2010 July
Francis Manapul: comic artist, TV host and ‘Beast Seeker’!
Francis Manapul and Stephen Leonard of "Beast Legend"
Canadian comics fans with at least a passing interest in cryptozoology may want to tune into History Television on Wednesday night for the premiere of Beast Legends, a six-part series that examines “the truth about mythological creatures that could be real … and historical creatures that could be myths.” The kraken, the griffin, a bird monster — that sort of thing.
For that daunting mission, the producers assembled “a learned kind of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”: an anthropologist/archaeologist/myth expert, an evolutionary biologist, an adventurer/veterinary surgeon, and a comic book artist — specifically, Flash artist Francis Manapul.
“It’s been an amazing experience traveling around the world on these magnificent adventures!” writes Manapul, who serves as one of the presenters on Beast Legends. “I felt like Indiana Jones or something! Even had run ins with some snakes! I’ve drawn in some of the most bizarre places, from the dense jungles of Vietnam, to a platform above sharks in the Bahamas, to a dark and wet lions cave in Germany, to the high seas of New Zealand! It’s truly been an experience and I’m glad I’ll be able to share them with you!”
The first episode, “Wildman of Vietnam,” premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST/PST. According to Manapul, Beast Legends will air later this year in the United States on Syfy. You can read the official press release below:
- July 6, 2010 @ 09:00 AM by Kevin Melrose
‘Origin of the Species’ gives Peter Parker time to reflect — and maybe readers a new Spider-Man?
Last Thursday CBR posted a lengthy interview with Amazing Spider-Man editor Stephen Wacker about all things Spider-Man, from the “One Moment in Time” storyline to his role in the upcoming Shadowland event.
He also talked about what comes next for the wall crawler after O.M.I.T. — a storyline called “Origin of the Species.” Here’s what Wacker said:
“For the couple of months coming out of “One Moment in Time,” we’re going to be bringing a lot of threads of Peter’s life that we’ve been developing since we started working on the book into one big story, ‘Origin of the Species.’ It sort of gives Pete a moment to assess all the stuff that’s happened to him for the last 100 or so issues. Beyond that, we’ve already started talking about the fact that it might be time for a new, or at least better, Spider-Man. I feel like we’ve done as much as we can do in terms of Peter Parker’s time as Spider-Man.”
“…a new, or at least better, Spider-Man. I feel like we’ve done as much as we can do in terms of Peter Parker’s time as Spider-Man.” It’s also teased again at the end of the interview: “… whenever we have our new Spider-Man…”
Fans on the CBR forum are speculating on what this means — perhaps a return of everyone’s favorite clone, Ben Reilly? What do you guys think?
- July 6, 2010 @ 08:00 AM by JK Parkin
The digital peril: Developer hacks iTunes to sell comic
Screenshot of the offending apps (from MacStories)
A Vietnamese app developer apparently hacked into numerous iTunes accounts over the holiday weekend to boost the standing of his comics apps in the iTunes store.
Doing scanlators one better, the developer Thuat Nguyen reportedly not only made bootleg versions of Japanese manga such as Dragon Ball and Detective Conan (known in the U.S. as Case Closed), he somehow got into a number of other people’s iTunes accounts and bought the apps, driving 40 of them into the top 50 apps listing. While this takes a certain ingenuity, it’s a strategy that is unlikely to succeed, as Apple e-mails receipts to iTunes users, and people quickly noticed that something was amiss.
Apple has removed the offending apps from the iTunes store, but the story is not over. MacStories is reporting that other apps have popped up unbidden in people’s accounts, and The Next Web says that what appears to be happening is that the apps themselves use in-app purchasing to purchase more apps or, in one case, just send money to the developer. This last post also has some helpful advice — check your account, change your password, consider removing your credit card details. Because this happened on a holiday weekend, Apple has been slow to respond, but hopefully they will step up today and issue some refunds.
This has serious implications for anyone, comics creators included, who wants to make money selling comics through the iTunes store. If people stop trusting Apple with their credit card info and only use gift cards, they will be spending money in finite amounts, rather than a continuous stream, and they are likely to become more conscious of the amount they are spending—better for the consumer, perhaps, but not so good for the seller. And it may make people skittish about in-app purchases as well, unless the problem is swiftly and firmly resolved.
- July 6, 2010 @ 07:00 AM by Brigid Alverson
Talking Comics with Tim: J.D. Arnold & Rich Koslowski
BB Wolf and the Three LPs
Given that folklore was my minor in college, I’m always pleased when a creative discussion touches upon a work that finds its roots in folk or fairy tales. With that in mind I recently jumped at the chance to interview J.D. Arnold & Rich Koslowski regarding their new book from Top Shelf, BB Wolf and the 3 LPs (released in June). As described by Top Shelf: “A farmer and family man by day, blues musician by night, and a drinker of fine spirits at any hour, BB’s life seemed simple. But this fragile peace comes crashing down when the LPs decide to take his land by any means possible. When all is lost, BB lashes out, setting into motion acts of revenge only a Big Bad Wolf could unleash.” In addition to discussing this tale of blues and racism, the creators detail a musical project connected to the book that will be available at San Diego. Top Shelf offers a seven-page preview of the 96-page book here.
Tim O’Shea: Rich, as the guy behind Three Geeks and Three Fingers, are you un-nerved or reassured at how the number three seems to track you down, even when you’re not writing the story?
Rich Koslowski: Well, it was all part of a “grand master plan” I had in mind with the magical number 3. Seriously. It kind of got derailed, though, when I did The King with Top Shelf. Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get that book out there.
I’ll have to see if I can get that big idea back on track somehow.
- July 5, 2010 @ 02:00 PM by Tim O'Shea
Spidey 2099 goes 360 degrees in new Shattered Dimensions promo image
The upcoming video game Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions will pit the wall-crawler against many of his foes in a variety of different environments, from the Noir one you’ve seen in recent comics to the 2099 one that spawned Miguel O’Hara. Below is a 360-degree screenshot of the 2099 Spidey taking on the Hobgoblin … check it out after the jump …
- July 5, 2010 @ 01:00 PM by JK Parkin
Will Eisner’s courtroom drama
Superman vs. Wonderman: Suspicious similarities
If you have a bit of time today, get comfortable and settle in with the transcripts of testimony by Will Eisner and Jerry Iger and Victor Fox in a 1939 court case in which Mr. Fox was accused of copying DC’s new and quite popular character Superman.
Ken Quattro, a.k.a. The Comics Detective, recently got a transcript of the case, and he sets up the story for us: In 1939, shortly after the spectacular success of DC’s Superman, Fox hired Eisner and his partner Jerry Iger to produce a knockoff. DC noticed, and they sued. In Eisner’s account of the story, Iger encouraged him to say he had created the story himself, but rather than perjure himself he told the truth, that Fox had commissioned it.
The transcripts, which make fascinating reading in their own right, don’t bear this version out. Under questioning, Eisner states quite clearly that he had created the tights-clad character himself in January 1938, before Superman appeared in any DC comic, and that Wonderman was actually inspired by another tights-clad character, The Phantom. (The judge gets pretty testy about this whole line of defense, insisting that when the character was created is not relevant; the finished product is what’s important.) As Quattro says, “Contrary to the image of the idealistic young artist risking his financial well-being on principle, it appears he succumbed to the urgings of his partner and their client.”
(Quattro notes something else that isn’t in the transcripts: As an editor, Eisner had reviewed and rejected the proposal for Superman, so he had actually seen it before it was published.)
The testimony provides some interesting sidelights on the way comics are made, and the judge is all over things—at one point, he criticizes Eisner for using pen names.
Wonderman is now in the public domain, and a helpful commenter to the first post points to a site where it can be downloaded.
Via The Beat, where Danny Fingeroth is a bit skeptical in comments.
- July 5, 2010 @ 12:00 PM by Brigid Alverson
San Diego ’10 | Update your want list with exclusive con merchandise
If you’re headed to San Diego later this month for Comic-Con International and you’ve been wondering what exclusive merchandise you’ll be able to get at the show, wonder no more … the con’s site has a whole slew of exclusive items that’ll be available from various retailers, publishers and such at the show. Yes, everything from variant covers of BOOM! books — from Roger Langridge’s homage to Comic-Con to Darkwing Duck’s homage to Frank Miller — to Venture Bros. figures to Hot Wheels versions of Wonder Woman’s jet and the Ecto-1. Check them all out right here.
- July 5, 2010 @ 11:00 AM by JK Parkin
Quote of the Day | Neil Gaiman on the vampire glut
“The saddest thing is that it runs the risk of making vampires not scary. I will be glad when the glut is over. Maybe they will be scary again. I like my creatures of the night a little nocturnal … My next big novel was going to have a vampire. Now, I’m probably not. They are everywhere, they’re like cockroaches.”
–writer Neil Gaiman, on the vast army of fictional vampires infiltrating pop culture
- July 5, 2010 @ 10:30 AM by JK Parkin
Anime Expo: Look back with hindsight
For manga and anime fans, Anime Expo is the first of the big summer cons. This year only a handful of manga publishers showed up, but all had plenty of energy and some new announcements to make. That’s probably a good snapshot of the manga industry as a whole—there are only a few players left, but the survivors are pretty robust. Anime News Network has pretty exhaustive coverage of the con, and Animanga Nation does a nice job with a more casual feel.
Out of curiousity, I looked over con coverage from previous years to see who is missing this year. Bandai, Digital Manga, Tokyopop and Viz are clearly the survivors of the manga wars, although it was touch-and-go for Tokyopop for a while. Missing from the roster are Dark Horse, Del Rey, Seven Seas, Udon, Yaoi Press, and Yen Press, all of which have appeared at AX in previous years (although not recently), and ADV Manga, Aurora, Broccoli, CMX, DrMaster, and Go! Comi, which have all shut down or at least gone dark.
I thought it would be interesting to see how AX has evolved over the years, so let’s climb into the time machine and take a look at past cons.
- July 5, 2010 @ 09:45 AM by Brigid Alverson
David Mack designs a pair of Etnies to benefit the CBLDF
To benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Etnies donated 20 blank sneakers that were customized by comic book artists. And courtesy of the CBLDF, we’re happy to give you a look at the pair of shoes designed by David Mack.
The shoes made their first appearance at a party yesterday for the website Seen, which launched yesterday. Other artists who contributed shoes include Becky Cloonan, Jill Thompson and Eric Powell.
The shoes will be auctioned off at Comic-Con International later this month. Check out more pictures of Mack’s shoes after the jump …
- July 5, 2010 @ 09:00 AM by JK Parkin
What Are You Reading?
Revolver by Matt Kindt
Happy Sunday and Happy Fourth of July, as we once again delve into what the Robot 6 crew are reading this week. Joining us as our special guest this week is Jeff Lemire, creator of Sweet Tooth, The Nobody, The Essex County Trilogy and Lost Dogs, and the writer of the Atom strip in Adventure Comics and the upcoming Superboy series.
To see what Jeff and the Robot 6 crew are reading, click below …
- July 4, 2010 @ 11:00 AM by JK Parkin
Take a look at the Avengers Assemble painting by Alex Ross
"Avengers Assemble," by Alex ross
Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times has the first look at Avengers Assemble, a painting created by Alex Ross for the Marvel Artworks series. Limited-edition signed prints of the piece, which features a late-’60s Avengers lineup — you’ll note Goliath’s goggles in the background and the Wasp flying in front of Iron Man — will be available on canvas and on paper at Comic-Con International.
Prices haven’t been announced, but the size has: The prints are huge — 45 3/4″ wide by 20″ tall. If you can’t make it to San Diego, the prints will be available later through the Marvel Artworks website.
- July 4, 2010 @ 08:17 AM by Kevin Melrose
Chain Reactions | Wonder Woman #600
Wonder Woman #600
It was virtually impossible this week to escape coverage of Wonder Woman’s costume change, even if you didn’t visit any comic websites. The announcement was made Monday in The New York Times and quickly spread to The Washington Post, BBC News, the Los Angeles Times, ABC News and well beyond. Reactions to the makeover were virtually instantaneous, of course.
But what about the response to the milestone Wonder Woman #600 which, in addition to contributions by the likes of George Perez, Gail Simone, Geoff Johns, Amanda Conner, Louise Simonson and Scott Kolins, features a 10-page prologue to J. Michael Straczynski and Don Kramer’s yearlong arc? It’s a story that not only introduces the new costume but establishes a new, if perhaps only temporary, timeline in which Themyscira is destroyed and an infant Diana is bundled off to be raised in an urban setting.
Here’s just a sampling of reactions to Straczynski and Kramer’s “Odyssey” prologue, and to Wonder Woman’s new origin timeline:
Gloria Steinem, to The Associated Press: “It’s an exact copy of Superman, who came as a baby from the exploding planet Krypton. This destroys her home, her Amazon mother and sisters, and gives her no place to go to gain strength and create an inspiring storyline.” The whole idea, she said, is based on “what seems to be the brainstorming of a very limited group of brains.”
Dan Phillips, IGN: “Fortunately, not even the ridiculousness of the new costume can rob JMS’s prologue of its overwhelming sense of excitement and, for lack of a better term, wonder. It’s been ages — and maybe even forever — since I’ve been this excited about a Wonder Woman story, and that excitement is due in large part to JMS’s decision to try something new with the character. Because let’s face it: even Wonder Woman’s biggest fans must admit the character has never enjoyed a level of success in her actual stories equal to her iconic status. It’s long overdue that someone with the mammoth stones of JMS tried to breathe new life into Wonder Woman without worrying about fussing up what’s come before. Diana’s new look aside, JMS’s plan has a ton of potential.”
- July 3, 2010 @ 08:09 AM by Kevin Melrose
The Fifth Color | Bringing Marvel Home
the last time Marvel was awesome on TV
Costume changes aside (man, I wish people got that upset and excited about when I wore pants…), let’s take a moment to talk about the other news this week: Marvel announced that they have an executive vice president in charge of television. An exciting new position to be sure, as this means the Marvel Universe should be getting some small-screen attention.
Considering how many of the customers at the comic shop where I work have perked up at any news from AMC’s Walking Dead series in production, something from the House of Ideas would be sure to turn heads and keep Marvel heroes on the tips of our tongues. Marvel Animation has been working hard at making animated direct-to-DVD features and a few animated series, but that’s as much as we’ve seen. Sometimes not even that much: Australia got to see the animated Black Panther, but not the US as it has yet to be broadcast in the States (and none of us without iTunes would ever think of finding another way to watch it). The Spectacular Spider-Man was a fun show that never saw enough praise and advertising as far as I’m concerned; perhaps having a more public face to boost these kinds of shows might turn more heads toward the TV than constant repeats on Disney XD.
Plus, if Smallville can make it to their 10th season, it’s about time Marvel got up and did something. We have a way better track record for animation and keeping things in the mix for cartoons than we do for live action. The less said about Blade: The Series, the better, and before that? Mutant X, contractually obligated not to be the X-Men and miserably defeated in a blaze of lawsuits. That was from about six years ago, and before that? Yeah. We go all the way back to 1982 when the last episode of the Incredible Hulk aired. Smallville, despite being absolutely ridiculous a lot of the time, has had some pretty good episodes that refer back to continuity and, fingers crossed, have hopefully lured some viewers in to grab a copy of Superman from the shelves. It’s just another access point for new readers to connect into and if it’s going into season 10 and hasn’t been canceled, they have to be doing something right.
Which leads us to the bad news: Jeph Loeb is in charge.
- July 2, 2010 @ 05:00 PM by Carla Hoffman
Again with the camel toe: An interview with Tim Hensley
From 'Wally Gropius'
If my review the other week didn’t make it clear, I’m a big fan of Wally Gropius, Tim Hensley’s ingenious, hilarious and occasionally disturbing take on classic teen comics. So when the opportunity to interview Hensely came, I leapt at it. He’s been in the comics press a lot lately (something I reference an embarrassing amount of times during our talk) so I made a bit of an effort to build off of what had been said in past interviews. Whether or not I was successful in my efforts, hopefully you’ll be inspired enough to check out the book, which really deserves as much attention as it can muster.
- July 2, 2010 @ 04:00 PM by Chris Mautner