That’s a rhetorical question, since I’m not going anywhere. (I’m sure that won’t stop a few of my “fans” from attempting to answer the question– either publicly or privately.) I won’t bore you with the details, but the revamp that is IMJ 2.0 proceeds apace… Even though it is amazingly time-consuming. Which is why I haven’t written this weekly column since last November… By the time I get done with all the future planning, I’m literally too beat to write this column. But that’s all going to change. Believe it or not, there are a lot of readers that apparently love this column– and the definitive graphic novel and manga release list that I triple check before publishing– so I’m gonna force myself to write the Pull List as much (and as timely) as possible from now on.

I actually miss (and regret) not writing it every week. And there are a lot of things I want to talk about… Like Marvel suddenly ditching the dust jackets on their hardcovers– without reducing the cover prices… Or DC finally relenting and shrink-wrapping their expensive hardcovers again… Or how many graphic novels are suddenly more expensive than their comic single counterparts… Or… Well, you get the idea.

Like a package of Nutter Butter cookies, I’ll get to them all eventually.

I’m sorta breaking my rule here… As I haven’t read this comic book collection– even though I am recommending it. So what’s so special about Dark Horse’s Dream Thief Vol 1 that would cause me to eschew my (very important to me) self-imposed commandment to never recommend something I haven’t read?

Nothing really. Seriously, I knew nothing about this comic… And I wasn’t familiar enough with the writer and artists involved to blindly buy the Trade based on my experiences with any of them.

And by saying “nothing”– I promise that’s not some snarky, clever put down of the book or the creators involved. After all, I just told you I bought the book.

No, the biggest reason I bought Dream Thief Vol 1 was my ability to easily locate and read a six-page preview. It sure as hell wasn’t the reproduction of the extremely mediocre Alex Ross cover that drew me in. In fact, I can unequivocally state the following: Had I been faced with just that cover and the short, rather generic description for the Trade– I would not have purchased Dream Thief Vol 1.

But the preview won me over quick. I loved the art (and unique use of white space) and the snappy dialogue. I may not know if the entire book sucks– but what I saw in those six pages makes me want to know. And that’s exactly what a preview should do– provide me with enough information to know if I want to buy a collection or not.

Bravo, Dark Horse! If only every company had your balls and marketing savvy. With so many comics released every month, it’s rather impossible to know if all are worthy of our hard-earned cash… And, as even the casual fan knows, previews make the choice so much easier. Too bad we can’t get most comic publishers to understand this need.

So here I am, once again, starting another crusade by calling on all the companies– even Marvel & DC– to follow suit. And not just here and there… Not just for the more obscure, arcane titles in their line-ups. If you want to earn our money for your often over-priced Hardcovers and Trade Paperbacks, I sincerely suggest you provide your fans with much needed previews for every one of them. You published the books, right? Put your company logo on them? Pushed them out into the market with your full approval? Then preview the damn things. You’ve certainly got the digital files already. Put a goddamn sample of your product where your prissy egos are– and have the guts to really show off your goods.

You’ll sell more books… You truly will. And I suspect if you look at the preview of Dream Thief Vol 1 just below, you’ll agree with my quality assessment and see why it was so important in my purchasing decision. Hell, you may even buy a copy yourself the minute you finish reading it… Just like I did.

47 Ronin HC
AGC Collected Works Adventures Into The Unknown vol 6 HC
AGC Collected Works Forbidden Worlds Vol 4 Slipcase Edition HC
Airboy Archive Vol 1 – Only so many  comics I can re-read
All-New X-Men Vol 2 Here To Stay – Own the Hardcover
Avengers Absolute Vision Vol 2 – See Airboy comment
Bad Machinery Vol 2 The Case Of The Good Boy
Batman Unwrapped By Andy Kubert Deluxe Edition HC – Overkill
Captain Midnight Archives Vol 2 HC
Casebook Of Bryant And May Soho Devil Slipcase HC – Own another version
Chronos Commandos Dawn Patrol Collection HC – Didn’t like the art
City In The Desert Vol 2 The Serpent Crown HC
Crossed Volume 8 HC
Crossed Volume 8 SC
Daredevil Dark Nights – Looking forward to it
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Corpse Maker
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Illegal Alien
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Prisoner Of Daleks
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Sands Of Time
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Scales Of Injustice
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Shakedown
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Sting Of The Zygons
Doctor Who The Monster Collection Edition Touched By An Angel
Dream Thief Vol 1 – Hot Pick of the Week!
Ehmm Theory Vol 1
End Times Of Bram And Ben
Fantastic Four Vol 3 Doomed
FF Vol 2 Family Freakout
GI Joe Complete Collection Vol 4 HC
Grimm Fairy Tales Wonderland Vol 4 – Oh, Hell No!
Intron Depot Vol 5 Battalion – Wow! Where did this come from?!?
It Came! HC
Justice League Trinity War HC – Ugh. POS* of the Week!
Lucifer Vol 3 – Read it already
Marvel’s Captain America First Avenger Screenplay
Marvel’s Captain America Winter Soldier Prelude – Not biting again, Marvel!
Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble Vol 1 Digest – No digests!
Peanuts Vol 3 – These trades are fun!
Rubicon – Looked interesting…
Silk Road To Ruin
Stray Bullets Uber Alles Edition – Limited edition!
Thor God Of Thunder Vol 3 The Accursed HC
Unity Vol 1 To Kill A King
US Banzai Battalion Just Another Bug Hunt
Wolverine Vol 2 Killable
Wonder Woman Vol 3 Iron
Wonder Woman Vol 4 War HC

Arata The Legend Vol 17
Attack On Titan Before The Fall Vol 1
Attack On Titan Junior High Vol 1
Drifters Vol 3
Fullmetal Alchemist 3-In-1 Edition Vol 7
My Little Monster Vol 1
Ranma 1/2 2-In-1 Edition Vol 1 – Finally! Manga Pick of the Week!
Sherlock Bones Vol 4