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!
62 mins. It’s the 20th anniversary of Image Comics this year, so in honour of the young upstart publishing company, we look at our fave Image tales covering drama, comedy, adventure and more. Also, the wonder of ’90s fashion, and Aussie TV actresses.
April Fools’ Day shenanigans including Stephanie Brown, Mars Attacks!, and George Takei
Triplets (the Twins sequel), and He-Man at DC Comics
11:10 THEME – IMAGE COMICS
A brief history of the Marvel walkout that led to one of the most successful indie publishers and the giant steps they’ve made in the last two decades.
I spoke yesterday at Perth’s Swancon about the DC relaunch of last year. The general consensus of my fellow panellists and the audience was that it has yet to work. However DC may be getting in my good books if July’s He-Man series from James Robinson and Phillip Tan is any good. This is a nice surprise and there haven’t been any Masters of the Universe comics for years. I’m looking forward to this.
Staying with nostalgia, here are two interesting live action fan films based on classic video game characters. Here’s a creatively reinvented Pac-Man, and Mega Man X which was made for only $700.
To celebrate Image Comics’ 20th anniversary comics site Broken Frontier has launched Image Month, which is exactly as it sounds. There will be reviews of classic issues, interviews with creators and more. Check it out here and you can also read two of my reviews of recent Image releases, Whispers #2, which is awesome, and Hell Yeah #2.
While you’re there, check out my review of the new one-shot from Dak Horse Comics starring monster hunter Cal McDonald, and see a preview of the ish here.
This year’s nominations for the prestigious Eisner Awards are now up, right here. Voted by industry professionals, the winners will be announced at July’s San Diego Comic-Con. It’s an impressive and diverse list including a few faves of mine like Who Is Jake Ellis? and Atomic Robo. Daredevil, Jim Henson’s A Tale of Sand and many more have also been given nods, from creators to overseas works.
There’s a great interview at CBR here with Archaia’s Stephen Christy and P.J Bickett about the publisher’s plans and upcoming releases. The pair discuss their Eisner wins last year, forthcoming film adaptations and their generous Free Comic Book day offering on May 5.
Bickett: Some of the other high profile books we have are the second volume of “Rust” and “Cursed Pirate Girl” by Jeremy Bastian, a lifelong friend of David Petersen. “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” with Rachel Hope Allison who is an amazing talent. It’s just all pictures telling a story, it’s amazing and coming out on Earth Day. We have “The Grand Duke” which is a Father’s Day tale coming out around the same time. We have a lot of great stories and books that people this year will hopefully get into even more than they did in years past. At the end of the year, we have — at high anticipation from many fans — “Labyrinth” and the second volume of “The Dark Crystal.”
Finally, directed by Underworld’s Len Wiseman and starring Colin Farell is the Total Recall film based on the Arnie actioner from 1990, and the Philip K. Dick short story, We Can Remember It For you Wholesale. It opens in August. Here’s the sleek trailer.
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.
65 mins. We finally get to this topic! The history of minority characters within comics, superheroes who are replaced by minority characters, or changed when adapted to other media. We also throw a few gnarly questions at one another.
Black Manta, Black Lightning, Black Racer (he’s on skis!), and Black Vulcan
Asian characters like Amadeus Cho, James Woo, Green Arrow Connor Hawke, Batgirl Cassandra Cain, Katana, Lady Shiva and Nico Minoru from Marvel’s Runaways.
and many more characters.
As an added bonus, here’s the “Bruce Lee” film from 1977 that Mladen mentions.
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!
I was very impressed with DC/Warner Bros’ latest animated film, based on the classic Tower of Babel story from the comics, in which Batman inadvertently betrays his fellow Leaguers.
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!
comicbookjesus 