TOP SALES CHARTS FOR ACTUAL SALES IN JULY, 2006
by Jonah Weiland, Executive Producer
Posted: August 12, 2006

Below you'll find Market Shares based on actual sales of product shipped in July, 2006, as provided by Diamond Comics Distributors.

(excerpt)

Top 300 Comics

Rank	Title
1	CIVIL WAR #3 (Of 7)
2	JUSTICE LEAGUE O/AMERICA #0
3	NEW AVENGERS #22
4	52 WEEK #11
43	JSA #87
74	RED SONJA #12

Top 100 Graphic Novels/TPB's

Rank	Title
7	SUPERMAN INFINITE CRISIS TP
50	AVENGERS ASSEMBLE VOL 3 HC

I own the cover and rough cover to JSA #87 and it is posted at ComicArtFans.com.

JSA #87 Cover (2006), art by George Pérez, from Wayne Mousseau

JSA #87 Sketch (2006), art by George Pérez, from Wayne Mousseau

LINE OF FIRE REVIEWS: JSA #87
Posted: Tuesday, July 11
By: Michael Bailey

(excerpt)

Commentary: If anyone was going to write the finale of this particular Justice Society series besides Geoff Johns then it had to be Paul Levitz. While the plot of this story arc comes right out of his initial run with the team, Levitz managed to keep the characterization and dialogue strictly within the current incarnation. Jay Garrick and Ted Grant were given some nice screen time, but so were Mister Terrific, Jakeem and Stargirl. Overall, the story had a high adventure vibe to it. I mean, how many JSA related stories end not only in a sword fight between a former boxing champion and a ghost but between opposing armies of phantoms? It's strange and everything about the concept says that it shouldn't work, but it does.

[ Read more LINE OF FIRE REVIEWS: JSA #87 ]

JSA #87 (Jul 2006) DC Comics DEFINITIVE SHI (Jul 2006) ALTER EGO COLLECTION #1 (Jul 2006) CRISIS ACTION FIGURE SERIES 2: LEX LUTHOR (Jun 2006) CRISIS ACTION FIGURE SERIES 2: ANTI - MONITOR (Jun 2006) CRISIS ACTION FIGURE: THE MONITOR (Jun 2005)

Shipping This Week: July 5, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006 10:42:09 AM

The following products are expected to ship to comic book specialty stores this week. Note that this list is tentative and subject to change. Please check with your retailer for availability.

PLEASE NOTE: REGULAR SHIPMENTS FOR THIS WEEK MAY BE DELAYED DUE TO THE U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR RETAILER FOR MORE DETAILS.

DEC050350 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 2 ANTI MONITOR AF (RES) PI
DEC050351 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 2 BARRY ALLEN FLASH AF ( PI
DEC050352 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 2 EARTH 2 SUPERMAN AF (R PI
DEC050348 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 2 INNER CASE (RES) PI
DEC050349 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 2 MASTER CASE (RES) PI
DEC050353 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 2 ROBOT BRAINIAC AF (RES PI

MAY060174 JSA #87 $2.99

DEC050345 NPR CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 MONITOR AF PI
DEC050346 NPR CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 PSYCHO PIRATE AF PI
DEC050344 NPR CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 ROBIN AF PI
DEC050347 NPR CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 SUPERGIRL AF PI

JAN062955 DEFINITIVE SHI THE ESSENTIAL WARRIOR VOL 1 TP (OF 3) $24.99
APR063420 ALTER EGO COLLECTION VOL 1 TP $21.95

DC COMICS SOLICITATIONS FOR PRODUCT SHIPPING JULY, 2006
by Jonah Weiland, Executive Producer
Posted: April 17, 2006

DC Comics has provided CBR News with their solicitation text and cover images for comics and product shipping in July of 2006. Discuss these solicitations here on CBR's DC Comics forum and tell fellow fans what you plan on picking up.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #0 (Jul 2006)

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #0
Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Ed Benes, George Perez, Jim Lee, J.H. Williams, Gene Ha, Dick Giordano, Eric Wright, Tony Harris, Kevin Maguire, Dan Jurgens, Howard Porter, Luke McDonnell, Rags Morales, Ethan Van Sciver and Phil Jimenez
Cover by Michael Turner
Variant cover by J. Scott Campbell

The most anticipated book of the year is finally here! Best-selling author Brad Meltzer broke the JLA down in the top-selling, critically acclaimed Identity Crisis - and now he puts all the pieces back together again! Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The core heroes of the DCU are back - but after Infinite CrisiS, where do they stand with each other? Here's the definitive answer, brought to you with the brilliant art of Ed Benes, George Perez, Jim Lee, J.H. Williams, Gene Ha, Dick Giordano, Eric Wright, Tony Harris, Kevin Maguire, Dan Jurgens, Howard Porter, Luke McDonnell, Rags Morales, Ethan Van Sciver, Phil Jimenez and others. Join us for this historic and unforgettable new beginning of the Justice League of America as we look at the past, present and future of the World's Greatest Super Heroes! On sale July 19 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Edited by Eddie Berganza

JSA #87 (Jul 2006) DC Comics

JSA #87 Written by Paul Levitz Art by Rags Morales, Jerry Ordway and Luke Ross Cover by George Pérez Everything comes together in this shocking final issue that paves the way for the next chapter in the adventures of the world's first superteam! The JSA's violent final battle against the Gentleman Ghost pits them against a vicious army of evil dead that may spell the end for the team - and their home - as we know it! On sale July 6 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US o Final Issue

WITCHBLADE TRADE PAPERBACK #11 (Jul 2006)

IMAGE COMICS SOLICITATIONS FOR PRODUCT SHIPPING JULY, 2006
by Jonah Weiland, Executive Producer
Posted: April 18, 2006

Image Comics has provided CBR News with covers and solicit information for product shipping July, 2006. Discuss these solicitations here on CBR's Image Comics forum and tell fellow fans what you plan on picking up. Witchblade Trade Paperback Volume 11
(W) Ron Marz (P)Mike Choi, Keu Cha and Chris Bachalo (C ) Buccellato, Oback

Ron Marz continues his rave-receiving run in Witchblade issues #86-92. The enigmatic Curator continues to give Gleason and Sara just enough information to leave them with more questions until the origin of the Blade is revealed to Sara in issue #92. Keu Cha, Chris Bachalo, Mike Choi, Brandon Peterson, Marc Silvestri, Eric Basaldua, Francis Manapul, Darwyn Cooke, J. Michael Linsner, Bart Sears, Luke Ross AND George Perez join together to create one of the most beautiful stories of Witchblade history!

Full color 192 pages $14.99 Trade Paperback

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #1 (2006) DC BIBLE (Unofficial Name) (2007) NEW TEEN TITANS: GAMES (2008) INFINITE CRISIS #5 (Perez Cover) (Mar 2006) RED SONJA (Dynamic Forces) (2005) JSA #87 (Jul 2006) DC Comics

Well, it's time for an all-too-infrequent update on what's going on at the International House of Pérez. I've read quite a number of posts on various message boards asking such things as"When will George be starting on THE BRAVE & THE BOLD?", "Will GAMES: THE TITANS GRAPHIC NOVEL ever come out?", "Is he working on the DC character turn-arounds for DC's official bible?" "Will that art be made available to the buying public?"

Well here are some answers, a few unfortunately vague because, quite truthfully, I'm not sure of the answers myself.

DC's big event books have really put a major monkey wrench in the production of the monthly books (not to mention some of the event books themselves). Because of my involvement in INFINITE CRISIS, which seems to grow with every issue, I've not been available to start anything on B & B except for the first issue's cover, which was done months ago in anticipation of my starting the actual title in November of 2005. That cover was supposed to appear in the WIZARD issue announcing DC's 2006 schedule of new titles. It was yanked when it became obvious that I could not start the book until after my return from vacation in late January so the release schedule was still undetermined. That vacation, planned over a year ago as a partial celebration of Carol's and my 25th Wedding Anniversary, also explains why I will have no interior art in IC #5. Upon my return I learned that Mark Waid, now heavily immersed in writing his share of 52, had not been able to work on B &B during my absence and will likely not be able to do so for a couple of months. I'm not hurting for work, however, as there are plenty of pages to draw for IC 6 & 7, far more than I had imagined when I agreed to help out on the project. INFINITE CRISIS' schedule overrules all others for the next two months. That includes B &B and any art for the DC Bible.

As for the character art for the DC Bible (not its official name, by the way), I really have no idea whether it will appear in a published format, although I think it would be cool if I do a good enough job to warrant such a publication. Lord knows the royalties would be nice. But, until I can actually start on drawing them the subject's rather moot.

The official status of GAMES is a bit more tricky. With all the post-IC work I have lined up, I don't see how I will have the time to get back on the graphic novel. Quite honestly, and honesty can be quite brutal, I wouldn't hold my breath on it ever being released. I know that my wonderful friend and co-creator Marv Wolfman is still guardedly optimistic on the resurrection of this project (a lot of that positive thinking having been fueled by me two years ago when I stated my intent to complete the art), but my subsequent exclusive contract with DC has prompted the company to utilize my talents on more current projects aimed at forming DC's future rather than just basking in the nostalgia of its past. The completed art in GAMES is over 15 years old, although it does hold up pretty damn well, in my opinion. I guess it could conceivably be restarted yet again, but it seems to become more unlikely with each new DC assignment in each passing new year. For that, I am sincerely sorry-- For Marv, for inker Mike Perkins who signed a Marvel exclusive since inking ten of the un-inked pages, for Al Vey, who had inked the earlier pages over a decade ago, for color artist Tom Smith, for the fans who have waited so long and whose hopes may be dashed yet again-- and, finally, for me. It would have been nice to put closure to the project. Oh, and for those who suggested that some other artist or artists finish the project, I suggested the same thing years ago. Unfortunately, DC only wanted this as a Wolfman/Pérez Titans story; so, without me, it's not getting done. An unfortunate Catch-22, I'm afraid. Still, there is always that small glimmer of hope. After all, what if I'm done with all my IC stuff and there's still no B & B work ready? You never know.

I do have some non-IC work down the pipe, mostly covers. I still have two more JSA covers to draw and I've drawn a RED SONJA cover for Dynamite Comics (part of an agreement that pre-dated my DC exclusive) and still have a few covers to draw for that company. There's also the cover for the final collection of my WONDER WOMAN work. I've been approached by Wildstorm for a cover, but I haven't followed up on that yet.

I am grateful that there are so many fans out there for which my continuing output seems to actually matter. Thanks for the support, the kind words, and even the critiques. Despite illnesses and setbacks, I'm thankful for the loyalty and affection of my fans. Along with the love and support of my wife, family and friends, it's what gives me the drive to get up in the morning and face that drawing board and peer into the snow-white blankness of the page-- and make my mark.