2011 July
The Fifth Color | Spider-Man’s Ultimate Corpse
I wonder what happens in this issue....
Sorry for the graphic title, Gentle Readers.
I’m sure you get the idea: last week, Ultimate Spider-Man #160 gave us the final chapter in the long-awaited “Death of Spider-Man” storyline. That’s long awaited because the prelude kicked us off in February and we’ve been talking about the “Death of Spider-Man” as a future storyline since before that so no one really should take this as a shock that Peter Parker perishes. It wasn’t called the “Death of Captain America” until those Captain America issues were in trade and Fantastic Four’s “Three” is still just labeled “3″ on the cover so the mystery of who bites it there is still under wraps. There’s an air of ‘whodunnit’ with those issues, questions that I have personally seen lure the curious new reader to the stands. With the Ultimate “Death of Spider-Man” written on a bevy of covers for the past few months, sometimes even more prominently than the book’s actual title, I don’t see what the polybag was for.
Why note this book at all? Yeah, it’s the murder of the guy whose name’s on the cover, but a polybag? What secret within could be worth wrapping in plastic? The cover spoils the end results! There’s no secret to keep but how Spider-Man dies and, after cutting my way into another comic, that’s not even a secret worth keeping.
So why the hoopla? Why the trending and interviews and rather somber occasion for an event that everyone’s known about for months thanks to tireless campaigning and announcements? Perhaps why they’ve revealed their shocking ending now and not for so long was because the Ultimate Spider-Man title’s been dead for a lot longer than this final issue.
WARNING: Hey guys. Spider-Man dies in Ultimate Spider-Man #160. I know, I know, we’re all surprised but below I’m going to talk a little about how he died so I suppose a spoiler warning is the polite thing to do. Just in case.
- July 1, 2011 @ 05:00 PM by Carla Hoffman
Comic Strips to Comic Flicks: Jim Lee movies they haven’t made (yet)
In recent years, we’ve seen a boatload of comic books and graphic novels make their way to the silver screen, from Big Two stalwarts like Spider-Man and Batman to independent titles like Scott Pilgrim and 30 Days Of Night. Leading the charge as one of the top comic creators today with a best-selling history tracing itself back to early 90s is Jim Lee.
After spiraling up the ranks at Marvel from Alpha Flight to Punisher, Lee broke through to the top tier of comics with his work on Uncanny X-Men with Chris Claremont. The 1991 launch of X-Men #1 put Lee in rarefied air as the artist and co-writer of the best-selling comic book of all time, certified by Guinness themselves. Since then, Lee went on to co-found Image Comics and his own personal company Wildstorm, knocking out a bevy of characters, teams and concepts. When DC bought out Wildstorm in 1998, Lee became a company man, doing runs on Batman, Superman and All-Star Batman & Robin The Boy Wonder. In his Wildstorm years, Lee created a impressive slate of characters that stood out in the crowded 1990s marketplace. WildC.A.T.S. and Gen13 were both licensed as animated series, but neither captured the magic of what Lee and his collaborators did on the comics page.
Maybe now with Jim Lee sitting as co-publisher of DC Comics and being looked to as an icon by comics readers and Hollywood types, some consideration can be given to some of these great concepts.
- July 1, 2011 @ 04:00 PM by Chris Arrant
In light of DC’s New 52, who are their top writers?
DC’s big shakeup this fall not only denotes which characters and titles they’re emphasizing, it also shows the creators they’re putting trust, faith and support behind. Back during the 52 era the informal top tier of writers were Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Both Morrison and Johns remain in heavily use on DC’s top titles, while both Rucka and Waid have segued away for their own reasons.With these new titles on the horizon it gives us fodder to think who’s controlling the DCU; in other words, who are DC’s Architects (to borrow Marvel’s term)?
Looking at the full slate of 52 titles set to begin this fall, the busiest writers are Geoff Johns and Scott Lobdell with three titles each. Johns’ role as CCO and long-time primary writer leaves his place in this top spot as a no brainer. Lobdell had done work before at DC, but with the ascension of Bob Harris to DC’s editor-in-chief spot, it seems their long-time partnership at Marvel is continuing across town. Joining those two at the DC brain trust table are, without a doubt, DC Co-publishers Jim Lee and Dan Didio. In addition to being on the top tier of the office staff, they’re both working as creators (on JLA and OMAC respectively).
Beyond those initial four, Morrison is probably still sitting at this table even though he’s only writing one of the 52 titles announced (Action Comics) for relaunch because of the promised return of Batman Inc. down the road as well as the long-promised Multiversity event series speculated for a winter 2011/2012 launch.
If you’re looking for sixth candidate to be part of DC’s top tier of writers, it’d probably be a knock-down drag-out between the 10 writers who each have two titles to write under DC’s Fall 52. They are: Scott Snyder, Tony Daniel, Gail Simone, Judd Winick, Kyle Higgins, Peter J. Tomasi, Tony Bedard, Peter Milligan, Jeff Lemire and Paul Cornell. Of them all I’d place my vote for Gail Simone because of her unique voice and long track record of well-written books. If not her, my money would be on Scott Snyder; he’s really blossomed under DC’s watch with Detective Comics and his amazing work with American Vampire. DC’s decision to give him the chance to redo The Swamp Thing is no small gift, so one would assume DC sees a lot of promise in the novelist.
- July 1, 2011 @ 03:00 PM by Chris Arrant
‘The New 52 and You,’ and the dreaded R-word
Action Comics #1
If there are any lingering concerns that DC Comics’ sweeping September relaunch — re-branded this week as “The New 52″ — is actually a reboot, the publisher is working doggedly to stomp them out, tackling the issue head on this morning in an email to retailers.
Titled “The New 52 and You,” the message from Senior Vice President-Sales Bob Wayne wades into the thorny issues of continuity, devoting three of the email’s 10 “general” questions specifically to why the initiative isn’t the dreaded R-word. It’s familiar territory for Wayne, who insisted to those same retailers in early June what the New DCU is not. “It is not a ‘reboot,’” he wrote at the time. “I think you will soon discover why that is.”
Why that is, Wayne now explains, is that “a reboot is typically a restart of the story or character that jettisons away everything that happened previously.” That probably amounts to hair-splitting, if not a convenient redefinition of the term, but okay.
“This is a new beginning which builds off the best of the past,” he continues. “For the stories launching as new #1s in September, we have carefully hand-selected the most powerful and pertinent moments in these characters’ lives and stories to remain in the mythology and lore. And then we’ve asked the best creators in the industry to modernize, update and enhance the books with new and exciting tales. The result is that we retained the good stuff, and then make it better.”
The same argument probably could have been put forward in 1986, with the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths, which restarted characters like Superman and Wonder Woman, wiped others out of existence and left still others relatively untouched (but caused many, many problems down the road; see Wonder Girl, Justice League and Justice Society history and the All-Star Squadron, for starters). Similarly, 1994′s Zero Hour scrapped Legion of Super-Heroes continuity, monkeyed with the various Hawkman characters, and changed aspects of Batman’s and Catwoman’s origins while leaving the most powerful and pertinent moments in these characters’ lives.
- July 1, 2011 @ 02:30 PM by Kevin Melrose
What might have been: Artist auditions for Muppet Robin Hood
Amy Mebberson's take on Muppet Robin Hood
Tim Beedle, formerly a Tokyopop editor and now a freelancer, has two interesting posts on his blog about choosing the artist for the Muppet Robin Hood comic (which he wrote and fellow Tokyopop alum Paul Morrissey edited). The first set of drawings is an audition comic by Armand Villavert, Jr., who was the one who got the gig; the sample pages that Tim shows aren’t in the finished comic, though, they are a sequence Villavert wrote himself, and they include some pages colored in a very different style than the finished comics.
The other sequence is by Amy Mebberson, who went on to draw several of the other Muppet Show comics (and is now one of the artists on Strawberry Shortcake). In this case, Tim shows both Villavert’s and Mebberson’s versions, and it’s fascinating to see how differently the two artists handled the exact same script. Choices have consequences!
- July 1, 2011 @ 02:00 PM by Brigid Alverson
CBLDF: Alaska law overturned, fund-raising begins for Canada case
Last week we reported that the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was raising money to aid the defense of an American man who faces criminal child pornography charges in Canada because of manga found on his laptop by Canadian customs. This week, the Supreme Court struck down a California law regulating video games in a case in which the CBLDF had filed a friend-of-the-court brief. Today, a federal district court barred enforcement of an Alaska statute that would have made it a criminal offense to post material online that is “harmful to minors”; the CBLDF was one of the plaintiffs in that case. That’s a big week!
I asked Executive Director Charles Brownstein for a followup on the Canada case, and the news about the Alaska case broke while we were exchanging e-mails. Here is his answer in full, including an update on fund-raising for the manga case.
It’s been a momentous week for the CBLDF. Last Friday we announced our decision to build a coalition to aid an American traveler facing prison time in Canada and registering as a sex offender for traveling with comics on his laptop. On Monday we received news that the U.S. Supreme Court had struck down a California law that would have made violence a new category of unprotected speech by banning the sale and display of violent video games, and that Justice Scalia cited our amicus brief as part of his majority decision. And just today news arrived that we successfully helped knock out an Alaska law that would have placed severe restrictions on internet speech.
- July 1, 2011 @ 01:00 PM by Brigid Alverson
Start Reading Now | New webcomic from Hans Rickheit
Hans Rickheit, who made Sean’s list of deeply creepy “alt-horror” cartoonists last Halloween, has just launched a new webcomic, Cochlea & Eustachea, which is even more surrealistic and deeply creepy than his slightly older (and much praised) Ectopiary.
On the About page, Rickheit notes that the lead characters have appeared in many of his other comics, starting with Chrome Fetus #5, but this is the first time they are getting their own comic. He only has two pages up right now, so it’s a good time to get on board.
(Via Scott McCloud.)
- July 1, 2011 @ 12:00 PM by Brigid Alverson
Freeing Captain America from a frozen block of ice cream cake
It seems like Marvel may have missed an opportunity not releasing Captain America: The First Avenger this weekend, what with the big American-sized holiday coming up on Monday. But then again, the pre-movie merchandising/promotional machine is in full gear just in time for the Fourth of July, so maybe there’s a method to the madness. We’re celebrating the holiday weekend with my three nephews, all under the age of 10, who made their first trip to California yesterday … and what better way to start their weekend off than to get them a Captain America ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins?
The cake is part of a bigger menu that includes a Super-Soldier Sundae, a Hydra Force Sundae and Super-Soldier Swirl ice cream (the flavor of the month). It includes a plastic Captain America that no doubt they’ll be fighting over before the day is over (like I’m gonna let them take it home) and, as you can see above, red, white and blue icing. The thing in the back is a stand-up you can put Cap on after the cake is gone.
- July 1, 2011 @ 11:00 AM by JK Parkin
DC’s ‘New 52′ web page inadvertently reveals names of original writers
The original Supergirl listing on DC Comics' "The New 52" landing page (courtesy ComicsAlliance)
We’ve known for a few weeks now that some writers were attached to titles in DC Comics’ upcoming relaunch, only to find themselves shuffled off even as the official announcement was made. While some creators have spoken openly about the hurried, and somewhat-confused, pitch and rejection process, the names of other writers, and the corresponding titles, have been a mystery.
But with the launch last night of the publisher’s new landing page for “DC Comics: The New 52,” ComicsAlliance discovered that some of the original creators were, at least briefly, listed among the issue descriptions, providing evidence of the original plans. There’s confirmation of Brian Wood, instead of Michael Green and Mike Johnson, on Supergirl, Michael Alan Nelson, rather than Ron Marz, on Voodoo, and Simon Spurrier and an undetermined artist, rather than Paul Jenkins and Bernard Chang, on DC Universe Presents.
C.O. Austen, whom ComicsAlliance theorizes might be much-criticized Uncanny X-Men writer Chuck Austen, was also listed on Blackhawks, in place of Mike Costa, who actually ended up with the gig.
DC has made the corrections this morning, but ComicsAlliance has the screencaps from last night.
- July 1, 2011 @ 10:00 AM by Kevin Melrose
Neal Adams: ‘What the heck is happening with Batman: Odyssey?’
Batman: Odyssey #6
Creating a fitting companion to Comic Book Resources’ rundown of late and missing comics, Neal Adams had provided an update on Batman: Odyssey, his 13-issue miniseries that disappeared in February following the release of Issue 6.
“What the heck is happening with Batman: Odyssey?” the influential creator wrote on his Facebook page. “DC tells us the solicitations have begun for the last 7 monthly issues. Your stores have not been reacting to your enthusiasm, but rather, they have been reacting to the internet chatter. Chatter that I … perhaps should have responded to. Now it’s all verblunget and you guys are the ones who are losing out, and I am sorry.”
The long-gestating series, which premiered in July 2010, sends the Caped Crusader on a frenetic — maybe even madcap – Homeric journey that, Adams said, still promises “neanderthals, evolved dinosaurs, magicians, war, death, gnomes, trolls and tests, the like of which Batman, the modern Ulysses, has never faced in his life … all happening in a real underworld.”
“The multiple climaxes are killer,” he wrote. “But if you care … Man, I hate to say this .. you’ve got to hoc your stores like bloody hell to get these issues. My promise to you is to give you the best, most exciting comic books ever. I’ve never failed you, and I never will. But this time, you’ve got to dig in and demand your stores get this. The best Batman series ever.”
Why the push? Adams suggested in the post that’s because of a lack of promotional support from DC Comics.
“You notice Marvel is actually promoting my work for them? Avengers and the ‘Secret Project’? You’ll notice Dark Horse is promoting Blood?” he wrote. “Well, for some reason, DC isn’t promoting Batman: Odyssey. So … it’s up to you and me, guys and gals.”
Update: Adams wrote that Batman: Odyssey will pick up again in October with Volume 2, Issue 1: “Don’t ask me why. It’s their company, and their business.”
- July 1, 2011 @ 09:00 AM by Kevin Melrose
Borders receives $215 million bid from Book of the Month Club owner
Borders
The bankrupt Borders Group, the second-largest bookstore chain in the United States, announced it has received an official bid from the owner of the Book of the Month Club and Columbia House.
The Detroit News reports that the opening offer from Direct Brands, a portfolio company of the Phoenix-based private equity firm Najafi Cos., entails a $215.1 million purchase of nearly all of the bookseller’s assets and the assumption of about $220 million in liabilities.
Borders had set today as a deadline to name a stalking horse bidder, an initial bidder to make the first offer in a bankruptcy auction. The preliminary agreement establishes Najafi’s bid as the starting point; however, another company could step in with a larger offer during the auction process. Any deal will have to be approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge.
The Los Angeles-based Gores Group has been considered by may observers to be the stalking horse bidder. The company had floated a $250-million offer that would have saved about 250 of Borders’ remaining 416 outlets by transforming them into “more appealing destinations” akin to the Apple Store chain. It’s not clear how many locations Najafi would keep open.
Borders submitted an alternate proposal to the court last night that would require the liquidation by Hilco and Gordon Brothers of all of the bookseller’s assets if a sale isn’t complete by the end of the auction. According to AnnArbor.com, a liquidation would mean the loss of about 11,000 jobs.
- July 1, 2011 @ 08:00 AM by Kevin Melrose
Comics A.M. | Frank Miller talks Holy Terror; CLiNT controversy
Holy Terror
Comics | Frank Miller says he has finished his upcoming graphic novel, Holy Terror, which is due from Legendary Comics in September. The book, which once was set to feature Batman fighting terrorism, now stars a character called The Fixer: “I took Batman as far as anyone, and this guy is just not him. He’s been playing the crime fighter to stay in shape. What he really wants to do is fight terrorism. He knew the day would come. The story is essentially New York under attack by suicide bombers and our hero is out to find out their greater scheme. He’s much more a man of action than a detective. He’s a two-fisted Dirty Harry type, really.”[Hero Complex]
Comics | Calling it a “sick magazine comic strip depicting shootings in schools,” The Daily Mail reports on “Beat My Score,” written by UK comedian Jimmy Carr with art by Ryusuke Hamamoto. The reporter says the comic, which appears in the latest issue of Mark Millar’s CLiNT magazine, “will horrify the families of school shooting tragedies such as Dunblane and Columbine with his ultra-violent story.” CLiNT responded by saying the strip is “a nihilistic satirical sideswipe at the glamourisation of violence, tackling the difficult and disturbing effects as seen in school shootings around the world.” The comments are fun. [Daily Mail]
- July 1, 2011 @ 07:15 AM by Brigid Alverson and JK Parkin