So one week after we go to the once a week format, WizardWorld LA happens and makes a lie out of the whole “two columns a week is too many for the small amount of info we have to report†company line. So thank you, Wizard, thank you for making me look like an ass.
Besides all the Convention goings-on, we have news on Julius Schwartz, the Nuclear Man (no, not the obscure villain from Superman IV: The Quest for Peace), our continuing commitment to place Brubaker in the column as much as humanly possible, Churchill (no, not Winston), and a creator calls me an idiot. Good times, people, good times.
All Tremble Before WizardWorld LA’s News Giving Might! TREMBLE!
At this afternoon’s DC panel at WizardWorld LA, the publisher discussed upcoming projects, teased storylines and showed a few sneaks of upcoming projects. Here’s a brief rundown of the highlights from the publisher’s presentation…
Newsarama reviews all the DC panels together at Newsarama
Because this is so huge, here are my reactions in no sort of cohesive order. I’ll just place them under each of the articles in the order they occurred to me:
I think Winick may be on to something with this “Demon & orgy free!†cover label. Maybe that can be like the new Code at DC. I’d support it.
G’nort. Oh, Geoff, say it ain’t so.
If Jeph Loeb came out swinging against Identity Disc, why no quotes?
DiDio comes out for stories over continuity. Where is the outrage? Actually, I am kind of relieved. Especially considering I hardly think we means, “No more continuity ever,†as we comic fans have often been wont to interpret such statements as in the past. Perhaps we have grown?
On hand at the DC Wizard LA panel today were Bob Wayne, Dan DiDio, Scott Dunbier, Jeph Loeb, Geoff Johns, Judd Winick, Michael Turner, and Jimmy Palmiotti. The group talked about Kingdom Come’s Gog’s appearance in Action Comics, more Superman news, new Batman miniseries, Firestorm, Justice League Elite, Batman: Order of the Beasts, Scratch, Elfquest, Doom Patrol, Richard Dragon, Teen Titans, Challengers of the Unknown, , and so much more!
The Pulse breaks it down for you atThe Pulse which highlights the DC side of things.
Why Gog? Seriously…why?
And still no quotes on Loeb’s anti-Identity Disc statements. Disappointing
At the DC panel, the gang also talked about things in and around the Wildstorm Universe. Both the Authority and Astro City have upcoming specials. Sleeper Season 2 is getting ready to launch. Brian K. Vaughan & Tony Harris’ Ex Machina is also on tap! We’ve got a few details and lots of pretty pictures!
And atThe Pulse which is all about the Wildstorm…booyah!
Yeah for more Astro City. And check out my dues ex machina comments later in this column
Vertigo was also discussed at the DC Panel at Wizard LA. Plenty of new projects on the slate including a pair of Grant Morrison offerings: Seaguy & Vimanarama, The Witching, Bite Club, Books of Magic, and 100 Bullets. We got some bits and pieces as well as images!
Well, you get the idea. This one is for VertigoThe Pulse
In two sentences I have now become interested in a title that I was barely aware of: Morrison’s Seaguy. A superhero with no one to fight because he lives in a utopia? Color me intrigued.
At Wizard World LA’s DC Panel Bob Wayne, Dan DiDio, Scott Dunbier, Jeph Loeb, Geoff Johns, Judd Winick, Michael Turner, and Jimmy Palmiotti were all in attendance and ready to talk comics. Among things mentioned were Kingdom Come’s Gog’s appearance in Action Comics, Superman news a new Batman miniseries, Firestorm, Justice League Elite, Batman: Order of the Beasts, Scratch, Elfquest, Doom Patrol, Richard Dragon, Teen Titans, Challengers of the Unknown, and a ton more
Oh my goodness…could this be convention news at Silver Bullet Comics? Yes, yes of course it could.
Isn’t it weird how Silver Bullets and The Pulse use almost the same words and structure to discuss the DC Panel. I am sure it is an accident, but it is weird how similar they are, especially the beginnings. Oh well, great minds think alike and all that. Still no Loeb quotes…maybe it never really happened.
We’ve got a smattering of news and notes from Wizard World: Los Angeles this Sunday.
Look, Comic Book Resources has news from something called WizardWorld. Now I wonder what the hell that is…and how come no one else seems to have any news about it. See about this obscure convention at Comic Book Resources. You know…or not.
Cool tidbit about Identity Crisis. Ripping the readers’ heart out, eh? Good stuff. Coupled with Meltzer’s promise to us in this column a few months ago, this story just keeps looking better and better.
More Mark Waid Superman is a pleasant surprise as well. Does anyone remember the time when Waid was all but banned from a mainstream Superman title? Daron? I swear I am not making this up.
He wasn’t writing it…I don’t think. If I remember correctly it was back when he was writing Flash (the second time I think) and Him and Grant pitched some ideas for Supes…the ideas got him or them banned. That’s what I remember. I could be a bit off, but it’s been some years now. – The Overlord
A grab-bag of new projects for the coming months were announced by DC Comics Saturday morning at Wizard World: Los Angeles, including the return of Majestic, big news for “Astro City” fans and the first new “Elfquest” story in years.
I guess this is probably more stuff about the convention. Honestly, I can’t really see any more anyway. Read…whatever it is at Comic Book Resources
Huh, there is still a Books of Magic ongoing? Didn’t know that.
PULSE PAL Jeremy Sung sent in his report of the Saturday DC Comics & Marvel Joe Quesada Cup ‘o’ Joe panels. Although we’ve reported most of this information, Sung added some of his own colorful comments. Sung wrote, “Before I get to the specifics though, let me set the stage. The ‘Wizard Theater’ where the DC and Quesada panels were held, was nothing more than a curtained off area of the sales floor. Thus too bright for slide shows (which DC had prepped) and interrupted every few minutes by announcements.”
Avert thine eyes from the Marvel commentary to enjoy Sung’s take on the DC panel at The Pulse
YES! Finally, Loeb’s quote about Identity Disc. Jeez, all that for one amusing line. Still, I am glad I at least know what he said now. (For the record, the Identity Disc idea sounds kind of cool, but what is with that title?)
Ahh, jokingly added. So maybe G’nort isn’t coming back. Whew. If they brought back that Fish-headed guy or the planet one (Mogo?) that would be most excellent though.
And I made it. All those words and yet, so very little to respond to. Still, I think my eyes may be bleeding. Too long staring at this damn computer screen
DC Snags Churchill (Again, No, Not Winston…Jeez, Move On)
Don’t think that it’s all quiet at 1700 Broadway. DC Comics has confirmed that they have signed Ian Churchill to a two-year exclusive contract.
Simply put, D.C. made me an offer I couldn’t refuse!†Churchill told Newsarama. “I’d been speaking to both Marvel and D.C. about possible projects. Marvel offered a few suggestions which didn’t really grab me and then Eddie Berganza and Dan Didio threw a few characters at me which got me interested and then very excited!â€
What characters you ask? Well, you’ll never know if you don’t read all about it atNewsarama and possibly not even then.
The coolest thing about this interview has got to be Churchill talking about his globetrotting. As I predicted above, no light is shed on what he’ll be working on, just that it will be DC, so it allows his decision to sell off his possessions (!) and travel the world to take center stage. Sure, it was only a paragraph or so, but wow. I think I have a new hero, and his name is Ian Churchill. Sorry Daron…although you were never really my hero anyway, more like the guy that rides my coattails.
Ahh, there it is ladies and gentlemen, I have been writing this column since November, so here comes the ego. Watch out!
Don’t worry if it gets so big that your head keeps bumping into your monitor while you type, I’ll just fire you…I’m sure that will magically cure all your problems. – The Overlord
Begin the Superman Press Blitz…NOW!
While many comic book readers are looking at the re-invigoration of DC Comics’ Superman titles in April with two words in their head- namely “Jim” and “Lee”- that doesn’t mean there isn’t other exciting talent coming onboard the world’s most familiar superhero. There are two more words you should know now, so you’re not left behind when he’s the next big thing: “Ivan” and “Reis.”
In Part 2 of CBR’s Superman celebration, CBR News spoke with Ivan Reis, the artist of “Action Comics” and as one might expect, the young penciller is quite excited about illustrating the Man Of Steel.
Spring into “Action†(oh I slay me) at Comic Book Resources
Hey, isn’t “True Believer†basically owned by Stan Lee. It seems weird to see it in a DC article; kind of like using “Nuff said†or “Excelsior†in a story about anything other than Marvel.
It strikes me as interesting that he is doing no looking back research for the comic. Not that he should have to, after all Superman is one of the, if not the, most recognizable comic book characters in the world. I am sure Reis has seen him at half a dozen times in the past month alone anyway. It is just unusual to hear that from a creator. I mean, even Jim Lee mentioned doing some research. My take on it is that years of being a comic book fan and artist is probably research enough in and of itself and the sample pages certainly seem to reflect that. I can’t remember his Secret Files story though. Have to steal my friend’s copy and look at it again.
Continue the Superman Press Blitz…HERE!
So when you write the number one comic book in the industry, essentially for one year and break current records, what’s left to do?
Do it again of course.
DC Comics’ “Superman/Batman” may not be selling at the same levels of “Batman,” despite being one of the most consistently high selling comics in North America, but writer Jeph Loeb isn’t worried. As he explained to CBR News in the third part of CBR’s Superman celebration, Loeb approaches the book with a singular focus.
Loeb spitting out lyrics, homey he’ll wet you at Comic Book Resources
Arrgh, why do you do this to me, Mr. Loeb? I spend last column defending you and then you can and take another crack at that old “hero takes off his mask and talks about something for 5 issues until they finally hit something in the sixth so it can be collected as a trade†chestnut again. What is with that argument? First off, it is overly simplistic, secondly, it is a barely viable swat at that other company, thirdly, that sort of storytelling is something he has contributed much to (and well), especially in reference to the Marvel “color†books, including Hulk: Grey, which concludes this week (I think). Is the industry really so tiny that there is not enough room for well written slugfest titles and well written introspective titles (once again, being overly simplistic here)? Can no one acknowledge that there is good in both approaches and that neither has really overrun the industry, despite what Internet posters claim? Look, I like Loeb a lot. He seems to be back on the horse with Superman/Batman after the most recent issue. (By the way, Turner’s art is gorgeous. Anyone else who says otherwise is wrong.) It was a good first issue of the arc and the (once again) introspective running monologues of the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight did not devolve into a dominating parody as I felt they did in the last issue of the President Luthor arc. The list of his stuff that I love is really too long to be indulged here, but suffice it to say it is the bulk of his output. But, why, oh why, did he have to say that? Or, at the very least, say it like that. It just seems kind of snipey, which is what I thought was the problem with Marvel, snipey and arrogant.
Am I alone on this one? What do you think Daron?
Wha…me? Does this mean I have to go back and read all that copy above??? All right 1 sec.
*Skims*
Well, I don’t have a problem with an extended storyline as I’ve said on many occasions. But I do have a problem with a storyline that is extended just to be extended (so that it works good in a trade.) What’s wrong with having two 3-issue arcs in a trade, or a series of 1 issue stories, or any other variable? I don’t have a problem with companies planning stories for trades (we all know by now it’s a very viable market and growing) but I just can’t see why this means that each trade has to be 1 story. I’ll use the soon to be departed Inhumans series from DC’s competition as an example. First off, this was a truly underrated title, but past that, in the 12 issues of the series, readers will have been treated to 4 separate stories. That’s right 4 very well done stories in 12 issues, not 2! Granted that books been cancelled, but I’m thinking that has more to do with most fans lack of interest in the Inhumans and not the structure of the book. It could also be Sean McKeever’s curse…him and Peter David should start a support group… – The Overlord
Could You Imagine a God from a Machine? That Would Like SO Rock
deus ex machina (DAY-us ex MAH-kin-ah): Literally, “god from the machine.†A person or force that arrives to provide an improbable solution to an impossible situation, named after the mechanical device used by Greek dramatists to lower actors playing deities onto the stage.
Or, in this case, a new, monthly series series coming from Wildstorm in June by Brian Vaughan and Tony Harris.
Check out the story at Newsarama I promise it has nothing else to do with Greek dramatics. Honestly.
Let’s see. Vaughan, real world superheroics, politics, and a nod to the film Unbreakable? Yup, looks like I may as well hand over my money now. Thank you very much Mr. Vaughan for making me that much poorer in pocket, but richer in enjoyable reading materials.
Oh jeez, that was not too cheesy, was it? I hope that wasn’t too cheesy.
Jolley is Down With the Nuclear Man (Again, No, Not the Obscure Villain from Superman IV: The Quest for Peace…Let It Go Already)
While the band “Five For Fighting” may have said it’s not easy to be Superman, they probably hadn’t heard of Firestorm yet.
The cult classic hero has been through a number of creative changes in the last year- and that’s before a series was even officially underway! But DC Comics have brought together artist Chris Cross with “Voltron” writer Dan Jolley to bring Firestorm back to the forefront of the DCU. CBR News spoke to Jolley who did his best to introduce people to the new “Firestorm.”
Read all about the “classic cult character†(they said it, not me) at Comic Book Resources
Is this a case of ignoring continuity and an already established character to make a quick buck or more of reintroduction of core concepts in a new package, a la the Silver Age’s Green Lantern and Flash, or (sort of) the Modern Era’ Flash, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow (until Ollie came back)? Go to the message board and discuss. Or e-mail me. You are powerless to resist.
“The guy in question is indeed African-American; he’s also shy, likes to read, and is trying his damnedest to grow a convincing moustache.” Best quote of the entire article.
Oh, and Jolley writes (wrote?) Voltron? Well, I’ll be. Didn’t know those characters were still kicking around out there. I am shamed.
It’s The Year of Ed, The Rest of Us Are Just Passing Time
While not working on the highest selling projects, there’s a writer in the comic book industry that’s become a success through hard work, dedication and producing universally acclaimed work. Can you imagine that?
If so, then you’re probably thinking of Ed Brubaker.
With more work on more titles than he’s ever done before, Ed Brubaker seems more ambitious in a year some might dub “The Year of Ed.” But when CBR News asked Brubaker if it was his year, he laughed.
Read all about the man dubbed “DC News and Views Most Reported†(sorry Wonder Woman) at Comic Book Resources
What can I say about Brubaker that I have not already? He’s excellent, everything he writes is gold, etc, etc, etc. I can tell you that he never writes in to this column, but I expect you’d find that not to be all that interesting. So I’ll just stick with telling you to buy anything he writes. And now, I will allow Daron to pimp whatever title of Brubaker’s that he’s in the midst of campaigning for, as that is Daron’s second love (his first being pimping his weekly comic strip…he really is quite selfish). Go to it Daron.
Well you won’t pimp it for me (*subliminal message* read www.144anima.com and be amused), look at Mathan and Jim…they pimp the site all the time and I only have to demand it from them every other day…and you call me selfish??? Now that my first priority is out of the way…Per a direct request from Mr. Brubaker I am no longer “pimping†Gotham Central (even though everyone really needs to be reading this book, you won’t be sorry, and I have the emails from people who have trusted me to prove it). Instead, I’ve been instructed to start pimping Sleeper, Ed’s other book that’s easily one of the 5 best comics on the market. So there you have it…GO BUY SLEEPER! For a more detailed info on Sleeper, check out my column Missing The Boat: Sleeper.
You know, I just realized I could have inserted a link above in your reference to my strip and saved me a lot of time…of well. This was more fun. – The Overlord
Gabrych Discusses All Thing Bat (except, presumably, the film Bat 21…which is too bad, because that is some good stuff)
Andersen Gabrych recently landed an assignment that many comics writers would love to garner, he’s the regular writer on Detective Comics. To find out his perspective on the Bat-verse, SBC recently fired him a round or two of questions. Thanks to Gabrych for what we (at SBC) hope you find to be a lively and engaging exchange.
Search in vain, IN VAIN I TELL YOU, for that Bat 21 reference at Silver Bullet Comics
Does it occur to anyone else (as it does to me) that it might make more sense if these stories were taking place in Gotham Knights and Hush II: The Secret of Hush’s Ooze was taking place ‘Tec (as we kids used to call it back in the day)? That isn’t to say book’s cannot change their tone or mission, but it seems as those they just swapped tones, so my not swap teams instead? Think about it, Gabrych’s take is very psychological and all about the Bat family, costumed and otherwise. Well, that is/was pretty much the aim of Gotham Knights, from Grayson on to Beatty. Over in GK, Batman is trying to unravel the mystery of a woman who initially appears to be a dead lover as well the overall mystery of Hush’s apparent demise and sudden reappearance while pummeling the Riddler. That seems pretty ‘Tec to me, especially in the Dixon vein of storytelling. Obviously, it is a bit too late to change things now and it does not really matter one way or another I suppose, it was just something that occurred to me.
Comics Worth Reading Highlights Stormwatch: Team Achilles
Stormwatch: Team Achilles is well-written military science fiction set in a superhero world, a grown-up GI Joe adventure taken to the next level.
Stormwatch is the United Nations’ special response team, made up of the best international soldiers capable of assassinating superheroes if they need to. In the first story, superpowered terrorists take over UN headquarters. Two Stormwatchers have to break in to get to their weapons and gather their team members, all while under attack. Since the team wasn’t scheduled to be ready for another three weeks, they’re scrambling to get up to speed in a hostage situation.
Read what is, despite my lackluster headline, an interesting look at a title that many of you might not be checking out at Comics Worth Reading
Worth checking out if you are considering getting into the title. It provides a nice summary and some perspective on what has occurred so far.
This July 3rd, Here Comes Free Comic Book Day 3: Die, Free Comic Book Day, Die
July 3rd – go to a comic shop, get a comic book. That’s it.
The Free Comic Book Day committee has released the information regarding this year’s event, sponsors, and titles to be released. For FCBD3, there will be ten Gold Sponsors (new or reprint editions which will be available in every participating store), 19 Silver Sponsors, and a growing list of Bronze sponsors.
See the lineup for this year’s FCBD at Newsarama
First off, thanks xpawn 210475 (if that is your real name) who first sent me the e-mail in reference to Free Comic Book Day. If we were still biweekly, you all would have read it hear about the same time as the other sites, but we aren’t. No sense in looking back, ok?
Typically FCBD is a confusing time as a comic fan. I am sure many of us have looked over the list the past two years and thought, “Well, great, I already own every title that I would want that they are giving away.†Then, eventually, hopefully, if you are like me, you realize, “Oh, that’s right, FCBD is not about me and my petty desire to accumulate free comics, it is about new readers.â€
This year, however, it is about new readers AND my petty desires as the list has grown to include a lot of non-mainstream books that I might not have otherwise been aware or purchased. It is like the best of both worlds now and that pleases me much.
Again…you call me selfish?!? – The Overlord
Friends, DC Celebrate Schwartz’s Life and Impact
On Thursday, friends and family gathered to both remember and celebrate the life of Julie Schwartz. In observance of the event, DC has released the obituary for Schwartz written by his long time friend, Harlan Ellison.
Read Ellison’s remembrances of Schwartz at Newsarama
Celebrating the work and spirit of Julie Schwartz, starting in July, DC will release eight new tribute specials dedicated to Julie, and one of his best-known editorial trademarks, the cover-driven story.
The specials will each contain two 11-page stories, all inspired by the respective classic Silver Age covers the books will carry. Artists and writers who either worked with Julie or were inspired by his work. Each issue will also contain Harlan Ellison’s tribute to Julie, along with the original covers the tribute covers were patterned after.
See what covers make the cut at Newsarama
As always, I do not feel particularly comfortable weighing in on Mr. Schwartz beyond to say that he was a giant of reputation in the field and clearly his passing still reverberates through it.
As far as the cover tribute project, I have to say it is a treat taking a look at those old covers. Very interesting how different the approach to cover marketing was then vs. now. Perhaps with this and Stormwatch, we are re-entering that phase now? We will certainly see.
Kid Amazo? Yeah, We Were Just Kidding or Kid Amazo Trapped in A Maze O’ Postponement
DC has announced that the Kid Amazo graphic novel by Peter Milligan and Rob Haynes has been postponed.
Read the frustratingly brief article at Newsarama
Well this sucks. And not just the article, which fails to explain anything to me at all. Perhaps no one was willing to comment. Anyway, Human Target is great, the previews of this I saw looked sharp and the concept was very smart. I was looking forward to reading a JLA story and now…nada. Too bad.
A Freelance Smith Finds His Cup Runneth Over With DC Work
It wasn’t soon after leaving CrossGen, that Andy Smith wound up with a lot of freelance projects on his plate. The penciler is stoked to be working on Green Lantern # 175. He’s hoping to help the Anniversary issue shine. But that’s not the only upcoming DC work on his drawing board. Smith already has work lined up on Legion, he’s working with Dan Jurgens on Gail Simone’s upcoming story, and also will be putting his spin on the winged wonder, Hawkman. He’s a driven artist and comics aren’t the only opportunity to see more Andy Smith work. The artist has a follow up book for Watson-Guptill on Drawing Dynamic Comics also in the pipeline.
Read all about the man’s various projects at The Pulse
I saw the thumbnail of the purple guy and I thought it was Sinestro for a second. Got excited. Turns out it is a descendant of Abin Sur, the guy that gave Hal the ring. Which is cool, too, I guess. At least that means Sinestro is still dead, so it is nice to see some element of Emerald Twilight still being alive and well in the DCU.
At 99 Cents DC Offers the World’s Best
Following the success of last year’s WORLD’S BEST COMICS: THE GOLDEN AGE DC ARCHIVES SAMPLER (AUG030243), DC Comics offers another terrific promotional tool this June with the WORLD’S BEST COMICS: THE SILVER AGE DC ARCHIVES SAMPLER. This 48-page comic features three classic Silver Age tales and is priced at just $.99 U.S.!
See if you agree with their estimation of bestness (yes, bestness, what of it?) at ComiXtreme
99 cents is a good deal for three stories. Beyond that, I find myself with no words to offer on the subject.
Kryptonian: Translated
Check out this week’s Superman/Batman #8 for some dead language. In this case – Kryptonian, spoken between Superman and the mysterious girl who’s just crash-landed into the DCU.
Who says comics teach us nothing? Check out your Kryptonian to English Dictionary at Newsarama
This article is notable because a.) someone was nice enough to translate Supergirl’s speaking for us, which is cool and b.) the resulting talkback spirals so far away from the article it is a monument to exerting one’s own agenda on a seemingly only tangentially related article. Besides some gratuitous Loeb bashing that I found to be pretty baseless we also get a bizarre debate about whether or not Superman/Batman is producing new Superman readers, new Batman readers, or if its numbers are just a reflection of the two readerships merging. And this goes on for three pages because…well I don’t know. Perhaps it is important and I just missed the why. The silliness is so thick I find it difficult not to choke. There is also an odd discussion about the physics of space travel.
Anyway, my compliments to Kevin White for the translation.
I don’t know how you think this a good thing? Now we’re going to need a pair of translators at all Fanboy conventions to keep the Klingons and the Kryptonians from going into interstellar war. – The Overlord
Let Superman Save Your Screen
Visitors to the DC Comics website now can take interactivity a step further with the new Daily Planet screensaver. Compatible with Windows and Macintosh computers, the screensaver highlights upcoming titles, what books are shipping each week, and more.
Don’t make the Man of Steel weep. Download his screensaver at DC Comics- Superman
I downloaded this because I had a Batman one sometime ago that I acquired after filling out a DC online survey and it was pretty cool. Batman on a rooftop with the Bat symbol blazing behind him, cape flapping away. Very iconic. I dug it much.
Anyway, this time around, there are a couple of quick flashes of Superman that are neat and I like the interactivity angle they built in. However, anyone who is not constantly linked to the net won’t be able to make the most of it and that’s too bad. Plus, the Metropolis building-scape is surprisingly bland. It will be interesting to see how often the stories update. Often makes me a fan of the screensaver, occasionally renders me vaguely disinterested.
TAKING AIM AT THE GRIMACE
yeah, you’re an idiot…. ;)
cheers for the plug.
-jock
I agree… And what’s up with that? You’ll plug some guy’s comic who you don’t even know…but not mine?!? – The Overlord
Well, I can’t think of a better note to end the column on then that. Have a great week. Next week, contest winners!!
