NewsOK Comics Podcast: Die Hard Year One 1, Spider-Man Clone Saga 1, Superman 692 and Wolverine Weapon X 5
Die Hard goes back to the 1970s in “Year One,” while Spider-Man revisits the 1990s in “Clone Saga.” The Guardian stars in Superman 692, and Wolverine Weapon X closes out its first story arc. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss this week’s comics in the NewsOK Comics Podcast.
Comics Q&A: Captain America
Have a great Fourth of July weekend. Feel free to celebrate with classic Steve Rogers storylines. As the original Captain America returns, Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss classic Cap storylines, including “Secret Empire,” “Nomad,” “War and Remembrance” and “President Fires Cap.”
Nexus goes on hiatus
One of my favorite comic books, Nexus, is done for the immediate future after the wrapup of the current storyline, according to an e-mail from Steve and Jaynelle Rude. They are publishing Nexus under their “Rude Dude” imprint, and of course Steve is the artist of “Nexus,” which is written by Mike Baron.
Information from the e-mail:
The numbers for the last two books are in and they don’t look good. We have been told that Nexus: As it Happened V1 will reach Diamond by the 9th which should be in time for the 13th in stores date. Around June 16th we will receive our Diamond order for 101/102.
Steve has only the cover to 101/102 to complete then the artwork is complete for all of the books as he inadvertently did the trade paperback cover before the 101/102 cover.
Steve is then turning his focus to gallery paintings. Steve is a brilliant artist and we’ve been living hand to mouth for the past 3 years. Losing over $5,000 in the last 2 printings we have been unable to pay our mortgage and have no desire to lose our house.
Steve does plan to continue in comics putting out a book direct to trade every few years and using gallery painting as a means to finance his comic endeavors.
“Nexus” is an amazing comic-book that was one of the most innovative series of the 1980s. It’s unfortunate the numbers on the new series didn’t support continued publication. I look forward to whatever comics work Steve Rude does in the future, and I wish the best to Mike Baron and Steve Rude in their careers and lives. Comics fans, I’d highly recommend checking out the reprint “Nexus: As It Happened,” as you can find out about the beginnings of this series in a convenient, cheap package. Maybe if the reprint does really well, we could see more Nexus sooner.
- Matt Price
Comics Q&A: Watchmen
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss the “Watchmen” graphic novel in this week’s Comics Q&A.
John Cassaday to headline Wizard World Texas
Press release:
Congers, NY (August 26, 2008) – When it comes to cinematic storytelling and masterfully rendered characters, no other artist comes close to comic icon John Cassaday. Now, the Lone Ranger, Planetary and Astonishing X-Men artist is coming to his first Wizard World convention in over a year, and his first ever as Guest of Honor!
With his current work on Dynamite Entertainments ongoing series, The Lone Ranger, Cassaday is bringing his trademark realistic style to the hero, who celebrates his 75th anniversary this year. His covers and artistic direction have breathed new life into the Lone Ranger and provided the series with a look that grabs readers’ attention every month. Cassaday will also be tackling the equally legendary Buck Rogers on the upcoming series with Dynamite Entertainment.
Prior to his involvement with The Lone Ranger, Cassaday collaborated with hotshot television guru Joss Whedon on Marvel’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning series Astonishing X-Men. During his 24 issues and one giant-size special, Cassaday did everything from resurrect Colossus to pit the X-Men against the combined might of an entire race of aliens bent on putting a bullet through the earth. Because of Cassaday’s epic artwork, Marvel’s mutants looked more compelling than they had in decades.
Through his work with Warren Ellis on WildStorm’s Planetary, Cassaday showed the comic buying population his wide range. Chilling horror, campy sci-fi, thrilling espionage and daring super-heroics were all depicted and conquered by Cassaday’s pencil-clutching hand. His work on Planetary has earned him numerous awards and unparalleled respect from his peers.
During Wizard World Texas, Cassaday will be meeting and greeting his devoted fans and will be involved in various signings and programming events throughout the weekend. Be sure to go to www.wizardworld.com for updates about guests and programming and to save 20 percent off the price of tickets by ordering now. Wizard World, the largest family-friendly comics and pop culture convention in the United States, returns to Texas November 7-9 at the Arlington Convention Center. More Information and exclusives to be announced!
Sterling Gates discusses his ’super’ gig
An extended version of the article from Tuesday’s The Oklahoman:
By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor
Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates, the new writer on DC Comics’
“Supergirl” comic-book series, knows exactly when he decided to be a
writer.
“At exactly 9:13 Central time, September 13, 1998,” he said.
“Seriously. I had just delivered a monologue that I’d written to a
group in my high school’s cafeteria. It was a monologue that detailed
the exact things I thought and felt when my father passed away, and
everything I wanted to tell him at his funeral.”
Gates closed his monologue by asking the crowd to call their fathers
and tell them how they felt, because you never know when it might be
your last chance.
“After the show, a girl came up to me and told me that because of what
I wrote, she was going to talk to her father that weekend for the
first time in seven years. She had been so moved by what I’d said,
she’d made that decision sitting in that cafeteria listening to me.
All because of something I wrote.”
That his writing was able to move another person so deeply made him
decide to commit to working as a writer and storyteller. A chance
meeting with writer Geoff Johns at a convention led to an interview to
work on “Blade: The Series.” He broke in as an assistant in the
writer’s room for “Blade: The Series,” which aired on Spike. He’s
since written for the comics “Green Lantern Corps” and two specials
featuring Green Lantern characters. “Supergirl” is his first ongoing
series, and it’s one for which Gates has an affinity.
“I was a big fan of the Carmine Infantino-Paul Kupperberg ‘Daring New
Adventures of Supergirl’ comics in the mid-80’s,” he said. “I loved,
loved, loved ‘Supergirl’ the movie when I was a kid, and I read that
comic book adaptation they did so many times the staples fell out. I’m
also a big fan of the Jeph Loeb-Michael Turner story in
‘Superman/Batman’ that introduced this version of (Supergirl) Kara
Zor-El.”
While Supergirl is part of Superman’s legacy, unlike the Man of Steel,
she’s not a finished product.
“Unlike Superman, she can make some pretty drastic mistakes. She does
things that Superman and Batman and Wonder Woman don’t approve of, and
to me, that makes her more human,” he said. “But even if she screws
things up occasionally, she’s still a hero, she’s still doing more
good than you and I could do on a given day, and she’s someone we
should admire and respect.”
Gates moved from Oklahoma to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of
becoming a writer, but his home state is never far from his mind. He
said moving to California was “culture shock.”
“That’s like asking about the difference between living on Earth or
living on the sun,” he said. “It’s a loud, bright, insane, amazing,
terrible, wonderful, intense, smoggy, happy city, Los Angeles. It
never stops moving, no one ever stops to really take it all in,
because they have to be somewhere fifteen minutes ago, and traffic has
made them late, and they don’t have time to stop and say how d’you do.
“Oklahoma is completely different, but different in a good way. I
never thought I’d miss Oklahoma until I moved away, and now I think
about moving back at least once a week. I think a lot of people move
away from Oklahoma, but their hearts never really leave.”
Video: Sterling Gates talks Supergirl
Ways to help Gene Colan
Fans, friends and organizations are working to help out Gene Colan, the classic artist of books including ”Daredevil” and “Tomb of Dracula” who is was hospitalized for liver failure earlier this month.
Writer Clifford Meth is running a benefit auction; more information at his blog.
The Hero Initiative is making available a series of prints and posters to benefit Colan.
From the Hero Initiative release:
The Hero Initiative in conjunction with Marvel Comics is launching a series of Gene Colan-themed products, starting with a limited edition print of Gene’s cover art to Invincible Iron Man #1, available at Wizard World Philadelphia, May 30-June 1. Only 200 prints will be available at the show at a cost of $25 each. Net proceeds from sales of these prints by The Hero Initiative will benefit Gene Colan. Another 50 prints will be available at a later date, with plans to have them autographed by both Gene Colan and Stan Lee.
Also at Wizard World Philadelphia, guest writers and artists at the Marvel Comics booth will be signing and sketching two large poster-sized boards, which Hero will auction benefiting Gene at a later date.
And that’s just the start. Wizard World Chicago, June 26-29, will see the release of a second print featuring the cover art to Daredevil #47, the legendary “Brother, Take My Hand” story by Stan Lee and Gene Colan. A third print will be available later in the year, along with other products.
For August, a Gene Colan Tomb of Dracula poster will be available for order via Marvel Previews with proceeds routed to Gene; and in September, a special book reprinting some of Gene’s greatest stories will be made available. In addition to these items, The Hero Initiative will take additional steps to help Gene in his convalescence.
“Gene Colan,” said Roy Thomas, longtime Marvel Comics writer and Hero Initiative Board member, “is one of the most amazingly talented comic book artists in the history of the field. When I was scripting one of his stories, there was no one-not even Neal Adams or John Buscema-whose pencils could make me feel more strongly as if I were looking into a real world. He combines often-photographic realism with dynamism worth of a Kirby…and that makes him unique.”
– Matt Price
“Batman” #626, part of “Batman R.I.P.” reviewed in comics podcast
Batman 676 variant from Tony Daniel’s blog.
Kyle Roberts and I discuss the first part of “Batman: R.I.P.” in “Batman” #676. We also talk about the upcoming “Gotham Knight” anime DVD starring Batman, and “The Dark Knight,” the upcoming film starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. Check it all out at this week’s comic podcast.
– Matt Price
Comics shipping 04-30-08
The DC Universe is shaken up, Dave Sim returns, and Brian Wood’s “Local” releases its penultimate issue. The easy sell of this week should be “DC Universe” Zero, which retails for only 50 cents. It’s written by Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns. Also by Johns this week – ”Green Lantern” No. 30 and “Action Comics” No. 864. “Action” features art by Gary Frank (edit: whoops, this issue is Joe Prado), and the cover, shown here, by Kevin Maguire (”Justice League International”). The Oklahoma adventures of Thor get a hardcover release, written by J. Michael Straczynski. Full list and commentary after the break.
