Nicholas Brendan will be appearing at the 2010 Wizard World Austin Comic Con.
Photo from the televion show Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Brendan is most famous for his role as Xander Harris in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You can also see him in the cult classic Psycho Beach Party, which is a must see. Brendan will also be appearing at the New England Comic Con as well.
-Aaron M
(Cover by Mauro Cascioli, DC Comics)
What can I say, I’m a little biased! But for good reason since J.T. Krul has done a bang up job on Green Arrow two issues in. Really, I think he and editorial had differences on Rise of Arsenal causing some of the odd scripting choices. Everything else he touches I’m in love with! It’s green on green this week as the Martian Manhunter descends upon the new Star Forest! More mysteries of the White Lantern trees reveal themselves as well and Ollie might not belong as much to the forest as he originally thought. Plenty of good comic right here!
(Cover by Mark Bagley & Jesus Merino, DC Comics)
The Dark Things concludes in this week’s JLA! Will Jadesidian and Alan Scott be stayin’ alive once the JSA/JLA super team tames the wild Starheart once again? A connection to the Brightest Day events crops up here as well and it might not be the obvious threat to the earth causing the real harm. Very fun way to get the teams re-energized for this brand new direction. Definitely check this one out.
(Cover by Tony Harris & J.D. Mettler, DC Comics)
Who could mention the Justice League without talking about the shaky new (and perfectly penned!) incarnation of the International team? With everyone on board and gunning for Max, you’d think they’d finally get to the bottom of the mystery…but alas, our Checkmate king is no foolish prey. Are they playing into his game or beating Lord to the punch? Judd Winick has really hit a sweet spot with these characters, get in on this!
(Cover by John Romita Jr., Marvel Comics)
It’s a multi-publisher post as Tony Hawk stares into your eyes, smoldering and angry. Yes, future-Tony-Stark may be a grumpy gus but no one reading the new Avengers title should be! Bendis is definitely doing it like Beckham for this series and putting out exactly what a team-up story should be. No place for much individual characterization here but SO much humor and exciting group dynamic that it isn’t required. Time may be broken but that won’t stop the Avengers from getting Kang and the evil Avengers babies that sent him! Absolutely a must-buy.
Other noteworthy but less eye-catching titles:
X-Campus #3, another successful re-imagining of the X-Men! This has my attention more than the vampire stories, to be perfectly honest.
Namor: The First Mutants #1, assholes and fish! Fun combo or the MOST FUN combo?
X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Storm & Gambit, everybody’s stealing stuff, y’all! It’s for the greater good though, so bow to the goddess, mon cheri.
-windiebird
I am SO happy to see another artist with the ability to give characters CHARACTER. Canadian born Chris Bachalo has done work for everything from Sandman to Generation X! Lately he puts very talented hand in the new Storm & Gambit series.
Covert Art; Chris Bachalo
Cover by Chris Bachalo
His heavy lines and pop feel gives his work exploding intensity. His men are drawn larger than life without giving them an overly muscular feel and his women are petite, but not weak, keeping their bodies looking healthy and powerful.
You were all about to hate me weren’t you. Well as far as puns go it’s not Harvard material, but indeed the X Men, one by one are getting fangy in the new revamping of the mutant series we all love.
The preview pages from issue 3 of X Men give us a little Jubilee on Wolvie action [something I have been waiting for, for some time, [Someone sucking on Logan's throbbing neck vein.] Buffy cross-over anyone? Check out these preview pages byPaco Medina. [I'm diggin' his downstairs penciling btw]
Pencils; Paco Medina
Pencils; Paco Medina
Pencils; Paco Medina
Check out the complete roster of Little Big Planet/Marvel sack people.
-Aaron M
Image from Litllebigplanet.com
January Jones has been cast as Emma Frost in the movie X-Men First Class.
Photo by Patrick Demarchelier from Vanity Fair
Alice Eve was originally to play the part but requested to be released from the role. You may recognize Jones from the popular television series Mad Men, where she plays the character Betty Draper. I think Jones is a great choice for the role, she definitely has the look of the White Queen. With January Jones as Emma Frost and Kevin Bacon rumored to be Sebastian Shaw, one can only assume we will see the introduction of the Hellfire Club.
-Aaron M
(Cover by Mike McKone, Marvel Comics)
The kids come face-to-face with the man responsible for their acceptance into the Raft in Avengers Academy #3! Norman Osborn is widely accepted as one hyper-troubled douchenozzle but I think one of the most heinous things he did during Dark Reign was mess with these kids’ lives. We get Hazmat’s origin story and a Scared Straight visit from the Thunderbolts! I love my teenagers angsty, volatile & ultimately likable. This might just be my Avengers book!
(Cover by Stuar Immonen, Marvel Comics)
New Avengers #3 continues the mystical beatdown of the 616 and it hasn’t been pretty so far! Reality is crumbling apart and neither Strange nor Voodoo seem to be able to stop this devilish usurper! Attractive art and a humorous bent to a seriously crafted story. Another solid Avengers title.
(Cover by Mark Djurdjevic, Marvel Comics)
Secret Avengers #4 winds down the first arc of the secret space Avengers and I’m getting it today with mixed feelings. The art has been downright delicious at times but the story just hasn’t grabbed me yet. I love to see Beast (even if he’s being a covert operative with a huge A on his chest) at any time but even with all the action and well-plotted story, nothing is making me want to keep on going, you know? Ah well, I’m not the Marvel guy, so what do I know?
(Cover by Sara Pichelli, Marvel Comics)
You got me, Marvel! While the Women of Marvel line/imprint can sometimes be awfully anti-woman, you give me a cover of a super-heroine working it out or kicking some ass and I’m in! This is the variant cover, by the way, but the issue itself is sure to have plenty of Emma Frosting as we see her getting face-nasty with Namor. Mmmm, seaweed breath. The Five Lights are coming forth as Hope travels the globe, I guess finalizing whatever change she activated in these new mutants? Uncanny X-Men #527 is sure to keep the love-party going from Second Coming, even if the new X-Men series itself is leaving me a little high and dry.
-windiebird
(Cover by Mark Bagley & Jesus Merino, DC Comics)
It’s the Justice Conglomerate versus the Starheart in JSA #42 this week! Even their might won’t cut it, though, so who better to lend a light-sucking hand than Shade? If you’ve been hoping for a point to catch up with the current JSA OR the JLA I’d start with this crossover. Well drawn and both books are well scripted.
(Cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez & Dave Gibbons, DC Comics)
The Teen Titans are taking over in DCU Legacies #4! The Silver Age had babies and they’re kicking ass…in green faerie boots! Seriously, I couldn’t be happier to watch DC discover the greatest love of all. It’s all about the in-house love and it’s splendidly done.
(Cover by David Finch, DC Comics)
Brightest Day #8 not only features one fine, feathered lady as the A cover but a host of delicious answers as well! I won’t spoil the turning points in issue 7 but let’s just say that this stuff got some serious kinds of real! Who is the White Entity (I mean…let’s not do those jokes, I guess?) and is Boston Brand Deadman enough to make things right? The Hawks are getting bloody on Hawkworld, Firestorm is…an unstable nuclear disaster waiting to happen, J’onn is hot on the trail of the Martian murders & Aquaman is plumbing Mera’s depths. And the mysteries of Mera’s depths. In all honesty, this series is completely worth it now! To all the naysayers, I promise things have been made right.
Batman Beyond #3 puts us squarely halfway into the new mini-series. I would say that this might be a better trade purchase than individual issue purchase if you haven’t bought into it yet. Plenty of enjoyable action but neither the story or art is making me jump for joy. Worth the money if you’re a fan of the show, though, of course.
(Cover by Ardian Syaf, DC Comics)
Cyborg Superman and the Qwardians! If you didn’t think Brightest Day meant “Silver Age redo”, you weren’t following along! The Alpha Lanterns have been corrupted in Green Lantern Corps #51 and it’s up to Hannu to save our beleaguered Lanterns from cyborg-erization. For not having read more than an issue of this series, I’m surprising myself with how excited I am to follow along. A nice comic with some interesting Brightest Day connections.
-windiebird
Last Night we went to go see Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, it was amazing! This is a must see, definitely not like any movie you have seen. Of course if you like the movie you should pick up the books they are awesome as well. Here for your entertainment is the short animation that aired on Cartoon Network, enjoy.
-Aaron M
DC has announced that in November Batwoman will make her return in Batwoman #0. This issue will have the creative team of the upcoming series, plus as a bonus Amy Reeder and J.H. Williams will be collaborating on the art. This issue is a reintroduction to Batwoman through the eyes of Batman.
Art by Amy Reeder
The series originally scheduled for the summer will be making its way to the stores in February. J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman will be providing the story while Williams and Reeder will alternate on the art. Not that I don’t enjoy some of the other Bat titles but I can’t wait for Batwoman’s return.
-Aaron M
