Top Shelf joins with Congressman John Lewis for “March”
Chris Staros, Congressman John Lewis & Andrew Aydin
Top Shelf Productions announced today a publishing agreement with Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin to publish the graphic novel “March.” Lewis and Aydin will co-author the book. This is the first time a sitting Member of Congress has authored a graphic novel. “March” will tell the story of Congressman Lewis’ first hand account of the struggle for civil and human rights.
“I am very pleased to be participating in this effort,” said Congressman John Lewis in a news release. “This is something I really wanted to do some years ago and there is no better time to do it than now. It is not just a story of struggle; it is a story of involvement. It shows the ups, the downs, the ins and the outs of a movement.”
The book, which is currently seeking an artist, is tentatively set for a 2012 release.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for the full release.
Green Hornet hits theaters; DC Comics releases online game; The Walking Dead tops sales charts
GREEN HORNET COMES TO THEATERS
Seth Rogen tells George Lang he was allowed to reshape Britt Reid, aka the Green Hornet, in his own image.
“We kind of wanted to subvert notions that are in a lot of these comic book-type movies and that you would find in a lot of early origin stories of comic book characters,” Rogen said during a news conference on a soundstage at the Sony Pictures studio lot in Culver City, Calif.
“In order to play with those ideas, you have to be very aware of what they are in the first place and that they exist and to acknowledge them to some degree. We kind of wanted to dance on the line of being a comic book movie and commenting on a comic book movie.”
Seth Rogen, left, and Jay Chou in "The Green Hornet."
The film made $34 million in its opening weekend, according to the Associated Press.
BEST-SELLING COMICS ANNOUNCED
The hit television show “The Walking Dead” helped spur sales of the graphic novels on which it was based. According to a news release from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc., “The Walking Dead” Vol. 1 trade paperback was the No. 1-selling graphic novel for 2010.
Diamond Comic Distributors is the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.
DC UNIVERSE ONLINE RELEASED
Sony Online Entertainment LLC recently released the eagerly-awaited online action game DC Universe Online (DCUO) for the PC and the PlayStation 3.
“We’re redefining the genre and blazing a new trail in the gaming industry with the introduction of DC Universe Online,” said John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment. “This is the first true action MMO utilizing twitch-based combat and physics to deliver a completely unique and immersive gameplay experience that is reflective of the creativity, action and strength of the DC Universe.”
REVIEW FILE: Matt and Kyle review Amazing Spider-Man 651, Wonder Girl 1 and John Byrne’s Next Men 2.
The Walking Dead, the Avengers top comics sales charts
WORD BALLOONS
The hit television show “The Walking Dead” helped spur sales of the graphic novels on which it was based. According to a news release from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc., “The Walking Dead” Vol. 1 trade paperback was the No. 1-selling graphic novel for 2010.
Diamond Comic Distributors is the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.
“The Walking Dead” held down five spots in the top 10 graphic novels list, with three more spots going to Oni Press’ “Scott Pilgrim” graphic novel series, which inspired the summer film starring Michael Cera.
“The Avengers” No. 1, Marvel Comics’ relaunch of its superhero property featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man and Wolverine, was the best-selling comic-book title for 2010.
“The Avengers” is written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by John Romita Jr. Romita Jr. talked to The Oklahoman about working on the classic “Avengers” series in an August interview.
“I’m of a generation where I worked with Stan Lee, occasionally, and I did work while Jack Kirby’s work was being published, and my father’s work, and John Buscema,” Romita said. “So to work on characters that Stan Lee did with my father and Jack Kirby, I still get a thrill out of doing characters that were created by those guys.”
John Romita Jr.’s father, John Romita, was the Marvel Comics art director for many years, and was the second penciler of “The Amazing Spider-Man,” following co-creator Steve Ditko.
Romita Jr. also illustrates “Kick-Ass,” which he cocreated with writer Mark Millar. The collected edition of “Kick-Ass” was Diamond’s No. 2 graphic novel seller for 2010. “Kick-Ass” was made into a film directed by Matthew Vaughn in 2010. DC Comics landed their emo-style “Superman” graphic novel, “Superman: Earth One” at No. 5.
Marvel and DC Comics split the top 10 comic-book chart. In addition to “Avengers,” Marvel placed their third “X-Men” title launch at No. 2; “Siege” No. 1 at No. 4, and “Siege” No. 2 at No. 9; and the relaunched “New Avengers,” with a different team led by Luke Cage, at No. 6.
DC Comics landed “Blackest Night” No. 8 at No. 3 and “Blackest Night” No. 7 at No. 5. The first two issues of the follow-up series to “Blackest Night,” “Brightest Day,” landed at Nos. 7 and 8. “Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne” No. 1 closed out the chart at No. 10.
Annual sales of comic books, graphic novels, and magazines to the comic-book specialty market took a 3.5 percent drop in 2010 from 2009.
“While sales for the year were down, there have been a lot of positive signs in the last quarter,” said Diamond President & CEO Steve Geppi in a news release. “Sales have steadily picked up and most retailers reported better than average holiday shopping sales. We believe comic books and graphic novels offer a great entertainment value for consumers, and 2011 is shaping up with some very exciting and creative storylines and titles from the industry’s top publishers.”
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
The Liberty Project features villains trying to be heroes
“The Liberty Project” collection from About Comics, released in 2003, collects the eight issues and one special published featuring the characters, created by Kurt Busiek (“Marvels,” “Astro City”) and James W. Fry.
Best graphic novels of 2010
Those looking for illustrated long-form fiction had much to choose from in 2010, with graphic novels from traditional book publishers and those from the comics field combining to make a wide selection. From crime to fantasy, from the distant past to the future, graphic novels in 2010 explored the human condition in a variety of settings with a wide range of characters.
Here are my selections for the best 10 graphic novels of 2010. I’ve limited the list to stories that first appeared in a graphic novel format, as opposed to collections of periodically released comic books.
Next week, return for the top 10 periodical comics of 2010.
“Return of the Dapper Men” a quick sellout for Archaia; second print coming
Archaia has announced that Jim McCann and Janet Lee’s “Return of the Dapper Men” has sold out of its 10,000 copy initial printing at the distributor level, less than 24 hours after release.
Archaia is rushing a second printing to press.
“Reaction to the book has been just incredible, to say the very least,” said writer Jim McCann in a news release. “Janet and I are absolutely blown away and extremely humbled by the outpouring of support.”
Archaia describes the book as follows:
A modern twist on classic fairytales, this is a story about growing up, childhood fears and examining the origins of a world and the things that inhabit it. The incredible decoupage art style combines steampunk fantasy and science fiction with Art Nouveau for a truly unique and groundbreaking book, all sharply dressed in a pinstripe suit and a dapper bowler hat. The book also features a Foreword written by the original Dapper Man, Tim Gunn (“Project
Runway”), and a collection of pin-ups featuring works by Adrian Alphona and Christina Strain, Joyce
Chin, John Tyler Christopher, Katie Cook, Colleen Coover, David Mack, Dave Perillo, Mike Perkins,
Evan Shaner, Mark Smylie, Tom Whalen and Skottie Young.
- Matt Price
“Red” movie draws from graphic novel inspirations
The graphic novel "Red"
WORD BALLOONS
Bruce Willis stars as Frank Moses in “Red,” opening this weekend in theaters. “Red” is based on the comic book miniseries by writer Warren Ellis and artist Cully Hamner.
Moses is a retired black ops officer who is targeted for assassination, causing him to reassemble his old unit. The film, directed by Robert Schwentke, also stars Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Mary Louise Parker and Helen Mirren.
The comic-book miniseries is available in a collection from DC Comics, which includes the three-issue miniseries and the script for issue No. 1, as well as developmental art by Hamner. Four prequel comic books featuring characters from the film are on sale now. A prequel to the comic-book series, “Red: Eyes Only,” is set to be released Wednesday. “Eyes Only” is written and drawn by Hamner.
Ellis is one of the more acclaimed comic-book writers of the past 20 years; he broke into comics in 1990, and was working for Marvel Comics by 1994. The following is a selection of a few of the writer’s graphic novel works outside of the superhero genre:
Transmetropolitan: One of the best comic-book series of the 1990s, “Transmetropolitan” featured gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem in a dystonic future. By Ellis and Darick Robertson.
Orbiter: The space shuttle Venture returns to earth, 10 years after it disappeared, covered in strange organic material and with all but one of its crew missing.
Global Frequency: Ellis and a rotating cast of artists create stories of a secret worldwide independent defense intelligence organization with 1,001 agents.
Fell: Ellis and Ben Templesmith collaborated on this dark mystery thriller with 16 page, self-contained stories. Ellis’ experimentation with format combined with Templesmith’s most successful storytelling make “Fell” a compelling package.
DC Comics Presents Jack Cross
Down: Ellis, Tony Harris and Hamner are the creators of this story of an undercover cop who becomes the head of the city’s top drug gang.
Ministry of Space: This book, by Ellis with artist Chris Weston, sets up an alternate reality in which the British recover the German V-2 scientists, and thus become the first country in outer space.
Jack Cross: Ellis wrote four issues about this anti-terrorist agent for DC Comics in 2005. Gary Erskine was the artist. A new collection of the four-issue series was released this month from DC.
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
A Smallville Season 10 reading list
The Great Darkness Saga
The 10th season of “Smallville,” based on a young Clark Kent learning to become Superman, begins tonight on CW.
As announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the DC Comics villain Darkseid will be the villain for the show’s final season, although like previous villains, he’ll be tweaked somewhat to fit in the “Smallville” continuity.
DC Comics’ Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns will write an episode of this season’s “Smallville,” which will feature DC Comics characters Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. Laura Vandervoort’s Supergirl is also set to make a return appearance this season.
To catch up on the background of these characters, here’s some recommended reading for this season of “Smallville.”
“Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner. Darkseid attempts to brainwash a powerful teenage girl in this reintroduction of Supergirl to the DC Comics mythos. This story, adapted into animated form, will be released Tuesday as “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse” on DVD. Tim Daly will voice Superman; Kevin Conroy will voice Batman. The cast also includes Andre Braugher as Darkseid and Summer Glau as Supergirl.
Superman/Batman Vol. 2: Supergirl
“The Great Darkness Saga” by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen. In the far future, the heroes of the 30th century must battle a grave evil. Darkseid emerges in the 30th century with plans to acquire mystic artifacts and control a race of 3 billion superpowered beings. The Legion of Super-Heroes call on all members, past and present, to face off against Darkseid, who has yet another plan behind the scenes. A new hardcover edition of this classic story is set for release in November, though the individual issues and earlier softcover printings are findable.
“Cosmic Odyssey” by Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola. Starlin, known for his cosmic tales like “Warlock” and “Infinity Gauntlet,” teams with “Hellboy” creator Mike Mignola for this story of a threat so great, that some of Earth’s greatest heroes are forced to work with Darkseid. Superman, Batman, Green Lantern John Stewart, Martian Manhunter, Starfire, the Demon, plus Orion, Lightray and Forager of the New Gods are called on to halt a being who can destroy galaxies.
“Showcase: Booster Gold” by Dan Jurgens et al. Booster Gold’s original series, primarily written and drawn by Dan Jurgens, is collected in this volume as a time-traveling former football star from the future comes to 20th-century Earth aiming for fame and fortune.
Blue Beetle: Shellshocked
“Blue Beetle: Shellshocked” by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, Cully Hamner et al. The mystical Blue Beetle scarab chooses a new guardian: teenager Jaime Reyes. The El Paso teen becomes a reluctant hero after the alien technology of the scarab bonds with him, allowing him to create a superpowered blue armor.
Also recommended: For the full story on Booster Gold’s return to heroism, check out the four volumes of “52.” For the original “New Gods” saga, including the first appearance of Darkseid, check out “Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus” Vols. 1-4. And for the origin of the Booster Gold-Blue Beetle team-ups, featuring Jaime Reyes’ predecessor, Ted Kord, read “Justice League International” Vols. 1-4.
- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Jarrett Williams delivers knockout with “Super Pro K.O.” from Oni Press
Cartoonist Jarrett Williams grew up watching wrestling, and that fandom has inspired his first full-length graphic novel.
Williams, who wrote and drew the Web comic “Lunar Boy,” is the creator of the graphic novel “Super Pro K.O.,” which features wrestler Joe Somiano’s first day at the SPKO wrestling company.
The cover to Super Pro K.O.
“He comes into this company thinking it’s going to be super easy, but of course it’s not; that’s not the case at all,” Williams said. “He has to deal with all these crazy wrestlers (and) the politics backstage.”
The manga-influenced “Super Pro K.O.” has a wild cast of characters, including the luchador El Heroe; the second-generation star Mr. Awesomeness 2; and the world champ, the somewhat deranged King Crown.
“I’m from a generation of cartoonists that were influenced by so much, from Western comics (to) Japanese comics, and so I think ‘Super Pro K.O.’ is just like a hybrid of all those things,” Williams said. “It’s definitely an action story.”
Growing up, Williams said he watched wrestling Saturday mornings, including World Championship Wrestling and Mid-South Wrestling.
“And then as I got older, of course, I was a big fan of like the Monday Night Wars,” Williams said, referring to period in the 1990s that included World Wrestling Entertainment, WCW and Extreme Championship Wrestling competing for viewership.
“And so now it’s just crazy that I’m actually doing a comic about these things,” he said.
Williams said he’s surprised at the number of wrestling fans who have come up to him at conventions to talk about the sport.
“Since I’ve been doing this comic, a lot of people have been coming out of the woodwork, like, ‘Oh man, I’m a fan, too, and this is my favorite wrestler, and this is my favorite angle,’ and I love that,” Williams said.
“Super Pro K.O.” Vol. 1 is available from Oni Press.
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Rocketeer, Asterios Polyp among Harvey award winners
The Comics Reporter has a roundup of the 2010 Harvey Award winners, for work published in 2009.
IDW’s re-publication of the Dave Stevens “Rocketeer” comics won for Best Domestic Reprint Project and Special Award for Excellence in Presentation. Laura Martin won “Best Colorist” for her work on the project.
David Mazuchelli’s graphic novel “Asterios Polyp” won best original graphic album and best single issue or story. Mazuchelli also won for best letterer.
Image Comics did well, with awards for “Chew” and “Walking Dead,” and IDW added to their wins for “Rocketeer” with an award for Darwyn Cooke’s “Parker” graphic novel. Check out the full list of winners at The Comics Reporter.
- Matt Price
