Elephantmen, Richard Starkings‘ epic science fiction series exploring the ramifications of genetic experimentation, war, and racism, is reaching a milestone this July: its 50th issue. Elephantmen debuted in 2006, published by Image Comics, a spin-off of Starkings self-published (and now Image title) Hip Flask.

Following a group of human/animal hybrid super-soldiers who are struggling to integrate themselves into a society that is often hostile to their very existence, the series has gone on be collected into six hardcovers and trade paperbacks. It has featured art by Ladrönn, Boo Cook, Chris Burnham, Shaky Kane, and Axel Medellin, and the cover of Elephantmen #43 is among the work that earned Brandon Graham a “Best Cover Artist” Eisner Award nomination.

“Fifty issues! One more and Elephantmen is as old as I am!” marveled creator and writer Starkings, who also owns the well-respected comics lettering studio Comicraft. “When we launched the series in 2006, I thought maybe I had six issues in me, yet here we are, seven years later and six Elephantmen collections in stores and another in preparation for release this summer!”

Elephantmen #50, “Blue Collar Blues,” has a cover by renowned comics artist Frank Quitely, and comes after the close of the monumental “Sleeping Partners” story arc. It brings the story into the intimate sphere of one Elephantman, following his everyday life with its struggles and small triumphs. The issue is illustrated by series regular Axel Medellin and Gabe Bautista and also includes a re-presentation of Elephantmen #1, with art by Moritat, and a gallery of covers by Brandon Graham, Camilla d’Errico, J. Scott Campbell, Brian Bolland, Chris Weston, Ladrönn, Ian Churchill, and Ed McGuinness.

Elephantmen #50 will be in stores on July 17 and is available for pre-order from the May issue of Previews. The revised and expanded Elephantmen Volume 1, which now includes issue #0 with art by Ladrönn and an introduction by Jonathan Ross, will be in stores on May 22. The newest collection, Volume 6: Earthly Desires, due in stores in July 10, is also available for preorder.

Jupiter’s Legacy #1, the first issue of the Image Comics series that marks the return, after ten years, of Mark Millar and Frank Quitely as a creative team, has sold out.

An issue that ably and enticingly lays the foundation of the story and themes of the series — including the wise use of power, generational clash, and moral entropy — Jupiter’s Legacy #1 has gone back to press for a second printing, which will be in stores on June 5.

The debut of the new series, which was in stores on April 24, broke Image sales records for 2013.

The second printing of Jupiter’s Legacy #1 by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely is available to pre-order now with the Diamond code MAR138318 and will hit comic book store shelves on June 5.

You can read our review here.

Ten Grand #1

Joe Fitzgerald was a mob enforcer until the day he met Laura, who convinced him to leave that world behind. Before quitting, Joe agreed to one last job, little realizing that the man he’d been sent to kill was deeply involved in demonlogy. He survived Joe’s attempt and came after him, fatally wounding Joe and killing Laura. As he lay dying, an angelic force (who may or may not be what she appears) pointed out that where she is going, he can’t follow, and where he is going, he wouldn’t want her to follow. But if he will agree to work for them as a different kind of enforcer, they will bring him to life and keep on bringing him to life every time he is killed in a righteous cause. The reward: for those five minutes of death, he will be with Laura again. Would you endure an eternity of pain and death, dying over and over, to be with the woman you love for just five minutes each time you died? Most people might say no. But Joe Fitzgerald isn’t most people.

Ten Grand #1 marks the return of Joe’s Comics, the imprint by J. Michael Straczynski (who pens this series) and this first series’ tone and look, it’s as if time hasn’t passed. This first issue does what few comics today do, it gives pretty much the full background as to what’s going on in the first issue. It’s laid out for the readers, who the characters are, what the major crux is, etc. We might not know the specifics as far as how, but we know what’s going on, and that’s something I really liked. In fact, I realized how much I missed it after reading the issue.

On top of a solid start storyline, we get the awesome art of Ben Templesmith, an artist who I put up there as one of my favorites. His style fits the horror background of the comic.

The story might not be totally original, but the fact it flies in the face of today’s decompressed stories won it points in my book. Further that there’s some great writing, some of the verbal exchanges are solid, and fantastic art makes it an easy suggestion that folks should be picking this one up.

Story: J. Michael Straczynski Art: Ben Templesmith
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Jupiter’s Legacy #1

Writer Mark Millar has been a bit over the top lately with some of his series, filling them with uber-violence or reprehensible acts. This series comes off as almost adult for him and it’s more than welcome.

Jupiter’s Legacy intends to be the next superhero epic that all future comics will be measured by. The world’s greatest heroes have grown old and their legacy is a poisonous one to the children who will never live up to their remarkable parents.

Yes, it’s a new deconstruction of the super hero genre, and it would be just that if not for a few pages that really piqued my interest.

What I thought was really interesting was a debate late in the comic of that legacy group of heroes about their role in the world. If the series goes in that direction and ties in this newer generation, there’s some really interesting material to mine and the series will stand out to me.

The first issue though is a solid one, but unlike the above, not much is laid out, it’s very much set-up. We generally know how the heroes got their powers and the world they live in, but the series is very character focused in the issue, so not a ton happens action wise. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just different from a lot of the super hero series out there. There’s a lot I enjoyed about that.

Of course, it’s not just Millar’s writing, Frank Quitely provides the art, which is as solid as you’d expect. It’s great stuff to look at, with characters looking different and each having their own style.

Overall, the issue is really good. I’m not going to gush over it as much as others have, but it’s a solid start.

Story: Mark Millar Art: Frank Quitely
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review

Happy! #4 (of 4)

Story by: Grant Morrison Art By: Darick Robertson Variant Cover by: Frank Quitely
Price: $2.99

Christmas is here and the bad men are about to open their presents! It’s showdown time but can Nick Sax save the day without Happy to help him – or will he screw this up like everything else? You must not miss the blood-drenched conclusion of our heartwarming Yuletide classic!

The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce the first Baltimore Comic-Con Yearbook, celebrating the creators appearing at the show.  This book of art features some of our guests interpreting the Liberty Meadows characters, sometimes in conjunction with their own creations, in a celebration of creator-owned properties.

As a bonus, we have a scavenger hunt of sorts. When you buy the book, you’ll get a list of our 36 contributors and their table numbers. Get 15 of them to sign it, and come back to the booth for your choice of an added print by either Joseph Michael Linsner or Barry Kitson. Get 20 signatures and receive BOTH prints!

Liberty Meadows was created by Frank Cho and first published in 1997, launching in newspapers internationally.  This year marks the 15th anniversary of Liberty Meadows, having seen print in book, comic strip, and digital formats.

The art created for the 2012 Baltimore Comic-Con Yearbook celebrating 15 years of Frank Cho’s Liberty Meadows will be auctioned at this special event! Don’t miss this opportunity to own original art featuring Frank’s characters as depicted by artists including Frank Quitely, Brandon Peterson, Gene Ha, David Petersen, Bernard Chang, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Tom Raney, Billy Tucci, Steve Conley, Thom Zahler, Craig Rousseau, Frank Cho, and many others!

The book will be sold, and the art auction will be held in our Main hall, in Booths #2505-2507.  The auction will commence following the Stan Lee/John Romita panel, at approximately 5:45pm.  The book will be available at the Baltimore Comic-Con for $20.

The Walking Dead #100

Story by: Robert Kirkman Art By: Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn Cover By: Charlie Adlard Variant Cover by: Marc Silvestri, Frank Quitely, Todd McFarlane, Sean Phillips, Bryan Hitch, Ryan Ottley, Charlie Adlard
Price: $3.99

“SOMETHING TO FEAR” CONTINUES!
This extra-sized chapter contains one of the darkest moments in Rick Grimes’ life, and one of the most violent and brutal things to happen within the pages of this series. 100 issues later, this series remains just as relentless as the debut issue. Do not miss the monumental 100th issue of THE WALKING DEAD!

IMAGE COMICS IN LONDON FOR KAPOW

Image Comics is crossing the Atlantic to attend Kapow Comic Convention on May 19 and 20 in London, marking the first time the independent comic book publisher has exhibited at a European event.

“With so many of Image’s creators hailing from the UK and our readership expanding in international markets, Kapow is a great opportunity to support those creators and that growth,” said Image Publisher Eric Stephenson, who is a special guest of the convention. “London’s one of the greatest cities in the world, and Kapow has quickly established itself as the UK’s premiere comics show, so what’s not to love?”

Taking place in the London Business Design Center, Kapow will also feature several Image creators as special guests:

Charlie Adlard (THE WALKING DEAD)
Kieron Gillen (PHONOGRAM)
Paul Grist (MUDMAN)
David Hine and Shaky Kane (THE BULLETPROOF COFFIN)
Mark Millar and Frank Quitely (JUPITER’S CHILDREN)
Sean Phillips (FATALE)
Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch (AMERICA’S GOT POWERS)
Scott Snyder (SEVERED)
Nick Spencer (MORNING GLORIES, THIEF OF THIEVES)

A timetable of signings by special guests is available at the Kapow website.

Stephenson will be moderating one of three Image-related panels, “Image Superstars.” Charlie Adlard, Sean Phillips, David Hine, Shaky Kane, and Paul Grist will talk about their current Image titles and upcoming projects. The panel takes place on Saturday, May 19 at 12 p.m. in the Gallery Hall.

Also on Saturday is the Millarworld panel, which will include enticing discussion of Mark Millar’s and Frank Quitely’s upcoming Image series JUPITER’S CHILDREN. It takes place at 4:15 p.m. in the Gallery Hall.

In the “Image Megastars” panel on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., TV personality and comics writer Jonathan Ross and acclaimed artist Bryan Hitch will talk about their hit comics series AMERICA’S GOT POWERS, and Nick Spencer will give the latest on Robert Kirkman’s THIEF OF THIEVES, the comic series he writes and that has recently been optioned as a TV show by AMC. This panel is also in the Gallery Hall.

On Saturday evening, winners of the Stan Lee awards will be announced in a ceremony at the convention hall. Several Image creators and titles are up for awards:

Best Writer — Scott Snyder (SEVERED)
Best Trade — WHO IS JAKE ELLIS by Nathan Edmondson and Tonci Zonjic and THE WALKING DEAD Volume 14: No Way Out by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
Best Newcomer — Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore (THE STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE)
Best Publisher — Image Comics
Man or Woman of the Year — Robert Kirkman (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, THIEF OF THIEVES) and Scott Snyder (SEVERED)

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Around the Blogs:

Bleeding Cool – Grant Morrison, Darick Robertson, Mark Millar, Frank Quitely, Steve Niles, Howard Chaykin,Tony Harris, Scott Morse, Brian Wood, Ming Doyle, Nick Spencer, Riley Rossmo Announcements At Image Expo - Lots of news coming out of Image Expo.

The Beat – More Scenes From Image Expo - Guess I should have gone.

The Beat – How Many Pages of a Digital Comic Get Read In One Sitting? – Interesting info.

Around the Tubes Reviews:

CBR – Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7

CBR – Wolverine & The X-Men #6

Official Press Release

Baltimore Comic-Con’s Happy New Year! BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – December 31, 2011 – Happy New Year to the friends and partners of the Baltimore Comic-Con!  The show may not be until September 8-9, 2012, but we’ve been very busy lately lining up some absolutely amazing guests for our 13th annual event! We are very proud to announce our initial guest list for what will surely become the largest Baltimore Comic-Con yet! Avengers vs. X-Men #0 by Frank Cho. Laura & Michael Allred – Madman, iZombie  Greg Capullo – Batman, Spawn Frank Cho – Avengers vs. X-Men, Liberty Meadows Steve Conley – Bloop Rich Faber – Roboy Red John Gallagher – Buzzboy Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez – Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman Keith Giffen – Superman, OMAC, Green Arrow Larry Hama – G.I. Joe, Wolverine, The ‘Nam Dean Haspiel – Billy Dogma, ACT-I-VATE, Trip City J.G. Jones – Wanted, Doc Savage Scott Kurtz – PvPonline.com David Mack – Kabuki David Petersen – Mouse Guard Frank Quitely – All Star Superman, Batman & Robin Walter Simonson – Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes Scott Snyder – Batman , Severed, Swamp Thing Billy Tucci – A Child Is Born, Shi  Matt Wagner - Tower Chronicles, Mage, Grendel Mark Waid – Daredevil, Incorruptible, Irredemable If you are a comic book fan, you need to come to Baltimore this coming September!  We cover the entire industry, bringing your favorite creators from yesterday, today, and tomorrow, publishers big and small, and retailers offering everything from gold, silver, bronze, and modern comics to videos to clothing and so much more. In addition, we provide great programming at the show, including panels on creator spotlights, creative teams, publishers, techniques, and, of course, our extremely popular Costume Contest.  Whether you are a die-hard cosplayer awaiting the chance to premiere your new creation, a casual participant, you have kids who want to dress up, or you just want to see some of the most creative costumes in the world, our costume contest is great fun for everybody! Mark your calendars – September 8-9, 2012!  And keep watching for more great news throughout the year on guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest information can always be found on our website, Facebook, and Twitter. Don’t forget to share this information with your friends and followers on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media sites!

Official Press Release

FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM!
Support CBLDF With The Industry’s Greatest Creators in CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 from Image Comics

Berkeley, CA & New York, NY – 8 August 2011 United We Stand Against Censorship! That’s the message from Image Comics, over two dozen of the industry’s greatest creators, and our friends at DC Comics and Marvel Comics, who have all banded together to deliver the greatest CBLDF benefit comic yet — CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011!

Famed comics editor Bob Schreck, Editor-in-Chief of Legendary Comics, and Assistant Editor Greg Tumbarello view censorship as the ultimate form of bullying and have gathered an all-star team of comics creators to tell powerful stories that take a stand against censorship. CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 comprises 48 powerful pages of all new stories and art. The proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the ever-important First Amendment work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Schreck declares, “It’s an honor to be asked to edit LIBERTY ANNUAL! We wanted to show the human side of what it means to be censored, and we’re elated with how many powerful and heartfelt tales were delivered. With an American facing prosecution in Canada for the comics he reads, the work that CBLDF does is more important now than ever, and the CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL is essential tool in the fight against censorship.”

CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 collects incredible contributions, including original stories by superstars J. Michael Straczynski (Superman: Earth One), Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman), J.H. Williams III (Batwoman), Steve Niles (30 days of Night), Judd Winick (Catwoman), Mark Waid (Daredevil) and Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), and Carla Speed McNeil (Finder). Look for all-new tales featuring Grendel by Matt Wagner, Cowboy Ninja Viking by AJ Lieberman and Riley Rossmo, and Elephantmen by Richard Starkings and Shaky Kane. Plus: a massive and first-ever full-color story from independent comics master Craig Thompson (Blankets)! Marvel and DC Comics have stepped up to show their support, with all-new pin-ups of Batman by Dustin Nguyen, X-Men by Greg Land, Green Lantern by Ivan Reis, and the Avengers by Greg Horn! It’s all topped off by incredible covers by John Cassaday, Matt Wagner, and two variant covers by Frank Quietly: a full-color, 1 in 25 cover, and a black and white, 1 in 50 cover!

“Bob’s experience as an editor is hard to beat, and we’re proud to have him at the helm,” says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. “Bob made a book that has something to say, without being sentimental or preachy. He’s made a comic we can all be proud of, and that will go a long way towards advancing the CBLDF’s important work.”

Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson says, “It should go without saying that free speech is one of our most fundamental rights as citizens of this great country. Our right to free expression is challenged on a daily basis, though, and sometimes, those challenges occur within the comics world. Without the diligence of organizations like the CBLDF, everyone in the comics community would be much worse off. There are always bullies out there trying to keep people from enjoying the rights we’re all entitled to, but thankfully there are also people willing to stand up for those rights. I’m proud that Image is able to lend a hand.”

Join the fight against censorship by picking up your copy of CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 (AUG110415), a 48-page full color comic book benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, available from Image Comics on October 12, 2011, for $4.99.

ABOUT THE COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics artform and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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T-Shirts Debuted at Comic-Con Now Available Online

CBLDF debuted a number of new shirts during Comic-Con, including all new shirts from Matt Wagner and John Cassady and new colors and women’s sizes for CBLDF’s popular “I Read Banned Comics” shirt! If you missed us at Comic-Con, you can now get these shirts online!

The new shirts come courtesy of Graphitti Designs. Matt Wagner’s shirt delivers an incredible new image of Grendel leaping into action! John Cassaday’s Uncle Sam design makes a powerful statement about the fight to defend Free Speech!

Finally, CBLDF’s I Read Banned Comics shirt now comes in yellow on black in both men’s and women’s sizes. You can also get the shirt in blue on white in women’s sizes. The original shirt is available here.

These shirts are sure to move fast, so get yours now!

New Luchadore-Inspired BPAL Scents Now Available Online!

CBLDF, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and J. Gonzoscored a K.O. with their epic tag team debut of LA MANO DEL DESTINO and EL NUEVO PURITANO during Comic-Con International. If you missed us at Comic-Con, you can still jump in the ring: These CBLDF-exclusive scents are now available online!

About the fragrances:

LA MANO DEL DESTINO

Powerful Sumatran patchouli and enigmatic Brazilian copaiba with pao d’arco, cacao absolute, bourbon vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, and tobacco

EL NUEVO PURITANO

The wicked wrath of moral panic: unmoving, rigid oak, dry leather, tonka, gunpowder tea, and pious olibanum with a core of perverse and furtive vanilla bean, bay leaf, clove bud, and lime.

You can purchase each fragrance individually, here and here, or you can get them as a set. The set includes a gorgeous, limited-edition full-color print from J. Gonzo, inspired by his new 6-issue comic series La Mano del Destino. Help take censorship to the mat by picking up these CBLDF exclusive scents and print today!