Issue #3 On The Way
Yep, you guessed it. We’re slightly behind schedule on our third issue. It should be out early June. It will also be our LAST ISSUE. Fear not, however, as it’s actually quite good news. It’s all rather hush-hush at the moment, but it looks like we’ll be making the bold leap from the monitor to the page. Yes, exciting times are ahead for Dave and I and our ES plans. Further details will be unveiled in our third, and final, issue, but in the meantime may I also direct you to my humble blog – Comic Book Jesus. I’ll be posting here less regularly (you’ve probably noticed I already have), in order to cut down my increasing workload.
Extra Sequential #3 will have a few farewell goodies in it, such as interviews with the man behind the critically acclaimed Gestalt Comics, as well as novelist Robin Parrish and also with Brian Cronin about his new book on comic book urban legends. As usual, there’ll also be some gorgeous artwork and reviews. Stay tuned. It’s a good time to be an ES reader and we thank you so much for your patience and support.
The New Batman
So, Dick Grayson is the new Batman, and Bruce Wayne’s son, Damian is the new Robin. Though you couldn’t really tell from reading this week’s Battle for the Cowl conclusion. The current Robin, Tim Drake and former (dead) Robin Jason Todd were running around in different Batman costumes while various classic Batman foes watched as Gotham descended into more hellish chaos. And just so you know Batman, AKA Bruce Wayne is not exactly dead. Rather he was sent way back in time thanks to Darkseid’s Omega Sanction eye beams. You can read all about it in Final Crisis if you don’t mind a migraine. However, as a sum up, here’s my latest Broken Frontier article, The Battle for Batman.
There’s also an interview at Newsarama with the writer/artist of the 3 ish mini, Battle for the Cowl, Tony Daniel. For those who are unsure as to the precise identity of the new cowl wearer, as it is rather ambiguous in the final pages of BOC #3, this excerpt from the interview should make it clear.
NRAMA: What can you tell us about how these last couple pages were designed? Why didn’t the readers see the face of the person putting on the cowl? The words from Dick make it pretty clear he is wearing the cowl, so does the lack of a face have another meaning? And anything you want to share about the design of the pages? They’re pretty cool-looking…
TD: Thanks – well, I wanted us to view what Dick was viewing, be Dick, for that moment. Going through the mansion, down to the cave. Putting up the cowl. Yes, his hair is shorter. But it’s been Dick’s captions all the way through issue #3, so I thought it was pretty self-explanatory.
Okay then. Here’s a few pages from Cowl #3 for your perusal.
David Wohl Gets Radical
This is exciting news. Possibly spurred on by the success of fan fave writer Mark Waid’s appointment to Editor In Chief of BOOM! Studios all those months ago, long-time Top Cow creator and President David Wohl is now the EIC of Radical Publishing. I’m actually quite curious about what this means. Radical have had a lot of critical praise, and deservedly so, but have yet to truly break through into the hearts and minds of fanboys and girls. However, they’re only just over a year old and have already showed their daring mission with each new project. Stay tuned for further Radical greatness, I’d reckon. Press release below.
In a bold new shift in direction, Radical Comics has brought on former Top Cow President and Editor-In-Chief David Wohl as their new Editor-In-Chief. Wohl replaces former Radical Editor-In-Chief Dave Elliott, who will continue at Radical in the new position of Special Projects Editor.
With over twenty years of experience in the industry, David Wohl was responsible for bringing numerous fan-favorite Top Cow titles to the shelves, co-creating and writing The Darkness, Aphrodite IX as well as the critically acclaimed Witchblade franchise, even serving as the producer of the Witchblade television series. “Ever since Radical burst on the scene, I was instantly impressed by their talent roster, the consistent high level of quality and their commitment to putting out great comics. When the opportunity arose to come onboard, I didn’t even need to give it a second thought. From top to bottom, Radical Publishing is the class of the industry, and I’m proud to be part of the team.” stated Wohl.
Wohl’s enthusiasm for joining the Radical family was echoed by the company’s President and Publisher Barry Levine. “David brings a wealth of experience in the industry to our relatively new company and everyone here is very excited to have him on board,” remarked Levine. “With our recent Gem Award for ‘Best New Publisher’ and a lineup of upcoming titles featuring the likes of Rick Remender, David Hine and Nick Simmons for the year, David is the guy to help take Radical to that next level.”
As Wohl helps to continue Radical’s success by assuming the responsibilities of Editor-In-Chief, former Radical Editor-In-Chief Dave Elliott will be taking on the new position of Radical’s Special Projects editor. This integral new position will have Elliott applying his vast publishing experience and love of comics to both finding and developing new projects for Radical while working closely with existing key talent on current projects such as Steve Niles’ follow-up to City of Dust and the second chapter of Sam Sarkar’s Caliber.
“With Radical growing in leaps and bounds, I just couldn’t continue doing the job from New York any longer. We needed our man in Havana and I’m really happy it’s David,” says Elliott. “My focus will be to continue to bring in the best talent out there while also allowing me to get back to my creative roots. I’ll be co-writing CALIBER and the next PHILIP KHROME story with Sam Sarkar and Steve Niles. These are two worlds that I have gotten to know very well and am extremely happy to be allowed to further contribute to them.”
Marvel This Week
As always, there’s a bunch of new comics coming out from the House of Ideas on Wednesday (in America at least). Here’s a look at but some of them. The ones with the prettiest covers of course. For the full list of releases, see the link below.
Artist Opportunity
Consider this a community service announcement to all you budding artists out there. Jaran Studios, the company behind Dawn of the Dread Force (who featured on pages 26-31 of Extra Sequential #2) are looking for an artist for a potential new web comic. It doesn’t even have to be mech-related. Details are below and more info can be found at the Dread Force website. This is a great opportunity for artists looking for a break.
We’re currently looking for a talented penciller for a potentially upcoming DREAD FORCE web comic, so if you’ve got too much spare time on your hands and are looking for a very low-paying, but rewarding, job working with us, drop us a link to your sequential samples, and we’ll be in touch. Thanks in advance!
The Unwritten Stuff
This new series from the Lucifer team of Mike Carey and Peter Gross is different in a number of ways. Firstly it stands out from the other “Un” series launching this month (Unknown and Unthinkable from BOOM! Studios) by being bigger. Not bigger in format, but bigger in its story and by its very approach to the concept of storytelling. This debut issue has extra story pages, so you can feel a little heft when picking it up from the shelf. It’s also only $1! Thanks Vertigo/DC. They’ve had success with similar cheap launches, such as the After Watchmen…What’s Next? series of re-prints. This is a wise marketing move, and will only help give this series the attention it deserves.
So ,what’s it all about then? Imagine Harry Potter was real. That’s the basic premise. Of course, it’s not as straightforward as that, but basically Tom Taylor is a grown man trying to live away from the shadow of the fictional boy wizard Tommy Taylor, the hero of a series of much loved books by Tom’s father, who has been missing for a decade. It’s a very well constructed first issue and barrels along at a nice pace. It takes itself seriously but isn’t melodramatic about it. With clever use of web-site comments, news casts and journal excerpts it becomes obvious that this creative duo have thought long and hard about the story they’re building. There’s an insightful interview with the creators at Broken Frontier and you can also find Carey’s commentary on the issue at the same site.
If you’re looking for something fresh, with just enough nods to pop culture to make you feel smart, then pick up this ish.
The Gallery: War of Kings #4
If you haven’t been reading Marvel’s War of Kings mini-series, you can catch up here. It’s a well written space opera, which is surprisingly easy to follow. The 4th issue, of 6, is out on June 3 and is scripted by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, otherwise known as DnA, with art by Paul Pelletier. Below you can see some text-free pages, with stunning covers from Brandon Peterson and Jae Lee.
Two Surrogates Trailers
I actually picked up The Surrogates TPB at the Top Shelf booth at Comic-Con last year. I’d heard good things about its sci-fi tale, with a philosophical bent, and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s also a perfect gateway book for comic book newbies. The prequel to the tale, Flesh and Bone from the same talented creators (writer Robert Venditti and artist Brett Weldele) is out in July. One of the great things about the first series was the fact that it totally immersed the reader in its believable world. A world where most people are reliant on living their lives via robotic avatars. Wisely littered throughout the book are realistically crafted adverts for the modern surrogate user. The trailer for the prequel is below.
Coming soon is a film based on the original mini-series. Starring Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell it opens on September 25 and is directed by Jonathan Mostow (the excellent Breakdown, U-571 and Terminator 3:Rise of the Machines). Below is a brief look at the film’s production.
Female Bucky Returns?
Another teaser image was released from Marvel yesterday. These images seem to be working, as fanboy tongues get wagging each time. To celebrate the release of Captain America #600 on June 17, this image lays hints as to what’s next. The issue is written by Ed Brubaker, Mark Waid, Roger Stern and Stan Lee. That’s some of the best writers Cap has had over the decades. The art will be supplied by a bunch of people too including Butch Guice, Luke Ross and Howard Chaykin. I knew the character in the promo looked familiar, before I picked it – the female Bucky from the controversial late 1990s Heroes Reborn saga. Perhaps the issue will be an anthology issue with looks at Captain America from different eras, like the current Hulk: Broken Worlds series. Either way, it appears that something big is stirring in Cap’s world, as also evidenced by the 5 issue series entitled Reborn (from Brubaker and Bryan Hitch) that hits in July. That’s all we know for now, as Marvel have only released the white word, “Reborn” on a black background as a teaser for that series. Maybe Steve Rogers will be reborn, or perhaps it an allusion to Heroes Reborn, with the female Bucky teaming up with James Barnes, the original Bucky and current Cap. Who knows?
The Unknown #1 Review
Not that Mark Waid needs to prove himself anymore. Long ago he elevated himself into superstar status but since leaving The Big Two, and taking up residency with BOOM! Studios, the writer has varied his output considerably. Moving away from his mastery of superheroes (though he still has something to say on the topic, as can be seen in the astonishing Irredeemable), he seems to be embracing every genre he can get his hands on, from crime in Potter’s Field, to kid-friendly adventure in The Incredibles and now to the mysteries of science in his latest series.
The Unkown is a 4 ish mini that follows Catherine Allingham. Apparently she’s a very smart woman – the world’s smartest person in fact, though we are only given hints as to why. The take charge private eye only has 6 months to live, thanks to an incurable, and growing, brain tumour. She seems very confident and as focused as a laser beam, assumedly because of her limited time left on this earth, but perhaps she was like that before her death sentence.
The first few pages aren’t a flattering start. They’re staged quite awkwardly, with page transitions that need to be re-read to get a sense of time. Catherine wakes up to a hallucination (that occurs again, twice) of a creepy Frankenstein lookalike, before making it disappear thanks to some pills. She’s then called into a murder scene and deduces the culprit almost immediately before heading home. On the way she meets James Doyle, a perceptive bouncer. Before Doyle knows it, he’s teaming up with the famous detective and on a plane with her to Vienna. It is there that the new partners find twin scientists working on a huge machine. The Faderbauer brothers claim they are victims of the world’s first quantum crime, while Catherine discovers what their machine is capable of measuring.
This left me unimpressed. It’s a great premise, to be sure. The world’s best investigator chasing down the world’s last mystery – life after death. Well, this mission isn’t stated in this story, but that’s what the promos tell us. Presumably, Catherine is on a quest to grasp what has eluded mankind since it first discovered death – what happens next. Motivated by the tumour that’s robbing her remaining days, she’s in a hurry. That makes sense and is intriguing. The problem here is that we not given any real glimpse into who Catherine is. Hopefully that will come in future issues, but I found myself wanting to know more about Doyle than her. The way Waid handles Catherine kind of reminded me of how some writers handle Batman. To prove his proficiency, they make him always appear to be the smartest person in the room. He easily solves dilemmas and dashes to the next one, leaving those in his wake appear helpless. Catherine is not so much a character as a force of nature, merely a blur of multi-tasking self-reliance. Now that can work, but there’s no anchor to her humanity. She’s not aggressive, or rude or cocky, which in the hands of a lesser writer she easily could have been. It’s just that there’s no awareness of her as a real person.
Minck Oosterveer’s art is great though. Similar to John Paul Leon, with his use of blacks and muted textures, he can draw pretty much anything. It all looks real and never awkward. Felipe Martin’s colouring is perhaps too restrained however, though it does add a noir feel with the use of shadows and silhouettes.
I’d be a foolish man to give up on Waid. He knows what he’s doing and BOOM! has had a superb recent history with strong female characters, such as with Hexed. Hopefully Catherine Allingham can be one more, but it’s not immediately obvious just yet.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review
When I saw the first X-Men film, way back in 2000, 2 Canadian girls sitting next to me audibly gasped upon seeing the bare chested Wolverine debut. And with good reason. Hugh Jackman cuts a menacing figure, and he’s only been getting buffer in every film. I say that from a strictly heterosexual point of view, by the way. So as the X-Men films continued to be released, offering increasingly spectacular action, and Marvel cameos, it was only a matter of time until Logan received the honour of his own flick. It’s no surprise that Wolvie is the most popular X-Man, even headlining the recent (and excellent) animated series. He’s a bad boy.
This Gavin Hood directed film is a disappointment though. Wolvie deserves better. I’m happy to see that the humble Jackman has always respected his roots. This hairy character created his career, and he doesn’t forget it. Unfortunately the screen writers do. Now this film wasn’t produced by Marvel’s film studio, so it’s not as faithful to the source material as Iron Man, but it does it’s best with its constraints to give a nod to the fans. Certain lines that Wolvie says are some of his well-known quotes, and the cameos of other mutants, such as Gambit and Deadpool are welcome, but are barely screen-worthy.
I was expecting a film closer to the comics, but I also understand that Logan’s history is murky at the best of times. It’s only been in recent years that Marvel has offered a definitive version of the character’s origin, in the great Paul Jenkins & Andy Kubert Origin series. Fans of the X-Men films may well enjoy this, and see familiar, though again, unnecessary faces like Cyclops and a walking Professor X. The Weapon X project glimpsed in X2 is seen in more detail here and thanks to the 2 different alternate post-credits endings,we know that more Wolverine films (and a Deadpool) one are certainties. In the comics, Wolvie is a short, surly killer. He’s been cleaned up for the films and fans will wonder why. The main difference from the comics would be the fact that Sabretooth is Logan’s brother, while that has only ever been hinted at by Marvel.
This really is bland action film, with no concern for Logan’s love life and no complete understanding of his motivations. The special effects are okay, Liev Scrieber as a lunging Sabretooth rocks and the ending makes sense to those who wondered upon seeing the trailer how Wolverine met Cyclops and Sabretooth, yet forgot them in the first X-Men film. At times, Logan’s claws are very fake looking and the character is really only referred to as Jim or Logan prior to his adamantium lacing procedure, rather than James Howlett as he was in the comics. There’s also no sense of a proper time-frame, though it should be set in the 1980s primarily. At least he acknowledges his Canadian heritage though. Origins should’ve been better. Fanboys won’t be pleased and film fans won’t have any satisfactory answers. If you want more Wolverine in your diet, go to your local comic shop, or wait for the DVD of this film and the obligatory, but welcome doco on the history of the character.
The Gallery: Secret Six #9
Secret Six is a great series. Sure it helps if you’re somewhat familiar with the villains and rogues of the DC Universe, but it’s splendid entertainment regardless. Next week’s #9 is by the usual team of writer Gail Simone and artist Nicola Scott. It’s like a manic road trip/sit-com/bad guy and girl mash up. The latest ish ties into Battle for the Cowl, with 2 of the 6 setting their sights on the Dark Knight’s cowl, with the creepy stick figure that is Ragdoll aiming to be the replacement Robin. Hilarity and horror ensue. See more pics at the link below. 
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Irredeemable #2 Review
Sure, the first two issues of this excellent series from BOOM! Studios have sold out, but second printings will be available very soon. I heaped my praise on the first issue (as did many others) and will do so again now.
Irredeemable is a new series from writer Mark Waid. If you have any interest in comics, you owe it to yourself to Google that name and pick up whatever you can find with his name on it at your LCS or bookstore. Waid is legendary. The classic Kingdom Come is as good as he gets, though it means more to long-time readers, though he’s proved with all the monthly assignments he’s had over the years, (The Flash, Captain America, etc) that he knows how to welcome newbies too. Irredeemable will satisfy both parties.
Issue 1 was a great set up. It’s such a simple premise, that I’m certain it’s been done before, but surely without such panache. Waid knows superheroes. The mindset, philosophies, the grand soap operas, the relationships in constant turmoil. All that stuff, plus fist fights between spandex clad characters is the glue that makes superhero comics great. With Irredeemable Waid respects those conventions, yet shatters them at the same time. His skill lies in not being too flamboyant and in yoir face, like other superhero ‘re-examinations’ such as The Authority or Kick Ass attempt. Waid is a gentleman, and doesn’t resort to nudity, profanity and blood letting to get his point across. However, saying that, as BOOM!’s marketing ploy reminded us weeks ago, “Mark Waid is evil.”
So here’s the story – The Plutonian was a great do-gooder; a costumed inspiration in the vein of Superman. Now he’s turned bad and is swiftly executing his former Paradigm team-mates. As is the trend of story telling these days, it’s told in a non-linear fashion. We are given glimpses of the past (during sunnier times, when the cracks started to show in the heroic visage) and mainly of the present with the world’s most powerful man on a vicious rampage. Kaidan, one of The Plutonian’s former allies, seeks The Plutonian’s initially surly girlfriend for answers. She tells Kaidan of their romance, and how the only villain he ever feared was Modeus, and gives hints to his background. I won’t spoil anymore than that. There’s a tremendous sense of urgency in this issue. We are never shown The Plutonian in the present. He exists only in flashbacks, yet Waid builds the menace like a crafty architect.
If you’ve ever enjoyed superhero tales for any length of time, you must grab this series. Sure, the characters are all new, but we recognise them instantly. It seems to me that over all the years Waid has been writing comics, he’s been storing away ideas for this series in the dark corners of his notepad. He unleashes blistering pages with ease. The highlight of this issue is an unpleasant, yet realistic, twist on the classic secret identity concept. It’s obvious Waid has really thought about this whole superhero thing and just what it means as part of a practical, daily existence, with all the desperation, responsibility and horror that accompany it.
Peter Krause’s art is suitably dark and frightening, and grounded in reality. It’s a perfect match for what Waid is up to. There really is a tremendous piece of fiction being unveiled here, with precision and fury. Don’t miss out on this series. It’s one of the very few that have me looking forward to each astonishing instalment.
Punisher/Eminem X-Over
Well if The New Kids on the Block can have their own comic, I guess Eminem can too! And he’s taking The Punisher along for the bullet ridden ride. This new venture is a bold one, but hopefully it brings new fans to comics. Press release below.
EMINEM/PUNISHER: KILL YOU
All-new 16-page story to be featured exclusively in the June issue of XXL magazine and on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
Marvel Comics has teamed up with Eminem and XXL magazine to celebrate his anticipated upcoming album Relapse with an all-new story featuring the renowned rapper and Marvel’s notorious vigilante, The Punisher, in Eminem/Punisher: Kill You.
Back from a three-year hiatus, Eminem is set to grace two XXL covers posing as The Punisher for the magazine’s June issue on stands May 5, two weeks before his fifth solo album, Relapse, hits stores May 19.
A special collector’s edition, the magazine also includes the first part of an exclusive collaboration between XXL, Shady and Marvel Comics – Eminem/Punisher: Kill You – a special edition Punisher comic book starring Eminem and created by Marvel Comics.
This all new story written by Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man) with art by Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man) takes place in Detroit after Eminem performs on stage and gets involved in a conflict with The Punisher and his old foe Barracuda. The first half of the story will be featured as a bonus eight page special edition comic printed in the June issue of XXL magazine, with the eight page conclusion available exclusively on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited (www.marvel.com/eminem) for free starting May 5th.
“When we learned that Eminem is a fan and collector of Marvel comics, we could only imagine what would happen if The Punisher and Slim Shady met up in the Marvel Universe,” said Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. “This was a unique partnership and the team had a blast working with Eminem and incorporating the rapper into the Marvel fold.”
For fans of the Punisher, Eminem and those wanting to own a part of the action, visit your local newsstand to purchase the magazine on May 5, 2009 and then be sure to visit www.marvel.com/eminem to experience the second part of the story.
Broken Frontier – New & Improved
Now this is a press release I can get excited about. The comics website, Broken Frontier has just received a classy facelift. BF has been around since 2002 and why there may be many comics sites out there, the Frontier has always given coverage to the spandex clan as well as indie gems. And why am I excited about that, you ask? Becuase I write for them! Yay for me. I’ve got heaps of stuff on the new site now, including reviews for Buck Rogers #0, Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #5 and Battle for the Cowl: The Underground. I’ll also be blogging there regularly, such as this article on how to improve the DC title, Green Arrow/Black Canary. And if that’s not enough, here’s my interview with writer/artist Scott Kolins about his new Solomon Grundy mini-series. Press release below.
Premier comic book website Broken Frontier is proud to unveil its new look and features. Broken Frontier is going back to its roots, while at the same time making the big bold leap into web 2.0. In addition to its own blog, Broken Frontier will launch several production blogs where readers get inside information on the development of a selected number of comics projects, straight from the creative team’s mouth. And of course, the regular wave of articles, interviews, columns and reviews will keep on coming. The most innovative feature in this regard is Post Your News Now!, a unique and user-friendly tool that allows all of BF’s registered members to post news, rumors and scoops directly to the front page. “I think this will be a great feature for smaller companies and self-publishers to put their projects in the spotlight,” adds Broken Frontier Editor, Frederik Hautain. “But at the same time, it’s a great opportunity for our members to grab their chance and do some comics reporting of their own.
In October of 2002, the site launched with the baseline ‘Where Fans Come First!’. In those days, before the existence of blogs and ready-made websites, Broken Frontier gave its readers an opportunity to submit their own articles, making it possible for the average comics fan to contribute to comics criticism. Now, a little over 6 years later, Broken Frontier is making its community as much of a focal point as its comics coverage. “BF has made a name for itself by way of the diversity of our coverage,” Hautain explained. “While we’ll continue to explore every corner of the comics universe, the new BF was built with the clear intention of putting the community back at the heart of the site.”
Looking beyond the new design and improved site technology, the biggest improvements have been made on the community end. Previously limited to nothing but a forum, the community is now keyed on on-site reader interaction by placing each individual member at the center of its site experience. Hautain commented, “I hope everyone will get a good vibe when they visit the new and improved Broken Frontier. Everyone on our staff is psyched now that we’ve started the engine of our new rocket ship. Full speed ahead!”
Archaia Returns
The publisher once known as ASP or Archaia Studios Press are back! After being away for far too long, their new titles hit with full force in June. With it also comes a new logo and a new name - Archaia. They’ve got some diverse titles lined up, ready to be experienced once more such as The Engineer, Robotika and Some New Kind of Slaughter. Press release below.
Continuing its tradition of excellence and a commitment to high-quality creator-controlled comics, Archaia announced it will resume a full publishing schedule beginning in June.
“Our number one priority is to show our commitment to publishing by completing the great stories we have already begun to tell,” said Publisher Mark Smylie. In June, Archaia will release hardcovers of The Awakening and Some New Kind of Slaughter and has committed to put out at least two hardcover collected editions per month, thereafter, for the rest of the year. Making good on this promise, July will see the hardcover releases of The Engineer (which will be offered at an unprecedented $9.99 price point) and the second volume of the Eisner Award-winning Mouse Guard. Collections of the critically acclaimed Primordia and Gunnerkrigg Court Vol. 2 are set to debut in August.
“We’re also moving forward with series that are ongoing, such as The Killer, Okko, The Secret History and Artesia: Besieged,” added Smylie. These titles will pick up with individual issues and eventually be collected into hardcover editions.
“In addition, books like Robotika, Killing Pickman and Titanium Rain, which had just started toward the middle and end of last year, will be relaunched in double-sized formats, with 48 to 64 pages of art for only a $4.99 cover price,” exclaimed Smylie.
“And as the year goes on, we’ll be slotting in new titles we’ve recently signed, like God Machine, Days Missing and others we’ve yet to announce,” the publisher teased.
“This is what we’ve been working toward: Making sure that every month for the rest of the year, our publishing schedule is solid,” declared Archaia President P.J. Bickett. “Additionally, when we commit to a date, we’re going to meet that date. Readers can be assured of two things: First, our books will be on time and second, the same quality they’ve come to expect from Archaia will be matched and delivered in every single instance.”
New Transformers 2 and G.I. Joe Trailers
The new G.I. Joe trailer is now out, and the film hits cinemas on August 6. It uses some of the footage shown in the Superbowl teaser a while back, and the exo-suits concern me. It looks like a good actioner nonetheless. The Transformers sequel, Revenge of the Fallen also has a new trailer and it looks sweeet. It opens on June 24. More transforming robots, more explosions, more lingering shots of Megan Fox, more humour from Shia LaBeouf and more lens flare direction from Michael Bay. Yep, it’s gonna be a hit.
FCBD’s Best
There are almost 50 different free comics being offered around the world as part of FCBD. Here’s the best.
FCBD stand for Free Comic Book Day – the most original concept to happen to the comics biz since gorillas on covers. Launching in 2002, hot on the heels of the new Spider-Man film, only a trickle of titles from the major publishers were available at the time. As its popularity continues to grow, even indie publishers are now getting in on the action. Now there really is something for everyone, including not only reprints, but original issues made specially for the one day event. So, if you’ve just seen Wolverine at the cinema and want to know more about the world superheroes inhabit, or would like to see what all the fuss about comics is, or you’re a fanboy/girl who wants to make the most of the opportunity to invite a friend into the wonders of sequential art – then step right up. First things first though. Not every comic shop is participating and you can’t just go in and grab any issue you like and wave your gratitude as you flee. Visitwww.freecomicbookday.com to see if a shop near you is taking part. Then peruse the available titles to see what takes your fancy. Each shop has different limits, so don’t expect to be walking away with a trolley full of freebies, but as FCBD is always popular, it’s good to remember your Boy Scout training and “be prepared.” Every publisher’s offerings on FCBD are just a tiny sample of series that they regularly produce. Larger companies such as Marvel and DC have more than one free issue available, but every publisher uses the day for the same reason. It’s a showcase of their best, created for the regular reader and newbie alike. The aim of FCBD is to open eyes and minds to what comic books are about and hopefully, make lifelong devotes in the process.
DC’s Blackest Night is, and will be for some time, the event of the moment. Space opera superheroes at their best. Writer Geoff Johns is DC’s Midas. Every title he touches turns to gold. With art from Ivan Reis and Dough Mahnke it not only breaks down the recent deaths in the DCU, but looks very perty too. #1 pick for fanboys.
Dabel Brothers Showcase. Samples from The Dresden Files, Take A Chance and The Warriors are diverse enough to include a novel adaptation, a butt-kicking mother and a revisit to a cult film. Also included is a 7 page preview from Del Rey’s new Star Wars novel, Outcast. # 1 pick for novel readers.
Sonic: Evolution of a Hero. From Sega and Archie comes the look at the inexplicably popular blue haired game character. There’s no story, just pages filled with info on all the Sonic characters. #1 pick for Sonic fans.
Resurrection. Oni Press’ series centered on the world after an alien invasion has gained many fans. Now you can see why. There’s also a mildly humorous Tek Jansen preview. #1 pick for alien lovers.
G.I. Joe/Transformers Animated. IDW are the latest publisher to carry this pair of much loved franchises. With new Transformers and Joe films just around the corner, this flip book which features both ‘80s properties will get a good response. #1 pick for Gen Xers.
The Avengers. If you don’t know if you like your Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to be New or Dark, this slightly smaller format comic gives you both. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, with great art by Jim Cheung it has many spandex wearers fighting in the snow, but not each other. Also included is a twist on the Fastball Special and breakdown of the Dark Avengers. #1 pick for Avengers curious.
Archie Presents The Mighty Archie Art Players. Four short stories with cartoony art and kiddie humour. Exactly what you’d expect, but with Jughead in a Superman costume and Archie as Indiana Jones. Also – Betty as a mermaid. #1 pick for Archie fans.
Owly and Friends. One of Top Shelf’s most popular series is Owly. His wordless adventures are always delightful and here he’s supported by two other tales, featuring Korgi ,and Johnny Boo by James (and son Eli) Kochalka. #1 pick for parents who want to read with their kids.
DC Kids. Mike Kunkel’s Shazam!, Batman and Blue Beetle teaming up and Tiny Titans, plus a few games from the Super Friends series. #1 pick for Fanboy Jr.
John Stanley’s Melvin Monster/Nancy. Classic adventures from the good old days, presented in authentic faded colours by the faithful Drawn & Quarterly. #1 pick for old timers.
Savage Dragon. This reprint of SD #148 by creator Erik Larsen and Image features almost forgotten hero, Daredevil (the red and blue hero from Project Superpowers, not Matt Murdock). Also included is a history of Daredevil and a recap of the finned one’s journey thus far. #1 pick for Larsen loyalists.
Wahammer Online: Prelude to War. BOOM! Studios have some impressive properties. This is one of them and shows lots of swords and ugly creatures marching through swamps. Also – acid vomit. #1 pick for fantasy gamers.
Worlds of Aspen. One of the best looking FCBD issues, this offering from Aspen MLT shows previews from Executive Assistant: Iris, Soulfire: New World Order, Fathom and Soulfire. #1 pick for lovers of pretty girls and pretty art.
Aliens/Predator. Dark Horse have excelled with these two creatures for years. This flip book looks great, is faithful to the original films and is an action packed primer for their upcoming series. #1 pick for AVP fans.
Bongo Comics Free-For-All! No publisher wears their geeky heart on their sleeve quite like Bongo. Some Simpsons superhero-centred adventures, plus a Futurama tale involving shopping. Not hilarious, but amusing enough. #1 pick for Simpsons fans.
Wolverine. This and the Blackest Night will be the first to go. Penned by Fred Van Lente it may answer a few questions for Logan fans. #1 pick for young ‘Snikt’ers.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Then again, this issue based on the TV series will undoubtedly be popular too. It also features Indiana Jones, Emily the Strange, Beanworld and Usagi Yojimbo. #1 pick for fans of kid-friendly variety.
Shonen Jump Special. This mostly black and white comic features a rundown of SJ titles and Ultimo Chapter 0 by Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei. Don’t forget to read it from right to left. #1 pick for manga fans.
FCBD Today
Now in it’s eighth year, Free Comic Book Day is a world wide event that is pretty much explained in its title. There’s 48 different selected titles to choose from this year. The big boys such as DC, Marvel, Image and Dark Horse have their offerings, but so do the smaller publishers such as Top Shelf, Fantagraphics and Drawn and Quarterly. There really is something for everyone. To see the complete list and if a store near you is participating, go here.While you’re there you might like to pick up the $1 After Watchmen comics from DC too. With first issues of mature series such as Planetary and Transmetropolitan, it’s a good day to be a comic book newbie. These $1 specials are wittily advertised as featuring the first issue of the Trades and have ads for other similar DC series inside its pages. Head down to your LCS, bring a friend and maybe even make some new ones while you’re there!
