These are estimates of the sales by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during August 2003.

1602 , Marvel's new Neil Gaiman miniseries, was Diamond's top book in August, selling over 150,000 copies.

Neil Gaiman, who won a Hugo Award last year for Best Science Fiction Novel for American Gods won again this year for Best Novella for Coraline .

Shawn Hamilton of The Great Escape in Nashville, Tennessee saw the first issue of Marvel Previews and has two questions.

The Starbright Foundation has released an educational comic book to help children with serious burns come to terms with their injuries.

The prolific Steven Bates of Bookery Fantasy in Fairborn, Ohio saw Mark Amoroso's comments on chain competition on key comic and game products, and explains how he meets competition from big box retailers on those categories and on toys.

Another Marvel film is in production. Last week filming began on a low-budget production of Man-Thing in Australia.

DC Comics has lined up some major press coverage for Neil Gaiman's Sandman: Endless Nights hardcover, which goes on sale on September 17.

Videogame maker Activision has hired legendary comic book creator Stan Lee as a consultant for the development of future video games based on Marvel characters. Lee will work closely with Activision's developers during the production process and consult on game design.

Steven Bates from Bookery Fantasy in Fairborn, Ohio saw James Deckert's comments (on his Free Comic Book Day missive, and feels that retailers shouldn't complain about paying for advertising.