Jim Lee & Crew In Paris

As we speak the legendary Jim Lee and friends are exploding onto the Paris comics scene, ok maybe not exploding but anyway. The merry crew have been posting some sweet 'Batman in Paris' pics and other fun adventures from France. Check out the coverage here.

Joe Mad On The Loose

Joe Madueira the legend penciller of the 90's has been getting up to quite a lot of comics related work once again. This time it's covers mostly but it's still great stuff nonetheless, check out his latest work on Darkstalkers here.

Top Ten Manga In Japan This Week

1. 'Fruit basket 16
2. Great Detective Conan 48
3. RAVE 31
4. Golden Gouache 19
5. BECK 21
6. SAMURAI DEEPER KYO 30
7. GetBackers-Recapture Ya- 28
8. KATSU! 15
9. Empty Of Duck 5
10. D-LIVE 9

Source: manganewsservice.com

Catwoman Heads To The Wrong Award Ceremony

Sci-Fi Wire reports that Catwoman is heading up the charge for the 'Worst' film of the year awards.

Catwoman, the critically assailed superhero film starring Halle Berry, received a leading seven nominations for the Golden Raspberry awards, which identify the worst films of the year, the Golden Raspberry Foundation announced. Nominations for the costly box-office flop include worst picture, worst actress for Berry and worst supporting actor and actress for co-stars Lambert Wilson and Sharon Stone.

Other science fiction, fantasy and supernatural nominees include the family film Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2, which was nominated for worst picture, Vin Diesel, who received a worst actor nod for The Chronicles of Riddick, and Arnold Schwarzenegger for worst supporting actor for his cameo role in Around the World in 80 Days. Genre films also dominated the worst remake or sequel category, which included Alien vs. Predator, Anacondas: Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Around the World in 80 Days, Exorcist 4: The Beginning and Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

The winners of the 25th annual Golden Raspberry awards will be announced Feb. 26, one day before the Academy Awards ceremony

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DC Events For 2005

2004 was most definately the year for big 'Event' driven comics such as Identity Crises and Avengers Dissasembled. Recently Dan Didio of DC Comics has begun to start weaving the web of teasers for the next big 3 events for 2005 from DC.

"March sees DC Countdown #1, which promises to follow up on the events from Identity Crisis, and maybe even, if the cover is any indication, add another to the body count. Then, in April, things get rolling in a big way, with the launch of two miniseries spinning out from Countdown, The OMAC Project and Day of Vengeance, with two more miniseries promised for May"

I don't really see the need for these things and just wish more good books like Human Target would stop getting cancelled and that the big publishers would start spreading the focus even more away from the Superhero genre. If they want to focus on Superheros at least make them good comics and not just shock factor soap operas with dead people on the covers.

Click here to read about DC's Event plans for 2005.

Fantastic Four Trailer Is Up

Yeah I know it's old news but still it is news. Check out the Fantastic Four movie trailer here.

Batman Is A Punk Rocker

Wow who woulda thunk that my favourite punk rock band woulda got to join up with Batman. Well it seems that Green Days hit song 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams' will be included in the new Batman Begins movie as the theme song.

"Today on television I saw Billie Joe Armstrong (Lead Singer and Lead Guitarist of Green Day) being interviewed and when asked what the band had coming up he said their song Boulevard Of Broken Dreams is going to be the theme song to Batman Begins, and they are going to record two new songs for the soundtrack."

- Curtosy of Superherohype.com

Supreme Powers That Be

FINALLY!!!!!! - I swear that the Supreme Power HC has been resolicited like 10 times already, my wait is finally over. For all you art junkies and mature readers nuts go grab this one in April when it finally hits shelves...wahooo!!!!

SUPREME POWER VOL. 1 HC
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Pencils & Cover by GARY FRANK

This deluxe hardcover collects SUPREME POWER VOL. 1: CONTACT and SUPREME POWER VOL. 2: POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES, plus a hefty helping of DVD-style extras. In CONTACT, Babylon 5 creator and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN writer J. Michael Straczynski presents a new vision of a world about to give birth to its first generation of super heroes! Follow the origins of these new heroes and anti-heroes - from their birth through adulthood - and examine how their lives and abilities change and shape the world around them. In POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES, the god-like Hyperion discovers his whole life has actually been an elaborate government-made lie, and his reaction could mean the end of the Earth! Do the world's other super-powered beings have any chance at stopping Hyperion if the truth sends him over the edge?

Collects SUPREME POWER #1-13 - plus character designs, alternate cover treatments, the historic first appearance of the original Squadron Supreme in AVENGERS #85-86, and more!
352 PGS./Parental Advisory …$29.99
ISBN: 0-7851-1369-X

Marvel TPB Rant

I always thought I was alone in a world on non-existant back issues of Marvel Trade Paperbacks... but it turns out I was wrong. Some other irate folk have been posting hate mail about the fact that Marvel never seems to have it's most essential back-volumes of it's TPB's around for anyone to read. I mean they direct all their comics towards TPB collection, but once they are done they are not available for reorder after the first printing until months and months if not years later, cmon Marvel get yer socks on.

Ilan Strasser of Fat Moose Comics in Whippany, New Jersey is feeling the pain from Marvel's out-of-stocks on trade paperbacks:

2004 ended up being a down year for Fat Moose Comics and Games. Unfortunately, we experienced just under a 10% drop in gross revenues. It is safe to say that there are several factors which contributed to this decline. But at our store, one factor stands out among the rest -- the continuous unavailability of Marvel TPB's over the course of the last year. Even the best selling TPB's have been unavailable from time to time -- just this past week I could not reorder Volume 1 of the Ultimate X-Men.

It is extremely difficult to sell TPB's from a sequentially numbered series to new readers when the earlier volumes are not available. It is unconscionable on Marvel's part to allow this situation to go on for months on end, especially when one considers that their whole editorial framework revolves around the production of monthly story arcs which are constructed specifically to be reprinted in the TPB format. I have tried unsuccessfully for months to get Vol. 1-3 of the Mark Waid Fantastic Four's and Vol. 1 & 2 of the Captain America series. These are just two of many examples I could cite.

If Marvel doesn't want to make reorders of monthly books available, fine. But Marvel has a responsibility to keep their entire tpb line in print all the time. Why? Because many, many retailers have invested significant amounts of dollars and shelf space to promote these manufactured storylines. If Marvel responds by saying that at any given time, a varying 80% of the line is available, that is not good enough, especially when some titles are unavailable for long periods of time. 100% availability 100% of the time -- nothing less is acceptable. It's a matter of corporate responsibility.

Full article available here.

Desolation Jones

Warren Ellis and JH Williams are joining forces to bring us Ellis' first long-form series in ages. An intricate and interisting storyline featuring an ex MI6 agent now living in LA sounds like more Ellis goodness. Go here for more info on the upcoming series due on shelves in April 2005.

Human Target Shot Down

It seems that great 'underground' comics are just getting shut down as the mainstream fails to pick up on the 'borderline' comics that don't fit into the superhero norm. This time Human Target feels the brunt of the blow as it heads for it's grave. It's a pity as it's a great great book and I highly recommend it to everyone. Do yourself a favour and go pick up the two trade paperbacks that are available,you won't be sorry. Peter Milligan the writer of HT talks all about the demise of the book here.

Best Selling Comics For December 2004

The results are in for Decembers numbers on comicbook sales and heres the top 10:

240,724 - New Avengers #1
146,271 - Ultimates 2 #1
139,572 - Identity Crisis #7
134,103 - Astonishing X-Men #7
119,926 - Superman / Batman #15
115,657 - Superman / Batman #16
106,523 - Green Lantern: Rebirth #3
100,244 - Superman #212
89,952 - Uncanny X-Men #453
88,960 - Ultimate Spider-Man #70

For more info surf here.

Elektra Sucks At The Box Office

Yep, well I saw this coming even if you didn't...Elektra is not doing well so far, the movie has in fact done worse then it's big [well in terms of sucky comic movies] rival being last years Catwoman in its first weekend at $12.5 million compared to Catwomans opening of $16.5 mill. See the full report here.

Yet Another Crisis

Identity Crisis is going back to print...all 7 issues of it. So if you are one of the 2 people on the planet who hasn't got it yet it looks like you're in luck. With the Hardcover only due in September and the trade even further beyond that it looks like this is the only way to get the hit series until then. Personally I am a bit sick of all the crap surrounding this over-hyped monstrousity but I guess I just don't get my kicks out of third-tier characters getting raped like you guys do? ahahaha...smile, it's only a comic man!

Arrrrrrrr Them Pirates Be Setting Sail Again

Everyones favourite topic is back in the internet 'press' machine again. Newsarama has a very cool article on Comic Piracy, go read it here.

"According to some, one of the most pre-imminent threats to the comic industry today is internet-aided piracy. The problem of illegally copying comics has been around before the days of the internet, but with the advent and acceleration of such technologies it has become easier than ever to download the latest issues of your favorite comics and bypass stores – and commerce - all together. For some, every day is “Free Comic Book Day”. While the problem has yet to fully flourish and reach a critical mass as it has (or claimed to have) in music and film, the trading of scanned comics online has proliferated and shows no signs of stopping."

2005 - By Warren Ellis

Warren Ellis takes a look at 2005 and gives his ideas on the mainstream vs. the independants and the future of comics this year.

"So 2005's going to be an interesting year. Or possibly a nightmarishly dull one. Nothing in between. The commercial end of the medium, the top twenty end, is already set in stone. We know what DC and Marvel are going to do, we can take educated guesses at which will sell what, and that's that. No surprises. It's already done. DC set their schedules many, many months in advance, and Marvel slightly fewer, and you can assume with some safety that their slate is all set until at least June. (The indies tend to be a touch more flexible, but you're still looking at, say, five months of a set schedule.) These are all books that could have commenced production as early as 2003. (Three or four of my DC projects in 2005 certainly did.) DC and Marvel, each acting like the other is the only game in town, will lumber onwards in their usual cycle. Their top books will cannibalise their own midlists, and so it will go. Off in their own little world. I'm not denying that it can be fun to watch that sort of thing for a little while."

"IDENTITY ARSERAPE FUNNIES, no matter its faults, created genuine excitement among the conservative comics audience with its comics-historical revisionism and skilful histrionics. AVENGERS/NEW AVENGERS galvanised a section of the same audience into proclaiming that Hawkeye was Jesus or something. In the commercial Marvel/DC axis, triggering conversation is often just a matter of cleverly manipulating the characters that that longtime hardcore audience grew up with. In the rest of the medium, your actual groundbreaking electric work needs to be produced."

"I think possibly it's measured in how something grabs at you, how it makes you feel, what it does to your brain, what it says to you. For some people, yeah, that's going to be all about what's in Green Lantern's underpants or whatever, and that's okay. Personally, I look for the Rock And Roll and the Manic Pop Thrill elsewhere. My point, if I have one at all, is that this year the majors are focussed on each other, and on making millions off the handful of old characters we already know. There are no surprises to be had out of "mainstream" DC and Marvel in the coming year. Which means it's down to the rest of the medium to provide them.

Take a look around you, this year. Reward those who bring you the rock and the roll with the buzz, the discussion and attention and tubthumping and hysterical screamy noises -- you're on the fucking internet, son, it's what it's for -- and make it a good year. Which will make next year even better."

For the full article go here.

Downloading Comics - The Survey

Ever wondered what all the debate was about? Want to know how many people are involved? Want to know what people are downloading? Check out this great little survey which gives some interesting stats as to the increase of digital pirating of comics. Go here for the survey.

Kevin Spacey Is Lex Luthor

Yip it seems the boys organising the latest Superman film have managed to get some real talent on board, this is a definate good sign so heres wishing them all the best.

"Lois Lane will be played by "Blue Crush" actress Kate Bosworth and the film's primary antagonist, Lex Luthor, will be played by Bosworth's "Under The Sea" co-star, Kevin Spacey."

Stardust Kid This May

Don't miss this one, the latest project by the guys that brought us the amazing Abadazad are bringing out an all-ages fantasy comic in 5 parts this May. Produced by Desparado publishing and published by Image Comics look for it on a shelf near you.
Read the newsflash here.

The New Supergirl

Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill will be taking on a new SUpergirl series this July. CBR has a great interview with Loeb for his plans on the series.

"Ultimately, Loeb's goal with "Supergirl" is to establish Kara as the one, true Supergirl in the DC Universe. "She's Superman's cousin -- that's a huge legacy to live up to. How can she deal with that? And like 'Superman/Batman,' it will be huge in scope. This label that folks have put on me as 'the Jerry Brukheimer of Comics' I find as a huge compliment. You know, when they were called Spielberg movies ('Jaws,' 'Close Encounters,' 'Jurassic Park') 'popcorn movies' were fun. Somehow the snooties decided that popcorn was all popped out. But, when you look at how many times 'Superman/Batman' has been the #1 book, and always in the top five, we may be onto something that we can't really explain other than it's not so bad to have fun for your $2.99!"

To read the full interview go here.

Wrong About Japan: A Father's Journey with his Son

A Colorado Newspaper has a fun review about a book which looks like a classic fun read for anime and manga fans of all ages.

"Novelist Peter Carey is already well known as a two-time winner of the Booker Prize. In this nonfiction book, he enters the world of Japanese comics, courtesy of his 12-year-old son Charley.

A devotee of the tough-guy/little boy film Kikujuro, Charley announces he intends to live in Tokyo when he's older. Intrigued, Carey joins Charley on his trips to comic book stores where English is a second language. Realizing that he has all the ingredients for an extended field trip and a father-son outing, Carey proposes that Charley come along to research comics in their native country, Japan."

Read the whole review here.

Jim Lee Interview On Batman & Robin

Newsarama has got a bit fat man-sized helping of a Jim Lee interview to start your day off just right. Check it out here as Jim discusses working with Frank Miller and concepts for this soon to be hit series.

Tokyopops Planet Blood

While browsing some sites this morning I found what could be a little beauty of a book coming in January from Tokyopop. Sc-Fi manga fans be warned this looks addictive and possibly another winner from the 20000,0000 books to be released by Tokyopop this year.

"After the 5th World War comes to an end, 46% of humans have been wiped off the face of the earth. Because of contamination, the survivors of this war colonize the moon and Mars with plans to move back to Earth after they purify the planet.

Planet Blood begins when humans return to Earth in an attempt to find the best piece of land to colonize... but will it unleash an all-out space war?"

"Volume 1 Synopsis: In the year Universal Century 0091, Sinan is a mecha pilot for the Mars colony in its war with the Moon colony over re-patriation rights over the newly restored Earth.

An explosion catches him off guard and Sinan wakes up to find that he has been mysteriously transported to an entirely different world called Horai, with a civilization similar to that of Earth's middle ages. There, Sinan ends up rescuing a girl named Mayi from a group of thugs lead by a burly thug named Pantera.

A grateful Mayi introduces Sinan to Noodles, a leader of a rebel group that is trying to restore him to the throne of Pratria ... "

To find out more go here.

Mark Millar Discusses All-Star Batman & Robin And DC Vs. Marvel In 2005

Mark Millar [Ultimates] has been chatting up a storm about his predictions for the success of the newly announced All-Star Batman & Robin and also has some opinions on the Marvel/DC battle for 2005.

"Nothing else DC has coming out next year worries me at all. Bendis, Finch, Hitch and I should be able to swat away all the other pretenders, but Miller/ Lee is the most fucking terrifying combo a freelancer can imagine and the top spot disappearing is a foregone conclusion.

I love both guys personally and professionally, but this is a juggernaut. Ultimates 2 and New Avengers are officially bumped into second and third place. This is Elvis teaming up with The Beatles."

"DC proved last year that they're good at spiking a small number of books into the top ten and they jumped from ONE book to THREE books last year. However, they actually LOST market share because too much attention was taken away from all the other books. Marvel ended the year KILLING them on market share.

What'll happen this year is they'll have FOUR books in the top ten (All-Star Bats and Supes, Jeph's Superman and Batman and Geoff's Crisis 2). The regular Batman and Superman books will tumble even lower because they'll get no promotion and nothing else outside of Pacheco's GL and maybe one other book is even seeing the top thirty. I'm a DC guy. I LOVE those characters, but the main audience is just so wedded to the Marvel characters that DD, FF, X-Men, Spidey, et al, is always going to sell more than the DC line-up. It's just mathematics. Even when the Marvel stuff is shit it sells more and right now it's pretty good.

What Marvel need is a few more spike books for the top ten. Right now they have Ultimates 2, New Avengers and Astonishing. Wolverine is selling out and getting heavily promoted and there's one or two others on the horizon, but Frank and Jim will be a hard act for anyone to beat."

For the full post on Mark Millars messageboard surf to this spot.

Jim Lee Comments On All-Star Batman & Robin

Jim Lee has his official take on the latest big All-Star announcement on his blog. Heres a an excerpt from Jim on his new role with longtime favourite writer Frank Miller:

"To say this is my ultimate, dream project would be an incredible understatement. Back when I was in college from 1982 to 1986, I grew bored and disenchanted with comics, barely perusing my subscriptions when I went home for various holiday breaks. Frank Miller changed all that in 1986 when the Dark Knight Returns blew my mind and lit up my retinas.

I haven't been the same since.

My passion for creating comics comes from this one book and I've embarrassed Frank countless times by repeating this exact same story to him. Being fortunate enough to have as passionate fans, I know how it feels to be told similar tales so I hold back and try and act normal around him now so I don't freak him out. But he is fucking Frank Miller, man."

For the entire blog entry go here.

Frank Miller And Jim Lee on All-Stars Batman & Robin

The Pulse just reported the follwing big scoop. Its the second announcement on DC Comics big 'Ultimate' line of books, Frank Miller to write Batman & Robin and Jim Lee to draw. Start saving those pennies people this is gonna be off the heezy for sheezy.

"The mystery and guessing game is over! Frank Miller, a man who many think defined the Dark Knight Detective with his work on both The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One will be writing the upcoming Batman and Robin for the DC All-Stars line, according to the New York Times.

The New York Times reported:

Mr. Miller has been announced as the writer of "All-Star Batman and Robin," which will be published by DC Comics in July as part of a new group of titles in which top artists and writers will create stories not bound by decades of continuity. (In this case, Batman's partner is Dick Grayson, the first and best-known Robin, not Tim Drake, the third boy in the role.)All-Star Batman and Robin will be drawn by Jim Lee."

Comics As A Learning Tool

The state of Maryland in the USA has sanctioned the use of comicbooks as learning tools. Comics are being incorporated into reading and art classes.

Read the full story here.

Comicsone Change Name To DrMaster

Comicsone, the manga publisher of such awesome books as Iron Wok Jan, has been having crazy 75% off sales on their site [www.comicsone.com] for the last few months and the signs have been up that they might be going under or that change was on the horizon. Well it seems that the move has been made as they change name and seem to be starting somewhat anew. When I have more information I'll try and clarify what really happened, heres the press coverage for now.

"With offices in Fremont, California; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tokyo, Japan, DrMaster is dedicated to bringing translated Asian comic book and graphic novel titles from Japan and Hong Kong to American audiences, including such works as Onegai Teacher, Goku: Midnight Eye, Kazan, Sarai, and many others. DrMaster publishes its titles in the traditional, proven Asian format - trade paperback collections of several hundred pages in length..

"ComicsOne was one of our best clients and we are elated to welcome its newest incarnation into the fold," said Diamond Vice President of Purchasing Bill Schanes. "This latest agreement will help us continue making sure these brilliant books from Asia reach the widest American audience possible."

"We here at DrMaster Publications are delighted to work with Diamond Book Distributors - the foremost distributor of comic books and graphic novels here in the United States," said Shawn Sanders the Marketing Director for DrMaster Publications. "We have an exciting line-up for 2005. We plan to bring some Asia's best and brightest to the States and we happy to know Diamond is at the helm of distribution."

Dreamwave Productions Shuts Down

Yep yet another relative giant of comics is shutting it's doors. A real shame for the game as the guys at Dreamwave had been doing a solid job of producing high quality comics over the years.

"Dreamwave Productions announced today that after eight years in the comics industry, four of which they were self-published, they will be ceasing operations.

Established in 1996 by brothers Pat and Roger Lee, Dreamwave infused a stagnant comic book market with art and design that effortlessly combined the then dominant “American” art style with the newly emerging Japanese “Manga” art style. Since then, the company had grown to become one of the comic book industry’s premiere publishers, producing a variety of original titles.

In 2002, Dreamwave firmly established itself in the comic industry as a force to be reckoned with when it launched an all-new Transformers comic’s line. The return of the 80’s icons shattered industry sales records, skyrocketing the book to the number one sales slot for an impressive six months. The Toronto-based company’s other successful licenses included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Duel Masters from Japan, as well as properties like Devil May Cry and Mega Man from video game giant Capcom Entertainment.

President of Dreamwave Productions, Pat Lee stated “there are a number of reasons for my decision to close Dreamwave”, citing that “the shrinking comic book market combined with a weak U.S. dollar and unsustainable monetary commitments has finally proven to be too financially taxing.”

As the only Canadian independent comics publisher, Dreamwave Productions has struggled in recent years to maintain its status within a relentlessly shrinking comic book market. Unfortunately, consistently diminishing sales totals over the last several years have taken their toll on the small publisher and made it impossible to continue.

The specific details for closure have not yet been released but Lee assures both fans and clients alike that “although this is the end of Dreamwave as a comics publisher, I will still be penciling a number of new exciting projects in conjunction with other studios in the upcoming years.”

Will Eisner Dies At 87

Will Eisner died Monday evening of complications after going through quadruble bypass surgery. As the author/artist/writer of such classic comics as The Spirit this legend of comics will be sadly missed by all.

Newsarama has posted a report here.

Top Selling Graphic Novels In Bookstores For 2004

ICv2 reports on the top selling graphic novels/manga in bookstores for 2004. Looks like 9-11 is still drawing in a vast social interest and that manga is here to stay.

"The final Bookscan reports for 2004 are in, and the year-to-date sales numbers provide some interesting information about the bestselling graphic novels in bookstores last year. Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 1, from Viz, was the top-selling graphic novel in bookstores last year (based on pieces), and the other volumes in the series all sold well too.The #2 piece book was Tokyopop's Fruits Basket Vol. 1. Because of the difference in cover price (Tokyopop prices its manga volumes at $9.95, Viz prices its Shonen Jump titles at $7.95), Fruits Basket actually topped Rurouni Kenshin in dollars.

The top dollar book was Art Spiegelman's 9-11 reflection, In the Shadow of No Towers, which sold almost as many copies as Rurouni Kenshin, but at a $19.95 cover price.The #2 dollar book on the list (although not a graphic novel) was the Complete Peanuts, Vol. 1, from Fantagraphics."

Mike McKone Exclusive to Marvel and on Fantastic Four

Yep another 'big' signing for Marvel Comics... ok this time it is a good thing. Bummer for fans of Teen Titans [McKones latest hit book] but good news for those saddened by the parting of Wieringo on Fantastic Four as McKone will undoubtably bring some hot artwork to the title when he joins up with J.M.S. on the title later this year.

Marvel Comics is honored to announce that fan-favorite penciller Mike McKone has accepted a two year exclusive contract!

“I’m moving back to the House of Ideas and it feels great!” says McKone, excited by the prospects of the move. “Thanks to Mike Marts, Joe Q, and Dan Buckley, the opportunity to contribute a little more to the Marvel Universe came along and I’m grabbing it with both hands!”

McKone’s past year’s work on DC’s Teen Titans has garnered him many accolades with fans and creators alike, but he’s no stranger to the Marvel heroes, though, having contributed to EXILES, THOR, SPIDERMAN 2099, PUNISHER, and HULK.

“Mike’s art has truly made us sit up and take notice,” comments Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. “He’s got a fantastic flair for action and we couldn’t be more thrilled that he agreed to come back to the Marvel Bullpen.” Publisher Dan Buckley concurs. “I can’t believe we’re this lucky, to have Mike join us again and to have him drawing our characters. I’ll be looking forward to seeing all of his new Marvel work.”

The artist’s “fantastic flair” for costumed superheroics will serve him more than well for his first new Marvel assignment. “I’m going to draw my favorite comic book in the whole wide world,” beamed McKone. “I’m going to be drawing the Fantastic Four!”