Review: Action Comics #958

Superman is fighting Doomsday. Lex Luthor is also fighting Doomsday. Luthor is helping the innocent bystanders. Clark Kent and Jimmy Olson are right there watching and giving commentary. Lois and Jon are watching it on TV and giving commentary. That is the plot of this issue, sure there’s a lot of questions, a mysterious cloaked figure making cryptic comments, but this is a fight issue through and through. At some point Doomsday uses strategy and it is very effective. Also in this issue Lois Lane is talking to her son and says “This is wrong, Jon. It all feels VERY wrong.” Rarely has a character summed up my thoughts on a comic so well. This entire issues feels wrong. Not because Clark Kent is watching Superman from another timeline/world fight Doomsday, that’s just comics, weird stuff happens, but because how Superman is acting.

AC_Cv958_dsSuperman narrates at the beginning that he had to stop Luthor from claiming to be Superman. Thus far all Luthor has done is defeat bad guys and say “with Superman dead I will save the city.” The literal worst thing he has done is claim to be the new Superman. When Superman died back in the old universe, four guys claimed to be Superman, this timeline only has one. Superman has little to complain about.

During the fight, Luthor steps in to save Superman and comes up with a plan to get Doomsday away from the crowd of innocents. While Luthor goes about executing the plan, putting his life in danger, Superman just punches Doomsday and says he can handle this all on his own because he’s the REAL Superman. No communication otherwise, we have no proof that Luthor wasn’t holding his own nor that his plan was crap. Just sheer “I am Superman, leave it to me.” When SUPERMAN’s plan fails, and two innocents are about to meet their doom, Luthor saves them. When Superman saves a train full of people, he tells Luthor to take the train he is literally holding, because only SUPERMAN can save the day.

I…sigh, I just can’t get behind this Superman. I don’t know if Man of Steel has infected Superman, or if Superman has been a jerk all along. Reading this comic makes me believe Lex Luthor is a greater and better hero than Superman. He saves more lives, he tries to work with others more, and seems more willing to work for the greater good. Superman comes off as a petulant child, and that is not my Superman. I’m sure the point of this issue was to show Luthor isn’t cut out to be a hero and only old school Superman can save the day, but that isn’t how they wrote it. The fight scenes aren’t even that great; it is a lot of random destruction, but at least one of the two Supermen actually saves people, it just isn’t the Son of Krpyton, and that makes me sad.

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Action Comics #958
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Release Date: 6/22/16
Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

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Review: Action Man #1

Let's play a game. Let's see how long our American readers can keep their interest in the premise of IDW's latest nostalgic comic property. Based on the British licensed copy of the GI Joe dolls-- Well, that was fast. Yeah, British nostalgia is to blame for this newest addition to the 'it existed, let's do a comic about it' pile that IDW has decided to hang their whole publishing house on, this one feeling especially thin conceptually. I barely understand the lasting appeal of 'G.I. Joe' much less its British translation, a multi-talented spy guy who couldn't keep a cartoon series afloat for more than two seasons. This means to many American readers 'Action Man' has to prove himself as a character on the strength of this series alone, a primer in childhood fantasy from across the pond. Who knows? People still unironically debate the merits of stories told about characters named Major Bludd and Snow Job, maybe there is something in here that could appeal to the vinyl-loving doll collectors of America.

The comic begins with Action Man dying. Good start. Flawless square-jawed, ultra-human Action Man sacrifices himself to save the world, his final words being...a reference to the Action Man line from Bowie's 'Ashes to Ashes.' Jesus Christ. Not only is the line distractingly hilarious in this serious context, I couldn't help but think back to the same gag being used on the 'Venture Brothers'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aqvIU1dkD8

Despite being the Perfect Man, apparently the Action Man mantle can be passed down to the next guy in line, in this case Action Man's Action Buddy Ian, now the younger, less experienced, less perfect Action Man. Think Dick Grayson taking over the Batman mantle after 'Batman R.I.P.' only without the gravitas, character history, and competence. When he isn't taking shit from all sides from his team and superiors for not being the Real Action Man, he's secretly obsessively hunting for Doctor X, the original Action Man's arch nemesis who seemingly perished in the same event that killed said Action Man. No one but Ian and the readers thinks Doctor X is alive, forcing Ian to pursue leads while handling his daily diet of bomb disarmament, hostage rescue, and generic heroing.

ActionMan01-coverIDW's 'Action Man' is your standard issue soft reboot, passing the torch to a new generation while retaining the formula of the original, and formula it is. It's corny, it's supposed to be, but it doesn't really have the charisma, humor, or imagination to really make anything out of it. It feels as if there is an awareness that 'Action Man' is inherently ridiculous but is never pushed far enough to benefit from this insight. For the most part it's played straight when something more akin to 'Danger Girl's' campy exaggeration would be more appropriate. Nothing here is terrible, but nothing here is fun either.

The art isn't awful. Glossy smooth linework, at best recalling a very, very faint resemblance to Immonen/Grawbadger, occasionally feeling intentionally so. The facial expressions are stiff, and the inks look blandly digital at times, but some of the compositions are nice and the action is at least easy to understand. The real issue seems to be more the coloring. When not set in dark locals that can take advantage of the heavy black fills, the colors have a very basic primary colors feel, where the choices seem derived from what crayons tell you the color should be. This is what skin tone looks like. Use it everywhere. With a stronger color job the book could have looked more overall professional, but the end result is squarely mediocre.

Will this convert Joe fans? I couldn't tell you. I understand persistent adult love for G.I. Joe about as much as I understand adults who want R-rated Power Rangers movies; I can't entirely judge but I can't relate. If you are already a fan of the character this will probably be basically serviceable to your needs. As an American, I feel like you'd really need a British person's childhood to squeeze enthusiasm for the pages of people arguing about who deserves to carry on the legacy of this toy. Love it. Hate it. Feel indifferent about it. It's all nostalgically relative. All that is certain is it isn't as lazy as it could be, and for IDW, that's unfortunately saying something.

Cover Gallery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Action Man #1
Writer: John Barber
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99
Release date: 6/22/16
Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

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Review: Aquaman #1

Who'd have thought the best thing I'd read so far in the Rebirth titles would be 'Aquaman'? A couple of weeks in, DC's latest reboot/relaunch/rebranding initiative has been party to more duds than sparkling successes, feeling more like the company testing shallow waters and breifly getting a nice boost from a new set on No. 1's than anything reinvigorated with daring or creativity. While I can't say 'Aquaman' is anything new under the sun, out of the titles I've read so far it is the best looking and strongest written title DC has to offer. At a point of strained tensions between the aquatic kingdom of Atlantis and the surface world, Arthur Curry puts a plan into action to bridge the gap between the two, building a new embassy and kickstarting diplomatic and cultural initiatives to promote unity and understanding. Of course, lurking in the shadows, one of Aquaman's fiercest enemies plots to not only upend his plans but singlehandedly devastate the king's sanity.

Aquaman #1Dan Abnett gets right to the thick of things, wasting little time getting the fires raging in Aquaman's life. The storytelling is efficient, if a little clumsy with expositional monologuing, but it keeps the eye moving from page to page at a nice clip. It will be interesting to see where the book goes from here as things are escalated quickly enough that it's actually a bit of a challenge to guess what happens next. Either there are some masterful strokes of storytelling waiting or the load was blown too quick and we're in for a slog. Either way, this issue opens things up strongly enough to earn a look at that second issue.

The real highlight is the art, lines courtesy of Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessey, with colors by Gabe Eltaeb. The lines are strong, finely detailed with excellent use of space and theatrical animation. The Marvel camp has pushed for a range of styles on their books, hiring interesting innovative artists that would have been considered not mainstream enough for major superhero titles before. While resulting in some talented folks getting a serious career bump, it has been a long time since I've seen a new superhero comic book drawn in a more traditionally superhero style that caught my eye, with a lot of titles mimicking styles but rarely having anything boldly its own. This comic looks like a superhero comic. It doesn't mimic cinematic framing or strive to be either photorealistic or artistic abstraction, the perfect middle ground for a book like this. Eltaeb's colors imbue this poppy linework with the vibrant light it needs, saturated and bright but without showy details to lean attention from the linework, deceptively simple. This team put together a great looking book and commendations to them for giving it such a go.

It's a big opener, but it does leave me wondering how strong the follow-up can really be. Potentially intriguing or worrying, this opening act at the very least gives us a strong starting point for a new Aquaman story, if not a guarantee of a starting point for a whole new era for Aquaman himself. As Dustin Cabeal on the Comic Bastards podcast noted, Abnett promises a lot with big talk from Black Manta and failure to follow through on at least some of it could leave bitter disappointment with readers giving a hardly A-team hero another shot at their pocketbook. I'll reserve judgement till the book's next move is revealed and take this issue for what it is, a solid-looking read that delivers more than I imagined Aquaman would.

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Aquaman #1
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Brad Walker
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Release date: 6/22/16
Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

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Review: The Dark #1

The subtitle to this issue is “Boo Hag” which is weird because the story inside only talks about the “Boo Witch.” Obviously its referring to the same thing, but I wondered why there wasn’t a switch made on either the title or within the story just for the sake of consistency. It’s a small detail, but it instantly stood out to me. Otherwise this first issue of The Dark is a very enjoyable “ghost story.” It’s actually a witch story, but we just lump all horrorish tales like this under “ghost” because otherwise telling them at the campfire would annoy everyone.

“Don’t you mean monster story?”

“Shut up, Trevor, just let them tell the fucking story!”

The-Dark-#1-1I’m ranting a little because I can’t tell you much about this story. It’s about two men in the woods. One is there as a guide and the other is there as a skeptical reporter. They’re looking for a big foot, but as our guide explains, that’s not what’s haunting these woods.

The writing is decent. The dialogue at times is rough and not very natural flowing. It does give you the impression that these two people don’t know each other which is a nice touch to the story. With a story like this it is usually all about the build up to the ending and with that I will say that even for its dry moments, The Dark builds towards the ending quite well.

The art reminds me of something, but I can’t put my finger on it. It’s a great fit for the story as it sticks to black and white and some grey tones. The tones are on the darker side, which keeps with the vibe of the story. There’s a great use of the negative space as Kelly Williams switches between the trees being light and dark, it just depends on the scene. It’s very effective, though, and keeps the story from being covered in darkness.

If this first issue is any indication of what to expect from this series, then I will be back for more. I enjoyed the presentation and the storytelling. It felt like a camp fire ghost story and that’s no easy task to recreate in a comic book. The only thing I hope that will improve is the lettering because it was quite difficult to read at times, but otherwise a solid first outing for this series.

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The Dark #1 “Boo Hag” Creator: Kelly Williams Publisher: Alterna Comics Price: $0.99 Release Date: 6/22/16 Format: Digital

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Review: Detective Comics #935

Batdad never understands. Let's talk about a cliché for a moment. It's the 'you're not ready' cliché. Somebody is really good at something important, something important to the story. They are so good at it it's kind of unbelievable, but it's important that they be good at it, because a lot of people are counting on them. Then there is somebody watching over said person, somebody even gooder at this thing, who poo-poos this somebody at every turn because they are just 'not ready'. “You'll get hurt.” “Others could get hurt.” “You don't act like a team.” “Not until you learn to take orders.”

Batman writers love this cliché, because it fits very well into the contradiction that is the Batfamily. Batman is a lone wolf, a tortured soul dwelling in the cracks in the walls of Gotham, hunting justice flavored catharsis in violent loneliness. Despite this, Batman over the years has developed quite a motley crew of allies, a list that grows every major publishing revolution, and has to split his time between being the Batman and being something else: Batdad, patriarch of the Batfam. Father knows best, and what father knows how to do best is constantly rag on his little Bat sons and daughters for being inadequate in his cowled eyes. How do you write a loner that for some reason is surrounded by people he arms, dresses, and treats like employees? By having him constantly reject them for dramatic purposes.

Detective Comics #935And it's goddamn exhausting.

The latest issue of 'Detective Comics' is bickering and debate of whether the team that Batman just assembled should even be together. The only guy who doesn't have much to say is Clayface, who almost seems resigned to the fact that he really doesn't make much sense as a member of a team made up of teenaged ninjas (though, I guess we should be on the lookout in the next few issues for Clayface to get a new sexy teenage ninja form perhaps...consider this calling it. #ClayfaceIsTheNewLobo ). It's a tale as old as time, Batman doesn't trust his partners to not be bulletbait chowderheads when the going gets tough. But as many Batman writers have gone with this easy drama fodder, the single towering titan of this cliché in the BatAnnals will always be 'Batman and Robin'. And that's what I thought of when I read this. I'm not saying this is written as awfully as that day-glo nightmare, I'm saying that a year shy of 20 years since Joel Schumacher alley murdered Chris O' Donnell's career, writers still haven't learned that Batbickering about readiness isn't exciting, dramatic, or compelling storytelling. It's annoying.

There needs to be a goal. Something to strive for. A metric for what readiness means. To compare to an unrelated but successful piece of media, 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' featured a lot of different people telling the hero Aang he wasn't ready, but there was a specific goal in mind and very specific measurements, both in the universe and narratively, that allowed us to see Aang's path to accomplishment. When his teachers tell him he's not ready, we believe them because we can see that they are right and we want to see him succeed. Here, the teacher doesn't trust anyone, the students are all individually too capable to be locked away from danger, and the threat is intentionally mysterious. When Batman won't even trust the woman he brought on to train his team, Batman ends up being the dumbest guy in the room.

You know the number one reason why stories like this are so tiring? It's all building up to a resolution. The team will come together, fight as one, and win the big game on Sunday. Batman will learn the error of his ways and learn to trust his comrades, having a heart to heart with Robin where he tells him he believes in him and they should go on that fishing trip they always talked about. Teamwork beats evil. All is right in the world.

Until the next writer.

Who does this whole story again.

Superman always comes back to Lois. Xavier always ends up back in the chair. And Batman will always distrust Robin.

Oh, I liked the art in the book a little more than last time. Less crowded rooftop shots. It helped.

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Detective Comics #935
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Eddy Barrows
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
Release date: 6/22/16
Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

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Review: Wonder Woman #1

I don't think I really understand Wonder Woman. I like the idea of a powerful warrior princess whose bloodlust is matched by her soulfulness. I'm less comfortable with the strapless, busty, pin-up girl, who still bears the titillating legacy of her bondage-themed first appearance. Diana is my go to example of the comics industry wanting the trappings of maturity without having to abandon some bad habits of yesteryear. It's great to see a powerful woman dispatching villains but it's high time DC  gave her pants and some armor and stopped drawing her like she's fresh from the Playboy mansion. Further, and likely following from this central incoherence, there's often something stiff about Wonder Woman's characterization. She's Superman without the cultural cache, Thor without the Jack Kirby background. She's female perfection, male wish-fulfillment, and 50s camp icon rolled into one awkward package. She's a character that DC, a company replete with problems in how it depicts women, desperately needs to work, but as of yet, she hasn't quite. I don't say all this to insult the work writer Greg Rucka is doing with the character but instead to highlight what a monumental task it is to write a good Wonder Woman story. Rucka isn't new to the character, having written a well respected run in the early 2000s, but having read the beginning of that series, I still feel he wasn't ever able to quite make a dynamic character out of Themyscera's emmissary. Enter DC's 'Rebirth' initiative, giving Rucka a chance to return to the character on his own terms, able to sequel and reinvent in equal parts try once again to a truly great Wonder Woman story. His approach is bold, telling a new origin story and a modern adventure one, in alternating issues, putting a comprehensive spin on Wonder Woman's continuity (more on that in a moment). First up is the modern period, which find Diana wandering a Rain Forrest looking for answers to a personal mystery.

Wonder-Woman-#1Rucka does something clever straight off the bat to make Wonder Woman more than swords and sandals cliche, he establishes a supporting cast. I'm not very familiar with Wonder Woman continuity (again, more on that later), but I get the impression the new version of Ettna Candy and Steve Trevor will be a shock for longtime fans, but as characters in their own right, they work. Candy is a military official in contact with contract soldier Trevor during a mission involving an African warzone city whose children are disappearing. Satellite photos have tipped Candy off that Wonder Woman is in the area and she suspects Trevor may have leaked information (a pleasantly exposition free indication of a Trevor/WW relationship). The two characters are modern and well developed, giving a sense of scale and steaks to Wonder Woman's heroics.

I love a moment when Steve Trevor glances at a photo of Wonder Woman he keeps with him, only to have his teammate note that it's a particularly unflattering photo of the statuesque beauty. Indeed, Diana looks goofy and caught off-guard in the photo, but Trevor doesn't mind responding "thing is...this one's mine." It's an especially nice moment when coupled with Diana's portrayal as a graceful, intellectual bruiser. Rucka writes Diana as a woman confident in her own power and purpose, which makes her a worthy hero, but a little flat to read.

Thankfully Liam Sharp's pencils lend a lot of life to Wonder Woman, making her look more acrobatic than I am used to. Jumping and twisting through the jungle, Wonder Woman radiates a joy in her movements that pleasantly offsets her serious tone. And within the confines of WW's still far too revealing, ridiculous costume, Sharp manages to make Diana look imposing and not too objectified. Occasionally Sharp's faces feel a little off, but the richly detailed backgrounds and evocative body language easily makes up for it. I can say with confidence that the book is one of Rebirth's prettiest and will make a stunning trade paperback at some point in the future.

The big question mark remains the story itself with Wonder Woman. As with Titans  #1 and Flash #1, reference is made to someone tampering with the hero's past. I would be a little disappointed if this all ends up being a tie-in to the Watchmen related madness of the Rebirth core book, but it would seem an odd stretch if the characters in multiple books have unrelated memory loss. Basically, DC is reworking its continuity yet again, and while that is not generally hugely exciting, Rucka's confident debut puts this book off to a good start.

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Wonder Woman #1 Writer: Greg Rucka Artist: Liam Sharp Publisher:  DC Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/22/16 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

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Review: Rai #14

Rai is very much the beginning of Valiant’s current summer event book 4001 A.D. You would think that because of that Rai would be tie into it heavily, but thankfully it doesn’t. Because history has shown that when a title series ties into an event like that the readership tends to scratch their head and wonder why they’re getting the same story twice. A device that’s become more and more common in recent years is having the title series reveal more of the past of the event. Rather than mimic the event, the book supports it. That’s the case with Rai as the story arc has delved into the past of the different Rai’s, of which there have been many.

This particular story follows Sai, a female Rai. She’s been Rai for a hundred years and is starting to notice that she’s not as successful as when she first began. That the society has changed and that Father is part of the reason.

RAI_014_COVER-A_MACKThe story is a quick read. It’s basically a one-shot because the actual story is about Father and how he’s shaped New Japan and not the different Rai’s. That’s just the distraction because we’re intrigued by the different Rai’s. The first one was a little boy used to motivate the people. Sai was used to show the people compassion and the third one we meet is used to control them with fear. We basically see when Father decides he needs a soft or heavy hand to guide his people. Which is just like being a real parent.

Matt Kindt always writes in layers, but I have to say that his writing here is some of my favorite as of late. There’s so much thought going into this story arc and what’s even more incredible is that he’s not waving it in your face. As is the case with most of his writing, you either get it or you don’t. He gives you enough on the surface to enjoy, but if you really dive into the story you’re rewarded with more.

Not being a big fan of Clayton Crain’s, I welcome Cafu to the series. Cafu keeps the world feeling like the future, but I don’t get lost in all the details. Instead I really got to appreciate the world of world of Rai and New Japan. There isn’t a ton of action in the issue, but what moments there are look great and are interesting. That and I liked the tentacles, which seems like a tip of the hat to Japan’s manga and anime.

I haven’t actually read 4001 A.D. yet. I keep meaning to, but I haven’t. That said, I can tell you honestly that you don’t need to be reading it to understand this story arc of Rai. Instead this continues on its own and gives us an interesting back story of sorts, for Father. Though it does accomplish its mission in making me want to read 40001 A.D.

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Rai #14 Writer: Matt Kindt Artist: Cafu Publisher: Valiant Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/22/16 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

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Welcome To The New Comic Bastards!

Okay new is a stretch. I mean, we're still doing the same thing we've always done and that's dig through comics and deliver you the best reviews we can. We have a new look that we've had for a few weeks and now we have a new logo thanks to Justin Wood! Please check out his Facebook page and if you're looking for an artist hire this man! He's mad talented. Going forward you'll also see a new banner image featuring our writer's image on all of the reviews. This is to give you an idea of the people working on the site. We're not a bunch of faceless bastards, but rather proud Comic Bastards. We hope you'll continue to visit the site and check out our honest, agenda free reviews. Most of all we hope you'll get that we love comics and that's why we're here. I know with a name like "Comic Bastards" this gets lost on some people, but trust me, we wouldn't do this if we didn't love comics just as much as you.

Alright, internet group hug is over. On with the reviews!!!

-Dustin Cabeal

Diamond and Funko Are Releasing Dark Knight Returns Figures In That Style They Do

Someone should tell Batman not to clinch like that because he's going to blow out his colon... and is that seriously the only face he can make? No fiber Batman face? But hey... everybody loves that Funko style so I'm sure you'll see it on some nerd's self. From Diamond Comics:

Frank Miller’s groundbreaking and acclaimed graphic novel, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2016, and Diamond Comic Distributors and Funko have teamed up for a line of PREVIEWS exclusive Funko Pop! Vinyl Figures.

You’ll find four impressive depictions of Batman from The Dark Knight Returns in the urban stylized design of Funko POP! Heroes Vinyl Figures, with a design that could only be inspired by the mind of Frank Miller. The line continues in the months ahead with PX figures of the Joker (available October 2016), government agent Superman (available January 2017), and Carrie Kelly’s Robin (available February 2017)!

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The seven PX figures will be available to preorder from the July PREVIEWS for a suggested retail price of $11.99 each: • POP DC HEROES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS BATMAN BLUE PX VINYL FIG (JUL162701) • POP DC HEROES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS BATMAN BLACK PX VINYL FIG (JUL162702) • POP DC HEROES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS ARMORED BATMAN PX VINYL FIG (JUL162703) • POP DC HEROES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS UNMASKED AMORED BATMAN PX VINYL FIG (JUL1620704) • POP DC HEROES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS JOKER PX VINYL FIG (JUL162706, Available OCT 2016) • POP DC HEROES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS SUPERMAN PX VINYL FIG (JUL162707, available JAN 2017) • POP DC HEROES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS CARRIE KELLY ROBIN PX VINYL FIG (JUL162705, available FEB 2017)

Fans are encouraged to pre-order their own The Dark Knight Returns Funko Pop! Vinyl Figures at their local comic book shop from the July PREVIEWS catalog to ensure they get each when they are released in early September.

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To find a comic shop to order, visit www.comicshoplocator.com.

Ulises Fariñas & Magnetic Press Announce New Publishing Imprint, BUÑO

Magnetic Press & star comic writer/artist Ulises Fariñas announced Buño, a unique new comic book publishing imprint at Magnetic Press. The imprint is independently operated and curated by Ulises Farinas & Storme Smith.

The first 3 titles to be published by Buño will be: LIGHT (written & illustrated by Rob Cham), CLOUDIA & REX (written by Ulises Fariñas & Erick Freitas, illustrated byDaniel Irizarri), and THE GUARDIAN FORCE DESIGN MANUAL (written & illustrated by Ulises Fariñas, inked by Mike Prezzato).

“We started Buño because we want to make this industry better,” said Fariñas.  “I'm a Latino creator, I'm Cuban American, I'm Cuban/Afro-Cuban, I'm a lot of things, and I want to not just hear publishers talk about diversity, I want to be that diversity, and I want to make that possible for others as well.

“Buño is an indie publisher and a half, but we've been working with our like-minded partners Magnetic Press because Buño will be jumping beyond the small-scale self-publishing model to get these new books into the hands of audiences all around the world, and no one does that better than Magnetic Press."

Light

The first title to be released by Buño is LIGHT, a silent, original graphic novel written & illustrated by Rob Cham. Light is a silent graphic novel that follows a pair of adventurers from a black & white world as they embark on an epic quest to collect five magic gems of color from deep inside the earth and bring them to the surface to return color to the world. Their perilous journey through torch-lit darknesses takes them to vibrant secret caverns, endless passages, crystal-clear waters, and encounters with strange beasts, dangerous creatures, and mysterious hermits. LIGHT will hit shelves September, 2016.

Cloudia and Rex

CLOUDIA & REX, written by Ulises Fariñas & Eric Freitas and illustrated by Daniel Irizarri. CLOUDIA & REX is a lushly rendered supernatural fantasy that follows two girls and their mother who find themselves in the middle of a vast, supernatural exodus. On their journey Cloudia is bestowed the powers of hundreds of different gods, but even those don’t help her come to terms with the death of her father.

Guardian Force Design Manual

THE GUARDIAN FORCE DESIGN MANUAL is a meta-fictional art & design book written & drawn by Ulises Fariñas, inked by Mike Prezzato. Packed with Fariñas’ signature style of endlessly detailed art; the book presents a staggering array of strange technologies, bizarre monsters, and towering super-suits. The Guardian Force Design Manual seamlessly blends fiction with real-world design history, functioning as both an artistic timeline for a vibrant fictional world, and a showcase for the lineage of design in the Sentai and Tokusatsa genres.

“Buño is a silly made-up word, and it really reflects the kind of content we want to publish,” said Fariñas. “We’re going to publish comics that are fresh and unexpected. We are going to make the kind of books you can make when you have 100% creative freedom.”

Buño debuts with Rob Cham’s LIGHT, in stores September 2016.

ComicBlitz Launches New Web Reader For “All You Can Read” Comics

Hey this is a smart move and a step ahead of a few other platforms out there. I'll be interested to try it out. That and they now have 23 publishers and the first 30 days are free. Worth checking out if like me you have no where to store your print comics. From ComicBlitz:

Since its debut in October, ComicBlitz has introduced scads of iOS users to binge-reading comic books. For Android and Windows users who have waited patiently for a chance to try the subscription service, the wait is finally over. Today, the platform is expanding with the launch of a universally compatible web app that operates on all devices -- PC’s, laptops, tablets, and smartphones on any OS (Android, Windows, Mac, and iOS).

For $9.99/mo, less than the price of one graphic novel, ComicBlitz offers unlimited access to thousands of comic books and graphic novels. Readers can binge-read entire ongoing and completed series using a monthly subscription plan. The platform carries titles from Top 10 publishers, such as Valiant and Dynamite, offering acclaimed series such as The Boys (recently picked-up by Cinemax), Divinity, Red Sonja, Bloodshot, and many others.

Though the iOS app currently remains the sole native app for ComicBlitz, the company is planning to unveil an Android app in the near future. ComicBlitz founder Jordan Plosky said, “Expanding our platform to include a mobile-responsive, web-based app allows us to reach exponentially more comic readers and introduce new readers to the stories and characters we all love. We’re very proud to continue delivering a truly unlimited library of content with no limitations as to what our readers can consume. Not only are we expanding the ways for readers to access ComicBlitz, but we’re also expanding our library of content by adding new publishers every month.”

The service offers several key features to keep the app content-focused and manageable. For example, it streams comic books rather than having to download each comic, providing faster, easier reading without burdening device memory.  Content does not “rotate”, which means once the content arrives on ComicBlitz, it remains on the platform indefinitely so the user does not have to rush to complete a series.

To celebrate the launch, new users can get their 1st month free, when they sign up at www.comicblitz.com.  ComicBlitz is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA with the goal of “Imprinting Comics on a New Generation”.  They pride themselves on offering “All You Can Read. Anytime. Anywhere.”

Viz Launches New Manga Series 'EVERYONE'S GETTING MARRIED'

Everyone except for you... sorry couldn't resist. I'm actually looking forward to checking this series out, but I will "but you" every time I talk about it. Just fun that way. From Viz:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premiere company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, launches a new josei manga series about a career woman’s pursuit of a committed relationship with the debut of EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED, available today.

everyone-s-getting-married-manga-vol-1The new series, by creator Izumi Miyazono, is rated ‘M’ for Mature readers and carries a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. The series is also available digitally via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. Subsequent volumes of the continuing series will be published in English three times a year.

Successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her to pursue his own career goals, she encounters popular newscaster Ryu Nanami. Asuka and Ryu get along well, but the last thing he wants is to ever get married. This levelheaded pair who want the opposite things in life should never get involved, except…

“EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED is a contemporary romance about two busy professionals who are trying to figure out their own happy ending,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “This series will appeal to our adult readers as well as fans of Japanese and Korean romantic TV dramas—except this is steamier!”

Manga creator Izumi Miyazono debuted in 2005 with Shunmin Shohousen (A Prescription for Sleep). In 2014 she began EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED, which is serialized in Japan in Petit Comic.

For more information on titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

Expect More Merch From Viz As They Head Back To Licensing Expo 2016

I would love to just walk around the Licensing Expo because that's where the shit happens. I'll be curious to see what comes from this, much like last week's MST3K announcement from last week. From Viz:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, has announced its participation at the upcoming Licensing Expo 2016. Licensing Expo 2016 is the world’s largest and most influential annual licensing industry event and takes place June 21st – 23rd at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #K226.

During the convention, the company will showcase a variety of titles from its extensive catalog of anime properties. VIZ Media is currently developing an original animated series based on the endearing Japanese children’s property, GAKKIMALS, and is also the North American master licensee for the ONE-PUNCH MAN anime series, which is based on the bestselling manga series (also published by VIZ Media) about an average-guy-turned-superhero with an extraordinarily powerful punch!

VIZ Media actively oversees the licensing and development of a comprehensive range of products based on a wide array of celebrated properties across several key consumer categories. The company is the longstanding master licensee for the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN series in North and Latin American. The company further serves as the North American master merchandise licensee for products based on the HUNTER X HUNTER, JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE and TERRAFORMARS anime series.

Properties VIZ Media will highlight at Licensing Expo 2016 include:

GAKKIMALS GAKKIMALS combines the evergreen appeal of music and animals into a vibrant environment that inspires early childhood learning. Welcome to the wonderful adventures of the GAKKIMALS, where madcap mash-ups of musical instruments and animals combine to bring happiness and harmony to their fun-filled world. VIZ Media has acquired the production and licensing rights to develop an original animated series based on the original concept created by the Japanese production duo, PecanNuts. The series will be produced under license from ShoPro, a subsidiary of three of Japan's largest publishing houses, Shogakukan Inc., Shueisha Inc. and Hakusensha Inc.

ONE-PUNCH MAN (Rated ‘TV-14’) In the smash ONE-PUNCH MAN, nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem – he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Every time a promising villain appears, he beats the snot out of ’em with one punch! Can Saitama finally find an opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of super-powered boredom?

Additional VIZ Media anime properties available for license include:

HUNTER X HUNTER (Rated ‘TV-14’) Hunters are a special breed, dedicated to tracking down treasures, magical beasts and even other people. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Those who do pass gain access to restricted areas, amazing stores of information and the right to call themselves “Hunters.” Can Gon, a country boy, follow his father and join their ranks?

VIZ Media’s all new English dubbed HUNTER X HUNTER anime series premiered this year on Adult Swim’s Toonami on April 16th.

JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE (Rated ‘TV-14’) The legendary Shonen Jump classic (latest season currently streaming) is a groundbreaking series with multiple story arcs whose creation has already spanned 25 years. It’s famous for outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles. Join the Joestar family as they fight the evil Dio and his legacy across continents and time!

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (Rated ‘TV-14’) Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga properties. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens, in print and digital editions) and animated counterpart (NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN) are some of VIZ Media’s most successful titles and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

The NARUTO SHIPPUDEN brand continues to grow with new partners and licensed categories, including 3D mugs, bath and household items, high fashion, action figures, auto accessories, electronics and more. NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN enjoys widespread popularity internationally and VIZ Media has teamed with a variety of prominent product partners to develop the property into strong multimedia brands for burgeoning international consumer markets. More information on NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at: Naruto.com.

TERRAFORMARS (Rated ‘TV-14’) A sci-fi drama set in the far future when humanity seeks to resolve Earth’s growing overpopulation problem by terraforming Mars as their second home! Five hundred years later, the United Nations Aeronautics and Space Administration sends out an expedition team to explore this new world. But an unintended side effect of the terraforming process has unleashed a horror no one could ever have imagined: the planet has become infested with Terraformars, man-sized cockroaches that prey on humans. Now humanity must bring together all its scientific resources and power to counter this monstrous threat, or face total extinction.

For additional information on these as well as other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

Fables Returns To Vertigo With Everafter... No Not The Movie... Never The Movie

Like most comic book readers I never finished Fables; at least I'm assuming most comic readers since everyone I talk to has started the series and that's about it. But this could be interesting. Given what I know about Fables it could be a fresh jumping on point. From Vertigo Comics:

Beginning this September, a new chapter of the Fables legacy will begin with EVERAFTER: FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES. A new monthly Vertigo comic book —from the creative team behind the acclaimed digital-first series FABLES: THE WOLF AMONG US, writers Matthew Sturges and Dave Justus, with artwork by Travis Moore and covers by Tula Lotay — EVERAFTER takes place after Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham’s beloved Eisner Award-winning series.

"EVERAFTER is a spy thriller featuring a covert-ops team whose mission is to save this newly magical world from itself," explains co-writer Dave Justus. "The story has a uniquely Vertigo flair, filled with twists, double-crosses, and agents willing to give their lives for (fairy) queen and (goblin) country!" 

Everafter-1"We've always hated that feeling of getting to the end of a great book and wondering, 'But then what happened?'" says co-writer Matthew Sturges. "Bill Willingham planted so many seeds in the final issue of FABLES that it was impossible for us to let it lie." 

In a post-FABLES world where magic abounds, it can be wielded for the greater good or used to sow the ideas of anarchy and terrorism. Enter The Shadow Players, a global network of agents—both Fable and mundane—tasked with policing a newly enchanted world and protecting humanity from itself. The series will feature fan-favorite characters, including Bo Peep, Peter Piper, Hansel, and Connor Wolf, as well as exciting new characters and a terrifying new villain.

"EVERAFTER is an extraordinary opportunity for us to build onto the stories of characters from FABLES that we love, offer new revelations, flesh out the lives of some lesser known characters, and bring brand-new Fables into the mix," explains artist Travis Moore. "For me, it's always a joy to get to design new characters; I'm bringing a more dynamic action style to the FABLES community than fans have seen from me." 

"The terrific job Matt Sturges, Dave Justus, and Travis Moore did on the comic adaptations of the Wolf Among Us video games made them the perfect team to carry this new spin-off series," says FABLES creator Bill Willingham. "There are some terrific surprises ahead in a world that is no longer mundy. What happens in a world that now knows about Fables and the sharp rise of magic in their midst? EVERAFTER is going to show us."

This Doom Patrol #1 Solicit Is Pretty Magical

I was already all about DC's Young Animal from DC and Gerard Way. Frankly I think it's the bold idea that a big company like DC/WB should be doing because it's good for the industry. Take more chances and the rest will follow. Or better yet, give them something to copy because the industry is notorious for that as well. This solicit made me smile. It reminded me of why I like Gerard Way and it washed the taste of that horrible Killjoys book he co-wrote, out of my mouth. Read it and be delighted. Also... removable sticker. You just sold one print copy you normally wouldn't have. From DC:

The atoms are buzzing. The daydreams crowd sentient streets, and the creative team has been warned, “Turn back now or suffer the mighty consequence of sheer, psycho-maniacal mayhem.” Generation-arsonists unite—this is DOOM PATROL, and the God of the Super Heroes is bleeding on the floor.

Doom-Patrol-#1A blenderized reimagining of the ultimate series of the strange, DOOM PATROL combines elements from classic runs, new directions, and things that could not be. Our entry point is Casey Brinke, a young EMT on the graveyard shift to abstract enlightenment, with a past so odd that she’s not entirely sure what is real and what is not. Along with her partner, Sam Reynolds, the pair blaze a path through the city and its denizens, finding the only quiet that exists at 3am is the chaos of the brain. When the pair answer a hit-and-run call, they find themselves face to face with a familiar figure: Cliff Steele, AKA Robotman.

“It gets weirder from here,” writer Gerard Way had to say about the book, with artist Nick Derington gripping tightly on the wheel of the ambulance. The pair’s only communication? Shouting out of the open windows while at high velocity. Who needs a new roommate? Who names a cat “Lotion”? And when do we get to see all those muscles?

Find your answers inside the pages of this comic book, as we set the stage for new beginnings, as well as the re-introduction of some classic DOOM PATROL characters, including Niles Caulder, Negative Man, Flex Mentallo, and Crazy Jane.

The debut title of DC’s Young Animal line kicks off with a removable sticker on its cover: Pull back the gyro to reveal its secrets, but be warned—there is no turning back.

make mine INDIE #1 - Summer 2016 Releases

Hey the first issue of make mine INDIE is out. Check it out and remember this isn't a previews type "coming soon" thing, it's a "Hey these indie comics are out and available now and here's how to get them" type thing. [su_quote]In this debut issue of our comics anthology magazine, you'll find information and preview pages on over 50 different comics from some of the best indie publishers and creators in comics. Highlighting comic creators and their creations, make mine INDIE is the easiest way to discover your next favorite indie comic book![/su_quote]

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Before the preview you can check out some reviews we've done for books featured in this issue:

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'Seven To Eternity' (Whatever That Means) Is Coming This September

"Hey do you have the time?" "Seven to Eternity"

"Oh... I didn't know we were just being dicks to each other now Roger. Just asking a simple question man."

Or something like that.

From Image Comics:

Bestselling writer Rick Remender (BLACK SCIENCE, DEADLY CLASS, LOW, TOKYO GHOST), artist Jerome Opeña (Uncanny X-Force, Fear Agent), and colorist Matt Hollingsworth (TOKYO GHOST, WYTCHES) launch an all-new, jaw-dropping ongoing series in SEVEN TO ETERNITY this September.

In SEVEN TO ETERNITY, The God of Whispers has spread an omnipresent paranoia to every corner of the kingdom of Zhal; his spies hide in every hall spreading mistrust and fear. Adam Osidis, a dying knight from a disgraced house, must choose between joining a hopeless band of magic users in their desperate bid to free their world of the evil God, or accepting his promise to give Adam everything his heart desires.

“Before our time at Marvel, Jerome and I began working together at Image ten years ago on titles such as Strange Girl and Fear Agent so it’s very fitting we return now to tell the tale of the Seven to Eternity,” said Remender. “All those years ago we began discussing doing an epic fantasy tale at some point, should the planets ever align. A unique take on the familiar genre full of action, unexpected twists, totally unique characters and a villain who might end up stealing the show. It’s taken us a decade to get it together, but the wait was worth it. During the past decade we’ve collaborated on numerous projects and fine-tuned our mighty nerd skills to a point where what we produce here will eclipse our past collaborations and consume all evil in the universe and give a new pony to every child. This is without question Jerome’s best work to date and when you add super champion of color jive Matt Hollingsworth, once their powers are mixed into the art cauldron, something new and terrifying is born, a new level of sequential science.”

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Opeña added: "It's been a long time coming, so it's amazing that Rick and I are seeing a project we've been developing for years finally become a reality. Having Matt Hollingsworth join up with us makes it even more exciting and I hope readers will enjoy what we've all been tirelessly working on."

SEVEN TO ETERNITY takes readers on a hard road through the strange fantasy world of Zhal. All men have surrendered their freedom for fear. Now, one last free man must choose. 

SEVEN TO ETERNITY #1 Cover A by Opeña and Hollingsworth (Diamond Code JUL160664), Cover B by Tony Moore (Diamond Code JUL160665), and Cover C by Andrew Robinson (Diamond Code JUL160666) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, September 21st. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, August 29th. 

Hickman's 'The Black Monday Murders' Is Coming in August

Image Comics is pleased to announce the all-new, ongoing crypto-noir series THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS by New York Times and Eisner Award winning writer Jonathan Hickman (EAST OF WEST) and Tomm Coker (Undying Love) will launch in in August. Black-Monday-MurdersTHE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS is classic occultism where the various schools of magic are actually clandestine banking cartels who control all of society: a secret world where vampire Russian oligarchs, Black popes, enchanted American aristocrats, and hitmen from the International Monetary Fund work together to keep ALL OF US in our proper place.

“I’ve gotten to work on some pretty interesting books over the past few years,” said Hickman. “This is, by far, the most proud I’ve been. I can’t wait for people to read it.”

THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS is a story about the power of dirty, filthy money… and exactly what kind of people you can buy with it.

THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS #1 (Diamond Code JUN160575) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, August 10th. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, July 18th.

Top Cow Creates Shared Universe With 'Eden's Fall'

Image Comics/Top Cow is pleased to announce the all-new series EDEN’S FALL by Atilio Rojo, set to launch this August. Top Cow combines three of its most provocative titles—THINK TANK, THE TITHE and POSTAL—in an unflinching fable of revenge and consequence. THE TITHE's FBI Agent James Miller follows a sociopath into the off-the-grid town of Eden, Wyoming on a personal mission of vengeance. The price of this vigilante justice will be paid in blood, and both Eden and James Miller will never be the same.

EDEN’S FALL #1 Cover A by Rahsan Ekedal (Diamond Code JUN160591) and Cover B by Linda Sejic (Diamond Code JUN160592) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, August 31st. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, August 8th.

Eden's Fall 1 Eden's Fall 2

CBMFP 239: You Gonna Cut That Lawn

Today on the show we kick off with the news that Titan Comics has made a deal to release new Robotech comics. New Line Cinema is making The Kitchen into a film and there's plenty of stuff happening in the Spider-Man comic book. Is it any good? Should you be reading Spider-Man? We'll answer these questions and more. Books reviewed on this episode:

  • Detective Comics #935
  • Lucas Stand #1
  • Dark Night: A True Batman Story
  • Luther Strode Vol. 3
  • Vision #8
  • Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #8

Previously on the CBMFP...