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15-04-2008
Count-down, Let-down The oldest trick in the book ...
Will the REAL Wolverine please stand up?
Count-down, Let-down The oldest trick
in the book (and how I fell for it)
By "The Ace of Knaves"
Damn! As it turns out DC WAS kidding when they called their big event
"final crisis". After my lavish praise for their bold plot and excellent
storytelling for countdown issues #06-05, they followed up with a Disappointing
Cheat in issues #04-03.
Once again it's the "biggest announced event of the
year" where actually nothing much really happens.
Sorry folks! Wrong universe! It was the oldest trick in the book and I
fell for it. Turns out it was "universe 51" that was totally destroyed
and not the mainstream one. I should have been suspicious by the lack
of continuity with the ongoing series and by the sudden absence of the
twin globes in the top left panels which usually announce which dimension
stuff is happening in. I don't now if I'm angrier with myself for falling
for this or with such excellent writers as Dini and Giffen for choosing
they easy way out. I guess I was spoilt by the absence of parallel universes
in DC recently, so I forgot that "it only happened in a dream/other universe"
was the easiest way to chicken out. Still it wouldn't have been so bad
if issues 04-03 were up to par with the excellent writing of 06-05. But
all the emotional stuff was absent in overstuffed action issues. Only
Holly and Ray seemed to care that the "heroes" just screwed up and let
a world die. The others didn't give a rats arse. "Hey, it was just some
other dimension right? Not like those people there matter!" I would expect
this behaviour from Jason Todd (can someone please bring out the crowbar
again!) but not from Kyle or Donna. They should have been devastated.
The rest of these issues was also un-involving as now it was my turn not
to give a rats arse about Mary Marvel or Jimmy Olsen. I liked Piper and
Trickster. They were B- level villains but they really shined. Mary Marvel
as "bad girl" just doesn't work. I felt sorry for Jean Loring when she
was eclipsed, but I couldn't care less about "the corruption of Mary Marvel".
Bring back Black Adam! And as for Olsen taking centre stage: What a revoltin' development! 'Nuff said!
Writer: Garth Ennis Artist: Carlos Ezquerra
When the chips are down, there's only one team to call
to keep Britannia ruling the waves: the Rifle Brigade!
This new trade paperback collects the 3-issue Vertigo
miniseries ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE and its sequel,
OPERATION BOLLOCK. Ey-oop! Yer aht of order!
Writer: Bill Willingham Artist: Bill Willingham
Written by acclaimed FABLES creator Bill Willingham.
When a professional Vegas poker player collects vouchers
for the souls of a roomful of people as a bar prank,
he's just anted up for a game he never imagined. He
thinks they're just worthless napkins, but envoys from
Heaven and Hell think differently. Suddenly, Joey's
caught in the middle of a tug-of-war between celestial
powers...can he bluff his way out of it?
Imagine you're twelve years old and suddenly
discover that you are the returned Jesus Christ. You
can turn water into wine, make the crippled walk and
perhaps even raise the dead. What do you and your family
do, and how does it affect you knowing that you're destined
to grow up and take part in a conflict that people have
been waiting almost two thousand years for? Chosen has
been described in the British press as Spider-Man meets
The Book of Revelation. SFX Magazine describes it as
Harry Potter for Christian fundamentalists.
Written by Keith Giffen & Alan Grant Art
by Simon Bisley & Christian Alamy Cover by Bisley Don't
miss this new volume collecting both the 4-issue LOBO
and LOBO'S BACK miniseries that helped make the Last
Czarnian a legend, co-written by 52's Keith Giffen!
First, Lobo is sent to capture a crotchety old teacher
who, along the way, makes life miserable for her captor.
Then, Lobo must take in the most dangerous being in
the universe - and is promptly killed. But heaven doesn't
want him and hell can't handle him, so Lobo is reincarnated
- as a woman with big guns and a very bad attitude!
Attention all:
This month in your
favorite Previews catalogue,
they resollicited
Ultimates Origin #1 again.
You can recognize resollicitations by the code (RES).
It means all previous orders are cancelled.
Please order this title again
and let us know !!
We'll make sure you won't pay double!!
Digital Back Issues For Sale
Column by Tyler Chin-Tanner, 2008.
Weve established that the Internet is a good resource for
promoting a new comic, and a webcomic can be great way to
get readers interested enough in the story that they go out
and buy it. Its difficult to make much money on the actual
digital distribution of a webcomic, but the strategy of the
publisher should be to sell the print version and consider
any web presence to be for promotional purposes.
There is, however, a growing market of publishers selling
digital versions of their back issues, comics that have already
been published and sold in print. The sales numbers on these
digital comics are hardly those of a booming industry, but
if the materials already been paid for and assembled for
the print version, then any additional income from selling
a digital file is simply a bonus.
The million dollar question is how much to charge for these
digital comic books. At one point, Top Cow announced that
they would make the cost to download one of their comics the
same as the cover price of the print comic so that retailers
wouldnt be upset that they were underselling them. I thought
this was odd since its a different final product. Publishers
have adjusted their prices depending on paper quality and
cover thickness. Hardcover graphic novels cost more than softcovers.
Certainly it couldnt cause too much of a problem to lower
the price when theres no paper at all.
Furthermore, retailers have never felt the need to stick
to the cover price. Discounts are often available on comics
even on the day them come out, not to mention left over back-issues
which can often be found for a fraction of the cover price
in discount bins.
Today its more common to find digital comics priced lower
than the print version. Top Cow comics are still some of the
higher priced comics, going for $1.99 a single issue on their
affiliated webstore Direct2Drive. Other publishers go slightly
cheaper with Archaia selling most issues for 99 cents at DriveThru
Comics and Devils Due and IDW matching that price at Pull
Box Online. Slave Labor makes a small attempt to undercut
them all by offering their downloadable comics for 89 cents.
Of course I bought print copies of their Street Angel series
from a 50 cent bin. They werent in great condition, but collectibility
is hardly an issue when comparing digital files. I did end
up buying the Street Angel graphic novel when it came out
though, it was a good series and I wanted to replace those
ratty issues, so theres a case where making material available
for cheap can end up bringing in cash later.
My favorite method of offering downloadable
comics is what the website Wowio.com is doing. They offer
free downloads on all their comics, choosing instead to bring
in revenue through selling ad space to companies by placing
ad pages at the beginning and end of the digital pdf file.
This allows them to pay the publishers and creators each time
the comic is downloaded without charging the customer.
For me this is a good value for a digital comic because I
dont really enjoy reading comics on a computer. I use it
as a resource to test new comics or to find titles I wouldnt
normally know about. Even at 99 cents or 89 cents each, this
can get pricey for comics I may not even want to read ever
again.
And yes, this is the website I use to for making the issues
of my series Adrenaline available for free download. As a
matter of fact, I just uploaded #6 if anyone is interested.
My one criticism of Wowio, and I find this same problem with
the other sites Ive mentioned, is that theres not a lot
to see of the comic before downloading it. Theres just the
cover image and a short blurb. Even if the comic is free,
I dont want to have to download a comic just to get the slightest
idea if its something I might be interested in.
If I were to offer a piece of advice to a publisher putting
their material online, it would be to make more information
and material easily accessible to the most amount of people
rather than worry about how many cents more you can get from
a few people.
Well, I could talk for weeks on end about webcomics, and
I plan to do more later in the year. But next week I want
to start discussing strategies for small publishers at comic
conventions. The convention season is starting up and the
big New York Comic-Con is in a week. Ill be there at a small
publishers table. Time to start writing on the topic and
gearing up for the summer.
---
Tyler Chin-Tanner started his own publishing
company, A Wave Blue World, and writes and draws layouts for
Adrenaline, its flagship series.
Karate Kid kills the the universe! (with a little help from the monitor)
Will the REAL Wolverine please stand up?
Karate Kid kills the
universe!
(with a little help from the monitor)
By "The Ace of Knaves"
Boy oh boy! When the good folks at DC decided to call their big event
the "Final Crisis" they really meant business! The countdown is only down
to five yet and already the earth and all of it's A-level heroes have
been destroyed.
That's a welcome change from the usual "biggest announced event of
the year" where actually nothing much really happens.
It's not just that they really do present the most final crisis possible,
they also do it in an incredibly talented way (thanks to Paul Dini, Adam
Beechen and Keith Gifen). Issues 06 and 05 of countdown were among the
most gripping and emotionally involving comics I've ever read (and that's
saying a lot given my hamster-like collecting of comics). The concept
of telling the story through the eyes of has-been superhero Buddy Blank
(the original OMAC) gives a fresh angle and the scenario presented is
absolutely unique as this time it's no supervillain that wreaks havoc,
but a "simple" disease. In fact, it's the very heroism of the DC heroes
that dooms the world as they seek to preserve the life of Karate Kid.
Now normally in such a crisis everything goes just right and the heroes
carry the day, but this time all the little things just go wrong and all
the best intentions back-fire (Green Lantern spreading the plague universally
when looking for a cure illustrates this best). It's great to see how,
through the Monitors machinations, everything goes down the drain.
A very wonderful dynamic here is how the Atom (acting as scientist first
and a hero second) had predicted all this and sought to prevent it, but
how the "hubris" of the others actually causes it (We're the good guys!
We'll find a solution! We can't let him die! Everything will turn out
all right because it always does! Right? WRONG !!!).
Great stuff!
I was only disappointed that this story seems to happen outside of continuity
as in the other series all the dead heroes are still going about their
business normally. I would have like to see a cross over with a "the death
of " each of the major heroes simultaneously, but this would probably
have been too depressing as these two issues of countdown had already
left me shaken. The reality and sense of this disaster makes it only more
nightmarish.
Written by MARK MILLAR Pencils & Cover
by JOHN ROMITA JR. Sickening violence...just the way
you like it. The most screwed-up superhero comic of
all time continues in what's sure to be the most exciting
launch of 2008. What would happen if you tried to be
a super hero? What would happen when an ordinary man
in a latex suit comes face-to-face with the criminal
underworld? Read about super heroes like you've never
seen them before and feel happy that you are living
here right now when this book is being published. Your
grandchildren will only envy you. Comics just don't
get better than this.
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Penciled
by LEINIL FRANCIS YU Cover by GABRIELE DELL'OTTO Variant
cover by STEVE MCNIVEN SECRET INVASION IS HERE!! Years
in the making, months in the teasing...and it all STARTS
HERE!! The shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls
has secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization
on Earth with one goal...full-scale invasion! In this
DOUBLE-SIZED first issue, page after page unveils reveal
after reveal and shocking moment after shocking moment!
Brian Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu leap off the pages
of mega-hit New Avengers and deliver a story that will
change the Marvel Universe forever. THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!
Written by GREG PAK Penciled by CARLO
PAGULAYAN, AARON LOPRESTI, GRAY FRANK & TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
Cover by LADRÖNN A whole new world of hurt! Betrayed
by Earth's heroes and exiled into outer space, the man-monster
Hulk has landed on the distant planet Sakaar, ruled
by the tyrannical Red King. Sold into slavery, Hulk
becomes the Green Scar, the planet's mightiest gladiator
- but his new masters get more than they bargained for
when he forges a bond of brotherhood with his fellow
fighters: crafty insectoid Miek, the horrific Brood,
wise rock-man Korg, shadow warrior Hiroim, noble-born
rebel Elloe and her loyal guardsman Skee. Together,
these gladiators start a revolution that could change
their entire world - or destroy it. It's savage sci-fi
fantasy by award-winning writer Greg Pak, guest-starring
the Silver Surfer!
Author: James Farr Art By: Alfa Robbi
Rating: T (Teen Age 13+) Earth's preeminent nanotechnology
scientist must create physical and mental enhancements
for whomever is chosen to represent Earth in the alien
parliament. But when his daughter is mortally injured
in a car crash, he uses the one dose of enhancement
serum on her-which mISBNs she has to go to the alien
parliament! Humor and action ensue as she makes several
unusual alien friends and helps thwart a plot to free
a hugely powerful alien death god trapped inside a black
hole.
The new Previews
Order Form
- APR08 -
is available here.
Click on the link in the first line
of the message and you'll download
the excel orderform.
For those who don't
use the excel sheet,
there's an extra shipment
possible for small orders. More
info ...
In the Excel sheet
you also find
the full description of every comic
and a build- in cost calculator.
Skrulls. Finally the invasion is here. Get your popcorn,
kiddies, this is gonna be fun!
We all know what this is about. The Skrulls have infiltrated
the Marvel Universe and have their eyes set on domination.
They are undetectable by most of the means our heroes have
used in the past. The Invansion starts here and it comes hard
and fast.
Wow. Brian Michael Bendis has given us one heck of an opening
issue. Pretty early on things get out of control and it does
nothing but ratchet up from there. This is the big summer
popcorn blockbuster that Quesada has been promising us all
along. Fortunately for us, this one seems a little smarter
than War World Hulk proper did.
This story comes at us with a frenetic pace and the internet
is sure to come to a loud roar. For all the jaw dropping moments
contained in the first issue, there are probably ten other
things to be explained. The Skrulls, like Bendis, are not
going to let us take a breath during this whole thing. The
reveals and big moments start just a few pages in and almost
every other page features a moment that will make fanboys
everywhere bug out their eyes.
There are a couple of clunky bits. Scenes that dont readily
tell you what is going on (yes, I have my eyes on you, Thunderbolt
Mountain) and dialogue that doesnt make immediate sense.
However, I have a feeling that these are supposed to be that
way (in fact, I KNOW it is true for one particular piece of
repeated dialogue) and that all will be explained in time.
Heck, I imagine by the time the dust settles that we will
even know for sure what that Skrull was doing in Avengers:
Disassembled.h for the title to retain its readership-Caps
alter ego, young Billy Batson, became Micky Moran. Shazam,
the wizard who empowered him, became astrophysicist Guntag
Borghelm, who taught Micky the magic word Kimota (atomic
spelled backwards, near enough). Captain Marvel Junior became
Young Marvelman, while Mary Marvel underwent a more conspicuous
change and morphed into Johnny Bates AKA Kid Marvelman! The
Marvelman titles retained the sense of whimsy which had made
Captain Marvel so popular, and they sold well for almost a
decade before fading away in 1963. End of story, it seemed.
It sure is nice to see Yus art get inked again. It still
isnt as tight as the work Gary Frank is doing with the style
over in Action Comics, but it is much better then the rushed
and unfinished art that plagued Yus run in The New Avengers.
There is still some wackiness from the penciler though, his
Spider-Man is way too ripped. Seriously, with the paper thin
costume he must be wearing, there is nothing left to the imagination
and a breeze must make old Pete awfully cold.
Yu does a fantastic job conveying the script here. There
are none of the muddy panels that were often indiscernable
in Stranges Inner Sanctum. There is a little color thing
at one point, but if you heed my advice and pay attention
to colors, you should do fine. As I stated above there are
a few panels that dont readily make sense, but I am not sure
they are supposed to at this point.
While it is not a perfect comic by any stretch of the imagination,
if the first issue is any indication, this is going to be
one heck of a ride. Fortunately, much of the prep work has
been done in other books, so the exposition is light and summary
like so that we can get to the reveals and explosions right
away. Yippy Kiyay!
Keith Giffen: simply Marvellous or Distinguished Competition?
Will the REAL Wolverine please stand up?
Keith Giffen: simply Marvellous or
Distinguished Competition?
By "The Ace of Knaves"
I just finished reading "the last defenders #1" (couldn't help noticing
that for a change Marvel didn't opt to add "NEW" to the title). I can't
say I know a lot about the "first" defenders (though I do have three Essential
TPB's in my IN-tray awaiting their turn to be read), so I guess what really
attracted me to purchase it was the name of Keith Giffen. As it turns
out this was a good choice, because when it comes to dysfunctional superteams,
Giffen still hasn't lost his touch.
Coincidental and entirely unrelated I'm sure, is the fact just now DC
has also decided to release Keith Giffen's "Justice League International"
in TPB. Reading these two together really brings some parallels to the
fore as both defenders and league seem to include a vigilante dressing
as a flying animal (Batman-Nighthawk), a redneck impulsive hero (Guy Gardner-
Blazing Skull), a superstrong but silent "whitebread" type (Captain Marvel-Colossus)
and a strong-willed female (Black Canary- She Hulk).
Purely coincidental I'm sure.
Anyhow, both are still a very good read in my opinion and yes, the JLI
TPB does include the famous scene where batman knocks out Gardner with
"One Punch!" (which is even better than I imagined it to be). Also featured
are Wandjina, Silver Sorceress and Bluejay, currently also featured in
"Lord Havok and the Extremists". Not quite sure how they ended up switching
universes, I'll have to look that up, but again I can't shake the feeling
that Wandjina and Silver Sorceress have a connection to Thor and Scarlet
Witch.
(And then I'm not mentioning why for some reason "Diehard" from the extremists
seems to remind me of professor Xavier. There are lots of guys having
schools for gifted children right? Or why a feral guy with claws also
seems familiar in this context. I do prefer the nightmarish fallout from
a war between super good-guys over state involvement in the DC version
to the status-quo Marvel vision though).
But I'm getting distracted because I was talking about Keith Giffen. I'm
not quite sure what's going to happen with the "last defenders" though,
as I seem to recall a DC nation column from december 2007 where DC announced
the exclusive signing of Keith Giffen.
Maybe there are two of them.
Now isn't that a thought!
Starting from today untill the end o/t month, we're going to celebrate
our first anniversary.
How ???
By offering discounts
on various product groups!
During the whole month: Preorders 'll be 1$ for only 0.80€ &
From 02-04-2008 till 12-04-2008
-10% on all Trade Paperbacks use discount code "TP"
&
From 12-04-2008 till 21-04-2008
-20% on all Loose Comics
&
From 02-04-2008 till 12-04-2008
-30% on all Sales Packs
Northwest Passage - Scott ChantlerNorthwest Passage - Scott Chantler
Most westerns have traditionally
dealt with the rough and tumble life on the high plains and deserts of
America. Yet a greater territory with an even more inhospitable climate
rests to the North, in what is now Canada. Rupert's Land was a vast expanse
held by the Hudson Bay Company under a charter issued by the British Crown.
It is amongst these beautiful and harsh lands surrounding the Hudson Bay
that this great epic unfolds. After Fort Newcastle is brutally captured
by invading French mercenaries, Charles Lord and a band of his surviving
soldiers, trackers, and explorers embark on one last great adventure to
unite the people of Rupert's Land to reclaim their home. This rollicking
historical adventure fights its way on land and sea, all in search of
and control of the mythic Northwest Passage.
Northwest
Passage.
Hier heb ik al serieus mee gevloekt. Reeds tot tweemaal toe kreeg ik
exemplaren die aan de zijkant verkeerd gesneden waren, hatelijk. Toch
zeker als de uitgever "moeite" doet om een mooie hardcover
op de markt te brengen. Dus het derde verkeerd gesneden exemplaar heb
ik dan maar zo gelaten. Zitten ze op het einde van hun eerste print-run
en hebben ze nog enkel left-overs, zinj dit de dumpertjes voor continental
Europe, ik heb geen flauw idee. In ieder geval ben je bij deze gewaarschuwd,
want het is alleszins het aanschaffen waard.
Genoeg geleuterd.
Letterlijk in één
ruk verslinde ik deze leuke, spannende en intrigerende Graphic Novel.
De tekeningen deden mij een beetje denken aan "Bone" van Jeff
Smith en eigenlijk zat het qua sfeer ook in diezelfde richting. Natuurlijk
is dit fantasy verhaal en geen western. Komt dit door het cartoonesque
tekenstijl of ... Voor mij doet het er niet.
Voor een snelle hap in between. Gezond en luchtig. Mmmmmmm
Scott Chantler
staat hoog op mijn verlanglijstje van aan te schaffen
stuff.
Publisher's Weekly: "While being hyped as the greatest Canadian western
comic book ever may sound like faint praise indeed, in the case of Chantler's
thrilling historical adventure, it definitely is not. Categorized as
young adult historical fiction, the book is a James Fenimore Cooperstyled
thriller set in remote Rupert's Land, circa 1755. Fort Newcastle, an
English-run trading post commanded by the stout-hearted hero Charles
Lord, is overrun in a vicious sneak attack by French mercenaries looking
to get rich off the fur trade. Lord and the survivors of the massacre
wander the wilderness, looking for allies and plotting their revenge,
while inside the captured fort, the villainous Guerin Montglave plots
evil deeds. Chantler's sharp black and white artwork (replete with dramatic
closeups and muscular action choreography) has a welcome precision to
it, while the writing has a pulp immediacy which brings history to life.
This collected edition of the three-issue original comes with copious
and welcome annotations at the back, where Chantler discusses various
plot points and historical references as well as the different styles
used from one frame to the next.
Will the REAL Wolverine please stand up? - By "The Ace of Knaves"
Will the REAL Wolverine please stand up?
Will the REAL Wolverine
please stand up?
By "The Ace of Knaves"
Considering the large selection of Marvel comics featuring "the old canucklehead",
you'd expect a Wolverine fan like me to be spoilt for choice. This is
unfortunately not so, as in my opinion the quality of the produced stories
tends to vary al lot. The past years have seen an enormous increase in
Wolverine titles (he even has two solo books now) but to be honest, there
hasn't been a lot of "WOW!" for me. So imagine my surprise when Wolverine
#62 actually managed to give me the "Wolverine feel" for the first time
in nearly four years. The last good Wolverine "run" for my tastes was
Greg Rucka's, ending with #17 (nov. 2004). Mark Millar's subsequent "enemy
of the state" was a good story, but I feel it would have been more effective
as an out-of-continuity mini series or as a graphic novel. Some of the
stand alone issue's were also quite good (#32 and #41) and Guggenheim's
'Civil War" follow up story wasn't that bad, but Loeb's run was in my
opinion absolutely disastrous. I absolutely hate the "let's retcon a shadowy
mystical super villain into the background and involve all sorts of mystical
crap" approach. I know Batman used to have a split fanbase, some loving
the more gothic / magic approach and some preferring the scientific /
human stories.
Personally, I find that heroes should be presented as befits their origin.
Doctor Strange, Doctor Fate, Thor, Captain marvel, their powers and
natures are magical so I would expect the stories to turn that way. Spider-man,
Batman, Iron man, Wolverine, are "science" heroes and should avoid the
arcane. That is not to say they can never ever be involved in arcane plots,
but it should be limited to single occasional story arcs and it definitely
should NOT be retconned into the origin stories (Strazynski's Spider-man
/ Morlun / Ezekiel arc still brings me out in a rash. How would Thor fans
respond if they would try to retcon his origin in continuity to having
him really being a mutant who just has an overactive imagination and delusions
of grandeur?). So you can imagine that when Loeb was finished and Guggenheim
took over again, but with yet another "fight for the soul mystic doo-dah"
arc I felt all hope was lost. By the way, that reminds me: if you're going
to do a magical-spiritual story like Loeb did, you shouldn't kill off
Sabretooth as he is an essential counterpart to Wolverine. It's not like
they have mutants to spare at the moment! Yin-Yang, Batman-Joker, Wolverine-Sabretooth.
If you want to make the mystical point you should reinforce this, not
end it! Anyhow, this to explain that I didn't have much hope when I began
reading #62, figuring that "Get Mystique" would turn out to be an unnecessary
prolongation of the in my opinion hideously flawed "Messiah complex".
However the new creative team and writer Jason Aaron managed to put together
an exiting issue that didn't give me the feeling that I'd seen it all
before. Aaron has also just started writing a new arc on Ghost rider (so
he can do both the "science" and the "magic"! I'm impressed!), so I'm
definitely going to keep my eye on him and browse some of his earlier
works. His flashback scenes with Mystique and Wolverine in Mexico and
Kansas are just the sort of stuff I would have hoped to see in "Wolverine
Origins".
Which brings me to probably the saddest Wolverine series. There hasn't
been a good issue of "Wolverine Origins" yet in my opinion, and I can't
understand why (other than that I'm a nit picking snob fanboy with delusions
of grandeur, but hey, I'm allowed as much self deception as the next guy).
It had such promise: "Wolverine Origins"! I would have imagined it to
be like "legends of the dark knight" started out, bringing self-standing
arcs featuring Wolverine at sometime in his hidden past. In fact, the
just released (and very promising) "Logan" mini series featuring Wolverine
in WWII Japan is just the sort of stuff I would have wanted to see in
"Origins". So why not? Way and Dillon did a great job on other stuff (Punisher
Vs Bullseye for one), but somehow they just don't work for me on "Origins",
and that's a damned shame. It's expressed best by Wolverine himself in
X-force #1: " as it turns out, I knew more about myself BEFORE I got
my memories back. Ain't that a bitch."
I wasn't sure about this new X-force series; yet another "Messiah complex"
spin-off. And yet I'm getting a good feeling here. Kyle and Yost have
managed an intriguing set-up involving the Wolverine-X23 father-daughter
relation (she's even more of a loose cannon than he ever was). Add to
this some of the most loathsome villains ever created (the purifiers and
bastion) and Wolverine in an outfit reminiscent of his "brown" uniform
(for covert ops) and things are looking up. "X-Force Logan" has a little
too much muscle and hair-gel in the pencils for my tastes but I don't
really mind. It's better to see the "old soldier" Wolverine trying to
steer X23 than to see the "John Wayne mono dimensional" Wolverine ("Let's
grab a brew") in Uncanny X-men.
Concluding: "Wolverine" is on the map again and "X-force" and "Logan"
also offer a good yarn in my opinion (I'm looking forward to see what
"The amazing immortal man and other bloody tales " is going to bring),
but "Uncanny X-men" and "Wolverine Origins" need to brush up their act.
(Oh, and then there's still Wolverine in the "avengers " and "first class",
but I don't read those so it would be unfair of me to comment. I will
say this though: me not reading them is comment enough).
This
is a story that runs parallel to continuity. It's an option. It's an opinion.
This is me taking a world I love, taking the characters I love and making
them hurt. I want to be very clear that this is not an alternate reality.
This is my reality and I invite you all to explore it with me. At one
point in my life, my whole existence was Spider-Man. Now, for a little
while at least it's true again.- Kaare Andrews
Dit
is hetgeen wat de schrijver zelf zegt over
Spider-Man
Reign.
Bij mij kwam het een beetje over als "The Return of the Dark Knight"
van Spiderman. Alhoewel door een beetje teveel hun best te doen verliest
het wel wat aan kracht.
We leren Peter Parker kennen als een in zich zelf terug getrokken oud
futloos mannetje met de nodige waanbeelden ten gevolge van zijn immer
kwellende morele plichtsbesef en de daar bijhorende schuldgevoelens. Deze
keer is de dood van Ben Parker niet de aanleiding maar heeft het iets
te maken met Mary Jane.
De tijdsetting is donker en grauw, vertoond veel knipoogjes met de huidige
politieke toestand in de States. Give up your freedom and we will protect you.
Het is nu al dertig jaar dat er geen spandexen rondhangen of -vliegen
in NY. Het verhaal komt in een stroom versnelling als J. Jonah Jameson
Spiderman in zijn quest for truth and liberation voor zijn kar wil spannen.
Ze hadden overgang tussen de dementerende Peter en de
back-in-action Spiderman toch iets beter mogen uitdiepen, Sandman's gedeelte
kwam precies wat uit de lucht vallen en de slot-finale was toch maar snel
gedaan.
Mijn inziens hoort dit deeltje toch echter wél thuis in de rij
van typische Spidey klassiekers.
Kraven's Last Hunt blijft echter de onbetwistbare nr. 1.
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan Artist: Tony
Harris From Wizard Magazine's Top Ten writer Brian K.
Vaughan (Y: THE LAST MAN) and Eisner Award-winning artist
Tony Harris (STARMAN) comes a collection of one of the
most critically acclaimed new series of the year, featuring
a gorgeous new cover by Harris! THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS
collects the first five issues of this stellar ongoing
political thriller, including the extra-sized origin
of the super-heroic Great Machine, as well as the 4-part
"State of Emergency."
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan Artist: Tony
Harris The second volume of the Eisner Award-nominated
series, collecting issues #6-10! What forced Mayor Hundred
to make one of the most controversial decisions in the
history of New York politics? Featuring an introduction
by the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix) and a new cover
by Tony Harris!
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan Artist: Tony
Harris Collecting three unique storylines of the Eisner
Award-winning series from issues #11-16! Mayor Mitchell
Hundred must make a difficult decision about his own
future, becomes part of a shocking trial complicated
by the unexpected arrival of an all-new superhero, and
leaves New York City for the first time since his election
to embark on a strange adventure!
Written by Brian K. Vaughan; Art by Tony
Harris & Tom Feister and Chris Sprouse & Karl Story;
Cover by Tony HarrisA shocking tragedy strikes an Iraq
War protest in downtown Manhattan in this collection
featuring EX MACHINA #17-20! Plus, in the 2-part "Life
and Death," superstar artist Chris Sprouse illustrates
an adventure from Mayor Hundred's super-heroic past
from EX MACHINA SPECIAL #1-2!
Dont Say the M Word: The Strange Story of Miracleman
Column by Tony Ingram, 2008.
There are some characters whose names become well known because
they simply fire the readers imagination, and become best
sellers or at least cult figures as a result.
And then theres Marvelman.
In the early 1950s, British publishers Len Miller & Sons
specialized in reprints of US comic books, and their best
selling titles for awhile were those reprinting Fawcetts
Captain marvel and associated characters. So when, in 1953,
Fawcetts much publicized legal problems with Superman publishers
DC forced them to discontinue the Marvel Familys adventures,
Millers had a problem.
Len Millers solution was inspired. He had an audience for
superhero adventures, but no superheroes. So, he hired writer/artist
Mick Anglo to create some, and in 1954, Millers Captain Marvel
became Marvelman!
The changes were superficial enough for the title to retain
its readership-Caps alter ego, young Billy Batson, became
Micky Moran. Shazam, the wizard who empowered him, became
astrophysicist Guntag Borghelm, who taught Micky the magic
word Kimota (atomic spelled backwards, near enough). Captain
Marvel Junior became Young Marvelman, while Mary Marvel underwent
a more conspicuous change and morphed into Johnny Bates AKA
Kid Marvelman! The Marvelman titles retained the sense of
whimsy which had made Captain Marvel so popular, and they
sold well for almost a decade before fading away in 1963.
End of story, it seemed.
Who SHOULD be a Skrull?
Column by J.P. Dorigo, 2008.
All the comic message boards are all a flutter with one thing
lately: Skrulls. Who is a Skrull, who isnt a Skrull, whos
been acting Skrully, et cetera. Well I cant see the future
any more then you folks can. I have a couple theories who
might be Skrulls, but who wants to make guesses any more?!
Im here to lay down the law for you nerd boys and nerd girls.
Heres who I think Marvel should make Skrulls and why.
Lets start at the top: Tony Stark. Man, is that guy a jerk
or what. I never really cared for Iron Man, but since the
startup of New Avengers and then Civil War you cant get rid
of the guy! I mean, sure, hes definitely more interesting
then he sued to be, but he is the epitome of everything we
should be against. Hes a billionaire AND he runs S.H.I.E.L.D.
Hes like George W. Bush in a super suit! At least he uses
some of his science for good. I think they should out him
as a Skrull and then lock him up. Undo all the madness from
Civil War and let things go back to normal a bit. Sadly, from
reading both of the Avengers titles, I think its highly unlikely
that Stark is a Skrull.
Another big reveal would be the Hulk. Lets face it kids,
colorists have a tough job. Can you imagine the difficulties
of having to relearn how to color and existing character but
now with green skin? The Hulk is already there! I think Marvel
should give all the colorists a break and make the Hulk a
Skrull.
Edmond Le Cochon - posted on Forum "Getekende Reep"
Excuseer,
Modest wil iets zeggen.
Modest heeft de eer voor het eerst een nieuw onderwerp aan te snijden.
Omdat Modest het niet uitgesloten acht dat er toch nog intelligente lezers op
dit forum zitten, wil hij graag voor hen iets speciaals doen, en het hier enkel
hebben over hoogstaande literaire strips. Pas op, Modest heeft absoluut niets
tegen de iets dommere lezer of beter de iets minder begaafde lezers,
Modest heeft respect voor
iedereen!
Ook voor Moslims. Ook voor
Chinezen.
Zelfs voor Jan Bosschaert.
Modest wil alvast een eerste stripreeks aanprijzen: 'Edmond le Cochon' van Rochette en Veyron.
(er bestaat zelfs een deel in het Nederlands)
Deze superieure strip gaat over (de intelligente lezer raadt het reeds) een
varken!
Edmond, het varken, beleefd allerlei spannende en grappige avonturen...
Als hij naar een ronddraaiende vlieg slaat, rost hij per ongeluk zijn vrouw
meteen ook af...
Edmond gaat door het leven als een soort Robin Hood...
Hij steelt van de armen en geeft het aan de rijken...
Het leven gaat aan hem voorbij...
Wat is er dan zo geweldig aan deze strip zal de lezer zich afvragen...
Dit lijkt wel de eerste
de beste Jommekesstrip!
Maar daar vergist de lezer zich wel degelijk...
Het gaat over de diepgang, beste lezer, de achterliggende boodschap!!!
Als je tot de essentie van de strip doordringt blijkt dat Edmond eigenlijk maar
een paar dingen wil: vreten, zijn behoefte doen, de liefdesdaad vervullen en
alcoholische dranken tot zich nemen.
Nooit eerder was een dergelijke
psychologische studie verricht van de essentie van het zwijn.
Het zal nooit meer hetzelfde zijn als Modest varkensvlees geserveerd krijgt.
En hier krijgt Modest zowaar nog een gedachte! En wat meer is, Modest zal ze
met jou delen, waarde lezer!(zonder dank, graag gedaan)
De vraag die Modest zich
vooral stelt: is er eigenlijk wel een verschil tussen varkens en mensen?
'Edmond le Cochon' zet de mens aan het denken.
Maar Modest wil nu afronden, het is vandaag kaartavond.
Millions of readers the world over have been held spellbound by this
valiant tale vividly told. Now, enter Terry Goodkind's world, the world
of The Sword of Truth. In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his
father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's
forest sanctuary seeking help...and more. His world, his very beliefs,
are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In
their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and
loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword-to invoke
within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of
battle have just changed...or that their time has run out. This is the
beginning. One story. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Written by
Terry Goodkind
Superhard genoten van de eerste boek. Vooral van het SM-gedeelte ; ) Binnekort op vakantie effe rap de tweede verslinden.
Ben benieuwd wat ze hiervan gaan maken ... ??? Het verheugende is al vast en zeker dat het een mini-serie wordt ipv alles in een veel te korte film te willen proppen !!!
Nu zou Modest deze waarheid
niet verkondigen aan eender wie,maar jij, beste stripvriend, bent niet eender
wie. Maar aangezien Modest niet botergeil is, maar gewoon geil, gaat hij toch
nog eerst een paar boekjes bespreken.
Modest heeft zich deze keer
in het 'Small Press' genre verdiept. Modest moet zeggen dat hij er niet vrolijk
van werd. Scheef gedrukte waardeloze onleesbare rommel! Niet waard om Modest
zijn XXX mee af te kuisen! Voor zover er iets te lezen valt in die boekjes (de
meeste auteurs zijn te lui om zelfs een scenario te schrijven) is het merendeel
moeilijkdoenerij die op niets slaat! Neem Modest het niet kwalijk dat hij het
zegt: de helft van die Small Press-tekenaartjes zijn het niet eens waard om
'Kiekeboe' of 'Suske en Wiske' te tekenen! Maar nu we het toch over 'Suske en
Wiske' hebben.
Eén van die boekjes viel
Modest op in positieve zin. Heeft er namelijk iemand in zijn hoofd gekregen
om een soort 'handleiding' voor stripfiguren te tekenen. Op de eerste pagina
lees je een avontuur van een punker.
'Kurt Mad Dog Bosmans' speelt in zijn vrije tijd..
Wiske!!!!
Het is echt grappig
om die punker te zien transformeren naar een soort Wiske met stoppelbaard. En
als er even verderop in zijn Wiskes kont geknepen wordt door een of andere geilaard
moest Modest echt schaterlachen. Maar het is niet deze scene waardoor Modest
geil geworden is. Want Modest valt niet op punkers, zelfs al hebben ze het kleedje
van Wiske aangetrokken. Neenee, Modest wordt enkel geil van mooie vrouwen. Zoals
Manara ze tekent. Maar, Modest dwaalt af...
Het boekje waarover Modest het hierboven heeft heet 'Stripdepressies'
en is uitgegeven EN getekend door ene Bart Croonenborghs.
Omdat Modest het toch wel
een verdienstelijk werkje vond ging hij op zoek naar nog meer werk van deze
auteur die Bosschaert nog naar de kroon zal steken. Hoewel, het is niet moeilijk
om Bosschaert naar de kroon te steken. Zeker niet moeilijk als Bosschaert op
het toilet zit. Want dan kan hij daar niet weg. En als je dan het geluk hebt
dat hij zijn kroon opheeft, en je komt voorzichtig langs boven het toilet gluren
kun je hem zo naar de kroon steken. Je kunt meteen zien of Bosschaert wel degelijk
een pokdalige Brusselmans-kont heeft zoals in een vorige mail vermeld.
Maar goed, Modest dwaalt
weer af.
Bart Croonenborghs dus.
En wat hij nog heeft getekend. Blijkt dat de man nog een stripboekje heeft dat
hij samen met zijn broer Rob gemaakt heeft. BLAM! Er staan een
hoop korte verhaaltjes in het boekje. Getekend in verschillende stijlen. De
tekeningen zijn van een totaal ander gehalte. Hier is veel werk van gemaakt.
Mooi. Beide boekjes zijn aanraders. Eindelijk een Small Presstekenaar die een
duwtje in de rug waard is.
Verhalen als 'Ruige varkens dijen het beste', daar kan Modest zich wel
in vinden. Er staat ook een Zombie verhaaltje in over een geile vrouwelijke
zombie.
Leuk.
Maar ook hiervan werd Modest niet geil. Want Modest valt niet op vrouwelijke
Zombies. Modest vindt vrouwelijke Zombies vies. Modest vindt pokdalige konten
ook vies, en zeker als het over de pokdalige kont gaat van Bosschaert. Ofwel
was het die van Brusselmans, daar is Modest niet zeker meer van. Het is ook
zo moeilijk voor Modest om alles bij te houden. Modest is nu 63 en dan lost
er wel al eens een steekje...
Maar Modest
weet wel nog waarom hij geil is.
Modest heeft ' 'n net meisje' van Fred De Heij gelezen. Uitgeverij
Divina.
Verantwoord naakt.
Want het is een goed getekende strip en soms gaat het nog over iets anders
dan seks. Soms. Niet dikwijls. Eén keer gelooft Modest. De ene poepslag
na de andere wordt hier gemaakt. Verantwoordde poepslagen natuurlijk!
Er wordt ook behoorlijk wat scheefgepoept in dit boekje.
Schoon getekend.
Mooie vrouwen met dikke borsten.
Heel dikke borsten.
En nu gaat Modest afsluiten
want hij gaat in bad.
Een ijskoud bad zal Modest
goed doen.
Stel het goed,
waarde stripvrienden,
en tot de volgende keer.
Writer: Brian Wood Artist: Brian Wood
In the near future, America's worst nightmare has come
true. With military adventurism overseas bogging down
the Army and National Guard, the U.S. government mistakenly
neglects the very real threat of anti-establishment
militias scattered across the 50 states. Like a sleeping
giant, Middle America rises up and violently pushes
its way to the shining seas, coming to a standstill
at the line in the sand Manhattan or, as the world
now knows it, the DMZ. Matty Roth, a naïve young man
and aspiring photojournalist, lands a dream gig following
a veteran war journalist into the heart of the DMZ.
Things soon go terribly wrong, and Matty finds himself
lost and alone in a world he's only seen on television.
There, he is faced with a choice: try to find a way
off the island, or make his career with an assignment
most journalists would kill for. But can he survive
in a war zone long enough to report the truth?
Written by Brian Wood; Art by Riccardo
Burchielli; Cover by WoodDon't miss this volume collecting
issues #6-12 of the acclaimed series by Brian Wood!
Roth's star power lands the break of a lifetime: an
interview with the infamous leaders of the Free Armies.
"Looking for the next FABLES or Y: THE
LAST MAN? Look no further than...DMZ." Wizard Magazine
Written by Brian Wood; Art by Riccardo
Burchielli; Cover by Wood"If residents of Manhattan
often feel at odds with the rest of the country, the
comic book series DMZ magnifies that anxiety with its
radical premise." THE NEW YORK TIMESDon't miss the
latest volume collecting the red-hot Vertigo series
from Brian Wood! In Volume 3, collecting issues #13-17,
Matty severs his ties to The Liberty News and becomes
a free agent. He soon finds himself in over his head
as he goes undercover and infiltrates a terrorist cell
determined to disrupt any and all construction sites
trying to rebuild the city.
Written by Brian Wood Cover by Wood Art
by Riccardo Burchielli, Vikto Kalvachev and Nathan Fox
Collecting issues #18-22 of the acclaimed series by
Brian Wood! Matty Roth reluctantly lands an interview
for Liberty News with an enlisted U.S. solider who's
found guilty of a massacre within the DMZ. What follows
is a look at how the DMZ came to be, from the perspective
of a kid who came from the Midwest and walked right
into a nightmare.
After more then eight months Lost has finally returned, and
in just five episodes its already reminded me why its my
favorite show.
This season picks up right where the last one left off. There
are two enormous twists in the storyline that have altered
the show dramatically. The first is that "rescuers" have managed
to land on the island. I say rescuers in quotes because theyve
made it clear that saving the survivors of the crash is not
their main objective. The second major change is that instead
of splicing the island storyline with flashbacks of the survivors,
theyve changed it to flash-forwards, in which six of the
survivors, appropriately named the Oceanic Six, are back
in the real world. Not all of the members of the Oceanic Six
have been revealed yet, and they all share a common secret
that hasnt been revealed yet. Some speculations are that
there are survivors still on the island and the Oceanic Six
are lying about them all being dead for some reason. Whether
or not thats what the people on the island want them to say
is yet to be determined.
Get
Ready for Webcomics Column by Tyler Chin-Tanner - 2008
I came across this childrens book a few years ago while
teaching in Costa Rica. The school, while excelling in its
location, was short on supplies and got by mostly on hand-me-downs
from the U.S. So its safe to say the library wasnt exactly
up to date.
It was there that I discovered Get Ready for Robots, published
in 1986 for the purpose of preparing the youth of that day
and age for their inevitable future of living amongst robots.
Seriously, they were everywhere! In our homes, cooking our
food and washing our clothes, on the streets directing traffic,
doing repair work. Basically they had replaced the entire
service industry. There was no mention of the internet, cell-phones
or navigational systems. The future was all about robots.
Personally, I feel a bit gypped. Sure, you wouldnt be reading
this if it werent for the internet, but then my personal
robo-servant would be making me a smoothie right now.
I feel the same way about webcomics. Sure, its great that
we can view and download comics on the internet, but it doesnt
necessarily mean that weve now seen the future of comics
and that the printed form will be abandoned. We cant even
be sure that webcomics wont develop further into better versions.
Since I Found Serenity .
Column by William Gatevackes, 2008.
To me, Firefly was a show so good that I could kick myself
for not watching it when it first came on. Maybe if I did,
its original run might have lasted more than 11 episodes (3
unaired episodes were added to its Sci-Fi run). The show definitely
was one of the best, if not the best, genre based shows in
the last ten years. And yes, I am counting Heroes, Lost and
Battlestar Galactica on that list.
But instead, Firefly and its big screen sequel Serenity reside
in the land of the cult favorite. The chance of another TV
series or movie is remote at best. However, the franchise
lives on, as do all of Whedons creations, in the realm of
comic books. Tomorrows Serenity: Better Days is the second
miniseries to come from Dark Horse and takes place, like Serenity:
Those Left Behind, between the end of the TV series and the
start of the feature film.
Les Baranys Carnivora: The Dark Art of Automobiles
This one will be in English due to the effort the people behind Carnivora did. This book would never got as much personal attention from me as it does now. On my site they noticed that their book was available for preorder so they were so kind to provide me some material to work with.
Oh boy, I 'm so glad they did it. Because their artwork is truly amazing.
This one definitely rules !!
About the book Carnivora is a shadowy place where the dark communion of flesh and
machine coalesce into the 20th Centurys most influential creation-The
automobile.As an indispensable extension of ourselves, this metallic
doppelganger can be as dark and destructive as the men and women who
drive them. Carnivora: The Dark Art of Automobiles is a chilling
joyride with some of the most noir artists from the last half of the
20th century.
About Les Barany
Putting to good use his many years as an award winning advertising art
director and graphic designer, in the early 90s Leslie Barany shifted
his full attention to working as the representative of a unique group
contemporary fine artists and photographers. In recent years Les has
published several limited edition sculptures and art prints with H.R.
Giger and the James Dean portfolio with photographer Roy Schatt. He has
curated numerous art and photo exhibitions in galleries in the USA and
in Switzerland.
GHOST TALKER'S DAYDREAM VOLUME 1 Sankichi Meguro (W) and Saki Okuse (A) On sale July 22 b&w, 216 pages $10.95 TPB, 5 1/8' x 7 1/16' Ghost Talker's Daydream is a horror anime created by Saki Okuse and Sankichi Meguro. It tells the story of Misaki Saiki, a young woman with a troubled past, who is a professional dominatrix in one of Tokyo's most exclusive S&M clubs. However, her real money is something she likes even less than being a dominatrix. Ever since childhood, Misaki has had the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, and that talent is put to use by the Livelihood Protection Agency, who pairs Misaki with Souichiro Kadotake, a martial artist who happens to be deathly afraid of ghosts. Using her gifts, Misaki is able to help troubled departed spirits resolve what is troubling them and allow them to move on to the afterlife. If all THAT isn't odd enough, Misaki is an albino AND a virgin. Sexy and dark story from writer Saki Okuse (Twilight of the Dark Master) and artist Sankichi Meguro. Fans have been waiting for this book to be released in English. There is a very successful Anime based on this series of books. Volume comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL #1 (of 2) George Lucas (W), David Koepp (W), John Jackson Miller (W), Luke Ross (P), Fabio Laguna (I), Dan Jackson (C), Drew Struzan (Cover), and Hugh Fleming (Cover) On sale May 22 FC, 56 pages $5.99 Miniseries The man who single-handedly defined 'adventure' for an entire generation returns-hat and all-in this action-packed adaptation of this summer's silver-screen megahit! Dr. Henry Jones Jr. is at it again, this time on the trail of a discovery unlike any in his illustrious career. Yet more than one player is out to win this game, and with stakes this high, not everyone is going to play fair! Will Indiana Jones's greatest adventure be his last? The biggest movie event of 2008 comes to comics!
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: APOCALYPSE SUITE Gerard Way (W), Gabriel Bá (A/Cover), and Dave Stewart (C On sale July 2 FC, 192 pages $17.95 TPB, 6' x 9' In an inexplicable worldwide event, forty-seven extraordinary children were spontaneously born by women who'd previously shown no signs of pregnancy. Millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven of the children; when asked why, his only explanation was, 'To save the world.' These seven children form The Umbrella Academy, a dysfunctional family of superheroes with bizarre powers. Their first adventure at the age of ten pits them against an erratic and deadly Eiffel Tower, piloted by the fearsome zombie-robot Gustave Eiffel. Nearly a decade later, the team disbands, but when Hargreeves unexpectedly dies, these disgruntled siblings reunite just in time to save the world once again. Umbrella Academy is the comics debut of Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance! This volume collects the first six-issue series, as well as out-of-print short stories, and an expanded sketchbook section featuring work by Bá, Jean, and Way. ' flawless stylish, imaginative '-NEWSARAMA
Written by Grant Morrison & Geoff Johns Art by George Pérez, Tony Daniel, J.G. Jones, Aaron Lopresti, Ivan Reis, Philip Tan and Carlos Pacheco Cover by various This is it! The greatest DC characters! Your favorite writers and artists! Everything leading to Final Crisis and beyond starts here for just 50¢! Take a journey through the past and present of the DCU, and witness the emergence of the greatest evil in the universe - and the stunning return of a force for good! You dare not miss DC Universe: Zero! Retro-solicited; on sale April 30 32 pg, FC, $0.50 US
Written by Grant Morrison Art and covers by J.G. Jones Witness the historic start of the final chapter in the Crisis trilogy that could only spring from the mind of Grant Morrison - Final Crisis, featuring stunning art by J.G. Jones (52 Covers)! Worlds will live and heroes will die in this epic tale spanning the beginning and end of the DC Universe! The entire Multiverse is threatened as the mysterious Libra assembles an army of the DCU's most terrifying super villains. But what is the ultimate plan, and who will live to find out? Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers by J.G. Jones that will ship in approximately 50/50 ratio. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale May 28 1 of 7 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by Jim Starlin Art and variant cover by Ron Lim & Rob Hunter Cover by Starlin & Hunter After a seemingly endless war, things are getting even worse for the planets of Rann and Thanagar. A long-forgotten religious cult has resurfaced on Thanagar, and the people of Rann still worship the deadly Lady Styx. To make matters worse, a fanatic strapped with explosives threatens to upset the delicate balance between the two planets, setting in motion events that will once again bring together DC's greatest cosmic heroes: Adam Strange, Comet, Starfire, Hawkman, Starman, Chief Justice Max, Tigorr, the Weird and many more! Written by the legendary Jim Starlin (Death of the New Gods, Infinity War) with art by Ron Lim (Silver Surfer) and Rob Hunter (Teen Titans), Rann/Thanagar: Holy War is an interstellar adventure that can't be missed! Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Jim Starlin & Rob Hunter), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ron Lim & Hunter). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale May 7 1 of 8 40 pg, FC, $3.50 US
Written by Grant Morrison Art by Frank Quitely & Jamie Grant Cover by Quitely Superman dead? What is the secret behind the Daily Planet's ominous headline from the future? And what does Clark Kent have to say about it? All the pieces of Lex Luthor's master plan to kill Superman begin to come together, building up to the All Star big bang in story's finale! On sale May 14 FC, 32 pgs, Monthly, $2.99 US
Written by Hans Rodionoff Art by Joel Gomez & Don Ho Cover by Jonathan Wayshak Before Buffy before Blade there was one name that was whispered in fear and awe among the undead: The Frog Brothers. Edgar and Alan Frog, the no-nonsense vampire slayers from the cult film The Lost Boys, are back with a vengeance in a 4-issue miniseries that bridges the gap between their adventures in the original film and the upcoming feature THE LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE, due to be released this summer. Find out what's happened since the first film, brought to you in various shades of crimson by Hans Rodionoff (Mnemovore) and Joel Gomez (Wetworks)! On sale May 14 1 of 4 32 pg, FC, $3.50 US MATURE READERS
Written by Peter Milligan Art and cover by C.P. Smith Collecting issues #1-6 of the acclaimed maxiseries! In 1991, the Cold War ended without the two primary players ever facing each other in direct conflict. But now a long-forgotten Soviet weapon is awakened on one of America's many battlegrounds, threatening the global balance of power. Does America have an answer to...The Programme? Advance-solicited; on sale June 11 144 pg, FC, $17.99 US
Written by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham Art by Luca Rossi Cover by Sam Weber Variant cover by Bernie Wrightson Matthew Sturges, writer of the Eisner-nominated JACK OF FABLES, and his JACK co-writer Bill Willingham, proudly unlock the doors to the HOUSE OF MYSTERY, a new ongoing series that reinvents a classic DC Comics concept. HOUSE OF MYSTERY focuses on five characters trapped in a supernatural bar, trying to solve the mystery of how and why they're imprisoned there. Each one has a terrible past they'd like to forget, and with no books, newspapers or TV allowed in the House, they face an eternity of boredom. But stories become the new currency, and fortunately, the House attracts only the finest storytellers. In addition to the ongoing trials and struggles of the five unfortunate souls trapped within the HOUSE OF MYSTERY, illustrated by superstar artist Luca Rossi, each issue in the first storyline also includes a short tale, as told by one of the customers, written by Willingham and illustrated by a host of fine guest artists, including two-time Eisner Award nominee Ross Campbell (WATERBABY, Wet Moon), SANDMAN fan favorite and multiple Eisner winner Jill Thompson, and classic horror artist Bernie Wrightson, whose first published work was in House of Mystery #179. This series is topped off with ethereal, jaw-dropping covers from Sam Weber (The New Yorker, The New York Times, Time Magazine)and a stunning variant cover by Wrightson on the debut issue. 'This is a book where you can have a pirate, a psychic detective, a spaceman, a French romantic poet and an NYU film student sitting at a table having a beer together. It's a writer's dream come true.' - Matthew Sturges 'Let's be perfectly clear: There isn't just one mystery in the new House of Mystery. It's actually chock-full of mysteries, all of which will be thrilling and exciting as they unfold over the course of the series.' - Bill Willingham Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Sam Weber), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Bernie Wrightson). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale May 7 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US MATURE READERS
Written by Si Spencer Art by Simon Gane & Cameron Stewart Cover by Sean Phillips Don't miss this volume collecting the first 5 issues of the fast-paced, ultra-cool ongoing crime-noir series by television writer Si Spencer (EastEnders) and the art team of Simon Gane & Cameron Stewart! Advance-solicited; on sale June 11 128 pg, B&W, $9.99 US MATURE READERS
Written by David Lapham Art and cover by Lapham I suppose you were wondering what happened when we left you hanging at the end of issue #1. Well, wait no longer. The hunt for a priceless painting begins! See a grown man cry. See a grown man light himself on fire. And finally, see a grown man cry again! In between, Sadie abandons everyone, Danny shoots people, Don Diego O.D.s, and Runco can't find shampoo. There'll be more running, hitting, chopping and shooting than you would've thought possible without attracting the military. Come and find out why it's such a Hard Knock Life for this gang of would-be not losers. On sale May 14 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US MATURE READERS
Written by BARBARA CANEPA Art & Cover by ALESSANDRO BARBUCCI (Exclusive U.S. ONLY Variant also available) The internationally acclaimed best-seller is now finally presented in English! Meet Noa, a so-called Sky Doll; a life-like female android without rights, who exists only to serve the State's needs and desires. But when Noa meets two so-called 'missionaries' who aid in her escape from her tyrannical master, all hell breaks loose for our cyborg siren as she uncovers clues that she may be much more than just a robotic toy. The first release in a new partnership between Marvel and cutting-edge French publisher Soleil! 64 PGS./Mature Content $5.99 The Soleil Comics may only be sold in English North America: United States, Canada, Mexico and their territories and possessions.
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE Pencils & Cover by STEVE UY There's a contract out on The Taskmaster, and no shortage of villains willing to fulfill it. But what'll kill him first -- the bad guys, or his latest class of recruits? Welcome Annex, Prodigy, Gorilla Girl, Sunstreak and Batwing to the Initiative. But are they -- is anyone -- ready for the coming of...Butterball?? 32 PGS./Rated T+ $2.99
Written by ED BRUBAKER Pencils and Cover by STEVE EPTING THE SAGA OF THE NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA CONTINUES! Bucky Barnes never wanted to be Captain America, but he's doing his best to carry on the legacy of Steve Rogers, in his own way, while trying to save Sharon Carter from the Red Skull and his minions. But maybe he's not the only one running around in a Captain America outfit! Part Two of 'The Man Who Bought America' by the acclaimed team of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. 32 PGS./Rated T+ $2.99
Written by ED BRUBAKER & GREG RUCKA Penciled by MICHAEL LARK Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC MATT MURDOCK TAKES A NEW CASE! Still reeling from the conclusion of his battle with Mr. Fear, an old friend drags Matt Murdock back into the light of day by bringing him the last-minute appeal of a Marvel villain now sitting on DEATH ROW. What will Matt do, is the question, when confronted with a bad guy who is completely innocent of the crime he was convicted of? 'OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS' Part One! 32 PGS./Rated T+ $2.99
Written by MARK MILLAR Pencils & Cover by BRYAN HITCH 'World's Greatest' concludes! It's the ultimate engine of peace pitted against Reed Richards' most lethal invention, for all the marbles! And a shocking final page that'll have you feeling every minute of the thirty-day wait until the next issue! 32 PGS./Rated T+ $2.99
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER Cover by CLINT LANGLEY Launching out of ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST, Marvel's sci-fi heroes unite to protect the cosmos! Back-to-back Annihilation wars have weakened the boundaries of our universe. Dark gods and monsters are seeping through the cracks, reigning horror upon those still reeling from the recent calamities. In the face of terror, who stands to defend a desperate universe? Star-Lord and his squad of butt-kickers - the modern day Guardians of the Galaxy! You've heard that ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST rocks - the guy at the comic shop keeps telling you to try NOVA - well, now's your chance to experience the glory that writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning and artist Paul Pelletier can unleash! All this plus a wise-cracking raccoon and a telepathic dog! C'mon, people, time to lock and load! 32 PGS./Rated T+ $2.99
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Penciled by LEINIL FRANCIS YU Cover by GABRIELE DELL'OTTO Variant by STEVE MCNIVEN Sketch Variant by STEVE MCNIVEN The Invasion is here!! The Marvel Universe is in shambles. The Skrull Empire's plan has birthed itself into perfection. It is hero versus hero!! Resurrections and reunions!! Is Tony Stark a Skrull? And is that actually Captain America leading the heroes into a new era?? EXPECT CHANGE!! 32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99
Written by WARREN ELLIS Penciled by STEVE KURTH Cover by BRANDON PETERSON Initially, there were four: A Starbrand. A Nightmask. A Justice. A Cipher. They are manifestations of god-like power on Earth, chosen by the Universe. In the wake of the cosmic phenomenon that empowered them, they have been threatened, hunted, and attacked. And now, they're about to discover that they're not alone. Acclaimed writer WARREN ELLIS (THUNDERBOLTS) and artist STEVE KURTH (LAST OF THE MOHICANS) bring you the return of this new universe: one experiencing superhuman power for the first time. 32 PGS./Parental Advisory $2.99
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI Penciled by CHRIS WESTON Cover by PAOLO RIVERA Tensions rise and heroes come to blows as the time-lost Twelve from the Golden Age find their fundamental beliefs challenged in the world of the 21st Century. Plus; the Origin of the Witness-he's seen what you've done! 32 PGS./Rated T+ $2.99
Written by PETER DAVID Penciled by PABLO RAIMONDI Cover by GLENN FABRY Never has a title said it all quite like 'The Middle East Side is Burning.' X-Factor's battle with Arcade may be over, but the former Mutant Town is now paying the price. Walled in, cut off from any possible aid, the residents of the Middle East Side are hemmed in by flames on all sides, and their only hope of survival are the embattled members of X-Factor. 32 PGS./Rated T+ $2.99
Written by Mark Millar Pencils & Cover by John Romita Jr. The most exciting new character of the year debuts as Hit-Girl slashes her way into the pages of Kick-Ass. She's nine years old, loves Hello Kitty and could rip out your windpipe before you even get a chance to plead for mercy. But where did she come from? And who is Big Daddy? Plus, Kick-Ass starts to find out what happens when you tick off the real-world criminals who have ignored him until now. Things turn ugly and that can mean only one thing...God, this comic is so good I could cry. And I'm very butch. 32 PGS./Mature Content $2.99
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT Pencils and Cover by AL MILGROM Kitty travels to Japan to help her father and ends up face-to-face with the granddaddy of all ninjas, Ogun! The man in the dire mask is dead-set on remaking Chicago's favorite mutant teen into an intangible assassin! But Ogun's plans for Kitty's future pale before the role he played in Wolverine's past, and the clawed Canadian vows to bring down his former teacher even if it means his death...or Kitty's! Collecting KITTY PRYDE AND WOLVERINE #1-6. 152 PGS./All Ages $19.99 ISBN: 978-0-7851-3089-5 Trim size: standard
Written by GRANT MORRISON Penciled by FRANK QUITELY, ETHAN VAN SCIVER, LEINIL FRANCIS YU, IGOR KORDEY & TOM DERENICK Cover by FRANK QUITELY Sixteen million mutants dead - and that was just the beginning! In one bold stroke, writer Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Batman) propelled the X-Men into the 21st century - masterminding a challenging new direction for Marvel's mutant heroes that began with the destruction of Genosha and never let up. Regarded as the most innovative thinker of the current comic-book renaissance, Morrison proceeded to turn the mutant-hero genre on its ear. Gone were the gaudy spandex costumes - replaced by slick, black leather and an attitude to match. Now, his entire Eisner Award-nominated run on NEW X-MEN is collected across three titanic trade paperbacks! Collects NEW X-MEN #114-126 and ANNUAL 2001. 376 PGS./Rated T+ $34.99 ISBN: 978-0-7851-3251-6
by Jeff Smith The biggest, coolest Bone book of all is back, featuring an all new Jeff Smith cover! The complete 1300+ page epic adventure from start to finish in one deluxe trade paperback! Three modern cartoon cousins get lost in a pre-technological valley, spending a year there making new friends and out-running dangerous enemies!
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by Christos Gage & Wellington Diaz From its iconic imagery, stars and score, MGM's 'Man With No Name' trilogy is a modern masterpiece of cinema! And now, the legend comes to life once again as the next new series from Dynamite! Starring the ultimate anti-hero, and under the helm of writer Christos Gage (New Avengers) and artist Wellington Dias, Man With No Name: The Good, The Bad and the Uglier #1 follows in the powerful wake of such Dynamite titles as The Lone Ranger and Zorro in its faithful and successful genre-defining Western comics! Plus: Man With No Name: The Good, The Bad and the Uglier #1 follows the characters and plots of the film serving as a sequel to the critically acclaimed series! Featuring series covers by Richard Isanove (Dark Tower) as well as a special 'zombie' cover by Arthur Suydam, Dynamite's Man With No Name: The Good, The Bad and the Uglier #1 is the next bullet in the chamber for 2008!
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by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson 'Good For The Soul' concludes with a bang - or a splat! - as a reluctant Hughie takes on the resurrected Blarney Cock in a no-holds barred brawl for it all! Annie January tells A-Train the long and the short of things, Mother's Milk continues to mystify, and Butcher provides some much-needed advice on funeral arrangements. And will Hughie ever be allowed to forget his 'facial incident'?
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by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger & Carlos Paul Dynamite Entertainment and Alex Ross unleash Project Superpowers as the 'dynamite' launch of the year continues in our new flagship title! The saga continues as we focus this issue on The Flame and Hydro as they have the attention of the Dynamic Family, who have been forced to flee New York city - now transformed into New Shangri-La! Plus: The fate of the Yank! Black Terror goes hero hunting! Samson and Scarab make a gruesome discovery about the true nature of the F-Troop and more! This powerful series is overseen by Alex Ross - who provides cover art and who has redesigned every hero within these pages - along with writer Jim Krueger and artist Carlos Paul, this is the most powerful comic book event of the year! Plus, each issue of the series features original character design art from Alex Ross himself!
by Yoshihiro Tatsumi Designed and edited by one of today's most popular cartoonists, Adrian Tomine, Good-Bye is the third volume in a groundbreaking new series that collects Tatsumi's short stories about Japanese urban life. Drawn in 1971 and 1972, these stories expand the prolific artist's vocabulary for characters contextualized by themes of depravity and disorientation in twentieth-century Japan. Some of the tales focus on the devastation the country felt directly as a result of World War II - a prostitute loses all hope when American GIs go home to their wives; a man devotes twenty years of his life to preserving the memory of those killed at Hiroshima, only to discover a horrible misconception at the heart of his tribute. Yet, while American influence does play a role in the disturbing and bizarre stories contained within this volume, it is hardly the overriding theme. A philanthropic foot fetishist, a rash-ridden retiree, and a lonely public onanist are but a few of the characters etching out darkly nuanced lives in the midst of isolated despair and fleeting pleasure.
by Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria & Warren Pleece Dave's in love with a girl who doesn't know he exists. He hates his job. His boss just turned him into a vampire. Life sucks. Undead life in its uncoolest incarnation yet is on display in this cinematic, supernatural drama told with gallons of humor and hemoglobin.
by Scott Morse Magic Pickle, or 'Weapon Kosher,' as his creator, Dr. Jekkel Formaldehyde likes to call him, is the product of a top-secret U.S. Army lab. Unfortunately, the 1950's experiments to turn vegetables into soldiers went wrong. Sure, they created Magic Pickle, the flying dill soldier, but they also let loose a bunch of rotten vegetables, like the Romaine Gladiator, Chili Chili Bang Bang, the Phantom Carrot, and Peashooter. This Brotherhood of Evil Produce is out to take over the world and they've started with art museum heists and bank robberies! Dr. Formaldehyde frees Magic Pickle from his cryogenic snooze so that Weapon Kosher can fight the Brotherhood. Unfortunately, Dr. F. forgot to tell MP he had been frozen in a lab hidden down below the home of young Jo Jo Wigman. Jo Jo's a feisty little girl who doesn't like flying pickles bursting up through her bedroom floor. But once she goes down to visit the secret lab, she realizes what's at stake - and once she talks to the Magic Pickle, she realizes this pickle is going to need some help saving the world, or at least getting around in it!
by Kevin Eastman & Simon Bisley Casey Jones and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Raphael, find themselves caught up in the middle of an international family murder/revenge/assassination plot, complete with gansters, thugs, secret agents, double agents and more spent shell casings than the D-Day invasion!
Steve Niles (w); Bernie Wrightson (a & c) Legendary comic book artist Bernie Wrightson inks his own work for the first time in more than two decades! And joining Wrightson on this noir horror tale is the writer who has revitalized both genres in comics, Steve Niles. Detective Coogan knows well that there are some pretty shady freaks out there in the big city but he doesn't know that some of those freaks ain't human. He learns it the hard way, and ends up on the wrong side of a bullet, all in the first issue of this new series that mixes horror and noir into a tightly wound nightmare of twists and turns.
John Byrne (w & a & c) In the 1990s, acclaimed writer/artist John Byrne created an all-new world of superheroes and explored their impact on the planet in a realistic way, a book that quickly became one of the most critically acclaimed titles in his storied career. Now John Byrne's Next Men is being collected in its entirety in thick B&W volumes that offer 300 pages of story and art. Volume 1 collects the 2112 graphic novel, the #0 issue, and the first 12 issues of this masterful run.
by Jessica Abel The first full-length graphic novel from the acclaimed young comics artist. This is an emotional, high velocity tale of a young woman named Carla who journeys to Mexico City in search of her true identity, only to discover a self she can hardly recognize. Jessica Abel's evocative black-and-white drawings and creative mix of English and Spanish bring Mexico City's past and present to life, unfurling Carla's dark history against the legacies of Burroughs and Kahlo. A story about the youthful desire to live an authentic life and the consequences of trusting easy answers, La Perdida - at once grounded in the particulars of life in Mexico and resonantly universal - is a story about finding oneself by getting lost.
by Sam Sarkar & Garrie Gastonny In the Old American West, Whitefeather is a half-Indian/half-French shaman with tormenting visions of an apocalyptic future where mankind has doomed itself after turning away from the law. He then has a further vision of mankind's salvation. He sees Arthur, the man who is destined to bring law to the world and the weapon that will bring about this change. A mystically-emblazoned gun, that can only be fired by one man, that will never miss and when aimed will bring down the heavens, firing thunder itself from its barrel. He sets out to find the legendary Caliber. An epic Western adventure like no other!
Fourteen hundred years ago, a tormented soul walked the earth that was neither man nor god. Hercules was the powerful son of the god king Zeus, for this he received nothing but suffering his entire life. After twelve arduous labors and the loss of his family, this dark, world-weary soul turned his back on the gods finding his only solace in bloody battle. Over the years he warmed to the company of six similar souls, their only bond being their love of fighting and presence of death. These men and woman never question where they go to fight or why or whom, just how much they will be paid. Now the King of Thrace has hired these mercenaries to train his men to become the greatest army of all time. It is time for this bunch of lost souls to finally have their eyes opened to how far they have fallen when they must train an army to become as ruthless and blood thirsty as their reputation has become. In the dark epic vein of Frank Millar's 300, Radical reinvents the Hercules legend like never before, behind a sumptuously rendered cover by Jim Steranko. Designs by jim Steranko, Weta Workshop and Imaginary Friends Studios.
A ganja-fueled road trip through the desert turns deadly in this shocking horror tale. On one last bender with his best friend on the eve of his wedding, Rishi crashes into and kills an old mystic known as a Kapalik. Rather than confessing their crime, they burn the body on the ghats of India's famed 'city of death' Varanasi and erase all evidence of the mystic's existence. It's a perfect cover-up, except for the fact that you can destroy a Kapalik's physical body, but his soul forever lingers...and in this case seeks bloody revenge.
