For the second year running, the Perth 4 Jesus rally is being held in Perth. The speakers are Pastor Kong Hee from City Harvest, Singapore’s largest church, and Pastor Robert Kayanja from Uganda. Both men are funny and anointed. I just came from the Friday night service and it was awesome. It’s open air, at NIB Stadium in Perth and is free and on Saturday from 12noon and Sunday from 2pm. There’s also bookshops, stalls for Bible schools and stuff too.
Warren Ellis Doco at NYCC
Last year’s doco on Scottish comics scribe Grant Morrison was an entertaining insight into the mind of the man. That same team is behind Captured Ghosts, a similar doco about writer Warren Ellis. Here’s the skinny.
Halo-8 Entertainment and the Napa Valley Film Festival are co-hosting a special NYC sneak preview screening of “WARREN ELLIS: CAPTURED GHOSTS” at the downtown theater CINEMA VILLAGE (22 E 12th St NYC 10003) during New York Comic Con on Friday October 14th at 11:15pm.
CAPTURED GHOSTS will have its official World Premiere November 11th at the Napa Valley Film Festival (alongside the premiere of Martin Scorsese’s HUGO and gala screenings of Alexander Payne’s THE DESCENDANTS & Clint Eastwoods J EDGAR), but the NVFF organizers made a special exception to co-present this sneak preview screening for fans attending New York Comic Con.
This is the second year in a row Halo-8 will debut a film by Respect Films partners Patrick Meaney and Jordan Rennert during New York Comic Con, following the packed-house that greeted last year’s GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS.
WARREN ELLIS: CAPTURED GHOSTS
NYC Special Advanced Screening
Friday October 14, 2011
11:15pm
CINEMA VILLAGE
22 E 12th Street, NYC 10003
212.924.3363
Advanced tix available from www.halo8store.com or direct at these links:
$11 adult / $8 student / $20 bundle with DVD pre-order
CAPTURED GHOSTS features the most extensive interview ever given by Ellis, whose groundbreaking body of work includes comic books Planetary, Transmetropolitan, Iron Man: Extremis, FreakAngels, The Authority and novel Crooked Little Vein. Spanning from his first memory watching the moon landing as a child to the recent boffo success of RED, Ellis’ acerbic wit and core belief in humanity come across like never before… revealing the unique point of view that has made him such a pivotal and influential figure to his massive audience of artists, journalists, scientists, and fans.
The film features Academy Award-winner Dame Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN), Ben Templesmith (illustrator 30 Days of Night), Matt Fraction (writer Casanova, Invincible Iron Man), Darick Robertson (illustrator Transmetropolitan), Joss Whedon (director upcoming THE AVENGERS), Will Wheaton (STAR TREK), Brea Grant (HEROES, DEXTER, writer Suicide Girls comic), Claudio Sanchez (Coheed & Cambria), Joe Quesada (Chief Creative Officer, Marvel Entertainment), Stoya (adult film star), Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy), Patton Oswalt (RATATOUILLE), and a Warren Ellis Muppet (!).
“Patrick Meaney and Jordan Rennert have an uncanny ability to tell the stories of cultural visionaries like Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison whose work serves as an epicenter of influence that expands to higher-profile mainstream innovators and subtly changes the world,” said Halo-8 president Matt Pizzolo, who also served as co-producer on the film.
Produced by Patrick Meaney and Jordan Rennert through their Respect Films banner in association with Halo-8 Entertainment and SequArt Publishing, WARREN ELLIS: CAPTURED GHOSTS is the follow-up to Meaney’s 2010 GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS docu which Variety said “will intrigue the previously unconverted” and Wired called “an instant classic.”
Justice League: Doom
Based on one of the definitive Justice League stories, the next entry in DC’s animated films is out next year. Here’s the lowdown.
Primetime Television Stars
Nathan Fillion & Tim Daly
join heroic cast of
Justice League: Doom
Warner Home Video to distribute
DC Universe Animated Original Movie in early 2012;
Eight Justice League TV series alums featured in voice cast
Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion and Tim Daly, the reigning voices of Green Lantern and Superman, respectively, join an exciting group of actors reprising their famed cartoon roles in Justice League: Doom, an all-new entry in the popular series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies due in early 2012 from Warner Home Video.
Justice League: Doom finds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s “contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member. The story is inspired by Mark Waid’s much-heralded “JLA: Tower of Babel.”
Fillion, the star of ABC’s hit TV drama Castle, made his debut as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan in the recent Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. Fillion made his initial DCU bow as the voice of Steve Trevor in the 2008 hit Wonder Woman.
Currently headlining the cast of ABC’s popular Private Practice, Daly originated the title character’s voice in the landmark cartoon, Superman: The Animated Series. He has reprised the role in two DCU films: the 2009 extravaganza Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and the 2010 thriller Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.
In addition to current primetime stars Fillion and Daly, the cast is a grand reunion of the original group of actors who provided the voices of the Justice League for the cartoon of the same name and its follow-up, Justice League Unlimited. Reprising their roles are Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Batman, Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Breaking In) as Flash, Susan Eisenberg (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) as Wonder Woman and Carl Lumbly (Alias) as J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter. Bumper Robinson (A Different World, Transformers: Animated) joins the cast as Cyborg.
The Justice League faces two sets of villainous teams in the film – The Royal Flush Gang and a sextet of notable evildoers. The latter group includes three voice acting alumni of the Justice League animated series: Phil Morris (Smallville, Seinfeld) as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years) as Star Sapphire, and Alexis Denisof (Angel) as Mirror Master. Also opposing our heroes are Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) as Bane, Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files) as Metallo, and Claudia Black (Farscape, Stargate SG-1) as Cheetah.
David Kaufman (Danny Phantom) also reprises his Justice League role of Jimmy Olsen.
The film is executive produced by Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One), and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Batman: Year One), who is also credited as producer alongside Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series). Justice League: Doom is the final script from the late Dwayne McDuffie (All-Star Superman, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths). Casting and dialogue direction is once again in the capable hands of Andrea Romano (Batman: Year One, SpongeBob SquarePants).
Warner Home Video will premiere the Justice League: Doom trailer during its presentation at New York Comic Con on Friday, October 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the IGN Theater. Also premiering during that session will be the Catwoman animated short that is attached to Batman: Year One, the next DC Universe Animated Movie (streeting October 18).
The Deep in The West Australian
This was a happy accident. We get the newspapers delivered everyday at work, so during brekkie I was reading the arts pages, as I’m a highly cultured and sophisticated individual, and found something of a rarity – a review of a comic in The West Australian newspaper.
Perth publisher Gestalt has been increasing their diversity and output this year and The Deep by Tom Taylor and James Brouwer is one of their best works.
You can read the whole review at The West’s site (although they give it the wrong name), but do give it deserved praise.
To have captured the feel of a slick animated adventure so successfully in a graphic novel is not just impressive but a delight.
The Deep: Here Be Dragons introduces the Nekton family – cool mum, smart dad, crazy brother, canny sister (and Jeffrey the fish) – who explore the deep sea in their futuristic submarine.
Their adventure is absorbing and intriguing but what we really follow is this multiracial family and the bonds that keep them together and alive. They are involving and charming, subtle but quick-witted and all captured equally well in Tom Taylor’s tight writing and James Brouwer’s superb draftsmanship.
This adventure ends with the promise of more – making the ending even better.
Zorro #2 Review
New Australian publisher Silver Fox Comics is quickly getting noticed with their radical interpretation of the classic, blade swinging avenger Zorro. Read my review of the second ish here at Broken Frontier, and keep an eye out for it your LCS, or a newsagent near you if you’re in Australia.
While you’re at Broken Frontier, you must check out this great list in Joe Keatinge’s latest One You Want column which gives shoutouts to a diverse array of 52 different comics. It’s not that long and is definitely worth a read if you’re stuck for something new to check out.
Also have a read of this examination of DC Comics’ 1997 experiment called Tangent, which saw familiar characters such as Green Lantern and Superman reinterpreted in bold ways, long before DC’w New 52 did.
Marvel’s Point One 2012
Comic book newbies, and Marvel zombies take note. There’s a new one-shot launching in November that’ll show what in store next year for Marvel’s titles. I don’t know who that is on the cover. Perhaps Nova with a rad new getup?
The Foundation Of 2012 Is Here – POINT ONE!
“Point One is a massive one-shot of 64 all-new pages of story by the top creators in the business, setting the stage for the biggest stories coming in 2012. It is the starting point to what’s in store for the world’s most iconic characters and startling events. Point One serves as the launch pad for dynamic new series, the return of fan-demanded characters, and a shocking teaser that will have everyone talking. See how all it comes together in one gigantic epic!” – Tom Brevoort, Senior Vice President, Executive Editor.
POINT ONE #1 (SEP110496)
Written by JEPH LOEB, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, MATT FRACTION, ED BRUBAKER, FRED VAN LENTE, CHRIS YOST, DAVID LAPHAM & MORE
Art by ED MCGUINNESS, BRIAN HITCH, TERRY DODSON, SALVADOR LARROCA, RYAN STEGMAN, JAVIER PULIDO, ROBERTO DE LA TORRE & MORE
FOC – 10/17/11, ON SALE – 11/2/11
My Monologue
A few months ago I wrote a monologue for a competition. I was one of the finalists which meant my monologue was performed every night for a week at His Majesty’s Theatre, here in Perth. It was a great opportunity and a real encouragement to see my words bring laughter to a crowded theatre.
The actor who performed my monologue was Nick Candy, who can currently be seen on the TV ad for Blueprint Homes did a great job, and we both received a glowing review.
Below is the complete script. The performance on the night had to be less than 12 minutes, so a few paragraphs were cut. The theme was Treachery and Lechery in the 21st Century, which meant my story, inspired by my own experiences from a few years ago, was slightly ruder than my usual stuff.
A huge thanks must go to the Maj Monologues, presented by the Brainbox Project, and I’ll be sure to enter again next year.
Hit the Read More link for the whole shebang, and I hope you enjoy the dark humour.
The best thing about having one testicle is the jokes.
“What did the teste cancer patient say at the party?” “I’m having a ball!”
“What do Lance Armstrong and the Tower of Pisa have in common?” “ They both lean to the left.”
Ah, classic.
My own story to becoming a Uniballer is filled with laughs, greed and more needle marks than a Keith Richards weekend at home.
Four years ago, I was studying creative arts at Uni. It was my attempt to avoid working for a living. You see, many years ago, my grand parents won the second ever lottery in Australia. They were already wealthy and were shrewd investors, so they were able to retire in their fifties. As part of their will they left a hefty payment to my parents as long as they had children, and had the same deal for myself. So when I was born my parents’ bank account instantly became filled with more zeroes than my school report. My granddad was a rather paranoid Polish immigrant and was determined to keep the family name alive. He thought that if there was a generous financial reward encouraging children then his name would live on. Not a bad idea really, although it didn’t spur me on to pump out any kids. It just made me veer dangerously close to becoming Hugh Grant’s character in About A Boy – a selfish, bored waster of time and money. Landing at Uni was at least a pleasant distraction from any potential cubicle dwelling existence.
Blade of the Immortal Theme Song
I just watched the first 5 episodes of the 2008 Blade of the Immortal anime, based on Hiroaki Samura’s maga. It’s not bad, with its one-eyed protagonist who happens to have some handy bloodworms inside him, making him essentially unkillable. However, it’s filled with the kind of thing I’ve seen before in samurai anime, namely vicious bad guys, lots of blood, and women who are sad and demure.
It also has a theme song that loses something from its original Japanese. Here’s the English translation of the opening theme, Red Rabbit, from The Pillow Book.
I’ll never be easily loved
Am I just too clumsy?
That girl who looks good in pink
Is that who you want?
Is red not good enough?
The rabbit with red eyes runs away
Even though I loved you so much
If I’m sad, I’m going to die
The rabbit that you like
Isn’t on the moon
It’s just a rabbit
Um…yeah, I don’t know what the original Japanese is like, but most of the songs I’ve seen in anime are focused on broad concepts and use the words, “love,” and “dream” a lot. Now, here’s the translation from the closing theme, called wants by GRAPEVINE.
Sadly, I awakened
Overflowing reality is just
More of the empty lies
To be honest, I have to get ready for the next one
The morning slides in from the window
Regardless of what I see, I remember
I remember the unchanging wind always
Just said this as it passed by
What’s needed for this endless journey?
Where should I go?
Awesome. That’s got to be the first time deceiving lunar rabbits have ever been in a song, unless there’s one on a Monty Python album or something.
Super ’70s and ’80s
I’ve been meaning to mention this for a while now, but essentially, author Marc Tyler Nobleman’s latest project is a great one, which focusus on some forgotten players in pop culture in the 1970s and 1980s. Here’w how he describes it.
To bridge the gap between my book Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman (which made the front page of USA Today) and my upcoming book on Batman/Bill Finger (2012), I found and interviewed 100 “lost” stars of superhero/cartoon entertainment of the ’70s and ’80s – from more than 40 Sea World water skiing superheroes to the pimp in Superman: The Movie to the original singer of the Scooby-Doo theme to the voice actors of the Wonder Twins. (Scroll down for the link and a list of the 10 subseries.)The interviews are sometimes hilarious and often poignant; many of these people have not been interviewed before and had no idea they have fans. You will also see many previously unpublished “then and now” photos and rare documents and mementos from various private collections.I am posting one interview per day between now and 10/12/11, with a few gaps for my blog’s “regularly scheduled content.”10 subseries.71 posts.88 days.100 interviews.The 10 subseries (mark your calendar!):Super Friends (1973-86)28 interviews (15 voice actors, 7 writers, 2 animators, 4 other production staff)launched 7/17/11Sea World superheroes water ski show (1976-79)45 interviews (37 skiers, 1 boat driver, 1 high diver, 2 announcers, 4 production staff)launched 8/22/11Superman: The Movie (1978)3 interviews (all actors)Legends of the Superheroes (1979)5 interviews (3 actors, 1 deceased actor’s niece, 1 director/producer)Batman and Robin Meet Dr. Danger (circa 1979)2 interviews (both performers)launches 9/26/11Bugs Bunny Meets the Superheroes (1979-81)6 interviews (all performers)launches 9/27/11The Plastic Man Comedy Show (1979-81; repackaged with live-action host in 1984)2 interviews (1 actor, 1 director/producer)launches 9/28/11Superman (Ruby-Spears animated series, 1988)1 interview (voice actor)launches 10/2/11Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (seasons 1-2: 1969-71)7 interviews (2 voice actors, 2 theme song singers, 1 music producer, 1 songwriter’s widow, 1 songwriter’s son)launches 10/4/11And a wild card:Mick Smiley (“Magic,” Ghostbusters, 1984)1 interviewlaunches 10/12/11
The amount of research is very impressive and for those like me who grew up in those awesome 2 decades, this is a pretty intriguing project. In fact, I didn’t even know there was a Plastic Man cartoon, or that Bugs Bunny and his pals teamed up with a few DC Comics characters for stage show.
See? Great stuff, including interviews with the 2 actors who played Clark Kent before Christopher Reeve grew up in my fave film, Superman: The Movie, and a chat with the pimp who first comments on Superman’s outfit! ( “Say, Jim—whoa! That’s a bad out-fit! Whoo!”)
Check out Marc’s site right here.
Jim Henson’s A Tale of Sand Preview
And what a lively and generous preview it is. Below is the official lowdown and you can check out a 20 page preview at Archaia’s site.
ARCHAIA UNVEILS A 20-PAGE SNEAK PEEK OF ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
‘TALE OF SAND’
BASED ON AN UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY CO-WRITTEN BY JIM HENSON, THE PREVIEW IS TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH GOOGLE’S CELEBRATION OF HIS BIRTHDAY
In honor of what would have been the late Jim Henson’s 75th birthday, award-winning publisher Archaia Entertainment will debut the first 20 pages of the upcoming original graphic novel Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, which is based on an unproduced screenplay written by Henson and longtime collaborator Jerry Juhl and visualized and illustrated by acclaimed artist Ramón Pérez, it was announced by Editor-in-Chief Stephen Christy today. The pages will appear exclusively on Archaia.com starting on Sept. 24th.
“We are so pleased to be able to share with Henson fans a glimpse inside this groundbreaking project,” said Christy. “Ramón Peréz has created a stunning visual translation of Jim Henson’s only unproduced feature-length screenplay, and we are honored to debut this exclusive preview of the forthcoming graphic novel in partnership with The Jim Henson Company and Google’s celebration of Jim’s birthday.”
Tale of Sand, a dark, existential feature-length screenplay that built off of ideas Jim Henson had been developing since he produced his Academy Award-nominated short film “Timepiece,” tells the story of a man who is kicked out of a dusty town in the middle of the desert, with no memory of who he is or where he came from. Relentlessly pursued by an unknown assailant, and with only a rucksack of odds-and-ends to his name, he embarks on a desperate race across an increasingly bizarre landscape with only one thing in mind: survival.
Archaia and The Jim Henson Company entered into a multi-year publishing partnership in 2009 for Archaia to publish comics and graphic novels based on classic franchises like Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, as well as new, co-branded original properties.
Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand (hardcover, 152pp, $29.95, ISBN: 978-1-936393-09-1) is scheduled to debut in comic book shops and wherever books are sold in November 2011.
Extra Sequential Podcast #59-Donald Duck & DuckTales
55 mins. Don’t cry fowl, but we discuss the whacky and funny Fantagraphics collection of Carl Barks’ much loved 1940s Donald Duck stories, and compare them to BOOM! Studios’ current DuckTales…tales. Also, Ninja Turtles, Mythbusters and capitalism.
LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE OR ON iTUNES
You can email us at kris (at)extrasequential(dot)com and befriend us on the NEW ES Facebook page.
2:53 NEWS
Amanda Waller gets retconned to a thin woman!
Marvel is no longer publishing any of French publisher’s Soleil’s great comics
Batman: Year One animated clip
John Dies at the End cast pics
9:43 THEME – DONALD DUCK AND DUCKTALES
We tell you why creator Carl Barks is loved for his storytelling prowess and surprisingly funny and absurd humour in his Donald, Scrooge, etc tales and compare it with the modern equivalent in BOOM! Studio’s latest DuckTales mini-series.
You can get Fantagraphics’ Donald Duck in Lost in the Andes in November.
The 4 issues of BOOM!’s DuckTales series, Rightful Owners, are available now.
48: 02 A FEW QUICK THOUGHTS ON THE DC #1s WE’VE READ
Free The Thing Prequel Comic
Here’s the lowdown from Dark Horse about their free digital comic, set in the time of Vikings, and tying in to The Thing remake film.
THE THING RETURNS TO DARK HORSE COMICS
WITH A FREE DIGITAL COMIC THAT SERVES AS A PREQUELTO THE NEW THRILLER IN THEATERS OCTOBER 14!
Dark Horse Comics is pleased to announce that it has created an exclusive digital comic to serve as a prequel to the thriller “The Thing,” in theaters October 14. Starting today, the comic will be released in three parts on September 21, September 28 and October 5 and is available FREE online at www.digital.darkhorse.com and via the free Dark Horse Comics mobile app (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id415378623). The Thing: The Northman Nightmare tells the origin story of pioneering Norsemen who discover a shape-shifting creature that is hiding in a desolate village with few human survivors.
In December 1991, Dark Horse Comics first published The Thing From Another World #1. In the style of Aliens, Predator and Terminator, Dark Horse Comics picked up where John Carpenter’s classic 1982 film left off. Now, 20 years later, Dark Horse shares a much earlier story about this creature from beneath the ice.
Taking us into frigid Greenland, the comic introduces us to a group of Norsemen who find themselves caught in a game of survival when they discover a terrifying creature. The shape-shifting monster has the ability to turn itself into a perfect replica of any living being. It can look just like you or me, but inside, it remains inhuman. And it hides somewhere in a desolate village with few human survivors, among them a strange group of women…
Said editor Scott Allie: “This property consistently generates much excitement from fans, which made it easy to round up an incredible team for this prequel comic. This is a sincere horror story by guys who know how to knock it out of the park.”
The Thing: The Northman Nightmare is written by Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre), with art by Patric Reynolds (Serenity), colors by Dave Stewart (Hellboy) and a cover by Menton3 (Silent Hill). The Thing: The Northman Nightmare comes to readers as a prequel to Universal Pictures’ upcoming prelude to John Carpenter’s classic 1982 film of the same name.
“Steve Niles and Dark Horse have done it again, truly an amazing book,” said Menton3. “I am extremely proud to be a small part of it.”
The first eight-page installment of The Thing: The Northman Nightmare can be downloaded digitally from the Dark Horse Digital Comics App or at www.digital.darkhorse.com today FOR FREE!
About “The Thing” film: Antarctica: an extraordinary continent of awesome beauty. It is also home to an isolated outpost known as Thule Station. There, a crew of international scientists has unearthed a remarkable discovery. But elation quickly turns to terrifying paranoia in the thriller “The Thing,” as the group of researchers encounters something inhuman that has the ability to turn itself into an exact replica of any living being.
“The Thing” serves as a prelude to John Carpenter’s classic 1982 film of the same name. Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen, the thriller is produced by Strike Entertainment’s Marc Abraham and Eric Newman (“Dawn of the Dead”). www.thethingmovie.net
Batman: Year One’s Catwoman
Here’s the first look at how Catwoman will look in her short film on next month’s Batman: Year One animated film. Cool. She resembles her comic counterpart closley. Hopefully Anne Hathaway in next year’s The Dark Knight Rises will too. Official details below.
Warner Home Video to unveil Catwoman animated short, first Justice League: Doom footage at New York Comic Con
Warner Home Video, Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation proudly present an action-packed hour of first looks at DC Universe Animated Original Movies properties on Friday, October 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at New York Comic Con.
Central to the panel will be the world premiere of the animated short Catwoman, starring Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse) as the voice of title character. The 15-minute short will be included on the release of Batman: Year One, which streets October 18 on Blu-ray, DVD, for Download and On Demand.
The panel will also include the very first footage to be seen from Justice League: Doom, the highly-anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies.
The panelists, which include the ultimate voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, DCU executive producer Bruce Timm and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano, will offer a glimpse into the 2012 DC Universe Animated Original Movies slate, give away some exclusive prizes to inquisitive audience members, and quite possibly welcome a few surprise guests to the stage.
An autograph session with the panelists will immediately follow the panel.
Some Marvel Reads
It’s been a rather hectic week, but here’s a few quick mentions of some Marvel issues I’ve enjoyed over the last 2 weeks.
Spider Island: The Avengers is a great one-shot that doesn’t have Spidey have in it, but does feature Hawkeye, Jessica Jones and Ms. Marvel teaming up with Frog-Man, one of Marvel’s greatest D listers. Meanwhile Squirrel Girl is looking after Luke and Jessica Jones’ baby as she too (along with the rest of Manhattan) gains spider powers. Amongst the great action in the U.N as the Avengers fight Flag Smasher and his cronies, there’s some awesome humour. From Chris Yost and Mike McKone. Grab it as an entertaining respite from all the serious, epic action form Fear Itself.
Wolverine: Debt of Death is another one-shot, though blood and ninjas replace humour here. I’m not a huge Wolvie fan, but David Lapham and David Aja are a great creative combo. Set in the ’60s (I think) Wolvie is about to leave Japan before he gets involved with Nick Fury, some Japanese cops, robo suits and the son of an old friend. Frankly, it’s awesome and is filled with great examples of action and timing, such as:
X-23 #14 follows Wolverine’s daughter/clone and thankfully has a “Previously…” page for irregular readers like me. Again, I only picked this up thanks to the creative team. In this case writer Marjorie Liu and artist Phil Noto. Part 2 of the Chaos Theory story arc, it made sense and has no action in it, but rather focuses on some very well crafted dialogue. Laura (that’s X-23) is hanging out with the Fantastic Four , or the Future Foundation as they’re known, in their swanky, hi-tech New York pad for most of the ish, and yakking about a mystery and getting to know each other a little more. It also features Gambit, looking the most normal he’s ever looked hanging out with Dr. Cecilia Reyes, who I haven’t seen in an X-Men comic since the ’90s. There’s some great tension between X-23 and the untrusting Thing, and Susan Storm’s caring nature comes to the fore. It all looks so clean and attractive, as Noto does so well.
Oh, and Punisher, and Black Panther are two of Marvel’s best series at the moment, which is a nice surprise.
comicbookjesus 