Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including X-Men Forever 2, Wolverine Weapon X 3, Berserker 1, Dark Avengers/X-Men Utopia and Detective Comics 854. Note: I talked about Silvestri drawing a “whole comic” in Utopia, when in fact he had assistance from several other Top Cow folks.

The first full issue of Milo Ventimiglia’s Berserker from Top Cow hits stores today, and if you’re a fan of Wanted or some of Top Cow’s other more mature, violent books, this one is probably worth a look.
In other probably violent news, Predator comes back to comics in a new first issue from Dark Horse.

Meanwhile, Marvel has all kinds of high-octane releases, including “Utopia” No. 1 and the first “dark” Wolverine, in issue 75.

DC launches Gotham City Sirens, written by Paul Dini.  Fans of Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates can get your weekly Gates quota in “Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps” trade paperback, which contains his work from the Sinestro Corps Superman Prime Special and the Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files.

“Tales of Sinestro Corps” collects Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Parallax #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Cyborg Superman #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1, Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files #1 and backup stories from Green Lantern #18-20.

Other than “Tales,” not as many trades that I’m as excited about this week, though I imagine the “All-Star Batman and Robin” trade will sell well. The deluxe editions of the Grant Morrison JLA are also quality comics if you don’t already own that material, or if you want it in a higher-end package.
Given my Superman fandom, I’ll at least take a look at the “Tales from the Phantom Zone” collection.
What looks good to you?

- Matt Price

It’s an UNlikely week for comics, as three comics starting with the prefix “UN” are released. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss two of them: Unwritten #1 and Unthinkable #1. Also discussed in this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast are “Fusion” No. 1 featuring a Marvel-Top Cow crossover, and Wolverine 73.

Matt Price interviews Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting in Memphis, Tenn.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Norse warriors are loosed on the modern world in “Berserker,” a new Top Cow series spearheaded by actor Milo Ventimiglia.

Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik said the violent series should appeal to fans of “Wanted.” In the story, the two lead characters discover they have incredible strength when they become filled with rage.

“It’s all about these ordinary people who find out that they’re descended from Norse berserkers, these fierce warriors,” Sablik said at the ComicsPRO annual meeting. “But at this point, it’s so underneath, they have no control over it. It’s an uncontrollable rage, and they basically fly off the handle like we all do, but when they fly off the handle, things and people break.”

A special signed variant-cover edition of “Berserker” No. 1 will be distributed to comic-book retailers who sign up to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund through Diamond Comics. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community.

The issue will be signed by Ventimiglia and the writer and artist of the book. Retailers can sign up in the April Previews magazine.

Ventimiglia brought the project to Top Cow; the team creating “Berserker” is made up of writer Rick Loverd (”Friday Night Lights”), artist Jeremy Haun (”Civil War: Iron Man/Captain America”) and cover artist Dale Keown (”PITT”).

“Berserker” started as a screenplay from Loverd, a staff writer on “Friday Night Lights.” Ventimiglia, who portrays the superpowered Peter Petrelli on “Heroes,” and his producing partner Russ Cundiff both loved the script. But they thought the violence could make it a hard sell.

“They found this screenplay. They read it. They loved it; and they said, no one in their right mind is going to make this as a TV show or a movie – we should totally buy this,” Sablik said. “Both Russ and Milo are comics fans, so they said this would be perfect for comics fans.”

The preview issue of “Berserker” is available now; the first issue is set to ship in June.

– Matthew Price
From Wednesday’s The Oklahoman

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A special signed edition of the “Berserker” comic will be distributed to comic-book retailers who sign up to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund through Diamond Comics.  The promotion was announced by Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik at the ComicsPRO annual meeting of direct-market retailers.

The issue will be signed by Milo Ventimiglia (”Heroes”) and the creative team.  Ventimiglia brought the project to Top Cow;  the team creating “Berserker” is made up of writer Rick Loverd (”Friday Night Lights”), artist Jeremy Haun (”The Leading Man”) and cover artist Dale Keown (”PITT”).

The preview issue of “Berserker” is available now; the first issue is set to ship in June.  Sablik said the violent series should appeal to fans of “Wanted.”   In the story, the two lead characters discover they have incredible strength when they become filled with rage.

– Matt Price

Embedded below is a “Berserker” promo video, which debuted at New York Comicon.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik outlined several of Top Cow’s initiatives at the ComicsPRO annual meeting of direct-market retailers.  First and foremost among Sablik’s points was the company’s promise to hold the price point of its regular books at $2.99 through 2009.

The trade dress of the books has been redesigned to highlight the price.  Sablik said any book at a higher price would have more pages or extras included.

Sablik also reminded retailers of the direct-market exclusive pricing on the first volumes of the Ron Marz “Witchblade” and “Darkness: Accursed,” which retail through comic shops at just $4.99.  These each collect six issues.   Volume 2 of “Darkness: Accursed” is set for April release at $9.99.

Sablik reminded retailers to sign up for Top Cow’s “Let Us Win You Over” campaign, in which selected retailers will receive free books to give away to consumers.  It will feature 25 stores per month, and is a yearlong campaign to attract new readers.   More information is available at www.topcow.com/freecomics.

– Matt Price

It’s a week of anniversaries! Darkness celebrates 75 issues, Thor celebrates 600, Batman attends a funeral, and Sabretooth has a violent way of saying “Happy Birthday” in this week’s comics, as discussed by Matt Price and Kyle Roberts.

WORD BALLOONS 

A hitman with supernatural abilities celebrates an anniversary – and invites some old friends.

Top Cow’s “The Darkness” celebrates its 75th issue on Wednesday, with an oversized issue featuring art from former series artists Dale Keown, Joe Benitez, and co-creator Marc Silvestri.

“There are not many characters that are independently created characters that have had 75 issues come out,” said Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik. “We wanted to celebrate that fact. It’s a big deal for us. We think on some level, it’s a big deal for comics.”

The Darkness series stars mob hit man Jackie Estacado. On Estacado’s 21st birthday, the terrible powers of the Darkness awaken within him and put him in the midst of a supernatural war.

“The Darkness is one of my favorite properties that we’ve ever created at Top Cow,” Silvestri told The Oklahoman in a 2006 interview. “Not only just in concept, but quite frankly to draw. … Jackie’s kind of an alter-ego for me and a lot of other guys. We get to act out our frustrations through this guy; it’s a lot of fun.”

In addition to the former artists, the series’ current artists, Michael Broussard and Jorge Lucas, will contribute, as will artists Ryan Sook and Steve Firchow. Sablik said Top Cow is also showcasing some new talent on the book, Matt Timson and Lee Carter.

Series writer Phil Hester is making this oversized issue a jumping-on point.

“Jackie Estacado, who is the bearer of the Darkness – this power that is both a blessing and a curse – goes to a fortune teller and gets a look at his future,” Sablik said. “The entire issue is a look at a future where Jackie has given into the Darkness, and to his darker impulses, and the things that result from that, the world that results from him becoming the worst version of himself.”

“The Darkness” No. 75 retails for $4.99.

– By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman 

The Dale Keown cover to the upcoming “Darkness” #75.  (If you’re worried that you accidentally missed a lot of issues, don’t fret — Top Cow is returning to the original series numbering with issue #75.)   Keown, Lee Bermejo, Stjepan Sejic and Michael Broussard provide covers.

– Matt Price

James MacAvoy stars as Wesley, a put-upon loser who discovers he’s meant for something different in “Wanted,” based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. Wesley meets the Fox (Angelina Jolie), who tells him his father was part of a secret cabal of assassins, and that Wesley himself must join with them to fulfill his destiny.

The Fraternity, led by Sloan (Morgan Freeman) lives by the credo, “Kill one, save a thousand.” An ancient loom tells them the people who must be removed from the wheel of fate to keep society running smoothly. Wesley has been chosen to find the man who killed his father, the Fraternity says – but the society also has its dark secrets.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film removes the superhero dressing of the source material, but manages to improve on it.

“Wanted” is visually stunning, and looks sharp on DVD. There are special features including an extended scene, a featurette about adapting “Wanted,” with Millar; and additional featurettes primarily focus on the film’s visual style and effects. The two-disc special edition also comes with a code for a digital copy of the film.

– Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Kyle Roberts and I hit on some of the week’s biggest comics, including Action Comics 870, Deadpool 3, Dragon Prince 2 and X-Men Original Sin.
I’m aware that as I post this, the date is wrong on the vodcast.

– Matt Price

Dragon Prince is a five-part miniseries written by Ron Marz with art by Lee Moder.  It stars teenager Aaron Chiang, who discovers he’s the Dragon Prince, heir to the bloodline of all dragons.  This martial arts fantasy epic begins shipping in September.

– Matt Price

(From Friday’s The Oklahoman)

“Witchblade,” based on the Top Cow comic book, came to cable television in 2000. The complete series has been released on DVD.

“Witchblade” is about a New York City police detective, Sara Pezzini, who encounters the Witchblade, an ancient and powerful artifact. The Witchblade is a gauntlet that’s been passed down from woman to woman throughout time and serves as a balance between the forces of dark and light. In the pilot, it’s implied that it was once worn by Joan of Arc.

Yancy Butler (“Mann and Machine,” “Hard Target”) starred as Pezzini, and she’s believable as a hard-bitten detective. Billionaire Kenneth Irons (Anthony Cistaro) and his right-hand man Ian Nottingham (Eric Etebari) both seek control of the blade. Will Yun Lee and David Chohachi make appearances as partners of Pezzini.

Some changes were made from the comic book. The costuming of the heroine was considerably more demure than the comics. And, given the TV show’s budget, some of the elements that would have been costly to create in the early 2000s were scrapped. Despite some elements changed from the comic books (originally written by Christina Z., drawn by Michael Turner, and edited by David Wohl), comic-book fans were generally pleased with the adaptation. The presence of co-creator and Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri as a series writer helped keep the show true to the concept of Witchblade, even as particulars shifted. While the program can be slow in parts, it’s a solid police drama with interesting supernatural elements.

The DVD set contains all 24 episodes (the movie pilot plus two seasons) and bonus features.

— Matthew Price

From Friday’s The Oklahoman: 

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS

The tale of the Witchblade, an ancient weapon first seen in comics, blazed the path for original cable TV programming, says the publisher of the “Witchblade” comic books. “Witchblade,” the television series, will be released on DVD on Tuesday.

“When “Witchblade” debuted on TNT back in 2000 there weren’t that many comic adaptations particularly on television,” said Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik. “In fact in the era of ‘The Shield,’ ‘Monk’ and ‘Rescue Me’ it’s funny to remember that there wasn’t much original cable television programming.”

“Witchblade” is about a New York City police detective, Sara Pezzini, who encounters the Witchblade, an ancient and powerful artifact. The Witchblade is a gauntlet that’s been passed down from woman to woman throughout time and serves as a balance between the forces of dark and light. Yancy Butler starred as Pezzini in the 23 episodes which aired over two seasons.

Sablik said the “Witchblade” series stayed mostly faithful to the comic book.

“They were limited by budget as far as what they could do, but the key characters … were all there,” he said. “The Witchblade is still an ancient powerful weapon, but instead of a organic like metal it took the form of a more traditional gauntlet with a sword that came out.”

“Witchblade” remains Top Cow’s most popular comic book. Sablik described “Witch Hunt,” the first story arc by writer Ron Marz, as a good jumping on point for “Witchblade.” Comic-book stores have a special edition of the story for $4.99, collecting six issues.

“It’s the entry arc for the modern era of ‘Witchblade,’” Sablik said.

“Witchblade” is currently in development for a 2009 feature film.

From Friday’s The Oklahoman: 

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS

James MacAvoy plays Wesley Gibson, a downtrodden loser recruited into a secret cadre of assassins in “Wanted,” out today in movie theaters. The film is based on the comic-book series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. “Wanted” was published by Top Cow as a comic-book series and is now available from Top Cow in graphic novel format.

“It’s basically about a young guy, Wesley Gibson, that is kind of an everyday schlub, works in a cubicle farm and doesn’t really do much with his life,” Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik said.

“One day he is approached by this mysterious woman named the Fox, who tells him that his father was one of the great assassins — probably the greatest assassin in the world. And that he and a group of other super villains secretly ruled the world behind kind of a veil of normalcy, and that he’s basically inherited his spot in the secret fraternity of super villains. From there, the proverbial crap hits the fan and Wesley has to go from being a zero to — I don’t know that I’d call it a hero, but definitely a guy who takes charge of his life.”

The comic-book “Wanted” has costumed super villains and alternate realities, while the film, for all its over-the-top elements, is somewhat more grounded in the real world.

“It was one of those rare instances that there was such a buzz on the property as it was being developed that we actually sold it around the time the second issue was getting put together,” Sablik said. “Which is one of the reasons that the movie kind of diverges from the comic book a little bit. Because at the time Universal picked up the property, the comic was still being finished. So the screenwriters had to take the inspiration and the beginnings and what they knew about the story and develop it from there.”

Sablik said “Wanted” was a good fit for Top Cow’s line.

“We tend to do kind of dark books, things with either with a dark sense of humor, or a horror or supernatural bent to it. It seemed like a good fit for us.”

Two of Top Cow’s other major properties are also making waves in other media. “Darkness,” about a young mobster who inherits a primal power, was a platinum-selling video game in 2007. And “Witchblade,” featuring a New York police detective with a supernatural gauntlet, is being developed for a 2009 film.

From Friday’s The Oklahoman:

“Wanted,” directed by Timur Bekmambetov of the “Night Watch” films, is a visually arresting, over-the-top, paean to violence. Based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and JG Jones, the film takes a different slant than does the source material — but manages to improve on it.

Wesley Gibson (James MacAvoy) is a down-on-his luck loser in a dead-end job. He knows his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend, but he can’t motivate himself to do anything about it. Wesley is sleepwalking through his life, until he meets the Fox (Angelina Jolie).

She tells Wesley that his father, whom he never knew, was one of the world’s greatest assassins. And another of those assassins is after Wesley.

This begins the slam-bang action portion of “Wanted,” as Wesley finds himself introduced to the Fraternity, a group of assassins who call themselves weavers of fate.

Led by Sloan (Morgan Freeman), these weavers follow mysterious assassination directives, aimed at making the world a better place. “Kill one, save a thousand,” explains the Fox.

The storyline has twists and turns and double-crosses, but the visuals are what makes “Wanted.” Bekmambetov channels Tarantino by way of John Woo, but adds dozens of his own touches. The only off-note is the dialogue.

Some is lifted directly from the comics, but other scenes are just f-bombs dropped on anyone who might be nearby.

Still, this is what an adrenaline-filled action movie should be — a darkly comic vision whose flaws are obscured by the film’s unyielding pace.

Matthew Price

MOVIE REVIEW

“Wanted”

R 1:48 3 stars

Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie

(For strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality.)

– Matt Price

- Matt Price

By Matthew Price

Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS
LAS VEGAS — Comics publishers gathered at the 2008 ComicsPRO annual meeting to share information about upcoming plans with comic-book retailers.DC Comics’ vice president of sales Bob Wayne talked about DC’s upcoming crossover “Final Crisis,” and the prelude to the series, “DC Universe Zero.”“DC Universe Zero” is a 50-cent comic set for May release that is written by Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison, with art by George Perez, Tony Daniel and J.G. Jones.“When you finish reading ‘DC Universe Zero,’ you’re going to say, ‘Wow, I really wish I had ordered more copies of this,’”
Wayne said. “It does set up some of the things that appear in ‘Final Crisis,’”
Wayne said.“Final Crisis” is a seven-issue miniseries, with issue No. 1 set for a May release.
Wayne said “Final Crisis” is “Grant Morrison telling stories the way Grant does.”“It starts with Anthro and goes to Kamandi. From the first boy on earth to the last boy on earth, and everything in between,”
Wayne said.In addition,
Wayne announced a sequel to “Plain Janes,” the best-selling title in their “Minx” line of young adult graphic novels for girls.
“Plain Janes: Janes in Love,” from Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg, is shipping in September.“The comic shop market has surpassed all of our expectations at DC on how many copies you would be able to sell of these titles,”
Wayne said.
Wayne talked about DC’s newest weekly comic book, “Trinity,” following in the footsteps of “52” and “Countdown.” The lead story of the book each week will be written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Mark Bagley.“Mark Bagley has shown he’s a guy who has consistently been able to produce a high number of pages,”
Wayne said, “and we feel very comfortable that Mark can continue to do this on this particular project.”
The first issue of “Trinity” is 40 pages for $2.99. Back-up stories for “Trinity” will be written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with rotating artists.
ComicsPRO is the largest organization of comic-book retailers in the world, with more than 100 members. Other representatives at the conference included Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Cartoon Books, Top Cow, the Hero Initiative, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and Graphitti Designs.

More notes from the ComicsPRO conference:

* Top Cow outlined plans for their “Witchblade” property, including keeping the creative team of writer Ron Marz and artist Stjepan Sejic on the book for 34 issues.
“This creative team is going to be on the book until issue 150,” Top Cow’s Filip Sablik said. “We’ve heard that you want consistent shipping, you want a creative team you can rely on, you want a book that can turn and make money for you month in and month out. We’re going to do that for you with ‘Witchblade.’”

* The nonprofit organization, the Hero Initiative, which helps comic-book creators in need, will collect the “Stan’s Soapbox” columns from Marvel Comics as a fund-raiser.

* The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is planning a retailer resource guide, to help comic-book retailers to be aware of good retailing and legal practices.

* In May, “Stupid Stupid Rat Tales” and “Rose” will come back into print from Cartoon Books.

LAS VEGAS — “Witchblade is obviously our flagship title,” Top Cow’s Filip Sablik, vice president of marketing and sales for the publisher, told the assembled retailers at the annual ComicsPRO meeting.   “We’ve got two things that we’ve done recently that we think have panned out pretty well for you guys, and they’ve done very well for us.”

The first is the recent $4.99 collection of the first Ron Marz arc in “Witchblade” was exclusively for direct-market comic-book retailers, and had been selling very well.   It collects six issues at the same quality level of all Top Cow collections.

The second is a promotion for comic stores to increase their orders on the recently shipped issue No. 116 of “Witchblade.”  That issue introduces a new artist, Stjepan Sejic.  He and Marz have signed onto “Witchblade” for the long haul, Sablik said.  

“This creative team is going to be on the book until issue 150,” Sablik said. “We’ve heard that you want consistent shipping, you want a creative team you can rely on, you want a book that can turn, and make money for you month in and month out.  We’re going to do that for you with ‘Witchblade.’”

In issue 116, Sara Pezzini and Dani Baptiste begin a new chapter as joint bearers of the Witchblade.  “Witchblade” mixes police action and fantasy adventure. The Witchblade is an ancient mystical weapon of great power. 

Sablik lined out four goals for the company across the board in 2008:
1. Timely shipping of product
2. Comic Shop Locator information in all trade paperbacks and hardcovers
3. Labeling variants in ordering material consistent with the ComicsPRO position paper on variant covers
4. Providing a trailer loop of professional trailers to retail stores promoting Top Cow products

– Matt Price