After last week’s book with meaning, I felt it was time to indulge my need for pointless action, adventure and violence. That need was more than satisfied by the latest Judge Dredd collection: HEAVY METAL DREDD, published by Rebellion.
All stories were originally published in Judge Dredd Megazine. For those unfamiliar with the Dredd Megazine, it was a place where ultra-violent stories with Judge Dredd could be written. And written they were. This collection is the most brutal Dredd collection I have ever read and every blood-splashed page was awesome.
The general theme of the collection is music. Whether it’s Dredd searching for disguised criminals at an Elvis impersonators convention or dealing with a Pinball Wizard, there was some tie to music.
In addition to loads of gratuitous violence, the book is loaded with bad jokes. There was a story about Dick, Dick, Dick and Willy, the members of a band called The Gonads. When they met with limited success they have their brains implanted into ape bodies and change the band name to the Monkeys. A Guns’n’ Roses level of hotel destruction quickly earns the interest of Judge Dredd and mayhem ensues.
2009 marks Marvel Comics’ 70th Anniversary. To celebrate, this August, all ongoing Marvel Comics series will have a 70th Anniversary Variant featuring a frame by artist Jim Cheung. These Frame Variants, most of which will ship in a 1:10 ratio, will also feature a Marvel character from that title by another big name artist.
The first to get the Frame Variant treatment appears to be Incredible Hulk #601 (left), featuring art by Michael Golden.
These look pretty neat. Marvel has done a nice job with their theme variants in recent months, first with the Wolverine variants and then the Decade variants.
Look for these 70th Anniversary Frame Variants in August.
Top Cow’s PILOT SEASON is coming back once again, except this time things will be just a tad different.
Instead of completely different creative teams, this time around writer Robert Kirkman will be writing all five single pilot issues with artist Marc Silverstri providing the character designs and covers for each individual issue. No word on the interior artists as of yet.
Top Cow’s very interesting and unique Pilot Seasons showcase new comic concepts, much like Pilot TV shows, which fans can vote on to turn two of the batch into regular ongoing books. Usually they consisted of completely different creative teams. I wonder if Kirkman will write the two books that win to become ongoing series. If he does this is great, if not I’m not quite sure what the point of him doing each issue is anyway.
I like that publishers other than the Big Two try to entice the readers to get involved and try new properties. The free Witchblade issue the other month was a prime example of Top Cow doing just that. Of course I have a special place in my heart for the Pilot Season. The newest incarnation of it brought to you by Kirkman/Silvestri is slated to begin in October.
It is truly a beautiful day outside. In fact, it is such an unbelievably gorgeous day today that I might actually burst into song right here at Cosmic Comix while you peruse the racks. So inspired am I by the weather that, on top of giving a vocal performance here in the store (Huey Lewis, "Heart and Soul," fyi) , I think I just might write a column detailing the best covers that came out today. How special!
DARK X-MEN: THE BEGINNING #1
60s DECADE VARIANT
As I’m sure you recall, Marvel is doing several "decade variants" this month. This one happens to celebrate the 60s and I think it’s fantastic. All the swirls, the bubbles, the go-go boots, the scooter, those weird lamps.
Plus, I can totally taste the colors with my mind, man!
Hot on the heels of our Disney Comics sale last week, we are rolling out the MINI-SERIES SALE! For this week only, lasting through next Tuesday, July 14, all mini-series are 50% OFF!
You’ve probably noticed the mini-series boxes on the floor near the back of the store. There’s an incredible variety of limited series in there: Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, GI Joe, Transformers and a ton of independents, too!
Prices are already pretty low on our mini-series sets - generally between $6.00 and $10.00 - so this sale gives you the chance to pick up a complete, multi-issue story for as low as $3.00!
Since Rusty is away I thought I would try to give a week in review from a different perspective. I learned one very important thing this week: there are a heck of a lot of great comics going on right now and some exciting stuff right around the corner.
Let’s start with the non-Big Two books that have made for excellent reading. We have IRREDEEMABLE #4 from Mark Waid and Boom! Studios, which is a great examination of what happens when a “superman” goes bad. In this issue the son of a gun sinks Singapore, killing millions, which is Irredeemable all right. To catch up on this great series Boom is releasing a trade of the first four issues for $10 (as opposed to the $16 cover price the original issues cost) and releasing issue #5 for $1 and they come out on the same day. No excuse for you not to jump into this great series: five issues for $11!
Paul Dini, writer of the video game ARKHAM ASYLUM, along with the creative team behind it, gives us a glimpse into this hotly anticipated release. I think if anything you can see some genuine love and thought went into creating what very well may be the greatest Batman interactive experience to date. Enjoy!
The lead-off book for next week is a no-brainer: DC Comics’ Blackest Night #1 (pictured, left). Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis raise the dead in what could be the most anticipated comic book story of the year. A couple other Blackest Night titles ship, too: Tales of the Corps #1 and Titans #15. Also look for the second weekly installment of Wednesday Comics.
From Marvel we’re set to get Captain America #601, one issue after #600, and Amazing Spider-Man #599, one issue BEFORE #600! Also, Incognito #5, hot on the heels of issue #4, Dark Avengers #7 (pictured, right) and Mighty Avengers #27.
Keep reading to see the full list of what might be coming out next Wednesday.
(If you’re looking for the comics that are coming out this Wednesday, July 8, click here.)
SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES will be released direct-to-DVD on September 29. I must admit I am not excited about adapting the first arc of Jeph Loeb’s Superman/Batman book, but the animation stills I’ve seen and the voice talent have got me cautiously optimistic that it could be good. What I may not have enjoyed as a comic might fit the animated world a bit better.
The stills show a genuine attempt at mimicking Ed McGuinness’ art style, who originally did that arc with Loeb. Quite a nice feat and one that seems to really shine as an animated style. In addition to this it seems that Superman, Batman and Lex Luthor will all be voiced by the same actors that did their voices for the animated shows under Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy and Clancy Brown reprise their roles as Superman, Batman and Lex Luthor, respectively. This changes the dynamic of me watching this film dramatically.
Wow, are we really looking forward to September already? This year is flying by! What an outrage! Well, no matter. The July Marvel Previews has some good stuff in it, including a couple big conclusions (Old Man Logan and the JMS run on Thor), Dark Reign: The List, and the return of the Marvel Zombies. Enough of my prattling, you say? On to the list, you say? You got it!
WOLVERINE GIANT-SIZE OLD MAN LOGAN #1
Written by Mark Millar
Pencils by Steve McNiven
This is it! The moment you’ve been waiting for! Prepare yourselves for the most brutal battle in the history of comics as Wolverine returns- and unleashes a tidal wave of bloody revenge! It’s Wolverine versus the Hulk Gang to the death! Don’t miss the flesh-rending final chapter to the greatest Wolverine story ever told by the peerless Mark Millar and Steve McNiven!
So comes the end of one of the most popular Wolverine stories in recent memory. Kudos to Millar and McNiven for putting it together. Hopefully now we’ll get another issue of Kick-Ass!
After last week’s book with meaning, I felt it was time to indulge my need for pointless action, adventure and violence. That need was more than satisfied by the latest Judge Dredd collection: HEAVY METAL DREDD, published by Rebellion.
2009 marks Marvel Comics’ 70th Anniversary. To celebrate, this August, all ongoing Marvel Comics series will have a 70th Anniversary Variant featuring a frame by artist Jim Cheung. These Frame Variants, most of which will ship in a 1:10 ratio, will also feature a Marvel character from that title by another big name artist.
The first to get the Frame Variant treatment appears to be Incredible Hulk #601 (left), featuring art by Michael Golden.
Top Cow’s PILOT SEASON is coming back once again, except this time things will be just a tad different. .jpg)
It is truly a beautiful day outside. In fact, it is such an unbelievably gorgeous day today that I might actually burst into song right here at Cosmic Comix while you peruse the racks. So inspired am I by the weather that, on top of giving a vocal performance here in the store (Huey Lewis, "Heart and Soul," fyi) , I think I just might write a column detailing the best covers that came out today. How special!
(Today’s Week in Review column is brought to you by Jim Martin, of 
The lead-off book for next week is a no-brainer: DC Comics’ Blackest Night #1 (pictured, left). Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis raise the dead in what could be the most anticipated comic book story of the year. A couple other Blackest Night titles ship, too: Tales of the Corps #1 and Titans #15. Also look for the second weekly installment of Wednesday Comics.
Wow, are we really looking forward to September already? This year is flying by! What an outrage! Well, no matter. The July Marvel Previews has some good stuff in it, including a couple big conclusions (Old Man Logan and the JMS run on Thor), Dark Reign: The List, and the return of the Marvel Zombies. Enough of my prattling, you say? On to the list, you say? You got it!
