Darth Pope and Santa Man

So lots of people are excited about World Youth Day in Sydney at the moment. I suppose it’s a good thing. Lots of young people gathered in peace and joy gawking as the Pope Mobile passes them by. But this has got to be the highlight of the event. A friend of mine visited China recently. At the Great Wall, he could hear a faint noise. Upon closer inspection he saw a bunch of Christians singing – in one of the most remote places on the planet. I wittily remarked that Star Wars fans are like charismatic Christians – you can find them anywhere. Looks like I was right. Check out the guy on the end. He could be the Anti-Pope. Put on your best Emperor voice and repeat with me – “Rise, Lord Vader.”

While we’re on the topic of old men in colourful cloaks – do you reckon Father Christmas could be a mutant? The evidence is overwhelming. Just read this summary from a wonderful discussion on the Comic Book Resources X-Men forum, with a nice reply from Marvel editor Nick Lowe. This is why I love being a fanboy. The depth of research is certainly impressive and the argument is an interesting one. What better way to celebrate Christmas in July than to have Marvel declare that the generous bearded one is a mutant! I mean, he wears a colourful costume, has a nifty Santa Mobile (or sleigh) a multitude of side-kicks (elves) and is able to travel at tremendous speeds while secretly helping those in need. Plus, he’s mysterious. Now all he needs is a tragic origin and a top notch arch enemy and he can be fighting alongside Wolvie in no time.

We’ve been discussing this in the X-Forums of CBR. There have been two references that Santa Claus is a mutant. The first, which was dismissed, was in the “Generation X: Holiday Special” #1 where Jubilee sees St. Nick and just wonders if he is, in fact, a mutant. We dismissed that as, “Well, Jubilee is a moron.”

However, in the “Marvel Holiday Special” of 1991, there is a story apparently written in continuity as right after “Uncanny X-Men” #97 and before the Christmas issue of “Uncanny X-Men” #98, where Cerebro detects a new highly powered mutant and Xavier sends out Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Storm, Banshee, and Colossus to try and recruit the person. Simultaneously, the Brotherhood (Toad, Mastermind, Blob and Unus the Untouchable) sense the mutant as well, and both groups go and do battle with the prize being this new mutant as a member of their team.

Said powerful mutant is revealed to be a reality-warping mutant…who also happens to be Santa Claus. At the end of the battle, Santa explains that Christmas isn’t a time to be worried about recruiting mutants, and uses his reality-warping powers to turn the naughty Brotherhood into action figures and teleports the X-Men to a location where they were supposed to meet Cyclops and Phoenix to go shopping.

Now, I ask you about this in hope that it will be rendered “not canon,” because if it is…

Santa Claus is not listed as one of the 198. Therefore, he lost his powers on M-Day due to the Scarlet Witch’s magic. And if he lost his powers, well…Wanda Maximoff killed Christmas in Marvel-616. And I don’t think that’s an act she’ll ever be redeemed of.

Hopefully, you can give us a straight answer to end this hilarious debate…we’re running out of jokes to tell about it in the thread.

NL: We’ve been dreading the asking of this question. Now, please pledge that you’ll keep the answer of this confined to the CBR Boards. You make very good points, WorstBlogEver. But there’s a book that takes a lot of initiative when avenging things that has been dropping hints of another mutant that is “off the books.” I can’t rule out that Mutant Zero and Santa Claus aren’t two different people.

July 17, 2008
Categories: Comics . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Nerd Paradise

Nerds are smart. Smart people can buy expensive things. Nerds can therefore buy expensive things, right? Absolutely. The beauty of today’s hi-tech pop culture saturated world is that when you’ve made it you can customize any part of your life you like. If you want a Han Solo frozen in carbonite table – you can have it. How about a deluxe home theatre that resembles the awesomeness that is the Batcave? It’s yours.

So you like Star Trek hey? Well invite your Klingon mates over and let them gawk at this bad boy and wonder how Kirk managed to become shirtless with such regularity.

For a sneak at 8 more indulgent fantasies come to life, go here. There’s also themes for Indiana Jones, Titanic, the Death Star and more.

For those of us who can not afford such extravagance, maybe this would be a more cost effective option – a to-scale R2-D2 projector. It comes with an iPod dock, a Millennium Falcon remote control and buckets of cool. It also makes all the official sounds and can roll around the room, sensing when it’s near any dangerous objects, like thieving Jawas or coffee tables. If you’re passionate enough, this little gadget is available now.

You can also get a smaller web-cam version, with a lightsabre remote. See the video below to witness all its glory. My words can not do it justice.

July 16, 2008
Categories: Comics, Movies . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

BOOM! Freebies

Relatively new publisher, BOOM! Studios have made a mark on the comics biz by offering a wide range of genres in a fairly short amount of time, and also by appointing High Priest of Fanboys, writer Mark Waid as EIC. High Rollers is one of their latest series, and is written by renowned novelist Gary Phillips. In this first of a four part series, Gary talks about his upbringing, his long love of reading and the basis of the new crime mini. I must say High Rollers certainly makes an impression in the first few pages with a brutal, yet strangely noble death, and seeing gangsters dressed up in suits while discussing business in a boardroom is a fine idea. If you’re a fan of Phillips, or stories where everyone has a gun and a funky nick-name, then this series is for you. If you don’t like either of those things, but do like large men with deep voices talking about “the streets,” then watch the video.

If that whet your appetite, then check out the rest of BOOM!’s vids here.

You still want more? Well, BOOM! have also just started their new free comics enterprise on-line. They will be releasing a page a day from 6 different series, such as the humourous Hero Squared, action packed 2 Guns and the horror of Cthulhu Tales. Something for everyone and a good way to see what takes your fancy. This is good news for us fans and is a move becoming increasingly common. It seems to work for both sides. BOOM! reported a sell out on North Wind #1, the first issue of which was released free on-line at the same time as its shop release date. It necessitated a second printing, while there was a 30% increase in sales from issue #3 – #4. Good news all round really.

Lastly, there’s now a text commentary for BOOM!’s recently released Station #1, if murder on an international space station is your thing. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s written by TV writer Johanna Stokes and is a great insight into her inspiration and storytelling craft. Her explanation about that creepy two-page murder spread makes it even more frightening.

July 15, 2008
Categories: Comics . Tags: , , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Mice Templar #5 Review

I’ve been following this series since it began. It doesn’t have the traits of my usual picks, ie, no spandex, or space ships, or surprising resurrections. It doesn’t even have any secret identities! But what Mice Templar does offer is great story telling, and that’s enough to make it stand out from the superheroes crowding the racks.

Writer Bryan J.L Glass (Magician: Apprentice) and artist Mike Avon Oeming (Powers) are crafting this series in to the next great epic in sequential art. I’d compare it to Lord of the Rings since it deals with a dirty fantasy world rich in textured history, but it can also win favour with the Narnia crowd in the way it wraps deceptively cute anthropomorphic adventures in a cloak of adult themes. It would undoubtedly be a more engrossing experience reading the complete series, once finished, in collected form, but thankfully each issue has a handy reminder of what’s come before to refresh the memory. Since this is a bi-monthly series, this addition is particularly welcome and the casual reader should find enough with any issue to be hooked immediately, and the handy MT web-site will also fill you in on all you need to know.

The story told thus far concerns Karic, a young mouse who is rising up to become the next Templar, a long lost group of holy warriors who destroyed themselves long ago. After Karic’s village was raided and his family lost, he managed to rescue and befriend that old fantasy favourite-the mentor, and his rise to glory and greatness continues unabated. Actually, that’s not entirely true, which is what makes this series so exciting. There is always a sense of dread when reading Mice Templar, as betrayals and deaths and bloody battles drag the story to it’s unknown conclusion. Rats and owls and bats all seem horrendously fierce in a world where your best weapon is a lack of trust and a quick pair of legs. Karic’s earnest desire to fulfill the Fish Gods prophecy for him leads him to meet other Templars, such as Pilot (whom he rescues) and the bitter Cassius. Each issue ends on a cliff hanger as every rousing tale should and this one is no different, in which Karic must question his motivations thus far. Is his hope and admiration for the Templars a deserved one, or is he just way too naive and in over his head?

With rats tormenting Karic’s captive family, together with danger and disappointment wherever he turns it appears Karic has a hard road ahead, but it’s certainly a joy to watch him walk it. Like the young legend-in-training, we too never know what’s around the corner.
It’s also a joy to look at, as these preview pages attest. Oeming’s artwork never fails to delight and here resembles Mike (Hellboy) Mignola in his use of hard edges and prominent use of shadows, but with a more versatile approach to bold layouts. His eye for page design is frequently inventive and matches the varying pace of the story’s rhythm. Wil Quintana’s colours can not be ignored either. From sunlight pouring in to caves, to moonlit battles and cities illuminated by torches, it’s a luscious book to behold. Thanks to these two artists every page looks vibrantly different and demands more than just a cursory look. Really, this is what good, or rather, great comics are all about – engrossing characters risking it all who take readers with them on a dangerous journey. I’m not exactly sure where the road will end, but, like driving in the dark with a mumbling hitchhiker, it’s scary and uncertain but definitely entertaining.

July 14, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, Reviews . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

More of Tori & More from Image

My third Tori Amos post! I promise no more after this. Probably. Here’s the CSN Comic Book Tattoo I mentioned yesterday for your reading pleasure. It’s a lengthy interview and a big file (6mb). It is hastily scanned and I’ve tried my darndest to flip the pages, but to paraphrase Homer, if something is hard work, it’s not worth doing!

Enjoy, and also for those of you that don’t like reading, there’s also some pictures from Comic Book Tattoo publisher, Image Comics, such as Perhapanauts #3 and the latest issue of the always fun to read Mice Templar (a review of which will be coming soon). There’s also looks at Frank Frazetta’s Swamp Demon, Joe Casey’s Charlatan Ball and Screamland.

July 14, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Marvel Boss Joe Q Talks To You

A new feature of the awesome MySpace Comic Books page is the video blog from Marvel EIC, Joe Quesada, in which he answers fans questions. There are also a few preview pages from Leinil Francis Yu’s great artwork from August 13’s Secret Invasion #5, the current series rocking the Marvel Universe that has everyone wondering who can be trusted.

On an unrelated note, the new Batman: Gotham Knight DVD which has had a mixed reception has at least one thing in its favour; this great looking cover which graces the Japanese 2 disc version. It’s certainly a lot more enticing than the generic cover the rest of the world was offered.

And for your general gawking pleasure, below that are some pages from Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane,(Vol. 2) the all-ages title from writer Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) and artist Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts). Also included is the alternate cover by Adrian Alphono. The first issue of the 5 ish mini is out on August 6.

Aww…so cute! This will be a great series for kids who like Spidey, but it is aimed at teenagers who like humour and romance more than superheroes duking it out with each other while spouting zany pop culture references.

As you can see by these pics, this series brings the regulars back to their school days, with all the lost loves and confusion that comes with it.

Volume 1 of this series will be available in collected form from August 30 and is written by Sean McKeever with art by Takeshi Miyazawa.


July 13, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, Movies . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Tony’s New Covers & Tori’s New Blog

Tony Stark’s new series, Invincible Iron Man #3, from writer Matt Fraction and artist Salvador Larocca has sold out. So Marvel have provided three new covers for the second printing of that issue, which is on sale now.

All three new covers are supplied by regular artist Larocca and represent a different stage in Tony Stark’s life.

Shellhead has had more costume changes than a fashion show. Here’s a look at three classics.

Tori Amos’ Comic Book Tattoo, a massive 480 page anthology book is getting a lot of buzz these days.

The tome from Image Comics is a collection of well-known and indie writers and artists who are using some of Tori’s songs as jumping off points for their own unique tales.

It’s an interesting cross-over between the two worlds of music and comics. There is a nice piece on the beginnings of the project and an interview with Tori herself and spearhead of the project, editor Rantz Hoseley in the latest issue of CSN (a pamphlet/mag which should be available for free at your local comic shop). A new blog has also been launched detailing the creative process and excerpts from scripts and artwork. For those interested in the project or just the working of a comic creator’s mind, this may be an invaluable resource.

July 13, 2008
Categories: Comics . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Batman: Gotham Knight

Similar to what The Animatrix DVD was to the Matrix films, Gotham Knight is a direct-to-DVD animated anthology tying into the recent Batman films. As reported on Wednesday, this film is the latest after Superman and Justice League DVDs, with Wonder Woman’s turn coming next year. Containing six short films from different Japanese animation studios and American writers, they each look very different from one another. The only similarity between all six tales is Batman’s voice; that of Kevin Conroy. Initially it is jarring to hear it coming from an animated Batman that doesn’t resemble the Batman: The Animated Series version from the mid 1990s, but I eventually warmed to it.

The first vignette, “Have I Got A Tale For You,” is not entirely original for Bat fans. It presents a group of kids recounting their run-ins with the mysterious Batman, and shows how they view him differently – as a soldier of smoke, a monster and a robot. A similar episode was seen in Batman: TAS, but it’s a good introduction and shows how Batman has lasted through the decades. He’s simply a versatile character. He can be the gothic creature, or the street-level detective, or the traditional superhero or the man with all the sci-fi gadgetry. But it’s all still Batman, just different parts of the same whole.

“Crossfire” is written by comics scribe Greg Rucka and continues what he started with the comics title, Gotham Central – revealing how the Gotham police see the Dark Knight. He uses characters from the series that he knows well, namely detectives Crispus Allen, and Renee Montoya (though for some reason she has been renamed Anna here) “Field Test” is an interesting take on Batman’s use of, rather than reliance on, all his “wonderful toys.” Lucius Fox gives Bruce Wayne some hardware that makes him a lot more powerful, but essentially waters down the essence of who Batman is. “In Darkness Dwells” written by Batman Begins co-writer David Goyer Scarecrow shows up (in a much better costume than his Batman Begins version) as Bats travels to the sewers and briefly encounters classic comics villain Killer Croc. Comics writer Brian Azzarello creates “Working Through Pain” which picks up straight after “Darkness” as Bats struggles to maintain consciousness as he traipses through the sewers, bleeding as he does so. He reflects on training he received while in India as a young man and learns the power of mind over matter.

Finally, and probably the best of the bunch, “Deadshot” which introduces another great comics bad guy. It offers a great story and well directed action and is written by Alan Burnett who has written comics and episodes of Batman: TAS. There are two versions of the DVD available. The standard one-discer has an audio commentary, a cute Lego Batman video game trailer and a 10 minute look at next year’s Wonder Woman film. However you may have trouble accessing them as separate features and they may only appear after the end-credits. A big blundre from Wraner Bros. The two-discer contains those features, four episodes of Batman: TAS with intros by Burnett, a doco on Batman creator Bob Kane and also one on Batman’s rogues gallery. I’ll certainly check this version out. Each of the six tales don’t really tie into one another, and Alfred sounds more like a refined gent (a la TAS) rather than Micahel Caine’s Cockney speak. The artistic style is different in each take, but they still all resemble the dark detective that we all know and love. In some instances Bruce Wayne looks far too young but the Japanese artists have restrained themselves well. Yes, these versions may not be the Batman that everyone expects, but neither are they too jarring. The soundtrack throughout is also excellent, though I’m still fond of Danny Elfman’s score from the Tim Burton films and Shirley Walker’s take from TAS. Music makes the hero. There’s nothing in this collection to link it to Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, as has been promoted, but it more closely resembles them than it does the current state of the comics. A pleasant enough, though short, glimpse at Batman’s life for those who feel prompted by all The Dark Knight hype. Oh, and the backgrounds are gorgeous, which can’t be said about the DVD cover. With the hype The Dark Knight has been receiving, this package deserves better. There has been no mainstream promotion and to top all the other problems off, there is no Japanese audio dub on the Blu-Ray version, in spite of the cover saying there is. WB’s marketing team have dropped the ball I’m afraid. It is the most adult and bloody animated Batman ever seen, but you could still be more satisfied by spending your money on any number of comic collections, such as The Long Halloween, KnightFall, Hush, The Dark Knight Returns or any number of recent paper escapades.

July 11, 2008
Categories: Cartoons, Comics, Movies, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

It’s All About Superman

The first film I saw? Superman: The Movie. My first (and only) tattoo? Superman’s symbol. The pattern on the pyjamas I’m wearing right now? One guess. Yeah, I love Supes, and so do a bunch of other people all over the world. So here’s a tide of recent news all about the original and the best.

First up, is a great collection of new Superman costumes from fans across the globe. None of these will appear in the comics, but it’s just a bunch of artists re-designing Superman’s classic look as part of a competition on the always fun to look at Project Rooftop site. Comics writer Mark Waid and the staff at PR offer their comments for the numerous finalists. Each one is unique and unexpected. I can’t pick just one. While you’re there you can also check out past costume upgrades for other characters such as Robin, Wonder Woman, Iron Man and more. You could lose yourself at Project Rooftop and either become very jealous or very inspired.

Secondly, the savvy readers of the tremendous film mag, Empire have voted Big Blue the No. 1 superhero of all time. They have compiled a well-researched list of the 50 greatest comic book characters, but if you don’t want to read that many, counting down from no. 5. we have Spider-Man, Wolverine, John Constantine (from Hellblazer and the Keanu Reeves film, Constantine), Batman and Kal-El himself. The list is a good guide to a cavalcade of various characters with great art, background and handy facts about each one. A nice way to familiarise yourself with some perhaps unfamiliar heroes, or anti-heroes.

Finally, you can see actual game play from November’s Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe fighting game right here. With interesting character choices and some great visuals, Midway looks like they may have a winner on their hands.

July 10, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Games, New To Comics? . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Wonder Woman – Animated!

Here’s your first look at the Amazon herself. Keri Russell (MI:3) has been cast as the voice of Diana Prince and her lasso wielding alter ego, while Nathan Fillion (Firefly) is providing voice duties for pilot Steve Trevor, who crash lands on the Amazon’s hidden island. Lucky fella. Rosario Dawson plays rival Artemis (WW’s one-time replacement in the comics), Virginia Madsen is WW’s mum, Queen Hippolyta and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2’s Doctor Octopus) plays Ares, the god of war and all round bad dude. This follows DC Comics other direct-to-DVD features, Superman/Doomsday (which recounted the awesome Death of Superman tale in a more simplified manner), the 1940’s inspired Justice League: New Frontier and the just released Dark Knight film tie-in, Batman: Gotham Knight, by a unique handful of both Japanese and American creators.

Each of these films has a very different artistic style and each one is a great introduction to the sprawling cast of characters that make up the DC Universe. Each DVD also has its own handy documentary, and interviews with the writers and artists to give you a heads up about these characters. We don’t know much about this newest film, but before it is released in February of next year, I’m sure we’ll slowly find out more.

July 9, 2008
Categories: Comics, Movies, New To Comics? . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Hulk Jr. & Wolverine Jr.

Well, his actual name is Skaar, but he is certainly Hulk’s son. He is all grown up (which happened abnormally quickly) and is living on the prehistoric planet Sakaar, which a secret group of superheroes sent the Hulk to. Out of mind, out of sight was their plan. However, Hulk’s ship landed not on a lush planet, but a desolate one, where the Hulk became gladiator, king, father – in that order. He returned to earth to wreak havoc on those that flung him far, far away, then “died,” but his alter ego, Bruce Banner is still around (as a prisoner of S.H.I.E.L.D) The whole tale can be read in the Planet Hulk and World War Hulk collections.

They are well worth a read if you want to see what the Hulk is up to besides pining for Betty and running and growling, as seen in the recent film. Writer Greg Pak has had a lot to do with The Incredible Hulk series (now The Incredible Hercules) and WWH, and is primed to tell the tale of Hulk’s barbaric offspring and his destiny in a primitive, war loving land. Artist Ron Garney does a great job with the pencils as always, as you can see from these preview pages.

There is also a backup tale which lets you in on a few secrets regarding Skaar’s history, to get you up to speed.   Skaar: Son of Hulk # 1 may be hard to get a hold of, but #2 should be available from your local comics shop right now.

The Hulk’s not the only one with a son running around in the Marvel Universe though. Another popular cinematic hero has one too – good ol’ Wolvie. That’s right, the X-Men’s surliest member also has an even surlier son. Daken is the child of Wolvie and Itsu, his (now deceased) Japanese wife from many years ago. He’s basically a contract killer, was born in 1946, raised in Japan, and hates his father. Kids these days, huh? This month is also a great time to catch up on Daken’s origin too, in Wolverine: Origins #27, which is out July 30. It’s written by Daniel Way, with art by Stephen Segovia. Look for the cover with two men yelling at each other with their claws out.

July 9, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, New To Comics? . Tags: , , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Josh Medors Benefit Book

BOOM! Studios will be unveiling an anthology book, called, Pulp Tales, to aid comic artist Josh Medors in his battle with recently diagnosed cancer. These types of books are not uncommon, and it’s always great to see the publishers, creators, retailers and fans rally around to help one of their own. The full colour, 24 pager will be available with two different covers, one for $3.99 and one for $9.99, for those who want to donate a little more. It’s a unique and meaningful way to not only feed your comics habit, but also help Josh and his family during this tough time. Details (and groovy artwork) below, straight from BOOM! Looks like some great pulpy tales to be found. For those going to San Diego Comic-Con (like me!) you can be one of the first to pick up a copy there, from BOOM!’s booth (no.2543). Here are some of the strange stories you can look forward to….

Steve Niles and Sarah Wilkinson contribute LIMBO’S ASSASSIN, a prose story written by Niles, featuring art by Wilkinson. In this macabre tale of crime and punishment, a hired killer comes face-to-face with his victims and finds that perhaps he wasn’t as evil as he thought he was.

B. Clay Moore and Seth Peck contribute the debut of BLUEJACKET, illustrated by Chris Samnee. Former 1930s crimefighter-now-corporate-mogul Bluejacket and his supporting crew, the Men of Adventure, tangle with an Aztec were-jaguar. But he’s not half as bad as Bluejacket’s board of directors!

Created by Josh Fialkov and Andy B, NEWT LAWMAN AND THE SECRETS OF THE VALLEY is the story of the rootin’ist, tootin’ist cowboy in all of the Southwest, Newt Lawman, who’s found himself and his Indian pal Running Bear in a heap of trouble. They must square off against the protectors of the Golden Ox or the evil Hayes Rutherford will kill Newt’s ladylove, Maggie Mae!

THE CRESCENT FLAME!, written by Kody Chamberlain, focuses on a down-on-his-luck would-be photojournalist who may very well have snapped the photo that makes his career. That is, until the subject of the photo, the mysterious Crescent Flame, shows up with an alternate proposition.

Tony Fleecs’ CRASH WINTERS: PALOOKA P.I. features one-time champion brawler Marion (Crash) Winters, who has set up shop as Los Angeles’ punchiest gumshoe. When his movie-star client takes a dive off the roof of her hotel, will Crash be able to wrap her case up? Or will he once again find himself down for the count?

“Comics are tricky when it comes to real issues like cancer,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Mark Waid. “This is an industry that deals with men and women who are larger than life, who by all rights could cure cancer in an afternoon. But those heroes can’t do that, even in a world of limitless possibility – they are powerless because we are. Using PULP TALES to raise money for Josh Medors proves just how powerful comics and their fans can be in the face of adversity, and the important thing here is showing Josh and his family how true that is.”

So there you have it. For those of you who won’t be at Comic-Con, the book will be available, from your friendly neighbourhood comic shop sometime in September, but you are able to order it now.

July 8, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

delirious? Split Up

Sad news indeed. delirious? are one of the biggest Christian bands of the last decade, (and yes, the question mark is part of their name) They really re-invented what that term actually means. With songs you can worship to in church and songs you can shout out your car window, driving on a sunny day, they are a very anointed group of English lads. With I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever and History Maker they ushered in a new style of church music, but still managed to get mainstream radio-play at the same time. The ultimate cross-over band, though they were never really aiming for such. Just five humble guys serving God, who were amazed at the heights God took them to, which included touring with Matchbox Twenty and Bon Jovi. If you’ve never heard their sounds, most people make the U2/Coldplay comparison, which is probably the best one to make. I was blessed enough to see their first live show in Perth, but missed out on their second. However, Martin and the fellas kindly gave me a signed poster and copy of Mission Bell, one of their best albums. I’d also recommend Glo and their live CD/DVD, Now Is The Time, which includes an amazing doco on the band’s formation and success. Their latest, Kingdom of Comfort, was released in April and you can hear a sample of it here.

There won’t be another band like delirious? for quite some time. From the band themselves…

The End of an Era……

We would like to address all our fans, our friends and people around the world who have faithfully supported Delirious?

After 14 albums, thousands of shows in front of millions of people, and many extraordinary memories, we have decided that at the end of 2009 we will take a break from recording and playing as a band.

Our decision was triggered by a request from Martin to be released from the band to pursue new projects including his work with CompassionArt and the desire to be at home more with Anna and his children. We have of course honoured this request and made a decision together that now is the time to end this chapter of our lives.

We will continue to play and be excited about our current tours and bookings but will not be adding many more over the coming 17 months..

We are all so deeply grateful to our incredible fans who have sung the songs and allowed Delirious? the privilege of providing the soundtrack to many lives over the years. From the school hall in Littlehampton to the stadiums of the world we have many stories to tell our children’s children. Delirious also would not be what it is without our amazing wives and families, and our gratitude to them is immense. We will now move forward to the next part of our lives where new challenges unfold and greater stories will be written.

We want to make it absolutely clear that although this decision has been extremely painful and difficult, we are still great friends and our respect for each other is unquestionable. We love playing in this band together and know that even though 2009 will bring an end to this current journey, there will be more adventures together in years to come.

We always used to say that we were ‘taking it wherever it goes’. The music ended up going further and deeper than we could ever have dreamed, yet we are now at a point where our creative futures will spread out and take on different journeys.

Thanks again for believing in us through all these years. We believe the best is yet to come.

Jon, Martin, Paul, Stu G and Tim

July 8, 2008
Categories: Music . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 2 Comments

Atomic Robo Volume 1

Atomic Robo made an impression on the comics scene last year the same way he does in this story; packed with action and pleasant surprises. From new publisher, Red 5 who seem to be picking their projects wisely, this series is the ideal gateway title. If you’ve been away from comics for a while with all the soap opera spandex stories, or the every increasing adult tales wrapped in seemingly child-like packages, then you need to do yourself a favour. You need to buy Atomic Robo Vol. 1. It will renew your love for the medium and give you faith in its future. Books that are simply fun and that can be shared with the whole family are a rarity on today’s stands. Robo is a new creation, yet he collates the best bits of pulp adventurers as well as the fun of early Savage Dragon and the actiony wit of Hellboy (the movie version).

We discover that Atomic Robo was created by actual genius Nikola Tesla in 1923 and has been serving the U.S government since then. He’s basically a one-man army. Like Captain America, but , y’know a robot, and with a sense of humour.

He fights Nazis (though they’re not referred to as such) giant ants in the Reno desert (possibly mutated by the growing field of “imaginary physics”), walking pyramids and more.

The stories are set up nicely as we go from the present where Robo and his team fight the weird monstrosity of the day, to times in years previous and learn of the friends he’s lost along the way. An ageless robot who’s passing 80 can not help but deal with real emotions and Clevenger show this side with a clarity equal to the humourous action. This book collects the first six issues, plus four extra short back-up tales by various artists, the covers of the issues, a gallery of Robo by even more artists and a look at the early concept sketches of the character from Weneger. And if that’s not enough, there’s also a two page look at Atomic Robo’s technically advanced components. All these extras just make a neat 180+ page book even neater.

Robo’s bickering Action Science League offer some humour but Robo’s the funny one of the bunch and has all the quips straight out of a cheesy 80s action film. Even real-life figures like Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking manage to make an impression as Robo ventures to Mars for the first time to aid NASA in their research (and finds the worst enemy man can face-boredom!) Artist Scott Weneger can draw character reactions, dark machinery, underground bases and scary creatures all with equal skill. His lines may seem simple, but don’t be deceived. It takes effort to make it look effortless and it is awfully pretty to look at. Coupled with writer Brian Clevenger’s fast paced script it all feels like a pulpy Bond film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Clevenger and Weneger seem to come from the same school as myself; the School of Saturday Morning Cartoons. They aced their class in action that makes you cheer and characters that make you smile. Now they’re the teachers. So sit up, and pay attention.

July 7, 2008
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

« Previous Page — Previous page Next page — Next Page »