Showing posts with label Steve Moore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Moore. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

I Reads You Juniors: February 2024 - Update #52

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

NEWS:

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics is apparently committing to a $3.99 price point on more of its comic books.  Currently, about half are $3.99 and half are $4.99.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Comic book artist, Ramona Fradon, has died at the age of 97, Saturday, February 24, 2024.  Fradon was best known for drawing the Aquaman comic in "Adventure Comics for over 100 issues over a period from 1951 to 1961.  She penciled just about every issue of the "Super Friends" comic book (1977-81).  Fradon created the DC Comics' superhero, "Metamorpho," and she drew the "Brenda Starr, Reporter," newspaper comic strip from 1982 to 1995.  Fradon's career began in 1950 and lasted until her recent retirement in January 2024.

DC ANIMATION - From YouTube:  DC Comics has released an official trailer for the animated film, "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two."

DARK HORSE - From THRDark Horse Comics will publish an eight-issue comic book adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 2005 novel, "Anansi Boys."  The adaptation will be written by Marc Bernardin and drawn by Shawn Martinbrough.

EC COMICS - From NewYorkTimesOni Press is reviving EC Comics.

From BleedingCoolLee Bermejo, Jason Aaron, and Rodney Barnes are among the first creators to join Oni Press' EC Comics revival.

From BleedingCool: The new partnership that is reviving "EC Comics" is being overseen by Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson and Editor-in-Chief Sierra Hahn alongside Cathy Gaines Mifsud and Corey Mifsud, the daughter and grandson of legendary EC Publisher William M. Gaines and administrators of William M. Gaines Agent, Inc.  Writer Brian Azzarello is the latest big name creator to join the revival.

---------------------

SONY/MARVEL - From AwardsWatch:  At the 51st Annie Awards, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" wins in all six categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

TOP SHELF/BOOK NEWS - From BleedingCoolAlan Moore and the late Steve Moore's long, long-awaited book, "The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic," will finally arrive in October 2024.  Co-published by Top Shelf Productions and Knockabout LTD (UK), the book will be 352 pages in length at a cost of $49.99.  It is available to preorder from several outlets including Amazon.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Artist Shawn Martinbrough speaks about his new series, "Red Hood: The Hill."  Martinbrough will write and Sanford Greene will draw the series.  "Red Hood: The Hill #1" is now in stories and available digitally.

COMICS TO HOLLYWOOD - From Forbes:  Bestselling comic book writer, James Tynion IV, announced a new business venture, "Tiny Onion." The company is billed as a “full stack production house” for the development, packaging, marketing and cross-platform promotion of new creator-owned work. Media-oriented venture capital firm, Lyrical Media, has stepped forward with a low seven-figure investment in Tiny Onion’s seed round.

DARK HORSE TO TV - From DeadlineNetflix's "The Umbrella Academy," which is based on Gerard Way's comic book series, will begin its fourth and final season on August 8, 2024.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  British comic book artist, writer, and editor, Paul Neary, has died at the age of 74, Saturday, February 10, 2024.  Neary was editor-in-chief at Marvel UK from 1990 to 1993; wrote scripts for "Doctor Who Weekly;" and penciled Marvel Comics' 1988 Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. miniseries.  However, Neary was best known for his work as an inker, inking Alan Davis' pencils, most notably on Marvel's "Excalibur comic books (1988-90).  His most famous work as an inker may be inking Bryan Hitch's pencils over the better part of a decade, beginning in 1999.  Neary inked Hitch on "The Authority" (1999) and "The Ultimates" and "The Ultimates 2" (from 2002 to 2007).

MARVEL STUDIOS - From THRMarvel Studios has found its "Fantastic Four." Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn will star as the heroes in the "Fantastic Four" feature.

From JoBlo:  The site gives up everything that it knows about Marvel Studios' long-in-development "Blade" film which is set to star Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali in the title role.

MARVEL/DC COMICS - From BleedingCoolMarvel and DC confirm that they will publish two Omnibuses reprinting all DC/Marvel crossovers and their Amalgam comics line.  The collections are set to release on August 6th, 2024, with rich content listings.  The two books are "DC Versus Marvel Omnibus" and "DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus."

From BleedingCoolMarvel and DC Comics will reunite to republish their "Amalgam" line of crossovers and also other iconic crossover comic books.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From YouTube:  "Deadpool & Wolverine" have a trailer and is due in theaters July 26th.  Deadpool declares himself "Marvel Jesus" in the film.

From Variety:  An article about the first "Deadpool & Wolverine" trailer.

SONY SPIDER U - From Deadline:  At the 28th Art Directors Guild Awards, Patrick O'Keefe, the production designers of "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," wins in the "Animated Feature Film" category.

EUROCOMICS - From BleedingCool:  "BleedingCool" gathers some impressive statistics about the French comic book industry from an article in "The Guardian."

From TheGuardian:  Here is that article: "France's comic book tradition is hitting new heights"

MARVEL - From BleedingCoolThe Punisher hunts Nick Fury in "Get Fury," a Marvel MAX miniseries from writer Garth Ennis and artist Jacen Burrows.

From ComicBook:  "Venom: Separation Anxiety" is another retro-set series like 2022's 
"Venom: Lethal Protector."  It will be written by "Lethal Protector's" scribe David Micheline and is set in Venom/Eddie Brock's early days.

COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Sabir Pizada was one of the writers of Marvel Studios' "Moon Knight" streaming series, and he is co-writing the current adventures of Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan for Marvel Comics.  Now, he is making his debut in creator-owned comics with "Dandelion," a one-shot anthology of sci-fi stories all written by Pirzada with each story drawn by a different artist. 

ART - From BleedingCool:  Apparently a large number of comic book artists who were represented by art sales agency, Cadence Comic Art, are departing the company.

BOOKS - From BleedingCool:  In a recent social media post, author George R.R. Martin ("A Game of Thrones") says, "Now social media is ruled by anti-fans who would rather talk about the stuff they hate than the stuff they love and delight in dancing on the graves of anyone whose film has flopped."  He is certainly talking about a subset of comic book and superhero fans.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Author N.K. Jemisin talks about her return to the world of her 12-issue miniseries, "Far Sector" (2019-2021, drawn by Jamal Campbell), in a short story for "DC Power 2024" one-shot special.

IMAGE - From BleedingCoolJim Valentino, comics creator and publisher, wants to set the record straight about his time at Image Comics.

MARVEL - From BleedingCoolMarvel Comics reportedly launch a new "2099" series Summer 2024.

----------------------

JANUARY 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Band of Bards for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics LLC for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios! for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics Energon Universe for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Massive/Whatnot for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion 2000 AD for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for January 2024
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for January 2024

FEBRUARY 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  1First Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "X-Men" titles for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Massive for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000AD for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  10 Ton Press for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for February 2024

MARCH 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC "Batman" comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dead Sky Publishing LLC for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universe" titles for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  IPI Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "X-Men" from Marvel Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Fall of the House of X" and "Rise of the Powers of X" from Marvel Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Massive/WhatNot for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000AD for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for March 2024

APRIL 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Billy Tucci for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blackbox Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics LLC for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' "Batman" titles for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' Superman's "House of Braniac" titles for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics' Todd McFarlane titles for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Magma Comix for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  X-Men & Avengers crossover from Marvel for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  "The Fall of The House of X" and "The Rise of The Powers of X" from Marvel Comics for April 2024.
From BleedingCool:  Massive/WhatNot/Summerian for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000 AD for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Udon Entertainment for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for April 2024

MAY 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day 2024 for May 4, 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' Amanda Waller for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' "House of Brainiac" for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Blood Hunt" crossovers for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "X-Men" for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for May 2024


----------------


Saturday, April 30, 2022

I Reads You Juniors: April 2022 - Update #92

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

DC TV - From Deadline:  There will not be an eighth season of The CW's DC Comics series, "DC's Legends of Tomorrow." This recent Season 7 was the series' finale.

FRANK MILLER:

From THRFrank Miller has launched his own independent comic book publishing company, Frank Miller Presents.  Miller will as President and Editor-in-Chief and former DC Comics co-publisher, Dan DiDio, will serve as publisher.

From BleedingCoolFrank Miller's company, Frank Miller Presents, is being financed by "Spice DAO," an NFT and crypto-currency investment firm.

From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller Presents will publish Frank Miller's "Ronin" sequel and "Sin City" prequel.

EN MEMORIAM - From THR:  Comic book writer, artist, and publisher and graphic designer, Neal Adams, has died at the age of 80, Thursday, April 28, 2022.  Adams is known as the comic book artist who revitalized Batman, the character and the comic book, beginning in early 1970.  With "Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76," Adams revamped two characters and introduced "relevant comics."  Adams was a powerful advocate for "creator's rights" for comic book writers and artists.  It was his advocacy that helped to secure recognition and a pension for Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  "Shazam: Fury of the Gods" was scheduled to open Dec. 16th, 2022, on the same day as "Avatar: The Way of Water."  It will now open on Dec. 21st, 2022.

DC CINEMA - From IGN:  At CinemaCon, Warner Bros. reveals more footage of Michael Keaton as an Batman living as a hermit in Wayne Manor, complete with long hair and a beard.

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From Variety:  Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part I" is now known as "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" and "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part II" is known as "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse." Producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller introduced 15 minutes of raw footage from "Across the Spider-Verse" and said that the film will features 240 characters and will take place in 6 universes.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. has announced "The Batman 2." Director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson will return for the sequel to the worldwide hit, "The Batman."

SONY MARVEL U - From Variety:  At CinemaCon, Sony Pictures announces that it has greenlit a third film in its "Venom" series.

From Variety:  Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, the recording artist known as "Bad Bunny," will play the Marvel Comics' character, "El Muerto," in a standalone film for Sony Pictures, which is due Jan. 12, 2024.
------------------------------

DC COMICS - From ComicBook:  All DC Comics titles shipping June 2022 will feature a two-page tribute to legendary DC artist, George Perez.

MARVEL - From ComicBookCharlie Cox promotes his Netflix series, "Daredevil," on Disney+ with ad.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Ra's al Ghul's "Lazarus Pit" will play a major part of the return of the "Justice League" this fall.

VIZ MEDIA - From ANN:  In Japan, the manga, "Black Clover," is going on hiatus so that its creator, Yuki Tabata, can prepare for the series final saga.

DC COMICS - From DCVideos:  In a video interview, writer James Tynion IV discusses "The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country."

SONY MARVEL U - From Deadline:  Sony Animation's "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part I" has moved from an October 7th, 2022 release date to a June 2nd, 2023 release date.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From WeGotThisCovered:  Actor Paul Bettany assumes that he will play "Vision" again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

COMICS TO ANIMATION - From ComicBookNetflix has cancelled its long-awaited animation series adaptation of Jeff Smith beloved and award-winning comic book series, "Bone."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  The 1978 "Doctor Strange" television movie, which first aired on CBS, is coming to Blu-ray via Shout Factory.

COMICS - From BleedingCoolAWA Studios has announced "Absolution" a new comic book about a female assassin from writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Deodato, Jr.

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics imprint, Berger Books, is going to reprint the late DC Comics/Vertigo series, "Air," in four trade paperbacks.  "Air," which ran for 24 issues, was written by G. Willow Wilson and dranw by M.K. Perfer.

DC TV - From Deadline:   "Riverdale" star, KJ Apa, and "1883" actress, Isabel May, will play "Zan" and "Jayna" in "The Wonder Twins," a live-action DC Films comedy for HBO Max..  "The Wonder Twins" first appeared in the 1970s ABC animated series, "The All New Super Friends Hour."

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  "The Batman" has crossed the $750 million mark in global box office.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  The current ongoing "Eternals" comic book series will come to an end with issue #12.

BOOKS - From BleedingCool:  Legendary comic book writer, Grant Morrison, has written his first novel, "Luda," which Del Rey will publish in September.

IMAGE - From BleedingCool:   Mike Del Mundo is painting a Spawn miniseries that creator Todd McFarlane is writing.

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool:  In June, Dark Horse Comics plans to publish a 650+ book, "Halo: Initiation and Escalation."  It will collect the entirety of two Halo comic books series, "Halo: Initiation" and "Halo: Escalation."

IDW - From GamesRadarIDW Publishing announces nine new titles in as part of an "expansive new comic book initiative."

DC COMICS - From Variety:  The new company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is exploring some kind of overhaul of DC Entertainment (DC Comics).

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Former DC boss, Dan DiDio, will reportedly run Frank Miller's new publishing business.

COMICS - From ICv2:  Independent comics publisher, Mad Cave Studios, says it is now open to publishing creator-owned projects.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Soon to be TV star, Ms. Marvel, will team-up with some of Marvel Comics' edgiest anti-heroes in a series of one-shots, beginning with "Ms. Marvel & Wolverine #1" in July.

DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool:  Matt Kindt is getting his own imprint at Dark Horse Comics, called "Flux House."  He will launch it with a new "Mind MGMT" miniseries.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Beloved voice actor, Kevin Conroy (Batman in "Batman: The Animated Series"), is writing a story for DC Pride 2022.  It is about his life as a gay man and will be drawn by J. Bone and Aditya Bidikar.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From ComicBook Anthony Mackie is about to start film the video game adaptation, "Twisted Metal," not "Captain America 4" ... apparently.

SONY MARVEL U - From WeGotThisCovered:  There is some video supposedly from the London set of "Kraven the Hunter," which emphasizes practical effects.

DYNAMITE - From TheBeatCassandra Peterson (Elvira) and writer David Avallone talk about the upcoming crowdfunded Elvira biocomic, "The Death of Elvira."

COMICS - From TheBeat:  "Of Bitter Souls," the indy comic book by the late artist, Norm Breyfogle, and writer, Chuck Satterlee, is being published in an omnibus edition.  There is a Kickstarter to fun it.

BOOKS - From BleedingCool:  Movie storyboard artist, Richard Bennett, has begun a Kickstarter campaign for his book, "Godzilla & Kong: The Cinematic Storyboard Art of Richard Bennett." The book will focus on his storyboard work for the "MonsterVerse" films, "Kong: Skull Island," "Godzilla: King of Monsters," and "Godzilla vs. Kong."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  The X-Men will be the focus on Marvel Comics' summer event, "AXE" (Avengers x Eternals), in which the Eternals come to view mutants as "Deviants."  The Eternals exist to protect the Earth from Deviants.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  "The Batman" will debut on the streaming service, HBO Max, on Monday, April 18th and on the premium cable network, HBO, on Saturday, April 23rd.

From Here:  This is "I Reads You's" review of "The Batman."

DC/WEBTOON - From BleedingCoolDC Comics and Webtoon are launching a new slate of DC IP digital vertical stripsVIXEN: NYC (May 26), written by Jasmine Walls with lead artist Manou Azumi; RED HOOD: OUTLAWS (Summer 2022), written by Patrick R. Young with art by Nico Bascuñán; ZATANNA & THE RIPPER (Summer 2022), written by Sarah Dealy and lead artist Syro

MARVEL - From THR:  Writer Joe Casey says that he has never been paid for the use of "America Chavez," a character he created with artist Nick Dragotta, neither for her upcoming appearance in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" nor any of her other appearances in film and TV.  He also has never received payment for America Chavez action figures.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Marvel has announced a new "Avengers" ongoing series - its fourth - and it is entitled "All-Out Avengers."

DYNAMITE - From YouTube:  In this video interview, writer David Avallone talks to Adam Philips about the new Indiegogo campaign to fun the one-shot comic book, "The Death of Elvira."

COMICS TO FILM - From Deadline:  The reboot of "The Crow" film franchise seems to be really happening.  Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise in the "IT" films) will play the lead character Eric Draven/The Crow.  The film is based on James O'Barr's cult comic book character.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  A copy of "Captain America Comics #1," featuring the first appearance of "Captain America" has sold for $3,120,000 at auction."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' big event series for 2023 is rumored to focus on "magic and the supernatural."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Today's "X-Men Red #1" finds Storm sporting a new look that is based on a classic look.

DC CINEMA - From RollingStone:  Warner Bros. executives reportedly had a meeting about the future of actor Ezra Miller, "The Flash," in the wake of his arrest in Hawaii for an incident that occurred Sun., March 27th.  He has since been charged with "disorderly conduct."

MARVEL - From HollywoodFuns:  Writer Kelly Thompson says that the current "Black Widow" comic book, which she is writing, will end with issue #15.

ALAN MOORE - From BleedingCoolAlan Moore and Steve Moore's long awaited book of magic, "The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic" will finally be published in 2023, according to Knockabout Comix.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Actor Wesley Snipes is co-writing a new graphic novel, "The Exiled," which will be crowdfunded.

MORBIUS - From Variety:  "Morbius" won the 4/1 to 4/3/2022 weekend box office with an estimated take of $39.1 million.

From Here:  Here is "I Reads You's" review of "Morbius."

From Variety:  "Morbius" director Daniel Espinosa explains the films two mid-credits scenes and talks about future team-ups between characters.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The Amazing Pander Brothers (Arnold and Jacob) are releasing a sequel to their 2015 graphic novel, "GirlFIEND."  "GirlFIEND in Paris: A Bloodthirty Bedtime Story" is due in October 2022.

CONVENTIONS - From BleedingCool:  San Diego Comic-Con International has hired an "exclusive licensing representative."  Are they considering becomeing a franchise?

GARRY LEACH - From BritainisNoCountryJohn "JohnBoy" Cooper offers a loving tribute to the master comic book illustrator, Garry Leach, who died last week.  Many will know Leach as the British artist who revived Marvelman (Miracleman) with writer Alan Moore and publisher Dez Skinn in the early 1980s.

DC TV - From Deadline:  Actor Rahart Adams has been added to the cast of The CW's "Gotham Knights" pilot.

DC COMICS - From DCBlogJosh Williamson talks about his DC Comics' projects, including "Rogues."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  "Bloodline: Daughter of Blade" makes her debut in "Free Comic Book Day: Avengers/X-Men #1" on May 7th.

DC ANIMATION - From DCBlogGreg Weisman and Brandon Vietti, the showrunners of HBO Max's "Young Justice," answer fans questions.

MARVEL - From PittPostGazette:  The newspaper interview local artist, Jim Rugg, about his new Marvel Comics project, "Hulk: Grand Design."

LIGHT NOVELS - From ANN:  In Japan, the light novel series, "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime," has a spinoff, "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Clayman Revenge."

VIZ MEDIA - From ComicBook:  The big change to lead character, "Luffy," in the legendary manga, "One Piece," has shocked the manga world.

DC CINEMA - From THR:  In preparation to play "Carmine Falcone" in "The Batman," actor John Turturro talked to his eldest child, Amedeo Turturro, who is an editor at DC Comics.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  In "The Amazing Spider-Man #93," Spider-Man gets a mysterious new enemy, "Chasm."

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  The British comic book artist, Garry Leach, has died at the age of 67, Saturday, March 26, 2022.  He is best known for reviving "Marvelman" with Alan Moore for "Warrior," the magazine published by Dez Skinn's Quality Communications.  With Dave Elliot, Leach started Atomeka Press, best known for the comic book anthology, "A1."

From 2000AD:  The website for "2000AD," the magazine for which Garry Leach made his debut, has put up a tribute page for him.
------------------------

MARCH 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Aardvark-Vanaheim for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Humanoids for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for March 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for March 2022
 
APRIL 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Aardvark Vanaheim for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics Batman's "Shadow War Crossover" for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for April 2022
From GamesRadar:   Marvel Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Star Wars" for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for April 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for April 2022

MAY 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Action Lab Entertainment for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  AWA Upshot for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Hulk Vs Thor: Banner of War" for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "X-Men" solicitations for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for May2022
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Z2 Comics for May 2022

JUNE 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector DC Comics Graphic Novels for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Lev Gleason for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Banner of War" for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "X-Men" for June 2022 
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for June 2022

JULY 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Artists Elite Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2022
From GamesRadar:  DC Comics covers and solicitations for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Fairsquare Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Star Wars" comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Merc Publishing for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Silver Sprocket for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for July 2022

----------------------


Friday, July 25, 2014

I Reads You Review: HERCULES: The Knives of Kush

HERCULES: THE KNIVES OF KUSH
RADICAL COMICS

WRITER: Steve Moore
ARTIST: Chris Bolson with Manuel Silva and Leonardo Silva
COLORS: Doug Sirois with Cliff Cramp and Steve Firchow
LETTERS: Todd Klein
MISC. ART: Jim Steranko, Clint Langley, Arthur Suydam, Marko Djurdjevic, Daryl Mandryk, J.P. Targete, Jean-Sebastien Rossbach
COVER: Clint Langley
ISBN:  978-1-935417-03-3; paperback (May 2010)
152pp, Color, $14.95 U.S., $16.50 CAN

Radical Comics, a division of Radical Publishing, Inc., presented a radical interpretation of Hercules in 2008.  Radical’s Hercules debuted in the 2008 miniseries, Hercules: The Thracian Wars, which was written by late British writer, Steve Moore.  Moore created this new Hercules and legendary comic book artist, Jim Steranko, designed him.

Moore made Radical’s Hercules grittier, while focusing more on his human side than on his heritage as the son of the supreme god, Zeus.  Moore set Hercules’ life in the Bronze Age and gave him a band of friends.  Together, Hercules and his band left Greece and sought mercenary work in other lands.  Thus, Moore set Hercules first mercenary activities in Thrace.  Radical’s Hercules is now a Paramount Pictures/MGM’s film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and directed by Brett Ratner.

The second Hercules miniseries was the five-issue, Hercules: The Knives of Kush, which was released in 2009.  The Knives of Kush finds Hercules and his mercenary band caught in the middle of Egypt’s civil war.  In 2010, Radical collected Hercules: The Knives of Kush in a trade paperback, and the company’s marketing director sent me a copy for review, which I promptly forgot about.

However, the impending release of the movie made me dig up my copy of The Knives of Kush.  I decided to reread the story, as I had previously only read the fourth and fifth issue of the miniseries, and post a review of the trade.

Hercules: The Knives of Kush opens with Hercules and his band of mercenaries:  Autolycus, Iolaus, Meleager, and Atalanta (the only female of the group) aboard the Greek boat, the “Sea Nymph.”  After a brief skirmish with pirates, Hercules and company end up in Egypt.  They eventually offer their services to Pharaoh Seti II who is fighting a civil war against his half-brother, Amenmessu (real life historical figures that lived in the 13th and 12th centuries BC).

Amenmessu is aided by Khadis, Lord of Lighting and a sorcerer whose powers may be the reason Amenmessu seems to be winning the war with Seti.  Hercules suspects that there is more to Amenmessu’s success than Khadis and believes that traitors hide among Seti’s circle of wives, advisors, retainers, etc.  Hercules is appointed as a royal bodyguard, but he believes that to learn the truth he must penetrate the sinister cult known as “The Knives of Kush.”  This, however, will bring Hercules face to face with an enemy like no other – a mysterious figure who may wield the power of the gods.

I doubt that I am the only reviewer who thinks that Steve Moore has converted the demigod of Greek myth, Hercules (Heracles), into something that resembles the sword and sorcery character, Conan the Cimmerian (also known as Conan the Barbarian).  This is not a criticism; Moore apparently put a lot of effort into researching Greek myth and history for Hercules.  Besides, I like this Hercules.  I did not read The Thracian Wars, and Moore states in the foreword to this trade paperback that readers do not need to know of Hercules’ adventures in Thrace before reading of his adventures in Egypt.

I think that Hercules: The Knives of Kush slightly resembles some of the Conan comic books that Marvel Comics published in the 1970s and 80s.  In fact, The Knives of Kush has a good premise and plot, but the problem is the execution.  It is as if Moore wanted this miniseries to be any number of things or was not sure what it should be.

On one hand, Hercules’ struggles against Amenmessu’s rebellion involve courtly conflict and palace intrigue.  Moore basically has Hercules, an action character, stumbling around Seti’s Memphis, vainly trying to discover spies.  On the other hand, since Amenmessu is leading an armed rebellion, there is eventually going to have to be a big battle between Seti’s forces, to which Hercules belongs, and Amenmessu.  Instead of building up to the battles, the spy hunt seems like story padding.  Also, at five issues in length, The Knives of Kush is at least one issue too long.

In fact, for all the fear that Amenmessu and his ally, Khadis and the cult known as The Knives of Kush, are supposed to engender, their confrontation with Hercules and company is anti-climatic.  Their demises are pitiful, leaving this story with the sense that there was no great villain and with the disappointment that Hercules’ head-bashing comes in fits and starts.

The art produced by Chris Bolson and Doug Sirois is quite good, but the rest of it falls off.  If there is ever more of Radical’s Hercules, I hope Bolson and Sirois are the artists, and I hope for a story that has more head-bashing and disemboweling than it does character drama.  I want the next Hercules to be more like the last two issues of Hercules: The Knives of Kush than the first three.  Who really cares about Hercules’ daddy issues?

B-

[This trade paperback includes an interview of Steve Moore conducted by Andre Lamar.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.



Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Top Shelf and Knockabout Announce New Alan Moore Tome, "Unearthing"

From Chris Staros of Top Shelf Productions:

Announcing Alan Moore's UNEARTHING exclusive signed & numbered pre-order

Top Shelf Productions and Knockabout Comics are truly pleased to announce a project several years in the making: a sumptuous new book from Alan Moore, serving as a biography of his close friend and mentor Steve Moore (no relation), a history of London, a mystical journey, and a tribute to human imagination. Called by The New York Times a "poetic and densely allusive text," Unearthing has now been transformed by Alan Moore and photographer Mitch Jenkins into a stunning narrative art-book.

And while UNEARTHING will be offered in the upcoming October Diamond Previews in two incredible editions, to help fund the production of this enormous expensive work of art, the creators have graciously agreed to an exclusive third edition incorporating a letterpress bookplate, hand-signed & numbered by Alan Moore and Mitch Jenkins, limited to 300 copies worldwide. These 300 Signed & Numbered “double-sized hardcover” copies are being pre-sold (starting today), as a Top Shelf website exclusive. By pre-ordering one today, you’ll not only be able to secure one of these rare Signed & Numbered editions, but you will also have done your part to help to get this gorgeous project off the ground.

Pre-order one now.

Here’s what people are already saying about UNEARTHING!

“A tribute to a colleague and mentor and a demonstration that Moore has transcended the boundaries of the graphic novel.” -- The New York Times


"Steve Moore, who lives in the same room he was born in 61 years earlier, is a living metaphor for the history, geography and geology of Shooter's Hill and a conduit to the Greek gods and spiritual manifestations... Is it great art? Yes!" -- N.M.E.


“The men of Unearthing are only marginally of this plane of existence, and what they’ve created is positively out of this world.” -- The AV Club

And here are more details on this monumental project!

One of the world’s foremost authors of the fantastic, Alan Moore, joins internationally esteemed photographer Mitch Jenkins for an unprecedented visual and literary experience.

An intensely poetic and innovative work of biography, Unearthing maps the lifetime of author, orientalist and occultist Steve Moore, while simultaneously investigating the extraordinary history of South London with which that life has been intertwined. Integrating text with haunting and exquisite imagery, Unearthing excavates a territory at the margins of a city, of reality, and of human imagination.

Starting life in Iain Sinclair’s seminal anthology LONDON: City of Disappearances, this dazzling and hypnotic piece has evolved through a series of live performances and acclaimed recordings, culminating in this breathtaking full-color volume.

UNEARTHING by Alan Moore & Mitch Jenkins
Three formats will be produced: a deluxe softcover edition, a special double-sized hardcover edition (limited to 1500 copies), and a special signed & numbered double-sized hardcover edition (limited to 300 copies worldwide).

UNEARTHING Signed & Numbered Edition
-- Web Exclusive (Pre-Order Now)
-- Double-Sized Hardcover Edition w/S&N Bookplate
-- Limited to 300 copies worldwide
-- 184 pages • 11.75” x 16.5” (A3 size!) • $99.00
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-150-3 • For mature readers (18+)
-- Scheduled for December 2012

UNEARTHING Double-Sized Hardcover Edition
-- Limited to 1,500 copies worldwide
-- 184 pages • 11.75” x 16.5” (A3 size!) • $74.95
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-150-3 • For mature readers (18+)
-- Scheduled for December 2012
-- Will be featured in the October Diamond Previews

UNEARTHING Deluxe softcover edition with French flaps
-- 184 pages • 8.5” x 11.75” (A4 size) • $29.95
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-151-0 • For mature readers (18+)
-- Scheduled for December 2012
-- Will be featured in the October Diamond Previews

Thanks in advance for all your support of this amazing project!

Your friend thru comics,
Chris Staros