The footage from a certain Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. film from Marvel has been in the works for a while now. Infact more work has been done on the film than the comic that inspired it. Footage was shown at Comic-Con and has now been leaked on-line. It’s graphic, with profanity and blood aplenty. Go here to see a few clips plus the trailer. The sound and picture quality aren’t the best to be sure, but you’ll get the picture. This film was made without a distributor attached, but now they’re lining up for it after seeing the response at Comic-Con. It looks like it could be the next Sin City -a real in your face film that crosses over to non-fanboys. The costumes are slightly different, but the over the top violence and black humour is certainly the same, and the use of the excellent Superman: The Movie theme music is strangely fitting. And if you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned the film yet, well, it’s called Kick-A**. There I said it. Almost. The film opens sometime next year and is directed by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake).
Watch This Space
Atomic Robo Comes To Life
Red 5’s flagship hero, Atomic Robo is now a live action character. Not as a film, but the humorous hero would make a great silver screen adventurer. Rather, Red 5 have apparently been working on their new “booth babe” for months. Pictures below and more here. Hope I see him at next year’s Comic-Con.
Jason Becker Interview
Now up at Broken Frontier is my interview with writer Jason Becker, from Archaia’s supernatural horror/thriller series Killing Pickman. It’s a pretty candid interview about the realities of being a writer, and trying to make it as a career. You can check out the full interview right here. It’s worth a read.
The List-Avengers Preview
Below is a text-free look at Part One of Dark Reign-The List-The Avengers. This new x-over epic is written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Marko Djurdjevic. It goes on sale on September 9. This is what Marvel have to say about the issue:
The Marvel Universe Begins Major Changes In Dark Reign: The List—Avengers!
If you’re reading New Avengers or the red-hot Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia, then you can’t miss an issue of Dark Reign: The List, beginning with the Avengers! Clint Barton (Ronin) makes a decision that’ll change the Avengers as you know them! The List—Avengers, from the superstar dream team of Brian Michael Bendis and Marko Djurdjevic, begins the end of the Marvel Universe as you know it when Norman Osborn is targeted for death by Ronin! Meanwhile, Osborn himself reveals his end game—the elimination of every obstacle in his way! He’s battled the X-Men and now, with his sights set on every other major player in the Marvel Universe, all will feel the wrath of Osborn! This landmark issue also features a variant cover by superstar artist Frank Cho!
“In 2010, the Marvel Universe changes forever and it all begins in The List,” said David Gabriel, Marvel Senior Vice-President of Sales & Circulation. “If you’re a Marvel fan, you can’t miss any of these specials—no hero or villain walks away the same.”
Next DC Cartoon: JLA
According to the Blu-Ray back cover of September’s animated Superman/Batman: Public Enemies film, DC’s next animated adventure is called Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. That’s all we know at this stage, apart from it being released sometime next year. I guess it’s a focus on the JLA and the introduction of the Multiverse in animated form.
Batgirl #1 Preview
Courtesy of DC’s blog, The Source comes this look at the new Batgirl series, which lands on August 19. Interior art and cover is by Lee Garbett, with a variant cover by Cully Hamner. The series is written by Bryan Q. Miller, who’s written episodes of Smallville before moving on to a few Teen Titans issues. I was always a fan of the Cassandra Cain Batgirl – the mute daughter of an assassin is a concept to cool to ignore. The identity of this new Batgirl, or possibly new, is unknown yet and DC is playing coy, as they did with all the other Bat-characters post Battle of the Cowl. I hope Cassandra is back, but she’s been absent in the pages of DC comics for a while now, so maybe it’s Stephanie Brown AKA Spoiler AKA Tim Drake’s ex-girlfriend. It’s perhaps likely, as Cassandra never really smiled. Plus that cover doesn’t look like an Asian girl. Maybe, DC will pull a swifty and put one of the Birds of Prey under the mask, such as Misfit or Lady Blackhawk.
Marvel’s 70th Birthday Party Near You
Well, maybe. Marvel’s celebrating their 70th anniversary this year and are bringing the party to you. If you live in the U.S that is.
MARVEL CELEBRATES MAJOR MILESTONE
MARVEL COMICS 70th Anniversary Parties Nationwide
On August 11, 2009, Over 500 Comic Shop Retailers and Select Barnes & Noble Stores Across the Country Are Set to Celebrate
To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Marvel Comics will commemorate the milestone event on Tuesday, August 11th with special anniversary parties taking place around the world! Over 500 comic shop retailers will be hosting parties to celebrate the comic book giant’s 70 year history from 1939 to today. These events will be offering: early on sale release of The Marvels Project #1, an all new series detailing the origins of super heroes in the Marvel Universe by the creative team behind the worldwide sensation The Death Of Captain America; exclusive limited edition variants, a remastered version of the very first comic Marvel published, Marvel Comics #1, special sales, and more. To download a full list of retailers participating in Marvel 70th Anniversary parties, go here. All retailer parties begin at 9pm local time.
In addition, at 7:00 PM local time, Barnes & Noble will be hosting five in-store events in Los Angeles , New York , Atlanta , Portland and Seattle , with appearances by some of the biggest names in the comic book world, hosting Q&A sessions and a chance to get your favorite comics autographed. Also appearing at these events are some of the most beloved characters from the Marvel Universe.
Barnes & Noble locations include:
NYC SPECIAL GUESTS IRON MAN AND SPIDER-MAN
150 E 86TH Street
New York , NY
Creators:
Joe Quesada Marvel Editor in Chief
Chris Claremont
Greg Pak
Klaus Janson
Fred Van Lente
ATLANTA SPECIAL GUEST WOLVERINE
2900 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta , GA 30305
Creators:
Daniel Way
Paul Jenkins
Mark Bagley
LOS ANGELES SPECIAL GUEST HULK
The Grove at Farmer’s Market
189 Grove Drive Suite K 30
Los Angeles , CA 90036
Creators:
Jeph Loeb
Craig Kyle
Chris Yost
Mark Waid
PORTLAND SPECIAL GUEST ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Clackamas Towne Center Mall
2000 SE 82nd Avenue
Portland , OR 97266
Creators:
Brian Michael Bendis
Jeff Parker
Rick Remender
SEATTLE SPECIAL GUEST CAPTAIN AMERICA
2675 NE University Village Street .
Seattle , WA 98105
Creators:
Ed Brubaker
Clayton Crain
And after you’re done at participating Barnes & Noble stores, follow your favorite heroes to participating local comic shops around the country for parties beginning at 9pm!
NYC SPECIAL GUESTS IRON MAN AND SPIDER-MAN
Midtown Comics Times Square
200 W 40th Street (Corner of 7th Avenue )
New York , NY 10018
ATLANTA SPECIAL GUEST WOLVERINE
Great Escape Comics & Games
1050 East Piedmont Road
Suite D
Marietta , GA 30062
LOS ANGELES SPECIAL GUEST HULK
Golden Apple
7018 Melrose Ave
LA, CA 90038
PORTLAND SPECIAL GUEST ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Cosmic Monkey Comics
5335 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland , OR 97213
SEATTLE SPECIAL GUEST CAPTAIN AMERICA
Comic Book Ink
1625 East 72nd and Portland ave.
Suite 800
Tacoma , WA 98404
For more information on Marvel’s 70th Anniversary, go here.
All comic shop events start at 9:00 PM local time and will run from one to two hours. To learn more about parties in your area, please go here. And remember—Make Mine ’39!
One eskimO Music Toon
Now this is a band I’ve never heard of, so it’s gotta be cool! The trailer below is definitely worth checking out with some lush animation, and music to go with it. Press release below.
WARNER PREMIERE TO DEBUT FIRST OF ITS KIND
‘VISUAL ALBUM’ “THE ADVENTURES OF ONE ESKIMO”
BLENDS MUSIC AND ANIMATION INTO A UNIQUE NEW DIGITAL CATEGORY
GRAPHIC STORY FEATURING THE MUSIC OF EMERGING BAND
“ONE ESKIMO”
Videos Feature Animation from Award-Winning Passion Films Best Known for Animating the Gorillaz Music Videos
10 Episode Video Series Debuts August 31 via iTunes and other Digital Channels
Cutting Edge Viral Campaign FindLittleFeather.com Launches Giving Fans a Chance to Help the Character from the Visual Album in his Search For His True Love
One eskimO Band Currently on Tour with Tori Amos in the U.S. Through August
The U.K.-based band “One Eskimo” and Warner Premiere have created an innovative new musical experience for consumers that brings a musical album together with groundbreaking animation and story to offer music fans a fully immersive musical and visual storytelling experience. The brainchild of lead singer Kristian Leontiou, “The Adventures of One Eskimo” is a visual album comprised of a series of animated musical story episodes jointly developed and produced by the band and Warner Premiere, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD). Warner Premiere and WBDD envision “The Adventures of One Eskimo” to be the first in a slate of visual album projects that offer musicians and consumers a new and compelling way to experience musical albums through the digital medium. “The Adventures of One eskimO” will debut August 31 on iTunes and other digital channels.
“We believe there is an opportunity for music and narrative to be combined into a new category of storytelling for digital mediums,” said Diane Nelson, president of Warner Premiere. “‘The Adventures of One eskimO’ is a wonderful love story using adorable characters to tell a story in a truly creative way. We’re looking forward to launching this series in September and working with additional artists on similar projects in the future.”
Produced by Passion Pictures, well known for their award-winning Gorillaz animation, “The Adventures of One eskimO” takes viewers on an animated journey through an epic love story starring our hero One eskimO and his band of animal friends that include Monkey, Giraffe and Penguin. The story begins with One eskimO and the love of his life Little Feather living peacefully in their igloo home, enjoying life as it passes by. One evening, Little Feather and One eskimO are torn apart by a dark force known as Mr. Top Hat who controls the world through his crystal ball. Our forlorn eskimO mopes around, pining for his lost love, imagining that she has left him for Mr. Top Hat. Through the help of a wise and brave owl he learns that she is in great peril. With only a knapsack and an enduring love, One eskimO sets out with his band of animal friends on an epic quest to rescue her.
A 10 part short form animated series, “The Adventures of One eskimO” will debut on iTunes and other digital channels August 31. To download the One eskimO trailer and to pre-order the series go here.
Help One eskimO before it’s too late! By visiting http://www.findlittlefeather.com fans can join One eskimO and his band on a quest to track down his lost love. Users are confronted with a series of challenges and games set by the dastardly Mr. Top Hat which they have to overcome if they ever want One eskimO to see Little Feather again. Each game corresponds to major plot points from the animations themselves and employs the same unique look and feel. The online experience allows fans to delve deeper into the story and to feel part of the world of One eskimO.
Flinch Review
Produced by Australian publisher Gestalt (Waldo’s Hawaiian Holiday, Character Sketches), Flinch is a digest sized anthology, and a good one at that. Inside its 120 black and white pages is a wild assortment of eerie, strange and occasionally disturbing tales. I mean, look at that cover by Shaun Tan – a giant rabbit! Freaky.
The first story is by far my favourite. It’s a great mood setter for the remainder of the book. Bobby. N’s tale, entitled Withheld follows middle-aged prisoner, Jim on his last day in the clink after 30 years inside for a murder he didn’t commit. Having lived half his existence behind bars he’s dejected about his release and the friends he’ll leave behind. The last few pages give the scenes before it a real emotional kick. The artist deserves praise for his panel layouts – dark and angular when in prison and light and welcoming when outdoors. Jim is set up as a quiet and gentle man with such restraint. It’s not wordy and is a superb example of the use of space to build tension.
Also scattered throughout these tales that, “question the darkness within us all,” are simple, yet clever one page pieces by acclaimed artist Shaun Tan that capture a theme such as innocence or knowledge.
The majority of these creators are Australian and really run with the theme behind this collection. Some, like Mel Tregonning in Night, Justin Randall and Chris Bones in Speak of the Devil and James Barclay and Chris Bolton in Twain play with the concept of light battling darkness to unique effect, while Anton McKay’s The Ride Home throws out a Hitchcockian story of suburban horror involving a DJ’s youthful secret.
Other standouts would be Tom Taylor’s work in 96, 000m with artist Tom Bonin. It’s only 6 pages, and opens with two men in a submersible craft on a deep sea mission. The ending is bold and made me laugh because it came from nowhere and really works. Taylor’s other story, with his Star Wars: Invasion collaborator Colin Wilson is a sci-fi tale called White Dove III. Like Bobby. N, Taylor expands a simple premise in to a powerful story.
Like any anthology, not every story is a winner. Demon Street Ghost Trap and The Snare just didn’t do it for me and seemed overly wordy. However, each story also brings a fresh artistic approach and every style imaginable is contained within Flinch’s pages.
Flinch is available now and when I see the varied talent on display here, I gotta say, it makes me proud to be an Aussie. For previews and creator commentaries, visit the official site or see the trailer below.
Withheld by Bobby. N
96, 000m by Tom Taylor and Tom Bonin
Night by Mel Tregonning
Moral Lesson #7 - Regret by Shaun Tan
G.I. Joe Toons
For those of you that have been disappointed by the new live action G.I. Joe film, you have other options. You can check out Resolute, the multi-part series penned by Warren Ellis with a great anime look, or you can watch the short videos below. The two part G.I. Joe: The Invasion of Cobra Island uses the original action figures, vehicles and playsets to great effect. It has a host of characters appearing, bad guys screaming like girls, and shows the difficulties of navigating a self-destruct system. It’s somewhat amusing and does remind me of my youth playing with my toys in the backyard. Ah, good times.
Berserker #2 Review
This is without a doubt the bloodiest comic you’ll ever read. If you’ve seen Punisher: War Zone or Midnight Meat Train recently, this will be right up your alley. It’s received a fair amount of press due to it’s blood soaked pages. However, if that’s all this series had to offer it wouldn’t be worth reading.
You can read Berserker #0 for free on Top Cow’s website to give you an idea of what it’s all about,, but here’s the lowdown: Farris Jorn and Aaron Bural are two wild and crazy guys – literally. Jorn ripped the head of his fellow Marine while in Afghanistan, and upon returning home killed his boss. Bural didn’t fare any better, and tore his beloved girlfriend apart with his own hands.
Apart from their superior strength, and frequent need to wash their clothes, the pair have no clue as to why they’re doing this. This second issue is set right after the events of the first. After freaking out his lover Eva at their workplace, Jorn is knocked unconscious. When he wakes up he sees Clint, the buddy he killed back in Afghanistan. Agent Rowena from Midgard is chasing Jorn in order to recruit him into her mysterious organisation, before their competition Asgard does. Meanwhile Asgard is head hunting Bural, who in turn is receiving his own visions of the dead, namely his girlfriend Courtney.
Bural then gets interrogated before snapping and Jorn does the same after being approached by Rowena. That’s when things get real messy. Or messier.
We don’t know much more than when we did from the last issue, save from the fact that the people chasing down the two berserkers are, “well-funded, private mercs.” The Norse mythology aspect of the story has yet to unravel, and right now the series has as many questions as spilled intestines in its pages. However writer Rick Loverd has obviously crafted something big, and is just choosing to leak out small details every now and then. Hopefully this strategy keep us as curious as the two main characters to know exactly what’s happening to them and why. The men on the run angle of this issue works and the desperation of the pair (though they never meet) is apparent.
Jeremy Haun’s art is just what it needs to be – gory and raw. I imagine he’d need a shower after drawing each issue. Haun is also more than just a man who knows how to depict anatomy from every conceivable angle – inside or out. He also does a brilliant job with the emotional complexities of the characters, from rage to fear to confusion. Dave McCaig’s colours add the necessary pop at all times.
Make no mistake, this is a title for mature readers. At this point it is crying out for more depth. I don’t know how much longer this series can sustain such a bloodbath without building upon the story, but as I said, hints are starting to break through thanks to Loverd’s handy work. I just hope that Berserker becomes known for more than just its use of the colour red.
It’s difficult to choose somewhat restrained preview pages, devoid of blood and guts, so here you go.
Tracker: First Look Review
On sale in October is Tracker: First Look, which is a peek at Top Cow’s new mini-series, Tracker which launches in November. This First Look was previously only available at last month’s Comic-Con. At the Cow panel at the Con it was mentioned that Tracker would be a new look at werewolves, with serial killers thrown in. Now with this special issue we get the full story, or at least the beginning of it.
It opens with Agent Jezebel Kendall (cops never have boring names in fiction, do they?) arriving on the scene of a bus crash. She wonders why a Federal Agent like herself has been called to a traffic accident until she looks inside the bus and discovers not only a mass of mutilated bodies, but also a survivor. The survivor is an agent too, and it appears the reason he alone survived the “Blue Line Massacre,” is more than just luck. Alex O’Roark returns to work nursing a cane and tender ribs and is put on the case of the massacre – the work of a serial killer called Herod. O’Roark knows what he’s doing as he’s the tracker of the title.
There’s only 10 story pages in this preview book, but it’s certainly a meaty start. Writer Jonathan Lincoln introduces us to not only O’Roark, but his girlfriend, boss and fellow cops, all while creating distinctive voices for them all. There’s no big reveal of Herod or the werewolves that are hinted at, but there’ll be plenty of time for such when the series kicks off proper. Francis Tsai’s art works well, and his colouring deserves to be mentioned. From the red glare of the bus massacre to the bright lights of the police precinct and hospital he makes each scene diverse enough to be interesting, and it’s all entwined with a subtle painterly approach.
Rounding out the extra pages are a few words from the 3 guys behind HVE, or Heroes and Villains Entertainment. In the new tradition of Top Cow aligning themselves with outside story developers, HVE appear to be men after my own heart and mention their love of Star Wars, Street Fighter 2 and Halo. Lincoln also mentions his love of werewolves and ends his text page with a powerful summary of Tracker’s premise – “A good man wakes up with blood on his hands.” Nice.
Also included are 3 pages of character summaries and a neato mini-poster of the cover, which reminds me of Ash from the Evil Dead films. Lastly writer of the excellent series Impaler, William Harms gives a one page intro to his new series, also aided by HVE, called Epoch. At the Cow’s Con panel Epoch was described as a “supernatural Fight Club,” with a bunch of diverse mythological creatures laying the smackdown on each other. Sounds good to me.
Only in the Comic-Con exclusive of Tracker: First Look are 7 pages of The Darkness/Pitt x-over by Paul Jenkins and Dale Keown. All I can say is that it looks very appealing, thanks to Jenkins and Keown, and that book hits shelves on August 26. As for Tracker, it’s off to a good start. I’m intrigued by the concept and O’Roark seems to be a great protagonist. Cops chasing serial killers we’ve all seen before, but not like this. With a new twist on the hairy moon howlers, the lone man who knows how to destroy them and the psycho Herod, who’s described as, “Hannibal Lecter with fangs,” this looks like a story worth following.
Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 Best Seller
Archaia are obviously pleased as punch to share this with the world. It’s great news for creator David Petersen too, as his fantasy epic starring mice and assorted creatures flies off the shelves. Press release below.
‘MOUSE GUARD: WINTER 1152’ IS A ‘NEW YORK TIMES’ BEST SELLER
DEBUTS AT #4 ON THE HARDCOVER GRAPHIC BOOKS BEST SELLER LIST
Archaia is proud to announce that Archaia’s own Mouse Guard Vol. 2: Winter 1152 by David Petersen has debuted at #4 on The New York Times Hardcover Graphic Books Best Seller List, week ending August 1.
The rankings on the list, according to The New York Times, “reflect sales of graphic novels, for the week ending August 1, at many thousands of venues where a wide range of books are sold nationwide. These include hundreds of independent book retailers (statistically weighted to represent all such outlets); national, regional and local chains; online and multimedia entertainment retailers; university, gift, supermarket, discount department stores and newsstands. In addition, these rankings also include unit sales reported by retailers nationwide that specialize in graphic novels and comic books.”
“I am amazed and honored that Mouse Guard Vol. 2: Winter 1152 even made a list like The New York Times Best Sellers,” said Petersen. “I’m already proud of the work I did on this book, so to see the fans are eager to read it only makes the whole experience more fulfilling and I thank them for that!”
“To keep this one short and sweet, Mouse Guard exemplifies all things Archaia strives to be with every single title,” said PJ Bickett, president of Archaia. “David deserves every accolade and praise and he has paved the way for what a successful Creator title should represent.”
Also available from Archaia are previous Mouse Guard titles Mouse Guard Vol. 1: Fall 1152 and the Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game. For a complete list of Archaia’s Graphic Novel Backlist, see pg. 199 in the August 2009 issue of Previews catalog.
Irredeemable #5 Review
Man, Mark Waid really is evil. More than the clever marketing slogan that launched this series, it’s becoming increasingly real as I read each new issue of this superhero-turned-bad series from BOOM! Studios. When I saw Waid at Comic-Con he was all smiles and thankful nods. If I see him again, I think I’ll avoid eye contact and walk slowly away.
With lines like, “On the upside, however, this is a boom time for map makers,”and, “Let’s call it even,” once noble superhero The Plutonian stamps his evil intent upon the world. His former team-mates of The Paradigm are inching their way to something that may one day resemble success and doubts over The Plutonian’s ex-girlfriend, Bette surface. The Paradigm are the sort of superhero archetypes we’ve seen before, and Waid humorously acknowledges that fact through the character of Volt, a black electricity wielding hero.
Waid does a great job once more of unleashing superpowered bitterness and child-like rage through his main character’s behaviour, and Peter Krause’s art is not overly rendered, but done with a darkness that fits into Waid’s plots. One glare or wry smile from The Plutonian is more than enough here, and that Hitchcock level of restraint from showing violence makes these pages work a treat.
As “slipped” at BOOM!’s Comic-Con panel, a new series called Incorruptible could be on the way, and with a title like that I can only assume it offers a look at The Plutonian’s past before the mysterious turning point flipped his switch. Waid wisely gives us glimpses at the character’s happier past in Irredeemable, but if BOOM! provides a look at The Plutonian’s two states of mind in separate, though perhaps concurrently running, series it opens up this tale to an even deeper reading experience.
The $10 TPB of the first four issues of this great series is out now, and seeing as #5 is only 99c you can get the whole mad tale thus far for less than $11. I bought mine yesterday because it’s one of those books you have to own to pass to your non-fanboy friends, despite any possible doubts they may have. This isn’t “just another superhero series,” and that’s what makes it so brilliant.
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