May was a big month for Multiversity Comics. It was the fifth anniversary for the site, and there was plenty of special content for our fantastic and loyal readers. Thanks again for sticking with the site, it means a lot to everyone.
It was Free Comic Book Day, the best day of the year, and everyone flocked to their local comic book shop to support the industry and check the cool exclusives.
Wonder Woman is finally getting another series, although it is a digital first anthology. Perhaps not having to deal with the conflicting New 52 versions of the character will free up creators to tell great Wonder Woman stories without the hassle of continuity. Old Man Alan Moore is launching an app allowing anyone to make digital comics that he can then trash. DC canceled a bunch more books, and Grant Morrison’s long awaited “The Multiversity” was finally announced for an August release date, so get ready for some good old fashioned weirdness as it gets all up in this New 52 space.
The biggest news this month has to be that the shit hitting the fan at Marvel Studios over the upcoming Ant-Man film, resulting in the departure of director Edgar Wright. While the usual “creative differences” were cited, rumors abound that Marvel forced eleventh hour rewrites onto the script that were so extensive as to cause Wright to walk away from the project he’s been working on for the past six years. Replacement directors were quickly lined up, before they stared to drop like flies ants just as quickly.
Over at DC, Zach Snyder tweeted out the first photo of Batfleck in costume, displaying a Frank Miller inspired look and proving that this Affleck guy gives good chin. Warner Bros of course immediately squandered any good will the monochrome picture generated by announcing the full title of the film as Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, the worst title for any movie this side of Attack Of The Clones. And just to top it off, David S. Goyer, writer of Batman v Superman v Alien v Predator v Kramer v Kramer, said some stupid and stereotypical things about Martian Manhunter and She-Hulk fans. Hey Dave, if you’re too cool to make a comic book movie, DON’T MAKE A COMIC BOOK MOVIE.
(AllopinionsarepersonalanddonotnecessarilyreflectthoseheldbyMultiversityComics)
In happier film news, X-Men: Days Of Future Past opened huge at the box office and retconed away most of your adolescence but it’s cool because it was more embarrassing than you remember.
On the small screen, Arrow wrapped up a stellar second season, proving that embracing the source material, instead of cynical detachment, is the key to achieving comic-to-screen success. After the finale, fans where treated with a first look at Arrow spinoff The Flash, which was soon followed up with a full length trailer where Barry Allen fights a tornado. Over at Fox, they released an extensive preview of the upcoming Gotham, with the first glimpse of young Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle and Oswald Cobblepot as they face off against Ryan from The OC, Benjamin McKenzie, in full on gritty mode as a fresh faced Jim Gordon.
Best Book: “Southern Bastards” #2
You should have all watched Friday Night Lights by now. Remember how Dillon, Texas was filled with the worst parents ever? Well imagine if they were actual sociopaths instead of drunk rednecks and you have “Southern Bastards”. This book built on the first issue perfectly, making the world bigger, better, and more deadly. The reveal of Coach Boss was excellent, as he looked like any high school football coach, which only made him more terrifying.
Runner Up: “Zero” #8
Best Writer: Jason Aaron
That last scene at the tree. Holy Hell. Aaron is swinging for the fence here, using what appears to be a simple crime story as framework for deep and layered character study.
Runner Up: Ales Kot
Best Artist: Rod Reis
This is going to be divisive, but the artwork for “C.O.W.L.” #1 elevated the book beyond just another superheros-in-real-life-story. Reis’ images harken back to Dave McKean’s work on the classic “Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth”. It’s grippingly surreal, and lets the reader know this is not just a story about union infighing.
Continued belowRunner Up: Jason Latour
Best Cover: “Elektra” #2 by Mike Del Mundo
Just look at that thing. Beautiful and terrifying. Marvel needs to make an Elektra movie just so this can be the poster.
Runner Up: “Revival” #20 by Jenny Frison
Best Debut: “C.O.W.L.” #1
I may get some grief for this, but I loved “C.O.W.L.” #1. It could have been yet another “Watchmen” clone, but the way it combined dark procedural elements with a 1960’s vibe, and visualized through Rod Reis’ excellent art, just made me want to read the next 10 issues right now.
Runner Up: Tie – “United States of Murder Inc” #1 / “Nailbiter” #1
Worst Finale To An Underrated Series: “Nightwing” #30
