Welcome again to Heroine Addict!'s preview page, where I'll be going through Previews Vol. XVII #10 and picking out anything that looks to be of note heroine-wise. If anything piques your interest, ask your local comic shop about it, or go online and hunt around for details - there's a lot of comics out there, but it doesn't cost anything to dig up the info to see whether you'll like 'em or not. Again, I'm skipping Dark Horse for the most part - they have Buffy Season Eight (issue #9 is solicited), but you all know I'm not digging that, and the Frazetta Egyptian Queen statue is way out of my budget at $350. Besides, I don't know about you, but there's something about Frazetta that I've never found translates really well into statue form, in any of the various attempts I've seen. DC has Countdown: Arena fronting its section, which I'm kind of cold on - I don't really like the idea of dipping back into these Elseworlds stories that were, by and large, intended to exist on their own, and trying to bring them together, it's all a bit too professional-wrestling staged. Countdown to Adventure #5 has Animal Man on the cover, and this week's issue looks promising (more on the main page). Countdown Presents the Search for Ray Palmer: Superwoman/Batwoman #1 is one I'm on the fence about - Superwoman and Batwoman themselves (these are the Elseworlds versions, not Kate Kane Batwoman) I'm keen on seeing, but that the story is tying into Countdown, the extra-Countdown Ray Palmer arc, and from the solicitation seems to involve the Elseworlds version of the lacklustre Amazons Attack... that's a lot of reasons why it might not be worth the effort. I'll just have to have a look when it hits the shelf and see what I think then. Speaking of Kate Kane, she'll be showing up in Crime Bible: The Five Lessons of Blood #3, starring Renee Montoya, so that's a must-have twice over. Gotham Underground #3 meanwhile is promoting itself with lots of Batman villains I don't really care about, so if Batwoman appears in #1 as was suggested a while back, I may just get that issue for form's sake and ignore the rest. Booster Gold #5, though, will no doubt make Heather happy, with Booster getting into the Killing Joke. 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen is another book I take a look at this week, and #5 features Wonder Woman vs War, which should be a pretty kick-ass confrontation. Supergirl #24 fulfils one of the things I wished the title had done ages ago, which is get out into space and have some big adventures, instead of Kara slumming it on Earth pretending to be a regular teenager and having a crush on boy heroes (sooo boring) - but I've made the switch to trades for Supergirl, so that's where I'll stay. Justice Society of America #11 has a gorgeous Alex Ross cover invoking Kingdom Come - hands off Cyclone though, KC Superman. Justice League of America #16 (I bought #13 today, my first JLA issue) features a female Flash, which could be fun - based on what I read today, it'll be a good title no matter what happens. I'm giving Wonder Girl a miss, but Wonder Woman #15 has a dream team, with Gail Simore writing and the Dodsons on art - if they can't make WW a good book, there's no hope left in the world. Speaking of Gail, there's a trade paperback of her 'Hypothetical Woman' arc of JLA Classified - I'll certainly take a look at that. Infinite Crisis finally gets a TPB (I'll get it, mainly just to see what all the fuss is about - though I hear Bulleteer is in a panel or two somewhere), but the one I'll really be looking out for is the second volume of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. - the first volume was an absolute gem. The fourth trade of Manhunter,'Unleashed', is coming - not a title I've read, but I'd like to check it out soon, if my budget allows. Shadowpact vol. 2 is also on the way; the first volume was decent, and I'm told it gets better after that. Skipping over Wildstorm and Vertigo (nothing caught my eye), there's a Terra action figure in the upcoming New Teen Titans Series 2 that looks like it'd make the perfect basis for a custom Squirrel Girl figure - I may give that a try myself. The Women of the DC Universe Batwoman bust is a must-have, and something of a bargain at $55 for a fan like me. Wonder Woman series 1 is a line I've had my eye on for a while, and I may actually get the whole wave: Diana Prince, Diana as Wonder Woman, Donna Troy as Wonder Woman, and Circe. On to Image, and Bomb Queen VI #4 looks grim, with BQ going to Hell itself - should be a blast. Top Cow doesn't have a new issue of Madame Mirage solicited, which is a shame - it's a fun book, but judging by the first two issues I think it may really need to come out regularly, month after month, to build some momentum - otherwise, it risks losing its pace, and it's not a story that I think could do that without cost. Marvel time, and Ultimates 3 is on the cover of Marvel Previews - but aside from Ultimate Vision, I've never much cared for the Ultimate Universe. Amazing Spider-Man #546, #547 and #548 are solicited, all written by Dan Slott with Steve McNiven on art - it's not a heroine book, but I'm tempted to get the first arc, just to be up to date on Spidey as he enters his three-times-a-month phase, and because Slott's a great writer. Annihilation: Conquest #2 has the awesome Quasar sharing the cover with Star-Lord, who was pretty cool in the Prologue. Avengers: The Initiative #8 brings us to graduation time - it seems kinda soon since the trainees arrived, but I guess with only twelve issues in a year, they have to pace this fairly quick-ish. Ms. Marvel graces the cover of Captain Marvel #2, but I'll probably still skip it - Jenkins' 'Civil War: The Return' reintroduction of Mar-Vell was really sub-par, and it's left me quite disinterested in the character. Likewise the Giant-Size Avengers Special #1, which I'll have to take a look at to see if there's enough heroines among all the guys and old reprints to make it worth buying. She-Hulk (in what looks like her Magistrati robes) makes an appearance in Howard the Duck #3, and I'm kind of tempted to get that four-issue miniseries, between that and Juan Bobillo's art. My interest in House of M: Avengers is fading though, so I may sit it out. Marvel Comics Presents #4 continues Weapon Omega (which might be good), Hellcat (which is good) and Vanguard (which is great), and the new segment features the Outlaw Kid... so I'll get it, but just for Hellcat and Vanguard. Ms. Marvel #22 has a fun cover featuring three distinctive Carol costumes, which evidently ties into the story somehow - the Brood also appear. She-Hulk #24 by Peter David looks to be the one which, after the two-part intro, will settle down and really establish her setting for David's run on the title - the Mike Deodato cover is, as always, gorgeous. The Order #6 looks like all kinds of fun, with my current favourite Becky featuring on the cover, and all kinds of running stories touched on in the solicitation text. What If: Civil War is one I'll definitely get, but there's really no way to know how good it'll be until it ships. Elektra gets a bust in her black outfit - looks good, mainly because she's missing the hanky on her head (I can't stand that). The Sue Storm statue looks great, but seeing as she's not using her powers, and not in uniform, it's basically just a $150 statue of a woman in a dress. The first arc of Mighty Avengers is out in hardcover, and I think it'll be a great read all at once. The Ultimate Vision trade paperback will be out, which is promising as it suggests they're planning on getting around to the final issue at some point. Heroes for Hire have their third trade, collecting the World War Hulk arc, which is looking pretty promising at this stage. And Fantastic Four Visionarie: John Byrne wraps up Byrne's run with volume eight, featuring She-Hulk during her tenure as an FF member. On to the miscellaneous section, where I'll no doubt miss a bunch of titles I should be paying attention to... let me know via the Comments link if you spot something I should be talking about. Money's a bit tight at present, but there's still a few titles that are tempting me. The Long Count from Archaia looks like it might be interesting - if the phrase 'Mayan steampunk' doesn't sound like fun, you don't know what fun is. Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #43 is reoffered (Tarot, being bi-monthly, has off months) - it's a terrific one-shot story which I can't recommend highly enough, very fulfilling and imaginative even if you know nothing about the title going into it. Jungle Girl #4 promises more fun adventure and mystery; the cover's not shown, possibly due to Frank Cho's workload at the moment getting him down, but no doubt it'll be worth it when it ships. Hack/Slash #7 features 'hot tubs, bikinis, sexy students at an all-women's college, blood cults, murder' - what more do you want? Bloodrayne: Automaton hasthe sexy Rayne facing what looks like a big ol' robot, which could be fun. Dominatrix by Gene Simmons is a title I keep thinking I should take a look at, but haven't yet been able to fit into my budget - #5 promises Dominatrix learning the origin of her newfound powers. Atomic Robo #3 from Red 5 has a mobile pyramid and solar-powered death ray, which sounds like all kinds of pulp sci-fi fun (if you don't recall, it's by Brian Clevinger, who does 8-Bit Theater, so it's guaranteed awesome). Jenna Jameson's Shadow Hunter #0 will no doubt be mocked by the oh-so-smartass internet forum crowd, but I'm getting a fun vibe off the project that makes me want to check it out - #0 is only 25c, so there's no reason not to. On to toys and stuff, and Marvel Legends series 3 features Marvel Girl, with a using-powers variant or some such thing (it doesn't look as good as the regular one), plus Danger, which looks weird but could be quite cool in person. It's difficult to tell from the photo how good the likeness is on Starbuck from the Battlestar Galactica series 2 line, but who cares, I am not missing out on a Starbuck. The Buffy action figures continue to turn up lacklustre semi-articulated figures rather than concentrating on the super-articulated versions like they should, which I'd say is why the line is in trouble - character choice is a bit of a concern too, with a very dull-looking Buffy from 'Primevil' (come on guys, that was not a great episode), a fairly generic Cordelia from her final appearance on Angel (by which time that was sucking hard too), and Glory, of all the half-assed villains - these really aren't up to the standard of such figures as the excellent super-articulated Willow (reviewed today). Star Trek is reoffering the Next Generation Picard/Troi wave of figures, so I'll be looking out for a Deanna to go with Beverly. Witchblade, meanwhile, is featured in a $179 statue that proves that less is not always more - cutting the armour down to just a g-string, bikini and low boots actually doesn't really do much - either do a proper armour, or just have Sara naked, make up your mind. There's no way I can afford the $800 price tag, but the Life-Size Animated Princess Leia statue would be a blast to see in person - the cartoon style is quite nice, and she looks oh-so-sultry in her classic white dress, showing some thigh and ready for action with a blaster pistol. The Doctor Who Six-Figure Box Set features a lovely rendition of Rose, but I just can't justify paying for six figures just to get her. And finally, from the Justice League Desk Accessories, there's a Wonder Woman pen holder that looks really cute - I don't need a pen holder, but I may get her anyway. Well folks, that's Previews for another month - hope you found something new to take a look at, and if it was something I missed, let me know:    [September 2007]