After almost a month away on holiday, I’m back, so a massively Happy New Year to all, and thanks for reading my less frequently updated blog!
Now, here you can vote for your fave comics of the past year, at Broken Frontier, which has more of an indie slant than most other comics sites.
Below are a few text-free preview pages and covers from February’s issue of Winter Soldier, the former Bucky’s solo series.
Your First Look At WINTER SOLDIER #15!
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Winter Soldier #15, from the creative team of writer Jason Latour & artist Nic Klein. In the wake of the hunt for the Black Widow, a broken and beaten Winter Soldier begins a quest for atonement. But just as Bucky makes peace with his deadly past – a new villain from his future is out for his head! This February, Latour and Klein send Captain America’s former partner on a road to redemption like no other in Winter Soldier #15!
WINTER SOLDIER #15 (DEC120695)
WINTER SOLDIER #15 KLEIN VARIANT (DEC120696)
Written by JASON LATOUR
Art by NIC KLEIN
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
Variant Cover by NIC KLEIN
FOC – 1/14/13, ON SALE – 2/6/13
Comics Alliance have uncovered a great array of Marvel ads from the ’80s that were spruiking holiday savings, including one particular ad that used Tony Stark’s festive Iron Man armour. Nice.
Here’s a preview from Marvel for this month’s issue of the Avenging archer, Hawkeye.
HAWKEYE #6 First Look!
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Hawkeye #6, continuing the all-new ongoing series from the creative team of writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja! Clint Barton is preparing for the Holidays! After the conclusion of The Tape, Clint is in dire need of a vacation, but will his break from action turn out as planned?
Fans and critics agree, Hawkeye is a smash hit!
“Super fun!” – Kelly Thompson, ComicBookResources.com
“This is a fantastic comic book that mixes action, mystery, and just the right amount of sheer insanity.” – Benjamin Bailey, IGN.com
“This is a series that needs to be read.” – Tony Guerrero, Comicvine.com
Looking to catch up on the critically acclaimed series? Then be sure to pick-up Hawkeye #1Third Printing Variant and Hawkeye #2 Third Printing Variant, in stores now! Also, Marvel is pleased to announce that Hawkeye #3 has sold out at Diamond and will be returning to stores with Hawkeye #3 Second Printing Variant!
So what are you waiting for? Head on over to your local comic shop and get in on the action!
HAWKEYE #6 (OCT120621)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & Cover by DAVID AJA
On-Sale – 12/19/12
HAWKEYE #1 3rd PRINTING (SEP128135)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art and Cover by DAVID AJA
ON SALE NOW!
HAWKEYE #2 3rd PRINTING (SEP128136)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art and Cover by DAVID AJA
ON SALE NOW!
HAWKEYE #3 2nd PRINTING (OCT128311)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art and Cover by DAVID AJA
FOC – 12/10/12, On-Sale – 01/09/13
Who Is Jake Ellis? from Image Comics was on many lists, including mine, of the best comics of the year. Now the sequel, by the same creative team of Nathan Edmondson and Tonci Zonjic, has arrived.
Here’s my review of the great first issue.
Right here you can read my review of the latest collection of The Darkness series from Top Cow.
It’s a good read filled with supernatural nastiness and such.
Here’s a text-free preview of Marvel’s FF #1 which is released next month.
Marvel NOW! – FF #1 First Look!
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at FF #1, kicking off the all-new ongoing series from the blockbuster creative team of writer Matt Fraction and artist Michael Allred! With the Fantastic Four embarking on an epic journey, an all-new substitute Four, handpicked by original members – Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Miss Thing – stand ready to guard and protect Earth and the Future Foundation for four minutes! What could possibly go wrong?
As part of Marvel NOW!, FF joins a number of titles that will take the Marvel Universe in an exciting all-new direction, as the industry’s top creators join the top Super Heroes to deliver all-new ongoing series, great for new and lapsed readers alike!
Each issue of Fantastic Four features special augmented reality content available exclusive through theMarvel AR app – including cover recaps, behind the scenes features and more that add value to your reading experience at no additional cost.
An all-new direction! All-new adventures! This is FF NOW!
This November, Matt Fraction and Michael Allred redefine the future in FF #1!
FF #1 (SEP120593)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
FOC – 11/5/2012, On Sale – 11/28/2012
The Trade Paperback collecting the recent Dancer mini-series is now out from writer Nathan Edmondson and artist Nic Klein. It’s great, but here’s my more detailed review.
Yes, apparently that is also a correct way to spell archaeologists. Here’s my review of the second OGN from Septagon Studios that blends sci-fi, fantasy, and some stand out visuals.
THE WALKING DEAD, THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE LAUNCHES TOMORROW!
Hotly anticipated first issue of The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine hits newsstands and digital platforms.
Titan Magazines and Skybound’s premier issue of The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine, based on Robert Kirkman’s Eisner Award-winning comic book series, best-selling graphic novels and Emmy-winning AMC television series, hits newsstands and digital platforms on October 23.
This 100-page issue features an inside look at the TV show, comics and everything in-between: The Walking Dead creator/writer Robert Kirkman reveals what’s coming up next on the TV show, which broke basic cable records again with the season three premiere, and how the shocking events of issue #100 of The Walking Dead Comic will affect Rick and our favorite survivors; an exclusive interview with Danai Gurira, who plays the iconic character “Michonne”; an exclusive prologue to the new Walking Dead book, The Road to Woodbury, about the rise of Philip Blake aka The Governor written by Jay Bonansinga and Robert Kirkman; behind-the-scenes set visit report; executive producer/showrunner Glen Mazzara tells us why he’s so excited about season three; plus, all the latest news, revelations and tips for fans of the entire The Walking Dead universe.
The first issue debuted at this year’s New York Comic-Con with a special NYCC variant cover, and an additional nine variant covers are released tomorrow: a newsstand cover featuring “Michonne”; an alternative art cover by The Walking Dead comic artist, Charlie Adlard and colored by The Walking Dead comic colorist Cliff Rathburn; seven retail variant covers with stores Comickaze, Forbidden Planet, Midtown Comics, Redd Skull Comics, Ultimate Comics, Ultimate Treasures and Wade’s Comic Madness, each featuring art by Adlard and Rathburn.
Discussing what fans can expect from the magazine, Robert Kirkman, creator/writer of The Walking Dead, says, “We’ll be talking about what’s coming up on the TV show, we’ll fill you in on what to expect from the comic and you’ll hear from all the talented people who work on all the various Walking Dead projects. This magazine is going to rock!”
The magazine will also be available to read on the iPad, Nook and Kindle Fire starting tomorrow, giving Walking Dead fans an exciting alternative to the print edition and a high quality digital reading experience. Just search ‘The Walking Dead Magazine’ on your device’s newsstand or app store.
The magazine is currently offering fans an exclusive FREE The Walking Dead T-Shirt (not available in stores) with new print subscriptions. For more information on this subscription offer and other offers in your territory, visit the magazine website,www.TitanMagazines.com/WalkingDead. Readers can also join the magazine on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/WalkingDeadMag and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WalkingDeadMagazine to keep up to date with news and special offers and www.Skybound.com, the source for all news on The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman and all Skybound titles.
The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine issue #1 will be available on newsstands and comic book stores in the U.S. on October 23, in the U.K. on November 8 and Australia & New Zealand on December 18. Digital editions will be available globally on the iPad, Nook and Kindle Fire from October 23.
Contact Details Of Stores With Variant Covers:
Comickaze Comics, San Diego, CA –www.comickazeonline.webs.com
Forbidden Planet, London, U.K. – www.forbiddenplanet.com
Midtown Comics, New York, NY – www.midtowncomics.com
Redd Skull Comics, Calgary, Canada – www.reddskull.com
Ultimate Comics, Durham, NC – www.ultimatecomics.com
Ultimate Treasures, 11240 Village Lane Clinton, MI 49236-9595
Wade’s Comic Madness, Levittown, PA – www.comicmadness.com
From the fine folks at TwoMorrows publishing, who specialise in comics history, comes this look at one of the leading men of ’80s animated TV. Official lowdown below.
In anticipation of this book’s release, TwoMorrows Publishing is letting readers download a FREE PDF PREVIEW at this link:
Below is the poster and first trailer for next year’s third Iron Man entry starring Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, and Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin. It’s based on the Extremis storyline from the comics from a few years ago, with the added bonus of the Iron Patriot armour. The trailer certainly looks intense and downbeat, rather than the jovial adventuring of the first two films. It also dwells on the destruction of Stark’s mansion for too long, and Pearce’s Aussie voice doing an American monotone reminds me of Hugo Weaving as Mr Smith in The Matrix films.
Speaking of the Armoured Avenger, last week saw the release of Ultimate Comics Iron Man #1 by writer Nathan Edmondson (Grifter, The Activity) and artist Matteo Bufagni. The Demon in the Armor storyline is a four parter and it’s off to a rousing start.
Uncanny Avengers #1. Not being a huge Marvel reader, like I was in the ’90s, I only pick up stuff from the publisher when it’s a fresh start or landmark issue really. This ish is the first of the Marvel NOW! initiative that sees a few new series debuting over the next few weeks. Rick Remender writing, with John Cassady pencilling a series starring a team made up of Captain America, Thor, Rogue, Scarlet Witch, Wolverine (of course! every team must have him!) and Havok is intriguing enough. Cassady won’t stay on this series for long I’m guessing, but whenever he does superheroes, it’s worth a look, although Cap’s costume still looks a little weird. In fact, they all, except Wolvie, have (slightly) new costumes, although that’s not mentioned in the story. It’s not a great jumping on point, but does follow the events of AvsX, which I didn’t read. I do know that Professor X died at the hands of a Phoenix Force-possessed Cyclops, which isn’t fully explained here.
Logan speaks at Xavier’s funeral, Cap and Thor enlist Havok (or try to) before fighting mutant Earthquake (fresh from brain surgery!), and Havok goes to talk to his cynical brother Cyclops in priosn. Oh, and Rogue and Scarlet Witch almost get into a fight at Xavier’s grave before some new baddies shown up, including, “The Goat-Faced Girl.” Yep. Not a lot really happens, the team isn’t forced yet and the fate of Xavier’s body is gruesome, but at least it looks good.
Oh, and when Cap asks Havok to lead the new team of mutants and humans, he refers to Wolverine’s “checkered past.” Shouldn’t that be, “chequered past?”
Batman and Robin #13. If the title of this issue (Zombie Moon Rising) wasn’t enough, then thankfully the pages following it live up to expecattions, although the credits page names this issue, “Eclipsed.” Writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason have been telling Bruce and Damian Wayne’s intense and bizarre adventures for a long time now, so it’s a safe bet that any issue of theirs will be a winner.
It begins with father and son venturing up, up and away to prepare a satellite that’s linked with the Batcave for any temporary disruptions that may come with the eclipse, and with the Joker’s return they need all the resources at their command. While Batman and Commissioner Gordon check out some possible zombie attacks at a graveyard, Robin fights off a bounty hunting monster before some zombies fight him. The last 5 pages are pencilled by Tomas Giorello and it’s jarring as his style is so different from Gleason’s. It’s unfortunate, especially as Robin looks much older when Giorello draws him. Hopefully Gleason can draw the remainder of this story arc, as it’s setting up to be an entertaining one.
Creator-Owned Heroes #5. A new venture form Image Comics that acts like a magazine and anthology, this is a good idea, with stories from various creative teams running for a few issues. In his month’s release there are 3 new tales. Killswitch by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Jerry Lando is the first and follows the titular assassin as he kills his latest target aboard a plane and befriends his not-so-grieving widow. It’s a good set up, especially the aftermath and the banter between the blonde widow and professional killer is great.
Next up is Black Sparrow. Set in a farm in the 1880s it centres on a recently hanged evil boy (so we’re told) whose body is returned to his family for burial. There’s only one more part in this story by Steve Niles, Jay Russel and Andrew Ritchie so I hope the end is a doozy. It’s certainly creepy so far, thanks to the desolate and haunting artwork of Ritchie.
The last story is by Gray, Palmiotti and Norberto Fernandez. Retrovirus follows scientist Zoe Wallace as she begins her new job at a research facility in Antarctica to help study a frozen and scary looking Neanderthal.
Also included is an interview with artist Amanda Conner, a few fan questions answered by Palmiotti, the first part of a writing comics tutorial by Steve Niles, and an editorial/behind the scenes piece by Gray. It all adds up to a good place to start for comics veterans or newbies.
This week at your comic shop, get yourself a copy of the new Marvel NOW! (not a reboot) initiative preview.
The sampler contains a few pages of Fantastic Four #1, FF #1, Iron Man #1, All New X-Men #1 (which I’m most intrigued by as it has the original ’60s team meeting their hardened modern selves), Captain America #1 (which I’m the least excited by as it has Cap travel to Dimension Z, whatever that is), Indestructible Hulk #1 (Mark Waid! Leinil Francis Yu! Phil Coulson!), Thor: God of Thunder #1, Deadpool #1, a black and white preview of X-Men: Legacy #1, a wordless preview of Avengers Assemble, and Red She-Hulk #1.
It’s definitely worth grabbing as it’s a good showcase of what’s coming up from Marvel.
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