In case you missed it, JONAH HEX hit its 50th issue today. To celebrate, we showed off some pages along with comments from writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. There were also previews on NEWSARAMA and Time's TECHLAND. And at COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, Jeffrey Renaud talks to the creative team.
• Over the weekend, the 2009 Harvey Award winners were announced at the Baltimore Comic-Con. Congrats to all the winners, with a special pat on the back for Grant Morrison, who won for Best Writer for his work on ALL STAR SUPERMAN, which also won as Best Continuing or Limited Series.
• The team at IGN continues their BLACKEST NIGHT coverage, with a preview of the final issue of BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN.
• Speaking of BLACKEST NIGHT, NEWSARAMA's Vaneta Rogers sits down to chat with BLACKEST NIGHT artist Ivan Reis about his work on the series.
• And, in case you missed it over the weekend, at the DC NATION panel in Baltimore it was announced that Matthew Sturges will be stepping in as the new regular writer on THE WEB, replacing Angela Robinson after a one-issue cameo by Marc Guggenheim. Check back Friday for more on the new team.
But that's not all the news we have percolating in Baltimore, folks. Check back here around 9pm EST tonight for some major news that'll make coming to work tomorrow that much easier.
The first issue of writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank’s modern re-telling of Superman’s origin hit stores last week, and reception couldn’t be stronger. Gawker’s pop culture and sci-fi blog, IO9, had some kind words for the first issue of SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN, noting that “you might just find yourself wanting to believe a man could fly after all.”
Meanwhile, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES’ Doug Zawisza points out that “Johns and Frank are setting out to give us the absolute version of Superman's origin. Once and for all.”
THE ONION AV CLUB has some nice things to say about the creative team, noting that “Johns has a gift for windswept, heartfelt Smallville stories, and his script is served well by Frank’s tendency to make characters look simultaneously heroic and neurotic.”
And last, but certainly not least, IGN notes that “Once again, Johns does a tremendous job of tinkering with a property in a way that simultaneously injects new life into it and reminds readers why they fell in love in the first place. Gary Frank's artwork is as gorgeous and iconic as ever, and comes as further proof that he was born to draw Superman and his world.”
It's almost the weekend, so let's give you a few things to read to make the work day go by a tad faster, shall we?
• THE NEW YORK TIMES has unveiled it's latest Graphic Novel Best Seller list, and GREEN LANTERN: RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS is sitting pretty atop the chart. Other notables: FINAL CRISIS, THE KILLING JOKE, BATMAN R.I.P., JOKER and ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER.
• USA TODAY has the second chapter of WEDNESDAY COMICS' SUPERMAN strip. If you haven't read it yet, it's definitely worth the click.
• Neil Gaiman was on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" to chat up WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER.
• NEWSARAMA's got the latest 20 Questions with Dan DiDio, covering a plethora of topics, including BLACKEST NIGHT, WEDNESDAY COMICS and some surprises.
• The BLACKEST NIGHT goodness continues, with IGN unveiling preview pages from BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #2, CBR reviewed the first issue of the series and MTV's SPLASH PAGE blog gives the book some love.
WEDNESDAY COMICS #1 is on stands. Let the games begin, folks.
Haven't headed over to the comic shop yet? To whet your appetite, USA TODAY has the first installment of John Arcudi and artist Lee Bermejo's SUPERMAN -- both in today's print edition and online. USA TODAY will continue to serialize the strip weekly on their site.
Still on the fence? Well, first off -- shame on you. Who can resist a weekly series that features the talents of Neil Gaiman, Brian Azzarello, Mike Allred, Karl Kerschl, Joe Kubert, Walt Simonson, Dave Gibbons, Kyle Baker, Kurt Busiek, Amanda Connor...to name a few? But because we're all about doing our due diligence here, why not peruse THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS' piece on the title and Dan DiDio's interview with THE CLEVELAND PLAIN-DEALER? Or THE TOLEDO FREE PRESS's feature on the weekly series?
More? Ok. Well, both PUBLISHERS WEEKLY COMICS WEEK and THE HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN chatted up WEDNESDAY COMICS mastermind Mark Chiarello, who's the man responsible for gathering such an impressive lineup of A-list talent.
And if you're not at least a foot out the door by now, keep your eyes peeled at COMIC BOOK RESOURCES and AOL/ASYLUM's COMICS ALLIANCE blog, as both will have interviews with Chiarello up later today.
And, in case you missed it this morning, our own Dan DiDio swung by the offices of the FOX BUSINESS channel to talk up the series. Check out the video here.
Well? Hop to it.
So, you saw the news, right? Yup, starting 7/8, USA TODAY will be syndicating the SUPERMAN strip from WEDNESDAY COMICS by writer John Arcudi and artist Lee Bermejo. Cool, huh? We think so.
Special thanks to io9, THE BEAT, BLOG@NEWSARAMA and COMIC BOOK RESOURCES' ROBOT SIX for picking up and spreading the news.
And, in our continued efforts to make every day feel as fun as Wednesday, here's a page from the SGT. ROCK WEDNESDAY COMICS strip, with words by Adam Kubert and artwork from living legend Joe Kubert.
Here's hoping everyone had a relaxing weekend. In case you weren't chained in front of your computer, here are a few of the things you may have missed while enjoying two days or rest.
• AIN'T IT COOL NEWS unveiled an exclusive first look at BATMAN AND ROBIN #1, by Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. Keep your eyes peeled for a few more sneak peeks at the first issue in the coming days.
• Pete Tomasi talks to NEWSARAMA about the road to BLACKEST NIGHT. The site also talks to writer Keith Giffen about the newly-announced MAGOG series, and to the supremely talented J.H. Williams about Batwoman's upcoming stint in DETECTIVE COMICS.
• COMIC BOOK RESOURCES' Jeff Renaud chats up artist Mark Bagley to discuss the conclusion of TRINITY, while the folks io9 explain why TRINITY is a 'metaphysical epic done right.
• Remember that time back in March, where BATMAN Group Editor Michael Marts talked to IGN about his very neat photo board, featuring key characters heading into BATTLE FOR THE COWL? Well, now that the major event is over, the board has changed, which means Marts once again drops hints as to where your favorite characters are going, in a chat with IGN's Dan Phillips.
• And last, but certainly not least, THE NEW YORK TIMES unveiled their Graphic Novel Bestseller list for the week of May 23. Of note: SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON, BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, BATMAN R.I.P., JOKER and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS all made the list.
This gloomy weather has us here at The Source feeling a tad under the weather, so apologies for using the "blogging will be light" cliché today. But, we do have a slew of places for you to visit as you wait for a full recovery.
• Geoff Johns spoke to Andrew Smith, from the SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE about FLASH: REBIRTH:
Why do it? Why bring back Barry Allen, after a heroic death and successful replacement?
Johns: I think that's what the series is all about. The answers are all in there. But whenever I get on these characters, my goal has always been to kind of rebuild their world, their mythology, like with Green Lantern and JSA.
Barry Allen is, like Hal Jordan (in "Green Lantern"), sort of a centerpiece to the Flash. With Barry Allen, there's something clear I want to do and I want him to do it. For me, he's the character that's going to facilitate the stories I want to tell.
Johns also spoke to IGN's Dan Phillips about a wide array of topics, including BLACKEST NIGHT, FLASH: REBIRTH and the return of Superboy in the pages of ADVENTURE COMICS.
• IGN also has a few preview pages from the BATTLE FOR THE COWL coda, GOTHAM GAZETTE: BATMAN ALIVE #1.
• Speaking of the Red Circle characters, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES' Jeff Renaud spoke to writer J. Michael Straczynski about the four one-shots and his upcoming stint on THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD.
• Had a chance to check out pages from THE LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #1? Well, MYSPACE COMIC BOOKS has a lengthy preview.
Happy Tuesday, Source readers. It's been a busy few days here at the DC offices, with tons to discuss and point you to. So, let's hop to it.
• Over at NEWSARAMA, Dan DiDio answers the latest batch of fan questions, and shares more details on DOC SAVAGE, BLACKEST NIGHT, ADVENTURE COMICS and the new cover design for books featuring co-features. See above for a visual aide. Also at NEWSARAMA, James Robinson and Greg Rucka share some info on the August Superman crossover, CODENAME: PATRIOT.
• BATTLE FOR THE COWL is speeding toward its final issue, and IGN's got a first look at the third issue. Not to mention a peek at the BLACKEST NIGHT stuff hitting in August, along with the cover to BLACKEST NIGHT #2.
• Speaking of James Robinson, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES sits down with him to talk about JLA: CRY FOR JUSTICE.
• And congrats to the VIXEN creative team of G. Willow Wilson and CAFU, for their Glyph Award victory in the Fan Award For Best Comic category.
Sad news to report. According to Comic Book Resources' Robot 6 blog, picking up on a report from Mark Evanier, comic book artist and animator Ric Estrada has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 81. From Robot 6's obit:
Estrada was perhaps best known for his work on Amethyst: Prince of Gemworld, Karate Kid, Superboy & the Legion of Super-Heroes and numerous DC war comics, including G.I. Combat, Our Army At War, Weird War Tales and Unknown Soldier. Later in his career, he moved into animation with such 1980s TV series as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Jonny Quest and Bionic Six.
DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz shared his thoughts on Estrada's life and work:
"Ric was a quintessential cartoonist, storyteller and animator, ready to take on any material or creative challenge with a smile," Levitz said. "He'll be remembered for tales he told, lessons imparted, and for his abundant love of his life, his family and his faith."
