Tag Archives: princess leia

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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BitchPlanet04_CoverWednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Brett

Top Pick: Bitch Planet #4 (Image Comics) – This is the series I look forward to reading every single issue and count down until I can get the next in my hands. Taking important societal issues and packaging them in an entertaining 70s(ish) exploitation story… brilliant! This issue focuses more on the sports team that’s being but together, plus obligatory shower scene(s)!

Fubar: Mother Russia #1 (Alterna) – Stalingrad. 1943. One baby. One rifle. Two million zombies. A Soviet sniper risks her life to protect something she hasn’t seen in a long time: a perfectly healthy two-year-old boy who has just stumbled right into the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

Mayday #1 (Black Mask) – A washed-up, drug-addicted screenwriter and a transgender bartender stumble onto a Satanic cult’s plan to sacrifice people all across LA (geomapped in the form of a pentagram, of course) and bring on Armageddon. If that doesn’t interest you…

The Order of the Forge #1 (Dark Horse) – How about some alternate weird history? George Washignton. Paul Revere. Ben Franklin. This is American history you don’t learn about in school (cause it’s not exactly true, just really entertaining).

Pisces #1 (Image Comics) – A former Vietnam Vet pilot trains with NASA to make first contact. But war trauma leads to dark visions of his future.

 

Edward

Top Pick: He-Man: Eternity War #5 (DC Comics)  –  The last issue left off with some pretty big plot twists.  This series is mixing together fantasy and sci-fi in an amazing way.  This isn’t your childhood’s He-Man.

Jem and the Holograms #2 (IDW Publishing) – The first issue set up the character and provided enough background to get the series going.  It will be interesting to see where the series heads from here.

Jungle Book Fall of the Wild #5 (Zenescope) – The final issue in the final series of the trilogy.  There are lots of answers left for the series, but will they all come here?

Princess Leia #3 (Marvel) – This series got a little bit of a slow start in its first issue but got things moving in its second issue.  This looks like it will continue in this third issue.

Silk #3 (Marvel) – Overshadowed by Spider-Gwen, its fellow spin-off from the Spider-Verse.  This series is better in every way so far.

 

“Big Daddy Cool” Johnny Dellarocca

Top Pick: Convergence Shazam #1 (DC Comics) – I have been looking forward to this series since it was announced. Jeff Parker and Evan “Doc” Shaner may be the perfect creative team for the Capt. Marvel Family. Their work on Flash Gordon demonstrated Parker’s uncanny ability to write fast paced, fun pulp adventures, and Shaner’s clean retro style is the perfect choice for Shazam!

Captain Midnight #22 (Dark Horse) – this series continues to impress me with! Like Jeff Parker, Josh Williamson just really knows how to right the classic pulp character of Captain Midnight! Teamed with X, this story should one of conflict and tough choices!

Convergence Justice Society of America #1 (DC Comics) – Classic Alan Scott and Jay Garrick. Do you need any other reason to get this book?

Convergence Plastic Man & The Freedom Fighters  #1 (DC Comics) – Another return of classic versions of DC characters! And this time Eel O’Brien is leading the Freedom Fighters against the Nazis!

Princess Leia #3 (Marvel) – I am a Star Wars freakasuarus and the in-canon work Marvel is producing are some of the best Star Wars stories being told. This series in particular is my favorite so far because of the way Leia is being fleshed out as a capable pilot, scrappy fighter, and strong military leader. And the artwork is stunning. If you are looking for a solid book featuring a strong female lead, this book is THE one!

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It’s a new week, which means more news, reviews, and more! We have lots of Toronto Comic-Con coverage from the weekend, and tonight we have a new episode of Graphic Policy Radio all about Jem & The Holograms!

Here’s some news from around the web to keep you busy until then.

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The Observer – Marvel Bids Goodbye to Some of Its Heroes – Our own Elana has some words about Marvle’s changes!

New World Comics – The Big Future of Indie Comics – An indie publisher has some interesting thoughts about indie comics to check out.

The Outhousers – Erik Larsen Returns to Twitter, Speaks in Interview – Yeah, maybe not the best site to start at. But then, comic blogs have a bad record of reaching out to the people behind controversies such as this.

 

 

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The Beat – Chrononauts #1

Talking Comics – Princess Leia #2

Nerd Underground – Red One #1

Comics Alliance – Red One #1

Kotaku – The New Transformers Is Off To A Shaky Start, And That’s Just Prime – Thoughts on the new series?

Review: Princess Leia #2

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princessleia002Fans of Star Wars have gone through a few ups and downs as of late.  First they were told that there would be new Star Wars films, but then they were told that the Expanded Universe was no longer canon.  Then they were told that there would be new Star Wars comics from Marvel which would be in continuity, but then they discovered that the comics would be set between episodes IV and V.  This followed with mostly acceptance of the decision to set the stories there, as it was apparently a fertile time for stories to be told, as the first issue of the ongoing Star Wars series was well received.  This carried forward into the Princess Leia series, but for the first time fans met it with neither a high nor a low.  It was neither amazing nor disappointing, and while it was of a high enough quality, it seemed as though fans expected more.

In terms of the character though, she is perhaps the blankest slate of all of them.  She has a rich background thanks to her parents as revealed in episodes I-III, but while she had a prominent role in an action/adventure movie by the standards of the 1970s, by this point in popular culture, she fits a lot more into the princess stereotype than action star.  The first issue of the series sought to break down some of these perceptions of the character, notably that there was always a lot going on in the background of the character that the viewers did not know about.  The problem with the first issue was that it was first necessary to break these perceptions before moving into a place where she could shine on her own.  As in the movies she mostly either tagged along with Han or with Luke on the various plots to overthrow the empire, it was uncommon to see her venture off on her own without reason, but after having been established the action and the fun starts, as Leia tracks down a group of Alderaanians on Naboo and ventures into her back story first to explain more of her own inspirations.

After the relatively flat introduction, this series might have seemed to be heading into the direction of mediocrity, but this second issue evidently does what it needs to do to establish something more for the character.  It may not be exactly the character that the fans are used to, but it doesn’t matter as the character is taken out of the grey zone between those two episodes and thrown into the modern day by doing so.  There are some fun action sequences here but there are also some deeper moments.  It may not be a masterpiece, but the way that this is heading, it will at least serve as an effective modern update for a beloved character.

Story: Mark Waid Art: Terry Dodson
Story: 8.6 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

 

 

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So, it was new comic day yesterday. What’d everyone get?

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The Outhousers – Here are Some Statements on the Valerie D’Orazio and Chris Sims Cyber-Bullying Story – A very solid roundup of the latest blow-up in comics.

Engadget – The Pirate Bay’s new network is making ISP blocks useless – Interesting.

Lifehacker – How to Get Started Reading Comics That Have Been Running For Decades – Great to see this article on Lifehacker.

The Rainbow Hub – Opinion: What We Can Learn From Chris Sims’ Apology – A very good read.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

Comic Vine – All-New Captain America #5

Comic Vine – All-New X-Men #39

Bleeding Cool – Batgirl #40

Comic Vine – Batgirl: Endgame #1

Comic Vine – Batman Eternal #50

Comic Vine – Batwoman #40

Comic Vine – Chrononauts #1

Comic Vine – Divinity #2

CBR – Ei8ht #2

The Beat – Giant Days #1

Talking Comics – Giant Days #1

Nothing But Comics – Invisible Republic #1

Talking Comics – Invisible Republic #1

CBR – Jupiter’s Circle #1

The Outhousers – Postal #2

Comic Vine – Princess Leia #2

Comic Vine – The Punisher #16

Comic Vine – Punks the Comic #5

The Outhousers – Rebels #1

Talking Comics – Red One #1

Comic Vine – Secret Identities #2

CBR – Shaper #1

Comic Vine – Silk #2

Talking Comics – Spider-Gwen #2

Comic Vine – Spread #6

Comic Vine – Superman #39

Comic Vine – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #44

Comic Vine – The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3

Nothing But Comics – We Can Never Go Home #1

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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RedOne01_CoverWednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Brett

Invisible Republic #1 (Image Comics) – This new series is not what I expected at all. It follows a journalist who’s researching how an empire rose and fell. The story perspective is what really stood out to me, and out of everything I’ve read so far this week, this one beyond exceeded my expectation.

Chrononauts #1 (Image Comics) – Mark Millar and Sean Gordon Murphy do the time travel thing in this latest Millarworld release. The first issue is entertaining, but how it’ll differ from Black Science (an Image comic with a similar premise) will be key.

Frankenstein Underground #1 (Dark Horse) – The latest entry into the Mignolaverse is a fantastic read and welcome addition to one of the strongest comic universes out there.

Giant Robot Warrior Maintenance Crew (Cosmic Times) – When we get stories about giant robots and the folks who control them, it’s always an individual, or a couple of people that get all the glory. Did you know there’s a whole team within the robot that keeps it running? This hilarious series focuses on the individuals who don’t get enough credit.

Transformers #39 (IDW Publishing) – The Combiner Wars have begun, and holy crap is this first issue amazing.

Edward

Top Pick: Red One #1 (Image Comics) – This new series seems to have a lot of potential, combining a talented creative team with an interesting concept.  It seems like Evil Knievel mixed with Black Widow, all of which leads to a double cross.

Batgirl #40 (DC Comics) – The new direction of Batgirl has almost become meta- and aware of itself, but maybe rightfully so after its success.  It will be interesting to see where the creative team can take the character after their success so far.

Princess Leia #2 (Marvel) –  Some were expecting more out of this series after the success of the other new Star Wars series, but one of the Star Wars universe’s more complex but also overlooked characters deserves another look to see what happened before Hoth.

Satellite Sam #12 (Image Comics) – This series never fails to disappoint, with its intricate story and deep characters.  Revelations upon revelations show that the golden age of Hollywood was not what we thought it to be.

Silk #2 (Marvel) – Spider-Gwen gets all the fanfare, but is Silk what it should have really been?  The series is a step above its spider-rival and worth a second look.

Elana

Top Pick: Storm #9 (Marvel) – This Important X-Men Book is entering a new arc and I’m eager to see what it is. This book asks important questions about who we are in the world and how those of us with and without superpowers can empower oppressed people worldwide. It’s a topic I’d like more comics to consider since the premise of superheroes really begs that question.

Black Widow #16 (Marvel) – I have a feeling this issue is going to involve a lot of asskicking, espionage and top notch art. Because it always does. Noto puts the rest to shame. His painterly panels are very approachable for new readers who may be put off by cartoonish-ness elsewhere. The story reads like an action/suspense film right now.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3 (Marvel) – It’s really funny. And even if I wasn’t hooked I’d still have to buy it for my husband. I love the narrative device of Doreen owning a set of Deadpool Trading cards that give background on any enemy she faces. North’s secret text below the panels joke is carried over from Adventure Time but this book has a strong sense of character all its own. I love Squirrel Girl’s attitude and I bet it would be great for kids.

Lazarus Vol. 3 Conclave TP (Image Comics) This book rocks in trades. It is the smartest dystopian sci-fi around. A comic that is doing our medium proud and a heroine who looks like she can actually kick your ass.

Loki Agent of Asgard #12 (Marvel) – On our podcast we talked about Al Ewing’s writing here and how the book’s tone and Loki’s voice reminds us of his writing on Doctor Who: the 11th Doctor. You should give this comic to our friends who love Matt Smith’s Doctor Who or Hiddleston as Loki. It really is a good gateway drug! I mean comic, sorry, gateway comic (though start from issue 1).

Johnny Dellarocca (Comixstravaganza Live)

Top Pick: Silk #2 (Marvel) – we really enjoyed issue one and the pace and tone of the premiere did a great job of establishing the connection to Peter Parker, but at the same time setting it apart completely.

Avengers – Busiek and Perez Omnibus (Marvel) – FINALLY! The smaller collections have been difficult to find, so this omnibus is a welcome addition to your hardcover library. If you are a fan of “old school” super team adventures than you know Busiek and Perez’s run was legendary. They successfully resurrected this franchise from the brutal death brought in by Leifeld (and Lee’s) “Heroes Reborn” debacle. Also this is in the days when a story arc was 2-3 issues instead of the epic 12 – 24+ issue arcs of Bendis and Hickman. Busiek’s Avengers actually DID something instead of wandering around reacting.

This is the pick of the year

Frankenstein Underground #1 (Dark Horse) – It’s Mignola. It’s Frankenstein on the lamb. Do need anything else?

Princess Leia #2 (Marvel) – I’m really hoping that this continues to be strong. Vader #2 suffered a little bit, but the creative team on this is really strong! What’s great about these canon series is that we potentially see greater depth in the characters and that should enhance our appreciation of the films. So far Marvel has done s great job!

Rocketeer Complete Dave Stevens TPB (IDW Publishing) – IDW is doing a great job of breathing new, authentic life into this character and this month they are reprinting the complete Dave Steven’s series in one collection in paperback. The hardcover collection from Dark Horse us hard to find, so a TPB is welcome!

.

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The weekend is almost here! What’s everyone doing this weekend that’s fun and exciting?

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Publishers Weekly – ComicsPRO Elects Dolan as New President – Congrats!

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – All-New Hawkeye #1

The Beat – All-New Hawkeye #1

Bleeding Cool – Cluster #2

Bleeding Cool – G.I Joe #6

The Beat – Palmiotti and Brady’s Big Con Job #1

Talking Comics – Princess Leia #1

CBR – Swamp Thing #40

 

Review: Princess Leia #1

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pl001aFor those unfamiliar with the inspirations for Star Wars, among the most famous of them is Joseph Campbell’s A Hero of Thousand Faces.  As George Lucas determined his vision for Star Wars he used this book as well as others sources of inspiration from fiction to develop his space opera.  One of these inspirations was the use of a princess as one of the main characters, and with that the role of Princess Leia was born.  The character is a bit of an anachronism in a sense though.  Although considered to be a strong female character in relation to others in movies at the time, cinema has expanded women’s role since then, and her once higher status as an action/adventure science-fiction star is dwarved by others that have come after her.  The background of the character has been developed over the years, first by the admission of her true father in the Return of the Jedi, and thus that she was not really a princess, and later establishing her as the daughter of the Queen of Naboo and thus kind of establishing her as a princess once again.

What this new in-continuity series attempts to do is to explore some of the complexities which should be evident in this character but which have never been explored.  As Leia says within this issue, she has a title but no function, and while that is true of her plight following the Battle of Yavin, in some ways it could be equally true for her as a character as a whole.  Specifically this mini-series looks at Leia through the after effects of the destruction of Alderaan, and what effect that has on her as the regent of this adopted homeworld.  The resulting story of a regrouping of a diaspora is a common enough one in fiction, and maybe more so in science fiction, but it works here and works well.  Added to this is her own sidekick, a female Alderaanian pilot for the Rebel Alliance.  The pairing is not a natural one, but by the end of the issue it finds a way to work together.

The new direction that Marvel is taking Star Wars is an intriguing one.  This series is one that maybe no fans ever really asked for, but the question equally could have been “why didn’t they?”  The execution is not flawless, but the story is both engaging and entertaining enough to be an appropriate vessel for Star Wars’ first heroine.

Story: Mark Waid Art: Terry Dodson
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

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It was new comic book day yesterday. What have you enjoyed so far?

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Tech Times – The Best Comic Books With Female Leads – Not sure why this is tech, but a good list.

CBR – Warner Bros. CEO Says Diversity Refutes Superhero Fatigue – Interesting.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

Talking Comics – All-New Hawkeye #1

Comic Vine – All-New Hawkeye #1

Comic Vine – Avengers #42

Comic Vine – Batman Eternal #48

Comic Vine – Big Man Plans #1

Outhousers – Big Man Plans #1

Comic Vine – Descender #1

Vox – Descender #1

Comic Vine – Detective Comics #40

Comic Vine – Green Lantern #40

Comic Vine – Hulk #12

Comic Vine – Imperium #2

CBR – Jem and the Holograms #1

Outhousers – Lady Killer #3

Comic Vine – Nailbiter/Hack/Slash #1

Outhousers – Neverboy #1

Comic Vine – Princess Leia #1

Comic Vine – Return of the Living Deadpool #2

Comic Vine – Spider-Woman #5

BlogCritics – Syllabus

Comic Vine – X-O Manowar #34

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Princess_Leia_1_Christopher_Action_Figure_VariantWednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Brett

Top Pick: Descender #1 (Image Comics) – Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s new series kicks off with a hell of a first issue. One young robot’s struggle to stay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bounty hunters lurk on every planet. It’s good…. really good.

Black Science #12 (Image Comics) – The alternate dimension spanning adventure brings excitement every single issue. The series is beyond fun, and anything can happen.

Imperium #2 (Valiant Entertainment) – Toyo Harrada has a vision for the world. But is it the right vision? Is he the right person to bring it? Valiant further explores a world where people with extraordinary power exists.

Lady Killer #3 (Dark Horse Comics) – The series about a housewife assassin has been damn near perfect with each issue. Just lots of fun and where it goes from here, should be interesting.

Transformers #38 and Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #38 (IDW Publishing) – We’re heading towards Combiner Wars… yes please! IDW’s series has been absolutely amazing and deserves WAY more respect than it gets.

Edward

Top Pick: Princess Leia #1 (Marvel) – Marvel’s newest wave of in-continuity Star Wars tales sees its third ongoing series launched with the new Princess Leia.  It should be an interesting series as it examines one of the more complex characters from the original trilogy.

Altered States: Vampirella (Dynamite) – Dynamite keeps expanding its non-shared universe with alternate reality stories. It might seem to be a strange move, but the potential for some cool genre mixing seems likely.

Lady Killer #3 (Dark Horse Comics) – This series has been added to the list of “guilty pleasures” of almost everyone that has read it.  It mixes unconventional genres into an engaging story.

Spider-Woman #5 (Marvel) – A redesign after only 4 issues?  Maybe a bit severe, but many fans were confused with the launch of the new series into the middle of the Spider-Verse.  We will see if Jessica Drew is too old to be “Batgirl-ed”

The White Queen #2 (Zenescope) – Zenescope once again proves that anything that Calie Liddle touches turns to gold.  Incorporating Wonderland into the confusing Age of Darkness has not slowed down this story, made better by the presence of the Trickster.

Elana

Top Pick: Spider-Woman #5 (Marvel) – Can’t wait for this relaunch. Great artist. Jessica Drew is one of my favorite characters yet no one has really done her justice in her solo book yet. I think this will be it.

Adventure Time Vol. 6 TPB (BOOM! Studios/KaBOOM!) – Get it and share it with everyone.

All-New Hawkeye #1 (Marvel) – The preview looks strong and the art in particular. Bold, graphic, not trashy. And everyone loves the Hawkeyes! Looks like a great jumping off point.

Angela Asgard’s Assassin #4 (Marvel) – Oooo pretty. Love her new warrior armor ad badass trans paramour and bard. Plus a guardians team up? Get it!

Saga #26 (Image Comics) – Every issue is a little masterwork. And every issue is leaving me hanging, obsessively thinking and worrying about what’s coming next. As you’ve probably noticed, this is the comic book to give to your friends who don’t read comics.

Nevada

Top Pick: Bright Lights, Lonely Nights: The Memories of Serena, Porn Star Pioneer of the 1970’s (BearManor Adult) – This book would be interesting as a behind-the-scenes look at the 1970’s pornographic film industry, but the fact that it’s a first-hand account told by a liberated woman and one of its biggest stars make it a must-read.

Comics and Narration (University Press of Mississippi) – I’m feeling quite bookish this week so I’ll round out my list with this continuing study about comics and how and why they work the way they do. This looks like it could go to the wonky academic side of things but I like that stuff occasionally as long as it doesn’t get too abstract. Since this features examples of work by the likes of R. Crumb and company I expect I’ll be able to learn something new and be entertained at the same time. Good deal!

Drawing From Life: Memory and Subjectivity in Comic Art (University Press of Mississippi) – As I embark on my own comic series that contains semi-autobiographical content, Fretville, I look forward to reading this book to further my understanding of subjectivity in comic art.

Supernatural 200th Episode Buttons (ATA Boy) – I’ve watched Sam (Jared Padelecki) since Gilmore Girls and Dean (Jenson Ackles) since the earliest days of Smallville (wow, since the WB became the CW in fact!). A fan of Supernatural from the very beginning, I’d love to have some of these to put on my denim jacket or to pin on one of my handmade throw pillows.

Wolf Moon #4 (Vertigo) – I’m interested in wolves, werewolves, and wolf lore so I’m particularly drawn to this mysterious story about a seemingly indestructible wolf on the prowl.

Preview: A Leader Ascends in Your New Look at Princess Leia #1

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Lucasfilm Ltd. and Marvel Entertainment have released a new look at the highly anticipated Princess Leia #1 – the blockbuster new limited series set in the Star Wars universe! Eisner-award winning writer Mark Waid and blockbuster artist Terry Dodson bring you a brand new story of Leia’s quest to help her people…and her struggle to find her place in the galaxy.

When Princess Leia Organa was captured by the Empire as a Rebel spy, she never betrayed her convictions, even in the face of the complete obliteration of her home world, Alderaan. When rescue came, she grabbed a blaster and joined the fight, escaping back to the Rebel Alliance. But in the aftermath of the Rebellion’s harrowing victory and destruction of the first Death Star, the question remains – what is a princess without a world?

In an interview with Marvel.com, Waid asked:

How does she really cope with losing her entire world once the events around that loss have calmed down somewhat? Does she choose to be a princess of nothing – or does she set out to rebuild her heritage and civilization?

Now, follow Leia’s journey in the days following the end of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as she searches for answers…and for hope. Witness the beginnings of the journey that transforms a princess without a home into one of the greatest leaders in the fight for freedom across the galaxy! It all begins this March, as Princess Leia #1, the explosive first issue comes to comic shops and digital devices!

PRINCESS LEIA #1 (JAN150727)
Written by MARK WAID
Art & Cover by TERRY DODSON
Variant Covers by ALEX ROSS (JAN150730), MARK BROOKS (JAN150732),
J SCOTT CAMPBELL (JAN150729), SKOTTIE YOUNG (JAN150733)
And BUTCH GUICE (JAN150735)
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (JAN150734)
Teaser Variant by JOHN CASSADAY (JAN150728)
Movie Variant Also Available (JAN150736)
Alex Ross Sketch Variant Also Available (JAN150731)
FOC – 02/09/15, On Sale – 03/04/15

Princess_Leia_1_Cover

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