Rachel Rising in The Walking Dead #95

Well, this is very nice of Robert Kirkman. The successful writer behind The Walking Dead comic, and the inspiration for the hit TV series, is showing an excerpt of Rachel Rising, the undead mystery comic from Terry Moore, in this month’s ish of The Walking Dead. Nice one, Kirkman. He did the same a while ago by running a preview of Chew, and that went on to great success. Good on Image for showing this excerpt too, considering Rachel Rising isn’t even a comic published by them. I’ve read its first issue and was pretty impressed so may just have to pick up the TPB when it goes on sale at the end of this month.

Oh, and if, like me, you’ve missed The Walking Dead TV series, you’ll be happy to know that the DVD and Blu-Ray collection of the first season is now on Aussie shores.

THE RISING DEAD
Rachel Rising excerpt to appear in THE WALKING DEAD #95

THE WALKING DEAD #95, in stores on March 28, will have a five-page preview of Terry Moore’s horror comic Rachel Rising, published by Moore’s own Abstract Studio. The trade paperback collecting the first six issues of the ongoing series by the Strangers in Paradise creator, Rachel Rising: The Shadow of Death, will be in comic book stores the same day.

Rachel Rising tells the story of a young woman who cannot die. She wakes up at the foot of her own shallow grave, looking at her own freshly-murdered corpse. The events of her last night are hazy, and Rachel must piece together the events that led to her death — so that she can take revenge on the right person. Comic Book Resources described Rachel Rising as being “chock full of decadent mystery, unspeakable horror, strong characters, and beautiful black and white artwork, and it’s on its way to becoming the best of Terry Moore’s already impressive work.”

THE WALKING DEAD creator Robert Kirkman decided to include the preview in the latest issue of the Image Comics bestseller to support Moore’s work.

“Terry is a personal hero of mine dating back to my self-publishing days,” he writes in his introduction to the preview. “I’ve always been a fan of his work and an admirer of everything he’s been able to accomplish independently.”

THE WALKING DEAD #95 by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn continues the series’ “A Larger World” storyline. Rachel Rising: The Shadow of Death (ISBN 978-1-89259-751-9) is a 120-page black-and-white trade paperback.

March 15, 2012
Categories: Image Comics, New To Comics?, News, TV shows . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Superman vs The Elite

DC’s next animated film is based on one of my (and many others’) favourite Superman story, from Action Comics #775 by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke. Kelly has written the screenplay and here’s an interview with him.

The film premieres at WonderCon on Friday and hits DVD and Blu-Ray…sometime soon.

SUPERMAN VS. THE ELITE WORLD PREMIERE THIS FRIDAY AT WONDERCON

Superman vs. The Elite, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies, will receive its World Premiere as WonderCon’s featured evening event for Friday, March 16 in Anaheim.

Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video, the all-new, PG-13 rated film will screen at 6:30 p.m. in the Anaheim Convention Center Ballroom.  The screening will be followed by a panel discussion amongst filmmakers and voice
cast members. Award-winning comics writer Joe Kelly and versatile voice actor Robin Atkin Downes (Justice League: Doom) are among the confirmed panelists for Friday. Additional panelists will be announced as they are confirmed.

Kelly has adapted the story from his original 2001 DC Comics release, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?” into the taut, thrilling screenplay for Superman vs. The Elite. The single-issue comic, Action Comics #775, was lauded by Wizard Magazine as the “Greatest Superman Story of All Time,” and ranked the epic tale at No. 21 on its list of the “Top 100 Comics of the last 30 years.”

In Superman vs. The Elite, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene.  As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical, yet preferably non-lethal Man of Steel.

George Newbern (Father of the Bride) reprises his Justice League animated television role as Superman, and primetime television star Pauley Perrette (NCIS) provides the voice of Lois Lane. Downes steps in as Manchester Black, leader of The Elite. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.

The film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: Brave and the Bold). Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One) is executive producer, and Alan Burnett (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights) is producer.

March 15, 2012
Categories: Comics, DC Comics, Movies, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Showcase Presents: Dial H for Hero Review

This was a lot of fun to read, and write. Dial H for Hero was a crazy comic from the 1960s that the era did so well. DC Comics are relaunching it in May, but here’s my article looking back at the whacky fun of the original series.

Also at Broken Frontier is my review of the latest issue of the Star Wars mini-series, Iron Eclipse.

 

 

March 13, 2012
Categories: Comics, DC Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Just Get Started

Too true.

March 12, 2012
Categories: Art . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Martin Smith’s New EP

Fans of one of the best bands ever, delirious will be happy to know that although the band aren’t together anymore, music from the English lads continues. One Sonic Society, consisting of delirious guitarist/songwriter Stu Garrard, have released their first album consisting of songs from their 3 EPs. It’s called Forever Reign and is available on iTunes.

delirious’ songwriter/frontman Martin Smith has also released his first solo EP, called God’s Great Dance Floor. So there you go.

 

March 12, 2012
Categories: Music, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Nathan Edmondson Interview

At Broken Frontier you can find my chat with one of my fave comics writers Nathan Edmondson (Who Is Jake Ellis?, The Activity). He talks about his May releasing (and in the current Previews catalogue) Image series, Dancer.

March 10, 2012
Categories: Comics, Interviews, New To Comics? . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Extra Sequential Podcast #82-Jim Henson

55 mins. We look at recent work inspired by the late, great puppet pioneer Jim Henson including a Dark Crystal prequel, and a Storyteller anthology. Also, French midgets, VHS memories and the sentence,  “Oh my God! Stuff happens before he plays his flute in the forrest?!”

LISTEN TO IT BELOW

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

GET IT ON iTUNES HERE

You can email us at kris (at)extrasequential(dot)com and befriend us on the NEW ES Facebook page.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

Submarine. Quirky indie film set in Wales in 1986.

Hell Yeah #1 from Image Comics. Superpowered teen Ben Day’s mysterious parents, and a good cliffhanger. Oh, and it looks great too.

Conan #2 from Dark Horse. Young Conan teaches us the proper archery technique.

Saga #1 from Image Comics. An interesting, though not yet entirely captivating sci-fi/fantasy mashup.

He Died with a Felafel in His Hand comic

Rocky Balboa. Go Sly!

13: 10 NEWS

Concept artist Ralph McQuarrie dies

Webcomics based on classic video game properties at ShiftyLook

50 million downloads on comiXology

DC Comics’ new site

Wolverine’s next film next year

David Mazzucchelli’s unhappy about the new Batman: Year One TPB

Two new Perth comics podcasts! Panel2Panel, and How I Got My Boyfriend To Read Comics

21:02 FEATURE TOPIC – JIM HENSON

The man behind the creatures of The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and more, and the recent Archaia OGNs inspired by his creations. See previews at the links below.

Jim Henson’s Storyteller. An anthology based on the first season of the TV show.

Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol. 1. The first of a prequel trilogy to the 1982 film.

Fraggle Rock Classics Vol. 1. Recoloured tales of the original 1985 comics based on the TV series.

Jim Henson’s A Tale of Sand. A trippy, visually dazzling adaptation of an unproduced screenplay.

And keep your eye out on May 5 for Archaia’s sure to be popular Free Comic Book Day offering.

 

 


 

March 10, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News, Podcast, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

EXT from BOOM! Studios

BOOM! don’t usually offer teasers for upcoming comics. That’s usually the modus operandi of Marvel. However, this looks kinda cool, in a Mark Millar type way. All we know is that it’s called EXT. Well, at least that’s the file name of the image below. Expect more info in the coming days or weeks.

And here’s the second teaser.

March 9, 2012
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

ThunderCats Season One, Part Two on DVD

Like Young Justice and Batman: Brave and the Bold, I have yet to see many of the new ThunderCats episodes, thanks to erratic TV schedules and DVD releases here in Australia. However, I hear the re-imagined Lion-O and co’s adventures are rather awesome. Here’s the skinny for their latest DVD release, due in June.

Tygra was always my favourite.

Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, ThunderCats, Ho-o-o!

ThunderCats: Season 1, Book 2

From Season One’s Second Half, DVD Includes the Next 8 Action-Packed Episodes from the New Hit Series!

Unleashed June 5, 2012; DVD also Includes an UltraViolet Digital Copy

A betrayal. A reluctant leader. A journey like no other. A roaring return for a mighty menagerie of animation icons. Join Lion-O, Panthro, Snarf and more as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases ThunderCats: Season 1, Book 2 on DVD June 5, 2012. The two-disc set includes eight action-packed episodes from the second half of the acclaimed first season of ThunderCats. Starring Will Friedle, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Madeleine Hall, Satomi Kohrogi, Matthew Mercer, Eamon Pirruccello, Kevin Michael Richardson, Dee Bradley Baker, Clancy Brown, Corey Burton, Robin Atkin Downes and
Larry Kenney, ThunderCats is executive produced by Sam Register with Michael Jelenic and Ethan Spaulding producing. The DVD set is priced to own at $19.97 SRP and has an order due date of May 1, 2012.

In this reimagining of the seminal series from the 1980s, the ThunderCats are back in an all-new animated series that purrs with sensational stories starring your favorite characters in a sharp new telling of the story of prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne — and those who would thwart his destiny at any cost. Along with Lion-O, follow the adventures of Tygra, Panthro, Snarf, Cheetara, WilyKit and WilyKat. As the threats of Mumm-Ra ring in their ears, these determined Cats know what they must do: find the Book of Omens, which holds the key to their future. Using his powerful Sword of Omens to achieve “sight beyond sight,” Lion-O guides his friends across the lands, facing vicious foes and making new allies. Prowl with the ThunderCats in this all-new adventure series through outer wastelands, magical forests, other dimensions and even to the legendary temple that conceals their ancient secrets!

“ThunderCats — one of the most popular animated series of the 1980s — has been a household name for over 25 years and we are very excited to release the second installment of the first season of the all-new ThunderCats series on DVD,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation Marketing and Partner Brands. “The characters may be nostalgic, but the stories are fresh for a new generation, and the
21st century animation is superb — a must own for new and old fans alike!”

ThunderCats: Season 1, Book 2 DVD release will also include an UltraViolet Digital Copy which allows consumers to download and stream all 8 episodes via Wi-Fi to computers and compatible iOS and Android devices.*

*Limited Time Offer.  Restrictions and Limitations apply.  Does not
include iTunes Digital Copy file.  Go to ultraviolet.flixster.com/info
for details.

All-new episodes of ThunderCats are coming soon to Cartoon Network.

Episodes

1.      Berbils
2.      Sight Beyond Sight
3.      The Forest of Magi Oar
4.      Into the Astral Plane
5.      Between Brothers
6.      New Alliances
7.      Trials of Lion-O (Part One)
8.      Trials of Lion-O (Part Two)

March 6, 2012
Categories: Cartoons, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Assassin’s Creed 3 Trailer

Arriving just after Halloween this year is the third entry in this innovative franchise, and the setting has jumped forward to the American Revolution. As is to be expected, it looks great.

March 6, 2012
Categories: Games . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Dark Horse Comes to Kobo

And the digital express continues, with Dark Horse extending their digital comics availability to the Kobo eReader. Official lowdown below.

DARK HORSE COMES TO KOBO!
THE COMPANY MAKES DIGITAL LIBRARY OF GRAPHIC NOVELS AVAILABLE ON THE KOBO VOX eREADER! 

Dark Horse continues to make headlines today, with news that the company’s best-selling titles are going beyond the iOS platform! Now, the largest independent publisher of graphic novels is pleased to announce a partnership with the top-selling eReading company, Kobo, to offer a library of nearly 100 titles available from Kobo.com to be read on the Kobo Vox eReader! This move follows an incredibly successful year of distributing titles digitally through Dark Horse’s proprietary iOS app, and corresponding digital storefront at Digital.DarkHorse.com.

“Kobo is the perfect partner for Dark Horse, because like us, they established themselves on the basis of innovation,” said Matt Parkinson, Dark Horse’s senior director of Marketing. “We couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of reaching new readers around the world with what we still believe to be some of the most exciting and dynamic storytelling the comics medium has to offer.”

“All of us at Kobo are thrilled to be adding Dark Horse’s amazing titles to our library,” said Michael Tamblyn, Kobo’s EVP of Content, Sales, and Merchandising. “Based on strong visual storytelling, comics are a great fit for the e-reading industry. This partnership truly marks a continuation of Kobo’s ‘Read Freely’ philosophy, where we’re dedicated to providing a world-class catalog of titles suitable for any market.”

The recently released Kobo Vox represents a new kind of eReader. Not only can book lovers read their favorite books, magazines, and newspapers in vivid color, but they also can connect with other readers to share their favorite passages via Facebook.

As of today, Kobo users can now read their favorite Dark Horse titles, including Mass Effect, Star Wars,Serenity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Sin City, and more, on their Kobo Vox e-reader anytime, anyplace. Look for Dark Horse comics and graphic novels available now at kobobooks.com/darkhorse, with new titles to be added every month!

March 6, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Secret Avengers #24 and Daredevil #12 Previews

Here’s a few text-free pages from this month’s Secret Avengers, and May’s issue of Daredevil

Your First Look At SECRET AVENGERS #24 

Marvel is proud to present your first look at, Secret Avengers #24, from the critically acclaimed team of Rick Remender, Gabriel Hardman & Bettie Breitweiser.  The tragic events of last issue weigh heavily on Hawkeye’s conscience, leaving his position as leader, questionable. The Secret Avengers lie trapped at the center of the earth, allowing Father and his Descendants to enact their plan -spread contagious robot evolution! It is up to Venom to save the wayward squad, but will he make it in time? Will Hawkeye stand down as leader? Find out in Secret Avengers #24, hitting comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this March!

SECRET AVENGERS #24 (JAN120645)

Written by RICK REMENDER

Pencils by GABRIEL HARDMAN

Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS

Rated T+…$3.99

FOC –3/5/12, ON SALE – 3/28/12

Your First Look At Waid & Samnee’s DAREDEVIL #12!

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at, Daredevil #12. The best reviewed comic of the year continues as writer, Mark Waid, welcomes aboard fan favorite artist Chris Samnee (Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Ultimate Comics Spiderman)! Matt Murdock’s alter-ego leaves him little time for a social life; but the Man Without Fear finally makes time for Kirsten McDuffie! But, the assistant district attorney’s motives aren’t so innocent; she’s on a mission to uncover Daredevil’s true identity at any cost!

“I’ve been a lifelong Daredevil fan and Mark happens to be one of my all-time favorite funnybook writers, said Samnee. “I’ve have been head over heels for this latest run of DD since I first caught a glimpse of Paolo’s onomatopoeia filled cover for issue one.”

“When Chris’s pages come in over email, I drop everything to admire them” explained Waid. “He’s astounding.”

Will Daredevil’s super-human senses save him from falling hopelessly in love? Find out in Daredevil #12, hitting comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this May; as Samnee joins the all-star Daredevil creative team, creating unimaginable adventures only The Man Without Fear can handle!

“Chris is a profoundly adept storyteller with an eye for posture and mood in all his characters,” adds Marvel Senior Editor, Stephen Wacker “He’s a perfect complement to his cohort Paolo Rivera’s outstanding art on Daredevil and I’m over the moon that he’s on board.”

DAREDEVIL #12 (MAR120608)

Written by MARK WAID

Pencils by CHRIS SAMNEE

Cover by PAOLO RIVERA

Rated: T+ …$2.99

FOC – 4/09/12, ON SALE – 5/2/12

March 3, 2012
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

This Week’s Winners

Digested #5. This latest issue of Aussie creator Bobby N’s touching and humorous series has been out for a while, but is definitely worth a mention. As is the fact that he has a new collection of self-published comics coming out, called No Map, But Not Lost. Loving the title. Both myself and my podcast co-host Mladen are fans of Digested. In fact, Mladen chose it as his fave Aussie title of 2011.

This issue continues the surreal tale of gas mask wearing citizens in Oxygen that has featured in every issue thus far. In mostly 4 panel, black and white pages, Bobby manages to draw out great empathy and the need to question monotony and embrace the unusual. It’s great stuff and speaks volumes about his ability to use comics as an emotional tool. The other story here is a 3 pager called Small Victories about moving house, and the reason why. Again, with superb use of captions, and facial expressions rather than lots of dialogue, he expresses something that most people can relate to.

You can pick up every issue of Digested (and I suggest that you do) from Gestalt.

Batman Beyond Unlimited #1. I was never a huge fan of the future-set Batman animated TV series that this is based on, but I do love any alternate version of the Justice League, and the art of Norm Breyfogle and Dustin Nguyen, all which feature here. This is the print debut of tales which originally appeared as digital comics BTW. Guided by an elderly Bruce Wayne, teen Terry McGinnis is the Batman of Gotham years from now. The first story, 10, 000 Clowns and features on an influx of Jokerz gangs from other cities, while Bruce talks to Commissioner (Barbara, ex-Batgirl) Gordon, and Terry attempts to reunite with his ex, Dana.

The second story, Konstruction follows a battle between the usual villains from the TV show and new gang, the Animal Kingdom for street splicing. Then the JLB show up. I assume that’s Justice League Beyond. It’s good to see Warhawk, Green Lantern Kai-Ro, exiled New God Big Barda, and Aquagirl again. The older Superman shows up for a bit, with two Bizarro kids and the team discusses what to do with the new Atom, or Micron as he’s been kidnapped and possibly brainwashed. This tale is more action packed than the previous one and features a host of different characters. This 4 part anthology series is pretty newbie friendly, and both stories are a generous 20 pages long too.

Bionic Man #7. Dynamite have been grabbing my attention lately. I was very impressed by the last Lone Ranger TPB (my first time reading that series) and their new Tarzan series, Lord of the Jungle is great, especially the just released second issue. Based on the Six Million Dollar Man TV series, Bionic Man is great too. It should be as, like the first few issues of their Green Hornet series, it’s based on Kevin Smith’s unproduced screenplay and features the same creative team.

Steve Austin and his fiancee Jaime reunite and after some understandable friction (she thought he died in the plane crash, after all) he reveals his new, hi-tech body to her. It’s the kind of touching moment that Smith can write well when he wants to. Their reunion doesn’t last too long though, as Steve is pulled back in to duty, and learns about the powerful new enemy, Colonel Avery Hull and his history with the O.S.I. team that made Austin the titular Bionic Man. With creative exposition, and great action packed layouts from Jonathan Lau, this is another winning issue in this intense series.

March 3, 2012
Categories: Comics, DC Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Eddie Campbell’s The Lovely Horrible Stuff

This week I grabbed my unread copy of Campbell’s The Fate of the Artist, for our look at meat-comics for the podcast. I didn’t get a chance to read it all though. I really should. Well, he’s got a new OGN coming out from Top Shelf in May. Here’s the lowdown, and see a preview at the links below.

“One of the premier cartoonists of his generation.” — Publishers Weekly

“No one else in the medium combines emotional truth, literary intelligence, and formal daring with such adroitness and elegance.” — Booklist

Eddie Campbell’s THE LOVELY HORRIBLE STUFF is a delightful autobiographical voyage into the financial wilderness, ranging from the imaginary wealth of Ponzi schemes to the all-too-tangible stone currency of the Micronesian island of Yap.

This is no dry and dusty treatise on finance; any complexities are pleasingly reduced to the level of bubblegum trading cards. In here you will hear about the corporation that Campbell keeps under his bed; you will meet colorful historical characters and be taken on dangerous shark-infested sea adventures; and after that, we will all plunge to the depths to retrieve our loose change.

Campbell’s wry eye and vivid full-color artwork imbue the proceedings with real humanity, making THE LOVELY HORRIBLE STUFF an investment that’s worth every penny.

It’s being offered in the current Diamond Previews catalog, so pre-order now!

THE LOVELY HORRIBLE STUFF by Eddie Campbell
— 96-page deluxe hardcover
— 6.5″ x 9″, full-color graphic novel
— For mature readers (16+)
— ISBN 978-1-60309-152-7
— Diamond DM code: MAR12-1193
— $14.95 (US)
— Co-published by Top Shelf Productions (US) and Knockabout (UK)

Also re-offered in Diamond Previews this month are two of Eddie’s most amazing works: the autobiographical epic ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS and the colorfully quiet comedy about the creative life, THE PLAYWRIGHT. Take the chance to fill out your Eddie Campbell library!

 

 

March 3, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

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