To celebrate Image Comics’ 20th anniversary comics site Broken Frontier has launched Image Month, which is exactly as it sounds. There will be reviews of classic issues, interviews with creators and more. Check it out here and you can also read two of my reviews of recent Image releases, Whispers #2, which is awesome, and Hell Yeah #2.
While you’re there, check out my review of the new one-shot from Dak Horse Comics starring monster hunter Cal McDonald, and see a preview of the ish here.
Three Dark Horse reviews of mine are now up at Broken Frontier.
Conan the Barbarian #1 by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan, Star Wars: Agent of the Empire-Iron Eclipse #3, and the horror of The Strain #3.
At Broken Frontier you can check out my review of next week’s art book for the popular Mass Effect games.
Review here, and preview below.
Released this week from Dark Horse is this new horror series based on the books by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Dixon.
It’s an awesome debut issue and you can read my review at Broken Frontier.
Or, Star Wars: Agent of the Empire-Iron Eclipse, to give this new 5 issue mini-series its full name. I must say, I was pretty keen to read this, although the majority of my admiration for Star Wars has been tied to the original film trilogy, Dark Horse have shown that they are a very worthy gatekeeper of George Lucas’ creation.
Since 1991’s Dark Empire they’ve produced some great comics set in the galaxy far, far away and have covered many new characters and eras. Writer John Ostrander has written a lot of those comics, including Legacy, and February’s Dawn of the Jedi series which is set to do exactly what the title says.
Agent of the Empire brings a great, swashbuckling, James Bond level of derring do and it’s such a perfect fit that this debut ish will remind many of how they felt after seeing the first film back in the day. Focusing on secret agent Jahan Cross, who works for the evil Empire to give this two unique points of view is a daring, yet creatively satisfying decision. I mean, “Stormtroopers are the Empire’s hammer. This man is its scalpel.” How cool is that?
We are introduced to the suave Cross as he accuses a Colonel of dealing in the black market for his expensive tastes. It’s a great scene in which Cross’ status as an Imperial Intel agent (kind of like Internal Affairs) is established and is swiftly followed by an even greater action scene in which Cross vaults across a table and orders his faithful robotic servant IN-GA 44 to go into battle mode. Handy.
The next few pages unfortunately slow right down, as Cross reports to his superior and lots of exposition unfurls about what the Iron Eclipse is. A few pages later though and we are introduced to an obvious Bond homage in the form of the snake-like Alessi Quon, who is essentially the Q, or gadget provider, to Cross.
Ending with a cameo from two of Star War’s most loveable characters seem slightly out of place, but Ostrander handles the pair splendidly, so it’s not as awkward as it could be. Cross, although he works for the bad guys, is a likeable lead. Star Wars already has a multitude of crazy cool characters, but Cross can definitely now be added to that list.
French artist Stephane Roux’s work has always been deft, light and packed with motion. This is a rare interior art assignment, as he’s mostly known for his great covers for DC Comics on runs like Birds of Prey, and Supergirl. Unfortunately he won’t be doing issues 3 and 4, but will be back for the concluding 5th issue. His style fits perfectly with this unique approach to Star Wars. Roux brings a great sense of playfulness to the characters’ interactions, fun to the hectic action, and gorgeous spectacle to the universe spanning settings.
This is a great premiere of another bold entry in this sci-fi franchise that proves there’s much life in the galaxy yet. Although it briefly falls into the trap of setting up the series premise with some slightly boring and lengthy dialogue at times, Ostrander and Roux bring an entertaining charm that promises more great visuals and excitement in the remaining issues.
We all have one of those friends who just doesn’t ‘get’ Star Wars. Give this issue to them and watch them change their minds as they see the light (side of the Force, that is).
You can catch a preview below and Ostrander’s rundown of this series’ main players here.
Geekweek has a cool look at the Dark Horse Comics HQ, the comics publisher behind Hellboy, Conan, Buffy and much more. There’s a few photos, but the real interesting bits are the short interviews with founder Mike Richardson, Director of Publicity Jeremy Atkins and managing editor Scott Allie.
“If a comics shop makes the effort to do it right, it can prosper,” Atkins maintains, “And Dark Horse is ready to help with incentives.” He points out that the company provides special vouchers for free online content that you can only get at your local comics shop. “We have never forgotten the vital role of the comics shop. It provides a social function, just like an independent record store or bookstore.” An upcoming incentive for the fall is a line up of three new titles that will debut their first issues in print for 99 cents and their first digital issue for $1.99: “Orchid,” by Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), available Oct. 12;“House of Night,” by best-selling author P.C. Cast and her daughter, Kirsten Cast, available Nov. 9; “The Strain,” based on the bestseller by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, adapted by David Lapham (“100 Bullets”), available Dec. 14.
Sticking with Dark Horse, MTV Geek has a creator commentary/interview with writer Christos Gage, focused on the new Angel & Faith #1. Obviously, it’s spoiler-filled, but is necessary reading for fans of Buffy and co.
46 mins. We look at the goodies in the latest Previews monthly catalogue, for September releasing comics. Also, Mladen guesses the identities of the new Justice League International, plush toy that reminds us of Kevin Bacon, Ice Man’s clothing choices and the Dead Block zombie game.
LISTEN TO IT BELOW, DOWNLOAD IT HERE OR ON ITUNES
You can email us at kris (at)extrasequential(dot)com and befriend us on the NEW ES Facebook page.
1:20 NEWS
Marvel’s Facebook popularity
Dark Horizons’ best comics films list
The upcoming animated film Batman: Year One trailer
Warren Ellis and D’Israeli’s unique, ultraviolet comic, SVK
Harvey Award nominees
Read Orc stain #1 for free
Heroes and Villains comics exhibition
11:52 THEME-JULY PREVIEWS
We recommend stuff from a gamut of publishers including Dark Horse, IDW, Alterna, BOOM! Studios, and Fantagraphics. We check out comics such as a few of the DC relaunches, Ghostbusters #1, classic Flash Gordon, Jim Henson’s A Tale of Sand, Daniel Clowes’ The Death Ray, Michael Zulli’s The Fracture of the Universal Boy, Frank Miller’s Holy Terror!, Korgi, James Jean’s Rebus art book, Star Wars comics art, and blueprints books, and some possibly alluring Halloween costumes. Phew.
The second issue of the Dark Horse Presents anthology is out this week, and it looks much better than the debut. In DHP #4 (out on September 21, and ready for ordering in this week’s new Previews catalogue) those four legged detectives return. Official details below.
RETURN OF THE PACK IN DHP #4!
Coming to you fresh from the upcoming eighty-page spectacular, Beasts of Burden returns in Dark Horse Presents #4!
Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson’s lovable and crafty team of critters is back in action for a story that will tempt your taste buds and leave you wanting more!
Adventure, mystery, horror, and humor thrive on every page of Beasts of Burden—a comic-book series that will capture readers’ hearts and haunt their dreams.
Award-winning comics creators Evan Dorkin (Milk and Cheese) and Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother) first introduced these very special investigators in The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings and the other Dark Horse Book of . . . anthologies, for which they won coveted Eisner Awards for Best Short Story and Best Painter.
Evan and Jill will both be in attendance at San Diego Comic-Con 2011!
Looking for more Beasts of Burden? Check out the free comic on DarkHorse.com: http://www.darkhorse.com/Features/eComics/1090/Beasts-of-Burden.
I’m usually not a fan of fantasy comics, but this has some impressive creators behind it. Plus, it’s from the mind of the man who gave the world Tarzan. Details below and more preview pages here. The Outlaw Prince OGN is available now. The Regular Edition is 80 pages for $13 and the 112 page Deluxe Limited Edition is $50 and is signed.
A riveting tale of historic fiction in the classic Burroughs’ style! Writer Rob Hughes and renowned illustrators Thomas Yeates and Michael Wm. Kaluta present in fully painted format the medieval masterpiece The Outlaw of Torn, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs a century ago. This timeless tale unfolds during the tumultuous Second Baron’s War as a young and innocent Prince is ruthlessly abducted from his royal family, taken into the remote and rugged mountainous regions of Derbyshire to be brainwashed to forget his very heritage and relentlessly trained to become the greatest swordsman the world has ever known—and ultimately, the most dreaded name in all of Britain. With civil war looming upon the horizon, the fate of the Kingdom of England may very well rest in his hands.
The ancient archive of his remarkable life had been lost for more than 700 years, shrouded by the mists of time…until now!
Brilliant storytelling and the beautiful artwork of two industry titans combine to bring to life the origin of Norman of Torn — The Outlaw Prince!
Writer: Rob Hughes
Penciller: Thomas Yeates, Michael Wm. Kaluta
Inker: Thomas Yeates
Colorist: Thomas Yeates, Lori Almeida, Steve Oliff and Gloria Vasquez
Cover Artist: Esad Ribic
Deluxe Edition Cover Artist: Alan Lathwell
Genre: Action/Adventure, Classic
This timeless tale unfolds during the tumultuous Second Baron’s War, when a young prince is ruthlessly abducted from his royal family, taken into the rugged mountains of Derbyshire, and brainwashed to forget his very heritage. He’s trained to become the greatest swordsman the world has ever known–and grows to be the most dreaded name in all of Britain! With civil war looming upon the horizon, the fate of the kingdom of England may very well rest in his hands!
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