Out now is the final one-shot of the Broken Trinity arc, from Top Cow. This story by Ron Marz and Brian Stelfreeze (it’s awesome to see that name on the cover of a comic again!) focuses on the female Angelus. A few preview pages are below. They look great and that’s just of people standing around talking!
Peter Tomasi was an editor at DC Comics for years until jumping across to the other side of the table as writer on such series as Nightwing and now, The Outsiders, which will be a team without Batman guiding them, now that he’s dead-maybe.
I was blessed to interview him at Broken Frontier where he talks about the new line-up of the Outsiders, the difference between being an editor and a writer, fatherhood and more.
Check it out here.
I’ve just reviewed Radical’s new series, Shrapnel, as well as BOOM!’s new, but delayed, series Hexed over at Extra Sequential. I’ve gotta say it was a wildly different reading experience for both of these debut issues. Shrapnel #1 was disappointing with it’s needlessly complicated sci-fi premise, and muddy artwork. I feel it is going somewhere worthwhile though. Hexed #1 was a lot more fun. Beautifully sunny art with an enchanting tale that follows a young female magician/thief nick-named Lucifer, it’s perfect for new readers, or those looking for a Buffy fix.
On a related note, you might notice I’ve added a new page to this here blog. I came across this nifty, and free, software that allows easy file conversions into viewable on-line mags. Check out the Free Comics Mag! page and you can check out the debut ish of Extra Sequential with all its comic-y goodness right now. Woo hoo!
Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R (A Commitment To Our Roots), the Hero Initiative aims to financially assist comic creators who’ve fallen on hard times. It’s a great idea, and since 2001 the not-for-profit company have given out over $400, 000 to writers and artists who through illness, or just bad fortune, have really needed it.
Now you can support HERO, and through them, some of your favourite creators through taking advantage of the new memberships they’re offering. If you want to look like the happy writers Paul Dini and Stan Lee below, then sign up today! I have, and I feel warm and fuzzy inside. The full details are below.
A Bronze membership costs $29 and includes: a personalized membership card (which will arrive approximately 4-5 weeks after you sign up), a quarterly newsletter and a Hero Initiative sketch card from a randomly selected artist. Artists include Mike Bencic, Dan Brereton, Dick Giordano, Bob Hall, Dan Jurgens, Mike Mayhew, George Pérez, Joe Quesada, John Romita Sr., Dave Simons, Jim Valentino, Carly Wagner, Bob Wiacek, Richard Zajac and more!
A Silver membership costs $99 and includes: all of the Bronze perks, plus a Hero Initiative T-shirt (your choice of Dawn or Hero Hand), a copy of the Marvel Then and Now DVD and a copy of The Unusual Suspects graphic novel.
A Gold membership costs $250 and includes: all of the Silver perks, plus invitations to Hero Initiative VIP Members-Only parties at 2009’s Wizard World Los Angeles and Wizard World Chicago.
An Excelsior! membership costs $500 and includes: all of the Gold perks, plus your flat item (maximum size 11″ x 17″), signed and personalized by the one and only Stan Lee.
“I’m always amazed and happy to see the support that fans have shown Hero,” said Hero Initiative President Jim McLauchlin. “Hopefully, this will be a new way they can show affinity, and get some nice goodies in the process.”
This is the first time memberships to The Hero Initiative have been offered. It was put into place with the fans foremost in mind and on consultation withGeekInTheCity.com, a website that covers all things geek, from comics to movies to games. As such, GeekInTheCity’s Aaron Duran is member #1, Jen Duran is member #2 and Stan Lee is member #3. Creator Paul Dini (Detective Comics, Madame Mirage) is also a member already, as is Mid-Ohio Con promoter Roger Price.
“The Hero Initiative does more than help people in need,” said Aaron Duran, explaining why he was eager to help start this membership drive. “They give back to those that inspired our hopes and dreams. They help artists and writers in need, artists and writers that inspired all our tomorrows. Please help the Hero Initiative protect theirs.”
To become a member of The Hero Initiative, fans can sign up at Atomic Comics or on-site at The Hero Initiative booth at the following upcoming comic book conventions: Phoenix Cactus Comic-Con, Jan. 23-25; New York Comic Con, Feb. 6-8; WonderCon, Feb. 27 – March 1; Orlando MegaCon, Feb. 27 – March 1; and Wizard World Los Angeles, March 13-15.
I picked up That Salty Air from Comic-Con six months ago and finally got around to reading it. It’s a unique book about Hugh a fisherman facing the harsh reality of life, seemingly encapsulated by the ocean. A haunting tale, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it’s quiet pace and profound themes. Considering it’s the debut book from Tim Sievert who wrote, drew and lettered it, it makes it even more impressive.
You can read the whole review here at Extra Sequential.
I know this game has been out for a few months now, but I only just finished it, after purchasing it as an early Christmas present for myself. The first Gears of War, along with the zombie killing spree that was Dead Rising really showed what the fairly new XBOX 360 was capable of. Both of those games raised the bar and when we got Bioshock, Halo 3 and Rainbow Six Vegas the bar stayed there.
I got the Collector’s Edition, which came complete with a neato hardcover art book and DVD. I love all that behind the scenes stuff, which is why I never buy pirate DVDs. That, and because they’re illegal.
Playing as the grizzled Marcus Fenix, as you did in the first one you’re followed by his three squad mates for the most part. Basically, there’s been a huge war going on for 15 years with the Locusts, creatures who erupted from the ground on E-Day to destroy humanity. They pretty much succeeded.
From the outset it was obvious that this sequel was emphasising the war in the title. Cut scenes with more depth, a few new characters, nice weapons like the flamethrower. All these elements give the game a larger scope than the first one, which just followed Delta Squad, but didn’t give any screen time to the bigger events at play. Here, we have meetings with other squads, more cities and civilians and just more of a blockbuster feel. The graphics are the same as the first one, ie, brilliant. The only minor glitch was the annoying error that meant I went unnoticed a few times when crawling on the floor, asking for my teammates to revive me, but thanks to frequent checkpoints it wasn’t as frustrating as it could’ve been.
There’s also a greater variety in level design, especially when you’re riding massive tanks, unstable boats, flying beasts or even a huge Brumak in the last cavernous level. And two levels set inside animal gizzards is just a ghastly plus. I even watched the end credits sequence that surely ran of for at least 10 minutes. That puts Hollywood to shame. There were a lot of people involved in Epic’s most famous game, and now, franchise. I even counted three different languages in the thank-yous from the massive team. After all that, I kind of expected an extra scene. (Iron Man has spoilt me and now I expect post-credit scenes in everything I watch!) Well, there was something extra. Not a scene, but just a voice-over, of Adam Fenix. He’s Marcus Fenix’s long-lost father and doesn’t seem pleased about the humans sinking the city of Jacinto in a desperate attempt to beat the underground Locust horde. A nice seat up for Gears of War 3 to be sure. Trailer below.
I’ve bought every Newsboys live release from the VHS Step Up To The Microphone tour from a decade ago. I don’t buy every new album of theirs. Only delirious holds that honour for me, but Newsboys are a truly great band, and one of Australia’s most successful exports. Probably somewhere up with Hugh Jackman and The Wiggles. Newboys are one of the world’s longest lasting Christian bands. Of course, that label isn’t the best, as labels never are, but that’s the business of “Christian” music for you. Newsboys are a great band. They’re not a worship band, just a band that anyone can tap their toes to, with funky betas and quotable lyrics.
There have been a few line-up changes in the years they’ve been together, most noticeably the recent departures of Jody Davis and New Zealand bassist Phil Joel, to pursue family and mission interests. However, now they have the addition of Paul Colman, from the former band PC3, or the Paul Colman Trio. They managed to do quite well in the US before they split, and it’s great to see Colman on stage again, with his fellow Aussies, drummer Duncan Phillips and lead singer Peter Furler. I saw the Paul Colman Trio live in Perth twice and it’s just awesome to see him strut his stuff once more, with much larger crowds than he was used to. That means the only Yank left is keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein.
Newsboys still have that larrikin nature about them. They’re the funnest and funniest band to watch, and its great to see Peter interact with the huge Houston, Texas audience, making them laugh with his recountings of the band’s humble beginnings, and later cry with his heartfelt testimony. The preacher’s kid has done good.
Frankenstein looks as awkward as ever on stage, but since he’s a Mac user, he gets extra points. Phillips is as madcap as ever, with his cheeky grin, Mohawk and the fantastic return of the spinning drum platform. Colman fits in beautifully and Furler’s voice sounds just like it does on the albums.
The 14 track DVD/CD combo presents the same songs, a mix of old and new, including a few from their recent Go release. Classics like Shine, Entertaining Angels, He Reigns and Breakfast are my faves. The show’s production standards are great, and the fairly young audience really get into it. How could you not? I imagine the fellas must lose a fair amount of weight after each show after the three huge screens, on stage lights and two spotlights must make them sweat like maniacs, especially considering they’re all covered in black. But for them, and us, it’s all worth it. Check out the trailer below.
I’ve come to realise that over the last 18 months, but the last year in particular, I was very busy. In a good way. Going to bed two hours later than my usual time, but being creatively busy, means that I’m surprisingly not tired. Because of my constant writing for Sight, Broken Frontier, this little blog, and now Extra Sequential, I’ve come to realise how much I actually achieved in 2008. An average of a new review every day, and a new interview or article every month. Wow. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Of course all it costs me is my time at this stage, but it would be great to be a professional blogger type guy one day.
Anyway, to kick off the New Year my favourite line from 2008 would have to be from DC’s Secret Six #4. Batman bad guy Bane is asked what he benchpresses, and he replies, “Costumed detectives mostly.” Classic. Here’s a preview of the ish here.
comicbookjesus 