I have no reservations with this prediction.

  Odds: 3 to 1

• Who Knows/Tossup

  DISTRICT X (Marvel) – With the glut of new X-titles, this one could get lost in the mix. And that’s too bad as it’s a good tale of life on the streets, if there were an area with a load of crazy mutants. David Hine writes the words and David Yardin draws the lines. And if you don’t read the title, you probably don’t know them since they’re not household names in the comics biz which hurts them somewhat. Plus, since there’s already a couple of cops and capes books like the aforementioned “Powers” and DC’s “Gotham Central”, the book might either just fall through the cracks or become a third option for those looking for a superhero crime book .

  Odds: 7 to 1

  INTIMATES (Wildstorm/DC) – Since this book was just released, it’s hard to gauge its actual sales number but with the names attached like Jim Lee and Joe Casey, there’s a ton of potential (or to use a basketball reference, this book has a huge upside). The doubts are using a relative unknown Italian artist for the interiors and Casey’s work has been somewhat hit or miss.

  Odds: 8 to 1

  HARD TIME (DC Focus) – I have a serious problem with this book; I really like it. Steve Gerber and Brian Hurtt have created a real gem of a book about prison life for a teenager with a secret power who’s been convicted of murder in a world without powers. However, almost all of the other books that were created in the imprint have been cancelled which is not a good sign since there’s no real place to put this book unless it makes the jump to Vertigo. If it is cancelled, I won’t be shocked but I’ll be bummed for sure.

  Odds: 10 to 1

  ULTRA (Image) – Not wanting to give my cable company any more money than they already have, I don’t have HBO. I know, I know. My life is the poorer for it. But with this title, I kinda feel like I’m reading about what a superheroic SEX AND THE CITY would be like. And that might bring in some more female readers. But with all of the titles at Image and the fact that the title is somewhat below everyone’s radar, I’m finding it hard to place too much confidence in its life expectancy.

  Odds: 12 to 1

• Outlook Not So Good/Underdogs

  MANHUNTER and BLOODHOUND (DC) – I hate to lump these two books together because they’re related in any way at all but they did come out around the same time and exhibit the same type of unflinching style that no other regular DC books do. And that may be one reason why readers haven’t totally warmed up to the book. The team of Marc Andreyko and Jesus Saiz on “Manhunter” are relative unknowns to mainstream comic readers which hurts them in gaining readers who are on the fence. Though Bloodhound’s team of Dan Jolley and Leonard Kirk are have some reader cred, it may be hard to expand their base using a character who’s not glammed up in tights.

  Odds (for both): 15 to 1

  FIRESTORM (DC) – Hey, Dan Jolley, I’m not trying to pick on ya. Really I’m not. This book is good and you’ve got to admire DC for trying to change the protagonist from the original victim of fusion’s fate, Ronnie Raymond, to a young African-American kid named Jason Rusch. But there are people who hold the Nuclear Man pretty dear and their disapproval may affect sales. Plus, losing fan favorite CrissCross after the first story arc doesn’t help matters.

  Odds: 17 to 1

  EXCALIBER (Marvel) – Okay, it’s official. Chris Claremont has lost it. The title of the book has nothing to do with the old series which will confuse and probably anger former readers. The first story arc was dreadful and disjointed. Strike two. I feel sorry for Aaron Lopresti as his work is good but I can’t imagine this title hanging around in the logjam that is the X-Universe.

  Odds: 20 to 1

• Just waiting for the Eulogy/No Chance

  DOOM PATROL (DC) – Poor John Byrne. He had a pet project cancelled (LAB RATS) and another not see completion (X-MEN: THE HIDDEN YEARS) and is now looking at number three. While I like the original team being back, I’m just not feeling it from this relaunch. And I have a feeling neither do other readers. Except for Mr. Byrne.

  Odds: 25 to 1

  JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED and BATMAN STRIKES (DC) – It really shouldn’t be this way. But history on both of these books has shown that they won’t be around for too long. Before the JLU, there was the JUSTICE LEAGUE and before that, ADVENTURES OF THE DC UNIVERSE. The same for Batman (“BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES”, “THE BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES” and “THE BATMAN ADVENTURES”). Unfortunately, unless DC decides to make these books into a manga-digest format, I see that the cycle will continue.

  Odds (for both): 30 to 1

  WARLOCK (Marvel) – I’m sorry; this one is so laughable that I’m surprised it hasn’t been cancelled yet. I mean, you’ve seen the cover to Issue One, right? If I was Marvel, I would contact Matt Wagner and give him a little something for directly ripping off the lighting bolt from the Pendragon, Kevin Matchstick. Don’t believe me. Take a look.

  ‘Nuff said.

  Odds: 50 to 1