Shipping highlights, 6-24-2009
The first full issue of Milo Ventimiglia’s Berserker from Top Cow hits stores today, and if you’re a fan of Wanted or some of Top Cow’s other more mature, violent books, this one is probably worth a look.
In other probably violent news, Predator comes back to comics in a new first issue from Dark Horse.
Meanwhile, Marvel has all kinds of high-octane releases, including “Utopia” No. 1 and the first “dark” Wolverine, in issue 75.
DC launches Gotham City Sirens, written by Paul Dini. Fans of Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates can get your weekly Gates quota in “Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps” trade paperback, which contains his work from the Sinestro Corps Superman Prime Special and the Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files.
“Tales of Sinestro Corps” collects Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: 
Ion #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Parallax #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Cyborg Superman #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1, Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files #1 and backup stories from Green Lantern #18-20.
Other than “Tales,” not as many trades that I’m as excited about this week, though I imagine the “All-Star Batman and Robin” trade will sell well. The deluxe editions of the Grant Morrison JLA are also quality comics if you don’t already own that material, or if you want it in a higher-end package.
Given my Superman fandom, I’ll at least take a look at the “Tales from the Phantom Zone” collection.
What looks good to you?
- Matt Price
Terminator, Star Trek comics go mobile
Given the advanced technology in the future worlds of “The Terminator” and “Star Trek,” it’s perhaps not surprising that the comic books based on these franchises are among the first big-name comic books making the leap to the iPhone.
Publishers IDW and Dark Horse have made “Star Trek” and “Terminator” comic books available in the iPhone App Store this summer, tying in to the release of the movies “Star Trek” and “Terminator Salvation.”
The first iPhone comic book from veteran publisher Dark Horse is “Terminator: Death Valley.” In Death Valley, Calif., two Terminators have been sent back in time to kill John Connor as a boy. Each of the four issues is available for 99 cents from the App Store. The story also is available in print as part of “Terminator Omnibus” Vol. 2, which contains “Death Valley” and four other “Terminator” miniseries for $24.95.
“Death Valley” is by Alan Grant and Steve Pugh and originally was published in 1998. “Death Valley” is meant to be the first in a line of comics apps from Dark Horse.
“This is an evolution for the comics industry, and we look forward to bringing our tradition of innovation and creativity into this new medium,” Dale LaFountain, chief information officer of Dark Horse, said in a release.
IDW’s “Terminator Salvation” prequel also is available on the iPhone, with each of the five issues going for 99 cents or the entire graphic novel for just $3.99.
Warner Bros. and IDW Publishing present the “Terminator Salvation” graphic novel prequel, which takes readers through a series of events that have transpired since Judgment Day, leading up to “Terminator Salvation”.
IDW made its entry onto the iPhone in late 2008 with “Star Trek Archives” and gained even more momentum with “Star Trek: Countdown,” a prequel to the 2009 “Star Trek” movie.
Selected “Star Trek” comics from IDW are available via iVerse, which also distributes iPhone comics from Red 5, Image, Archie Comics, Antartic Press, Boom! Studios and others.
- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Two Terminator games come to iPhone
"The Terminator" for the iPhone
In addition to seeing “Terminator” at the cinema or reading the comics, gamers can become characters from the “Terminator” franchise in new games for the iPhone.
In “Terminator,” an iPhone game from Dark Horse Comics and Big Head Games, gamers take on the role of Resistance fighter Kyle Reese in a top-down shooter.
The game features an episodic story mode and ongoing quick-play mode.
In quick play, Reese attempts to rescue fallen Resistance soldiers. T-800s and Hunter-Killer tanks attempt to stop Kyle at every turn. Power-ups, health bars and improved weapons, such as bazookas and Gatling guns, help Kyle stay on his feet.
A planned update will take Kyle underground to face the machines on their turf.
“Combining Dark Horse Comics’ extensive catalog of material and our game-development expertise has been a great experience and opportunity that we hope to continue long into the future,” Big Head’s 
business director, Dave Vout, said in a release.
Also available as “Terminator Salvation” is in theaters is an app of the same name, a 3-D third-person shooter in which gamers can play as John Connor and Marcus Wright.
Gamers have six available weapons, including a shotgun and grenade launcher.
The “Terminator Salvation” game download was available for $4.99 at press time at the Apps Store; “The Terminator” was available for $2.99.
by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Janet Evanovich to write Dark Horse graphic novel
From the New York Times: Janet Evanovich, top-selling writer, is creating a graphic novel for Dark Horse, based Evanovich’s “Metro Girl” and “Motor Mouth” books.
The books are set in the world of NASCAR. Evanovich previously mentioned being a fan of comic books; glad to see her coming around to writing one.
This is a coup for Dark Horse, who has long been a top producer of indy and licensed comics. This marks the best-known author, I believe, to write a Dark Horse graphic novel. It’s also a great outreach to female comic-book fans, and to Evanovich fans in general.
- Matt Price
Dark Horse joins Diamond’s Final Order Cutoff program
Dark Horse will officially join Marvel and DC in Diamond Comic Distributors’ “Final Order Cutoff” program. This program allows direct-market comic-book retailers to make adjustments to their comic-book orders about three weeks before the on-sale date.
Dark Horse’s FOC program will begin on Monday, April 20.
“We are pleased to announce this move to the FOC,” Dark Horse President, Mike Richardson said in a release. “As every comics retailer knows, times are tough. It is important that Dark Horse not only support them with great product, but with our best efforts to make their ordering decisions as easy as possible. This system will help every retailer who orders Dark Horse product and should lead to better business for all of us.”
The timeline for Final Order Cutoffs for Dark Horse graphic novels will be about three months prior to release.
- Matt Price
Review: Kull #1 (Dark Horse)
KULL #1 (Dark Horse Comics)
Arvid Nelson, the writer of the alternate-history murder mystery “Rex Mundi,” has been tabbed by Dark Horse to helm “Kull,” the third comic-book series based on the Robert E. Howard properties.
Kull, a warrior-king, has named himself ruler of Valusia, a formerly great kingdom now living in dreams of its past. To unite the kingdom under his rule, Kull must lay siege to the Iron Fortress, and its ruler, Count Areyas.
The Iron Fortress will be difficult to subdue – and even moreso if Areyas releases the monster, Etrigor.
The art of Will Conrad (“Serenity,” “Conan”) ably captures the fantasy setting. Conrad’s depiction of action, and his storytelling, are top-notch.
Howard’s original “Conan” story was in fact a reworking of a rejected “Kull” tale, so naturally the characters have similarities. But Nelson’s portrayal of Kull is layered, with a more thoughtful and philosophical approach than Conan. This “Kull” storyline will adapt the Robert E. Howard story “The Shadow Kingdom.”
The covers are by Andy Brase and Joe Kubert, and while both are good, I preferred the Brase cover on this issue.
I haven’t read any of the previous “Kull” comics from other publishers, or the original stories themselves. But as of the first issue, “Kull” is my favorite of the current batch of Robert E. Howard comics.
- Matt Price
New Terminator comics coming from Dark Horse
From Dark Horse:
In 1990, at the start of the boom of licensed comics, Dark Horse began publishing Terminator. Now, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the first Terminator film, Dark Horse is excited to announce the return of all new Terminator material for a whole new generation of fans!
With renewed interest in the property in both television and film, Dark Horse announced today its intent to begin creating new comics for release in conjunction with the film’s silver anniversary in 2009.
Rand Marlis, President of Creative Licensing Corporation who represents all Terminator tie-ins, said ”I’m thrilled to be once again working with Dark Horse. They are a superb comic book company and really know the Terminator world. Our prior Dark Horse comics are classics and we look forward to more quality stories and art from the Dark Horse team.”
Dark Horse president and publisher, Mike Richardson stated “We’ve had great success with the ongoing saga of Sarah and John Connor in the past, and the worldwide interest in Terminator has us eager to begin a brand new series picking up where we left off.”
The publisher went on to say that the storyline is being developed and the creative team will be announced shortly.
Dark Horse’s successful Termintor Omnibus Vol. 1 & 2 are currently available at a retail price of $24.95.
Myspace has “Kull” preview
Shoot on over to MySpace Comic Books for an early look at Dark Horse’s “Kull,” set for a November release. Joining “Conan” and “Solomon Kane” in Dark Horse’s Robert E. Howard lineup, “Kull” will be written by Arvid Nelson and drawn by Will Conrad.
– Matt Price
Comics vodcast: Nova, Deadpool, Solomon Kane, Captain America
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss Superman #680, Nova #17, Deadpool #2, Solomon Kane #1 and Captain America #42.
Comics vodcast: Buffy 16, Magic of Shazam 1
Matt Price and guest Sterling Gates discuss “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” No. 15 and “Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!” No. 1 on this week’s comics podcast.
