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Siege: What Price Victory?

Marvel’s newest epic is called Siege and revolves around Norman Osborn and his nefarious plans for Thor’s home of Asgard. They’ve been releasing teaser images for the last 2 weeks, and below is the latest, by Simone Bianchi with the relevant info (including the Final Order Cutoff and release dates for the mini-series). You can see the whole collection of teaser images over at Broken Frontier.

What Price Victory?

SIEGE: THE CABAL [Prologue to Siege] (OCT090467)
SIEGE: THE CABAL DAVIS VARIANT (SEP098227)
SIEGE: THE CABAL FINCH SKETCH VARIANT (SEP098228)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by MICHAEL LARK
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Sketch Variant Cover by DAVID FINCH
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—11/12/09, On-Sale—12/2/09

SIEGE #1 (of 4) (NOV090419)
SIEGE #1 (of 4) DELL’OTTO VARIANT (NOV090420)
SIEGE #1 (of 4) QUESADA VARIANT (NOV090421)
SIEGE #1 (of 4) COIPEL SKETCH VARIANT (NOV090422)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA
Sketch Variant by OLIVIER COIPEL
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—12/10/09, On-Sale—1/6/10

November 10, 2009
Categories: Comic Art, News . . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Modern Masters For $10

Those delightful folks at TwoMorrows give the gerky portion of the world some pretty good products, with their books and magazines mainly focused on comics of the 1970s and 80s. They currently have a sale on (until the end of November) where you can get their entire back catalogue of Modern Master books for only $10. Each book is over 100 pages and primarily black and white and centres on a particular talented artist, with interviews, art and such. Artists covered include George Perez, Bruce Timm, Alan Davis and more. See them all here.

November 7, 2009
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: art books, sale . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 2 Comments

Fall Of The Hulks Preview

Hulk is fast becoming the Batman of the Marvel Universe, with more superheroes running around associated with Bruce Banner’s alter ego than any one series can contain. Marvel’s next Hulk-focused epic, after Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, is Fall of the Hulks. It begins with Fall of the Hulks: Alpha which lands on December 30 and is written by Jeff Parker with pencils by Paul Pelletier. Ed McGuiness and David Finch provide covers. Preview pages below.

November 5, 2009
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: Hulk, Marvel . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

This Is It Review

After watching this Michael Jackson memorial/documentary/concert film, you’ll know at least two things: the King of Pop deserves that title and his London shows would have been spectacular. However there’s no sadness haunting this almost 2 hour long flick. No “R.I.P Michael Jackson-1958-2009” or any such sentiment. There’s no mention of the controversy surrounding him, or any looks at old photographs of his childhood. In fact nothing is actually learned about the legendary entertainer himself. However we are presented a side of Jackson that we’ve never seen before. In This Is It he looks surprisingly …normal.

He laughs with the concert’s co-creator and director of this film, Kenny Ortega as well as his obviously grateful dancers and band. Jackson doesn’t talk a lot, but is very humble and thankful, and at 50 years old is still as good as ever in this film. He dances like no-one else (but I didn’t spot a Moonwalk) and gives his all throughout the rehearsals in California’s The Forum and Staples Center presented here, apart from the occasional vocal break to save his voice for the show itself. Mostly This Is It consists of Jackson and dancers performing infront of an empty arena and all the hits (Beat It, Earth Song, Billie Jean,etc) sound great.

The toe-tapping film is only in cinemas for 2 weeks, but it has the feel of a DVD extra with its behind the scenes approach. The DVD will be released early next year and for Jackson fans it’s a must have item. It’s not necessary to see it in the cinema unless you can’t wait until next year, but the extra bits made specifically for the concert, such as the 3-D Thriller piece, serve as a reminder of what an awesome show this would’ve been. Jackson truly was a legend and there won’t be another like him. This Is It serves as a tender acknowledgement of the man’s gifts. Simply, Jackson was born to do this and doesn’t want to do it alone. The staff around him are understandably slightly awed in his presence, but he offers only love, with “God bless you,” and “I love you,” being his favourite phrases. The man was a master at his craft and we should be glad that we have this final glimpse of him at work.

November 4, 2009
Categories: Movies, Reviews . Tags: Michael Jackson . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Mighty Avengers #31 Preview

The Avengers (Dark and Mighty) are about the only Marvel titles I read on any regular basis. I’ll pick up an issue every now and then and both titles are consistently enjoyable. Details, and text-free pages, below regarding Mighty Avengers #31 on sale November 18.

The Final Showdown With The Unspoken in Mighty Avengers #31!

The Mighty Avengers, Young Avengers, New Avengers and more must assemble in Mighty Avengers #31 to take down The Unspoken! Red hot writers Dan Slott and Christos N. Gage, along with fan-favorite artist Sean Chen, present the epic conclusion of the Avengers battle against the ancient enemy of the Inhumans! Hank Pym, newly named the Scientist Supreme, returns to Earth, but is his genius enough to help his Avengers allies turn the tide, after a lethal toxin turns many of the Avengers into a gang of mindless barbarians?

“This is the Avengers title you should be reading…” – Doug Zawisza, ComicBookResources.com

“There’s certainly an undeniable old-school charm about this new incarnation of the title.” – Bryan Joel, IGN.com

Marvel urges retailers to check all orders of Mighty Avengers as it continues to impress fans and critics. Will Hank Pym’s promotion to Scientist Supreme and the inclusion of multiple Avengers teams be enough to take down the dreaded Unspoken? Mighty Avengers #31 has all the answers!

October 30, 2009
Categories: Comic Art . Tags: Marvel, Mighty Avengers . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Robot 13 #2 Review

At Broken Frontier now is my review for Robot 13 #2, the self-published adventures of a skull headed robot from Thomas Hall and Daniel Bradford. It really is a great series, filled with Mignolaesque style and grand storytelling. Read my review here.

October 26, 2009
Categories: Reviews . Tags: Robot 13 . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

The God Machine Preview

I met creator Chandra Free at Comic-Con this year at the Archaia booth as she was promoting her upcoming original graphic novel, The God Machine. It looks pretty impressive. Below are a few random pages of the preview book, as well as what Archaia say about it.

THE GOD MACHINE OGN PREVIEW BOOK
(W/A) Chandra Free

A Preview Book of the upcoming God Machine graphic novel! Guy Salvatore can’t get a break. After his girlfriend Sith dies, he can’t seem to go through a morning without monsters coming out of the bathroom mirror, or being pressed at school with his friends’ concern over his well-being. All Guy wants is to be left alone. One night after a bad dream, Guy seeks solace in the graveyard by Sith’s tombstone and is confronted by an odd bunch of characters that will change his life forever with the promise that Sith might be alive! Meanwhile, a beautiful Goddess known as Good God has lost the key to heaven. She needs the help of her fellow compatriot, Evil God, to search for it down on Earth. But what starts off as a minor chore becomes more when Guy catches them in the graveyard, especially since Gods are supposed to be invisible to mortals…

Full Color 48 pages $3.95 Mature Readers (Contains Adult Content)

October 24, 2009
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics? . Tags: Archaia . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Isolation Review

This film was made in 2005 and screened at the Fantastic Fest film festival a year later, winning best picture and best director. It deserves it. There are so many gems like this that get overlooked, and it’s also one of those films that you recommend to everyone you know – thus this review.

For some reason it was a new release at my local Blockbuster, but we do tend to get films later than everyone else in Australia. I like the odd horror film and this is nothing like any other recent entry in the genre. There’s no masked killer, no attractive girls running through the forest and no creatively vicious deaths.

Isolation is an Irish film written and directed by Billy O’Brien (who has criminally made nothing since for some reason). It really is an edge of your seat thriller with an indie film approach and the suspense of Hitchcock at his best. There’s not a huge cast, or lots of eerie music, and it’s arty look makes it immediately leave all standard slasher films in its wake.

Now, here’s the hard sell. Isolation is set in a remote farm where a genetically engineered cow gives birth to something rather nasty, and blood and terror ensues. It may seem like a laughable concept but it’s anything but. There’s definite nods to the classic Alien and even though it’s set in a somber and muddy place the farm looks textured and claustrophobic. I was genuinely surprised a few times and the make-up effects are subtly gross, but don’t worry there’s nothing resembling a cow on its hind legs squirting acid from its udders. It’s a slow burn with engaging characters in a desperate situation.

Just watch this film if you see it on the shelves. It’s a daring approach in a genre that too often tries anything but.

October 23, 2009
Categories: Movies, Reviews . Tags: horror films, Isolation . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Dani Baptiste Is Angelus

Any excuse is a good one to show some Stjepan Sejic art, so here’s the cover for December’s Angelus #1 from Top Cow, and the official info from the Cow about the new series.

DANI BAPTISTE IS THE ANGELUS

ANGELUS #1

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that the Witchblade character Dani Baptiste will assume her new role as the Angelus in Angelus #1, the first in a six-part series, hitting comic book store shelves December 2, 2009.

Written by Ron Marz (Witchblade, Magdalena) and featuring art by Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade), Angelus #1 finds Danielle Baptiste returning home to New Orleans and coming to grips with her new role as the Angelus—the human bearer of the primal force of light. To complicate matters, Dani must sort out her undefined relationship with Finch, all while maintaining control of the Angelus host who covets her power.

“Sara and Dani were really dual leads for the better part of the last three years in Witchblade, and I liked having both characters be part of the storyline. But now that we’ve paid off everything we’d been working toward since issue #100, I’m looking forward to Sara regaining the solo spot in Witchblade.” said Marz. “Moving Dani into her new role as the Angelus, and into her own mini-series, allows me to approach her character and the concept from a fresh perspective. Just like when I took over Witchblade, my goal with Angelus is to start with the foundation we already have, and build something new and exciting from there.”

Angelus #1 begins where the Witchblade: War of the Witchblades storyline left off. The issue will carry a cover price of $2.99, maintaining Top Cow’s pledge to keep all normal comics locked in at $2.99 for the 2009 calendar year.

October 22, 2009
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: Stjepan Sejic, Top Cow . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

45 Preview

Indie publisher Com.x made a splash with their series Cla$$war in 2003 but haven’t done much since. However, their new project, entitled 45 looks set to be another winner. In the current Previews catalogue, and set for a December release the book seems like one of those, “why has no-one thought of this before?” ideas. Com.x can describe it better than me, so here goes…

What makes “45” unique is that each page of art has been illustrated by a different artist, with no predetermined brief given; just the written page as guidance. It truly is an original attempt at redefining what people expect from a comic book format. Featuring the art of Liam Sharp, Jock, Sean Philips, Randy Green, Charlie Adlard and Dan Brereton, to name but a few of the 45 contributors. The story is a series of interconnected interviews documented by the fictional James Stanley. As a soon-to-be father, James wants to find out what lies in store for his family if his unborn child turns out to have a Superpower.

The dedicated blog has more info on the 132 pager. It seems like a fresh spin on the spandex genre and a great entry point for the superhero-curious.

October 18, 2009
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics? . Tags: 45, Com.x . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Review

Awesome. Just awesome. The beauty of these DC animated films is that each one is so unique in what it reveals about the DC Universe. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is a quintessential blockbuster. If Jerry Bruckheimer teamed up with Dan DiDio, this would be the result.

Of course, the pedigree of this film is much loved, as well it should be. The Superman/Batman comic series was launched by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuiness in 2003 and is a favourite of mine, and may others. Those first 6 issues showed the great heights to which comics can attain, and highlighted the different centres between the 2 lead characters, thanks to Loeb’s specific inner monologues for both.

This film adaptation may only be just over an hour long, but it’s thankfully very similar to the plot of those 6 issues. After James Bond-like intro credits, it begins with a brief montage showing the current state of the U.S (ie, an economic disaster zone) which leads to Superman baddie Lex Luthor becoming President . This was an all too short plot device in the comics, but it did deliver gold, like in this story. Luthor uses his newfound power to frame Superman for the murder of Metallo and the paranoia from an oncoming kryptonite meteor to offer a $1 billion bounty for Superman and Batman, as enemies of the state.

For those that fondly recall the initial series, you’ll be pleased as punch to know that all the good stuff has been pulled from the page to the screen. The kryptonite bullet, Luthor injecting himself with liquid kryptonite, the clash with Captain Marvel and Hawkman, Hiro the new Japanese Toyman and his giant robot. It’s all here. However, new fans will be lost. With all the supervillain and hero cameos, there are no expository speeches detailing their origins, powers or even names. A nice touch would’ve been a bonus feature with such info, but the curious can always read the TPB collecting the comic series, and go from there. There are also hints at Superman’s death and his romance with Lois, but again, these are for fanboys joy only. However, who can deny the joy of seeing so many cameos minute after minute? Mongul, Black Lightning, Gorilla Grodd, Nightshade, Power Girl (voiced by Smallville’s Alison Mack) and many more make any fanboy heart gleeful.

Public Enemies is a lavish film, filled with Ed McGuiness-styled looks and action packed direction by Sam Liu. Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy and Clancy Brown are back from their respective Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: TAS. It’s great to hear, and see these characters on-screen again, as Supes, Bats and Luthor.

The 2 disc version comes with some great features that are a delight to any veteran DC reader like me. Disc 1 has a look at the current dead-risng epic Blackest Night, with interviews with writer Geoff Johns and DC head honcho Dan DiDio. There are also looks at the four previous DC animated films (Batman: Gotham Knight, Wonder Woman, Justice League: The New Frontier and Green Lantern: First Flight) though these are not new. Trailers for Fringe, GL: First Flight and the stand-out Batman: Arkham Asylum game are there too.

Disc 2 has an interesting feature looking at the different mindsets of the two caped heroes, a casual Dinner With DCU feature, in which casting director Andrea Romano, Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy, producer Bruce Timm and DC Exec. Gregory Noveck drink coffee and discuss their long running animated ventures. Also included is an exciting look at the next DC animated feature, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, which looks to be even better than this one. Two episodes from Superman: TAS, hand-picked by Timm are thrown in for good measure. They are Knight Time and The Demon Reborn and each episode feature the two heroes teaming up, with The Demon also including a Ra’s Al Ghul cameo and the sometimes humorous Knight featuring Clark impersonating Batman, with a little help from Robin and a little trouble from The Penguin, Riddler and Bane.

Really, DC are proving they’re on to something with these films and each one feels like a grateful nod to DC fans. Hopefully they serve to entertain the DC-curious too. If any of Warner Bros. live action attempts comes even close to this, then the man on the street will proudly become more familiar with DC characters rather than Spider-Man and Wolverine.

October 17, 2009
Categories: Cartoons, Movies, Reviews . Tags: Batman, DC comics, Superman . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Bets Are Off/Cakewalk Review

One of the many items I picked up at Comic-Con was this little gem. Creator Nate Powell recently won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist and his awesome Swallow Me Whole (which I reviewed for Extra Sequential #3) deservedly won the Eisner at the Con in July. With this self-released 32 page zine, you’ll find two tales, in a flip book format, adressing similar youth uncertainty as seen in Swallow.

Powell, who expands his cool factor by being in a band called Universe, has such a distinctive style that colour seems just unnecessary. The wonderfully fluid lines, the slightly sketchy textures and the abandonment of typical panel borders that show in his work add to the meandering narrative that blurs fiction and fantasy.

Cakewalk is written by Rachel Bormann and is certainly the highlight. Young Sara puts charcoal on her face and dresses up like Aunt Jemima, an African-American stereotype from America’s less tolerant roots. Now, being an Aussie I’m only vaguely familar with the association of the name (and my countrymen’s recent Hey, Hey It’s Saturday black-face sketch isn’t helping to educate us), so perhaps Americans may bring more emotional content upon reading this short tale. Apparently the term Cakewalk refers to a dance done by slaves in plantations in the 1800s. However, there’s no prior info necessary to enjoy this tale. Powell uses so few lines to such great effect that you can’t help but feel sorry for Sara and the rude awakening she receives from her students and teachers. She only wanted to be unique and daring like the character she’s dressed as, but amongst the vampires and Ninja Turtles she just comes off as an accidental racist. Bormann scripts it perfectly, chronicling the tragic steps of a young girl’s descent from naivete to adult truth.

On the flipside is Bets Are Off, all by Powell. Whereas he uses a lot of white in the Cakewalk pages, Bets is filled with black. The 9 page tale follows a young couple leaving home and is based on a song entitled The Get-Away by Pretty Girls Make Graves. It’s not as powerful as Cakewalk, but the lyrical dialogue gives it a certain emotional resonance.

If you’re a fan of Jeff Lemire’s work (The Essex County Trilogy, Sweet Tooth) you’ll find anything by Powell hard to resist. Both men show an uncanny ability to make only a few pages land with a thud. For more of Powell’s work, check out his awesomely-named website.

You can grab the Cakewalk/Bets Are off flipbook for only $2.50 from Microcosm Publishing.

October 14, 2009
Categories: New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: Nate Powell . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Powers #1 Preview

Powers is the long running series that helped to make writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Oeming launch successful careers. Now, Marvel are relaunching the series, with a new #1 issue, which hits on November 25. Before that, if you want to catch up on all that’s been going on in the Powers universe in the previous series, you can grab the Powers Encyclopedia Vol. 1 on November 4. Below are a few text-free pages from #1, the covers of #2, #3 and the Encyclopedia, and the official skinny on the series.

Bendis & Oeming’s Award-Winning POWERS Returns With All New Series!

The most popular super hero crime comic of the decade returns in November with Powers #1, from the award-winning team of Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Oeming! Lauded by fans and critics alike, Powers has emerged as one of the most successful creator owned comics of our time and begins an all-new chapter perfect for readers new and old. Homicide detectives Christian Walker and Enki Sunrise investigate murders specific to super hero cases. Shipping monthly—yeah, you heard us—Powers returns not only with your favorite detectives, but also with the letter column you have to read to believe!

While developing and producing the live action Powers TV show for FX, Brian Bendis and Powers will appear on Howard Stern’s Geek Time, Saturday October 17th. This follows the selection of Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? as the first pick of the month on Geek Time. Plus, don’t miss Bendis on G4’s Fresh Ink, Attack of The Show and more major media outlets, spreading the word about Powers!

“Powers is one of the most important books of my life,” said Bendis. “Mike and I have dedicated so much blood sweat and tears to it, and to think our baby just turned ten ears old seems crazy to me. If you dig my stuff on Spider-Woman, Daredevil, or Alias, you will love Powers. And that’s a promise.”

Never checked out Powers? Well, then you gotta hear what critics have been saying about the series for years:

“It’s Bendis’ ability to create such a wide array of human personalities, combined with the sleek, dark-hued drawing of Oeming, that makes Powers a special book…Grade A-“—Ken Tucker, EW.Com

“One of the best books on the market”—Humphrey Lee, AintItCoolNews.Com

“Don’t hesitate picking this book up. Go on. Get to it”—Hilary Goldstein, IGN.Com

“There’s no good reason why you shouldn’t be reading this”—ComicsBulletin.Com

If you haven’t read Bendis & Oeming’s Powers before, then we’ve got the antidote for your blues—pick up Powers #1 in November and find out what you’ve been missing! Plus, don’t miss Brian Bendis on Howard 101 this Saturday, October 17th, as the special guest on Geek Time from 2:00-4:00pm ET!

October 8, 2009
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics? . Tags: Brian Michael Bendis, Mike Avon Oeming, Powers . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Haunt #1 Review

Rightly so, there are big expectations for this new ongoing series from Image. Writer Robert Kirkman has become an indie darling with the success of his Walking Dead and Invincible series. One is a dramatic zombie epic, and the other is a bloody superhero epic, but they both show Kirkman’s skills at generating interest in unique characters in a new comic series, and that is something extremely hard to do in today’s funnybook climate.

His co-creator on Haunt, and inspired by Kirkman’s gauntlet throwing to get him back in the biz, is Spawn creator Todd McFarlane. McFarlane hasn’t been a regular writer or artist for years, and although he’s not the penciller on this series, it still smells of McFarlane’s influence. And that’s a pleasant odour.

Living up to the hype, the first 3 pages are a treat. A woman, a man, a cigarette moving to reveal the “holy” job of the man – it’s all a subtle set up that hooks you immediately. The priest, Daniel is then party to a confession by Kurt, his military brother, which is revealed to us via flashback. The next few pages are like something from a Tarantino film with a Bruckehimer budget, and it’s all good. Kurt climbs out of a body bag, “rescues” a scientist and a few of his test subjects and the shooting begins. It’s all rather bold and boisterous, but very enjoyable.

Then as Kurt leaves the church he’s kidnapped, tortured for the whereabouts of the scientist’s notebook and killed (off-panel). Daniel begrudgingly visits Amanda, Kurt’s widow and Kurt shows up, obviously causing Daniel to ask himself if he’s crazy, as it appears no-one else can see him.

The bad guys chasing the notebook appear, ready for more brutal intimidation, and just when you think that the loose Spider-Man/Spawn hybrid character on the cover won’t show up, he does, in a rather surprising fashion.

Capullo’s layouts combined with Ryan Ottley’s (Invincible) pencils and McFarlane’s inks make for a true visual feast. At first I was hesitant to give this series a chance as it seemed like a dull nod to the very early days of Image, when dark heroes with brutal methods were a dime a dozen, but these gentlemen combine to form a dynamic creative team. It’s never over the top just for the sake of it and Kirkman’s script whisks us away every few pages to a new scene and characters without ever muddying the waters of simple storytelling.

Of course, it all looks great, but it doesn’t cast that generic, cross-hatched look I was expecting. Too many cooks don’t spoil the broth in this case. Ottley, Capullo and McFarlane make every page detailed, visually interesting and unique. People look like people. There’s no over-exaggerated musculature and the sole woman who appears in full, looks normal. The action scenes in the secret bunker are laid out with just as much flair as the dialogue scenes in the church, limo and lounge room.

Kirkman manages to ditch any lengthy exposition and just focus on a character driven action yarn with much bravado. It makes for a seamless and intriguing narrative. Consider me hooked.

October 7, 2009
Categories: New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: Image Comics, Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

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