‘Captain Kid: Super-People Problems’ TPB (review) at FORCES OF GEEK

Captain Kid: Super-People Problems
Written by Mark Waid & Tom Peyer
Illustrated by Wilfredo Torres & Brent Peeples
Colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by A Larger World
Published by AfterShock Comics
$14.99
ISBN-13: 978-1935002864
Comixology Digital Release

Today sees the release of the collected edition ofCaptain Kid Vol. 1 (Aftershock Comics) from writers Mark Waid & Tom Peyer. Waid’s collected an impressive creative team, co-writing with The Atom‘s Tom Peyer with art by Wilfredo Torres (Jupiter’s Circle), and Brent Peeples (TMNT). The origin of the story starts with an idea Peyer (Legion of Superheroes, Tek Jansen) had ten years ago, finally bringing the story to light for Aftershock.

What exactly is Captain Kid, you ask? It is Mark Waid doing what he is best at, retelling familiar comic book superhero stories with a new twist. In the vein of Irredemable and Insufferable, Captain Kid takes the idea of your super powerful tight wearing hero but this time, he’s allowed himself to have a bit more fun with the palette.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Dig Boston and League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. August 26, 2015

COMICS

Jack Kirby and Jim Steranko celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate in S.H.I.E.L.D. issue #9 written by Mark Waid. This includes Previously unpublished panels from Jack ‘King’ Kirby inked by S.H.I.E.L.D. master artist Jim Steranko. …On the other side of the fence are our friends at HYDRA! Ever wonder what the workaday life of a HYDRA agent is life? Look no further than Hank Johnson Agent of Hydra #1! Written by Curb Your Enthusiasm executive producer David Mandel, this looks pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good. All Marvel Picks of the week wrap up with Nick Spencer’s Ant-Man Last Days (One-Shot). Is it the end of the world? It is still to late to change the name. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

Dig Boston and League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. July 15, 2015

COMICS

Hawkeye #22 hits stands today after a long delay. Find out the conclusion of the Tracksuit Mafia vs. Hawkeyes Barton and Bishop in this much lauded tale of Pizza Dogs and trick arrows. Mark Waid and Peter Krause continue Insufferable #3 over at IDW. This father and son superhero tale begins to reveal secrets about Galahad’s dead mother and more about Nocturnus’ past. The latest Valiant Universe crossover Book of Death #1 reveals prophecy in the Book of the Geomancer starring X-O Manowar. Bloodshot. Ninjak. The Harbinger Renegades. Unity. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

Dig Boston and League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. May 12, 2015

COMICS

Last week was Star Wars week, so this week, we popped in Guardians of the Galaxy to come down from that Force high. This week, Peter Quill aka Legendary Star Lord has 12% of a plan in issue #12 as he is still reeling from the Black Vortex. Mark Waid’s Insufferable first took tablets by storm in Thrillbent app chapters, now the social media star Galahad and his old school partner Nocturnus come to IDW in Insufferable #1, glad to see more people will enjoy one of my favorite comics of 2014. Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook from The Sixth Gun give you an Southern Gothic horror story focused on paranormal activity in Harrow County #1. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

FOG! Chats With MARK WAID About INSUFFERABLE V. 3! at FORCES OF GEEK

Mark Waid’s Insufferable is headed into Volume 3 this week and he joins us to tell us what to expect from this father/son super hero team-up book that continues to push the envelope of genre and format.

Back in May we talked with Mark about his app and subscription model, and today we check in on to see what is working for Thrillbent Comics and the challenges writing digital comic strips for the app that the creators face. 

In terms of story, Volume 3 or The Complete 3rd Season, has the insufferable Galahad and his father Nocturnus clicking on all cylinders as they go after their publicist’s Meg’s abductors. Will they be in sync for long, or will Nocturnus strangle his fool kid’s arrogant neck?  

Mark gives us some insight!


FOG!: I’ve been reading Insufferable from the beginning, I really dig it. Would you considerIncorruptible, Irredeemable and Insufferable to be trilogy, or is this a separate world?

Mark Waid: Because of the way the continuity works and Insufferable needs to be in a world that hasn’t been ravished by The Plutonian, it’s not exactly the same continuity, but then again we’ve never put a timeframe on stuff. I guess there is always the possibility that Insufferable could lead into Incorruptible andIrredeemable somewhere down the road.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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THE FOX: FREAK MAGNET (GN Review) - COSMIC TREADMILL AT FORCES OF GEEK

Just before Archie Comics superhero imprint Red Circle Comics gets eclipsed by the grittier, jaw gnashing Dark Circle Comics (imagine lots of lightning and silhouettes), The Fox Vol.1: Freak Magnet is collected for your enjoyment.

Written and illustrated by Dean Haspiel with heavy scripting help from Mark Waid (Daredevil, Thrillbent).

A classic comics creative team J.M. DeMatteis along with Mike Cavallaro (pencils, color), Terry Austin (inks) and John Workman (letters) set WWII comics on it’s side with tie-in back up story “The Face of Hate,” a cornerstone of the whole volume. 

If you remember comics being fun, bad guys getting punched, and if heroes leaping between dimensions gets you trotting, please check out this all-ages friendly The Fox. 

Back in MY DAY, we took our comics by the issue and we liked it! Well, that’s what I said way back in October when issue #1 hit the stands.

These days with all the hustle and bustle and Instagram snaps it’s hard sometimes to focus on a story when you have to wait a whole month between chapters. Lots of stuff is going to trade for me lately.

And boy was I happy to come across this sly Fox, all bundled up nice!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Learn how we can increase your sales, develop your brand, and generate interest in your site.

MARK WAID AND HIS THRILLBENT APP TAKE A RIDE ON THE COSMIC TREADMILL AT FORCES OF GEEK

As comics move from the spinner rack and the shelf to the phone and tablet, and controversial acquisitions have made the premier comics app for the iPad behave differently, companies are looking to deliver these books in new ways.

And Mark Waid has been one of the industry’s most vocal advocates for change and innovation.  And has every right to.

Photograph by Seth Kushner

Waid has done everything in comics. 

Seriously. 

And he’s taken challenges like no other. 

Move to Florida and join a comic start up?  Check.  Co-write a weekly series for a year?  Check.  Write some of the biggest characters ever to great acclaim?  Check.  Become a mentor to new talent in the industry?  Check. Write a creator owned series?  Check.  Be part of a new imprint?  Check.  Work as editor-in-chief for a comic company?  Check.  Sell off your collection to put the money into a new digital comics company, Thrillbent?  Check.  Become a comic retailer?  Check.  

And those are just the broad strokes.   

Mark joins us to talk about his company’s Thrillbent Comic Reader for iPad and an affordable monthly subscription model.

The Thrillbent website was started in 2012 to inspire innovation in the digital comics space, and Mark continues to be forward thinking with his new app and subscription model.

With a ton of great titles, Mark and Thrillbent are taking the comic market to new heights.

FOG!: Thanks for joining us today, Mark, hot off the heels of C2E2. How was the show?

​Mark Waid: Genuinely invigorating.  I have to say, I’ve not enjoyed Chicago comic conventions for a long time, not since my thousandth lame experience at the Rosemont Center, but these guys know what they’re doing. Wide aisles, good attendance, good guest lists…I’m a fan.​

Just last week saw the launch of the Thrillbent iPad app. We’ve been following Thrillbent since the beginning. Was the goal eventually to get here, out of the browser space and onto tablets?
​
It was certainly A goal.

But I’m not really going to be satisfied until we can be in a place where you can access us through iPads, Chromecasts, Rokus, Android phones, everywhere. 

Onward we march.​

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for April 16, 2014

COMICS

Aw, yeah! Captain Action Cat #1 from Art Baltazar, Franco and Chris Smits is the dawning of the Aw Yeah Age of all ages comics! No crossover too silly! The time stream needs new shoes! … Frank J. Barbiere (Five Ghosts) takes on Solar Man of the Atom in a new #1! Dr. Phil Seleski is back, in a new series from Dynamite! …An all new Hulk #1 smashes its way onto shelves today with our favorite Marvelites Marks Waid and Bagley! This new volume follows up the conclusion of Indestructible Hulk! …Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for April 9, 2014

COMICS

Celebrate 50 years of Daredevil, as our blind lawyer heads to San Fran and has revealed his secret identity in Daredevil #1.50! Fifty years without fear! … Shutter #1 is being toted as Indiana Jones for the 21st Century, with a smart female protagonist! … Iron Fist returns to a new series in Iron Fist Living Weapon #1 bringing back the street level kung fu Marvel action we expect from Danny Rand. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for March 19, 2014

COMICS

New York Times best-selling scribe Scott Snyder (Batman, Superman Unchained) and Animal Man artist Rafael Albuquerque return to bring their blood-spattered book American Vampire: Second Cycle into the 1960’s, a perfect jumping on point for new readers… Marvel keeps the #1 hits coming with Daredevil #1, as Mark Waid and Chris Samnee move the Man Without Fear out west for new adventures in San Francisco… While you’re at it, why not dip into the indie bag and check out Robin Hood: Outlaw of the 21st Century #1, a modern update of the classic Robin Hood legend in which the bold outlaw steals medical supplies and gives them to those in need… Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

2-BIT COMICS: Waid, Palmiotti and Conner’s Gatecrasher at 13th DIMENSION

We continue to expose the truth! This almighty truth is that there are plenty of neglected comic books and graphic novels hiding in your discount bins and long boxes at your favorite store just begging for attention. This week, Gatecrasher Vol. 1: Ring of Fire, from the sure-fire team of Mark Waid, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner.

This teenage tale of interdimensional invasion is exactly what I look for in a 2-Bit comic: There are space crews with big guns, angry mentors and broken dates with a hot girlfriend all in the first chapter.

Our hero is college jock Alec Wagner, who by day is swooning over girlfriend Mia. He’s got a bit of the Peter Parker luck, always being called in to fight bug-eyed aliens on his covert team — the Split-Second Squad — just in time to break their dates. Because of his human instincts and his age, he’s routinely given a hard time by his crewmates.

On the other side of the “gate,” the evil Solen Cagliar has stolen an important piece of technology — the Thinktank. When Alec steals it back, he is covered in a liquid computer goo. Will this new goo make Alec more valuable to the team? I think Vol. 2 has the answers!

[READ MORE AT 13thDIMENSION.COM]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for January 8, 2014

COMICS

Peter David’s X-Factor has mutated into a new #1.NOW! Camine Di Giandomenico is on art, and Polaris is in charge of the team that includes Quicksilver and Gambit! Fox #3 from Dean Haspiel and Mark Waid takes Fox to an adventure time filled with dragons & dungeons! … Aw Yeah, Lil’ Vampi #1 one shot from Dynamite is the cute kid version of Vampirella! Cover by Art Baltazar, interior art by MLP’s Agnes Garbowska! … Picks from LeaguePodcast.com!

Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: G.I. JOE: #12, SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #7, INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #17 plus KAMI #1

Happy New Year!  We hope you get to make your regularly scheduled trip to the comic store this week and when you do, take into consideration this Triple Shot! 

G.I. Joe gets a new writer that explores the origins of different Cobra Commanders past and present, the new Beetle’s origin starts at a birthday party years ago in The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, and Hulk gets mad when people start invading his space in Indestructible Hulk #17.

Kami is a nice quick chaser over at ComiXology.

G.I. JOE #12
WRITER: Paul Allor
ART: Alex Cal, Steve Kurth
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: IDW Publishing
UPC: 82771400431101211
Buy it HERE

It is no surprise to anyone that I am a fanatical G.I. Joe fan, I literally wear it on my sleeve in the form of an Arashikage tattoo.

Larry Hama’s Marvel run (continuing to date over at IDW) is what got me into comics, and the reboot of the franchise at IDW has impressed and compelled me to write about the multiple IDW series from the get go.

That was because names like Chuck Dixon, Hama, Christos Gage, Mike Costa and Fred Van Lente were carrying on the legacy.


Sure, the main series has had its low points but in general, overall I have been happy.

To my surprise, a guest on my podcast, a relative unknown writer in the scheme of things, Paul Allor was tapped to take over for Fred Van Lente on Season 3 after his departure. Allor cut his teeth in Comics Experience (online classes led by former Joe Editor Andy Schmidt) and quickly got pro work on several TMNT titles.

Allor is picking up on a Gage and Costa concept from G.I. Joe: Cobra in which the Cobra organization has been around for centuries. Like an anonymous Pope, one Commander is replaced by the next, hiding his identity.

This book tells the story of at least two Commanders, not including the present day as C.C. hires a Press Agent to tell the story behind Cobra.

Taking over for one of comics hottest writers, Fred Van Lente can not be easy, and I am delighted to say Paul Allor pulls it off! I can’t wait for the next issue, and more ghosts of Cobra Commanders past!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: SANDMAN OVERTURE #1, DAMIAN: SON OF BATMAN #1, THE FOX #1 plus GOLD! AT FORCES OF GEEK

Heavy hitters on comic stands this week, and I even forgot a copy of Saga on the shelf!

Neil Gaiman teams up with J.H. Williams III to return to Sandman after nearly 17 years, Andy Kubert tells the first New 52 Elseworld tale in Damian: Son of Batman #1 (spoiler, he doesn’t die!), Dean Hapiel and Mark Waid revive Red Circle’s The Fox. At ComiXology Submit, fend for Gold.

SANDMAN OVERTURE #1 (of 6)
WRITER: Neil Gaiman
ART: J.H. Williams III
Publication Date: October 30, 2013
Price: $4.99
Publisher: DC Comics / Vertigo
UPC: 76194131030500111
Buy it HERE

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Sandman comics, Neil Gaiman announced his return to the character with Batwoman/Promethea artist J.H. Williams III. Any artist could draw the story, but William’s breakthrough page layouts, fascination with symbolism, painterly expressions and abstractions are perfect for the land of The Dreaming.

Cleverly, as a nod to his absence, Gaiman returns Morpheus to the book (first as a plant!) by noting that he has been gone for some time.

He returns to London to confront one of his creations, Corinthian who has broken Sandman’s rules of interacting with the waking world.

After dealing with Corinthian, Dream is called to another realm, and Williams carries him there on an 8 page fold out spiral dreamscape that is a spectacular publishing gimmick, but one that showcases the beautiful artwork and range of our artist.

Pacing and delivery of this world doesn’t of course lie on either the artist or writer exclusively. Gaiman’s return is yet another chapter to a masterwork, long thought closed. This book is not a coda, rather it is like tapping into The Dreaming for a familiar recurring dream in between wake and sleep, perhaps a nap taken on the same day you slept in really late.

This book is beautiful, amazing, accessible to new readers (a dream gateway!) and also full of familiar characters. Writing a review of a new classic is difficult, so please just take this one merely as a strong recommendation, especially for fans of J.H. William’s signature style.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

'DAREDEVIL: SEASON ONE' Gets A Turn on The Cosmic Treadmill at FORCES OF GEEK

Reboots, retellings and new number ones…we’re all familiar with how the world of fiction works these days, and the Man Without Fear is not immune to such trends.

Last year’s Season One initiative gave us a retelling of Matt Murdock’s origin, placing him in the modern day.

Daredevil readers lamented at the announcement last week that Mark Waid’s acclaimed and Eisner award winning run on the book would be ending at issue #38 in February. The confusing part is that Marvel is not outright saying Waid won’t be involved in the crimson crusader’s Marvel NOW! readjusting in the future, just that this volume is ending.

Daredevil Season One hardcover combines the Antony Johnston and Wellington Alves one shot origin with the first issue of Mark Waid’s run to give the world a great introduction to the first superhero Ben Affleck starred as on screen.

Daredevil has always been a favorite of mine, since the days of staring up at Mylar covered books on the wall in my comic shop (“$35! Who has that kind of money”).

The yellow and brown suit was unfamiliar to me, but I knew Matt Murdock by way of John Romita Jr. and Ann Nocenti. I knew of a legendary Frank Miller run in the past, and liked everything there was about the hero, Elektra and his rogue gallery.

Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz’ 1990 Daredevil: Love and War remains one of my favorites to this day.

I am one of those that quasi-stands up for 2003’s Daredevil film, a costumed superhero movie set in the Marvel Universe after the debut of an amazing X-Men movie but before our standards were raised by Iron Man in 2008.

Sure the film has it’s flaws but our new Batman stood out as an honest and strong Matt Murdock facing down the overacting of Colin Farrell as a scarred Bullseye.

Marvel chose the right creative teams to re-introduce this complex character in this Season One graphic novel, (also available digitally, for the curious and tablet ready). 

Writer Antony Johnston worked on a Shadowland Daredevil arc with Andy Diggle, and is well known for his acclaimed Wasteland series from Oni Press. Underexposed Marvel artist Wellington Alves (Nova, Anita Blake) draws in a dynamic and consistent Marvel house style, with great action and storytelling, and most importantly makes DD swing through the city while looking cool!

 

Johnston and Alves previously spent some time together in Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen for 2010’s Shadowland: Blood on the Streets mini-series starring Misty Knight,The Shroud, Silver Sable and Paladin.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK] 

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for October 16, 2013

COMICS

Check out our the first part of our two-part unabridged interview with Dig favorite cartoonist Peter Bagge (HATE) today in the paper and online. Bagge teams up with Drawn & Quarterly for a biographical comic of feminist icon that was once banned in Boston in Woman Rebel: The Margaret Sanger Story. … Golden Age hero The Fox returns in a new #1 from Archie’s Red Circle Comics with the award winning team of Dean Haspiel (Bored to Death, American Splendor) and Mark Waid (Thrillbent, Daredevil). … Harada has stolen some nanites from Bloodshot’s body and it’s up to H.A.R.D. Corps to exfiltrate and save him before the remaining nannies eat him alive in Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #15. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.

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Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser:X-O MANOWAR #16, BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED UNIVERSE #1, INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #12 plus THE FEZ #1 at FORCES OF GEEK

Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser:X-O MANOWAR #16, BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED UNIVERSE #1, INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #12 plus THE FEZ #1

The Summer of Valiant is almost over but X-O Manowar is ramping up for the fight of his life, Batman Beyond Unlimited Universe jumps ahead a year in Neo-Gotham, plus Triple Shotfavorite Mark Waid gives Indestructible Hulk the Doctor Who treatment and drops him into the Wild Wild West.

Wash it all down with 12 pages of The Fez from Roger Langridge found backstage at Babette’s Supper Club.

X-O MANOWAR #16
WRITER: Robert Venditti
ART: Lee Garbett
Publication Date: August 21, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Valiant Comics
UPC: 85899200303101611
Buy it HERE

Aric of Dacia has returned from rescuing slaves from The Vine on Planet Death, and now he’s home.

A flashback to the Visigoth Aric looks much like Thor the Mighty Avenger on the title page, being schooled by his former mentor, Gilad The Eternal Warrior.

Flash forward to present day Romania, where Aric breaks into the National Museum of History to reclaim his father’s throne and fulfill his destiny as king.


Two of the most powerful heroes in the Valiant Universe go head to head as The Eternal Warrior sees firsthand the might of the alien X-O armor. 

This series is the lead-up to the fall Unity event at Valiant that will pit Aric against Ninjak, Toyo Harada (Harbinger), The Eternal Warrior and more. Aric is on the path to reclaim not only his throne, but conquer the Earth itself, fulfilling the destiny of his people.

The Valiant crossover event looks promising with Matt Kindt at the helm, and this main book by Venditti and Garbett continues to impress with great stories and art.

BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED UNIVERSE #1
WRITER: Kyle Higgins, Christos Gage
ART: Thony Silas, Iban Coello
Publication Date: August 21, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: DC Comics
UPC: 76194131789200111
Buy it HERE

There are two full stories here, collecting the digital first comics Batman Beyond 2.0 and Justice League Beyond 2.0.  Both stories jump ahead one year after the reveal of the new Batgirl Beyond and the 10000 Clowns storyline. 

Kyle Higgins (Nightwing) kicks off his run on Terry McGuinness with a re-opening of The Arkham Institute, a mid-air Man-Bat fight and a ‘round the table introduction to the people most important to keeping Batman Beyond out there on the streets, Dick Grayson and Commissioner Barbara Gordon.

Where’s Bruce? He’s there, but observing. For the first time, Bruce Wayne is not in the mentor role, as reported by the writers, to shake things up a bit.

Terry and Babs tackle a murder at Arkham, with Grayson advising from his acrobatics gymnasium. This story is off to a great start and if you care to read this digitally, you will be ahead of the print readers. Kyle Higgins knows Nightwing so his interpretation of the older Grayson is fun to read.

Some of the coolest Superman stories are those in which he is weakened by Kryptonite, or otherwise de-powered.

What is happening in Beyond is that something is wonky with how Superman is processing his solar energy and he is losing control over his powers. In an ode to a Cyclops mess-up, Supes nearly takes out Aquagirl with his heat vision and is forces into exile in his Fortress of Solitude. 

Micron helps out with his physiological problems and returns Clark to one of his previous New 52 professions—a firefighter. Unable to use his Kryptonian powers, can he rescue a cat this time? It might be hard! Christos Gage is at the helm of the JLB, and the two books compliment themselves nicely and exist in the same space and time.

Bruce is the one who tells Superman to go away, of course!

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for August 21, 2013

 
COMICS

The power cosmic! It is a silver age swashbuckling Daredevil with the Herald of Galactus in one of our favorite runs on the character in Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s Daredevil #30. … Batman Beyond Universe #1 gives Terry a new book and possibly introduces some more Batman lore set in the not so distant future of the existing books. Written by Kyle Higgins (Nightwing) and Christos Gage (G.I. Joe: Cobra). … You wanted the best, you got Kiss Kids #1! See what kind of trouble Li’l Demon, Starchild, Catkid, and Spacey can get into. Hopping on the Muppet Babies/Tiny Titans/Itty Bitty Hellboy trend, KISS introduces the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the world to the all ages audience! (Finally!) … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

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Triple Shot: THE ROCKETEER & THE SPIRIT #1, ARMY OF DARKNESS VS. HACK/SLASH #1, THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #14

Mark Waid continues his winning streak and takes to the skies by pairing up The Rocketeer and The Spirit;  we get our groovy on with S-Mart employee of the month—housewares, 1999—Ash as he joins the Hack/Slash universe written by Tim Seeley and witness an even more unlikely team-up of Superior Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson in this week’s Triple Shot!

THE ROCKETEER & THE SPIRIT #1
WRITER: Mark Waid
ART: Paul Smith
Publication Date: July 24, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: IDW Publishing / DC Comics
UPC: 82771400477900111
Buy it HERE

Have you also been watching The Aviator on a loop, quoting “Way of the future” and “show me all the blueprints” for the past month? Me neither, that would seriously harm the close relationships in your life. “Bring in the milk”.

A perfect companion (or welcome break) from the OCD Howard Hughes biopic would be the latest in Mark Waid’s take on The Rocketeer, co-starring Will Eisner’s The Spirit, subtitled “Pulp Friction”.


Alderman Cunningham is found murdered 3000 miles away in Hollywood from his home in Central City.

After The Spirit, Denny Colt makes his way to California to investigate, The Rocketeer, Cliff Secord and mentor, Peevy grow suspicious.

The Rocketeer picks up The Spirit for an amazing round of hand to hand combat hundreds of feet in the air, unlike anything seen before!

You’ll have to tune in next month to find out more, as Cliff’s Betty starts to fall for none other than The Spirit!

Mark Waid, ladies and gentlemen, teaming up classic characters and telling the best stories in monthly comic books on the shelves this year.

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

Triple Shot: TYRANNY OF THE MUSE #1, BATMAN SUPERMAN #1, DAREDEVIL #27

This week’s Triple Shot drags you into the cold depths of writer’s block, teams up the World’s Finest and concludes the two-year storyline orchestrated by Bullseye over at Daredevil #27.

TYRANNY OF THE MUSE #1 (ComiXology Submit)
WRITER: Eddie Wright
ART: Jesse Balmer
Pages: 50
Price: $.99
Age Rating: 15+ only
Buy it HERE

TYRANNY OF THE MUSE #1 is a bizarre existential tale of writer Frank Fisher reliant on a perennial injection of a mysterious substance that fuels his creativity, perhaps his soul.

The muse is his girlfriend, purveyor of the stuff, delivered shots into a festering wound on his head.

Our protagonist is also addicted to crystallized iced tea and coffee, apparently.

For fans of outside-the-box indie comics of Dash Shaw, Charles Burns, Peter Bagge and Robert Crumb, the artwork has an uncomfortable tension of a fever dream on the realm of the subconscious. For those of us staring at white pages and blinking cursors daily, the fright of a writer’s block could send you off of the deep end. What price might you pay to make it go away?

What is most disturbing is the festering wound on his head, constantly begging for more juice as the days go on. This is a story about co-dependence, anxiety, addiction and sickness. You might feel uncomfortable reading this book, and if you do, I think that’s the point.

Dig into it and coast on the weird!


 

BATMAN / SUPERMAN #1
WRITER: Greg Pak
ART: Jae Lee, Ben Oliver
Publication Date: June 27, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: DC Comics
UPC: 76194131581200111
Buy it HERE

Batman/Superman #1 recreates the classic World’s Finest orSuperman/Batman title for The New 52, with a killer team of Greg Pak (World War Hulk) and Jae Lee (Namor, Dark Tower).  Teaming up the Man of Steel with the Dark Knight outside of the Justice League is certainly nothing new, the balance of the two characters is more of a tense and interesting dynamic than say Wolverine and Captain America or Spider-Man and Ice-Man.

The godlike nature of the heroes makes for more of a compelling story.

The art is knockout amazing from both Jae Lee and Ben Oliver. The art switch is in service of the story (a different setting). I especially appreciated Jae Lee taking a new approach to his panel layouts, like we have seen recently in the Batwoman book ( J.H. Williams, Trevor McCarthy). Ben Oliver’s art is more organic and well illustrated in contrast to Lee’s more painterly lines and organic drapery. My favorite panel is Pa Kent holding Clark by his suspenders, literally saving a kitten for Lana in a flashback.

On to the story, and spoilers after this point. This version Superman and Batman seems to be set in the ‘5 years ago’ timeline of The New 52 (Superman in jeans, Bruce Wayne on his Army jacket recon missions a la Year One). It gets confusing, and sure to be cleared up next issue, but Clark is teleported to Earth 2…perhaps? Not sure but Pa Kent, presumed dead according to New 52 continuity makes an appearance.

Either way, the story will reveal itself, and it is great to see these two main creators working on this title at DC. I’m on board, this will make up for me dropping both flagship titles that don’t interest me much anymore, Action Comics and Detective Comics.

DAREDEVIL #27
WRITER: Mark Waid
ARTIST: Chris Samnee
COLOR: Javier Rodriguez
Publication Date: June 26, 2013
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Buy it HERE

Clearly one of my favorite titles, referenced if not picked here at TRIPLE SHOT is Daredevil by Mark Waid and most of the time with art by Chris Samnee. This issue marks the end of the road for this particular storyline, being built up since issue #1.

Waid sure can wrap things up nicely — even with a 27 issue slow burn.  We have appreciated this new version of Daredevil, that doesn’t turn grim and gritty, but has some humor but mostly a positive or go with the flow attitude from Matt Murdock.

Early on, we were treated to a new canonical way of illustrating Matt’s radar sense, and action scenes took full advantage of his powers.

As is the way with Daredevil, his personal and professional life start to fall apart. He’s fought The Spot, Stilt-Man, Mole Man, Klaw and so many more these past two years. He’s lost his firm and his practice, his secret identity and his best friend Foggy is battling cancer. 

It has come to be revealed that this all has been masterminded by his old enemy, Bullseye who was presumed dead but has been kept alive in an iron lung, resuscitated by The Hand, who were not able to repair his spine.

Daredevil fights off Ikari while Bullseye reveals his plans to Daredevil from his iron sarcophagus. Luckily, Daredevil has protected his loved ones with bodyguards ranging from Iron Fist to Ant Man, Black Widow and Spider-Man so they are safe from The Hand during this final battle.

It is no surprise that Daredevil is victorious over the weakened Bullseye but this was not without some cost. A fearless Daredevil swings into the night after relaying the story to the recovering Foggy.

I can’t wait to embark on new Daredevil adventures after this, it is hard to believe this book has been so consistently awesome for two years running already. The trade paperbacks or ComiXology collections of these books are top of the stack recommendations to Daredevil or non-comic book fans. Great writing and art, and not bogged down by gloomy emotions from years of the character’s history.