2009 August
Exclusive: Stan Sakai covers Strange Tales #3
Strange Tales #3
Courtesy of Marvel Comics, check out the cover to Strange Tales #3, the final issue of the mini-series that features a host of independent comics creators working on Marvel characters. This issue and its cover feature Stan Sakai’s long and eagerly awaited Samurai Hulk.
Here’s the text that Marvel sent with the cover, which includes the list of contributors:
Marvel is pleased to unveil the cover to Strange Tales #3 from legendary creator Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo). The final issue of the red-hot Marvel Knights anthology showcases Marvel’s greatest characters re-imagined by the best and brightest talents working in independent comics today! You’ve never seen Marvel heroes like this before as Peter Bagge, Max Cannon, Chris Chua, Becky Cloonan, Nicholas Gurewitch, Paul Hornschemeier, Jonathan Jay Lee, Corey Lewis, Stan Sakai, Jay Stephens and Jhonen Vasquez! A jam packed 48 page special—with no ads—no Marvel fan can afford to miss Strange Tales #3 this November!
STRANGE TALES #3 (of 3)
Written by PETER BAGGE, MAX CANNON, CHRIS CHUA, BECKY CLOONAN, NICHOLAS GUREWITCH, PAUL HORNSCHEMEIER, JONATHAN JAY LEE, COREY LEWIS, STAN SAKAI , JAY STEPHENS AND JHONEN VASQUEZ
Art by PETER BAGGE, MAX CANNON, CHRIS CHUA, BECKY CLOONAN, NICHOLAS GUREWITCH, PAUL HORNSCHEMEIER, JONATHAN JAY LEE, COREY LEWIS, STAN SAKAI, JAY STEPHENS AND JHONEN VASQUEZCover by STAN SAKAI
Explicit Content …$4.99
ON SALE IN NOVEMBER!
- August 12, 2009 @ 06:57 AM by JK Parkin
AMC rounds up The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead #48
In what’s being billed as the cable network’s biggest development deal to date, AMC has acquired the rights to The Walking Dead, the long-running zombie/survivalist series by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard.
Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption) will write and direct the drama. Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert will executive produce.
Joel Stillerman, AMC’s senior vice president of original programming, production and digital content, said the show will remain faithful to the tone of the Image Comics, which follows survivors of a zombie apocalypse as they search for a safe home.
“This is not about zombies popping out of closets,” Stillerman tells Variety. “This is a story about survival, and the dynamics of what happens when a group is forced to survive under these circumstances. The world (in The Walking Dead) is portrayed in a smart, sophisticated way.”
AMC is, of course, home to the critically acclaimed series Mad Men and Breaking Bad as well as the annual Fearfest horror-movie showcase.
Created by Kirkman and artist Tony Moore, The Walking Dead debuted from Image in 2003. Adlard came onboard as artist with Issue 7.
- August 12, 2009 @ 05:15 AM by Kevin Melrose
Gene Colan “looking okay” after being hospitalized Monday
The Hero Initiative’s Jim McLauchlin reports that comics legend Gene Colan was hospitalized earlier this week due to pneumonia and other issues:
Gene Colan’s wife Adrienne informs us that Gene was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York early in the morning on Monday, Aug. 10 by ambulance.
All is looking okay, and best guess is that Gene might be laid up in hospital for a few days. In fact, steady improvement could get him home by late Wednesday-early Thursday. He has pneumonia in his right lung behind his heart, and possibility of infection of some fluids. Some Encephalopathy-related difficulties may be going on, too.
As positive vibes are always a nice tonic, cards, letters and well-wishes are deeply appreciated, and can be sent to:
Gene Colan
2240 Burnett Street, #5D
Brooklyn, New York 11229
Colan has done numerous prints benefiting the Hero Initiative, which you can find and buy right here. On behalf of everyone at Robot 6, we’d like to wish Gene the best of luck with a speedy recovery.
Update: Clifford Meth offers an update after talking to Colan on the phone.
- August 11, 2009 @ 09:47 PM by JK Parkin
It’s a big week for space adventure and Ultimate Comics, ultimately
As the title indicates, two themes emerge from the comics arriving this week: space opera and Marvel’s Ultimate Ultimate Comics line. That is, if you can consider a publishing imprint a “theme.”
Space opera is delivered in the form of DC Comics’ relaunched Adventure Comics (co-starring Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes), the second issue of Blackest Night (with two tie-ins), Starstruck #1, Star Trek: Nero and the Universal War One — Revelations hardcover.
As for the Ultimate line: Wednesday sees the debut issues of the relaunched Ultimate Comics Avengers and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, plus hardcover collections of Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men.
Beyond that? How about the much-discussed The Big Kahn? Or, if the stars, and Diamond, align, The Marvels Project #1? Maybe? Fingers crossed?
To see what other releases have Chris Mautner, JK Parkin and me talking, just keep reading. And, as always, let us know your picks in the comments below.
- August 11, 2009 @ 01:57 PM by Kevin Melrose
Robot reviews: Children of the Sea Vol. 1
Children of the Sea, Vol. 1
Children of the Sea Vol. 1
by Daisuke Igarashi
Viz, $14.99.
Despite the “Older Teen” rating emblazoned on the back cover, Children of the Sea — at least the first volume anyway — struck me as being more like a traditional children’s (or young reader’s if you prefer) book. To wit: a plucky young girl via a chance encounters meets remarkable characters and is introduced to a fantastic world where danger and dark mysteries await.
The all-ages vibe I was getting off of the book was confirmed when my seven-year-old daughter snatched it out my hands (after asking politely of course), devoured it in about an hour and then immediately started drawing her own story about magic people that lived under the waves. None of this is meant as a criticism. My point is simply that manga-ka Daisuke Igarashi is dealing in some very recognizable archetypes here, of the sort that Hayao Miyazaki frequently dabbles in, for instance, and that of all the books in Viz’s Signature line so far, this seems to have the broadest appeal, at least in terms of age.
- August 11, 2009 @ 01:00 PM by Chris Mautner
San Diego Aftermath: Johnny Zito and Tony Trov
Tony and Johnny
Last month I spoke with Johnny Zito and Tony Trov, writers of the Zuda strip Black Cherry Bombshells, before they embarked on a road trip from Philadelphia to the San Diego Comic-Con. They made it to the con, and back home, safely, so I spoke with them again to see what they saw and what they learned on America’s highways. I’ve also included some of their video travel journals they made along the way.
JK: Let’s start with the first leg of the road trip. What were some of the highlights, in terms of places you stop and stuff you saw along the way?
Tony Trov: We took a leisurely 15 day trip and tried to take in as many cities we could.
Johnny Zito: Somewhere around Ohio our GPS went dead, and we were navigating into Chicago via stars and magnets.
Tony Trov: Things went pretty smoothly after that. We bed down in Colorado the next night. Boulder’s great because the altitude makes every beer count twice.
Johnny Zito: Ended up in Vegas after that. Killed a buffet, doubled our money and checked out some Black Cherry Bombshells’ landmarks.
Tony Trov: It was a mad dash to LA where we couch surfed and bbq-ed.
Johnny Zito: We overestimated the distance to San Diego, bolted from LA super early and got to Comic Con on Thursday with time to spare.
Tony Trov: It was a pretty smooth journey. Kept waiting for that disaster to strike but it never did. Instead we were treated to an endless string of highway diners and open roads.
- August 11, 2009 @ 12:00 PM by JK Parkin
‘Splitting heads this October’
BOOM! Studios has released a trailer for one of the books that made our list of San Diego announcements we were happy about, The Anchor by Phil Hester and Brian Churilla:
A preview of the book can be found in last week’s issue of Irredeemable, which cost 99 cents. You can also find the preview on the book’s new website.
- August 11, 2009 @ 10:22 AM by JK Parkin
Box art reveals next DC animated movie
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
World’s Finest posts the box art for the upcoming Batman/Superman: Public Enemies DVD, which reveals the name of the next DC Universe Original Animated Movie they’re working on: Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.
It also lists, as a bonus feature, “two bonus cartoons” by Bruce Timm on the two-disc version. I wonder if these are the animated shorts we’ve been hearing about, one of which is supposed to feature Jonah Hex?
Superman/Batman is due to come out at the end of September.
- August 11, 2009 @ 09:22 AM by JK Parkin
For the Marvel comics fan who has everything (or at least a blank wall)
Marvel Comic Book Covers Mural
If you’re such a huge fan that you’ve dreamed of surrounding yourself with Marvel comics, here’s your chance.
RoomMates Peel and Stick has a wall mural featuring more than 65 Marvel covers, from Golden Age classics like Captain America #1 to Silver Age landmarks like Amazing Fantasy #15 to more modern titles like Origin #1.
The 9-foot by 15-foot mural retails for $255, while a 6-foot by 10-foot version sells for $155.
(via ChipChick)
- August 11, 2009 @ 08:22 AM by Kevin Melrose
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Chicago Comic-Con
Conventions | The retailer-oriented news site ICv2.com provides a subdued assessment of last weekend’s Chicago Comic-Con, and how futures installments may fare against the April-debuting Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo. The site also considers whether Wizard Entertainment’s new use of “Comic-Con,” with a hyphen, might infringe upon Comic-Con International’s trademark.
“Whenever an entity comes along and brands itself in a way that confuses people, whether intentional or otherwise, I don’t think anybody enjoys that,” says Comic-Con International’s Dave Glanzer, speaking generally on the issue. “I don’t think it benefits us, I don’t think it benefits the attendees.”
Elsewhere, Todd Allen and Matthew J. Brady file their own reports from the convention. [Chicago Comic-Con]
Tank McNamara
Comic strips | The Washington Post has pulled this week’s Tank McNamara storyline after objecting to the satirical depiction of former Vice President Dick Cheney advising NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to “kill” troubled quarterback Michael Vick. The six strips will be replaced by syndicate-approved reruns. [Comic Riffs, The New York Times]
Digital comics | Kuwait-based publisher Teshkeel Media Group has made a deal with new-media company Keetaa to distribute The 99 mobile content throughout the People’s Republic of China. [press release]
- August 11, 2009 @ 07:37 AM by Kevin Melrose
DC’s Great Ten (finally) gets a miniseries
The Great Ten #1
DC Comics announced this morning that the Great Ten, the Chinese government-sponsored superhero team introduced in 52, will star in its own 10-issue miniseries beginning in November.
The news comes more than two years after the title was first mentioned (along with Booster Gold and Infinity Inc.).
The miniseries will be written by Tony Bedard and penciled by Scott McDaniel, with covers by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau.
Created by Grant Morrison, the Great Ten was introduced in 52 #6 (June 2006). Members include Accomplished Perfect Physician, August General in Iron, Ghost Fox Killer, Mother of Champions and Seven Deadly Brothers.
DC’s The Source has preview art from the series.
- August 11, 2009 @ 06:18 AM by Kevin Melrose
Talking Comics with Tim: Fred Van Lente
Amazing Spider-Man 602
Fred Van Lente is hellbent on getting his name on the cover of every Marvel comic, or so it would seem. I could try to list all the Marvel titles he has written, is writing or will be writing, but we’d never get to the actual interview. Suffice to say that Marvel keeps him busy. And then there’s Action Philosophers (Van Lente’s successful independent collaboration with artist Ryan Dunlavey). Back to Marvel, this week marks the start of his Spider-Man/Chameleon storyline with the release of Amazing Spider-Man 602. Here’s the official word on Van Lente–he “is the New York Times bestselling author of Incredible Hercules (with Greg Pak) and Marvel Zombies 3, as well as the American Library Association award-winning Action Philosophers. His other comics incldue Comic Book Comics, MODOK’s 11, X Men Noir and Amazing Spider-Man.” Van Lente was kind enough to do an email interview with me about his various projects.
Tim O’Shea: Marvel is clearly pleased with X-Men Noir, given that they have announced a follow-up with the same team, Mark Of Cain. Given that a great deal of your writing for Marvel is within the “main” Marvel U, how liberating is at as a writer to get to play around with characters in a Noir universe?
Fred Van Lente: I always like to have big, bloody Grand Guignol endings, with bodies heaped up on stage like at the end of a Shakespeare tragedy. Nothing says “dramatic climax” like “everybody dies.” One of the nice things about working with the X-Men franchise in the Noirverse is that it has so many characters there are always some left over no matter how many you knock off. XMN1 we whacked Jean Grey, Magneto, Mastermind, Blob, Unus, Beast, Banshee, Rogue, Iceman, Gambit and Qucksilver, but we still had Wolverine, Puck, Cyclops, Angel, Professor X, and the Scarlet Witch to kick around.
In Mark of Cain they’ll be joined by a large bulk of the “All-New, All-Different” cast, including Noir analogues of Juggernaut (obviously), Emma Frost, Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus, and a few surprise appearances as well.
We’ve already been asked about a third installment, so my co-creator Dennis Calero and I will have to be careful not to kill everybody off. Even the X-Men have their limits in terms of mortality.
- August 10, 2009 @ 02:00 PM by Tim O'Shea
The real crime was the hat
How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way
Superfun Adventuretime is no doubt getting a lot of hits due to this post by “Yellow Hat Guy,” a.k.a. Ryan Coons, at the Chicago Comic Con this weekend. After demanding an apology from Rob Liefeld for his work on the 1990s Marvel event “Heroes Reborn,” Coons bought a copy of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way and left it in a bag on Liefeld’s table. He said he inscribed a note to Liefeld in it that included his email address and cell phone number in case Liefeld wanted to contact him with that apology.
The comments field includes both supporters and critics, with some folks calling Coons names and others offering him words of encouragement. Artist Cameron Stewart fell into the “not amused” camp:
I’m a professional comic artist, and I attend conventions often. Most of the time the experience I have with fans is pleasant and courteous, but there’s usually one or two who are so clueless of how to interact with people in a respectful and polite manner that it spoils the otherwise fun day. So you don’t like Rob Liefeld, big deal. His work isn’t to my tastes either but I would never dream of trying to publicly humiliate him in person. He’s taken the time and expense to come to that show to ply his trade – just as you work at your job – and interact with the people who DO appreciate his work and presence. He’s not there for you to be snide and condescending and to be the recipient of your asinine, half-witted pranks. I’m sure you got a big kick out of it (I love how you describe yourself as shaking and sweaty because you “can’t process that much awesome” instead of it being because you’re cowardly and nervous), and you probably high-fived your friends and giggled all the way home to write your smug blog report, but what you did was classless and childish. I guarantee you that this blog post is making the rounds of the pro community (another pro artist forwarded it to me, and *not* because he thought it was a hilarious prank), and thanks to your readily-identifiable yellow hat, you’ve marked yourself as someone to avoid at cons. Well done.
Update: Liefeld offers his account of the incident via Twitter. “Guy looked like someone I wouldn’t trust around my kids, could barely speak, almost pee’d his pants, and now he’s bold. I don’t thinks so,” he tweeted, followed by, “And I love that the video doesn’t match his descriptions. I’m smiling. Because that’s what i do. I’m always smiling.”
Also, Liefeld gave the copy of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way to Marat Mychaels, whose copy was lost in a house fire.
- August 10, 2009 @ 01:30 PM by JK Parkin
Strangeways: Murder Moon – Page 19
Bless my soul, is that Robert Mitchum in the first panel?
Art by Luis Guragna. Written by Matt Maxwell
Commentary after the jump.
- August 10, 2009 @ 01:00 PM by Matt Maxwell
Straight for the art | Paolo Rivera’s Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Paolo Rivera shares a recent Spider-Man commission he did on his blog, along with a tease that he has “huge Spider-Man news (and I mean huge)” that he can’t share just yet. In the comments section, he jokes, “I can neither confirm, nor deny my role as Mary Jane in the Broadway adaptation of Spider-Man.” Now that would be huge news …
- August 10, 2009 @ 12:30 PM by JK Parkin