Congratulations DC!

On September 29, 2011September 29, 2011 By UncannyDerekIn Comic Blogging, DiscussionLeave a comment

Can you believe it?

DC has successfully sold-out, and are beginning second-printings on ALL 52 titles!

When an industry like comic books are on the brink of extinction – something incredible happens and spins it around! What’s even more incredible is that there is still tons of profit towards digital content which DC has not spoke of yet. And for the big kicker from ICV2.com:

“To help feed the demand (and to provide a holiday product supporting the launch), DC is releasing DC Comics: The New 52, a hardcover collection of all 52 stories, on December 7th (to comic stores; other channels street December 13th). The volume will retail for $150.00.”

I think that’s an excellent idea. I’ve read a bit of the new 52 and was unable to fork out as much money as I could for all of the comics on my pull list. I think this is an excellent way to continue their excellent idea.

DC New 52

Although I was worried at first, it really seems like DC has everything under control. This has officially helped the comic industry – and I really hope it continues to.

Even with recent objections to how Catwoman and Starfire have been depicted in comics, DC came out on their Twitter feed and stated in two Tweets:

“We’ve heard what’s being said about Starfire today and we appreciate the dialogue on this topic.”
“We encourage people to pay attention to the ratings when picking out any books to read themselves or for their children.”

Well-handled. To top it all off, they got the message about how upset people were with the depictions.

If you would like to know more about that, jump over to ComicBookResources.com to check it out.

As for me, I’ll be moving to a new house in a few days – so just hang in there. I’ll be back soon enough.

Keep on Space Truckin’ until I return!

Advanced Preview of Uncanny X-Men’s Final Issue

On September 23, 2011 By UncannyDerekIn Comic BloggingLeave a comment

We’re one issue to go until Uncanny X-Men comes to a close. On October 19th, the mutants will split off into two factions and forever change the X-Universe.

Written by Kieron Gillen, a man who really has proved his writing and knowledge skills with the flagship title, will be bringing the series to the close with – gah, I hate to say it – Greg Land. Click on the images for a bigger view.

Although his splash page does come off as rather nostalgic and touching for me, I can’t stop staring at the atrocities Land’s committed. Firstly, how incredibly stiff is everyone? Kitty Pryde doesn’t even have hands. They’re pylons!

And let us not forget how ridiculously fake Jean’s breasts look. I know Emma’s are supposed to look fake, but even now, they seem more real than Jean’s.

What’s Juggernaut doing? What’s with Nimrods head?

I’m also 100% sure I’ve seen this Wolverine face before. . .

But what I AM excited for with this issue is the return of my all-time favourite Marvel villain:

Yes, it’s Mr. Sinister. He’s been “dead” since the Messiah Complex storyline. I can’t help but wonder what shenanigans he’ll get the X-Men into now.

Well, once again, the X-Men are about to make history!

Keep on Space Truckin’!

The Avengers Video Game and/or Movie

On September 22, 2011September 22, 2011 By UncannyDerekIn Comic BloggingLeave a comment

Not too long ago, I mentioned how the Avengers video game would have been based off the movie because the screenshots revealed.

Amidst all the hooplah containing who the villain(s) is/are for Joss Whedon’s Avengers movie, I was pretty certain that it was Loki with Skrulls. While I still do believe that, I do not think the video game had anything to do with the movie to begin with.

Thinking about it now however, the game would have been developed before Whedon penned the script for The Avengers movie. I really think this is just one big coincidence.

What changed my mind:

Comic Book Resources recently grabbed some clips from 1up.com (which has since removed the video) featuring “footage” from the now-canceled Avengers game. This includes showing that the game would have been played from both a first-and-third person perspective. Imaging being the Hulk, waving those big green hands around? And no, I don’t mean these things:

Smash Hands

Yes, that’s an a Skrull as Cyclops from the Secret Invasion stories. Could Marvel have been planning on following through after their Ultimate Alliance 2 with the next big storyline? So it seemed.

Cyclops Skrull X-Men

And given THQ Australia would not dictate what would be in the Avengers movie, it’s a fair assumption that the game was meant to be its own separate entity just to follow along with the Avengers movie itself – regardless of the villains.

No, this is not controversial news at all. It’s just really neat to see what goes on in the background when movies are developed.

I wonder if THQ is kicking themselves now for canceling the game. . .

Keep on Space Truckin’!

Avengers: The Children’s Crusade

On September 21, 2011 By UncannyDerekIn Comic Blogging, Comic Reviews1 Comment

There’s very few Marvel stories that rarely get me excited every time I pick up a new issue. This is even truer when it comes to books released on a bi-monthly schedule. I mean, who remembers what happened two months ago?

Avengers: The Children’s Crusade has been an on-going story mixed with incredible drama, high-action, and brilliant art. To top it all off, it drastically has an effect on the Marvel Universe – despite it being considered only a mini-event.

Each issue has me begging for more. With each issue that goes by, I have no idea how the series could conclude. Indeed, this series should have been marketed much stronger by Marvel.

Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #7 of 9
Allan Heinberg (writer), Jim Cheung (pencils, cover), Mark Morales, John Livesay, Dexter Vines, & Jim Cheung (inks), Justin Ponsor (colours, cover), Cory Petit (letters). $3.99

Concluding last issue, Wanda restores the powers of the mutant Rictor from X-Factor – showing that she can reverse all of the effects done by her on M-Day. But of course, arriving on the scene, The Avengers, Magneto and the X-Men have their particular opinions to what should happen with Wanda. The Avengers want her back to normal, while Magneto wants her to herself. Surprisingly, Cyclops acts the most irrational of the bunch and demands justice for the damage she has caused.

Heinberg leaves the reader to quietly debate who has the most reasonable argument for what to do with Wanda. But for the first time in the series, we finally get to hear Wanda’s voice and her opinions. With so many voices in the story from various characters, you never feel confused on who’s who. Unlike particular Avengers books where voices become jumbled in the crowd (ie. Spider-Man & Hawkeye, Spider-Woman & Ms. Marvel), everyone in TCC has their unique personality – and it shows.

The story certainly takes a turn however, when Doctor Doom is thrown into the mix. A bit of background is finally given to “How Wanda ended up with Doom after M-Day” and it actually makes sense. To top it off, the tension in the last few pages between the Young Avengers and Doom will absolutely knock your socks off.

What else could I say about Jim Cheung’s art? He gets two months to work on this book and it shows. The intense detail given to each individual, the clarity to backgrounds, the pages with over ten different characters on it – all looks effortlessly immaculate. While my eye is not trained to identify inkers, it can be seen when they are changed in the artwork. All of it is tastefully done when involving a scenery change. As for Ponsor, never have I loved the colour pink or red so much as I have in these stories.

My only quibbles are with minute details: Cyclops acts nothing like how he would in an X-book and comes off rather ridiculous – even striking Captain America first. Of course, the other issue is Rogue’s bizarre costume-style which madam Kelly Thompson has already discussed on her blog.

It’s a shame that this series is ending in two more issues. The bigger shame is that it will still take four months to conclude.

Grade: 8.5/10

As a side note, you can see Rictor with his powers now in X-Factor #225 which was released today. If anything, this is a pretty big tip to help us figure out when The Children’s Crusade actually takes place in the Marvel Universe. (We’re not in X-Men Schism territory yet).

Speaking of Schism, please pick up X-Men: Schism #4 by Jason Aaron and the legendary Alan Davis.

After the Schism Preludes and three semi-lull issues of Schism itself, we finally have it: If there was any book to explain what splits the X-Men apart, THIS is it. Get on board and watch the X-Men split apart.