Will Sliney
Comics A.M. | This weekend, it’s … a bunch of conventions
Maine Comic Arts Festival
Conventions | Jeff Smith, Rick Parker and Raina Telgemeier are the featured guests at this weekend’s Maine Comic Arts Festival in Portland. [Portland Press Herald]
Conventions | Britton Peele takes a look at this weekend’s Dallas Comic Con, which will include an array of media guests and comics creators. [Pegasus News]
Conventions | Meanwhile, Stan Lee will be at Detroit’s Motor City Comic Con, along with Ramon Bachs, Katie Cook and a host of other creators. And some media guests. [The Detroit News]
Chain Reactions | The Fearless Defenders #1
The Marvel NOW! roll-out continued this week with the release of The Fearless Defenders #1, a new take on the “non-team” concept that spins out of last year’s The Fearless miniseries. Like that series, Fearless Defenders is written by Cullen Bunn (of The Sixth Gun and Wolverine fame), who is joined by artist Will Sliney and colorist Veronica Gandini.
Readers of The Fearless will remember that it ended with Valkyrie, that book’s star, deciding to recruit a new group of Valkyrior on Earth. Her first recruit is Misty Knight, formerly of Heroes for Hire, who knows a thing or two about recruiting heroes herself. Is it a match made in Valhalla? Here are a few opinions from around the web:
Doug Zawisza, Comic Book Resources: “The ‘how’ of those characters teaming up is the charm of this comic book, leading to a most unlikely and sometimes comical pairing of two long-time favorite Marvel Comics’ ladies, thanks to Cullen Bunn. Unintimidated by the immortal aspect of Valkyrie, Bunn uses that character as the reader’s introduction to this new series, providing caption boxes filled with her thoughts and to open and close the issue. Bunn’s method for bringing the characters together is standard-issue comic book threat, but it works with these characters and this situation, opening the door wide for continued shared adventures. I’m certain those adventures will lead to the gathering of more allies as the heroines’ journey progresses. Bunn seems quite comfortable writing both of the leads and a third ally in ‘Fearless Defenders’ #1.” (3/5)
Will Sliney brings Irish myth of Cú Chulainn to life in new graphic novel
Comics are no strangers to legends and mythological heroes, and comic artist Will Sliney (Farscape, Pigs) is reaching back into his own Irish heritage to tell the story Cú Chulainn. To be published in 2013 by O’Brien Press, Celtic Warrior: The Legend of Cú Chulainn shows Chulainn’s battles against Queen Maeve and her army against the picturesque backdrop of Ireland.
“I’ve wanted to do this for years,” Sliney said in an interview with IrishComicNews.com. “I’ve always been a huge fan of these stories and I think now is the right time for it.”
The story of Cú Chulainn is one that’s seen a marked rise in popularity recently, with X-Men: First Class star Michael Fassbender lobbying to be in a movie about the Irish hero. When rumors of Sliney’s adaptation reached Ireland’s top TV network RTE, they sent out a film crew to break the news on live television — a rarity for any comic.
You can follow progress of the book over at a Facebook page, and here’s a few preview pages to show you what you can expect:
