Monthly Archives: March 2010

Bill Amend Gets It

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I love Foxtrot. Bill Amend’s comic strip about all things nerdy has been a source of amusement for me since middle school, and quickly filled a very large gap left by the departure of Calvin & Hobbes.  So when the iPad was announced as not supporting Flash…well, Bill Amend gets it, pushing out this hilarious strip that can make everyone from nerd to comic geek chuckle.

You can read more Foxtrot over at the official website, and you can follow Mr. Amend on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/billamend.

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"The Amazing Spider-Man" #625 [Review]

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Every so often, old web-head manages to surprise us. Sure, I’ve been a supporter of Brand New Day for the most part lately, but let’s face it, Spidey’s been in one hell of a lull for the past several years.

But, every so often, an issue comes out of left field that catches us off guard, completely surprises us, and really turns everything on it’s ear.  This time around, it was an Amazing Spider-Man issue focusing on, of all people, The Rhino.

The Amazing Spider-Man #625

Endangered Species

Writer: Joe Kelly

Art: Max Fiumara

Colors: Fabio D’Auria

Cover: Marko Djurdjevic

Rating: ★★★★½

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On The Cover: Batman Beyond #1

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Batman Beyond #1

Batman Beyond #1

I really can’t put words to just how excited I am for this!!  I loved, loved, loved Batman Beyond when it first hit KidsWB! back in 1999.  It only lasted for 3 seasons, but the series was really, really good, and the character proved popular with fans: he went on to cameo in Justice League Unlimited‘s second season finale, and made an appearance in the early issues of Superman/Batman.

Not only is Terry McGinnis returning as Batman for the upcoming Superman/Batman annual this summer, he’s also getting his own six issue mini-series this June, featuring covers by Dustin Nguyen, who has chosen a really nice style for the cover art that maintains the color scheme of the original series. Meanwhile Adam Beechen (Countdown To Final Crisis, Countdown To Adventure) handles the writing chores and Ryan Benjamin (who did some pencils on Batman during Tony Daniels’ writing tenure around Batman RIP) handles the art chores.

Batman Beyond #1 hits stands this June.

"Siege" #3 [Review]

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Siege #3

Siege #3

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Pencils: Olivier Coipel

Inks: Mark Morales

Colors: Laura Martin

Covers: Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales & Laura Martin (Standard Edition); Gabrielle Dell’Otto; Joe Quesada, Danny Miki & Richard Isanove (Variant Covers)

Rating: ★★★★☆

Tight plotting has proven to be beneficial to Siege.  At least, it has in my humble (and probably wrong) opinion.

I mean, I’ve made it no secret: I hated Civil War.  Even though the story was fairly decent and had a great premise, by the halfway point it had already lost it’s steam, and the onslaught of delays didn’t help in the slightest.  And Secret Invasion, though it didn’t really suffer any delays, was just as bad.  The stories die out long before the end arrives.

But it’s different with Siege.  With the book already facing it’s penultimate issue, the story is still running strong and powerful.  Sure, it’s been a series of events you’ve seen coming, but it’s still a damn good issue with a lot of strong moments within.  Marvel could learn a lesson from this (as could DC; even though I’m loving Blackest Night, it feels like it’s been going on forever, and the endless string of tie-ins aren’t helping in the slightest).

The only gaffe I can find with Siege has to do with it’s framing element.  Bendis has a habit of telling rather than showing, resulting in the latter half of his blockbusters being described by people around the event, as opposed to those who are participating.  It was reporters and survivors in Secret Invasion; here we’re being told the action by the President and his cabinet.

Despite this, Siege is still the best damn event Marvel has had in a long while.  It’s good to see Steve Rogers, Tony Stark and Thor side by side on the same team again.  Even though it’s a series of events that we’ve seen coming, there’s still a lot of excitement and well thought out action within this amazing blockbuster of a miniseries.

PunisherMax: "Kingpin" [Review]

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PunisherMAX: Kingpin

PunisherMAX: Kingpin

PunisherMAX #1-5: Kingpin

Writer: Jason Aaron

Art: Steve Dillon

Colors: Matt Hollingsworth

Covers: Dave Johnson

Rating: ★★★½☆

I’ll just be honest with you: I preferred the old Punisher MAX series.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still digging the current incarnation, PunisherMAX. I mean, it’s The Punisher. And not the Frankensteined trainwreck Punisher that currently exists. No, it’s good old Frank Castle with a white skull on his shirt and a cache of guns, dishing out justice the only way that he really knows how to: with extreme prejudice.

But it’s the new skew of the series that I’m not terribly fond of. The previous incarnation featured a realistically aged Frank Castle who was nearing his 50s, but was still the tough as nails, take no shit vet we’ve come to know and love. The series maintained a gritty realism, balanced with the acknowledgment of Frank’s long standing role in the Marvel Universe, featuring appearances by Nick Fury and nods to his previous series. The new series feels more like “Ultimte Punisher”,  ditching the previous titles realistic aging and acknowledgment of Marvel lore for a gore filled romp that’s serving to be characteristically no different from the current Marvel on-going, aside from the explicit amounts of gore and profanity (and probably copious amounts of nudity in the future).

But, then there’s Kingpin.  It’s meant to serve as a flashback origin story, in what I presume is an out-of-continuity series. Here, Wilson Fisk assumes the role of Kingpin initially as a ruse, but quickly turns it into a legitimate identity in a bid to steal control of New York underworld from Don Rigoletto. Of course, he crosses paths with The Punisher (it is his book, after all).

Steve Dillon, who did art chores on the Garth Ennis penned Welcome Back, Frank (a story arguably responsible for restoring The Punisher to his former glory after several years of less than stellar stories) returns, and brings his trademark style and flair to the book. It’s a gorgeous book, with lots of energy and buckets of gore. Jason Aaron writes the story, and he still does a really good job of it. Despite my qualms with the story, I still find I enjoyed it, although the last issue was really, REALLY dark.  He nails the characters in the MAX universe, creating a vicious and far more adult world than anything Marvel’s had in a while.

Ultimately, PunisherMAX is a book with a lot of potential that’s going to spend a lot of time stuck in the shadow of that which came before it.  The idea of a rebooted, adults only Punisher title is a great one, and one that makes a lot more sense than trying to shove him into a corner of the Marvel Universe where his deadly touch isn’t such a problem in all ages titles, but cutting the character off from decades of history with the core universe is something that, in the long run, could hurt this title a lot.

The Pull List!: Event Exhaustion?

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Events are easily one of the most confusing things about comics. They’ve been a constant factor in modern comics for the past 10 years or so, and most any fan would proclaim they’re sick of them (the legendary fan misnomer “Event Exhaustion”), but you can’t deny that event tie ins sell a LOT of books; just look at the numbers of the last issues of Green Lantern or Siege.

As we jump in to this week’s Pull List, there’s a whole new wave of events starting (X-Men: Second Coming begins in the last pages of this week’s Cable, while Batman And Robin sets the stage for this summers The Return Of Bruce Wayne), long before the old ones have even ended.  Regardless, it’s a decent week for comics, with some strong release  (and some not so strong ones).  Here’s your pull list for the week; remember, just because it isn’t on the list doesn’t mean it isn’t good.

Cover art to Batman And Robin #10

Batman And Robin #10

Batman And Robin #10 – Batman and Robin remains an entertaining read, despite the current treatment of Dick Grayson as a fairly inept Batman. Morrison has taken the character to new heights, despite his rocky beginnings with Batman RIP, and with the impending resurrection of Bruce Wayne and the revelation that his corpse isn’t really him, one has to wonder what’s in store for the series as it continues on.

Official Solicitation: “Art sensation Andy Clarke (R.E.B.E.L.S., BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL) joins writer Grant Morrison for an exciting three-issue arc titled “Batman vs. Robin”! Why would Talia al Ghul manipulate her son Damian into taking action against Batman? Will Damian do as Mother says…or stay loyal to Dick Grayson? Plus, more on the Domino Killer, Oberon Sexton, and the menace of El Penitente’s drug cartel! Is this already the end for the new Dynamic Duo?”

Cover art for Cable #24

Cable #24

Cable #24 – I still maintain my unabashed love of all (well, most) things X-Men in the post Messiah CompleX X-Universe. Now the final chapter of the Messiah Trilogy begins here, as the Homecoming arc draws to a close. Cable and Hope are fighting their way back to the present, but at what cost? Roster changes, new leaderships, and major deaths are promised as Second Coming begins.

Official Solicitation: ““HOMECOMING,” CONCLUSION This is it. The conclusion of the time-hopping action thriller launched in the pages of “Messiah CompleX.” After hopping around New York City in the past and near future, Cable and Hope are closer than ever to the present…which means that Bishop is more desperate than ever to stop them. No more hiding. No more plots. No more weapons. It’s coming down to mutant vs. mutant in the subterranean tunnels of New York, and only one of them will make it back to Westchester alive. You will not want to miss this issue, which leads directly into the X-MEN: SECOND COMING crossover.”

Cover art to "PunisherMAX" #5

PunisherMAX #5

PunisherMAX #5 – I’m of the opinion that Frankencastle is pretty wretched. Maybe it’s just me (I’m sure it’s not), but I’m not digging the whole Punisher as a Frankenstein monster angle; Marvel does remember what happened when they tried to make Punisher a demon killing angel, right? Those of us who remember the good ol’ days of The Punisher can pick up the Jason Aaron written and Steve Dillon drawn conclusion to PunisherMAX‘s first arc.

Official Solicitation: “KINGPIN,” PART 5 Witness the birth of the Kingpin. And witness Frank Castle at his most desperate and brutal. The first arc of PUNISHERMAX concludes with death and murder and more death.”

Also Shipping This Week

Action Comics #887

Amazing Spider-Man #624

Batgirl #8

Batman: Widening Gyre #5

Breaking Into Comics The Marvel Way! #1

Dark X-Men #5

Doom Patrol #6

Fantastic Four #575

Hulk: Let The Battle Begin #1

Human Target #2

Justice League: The Rise And Fall Special

Lockjaw And The Pet Avengers Unleashed #1

Magog #7

Marvel Adventures Super Heroes #21

Powers #3

Prelude To The Deadpool Corps #3

R.E.B.E.L.S. #14

Red Robin #10

S.W.O.R.D. #5

Secret Six #19

Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #1

The Mystic Hands Of Dr. Strange #1

The Twelve: Spearhead #1

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #8

Web Of Spider-Man #6

Wolverine: Mr. X #1

X-Men Forever #19

X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back #2

Interview: Heather White & Jeff Stokely on Fraggle Rock

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A few weeks ago, we broke the news that Archaia Comics had acquired the rights to Fraggle Rock.  And I excitedly and cryptically mentioned that if you were a Fraggle Rock fan, you should really keep an eye on the site.  Then, that whole website blowing up thing happened (sorry about that, again), and it all got kinda put off.  But, now we’re caught up, and here it is: our first ever interview!

Archaia was kind enough to put us in touch with the Fraggle Rock‘s writer Heather White and artist Jeff Stokely, and they were awesome enough to answer a few questions on what they’re bringing to the table for Fraggle Rock, why they’re the perfect choice to bring these characters to comics, and why the book is aimed squarely at you.

Heather White

"Fraggle Rock" writer Heather White
Jeff Stokely

"Fraggle Rock" artist Jeff Stokely

1. Fraggle Rock is a franchise that’s been a pretty big part of a lot of people’s childhoods.  What was it’s significance in yours?

HEATHER WHITE: “Fraggle Rock” was a gigantic part of my childhood. It was this beautiful, over-stimulating, and magical half-hour that I treasured, and still do!

JEFF STOKELY: “Fraggle Rock” was a bit before my time; I watched it when I was very very young. Lots of it I don’t remember…but what I do remember was very vibrant and fun to watch. As soon as I watched the first episode again, a flood of memories came rushing back! Watching it again, I realize how great of a children’s show it really is. That is rare today, in my opinion.

Fraggle Rock #1 Cover A

Cover Art to Fraggle Rock #1

2. With this project, you’re tackling a 25 year old franchise with a dedicated fanbase, but one that’s also getting a new lease on life as that fanbase begins to have children.  What are you doing to make sure the book is memorable for the older fans but also remains new and fresh?

HEATHER WHITE: One of the reasons that the original “Fraggle Rock” is still so loved today is because the storytelling was so rich and thoughtful. As a fan, I think that Archaia was a brilliant match for the material because they share that passion and drive to tell good stories that have heart and actually mean something. Everyone, at every level, was dedicated to doing this right, and keeping the spirit Jim Henson intended with the show. The goal was never to change the characters, because the characters are amazing already. What we wanted was to bring them into fresh adventures that both kids and older fans could enjoy because they feel like they could be part of the original series. For my part, (and since I am part of that “dedicated fanbase”) I included a few obscure characters and references from past episodes that I love. An extra treat for the older fans will be seeing their favorite characters stylized in new and gorgeous ways by Jeff and the other artists working on these comics.

JEFF STOKELY: In working with the design and look of the characters I wanted them to feel very much like the old Fraggles and stay faithful to the original show. I also wanted to incorporate a lot of the cartoons and comics I am influenced by today, like Skottie Young and Vaughn Bode. Never changing the character designs was not hard; they were very fun to work with and I think the fans will be incredibly pleased with the outcome. People seem to be liking the cover so far! I guess that means I’m doing my job right!

Free Comic Book Day: Fraggle Rock

Art from "FCBD Fraggle Rock"

Fraggle Rock #1

Art from "Fraggle Rock" #1

3. In that same vein, you’ve got two very diverse markets: older readers who are lifelong Fraggle Rock fans, and younger children who are drawn to the fun, cartoon-like characterizations of the Fraggles.  Which market do you feel you’re skewing towards more?

HEATHER WHITE: Personally, I tried to keep in the vein of the original series and have humor that hits on different levels. Homages and jokes that the younger readers might not catch will hopefully be entertaining to the older readers. We wanted this to be accessible to everyone who loves the Fraggles and worked tremendously hard to make the story into everything the fans, new and old, deserve. My best friend Kate has young children who love the Rock as much as their mom, and I really thought about them and how to entertain the whole family while I was writing. It’s awesome that “Fraggle Rock” is so universal.

JEFF STOKELY: I’m reaching out for the fans, hands down. Many of the licensed comic books out there do not do their original title justice and I want to make sure this pleases the fans just as much as the new generation. There is something about the works of Jim Henson that are just purely entertaining. I really think it’s apparent and stays true to “Fraggle Rock” in this book. When I finished reading Heather’s script, I felt like I just watched an episode. This is something I’m really proud to be a part of.

Fraggle Rock #2 Cover Art

Cover Art to Fraggle Rock #2

4. Finally, you’ve got a world of hype surrounding the Fraggle Rock release.  Any idea what’s down the line for you, or is there any book that you’ve long wanted to work on?

HEATHER WHITE: To be honest, Fraggle Rock is my dream project so I am really delighted right now! I can’t remember the last time I had more fun writing something. This whole experience with Archaia and Henson has been nothing short of fantastic – I would love to work with them again. I also have a few original ideas that are in development, but I would love to work on other original Henson properties – especially The Muppets, Labyrinthand The Dark Crystal.

JEFF STOKELY: To be honest, the work I plan on doing in the future is much, much different than Fraggle Rock. I hope to get some of my creator-owned work out there but I’m open to suggestions! There are actually quite a few licensed titles that I’ve always wanted to work on. They aren’t being published currently but if all goes well, they will be again and hopefully I can help make them just as rad as they were in my childhood.

Fraggle Rock #1 comes out this April, and #2 hits in May.  For every three issues of the standard cover on each issue, retailers pick up the alternate cover.  Want to whet your appetite before you buy?  The Fraggle Rock/Mouse Guard Free Comic Book Day flip book will be available on May 1st, 2010.