Freak Comics

It’s finally here, a collection of the critically acclaimed ROCKETO series by Frank Espinsoa. Lauded as innovative and ground-breaking, with a unique style, this collection is what you’ve been waiting for!

ROCKETO, VOL. 1: THE JOURNEY TO THE HIDDEN SEA collects issues #0-6 of the ROCKETO series, which is an adventurous tale of New World mapper Rocketo Garrison and his wild band of misfits. The 256-page book is brimming with extras including Espinosa’s conceptual sketches, background information on the New World, pin-ups by some of today’s leading comic book artists and a wonderful introduction (and illustration) by famed artist Alex Ross.

“The trade not only collects up to the mid-way point of the first arc, but also serves as a sneak peak into the rest of the Journeys,” explains Espinosa. “There’s a wonderful tour of Rocketo’s home, Porto Logas, and how its history touches not just this story, but the rest of the adventures.”

ROCKETO follows the adventures of Rocketo Garrison, which take place in a mythical future 2,000 years after the world has been destroyed in a catastrophe. The trade paperback tells the story of Rocketo’s idyllic childhood and his early training as an explorer and Mapper. After returning from the deadly Solarium War a broken man, Rocketo Garrison is swept away on a journey to the Hidden Sea, a fabled, dangerous land that may hold the key to undreamed of treasure as well as the truth about an ancient mystery.

The trade paperback also gets you primed and ready to go for the triumphant return of ROCKETO to the shelves with issue #7 this April!

“THE JOURNEY TO THE HIDDEN SEA is just the start of his adventures and is really more about Rocketo himself; it’s his inner Hidden Sea we are exploring,” said Espinosa. “Issues seven through twelve are much more energetic than the first six, as the bad guy and the hero fight to the end. Mysteries are solved. Friends are made. But in the end it’s really about the legacy Rocketo leaves behind.”

A 5-page preview of Rocketo #7 has been included with this release for your preview, and you can find more about ROCKETO at Frank’s website, www.frankespinosa.com

ROCKETO, VOL. 1: THE JOURNEY TO THE HIDDEN SEA TP (DEC051756) is a 256 page full color trade paperback, on sale now. ROCKETO #7 (FEB061757) is available for advance reorder and will be in-stores in April. Don’t miss out!

Image Comics has announced it’s complete signing schedule for the upcoming Wizard World Los Angeles convention this weekend, March 17-19, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Highlights include a signing with the creative team behind the upcoming “The Last Christmas” mini-series - co-writers GERRY DUGGAN & BRIAN POSEHN (star of Mr. Show & Comedians of Comedy) and artist RICK REMENDER. There will also be an exclusive poster given out during the signing featuring art by GEOF DARROW.

Another exclusive will be a limited edition signed FRANK CHO print from his upcoming book “Frank Cho: Women.”

Other creators such as Publisher and Savage Dragon creator ERIK LARSEN, Godland writer JOE CASEY, Rocketo creator FRANK ESPINOSA and many more will be appearing throughout the weekend. Here is the schedule, all signings are for one hour unless otherwise noted.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17th

1:00pm HOWARD SHUM (Gun Fu)

2:00pm MARK SMITH (Amazing Joy Buzzards) and MARK SABLE (Grounded)

3:00pm TODD LIVINGSTON (Black Forest, Wicked West) and MIKE BULLOCK (Lions, Tigers & Bears)

4:00pm JOE CASEY (Godland) and RICHARD STARKINGS (Elephantmen, Hip Flask)

5:00pm JEFF AMANO & GABRIEL BENSON (Ronin Hood of the 47 Samurai, Beckett Comics)

6:00pm ERIK LARSEN (Savage Dragon, Image Comics Publisher)

SATURDAY, MARCH 18th

10:30am TODD LIVINGSTON (Black Forest, Wicked West) and MIKE BULLOCK (Lions, Tigers & Bears)

11:30am MARK SMITH & DAN HIPP (Amazing Joy Buzzards) and MARK SABLE (Grounded)

1:00pm GERRY DUGGAN, BRIAN POSEHN & RICK REMENDER (The Last Christmas)

2:30pm JOE CASEY (Godland) and RICHARD STARKINGS (Elephantmen, Hip Flask)

3:30pm FRANK ESPINOSA (Rocketo)

4:30pm ERIK LARSEN (Savage Dragon, Image Comics Publisher) (until closing)

SUNDAY, MARCH 19th

11:00am JEFF AMANO & GABRIEL BENSON (Ronin Hood of the 47 Samurai, Beckett Comics)

12:00pm BOB BURDEN (The Flaming Carrot)

1:00pm FRANK ESPINOSA (Rocketo)

2:00pm HOWARD SHUM (Gun Fu)

3:00pm ERIK LARSEN (Savage Dragon, Image Comics Publisher) (until closing)

The entire schedule is also posted on the Image Comics website - http://www.imagecomics.com/la.php

For more information on Wizard World Los Angeles, visit - http://www.wizarduniverse.com/conventions/la/WW20060310-con.cfm

Moon Knight returns this April with a new ongoing series thanks to acclaimed novelist Charlie Huston (Caught Stealing, Six Bad Things) and super-star artist David Finch (New Avengers).

The first 6-issue arc entitled “The Bottom” will see the return of some old Marc Spector villains as well as some brand new threats. We’ll also see Moon Knight fighting his own mental instability.

Huston says:

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Doug Moench’s original Moon Knight series. His dark themes tackled complicated issues and served up moral quandaries for the men and women in tights. I don’t think it can be done any better than it was by Moench, but I will certainly try to do Moon Knight justice. One thing I will promise fans…it will be dark!”

Huston and Finch have big plans in store for Marc Spector and his place in the Marvel Universe so be sure to pick up Moon Knight’s triumphant return in Moon Knight #1.

Download the Moon Knight preview pages.

The events of Infinite Crisis have finally lead up to an alteration across the boards for each and every DC universe title, and it’s being called One Year Later. This is because the events that take place in these comics happen one year after the events of Infinite Crisis.

I had a chance to check out Detective Comics #817 as well as JSA #83, and I’m very confused. This is how DC wants me to feel I’m sure, that way I’ll keep purchasing the comics to find out what happened the year before. Already Batman and Gordon have an ominous conversation about the events of the past year.

One area I’m confused in, that I’m not sure I’m supposed to be however, is this: why did DC decide to rocket us one year forward while the Infinite Crisis series still has two issues left? Are only certain characters undergoing this change (the heroes that have disappeared)? or is the entire universe on fast forward?

In the past I have said that this series is good, but very difficult to keep up with, and this One Year Later thing is making it harder and weirder. I don’t know if I like it yet… guess I’ll just have to wait and see.