Category: Books

DC Unveils Earth 2 Robin

 

Earth 2 Robin courtesy DC Comics

  Get ready to ride the Second Wave as DC The New 52 unleashes 6 new titles this May. Earth 2 by James Robinson introduces new heroes from a parallel Earth. The Source revealed the Robin of Earth 2 design and Robinson gave ‘her’ background.

 Helena Wayne has been taught how to be the perfect Robin,” said James Robinson, writer of EARTH 2. “Assured as a detective, fighter, scientist, pilot and all around crime-fighter she’s been groomed by Batman to be the perfect caped manhunter (or should we say manHuntress) when she grows up.”

 “Before coming to the main DCU Earth and taking up the mantle of Huntress, Helena Wayne fought crime alongside her father as the Robin to his Batman on Earth-2!” said WORLDS’ FINEST editor Wil Moss. “But how did she come to be on this Earth? And why did she decide to become Huntress? You’ll get some clues in next week’s HUNTRESS #6, but for the real scoop, pick up WORLDS’ FINEST #1!”

Justice League Vs Darkseid

 

Justice League #6 variant cover courtesy DC Comics

 DC’s greatest heroes united only to be blasted by Darkseid!  Can the team regroup to stop the ultimate villain? Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s Justice League #6 arrives this week.

  USA Today has an exclusive preview images of the climatic battle and interviews wth the creators.

“You really see Batman’s superpower is elevating the others around him,” said Johns. “Other than being a great tactician and a great fighter, he does know how to motivate people in the right way and crack into them like a safe.”

 “Every character steps up and does something important in taking down Darkseid and saving the day. That’s the trick to any team book facing one ultimate bad guy is how do you get every character doing something meaningful, and the story delivers on that,” adds Lee.

  This issue has a backup story setting the stage for the next arc in issue 7 and brings the Justice League 5 years forward into present day DC Comics New 52 continuity. Thanks to The Source.

  Johns and Lee have succeeded beautifully at creating a new origin for these iconic characters. It’s been a thrill ride with action, humor and drama. I have to agree with Johns that Batman has this power to inspire. Bruce Wayne and Hal Jordan’s interaction has been a favorite part of this arc. I can’t wait for the big throwdown this week!

 

AvX: New Avengers Vs X-Men Promo Art

AVX promo art courtesy Marvel

  On April 3, over 1,100 comic shops will give devoted fans the opportunity to be amongst the first to read Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 at AVX Launch Parties! New promo art was revealed today.

courtesy Marvel

  Comic shops are loaded with either Avengers or X-Men themed exclusive mini posters, buttons, variants, lithographs and more that no fan can miss! And with an Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 Blank Variants.

courtesy Marvel

  For more of the story here’s the Marvel.com link.

Earth 2 Batman Revealed

Batman of Earth 2 designed by Jim Lee courtesy DC

  DC Comics The New 52 is doubling down with a Second Wave of new titles crashing this May and the debut of a parallel world. The Source revealed the Batman of Earth 2 designed by Jim Lee and a big teaser from Earth 2 editor Pat McCallum.

“Who will Batman kill to save his own daughter?” asks McCallum. “Right out of the gate that should tell you we’re dealing with a different kind of Dark Knight here. More ruthless, dangerous…the costume is familiar and yeah, there is a Wayne under the mask, but we’re looking at a man desperate to save the only family he has left. Earth 2 is about to become a very bad place to be a bad guy.”

The World’s First Talking Comic Book Cover

X-O ManoWar courtesy Valiant

  The voice of War will command you to buy his comic book! Actually I’m not sure what he’ll say but Valiant Comics is talking up a comic book breakthrough – the world’s first QR code augmented talking comic book cover. Preview posters for the X-O Manowar #1 QR Voice Variant are coming to comic book shops this Wednesday.

“We want fans worldwide to know that something special is happening in their local comic shop during the build-up to May 2nd and the launch of the new Valiant Universe,” said Valiant Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. “Valiant’s QR Voice Variant is not only a new innovation in comics and a true incentive for retailers, but an enhanced and immersive experience for fans as well. By merging elements of print and digital, we’ve hopefully created something that fans will just have to see in person!”

  X-O Manowar #1 by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord will re-tell the tale of the Visigoth warrior in the alien armor when Valiant relaunches May 2nd.

  “From the beginning, it has been Valiant’s mission to get readers into their local comic shop and talking about what makes this such an exciting medium,” said Valiant CEO Jason Kothari. “A trailblazing effort like the QR Voice poster and accompanying limited edition cover to X-O Manowar #1 not only accomplishes that, but also brings a first-of-its-kind interactive experience to print.”

For the entire press release here’s the Comics Newsarama link.

The Walking Dead Should Never Have Been a TV Show – But I’m Glad It Is!

  It’s a big weekend for Robert Kirkman. The first ever Image Expo is underway celebrating the 20th anniversary of the publisher. The Walking Dead fans are in a frenzy with news that David Morrissey has been cast as the Governor and will join the series next season.

 I wanted to share part of this Comic Book Resources interview with Kirkman. I think it sums up why the show is a hit. 

“The Walking Dead should never have been made in to a TV show. I’ll just say that right now. When I was doing the comic, never in a million years did I think that anyone would ever go “oh, zombies on TV? Good idea!” It’s not a good idea. It’s a huge risk. It’s gotta be gory, it’s gotta have characters dying. It’s like you said, it’s a very hard thing to adapt for TV.”

“Anyways, it took AMC to have the guts to say “oh you know what, that is a good idea, that would be kind of neat, we would like to try and make that a TV show.” So no, I haven’t gotten any pushback. They read a large portion of the comic; I think issue 65 was out by the time they were trying to make it in to a show. They knew what they were getting in to. They loved the comic and they wanted to adapt that. There was no push back because they knew what they were doing. I can’t gush about AMC enough.”

 As I fan I have to agree with the praise for AMC for allowing the same unpredictability you have in comics on television. If you’re a reader of Kirkman’s series it’s hard to imagine a network allowing the kind of brutality the Governor delivers in the comics to be on television.

 For Kirkman’s entire interview here’s the Comic Book Resources link.

New Grant Morrison Project at Image

 

Happy teaser art courtesy Image Comics

  The Image Expo kicked off with a huge announcement. Grant Morrison (Action Comics, Batman Incorporated) is bringing a new project called Happy! to Image Comics this year. Publisher Eric Stephenson made the announcement in his keynote address. Darick Robertson will illustrate the series.

  IFanboy has the exclusive story, teaser image and an extended interview with Morrison.

 Morrison did tell IFanboy the series is “in a genre he’s never really tackled before…but with a bizarre twist, of course.” 

  Let the speculation begin!

  Morrison did say he will continue writing Superman and Batman titles and Seaguy for Vertigo.