It’s one of two new comic book days today! What are you all getting? What are you excited for? Sound off in the comments below! While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.
Bestselling dream team Mark Millar and Frank Quitely launch the first issue of The Ambassadors in March with a checklist of white-hot artists handling each of the six interconnected issues. The lineup includes: Olivier Coipel, Travis Charest, Matteo Buffagni, Karl Kerschl, and Matteo Scalera—a wish-list for any comic book fan.
This six issue Netflix miniseries will hit shelves in March from Image Comics as part of the highly anticipated “Big Game” summer event being prepped by Nemesis: Reloaded (with superstar Jorge Jiminez), Night Clubwith Juanan Ramirez, and the brand new volume of The Magic Order—currently being made as a huge live action show for the streamer. The Ambassadors will lead directly into the big 2023 Summer event “Big Game”, where all the Millarworld characters from Kick-Ass, Kingsman, Starlight, Jupiter’s Legacy, and more, come together in a huge adventure drawn by Marvel superstar Pepe Larraz.
The Ambassadors #1 will also feature variant covers by Larraz and Gigi Cavenago and give us a superhero comic unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.
This new series promises an enormous story about ordinary people from around the world and explores what makes a select few worthy of power.
The Ambassadors #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, March 29.
Superstar writer Mark Millar launches the third volume of his smash-hit horror series with artist Gigi Cavenago, The Magic Order 3 #1. This six-issue story arc will kick off from Image Comics in July.
So far readers have met the American and British members of the Magic Order. Now it’s time to meet the Asian chapter, including a brilliant new major player in the upcoming live-action Netflix show—Sammy Liu. This issue will be a huge collector’s item.
Magic Order 3 #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 27:
Cover A by Cavenago – Diamond Code MAY220044
Cover B by Cavenago B&W – Diamond Code MAY220045
Cover C by Greg Tocchini – Diamond Code MAY220046
Cover D by blank sketch cover – Diamond Code MAY220047
Bestselling writer and producer Mark Millar returns to the magical world he created as a live-action Netflix series to release the second volume in the comic book adaptation. Olivier Coipel was drafted in to draw the first volume in this five-book set and delivered one of the best jobs of his career. Now legendary artist Stuart Immonen is in the chair for the much-anticipated sequel. The Magic Order 2 #1 will launch this October from Image Comics.
In this new story arc, a magical turf war like you’ve never seen before! The London chapter of the Magic Order has entered the scene, and these tough Guy Ritchie-style gangsters have a problem with the Eastern European Warlocks moving into their territory. Can new leader Cordelia Moonstone keep the peace?
The Magic Order 2 #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, October 27:
Cover A Immonen – Diamond Code AUG210027
Cover B Immonen B&W – Diamond Code AUG210028
Cover C Tocchini – Diamond Code AUG210029
Cover D Yildirim – Diamond Code AUG210030
Cover E blank cover – Diamond Code AUG210031
Cover F 1:10 copy incentive Chiarello – Diamond Code AUG210032
It’s a new week! We’ve got lots on tap to bring you and we’re plugging away at it all. So, while you wait to read some awesome stuff… here’s some articles from around the web you might have missed.
The weekend is almost here and we’re busy getting the second episode of Graphic Policy Weekly (or new weekly news show) ready! While we prepare for that, here’s some comic news from around the web in our morning roundup.
It’s a new week and we’re gearing up for San Diego Comic-Con! Lots to do and we’re only a week and a half away from the convention! What are you excited to see more of? Sound off in the comments.
While you wait, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.
It’s new comic book day tomorrow! What are you all excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.
After all the marketing pizzazz, including the fact that this comic will only have one printing, Mark Millar, Olivier Coipel, and Dave Stewart‘s The Magic Order#1 is here, and it’s the first Millarworld comic book under the imprint’s new deal with Netflix. The book could be described as Harry Potter with the intrigue of Kingsman and the family dynamic of Jupiter’s Legacy. Basically, sub out spy gadgets and superheroes for wands and magic, and you’ve got The Magic Order. Millar and Coipel also play off King Lear a little bit in the names of the main cast: stage magician Leonard Moonstone and his children Regan, Cordelia, and Gabriel, who all have varying attitudes to their destiny as magical guardians of the universe
Narrative-wise, Millar and Coipel do a lot of things right in The Magic Order #1, including a gripping and violent five page opener that twists the famous scene in Harry Potter where Lord Voldemort kills Harry’s parents in front of him by having the evil wizards use a man’s son to kill him in front of his wife after having sex one last time. So, yeah, it’s the typical Millarworld sex and violence spiel. However, it shows that this story isn’t going to be about the wonder, but its horror. This is reflected on later when Regan recruits his reluctant brother Gabriel to fight against the Bellatrix Lestrange-esque Madame Albany, and Gabriel refuses while having a flashback about his daughter dying because of magic. Stewart juxtaposes a golden, angelic color palette of her wanting to be a member of the Magic Order like her father with grey shadow as he weeps at her grave. Millar and Coipel wisely restrain their more ultraviolent impulses and nail his feelings of loss in one stark image.
Gabriel is definitely the most emotionally resonant character in The Magic Order #1. He’s very much a normal dude, who wants to get away from the trappings of magic and war because of the cost it’s taken on him, his family, and friends. In his introductory, Coipel zooms on paper towels to emphasize the regular nature of his life compared to his showier brother Regan, who talks to him while levitating in some kind of invisible cloud bubble instead of walking the aisles and chatting like a human. We also get to see the threats that the Magic Order protects humanity from through young Gabriel’s eyes, and he’s total frightened as his dad and other members of the Order fight these gigantic beings of cosmic horror, and Coipel shows that he can do action, day to day conversation, and throw in some Mignola monsters for good measure.
If Gabriel goes straight to the heart, Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel make Cordelia the thrill seeker of the bunch. Her grand introduction is in the back of police car with plenty of snarky and foul mouthed anecdotes about why she’s in trouble, and then she just flat out vanishes. Coipel gets to do a little physical humor through the cops’ reaction and the car skidding down the road while a single pair of handcuffs just chills for a second. Cordelia is all id and decadence, and Coipel and Stewart wreathe her shadow just like Madame Albany. But, her dad wears a black tuxedo and top hat so this might just be conjecture.
Sadly, in contrast with his more interesting siblings, Regan doesn’t get much to do other than be a conversation partner and into magic. But Millar nails the personalities of three of the four leads and establishes a quite powerful threat in the first issue so it’s not so bad. He and Coipel are creative with some the dark magical spells beginning with the child hitmen and ending with a riff on shapeshifting and mind wiping that lets Coipel go a little Dadaist and take a break from clean lines for a bit. It’s a real treat seeing Millar cut Coipel loose and draw a variety of scenes instead of the standard talking heads and splash pages of superhero fare with Dave Stewart setting the mood through his color palettes.
With a blockbuster opening sequence, a couple interesting lead characters, and masterful visuals from Olivier Coipel and Dave Stewart, The Magic Order #1 is the start of a beautiful partnership between Mark Millar and Netflix and a nice sop to those who have grown a bit cynical towards adults whose only reading is the adventures of a boy wizard…
Story: Mark Millar Art: Olivier Coipel
Colors: Dave Stewart Letters: Peter Doherty Story: 7.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics/Millarworld/Netflix provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors are choosing up to five books and why they’re choosing the books. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Hawkman #1 (DC Comics) – After a high profile in Dark Nights: Metal, we’re intrigued to see where DC takes this classic character.
The Magic Order #1 (Millarworld/Netflix/Image Comics) – A new series from Mark Millar and the first original since his deal with Netflix. We’re anticipating to see what he’s come up with.
Marvel Rising Alpa #1 (Marvel) – It feels like Marvel’s attempt to recreate DC’s success with their DC Super Hero Girls line and we’re totally fine with it. Bring it.
Oblivion Song #4 (Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics) – Have you been reading this series? It’s a fantastic layered story that reflects upon the real world.
Plastic Man #1 (DC Comics) – Gail Simone steps in to take on the character in this entertaining start. Backed up by art by Adriana Melo the first issue is a perfect blend of humor, noir, and superheroics.
Skip to the End (Insight Comics) – Like music? Like comics? Then get this collection of the series that blends the two and is a love letter to Nirvana.
Stellar #1 (Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics) – A new series from Skybound written by Joseph Keatinge and art by Bret Blevins. It’s a sci-fi adventure featuring a bounty hunter and since it’s Skybound, we’re expecting entertainment.
Thor #1 (Marvel) – We’ve read it and the epic continues. And it is epic and it is amazing. The “first” issue picks up the ongoing narrative of Jason Aaron but is also accessible for new readers as well.
Transformers: Lost Light #18 (IDW Publishing) – Where is it all going!? We want to know!!!!
Weatherman #1 (Image Comics) – After committing a terrorist act that wipes out almost the entire population of Earth, Nathan goes on the run. But did he commit the crime? The concept is interesting but it’s the creative team of Jody LeHeup and Nathan Fox that has this as a must read.
It’s a new week and we’re gearing up for San Diego Comic-Con! Lots to do and we’re only a week and a half away from the convention! What are you excited to see more of? Sound off in the comments.
It’s new comic book day tomorrow! What are you all excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.
After all the marketing pizzazz, including the fact that this comic will only have one printing, Mark Millar, Olivier Coipel, and Dave Stewart‘s The Magic Order #1 is here, and it’s the first Millarworld comic book under the imprint’s new deal with Netflix. The book could be described as Harry Potter with the intrigue of Kingsman and the family dynamic of Jupiter’s Legacy. Basically, sub out spy gadgets and superheroes for wands and magic, and you’ve got The Magic Order. Millar and Coipel also play off King Lear a little bit in the names of the main cast: stage magician Leonard Moonstone and his children Regan, Cordelia, and Gabriel, who all have varying attitudes to their destiny as magical guardians of the universe
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!