Steve Sunu
‘Avengers AI’ #1 gets awesome 8-bit variant cover
As with any series launch, the recently announced Avengers AI #1 by Sam Humphries and Andrew Lima Araujo already has a variant cover in the pipeline, but it’s definitely one with a retro twist. Revealed on the Marvel Tumblr, Matthew Waite’s variant for the first issue goes back to the 8-bit era of video games, giving a look at Hank Pym, the Vision, Victor Mancha, a Doombot, new character Alexis and 616 newcomer Monica Chang fighting a team of Ultron robots as if it were an old-school, 8-bit Nintendo game.
Tyler Kirkham to replace Brett Booth on Teen Titans?
With Teen Titans #0 in stores this week, artist Tyler Kirkham made his first foray into DC Comics’ teen-oriented team title. According to Kirkham, it certainly won’t be his last. Bleeding Cool has picked up a tidbit from Kirkham’s website, which states he’ll be moving to Teen Titans.
“Having worked on Green Lantern titles for the passed 2 years, I’m now moving on to Teen Titans,” Kirkham wrote. “So I wanted to do a Huge Green Lantern art sale to show my appreciation to everyone who read my issues.”
Kirkham is the current artist on Green Lantern: New Guardians. Although his post implies he’ll be leaving the book for Teen Titans, there has been no official word from DC about the artistic shift. Although, considering the recent artist shuffles with Yildiray Cinar doing a two issue fill-in on Earth 2, Alberto Ponticelli coming on to Dial H and Ivan Reis and Joe Prado taking over Justice League a change in some of the other New 52 titles isn’t exactly unexpected. Judging from Kirkham’s statement, it seems likely more artistic changes are in store for the second year of the New 52.
Blast from the past: EC’s William Gaines on decency standards
In 1954, the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency began an investigation of the comic book industry and its effects on juvenile delinquency. In the course of its hearings, the subcommittee called upon a number of witnesses, including EC Publisher William Gaines. At the time, EC published a number of crime and horror comics, including The Haunt of Fear, The Vault of Horror and Tales From The Crypt. The WNYC radio archives have posted nearly two hours of the investigative hearing with two key, but contrasting, witnesses: Gaines and psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham.
The audio of the hearing is lengthy, but while listening, it’s very indicative of the feeling toward comics at the time — Wertham goes so far as to say, “I think Hitler was a beginner compared to the comic-book industry. They get the children much younger. They teach them race hatred at the age of 4 before they can read.”
The hearing was also where the following now-famous exchange between U.S. Sen. Estes Kefauver and Gaines took place, as Kefauver held up a cover of Crime SuspenStories #22:
The historical context of DC’s ‘We Can Be Heroes’ Initiative
Today, DC Comics announced its new “We Can Be Heroes” campaign to benefit Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps for famine relief in the Horn of Africa. According to the press release, the initiative is a two-year, multimillion-dollar humanitarian campaign featuring the Justice League’s Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg.
While the initiative was unveiled just this morning, this is not the first time comics publishers have used superheroes to help benefit charities seeking to end hunger and famine in Africa. Although organizations have been collecting donations for famine and disease relief in Africa for decades, one of the worst famines in recent memory occurred in Ethiopia in 1983-1985, which inspired the charity singles “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and “We Are the World” from the music supergroups Band Aid and USA for Africa, respectively.
Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson picked up on the “jam piece” idea for comics: a book featuring numerous creators to raise money for East African famine relief. In 1985, Starlin pitched Marvel’s then-Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, who recruited Uncanny X-Men editor Ann Nocenti and writer Chris Claremont, and from there, the project continued to expand. Titled Heroes for Hope, the comic featured the X-Men in an adventure that eventually brought them to Africa, where they faced a god-like entity who feeds on human despair. In fact, Starlin details the entire process in a September 2011 blog post that includes a full list of the creative team, which included Stan Lee, John Romita Jr., Harlan Ellison, Frank Miller, Stephen King and Alan Moore.
DC Comics’ new logo numbering mystery
DC Comics’ new logo was officially unveiled this morning, followed by the release of mockups showing how the “peel” design would appear on digital devices, collected editions and single issues. However, a closer look at the latter reveals a comics conundrum: a New 52 cover for Batman, with the current creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, is labeled as Issue 708, while George Perez’s Superman #1 cover is numbered somewhere between #700 and #709 (it’s partially obscured, making it difficult to tell). Here’s the thing — despite the New 52 covers, both of those issues were published before the New 52 was announced in July 2011.
Batman #708 was printed in March 2011 during David Hine and Guillem March’s run on the book. Any issue of Superman that begins with “#70_” would had to have been somewhere between June 2010 and March 2011, spanning J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Roberson’s runs. Assuming these are the numberings from March 2011, that would mean the final two issues should be Green Lantern #64 and Wonder Woman #609. Could this be a sign of the New 52 numbering being a last-minute change for DC? Or maybe DC wasn’t letting the outside firm in on its relaunch plans, which could indicate this logo has been in development since well before March.
Then again, it could just be a coincidence, but it is an odd oversight to present a new logo with numberings from issues that hit stores 10 months ago.
Whatever the case, it brings us to the question why the company didn’t roll out its new brand identity in late August, when it relaunched its entire line, or even last month, when it published a mammoth hardcover collecting all 52 first issues – one that now rests on shelves sporting the nearly seven-year-old “swoosh.”
DC’s “peel” logo will make its comics debut in March, when most of the covers presumably will bear the number 7.
Fun with numbers: O.M.A.C. and the New 52′s ‘Second Wave’
For the most part, news that DC Comics is canceling six titles from the initial New 52 didn’t come as much of a shock — with one possible exception. The critically acclaimed O.M.A.C. by Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen is marked for cancellation with Issue 8, alongside the other fledgling series whose sales have foundered.
While DC Comics Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras expounded on both the “Second Wave” of the New 52 and the reason for the cancellations, the fact remains that, month-to-month, O.M.A.C. has been a consistent all-star in reviews, even going so far as to be the No. 52 title on CBR’s Top 100 Comics of 2011.
Wait … No. 52? Fifty-two as in, “The New 52″?
Whether it was dumb luck or a harbinger of things to come, that is indeed the slot O.M.A.C. took in CBR’s Top 100 of 2011, a fitting piece of offbeat trivia for one of the quirkiest books of the DC relaunch.
Deathlok predicts the future in Wolverine & The X-Men Twitter class
The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning
In a novel use of Twitter, Marvel live-tweeted a class from the curriculum of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, straight from the pages of Wolverine & The X-Men. Taking part in the class were Headmistress Kitty Pryde, students Genesis, Kid Gladiator, Quentin Quire, Idie Okonkwo, Broo, Rockslide and Anole, and guest lecturer Deathlok.
Warning: Potential spoilers follow.
While much of the class consisted of banter from the students insulting each other and gossiping about campus events, there were a few pieces of information gleaned from the guest lecture in “Future History 101.” After the lecture officially began, Quentin Quire and Rockslide engaged in a debate as to what was different about Headmistress Pryde.
Marvel’s lawyers toy with humanity of mutants
Marvel’s lawyers want you to know that the publisher’s merry mutants are in no way human — at least when it comes to toys.
According to a recent Radiolab Podcast, in order to get a 5.2-percent tax cut on Marvel’s imported action figures, the company’s lawyers successfully argued the toys represent “animals or other non-human creatures (for example, robots and monsters)” as defined by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, a tome that determines tariff classifications for all goods imported into the United States.
Confused? There’s a lot of legalese involved, so here’s the way it breaks down: There’s a distinction between two categories of products imported into the U.S. “Dolls” are toys representing humans, whereas “toys” represent non-humans. While dolls are taxed at 12.8 percent, toys are taxed at just 6.8 percent. Two shrewd trade attorneys noticed the distinction and successfully argued to U.S. Customs officials that Marvel’s licensed products don’t represent human beings.
New 52 Pickup | Weeks 12 and 13 – Issue 3 Decisions
Batman #3
Each Wednesday, DC’s New 52 hits shelves and CBR Staff Writer Steve Sunu is looking for the best bang for the buck in ongoing series. Cutting half his pull list each month from the original 52 in a battle royale, Steve has already narrowed the number to just 13 books. Which titles will make it past Issue 3?
It’s a Happy Thanksgiving for comics fans as we get our new comics right before a feast of turkey and other awesome food – but the end of every month for the New 52 on my pull list, something has to say goodbye. This installment will give an overview of the last six #3 issues on my pull and make the cuts down to the elite eight moving on to next month.
These two weeks included two of the wildcard picks: All-Star Western and Batman. Plus, DC’s flagship Justice League picks up speed and Aquaman gets some love from the local police force…kind of.
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
Batman
Written by Scott Snyder with art by Greg Capullo
Scott Snyder is killing it on this book, and the end of every issue makes me want to read more. The mastery of the cliffhanger here isn’t just the explosion at the end, but the revelation of information involving the Court of Owls and that they’ve been right under Batman’s nose for years. I’m really enjoying Snyder’s take on the Dark Knight here–it’s got a good balance of action and detective skills that really give a well-rounded picture of both Bruce Wayne and Batman. For some reason, though, I wasn’t as thrilled with Greg Capullo’s pencils here as I was in previous issues. It’s possible that it’s because the bulk of the book took place with Bruce Wayne and Lincoln having a conversation in a hospital room, but other than that, this was a fantastic issue.
New 52 Pickup | Weeks 9 and 10
Each Wednesday, DC’s New 52 hits shelves and CBR Staff Writer Steve Sunu is looking for the best bang for the buck in ongoing series. Cutting half his pull list each month from the original 52 in a battle royale, Steve has already narrowed the number to just 13 books. Which titles will make it past Issue 3?
After a quick break, New 52 Pickup is back to cover two weeks’ worth of pull list books — and the cuts are starting to get tough. Last week had three quality titles, while this week features the fan pick that keeps coming back like Solomon Grundy, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. Also joining the pull list from the poll is Batman and the Jonah Hex/Amadeus Arkham buddy Western All-Star Western. Let’s get to it!
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
Action Comics
Written by Grant Morrison with art by Rags Morales and Gene Ha
Action Comics continues as one of my favorite books in DC’s New 52. Grant Morrison is giving the Superman mythos a face-lift for new readers and longtime fans alike, with an amazing opening sequence detailing the destruction of Krypton. While the Clark Kent sequences aren’t grabbing me nearly as much as I hoped, the Krypton mythos coming back around for the cliffhanger is slick and something I’m looking forward to reading. Rags Morales and Gene Ha continue sharing art duties, and it seems to work well. In my eyes, this is the Superman family book to beat, and it’s going to take some stiff competition from the other books to get this one off my pull list.
New 52 Pickup | Week 9 — Issue 2 decisions!
It’s the end of the road for the second round of the New 52. This week had some major all-stars on the pull – but did they live up to their first-issue counterparts? At the end of the overviews, we’ll take a look back at the highs and lows of the month, which titles get to move on and which ones will get the ax.
Also, if you’re still interested in No. 1 issues, the new Legion: Secret Origin miniseries debuted today, and at select stores you get a replica Legion flight ring with purchase. If you’ve been confused by some of the other Legion books, this might be a good place to start.
Onward and upward!
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
All-Star Western
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray with art by Moritat and Jordi Bernet
This issue probably offered the biggest story value of the week. Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray continued their Holmes/Watson dynamic with Dr. Amadeus Arkham and Jonah Hex but also introduced some key Gotham mythos, like the Crime Bible, and added much more action. There are three pages of Jonah taking out a dozen hooded gunmen all on his own depicted in amazing, gruesome detail by Moritat. The issue has a great structure with tight pacing, and on top of the original story, readers get the start of an El Diablo co-feature drawn by Jordi Bernet that pits the character against a zombie horde. Both parts of the book are strongly written by Palmiotti and Gray, although I would have liked to see some more of the investigation dynamic we saw in the first issue. A very strong second installment.
New 52 Pickup | Week 8
This is a great week for DC Comics fans. Not only is there another wave of second issues from the New 52, but this week also heralds the release of Batman: Arkham City and a bevy of news coming out of New York Comic Con. There weren’t new No. 1s for any miniseries, though, but that didn’t keep some quality second installments off the shelves. Let’s jump in!
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
Batman
Written by Scott Snyder with art by Greg Capullo
Scott Snyder is poised to become one of the best writers in the New 52. Batman is one of those rare Godfather-like instances in which the second installment is actually better than the first – and considering the quality of the previous issue, that’s high praise. Snyder resolves last month’s cliffhanger somewhat dismissively, but it’s more than made up for by the new mystery of The Court of Owls and Bruce’s mayoral candidate friend Lincoln March. While Nightwing gets a little panel time this issue, Snyder’s real focus is Batman. Not only does the reader get a great feel as to who Bruce Wayne is outside of Batman, the writer also focuses a bit more on the city itself, making for an excellently structured and tightly plotted issue. Greg Capullo continues to show his versatility, making for a creative team that’s really firing on all cylinders.
New 52 Pickup | Week 7
It’s Week 2 of the No. 2s, and whether you’re big into the Bat-family or raring to go for Resurrection Man, there’s a lot on the pull list to enjoy. If you’re into other new No. 1 titles, Shade, by James Robinson and Cully Hamner, and My Greatest Adventure, by Aaron Lopresti, Kevin Maguire, Matt Ryan and Scott Kolins, arrived for a bit more variety.
This week also has your wildcard pick, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. Did a second issue turn the book around for me? Read on for this and more!
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
Batgirl
Written by Gail Simone with art by Ardian Syaf
Picking up right where Issue 1 left off, Gail Simone delves a little deeper into the mystery of the Mirror and his list while providing some much-needed evaluation of Batgirl’s combat skills. This installment definitely provides more focus on Batgirl as a returned hero as opposed to her life and personal relationships outside of the mask. Simone does an excellent job of driving the plot forward, giving a good amount of answers to questions from the first issue and creating a real sense of urgency with a great cliffhanger. Issue 2 also highlights Ardian Syaf’s skills with Batgirl’s acrobatics and combat prowess.
New 52 Pickup | Week 6
We’ve passed the first round No. 1 issues for DC’s New 52, and now it’s time to get to the real meat of the stories with Issue 2. This week’s pull had six continuing titles from Round 1 with some strong contenders for the final surviving title.
Also, some might be interested in the results of the wildcard selection from last week. There was overwhelming support for Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E., so I’ll give that book another shot. I’d like to note that every book got at least a little love, with O.M.A.C. and Nightwing receiving a number of shout-outs in the comments. Expect Frankenstein to pop up later this month.
Also, I’m going to try something a little different from this month on: Each book will still get a short review, but the pull list won’t be fully evaluated until the end of the month.
Finally, two No. 1 issues for two miniseries dropped today, Huntress and Penguin: Pain and Prejudice. Both are a lot of fun and definitely deserve a look.
With that, let’s get to the six No. 2 issues on the pull this week!
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
New 52 Pickup | Week 5 — decision time!
It’s the final week of New 52 #1s, and that means it’s time to make some decisions. None of this week’s books will be on the fence, as it’s time to figure out the 26 titles that make it to next month. But before we get to the final list, there were some fantastic comics that hit this week that really made me sad I couldn’t have more titles on my pull for next month. Let’s get to it.
For those only interested in the results, scroll down for the final standings and a big surprise.
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
All-Star Western
Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Moritat
A murder mystery with Jonah Hex as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Amadeus Arkham as Dr. Watson? Sign me up! Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti have always had a great handle on Jonah Hex, and All-Star Western really takes advantage of that experience to hook both new and longtime readers with a well-plotted first issue. Moreover, the book is set in Gotham with clear links to a lot of the Batman mythos. Moritat’s art is a great fit, giving the book an old-timey Western movie feel, and the narration from Arkham gives the book a real sense of mystery. This book hooked me in a big way, and I can’t wait for the next issue.
Status: IN
Aquaman
Written by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis
This is an excellently done issue. The character of Aquaman as it stood just didn’t appeal to me, but with the New 52, Geoff Johns has once again demonstrated his ability to make everything vintage incredibly relevant for the modern age. The exposition of Aquaman’s powers as he sat down in a seafood restaurant ordering fish and chips was great, and the pointed jabs at Aquaman being “nobody’s favorite superhero” were very tongue in cheek. And you can’t say enough about the high quality of Ivan Reis’ pencils. For the first time ever, I’m interested in where this character is going. Well done, creative team!
Status: IN