Innovation's '91 DS Comic, Book 2

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Midnite and I have decided to move forward in 2019 with Book 2 of Innovation's '91 DS comic series. And with that in mind, here's some artwork for a potential cover for Book 2, Issue 1 that SG #62 shared in October 1992:

As you'll see, a certain theme was kept but the actual cover is different...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And here's part of what SG #62 had to share about the opening plot for Book 2, Issue 1 -

- though as you can see I've redacted small parts of it, and that is because it gives away too much too soon and I'd prefer that the redacted elements unfold in the comic...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

As you may recall, Book 1, Issue 3 included a scene that foreshadowed the neighbors of Book 2's "hobby":

Regarding today's quotes -

Book One/Issue Three/Page 9 - Roger's voice: 'WHY DO
 YOU BOTHER SEEING THOSE TWO OLD BATS, MAGGIE?'

- and -

Book One/Issue Three/Page 9 - Maggie's voice: 'I JUST
GAVE TAROT READINGS FOR BOTH OF THEM, ROGER.'
Maggie's voice: 'THEY GAVE ME THIS IN RETURN. ONE
OF THEIR STONE SCULPTURES.'

- much of Page 9 of Book 1, Issue 3 lays the foundation for Book 2's storyline. And if you remember that storyline, there's a lot more to what's presented than might appear at first...

Though one does have to wonder why Roger refers to them as "TWO OLD BATS" because, well, we'll see why once they show up. But that's not even the only instance when he refers to them as old. He also did so in July 26's first quote:

Book One/Issue Three/Page 9 - Roger: 'TALENTED
OLD NEIGHBORS WE HAVE. ODD, BUT TALENTED.'

And in addition to foreshadowing their "hobby", the scene also foreshadowed:

Book One/Issue Three/Page 9 - Maggie: '...BUT I SAW
A STRANGER IN THEIR FUTURE.'

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Here's the front cover of Book Two/Issue One -

(Click here for a 1328X1996 version (without any of the artifacts that the forum's system created when downsizing the image))

This time around the covers are drawn by one artist, Hector Gomez, and the story is drawn by another artist, Jose Pimentel...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And here's the inside cover -

(Click here for a 1328X1996 version)

And don't be fooled by Maggie Thompson's signature and think that Book 2, Issue 1 came out in January 1993 because it didn't actually come out until April...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

SG #63 from January of 1993 shared this publicity from Innovation:

(Click here for a 814X738 version)

SG shrunk things so much that even in SG one can barely read what the ad says. But using a magnifying glass I was able to figure out:

'    Here it is: Book Two of the beloved Dark Shadows saga. It's all-new four
part story tells the tale of a young stranger Nathan, who is curse with
the ability to read the minds of those he touches -- and he has just (spoiler)
(spoiler) What does he learn of (spoiler)
(spoiler)... and the serets of Collinwood's (spoiler)?
     In full color, Dark Shadows Book Two #1, "Lost In Thought," is written by
Comic Buyer's Guide luminary Maggie Thompson, edited by David Campiti and
Scott Rockwell, and magnificently painted by Jose Pimentel. Elegant cover
painting by Hector Gomez!'

You might decipher the spoilers yourself - but that's up to you.

And I had to laugh when I read that the issue was shipping February 22nd to be in stores March 8th. Subscriber copies didn't even mail until April 11th. After I dig out SG #64, it'll be interesting to see if Innovation explained the delay. But then, delays were just par for the course with the series...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And I had to laugh when I read that the issue was shipping February 22nd to be in stores March 8th. Subscriber copies didn't even mail until April 11th. After I dig out SG #64, it'll be interesting to see if Innovation explained the delay.

Curiosity got the better of me and I just checked. There was no explanation of the delay. In fact, Mr. Campiti claimed the issue shipped "on time" on March 31st. How quickly he forgot Innovation's own publicity material - or perhaps he simply hoped that everyone else had.

He also made a claim about future releases that definitely didn't pan out. He really should have never made any references to time frames unless or until something had actually been released. I suppose he was always being optimistic. But still, each subsequent delay that occurred only made Innovation look more and more foolish, if not worse, as they continually missed release dates...

[Uncle Roger]

I didn't buy a lot of Innovation Comics back then; most of their product didn't appeal to me. But I do remember that late shipping was a problem with their entire line, not just the Dark Shadows book. The Innovation trademark of painted artwork, rather than the traditional pen and ink art was probably responsible for some of the delays. But a lot can be blamed on the publishers. Early success led to over expansion, which led to more and more delays.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Here's the first page -

(Click here for a 1328X1996 version (without any of the artifacts that the forum's system created when downsizing the image))

Note the missing dialogue and panels that weren't included in the slideshow.

Also, there's a clue on the page to something upcoming...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

I particularly like how yesterday's two quotes and -

Book Two/Issue One/Page 2 - Nathan: 'CAN'T BREATHE--
--CLOSED IN-- --OVERWHELMING FEELING--'

Book Two/Issue One/Page 2 - Nathan: '"--OF
SUFFOCATION--"'

- today's quote flow -

Book Two/Issue One/Page 3 - Pete: '...BEEN SUFFOCATIN'
IN THE JOINT FOR TOO LONG--'

And if you haven't figured out who Pete is, which would be close to impossible given what we've seen so far, fret not because all will become clear soon.

Also, as fun as it is to give a compliment, one also has to taketh away when necessary because who knows where Jose Pimentel got the idea that the Blue Whale sign looks the way he drew it when in the series it looks like this:

And no one knows that better than the cousin here who owns the sign (having purchased it during the '05 Fest auction) and rightfully has it displayed above a bar in their house...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Here's the second page -

(Click here for a 1328X1996 version (without any of the artifacts that the forum's system created when downsizing the image))

Note there's only one missing panel and no missing dialogue.

Also, there's another clue on this page to the something upcoming that I alluded to...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Just in case you might think that the blond depicted in today's graphic is Pete because Pete's line is the one quoted, you'd be wrong. The blond is -

Book Two/Issue One/Page 3 - Pete: 'I AIN'T SEEN THE
PLACE IN THE FOUR YEARS THE STATE SENT ME ON
VACATION, AND IT WAS FALLING APART THEN!'

- Fred (and I didn't pick any of his lines for the slideshow, the reasoning behind which will become apparent once we see what type of lines he gets versus the ones Pete gets).

Pete is actually the guy who's shadowed. Though don't read anything "shadowy" about Pete into that because in a panel that's been skipped he has been seen in the light along with Fred and Sam Evans, who's wearing a Santa hat, no less. Sam has the distinction of being the first established and beloved DS character to appear in Book 2, but you won't see him until I post Page 3...

As we'll see as the scene progresses, Pete and Fred are planning to break into and steal something from "AN OLD HOUSE NEAR A MANSION." Gee, I wonder what "OLD HOUSE" that might be? 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Sam has the distinction of being the first established and beloved DS character to appear in Book 2, but you won't see him until I post Page 3...

Yesterday I should have said you won't see Sam's face before I post Page 3 because both yesterday and today you can see Sam's arm as he -

- delivers the two beers that Pate and Fred ordered from him in the panel you have yet to see.

Plus, who knew the Blue Whale decorated its tables for Christmas with candles wrapped with garland? We certainly never saw that on the original show (DC probably didn't want to spring for the garland even though back then I bet you could get several feet of garland at the local 5&10 (that we know they shopped at) for well under $1 ). But then perhaps the reason we never saw it was simply because Bob Rooney was a Scrooge and Sam is not.    Though we may never know...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Here's the third page -

(Click here for a 1328X1996 version (without any of the artifacts that the forum's system created when downsizing the image))

Note the missing dialogue and panels.

And not much to comment on beyond that - though there does seem to be a new newspaper in town...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

With today's quote/graphic we can see that Vicki's opening shifted to Page 4 -

Book Two/Issue One/Page 4 - Vicki: 'MY NAME IS
VICTORIA WINTERS.' Vicki: 'AS CHRISTMAS
APPROACHES, MORE THAN EVER DO I FEEL ALONE.'

-  and as we'll also see, the credits have shifted from Pages 2 & 3 to Pages 4 & 5. However, that's only for Issue 1. With Issue 2 - 4, Vicki's openings will return to Page 1 and the credits will return to Pages 2 & 3. I suppose the reason things were changed in Issue 1 was so that the foundations for Nathan and for Pete and Fred could be laid...