Prophet #38
Story By: Brandon Graham
Story By: Simon Roy
Art By: Simon Roy
Art By: Giannis Milonogiannis
Cover By: Jim Rugg
Price: $3.99
Diamond ID: APR130567
Published: August 8, 2013
It’s a race for power, with Prophets seeking to enslave the children of Badrock to use them as living weapons against a new mysterious foe.
As part of the re-launch of G.I. Joe comics, based on the iconic brand from Hasbro, IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce G.I. Joe: Special Missions! A new ongoing series helmed by comics legends Chuck Dixon and Paul Gulacy, G.I. Joe: Special Missions chronicles the G.I. Joe team members still operating undercover in the wake of many of their identities being exposed to the public. Tying directly into the story of Fred Van Lente and Steve Kurth’s G.I. Joe, Special Missions’ first arc shows how the evil Baroness ends up high and dry in the eponymous G.I. Joe book.
As the raven-haired saboteur extraordinaire martials her forces and attempts to find her way back into the fold of multi-national terror organization Cobra, Scarlett must put together an elite team to covertly de-fang the storied villainess! Calling on the best covert operators the G.I. Joe team has to offer, readers will be treated to adventures starring beloved characters like Beach Head, Mainframe, Tripwire, Hard Drive, Ice Berg, and Stalker, just to name a few!
An espionage-fueled counterpoint to the explosive media madness of the ongoing G.I. Joe title, G.I. Joe: Special Missions is a must-read for all G.I. Joe fans. If all that weren’t enough, the inaugural issue will feature a cover by Brandon Peterson, a wraparound cover by Jamal Igle, and a special Untold Tales of G.I. Joe cover by Jim Rugg!
Harkening back to the classic Special Missions and featuring one of the most battle-tested creative teams in comics, G.I. Joe: Special Missions promises to be an instant classic!
G.I. Joe: Special Missions #1 – (FC, 32 pages, $3.99) is in stores March 20th, 2013.
Diamond Code: JAN130356
Small Press Expo 2012 has come and gone and while I didn’t spend long there, about 4 hours, I made it around the floor multiple times and picked up a thick stack of books to review (and some original art). The show was packed with all types of people across the age spectrum. Folks are reporting this was a great show, and you could see it. Indie comics are booming if this is any indication.
The books on the show floor were varied and there was something for everyone, but here’s what I picked up, in no particular order.
Comic: Burning Building Comix
Creator: Jeff Zwrek
This graphic novel is read a bit differently, telling the story one floor at a time in a burning building. The concept is cool and execution fun. The design is what sold me and this is a book I haven’t seen another example of in it’s execution. Hopefully the interior is as creative as the exterior concept.
Comic: Johnny Hiro
Creator: Fred Chao
I was sold with the words “honor-bound business ronin.” I’m still not 100% sure what the comic is about, but the art is solid and beautiful to look at. I flipped through some pages and it looks really entertaining.
Comic: The Accidental Candidate: The Rise and Fall of Alvin Greene
Creator: Corey Hutchins and David Axe – writer, Blue Delliquanti – art
The story of South Carolina Senate candidate Alvin Greene that came out of no where. This was the political story for a solid month and it’s a book I’ve wanted to get my hands on since I heard it was released.
Comic: Nathan Sorry
Creator: Rich Barrett
I picked up both volumes which follows a man who’s on the run after he steals $20 million post 9/11. The art was cool and story intriguing. It seemed like an easy buy for me.
Comic: Infinity Roads Vol. 1
Creator: Tim Sparvero
A science fiction story about a man who has created a life in his dreams where he’s fallen in love. The story description is a bit weird and that sold me. Should be an interesting read.
Comic: The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal
Creator: E.K. Weaver
Two guys head cross country from Berkeley to Providence. The story seems to be a coming of age sort of thing and the interior art hooked me. I seriously have no idea what to expect with this.
Comic: Between Gears
Creator: Natalie Nourigat
This is the type of book that hooks me, an autobiographical comic detailing Nourigat’s last year at the University of Oregon. Don’t know why, but I find these types of books fascinating and the art looked solid. An easy sale to me.
Comic: Afrodisiac
Creator: Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca
The art has this throwback 70s look and it’s a blaxploitation comic, sold.
Comic: The Deadbeat
Creator: Jeremy Massie
A story about a down on his luck superhero and his estranged daughter. It’s a story I thought about writing (well something close) so very interested in reading this.
Comic: Lower East Side Story #1-3
Creator: Peter Friedrich
Friedrich decided to take a look at the gentrification of the Lower East Side of New York City. He had photos to show what it looked like and his comic is pretty well researched in how it happened.
Comic: Old-Timey Hockey Tales
Creator: Robert Ullman and Jeffrey Brown
I’m a fan of hockey, nuff said.
KaBOOM! has announced this October it’s launching Bravest Warriors based on the new Pendleton Ward cartoon. The comic will be written by Joey Comeau with art by Mike Holmes. The first issue will ship with main covers by Tyson Hesse and Maris Wicks. As well as Marc Bell, Jim Rugg and Pendleton Ward variants. This title is a six-issue mini-series which is accessible to all ages. Each issue will run a full 32 pages and will carry a $3.99 price point.
KaBOOM! is also announcing a last minute signing at San Diego Comic Con with Pendleton Ward, creator of the brand new animated series that Bravest Warriors is based on. Ward will be signing in the designated Comic-Con signing area in the Sails Pavilion on Saturday 1:30pm-2:30pm. In order to be eligible to participate in the signing, fans must come to the BOOM! booth (#2743) to obtain a ticket. In order to obtain a ticket for the Pendleton Ward signing, fans must purchase the Adventure Time #1 Pendleton Ward SDCC exclusive variant cover on Wednesday night, Thursday, or Friday during show hours. The tickets will be limited to 500 total and numbered. Ticket holders will be entered into a lottery for one of 30 guaranteed signing spots on Saturday. Winning ticket numbers will be posted at the BOOM! booth on Saturday morning. Winning ticket holders will be eligible to get one item signed by Ward.
POWER! RESPECT! Join Chris, Wallow, Beth and Danny, four 16-year-old heroes-for-hire, as they warp from galaxy to galaxy, saving alien races with the power of their…emotions. They’re noble, righteous and totally bodacious! This new series of original comics based on the new series from ADVENTURE TIME creator Pendleton Ward is sure to be a smash!
Falling the recent donation of numerous small press and indie comic books, today the Small Press Expo announced the acquisition and subsequent donation to the Library of Congress of original art by various Small Press Expo alumni and exhibitors. Sara Duke, curator of Applied and Graphic Material in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress had this to say about the donation:
We are excited that our partnership with SPX is leading to a greater understanding of the patrimony of comics; the wealth of original cartoon art here at the Library of Congress now includes independent and small press cartoonists. We are looking forward to the Expo in September, and hope that more talented artists will join the ranks of Raina Telgemeier, Jim Rugg, Jen Sorensen, Matthew Thurber, Keith Knight, Jim Woodring, and Matt Bors in the SPX Collection at the Library of Congress.
The originals include examples of Kurtzman and Glyph Award winner Keith Knight’s daily comic strip, The Knight Life as well as examples from his other strips K Chronicles and (Th)ink. 2012 Herblock Award winner Matt Bors donated a number of originals, as did Jen Sorensen, whose Slowpoke syndicated strip won the 2012 AltWeekly Award for Cartoons. Creators such as Jim Woodring, Matthew Thurber and Jim Rugg donated originals to be alongside their already donated printed versions.
Plans are for this to become a yearly donation.
The Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress is a first of its kind partnership to preserve the legacy of the indie comics community by focusing on original art by SPX exhibitors, as well as limited edition mini-comics and other publications that are created by the SPX community.
Official Press Release
From the start of Preview Night to the closing moments on Sunday, CBLDF has an amazing array of signed graphic novels, art prints, t-shirts, and other surprises for you at Comic-Con. Our inventory of signed graphic novels includes more than 200 titles and includes hot titles autographed by creators including: Geoff Johns, Neil Gaiman, Jim Lee, Jill Thompson, Stan Sakai, Frank Miller, and many, many more! Stop by the CBLDF at booth 1920, right across from DC Comics and claim one of these amazing donation rewards!
The CBLDF is proud to debut two amazing exclusives at Comic-Con. First up is an all new Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab fragrance “Liberty Leading The People,” inspired by the famous Delacroix painting embodying the ideals of liberty. We also are proud to produce a brand new, signed CONAN print by Darick Robertson, commemorating his cover to CBLDF’s Liberty Comics 2010, coming this fall from Image!
Parties!
This year CBLDF brings you THREE amazing parties to celebrate Comic-Con! CBLDF Parties attract the cream of the comics crop, and at each event you can expect to meet and mingle with art stars at work and play. CBLDF’s Comic-Con parties are open to everyone, whether or not you have a Comic-Con pass, so bring your friends and celebrate comics and Free Speech at any of these events:
Wednesday night it’s Drink, Draw, Dance! a pre-con party, presented by Ale Garza and CBLDF at The Office! Attending artists include Joe Benitez, Mark Brooks, Francis Manapul, Micah Gunnell, Ale Garza, Sean Dietrich, Oliver Nome, and many others! Also performing live will be up and coming hip-hop artist, Cassanova, as well as a DJ set from Ale Garza! All artwork created by the attending artists will be auctioned off at the CBLDF’s Saturday night auction! The party starts at 9 PM and rolls on til 2 AM. The Office is located at 3936 30th Street in North Park. No cover! RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=109611535756236
Thursday it’s the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party, sponsored by Image Comics, in association with SeenAllOver.com, Soulcraft Comics and IHEARTCOMIX! Festivities include a WALKING DEAD Live Art Stage, featuring the book’s co-creator Charlie Adlard and presented by Dr. Sketchy’s! PSYCHENAUT, multimedia sound and vision by Paul Pope! DJ set by Franki Chan of IHEARTCOMIX! Plus, a photo booth provided by seenallover.com! All this, and an auction preview gallery, featuring ETNIES/SEEN custom designed sneakers, the TFAW.com art auction, and a gift bag for the first 300 contributors! Come dressed in your zombie finest and party down! Free for CBLDF Members, $10 to $20 suggested donation for non-members! The Westgate Hotel is at 1055 2nd Ave in downtown San Diego. RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=134933566541001
Saturday brings SCENES OF A GRAPHIC NATURE, presented by Nerd City and sponsored by Image Comics, TFAW.com and Nerd City, featuring live art by Jim Mahfood, Mike Huddleston, Scott Morse, King Gum AKA Dave Crosland, Jason Shawn Alexander, and more, with DJ sets by Major Taylor and Red Sonya, PLUS a performance by San Diego rockers The Burning of Rome, there is no doubt that this is THE party for Nerds in the know. SCENES kicks off at the Soda Bar at 3614 El Cajon Blvd. Presale tickets are available at http://tickets.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?c=1&lid=45223&eid=52134
CBLDF Comic-Con Benefit Auctions
CBLDF Master Sessions & Live Art Jam!
The CBLDF Master Sessions are back, with a full slate of insightful craft programs by comics masters! This year’s sessions are:
Thursday, July 22
12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Session: Paul Pope: Inking with Speed and Precision— Paul Pope became an art icon by building unforgettable characters and worlds with his fearlessly fluid and singular line art. Each of his pages appears to be tightly composed but rapidly executed. Bring your sketchbooks and learn the secrets of a fast, but precise approach to inking at this CBLDF Master Session. The original art from the session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s Art Auction. Room 30CDE
Friday July 23
Saturday, July 24
12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Session: Terry Moore: Drawing Characters with Character— Learn what it takes to draw characters whose distinctive actions define them on the page. In Echo and Strangers in Paradise Terry Moore has established himself as a master for expressing a wide range of emotions through his characters. Bring your sketchbook and follow along as Moore shows you the secrets of how to make your characters “act” on the page in this CBLDF Master Session. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s Art Auction! Room 30CDE
Sunday, July 25
12:30-2:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam— Watch Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash), Ale Garza (Fathom), Chris Burnham (X-Men: Manifest Destiny), and Daniel Leister (Hack/Slash) battle it out to see who can make the coolest art before your eyes! Get an inside look behind the scenes at how these artists work, as they make live art projected onto the big screen at the CBLDF Live Art Jam! All art will be auctioned off at the end of the event to benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Room 5AB
Whatever your comics passion, there’s something great in store for you from the CBLDF at Comic-Con! See you there!
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. They have defended dozens of Free Expression cases in courts across the United States, and led important education initiatives promoting comics literacy and free expression. For additional information, donations, and other inquiries call 800-99-CBLDF or visit them online at www.cbldf.org.
