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
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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
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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
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
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
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
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
