posted March 20, 2003 02:31 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by James Friel:
Of course, there'll probably be something outrageously unsexpected....

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posted March 31, 2003 02:39 AM               

As of today we have:
Jan-Aquaman 1 (S)
Feb-Batman Dynamic Duo 1 (S)
Mar-Spectre 1 (G)
That's 2-1.

and we've known for a while:
Apr-Legion 12 (S)
May-JLA 13 (S)
June-Superman 6 (G)
That's 4-2.

and we're now told to expect:
Summer-Challengers 1 (S)
Fall-All-Star 9 (G)
no date set-Atom 2 (S)
no date set-unspecified #1 (G)
no date set-unspecified #1 (S)
That's 7 and 4.

several months ago, Bob said there would be a GA Batman volume this year. A lot has changed since then--can we still count on this?
If so, that's 7-5.

We've been assuming Plastic Man thois year as well, with no assurance from anyone--is this a good assumption?
If so, that's 7-6

If both of these last are still good, then the Golden Age selections are known except for the identity of the mystery GA volume 1--we've been assuming Superboy, but the All-Star 1-2/Big All-American collection and Hawkman also seem like good possibilities. And con attendees say it "doesn't sound like Superboy".

What the unspecified, seventh SA vol.1 might be is a mystery to me.
Not a Superman book, I'd guess, unless we don't get either Superboy in the mystery GA slot, or Supergirl or World's Finest in the seventh SA slot.
Nor, obviously, is it likely to be another SA Batman book.
What's left? Adam Strange, Metamorpho, Bat Lash, something Charlton by Ditko, a Kirby 1970s title (Demon?), Martian Manhunter, another war book (Unknown Soldier, or--in a masterful stroke of misdirection, The Haunted Tank!), an Orlando mystery title, or Jonah Hex all seem possible, but none seem overwhemingly probable. I can't quite make myself believe in any of them this year--oddly, I think Bat Lash, of all things, would surprise me the least.

And then there's the eighth, still unmentioned SA slot. So many variables...
If the GA mystery book isn't Superboy, and the SA mystery book isn't Superman-related, then Supergirl looks good for it. World's Finest looks good it too.
If the mystery GA book isn't Hawkman, then we still could see (SA) Hawkman 2.
Or it might be Flash, Green Lantern, or Doom Patrol--or a quickie volume of Sgt.Rock, rushed out to capitalize on the country's martial mood.

Any more ideas?

posted March 31, 2003 06:50 AM            

1. Adam Strange (won DStepp's survey; arguably the best non-Archived, non-Superman SA series)

2. Teen Titans (pre-emptive strike against the New Teen Titans critics; did well in the survey)

3. The Brave and the Bold 1-8 (Bob does listen to us, and I think we made a compelling argument; adds variety to the line; beefs up Kubert material which allows them to put a little space between Sgt. Rock 1 and 2)

posted March 31, 2003 12:03 PM               

I'm afraid I think the same probably applies to Adam Strange and to Metamorpho, although there was no categorical statement in either of their cases.

posted March 31, 2003 01:22 PM               

8 SA - Aquaman, Dynamic Duo, Legion 12, JLA 8, Challengers, Supergirl 2, Atom 2, Unknown New Line

6 GA - Spectre, Superman 6, a Batman volume (probably Batman 6), All-Star 9, Plastic Man 5, Unknown New Line.

I think until proven otherwise, we have to assume Plas remains an annual. And until proven otherwise, Supergirl 2 is the likely oversized candidate.

That leaves the 2 start-up candidates.

For GA, I'm thinking the cryptic volume Bob mentioned as "if they can get everything together there would be an interesting Golden Age volume" is none other than this mysterious #1 - probably the Big AA/All-Star compilation.

For SA, as James already mentioned, SA Superman and Adam Strange appear to be too far off for this year (although I would be delighted to be wrong!), and I'm just not sold on Teen Titans. Anyone buying it for some kind of tie-in to a cartoon will have a hard time swallowing that pseudo-hip Bob Haney dialogue (Gillhead? Twinkletoes? Wonder Chick? Robin-Bobbin? ye-gads!)

Why do I have a sneaky feeling this new SA volume will be out of left field, a la Enemy Ace?

posted March 31, 2003 05:13 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by NecessaryImpurity:
What about Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen? Are they foreclosed by the "SA Superman is not in the works" statement?

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Not foreclosed, I'd guess, but there's already a lot of Superman material due for this year.

posted March 31, 2003 06:44 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by James Friel:
Not foreclosed, I'd guess, but there's already a lot of Superman material due for this year.

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This year, we've only been promised Superman v6, other volumes (Superboy v1, Supergirl v2) have only been conjectured. Batman's (apparent) three volumes for this year is "a lot" -- where are the other Superman volumes?

posted March 31, 2003 08:02 PM               

SA Superman or Lois Lane -- Lois still has a good shot, as a solo female lead. I would prefer SA Superman #1, but either of these is cool by me.

Bat Lash -- Maybe this is the year to break into the Western archives? Follow up next year with Jonah Hex and a Golden Age feature.

Adam Strange and Metamorpho -- I'm thinking "no" because Bob mentioned that both of these come up during the annual meetings. The way he phrased it made me think that neither is on deck for this year.

Batman in Brave and the Bold -- Probably not so soon after Dyn Duo #1.

other Brave and the Bold Team-Ups -- Could happen. This would be good to save for a year when the JLA does not get a volume.

Brave and the Bold adventure heroes (#1 - 8) -- I would love to see this, but I don't know if a strong enough case has been made yet.

Viking Prince #1 (and only) -- You want Kubert, you got Kubert. I really would prefer to see B&B archived as an anthology, but I would still be happy to buy this.

Creeper #1 -- With the launch of the new Vertigo title, why not?

SA Teen Titans #1 -- I still think it is too close to the release of New Teen Titans #2, so I would guess "no".

Metal Men #1 -- From out of left field. This doesn't draw as much support online as some of the other candidates, but DC keeps bringing these lovable goofs back. So maybe...

posted March 31, 2003 09:30 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by quincyjb:

Metal Men #1 -- From out of left field. This doesn't draw as much support online as some of the other candidates, but DC keeps bringing these lovable goofs back. So maybe...

Sugar and Spike #1 -- We'll see.

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Thanks for mentioning these two long-shots. I would so like to see either of these two series Archived in my lifetime!

posted March 31, 2003 09:42 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by BearPaws:
This year, we've only been promised Superman v6, other volumes (Superboy v1, Supergirl v2) have only been conjectured. Batman's (apparent) three volumes for this year is "a lot" -- where are the other Superman volumes?

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I said "due", not certain. Since they're about due to come around on the guitar, I'm assuming that we'll get either Supergirl or World's Finest this year--was thinking maybe both, before Atom and another SA #1 were announced. That, and the possibility of Superboy, makes me think there's enough Superman stuff in play for this year. Of course, none of those three might happen, in which case SA Superman, or more likely Lois or Jimmy would become more probable.

posted March 31, 2003 11:01 PM            

Of course, this is just wishful thinking on my part. I'd love to see a Batgirl Archive. My runner-up choice is Metamorpho.

posted April 01, 2003 01:32 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by James Friel:
Since they're about due to come around on the guitar...

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posted April 01, 2003 01:08 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by James Friel:
What are you counting as a third Batman title? World's Finest 3?

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In hindsight, I'm not sure where I got that -- it might have been Batman in World's Finest (which came out late last year) or the Neil Adams volume. In any case, I'm in Bat-overload -- Dynamic Duo will be my last Batman book, thus ending my "completist" status.

Still, the only Superman volume we're certain of is v6. We're long overdue for more Super-books.

posted April 01, 2003 01:10 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by BearPaws:
...the only Superman volume we're certain of is v6. We're long overdue for more Super-books.

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posted April 01, 2003 01:11 PM               

Challengers will be out soon, as will superman....All-Star is probably a given...

A GA Batman volume is due....

I'll say...
Legion
JLA
Superman
Challengers
Dark Knight
All Star
SA Hawkman
Supergirl
Shazam 4 (don't forget the new Smith mini)
SA Teen Titans
GA Green Lantern
Batgirl is an interesting choice..I like it...

posted April 01, 2003 04:40 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Falcon:
I'll go out on a limb and say the new Silver Age Archive will be . . . ECLIPSO! Why, because Bob said that the facsimile annuals were meant to be samplers for the Archives. The Even More. . . facsimile that is coming out in June has the Eclipso origin in it. If it is not Eclipso than I'm going with Dial "H" for Hero, the Creeper, or maybe Metamorpho.

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Not crazy, really.

It's a moderately popular and innovative series that could be used to put some money in comics' pioneers' pockets.

I'm sure its part of the conspiracy. you know the one. Paul Levitz is always plotting to make us like him by helping out the old gaffers. . .

Seriously, there could be worse choices. Like Doom Patrol, Eclipso has the modern spin that might make it salable even to the younger readership.

Hmmmm.

.
.
.
.
.
.

WAZ-zat?

Oh. Sorry.

I was daydreaming about my cool new Eclipso Archive. Mmmmmmmmm.

posted April 01, 2003 06:29 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Falcon:
I'll go out on a limb and say the new Silver Age Archive will be . . . ECLIPSO! Why, because Bob said that the facsimile annuals were meant to be samplers for the Archives. The Even More. . . facsimile that is coming out in June has the Eclipso origin in it. If it is not Eclipso than I'm going with Dial "H" for Hero, the Creeper, or maybe Metamorpho.

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Any of those four would actually make a certain amount of sense right now.
And Id be enthusiastic about any of them except for Dial "H".