UK publisher Com.x (45, BlueSpear, Seeds) next project is Monster Myths. It’s in the current Previews catalogue (catalogue code APR120985) for release in June and is by John Lupo Avanti who has done work in the diverse fields of animation, tattooing and fine art. Here’s the official description. Monster Myths is a 120 page OGN, with black and white interior pages and a full colour gallery section. As a first time comics work with an intriguing plot and distinct visuals, this could be another winner for Com.x.
Alfredo, a recovering felon turned working stiff, resides in Lower Scabo where working-class people live under the tyranny of the evil Cannibals Motorcycle Gang. After being beaten and left for dead by the gang, Alfredo decides to recruit a group of graffiti writers to instigate a war between the riff-raff of Lower Scabo and their neighbors in the well-to-do community of Northview. In doing so, Alfredo transforms from a two-bit perp into an iconic rebel, determined to free Lower Scabo from the control of those seeking power. An over-the-top, dark comedy pitching biker gangs against clean-cut, real estate developers and, in the middle, an unlikely hero stirring the pot in the hope of saving his neighborhood.
The League: Century trilogy by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill finishes in June from Top Shelf. Oh yeah. Here’s the official lowdown.
In this third and final chapter, our narrative draws to its cataclysmic close in London 2009. The magical child whose ominous coming has been foretold for the past hundred years has now been born and has grown up to claim his dreadful heritage. His promised aeon of unending terror can commence, the world can now be ended starting with North London, and there is no League, extraordinary or otherwise, that now stands in his way. The bitter, intractable war of attrition in Q’umar crawls bloodily to its fifth year, away in Kashmir a Sikh terrorist with a now-nuclear-armed submarine wages a holy war against Islam that might push the whole world into atomic holocaust, and in a London mental institution there’s a patient who insists that she has all the answers.
It’s a spectacular finish that must be seen to be believed.
Pre-order your copy now in the current April DIAMOND PREVIEWS!
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN (VOL III): CENTURY (#3 of 3) “2009”
by Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill
— 80-page softcover
— 6.625″ x 10.125″, full-color graphic novel
— For mature readers (16+)
— ISBN 978-1-60309-007-0
— Diamond DM code: APR12-1232
— $9.95 (US)
— Shipping to stores in June!
— Co-published by Top Shelf Productions (US) and Knockabout Comics (UK)
G-MAN creator gives classic Image characters a make-over
On April first at Emerald City Comicon, Robert Kirkman and Chris Giarusso revealed a new project: THE WALKING DEAD for Kids. A panel-by-panel recreation of the original issues using Kirkman’s scripts, THE WALKING DEAD for Kids would be drawn in an art style with kid appeal by G-MAN creator Giarusso.
The project, of course, was yet another April Fool’s Day prank on a day that saw a few “announcements” come out of the convention. But the image is part of a series of special limited edition variant covers that Image Comics will be releasing in the upcoming year.
In commemoration of Image’s 20th anniversary, Giarusso will re-create twelve classic first issue covers. First to get the too-cute treatment is YOUNGBLOOD, the very first Image title. The cover will ship in limited quantity as a variant for YOUNGBLOOD #71 (FEB128256), the relaunch of the Rob Liefeld Extreme Studios title written by screenwriter John McLaughlin (The Black Swan, Parker) and drawn by John Malin (AVENGELYNE) and Liefeld. YOUNGBLOOD #71 will be in stores on May 23.
The covers are Giarosso’s tribute to his youthful love of Image Comics. “Twenty years ago, I was eagerly anticipating the launch of Image Comics,” said the artist. “Maybe it was partially due to my upcoming high school graduation, but it felt like the whole world was changing. I vividly recall the excitement of seeing the Image books on the shelf for the first time. It was a new era, and these cover images were instantly iconic. The opportunity to pay tribute to these classic Image covers is an honor and a privilege, and I couldn’t be more excited about my role and participation in Image’s 20th anniversary celebration.”
Look for more Giarusso tribute covers in the coming months!
UK publisher Com.x may not publish a lot, but what they do is worthy of your time. Their next project is a new edition of a classic work. Here’s the official lowdown.
Exactly 8 years after its publication by Com.x in 2004 as a trade paperback, we are proud to announce the DIGITAL publication of The Last American.
Originally a four-issue comic-book mini-series released under the Marvel Epic Comics imprint in 1990, The Last American was written by John Wagner (Judge Dredd, A History of Violence) and Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, 2000AD) with art by Mike McMahon (Judge Dredd, ABC Warriors, Slaine). Innovative and groundbreaking on its initial release, its message and tone are still completely relevant in today’s political and social climate.
Eddie Deighton from Com.x comments:
“We are so pleased to finally be bringing this amazing book back to market, albeit in digital format only. Readers may or may not be aware, but as the book was created in the 1990’s it precedes digital technology, so the pages only exist in their original form or as reprographic film separations. We’ve spent the last six months painstakingly scanning the pages from our printed collected edition, retouching them and boosting the colours for today’s mobile devices whilst retaining the wonderful quality of Mick’s line-work and colouring technique.
Unless you were lucky to pick up a (much sought after) copy of our collected edition, or copies of the original 4-issue mini-series, this is the best opportunity you’ll get to own and read a book that was way ahead of its time.”
“…for me this is one of the very best comic-books ever published… Pilgrim has a gallery of nightmares to face beyond
anything mere science-fiction or horror could offer. But he also finds hope, in the story’s last and most affecting sequence,
and that – perhaps – is The Last American’s greatest surprise.”
GARTH ENNIS
“Under the editorial guidance of the late greatly missed Archie Goodwin, with darkly funny scripting by John Wagner and Alan Grant, Mike fashioned some of his finest pages. Here are all the elements that characterise his work. His idiosyncratic vision, his command of storytelling, his sense of humour, his sense of drama and his sheer good craftsmanship.”
DAVE GIBBONS
“…Reprint, please…”
FORBIDDEN PLANET INTERNATIONAL
“…Our pick this week…”
MICHAEL RYAN, COMIC VAULT
“It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s incredible, it’s almost unbelievable. But it retains enough realism that it could happen… Order it today… I don’t care how you get it. Just get it.”
CRAIG JOHNSON, COMICS BULLETIN
The Last American is available on ComiXology, Graphicly and iVerse on 4th April 2012, priced at $4.99 for 128-pages.
An upcoming OGN called Overrun has been getting some well deserved attention lately, and the book is currently looking for a publisher. Overrun is by Andi Ewington, the writer of Com.x’s unique 45, with Matt Woodley and artist Paul Green. Check out the just launched website for heaps of great artwork, and the teaser video and official description are below.
The city is at breaking point. Living space is running out.
Those in power are forced to execute a desperate measure – introduce a poison to wipe out a huge part of the population.
This is no ordinary city, however.
Overrun takes the reader into the heart of their own computer. Citizens are files. There are .xls business people, sexy .jpegs, hip musician .mp4s.
The space which is running out is memory – the poison a computer virus.
Political intrigue and epic action scenes take place inside the brilliantly crafted world as we follow a group of friends, forgotten computer game heroes, as they fight their way through the virus infection which is transforming their fellow citizens into memory sucking zombies.
Gotta love a good acronym for a title! Below is a text-free preview of the Versus mini-series that ties into Marvel’s Avengers vs X-Men series. AVX: VS focuses on superheroes fighting each other, just like the main series does, but without any pretence of a story behind it I guess. It’ll be sure to look good of course, especially with the debut ish drawn by Kubert and Immonen.
Your First Look At AVX: VS #1– An AVENGERS VS. X-MEN Tie-In!
Marvel is proud to present your first look at, AVX VS #1, the explosive, high-octane action packed tie-in to the hotly-anticipated blockbuster event of the year – Avengers VS. X-Men! From acclaimed creative teams, Jason Aaron & Adam Kubert and Kathryn & Stuart Immonen; catch the cover to cover battles – featuring pulse-pounding action as Iron Man faces off against Magneto & Thing takes on Namor! Don’t miss out on all the action in AVX VS #1, available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!
Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!
Ah, Walt Simonson, and Chris Bachalo artwork, without all the words in the way. Both issues are Avengers vs X-Men tie-ins and both are out on April 18. Nice.
Simonson Prepares For War In Your First Look At AVENGERS #25 – An AVENGERS VS. X-MEN Tie-In!
Marvel is proud to present your first look at, Avengers #25, an explosive tie-in to the hotly-anticipated blockbuster event of the year – Avengers VS. X-Men! From superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis & legendary artist Walter Simonson; Captain America has declared war on The X-Men! The impending doom of the Phoenix Force lurks ever closer; forcing The Avengers to suit up and join the battle to save the Earth! But, which Avengers will follow Captain America to the front lines? Find out in Simonson’s epic return to Marvel with Avengers #25, hitting comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this April!
You’ve heard It’s Coming—and this April The War Is Here in Avengers VS X-Men! All your favorite super heroes enter—and only one team will emerge victorious!
Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!
Your First Look At WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #9 – An AVENGERS VS. X-MEN Tie-In!
Marvel is proud to present your first look at, Wolverine & The X-Men #9, an epic tie-in to the highly anticipated blockbuster event of the year –Avengers VS. X-Men! From the critically acclaimed team of Jason Aaron & Chris Bachalo; Captain America arrives at The Jean Grey School Of Higher Learning to convince Wolverine to join The Avengers on the front lines! Logan’s choice will drastically alter the impending war between The Avengers & The X-Men, and Captain America needs him on his squad! Will Wolverine join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, or will he stick to his X-Men roots? Find out in Wolverine & The X-Men #9, hitting comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this April!
You’ve heard It’s Coming—and this April The War Is Here in Avengers VS X-Men! All your favorite super heroes enter—and only one team will emerge victorious!
Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!
Great looking text-free preview below of the first part of the 3 part The Omega Effect x-over featuring Spidey, Punisher and Daredevil.
Your First Look At AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #6 – THE OMEGA EFFECT PT. 1
Marvel is proud to present your first look at, Avenging Spider-Man #6 – The Omega Effect part one, from the superstar creative team of Mark Waid, Greg Rucka & Marco Checchetto. “Trust no one… Hurt everyone” – The Omega Effect begins here! Spider-Man, Daredevil & The Punisher, find themselves in an epic chase across Manhattan for the all-powerful Omega Drive! But can the three of them put aside their differences before the Omega Drive falls into the wrong hands? Find out in Avenging Spider-Man #6, hitting comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this April!
Text-free preview of next month’s issue of Secret Avengers below. What a great Art Adams cover.
Your First Look At SECRET AVENGERS #25
Marvel is proud to present your first look at Secret Avengers #25, from the red-hot creative team of Rick Remender & Gabriel Hardman. The Descendants live by a simple creed: Serve Father. Protect The Core. Kill all Avengers! Against all odds, it’s up to Hawkeye’s fractured team to stop this superhuman threat from achieving their sole objective–contagious robotic evolution! To what lengths will the Secret Avengers go to save all humanity as we know it? Find out in Secret Avengers #25, hitting comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this April!
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?!”
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.
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.
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.”
It’s a good time to be a fan of Burroughs’ non-Tarzan creation, with the film on its way, and various related comics from Dynamite. Now, here’s Marvel’s latest series based on the pulp adventurer, with a text free preview below.
Your First Look At JOHN CARTER: THE GODS OF MARS #1!
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at, John Carter: The Gods Of Mars #1, hitting comic shops everywhere March 2012! From the creative team of rising stars Sam Humphries (Sacrifice) & Ramon Perez (Jim Henson’s Tale Of Sand), the heroic John Carter makes his return to Barsoom not to save it from Martian beasts…but Martian GODS! This new series, in collaboration with the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate, is an all-new graphic fiction adaptation of the legendary John Carter novels AND considered part of the official canon set by Burroughs. No fan looking for added depth to the rich John Carter mythos can miss this.
As our hero finds himself in the land of the dead, all hope looks lost. But nothing will stop John Carter from saving Mars from the terror of those looking to destroy it and this March, the next chapter of one of the greatest action stories ever told begins in John Carter: The Gods Of Mars #1!
JOHN CARTER: THE GODS OF MARS #1 (of 5) (JAN120655)
Two violent video games, and 100 issues is a great achievement for an indie horror title. Press release below about the landmark issue, plus the variant covers from Jeremy Haun, Todd McFarlane, Michael Golden and Michael Broussard.
THE DARKNESS REACHES THE CENTURY MARK
Landmark 100th issue in stores February 29
Top Cow Productions and Image Comics proudly announced today that Darkness 100, the landmark anniversary issue, will land in stores February 29th, 2012.
The over-sized 100th issue follows hot on the heels of the release of The Darkness II video game from 2K Games and Digital Extremes. Long time writer PHIL HESTER (Wonder Woman, Green Hornet) concludes his epic run on the series with artists ROMANO MOLENAAR (THE DARKNESS II : CONFESSION), LEANDRO OLIVEIRA (Superman), and JOSE LUIS (PILOT SEASON: SERAPH). The landmark 100th issue will set the stage for David Hine (THE DARKNESS: FOUR HORSEMEN, BULLETPROOF COFFIN) and Jeremy Haun (ARTIFACTS, DETECTIVE COMICS) as they bring THE DARKNESS into Top Cow’s REBIRTH initiative.
“Why couldn’t they have hired someone else? Anyone else? I’ve been successfully pulling the wool over Darkness readers’ eyes for years now, and the second they get a look at what David Hine is up to they’re going to forget all about my dog and pony show,” Hester commented. “Don’t believe me? Crack open Hine and Kane’s BULLETPROOF COFFIN and see one of tomorrow’s classics while it’s fresh, then get in line behind me for The Darkness #101.”
As Darkness bearer, Jackie Estacado is on a collision course with the source of his power and misery — the Darkness itself! Estacado has traveled through numerous levels of the Darkness’ home dimension in his quest to confront his patron, all the while the Darkness has sought to bind him, distract him and prevent him from reaching it. Now only one of them will walk away from this momentous battle that has been building for years!
Featuring covers by Image luminaries TODD McFARLANE (SPAWN) and MICHAEL GOLDEN (The ‘Nam, SPAWN), alongside THE DARKNESS series artists JEREMY HAUN (Detective Comics) and MICHAEL BROUSSARD (ARTIFACTS).
The over-sized 48-page The Darkness #100 issue will be on sale in stores and digital platforms on March 21st, 2012 andwill carry a cover price of $4.99. To commemorate this achievement, the issue will also feature a complete series cover gallery, a Darkness timeline, the winners of the Darkness II deviantART contest and a special preview of Darkness #101.
Despite the occasional rumour, DC’s long running imprint Vertigo is still alive. If you didn’t grab a free copy of the Vertigo Preview 2012 sampler from your local comic shop last week, then you can check out the contents at the Vertigo blog.
There’s previews of the Fables spinoff Fairest, Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child, The New Deadwardians, and Saucer Country. All 4 series debut in March.
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