http://www.2000adonline.com/news/22-02-2012/happy_birthday_2000_ad_from_simon_pegg_and_a_special_guest/

British comedian turned Hollywood star, Simon Pegg, has wished the legendary British comic book 2000 AD a happy 35th birthday in a special video message.

The star of Star Trek, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Paul sent the video from the set of the latest Star Trek film currently being produced in the US.

And in a massive treat for fans, who are eagerly awaiting the new Dredd film, due for release in September, Pegg enlisted the services of his co-star, Karl Urban, who will play the Lawman of the Future in the DNA/Lionsgate movie. Urban gives just a taste of what cinema-goers can look forward in the gritty reboot of the Dredd franchise, which has been written by Alex Garland.

A big fan of 2000 AD, Pegg made numerous references to the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic throughout his breakout TV comedy series Spaced, and has been a very vocal proponent of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic.

“What a fantastic birthday treat,” said 2000 AD editor Matt Smith. “Simon’s been a fan of 2000 AD since he was a kid and it’s great to see him still spreading the word of Thrill-power. It’s also brilliant to see for the first time Karl Urban put on the voice – and the chin – of Dredd! Thanks to Simon for the wonderful birthday wishes!”

Elle Peterssen is young, wealthy, and beautiful — and there is a reason someone tried to kill her. Only, Elle doesn’t remember any of this. MIND THE GAP, the new Image Comics series by the Eisner Award-winning writer Jim McCann (The Dapper Men) debuting on May 2, is a mystery with a paranormal twist. Elle, in a spirit form detached from her comatose body, must not only unravel the mystery of her attacker’s identity and motive but her entire life as well.

“I love the genre of the ‘whodunit.’ Psychological thrillers, murder mysteries, and film noir all influence me, and this story, heavily,” said writer Jim McCann. “It’s a preternatural story — something science acknowledges on the fringe but hasn’t proven yet.”

Between her family members’ and her friends’ perceptions of her, Elle can’t be sure which version of Ellis Peterssen is who she really was. But Elle must put together the pieces. Her identity holds the key to stopping her attacker before he can strike again.

“This is a book I’ve been excited about since Jim first pitched it,” noted Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. “I feel like we really got lucky with this one, because Jim is a great writer and just a consummate professional, and Rodin — well, I’ve been admiring his cover work for ages, but that still didn’t prepare me for how insanely awesome his interior work is! Pleased beyond belief to be associated with such amazing talent!”

With gorgeous art by MORNING GLORIES cover artist Rodin Esquejo and colors by Sonia Oback, MIND THE GAP will trace the path Elle takes back to herself — and her would-be murderer. The art plays an integral role in uniting Elle’s disembodied experience and the real world, said McCann.

“This story will take on some otherworldly scenes, which the team handles beautifully, as well as some very real and gritty situations, sometimes even violent,” he said. “I wanted that to look as realistic as possible, and juxtapose it with the clean, beautiful atmosphere Rodin and Sonia deliver.”

MIND THE GAP #1 is a full-color 48-page comic book for $2.99 available for preorder in the March issue of Preview. (cover A: MAR120401, cover B: MAR120402). It will be in comic book stores and digital platforms on May 2. A preview of the issue’s 9-page prologue ran in USA Today on February 22.

The next big Spider-Man epic begins in Amazing Spider-Man #682, part one of Ends Of The Earth, by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli! The Sinister Six, led by the vengeful Doctor Octopus, is back and they’re looking for revenge!

“Max Dillon has evolved from a simple super villain to a living force of nature,” explains Slott. “How can anyone stop power incarnate?”

Can Spider-Man & Earth’s Mightiest save the world before Doc Ock’s explosive endgame is revealed? Find in Amazing Spider-Man #682 hitting comic shops and the Marvel Comics app this March!

Join the conversation on Twitter with #SpiderMan.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682 (JAN120658)

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682 DELLOTTO VARIANT (JAN120659)

Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by STEFANO CASELLI
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO

Colors by FRANK MARTIN JR.

FOC – 2/27/12, ON SALE – 3/21/12

X-Men #25

Written by: Victor Gischler

Art by: Jorge Molina

Published by: Marvel

Marvel is clearly planning some big stuff this year with ‘Avengers versus X-Men’ this year and the new movies so there are a lot of seeds being sown across the various big titles, like Bendis’ ‘Avengers’ and Aaron’s ‘Wolverine and the X-men’ which means that we can lose what made the older comics fun, just sidebar adventures and stories!

Gischler gives us the opening chapter to one of these sidebar fun stories with Cyclops’ ‘Security team’ mixed with two members of his ‘Extinction team’ (I really don’t think they thought through the implications of that name) going after a rogue Jubilee- who is a vampire now! If this idea doesn’t scream early comic stories to you then go back and read some classic uncanny X-men because all this comic is missing is a Professor X speech about ‘co-existence’

I missed the ‘vampire event’ of a couple of years ago but that didn’t inhibit my reading of this story, all you had to know was ‘Jubilee was a vampire, vampires drink blood and kill people, Jubilee needs Wolverine’s blood (because HE’S secretly the messiah (not really but he should be at this point) that’ll save mutantkind) to suppress her craving for human blood’ and Gischler explains this without inhibiting the story beautifully in the first couple of pages, giving himself ample breeding room to start on a fun and action packed tale!

To help deliver the action is the dynamic and explosive artwork of Jorge Molina. Molina really brings something fantastic to the table in this issue that’s filled with about 10 pages of action and people (also not people) beating lumps out of each other. This issue features 3 highly skilled martial artists on the side of the mutants and more on the vampire side and Molina’s renditions of their movement is smart, sleek and beautiful as he composes almost a physical ballet on page after page.

The only detraction I have is his facial expressions, which at time are over exaggerated- fair enough one of the characters is an overly dramatic teenager in a yellow coat but some scenes can seem goofy and over the top because of expressions but as there isn’t a lot of talking going on in this comic, it’s a minor complaint.

This is my first foray into Gischler’s X-Men and I’m excited, the dialogue is witty, the idea is fun and I can’t wait to see where he goes with the twist he pulls out at the end (not going to spoil it, just gonna say ‘Smokin’ Aces). This comic is darker in tone but still has that classic fun you want from an x-Men book and makes for a great break from the ‘Avengers versus X-Men’ hype, build-up and foreshadowing.

Rating: 8/10

Leah’s father, the writer Alan Moore, first got his break in the pages of 2000 AD in 1980 and went on to write classic stories such as The Ballad of Halo Jones, Watchmen, and V for Vendetta. Moore and Reppion have forged their own writing career with titles such as ,

Their first work for 2000 AD, a Tales from the Black Museum story entitled Scouting for Bots, will appear in Judge Dredd Megazine #322, on sale in the UK on 28th March and in North America on 11th April. Art on the nine-page tale has been supplied by another 2000 AD fan favourite – D’Israeli, otherwise known as artist Matt Brooker.

“We are really excited to be finally working for the comic we have all grown up with (some of us more than others!),” said Leah. “I remember my dad taking me to the 2000 AD office when I was small (maybe eight?) and meeting Tharg in the flesh!

“I said “Borag Thungg, O Mighty One”. He said “Borag Thungg, Earthlet Leah”. It was awesome. It’s nice to see that bit of early networking paid off over two decades later.

“I have to say I am more excited about getting a short story in the Judge Dredd Megazine than I have been about lots of our much bigger projects elsewhere. Not sure why. Some kind of loyalty-chip implated during my visit to Tharg maybe?

“2000 AD has always been somewhere for British talent to cut their teeth, and learn their craft. Even though we have been in the business now for nearly ten years, I am certain that we have more to learn, and what better way to do it than at 2000 AD?”

“Leah Moore and John Reppion are amongst the exciting new generation of comics writers,” said Matt Smith, editor of 2000 AD, “and I’m delighted to have them contributing to 2000 AD for the first time – hopefully, we’ll see more from their pen in the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comics in the future!’

VALIANT Rewards Comic Shop Subscribers With X-O MANOWAR #1 PULLBOX EXCLUSIVE VARIANT

Valiant is proud to announce the X-O Manowar #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant by superstar artist Cary Nord — the first in a new program of exclusive covers designed to encourage fans to open pull lists at their local comic shop and reward long-term pull list subscribers who pre-order Valiant’s new number one issues. Featuring the only X-O Manowar cover by interior artist and Eisner Award-winner Cary Nord, the X-O Manowar #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant is exclusively available only to comic book store pull list subscribers and box holders.

“We’re committed to getting as many fans of Valiant’s original incarnation as possible back into brick-and-mortar comic shops on May 2nd for X-O Manowar #1,” said Publisher Fred Pierce. “There are many lapsed readers out there who haven’t visited a store regularly for years, and this limited edition cover is a great way to incentivize the act of opening a pull list subscription with your local retailer. On top of that, it’s also a perfect opportunity to get a look at the stunning work Cary Nord is delivering with X-O Manowar.”

 

Valiant will also be shipping in-store request forms for the Pullbox Variant program to retailers during their March ordering period, and making downloadable versions of the same forms available on both the public and retailers section of the Valiant website. Please visit ValiantUniverse.com to register your store for access today!

Mature Readers (Contains Adult Content)

The most-anticipated new show of 2012 is almost here—Ultimate Spider-Man swings into the Marvel Universe block on Disney XD on April 1, giving fans of all ages a whole new look at the world’s greatest Super Hero! But you can get your first look at this all-new animated series in Ultimate Spider-Man Premiere, a screen capture comic book adaptation of the premiere episode, utilizing the same story and art you’ll see on the small screen, but presented like you won’t see anywhere else. This comic is perfect for fans of all ages and a must-have item to have in stock for Free Comic Book Day!

Retailers, check the Marvel Mailer and Diamond Daily for more information on Ultimate Spider-Man Premiere (NOV118181), arriving in stores March 28.

It’s time to hit the road once again, as we gear up for STAPLE! — the indie comics expo in Austin, Texas, to be held on Saturday and Sunday March 3rd & 4th at the Marchesa Hall and Theater.

The star attraction is STAPLE Special Guest Kagan McLeod, who can sign your copy of Infinite Kung Fu and hook you up with his incredible artwork & prints.

And Top Shelf publisher Chris Staros will be there as well, with Pat Grant’s Blue — hot off the press! — and a bundle of other great books.

Come out and see us!

CHARISMAGIC #5

Vince Hernandez – Story / Khary Randolph – Art / Emilio Lopez – Colors

Everything you thought you knew about magic will…

Vanish.

Journey into a world where the lines between magic and reality are blurred…And where one man will soon find himself as the last remaining hope for all mankind.

With the stress of the task that lies ahead bearing down on him, Hank begins to doubt himself. Aware of his concern, Sudana decides the time is right to show Hank the extent of his magical abilities—a power even he could never have imagined possessing—yet, her lesson brings them much closer in unexpected ways as well. Meanwhile, The Guardians and Sparkles plan for their assault on the now-captured temple of Kon, but what they don’t realize is Samsun is on a mission to intercept—and kill–his enemies before they reach him! The penultimate build-up to next issue’s finale starts here!

Created and written by Aspen’s own Vince Hernandez, with stunning art by Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, make sure to open your eyes to the exciting new world of CHARISMAGIC!

CHARISMAGIC #5 is in stores March 7th, 2012!

The next big Spider-Man epic begins in Amazing Spider-Man #682, part one of Ends Of The Earth, by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli! The Sinister Six, led by the vengeful Doctor Octopus, is back and they’re looking for revenge! Can Spider-Man & Earth’s Mightiest save the world before Doc Ock’s explosive endgame is revealed? Find in Amazing Spider-Man #682 hitting comic shops and the Marvel Comics app this March!

Join the conversation on Twitter with #SpiderMan.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682 (JAN120658)

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682 DELLOTTO VARIANT (JAN120659)

Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by STEFANO CASELLI
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO

Colors by FRANK MARTIN JR.

FOC – 2/27/12, ON SALE – 3/21/12

Wally Wood EC Stories Artist’s Edition out TOMORROW!

IDW releases loving tribute to one of the finest comics artists ever

Few comics creators have been lauded as the kind of iconoclast and innovator Wally Wood was. So, what more fitting a tribute than an a lovingly exacting, mega-sized Artist’s Edition of his seminal work?

“Wally Wood is absolutely one of my all-time favorites,” said Artist’s Edition editor Scott Dunbier, “I love all these Artist’s Editions but this is the one I’ve been dying to have!”

As far as fan reaction to the book, Ain’t It Cool News’ head honcho Harry Knowles tweeted “HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD! Just got the IDW Wally Wood EC Stories ARTIST’S EDITION… it’s the greatest anything ever…”

Since their inception, IDW’s Artist’s Editions have been intended as eye-popping, brain-frying, must-have books for diehard comics fans; true artifacts and testaments to the artistic greatness of their subjects. As is often the case, IDW has upped the ante in order to pay proper tribute to the late, great Wally Wood. This particular volume has been kept to the high, precise standards of previous Artist’s Editions, but due to the larger size of the original art, fans will be treated to a 15” x 22” monolith of illustrative achievement. Just like Wally Wood’s legend, this book is just a little bigger than the rest.

What is an Artist’s Edition? Artist’s Editions are printed the same size as the original art. While appearing to be in black & white, each page has been scanned in COLOR to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art—for example, you are able to clearly see paste-overs, blue pencils in the art, editorial notes, art corrections. Each page is printed the same size as drawn, and the paper selected is as close as possible to the original art board.

Previous Artist’s Editions include DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARTIST’S EDITION and WALTER SIMONSON’S THE MIGHTY THOR: ARTIST’S EDITION JOHN ROMITA’S THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: ARTIST’S EDITION, and WALLY WOOD’S EC STORIES: THE ARTIST’S EDITION.

The ROCKETEER ARTIST’S EDITION won two Eisner Awards last year, for Best Archival Project and Best Design.

There’s one more exclusive that attendees of Image Expo, taking place February 24, 25, and 26 in Oakland, California, will be able to show off after the convention — a map of the world of SKULLKICKERS.

The world of Image Comics’ action-comedy fantasy series SKULLKICKERS has never been defined… until now! Professional Cartographer/Illustrator Mike Schley, working with comic series creator Jim Zub has created a stunning 18″ x 24″ fantasy map of the world of Skullkickers and the first place you’ll be able to purchase this convention-exclusive poster
is at Image Comics Expo.

Whether you’re a SKULLKICKERS fan, a fantasy readers, an RPGer or just love incredibly detailed worlds of fiction, this high-quality poster is going to knock you out.

Image Comics titles will be in stores March 21

FATALE, the crime noir with a horror twist by renowned creative team Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, and PROPHET, the relaunch of Rob Liefeld’s 1990s Extreme comic, published by Image Comics, continues to be in-demand in comic book stores. Both titles will receive new printings of issues, now available for order from Diamond Comics.

The third printing of FATALE #1 and the second printing of FATALE #2 have sold out, and both issues will go back to press. The fourth printing of FATALE #1 (DEC118207) and third printing of #2 (JAN128122) will be in stores on March 21.

PROPHET #22, the second issue by relaunch team Brandon Graham and Simon Roy, has also sold out and will receive a second printing (JAN128086). It will be in stores on the same day as PROPHET #23, March 21.

It’s been three months since Top Shelf launched headfirst into the world of digital comics distribution — and we’ve got to call it a huge success! Now to celebrate, we’re announcing tons of new discounts on our digital comics. These universal prices apply to our two official iPhone/iPad apps as well as every other ebook store (Comixology, Graphicly, iVerse, Google Books, Apple iBooks, Nook, etc).

Here are some of the new amazing deals:
(prices are in US dollars but are proportional worldwide)

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/digital
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/digital

IT’S MIGHTY FINE AT 9.99!
Every single graphic novel is now priced under $10, across the board!

TOP SHELF HEAVYWEIGHTS: HUGE BOOKS FOR TINY PRICES!
– Alec: The Years Have Pants by Eddie Campbell – only 9.99!
– Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson – only 9.99!
– Essex County by Jeff Lemire – only 9.99!
– From Hell by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell – only 9.99!
– Infinite Kung Fu by Kagan McLeod – only 9.99!
– Lucille by Ludovic Debeurme – only 9.99!

PARTY WITH THE TOP SHELF KIDS CLUB – FOR PEANUTS!
– Owly vol 1 by Andy Runton – only .99!
– all other Owly books by Andy Runton – only 1.99 each!
– Korgi by Christian Slade (all 3 books) – only 2.99 each!
– Johnny Boo by James Kochalka (all 4 books) – only 2.99 each!
– Dragon Puncher by James Kochalka (both books) – only 2.99 each!
– Yam by Corey Barba – only 2.99!
– Bighead by Jeffrey Brown – only 2.99!
– Incredible Change-Bots by Jeffrey Brown (both books) – only 6.99 each!

AND THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING…
– Little Paintings by James Kochalka – only .99!
– Underwire by Jennifer Hayden – only 3.99!
– BB Wolf and the Three LPs by JD Arnold and Rich Koslowski – only 3.99!
– The Surrogates by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele (both volumes) – only 5.99 each!
– Too Cool to be Forgotten by Alex Robinson – only 4.99!
…and so much more.

So download the official Top Shelf app at iTunes, or the Top Shelf Kids Club app at iTunes, or look for the “buy digital” buttons throughout our web site catalog and download books through your preferred vendor! Or check out the books available at our digital partners: Comixology, Graphicly, Google Books, Apple iBooks, Comics+ by iVerse.

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/digital
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/digital

GOES TO A RECORD THIRD PRINT!

KaBOOM!, BOOM! Studios’ all-ages imprint, is proud to announce a third printing for their power-house ADVENTURE TIME #1! The first and second prints have completely sold out, sending best pals Jake and Finn back to the printer!

Fans should keep in mind, while ,is completely sold out, first and second printings of ADVENTURE TIME #1 may still be found at a direct market retailer near you. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use www.comicshoplocator.com to find one!

Diamond Comic Distributors is making the third printing of ADVENTURE TIME #1, featuring an all-new cover drawn by Chris Houghton, available for retailers to order immediately.

ADVENTURE TIME #1 is the first installment of the exciting new ongoing ADVENTURE TIME series written by Ryan North (DINOSAUR COMICS) with cover art and interiors drawn by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb (THE MUPPET SHOW, ICE AGE: ICED IN) with a back-up story by Aaron Renier (THE UNSINKABLE WALKER BEAN) and epic cover by Chris Houghton.

In this first issue of ADVENTURE TIME join Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, and Princess Bubblegum for all-new adventures through The Land of Ooo! The top-rated Cartoon Network show now has its own comic book! With the show exploding in the ratings, garnering rave online reviews, major cosplay at the San Diego Comic-Con, and huge displays dominating the New York Comic Con, it’s clear fandom is obsessed and 2012 is the Year of Adventure Time! Don’t miss out on the phenomenon!

The Diamond code for the third printing is: JAN128109

Story by: Ed Brubaker

Art by: Sean Phillips

Colours by: Dave Stewart

Cover by: Sean Phillips

Publisher: Image Comics

Cover Price: $3.50

The second issue on this new book from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips is proving yet again where the creative strengths lie with this team. We are literally treated to another great issue full of depth, intrigue and with layered storytelling like this, who needs superheroes?

This early in the game someone could comment that some plot points may seem a little confusing or off centre but I put it down to how the story is being laid out in front of us and I have faith that Brubaker will address these points as the series progresses. I particularly liked as how we learn more about the mysterious Josephine we learned that the exposure of her past to those in the present meant that didn’t come without consequence. Her character is a perfect example of a modern version of those femme fatale characters from the golden era of crime noir in film, prose and sequential story telling. One thing that Brubaker actually does different in his characterisation of Josephine in relation to those classic characters is that he has made her an essential part of the story with her finality tied into that of the other main players. Mention must be given to Brubaker’s narration which gives it a real classic feel. It plays out in your mind like a chiselled, down beaten detective from yore and I loved that aspect of the book.

As absorbing as I’m finding the story, at the moment it is Phillips who is leading in the plaudits race with his great take on shadow play and simply how creepy his art is at times. The final page is an example of a ‘holy s**t’ moment that I should have seen coming but when it did it still creeped me out no end. Aside from the fact that his faces seemed familiar, as in there isn’t a huge amount of differentiation between his Sleeper, Criminal and Fatale characters faces, this is still his overall best work in years hands down.

Getting back to my remark about not needing superheroes with a book like this, this book is a great tonic for that jaded reader who is sick of more of the same from the superhero line. This title is one of those rare books that you could lose yourself in looking for clues to the overall story and no one does subtle like Brubaker which makes this book so enjoyable. Combined with luscious art from Phillips the discerning comic reader needs little else than books like this as an example in how to much you could love this medium. Awesome stuff.

Story: 5/5

Art: 5/5

Overall: 10/10

Mature Readers (Contains Adult Content)

Mature Readers (Contains Adult Content)

A Benefit Party in Oakland, CA. Celebrating Comics, Music & Free Speech

Experience Creativity with comics’ greatest creators at the Image Expo Welcome Party sponsored by Image Comics and iFanboy to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!  The party is free for CBLDF members and kicks off at 8 PM on February 24, 2012 at The Uptown in Oakland, California. This party jump starts a weekend of celebrating independent comics and free speech at the Image Expo, taking place at the Oakland Convention Center. Proceeds from the Image Expo Welcome Party will benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, who will have a gift bag for members and donors!

“The way Downtown Oakland has transformed itself over the last couple years is really inspiring, and I have a lot of admiration for all the people who made that happen,” said Image Comics publisher Eric Stephenson. “Being able to involve Image in an event that takes place within such a vibrant community feels really good.”

Many of the superstar creators appearing at the Image Expo will be in attendance for the Image Expo Party, including: Robert Kirkman, Brian K. Vaughan, Joe Casey, Jonathan Hickman, Erik Larsen, Jim McCann, Blair Butler, Rob Guillory, Fiona Staples, Tim Seeley, Sina Grace and Joe Keatinge.

CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein said, “The Bay Area is an incredible creative place, and we’re thrilled to be working with Image and iFanboy to make this killer celebration of art and music that thanks our members for supporting our important work! I can’t wait to meet everyone who comes out!”

The party will also which will feature a musical performance by The Philistines, as well as music from DJs Dollar Bin and Wall Piece and some special celebrity guest DJs.

“We’re super excited to be teaming up with Image Comics and the CBLDF for this event,” said iFanboy co-founder Ron Richards. “There’s nothing better than celebrating comics and rocking out on the eve of a great convention like Image Expo!”

Full event details:

James Bacon caught up with Robert Curley, of Sub City comics, to find out what the retailers perspective of Before Watchmen was like.

First and foremost – you are a retailer but you are also a reader and publisher, so I expect you have some interesting thoughts.

As a fan, for me Watchmen is one of dozens of good graphic novels but to suggest it’s the best one ever written is purely a matter of taste. Personally I would place a lot of other books ahead of it including Alan Moore’s own V For Vendetta. My own personal favourite is Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come but again that’s just my own taste. From the publisher perspective I can understand why DC are bringing out new books using these characters. You have to remember that it was the Watchmen movie that put it on the New York times best seller list and made it relevant for a new generation. I think the prequels will do the same thing. As far as I understand it DC own the rights to those characters so it’s up to them to decide how to pursue their future. I don’t know the exact details of the contract Alan signed with DC but I can only presume that it was done in good faith and with a sound mind.

What do you think of the news about the watchmen prequels?

I’m looking forward to them. I think that the nature of superheroes (and that’s what Watchmen are at the end of the day) is to evolve, as long as the stories are well executed. Oddly enough it’s projects like this and the movie that bring the book to a wider audience. I’ve asked a lot of customers their opinion on it and most are looking forward to it, some are not happy about it and others have no feelings on it because it doesn’t interest them.

Personally, I enjoyed the original book and from a fan point of view, I’m happy to see the universe expanded upon. I know there are some people who are outraged at the thought of Before Watchmen and that’s their right but for me, I don’t feel that close to the work to be so emotionally attached to it and remember I’m talking about the artistic side here not the legal. As far as the legal side stands I wasn’t in the room when the contracts were signed so I’m not in a position to comment on them. Remember also two of the people involved in the original book are working on the prequels and Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons has given his blessing on the project saying …

“I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire.”

I would imagine that outside of Alan Moore himself Dave Gibbons opinion on the matter is also to be respected.

How do you think your customers will react?

As I mentioned I have been asking people their opinion on this and 9 out of 10 people are excited about it. You also have to remember that a lot of people reading comics today weren’t around 30 odd years ago so they didn’t experience the initial impact of Watchmen. The world of comics has moved on since then and there have been plenty of great books from numerous writers and artists so the competition Watchmen faces today is a lot steeper than when it was first published. Again I think to suggest that nothing comes near it in terms of quality is wrong.

What do you think of the line up?

Overall I’m happy with the line up. Darwyn Cooke, J.G. Jones, Joe and Andy Kubert, Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo and J Michael Straczynsky have all more than earned their stripes in this industry.

As a creator of comics – what qualms do you have over the Ownership or ethics of the comics release?

I self publish under Atomic Diner so I have creative control. That gives me a lot of freedom but it also means that I’m limited in what I can do to reach people and three decades ago people like Alan were even more limited so they relied on companies like DC to get their work out there and to do that I guess they had to swallow a bitter pill. If DC or any other major company were to approach me with an offer for my characters I would have to think long and hard on whatever offer was on the table but I would only sign on the dotted line  if I was happy with the end result.

Alan Moore owns Watchmen in the sense that he created them and DC can never take that away from him and in fairness I don’t think they want to take it away. The book clearly acknowledges him as their creator. Unfortunately he did sign them over to DC and that has had its backlash but who knows, if he had decided against it would we even be aware of the book or would it just exist as a five hundred limited print run in a few people’s collections?

It has been pointed out that Alan has used other people’s characters for his own stories, mainly with League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Lost Girls, and that there is no real difference in other creators reinterpreting his own work. I would tend to agree with this myself. I imagine that there are lot of people who hold the characters in Lost Girls very close to their hearts and were very unhappy with how Alan reinterpreted them.

How do you think this will effect the view people have of the original?

I don’t think it will affect it unless you want it to and that’s the great thing about fiction, it’s not real so you don’t have to consume it all. The original stands on its own as a piece of art and I don’t think that will change.

How do you think it will affect sales?

I think Before Watchmen will be the biggest selling series of 2012. Maybe of the last decade and if I’m right that will tell you where people stand on the issues involved. If any individual feels in their heart that this is wrong, the best protest they can make is not to buy the books. There is no better way to say no. I also think it might bring the more traditional comic readers around to buying the original.

Any other thoughts?

On a similar point I, like many people, found Frank Miller’s Holy Terror to be offensive and insightful to hatred so I declined to order any of those books.

I know Alan Moore has his opinions on Miller’s work also, and they are quite similar to mine and any interview I have read with him he comes across as a well presented and thoughtful person and I have every respect for him and his work but that does not mean I’m not entitled to my own opinion on the subject.

I am grateful to Rob for this insight, his Atomic Diner Press, http://www.atomicdiner.com/ has been receiving a lot of positive reviews of late, and I think I would encourage Comic Buzz regulars to check out three titles in particular, Rosin Dubh, League of Volunteers and Jennifer Wilde.

Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland.

by Harvey Pekar and Joseph Remnant

Published by Top Shelf Productions and ZIP Comics

This comic is a real gem. Pekar takes the reader on a very interesting and well researched history tour of Cleveland, which is beautifully intertwined with his own experiences and life in the city. Pekar is frequently in the panel, taking the reader through journey of ‘his’ city.

The journey is beautiful, as we learn about this Midwestern city, how it came about, the reasons it expanded, the work that was done to connect it, and generally the growth of a settlement next to a lake into a very big city, which at one stage had the tallest building in America.

At times Pekar’s sharp perception of the city illustrates what it was really like at varying places in history. He is honest and refreshing about racial issues, clearly stating what types of folk were living where, and pointedly and unashamedly discussing how areas got bad names for no good reason, and whether the middle classes moving from an area, and taking their taxes with them, in actual fact created a self fulfilling prophecy.

It is also a lovely biographical work. His frankness to the reader is crisp and endears him. Even though he doesn’t smile much, he has a humanity that is brutally honest.

A number of elements really hit home. I loved how he characterised his feelings and anxieties for the woman who would be his second wife, was saddened as he was himself when his jazz collection was sold, and was really pleased to see a couple of photos of him, one on his seventieth birthday and another in the neighbourhood of Coventry, showing him quite happy and smiling.

The historical element is really cleverly done and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this comic. Pekar is something of a recent phenomenon to me, at least. Before the movie American Splendour, I had not heard of him, or his work, although I know his graphic novels were available in the eighties.

So I was pleased to be able to read and enjoy this book with very few expectations and find it so rewarding.

A really nice comic, made all the sadder, by the photos of the author, in the back, and the kind words in the introduction by Alan Moore, as Pekar has left this mortal coil, but he has granted us quite a body of work that will allow him to live on.

8/10

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/cleveland/767

Wednesday, February 22, do not miss out on Blu Ray and DVD (remastered version) Roujin of Z, the visionary film by Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo (Robot Carnival, Blood the Last Vampire) with the participation of Satoshi Kon animation (Paprika, Perfect Blue).

In the early 90s, Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of Akira, working on a story a little different from what he has done before: a social critique denouncing the treatment of elderly.
This story has been requested by his friend, director Hiroyuki Kitakubo (Robot Carnival, Blood: The Last Vampire), with whom he worked on Akira. It will become Roujin Z, a film produced by Studio APPP.

Alongside Hiroyuki Kitakubo, Hisashi Eguchi found especially in character design, Fumio Iida at the direction of the animation and Hiroshi Sasaki artistic director, Katsuhiro Otomo, while itself provides much of the mecha design.

Roujin Z is also an opportunity for a talented young artist making his first steps in the animation field: this is Satoshi Kon, the director of Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers or Paprika, although disappeared too early in August 2010.

Released in Japan September 14, 1991, Roujin Z remains more than 20 years later, a work rooted in reality despite its futuristic. Background of reflection on relations between men and machine, the film addresses the complex problem of the care of older people in society but also of ethics in scientific research, or problems related to the treatment of elderly in the hospital or within their families.

Discover the first 10 minutes of film on Allocine:
http://www.allocine.fr/video/player_gen_cmedia=19299694&cfilm=58026.html

SYNOPSIS
In the near future, mankind has managed to tame the technology and benefits from all modern comforts. But one last issue weighs on society: the aging population. To address this growing epidemic, the medicine is replaced by robotics with the creation of a machine called the “Z-001″, able to provide all necessary care for the elderly. Kijuro Takazawa is the first guinea pig to test this constrained robot, although the latter would have liked to stay with his former nurse, the young Haruko. The experiment goes awry and the Z-001 becomes a weapon of mass destruction.

Thirty-five years on and The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic is still going strong, still packed with top-notch Thrills by some of the world’s greatest comic book artists and writers, and still bringing intense weekly bursts of Thrill-power to the starving masses.

To celebrate this milestone, this Wednesday sees the anniversary edition, Prog 1771, hits newsstands in the UK (7^th March in North America) with the choice of two amazing variant covers – one by Chris Weston (The Filth, The Twelve), riffing on a classic image by Brian Bolland and showing some of the classic characters of the past 15 years. The second cover by 2000 AD legend Mick McMahon shows the alien editor, Tharg the Mighty, surrounded by his loyal editorial droids!

This week will also see 2000adonline.com give away some exclusive prizes to Squaxx Dek Thargo everywhere, including:

•           copies of Kingdom: The Promised Land signed by New York Times bestselling writer Dan Abnett

•           copies of dinosaurs-farmed-by-cowboys-from-the-future classic Flesh: The Dino Files signed by 2000 AD’s creator and first editor, Pat Mills

•           copies of the hilarious mobster comedy Al’s Baby signed by Judge Dredd creators John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra

Thanks to Planet Replicas, we’ll also be giving one lucky Earthlet the chance to get a custom made Judge badge – featuring their own surname! These high-quality fully licensed badges are a must for budding agents of the law, and the winner will get one embossed with their own name.

And as we head toward 2000 AD’s official birthday, we have the pièce de résistance – an exclusive Mongrol figure from Ashley Woods’ threeA Toys. That’s right, we’re GIVING AWAY one of the most hotly desired piece of 2000 AD merchandise in recent years. Standing over 11-inches high and over 13-inches wide, this fully articulated 1:6 scale figure has been drooled over by fans since its release last year and you’ll get the chance to try and win this stunning figure!

Keep your glues glued to 2000adonline.com, as well as our official Twitter and Facebook feeds, as we gear up to mark 35 years of Thrill-powered awesomeness!

Happy birthday, 2000 AD – it’s going to be a zarjaz week!

Writers: Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Artist: Mahmud Asrar
Colourist: Dave McCaig
Published by DC

After the misgivings I had with the previous issue, this instalment is a big step in the right direction. I was disappointed that #5 relied too heavily on monologue and exposition, but #6 has none of this, instead giving us a fast paced, action packed story.

Much of this issue focused on the battle between Supergirl and Reign but it’s not without it’s strong character moments. From a flashback to Kara’s training on Krypton, to her escape from being destroyed with the remainder of her home world and her coming to terms with the end of her old life, we are treated to her thoughts and feelings that are making her a rich character. Kara’s new confident attitude is also welcome, as it balances her personal side with a more determined attitude. Reign, who I felt was nothing special, became much more menacing when on Earth. Watching her enjoy tearing through the police and the army makes her seem more threatening then when she beat Supergirl and left her for dead in the previous issue.

Mahmud Asrar’s art is impressive as it has been throughout the series, and plays a large part in this issue‘s success.. The wash style he and Dave McCaig employ is fairly unique and gives everything a sleek, muted look. In this issue, Asrar utilizes several interior splash pages. They’re used to great effect for the action scenes, adding more impact and vastness to them. The two page spread a Kara watches her home drift into a sun, works really well, as we get to watch the immensity of the event, as well as all of Kara, enabling us to see her reaction in face and body language as well as the text. As always, Asrar facial expressions are perfect and Kara’s look in this scene can’t help but create at least a minor emotional response from the reader.

Reign was often depicted in the interior splashes which gave her a sense of gravitas and power. Especially when she and her fellow Worldkillers adjourn the combined final two pages, and given that Kara takes up only a fraction of this space, it’s easy to get the impression of her being overwhelmed. While these pages look good they do accelerate the story a bit too much, meaning the issue was a quicker read than most 20 page comics.

The character deigns are definitely worth mentioning in this issue. During a flashback, Kara is wearing a Kryptonian training uniform which is basically a prototype of her current costume. There were a few eyebrows raised when her New 52 costume was revealed but I think many, including myself, warmed up to it, and showing this prototype clothing helps to explain the costume she wears.

I was under whelmed by Reign’s design but I think it works as it creates a contrast with Supergirl’s. Kara is sporting a much more conventional look these days and so to have her rival wearing tight, revealing clothes helps to build the mirror image between them. This is also reflected in the story, as they are both powerful women with Kryptonian origins, both suffer from memory loss and both are drawn to Earth, but it’s here were they diverge with Reign wanting to fulfil her purpose an destroy the planet while Supergirl sees it as her new home that she wants to protect. The inclusion of more Wordkillers, while a powerful dramatic device, dilutes the story for me as we lose the contrast and it seems to be nothing more than to provide more fight scenes. Their designs as well, seem less interesting as Reign’s so I’m uncertain as to how strong the finale of this story will play out.

A fun read, made even better by the art.

7/10

Welcome back to another installment of The Pro Logs where a creator is nice enough to let me pick their brain.  I am (still) assisted this week by the grandmaster wizard of Comicbuzz himself, Shabbir.  Shabbir and I are dropping more magic questions on Cole Haddon.  If you missed part one you can catch up here.  Haddon is the writer of the excellent graphic novel The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde from Dark Horse.  The TPB is available in all comic shops across the country and I would say you should check it out if you haven’t had the chance yet.  It will surprise you.  This interview may contain spoilers as well.  You have been warned.  Let us commence the interview that we began last week!

Adam Messinger: One of my favourite sequences was the train wreck that happens within the first issue. I understand as a writer you only have so much space to tell your story, but why not choose to show the effects of the wreck on the city and on Inspector Adye? It seemed like it happened and was never mentioned again after.

Cole Haddon: There is, of course, only so much room in a four-issue mini-series. We wanted to explore that a bit more, and we would have if we had had five issues rather than four, but, in the end, what was most important was what the encounter with the Ripper on that train told Adye – that the Ripper, whoever he was, was unquestionably super-human. Adye, as much as he doesn’t want to admit it, needs Jekyll’s help to deal with the facts of that realization.

Messinger: Do you have any other stories to tell with Inspector Adye or did his story finish within these pages?

Haddon: Dark Horse and I are discussing Adye’s next “strange case” right now. The intention was always that this would be a series of mini-series, pitting Adye against the monstrous and the macabre. Like I discussed earlier, I’ve mapped out several more series. Hopefully I get to tell them all.

Messinger: Since the trade paperback of The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde is hitting shelves this month, do we have any extra content to look forward to? Sketches, scripts, original pitch outlines?

Haddon: There’s an afterword by me, as well as numerous pieces of concept art by Mike Corley that he’s provided commentary for.

Shabbir: With the movie being made of The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde, can you tell us how the script for the comic and the film developed?

Haddon: I developed a treatment – more or less a glorified outline – for the film with its producers. With this in hand, I set about writing the comic book script. As with all storytelling, the story evolved further in the execution. Next I wrote the screenplay, using the treatment and the comic book script’s changes. But by the time I had finished the screenplay, I had learned so much more about the story that I had to go back and revise the comic script. It was a very symbiotic process, and one that I think really benefited the story. That sort of back and forth. I doubt I’ll ever get the opportunity to spend two years perfecting any narrative I work on again, but I’m proud of how it all turned out.

Shabbir: What stage of production is the movie at now?

Haddon: Unfortunately, all I’m at liberty to say is the project is in motion. Well, I’ll add that I’m excited by the direction of that motion as well.

Shabbir: Does the movie have a release date yet?

Haddon: Not yet.

Shabbir: Are you finished with the movie script?

Haddon: The script is currently completed, or at least as completed as it can be at this stage, but it’s always possible I’ll be brought back in to do further revisions.

Messinger: What other projects are you working on?

Haddon: NBC just hired me to write a TV series based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Basically, it’s another opportunity for me to play around in a world I loved growing up. Kickstart Entertainment is also publishing my second graphic novel, Space Gladiator, later this year.

Shabbir: Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?

Haddon: One of the unexpected results of The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’s publication is that I’ve discovered a vast network of classic horror fans around the world that I now get to interact with thanks to the wonder of social media. For most of my life, I couldn’t name more than a handful of people who had seen, yet alone enjoyed the monster movies I loved as a kid – and still, by the way, watch fairly religiously. This love, in fact, is why I wrote Strange Case. So if you dig Strange Case, or even if you just want to share in a love of gothic horror in cinema, look me up on Twitter at @colehaddon.

Here we all are at the end of our journey.  We laughed, we cried, we learned about a book that you all should have read but will now read now upon learning about it.  Thank you to Cole Haddon who was nice enough to converse with us.  Another thanks goes out to Shabbir for being the Batman to my Robin.  Stay tuned for next week as we chat with artist extraordinaire, Dennis Calero!

-Adam

Written by Joseph Mallozi and Paul Mullie.

Art by Garry Brown.

Colours by Ryan Hill.

Letters by Richard Starkings and Comicraft.

Published by Dark Horse Comics.

Price $3.50

An issue where things escalate and things get quite curious.

I was a bit reserved in my review of Dark Matter issue 1. In my pursuit of wanting things to be awesome, at the first whiff of it not being so I am prone to warming up the guns of negativity. There was a lot to like about the debut issue and I’m pleased to say there’s more to like about the 2nd issue.

For starters there’s a pretty dynamic space sequence. Garry Brown’s art is rock solid and even improves on his impressive start to Dark Matter. It’s stands to reason that he’s a big fan of science fiction as he’s perfectly at ease drawing it. Either that or he’s exceptionally professional, it’s all good for the reader regardless.

The story is develops quite nicely, answering questions, posing new ones. I was pleased to see that what I thought was the familiar super-intelligent kid is more than just that and may even be quite sinister. Another big reveal was very cool and this makes me think this series is going to get quite exciting.

Dark Matter looks to be a series that may have not had me gushing praise but if the upward trend of its quality remains constant. It has all the makings of a classic. I have faith that the creative team can do it but it’s up to them to end on a high. They are is deep space after all.

Story 3.5

Art 4

Overall 7.5

A light that’s starting to shine bright and a welcome addition to the sparse genre of science fiction comics.

Mature Readers (Contains Adult Content)

Written by: Kurtis Wiebe

Art by: Riley Rossmo

Colours by: Riley Rossmo

Letters by: Kelly Tindall

Cover by: Riley Rossmo

Published by: Image

Cover Price: $3.50 (USD)

Green Wake feels slightly misguided and less sure of foot in this issue as the plot of the “Lost Children” is being swamped by the greater implications of Green Wake and its meaning.

In a comic with so many ambiguities and surreal elements, it does seems strange to mention focus, but that is what Green Wake has lacked since it returned with issue six as an on-going series. This issue is not without its moments, it really is a collection of potentially brilliant scenes, but they are too much of a collection in that they become disparate, rather than cohesive.

The art, however, is still some of the best in comics at the moment and there are some generally scary moments thanks to Rossmo’s adeptness with creepy and surreal imagery. The way Rossmo makes use of light and dark and changes his colouring to suit each scene and emotion is also some of the best colouring in comics at the moment.

I did actually enjoy this issue. It’s exciting and frightening and sad and there are two especially affecting moments, one that looks back on Morley’s past and another that shows Krieger’s present. Wiebe and Rossmo are a great team and Green Wake is a great comic, but it is also not quite what it was when it first started.

7/10

Written by: Kurtis Wiebe

Art by: Riley Rossmo

Colours by: Riley Rossmo

Letters by: Kelly Tindall

Cover by: Riley Rossmo

Published by: Image

Cover Price: $3.50 (USD)

Unfortunately, I believe that issue ten is the final issue of Green Wake. I don’t want to spoil things, but there are not any more issues solicited and though the ending does leave the door open in way, it is more ajar than open wide.

This instalment therefore has the job of concluding the story of the children and Micah, while also providing some sort of ending both for the characters and the mysteries that surrounded Green Wake.

This issue does try and do too much. The conclusion to each aspect of the plot that needed concluding is fairly good, but it seems clear that Green Wake has been affected by changes to series length.

Green Wake was initially planned as a mini-series, then was extended to an on-going, but is now ending after ten issues. I hope Wiebe and Rossmo have been able to tell the whole story they wanted to, but I imagine they would have liked a little more breathing space at least.

I have the sense that Green Wake wasn’t all it could have been and was supposed to be. There are some nice touches at the end and some vaguely satisfying explanations, but it feels a bit rushed.

I’m disappointed with the way Green Wake has ended because I really did love this series. Although I’m not completely satisfied with the way things had to end, this last issue and especially the last few pages will certainly be looked back upon fondly nevertheless (the final page from Rossmo is lovely). The score for this issue is still high because I believe it is genuinely a good read and a good way to end, despite my disappointment deriving from my desire for the series to continue.

8/10