Injustice Vs. Masters Of The Universe Comic Is A Giant Sandbox Of Nostalgia |
When you think about DC Comics, you think about Batman fighting the Joker or Superman fighting Lex Luthor. However, when you're a kid, playing with all your action figures, sometimes Batman ends up fighting Starscream from Transformers and Superman ends up fighting Mumm-Ra from Thundercats. DC has taken that sandbox mentality into its comics over the past few years, with miniseries like Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand the publisher's newest book Injustice Vs. Masters of the Universe. What would happen if Superman, from Injustice: Gods Among Us, fought He-Man?
The six-issue miniseries, which saw its first issue's release on July 18, has these two vastly different universes crossing over. "After basically the end of the Injustice 2 video game, Superman has taken over, again," explains writer Tim Seeley. "It's the alt-ending, it's the dark ending. Superman has taken over and he's using the powers that he gets from Brainiac, and Batman has to go find someone to defeat Superman, and he picks He-Man.
"For reasons in the story which is basically, He-Man is like the good version of the evil Superman. He's a guy with all this power, but he wants the people to have freedom and to be able to determine their own destiny. In Injustice, Superman doesn't want that, at all; he wants control. So, it's basically, He-Man gets recruited to go to Earth and kick the crap out of bad Superman."
Both the DC and MOTU worlds are filled with characters, so of course, there are going to be some lesser-known characters included in the comic for the hardcore fans. This includes adding the MOTU villain Scare Glow to the book, which artist Freddie Williams II explained was not a joke. However, from there, the two creators went deep into He-Man lore. "Tim has put in so many cool Easter Egg characters, deep holes of all this Masters of the Universe continuity, it is a pleasure to draw," Williams explains. "It's the coolest stuff, I'm getting to have all the toys I never had as a kid. Like, the whole army of every Masters of the Universe. It's awesome."
While both Eternia and the DC Universe are vastly different worlds, they fit together perfectly for this story. "Tim has such a great deep understanding of Masters of The Universe that he immediately connected it well, like as a contrast," explained Williams. "Sort of like a brightness in Eternia, which is the home planet of Prince Adam. That's their universe, with this dark dystopian-esque sort of alternate reality of the Injustice world. Just reading his initial outline and his initial thoughts. It connected in a way that I didn't see coming, but made total sense. I can't picture a better way to basically make these properties interact and connect."
This isn't the first time DC Comics has worked on something with the MOTU property. "I think an interesting sort of evolution in the Masters of The Universe it domes from DC Comics, because when Mattel came up with this toy line and had a story for it," Seeley said. "They said 'Oh, we're gonna have a mini-comic' and DC Produced that initial stuff. Also basically came up with the Prince Adam story and all that sort of stuff. It's basically Captain Marvel. It's a kid that turns into a superhero with a magic word. And that comes from DC. It all comes back together."
You can check out this series for yourself as issue #1 of Injustice Vs. Masters of the Universe is on sale now, and issue #2 comes out on August 15.
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DC's Green Lantern Corps Series Has Some Real "Daddy Issues" |
The Green Lantern comics can essentially be summed up like this: it's about space cops. However, throughout writer Robert Venditti's tenure on Green Lantern and now Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps, the series has been transformative, questioning the ideals of how to enforce the law and asking, "How far is too far?" when stopping those who will continually hurt others. In Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #46--which hits stores today--the story truly hits home on the parent/child relationship. More specifically, a dysfunctional one.
The current storyline, now hitting Part 5, is called "Darkstars Rising." In it, a new force called the Darkstars has appeared. While this team first appeared in DC Comics back in 1992, they were disbanded in 2005, and this new incarnation is a more twisted version of the original team, as they murder criminals, so the villains don't have a chance to do it again.
The most notable member of this new manifestation of the team is former Green Lantern Tomar Tu. He was son of the famed Tomar Re who gave his life in battle and was the mentor to Hal Jordan. Tu is joined by Guy Gardner, who should be a familiar name to any Green Lantern fan. The former Green Lantern/Warrior/Yellow Ring Bearer/Red Lantern has a torrid past which is resurfacing in Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #46, as Gardner comes from an abusive relationship with his father. Check out a preview of that issue below.
Gardner's journey has led him to leave the Green Lantern Corps in such of more final justice. He's a character that refuses to give up in battle. "It's because no punch he ever takes hurts as bad as the ones his dad used to give him, and that's kind of where he gets his will from," explained writer Robert Venditti. "It's just this really fascinating, heartbreaking aspect of Guy where he almost believes he deserves the punishment, and the punches in the face, and this is why he's always starting fights because he still has that weight that he carries with him from when he was a child and his father was beating him.
"Guy carries a lot of that anger, and so as the Darkstar mantles are going out, in a sort of automated way, they seek out people who have these thoughts of lethal justice, and go to them, and ask people to volunteer to become a Darkstar."
The "daddy issues" don't stop with Guy and his father. "These themes that we have that have been running throughout the entire series that deal with parents and children in general," continued Venditti. "You have Hal and his father, Guy and his father, Soranik and Sinestro, Tomar-Tu and Tomar-Re, the Guardians and how they view the Green Lanterns as children. [The] parent-child dynamic is something we dealt with throughout the entire series. So, we're gonna see a lot of ways in which that affects and changes characters as we get to the end of the story."
The new story is expansive, including characters like Superman's arch-nemesis Zod and Eradicator--one of the four returning Supermen after the Man of Steel's death in 1993. Additionally, there's a story involving Highfather and Orion, two of the New Gods, so this dynamic between parent and child is far-reaching into the DC Universe and something any reader should easily be able to relate to.
You can pick up the five parts of "Darkstars Rising"--starting with issue #41 and continuing with the June 13 release of #46--by getting yourself some copies of Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps at your local comic shop or through the digital market with apps like Comixology.
For more on comics, movies, television, anime, and wrestling (hi Endless Promo fans), read more on GameSpot Universe.
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Deadpool 2 Totally Ruins X-Men's Already Ludicrous Movie Timeline |
Is there anything more difficult to make sense of in movies than the X-Men film franchise? Whether it's the initial trilogy, the three prequels that followed and completely changed the established timeline, or the three Wolverine spin-offs that are set all over the place, the X-Men movies are... a lot to deal with.
And that's before you throw Deadpool into the mix. While the Merc with a Mouth makes a mockery of just about everything--and plenty of meta jokes at the expense of his own movie universe--Deadpool and Deadpool 2 do exist in the X-Men franchise. More specifically, they are set in the altered timeline that follows the events of X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Where in that timeline, though? Based on simply watching the films, chances are you'd expect they were set in modern day--2016 for the first movie, 2018 for the second. However, Deadpool 2 throws a massive wrench in that assumption. If you have yet to see Deadpool 2, consider this your spoiler warning as we're going to dig into the movie's events.
First and foremost, Deadpool 2 begins with Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) playing with a music box designed to look like Logan's final moments from the 2017 film Logan, with the Hugh Jackman character dying. That particular movie is set in the year 2029, so either Deadpool can see the future or it's actually set in a post-post-apocalyptic world. However, neither of these are the case. Like most things Deadpool-related, this moment can simply be chalked up to another in a long line of jokes, even if that can be frustrating to those trying to keep the timeline straight.
However, the movie's tinkering with the timeline doesn't end there. During a scene at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Deadpool jokes--because that's what he does--that none of the A-grade X-Men ever show up in his movies. Instead, he's saddled with Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and, in this sequel, new addition Yukio. As he registers his complaint with the universe, the camera finds Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Professor X (James McAvoy), Quicksilver (Evan Peters), and Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) in a room, as Beast quickly closes the door to avoid the Merc.
It's a great joke and an excellent set of cameos. However, it simply makes no sense. These versions of the characters are from 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse, which was set in 1983. Are we to believe the X-Men haven't aged in 35 years? Xavier should certainly look a bit more like Patrick Stewart at this point.
Continue reading the rest of Chris Hayner's piece at GameSpot!
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Deadpool 2: Who Is Cable? |
A live-action version of Cable blessed homes across the world recently when the trailer for Deadpool 2 hit the internet, and oh boy, Josh Brolin looks awesome as the time-travelling leader of X-Force. He's going to be a major part of the newest superhero starring super-powered mutants.
But who is Cable, and where does he come from? Those answers aren't simple, as many characters from the X-Men comics have overly complicated and convoluted backstories, especially Cable. We'll do out best to fill you in and let you know everything you need to know about Cable.
Nathan Summers--the baby who would eventually become Cable--made his debut in The Uncanny X-Men #201 in 1986. His parents were Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey. During the child's early years, Mr. Sinister wanted to use Nathan as a weapon to destroy Apocalypse.
However, things didn't go exactly as planned, and Nathan fell into the hands of Apocalypse. Being a bad guy in the X-Men world, Apocalypse infected Nathan with a techno-organic virus. It was incurable. In order to save the boy from dying, Askani--a women from the future who leads the fight against Apocalypse--instructs Cyclops to take Nathan 2000 years into the future.
It turns out Askani is Rachel Summers, the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from an alternate reality. Askani clones Nathan in case he doesn't survive the virus. That clone was abducted by Apocalypse loyalists during an attack (more on that later). The real Nathan survives the disease and for some time, is raised by Askani.
The version of Cable we all know and love (created by Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld) debuted in New Mutants #87 in 1990. He was a really cool-looking character with a military mindset, who tried to take down the Mutant Liberation Front. Cable has several confrontations with the leader of the MLF, Stryfe. In issue #100 of New Mutants, Stryfe removed his helmet to reveal that he looks exactly like Cable. You probably know where this is going.
Cable moved on to lead a new X-Force team, with a slew of new mutants. During X-Cutioner's Song, Stryfe goes undercover as Cable and attempts to kill Professor X. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Jean Grey get kidnapped, and the X-Men learn that Stryfe is behind it all. It turns out that Stryfe was that cloned baby of Cable from the future, which, at the time, was a shocker. Eventually, the story leads to an epic battle on the Moon where Cable seemingly sacrifices himself in order to kill Stryfe.
However, it turns out Cable wasn't dead, and he was displaced in the future. For more than 20 years, there are stories with Cable teaming up and fighting other members of his lineage, taking on a new Mutant Liberation Front, and working with unlikely foes. It wasn't until 2004 that comic fans got one of the character's best series: Cable & Deadpool.
While the two characters met during Deadpool's first appearance in New Mutants #98 back in 1991, the 2004 Cable & Deadpool series explored the relationship between them. It's funny, bizarre, and while there aren't any Earth-shattering stories that completely change the course of either character, it's widely considered to be a brilliant, entertaining, and engaging series.
Back to the serious part of Cable's history, one of his bigger stories comes in the aftermath of "Decimation," a storyline where Scarlet Witch said the words "No more mutants," thus causing all but 198 mutants in the Marvel Universe to disappear. Then, one day, a new mutant was born named Hope. Her town was attacked by The Purifiers--yet another anti-mutant terrorist group--but Cable showed up and saved her. He believed Hope was destined to save all of mutant-kind. However, others--like Bishop--thought differently, so Cable was tasked with taking care of her.
During this story, Stryfe shows back up and tries to kill Hope. He was stopped time and time again by Bishop, Cable, and the X-Force. After saving Hope again, Cable parted ways with her and went on to start a new X-Force team.
Cable's abilities are a mixture of mutant powers and technological enhancements. As a mutant, he has telepathy and telekinesis, much like his mother--minus the whole demonic black magic thing Madelyne had as Goblin Queen. Cable's mutant abilities are extremely powerful, and he has variations on both telepathy and telekinesis that many other mutants with his abilities don't have, like precognition: being able to get visions from the past or--on occasion--being able to transfer his mind and powers into other people.
On the tech side of things, Cable has a metallic arm which gives him enhanced strength. In addition, he has a force field that protects him, like we saw in the Deadpool 2 trailer when someone shoots at him. (Depending on the comic, some creators have said this is part of his telekinetic powers though) Cable has a cybernetic eye. This eye allows him to see different spectrums that a human eye wouldn't be able to see, and in addition, he's been known to fire a laser out of it. Of course, he has other technological advantages, but none of them is more important than being able to travel through time, which doesn't happen as often as you'd think in the comics.
Looking for some recommended reading? Check these storylines out!
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/deadpool-2-who-is-cable/1100-156485/
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DC's Superman Comic Gets A #1 Relaunch With Brian Bendis Writing |
Last November, longtime Marvel Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis shocked comic book fandom by leaving the company to write for DC. Months later, his role at the new company has been revealed: he'll be leading the way on a weekly miniseries, which is a lead-in to a brand new Superman book.
Bendis makes his debut in April with Jim Lee in Action Comics #1000, but in the following month, he will be helming Man of Steel, a six-issue weekly miniseries. The comic, which features six interconnected covers by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado--seen below--is a retelling of Krypton's final days as well as Kal-El's journey to becoming Superman. In addition, a new villain will be introduced to the DCU and a secret about Krypton's destruction will be revealed. Joining Bendis for this miniseries are artists Ivan Reis, Evan "Doc" Shaner, Ryan Sook, Kevin Maguire, Adam Hughes, and Jason Fabok.
Following Man of Steel, Bendis will be writing Superman #1, which debuts on July 11. Ivan Reis will be supplying the art for the book. In addition, Bendis will join artist Patrick Gleason when he takes over for Action Comics, starting with issue #1001 on July 25.
In addition to Superman, Bendis' noir crime titles, including Jinx, Powers, Scarlet, and more will find a new home at DC. Some of his Jinxworld series like Brilliant, Total Sellout, and Fire, Fortune, & Glory will be available in the digital format this spring. DC revealed that there will be new stories from the Powers, Scarlet, and The United States of Murder INC series throughout 2018.
Brian Michael Bendis is best known for his long comic runs at Marvel, which primarily includes Ultimate Spider-Man, which kickstarted the Ultimate Comics line at the publisher. He and artist Sara Pichelli are credited for the creation of the second Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales. Bendis' work has also made it to the small screen, with Powers, a show about a former superhero turned police officer that ran for two seasons on the PlayStation Network.
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Marvel Comics' Biggest Name Just Left For DC |
In one of the most shocking moments in recent comic book history, writer Brian Michael Bendis--a staple at Marvel Comics for years--is headed to DC Comics, signing an exclusive deal with the publisher. The mind behind Ultimate Spider-Man, House of H, Secret Invasion, Powers, and Spider-Men--some of the best comics at Marvel over the past decade, will be working with a whole new batch of characters in the coming years.
DC announced the news (via Twitter): "We are beyond thrilled to welcome Brian Michael Bendis exclusively to the DC family with a multiyear, multi-faceted deal. He's one of the premier writers in the industry having created so many unforgettable stories wherever he's been, and we can't wait to see what he has planned for the DC Universe."
Bendis retweeted the statement, adding "This is real. I love you all. Change is good. Change is healthy. I am bursting with ideas and inspirations. Details to come!"
This won't be the first time Bendis has written at DC. Back in 2000, he wrote a story for Batman Chronicles #21 called "Citizen Wayne," where Clark Kent tries to learn Bruce Wayne's darkest secrets. However, Bendis has never had a full-time gig at DC until now, so the doors are wide open for him to take on old characters and create some new ones.
While non-comic book readers may not be familiar with him, they will know some of the characters he's created. Bendis is credited with creating Jessica Jones, who has her own Netflix series; Quake, who is one of the main characters on Agents of SHIELD; Maria Hill, who has appeared in numerous Marvel movies; and Ganke; who Spider-Man Homecoming's Ned Leeds is based on, whether or not Sony and Marvel would like to admit it.
As of now, there is no information as to what Bendis will be working on at DC first, and the writer still has comics finishing up at Marvel, like the mini-series Spider-Men II.
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-comics-biggest-name-just-left-for-dc/1100-156483/
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Thor Ragnarok: Who Is Heimdall? |
With Thor: Ragnarok coming to theaters on Friday, November 3, you may be wondering who some of the secondary characters are in the upcoming film. Over the course of the next week, we'll be taking a look at where some of these heroes and villains came from and their comic book origins.
Heimdall, who is played by Idris Elba, has already appeared in the first two Thor films, along with Avengers: Age of Ultron, so most fans have a decent idea of who this character is. However, the character's roots in comic books are a bit different.
Heimdall first appeared in Journey Into Mystery #85 back in 1962. He was created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber and modeled after Norse god Heimdallr. The guardian of the Rainbow Bridge out of Asgard has no direct relation to Thor, Loki, or Odin, but he is the brother of Sif, the one-time lover of Thor. Heimdall appeared quite a bit during the Silver Age of Marvel comics as a loyal servant to Odin and a friend of Thor; however, during the storyline Ragnarok, it seemed that Heimdall died.
After the cataclysmic event, a newly reborn Thor found Heimdall hiding in the body of a mortal man. Thor resurrected him and since then, Heimdall has watched over Asgard, which had been reconstructed on Midgard (more specifically in Oklahoma). Together, Heimdall, Thor, and other Asgardians eventually returned their land to its rightful place.
Heimdall is like most other Asgardians, as he has superhuman strength. On top of that, he can withstand great forces, has excellent stamina, and is extremely agile. What sets Heimdall apart is that he has incredible senses, being able to see and hear almost anything happening within Asgard. He doesn't need sleep as much as everyone else--like Odin, who goes into Odinsleep for months and years on end--and that makes Heimdall the perfect guardian for Asgard. Lastly, he's able to sense life forces and trouble within all Nine Realms; however, there have been times where his powers have betrayed him, like when Loki and Norman Osborn joined forces for the storyline Siege.
Looking for some reading material involving Heimdall? Check out these storylines.
If you want to know more about the third Thor film, check out our review of Ragnarok. In it, GameSpot's Mike Rogueau said, "Thor: Ragnarok shines when it's allowed to stray from the formula set by a decade of predecessors in the MCU, and it seems Waititi is to thank for most of what feels fresh and new here. By the movie's end, Thor and co. have left much of their past behind, ensuring the future is exciting in its potential, especially as we approach the Infinity War storyline."
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/thor-ragnarok-who-is-heimdall/1100-156482/
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DC's Doomsday Clock Info Finally Revealed, Along With Interior Art |
DC has been exceptionally tight-lipped about its upcoming November story Doomsday Clock, which introduces the iconic characters of Watchmen into the main DC Universe for the first time. During a panel for the comic at New York Comic-Con, writer Geoff Johns lifted the veil and explained why the publisher has been secretive about the 12-issue miniseries.
Johns spoke with Lev Grossman--an expert on all things Watchmen and the author of The Magicians series--as to just why readers are being kept in the dark about the upcoming book. "We want you to experience it by reading it," explained Johns.
That comment is not without its merit. Many times, comic book publishers will unveil too much information about their upcoming series, even spoiling major moments--like deaths and rebirths--and full pages on the day of or even before the book's release. Many big events completely lose their allure and mystique through spoilers and story details released to the public, and interest in the series--as well as sales--suffer.
However, DC readers needed something to wet their whistle with Doomsday Clock, as the company has been teasing it for months now, with numerous promo images but not much else.
Johns revealed the first six-pages for the premiere issue of the comic and walked through it panel by panel, and you can see the lettered version of those pages below.
When the final page of this preview was revealed, the hall erupted in cheers and applause as Watchmen character Rorschach appeared on the screens on the sides of the stage. Johns insisted that Doomsday Clock is something anyone will be able to read, as long as they've read Watchmen, which many comic book fans consider to be required reading.
The seeds for this story reach back to the DC Rebirth one-shot comic from June 2016, where Dr. Manhattan was revealed on the final page--which marked the first time that character appeared in the main DC Universe. Since then, vague promo images and an event at this past year's San Diego Comic-Con continued to tease the book without any solid information.
While Johns discussed the creation of the comic and why he wanted to write it, he kept story details incredibly vague. However, he explained his passion for this project and that he wanted to put the heartbeat back into the DC Universe: "I wanted to get back to the essence of these characters," said Johns.
The writer also expressed his admiration for the original Watchmen series and that he and artist Gary Frank were following a rule book for this series. Frank was following a nine-panel grid, much like the original graphic novel, and Johns said that Frank has "a slight echo" to Watchman's artist Dave Gibbons. "He's the only artist to do the project," said Johns. "If Gary doesn't draw it, I can't write it."
During the final minutes of the panel, Johns explained this is a standalone story, not an event. There will be no crossovers or tie-ins into other series. Readers interested in Doomsday Clock will have to buy the 12-issue miniseries and nothing else.
Finally, according to Johns, Dr. Manhattan will be naked in this series. That, along with the swearing in the preview of the book, means that DC is keeping in tone with the original series, which is adult in nature. You can see the full comic and Mahattan's blue penis in Doomsday Clock, which hits stores on Wednesday, November 22.
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After 14 Years, Jean Grey Returns To Marvel Comics |
Death isn't forever in comics. In 2003, Jean Grey died during an iconic run on New X-Men by acclaimed writer Grant Morrison. Since then, that version of Grey has been dead, but this December, Grey will return in the five-issue miniseries Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey.
The new story written by Matthew Rosenberg and drawn by Leinil Yu will follow--you guessed it--the resurrection of one of the original five X-Men: "Strange events are no surprise to the X-Men," reads the official synopsis from Marvel. "But when events start occurring that are more specific and stranger than usual, the group is forced to confront the truth: could Jean be alive after all? And how will this Jean Grey deal with a world that is now so different from the one she left years ago?"
The story is still a pretty big mystery at the moment, but the upcoming months in the current X-Men titles should shed some light on what's coming ahead. "This is very cool mystery building to a mind-warping climax," said senior editor Mark Paniccia. "And it has plenty of what you’d expect from an X-Men epic of this magnitude. Action, romance, sacrifice, lots of X-Men, and five great artists."
In addition to Yu, the series will feature five artists taking on the story. It has yet to be revealed how that is going to come into play, whether each issue will be an individual artist or all five will be featured in each issue.
Jean Grey does currently exist in the Marvel universe, as a version of her from the past has been living in the present for the past few years. However, the teenage Jean Grey doesn't have the experience, memories, or the connection to the Phoenix Force of her future counterpart.
It will be extremely interesting to see these two characters meet and find out how the adult Jean Grey reacts to her younger counterpart, the deaths of Cyclops and Wolverine, and an older Logan from a parallel world currently on the X-Men. Again, this mutant team is no stranger to the strange.
Phoenix Resurrection will hit stores on December 27, and interestingly enough, Phoenix will be returning to comics 11 months before the big screen adaptation of the legendary story The Dark Phoenix Saga. X-Men: Dark Phoenix is set to release on November 2, 2018.
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See The Animated Comic Cover For DC's Doomsday Clock |
This November, the highly-anticipated miniseries Doomsday Clock will hit comic shops. Today, DC revealed the lenticular cover for the first issue, which features Watchmen's Rorschach, whose mask morphs into the logos for Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
The issue, as seen above, uses existing artwork from Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons. The cover is actually animated as you tilt the comic while looking at it. DC has produced lenticular covers for other landmark moments, like Rebirth and Futures End.
Doomsday Clock will combine the DC and Watchmen worlds for the first time, and it will take place one year in the future from current continuity. While DC is playing its cards close to its chest, writer Geoff Johns said readers will know what the book is about from the first page of the first issue. Obviously, by looking at the logo for the comic, it has something to do with Superman and a countdown to something dealing with the Man of Steel. We'll learn more about this story a few months from now.
You can the lenticular cover for Doomsday Clock #1 from comic shops on November 22.
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Tom King Discusses New Mister Miracle Book |
Mister Miracle may not be a household name when it comes to DC characters, especially since he's part of Fourth World, which casual fans may not be familiar with; however, little do most people know, the inhabitants of that world, the New Gods, helped inspire the world of Star Wars. One of the New Gods, Mister Miracle--the master escape artist who was created by Jack Kirby--is getting his own mini-series, debuting this week, and it's written by none other than Tom King (Batman, Vision).
King has a knack for developing memorable, engaging stories around underrated and underappreciated characters like 2015's Omega Men for DC and 2016's Vision for Marvel. The writer is now taking on Mister Miracle, but he has to be tight-lipped about the overall idea for the book: "I can't give you the pitch for Mister Miracle, which is a stupid thing for a guy who's pitching things to the media to say," King told GameSpot. "I did a book called Vision, and the pitch for Vision was super easy. It was 'Breaking Bad Vision.' It's just about a robot that goes bad, but I couldn't tell you that beforehand because that's the mystery of the whole thing. And the same thing applies for Mister Miracle; there's a very easy pitch to what Mister Miracle is, but I can't tell you because it's a spoiler."
Legendary creator Jack Kirby's work on the New Gods back in the '70s has inspired a generation of creators in their work: "It's the inspiration for Star Wars. It's where Star Wars came from. The bad guy's literally named Darkseid, like the dark side of the force," King explained. "So if you just think of it as Star Wars, it's that big epic opera that inspired Star Wars. The idea to use that bigness and make a personal story about a man sort of falling apart appealed to me. And Mister Miracle himself appealed to me because Mister Miracle is a super escape artist. That's his power. He escapes from things. And like I was saying before, it feels a little bit like we're trapped in something right now, and we can't get out. And the idea of working with a guy who's an escape god, he's an escape god who can't break out of a trap."
King did say that he and artist Mitch Gerads wanted to created a comic that reflected the times: "We had our next project, and we looked at Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, and New Frontier, like these great self-contained stories that were not only good comics, but they were good literature," King continued. "They reflected the time. They said something. Watchmen says something about the '80s. Dark Knight Returns says something about the '80s. New Frontier says something about the '90s. And we're like, 'Can we do that?' And the answer is no. But we'd be stupid not to try, right? It would be stupid to give up the ambition because we found ourselves sort of in a moment of insanity. We found ourselves in this moment where you wake up every day, and the world doesn't make sense anymore.
"The rules I was raised with don't apply to current reality. And so we wanted to write a book about that, about this moment. Something that could be as good as Watchmen and that could sort of reflect our times in a book. So that's what it's about. It's about the current insanity using Jack Kirby's New Gods as a metaphor for the haunting of our times."
While the New Gods aren't as a familiar concept as Superman or Batman with mainstream audiences, King went on to that they will be as the DC cinematic universe continues, as the main villain of the upcoming Justice League movie--Steppenwolf--is one of the New Gods.
What many fans find so appealing about King's work on past books is that his characters deal with a lot of relatable subjects, as King tends to put many elements from his own life into each story. "I'm a latchkey kid," explained King. "You know my dad walked out when I was seven; my mother worked 15 hour days. So I'm not from sort of a traditional kind of family, but I'm trying myself to build a traditional family and to sort of correct the mistakes. I mean we all try to correct the mistakes of our childhood, right?
"Like that's what life is basically. That's like the easiest definition I know. And I think you see that constantly in my work, sort of this idea of constructing some sort of perfection and never achieving it. Because when you're trying to do that, you're trying to create an ideal with no definition of what the ideal is. You know, you're rolling that rock up the hill--it's gonna fall and the only way to sort of escape that is to accept the inevitability of the fall.
"That's my everyday life. That's the thing that I most care about--family and when you write, no matter what you do, you can try to escape it, but the thing you most care about--the thing that hits your soul the hardest--will always be in your work. So if you always look at my work, there's always some guy who's madly in love with his wife because I'm madly [in love] with my wife, and there's some guy who's always scared of what's going to happen to his kids because I'm scared of what's going to happen to my kids. And there's always some guy whose kind of been a little broken down by either being in a bunch of wars or a childhood because I'm a little broken because of being in a bunch of wars and my childhood, so all that stuff just leaks in too." For those wondering, Mister Miracle's wife, Big Barda, is a big part of the series, no pun intended.
Artist Mitch Gerads, who worked with King on the critically acclaimed miniseries The Sheriff of Babylon, collaborated with King on Mister Miracle: "I knew that Mitch was my favorite military artist; I had no idea he was my favorite artist artist. I didn't know he could get as good as he's gotten. And it's just, he's mind boggling. He's like one of my best friends and I'm almost scared of his talent. I don't want it to stop."
Gerads does interior art and colors on the new book, which you can check out above. Mister Miracle #1 hits comic shops on August 9. For more on Tom King, you can check out our interview about his run on Batman.
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/tom-king-discusses-new-mister-miracle-book/1100-156478/
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Batman Writer Discusses The Dark Knight's Proposal To Catwoman |
Batman writer Tom King is taking the Dark Knight on quite a ride, and for once, it has nothing to do with the villains he is facing. Back in the June issue of Batman, readers were left with one incredible cliffhanger: Batman proposing marriage to Catwoman.
Since Batman's first appearance in 1939, he's fought crime in Gotham. He's always had friends and family by his side, whether it be Alfred Pennyworth, one of the Robins, or even his son Damian, but in the main continuity, Batman has never been married. That may change in the upcoming months as issue #24 ended with Batman on a single knee, proposing. However, before readers get the answer they're waiting for, he tells Catwoman a story about his battle with Riddler and Joker from his past. Batman had to tell her something he's never told anyone else. This leads to the current storyline "War of Jokes & Riddles."
"It's a flashback story, but it's him confessing," King told GameSpot. "It's him saying, 'Before you make your decision, you have to know sort of the softest part of me. You have to know where I'm most vulnerable because I want you to love me for who I am, not for who I pretend to be. And this is something I haven't told anyone.' And so at the end of 'Jokes & Riddles,' he'll make this confession. He'll say, 'This is something I did.' And Catwoman, for the first time almost in her life because she's been through everything, will be shocked. It's something genuinely that's going to shake her to her core where she's like, 'You're not the man I thought you were.' And she has to make that decision. 'Do I actually want to marry Batman?'"
While "War of Jokes & Riddles" may seem like a simplistic, stripped-down tale, King explained that there's much more to the current storyline than meets the eye: "I like taking a simple story and making it into something interesting and deep," King said. "And right now, with Batman, we have the simplest story ever; it's Joker versus Riddler. Who will win? But then you start to think about it, and you start to think about the difference between a joke and a riddle. A joke is something that surprises you, right? Even like a simple joke like, 'why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.' The joke part of that is you think a joke is coming, but something straight comes. Like there's a surprise. A riddle is the exact opposite if you think about it. A riddle is, you propose a problem and you solve it. You come to be relaxed. A joke is tension. A riddle is relaxed. A joke is chaos. A riddle is order.
"[T]hen it becomes sort of like what the Joker wants in the world is anarchy. He just wants everyone to not care about what happens next and what the Riddler wants for the world is order. He's a fascist. He wants everyone to conform to the best way they need to live their lives."
What results from this battle is pure chaos in Gotham City and a Batman--who is relatively new to his job--trying to stop it. And while fans may be champing at the bit to know Catwoman's answer, the "War of Jokes & Riddles" is an important element, as it has Batman truly opening up to another person, which could cause a rift between characters. Readers will get Catwoman's answer, but not until October: "In issue #32--that's coming up--that's a huge issue because Catwoman will say yes or no. And then what comes is either Batman has his heart broken and has to deal with that, we've never seen that before where Batman made himself so vulnerable to get rejected. Or we have an acceptance and Batman has to prepare himself and his family for a wedding. So one of those two things is coming."
DC Comics fans will learn whether or not Catwoman will marry Batman and just what Batman has to confess in Batman #32, which goes on sale October 4.
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DC's New Nightwing Comic Explores A Powerless, Authoritarian Future |
DC's upcoming miniseries Nightwing: The New Order completely changes the dynamic of the comic book universe. The majority of heroes and villains alike had their powers stripped from them, and the man leading the charge, while working with the government, to hunt down the remaining metahumans is Dick Grayson, also known as Nightwing.
Kyle Higgins, the writer of The New Order, first worked on the New 52's Nightwing series back in 2011, and his return to the character was exciting for him, to say the least, "It feels familiar but different," Higgins told GameSpot. "I can write him in my sleep though. He's my all-time favorite character. It's more exciting than anything. I've already written the series, and now that I'm done, it's a bit sad. Even though it was for a very specific story, he was my guy again."
The six-issue miniseries follows Dick Grayson in 2040. "Dick's like 45 years old and he has a 12-year-old son," explained Higgins. "We're living in a world where about 12 years earlier, Dick detonated a device that neutralized 90% of the world's superpowers. There had been a proliferation and spread of superpowers in the world. They were as easy to get as a loaf of bread at the supermarket. You could walk into a bodega and pick up telekinesis. In a lot of ways, it's an allegory for the gun issue in our country right now but through the lens of DC superheroes and superpowers. The spread and incidents that escalated in the world finally culminated with something that's like the Armageddon war of Metropolis."
The New Order miniseries--you can see a preview of the first issue above--is a very different tale for the character many people know as Batman's former sidekick, Robin. "This is a unique situation because it's my take on Nightwing out of continuity. It's like an Elseworlds, and it takes place far enough in the future that I'm defining the character. I'm not playing off of established continuity that's happening in the mainline right now or anything like that." Higgins and artist Trevor McCarthy have carte blanche with the character and the world he inhabits, leading to this unique take on characters losing their powers.
By neutralizing the world's metahumans, Nightwing's actions lead to an authoritarian state: "The world did get safer, but similar to what we see in our country, things went too far. Laws passed that made superpowers illegal, and if you were part of the 10% that had superpowers, you had to register, and go on inhibitor medication, and if the inhibitor medication didn't work, which was very, very rare, then you're put into stasis until the doctor can figure out a way to take them away."
The story of a superhero losing their powers has been done before but never on such a large scope as this. There are many changes to the world around characters people know and love and with that, come redesigns of characters. Higgins explained that McCarthy did many redesigns of popular characters, and McCarthy's take on Superman was the writer's favorite.
Higgins closed by discussing the relationship between Dick Grayson and his son, Jake, and the dynamic's affect on the story: "It's Jake [in the future] narrating the book, looking back asking the question that we as readers are asking, 'How does my dad, who a lot of people said was the heart and soul of the DC Universe come to believe that this was best for the world? Was the world really that bad that this was the only way for the world to move forward?'"
Higgins and McCarthy's Nightwing: The New Order comes to comic shops and digital formats on August 23.
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Archie Comics October 2017 Covers and Solicitations |
Get ready for a spooktacular month this October, as Archie Comics has a lot of creepy-crawly books that will make your spine tingle! Check out the covers and solicitations below, and remember, if you like what you see, make sure to pre-order these books from your local comic shop!
Marvel Comics’ best-selling heroes are back in the ever-popular digest format! This third issue spotlights THOR, just in time for Thor: Ragnarok! This is a can’t-miss collector’s item that will only be printed once!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Olivier Coipel
On Sale Date: 10/11
224-page, full color comic
$6.99 U.S.
“WITCH WAR” Part 3: “The Sacrificial Lamb” – Sabrina has brought Harvey’s body back to life (along with her father’s soul). But there is a cost to everything. Unless she wants the Gates of Hell to open, Sabrina must find a person to sacrifice in Harvey’s place. But wait...Sabrina would never kill someone, would she? For TEEN+ Readers.
Script: Roberto Aguire-Sacasa
Art: Robert Hack, Jack Morelli
Cover: Robert Hack
Variant Cover: Djibril Morrissette-Phan
On Sale Date: 10/4
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
What’s next for the teenage rockers The Archies? When someone makes a decision that leaves the rest of the band scrambling, can the group keep it together? It’s friendship vs. fame in this must-read #1 issue to the new, ongoing THE ARCHIES series!
Script: Alex Segura and Matt Rosenberg
Art: Joe Eisma, Matt Herms, Jack Morelli
Cover: Joe Eisma
Variant Covers: Matthew Dow Smith, Sandy Jarrell with Kelly Fitzpatrick, Thomas Pitilli
On Sale Date: 10/4
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
BRAND NEW SERIES! Jughead Jones is a werewolf, and Reggie Mantle has fallen victim to Jughead’s monstrous ways. Now Betty Cooper: Werewolf Hunter along with Archie Andrews are hot on the trail of Jughead. For TEEN+ readers.
Script: Frank Tieri
Art: Pat and Tim Kennedy
Cover: Francesco Francavilla
Variant Covers: Robert Hack, Michael Walsh
On Sale Date: 10/25
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
It’s magic, music, mayhem and ZOMBIES (oh yeah, and hamburgers—plenty of hamburgers!) in this third volume of the Eisner-nominated Jughead series, collecting issues #12-16.
Script: Ryan North, Mark Waid, Ian Flynn
Art: Derek Charm, Matt Herms, Jack Morelli
Cover: Derek Charm
978-1-68255-956-7
$17.99/$19.99CAN
6 5/8 x 10 3/16”
TR
144 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 10/25
Dilton Doiley has always been a little…borderline, but when his science teacher tells the class about an astronomical event they'll be observing, Dilton's worst fears are confirmed—the end of the world is nigh! As he takes drastic steps to prepare, Jughead is caught in a dilemma—should he humor Dilton or try to stop him? And what if Dilton’s right…?
Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Various
Art: Joe Eisma, Andre Szymanowicz, Janice Chiang, John Workman
Cover: CW Photo Cover
Variant Cover: Francesco Francavilla
On Sale Date: 10/18
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
See how everything led to the CW’s Riverdale TV show with this digest-sized collection featuring stories from our relaunched titles as well as classic Archie stories!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: CW Photo Cover
On Sale Date: 10/4
128-page, full color comic
$5.99 U.S.
From Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and the writers of the CW's Riverdale comes the first collection of the comic book set in the universe of the SMASH HIT TV series. RIVERDALE VOL. 1 collects the Riverdale One-Shot and issues 1-4 of the ongoing series.
Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Brian E. Paterson, Britta Lundin, James DeWille, Will Ewing, Michael Grassi, Greg Murray, Daniel King,
Art: Elliot Fernandez, Jim Towe, Thomas Pitilli, Alitha Martinez, Joe Eisma, Bob Smith, Andre Szymanowicz, Thomas Chu, Glenn Whitmore, John Workman, Janice Chiang
Cover: CW Photo Cover
978-1-68255-958-1
$17.99/$19.99CAN
6 5/8 x 10 3/16”
TR
144 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 10/11
Your pal Archie meets his new best pal, Reggie. Find out why Riverdale's most famous jerk is being so nice to everyone in town! Plus, get the third part of the connecting variant cover series!
Script: Ty Templeton
Art: Dan Parent, Ty Templeton, Jack Morelli
Cover: Dan Parent
Connecting Variant Cover: Les McClaine
On Sale Date: 10/11
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
BRAND NEW DIGEST SERIES! In "Sick Day," everyone’s caught the flu that’s been going around, except for Jughead. He decides to help out the Andrews family—but his unconventional methods don't go over too well!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Dan Parent
Cover: Pat and Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Pe~na
On Sale Date: 10/18
128-page, full color comic
$6.99 U.S.
Get ready for a Halloween SCARETACULAR featuring some of Archie’s most frighteningly fun stories!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Various
On Sale Date: 10/11
24-page, full color comic
$2.99 U.S.
NEW CHRISTMAS LEAD STORY! In "One Person's Trash..." Archie and Jughead notice some high-quality trash in the Lodge's neighborhood, so they scout the area for items they can recycle as Christmas gifts! However, their thrifty idea doesn't win everybody over…
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Dan Parent
Cover: Bill Galvan, Rosario “Tito” Pe~na
On Sale Date: 10/25
192-page, full color comic
$5.99 U.S.
Get ready for a fun-filled FESTIVAL of over 1000 pages of Archie’s best and brightest stories!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Various
978-1-68255-958-1
$14.99/$16.99 CAN
4 7/8 x 6 9/16”
TR
1000 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 10/18
This beautifully remastered hardcover version of the best-selling THE BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS BOOK 2 contains over 400 pages of the most iconic Archie stories, hand-selected by Archie creators, editors and historians.
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Dan DeCarlo
978-1-68255-938-3
$19.99/$21.99 CAN
6 5/8 x 10 3/16”
HC
416 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 10/4
BRAND NEW HALLOWEEN STORY! In "A Bewitching Tale," Betty and Veronica are in the elementary school's Halloween play, and Veronica’s got a few tricks up her sleeve to get the part she wants...
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Dan Parent
Cover: Bill Galvan, Rosario “Tito” Pe~na
On Sale Date: 10/11
192-page, full color comic
$5.99 U.S.
BRAND NEW HALLOWEEN STORY! In "Something Is Missing..." the gang takes Jellybean trick or treating. Unfortunately, when they get back to Jughead’s they realize they have the wrong kid! Where is Jellybean? Is this a trick?
Art: Bill Golliher, Bob Smith, Jack Morelli
Cover: Pat and Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Pe~na
On Sale Date: 10/4
160-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
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Preview: Divinity #0 Features Some Insane Art By Renato Guedes |
We're about a month away from the next chapter in one of Valiant's most entertaining and intriguing sagas, Divinity. August 16 marks the a jumping-on point for the series with Divinity #0, written by Matt Kindt and drawn by Renato Guedes.
Valiant gave Comic Vine an exclusive preview at the upcoming issue, and let's be honest, the art for the book is nutso good. Guedes painted pages look breathtaking. The solicit for the August issue, as well as the preview are below.
(W) Matt Kindt (A) Renato Guedes (CA) Juan Jose Ryp
AN EPIC JUMPING-ON POINT LEADING DIVINITY THROUGH THE WHOLE OF THE VALIANT UNIVERSE! New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (X-O MANOWAR, Mind MGMT) and explosive artist Renato Guedes (BLOODSHOT REBORN, Wolverine) present an awe-inspiring introduction to the largest independent superhero universe in comics - as told through the eyes of Valiant's most powerful cosmic force! DIVINITY, a lost Russian cosmonaut newly returned to Earth with god-like powers, has successfully restored the world to order after the reality-altering event known as the Stalinverse. But how can a man - even one with near-divine abilities - know for certain that the planet has been truly restored in full? To make sure, Divinity must bear witness to the world as it now stands - heroes, villains, gods, and all - to ensure the rightful order of the Valiant Universe! From BLOODSHOT to FAITH to NINJAK and dozens of surprise guest stars, traverse the world of Valiant's most enduring icons as DIVINITY guides a standalone entry point into the most acclaimed publishing line in comics today!
In Shops: Aug 16, 2017
SRP: $3.99
Divinity #0 hits comic shops on August 16.
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Preview: Divinity #0 Features Some Insane Art By Renato Guedes |
We're about a month away from the next chapter in one of Valiant's most entertaining and intriguing sagas, Divinity. August 16 marks the a jumping-on point for the series with Divinity #0, written by Matt Kindt and drawn by Renato Guedes.
Valiant gave Comic Vine an exclusive preview at the upcoming issue, and let's be honest, the art for the book is nutso good. Guedes painted pages look breathtaking. The solicit for the August issue, as well as the preview are below.
(W) Matt Kindt (A) Renato Guedes (CA) Juan Jose Ryp
AN EPIC JUMPING-ON POINT LEADING DIVINITY THROUGH THE WHOLE OF THE VALIANT UNIVERSE! New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (X-O MANOWAR, Mind MGMT) and explosive artist Renato Guedes (BLOODSHOT REBORN, Wolverine) present an awe-inspiring introduction to the largest independent superhero universe in comics - as told through the eyes of Valiant's most powerful cosmic force! DIVINITY, a lost Russian cosmonaut newly returned to Earth with god-like powers, has successfully restored the world to order after the reality-altering event known as the Stalinverse. But how can a man - even one with near-divine abilities - know for certain that the planet has been truly restored in full? To make sure, Divinity must bear witness to the world as it now stands - heroes, villains, gods, and all - to ensure the rightful order of the Valiant Universe! From BLOODSHOT to FAITH to NINJAK and dozens of surprise guest stars, traverse the world of Valiant's most enduring icons as DIVINITY guides a standalone entry point into the most acclaimed publishing line in comics today!
In Shops: Aug 16, 2017
SRP: $3.99
Divinity #0 hits comic shops on August 16.
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Spider-Man: Homecoming: Who Is The Shocker? |
Spider-Man will be facing more than just the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which is now in theaters. The web-slinger will also face a D-list villain from yesteryear, the Shocker. Many fans may not be too familiar with this character, since he doesn't often appear in the comics. So who is the Shocker and where does he come from?
This will be the first appearance of Shocker on the big screen. Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo, Total Recall) plays Herman Schultz in the film, who goes on to become Shocker #2, according to IMDb. The comic book version of the Shocker first made his debut in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #46 in 1967. The character was created by legendary writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita.
The man under the Shocker mask is New York City-born engineer Herman Schultz. This inventor dropped out of high school and used his talents to become the world's best safe-cracker. However, he was eventually caught and put in prison for his crimes.
While incarcerated, Schultz developed gauntlets that could shoot air blasts that vibrate at a high frequency. After using his new powers to escape prison, he became a super-powered criminal and one of Spider-Man's many villains.
In addition to his gauntlets, Shocker developed a suit that would allow him to absorb the shock from his weapon. In later years, Schultz upgraded his suit further, allowing him the ability to create a protective vibrational field. You may be wondering where the "shock" part comes from The Shocker. Well, his powers are not at all electricity based; they instead revolve around projecting and absorbing force or shock.
In the realm of comics, there aren't a lot of great stories involving this Silver Age character. Aside from a few one-shots, the only serious story of note is "The Origin of the Species" from 2010. During that event, Norman Osborn--also known as the Green Goblin--has a baby, and Spider-Man's villains are out to take the Goblin's kin away from him. Shocker isn't the star of the story, but he's around for the entirety of it.
The book that every comic book fan--and Shocker fan--should read is Superior Foes of Spider-Man. The 12-issue series follows a group of Spider-Man's lesser-known villains as they plan a heist. The Shocker has his own interesting arc in this book, which involves him babysitting the disembodied head of Silvermane--which is shown above. It's hilarious and one of the few series that gives readers an inside look into the world of villainy.
If you're looking for more stories involving Shocker, check these comics out.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is out now. You can check out our review here. You can also learn more about characters and elements in the film by checking out "Who Is The Vulture" and "What Is Damage Control."
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/spider-man-homecoming-who-is-the-shocker/1100-156473/
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Spider-Man: Homecoming: What Is Damage Control? |
The Marvel Universe is filled with costumed characters who use their powers and abilities for both good and evil. At times, these superhumans team up in order to work together for a common cause. In the case of the group Damage Control, their cause is to put the city back together after a superpowered battle.
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, it seems like this group will be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During an international trailer for the film, it's revealed that Michael Keaton's character, Vulture, was involved in cleaning up New York City after the battle that took place in the first Avengers film.
If you're a fan of Marvel comics, that scenario may sound a lot like the group Damage Control to you. In addition, inside a recent Spider-Man: Homecoming Lego set, the letters "DODC" appear on crates, which you can check out here. This is leading many fans to believe that stands for "Department of Damage Control."
Prior to the release of the film, we're not 100% sure whether or not Damage Control is a part of the film, but they're worth talking about. The group was created by writer Dwayne McDuffie and artist Ernie Colon and first appeared in Marvel Comics Presents #19 back in 1989. During the issue, we meet the smooth-talking John Porter, the future Account Executive for Damage Control, and Anne-Marie Hoag, the founder and owner of the company. In addition, readers are first introduced to Lenny Ballinger, the head foreman of the company. The eight-page story introduces the team and their clean-up of a bar after a battle between Daredevil and Turk.
Immediately after the group's first appearance, a four-part miniseries came out, chronicling the day-to-day jobs of the team. This comedic series introduced the full team, which included new members Robin Chapel, Gene Strausser, and Bart Rozum. No one on this team has superpowers--they're just characters living in a world filled with superhuman characters, which was the backbone of the first and second miniseries in '89 and '90.
Later on, Damage Control did add characters with powers to the team, like when Black Goliath joined to help clean up after the World War Hulk storyline. The super strong Monstro also joined the team during this time as part of the Search and Rescue division. One of his most comedic moments came from when he wanted to fight the Chrysler Building, which became a sentient being.
The most notable superpowered addition came from the comic Irredeemable Ant-Man, when criminal-turned-reluctant-hero Eric O'Grady joined the Search and Rescue team with his stolen Ant-Man costume. This storyline was weaved through the Marvel summer event World War Hulk.
Damage Control may be a really bizarre concept, especially since its contents are treated so comically, but it's an important group in the Marvel Universe. It's bureaucratic, downright bizarre, and answers the age-old question, "Who cleans up after all these superhero battles?"
Looking to read more about Damage Control? Check these stories out:
Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on Friday, July 7. You can check out our review here.
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/spider-man-homecoming-what-is-damage-control/1100-156472/
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Spider-Man: Homecoming: Who Is The Vulture? |
With Spider-Man: Homecoming hitting theaters on July 7, you may be wondering who a few of the characters are in the movie. Everyone knows Peter Parker, especially after two separate franchises and five solo films. However, some of his villains are not as well known. In Homecoming, Spider-Man faces The Vulture, played by Michael Keaton. This Silver Age villain is over 50 years old, but where did he come from and who is he?
The Vulture first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #2 back in 1963. He was created by the legendary Steve Ditko and Stan Lee. The villain's real name is Adrian Toomes, an electronics engineer who was stabbed in the back by his business partner. This betrayal led Toomes to a life of crime, using a device he invented which gave him the ability to fly, as well as super-strength. The Vulture is primarily known for being an old man--Spider-Man's senior citizen foe.
While Vulture isn't the biggest or most formidable of Spider-Man's villains, he did meddle in Parker's life on more than one occasion. Toomes was partially responsible for Nathan Lubensky's death. Lubensky was the love interest for Aunt May, and after a battle between Vulture and Spider-Man, Lubensky suffered a fatal heart attack when he jumped on Vulture's back in hopes of stopping a fight between the villain and the web-slinger.
During a really bizarre storyline, Chameleon and Green Goblin created lifelike androids of Peter Parker's parents, hoping it would drive Spider-Man insane. Vulture, who recently developed life-force-sucking gloves, stole all the energy from Peter's "mother," and transferred it into himself, making the Vulture young once again. Like everything in comics, this didn't last forever, and he returned to his elderly state.
Aside from being adept at inventing, Vulture proved himself to be a master strategist during the mid-'00s miniseries Identity Disc. In that story, Vulture--along with the help of Sandman--manipulated a group of supervillains to work together in order to get a disc with the identities of SHIELD agents on it. This list included Toomes's daughter. This is one of the few times we get to see Vulture as an empathetic villain, as he wanted to protect his child from other evildoers.
We last saw Vulture during the volume Superior Spider-Man, when Doctor Octopus put his mind into Spider-Man's body. Spider-Man blinded Vulture and sent him to The Raft, a prison for supervillains. To this day, he is still blind and imprisoned.
Looking to read more about The Vulture? Check these stories out:
Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters on Friday, July 7. You can check out our review here.
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/spider-man-homecoming-who-is-the-vulture/1100-156471/
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Check Out These Animated Marvel Legacy Homage Covers |
This fall, Marvel pays tribute to the past with Marvel Legacy. The publisher revealed some of the upcoming homage covers which you can see below. Marvel Legacy promises to be a new dawn for the publisher.
"A new initiative that will take things back to our iconic history, with a firm eye on the future, MARVEL LEGACY will present stories that remind everyone — newcomers and longtime fans alike — why Marvel stands as the premier name in fiction,” said Editor in Chief Axel Alonso. “Our titles will unearth gems from Marvel’s rich history, remind readers of connections between characters, and usher in the return of some major characters who’ve been missed. Above all else, we want to inject our comics with a massive dose of fun!"
Artist Michael Ryan pays tribute to Champions #1 for a new issue of Iceman.
Alan Davis pays homage to Invincible Iron Man #150.
Dave Johnson give an update to Luke Cage: Hero for Hire #1.
Old Man Logan's cover is a recreation of Wolverine #2. The art for the new issue is by Cameron Stewart.
Finally, Dave Johnson recreates Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 for an upcoming issue of Secret Warriors.
We're learn more about Marvel Legacy soon.
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Check Out These Animated Marvel Legacy Homage Covers |
This fall, Marvel pays tribute to the past with Marvel Legacy. The publisher revealed some of the upcoming homage covers which you can see below. Marvel Legacy promises to be a new dawn for the publisher.
"A new initiative that will take things back to our iconic history, with a firm eye on the future, MARVEL LEGACY will present stories that remind everyone — newcomers and longtime fans alike — why Marvel stands as the premier name in fiction,” said Editor in Chief Axel Alonso. “Our titles will unearth gems from Marvel’s rich history, remind readers of connections between characters, and usher in the return of some major characters who’ve been missed. Above all else, we want to inject our comics with a massive dose of fun!"
Artist Michael Ryan pays tribute to Champions #1 for a new issue of Iceman.
Alan Davis pays homage to Invincible Iron Man #150.
Dave Johnson give an update to Luke Cage: Hero for Hire #1.
Old Man Logan's cover is a recreation of Wolverine #2. The art for the new issue is by Cameron Stewart.
Finally, Dave Johnson recreates Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 for an upcoming issue of Secret Warriors.
We're learn more about Marvel Legacy soon.
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Archie Comics September 2017 Covers and Solicitations |
Here's what Archie Comics has coming up this September. Make sure to pre-order the books you want with your LCS.
The fallout from OVER THE EDGE continues! One of the Riverdale kids has become a pariah in town, so it's either run or face a life filled with hate and violence! Join us as we welcome new interior artist Audrey Mok (Josie and the Pussycats).
Script: Dan Parent
Script: Mark Waid
Art: Audrey Mok, Jack Morelli
Cover: Audrey Mok
Variant Cover: Thomas Pitilli
On Sale Date: 9/27
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
Join in the fun of THE ARCHIES along with BIG MOOSE along with the horrific JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER in this graphic novel collection spotlighting Archie Comics’ hit one-shot series!
Script: Alex Segura, Matthew Rosenberg, Frank Tieri, Sean Ryan, Ryan Cady, Gorf
Art: Joe Eisma, Michael Walsh, Cory Smith, Thomas Pitilli, Ryan Jampole, Kelly Fitzpatrick Matt Herms, Glenn Whitmore, Jack Morelli
Cover: Various
978-1-68255-944-4
$14.99/$16.99CAN
6 5/8 x 10 3/16”
TR
136 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 9/13
Come take a look at the life of your hero, the handsome, hilarious Reggie Mantle, along with his best friend and confidant: his dog, Vader! This graphic novel collects the entire Reggie and Me mini-series by Tom DeFalco and Sandy Jarrell!
Script: Tom DeFalco
Art: Sandy Jarrell, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Jack Morelli
Cover: Sandy Jarrell, Kelly Fitzpatrick
978-1-68255-942-0
$17.99/$19.99CAN
6 5/8 x 10 3/16”
TR
144 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 9/27
Set in the same universe as the hit CW series, this issue gives us a peek into all the secrets Pop Tate overhears in his day-to-day business, told through four vignettes in four different booths!
Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Various
Art: Joe Eisma, Andre Szymanowicz, John Workman
Cover: CW Photo Cover
Variant Cover: Francesco Francavilla
On Sale Date: 9/13
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
In the BRAND NEW lead story “Out of Your Gourd,” Archie has grown the biggest pumpkin in town for the fall festival, but how do you transport a 500 pound pumpkin? Archie and Jughead will find a way!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Bill Golliher
Cover: Bill Galvan
On Sale Date: 9/6
256-page, full color comic
$6.99 U.S.
In the BRAND NEW lead story, “Every Day is Sundae!,” The Cooking Channel is looking for the best sundae in the country—and one by Pop Tate is in the running! Archie and his friends all think they’re the inspiration behind the recipe, but only one person knows the truth!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Pat and Tim Kennedy
Cover: Bill Galvan
On Sale Date: 9/20
160-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
In the ALL-NEW lead story “How Dazzling!,” Veronica’s cousin Harper shows off her new line of "bedazzled" accessories, but Veronica finds it too boring for her taste—until it gets noticed by a major designer!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Bill Galvan
Cover: Pat and Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith
On Sale Date: 9/13
160-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
Get ready for Halloween fun in the BRAND NEW lead story "They're Creepy and They're Kooky..."! A mysterious family has moved into an old house across town. When Betty and Veronica try and befriend the daughter of the family, strange things happen!
Art: Jeff Shultz
Cover: Bill Galvan
On Sale Date: 9/27
256-page, full color comic
$6.99 U.S.
Kick off Halloween with the horror adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch! Learn the haunting back story of Sabrina’s father, Edward Spellman. For TEEN+ readers.
(W) Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (A/CA) Robert Hack, Jack Morelli
32-page, black & white comic
IT'S A MAAAAADHOUSE! Archie is proud to present an assortment of spooky shenanigans from Archie's Madhouse—a series of wild and wacky tales that are sure to leave going crazy for more!
(W) Various (A) Various (CA) Bill Galvan
12-page, full color comic
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Exclusive Preview: Betty & Veronica #3 |
All Heck breaks loose in Riverdale as the final act of BETTY VERSUS VERONICA reaches its combustible conclusion! The streets of Riverdale run red under the rockets’ red glare and no one will ever be the same!
Script: Adam Hughes
Art: Adam Hughes, Jos'e Villarubia, Jack Morelli
Cover: Adam Hughes
Variant Covers: Adam Hughes, Bengal, David Mack, Paolo Rivera
On Sale Date: 6/14
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/exclusive-preview-betty-and-veronica-3/1100-156468/
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