RIP John Severin
Comic Book Resources and others are reporting the death of classic comics artist John Severin. The Marvel and EC artist, known for titles including “Two-Fisted Tales” and “The Incredible Hulk” was 90. Severin was also a major contributor to “Cracked” and “MAD.”
Comics professionals responded to the news on Twitter.
“It was one of the highlights of my career to write pages he drew in Iron Fist,” wrote Ed Brubaker. “He was still great, still working, at 90.”
Artist Tony Moore related his childhood memories of Severin, and encouraged everyone to read the artist’s work on EC and MAD.
“Severin was one of my earliest favorites, picking up his stuff in Cracked as a kid,” wrote Tony Moore. “I’m so close to his work, i feel like i’ve lost family.”
“Astronaut Dad” artist Brent Schoonover also shared his reaction.
“RIP John Severin. I’ll always have a stack of MAD magazines that you worked on and made me laugh like crazy,” Schoonover wrote.
A statement from the family has been released at The Beat.
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO update: Thief of Thieves starts strong; Smallville gets comics series; Avengers to battle X-Men
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.
ComicsPRO Annual Meeting 2012 first thoughts
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
Avengers vs. X-Men #1 preview
Marvel has released a preview of April’s “Avengers vs. X-Men,” written by an all-star cast of Marvel writers with art by John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel.
Here’s how Marvel describes the series, which goes on sale April 3.
This April, prepare for the biggest super hero war in comics history as Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Avengers Vs. X-Men #1! From the powerhouse creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, John Romita Jr., Adam Kubert and Olivier Copiel comes a groundbreaking event pitting Earth’s Mightiest against the X-Men with the entire Marvel Universe at stake. Cyclops and his team believe the arrival of the Phoenix Force will save mutantkind, but Captain America is convinced it will destroy the world! But who is right? Don’t miss out on all the action in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!
This 12-issue series will feature many of Marvel’s most popular characters, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm and Magneto.
Click past the cut for the full 7-page preview!
- Matt Price
New Amazing Spider-Man trailer released
Sony has just released a new trailer for this summer’s “Amazing Spider-Man,” starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. Rhys Ifans’ Lizard also makes an appearance in the new trailer. Marc Webb directs the film, which is set for a July 3 release. I think this shows a little more what type of humor and action to expect in the reboot. What do you think?
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images.
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Amazing Spider-Man #682 teaser looks to the “Ends of the Earth”
Marvel has released a teaser for what it calls “the next big Spider-Man epic.” Part one of “Ends of the Earth” begins in Amazing Spider-Man #682, by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli.
Here’s how Marvel describes the issue: The Sinister Six, led by the vengeful Doctor Octopus, is back and they’re looking for revenge! Can Spider-Man & Earth’s Mightiest save the world before Doc Ock’s explosive endgame is revealed?
“Amazing Spider-Man” #682 s set for a March 21 release.
- Matt Price
Marvel Comics’ Blade to debut in G4 anime
Marvel Comics’ vampire hunter makes his way to animation with the new series “Blade,” debuting Friday on the G4 network.
Harold Perrineau (who played Michael Dawson on “Lost”) is the voice of Eric Brooks, also known as “Blade” in the anime series based on the Marvel Comics character.
Happy 89th birthday, Stan Lee!
Stan Lee, co-creator of characters including Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, turns 89 today. Stan Lee is so intertwined with growing up with comics for me that I can’t really picture the industry without him. Reading “Marvel Tales” reprints of Lee and Steve Ditko’s “Amazing Spider-Man” comics helped turn me into a fan of the whole Marvel Universe.
Back on Lee’s 85th birthday in 2007, I wrote a list of the top 85 Stan Lee comics. You can check it out here.
Last year, I added three more for his 88th birthday. 
This year, let me add one more to the list. It’s an issue I had as a “Marvel Tales” edition. “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 34, featuring the return of Kraven the Hunter, as Kraven stalks Spider-Man on the streets of New York.
I’ve met Stan Lee a few times — and interviewed him back in 2007 for a Hero Initiative project — and have always found him to be a great ambassador for comics. (The article ran on my birthday, coincidentally enough.)
While who deserves credit for what in the early days of the Marvel Bullpen of the Silver Age of Comics will no doubt be debated by historians in the future, Stan Lee’s impact on the comic-book field is nonetheless enormous, and comics fans owe “The Man” a debt of gratitude.
- Matt Price
‘John Carter’ gets another comics adaptation from Marvel
With Disney prepping a “John Carter” film for March release, Marvel Comics continues its collaboration with the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate to adapt the “John Carter” novels into the graphic fiction format.
“John Carter: The Gods Of Mars” No. 1 will be released in comic shops in March, from the creative team of writer Sam Humphries (“Sacrifice”) and artist Ramon Perez (“Jim Henson’s Tale Of Sand”).
“’Gods of Mars’ is going to be a blast — tons of action and intrigue in a fantastic environment,” said Humphries in a news release.
In the novels, John Carter is an American Civil War veteran transported to Mars, called Barsoom by those who live there. Carter debuted in 1912 in All-Story Magazine.
- Matt Price
From Wednesday’s The Oklahoman
“A Christmas Carol” has long found home in comic books
Batman mixes with Charles Dickens in this year’s graphic novel “Batman: Noel,” but that’s not the only time the classic “A Christmas Carol” has been remixed into comics. English author Charles Dickens’ novella, first published in 1843, features the transformation of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge after he is visited one Christmas Eve by the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
