Mighty Avengers #10 (Marvel) - I mentioned last week that New Avengers #39 and Mighty Avengers #10 were supposed to come out this week, but it looks like due to allegations of art theft against artist David Mack Marvel has delayed printing New Avengers #39. Controversy aside, Brian Michael Bendis’ Avenger titles have been top notch, even in the face of crossovers. I think that is because Bendis basically created Secret Invasion… Read the rest of this entry »

The Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TPB (Dark Horse/Marvel) - Reprinting old Marvel Conan comics, Dark Horse has been bringing most of the Conan books to us as color comics in slim, expensive trades. These Dark Horse Presents books are like the Marvel Essentials - about twenty issues of black-and-white reprints in one volume. It may seem nit-picky, but it seems to me that the paper quality is much better for these Dark Horse editions when compared to Essentials or Showcase Presents. This volume contains classic Conan adaptations like “The Slithering Shadow” and “The Pool of the Black One.” Read the rest of this entry »

L For Lloyd

Many of us have seen the film V For Vendetta. Some don’t realize that it was a comic book before that. Written by Alan Moore, this dystopian/super hero book was illustrated by David Lloyd. I was able to speak to Mr. Lloyd about that comic, as well as his newer series, Kickback, published by Dark Horse.

Matt Knicl: What was your general reaction to the movie? Did you feel, like Alan Moore, that it was a “Bush-era fable” or did you think it stood on its own?

David Lloyd: I thought the movie was great, though not as good as the book. But it was a creditable effort, which I was happy to support to the best of my abilities in any way I could. I’ve nothing but praise for everyone involved in bringing the story to the screen and spreading it’s message.
The Wachowski’s definitely had their own agenda in writing the movie and it was evident in the movie itself - but I don’t think that was undermining to the universality of the central themes of the story. Way back in ‘ 88, Alan’s introduction to the DC Vendettas indicated that V was created in reaction to the fascistic tendencies of the Thatcher government, so a lot of people still think the original was a Thatcher-era fable. But this misconception hasn’t damaged the main message of the story, which has always - and will always - rise above the predominant political landscape in any period in which the story is told.

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Justice Society of America #12 (DC) - In this issue Jakeem Thunder returns and the JSA “reaches out to the next wave of legacy heroes: the new Mr. America, Judomaster, Amazing Man and more!” I think I would like this series much more if the roster didn’t change every three issues and relationships are weren’t manufactured and forced, rather than earned. But in team books like JSA, I seldom look for relationships and more at the juxtaposition of various characters. JSA works because of who the team members are, not necessarily what they do. Kingdom Come Superman just has to be in the book for me to want to read it, and if he doesn’t develop as a character, there are a dozen other people on the team I can turn to. Read the rest of this entry »

Mike MIgnola continues to build the Hellboy universe and franchise every year. What started as his monumental Hellboy comic over a decade ago has now spawned two movies, dark fantasy novels, and the spin-off B.P.R.D. series. Focusing on the other Hellboy characters at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense in Hellboy’s absence, this title is joined by Abe Sapien: The Drowning, Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus and the recently released B.P.R.D. 1946. Read the rest of this entry »

Credit: Dark Horse

Is The End Nigh?

I was apprehensive about this series when I first read its description. According to its website, The End League #1 was a “thematic merging of The Lord of the Rings and Watchmen.”

To invoke two of sci-fi/fantasy’s greatest masterpieces, one an epic quest across a unique, magical world, and the other a Cold War era super hero mystery, is nearly blasphemy. So does this first issue deliver on this outlandish assertion? Read the rest of this entry »

I forgot to mention last week that new comic book day is not Wednesday, rather the third business day of that week. While this usually falls on Wednesday, on weeks where Monday has stores closed, or like this or last week where Monday and Tuesday stores are closed, new comic book day is on Thursday and Friday respectively. So this Friday, check out some of the New Year’s newest comics. Read the rest of this entry »

The comic publishers send their product descriptions to Diamond Comic Distributors, the comic book supplier to most comic book stores for North America three months in advance.

This March there are dozens of great titles to preorder. Read the rest of this entry »

Credit: Dark Horse

Long Live The Browncoats!!!

For many, the movie Serenity may not have made sense. And why should it? The movie was meant to satiate the desires of devoted Firefly fans (like me!).

If you have no gorram clue what I’m taking about, Firefly was a sci-fi/western hybrid show created by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) for FOX. Poor scheduling aired the episodes out of order and the show was canceled. Dong ma?

Though the movie was meant to cater to fans, there was enough new in the film that viewers could jump on board. Firefly and Serenity are now cult favorites and continue to find new audiences. Read the rest of this entry »

The Countdown to Finals

As our finals move closer, the stress begins to build. Tests and papers accumulate and some of you may even be graduating. As these pressures build, why not have a release valve so you don’t blow up? Something that can let you escape to fantastical worlds of childish fun. No, not alcohol… I mean comic books! Read the rest of this entry »