ShiftyLook Premiers New Web-Comic Based on NAMCO’s Retro Video Game Series, Wagan Land!
The holidays are almost over and, while most of you may be finished opening your gifts this year, ShiftyLook has one more in store for you: the premier of their latest ShiftyLook web-comic, Wagan Land!
Based on the classic Namco platformer, Wagan Land follows the adventures of the mechanical dinosaur Wagan as he attempts to thwart the evil schemes and puzzles of Dr.Devil. Much like Bravoman this long-running game series has remained a Japanese exclusive to this day, making ShiftyLook’s comic Wagan Land’s official international debut!
Fittingly, the series will feature the hilarious writing of Bravoman‘s Matt Moylan, and will also mark the official ShiftyLook debut of Udon artist Rob “Robaato” Porter! To catch more of his work, be sure to check out Rob’s DeviantArt and Tumblr. You can also keep up with Matt (@Lilformers) and Rob (@RobaatoX) on Twitter.
Wagan Land updates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, exclusively on ShiftyLook.com! Head over to www.shiftylook.com/comics/wagan-land to check out the first few strips along with some history on the series, and while you’re there read all our other comics based on retro games, absolutely free and exclusively at ShiftyLook.com!
Preview – Mara #1 (of 6)
Mara #1 (of 6)
Story by: Brian Wood Art By: Jordie Bellaire & Ming Doyle
Price: $2.99
Acclaimed creator BRIAN WOOD (The Massive, DMZ, Demo, Northlanders) and brilliant newcomer MING DOYLE (The Loneliest Astronaut, Fantastic Four, Girl Comics) bring you MARA, the story of an especially gifted woman in a sports-and war-obsessed future. Young Mara Prince is at the top of the world, a global celebrity in a culture that prizes physical achievement above all else. After she manifests supernatural abilities on live TV, she becomes famous all over again but for the worst reasons. Integrating themes of superpowers, celebrity worship, corporate power, feminism, and political brinksmanship, MARA takes a classic genre to new places.
Review – Deathmatch #1
Pitting people against each other seems to be in vogue when it comes to entertainment. Deathmatch #1, BOOM!‘s latest series does just that, but attempts to answer those debates we’ve all had as to who would win in a fight between two comic book characters. Kidnapped and taken to an unknown world by an unknown assailant, heroes and villains must fight to the death. Interspersed between the fights, we get to know the combatants, and unravel the mystery.
THE SUPERHERO BATTLE ROYALE YOU CAN’T GET FROM MARVEL OR DC! A powerful and mysterious supervillain has imprisoned the world’s greatest superheroes, forcing them to fight to the death until there is but one victor. It’s kill or be killed as we settle the score on all those hypothetical superhero match-ups in the ultimate DEATHMATCH. Written by industry legend Paul Jenkins (SENTRY, INHUMANS) and drawn by comics superstar Carlos Magno (PLANET OF THE APES, TRANSFORMERS), DEATHMATCH is a dark, psychological deconstruction of the superhero genre that can’t be missed.
Written by Paul Jenkins, there’s the rather complicated task of not only keeping the battles entertaining and unique, but also balancing between that and the backstory. We get to learn about this new world with characters who are familiar, but also unique. That’s not easy at all, especially when you need to keep up a decent pace when it comes to plot. Jenkins pulls it off smoothly in this first issue, transitioning between it all as well as setting up the overall plot. There’s a lot to cram in, in this first issue and it’s pulled off masterfully.
The art by Carlos Magno is top notch with some great nods to different styles and awesome use of panels when laying out the origin of the first character we’re introduced to. Together Magno and Jenkins come off as a formidable team.
The first issue is straight forward. We’re introduced to a character, Dragonfly in the middle of battle, then taken through his origin and how he fits into the hierarchical structure of heroes and villains and then we dive into the mystery of the abduction. It’s entertaining, engaging and the pacing is great. What’s also impressive is Jenkin’s ability to instill the anxiety and unease from the characters. They really have no idea as to what’s going on, they’re clearly disorientated, and by dropping the reader into a story in progress, the reader is instilled with these same feelings in a good way.
This should be a fun series and it’ll be great to see what Jenkins comes up with in each issue. BOOM! has been pumping out a lot of original work this year and this release is a great way to cap off a fantastic year for them.
Story: Paul Jenkins Art: Carlos Magno
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Around the Tubes
With new comic book day yesterday, did folks go to the store? What’d everyone think of the twist to Spider-Man?
Around the Tubes Reviews
IGN – The Amazing Spider-Man #700
IGN – Aquaman #15
MTV Geek – Aquaman #15
IGN – Justice League #15
Preview – The Shadow Special #1
THE SHADOW SPECIAL #1
40 pages FC • $4.99 • Teen +
Written by Scott Beatty
Art by Ronan Cliquet
Cover by Alex Ross
The Shadow knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. But when Lamont Cranston crosses paths with an old friend–a fellow veteran of “the war to end all wars”–Cranston’s justice serving alter ego must judge a man whose path to villainy began with their friendship! At the risk of his own secrets being laid bare, Cranston accepts an invitation to join a very exclusive club of adventurers whose dark hearts might be the worst The Shadow has ever encountered!
Hip Flask: Ouroborous Comes Full Circle
Ladrönn has returned to Hip Flask to illustrate the penultimate issue of Richard Starkings‘ acclaimed series. Ladrönn won an Eisner for his artwork in Hip Flask: Mystery City, and he and Starkings returns with a lush, beautiful story about redemption and love, Ourborous.
And, as a bonus, the price of Hip Flask: Ourborous has been decreased — from $5.99 to $4.99! It’s a Christmas miracle, and is it any surprise that it comes from the genial, white-bearded Starkings?
“Call me a numbskull,” said Starkings, “but I figured readers need more bang for their buck, not less.”
Hip Flask tells the story of the eponymous anthropomorphic hippopotamus, an information agent in a dystopian future where human-animal hybrids, created as implements of war, struggle to be accepted into society. A series of extra-long issues, Hip Flask is set in the same universe as Starkings’ beloved series Elephantmen.
Hip Flask will be in stores on December 26!
How the Doctor Puppet Saved Christmas
Zenescope New Releases – 12/26/12
Grimm Universe #2
Written By: Pat Shand
Britney Waters, aka Red, has returned to the city after the events of Myths and Legends Volume one. Intent on moving on with her life she’ll soon find that is easier said than done. When she crosses the path of a vicious serial killer she decides to use her unique skills to attempt to track down the killer down. But what she finds might be something that even her and her incredible powers are unprepared for.
Sleepy Hollow #3
Written By: Dan Wickline
The Headless Horseman has returned and those who are responsible for his murder are in for a terrifying surprise. As the guilt continues to torture Ty for his part in his friend’s murder, he starts seeing things that may or may not be there. Meanwhile, Craig’s headless body has returned to seek his vengeance and he will stop at nothing to get it!
From the minds of Ralph Tedesco, Joe Brusha and Raven Gregory, written by Dan Wickline (30 Days of Night), this is one horror series you do not want to miss!
Fly The Fall #3
Written By Raven Gregory
The “Best comic of 2011” as voted by: Wizard World, Pop Culture Addict, Comic Buzz, Talking Comics, and Geekadelphia continues!
The story of Danielle and Eddie’s downfall is told for the first time and the tragedy of what happens when addiction overcomes love reveals the bloody legacy that Eddie will have to live with forever. Meanwhile, Francis faces off against the Hero in a fight to the death that will unveil the truth behind who the hero is and what his connection is to Eddie.
Set in a world where the superheroes aren’t really heroes at all… how far would you go to FLY?
GrayHaven Comics Looks to Help Those in Need
“You are not alone.” That’s the message that the GrayHaven Comics team is getting out to the world in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook. As a response to those tragic events in Newtown, CT the comic book team is producing a FREE COMIC BOOK that can be used to help those in need. Topics will cover dangers that many children unfortunately face every day in their lives, racism, homophobia to body issues and so on.
The tragic events of December 14, when 26 innocent people, including 20 children, lost their lives, affected the GrayHaven team. This lead to a discussion between the editors as to what they could do. What could be done?
What good is having the ability to reach people with our stories if we can’t put that to use in a beneficial way?
It goes beyond the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School. It goes beyond the victims of Aurora. This is not about gun violence or gun control. This is not a political statement. This is a statement of being good to your fellow man.
The GrayHaven team thought about Brandon Elizares, a 14 year old boy who took his own life after being bullied for coming out to his friends and classmates.
It’s about Victoria Gray’s African American son who was tied to a locker at his High School as classmates taunted him with cheers of ‘slave for sale’
This is about the 11 year old developmentally challenged child who was held down on a kitchen table by four adults who took turns beating him.
This is about the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse and others like him.
This is about the children who are ridiculed or worse because of the color of their skin. Their sexual orientation. Their mental capacity. Their weight. Their interests.
This is about the children who no longer feel safe going to the movies or to school.
This is about the millions of kids who suffer abuse and suffer in silence thinking that no one cares.
The project is designed to reinforce that these children that are abused, and the many more we don’t know about know they are not alone. The GrayHaven team cares. Those involved in this project care. People care and want to help.
GrayHaven Comics will be publishing You Are Not Alone a very special anthology one shot featuring stories inspired but not based on real life events like the ones mentioned above. With this book they hope to give people the means to get help and know what to do should they ever witness or face such situations themselves. The book will be produced by their editors and distributed for FREE in order to get the message out to as many people who could benefit from it as possible. Along with print volumes they will also offer a free digital version of the book for those that prefer their reading on handhelds. A donation button will be placed on the site for anyone who wants to contribute any amount (be it a dollar or ten) and those funds will go to the charities established for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School.
GrayHaven will be taking open submissions for these topics and full details will be released soon. Room will be limited and stories will be capped at 4 pages in length and editorial will guide writers and artists to make sure the material fits the criteria and is suitable for younger readers who they hope to reach with these stories. Interested writers and artists can contact them directly at gatheringanthology@hotmail.com
