New York Comic Con is over and it’s a new week of geeky goodness! What’s your favorite announcement from the show?
Around the Tubes
KQED/NPR – Musical Theatre Is Superman’s Kryptonite – I really want to see this.
Gamespot – The Amazing Spider-Man 2 coming to Xbox One, PS4 – Um, shocker?
Iowa State Daily – Pop Thoughts: The Humanity of Comic Books – A good read.
Around the Tubes Reviews
ScienceFiction.com – Superman/Wonder Woman #1
The third season of Comic Book Men kicked off with the usual geekiness and fun we’ve come to expect. In this first episode Lou Ferrigno visited the Stash to give Bryan Johnson a lesson in fitness and a customer wants to buy a key comic by legendary artist and writer, Frank Miller.
I worked about 6 years in comic book shops and let me tell you, it was much crazier than what this show would have you believe.
What I enjoy about the show is that it’s a lot of fun. There’s something about it that puts a smile on my face between their discussions and smart ass comments. Here we get some jokes about Affleck as Batman among other discussions.
When I saw that Lou Ferrigno was on the show, I rolled my eyes, thinking “yet another celebrity just randomly stopping by.” But, the reason here’s there is much more realistic, as it can get. Kevin Smith decided to hire Ferrigno to help cast member Bryan Johnson get into shape. Not totally down to earth, but at least it makes sense why he’s there. But, what’s cool is you get some history on Johnson, and his skinnier past, rounding him out a bit. There’s also lots of discussion about Ferrigno and he gives some fun info about his time as the Hulk. We’re also shown some easy workouts we can all do. Not only do we see exercises, but also a discussion of diet. To see discussion of health of the show is great. There was something a bit inspirational about it all.
While the situations presented aren’t near my experiences working in a comic book shop, but the show is fun. It’s a bunch of friends hanging out in a comic shop, and a podcast, talking comics. And that, I can relate to.
Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walter, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic
Overall Score: 7.5
The Walking Dead is back for a brand new season and right from the start this isn’t quite the same group of survivors that we knew before. After last seasons’ merging with the survivors from Woodbury this is a new community. One that’s somewhat given up weapons for plowshares. The prison is now a community, with farming, animals, long-term planning.
The fear is no longer the Governor and his army, instead the group is back to worrying about walkers, who keep on coming, building up against the fences like an endless horde. This is survival, with a focus on long turn sustainability. We’re quickly introduced to the new status-quo and numerous new characters, quickly figuring out who to keep our eyes on and who are just eventual zombie food.
This is a new society in a way, where scouting missions return prizes such as razors and comic books, as much as food and supplies. It’s no longer a Ricktatorship, instead of one man leading the charge, a council is in place making decisions and absent from that is Rick Grimes, who has taken to a life farming, raising his children, and contributing to the community by heading out into the forest for supplies. There’s time for zombie killing and there’s story time too. This is a society with children, plans and schools. But for all of the calm, there’s still a sense of dread underneath it all. This is a changed group, where they not only mourn the loss of members, but are so settled that they can mourn the loss of their animals. They are working towards long-term lives, trying to get over the fear that’s kept them alive.
But, threats still loom. The Governor is still on the loose and the team is on the lookout for him. That’s on top of the influx of zombies.
But, the theme of the episode seems to be choices. The choice to kill and destroy and the choice to make a new life. My guess is that’s a theme we’ll see continue throughout the season.
This episode has really brought us two things. Amped up fx is the first thing that stands out. A scene in a store with zombies literally falling from the sky increased the gore, excitement and goo. It was a tense scene, that showed off the production values, which were worthy of a movie, and frankly better than many.
The second thing is, that everyone is on the chopping block. Even as we’re introduced to new characters, folks are offed. Yeah, the death toll increases further in this episode, reminding us to just not get too attached to anyone too much. And that death is interesting in the episode, the loss of a community member is juxtaposed with the loss of an animal. Through all of that gore mentioned above, the humanity of the show and characters comes through just enough.
The first episode was an amazing start of what is a phenomenon of a show. Ending with such dread and a clearly ominous second episode. The fourth season of this juggernaut is here and it came with both calm and thunder.
Directed by: Greg Nicotero
Writer Credits: Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Scott M. Gimple
Overall Score: 9
Yesterday at New York Comic Con, Juliette Feld, executive vice president and producer with Feld Entertainment, unveiled the first sneak peek of next year’s groundbreaking arena spectacular: Marvel Universe LIVE!, produced by Feld Entertainment. During Marvel’s signature “Cup O’ Joe” panel, Marvel’s chief creative officer Joe Quesada introduced Ms. Feld for a surprise presentation about this highly anticipated Marvel live action arena event. Ms. Feld premiered the show’s first teaser trailer, providing a tantalizing taste of the cavalcade of Super Heroes to be featured and insight into the original story, and then revealed the official Marvel Universe LIVE! logo.
Producers Kenneth Feld and Juliette Feld have tapped an award-winning creative team for next year’s preeminent live event. Two-time Emmy award-winner Shanda Sawyer will serve as director, and is joined by brother and sister writing duo Adam Wilson and Melanie Wilson LaBracio. Andy Armstrong, stunt coordinator for the 2011 blockbuster film Marvel’s Thor, functions as action and stunt coordinator, while television and live show veteran Joe Stewart will lead set design. The vision for the Marvel Universe LIVE! costume design will be guided by Cynthia Nordstrom, whose projects have included Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and several off-Broadway productions. Norm Schwab, lighting designer, and Bob Bonniol, video content and system designer, round out the team.
Marvel Universe LIVE! will bring Marvel’s most iconic heroes and fearsome villains to life like never before during a live-action arena spectacular that will tour 85 North American cities in its first two years. Officially kicking off in July 2014, Marvel Universe LIVE! will redefine the live show experience by integrating a Marvel character driven story with state-of-the-art special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts and countless other show elements.
Announced at New York Comic Con, Dark Horse is bringing the Whedonverse into it’s tenth season with the help of fan favorite authors, Christos Gage and Victor Gischler.
Editor in Chief Scott Allie gave some details as to what to expect:
In Buffy, Season 10 is going to be about bringing friendships back together, while in Angel & Faith, relationships are shattered. Magic is starting to come back into the world, but in some surprising ways, like that vampire we saw standing in the sunlight at the end of Season 9.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10 is slated for 30 issues, written by Christos Gage and illustrated by Rebekah Issacs, with covers by long time series artist, Steve Morris.
Christos Gage commented:
The Buffyverse community has been wonderfully welcoming to Rebekah and me. It’s a tremendous honor for Joss and Dark Horse to trust us with their flagship book, and we are going to do all we can to be worthy of that trust. It’s a new season, with new rules…but hopefully the same blend of love, action, horror, humor and creativity that’s made Buffy and her Scoobies part of all our families. We hope you’ll join us for the ride.
Angel & Faith is also slated for a 30 issue run, written by Victor Gischler and illustrated by Will Conrad, with covers by Scott Fischer.
Gischler commented:
I was proud and privileged to have a small part in season nine, and I can’t express how grateful I am to have an expanded role in season ten. Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains an iconic television show, and the Dark Horse comics continue that great tradition. I plan on having a lot of fun.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10 #1 hits stands March 19th and Angel & Faith Season 10 #1 is on sale April 2nd in comic shops everywhere!
On the third day of the 2013 New York Comic Con independent comic book publisher, ComixTribe, announced Crosswords #0, the third of four new titles to be released in 2014 revealed at the convention.
What’s a 10-Letter Word for a Villain Worthy of his Own Book?
Crosswords a new one-shot written by Jason Ciaramella with art by Joe Mulvey, will focus on the power-drill wielding SCAM antagonist, and give the villain a chance to continue his dirty work, this time in Europe.
The events of the Crossword one-shot will pick up from where both the SCAM mini-series and the upcoming SCAMthology end off.
Crosswords will be a one-shot releasing in May 2014. The original SCAM mini-series concludes with SCAM #4 Finale next month, followed by SCAMthology in early 2014.
IDW Publishing dropped a bombshell at New York Comic Con, announcing two blockbuster Artist’s Editions produced under license from DC Entertainment. And these offerings are truly blockbusters—Jack Kirby‘s New Gods Artist’s Edition and Dave Gibbons‘ Watchmen Artifact Edition. For the first time ever, readers will be able to see up close Kirby’s energy and dynamic storytelling, and Gibbons’ intricately designed and beautifully realized pages, as they never have before—as close as possible to how they looked on the artist’s drawing boards!
Jack Kirby’s New Gods Artist’s Edition will be released in March and feature five complete issues of Kirby’s inaugural Fourth World book. Kirby, often called the King of Comics, is arguably the most important and influential comics creator of all time. His work on New Gods, which he wrote as well as drew, clearly reinforces that notion. Filled with amazing imagery and giant concepts, this book will measure 12 x 17 inches.
Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen will debut later in the year. Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is the story most often cited as the greatest graphic novel ever published. This Artist’s Edition will be atypical in that the stories will not be complete, and will be an Artifact Edition, the first released by IDW. It will be produced to the same exacting standards as an Artist’s Edition, and will feature a cornucopia of individual pages and covers from Watchmen, each image a testament to Gibbons’ elegant and nuanced style. This book will also measure 12 x 17 inches.
WHAT IS AN ARTIST’S EDITION? AN ARTIST’S EDITION PRESENTS COMPLETE STORIES WITH EACH PAGE SCANNED FROM THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL ART.
While appearing to be in black and white, each page was scanned in color to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art—for instance, corrections and blue pencils. Each page is printed the same size as drawn, and the paper selected is as close as possible to the original art board.
Dark Horse Comics confirmed at New York Comic Con plans to continue the cult classic story line directly following the film, Serenity. With executive producer Joss Whedon behind the helm, the comic series is sure to have fans clamoring to check it out.
With artwork by Georges Jeanty, covers by Dan Dos Santos and script by Zach Whedon – Serenity returns as a cornerstone of Dark Horse’s 2014 lineup!
Malcolm Reynolds’s crew shook the ’verse to its core when they laid bare the crimes against humanity undertaken by their sinister government—the Alliance. Always outlaws, Mal, a very pregnant Zoe, new pilot River Tam, and the other surviving crew members are in greater danger than ever, and everyone’s asking the same question . . .
Serenity: Firefly Class 03-K64—Leaves on the Wind #1 (of 6) is on sale January 29th in comic shops everywhere!
Aspen Comics made numerous announcements at the 2013 New York Comic Con including new and returning comic book series.
Lola from creator Siya Oum will be released in Spring 2014 and features a story fully written and illustrated by Oum. Featuring a post-apocalyptic landscape and one woman’s desire to discover the truth about her missing parents while she traverses the landscape known as the “Wasteland” in search of them.
Damsels in Excess from creator Vince Hernandez and Mirka Andolfo is a fairy tale action-adventure series that centers on a young princess, Bethany, who must survive the deadly threat of her fellow princesses of the Five Realms before they destroy her kingdom—and end her life.
J.T. Krul’s fantasy adventure series Jirni returns for a second volume with the original first volume’s art team of Paolo Pantalena and Brett Smith following the breakout success of its initial offering. Aspen will also be releasing a spinoff mini-series written by Krul, Jirni: Fall of the D’jinn set for release the same month as the launch of Jirni: Volume 2.
David Wohl and Brad Foxhoven’s Legend of the Shadow Clan returns for a second volume as well, following the hit first story arc. The art team of Cory Smith and John Starr will be returning as the series art team for the next volume.
Aspen Novels is set to publish 7 To Die by author Tag Roberts in 2014. Aspen will be adding another novel to their burgeoning line of books this year with the release of 7 To Die with more to follow soon. 7 To Die tells the story of Lex MacArthur, a bright, but struggling San Francisco college student who inexplicably receives an enigmatic clay pendant with an etched eight-pointed star in the mail. The pendant, which unlocks a bevy of dormant superhuman genes, also ignites Lex’s mission to discover who she is and where she came from. With several new enemies aggressively pursuing her to extort and capitalize on her newfound abilities, Lex is forced to fight for her life and save those she loves from certain death.
Aspen has teamed up with Comixology to offer large-scale omnibus editions of their popular flagship series Fathom, Soulfire and Executive Assistant: Iris. The Fathom Omnibus Edition Volumes 1 and 2 are available for purchase now, with the Executive Assistant: Iris and Executive Assistant: Assassins Omnibus Editions available on October 16th. November will see the release of the Soulfire Omnibus Edition Volumes 1 and 2.
Aspen will be offering all new titles featuring the Guided View feature on Comixology with more news and release dates to be revealed soon.
At New York Comic Con, Dynamite announced the return of Chaos! Comics, an expansive universe of fan-favorite horror characters including Evil Ernie, Purgatori, and Chastity. Superstar creator Tim Seeley will write an epic six-issue Event Series reintroducing the entire cast, bolstered by the gorgeous and gruesome illustrations of artist Mirka Andolfo. Scheduled for release in early 2014, the Chaos! Comics resurrection will revel in all the attitude, sex appeal, and pure unadulterated mayhem that longtime fans and fun-loving newcomers crave.
The Chaos! Comics revival is slated for release in early 2014, and will also be available through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.
