Rocket Bomber - article - commentary - publishing - Spotlight: CMX

I’m using my charts (currently, numbers for the week ending 13 July) to look at the output of select publishers —

covered previously: Aurora Publishing, ADV Manga.

Today the spotlight is on

CMX

Time Warner is one of those big Conglom-O class companies that I, as a brave internet independent raised on telnet, usenet, & IRC (with graduate studies furnished by BoingBoing and the EFF) am supposed to hate unconditionally, without question. And yes, they most assuredly do suck — but then, so do most corporations as they tend to do stupid things just because 99% of the time they operate on autopilot and 10 year old information and there is no one in place to tell them not to.

CMX isn’t just a division of Time Warner, though: it’s a semantic part of an imprint of a division of a subsidiary of the mother corp.: I say ‘semantic’ because hell neither CMX nor Wildstorm, the purported publisher of record, appear at all in Time Warner’s Annual Report, and DC herself is hardly mentioned except as a source of IP owned by Time Warner, and occasionally used for bad, bad movie adaptations (the current film and maybe 17% of previous WB output excluded)

Anyway, CMX is such an outlier (the furthest colonial outpost, as it were) and runs so far beneath the corporate radar that they can actually release good stuff.

I know it’s hard to countenance, but yes: so long as one isn’t so successful as to merit unwanted attention from one’s corporate overlords, even in the Empire small acts of rebellion [that is to say: good comic books] are possible.

And I do like what CMX is doing:
[as of 13 July, out of 1704 ranked titles]

. (last ranked 6 Apr 08) : Apothecarius Argentum 4 – CMX, Feb 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 8 June 08) : Apothecarius Argentum 6 – CMX, Aug 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 13 Apr 08) : Apothecarius Argentum 5 – CMX, Jun 2008 [0] ::

. (last ranked 22 June 08) : Canon 3 – CMX, Jul 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 22 June 08) : Canon 4 – CMX, Jan 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 22 June 08) : Canon 1 – CMX, Apr 2007 [0] ::

1062. ↓-41 (1021) : Chikyu Misaki 1 – CMX, Sep 2005 [3.5] ::
1069. ↓-36 (1033) : Chikyu Misaki 2 – CMX, Dec 2005 [3.4] ::
1077. ↓-43 (1034) : Chikyu Misaki 3 – CMX, Mar 2006 [3.3] ::

. (last ranked 30 Mar 08) : Cipher 11 – CMX, Apr 2008 [0] ::

1250. ↓-19 (1231) : Crayon Shinchan 1 – CMX, Feb 2008 [0.4] ::
. (last ranked 15 Jun 08) : Crayon Shinchan 2 – CMX, May 2008 [0] ::

787. ↑new (0) : Dokkoida?! 3 – CMX, Aug 2008 [9.3] ::

. (last ranked 1 Jun 08) : Dorothea 1 – CMX, Apr 2008 [0] ::

1154. ↓-24 (1130) : Emma 1 – CMX, Sep 2006 [1.7] ::
1159. ↓-17 (1142) : Emma 2 – CMX, Dec 2006 [1.6] ::
1549. ↓-155 (1394) : Emma 7 – CMX, Mar 2008 [0.1] ::
. (last ranked 15 Jun 08) : Emma 3 – CMX, Mar 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 22 June 08) : Emma 5 – CMX, Sep 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 22 June 08) : Emma 6 – CMX, Dec 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 4 May 08) : Emma 4 – CMX, Jun 2007 [0] ::

843. ↑new (last ranked 23 Mar 08) : Empty Empire 7 – CMX, Mar 2008 [7.8] ::
858. ↑new (0) : Empty Empire 6 – CMX, Dec 2007 [7.4] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Empty Empire 3 – CMX, Feb 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Empty Empire 4 – CMX, May 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Empty Empire 2 – CMX, Nov 2006 [0] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Empty Empire 5 – CMX, Aug 2007 [0] ::

857. ↑70 (927) : From Eroica with Love 3 – CMX, May 2005 [7.5] ::
867. ↑50 (917) : From Eroica with Love 1 – CMX, Nov 2004 [7.3] ::
868. ↑63 (931) : From Eroica with Love 5 – CMX, Nov 2005 [7.3] ::
882. ↑39 (921) : From Eroica with Love 2 – CMX, Feb 2005 [7.1] ::
883. ↑50 (933) : From Eroica with Love 4 – CMX, Aug 2005 [7.1] ::
1118. ↓-28 (1090) : From Eroica with Love 6 – CMX, Feb 2006 [2.4] ::
1126. ↓-25 (1101) : From Eroica with Love 7 – CMX, Sep 2006 [2.3] ::
. (last ranked 18 May 08) : From Eroica with Love 11 – CMX, Dec 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 18 May 08) : From Eroica with Love 12 – CMX, Mar 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 30 Mar 08) : From Eroica with Love 8 – CMX, Jan 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 30 Mar 08) : From Eroica with Love 9 – CMX, May 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 18 May 08) : From Eroica with Love 13 – CMX, Jul 2008 [0] ::

785. ↑new (0) : Gon 5 – CMX, Aug 2008 [9.4] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Gon 4 – CMX, Apr 2008 [0] ::

. (last ranked 1 Jun 08) : I Hate You More Than Anyone 4 – CMX, Apr 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 18 May 08) : I Hate You More Than Anyone 6 – CMX, Oct 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Jul 08) : I Hate You More Than Anyone 5 – CMX, Jul 2008 [0] ::

533. ↑21 (554) : Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne 2 – CMX, Jan 2006 [33.6] ::
716. ↑702 (1418) : Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne 3 – CMX, Apr 2006 [12.7] ::
784. ↑877 (1661) : Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne 4 – CMX, Jul 2006 [9.5] ::
1410. ↑new (last ranked 15 Jun 08) : Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne 5 – CMX, Sep 2006 [0.2] ::
. (last ranked 13 Apr 08) : Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne 6 – CMX, Nov 2006 [0] ::
. (last ranked 4 May 08) : Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne 7 – CMX, Jan 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 22 June 08) : Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne 1 – CMX, Nov 2005 [0] ::

. (last ranked 13 Apr 08) : Kiichi and the Magic Books 1 – CMX, May 2005 [0] ::

940. ↑57 (997) : Kikaider Code 02 vol 2 – CMX, Jan 2006 [6.1] ::

. (last ranked 30 Mar 08) : Leader’s High 1 – CMX, Mar 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 13 Apr 08) : Madara 5 – CMX, Nov 2005 [0] ::
1150. ↓-19 (1131) : Megatokyo 4 – CMX, Jun 2006 [1.8] ::
1173. ↓-451 (722) : Megatokyo 5 – CMX, May 2007 [1.2] ::

869. ↑108 (977) : Monster Collection 1 – CMX, Apr 2005 [7.3] ::
876. ↑106 (982) : Monster Collection 5 – CMX, Mar 2006 [7.2] ::
907. ↑89 (996) : Monster Collection 6 – CMX, Jun 2006 [6.7] ::
1033. ↓-55 (978) : Monster Collection 4 – CMX, Jan 2006 [4.3] ::
1089. ↑new (last ranked 8 June 08) : Monster Collection 2 – CMX, Aug 2005 [3.1] ::
. (last ranked 8 June 08) : Monster Collection 3 – CMX, Oct 2005 [0] ::

. (last ranked 23 Mar 08) : Moon Child 10 – CMX, Mar 2008 [0] ::

914. ↑23 (937) : Musashi #9 vol 2 – CMX, Mar 2005 [6.5] ::
926. ↑new (last ranked 15 Jun 08) : Musashi #9 vol 15 – CMX, Jul 2008 [6.3] ::
958. ↓-17 (941) : Musashi #9 vol 1 – CMX, Dec 2004 [5.8] ::
984. ↓-48 (936) : Musashi #9 vol 3 – CMX, Jun 2005 [5.2] ::
1063. ↑16 (1079) : Musashi #9 vol 6 – CMX, Feb 2006 [3.5] ::
1112. ↓-29 (1083) : Musashi #9 vol 7 – CMX, May 2006 [2.5] ::
1192. ↑new (last ranked 8 June 08) : Musashi #9 vol 5 – CMX, Nov 2005 [1] ::
. (last ranked 8 June 08) : Musashi #9 vol 4 – CMX, Sep 2005 [0] ::

. (last ranked 6 Apr 08) : Orfina 2 – CMX, Feb 2008 [0] ::

502. ↑8 (510) : Penguin Revolution 5 – CMX, Jan 2008 [41.4] ::

. (last ranked 30 Mar 08) : Presents 3 – CMX, Apr 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Presents 2 – CMX, Jan 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Presents 1 – CMX, Oct 2007 [0] ::

. (last ranked 1 Jun 08) : Swan 4 – CMX, Sep 2005 [0] ::
. (last ranked 1 Jun 08) : Swan 5 – CMX, Nov 2005 [0] ::
. (last ranked 1 Jun 08) : Swan 6 – CMX, Mar 2006 [0] ::

875. ↑97 (972) : Sword of the Dark Ones 2 – CMX, Jul 2005 [7.2] ::
1102. ↓-33 (1069) : Sword of the Dark Ones 1 – CMX, Apr 2005 [2.7] ::

. (last ranked 30 Mar 08) : Tears of a Lamb 2 – CMX, Apr 2008 [0] ::

862. ↑108 (970) : Tenjho Tenge 4 – CMX, Nov 2005 [7.4] ::
930. ↑21 (951) : Tenjho Tenge 1 – CMX, Mar 2005 [6.2] ::
948. ↑11 (959) : Tenjho Tenge 5 – CMX, Jan 2006 [6] ::
959. ↑6 (965) : Tenjho Tenge 3 – CMX, Sep 2005 [5.8] ::
1081. ↓-37 (1044) : Tenjho Tenge 6 – CMX, Feb 2006 [3.2] ::
1088. ↓-36 (1052) : Tenjho Tenge 7 – CMX, Apr 2006 [3.1] ::
1093. ↓-35 (1058) : Tenjho Tenge 8 – CMX, Jun 2006 [3] ::
1095. ↓-32 (1063) : Tenjho Tenge 9 – CMX, Aug 2006 [2.9] ::
1099. ↓-34 (1065) : Tenjho Tenge 10 – CMX, Oct 2006 [2.8] ::
1104. ↓-29 (1075) : Tenjho Tenge 11 – CMX, Dec 2006 [2.7] ::
. (last ranked 15 Jun 08) : Tenjho Tenge 16 – CMX, Nov 2007 [0] ::
. (last ranked 29 Jun 08) : Tenjho Tenge 12 – CMX, Feb 2007 [0] ::

924. ↑81 (1005) : Testarotho 2 – CMX, Nov 2005 [6.3] ::
941. ↑67 (1008) : Testarotho 3 – CMX, Feb 2006 [6.1] ::
960. ↑56 (1016) : Testarotho 4 – CMX, May 2006 [5.8] ::

1129. ↓-24 (1105) : The Devil Does Exist 7 – CMX, Aug 2006 [2.2] ::
1137. ↓-26 (1111) : The Devil Does Exist 8 – CMX, Nov 2006 [2.1] ::
. (last ranked 4 May 08) : The Devil Does Exist 2 – CMX, Jun 2005 [0] ::
. (last ranked 4 May 08) : The Devil Does Exist 1 – CMX, Apr 2005 [0] ::
. (last ranked 23 Mar 08) : The Devil Does Exist 3 – CMX, Oct 2005 [0] ::
. (last ranked 4 May 08) : The Devil Does Exist 4 – CMX, Jan 2006 [0] ::
. (last ranked 13 Apr 08) : The Devil Does Exist 6 – CMX, May 2006 [0] ::
. (last ranked 8 June 08) : The Devil Does Exist 11 – CMX, Aug 2007 [0] ::

. (last ranked 23 Mar 08) : Tower of the Future 10 – CMX, Mar 2008 [0] ::

. (last ranked 15 Jun 08) : Two Flowers for the Dragon 1 – CMX, Jun 2008 [0] ::

. (last ranked 25 May 08) : Variante 3 – CMX, Apr 2008 [0] ::
. (last ranked 25 May 08) : Variante 1 – CMX, Oct 2007 [0] ::

1105. ↑8 (1113) : Versus 1 – CMX, Apr 2006 [2.7] ::
1142. ↓-23 (1119) : Versus 3 – CMX, Oct 2006 [1.9] ::

932. ↑70 (1002) : Young Magician 1 – CMX, Dec 2005 [6.2] ::

##

Like me, you may be pleasantly surprised at the number of volumes. (that’s 113 manga — and those are only the ones that charted.) I look at this stuff every week and it still caught me off guard.

And to no one’s surprise (either in so much as the volumes rank or that I’ll recommend them) I’ll recommend Tenjho Tenge, even with the edits. Over and above that, however, I’m going to point you to Penguin Revolution: This is one of the must-read shoujo titles on my current reading list, a favourite that had me at volume one. (I would have reviewed it by now, you know, if I could find the time around compiling all of these goddamn rankings). And of course I like Emma so much I own the DVDs: a review on those is forthcoming just as soon as I can re-watch them all (I say ‘re-watch’ because I had previously downloaded a fansub).

Can you believe that? My first RocketBomber anime review is going to be maids, not giant robots.
[actually, don’t comment on that]