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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for April 30, 2014





COMICS


He’s Back! Swinging his way through Manhattan, conveniently in time for a new movie! Amazing Spider-Man #1 stars Peter Parker and his damn luck - will this be a Superior book? Let’s see! … Valiant jumps forward to 4001 AD for the return of the legendary Japanese warrior ghost of Japan in Rai #1 by Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain. … Buddy Bradley from ‘Hate’ comics returns from indie legend Peter Bagge with 20 pages of new material. What’s Buddy gonna do raising his family in the local dump in Buddy Buys a Dump! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

Why You MUST READ VALIANT at 13th DIMENSION

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By CLAY N. FERNO

Valiant Comics‘ Must Read Valiant Greatest Hits Volume 1 is out now and the oversized comic is priced at $5.99 to get you into the increasingly popular Valiant Universe for the price of two regular comic books! Superheroes, space travel, top talent and an unflinching editorial eye for quality makes for a rich universe. Are you one of those fans that thinks the X-Men have too many books and The Avengers are cool on the big screen, but Avengers Mansion seems like a Spanx-filled flop house? Come on over to the Valiant side, there’s room for everyone over here and it all makes sense together!

Let us first take a look at the offerings in Greatest Hits Vol. 1. Back in MY day, we called this a 100-Page Giant. We’ll keep it short so you can start working on your Shadowman and Ninjak cosplays by the end of the article.

We start off with Valiant’s Iron-Prince-Out-Of-Water, X-O Manowar #5. The Visigoth from ancient Romania was taken away from the Vine aliens to toil on their farms before escaping and bonding with their most powerful weapon, the X-O Manowar armor. This issue reintroduces Ninjak, kind of like a Ninja Boba Fett. Killer issue!

Quantum and Woody #1 deals with two knucklehead step brothers who step into their late Dad’s  science lab when, of course, a life-altering scientific accident leaves them just as annoying to each other but all the more powerful! Who’s responsible for their Dad’s murder? What’s all this about a goat? For fans of snarky humor but also butt kicking!

[READ MORE at 13th DIMENSION]

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THE MIGHTY Q&A: Ben McCool - 13th Dimension

 

British comic creator Ben McCool has a string of indie Image Comics books you’d be familiar with from the racks (Pigs, Choker, Memoir) as well as more mainstream titles such as Justice League Unlimited. He also has the honor of being the only comic creator who lives in New York that I’ve done any barhopping with, including a stop at Fenway Park’s Bleacher Bar.

In November, Ben and Valiant Comics released a new type of digital comic combining the best parts of digital native storytelling with 8-bit video games of our youth. I quite literally bought an iPad days later. Here at the Mighty Q &A, Ben tells us about Valiant 8-Bit Adventure: Unity.

photo 1

Thanks for joining us, Ben! Writing Valiant 8-Bit Adventure, a prelude to Unity, must have been different for you. Did you work with the artist Donovan Santiago on the pacing and animations?

My pleasure, good sir! And for sure, the Valiant 8-bit Adventure was a break from the norm for me. In the best possible sense, though! It’s also the first project I’ve written for Valiant, and it appeared to go down very well with fans.

Donovan Santiago was brilliant to work with — the guy’s skills are off the charts, especially as he’s producing such unique and imaginative art. My script was put together in a format I’d never really used before, mainly due to the “motion” effects that incorporate two, three, sometimes even four different images within a single (oversized) panel. And Donovan was certainly a big help in me figuring that out, along with our top-notch editor, Josh Johns. But once I’d got the hang of it the transition was pretty straightforward, not least because the story was so much fun!

[READ MORE at 13th DIMENSION]

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Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: UNITY #2, G.I. JOE #11, BRAIN BOY #0 plus CODE MONKEY SAVE WORLD #2 at FORCES OF GEEK

Christmas comes a little early this year with some amazing comics this week!


In fact, paring this list down to four was hard for the first time in a while.

The Valiant Universe crossover continues in Unity #2, our friend Fred Van Lente takes two spots with his last G.I. Joe #11 and an early adventure in Brain Boy #0.

On ComiXology, Code Monkey get pants and more in his origin, Code Monkey Save World #2

UNITY #2
WRITER: Matt Kindt

ARTIST: Doug Braithwaite
Publication Date: December 11, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Valiant Comics
UPC: 85899200312300211
Buy it HERE


The struggle against X-O Manowar continues this week in the Valiant crossover Unity #2.

Toyo Harada’s first wave of infiltrators, a team of Harbingers was largely unsuccessful, and Ninjak got himself captured by the Visigoth and is now trapped in the Vine ship in Romania.

Does none of that make sense to you?

Don’t worry, with only two issues in, you can start from the beginning and get a sense of story.

Valiant, by design, is making their second wave of comics great jumping on points for new readers, and are attracting more with consistent five-star reviews for this Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) written crossover limited series.

In issue #2, Livewire, Eternal Warrior and Harada infiltrate the ship and tap into the virtual controls, in attempt to rescue Ninjak and save the planet from Aric’s invasion. 

The virtual reality fight scenes drawn by Doug Braithwaite ramp the action up to eleven, making for a true page turner.

I’m telling you, drop event comics from the big two and hop on Unity. Valiant is doing it right.

Explosive action with real consequences to characters you’ve just met makes for the best kind of comics.

Not sure quite yet? Wait for the reasonably priced trade in a few months.

 

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for December 11, 2013




COMICS


Harada’s team has 8-bit simulated taking down X-O Manowar in the digital prelude, but issue #1 got Ninjak locked up on Aric’s ship! The crossover event continues as The Eternal Warrior, Livewire and Harada go to rescue him in Valiant’s Unity #2! … Fred Van Lente’s time on G.I. Joe is almost over, but he gets to tell the cajun spiced gumbo origin of Roadblock in G.I. Joe #11. … Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMDatteis take the Justice League into the future in Justice League 3000 #1! Super cool future Trinity art by Howard Porter. … Picks from LeaguePodcast.com!



 
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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for November 20, 2013




COMICS


What do band managers do? Nothing! Just kidding! Read about Brian Epstein’s role in making The Beatles the world’s most influential Rock and Roll band! Dark Horse is proud to present The Fifth Beatle, the story of a man facing homophobia, Anti-Semitism and a someone who died all too young. … The countdown to issue #200 continues as Savage Dragon is strapped to the electric chair and is begging for the end! Savage Dragon #172 today!… Feel bad for poor Aric of Dacia because Unity is on his ass? Venditti & Nord return for X-O Manowar #19, a great jumping on point for new readers at the start of the huge Valiant Universe Unity Event as X-O defends his legacy, the land of the Visigoths aka Romania! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

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Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: BATMAN #25, BATGIRL #25, VALIANT: UNITY #1 plus VALIANT 8-BIT ADVENTURE: UNITY #1

Alright, its time again for Triple Shot Plus and we’re sticking with a theme this week!

There were so many comics to sort through, but in the end Batbooks and Unitycaught our eye.  Zero Year continues in Batman #25 and Batgirl #25 and Harada assembles his best to defeat X-O Manowar in Valiant’s Unity #1 with a prequel of sorts only on ComiXology, Valiant 8-Bit Adventure: Unity! written by Ben McCool!

BATMAN #25
WRITER: Scott Snyder
ART: Greg Capullo
Publication Date: November 13, 2013
Price: $4.99
Publisher: DC Comics
UPC: 76194130640702511
Buy it HERE


We’ve been excited to see these pages hit the shelves since NYCC this year and of course the debut of The New 52 Gotham City Police Department Blimp.

There is even a history to the dirigibles, Bruce Wayne donated them to G.C.P.D. during the blackout! 

Riddler’s blacked out the city and all hell is breaking loose.

$4.99 is the price of admission for this thrill ride (last issue was $6.99, curiouser and curiouser) but worth every giant penny once again as Snyder and Capullo create an award winning modern origin for The Batman.

On the surface we are treated to a new PT Cruiser-like Batmobile (Mach I) that has a special ability never seen before, a tease that Jim Gordon was there the night Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered, as well as the return of 1939 villain Doctor Death. There’s also Lucius Fox, proto-Poison Ivy and to be determined desert military action in Nigeria. Perhaps the 2004 version of Doctor Death from Batgirl is responsible for the Central African conflict. Stay tuned for more!

If you aren’t reading New 52 Batman, get to it. There’s no excuse at this point. Start with Court of Owls and work your way up. Seriously. Or start at issue #21 and see the origin of Batman like no one has ever imagined!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]


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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for November 13, 2013




COMICS!


Aric of Dacia has returned to Romania to conquer the world! Toyo Harada has assembled an army to defeat X-O Manowar in the epic crossover and Valiant Universe jumping on point, Unity #1! Valiant’s first super-team! … Boston Comic Con guest Amy Reeder has been impressing everyone with her Image title about time traveling teenage detective Rocket Girl, and Issue #2 is out today! … Following up the spectacular Star Trek: Into Darkness is the official origin of Khan from IDW. Issue #2 reveals the Eugenics Wars for the first time ever! A must read for Trek fans. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

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NYCC - VALIANT COMICS Panel Report


Convention Report by Clay N Ferno

 


Valiant Comics remains committed to their rabid fans with a series of announcements tied to top industry talent and is expanding on the current Valiant Universe with new titles and crossovers in 2014.

Valiant Comics Director of Marketing Hunter Gorinson introduced an impressive series of panelists including Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Matt Kindt, Clayton Henry, Dinesh Shamdasani, Alejandro Arbona, ChrisCross and more at the Must Read Valiant panel on Saturday.

The panel starts off with the reveal to the pre-con teaser about the return of “The (Original) World’s Worst Supehero Team”.

The lead off announcement is that series creators Christopher Priest and M.D. Bright are returning to Quantum and Woody for a limited series set in the original Valiant Universe. No plans on expanding on the original universe beyond this series, we’re told, this is a special exception to reunite the team.


Starting in issue #5, fan favorite Mara artist Ming Doyle joins James Asmus on the current Quantum and Woodytitle, introducing the goat! 

 

 

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EARTH PRIME TIME: NEW YORK COMIC-CON PREVIEW 2013


Screen Shot 2013-10-09 at 11.42.59 AM

New York Comic Con, October 10-13, is the biggest East Coast show of the year, and we are headed down there to fill our Adventure Time WeLoveFine oversized Con bag with swag, original art, and business cards to continue to deliver the fine comic book journalism you have come to expect from Earth Prime Time each week. Here’s a preview of some of the weird and wonderful delights the con has promised us from the many media announcements making their way to our inbox this fall.

This is truly a nerd’s holiday weekend! We here at LeaguePodcast make it a tradition of heading to Gotham once a year since our inception there, four years ago at a New York Comic Con afterparty. Hometown friends, miles from home, delighted in the smells of Hell’s Kitchen over beers at an iFanboy party and made an honest swing at weekly comic book podcasting ourselves and now we’re 166 episodes in, with events and our own after parties to attend to!

With a small bottle of Spider-Man hand sanitizer attached to our backpacks, a Mophie Juice Pack on the iPhone, we are getting on the safest and cheapest early bus on Friday to live it all again.

This time, it’s bigger. This time, it will be better. How do we know? The con has grown from 105,000 people in 2011 to 116,000 in 2012. And there’s gonna be a new Walking Dead episode this weekend and a ten year anniversary celebration of the comic with issue #115.

Walking Dead 115 - Charlie Adlard

Walking Dead 115 - Charlie Adlard

Hollywood certainly takes a fair amount of floor space in San Diego and New York. Besides everyone’s favorite zombie show, you could catch a screening of the doll of our nightmares, Chucky returning in Curse of Chucky. The 25th Anniversary of Chucky is celebrated at a panel on Friday.

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

 

 

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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for October 2, 2013



COMICS

 

October means Halloween! Halloween means comics specials, and here’s the first, Shadowman #11 from Valiant Comics written by Jim Zub (Skullkickers). This ish comes with a detachable Shadowman mask cover variant and is drawn by superstar Miguel Sepulveda. Is NOLA safe from the undead threats lurking in the shadows? Jack to the rescue! … Today’s the day to visit EARTH PRIME TIME for our interview with Glen Brunswick and pick up issue #2 of Reality Check. An artist’s comic book hero creation comes to life and he needs more help than you’d think! Also available today is Glen’s Non-Humans TPB with Whilce Portacio. … Keeping it spellbound and weird is The Occultist #1 from Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) and Mike Norton as our young mystic takes heed of the book of spells called The Sword. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

 

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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for June 19, 2013




COMICS

Do you want to believe that IDW can produce the faithful next season of X-Files? Jim Carroll (Basketball Diaries) once told me in real life that, “Scully is hot”, and he was right. Here’s to X-Files Season 10 #1. O.K., Mulder’s hot too. … New publisher Black Mask Comics run by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and Brett Gurewitz (guitarist-songwriter Bad Religion, owner Epitaph Records) unleashes two comics today, #OCCUPYCOMICS anthology issue 2 and a story about vigilante animal rescuers in Liberator #1. 30% off the proceeds go to animal rescue initiatives! … Read Harbinger #13 8-Bit Variant by the pool as Harbinger Wars continues in Summer of Valiant ‘13. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

 

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TRIPLE SHOT: TWELVE REASONS TO DIE #1, X #1 and ARCHER AND ARMSTRONG #0 at FORCES OF GEEK

It’s a numbers games as we dip into the 36 Chambers of Death with Ghostface Killah in the new book Twelve Reasons To Die.  Travel back in time with Archer and Armstrong #0 and take a dark turn with Dark Horse and Duane Swierczynski punishing the criminal bosses in city of Arcadia for a new number #1 of cult anti-hero, X. 

TWELVE REASONS TO DIE #1
CONCEPT: Ghostface Killah, Adrian Younge
WRITER: Matthew Rosenberg, CE Garcia, Patrick Kindlon
ART: Breno Tamura, Gus Storms, Kyle Strahm, Joe Infurnari, Dave Murdoch
Publication Date: May 8, 2013
Price: $3.50 
Publisher: Black Mask Comics in association with Soul Temple Entertainment LLC
UPC: 045778022014
Buy it HERE


“Up from the 36 Chambers…it’s the Ghostface Killah”, these lyrics from Clan in Da Front weren’t what I expected to yell when I went into the LCS on Wednesday, but I did, scaring some kids there getting some leftover Free Comic Book Day swag.


As you can tell from the credits, this hip-hop comic comes to you from a creative team that goes all the way up to the executive producer RZA.

Accompanying this book is a record and tour of the same name by hotshot producer Adrian Younge and Ghostface. 

The comic starts off with words like ‘pussy’ and ‘motherfucker’ and that sets the tone for the book.

Like Ghost’s lyrical flow, the comic references gangster history going back to the 40s through the 60s, and it isn’t too long before we are introduced to his alter-ego and star of the book, gang enforcer, the “other” Antony Starks. From La Costa Nostra to modern day nightclub drug deals, it’s grim and gritty. The artwork, benefitting from different artists in the first issue is dark and breaks off chapters well. Just like a RZA beat, nothing here is extraneous. All tells the story.

From the solicit as we find out that Anthony Starks is an enforcer for the DeLuca crime family in the 1960s. The family murders him after he falls in love with the kingpin’s daughter. You won’t know this from the first issue, but it is helpful background.

Starks remains are pressed into a dozen vinyl records and when played, the record invokes the spirit of Ghostface Killah, exacting revenge on his murderers.

High concept, great art and all accompanied by a soundtrack album that is already highly regarded? I am so down. This really is the summer of Ironman.

I didn’t even get to tell you about Black Mask Comics, a new publishing company from creator Steve Niles. We’re expecting great things from this new venture as well.

X #1
WRITER: Duane Swierczynski
ART: Eric Nguyen
Publication Date: May 8, 2013
Price: $1.99
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
UPC: 76156822527300111
Buy it HERE


Just last month, we re-introduced you to X from Dark Horse Comics.

Yes, another reboot. No, we don’t care.

Yes, we’re buying it. No, it’s not a cash grab.

Wait, am I answering questions in my head again? No? Good.

The masked vigilante has more in common with a Punisher of the MAX variety than any other character. He’s a strong, smart and capable vigilante that sits like a snake and plots his attack before doing so. His enemies are tipped off when he sends them a picture of themselves with a red giant X over their face. Most don’t take it seriously, or try to protect themselves from the vigilante when they know he is coming. Good luck, pal.

X has a particularly bloody streak, bloodlust and determination for meting out justice in his hometown of Arcadia.

Unlike Frank Castle, little is known about this cold killer’s origin. Hopefully Swierczynski will tap into that as the series rolls on.

The book opens on a warehouse full of corpses. Investigating detectives and officers on the scene prop up the heads of two of the dead laying in a nearby Caddy. The ominous red X from the photos is mirrored on their flesh, accompanied by multiple nails from a nail gun. Yeouch, X does not mess around!

As police check out the scene, a young blogger, screenname Muckracker aka Leigh Furgeson is poking around, tipped off by an old drunk about the massacre near his home. He flees Arcadia and leaves the detective work to Muckracker. 

Leigh opens her mailbox to find a message from X, crossed-out photos of some bad dudes including one of Leo Pietrain, the unfortunate villain locked in his panic room in issue #0. Ambulances take Leo away as Muckracker gets to the crime scene to see Leo’s piehole bleeding a red X through his ambulance stretcher sheet. 

In the third act of the issue, reader’s adrenaline levels spike as X springs into action once again. Though, this time it appears he’s been set up by the police. 

After a firefight and explosion, X and the snoopy Muckracker find themselves in an alley together. This might be the time for Leigh to either expose X or to lend him a hand. Tune in next issue for more pulse pounding action.

This book has the feel of a Batman: Year One, and obvious nods to the Frank Miller story in the art by Eric Nguyen are not off-putting but set a familiar tone. The action and blood is definitely more mature (not for kids) than your average Punisher story but all of the tropes here work really well to acclimate the fan to a newly rebooted, but never wildly popular anti-hero vigilante.

Swierczynski is on some great books right now with tough dudes as the lead roles. Check out his take on IDW’s Judge Dredd for more rugged justice!

ARCHER AND ARMSTRONG #0
WRITER: Fred Van Lente
ART: Clayton Henry
Publication Date: May 8, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Valiant Comics
UPC: 85899200306200011
Buy it HERE


Valiant Comics started the whole ‘prequel’ comics numbered “Issue #0” way back in the nineties.  Since then, companies have copied their style and in fact, DC’s New 52 had a whole series of “0” issues incorporated into their relaunch. It should come to no surprise to fans, speculators and collectors of the classic Valiant characters that Valiant has started to release prequels to their relaunched books as well.

Fred Van Lente (Spider-Man, G.I. Joe) brings his humor and well researched historical references to the latest, Archer and Armstrong #0.

Archer is a teenager, raised by extreme religious freaks on a compound. He escapes to find the truth about his parents. Armstrong is a nigh-invulnerable immortal warrior that is centuries old. This issue deals with Armstrong’s past through a retelling (reboot!) of the classic tale of Gilgamesh. How do we get there? Armstrong was part of the story and recounts it firsthand! Raised a poet among warriors with brothers Gilad (Eternal Warrior) and Ivar (Timewalker).

Some Vine-like tech is discovered in ancient Mesopotamia and the brothers go to investigate. They are greeted by men in robes who introduce them to the Boon device, the supernatural tablet that grants Armstrong his immortality. There’s dinosaur fighting, alien tech and ancient history rolled up into a delicious story that’s way better than junior high history and literature classes. 

This issue is part Jurassic Park, part Rome and equal parts the origin of pizza in G.I. Joe Yearbook#3 — My Dinner With Serpentor.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for May 1, 2013




COMICS

 

There was a time when we thought Gail Simone’s departure from DC Comics was permanent. The talented writer is back on Batgirl and now gives us the comic book take on #occupy with The Movement #1. A citizen’s army strikes back against greed! … We’re still amazed at our interview with The Activity’s Nathan Edmondson. For true to life military and service drama, complete with all the tech gadgets you see on the news and strategic exfils and infiltrations, join Nate and guest artist Mark Laming on The Activity #12. … Shadowman was also featured in an EARTH PRIME TIME last year, and nothing is better than a Zero Issue from the company that invented them, Valiant Comics. Go way back twenty-five years to learn the mysteries of sorcerer Master Darque and the nightmare realm of Deadside in >Shadowman #0. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com episode #150!.

 

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TRIPLE SHOT: MISS FURY #1, INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #6 & HARBINGER WARS #1

Sometimes triple shot might mean to you 3 shots of espresso over ice, with caramel, whipped cream and salt. 

Before exclaiming “Ew!”, you gotta realize that too much of a good thing is still many good things all jammed into one big awesome thing. 

This week’s stack of comics is the $8 coffee drink of the springtime, worth every delicious penny.

MISS FURY #1

WRITER: Rob Williams 
ART: Jack Herbert
COVER: Alex Ross
Publication Date: April 3, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
UPC: 72513020398400111
Buy it HERE


The Shadow, Green Hornet, The Spider and more are fighting The Justice Party over in the pulp superhero book,Masks.

They are joined by a proto-Catwoman (Black Cat, Hellcat, take your pick) Miss Fury to add a bit of feline finesse to the team.

Here at the new #1, we’re given a fresh origin story of the character and some insight into her powers.

The story opens in 1943 atop the roof of a museum wherein lies the Rwandan Diamond Crown. Miss Fury takes on a cadre of goons and a time traveling Nazi. She’s saved by Harmon, an O.S.S. (CIA) man who she promptly punches before falling through a skylight and into a time portal, waking up in modern day Manhattan.

At this point we’re given her African safari origin story and hallucinogenic ritual that grants her powers before returning to America to find out her father is dead, leaving Marla Drake all of his fortune. Miss Drake returns changed from her experience abroad and sets her eyes on stealing the crown. The cat burglar gene runs strong in her trope!

The burglar aspect of the story is not the strong point, the real hook is the Butterfly Effect time travel reveal at the end. Why is Miss Fury traveling through Nazi time portals and what kind of world does she confront in the present? Read issue #2 to find out. This book for fans of Black Cat, Catwoman, Doctor Who and of course Dynamite’s Masks team book!
 

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #6

WRITER: Mark Waid
ART/COVER: Walter Simonson
COLORS: Andreas Mossa
Publication Date: April 3, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
UPC: 75960607908700611
Buy it HERE

Alright, we’ve been blowing up Mark Waid a bit here but for good reason.

He’s cranking out the hot stuff lately. While Waid’s storytelling is intelligent and moves the industry forward in ways (Daredevil, Thrillbent) the real news about this issue is his collaboration with longtime Thor artist Walter Simonson on art in Indestructible Hulk #6.


The setup for this book is that Dr. Bruce Banner is working for S.H.I.E.L.D. as a research scientist and top brainy guy. You know who also works for S.H.I.E.L.D.?

The Hulk.

While we’re not certain on the overtime pay for a split personality, we do know how Hulk is employed. When something needs a good smash, send Hulk in, and he smashes away. It’s controlled chaos, Hulk used as a weapon for the government. Only now realizing this is pretty similar to the current Venom premise, whereby Flash Thompson is given monitored access to the Venom symbiote to give him powers as a super soldier.

What better use of Walter Simonson’s talents than to put him on a Hulk book and to include our good friend Thor Odinson. That’s right, boys and girls, Banner travels to Jotunheim (you may remember the land of the Frost Giants from the Thor movie) to gather up some legendary energy source of some kind or another. Who cares? The excitement explodes on the facing page when the Thor we grew up with in the 80s swoops down with Mjolnir to ask what they are doing there.

It seems the Son of Odin does not recognize his friend Banner, and Bruce is also wondering in his narration why Thor is not wearing his modern costume. Perhaps we have a doppelganger Thor here?

At this point the Frost Giants show up, and attack Thor and the team. Banner is encapsulated in ice, a familiar place for an Avenger, before getting super pissed and having his growth spurt. Luckily it’s easier for him to fight Frost Giants as Hulk, but he can’t do it without assistance. The Asgardian at this point is separated from his mighty hammer.

I started off getting Waid’s first issues, with Lenil Yu on art and it was great, but dropped off. If we get two masters on one book for a while this will be a no-brainer and an easy recommendation to anyone that’s not on the Wednesday comic book cycle.

HARBINGER WARS #1

WRITERS: Joshua Dysart
STORY: Joshua Dysart & Duane Sweirczynski
ART: Clayton Henry, Clayton Crain, Mico Suayan
COVER: Lewis LaRosa
Publication Date: April 3, 2013
Price: $3.99
UPC: 85899200308600111
Buy it HERE

The relaunch of Valiant Comics was an industry shot in the arm with it’s Summer of Valiant last year.

A strong suit of the ‘90s Valiant Universe was it’s similarity to the Marvel Universe, as there was a shared history of the fictional universe, with diverse characters and story lines ranging from aliens to psionicly powered children, ninjas and voodoo.


This made for easy crossovers and guest appearances in the books.

Miming the success of these crossovers, we have had Ninjak appear in X-O Manowar in the reboot and now we have the first official event comic or crossover in the modern takes on the characters in Harbinger Wars #1.

The Harbingers are close to an X-Men type team with super powered kids of all different ‘psionic’ abilities, lead by corporate mastermind Toyo Harada. The Harbinger Foundation has been colluding with the government’s Project Rising Spirit program to imprison some of the most powerful young psiots and use them for deadly immoral missions.

A new cast of young psiots are introduced with cool codenames like Chronos, The Telic, Traveler and Hive (we’re Legion of Superheros fans here, Chronos-Boy has a nice ring to it, too!). Of course we see Harbinger Peter Stanchek here with his rebels and he even has an encounter/vision of The Bleeding Monk (still the creepiest).

Bloodshot, a product of Project Rising Spirit liberates some of the imprisoned psiots from their facility, and Harada is in hot pursuit of losing his precious weapons.

It’s Bloodshot teaming with the rebels to protect these kids, as Toyo Harada and the rest of the Harbinger team players are seeking revenge. And this is the action only in issue #1 of four.

Amazing art, story and crossing over of characters we have been waiting for since last summer in these fine looking books. Starting Valiant launches an 8-bit campaign with pixelated covers of all of their books. Only weeks away is Harbinger Wars: Battle for Las Vegas, an 8-Bit Game tied into the series coming to Android and iOS. I can’t wait to shoot guns as Bloodshot!

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for February 6, 2013



COMICS

Toyo Harada, Head of Harada Global Conglomerates leads the young psiots and hyper-telekinetics in the Harbinger Foundation. Sometimes his motivations are for the betterment of all, other times for profit. For the first time, learn of Toyo’s survival of Hiroshima and his first encounter with the Bleeding Monk in the highly collectible Harbinger #0. … We couldn’t possibly fall for such a ridiculous marketing stunt from DC Comics that produces a different state flag cover for each state to debut Justice League #1, right? We won’t even mention the rare MA state variant. Megatron returns to find the Decepticons under control of Starscream. All is revealed in this unseen tale about Megatron’s reaction to the coup and how Starscream endures the wrath in Spotlight: Megatron. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

 

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EARTH PRIME TIME: SUMMER OF VALIANT – SHADOWMAN

 

Our coverage continues of the resurrection of the Valiant Universe with a review ofShadowman #1. Look, we know it isn’t summer, but unlike CVS, who seem to want to cram Christmas down past our discount-candy-corn-weakened teeth, we prefer to remember the past season with fondness and celebrate the roll out of the Valiant characters with the thrill of a summer fling. New Orleans is the setting of Shadowman, a place resilient to climate change, storms and more than a few stories of rejuvenation. Artist Patrick Zircher co-writes with Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode) the revival tale of Jack Boniface in Shadowman #1  

 

The first incarnation of Shadowman was created as a featured Valiant Comic in 1992 by Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart, with artists David Lapham and Bob Layton. The original Jack Boniface was a down on his luck jazz musician drinking at a club. He is taken in by super fan Lydia for a nightcap.

Shadowman - #19  Bob Hall & Tom Ryder

This happened. On Duck Boats. On Commonwealth Ave. last Monday.

Awakening from feeling woozy, Jack has a mark on his neck and unexplained hours missing. Taking to the streets to seek revenge, he sees someone being assaulted. Super natural strength takes over and Jack defeats the assailant. Being drawn to a carnival mask on the ground, it is revealed later that he is now possessed by a Voodoo spirit.

Shadowman protects the city from the evil necromancer Master Darque.

Shadowman was a successful and popular character for Valiant and the affiliated company Acclaim Entertainment, who launched a successful video game franchise loosely based on the comic. Many creators such as Christopher Priest (Black Panther), Garth Ennis, Frank Miller, Joe Quesada, and more have worked on Jack’s original 80 issues. Crossovers are an integral to storytelling in theValiant Universe.

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for November 7, 2012

Back after some MINOR technical difficulties! Computer was hit by Gamma Rays!





COMICS

 

Valiant is rebuilding the Valiant Universe with one of it’s most popular characters, Shadowman in Shadowman #1. … Based in New Orleans, musician Jack Boniface nearly died one night, only to find he urges to fight demons at night. Fun fact, Aerosmith appeared in a past issue of Shadowman, surviving to grace the streets of Allston on Monday! … Kieron Gillen and Greg Land take on Marvel Now’s Tony Stark in Iron Man #1. What will happen to Tony’s armor to protect him from a deadly strain of the Extremis virus? … Usagi Yojimbo’s Stan Sakai illustrates Mike Richardson’s take of national Japanese legend 47 Ronin this week in 47 Ronin #1 from Dark Horse. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

EARTH PRIME TIME: SUMMER OF VALIANT – X-O MANOWAR

http://digboston.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/XO_MAN_DOUG_BRAITHWAITE1.jpg

We continue our coverage of independent publisher Valiant Comics relaunching and rejuvenating it’s product line with another ’90s favorite superhero X-O Manowar for the last August installment of the “Summer of Valiant“. In issue 4 on stands today, a Visigoth years away from his time and encapsulated by an alien armor is thrust into modern day Italy!

X-O Manowar was the first book to be printed under the banner of the Valiant Universe in 2012. The update is written by New York Times-bestselling author Robert Venditti (The Surrogates) and drawn by Cary Nord (Conan). The book shipped with a creepy QR voice variant cover in May and stoked the fires for an upcoming relaunch of Archer & Armstrong, Harbinger, Bloodshot and coming soon in issue 5 is the return of Ninjak.

EARTH PRIME TIME: SUMMER OF VALIANT – X-O MANOWAR by clay-fernald

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.com]

EARTH PRIME TIME: SUMMER OF VALIANT – HARBINGER

Harbinger by Mico Suayan
Two weeks ago, we told you about Archer & Armstrong from the revived Valiant Comics company. Rebooting the story-lines of great characters in the “Summer of Valiant” in an industry downturn has caused quite a buzz and offered another avenue for creators to spread their wings with an independent publisher. Harbinger, which reaches Issue #3 today, is about a powerful psychic teen with destructive potential. New York Times bestselling author Joshua Dysart (BRPD) teams up with artists Khari Evans (Immortal Iron Fist) and Lewis LaRosa (Punisher MAX) to feed the constant voices in ‘psiot’ Peter Stanchek’s head.

Not unlike the original X-Men, the original Harbinger comic from 1992 was very much a team book, assembling teenage freaks with psychic abilities under the powerful Toyo Harada’s tutelage. Created by comic book legend and former Marvel Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter as a flagship title for the original Valiant Comics, Harbinger was popular and (as is the case today) on the forefront of feeding the speculative comic market crowd with variant covers and rare comics.

Valiant in the ’90s had a shared universe in which psychic powers were paramount as opposed to the mutant or metahuman powers of Marvel and DC.

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

EARTH PRIME TIME-HARBINGER by clay-fernald 

Hey! Quoted on Joshua Dysart’s blog!