Christopher Priest created winding political thriller in 1998′s “Black Panther”
Christopher Priest wrote the definitive “Black Panther” run, starting as part of the “Marvel Knights” line in 1998. Though most of the book isn’t available in collections, it’s well-worth tracking down the entire run. (more…)
Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #1 features young, brash Superman
If you’re going to relaunch “Action Comics,” the granddaddy of all superhero comics, you should probably be prepared for some criticism. However, after reading the 2011 “Action Comics” #1 by Grant Morrison, Rags Morales and Rick Bryant, I can’t find much with which to take issue.
“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”).
Mark Waid’s Irredeemable, Incorruptible explore themes of villainy, heroism
In two books set in the same world, “Irredeemable” and “Incorruptible,” writer Mark Waid explores the nature of heroism and villainy. In “Irredeemable,” the Plutonian, the world’s greatest hero, snaps after a lifetime of trying to help humanity. Meanwhile, in “Incorruptible,” the former supervillain Max Damage has a change of heart in the aftermath of the Plutonian turning against the world he’d always protected.
2,011 in 2011 comic-book reading challenge: Week 30 and 31 recap
Batman comics led the way in the past two weeks of the 2,011 in 2011 comic-book challenge, in which I am attempting to read 2,011 comic books in the calendar year. I read 133 comics in the past two weeks — 121 of them were from “Batman” publisher DC Comics. With 60 percent of the year over, I’ve read 1,159 comics, or 57.6 percent of the total comics I need to read. Click past the cut for the full breakdowns.
Paul Dini’s “Batman: Streets of Gotham” follows Hush as Bruce Wayne doppelganger
The story of Hush continues in “Streets of Gotham,” as Hush, who has surgically altered himself to look like Bruce Wayne. Paul Dini is the regular writer, but Christopher Yost and Mike Benson provide some issues. Dustin Nguyen is the main artist.
History of Rap Part 2 with Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake (AP)
Found via Staticblog, another great rap mix by late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon and pop singer turned actor Justin Timberlake. Check it out: History of Rap Part 2 with Justin Timberlake! – Show Clips – Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
- Matt Price
Limited edition He-Man and the Masters of the Universe DVD set for Comic-Con
Mill Creek has announced a special edition of the second season of “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” will be available at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
It will be on sale at booth #4135, the FUNimation booth. This special Comic-Con release is available nearly two months before the regular edition release of the second season.
The complete 8-DVD, 65-episode second season, features exclusive artwork on collectible holographic foil packaging. It will be on sale for $25, with bonus features including interviews, audio commentaries, character profiles and scripts.
The fantasy series features the hero, He-Man, who gets his powers from the mysterious Castle Grayskull. He faces off against the evil Skeletor and protects the planet Eternia. The cartoon series originally aired from 1983-1985.
The “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” program was based on the Mattel toy line, first launched in 1982.
- Matt Price
X-Factor: Second Coming
X-Factor #204-206, Nation X: X-Factor
These issues, collected in the trade paperback “X-Factor: Second Coming,” released in early 2011, tie into the overall “X-Men: Second Coming” storyline, but work well enough on their own that you don’t have to worry about following the entire storyline.
Bolivar Trask secretly hires X-Factor for an apparently routine mission that leads them into his planned death trap. A subplot involves Monet, Strong Guy and Baron Mordo. Writer Peter David provides his typically witty dialogue.
In the “Nation X” one-shot, Cyclops invites the team to move into his floating island of Utopia. But while they’re there, they must face off against the mysterious Crone as Longshot rekindles a romance.
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 983. Still to go: 1028.
Adrianne Palicki: A Real American Hero? Nerdage and Staticblog discuss the GI Joe sequel
Nerdage: So, the first GI Joe movie was, to put it kindly, a bit of a mess. Casting announcements for the sequel, thus far, have been a mix of “huh” and “hmmm”…. RZA may play the Blind Master. DJ Cotrona likely to play Flint. Channing Tatum and Ray Park set to return as Duke and Snake Eyes. Elodie Yung signed as Jinx. John Chu set to direct. The Rock expected to play Roadblock. Bruce Willis keeps being rumored. And this weekend, the news that may cause Staticblog’s George Lang to see a GI Joe movie: Adrianne Palicki, Deadline reports, will play Lady Jaye.
What do you think, Lang? Are you buying tickets for a Dwayne Johnson/Bruce Willis film based on 3 3/4 inch action figures?
StaticBlog: Actually, if it were based on the 12-inch Vietnam-era guy with the awesome bristle-cut hair and beard combo, I’d be in, because Kung-Fu Grip is freaking insurmountable in plastic hand-to-hand combat.
But because this is the “Real American Hero”-era Joe, I’m basically in for the reason you surmised — Palicki, Palicki, Palicki. They can have the guy who directed the last two “Step Up” time-wasters and “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” at the helm, and yet they have Palicki, so everything’s going to be just fine.
Adrianne Palicki was, without a doubt, one of the best things about the first three seasons of “Friday Night Lights,” and as NBC viewers will certainly enjoy this Friday, her character, Tyra Collette, returns for the final two episodes of the series. She got a ton of bad press this spring when early costume photos from David E. Kelley’s “Wonder Woman” were given a trial balloon treatment by NBC and failed miserably in Internet comments sections everywhere. My personal view is that Palicki, standing nearly 6 feet tall with a distinctive beauty, was perfect for the role, but Kelley wasn’t the right guy. Joss Whedon was always the best choice. Palicki also got seriously screwed over when “Lone Star,” the best reviewed pilot of the 2010 television season, got dropped by hair-trigger cancellation champion Fox after two episodes. Considering that “Friday Night Lights” is one of the best dramas of the past 10 years but never was a ratings success, Palicki could stand a break — even from a clankety-clank monstrosity. Having her involved suddenly makes the thing interesting.
Nerdage: Tangentally, the rumor mill has it that Bruce Willis may be intended to play the original “GI Joe,” though I don’t know if Bruce is likely to rock the bristle-cut and beard… The character made, I believe, only one appearance in the Larry Hama comics and didn’t, as far as I know, appear on the TV show.
I, of course, enjoyed the original Larry Hama comics as a kid, and heard he consulted on the first film. Still, I found that movie mostly a confusing mess, though it was filled with attractive people. Will John Chu have better luck than Stephen Sommers?
StaticBlog: OK, so I understand how Sommers got from the first two “Mummy” movies to “GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” but how does Jon Chu parlay the “Step Up” movies, which are essentially “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo” with electro-pop and slightly larger budgets, much less the Bieber hagiography, into “GI Joe 2: Cobra Strikes”? He must know how to follow a budget and make money or something.
Nerdage: Chu told The Deadbolt that he’s a big fan of GI Joe from back in the day, played with the toys, had the comic and everything, so maybe he’ll make a movie the fans of the property want to see. Here’s hoping, anyway.
StaticBlog: At least there’s Palicki.
Palicki, Palicki, Palicki.
