As Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” nears its launch, fans can check out a preview comic at MySpace Dark Horse Presents. The comic stars Captain Hammer, played by Nathan “Firefly” Fillion in the web-based musical. Zack Whedon talked to CBR about the project.
– Matt Price
An e-mail from Rude Dude Productions brings the news that “The Moth” and “Draw Nexus” are now available as free downloads at Wowio.com.
From Rude Dude:
NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE
5 new free books added at WOWIO
If you want to preview full copies of some of our books or would like to help support us, download our books for FREE on WOWIO.com. We’re paid for each download, so every book you download directly support the Rude Dude Crew!
Rude Dude has added 5 new books at WOWIO for FREE download. The new books include Moth 1-4 and Draw Nexus: Tips and Techniques - all 102 pages!
Also available are Nexus: Greatest Hits, Nexus 100, and the sold out Nexus Origin. Get caught up now! Use the below link to go to all the books available from Rude Dude, or use the book code to go directly to the book!
Link to a series: http://www.wowio.com/users/searchresults.asp?nGroupId=[series ID]
Link to a book: http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=[book ID]
Series and Book IDs
SERIES ID FOR The Moth 412
BOOK IDs
The Moth 01 4453
The Moth 02 4465
The Moth 03 4466
The Moth 04 4467
SERIES ID FOR NEXUS 125
BOOK IDs
NEXUS 99: Space Opera - Act 01 1625
NEXUS’ Greatest Hits 1626
Nexus the Origin 4148
Books not in a seriesbook ID
Draw Nexus: Tips and Techniques 4560
The second of the ‘advervideos’ starring Iron Man and Spider-Man has been posted at http://www.marvelkids.com/videos .
The final installment is set to go online Jan. 17. Meanwhile, the ”Marvel Adventures Iron Man Special,” a prequel to the animated shorts, is available in digital form at http://www.marvelkids.com/ironman.
From outer-space adventure to destructive romantic relationships, comic books in graphic novel format continued to push the medium forward. The following are the best graphic novels for 2007:
1. Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni Press)
Scott Pilgrim, the slacker twentysomething musician, must still battle his new girlfriend Ramona’s ex-lovers in this fourth volume of the “Scott Pilgrim” series. This pioneering “arcade logic” series is the perfect hybrid of action and romance in a post-videogame, post-manga world.
2. Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan (Drawn and Quarterly)
Israeli cab driver Koby Franco is drawn into a mystery when his father’s ex-girlfriend Nuni contacts him. She wants to search for Koby’s father, who she says may have been killed in a terrorist attack. Koby’s search for his father becomes a search for himself, as Motan examines modern
Israel in this evocative graphic novel.
3. First in Space by James Vining (Oni Press)
“First in Space” is based on the true story of Ham, a chimpanzee trained by NASA to make the first sub-orbital space flight. Well-researched and compelling, “First in Space” is suitable for all ages.
4. All-Star Superman vol. 1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC Comics)
Morrison and Quitely capture the charm of comics’ Silver Age with their take on Superman, a Man of Steel who creates Superman robots, and whose best pal Jimmy Olsen finds himself gaining strange powers. Several story tropes from the 1960s come full circle, as Morrison boils them down to their essence and represents them with modern flair.
5. The Homeless Channel by Matt Silady (AiT-Planet Lar)
Network exec Darcy Shaw thinks “The Homeless Channel” will both draw attention to the homeless plight, and be a good way to make some money, taking reality television to the next level.
Aaron Sorkin-like dialogue and art reminiscent of an early Brian Michael Bendis make “The Homeless Channel” a noteworthy debut.
6. Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine (Drawn and Quarterly)
Ben Tanaka is an abrasive
San Francisco theater owner who obsesses over white girls; this doesn’t help his relationship with his Asian-American activist girlfriend Miko. An interesting look at race and sex through the lens of an intimate graphic novel.
7. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill (DC Comics/WildStorm/ABC)
Something of a sourcebook gone mad,
Moore explores the history of his “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” concept, featuring heroes and villains from throughout literature.
8. Shazam: Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith (DC Comics)
Jeff Smith captures the charm and wit of the 1940s Captain Marvel stories, recaptured for modern audiences.
9. Astronaut Dad vol. 1 by David Hopkins and Brent Schoonover (Silent Devil)
David Hopkins looks at the children of astronaut reservists in the 1960s, making the space race more personal.
10. Nothing Better: No Place Like Home by Tyler Page (Dementian)Tyler Page (“Stylish Vittles”) takes his Web comic to graphic novel format in “Nothing Better,” which examines two mismatched roommates at a Lutheran college. “Nothing Better” is reminiscent of “Strangers in Paradise” and “Blankets,” with engaging characters and fresh art.
Marvel has put the digital version of the comic book “Stephen King’s Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born” #1 up for free at marvel.com, as part of its digital comics initiative.
Stephen King fans may be aware of the sequel, the cover of which appears atop this post. It’s set for release in March. It’s a five-issue miniseries called “The Long Road Home.” Marvel has released the solicitation for the first issue:
DARK TOWER: THE LONG ROAD HOME # 1 The Story: It’s the return of the best-selling comic book series, inspired by Stephen King’s epic The Dark Tower! Gunslinger Roland Deschain has seen the death of his lover Susan Delgado. And the Big Coffin Hunters who burned her at the stake are now in pursuit of Roland and his ka-tet Cuthbert and Alain. The friends are forced to flee into the desert with the deadly posse in hot pursuit….and Roland is in a coma! Don’t miss this opening chapter starring the Gunslinger whose quest for the Dark Tower will shake the foundation of reality itself! Rated T+.
– Matt Price
A recent press release from Smashout Comics announced the return of “Swords of the Swashbucklers” as a free online download at wowio.com. In addition to getting to check out a sci-fi/fantasy epic from the 1980s, the proceeds will aid in the care of the writer, Bill Mantlo.
From the press release:
With the cooperation of Bill’s brother Mike Mantlo, co-creator (Jackson) Guice and series artists Geof Isherwood and Colleen Doran, all royalties from Swords of the Swashbucklers will be redirected to Mike, to assist with Bill’s quality of life.
In 1992, Bill Mantlo was struck by a car and suffered extensive brain injuries. Today, he requires 24-hour care and is not expected to fully recover. Though Medicaid covers his basic needs, the project will help with new clothes and other life improvements.
“I have to thank to Roger Stern for the idea,” says Steve Horton, Smashout Comics publisher. “He suggested I contact Bill’s estate about Swords of the Swashbucklers, as I had wanted to see it back in print. And now, here we are! I couldn’t be happier that we’re able to assist Bill and his family this way.”
As a special bonus, with participation of artist Polly Law, the first issue of the regular series includes the hard SF short story Rising of the Moon, originally published in EPIC Illustrated 5.
Also, Guice has provided promotional artwork and original art scans, which appear as back covers of the books.
“In the early 1980s, I had the tremendous blessing of finding myself working with writer Bill Mantlo on my first regular assignment in comics (The Micronauts),” says Guice.
“In addition to taking a nervous young artist under his wing, and helping guide me through some very intimidating first few months of experience in the industry, Bill and I soon discovered a strong collaborative spirit between us — constantly on the phone — bouncing ideas back and forth for potential new characters and projects to come. It became something of an ongoing joke between us, as we invariably would drift off topic into discussing — yet another — new project idea, whenever we spoke.”
“As our run on Micronauts was coming to a close, Bill and I had several project ideas we felt strongly enough about to consider submitting to EPIC, the then new creator-owned line of books at Marvel. We weren’t entirely sure yet what we wanted to work on next, only that we were determined to continue working together. I had recently acquired studio space for myself in a rented loft and had dubbed the place, Swashbuckler Studio. Bill called shortly after the studio phone was hooked up, and I answered, ‘Swashbuckler Studio — Butch speaking.’”
“Without pause, Bill said in his usual enthusiastic way — “That would make a great name for a comic series someday!” — and we laughed.”
“A day or two later, however, Bill called once more and excitedly began describing his broadstroke initial ideas for a space-faring pirate series he wanted us to pitch to EPIC –SWORDS OF THE SWASHBUCKLERS.”
“And that’s how it all began.”
“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” says Doran. “It is some of my early comics work, and definitely not good work from me, but what a privilege to get to have a chance to work with Bill Mantlo! Bill Mantlo was not only a wonderfully prolific and imaginative writer, he was an outstanding human being.”
“I met him while working on Swords of the Swashubucklers, and he was so good and kind to me. I was having a legal problem with a publisher who had claimed all rights to my work, and Bill Mantlo was in his early days as a lawyer. He was able to go over my contract, and was able to tell me that I was not only in the right, but he helped me find the contacts and get the representation I needed to wrest my book away from the publisher who was trying to get my copyrights and trademarks.”
“Bill owed me nothing. I was not a good artist, and was not an important person. I was a beginner working on my first job for Marvel Comics, and all Bill knew about me was that I was in trouble and needed a hand. He was incredibly generous with his time and attention, and I will never ever forget that out of all the hundreds of people in the business, he was one of a small handful that stood by me and helped me when I was a complete nobody. He wasn’t interested in sucking up, he wasn’t interested in making a lot of money, he just wanted to do the right thing.”
“My only regret is that I could not be a better artist for Bill.”
“After all these years, I hope my small contribution to Bill’s work can help him out in some small way to make up for the invaluable kindness he did me.”
“I guess…I knew what to say after all.”
“Thank you, Bill Mantlo. I love you.”
