Category: News

Creating the Annihilation: Conquest Covers

  • News
  • January 23, 2008

Sure, we heard about this whole Civil War thing that was going on in the Marvel Universe a while back, but as far as we’re concerned, that was small potatoes compared with the epic, universe-spanning shenanigans occurring throughout the Annihilation saga.

Okay, so Civil War left Captain America on a slab and Spider-Man unmasked. We’ll give you that, because they were all big deals at the time, but we challenge you to come up with a bigger event than the Annihilation Wave strapping Galactus to a freakin’ spaceship and using him as a gun, people! Seriously!

… But we digress.

Where were we again? Ah, yes, we were about to direct your attention to this great behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of the Annihilation: Conquest covers. The feature includes plenty of art from both cover artist Aleksi Briclot and Conquest editor Bill Rosemann, the mastermind behind the whole Annihilation event, and it serves as a great "director’s commentary" of sorts for both the storyline and the creative process.

"For the first cover, which I created for the Conquest Prologue, Bill gave me a lot of art suggestions (Joan d’Arc in space, a cinematographic and epic feeling, movies references…)," Briclot recalled. "Over time he also sent me new character concept art (all designed by Marko Djurdjevic), work in progress pages and lots of ideas. Then it was the usual process for each of those covers: sharing ideas and notes via e-mail, making some early quick sketches, a new discussion step, choosing the final content of each covers… Then it was up to me, polishing each picture and trying to produce the most impressive and attractive cover illustrations."

J’Onn J’Onzz, Martian Manhunter, Marked For Death?

  • News
  • January 23, 2008

plea_00-8922793After Rich Johnston named J’Onn J’Onzz and Aquaman among the characters slated for termination in DC’s Final (Infinite Countdown to Identity Earths) Crisis event, creator Michael Netzer has begun a campaign to save the green-skinned shapeshifter.

Netzer has drafted a letter to DC and posted it on his website along with a petition to save the character and testimonials from comics fans. He’s even created several banners and other images to promote the cause.

Right around the middle of the letter, he even offers up his creative services as the character’s future caretaker:

And so… in the spirit of the image I produced to illustrate this plea, I’d like to offer my services as an artist to help revive the Martian Manhunter again, as I did back in 1977, and prevent the possibility of his untimely death… and to do it within an upcoming project of your choice for DC Comics.

While neither the certainty of J’Onn’s death nor the ability to halt any existing plans for his demise at this point are certain, there’s something to be said for the support the character is receiving from Netzer and other fans. On the flip side, a quick Google for "Save Aquaman" campaigns doesn’t seem to register any hits.

 

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The Great Divide, by Elayne Riggs

  • News
  • January 23, 2008

elayne-riggs-100-1215696As I’ve made clear in previous columns, I like reading. I have Bloglines subscriptions to almost 700 blogs, of which I probably read 400-500 pretty regularly. I tend to group my blog subscriptions into two major categories, culture and politics – what I call “news and views” – although lately I’ve been supplementing those with blogs speaking to other interests of mine, like food and grammar and LOLcats. And I’ve noticed the same problem with these blogs, particularly the political ones, which I came across in just about every hobby of mine through the years. By and large, the writers seem to believe their subject matter is the only one worth pontificating about, and any blogger who has “outside” interests is not worthy to be in their circle.

We live in an era of divide and conquer, where each faction is encouraged into its own little category, where the idea of a well-rounded individual is anathema to getting ahead, where specialization is the order of the day. Because of deadline pressures, many artists who make their living doing comic books have to choose between penciling and inking. My husband is fond of noting that in England, where he lived for the first 36 years of his life, there was no such artificial division of labour when he learnt his craft. Imagine his frustration when we were going over the rudiments of baseball and he found out about all the different subdivisions of pitchers and fielders! He still can’t understand how a professional ballplayer can’t field at just about any position, and why most pitchers can’t complete an entire game. To tell you the truth, the part of me that’s been a baseball fanatic since girlhood, and remembers lots of complete games, readily agrees.

But everything these days is compartmentalized to within an inch of its life. “General interest” and “Renaissance person” have become almost freakish notions these days. Why this is so in the days of “multitasking” is beyond me. We’re expected to juggle umpteen tasks simultaneously at work but we can’t choose more than one passion in our downtime? (more…)

The Apple Computer Debuts

  • News
  • January 23, 2008

Today in <a href=”

the Apple Macintosh computer was introduced during the Superbowl with what else, a nod, rather, a shake to George Orwell’s 1984. And you know, a hot blonde in short-shorts who saves the world is always a sure win, too. Strangely enough, Apple has consistently stuck with the smarmy yet charming narrator seducing you to buy sexy devices. I’m going to go pretend that I’m way above switching my provider just so I can use the iphone.

Droool….iphone…so….sexy…

Cloverfield Monster In Your House!

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

Remember the giant, horrific monster from the recent box office smash hit Cloverfield? Well, if you thought the thing was as cuddly as I did, you’ll be pleased to know that Hasbro toys, in partnership with Bad Robot and Paramount Pictures, has announced a new 14-inch, super-articulated, highly detailed limited edition of the Cloverfield Monster for you to put up on your toy shelf between your limited Fing Fang Foom Heroclick and Jack Kirby minibust.

 
Now, while the info from Hasbro states that this is a fully articulated action figure, I see this more as a "look but don’t touch" kind of toy, which means I won’t be playing with this in the bath…The plastic bohemoth does come with 10 parasites, the detached head from the Statue of Liberty, and makes that creepy godzilla-esque scream. To save from spoilers, there is no image up yet, but those of you who have a hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket right now can head over here and pre-order the plastic representation of all of our nightmares. Release is expected for September 30th of this month.

Heath Ledger Found Dead – Updated

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

MSNBC and TMZ.com are reporting that actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a Manhattan apartment today. Prescription pills were found at the scene of his death.

Ledger, who was scheduled to appear in this summer’s Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight, was also nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in Brokeback Mountain.

He had a two-year old daughter with actress Michelle Williams, with whom he co-starred in Brokeback Mountain.

UPDATE: Police are now stating that the actor’s death appears to be a suicide. While media sources originally reported that the apartment in which Ledger was found belonged to actress Mary-Kate Olsen, a spokesperson for Olsen has now denied this report.

Giant, Flying Mushrooms in GrimJack

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

In today’s all-new, full-color and FREE episode of GrimJack, John Ostrander and Timothy Truman reveal the secret behind the theft of the Manx Cat.  Find out why it must be returned — or the universes will collapse upon themselves! 

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Special preview illustration this week if you vote! Be the first to see… but that would be telling!

Jeph Loeb Talks Ultimates 3.2

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

With the second issue of Ultimates 3 set to hit shelves this week, series writer Jeph Loeb spoke with ComicBookResources about what’s to come for  Marvel’s modern-day Avengers and provided a peek at some of the interior art for the issue.

According to the preview art, the tragic events of the second volume of Ultimates might have taken their toll on the psyche of the superteam’s sharpshooter, much to the frustration of Spider-Man.

“I wouldn’t put anything past Hawkeye at this point,” Loeb remarked. “As a far better writer than I once put it, ‘A man without Hope is a Man without Fear!’”

 

 

Interview with Blank Label Comics

  • News
  • January 22, 2008

Mustachioed maverick Gary Tyrrell over at Fleen.com points us to a fun, insightful roundtable discussion on ComixTalk with the six webcomic creators who make up Blank Label Comics. The interview blends questions from readers with some additional questions from the ComixTalk staff, and touches upon the difficulties of promoting your webcomic, the advantages of forming a collective and the solidarity of going pantsless. (Yes, you read that last bit correctly.) It’s as funny as it is enlightening… seriously.

ComixTalk: If I do the math right (and that’s not necessarily a good bet) BLC will be entering its third year this coming February. What’s different now than when you started this group and are there any lessons you can pass on to others just starting out together.

Greg:I think we’re all just a bit wiser, mostly. We’ve managed to really learn some of the ways we can make this (cartooning) work for us, and we’re helping each other accomplish those goals very well.

Southworth: As I said, there’s always room for more spooning.

Paul T.: I learned not to eat convention hot dogs.

Youngblood, Young Avengers, Young Legion

It might be a cold January day, but ComicMix Radio warms things up. Lost returns in a bit over a week, Iron Man premieres in just over 100 days and there is a spark of light at the end of the WGA Strike tunnel.

Plus:

  • It’s a pretty good week for new comics and DVDs, including Young Avengers, more Shooter Legion and Torchwood on DVD – we cover it all!
  • Youngblood sells out and gets a "variant within a variant"
  • More on the revival of Wild Cards

Press The Button and let us fill you in on that and a lot more!

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