Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss “Secret Invasion Frontline” #1 and “Station” #1 in this week’s comics podcast. Video to come shortly.
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University of Central Oklahoma GA Ben Smith at will speak at the Southern Oaks Library, 6900 S. Walker, on Monday, July 7, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, about comics transitioning to film. The session will conclude with the screening of a comic book movie. More info at newsok.
– Matt Price
From Dabel Brothers:
DABEL BROTHERS TO ADAPT ROBERT JORDAN’S BESTSELLING
WHEEL OF TIME SERIES IN COMIC BOOK FORMAT
NEW YORK, NY – July 1, 2008 – Dabel Brothers Publishing announced today that they will adapt Robert Jordan’s bestselling Wheel of Time series, which has sold more than 14 million copies in North America alone, into comic book format. The first issue is scheduled to release in December 2008.
The Wheel of Time began in 1990 with the publication of The Eye of the World; ten more volumes have followed. The most recent four books of the series have reached #1 on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list. It is the story of a world – both our past, and our future – in which the battle between the Light and the Shadow must be fought every day; and of the people, both ordinary and extraordinary, who must fight that battle. Jordan wrote eleven volumes of the series and one prequel; he was unable to complete the twelfth and final volume before his death in 2007. That volume, A Memory of Light, will be completed by Brandon Sanderson, a writer chosen by Jordan’s widow and editor, Harriet McDougal, and published by Tor Books in 2009.
The Dabel Brothers published a comic adaptation of Jordan’s A New Spring in March 2005. In conjunction with that project, Robert Jordan provided them with extensive notes for use in further possible publications, including character descriptions and other visuals.
“I’m delighted to be working with the Dabel Brothers! Their work is splendid. Robert Jordan liked it enormously,” says Harriet McDougal.
For more information on Dabel Brothers Publishing: http://www.dabelbrothers.com.
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RIP Michael Turner
Michael Turner, popular comic-book artist and creator of “Fathom” and “Soulfire,” died last night, June 27, according to Aspen Comics’ Vince Hernandez.
Turner, 37, was widely considered one of the nicest people in comics, was always upbeat at convention appearances, even after his 2000 diagnosis with cancer.
The few times I met Turner personally, he fit the conventional wisdom about him — nicer than he had to be, more positive than anyone would expect.
Turner got his big break in 1997, as the initial artist on “Witchblade.” In 1998, he followed that up with his creator-owned title “Fathom,” which he moved to his own company, Aspen Comics, in 2002. He drew a multitude of covers and variant covers for Marvel and DC Comics, on projects including “Identity Crisis,” “Superman” and “Wolverine.” He and Jeph Loeb reintroduced Supergirl to the DC Universe in “Superman/Batman.”
“Fathom” was my favorite Michael Turner project, and it held a special place for me as the first “big book” we ordered at my comic-book store after I bought the place in 1998. The excitement of the fans for Turner’s “Fathom” — a brand new creation — is something I wish the industry could recapture.
Hernandez said those wishing to send condolences to Turner’s family can do so at this address:
Aspen MLT, Inc.
C/O Michael Turner
5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 111
Culver City, CA, 90230
Aspen also encouraged donations to Turner’s requested charities, The American Cancer Society or The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Newsarama and CBR also have reports on Turner’s death.
– Matt Price
Matt Fraction joins Ed Brubaker as a co-writer on “Uncanny X-Men,” and I may not have been this potentially excited about the X-Men since Grant Morrison left. (Well, I liked “Astonishing” an awful lot, too.) Greg Land begins his run as the artist on “Uncanny,” and Marvel sent out four preview pages from “Uncanny X-Men” #500. Also included — the Alex Ross, Greg Land and Michael Turner covers for “Uncanny X-Men” #500. “Uncanny X-Men” #500 goes on sale July 23.
– Matt Price
In an interview with PiQ magazine, director Edgar Wright indicates that “Scott Pilgrim” will be his next film, slated to begin filming at the end of this year or early next. Meanwhile, he’s in the midst of a second draft on “Ant-Man.”
Wright says: “I wrote that for Marvel and I’m in the process of doing a second draft. I had a lot of fun writing that script, I wrote it with this guy Joe Cornish, who is a really funny UK writer. It’s not really an out-and-out comedy. I think some people assume that it must be a spoof, but it’s not really. I guess it’s as funny as something like Iron Man is, it’s on that level of entertainment, really. It’s a big, high concept, special effects comic book adaptation, and very character-led and we found a way of… I guess in a similar way to Iron Man, the thing that worked with that and hopefully will with this is that it’s a different way of seeing a superhero origin, because you’ve seen so many of them and we really tried to figure out a fresh take on that story. So it’s definitely a Marvel film but it’s got a little twist on it in terms of the way that it plays out.”
– Matt Price
It’s a hefty comics week as the month comes to a close, with new issues of “Final Crisis,” “Marvel 1985,” ”Captain America” and “Hulk” among the heavy hitters. “Conan” gets a relaunch as “Conan the Cimmerian” #0, Warren Ellis launches a new series with “No Hero,” and “Superman” welcomes writer James Robinson. Full list and commentary after the break.
After a week of rumors and speculation about DC Comics, DC Executive Editor Dan Didio may have felt a bit under the gun at the DC Nation panel at this weekend’s Heroes Con. This Newsarama report gives the lowdown on the panel, in which Didio gives his take on a lot of the recent online kerfuffles, like the lack of “Final Crisis” tying in correctly to “Countdown” and “Death of the New Gods.” The most interesting bit of news, to me, is that Ethan Van Sciver seemed to indicate he’d be working on a “Flash” project.
– Matt Price
The “Greatest American Hero” is bringing his superheroic expertise to comics.
William Katt, TV’s “Greatest American Hero,” has launched a new independent comic book company called “Catastrophic Comics.”
The first title from the company, “Sparks,” was released this week. “Sparks” is a six-issue mini-series, 32 pages in full color and sells for a suggested retail price of $2.99. The artist is JM Ringuet, the artist of “Transhuman.”
Sparks was co-created by William Katt and Christopher Folino, the writer/director of the cult comedy film “Gamers.”
“Sparks” is set in 1948, as masked vigilante Ian Sparks finding himself in a noir story of self-discovery and redemption.
“My goal for Catastrophic Comics is to tell original stories, with amazing art work, that don’t suck. And I can’t imagine a better book to launch our company with than Sparks. JM and Chris have done a superb job with this gritty book,” said Katt in a release.
For more information about Catastrophic Comics, visit www.catastrophiccomics.com.
– Matt Price
