The cover to MODOK Reign Delay #1 is up for bid on ebay for charity. The cover is by Ryan Dunlavey. 100% of the proceeds of this sale are going to Unicef to support the child victims of the Haitian earthquake.
Please visit http://www.heroes4haiti.com/ to find more comic book auctions supporting Haiti earthquake relief.
The bidding ends today, so get to it.
The Cold War brought us tension between two super powers. Both the United States and Soviet Union delved into super secret projects that would give them the edge in case of war.
Today, the tension has somewhat thawed and the Soviet Union is no more. The legacy though of that time may be the plentiful weapons that remain improperly protected and what may happen if they were to fall into the wrong hands. Loose weapons of mass destruction is a very real threat.
A new series coming in March, produced by Oni Press, deals with this topic. Ghost Projekt is written by Joe Harris with art by Steve Rolston and colors by Dean Trippe.
Russia is often remembered from the shadow cast during the Cold War-era when every stranger was a spy, but now that the Cold War is long over, some things left behind from that era may not stay lost. An abandoned Soviet research facility somewhere in Siberia has been home to a strange and dangerous weapon that is now in the hands of thieves claiming it for their own. U.S. weapons inspector Will Haley has been assigned to find out what dangers the weapon poses and with the help of Russian agent Anya Romanova they will find the answers, but it will be far from easy.
You can check out your own 13 page preview at http://www.onipress.com/blog/?p=1198.
Story: This is a nice noirish story with good tension. The first issue mostly sets up the story with much of it just giving you pieces of the mystery and allowing you to draw your won conclusions. Some of the dialogue is in Russian with no translation, only adding to the mystery. It’s also nice to see a story drawn from a very real and scary situation. Rating: 9.5
Art: The art is definitely a very interesting style. It doesn’t quite fit the setting but at the same time doesn’t distract from the series. It reminds me of what you might find in Resurrection, but much tighter in the pencils. It’s a decent style that helps tell the story and doesn’t hinder. Rating: 8
Overall: While this first preview issue wasn’t complete, the 24 pages I read were very entertaining. The first issue is very much a set up for the series with a slow build. I’d definitely recommend making sure your store pulls you an issue to check out. I think you’ll be entertained. Overall Rating: 9
Recommendation: Buy
Release: March 10, 2010
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.
It’s a fairly light week of books with some shockingly good books and some shocking moments.
Monthly Comics
Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3 – Interesting enough each issue of this Blackest Night limited series tie-in managed to improve on the previous. This issue takes place before all of the new Lanterns got together. We’re to believe there was a fight between Mera and Wonder Woman at some point in there. There’s some nice moments, and the issue is an improvement, but overall the series, like most Blackest Night tie-ins, is a disappointment.
Story: 7 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75
Cable #23 – Cable and Hope continue their run from Bishop, pretty much what’s happened for the entire series. However, the issue does have a nice tie-in to some of the earlier stories. It’s nothing new but we’re more issue closer to the next major “X” event.
Story: 6.5 Art: 6.5 Overall: 6.5
Cinderella: From Fabletwon With Love #4 – I’m not quite sure why I was under the impression this was a limited series, but I guess not. Cinderella and Alladin finish up their mission. The series as always has some great banter and action and also the usual flashback. It’s nice the series references past events without thinking it needs to explain every detail. This series doesn’t quite reach the level that Fables does, but it’s a nice addition.
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5
Deadpool: Team-up #896 – Deadpool and U.S.Ace (who?) try to deliver two truck loads but are attacked by gun-toting raccoons. Yeah you read that right. Why does this series exist other than to suck more money from our wallets? The tone of three Deadpool series varies greatly, but they don’t add much to each other or the character. Just stick with the main series and you’re fine and reading the best of the three.
Story: 6 Art: 7 Overall: 6.5
Demo #1 – Brian Wood and Beck Cloonan continue their earlier series, this time under the Vertigo banner. Much like the other recent Vertigo series Daytripper, Demo is about individuals and their feelings and actions. Cloonan’s amazing black and white art is reminiscent of popular manga style mixed with a western style. Just a fantastic first issue that makes me want to rush out and find the earlier run.
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9
the Invincible Iron Man #23 – The Stark: Disassembled storyline has been a slow burn, taking place over five issues. This is the second last moment and mostly deals with figuring out Stark the man and why he’s created the world he has. There’s also some great revelations and a shocking moment. It’ll be nice to have Stark back in the armor and rebuilding his life in the real world, but so far this is a nice bridge from the fast action that made up the Most Wanted storyline.
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5
Realm of Kings: Son of Hulk #1 – Dealing with one of Hulk’s sons, Hiro-Kala is on a mission about some sort of force. I know nothing about the background of this character and unfortunately you need to know a little to fully understand what’s going on. However, the strong writing by Scott Reed makes the issue very enjoyable and entertaining, even for those who don’t quite understand everything that’s going on.
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75
Siege #2 – There are some fantastic moments in this issue, Steve Rogers taking back the shield, Nick Fury firing up his troops, and an Avenger dying. It’s just filled with chilling and exciting moments that are making me pumped for this event. Don’t look for anything too deep, just cool action with the heaviest hitters in the Marvel universe.
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9
Siege: Embedded #2 – This series’ entire goal is to look at Norman Osborn’s use of the media in his quest for power and run up to war with Asgard. The focus is Ben Urich the “honest” reporter and Todd Keller, a character who has similarities to some personalities you might find on Fox News. A great statement about propaganda and how the media is manipulated by our government to achieve it’s means.
Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.75
Wolverine: Weapon X #10 – All I can say is wow when it comes to this issue. The entire issue is a reflection on Wolverine’s past loves and his current relationship with Melita. It’s a very nice issue that serves as a break between arcs. Very touching, just fantastic writing from Jason Aaron, and definitely the best issue of the series so far.
Story: 9 Art: 8 Overall: 8.75
Jim McCann is a mostly known as a writer for Marvel comics (though he also had a sting writing for the daytime soap One Life to Live). Recently he brought us New Avengers: The Reunion featuring Hawkeye and Mockingbird, a really great mini-series.
We’ve also been telling you that those involved with the comic industry have a tendency to talk politics on Twitter. We guess something about the site seems to bring it out of them. Well, Jim fell into that trap promoting a bipartisan site that just launched http://www.politilife.com which covers political news and discussions.
We’re not quite sure what to think of the website, as it’s layout is pretty blah and the highlights are something that our Google Reader can handle (ie aggregate material from other websites). Feel free to check it out for yourself.
You can follow Jim McCann at http://twitter.com/JimMcCann.
Also, join us Tuesday for the start of our regular series Tuesday Twitter Fun where we’ll be highlighting a few politically charged tweets from those in the comic industry.
The iPad has been heralded as potentially saving the print industry. Everything from books, to newspapers and even comic books have been told the iPad will solve all their ills. Panelfly has shown off what we can expect their comic book reader will look like.
The application is one of many that allows you to purchase comics digitally. From their website:
On the iPhone, Panelfly revolutionized digital comics with is patent pending narrative navigation engine and offered an unprecedented user experience. Now, without hinderance of the smaller screen, Panelfly will once again change the experience of digital reading forever on the iPad.
With a new library, new store & a new reading experience – Panelfly looks to raise the bar on digital comics and provide users with the functionality and platform needs they’ve been waiting for.
Whether you’re on an iPhone, iPod Touch, or an iPad you will be able to enjoy comics whenever, wherever you desire.
Be sure to download Panelfy today and gain access to a comic book library that is growing exponentially.
Are you willing to shell out $500 for a device to read comic books on? It does look nice, and I’ve enjoyed the free comics on the PSP, but there’s something about tactile touch and the connection you feel with the printed page and the art printed on it. I can’t experience ink rubbing off on my fingers with an iPad.
We here at Graphic Policy have a bit of a crush on Olivia Munn, one of the hosts of G4’s Attack of the Show. On Thursday, Munn’s lawyer sent a cease-and-desist letter to online store Heavy Ink over it’s sale of Antarctic Press’s comic book Olivia Munn Celebrity Showdown.
The comic is described as:
Hollywood’s hottest geek girl, Olivia Munn, hosts G4’s Attack of the Show, but while at comic con, she is attacked by a swarm of fans. Unable to escape, her gamma-irradiated cells explode and unleash the fury of The 50-Foot Womunn. It’s the showdown of the century! Geeks vs Munn! Let’s get ready to rumble!!
The letter confuses the issue thinking the store is the creator and demands all copies be destroyed, yet the comic hasn’t been printed yet.
Heavy Ink took to the internet, posting both the letter from the lawyers and their response. Heavy Ink takes the lawyers to task. After pointing out they’re a store, and some proof that Munn is a public figure, they point out some law of their own:
Given these two websites, it is clear that she is a public figure. As
a public figure, the use of her likeness meets the tests for the
parody copyright exception set forth in both Campbell v. Acuff-Rose
Music, Inc. and the more recent Suntrust v. Houghton Mifflin.As such, we have no intention of taking down our webpage, destroying
any inventory, or refusing to offer the comic for sale.
We think the greatest injustice is that really the comic should of been about G4’s resident comic geek Blair Butler, http://twitter.com/theblairbutler.
Here’s this weeks new releases (a day late). There’s some free one’s in there if you have a PSP and just want to see what this is all about. Provided by the nice folks at the Playstation blog.
Here’s the complete list:
Free Comics
Two more Avenger teaser images have been released by Marvel. This time Thor and Hawkeye. These come on the tail of Bucky (aka the new Captain America), Iron Man and Spider-woman. It’s pretty cool to see Hawkeye as an Avenger again and the return of Marvel’s trinity on the team.
However, I can’t help but feel like we’re missing something. Who’s wearing the Iron Man armor and is that Clint Barton under the Hawkeye mask?
Marvel has been teaser heavy promoting what we can expect post Siege and dubbed the Heroic Age and begins in May. It’s a return to good guys fighting evil, blah, blah, blah, etc. Below is from the Marvel website as well as another teaser image.
Witness the Marvel Universe triumph over its greatest challenges ever as the HEROIC AGE ignites! Still lurking in the shadows are forces of evil and cosmic-level threats, but a new spirit of hope, courage, and the selflessness at the heart of heroism will rise up. The most extraordinary tales will be told in this Heroic Age of the Marvel Universe.Stay tuned for more exciting revelations of new series, new teams and new characters as the Age of Heroes begins!
We’ve gotten some teasers as to the new Avengers team, any guesses as to what else we can expect?
We figured we’d be seeing an Iron Man/Avenger teaser from Marvel. Sure enough one has been released. Now, we’re still missing Thor…..
