2010 July
August Previews has a first look at Spider-Girl #1
Spider-Girl, from August's Previews
The back cover of August Previews catalog provides our first look at Marvel’s Spider-Girl, the new series debuting in November, presumably with Araña under the mask.
The front cover spotlights the first issue of Dark Horse’s new series Star Wars: Knights Errant — Aflame, written by John Jackson Miller. See both covers, and full details of the August catalog, after the break.
- July 16, 2010 @ 11:00 AM by Kevin Melrose
Hello Kitty gets extreme makeovers by designer Joseph Senior
The Design Scene blog points us to these inspired Hello Kitty reinterpretations by designer Joseph Senior, whose MySpace page contains versions of the popular feline made up to look like Wolverine, Batman, Dr. Manhattan, Buzz Lightyear, Robocop, countless Star Wars characters and even Ugly Betty.
- July 16, 2010 @ 10:30 AM by JK Parkin
Hoodwinked: A review of ‘Batman: Under the Red Hood’
Red Hood fires. Bang!
When I heard that the next DC animated movie was going to be Batman: Under the Red Hood, I cringed. For one thing, I’ve never been a big fan of Judd Winick’s writing. For another, when I originally heard that Jason Todd had come back from the dead, I did a facepalm. Must everything be constantly recycled in superhero comics for the sake of fanboy nostalgia? Can’t we just leave some things be? Not that Death in the Family was some great masterpiece (it wasn’t) but can’t we look at least a little bit forward instead of constantly looking over our shoulder, building castle after castle on sand?
So no, I wasn’t particularly excited to watch this latest Warner Bros. adaptation, expecting it to be something along the lines of that dreadful Superman/Batman affair or the horrid Wonder Woman film.
- July 16, 2010 @ 09:30 AM by Chris Mautner
Shamus sets another New York City convention for May 6-8
Big Apple Comic Con
Wizard Entertainment CEO Gareb Shamus has announced an additional New York City convention set for May 6-8, 2011, overlapping with Free Comic Book Day and the premiere of Marvel’s Thor.
Comic Con NYC — not to be confused with rival Reed Exhibitions’ New York Comic Con, certainly — will be held in the newly renovated Penn Plaza Pavilion, which will play host in October to Shamus’ Big Apple Comic Con.
“Response to last year’s Big Apple Comic Con and advance interest in the show this October has been so strong that we had to add the Spring event,” Shamus said in the announcement. “Everyone – the celebrities, the fans, the dealers, manufacturers, artists, and the entire community we deal with was begging us to bring a huge Spring event to New York. And now we have Wizard World Comic Con NYC.”
Rich Johnston suggests the date might be “ideal” to tempt Marvel back into the Wizard fold. However, it’s tough to imagine Marvel viewing as some sort of olive branch an event that stands to compete with Thor‘s opening weekend, at least regionally. What’s more, the studio doesn’t need Wizard World to market the movie — to its core audience, no less — particularly that late in the game.
What may be interesting to see is reaction from New York-area retailers regarding the possibility of the convention siphoning off Free Comic Book Day traffic. I don’t know, maybe some attendees will still wander over to Midtown Comics or Jim Hanley’s Universe to pick up free comics before heading back to the Penn Plaza Pavilion.
- July 16, 2010 @ 08:49 AM by Kevin Melrose
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Rocketship
Retailing | Heidi MacDonald confirms rumors that well-regarded Brooklyn retailer Rocketship, the setting for numerous signings, release parties and art shows, has closed after five years. “We’ve come to the end of a five-year lease, and are deciding what to do now,” said co-owner Alex Cox. “Five years went by fast, and my partner and I are suddenly making some large life decisions about what comes next. We love the shop, and as fun as it is, we have to figure out what makes sense for us on a practical level.” [The Beat]
Pop culture | KRCW-Santa Monica (89.9 FM) will rebroadcast the 1991 radio production of American Splendor, starring Dan Castellaneta, from 7:30 to 8 p.m. PST today. This broadcast will appear on air and via KCRW.com live stream only, and will not be available on demand or via podcast. [KCRW.com]
Legal | The Wall Street Journal’s Tomomichi Amano looks at efforts by a newly formed coalition of Japanese and American manga publishers to crack down on U.S.-based scanlation websites. “People might say it’s like whack-a-mole,” says Vertical Inc.’s Ioannis Mentzas, “but we think even making one (legal) case will greatly change the situation.” [Japan Real Time]
- July 16, 2010 @ 07:56 AM by Kevin Melrose
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions box art reveals … something?
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Via Joystiq comes word that Gamefly has posted the box artwork for the upcoming video game Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. The game features Spider-Men from four different dimensions — the regular Marvel U., the noir one, 2099 and a fourth one that’s supposed to be revealed in San Diego next week. It looks like whatever universe that will be will feature Spider-Man in his black costume. So what do you think it will be … the Ultimate universe, maybe?
- July 16, 2010 @ 06:00 AM by JK Parkin
Grumpy Old Fan | Someone to hear your prayers, someone who cares
Superman #701
It is one of the most familiar scenes in all of superhero comics. Hal Jordan, Green Lantern, is right in the middle of a dilemma when, from off-panel, a new voice enters the scene.
“I want to ask the ring-slinger a question,” the voice begins. We know already that the questioner’s concerns run deeper than the present emergency.
Indeed, you might think you know where this is going — an elderly African-American man’s earnest soliloquy, a space-cop’s perceptions up-ended — and if you were reading April 1970′s classic Green Lantern vol. 2 #76, you’d be right.
- July 15, 2010 @ 04:30 PM by Tom Bondurant
SDCC Wishlist | Cliff Chiang creates new Star Wars propaganda posters
Fett ... Boba Fett
Based on the popularity of the propaganda posters he created for a line of Topps Star Wars cards, Greendale artist Cliff Chiang was invited to create some new posters for Acme Archives, which will debut in San Diego next week.
“We have an Art Deco-inspired Imperial recruiting poster, a Chairman Mao-style Rebel poster, and a 60’s spy film poster featuring the galaxy’s slickest bounty hunter (and a few others),” he said on his blog.
The posters will be available at the Acme Archives booth or via their website next week.
- July 15, 2010 @ 04:00 PM by JK Parkin
Cage and Fist are gonna git you, sucka
Brothers & Gangsters
Over on his DeviantART site, Dan Panosian posts an image that’s just dripping with cool. “I just finished writing a Story Outline for a Retro Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Daughters of the Dragon limited series for Marvel Comics. [ with Sabretooth and Dazzler! ],” he said in his post. “I’ll keep you posted with all the details but in the meantime, here’s some Teaser Art to whet your appetite! Enjoy!”
- July 15, 2010 @ 03:30 PM by JK Parkin
Gage and Segovia unleash Ragman: Suit of Souls in October
Ragman
DC Comics is keeping PR guru and blogger Alex Segura really busy this week, as they continue to roll out project announcements over on the Source blog. The latest is a new Ragman one-shot, called Ragman: Suit of Souls. Christos Gage will write, with Stephen Segovia providing art.
“Could the souls he has consigned to redeem themselves within his suit have the answers he needs about the great beyond?” Segura posted. “What mysteries surround Rory’s own father? Gage and Segovia give readers a look inside one of the DCU’s most unique and peculiar heroes in this one-shot event.”
The former Shadowpact member’s one-shot comes out in October.
- July 15, 2010 @ 03:00 PM by JK Parkin
SDCC Wishlist | UDON celebrates 10 years with three hardcovers
Vent
Last week I asked comic folks if they had anything cool they’d be bringing to Comic-Con next week, and boy did they respond. Here’s the first of many posts that I’ll put up between now and the show to spotlight some of the cool items you can buy on the floor … and, when applicable, where else you can buy them if you aren’t at the show.
UDON Entertainment is celebrating their 10th anniversary with three hardcover books that’ll premiere at the show. Regular softcover versions will be available in stores in August/September and are available to pre-order now on Amazon.
- July 15, 2010 @ 02:00 PM by JK Parkin
This means war: Thanos Imperative #3 teaser
The Thanos Imperative #3
Marvel sent over a teaser image for the third issue of their galactic war mini-series The Thanos Imperative, featuring some cosmic heavyweights no doubt marching on to war … that tag line looks familiar, doesn’t it?
Here’s what Marvel had to say about the issue:
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at The Thanos Imperative #3 from the rock star creative team of Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Miguel Sepulveda! The Galaxy’s Mightiest Heroes come together in an effort to save the universe from the brink of destruction! Can Beta Ray Bill, Silver Surfer, Nova, Ronan, Gladiator and Quasar put an end to the intergalactic threat from the Cancerverse? Find out this August in The Thanos Imperative #3!
THE THANOS IMPERATIVE #3 (of 6) (JUN100613)
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by MIGUEL ANGEL SEPULVEDA
Cover by ALEKSI BRICLOT
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 7/22/10, On Sale 8/11/10
- July 15, 2010 @ 01:30 PM by JK Parkin
Shoujo with a side of satire
Everything you need to know about shoujo manga
In his latest House of 1,000 Manga post at Anime News Network, Jason Thompson takes a long, fond look at a classic of days gone by, the 1989 manga Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga! Couched in vicious satire, the book actually has quite a few real insights, and the article will both make you laugh and teach you things. And you will never look at manga quite the same way again.
- July 15, 2010 @ 01:00 PM by Brigid Alverson
Calling comics for a consult
Brian Fies draws his mom during chemo
Cian O’Luanaigh has penned a fascinating piece for The Guardian about medicine in comics. This isn’t just a survey of comics about diseases and healers (although there is some of that) but also an account of how medical professionals use comics to describe their experiences and raise consciousness among students. Like hospice care nurse MK Czerwiec:
Czerwiec has encouraged medical students to follow her lead and reflect on their experiences through comics. “We did an exercise in which we asked students to draw a diagnosis as if they were a patient receiving it, and we also asked them to draw a different diagnosis as if they were a doctor giving it,” said Czerwiec. “When they drew diagnoses as a doctor, they drew disembodied body parts, but when they drew as a patient they drew embodied experiences of illness, with reference to an emotional reaction and to their whole families and lives.”
Examples cited range from Rex Morgan, MD, to Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary, and the story is copiously illustrated with panels from Brian Fies’s Mom’s Cancer that describe chemotherapy in both scientific and personal terms.
- July 15, 2010 @ 12:00 PM by Brigid Alverson
SDCC ’10 | Stuff to do on the convention floor
Comic-Con International
With all of next week’s Comic-Con International’s panels fully revealed, those of you who are attending are probably putting together your schedule as we speak … but don’t forget to factor in some of the cool stuff that’ll be going on on the floor. Here’s a list of stuff you can do and people you can meet at various booths, with no doubt more on the way:
• Dark Horse Comics will have Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon, Morgan Spurlock, Stan Sakai, Mike Mignola, Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Eric Powell, Joss Whedon, Janet & Alex Evanovich, Felicia Day and more at their booth.
• IDW will host Berkeley Breathed, Peter Beagle, Scott Morse, Steven Niles, Fiona Staples and more at their booth. They’re also holding a Tiger Tea Party.
• BOOM! Studios also released their booth schedule, which features appearances by Mark Waid, Claudio Sanchez, Peter David and Tad Stones, who created Darkwing Duck.
• Fantagraphics has released their booth schedule, along with a list of new books that will debut at the show. These include new volumes of their Peanuts collections, a new Prison Pit book, several Ignatz titles and Moto Hagio’s A Drunken Dream and Other Stories.
- July 15, 2010 @ 11:30 AM by JK Parkin