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From the July 4 edition of The Oklahoman:

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

As the United States celebrates its independence, Marvel Comics has released a collection of a popular “Captain America” story.

When Captain America was killed in Marvel’s line of comic books in 2007, the character received more publicity than ever. “Captain America: The Chosen” is a miniseries written by The New York Times best-selling author and Rambo creator David Morrell, with art by Mitch Breitweiser. It sold out its first issue nationwide. “Chosen” now is available in a hardcover collection from Marvel.

“Captain America: The Chosen” is part of Marvel’s “Marvel Knights” line. The line explores alternate and more sophisticated versions of the characters, as in recent miniseries “Spider-Man: Reign” and “Silver Surfer: Requiem.” In “Chosen,” an aged Captain America is dying, but Cpl. James Newman, deployed to Afghanistan, thinks he sees the captain alive and well, and helping Newman escape from scrapes.

Breitweiser, from Arkansas, told The Oklahoman in a phone interview that the death of Captain America probably helped the sales of “Chosen,” but that he had no advance knowledge of the plan.

“Marvel’s more secret than the CIA,” Breitweiser said. “I didn’t know about the death of Cap that day, when it happened. I called (Marvel’s) office, and they didn’t expect the amount of media coverage they were going to get from that.”

Breitweiser said the commotion about Captain America’s death inspired him to improve his art even further.

“Cap meant a lot to a lot of people, even those that weren’t reading comics, as an American icon, and I think that hit a chord with the public consciousness,” Breitweiser said. “I was still finishing the book up at the time, and that inspired me even more to just knock it out of the park.”

Morrell talked about the series on his Web site, www.davidmorrell.net, at the time of the first issue’s release:

“Throughout the story, these words function as a constant refrain: ‘Courage, honor, loyalty, sacrifice.’ Those are the military virtues, and in my opinion, the world would be a better place if all civilians practiced them.”

“Archer and Armstrong” may have been my favorite Valiant Comics title, so I was very pleased to receive this e-mail from Valiant Entertainment today.
From Valiant Entertainment:

New York, NY – Following the successes of its first two deluxe hardcover edition releases, Harbinger: The Beginning and X-O Manowar: Birth, Valiant Entertainment will release its third hardcover edition, Archer & Armstrong: First Impressions, on September 24.

Archer & Armstrong: First Impressions hardcover edition will contain issues #0-6, digitally recolored and wrapped in a brand new dust jacket cover by legendary artist, Michael Golden. Like their previous two hardcover releases, Archer & Armstrong: First Impressions will contain an all-new story written exclusively for this edition. “The Formation of the Sect”, by original series creator Jim Shooter and artists Sal Velluto and Bob Almond, tells the long-awaited story of how and why Armstrong has been pursued by this secret organization all these years.

“Our first two hardcovers have been big hits with Valiant fans both new and old,” said Walter J. Black, Senior VP & Publisher of Valiant Entertainment. “We expect this new one will be received just as well. We’ve put together a solid package highlighted by the all-new Jim Shooter short story. If you’re new to the series, this is a great way to get involved. If you’ve read it before, this new story alone will make picking it up worthwhile.”

Considered “the superhero buddy book of the decade” by Wizard Magazine, Archer & Armstrong tells the story of comics’ most unlikely traveling companions. When Archer’s preacher parents betray and try to murder him, he goes in search of enlightenment returning as the world’s greatest hand-to-hand fighter seeking revenge. Instead of revenge he finds Armstrong, the centuries old immortal wanderer who spends his time drinking, fighting and spinning tales of his hedonistic adventures throughout history. Together they span the globe facing down a threat that could destroy the world.

Archer & Armstrong: First Impressions will be available to order through Diamond Comic Distributors in their July 2008 issue of Previews which reaches comic stores on June 25.

For more information on the Valiant Universe and its characters, please log on to their website at www.ValiantEntertainment.com. While you’re there, be sure to join the mailing list to receive future updates in your inbox. Or visit Valiant Entertainment on ComicSpace at www.comicspace.com/ValiantEntertainment.

The fourth series to come out from Valiant Comics in the 1990s, “X-O Manowar” mixed the barbarian archetype with the idea of a high-tech hero for “X-O Manowar.” Aric is a Visigoth, captured long ago by the spider-aliens. He finally breaks free, stealing the Manowar armor and returning to earth. But more time has passed than Aric realizes — 1600 years. He’s now in 1990s earth, as the spider-aliens stealthily invade earth by means of members of their race altered to look human.
Aric and the X-O armor seek revenge on the aliens, with few allies and less knowledge of the workings of the modern world. Valiant’s interconnected universe shows up in “X-O,” though it’s not necessary to understanding the story. Aric fights the Harbinger kids, and briefly crosses paths with Solar. A not-yet Shadowman, Jack Boniface, shows up in a New Orleans scene.
This book collects issues 0-6 of the original series, and adds a new story by Bob Layton detailing the rise of Lydia, the spider-alien running Orb Industries before Aric’s return.
Writers include Jim Shooter, Steve Englehart, Bob Layton and Jorge Gonzales.
Pencillers include Barry Windsor-Smith, Sal Velluto, Mike Leeke, Mike Manley, Steve Ditko and Joe Quesada; Layton is among the inkers.
Despite the “many hands” approach, “X-O” is thematically consistent (at least through the course of this collection), and worth a read.

– Matt Price 

DC Vice President of Sales Bob Wayne recapped several reprint projects from DC set for the coming months.

Following the success of the “Killing Joke” hardcover reprint, DC is readying a reprint of “Camelot 3000″ in deluxe hardcover for November.  Both projects were drawn by Brian Bolland.  “Camelot 3000″ was written by Mike W. Barr and was a reimagining of the King Arthur mythos.
“It’s a perfect followup sale to ‘Batman: The Killing Joke,’” Wayne said.

In September, DC plans an Absolute edition of “Frank Miller’s Ronin.” The Absolute line consists of oversized hardcovers of some of DC’s most popular comic books.  Wayne said ”Ronin” was in development as a film, and he expected increased interest in the series.

In the Absolute line, while particulars were still being discussed, Wayne said it would be unlikely to see Warren Ellis’ “Transmetropolitan,” due to the length of the series, and that it doesn’t promote anything else DC is currently publishing.  Wayne said “All-Star Superman” and “All-Star Batman” were far more likely.

In 2009, DC plans to reprint the classic Golden Age storyline “The Monster Society of Evil,” starring Captain Marvel, by C.C. Beck and others.

Brian K. Vaughan’s recently completed ”Y: The Last Man” will be released for the first time in hardcover, with each hardcover containing two of the softcover editions, Wayne said.

 – Matt Price

LAS VEGAS — DC’s vice-president said a softening economy could cause some direct-market retailers to see sales resistance at the high and low end of the spectrum, but that overall, strong story content would be the chief determination in the sales of most comic-book projects.

“The content of the ongoing series is the primary motivating factor even going into difficult economic times,” Wayne said.  He expected any comic-book attrition that did occur to be in series where people were collecting to continue their run of a title.   On the high end, Wayne said the increasing choices in expensive comic-book related collectibles could make it more likely that customers facing a tough economic situation would pass on costly merchandise.

Bob Wayne talked about upcoming projects for DC Comics at the ComicsPRO annual meeting in Las Vegas, including reprint projects tying in to next year’s “Watchmen” motion picture.

DC will offer a program allowing retailers to stock up on the perennial seller in softcover format.  In addition, the deluxe oversized hardcover “The Absolute Watchmen” will come back into print.   And, for the first time, DC will offer a regular trim size hardcover of ”Watchmen.” 

“Watchmen,” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is the basis of a 2009 movie being directed by Zack Snyder (”300″).

– Matt Price

From outer-space adventure to destructive romantic relationships, comic books in graphic novel format continued to push the medium forward. The following are the best graphic novels for 2007:

1.       Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni Press)

Scott Pilgrim, the slacker twentysomething musician, must still battle his new girlfriend Ramona’s ex-lovers in this fourth volume of the “Scott Pilgrim” series.  This pioneering “arcade logic” series is the perfect hybrid of action and romance in a post-videogame, post-manga world.

2.       Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan (Drawn and Quarterly)

Israeli cab driver Koby Franco is drawn into a mystery when his father’s ex-girlfriend Nuni contacts him. She wants to search for Koby’s father, who she says may have been killed in a terrorist attack. Koby’s search for his father becomes a search for himself, as Motan examines modern
Israel in this evocative graphic novel. 

3.       First in Space by James Vining (Oni Press)

“First in Space” is based on the true story of Ham, a chimpanzee trained by NASA to make the first sub-orbital space flight.  Well-researched and compelling, “First in Space” is suitable for all ages.

4.       All-Star Superman vol. 1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC Comics)

Morrison and Quitely capture the charm of comics’ Silver Age with their take on Superman, a Man of Steel who creates Superman robots, and whose best pal Jimmy Olsen finds himself gaining strange powers.  Several story tropes from the 1960s come full circle, as Morrison boils them down to their essence and represents them with modern flair.

5.       The Homeless Channel by Matt Silady (AiT-Planet Lar)

Network exec Darcy Shaw thinks “The Homeless Channel” will both draw attention to the homeless plight, and be a good way to make some money, taking reality television to the next level.

Aaron Sorkin-like dialogue and art reminiscent of an early Brian Michael Bendis make “The Homeless Channel” a noteworthy debut.

6.       Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine (Drawn and Quarterly)
Ben Tanaka is an abrasive
San Francisco theater owner who obsesses over white girls; this doesn’t help his relationship with his Asian-American activist girlfriend Miko.  An interesting look at race and sex through the lens of an intimate graphic novel. 

7.       League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill (DC Comics/WildStorm/ABC)

Something of a sourcebook gone mad,
Moore explores the history of his “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” concept, featuring heroes and villains from throughout literature.

8.       Shazam: Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith (DC Comics)

Jeff Smith captures the charm and wit of the 1940s Captain Marvel stories, recaptured for modern audiences.

9.       Astronaut Dad vol. 1 by David Hopkins and Brent Schoonover (Silent Devil)

David Hopkins looks at the children of astronaut reservists in the 1960s, making the space race more personal. 

10.    Nothing Better: No Place Like Home by Tyler Page (Dementian)Tyler Page (“Stylish Vittles”) takes his Web comic to graphic novel format in “Nothing Better,” which examines two mismatched roommates at a Lutheran college. “Nothing Better” is reminiscent of “Strangers in Paradise” and “Blankets,” with engaging characters and fresh art.

Not all geeks are like me: pale, unattractive trolls who scrape, Hunchback of Notre Dame-like, from store to store to get their fix of tan, attractive superheroes.

No, some of them are high-falutin’ writers for Salon.com, which just put out a list of this year’s notable comics and graphic novels.

I haven’t read everything on the list, but I’m a big fan of “Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together” — I devoured it in one sitting and I’m eager to read it again — and “All-Star Superman” from DC Comics.

One I was surprised missed the list was “Captain America,” which is notable to me for just being a great comic, but maybe to others because the main character is now long-dead. Marvel Comics foresaw the expectations of most of us (that Cap would be back among the living in no time flat) and defied them, first by keeping Steve Rogers a corpse, but also by not filling his boots immediately.

I don’t know about Matt (really, I know nothing about the guy. Is he tall, I wonder?), but I’m working on a Top 10 comics of the year list which I look forward to foisting upon you and our loyal podcast listeners in the coming weeks.

– Greg Elwell

For those of you who find single issues (or “floppies”) to sticky and tedious to handle, DC Comics has dropped a list of their upcoming collections.

52 AFTERMATH: THE FOUR HORSEMEN TP - $19.99, 144 pages

THE ALL-NEW ATOM: THE HUNT FOR RAY PALMER TP - $14.99, 128 pages

BATMAN VS. TWO-FACE TP - $19.99, 192 pages

BATMAN: THE JOKER’S LAST LAUGH TP - $19.99, 192 pages

BATMAN: THE RESURRECTION OF RA’S AL GHUL HC - $29.99, 256 pages

BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE TP - $17.99, 144 pages

BOOSTER GOLD: 52 PICK-UP HC - $24.99, 160 pages

CHECKMATE VOL. 3: THE FALL OF THE WALL TP - $14.99, 168 pages

COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS VOL. 1 TP - $19.99, 296 pages

GREEN LANTERN: NO FEAR TP - $12.99, 176 pages

INFINITY INC. VOL. 1: LUTHOR’S MONSTERS TP - $14.99, 128 pages

JACK KIRBY’S O.M.A.C. HC - $24.99, 176 pages

JUSTICE VOL. 1 TP - $14.99, 160 pages

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: 1,050 YEARS OF THE FUTURE TP - $19.99, 224 pages

THE SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY ARCHIVES VOL. 3 HC - $59.99, 272 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: GREEN LANTERN VOL. 3 TP - $16.99, 528 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE HAUNTED TANK VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 560 pages

THE STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC - $49.99, 448 pages

SUPERMAN: ESCAPE FROM BIZARRO WORLD HC - $24.99, 160 pages

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF KRYPTON TP - $14.99, 192 pages

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER VOL. 1 HC - $29.99, 240 pages

BATMAN: JEKYLL & HYDE TP - $14.99, 144 pages

COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: THE SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER TP - $17.99, 160 pages

THE QUESTION: THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD HC - $19.99, 128 pages

THE DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES VOL. 5 HC - $49.99, 208 pages

GREEN LANTERN: THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR VOL. 2 HC - $24.99, 192 pages

GREEN LANTERN: TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS HC - $29.99, 200 pages

THE JOKER: THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP - $19.99, 192 pages

THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE HC - $19.99, 144 pages

METAMORPHO: YEAR ONE TP - $14.99, 144 pages

SHADOWPACT VOL. 3: DARKNESS AND LIGHT TP - $14.99, 144 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: BATMAN VOL. 3 TP - $16.99, 552 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE FLASH VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 552 pages

SUPERMAN: CAMELOT FALLS VOL. 1 TP - $12.99, 128 pages

SUPERMAN: LAST SON HC - $19.99, 160 pages

TANGENT COMICS VOL. 3 TP - $19.99, 208 pages

TEEN TITANS: TITANS OF TOMORROW TP - $14.99, 144 pages

WORLD’S FINEST DELUXE EDITION HC - $29.99, 176 pages

THE ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 3 HC - $99.00, 616 pages

FABLES VOL. 10: THE GOOD PRINCE TP - $17.99, 240 pages

LOVELESS VOL. 3: BLACKWATER FALLS TP - $14.99, 224 pages

VERTIGO FIRST CUT TP - $4.99, 168 pages

DEMO TP - $19.99, 328 pages

JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: THE FEAR MACHINE TP - $14.99, 240 pages

JACK OF FABLES VOL. 3: THE BAD PRINCE TP - $14.99, 128 pages

THE VINYL UNDERGROUND VOL. 1: SNOGGING FOR ENGLAND TP - $9.99, 128 pages

Y: THE LAST MAN VOL. 10: WHYS AND WHEREFORES TP - $14.99, 168 pages

HEROES TP - $19.99, 240 pages

TOM STRONG BOOK 6 TP - $17.99, 160 pages

WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY VOL. 2 TP - $19.99, 144 pages

EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION VOL. 1 HC - $29.99, 272 pages

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN: BLACK DOSSIER — THE ABSOLUTE EDITION HC - $99.00, 200 pages

THE PROGRAMME VOL. 1 TP - $17.99, 144 pages

BATMAN AND SON TP - $14.99, 200 pages

BATMAN: GOING SANE TP - $14.99, 160 pages

COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE TP - $17.99, 192 pages

COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS VOL. 2 TP - $19.99, 296 pages

COUNTDOWN: ARENA TP - $17.99, 168 pages

DIANA PRINCE: WONDER WOMAN VOL. 2 TP - $19.99, 176 pages

THE FLASH: THE WILD WESTS HC - $24.99, 160 pages

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOL. 2 HC - $24.99, 208 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: HAWKMAN VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 560 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: HOUSE OF SECRETS VOL. 1 TP - $16.99, 544 pages

SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES HC - $19.99, 168 pages

THE TRIALS OF SHAZAM VOL. 2 TP - $14.99, 144 pages

WONDER GIRL: CHAMPION TP  - $17.99, 144 pages

ALL STAR SUPERMAN VOL. 1 TP - $12.99, 160 pages

ALL STAR SUPERMAN VOL. 2 HC - $19.99, 160 pages

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD VOL. 2: THE BOOK OF DESTINY HC - $24.99, 160 pages

COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS TP - $17.99, 144 pages

THE DEATH OF THE NEW GODS HC - $29.99, 256 pages

DR. FATE: COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY TP - $17.99, 192 pages

JLA VOL. 1: THE DELUXE EDITION HC - $29.99, 256 pages

METAL MEN HC - $24.99, 200 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERMAN VOL. 4 TP - $16.99, 648 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE ATOM VOL. 2 TP - $16.99, 528 pages

SIMON DARK VOL. 1: WHAT SIMON DOES TP - $14.99, 144 pages

THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL. 25 HC - $59.99, 256 pages

SUICIDE SQUAD: FROM THE ASHES TP - $19.99, 192 pages

SUPERGIRL: BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL TP - $17.99, 176 pages

THE SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL. 5 TP - $14.99, 192 pages

AMERICAN VIRGIN VOL. 4: AROUND THE WORLD TP - $17.99, 224 pages

ARMY @ LOVE VOL. 2: GENERATION PWNED TP - $12.99, 168 pages

DMZ VOL. 5: THE HIDDEN WAR TP - $12.99, 144 pages

JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER: THE LAUGHING MAGICIAN TP - $14.99, 128 pages

THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: THE DEAD BOY DETECTIVES TP - $12.99, 104 pages

TESTAMENT VOL. 4: EXODUS TP - $14.99, 144 pages

ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK 1 HC - $29.99, 256 pages

THE AUTHORITY: PRIME TP - $17.99, 144 pages

WILDSTORM: REVELATIONS TP - $17.99, 144 pages

WORLD OF WARCRAFT VOL. 1 HC - $19.99, 160 pages

AMERICA’S BEST COMICS PRIMER TP - $4.99, 168 pages

DEATHBLOW TP - $19.99, 224 pages

MIDNIGHTER VOL. 2 TP - $14.99, 160 pages

There are some good deals here (notably a Vertigo and America’s Best Comics primer, even though that line is defunct…for now) and some big releases, like the Starman Omnibus for completist freaks like me.

 – Greg Elwell