Titanium Rain Audio Comic

Now this is pretty exciting. Titanium Rain is a great, near future war series, published a while ago by Archaia before it went on hiatus. Now it’s getting a new life as an audio drama. With its more grounded, believable sci-fi edge, this could really work. Official details below.

TITANIUM RAIN COMES TO AUDIO
The AudioComics Company to adapt Glitchwerk Studios property as a full-cast radio drama

To be alive is to be at odds with the world. Man against nature. Man against man. The instinct to survive is what has made us who we are.

The AudioComics Company is excited to announce that they will be adapting Glitchwerk Studios’ graphic novel series Titanium Rain as one of their next full-cast audio theatre productions, with the first book in the trilogy recording this fall for a winter 2012 release, with parts two and three to be recorded later that year. The work will be adapted for audio by co-creators Josh Finney and Kat Rocha, and directed by AudioComics Company Co-Producer William Dufris.

Currently published by Archaia Entertainment, Titanium Rain is a sci-fi war epic set in the year 2031 where a civil war in China has escalated into a global conflict that has decimated entire nations and millions of innocent lives. And for many, like US Air Force pilot Alec Killian, survival in this new age means that man and machine must exist as one. In the spirit of films such as Ghost in the Shell and Blackhawk Down, Titanium Rain follows Killian’s journey through mankind’s worst, only to discover its best.

Titanium Rain is the antithesis of the post-apocalyptic ‘trend’ we’re seeing today in film, on television, in comic books. That’s part of the reason why it’s such an appealing audio project, the idea that we can rise above our mistakes rather than be dragged down by them is one worth exploring,” says director William Dufris, who also directed The AudioComics Company’s premiere production, Starstruck. “Also, it’s a great character-driven book. Actors are always looking for roles they can really sink their teeth into, and TR is chock full of great character studies.”

Co-creator Josh Finney: “From Titanium Rain‘s initial conception I had always wanted to hear the story translated into an audio production, going so far to actually commission a full-blown soundtrack by musician Jonathan Sharp (New Mind, Bio-Tek). Now with the AudioComics Company onboard this dream is finally shaping into a reality. Stay tuned. This is going to be amazing.”

The first volume of Titanium Rain has been a consistent best seller, both in the US and abroad. The title was also the center of a controversy when the first volume was delayed when Chinese printing companies refused to print the book due to Titanium Rain‘s so-called “politically sensitive” content, leading to Archaia Entertainment’s decision to manufacture their books elsewhere.

In addition to adapting the work, both Finney and Rocha will attend the voice-over recording sessions for Part One of the audio trilogy, and will have a hand in casting the project as well. The completed piece will be available on compact disc and pay-per-Mp3 downloads; Jonathan Sharp’s soundtrack for Titanium Rain will also be available as a separate Mp3 download, to be released concurrently with Part One of the TR audio production.

Glitchwerk Studios is the combined talents of husband and wife team Josh Finney and Kat Rocha. Glitchwerk specializes in science-fiction/fantasy art, concept art, and graphic design. Their style features a fusion of 3D modeling, digital painting, and traditional art techniques. In addition to their original comic book properties UtopiatesTitanium RainLD30, and the forthcoming World War Kaiju, Glitchwerk’s art has been featured in the acclaimed UK magazine Interzone, on several CD album covers, in numerous collectable card and online games, and on television (Star Trek: Enterprise). Titanium Rain is one of the few graphic novels on the comics landscape created entirely by a married couple.

The AudioComics Company, under the guidance of producers Lance Roger Axt, William Dufris, and Elaine Lee, provides superior audio entertainment with its professional full-cast audio theatre productions of both licensed properties and original works from the world of comic books, graphic novels, and related media, accessible in today’s market with today’s sound. The AudioComics team is working to establish relationships with top name comic book companies, sci-fi writers, sponsors and the entertainment industry in Hollywood and New York, and to give these audio theatre pieces worldwide exposure. Their debut production of the original play script of Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta’s Starstruck has received critical acclaim from comics and audio professionals alike.

Ewww…Plastic Man

I picked up 2 debut issues from DC’s alternate universe Flashpoint epic this week. There are so many that it’s always a gamble, but I really enjoyed both of these.

Grodd of War #1 has an intriguing premise behind that cool title. Starring the evil, telepathic Gorilla Grodd as a bored leader, the opening narration of the powerful primate tells you all you need to know. “Aquaman sinks half of Europe and he’s considered to be the most dangerous being on the planet. I slaughter half of Africa and most people don’t even know my name.” Written with gusto by Sean Ryan and superb art by Ig Guara, this is a dark tale, to be sure, but the creative duo do a remarkable job of making the grotesque gorilla a somewhat sympathetic character. Not an easy job seeing he kills Congarilla, and later Catman in combat, and forces a human boy to kill his fellow rebel soldiers, before telling him to, “spend every minute of your life planning and thinking about how you’re going to kill me.” This desperation for a worthy foe to ease his boredom, now that he’s ruling all of Africa, finally sees him make a possibly suicidal plan to travel to Europe to take on the mad Aquaman and Wonder Woman. I can’t wait to see where this goes next.

Legion of Doom #1, like Grodd’s title, is a villain centric mini-series. Written by Adam Glass, with art by Rodney Buchemi, it’s not as entertaining as Grodd of War, but it does have a few nice surprises, and a plot that also makes me curious for what comes next. The fire loving baddie gets foiled by Cyborg after killing half of the Firestorm duo, and catching fire and winds up in jail, and even gets the traditional toilet dunking welcome. The prison is divided into normals and metas, and JLA enemy android Amazo is one of the guards. At least the prison looks cool (from the outside) as it resembles the semi-circle swamp base from the ’70s Superfriends cartoon. Throughout the issue, Heatwave boasts that he has a plan to get out, and we see it play out in rather gross way in the last 2 pages, as Plastic Man climbs out of his cell mate’s gut! I wasn’t expecting that, but Plas used to be a crim in the proper DC Universe, so it makes sense to see him all evil. It’s not a bad issue and the plot works well, despite Heatwave’s OTT Bond villain exclamations such as his love for fire being a hunger burning in his gut and, “I’d marry it if I could.”

Spewing Bile

Or something. In this week’s issue of Batman, Dick Grayson (who won’t be Batman come September, due to the relaunch) hits one of Riddler’s goons in the gut, after descending upon Enigma (Riddler’s daughter). Bats mentions that she doesn’t like to get her hands dirty, “or should I say, bloody?” I must say, Tony Daniel has come a long way as both a writer and an artist on this title, but this panel seems a little…off.

The assumption is that the henchman (who has it bad enough, with the bowler hat/ tutrtleneck combo) is spewing blood. If he is though, that’s an awful lot of blood from one Bat punch to the gut. Of course, it’s the wrong colour to be “bloody” but maybe no-one told colourist Ian Hannin, or in fact, they did, as it was perhaps too gross for a comic without a “mature readers” tag on it and he had to make it brown. I doubt that though.

I like to think that this goon was enjoying a nice, thick chocolate milkshake before Batman jumped through the skylight and ruined his day.

Upcoming Gestalt Original Graphic Novels

Perth publisher Gestalt is pumping out quality OGNs big time now. There are 4 books coming in August, including The Deep, and you can find my interview with its writer Tom Taylor here and below is all the official info about their other intriguing projects.

An Old West where Myth, Monsters and Magic are all real.

Christian Read and Michael Maier ride off into a blood-red sunset with their new supernatural western, The Eltritch Kid:Whisky and Hate, solicited in the June edition of Diamond Comics’ Previews catalogue.

Ten Shoes Dancing is a shaman of the Lakota people. He also happens to be an Oxford scholar. There’s not much work for literature experts in the Old West, so Ten Shoes finds himself working as a hired gun, an escort for a group of pilgrims and settlers heading West.

Out there he finds a man he scarcely believed to be real, the dime novel hero, the Eldritch Kid. With an impossible reputation as a hero and champion, the Eldritch Kid was known for seeking out the dark forces that plagued those newly United States. But is the Kid all he seems? With bad times coming for the wagon train, the price Ten Shoes will pay for the Kid’s help might be too damn high.

“The book came out of my enduring interest in the history of America and specifically, that expansion after the Civil War. But really, I just wanted to tell a story about cowboys. I kept dreaming, actually, of an uncanny man, whose eyes were hidden behind smoked glass with two evil Colt Peacemakers and I knew it wasn’t a straight historical”, says writer Christian Read.

“Michael Maier’s work is so richly textured you can taste it in your mouth. An eerie colour palette and such strange personalities. He’s turned out to be the perfect partner for this project and we’re both looking forward to this morbid cowboy romance.”

The Eldritch Kid: Whisky & Hate is a 112 page Original Graphic Novel, scheduled for publication 11th August 2011.

Details at a Glance
shelfdate: 11th August 2011
retail price: $11.95
diamond order code: JUN11 1132
website: www.eldritchkid.com

Dive into the Adventures of a Multicultural Family of Underwater Explorers!

The Deep: Here Be Dragons is a new Graphic Novel from the 2011 Aurealis-Award-winning Gestalt Publishing. The Deep tells the tales of the Nekton family – A multicultural family of daring Aquanauts who live on a submarine.

Written by award-winning writer Tom Taylor (Star Wars: Adventures, Star Wars: Invasion, The Authority, The Example) and illustrated by the incredible James Brouwer, The Deep: Here be Dragons is an original Graphic Novel in which we meet the Nekton family, a family who have been exploring the seas for generations. Here Be Dragons sees the Nekton family aboard their state-of-the-art submarine, The Arronax, following strange reports of monster sightings all the way to Greenland. What they discover in those dark depths may change their perceptions of the ocean forever…

A Diverse Family
Not every family of heroes looks like The Incredibles. With this in mind, The Nekton family members aren’t from anywhere. At no point in The Deep will the Nekton family’s ethnicities or countries of origin come up. Simply put, the sea is huge and covers the globe, and so do the Nekton family.

An All-Ages Adventure

Most graphic novels aren’t geared towards, or attractive to, young people. Similarly, some comics under the ‘all-ages’ heading aren’t for all ages. Comics written for young people often hold little appeal for older ones.

With The Deep, Tom Taylor and James Brouwer, both fathers themselves, have created a story of absolute escapism. A story full of humor, full of action and full of adventure. A story you can share with young people which will hopefully spark their love of comics. An action adventure story not bogged down by tortured pasts, shortcomings and ‘real’ life.

Film studios like Pixar have taught us that so-called kids movies can appeal to everyone – can excite and enthrall everyone – and it’s this ethos that has been brought to The Deep.

Tom Taylor is a multi-award-winning playwright, whose comedy, drama and musical works have been produced across four continents. To date his most well-known comics work has been for Star Wars: Blood Ties, The Authority, Star Wars: Invasion (which was nominated for a 2009 Diamond Gem award), and his adaptation of his play, The Example, for Gestalt Publishing. He is also qualified in Child Care and an ex-professional juggler and fire-eater. Tom currently resides in Melbourne, Australia.

The Deep is distributed by Diamond Distribution in the USA with an RRP of $9.95

Details at a Glance
shelfdate: 4th August 2011
retail price: $9.95
diamond order code: JUN11 1131
website: www.exploringthedeep.com

                                                             A Werewolf Story in Reverse

Torn is a disturbing action-horror story written by talented newcomer Andrew Constant, and featuring the illustration talents of Nicola Scott and Joh James.

Life is a constant struggle for the leader of the pack. A struggle that has made him strong. Strong enough to provide for his family. Strong enough to protect them. However, providing for them means he’s not always there to protect them from monsters. Monsters like man…

Torn tells of a wolf infected with the most aggressive virus the world has ever seen -humanity – and chronicles his attempts to reclaim the life he once knew and escape the cycle of tragedy.

Andrew Constant makes an impressive debut with Torn, a story that will make you believe horror comics still have teeth.

Nicola Scott is the superstar Australian artist whose work includes Wonder Woman, Secret Six and Birds of Prey for DC Comics.

Joh James’ chaotic style is bursting with energy and unspent rage, perfect for the horror genre. His work includes I.C.E. From 12GaugeComics and Daddy’s Little Girl, a short story published by Marvel.

Torn, a 120 page original graphic novel, is distributed by Diamond Comics in the USA with an RRP of $12.95.

Details at a Glance
shelfdate: 18th August 2011
retail price: $12.95
diamond order code: JUN11 1133
website: www.wolftorn.com

HIS DREAM OF THE SKYLAND
THE WALLED CITY TRILOGY: BOOK 1

Anne Opotowsky & Aya Moron unravel Kowloon in this sumptuous trilogy.

Imperialist controlled Hong Kong, the British ruling classes, the ambitious dynasty influenced Chinese, all create an amazing labyrinth for His Dream of the Skyland, Book One in The Walled City trilogy.

The gorgeous watercolor illustrations create an utterly distinct experience. His Dream of the Skyland immerses the reader in a world that is opulent, dark and absorbing…

304 pages, F/C. 
$31.95 USD

Diamond Order Code:
JUN11 1130

Happy Father’s Day

To U.S readers at least. We here in Australia have ours in September and here you can find the Father’s Day special that we did at that time last year. We talk about some of the absent, bad, surrogate and great fathers in comics, such as Hulk, Wolverine, Batman, Lone Wolf and Cub and more.

Extra Sequential Podcast #45-Green Lantern

57 mins. Don’t know who or what a Green Lantern is? Fear not, we have it covered. Also, superhero love and just how Smurfs manage to reproduce.

LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE OR ON ITUNES

1:20 NEWS

Avenging Spider-Man kicks off in November. A new ongoing series.

Two new X-Men titles coming soon.

Russel Crowe is set to play Superman’s Kryptonian father. If that ain’t bad enough, the Man of Steel will no longer be married to Lois Lane.

IDW’s new Star Trek movie series.

Frank Miller’s Holy Terror also coming in September.

Movie studios pulling out of the massive San Diego Comic-Con.

Neil Gaiman’s American Gods’ TV series.

14:10 THEME-GREEN LANTERN

Panel Plays returns! Kissing involved.

We give the lowdown on some of the Green Lanterns over the years, including some whacky ring slingers, and some comics you should grab to know more.

Read more GL issues here with this handy app and go here for a perty rundown on all the other colours of the Lanterns Corps.

Two New X-Men Titles in Two Months

What a crazy time to be a superhero fan hey? First, DC Comics announce that they are relaunching 52 superhero titles in September, and mow Marvel’s longest running series, Uncanny X-Men is ending, but at least they’ll carry on with the same continuity. Two new series follow the upcoming X-Men: Schism mini-series that kicks off next month that will show teammates Cyclops and Wolverine fighting. Literally.

After Schism Comes X-MEN: REGENESIS!

Marvel is pleased to announce X-Men: ReGenesis, a bold new direction redefining the X-Men franchise! X-Men: ReGenesis kicks off this fall in Uncanny X-Men #1 & Wolverine and the X-Men #1 and its ramifications will send shockwaves throughout every X-Book and the Marvel Universe! Prepare for the X-Men’s new dawn as former allies head off in different directions, taking with them your favorite X-Men characters. Following the unforgettable outcome in X-Men: Schism, mutantkind will be asking one another “Who will you follow?” and their answers may surprise you! Never before have there been TWO teams calling themselves the X-Men and never has anyone had to choose a side. Guided by their different ideologies, each leader has their own mission for saving their species, but is only one of them right?

This October, Marvel Architect Jason Aaron and superstar artist Chris Bachalo launch Wolverine And The X-Men #1, assembling a team led by Logan himself with a line-up that nobody will see coming. Then, in November, history is made with Uncanny X-Men #1.  From the superstar writer Kieron Gillen and artists Carlos Pacheco & Greg Land, new leadership rises with a renewed, refocused, and re-imagined group of Uncanny mutants.

“Years of X-Men history have been leading to this. X-Men: ReGenesis will affect our entire line leading up to a major conflict coming up in 2012!” said Marvel Editor in Chief, Axel Alonso. “This is just the start of what we have planned for the X-Men. Next summer all eyes will be on mutantkind – we guarantee it!”

Two new teams lead mutantkind into an all new era and will have everyone asking “Who will you follow?” – only in Wolverine & The X-Men #1 and Uncanny X-Men #1!

To find out more about X-Men: Regenesis, head over to Marvel.com!

Carnage U.S.A.

Gee Marvel, that’s a pretty hardcore title, but I guess Carnage (think a red, even more psycho version of Venom) is a hardcore character.

CARNAGE U.S.A. – POPULATION DIE!

It’ a whole new meaning for “red state” as Carnage’s  maniacal reign of terror continues, courtesy of the critically acclaimed creative team of Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain, in Carnage USA #1 (of 5)! With Carnage leaving a wake of  bloodshed and lunacy throughout the nation, Spider-Man and the Avengers must go on a brutal hunt to capture Cletus Kasaday before the American heartland falls under his mass-murdering spell.

Buckle in and prepare for a violence packed adventure as Carnage, joined by a symbiote army, continues his vengeance fueled comeback. Destined to be the most mind-blowing cross country tour fans have ever taken, Carnage U.S.A. wants YOU this December!

For more, check out Marvel.com!

CARNAGE U.S.A. #1 (of 5)

Written by ZEB WELLS

Pencils and Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

Rated T+ …$3.99

ON SALE THIS DECEMBER!

FF #6 Preview

Text-free preview pages below from July’s issue of the re-invented Fantastic Four series, featuring the return of Black Bolt; leader of the Inhumans (who live on the moon) and possessor of a great superpower (destructive speech, so he’s pretty much always silent).

BLACK BOLT RETURNS IN FF#6!

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at FF #6, from Marvel Architect Jonathan Hickman and artist Greg Tocchini! King Black Bolt makes his triumphant return to the Marvel Universe as the War Of The Four Cities continues! But what are the circumstances surrounding his mysterious return, and how will it turn the tides of the FF’s intense battle? Will someone stand in the way of King Black Bolt’s return to the throne? Cover your ears as the King of the Inhumans makes his vicious return to royalty, only in July’s FF #6!

FF #6 (MAY110658)

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Pencils by GREG TOCCHINI

Cover by MARK BAGLEY

Rated T+…$2.99

FOC—6/20/11, On Sale—7/27/11

The Avengers Promo Poster

The Joss Whedon directed The Avengers film opens next year. All we know is the cast and actors, but now we have a better idea of what the team members will look like, thanks to a promotional poster at the Licensing Expo 2011. Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow we’ve already seen on the big screen and their costumes don’t look much changed. Cap’s duds look modernised as is to be expected, and Hawkeye looks much cooler than he did in his bland Thor cameo. Hulk looks like every other time we’ve seen him. These may very well not be their final looks however.

Official Info on Those 52 New DC Series

And jaded fanboys and girls everywhere poured over the new September solicitations from DC Comics with great interest, but greater cynicism. We’ve known all the creative teams and titles for a few days now, but this is the first time all the official information has been revealed for the 52 superhero relaunches. Check them all out right here with cover images and some minor details about the new directions. If you want to find out just why, “Aquaman has renounced the throne of Atlantis,” “Driven by inner demons, Ollie Queen travels the world and brings outlaws to justice…by breaking every law,”or  why the Demon Etrigan leads a band of warriors, “in the Dark Ages of the DC Universe,” then you’ll have to buy a few of these new #1s come September.

Apart from the obvious superhero choices, seeing Martian Manhunter as part of the Stormwatch team, the return of Resurrection Man (he gets a different power each time he returns to life) and John Constantine hanging out with Deadman and Zatanna in Justice League Dark, there are some unexpected turns in this massive, headline getting plan. Let’s really hope it works.

Extra Sequential Podcast #44-X-Men

95 mins. Yes, it’s our longest episode ever, but with good reason. It’s our X-Men special, in which we focus on the films, the cartoons and some forgotten TV appearances. Joined by Mat from popular podcast, Sequelcast we discuss the highs, lows and more of the merry mutants. Also, Jake Busey’s teeth, Paul Hogan and a heap of useless X-Men trivia to impress your friends.

LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE OR ON ITUNES

 

0:54 NEWS

Kevin Smith’s comic book shop reality show

Writer Mark Millar is done with Marvel

The cancellation of Northlanders

8 clips from the Green Lantern film released online

Yes, more DC relaunches including new Action Comics and the controversial return of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl

14:48 WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

Shade, The Changing Man Vol. 1. He’s like Doctor Who!

Flashpoint’s Abin Sur: The Green Lantern #1. Yes, it’s an alternate world but it’s a good set up for next month’s film.

Sanctum. Don’t watch it.

Starship Troopers prequel comic.

Chris Claremont’s and Frank Miller’s classic Wolverine.

21:35 THEME-X-MEN

1989’s Pryde of the X-Men animated pilot, starring an Australian Wolverine

The much loved ‘90s cartoon

The live action Generation X TV movie

X-Men Evolution, and Wolverine and the X-Men

Astonishing X-Men motion comic

Wolverine anime

The X-Men trilogy

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men: First Class

X-Futurama

This is definitely worth sharing – a great mash-up of Matt Groening’s Futurama cartoon with a multitude of characters from the X-Men, by Carl Broaddus.

Don’t worry, I can’t name them all either.

 

The Vault Contest

If you haven’t ordered this 3 ish mini yet, I suggest that you do. It’s a well crafted adventure from Image and is released next month. Official details below about a new contest on The Vault’s Facebook page.

WIN A $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD WHEN YOU SHARE THE VAULT

If you’re a Facebook fan of THE VAULT, you could easily win a $100 Amazon gift card. All you have to do is help spread the word on www.facebook.com/TheVaultComic that THE VAULT #1, goes on sale July 27th. If it sounds too easy, it’s because it is.

To enter the drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card:

1)      Go to the official The Vault fan page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thevaultcomic.

2)      To be entered in the drawing, make sure to both comment and share on your Facebook wall a post from The Vault’s Facebook wall.

3)      You can enter in the drawing, up to four times, by both commenting and sharing on your Facebook wall four separate posts on The Vault’s Facebook wall.

4)      On June 29th, a winner will be randomly selected from all of the entered drawings.

THE VAULT, from writer Sam Sarkar (Caliber: First Canon of Justice) and artist Garrie Gastonny (Warren Ellis’ Supergod, Caliber), is about a small team of treasure hunters struggling to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits. They believe are prepared against nature’s fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash.

THE VAULT #1 (1 of 3), a 32-page full color comic book from IMAGE COMICS, will be on sale in stores July 27th for $3.50 and is available to order in the June 2011 edition of Diamond Previews (Diamond Order Code: JUN110501).

  • Calendar

    • March 2026
      M T W T F S S
       1
      2345678
      9101112131415
      16171819202122
      23242526272829
      3031  
  • Search