Climbing the Corporate Ladder - Marvel and DC Highlights for December, 2009

Here are the highlights of what Marvel and DC are shipping in December, which will be listed in the October Previews catalog, along with commentary from myself (ADD) and Christopher Allen (CA). Comic Book Resources has the full solicitations for Marvel and DC up now, go look at your own risk.

Marvel

CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #3
By Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
TRACY LAWLESS is tasked with solving the murders of several mobsters in the city, but his own self-destructive impulses are starting to get in his way. Women and Chinese Triad killers are here to complicate his life, especially the women.

And remember, the single issues of CRIMINAL are filled with articles and extras that are not reprinted in the collections.
40 PGS/ No Ads/ Mature Content .... $3.50

ADD says: This is the best monthly title coming out at the moment, and one anyone who loves great comics should be reading.

CA says: True. I’m usually a wait-for-the-trade guy, but the monthly does have a more personal touch.

ED HANNIGAN: COVERED
Master artist Ed Hannigan did many of Marvel’s cover layouts of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Over that time, Ed created some of the most innovative cover designs ever. His covers for The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man still stand today as some of the finest of all time!
Today, Ed is 58 years old and has multiple sclerosis. Through special arrangement with the Hero Initiative, Marvel is offering Ed Hannigan: Covered, a massive 48-page collection of Ed’s covers, designs he created for other artists, and even rare glimpses at licensing and merchandising art Ed did. Best of all, proceeds benefit Ed Hannigan directly!

This volume also features a new cover by Ed, and new tribute pieces from Mark Millar, Michael Avon Oeming, Jim Valentino, Herb Trimpe, and more!
NOTE: There will be ONLY ONE PRINTING OF THIS BOOK EVER! Get it now so you don’t blow your chance!
48 pages…$5.99
UPC: 5960607056-00111

ADD says: One of those weird moments where a corporate comics company does the right thing. Hannigan's covers were very much inspired by Frank Miller's 1980s work, and were almost always eye-catching and iconic. So this should be a pleasure for the eyes, and a vote for Marvel to take care of its creators.

CA says: Even if Hannigan wasn’t truly a clever and effective cover artist, hey, this is only $5.99. Skip a carmel frappuccino or two. Besides, he really was very good.

THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY KIRBY COVER HC
256 PGS./Rated A…$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4308-6
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY
The legend has come true! By the will of the gods, I am alive! I am invincible! I am — THOR!!! And so began the very first epic tale of Marvel’s most revered hero, the mighty Thor, whose legend would grow alongside the success of Marvel comics, making him the most exciting super hero of all time! Never has Thor been more sensational than during these early tales, crafted by Marvel’s greatest, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Re-live classic Norse mythology in the mighty Marvel manner as well as Stan and Jack’s stories of the Norse Gods and Thor before he came to Earth as Don Blake.

Witness as these masters breathe life into the thunder god and some of Marvel’s most enduring characters: Helmdall, Balder, Loki, Odin and Hela. Read these stories as never before with all-new, modern coloring by current THOR artist Olivier Coipel. Collecting THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY #1-6.
256 PGS./Rated A …$29.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-3921-8
Trim size: oversized

ADD says: I'd probably order this if the original colouring were being featured (or at least used as a basis for the new colouring). Having seen the single issues in the store, it's a bit too muddy for my tastes, but Kirby Kompletists may want to consider giving this a buy.

CA says: I’m leaning towards getting it, even with that caveat. Sure wish we had a Thor Omnibus first, though.

DC

JONAH HEX #50
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art and covers by Darwyn Cooke
Darwyn Cooke illustrates a double-sized anniversary issue as we hit #50! Jonah Hex discovers a secret being kept by Tallulah Black that could change everything Hex is about. But happiness has no place in the life of Jonah Hex, so what kind of tragedy awaits our disfigured gunslinger?

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Darwyn Cooke), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Darwyn Cooke). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale December 2 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US

ADD says: Darwyn Cooke is on my always-order list, and any time I've sampled this title it's been a solidly entertaining read. Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.

CA says: Should be good, and Cooke fans will probably have to wait a while if they think this will be collected any time soon.

THE CREEPER BY STEVE DITKO HC
Written by Steve Ditko, Don Segall, Dennis Neil and Michael Fleischer
Art by Steve Ditko and others
Cover by Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man, struck again in 1968 with the strange hero The Creeper. Now, for the first time, DC collects Ditko s Creeper epics from SHOWCASE #73, BEWARE THE CREEPER #1-6, 1ST ISSUE SPECIAL #7 and short stories from WORLD S FINEST COMICS #249-255.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 24 • 256 pg, FC, $39.99 US

ADD says: That's one hefty price-point, but I assume this will be packaged similarly to the Jack Kirby omnibus titles of the past couple of years. My mind's not totally made up -- my Ditko love swerves strongest to his Spider-Man and Charlton work -- but I'm definitely thinking about ordering this.

CA says: It’s probably not an order for me, but one to maybe pick up down the line. I’m curious about it as it’s one of those Ditko characters who don’t get written about very much between Spidey and his overtly Objectivist ones like Mr. A and The Question. Calling the stories “epics” seems to be exaggerating. I always wondered what that red fur stuff was about, and how he hid it under his clothes.