Fiona Staples walks us through her T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 cover!
My public wish that Fiona Staples gets a crack at each of our book's covers is slowly coming true: May's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 will feature the outstanding cover above.
We asked Fiona for a bit of background on her cover, and she supplied a few process pieces and an explanation on how she came to the finished product you're seeing now:
"We went with a combination of thumbnails #1 and #3- Dynamo held captive in the background, and a close-up shot of Iron Maiden holding his belt. I think the situation characterizes their relationship pretty well."
"Later in the painting process, I changed her expression a bit to make it clear that she's enjoying herself! And rather than having the stark dungeon background that I originally conceived, I filled it with retro sci-fi gizmos."
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #7 hits comic shops in May.
A few teases for the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents fans
I know I'm far from the only T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents fan here. I've been tipped off to a few of the guest artists who'll be contributing to upcoming issues, and they're just too cool not to share. (Just check out the Francis Manapul cover for issue five above!) I'll let you hear the news straight from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents editor, Wil Moss:
"Nick Spencer & CAFU have wowed everybody with the first two issues of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS so far, but trust me, they’re just getting warmed up! And continuing the string of all-star guest artists who have been providing covers and flashback sequences for the book so far, March’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #5 has a gorgeous Francis Manapul cover and a sublime five-page sequence by Ryan Sook! And in April, the great John Cassaday tackles the cover to #6, then starting in June with #7 the supremely talented Fiona Staples takes over as regular cover artist! And man, just wait until you see what Nick & CAFU have planned for the arc that starts with #7 ... As Toby would say, “Excited!”"
On a related note, Nick Spencer will be stepping off Supergirl to concentrate on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, with writer James Peaty co-scripting issue #60 and then taking over for him from there. (Bernard Chang will stay on as artist for the book.) Here's what Supergirl editor Matt Idelson had to say about James Peaty:
"When I was deciding who should write this Supergirl arc, I knew I needed someone who could not just write a good story, but bring their own unique vision to an in progress story. I've worked on and off with James Peaty over the years and had been looking for the chance to do so again. James is no stranger to the DCU, having written adventures for Green Arrow, the Justice League, the JSA, Batman, and Supergirl."
From the Editor's Desk: Wil Moss on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2
Superspeed seems like such a cool power, right? Well after you read T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2, you’ll never think of it the same way again. Nick Spencer, CAFU and guest artist ChrisCross present the next chapter in the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS saga, this time spotlighting the hero Lightning. You’ll find out what happened in his life that made him willing to join T.H.U.N.D.E.R., and you’ll see the devastating toll his new superspeed powers take on his life!
- Wil Moss
Check out an exclusive preview of issue #2 over at Comic Book Resources.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 is in stores today.
Vandal Savage is swinging for Lex Luthor in ACTION COMICS #895
Lex Luthor has had an incredibly difficult time of it lately, what with fighting master assassin Deathstroke, avoiding being eaten by Gorilla Grodd, and meeting Death herself. Finally back at his office in Metropolis, Lex has about five minutes to relax before Vandal Savage shows up to make Lex's quest even more complicated. (To be fair, no one ever said being an evil genius was easy job.) Paul Cornell writes while Pete Woods handles art duties in this centuries-spanning tale.
In the Jimmy Olsen co-feature by Nick Spencer and artists RB Silva and Denis Frietas, Superman's pal has to convince a bunch of bloodthirsty aliens that Earth is too boring and staid to host the universe's biggest (and most destructive) party. But how exactly is he going to do that?
ACTION COMICS #895 is in stores November 24th.
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Editor Wil Moss teases T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2
The response to T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1 so far has been tremendous, so on behalf of Nick Spencer, CAFU, and the rest of the team, let me say thanks for taking a chance on a book that A) is a little less straightforward than usual and B) is, for a lot of readers, a pretty unknown quantity. We’re thrilled to find such a receptive audience! The second issue goes on sale 12/8, and it’s every bit as exciting as the first one. ChrisCross — one of the best in the biz at drawing movement and speed — illustrates a sequence about Lightning’s backstory and the crazy-scary toll his new power takes on him. And CAFU, well, as you can see from the pages below, CAFU just continues to knock it out of the park on every page. So yeah, grab a copy of #1 if you haven’t already, and then don’t miss #2 in a few weeks!
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T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS starts now
You’ve heard from the editors, you’ve seen teaser images and we’ve talked up a storm about this book – and now it’s here. This coming Wednesday, writer Nick Spencer and artist CAFU present a modern, topical and just plain exciting look at the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS in an issue that asks the simple, oft-quoted question: Would you rather burn out, or fade away?
When a handful of people, desperately clawing at their last shred of hope are presented with the opportunity to be heroes, the offer sounds ideal. But there’s one catch. Their powers will eventually kill them.
Spencer and CAFU put a forward-looking and bold look on the classic property in the first issue of this new ongoing series. If the concept alone isn’t enough for you, take a look at some of the pages we’ve got below. Can’t go wrong with Frank Quitely and Darwyn Cooke covers, can you?
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1 hits 11/10.
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DC NATION: Wil Moss on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS
Wil Moss here, editor of the new T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS comic. Now, I know there are a lot of great DC titles right now competing for your dollar, so why should you check out next week’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1? Lemme give you some reasons…
• It’s got a terrific hook. Would you rather burn out or fade away? That’s the question at the heart of this series. People at the end of their rope are offered a chance to become super-heroes, but the powers they’re offered will end up killing them. The concept’s been explored before, sure, but this series offers a unique take on it, and the concept actually comes from the original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS comic anyway. Which brings me to my next reason …
• It celebrates the past while living fully in the present. You don’t need to know a thing about the original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS comic -- created in the 1960s by the legendary Wally Wood -- to enjoy this new version. This is a new cast and a clean entrance to the concept. But if you’re a fan of the old series, know that this book actually takes place in the same continuity as the original! (And if you’re curious about the classic material, check out the DC COMICS PRESENTS: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1 reprint edition next month!)
• It’s written by the ingenious Nick Spencer. You know him from the JIMMY OLSEN co-feature and seemingly about a million other projects (including a no-nonsense run on SUPERGIRL that starts in January!). Now’s your chance to see him flex a completely different set of muscles in this world of espionage, morally gray conflicts, twists, and, of course, superpowers. You’ll be shocked by the stuff Nick has planned for this book!
• It’s drawn by one of the industry’s best-kept secrets, CAFU. As you can see from the art on this page, CAFU is an extremely talented up-and-comer, one who is just as comfortable drawing quiet moments of treachery and duplicity as he is drawing bombastic moments of action and mayhem. Mark my words, this guy’s gonna be a star -- get in on the ground floor here!
• It’s got an all-star lineup of cover artists and guest interior artists. #1 sports a cover by Frank Quitely and a variant by Darwyn Cooke (featuring the classic team!), #2 has a cover by Gary Frank and a sequence illustrated by ChrisCross, #3’s got a cover by Chris Sprouse and a sequence by Howard Chaykin, and I’m not even gonna tell you which stellar artist has agreed to close out the first arc with #6, or the name of the amazingly gifted artist who just agreed to do the covers for #7-12 -- an editor’s got to have his secrets!
• It’s is the first great comic of 2011. And you get to read it two months early!
Still not sold? Then check out a free 10-page preview available now via the DC Comics App or through Comixology.com and see for yourself what an amazing book this is gonna be!
In the meantime, I’ll go back to trying to memorize what T.H.U.N.D.E.R. stands for …
—W.I.L. MOSS
Amanda Conner’s variant cover to SUPERGIRL #58
I’ll let this lovely piece of art do the talking. On-sale 11/17.
Editor Wil Moss unveils a first look at T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1
Hello, Source readers skeptical of a new superhero comic! I'm here to sell you on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1, out November 10th! Writer Nick Spencer and artist CAFU have truly come up with an amazing series here.
Not familiar with the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS' past history? Not a problem! This is a completely new-reader-friendly first issue! And if you're a longtime TA fan, don't worry, we've found a way to incorporate and honor the legacy of the original series.
So keep checking back with Alex here on The Source in the next few weeks for more sneak peeks at T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1, then be sure to pick it up on November 10th!
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