Comic Book Feeds

 I have on occasion riffed settings which were small or at least smaller than the typical D&Dish setting. This goes against the grain of published settings which tend to want to give you big, as in a world big, and perhaps classic play which starts circumscribed, but is about expanding the frontier.

There is one archetypal D&Dish experience that doesn't quite work this way and that's the megadungeon. Certainly exploring the megadungeon means opening up more area, but the scale is so much smaller generally than the hexcrawl. Distance is not a primary factor.

It strikes me that the dungeoncrawl could easily combined with the player's living space. Megadungeons under towns are pretty common, but then the town becomes a place of relative safety and refuge that may or may not enter into actual play as anything more than "base camp." What if the megadungeon space and the living space bled into each other? Like say the PCs lived in a place like Gormenghast or Xuchotl from "Red Nails," or the starship Warden, and the exploration was progressively moving into rooms, levels, sections or whatever that were unknown? (You could perhaps include small settings with actually dungeons/underground spaces in this. See MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblins.)

This could be combined quite easily with the mystery sandbox. Indeed, the incremental accumulation of vast wealth is probably a bad goal for a smaller setting of this sort. Not that money might not be a motivator, but the real big payoffs should only come at the end.

Obviously, this sort of setting would differ from the standard D&D approach even without the downplaying of vast wealth. Parties would likely be less eclectic. The length of the campaign is probably somewhat limited without a change in approach unless the structure they reside in is really weird, but I think it would make for interesting low level play.

Jim Shelley and I are continuing our selective re-watch of the Wild Wild West weekly on the Flashback Universe Blog. We're now starting the second florid, full-color season.

You can catch up on installments here.

“ Peace is quiet. Noise is rebellion ”

VOLUME is a four issue tale of teenage rebellion and
superpowered punks. It’s a fun action romp that blends Riot Grrl
attitude with dystopian sc-fi, all sent hurtling straight toward
you in a furious blur of music and color.

Writer and co-creator Christof Bogacs
Artist and co-creator Skylar Patridge
Editor and co-creator Nadia Shammas

In the messed-up world of tomorrow a populist dictatorship –
known simply as THE REGIME – have made music illegal, preaching a
perverted version of law and order called ‘PEACE IS QUIET’.
Standing up to this onerous silence is ESSA, a teenager sick of
living in the bland and colorless world the Regime has created.
She’s 16, fed-up, and her only weapon is one killer rock song.
See, when ESSA listens to her favorite track – a bellowing punk
anthem called GARBAGE HEART – she doesn’t just feel invincible,
SHE IS INVINCIBLE , imbued with superhuman strength and durability
from listening to the song. What follows is a chaotic mess of color, punk music, and robot punching…needless to say, it’s going to get noisy.

Writer and co-creator Christof Bogacs says, “VOLUME has been rattling around in my head for a while now. This is me venting all my pent-up teenage rage in an immature display of punching, explosions and song lyrics. The best part is I get to pull Skye and Nadia into the fray with me … and now Scout as well! As a fan of books like Long Lost and Heavenly Blues, I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Scout to bring this punk-drenched power-fantasy to life.”

 

Artist and co-creator Skylar Patridge added, “Volume is a really special story, not only in its message but also in its execution. We wanted to create a world devoid of color, stifled by the confines of conformity — then smash it with color and punk music. It’s a story of youth, identity and reluctant rebellion in the face of authoritarianism.”

Editor and co-creator Nadia Shammas concluded, “VOLUME is a story that encapsulates the way teen girls are silenced and undervalued, and the way their voices are louder than ever.”

Discover the Story of a Young Woman Destined to Fight Dark Magic in January 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 5, 2020) – BOOM! Studios today announced the launch of THE LAST WITCH from writer Conor McCreery (Kill Shakespeare), artist V.V. Glass, colorist Natalia Nesterenko, and letterer Jim Campbell, a young adult fantasy comic book series that shows that the greatest magic of all lies inside of us, available in January 2021.

On the day of an annual festival, young Saoirse’s father and entire village are destroyed by the vengeful Cailleach. Now, on the run with her mysterious Nan and her younger brother Brahm, Saoirse discovers that the blue-black birthmark across her shoulder that has always made her an object of teasing is actually a powerful witchmark, which allows her to resist dark magick…and take it for herself.

Nan must teach Saoirse to control her powers so that she can combat the dreaded Cailleach and her devious handmaidens, before they can release the terrifying Eater of Worlds from the faerie lands — and destroy all living things!

“THE LAST WITCH is the perfect story for all the magical humans out there who are on the verge of discovering their destinies,” said Shannon Watters, Senior Editor, BOOM! Studios. “Vengeance, fantasy, and fate all combine in this exciting new adventure series, and we can’t wait for readers to catch a glimpse of the magic Conor, V.V., Natalia, and Jim are brewing!”

THE LAST WITCH is the latest release from BOOM! Studios’ award-winning BOOM! Box imprint, home to groundbreaking original series such as Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn Allen, and Noelle Stevenson; Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Max Sarin; Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote; The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes; Fence by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad; Goldie Vance by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams; and Seen: True Stories of Marginalized Trailblazers.

Print copies of THE LAST WITCH #1 will be available for sale in January 2021 exclusively at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one) or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Madefire.

For more on THE LAST WITCH and other projects from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.

The Marvel’s Stormbreakers program will recognize and spotlight the industry’s top rising artists from around the globe

Each Marvel’s Stormbreakers class will run for two years, showcasing their talent, artistry, and skill to the world through new and exclusive work at Marvel Comics

New York, NY — October 5, 2020 — Marvel Comics has announced the debut of MARVEL’S STORMBREAKERS, its latest preeminent talent distinction program to spotlight the next generation of elite artists in the industry. Launching today, the inaugural class selected for their groundbreaking portfolio work and achievements include Josh Cassara (X-Force), Patrick Gleason (Amazing Spider-Man), Peach Momoko (known for her best-selling covers), Natacha Bustos (Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Iban Coello (Venom), Carmen Carnero (Hellions), Juann Cabal (Guardians of the Galaxy), and R.B. Silva (Fantastic Four, Powers of X).

As revealed by Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski and EVP, Creative Director Joe Quesada, the 2020 Class of MARVEL’S STORMBREAKERS feature talent from around the world, pushing artistic limits in every story they tell. As a group, they are already responsible for leading some of Marvel’s most popular titles, including Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Venom and many more, shaping Marvel’s vast tapestry of storytelling. Over the next two years, fans will see the prominence of these eight artists grow even higher in the world of Marvel Comics as they unleash their abilities and creative visions within the pages of Marvel’s biggest titles and storylines, along with exclusive new opportunities across Marvel’s publishing line.

“This year’s Stormbreakers embody pure talent and creativity that, time and time again, have shown us all there are no limits to what visual storytelling can do. We are continuously blown away by their innovative styles and by the power in how they capture the heart, humor, and humanity of our characters,” said Cebulski. “These eight artists have proven their unrivaled talent and passion for storytelling, and much like Beta Ray Bill, they are truly worthy of taking up the mantle as one of Marvel’s Stormbreakers, the next generation of elite artists. We can’t wait to show you all what’s next. And to all our Stormbreakers – take up your hammer!”

In Marvel’s history, the mythical Stormbreaker is an iconic symbol that debuted during one of many trailblazing eras of the Marvel Universe – bringing change within the pages of Thor, for legendary creators like Walter Simonson, and for Marvel fans everywhere. During this era, Marvel grew to embrace bold new initiatives, deeper character-driven stories, and unique new art styles. Comics began to unlock the potential of artists like never before through new prestige formats, new printing technology, and new ways for artists to tell – and share – their stories. And that electric drive forward continues with MARVEL’S STORMBREAKERS.

“There’s a special skill set you need to have in order to draw comics at the highest level,” said Quesada. “Like the finest illustrators, you must be able to draw anything and everything at any given moment, have the keen storytelling eye of a master film director, the ability to convey emotion in characters like the world’s greatest performers, and the imagination of the greatest storytellers in history. But to be a Marvel comic artist, you need all of that as well as the ability to make your characters and stories jump off the page. They need to be larger than life, yet grounded enough that we all see ourselves within them. We’re thrilled to bring together Marvel’s Stormbreakers, a team of super up-and-coming talents who will continue that legacy.”

MARVEL’S STORMBREAKERS is the next evolution of Marvel’s Young Guns program. Over the past 15 years, Marvel selected and recognized 36 up-and-coming artists who went on to draw some of Marvel’s greatest events, iconic series, and beyond, solidifying their place as luminaries in the industry including Steve McNiven, Jim Cheung, Sara Pichelli, Ryan Stegman, and more. MARVEL’S STORMBREAKERS continues the tradition Marvel’s Young Guns set forth and recognizes its alumni today as honorary Stormbreakers in addition to their work as Young Guns.

Congratulations to the 2020 Class of Marvel’s Stormbreakers! Check out Marvel.com/Stormbreakers to see all the latest exclusive interviews, articles, and artwork from these future comic book superstars. And stay tuned for more Marvel’s Stormbreakers news, special art series, and more in the coming weeks and months.

Captain Britain vs. Isca
Witness a battle to the death in EXCALIBUR #14, Chapter 15 of X OF SWORDS.

EXCALIBUR #14
Written by TINI HOWARD
Art by PHIL NOTO
On Sale November

PENULTIMAN #1

(W) Tom Peyer

(A) Alan Robinson

(C) A: Alan Robinson

B: Jamal Igle

Back from the future—again! Penultiman, The Next-To-Last-Stage In Human Evolution, is the greatest, best-looking, and most admired super-hero in the world! So how can he stop hating himself? His android understudy, Antepenultiman, thinks he knows the answer! Created by Tom Peyer (THE WRONG EARTH) and Alan Robinson (PLANET OF THE NERDS).

 

Featuring a variant cover by Jamal Igle (THE WRONG EARTH, Black). Resolicited from the Plague Times – all previous orders have been cancelled.

 

All AHOY books feature additional prose stores and art.

October 7, 2020

ORIGINALLY SOLICITED FOR: May 6, 2020

$3.99

strong>20th Annual Screamfest LA Horror Film Festival
Drive-In Locations @ Calamigos Ranch
(Malibu) & Regency Plant (Van Nuys)

The 20th Annual Screamfest LA Horror Film Festival (Drive-In Festival)

The opening night film Hulu’s Books of Blood will be screened at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, while the entirety of the festival will be held at the Regency Plant Drive-In at the Plant Shopping Center in Van Nuys. The festival is the largest and longest running horror film festival in the United States. Considered the “Sundance of Horror,” this year the festival has moved entirely to drive-in screenings with a lineup of ten back-to-back nights of fright, each showcasing a feature film paired with a number of shorts.

Screamfest LA will kick off on October 6 with the Opening Night screening of Books of Blood, based on Clive Barker’s acclaimed and influential horror anthology BOOKS OF BLOOD. The feature from director Brannon Braga and executive producer Seth MacFarlane is slated to premiere as a Hulu original film on October 7.  The film will screen under the stars at the stunning opening night location of Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, CA, and will take audiences on a journey into uncharted and forbidden territory through three uncanny tales tangled in space and time.  The feature stars Britt Robertson, Rafi Gavron, Anna Friel, Yul Vazquez, and Freda Foh Shen.

The majority of the festival will be held outdoors at the Regency Plant Drive-In in Van Nuys October 7-15. Special screenings include Halloween and Halloween II followed by a Q&A with legendary cinematographer Dean Cundey on Oct. 7th, 35th anniversary screening of Friday the 13th A New Beginning – Oct. 8th, a free screening of Peacock’s Mr. Mercedes – Oct. 13th  with a post-screening Q&A with director Jack Bender, star Breeda Wool and members of the cast and Halloween 4 and 5 on Oct. 14th.  Highlights from this year’s program include the LA premieres of: Thirst, the first ever Icelandic gay splatter vampire flick; Sanzaru, a captivating ghost story from filmmaker Xia Magnus; and The Brain That Wouldn’t Die, a Frankenstein story with a retro twist.   Australian psychological horror Sweet River, from director Justin McMillan, will make its North American debut, as well as Damian McCarthy’s feature film debut Caveat.  US premieres include: Adam Stovall’s imaginative paranormal romance A Ghost Waits (currently at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes); French writer/director Baptiste Rouveure’s Anonymous Animals; Australian apocalyptic dinner party An Ideal Host; and social media teen slasher Initiation from Screamfest alum John Berardo, which was recently acquired by Saban Films.

Tuesday October 6, 2020 – Thursday October 15, 2020

Calamigos Ranch in Malibu (October 6 only)
Regency Plant Drive-In at the Plant Shopping Center in Van Nuys (October 7-October 15)

Can be purchased at https://screamfestla.com/

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – October 5, 2020 – Join us for the 1st annual Baltimore Comic-Con Live this October 23-25, 2020! We are thrilled to announce the confirmation of our next panel featuring a classic comic series, its writer, and voice talent reenacting the story for the characters with whom they’ve come to be associated.

Voice Over Playhouse: Kingdom Come

Writer Mark Waid oversees a live dramatization of scenes from his classic 1996 Kingdom Come DC Comics mini-series, featuring Justice League Unlimited cast members Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman and George Newbern as Superman.

Susan Eisenberg is a professional voice-over artist known for her animation and commercial work. Her breakout role was that of Wonder Woman, aka Princess Diana, in the acclaimed Justice League and Justice League Unlimited television series. Eisenberg continued her animation work in cartoons such as Jackie Chan Adventures (Viper) and The Super Hero Squad (Power Princess), as well as in the video games Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Shaak-Ti), Jak II (Ashelin), Daxter (Taryn), Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Mass Effect 3, and Destiny (Human, Female Player). Eisenberg reprised her role as Wonder Woman in 2010 in the Warner Bros. DVD Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. Since then, she has voiced the Amazon Princess in video games (DC Universe Online; Injustice: Gods Among Us), features (Justice League: Doom) and television (Wonder Woman short).

George Newbern is best known for providing the voices of Superman and Clark Kent in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series and the Injustice video game series, and as Sephiroth in the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series. From 1986-1992, Newbern had a recurring role on the series Designing Women. He has since guest-starred on television in such series as Providence, Chicago Hope, Friends, Bull, CSI, Medium, Ghost Whisperer, Touched by an Angel, Criminal Minds, and Private Practice. He has a recurring role as a former CIA operative in Scandal. He starred as Neal Morris, father of Melissa Morris (Emily Osment), in the 2009 Disney Channel movie Dadnapped, and portrayed Apollo 14 astronaut Stu Roosa in the HBO mini-series From The Earth To The Moon. Film credits include Adventures in Babysitting, Double Switch, Switching Channels, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, and  Locker 13. As a voice actor, he has played Clark Kent/Superman on the Justice League, Static Shock, Justice League Unlimited, The Batman, and the DC Showcase shorts Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam and Superman vs. The Elite. He also provides the voice of Superman in the game Injustice: Gods Among Us and its sequel.

The multiple Harvey and Eisner Award-winning Mark Waid has been the voice behind dozens of series that have resonated throughout comics fandom and the creative community alike. His more acclaimed runs include DC Comics’ The Flash, Kingdom Come, JLA: Year One, JLA, Legion of Super-Heroes, and Superman: Birthright, Marvel Comics’ Captain America, Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man, The Indestructible Hulk, and Daredevil, BOOM! Studios’ Incorruptible and Irredeemable, Archie Comics’ Archie, and his creator-owned works Empire and Potter’s Field. He currently serves as Publisher (U.S.) at Humanoids.

“When this panel was proposed, everyone paused to just digest the idea,” said Marc Nathan, show promoter for the Baltimore Comic-Con. “Any time we mention this to other staff members, guests, or friends, they all have the same reaction. We’re very excited to be staging this event, and we know fans of Mark Waid’s work and of DC’s animated series will be as well!”

2021 Guests

 

When we return to our live event on October 22-24, 2021, in addition to on-site CGC grading, next year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Marty Baumann (Disney/Pixar), John Beatty (Secret Wars), Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics), Brett Breeding (Superman), Howard Chaykin (Hey Kids! Comics!), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Becky Cloonan (Dark Agnes), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Kristina Deak-Linsner (Vampirella: Roses for the Dead), Garth Ennis (The Boys, Friday and Saturday only), Mitch Gerads (Mr. Miracle), Joe Giella (Green Lantern), Gene Ha (Mae), Dean Haspiel (The Red Hook), Greg Hildebrandt (Wolverine), Jamal Igle (Wrong Earth), Tom King (Batman), Joseph Michael Linsner (Red Sonja), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Frank Miller (Dark Knight III: The Master Race, Saturday only), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Richard Pace (Second Coming), Tom Palmer (Hawkman), James Pascoe (Azrael), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Sinestro: Year of the Villain), Tom Raney (Guardians of the Galaxy), Afua Richardson (Omni), Louise Simonson (Power Pack), Walter Simonson (Ragnarok: The Breaking of Helheim), John K. Snyder III (Killers), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother), Timothy Truman (Grimjack), Robert Venditti (Hawkman), Mark Waid (Dr. Strange), Gene Luen Yang (Superman Smashes the Klan), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

October 5th, 2020 – Ahead of the feature film that’s in development at Paramount, Valiant Entertainment is incredibly proud to reveal the vivid new direction that will kick off next summer with THE HARBINGER #1.

Co-written by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY (Green Arrow, Gotham City Garage) and featuring art by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (Spider-Gwen, Batgirl), the upcoming series introduces new readers to Peter Stanchek, the most powerful telepath on the planet, and the sole being capable of activating powers in others like him. THE HARBINGER will trace Peter’s path from the most feared man in the world to one of its greatest protectors. This character-driven journey will introduce new allies, new villains, new costumes, and a new meaning for the title of Harbinger.

Despite having immense superpowers, Collin believes that Peter’s story is incredibly human and reminds us that we always have the potential to be better. “Like many of us, Peter has made mistakes. People have been hurt. We have no interest in ignoring that part of the character’s history.” The co-writer added, “By acknowledging those mistakes and taking responsibility for them, Peter will become the person – and the hero – he has always had the potential to be. Peter Stanchek will be more than a hero; he will be a harbinger for the world we want to see.”

“THE HARBINGER is the next big step forward in the Valiant Universe and Peter Stanchek’s promised rebirth as a hero, a leader, and a revolutionary,” said Jackson. “It’s unapologetic in its politics, diverse in its cast, and intimate in its drama. Collin and I love to tell stories that balance character deconstruction and social analysis, and there’s no one in comics who needs a little deconstruction and social awareness more than Peter.””When Collin, Jackson, and I first started mapping out this project, we weren’t expecting the themes we are tackling to be as relevant in our own lives as they have become,” stated Robbi. “As we see everyone facing more each day, people can feel a change is coming. It makes it all the more fitting that it’s called ‘Harbinger’, the herald of change.”

THE HARBINGER #1 arrives in Summer 2021.

Unlock New Mysteries and Get Up to Speed with Locke & Key and Sonic The Hedgehog Panels Online

SAN DIEGO, CA (October 5, 2020) – Even though conventions are being held virtually this year, it doesn’t mean that fans have to miss out on engaging panels or the hunt for hot new collectibles! This week, IDW welcomes you to enjoy New York Comic Con x MCM Comic Con Metaverse from the comfort of your own home with a pair of wildly insightful creator panels, convention exclusive comic variants, and more surprises!

“Thanks to the generous participation of our talented creative partners, IDW can still be a part of your New York Comic Con experience this year,” says Nachie Marsham, IDW Publisher. “We’re thrilled to highlight our fan-favorite Locke & Key and Sonic The Hedgehog comics in virtual panels, and hope that fans worldwide will tune in and enjoy!”

IDW’s dedicated NYCC web store (nycc.idwpublishing.com) launches today, the home for all of IDW and Top Shelf Production’s convention exclusives, signed bookplate editions, special bundles, and bargains aplenty! Here’s our plan for rollout:

• Beginning Today, October 5th: As a special “thank you” to our devoted fans, the web store debuts with hard-to-find con exclusives and autographed merchandise from conventions past, many available at special discounts! We’ve opened our vaults, so come see what incredible rarities you’ve missed from previous shows!

• Beginning Thursday, October 8th: IDW’s new convention exclusives for Fall 2020’s hottest comic books become available to order! Batman/The Maxx, Canto II, Locke & Key, Snake Eyes, Sonic The Hedgehog, Star Wars Adventures, and Transformers / Back to the Future… featuring cover artwork by today’s fan-favorite comic artists: Gabriel Rodríguez, Evan Stanley, Sam Kieth, and more!

• Beginning Friday, October 9th: IDW’s first surprise exclusive release of the show is unlocked… featuring cover artwork by one of 2020’s most sought-after comic artists! Stay tuned to IDW social media for the coming revelation!

• Beginning Saturday, October 10th: Our second surprise exclusive release will unlock! We’re not going to spoil the secret right now, but longtime comic fans will NOT be disappointed! IDW’s social media will reveal soon — keep an eye out!

Throughout the event, IDW will also run a special contest for fans to win one of each of IDW’s NYCC 2020 convention exclusive comic book variants — to enter, simply enter your email address at our NYCC web store.

Full details for all of IDW’s panels and exclusive products for New York Comic-Con are available below!

IDW PROGRAMMING FOR NYCC

Don’t worry if you miss the panel when it first launches — the best thing about NYCC’s virtual nature is that you can watch any and all programming at your leisure from the comfort of your own home, anytime you want!

IDW Presents: The World of Locke & Key

Unlock what’s next in the world of Locke & Key, now a hit Netflix original series! Join New York Times best-selling author Joe Hill (Full Throttle, NOS4A2, Dying is Easy) and legendary artist Gabriel Rodríguez in conversation with series editor Chris Ryall, as they welcome you back to Keyhouse. Be the first to hear more about the next wave of comics and graphic novels in the Locke & Key franchise!

• Joe Hill (writer, Locke & Key)
• Gabriel Rodríguez (artist, Locke & Key)
• Chris Ryall (editor, Locke & Key)

Panel Goes Live: Thursday, October 8, at 4:20pm EST (1:20pm PST).

IDW Presents: Sonic The Hedgehog Comics!

Go fast with Sonic the Hedgehog comics! Join the IDW writers and artists who bring your favorite blue blur to life, one panel at a time. Learn more about what artist and writer Evan Stanley has in store for the ongoing series. Plus, find out what the bad guys are up to in Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys with writer Ian Flynn and artist Jack Lawrence. Moderated by Sonic editor David Mariotte and featuring SEGA of America’s Licensing Manager, Michael Cisneros!

• Ian Flynn (writer, Sonic The Hedgehog: Bad Guys)
• Jack Lawrence (artist, Sonic The Hedgehog: Bad Guys)
• Evan Stanley (writer/artist, Sonic The Hedgehog)
• Michael Cisneros (licensing manager, SEGA America)
• David Mariotte (editor, Sonic The Hedgehog)

Panel Goes Live: Friday, October 9, at 12:20pm EST (9:20am PST).

IDW’S CONVENTION EXCLUSIVES

All new convention exclusives will be made available to order beginning Thursday, October 8th, with two surprise items becoming available on Friday, 10/9, and Saturday 10/10, respectively. IDW is offering free domestic shipment on all orders of $35 or more. Visit IDW’s convention webstore here to place orders — but hurry, these hot comics are only available while supplies last, and the web store closes at midnight on October 11th!

Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams – The Lost Compendium – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written & Illustrated by Sam Kieth
Convention Exclusive Cover by Sam Kieth
$20.00

Canto II: The Hollow Men #1 – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written by David M. Booher, Illustrated by Drew Zucker
Convention Exclusive Cover by Drew Zucker & Vittorio Astone
$10.00

Canto II: The Hollow Men #2 – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written by David M. Booher, Illustrated by Drew Zucker
Convention Exclusive Cover by Drew Zucker & Vittorio Astone
$10.00

Locke & Key: …In Pale Battalions Go… #1 – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written by Joe Hill, Illustrated by Gabriel Rodríguez
Convention Exclusive Cover by Gabriel Rodríguez
$10.00

Snake Eyes: Deadgame #2 – Convention Exclusive Variant
By Rob Liefeld
Convention Exclusive Cover Featuring Toy Packaging Art from Hasbro
$15.00

Sonic the Hedgehog #33 – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written & Illustrated by Evan Stanley
Convention Exclusive Cover by Evan Stanley
$10.00

Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys #1 – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written by Ian Flynn, Illustrated by Jack Lawrence
Convention Exclusive Cover by Evan Stanley
$10.00

Star Wars Adventures #1 (2020) – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written by Michael Moreci & Nick Brokenshire, Illustrated by Ilias Kyriazis & Nick Brokenshire
Convention Exclusive Cover by Derek Charm
$10.00

Transformers/Back to the Future #1 – Convention Exclusive Variant
Written by Cavan Scott, Illustrated by Juan Samu
Convention Exclusive Cover by Andrew Griffith
$10.00

Rive Gauche and AfterShock Comics

Unite to Form AfterShock Media

 

Top Independent Comic Publisher and Leading Distribution Company Align to Take Critically Acclaimed IP Global Through TV, Film, Streaming and Gaming

 

Jon Kramer

Los Angeles, CA (October 5, 2020)— Rive Gauche, the distribution company behind globally-successful TV series Homicide Hunter, Something’s Killing Me, Very Scary People, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, Ice Cold Killer, My Strange Addiction, My Crazy Obsession and many more, announced a merger today with AfterShock Comics, the industry’s fastest-growing independent publishing company behind acclaimed series such as ANIMOSITY,  DARK RED, BABYTEETH and A WALK THROUGH HELL.

The new entity, AfterShock Media, will combine AfterShock Comics’ expansive library featuring comics from the industry’s most celebrated creators, including highly anticipated new releases WE LIVE created by the Miranda Brothers, MILES TO GO written by B. Clay Moore and THE KAIJU SCORE from James Patrick respectively. Rive Gauche’s global distribution power will propel the publisher’s IP into new formats – from TV and film to gaming and podcasts.  Rive Gauche CEO Jon Kramer, also the CEO of AfterShock Comics, will now assume the role of CEO at AfterShock Media overseeing both companies. Just earlier this month, Rive Gauche negotiated major film and TV deals having announced bringing THE KAIJU SCORE to the big screen, and UNDONE BY BLOOD to the small screen.

“Today is a milestone day for both Rive Gauche and AfterShock Comics, two companies I’ve had the pleasure of building alongside amazing visionaries, colleagues and collaborators,” said Kramer. “The significance of this strategic union cannot be understated because our ground-breaking, diverse comic IP will now have a team to support and drive its growth into TV, film, gaming and podcasts, fueled by the development, production and distribution of both scripted and unscripted content. Rive Gauche and I were looking for a way to reenter the scripted space because we saw an insatiable appetite with the proliferation of channels.”

Marine Ksadzhikyan

Kramer added, “AfterShock Comics proved to be the perfect vehicle offering IP beyond capes and tights, instead spanning many different popular genres. Rive Gauche is committed to maintaining the caliber of unscripted programming it’s known for, by identifying and responding to industry trends and demands, while aiming to be just as quality-driven and relevant with scripted programming creation and distribution.  We couldn’t be more excited and look forward to our next phase of success and the further expansion of AfterShock Media content for viewers and fans to experience and enjoy over years to come worldwide.”

It was also announced that longtime Rive Gauche executive Marine Ksadzhikyan has been promoted to COO and EVP of Sales for Rive Gauche, expanding acquisitions and sales initiatives worldwide while overseeing the company’s operations. Marine has also been named Head of Business Development and Strategy at AfterShock Media, looking for and developing new business opportunities.

Lee Kramer will head up the AfterShock Film & TV division as President of Film & TV for Rive Gauche. AfterShock Comics will continue to be led by Editor-in-Chief Mike Marts, CCO/Publisher Joe Pruett and President Lee Kramer.

Player Characters: The Crew of the USS Ranger, Federation scout ship:
Andrea as Capt. Ada Greer
Billy as Lt. Cmdr. Sobek, Ship's CounselorDennis, as Lt. Osvaldo Marquez, Medical Officer
Paul as Cmdr. D.K. Mohan, Chief Helmsman
Supporting Cast:Ensign Elana Duffy, Security OfficerLt. Thera ch'Reith, Security Chief

Synposis: With Capt. Greer trapped on the USS Brackett with a being that calls itself "Unity" possessing some of her crew, Mohan takes Ranger to the icy planetoid of Mycena to try and determine what this has to do with the transporter experiments of Janet Hester. They discover the experiments in long range matter transmission may have lead to one or more of Hester's team being somehow trapped in dematerialized form.
Commentary: The Deneva Research Team which Hester and her ill-fated team were a part of are first mentioned in the Spaceflight Chronology. 
Within the Star Trek Universe, long distance transporter experimentation was attempted by Emory Erickson has depicted in the Enterprise episode "Daedelus," and has been depicted in use by other civilizations such as the Kalandans in "That Which Survives."
The away team encountered a monster that burrowed under the ice on Mycena that was inspired by the Delta Vega creature in Star Trek (2009).

I wrote a post about a year and a half ago about the Harveylands, the setting of the Harvey Comics universe as codified on the map above in the 80s.

While there are obviously elements of the comics that wouldn't fit a game of a D&Dish of even a somewhat unusual sort, I feel like you could jettison those and have something that wouldn't be that off-model. The only Tieflings of the "standard races" would appear, of course, providing for Hot Stuff and the Devils. There are several ghost races (for Casper types) floating around the internet, though. Witches like Wendy and rich kids like Richie would just be classes.

As presented, something like the Harveylands would be a fairly small setting, but big enough for a campaign, I think. Particularly, if the edges bled into more fantastic realms: the Hells, the Land of the Dead, etc.

NEW COMICS 4 THIS WEEK (09/30/20)
*All comics will be rated on a scale from 1 to 10*

Avengers # 36
Batman/Superman Annual # 1
Batman: Three Jokers # 2
Dark Nights Death Metal: Mutiverse’s End # 1
Fantastic Four # 24
Giant-Size X-Men: Tribute To Wein & Cockrum # 1
Harley Quinn & The Birds Of Prey # 3
Immortal Hulk: The Threshing Place # 1
Justice League Annual # 2
Marvel Zombies Resurrection # 2
Sea Of Stars # 7
Shang-Chi # 1
Wonder Woman # 763
X-Ray Robot # 2

Avengers# 36– WOW!!! Black Panther vs Moon Knight! This is the type of story that will have any comic fun embracing the great storytelling and wonderful art (Javier Garron is a master of his craft); And you’ll be blown away by the ending (**NO SPOILERS**)So with the energy that Jason Aaron continues to infuse in this title, I truly feel like this is one of the most innovative titles that Marvel is putting out.

Batman/Superman Annual # 1– While I feel like the whole Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzpltk war on who would win in a battle between Batman and Superman has been done to death but I did find this story to be entertaining (Mostly Silly) but this annual is the type of story you would want to read to make the most of a boring afternoon; But then again, I do feel we all need comics like this to bring joy in our lives during a rather confusing time, and we would all be better for it.

Fantastic Four # 24– Iceman, a member fo The Fabtastic Four….for a brief time. Now I really loved this story as I felt like Dan Slott did such a wonderful job of not only paying homage to the Silver Age era but the iconic work that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby did during their time on FF and The X-Men; If you have the chance to read one comic, make it Fantastic Four # 24

Giant-Size X-Men: Tribute To Wein & Cockrum # 1– Even though many of us read the original book, this was a perfect tribute to the timeless work that Len Wein & Dave Cockrum brought to the table as these two creative and great men reintroduced The X-Men to a whole new generation of readers and thanks to the star-studded creators that help pay homage to Giant-Size X-Men, this is a special that should be in anyone’s collection.

Justice League Annual # 1– Now this is a great annual! The Justice League being trapped in The Hall of Justice as it’s been turned into a death trap as the defenses that they use to stop their enemies are turned on them is a fun read, due to the great script that Robert Venditti delivered as the visually stunning art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan. This is a great story and a perfect follow up to Venditti’s run, reminding DC that they should have kept him on the title longer, basically because we would have gotten such cool stories like this one.

Shang-Chi # 1– This issue is an amazing way to bring Shang-Chi back in his own title (And the fact that he has his own movie coming out soon as something to do with it); I really like how Gene Luen Yang’s script puts the spotlight in Shang-Chi’s supporting cast (And an old one in Leiko Wu); and the artwork by Duke Rian and Phillip Tan is very sharp and bring a rather unique look to the title and they make the perfect art team as their action sequences as well as the more quiet moments look wonderful in print. With this creative team on board, I can definitely see Shang-Chi as one of Marvel’s top-selling titles.

Well, that’s it for me, I’ll be back next week with a whole new batch of reviews. Thanks for sticking around and I will see you all next time.

Comic Book Cats, number 74: Captain Marvel #9, drawn by Filipe Andrade, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, lettered by Joe Caramagna and colored by Jordie Bellaire, published by Marvel Comics in March 2013. Hey, it’s a cat and coffee page! Carol Danvers is running errands in NYC one snowy winter morning, and she goes to her regular coffee cart for a much-needed cup of joe. Carol has her cat Chewie with her in a carrier. As we can see, Chewie is less than thrilled to be getting hauled around in a small container on a freezing cold day like this. We eventually learn that Chewie is in fact a vicious & deadly alien creature known as a Flerken… you know, as opposed to your everyday normal vicious & deadly domestic housecat.  Portugese artist Filipe Andrade has been working in comic books since 2009. I find his style to be a pleasant blending of American and European styles, with some very nice line work. Jordie Bellaire’s coloring complements his artwork perfectly. https://www.instagram.com/filipe_andrade_artist/?hl=en http://www.felixcomicart.com/artistgallerytitles.asp…

The original version of this post appeared in October of 2013...
Zombie apocalypses have been done to death with films, books, and tv shows. Other classic monsters deserve their (proverbial) day in the sun, too:


Vampires: The most obvious non-zombie contender for virtually extinction of the human species. Richard Matheson's I Am Legend and it's various movie adaptations have already ventured into this territory (as has the film Stake Land and the TV show The Strain) --and the comics Planet of Vampires and Vampire Hunter D have already shown on vampire overrun post-apocalypses. Trading bloodsucking for flesh-eating is almost too obvious.


Piscoids: Cast them as Creatures from Black Lagoons, Manphibians, or walking catfish men, fishy humanoids are ready to climb from the depths and overwhelm the surface world. Perhaps a full-fledged takeover is the ultimate goal of the Deep Ones in Shadow Over Innsmouth? Global warming and rising sea levels would no doubt be part of their plan. A piscoid apocalypse might wind up looking more like Waterworld than Walking Dead.

Werewolves: Like vampires and zombies, werewolfism is passed by a bite, making them a reasonable stand-in. I don't know of any media werewolf apocalypses, but Dog Soldiers sort of does the "trapped in an isolated farm house" riff of Night of the Living Dead. Depending on exactly how the werewolves worked, things might be pretty tough for humanity: zombies are slow and dumb, while vampires have to sleep in the day time. Werewolves have neither of those limitations. Of course, their just humans in the day, trying to scourge for survival just like everybody else. Only at night would they join packs of killers to howl at the moon as they hunt through the ruins.


Frankenstein's Monsters: This seems like the biggest stretch given than Frankenstein had only one monster (or maybe two, depending on who you believe). Still, two monsters can overrun the world (unless they're giant, which still movies us out of zombie apocalypse analogous territory). Technology has advanced a lot since Frankenstein's day, though. Wein's and Wrightson's Un-Men in Swamp Thing (and Burroughs' Synthetic Men of Mars, for that matter) point the way: Mass production of monsters. In some ways, this would resemble an alien invasion apocalypse or robot apocalypse more than a zombie one--though perhaps the monsters "consume" humans by dragging them back to their secret factories to use as raw materials for more monsters?

This is the opening title sequence from Batman: Death in the Family, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s first-ever venture into interactive storytelling that allows fans to choose where the story goes through an innovative navigation guided by the viewer’s remote control. Batman: A Death in the Family, which includes four additional shorts from DC’s iconic canon, arrives on Blu-ray and Digital on October 13, 2020.

September 30th, 2020 – Cullen Bunn. Comicstorian. Vita Ayala. Jon Davis-Hunt. You know their work, but how well do you really know them? Valiant Entertainment is proud to launch Valiant Voices, a new monthly interview series on Valiant’s YouTube channel that’s all about picking the brains of comic creators, comic press, and many more about why they love comics.

Up first: a giant-sized debut interview with ComicPOP’s Sal & Tiffany! The fan-favorite YouTube duo reveal their comic book reading origin stories, discuss what makes the Valiant Universe unique, pick their favorite comic book movies & TV shows, and much, much more. Watch the first episode, below.

What is the first comic they remember reading? What comic got them hooked on the hobby? What is their favorite single issue? What are they reading right now? Those questions and many more will pop up in each interview as Valiant Marketing & Publicity Manager Gregg Katzman talks to a new guest, each and every month. Future guests include…

 

• Cullen Bunn (SHADOWMAN, PUNK MAMBO)
• Kat Calamia (Newsarama, ComicUno)
• Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum (X-O MANOWAR, Sea of Stars)
• Valiant Senior Editors Heather Antos & Lysa Hawkins
• Benny Potter (Comicstorian)
• Jeff Parker (NINJAK, Batman ’66)
• Vita Ayala (LIVEWIRE, New Mutants)
• Nathan Stockman (SAVAGE, Spidey)
• Jon Davis-Hunt (SHADOWMAN, The Wild Storm)
• And many more, including creators on books that haven’t been revealed yet…

Title: POM # 1
Publisher: Evoluzione Publishing
POM Created by: Marvcel Dupree and Joel Cotejar
Story by: Marcel Dupree
Art by: Joel Cotejar
Colors by: Franco Reisco and Claudio Lucania
Letters by: Brant Fowler
Edits by: Richard Still
The Unit:
Story by: Marcel Dupree and Guido Martinez
Art by: Scott Jones, aka SHADE
Letters by: Brant Fowler
The Unit Created by: Marcel Dupree and Scott Jones
Price: $ 4.99 US
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Websites: www.facebook.com/evoluzionepublishing.com , www.indyplanet.us/brands/evoluzione-publishing.com 
Comments: McDougall we see is being escorted to the city. Then we switch to Britney Armstrong she is a slut and also a superpowered being.
Then we switch back to McDougall and three armored people come to rescue him. They are armed and dangerous yet they encounter someone much more dangerous. As the story moves along details are filled in. There is a ton of action as we see lots of characters which we do not a little about just not a lot. Britney makes the scene and leaves the scene as we see she is one uncaring superpowered woman. The characters are interesting and the Ronin type guy in armor leaves you wondering who he is and has you wanting more. In this anthology, you will have to come back next issue to find out more.
“The Unit” Gaia, Bill Bigsby – Armageddon, Carl Moss – Ultimate, Plato – The Alchemist, and Joel Scott – Genesis is the Unit. The Unit is in battle against another alchemist and his horde of zombies.
Ms. Turner is the newest member of the Unit. She is Chloe Turner – Shakti and she jumps into the fray. The Unit is a hard-hitting team. The story is short so you only get to learn the basics about the Unit and its members. It does grab your attention enough to get you wanting more. This story is continued in the next issue.