Review - Titans #7 - DC Comics

Koppy McFad over at the Comic Book Bin has a reviews of DC’s Titans #7…

“Match”, the flawed clone of Superboy–Conner Kent, whose body has been possessed by ex-Titans member, Jericho, battles the Titans in their own headquarters.

The complexity of the situation is pretty hard to sum up in one paragraph. You have to explain how Jericho has the power to inhabit other people’s bodies, how he got into Match’s body and who the heck Match is. Suffice to say, newcomers to this book will be mystified and may not understand what is going on. The one-page explanation that appears early in the book just doesn’t wrap things up completely.

Other than that, this issue is rather well done. “Match” breaks free, the Titans all make an attempt to subdue him and in the end, Jericho is separated from Match’s body with unexpected conseuquences. The action is well choreographed and the Titans show surprising strength instead of acting as punching bags as in so many previous issues.

Even the characterisation is remarkably good. The Titans speak in distinctly different voices and comes off as quite sympathetic– aside from Winick’s penchant for having his characters constantly spouting smart-azz wisecracks, even during inappropriate moments, like when their best friends are fighting for their lives.

The art is surprisingly good, considering it is clearly a last-minute fill-in job. The backgrounds are a bit sparse but at least all the characters end up looking good, especially Match who comes off as both menacing and comical as he screams for help even while he beats up the Titans.

Rating: 7/10

Source: ComicBookBin.com Read more

Stan ‘The Man’ Lee Receives National Medal of the Arts Award

George W. Bush recently announced the nine recipients of the 2008 National Medal of the Arts, managed by the National Endowment for the Arts, at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

Among the recipients of this prestigious award was comic book legend, Stan Lee, creator and co-creator of Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk and the X-Men.

Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

Source: ComicNews.info Read more

Marvel Digital Comics - Free Mondays (11/17/08)

Welcome to FREE Mondays! Each week we focus on all of the newly digitized books you can read for FREE inside the greatest collection of Marvel comics available online: Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited! Plus, we’ll let you know what’s coming up next week for FREE, too! With each book, not only are you getting a free peek inside Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, but each free Digital Comic either gives you a look at a book featured in a recent collection or a comic that’s in stores now.

Get ready to cozy up with your computer screen, ’cause more free digital comics are comin’ at ya!

NEW X-MEN (2001) #143
ALL-WINNERS COMICS (1941) #9
IRON MAN (1968) #2
THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ SKETCHBOOK
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL (2006) #9
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #564

And don’t forget to check out the FREE Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited exclusive digital comic SECRET INVASION: HOME INVASION! It chronicles the events of Kinsey, a normal teenage girl in the Marvel Universerse, as the world she knows gets turned upside-down by the Skrull invasion!

Now that you’re up to date on what’s for FREE this week, here’s what’s coming for FREE next week.

THUNDERBOLTS (2006) #116
ULTIMATE HUMAN #2
CAPTAIN AMERICA (2004) #37
FANTASTIC FOUR #554
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #37

Source: Marvel.com

DC’s ‘Adventure Comics’ Returning To Print

While DC Executive Editor recently hinted to Newsarama readers that something major was going to play out with Superman in the Superman family of titles, he spoke a bit more in-depth about that specific element and a couple more with the LA Times over the weekend.

For starters, DiDio said that Superman turn Action Comics over to new characters, and in his own book, the Man of Steel will be headed into space – on a trip that some may see as one way.

“In his own book, “Superman,” there will be a dramatic turn as the hero leaves Earth and it seems like he’s leaving for good,” DiDio said.” We’ll follow his adventures in space more so than his adventures on Earth, and that’s a big and exciting thing. We’re also bringing back one of the old-time favorite titles of DC Comics, “Adventure Comics.” It will be back with a new No. 1 and with new stars but old stars at the same time. It’ll be pretty easy to guess who will be the stars of Adventure Comics if you know who the title was most identified with…”

The remaining conversation suggests strongly that the relaunch of the series will be the home for the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Source: Newsarama

Comic Book Review - Batman: Cacophony #1

IGN.com has a review of Batman: Cacophony #1, featuring the return of Kevin Smith to comics as writer…

Few comics have left me feeling so torn - both before and after reading them - as Batman: Cacophony #1. The thought of reading a new Batman story penned by Hollywood darling Kevin Smith is enough to make most fans salivate, assuming they can forgive Smith the chronic lateness of his past few projects. And I have to admit my interest waned a little when DC indicated Cacophony would take place in a pre-R.I.P. time line, which was hardly the impression they fostered during its announcement this summer. Actually reading issue #1 brings up a similarly conflicted batch of emotions. There’s no denying that Smith turned in one hell of a script on this one. Much like Grant Morrison, Smith manages to find a fresh voice for one of the industry’s most heavily exposed characters. On the other hand, this issue displays just enough odd idiosyncrasies that my overall impression is a bit dulled.

Surprisingly, Cacophony is as much about Joker as it is anyone else. In a situation not unlike the recent Joker graphic novel, the Clown Prince of Crime is unhappy with how his legacy is being tarnished whilst locked up in Arkham. An unexpected encounter with the oddball villain Onomatopoeia provides Joker with the chance to hit the town and sully his good name once more. Muck Like Joker, Batman feels like more of a second-string player, though not quite to that extreme. Smith devotes far more attention to Joker and a handful of C-List Bat villains, all to largely winning results. I can’t say I’ve ever cared about Maxie Zeus, and I long ago wrote off Mr. Zsasz as a one-note gimmick. Here, both villains get their own chance to shine for a while. That’s to say nothing of Onomatopoeia, who all but steals the show from Joker in his brief appearance. Read more

Michelle Obama Gets Her Own Comic Book

The life of America’s future first lady, Michelle Obama, will be the subject of the latest chapter of Bluewater Productions’ ongoing “Female Force” comic series. The book will follow Obama, a Princeton- and Harvard-educated lawyer, from her youth on the South Side of Chicago to her community, civic service and private-sector career successes through the 2008 presidential campaign and election day. The book is scheduled for release in April 2009.

“Mrs. Obama is a dynamic force and one of the most influential women in the world,” said Bluewater Productions President Darren G. Davis. “Her potential influence on future policy decisions makes her a fascinating figure to feature.”

“In creating an image of our new first lady, Michelle Obama, it was my goal to represent her class, beauty and intelligence,” said artist Vinnie Tartamella. “I hope I reflected these qualities and characteristics in this historical piece. I’m truly honored to have been asked to create this.”

The latest addition to the “Female Force” series follows the biographies of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, announced earlier this year. “Female Force” comic books showcase influential women who are making and shaping modern history. The “Hillary Clinton: Female Force” comic book is available for order through Diamond Distributors, order code NOV083848 F.

Source: ComicNews.info

Another ‘Joker’ HC Review

Here’s another review of DC’s ‘Joker’ by Zak Edwards of Comic Book Bin…

DC Comics
Writer(s): Brian Azzarello
Penciller(s): Lee Bermejo
Inker(s): Mick Gray & Lee Bermejo
Colourist(s): Patricia Mulvihill
Letterer(s): Robert Clark
Cover Artist(s): Lee Bermejo
ISBN: 9781401215811
$19.99 US

Joker, the latest graphic novel telling a story completely dedicated to a character recently gaining much more mainstream attention thanks to a certain summer blockbuster film, is nothing short of an incredible accomplishment. To say the graphic novel is the best Joker story ever is absurd given the sheer amount of stories dedicated to the Clown Prince of Crime, but to say the story is amazing in its own right is a fair statement. Writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo combine their talents to craft a story that is both horrifying, challenging, and, most importantly, almost devoid of the Batman. On a side note, this graphic novel is not recommended for our junior comic book readers as this comic book contains a large amount of violence and disturbing imagery even a full grown adult could find seriously offensive and scary. But this amount of grotesque imagery both aids and harms the story.

The story, incredible as it is, leaves the reader wanting more. Not in terms of narration or really anything the primary creators can fully control, but in terms of the censorship forced on this book being blatantly obvious at times and makes me dream of a day when Vertigo, DC Comics more mature-focused sister publisher, will get their hands on a Joker story able to tell things without restraints, like the character of the Joker himself. Most notable of these times is early on when the Joker gives Arkham Asylum the finger, the panel is conveniently cut off just below his fingers. The welcome home party at a strip club is filled with conveniently placed objects to cover nudity. Azzarello does a good job of avoiding the $%#@ replacing the harsher curse words, but even pokes fun at this by having an undercover police officer character be given away because of his choice to use the word scumbag over “other words.” The censorship also reflects the absurdity of what is allowed through, with a man being shown skinned alive (the final product at least) but the inability to show someone giving the middle finger. Read more

Greg Pak Discusses the ‘War Machine’ Series Coming Soon

Newsarama has an interview with Greg Pak, who discusses the new War Machine series…

In July, we spoke with writer Greg Pak and Editor Bill Rosemann about a little project they have coming up – the new War Machine ongoing series, launching in December.

Illustrated by Leonardo Manco, the new series will feature Jim Rhodes (aka “Rhodey”) in his armor, stuck somewhere between man and machine thanks to…well, thanks to stuff that will be coming up. The series will pick up from the new status quo set up by writer Christos Gage in his three-issue War Machine, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. arc that ties in to Secret Invasion, that is, Rhodey will be operating from an orbiting satellite, ever vigilant to stop violence and evil before it grows.

With the debut of the new series a month away, we spoke with Pak again to see what else we can find out about Rhodey, his suit, his mission and his new status quo.

Newsarama: Greg, we’re a little further down the road from when we last spoke about the new ongoing War Machine series and you couldn’t say much, but judging from the preview of the first issue that’s up at Marvel.com, it looks as if you’re going to be continuing with the status quo shift Christos Gage introduced in his three issue Secret Invasion tie-in. Was setting Rhodey up in a satellite your idea from the beginning? Why does that work for him, in your view?

Greg Pak: I first heard about the idea of War Machine headquartered in a stealth satellite from editor Bill “Rockem Sockem” Rosemann during the last Marvel creative summit. Given Rhodey’s new mandate, it’s a perfect set up — it gives him a high tech headquarters from which he can have a global reach. At the same time, it helps hammer home how isolated Rhodey’s new mission has made him from everything he knew before. It represents one part of the sacrifices Rhodey’s making and helps us build this theme of heart versus hardware, man or machine.

NRAMA: For those who may not have followed War Machine in Avengers: The Initiative, where is Rhodey these days? More importantly, what is he these days? Read more

Marvel Digital Comics - Free Mondays (11/10/08)

Welcome to FREE Mondays! Each week we focus on all of the newly digitized books you can read for FREE inside the greatest collection of Marvel comics available online: Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited! Plus, we’ll let you know what’s coming up next week for FREE, too! With each book, not only are you getting a free peek inside Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, but each free Digital Comic either gives you a look at a book featured in a recent collection or a comic that’s in stores now.

Get ready to cozy up with your computer screen, ’cause more free digital comics are comin’ at ya!

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE ANNUAL #1
X-MAN #54
PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #27
MOON KNIGHT (2006) #12
GHOST RIDER (2006) #20

And don’t forget to check out the FREE Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited exclusive digital comic SECRET INVASION: HOME INVASION! It chronicles the events of Kinsey, a normal teenage girl in the Marvel Universerse, as the world she knows gets turned upside-down by the Skrull invasion!

Now that you’re up to date on what’s for FREE this week, here’s what’s coming for FREE next week.

NEW X-MEN (2001) #143
ALL-WINNERS COMICS #9
Iron Man (1968) #2
PUNISHER WAR ZONE #26
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #564

Source: Marvel.com

Stan Lee Talks About His Marvel ‘Soapbox: The Collection’

The Hero Initiative, in conjunction with Stan Lee, has a new book coming out titled Stan’s Soapbox: The Collections, consisting of his old Marvel Soapbox columns that were published in the back of the comics between 1967-1980. Here’s a video of Stan Lee promoting the new book which will be available on November 19th.

Here’s more about the book.
Stan’s Soapbox: The Collection, our 144-page tome collecting ALL Stan Lee’s kickass “Soapboxes” from 1967-1980, will be in stores on November 19. It’s available in softcover at $14.99.

Or, if you’re more of a hardcover nature, please be advised: A special limited edition hardcover will be available at $35 as well. The hardcover is limited to ONLY 250 copies, so we suggest you preorder NOW at Atomic Comics. Or if ya like your books signed, a mere 100 of the 250 hardcovers will be available autographed by Stan the Man himself at $99 per. Eat ’em up like candy. Read more

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