SUPURBIA flies into stores in March!!

Rob Leave a Comment

What goes down when the capes come off? This March, BOOM! Studios debuts SUPURBIA — written by Bleeding Cool’s Grace Randolph (Marvel’s NATION X, HER-OES) and drawn by red hot artist Russell Dauterman — a new series that features the secret lives of the world’s greatest heroes’ spouses!

Housewives to the all-powerful tell all! We all know that behind every great hero is the woman or man who makes their world run. SUPURBIA tells the other side of the superhero story… and a whole lot more. This 4-issue series brings you a can’t-turn-away look at the private lives of superheroes and the drama, conflict and outrageous behavior of their everyday lives. When the hero’s away…

“So often in superhero comics, the girlfriend or boyfriend is left totally in the dark and unable to participate in their loved one’s heroic activities.  But in the real world, significant others not only know what their other half is up to, but they have an opinion!” said writer Grace Randolph.  “These couples have a fabulous and fascinating mix of ordinary problems seen through the superhero lens, and superhero problems seen through the ordinary lens.  However, what really makes this book soar is that with BOOM! I’m able to push these characters in directions that the bigger publishers simply can’t or won’t.  See your favorite archetypes explored as you only wish they could be and should be.”

“Superheros are an institution in comic books. It’s always fun and interesting to tell a story that shows a different side of the genre,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon.  “Grace’s writing is top-notch. It delivers all the drama of a really juicy tabloid story.”

Meet the Real Housewives of Earth’s greatest super-team, the Meta Legion! It’s the egos, the tantrums, and the betrayals of the super set. Find out what happens behind the masks as superhero families are faced with the sordid problems of everyday life — and then some! This series takes the familiar super-team and turns it on its head with a scandalous, TMZ-fueled look at what it’s like to live with a superhero! Let the battle for the neighborhood begin!

SUPURBIA #1 by writer Grace Randolph and artist Russell Dauterman will ship in March, with an Alè Garza cover and 32 pages of story for $3.99 carrying a Diamond Order Code of JAN120927 .

 

Review: Conan the Barbarian #1

Rob 1 Comment

By Alex Vazquez

Conan the Barbarian #1brings us Robert E. Howard’s short story, ‘The Queen of the Black Coast’, in highly demanded comic form. To my knowledge, I haven’t read the original, but given how well Dark Horse handled King Conan (another great adaption of an REH story) I feel I am in good hands.

Most of the story in this issue is told in retrospect by the characters and serves as set up for thing to come. Moreover, it manages to be entertaining without any sword fighting or bloodletting (a feat for any Sword n’ Sorcery tale). I attribute this to Wood’s excellent character writing. He presents a young and very charismatic Conan whose rebelliousness is tempered with signs of greatness. I instantly found myself wanting to adventure with this Cimmerian lad.

Becky Cloonan’s art suits this point in Conan life. She draws us a more svelte hero in his early twenties, not the one with the gigantic mirth we have come to know (damn you Frazetta and Arnold).

Dave Stewart’s colors area appropriately morbid, especially in the pages where we glimpse the Black Coast Queen in question (drool). If she doesn’t haunt your dreams then you are no barbarian (I chide, I chide).

If you’ve never read the short story, then you owe it to yourself to pick this series up. Know ye now, O Prince!

Follow Alex on Twitter @Nettomono

John Romita’s The Amazing Spider-Man: Artist’s Edition in Stores February 1st!

Rob Leave a Comment

IDW and Marvel present classic stories, all scanned from original art

 JOHN ROMITA’S THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: ARTIST’S EDITION is the next book in the ongoing Artist’s Edition series from IDW Publishing. Collecting six classic issues from Romita’s stellar run on The Amazing Spider-Man, each and every page scanned from the original art and presented at full size, the same as it looked on Romita’s drawing table.

“It’s such a treat to put these books together and be able to get up close and see pages by great artists, like John Romita,” said Artist’s Editions Editor, Scott Dunbier “His work is so precise and clean, he is one of the true masters of the Silver Age of comics.”

As Harry Knowles of Aintitcool.com wrote, “Track this puppy down–go down to your local comic shop and pre-order it. You don’t want to try picking this up on the second hand market.” John Romita’s The Amazing Spider-Man: Artist’s Edition is in stores on February 1st.

What is an Artist’s Edition? Artist’s Editions are printed the same size as the original art. While appearing to be in black & white, each page has been scanned in COLOR to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art—for example, you are able to clearly see paste-overs, blue pencils in the art, editorial notes, art corrections. Each page is printed the same size as drawn, and the paper selected is as close as possible to the original art board.

Previous Artist’s Editions include DAVE STEVENS’ THE ROCKETEER: ARTIST’S EDITION and WALTER SIMONSON’S THE MIGHTY THOR: ARTIST’S EDITION. The ROCKETEER ARTIST’S EDITION won two Eisner Awards last year, for Best Archival Project and Best Design.

JOHN ROMITA’S THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: ARTIST’S EDITION ($100, hardcover, black and white, 152 pages,) will be available in stores in February. ISBN: 978-1-61377-144-0.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

Review: Peanuts #1

Rob 1 Comment

By Robert Greenwood

Story by  Vicki Scott, Shane Houghton, Charles M Schulz Art by Vicki Scott, Paige Braddok, Matt Whitlock

Colors by  Lisa Moore, Bob Scott, Justin Thompson,Cover by  Charles M. Schulz published by Boom

Review:
Growing up with the Peanuts had been something generations of people could collectively say. Then, one day Charles Schulz passed away. It has been a little over a decade ago, and It was a sure bet that the Peanuts went with him. Here we are 2012 and we finally get all new tales of Charlie Brown and the gang.

But,How does the book hold up?

If  you thought only Charles Schulz could write for the Peanuts you would be sadly mistaken. But, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. The book isn’t a traditional comic book in the sense of a ” one” cohesive story. The book works more like a anthology, broken up with new short stories and a few classic Peanuts tales by Charles Schulz himself.

The stories not done by Schulz retain all the classic humor and character development we have come to expect from the world of Snoopy and Charlie Brown. There is so much to love about this series that its almost impossible to condense into a few paragraphs. The art work captures the essence of Schulz perfectly, but with a more dynamic perspective we have come to appreciate with modern comics.

It’s still amazes me how seeing Snoopy being used as a blood hound is still funny and classic Peanuts fair. Yet, the use of an almost Will Eisner-esque perspective shots gives new life in the once 2 dimensional world. If you are a fan of the Peanuts or if you have kids, this is a title you need to be collecting ASAP!

Follow Rob on Twittering @AltMindz

Optimus Prime/Asahikawa Winter Festival

Rob Leave a Comment

http://tf.takaratomy.co.jp/toy/event/2012/asahikawa/images/img_1.jpg

So lets build a 16 Meter tall Optimus Prime out of snow!

 

From Gunjap.net

Optimus Prime Made Into Life-Size Snow Sculpture Bust: 16 meter!

The Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy revealed this week that a life-size snow sculpture of The Transformers franchise character Optimus Prime will appear at this year’s Asahikawa Winter Festival.

Artists are sculpting the giant robot from a 16-meter (about 53-foot) snow mound. Construction crews began piling snow on January 6, started work on the character’s head on January 10, and raised trusses to continue sculpting Optimus last Thursday.

The 53rd annual Asahikawa Winter Festival will take place in Asahikawa, Hokkaido Prefecture from February 8 to 12.

 

About the Asahikawa winter festival

One of the most famous festivals in winter in Japan, the Asahikawa Winter Festival is certainly worth taking a look at if you happen to be in Asahikawa at the start of February.

For all intents and purposes the festival is an eye pleasing mix of light, ice and snow with visitors able to see fireworks, laser shows, ice sculptures, a massive snow stage with music and dance acts, as well as having the opportunity to sample some of the local food, and drink some very cold beer.

The festival’s activities are centered in Tokiwa park where you will find a large number of ice sculptures, lights, displays, laser shows, and food and drink stalls. From here it’s a short walk through the park to the river bank where you will find the massive snow stage. More food and drink here. Next to the main stage is a huge ice slide to keep the kids (and the kids at heart) entertained for hours. This is also a prime location to watch the fireworks which are fired over the river.

The International Ice Sculpture Competition takes place along the main shopping street Kaimono Koen. Do yourself a favour and walk by at night when the sculptures are lit-up and looking their best.

So there you have it, 5 days of snow, ice, light , lasers, music food and drink. Considering it costs you nothing to get involved, what better way to enjoy yourself during the cold Asahikawa evenings.

http://www.asahikawa-tourism.com/albums/wint_fest/slides/winter2009_08.jpg

Winter Festival History

The Asahikawa Winter Festival began in 1947 and was known as the “Iyomante” (Bear festival in Ainu). It’s primary purpose was to allow people to find some way to enjoy the cold and snow during the coldest month of the long Hokkaido winter. The name changed to the Asahikawa Winter festival in 1960 and since then, many activities have been added to make the Asahikawa Winter Festival one of the most well known winter festivals in Japan. Growing in stature year by year, this is definitely a great event to be involved in if visiting Asahikawa in early February.

 

 

Review: Fathom Blue Descent #4

Rob Leave a Comment

by Charles Suffel

 

http://popculturenetwork.com/images/library/Image/FATHOM-BLUE-DESCENT-ISSUE-4-COVER-B.jpg

 

David Schwartz – Story Alex Sanchez & Peter Steigerwald – Art John Starr – Colors Josh Reed – Letters

“Aspen Matthews is a child of two worlds. Born amongst the Blue, an underwater race, she was raised on the surface among humans. As a marine biologist aboard the experimental DMD facility she was awakened to her true heritage. Aspen, along with the help of Cannon Hawke, Protector of the Elite Council of the Blue, foiled a plot by the Blue dissident Killian to destroy both the surface and underwater worlds.

However, uncertainty remained concerning the events leading up to Aspen’s remarkable appearance on the Paradise ocean liner and the obscured truth surrounding her parents below the surface—until now…

Amidst the chaos and dangers within the secret citadel of the Black, Abseloma managed to find and rescue his captive wife Eilah. Now, the weight of the future of an entire civilization threatens to crush his plans for escape, as well as the Black’s powerful leader Rahger, who is still after both of their lives and closing in fast…”

This is the fourth book in Aspen Matthews’ origin story and it really ties up the loose ends well. I’m still not really clear why the people of the Blue, the Black, and the Humans are all enemies but at least I now totally understand how Aspen got to the surface world and why and what happened to her parents.

As for the art, the book is just beautiful, underwater scenery can be difficult but I think Sanchez & Steigerwald do a great job. I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of this type of fantasy I find it to be too complicated and the dialogue a tad over the top. But even for me, someone with limited experience with this series, this was an enjoyable book.

It hits shelves on Jan 25th, check your local comic shop!

 

Follow Chuck on Twitter @Chuck_Suffel

Hit up Chuck’s site http://chucksuffel.wordpress.com/