At Relevant Magazine’s site is a great article entitled, Why Do We Love Superheroes?, examining today’s comics from a Christian standpoint. Check it out here.
WAI-CON In Perth
On the 29th and 30th of January is the next annual anime convention to be held at the Perth Convention Centre. You can get your tickets here and they’re also looking for volunteers to help on that weekend. There’s different panels on both days, such as Cosplay, Astro Boy, webcomics, fanfiction, talks by voice actor Spike Spencer and heaps more. There’ll be goodies to buy of course and it’ll just be a great time to get together with other anime lovers.
Superhero Movies By The Numbers
Cinema Blend has an interesting infographic on the performance of superheroes on the big screen. Check it out here. It’s broken down into various categories like female superheroes, Marvel vs DC and more. Here’s a mere taste.
ThreeA Toys Videos
The Septagon Studios blog has a great post on a recent competition to create a 3D motion graphic video for Ashley Wood’s designer toy company, ThreeA. See the winner plus 4 other impressive videos on their site.
X-Men: Legacy #245 Preview
The first chapter of the new epic, Age of X appears in February’s issue of X-Men: Legacy. Text-free preview below.
Your First Look at AGE OF X: CHAPTER ONE!
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at X-Men: Legacy #245, from writer Mike Carey and artist Clay Mann! Slam headlong into the landmark first chapter of Age of X! Mutantkind has been purged from the very face of the earth and its eradication wasn’t an accident…it was government policy. But just who are the unlikely survivors of this grim future…and do they dare announce their existence to a world that fears and hates them? The pulse-pounding X-saga kicks off this February, only in X-Men: Legacy #245!
X-MEN: LEGACY #245 (DEC100623)
X-MEN: LEGACY #245 FF ANNIVERSARY VARIANT (DEC100541)
Written by MIKE CAREY
Pencils by CLAY MANN
Cover by LEINIL YU
Fantastic Four Anniversary Variant by PAOLO RIVERA
Rated A…..$2.99
FOC – 2/1/11, On-Sale 2/23/11
Episode 23-Star Wars, Alan Moore and Stuff
59 mins. Our most rambling episode yet in which we hardly yak about comics, but do talk about all the different versions of Star Wars, and the good years of The Simpsons, plus wearing scarves, Johnny Mnemonic, Cheers, crying at Spock’s death, Liz Hurley and more ramblonic nonsense.
LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD HERE, OR ON ITUNES OR MIXCLOUD
1:45 NEWS
Star Wars on Blu-Ray in September, writer Neil Gaiman as himself on The Simpsons, the Batman teen toon that could’ve been in Gotham High, casting truth for Judge Dredd and casting rumours for Dark Knight Rises.
23:15 WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Steel #1, zombies in the Wild West series Rotten, and the classic run on Swamp Thing from Alan Moore and Stephen Bissette.
41:50 FEATURE DISCUSSION
It’s the battle of the beards as writer Alan Moore vs writer Jason Aaron. Actually they don’t fight as such, but Aaron talks about a recent Moore interview and then we dissect it as only geeks can.
We finish by talking about Star Wars games and podcaster vanity.
Cap and Spidey Movie Pics
Two photos and the internet goes ablaze. Not surprising really. Captain America starring Chris Evans, and Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull opens on July 22. Below is the first good pic of Evans in costume from the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. I like it. Like The Ultimates version, plus the more realistic versions that Marvel have been showing in their WWII era comics in the last couple of years, with the wings gone and more pouches. He looks like a patriotic soldier.
Also released today was the first official pic of next year’s Spider-Man reboot. Sure it’s 18 months early, but it’s a good way to start the buzz now. Here’s what I think about the new Spidey costume, as seen worn by actor Andrew Garfield (The Social Network).
1. It has to distance itself from the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire films. Sony don’t want people thinking this is Spider-Man 4, seeing as it will be released only 5 years after Spider-Man 3.
2. Gone is the raised silver webbing. I never understood that. I suppose perhaps it made sense from a lighting point of view, and on Venom in Spidey 3, but Peter Parker was supposed to have made the costume himself. In reality, each suit cost $100, 000. On the DVD of the first Spider-Man film from 2002 is a brief clip of some CGI test footage of Spidey climbing a wall. There’s no silver webbing on the costume, and it looks great. Why they dismissed that approach is due to Hollywood logic, but if you see the alternate Green Goblin costumes and wonder why they chose the laughable final version, it’s fitting I guess.
3. It distances itself from the Turn Off The Dark musical costume, which wisely Sony don’t want to be associated with.
4. It’s a subtle redesign from the original, and still used (mostly) comics one. Of course we don’t know what the mask looks like yet (or the boots), but at least this is sleeker and thus more given to acrobatic manoeuvres (especially as it’ll be in 3D). It has simple lines, almost motocross-styled gloves, slightly darker colours and spider emblem legs that go all the way through to his waist. Minor alterations and still recognisably Spidey.
5. Sony execs will surely be watching the internettery light up with comments, but it may be too late to change anything even if they wanted to.
6. Web shooters! Possibly, as shown here, there’s gold, metallic elements under his wrists. That is awesome. I never liked Raimi’s change from web shooters, made from Parker’s scientific skills, into the organic variety.
Four Infinite Vacation Teaser Images
For the last week Image Comics have been releasing a series of images promoting Infinite Vacation, the first issue of which is out now, from writer Nick Spencer and artist Christian Ward. Below are all 4 of those teaser images. If that’s not enough, go here for a 15 page preview.
Hark! A Vagrant Collected
In news that is sure to make my fellow podcaster Mladen (and many others) happy, Kate Beaton’s popular webcomic is being collected by publisher Drawn and Quarterly. Here’s what D+Q have to say:
Hark! A Vagrant will be in stores in Fall 2011 as a hardcover collection of new comics and comics that previously appeared on Beaton’s enormously popular website of the same name that receives 1.2 million monthly hits – 500,000 of them unique. Hark! A Vagranttakes readers on a romp through history and literature with dignity for few and cookies for all, with comic strips about famous authors, their characters, political and historical figures, all drawn in Kate Beaton’s pared-down, excitable style. Whether she’s writing about Nikola Tesla, Napoleon, or Nancy Drew, Beaton brings a refined sense of the absurd to every situation. Beaton’s comics have appeared in Harpers, the National Post, and theNew Yorker, her caricatures of historical and literary figures, filtered through a contemporary lens, display a sharp, quick wit that knows no bounds.
Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books
This one book I want to read. I have at least 3 different books examining Christianity and its themes in superhero comics, but Graven Images from Continuum aims to open the door to many religions. It has some impressive contributors including G. Willow Wilson (Vertigo’s Air, and more recently Superman) and is edited by A. David Lewis who wrote The Lone and Level Sands OGN from Archaia, and helped organise a conference of the same name as this book. Press release below, and Graven Images is available from Continuum now. There’s a preview on their site and a look at the contents including essays on Superman, From Hell, Preacher, Invisibles, Sandman, Blankets, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and more. Phew.
Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books and Graphic Novels
Edited by A. Davis Lewis and Christine Hoff Kramer
Includes Essays By Douglas Rushkoff, G. Willow Wilson, and scholars around the world
Original Cover Art by Carla Speed McNeil
Paperback/9780826430267/$34.95
Hardback/9781441158475/$99.95
A multifaceted exploration of the role of religion in comic books and graphic novels- “the illuminated manuscripts” of today.
Available Now
Comic books have increasingly become a vehicle for serious social commentary and, specifically, for innovative religious thought. Practitioners of both traditional religions and new religious movements have begun to employ comics as a missionary tool, while humanists and religious progressives use comics’ unique fusion of text and image to criticize traditional theologies and to offer alternatives.
Addressing the increasing fervor with which the public has come to view comics as an art form and Americans’ fraught but passionate relationship with religion, Graven Images explores with real insight the roles of religion in comics books and graphic novels.
In essays by scholars and comics creators, Graven Images observes the frequency with which religious material- in devout, educational, satirical, or critical contexts- occurs in both independent and mainstream comics. Contributors identify the unique advantages of the comics medium for religious messages; analyze how comics communicate such messages; place the religious messages contained in comic books in appropriate cultural, social, historical frameworks; and articulate the significance of the innovative theologies being developed in comics.
A. David Lewis is a national lecturer in Comics Studies, an award-winning graphic novelist, and a PhD candidate in Religion and Literature at Boston University.
Christine Hoff Kramer holds a PhD in Religion and Literature from Boston University and is a Department Chair of Nature, Deity, and Inspiration at Cherry Hill Seminary, South Carolina.
Radical in New York Times
Radical Publishing may not be as prolific as their competitors but they sure do make pretty books. See Hotwire, Last Days of American Crime and Aladdin: Legacy of the Lost as proof. They’re also making waves in the mainstream because of their ambitious aims, including the now obligatory Hollywood desires, but also others including video games and music. There’s a feature article on the company in today’s New York Times, with an interview with a few people in the know, including head honcho Barry Levine. I met him briefly at Comic Con last year and was rather surprised to discover his age in the NYT article (he’s 62!). You can read the article on the Times’ site here and below is what it looked like in the actual newspaper.
Iron Man 2.0 Preview
Tony Stark received an armour upgrade last year, and now it’s his buddy Jim Rhodes’ turn. Below are all 4 covers to the new series, including 2 for #1 and some concept art. The first issue of Iron Man 2.o goes on sale February 9.
Iron Man 2.0 – War Machine Evolved!
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at War Machine’s new duds debuting in the pages of Iron Man 2.0! From the power-house creative team of rising star writer Nick Spencer and legendary artist Barry Kitson, the single most advanced one-man weapon of conventional combat receives an upgrade! The now lighter, leaner and meaner Iron Man 2.0 is the result of an upgrade that Lt. Col. James Rhodes needs to survive! What new tricks will this new suit have in its sleeves? And just how will Rhodey adapt to his new role as Iron Man 2.0? Find out when Iron Man 2.0 storms store shelves everywhere!IRON MAN 2.0 #1 (DEC100557)
IRON MAN 2.0 #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT (DEC100558)
IRON MAN 2.0 #1 VERMA VARIANT (DEC100559)
Written by NICK SPENCER
Penciled by BARRY KITSON
Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by DEERAJ VERMA
Rated T+…$3.99
FOC – 1/17/11, On-Sale 2/9/11
IRON MAN 2.0 #2 (DEC100560)
IRON MAN 2.0 #2 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT (DEC100561)
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 1/31/11, On-Sale – 2/23/11
IRON MAN 2.0 #3 (JAN110727)
IRON MAN 2.0 #3 DJURDJEVIC (JAN110728)
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 2/14/11, On-Sale – 3/9/11
IRON MAN 2.0 #4
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by ARIEL OLIVETTI
Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
Rated T+ …$2.99
ON SALE THIS APRIL
Billy Bat Ads
My Extra Sequential podcast co-host Mladen showed me these great photos of a series of posters at Shinjuku train station in Tokyo (the busiest station in the world). Simply awesome. The ads are for the manga Billy Bat which Mladen describes so eloquently in our most recent episode. Imagine if Marvel and DC could achieve something like this! Of course, in the West comics readership is a drop in the ocean compared to our Eastern fans, so publishers don’t have the advertising budget to compete with Nike and McDonalds. I guess we’ll have to let Hollywood be our mouthpiece for a little while longer, and us vocal fans too of course.
Top Shelf in 2011
Top Shelf would have to be my favourite indie publisher. Blankets and The Surrogates opened my mind to the increasing diversity and entertainment value in non-superhero books a few years ago, and they continue to impress me with their output. This year looks set to unveil another fine selection of sequential art goodies. Here it is from the Shelf themselves.
Hey friends,
Happy new year to you all! We hope your 2011 is off to a great start. Here at Top Shelf, we have a wonderful year planned — and after much preparation, we’re finally ready to announce our complete 2011 lineup!
It’s a wide assortment that includes new books from your favorite Top Shelf authors (including Alan Moore, Jeffrey Brown, Robert Venditti, and Nate Powell), amazing new authors from all over the world (including Ludovic Debeurme, Jessica Fink, Jennifer Hayden, Kagan McLeod, and Eric Skillman), and a huge number of all-ages books to celebrate the official launch of the Top Shelf Kids Club!
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
In fact, we’re so proud and excited about these books, we decided to share some of the fun with you as well! That’s why we’ve whipped up a special treat: the 2011 Top Shelf Tribune. So, not only is our complete 2011 line of books available for browsing and pre-order in our web catalog, but all year long we’ll be giving away the tongue-in-cheek Tribune at conventions and through your local comic shop! It’s packed with news, jokes, charts, facts, teaser images, and more, all about the Top Shelf books & authors coming out this year. And the whole thing is up on our web site as well, for you to enjoy and share with your friends! The 2011 Top Shelf Tribune : Real Books. Fake News.
NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED! WELL, MAYBE IF YOU BEHAVE YOURSELVES…
For years, some of our greatest books have been graphic novels for all ages: Owly, Korgi, Johnny Boo, and more. In 2011, we’re taking the plunge and expanding that line in a big way, with the official launch of the TOP SHELF KIDS CLUB! Our Free Comic Book Day book will kick things off in May (featuring Owly, Korgi,Johnny Boo, as well as the all-new Okie Dokie Donuts, Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken, and Upside Down: A Vampire’s Tale ), followed by an amazing EIGHT new releases for kids! You can meet them all on page 3 of the Top Shelf Tribune, or visit them online in the Top Shelf Kids Club section of our web catalog!
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