Category Archives: Comics
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #6
Oh Sarah Pichelli, I miss you already.
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man has a new artist with this issue, and I hope Chris Samnee is just a fill in. He does an OK job, but is nothing compared to the emotional and detailed glory of regular artist Pichelli. At least I hope she’s a regular artist. I don’t know why the switch, I’m just hoping we see her again soon.
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #6
Because the not-quite-as-amazing art brings down an otherwise stellar issue.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
Though not by much. Writer Brian Michael Bendis gives us a fantastic issue of Miles Morales getting used to his new role as Spider-Man, while adding in some family time, a visit to J. Jonah Jameson and a preview of the next storyline and new villain. Even Uncle Aaron, the Prowler, is back! This issue is a definite transition, bringing us down from the opening story and moving us into the next.
The only complaint I can really make is that it doesn’t transcend the written word into full-on comic book perfection. It doesn’t rise to the level where I would give it a perfect score.
Still, very damn good comic book. Spoilers and synopsis to follow!
New DC Comics Adds Color, Character
No sooner do I mock the new DC Comics logo than they decide to show me up. DC has finally gone public with the log in an article in at Fast Company. Take a look, see what you think. Not only are they in color, but they can also be redesigned to fit specific characters.
Look at all the pretty colors on the ugly logo
Starting at the top, we’ve got what I think are Batman, Catwoman, Flash, Watchmen, Green Lantern and possibly, this is just a guess, but the Gray Ghost? The font is called ‘Gotham Bold’. Clever.
Here’s what some high DC muckety-muck said about the logo in that article:
“We didn’t want a static logo, but a living identity that could capture the power of our characters and storytelling,” says Amit Desai, senior vice president of franchise management. “What is special about DC content is the notion of a dual identity. When you think about our DC Comics superheroes, there’s a secret identity. When you think about Vertigo, it’s this notion of good vs. evil in many of the stories. And so, in addition to flexibility, the new logo communicates this idea of dual identity: There’s more than meets the eye. You have to take a closer look to understand the richness of our characters and stories.”
Apparently Desai and his guys have been working on the new logo design for the past year. Why they decided to reveal it now instead of back during the New 52 reboot in September is anyone’s guess. The Logo will be slapped on not only comics, but also MAD Magazine and probably upcoming movies and TV shows.
I still don’t like it.
This is how it’s going to look on the comics, at least according to Bleeding Cool. Why these example logos don’t look like the logos up above is also anyone’s guess:
These are old comics, so perhaps these are just photo-shopped?
The new logos will debut in March, because why the hell not? It’s not like DC have announced a big Second Wave of comics to come out in May alongside the epic Batman ‘Night of Owls’ storyline. It would just be silly to line up the new logo with a big comic event. Best to just give a new logo room to breath.
Everything I Could Find About Watchmen 2
Word has it that DC Comics is working on some type of follow-up project to the legendary Watchmen by Alan Moore. The problem is that the word is ‘mum’. DC is being very, very, very tight-lipped about anything they may or may not be working on. I’ve been picking up little articles here and there throughout the Internet, but never enough to do a proper blog entry.
Until my brother asked me to get together everything I could find. Anything for family.
Just fan art, not real Watchmen 2 art
Most of the information is coming from the comic book news site Bleeding Cool. They claim that they’ve heard rumors about 4 separate Watchmen projects in production. Possibly prequels. There is no official word from DC Comics. So basically I guess they have some inside sources in the comic book industry – more than I have, at least – and that’s where they’re getting their information.
One of the projects is based on Silk Spectre II, the daughter of the original Silk Spectre. Rumor has it that artist extraordinaire Amanda Conner is working on that book. Bleeding Cool posted this picture of Silk Spectre drawn by Conner, and were immediately contacted by DC’s legal department to take it down. I was able to snag a copy elsewhere online and so I’m going to post it. If DC’s legal contacts me to take it down, I will. But I figure I’m obscure enough to let you people see the picture.
Amanda Conner is worth the risk
I hope I don’t get in trouble for posting that. Anyway, Amanda Conner is an amazing artist, so clearly DC is tapping some of the best people in the industry for these books.
Bleeding Cool also posted other images that DC legal asked them to take down. They were a drawing of The Comedian by JG Jones and a drawing of Night-Owl by Andy and Joe Kubert. DC legal wouldn’t be worried about these images if they weren’t important somehow.
The Comedian is all about breakin' the rules
For anybody who is completely lost, Watchmen is the most revered and respected comic book ever, written in the mid to late 1980s by legendary scribe and beard-enthusiast Alan Moore. It’s a realistic take on the superhero genre, and features superheroes dealing with things like sex, politics, murder and other situations that they simply didn’t face back in the 50s, 60s, or 70s. It turned the world of comic books on its head, and is still highly regarded to this day.
Basically it’s the ‘Moby Dick’ of comic books.
They made a movie a few years ago, which I loved, but the rest of the world seemed luke warm. Nuts to them.
Personally, I’m fine with the idea of Watchmen spin-off projects. Part of me thinks that DC Comics should leave the classics alone. Nobody is demanding new Watchmen material, especially since Alan Moore refuses to be involved. Just let Watchmen exist in the past as something to be cherished and remembered. Don’t dig it up and start parading it around just because you can.
On the other hand, I’m always for putting new books on the shelf. If they have some good ideas and feel like doing it, I say go for it. People are definitely going to buy new Watchmen books. And it’s smart to put popular/talented writers and artists on the project. The world will always be about making money, so there’s probably no stopping DC Comics from doing whatever the hell they want. So at least they’re taking it seriously.
Someone get Chris Giarrusso on the phone, stat!
New DC Comics Logo For Some Reason
The news came out recently that DC Comics and DC Entertainment have decided to give themselves a new logo!
I don’t like it.
Ooooooooooooh, it peels...for some reason
Your guess is as good as mine why companies decide to get new logos. Was their old logo testing poorly? Did it not look cool enough? Was it not hideous enough? I liked DC’s old logo. It was blue and flashy. This new one is black, white and utilitarian. It doesn’t, in anyway, say ‘comic books’ to me, let alone entertainment. So why change it? What could possibly possess them to change their logo considering the previous one has already been attached to not only several movies, but also the big New 52 reboot in September.
Why change the logo now instead of back in September?
Here is the previous logo:
I like it!
And here’s the old, old logo:
I’m not a fan, but I suppose it has the classic thing going for it. Again, I don’t know why companies change their logos. Maybe if it’s super-outdated and just looks stupid for modern times. But why did Comedy Central change their logo from that cool planet-looking logo to the new one with just the letter ‘C’? They’re supposed to be funny, so what, they couldn’t have a funny-looking logo?
I dunno. Anyway, expect to see this new logo on movies and comics soon. If you can stomach the horror!
Review: Scarlet Spider #1
How cool is it that I hold in my hands, in 2012, a comic called Scarlet Spider? I know my brother and I aren’t the only fans of the Clone Saga out there in comic book land. It’s just a thrilling feeling to have characters and concepts that I’ve loved since my earliest days of comic collecting get some love. And it’s a pretty good first issue too! Granted, it’s not about Ben Reilly wearing his classic Scarlet Spider costume, but one simply has to accept that this is a modern update to characters of the past.
Scarlet Spider #1
Basically this series can be summed up as: Anti-Hero Spider-Man.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
Scarlet Spider #1 starts the ongoing story of Kaine, a clone of the original Spider-Man. I’ll get into his somewhat confusing backstory in a bit. Kaine, a former villain, has a new lease on life with all of the spider-powers to boot. Now he has to decide what he wants to do with his life, and if he wants to be a superhero. This issue is a fine introduction to Kaine as a character, his powers, and his goals in life. For some reason his journey has taken him to Houston, Texas. Writer Christopher Yost has a nice handle on the character, and he starts building the cast and the setting. The tagline for this comic is ‘All of the power, none of the responsibility’, and that’s definitely showcased in this character-driven issue.
Joining Yost is artist Ryan Stegman, who draws clean, concise and nicely animated characters. The action is easy to follow and engaging, and the characters stand out as unique individuals. Unfortunately – spoiler – we don’t see the Scarlet Spider in costume in this issue.
Maybe next issue. Join me after the jump for spoilers and synopsis!
Henchman-4-Hire 