“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.
X-O Manowar creative team: Robert Vendetti and Cary Nord
X-O Manowar 1 cover by Esad Ribic.
Valiant Entertainment has announced the creative team for its first title, “X-O Manowar,” to be released on May 2. The writer will be Rob Venditti (“The Surrogates”), and the artist is Cary Nord (“Conan”).
This is a solid announcement: both of these are talented, Eisner-nominated creators. Comic Book Resources has an interview with Venditti and editor Warren Simons.
“X-O Manowar” will be a reboot, but follow the basic concept of the original series: a barbarian who receives a scientifically advanced suit of armor.
- Matt Price
Guest post: A look back at The Shadow
Larry Latham writes that the 1970s' "The Shadow" was a high point for the character in comics.
I asked writer/artist/director/pulp expert Larry Latham for his take on the news of the revival of “The Shadow,” and what he sent me was so interesting and informative, I’m sharing it all here for Nerdage readers! You can follow Larry’s excellent web comic and his well-researched posts on pulps, mysteries, comics and more at www.lovecraftismissing.com. “Lovecraft is Missing” is set in 1926. It follows three strangers who are drawn into a web of horror when a little known pulp author, H.P. Lovecraft, mysteriously vanishes. Now, on to “The Shadow”:
It’s always fun when someone tries to revive one of the iconic hero characters like The Shadow; fun, at least, until you have the book in your hands and find that, once again, the concept just doesn’t quite work. The Shadow is one of those characters, and a number of truly talented creators have taken their shots with him, both in film and comics, but the track record isn’t good.
“The Shadow” to return in Garth Ennis-written Dynamite comic series
Dynamite Entertainment has announced the return of the pulp hero The Shadow in a new ongoing comic-book series to be written by “Preacher” creator Garth Ennis.
Artist Aaron Campbell joins Ennis on the creative team for the comic, which will feature covers by artists Alex Ross, Howard Chaykin, Jae Lee and former Oklahoman John Cassaday. “The Shadow” No. 1 is scheduled for release in April.
The series will be set in 1938. The character wears a wide-brimmed, black fedora and a crimson scarf, has scores of secret operatives, and was last played in films in 1994 by Alec Baldwin. A new film version of the character is in development, with producer Sam Raimi attached.
“The Shadow is probably the last established character I like that I haven’t gotten around to writing yet, certainly on this side of the Atlantic,” said writer Garth Ennis in a news release. “It makes a kind of bloody, bullet-riddled sense: I always had a feeling our paths would cross sooner or later.”
The Shadow was created in pulp magazines; the character debuted on the radio in 1930. The gunslinging character has since appeared in novels, television, films and scores of comic books. The well-known introduction from the radio show stated, “”Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!”
In addition to the new series, Dynamite will be reprinting Howard Chaykin’s take on “The Shadow” from 1985. The story, “Blood and Judgment,” will be re-released as a trade paperback in April.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images.
Twisted Tales is scary pick for for Friday the 13th
If you’re looking for a creepy comic to read on Friday the 13th, you can’t go wrong with “Twisted Tales” from 1980s publisher Pacific Comics, featuring artists including Berni Wrightson (as shown) and stories by Bruce Jones.
Need more recommendations? Check out my Friday the 13th recommendations from 2009 and 2010.
- Matt Price
Amazing Spider-Man: Peter Parker and the Ramones; Turn off the Dark Broadway record; Marvel Comics anime
Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark swings past all time Broadway record, two new official images from Amazing Spider-Man, and Blade Anime comes to G4 in the Planet 46 Comics Podcast.
DC Comics announces “Second Wave” of New 52
This May, DC Comics continues its “New 52″ lineup with a “Second Wave” of titles. Six new titles will replace six of the original “New 52″ titles.
Novelist China Miéville comes to comics as part of this initiative, as does the return of Grant Morrison’s “Batman Incorporated.” I’m personally thrilled about the “Worlds’ Finest” comic, which will feature artists George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Another exciting piece of this news is a new book from James Robinson, “Earth 2.” Both “Worlds’ Finest” and “Earth 2″ look as if they’ll deal with the alternate-earths version of DC’s superheroes, which could be quite intriguing.
“The excitement of the initial launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief at the DC Comics blog. “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”
From the blog:
DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” includes:
* BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.
* EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.
* WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.
* DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.
* G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.
* THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.
The series ending to make room for these six new titles are “Blackhawks,” “Hawk and Dove,” “Men of War,” Mister Terrific,” “O.M.A.C.” and “Static Shock.” Those series conclude in April with their eighth issues. Harras said at the DC blog that many of the characters from these books will appear in other New 52 titles.
USA Today and Comic Book Resources have interviews with Harras and additional information on the launches.
What do you think of the new titles? What about those going away? Which of the new titles are you most intrigued by?
- Matt Price
Joe Keatinge’s “Hell Yeah” coming in March
I talked to writer Joe Keatinge today, of the upcoming “Glory” and “Hell Yeah.” Look for an article in an upcoming Weekend Look, but in the meantime, I just wanted to point out this great cover for “Hell Yeah” by ELEPHANTMEN’s Andre Szymanowicz. I’m really looking forward to picking this one up.
Here’s how Image describes the comic:
Twenty years ago, the world was rocked by the emergence of real-life superheroes. Sports and entertainment industries collapsed overnight as people run across the planet and punch through walls changed the word forever. A new global culture formed around these bigger-than-life beings and now the generation raised in its wake must fight to find a place in this brave new world! By pairing the energy and excitement of the original Image superheroes with modern, innovative storytelling, Keatinge and Szymanowicz have crafted a modern superhero epic that could only begin on Image’s 20th anniversary.
You can check out a preview of “Hell Yeah” No. 1 in the upcoming “Chew” #23.
- Matt Price
Matt Price’s top 10 comic-book series of 2011
DC Comics regained the public’s attention — and the lead in market share — with a publicized revamp of its superhero line, but not all of the year’s best comics involved capes and tights.
The following are 2011′s best 10 periodical comic books.
World War II zombie anthology “FUBAR” to have Oklahoma signing
The World War II zombie anthology “FUBAR” releases its second volume this month, with a national signing tour as part of the launch. Creators including Rafer Roberts, Mike Imboden, Jeff McClelland and Oklahoma’s Mario Wytch will sign on Jan. 7 in support of the book.
Artist Mario Wytch will be at Speeding Bullet Comics, 614 N Porter Ave. in Norman, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7 for the Oklahoma premiere of “FUBAR 2: Empire of the Rising Dead.” Wytch will sign copies of “FUBAR 2,” as well as his work in other comics, including “Josh Howard Presents: Sasquatch” and the Speeding Bullet-published “OK24.” Copies of the first “FUBAR” anthology will also be on hand.
Here’s how the publisher describes this war/horror anthology: The indie smash hit is back with its second stand-alone volume. From the harbors of Hawaii to the streets of Tokyo, this zombie-smashing epic, FUBAR II: Empire of the Rising Dead follows a full-blown zombie outbreak in the middle of the Pacific theater of World War II as the allies come face to face with the walking dead … again!
- Matt Price
(Disclosure note: Matt Price is one of the owners of Speeding Bullet Comics.)
