I have made no attempt to hide my disdain for Tony Daniel's run as writer and — until recently — artist on Batman. While I could write a book about why this is, this article is not the place for that. Rather, I'd like to share with you what I think the Batman title should be. Hopefully, you'll agree.

Read more »

Written by Jeph Loeb
Illustrated by Arthur Adams

The Ultimate Universe's most talked about series continues! Ultimate Spider-Man Peter Parker's classmate Liz Allen vanished after Ultimatum. Where has she been hiding and what connection does she have to the terrible horrible Blob? Join the new cast of Ultimate X as they head to Southern California to find out these secrets and more when Eisner award-winning writer JEPH LOEB and master illustrator ARTHUR ADAMS bring you the next thrilling chapter in this critically-acclaimed series that's selling out everywhere!

Like a ship steering its way out of the Bermuda Triangle, Ultimate X arrives some nine months after the last issue, acting as if service had never been interrupted. Jeph Loeb and Art Adams continue along their path, showing us Jean Grey and the son of Wolverine recruiting an All-New, All-Different, Possibly-X-Men... but at this astonishingly delayed rate, should we even care?

Let's talk about that, and other things like feelings, after the jump, where we can let it all hang out.

Read more »

I suppose everyone will be making some kind of King's Speech related joke right now, but Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush will be voicing Tomar-Re in the upcoming live action Green Lantern film. Tomar-Re will be the mentor role for Ryan Reynold's Hal Jordan in a similar way to the role Mark Strong's Sinestro will play, albeit more immediate and a tad more spiritually.

It's also rumored that Michael Clarke Duncan is voicing Kilowog, but no confirmations about that have been made.

(via source)

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Illustrated by Greg Tocchini

Steve Rogers’ black ops femme fatales go on the hunt for a rogue assassin! The Black Widow & Agent 13 join forces to stop an under-aged assassin from taking her revenge on a killer of a headmistress. Fierce fisticuffs, death-defying duels and good ol’ fashioned espionage ensue as everything comes to a head in the Big Apple where the gals go in guns blazin' against... teenaged versions of themselves?!

Up until now, I had not bought any of the Captain America 70th Anniversary one-shots. It's odd, because I'm actually a big fan of most of the creators involved (Kieron Gillen, Declan Shelvey and Rebekah Isaacs stand out, in particular) but none of the books felt like they had associated homes in my collection. However, with a one-shot "tie-in" to one of my favorite Marvel books at the moment, I felt like this wasn't a book to pass up.

Take a look after the cut to see if I was right.

Read more »

Marvel Press Release

Activision and Marvel today announced "Spider-Man: Edge of Time," where Spider-Man faces one of his greatest challenges ever--saving Spider-Man. Developed by Activision-owned studio Beenox, "Spider-Man: Edge of Time" challenges the player to take on the roles of both classic Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099 to correct a timestream gone awry and prevent a catastrophic future brought on by the early and untimely death of Peter Parker.

"The first Spider-Man entry by Beenox, 'Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions,' was touted as one of the wall-crawler’s best games to date from both critics and fans," said Vicharin Vadakan, Director, Global Brand Management for Activision. "Beenox is once again taking a fresh and different approach to bring a fast-paced and high-octane adventure to fans in 'Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.'"

"At Beenox, we are constantly listening to the fans and looking for new and creative ways to innovate the gameplay experience for them," said Dee Brown, Studio Head, Beenox. "We want to create a totally distinct experience in 'Spider-Man: Edge of Time' by working with Peter David on the story and creating this urgent, high-stakes experience where time is working against you and the fate of Spider-Man hangs in the balance."

"Spider-Man: Edge of Time" is a focused, action-packed adventure set in two connected and evolving timelines, from the contemporary times of the Amazing Spider-Man to the corrupted future world of Spider-Man 2099, against the backdrop of a rich, tightly crafted narrative by acclaimed Marvel veteran Peter David (co-creator of the comic book series SPIDER-MAN 2099). The game features all-new "cause-and-effect" gameplay, where players will see how the immediate and sometimes unexpected effects of their actions as one Spider-Man changes the timeline of the other Spider-Man. "Spider-Man: Edge of Time" is slated for release this fall.

For the full press release, please check behind the cut

Read more »

Written by Peter Milligan
Illustrated by Leonardo Fernandez

5 Books, 5 Heroes—1 unforgettable story of heroes pushed to their limits. It is 17th century Japan, a time and place of violent upheaval, wandering Ronin, and mysterious Geisha. Into this strange and dangerous world come Wolverine, Pyslocke, Punisher, Hulk and Deadpool. Five of Marvel’s greatest heroes…as you’ve never seen them before. Each has been wronged by a powerful tyrant. Each has taken a solemn vow… of vengeance! 5 Books, 5 Heroes, 5 Weeks… 1 spell-binding story.

This is it! I usually try and not review the same book more than once, but as this book came to it's finale I found myself anticipating it's arrival too much to not make some comments on it's resolution.

Take a look behind the cut for some thoughts on the wrap-up.

Read more »

Written by Robert Kirkman
Illustrated by Charlie Adlard

'NO WAY OUT' continues. What is left but surrender?

No way out. The arc title and solicit says it all, and frankly there is no point meandering about in the typical opening paragraph style. So despite Walking Dead being an incredibly difficult book to review, this is an issue we definitely need to talk about.

So take a look after the cut for some thoughts on this issue, but keep in mind that massive spoilers are discussed. This issue of walking Dead is certainly going to grow to be one of the issues that shapes the future of this book (whatever future the characters have at this point, anyway).

Read more »

Written by Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen
Illustrated by Cliff Richards

Having penned the show's final, post-apocalyptic episode, show writers Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon continue the tale of three survivors in a world overcome by a devastating technological virus. The wealthy and powerful could buy any kind of companionship at the Dollhouses, where the Rossum Corporation paid young people to have their minds wiped clean and be imprinted with computer-enhanced personalities and skills—all according to a buyer's request. Now the technology has gone viral, wiping the minds of everyone it reached, turning them into mindless butchers. Those who've avoided the call must try to survive their friends and families if they hope to destroy Rossum and save the world.

Dollhouse is one of those shows that never really had the chance to quite make it on it's own. Considering it debuted on FOX, aka one of the toughest channels when it comes to the risk of cancellation at the drop of a hat, it was fairly doomed from the start. However, the second season of the show saw it go leaps and bounds above the first in terms of quality - yet still, in the ratings game it's quantity over quality, and the ratings just weren't high enough to keep it around. Sadness all around.

However, this is where those lovely people over at Dark Horse come in. Having given Buffy an additional "season" and with Angel to get one as well soon, they announced that Dollhouse would be the next cancelled Whedon series to get the gift of life in comics (although why we haven't seen Firefly: The Ongoing is beyond me). And now that the first issue is here, we can take a minute and look to see if our new series is going to be as good as the show was.

Take a look beyond the cut for some thoughts on the prelude to the new series.

Read more »

Well, there is something to be said for the quickness of the internet here. Adrianne Palicki filmed some running on the Wonder Woman pilot set today, and wouldn't you know it - plenty of cameras were on hand to capture the moment!

As you can see, the costume is not the shiny glamour-shot vinyl suit we'd seen before. Now it looks a tad more plausible, with some extra stars and different color boots thrown in for good measure. If this is a reaction of the studio to all the negative comments on the internet? Maybe. Does it look better? Yes. Is it as good as Lynda Carter? Of course not, but let's be realistic people - that's just not going to happen. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy these various images because I very much do (and not just because Palicki is a babe). Times change and so do costumes, etcetera. No, this costume doesn't seem like a proponent of magic, but it still looks good.

We have a whole mess of other images and videos after the cut of the costume in action, as it were. Take a look if you're interested, but either way - keep your hopes up for the show.

(images and video rounded up from Bleeding Cool)

Read more »

This is not the first time we've talked about Conan's comic persona being animated into Young Justice, but every time it happens it's hilarious. It looks like those good folks over at the Warner lot have now put the Flaming C over Doctor Fate from a recent Young Justice episode! Either that, or the Flaming C suddenly has the power to make giant magical ankhs from an oven mitt... which I suppose isn't that odd.

Take a view above and enjoy!

(via source)

Well this is pretty damn cool!

If you were ever wondering about the power of sales, this is a perfect example. Who Is Jake Ellis?, a mini-series by Nathan Edmondson and Tonci Zonjic, has sold so well that Edmondson has gone ahead and announced that the book will be extended to 10-15 issues instead of just 5. Talk about crazy cool!  Edmondson claims that he always had a bigger story in mind, so since the comic has proven a hit he'll be telling the story as big as he originally imagined. He also notes that the fifth story will go forward as planned, but it will be open enough to allow Edmondson and Zonjic enough space to go forward and tell more of the story, as apparently Jake Ellis' identity as well as the true explanation of the Facility will not be revealed by the fifth issue. The second arc of the book will also be directly tied into "things" hidden in the first issue, so that's definitely something to look forward to..

We at Multiversity have loved the book pretty damn hard so far (see our reviews for issue #1 and issue #2) and we've also had a peak at the third issue. We can happily inform you that if you haven't been reading the book up until now, it would behoove you to go out and buy the previous issues (now in their second printings). Just sayin'.

(via source)

Marvel Press Release


Iron Breaks. Soldiers Fall. Gods Die.

Get your first look at the official trailer to FEAR ITSELF #1 right here! Comic luminaries Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen deliver the most anticipated event of 2011 as Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man and the rest of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes find themselves embroiled in a war against the God of Fear…and at the center, a secret that will rock the Marvel Universe.

Image Press Release

From Alexander the Great to the Soviet Union, war-torn Afghanistan has brought the world's greatest armies to their knees, earning the nation its infamous reputation as the “graveyard of empires." With the debut of this new series from Image Comics, the Marines will not only be in danger from enemy forces, but also from the undead!

Mark Sable, writer of Unthinkable, Teen Titans: Cold Case and Two-Face: Year One returns to Image with GROUNDED co-creator and Amazing Spider-Man artist Paul Azaceta for an all-new series that combines current military events with stark horror.

"Despite the many conflicts the US military is engaged in, there is currently a real dearth of war comics," Sable explained. "I'm honored to return to Image, a publisher brave enough to tackle a comic that literally rips the face off of modern warfare."

"Mark and I researched the hell out of this book to make the military aspect as authentic as possible," added Azaceta. "But don't let that fool you – this is heart-pounding survival horror at its best!"

In GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, when a young lieutenant arrives at Combat Outpost Alamo, a remote outpost in Afghanistan, he learns a new kind of insurgent math. It’s said that in war, when you kill one insurgent, you create ten more by angering his family and friends. In this story, when you kill one, he comes back from the dead to infect ten of your fellow Marines.

"Mark Sable and Paul Azaceta got off to a truly auspicious start with GROUNDED, and it's great to have them working together again at Image on GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES," Stephenson said. "They've come up with a fantastic fusion of horror and war comics that's probably best described as Robert Kirkman meets Harvey Kurtzman. Really, really excellent stuff here."

For a four page preview, please check behind the cut

Read more »

Welcome back, Inmates! Another week, another set of reviews in store for you. This week Burpee talks about Green Lantern #64, Green Lantern Corps #58, Uncanny X-Force #6, Ultimate Spider-Man #156, Ultimate Doom #4, Batman: Streets of Gotham #21, FF #1, Invincible #78, Haunt #14 and more!

So get a beer and keep it here 'cause there's drinking to be done and this episode, like the rest moving forward, are double the size at no extra cost! This is a rarity in comics, friends!

Written by Joe Casey
Illustrated by Mike Huddleston

In March 2011, Image is unleashing an all-new series written by showman Joe Casey (OFFICER DOWNE, GØDLAND) and drawn with dynamic intensity by Mike Huddleston (The Coffin). The name of this surreal homage to uber violence? BUTCHER BAKER, THE RIGHTEOUS MAKER.

"This one ain't for the faint of heart," declares Casey. "BUTCHER BAKER is a sleazy, mature readers superhero book about a semi-retired 'patriotic' superhero who gets the call for one last adventure. It's everything you want a superhero comicbook to be. It's simultaneously iconic and subversive and a whole lot of fun."

"I don't think I've ever had this much fun working on a book before," says Huddleston. "Joe has created a ridiculously ultra-violent and over-sexed world unlike anything anyone has read before. It's intense!"

That's right folks - this is a mega review of the first two issues of the new Image Comics series from the minds of writer Joe Casey and artist Mike Huddleston. The first is out in stores right now, but I am here to tell you (without spoilers) why this new series is a must buy for comic fans out there.

Take a look after the cut for some thoughts on the first two issues.

Read more »

Written by John Layman
Illustrated by Rob Guillory

'FLAMBE,' Part Three
USDA Suicide mission! Boobs! Germ warfare! And a very, very special guest star! RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

Bold statements were being made within the offices of Multiversity when the advance copy of Chew #18 from writer John Layman and artist Rob Guillory came in. Things like "best issue of Chew yet!" were being bandied about, and I am going to put that to rest right here.

Sort of.

Read more »

At ECCC, we had a great time doing interviews (once all of our infinite tech difficulties subsided) and we came back with great interviews from great creators. We also ended up with some stuff that made it to the cutting room floor as it didn't really fit for the interviews. So compiled above are some of our favorite moments that hadn't been seen - until now!

In the clips you'll see Joe Casey, Kurtis Wiebe, Scott Kowalchuk, Mike Allred, Jim Zubkavich and Matt Fraction.

(Yes, a couple of these are from last year, but we figured we'd toss them in anyway!)

Enjoy!

Comics Should Be Cheap. Two men enter. Two lists leave. This week it's just me and editor-in-chief Matt, and we only agree on one title. As much as this surprises me, the titles that he picked just barely made the cut for my own list, so I'm sure he's equally surprised in my choices. The point is, there are a good deal of great-looking comics coming out this week, so no matter what you go home with, you'll probably pick up at least one great book.

Read more »

Sometimes, we in the comic commentary business like to play detective. It involves less magnifying glasses than you'd expect and we certainly aren't dressing up as bats to do our sleuthing, but we put pieces of information together none the less. So what do we have to do? A quick and easy mystery that we may or may not have solved.

Let's take a look at our facts:

• On Twitter yesterday, Greg Pak tweeted, "Just did another interview about a new book that'll be announced at Wondercon. Can't wait to show you what this art team is doing.../Readers of "Magneto Testament" in particular may find this new book interesting. More soon! #wondercon"
• Marvel/Fox have a movie coming out this summer called X-Men: First Class, which tells the origin stories of both Magneto and Professor Xavier as to how they came together to form the X-Men.
• If there is ever a better time to write a story capitalizing on a character's appeal, it's when there is a movie about said character(s).

So with that in mind, is that off to guess that mayhaps Pak is writing a follow-up to Magneto: Testament (the story that told of Erik's days as a young man under his real name of Max Eisenhardt)? Or perhaps Xavier is getting a similar treatment in order to go with the film? Off the top of my head, the closest thing we have to an Xavier origin story in modern continuity is the first arc of X-Men: Legacy, that dealt with Xavier's greatest triumphs and failures.

Greg Pak certainly didn't give any cool advance interviews to us (insert tear-face emoticon here) but we'll keep our ears to the ground and let you know as soon as we hear more. In the mean time, we'll just cross our fingers and hope that we are right.

At Wondercon ’11 this coming Saturday don’t miss your chance to get the special WonderCon exclusive signed and numbered copy of the first PEANUTS graphic novel — HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN by artists Bob Scott and Vicki Scott!

This signed and numbered WonderCon '11 exclusive hardcover will only be sold during the signing time that is limited to 2pm - 4pm on Saturday April 2nd, 2011 so be sure to get to the BOOM!/KABOOM! booth #415 early. HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN WonderCon '11 exclusive will be limited to 100 copies, but still only costs $19.99.

Read more »

BOOM! Studios Press Release


TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN comes to BOOM! as sensational New Yorker cartoonist and legendary indie comix creator Shannon Wheeler signs a three-book deal with BOOM! Studios lit-comix imprint, BOOM! Town! It's a landmark publishing event as Shannon Wheeler ushers in three new bodies of work, TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN: CUTIE ISLAND & OTHER STORIES, GRANDPA WON'T WAKE UP and a follow up to last year's smash hit I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER, sure to delight comedy fans everywhere!

“There are few names in the indie comix scene bigger than Shannon Wheeler, and I'm honored to be working with him again,” says BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “We're excited to have Shannon's signature creation, TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN, and his other projects join the “BOOM! Town” line and will be putting a lot of muscle into making these books something comics and humor fans will not want to miss!”

“Having been there at the genesis of TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN when we lived next door to each other back in Austin, I can’t tell you how excited I am to see TMCM come to BOOM!,” says BOOM! Studios Marketing Director Chip Mosher. “I've known Shannon for over 20 years and even helped him staple some of his first TMCM mini-comics, so it is great to be working on TMCM again in an official capacity. And you better believe we'll be pushing to make all of these next Shannon Wheeler books huge hits!”

Read more »

We figure it might help to let you guys know what's coming out this week in comics, so welcome to our weekly feature! Our reviews come out tomorrow, so be sure to look over this list to get a preview of what we may or may not be reviewing tomorrow. We've added all of our own personal recommendations into this list as well, so be on the look out for bolded titles. Whenever you see one of those, it means we think you should be reading it. So keep your eyes open!

Read more »

Marvel Press Release

The best-selling crime comic of the decade finally returns with Criminal: The Last Of The Innocent #1, from the acclaimed team of writer Ed Brubaker (Captain America, Secret Avengers), artist Sean Phillips (Dark Tower) and colorist Val Staples.

What if your favorite children’s comic characters really grew up? Explore that dark question in the newest arc of the ICON series that has won Brubaker five “Best Writer” awards, and was recently named “Best Crime Comic” at the International Noir Fest in Lyon.

“With each new Criminal arc we try to do something different," Brubaker explained. “This time we're trying to make the ultimate crime comic, and what I mean by that is it's a story that only works as a comic. Yes, it's about sex and obsession and murder, but it's also about nostalgia for the past and things lost, using tropes of old kids comics and 50s era crime comics, but putting our brutal Criminal spin over it all. It's by far the most ambitious thing we've done.”

It’s also no accident that the title of this series is reminiscent of Dr. Wertham’s ‘Seduction of the Innocent’ -- the book that led to the creation of the Comics Code and the end of the popularity of crime comics as a genre. “The history of crime comics is inextricably linked to Dr. Wertham's book, so I decided to take the innocent days of youth and put them through all of Wertham's worst fears,” said Brubaker.

This June, discover just why critics and fans alike can’t stop praising Criminal and check out the all-new Criminal: The Last of The Innocent #1 and take your first peek now, with a special two-page teaser (after the cut)!

Read more »

No, really. I'm just as surprised as you are.

A few years ago, Warner Bros. attempted to make a Justice League movie directed by George Miller, with Adam Brody as the Flash, DJ Cotrona as Superman, Common as Green Lantern, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, and Armie Hammer as Batman. However, around December 2008, plans fell apart and that just didn't happen. Since then, there have been no real stirrings in the DC camp about a Justice League movie done in the same way that Marvel is doing the Avengers film, but apparently DC and Warner Bros have changed their mind as the LA Times now report that Warner Bros is planning a Justice League film with Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas (Nolan's major collaborator/wife) producing.

So as far as we can glean from the report from the LA Times, it looks like the plan is to let Nolan do his thing with the Dark Knight Rises, and then immediately reboot the franchise with a new Batman and a new director (and if you listen quietly, you can hear the screams of a million fanboys all across the land!). Nolan will oversee the future direction of the Batman films, and from there DC will be forming up their heroes just like Marvel is doing, with hopefully a franchise direction by 2013. They've already got their Superman and Green Lantern (Henry Cavill and Ryan Reynolds, respectively) assuming those don't get rebooted as well, and have plans for films about Wonder Woman and the Flash (which have been rumored for years mind you, as well as a Shazam script from Geoff Johns supposedly). Of course that leaves Aquaman and Martian Manhunter out of the equation, but hey, if you paid attention you would have noticed that the film that was in the works back in 07/08 didn't have either of those characters in them... sooo.... yeah.

DC is sitting on a franchise goldmine with this, so you'd think they would have gotten to it sooner. I suppose they might not want to have appeared to be just going at it against Marvel and their idea to make a linking film franchise, but even so. Hopefully a Nolan overseen film starring 5 of the Big 7 could be as entertaining as it sounds. And with the Aquaman series relaunch from Geoff Johns coming up and Martian Manhunters reintegration with the DCU, who knows - maybe we'll be seeing everyone in the film after all?

(via source)

Every now and then, Themyscira just up and goes away, and we have to pretend it means anything. Most recently, it’s happened as part of the latest Wonder Woman mega-arc, although it got crowded out of the discussion a bit by the whole “Diana? In a jacket and pants?” thing. Before that, it happened in Infinite Crisis, and I’ll be honest - Infinite Crisis probably coincided with the heaviest “DC period” of my comics readership, if you want to call it that, but I have no clue how that plotline resolved at all. This is emblematic, to a point, of the general history of Wonder Woman. People shout a lot, but who’s listening unless it’s to once again dredge up the tired old debate of star-spangled swimsuit vs. anything else?

So let's look at War of the Gods -- arguably the biggest event of Wonder Woman's publishing history, structure-wise, and see if we can't find clues as to why even her mega-event crossover has slipped from the collective memory. Join me after the jump and we'll get moving.

Read more »

Written by Alan Moore
Illustrated by Jacen Burrows

The cataclysmic final issue of the all-new, all Alan Moore, horror series spoken of only in hushed whispers for years is finally here! NEONOMICON, the sequel to THE COURTYARD Graphic Novel, is slithering its way onto shelves to take its place as a Great Old One of comics terror! Illustrated by Moore's favorite demented artist, Jacen Burrows, NEONOMICON pulls no punches as every full-colored page is covered in nightmares brought to gruesome life! Agent Brears has, quite literally, been to hell and back. Hell just happens to look like a network of tunnels beneath an esoteric little bookstore in Salem, Mass. But now that Brears has walked out of hell, she can see things that most people can't. Things that would drive most people mad. But as NEONOMICON draws to a close, Brears has one more thing she wants to show you...

In an interview with Scotland's The Skinny magazine last September, Alan Moore had this to say about Neonomicon: "I went back and read through the scripts, and I thought, ‘Have I gone too far?’ Looking back, yes, maybe I have gone too far – but it’s still a good story." No offense, Alan, but we'll be the judge of that.

(Reader advisory: mature subject matter after the jump!)

Read more »

Last week, Uncanny X-Men #534, signifying the end of Matt Fraction's 3 year run on the title hot off the heels of Brubaker's run. However, as soon as it was announced that Kieron Gillen would be co-writing the book we all knew - Fraction was getting ready to leave. With Invincible Iron Man, the Mighty Thor and the massive Fear Itself on it's way (and perhaps more?), Fraction has handed off the reigns. And after a run like his (which was assuredly a love it/hate it run at the Multiversity offices), it's only fair to take some time and look back at some of the moments from the 37 issues (including an annual and one-shot) he penned for the flagship title.

Take a look behind the cut for the Top 5 Moments of Matt Fraction's run.

Read more »

Premiering over at CBR, the above image comes from the Marvel camp of what is assumed to be T'Challa's new identity as a result of something to do with Fear Itself. While no additional information is given, the above image by series artist Francesco Francavilla is fairly interesting. Given T'Challa's strong roots in his cultural heritage, it seems a tad ... off that he would just strap on some American stripes and stars. Is it possible that someone else is under there? Or is this just T'Challa giving up on Wakanda now that he isn't regent and there is no more vibranium?

Look forward to more in upcoming issues of Black Panther: Man Without Fear. Assumedly, anyway.

(via source)

BOOM! Studios Press Release

BOOM! Studios announced today that Clive Barker's HELLRAISER #1 is completely sold out! In a historic promotion, BOOM! simultaneously released an all-new, all-original, free and completely sharable PRELUDE TO HELLRAISER #1 PDF (check #HellraiserPrelude on Twitter to obtain a copy) which aided in the dramatic sell out of Clive Barker's HELLRAISER #1 within the first three days of release! BOOM! Studios also announces today that Clive Barkers HELLRAISER #1 will be going to second print and is available to order now through Diamond Comic Distributors with the following Diamond Code: FEB118159, as well as through Haven Distributors.

Fans should keep in mind, while Diamond Comic Distributor and Haven Distributors are completely sold out, first printings of Clive Barker's HELLRAISER #1 may still be found at the local comic shop nearest you. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Please use www.comcicshoplocator.com.

“From everyone in the HELLRAISER creative team and from everyone at BOOM! – thank you for making Clive Barker's HELLRAISER #1 a sweeping success,” says BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “But we're not stopping there, this is just the fuel that drives us to work even harder at making the HELLRAISER ongoing series the best it can be!”

“HELLRAISER, horror and comics fans have spoken, Clive Barker's HELLRAISER #1 is a hit!” says BOOM! Studios Marketing Director Chip Mosher. “We worked hard to excite not only comics fans but horror fans everywhere looking for a gory treat with our PDF promotion. Seeing Clive Barker's HELLRAISER #1 sell out and go to second print lets me know we're reaching that goal!”

For the full press release, please check behind the cut

Read more »

In the days leading up to WonderCon, we're getting more teasers from what to expect at the Bay Area Comic Con, entering its 25th year. From the Skybound camp, run by the seemingly ubiquitous Robert Kirkman, we have a new title called Witch Doctor. Touted as "House meets Horror," one cannot help but be at least a little intrigued by it.

Read the full press release behind the cut, and look for coverage from WonderCon this weekend!

Read more »

In an effort to aid the American Red Cross’s tsunami and earthquake relief effort in Japan, Dark Horse Comics is auctioning an amazing signed lot of limited-edition artwork and books for fans eager to donate and support a greater cause.

Auction details:

eBay
“Original Art 'Hellboy by Duncan Fegredo' - Dark Horse”
Auction for Red Cross Japan Efforts Dark Horse Comics


Auction opens: March 28
Auction closes: April 1
Opening Bid: $0

Original artwork signed by Duncan Fegredo

Comics and graphic novels signed by Duncan Fegredo:
Two sets of the comics miniseries Hellboy: Darkness Calls, Hellboy: The Wild Hunt, and Hellboy: The Storm
Free Comic Book Day comic: “Hellboy: The Mole”
Two sets of the graphic novels Hellboy: Darkness Calls, Hellboy: The Wild Hunt, and Hellboy: The Crooked Man

Signed editions from the personal collection of Mike Mignola:
Hellboy: Seed of Destruction (Limited edition—out of print)
Signed bust of Hellboy (Limited edition—1 of 3,000)
Signed bust of Abe Sapien (Limited edition—1 of 3,000)

Dark Horse Comics will donate 100 percent of proceeds of the event to the American Red Cross for Japanese earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief.

Read more »

Premiering on TV Guide is our first look at what Booster Gold and Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) will look like in the upcoming episode of Smallville! Airing on April 22nd, Eric Martsolf will be playing the time traveling loud mouth who is at the beginning of his career (i.e. when he is most conceited). According to the TV Guide write-up, Booster will clash with Clark, "who is struggling to create a more mild-mannered secret identity to balance out his life as a the Blur." Meanwhile, Jaren Brandt Bartlett will be playing Blue Beetle, who will have his origin story shown in the episode and will spend the duration of the episode being at odds with Booster. It should also be noted that Geoff Johns not only created Jamie Reyes as the Blue Beetle, but also wrote this episode, entitled Booster.

So what do you guys think of what they look like? Sound off in the comments, and look forward to the episode next month.

(via source)

Image Press Release

No one can ever claim Jonathan Hickman is lazy. Not content with helming head-turning runs on Fantastic Four, Secret Warriors and S.H.I.E.L.D., not to mention re-imagining the FF for his most recent hit, The Future Foundation, Hickman returns to Image this summer with an all-new creator-owned miniseries, THE RED WING.

"We're all pretty excited for this one," Hickman explained. "We believe we not only have a solid concept for an engaging new series, but even at this early stage, THE RED WING has that lightning in a bottle feel to it. I think people are really going to like it."

Written by Hickman, with art by amazing newcomer Nick Pitarra and colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, THE RED WING marks Hickman's first creator owned work since the conclusion of the critically acclaimed A RED MASS FOR MARS.

"Nick is going to really surprise some people," Hickman said. "When the art for this starts hitting the web, and then when the finished product shows up in stores, many of them are going to wonder where this guy has been hiding. Nick's a very hungry, special, special talent. I consider myself fortunate to be working with him."

Set in a future where the best fighter pilots in the world not only have to master their craft and perfect their skills, the heroes of THE RED WING also have to learn how to navigate through time. Described by Hickman as "the greatest battle in the history of the history of three worlds," the four-issue miniseries is but the first concept to be mined by Hickman & Pitarra as part of Hickman's ongoing "PLUS!" project.

"Well, I've been promising I'd get to this for over a year, so now it's time," Hickman said. "We'll start with THE RED WING, and then I'll be writing and drawing something called, FEEL BETTER NOW, before Nick and I move on to our next exciting project. We have a busy, aggressive slate of exciting stories to tell, and, like I said before, it's time."

"It's a real privilege to be working with Jonathan and the incredible team he's assembled for THE RED WING," added Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Since his comics debut with THE NIGHTLY NEWS, Jonathan has been one of the most unique and visionary voices in contemporary comics, and after hearing what he has planned for THE RED WING and the rest of the PLUS! series, I can guarantee you he's not planning to rest on his laurels anytime soon!"

Read more »

Comic books as a medium are no stranger to piracy and theivery. Like any medium really, these things "happen." However, in recent memory, nothing to this scale has happened, especially with it going under the radar of so many. (And, to be truthful, we would have thrown our two cents in if it didn't all go down over the weekend).

This is going to be a LONG post for a news post, but before we begin I just want to make it clear that this is essentially Bleeding Cool's story. They've been on this like white on rice since it broke. Our aim is merely to share the story. The last thing I'd want it to look like is that I'm doing my best Granito impersonation and swiping another site's work. So, for reference, here are links: biff, bang, boom, pow, thwap, bang, snikt, klang, and fwoosh.

Ok. Let's begin. For the entire story of "the Charlie Sheen of comics", take a look behind the cut.

Read more »

Something about EiC Matt’s review of Nonplayer stuck out to me: he docked it for not being an ongoing. That doesn’t sit well with me, and it brings up something I’ve noticed among comic readers these days (and I felt the same way for a long time), that mini-series are somehow not as good as an ongoing. I hear a lot of “Oh it’s just a mini, I’ll wait for the trade if it’s good,” which, while I occasionally hear people trade-waiting with ongoings, seems to happen a LOT more with minis. These days I actually get more excited when a new series is announced as a mini as opposed to an ongoing.

Read more »

Slightly more than one month ago, Joanne Siegel, widow of Jerome Siegel -- one of Superman's co-creators -- and original model for Lois Lane, passed away at the age of 93. In the last few years of her life, Siegel and the family of Joe Shuster -- the other co-creator -- were involved in a struggle to reclaim the Superman copyright from DC Comics and Warner Brothers. The legal battle has been a lengthy affair, as Warner Brothers have been working all the leverage they can muster to keep the scales tilted in their favor -- at the expense of what some might call common decency.

Yesterday, Dateline posted a heartbreaking letter sent to Time Warner CEO Jeffrey L. Bewkes from Joanne Siegel only two months before her passing that appeals for an end to the unfair treatment that Time Warner's lawyers have given her -- treatment that she labels as harassment. And, reading her letter, one can't help but agree with her. We here at Multiversity urge our readers to read this letter, presented behind the cut.

Read more »

Announced yesterday to the varied reactions of the nerdy masses, Amy Adams was confirmed as playing Lois Lane in the upcoming Superman reboot by Zack Snyder. The role is described as a "lynch pin" role, Adams will be following in the footsteps of Margot Kidder, Noel Neill, Erica Durance, and Kate Bosworth.

Those of you who have seen any film Amy Adams has ever been in ever are probably really excited right now, just like us. Although we're kind of wondering what the plan is for her hair, because Lois isn't a redhead and we personally can't see Amy Adams in any other color hair.

Although, those of you who have seen any film Zack Snyder has ever done ever are probably also a tad bit worried now after Sucker Punch. Or maybe that's just us?

So how much longer until we can get a Lois Lane series going?

(via source)

Image Press Release

The dead will rise and take over San Francisco this April 1. Robert Kirkman of THE WALKING DEAD fame and hoards of his zombified fans will invade the apocalypse-worthy drinking establishments of the city by the bay, seeking the flesh of the living, and quite possibly some adult beverages as well. Isotope Comics, iFanboy, and Image Comics are teaming up for a night the city will never forget.

Walking Dead and Robert Kirkman fans of legal drinking age are welcome to join the tour as we explore the saloon strongholds throughout San Francisco. Those who fear to walk among the dead or long to trade survivor stories with Mr. Kirkman himself can buy a ticket to ride in style aboard a San Francisco tour bus with Robert Kirkman, James Sime and Conor Kilpatrick and Ron Richards of iFanboy.

James Sime, proprietor of Isotope Comics, shares tips for surviving the night, "It's time to get zombified San Francisco!" said Sime, "Grabbing a seat on this insanely cool bus will score you VIP transport to our every stop, an exclusive WALKING DEAD SF BAR CRAWL SURVIVAL GUIDE to get autographed, and will have you rubbing shoulders with the always awesome Robert Kirkman for what will no doubt be one of the most fun nights of your life! Wear your best zombie gear, indulge in one of the many of THE WALKING DEAD drink specials the bars will be serving all night, and get a personal introduction to Robert Kirkman from yours truly! What could be better!?"

For the full press release, please check behind the cut

Read more »

Image Press Release

On April 13th, LA songstresses, The Like, will rock the pages of LI'L DEPRESSED BOY with their 60's British-invasion inspired pop music. Having previously featured the pop punk musician Kepi Ghoulie in the first issue, when LDB first met Jazz, the girl of his dreams, this comic is no stranger to buzz-worthy new indie music.

S. Steven Struble explained the decision to have real bands rather than fictional ones, "Music is a very important thing in LDB's life, and we like to keep it authentic. So for us, there was no other choice than a real band. The Like fit perfectly the story we were telling and we both love their music."

"When Struble had suggested a real band playing at Jazz's birthday, my first throught was The Like," added artist Sina Grace. "I expected a huge back and forth about which band to go with, but it turned out he'd been listening to them for months and loved Release Me as much as I did."

Laena Geronimo, bassist for The Like, said, "Being illustrated in a comic book is kind of one of the most unbelievably awesome things that can happen to a band I think. It's just amazing how well our looks and mannerisms were captured in just lines and color. I'm SO excited to see the physical pages in my hands! I can't believe I'm on the cover! I'm going to frame it."

Read more »

You guys demanded it, and we listened! Spoiler Alert is back, and believe us - it is better than ever.

We hope you enjoyed last week's chat with the Uncanny Kieron Gillen, and today we continue our interview series by chatting with winner of the Nicest Man Of The Year award, Jeff Parker! We chat about the big red bruiser known as the Red Hulk, the world's greatest superhero team the Thunderbolts, and maybe perhaps some additional teams that may or may not have series at the moment. Oh, and cats. And snow. And teaching!

So take a little listen below and be sure to a) subscribe on iTunes for automatic updates to the show and b) tell all your friends, because this is going to be the best comic podcast on the entire internet!

This week covers are back on track, as there were some good-looking options out there. I’ve selected my three favorites and I hope you’ll join me as I break them down and explain what makes them great. I’ll take a look at all the factors involved in making a great cover. In particular, I’ll be speaking about the logo, trade dress and (of course) the cover art itself.

Want to see what looked great in the world of covers this week? If so, click below to check out the goods.

Read more »

UPDATE: Geoff Johns confirmed on Twitter that he will be writing Aquaman post-Brightest Day.

Original article: Reports coming out of MegaCon in Orlando right now are saying - supposedly - that Geoff Johns will be helming a brand new Aquaman ongoing once Brightest Day wraps. This is not ostensibly a surprise. In fact, I suppose many of us saw this coming. Given the "wrap-up" of the Aquaman story in Brightest Day, it's absolutely fair to call that story "Aquaman: Rebirth" at this point, as it definitely ends on an open note just begging for a further series.

However, this makes Geoff Johns' docket rather large, now featuring three of the main seven JLA members. Does anyone else worry that maybe Johns won't be able to handle this, considering Flash was rushed into an event and then "ended" at issue #12? Are we going end up with a handful of Aquaman issues and then Aquawar 2: Electric Boogaloo?

We'll wait until DC confirms this somewhere to call it totally official, but for now, we have two sources claiming this was announced: one and two. I suppose you can pre-order this along with James Robinson's Hawkman book.

To open with some blatant editorializing, this was not originally the Friday Rec I had planned to write. I had discussed previously with another writer of this site which series I wanted to discuss, and up until earlier this week I was all set to sit down and write said article. However, as is my comic reading habit, I have lately had an edict that I need to finish all the various series that I began reading in trade and a) never finished or b) never caught up with. This week saw me sitting down and reading the complete second volume of Bryan JL Glass and Mike Oeming's Mice Templar (collected in two trades) and three issues of the latest volume currently on stands. And as I read the most recent issue, Mice Templar v3 #3, I noticed it featured a note asking fans of the book to spread the love of the series amongst their peers. And when I thought back to the original purpose of Friday Rec - which was to recommend ongoing series for readers to check out - it was decided that the Friday Rec would change to be about a little series that most of you should be reading.

Check behind the cut for some thoughts on the series.

Read more »

Written by Grant Morrison
Illustrated by Chris Burnham

Superstar writer Grant Morrison and artist Chris Burnham have sent The Dark Knight on a trip to Japan and Argentina, but now Batman's taking a brief breather back in his home base of Gotham City for a team-up with Batwoman!

Don't let that solicit fool you: while Batman and Batwoman are both certainly in this issue, they do not interact in any way let alone in a capacity that could be considered a team-up. That said, does the story we do get hold up? Click on down to find out, if you dare!

Read more »

Written by Paul Levitz
Illustrated by Daniel HDR and Wayne Faucher

A jam-packed extravaganza! Star Boy returns from the 21st century! Sensor Girl searches for Karate Kid! The team trails the escaped Legion of Super-Villains! And Saturn Girl seeks Harmonia Li's blood—and the reason why will shock you!

Read more »

Written by Geoff Johns
Illustrated by Doug Mahnke

"War of the Green Lanterns" ignites with part 1 of the blockbuster event that'll burn into the summer! A malevolent force has usurped control over all the power batteries, leaving the Corps powerless except for a select few members. Now it's up to Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, John Stewart and Sinestro to regain control – but can these warriors overcome their differences in time to save the universe?

It's deja vu all over again as yet another title spanning Green Lantern-related crossover begins. However, with the glory days of The Sinestro Corps War behind him and his work demonstrating some severe downs as well as ups over the last year, does Geoff Johns still have that mini-event mojo that he used to? Click on down to find out!

Read more »

Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Adam Kubert

Meet Czar and Big Murder. They’ve kicked Spider-Man and
Wolverine’s butts throughout time, working for the mystery villain
who’s been running this whole scheme. And he’s winning. But will it
matter when, SPOILER ALERT, the Phoenix Force steps in? Don’t miss the penultimate chapter of Jason Aaron (WOLVERINE) and Adam Kubert’s (X-MEN) modern-day masterpiece!

A month ago, I wrote an article for our Friday Rec column Marvel's Astonishing line for being accessible, creative, and ultimately fun - and if there is any series that has assuredly helped to define the kind of output we should be seeing from the Astonishing line, it's Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine.

Find out why after the cut.

Read more »

Yesterday on the Source blog, DC revealed the interior design for the Absolute Identity Crisis hardcover coming out later this year. The image, as illustrated by Identity Crisis' Rags Morales, features the book's main cast from the controversial but popular tale that has become a staple in DC's modern continuity. It's quite a gorgeous cover at that, being particularly poignant for those who know the tale's outcome, with the page saying "PROTECT YOURSELF" in the corner and the Atom sitting on the Elongated Man's shoulder being particularly noteworthy elements.

Absolute Identity Crisis is on sale in October for $100 big ones, but it'll be pretty sad to see this image colored once it comes out.

Last week, Judah Friedlander threw an issue of Avenger's Academy into a deep fryer on 30 Rock. This week, Marvel has decided to respond in equal measure, assumedly in the only way they figured how.

Watch the video above to see how Joe Quesada and Tom Brevoort deal with such tomfoolery, with apologies to Scott Adsit.

Do you know what day it is?

Yesterday was Thursday. Tomorrow is Saturday, and Sunday comes after... wards. And you know what that means? Fun, fun, fun!

Yes, Rebecca Black's amazing song has even infested the comic world in a more voracious fashion than the skrulls did. And wouldn't you know it, the internet has responded in the only seemingly way appropriate: by taking the lyrics to the song and putting them on images that don't necessarily correlate in order to create a humorous outcome. Such as the image above!

So put on a happy face. It's Friday, and it's almost the weekend. While you might have a difficult time choosing which seat of your friend's ride to sit in, at least you still have free will.

The above image is credited to DiscoPotential on tumblr, although we don't know the artist.

We've got a few more additional images after the cut, and if we happen to find any additional ones, we'll be sure to share those as well. Please e-mail any Fri-larious images you may have to us, and we'll be sure to add them!

Read more »

Image Press Release

With the first eight issues of MORNING GLORIES sold out and Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma's enigmatic Shadowline series continuing to attract buzz, Image Comics has announced that the trade paperback collection, MORNING GLORIES, VOL. 1: FOR A BETTER FUTURE, has sold through its entire print run.

Written by Spencer with art by Eisma and covers by Rodin Esquejo, MORNING GLORIES has received widespread critical acclaim since launching in September 2010, and attracting some of the most glowing reviews of any Image title since THE WALKING DEAD's illustrious debut. Despite rising initial orders, multiple reprints and an ongoing commitment to overprinting, each issue sells out within days of reaching stores, and now the first trade paperback is continuing that trend.

"The continued success of MORNING GLORIES has been really thrilling for Joe and I," Spencer said. "The amount of support we've received for this book is just amazing, but we're just getting started – we still want more people to read MORNING GLORIES!"

With that in mind, Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson noted that a second printing of MORNING GLORIES, VOL. 1 trade paperback has already been rushed to press in an effort to make the book available to curious new readers as quickly as possible.

"Based on the response to the trade, we knew we wanted to get back to press right away and had already begun working with Shadowline on a new printing," he explained. "Sales velocity exceeded even our wildest imagination, though, and while selling so quickly is nice, we'd rather the book be available."

MORNING GLORIES, VOL. 1: FOR A BETTER FUTURE (DEC100470), a 200-page trade paperback collecting the first six issues of the sold out Shadowline series at the low introductory price of $9.99 is available for re-order now with an in-store date of April 20.

If the rumor mill is to be believed, it looks like Steve Rogers is going to back to throwing his mighty shield soon. And it makes sense, from a business standpoint. Yes, Bucky is awesome, but the Captain America movie is going to (hopefully) bring in a slew of new readers, and it wouldn't be fair to drop them into an ongoing with a Cap they weren't familiar with. Plus, with the way the ongoing is currently going, it will probably end up making sense story-wise -- which, you know, is kind of important. There's one problem though: James Buchanan Barnes has become one of my favorite characters in the Marvel Universe, and I'd hate for him to just drop off the map. Follow the cut for what I think should be done with Bucky once (and if) he puts down the shield -- assuming he survives Fear Itself, of course.

Read more »

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Rafa Sandoval

THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSE GAME-CHANGER! Reed Richard's has declared war on science and technology and by doing so he has endangered or murdered some of the most important people in the Ultimate Universe. The only people standing in the way of him completing his mission are what are left of the Fantastic Four. In this shocking conclusion to the
Ultimate Enemy trilogy you will be witness to a Marvel Comics story unlike any other. Heroes will fall. New heroes will rise. But will the man they once knew as Mister Fantastic pay for his crimes?

Brian Bendis' trilogy event comes to a close as the heroes of the Ultimate Marvel Universe go up against Reed Richards. This story is quite a stark contrast to the other Fantastic Four related title I reviewed earlier today, but it's the kind of tale you can only get in the Ultimate Marvel U. I guess it helps to know that the man who helped pioneer the universe's existence is so willing to destroy all that you hold dear within it as well, doesn't it?

Click behind the cut for some thoughts on the finale, as well as some on the event trilogy as a whole. As a note, some spoilers are discussed, so be sure to read the issue before this review.

Read more »

Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Renato Arlem

The phone rings. The voice speaks. They want you to fight Captain America. Again. The man who beat you before. The man who you know will beat you again. What can you say? You say “Yes”. Batroc: Traceur shows why and takes you every step of the road he walks. It's time to meet the man behind the greatest moustache in the MarvelUniverse. Yeah, Stark. You heard.

While I initially had zero interest in Marvel's most recent batch of blatant movie tie-ins 75th Anniversary Captain America One-Shots, this particular self contained story popped up on my radar screen during my most recent conversation with writer Kieron Gillen wherein I learned that this story was one of the first he ever conceived within the Marvel Universe. It's a good thing this one percolated for a while, since in 22 short pages, Gillen manages to turn one of the lost running punchlines of the Marvel Universe into one of the most human, compelling characters in the MU (trust me, I'm just as surprised as you.) Click past the cut and watch me defend this claim.

Read more »

Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Steve Epting

It's the FANTASTIC first issue of FF! A bold new direction for Marvel's First Family featuring new members, old friends, older enemies and uneasy alliances that will send shockwaves through the Marvel Universe. With stunning art work by Steve Epting and Paul Mounts, please join writer, Jonathan Hickman, on the second massive arc in the bold new direction for the 'World's Greatest Comic”

At last! The long awaited relaunch of Fantastic Four is here as the F4 are no more and the FF take over. Jonathan Hickman's initial run on the Fantastic Four title was absolutely fantastic, and I think I speak for every member of this site when I say we can't wait to see what happens next. This book made it onto every Comics Should Be Cheap list this week so I suppose that helps to partially explain the excitement we have had for it.

Of course, now that it's here, how does the first issue in this new series read? Find out after the cut. As a note, there is a very mild spoiler in the review that has been whited out for your convenience. Just keep that in the back of your minds as you move forward!

As an additional note, the image chosen for this article is not the regular cover, but rather the 1 in 10 variant cover by Stan Goldberg, who was the original colorist for Jack Kirby back in 1961 when the first issue of Fantastic Four came out. Both fellow writer Josh Mocle and I were so excited by this cover that we each grabbed it at our local shop, gaining the only two copies available. It seemed only right to grab a gorgeous cover like this for our respective collections.

Read more »