2010 June
What Was Your Favorite Al Williamson Work?
Flash Gordon #3
The internet is rightfully rich with tributes to Al Williamson in recent days. When news of his passing got around, I decided to contact a variety of folks to find out their favorite Al Williamson work. Some were willing to single out certain works, others preferred to speak to his work as a whole. I loved the variety I was able to elicit from respondents, be it with replies to my request or directing me to previous statements they had made about Williamson since his passing. My thanks to the many folks who replied, as well as Dark Horse’s Jim Gibbons for gathering a couple of these perspectives for me (speaking of Dark Horse, be sure to read Dave Land’s Al Williamson recollection at the publisher’s new blog). In addition to these Williamson recollection/recommendations, it would be spectacular if you share your own favorite Williamson works in the comments section. Finally, please note that the Williamson family has suggested donations (in lieu of flowers) be made to:
Yesteryears Day Program (a program for frail, isolated, or impaired seniors)
2801 Wayne Street
Endwell, NY 13760
or
The Al Williamson Scholarship Fund
The Kubert School
37 Myrtle Avenue
Dover, NJ 07801
- June 17, 2010 @ 09:00 AM by Tim O'Shea
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Neil Gaiman
Legal | Neil Gaiman addresses some of the news coverage of his continuing legal dispute with Todd McFarlane, which was punctuated this week by an evidentiary hearing regarding the characters Dark Ages Spawn, Domina and Tiffany: “There are some knock-offs of the characters I’ve co-created that Todd published and made toys of over the years, and I felt they were derivative of the characters I’d created (or in one case, one actually was the same character I’d created). Todd didn’t want to pay anything at all on them so he (not me/my lawyers) took it back before the judge. Nobody ‘stole characters’ and there’s no argument over ‘ownership of characters’ going on. We’re now waiting for a ruling on if those characters are (in my opinion) derivative or (Todd’s opinion) not of the characters I co-created and have an established copyright interests in. It’s not an ‘epic battle.’ The epic battle was fought and won in 2002.” Gaiman and McFarlane have until July 25 to submit additional arguments. [Neil Gaiman's Journal]
- June 17, 2010 @ 07:37 AM by Kevin Melrose
Gorillas Riding Dinosaurs | Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia
Written by AB Sina; Illustrated by LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland
First Second; $7.99
As soon as I got home from seeing Prince of Persia at the theater, I bumped the graphic novel to the top of my review pile. Though the movie got mixed reviews, I enjoyed it with the same enthusiasm I have for old Sinbad flicks. I like swashbuckling in all settings, but there’s something especially fantastic, lush, and mysterious about adventure stories set in ancient Persia.
I was a bit disappointed then to find that First Second’s graphic novel doesn’t follow that tradition. Though inspired by the popular series of adventure video games and overseen by Jordan Mechner, the games’ creator, the Prince of Persia graphic novel is much more thoughtful than swaggering. In his afterword, Mechner explains that this is entirely intentional. “We didn’t want an adaptation of any of the games or the movie,” he writes, “but a new story that would tap into the deep wellspring of Persian myth, legend, and history from whence the prince had risen.” And that’s exactly what they created.
Mechner also writes that “one of [publisher Mark Siegel’s] missions for First Second is to foster European-quality graphic novels in the United States.” That attention to quality and the European sensibility of the artwork are the main reasons I’m so fond of First Second’s books. Flipping through their Fall catalog for this year though, it’s apparent that if their mission was ever limited by European boundaries (I’m thinking of The Lost Colony and Kampung Boy, for instance), it certainly isn’t anymore. Not in subject matter anyway with the Native American story Dawn Land or the Caribbean Zabime Sisters. Certainly not with the Middle Eastern Prince of Persia, whose writer was born in Iran and whose themes are steeped in Eastern ideas of conflict and relationship. That can make Prince of Persia a demanding read for Western audiences. It was for me.
Challenges and rewards, after the break.
- June 16, 2010 @ 08:54 PM by Michael May
Hey, look who is on Facebook
Friend up the Robot
The good folks over at CBR proper, who set up their own Facebook page not too long ago, have set one up for us as well. If you’re on Facebook, head over there and click on the “Like” link to befriend the robot and follow our feed. And don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter, if you prefer … we’re easy.
- June 16, 2010 @ 05:10 PM by JK Parkin
Send Us Your Shelf Porn!
Today’s collection of Shelf Porn is simply Amazing … or Spectacular, or Sensational, or, um, Web of … today Brady Sullivan shares his Spider-man collection with us, not only through pictures, but also with video.
If you’d like to share your collection, drop me an email at jkparkin@yahoo.com. And now here’s Brady …
- June 16, 2010 @ 02:30 PM by JK Parkin
Pinocchio enlists Il Capitano to battle vampires this fall
Today we continue revealing the characters that’ll help Pinocchio battle the undead in the upcoming Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer and the Great Puppet Theater, which is due out in October. Today brings Il Capitano, the wooden soldier who will join the title character and Harlequin.
Here’s some teaser info on the new book:
Pinocchio’s back… but who are his friends!?! In the sequel to the 2009 graphic novel Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer by Dusty Higgins and Van Jensen, the titular puppet has to share the undead-killing stage. The stakes are raised in Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer and the Great Puppet Theater (SLG Publishing) as Pinocchio unravels the mystery of the vampire menace and his own shadowy background. The sequel will hit shelves in October.
Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer was named one of the Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens in 2010 by YALSA. Follow Pinocchio on Twitter: @p_vampireslayer
- June 16, 2010 @ 01:30 PM by JK Parkin
Robert Rodriguez’s Machete comes to comics in September
Machete #1
IDW’s September books will include one that should look familiar to fans of director Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror film that was part of Grindhouse double feature– Machete #0, based on one of the faux trailers that appeared before the movie and is being turned into a feature film itself.
Co-written by Rodriguez and Aaron Kaufman, the “the ultimate ‘Mexploitation’ tale of revenge” explains the origin of Machete, who was played by Danny Trejo. The book is drawn by Stuart Sayger and leads into an ongoing series that starts in December.
- June 16, 2010 @ 12:30 PM by JK Parkin
Digital’s ‘secret project’: If you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em
All Nippon Air Line, from Digital's June imprint
Digital Manga Publishing mostly publishes yaoi manga, essentially Harlequin romances with two willowy men in the lead roles, although they do have a handful of other titles. Yaoi manga, also known as Boys Love (BL) or shounen-ai, are generally one-shots, rather than series; from what I have heard, their sales are modest but pretty consistent from one book to the next.
There are yaoi scanlation sites, but most of the big pirate sites leave BL alone, so it’s not too surprising that Digital did not join the coalition announced last week to fight online manga piracy. Hikaru Sasahara, the president of Digital, told Publishers Weekly reporter Kai-Ming Cha that the problem wasn’t piracy, it was the high price of licenses from Japan and the reluctance of the licensors to part with digital rights. And now he is thinking of attacking that problem.
Last week, the website The Yaoi Review caught word of a “secret project” and confirmed the details with Sasahara: The company would publish manga online only (at least at first) and have scanlators translate it. Translators would apparently not be paid up front but on the back end, based on sales. The problem with the current system, Sasahara explained, is that publishers must pay the Japanese licensor an advance of $2,000 to $5,000, but it takes about a year to get a book translated, lettered, printed, and distributed, during which time their money is tied up. This makes publishers reluctant to license any title that’s not a sure bet. Sasahara’s idea is to have scanlators do what they have been doing all along, but legally and with the possibility of getting cut of the sales, the idea being that a lower up-front investment minimizes the company’s financial risk and allows it to publish a greater range of titles.
- June 16, 2010 @ 11:30 AM by Brigid Alverson
See Marvel vs. Capcom 3 gameplay video, screenshots from E3
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
Among the avalanche of images coming out of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), being held this week in Los Angeles, are gameplay videos and additional screenshots from Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, the much-anticipated next installment of the epic fighting game.
Officially announced in April, the follow-up to 2000′s New Age of Heroes is set for release next spring.
Reporting from E3, USA Today’s Brett Molina described the demo as mesmerizing, with slightly simplified fighting controls: “It’s as thrilling and fun as its Sega Dreamcast predecessor released 10 years ago.”
See gameplay videos and screenshots after the break.
- June 16, 2010 @ 10:30 AM by Kevin Melrose
Meet Jackson Hyde, the new Aqualad who is afraid of water
In addition to the live-action Blue Beetle images, Geoff Johns also shared a little more information on the new Aqualad on DC’s the Source blog yesterday:
Brightest Day #10
When we first meet Aqualad in BRIGHTEST DAY he’s Jackson Hyde. An average student, with an on-and-off girlfriend, that’s pretty bored in New Mexico.
Since he was young, he’s been taught by his parents to fear water…they don’t want him near it because his true parents would be able to locate him. Not to mention certain changes happen to Jackson when he gets in the water.
Jackson has kept this secret hidden for years, lying to his girlfriend about being afraid of drowning, being unable to swim and being in the dark about the mysterious tattoos he’s had since birth. He’s done his best to avoid it. But soon something’s going to force him out into the open and dive into the water.
Obviously, this all ties into the larger Aquaman and Mera story within BRIGHTEST DAY, but Jackson’s adventures will also be seen in the YOUNG JUSTICE animated series this fall along with more DC characters than you could imagine.
I really believe in the story behind Jackson and, like Blue Beetle, I hope you give him a chance to grab your heart and imagination as he arrives on the scene in comics and cartoons.
- June 16, 2010 @ 09:30 AM by JK Parkin
Long-delayed Spider-Man musical finally appears back on track
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Marvel reportedly has granted its fifth rights extension to the producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, the much-delayed Broadway musical.
According to Variety, the big-budget production appears to be moving full steam toward an opening in November or December … a mere eight months or so behind schedule: A flying workshop was held last week in Las Vegas, green-screen footage is being filmed this week in New York City, and construction continues on the 1,700-seat Hilton Theatre — all sure signs the $52-million production is back on track.
That’s certainly a good thing for the Julie Taymor-directed show, as the trade paper points to indications that Marvel is getting antsy: “It’s said Marvel has periodically asked for proof of the project’s progress, with some adding that the recent fifth extension would likely be the last.”
Word trickled out last week that Next to Normal star Jennifer Damiano has been cast as Mary Jane Watson, replacing Evan Rachel Wood, who left the production in March. Spider-Man producers haven’t confirmed Damiano’s casting or commented on widely circulating reports that Patrick Page (The Lion King) will play Green Goblin, stepping in for Alan Cumming, who bailed in April. At this point, the only cast member known for certain is 26-year-old relative newcomer Reeve Carney, who’ll star in the title role.
Featuring a score by U2′s Bono and the Edge with a book by Taymor and Glen Berger, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is expected to be the most expensive musical in Broadway history.
- June 16, 2010 @ 08:37 AM by Kevin Melrose
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Crunchyroll
Business | Japanese e-book publisher Bitway has invested $750,000 in Crunchyroll, the San Francisco-based website that streams anime and live-action Asian movies. A major distributor of electronic books, including manga, in Japan, Bitway hopes to work with Crunchyroll to develop a comics-distribution platform overseas, with an emphasis on the United States and Canada.
Crunchyroll launched in 2006 as a for-profit site, and featured among its content illegally hosted user-uploaded fansubs and bootleg anime. But in 2009, following a $4 million investment from venture-capital firm Venrock, Crunchyroll began offering only licensed content. The website reportedly attracts 6 million unique visitors a month. [Anime News Network]
- June 16, 2010 @ 07:22 AM by Kevin Melrose
The Middle Ground #8: Sounds Like A T-Rex Live Under My Hood
I’m kind of fascinated with Boom! Studios’ announcement about their new digital comic partnerships. And, by “kind of fascinated,” I mean, simultaneously applauding multiple things about the news, and also curious about the details.
Because, well, thank God a reasonably sizable publisher has finally taken the plunge to make their entire back catalog available online – It’ll be interesting to see how individual series stack up in terms of sales, and whether new readers will immediately follow, say, Mark Waid from Potter’s Field to The Unknown or whatever (They should; both are very strong detective books, albeit with different flavors, from a writer who clearly knows his stuff. And, as an aside, I’d love to see some new Potter’s Field someday, please, Mr. Waid), if they’re all available at the same time -and the “first half of each first issue of a series as free preview” idea is a stroke of genius, if only because, if a book can’t grab you within the first half of its debut, it probably deserves to stay on the digital shelf. And yet… and yet…
- June 15, 2010 @ 04:30 PM by Graeme McMillan
Geoff Johns shares live-action Blue Beetle pictures
When Geoff Johns tweeted about a potential live-action Blue Beetle sequence, noting they had an “awesome” live-action test of the suit activating, fans of Jaime Reyes got pretty excited. Well, hold on to your scarab, because over on the Source blog, Johns posts pictures of the whole sequence. Here are a couple:
Blue Beetle
- June 15, 2010 @ 03:34 PM by JK Parkin
Six by 6 by Sixth Gun | Cullen Bunn’s six nostalgic dream projects
Editor’s note: In our continuing series of posts by the creators of Oni’s The Sixth Gun, writer Cullen Bunn shares his creative side and his childhood in today’s special edition of Six by 6.
by Cullen Bunn
This is an exercise in nostalgia for me. My collaborator on The Sixth Gun, Brian Hurtt, suggested this topic, and he said he could probably guess the projects I’d mention. Anyone who talks to me long enough will have a pretty good idea of the books that meant a lot to me during my formative years. Hell, you might think most of my comic book influences came out of one of those Whitman 3-packs so prevalent in Piggly Wiggly and Stuckey’s in the 70s. Well, you might be right. I think every comic creator has a list of a dozen or so books they’d love to work on. Here are just a few of the titles I’d love to take a crack at reinventing or re-imagining. I could easily create a second (and maybe a third) list of six projects I’d love to tackle. Rom: Spaceknight … Scare Tactics … Blackwulf … Warlock 5 … The list goes on and on … but the following list are the dream jobs that pop most readily into my skull.
Keep in mind, this isn’t about blowing anyone away with these notions. It’s about daydreaming.
The Micronauts
Easily my pick for favorite comic book of all time. I credit The Micronauts with getting me into collecting comics … not just reading, but really collecting. I can remember the first day I stumbled onto an issue of the book very clearly … from picking it up at the grocery store to reading it a dozen or so times in the back room of my dad’s office. For a comic about a line of toys, The Micronauts (like ROM: Spaceknight) tore past its humble origins into something really special. Of course, I would almost kill to write their story.
- June 15, 2010 @ 01:00 PM by JK Parkin