Excitement brewing over return of Image Comics founders
WORD BALLOONS
The comics antihero Spawn is returning as the villain of the Image Comics crossover “Image United,” it was announced at the Baltimore comic-book retailer summit.
“Image United” brings together six of the seven founders of Image Comics for a crossover to be written by the newest Image Comics partner, Robert Kirkman.
NewsOK Comics vodcast: Haunt 1, Batman Unseen 1, X-Men vs Agents of Atlas 1
Things get spooky this October week in comics, as Haunt #1 comes out from Image and DC brings forth Batman Unseen #1. Meanwhile, the X-Men face off with the Agents of Atlas in the first part of a two-issue miniseries. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss these comics in this week’s NewsOK Comics podcast.
Haunt #1 review
A dream team of Image Comics creators come together for “Haunt,” and at least after the first issue, it feels like a solid blend of all of their styles into a book that feels very much like a hit Image Comic. (And I mean that in the context of what that meant in say, 1992, though today it takes a lot fewer copies sold to qualify as a hit.)
Robert Kirkman has written some of Image’s biggest hits of recent years in “Invincible” and “The Walking Dead,” and was also named an Image Comics partner, the first time that had happened since the founding of Image.
The co-creator of “Haunt,” and the series inker, is Todd McFarlane, who launched “Spawn” in 1992 to the tune of 1.7 million copies sold. “Haunt” feels like a book from the mind of the “Spawn” creator, but fine-tuned a bit, given how much more common horror and hyperviolent comics have become.
Greg Capullo, who drew many issues of “Spawn” and may have become an even better McFarlane than McFarlane himself, is providing layouts here, and I think that helps with both the horror elements and harking back to that 1990s comic-book heyday.
Ryan Ottley, who draws “Invincible,” is the penciller here, and while his style is different working with McFarlane and Capullo, what he’s put on the page here is high-quality work that mixes interestingly with the other creators’ visions.
The colors are by FCO Plascenca, who has also worked on “Invincible.”
“Haunt” features a downtrodden priest who hears confession from his black-ops brother. Neither are happy with one another, or, seemingly, their lives. Through the course of the issue, they discover they’re going to have to work together, like it or not.
Haunt sells out
It’s 1992 all over again.
“Haunt,” the Image Comics launch by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Greg Capullo and Todd McFarlane has sold out from the distributor less than 24 hours after its release.
A second print is set for a Nov. 4 release.
I’ve often thought that Image could still launch a hit in this market with the right creative team and buzz, and it looks like that’s what happened with “Haunt.” “Haunt” looks and feels quite a bit like McFarlane’s “Spawn” did at its release in 1992, though I think “Haunt,” with its three-year prep time, has had the benefit of more advance planning.
“I had a feeling this book would go over well considering the preorders were up there with Marvel and DC’s releases,” Kirkman said in a press release. “That said, it is an honor to have it so well received right off the bat. We’ll continue to aim to make fans happy. Thank you to everyone who’s supported the book, reader and retailer alike!”
- Matt Price
Q&A with Ivan Brandon of Viking
With Image Comics’ “Viking” receiving a large amount of pre-release buzz, particularly at the ComicsPRO annual meeting in Memphis, the series is poised to become a breakout hit. Writer Ivan Brandon answered some questions for The Oklahoman about the series.
Matt Price: What were your inspirations in creating “Viking”?
Ivan Brandon: Any number of seemingly unrelated things, but the touchstones for me on my approach were Deadwood and Hiroaki Samura’s Blade of the Immortal, which handled period drama in a very modern and progressive way. When I was a kid, a western was seen as something for your dad to watch, while mom went off and avoided the living room. Deadwood was for everyone. I wanted to try and make something that spoke to more than just one demographic.
MP: Tell me about the characters in “Viking.”
Ivan Brandon: Finn and Egil are brothers who are trying to do whatever ugly thing they can do to climb the criminal ladder, from robbery to murder to kidnapping. Egil’s making bad decisions, pulling jobs that are way over their heads… Finn has more sense, but his weakness is his defense of his brother no matter how wrong he is. No matter what Egil gets them into, Finn gets them out.
MP: What made you decide to go with the larger trim size?
Ivan Brandon: It just seemed right to me. Nic’s art deserved a bigger stage and we wanted to really incentivize the book by making it more visually engaging on the shelves… we really wanted it to feel like a worthwhile purchase at a time when money’s tight for everyone.
MP: Tell me about artist Nic Klein.
Ivan Brandon: Nic’s a german painter with creative ADD who’ll throw anything and everything he can at his own inspiration to keep it sated. I get the impression it doesn’t work, so we get to watch him constantly evolve into something better, something more dynamic on every page. He’s got an endless arsenal of talent and ideas… it’s stunning to watch him work.
“Viking” #1, a 32-page comic book that’s the width of a 1940s comic, retails for $2.99 and will be in stores on April 22. The pre-release buzz has caused a sellout at the distribution level prior to release; a second printing is scheduled for May 6.
– Matt Price
Comic book follows Viking brothers’ crime career
Two brothers attempt to ascend to the top of a criminal empire – with spears. Image Comics this month introduces a crime book for the 9th Century: “Viking,” by the creative team of Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein.
Writer Brandon has been part of some major events at Marvel and DC: He wrote “Secret Invasion: Home Invasion” for Marvel, and is the writer on the upcoming “Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape” from DC Comics. In “Viking,” he’s created his own world of crime and intrigue.
Joe Keatinge, Image Comics’ public relations and marketing coordinator, said “Viking” will be a crime book with an unusual hook.
“Two brothers are looking to work their way up the ladder of the criminal underworld and find out it’s much more than they could ever bargained for,” said Keatinge. “It’s the next phase of American crime comics in the tradition of ‘100 Bullets’ and ‘Criminal’ with a twist unlike any other.”
Artist Nic Klein has provided painted covers for Marvel Comics including “New Warriors” and “World War Hulk: Aftersmash,” but “Viking” marks his first interior art.
“Viking” also is a throwback in another way – its format is larger, like the “Golden Age” comics of the 1940s, but with modern high-end production. The package includes thicker paper and a spot-glossed cardstock cover for a $2.99 price point.
Keatinge showed off an early copy of “Viking” to comic-book retailers at last month’s ComicsPRO annual meeting, and the response was tremendous, he said.
This early buzz has caused Image Comics to already plan a second printing of the book. “Viking” No. 1 ships on April 22, with a second printing scheduled for May 6.
- By Matthew Price
From Wednesday’s The Oklahoman
“Viking” art preview
Art preview of the upcoming “Viking” #1, by Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein, set for an April 22 release.
Image Comics plans CBLDF benefit comic, variants
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Image Comics will release a second “Liberty Comics” to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, announced Joe Keatinge, the public relations and marketing coordinator for Image.
The first “Liberty Comics” raised more than $30,000 for the fund.
The second “Liberty Comics” is planned for October.
In addition, Keatinge announced a series of variant covers that will be tied to some of Image’s biggest releases. These covers, which will cost $1 more than the standard cover, will raise money for the CBLDF.
– Matt Price
Superhero Savage Dragon endorses Obama
Erik Larsen’s “Savage Dragon” will endorse Barack Obama for president in the pages of “Savage Dragon” 137, and on a special 1-in-5 variant cover. The New York Times reports the Senator will be mentioned in the issue, though not “slugging bad guys or anything,” Larsen says.
I’ve heard some folks are upset by this — they don’t think their superheroes should endorse a particular candidate. But, this isn’t a first for Savage Dragon — who socked President Bush in a previous issue. The Savage Dragon has always been a fictional alter-ego for Larsen, who himself slants Democratic. I think making it a 1-in-5 variant is a questionable business move, as there won’t be enough to satisfy demand in “blue” areas, and “red” areas won’t be as excited about it in the first place. I think it’d make more sense as a separately orderable cover, if the goal is to get it in the hands of the people who want it. This does seem to be a quick way to manufacture a collectible, though.
The comic book is slated to be on sale Sept. 4.
– Matt Price
“Invincible” animated by MTV
MTV New Media is promoting a series based on the comic-book “Invincible.” In some ways, it seems like the old Marvel cartoons where they made Jack Kirby’s art move around and voiced over it. It’s adapted directly from the original art.
Me, I think I’d rather read the comics than watch a half-animated, half-comic book thing on the internet, but check out the trailer to see what you think. Episodes will be available on Xbox Live, MTV.com, iTunes, and MTV Mobile. MTV2 will air an “Invincible” special at 10 p.m. on Friday, June 25.
– Matt Price
