FF #21 Preview

Below is a text-free preview of August’s issue of FF, the monthly series focused on the Fantastic Four. I love the layouts, and Black Bolt’s expression on the last page. Keeping it family focused, here’s a look at writer Jonathan Hickman’s infographic from his stint on the series.

Your First Look at FF #21!

Marvel is proud to present your first look at FF #21, brought to you by the superstar creative team of writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Nick Dragotta! In a stunning move that surprises everyone, Black Bolt makes the decision to return with his Inhumans back to Earth! What are his motives behind this decision? What will it mean for Marvel’s First Family, and for the Inhumans? Find out this August, in FF #21, hitting comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics app, and Marvel Digital Comic Shop.

FF #21 (JUN120658)

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Penciled by NICK DRAGOTTA

Cover by MIKE CHOI

FOC – 7/30/2012, On Sale – 8/22/2012

July 31, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, Comics . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Darth Maul: Death Sentence #1 Review

Out now is the debut issue of Darth Maul’s new mini-series. Yes, he’s back in the land of the living. Here’s my review.

July 29, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #14 Preview

Text-free preview pages below of the Ultimates Universe version of The Avengers.

The Ultimates Are Back in Action in ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #14!

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Ultimate Comics Ultimates #14 – a Divided We Fall tie-in! With America still in turmoil from the City’s attack, someone is mysteriously working behind the scenes to keep it that way – but who? Can even the newly reunited team of Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor discover the identity of their foe and hold together the country at the same time? The red-hot creative team of writer Sam Humphries, and artist Billy Tan & Timothy Green II bring you the answers inUltimate Comics Ultimates #14, assembling in comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics app, and Marvel Digital Comic Shopthis August.

ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #14 (JUN120635)

Written by SAM HUMPHRIES

Penciled by BILLY TAN & TIMOTHY GREEN II

Cover by MICHAEL KOMARCK

FOC – 7/30/2012, On Sale – 8/22/2012

 

July 29, 2012
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Daredevil #17 Preview

How could I not share this? Mike Allred, he of the kooky and unmistakable visual style, is drawing August’s issue of the award winning Daredevil monthly series, with weird villain Stilt-Man included for no extra charge. A few pages below.

Eisner Winning Artist Mike Allred Makes His Return To Marvel in DAREDEVIL #17

“It’s the issue Mike Allred was born to draw” – Marvel Senior Editor, Stephen Wacker

Prepare for non-stop action as not one, not two, but THREE, Eisner Award winning creators present your first look at Daredevil #17! Courtesy of Mark Waid and special guest artist Michael Allred & colorist Laura Allred, this pulse-pounding adventure pits the Man Without Fear against an old foe…Stilt-Man! Can Daredevil make it out of this grudge match in one piece? Find out inDaredevil #17, hitting comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics app, and Marvel Digital Comic Shop this August.

DAREDEVIL #17 (JUN120656)

Written by MARK WAID

Pencils and Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED

Colors by LAURA ALLRED

On Sale – 8/15/2012

 

July 25, 2012
Categories: Comic Art, Comics . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

The Dark Knight Rises Review

“The Dark Knight Rises is certainly an epic film, and enjoyable in parts. It’s that rare film that actually manages, at times, to capture the intense battles and overblown dialogue that superhero comics can do so well, but if it focused on Batman, Bane and Catwoman, there’d be a greater depth at work.”

Catch my full review of the film right here and an excellent analysis of all the plot holes and frustrations here.

July 25, 2012
Categories: Movies, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Cyber Force Returns

Let’s be honest, there were some pretty bland superhero comics when Image launched in 1992, but at least Cyber Force and its characters have had some recent success, which looks to continue. Details below.

INFORMATION WANTS TO BE FREE IN CYBER FORCE
Marc Silvestri’s top-selling series returns in October with five free issues

Image Comics and Top Cow Productions are excited to announce the highly anticipated return of CYBER FORCE, in celebration of the title’s twentieth anniversary, in October 2012. Comics legend and Top Cow founder Marc Silvestrireturns to the property that helped launch his company and Image Comics as co-writer, art director, and cover artist, spearheading his unique vision for the new series.

And now, CYBER FORCE is embarking on a new path, using 21st century social media to make the first five issues (to be published monthly) available for free, both digitally and in print. A Kickstarter campaign launched on July 17, taking advantage of the year-long build-up of excitement for Image and Top Cow’s 20th anniversary.

Rewards for backers of the Kickstarter campaign, which has a goal of $75,000, include exclusive variant covers, a signed print, a hardcover edition of the collected first five issues, a smartphone case, original art, and one-on-one sessions with Matt Hawkins and Marc Silvestri. There are also several special rewards for comic book retailers who pledge — including exclusive signings by Marc Silvestri! The funding will not only go toward paying the art team but also toward offsetting print costs, thus ensuring the first five issues are available for free.

Excitement has been building for events marking Image and Top Cow’s 20th anniversary since the beginning of the year, including Top Cow’s REBIRTH initiative and exciting new projects from top tier industry talent. With an entire generation of fans who grew up on the series and new fans discovering Image and Top Cow every week, creator and Top Cow CEO Silvestri knew the time was right for CYBER FORCE to return.

“My obsession growing up was sci-fi and fantasy and the concept of Cyber Force has always been ripe for mining those genres,” said Silvestri. “The best sci-fi has its soul anchored in social commentary and the human condition and then goes nuts with the concepts. Comic books are unique in that they can add to that the thrill of wish fulfillment,” he added. “Mash those ideas together add a healthy dose of 21st century paranoia, and voila! You’ve got Cyber Force.”

Silvestri describes CYBER FORCE as an exploration of the consequences when technology — the product of humanity’s own intelligence — has interfered with the order of natural development. “We’re creating a world our species can’t survive in,” Silvestri said. “The end is coming and Mega Corporation Cyber Data Industries knows this when it happens. And now, a young girl named Velocity knows too.”

Joining Silvestri on the new series is interior artist Khoi Pham. Hot off of top-selling Marvel Comics titles including Avengers, Daredevil, The Mighty Thor, and X-Men, Pham’s art will bring to life this bold new vision of CYBER FORCE.

The new series will appeal to fans of the original, as well as reach out to a wider audience by creating a cutting-edge world based on real technology. Co-writer and Top Cow President Matt Hawkins (THINK TANK, THE TEST) will utilize his background in science to lead the series in a never-before-seen direction.

While staying true to the core concept of CYBER FORCE, cybernetically-enhanced resistance fighters on the run from a monolithic international conglomerate, the visual aesthetic of the new series will be updated for a modern audience coined “bio-cybernetic steampunk”.

July 23, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Seeds to Become Animated Film

Out of all the major announcements that came from San Diego Comic-Con last weekend regarding comic book films, this one may have slipped by, but it’s one to get excited about. Seeds is an engrossing, and real, OGN based on creator Ross Mackintosh’s own experiences with his father’s cancer. Mackintosh’s debut book came out last year and at first glance it may look simple, but there’s a real heart that’s easy to connect with. It’s obvious that every page is real, and not desperately trying to be that way. Now, the tale is being turned into an animated film. Persepolis has shown that animation can definitely work for stories based on dramatic sequential storytelling, so I’m rather curious to see Seeds on screen. Below is the press release.

SEEDS by Ross Mackintosh has been garnering critical acclaim in the US and UK since its release in 2011. It tells the story of a man’s relationship with his terminally ill father.

Space Age Films producer Robert Chandler said of the book:

“This is comics at its best. This is the death of Superman, the agony of Batman, the quest of Wolverine. And it’s all here in this simply illustrated book about a man losing his father to cancer.”

Benjamin Shahrabani from Com.X spoke of the film’s ambition to sit up there alongside serious animated fare such as WALTZ WITH BASHIR and PERSEPOLIS:

“Animation and comics can tackle any subject in the world. Ross’s book walks the same line as Harvey Pekar’s AMERICAN SPLENDOR series and Aneurin Wright’s THINGS TO DO IN A RETIREMENT HOME TRAILER PARK, works that look candidly and personally at life, family and death.”

The LA Times described Seeds as:

“A tribute to every father-son relationship. Seeds is an honest, inquisitive and candid memoir.”

Further information about the writer-director team behind the project, as well as pre-production artwork, will be issued soon.

The film is to be released Spring 2014.

In July 2009, Ross Mackintosh learned that his father had cancer. Seeds is the autobiographical story of one man’s experience of family, life, love and death. Beginning with the diagnosis, then taking us through the journey of his father’s eventual decline, it is a powerful account combining humour, philosophy and honesty.

Robert Chandler is an award-winning producer, currently producing the animated feature film OSCAR WILDE’S THE CANTERVILLE GHOST with Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Freddie Highmore.

Com.x is the UK’s most exciting comics house. Its releases include classics such as THE LAST AMERICAN and CLA$$WAR, and new cult favorites 45, BLUESPEAR and MONSTER MYTHS.

July 17, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Tale of Sand Wins Three Eisners

Congrats to publisher Archaia for the three Eisner Award wins at San Diego Comic-Con on the weekend. It’s a luscious book that we spoke about on the Extra Sequential podcast right here, and below is the press release. And yes, it is an awesome book and you should buy it.

ARCHAIA’S ‘JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND’ WINS THREE WILL EISNER COMIC INDUSTRY AWARDS

Publisher wins coveted Best New Graphic Novel award for second straight year;Ramón K. Pérez and Eric Skillman also honored for Best Penciller/Inker and Best Publication Design

The 24th Annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards (“The Eisners”) was held last night in the Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, showcasing the best in comics for 2011, and publisher Archaia is happy to announce it was honored with three awards for its original graphic novel hardcover, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand.

The awards won were:

Best Graphic Album – New
Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, adapted by Ramón K. Pérez

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Ramón K. Pérez, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand

Best Publication Design
Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, designed by Eric Skillman

This is the second straight year that Archaia has won the top prize of Best Graphic Album – New. It previously won in 2011 for Best Graphic Album – New for Return of the Dapper Men. Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand was also honored with nominations for Best Lettering (Deron Bennett) and Best Coloring (Ian Herring and Ramón K. Pérez).

The Eisners, named for renowned cartoonist Will Eisner (creator of The Spirit and several award-winning graphic novels), are considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry. The finalists on the ballot are selected by a blue-ribbon committee that considers thousands of entries submitted by publishers and creators. The nominees are then voted on by all parts of the comic book industry: writers, artists, and other creators; publishers; editors; and retailers and distributors.

Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, written by Henson and his frequent writing partner, Jerry Juhl, is based on a dark, existential feature-length screenplay that built off of ideas Jim Henson had been developing around the time he produced his Academy Award-nominated short film “Timepiece.”

It tells the story of a young man who hears, “Run, boy… run!” as he is kicked out of a dusty town in the middle of the desert. There’s nothing but sand in every direction, but run he does, with only a rucksack of odds-and-ends to his name, as he embarks on an oddball journey. Under the supervision of The Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson, team Archaia and artist Ramón K. Pérez adapted the screenplay into a colorful, marvelous tribute to one of the most creative minds who ever lived.

“This is a wonderful honor and we are simply overjoyed by this recognition,” said Archaia Editor-in-Chief Stephen Christy. “Tale of Sand was an ambitious undertaking when we started the project in 2010, and to see Ramón and Eric honored, along with the team here at Archaia, makes it all worthwhile. I want to thank Lisa Henson for allowing us access to her father’s archived materials, and for believing we could do his legacy proud with this fantastic graphic novel. Thank you and congratulations to everyone who worked on Tale of Sand and everyone on team Archaia, especially our president PJ Bickett. On behalf of everyone at Archaia, thank you to our distributors Diamond Comics and PGW, and to all of the retailers, journalists, reviewers, and fans who supported this book. Most of all, thank you to Jackie Estrada and Comic-Con International for making the Eisner Awards even possible!”

For a complete list of winners, visit Comic-Con International’s Eisner Awards website at http://comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.php.

Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand (hardcover, full color, 152 pages, 8.25” x 11”, ISBN: 978-1-936393-09-1, Diamond Code JUL110825, $29.95) is available for sale now in your local comic book shop or wherever books are sold. 

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July 16, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Blacksad: A Silent Hell Review

Here’s my review of this latest English adaptation of the adventures of feline detective John Blacksad. It’s a noir filled beauty.

July 12, 2012
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Comic Writing Tutorial

Writer Jim Zubkavich (Image’s entertaining Skullkickers) has created a handy tutorial to writing comics. So far there’s two parts, and you can read both at Jim’s blog and for your cat viewing pleasure, here’s the Comic-Con variant cover for Skullkickers #15.

July 7, 2012
Categories: Comics, Image Comics . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Uncanny Avengers #1 Cover

So, you may have heard that Marvel are pulling a DC and doing a relaunch, but before you roll your eyes, this ones looks less set to tick off loyal readers as it’s not a line-wide reboot. More details on the new creative teams, titles and looks for characters here.

Marvel NOW! First Look At The Cover To UNCANNY AVENGERS #1!

This October, dive headfirst into Marvel NOW! as the superstar dream team of Rick Remender (Uncanny X-Force, Venom) and John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Captain America) deliver high stakes action inUNCANNY AVENGERS #1 – sporting a jaw-dropping cover by Cassaday! No fan can miss the blockbuster debut of an all-new Avengers team featuring members from all across the Marvel Universe…a team uniting Avenger and X-Man alike! But following the devastating events of Avengers VS X-Men, can Captain America pull together a team that can get along for its first mission? Plus, Uncanny Avengers #1 is the first title to sport the all-new Marvel NOW! cover design!

“We’re no longer going to be locked into where our logos are placed, which has traditionally been the top third of our covers, and we’re going to start to look at our covers with an eye towards strong design and commerciality above all else, explained Marvel Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada.  “What’s going to attract the reader’s eye, what’s going to make them want to buy that particular title? That’s the first question our artists and editors are going to ask themselves.”

Also! Every new issue with the Marvel NOW! branding comes packaged with a code for a FREE digital copy on the Marvel Comics app.

And that’s not all because readers will be able to take the Marvel NOW! experience even further by unlocking access to exclusive behind the scenes extras utilizing special augmented reality technology with the Marvel AR app powered by Aurasma. This is exciting bonus content that you cannot access anywhere else!

Have you joined the Marvel ReEvolution? Join the conversation on Twitter with #MarvelNOW!

For more on MarvelNOW!, please visit NOW.Marvel.com!

UNCANNY AVENGERS #1

Written by RICK REMENDER

Art & Cover by JOHN CASSADAY

ON SALE THIS OCTOBER!

July 7, 2012
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Darkness & Light Art Exhibition

Having just finished its run in Portland, the new Darkness & Light exhibition is going to San Diego Comic-Con next week and then Atlanta in August and Chicago in September. Details here and below.

Darkness & Light: Art Inspired by Heroes & Villains, Hope & Heroism exhibition is a one-of-a-kind art and education tour to raise awareness and funds for the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. Darkness & Light features some of today’s top contemporary artists and showcases a collection of original artwork inspired by DC Comics’ Justice League characters paired with real world photography that depicts the everyday heroes fighting hunger in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. From the Super Heroes that fight for justice in the comic world, to the human heroes who make a difference every day in the real world, Darkness & Light tells the story of the crisis through the lens of those working tirelessly to be of service to those in need.

The exhibition shows us what is possible when we tap into our own best qualities of responsibility, willpower and inner strength to be of service to others in need. And just like our favorite Justice League Super Heroes, the art reflects the Super Hero powers we each hold that compel us to do good in the world.

The centerpiece of the collection features a large-scale piece of original artwork by Jim Lee, the legendary artist and DC Entertainment co-publisher, featuring the profile of Batman in a color palette inspired by the hues of Africa – yellow, green, red and black. Lee’s work is featured alongside journalistic photography that expose moments of heroism by aid workers in the Horn of Africa.

Select pieces of DC Entertainment artwork will be auctioned off at the end of the tour with all net proceeds going directly the We Can Be Heroes campaign.

Darkness & Light is launching at Mercy Corps’ Global Headquarters and gallery in Portland, Oregon – a nonprofit partner of We Can Be Heroes – and then traveling to cities across the country including Comic-Con in San Diego July 9-15.

If you’re in a tour city, stop by to see the artwork and find out how you can make a difference!

July 7, 2012
Categories: Art, Comics, DC Comics, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

The Mad World of William M. Gaines

As a sucker for books on the fascinating history of comic books, I’m thankful that the Hero Initiative drew my attention to this bio on Mad Magazine founder William M. Gaines by Frank Jacobs, which is now back in (digital) print through Wowio. 272 pages for only $8!
Some praise for the book includes:

“The Mad World of William M. Gaines is one of the classic biographies of comic book history, and helped set the standard for those to follow.  Frank Jacobs’ book richly deserves to be kept in print.”

—Roy Thomas, co-founder and editor, Alter Ego magazine

“I learned more about writing from Mad magazine than would be seemly to admit, and Frank Jacobs was my favorite writer in its stable, so it’s no surprise his bio of the Great and Powerful Gaines was an instant classic to me.  But it’s the world beyond—and before—Mad magazine, the dark world of E.C., of pulp, horror, and censorship that made it indelible, and a book not just for Mad fans but for everyone.”

—Joss Whedon, Avengers director and Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator

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

Drawn + Quarterly Publish Rookie Yearbook

Wow.  I started a blog, and a magazine in my thirties. This girl puts me to shame, and has a bright future for sure. Press release from publisher Drawn + Quarterly below.

EDITED BY TAVI GEVINSON, SEPT 2012

THE FIRST PRINTED PUBLICATION EDITED BY TAVI GEVINSON, THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ROOKIE, A WEBSITE FOR TEENAGE GIRLS.

Tavi Gevinson started her personal blog, STYLE ROOKIE in 2008, when she was 11 years old. It was a place where, from the confines of her bedroom in the suburbs, she could write about personal style and chronicle the development of her own. Within two years, the blog was averaging 50,000 hits per day. Soon fashion designers were flying her around the world to attend, and write about, fashion shows, and to be a guest of honor at their parties. Soon Tavi’s interests grew beyond fashion, into culture and art and, especially, feminism. In September 2011, when she was 15, she launched ROOKIE a website for girls like her: teenagers who are interested in fashion and beauty but also in dissecting the culture around them through a uniquely teen-girl lens. ROOKIE broke 1 million page views within its first six days. ROOKIE YEARBOOK ONE will collect articles, interviews, photo editorials, and illustrations from the highly praised and hugely popular online magazine. In its first year, ROOKIE has established a large, inclusive, international community of avid readers. In addition to its 50-plus regular writers, photographers, and illustrators (many of whom are teenage girls themselves), ROOKIE’s contributors and interviewees have included prominent makers of popular culture such as Lena Dunham, Miranda July, Joss Whedon, Jon Hamm, Zooey Deschanel, David Sedaris, Elle Fanning, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, John Waters, Chloe Sevigny, Liz Phair, Dan Savage, JD Samson, Ira Glass, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Clowes, Carrie Brownstein, Paul Feig, Bethany Cosentino, Kimya Dawson, Fred Armisen, and Winnie Holzman.

As a young teenager, Tavi couldn’t find what she was looking for in a teen magazine; ROOKIE is the one she created herself to fill that void. Her cool-headed intellect shines in ROOKIE, arguably the most intelligent magazine ever made for a teen-girl audience. Tavi writes with a humble but keen authority on such serious topics as body image, self-esteem, and first encounters with street harassment. She’s equally deft at doling out useful advice like how to do a two-minute beehive, or how to deliver an effective bitchface. ROOKIE’s passionate staffers and faithful readers have helped make ROOKIE the strong community that it is. To date, Tavi has written for Harper’s Bazaar, Jezebel, Lula, and Pop, and is a contributing editor for GARAGE magazine. She has been profiled in the New York Times and The New Yorker, and has been on the cover of POP, L’Officiel, Zeit Magazin, and BUST. As a speaker, she has made numerous presentations at venues such as IdeaCity, TEDxTeen, L2 Forum, and the Economist World in 2012 Festival. Last year Lady Gaga called her “the future of journalism.”

BIO: Tavi Gevinson is the editor and founder of ROOKIE. She lives in Oak Park, Illinois, with her family and many piles of candy-bar wrappers.

Original Paperback, 9 x 10.75, 296 pgs, $29.95, 978-1-77046-112-3 , September 2012

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

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