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Review- The Bionic Man

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By Edward Gambichler

“Steve Austin…astronaut….a man barely alive..

Gentleman…..we can rebuild him.

We have the technology.

We have the capability to make the world’s first bionic man.

Steve Austin….will BE that man.

Better than he was before.

BETTER………..STRONGER…………..FASTER….”

Oscar Goldman, Director of OSI

 

No matter how many shows I’ve watched since the cancellation of “The Six Million Dollar Man” back in 1978…..there has never been another television series with an intro that gripping or that awesome. Based on the Martin Caidan novel “Cyborg”, it tells the story of test pilot Steve Austin who was seriously injured when the space capsule he was piloting, crashes on re-entry. Losing both legs, his right arm, and his left eye, he is given a second chance by the Office of Scientific Intelligence and its director, Oscar Goldman ( Steve’s best friend ). Through the miracle of advanced technology, scientists, headed by Dr. Rudy Wells, replace Austin’s damage limbs with cybernetic prosthetics which give him abilities far beyond norman men.

I can honestly say that Steve Austin and the actor that portrayed him, Lee Majors, was my first major male role model. I used to watch the show religiously, even when it jumped the shark by having Steve Austin team up with Bigfoot in a few episodes and had actress Sandy Duncan       ( Broadway’s Peter Pan ) playing……an alien. Hell, I even had the 12 inch Steve Austin action figure with the rubber skinned arm you could roll up to pop out his bionic chip and a viewfinder in the back of his head to see through his “bionic” eye. Between this doll and my rev up Evel Knievel motorcycle jumper……I was in XY Chromosome Heaven.

The pilot episode spawned a five season T.V. series, a “Bionic Woman” series ( with Steve’s amnesiac fiance Jamie Sommers ) two T.V. movies ( one starring a young Sandra Bullock ) and now……a comic series. Produced by Dynamite Entertainment and titled “The Bionic Man”, it is based on a story by writer-director Kevin Smith ( Clerks ) and co-scripted by his Green Arrow collaborator writer-artist Phil Hester. I’m now four issues in and I have to say I like this modern reboot. It hits all the right notes as far as my nostalgia for the show is concerned and the explanation behind the bionics procedure is thorough and scientifically sound.

All the main characters, Austin, Goldman, and Dr. Wells feel right in both look and tone. The difference this time around is the black ops edge given to the O.S.I. It is a marked departure from the public government office depicted in the show. The main villain, the cyborg Hull, has an ominous connection to O.S.I. and the early stages of the bionic program and he is set up as real lethal threat. Make no mistake. This is not a Fembot Austin will have to deal with. On a lighter note, issue number four features a hospital visit by an old character from the Bionic series canon and the retconning of his origin is brilliant. The artwork by penciller Jonathan Lau is detailed and lush and the covers by Alex Ross are nothing less than perfection. The only question I have is if Kevin Smith is actually currently involved with this title or just given story credit and lending his name to the project. Much of the technical jargon in the description of the bionic procedure is not something I could see Smith coming up with and I wonder how much of the writing is Smith and how much is Hester.

 

Dark Horse Announces 5 New BPRD Titles!

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IT’S ALL GOING TO HELL IN 2012! DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES FIVE NEW B.P.R.D. TITLES THAT WILL SHAKE THE ORGANIZATION TO ITS VERY CORE! NOVEMBER 21,

The epic story line that began back in 2010 with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: New World is coming to a head in 2012. Dark Horse announces the most ambitious B.P.R.D. publishing schedule yet, with five new titles and some of the most earth-shattering events in the history of the series! First up, in February comes B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death, written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, with art by James Harren (Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest, Heralds). A team is sent to the deadly woods from New World to investigate a new series of disappearances, but they discover more than just the monster responsible, as loyalties are questioned and tensions mount! March will see the release of B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Pickens County Horror, written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, with art by Jason Latour (Wolverine, Scalped) and an all-new cover by Becky Cloonan! This chilling two-issue series brings a B.P.R.D. crew into the grips of a backwoods vampire clan hiding out in a Gothic southern home. Next, in May comes B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth­: The Transformation of J. H. O’Donnell, pairing Mike Mignola with Scott Allie again for the discovery of what drove the Bureau’s expert on ancient foes to near madness after a mission with Hellboy twenty-four years earlier. This supernatural thrill ride features art by B.P.R.D. newcomer Max Fiumara (Amazing Spider-Man) and a cover by Becky Cloonan. That same month features the return of the regular B.P.R.D. team of Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and Tyler Crook, with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Devil’s Engine. The Zinco Corporation again rears its ugly head after a devastating earthquake, pitting Devon and Fenix in an uneasy alliance against bat-faced monsters and the evil empire’s other mad-science experiments! Additionally, this new series will feature covers by former Hellboy artist Duncan Fegredo! Finally, Cameron Stewart returns to the B.P.R.D. universe in June with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth­: Exorcism! In this story we learn more about Ashley Strode’s evolution as an agent after she meets up with a familiar face for a series of exorcisms in a rural Indiana town. Mike Mignola and Cameron Stewart team up to share writing duties, with pencils by Cameron and covers by Viktor Kalvachev! “Let’s break some stuff that can’t be fixed. Let’s turn some corners where there’s no going back” said Mike Mignola. “In both Hellboy and B.P.R.D., we’re saying, “Well, once we do this—once we round this corner—that’s it!” It’s not like, “Oh, Batman, different costume.” We’re doing stuff where there’s no way to fix it. That is the new reality in our world. You’re REALLY going to see that in 2012.” B.P.R.D. is sure to be the most-talked-about series of the coming year, as the team stands at the brink of the end of the organization and the world itself! It’s all going to hell in 2012!

DARK HORSE DIGITAL CYBER MONDAY DEAL!

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Close on the heels of the infamous shopping holiday, Dark Horse Comics is giving you another killer deal for Cyber Monday! Dark Horse Digital is offering the first 500 people through the checkout 50% off their entire order! You can redeem this 50% with the coupon code: ­­­­­­­­­­dhcyber This coupon is limited to 500 redemptions and you must have a $20 minimum cart to redeem it! Good only for 24 hours beginning at midnight (PST) on Monday, November 28th! Dark Horse Digital is available through all modern web browsers and as an app in the iTunes Store for Mac devices. Stop by https://digital.darkhorse.com and get a massive discount on all the Dark Horse Comics you could want and more!

IDW Infestation 2 Preview!

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By Chuck Suffel

I was privileged to (virtually) attend an IDW Press Event today where Chris Ryall (Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in-Chief @ IDW) and Bobby Curnow (long time Editor @ IDW) announced their second mega ultra huge crossover event!

INFESTATION 2!

Spanning four months and totaling thirteen issues (though I only count 12, hmm), it’s bigger than last time it’s freakier than last time, it’s Elder Gods! Yes ladies and gentleman the Lovecraftian terrors are coming to the IDW universe! And they’ll be attacking some of your favorite worlds. After the events of Infestation 1 the barriers between realities have been weakened allowing the Elder Gods to cross over to wreak havoc on the worlds of The Transformers, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 30 Days of Night and Dungeons and Dragons! And by the way, this crossover is considered in continuity!

It all begins with Infestation 2 #1 in January (1/25/12) written by Duane Swierczynski and drawn by David Messina. Duane is the story architect for this event, it was his job to take all  the disparate universes and come up with a way for this invasion to work. He places the CVO (Covert Vampire Operations) team first in line to take on the Lovecraftian threat but they’re in way over there heads. Expect one hell of a cliff hanger in issue 1.

Next book out is Infestation 2: TRANSFORMERS #1 (2/1/12) & #2 (2/15/11) written by Chuck Dixon with art by Guido Guidi. It takes place in the Hearts of Steel Continuity, Steampunk Transformers! So I’m expecting some big gross tentacled monster on big tough robot action! Look out for historical characters appearing in this one, they let slip that Thomas Edison is one but not the most exciting one…

Alternating weekly with Transformers #1 and #2 we have Infestation 2: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Eberron #1 (2/8/12) & #2 (2/22/12). Written by Paul Crilley (who has written several Eberron books) with art from Valerio Schiti, cover by Menton Matthews. Introducing for the first time in comics The Eberron Campaign! According to the Eberron wiki: “Eberron combines a fantasy tone with pulp and dark adventure elements, and some non-traditional fantasy technologies such as trains, skyships, and mechanical beings which are all powered by magic.” and it’s that magic aspect that they want to capitalize on for this story as Bobby Curnow said “less swords and more sorcery and black magic that ties in very well with Lovecraft”.

In the midst of all this maddening horror we have Infestation – Team Up (2/29/12) written by Chris Ryall, art by Alan Robinson and cover by Eric Powell. Featuring Archie (Groom Lake) and Batboy (Weekly World News) this is the breather book, our two characters hang out and poke fun at “Event” comics.

March begins with Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (3/7/12) & #2 (3/21/12) TMNT fan favorite Tristan Jones writer & Mark Torres art, cover Livio Ramondelli. Taking place in the sewers of NYC (of course) we’re promised a dark and creepy tale of disappearing Con Ed workers and weird creature sightings in the deep dark tunnels, deeper than the Turtles have gone before.

Also in March Infestation 2: G.I. JOE #1 (3/14/12) & #2 (3/28/11) written by Mike Raicht (Stuff of Legend), art by Valentine De Landro (X-Factor), cover Valentine De Landro. One of the most highly anticipated chapters in the story the arc the cover alone is worth picking this one up. Cobra uncovers a hidden relic that begins driving people insane and only the previously insane can resist it’s influence. Crystal Ball, Storm Shadow and Interrogator form a team with some of the Cobra insane asylum inmates to face this threat. Will any of our favorite Joe’s be involved? We’ll have to wait and see! Bobby Curnow says “a cross between One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and your favorite horror movie”.

The second one-shot is 30 Days of Night (4/4/12) written by Duane Swierczynski with Stuart Sayger supplying the art. How will the 30 Days vampires handle something this big and mean invading their hunting grounds? Duane takes us to the North Pole to find out. I’m looking forward to a bloody epic knockdown drag out battle in this one, and I’m probably right because it’s followed by…

Infestation 2 #2 (4/11/12) also written by Duane Swierczynski and drawn by David Messina. The second bookend title, this is where it all wraps up. This is also where some cool character crossovers should popup. We all know the publishers always say after this event nothing will ever be the same. Well we were assured today that things will actually be changed by this event and some of those changes may be very surprising.

There are a couple of neat incentives in this event. Interconnected covers, every licensed book is going to have the tentacled background drawn and painted by Livio Ramondelli. Put them all side by side and all the different licensed characters (drawn by the interior artists) will be standing side by side.

Also temporary tattoos!

Ask your LCS about the Infestation 2 ashcan that should be in shops this week. It’ll have a four page preview of Infestation 2 #1 as well as a timeline of all the issues being released and info on all the series that are involved.

Please feel free to ask questions in the comments, there was so much info I know I haven’t gotten to it all!

Come see me @ http://charlessuffel.com

BUFFY, ANGEL,DOLLHOUSE ON DARK HORSE DIGITAL STORE!

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JOSS WHEDON’S BEST-LOVED CHARACTERS ARRIVE ON YOUR iPAD, iPHONE, AND LAPTOP! 

November 16th, MILWAUKIE, OR—The wait is finally over, as Dark Horse and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products announce the arrival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse and Angel in the Dark Horse digital store! As rave reviews and support for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9 and the all-new series Angel and Faith continue, casual and hardcore fans will now be able to experience previous Buffy, Angel, and Dollhouse comics on all-new platforms! Buffy, Angel and Dollhouse are licensed through an agreement with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products.

Now, fans are encouraged to head over to Digital.DarkHorse.com to download issues of all three of these titles today, with multiple issues available for purchase! Fans can now download the first twenty issues of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 #1-20, as well as Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 9 #1,2 &3.

“This marks another important turning point in Dark Horse’s digital initiative,” said Dark Horse president and founder, Mike Richardson. “Joss Whedon’s incredible characters have become some of our most popular, and now fans from all over the world can see them like they never have been seen before!”

“Our history with Dark Horse has been incredibly successful, giving fans of these characters all new ways to enjoy their stories,” said Jeffrey Godsick, president of Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products. “This transition opens a whole new chapter in our relationship and will give readers an exciting opportunity to experience the comics on some of the hottest digital platforms.”

Going forward, Dark Horse will release a mix of new and backlist titles weekly. Stay in the know on all of your favorite titles, and sign up for the Dark Horse Digital newsletter at https://Digital.DarkHorse.com today!

Dark Horse:MILO MANARA SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES!

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DISTRIBUTOR SOLD OUT OF VOLUME 1! 

Demand for the controversial and critically acclaimed collection from the legendary Milo Manara has driven distributors to a sell out of Volume 1!   This library marks the first comprehensive North American hardcover collection of Italian comics legend Milo Manara’s work. The first of nine volumes, The Manara Library Volume 1 collects two of Manara’s seminal works in a magnificently appointed, deluxe hardcover edition. The sweeping epic Indian Summer, a collaboration with celebrated creator Hugo Pratt, is collected here along with Manara’s The Paper Man, both translated by Euro comics expert Kim Thompson.  It also features a fantastic foreword by Frank Miller!

In February, Dark Horse will publish Volume 2 of The Milo Manara Library! This deluxe hardcover features the newly translated, sweeping historical epic El Gaucho, the second of Manara’s storied collaborations with his mentor Hugo Pratt, author of the internationally acclaimed Corto Maltese. Rounding out this volume is Trial by Jury, a series of shorts, never before published in the US, in which some of history’s most notorious figures undergo a mock trial.

This is the first and only comprehensive English collection of Manara’s work, so head to your local comic retailer and pick up a copy before the first printing is gone for good! “In the hand of Milo Manara, the Old West is a generous, delicious feast for the eyes.” -Frank Miller on Manara “Beautiful historical work with gorgeous people and really erotic undertones.” -Neil Gaiman on Manara Manara Library Volume 1 is on sale now and is scheduled for a reprint!

Manara Library Volume 2 is on sale February 8th, 2012!

DARK HORSE PRESENTS #11!

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BARBIERE AND RADL’S WHITE SUITS INVADES

From the Cold War to the present day, a mysterious group of killers known as the White Suits have left their bloody fingerprints throughout modern history. Making their Dark Horse Presents debut, Frank Barbiere and Luke Radl turn back the clock to a time of Iron Curtain brutality with The White Suits!

“We’re extremely happy to have the opportunity to introduce The White Suits in the pages of Dark Horse Presents. I’m thrilled to be working with longtime collaborator Luke Radl, who’s been with me every step of the way in fleshing out the White Suits mythos. Luke brings a unique, textured style and compelling visual storytelling to the black-and-white world of our story,” says Frank J. Barbiere.

When a young girl trying to scrape by in a crime-ridden late-1980s Moscow ghetto encounters one of the Suits during a mob deal gone wrong, she is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever—or end it!

Luke Radl says, “I feel very fortunate to be working with people who believe in this story and support the hard work that goes into it. Dark Horse puts out some of the best comics out there, so I’m proud to be in good company. I hope readers enjoy this glimpse into the world of The White Suits as much as we’ve enjoyed crafting it.”

Dark Horse Presents #11 is on sale April 18, 2012.

Dark Horse: STAR WARS BLACK FRIDAY

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DARK HORSE DIGITAL OFFERS 134 COMICS FOR $100!

November 18, MILWAUKIE, OR – Dark Horse Comics is joining in on the Black Friday madness with a very exclusive limited offer to their digital comics readers…

On Black Friday, for 24 hours only – Dark Horse Digital will offer 134 single-issue Star Wars comics for $100!  A savings of over $166! This sale will begin at midnight (PST), November 25th! Dark Horse Digital is available through all modern web browsers and as an app in the iTunes Store for Mac devices.  Stop by https://digital.darkhorse.com and get all the Star Wars comics you could want and more! 

The Legends Begin Here

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Godzilla Legends #1 now in stores, First of five monster spotlight issues

IDW Publishing is proud to launch the first issue in a new mini-series, GODZILLA LEGENDS. The series features five self-contained stories, each centering on one of Godzilla’s fearsome foes. Beginning with Anguirus in issue #1, each issue focuses on a Toho monster that has never been closely examined in comics—ever! Through its action-packed run, GODZILLA LEGENDS will treat readers to all-new stories of Anguirus, Rodan, Titanosaurus, Hedorah and Kumonga, each spotlighting in their own issue. This miniseries will also offer stunning interconnected covers by Arthur Adams.

In GODZILLA LEGENDS #1, drawn and co-written by Matt Frank, Anguirus, the  perpetual underdog, goes toe-to-toe with one of the most devastating monsters of all time-Destoroyah! This is a classic tale of David vs. Goliath… monster style!  Writers Jeff Prezenkowski and Matt Frank keep readers on the edge of their seats throughout the entire issue. Readers are encouraged to ask their retailers about a variant Matt Frank cover, as well as a unique hand-sketched Matt Frank cover.

The action continues with GODZILLA LEGENDS #2, coming in December. Writer Jonathan Vankin and artist Simon Gane create a sure-fire hit featuring the master of the skies—the mighty Rodan! In January, Titanosaurus headlines his very own comic, courtesy of writer Mike Raicht and artist Tony Parker for GODZILLA LEGENDS #3. February brings GODZILLA LEGENDS #4 and the first-ever fight between Hedorah and Mechagodzilla, with writer Chris Mowry and artist E.J. Su. This epic series closes in March when the government asks renowned, retired adventurer Bryson Allworth to do the impossible – climb Godzilla! Helmed by writer Bobby Curnow with artist Dean Haspiel, GODZILLA LEGENDS #5 is a fittingly thrilling end to this must-have series.

Each issue will feature covers by renowned Godzilla artists. In addition to the interconnecting, series-long covers by Adams, Bob Eggleton will create covers for issues 1, 3 and 5, with covers from Chris Scalf for issues 2 and 4.