It was announced yesterday that the pages of Superman #13 would see mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent quit his job at the Daily Planet, due to a combination of personal issues and a growing frustration with the current state of journalism.
THERE WILL BE VERY MILD SUPERMAN AND JUSTICE LEAGUE SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON. DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO STAY IN THE DARK.
This move is the latest in a series of pre and post-New 52 changes for the Last Son of Krypton, which have included renouncing his U.S.citizenship and splitting with longtime love Lois Lane. The latter was particularly outrageous to fans, and Clark and Lois had maintained what was arguably one of the strongest and most meaningful committed relationships in comics since their marriage in 1996.
The Daily Planet first appeared in what would eventually become the DC Universe in Action Comics #23, published in April of 1940. At the moment, it's unclear whether Kent and entertainment reporter Cat Grant, who also quits, will seek to start new ventures, together of apart (similar to when Marvel's Ben Urich lost his job at the Daily Bugle and founded Front Line), or move to an existing publication.
Superman #13 hits shelves today.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Ant-Man Slated For Fall 2015 Release; S.H.I.E.L.D. News
Yesterday, Disney announced that Marvel's Ant-Man will be hitting theaters on November 6, 2015. The film, which will be directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), was announced at the Marvel panel at San Diego Comic-Con, where a small amount of test footage was screened for fans in Hall H. Though Ant-Man is one of the founding Avengers in the comicverse, this will be the character's first introduction to the Marvel cinematic universe.
It was also announced that the third installment of the Iron Man saga (May 3, 2013) will be released in both 3-D and 2-D, as will Thor 2: The Dark World (November 8, 2013). The sequel to 2011's Asgardian adventure will also feature celebrated British actor and Doctor Who alum Christopher Eccleston as a new villain and will see former Chuck star Zachary Levi in the role of Fandral. Levi will be replacing original Fandral Josh Dallas, who is now a series regular on ABC's Once Upon a Time.
For more details, check out the Hero Complex post here.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE AVENGERS YET AND DO NOT WISH TO BE SPOILED, READ NO FURTHER. BUT ALSO, GO RENT THE AVENGERS, BECAUSE WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?
Marvel announced at last weekend's New York Comic Con that Clark Gregg's Phil Coulson will be joining the cast of the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. television show. Coulson, whose untimely demise at the hands of the villainous Loki has been the subject of much debate, was first introduced in 2008's Iron Man and quickly became a fan favorite. It is unclear how Coulson survived (or if he survived - even legitimate death is rarely lasting in the comic book world, unless your last name happens to be Parker or Stacy and your first name rhymes with "pen"), with rumors ranging from resurrection to fakeout to Vision, but overall the announcement has been met with a resounding cry of, "Coulson Lives!"
It was also announced that the third installment of the Iron Man saga (May 3, 2013) will be released in both 3-D and 2-D, as will Thor 2: The Dark World (November 8, 2013). The sequel to 2011's Asgardian adventure will also feature celebrated British actor and Doctor Who alum Christopher Eccleston as a new villain and will see former Chuck star Zachary Levi in the role of Fandral. Levi will be replacing original Fandral Josh Dallas, who is now a series regular on ABC's Once Upon a Time.
For more details, check out the Hero Complex post here.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE AVENGERS YET AND DO NOT WISH TO BE SPOILED, READ NO FURTHER. BUT ALSO, GO RENT THE AVENGERS, BECAUSE WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?
Marvel announced at last weekend's New York Comic Con that Clark Gregg's Phil Coulson will be joining the cast of the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. television show. Coulson, whose untimely demise at the hands of the villainous Loki has been the subject of much debate, was first introduced in 2008's Iron Man and quickly became a fan favorite. It is unclear how Coulson survived (or if he survived - even legitimate death is rarely lasting in the comic book world, unless your last name happens to be Parker or Stacy and your first name rhymes with "pen"), with rumors ranging from resurrection to fakeout to Vision, but overall the announcement has been met with a resounding cry of, "Coulson Lives!"
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Who NA 2012 Toys for Tots Action Figure Donation Drive
Hey, guys! Not totally comic book related, but it definitely falls under into the, "opportunities to learn about awesome stuff and then be awesome as a result," category. Who North America, which features one of the most extensive selections of Doctor Who merchandise in the U.S., is hosting its sixth annual action figure donation drive.
For each $5 donation they receive, Who NA will donate one action figure to Toys for Tots. $5! That's less than the retail price of most domestic figures, let alone the imported Who toys. Please consider sharing a little nerd love and brightening a kid's day today. It's what the Doctor would do.
Visit Who NA for more info.
For each $5 donation they receive, Who NA will donate one action figure to Toys for Tots. $5! That's less than the retail price of most domestic figures, let alone the imported Who toys. Please consider sharing a little nerd love and brightening a kid's day today. It's what the Doctor would do.
Visit Who NA for more info.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Terminology Time: Variants and Printings
So you've decided to start reading comics. You've picked a title, studied up on the characters, and learned which volume and issue you want to start with. Hell, you've even gone the extra mile and looked up the cover online, just to make be sure you don't make any mistakes. After all, most (if not all) comic shops have a, "no return or exchange," policy, due to the condition-dependent collectible nature of the merchandise, so mistakes suck.
You arrive at the shop, stride confidently through the stacks, and sift through the issues to retrieve your prize. But wait...the title and number are right, but this isn't the cover you looked up. What sorcery is this?!?
Calm down, my friend. Odds are, what you have stumbled upon is a variant cover.
Variants are alternate covers to comic books, usually drawn by a different artist (or series of artists) than the one who created the original cover art. Typically, variants exist only for collectible purposes - the content of the issues themselves do not differ, regardless of the cover, unless otherwise noted.
In some cases, variant covers are used to distinguish later printings of an issue from the first run. These issues will usually bear some kind of banner or announcement of the printing number on the front (i.e. 2nd printing variant). Occasionally, later printings of popular comics will have some bonus material added to it, but the story pages generally do not differ from the original run.
Now, how does this affect you?
If you're like me and you're a little OCD about your comic collection, you'll want to pay attention to the covers. If I'm purchasing a comic, I want it to be a first print, regular cover. Sometimes, if I'm particularly taken with the artwork of an variant cover, I buy it as well. However, this can be a pricey hobby, especially since variants can boast a higher price tag, so I try not to make a habit of it.
A lot of variant covers will feature some sort of note identifying it as such. When in doubt, check the web site of the publisher to make sure.
If you just want to read and couldn't care less about anything else, opt for whichever cover you prefer (or whichever you can find). It will not interrupt your experience.
You arrive at the shop, stride confidently through the stacks, and sift through the issues to retrieve your prize. But wait...the title and number are right, but this isn't the cover you looked up. What sorcery is this?!?
Calm down, my friend. Odds are, what you have stumbled upon is a variant cover.
Variants are alternate covers to comic books, usually drawn by a different artist (or series of artists) than the one who created the original cover art. Typically, variants exist only for collectible purposes - the content of the issues themselves do not differ, regardless of the cover, unless otherwise noted.
In some cases, variant covers are used to distinguish later printings of an issue from the first run. These issues will usually bear some kind of banner or announcement of the printing number on the front (i.e. 2nd printing variant). Occasionally, later printings of popular comics will have some bonus material added to it, but the story pages generally do not differ from the original run.
Now, how does this affect you?
If you're like me and you're a little OCD about your comic collection, you'll want to pay attention to the covers. If I'm purchasing a comic, I want it to be a first print, regular cover. Sometimes, if I'm particularly taken with the artwork of an variant cover, I buy it as well. However, this can be a pricey hobby, especially since variants can boast a higher price tag, so I try not to make a habit of it.
A lot of variant covers will feature some sort of note identifying it as such. When in doubt, check the web site of the publisher to make sure.
If you just want to read and couldn't care less about anything else, opt for whichever cover you prefer (or whichever you can find). It will not interrupt your experience.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Cover Art for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Evil Edition) Released
This morning, OniPress scribe and artist Bryan Lee O'Malley tweeted the cover art for the Evil Edition of the colorized second volume of his Scott Pilgrim series, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, featuring evil-ex #2: Lucas Lee.
O'Malley mentioned in the tweet that the edition would go on sale at New York Comic Con next week (October 11-14). It's unclear whether half will be sold at the con and half online at a later date, as was the case with the variant edition of the first volume after it debuted at San Diego Comic-Con in July. OniPress is expected to make a formal announcement of their sale plan sometime in the next week.
The regular edition, with cover art featuring Knives Chau, will be available in November.
If you missed it, check out my review of the first color volume, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, here.
Bryan Lee O'Malley on Twitter: @radiomaru
OniPress on Twitter: @OniPress
Photo: OniPress
O'Malley mentioned in the tweet that the edition would go on sale at New York Comic Con next week (October 11-14). It's unclear whether half will be sold at the con and half online at a later date, as was the case with the variant edition of the first volume after it debuted at San Diego Comic-Con in July. OniPress is expected to make a formal announcement of their sale plan sometime in the next week.
The regular edition, with cover art featuring Knives Chau, will be available in November.
If you missed it, check out my review of the first color volume, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, here.
Bryan Lee O'Malley on Twitter: @radiomaru
OniPress on Twitter: @OniPress
Marvel Supports Breast Cancer Awareness With Variant Covers
Marvel is partnering with Susan G. Komen for a Cure to help raise awareness of the risk of breast cancer in both women and men during the month of October, which is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the US.
Over the next three weeks, Marvel will be rolling out a series of 8 variant covers for many of its popular titles that will feature the characters in pink-accented costumes, pink being the color most commonly associated with breast cancer awareness, and with the Komen foundation in particular. In addition, Marvel comics released in October will feature a one page ad aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer in men.
The release schedule for the pink variant covers is as follows:
Avengers #31: October 10, 2012
Captain America #18: October 10, 2012
Captain Marvel #5: October 10, 2012
Fantastic Four #611: October 10, 2012
Invincible Iron Man #526: October 10, 2012
The Mighty Thor #21: October 17, 2012
Uncanny X-Men #20: October 17, 2012
Wolverine #315: October 24, 2012
Variant covers will be available in the US at your local comic shop. You can also order them online from Midtown Comics, Things From Another World, and other online comic retailers.
Here's a look at the variant cover for Wolverine #315. For more information, and a look at the other covers, check out the official post on Marvel.com.
Over the next three weeks, Marvel will be rolling out a series of 8 variant covers for many of its popular titles that will feature the characters in pink-accented costumes, pink being the color most commonly associated with breast cancer awareness, and with the Komen foundation in particular. In addition, Marvel comics released in October will feature a one page ad aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer in men.
The release schedule for the pink variant covers is as follows:
Avengers #31: October 10, 2012
Captain America #18: October 10, 2012
Captain Marvel #5: October 10, 2012
Fantastic Four #611: October 10, 2012
Invincible Iron Man #526: October 10, 2012
The Mighty Thor #21: October 17, 2012
Uncanny X-Men #20: October 17, 2012
Wolverine #315: October 24, 2012
Variant covers will be available in the US at your local comic shop. You can also order them online from Midtown Comics, Things From Another World, and other online comic retailers.
Here's a look at the variant cover for Wolverine #315. For more information, and a look at the other covers, check out the official post on Marvel.com.
Photo: Marvel Entertainment LLC
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Review: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life (Color Edition)
(Photo: OniPress.com)
The Scott Pilgrim saga is one of my all-time favorite series. Writer/illustrator Bryan Lee O'Malley (Lost at Sea) gives readers a six-volume epic about post-adolescent love and life in a video game-ified version of Toronto that is the perfect balance of fantasy and reality. If an Empire Records DVD and a Street Fighter arcade box moved to Canada and had a baby, it would be Scott Pilgrim.
OniPress originally published the books in 5.5" x 8" black and white editions, which was reflective of its manga-inspired style. In March, it was officially announced that deluxe, 6" x 9" full color hardback editions of the book would begin rolling out in August. And here we are.
I just finished my color copy of Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, and I'm very pleased. The story, of course, remains the same, and the remastered lettering is as clear and easy to read as ever. It's the art the really benefits in this edition. The bump in the book's size gives the panels a little more breathing room, which only adds to the immersive effect of the color.
Oh man, guys. The color.
Now, I'm not knocking black and white at all. At no point in my original reading did I stop and think, "This is awesome, but I find the lack of color disturbing." It's also worth noting that the first chunk of volume 4 was printed in color, along with some shorts and other materials, so not everything had been left to the imagination up until this point.
But the color. Is. Awesome.
A lazy or ill-conceived color job can totally destroy the integrity of a piece, but colorist Nathan Fairbairn (Batman Incorporated, Swamp Thing) does a beautiful job here, adding a gorgeous layer of depth that lifts each panel off the page without upsetting the tone or eclipsing the core designs.
As an added bonus, the back of the book is loaded with extras, including O'Malley's notes on the origins of the series, along with early character sketches, the original pitch, and more. I particularly enjoyed the pages where he discusses walking around Toronto to scout locations and lays the pictures he took alongside the color panels.
The book is a must-have for fans, or for anybody who really was legitimately bothered by the black and white originals (but were you, I mean really?). If you're only interested in the bonus material at the back, be aware that it only covers the first book, not the entire series. More will be released in the subsequent volumes.
Precious Little Life, Color Edition, is out now ('cause it's after August, in case you didn't realize). For an extra $15, you can get a copy of the Evil Edition, which features a Matthew Patel variant cover (the Scott portrait from the front of the regular edition is featured on the back), from the OniPress web site. Update: The OniPress site currently shows that the Evil Edition is sold out.
(Photo: OniPress.com)
If you're a hardcore fan, an extremely limited Collector's Edition was put together that includes the Evil Edition of the book, a numbered bookplate signed by Bryan Lee O'Malley, five 9x12 art prints depicting both versions of the cover and three of the volume's biggest moments, a 2" metal Scott Pilgrim 1-up coin, eleven vinyl stickers of some of O'Malley's favorite panels, a hand-crumpled setlist belonging to Trasha of Crash and the Boys, two embroidered scout badges featuring Scott and Patel, and a digital download code.
Unfortunately, this collector's set, which was limited to 1,000 pieces and retailed for $100, is sold out. However, there are still a few floating around on eBay. Keep an eye out and you might get lucky. I love mine for the 1-up coin alone.
The color edition of volume 2, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, is scheduled to ship in early November. Check your local comic shop, book store, or Amazon for pre-order options.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)