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NYCC 2022: Joe Quesada returns, Icon vs. Hardware, John Ridley, and more!

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DC‘s Jim Lee & Friends panel at New York Comic Con was full of news and reveals from amazing talent.

Marc Silvestri Talks About Batman’s Ultimate Team-Up

Lee’s longtime creative colleague Marc Silvestri was also on hand to share new art and conversation about his “buddy cop horror story”, Batman/The Joker: The Deady Duo. Silvestri talked to Lee and fans about the early days of pitching and planning the series, how his approach has evolved as both writer and artist from the start until now, why the relationship between Batman and The Joker has captivated fans for so long, and more details about what fans can expect when this seven issue limited series launches November 1, 2022.

Oscar Award-Winning Writer John Ridley – All In On DC

DC is fortunate to have an Academy Award-winning screenwriter on hand that treats his comic writing projects with the same care and commitment that he has with movies like 12 Years A Slave, Five Days At Memorial, American Crime, and his other movie projects. Writer John Ridley joined the panel to talk with Jim about his body of work, past and present. Ridley chatted with Lee and the audience about the current and future trajectory of Jace Fox since his move from Gotham to New York (and a sidekick?) in I Am Batman, and how the most recent story arc leads into his upcoming limited series G.C.P.D.: The Blue Wall, debuting October 18, 2022. John also discussed how he landed the job of telling the story of The Penguin, as part of DC’s Batman: One Bad Day event, revealing exclusive first look art from the one-shot ahead of its October 18 release.

Spencer Ackerman – “Building The Wall” in A New DC Black Label Series

For many, the 1990s was a comic book “renaissance,” with the birth of Lee’s own Wildstorm comics, DC’s then-unimaginable Death of Superman, and the creation of Milestone Comics. November’s DC 90’s Rewind event includes the launch of a new WildC.A.T.s. ongoing series, and a new DC Black Label limited series, Waller vs. WildStorm. Co-writer and noted national security journalist Spencer Ackerman appeared on the panel to talk about his first work for DC and how he, co-writer Evan Narcisse and artist Eric Battle plan to merge the DC and Wildstorm universes and show how Amanda Waller rose to power to become one of the most ruthless and unyielding characters in the DCU. Waller vs. Wildstorm debuts November 15, 2022.

Nikolas Draper-Ivey and Vita Ayala Return Static to Dakota in 2023

One of the brightest lights of Milestone Media’s reuniting with DC was Static: Season One, and breakout artist Nikolas Draper-Ivey, who joined the panel to talk a little about the reception that he, writer Vita Ayala and co-artist ChrisCross received after relaunching Milestone’s flagship super hero for a new generation. Fans got to see some of Draper-Ivey’s incredible art, as he spoke about taking on the new challenge of both co-writer (with Ayala) and artist for the six-issue sequel to Static: Season One, Static: Shadows of Dakota, debuting on February 7, 2023.

Early Look at New Titles Celebrating Milestone’s 30th Anniversary in 2023

Lee’s chat with Draper-Ivey led to more Milestone news, as he shared early reveals of two titles that will be part of the celebration of this groundbreaking imprint’s 30th anniversary next year. Cover art was revealed for Icon vs. Hardware, a five-issue limited series launching on February 14, 2023. Spinning out of the epilogue of the Milestones In History anthology, this series is co-written by Reggie Hudlin and Leon Chills, and pits two of Milestone’s core super heroes against each other for the future of Dakota, as Hardware discovers a time machine and puts it to work altering the history of the world.

Fans also got the first look at the main (by Denys Cowan) and variant (by Nikolas Draper-Ivey) covers for a Milestone 30th Anniversary Special, scheduled for a February 21, 2023 release. This commemorative one-shot will feature stories celebrating the breadth and depth of the Dakotaverse, with contributions from Eisner award winner Chuck Brown, Stephanie Williams, Denys Cowan, Nikolas Draper Ivey, Yasmin Flores Montanez and others. The Draper-Ivey variant cover spotlights the story he’s writing and drawing, a team up between an adult version of Static and Batman Beyond.

Special Guest Joe Quesada Reveals Details on His Return to DC

Even though Jim likes to keep his panel lineup secret to surprise people with big news, he always keeps an ace-in-the-hole extra secret to really catch the audiences off guard. Today was no exception, as artist and former Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada took the stage.

Quesada left Marvel earlier this year to pursue his own personal projects and he’s clearly starting off with a bang, as he announced that he’d be designing covers for DC titles in 2023, exclusively revealing his variant cover art for Batman #131 (January 3, 2023), and Batman #132 (February 7, 2023).

Preview: Milestones in History #1

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Milestones in History #1

(W) Reginald Hudlin, Alice Randall, Amy Chu, Steve Barnes, Alice Randall, Tananarive Due, Pat Charles, Karyn Parsons, Touré, Melody Cooper (A) Jahnoy Lindsay, Eric Battle, Maria Laura Sanapo, Ron Wilson, Don Hudson, Jamal Yaseem Igle, Arvell Jones, Francesco Francavilla, Ray-Anthony Height, Dominike “Domo” Stanton (CA) ChrisCross
In Shops: Jun 21, 2022
SRP: $9.99

Written by Reginald Hudlin, Alice Randall, Toure, Michael Harriot, and more Art by Various Celebrate Black History Month the Milestone way, as the superpowered citizens of Dakota (including Static, Icon, Rocket, Hardware, and more) narrate the true stories of Black trailblazers from across human history! Witness the military campaigns of Hannibal and the Queen of Sheba, the literary accomplishments of Alexandre Dumas, the World War One dogfights of Eugene Bullard against the legendary Red Baron, and many, many more, all written and drawn by a who’s-who of comics and literary talent!

Milestones in History #1

“The Artist’s Experience: from Brotherman to Batman” shares insights into the creative process of top African-American comic book artists

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The Society of Illustrators has announced a dynamic new installation coming to the museum that delves between the pages of comic books and explores the artists’ process. “The Artist’s Experience: From Brotherman to Batman” on display from June 15 through October 29, 2022. The exhibit celebrates some of the top African-American artists in the comic book industry, and was co-curated by renowned culture journalist and writer Karama Horne and Eisner Award-nominated artist and writer Shawn Martinbrough, whose work will be featured along with over sixteen other talented artists. 

This special exhibition showcases the works of independent and mainstream creators, such as Dawud Anyabwile, founder of the landmark Brotherman Comics, the longest running, independently published American Black comic book and Eisner Award-winning, DC Comics and Marvel artist Denys Cowan, co-founder of Milestone Media.

Also featured are Eisner Award-winning artists Afua Richardson, Alitha Martinez and John Jennings, as well as veteran artists Larry Stroman and Darryl Banks.

Artwork from award-winning artist Ronald Wimberly, founder of the experimental art magazine THE LAAB (whose Prince of Cats graphic novel is currently being adapted to film by Spike Lee), Khary Randolph, Jamal Igle, Micheline Hess, Sanford Greene, Eric Battle, Marcus Williams, Chuck Collins, Damion Scott and Robyn Smith will all be on display, as well.

“The Artist’s Experience: From Brotherman to Batman” runs from June 15, 2022 to October 29, 2022, with a Juneteenth Opening Night Celebration on June 16th from 6pm-9pm at the Society of Illustrators located at 128 East 63rd Street New York, NY.

DC and Milestone Reveal more details about Milestones In History

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DC and Milestone Media have revealed new artwork and story details on their upcoming one-shot anthology, Milestones In History. Initially announced during last year’s DC FanDome, this anthology combines an unprecedented collection of writers from traditional literature, entertainment, culture, and social activism with celebrated comic book artists to celebrate Black people throughout world history.

The stories and talent for this 96-page spectacular include:

  • “Born in Africa – Mother of the World:” Rocket chronicles the history of “Lucy,” the collection of Australopithecus Afarensis fossil bones discovered in Ethiopia in a story by New York Times best-selling novelist Alice Randall and artist Eric Battle. In a second story, “The Brilliant Black Russians: Pushkin and His Family of Genius,” Randall teams up with artist Don Hudson and Jose Marzan Jr. to tell the story of Russian poet and novelist Alexander Pushkin
  • “The Many Queens of Sheba:” Virgil Hawkins (Static) has a tough time keeping his mind on his school project when he’s paired with his high school crush Raquel Ervin (Rocket) as they discuss competing origins of The Queen of Sheba, in a story from writer Amy Chu and artist Maria Laura Sanapo
  • “You Will Follow A Great Man:” The history of military commander and statesman Hannibal Barca, told by award-winning sci-fi, mystery and fantasy writer Steven Barnes, with art by comic book vets Ron Wilson and Mike Gustovich
  • “The Dumas Legacy: “Icon and Rocket recount the history of the family of The Three Musketeers writer Alexandre Dumas is in a story by award-winning author and educator Tananarive Due, with art by Jamal Yaseem Igle and Chris Sotomayor
  • “Ace,” the story of trailblazer Eugene Bullard, the first African American to fly in combat and the only African American pilot in World War I, is told by television and film writer Pat Charles and comic book artist Arvell Jones
  • “Spirit Step” chronicles the life of anthropologist, activist, dancer, and creator of the Dunham Technique of dance, Katharine Dunham, is highlighted in a story by writer Karyn Parsons, with art by Francesco Francavilla
  • In “Controversy,” writer and activist Touré and artist Ray-Anthony Height celebrate the life and career of musical icon Prince
  • Horror and Sci-Fri writer Melody Cooper and artist Domo Stanton celebrate two more aeronautical pioneers in “The Sky’s The Limit” – Bessie Coleman, stunt pilot and the first Black female to earn a pilot’s license, and physician, engineer, and former NASA astronaut Mae Jemisin, the first Black woman to travel into space

Featuring an introduction from the heroes of the Dakotaverse, by Reggie Hudlin with art from Janhoy Lindsay, Milestones In History also includes at what’s next for the super heroes of Milestone in “Things to Come,” by Reggie Hudlin and Leon Chills, with art by Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan.

Milestones In History arrives in comic book shops and on participating platforms on Tuesday, June 21. 

Preview: Tis The Season to Be Freezin’ #1

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Tis The Season to Be Freezin’ #1

Written by: Richard Bernatovech, Andrew Wheeler, Tee Franklin, Tara Roberts
Art by: Eric Battle, Travis Mercer, Meghan Hetrick, Yancey Labat

Oh the weather outside is freezing, but these stories sure are pleasin’. So since you’ve no place to go, why not grab a sweater, pour a cup of hot cocoa, and stoke the fire…because these 10 tales are sure to lower the mercury! Join us as Harley Quinn and Blue Snowman ice out Hawkman, Batman fights the cold heart of Mr. Freeze, the JLQ don’t stand a snowball’s chance against Minister Blizzard, and the Flash and Superman team up to chill out Captain Cold. So warm your holiday heart with these freezin’ feats of frosty fiction!

Tis The Season to Be Freezin' #1

ComiXology has a trio of New Releases from DC and Magnetic Press

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There are three new digital comic releases today on comiXology. You can choose from two new releases from Magnetic Press and a new release from DC. Start shopping now or check out the individual releases below.

Gunland Vol. 3 #10: Coda

Written by Captain Artiglio
Art by Captain Artiglio
Cover by Captain Artiglio
Purchase

The Wild Bunch is attacking the city, but Dave and Dan Doolin are ready for them! The magical battle royale begins!

Gunland Vol. 3 #10: Coda

Represent! (2020-) #3

Written by Regine L. Sawyer
Pencils Eric Battle
Purchase

“Food for Thought”
Cooking is in Lanice’s blood – ever since she was a kid, she’s been drawn to the wonder that is crafting a recipe and feeding those who are hungry. But as she grows up and wants to pursue a career in the culinary arts, her father—although the inspiration for her passion—is concerned about his only daughter working in a kitchen, like so many Black Americans before her.

Represent! (2020-) #3

The Collected Toppi Vol. 5: The Eastern Path

Written by Sergio Toppi
Art by Sergio Toppi
Cover by Sergio Toppi
Purchase

The fifth volume in this popular library of works by celebrated master storyteller Sergio Toppi contains six tales of folklore set in Eastern Europe and Siberia during various periods in history. Presented in English for the first time since their groundbreaking debut in the 1970s and 1980s, this collection includes OGONIOK, KAS-CEJ, TRANSSIBERIAN, SAINT-ACHEUL ’17, LIKE AN ANGRY BEAR, and MYETZKO. Foreword by Jason Shawn Alexander.

The Collected Toppi Vol. 5: The Eastern Path

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More Represent! from DC Begins in February

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DC has announced more stories on the way for its Represent! digital series, adding another five digital “chapters,” releasing weekly beginning February 1, 2021. The chapters will be available on participating digital platforms, including Comixology, Apple, Amazon Kindle, Google Books, and others.

This past September, DC took an evolutionary leap forward in graphic storytelling with this digital-first series featuring stories from underrepresented voices, spotlighting personal stories outside the regular comic book medium. The debut story, “It’s A Bird,” was written by Christian Cooper with art by Alitha E. Martinez and Mark Morales; the story was inspired by Cooper’s viral encounter with a Central Park dog owner while bird-watching.

The next chapter, “Heritage,” is written by Jesse Holland with art by Doug Braithwaite. Holland is a former Associated Press journalist, host of C-Span’s “Washington Week,” editor of the upcoming Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda prose anthology, and the author of the Black Panther: Who Is the Black Panther? prose novel, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2019. Braithwaite is a fan-favorite DC penciler, inker, and cover artist whose notable works include the recently released Generations: Shattered, Future State: The Next Batman, Justice, and others.

“Heritage” is based on Holland’s Mississippi farm, which has been in his family since their first ancestor was freed from slavery—tended by his grandfather and his father before him. But as Jesse grows into a man, he’s unsure if a patch of land in the Piney Woods and a life of tilling soil is his true destiny. But destiny can mean so much more than dirt and a tractor…

Future stories include:

Book Three: “Food for Thought,” written by Regine Sawyer, art by Eric Battle

Sawyer, a comic book writer and founder of Women in Comics Collective International, and artist Battle have both contributed to DC individually and have united to tell the story of Lanice, whose passion for cooking and desire for a career in the culinary arts is challenged by the source of her inspiration—her father—who is concerned about his only daughter working in a kitchen, like so many Black Americans before her.

Book Four: “Believe You,” written by Nadira Jamerson, art by Brittney Williams

Howard University alumni Jamerson makes her comic book debut with Williams, who recently provided art for DC’s middle grade graphic novel Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge. A young mother, Mai, has been struggling with her health ever  since the birth of her daughter, Dira. She’s exhausted, gaining weight and experiencing shooting pain through her legs, and she wakes up with numbness spreading across her entire body. She  is in constant agony. But the doctors don’t think anything is wrong with her—she’s stressed, she’s a hypochondriac, it’s just fatigue—and despite everything Mai does to make herself better, she still feels alone. Until she finally finds a way to advocate for her health and finds an ally who does more than prescribe…they listen.

Book Five: “My Granny Was A Hero,” written by Tara Roberts, art by Yancey Labat

Roberts, a National Geographic Storytelling Fellow, MIT Open Documentary Lab Fellow and avid scuba diving enthusiast, teams up with DC Super Hero Girls artist Labat in a story of a little girl realizing her dreams of heroism.

A little girl with Afro puffs, a potbelly, and a gap-toothed smile dreams of being a hero. She reads adventure books voraciously; she practices sword strokes and judo kicks in her bedroom in case she ever has to fight a dragon; she devours superhero movies, cartoons, and popcorn with big eyes. And every night, she looks out of her window and wishes upon the moon with all her heart to be called upon to help someone in a big way…when she discovers the story of her great-grandmother Cocu, and how Cocu’s superpower led to a heroic struggle for freedom. 

Book Six: “The Lesson,” written and drawn by Dominike “DOMO” Stanton

Stanton has been drawing comics for the last ten years; most recently, he provided art for House of Whispers, part of Neil Gaiman’s celebrated The Sandman Universe line of titles.

Stanton’s protagonist Dom got his butt kicked in school a lot…like…a lot a lot…for no reason. He got caught up in fights that had nothing to do with him or would get jumped simply walking the halls of his school or waiting for the bus home. Fed up and angry, he decides to join a local gym and learn how to box. But what starts out as a mission to fight back turns into something greater, and Dom is given the opportunity to stand up for himself in more ways than one.

Each new 10-page digital chapter will be available on Mondays for $0.99 each.

Preview: Shadowman Vol. 3: Rag and Bone TPB

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SHADOWMAN VOL. 3: RAG AND BONE TPB

Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by RENATO GUEDES and ERIC BATTLE with ULISES ARREOLA
Colors by ANDREW DALHOUSE
Letters by SIMON BOWLAND
Cover by TONCI ZONJIC
On sale March 13, 2019

Bones are buried for a reason…

Shadowman is back in New Orleans and with a better handle on his powerful abilities, just in time for a war like no other! The vicious battle between the Brethren and the Abettors over the ultimate magical artifact – the remains of Shadowman’s arch-nemesis, Master Darque – will impact the future of the Valiant Universe, so will the formidable foe return from the dead, or will his bones be destroyed once and for all?

Collects SHADOWMAN (2018) #8-11.

Shadowman Vol. 3: Rag and Bone TPB

Exclusive Preview: Bloodshot Rising Spirit #4

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Bloodshot Rising Spirit #4

Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Artist: Harvey Tolibao
Color: Andrew Dalhouse
Cover A by Felipe Massafera
Cover B by David Lafuente
Variant Cover by Eric Battle

New story arc! “Corps Memories,” Part 1!

When a walking weapon of war like Bloodshot goes completely missing, you need the toughest of the tough to do the dirty work of bringing him back. Luckily, Project Rising Spirit has just such a team at their disposal – a black budget strike force with capabilities no ordinary soldier could ever conceive. Enter…the H.A.R.D. Corps!

$3.99 | 32. pgs | VALIANT PREMIUM | T+ | On Sale FEBRUARY 27th

Bloodshot Rising Spirit #4

Review: Shadowman #11

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The final showdown!

Shadowman #11

At long last, Shadowman is unbound…and it couldn’t have come at a worse time! Finally free from the Boniface lineage after generations of torment, the loa that once shared its gifts with Jack Boniface must now be convinced to join his cause willingly…or else the Brethren will lay waste to everything Jack holds dear!

Whenever a series ends prematurely – whether that’s due to a lack of sales, or not – there’s always the fear that the story won’t end as well as was originally planned if the number of issues allotted are shaved down. While I’m not sure if that’s the case here, there is a lot of story packed into the pages of Shadowman #11 than there has been in the last couple of issues. This has the effect of giving the comic a very retro feel; comics from the 90’s and before always seem to pack a lot of dialogue and text within the pages in comparison to more modern offerings.

Whilst I’m a fan of older comic

s, where Shadowman #11 stumbles is a lack of clarity in some sequences as the scenes transition – the art, while astonishingly brilliant to look at, doesn’t always have the backgrounds necessary to indicate a transition without narrative explanation. Unfortunately, his left me reeling a couple of times during my read through wondering if I’d missed a page, or a text box, or if I needed more caffeine.

That being said, the issue’s pacing is relentless, and hits you with one development after another – it’s the kind of comic that feels like it’s absolutely worth the money you’re spending on the book, even with the occasional stumble.

Andy Diggle closes out his time with Shadowman on a high after taking the character on a journey full of revelations and character growth as he fleshed out the mythology and history of Jack Boniface and the shadow loa. It was a successful run, and one capped off with an explosive and action fueled issue that ties up enough loose ends that you’re not left with a sense that too much is dangling in the ether waiting for a resolution that’ll probably never come, but rather with anticipation for Shadowman’s next stage.

As has been mentioned already the art by Renato Guedes and Eric Battle is spectacular, although the comic would have been stronger had there been a few more backgrounds used during scene changes or passages of time. For the most part, though, there’s very little to bemoan in regards to the artistic offering here, and credit for that should also be given to Ulises Arreola‘s colouring that goes a little way toward helping the eye follow the story breaks if you pay attention to the background colours.

As a conclusion to an eleven issue run, this is a strong comic. Diggle puts a cherry on top of a run that’s added a lot to Shadowman’s lore whilst wrapping up the story satisfactorily. Although you’re not likely to buy this issue if you haven’t at least read the final arc, you can at least rest assured that once you’ve caught up, this is a really solid cap to a brilliant run. I’m looking forward to seeing what Andy Diggle has in store for us next.

Story: Andy Diggle Art: Renato Guedes with Eric Battle
Colours: Ulises Arreola Letters: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.8 Art: 8.1 Overall: 8.2 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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