Around the Tubes
It’s a new week, and today is MLK Day as well as the Inauguration of President Obama to a second term. I myself won’t be venturing outside due to the madness that is Washington, DC during this time.
Around the Tubes Reviews
Bleeding Cool – Chew #31
Talking Comics – Ex Sanguine #4
Talking Comics – Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #16
Bleeding Cool – The Grand Duke
Make Way, Bro – Torque is Coming Through in Harbinger #8!
Valiant has released a first look of Harbinger #8 – the next installment of the brand new, critically acclaimed “Renegades” storyline by author Joshua Dysart and artist Lee Garbett. With Toyo Harada and the Harbinger Foundation in hot pursuit, Peter Stanchek and his band of outlaw superhuman runaways have just found their newest member. But can even the Renegades handle a wild card like the musclebound powerhouse called Torque?
In a shed in the backwoods of Northern Georgia lives a meek, sequestered teen named John Torkelson. Raised just this side of feral, and on a steady diet of MMA and reality TV, fried catfish and Cheeto pie, he’s a firm believer that women should be seen and not heard (though he really hasn’t met many). But when four strange, super-powered teenagers suddenly appear in the woods outside his shed, Torkelson’s life takes a turn he never could have imagined. Now the boy his poppa called “Stump” is about to become more man than he could ever imagine. But then…what exactly is a “real man”? For that matter, what’s a real hero? Only one thing’s certain, the Renegades are about to get a hell of a lot stronger.
Peter Stanchek. Kris Hathaway. Zephyr. Flamingo. There’s never been a team of super-powered teenagers quite like the Renegades. Now get ready for a whole new level of intensity when Torque hammers his way into the Valiant Universe on January 23rd – only in Harbinger #8! And ask your local retailer about this issue’s special incentive variant covers by Khari Evans and Jeff Lemire.
HARBINGER #8 – ON SALE JANUARY 23rd!
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by LEE GARBETT
Cover by MICO SUAYAN (NOV121342)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (NOV121343)
Linewide Variant by JEFF LEMIRE (NOV121344)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
Stan Lee’s Kids Universe Day is February 2
1821 Comics, comic legend Stan Lee and his company POW! Entertainment are teaming up for Stan Lee’s Kids Universe Day, an event in Los Angeles on February 2 for kids celebrating the first properties from 1821 Comics, Stan Lee and POW!’s new family-friendly publishing imprint Stan Lee’s Kids Universe which include Digital E-Books, books and games for multiple platforms. The children participating in Stan Lee’s Kids Universe Day will get an exclusive sneak preview of the new line of family friendly properties and will engage in a variety of fun activities.
Stan Lee’s Kids Universe Day will take place on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Giggles N’ Hugs in Century City, and will include invited children and their parents.
Stan Lee’s Kids Universe Day is scheduled to feature the following activities*:
- A book reading session for the kids with Stan Lee, where he will be giving out signed copies of books from the new imprint.
- Lunch and games with characters from the Stan Lee’s Kids Universe.
- Playtime with rescued animals.
- Arts and craft sessions for the kids.
* Activities at STAN LEE’S KIDS UNIVERSE DAY are subject to change.
President Pro Tempore, Batman Fan
It seems the geeks have inherited the Earth, but when it comes to American politics, comic geeks (and geeks in general) seem to be the ones in charge. President Obama is an admitted comic book fan, having read and collected Spider-Man and Conan. Congressman Grayson who was re-elected to congress is a comic fan who has often quoted comics and used them in political speeches.
The Senate, now has a new number two man, who also happens to be a comic fan. The new President Pro Tempore (pro tem) of the United States Senate is Senator Patrick Leahy (D – Vermont). Leahy was sworn into the position on December 17, after the passing of Senator Daniel Inouye.
The President Pro Tempore is a position created by the Constitution, and is the chamber’s second-highest-ranking official, after the Vice President. Basically, that person runs things when the VP isn’t around. By tradition, the Senate unanimously elects the most senior senator in the majority party to fill the position, which also makes the person third in the line of succession.
Senator Leahy is a huge Batman fan and has appeared in some of the Batman movies and voiced characters. That was Senator Leahy standing up to Heath Ledger’s Joker in the Dark Knight.
That fandom and those appearances have also raised some eyebrows. Senator Leahy has stood up for and fought for Hollywood when it comes to things like intellectual property protection.
Nonetheless, it’s another example of comic fans dominating politics.
Preview – Hellraiser: The Road Below #4
Hellraiser: The Road Below #4
Written by Brandon Seifert
Art by Haemi Jang
SC, 32pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
COVER A: TIM BRADSTREET
COVER B: NICK PERCIVAL
Diamond Code: NOV12 0987
FINAL ISSUE! DON’T MISS THE HORRIFYING CONCLUSION! Ruling Hell isn’t as easy as it looks… Kirsty Cotton has been thrown into the middle of a decades-long family feud, and her choices will end it once and for all. The bloody finale to Kirsty Cotton’s “Year One” story!
Hunter Quaid Ravages Dark Horse Presents!
From an elevator pitch at Comic-Con to the pages of comics’ greatest anthology, writer Donny Cates and comedian Eliot Rahal are making their Dark Horse Presents debut with Hunter Quaid!
Hunter Quaid is a drunken, misanthropic, time-traveling detective from the forties, but that’s not all! As we follow Hunter on his journeys, we find that not all is as it seems, and sharp-eyed readers will find hidden clues to the book’s needlessly elaborate, totally awesome secret . . . !
Hunter is not the classic story of a perfect hero, but no matter what, when the chips are down and the world is about to end—Quaid is all we got, and all we need.
Catch Hunter Quaid appearing in Dark Horse Presents #24, on sale May 22, 2013!
Valiant in April 2013
HARBINGER WARS #1 (of 4)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
“Do you know where the children are?”
HARBINGER WARS, Valiant’s first family crossover event, begins here! A decades-old secret is about to put BLOODSHOT and HARBINGER on an inescapable collision course – and, soon, the most powerful forces in the Valiant Universe will be drawn into a battle without sides, without rules, and without mercy.
- Two dozen undisciplined, untested and untrained superhuman children have just escaped from a top-secret research facility and into the world.
- When Bloodshot, Toyo Harada and Peter Stanchek join the chase, will the Valiant Universe be ready for its first all-out superhuman showdown?
- Start reading here for a high-stakes tale that will put Valiant’s greatest heroes to the ultimate test!
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE APRIL 3rd!
HARBINGER #11 (HARBINGER WARS)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art & Cover by KHARI EVANS
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
“Your system has failed us. Now we must build our own.”
All-new arc, all-new jumping-on point! HARBINGER WARS continues in a standalone, four-part arc of HARBINGER, featuring the return of original series artist Khari Evans (Carbon Grey)!
- The world has just become a much bigger, much more dangerous place for Peter Stanchek and the Renegades…
- How will they react to the revelation of Project Rising Spirit’s secret mission and the harbinger hunter known as Bloodshot?
- Find out in PART ONE of HARBINGER WARS: HARBINGER!
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE APRIL 10th!
BLOODSHOT #10 (HARBINGER WARS)
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by MICO SUAYAN
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by CLAYTON HENRY
Wraparound Variant by LEWIS LAROSA
“Hitting the target is more important than who pulls the trigger.”
All-new arc, all-new jumping-on point! HARBINGER WARS continues in a standalone, four-part arc of BLOODSHOT, featuring comics legend Barry Kitson (Fantastic Four)!
- Bloodshot has banded together with Project Rising Sprit’s most dangerous escapees.
- Can he shape them into a force for good – or are they too far gone?
- Find out in PART ONE of HARBINGER WARS: BLOODSHOT!
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE APRIL 17th!
X-O MANOWAR #12
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by JUAN DOE
What lurks beneath the surface of PLANET DEATH?
Aric of Dacia has taken his one-man war to the Vine’s homeworld, Loam, and is using their own X-O Manowar armor to wage it. Finding an ally in the unlikeliest of places, Aric will discover that his mission to reduce Loam to ash will come with a high price. Past, present, and future are about to collide, and if Aric isn’t careful, he will be the common thread that undoes them all.
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE APRIL 17th!
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #9
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art & Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
Variant Cover by CLAYTON HENRY
It’s all over for the Eternal Warrior!
Gilad and Armstrong must set aside their sibling rivalry long enough to defeat the deadly new champion of The Null… ARCHER! It’s win or go home (i.e. “die”) as “Wrath of the Eternal Warrior” reaches its bone-crushing conclusion!
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE APRIL 10th!
SHADOWMAN #6
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN & PATRICK ZIRCHER
Art & Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Variant Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
The dead rising are rising in New Orleans.
The Deadside is spreading throughout the city, while a sinister new menace gathers an army that can’t be killed. Meanwhile, Jack is about to discover that his Shadowman powers are as much a curse as a blessing.
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE APRIL 3rd!
SHADOWMAN VOL. 1: BIRTH RITES TPB
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN & PATRICK ZIRCHER
Art & Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
There are a million dreams in the Big Easy. But now its worst nightmare is about to come true.
As the forces of darkness prepare to claim New Orleans as their own, Jack Boniface must embrace the legacy he was born to uphold. As Shadowman, Jack is about to become the only thing that stands between his city and an army of unspeakable monstrosities from beyond the night. But is the mantle of Shadowman a blessing or a curse? And what is the true cost of his otherworldly power?
From rising star Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode) and comics superstar Patrick Zircher (Captain America, Hulk), this volume collects SHADOWMAN #1-4.
$14.99/T+/112 pgs.
ISBN: 978-1-939346-00-1
ON SALE APRIL 24th!
Preview – Peanuts Vol. 2 #5
Peanuts Vol 2 #5
Written by Charles Schulz, Mona Koth, Shane Houghton, Vicki Scott
Art by Matt Whitlock, Mona Koth, Vicki Scott
SC, 32pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
COVER A: Vicki Scott & Paige Braddock
COVER B: Vicki Scott & Paige Braddock
Diamond Code: NOV12 0961
NOW AN ONGOING SERIES! Peanuts is back for the new year with Snoopy’s most beloved personality taking center stage…The Flying Ace! Will his Sopwith Camel hold up against the Red Baron long enough for Snoopy to make it back to the café for a cold, tall root beer? Charles Schulz’s beloved creations keep going strong with all-new stories mixed in with Schulz original Sunday strips.
Rep. Rangel Says “It’s a Trap”
Representative Charles Rangel decided to win the Internet for the day by quoting Admiral Akbar when discussing the GOP proposal regarding the debt ceiling.
When it comes to Congressmen most likely to use a Star Wars meme, really in any way, but then again I didn’t think the White House would have to explain why it wouldn’t be building a Death Star either. Barely into the year and 2013 already looks to be a bizarre year when it comes to politics.
(H/T Bryan Young)
