Sterling Gates plans deep-space epic with “Captain Victory”
Tulsa-born comic-book writer Sterling Gates is headed to deep space in his next assignment, a revamp of the Jack Kirby character Captain Victory for Dynamite Entertainment.
Captain Victory, created by Kirby, was one of the first hits in the direct-market comic-shop environment of the early 1980s, and of course Kirby is perhaps comics’ most prolific creator, responsible for creating or co-creating concepts including the Fourth World, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and Captain America.
First look at Henry Cavill’s Superman; reaction to the new Ultimate Spider-Man; Captain Victory to relaunch from Dynamite
Superman and Spider-Man both have big news this week, and Oklahoma writer Sterling Gates is tabbed to write “Captain Victory,” based on the Jack Kirby character, from Dynamite.
Green Hornet movie sequel comes to comics in “Aftermath” by writer Jai Nitz
After making nearly $100 million at the box office, “Green Hornet,” which stars Seth Rogen and Jay Chou, will come to DVD in May.
Dynamite Entertainment, which provided a comic-book prequel to the film among its “Green Hornet” line of comics, follows up on the storyline of the film with “Green Hornet: Aftermath,” written by Kansas-based writer Jai Nitz.
(more…)
Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek to team up on “Kirby: Genesis” for Dynamite
Art by Jack Herbert and Alex Ross from "Kirby: Genesis."
DALLAS — On the same night that the late artist Jack Kirby was honored by the ComicsPRO comic-book retailer trade organization, Dynamite Entertainment publisher Nick Barrucci announced new details on the upcoming “Kirby: Genesis” series from Dynamite Entertainment.
Buck Rogers ends run in May
Dynamite Entertainment has announced that its Buck Rogers series will conclude in May with issue No. 12. In the concluding chapter of “Moonfall,” written by Scott Beatty and drawn by Carlos Rafael, Buck and his allies discover that the greatest threat to Earth is neither aliens nor warring city-states, but from a Lunar “separatist” colony that has the most dangerous (and simplest) weapon ever devised, according to Dynamite’s release.
“‘Buck Rogers’ #12 is the grand finale to “Season One” of the Dynamite series,” said writer Scott Beatty in the news release. “And as befitting a season capper for this series, it’s chock full of action, double-crosses, and sci-fi intrigue on the Moon! There’s an ending, a beginning, and a close encounter that Buck NEVER imagined as the past finally catches up with him in the 25th century!”
Buck Rogers made his first newspaper appearance January 7, 1929 and was repopularized in the late 1970s/early 1980s in a television program starring Gil Gerard and Erin Gray.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for the Carlos Rafael cover to “Buck Rogers” #12
Dynamite acquires Vampirella
Dynamite has added a new character to its stable. According to a news release, Dynamite has bought the character of Vampirella, which will become part of its publishing lineup.
Vampirella debuted in 1969 in a black & white magazine titled “Vampirella” with a cover by Frank Frazetta. The scantily clad horror icon has been written by some of comics best-known names including Alan Moore, Mark Millar, Grant Morrision and James Robinson.
“Vampirella is one of the most well known and longest running comic characters in the history of the business,” said Dynamite president Nick Barrucci in a release. “Outside of Marvel and DC characters, very few comics characters that debuted in the 60′s still resonate with fans today. Our acquisition of this iconic brand is another step in Dynamite’s exciting growth and builds on the ongoing success of our line.”
Vampirella has had periods of high sales and interest – especially during the “bad girl” period of the late 1990s. And Dynamite has done a good job of taking characters with a high level of name recognition — like the Lone Ranger — and turning that into a profitable comic-book series. I think this seems like a good move from Dynamite.
- Matt Price
Ross returns with new “Superpowers” series
Alex Ross returns for “Project Superpowers” Chapter 2, launching from Dynamite in June. The popular painter will paint ever cover of “Project Superpowers,” and will plot and direct the entire “Project Superpowers” universe.
Writer Jim Krueger returns to the series, joined by two artists: Edgar Salazar and Doug Klauba. Salazar will draw the main story; Klauba paints a special painted origin sequence in each issue. He’ll kick things off with an origin of the Black Terror.
Issue #0 of chapter 2 will launch in June for a $1 retail price.
- Matt Price
See the full release after the break.
Buck for a quarter: Sci-fi character Buck Rogers returns to comics in 25-cent issue
WORD BALLOONS
Writer Scott Beatty and artist Carlos Rafael will create the new adventures of Buck Rogers, under covers from John Cassaday (“Astonishing X-Men”).
“Buck is a sci-fi icon. We wouldn’t have ‘Star Trek’ or ‘Star Wars’ or many of the familiar trappings of the genre without the trails blazed by Buck with his trusty ray-gun and jet-pack,” Beatty said in a news release.
Buck Rogers started in the pulps in 1928, as Anthony Rogers in the story Armageddon 2419 by Philip Francis Nowlan. Rogers moved to the comic strips the next year, when he gained a new first name, Buck, and an artist, Richard Calkins, according to Don Markstein’s Toonopedia.
Buck Rogers is an accomplished pilot who is frozen in suspended animation for 500 years. He awakens in the 25th Century to a new world. He befriends Wilma Deering and Dr. Huer, and joins Earth’s defenders, as the planet is under siege from an alien force.
Buster Crabbe, who previously played Flash Gordon, brought Buck Rogers to movie screens in 1939 as part of a motion picture serial. The character briefly appeared on television in the 1950s; the comic strip ended in 1967.
But that wasn’t Buck’s last gasp. The success of “Star Wars” – which was partially inspired by “Buck Rogers” – brought Buck back to cinemas in 1979. The film, starring Gil Gerard, was followed by a TV series. These episodes are now available for viewing online at www.hulu.com/buck-rogers.
The series lasted two seasons. The comic book based on the series was published by Gold Key for three years, according to Toonopedia, and a new newspaper strip ran through 1983. Other than a brief revival in the early 1990s, it’s been mostly quiet for Buck since then. Dynamite aims to change that.
“We’re planning Buck’s launch to be one of our biggest of 2009, one that will propel him into the comics future,” Dynamite President Nick Barrucci said in a news release.
And Buck may grace the big screen again, as well: According to a December article in The Hollywood Reporter, “The Spirit” director Frank Miller was in talks to bring “Buck Rogers” to movie theaters.
By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Comics podcast – Wolverine: First Class, Authority, Army of Darkness/Xena, Transhuman
Greg Elwell, Kyle Roberts and Matt Price talk about “Wolverine: First Class,” #1 ”Secret History of the Authority – Hawksmoor” #1, “Army of Darkness/Xena: Why Not” #1 and “Transhuman” #1 on this week’s comics podcast at newsok.com.
About “Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor” #1:
Matt Price: I thought this had a decent feel with what you had of the early “Authority.”
Greg Elwell: Well, maybe … There are some good ideas in there. I certainly enjoyed Hawksmoor using the city to fight the robot, but, I dunno. The love story aspect – I wish there was one or the other. But the nice thing is, a lot of characterization.
—
About “Wolverine: First Class”:
Kyle Roberts: I liked it. It’s kind of the early 80s X-Men. I really like all the facial expressions from Shadowcat and Wolverine, and the personality that shows through for both of them. … It’s written very well.
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About “Army of Darkness/Xena”:
Greg Elwell: I was not ever a huge Xena the Warrior Princess fan … when I did tune in, I’ll tell you the reason I did tune in: Bruce Campbell. … John Layman has done a really great job here by taking a couple of pretty wacky ideas and going full-tilt with them.
Matt Price: They’re taking it kind of tongue in cheek, and I think that’s the way to do it.
Greg Elwell: It’s an “A” in my book.
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About “Transhuman” #1:
Matt Price: This is my favorite thing (Hickman) has done so far. It’s about two companies that are both trying to build the next generation of humans. … I really wanted to read more.
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