Extra Sequential Podcast Episode Sixteen

78 mins. During the increasing heat, Mladen and I yak about a plethora of awesome Batman comics, Ellen Degeneres, the lack of Parisian skyscrapers, how reading comics and novels differ and unusual eBay items.

LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE, OR ON ITUNES OR MIXCLOUD

2:45: NEWS

Dennis Leary as Captain Stacy in the upcoming Spidey film, the Green Lantern film trailer, Ninja Turtle’s co-creator Kevin Eastman’s fire sale and the first photo of Karl Urban as Judge Dredd.

17:50: WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

Batman Inc. #1, Batman: The Return, Batman #704, Superman/Batman #78. As for non-Bats titles, we discuss manga horror Parasyte, Assassin’s Creed, Dungeons and Dragons, Nikopol (videogame), and the huge collection Sundays with Walt & Skeezix.
36:05: FEATURE THEME: DETECTIVES

We talk about the different categories of detectives as seen in comics, including the private investigator, the supernatural detectives, and the quirky genius obsessive.
We mention Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics, Batman in Hush, The Long Halloween and Dark Victory, classic Dick Tracy, Hairbutt the Hippo / Elephantmen, Dylan Dog, Hellboy, Image Comics’ hit Chew, Death Note, Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, new Aussie series The Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes, the gorgeous looking Blacksad and Max Allan Collins’ intelligently written female detective Ms Tree.

Massive Preview Of Massive DC Book

Publishers Taschen who seem to focus on very well presented, artistic books are behind the new 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking. It’s a huge book, not only in size, but also in page count (over 700!) and is written by Paul Levitz (shown below with the mammoth tome) who knows the company better than most, seeing as he’s been a writer, editor, executive and until recently publisher for them over the last 38 years.

You can discover more about the book here and see a generous 100 page preview here. There’s over 2000 pics, fold-out timelines and some great art design by Josh Baker.

Ewoks Are Nasty

This impressive diaroma from the artisans at Sideshow Collectibles should erase any doubts that Ewoks are just cute teddybears who can’t fight. Suitably titled Fall of the Empire – Ewoks vs Stormtrooper, it stands 16 inches high and weighs almost 4 kgs, and costs $250US. It’s available for pre-order now for shipping next year. Check out more photos here.

Pivotal Batman Dates

Tony Brownfield at Newsarama has written an informative and concise timeline for Batman from his first appearance in 1939 until today, through comics, films and cartoons. Batfans will know most of it, but it’s definitely worth reading for newbies too, as it gives a rundown on Bruce Wayne’s rather hectic life.

Wilson Film

Something that will make my podcast cohort Mladen happy is the recent news that Daniel Clowes’ indie comic Wilson is set for the big screen, as reported by Deadline. Clowes has had his stories Ghost World and Art School Confidential previously adapted into films, and will be writing the screenplay for the Wilson film with director Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt) attached as director. Seems like a great fit.

Go here to publisher Drawn and Quarterly’s site for a preview of the darkly humorous 80 pager about a lonely man’s quest for attachment and connection, and to get 30% off the purchase price in celebration of its cinematic journey.

 

New Marvel Website

Marvel have always had a good website and have welcomed the digital domain much more than DC. Now they have revamped it and it looks good. Below is the official info.

Welcome to the all-new Marvel.com! And when we say new, we really mean new!

“It’s an utter and complete overhaul, we ripped it to its studs and rebuilt it,” says Seana Baruth, Marvel’s Vice President, Digital Product Management.

In addition to a new look specifically designed to better showcase Marvel’s rich artwork plus color-coded sections letting readers know where they are in the larger context of the site, the real changes have function in mind instead of form. For example, Search has been completely rebuilt to give more accurate results.

“We’ve completely replaced our site search, so if you go to Marvel.com and type in ASTONISHING X-MEN #1, you’re immediately going to get results that are relevant to that query which is a far cry from the old site,” Baruth explains.

The new Comics Browse function allows for customizable searching through Marvel’s vast catalogue of titles with various filters to help find exactly what you’re looking for fast. For example, if you want to find every issue of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN written by Dan Slott in 2010, first browse the title, then filter by creator, get the results and filter once again by year—you’ll have a complete list of the comics you’re looking for!

Other brand new features include a section devoted to playing games on the site, Comic Events pages chronicling crossovers like Chaos War and Shadowland all in one place and the ability for readers to comment on more than just news stories.

So as you surf around the site, be sure to visit some of your old favorites, but don’t forget to try out the new stuff, too!

Here’s a list of things to do on the new Marvel.com to help you get started:

Check out awesome art and pictures
Read a FREE Digital Comic then Subscribe to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
Create Your Own Comic
Create Your Own Super Hero
Join Your Universe, The Marvel Fan Community
Contribute to the Marvel Universe Wiki
Play a game right now
Build a checklist of your Marvel Comics collection in “My Collection” (be sure to register for Marvel.com first!)

Thanks for making yours Marvel.com!

Firebreather Film

You may have seen the ads for the upcoming Firebreather cartoon film based on the Image comics series, in some of this week’s new comics. Well, below is all the info you need to know.
DOUBLE DOSE OF FIREBREATHER

First issue of new FIREBREATHER miniseries gets variant cover from Cartoon Network movie
The FIREBREATHER movie debuts on Cartoon Network on November 24, 2010, and FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG #1 is getting both a variant cover and an early release on the same day to celebrate!
Advance reviews for the movie version of the critically acclaimed Image Comics series have been stellar, and HOLMGANG #1 is a great place for new fans to jump onto the series. The variant cover features exclusive artwork from the TV movie and will be in stores November 24 alongside the regular cover.
Teenager Duncan Rosenblatt has a human mother and a giant, city-stomping, kaiju father. He also has all the worries of a normal high schooler, from bullies to girls to fitting in. Written by Phil Hester and drawn by Andy Kuhn, FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG picks up where FIREBREATHER VOL. 2 left off: Duncan deals with not only losing his father but with keeping his father’s death a secret, even from his mother. But Duncan’s mysterious extended family may not let him keep that secret — or his life — much longer.
“We are super excited to have the first issue of our new Firebreather mini-series hit stores the same day the animated film debuts on Cartoon Network,” says Kuhn. “The film’s director Peter Chung really knocked it out of the park, and the Cartoon Network variant cover is a great looking piece of art that really gives you a vibe of what to expect in the movie. Please watch it, you won’t be disappointed, AND buy the comic, because it’s insanely awesome!
Hester adds, “I’m excited that people will get a glimpse of the gorgeous treatment Peter Chung and company have worked up for Duncan on this alternate cover. The 24th is a chance for fans new and old to get a double dose of classic and animated Firebreather. The best of both worlds!”
FIREBREATHER VOL. 3: HOLMGANG #1 (of 4) (OCT100443), a 32-page full-color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores November 24, 2010, with a cover by series artist Andy Kuhn and a variant cover featuring artwork from the Cartoon Network television movie. Catch up on Duncan’s adventures with FIREBREATHER VOL. 1: GROWING PAINS ($14.99, APR090360) and FIREBREATHER VOL. 2: ALL THE BEST HEROES ARE ORPHANS ($16.99, AUG082239), available now. Finally, don’t miss the FIREBREATHER movie, premiering on Cartoon Network on November 24, 2010!

Young Justice Promo

Based on the DC Comics series of the same name, as well as the Teen Titans series that fcouses on former, and current, superhero sidekicks, the new cartoon Young Justice premieres on the Cartoon Network in America on November 26 with a 1 hour special. Below is a cool looking promo. I might just enjoy this more than Batman: Brave and the Bold.

That’s Kid Flash, Robin and the new Aqualad you can see, as well as Superboy and Guardian, and the kids’ various mentors.

Jason Aaron Breaks It Down

Writer Jason Aaron got noticed through his gritty crime drama Scalped, published from DC/Vertigo and has since done work for Marvel, writing Ghost Rider, Punisher and Wolverine stories. He recently started a regular column at CBR in which he speaks, or rather writes, candidly about the realities of the comic book biz. It’s necessary reading for curious fans and wannabe professionals.

In his latest column, he talks about income, taxes and other stuff that may seem boring to anyone except those who want to also be a comic book pro one day. Here’s a taste:

But anyway, how do you know that the page rate this company is offering you is a fair one? You don’t. Unless you ask other creators and find out what they’re getting paid. That’s sometimes an awkward thing to do, even among friends. Sometimes especially among friends. But it’s good business. I’m all for creators being open with their peers about what they’re getting paid. Otherwise, you’d never have any idea if you’re getting screwed or not. I don’t remember my first page rate for Marvel, from back in 2002 when I did an 8 page Wolverine story as a contest winner, but in 2004 when I first started writing for Vertigo, I got $90 a page. Now I know guys who get page rates that are much less than that. Depends on the company you’re working for. But as I understand it, if you’re doing a book for Marvel or DC, that’s probably a pretty typical starting page rate. For a writer at least. If you’re an artist, it should be much more. If you’re a letterer, probably a good bit less. Again, ask around to other creators who are in the same boat as you and are comfortable talking about what they make in order to find out where you really stand.

You can read all 9 columns right here.

Xenozoic Collected

Xenozoic from Mark Scultz is like Rocketeer by Dave Stevens, as in it’s a series I’m vaguely familiar with but have never read. It’s also widely praised for its classic adventurism and dynamic artwork. Now the fine people at Flesk Publications have released a collected edition of all the Xenozoic tales from creator Mark Scultz. The series was also a cartoon called Cadillacs and Dinosaurs in the early 1990s. Details about the black and white tome below.

Flesk Publications is pleased to announce their new release, Xenozoic by Mark Schultz!

Welcome to the Xenozoic Age, a post-apocalyptic landscape where dinosaurs roam freely…and humanity is the endangered species!

Forced into hiding by a global ecological cataclysm, humans emerge from their underground warrens half a millennium later to discover that the Earth has been totally transformed. All of the familiar flora and fauna are gone, replaced by a radically altered natural order populated by rampaging dinosaurs and strange, new creatures. It takes guts, grim determination, ingenuity and a whole lot of old-fashioned luck just to survive, much less thrive, in this alien wilderness—all qualities that ace mechanic Jack Tenrec, lovely scientist Hannah Dundee and their friends possess in abundance.

But even the worthiest of these hardy souls are hard-pressed to surmount the obstacles presented by their new homeland. And when those trials are further compounded by the underhanded and selfish actions of the cutthroat human scavengers they encounter, brains and bravery might not be enough.

Xenozoic combines lush and richly realized ink-and-brush artwork with a pulp-fueled narrative to create an action-packed fantasy—an unrelenting adventure that also serves as a subtle cautionary fable concerning the unforeseen consequences that shortsighted present-day decisions might have upon future generations.

When asked about his new book, author and artist Mark Schultz explains, “When Flesk Publications expressed interest in publishing a new collection of my Xenozoic stories, I couldn’t have been happier. I knew that the reproduction and packaging would be of the highest quality—the very best. The new scans show my brushwork with more clarity than previously, and with the full tonalities within the blacks evident. My drybrush technique has never been reproduced more faithfully. The generous page count allowed for the addition of extra illustrations, as well. It’s a beautifully designed book—I’m very proud of the entire package.”

Flesk publisher, John Fleskes further notes, “This book features all of the stories written and drawn by Mark Schultz to date. He has created new drawings to introduce all twenty stories, as well as provided additional illustrations. Schultz also fully hand colored the new cover artwork using watercolors, providing a rich overtone unlike anything he has done before.

“With the exception of two stories, ‘Green Air’ (11-pages) and ‘The Rules of the Game’ (10-pages), all of the artwork has been reproduced from the originals. These other two stories were scanned from original proofs.

“I’m very excited about this hefty 352-page Xenozoic book!”

Xenozoic is now available at your local comic book shop and bookstore. Introduction by Craig Elliott, 352-page softbound edition with 4” French flaps, 8.5” x 11” for $39.95. ISBN: 978-1-933865-31-7. Full details and sample pages can be viewed at the Xenozoic product page at the Flesk Publications website. Furthermore, orders can be placed direct through Flesk on their online store.

Heaven Sent From Image Comics

I’m always curious to read any vaguely supernatural themed comic that uses a Christian worldview, or variations thereof, in its storytelling. Usually I end up rolling my eyes in frustration, much like I did as expected in the recent Legion film. I’ll give this new Image series a go though. Official details below.

HEAVEN SENT
The mission is murder in new Image Comics title from Marc Guggenheim’s Collider Entertainment
An average man gets sent on a heavenly task this February in THE MISSION, from Marc Guggenheim’s Collider Entertainment.
In THE MISSION, a typical working guy finds his life upended when he’s approached by a mysterious figure who claims to be the archangel Gabriel. Gabriel tells him he’s been chosen for a mission in the battle between good and evil. The mission? Murder! Did our hero actually get a command from an angel or is he losing his mind?
Written by JON HOEBER and ERICH HOEBER, who wrote the screenplays for Red and Battleship, THE MISSION is produced by ALISA TAGER (HALCYON, Serenity) and MARC GUGGENHEIM (HALCYON, No Ordinary Family). The series is stunningly illustrated by WERTHER DELL’EDERA (Dark Entries, Loveless) and colored by ARIANNA FLOREAN.
“Jon and Erich have written the perfect supernatural thriller,” says Guggenheim. “People have questioned the existence of God and angels for millennia, but the main character of THE MISSION has to face the reality of this conundrum, and the twists and turns will have the readers guessing as well. Werther’s art is a flawless companion to the story, putting into pictures the discord our hero confronts.”
Whether the battle is between good and evil or between sanity and lunacy, it begins in THE MISSION #1 (DEC100433), a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores February 23, 2011. Collider Entertainment’s first release with Image Comics, HALCYON #1, is available now.

Aliens Screening

“Game over, man!”

I like all the Alien films, even Alien 3, and hope to work my way through all 60 hours of bonus content on the Blu-Ray Alien Anthology at some point. The good news is that if you’re a fan of the franchise, and its best entry and, if you’re in metro Western Australia, you can catch James Cameron’s great sequel on the big screen once more at Event Cinemas in Innaloo on December 8.

Go here for more details.

Green Lantern Trailer

And it’s here, more than a few months before the film debuts mid-2011. If you go and see the latest Harry Potter film, you’ll also see the brand new trailer for the Green Lantern film starring Ryan Reynolds as test pilot Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as love interest Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as huge-headed Hector Hammond and Mark Strong as Sinestro. It’s directed by Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell and is an origin film for the classic ring wielder. With a script from comics scribes Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green, and overseeing from DC’s golden boy Geoff Johns I had high hopes for this film. Then we all saw the very uninspiring glowing green costume on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. That thankfully seems to have changed since then.

The trailer seems a little too comedic and not as serious as the GL comics are (and they are serious in the way that only good superhero comics can get away with). However, the talent behind and before the camera is impressive and maybe this trailer, seeing as its the first official one, is just testing the water and going for the broadest strokes possible. With Kilowog, Tomar-Re and the GL’s planet/base Oa, it appears to be faithful to the page though.

You can check it out here or below.

Extra Sequential Podcast Episode Fifteen

77 mins. A whole bunch of stuff as usual including a first look at next year’s Tintin movie, our thoughts on the documentary focused on Scottish writer Grant Morrison involving his magic and drug use, some new all ages comics and more.

Listen to it below, download it here , on iTunes or Mixcloud.

1:22 NEWS

The sale of the hugely popular San Diego Comic-Con tickets go live on Nov 22 for July 2011, writer JMS is off monthly comics to focus on the sequel to Superman: Earth One, the new DC Comics digital store, Spider-Man’s death, just released pics from the Tintin film, the success of the Walking Dead TV series, Batman Live World Arena Tour, a classic Fran Drescher and Robin Williams film and I also mistakenly credit Haley Joel Osment from The Sixth Sense instead of Freddie Highmore as the voice of Astro Boy. Phew, that’s a lot of news!

25:0 WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING/WATCHING

The Nikita film, (in which I make one more film error and get Tcheky Karyo and Jurgen Prochnow and U-571 and Das Boot mixed up!), Russian flying car film Black Lightning, the new Predators, the latest season of Dexter.

And for comics we yak about the wild Mesmo Delivery from Rafael Grampa, the new Atomic Robo series, 676 Apparitions of Killoffer, Toy Story: Tales from the Toy Chest #2 from BOOM! Studios, Vertigo’s series The Unwritten, Image’s Halcyon #1.

And yes, I mix up the title of another film!

56:30 FEATURE REVIEW

The new doco Talking With Gods on writer Grant Morrison of JLA, We3, The Invisibles and more fame.

1:10:45 WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Our Valued Customers – real things said by geeks and crazies in a comic book shop.