There are comics we've highlighted in the past that have resulted in e-mails saying they didn't know the comic existed or that they're glad we included the cover of it because they couldn't believe that a comic like that existed. So it depends to a large degree on just how much you follow the comic world.
That said, we're going for a different sort this round-up.
Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game obviously sees itself as more than a mere comic as evidenced by the fact that the inside page is a full of list of credits -- including three different editors, a person for script, for art, for color art, for lettering, for story consultant, for cover and Orson Scott Card pops up himself with credits for "Creative Director & Executive Director." It seems a bit much for a comic that's really little more than a solo Will Robinson Lost In Space adventure.
After a space mission, Ender and friends and 'friends' end up in the cafeteria and quickly Ender's back in his own bedroom/quarters i.m.ing with a friend.
Valentine: Poor Ender.
Ender: Feel sorry for yourself. I led the rankings. I'm a toon leader. I've got so much damn respect I want to scream . . .
"So why do I hate my life, Valentine?" he asks looking not at the computer screen but towards the reader.
Angst In Space. How very. Everyone spends the rest of the comic attempting to discover what the end of the world means to Ender. We think Dionne Warwick put it better years ago when she asked, "What's It All About, Alfie?"
That's a Marvel Comic and a limited series, "5 of 5" -- so apparently this 'exploration' of the soul is how Ender's Game concludes. Another Marvel title is Wondeful Wizard of Oz and it's also a limited series -- "5 of 7." In this one the kindly and non-powerful Oz is actually a demented quack how cuts off the Scarecrow's head to give him a 'brain' -- he fills Scarecrow's heads with "many pins and needles" and then he tears apart the Tin Man to insert a "heart." It's gross and graphic and you're wondering if readers are catching on that it's all a fraud and that Oz is apparently demented when the Lion shows up needing courage. Oz pours booze and the Lion leaves drunk He creates a monstrosity he calls a balloon for Dorthy and himself to sail to Kansas on but when it's time to depart, Dorthy has to run after Toto and misses the departure.
As the Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Dorothy walk out of the Emerald City they once again look a bit like their characters have in past books and movies which may be foreshadowing for the wrap-up since the teaser last page appears ton indicate that they are walking to Kansas.
That one had an actual story but, despite the deviant touches, it wasn't anything millions haven't seen before. So we left Marvel and headed for Dark Horse. Hellgate London was the first title and, not unlike the Mamas and the Papas' classic ("Dedicated To The One I Love"), it opened advising us, "It is always darkest before the dawn." This was actually a mistake. We intended to pick it up but it wasn't supposed to be out at the comic store. This was a limited edition and it completed in 2007. It is now a collector's item. We'll be returning it (C.I.'s friend owns the comic store we use) but should you come across one and pick it up, hold onto it.
Next up is Emily The Strange. This is yet another limited edition in the Emily Strange line and this one started last October. It's dubbed "The 13th Hour" and revolves around her 13th birthday when: "A mysterious and powerful gift from a long-lost aunt sparks a rivalry with a creepy creature she's never seen before. Soon Emily is whisked into her foe's weird and wild world". These days, Emily Strange is more a piece of merchandise than a fictional character but the story and visuals of a little girl with Marlo Thomas That Girl hair traipsing through a strange world holds the interest for at least one comic.
We moved over to the Wildstorm comics. World Of Warcraft features a typical cheesy cover that all but screams: "Dungeons! And! Dragons!" Inside it offers little of surprise or interest. We were more riveted last year by Prototype and Resistance -- two Wildstorm titles rooted in reality.
And that may be one things some readers object to? We're not really into the fantasy and renasancie comics. For us comics will always mean first and foremost: Super heroes and heroines. Though some of us (Dona and Betty) read Richie Rich and Casper and the Archies growing up, we all read the super hero comics and when we grab a group of comics to do a feature, we're going through all the titles looking for action. So Ender's Game, for example, is not one we would naturally pick it up. It's not targeted to us. An entire comic about what a little boy thinks the end of the world is? As Jim put it, "That sounds more painful than watching Davey & Goliath on Sunday mornings."