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
Retro Thursday: Turmoil abounds in The Resistance
Since “The Resistance,” written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, was just released as a graphic novel by IDW, I thought I’d reprint my 2002 column talking about the series, first released by WildStorm.
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In New York in 2280, unlicensed births are illegal, the city is in turmoil, and a civil war is being covered up by the government. This is the world of “The Resistance,” a new WildStorm title written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray.
The artist on the book is Juan Santacruz.
Most of New York is covered in water, and skyscrapers leap 500 stories into the air.
In “The Resistance,” a disaster in 2030 caused nearly three-fourths of the Earth’s plants to die, leading to an ecological imbalance.
Species of animals are extinct. Oxygen production declined and brought about the need for artificial respiration farms. These vast factories manufacture breathable air for a dying world.
One hundred years of food riots, famine, war and chaos followed.
As “The Resistance” begins, the year is 2280. Food is Earth’s most precious commodity, and the planet is under the watchful eye of the Global Control Commission.
Since humanity does not have enough food to support itself, only those capable of financially supporting children and contributing to the global economy are allowed to reproduce.
Unauthorized free-births began calling themselves Strayz as they had strayed from the commission’s view of what was good for humanity.
These Strayz, born with a death sentence, formed small cells of Resistance fighters. They seek the overthrow of the commission and the exposure of the greatest conspiracy in human history.
“The Resistance” has the feel of a sci-fi blockbuster, Gray said on www.dccomics.com, the Web site of DC Comics, of which WildStorm is an imprint.
“‘The Resistance’ is meant to be fun – a big summer popcorn movie. So, if you want to kick back and be taken to another world, then ‘ Resistance’ is your kind of book.”
“The Resistance” is a fast-paced thriller with high-speed action and constantly shifting alliances and plans.
Palmiotti said in “The Resistance,” he and Gray are able to test the boundaries.
“In ‘ Resistance,’ we get to go crazy, open up our minds and blow off steam. We can do all sorts of extreme action sequences, poke fun at the world and work outside of reality. ‘ Resistance’ is like going to the amusement park with a free pass to all the rides.”
“The Resistance” bears some similarities to a superhero team, with a rotating cast of members.
Some members of ‘The Resistance’ will be rotating here and there, some will be shot and killed, and some will go through changes,” Palmiotti said at dccomics.com. “At its core, we follow four basic characters and a few supporting ones, as well. Think ‘X-Men’ without the mutant capabilities, blasting their way out of every situation, having to be smarter and more resourceful than everyone around them.”
- By Matthew Price
From The Oklahoman, Nov. 15, 2002
Presidential candidates get comic-book treatment
IDW Publishing dips into the realm of political biography this fall, with comic books based on the lives of Barack Obama and John McCain. The candidates for president will each be featured in comic books available in stores on Oct. 8, and also available for sale online and for cell phones.
For more information, visit www.presidentialcomics.com.
– Matt Price
G.I. Joe goes to IDW
A press release at Comic Book Resources indicates that the G.I. Joe property has moved from Devil’s Due to IDW Publishing.
From the release:
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (May 29, 2008) ” Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) has reached an agreement with IDW Publishing, creators of the best-selling TRANSFORMERS comic book series, to launch an all-new line of G.I. JOE vs. COBRA comic books. As part of the agreement, IDW will produce a new monthly comic series, as well as deluxe reprints of the G.I. JOE property’s vast comic library, which helped catapult the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA phenomenon more than 25 years ago. IDW also has the rights for trade paperbacks and graphic novels.
The first products from this deal, a new monthly comic book series based on classic G.I. JOE vs. COBRA lore, will be launched with an introductory debut issue in October 2008. Featuring all-new storylines, the comics will portray the epic struggle of the G.I. JOE team against the evil forces of COBRA, while highlighting the brand’s favorite heroes and villains that made kids of the ‘80s today’s fans.
What does this mean? Well, probably a hit in market share for Devil’s Due, who revived the G.I. Joe series in 2001. Possibly/probably a change in continuity in the official Joe stories. IDW does really nice work on licensed comics, but “Joe” was always clearly a labor of love for the Devil’s Due guys. I hope that Larry Hama can get involved in the property in some way, as he has off and on for Devil’s Due.
– Matt Price
“Justice League,” “Star Trek: Assignment Earth” and the career of Rory Root on the comics podcast
Art from “Star Trek: Assignment Earth” #1
Kyle Roberts and I discuss “Star Trek: Assignment Earth” #1, by John Byrne; “Justice League of America” #21, by Dwayne McDuffie and Carlos Pacheco; and the career and legacy of retailer Rory Root, all on today’s comics podcast.
– Matt Price
Review – Star Trek: Assignment Earth #1
The second-season “Star Trek” original series episode, “Assignment Earth,” featured Kirk and the Star Trek crew visiting 1960s earth.
Special agent Gary-7 and his sidekick Ms. Lincoln (played by Teri Garr) and the cat, Isis, were introduced as possible stars for a spinoff that never happened. Robert Lansing played Gary-7, sort of a futuristic James Bond from another planet, assigned to 1960s Earth.
Writer artist John Byrne, 40 years later, takes that premise and runs with it, creating “Star Trek: Assignment Earth” as a comic-book series. The five-part series features the time traveller and his assistant covertly tackling threats to the past.
Byrne’s art is in fine form here, and it’s well-written as well. Byrne has his bashers nowadays, but this is an interesting take on a spinoff that might have been. And “Time-travelling James Bond” seems like a good hook for a comic-book series. This one feels like a comic you could have read at the time, with nuclear tests, Soviet scientists, secret projects and double-crosses.
– Matt Price
Comics podcast: Wild Cards, Titans, FX, Echo, Criminal
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price talk about several of this week’s new releases, including “Wild Cards: The Hard Call” No. 1, “Titans” No. 1, “FX” No. 2, “Echo” No. 2 and “Criminal” vol. 2 No. 2 in this week’s comic podcast. Some excerpts:
Wild Cards: The Hard Call #1
Kyle Roberts: Instead of being a superhero like they were born with their powers, it’s strictly science fiction.
Matt Price: There’s a couple different elements in play, it’s kind of a lot to take in if you’re brand new to the franchise, but if you’ve read some of the books before, I think you’ll like it.
Titans #1
Kyle Roberts: I don’t know a lot about DC, but this reminds me of the 80s Titans group.
Matt Price: I like the first three or four pages with Nightwing quite a bit, after that it lost its way for me. It feels like he’s trying to sexy up the team a little bit, most of the characters end up running around their shirts for at least part of this issue.
FX #2
Matt Price: This to me has a very old-school feel. I like John Byrne in his “Superman” era in the 1980s, up through the 90s with Next Men … I like this clean, very 80s style that Byrne has, and this feels almost like an 80s comic.
Criminal vol 2 #2
Matt Price: It’s a very dark, crime noir book. … It’s one of the best books out there.
Kyle Roberts: It’s kinda like a Sin City, almost like a Grand Theft Auto kind of thing, for the gamers out there.
Echo #2
Matt Price: I continue to be intrigued by the storyline, and (Terry Moore’s) art is as good as it’s ever been.
– Matt Price
Locke & Key preview trailer
Check out this preview trailer for the upcoming “Locke & Key” series by New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill. The comic-book miniseries begins shipping this month, from IDW.
I’ve read the first issue of this, and it reminds me of the creepier “Sandman” stuff. I highly recommend giving this one a look.
Description from IDW:
Acclaimed suspense novelist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box) creates an all-new story of dark fantasy and wonder: Locke & Key. Written by Hill and featuring astounding artwork from Gabriel Rodriguez (Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show, Beowulf), Locke & Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them…. and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all…
– Matt Price
Comics podcast: X-Men, Iron Man, Star Trek, Teen Titans
Kyle Roberts and I discuss the explosive conclusion to “X-Men: Messiah Complex” on this week’s podcast. We also cover “Iron Man” 25, “Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Borg,” and “Teen Titans” No. 55. Give it a listen!
- Matt Price
