Running a comic book shop is a dream career. It’s also a nightmare. The hardest part about running a comic book shop is ordering enough comics to fill fans’ needs without ordering too many. Adding to the nightmare is that due dates for ordering comics are sometimes as far out as eight months before the comics even reach the comic rack.
Each Monday, Diamond Comic Distributors LLC (DCD, the one and only major comic book distributor—period) gives your local comic shop a chance to adjust the order they made (sometimes months) in advance. This order adjustment is the last chance that you as a customer can guarantee a secured copy of the comics you are looking for.
Each week, we publish a handful of some of the best jumping-on points in comics from the list of DCD final orders for that week. This is just a small sample of what’s available. For more suggestions and a complete list of the items due this week, our friends at Death Ray Comics have got you covered.
AIRBOY #1 (OF 4) (MR)
IMAGE COMICS
(W) James Robinson (A/CA) Greg Hinkle
On The Rack: 6/3/2015
Price: $2.99
Publisher Synopsis:
Worlds and minds explode in a brand-new series!
When acclaimed comics author JAMES ROBINSON (Starman, Fantastic Four) is hired to write a reboot of the 1940s action hero Airboy, he’s reluctant to do yet another Golden Age reboot. Just what the hell has happened to his career-?! His marriage?! His life?! Hey, it’s nothing that a drink can’t fix.
It’s after one such night of debauchery with artist GREG HINKLE that the project really comes into its own. Quite literally. Because Airboy himself appears to set the two depraved comic book creators on the straight and narrow. But is the task too much for our hero?
Preemptive Pick:
James Robison is known for breathing life into Golden Age comic book characters. If you’re not familiar with his run on the “Justice Society of America,” get to your local comic book shop, NOW! Additionally, his “Starman” series is one of my desert island, all-time favorite, top ten series (it’s “Comic Book Men’s” Ming Chen’s favorite too). More recently, he wrote the latest run of the “Fantastic Four,” and the “Invaders.” Both groups who have been deemed past their prime, but in his hands, never better! Needless to say, I’m a fan.
So this new quasi set-in-real-life series is the premise for Robinson and new-comer Greg Hinkle doing enough drugs while brainstorming an adaptation of the Golden Age aviator hero “Airboy,” that Airboy himself enters their “reality.” The series is primed to be a masterpiece of post-modern comic book story telling. This is going to be a hilarious, extremely-raunchy story with feels buried deep beneath the sex, drugs and debauchery. After all, how would you feel having once been one of the biggest heroes in comics, only to find out just 70 years in the future you’d fallen into the public domain and forgotten by all?
GROOT #1
MARVEL COMICS
(W) Jeff Loveness (A) Brian Kesinger (CA) Declan Shalvey
On The Rack: 6/3/2015
Price: $3.99
Publisher Synopsis:
For the first time ever, the most famous talking-tree-thing in the Marvel Universe is starring in his own series! You might recognize him from Guardians of the Galaxy, the biggest movie of 2014.
When Rocket and Groot are on an intergalactic roadtrip and calamity strikes, the two get separated – and for the first time in years, Groot’s on his own! Written by comedic ace Jeff Loveness (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) and drawn by Marvel Comics newcomer Brian Kesinger (Disney Animation), get a front row seat for EXPLOSIONS, SPACE SHARKS, ALIENS, AND INTERGALACTIC HITCHIKING (YEAH, BABY! YOU READ THAT RIGHT.)! Whatever may be coming Groot’s way, one thing’s for sure — it’s going to be a GROOT adventure!
Preemptive Pick:
When Marvel announced this title I wrote an article because I was so excited, and we had some previews of the artwork that were too great not to share. So, just go read that article, and then put this on-going series on your subscription list with your local comic shop.
BATMAN BEYOND #1
DC COMICS
(W) Dan Jurgens (A/CA) Bernard Chang
On The Rack: 6/3/2015
Price: $2.99
Publisher Synopsis:
At last, Batman Beyond gets his own ongoing series in THE definitive future of the DCU! But this isn’t the Beyond you think you know! With the Justice League missing and without Bruce to guide him, this new Batman will need to explore this bizarre world on his own while fighting to raise humanity from an opponent that’s already won.
The heroes Batman knew have failed, the world he knew has been turned on its head, and every step he takes will lead him either toward finding home – or further down the road of disaster!
Preemptive Pick:
Industry staple Dan Jurgens and artist Bernard Chang are taking into their hands one of my favorite characters. I’ll be 100% honest, I’m familiar with Jurgens work, but none of it falls into my top ten lists. And while I’m familiar with Chang’s name, I couldn’t tell you off-hand what he’s worked on. BUT- if you are like me and loved the Batman Beyond animated series and have gobbled up every piece of continuity Terry McGinnis has touched, it doesn’t matter who is writing or drawing it (though I’m sure these two will do great – really they’ve both been in the industry for many decades and have huge portfolios).
GIANT SIZE LITTLE MARVEL AVX #1
MARVEL COMICS
(W/A/CA) Skottie Young
On The Rack: 6/3/2015
Price: $3.99
Publisher Synopsis:
The toughest, funniest, craziest and most adorable Marvel heroes THROW DOWN.
Featuring all your favorites including Cyclops, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Wolverine! They’re all there, just shorter! Skottie Young brings out the big guns in the series fans have been waiting for!
Preemptive Pick:
Skottie Young – you either love his “Little” work or hate it. I fall into the former of the two camps. I love comics that are comedic. I think comics and comedy might even share an etymological origin… Anyway, if you love Marvel’s “Little” universe, this is a no-brainer. If you aren’t familiar with it, make sure to read click on the free PDF preview above.
Trent Hunsaker is a podcaster, pop culturalist and freelance writer based in Logan, Utah. Check out his podcast NetHeads on Kevin Smith’s Smodcast Internet Radio and the A Part of Him Podcast Network. He also is the owner/operator of Death Ray Comics, a local comic shop.