The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• MAY100799 FEVRE DREAM #5 (OF 10) (MR) $3.99
• MAY100800 FEVRE DREAM #5 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
• MAR100743 GRAVEL #20 (MR) $3.99
• MAR100744 GRAVEL #20 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
• JUN100791 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #4 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
• JUN100793 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #4 BLOOD THIRST CVR (MR) $3.99
• JUN100794 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #4 PAINTED CVR (MR) $3.99
• JUN100792 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #4 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

I’ve spent a day or two thinking about what I would say about Chicago Comic Con 2010.

Avatar co-founder William Christensen and I have known Gareb, his family, and the original staff since the earliest days of Wizard the magazine. I first noticed the magazine with Gareb and Co. sitting behind a folding table in a small room with a color photocopy of the McFarlane Spider-Man cover of Wizard #1 at a (now defunct distributor) Capital City retailer trade show in 1989. And I introduced myself to Gareb, his father, and longtime Wizard EIC Pat McCallum standing in line at a US premiere of Batman (the Keaton/Nicholson version) later that year.

In the two decades since then, Wizard has almost always been a polarizing presence in the comics industry. There are early Wizard employees whom I consider friends and have a great deal of respect for, who may respond to this piece with other perspectives. I respect that, and am well aware that I don’t know everything there is to know about the Wizard era.

But there is an aspect to the public conversation about Wizard that has never sat well with me — On the one hand, there is the public Wizard who was wildly successful, went on to be perceived as a symbol for what went wrong with 90′s comics, and then transmogrified into a convention organizer for wrestlers and geek movie stars. On the other hand, there is the Wizard who sent flowers to my mother’s funeral when they barely knew me as a guy who liked to write about Jack Kirby and cool indy books. Thinking about that just now as I’m typing this, I’m smiling about an early phone conversation where Gareb had asked me what was hot at the moment and I’d ignored sales trends and responded with an explanation of the merits of Nexus and Steve Rude.

I once told William that I thought Gareb would be just as happy publishing Car and Driver as he was Wizard. I meant it as a criticism, but in an era during which catering to niche nerdery is becoming bizarrely valuable, that sounds a lot less like disinterest than it does a knack for publishing geek information porn.

Bringing this full circle, I’m a bit disappointed at the buzz propagating this year that Wizard no longer cares about comics, which I think is a mistaken impression. There has long been internet skuttlebutt about the rift between the Big Two and Wizard, and the apparent preemptive counter-programming regarding guests at NYCC that I saw from Marvel on twitter last week as Chicago was about to get underway would seem to serve as the latest reminder that Marvel and Wizard are on the outs. My personal opinion is that this is a lot less about one individual’s lack of public advocacy for comics than it is about increasingly-gigantic media companies like Time-Warner and Disney exacting control over their increasingly-important geek culture images.

Make no mistake, NYCC and C2E2 organizers Reed Exhibitions are doing a great job with their entries into the comics industry (C2E2 was a hugely successful show for Avatar, contrary to the general news meme that the launch of the show underperformed), but conventions are far more important to the growth of the industry than people generally realize right now, and competition in this area serves everyone.

I think the creators on the ground are the first to realize this, and it was interesting to see a few major fan-favorites in artist’s alley and elsewhere who might otherwise have been ensconced inside the Marvel or DC cocoons.

Obviously I’m biased, but this year’s Chicago Con was a lot of fun for me — I talked to a lot of fans, bought a lot of comics (I’m currently a Golden Age DC guy, for the record), watched William work out deals with a lot of creators, and had zero time to consider which other publishers did or didn’t show up.

This year’s Chicago Comic Con has begun and we’ve already met lots of new fans and having a good time. Here’s a few pics from preview night:

Keep your eyes on our Chicago Comic Con photo set throughout the weekend.

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• MAY100785 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #3 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
• MAY100786 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #3  TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
• MAY100787 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #3 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
• DEC090694 SUPERGOD #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
• MAR100731 SUPERGOD #4 AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99
• DEC090695 SUPERGOD #4 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• JUN100802 ABSOLUTION #3 ALPHA ULTRA ACTION CVR (MR) $5.99
• JUN100788 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #1 CALGARY CONV EX CVR (MR) $3.99
• JUN100789 CROSSED HC VOL 01 C2E2 ED (MR) $32.99
• JUN100799 FEVRE DREAM #1 C2E2 ED (MR) $5.99
• JUN100790 FEVRE DREAM #2 AUXILIARY CVR (MR) $3.99
• JUN100801 SUPERGOD #1 CONV ED (MR) $3.99
• JUN100800 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #1 AUXILIARY CVR (MR) $3.99

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• JUN100779 ALAN MOORE NEONOMICON #1 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
• JUN100780 ALAN MOORE NEONOMICON #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
• APR100770 FEVRE DREAM #4 (OF 10) (MR) $3.99
• APR100771 FEVRE DREAM #4 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

All at Avatar Press booth #2701

Wednesday July 21
6:00 pm- 9pm – Signing: Max Brooks, Mike Wolfer, Brian Pulido, Jacen Burrows

Thursday July 22
9:30 am – 1:30 pm – signing –  Brian Pulido, Mike Wolfer
10:00 am – 1pm – signing – Max Brooks
10:00 am – 3 pm – signing  - Jacen Burrows
3:00 pm – 7 pm – signing – Max Brooks
3:00 pm – 7 pm- signing –  Brian Pulido, Mike Wolfer
4:30 pm – 7 pm – signing – Jacen Burrows

Friday July 23
9:30 am – 1:30 pm – signing –  Brian Pulido, Mike Wolfer
10:00 am – 1pm – signing – Max Brooks
11:00 am – 3 pm – signing  - Jacen Burrows
3:00 pm – 7 pm – signing – Max Brooks
3:00 pm – 7 pm- signing –  Brian Pulido, Mike Wolfer
4:30 pm – 7 pm – signing – Jacen Burrows

Saturday July 24
9:30 am- 12 pm – signing – Mike Wolfer, Brian Pulido, Jacen Burrows
12:30 pm- 5 pm – Signing – Max Brooks
1:00 pm- 5 pm – signing – Mike Wolfer, Brian Pulido, Jacen Burrows
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – William Christensen accepts submissions
5:30 pm – 5:30 – 6:30 Avatar Press and Max Brooks Panel.  Room 26AB

Sunday July 25
10:00 am – 3 pm – Signing – Max Brooks, Mike Wolfer, Brian Pulido, Jacen Burrows

See Also: Complete Avatar San Diego info, SDCC 2010 exclusives.

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• MAY100784 ABSOLUTION HC VOL 01 (MR) $34.99
• MAY100783 ABSOLUTION TP VOL 01 (MR) $24.99
• APR100773 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #3 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
• APR100775 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #3 BLOOD THIRST CVR (MR) $3.99
• APR100776 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #3 PAINTED CVR (MR) $3.99
• APR100774 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #3 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

SDCC is coming up way too soon and we’ll be there with lots of new Avatar graphic novels and merch including this sweet limited edition FreakAngels print by Paul Duffield.

And even if you can’t make it to San Diego, the print and the rest of our San Diego merch is already in the store and available for order.

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• MAY100802 ALAN MOORE NEONOMICON HORNBOOK WONDERCON ED (MR) $2.99
• MAY100803 CAPTAIN SWING #1 WIZARD TORONTO ED (MR) $3.99
• JAN100756 CAPTAIN SWING #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
• APR100784 CAPTAIN SWING #2 AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99
• JAN100757 CAPTAIN SWING #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
• OCT090737 CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD LAST BATTLE #4 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
• OCT090738 CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD LAST BATTLE #4 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
• APR100767 CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD LB #4 AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99
• MAY100790 CROSSED #8 CONVENTION ED (MR) $3.9
• MAY100789 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #1 AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99
• MAY100791 FEVRE DREAM #1 AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99
• MAY100796 GRAVEL #15 CONVENTION ED (MR) $3.99

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• APR100778 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #2 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
• APR100779 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #2 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
• APR100780 CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
• FEB100711 FEVRE DREAM #2 (OF 10) (MR) $3.99
• FEB100712 FEVRE DREAM #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• JAN100766 GRAVEL #19 (MR) $3.99
• JAN100767 GRAVEL #19 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• APR100762 FREAKANGELS TP VOL 04 (MR) $19.99
• APR100763 FREAKANGELS HC VOL 04 (MR) $27.99
• APR100764 FREAKANGELS HC VOL 04 ELLIS & DUFFIELD SGN ED (MR) $39.99
• APR100765 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD TP VOL 01 (MR) $24.99
• APR100766 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD SGN HC VOL 01 (MR) ) $34.99

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• APR100783 CAPTAIN SWING #1 MEGACON ED (MR) $3.99
• APR100782 CROSSED #8 NO LAW CVR (MR) $5.99
• MAR100725 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
• MAR100726 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 BLOOD THIRST CVR (MR) $3.99
• MAR100727 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 PAINTED CVR (MR) $3.99
• MAR100728 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99

Complete July and August info is now up in the store. Highlights include the Absolution Volume 1 collection and Neonomicon #1 — plus Crossed, Fevre Dream, and much more.

• July 2010 releases
• Aug 2010 releases

From award-winning creator Alan Moore comes a brand new tale of Lovecraftian horror that will leave you too afraid to close your eyes, but more afraid to open them. Created, written, and scripted for comics by Moore, NEONOMICON, the sequel to THE COURTYARD Graphic Novel, is slithering its way onto shelves to take its place as a Great Old One of comics terror. Illustrated by Moore’s favorite demented artist, Jacen Burrows, NEONOMICON pulls no punches as every full-colored page is covered in nightmares brought to gruesome life! The story begins some years after the chilling events of THE COURTYARD, in a world where two young and cocky FBI agents are investigating strange… and familiar murders. They think they’ve seen the worst monsters in America, but as they pull up to the maximum security asylum where one Aldo Sax speaks in strange tongues, Agents Brears and Lamper may be beginning to suspect that they’re about to see something so much worse. But they cannot begin to imagine the creeping insanity that has already begun to pull them under…

The Avatar Press comics and other items listed below are available in comic shops this week, according to our distributor. Most retailers in the U.S. display new shipments for the week beginning on Wednesday. Please ask your local stores about these items.

• FEB100699 CROSSED HC VOL 01 ENNIS & BURROWS SGN ED (MR) $49.99

The launch date of the eagerly-anticipated new horror series from Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows has finally been set — Neonomicon #1 will hit comic shops worldwide in August 2010. There are a couple things I’d like to point out about this, for starters:

This is brand new material from Alan Moore, developed, written, and scripted for comics entirely by Moore himself.

Also: You know who Alan Moore is: the creator of Watchmen, Miracleman, and countless other things. At this point you should know Jacen Burrow’s work too.  Jacen is fresh off one of the hottest series out there, CROSSED with Garth Ennis, and he’s worked with Garth, Warren Ellis, and Alan Moore in recent years.  Burrows is one of the industry’s true stars, and Neonomicon will be the series that proves that.  This is the work of an artist who has spent the last decade working on the best scripts that comics has to offer, his skills have absolutely soared in that time, and he’s just doing drop dead magic work on this book.

So: brand new horror from one of the best writers ever, drawn by one of the hottest artists going, and coming from a company infamous for its atmosphere of unchained creative freedom. That’s a pretty good pitch if I do say so.

We did a preview of the series recently which was called the Neonomicon Hornbook.  Here’s a look at that (these pages are from issue #1):

More info on Neonomicon coming very soon.

Nice interview with Garth by Rick Marshall at MTV Splashpage:

At the moment, I’m very encouraged by everyone I’ve spoken to at Kickstart — they get it,” he added. “They like ‘Crossed’ for what it is. No one has ever given me the impression they just want an image they can stick on a t-shirt, or a title without a story. They like the characters, they like the villains, and they like the notion of The Crossed. So that’s encouraging. As always, it’s hard to say where it will end up, though.”

Ennis said his script covers the first 10 issues of the “Crossed” series he wrote for Avatar, without any of the tie-ins or spin-off series they’ve launched subsequently. More accurately, the script will contain half of the first 10-issue run — the scary half.

Crossed: Family Values #1 by David Lapham and Javier Barreno is out in the US and elsewhere soon. What did you think? Let us know in the comments.