The bad news: $5.99 is what Astounishing #4 is going to cost. I swear that previous issue weren't that expensive -- was I unaware because I've never bought them on their own?

That price may be for the variant cover that Marvel just announced would be available (I can't find an official link, but it was mentioned on Mark Millar's board here). Marvel.com still lists the price as $2.99, so your store may be gouging.

I don't think that they are -- the price surprised me.

Okay, reading more carefully -- I see that what they said was that the compilation is coming out on the same date as #4.

I should clearly read my shipping labels more carefully. Fables 3 isn't pre-ordered, it's backordered. And the current run is waaay beyond it.

Posted just in case anyone is keeping track of just how boneheaded I can be.

In better news, my Planetary collections are in. Here's hoping there's an IC#3 in stock, too.

DC Comics is going to be the reason I will never get out of debt. Today's haul:

Robin Unmasked TPB
IC #3
Teen Titans #14
Nightwing #96
Legends of the Dark Night #182

Nightwing and Legends had annyoing promo CDs for the Sky Captain movie. Like I need 2 of them. (Or 1, for that matter.)

If I were to succumb and pick up this War Games stuff, can someone give me a title list? Also, duration of my insanity?

Three months, ita. August through October, inclusive.

All the Bat titles (Detective Comics, Legends of the Dark Knight, Gotham Knights, and Batman), as well as Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Robin.

Plus last week's 12-Cent Adventure.

One person's annoying promo is another's exciting promo, with a spare copy to share with other geeks in the office who are Marvel-only.

Three months of nine titles.

Check.

I need to get a promotion. And also to find my one twoo comic store. Didn't buy my comics on lunch break, so I can scout near home. I don't like this feeling of delay.

On the upside, I spent the lunch break reading about the science of Superman. Interesting book so far, because the writer is taking pains to explain general principles (say, of planetary formation) before getting to the Supes nitty-gritty (red sun, one supercontintent). Doubtless he's drawing some easy conclusions, and isn't saying "Admittedly unlikely, but" near as much as may need to.

Still, I feel all edjermacated and shit. Just uncomicked.

Teppy -- I'm getting what you're getting PLUS GC.

Teppy -- I'm getting what you're getting PLUS GC.

You're looking at around $30, then.