Defenders #1 Preview

I must say, I’m pretty keen for this series to kick off in December. Matt Fraction is one of my fave Marvel scribes and I’ll pick up anything that Terry Dodson creates. Defenders is one of those lesser known superteams, but Fraction has been giving some intriguing tidbits to CBR about this series all week such as:

The unique lineup will allow Fraction to take the Defenders all over the Marvel Universe and tell any kind of story he wants. “‘Defenders’ is designed to be a series that any body that loves Marvel Comics can read. It’s lots of short arcs and self-contained stories,” Fraction stated. “It’s a different kind of comic for different times. It’s much more like how Marvel books used to be. We’re doing a different thing now.

“I want ‘Defenders’ to be fueled by that same kind of raw imagination that fueled Marvel so vitally in the early years. I want ‘Defenders’ to be as wildly inventive as those books. I want to write a comic where you have to stop every few pages because you hit something that makes you go, ‘Whoa!’ I want to bring back the whoa factor and the wow factor as a going concern.”

Some of that sense of awe and wonder will come from the insanely powerful foes that the Defenders must face. “I wanted to take this ghettoized team and put them in the middle of a threat to the entirety of everything. The underdogs, the weirdoes, the freaks fighting against this amazing, huge, thing. Discovering who it is and why is the story of the book, but by the time the book is done, you’ll know why everything in the Marvel Universe happened the way it did,” Fraction said. “You’ll know why a radioactive spider gave Peter Parker his powers. You’ll know why cosmic rays turned four rogue astronauts into the Fantastic Four. You’ll know why there are mutants. You’ll know why Steve Rogers was one in a million and became Captain America and not just another kid injected with an arm full of weird goo. Why it all happened, who was behind it all and what is yet to happen. It’s ambitious and broad and covers the entirety of the Marvel Universe territory as a space, as an idea and as a fictional place we all visit from time to time.

Your First Look At DEFENDERS #1

When the impossible is everywhere and the very fabric of reality is threatened by insanity, the world needs more than super heroes…they need Defenders! Enter Defenders #1, from the top-selling creative team of Matt Fraction (Fear Itself, Invincible Iron Man, Mighty Thor) and Terry Dodson (Uncanny X-Men), as Doctor Strange assembles a new team of heroes to face a new kind of threat that will leave readers shocked. Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Namor, Red She-Hulk, Silver Surfer and more of your favorite Marvel Heroes will band together exploring corners of the Marvel Universe you never knew existed for missions so deadly they have to be kept secret. Once a Defender, always a Defender – no matter the cost or sacrifice.

This December, all-new era in Marvel history begins with Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson’s Defenders #1.

DEFENDERS #1 (OCT110587)

DEFENDERS #1 IMMONEN VARIANT (OCT110588)

DEFENDERS #1 ADAMS VARIANT (OCT110589)

DEFENDERS #1 ADAMS INKED VARIANT (SEP118111)

DEFENDERS #1 BLANK VARIANT (OCT110590)

DEFENDERS #1 I AM A DEFENDER VARIANT (OCT110591)

Written by MATT FRACTION

Pencils & Cover by TERRY DODSON

Variant Cover by STUART IMMONEN

Variant Cover by NEAL ADAMS

Sketch Variant Cover by NEAL ADAMS

Blank Variant available

I Am A Defender Variant also Available

FOC—11/7/11, On-Sale—12/7/11

Win Batman From Arkham City

Thanks to the excellent Good Game TV series on Australia’s ABC you can win this intimidating life-size Batman statue from the best selling Arkham City game. You have to create an original 1 to 4 page comic starring Batman and one of the Good Game crew, perhaps as a baddie, a civilian needing rescuing or even a potential Robin! Go nuts and good luck.

All relevant rules here and the competition closes November 14.

National Novel Writing Month

Behind the cool acronym (NaNoWriMo) is a cool idea. National Novel Writing Month is a challenging, but inspiring initiative for wannabe writers like me – a 50,000 word novel in November. Phew. Find out more on their website where you can sign up for free and get inspired by lots of cool posts, such as this one focusing on why people write.

Chris B., Executive Director: I write because I love making people laugh, and the written word is an unbeatable joke-delivery device. I write because conjuring sentences and stories still seems like magic to me, and I don’t get many other opportunities to feel like a magician. Mostly I write because I want to find out what happens next.

Max, Intern: I write because once something is written down, I can move on. Writing and printing a story is giving a memory a place in the world.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Trailer

Opening in December is the 4th entry in the Mission Impossible film series based on the classic TV show. Below is the latest trailer, with a quick intro from director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) featuring his unusual pronunciation of Yahoo.

This looks like even better than the last two MI films.

Zombie Print

See that great zombie print below? It can be yours for only $10 – $20, depending on where you live. Plus funds from each sale will go to support a fantastic charity. You can buy it from the site of Silver Fox Comics, the new Australian publisher of the entertaining Zorro series, or at this Sunday’s Anime at Abbotsford event in Sydney.

 

SILVER FOX COMICS PRESENTS  “SYDNEY ZOMBIES” LIMITED EDITION PRINT!

We’re pleased to present our fist ever limited edition print entitled “Sydney Zombies”! This all exclusive original is available for $10 (excl p&h) and limited to only 200 copies, and printed on matt 300gsm A3 size stock. This amazing artwork underwent over 10 rounds of changes before finalising the piece. This will also be the cover of next year’s new release “Silver Fox Presents!” We’re predicting a sell out of the complete edition so order your copy today before you miss out!

EACH SALE RAISES MONEY FOR THE BRAIN FOUNDATION!

We are also donating $2 from each sale to The Brain Foundation who fund research to reduce the incidence and impact of Brain disorders such as Alzheimers, Dementia, Epilepsy and Parkinsons Disease to name but a few. Prints are $10 for pickups in Sydney. For mailouts, its $10 + $5 p&h.

These prices are for Australian orders. International orders are $20. For multiple orders contact Sorab Del Rio at sorabdelrio@silverfoxcomics.com.au

Credits: Pencils and Inks: Jopax
Colours: Zoar Huerte & Don Ticchio
Publisher/ Conceptualist: Sorab Del Rio

Extra Sequential Podcast #64-Forgotten DC #1s

69 mins. We thought we’d turn back the clock to the some old debuts from DC Comics and compare them to the current blast of new series premieres, and discuss the trouble of new superhero concepts and the business of such. Also, Beauty and the Geek, Family Matters and Bruce Willis.

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.

1: 58 NEWS

Batman: Arkham City fan made costume

The new Punisher TV series

Superman’s co-creator’s auction

Watchmen 2 gets some movement

Sydney Zombie Walk, and a great zombie print from Silver Fox Comics

13:45 THEME – FORGOTTEN DC #1s

The Highwaymen. It’s like Red, but with added Bill Clinton and more innocent deaths.

Lab Rats from John Byrne. It’s like The Matrix, or tries to be. It fails.

Suicide Squad – old and new.

Hawk and Dove – old (hard rocking!) and new (zombies on airplanes!).

Firebrand featuring exploding mechanical legs.

How the storytelling and marketing approach varies between the old DC #1s and the 2011 versions.

 

Arkham City Gets Better

I’ve only played a few minutes of Batman: Arkham City and in short, it’s awesome. It’s about to get awesomer though on November 1 when the Nightwing (the grown up original Robin) DLC gets released. His inclusion has been teased for a while, but this is the first in-game video to be shown.

XworkZ Studios have been inspired by the game and have created the costume Batman sports in the game, (which has sold 4.6 million copies in its first week of release!) and have got it spot on. See more photos right here.

 

Paulo Siqueira’s JLA

Without Superman, but that’s cool. When the rest of the Justice League look this good, who needs him? The always worth visting Project Rooftop has a post featuring artist Paulo Siqueira’s (Amazing Spider-Man) take on a few of the classic JLA members. His redesigns are superb and include Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Batman, Aquaman and Flash.

Avengers Origin: Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver Preview

That’s a long title. Under the great, and probably last cover art for Marvel by Marko Djurdjevic, is this in the series of Avengers Origins double-sized one-shots. November also sees the release of tales focusing on Ant-Man & The Wasp, Luke Cage, Thor and Vision. Text-free preview of Magneto’s kids comic below.

Your First Look At AVENGERS ORIGINS: SCARLET WITCH & QUICKSILVER!

For the first time ever, see the path that took Wanda and Pietro Maximoff from mutant terrorists to Earth’s Mightiest in Avengers Origins: Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver #1. This all-new story featuring the duo’s road to becoming Avengers, courtesy of writer Sean McKeever and artist Mirco Pierfederici, exposes a hidden chapter in the history of the Marvel Universe that no fan can miss. This November, see how the fastest and most powerful super heroes of all time fought their way into the world’s premiere super hero team in Avengers Origins: Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver #1.

AVENGERS ORIGINS: SCARLET WITCH & QUICKSILVER #1 (SEP110527)

Written by SEAN MCKEEVER

Art by MIRCO PIERFEDERICI

Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

FOC – 10/31/11, ON SALE – 11/23/11

New Mutants #34 Preview

I remember Blink from the epic alternate universe saga Age of Apocalypse from Marvel in the ’90s. Blink proved so popular she came to the regular Marvel Universe as part of the Exiles series. Now she’s back, as this text-free preview from November’s New Mutants shows.

BLINK RETURNS IN X-MEN REGENESIS!

The fan-demanded return of BLINK  drags Dani Moonstar and her team of New Mutants right into the heart of X-Men Regenesis! Beginning in New Mutants #34, from the critically acclaimed writing team of Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning and artist David Lopez, Cyclops gives the New Mutants no time to rest as he sends them on a wild goose chase across the Marvel Universe. What has Blink done to require immediate extraction and is she to blame? Sinister things are afoot this November, in New Mutants #34!

NEW MUTANTS #34 (SEP110609)

Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING

Pencils by  DAVID LOPEZ
Cover by JORGE MOLINA

FOC – 10/31/11, ON SALE – 11/23/11

Ratfist Arrives in December

Doug TenNapel is the creator of cartoons Earthworm Jim, and Catscratch and he’s also a great creator of consistently entertaining OGNs such as Creature Tech, and Power Up. His latest project – the awesomely titled Ratfist is a webcomic that’s coming to print.

176 DAYS OF RATFIST
Image Comics Publishes Doug TenNapel’s Quirky Webcomic as Graphic Novel

Earlier this year, Earthworm Jim creator, Doug TenNapel, stepped into the world of Webcomics when he began sharing RATFIST, his latest oddball action comic, online for all to see. Now for the first time ever in print, Image Comics will be publishing RATFIST in December.

Originally conceived of as a possible character that might be featured on Cartoon Network, RATFIST became a daily-updated Webcomic instead! With coloring help from Katherine Garner, RATFIST stars a vigilante-in-tights, satirizing comics, politics, philosophy, and even TENNAPEL himself! Those that followed along with the daily online RATFIST schedule and new readers alike will be pleased to find that the printed collection will not only include the entirety of TenNapel’s RATFIST story, but also feature a forward written by MST3K/RiffTraxx’s Michael J. Nelson, and fantastic pinups by Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE), Skottie Young (Wizard of Oz, Spiderman), Christopher Hastings (Dr. McNinja) and Ethan Nicolle (Axe Cop)!
“I’m so thrilled that this can join the line up of books I’ve brought to Image,” said TenNapel. “I hope those that missed it when I was publishing online get to pick it up now in print!”
Other graphic novels by TenNapel that were previously published by Image Comics include FLINK, TOMMYSAURUS REX, CREATURE TECH, GEAR, IRON WEST, EARTHBOY JACOBUS, BLACK CHERRY, MONSTER ZOO, and most recently POWER UP.
RATFIST TP (OCT110463, ISBN: 978-1-60706-478-7), a 176-page full-color humorous super hero graphic novel for $19.99, will be on sale in stores December 14, and is available for order now in the October issue of Previews.

The Andy Warhol Museum’s Alex Ross Exhibition

Until January 8 2012 you can catch an exhibition of over 130 pieces from painter Alex Ross’ great comics work. Known for Marvels, Kingdom Come and a whole lot of gorgeous covers over the years, (mainly for Dynamite these days) Ross is a wonderful talent.

The Andy Warhol Museum is in Pittsburgh and here’s all the official info.

Paintings and sketches from his early career from projects like Marvels and Kingdom Come will be included, as well as works from more recent projects, such as JusticeFlash Gordon, and Green Hornet.

Showcasing the heavy influence of American illustration and Pop Art on Alex Ross, works by Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Andrew Loomis, and JC Leyendecker will be included.  Many of Lynette Ross’ artworks will be on display as well.  Also on view will be Myths prints created by Warhol, featuring many of the subjects of Alex Ross paintings – Superman, Uncle Sam, and the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.  Since Warhol was a huge comic book fan, we will also have a selection of comic books and related paraphernalia collected by Warhol throughout his life.

This exhibition will be the first museum exhibition of Ross’ work and will comprise 5,500 square feet of gallery space.  Ross has graciously offered to prepare an original artwork for The Warhol to promote this premier, which will be available to the public in poster form exclusively at The Warhol Store.

The Unexpected #1 Review

The Unexpected #1 is a one-shot from DC Comics/ Vertigo. Under that irresistible cover from Rafael Grampa (look at it! a woman in bloody stilettos, with dead birds strapped to her about to go psycho on some ’50s lovers at a skull screening drive-in!) are some great stories, in the vein of Twilight Zone. As with all mixed bags like this, there’s bound to be some losers amongst the winners, but the strike rate here is pretty good and I hope they publish another one.

The Great Karlini by Dave Gibbons is the first tale. It’s about a cheating escaplogist who eventually gets his comeuppance. It’s all told in 8 panel pages and his narration which lends a certain weight.

Dogs by G. Willow Wilson and Robert Rodriguez is frankly, awesome. It’s a simple story but looks great with Rodriguez’s slightly sketchy and expressive visual style. Set in a small country town filled with pet canines who get fed up with the stupid and violent humans around them, they suddenly start walking upright and take revenge. It’s an entertaining “tables are turned” story in just 8 pages.

Look Alive by Alex Gracian and Jill Thompson is about a woman who’s a zombie in a world full of them who pretends to be normal with constant drug use and lots of makeup, but can’t speak as she still sounds like one. She manages to survive with her crafty ways tough.

The dark humour continues with A Most Delicate Monster by writer Jeffrey Rotter and artist Lelio Bonaccorso which centres on a cloned caveman who’s unleashed upon the world to experience its sin and excess.

There’s a tragic muder drama in The Land by Joshua Dysart and Farel Dalrymple, violent survival in Mat Johnsons’s and David Lapham’s Family First and the blurring of real and online life in Joshua Hale Fialkov’s and Rahsan Ekedal’s Alone. The last two short comics are Americana by Brian Wood and Emily Carroll and a preview of DC’s upcoming Voodoo Child #1 by Selwyn Sefu Hinds and Denys Cowan. They both look good, but don’t really fit in with the thematic link of the previous tales.

If you grabbed the recent Strange Adventures anthology which used sci-fi as a template, this should entice you, if you also like supernatural stuff that is. I hope DC produce more of these grab bags, as not only are they a good “in” for newbies, but they give both veteran and up and coming creators an audience.

Chronicle Trailer

Using the same found footage concept of Cloverfield and Quarantine, although this film doesn’t really look like it, is Chroncile. Written by Max Landis, it opens in February 2012 and follows 3 mates as they use their new super powers and not heroically. Effectively creepy trailer below.

“I’m worried about Andrew.” Indeed.