Comic Book Resources

Blackest Night vs. Siege: Place your bets!

Blackest Night #7

Siege #2

They say nice guys finish last, but when event comics will finish is anybody's guess. The demands of a high-profile series around which entire shared universes revolve can play havoc with scheduling. Naturally, editors and publishers love to maintain the artistic quality and consistency (and sales levels) provided by the big-name writer-artist teams that tend to lend such books a sense of "this is a big deal." On the other hand, they need to get books out on time so that other series whose storylines depend upon what happens in the event can proceed as planned -- and so that they don't end up alienating retailers and readers. But these same readers and retailers can end up just as irritated if they get the sense that the creators are being rushed, or if fill-in artists aren't up to snuff. It's a tough row to hoe.

With his front-row seat for a variety of events this decade, including Avengers Disassembled, House of M, Civil War, and Secret Invasion, Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort knows this better than anyone. So it was with an obvious mix of boldness and trepidation that he made the following prediction on his Twitter account:

It's height of hubris time: I'm willing to bet that SIEGE will wrap up before BLACKEST NIGHT does.

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Your Mileage May Vary: Green Lantern Corps #42

Of this week's comic haul, Green Lantern Corps #42 seems to have gotten quite a reaction. Mostly due to the end, of course.

(I'm betting he'll be back in a month.)

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Straight for the art | Blackest Breakfast

Blackest Breakfast

Jeremy Wojchihosky creates the greatest super hero/cereal mash-up since the brilliant Breakfast of the Gods ... Blackest Breakfast, featuring various cereal mascots as DC's various Lantern characters.

As Caleb Goellner points out, the no-longer-produced Quisp mascot is the Black Lantern, while the Trix rabbit -- who did whatever he could to get a hold of his precious, precious Trix cereal -- goes orange. The Lucky Charms leprechaun also would have filled that role well. My favorite is probably the mascot of Fruit Loops as the head of the loopy Indigo Tribe.

George Perez pays homage to classic New Teen Titans cover

Blackest Night: Titans #3

Although I can't say I've really been digging this particular tie-in to Blackest Night, I really like the variant cover to issue #3 of Blackest Night: Titans. It features George Perez's homage to one of the greats, himself, as he re-imagines the cover to New Teen Titans #30. That book featured the introduction of Terra and started what could arguably be called the greatest Teen Titans story ever. At least, I'd probably argue that.

Via The Source

Beware my wallpaper ... Green Lantern's light!

"Blackest Night" iPhone wallpapers

If you're a fan of DC Comics' Blackest Night and own an iPhone, writer Geoff Johns points to something that might interest you: fan-made wallpapers for each of the eight Corps.

Everyone's A Critic: A roundup of comic book reviews and thinkpieces

Hellboy: Seed of Destruction

• Pop Matters has an interesting essay comparing Mike Mignola's Hellboy series with the similarly themed Italian comic Dylan Dog.

As characters, they could be satanic siblings, or infernal in-laws: Hellboy, the Hades-born offspring of a witch and a demon; and Dylan Dog, in love with an undead woman who was likely his mother, and battling his nemesis, the devil, who could be his father. Despite their fantastic and often horrific circumstances, at heart each character is a working-class hero, just trying to get the job done.

• Sean Collins grapples with All-Star Batman and Robin: "The thing really is (to quote Grant Morrison's Mad Hatter) very much cleverer than its rep as a goddamn-Batman meme generator would indicate."

• Curt Purcell continues his ongoing look at the Blackest Night series and superhero decadence in general.

• Matthew Brady enjoyed Lamar Abrams' Remake: "It's pretty ridiculous stuff, but always funny."

• Greg McElhatton declares Neil Kleid's The Big Kahn "easily Kleid’s best work to date as a writer."

• Brian Hibbs was shocked — shocked I tell you — to discover that Archie #600 was a fun read: "I mean, I'm certainly a "Betty Man", and that makes a lot more sense to me than Veronica, but Mike Uslan's script here is remarkably crisp, as well as filled with real drama and pathos."

• Katherine Dacey on Ooku: The Inner Chamber: "For all its dramatic and socio-political ambitions, volume one isn’t nearly as daring or weird or pointed as it might have been. If anything, it reminds me of a BBC miniseries: it’s tasteful, meticulously researched, and a little too high-minded to be truly compelling."

• Kinukitty reads the yaoi manga Black Sun and says "I can't even think about this title without kind of flapping my hands and sputtering a bit."

• Rob Clough reads and reviews more minicomics, something we all should do more of.

• The Daily Cross Hatch on Johnny Ryan's Prison Pit: "True enjoyment of this volumes ultimately seems to fall on a willingness to embrace the complementary sensibilities of 'aw, fucking gross' and 'oh, fucking sweet,' ”

• KC Carlson reviews Looking for Calvin and Hobbes by Nevin Martel, a book I was completely unaware of until now.

• Finally, Tim O'Neil has some thoughts on what makes The Thing so awesome.

Cornucopia of DEATH! DC Comics Solicitations for November, 2009

Grumpy Old Fan

While pulling together my notes on DC's November solicitations, I saw that I was talking about Blackest Night a lot. Big shocker, right?

Well, it kinda was. See, BN's actual presence doesn't increase that much in November, but the event seems to have a bit more impact this time out.

As always, though, DC's set its table with more than just a (reanimated, cosmically-powered) big bird. Let's see what else is on the plate, shall we?

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More Lantern Corps rings on the way

Black Lantern ring

Remember those Black Lantern rings that DC Comics offered to retailers to help promote the comic? If you missed yours, or if you had misgivings about supporting the bad guys, you're in luck. DC is going to create rings based on all of the other colors of the various Lantern Corps., so you'll have the opportunity to show your support for Sinestro and his the devious Yellow Lanterns, Saint Walker and his boys in blue, or even the mysterious Indigo tribe.

Show your true colors, or sell them on eBay ... your choice.

Here are the details on how retailers can get a hold of the rings, per DC's Direct Channels email to retailers ... each bag of rings costs $8:

• For every 25 copies of Doom Patrol #4 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 yellow promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Nov. 4.
• For every 25 copies of Booster Gold #26 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 orange promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Nov. 18.
• For every 50 copies of Justice League of America #39 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 red promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores on Dec. 2.
• For every 50 copies of Blackest Night #5 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 green promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores on Dec. 16.
• For every 50 copies of Adventure Comics #4 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 blue promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Dec. 30.
• For every 25 copies of R.E.B.E.L.S #10 ordered by the order increase cut-off date, retailers may order one bag of 50 Indigo promotional rings, scheduled to arrive in stores Jan. 13.

Blackest Night to be read all over

Adventure Comics #4

If you've been following DC's Blackest Night crossover so far -- and by that I mean reading everything related to the story, from the mini-series to the monthly tie-ins -- it's been relatively inexpensive to follow, compared to most crossovers, anyway.

There's the main mini-series, of course, named after the event, plus three tie-in minis focused on Batman, Superman and the Titans. There was also the Tales of the Corps. mini-series, which gave some background on some of the players. And there are the regular issues of Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. that tie into the story.

According to the checklist that's been running in various DC titles, it's set to go at that same pace through October. In November, though, it looks like the flood gates are opening.

According to IGN, eight monthly titles will cross over into the story in November, including Doom Patrol, Outsiders, Justice League of America, Booster Gold, Superman/Batman, R.E.B.E.L.S., Teen Titans and the Geoff Johns-written Adventure Comics. Expect to see lots of Black Lanterns in these titles, including Ted Kord, Dr. Light and a whole lot of Titans who have died over the years.

I was a little surprised to see all of these tie-ins, but Dan DiDio said in July that there would be "some crossover that will be taking place in certain series."

And speaking of IGN and Blackest Night, today Johns revealed the identity of the main bad guy behind the Black Lanterns. Spoiler warning, of course; if you'd like to know who it is, click here. Apparently the big bad will also be on the cover of the next issue of Previews.

Everyone's A Critic: A round-up of comic reviews and thinkpieces

Asterios Polyp

• Man, everyone and their Uncle Bob is reviewing David Mazzucchelli's Asterios Polyp these days aren't they? This week alone we've seen Brian Hibbs, Rob Clough, Douglas Wolk and the LA Times' David Ulin.

Not wanting to be left out of the fun, I'll probably have my own review of the book up this Friday.

• The Groovy Age of Horror's Curt Purcell has been spending a lot of time talking about Blackest Night, and, given that he's not a regular fan, he has some interesting things to say about the crossover event. Rather than link to all the separate posts, I'll just say start here and work your way back.

Oh, and while you're at it, read his new review of Gilbert Hernandez's Speak of the Devil.

• Johnny Bacardi likes Blackest Night quite a bit too.

• Speaking of the Hernandez brothers, are you confused about where to dive into their expansive magnum opus, Love and Rockets? The Onion's AV Club is here to help. Continue Reading »

What are you reading?

Modern Masters: Kyle Baker

Comic-con or no comic-con, gods or no gods, we aim to keep What Are You Reading up and running every Sunday regardless. Our special guest this week is none other than the one, the only Abhay Khosla. Abhay's a regular contributor to Brian Hibbs' Savage Critics Web site, but can also usually be found lurking about here.

To see what Abhay and everyone else is reading, click the little linky ...

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What are you reading?

Kurosagi Delivery Service Vol. 9

Is it Sunday again already? Time for another What Are You Reading then. Our guest this week is blogger and Bleach fanatic John Jakala. Has John been reading Bleach this week? Click on the link to find out. Oh, and don't forget to tell us what you are reading in the comments section below.

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Back, in black

Grumpy Old Fan

Lisa: Dad, you shot the zombie Flanders!
Homer: He was a zombie?

To paraphrase Milton Berle, of all the universe-shattering events DC Comics has published over the years, Blackest Night #1 (written by Geoff Johns, penciled by Ivan Reis, and inked by Oclair Albert) is certainly the most recent. At the risk of being unfair to the various bits of Green Lantern lore Johns and his collaborators have been outlining over the past five years, Blackest Night is essentially a zombie story. A mysterious, malevolent force "recruits" its members from among the universe's deceased, giving them black power rings and bidding them to "rise." Now the Green Lantern Corps, and their colleagues in the superhero community, have seven more double-sized issues (plus ancillary tie-ins in other titles) to stop the Black Lanterns.  I thought issue #1 was promising, and I'll tell you why.

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SDCC '09 | Saturday and Sunday at the con

Comic-Con

The programming schedules for Saturday and Sunday have been released.

What was once the most insane day at the con is now the most pleasant one to spend on the dealer room floor, for the most part ... with every single day being a sellout, the crowds never let up, but last year there were so many huge media panels on Saturday that you could actually walk across the movie section of the dealer room floor and get a decent look around. So bring on those pilot premieres and Q&A's, Hall H ....

Here are some of the Saturday highlights:

• Comic-wise, you've got publisher panels for Wildstorm, SLG Publishing, Dark Horse, IDW's Angel panel, Marvel's Dark Reign event, BOOM!'s Farscape books, Aspen, Del Rey Manga and Del Rey Comics, Archaia, American Original and DC's Blackest Night event, among others. Gerard Way will be announcing his next project, while Terry Moore will talk about Echo.
• Marvel and DC also have panels for their big upcoming video game releases, Marvel Ultimate Alliances 2 and the DCU MMORG.
• There are lots of TV panels on Saturday, for old con stalwarts like Lost, Heroes, Chuck, Spongebob SquarePants, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Ben 10, Venture Bros. and Futurama as well as new shows like Eastwick, The Cleveland Show, Glee, Warehouse 13, Human Target, The Vampire Diaries, V and Marvel's The Super Hero Squad Show.

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Stunning sagas, alternate realities

Grumpy Old Fan

Marvel tends to revisit its past with a specificity that DC doesn't duplicate. In projects like World's Greatest Comic Magazine!, What If?, the current X-Men Forever, and (apparently) the upcoming Clone Saga miniseries, Marvel not only spins new stories out of particular points in continuity, it attempts to give particular creative teams the second chances at closure which the fates denied them. Of course, DC does quite a bit of looking back itself, but most of the time it's not facilitating such second chances. Still, there are certain points in DC's publishing history which seem to ask for their own "what if" moments; so I'm going to talk about a few of those today.

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