The Manhattan Projects Vol. 1: Science. Bad. TP
Story by: Jonathan Hickman Art By: Nick Pitarra & Jordie Bellair
Price: $14.99
“SCIENCE. BAD.”
What if the research and development department created to produce the first atomic bomb was a front for a series of other, more unusual, programs?
Collecting the coolest new series of the year into one super science package.
Collects THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1-5
The Manhattan Projects #6
Story by: Jonathan Hickman Art By: Nick Pitarra & Jordie Bellair
Price: $3.50
“STAR CITY”
While the Americans have progressively built the Manhattan Projects into massive success and thrust the west into future dominance, on the other side of the world the cold war rages on. Find out the secret history of the Russian science machine.
The thrilling FEEL GOOD, BAD SCIENCE series continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #6: STAR CITY!
Image Comics has been pumping out solid first issues this year for numerous series that are guaranteed to be classics. Not bad for a publisher celebrating their twentieth anniversary. Now, the first issues of many of the new series are free at the digital distributor comiXology. The issues switched to free on August 24 and will remain free permanently.
The free issues include the first issues of some of 2012’s best-selling comics, including:
Many of these titles have been or will soon be collected into trade paperbacks, making the free issues the perfect way for readers to sample new Image Comics titles before purchasing collections.
The Manhattan Projects #5
Story by: Jonathan Hickman Art By: Nick Pitarra & Jordie Bellair
Price: $3.50
“HORIZON”
A glimpse into the NEW FUTURE that the scientists of the Manhattan Projects have built on the foundation of their amazing breakthroughs. They’ve changed the world…is it for better or for worse?
The thrilling FEEL GOOD, BAD SCIENCE series continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #5: HORIZON!
The Manhattan Projects #3
Story by: Jonathan Hickman Art By: Nick Pitarra & Cris Peter
Price: $3.50
“THE BOMB”
The Death of FDR leaves the Manhattan Projects in chaos as questions of leadership arise. The world’s first Artificial Intelligence is created 40 years ahead of schedule. And whatever happened to the THIRD atomic bomb developed by Oppenheimer and his unparalleled Science Team?
One of the most anticipated new series of the year continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #3: THE BOMB!
DANCER #1, the first issue of a new Image Comics thriller series by Eisner-nominee Nathan Edmondson (WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?) and Nic Klein, has sold out at the distributor level the same day that it was in stores, May 16.
Following the flight through Milan of an ex-assassin and the woman he loves, a ballerina named Quinn, as they evade a sniper’s bullets, the debut garnered early raves on the day of its release.
DANCER #1’s second printing is available for order now (APR128084) and will be in stores on June 13, the same day as DANCER #2.
Also selling out on its Wednesday release date this week was the second issue of the Teen Titans-meets-The Lord of the Flies series DANGER CLUB by Landry Q. Walker and Eric Jones (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade) that MTV Geek calls ” a relentless and unique take on the ‘teen superhero team’ genre.” continuing its strong performance after a critically-acclaimed first issue that also sold out and received a second printing. Its second printing (APR128085) will be in stores on June 13.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #3 by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra (THE RED WING) also sold out this week. The alternate history science fiction series that Comics Alliance calls “pure mad science in comic book form” continues its nuclear assault on readers’ minds, with sales numbers on the third issue matching those of the first. The second printing of THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #3 (APR128086) will also be on shelves on June 13.
SAGA continues its soaring success with a sell-out of its third issue this week, as Image Publisher Eric Stephenson revealed in an interview with ICv2 that SAGA #1’s sales are nearing 70,000 copies. The latest issue of the Brian K. Vaughan-penned, Fiona Staples-drawn epic series was called “stunning, entertaining, and relevatory” by Comic Book Resources. A second printing of SAGA #3 (APR128087) will be in stores on June 13 as well.
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.
That’s three week’s of reviews taken care of this week. Getting closer to catching up.
Age of Apocalypse #1 – It’s the last remaining humans versus Weapon Omega and a world full of mutants. It’s the reverse of the 616 in a way and while I missed the Age of Apocalypse the first time around, the writing style, voice and art have me wanting to come back for more.
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8
Animal Man #7 – The battle along with Swamp Thing is growing nearer as the Rot continues to hunt Animal Man and his family. The story is solid as expected and it’s the fright along with the quiet moments that makes this series great. Vertigo has come to DC and damn is it good.
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5
Avengers Academy #27 – Part one of the Runaways’ visit to Avengers Academy starts with a stereotypical fight and looks like the second part will be one too…. sigh.
Story: 7.25 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.25
Avengers: the Children’s Crusade #9 – After so much build-up. After so many delays, the final issue of this mini-series is kind of a let down. Not much really happens other than events being set into motion concerning Iron Lad and what happens to Vision, but really it’s all to neat and tidy when the vents leading up to it and depicted during were anything but.
Story: 6.75 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7
Batman: Detective Comics #7 – The story involving Penguin’s Casino is over and I’m all mixed up as to what the hell is going on. Too many Batman comics with not enough distinction. The stories seem to blur together a bit and that’s not a good thing.
Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7
Batwing #7 – We find out the horrific thing the Kingdom did and really, it’s impact just didn’t hit me. But.. the fight heads to Gotham. What’s it say that Batwing has to run to the other “white” Batman and friends to solve his issue? Doesn’t really make the character stand on his own….
Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7
the Defenders #4 – The first arc is over, but that doesn’t mean the story is over. There’s a dream machine and Strange doesn’t know what it does and how it works. The issue really focuses on Strange and his history and a lot of potential of what the story could be. Lots of hints of excellence, but it doesn’t quite work for me.
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7
Fairest #1 – Spinning out of Fables, what ever happened to Sleeping Beauty? Ali Baba is the Prince of Thieves in search of treasure and this first issue harkens back to the quality of early Fables comics. So good.
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5
Hell Yeah #1 – It’s the last generation of heroes and there was a lot of buzz about this book and there’s a reason. It’s so good, Hell Yeah lives up to it’s name. The comic has great art and the story has me very interested. Such a solid first issue that shows why Image is one of the most buzzed about publishers.
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5
The Manhattan Projects #1 – Jonathan Hickman’s latest series is so interesting involving the Manhattan Project and how that was really a front. The ideas are so out there as expected, Hickman knocks it out of the park with this first issue. The art is interesting and not quite to my liking, but overall the series is a great read and absolute buy.
Story: 9 Art: 8 Overall: 9
Night Force #1 – What the fuck did I just read? This is really only for hardcore fans of whatever came before.
Story: 6 Art: 7.25 Overall: 6.25
Rachel Rising #6 – Wow. A slow burn of a horror series that seems to only get better with each issue. I really wish more people were praising the series because it deserves the mass exposure a certain other horror comic series is getting.
Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9
Ralph Wiggum Comics #1 – The things that come out of Ralph’s mouth are some of the best things ever said on The Simpsons. He’s easily one of my favorite characters. I was giddy when I heard about this series and it’s as funny and innocent as I expected. I had a smile on my face the entire time and was laughing out loud. So much potential, so much fun.
Story: 9 Art: 8 Overall: 8.75
Red Lanterns #7 – Atrocitus still searches for Krona so Bleez decides to take the Red Lanterns on a mission. Then there’s the Red Lantern of Earth, who of course lashes out and fights Guy Gardner. For all good there is, there’s also so much bad…
Story: 7 Art: 8 Overall: 7
Stormwatch #7 – The series is so close to being something great, but it just doesn’t quite do it for me. I’m still reading hoping it’ll get there. It shows improvement, but still not there yet.
Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9
Swamp Thing #7 – The Green is under assault by the Rot and Alec must choose what he’ll do. Does he become the Swamp Thing or does he let the Rot win. Here’s what we’ve been waiting for… the decision.
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #8 – Miles and his uncle have a talk while the Scorpion is after the Prowler. Miles is still dealing with his new role as others are adjusting to the news of a new Spider-Man.
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.25
Uncanny X-Men #8 – The Tabula Rasa story is over and I’m sure that’s not the last we’ll see of it. Overall a poor follow up to X-Force’s story that created it, but interesting concepts. The art is still very uneven.
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.25
Venom #14 – The battle in Vegas is over thankfully… such a bad story arc. Here’s hoping the series gets back on track.
Story: 6.5 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.5
Villains for Hire #4 – And with that, a good concept comes to an end. So sad as the Heroes and Villains concept had a ton of potential and the Heroes version was a lot of fun. This ending was a bit convoluted, but still entertaining. We’ll see if there’s any lasting impact to this all. I hope there is.
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7
Winter Soldier #3 – Not as quite good as Cap stories of the past, the series is slowly finding it’s own voice and coming together. Bucky and Widow have to break into the Latverian Embassy to have a chat with Von Doom after figuring out who is behind all the activity they’re tracking. There’s a lot of action here, but the comic stands out when it slows down and focuses on the characters.
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.5
Wolverine #302 – Wolverine struggles against mind control, what a shock. His battle with the Hand continues and gets noticed by the Hand’s leader Wilson Fisk… The story is ok, but the art is sub-par.
Story: 7.5 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7.25
Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha & Omega #3 – And the point to this miniseries is? I really need to learn to not buy these.
Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75
X-Men #26 – Wow is the art bad in this issue. Storm looks anorexic in the majority of panels. The story is so-so, but really, I kind of hoped someone would stake Jubilee and get this story arc over with.
Story: 7 Art: 6 Overall: 6.75
The demand for the debut issues of two of Image Comics’ newest comic book series, SAGA and THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, has been so strong that the publisher has already ordered third printings for both titles.
SAGA #1, the first issue of the new Image Comics series by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, sold out a week before its March 14 in-store date. It got near-universal rave reviews. And yet even Image was caught by surprise when the orders for the issue’s second printing were double the print run. The issue has immediately gone back to press once again, and the third printing (FEB128166) will be in stores on April 25.
The reprint print run for SAGA #1 was more than twice the usual quantity for second printings, but orders from retailers eager to get the critically-acclaimed first issue in the hands of customers kept rolling in, making a third printing necessary before the second printing is even in stores.
“Saga is the kind of comic that you get when truly talented superstar creators are given the freedom to produce their dream comic,” wrote Entertainment Weekly’s Jeff Jensen in his review of the issue.
SAGA tells the story of a young family, caught between two sides in a galactic war, striving to find safety for their newborn daughter. It is a monthly full-color comic book.
The second printing of SAGA #1 will be in stores on the same day as #2, April 11, and the third printing will be on sale on April 25.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS the newest Image Comics series by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra also has a first issue that is receiving a third printing after orders for its second printing surpassed the print run. A story in the print and online versions of USA Today and rave reviews accompanied the series debut on March 7.
“The Manhattan Projects is off to a tremendous start, one of the big concept author’s strongest, most inventive opening chapters,” wrote Paul Montgomery in his review at iFanboy.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS creates an alternate reality where the real-life project to develop the atomic bomb is just a front to hide far more bizarre government programs. The creative team of Hickman and Pitarra previously collaborated on THE RED WING, also published by Image Comics.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1’s second printing will be on sale on April 4, with the third printing (FEB128156) following on April 18. THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #2 will be in stores on April 11.
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.
HICKMAN GOES DIGITAL!
Jonathan Hickman, Image Comics and comiXology celebrate Hickman’s The Manhattan Projects #1 digital release by joining together to bring fans Hickman’s entire creator-owned catalog to the digital realm!
ComiXology will also offer the exclusive Test Pattern collection which includes The Nightly News, Pax Romana, Transhuman, A Red Mass for Mars and The Red Wing all in one digital edition!
March 7th, 2012 – New York, NY — Making waves in the digital realm today, superstar comic creator Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four, The Red Wing) announced the digital release of not only his new creator-owned Image Comics series The Manhattan Projects, but also the release of an exclusive digital collection of all his previously published creator-owned work through Image Comics. This digital exclusive collection, Test Pattern, is available only on the Comics by comiXology platform —including iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web. Test Pattern, a five-volume omnibus, collects Hickman’s entire creator-owned Image Comics back catalog, including The Nightly News, Pax Romana, Transhuman, A Red Mass for Mars, and The Red Winginto one digital edition that both long-time fans and new readers alike can enjoy.
The move toward releasing the entire back catalog of Hickman’s impressive creator-owned career and the digital exclusive collection — available only through comiXology — is also accompanied by the release of a FREE Test Pattern sample edition showcasing the first issues of each original Hickman series. The free Test Pattern sampler serves as a great starting point for new readers interested in Hickman’s work.
“As an innovator in the world of digital comics, comiXology is the logical place to release the entire back catalog of my creator-owned work along with=
my latest work, The Manhattan Projects. Digital is here to stay, and I look forward to finding a whole new audience with these projects and =
with comiXology,” Says Hickman.
“The Test Pattern collection is an amazing way to introduce fans to Jonathan’s recent back catalog all in one shot,” says comiXology CEO and Co-founder David Steinberger. “Getting creator owned comics into the hands of new readers is a top priority for us and as a long-time fan of Jonathan’s work myself, I couldn’t be happier!”
“From the moment I opened the package containing Jonathan’s pitch for The Nightly News, I knew he was a creative force to be reckoned with. The work he’s done for us since then has only reinforced my high opinion of his many talents, and it’s nothing short of an honor to associated with a creator of his caliber,” said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. “We’re proud to partner with Jonathan and comiXology in bringing his entire catalog of creator owned work to digital comic fans everywhere.”
The Manhattan Projects is Hickman’s new creator-owned series from Image Comics that asks the question: What if the R&D department created to produce the first atomic bomb was a front for more unusual programs? Teaming with Jonathan Hickman on The Manhattan Projects is artist Nick Pitarra (Astonishing Tales, The Red Wing) the duo unites once more following the success last year=92s Image Comics smash hit The Red Wing. The Manhattan Projects will debut as Jonathan Hickman’s first creator-owned, same day as print digital release.
Debuting today, The Manhattan Projects #1, the five-volume Test Pattern collection, and five-issue free sampler are available for download on the Comics by comiXology platform, the Image Comics App, and the Image Comics digital webstore. The Test Pattern five-volume collection and sampler is exclusive to the Comics by ComiXology platform and can also be found on the Image Comics App, powered by comiXology.
About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology, in just five short years, has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes AppStore, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon=92s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.
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.
BERKELEY, CA — Jonathan Hickman’s return to independent comics, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1, drawn by Nick Pitarra and Cris Peter and published by Image Comics, has sold out at the distributor level ahead of its in-store date of March 7. The issue will immediately go back to press and a second printing (JAN128125) will be in stores the same day as THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #2 (FEB120509), April 4.
Hickman previously created the Image comics THE RED WING, RED MASS FOR MARS, PAX ROMANA, and THE NIGHTLY NEWS, and his series SECRET will debut with Image on April 11. In THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, he creates an alternate history in which the the U.S. government’s development of an atomic bomb is a front for bringing together the world’s brightest minds for something even more dangerous. The Second World War rages underground in ways the public can never imagine, and the men of The Manhattan Projects are the United States’ last and best defense against the supernatural forces of the Axis powers.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS is a monthly, full-color comic book, available in comic book stores and multiple digital platforms.
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.
