2009 June
Will Fight Crime 4 Food
Fighting Crime Doesn't Pay
The economy’s hit us all pretty hard, hasn’t it? Artist Stef McFeters designed the above T-shirt for Threadless, titled “Fighting Crime Doesn’t Pay.”
Geez, even Batman? You’d think Bruce Wayne would have tucked away a few millions for a rainy day.
- June 22, 2009 @ 10:49 AM by JK Parkin
It’s the ‘Let’s Go’ for message board posters
At Comixology, Shaenon K. Garrity presents her “Half-Assed Guide to Comic Book Message Boards,” where she painfully, but hilariously and rather accurately breaks down the various places one can go to gripe about ‘One More Day’ or how they don’t ‘get’ manga. Here’s her take on the Comics Journal’s board:
The most necrotic section of the board is the “Comics Journal” section itself, where people only post to bitch that their subscription copies are late. Many TCJ subscribers seem to be under the impression that Gary Groth runs not just Fantagraphics but the U.S. Postal Service from his basement. They get really pissed. No one ever posts about the content of the magazine itself, proving that not even the most hardcore fans of The Comics Journal read The Comics Journal.
Ouch. She also demolishes Comicon, Newsarama and, of course, Byrne Robotics, though, oddly enough, CBR seems to stay out her sights. Perhaps a sequel is in order.
- June 22, 2009 @ 10:19 AM by Chris Mautner
Conner and Tim, together again
The cover of "Adventure Comics" #3, by Francis Manapul
It may have seemed a long time coming, but DC Comics this morning unveiled Francis Manapul’s cover for Adventure Comics #3, which reunites best friends Conner (Superboy) Kent and Tim (now Red Robin) Drake. When last I checked in on their relationship, the Teen Wonder was obsessively trying to resurrect the then-dead Kon-El.
Hopefully, the smiles on this cover signal less dark and twisted times for the duo.
- June 22, 2009 @ 09:45 AM by Kevin Melrose
Peter Mayhew looks old and I don’t feel so good myself: some quick impressions of WWPhilly 2009
See, he really is back from the dead
Wizard World Philly was a big success.
That little nugget of information comes straight from the mouth of Gareb Shamus himself, who introduced himself to me while I was furiously typing up one of the panel reports in the “media room” on the second floor. Apparently the rain, which had been coming down in buckets all morning, had been a contributing factor, keeping people in the city and avoiding outdoor activities. The end result, Shamus said (who by the way reminded me a little bit of Gary Groth, at least physically), was double the patronage they had last year.
I have to take Shamus at his word. I really didn’t get to spend much time on the ground floor except for occasionally circumnavigating the area once or twice, looking for anything that might catch my eye. My schedule was pretty much: get there, check out the first panel, write report, see a little con, eat, hit second panel, write report, go home.
Still, I did come up with some with some potentially worthwhile observations that I’d like to share if you have the time. You do? Excellent!
- June 22, 2009 @ 09:00 AM by Chris Mautner
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #699
Publishing | BOOM! Studios has acquired the rights to Disney’s Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse comics previously held by the financially troubled Gemstone Publishing. The July edition of Previews lists Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #699, by Riccardo Secchi and Stefano Turconi, and Mickey Mouse and Friends #297, by Stefano Ambrosio and Lorenzo Pastrovicchio, under the BOOM! banner.
The two titles will join the publisher’s BOOM! Kids imprint, already home to comics based on The Muppet Show and Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles and Cars. The Disney Comics Worldwide fan blog has information about format and content.
Gemstone, which is owned by Diamond’s Steve Geppi, had held the Disney comics license since 2003. In February the company closed its offices in West Plains, Missouri, and laid off five employees. That was followed in late March by rumors that Gemstone wouldn’t be renewing its Disney license. July’s Previews also includes cancellations for seven Disney titles originally solicited by Gemstone. [BOOM! Studios]
Publishing | U.K.’s Tripwire magazine is the latest casualty of Diamond’s minimum-order policy. [Forbidden Planet International]
Publishing | Riichirou Inagaki and Yuusuke Murata’s football manga Eyeshield 21 ends its seven-year run today in Weekly Shonen Jump. The manga, whose 25 volumes have sold more than 16 million copies in Japan, is credited with a dramatic rise in the number of children playing American football. [Anime Vice]
- June 22, 2009 @ 08:09 AM by Kevin Melrose
Heroes Con + Wizard World Philly | Catching up on the weekend’s news
Longbox
This past weekend Philadelphia welcomed Wizard World, while Charlotte hosted HeroesCon. Two East Coast conventions, separated by more than 500 miles and a couple of states. If you were away from your computer, then you may have missed some of the announcements that sprang from both venues:
• For years people have been asking for an “iTunes for comics.” Well, it looks like we might actually get one. Rantz Hoseley’s Longbox will be a free download available later this year for PC, Macs and Linux. Comics can be download for a suggested price point of $.99 per issue, with the potential for block and subscription pricing. BOOM! and Top Cow have already signed on.
• Marvel had a lot of announcements at the show. Spinning out of the Uncanny X-Men/Dark Avengers crossover that kicks off any day now will be a series of one-shots that fall under the heading of Dark Reign: The List. Basically Norman Osbourn starts making a list of everyone standing in his way who he needs to do dirty, nasty things to.
The eight one shots and the creators working on them are:
Dark Reign: The List – Daredevil by Andy Diggle and Billy Tan
Dark Reign: The List – Wolverine by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic
Dark Reign: The List – Hulk by Greg Pak and Ben Oliver
Dark Reign: The List – Amazing Spider-Man by Dan Slott and Adam Kubert
Dark Reign: The List – Avengers by Brian Bendis and Marko Djurdjevic
Dark Reign: The List – Uncanny X-Men by Matt Fraction and Alan Davis
Dark Reign: The List – Secret Warriors by Jonathan Hickman and Ed McGuiness
Dark Reign: The List – Punisher by Rick Remender and John Romita Jr.
The project was announced at around the same time both in Philadelphia and in Charlotte. For more info, check out CBR’s interviews with Bendis, Fraction and Remender, as well as Pak, Hickman and Aaron. Also, Aaron talks a little bit about his Wolverine one-shot on his blog; it will feature both Marvel Boy and Fantomex, as well as a new Weapon XVI.
- June 22, 2009 @ 06:03 AM by JK Parkin
X-Babies vs. Star Comics coming in October … wait, what?
X-Babies
One of the announcements made at HeroesCon this weekend is that Marvel Comics is bringing the X-Babies back in a four-issue limited series by Gregg Schigiel and Skullboy creator Jacob Chabot.
The X-Babies, a set of X-Men clones created by the villain Mojo when the X-Men were believed to be dead, have appeared in various X-Men-related comic books since the late 1980s.
What’s even more interesting is that the mini-series will also bring back some of the characters that Marvel published under the Star Comics banner back in the 1980s.
Star Comics was a kid’s line Marvel did circa 1984-88 that featured both original creations, like Top Dog and Peter Porker, Spectacular Spider-Ham and licensed comics like Fraggle Rock, ThunderCats and Heathcliff. Chabot talked to Marvel.com about the return of some of those original creations, like Top Dog, Wally the Wizard, Royal Roy and Planet Terry:
“It was Gregg’s brilliant idea to include the old Star Comics characters in the story, both to act as adversaries and hopefully update them for a modern audience,” says Chabot. “I was thrilled at this concept! I pretty much got into comics through Marvel’s old Star line, so this really goes back to my roots. I am doing some redesigns, but I’m trying to keep them recognizable by incorporating as many details from the original designs as I can. So, for example, if you’re one of the few who remembers Top Dog from back in the day, you’ll be able to know it’s him when he shows up. Hint: he’s the dog.”
Check out some of the redesigns at Marvel.com.
- June 21, 2009 @ 03:33 PM by JK Parkin
What are you reading?
The Hunter
Welcome to another edition of What Are You Reading. Our special guest for this week is Chris Butcher, blogger and manager of The Beguiling in Toronto, generally acknowledged as one of the finest comics shops in North America.
Chris is heading off to Japan and taking quite a lot of books with him. What to know what he’s packing? Of course you do. Click on the link to find out …
- June 21, 2009 @ 02:35 PM by Chris Mautner
Six by 6 | Six comics that made us cry
Tom Strong #36
This week Chris Mautner suggested we share our softer sides and each talk about three comics that broke down our tough-guy exteriors and made us openly weep as we turned the pages. It’s a risky venture, to be sure; to some members of our audience, this will destroy the “manly man” image we’ve worked so hard to build up on the blog, but for others, it will show there’s more to who we are than just bad jokes and Shelf Porn.
So here they are — six comics that made us cry. After reading our selections, be sure to grab a tissue and tell us what comics made you cry as well.
1. “We’re brothers, Tom”
I always thought Tom Strong was the weakest of Alan Moore’s ABC line (in fact I said so rather openly in issue #231 of The Comics Journal). Oh sure, there were lots of colorful dialogue and zany plots, but I felt the series was sorely lacking in gravitas. The characters seemed too thinly sketched to me and I couldn’t find myself forming enough of an emotional commitment to them to care about what happened to them. It kept hinting that there was a lot more going on under the surface, but that’s all it would do, hint.
That was until the final issue, no. 36, where, during the “end of the world as we know it” created by Promethea, Tom is confronted by the ghost of his arch-enemy Paul Saveen, who reveals that he is, in fact, Tom’s half-brother. What follows is one of the most tender scenes I’ve ever read in a superhero book (“Jesus Paul” Tom says, breaking down “We tried to kill each other.”) When, two pages later, Tom introduces Saveen to a passerby with a simple “This is my brother. This is my brother Paul” well, I just lose it. –Chris Mautner
- June 21, 2009 @ 10:52 AM by JK Parkin
Strangeways: The Thirsty – Week of 6/15
This week in Strangeways: The Thirsty – Standoff in Cedar Creek! The vampires and Cedar Creek are stalemated, but that doesn’t stop the Sheriff from taking his revenge. Looks like blood spills one way or another!
Comics after the jump!
- June 21, 2009 @ 08:00 AM by Matt Maxwell
Your Mileage May Vary: Captain America #600
One of the most notable comic book releases this week was Captain America #600, which was so notable in fact, that it was released in many stores two days early.
We’ve already hear some retailer reactions to the entire situation, but what did comic book fans think about it?
The blogger at “Funnybook of the Week” found it baffling:
Captain America #600
Marvel has promised to hype this up as a huge event, even with an odd release date of today – a Monday for heaven’s sake – to emphasize the importance of the issue. So let’s pretend that the general populace, who went crazy for the death of Steve Rogers and bat-$#!% crazy over Barack Obama hanging out with Spider-Man, bites on this press release and flocks to their neighborhood funnybook store to throw down five bucks for fluff and a teaser…I wonder if they’ll be as likely to dive into the shops the next time Marvel points the hype machine away from the specialty web sites and out at the non-comic obsessed public.
After all, this isn’t even where he comes back from the dead…this is where they announce that he might possibly be resurrected thanks to the special gun that was used to (possibly not) kill him. It all seems anti-climactic for the kind of hype that the book has been afforded.
- June 20, 2009 @ 08:36 PM by Melissa Krause
Seven Days | The week in comics
A look at the biggest, and most interesting, stories from the past week.
1. Surprising virtually no one, Marvel announces the return of Steve Rogers: Months of speculation about Marvel’s secretive July event ended Monday with an article in the New York Daily News and the unprecedented early release of Captain America #600.
The publisher had kept details about Reborn #1 “classified,” telling retailers only that it would receive nationwide publicity on June 15 “possibly on par with the media coverage we received during Civil War.” Monday’s announcement did receive national attention — Marvel issued a press release the following day trumpeting stories in “over 50 news outlets” — but the publicity didn’t approach that of Civil War (which included the unmasking of Spider-Man), the 2007 assassination of Steve Rogers, or the introduction in 2006 of the new Batwoman.
- June 20, 2009 @ 02:19 PM by Kevin Melrose
Robot reviews: George Sprott
George Sprott 1894-1975
George Sprott: 1894-1975
by Seth
Drawn and Quarterly, 96 pages, $24.95.
My father in law passed away earlier this year. He was born in 1929, the son of immigrants, a first-generation American. I often wonder what it was like for him, watching his parents’ culture and way of life fade away as he grew up and then watching his own culture and everything he spent his adulthood embracing all but completely eradicated as he passed into old age.
That may be the great curse of the 20th century. Technology and the world has changed so rapidly that we often had little time to turn around and miss whatever was behind us before it got steamrolled over to make room for the new mini-mall. Not that there weren’t things that needed paving over, mind you, just that we rarely had time to reflect.
- June 19, 2009 @ 02:00 PM by Chris Mautner
Strangeways: The Thirsty – Friday feature
Now that Chapter 3 of THE THIRSTY has wrapped up (and what a finish, huh?) we’ll be taking a look back at MURDER MOON. Starting next week, chapter one will run in place of THE THIRSTY, giving the artists involved a chance to catch up and myself an opportunity to get some other things done while the artists work ahead. It ain’t all peaches and cream, y’see. Lots of irons in the fire, and sometimes they get hotter than I’d like ‘em to.
Our revisting of MURDER MOON starts here, with the original pencils to the cover of what was going to be issue #1, back when STRANGEWAYS was planned to be a continuing series of minis. The art for these was done by my friend Steve Lieber, who I think had just finished working up a run of SUPERMAN and perhaps WHITEOUT 2 when I got in touch with him about it. He went on to a little book called CIVIL WAR. He’s also one of the more underrated storytellers in comics today. He’s also all-too modest, and is one of the nicest guys I know in comics. I sure hope he doesn’t mind me doing this.
‘Cause he’s a big guy. I mean he could break me in half.
That said, I truly lucked out to get him on covers, and always felt he got kinda shortchanged since STRANGEWAYS never went out as singles. Though the cover art for #4 is what made the cover for the OGN, so I guess that makes up for it.
Here’s the original pencils.
Pencils by Steve Lieber.
More after the jump.
- June 19, 2009 @ 01:00 PM by Matt Maxwell
Jeffrey Brown’s ‘Bad Milhouse’
Bad Milhouse
Jeffrey Brown, one of several creators contributing to Bongo’s Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror comic this year, shares some rough sketches of the first page of his story here and here. His story, “Bad Milhouse,” features Bart’s best friend in a story inspired by the TV movie Bad Ronald.
- June 19, 2009 @ 12:33 PM by JK Parkin