If you read the webcomic Gutters (and you should if you like fanboy humour) then you may agree with this amusing gag. That doesn’t mean DC’s current continuity can’t go out without a bang however, before next month’s relaunch. DC have been pretty open with their most recent comics, stating in the editorials that the Flashpoint mini will lead into the relaunch, and even having some characters being all metatextual and actually referring to the relaunch (though not in those words) in the closing pages of their ongoing series.
Here’s some previews of this week’s issues that farewell Batman.
I found this a while ago on arty site Abduzeedo and quickly signed up for it, not that I’ve done much drawing since my one year at art school years ago, and some more at Uni when I was studying Digital Film Making slightly less years ago.
The Sketchbook Project is, “like a concert tour, but with sketchbooks.”
Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the world.
After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view.
Anyone – from anywhere in the world – can be a part of the project.
It’s a cool idea. They send you a sketchbook, you choose a theme, you fill it up and send it back. Then it goes on a tour, gets into the collection at the Brooklyn Art Library and can be uploaded to their digital library.
Check out all the details at their site and go nuts with inspired, and inspiring, scribblings.
Time flies. DC’s relaunch of its entire superhero line is now only days away, with the new Geoff Johns and Jim Lee Justice League #1 coming at us on August 31. Then September sees the remaining 51 #1 issues arrive. If you’re on Twitter, or even if you’re not, you may’ve seen some sneak peeks at some of DC’s new titles, and here’s what ‘s been released thus far, including pages from Nightwing, Teen Titans, Hawk and Dove, Animal Man and a few others.
An article at Hero Complex says the orders for Justice League #1 have reached 200, 000, making it the year’s most ordered single issue. Six other DC #1s have topped 100, 000. That’s good news, but of course it doesn’t really mean anything just yet. The important numbers will be what sales the second, and third, and so on, issues get.
“The walk-in, casual fans have gotten away from us,” DiDio observed. “We are down to just the die-hard buyers.”
Comic-book stores have become increasingly barren, with sales dropping consistently over the last three years and down an additional 7% so far in 2011.
Theories abound as to why. Some blame convoluted story lines, while others point to cynical publicity stunts like killing key characters only to bring them back a few months later. But the main culprit more likely lies beyond the page: Today’s youth is far more interested in spending its leisure hours in the digital worlds of YouTube, Xbox and Twitter.
The generational shift is not lost on DiDio and his associates at DC. For the first time, the comic-book company will now make each of its issues available on digital devices such as iPads the same day it arrives in stores — a jarring departure for many retailers that only have to look at the fate of record stores to see the dangers that digital downloads present to brick-and-mortar merchants.
The Harvey Award winners were announced at Baltimore Comic-Con. Blacksad, Scott Pilgrim, Daytripper, Darwyn Cooke. There’s some worthy victories. Get the full list here.
Finally, who doesn’t like a good logo? Check out all of DC’s new 52 logos here.
Some very impressive editing here, consisting of clips from a bunch of films showing various characters walking and running and a similar one focused on hallways. Trust me, both are better than they sound.
Now this is how you make a creepy trailer. Starring Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe and opening in February is this remake of a 1989 film (and also a book and stageplay), made by the rejuvenated Hammer Films, who also made the great Let Me In remake.
This 120 page, black and white OGN from Aussie publisher Gestalt (Rombies, The Deep) puts a good twist on the werewolf tale. Sure, I know you’ve probably heard that before, but I actually found myself enjoying the simplicity and barbaric, full on take on offer here. Written by newcomer Andrew Constant, and with art by Joh James (whose work you may have seen in the new series I.C.E from 12 Gauge Studios), this reminded me of the kind of films I grew up loving in the ’80s. It’s bold and unapologetic and lets us know who the baddies and goodies are straight away, urging the reader to cheer for he sympathetic hero as he serves out toothy justice.
Nicola Scott (Secret Six) does the art for prologue and even though it features a half naked man, and a bloody battle, it all looks very pleasing to the eyes. Having James provide the bulk of the book’s art is an interesting choice, as his frenetic, hard edged line work is in spectacular contrast to Scott’s delicate pencils. It makes sense though, as Torn is, as the title suggests, a rip roaring action/adventure story. James’ slightly rough, sketchy style uses the page creatively and he creates diverse layouts and dynamic action scenes rather well. He uses things like texture, silhouettes, and a flowing design that doesn’t often rely on traditional approaches to panels in sequential storytelling. It’s a dirty, harsh world in the pages of Torn, but it looks great. I wouldn’t want to live there though.
The cast of characters is streamlined, meaning Constant can focus on the also streamlined story. There’s some deft discussions on identity as the lead character, whose narration guides us, loses someone he loves, before being changed from a lycanthrope to a long haired man, and discovering the dangers of the new city he inhabits. The wolf/man meets Sarah, a young homeless girl and gets embroiled in the danger and dirt of her life before his past claws its way back to him. Even though he hardly speaks, the pair hit it off and he begins to see the power of friendship and humanity, with the memories of death and brutality that he’s witnessed not far from his thoughts. It could’ve easily been over the top and soppy, but Constant keeps the dialogue grounded and although it’s often bleak, it’s not depressing.
Given the thumbs up by scribes Greg Rucka and Gail Simone, I hope this catches people’s attention on the shelves. Sure, I’m a sucker for Australian made comics, but Torn is another good example from Gestalt, in showing that horror, action and drama can all sit together in an entertaining brew.
61 mins. We focus on genre mash-ups in comics. The movie trailer marketing for the DC 52 Relaunch, writer Brian Wood leaving DC, the workings behind film-rights at Vertigo, the Death of Hellboy, and our quick thoughts on the new Conan the Barbarian & Iron Man: Extremis motion comic. Also floating moustaches, zombie cows and Herman’s Head.
We yak about various properties that either ‘meet’ or ‘vs’ each other. Superman, Batman, Aliens, Predator, Tarzan, Judge Dredd, Frankenstein, Abbott and Costello, zombies, robots and many more.
Fans have had their say over the last few weeks about DC Comcis’ superhero line wide relaunch in September. Now artists have their say – using artistic interpretations of new titles. I’d buy most of them based on the cover for sure, and the new Teen Titans costumes are much better than DC’s versions.
The ad to be shown in cinemas, that is. The ad itself isn’t that cinematic. It’s all part of DC’s plan to get next month’s onslaught of 52 new series in front of the face of comic book newbies. It of course makes sense. The execution however, is lacking. The music and lack of any info is what’s been most criticised, and rightly so, though individual comic shops will have the option of putting their info at the end of these ads shown at their local cinema apparently. I don’t know if these will be shown outside of America though.
Giving the comic art a slow motion look is an obvious choice, but more info would’ve been much better. There’s also an un-embeddable 2 minute version, but it’s more of the same and suffers from the same music/info-less direction. There’s no mention of creators, or DC’s digital releases, or even who the characters are, though they do use well-known superheroes. It’s a great step in the right direction, but what will this really mean to the intended audience, ie, people who haven’t read a comic in years, or ever? It does look pretty at least, but will that be enough?
As part of Broken Frontier’s Brits on Top series of articles this week, there’s a contest to win some 2000AD goodies. Yay! Here’s the lowdown.
As part of our Brits On Top! event spotlighting the rich traditions of the British comics scene, we’re giving away five graphic novel packs, graciously provided by the fine folks at 2000AD/Rebellion. Creative talents on these books include Frazer Irving, Frank Quitely, Robbie Morrison, John Wagner, Charlie Adlard, Henry Flint and more!
The Prize
5 graphic novel packs consisting of Nikolai Dante: Too Cool to Kill, Hondo City Law and Judge Death: The Life and Death of…
What do you have to do for a chance to win?
It’s easy! Simply follow us on Twitter and retweet this message to your followers:
It’s #britsontop at @brokenfrontier and I want to win a bloody cool @2000AD graphic novel pack! http://bit.ly/aFMPdZ (RT to participate)
We’ll announce the winners right here in this space on Monday, August 22, 2011.
I can’t say that I’ve heard of this snack here in Australia, but if you see it at your LCS (local comic shop) next month, make sure to buy some as 25c from every one sold goes to the Hero Initiative to aid comic creators in need. More info here.
Starting September, 2011, Bonomo Turkish Taffy is donating 25 cents for every bar of its product sold through comic shops to Hero Initiative! It’s available in four great flavors, so encourage YOUR favorite store to order a box through Diamond Comic Distributors using order codes:
Image have been putting out so many widely praised new series lately that I find myself Trade waiting instead of ordering a bunch of new #1s. Moriarty is on my Trade list, as it’s had nothing but thumbs up all round, and has an intriguing premise (as detailed in the trailer below.)
Image Plots Collected Edition of Moriarty
Moriarty Gets Collected in September
MORIARTY is an exciting new science fiction adventure series from Image Comics that follows the misdeeds of the original supervillain, Professor James Moriarty, arch nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. From the grimy streets of London to the haunting British countryside, underground lairs and superscience labs, Professor Moriarty must forge has way through a world without Sherlock.
This September, Image Comics proudly presents the first trade paperback volume of MORIARTY, entitled MORIARTY: THE DARK CHAMBER, collecting the first four super-sized issues of the ongoing series. MORIARTY is written by Daniel Corey (PROPHET), with art by Anthony Diecidue (Stan Lee’s TIME JUMPER), colors by Perry Freeze and letters and design by Dave Lanphear.
It is 20 years after the death of Sherlock Holmes, and Professor James Moriarty is a lost man. MI5 blackmails Moriarty into finding Holmes’ long-lost brother, Mycroft, but what at first appears to be a routine case leads to a web of intrigue that involves a psychic box and its creator, a woman from Moriarty’s past, as well as a new villain that threatens to be greater than Moriarty ever was! See how Moriarty deals with love, loss, war and death rays in the critically acclaimed Image Comics series MORIARTY.
Here’s what reviewers and influential comic creators are saying about MORIARTY:
“MORIARTY is a book that should be mentioned in the same breath as THE WALKING DEAD, CHEW and HACK/SLASH when it comes to the best comics coming out of Image.” — Horror Haven Reviews
“I love MORIARTY. Most of all, I loved how in a world without Holmes, that it’s only in the mystery, the unanswered questions, that life for Sherlock’s arch enemy can begin again. Insightful, exciting and cool – with gritty, atmospheric art to match.” — Jim Krueger (EARTH X, JUSTICE, FOOTSOLDIERS)
“MORIARTY: THE DARK CHAMBER is irresistible. Professor James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’ arch-nemesis, drawn from retirement and off on his own death-defying adventure? It’s one of those simple, perfect ideas you kick yourself for not thinking of first, and Corey and Diecidue carry it off in fine style.” — Scott Tipton (ILLYRIA: HAUNTED, STAR TREK: INFESTATION)
“Even with characters that lead a pretty sad existence, there is a drive for something greater or at least a sense of discovery. It moves the piece along at a thrilling pace that respects, but expands upon Sir Arthur Canon Doyle’s fiction in a way that is thrilling and smart.” — The Daily Blam!
“Corey spins a wonderful world of conspiracy, despair, and even science fiction.” — IGN
“…this is a perfect example of a great collaboration of story and artist.” — Newsarama
“[MORIARTY] takes an intriguing look at that relationship between good and evil.” — USA Today
“…this is a damn good comic book.” — Bloody-Disgusting.com
MORIARTY: THE DARK CHAMBER, VOL. 1 TP, a 128-page full-color paperback, will be on sale in stores September 14th for $14.99 and is available to order in the July 2011 edition of Diamond Previews (JUL110470, ISBN: 978-1-60706-450-3). For more information, please visit www.professorjamesmoriarty.com and www.facebook.com/daniel.corey.
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