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.
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 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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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.
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.
The Gallery: Wonder Woman #31
Wonder Woman #31, from DC Comics goes on sale this week. Diana battles Achilles, Zeus’ choice to replace her. The battle of the sexes is on. Written by Gail Simone (Secret Six), with art by Bernard Chang (not Aaron Lopresti despite what DC’s website says), this issue continues the Rise of the Olympian storyline.
See more great art below.
Mr. Stuffins #1 Review
Think of this title as Reverse Chucky. Instead of a doll terrorizing children, and adults alike, we have a teddy bear helping them.
From Andrew Cosby and Johanna Stokes, who have written the excellent BOOM! series Eureka and Station, respectively, comes this impressively cuddly debut. It had me smirking and fondly recalling my own carefree days of playing with my He-Man figures and G.I Joes. Ah, good times. This is a boy’s own adventure – literally, but it does have a healthy dose of dark humour and adventure. Like BOOM!’s other series, such as The Incredibles, or The Muppet Show Comic Book, this is something parents could read with their kids, with both getting enjoyment from it.
It begins with a scientist running from the agency he works for. Upon creating Artificial Intelligence, he flees from his nefarious employers and runs to the closest toy shop, where he swaps his CD with that of an interactive teddy bear. At the same time, David, a bath salesman recently separated from his fed up wife, is taking his son Zach out for a bit of shopping. After waving masculine gifts infront of his face, Zach decides to go for Mr. Stuffins instead. The rest of the issue is focused on Zach as he discovers his teddy’s unique skill set and gets frustrated with his lack of singing and bed-time story telling abilities. After all, that’s what the box promised! It’s like a premise of a classic 1980s film that was never made.
I could hear Mr. Stuffin’s gruff, take charge voice every time he spoke. He ties up a lifeless pink bunny for interrogation, beats up school bullies and mocks Zach’s parents. Yet he’s a loveable rascal. While elements of Buzz Lightyear and the 1998 film Small Soldiers may be apparent to some, this is still a refreshing concept. Zack is old enough to know that a teddy bear with military skills is not normal, yet young enough to just accept him as a new, though reluctant, friend.
I can see why this was a sell-out when it first appeared, and now that it’s returned with new art by Axel Medellin, it will surely garner new fans. Medellin draws with great expression. His figure work is simple, yet fluid enough and from the moment Mr. Stuffins’ eyes alight and he sits up, fully aware, I was sold on the approach. It has some great pacing and truly witty lines, that I won’t do the disservice of spoiling here. Let’s just say that I haven’t been entertained with cuddly toys for many years, yet I now want a Mr. Stuffins for Christmas.
Get Wired
The tech-mag Wired appears to be ramping up its comic book cool factor lately. You can check out an interview with Neil Gaiman on his delayed conclusion to the Batman’s farewell, Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader? Now, the interviewer describes these final two Batman-centric issues of Detective Comics as “hilarious” for some odd reason, but then again Gaiman’s issues, which either discard or embrace continuity, depending on your point of view, are somewhat intriguing. They’re also slightly maddening as a send off to the legendary man in the cowl. The interview is worth a read though, as Gaiman discusses Alan Moore, the Watchmen and Sandman films, and more.
Also, you can read an interesting piece in the latest issue of Wired, by guest editor J.J. Abrams about his frustration over the internet hating his attempted 2002 Superman script (the one where Krypton doesn’t explode, Lex Luthor is a Kryptonian and Jimmy Olsen is gay). Um…yeah, there’s many reason why fandom didn’t embrace your script, Mr. Abrams.
Viking #1 Review
This is a big comic in every way. It’s hard to imagine any other publisher than Image stamping this on the stands. I get the feeling that Viking, the self described, “9th century crime book” is going to be one of those series that people will be hungry for. Like Scalped, or Incognito, Viking is a series that seems to come from left of centre, yet is filled with a dominant sway that will topple the spandex adventures beside it. If you have any doubt about the entertainment value of a series by two virtually unknown creators that has no spandex inside it, such uncertainity will be pulverised to nothingness after turning the last page.
So, Viking is a big comic. Big in concept and big in production. What Image craftily kept to themselves was the size of this bad boy. It stands out from its funnybook brethren. Viking is slightly larger than the avergae monthly; not by much, but just enough to be noticeable. It’s a great surprise and I can foresee many readers like me, who ordered this book based on the preview art alone, having this thump down on the counter from their pull box, and being genuinely taken aback. Thank you Image – seeing this for the first time was a pleasant surprise. And more than that, thank you for the contents within the larger pages. It lives up to the time and effort that’s been put into it. Of course, better paper and a laregr size mean nothing if the story within is a waste. Thankfully, it’s not. Writer Ivan Brandon and artist Nic Klein have declared themselves to be true talents with this book.
Now, granted this story isn’t going to be welcomed into the bosom of every fanboy. It’s old-timey dialogue and instantly detestable protagonists will throw some people off, but it is a simple narrative and engaging to boot. Two criminal brothers, Finn and Egil are thieves, killing and selling the goods of their victims. They’re tough guys, but with a love for their family. Between their last raid and their next, they face retribution of a swift and terrible kind, which lays the ground for the next issue well. Interspersed is a nice sequence involving a rich king and his lovely, carefree daughter. She desires adventure, and I’m sure when her path crosses with the brothers, that’s surely what she’ll find.
This issue has just sold out, but Image are rushing a second printing, for release on May 6. Issue 2 is out on June 13. Once you cast your peepers on the art, you’ll understand why. Nic Klein’s work deserves the larger format, and as Ivan Brandon mentions in his afterword, Klein solidified what Viking was and brought it to a new place. Klein’s artwork is rustic, and dirty and filled with blood and grime. Yet it all looks very beautiful. At times it resembles the large-dot style of the Golden Age and other times he turns his attention to a particular panel and paints it splendidly. It’s not a mish-mash of techniques, and it all blends well, thanks to his restrained layouts and colour choices.
Some may find the conversations hard to follow at times, and despite its fairly straight forward narrative, you will need to concentrate when reading it. It’s such a pleasure to actually hold in your hands though, and even if the story isn’t for you, the artistic approach must be admired.
Preview pics of #2 below.
Grimm Ignites Crozonia
Okay, here’s a look at 3 recent indie first issues.
I haven’t read a lot of Warren Ellis’ work, though I’m familiar with his recently wrapped (but not finished) Anna Mercury, also from Avatar. It was a simple and unashamedly fun 4 ish mini centred on a red head’s crazy sci-fi adventures. Similar to Mercury, in that it stars a sassy female character surrounded by men in a mish-mash world of hi-techerry, with low-tech solutions, Ignition City is entertaining enough. City throws in lots more swearing, vomiting and toilet humour than an America Pie film. It’s amusing in a way, but not exactly novel. Fans of Ellis will know exactly what to expect. He seems to present similar ideas in new packaging. I’m not saying he’s not a great writer. He definitely is, but perhaps he’s over this quasi sci-fi vibe he’s dealing with now, he can show the diversity he’s capable of once more. City is concerned with Mary Raven, a pilot who travels to the grimy titular location to discover what happened to her famous father before he died. Gianluca Pagliarani’s art is mildly distracting. Facial expressions often look awkward, but he draws ugly cosmonauts and grimy, steel plates well, so that’s something. The 1956 setting is sold ably with his unusual designs for weapons and transport, as well as the look of Earth’s last spaceport. Its diversions from our history’s space race and its effects on he world’s superpowers are played out with promise, but this title is off to a slow start. For Ellis fans only.
IDW’s American McGee’s Grim is a new series bringing the apparently popular game character to the printed page. Grimm is a surly pirate-like dwarf who runs amok through fairy tales, jumping on things wit his butt to put the darkness back into the tales. Yes, that’s right. I’ve heard of American McGee (yep, that’s his real name), and his games such as Alice, and Scrapland, but never played them. Grimm is currently being released weekly through GameTap.com. Written by Dwight L.Macpherson, each issue of this mini-series is focused on Grimm’s intrusion into a different genre of comics. Naturally, first up are do-gooder superheroes. I didn’t laugh once. There’s just not enough room to play with. It’s a vaguely interesting concept, as Grimm empowers the assorted baddies to defeat the ever-victorious Freedom Friends, but it’s all been done before. Lobo, the recent Bizarro arc in Action Comics, or even Justice League International have all run with this idea, but they were given more than 22 pages. Once Grimm has introduced himself in the first 6 pages, the remaining 22 are just a one-sided battle during a parade through the streets of Megalopolis. There are over a dozen costumed characters – all the obligatory homages to popular characters, but none are obviously given the time to develop character. Superheroes being surprised that they’re getting beaten just isn’t funny, by itself. Grant Bond’s art does work though, with its loose Mike Allred style and Golden Age colouring, and having Grimm rendered in a style separate from the rest of the universe is a nice touch. I’m sure MacPherson is an accomplished writer, as he’s been doing this for a while but he’s not given a lot to work with here.
The team behind Beach Studios, and Crozonia must be a confident bunch, competing with Fathom and its assorted spin-offs from Aspen MLT. Like the late Michael Turner’s best creation, this new series is focused on an attractive young woman torn between two undersea worlds. Writers Jim Su and Dan Merisanu have wisely set this story in 1948. I don’t know why exactly, but it’s enough of a deviation to make things a little more interesting. Essentially a young man, Matt Stark works for a publisher, with hopes of becoming a writer. One bad day he realises that perhaps his dreams are fruitless, so hits the bar and goes for a walk at night. Then he sees the aforementioned woman “drowning” and dives in to save her. Like Lenny from The Simpsons says, “Alcohol and night swimming – it’s a winning combination!” Matt becomes the rescued instead of the rescuer and wakes up to an amazing undersea city. The woman he attempted to save is actually a princess and a war is brewing. The whole issue has 1996 written all over it, from dialogue to the early-Image like art. The up-sides are some groovy pin-ups and Jim Su’s encouraging reflection on the journey it took to get this to print. So far Crozonia appears to be something that comic book newbies would gladly read, but those hankering for something more contemporary should look elsewhere. It’s not without promise though, and the production values are higher than the average indie (or even Big Two) book. With three colourists, including Su (who also did the lettering!) the look of this issue does hit above its weight class. With some more character development and surprises it could be one to watch.
Dynamo 5 #21 Review
Image’s Dynamo 5 first appeared in 2007, created by writer Jay Faerber and artist Mahmud A. Asrar. Like Faerber’s other superhero family title, Noble Causes, Dynamo 5 focuses on a mixed team of heroes and the complications that come from being siblings and world savers. The tag-line, “Strangers bound by fate, and a father they never knew,” sums it up pretty well. The intriguing premise is that the world’s foremost superhero Captain Dynamo, wasn’t such a great husband, and sired at least 5 illegitimate children. Now he’s dead, and his widow, Maddie Warner, rounds up these kids, all of whom have inherited one of their Dad’s powers, and shapes them into a team – Dynamo 5. That’s a great launching point for any series.
This issue begins in an unusual place for an ATM – a park, as several drooling people rip it open and toss bystanders aside. Cops on horseback arrive, but the situation doesn’t get resolved until Dynamo 5 land and disperse the madmen (and women). The thankful cops blame the outpouring of a new drug called Flex onto the streets of Tower City for this rampant violence, as it increases strength while lowering inhibitions. The 5 siblings disperse, dedicated to launching their own investigation, but not before 2 of them go on dates, because balance is important in a busy superhero’s life. Visionary, otherwise known as Hector Chang, proves he’s the romantic by bringing flowers to the door of Firebird, otherwise known as Emily Reed. At the same time, Scrap, AKA Bridget Flynn, feels uncertainty as she waits for her on-line date to arrive at a coffee shop. Her fears seem to be erased as Nate turns up and the pair discuss their mutual disgust for poor grammar. Sounds like my kinda gal. After some inappropriate wordplay, the pair’s discussions are interrupted by…yep, a mouth frother demanding cash. Bridget rolls her eyes and is about to pounce on the thief, superhero style, but is beaten to it by Nate, who handles himself rather well with a gumball machine.
At the same time, Hector and Emily find the park too boring so suit up and blast things in the Shark Tank – the underwater workout area in the 5′s HQ. Beating up robots is far more bonding than looking at trees.
Meanwhile, the remaining 3 members of the team (Myriad, Scatterbrain and Slingshot) discuss the recent revelation of Maddie’s past. The issue ends on 3 different cliff-hangers, which is pretty impressive in itself. They’d mean more to a long-time reader, and I can’t say if they’re true to how the characters have been portrayed thus far, but they’re interesting surprises nonetheless and give Faerber a lot to play with in future issues.
I have the first Trade sitting unread on my shelf, with far too many other unopened books, but as a newbie to this title it reads well. It’s a good jumping on point for new readers as it introduces the team members and their different powers with ease, as well as their alter egos. Asrar styles the issue fluidly, and Yildiray Cinar, the artist on Faerber’s other family/superhero series, Noble Causes pitches in too, but the shift in artists is hardly noticeable. Each of the team member’s red and blue costumes look varied enough and it’s easy to identify who’s who. The fight scenes are handled dynamically, as are the facial expressions, whether it be Emily’s nervousness or the drug user’s mania. The Flex set-up seems like it will only lead to more action and danger, while the two superhero romances surely could go anywhere.
WW3 Illustrated #39 Review
This is one of those books I ordered from Previews simply because it looked like something different. And it certainly is. World War 3 has been around since 1980 and was created by artists Peter Kuper and Seth Tobocman. In their own words, “WW3 has functioned as a microcosm of the the kind of society we’d like to see. Content is valued over style and ideas are not regarded for their popularity, but for their substance. Artists are given a forum to reach an audience with their work and the opportunity to interact and examine their concepts in a group setting.”
With a rotating team of editors and no shortage of contributors, WW3 offers true creative freedom and a rare outlet for some inspired artists. Every page has something to say about today’s world; both good and bad. The latest issue is an almost entirely wordless one. With over 30 short stories, this 120 page mainly black and white comic is a splendid read. Size-wise it sits somewhere between a standard comic and a magazine, reminding you that what’s inside is some entertaining and unique content. Reading it, I felt like an intellectual, part of the cultural vanguard, rallying against, “the man.” Or maybe I just felt that way because this is a comic from artists I’ve never heard of and doesn’t feature a single superhero. Either way, I’m so glad I picked it up. As with any anthology, the quality varies, but I was genuinely smiling at a few witty entries, particularly The Crisis by Terry Labahn about one man’s failure to learn his lesson about money and In Security by Santiago Cohen. The latter brims with dark humour, but like every story within these pages, it has a point to make. Some are obvious and quite touching in their simplicity, while others had me scratching my head as to what exactly they were trying to say. The art styles range from manga to cartoons to the swirling, expressive line work seen in the double pages of Mac McGill’s Song For Katrina. There’s also a short selection of Kuper’s photos of art seen on Mexican walls. A well researched 4 page article by David A. Berona on the history of wordless art as it relates to spotlighting social injustice is a nice touch too and helps remind readers that the powerful , yet simple tales within WW3 are part of a global force. The majority of the work here, as in every issue, is focused on humanity and it’s needless desire for destruction of the environment or itself. None of the stories are depressing however. They serve to remind us of what we already know, such as the sometimes foolishness of chasing material wealth. Those who know that comics don’t always live up to their potential as a storytelling force to be noticed, will find a kindred spirit within these emotive pages.
You can read an interview with Kuper about WW3 and this particular issue here.
Top Cow In July
Top Cow’s solicitations for their July releases are now out. This is the complete list.
Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 Mark Waid/Kenneth Rocafort/Mike Choi
Berserker #2 Rick Loverd/Jeremy Haun/Dale Keown
Fusion #3 Abnett/Lanning/Kirkham/Choi
Dragon Prince #1-4 Reader Set Marz/Moder
Impaler #5 William Harms/Matt Timson
Witchblade #128 Ron Marz/Stjepan Sejic
Witchblade #125 ECCC Var Cvr Marz/Sejic/Silvestri
Art of Top Cow HC Silvestri/Top Cow’s Finest
Witchblade Vol 7 TPB Marz/Sejic
Witchblade/Darkness/Angelus: Blood on the Sands Sgn Smith/Mitchell/Grindberg/Admira
And here’s what I’d pick – actually all of them if I could. Berserker started strong, Witchblade continues to intrigue and Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer is by Waid and Rocafort, so what’s not to love there? Art books seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately, and we should be thankful for that. The Art of Top Cow should be dream to the eyes, and for newbies who like horror, you can’t go wrong with Impaler or if you prefer you entretainment less adult – go for the complete set of Dragon Prince. The conclusion to the 3 part x-over with Marvel, Fusion should also be a beauty. That’s enough to keep you busy.
Wednesday Comics
Just in case you haven’t heard, DC’s new venture is entitled Wednesday Comics (as new comics come out every Wednesday in the U.S). The concept was launched from the brain of artist and Art Director Mark Chiarello. Every weekly issue is only 16 pages, but will be filled with superb art from some great storytellers, and it will be big art too. Bigger then the average comic size, it will be like a large tabloid, newspaper supplement. It’s a bold direction but it should pay off. There are some great artists in the industry that will take gleeful advantage of this. Below is a preview of John Arcudi and Lee Bermejo’s Superman story and a Batman tale from the 100 Bullets team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. Also included in the upcoming 12 part series will be a Metamorpho tale by Neil Gaiman and Mike Allred, Supergirl by Kimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner and Joe Kubert on Sgt. Rock. Creators such as Kurt Busiek, Dave Bullock, Walt Simonson, Ryan Sook, Dave Gibbons and Paul Pope are also involved. Look for the first oversized issue in July. Awesome news.
Two Sons
We haven’t seen any Marvel teaser images for a while, so here’s a couple for you. Following the success of World War Hulk and Planet Hulk, Bruce Banner’s boy is all grown up and looking to follow in the footsteps of his father by wreaking havoc. The Planet Skaar Prologue hits shelves on May 15 and is written by Greg Pak with art by Dan Panosian. The other image is related to a mysterious new storyline running through upcoming issues of Amazing Spider-Man, beginning in May 27′s #595. It’s written by Joe Kelly and pencilled by Phil Jiminez. Part 2 in ASM #596 is drawn by Paulo Siquera, while ASM #597′s Part 3′s art chores are handled by Marco Chechetto. Using my deductive reasoning, it appears that this story arc will focus on the original Green Gobiln, Norman Osborn in his new power play, post-Secret Invasion. Apparently he gets a new costume and starts to look more like a superhero. It’s about time he got rid of the Star Spangled Iron Man outfit.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century #1 Review
I published my review of the latest League adventure from masters Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill in the 2nd ish of Extra Sequential, but seeing as the book is coming out this month, I thought I’d run it here too, for those who haven’t read it. Obviously Moore and the League have a lot of fans, but Century may not live up to their expectations. Read on…
This third volume of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen opens at the bedside of a sweating man with feverish dreams involving a young lady swimming naked and cloaked cult members’ ambitions to create a Moonchild, whatever that may be. As the man, Tom Carnacki, the ghost finder wakes he speaks of his night-time adventures to his fellow team-mates, Orlando, A.J, Mina Murray and Allan Quartermain. Thus we are introduced to the latest batch of “gentlemen.” This has been an extraordinary series from the outset. Well, mostly. Writer Alan Moore (Watchmen, From Hell) and artist Kevin O’Neill unleashed their concept of famed adventurers from the annals of literature upon the world in 1999. Mina Harker, from Bram Stoker’s Dracula was tasked by British Intelligence to form a team and gathered Allan Quartermain, Dr. Jekyll, Captain Nemo and others along the way to saving London. The second volume was a great tie-in to H.G Wells’ War of the Worlds while the third was a stand-alone graphic novel entitled The Black Dossier. Dossier was not the high point that the first two series were, mainly due to its varied narrative and frequent use of Moore extras such as prose pieces, letters, maps and the like. The greatest asset throughout the series has been the constant relationship of Harker and Quartermain in the different time periods. Dossier was light on that but did fill in some details about other incarnations of the League, reminding comic readers again that Moore is no slouch when it comes to research.
Not nearly as accessible as the first two volumes, Century is the first to be published by Top Shelf, instead of DC Comics. This is the first in a trilogy of 80 page one-shots, with this introduction set in 1910. The next one will delve into the swinging 60s, with the finale set in the present day. That prospect intrigues me. However, this isn’t the Leagues’ greatest outing, though I am curious to see where it goes. O’Neill’s harsh lines are perfect to Moore’s creation, with it’s dark humour, nudity and brutal violence and he makes the most with the dirty world they inhabit. League has always been unashamedly gritty and multi-layered, like most of Moore’s work, but League has always been, not surprisingly, his most literary series. You either feel smarter for having read it, or dumber for not grasping the references to works of fiction scattered throughout each page. Student of literature will continue to have a field day with this series.
The problem with Century is that there is simply too much going on. I know doubting Moore’s genius is like slapping Shakespeare, but whereas the first two volumes were just manic fun with a boy’s own adventure feel stamped all over it, this feels unnecessarily complex. The number of characters is greater than a Cecil B. DeMille film and the League gets diluted because of it. Saying that, I’ll attempt to break down the plot as best I can. Here goes…
The woman from Tom’s dream, Jenny Diver walks past a popular reproduction of Captain Nemo’s impressive battle ship, Nautilus and discovers from Nemo’s old friend Ishmael that the Captain’s last wish was to give his recently changed beauty of a ship to his only child. The crew need a Captain, but the stubborn woman doesn’t want to be any such thing. She eventually changes her mind for some reason and goes on a mad rampage.
Tom, along with Mina, new League member Orlando (known as he-she, behind his/her back), thief A.J Raffles and Quartermain (who is introduced as his own to avoid suspicions of his newly gained immortality presumably) visit the Merlin Society. While the team wanders around a room full of occultists, A.J does some snooping around and the team discover Doomsday premonitions from magicians Simon Iff and Oliver Haddo. Tom eventually barges into the cult’s HQ and sees the events of his dream played out before him -almost. Amongst all this, there’s plenty of singing from various characters espousing exposition, claims that Orlando posed for the Mona Lisa, and wields the famed sword Excalibur, the return of a famed serial killer and a meeting with Andrew Norton a figurative prisoner of London. All of these characters and more are from old novels, though don’t ask me which ones, and they do serve a purpose in moving the story. However I think Moore needed to restrain himself. The majority of the scenes, and singing, just appear indulgent. This could have been a tale with fewer pages and it would have been a lot less shambolic. References to actual events of the time, such as King George V’s coronation, as well as the events of the brilliant previous series help give this perspective, but it’s not enough.
Fans of Watchmen will be familiar with typical Moore devices, particularly the panels that are filled with details that go over this uneducated fanboy’s head. After reading Century, I’m still a fan, but one of the earlier, and simpler tales. I don’t mean to say that I’m a fan of the much-diluted film version (which made Sean Connery retire from cinema) but Century has gone too far the other way. This is strictly for League lovers only. However, I am curious to see where the next two one-shots venture forth. League is far too grand an idea to let go just yet.
And There You Are Review
Writer/artist Ronnie del Carmen has had an impressive career, working on storyboards, designs and as a story consultant from Batman: The Animated Series to WALL-E and the upcoming Up, from Pixar. He’s also self-published a few comics focused on his dream walking character Nina. His latest comic is a 64 pager from AdHouse Books entitled, And There You Are is an engrossing peek at his journals and sketchbooks, all lovingly laid out before us. We featured the book in Extra Sequential #2, and I’ve just reviewed the whole thing over at Broken Frontier. Here’s a peek at what I said….
“Words are few and far between, and I think that’s a wise choice on the artist’s part. Del Carmen chooses to step aside and let his art speak for itself. Occasionally he’ll mention where this pencil sketch, or that water colour piece was done, such as the beach or a café, but there’s a genuine sense that we’re given a glance at his thoughts anyway, simply by seeing his vast array of art displayed before our appreciative eyes. Sketchbooks have a real wrinkled texture about them, complete with hand written notes and curled edges. I studied art a few years ago and it makes me long for those days where a blank piece of paper meant one thing – potential.”
If you like dreamy, inspirational art, pick it up. Read the rest of the review right here.
Batman 2.0 Winners
Over at the always awesome Project Rooftop site (where artists submit their ideas for superhero re-designs) the winners of the latest Batman competition are up. Below are my faves (the first one being the Grand Prize Winner). You can check out the rest of the runners up and honourable mentions at Project Rooftop.
Harker #2 Review
I always admire those who risk their resources by doing something truly creative. It’s even more important in these days of Diamond’s recent changes that make it harder for the ‘little guys’ in the comic book biz to get their work noticed and appreciated by a worldwide audience. So, firstly my hat is off to Gibson and Danks, and the multitude of self-publishers like them. However, apart from all that Harker is genuinely entertaining, and it’s obvious that it’s a labour of love. From writer Roger Gibson’s nice introductions in each issue, that offer an honest peek into the process of creating a comic, to artist Vince Danks’ efforts on the art, which must be time consuming, it all makes this a pleasant change for those raised on a steady diet of spandex soap operas.
Carrying on from the debut issue, Harker #2 continues the look at the British detectives Harker and Critchley (the bald one) as they investigate a gruesome murder on the steps of a church. Last issue left us with a hint that the murder was tied into occult practices, and with this issue we delve deeper into that world. With the discovery of book remnants under the fingernails of the corpse, the two lads search a number of shops for a book entitled The Key of Solomon, but to no avail, until they meet a somewhat shifty man in an occult bookshop, who appears to be hiding something. Then it’s off to the coroner who gives the pair the identity of the murder victim, and the hunt continues.
Montages can sometimes be tricky to pull off in sequential art, but Gibson and Danks do it beautifully here. Harker and Critchley’s book hunting at the beginning of the issue, and their questioning of associates of the deceased towards the end, are both handled well. That may seem like an odd thing to praise, but in a black and white comic, it can sometimes be hard to identify faces and locales. Danks’ photorealistic approach to the art manages to avoid this pitfall though. There’s no confusion as to who is who and exactly what’s happening. With a style similar to that of Dave Sim’s current work on Glamourpuss, it’s simple, but not simplistic.
I couldn’t help but notice the incorrect spelling of “presumably,” but that’s a very minor misstep. The other one would be the differences between the two main characters. Hopefully as the series progresses, they will start to sound less alike. Harker appears to be the more level headed, logical one, while Critchley calls his partner, “guv,’ but other than that the differences are subtle. However, all their dialogue is natural and never awkward, and considering there’s no action in this issue, merely talking heads, that’s vital. Danks does well to make each page look interesting, with suitable detail of interior and exterior locales, instead of a steady stream of close-ups of whoever’s talking. Gibson and Danks are a superb team of creators. The dialogue just rings true in your head. It’s not ‘comic book dialogue,’ but rather it’s filled with the cadence and flow of something more realistic. The TV series comparison is the most obvious one to make, and Harker could easily fit into a late night slot in that format. This is another solid entry in this series and is definitely worth picking up. Gibson and Danks can be proud of what they’ve achieved.
You can order Harker from your local comic shop, or from Ariel Press. If you’re looking for something that stands out from your pile of funnybooks, I’d recommend you do.
And you can read my interview with Gibson and Danks in the latest issue of Extra Sequential here, starting from page 32.
DC’s Got You Covered
Thanks to DC’s new blog, The Source, some great new artwork from upcoming titles can now be seen. Below are covers (and interiors) from writer James Robinson and artist Mauro Cascioli from the mini-series Justice League: Cry For Justice which debuts in July. You’ll also see below covers for The Flash: Rebirth #4, by Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver, and finally, there’s the cover to July’s Gotham City Sirens #2 and Batman: Streets of Gotham. I must say, the entire DCU has been disappointing for about the last year, with Batman: R.I.P and Final Crisis just being overhyped and underwhelming. However, in 2 month’s time, I may just stand corrected. Both Batman and Justice League are moving in bold directions, and having Superman live on New Krypton seems to be off to a good start too. Thank you DC. Now don’t let me down.
Popgun Vol. 3 Preview
The 3rd volume of the much loved comics anthology, Popgun is out now from Image. Yes, now! Anthologies are the in thing now in sequential art, as it’s a pleasant and surprising distraction from superhero epics for fanboys and girls, and a great entry into the world of comics for the uninitiated. Below are a few random preview pages, but you can see a lot more of the massive 472 page (for only $30) tome at the official site. We loved Tara McPherson’s cover so much, we dedicated the back page of the new Extra Sequential #2 to it. Inside you’ll find a lot more unique art from a slew of very talented storytellers.
DC’s New Blog
And it’s about time. Marvel has always been the cooler company of The Big Two, while DC has done little to curb its closed off gentlemanly vibe. However, DC were the first to embrace the digital comics revolution, with Zuda, and Marvel soon followed with their slyly named Digital Comics Unlimited. However, Marvel’s E-I-C, Joe Quesada is always on TV chats shows, and on-line chatting Marvel up, especially with his informative weekly blog onMySpace Comic Books.
This is greta, but somewhat frustrating when compared with DC’s lack of chat. I’ve always had a love affair with DC. I’m a comic book nerd today because of them. Superman: The Movie, The Super Friends cartoon, The Killing Joke, The Death of Superman, Kingdom Come – all these and more were the watershed moments for me as a reader. They continued to reveal to me the awesomeness that comics can contain. However as a company, DC has always been tight-lipped about its plans compared to Marvel, and their relationship with the mainstream press can be awkward at the best of times. Things are finally looking up though. Finally DC has realised that it’s time to play catch-up and be pro-active. Their PR guy, Alex Sequra is now running their brand new blog. That’s great news. Hopefully it’s the first step towards new movements the company will be making to be embraced by, and embrace, the press and fans. You can see their blog right here and to give you a hint of what’s been happening lately, you can see pics of Ravager (the new co-feature in Teen Titans) and Ed Benes’ triptych cover to the upcoming Blackest Night: Tales of the Corp 3 ish mini-series. Your daily dose of DC is now here.
The Big Tease
Here’s 2 interesting teaser images released this week. It appears that the X-Men are getting darker and that Aquaman will finally return to the DCU as a Black Lantern. Stay tuned.
The Gallery: Ms. Marvel #38
At the link beneath the Phil Jiminez cover, you can see a text-free peek at Ms. Marvel #38, on sale on April 29. Marvel’s description of the issue below.
With Carol Danvers no longer Ms. Marvel, who will take up the mantle? Answer: The Dark Avenger formerly known as Moonstone! Writer Brian Reed and artist Rebekah Isaacs team up for an all-new, all-different Ms. Marvel #38! Norman Osborn has appointed the villainous Moonstone to become the world’s new favorite super-heroine–what kind of chaos and mayhem will ensue? This issue also features a Wolverine Art Appreciation variant cover by Paolo Rivera!
