DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Welcome to SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE

This looks interesting, but I am not really wowed.  Do I have JMS burnout?

DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Welcome to SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

By Alex Segura

This October, writer J. Michael Straczynski (Superman, Wonder Woman, Babylon 5, “Changeling”) and artist Shane Davis (Green Lantern, Superman/Batman) will take readers on a journey both familiar and new – a story of a last son looking for meaning amidst the skyscrapers and teeming crowds of a great metropolis.

This is a Superman for the 21st century.

With SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, Straczynski and Davis inject the folk tale and legend that is Superman’s origin with a modern, vital and forward-looking energy that makes for a refreshing, epic and challenging super-hero adventure.

In SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE – the first original graphic novel retelling Superman’s origin — Clark Kent is a man looking for meaning in a new city and an age of failing newspapers, hand-held devices and instant gratification. But when you can fly through the sky and burn objects with a glance – things become a tad more complicated. Doubly so when a fleet of alien ships arrive on your doorstep.

SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE channels the best tales of Superman with a look toward the future, by two of the brightest talents the industry has to offer. We’ve got a first look at the graphic novel below. Prepare to be wowed.

ComicBase 15 Has Arrived! – ComicBase.com

Comic Software | ComicBase: The World’s #1 Program for Managing Comics

ComicBase 15 Has Arrived!

ComicBase 15 has shipped: it has all the features collectors love, such as thorough data on more than 450,000 comics; easy data entry, with or without the optional bar code scanner; and (with paid subscriptions) a year’s worth of issue and cover updates.

We’ve also improved our mobile device support, so among other things, you can now preview cover with reports on your iPad, iPhone, Android or other internet-capable smart phone. And our New Comics Wednesday feature lists the new comics expected each week–so you can check off what you’ve bought and enter it to your collection as soon as you get back from your favorite comics retailer.

If you’re a registered Pro or Archive user, you can upgrade to the ComicBase 15 Archive (with full size covers and the ability to download new covers at any time–even filling in subscription lapses) for just $99.95 until September 15, 2010. That’s a $200 savings!

Go to our Products section and log in to see all our deals for buying or upgrading your copy of ComicBase now! Or give us a call at 408-266-6883.

[Press] DarkBrain.com Offers Entire Comic Lineup Free – PR.com

DarkBrain.com Offers Entire Comic Lineup Free – PR.com

DarkBrain.com Offers Entire Comic Lineup Free

Former pay-to-view webcomic site offers content at no charge.

DarkBrain.com Offers Entire Comic Lineup Free
Warwick, RI, August 31, 2010 –(PR.com)– Webcomic publisher DarkBrain, LLC announced this past weekend that effective immediately, all content on their website (http://darkbrain.com) – including over 240 pages of comics – will now be available to readers at no charge. Each comic includes graphic novel quality art, original music, and voice-over narration. Stars with voicework in DarkBrain comics include adult film actresses Tabitha Stevens and Raylene, as well as rock star Tony Campos (Prong, Ministry, Asesino, Static-X).

DarkBrain produces edgy content designed specifically for PG-13 and R+-rated audiences. At its inception, the site utilized a state of the art preferences system where readers control how intense they wish their viewing experience to be. With the restructure, readers will now have free access to 12 original series on the site with preset PG-13 content. In addition, DarkBrain.com will now offer advertising space.

To reach readers who prefer R+-rated content, DarkBrain.com now offers monthly memberships. For $4.99 a month, members have access to the preference system that allows them to choose the intensity of their content, as well as access to Members-Only and pre-released content and an ad-free environment. Members may also purchase a 6-month membership for $24.95.

To improve visibility and revenue to the site, site publisher Andrew Zar found this recent change timely and appropriate. Since the change, DarkBrain.com has had over 40,000 page views per day. As an added feature, DarkBrain is also asking all registered users to vote on the titles they wish to see continue, in an attempt to streamline their product line to the trends of its readers. In addition to the survey, the stories on DarkBrain.com have been organized by genre, aiding readers in finding the content that most appeals to them.

For more information on DarkBrain, LLC or to become a member, visit http://darkbrain.com.

Media Inquiries should contact SJS Comic Promotions at susan.soaores1971@gmail.com.

Update on Teen Titans: Games from George Perez

From the George Perez facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/pages/George-Perez-Fan-Page/385542437272

As many of you have already learned, The TEEN TTANS: GAMES graphic novel has been taken off the November release schedule and will be re-solicited. The fault is entirely mine. I’m afraid that a confluence of events, including my worsening eyesight which prompted the ongoing surgical procedures that I’ve already covered here and the bad timing of committing to LEGACIES before I knew that GAMES’ deadlines had been compromised.

With LEGACIES being an ongoing series, as opposed to GAMES being a one-shot, it was determined that the monthly series had to be prioritized since my involvement with that series had already been publicized. Due to some attendant light sensitivity issues, my ability to stare at a white sheet lit by studio lamps was definitely getting a bit difficult, which is one of the reasons I switched to inking Jerry Ordway for Issue 6. Oddly enough, looking at pages already grayed by pencils was easier on my orbs than starting with a clean white page.

In all likelihood, I will still have several surgeries to get through and, according to my doctor, the prognosis is good. I will be returning to GAMES after I finish LEGACIES and will progress as best as I can in between surgical procedures. After I finish that long, long, long delayed book, I will request to be used primarily as an inker for the following year (with the exception of some covers or pin-ups here and there) until my eyesight is normal (or at least stabilized). After that, I intend to kick some serious comic art butt!

I sincerely apologize to all of you who are now disappointed, yet again with the continuous delays on this decades-old project. I particularly want to apologize to my friend and TITANS cohort Marv Wolfman who’s shown the patience of a saint throughout all this, even during times when I was too overwhelmed to return his calls.
I have about 25 pages left to draw and I’m hoping that, when the book is finally re-solicited (and it will be!) that it will be at least a tiny bit worth the long wait.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Teen Titans: Games cancelled, resolicited later?

I was just checking my order over at DCBS, and noticed that I had been credited the money I had paid to preorder Teen Titans: Games.

A quick look over at the The Comic Forums confirmed that I wasn’t the only one that got credited for that book.  Looking further into it I see that Teen Titans: Games is in fact on Diamonds cancel list for September

Amazon still has it listed, but its ship date has been moved to January 11th 2011.

Anyone know what happened here?

[Press] – DISNEY ACQUIRES RADICAL’S OBLIVION

For Immediate Release

DISNEY ACQUIRES RADICAL’S OBLIVION

August 5th, 2010, Los Angeles, CA – Radical Publishing is proud to announce that Disney has acquired the film adaptation of OBLIVION, based on Radical Publishing’s illustrated novel created by Tron: Legacy director, Joseph Kosinski, written by Rex Mundi creator, Arvid Nelson, and with illustrations by Andrée Wallin. OBLIVION will be directed by Joseph Kosinki and will be produced by Radical’s President and Publisher, Barry Levine, and Kosinski. Radical Studios’ Executive Vice President Jesse Berger is signed on as Executive Producer. Kosinki is repped by Verve and Anonymous Content while Radical is repped by CAA and David Schiff.

In a future where the Earth’s surface has been irradiated beyond recognition, the remnants of humanity live above the clouds, safe from the brutal alien Scavengers that stalk the ruins. But when surface drone repairman Jak discovers a mysterious woman in a crash-landed pod, it sets off an unstoppable chain of events that will force him to question everything he knows.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Joe Kosinski on OBLIVION,” said Barry Levine, president of Radical Pictures. “Joe is one of the most creative forces in filmmaking today. From the moment he teamed with Radical to produce the book and film, he had such a clear vision of the OBLIVION landscape and universe. Add to that Joe’s successful partnership with Disney on Tron: Legacy, and you have all the ingredients for a phenomenal action/adventure film.”

OBLIVION, the 128-page illustrated novel, will be released in Summer 2011 and will feature prose, combined with over 40 fully painted landscape renderings. OBLIVION will be distributed worldwide through Random House.

Fans are encouraged to visit the Radical Publishing websites www.radicalpublishing.com

, www.facebook.com/radicalpublishing and www.twitter.com/radicalcomics for more information.

About Radical Publishing
Radical Publishing is founded by Barry Levine (producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir, Oblivion, The Last Days of American Crime, Legends, Damaged, Earp: Saints for Sinners and executive producer for the in-development Rex Mundi movie for Warner Bros., written by Jim Uhls and starring Johnny Depp) and entrepreneur Jesse Berger (executive producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir, Oblivion, The Last Days of American Crime, Legends, Damaged and Earp: Saints for Sinners).
For their quality and excellence in 2008, Radical Publishing was granted the Gem Award for “Best New Publisher of the Year” from Diamond Comic Distributors. Radical brings the best writing, storytelling, and fully painted cover and interior art to the global comic book market, from prominent international talents such as Yoshitaka Amano, Keith Arem, Rain Beredo, Marc Bernardin, John Bolton, Darren Lynn Bousman, Ron L. Brinkerhoff, Bing Cansino, Matt Cirulnick, Tomm Coker, Clayton Crain, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Flint Dille, Marko Djurdjevic, Ian Edginton, Warren Ellis, James Farr, Adam Freeman, E. Max Frye, Antoine Fuqua, Justin Gray, Paul Gulacy, David Hine, Taka Ichise, Joseph Kosinski, Clint Langley, Adam Lawson, David Lapham, Richard Lee, Rob Levin, David Liss, Alex Maleev, Leonardo Manco, David Manpearl, Stephan Martinière, Francesco “Matt” Mattina, Peter Milligan, Steve Moore, Arvid Nelson, Wayne Nichols, Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Nick Percival, Troy Peteri, Vincent Proce, Steve Pugh, Patrick Reilly, Rick Remender, Terry Rossio, Luis Royo, Nick Sagan, Kirsi Salonen, Sam Sarkar, Stjepan Sejic, M. Zachary Sherman, Bill Sienkiewicz, Wesley Snipes, Jim Steranko, Arthur Suydam, Patrick Tatopoulos, J.P. Targete, Greg Tocchini, Andree Wallin, Rich Wilkes, Dave Wilkins, Concept Art House, Haberlin Studios, Meduzarts Digital Environment Studio, Weta Workshop, Zombie Studios, and many more.
Currently, Radical Publishing has production deals with Spyglass Entertainment and Peter Berg’s Film 44 for Hercules, with Johnny Depp’s Infinitum Nihil for Caliber, New Regency and Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions for Freedom Formula, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment for Legends, Dreamworks, Sam Raimi’s Star Road Entertainment and Mandeville Films for Earp: Saints for Sinners as well as Walt Disney Pictures for Oblivion.

Gianluca Glazer
Director of Marketing
Radical Publishing
(323) 874-4400
gianluca@radicalpublishing.com
www.radicalpublishing.com
www.facebook.com/radicalpublishing
www.twitter.com/radicalcomics

[Press] LEGENDARY MARVEL CREATOR ADDS HIS SUPPORT TO EAGLE INITIATIVE

PRESS RELEASE:

For immediate release: August 1, 2010

LEGENDARY MARVEL CREATOR ADDS HIS SUPPORT TO EAGLE INITIATIVE

BARRY Renshaw and Cassandra Conroy are delighted to announce that Stan Lee –
the celebrated co-creator of such enduring Marvel characters as Spider-Man,
the Fantastic Four, the Hulk and the X-Men – has agreed to become patron of
the Eagle Initiative.

Agreeing to give his backing to the innovative worldwide talent search, Lee
said, ‘Way back in 1976 mine was the first name enrolled on the Eagle Awards
Roll of Honour and I’m thrilled, lo these many years later, to be invited to
be a patron of this pioneering initiative which stems from such prestigious
and long-running prizes.

“Breaking into comic books has never been easy and I think it’s great that
Barry and Cassandra are devoting their energies to helping newcomers from
around the world get their foot on – and up – the ladder,” added the
venerated writer. “I’m delighted to add my name to the Eagle Initiative and
wish every contestant all the best, both with their entries and their
subsequent careers. Who knows, this ambitious project might lead to the
discovery of a 21st century Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko… or Stan Lee!”

Responding to the celebrated Marvel creator’s comments, Renshaw – who is
spearheading the project – said, “Having an industry legend like Stan Lee
not only support the Initiative but agree to be its patron is both
incredibly exciting and humbling at the same time. I certainly never
expected to receive the amount of interest and support from industry
professionals that we have done over just a few short months, and everyone
behind the scenes at the Initiative is absolutely dedicated to making sure
we live up to their faith in the endeavour.”

Now heading up the Eagle Awards, Cassandra Conroy added, “The Marvel
Universe had just had its 30th birthday when I came into this world but my
dad familarised me with those classic early stories throughout my formative
years. It is, therefore, a great honour to have Stan Lee not only support us
on the Initiative but also be so enthusiastic about what Barry is doing. I’m
sure his involvement will catapult the Initiative and the Eagle Awards
themselves into the wider public spotlight.”

Eagle Awards founder Mike Conroy is serving as a consultant and publicist to
the Initiative. He commented, “Things just keep getting better for Barry and
Cassandra. The industry has been behind them from the start but to get
backing from the living legend that is Stan Lee just turns things up to 11!”

For further details on the Initiative, a full list of judges and complete
submission guidelines, go to http://www.eaglesinitiative.com/. For press
enquiries, contact Mike Conroy: eagleawards@btconnect.com. For further
details on the Eagle Awards, contact Cassandra Conroy:
eagleawards@gmail.com.

To be removed from this mailing list, please reply with the word “REMOVE” in
the subject header.

ABOUT THE EAGLES INITIATIVE:
Launched in May 2010, the Eagles Initiative provides a unique platform from
which the next generation of writers and artists can promote their
storytelling ability in an increasingly competitive market. The brainchild
of Barry Renshaw, the Initiative is an unprecedented global talent search,
entrants will be asked to submit an original self-contained illustrated
story. The winner will be awarded a £1,000 cash prize; the runner up will
win £500 with the third place submission being given £250. All three stories
are to be included in the Initiative Anthology, which will be released as a
print publication and in multiple languages across the digital media.

ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s longest established
awards. Unique in that they reflect the people’s choice, they are awarded by
fans who vote for their favourite in each category of the awards. They are
named after the fondly remembered 1950′s British comic anthology Eagle, and
were originated by two British fans, Mike Conroy and Richard Burton. The
awards proved to be successful, with American publishers announcing their
victories with pride. They have relaunched in 2010 with a new look, a new
mandate and a new vision for the future.

ABOUT STAN LEE:

Stan Lee is the man whose co-created superheroes such as Spider-Man, the
X-Men, Iron Man and many others have been monster movie hits and helped make
Marvel Comics the dominant force in the comicbook industry.

Without question, Stan ‘the Man’ Lee has exerted more influence over
comicbooks than anyone in history. The numbers are staggering – more than 2
billion Marvel Comics have been published in 75 countries and in 25
languages. In Europe alone, Stan Lee’s name appears on over 35 million
comics annually.

He supervised such diverse animated series as X-Men, Spider-Man and The
Hulk. To date, Stan’s characters have populated over 24 separate television
series, all of which continue in syndication around the world.

Additionally, many of Stan’s other creations, such as the Hulk, the
Fantastic Four and Daredevil have been major motion pictures with no end in
sight for the sequels, while Doct or Strange, the Mighty Thor, Avengers and
Silver Surfer, plus many others, are in development for motion pictures even
as you read these words.

Stan Lee’s admirers are not limited to the younger generation – his avowed
fans include Presidents (Ronald Reagan once said he started every day
reading Spider-Man comics and George Bush, in presenting Stan a Medal of the
Arts, praised him for encouraging and assisting “millions of young people to
broaden their own imaginations”) and even his competitors (“Most of my
generation of writers learned our craft from or through Stan Lee. He’s an
incredible part of the business,” said Paul Levitz of DC Comics).

Now, as he enters the 21st Century, Stan Lee is broadening his horizons.
Stan is currently developing entirely new franchise for film and television
with his own company POW! Entertainment while still proudly cherishing the
title of Chairman Emeritus of Marvel.

ABOUT BARRY RENSHAW:
Barry Renshaw has been an active creator in the UK independent comics
industry for over a decade, as publisher of his own Engine Comics imprint,
the award winning Redeye Magazine, and the popular How to Self Publish – A
Rough Guide, as well as running or appearing at various workshops, seminars
and panels over the years. He was asked to join the Eagle Awards committee
in 2009 to help reinvent the brand, and saw an opportunity for the Awards to
play a more progressive and proactive role in the comics industry. The
Initiative is the first part of that expanded role.

ABOUT CASSANDRA CONROY:

Cassandra Conroy has been a regular presence on the UK convention scene for
several years. In 2008 her father Mike Conroy handed over the running of the
Eagle Awards to Cassandra, who was then just 16-years old. She has worked on
Eaglemoss’s Classic Marvel Figurine Collection and DC Comics Super Hero
Collection.

ABOUT MIKE CONROY:

Formerly editor of Comics International, Europe’s trade paper, veteran
comics journalist and historian Mike Conroy is the founder of the Eagle
Awards. Established in 1976, they are one of the comics industry’s earliest
established and most coveted international prizes. Sought after to talk
about comics and movies on TV and radio, Mike has written extensively on
those subjects for various publishers and magazines. He is the author of 500
Great Comic Book Action Heroes its sequel 500 Comic Book Villains and War
Stories: A Graphic History as well as a major contributor to Comix: The
Underground Revolution. His former position on CI followed his 10-year reign
as the magazine’s news editor. For over 12 years, his monthly Frame to Frame
– the comics industry’s longest-running column discussing the interaction
between movies and comics – had been a feature in CI, which he had been
associated with since the magazine’s very beginnings in 1991. Contact him
at: demigod@btconnect.com.

[Press] Independent comics publisher Free Lunch Comics is proud to announce their latest graphic novel, Sky Pirates of Valendor: Volume 1!

Independent comics publisher Free Lunch Comics is proud to announce their latest graphic novel, Sky Pirates of Valendor: Volume 1!

Sky Pirates of Valendor: Volume 1 available for pre-order through Diamond Distribution. The 148 page graphic novel appears on page 284 of the August Previews Catalog and carries the order number: AUG101028 SKY PIRATES VALENDOR GN.

Sky Pirates of Valendor recounts the debut adventure of Pirate Captain Tobin Manheim and the rest of the crew of the Rogue’s Revenge. Set in the fantasy world of Valendor where giant continents float on oceans of sky! A mix of steampunk and high fantasy where magic co-exists with futuristic technology, Valendor is a fully realized world, with complex social structures, a guild-driven economic system, and a host of political intrigue.

Sky Pirates is the brainchild of Everett Soares, the award winning author of several stories appearing in Comicbook Artists Guild’s publications. He has won the Best Writer Award in CAG for the last two years. Sky Pirates debuted in and placed as the runner up in the 2007 Edition of Small Press Idol, a talent competition for independent comics projects run by Ian Shires. Shortly after the competition, Sky Pirates secured a publishing deal with Free Lunch Comics.

Penciller Brian Brinlee illustrated the epic story. Soares and Brinlee have collaborated for years on Sky Pirates of Valendor and other projects. The inking team consists of Michael W. Kellar, Alex Rivera and Keith Murphey. New York City based illustrator James Rodriguez provided the cover art for the graphic novel.

Free Lunch Comics has been publishing since 1998 and features several titles in addition to Sky Pirates, including: Bigger, Only in Whispers, Pork ‘N Beans, Beyond the Kuiper Belt, The Original Nutty Funsters, Cookie Bear and the Good Girl Art of Norman Katz.

To celebrate the inclusion of Sky Pirates of Valendor in the Previews Catalog, the various creators of the book will be appearing at comic stores throughout New York and New England. A partial list follows:

July 28, 2010 Friendly Neighborhood Comics, Bellingham, MA featuring Creator Everett Soares
July 31, 2010 Harrison’s Comics, Salem MA featuring Creator Everett Soares

DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Marc Guggenheim joins up with the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

There are those evil words again “new direction”, didn’t they just do
that this month with JSA?  After what happened with Action Comics, I am surprised
to see Guggenheim working for DC again.

DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Marc Guggenheim joins up with the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

By Alex Segura

This October, the Justice Society of America is getting a new chairman. And, by “chairman,” we mean a new writer: Marc Guggenheim. Guggenheim, who has a long list of film and comic book credits, will bring his fast-paced storytelling and refined eye to one of the DCU’s most legendary teams.

We’ll have more info on the new artist joining Guggenheim for his run, but we can announce superstar Shane Davis will be providing the lovely covers, like the powerful image above. What more can we say about the new direction? Well, take it away, Marc:

“For me, one of the advantages of working for “the Big Two” is getting to play with the biggest toys in the sandbox. The Justice Society so fits that category, my inner fanboy is squealing with delight. I was a huge fan of the JSA back when they were ensconced on Earth-2 and I was introduced to their exploits in the pages of Adventure Comics and the annual JLA/JSA crossovers. I’m equally thrilled to be working with Scott Kollins. Scott and I were supposed to collaborate on another project years ago, but fate intervened and I’m glad to finally be getting the opportunity to work with him. Our goal is to craft as JSA run for the ages and I think we’ve come up with something that’s revolutionary while still feeling uniquely “Justice Society.” Pay close attention to that second word. Big clue there.”

Harvey Pekar, Who Chronicled Ordinary Lives in ‘American Splendor’ Comics, Dies – ArtsBeat Blog – NYTimes.com

Very sad news

Harvey Pekar, Who Chronicled Ordinary Lives in ‘American Splendor’ Comics, Dies – ArtsBeat Blog – NYTimes.com

July 12, 2010, 11:51 am
Harvey Pekar, Who Chronicled Ordinary Lives in ‘American Splendor’ Comics, Dies
By DAVE ITZKOFF

Harvey Pekar, the irascible writer who spun the mundane details of his own life and the quotidian existences of his fellow Cleveland residents into comic-book narratives, and who showed that the comic-book panel could include everyday feelings of anxiety and disappointment as easily as it does the adventures of costumed heroes, has died, The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reported. He was 70.

A spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office told The Plain Dealer that Mr. Pekar was found dead by his wife, Joyce Brabner, at around 1 a.m. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Mr. Pekar was given a diagnosis of lymphatic cancer in 1990, an experience he documented in the graphic novel “Our Cancer Year.”

Mr. Pekar was best known for his on-again, off-again comics series “American Splendor,” whose title deliberately contrasted with the everyday people it documented (often the author himself). A wide range of illustrators contributed to its pages, most famously R. Crumb, who first met Mr. Pekar in Cleveland in the 1960s and encouraged him to turn the stories he gathered on his travels through the city into comics.

Mr. Pekar enjoyed a brief and uneasy fame in the 1980s as an occasional guest of “Late Night With David Letterman.” A film version of “American Splendor” was released in 2003, starring Paul Giamatti as Mr. Pekar.

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