Freak Comics

DC’s ambitious year long project, 52 is five weeks deep in to the series. Thus far it’s really interesting and a great read.

If reading the series isn’t enough for you, DC has set up the Daily Planet 52 Week Special, a website meant to look like the Daily Planet’s news site. Although the content is rather thin, it is a fun marketing ploy that follows the disturbing current trend of marketing ploys: fake websites that make you read all the crap just to find out nothing about the product in question.

LOST is doing it with the Hanso Foundation. I believe it was Bungie (or perhaps Microsoft) who did it with ilovebees.com and now 52 is following suit.

The 52 site is fun because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I always loved reading fake newspapers (like promotional Daily Planets) when I was a kid, and this reminds me of those days, even if it is fuel for the machine!

I’m not sure what to think of the current decision Marvel has made to make Ed Brubaker and Billy Tan the new creative team on the Uncanny X-Men. Chris Claremont has been at it for a very long time, although I’ve been less than impressed with his current work, and it’s sad to see him taken off of the title.

It’s not, however, sentiments that are making me doubt the direction the series has taken. Rather it’s the story. The X-Men are blasting off to space to help the Shi’ar empire:

“Beginning in Uncanny X-Men #475, a new team led by Professor X take off to the other end of the universe to stop a revenge-hungry Vulcan. It’s up to the team comprised of Nightcrawler, Marvel Girl, Warpath, Havok, Polaris, and a surprise member to save the Shi’ar empire from his wrath.”

When Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum started writing and drawing for Uncanny X-Men way back in ‘75, they did so by putting together a whole new team of X-Men lead by Professor X who, after a few issues, blasted off to space to save the Shi’ar empire.

Why on Earth is Marvel repeating the same story? It was cool n the 70’s because it was new. Why not have this new creative team come up with something… well, creative? Re-hashing old stories is not cool.

Of course I haven’t actually read the comic yet, so it may be that Brubaker and Tan do a wonderful job of revisiting the X-Men’s past and rocketing them in to the future. I’m trying not to get too overly-critical on this one, but I really think that Marvel is just playing off of the success of it’s yesteryear by trying the same formula: new team of X-Men, new writer and artist, X-Men in space.

Ed Brubaker and Billy Tan are poised to take the X-Men to dazzling new heights as they take over Uncanny X-Men with issue #475. In fact, they’re taking the X-Men so high, they’re launching them into outer space.

Beginning in Uncanny X-Men #475, a new team led by Professor X take off to the other end of the universe to stop a revenge-hungry Vulcan. It’s up to the team comprised of Nightcrawler, Marvel Girl, Warpath, Havok, Polaris, and a surprise member to save the Shi’ar empire from his wrath.

Spinning out of the pages of X-Men: Deadly Genesis comes “The Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire,” a year-long story of revenge and redemption starting in Uncanny X-Men #475.

Believe the hype: Ed Brubaker is at the top of his game and Billy Tan has taken his to an all-new level, knocking it out of the park. Uncanny X-Men #475 is the start of a new direction for a new team of X-Men. You know you can’t afford to miss X-history in the making.

Listen to an Ed Brubaker podcast on Uncanny X-Men.

UNCANNY X-MEN #475 (MAY062007)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & Wraparound Cover by BILLY TAN
32 PGS. /Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 6/15, On Sale 7/5/2006

UNCANNY X-MEN #475 SKETCH VARIANT (MAR068275)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & Wraparound Cover by BILLY TAN
32 PGS. /Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 6/15, On Sale 7/5/2006

X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS PREMIERE HC (APR062080)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
200 PGS./Rated T+ …$24.99
FOC – 6/8, On Sale 7/12/2006

UNCANNY X-MEN #476 (MAY062008)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & Cover by BILLY TAN
32 PGS. /Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 6/29, On Sale 7/19/2006

Khaled beat me to it (curse you!), but I’m going to throw my two cents in regardless.

I saw X-Men: The Last Stand (AKA: X-Men: A Desperate Grab at Quick Cash) the day after it was released. I was out of town at the time and unable to use my website (accursed 56k!). As soon as I returned home I attempted to write a scathing review.

According to the old man that Married Kip and Lafawnduh at the end of Napoleon Dynamite, you should take a long walk after getting in a fight with your wife… it’s supposed to cool you down. I applied this same logic to X-Men, thinking it really couldn’t have been all that bad.

Yet, only moments ago I got off the phone from an old friend of mine. The both of us grew up together watching X-Men the Animated Series and reading X-Men comics (good ol’ days of Jim Lee). He held my same general sentiments: one or two things were cool, but the over-all movie was pure crap. The wait didn’t work. I’m still mad at the movie and everyone involved with it’s “production”.

Brett Ratner (the director) should consider an early retirement. Throw Jackie Chan and Chris tucker in to the action and you would have had Rush Hour 3… it was that horrible.

Spoiler time

Professor X dead? Jean Grey evil and dead? Scott Summers barely in the movie and dead? What happened? Did the writers see a few episodes of Lost, 24 and Alias and decide to follow the same killing spree script pattern?
No! James Marsden didn’t want to be in this film or the upcoming films (or so I’m guessing), so he had himself killed off. Not a bad move really: screen death as opposed to career suicide.
And let’s face it, Patrick Stewart is getting old. When X-Men 4 hits the screen a 2 or 3 years from now, he’ll be 126 years old and bald. They needed to give him the axe and just use his voice inside of another body (Jame Earl Jones style) before it’s too late.
And Jean? Who knows and who cares?

Story

IT’S BEEN DONE A MILLION TIMES BEFORE!
If you’re going to do a redundant story, let’s at least make it a redundant comic book story, not the same crap we’ve already seen TWICE. How about Apocalypse? How about some real Sentinels, not just danger room replicas of the machines we haven’t even seen yet?! Enough subtle references to good story lines, let’s get to the fun stuff!

And please correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t all of the trailers imply there was going to be a huge mutant war of some sort? See a bunch of lame thug-ish characters get mowed down in droves and then a very contrived cliche battle between the big-boy mutants was far from a war. It was a skirmish of not-so-epic proportions.

By the way, wasn’t Angle supposed to be in this movie? I didn’t see him. I just saw some guy who looked like he had a mental disability and a pair of too-expensive-to-show-for-more-than-ten-minutes wings on his back. LAME. But that’s OK, because it turns out that watching a guy fly around like a giant pigeon is a lot cooler in comics and cartoons than it is in realistic looking movies. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if he flew in to a jet engine, or perhaps had the urge to defecate on a passing car.

In short the movie wasn’t a let down in the least because I didn’t go in to it with any good expectations. I knew it would be a waste of my time and money. I agree with nearly everything Khaled (mentioned at the beginning of this rant) said except for anything remotely positive.

I know some of you out there are thinking I’m being too harsh (Bill, I’m looking your way), but I say to you: wake up to reality people! Watch some good movies! Batman Begins was an excellent comic book movie. Superman looks like it will be good. The first Spiderman was good (although it strayed from the books significantly in some areas). However X-Men 3 was pure Hollywood machinery at it’s worst.

Civil War’s opening shots have left a blazing trail of sellouts in its wake. Amazing Spider-Man #530, Amazing Spider-Man #531, Amazing Spider-Man #532, Wolverine #42, She-Hulk #8, and the Harvey Award-nominated Marvel Spotlight have all sold out at Diamond in this first month of Civil War.

Critics and fans alike have been abuzz with how terrific the Civil War tie-ins have been thus far. Civil War: Front Line, which is on its way to selling out, has been chief among the tie-ins receiving a wealth of praise.

Richard George of IGN.com says, “This is perhaps the best supplement to an event I have ever read. In the past, companies offered side stories to mega events that did not offer much. So far, between Marvel’s excellent shipping schedule and the overall quality of the writing, Civil War is being drastically enhanced by the extra stories (and Mark Millar was already doing an excellent job). Front Line is setting itself to be nearly as important as the main title, featuring great context and additional views to what is happening to the heroes…If you’re reading Civil War, Front Line is absolutely critical reading.”

After reading Civil War: Front Line #1 this week, be sure to pick up Civil War #2 next Wednesday as the comic-event of the year continues to blow readers away. Then, be sure to pick up these Civil War tie-ins in the following order:

Thunderbolts #103 - On Sale 6/14
New Avengers #21 - On Sale 6/21
Amazing Spider-Man #533 - On Sale 6/28
Civil War: Front Line #2 - On Sale 6/28
Wolverine #43 - On Sale 6/28
Fantastic Four #538 - On Sale 6/28
X-Factor #8 - On Sale 6/28

If the second month of Civil War tie-ins is anything similar to that of the first, make sure to get your copies early as all of the Civil War titles get hotter, picking up new readers every day.

Note: These sold out titles are out of stock at Diamond and may still be available at many comic shops.

With the buzz around AFTERWORKS 2 growing, so has the anthology itself as Image Comics announces that AFTERWORKS 2 is expanding to almost double its original proportions, from the originally solicited 200 pages to THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY (360) pages. As an added bonus, the price will remain the same at only $24.99.

“We knew we were going to have a big book and as the word got out, more and more folks asked if they could join; of course we said yeah and before we knew it we were at 360 pages,” explains Ted Mathot (The Incredibles). “Through the creation of the book I met some awesome artists that I didn’t know previously. There’s already talk of new contributors and people returning for volume 3.”

As a collection of some of the top talent in the animation industry working at Pixar Animation Studios, AFTERWORKS 2 brings together an eclectic mix of artists and stories together into one astounding anthology. AFTERWORKS 2 is the latest in a series of successful anthologies from Image Comics, including FLIGHT and PUT THE BOOK BACK ON THE SHELF.

“Having worked in animation and comics for over 12 years now, AFTERWORKS 2 has afforded me a rare chance to sort of combine those two worlds,” says Scott Morse (Noble Boy, Soulwind). “I finally get to see so many of my talented friends from the animation community produce some stories that are truly ‘theirs,’ work that is purely from their hearts. Every line is a mark of passion on the page for these people and readers are going to get a chance to experience some of the finest storytelling they’ve ever seen in comic book form. AFTERWORKS 2 is all about a pure love of comics from every person involved.”

AFTERWORKS 2 (MAY061718) is available for advance re-order. It is now a 360-page full color book with a cover price of $24.99 and will be in stores on July 19th.

The second issue of Civil War is almost upon us, but before the next chapter of the biggest event in Marvel history hits the shelves, Marvel.com is releasing a trailer recapping the events of the blockbuster first issue and featuring a preview of Civil War #2.

If the release of Civil War #2 is anything like the first one, you’re going to want to get to your local comic shop early and avoid the long lines. But before that, whet your appetite for Marvel Universe destruction with the latest trailer from Marvel.com, which can be found at Marvel.com.

The trailer features a complete recap of the first month of Civil War including the events from Civil War #1, Amazing Spider-Man #532, She-Hulk #8, and Wolverine #42. See the events that led to the first shots being fired and what it has meant for many of Marvel’s heroes.

Do not miss Civil War #2 as it marks a major turning point for several superheroes including the Young Avengers, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Captain America. And from the look of the trailer, it looks like bad news for some of your favorite heroes.

CIVIL WAR #2 (of 7) (APR062017)
Written by Mark Millar
Pencils & Wraparound Cover by Steve McNiven
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
On Sale - 6/14/2006

CIVIL WAR: FRONT LINE #2 (OF 10) (APR062020)
Written by Paul Jenkins
Penciled by Ramon Bachs, Steve Lieber, and Leo Fernandez
Cover by John Watson
32 PGS. NO ADS! /Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 6/8/2006, On Sale – 6/28/2006

CIVIL WAR (TURNER) POSTER (MAR062162)
Art by Michael Turner and Aspen Studios
24″x36″/FC…$6.99
On Sale Now

MARVEL CIVIL WAR PANORAMA POSTER (FEB062091)
Art by Steve McNiven
20″x55″/FC…$15.99
On Sale Now

Blade: The Series is making its mark on the Spike TV line-up with a weekly series sure to satisfy fans’ thirst for the Daywalker. To mark the June 28th premiere, Marvel.com, New Line Television, and Spike TV are joining together to offer a fan a comic book opportunity of a lifetime—and a trip for two to Comic-Con in San Diego.

Contestants will illustrate a comic based on a special Blade: The Series video clip exclusively on Marvel.com and a panel of Marvel comics editors will judge and select the top ten entries which will then be voted on by you, the Marvel.com users! The grand-prize winner will win a trip for two to the San Diego Comic Con and have their Blade: The Series drawings printed and distributed at the Spike TV booth at Comic-Con, July 20-23! Additionally, ten finalists will receive a Blade: The Series prize pack featuring all sorts of vamp-goodies from the new show.

So there it is fans, “draw” first blood as entries are due before the show premieres on June 28th on Spike TV.

For the full rules and details on the contest and for the video trailer, go to marvel.com/bladecontest.

Because of the heritage of one of the Young Avengers, a second Kree-Skrull War threatens to engulf Earth. Not even the combined forces of the Young Avengers and the New Avengers may be enough to stem the tide of destruction in Young Avengers #12.

This interstellar conflict ends here as one of the Young Avengers must sacrifice his or her future to end the escalating war, while another member lies wounded on the precipice of death.

Can all of the Young Avengers survive the past come back to haunt them? And if they do, will their relationship with their mentors the New Avengers survive as well? One thing is for sure and that is the team dynamic will be forever changed by issue’s end.

Young Avengers #12 is filled to the brim with so much action that the normal 32 pages couldn’t hold it all. The conclusion to Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung’s Young Avengers first season has 8 extra pages at no extra cost.

Don’t miss the conclusion of “Family Matters” in the pages of Young Avengers #12 and look for the Young Avengers this summer as they find themselves in the middle of another war. The conclusion of issue #12 sets up the status quo of the Young Avengers for this summer’s blockbuster crossover Civil War where they meet another group of popular teen heroes for the first time, the Runaways.

Be sure to pick up Young Avengers #12 and be on the lookout for the teen heroes this summer in the pages of Civil War: Young Avengers and Runaways.

YOUNG AVENGERS #12 (APR062059)
Written by ALLAN HEINBERG
Pencils & Cover by JIM CHEUNG
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 6/8, On Sale – 6/28/2006

CIVIL WAR: YOUNG AVENGERS & RUNAWAYS #1 (of 4) (MAY061963)
Written by ZEB WELLS
Penciled by STEFANO CASELLI
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC – 7/6, On Sale – 7/26/2006

After the events of Civil War #1, Johnny Storm lies hospitalized, beaten by an unruly crowd angered by the superheroes’ role in the Stamford disaster. But as Johnny recovers, the rest of the FF is forced to choose a side in Fantastic Four #538 as Civil War kicks off.

The weight of this decision just may tear the Fantastic Four apart as it has the rest of the Marvel superhero community. The end of Civil War #1 has shown what side Reed has chosen, but does the rest of the Fantastic Four feel the same? And what happens if a team member begins helping the opposition?

Plus, a startling new development occurs surrounding Thor’s hammer. People are beginning to gather around it, but who is the mysterious man making his way across country to the fallen hammer and what will happen when he reaches Mjolnir?

Civil War is poised to change the face of the Marvel Universe and few will feel the winds of change more so than the Fantastic Four. Beginning in Fantastic Four #538, the FF will make decisions that forever define their relationships with other superheroes and each other.

FANTASTIC FOUR #538 (APR062027)
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Penciled by MIKE MCKONE
Cover by ADI GRANOV
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
FOC – 6/8, On Sale – 6/28/2006