Watchmen prequels, X-Men First Class part 2, and Avengers Super Bowl spot teaser on the new format Planet 46 Comics show
Watchmen prequels, X-Men First Class sequel, and Avengers assemble this week on the comics podcast.
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Planet 46 Comics: Miranda Kerr’s Wonder Woman costume; Crow reboot; Green Arrow on TV
On the Planet 46 Comics show: Supermodel Miranda Kerr is Wonder Woman, “The Crow” reboot gets a director, and a Green Arrow show is on the way.
DC’s new logo; Popeye’s return; Amazing Spider-Man press conference on Planet 46 Comics
Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss the new DC Comics logo, Popeye making it back into comics, and an Amazing Spider-Man press conference in Tokyo on the Planet 46 Comics show.
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Lone Ranger cake marks birthday
Happy Groundhog Day and happy birthday to me — we celebrated by giving away a Lone Ranger cake at my store, Speeding Bullet Comics. The second issue of Dynamite’s new “Lone Ranger” comic is out this week.
See previous comic-related cakes decorated by my wife, Annette Price, here and here.
- Matt Price
Happy 20th anniversary, Image Comics!
Congratulations to Image Comics on its 20th anniversary. The company, formed Feb. 1, 1992, was a key part of my teenage comic-book reading, and is still a vibrant and exciting company many years after the skeptics assumed they’d be long-gone. The company also should be commended for its work in promoting creator-owned comics.
- Matt Price
“Before Watchmen” prequels announced
DC Comics’ much-rumored “major news” was announced today on DC Comics’ Source blog, as a series of prequels to the best-selling graphic novel “Watchmen” were announced.
“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee in a news release. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”
“Before Watchmen” includes:
- RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
- MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
- COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
- DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
- NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
- OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
- SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner
The series will be released weekly, with a back-up story in each issue from original series editor Len Wein, called “Curse of the Crimson Corsair.” The art for this story will be by original series colorist John Higgins.
There will also be a final epilogue issue.
Dave Gibbons shared his thoughts at the Source blog.
“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, 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,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.
Alan Moore, the writer of “Watchmen,” reacted about as may have been expected, to the New York Times:
“I tend to take this latest development as a kind of eager confirmation that they are still apparently dependent on ideas that I had 25 years ago.”
The reclusive Moore no longer deals with DC Comics and has largely sequestered himself from the industry, with the exception of his “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” graphic novels released through Top Shelf.
- Matt Price
Amazing Spider-Man #682 teaser looks to the “Ends of the Earth”
Marvel has released a teaser for what it calls “the next big Spider-Man epic.” Part one of “Ends of the Earth” begins in Amazing Spider-Man #682, by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli.
Here’s how Marvel describes the issue: 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?
“Amazing Spider-Man” #682 s set for a March 21 release.
- Matt Price
“Flash” #6 variant cover by Mike Choi revealed
DC Comics’ Source blog has revealed Mike Choi’s variant cover for “The Flash” #6, on sale Feb. 22.
“’The Flash’ is one of my favorite books right now, so it was a real pleasure and honor to get the chance to work on a cover for the title,” Choi told The Source. “I’m good friends with both [series writers and artists] Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, whom I’ve known pretty much my entire career, my first professional gig being the follow-up to Francis’ run on WITCHBLADE for Top Cow, with Brian being my colorist on the book, so of course this was a title I was definitely rooting for. Hopefully I’ve done just a little bit to add something to their book and its run.”
As hinted at in this variant cover to issue #6, Captain Cold returns in issue #7 of “The Flash.”
- Matt Price
“Duel to the Death” comic art event in Norman on Saturday
Meet some local comic-book creators and vote on your favorite “death” in a local arts event hosted by Speeding Bullet Comics, 614 N Porter Ave. in Norman.
From the Speeding Bullet newsletter:
We’re issuing the ultimate challenge to Oklahoma comic creators … we’ll give you 20 minutes. Kill off a character right before our very eyes!
Artists will be completing a 4-panel story live at Speeding Bullet, starting at 5 p.m. this Saturday.
Official Death Rules: Artists will have 20 minutes to sketch, pencil, color (whatever they wish to do!) a 4-panel story in our store. They must kill off a character (original or otherwise) in the strip. Artists may enter the contest with concepts or thumbnails, but all art included in the final product must be completed during the 20-minute competition. Artists will bring their own paper and supplies. The winner of our duel will be determined based on stunning use of creativity, humor, and artistic talent under pressure. Tragic irony is also a plus!
After the Duel, fans will be able to get comics signed and talk to these local creators about their upcoming work.
For more information, see the facebook event page here.
I’ll be attending the event as well, so stop by and say hello. (Full disclosure note – I am one of the owners of Speeding Bullet Comics.) I look forward to seeing what kinds of awesome comics are created!
- Matt Price
“Justice League” No. 1 tops 2011 comic-book sales
DC Comics’ revamp of its superhero line was a sales success, with titles from DC’s “The New 52” making up nine of the top 10 titles in the year-end sales list of the comic industry’s primary distributor.
Diamond Comics Distributors Inc. reported that “Justice League” No. 1 topped all comics sold in 2011.
