Well this looks like the thread to be critical of Atlas, so here goes. First I'd like to say, I really liked the original Atlas comics that came out in the mid 70's.

I was shocked when no more then 4 issues were ever published of any of the titles. I kept scratching my head for years, sure they would continue publishing at some point.

The concept of no more atlas, confused me even more when I got the story of what happened. How the guy that use to own Marvel, and made it succesfull decided to start up Atlas after selling Marvel. And pulling the plug on Atlas, after such a short amount of time, just because the books didn't explode right away. Which I think was a big mistake, because given a little more time, I think Atlas could have been a big competator to Marvel, as well as the rest of the comic book market.

I think though, if you were going to bring back 3 titles, I wouldn't have gone with wulf and the grim ghost. I think they were probably the weak end of the Atlas product. Phoenix however was an excellent choice. Real good story and very nice art. I would have picked planet of the vampires and morlock 2001, to go with Phoenix for a reboot.

Now for the Atlas titles being produced right now. The grim ghost, I don't see a lot of interest to the story, and the Kelly Jones artwork, has an ameturish look to it. I've reviewed Kelly's other modern works in other books and they don't look like that. So I'm assuming it's the inking that is giving it that effect. I get sort of the same impression with Phoenix. That there is some real good art there that is being held back, probably for the same reason. I like the story better on Phoenix, then I do on grim ghost. It seems to give me flashbacks to the original title. As for wulf, the art seems to come across the best of the 3 books, but the storyline didn't really grab me.

Another thing, the first book I picked up was Phoenix 1, and I really wasn't sure it was related to the 70s atlas line. I think you should pump the point more what these books are to people, especially on the cover of the books. Like maybe a big blurb on the cover saying BACK FROM THE PAST FOR ANOTHER BLAST! ATLAS! or something like that.

I am somewhere in the mid ground on variants. I enjoy the occasional variant (under $10 or less) but avoid series that have variants ever issue. I just paid out $30 for the Wulf variant that is limited to 100 copies as it's cool to have something limited to 100 but if Ardden/Atlas/At Last were putting something out like this every month I will prob drop the whole line (being another of those OCD completionists).

Earl.

Likewise. I'm a STORY completist, and sometimes an appearance completist. When I get into a character, I want to see every story he or she is involved in.

I consider variant covers as optional and truthfully, I struggle to grasp the "if I can't get everything, I'll get nothing" point of view. Not knocking it; different strokes and all. I just don't get it. If there are four covers for the same story, I'll appreciate the variety offered and select my favourite.

Dallas
Was that for the month of July ? .... or since July ? ........ it might have something to do with the fact that there has not been any new material from Atlas in months ? ..... I'm sure it would factor into the overall ranking ? .......

Personally I think they might do better with a little more "Retro" type comic ...... I loved the original Atlas line ...... I like the new stuff but its just too hard to avoid making comparisons from old to new .....

Hollywood

Agreed. I actually donated 90% of my collection to charity because of the lack of space and they drop in value. I kept less than 100 single issues and those that I did keep where the ones I enjoy reading to my kids at night...which I hope to pass on to them when I'm gone since the stories and art are excellent, IMO.

Even now I purchase (one of the last things I pay full price for) the single-issue books to show my support and read them but once the trades out I pick that up and either sell or donate the single issue....unless I'm really digging it.

Variant covers did nothing for me...back in the 90's and even less so to this day. Unless the cover was part of the story like in Solitaire and Watchmen...I could care less. Sure I have my favorite artist but I really don't like that variant covers side of the biz.

In NYC, you can find places that sell comics 4 for $1.00, 2 for $1.00 and $1.00 boxes...I find a lot variants covers in there from the 90's and some from 2010 too.

Variants covers aren't the move (unless I'm wrong and the numbers show otherwise) companies should stick to making a great yarn to keep us interested and involved and the rest of the success train will follow. We hope...

I'm getting to the point where I hate the "interlocking" variant covers to first issues like Atlas Unified, The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, and The Transformers: Robots in Disguise I would rather see the interlocking covers spread out through the course of the series instead of being wasted for one issue. Ardden and IDW could have had covers for the first 3 or 4 issues instead they wasted them on one issue.

Its for the month of July. Atlas actually put out some comics in July and when I checked the rankings none of them cracked the Top 300. Which is not a good sign.

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Pull List: Transformers & Green Lantern.