News | comicbookjesus

2011 Eisner Awards

Announced at Comic-Con was the full list of the prestigious Eisner winners for this year. As usual there’s no surprises, including CBR as Best Comics Related Journalism, but there’s a few deserving surprises, such as Daytripper, Return of the Dapper Men and Darwyn Cooke. And a comic shop in Israel. Called Comics & Vegetables. Yep. However, it’s not what they literally sell, as this interview reveals.

How was the name of CNV decided upon? Are you guys actually a vegetable store as well?

The name is based on a phrase in Hebrew, the closest word in English is “etc.”.

2011 Eisner Award Winners List

Best Short Story
“Post Mortem,” by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, in I Am an Avenger #2 (Marvel)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series
Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

Best Limited Series
Daytripper, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Vertigo/DC)

Best New Series
American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids
Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)

Best Publication for Teens
Smile, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic Graphix)

Best Humor Publication
I Thought You Would Be Funnier, by Shannon Wheeler (BOOM!)

Best Anthology
Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, edited by Paul Morrissey and David Petersen (Archaia)

Best Digital Comic
Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl, http://www.abominable.cc

Best Reality-Based Work
It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album—New
Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia)
Wilson, by Daniel Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint
Wednesday Comics, edited by Mark Chiarello (DC)

Best Adaptation from Another Work
The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
Archie: The Complete Daily Newspaper Strips, 1946–1948, by Bob Montana, edited by Greg Goldstein (IDW)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material
It Was the War of the Trenches, by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

Best Writer
Joe Hill, Lock & Key (IDW)

Best Writer/Artist
Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit (IDW)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Skottie Young, The Marvelous Land of Oz (Marvel)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse)

Best Cover Artist
Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Baltimore: The Plague Ships (Dark Horse)

Best Coloring
Dave Stewart, Hellboy, BPRD, Baltimore, Let Me In (Dark Horse); Detective Comics(DC); Neil Young’s Greendale, Daytripper, Joe the Barbarian (Vertigo/DC)

Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Fables, The Unwritten, Joe the Barbarian, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom (WildStorm/DC); SHIELD (Marvel); Driver for the Dead (Radical)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
ComicBookResources, produced by Jonah Weiland (www.comicbookresources.com)

Best Comics-Related Book
75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, by Paul Levitz (TASCHEN)

Best Publication Design
Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer Artist’s Edition, designed by Randall Dahlk (IDW)

HALL OF FAME
Judges’ Choices: Ernie Bushmiller, Jack Jackson, Martin Nodell, Lynd Ward
Elected: Mort Drucker, Harvey Pekar, Roy Thomas, Marv Wolfman

Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award:
Nate Simpson

Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award:
Patrick McDonnell

Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Book Writing Award:
Del Connell, Bob Haney

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award:
Comics & Vegetables, Tel Aviv, Israel – Yuval Sharon, Danny Amitai

July 25, 2011
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Eisner Awards . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 2 Comments

Extra Sequential #50

60 mins. Join us as we celebrate our first milestone episode and talk about heaps of Comic-Con news, and a few recent reviews. We also answer some fanmail and talk about bad Robin Williams’ films, MacGyver, Klingons, Jarvis Cocker, and invisible pants.

LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE OR ON ITUNES

6:54 NEWS

IDW’s Popeye comic

Vertigo’s House of Mystery is ending

Trailers for next year’s Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man

Marvel’s Season One newbie friendly OGNs

Tom Morello, Guillermo del Toro and P.C Cast working with Dark Horse

The dissolution of Superman’s marriage to Lois Lane

DC’s comic based on the game, Uncharted

Star Trek and Legion of Super-Heroes cross-over

Spider-Man and X-Men titles go digital

25:33 WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

Osama Tezuka’s little known Apollo’s Song

Conan: Island of No Return

Taiyo Matsumoto’s Gogo Monster

DC Retro-Active – Wonder Woman – The ’70s. 2 tales starring a powerless, judo loving WW.

Big Baby, another weird comic from Charles Burns

Harlan Ellison’s collection of reviews, Watching

X-Men: Schism #1 by Jason Aaron and Carlos Pacheco

July 24, 2011
Categories: Comics, Movies, New To Comics?, News, Podcast, Reviews . Tags: Dark Horse, DC comics, Marvel . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Star Wars – Digitally

Announced at Comic-Con was this great piece of news for Star Wars fans. Apparently there’s some price issues with the site and the iPad app, but they’re being worked on now to get the 99c price mentioned in the press release below.

STAR WARS™ COMES TO THE DARK HORSE DIGITAL STORE!

ENTER THE GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY ON YOUR iPHONE, iPAD OR LAPTOP!

The wait is finally over, as Dark Horse and LucasFfilm announce the arrival of Star Wars comics in the Dark Horse digital store! At the start of the Dark Horse Star Wars Comics 20TH Anniversary panel today, news of digital Star Wars comics was delivered to a packed house of fans, media and industry professionals.

Now, fans are encouraged to head over to Digital.DarkHorse.com to download their favorite Star Wars titles today, with over 50 comics available for purchase! Fans can now download, the original Star Wars: Crimson Empire series, Marvel’s adaptation of Episode IV: A New Hope, The Clone Wars, Knights of the Old Republic, Legacy: War, Knight Errant, The Old Republic, Jedi: The Dark Side, and the top-selling Darth Vader and the Lost Command. Most single issues will be priced at the standard $1.99, with KOTOR #1 and Clone Wars #1 available for free download! Additionally, Crimson Empire #1, Knight Errant #1, and The Old Republic #1 will be just $.99!

Going forward, Dark Horse will release a mix of new and backlist titles weekly. Stay in the know on all of your favorite titles, and sign up for the Dark Horse Digital newsletter at Digital.DarkHorse.com today!

July 23, 2011
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Star Wars . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Lots of Comic-Con News

As the pop culture madness of San Diego Comic-Con starts winding down for another year, there’s far too much to talk about, but here’s a few interesting tidbits.

Apart from Captain America’s snazzy costume (the one he’ll wear in next year’s The Avengers film) 4 posters were on display, spotlight Cap, Iron Man, Black Widow and Hawkeye, all sporting slightly tweaked versions inspired by their comic counterparts as seen in The Ultimates.

Oni Press’ popular Western/ supernatural series from Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt is getting a 6 episode TV mini-series.

Solomon Grundy is The Penguin’s secret weapon,a nd Talia al Ghul appears in the Batman: Arkham City game.

MacGyver gets a comic (!) next year from Image.

Red Hulk gets up to mischief in the curiously titled Hulk of Arabia.

DC’s relaunch in September is not far away and they’ve released a whole bunch of new images, including 8 text-free pages from Justice League #1, pics from the Superman books and more (including The Flash’s fancy new costume and Mr. Terrific).

July 23, 2011
Categories: Comics, Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Comic-Con . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Gestalt’s Torn at CBR

Comic Book Resources has an interview with Andrew Constant, writer of Torn, an upcoming horror/ werewolf OGN from Perth publisher Gestalt. Check out some impressive preview pages from Nicola Scott (Secret Six) and Joh James there. Go Gestalt!

July 21, 2011
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Gestalt . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Meet John Carter

This just in from Marvel. At least they’re making the most of being owned by Disney, though hopefully this comic will be more successful than their Tron tie-in. If you like the classic heroism of Jon Carter and his worlds, you may also want to check out Dynamite’s prequel series.

Marvel & Disney Publishing Worldwide Announce JOHN CARTER: WORLD OF MARS

Official Comic Prequel to Upcoming Disney Film Arrives in October

Marvel Entertainment and Disney Publishing Worldwide are proud to announce John Carter: World of Mars, an all-new comic prequel to the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures feature film, John Carter, which will hit theatres on March 9, 2012. This October, John Carter: World of Mars #1 reveals the shocking events that transpire before the motion-picture story begins by showing fans just how John Carter, Princess Dejah Thoris and Tars Tarkas are set on the path that would bring them all together. Amidst this brutal thousand-year war, find out what decisions were made that let events escalate this far—and why. This blockbuster, four-issue, limited series comes straight from New York Times best-sellers Peter David (Dark Tower,X-Factor) and Luke Ross (Dark Tower, Captain America: First Vengeance), two of the most acclaimed talents in comics.

“We’re thrilled to bring fans their first look at the world of John Carter before the blockbuster film wows audiences next year,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel Editor In Chief. “It’s been a pleasure working with Disney, Peter and Luke to craft a powerful story that will appeal to both the legions of John Carter fans and those who are new to this exciting world.”

Director Andrew Stanton adds, “I am really thrilled to be collaborating with Disney & Marvel on this project and look forward to audiences exploring the world of John Carter via this exciting comic offering. I have wanted to see this property on the big screen since I was a young boy and hope that John Carter: World of Mars will excite and inspire fans of the series much like I was inspired many years ago.”

Before John Carter’s arrival on Mars, what events shaped the conflict that would change his destiny—and that of the universe—irrevocably? Find out this October as war, love and inescapable destiny collide in John Carter: World of Mars #1.

About the Movie:

From Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton and a screenplay by Stanton & Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon comes “John Carter”—a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). “John Carter” is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/JohnCarterMovie

JOHN CARTER: WORLD OF MARS #1 (of 4)

Written by PETER DAVID

Art by LUKE ROSS

Cover by ESAD RIBIC

Rated T+ …$3.99

ON SALE IN OCTOBER

Although the film stars two actors from X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this film looks moody, dreamy and very cool.

July 19, 2011
Categories: Comics, Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: sci-fi films . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Batman: Year One Trailer

Debuting at San Diego Comic-Con in a few days is DC’s latest animated film. They certainly have got a lot of mileage out of Batman. He’s been in most of their releases, but it just proves what a popular, and adaptable, character he is. The film looks like it’s done a great job of sticking to David Mazzuchelli’s original art style. If you have the Green Lantern: Emerald Knights animated anthology film, you’ll also be able to see a behind the scenes feature on Batman: Year One. It’s also great to see the 15 minute Catwoman short film included, although this may be the last time DC do this unfortunately. Details, (including the usual impressive array of bonus features) and trailer below.

LEGENDARY TALE COMES TO ANIMATED LIFE

FRANK MILLER’S ORIGIN STORY OF THE DARK KNIGHT IS

AN ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE

BATMAN: YEAR ONE Coming OCTOBER 18, 2011 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

Three-time Emmy Award Winner Bryan Cranston and Southland Star

Ben McKenzie Joined by Fanboy Faves Eliza Dushku and Katee Sackhoff in

Stellar Voice Cast; Available as Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack & DVD

RELEASE ALSO INCLUDES DC SHOWCASE SHORT, CATWOMAN

Comics legend Frank Miller’s classic retelling of Batman’s gritty, formative days makes its full-length animated debut in Batman: Year One, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives October 18, 2011 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Download. Order due date is September 13, 2011.

Batman: Year One is based on the landmark 1987 DC Comics titles from 12-time Eisner Award winner Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli. The film depicts young Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City in his first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante. The playboy billionaire chooses the guise of a giant bat to combat crime, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon (who is already battling corruption from inside the police department), inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a crooked political system that infests Gotham.

Primetime television stars Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ben McKenzie (Southland, The O.C.), Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) provide the core voices for Batman: Year One. Three-time Emmy® Award winner Cranston gives voice to young Jim Gordon, while McKenzie makes his animated voiceover debut as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Fanboy favorites Dushku and Sackhoff fill the roles of Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Detective Sarah Essen, respectively. Alex Rocco (The Godfather) is the voice of crime lord Carmine Falcone.

Animation master Bruce Timm is executive producer of Batman: Year One. Directors are Lauren Montgomery (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) and Sam Liu (All-Star Superman) from a script penned by Academy Award® nominee Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse).

“Batman: Year One offers fans and newcomers alike an animated perspective on one of the true benchmark works in Batman comics history,” said Hersin Magante, Warner Home Video Marketing Manager, Family &, Animation.. “Bruce Timm and the Warner Bros. Animation team have gone to great lengths to realize Frank Miller’s ground-breaking, influential vision. Batman: Year One stands tall as the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie.”

Batman: Year One Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has almost 3 hours of exciting content, including:

Feature film
Sneak Peek at Justice League: Doom, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie

DC Showcase Animated Original Short – “Catwoman”: This all-new entry to the growing canon of DC Universe animated shorts features the first first solo tale centered around Catwoman. The felonious feline’s adventure takes her through the seedy streets of Gotham City. Catwoman is voiced by Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Tru Calling).

Featurette –“Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots”: “The Dark Knight Returns” provided the denouement of Batman’s life. Frank Miller’s next seminal work would provide his near-mythic origin in “Batman: Year One.” This documentary uncovers the contemporary genius of Miller and the audience that was poised to appreciate the depths of his work.

Featurette –“Conversations with DC Comics”: The Batman creative team at DC Entertainment discusses the personal influence of “Batman: Year One” on their careers. Batman producer Michael Uslan leads the chat amongst well-known writers, editors and artists of the Batman lore, focusing their dialogue on the darker, realistic interpretation of Batman’s origins by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.

Audio Commentary with Alan Burnett, Sam Liu, Mike Carlin and Andrea Romano
“Batman: Year One, Chapter 1” Digital Comic Book
Two bonus episodes from “Batman: The Animated Series,” handpicked by Bruce Timm
Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
Digital copy on disc of the feature film compatible with iTunes and Windows

July 17, 2011
Categories: Cartoons, Comics, Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Batman, DC comics . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

New Looks, Same Characters

Comic-Con is only days away. I’ve been twice and it is awesome (but also expensive) and as the news on panels, exclusives and celebrities ramps up, so do the freebies, including the Souvenir Book, which features the second piece of art by Jim Lee of the new Justice League. Oddly enough, or maybe not actually, Wonder Woman has her pants back on, after originally having them, and then not. It seems even DC doesn’t know what her costume should look like. Poor woman.

If you are going to Comic-Con, these exclusives (of many available) may be of interest.

Next year’s Spider-Man reboot has had a bunch of cool pics released in the pages of the new issue of Entertainment Weekly. 15 in total in fact. See more here including mechanical web shooters (as it should be), Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spidey and Emma Stone as his first love (again, as it should be) Gwen Stacy.

Finally, there’s more pretty pictures at an Abduzeedo post on artist DC Miller and his excellent cartoon-ish designs on some classic characters seen in films like Star Wars, Watchmen, 300, The Dark Knight and more.

July 15, 2011
Categories: Comic Art, Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: DC comics, Marvel . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

It’s All About Planet of the Apes

It’s a good time to be a POTA fan, and next month will be even better. BOOM! Studios’ new Planet of the Apes comic has recently started, and next month sees the release of the first TPB collecting the series’ first four issues for only $10, which ties into the mythology of (and is set before) the original films. The same month, the fifth issue is released, for only $1 and is the start of a new story arc.

If you can’t wait until then, you might want to check out the just launched Apes webcomic, which updates every Wednesday and is written by the man behind BOOM!’s series, Daryl Gregory.

A new free five page RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES digital comic book story debuts on http://www.apescomics.com July 13th and each Wednesday afterwards until the final 10 page epic conclusion on August 3rd, two days before the film’s release!

It’s set before the newest film, which opens on August 5 and stars James Franco and Andy Serkis in another motion capture role.

Speaking of the film, here’s the latest trailer.

Finally, Archaia are publishing their first illustrated novel on July 25. It’s called Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes and is described thusly:

After his spacecraft smashes into the dead sea of an alien planet, a man is separated from his fellow astronauts when a raiding party of intelligent apes attacks them. Captured, he finds himself a prisoner in a world turned upside down, with apes as the rulers and man in its zoos. His only hope is to communicate with a couple of chimpanzee scientists who just might be open-minded and compassionate enough to be sympathetic to his cause. But the man named John Landon will discover that intelligent minds, be they ape or man, all fear the unknown, and his destiny is not to become part of this new world, but instead to find himself under the knife of a simian brain surgeon on the PLANET OF THE APES.

Written by Andrew E.C. Gaska and featuring 30 full colour paintings and 19 illustrations by some great artists and a cover by Jim Steranko, it’s set within the events of the original 1968 film.

July 13, 2011
Categories: Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Boom Studios . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Amazing Spider-Man #667 Variant

Cool, and rare, variant cover below from one of the best comics cover artists around.

Spider-Island Gets Even Bigger With A Stunning Gabrielle Dell’Otto Variant for AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #667!

Kick off Spider-Island in style, with an all-new, ultra rare variant cover (1 for 100) by superstar artist Gabrielle Dell’otto! This summer, Peter Parker comes to the startling realization that he’s only one of several million people with spider-powers! As the infestation becomes an epidemic, can Spider-Man with the help of Earth’s Mightiest, find a cure? Find out as the biggest Spider-Man event of the year turns it up a notch with Amazing Spider-Man #667 Dell’Otto Variant!

Retailers should check the Marvel Mailer for information about this variant cover as well as a number of deep discounts on all issues of Spider-Island including tie-ins! No retailer will want to be unprepared for the Spider-Man event of the year!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #667 DELL’OTTO VARIANT (MAY118321)

Written by DAN SLOTT

Art & Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

Variant Cover by GABRIELLE DELL’OTTO

Rated A…$3.99

FOC – 7/18/11, ON-SALE – 8/10/11

July 11, 2011
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: Marvel . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Elric: The Balance Lost

I quite enjoyed the Elric #0 issue BOOM! offered during this year’s Free Comic Book Day, and I’m looking forward to this official kick-off of the new series too. Yes, what follows is a rather lengthy press release, but the point it raises of BOOM! premiering digital releases is a good one, and people tend to forget that. I remember when North Wind #1 debuted on MySpace and it being a pretty controversial move at the time. Now, however, everyone’s getting on the digital bandwagon, including The Big Two (Marvel and DC) and realising its potential.

BOOM! STUDIOS DEBUTS ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST AS DAY-AND-DATE RELEASE

READ THE ELRIC FREE ONLINE PRELUDE AT WWW.ELRICCOMIC.COM

BUY ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST #1 IN PRINT OR DIGITALLY TODAY

THE PIONEERS OF “DAY-AND-DATE” KEEP LEADING THE FIELD

Today BOOM! Studios launches their latest epic series ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST #1 with a historic day-and-date release of print and digital, making this new series available through your local comic shop and online exclusively through the BOOM! Studios Comics App and the Comics by comiXology App at the same time! Paired with this epic promotion, BOOM! also gives comic fans a chance to try out ELRIC absolutely free through their web browser with the ELRIC FREE ONLINE PRELUDE available at www.elriccomic.com. That’s right! Three ways to try the all-new epic series ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST written byNew York Times bestselling author Chris Roberson (iZOMBIE, SUPERMAN) and drawn by white-hot artist Francesco Biagini (DINGO) based on Michael Moorcock’s seminal fantasy creation. Pick up or download your copy today!

BOOM! Studios pioneered day-and-date releases in the comic industry back in January of 2008 with the debut of the NORTH WIND series and continued this innovative promotion with HEXED a year later. With ELRIC, BOOM! enters its third year as the cutting-edge leader of “day-and-date” release.

“We were the first to do day-and-date back in 2008 and now we’re doing it again with Elric! We’re pumped to offer ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST in both print and digital on the same day partnered with a new website, www.elriccomic.com, that hosts an original 10-page story. If you love Elric or are new to the character, the website will introduce you to the series and leads directly into the new issue for sale in print or digital!” says BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Chris Roberson and Francesco Biagini take Michael Moorcock’s seminal fantasy character to the next level with such an epic scope from the very first page that it’ll be hard to put down!”

“Jumping aboard an all-new comic series has never been this easy!” says BOOM! Studios Marketing & Sales Director Chip Mosher. “With so many ways to check out ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST, you’d be crazy to not take advantage of these great promotions. And be sure to let your friends know that they too can check out the exciting prelude to the ELRIC series, absolutely free at www.elriccomic.com!”

“With ELRIC, we’re not only focusing on print and mobile devices exclusively, but getting out onto internet browsers that billions of people use every day,” says Marketing & Sales Director Chip Mosher. “While there are only 25 million iPads out in the marketplace, there are billions of potential readers that have the ability to find comic books through their internet browsers. With our ELRIC microsite at www.elriccomic.com we’ve not only included a complete prelude for free, but information on how and where to buy our comics both in print and digital — linking to both print, mobile vendors, and the lesser-known web-based option where you can buy and read through the browser as well.”

Comic fans, be sure to visit your local comic shop today to pick up your copy of ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST #1. Not sure where there’s a comic shop near you? Visit http://www.elriccomic.com/local-comic-shop to find out! And for all you folks that love digital comics, you can download ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST #1 from the BOOM! Studios Comics App or Comics by comiXology App today!

Created by Michael Moorcock, Elric has thrilled comic fans for more than 40 years beginning with an appearance in Marvel Comics’ CONAN THE BARBARIAN #15 in 1972. Neil Gaiman called Michael Moorcock “my model for what a writer was” while Warren Ellis said he is one of the “eight core sites in my creative genome” — now, the godfather of the Multiverse concept brings one of the most critically acclaimed and most recognizable figures in the history of fantasy fiction back to sequential art with BOOM! Studios’ ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST!

And if you’ve never heard of ELRIC, you’re in luck! BOOM! Studios is offering the ELRIC FREE ONLINE PRELUDE for anyone to read online at www.elriccomic.com! Showcasing an original complete 10-page story not found in the first issue, along with artist bios and a brief history of Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion ELRIC!

ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST features the return of Michael Moorcock’s legendary Multiverse, featuring some of the greatest fantasy characters of all time: Elric of Melniboné, Corum of the Scarlet Robe, and Dorian Hawkmoon in a brand-new story that will test the courage of the Eternal Champion! In this new series, the workings of Fate are being tampered with across the Multiverse, upsetting the Cosmic Balance. Elric of Melniboné must preserve the Balance and save the entire Multiverse from ruin. But no sooner has his journey begun than he is waylaid by dark forces and lost on the Moonbeam Roads. Elric finds himself stranded on a world where Chaos holds sway and where change is the only constant. Heroes are forced into action far and wide, but will they fight on the side of Law or Chaos?

With both the BOOM! Studios Comics App on the iOS platform and the Comics by comiXology App on iOS and Android devices, you can buy ELRIC on either your iPhone, iPad or Android device and enjoy it on that device. When you buy a comic on one of these mobile platforms, you can also enjoy reading the comic through the comics.comixology.com website. If you do not own a mobile device and want to read the comic digitally, all you have to do is go to comics.comixology.com to buy ELRIC to read on your PC or Mac through your browser. Utilizing www.elriccomic.com as an introduction and a portal gives comic book readers an easy way to enjoy the free prelude, then buy the first issue in print at their local comic shop, on their mobile device or on their browser.

In late August, comic book retailers everywhere will be able to participate in the sales of BOOM! Studios digital comics as BOOM! Studios and comiXology roll out retailer digital store fronts.

ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST #1 debuts in print and digitally today, July 6, 2011, and is written by Chris Roberson (iZOMBIE, SUPERMAN) and drawn by Francesco Biagini (DINGO) and includes an afterword by Neil Gaiman. This title ships with A & B covers in a 50/50 split with art by Francesco Mattina and Francesco Biagini respectively, as well as a 1-in-10 incentive cover by Dennis Calero and a 1-in-25 incentive cover by Tim Bradstreet. This premiere issue can be purchased at your local comic shop, through the BOOM! Studios Comics App, Comics by comiXology App and the web atcomics.comixology.com for $3.99. ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST #1 carries a Diamond Code of MAY110918.

July 6, 2011
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Boom Studios . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

27 Aliens

Image Comics imprint Shadowline released 2 new upcoming series today. The killer premise of 27 (a conspiracy asking why so many famous musicians die at 27) gets collected, and a sequel, and a teaser image annoucning an October releasing project, presumably called Xenoholics.

27: SECOND SET ROCKS

Soule and Podesta Return To the Stage With 27 Backup Story & Second Miniseries

Image Comics and Shadowline recently announced that 27, the first story arc of the sell out miniseries by writer Charles Soule (Strongman) and artist Renzo Podesta, will be followed by a second story arc. The second arc, 27: SECOND SET, will include more mysteries of rock and roll history, more of those talented and famous musicians that become legend, and more untimely deaths!

27: FIRST SET has wrapped up and is already on sale. This first collection includes issues 1-4 as well as a new 12-page backup story called “Crossroad Blues.”

“We’re thrilled to bring readers more of this excellent comic,” said Shadowline Publisher and Image founder Jim Valentino. “Everything about this book, from Scott Forbe’s gorgeous covers, Renzo Podesta’s edgy interior art, and Charles Soule’s dark twists about the mysteries of rock and roll legend spells great storytelling. This book has it all!”

Not only does the first volume include new material, but as a show of appreciation to fans, Charles Soule hid a puzzle contest within the pages of the first miniseries story arc. The first person to solve the puzzle will win a plane ticket to this year’s San Diego Comic Con!

“While I know a ton of people have been working on it, I may have made it too tricky, because no one has actually solved the puzzle yet!” explained Soule. “So, I decided to change up the rules just a bit – after all, I do want someone to win. I put the answer to the puzzle into the 27: FIRST SET trade – it’s right there in the back, in plain English. The solution involves doing a certain thing, and anyone who picks up the trade and does that thing within a week after the book hits shelves will be entered into a drawing for the plane ticket. It’s open to everyone, and I hope plenty of people give it a shot!”

27: FIRST SET TP (APR110417), a 136-page Golden Age size full color trade paperback, is on sale now for $16.99. 27: SECOND SET #1 (JUL110437), a 32 page full color comic book for $3.99, is available to order in the July edition of the Diamond Previews catalog, and goes on sale in September. For more information about Charles Soule, the 27 series, and the puzzle contest, visit http://charlessoule.wordpress.com or follow him on Twitter @charlessoule.

July 5, 2011
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Image Comics . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Malinky Robot In August

Official press release below about Sonny Liew’s pretty anthology set for an August release from Image Comics.

GRIME AND WONDER ON THE STREETS OF MALINKY ROBOT

Image Comics Collects Sonny Liew’s Inspired Short Stories

The captivating world and quirky characters detailed by award-winning artist Sonny Liew’s (LIQUID CITY VOL. 1 and 2, My Faith in Frankie, Wonderland, Sense and Sensibility) loose and emotive watercolor-drenched pencil work are set to charm readers in August, with the release of MALINKY ROBOT: COLLECTED STORIES AND OTHER BITS from Image Comics.

A recipient of the Xeric Award and Best Science Fiction Comic Album award at the Utopiales International SF Festival, MALINKY ROBOT blends dystopic sci-fi and indie sensibilities into a uniquely oddball world, where street urchins Atari and Oliver scrounge, steal bicycles and watch Giant Robot movies.

Liew says, “The stories of MALINKY ROBOT have always been the ones that I feel most personally connected with, from their rhythms and structure, to the character and architectural designs. It’s very exciting to see them collected together in this book.”

MALINKY ROBOT not only includes short stories like “Stinky Fish Blues” and “Karakuri” from the LIQUID CITY and Flight anthologies, but also a gallery of Liew’s concept and sketch art, along with pinups by incredible artists such as Mike Allred, Roger Langridge and Skottie Young. Writer Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Secret Six, Deadpool, Wonder Woman) described the collection as “[a] book so full of wonders and treasures it feels like you should need a pirate’s map to find it. A stunningly gorgeous mix of urban fantasy and charming adventure that I plan to read until the spine falls off.”

MALINKY ROBOT: COLLECTED STORIES AND OTHER BITS TP (JUN110503), a 128-page full color collection of short sequential art stories retailing for $16.99, will be available at a comic store near you on August 3, 2011. It is available for pre-orders from Diamond Comics, and from retailers such as Amazon. For more information, please visit www.malinkyrobot.com.

July 2, 2011
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: Image Comics . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Extra Sequential Podcast #47-Swamp Thing

50 mins. We go green and delve into the murky depths of DC’s classic monster/ hero Swamp Thing. Also leaping Superman, ostracizing Martians and non-human love.

LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE OR ON ITUNES

Email us at kris(at)extrasequential(dot)com

0:56 NEWS

Iron Man anime clip

DC’s Relaunch video

Comic-Con protest against DC Relaunch

New Justice League

12:16 THEME-SWAMP THING

Our look at Swamp Thing, including his great cartoon theme song, film appearances, superhero cross-overs, and much-loved reinvention from writer Alan Moore.