Kindle Fire demo; Avengers poster; Conan giveaway and Roy Thomas interview
Matt and Kyle take a look at the Kindle Fire’s options for comics; the Avengers release new posters; and Roy Thomas talks about Conan the Barbarian in this week’s comics podcast.
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Hitman attempts redemption in “Near Death”
A hit man has a vision after a near-fatal incident, and attempts to make amends for his misdeeds in “Near Death,” a comic-book series written by Jay Faerber.
The 8th annual 24-Hour Comics Day is Saturday, Oct. 1
The eighth annual 24-Hour Comics Day is Saturday, and the comic book specialty retailer group ComicsPRO is again organizing the event.
24-Hour Comics Day is an annual challenge for cartoonists to produce a 24-page comic book written, drawn and completed in 24 consecutive hours. Comic book artists, whether professional or amateur, young or old, are invited to check out a local venue or try the challenge on their own.
“Justice League” #1 will kick off DC Comics’ The New 52
DC Comics will kick off its linewide relaunch, The New 52, on Wednesday, with the last pre-relaunch issue, “Flashpoint” No. 5, and the first issue of the new line, “Justice League” No. 1.
According to DC, “Justice League” will be set at the dawn of the age of superheroes. The first storyline explores the team’s origins as they ultimately become the world’s greatest superheroes, featuring characters including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. The new Justice League series is written by Geoff Johns (“Blackest Night”) and drawn by Jim Lee (“Batman: Hush”).
Krypto returns in Superman #712, plus other comic book reviews
Superman #712
There was a bit of internet outcry over why the planned “Grounded” storyline was interrupted for an issue to instead run a “Krypto” story by Kurt Busiek that was originally planned to run around five years ago.
I’m not sure why the decision was made, but I’m glad to see the story, now published in Superman #712. Written by Busiek (“Astro City”) with art by Rick Leonardi (“Spider-Man 2099″), the story features Krypto after the death of Conner Kent, aka Superboy. Anybody who’s ever owned a dog will sympathize with the story, which would have likely had an added oomph had it been published in the aftermath of Superboy’s death in “Infinite Crisis.” As it is, however, it’s still a great issue.
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Transformers celebrated in movie, comics, museum event
The alien robots the Autobots and Decepticons will again battle on movie screens next week when “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” is released.
Fans can dive deeper into the world, based on the Hasbro action figures, with comics from IDW Publishing and an event at the Toy & Action Figure Museum this weekend.
“Transformers Weekend” at the Toy & Action Figure Museum, 111 S Chickasaw St. in Pauls Valley, will feature movie memorabilia, scavenger hunts and a chance to see classic “Transformers” toys from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information about “Transformers Weekend,” call the museum at (405) 238-6300 or go to www.actionfiguremuseum.com.
In the film, the Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon and race against the Decepticons to reach it first, according to imdb.com. The Transformer Shockwave will appear for the first time in the movies in “Transformers 3.”
Shockwave first appeared in comics in 1985′s “Transformers” No. 5. The Transformers had been introduced into comics in a four-issue limited series from Marvel; it was expanded to an ongoing series with No. 5. Shockwave for a time usurps Megatron’s leadership of the Decepticons. Shockwave transforms into a laser cannon and is a highly logical, cunning robot. The Shockwave toy was introduced in the second year of the “Transformers” action figures, 1985. Shockwave was recently introduced in the IDW comic books set in the movie universe.
Dirk Wood, IDW’s retail marketing director, talked about “Transformers” at the recent ComicsPRO annual membership meeting in Dallas.
Two “Transformers 3” film prequels, “Foundation” and “Rising Storm,” have been released by IDW. “Rising Storm” introduces Shockwave into the movie continuity, and “Foundation” explores the past of Megatron and Optimus Prime.
“We want to take the perennial licenses that obviously do great for us, but we want to give people a fair chance of getting in and getting excited about it,” he said. He noted that “Transformers” comics sold well during each of the previous two summers that featured a “Transformers” movie.
- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Former Captain Comet investigates “Mystery in Space”
Mystery in Space 1-8 (2006-7)
The Weird 1-4 (1988)
The interweaving narratives of the revived Captain Comet (now going by just “Comet”) and interdimensional former energy being The Weird come together over the course of the eight-issue story as writer Jim Starlin presents a tale worthy of the title “Mystery in Space.” Shane Davis provides the art for the Comet story, and Starlin draws the Weird section. Ron Lim — who worked with Starlin before, notably filling in for George Perez on the “Infinity Gauntlet” — fills in on the later issues. Captain Comet’s talking canine sidekick, Tyrone, is introduced in this series, as is potential love interest Eye. The revived Comet as sort of a spacefaring Sam Spade investigating his own death makes this a recommended storyline.
The story is set on Hardcore Station, sort of a Babylon 5 type place with a mix of corporate executives and religious zealots running the show. Comet finds himself drawn into a plot by the Eternal Light Corporation to expand their power, using Comet and the Weird as their puppets, in different ways. 
The 1988 Weird miniseries is reprinted in the second “Mystery in Space” trade paperback, written by Starlin with art by Berni Wrightson. The Weird was once a zarolatt, an energy being from an alternate dimension enslaved by the Macrolatts. When the Macrolatts planned an invasion of Earth’s dimension, the zarolatt took it upon himself to try to stop it, slipping through a dimensional portal to earth and inhabiting the body of the recently deceased Walter Langley.
This form contained both Langley’s and the zarolatt’s memories, and was dubbed “The Weird” when encountered by the Justice League. The Weird must attempt to stop the Macrolatt invasion while avoiding the Justice League, who believe his own deteriorating body will provide a threat to earth.
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 853. Still to go: 1158
Full Q&A with Valiant Comics executive editor Warren Simons
Warren Simons
Warren Simons, the former Marvel Comics editor who is now the executive editor at Valiant Comics, took some time to answer some questions for Nerdage about the company’s upcoming plans. A version of this interview ran in Friday’s Weekend Look; the full Q&A is included here.
2,011 in 2011 comic book reading challenge: Week 22 and 23 recap
The modern run of Peter David’s X-Factor was the largest chunk of comics read in the past two weeks in the 2,011 in 2011 comic-book challenge. With 75 comics read over the past two weeks, my year-t0-date total is 788. That puts me at 39 percent finished, with 44.6 percent of the year over.
Breakdowns after the cut.
Flashpoint: Citizen Cold 1, Ultimate Spider-Man 159, other quick comic book reviews
Flashpoint: Citizen Cold 1.
In this Flashpoint mini, written and drawn by Scott Kolins, Captain Cold is instead Citizen Cold, supposed protector of Central City. But this celebrated hero still has what appears to be a cold heart. And even though it’s an alternate world, you may be surprised by this issue’s ending. The dialogue’s a little awkward, but Kolins’ art remains solid. And Kolins has a good handle on the Rogues, so Flash fans will probably want to check this one out.
