Tag Archives: walter simonson

Baltimore Comic Con Hosts a Massive Hero Initiative Art Auction

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Hero Initiative, the charity that helps comic book creators in medical or financial need, will be the beneficiary of an incredible original art auction at the Baltimore Comic Con, which will be held over the weekend of September 8-10, 2023 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The auction will be administered by well-known art expert Scott Dunbier. Tickets can be purchased online now.

Artists whose work will be in the auction include Berkeley Breathed, John Byrne, Gene Ha, Kelley Jones, Shawn McManus, Kevin Nowlan, Walter Simonson, JK Woodward, Bill Wray, and more.

Art will be available for viewing both at the Baltimore Comic-Con, and at Hero Initiative’s website. In addition to bidding at the auction, advance proxy bidding will also be available via Hero’s website with a strict deadline of August 31, 2023. Hero will begin accepting bids on August 21. NOTE: The website will be updated continuously as more art arrives.

The live auction will take place Saturday, September 9 at 5pm, upstairs in Room 339-342 at the Baltimore Comic-Con.

This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Dan Abdo (Blue, Barry & Pancakes), Arthur Adams (Longshot), Sarah Andersen (Sarah’s Scribbles), Mirka Andolfo (Sweet Paprika), Art Baltazar (Yahgz), Jeremy Bastian (Dune: House Harkonnen), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), Carolyn Belefsky (Curls), Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics), Jon Bogdanove (The Death of Superman), Judy Bogdanove (Steel Annual), Russ Braun (The Boys), Dan Brereton (Nocturnals), Harold Buchholz (Sweetest Beasts), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Greg Burnham (Tuskegee Heirs), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Chris Campana (Death Dealer), Joe Carabeo (Black Magic Tales), Richard Case (Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror), Castillo Studios, Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), S.A. Check (Night of the Living Dead: Revenance, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Jo Chen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Sean Chen (Genesis), Jim Cheung (Young Avengers), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men), Matthew Clark (Adventures of Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Brian Clevinger (Atomic Robo), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Nick Davis (Night Guardians), Deans Family (Crass Fed), Mike DeCarlo (The Simpsons, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Vito Delsante (Stray), Abby Denson (Uniquely Japan), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Derec Donovan (Adventures of Superman), Scott Dunbier (Jim Lee’s X-Men Artist’s Edition, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Jan Duursema (Star Wars: The High Republic), Drew Edwards (Halloween Man), Garth Ennis (The Boys), David Finch (Moon Knight), Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs), Chris Flick (Capes and Babes), Scott Fogg (Phileas Reid Knows We’re Not Alone), Tana Ford (LaGuardia), Trish Forstner (Stray Dogs), Franco (Fae and the Moon), John Gallagher (Max Meow), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Ron Garney (BZRKR), Joe Getsinger (Finding Jack Kirby in a Pile of Zinc), Mike Gold (Green Arrow), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Randy Green (Nyobi Outbreak), Mike Grell (Jon Sable), Dawn Griffin (Zorphbert & Fred), Torunn Grønbekk (Carnage), Chris Gugilotti (Teen Titans Go!), Gene Ha (Mae), Laura Lee Gulledge (Page by Paige), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Bo Hampton (Batman: Castle of the Bat), Brian Haberlin (Spawn), Scott Hanna (Amazing Spider-Man), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Dean Haspiel (Covid Cop), Buz Hasson (Adam Green’s Hatchet, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Glenn Hauman (They Keep Killing Glenn), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Greg Hildebrandt (Star Wars), Morry Hollowell (Old Man Logan), Jamal Igle (Superman), Mark Irwin (Green Lantern), Chris Ivy (Venom: Tooth and Claw, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), Geoff Johns (Geiger), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Alien), J.G. Jones (Wanted), Kata Kane (Altar Girl), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics), Tom King (The Penguin), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Dan Krall (House of Night), Leeanne M. Krecic (Let’s Play), James Kuhoric (Cursedverse: Blighted Dawn), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Nate Lovett (Dungeons & Dragons), Matthew Loux (Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring), David Mack (Kabuki), Howard Mackie (Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Tom Mandrake (Spectre), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Mariano Brothers (Claire Lost Her Bear at the World’s Fair), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Jason May (LEGO Club Magazine), Patrick McDonnell (The Super Hero’s Journey, courtesy of Abrams ComicArts), Mike McKone (Red Goblin), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Pop Mhan (Gears of War 3), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Karl Moline (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Mark Morales (Thor), Trevor Mueller (Re-Possessed), Sarah Myer (Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story), Jamar Nicholas (Leon: Protector of the Playground), Dan Parsons (Jade Vampyre, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Jason Patterson (Blue, Barry & Pancakes), David Pepose (Savage Avengers), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen), Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men), Khoi Pham (Star Wars: Darth Vader), Richard and Wendy Pini (Elfquest), Ed Piskor (Red Room: Trigger Warnings), Joe Prado (Superman), Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Ron Randall (Trekker), Tom Raney (Green Lantern), Mark Redfield (Vampire Hunters Incorporated), Afua Richardson (Omni), Christopher Ring (Seamus (the Famous)), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Peter Rostovsky (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force), Jennifer Rouse (Frankenstein Mobster), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Arsia Rozegar (Shahnameh For Kids), Steve Rude (Nexus), Jim Rugg (Hulk Grand Design), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Stuart Sayger (The Joker), Gene Selassie (The Ghoul Agency), Bryan SilverBaX (Creepshow), Alex Simmons (Archie), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Scott Snyder (Saturday only, Nocterra), Mark Sparacio (Omega Paradox), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Paul Storrie (Storm Kids: Stanley’s Ghost), Philip Tan (Web of Carnage), Martha Thomases (Second-Hand Rose), John Timms (Superman: Son of Kal-El), Peter Tomasi (Batman and Robin), Billy Tucci (Shi), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and Big Hero Six), Emilio Velez Jr. (The Dodgeball Teens), Dexter Vines (Civil War, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Sean Von Gorman (Return of Toe Tag Riot), Wade von Grawbadger (Justice League), Adam Wallenta (Punk Taco), Todd Webb (Mr. Toast Comics), Lee Weeks (Batman), Scott Wegener (Atomic Robo), Joey Weiser (Ghost Hog), Mark Wheatley (Skultar), Emily S. Whitten (The Underfoot), Bob Wiacek (All-New Wolverine, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Keith Williams (Thor the Worthy), Marcus Williams (Tuskegee Heirs), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), John Workman (Wild Things), Ellie Wright (The Black Ghost), Caitlin Yarsky (Black Hammer Reborn), Kelly Yates (Doctor Who), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

Exclusive: Get a first look at What If…? Dark: Loki #1

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What If…? Dark: Loki #1 is the first in a series of What If one-shots that put a dark twist on classic Marvel stories and characters, this one presenting a universe where Loki wields Mjolnir.

Walter Simonson returns to his illustrious run on Thor…but this time, Loki’s in charge! A tale of one of Asgard’s worst days – and one of Loki’s best. Featuring art by Scot Eaton, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, main cover by Simonson, and variant cover by Emanuela Lupacchino, What If…? Dark: Loki #1 comes to shops July 12th!

A dark twist comes to Marvel’s What If…? this Summer

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Home to some of the most memorable and thought-provoking stories in the Marvel mythos, What If? was the series where anything could happen! This summer, the imaginations of comic creators and fans will run wild once again in a new series of What If? one-shots called What If…? Dark.

Legendary creators and rising stars alike will revisit iconic stories in Marvel Comics history and ask: What would happen if things took a dark turn? Explore alternate possibilities in unexpected ways – featuring amazing, incredible and uncanny variants of all your favorite heroes like Spider-Man, Venom, Loki, and more!

Here’s some of what fans can expect when the Watcher unleashes the What If? multiverse with his boldest questions yet:

WHAT IF LOKI WIELDED MJOLNIR?

In WHAT IF…? DARK: LOKI #1, Walter Simonson returns to the world of THOR alongside artist Scot Eaton…but this time, Loki’s in charge! A tale of one of Asgard’s worst days – and one of Loki’s best.

WHAT IF LOKI WIELDED MJOLNIR?

WHAT IF GWEN STACY DIDN’T DIE ON THE BRIDGE THAT DAY, BUT SPIDER-MAN DID?

Spider-Legend Gerry Conway returns to his most famous Spider-Story for WHAT IF…? DARK: SPIDER-GWEN #1 along with co-writer Jody Houser and artist Ramon Bachs! ‘Nuff said! Featuring a cover by Greg Land.

WHAT IF GWEN STACY DIDN’T DIE ON THE BRIDGE THAT DAY, BUT SPIDER-MAN DID?

WHAT IF BEN GRIMM BECAME VENOM?

When Ben Grimm returns to Earth after his exploration of space post-SECRET WARS, he finds that the Fantastic Four has trapped a helpless Klyntar symbiote in Reed’s lab! But is that symbiote really helpless? Or is it truly one of the most dangerous symbiotes in the galaxy? Witness the birth of a brand-new VENOM in WHAT IF…? DARK: VENOM #1 by writer Stephanie Phillips and artist Jethro Morales with a cover by Philip Tan!

WHAT IF BEN GRIMM BECAME VENOM?

WHAT IF MOON KNIGHT DID NOT SURVIVE HIS BATTLE WITH BUSHMAN?

When Khonshu’s avatar is slain, a different god empowers their own surprising new champion. From the darkness, emerges a new force to light the way…Luminary! But will her quest for revenge against Moon Knight’s killer result in her own downfall? Find out in WHAT IF…? DARK: MOON KNIGHT #1  by writer Erica Schultz and artist Edgar Salazar!

WHAT IF MOON KNIGHT DID NOT SURVIVE HIS BATTLE WITH BUSHMAN?

And that’s not all! Pick up the first What If…? Dark installment this July and stay tuned for news about the others coming your way this year! 

IDW’s Artist’s Editions Line expands with new Marvel releases

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IDW Publishing and Marvel Entertainment are expanding their longtime collaboration with the development of over two dozen new releases in IDW’s multi-award-winning Artist’s Editions line.

IDW has announced four new Marvel-focused products for Fall 2023:

Walter Simonson’s Fantastic Four Artist’s Edition (9798887240350, scheduled for September) collects complete stories of mythic proportions from Fantastic Four #337–341 and #352–354, a celebrated run from Simonson on “the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine.”

Bill Sienkiewicz’s Mutants and Moon Knights and Assassins Artisan Edition (9781684059683, scheduled for September) spotlights some of the finest covers, pinups, and pages from Sienkiewicz’s Moon Knight, The New Mutants, and Elektra: Assassin projects.

John Romita’s Amazing Spider-Man: The Daily Strips Artist’s Edition (9798887240558, scheduled for October) showcases approximately 300 of the very earliest Amazing Spider-Man daily comic strips by the two creators most associated with the Web-Slinger: Stan “the Man” Lee and “Jaunty” John Romita.

John Byrne’s X-Men Artist’s Edition (9798887240435, scheduled for November), printed for the first time since 2018, collects many pages from seminal tales of Marvel’s mutants, including two of the most influential comic storylines of all time: “The Dark Phoenix Saga” and “Days of Future Past.”

These new Artist’s Editions products are in addition to three Marvel-focused items already announced for 2023: Kevin Nowlan’s Marvel Heroes Artist’s Edition (9781684059720, scheduled for April), Michael Golden’s Marvel Stories Artist’s Edition (9781684059195, scheduled for July), and Frank Miller’s Daredevil Artist’s Edition (9798887240046, scheduled for August). Even more exciting Marvel Artist’s Edition projects are expected to be announced for 2023 and beyond.

Setting the industry standard for high-end archival collectibles, IDW’s Artist’s Editions provide comic lovers everywhere with the most authentic original comic art experience possible. Each oversized hardcover in the line collects pages from acclaimed comic book runs, with each page scanned in high resolution from the actual storyboard artwork of such legends as Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, John Buscema, Dave Stevens, and many more. Enthusiasts are able to clearly see all the distinctive creative nuances that make original art unique. In a perfect representation of the work in its original form, each page is printed the same size as drawn, and the paper selected is as close as possible to the original art board.

As an extension of the Artist’s Editions line, IDW also offers Artisan Editions, collecting the original artwork reproductions in a less expensive and more practically sized paperback format.

Brian Michael Bendis, Jim Cheung, Matthew Loux, Louise and Walter Simonson, and Thom Zahler are coming to Baltimore Comic Con

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The 2023 Baltimore Comic-Con will be held at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center on September 8-10. The Baltimore Comic-Con has announced Brian Michael Bendis, Jim Cheung, Matthew Loux, Louise and Walter Simonson, and Thom Zahler as comics guests at the 2023 event. Buy tickets online now.

Brian Michael Bendis is a Peabody award winning comics creator, and an Amazon and New York Times bestseller most known for co-creating Miles Morales, Jessica Jones, Riri Williams, Maria Hill, Naomi, and dozens of other characters and stories that populate the Marvel, DC, and all new original universes.

The JINXWORLD line of creator-owned comics can be found at the legendary Dark Horse Comics. These titles include the new sci-fi epic Joy Operations (with co-creator Stephen Byrne), the hit action comedy The Ones (with co creator Jacob Edgar), the Yakuza romance Pearl (with Jessica Jones co-creator Michael Gaydos), the comic book industry spy thriller Cover (with David Mack), and the alternate history mob story Murder Inc. (with Powers co-creator Mike Avon Oeming).

Phenomena, the first in a new YA graphic novel series by Brian and artist Andre Lima Araujo is out from Abrams ComicArts.

Brian is Executive Producer and consultant for the Academy Aaward-winning hit Sony feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its coming sequels. Miles Morales was co-created by Brian and Sara Pichelli.

Brian won a Peabody Award for his work as the co-creator of Jessica Jones on Disney Plus. Riri Williams made her debut in Wakanda Forever and will star later this year in her own show on Disney Plus.

The announcement of Brian’s multi-faceted move to DC Entertainment after a near twenty year run at Marvel made international headlines and trended worldwide. Brian made his DC debut in the landmark Action Comics 1000 and curated Wonder Comics, featuring the return of Young Justice, Dial H for Hero, Wonder Twins, and the breakout original new character… Naomi. Naomi was adapted by Ava DuVernay and Array into a show on the CW.

Brian’s best selling Substack newsletter is currently rolling out an all new text book, Creation, a sort of sequel to the Amazon number one Words for Pictures, an intricate look at the creation of comic books and graphic novels. Substack is also home to Brian’s Masterclass and the brand new autobiography, Fortune and Glory: The Musical.

Over the years at Marvel Entertainment, Brian completed historic runs on Spider-Man (18 years), Avengers (9 years), Iron Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy, plus a 100-issue run on the X-Men franchise, along with the wildly successful “event” projects Avengers Versus X-Men, House of M, Secret War, Secret Invasion, Age of Ultron, Civil War 2, and Siege.

Brian was one of the premiere architects of Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics.

Previously, Brian was part of the Marvel creative committee which helped set the foundation of the MCU. He consulted for all of the Marvel movies from the first Iron Man all the way through to Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2.

Brian received an Honorary Doctorate in the Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Art and a Certificate of Excellence from the Central Intelligence Agency for his work on diversity issues. Brian has won five Eisner Awards, including “Best Writer of the Year” two years in a row, and was honored with the prestigious Inkpot Award for comic art excellence. Brian is the recipient of the Cleveland Press “Excellence in Journalism” Award.

He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Alisa, his daughters Olivia, Tabatha, Sabrina, his son London, and his dogs Splenda and Bowie.

Brian’s TED talk, MIT lecture, and appearances on Late Night with Seth Meyers are available for viewing at Jinxworld.com.

Brian Michael Bendis
Jim Cheung

Jim Cheung originally hails from the sunny land of Great Britain, and landed his first professional penciling job at Marvel UK in the mid 90s. From there, he went on to establish himself on titles such as Iron Man and X-Force for Marvel US, and in 2000, he moved to the US to co-create and launch Scion for Crossgen Comics. After Scion, he worked exclusively for Marvel Comics for over 15 years, creating titles such as Infinity, which spawned the Avengers: Infinity War movie, and the award-winning Young Avengers!

Jim is currently working on various covers for Marvel and DC.

Past credits include Justice League for DC Comics, and numerous titles for Marvel Comics, including Spider-Man: The Clone Conspiracy, Avengers vs. X-Men, New Avengers, Illuminati, and Original Sin. Further credits include work for The New York Times, ESPN, Mattel, Blizzard Entertainment, The Royal Mail, Amazon, Skybound Entertainment, Todd McFarlane Productions, IDW, The Village Voice, Dorling Kindersley (DK Books), The Daily Mirror, Dynamite Comics, The Folio Society, and Upper Deck.

Follow his work on Instagram, Facebook, or Tumblr!

Mike Hawthorne has provided the artwork for various comics, including a record setting run on Deadpool as well as Daredevil, Spider-Man, Hulk, Superman, and more. His work has been nominated for Harvey and Eisner Awards. Outside of comics, Mike has done storyboard and conceptual art for Epic Games, Marvel, Fox, Illumination, and Universal. Archaia/BOOM! Studios recently published his autobio-comic Happiness Will Follow.

Mike Hawthorne
Matthew Loux

Matthew Loux is the author and artist of the graphic novels Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring, The Time Museum series, Sidescrollers, and the Salt Water Taffy series. His books have been included on the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list and the Texas Library Association’s Maverick list, garnered a Panda Book Award, and been nominated for the RI Children’s Book Award. He also illustrated F-Stop and the board comic Good Night Gabbaland based on the Nick Jr. television show Yo Gabba Gabba.

Find him on social media @mattloux and at his website https://www.mattloux.com/

Louise Simonson has, like her husband Walter, contributed significantly to the comic book industry. “Weezie”, as she is known, began her comics career as an editor at Warren Publishing before leaving for Marvel to edit titles including X-Men, New Mutants, and Star Wars. Departing the editorial role in favor of writing, Weezie has contributed to storylines in Marvel’s Marvel Team-Up, Web of Spider-Man, and Red Sonja, and was responsible for the introduction of Apocalypse in X-Factor as well as the launch of Power Pack. At DC Comics, she worked on Superman: The Man of Steel and The Adventures of Superman.

Louise and Walter Simonson

Walter Simonson has made vast contributions to comics publishing, as a writer, an artist, and even in founding publishing imprints. He was recognized in 2012 at the Harvey Awards in Special Award for Excellence in Production/Presentation and Best Domestic Reprint Project for Walt Simonson’s The Mighty Thor, Artist’s Edition from IDW, and in 2013 for Alien: The Illustrated Story from Titan Books for Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work. He also received the Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 at the Harvey Awards. Walt’s career began in the 1970s at DC Comics, where he worked on titles such as Weird War Tales, Manhunter, Metal Men, Orion, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Vigilante, and Hercules Unbound. Over at Marvel Comics, Simonson has had numerous noteworthy runs, including The Rampaging Hulk magazine, X-Factor, Fantastic Four, and Thor, on which he was responsible for the introduction of Beta Ray Bill and Thor as a frog.

Thom Zahler is a comic book creator and animation writer. He created the Line Webtoons hit series Cupid’s Arrows and Warning Label as well as the Harvey-nominated Love and Capes (recently with new volumes “The Family Way” and the Ringo-nominated “In the Time of Covid”), Long Distance, and the time-traveling wine comic Time and Vine. He also writes and draws for IDW’s successful My Little Pony series, and has written for Disney Tsum Tsum Kingdom, Star Trek Waypoint, and more. He has written for Disney XD’s Ultimate Spider-Man and Knights of the Zodiac.

Thom Zahler

This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Sarah Andersen (Sarah’s Scribbles), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics), Jon Bogdanove (The Death of Superman), Judy Bogdanove (Steel Annual), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Richard Case (Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Jim Cheung (Young Avengers), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Abby Denson (Uniquely Japan), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Jan Duursema (Star Wars: The High Republic), Garth Ennis (The Boys), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Mike Grell (Jon Sable), Gene Ha (Mae), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Greg Hildebrandt (Star Wars), Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer), Matthew Loux (Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Tom Mandrake (Spectre), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Pop Mhan (Gears of War 3), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Ed Piskor (Red Room: Trigger Warnings), Joe Prado (Superman), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Steve Rude (Nexus), Jim Rugg (Hulk Grand Design), Andy Runton (Owly), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), John Workman (Wild Things), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

Around the Tubes

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Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise #3

It’s one of two new comic days! What are you all getting? What are you excited about? Sound off in the comments! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

The Beat – Graphic Novel winners at 2023 ALA Awards: Victory. Stand!, Frizzy, Himawari House and more – Congrats to all the winners!

CBR – American Born Chinese: Gene Luen Yang & Kelvin Yu Detail Updating the Graphic Novel – We’re beyond excited for this one.

Book Riot – Dig Into These Excellent Bisexual Comics – What would you add to the list?

The Beat – A Year of Free Comics: Check out the comic adaptation of THE INNKEEPER CHRONICLES – Free Comics!

Kotaku – Report: Microsoft, Sony & Nintendo All Skipping E3 2023 – Maybe companies figured out they don’t need massive conventions?

Reviews

CBR – Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise #3
Collected Editions – Orion Omnibus by Walter Simonson

Underrated: Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown

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This is a column that focuses on something or some things from the comic book sphere of influence that may not get the credit and recognition it deserves. Whether that’s a list of comic book movies, ongoing comics, or a set of stories featuring a certain character. The columns may take the form of a bullet pointed list, or a slightly longer thinkpiece – there’s really no formula for this other than whether the things being covered are Underrated in some way. This week: Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown.

I don’t remember the first time I read this story, but it was likely in the UK reprint magazine Wolverine Unleashed in the mid to late 90’s. That was also the last time I read it, so when I saw the collected edition at my LCS for $15 I couldn’t pass it up – now because Wolverine is a little bit more marketable than Havok, the trade was just called Wolverine: Meltdown.

Originally published in the late 80’s, Meltdown was written by Walter and Louise Simonson, with illustrations by John J. Muth and Kent Williams. The story is set around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of the mid 80’s, and finds Havok and Wolverine caught up in the midst of a plot to end the world in nuclear war from the shadows. The art has a wonderful painted look to it at times, but the artists aren’t afraid to experiment with multiple forms of media throughout the book. It’s a choice that is divisive to some – I’ll freely admit when I was younger the art did nothing for me, but I enjoyed the story a fair bit, whereas now I find myself absorbed in the art more than the writing which is a strange twist on how I usually find myself feeling when coming back to stories I haven’t read in 20 some years.

It’s easy to imagine the way this story would have felt when initially released as it presents another possibility behind the Chernobyl disaster as an intentional act to snare the X-Men. Looking back now, it’s a great premise to a story, and one that still holds up despite the very specific time setting. Admittedly, I’ve no idea or memory as to how in continuity/canon this story is within the X-Universe but the story is entertaining enough to allow you to just enjoy it as is, and seeing Wolverine and Havok team up together is still a relatively rare event even today – and while I’m probably in the minority here, I’d love to see more chances for these two mutants to come together on the page.

The main reason I wanted to talk about this book today is solely because it’s a story that I’d completely forgotten about. This isn’t one of the classic Wolverine or X-Men stories that people will talk about, and honestly nor should it be, but it’s still an enjoyable tale that still stands the test of time; admittedly it’s the artwork that will pull you in more than the story, because this is a book that just looks utterly fantastic. The art is at times risky and pushes the envelope of what comics would typically feature 30 years ago (and yet is far more common today). Do yourself a favour and check this story out if you can – it’s a four issue mini series that shouldn’t break the bank if you hunt the individual issues.

Unless the comics industry ceases any and all publication look for a future installment of Underrated to cover more comics that aren’t cracking the top 100.

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser returns to print in a new omnibus

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The acclaimed comics adaptation of Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser returns to print in an omnibus format from Dark Horse Books! Fritz Leiber ranks among the giants of fantasy and science fiction visionaries, capturing multiple Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards and influencing a generation of writers. And his most renowned creations are the swashbuckling Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories.

This new omnibus edition collects Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser and Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser: the Cloud of Hate and Other Stories by comics legends Howard Chaykin, Mike Mignola, Dennis O’Neil, Walter Simonson, and Jim Starlin, and includes the Hugo and Nebula Award winning “Ill Met in Lankhmar” by Chaykin, Mignola, and Sherrilyn Van Valkenburgh. Join the hulking barbarian and the diminutive rogue as they battle swordsmen, necromancers, and flagons of strong drink!

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Omnibus TPB will be available in comic shops June 28, 2023 and will be in bookstores June 27, 2023. It is now available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore. The Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Omnibus TPB will retail for $29.99.

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Omnibus TPB

Baltimore Comic-Con will Host a Massive Hero Initiative Art Auction

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The Hero Initiative, the charity that helps comic book creators in medical or financial need, will be the beneficiary of an incredible original art auction at the Baltimore Comic-Con, which will be held over the weekend of October 28-30, 2022 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The auction will be administered by well-known art expert Scott Dunbier. Tickets to the Baltimore Comic-Con can be purchased online now.

Artists whose work will be in the auction include John Byrne, Frank Cho, Michael Cho, Tomm Coker, Kevin Eastman, Gene Ha, Kelley Jones, Shawn McManus, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Kevin Nowlan, Dave Sim, Walter Simonson, Herb Trimpe, JK Woodward, and more.

Art will be available for viewing both at the Baltimore Comic-Con, and at Hero Initiative’s website . Bidders are encouraged to bid in person, though proxy bidding in advance will also be available via Hero’s website.

The live auction will take place Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 5pm at the Baltimore Comic-Con (specific location to be announced).

Confirmed guests for this year’s show include: Andrew Aydin (Run), Chris Barcomb (The Amazing Adventure of Superior Sam), Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), John Beatty (Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars), Carolyn Belefski (Curls), Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics), Brett Breeding (Superman), Dan Brereton (Nocturnals), Russ Braun (The Boys), Reilly Brown (Deadpool), Harold Buchholz (Sweetest Beasts), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jeffrey Burandt (Killer Bad), Greg Burnham (Tuskegee Heirs), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Joe Carabeo (Black Magic Tales), Richard Case (Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror), John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Jim Cheung (Miracleman), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Matthew Clark (Adventures of Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Kevin Cuffe (Metalshark Bro), Shawn Daley (Better Place), Alan Davis (Thanos), Nick Davis (The Night Guardians – Awakenings), Kristina Deak-Linsner (Roses for the Dead), J. Robert Deans (Crass Fed), Vito Delsante (Stray), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Terry Dodson (Harley Quinn), Scott Dunbier (Jim Lee’s X-Men Artist’s Edition, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Garth Ennis (The Boys, Friday and Saturday only), Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs), Chris Flick (Capes and Babes), Scott Fogg (Phileas Reid Knows We’re Not Alone), Trish Forstner (Stray Dogs), LJ and Kayla Fowlkes (The Adventures of CHIBIWONGTONG), Franco (The Ghost, The Owl), Bob Frantz (Metalshark Bro), John Gallagher (Max Meow: Cat Crusader), Kami Garcia (Teen Titans: Raven), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Mitch Gerads (Mister Miracle), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Steven Grant (X), Mike Grell (Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters), Dawn Griffin (Zorphbert & Fred), Brian Haberlin (Spawn), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Dean Haspiel (The Fox), Mike Hawthorne (Happiness Will Follow), Jamal Igle (Molly Danger), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Alien), Kata Kane (Altar Girl), Tom King (Batman), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Greg LaRocque (The Three Stooges), Jim Lee (Action Comics, Friday only), Joseph Michael Linsner (Red Sonja), Howard Mackie (Ghost Rider), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Francis Manapul (The Flash), Mariano Brothers (Claire Lost Her Bear at the World’s Fair), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Ron Marz (Silver Surfer), Whitney Matheson (Pandemix: Quarantine Comics in the Age of ‘Rona), Jason May (LEGO Club Magazine), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Mike McKone (Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Jarrett Melendez (Chef’s Kiss), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Pop Mhan (Gears of War 3), Frank Miller (Sin City, Saturday only), Chris Miskiewicz (Elvis: The Graphic Novel), Mark Morales (Thor), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons), Trevor Mueller (Albert the Alien), Jamar Nicholas (Leon: Protector of the Playground), Fabian Nicieza (Deadpool, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Ann Nocenti (The Seeds, Friday and Saturday only, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Sedat Oezgen (Judge Dredd), Jerry Ordway (Superman), Rachel Ordway (Chainmail Bikini), Richard Pace (Second Coming, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Dan Parent (Archie vs. Sharknado), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men), Khoi Pham (Teen Titans), Ed Piskor (Red Room: Trigger Warnings), Eric Powell (The Goon), Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Tom Raney (Green Lantern), Afua Richardson (Omni), Christopher Ring (Seamus (the Famous)), David A. Rodriguez (Skylanders), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Arsia Rozegar (Shahnameh For Kids), Jim Rugg (Hulk Grand Design), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Stuart Sayger (The Joker), Mark Schultz (Xenozoic Tales, courtesy of Flesk Publications), Pat Shand (Destiny, NY), Liam Sharp (Green Lantern), Louise Simonson (X-Men Legends), Walter Simonson (Ragnarok), Don Simpson (Megaton Man), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), Matt Smith (Hellboy), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Jim Starlin (Infinity Gauntlet), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Paul Storrie (Storm Kids: Stanley’s Ghost), Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother), Billy Tucci (Shi), Emilio Velez Jr. (The Dodgeball Teens), Dexter Vines (Civil War, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Sean Von Gorman (Return of Toe Tag Riot), Mark Waid (Superman: Red and Blue), Adam Wallenta (Punk Taco), Todd Webb (Mr. Toast Comics), Lee Weeks (Batman/Catwoman Special), Emily S. Whitten (The Underfoot), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis: Gateways), Keith Williams (Thor the Worthy), Charles P. Wilson III (Wraith), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), Gene Luen Yang (Superman Smashes the Klan), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

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