NewsOK Comics Podcast: Reviews of Supergirl 47, Adventure Comics 4, Flash Rebirth 5 and Amazing Spider-Man 612
Like Pete Sampras in the 1996 U.S. Open against Alex Corretja, I fought off illness and exhaustion to bring you this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast with Kyle Roberts. We talk about the excellent week DC Comics had, with new issues of Supergirl, Adventure Comics and Flash Rebirth, and about Spider-Man’s trip into the Gauntlet with Amazing Spider-Man 612. Check it out.
- Matt Price
Q&A with Neil Kleid of Brownsville, The Big Kahn
Neil Kleid first came to my attention as the writer/artist of the Xeric-winning “Ninety Candles,” an innovative graphic novel in which each panel represented a year. Here’s what I wrote about the book in early 2005, naming Ninety Candles one of the best graphic novels of the year:
Neil Kleid’s experimental “Ninety Candles” follows the life of cartoonist Kevin Hall, with one panel representing each year of Hall’s life. The book was done improvisationally, with no pre-existing script — each day represented in the book was created in a day.
Kleid has since created the Jewish gangster story “Brownsville,” coming to the iPhone via Panelfly, and one of the best graphic novels of 2009, “The Big Kahn.” The following is a Q&A with Kleid about those projects.
Gangster graphic novel makes move to iPhone
Award-winning graphic novelist Neil Kleid is taking his Jewish gangster graphic novel, “Brownsville,” to the iPhone.
“The process is definitely exciting,” Kleid said in a recent interview. “Each and every day another smart phone comes to market — be it iPhone, Pre, Droid or Blackberry — and the comic book industry is matching them stride for stride. The only thing, as a cartoonist or graphic novelist you really need to do is change your point of view, understand that this is the limitless new horizon and get on board.”
“Brownsville,” from publisher NBM, is the story of Murder, Incorporated, the Jewish hit operation of the 1920s and ’30s.
Norman store to celebrate Alan Moore’s birthday
Rob Vollmar passed on the following information about a free celebration of Alan Moore’s birthday on Wednesday in Norman.
- Matt Price
Atomik Pop! is hosting a Mooresday event at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 18th to celebrate the 56th birthday of acclaimed comics writer, Alan Moore. An author of hundreds of comic books and dozens of graphic novels like Watchmen and V for Vendetta, Moore fundamentally altered the comics landscape beginning in the 1980s with his literary approach to a medium once considered suitable for only children.
In celebration, Atomik Pop! will be offering a one-hour survey of Moore ’s life and career entitled “Northampton Calling” from local comics author and critic, Rob Vollmar. “Alan Moore is as fundamental to raising both the standard and profile of comics as an artform as was William Shakespeare to English theater,” Vollmar insists “and his contributions to the American cultural landscape of the late 20th century, despite his British citizenship, are nearly without peer.” Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about one of comics’ most important creators in addition to possibly taking home Moore-themed door prizes.
There is no charge for attendance and the event is open to the public. Atomik Pop!’s Norman branch is located at 918 West Main Street. For further information, please call 329-9695.
Buffy may come to Web; Zack Whedon nabs Terminator comics gig
Two big Whedon-related announcements have come out today.
First, according to SciFi Wire, Joss Whedon’s “Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Eight” comics could be coming to the Web as motion comics webisodes. For anyone who hasn’t yet read the comics, they are quite good. I’m not completely sold on motion comics as yet (I have, so far, always preferred the original comic), but it should be a good way to share “season eight” with those who might prefer it in this format.
In other Whedon family news, Zack Whedon, one of the writers of “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” announced via Techland that he will be writing a new Terminator comic-book series for Dark Horse.
“I am not a big-time, famous dude and yet now I am choreographing action sequences set in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by evil cybernetic organisms hell bent on destroying the human race. How is that possible?! I’ll answer your question, Made-Up Person. It’s possible because in comics it doesn’t cost 150 million dollars to tell that story. They can put an idiot like me in charge!” Zack Whedon writes.
While it’s been a rough month for Whedonites with the cancellation of “Dollhouse,” maybe this will ease the sting somewhat.
- Matt Price
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Dark X-Men 1, X-Force 21, Batman/Doc Savage one-shot
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review Dark X-Men 1, X-Force 21 and the Batman/Doc Savage one-shot on the NewsOK Comics podcast.
Supergirl #50 to feature Michael Turner, Helen Slater
Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates is joined by two Supergirl superstars for “Supergirl” No. 50. Artwork from the late Michael Turner will be the cover of “Supergirl” No. 50. A back-up story will be written by “Supergirl” actress Helen Slater and Jake Black. 
As revealed in the Superman family solicitations at Newsarama.com, the issue is set for release on Feb. 17 and will run 56 pages for $4.99. Joshua Middleton, the series’ regular artist, will provide a 1-in-10 variant cover for the issue.
It’s the second “Supergirl” news featuring Slater in recent weeks. The actress also provided the introduction to “Supergirl: Who Is Superwoman?,” the collection of “Supergirl” issues by Gates and artist Jamal Igle released this week.
- Matt Price
Marvel to introduce new character on Monday?
Marvel plans to introduce this monkey with guns, apparently drawn by Frank Cho, at Marvel.com on Monday. In the announcement, Marvel asks, “Who is One of the Most Exciting New Characters of the Century?” Since this was the art included, I guess they think it’s this guy. Now, I don’t know if this works like “collector’s item first issue!” where if you have to TELL people it’s a collector’s item, then it’s probably not. In any case, if you like Frank Cho or monkeys in a suit and tie, you may want to tune to Marvel.com on Monday and find out who this fella is.
Update: The character is named Hitman Monkey. He’ll debut in a digital title this December and first appear in print in February’s “Deadpool” No. 20.
- Matt Price
Captain America’s got a gun
There was some controversy over the new Captain America’s choice to carry a gun, back in Captain America #34. Some retailers at the time expressed concern about it. Now, Marvel’s released a provocative new promo, one in their series of promos with the title “What Price Victory?” promoting the upcoming Siege storyline.
Norman Osborn is being held at gunpoint by the new Captain America in the image. Osborn has been responsible for a lot of the bad things that have happened to Marvel’s heroes in the past year, as Osborn himself was lionized following his part in stopping the Skrull invasion. Siege looks to be a return to the classic Avengers lineup of Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. But I wonder if New Cap’s use of a gun might play into his stepping aside from the Captain America role, allowing a return of Steve Rogers?
(Of course, in Reborn right now, Steve Rogers isn’t quite ready to take over anything – but we’ll see how that story progresses, as well!)
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
- Matt Price
Read some creepy comics for Friday the 13th
I completely forgot about it being Friday the 13th today, but as such I can’t let the day pass without a few recommendations of creepy comics to read.
1. Creepy
Might as well go with the comic that has “creepy” right there in the title. The first Creepy Archive features stories by Archie Goodwin, art by Alex Toth and covers by Frank Frazetta! That’s an all-star lineup.
2. Eerie
Creepy’s sister publication. The first Eerie Archive does duplicate some of the stories from the second Creepy Archive, as Dark Horse presents the first five issues of Eerie as they were originally presented. Covers by Frazetta and Gray Morrow.
3. Blackest Night
Odds are good you may already be reading this best-seller from DC Comics, but I’m enjoying it as the equivalent of a superhero zombie movie.
4. Essential Marvel Horror Vol. 2
This is likely to fall more along the lines of “goofy” than “scary.” It’s a mix of characters including Brother 
Voodoo and Gabriel the Devil-Hunter from the 1970s Marvel line. The mixture of one oddball thing after another makes this a fun one to pick up and read in short bursts.
5. House of Mystery
While the original “Showcase” edition is worth a look, I’ll recommend checking out the recent series by Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges. Five characters trapped are trapped in a bar that appears to be in an otherworldly realm. They are trying to find out why they are imprisoned, and along the way they tell their stories. One of the best current series from Vertigo.
