Former “Justice League” artist Kevin Maguire discusses his early days in comics
"Justice League" No. 1, drawn by Kevin Maguire
AUSTIN, Texas — While Wizard World’s Austin Comic Con featured an array of movie and television stars, comics also were a focus at last weekend’s show. In attendance were Nathan Edmondson (“Who Is Jake Ellis?,” “Grifter”), Greg Capullo (“Batman”), Robert Wilson (“Knuckleheads,”) Kevin Maguire (“Justice League”) and Freddie Williams II (“Captain Atom”).
Maguire and Williams entertained fans and would-be creators in a panel aimed at sharing tips on breaking in to comics. Maguire, who’s been professionally drawing since the mid-1980s, cracked up the crowd, saying he wasn’t sure how he got in and couldn’t really explain how he’d stayed in the industry so long.
“I haven’t broken in since 1986; it’s so different now,” he said. “I’m just here to provide color commentary.”
Tanga in "My Greatest Adventure."
Maguire sent in samples in the early 1980s to Marvel. That led to his becoming part of Romita’s Raiders, an internship-type program at Marvel doing corrections and working with art director John Romita. During that time, he also sent samples to editor Andy Helfer at DC, which led to Maguire’s being offered a comic book at DC Comics.
“I did a book for DC called ‘Wild Card’ that was never published,” Maguire said. “On the strength of that, I got offered ‘Silver Surfer’ at Marvel. And to counter that, DC offered me ‘Justice League.’”
“Justice League,” written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, became a best-seller in the late 1980s, featuring more humor than was typical for a superhero book of the time. Maguire’s expressively drawn faces were part of that.
“I do improv and acting on the side, just for fun, so I’m always thinking about, ‘What is the character feeling? How are they reacting to what’s going on?’” Maguire said. “How does that reflect how they stand, how they gesture, what’s going on with their face? To me, it just seems like an essential part of storytelling.”
Maguire currently is writing and drawing a story starring Tanga, a charming superpowered alien, in the anthology series “My Greatest Adventure.”
“I love writing my own stuff,” Maguire said. “It’s so much more satisfying for me to be telling my own stories and having my own sense of humor out there.”
- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
DC Universe Online welcomes the Flash
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today the upcoming launch of its second Downloadable Content (DLC) pack for DC Universe Online. “Lightning Strikes,” set to be released worldwide later this year, will include a new adventure with super-speedster The Flash.
The pack will launch simultaneously on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC, and will also introduce the game’s eighth power set: electricity powers.
“In this DLC pack, fans have the opportunity to immerse themselves in another great character and action-packed story from the DC Universe,” said Jens Andersen, Creative Director for DC Universe Online, in a news release. “With exciting gameplay, a new power set and new locations to share with your friends, we packed a whole new kind of fun into this DLC pack and are eager for our players to dive into another legendary adventure.”
The pack will also feature The Flash-themed characters and content with new maps and features, including, as described by SOE:
Central City – An all-new map that offers players a more open world experience that provides on-going gameplay, with solo and group missions.
The Flash Museum Duo – Players can now experience the Central City of today and tomorrow. In The Flash Museum Duo, players can travel back in time to the very moment when Barry Allen became The Flash and battle foes inside the Central City Police Station!
Electricity Powers – Players now have the opportunity to get the new Electricity Power set for current and new characters. The new Electricity Power set allows players to leverage the lightning power of electricity and use new types of attacks in combat. Electricity Powers include the Tesla Ball, which creates a floating ball of electricity that zaps nearby enemies; the Shockwave, which shoots streams of electric bolts at enemies; and Ionic Drain, which drains energy from the environment to replenish a player’s health while simultaneously damaging surrounding enemies.
New Gear – Players can earn all-new gear sets including the new Zoom-inspired gear set for villains, and the new Black Lightning-inspired gear set for heroes.
New Characters – Lightning Strikes brings players new iconic DC Universe characters including Livewire, Black Lightning, The Top, The Trickster, Static and more. New characters — such as Livewire — will be featured as new “Inspired By” options for players who can choose to create a new character inspired by some of DC Universe’s legendary characters. Additional new characters — such as Black Lighting — serve as a bounty mission that players can fight if they choose to be a villain.
The pack will be free for “Legendary” players, and available for $9.99 for free and premium players through the PlayStation Network Store, through the in-game Marketplace and on PC from the DC Universe Online website.
- Matt Price
James Bond film Skyfall begins filming; Batman trailer could be on the way; Lord of the Rings follows a War in the North
James Bond news, Dark Knight Rises preview coming, and Lord of the Rings gets a new videogame in this week’s Planet 46 Comics Podcast
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DVD review – Young Justice Season One Vol. 2
Young Justice Season One, Vol. 2 DVD
Superheroic proteges get top billing in “Young Justice,” the Cartoon Network animated series featuring Robin, Superboy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Miss Martian and Artemis.
DVD review – Batman: Year One (Two-disc Special Edition)
Batman: Year One Two-Disc Special Edition DVD
Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s “Batman: Year One” is a comic-book classic, recounting the early adventures of Batman and police Lt. James Gordon in a corrupt, crime-infested Gotham City. The story was originally serialized in issues 404 through 407 of DC Comics’ “Batman” title in 1987.
“Year One” has been influential in nearly all the Batman adaptations in other media since, including “Mask of the Phantasm” and Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.” Miller’s darker takes on Batman in “Year One” and the earlier “Dark Knight Returns” were influential on the 1989 “Batman” film as well.
With so much history hanging on this story, there’s a lot for the direct-to-video animated adaptation to hold up. The extremely faithful adaptation, produced by Bruce Timm and co-directed by Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu, succeeds as the best direct-to-video DC Comics movie to date.
The cast includes Ben McKenzie as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Bryan Cranston as James Gordon, Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Katee Sackhoff as Sarah Essen. Cranston, whom many know from “Breaking Bad,” is a fantastic Gordon. “Year One” is Gordon’s story as much as it is Batman’s, and Cranston hits every emotion needed to pull off the complex character. Gordon’s a good man and a good cop; but Gotham City will put both of those characterizations to the test, as corruption and double-dealing test his faith and resolve.
Extras include a “Catwoman” short, written by Paul Dini; two Catwoman-centric episodes of previous “Batman” animated series; and a documentary on the importance of Miller and the “Year One” story to the Batman mythos.
— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Comics writer Sterling Gates to sign in Norman on Wednesday, Nov. 2
Hawk and Dove #3 (DC Comics)
Comics writer and Oklahoma native Sterling Gates returns to Norman on Wednesday to sign at Speeding Bullet Comics, 614 N Porter Ave. in Norman.
Batman: The Animated Series inspired “The Batman Adventures”
In 1992, “The Batman Adventures,” inspired by Batman: The Animated Series, began its run at DC Comics. Originally planned as a six-issue miniseries, the comic went on to run for 36 issues plus three annuals.
I recently re-read issues 1-12 of the series, which provide accessible, enjoyable done-in-one Batman tales (with some continuing plots or subplots).
Happy birthday, Bernie Wrightson!
According to the Comics Reporter, it’s the 63rd birthday of popular horror artist Bernie Wrightson.
He’s known as the co-creator of “Swamp Thing” and for his work on comic book titles from “House of Mystery” to “Batman: The Cult.”
I read “Batman/Aliens” from 1997 last night, a two-part series written by Ron Marz with art by Bernie Wrightson, and Wrightson does as well as anyone in making the alien creatures of the “Aliens” universe truly disturbing.
His work on “Creepy” and as an illustrator of “Frankenstein” have been reprinted in the past year, and are worth seeking out. Wrightson has recently worked with writer Steve Niles on projects including “The Ghoul” and “Doc Macabre.”
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,608 Still to go: 403.
Hayley Atwell on Captain America: The First Avenger DVD; Robot Chicken season 5 giveaway; Punisher TV show
Hayley Atwell is on the Planet 46 NewsOK Comics Podcast; a Punisher TV pilot is in the works; and you could win Robot Chicken season 5.
(more…)
Superman #2 previewed at WSJ
Lois Lane and Clark Kent discuss daily journalism in the “Superman” #2 preview provided by DC Comics to the Wall Street Journal. The preview reveals that Lois Lane has been promoted to an executive position at The Daily Planet.
“Superman” #2 is written by George Perez, who also provides the art breakdowns and cover. Art is by Jesus Merino. The issue goes on sale Wednesday.
- Matt Price
