If you're a regular reader 'round these parts you've no doubt heard me proclaim the greatness that is Comic Foundry magazine. it's a well rounded magazine that is as much about superheros and tights as it is about Manga and indie books. The new issue will be out in June and while I'm still excited about it, the cover story is definitely NOT the reason I am.
Why an interview with G4's Blair Butler is a good thing is beyond me. She is the most boring and awkward personality on the network and it pains me to see her get all the comic related presentations. She's as wooden as Johnny is a homicidal maniac and she just sucks the life out of every interview she conducts.
While I'll be gladly waiting for the issue to arrive in my mailbox this June, i will most definitely be skipping that particular article.
Your usual host for our Thursday morning quarterbacking is currently incapacitated (maybe if he had a Mac instead of Vista, ha!) so it's up to your intrepid sociopath to pumpkin bomb some reviews on your bad selves.
The name of the game this week is undoubtedly Secret Invasion. The first two issues have met with resounding success in the blogosphere and even satellite books such as New Avengers and Mighty Avengers are sharing in the basking warmth of those damn, dirty Skrulls. But let's not count out the Whedonverse as both Buffy and Angel: After the Fall have new issues out this week (from different publishers, strangely enough).
What's on deck this week?
1. Secret Invasion #2
2. Mighty Avengers #13
3. Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas #1
4. Buffy: Season Eight #14
5. Nova #13
6. X-Factor: The Quick and the Dead
7. Invincible Iron Man #1
8. The Boys #18
9. Thunderbolts: Reason in Madness
10. Angel: After the Fall #7
11. Logan #3
12. Cable #3
13. Midnighter #18
Did we make the right calls? Check out the reviews and let us know!
CBR has the first look at the Steve McNiven variant cover for next month's Secret Invasion #3. It's very much a cool image and I may pass up the painted cover for it, even though I hate mixing covers for this sort of collection.
Has the Thing ever looked so forlorn before?
Hit the thumbnail below for the fullsize image of Fury in all his gun-totin' glory.
While no contracts have been signed either eay (and we're still a ways away from that), it seems that writer/director Jon Favreau may not be coming back to work on the nxt Iron Man as everyone had assumed. He's been saying for some time now that he would love to come back and complete what he saw as a trilogy.
In Favreau's story arc, the second film would have Tony turning 40 and deal with his mid-life crisis by turning to the sauce. The second film was always supposed to be a reworking of the seminal Demon in a Bottle storyline. It's a defining work for the character and speaks to who Tony Stark is (both losing and regaining control).
The only problem is that the first IM film was TOO successful. it seems that Marvel is eying Iron Man as a family franchise. Makes sense given the children's bed sheets and inflatable bath toys being advertised with Iron Man on them. Of course, a film dealing with alcoholism isn't exactly going to be hauling the nine year olds in by the truck load. As adept as Favreau is at making kids movies (he directed both Elf and Zathura), he always stated that he saw Iron Man as an adult film, just with a few fight scenes thrown in. Tony's battlr with the drink certainly fits that mold, but what if both he and Marvel Studios are unwilling to budge? It's ultimately Marvel's call, but if Favreau was so integral to the first Iron Man (and he was), what would a sequel out of his hands look like?
Not a terribly big surprise, but the Invincible Iron Man #1 has sold out at Diamond. While some stores may still have a copy or two left, they can no longer order more copies from the distributor. Something of a surprise though - Marvel has announced they have no plans to go back to press on the issue. I guess six variant covers are enough.
Invincible Iron Man #1 is the opening gambit in a new Iron Man ongoing book aimed at a more movie-friendly, superhero audience as opposed to the more secret agent vibe of Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Our readers who live in or near New York take note, a special exhibit at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art on super-heroic style and it's effect on fashion has just started.
Each hero or heroine is used to represent a different body archetype. The character and their costume are featured in the display, counterpointed with the examples of fashion inspired by the character and their look.
These exhibits include original costumes from various films and TV shows featuring these heroes over the years, and the lobby contains this stunning statue of the the big three themselves, worthy of placement in front of any Hall of Justice.
You can check out more images and a full write-up over at Newsarama, and you can see the exhibit at the met until Sept. 1st.
Don't worry, I'm not going to go into a big political thing here. Though the urge to bring up Hillary vs. Obama is tempting, I'd prefer to not break the comments section (though I would love to see them get some more use!).
Instead, out friendly neighborhood Library of Congress has added an invaluable asset to their already extensive collection of American literature by unveiling original pages from Amazing Fantasy #15! An anonymous donor gave up these priceless pieces to our four color pastime tot he LoC for prosperity and while I admire this donor very much, I don't know if I could ever part with such a treasure.
Just a taste from the Library of Congress blog(okay, when the LoC has it's own blog, I'm fairly certain the whole concept of the blog has hit its zenith:
A couple of colleagues and I got the opportunity yesterday afternoon the see the pages in person. (Don't worry, we made sure to keep our drool far away from the art.) They do indeed appear to be in very good condition, especially considering their age. The Library's Prints and Photographs Division (P&P) provided me with a scan of one of the pages and a detail section, which you'll see here at right. (They are, in actuality, even a bit less yellow than the scans appear.)
This is a very interesting addition to the LoC and is just another notch in the belt for comic's legitimacy. I just may hit up the LoC computer banks next time I'm in D.C. and take a look at the scans. Or I'll go all Nic Cage and attempt to steal the Declaration of IndependanceSpider-Man pages from the archives. Who wants to be my adorkable and wiseass sidekick?
Hit the jump for the official word from the LoC blog and a gallery of images from the pencil-and-ink pages.
Remember a few weeks ago we showed you the downright gorgeous new poster by Adam Hughes spotlighting the women of the DC universe? Well, Comics Worth Reading is a blog after my own heart as they're currently running a contest looking for the male equivalent or what they call the Men of the DC Universe.
There are are only three entries posted thus far, so I encourage all of you artistically gifted PK readers to enter for the nice greenback reward. The deadline for submission is May 15th so get a move on and send those entries in! Don't forget to give a little shout-out to your favorite blog that told you about the contest too.
If you need some inspiration, check out the gallery below for previous submissions (including quite possibly the cutest Batman ever).
The character Off-Ramp first appeared in a DC House promotional ad that listed all the heroes as well as who they loved. For Off-Ramp, his caption simply said "You don't want to know what Off-Ramp loves..." which began the mystery of just what exactly Off-Ramp loved that was so different from everyone else. At first readers were led to believe it was his car, however, it turned out to be something else.
Later in the series, it is revealed he is attracted to teammate Frostbite, who was unveiled as a bisexual. The series ended shortly thereafter, but in the 1,000,000 issue (as part of the DC One Million crossover event) it is revealed that at some point in the future, he and Frostbite lived together for several years before separating.
Off-Ramps powers were that of transportation. He could create rifts that allow himself and others (including his car) to travel just about anywhere. He often used them to visit his son in Italy, and his son's mother, Samira. (implying that he is either bisexual himself, or at the very least had a straight relationship before coming to terms with being gay) He apparently had a good relationship with her often visited his son, whom he loved very much.
Another week, another fine selection of comics coming to you tomorrow. Who's here to help pick the cream of the crop? Why us, of course!
Here are our picks of the week!
Marvel
Avengers/Invaders #1
Classic Cap is transported into the future and confronts Iron Man! This is the beginning of a 12 issue maxi-series by the same creative team as Earth X (Alex Ross, Jim Krueger).
Invincible Iron Man #1
The debut of the second ongoing series of Marvel's current hottest superhero written by The Order's Matt Fraction. Hopefully you'll be able to pick your favorite cover out of the 6 being offered.
Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas #1
Flying under the radar is Iron Man movie director Jon Favreau's comic book debut. I can't vouch for quality, so check it out at your own risk.
Logan #3
The last issue of Brian K. Vaughan's Wolverine miniseries.
Mighty Avengers #13
SECRET INVASION ALERT! This issue features Nick Fury and the new Howling Commandos as they try to stop the aforementioned invasion.
Secret Invasion #2
Grab some popcorn because I'm sure this issue will be shocking and entertaining.
DC
DC Universe Special: Justice League of America
An 80 page comic that reprints classic JLA stories that will be relevant to Final Crisis.
Vertigo
House of Mystery #1
A classic comic re-imagined. Five characters are trapped in a supernatural bar and are trying to figure out how they got there.
Dark Horse
Buffy #14
The Wolves at the Gate storyline continues with the Scooby gang hitting up Tokyo!
IDW
Angel: After the Fall #7
It's a Whedon fest as Buffy and Angel come out this week.
Frater Mine by Sean McGrath and Juan Romera
