Comic That Interest Me This Week

Here is just a sampling of the comics coming out tomorrow (Wednesday) that I think deserve to be mentioned. A complete list can be found here.

Doktor Sleepless #1 Auxiliary and Black Summer #1 Auxiliary

For anyone who missed out on the first issues of Warren Ellis’ new Avatar Press series, both are offered again in what is being called an “auxiliary” issue.

For those that don’t know, Black Summer is the story of a group of super heroes who were once the world’s greatest protectors. Well, what happens to those people if one teammate takes it upon himself to kill the President of the USA because he thinks the President is a corrupt criminal? Anti-American superheroes are right up my alley. It is penciled by the highly meticulous Juan Jose Ryp.

Doktor Sleepless is a futuristic tale about a man who may or may not be a revolutionary figure. It is filled with the standard, crazy ideas for which Ellis is known. If you find the tongue-in-cheek subtitle of the first issue, Future Science Jesus, funny, then you will probably like the series. Pencils by Ivan Rodriguez,

Kong: King of Skull Island #0

Markosia Press releases a zero issue as the first part of their licensed King Kong comics. My friend Chuck Satterlee is writing this one and it is penciled by Dan O’Connor. Pick it up and support Chuck and if your shop doesn’t have it, make them order it.

Casanova #10

One of the best books on the market. Hands down. And it’ll only cast you $1.99. Buy it.

Jack of Fables Vol. 2 – Jack of Hearts

This collects the second arc of the Fables spin-off by Bill Willingham. If you like Fables, you will more than likely like this.

Some News

Really? Was anyone really surprised?

30 Days of Night won the box office this past weekend bringing in around $16 million (that seems pretty low but it might be standard for an October release). It has got less than stellar reviews but I still want to see it. I really loved the comic book when it came out a few years back and Jenn just read it so...seems like a perfect match.

Manga sales are down in Japan? Even though I am not a fan of Japanese comics, I never like to see any negative news about the comic industry.

There's a moustache growing contest over at the Marvel Comics offices. That's fun. I think someone should grow the J. Jonah Jameson Hitler-stache.

Some news

No Battlestar Season 3 DVD until April?? What?? Why would you wait until after season 4 premieres? I really hope this is a rumor.

I love Shannyn Sossamon (and by love I mean I think she is cute) and the potential for her being Wonder Woman in the Justice League of America movie is awesome. Of course, we have already heard about a ton of female actors up for the role. Wait and see.

George Lucas has said a little about the potential Star Wars TV show. Apparently it is going to be about the life of robots. Now I was excited when I first heard about the potential of a Star Wars TV show a few years back. It could be something like a cross between BSG and Lost and Alias and the budget would not need to be that high. Now we are talking robots? Lucas blows.

And here is the cover to the second issue of Comics Now! I will have an article in this issue about the history Pulp Fiction heroes and their popularity throughout the years.

Eric Bana signs on for Star Trek

Variety reports that Bana has joined the cast as the villain named Nero. J.J. Abrams' prequel already boasts such actors as Zachary Quinto as Spock and Zoe Saldana as Uhura.

LOST NEWS

SciFi Wire says the Lost writers/producers have an ending all planned out. Good. Too bad we won't see it until 2010.

And the 3rd season box set is out Dec. 11th.

That's great and all but when the hell is Battlestar Season 3 coming out!!!!!!!!!!

Tee-Vee

I enjoyed the seconcd episode of Bionic Woman last night but not as much as the first one. There is some really cheesy dialogue ("clandestine organization" - ? please...) and I hope the show is more serialized storytelling as opposed to a "mission of the week" kinda show.

Katee Sackoff is still sexy as hell and makes the show for me as Sarah.

It's fun to see all the Battlestar connections that are popping up due to David Eick being the producer. The teacher/principal/guidance counselor in the episode was the priestess Elosha from Battlestar.

And imagine my surprise when Jaime walked into a house in that Paradise town and Battlestar was on the television! Ha!

Jenn and I watched the second episode of Journeyman the night before last and I have to say I am enjoying that show more than I thought I would. It is a little Quantum Leap-y but I loved Quantum Leap so I am glad to see a show like that on television.

I am intrigued to see why our main character time travels and what the hell is up with his "dead" fiancee.

Hulk Script Leaked

IESB.net has posted a spoilery summary of Edward Norton's Hulk script. It sounds entertaining and while I enjoyed Ang Lee's Hulk (I know...i know...most people thought it was too much of an art film and boring), I am looking to the reboot with Edward Norton.

Johnny Dynamite Television Show Coming

According to Variety, Producer Dick Wolf is planning on bringing Max Allan Collins' (Road to Perdition) Johnny Dynamite to telelvision. If it happens, it promises to be the first all greeenscreen television drama. Think Sin City or 300.

New Radiohead Album

Over at radiohead.com you can name your own price for the download of their new album or order the giant box set for only $81.00 USD! Ugh!! So it is not going to be available in stores?? I don't want to pay $81...what do I do???

Comics out this Wednesday

Here are some comics out this week that I think are of note:

Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus #2 (of 5) -



After years of captivating fans from the pages of Hellboy and B.P.R.D., the pulp-style adventures of Lobster Johnson take the limelight in the Lobster's first solo series. Written and with covers by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, and drawn by Jason Armstrong (Ferro City, The Sensational Spider-Man), Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus is a wild ride full of fearsome monsters, mad scientists, and threats from the world beyond.



Action Comics #856



Written by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner; Art and Cover by Eric Powell

The 3-part story "Bizarro World," with art by Eric Powell (The Goon) continues! Thanks to Superman's intervention, the denizens of Bizarro World have turned on the ersatz Superman, and Bizarro is murderously vexed! But Bizarro has Pa Kent as a hostage, which means Superman's just painted himself into a corner — one without a window!


All New Atom #16



Written by Roger Stern Art by Mike Norton & Trevor Scott Cover by Ladrönn

The mysteries of Ivy Town deepen as it appears Ray Palmer may have been more responsible for the bad than the good…and the new Atom is further disillusioned by his former mentor. Featuring guest writer Roger Stern (THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN)!

Exterminators Vol. 3 - Lies of Our Fathers


Written by Simon Oliver; Art by Tony Moore, Mike Hawthorne and John Lucas; Cover by Phillip Bond

In this volume collecting issues #11-16, the Bug-Bee-Gone boys bury one of their own while another member of the team remains missing, but the business of bug-killing must go on.

Jonah Hex #24



Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti; Art and Cover by David Michael Beck

The return of El Diablo and Bat Lash! Just in time for Halloween, a tale of possession and murder in the Wild West!

Vinyl Underground #1



Written by Si Spencer; Art by Simon Gane and Cameron Stewart; Cover by Sean Phillips

Noted British television writer Si Spencer (Eastenders, Torchwood, Bad Girls) presents a sharp, unforgettable cadence in THE VINYL UNDERGROUND, a 21st century cross between THE INVISIBLES and CSI that brings rich social and political context to the dark, glittering cesspool that is London. Spencer is joined by indie creator/penciller Simon Gane (Paris, Punk Strips) and Eisner-nominated artist Cameron Stewart (the Other Side, SeaGuy) with bold, captivating covers by by Sean Phillips (The Invisibles, Criminal).

In this fast-paced, ultra-cool ongoing crime-noir series, an unlikely quartet of occult detectives secretly solve crimes — from DJ crack bars in Camden to the elegant, high-society ballrooms that make up modern London. The Vinyl Underground is led by Morrison Shepherd, a D-list celebrity darling, soul DJ, and son of an ex-footballer. Fresh out of prison and off a nasty coke habit, Morrison is joined by a fellow ex-con named Perv, whose seizures give him clues to crimes long before the cops, and Leah, a gorgeous morgue assistant who leads a double life online and represents the brawn of the team.

Morrison's ex-flame Abi is reluctantly forced to join the team when her father is implicated for murder. A young boy's head (with diamonds in the eye sockets) washes up on the edge of the Thames and seems to be connected to a series of ritual killings, a drug called Khat, and Muti magic. Can they get to the bottom of it?

Omega The Unknown #1



Written by: Jonathan Lethem & Karl Rusnak
Art by: Farel Dalrymple & Paul Hornschemeier
The story of a mute, reluctant superhero from another planet, and the earthly teenager with whom he shares a strange destiny -- and the legion of robots and nanoviruses that have been sent from afar to hunt the two of them down.

Created in 1975 by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes, the original Omega The Unknown lasted only ten issues but was a legend to those who recall it -- an ahead-of-its-time tale of an anti-hero, inflected with brilliant ambiguity. One of Omega's teenage fans was award-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, who has used the original as a springboard for a superbly strange, funny, and moving graphic novel in ten chapters.

Quick Comic Reviews

The Order #3
This is the third issue of Matt Fraction’s and Barry Kitson’s new superhero book for Marvel Comics and I have yet to be grabbed by it. I bought this book solely to support Matt Fraction because I love his writing but I am finding little to be interested by in this series. I don’t feel like the characterization is there and I see no cohesive story yet. Kitson’s art is also not his greatest work. I will probably stop picking this series up after this storyline ends.


Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #1



I picked this book the first issue of this book solely for the art. I loved Gabriel Ba’s work on the first seven issues of Image Comics’ Casanova series and wanted to check this out. The writer is Goth/emo/rock band My Chemical Romance’s lead singer Gerard Way and I have never been a fan of his music and had very low expectations for this series. After reading the first issue I could not have been more wrong. Way’s story of a group of exceptional kids with extraordinary powers is wacky and fun. There is a sense of the absurd in his characters, setting and dialogue and I loved every minute of it.



As this is a six-issue series I will not pick up the next five issues and buy the eventually collection. I bet they do a nice hardcover treatment.


Ex Machina #30


This book never disappoints me. Writer Brian K. Vaughan has been weaving a highly intriguing, post 9/11, political story with a touch of science fiction. I’ve loved Tony Harris’ art since his work on DC Comics’ Starman series. This is part one of a four part story titled “Ex Cathedra.” The story takes place a few years ago as our main character, NY Mayor Mitchell Hundred, has been requested to meet with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Little does he know there is an assassin readying to kill the pontiff. After great stories dealing with such subjects as the legalization of marijuana and censorship, I am curious to see how Vaughan will approach the Roman Catholic religion.