Tony Moore, the original artist of “The Walking Dead,” has filed a lawsuit against the writer, Robert Kirkman.  The two were behind what’s one of the biggest comic-book success stories of the past decade, but now find themselves on opposite sides of this lawsuit, THR reports.

Moore drew the first six issues of “The Walking Dead” before leaving and being replaced by Charlie Adlard.

Moore claims he’s owed money from “The Walking Dead.”  Kirkman’s attorney says the suit is frivolous.   The Beat has the court documents posted and more information is in the link.

“The Walking Dead” TV series on AMC, based on the comics, is currently one of cable’s top-rated series.

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts talks to Matt Price from the ComicsPRO meeting in Dallas. Expected topics of discussion include the Image Comics resurgence, including “Thief of Thieves”; the new Smallville comic book series; and the Marvel Comics Avengers vs. X-Men comics.

DALLAS — How will the rest of the comics market strike back?

That was one of the questions being asked around tables and in small groups at an informal meet-and-greet prior to the kickoff of the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting.

Since last year’s ComicsPRO meeting, DC Comics has shaken up the sales charts with its Sept. 2011 relaunch.  In January, 5 months into the relaunch, DC Comics claimed all 10 of the top 10 comics in Diamond Comic Distributors monthly sales charts.

Because the comics market is often reactive, some retailers at the meeting openly wondered how DC’s competition might react to DC’s 2011 moves.

In early 2012, one company already seems to be shaking things up: Image Comics.  Retailers reported very strong sales for the Image title “Fatale” and also for “Thief of Thieves,” released in comic shops today.

“Thief of Thieves” is co-written by Robert Kirkman and Nick Spencer.   Kirkman is the co-creator of “The Walking Dead” comic-book series, which has had great success adapted for television on AMC.  Some have suggested there’s a “Walking Dead” spillover effect that’s helping the entire Image line, especially those properties tied to Kirkman.

There was also talk about Marvel’s upcoming “Avengers vs. X-Men” promotion, and the promotional idea allowing stores to sign up as supporting the Avengers or the X-Men.

At last year’s preview night, stores said some of the major problems facing the market were generating excitement, late-shipping books, and the still-lagging economy.  This year, many of those problems have been addressed.  While the economy overall is still recovering, DC’s relaunch helped generate excitement and prove that a major publisher could stick to a largely on-time schedule.    Retailers remain interested in DC’s upcoming plans, including those about DC Comics’ just-announced “Before Watchmen” program. Many retailers are curious about how the series will be marketed in comic-book stores.

Thursday at the meeting will be a day of programming from DC Comics; other sponsors will share their programming on Friday and Saturday, in addition to retail-focused discussion and programming.   The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund will hold the First Annual Retailer Auction, at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting at 9 p.m. Friday.

With even more stores expected to attend the meeting than last year, it’s up to the gathered sponsors to get these decision-makers on board with their upcoming projects.  With many stores feeling on firmer footing than in 2011, they’re actively looking for the new product or title that will get more people in the door and their money in the register.

- Matt Price

Congratulations to Image Comics on its 20th anniversary.  The company, formed Feb. 1, 1992, was a key part of my teenage comic-book reading, and is still a vibrant and exciting company many years after the skeptics assumed they’d be long-gone.  The company also should be commended for its work in promoting creator-owned comics.

- Matt Price

I talked to writer Joe Keatinge today, of the upcoming “Glory” and “Hell Yeah.”  Look for an article in an upcoming Weekend Look, but in the meantime, I just wanted to point out this great cover for “Hell Yeah” by ELEPHANTMEN’s Andre Szymanowicz. I’m really looking forward to picking this one up.

Here’s how Image describes the comic:

Twenty years ago, the world was rocked by the emergence of real-life superheroes. Sports and entertainment industries collapsed overnight as people run across the planet and punch through walls changed the word forever. A new global culture formed around these bigger-than-life beings and now the generation raised in its wake must fight to find a place in this brave new world! By pairing the energy and excitement of the original Image superheroes with modern, innovative storytelling, Keatinge and Szymanowicz have crafted a modern superhero epic that could only begin on Image’s 20th anniversary.

You can check out a preview of “Hell Yeah” No. 1 in the upcoming “Chew” #23.

- Matt Price

Comedian Kyle Kinane, one of Variety’s “Ten Comics to Watch” in 2010, comes to the City Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing, at 7 p.m. Sunday. Kinane, who has appeared on “Conan” and “Last Call with Carson Daly,” is bringing a world premiere with him.

The show will include the debut of the three-minute cartoon short “Bastard Road,” based on the comic created by writer Brian Winkeler, of Yukon, and artist Dave Curd, formerly of Edmond. Kinane and comedian Brian Posehn provide the voices.

The comic, about the post-apocalyptic wanderings of an amnesiac warrior, has appeared in the award-winning “Popgun” series of graphic novel anthologies from Image Comics. Eric Sandhop, of Oklahoma City, drew the comic in the most recent anthology, “Popgun” Vol. 4.

“It’s an ultraviolent, post-apocalyptic action/comedy: SpongeBob SquarePants meets ‘The Road Warrior,’” Winkeler told The Oklahoman in 2009.

Winkeler said he and Curd are currently pitching “Road” as an animated series and are at work on a 60-page graphic novel featuring the characters aimed at a summer release. Tickets for the Kyle Kinane show are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Call 951-0000 or go to cityartscenter.org.

- Matt Price

Jay Faerber, known for his superhero comics “Noble Causes” and “Dynamo 5,” launched a new crime series this month called “Near Death.”  It follows a former hitman named Markham as he tries to make amends for his misdeeds after a near-death experience.  Faerber is also a writer on the Sarah Michelle Gellar series “Ringer.”  “Ringer” airs Tuesday nights on the CW.  Faerber recently talked to The Oklahoman about his new comic-book series.  Here’s what Faerber said about crime fiction, his inspirations, and working in TV and comics at the same time.

NERDAGE: What kind of crime fiction do you like to read? Were any particular inspirations for Near Death?

JAY FAERBER: Right now, Lee Child and Robert Crais are my favorite two crime authors, although you could arguably say they’re more thriller writers than crime writers. But I love their stuff. Robert B. Parker was also a huge influence on my writing in general, going as far back as high school.

Those authors influenced NEAR DEATH, as did TV writer-turned-novelist Stephen J. Cannell. He cranked out tons of cop-and-private-eye shows in the 1980s and was another huge influence on my writing. The character of Markham (right down to the fact that he has no first name) owes a lot to 80s TV shows.

NERDAGE: There’s a bit of a possibly supernatural element in issue 1, but everything else is played pretty straight. Are the rules of the Near Death world the same, basically, as our own?

JAY FAERBER: Yeah, we won’t be dwelling on the supernatural stuff at all. If anything, it’s an inciting incident and it’s something only Markham saw. For all we know it could’ve been a delusion.

NERDAGE: How would you pitch this book to a potential reader?

JAY FAERBER: NEAR DEATH is about a hitman who has a “near death experience” and gets a glimpse of Hell. What he sees has such an effect on him that he vows to change his life and try to balance the scales by saving a life for every life he’s taken. So each issue of the book features Markham on a mission to save a new person. Most issues are self-contained, done-in-one stories. You can jump in at any time. I want to keep the book as accessible as possible.

We’re launching it at a time when DC is relaunching every single one of its titles. The competition’s a bit daunting but hopefully that means there are more people coming into comic shops this month, and I’d like to think some of them will want to sample stuff outside DC and Marvel.

NEAR DEATH is a big departure for me — it’s not about families or super-heroes, and I think it’s going to surprise some people. It really should appeal to people who enjoy CRIMINAL and STUMPTOWN and Darwyn Cooke’s PARKER adaptations.

NERDAGE: What appeals to you about Markham? Is he on the road to redemption?

JAY FAERBER: I’ve always been attracted to the idea of a bad guy trying to go straight. What interests me about Markham in particular is that he’s trying to go straight for purely selfish reasons — he’s afraid of what’s going to happen to him when he dies. He doesn’t actually care about the people he’s protecting. He’s still a bit of a sociopath. So the question becomes: is a man a hero if he does good things for a selfish reason? Or do his motives have to be pure? I think it’s an interesting question to explore as we tell crime stories.

NERDAGE: Tell me about working with artist Simone Guglielmini.

JAY FAERBER: Simone is a dream come true. He’s fast, easy to work with, disciplined, and his style and influences are perfectly aligned with NEAR DEATH. I found him online and we’ve never even spoken, much less met. But he’s already become one of my favorite collaborators.

NERDAGE: You’re now working on the TV show “Ringer” and continuing your comics career. What are the things you enjoy about each field?

JAY FAERBER: We’re in the middle of shooting my first episode of RINGER, and I gotta tell you — there’s nothing like seeing words you’ve written spoken out loud by actors. It’s pretty awesome. While both mediums are collaborative, with comic books the actual writing is fairly solitary. When you’re working for Marvel and DC you get notes from editors and such, but with Image, I have complete creative control. The collaboration doesn’t start until the script is sent to the artist. With TV, the entire writing process is collaborative. We break stories as a group, in the writers room. And it’s not until a story is thoroughly worked out that an individual writer goes off and writes the script.

Both methods have their pros and cons, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have a steady TV gig AND a monthly comic book series, so I get the best of both worlds.

NERDAGE: Anything else you want to share?

JAY FAERBER: Read NEAR DEATH and watch RINGER (Tuesdays on the The CW)!

- Matt Price

The Walking Dead season 2, based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, will start on AMC in October. The network just released the above teaser. Also, click past the cut for the promotional poster for season 2.

- Matt Price

Kyle and Matt take a look at the poster for “The Dark Knight Rises” and discuss the box office potential of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” Part 2. We also discuss the upcoming “Amazing Spider-Man” and what’s to come at Comic-Con International.
Review File: Captain America 1, X-Men Schism 1, The Red Wing 1
Comics read in 2011: 979 Still to go: 1,032.

Oklahoma City artist Eric Sandhop illustrated this page from "Popgun" Vol. 4.

Three comic-book creators with Oklahoma ties are among the nominees for the Harvey Awards, comic-book awards selected exclusively by comic-book creators.

The awards will be presented as part of the 2011 Baltimore Comic-Con on Aug. 20 in Baltimore, Md.

Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, the awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art.

Brian Winkeler, of Yukon; Dave Curd, formerly of Edmond, and Eric Sandhop, of Oklahoma City, are part of the anthology “Popgun” Vol. 4, nominated in the best anthology category. They create the comic “Bastard Road,” about the postapocalyptic wanderings of an amnesiac warrior.

“We’re very excited about Popgun 4′s Harvey nominations, especially since this volume features the most Bastard Road ever: 28 pages of comics by me, co-creator Dave Curd and special guest artist Eric Sandhop,” Winkeler said. “We’ve got big plans in the works for Bastard Road, and these nominations are a great way to gear up for the fun stuff we’ve got coming up!”

“Popgun” Vol. 4, published by Image Comics, also is nominated in the best single issue or story category in the Harvey Awards.

Former Norman resident David Gallaher writes the comic “Box 13,” which received nominations for best inker, for Steve Ellis, and best letterer, for Scott Brown.

The nominees and winners are selected by working professionals in the comics industry. Final ballots are due by Aug. 6.

IDW led all nominees with 16 nominations, including three for “Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer: Artist’s Edition,” a high-end reprinting of the late Stevens’ best-known work. “Parker: The Outfit,” an adaptation of the Richard Stark novel by Darwyn Cooke, received five nominations, also from IDW.

Marvel Comics and Image Comics each had 12 nominations. Five of Image’s nominations were for the Top Cow imprint of Marc Silvestri. DC Comics had 11 nominations, with seven of those coming for its Vertigo imprint. And Dark Horse had seven nominations.

More than 30 publishers were nominated for Harvey Awards.

- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Flashpoint: Citizen Cold 1.
In this Flashpoint mini, written and drawn by Scott Kolins, Captain Cold is instead Citizen Cold, supposed protector of Central City. But this celebrated hero still has what appears to be a cold heart. And even though it’s an alternate world, you may be surprised by this issue’s ending.  The dialogue’s a little awkward, but Kolins’ art remains solid.    And Kolins has a good handle on the Rogues, so Flash fans will probably want to check this one out.

Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1
King Brion of Markovia must decide whether to ally himself with Aquaman in the first issue of this Flashpoint miniseries by Tony Bedard.  This gives you an insight to the Aquaman of the Flashpoint universe, who bears some similarities to Marvel’s Namor at his darkest, plus some.

Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1
The patchwork creature Frankenstein leads a small group of mutated humans during world war 2 against the axis powers. After the war, the group is put in suspended animation against their will before accidentally being released in 2011. By Jeff Lemire and Ibraim Roberson.

Screamland #1
In a world where old-style movie monsters were real, they’ve now been replaced by cgi and twilight-style stars. They make their living going to conventions and signing autographs for old-time fans. But when the invisible man threatens to release a sex tape from the group’s glory days, the wolf man fears what might happen.  Writers Harold Sipe and Christopher Sebela and artist Lee Leslie have created a mystery that will appeal to horror movie fans.

Ka-Zar #1
Ka-Zar attempts to stop capitalistic exploitation of the Savage Land in this Paul Jenkins series.

Mystery Men #1
David Liss and Patrick Zircher create this murder mystery set in the Depression-era with the pulp-inspired Marvel “mystery men.”

Ultimate Spider-Man #159
A good examination of Peter Parker’s heroism as the “Death of Spider-Man” looms.

X-Men Legacy #250
Mike Carey and Khoi Pham are the creative team in this issue, which features the X-Men attempting to track down and subdue Legion’s miscreant personalities.    The team of Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, Gambit and Frenzy, along with Legion himself, is potentially an interesting lineup.

From 6/1:

Flashpoint: Abin Sur, the Green Lantern #1
In the Flashpoint universe, Abin Sur didn’t die, and thus never bequeathed the ring to Hal Jordan.

Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1
The “100 Bullets” team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso explore the seamy world of this world’s Batman.

Flashpoint: Secret Seven #1
Peter Milligan again writing “Shade, the Changing Man” is interesting, even if it’s a little unclear what’s going on.  George Perez illustrates.

Flashpoint: World of Flashpoint #1
It’s a primer for the world of Flashpoint, sure, but it’s intertwined with the story of a father and his daughter who can’t overcome their personal tragedy to reconnect.

From the back issues:

Tiny Titans 28. (July 2010) Art Baltazar and Franco create an issue focusing on the super-pets.

Geronimo Stilton Vols. 1-3 (NBM/Papercutz): Geronimo Stilton, a newspaper editor on Mouse Island, time-travels to stop the machinations of the Pirate Cats, who seek to remake history in their own image.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011:  788 Still to go: 1223.

The corporately created superheroes the DNAgents, created by Mark Evanier and Will Meugniot, were perhaps ironically among the forerunners of the independent superhero hits of the 1990s and beyond.

Even though Sham, Rainbow, Tank, Surge and Amber were, in the storyline, created by an evil corporate empire, the stories and characters were in reality owned by their creators, in one of the early successes in creator-owned comics in the 1980s.

All 14 issues by Evanier and Meugniot were reprinted in the “Industrial Strength Edition” from Image Comics in 2008.   The series was originally published by Eclipse Comics beginning in 1983.

The five heroes were created by the Matrix Corporation, but began to rebel against their corporate masters as they struggled to understand their origins and their place in humanity.

Meugniot is a fantastic artist, and is especially facile at drawing the title’s beautiful women.  Evanier at this point in his career hadn’t written much in the way of straight-up superheroics.  While DNAgents was quirky and a bit off the mainstream, it fit in well enough with mainstream direct-market tastes of the time to become a reasonable hit.  It’s a well-written, well-drawn book that ended a few years later not due to an industry crash or a sales slump, but simply because Evanier tired of writing the series.

Despite being a bit dated at this point, these issues are still enjoyable and worth picking up for fans of sci-fi tinged superheroes.

I also read the DNAgents 1994 Super Special from Antartic, which recaps the characters’ origins.  You can find that issue on Meugniot’s web site.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 528.  Still to go: 1483.

A lot of teenage boys have issues with their fathers. Duncan Rosenblatt’s issues go a little farther.

Duncan’s a half-human, half-dragon hybrid, and if being the new kid in school is tough with a bad complexion, imagine how hard it is when you have Duncan’s craggy half-dragon exterior.

“Firebreather” is an Image comic book by Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn, in which Belloc, the King of the Monsters, and Margaret Rosenblatt, regular human woman, gave birth to Duncan, who’s now facing everyday teen problems despite not being an everyday teen at all.

The idea, which has been adapted into a Cartoon Network computer-animated movie out on DVD this week, sprang from a pitch Hester and Kuhn prepared in the 1990s. The pair had an idea to do a book of teen versions of some of Marvel’s superheroes.

“We really wanted to do a teen hero book,” Hester said in an interview with The Oklahoman. “All of the heroes kind of wind up at this generic age of 29.”

Hester speculated that if it’s tough to be Ben Grimm, aka the Thing, as an adult, imagine how tough it would be to be orange and rocky as a teenager, when everyone’s concerned about image and looks.

When the book wasn’t picked up by Marvel, Hester and Kuhn continued to develop the idea.

“That idea stuck in my mind, what would it be like to be a teenage monster?” Hester said. “We kept working on it and refining it until it became ‘Firebreather.’”

Getting the film out

The series eventually launched with Image Comics as part of a superhero line that included Robert Kirkman’s “Invincible.”

The book, launched in 2003, has been in development since shortly after the comic book came out.

“One of the cool things about comics is, it seems like producers like to hang out in comic shops,” Hester said.

The “Firebreather” property was considered for a live-action adaptation and a 2-D animation before Cartoon Network decided on the 3-D CGI adaptation. Hester says he’s pleased with how the film turned out.

“They hired really talented people, and they just let them do their thing, so we didn’t have too much to worry about,” he said.

“Aeon Flux” creator Peter Chung (“The Animatrix — Matriculated”) directed the film, and James Kreig (“Ben 10: Alien Swarm”) wrote the screenplay.

“(They) just use our book as a springboard, and let those guys riff, and it turned out great,” Hester said.

What’s next?

A new printing of “Firebreather Volume 1: Growing Pains” includes the original miniseries and the 60 page one-shot “Firebreather: The Iron Saint” as well as an expanded sketch section.

The second issue of Firebreather’s third volume, “Holmgang,” is scheduled to ship in April.

“It’s a Norse term for a duel of honor,” Hester said. “It’s about Duncan dueling with some long-lost members of his family for the right to ascend to his father’s throne as King of the Monsters.”

Hester, who calls himself a “huge Godzilla fan” is currently drawing “Godzilla” for IDW and writing “Wonder Woman” for DC Comics, in addition to his work on “Firebreather.”

- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

That’s really Super, Superman

Director Zack Snyder will take on the most famous superhero in his next film.

I talked to Snyder while he was in Beverly Hills promoting this weekend’s “Sucker Punch” film.

Snyder, 45, has been named the director for the upcoming “Superman” movie reboot, to star British actor Henry Cavill. He said he wasn’t worried about casting an English actor as Superman.

“No, not at all, because Batman’s English too,” he said, referring to Christian Bale.

Chris Evans in "Captain America: The First Avenger."

Snyder said in an interview with MTV at the event that Cavill had a mix of physicality and innocence.

Things are moving quickly on “Superman,” which is set to be released December 2012. Kevin Costner was recently announced as an addition to the cast as Jonathan Kent, Superman’s father on Earth, joining Diane Lane, already cast as Martha Kent, Superman’s mother on Earth, in the film.

“We start at the end of the summer. So a couple of months,” Snyder said. “But it feels like tomorrow.”

Firebreather on DVD

Duncan Rosenblatt is a half-human, half-dragon hybrid known as “Firebreather,” and the CGI cartoon based on his adventures came out on DVD this week.

Co-creator Phil Hester talked to the Oklahoman about the project’s genesis.

“Firebreather” is an Image comic book by Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn, in which Belloc, the King of the Monsters, and Margaret Rosenblatt, regular human woman, gave birth to Duncan, who’s now facing everyday teen problems despite not being an everyday teen at all.

The idea sprang from a pitch Hester and Kuhn prepared in the 1990s. The pair had an idea to do a book of teen versions of some of Marvel’s superheroes.

“We really wanted to do a teen hero book,” Hester said in an interview with The Oklahoman.

When the book wasn’t picked up by Marvel, Hester and Kuhn continued to develop the idea.

“That idea stuck in my mind, what would it be like to be a teenage monster?” Hester said. “We kept working on it and refining it until it became ‘Firebreather.’”

Marvel goes to Starbucks

On the Entertainment Channel, watch for the upcoming arrival of the Marvel Universe as Super Heroes, mutants, aliens, armor-clad super-geniuses and thunder gods join forces with the Starbucks Digital Network on Apr. 23, 2011. Known for engrossing stories and a library of more than 8,000 characters, Marvel Comics gives Starbucks customers unlimited, free access to its full library of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine and others await to captivate as customers explore the comic realm and imagine fighting villains with a cup of coffee in hand.

Captain America trailer hits Paramount Pictures has been sneaking out looks at Captain America through Entertainment Tonight and through Twitter, but the full video is finally out!   The 2 and 1/2 minute trailer looks at Captain America’s origin and his enemy, the Red Skull. The movie is directed by Joe Johnston and stars Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America. Hugo Weaving plays the Red Skull. The film also stars Hayley Atwell and Tommy Lee Jones.

Question of the Day:

What do you think of the Captain America trailer? Leave a comment and let me know!

REVIEW FILE: Matt and Kyle review FF #1, Batman: The Dark Knight #2, Ultimate Spider-Man #157 and Captain America 615.1.

Comics read in 2011: 378. Still to go: 1633.

Joe Field at Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff interviews Viktor Kalvachev about his upcoming comic book, “Blue Estate” from Image Comics.

The short pitch for the book is that BLUE ESTATE is an intoxicating cocktail of GET SHORTY, PULP FICTION and SNATCH with a splash of IT’S A MAD MAD MAD WORLD, Kalvachev tells Field.

“‘Blue Estate’ is a comic domino chain of mistaken identities, shifting alliances, backstabbing conspirators and the unexpected consequences of recreational drugs,” Kalvachev said.  “To tell such a fast-paced story, I had to come up with something new for the visual story-telling. This is where the ‘Style Shift’ concept came up, where different artists ‘pass the ball’ to each other within an episode, creating the feel of ‘sudden change’ in the story, which helps keep the reader on their toes the whole time.

Find out more about the comic, set for release this spring, at Flying Colors.

- Matt Price

DALLAS, Texas – At the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting, the ComicsPRO exclusive cover of “The Walking Dead” #81 was given to attendees.

“The Walking Dead” is the popular Image Comics series written by last year’s keynote speaker, Robert Kirkman.   It’s the basis of the AMC zombie television show starring Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes.

- Matt Price

Noble Causes Archives Vol. 2

The second omnibus-style volume of Jay Faerber’s “Noble Causes” focuses on the conflict between celebrity superheroes the Noble family, and their villainous counterpart, the Blackthorne family.

Sorcerer Hunter Blackthorne holds a grudge against the Nobles for the accidental death of his son in one of the battles between the two families.
The series continues to have great character moments and shocking twists and turns.   About 2/3 through the volume, the book takes a “five-year jump” into the future, which allows us to see the characters from a different perspective.  Probably my favorite issue featured the time-traveling adventure of Celeste Noble, Rusty Noble’s ex-wife.
Faerber puts a completely appropriate ending on this soap-opera styled saga with issue #40.

This collection contains 30 issues: Noble Causes #13-40 and Noble Causes: Extended Family #1-2.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 110. Still to go: 1,901.

The first big “Haunt” arc comes to a close, with Daniel and Kurt in a better place with one another.  Daniel, the former priest, has adapted to his role as a secret operative, and he’s come to terms with his late brother Kurt, with whom he merges to become Haunt.

Todd McFarlane is credited just with “additional inks” this issue, and it does seem to have less of the McFarlane flavor.  It’s still a good-looking book, though.  Kirkman is a good writer for this sort of material, and there are plenty of characters and subplots to follow up on as the book continues.   The villain teased at the end of this issue is also very cool-looking.

Good conclusion to the story that’s basically run through the first 12 issues and a tease for the future.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 65. Still to go: 1,946.

Detectives, zombies and superheroes highlighted the best in periodical comic books in 2010. While most comics are eventually collected in graphic novels, the monthly periodical comic still drives most traffic in comic book stores.

The following are 2010′s best 10 periodical comic books.

1. “Supergirl” (DC Comics). Tulsa native Sterling Gates brought his run on “Supergirl” to a close in 2010. With artist Jamal Igle, Gates imbued Kryptonian teen Kara with a personality and soul that went far beyond her super-abilities. Supergirl dealt with the death of her society, betrayal from a friend, and the constant struggle to live up to her family crest. In 2010, Supergirl learned that, like those of us without superpowers, she couldn’t simply run from her problems and her pain but had to face up to them.

2. “Chew” (Image Comics). Cibopathic detective Tony Chu gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. In this near-future, the Food and Drug Administration has become the most powerful law-enforcement group on the planet, after a bird flu led to the banning of chicken. Chu faces off against his ex-partner, gets a new girlfriend and deals with a family Thanksgiving before the possible end of the world is threatened at year’s end.

3. “Demo” Vol. 2 (DC Comics/Vertigo). Writer Brian Wood and artist Becky Cloonan revived their series “Demo,” first published at AiT-Planet Lar, for DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint in 2010. “Demo” is made up of short stories of young people with unnatural powers, but it’s done in a different way than something like the “X-Men.” “Demo” looks at young people at a turning point in their lives, with an unusual ability often serving as a metaphor. From romance to dark horror, each of the six issues of “Demo” is like a short film unto itself.

4. “American Vampire” (DC Comics/Vertigo). Writers Stephen King and Scott Snyder reveal the stories of 1880s outlaw Skinner Sweet and 1920s actress Pearl Jones, who become the first of a new breed of “American Vampire,” who have the ability to feed in the sun. Brazil-born artist Rafael Albuquerque (“Blue Beetle,” “Mondo Urbano”) is a future star.

5. “Captain America” (Marvel Comics). The new Captain America faces off against Baron Zemo and must face the crimes of his past, when he was the brainwashed Winter Soldier, in this series from Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice.

6. “Invincible Iron Man” (Marvel Comics). Tony Stark became a fugitive as the former Green Goblin became the top cop in the Marvel Universe, then put himself in a coma to prevent Norman Osborn from finding out his secrets. When Tony is finally revived, he has no memory of his past few years. This new Tony starts a new company, builds a new suit of armor, and wants to make the world a cleaner, freer place. But enemies old and new stand in his way. Writer Matt Fraction, with artist Salvador Larocca, continues to make “Invincible Iron Man” a techno-thriller for the 21st century.

7. “The Walking Dead” (Image Comics). Robert Kirkman’s zombie epic continued its successful run at Image Comics even as it was adapted for television by Frank Darabont. Kirkman, with artist Charlie Adlard, kept “The Walking Dead” one of the most consistent — and consistently surprising — comic books on the stands. Rick Grimes continues to test his limits as he seeks safety for his group of companions. But will the group still have the temperament to merge with a society?

8. “Stumptown” (Oni Press). Private detective Dex has a problem with gambling and owes about $18,000 to a casino. But if she can find the granddaughter of the casino’s executive, she may be able to get out of debt. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end up being that simple. This one is by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth.

9. “Ex Machina” (DC Comics/WildStorm). Brian K. Vaughan (“Y: The Last Man”) brought his story of Mitchell Hundred, the superpowered mayor of New York, to a conclusion in 2010. The remarkably consistent series, which mixed action and politics, was drawn throughout the run by Tony Harris (“Starman”).

10. “King City” (Tokyopop/Image). Brandon Graham has created an original, funny sci-fi tale with “King City,” in which 20-something Joe, a “cat master,” and his cat return to his hometown of King City. Joe’s cat, Earthing J. Catingsworth III, can transform into virtually any tool after being injected with “Cat-Juice.” The futuristic city of spies and mobsters is jam-packed with visual details and developed characters.

- by Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes

Andrew Lincoln answered questions for AMCTV’s The Walking Dead blog about his role as deputy sheriff Rick Grimes, one of a handful of human survivors after a zombie apocalypse.  The show is based on the Image Comics series written by Robert Kirkman.

Q: What qualities do you personally possess that would be helpful in a zombie apocalypse?

A: I don’t think I have that many, frankly. I’ll get my stunt double to ride me away. I like to think that I’ve got determination and I’m fiercely protective of the people I love. And that comes in handy, but that’s kind of what the show asks. They’re very ordinary folk but they’re the survivors and it asks that question: How far away have we gone? How sanitized have we become? How out of contact with the land have we become? I’d probably be useless. I’d entertain the troops.

Click over to read the entire Q&A with Lincoln.

- Matt Price

At NewsOK’s TV blog, Staticblog’s George Lang shares his take on “The Walking Dead,” the AMC series developed by Frank Darabont based on the Robert Kirkman comic-book series.

Series creator Darabont is known best for directing “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile,” two Stephen King stories based largely in some semblance of reality, but his most recent film was an adaptation of King’s “The Mist,” a raging B-movie style monster piece. Working closely from Kirkman’s story, Darabont, who directed the pilot, has fashioned a zombie-infested world in which the survivors must be ingenious enough to fight off the decaying hordes — zombies might not be smart, but they are tenacious. In the second episode, Rick and several other survivors including Glenn (Steven Yuen) and Andrea (Laurie Holden, “The Mist,” “The X-Files”) come up with a method of disguising themselves that might be the most disgusting concept ever presented in zombie fiction.

This brings up the question of the hour: does Darabont pull any television-enforced punches when depicting zombie splatter? The answer is an emphatic no: this is possibly the most gory, visceral series on television. You can put “The Walking Dead” up against George A. Romero’s series beginning with “Night of the Living Dead” onward, Zack Snyder’s remake of “Dawn of the Dead,” Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” or last year’s “Zombieland” and it’s clear that Darabont’s blood is not watered down. This is tough stuff: treat “The Walking Dead” like the old rule about swimming — wait a decent amount of time after eating.

Check out Lang’s full review at the TV blog, and share your thoughts on tonight’s premiere in the comments!

- Matt Price

Jordan Crane "The Walking Dead" print

The Secret Headquarters is offering four limited-edition prints to celebrate the premiere of “The Walking Dead,” based on the Image Comic by Robert Kirkman.

The four prints were designed by Jordan Crane and hand-printed by Jordan Rae; each was illustrated by a different accomplished artist (Lisa Hanawalt, Jon Vermilyea, Johnny Ryan and Jordan Crane).

The archival-quality prints measure 23 x 35 inches on acid-free 70lb. paper. Each print is limited to a run of 100 copies and will be signed by both the artist and Kirkman; single prints are $40 and the set of four is $150.

“I’m astounded by the talent involved and couldn’t be happier with how this turned out,” said Robert Kirkman, creator and writer of The Walking Dead, in a news release. “I think people are going to love these prints and I hope it brings people into The Secret Headquarters in droves because it’s a great store.”

The prints are available at The Secret Headquarters (3817 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles / 323.666.2228) or via walkingdeadprints.com.

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for all four images.

Walking Dead Weekly #1

WORD BALLOONS

The hit comic book series “The Walking Dead” comes to AMC on Sunday as a television miniseries.

Starting Sunday, fans can watch county Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) traverse the U.S. after the world is ravaged by a zombie epidemic.

The show will premiere with a 90-minute episode at 9 p.m. Halloween. The show is written and executive-produced by three-time Academy Award nominee Frank Darabont (“The Shawshank Redemption,” “The Green Mile”), who also directs the pilot.

Image Comics, publishers of “The Walking Dead,” will give fans a new way to catch up on the comic book series in 2011. The story lines have been collected in trade paperback form, but for fans who prefer the single-issue comic book format, the series will be reprinted as single issues in 2011.

Called “The Walking Dead Weekly,” each week will bring a reprinted issue of the hit series in order of release.

“Keeping a series like this going year after year is all about creating good jumping-on points for new readers,” series creator and writer Robert Kirkman says in a news release. “And what better way to jump on than with the very first issue? Making this series available in single-issue form will make it easier for new fans to jump on board and for old fans to fill in any gaps in their collection.”

“The Walking Dead” was created by Kirkman and artist Tony Moore. The first issue was released in 2003. Charlie Adlard has been the artist since issue No. 7. The most recent issue of the series, No. 77, is available now.

Also by Robert Kirkman:

“Haunt”: A priest must work with his recently deceased brother, a government agent, as the supernatural force Haunt. Issues 1-5 are available in a trade paperback; issues 6-10 are available in comic-book format. Kirkman cocreated “Haunt” with Todd McFarlane, the creator of “Spawn.”

“Invincible”: A teen has inherited his father’s superpowers. Collected in 13 trade paperback volumes (so far). Issue No. 75 is scheduled for release Wednesday.

“Astounding Wolf-Man”: A man mauled and left for dead becomes a superheroic werewolf. The final issue of this series is scheduled for release Wednesday.

“Guarding the Globe”: This miniseries spinning off from “Invincible” features the superheroes of Earth. Two issues have been released.

- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Happy 50th birthday to Kevin Maguire, one of my favorite comic-book artists! While Maguire hasn’t been incredibly prolific, his art is always splendid. Here are my top 5 favorite comic-book runs by the artist, known for his varied facial expressions and facility for humor.

Justice League 1, drawn by Kevin Maguire

1. Justice League #1-6; Justice League International (vol. 1) #7-12, 16-19 & 22-25; Justice League America #26-29

Maguire’s best-known work is on the 1987 relaunch of “Justice League,” written by J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen.  With the big guns off the table after “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” Giffen and DeMatteis somehow finagled Batman along with a group of previously second-teamers.   Maguire made this superhero sitcom work, and become one of the big hits of the late 1980s for DC Comics.

Adventures of Captain America 1

2. The Adventures of Captain America #1-3.
I hope the “Captain America” movie producers give this Cap story, set during World War II, a look.  Maguire’s art is great; unfortunately his slowness meant Steve Carr and Kevin West had to finish the series.  That could be the reason this series isn’t currently in print.

Formerly Known as the Justice League 1

3. Formerly Known as the Justice League 1-6

Maguire returned to the classic characters from “Justice League International” for this look at seemingly washed-up League, now operating as the “Super Buddies.”

Batman Confidential #17

4. Batman Confidential #17-21

Batgirl vs. Catwoman, at least partially in a clothing-optional club, gave Maguire a chance to draw sexy women, which he is quite good at doing.  Written by Fabian Nicieza and now collected in the “Batman: The Cat and the Bat” trade paperback.

Strikeback #2 from Image Comics

5. Strikeback!
I’ll go with this as my fifth despite some fine Maguire work on “Justice League Classified” and “Justice League: Created Equal.”   Jonathan Peterson and Kevin Maguire’s “Strikeback!” featuring Rascal, with a superpowered scarf, and his meta-powered pals, was a fun series that came out originally from Malibu, then moved to Image to restart and finish.

- Matt Price

AMC releases Walking Dead trailer

AMC will premiere “The Walking Dead,” based on Robert Kirkman’s comic-book series, on Halloween, and the network has released an official trailer.

The Walking Dead tells the story of life following a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, traveling in search of a safe and secure home. Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Teachers, Strike Back) plays Rick Grimes.

Iron Fist gets screenwriter

Deadline reports that Marvel Studios is moving forward on a live action feature version of Iron Fist. Rich Wilkes, who wrote “XXX” starring Vin Diesel, has been hired to write the screenplay.

Iron Fist #8

Danny Rand became the mystical martial arts hero Iron Fist after plunging his hands into the heart of a dragon, making his fists into indestructible weapons. Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction recently wrote a well-received run on the character, who was created in the 1970s by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. The X-Men’s Chris Claremont and John Byrne also previously worked on the character.

Ray Park, who played Darth Maul in “Star Wars Episode 1” was attached to possibly star in an “Iron Fist” movie for Artisan several years ago. As of last year, when doing press for the “GI Joe” movie, he still was interested in the role.

WANT TO WIN A WALLET OR DVD?

Want to win a swank Titan Maximum wallet, or a DVD of the first season?

You can win these cool prizes from Nerdage by e-mailing mprice at opubco.com with what kind of robot you’d like to pilot! Funniest and/or most original answers will be selected by a panel of experts at Nerdage HQ. Must be 18 or over, U.S. only. More info here.

This week’s podcast also includes reviews of Action Comics #892, Captain America #609 and Avengers #4.

- Matt Price

AMC will premiere “The Walking Dead,” based on Robert Kirkman’s comic-book series, on Halloween, and it looks like it’s going to be done right, judging from this extended trailer. Thanks to Staticblog’s George Lang for giving me the head’s up that it was online.

Description from AMC: The Walking Dead tells the story of life following a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, traveling in search of a safe and secure home. Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Teachers, Strike Back) will portray the lead role of Rick Grimes while actor Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, The Ghost Writer) will portray the character Shane, who worked with Rick in the police department before the zombie disaster. Other cast includes Laurie Holden (The Shield), who plays Andrea, one of two sisters who join the survivors of the zombie plague, Steven Yeun as Glenn, an expert scavenger and Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), who plays Rick’s wife Lori.

Jim Lee

Jim Lee’s dynamic style helped define the 1990s in comics. Now the co-publisher of DC Comics, Lee still draws “All-Star Batman and Robin,” which is written by Frank Miller. To celebrate Lee’s 46th birthday, here are my favorite comic-book runs by the influential artist.

Batman 608

1. Batman #608-619
With writer Jeph Loeb, the “Batman: Hush” storyline was a sales juggernaut that attracted both new and old Bat-fans.  Reading as “Batman’s Greatest Hits,” Batman finds himself attempting to solve a mystery from his past while crossing paths with many of the best-known members of his rogues’ gallery.  Check out a preview of the series via DC Comics.

Uncanny X-Men #268

2. Uncanny X-Men #248, 256–258, 267–277
Lee was arguably comics’ biggest superstar of the early 1990s, drawing “Uncanny X-Men” as written by Chris Claremont.   Issue No. 268, featuring Wolverine’s first meeting with Captain America, is a particular highlight.

WildC.A.T.s #1

3. WildC.A.T.s #1-13
As one of the founders of Image Comics, Lee helped prove that creators of the early 1990s didn’t have to be working for Marvel or DC to sell a huge number of books.  With an alien war spilling over onto earth, it’s up to the WildC.A.T.s to defend humanity.  Lots of action and beautiful comic-book women make this a series very much of its time, but arguably the pinnacle of the 1990s style.

X-Men 1 (1991)

4. “X-Men” 1-11
“X-Men” No. 1, launched in 1991, is still the largest-selling comic book of all-time.  At the height of the speculator boom, and bearing 5 variant covers, Lee and Claremont moved 7 million copies of the first issue.   A year later, neither would be on the book.  Claremont left after the third issue, and Lee left after issue No. 11, headed for the upstart Image Comics.  Still, these issues introduced characters like Omega Red and Maverick, and are also very emblematic of 1990s style.

5. Punisher: War Journal #1–13, 17-19
Lee started as the inker of “War Journal” before becoming the penciller, where his art helped make Frank Castle a standout gritty anti-hero.  Punisher has been popular both before and after Lee’s take on the character, but his is one of the best-remembered.

Honorable mentions: Lee’s revamp of “Fantastic Four” for “Heroes Reborn” is a fun modernization of the classic; “Alpha Flight” is worth a look to see the artist’s developing style; and “Divine Right” showcases Lee’s WildStorm style in the late 1990s.   Another great way to see a lot of classic Jim Lee art is with the 1992 X-Men trading card set, with every card drawn by Jim Lee.   That set remains one of the highlights of my card-collecting days.

- Matt Price

Lady Robotika, the cyborg hero co-created by Jane Wielden (The Go-Gos) and Bill Morrison (“Simpsons Comics”) has announced an exclusive Jim Silke cover, available for $10 this week at Comic-Con International in San Diego.  The trio will sign at the Image Comics booth during the convention. Click past the cut for the full release.

- Matt Price

WHAT: Lady Robotika, the inter-galactic rock ‘n roll sexy cyborg heroine, is the

brainchild of Jane Wiedlin (legendary guitarist for the Go-Go’s) and Bill

Morrison (Eisner Award-winning creative behind The Simpsons Comics,
Futurama Comics, Roswell, Little Green Man and Heroes Anonymous). The new
super-heroine debuted last week with Lady Robotika issue #1: Slaveship to
the Stars! to great reviews.

Grammy Award-winning album art director and famed comic and pin-up artist
Jim Silke (www.jimsilke.com) has created a limited-edition
convention-exclusive Lady Robotika cover for Slaveship to the Stars!,
available for the first time during San Diego Comic-Con at the Image
Comics booth for $10.

WHAT:
Jane Wiedlin, Bill Morrison, and Jim Silke will be attending San Diego
Comic-Con, hosting Lady Robotika autographing/meet & greets, attending
various parties/events, and closing out the weekend with a bash at
Meltdown Comics in Hollywood.

WHEN &
WHERE:
Friday, July 23
Jane Wiedlin, Bill Morrison & Jim Silke autograph-signing
11:00am – Noon
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Image Comics booth #2729.

Saturday, July 24
Jane Wiedlin, Bill Morrison & Jim Silke autograph-signing
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Image Comics booth #2729.

Monday, July 26
Meltdown Comics Annual Comic-Con After-Party
7:00pm – 10:00pm
7522 Sunset Blvd. (Hollywood, CA)

About LADY ROBOTIKA
Lady Robotika is a full-color 32-page comic published by Shadowline and
Image Comics. Earthly rock star Jane Wiedlin is abducted by a rock ‘n
roll-loving evil alien emperor and implanted with nanobots meant to
enslave her. His plans backfire as our guitar-slinging heroine learns to
control the nanites and transforms into the super-powered cyborg galactic
liberator Lady Robotika! With sexy sci-fi rock and roll space adventures
to ensue…

The stars and producers the series “The Walking Dead,” based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book, will appear at a Comic-Con International panel that will feature a sneak preview of the series.

The panel is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday in room 6CBF. Series stars Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually), Jon Bernthal (“The Pacific”), Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break”), Laurie Holden (The Mist), and Emma Bell (“Law & Order”) will be on hand.  They’ll be joined by writer, director, executive producer and three-time Academy Award nominee Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile); executive producers Kirkman and Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens, Armageddon), make-up artist Greg Nicotero (George Romero’s Land of the Dead, The Mist); and Joel Stillerman, AMC’s SVP of original programming, production and digital content.

“The Walking Dead” will premiere this October during AMC Fearfest, the network’s annual blockbuster marathon of thriller and horror films.

Other “The Walking Dead” activities at Comic-Con include:

- Attendees will have an opportunity to get “zombified” by visiting “The Walking Dead” booth and putting themselves into a zombie scene from the series via a touch screen and AMC will email the photo to them.

- AMC will distribute limited edition “The Walking Dead” series posters from internationally recognized movie poster artist, Drew Struzan (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Blade Runner, Hellboy and more).

- An autograph session will take place with Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, Greg Nicotero and Gale Anne Hurd in the Image Comic Books booth.

- AMC will distribute limited edition “The Walking Dead” series buttons.

- AMC will have “The Walking Dead” walkers around the convention center and booth.

- “The Walking Dead” booth will be a semi-recreation of a scene from the pilot episode.

- Matt Price

ComicsPRO 2010 Keynote Address by Robert Kirkman from BSIComics on Vimeo.

From ComicsPRO comes the video of Robert Kirkman’s keynote address at the recent annual members’

Robert Kirkman speaks at the ComicsPRO meeting, left. Carr D'Angelo and Gary Dills look on. (Photo by Annette Price.)

meeting of the direct-market organization.  Kirkman, a partner at Image Comics, reiterated the importance of print and of direct-market retailers to Image and to his comic book series, even as Image and other companies experiment with digital distribution.

Kirkman is the creator of “Invincible” and “The Walking Dead.”   A television adaptation of “The Walking Dead” is scheduled to air on AMC beginning in October.

ComicsPRO is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade organization uniting
independent comic book storefront retailers to share resources and to
promote comics as an important part of popular culture and literature.
Further information may be found about ComicsPRO at http://www.ComicsPRO.org.

- Matt Price