The first issue of Fear Itself featured a protest at what we can presume is Ground Zero. DC/Vertigo has released Aaron and Ahmed which looks at the causes of terrorism. The right has been completely silent (at least we can’t find anything).
Maybe they’re too distracted by the budget and beating up on the President to rage? Maybe the rage is faux like their news?
It’s a wrap of the week, and we’ve got an extra long Around the Tubes since we missed yesterday’s edition. Below you’ll find the latest news and reviews that we didn’t bring. Hope you enjoy!
Around the Blogs:
The Beat – Rob Granito launches pay-for-chat plan; plan fails – Yeah, we won’t be paying. But, if someone wants to pay to interview me….
ICv2 – ‘Dark Knight’ in Pittsburgh – Road trip anyone?
ICv2 – ‘Green Lantern’ Injury – Injuries are very common, Spider-Man just has a bad wrap and some horrible PR.
NY1 – Manhattan Company “Saves” Comic Books For The Digital Age – Nice to see digital comics get more coverage.
Fantagraphic Books – SPX adds Diane Noomin, Johnny Ryan as guests – I probably should start planning interviews and coverage now, I guess.
The Beat – SPX unveils 2011 flyer by Craig Thompson — UPDATED with more guests – Looking forward to this show.
Comics Alliance – New Avengers Team Up with FDNY for Free Fire Safety Comic [Preview] – Marvel continues to team up with New York City government.
Cheat CC – Top 10 Comic Books That Need To Be Video Games – Some interesting choices on this list. What do you all think?
WonderCon Coverage:
Comicvine – WonderCon 2011: Geoff Johns
Comicvine – WonderCon 2011: J.T. Krul (Part 2-Aspen Comics)
Comicvine –WonderCon 2011: Peter David
Graphic Novel Reporter – WonderCon 2011: Two Views
Graphic Novel Reporter – WonderCon 2011 in Review
Movie Viral – WonderCon 2011 Recap and Gallery
Comics Alliance – Mattel Shows Off Gobs of ‘Green Lantern’ Movie Toys at WonderCon
Examiner – Recap: WonderCon 2011
Comicvine – WonderCon 2011: Green Lantern Emerald Knights Interviews
Around the Tubes Reviews:
Comics Alliance – Action Double Feature
Boing Boing – Anya’s Ghost
Comic Book Resources – Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #5
Bleeding Cool – Brightest Day #23 and Green Wake #1
Bleeding Cool – Nonplayer #1 and Fear Itself #1
Comicvine – Comic Book Reviews For The Week of 4/06/11
Kotaku – Week in Comics
Newsarama – Best Shots Rapid Reviews: FEAR ITSELF, BRIGHTEST DAY, More
Official Press Release
FEAR ITSELF #1 Arrives In Stores Today
The Comics Event of 2011 Debuts To Critical Acclaim
Prepare yourselves for the biggest comics event of the year as Fear Itself #1 (of 7), from comics megastars Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man, Thor) and Stuart Immonen (New Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man), hits store shelves everywhere today! With the world in turmoil, the sadistic Sin, daughter of the Red Skull, unearths a secret that will rock the Marvel Universe to it’s very foundation! It’s up to Captain America, Thor and the rest of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to answer the call once more while enduring their worst fears personified.
Find out for yourself why Fear Itself #1 (of 7) is the book that critics are calling an event without equal!
“Fraction and Immonen deliver on the promise of a huge, epic story that is exactly the kind that comic books are made for. “ – Ron Richards, iFanboy.com
“Immonen and Fraction wasted no time getting this story set in motion, and, if this first offering is any indication, the next six issues ought to be stunning. “ – Doug Zawisza, ComicBookResources.com
“Issue #1 lays the foundation for an event that’s epic in scope but intimate in focus.” – Jesse Schedeen, IGN.com
“I was certainly entertained; there’s a very real sense of gravitas; it looks fantastic and it reads well.” – David Uzumeri, ComicsAlliance.com
“Fear Itself is an ambitious project, one that does plenty of things that fans have been clamoring for on cyberspace and beyond for years…” – David Pepose, Newsarama.com
The God of Fear has arrived and no mortal, god or Avenger, will escape unharmed. The action-packed thrill ride of the summer takes off in Fear Itself #1 (of 7) – ON SALE NOW!
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) (FEB110500)
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) IMMONEN VARIANT A (FEB110503)
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) IMMONEN VARIANT B (FEB110502)
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) FF ANNIVERSARY VARIANT (FEB110504)
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) COMICSPRO VARIANT (JAN118129)
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) BLANK VARIANT (FEB110501)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Variant Covers by STUART IMMONEN
Fantastic Four Anniversary Variant by PAOLO RIVERA
Blank Variant Cover Also Available
Rated T+ …$3.99
ON SALE TODAY!
I first saw an ad for Aaron and Ahmed in the back of a DC Vertigo title and immediately wanted to read it. The graphic novel takes a look at the cause of terrorism. I’m sure the graphic novel will ruffle some feathers all around, and that’s exactly what literature needs to do, make you think and question. This is an absolute read.
Get your first look at the official trailer to FEAR ITSELF #1 right here! Comic luminaries Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen deliver the most anticipated event of 2011, as Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man and the rest of Earth’s mightiest heroes find themselves embroiled in a war against the God of Fear…and at the center of a secret that will rock the Marvel Universe.
FEAR ITSELF #1 (of 7) (FEB110500)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Variant Covers by STUART IMMONEN
Rated T+ …$3.99
On-Sale—4/6/11
C2e2 is in full swing and while there were some interesting announcements, there hasn’t quite been anything that’s blown me away. Below you’ll find the normal round up of news as well as our special section for the convention.
Around the Blogs:
Star News Online – Brothers purchase, keep comics store alive for another generation – great to see a store staying open.
Reelzchannel – Rose Byrne Discusses Her X-Men: First Class Role – Yeah, not quite sure what to think of the movie.
Toronto Sun – Wizard World Comic Con does its magic – Anyone go? I’ll probably be at Fan Expo which is a great Toronto show.
Times Live – Move over Batman, here comes Ravana – I’m going to go out on a limb and say DC doesn’t have a whole lot to worry about with this one.
Scrawl FX – Interview: The Darkness II’s Tom Galt – I need to play the first game. Any good?
C2e2 Coverage:
Geekweek – Top Cow Lights Up THE DARKNESS 2
The Beat – C2E2 Day 1: wandering the halls
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: Day One
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: COSPLAY Pictures
Comicvine – C2E2 Matt Fraction
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: FEAR ITSELF Panel
Comicvine – C2E2 2011: Cup of Joe Panel
Comics Alliance – Greg Rucka Gets the Keys to Frank’s Castle With ‘The Punisher #1’ in August
Comics Alliance – Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera & Marcos Maritn to Relaunch ‘Daredevil’ [C2E2]
Comics Alliance – ‘Brilliant’ Reunites Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley [C2E2]
Bleeding Cool – Saturday Morning Runaround: Almost Nothing About Wonder Woman’s Pants, Also: C2E2
Bleeding Cool – C2E2 Artists’ Alley Part One by Greg Baldino and Samantha LaFountain
Bleeding Cool – The Morning After The Night Before At C2E2
Bleeding Cool – C3E2 – Comixology At C2E2 With David Steinberger by Greg Baldino
Bleeding Cool – SCOOP: First Look At Jim Henson’s A Tale Of Sand
Bleeding Cool – C2E2 Artists’ Alley Part Two by Greg Baldino and Samantha LaFountain
Bleeding Cool – Where In The World Is Batman Europa, Answered By Brian Azzarello
Bleeding Cool – Darkness II Screenshots From The Top Cow Panel And More (UPDATE)
Bleeding Cool – Wolverine Is Afraid Of Badgers – Pics From The Fear Itself Panel
Bleeding Cool – My Old China – Miéville At C2E2 by Greg Baldino
Bleeding Cool – The C2E2 Bleeding Cool Fan Awards Results
Bleeding Cool – Marvel To Launch Kazar, Captain America Corps, Supreme Powers, Iron Age, Mystery Men And All Winners Squad In June, And Double Ship Plenty Too!
Bleeding Cool – Quidditch At C2E2 by Samantha LaFountain
Bleeding Cool – Tattoo Pavillion At C2E2 by Samantha LaFountain
Screenrant – C2E2: ‘The Walking Dead’ Panel Offers Tasty Season 2 Details
Around the Tubes Reviews:
Comics Alliance – March 18: ‘Fresh Ink! Online’ Pick of the Week [Video]
Cartoon World – Batman Beyond
It’s Saturday and the weekend, and for those that follow internet memes, it comes after Friday. It’s also sees the second major comic convention, Chicago’s C2e2. Below is a special sections covering the news of the convention as well as the normal items we missed.
Around the Blogs:
Kotaku – Your Latest Reboot Is Sonic the Hedgehog’s Comic Book Series – I’ve never been a huge Sonic fan. I can’t wait for Mega Man though.
Primary Ignition – Comic Book Bloopers: Superman Loses His Religion – An interesting discussion about Superman and religion.
Winnipeg Free Press – ‘Comic Books Go To War’ examines cartoonist-journalists in world hot spots – Comic books and graphic novels are becoming a more acceptable form of examining news and current events.
Shelfari – Graphic Novel Friday: Interview with Mike Mignola – Nice interview with the well known comic creator.
Arts Beat – Meet the Super-Parents: Kevin Costner to Play Clark Kent’s Dad – With Diane Lane as his mom.
Bleeding Cool – C. Thomas Howell Has Some Amazing Spider-Man Spoilers For You – Soul Man is a classic!
C2E2 Coverage:
Comic Book Resources – C2E2 EXCLUSIVE: Remender’s Apocalyptic “Dark Angel Saga”
Comic Book Resources – C2E2: DC Nation
Comic Book Resources – C2E2: Welcome To The X-Men
Comic Book Resources – C2E2: Green Lantern Panel
Comic Book Resources – C2E2 EXCLUSIVE: “Star Wars: Dark Times” Strikes Back
Bleeding Cool – The C2E2 X-Men Slideshow
Bleeding Cool – Transforming Libraries At C2E2 With Greg Baldino
Bleeding Cool – Thor Movie Promotion At C2E2 – Pics And Video
Bleeding Cool – The Doors Open At C2E2, Now With Added Paul Cornell (VIDEO)
Bleeding Cool – Alan Moore’s Neonomicon #4 Out For C2E2
Bleeding Cool – Wandering C2E2 Before The Big Open – With Added Mario Burlesque
Bleeding Cool – In The C2E2 Bar…
Bleeding Cool – First Looks At C2E2 Setup
Bleeding Cool – First Looks At C2E2 Setting Up…
Bleeding Cool – “We’ve Got To Stop Publishing Late Books” – Dan DiDio
DC Source – Flashpoint Friday C2E2 Edition: Your Questions – Answered at C2E2!
DC Source – Flashpoint Friday C2E2 Edition: Fan Question
DC Source – Flashpoint Friday C2E2 Edition: FLASHPOINT goes digital
DC Source – DC Nation heads to Chicago for C2E2 this weekend!
Fantagraphics – Paul Hornschemeier at C2E2
The Beat – C2E2 ready to kick things off
PRLog – RIVER JORDAN, A Graphic Novel by Merik Tadros to be Launched at C2E2
Around the Tube Reviews:
Playback – Fear Itself: The Book of the Skull (Marvel)
Around the Tweets:
Official Press Release
Hell. On Wheels.
For more information, be sure to check out the MARVEL: FEAR ITSELF panel (room #471) this Saturday at 1:00PM during this year’s C2E2 convention in Chicago!
Can’t make it to Chicago this year? No problem! Marvel.com has you covered with their extensive coverage of C2E2 and they’ll be there live blogging the entire event!
*Getting a little tired of the relentless Thor cross-promotion. Thor meets X-Factor! Thor meets Power Pack! Thor meets Deadpool! Thor meets Howard the Duck! Only one of these is fake.
*Maybe Marvel should tone it down a bit with the existential threats to the universe. They are coming a little too often these days. Zombies, Kang, the Chaos King, the Cancerverse, the Elder Gods and who knows how many others have tried to destroy everything. And that was just in December.
*I’ve discovered I really prefer comics to have superheroes or the supernatural. No matter how good other stuff is, I still prefer something super in my comics.
*Week 37 of DC’s 52 really gives away one of the biggest secrets and best mysteries of the whole thing. Maybe the biggest/best, since I haven’t finished it yet. I really hate when a cover gives away a key plot point.
*So I’m reading Countdown to Final Crisis and I note that the Monitors refer to human beings in the collective as “man.” Why would they have our gender pronoun bias? That’s either offensive or lazy writing. Talking to you, Dan Jurgens.
*I really, really hate the crazy re-numbering and then again also re-numbering stuff that Marvel does. The latest issue of Iron Man is #500. The issue before that was #33. Annoying and convoluted nonsense.
*Really looking forward to Age of X.
*Saw Scott Pilgrim last night, it totally lived up to the hype and is one of my favorite movies of the last 2-3 years. Now on to the comics. Last time this happened was with Kick-Ass. Loved the movie, then read the comics and loved them even more. Expect the same of Scott Pilgrim.
*Is it me or is Brian Michael Bendis‘s Luke Cage the best Luke Cage ever? (Hint: It’s not me)
*Am I the only one who thinks that Salvador Larocca‘s Tony Stark is the spitting image of a dark-haired Sawyer from Lost?
*I understand that the Walking Dead Weekly series is a cynical cash-in on the new popularity of the Walking Dead after the television series success. I’m okay with that. It still brings one of the greatest comic book series and zombie tales to more people, since the original early issues are expensive to buy, individually-speaking. Sure, you can buy them in the trade paperbacks cheaper, but nothing beats the feeling of issue-to-issue reading of the series…
*Chaos War is over and the ending was pretty good for a mediocre series, overall. Hopefully Fear Itself will be better than Chaos War or Shadowland.
*One thing I like about Chaos War and some other recent Marvel stuff is the fact that the usual “pow” and “wham” exclamations have been replaced with other words that are simply exaggerated. From Chaos War #5, we have “Haikooooom” after a very good Haiku reference, “Gutssss” as Hercules gets hit in the stomach, “Chsstbsster” as Herc gets punched through the chest, “Godyslam” as the Chaos King gets slammed to the Earth and many others. Some of them require you to think a bit more and try to figure out the connection, but they are very cool. Don’t know who is responsible for them, Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Khoi Pham or someone else. I’ve seen them elsewhere, but can’t remember where. Whoever and whatever is the source, I’m a big fan and I encourage more of this.
