For three years, flying, nigh-invulnerable teenager Barry Chase was Flyboy, sidekick to the imagination-impaired but crime-fighting master The Red Cowl, and all was well, though Flyboy was the butt of a lot of jokes. Together, The Red Cowl and Flyboy brought peace to Sol City, fighting for truth, justice and some third goal that the Red Cowl could never quite put his finger on but was sure he’d figure out in time. But then the Red Cowl was defeated and killed — some say by the villain Terraform, others by one of the Moonglow sisters — and Flyboy was left on his own. It is at this point that Sidekick, the latest J. Michael Straczynski comic from Image Comics, begins.

The first issue of the second title from Joe’s Comics to be published by Image, Sidekick, will be in stores on August 7 and is drawn by Tom Mandrake and Brian Miller, with a limited-edition variant cover by Charlie Adlard that will debut at San Diego Comic-Con, taking place on July 17 – 21.

Sidekick tells the story of nineteen-year old Barry, a.k.a, Flyboy, in the aftermath of his mentor’s death and his decision to continue his crime-fighting career, even though no one takes him seriously — not the good guys, not the bad guys, nobody. Any attempt Flyboy makes to improve his image backfires, and soon, unloved and unsupported, he descends into darkness.

Sidekick #1 will be in comic book stores on August 7, and a special, exclusive edition will be available in limited quantities at Comic-Con International in San Diego from July 18-21, where Straczynski will be a special guest of Image Comics.

Ten Grand #2

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski
Art By: Ben Templesmith
Variant Cover by: Bill Sienkiewicz
Price: $2.99

“ANGELS NEVER LIE”
FDA (Federal Demon Association) Advisory. Contents contain: one cult church where incantations are encoded into the playlist; one flesh-dwelling, food-obsessed demon; one seer capable of perceiving the spirit world but blinded to this one; one missing woman; one murder; one angel with an agenda of his own; and one rendezvous between supernatural investigator Joe Fitzgerald and the woman he loves, now deceased, in what may or may not be heaven. Warning: do not operate heavy equipment while reading.

The flagship issue of the new Joe’s Comics line, Ten Grand #1 by J. Michael Straczynski and Ben Templesmith, sold out the same week as its release, Image Comics has announced that it will go back to press for a second printing that will be in stores on June 5.

A supernatural romance crossed with hardboiled crime, Ten Grand tells the story of Joe Fitzgerald, a mob enforcer who has sworn to go straight — only to be left for dead during his final hit, an incident that leaves his fiancée dead. Joe gets a second chance when an angelic being revives him to be a hitman for mysterious, spiritual forces, with the reward being that he gets to spend five minutes with his beloved Laura every time he’s killed in his new “job.”

You can read our review of Ten Grand #1 here.

The June 5 second printing of Ten Grand #1 can be pre-ordered now with the Diamond Comics code MAR138353.

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

Ten Grand #1

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski
Art By: Ben Templesmith
Cover By: Ben Templesmith
Variant Cover by: Bill Sienkiewicz

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.

A bold new era begins with the long-anticipated return of Joe’s Comics, the imprint that brought you MIDNIGHT NATION and RISING STARS. All-new stories from J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI (Babylon 5, Jeremiah, Thor, Amazing Spider-Man, Superman: Earth One) return in 2013 with an action packed line up featuring everything from superhero action to supernatural thrillers. Watch this space as a new wave of exciting, challenging and experimental stories begins!

Joe’s Comics is back! The imprint that created Midnight Nation and Rising Stars, is officially underway with the first of what will be an entire line of new, original titles.

Ten Grand, the first title to come out from Joe’s Comics, will be published by Image Comics and officially debut May 1st, with a convention variant to be unveiled at C2E2 in Chicago the week before.

The premise: Joe Fitzgerald was a mob enforcer until the day he met Laura, who convinced him to leave that world behind. Before quitting, Joe agrees to one last job, little realizing that the man he’s been sent to kill was deeply involved in demonlogy. He survives Joe’s attempt and comes after him, fatally wounding Joe and killing Laura. As he lies dying, an angelic force promises that if Joel agrees 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.

Image has said the return of Joe’s Comics has been in the works for several years, awaiting the right time to go forth. Creator J. Michael Straczynski said he “really wanted to wait until (he) had a collection of stories that (he) absolutely had to tell, that, like Midnight Nation, wouldn’t let me go until they were told. Stories that could be dark, funny, deeply personal but also played out on a large stage in terms of action. As those started to show up over the last few years – often in the middle of the night, which is why Joe’s Comics bears the slugline ‘where it’s always five minute to midnight’ – (he) began to pull them together until I felt I had what I needed, and made the deal with Image to move forward.”

The art on Ten Grand (interiors and covers) is being provided by Ben Templesmith, the New York Times best-selling Australian comic artist and writer most widely known for co-creating 30 Days of Night with Steve Niles and Fell with Warren Ellis.

Issues #1 and #2 will also feature variant covers by Bill Sienkiewicz as well as Phantom variants. Like the other Joe’s Comics titles, Ten Grand will run in twelve-issue installments, with two to three months in between each installment to make any corrections and get ahead on finished books.

In keeping with the innovation and experimentation that has been the hallmark of Joe’s Comics, readers will find a QR code in the back of the first issue that will lead them directly to an audio performance of the book’s dialogue by some of the top voice actors in the business, including Babylon 5 alumnus Robin Atkin Downes, Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt.

Sidekick, the second title to be launched from Joe’s Comics, will debut at SDCC with a convention variant. This will be followed in the fall by Alone and Protectors, Inc.

Lots of interesting items you might have missed over the past day. Here’s what stood out to me.\

Around the Blogs:

Bleeding Cool – A Stuttering Start To Joe’s Comics -An interesting read.

The Comic Books – Audio from 16 Panels at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 – A great resource for people not there.

Examiner – Guillermo del Toro confirms ‘Hulk’ TV series ‘still on’ -I hope we see this.

Around the Tubes Reviews:

Talking Comics – Batwoman #11

Throne of Otherworld – Daredevil Season One

Poisoned Rationality – Fables Deluxe Volume 2

Graphic Novel Resources – My Friend Dahmer

Book Talk and More – Pride and Prejudice

Examiner – The Walking Dead #100

Official Press Release

A pretty quiet day of news around the tubes…

Around the Blogs:

Variety – Foundry forges comicbook, pic plans – Yay!  More comics to follow and check out!

Bleeding Cool – Warner Bros To Make DC Video Games Around The New 52 – But will they be good?

Bleeding Cool – Fanboy Rampage: JMS Vs Steve Wacker (UPDATE – Now With Added Waid And Slott)  – Wow, kind of dickish.

Official Press Release

THE TWELVE – IN ‘12!

The Twelve, one of the most critically-acclaimed comic series in years, makes its dramatic return this January, taking comic shops everywhere by storm once more! Superstar creators J Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston kick the new year off in style as the two conclude their pulse-pounding story of World War IIs super heroes awakened in the modern day and struggle to adapt. Except they’ll have to work fast as a threat hurdles their way that could destroy them all!

“It’s taken a long while, but finally, FINALLY, the balance of The Twelve has been completed and we’re ready to ship it all to our long-suffering fans,” said Tom Brevoort, SVP/Executive Editor. “We appreciate everybody’s patience, and both hope and expect that the conclusion will live up to the wait. And for folks who missed out the first time, we’re making it easy to get back on board no matter how much or how little of the previous 8 issues you may have already read, though the release of the softcover TPB of the first six issues, and a Marvel Must-Have containing #7 & 8. So you’ve got no excuse not to experience one of the best reviewed, best beloved and long-awaited series Marvel has ever produced as it reaches its ultimate climax.”

No fan can miss any of Marvel’s Twelve in 2012, including these releases:

• The Twelve Vol.1 TPB—on-sale in January 2012
• The Twelve: Marvel Must Have #1—on-sale in February 2012
• The Twelve #9—on-sale in February 2012
• The Twelve #10—on-sale in February 2012
• The Twelve #11- March 2012
• The Twelve #12—April 2012

Now, the Twelve must survive the greatest enemy they’ve ever faced—one of their own. But how—and why—has this happened? Don’t miss the return of The Twelve, beginning in January 2012!

THE TWELVE VOL. 1 TPB (NOV110641)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by CHRIS WESTON
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
ON SALE JANUARY 2012