Based on the DC Comics series of the same name, as well as the Teen Titans series that fcouses on former, and current, superhero sidekicks, the new cartoon Young Justice premieres on the Cartoon Network in America on November 26 with a 1 hour special. Below is a cool looking promo. I might just enjoy this more than Batman: Brave and the Bold.
That’s Kid Flash, Robin and the new Aqualad you can see, as well as Superboy and Guardian, and the kids’ various mentors.
Writer Jason Aaron got noticed through his gritty crime drama Scalped, published from DC/Vertigo and has since done work for Marvel, writing Ghost Rider, Punisher and Wolverine stories. He recently started a regular column at CBR in which he speaks, or rather writes, candidly about the realities of the comic book biz. It’s necessary reading for curious fans and wannabe professionals.
In his latest column, he talks about income, taxes and other stuff that may seem boring to anyone except those who want to also be a comic book pro one day. Here’s a taste:
But anyway, how do you know that the page rate this company is offering you is a fair one? You don’t. Unless you ask other creators and find out what they’re getting paid. That’s sometimes an awkward thing to do, even among friends. Sometimes especially among friends. But it’s good business. I’m all for creators being open with their peers about what they’re getting paid. Otherwise, you’d never have any idea if you’re getting screwed or not. I don’t remember my first page rate for Marvel, from back in 2002 when I did an 8 page Wolverine story as a contest winner, but in 2004 when I first started writing for Vertigo, I got $90 a page. Now I know guys who get page rates that are much less than that. Depends on the company you’re working for. But as I understand it, if you’re doing a book for Marvel or DC, that’s probably a pretty typical starting page rate. For a writer at least. If you’re an artist, it should be much more. If you’re a letterer, probably a good bit less. Again, ask around to other creators who are in the same boat as you and are comfortable talking about what they make in order to find out where you really stand.
You can read all 9 columns right here.
Xenozoic from Mark Scultz is like Rocketeer by Dave Stevens, as in it’s a series I’m vaguely familiar with but have never read. It’s also widely praised for its classic adventurism and dynamic artwork. Now the fine people at Flesk Publications have released a collected edition of all the Xenozoic tales from creator Mark Scultz. The series was also a cartoon called Cadillacs and Dinosaurs in the early 1990s. Details about the black and white tome below.
Flesk Publications is pleased to announce their new release, Xenozoic by Mark Schultz!
Welcome to the Xenozoic Age, a post-apocalyptic landscape where dinosaurs roam freely…and humanity is the endangered species!
Forced into hiding by a global ecological cataclysm, humans emerge from their underground warrens half a millennium later to discover that the Earth has been totally transformed. All of the familiar flora and fauna are gone, replaced by a radically altered natural order populated by rampaging dinosaurs and strange, new creatures. It takes guts, grim determination, ingenuity and a whole lot of old-fashioned luck just to survive, much less thrive, in this alien wilderness—all qualities that ace mechanic Jack Tenrec, lovely scientist Hannah Dundee and their friends possess in abundance.
But even the worthiest of these hardy souls are hard-pressed to surmount the obstacles presented by their new homeland. And when those trials are further compounded by the underhanded and selfish actions of the cutthroat human scavengers they encounter, brains and bravery might not be enough.
Xenozoic combines lush and richly realized ink-and-brush artwork with a pulp-fueled narrative to create an action-packed fantasy—an unrelenting adventure that also serves as a subtle cautionary fable concerning the unforeseen consequences that shortsighted present-day decisions might have upon future generations.
When asked about his new book, author and artist Mark Schultz explains, “When Flesk Publications expressed interest in publishing a new collection of my Xenozoic stories, I couldn’t have been happier. I knew that the reproduction and packaging would be of the highest quality—the very best. The new scans show my brushwork with more clarity than previously, and with the full tonalities within the blacks evident. My drybrush technique has never been reproduced more faithfully. The generous page count allowed for the addition of extra illustrations, as well. It’s a beautifully designed book—I’m very proud of the entire package.”
Flesk publisher, John Fleskes further notes, “This book features all of the stories written and drawn by Mark Schultz to date. He has created new drawings to introduce all twenty stories, as well as provided additional illustrations. Schultz also fully hand colored the new cover artwork using watercolors, providing a rich overtone unlike anything he has done before.
“With the exception of two stories, ‘Green Air’ (11-pages) and ‘The Rules of the Game’ (10-pages), all of the artwork has been reproduced from the originals. These other two stories were scanned from original proofs.
“I’m very excited about this hefty 352-page Xenozoic book!”
Xenozoic is now available at your local comic book shop and bookstore. Introduction by Craig Elliott, 352-page softbound edition with 4” French flaps, 8.5” x 11” for $39.95. ISBN: 978-1-933865-31-7. Full details and sample pages can be viewed at the Xenozoic product page at the Flesk Publications website. Furthermore, orders can be placed direct through Flesk on their online store.
I’m always curious to read any vaguely supernatural themed comic that uses a Christian worldview, or variations thereof, in its storytelling. Usually I end up rolling my eyes in frustration, much like I did as expected in the recent Legion film. I’ll give this new Image series a go though. Official details below.
“Game over, man!”
I like all the Alien films, even Alien 3, and hope to work my way through all 60 hours of bonus content on the Blu-Ray Alien Anthology at some point. The good news is that if you’re a fan of the franchise, and its best entry and, if you’re in metro Western Australia, you can catch James Cameron’s great sequel on the big screen once more at Event Cinemas in Innaloo on December 8.
Go here for more details.
And it’s here, more than a few months before the film debuts mid-2011. If you go and see the latest Harry Potter film, you’ll also see the brand new trailer for the Green Lantern film starring Ryan Reynolds as test pilot Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as love interest Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as huge-headed Hector Hammond and Mark Strong as Sinestro. It’s directed by Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell and is an origin film for the classic ring wielder. With a script from comics scribes Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green, and overseeing from DC’s golden boy Geoff Johns I had high hopes for this film. Then we all saw the very uninspiring glowing green costume on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. That thankfully seems to have changed since then.
The trailer seems a little too comedic and not as serious as the GL comics are (and they are serious in the way that only good superhero comics can get away with). However, the talent behind and before the camera is impressive and maybe this trailer, seeing as its the first official one, is just testing the water and going for the broadest strokes possible. With Kilowog, Tomar-Re and the GL’s planet/base Oa, it appears to be faithful to the page though.
You can check it out here or below.
77 mins. A whole bunch of stuff as usual including a first look at next year’s Tintin movie, our thoughts on the documentary focused on Scottish writer Grant Morrison involving his magic and drug use, some new all ages comics and more.
Listen to it below, download it here , on iTunes or Mixcloud.
1:22 NEWS
The sale of the hugely popular San Diego Comic-Con tickets go live on Nov 22 for July 2011, writer JMS is off monthly comics to focus on the sequel to Superman: Earth One, the new DC Comics digital store, Spider-Man’s death, just released pics from the Tintin film, the success of the Walking Dead TV series, Batman Live World Arena Tour, a classic Fran Drescher and Robin Williams film and I also mistakenly credit Haley Joel Osment from The Sixth Sense instead of Freddie Highmore as the voice of Astro Boy. Phew, that’s a lot of news!
25:0 WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING/WATCHING
The Nikita film, (in which I make one more film error and get Tcheky Karyo and Jurgen Prochnow and U-571 and Das Boot mixed up!), Russian flying car film Black Lightning, the new Predators, the latest season of Dexter.
And for comics we yak about the wild Mesmo Delivery from Rafael Grampa, the new Atomic Robo series, 676 Apparitions of Killoffer, Toy Story: Tales from the Toy Chest #2 from BOOM! Studios, Vertigo’s series The Unwritten, Image’s Halcyon #1.
And yes, I mix up the title of another film!
56:30 FEATURE REVIEW
The new doco Talking With Gods on writer Grant Morrison of JLA, We3, The Invisibles and more fame.
1:10:45 WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Our Valued Customers – real things said by geeks and crazies in a comic book shop.
The surfer in silver is getting a new 5 issue mini-series in February from Planet, and World War, Hulk scribe Greg Pak. Details below, plus the cover of the first ish.
Marvel Announces Pak And Segovia ’s New Silver Surfer Series!
The herald of Galactus returns this February in the pages of Silver Surfer, from the electrifying creative team of Greg Pak and Stephen Segovia! The dreaded herald of the world-eater returns to Earth, but what fate does the High Evolutionary hold for the man behind the sentinel of the spaceways?!
“Introducing him as the Silver Savage in “Planet Hulk” was ridiculously fun. Now we’re having a chance to do something even more insane, telling a story utterly grounded in human emotion that embraces the Surfer’s cosmic mythology while shattering all expectations” says writer, Greg Pak. “This is the Surfer you’ve always loved and a Surfer you’ve never seen before. Long-time fans, dontcha dare miss it! New readers, come on in — this is a perfect jumping on point for rediscovering Marvel’s shining, silver star.”
The wielder of the power cosmic has survived many battles, but can anything prepare him for what lies ahead? Find out in February when the game-changingSilver Surfer #1 (of 5) debuts in comic shops everywhere!
SILVER SURFER #1 (of 5)
Written by GREG PAK
Pencils by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
Rated T+…..$2.99
COMING THIS FEBRUARY!
Wow. That’s an impressive number for Top Cow’s smart Pilot Season approach that allows readers to vote from a selection of one-shots that they’d like to see become a mini-series. Official details below. Oh, and you an now read all 5 different one-shots FOR FREE!
FANS DETERMINE UPCOMING TOP COW MINISERIES
TOP COW’S PILOT SEASON 2010 HITS OVER 100,000 VOTES
As announced on GeekWeek Live!, within a week since the polls have opened, Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce voting for Pilot Season 2010, an annual initiative by the publisher where fans decide a book’s fate, has hit over 100,000 votes. The winner of Pilot Season 2010 will be announced Wednesday, December 1.
“100,000 votes in just 11 days!” exclaimed Atom! Freeman, Top Cow Director of Sales & Marketing. “If the candidates I voted for in the last general election had worked as hard as our cadre of creators in getting out the vote, I wouldn’t have cried quite so much last Tuesday.”
With polling stations set up at the Top Cow site and various comic news sites, blogs and social media platforms, readers spanning over 30 countries are making their voices heard for what title they want to be made into a series and to appear on their local comic shop shelves. The vote leader at the time of this press release was 39 Minutes, but competition has been fierce and Top Cow encourages everyone to “Take Control.”
Polls for Pilot Season 2010 will close on November 30, 2010. Previews for each book are available at www.topcow.com.
Announced this week is the much welcomed addition of a digital shop that allows purchases of classic and more recent comics from DC, most for $1.99, though there are some which are free. Through the comiXology application they can be read on your PC or Mac, or mobile devices. Read all about it here and check out the shop here.
I used to watch Entertainment Tonight years ago, back when it was actually about new film and TV shows. Then it became all gossip focused and dull. However, they have redeemed themselves with this scoop. Yep, the first footage of the new Green Lantern film, showing Hal Jordan, Carol Ferris, a costume more in keeping with the comics version, and a Kilowog cameo. Oh yeah. The film, directed by Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell opens on June 17, 2011.
Below is a look at a few text-free pages from different artists from the landmark 500th issue of Iron Man.
Your First Look at INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500
Marvel is pleased to present your first look at the landmark anniversary issue, Invincible Iron Man #500! From the Eisner Award winning creative team of writer Matt Fraction and artist Salvador Larroca– along with special guest-artists Kano, Nathan Fox and Carmine Di Giandiomenico– the Armored Avenger’s past, present and future come together for a mind-bending tale that brings together three generations of Starks! Is Tony Stark the man responsible for the dystopian world of tomorrow? Is his son really the relentless mass murderer known as War Machine? What awful fate awaits his freedom-fighting granddaughter as she slips into the clutches of the Emperor of the Earth, the vaunted Grand Khan…the Lord Mandarin?!
The answers lie inside the mind of the Tony of today and it’ll take the matched wits of both Iron Man and the Amazing Spider-Man to extract them! Prepare for a pulse-pounding paradigm shift as “The New Iron Age” blasts open a new chapter in the history of a Marvel icon this January, only in Invincible Iron Man #500!
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500 (NOV100552)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500 DJURDJERVIC VARIANT (NOV100553)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500 LARROCA VARIANT (NOV100557)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500 QUESADA VARIANT (NOV100555)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500 QUESADA SKETCH VARIANT (NOV100556)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500 ROMITA JR. VARIANT (NOV100554)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art by SALVADOR LARROCA, KANO, NATHAN FOX and CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
50/50 Covers by SALVADOR LARROCA
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR.
Rated A …$4.99
FOC – 12/28/10, On-Sale – 1/19/11
I remember when Red 5 debuted, as I was writing for the unique website/magazine Infuze at the time. Sadly that site is no longer around, but Red 5, and their flagship character Atomic Robo thankfully still are.
The regular partnership of writer Brian Clevinger and artist Scott Wegener once more provide readers with another instalment of zany fun that anyone can ease into. The beauty of Robo’s format of multiple mini-series (this is the fifth volume) means that there’s no prior knowledge required. Every mini-series and individual issue is self-contained. If you feel like comical comics, then just pick up any ish of Robo you see and satisfaction will be guaranteed.
This debut issue of a new series, titled Deadly Art of Science opens in Chicago, and later New York, in 1930, when Atomic Robo (creation of famed scientist Nikola Tesla) is new to the world and the adventures that can be had within it. Before we see Robo, who’s getting bored with Tesla’s experiments, we are introduced to Jack Tarot, Gunfighter and his daughter Nightingale, who is kind of a low-tech Oracle, offering assistance and guidance to Tarot in the midst of a car chase against some gangsters.
Tarot is a man’s man; a no-nonsense hero with a red mask/handkerchief (a maskerchief perhaps?) and a sense of style and the kind of derring-do that gets things done, and usually results in dead bad guys, much to his daughter’s frustration.
It’s great to see Robo as a curious wannabe adventurer, as all previous mini-series have largely shown an established and confident Robo. He’s still confident (and witty) here too, but is also slightly overawed by all the gunplay going on around him. He sees the daring life of Tarot (stuck on a bad guy’s windshield as he zooms past a street sweeping Robo) and wants in. After some relentless curiosity, Robo follows Tarot, who sees the metal man as nothing more than an annoyance. Teaming the slightly madcap Robo with a seasoned hero is a masterstroke filled with buddy cop potential. It’s like Indiana Jones teaming up with Spider-Man. Sort of.
Clevinger’s fast paced script and Wegener’s tight and expressive pencils define the word, “romp,” and it’s no surprise that both men have been noticed by the big boys. Clevinger is now writing Avengers and the Infinity Gauntlet, a rather humorous take on the classic cosmic storyline from Marvel. Clevinger has also done some recent work for the publisher on titles such as Punisher War Journal. The pair really do work well together, with this great mix of action and comedy. Of course, both of those things are reliant on timing and expression and here, like in every other Atomic Robo series, these two guys know what they’re doing when it comes to that, which means every page is just a joy to devour.
This first issue of a 5 issue mini-series is available now.
Now available are two great features from DC Comics and Warner Bros. One is the collection of the awesome short animated films DC have been putting with their main films lately, including a new one, and the other is the Secret Origin doco on the history of DC Comics. Info, pics and 2 clips from Superman/Shazam! below.
SUPERMAN/SHAZAM! THE RETURN OF BLACK ADAM ANCHORS DC SHOWCASE
Original Shorts COLLECTION
THE SPECTRE, JONAH HEX, GREEN ARROW INCLUDED ON BLU-RAY, DVD TODAY FROM warner home video
Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video have expanded the realm of superhero storytelling beyond the popular DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies with the introduction of the DC Showcase, a series of animated shorts featuring characters from the celebrated DC Comics vault. On November 9, 2010, Warner Home Video will distribute the DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, the first quartet of animated adventures featuring the never-before-seen Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam, as a Special Edition Blu-Ray™ for $29.99 (SRP) and single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP). The DC Showcase will also be available OnDemand and for Download.
DC Showcase animated shorts initially appeared as special bonus content on the 2010 slate of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The 10- to 12-minute films include The Spectre, Jonah Hex and Green Arrow. All three titles will be presented in extended formats along with the first-ever release of Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam.
In Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam, Clark Kent’s latest interview subject is street kid Billy Batson. What Clark doesn’t know is that Billy is more than a feisty kid with a lot of heart – he has been chosen by an ancient wizard to represent the good of man as the World’s Mightiest Mortal just by invoking the name of the wizard, “Shazam!” Billy’s powers come none-too-soon, as he also discovers he’s being pursued by a centuries’ old, murderous villain, Black Adam – a foe so powerful, even Superman can’t stop him alone. The all-star cast of Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam is led by Jerry O’Connell (Crossing Jordan) as Captain Marvel, George Newbern reprising his Justice League role as Superman, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Black Adam and two-time Emmy Award® winner James Garner (8 Simple Rules) as The Wizard.
Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer and Joaquim Dos Santos (Justice League, Avatar: The Last Airbender) is director of the first series of DC Showcase titles. Michael Jelenic (Wonder Woman) wrote the 22-minute script.
Other shorts included on the DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection:
The Spectre – A detective story with an ethereal twist featuring an otherworldly character. The short is written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), and the voice cast includes Gary Cole (Entourage) and Alyssa Milano (Charmed).
Jonah Hex – The tough-as-nails bounty hunter always gets his man – until someone else gets to him first – in this case a murderous madam who wants to steal more than just his bounty from Jonah Hex. Based on a story from the award-winning Jonah Hex comic series, and scripted by world-renowned author Joe Lansdale. The voice cast is led by Thomas Jane (Hung), Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).
Green Arrow – At the Star City International Airport to pick up his girlfriend, Oliver Queen is forced into action as Green Arrow to protect the 10-year-old Princess of Vlatava from his old nemesis Merlyn the Magnificent and the League of Assassins. Greg Weisman (Young Justice) pens this action-packed tale, which features the voices of Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives) as the title character and Malcolm McDowell (Entourage) as his foe.
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection 1-Disc Special Edition DVD features more than 1 hour of exciting extra content, including:
DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection Blu-Ray™ features more than 2 1/2 hours of exciting extra content, including:
comicbookjesus 