Category: News

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Tarot Cards and Ouija Board

15340-tm-5260394Every now and then, a product announcement comes across the wire that catches my eye. Sometimes the product is connected to a property I’m a big fan of, and other times it piques my interest for no other reason than it seems like a creative, original idea for a tie-in.

Not being a big Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan (I was more of an Angel person, to be honest), it’s a case of the latter that prompts me to echo Dark Horse Comics‘ recent announcement that the publisher will be producing a set of tarot cards and ouija board based on the Buffy property. It’s the sort of tie-in that’s such a no-brainer I can’t believe it hasn’t been done already — and after a quick Google for Buffy-related tarot cards and ouija boards, I salute the good folks at Dark Horse for getting there first (until someone tells me otherwise).

From the official press release:

Named for an award-winning episode from Season Seven of the BVS television series—and written by Buffy Season Eight: Wolves at the Gate author Drew Goddard—the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People” Board is a great game for fans, in this world and the next, to communicate with each other about life, death, and other mysteries. In the tradition of the Sunnydale Hellmouth, through which countless entities gained entry, fearless souls can let voices from the other side guide the planchette along the board to spell out the answers to their queries. Folks can channel their inner Willow and hone their witchy skills, providing hours of fun for the whole séance! Accompanying the game board and planchette, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People” Board includes an exclusive, comic-style instruction book featuring sequential art by Buffy SeasonEight guest illustrator Paul Lee!

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Are We There Yet? by Martha Thomases

interview-suit-2896937Every week when I’m considering a subject for my column, I look at the newspapers and the comic books cluttering up my living room. Perhaps this will be the week in which there is a perfect synchronization between the real world and the graphic world! Perhaps a team of comic book writers, artists and editors will perfectly capture the zeitgeist that is our national condition!

Perhaps this primary season will finally end.

I like elections. I like voting. I vote every chance I get. Because I live in New York, I’m accustomed to my primary vote not counting very much. I vote anyway. I voted for candidates I knew would lose, just because I wanted the Democratic Party to know there was a bloc of support for those positions. I’ve voted for Bella Abzug, Al Sharpton and Jonathan Tasini for Senate. I voted for George McGovern, Jesse Jackson and Edward Kennedy for President. I voted for Ruth Messinger for Mayor. I voted even though none of them had a prayer. When I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 and he won, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

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G.I. Joe Goes to IDW

In a surprise to pretty much no one, Hasbro announced today that it had reached an agreement with IDW Publishing to produce comics based on the toy company’s G.I. Joe license.

As we reported back in January, the license was up for grabs after Hasbro declined to renew with Devil’s Due, the publisher often credited with making the license relevant again after G.I. Joe properties had spent a long period in limbo.

The move to IDW has been anticipated ever since the license was freed up, due to IDW’s successful management of the Transformers license during the period leading up to and after the release of the Transformers live-action film. A live-action G.I. Joe film is scheduled for an August 2009 release from Paramount Pictures.

(You can view a large gallery of the recently released G.I. Joe cast photos here.)

As far as IDW’s plans for the license, the official announcement includes the following information:

As part of the agreement, IDW will produce a new monthly comic series, as well as deluxe reprints of the G.I. JOE property’s vast comic library, which helped catapult the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA phenomenon more than 25 years ago. IDW also has the rights for trade paperbacks and graphic novels.

The first products from this deal, a new monthly comic book series based on classic G.I. JOE vs. COBRA lore, will be launched with an introductory debut issue in October 2008. Featuring all-new storylines, the comics will portray the epic struggle of the G.I. JOE team against the evil forces of COBRA, while highlighting the brand’s favorite heroes and villains that made kids of the ‘80s today’s fans.

In 2009, IDW will also produce comic series both inspired by and based on the upcoming G.I. JOE live-action major motion picture from Paramount Pictures and Hasbro slated for August 7, 2009, as well as deluxe reprints from the vast G.I. JOE vs. COBRA comic history. The planned IDW comic book projects will be distributed to a wide audience through comic book outlets, trade bookstores and mass retailers.

 

Wolverine: Superfrog?

Wolverine is one of those characters who has been presented dozens of different ways over the years, from the tightie-whiteys and metal helmet days of Weapon X to the crotchety senior years of Old Man Logan. One thing we haven’t seen until now, however, is Wolverine in his… amphibian years?

Thanks to a team of Harvard University biologists led by David Blackburn, science reports everywhere are turning an eye to the comics scene and comparing a species of African frog to the most popular Marvel Comics mutant.

From Science Magazine:

When the comic book warrior faces a fight, metallic blades spring forth from his hand. A new study concludes that certain African frogs are similarly equipped, having sharp, claw-shaped bones that pierce through their own fingertips when the animal is threatened.

While researchers think the "bone claws" might be more useful for climbing than for fighting, they also speculate that amphibians’ well-known ability to regenerate tissue also comes into play when sending their own bone fragments through layers of skin as these species do — "just like Wolverine."

Of course, the hardcore comic geek in me really wants to point out that these frogs might be more like another Marvel character, Marrow (who can grow extra bone mass to use as a weapon), than everyone’s favorite Canucklehead — but I appreciate what you were trying to do there, scientist-people.

And on a quick side note, anyone remember the frog version of another popular Marvel character — namely, Thor? Now that was a superfrog.

The Weekly Haul: Reviews for May 30, 2008

First things first, a rant. This was a banner week for comics (and don’t those always fall after a holiday, postponing releases ’til Thursday?), but I have a pretty substantial bone to pick. This week’s comics were rife with price-gouging from both DC and Marvel, with pointless cost hikes on several issues. The only semi-understandable $3.99 tag came with Final Crisis, which I reviewed on its own right here.

Now, rant aside, the reviews…

northlanders6-5651961Book of the Week: Northlanders #6 #6 — Brian Wood’s series of Scandinavian mayhem has been hit and miss, but this issue’s on target like a broadsword to the brain. Sven continues to kill as many of Gorm’s allies as he can, brought to life with gloriously gory art.

But the key to this issue is how it’s gradually pulling Sven away from his mindless pursuit of revenge, even if it happens with a way too convenient to plot development.

It’s the story of a leader’s birth, but instead of being told through the rosy view of history and legend, it’s an ugly, bitter and brutal story. It could yet turn into a truly great series, as long as it doesn’t stray too far into the trite territory of Braveheart.

Runners Up:

Thor #9 — J. Michael Straczynski is doing so many things right in this book that it’s impossible to single any one of them out as central to the series’ success. Moving the plot in a new direction, he has Loki playing the Asgardian angles for the umpteenth time, only it’s so sly and written so well that it feels completely fresh, and not just because Loki’s now a woman.

The best moments come from the odd and awkward interactions between the Asgardians and the real world, which is now their world: an awkward love connection between god and mortal and the priceless image of two gods stuck in a small town jail after they had a too-public rumble with some monsters.

Green Lantern #31 — The origin of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern continues, and it’s the same balance of good and bad. On the one hand, Geoff Johns is covering ground that’s been covered too many times already, with Jordan getting his ring and starting training on Oa.

As boring as those moments are, the hidden part of the origin, the shadowy "Darkest Night" prophecy, continues to be endlessly interesting. It draws in so many unexplored pieces of Jordan’s and Sinestro’s backgrounds that it’s a shame Johns decides to waste time on the known aspects.

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Happy Birthday: Mike W. Barr

Born in 1952, Mike W. Barr’s first comic book story was an eight-page backup in Detective Comics #444 in 1974.

In 1980, he started doing semi-regular backup stories in both Detective Comics and House of Mystery. He also wrote an issue of Captain America, which led to regular work with Marvel as well.

The following year, Barr picked up some editorial duties at DC and also started writing Star Trek for Marvel. In 1982, he wrote Camelot 3000, one of the first so-called “maxi-series.”

August 1983 saw the debut of Batman and the Outsiders, probably Barr’s best-known creation, and in 1987 he wrote Batman: Son of the Demon, which is often credited as singlehandedly restoring DC’s fortunes.

Since then Barr has done many more comic book projects, including more Batman stories, a two-parter for JLA: Classified, a relaunch of his Maze Agency series, and a piece for Star Trek: The Manga.

He also wrote a Star Trek novel, Gemini, which included some of the characters he created in the Star Trek comic book series.

Sex In The City, by Michael Davis

No less than eight women and two gay men, all friends of mine, have asked me whether or not I was going to see the Sex And The City movie. I’m lucky (or unlucky depending on your point of view) to be able to see Hollywood films before their release. I have seen Sex And The City. Before you go on, I must tell you that I am going to reveal important plot elements as well as the surprise ending.

The plot of the films is this: four friends, Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, are now all over forty and dealing with life at middle age. Carrie and Mr. Big are planning their wedding. Mr. Big finally tells Carrie what he does for a living and how he got his nickname.

The scene played out like this:

Carrie: Now that we are going to be married, don’t you think I should know your real name and what you do for a living?

Mr. Big: Yes, Carrie, but you better sit down.

Carrie sits down. She has a look of fear and anticipation on her face.

Mr.Big: I love you, Carrie. No matter what happens between us please know I love you.

A tear starts to roll down Carrie’s cheek.

Carrie: You… you’re scaring me Big.

Mr.Big: I’m sorry baby. Look, there is no other way to say this so I’m just going to say it.

Carrie is now shaking and the tears are flowing freely. She begins to sob. (more…)

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Simone & Ajax: Lemmings Always Know…

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In today’s brand-new episode of Simone & Ajax: The Case of the Maltese Duck, by Andrew Pepoy (with colors by Jason Millet),  our heroine, Simone, and her dinosaur pal, Ajax, find themselves locked in a cell. Their captor is the beautiful Fu Wahu.

The evil temptress is trying to rejuvenate her father, the dreaded Fu Ohn Yu. Can our heroes save the duck?

Credits: Andrew Pepoy (Artist), Andrew Pepoy (Letterer), Andrew Pepoy (Writer), Jason Millet (Colorist), Mike Gold (Editor-In-Chief)

More: The Adventures of Simone & Ajax: The Case of the Maltese Duck

 

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ComicMix Radio: Plans of The Devil!

hndb-2178074As the summer approaches, Devil’s Due is well on the way to hitting the convention scene as the hottest indy publisher in the marketplace.

We have a full preview of the projects that will push them to the top, plus:

  • Marvel crams Ultimates 3 into a new package

  • Tommy Lee gets animated

  • Gail Simone gets her revenge

All that and the Return of Michael Myers (not the funny one) – better press the button!

 

 

And remember, you can always subscribe to ComicMix Radio podcasts via badgeitunes61x15dark-9724576 or RSS!

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Video: Stephanie Vozzo on Coloring ‘Archie’

archie-swap-4424714Minnesota NBC affiliate KARE11 recently turned an eye toward the comics scene in an ongoing video series called "Job Swap" — in which a reporter trades jobs for a day with various professionals.

In the May 22 episode of the series, reporter Rena Sarigianopoulos traded jobs with Archie colorist Stephanie Vozzo.

"There are a lot of people that color comics for different companies but there are not many people who do it for Archie," says Vozzo.

And, she does it all by hand. "I work probably six to eight hours a day, depending on how busy the page is, it could take an hour or more to do a page."

There are a pair of videos you can watch on the KARE11 site here. Thanks go out to ComicMix reader Russ Rogers for tipping me off to this story.

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