The Mind The Gap Prologue is now FREE for you to read digitally (we’ve provided it below). Give it a read and it will give you a taste of what Jim McCann has been up to, with art by Rodin Esquejo and colors by Sonia Oback.  The first issue ships in May and after seeing this prologue, personally, I can’t wait to read more!

The current system of presenting and ordering comics three months ahead of their release as set forth by the sole comics distributor, Diamond Comics, doesn’t make it any easier either. We’re not a fan of that system, we think it’s slowly strangling comics to death, but we realize it’s a harsh reality of how the industry works and we definitely don’t want you to miss out on any of the cool comics being published.

And so, as opposed to regurgitating the list of comics solicited in Previews each month, we present to you some of the highlights of things you probably won’t want to miss out on.

SPOILER WARNING – In order to get people to order comics, the publishers have a funny habit of revealing what’s happening in the books. If you don’t want anything at all to be spoiled, then you’ll probably want to skip this post and take your chances with your pre-orders and/or your shopping.

He’s not just doing Daredevil

Lots of people are going to be talking about Samnee doing Daredevil, but look at what one of our favorite artists is doing over here at Dark Horse! Plus he’s teaming with his Area 10 partner Christos Gage.

ANGEL & FAITH #10

Story by Christos Gage
Art by Chris Samnee
Covers by Jordie Bellaire, Steve Morris, and Rebekah Isaacs

On sale May 30 / FC, 32 pages / $2.99 / Ongoing

Angel and Faith are forced into battle, less by choice and more by circumstance, when two mysterious women from Giles’s past call on the unlikely duo for help. But that’s only the beginning of Angel and Faith’s troubles as the ladies settle in for the night!

Series writer Christos Gage (Avengers Academy) and guest artist Chris Samnee (Thor), the creative team of Vertigo’s Area 10, reveal more about Giles’s past and further Angel’s quest in bringing the Watcher back from the dead!

Bad Artists Don’t Do B.P.R.D.

Max Fiumara is showing up everywhere with his gorgeous artwork, and now, he’s going to the Bureau. Plus, Hellboy’s in this one!

B.P.R.D.: HELL ON EARTH – THE TRANSFORMATION OF J. H. O’DONNELL

Story by Mike Mignola, and Scott Allie
Art by Max Fiumara, and Dave Stewart
Covers by Mike Mignola, Max Fiumara, and Dave Stewart

On sale May 30 / FC, 32 pages / $3.50 / One-shot

Twenty-four years ago, Hellboy took mild-mannered Professor O’Donnell to the secret library of a recently dead necromancer. Since that day, O’Donnell has been the Bureau’s expert on the powerful ancient forces intent on ending the age of man. Find out what O’Donnell saw in this supernatural thrill ride.

The Most Beautiful Book to be Printed in 2012

If you’ve been waiting since volume one, the second one is here, and there is nothing out there even close to Blacksad. This is art at a level we don’t see very often. This one is sold sight unseen.

BLACKSAD: A SILENT HELL HC

Story by Juan Díaz Canales
Art & Cover by Juanjo Guarnido

On sale July 11 / FC, 96 pages / $19.99 / HC, 8 3/8″ x 10 7/8″

Detective John Blacksad returns, with a new case that takes him to a 1950s New Orleans filled with hot jazz and cold-blooded murder! Hired to discover the fate of a celebrated pianist, Blacksad finds his most dangerous mystery yet in the midst of drugs, voodoo, the rollicking atmosphere of Mardi Gras, and the dark underbelly that it hides!

Before the Comics Code Got to Them

I know more about the story of the creator/editor Charles Biro than I do about the comics, but here’s your chance to see what comics used to be like. Plus, Greg Rucka does the introduction!

CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES VOLUME 2 HC

By Various

On sale July 11 / FC, 264 pages / $49.99 / HC, 6 5/8” x 10 3/16”

The celebrated pre-Code Crime Does Not Pay comics are finally collected into a series of unflinching and uncensored deluxe hardcovers! The infamous Crime Does Not Pay stories, focusing on criminal scum, nefarious mobsters, and urban legends, made Crime Does Not Pay one of the most popular comics of the 1940s. This series was a favorite target of censors and is partially responsible for the creation of the stifling Comics Code Authority! Revered, influential, and very hard to find, Crime Does Not Pay issues #26 to #29 are collected for your enjoyment and education!

Chew on This

DHP continues to be a unique place where a massive crop of talent works their best magic in smaller chunks than you’re used to. This time out, John Layman team with Sam Keith! Among others!

DARK HORSE PRESENTS #12

By John Layman, John Arcudi, Carla Speed McNeil, Steve Niles, Evan Dorkin, Tim Seeley, Francesco Francavilla, Dean Motter, Jim Valentino, Mike Baron, Harlan Ellison, Sam Kieth, Christopher Mitten, Victor Drujiniu, Steve Rude, and Jonathan Case

On sale May 23 / FC, 80 pages / $7.99 / Ongoing

Unstoppable juggernaut of comics greatness? Unbeatable, unbelievable value?

You be the judge as another incredible issue of Dark Horse Presents hits shelves!

This issue is packing a brand-new Aliens story by Chew’s John Layman and legendary artist Sam Kieth, the return of Jim Valentino’s Normalman and Dean Motter’s Mister X, and last but not least, the reemergence of Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s intergalactic fighting force, Nexus!

McKelvie!

I know that this is some property that a lot of people near the comic book subculture seem to know about, and more power to them. But I definitely know that Jamie McKelvie fans won’t want to miss this issue featuring his art.

THE GUILD: FAWKES

Story by Felicia Day, and Wil Wheaton
Art by Jamie McKelvie
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Cover by Paul Duffield, and Emma Ríos

On sale May 23 / FC, 32 pages / $3.50 / One-shot

Felicia Day and The Guild are back, along with costar Wil Wheaton, for a brand-new story spotlighting Fawkes, the dashing, debonair, and douchey leader of the evil guild Axis of Anarchy! His relationship with Codex threatened to tear the Knights of Good apart until he was thrown off a balcony for his treatment of her. Set after season 4 of the show, this issue reveals how Fawkes deals with his split from Codex and navigates the aggressive personalities of the Axis, and follows his journey to his surprising state when he returns in

The Best Presentation in Reprinted Comics Anywhere

Set beside its four previous volumes, this shelf would be among the most beautiful in the world. It features 5 more stories in the saga of Hellboy, as the Library Editions get closer to being caught up with the present issues.

HELLBOY LIBRARY EDITION VOLUME 5 HC

Story by Mike Mignola
Art by Duncan Fegredo
Cover by Mike Mignola, and Dave Stewart

On sale July 11 / FC, 408 pages / $49.99 / HC, 9″ x 12″

Hellboy has racked up multiple Eisner Awards, numerous spinoffs, a novel line, video games, cartoons, and two feature films. Hellboy Library Volume 5 collects two complete trade paperbacks, Darkness Calls and The Wild Hunt; the short story The Mole; and an extensive selection of previously unreleased sketches and designs.

Where is Our Royalty Agreement?

You saw him here first, mounted by a barbarian, and Mike Norton took his creation well beyond our t-shirt, and dare we say? Into your hearts.

MIKE NORTON’S BATTLEPUG VOLUME 1 HC

Story and Art by Mike Norton
Colors by Allen Passalaqua

On sale July 5 / FC, 72 pages / $14.99 / HC, 8 1/2″ x 12″

The epic tale of blood and drool begins here! Join Molly and her dogs Mingo and Colfax, as she recounts the legend of “The Warrior and the Battlepug”—a tale of a fearless barbarian, his trusty and freakishly large pug, and evil baby harp seals.

This volume collects the first year of Mike Norton’s Battlepug—the perfect opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the fan-favorite webcomic by Mike Norton, Allen Passalaqua, and Crank!

A New Ongoing from Matt Kindt?

From the guy who brought you Super Spy and 3 Story, this an all new, and completely unique ongoing series. That’s easily worth a try.

MIND MGMT #1

By Matt Kindt
Variant cover by Gilbert Hernandez

On sale May 23 / FC, 24 pages / $3.99 / Ongoing

Matt Kindt, the most original voice in genre comics, outdoes himself in this bold new espionage series!

Reporting on a commercial flight where everyone aboard lost their memories, a young journalist stumbles onto a much bigger story, the top-secret Mind Management program. Her ensuing journey involves weaponized psychics, hypnotic advertising, talking dolphins, and seemingly immortal pursuers, as she attempts to find the flight’s missing passenger, the man who was Mind MGMT’s greatest success—and its most devastating failure. But in a world where people can rewrite reality itself, can she trust anything she sees?

Back after a Decade Away!

All ages books are important, and they can be very good for everyone. Andi Watson has created some of my favorite comics, and now he’s back with more Skeleton Key!

SKELETON KEY COLOR SPECIAL

By Andi Watson

On sale May 2 / FC, 32 pages / $3.50 / One-shot

One of the greatest all-ages comics of all time, Andi Watson’s Skeleton Key is back—and in color!

Using the magical Skeleton Key, schoolgirl Tamsin and fox spirit Kitsune can turn any door into a portal to an endless multiverse. Lost somewhere in space and time and trying to get home, the two friends encounter a band using the undead in a music video, check into a haunted hotel, and become catalogued in the vast Museum of the Lost! Collecting all three new stories from Dark Horse Presents, this is the perfect introduction.

No He Isn’t.

Seriously, you can read this, and that’s cool, but no he isn’t.

 STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES—BOBA FETT IS DEAD #2 (of 4)

Story by Tom Taylor
Art & Cover by Chris Scalf

On sale May 30 / FC, 32 pages / $3.50 / Miniseries

Boba Fett is dead, and whoever hired the hit squad had better run—as fast and as far as possible!

A mysterious avenger is on the trail of Boba Fett’s killers. Connor Freeman—a clone relation to Fett—has been drawn into the whodunit. Freeman, who feels like he could use some protection himself, has been recruited against his will to find and protect a particular bounty hunter on a distant world—in Mandalorian space!

You want more? Check out Dark Horse’s full list of May solicitations.

Scientific specialty is a big deal. Every scientist out there is looking to make a name for themselves by fitting into a specific club but also having their own specific role within that group. For example, when people ask me what I do I usually say I’m a “scientist.” If they ask what I study I say “paleontology.” Usually the conversation ends there, but for the truly curious I could tell them that I’m a Cenozoic mammalian paleoecologist focusing on microwear texture analysis and stable isotope geochemistry. And what that really means for the purposes of this column is that I’m not fit to find a new planet for my infant son. So how can Jor-El?

Publish or perish... LITERALLY!

Oddly enough, Jor-El’s field is never specified in the comics. I’ve looked myself, and asked around, but he seems to just be a scientist. Although I suspect Jor-El is a planetary geologist. These are the folks that think about how geologic processes might work on other planets. This would give Jor-El knowledge of other nearby planets, but also some info on stellar evolution and the inner workings of Krypton itself, thus making it more feasible for him to predict Krypton’s imminent demise. What this likely wouldn’t have given him is knowledge on how to build a rocket. Launching satellites, probes, orbiters, landers, and rovers is an important component of planetary geological study, but the building of the rockets is left to rocket scientists.

It’s possible that Jor-El is multidisciplinary, which might explain why the science council doesn’t like him (all 3 scientists reading this just laughed, by the way) but academic scientist coupled with hardcore engineering is typically an unlikely pairing. He could also have help, but that almost seems to undermine the narrative (even if it has been explored in the comics). There’s just too much that needs to be known to be an expert in both fields, it’s beyond the scope a human lifespan to learn all there is. But Jor-El isn’t human, is he?

During the Renaissance there were men who arguably knew everything there was to know about science. They could also paint, and sculpt, and probably cook a mean omelet. This was possible because there was so little known and they had enough money, either from family or backers like the Medici, that they didn’t have to do anything but sit around and learn. As science progressed we learned enough that it became impossible for one person to hold everything in their head, which in some ways lead to the explosion of specialization seen amongst scientists today. Computers and the Internet help too.

"Hello, I'm here to do some science. I brought my lunch and these scrolls."

True ‘Renaissance men’ (or women) could be possible in the future thanks to those computers. If people like Ray Kurzweil are correct, computers will continue to advance to the point where they integrate with our biology making us all immortal cyborgs forever plugged into the Internet. This event of technological union is known as the Singularity. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized a post-Singularity society would have the ability for one person to attain all knowledge. Krypton is almost certainly at this point of technological achievement, so maybe Jor-El really is a planetary geologist AND a rocket scientists. Or maybe the original writers were correct and he really is simply a “scientist.”

Now that we know Jor-El is a crazy fantastic super scientist, we can tackle the question of just how he went about finding Earth. There are a few methods that we use today to find planets, mostly by indirectly inferring their presence by observing the behavior of their stars  (however, direct imaging is becoming more and more common). We may be orbiting within the gravity well of our star, but Newton’s third law tells us that as our sun pulls on planet Earth, planet Earth pulls back on the sun. The difference in mass means the Earth continues to orbit and the sun barely moves, but sun with sufficiently big planets will wobble noticeably enough for our telescopes to spot, thus telling us a planet is nearby. This probably wouldn’t work for our sun because our biggest planet, Jupiter, is far enough away to not make the sun wobble too much, and our closest planet, Mercury, is too small to have much gravitation influence. However, this method might work quite nicely for Krypton, which is a much bigger planet than Earth, except it’s orbiting an even more massive Red Giant star. Ironic that it might have been easier for us to find Krypton than the other way around.

We can also look at the star’s luminosity, i.e. how bright it is. If a big enough planet passes between us the star, the star dims a little bit. This might work for Jor-El, but it’s tough to say. None of the images of the rocket ever show it passing by Kryptonian satellites, and I seem to remember something about them not really having a space program. As far as I know we don’t have a lot of information on their atmospheric composition, so it’s possibly ground based telemetry works better for them than us, but that’s just speculation. I’ll bet Krypton just using some kind of really advanced gravitational lensing or one of the crystals lying around is good enough to directly image Earth, or at the very least Jupiter. But there’s one last thing I don’t quite get, and that’s how did Jor-El know about us here on planet Earth?

"Now remember, Lara, this is not to scale, but it's the blue one."

Some comics have Jor-El actually looking and seeing Cowboys riding around or something like that. Obviously that doesn’t work, but we have come up with a few ways to figure out if there are critters crawling around on new worlds. Fortunately, we are a loud species. We constantly blast radio and television signals out into space. There is some planet right at the edge of our communications bubble that is about to be blasted with I Love Lucy. We hope other galactic civilizations are just as loud, which is why we’re listening for them with projects like SETI. However, Jor-El found Earth by at least 1938, which was right after we’d really started broadcasting from space (Hilter’s speech at the Berlin Olympics was broadcast in 1936). These signals can only travel at the speed of light, yet I doubt Krypton is only 2 light years away (our closest star is about 4 light years away). And Jor-El would have had to discover us long before 1938 if that’s when the rocket finally landed. It’s a mystery for the ages to be sure, my theories run the gamut from Dyson spheres to Einstein-Rosen bridges, but instead of expounding I’ll stop here having sort of tackled the first two questions concerning Kal-El’s infant travels.

Krypton is assuredly in the “any sufficiently advanced science = magic” category of civilizations, so I know my analysis applying human scientific principles doesn’t really mean anything. But it’s also a fake planet and I had fun speculating. I hope you had fun too, and as I’ve learned you’re a clever bunch yourselves so give me your insight, analysis, and nitpicks in the comments!

______________________________________________________________________________

Ryan Haupt really needed to let all that out, he still has questions, but a good scientist always should. Here him try to be a good scientist on the podcast Science… sort of.

Originally created as a savage female stand-in for her cousin the Hulk, She-Hulk grew by leaps and bounds into a fully formed superwoman in control of her green-skinned alter-ego but having a harder time dealing with life as a super-hero. She’s been a member of the Fantastic Four, The Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. and even a superhero law firm, but she’s never been able to find herself — or the sales to keep a solo book going strong. That needs to change.

The Concept:

She-Hulk has constantly been living in the shadow of her older cousin the Hulk, so why not take advantage of that in light of the events of Incredible Hulk series which sees Bruce Banner gone mad? Step aside Doc Samson and let Jennifer Walters talk to her cousin  and see how far he’s gone and the consequences of his current state. Re-introduce She-Hulk in Jason Aaron’s run and then spin her off into her own series (with the creative team below) as she uses her background as a lawyer to try to reason with the world’s biggest threats or, you know, punches them. She could go in the darker corners of the Marvel U to ferret out these hard-t0-handle situations, like a one-woman street-level Planetary squad. And she could do it with a chip on her shoulder against other heroes for turning their back on her cousin and in a way turning their back on her.

The Creators:

Writers – Brian Michael Bendis & Kelly Sue DeConnick: He is Marvel’s (and arguably the comic industry’s) biggest writer. She’s a relatively new voice in comics with experience in manga and the excellent Osborn: Evil Incarcerated on her CV. Together they wrote the “adaptation” of a fictional novel by TV show Castle’s lead character Richard Castle, titled Richard Castle’s Deadly Storm: A Derrick Storm Mystery. This potential combination could be a perfect solution to get the nuanced life of Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk.

Artist – Ryan Stegman: Currently drawing Scarlet Spider, Stegman is one of Marvel’s next big things (to borrow a title from their conference call announcement series), and has experience with She-Hulk. Stegman has a real grasp of super-hero action, along with a tinge of classic cartooning ability that She-Hulk needs. Together with Bendis and DeConnick, they could make something extra special.

This week, we’re looking at Jonah Hex, the ugliest bounty hunter in DC’s stable of western characters.

All-Star Western (Vol. 2) #10 (1972) Cover

Jonah Hex sprang from comic book pages visually fully formed in 1972. Originally created by John Albano and Tony Dezuniga, Jonah dressed in an old Civil War-era Confederate uniform that stood out like an anachronism during the height of his adventures in the 1860s and 70s. Half of his face was scarred, causing one of his eyes to be useless and placed a permanent sneer on his lips. Perhaps most striking of all, a flap of skin extended across one side of his mouth.

Our own Paul Montgomery has coined this deformity a “skin isthmus.”

From Weird Western Tales (Vol. 1) #18 (1973)

Living only by his own code, Jonah could shoot a man without question if he felt it was necessary. Years of hard living had proven Jonah to be the best shot in the West, and he found himself in situations where he had to use this ability constantly. If you crossed Jonah, either by going against your word or by getting in his way, his vengeance could be harsh.

From Weird Western Tales (Vol. 1) #14 (1972)

Jonah’s past came to light sporadically over the years. Other stewards of Jonah, including Michael Fleisher, who wrote Jonah’s tales from 1975 through 1987 or so, and the writing duo of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, delved into the character’s past. They flushed out the reasons behind Jonah’s personality and just where his face came from.

The Hex home was a troubled one. Early in Jonah’s youth, his mother ran away from the family to go be with a salesman. Jonah’s father, already a hard drinker, fell even further into the bottle and took his frustrations out physically on his son. In an attempt to make his fortune, the elder Hex packed up the family’s belongs and headed west to pan for gold. Along the way, Jonah and his father rode through Apache territory. As collateral for future gold, Jonah was forced to live with the Apaches until his father returned to collect him. This turned into a long wait as Jonah’s father never came back.

From Jonah Hex (Vol. 2) #14 (2007)

From that moment forward, Jonah was a slave to the Apache. This changed when, at age 15, Jonah saved the life of the chief from a puma attack. In reward, he became a full fledged member of the tribe. Not everyone agreed with this and when Non-Tante, the chief’s son, saw that Jonah had eyes on the same girl he did, Jonah was wounded by friendly fire and left behind during a raid against another tribe. Having barely survived, Jonah struck out on his own, eventually joining the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy.

Years later, Jonah returned to the Apache to challenge Non-Tante in a fight to the death. If Jonah won a tomahawk duel, it would restore his honor with the tribe. If Non-Tante won, Jonah would never bother the tribe again. The two fought and even though Non-Tante cheated, Jonah cheated second and less subtly. Jonah claimed victory in the duel by stabbing his opponent with a knife. The chief, enraged at Jonah, tied him down and scarred his face with his son’s heated tomahawk.

From Jonah Hex (Vol. 2) #15 (2007)

From then on, Jonah was a man without a people. His parents abandoned him. The Confederacy lost the war. The Apache scarred him. Jonah was completely alone. He threw himself into the life of a bounty hunter, tracking down those whom society deemed to be even less value than he did.

In 1875, Jonah’s life changed. And that change was insane.

I’m about to describe, in no small measure of detail, the 18 issues of Hex, which launched in 1985. Brace yourself because this is going to get weird.

Hex In-House Ad (1985)

In 1985, word came down the the DC offices that they wanted to publish a story featuring a post-apocalyptic Mad Max-esque setting. Michael Fleisher, then the current writer and editor on Jonah Hex (Vol. 1), saw that sales of Jonah’s current title were weakening. Instead of simply publishing Jonah Hex for another year or so and then have it be canceled, Fleisher pitched that Jonah be the character who lived in that future setting. His proposal was agreed to and Hex began publication soon after.

In the far future of 2050, the world has been ravaged by nuclear war. The government of the United States collapsed and a corrupt system of gangsters took hold of the population. For reasons never fully explained, a lone scientist with a working time machine took to staging fights between different historical armies to see who would win in a fight. For instance, he once made a battalion of World War I era French soldiers go up against World War II Germans.

From Hex #3 (1985)

Between bouts of this nature, this scientist was also trying to undermine the cartels running the world, which was a very strange plot point and one that never panned out. Interesting ideas that got thrown together willy-nilly without any payoff would be a reoccurring theme for this series.

Into this world came Jonah Hex. The scientist decided he wanted an old fashioned Western showdown and Jonah was selected to be a participant. He was plucked from between seconds in 1875 and transported into the future. Rather than simply live in a status tube between bouts, Jonah escaped his cage and ventured out into this new world.

From Hex #1 (1985)

After escaping, Jonah hooked up with a gang of motorcyclists who answered to no one. These turned out to be some not-so-nice guys so Jonah killed their leader, stole his clothes and his bike, and took off on his own. He also took a shine to a woman named Stiletta who only occasionally tried to kill him.

From Hex #6 (1986)

It’s worth noting that Jonah was able to pick up the art of motorcycle riding in his first 15 seconds of sitting on one. I suppose horse riding isn’t too far away from that activity. At least Fleisher acknowledged that Jonah’s flying abilities were subpar after Jonah immediately crashed the first aircraft he attempted to pilot.

From Hex #4 (1985)

It was the world that Jonah found himself in that Fleisher seemed most interested in. As Hex continued, Jonah’s role in several issues was secondary to the supporting cast around him. For instance, a Jewish Batman based in New York City became a central character for two issues and a group called the Dogs of War gained prominence in a later extended storyline. But perhaps my favorite image of this world, and one that wouldn’t be brought up again, was when Jonah came across a motorcycle gang roasting a giant grasshopper.

From Hex #1 (1985)

I guess nuclear war resulted in giant insects? Well, if it did, they became very rare because none were seen again.

Sales of this series started strong but the writing was on the wall after the first year that the series would be canceled due to sales. Keith Giffen came on to do the art chores on the series’ final four issues. His art style, with its emphasis on close-ups and its lack of panel gutters, was a tough style for many readers to acclimate to. It didn’t matter anyway, as the series was on its way out.

From Hex #15 (1986)

The series ended with Jonah still in 2050. There was no explanation about how he returned home.

After Hex was canceled, Jonah was out of comics for a while. He’d occasionally show up whenever a superhero found himself time traveling back to the 19th century, but that was about it. Finally, in 1993, Vertigo began publishing a few miniseries featuring Jonah. In these, he fought a variety of supernatural beings including Lovecraftian creatures, spirits, and zombies. One such zombie was Wild Bill Hickok, an actual wild west outlaw.

From Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo #5 (1993)

Jonah would again get his own ongoing series when Palmiotti and Gray began writing Jonah Hex (Vol. 2) in 2006. There, the occasional tale from the end of Jonah’s life would be told.

After Jonah’s father dropped him off to live with the Apache, Jonah only saw him again once. This meeting came about decades later when Jonah’s father had been ambushed by outlaws after his gold. While his father slowly died from a gut shot, Jonah sat and watched.

From Jonah Hex (Vol. 2) #69 (2011)

As nonexistent as Jonah’s relationship with his father was, his relationship with his son wasn’t any better. During Jonah’s elder years, Jason Hex tracked his absentee father down so the pair could talk. Jonah, not being much of a talker, proceeded to get into a bar fight with his own son. When all was said and done, Jason walked away not knowing any more about his father than when they’d started talking.

From Jonah Hex (Vol. 2) #25 (2008)

Jonah died in 1904 while playing poker in a saloon. His body was stuffed and became a prop in various wild west shows. Eventually, it ended up in California where it languished as an unsuspecting movie prop. After it was broken open by accident one day, Jonah’s earthly remains were finally discovered.

From Secret Origins (Vol. 3) #21 (1987)

Jonah Hex returned to the modern DCU one final time during Blackest Night. There, he became a Black Lantern and killed the descendant of an old enemy.

From Weird Western Tales (Vol. 1) #71 (2010)

So where is Jonah in the New 52? He’s still there in the pages of All-Star Western (Vol. 3) and still a character in the 19th century. He’s now living in Gotham City working alongside Amadeus Arkham to clear the city of wrongdoing. It’s a new location for Jonah but it’s one he seems to be adapting to fairly well.

From All-Star Western (Vol. 3) #5 (2012)

How much of Jonah’s past is still considered canon and how much has been rewritten in the New 52 is up for debate. Chances are, everything that came before is still “true.” Well, except maybe that 2050 stuff.

If you have any interest in Jonah Hex, track down as much of Jonah Hex (Vol. 2) as you can. Some of it is available digitally and more is available in trade. It’s worth your time.

Jeff Reid wishes that he had some giant roasted grasshopper to eat right now. He’s hungry. Get more updates on Jeff’s diet by following him on Twitter.

Today’s evaluation is from quite some time ago.

Name: John Jones

Position: Police Detective

Employer: Middletown Police Force

Reviewed by: Lieutenant Saunders

ADMINISTRATION – Excellent
This guy was one of the best detectives I ever had. He was really weird but still really good. I’ll never forget when he first walked in here. He says to me ”Hello. I would like job as a detective.”
“Great. What’s your name?”
“J’onn.”
“John?”
“No. J’onn.”
“John.”
“Fine, John.”
“Okay, what’s your last name?”
“J’onzz.”
“Jones?”
“Fine. Yeah. Sure.”

COMMUNICATION – Above Average
He had all sorts of talents involving this one. I had a whole conversation with him one day and then realized that he had done so without moving his mouth.  I think he used to be a ventriloquist at one point. We here at the Middletown Police Department love ventriloquists!

TEAMWORK – Average
Always there with a helping hand. Always ready and willing to jump into any case. Although once there was a big fire at the Mervyn’s Department Store and John refused to help. He just paced back and forth several yards away ringing his hands through his hair and screaming. Hey, who am I to judge? I do the same whenever I watch the Celtics play.

DEPENDABILITY – Excellent
Did I mention that there wasn’t one case that went unsolved? I would get a report about a robbery and he would just look at me, give me an address and a name and he’d be right! Then I would make him tell me where my wife was at the moment.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE – Average
He always dressed the same but sometimes he just looked off. Like he wasn’t wearing his own body correctly if that makes any sense. One afternoon he came in and his head looked a little bigger, I says to him “John, you feeling okay? Your head is bigger than usual and pointy too.” He looked surprised, reached up and molded his head back into a normal shape.
I would like to add here that I haven’t touched the bottle since that day. Twenty-four years sober and counting.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I often worried about his health. I never saw him eat anything but Oreos. That sounds cute but he didn’t just eat one or two, he would shove a whole handful in his mouth. That was his lunch!

EMPLOYEE RESPONSE
Hey what are you doing this evening? Don’t say it. You are going to the movies. I knew it. Wait. What are you doing with that match? Get it away. GET IT AWAY!

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Timmy Wood would love to read more adventures of J’onn J’onnz the detective. He is also on Twitter where he makes jokes mostly involving puns. 

Conley got his start doing superheroes in a short for BOOM!’s Planetary Brigade miniseries in 2006,  then took a two year break from comics before coming back and being snapped up for Dynamite’s line of comics adapted from prose novels. His first series was the Dragonmount miniseries in the Robert Jordan’s The Wheel Of Time franchise, and he followed that up with another volume titled The Eye of the World. As I said earlier, he just finished work in a new franchise, comics based on Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files novels. He’s sent in submissions for Marvel and other publishers over the years, but for one reason or another never made it to that level. He hasn’t come out with anything since the end of 2011, but over on his DA page he announced he was working at the animation studio Titmouse as the Supervising Character Designer for Black Dynamite: The Animated Series. That might put comics on the backburner for him temporarily, but not dead: the artist has been slowly working on a graphic novel of his own called The Kinetic Kartel.

Here’s a sample of his work. It leans heavily on his sketches and pin-ups rather than his published comics work. Although the latter is good, I think once he’s able to do a project that melds that storytelling with the more dynamic and nuanced work seen in his sketches, he’ll really hit it out of the park.

The current system of presenting and ordering comics three months ahead of their release as set forth by the sole comics distributor, Diamond Comics, doesn’t make it any easier either. We’re not a fan of that system, we think it’s slowly strangling comics to death, but we realize it’s a harsh reality of how the industry works and we definitely don’t want you to miss out on any of the cool comics being published.

And so, as opposed to regurgitating the list of comics solicited in Previews each month, we present to you some of the highlights of things you probably won’t want to miss out on.

SPOILER WARNING - in order to get people to order comics, the publishers have a funny habit of revealing what’s happening in the books. If you don’t want anything at all to be spoiled, then you’ll probably want to skip this post and take your chances with your pre-orders and/or your shopping.

Before we dive into the picks for Marvel Comics May releases, it probably is important to mention that last week, Marvel revealed a ton of information about many of May’s releases.  Here’s a recap of what was announced last week:

• New Mutants & Journey Into Mystery cross over in EXILED
• Cullen Bunn joins Rick Remender as co-writer on Venom
• Jason Aaron & Steve Dillon keep the Hulk Angry!
• Sam Humphries joins Jonathan Hickman as co-writer of Ultimate Comics The Ultimates
• Uncanny X-Force goes to the Final Execution with Mike McKone on art

CHRIS SAMNEE ON DAREDEVIL!

Cover by Paolo Rivera

The comics internet blew up this past weekend as news leaked that Chris Samnee would be joining Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera as an artist on the rotating creative team of one of the most beloved titles at Marvel right now with Daredevil #12.

DAREDEVIL #12

Story by MARK WAID
Art by CHRIS SAMNEE
Cover by PAOLO RIVERA

• It’s lawyers in love as Matt Murdock finally makes some time for assistant district attorney Kirsten McDuffie.
• The best reviewed comic of the year continues as Waid and Rivera welcome aboard new artist Chris Samnee (Ultimate Spider-Man).

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

THERE’S MOVIE COMING, RIGHT?

Cover by Mark Bagley

As Marvel preps for what may be the biggest movie release since Iron Man with Marvel’s the Avengers, this is book designed to grab people who are curious about the Avengers. It teases the re-appearance of a team of characters we’ve been clamoring for.  Could my crazy guess of Guardians of the Galaxy be this team?

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #3

Story by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art by MARK BAGLEY

• Avengers versus the Zodiac! But who is behind the Zodiac?
• PLUS! The reappearance of a team of characters you’ve been clamoring for!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SMASH IT UP

One of the fifth week events occurring in May is Hulk Smash, featuring tales of the Hulk throughout Marvel’s history. It doesn’t look like you’ll need to get them all (unless you’re a huge Hulk fan, like my buddy Gary), but you might want to be sure to check these two issues out.

Cover by Lee Weeks

Joe Casey and Max Fiumara of Four Eyes fame? Sign me up. 70′s era Avengers vs the Hulk? Sign me up again!

HULK SMASH AVENGERS #2 (OF 5)

Story by JOE CASEY
Art by MAX FIUMARA
Cover by LEE WEEKS

• Hulk vs. the ‘70s-era Avengers: Iron Man, Wasp, Vision and the Beast!

32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99

Cover by Lee Weeks

Jim McCann brings back one of my favorite Hulks, Mr. Fixit and pits him against the 1990s West Coast Avengers? Now you’re talking…

HULK SMASH AVENGERS #4 (OF 5)

Story by JIM MCCANN
Art by AGUSTIN PADILLA
Cover by LEE WEEKS

• Mr. Fixit Hulk vs. the ‘90s-era West Coast Avengers: Iron Man, Wonder Man, Mockingbird, Tigra and Hawkeye!

32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99

STILL NO SIGN OF JOE MAD

Cover by Stuart Immonen

While there’s still no sign of Joe Madureira on Avenging Spider-Man, but there’s no Greg Land either.  And we bid adieu to Zeb Wells also but in return we get a Spider-Man team up with She-Hulk by Kathryn Immonen with art by Stuart Immonen. This switcharoo, I approve of.

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #7

Story by Kathryn Immonen
Art & Cover by Stuart Immonen

• A night out with Spider-Man and She-Hulk!
• All the thwipping and quipping and none of the calories!
• Katherine and Stuart Immonen smash their way into the book so action packed it keeps flying off the shelves…

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THEY’RE DOING WHAT?!! AGAIN?

Covers by Dave Johnson

I did a double take when I saw that the rumored Garth Ennis, reunited with Punisher Max artist Goran Parlov, Fury Max series was finally solicited. If this is anything like the last go around, this may be one to watch as Ennis goes to post World War II to give us more Nick Fury adventures!

FURY MAX #1 & 2

Story by GARTH ENNIS
Art by GORAN PARLOV
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON

• Garth Ennis (Punisher MAX, Preacher) and Goran Parlov (Punisher MAX) reunite to bring you the life of Marvel’s hardest soldier like no one else could.
• In the wake of World War II, Fury is fast running out of battles to fight. But the world’s superpowers are gearing up for a new kind of war and they’ll need a man like Fury to win it.

32 PGS./Explicit Content …$3.99 (EACH)

ONE FOR THE KIDDIES

Cover by Michael Avon Oeming

We enjoyed the first volume of Takio a ton. But more importantly, the little ones in our lives enjoyed it as well. Unfortunately it looks like the digest/graphic novel format has been jettisoned for a expanded comic book sized book, but who cares. I’ll take all the Takio we can get. Uhm, err, I mean I’ll take all the Takio I can get for my nieces….

TAKIO #1

Story by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art & Cover by MICHAEL AVON OEMING

Bursting from the pages of last year’s best-selling graphic novel! From the Eisner Award-winning creators of POWERS comes this all-new, all-ages superhero adventure for a new generation! Taki and Olivia are sisters with superpowers! In fact, they are the only ones in the world with superpowers! So obviously, they have to become superheroes! But is the world ready for real-life superheroes? Are the girls ready for the challenge? And will the accident that made them who they are reveal secrets that will change their lives forever? The answers are no, no and yes. This is a brand-new all-ages adventure. A new book for comic-book fans of all ages. A book you can share with your kids or just enjoy for yourself. TAKIO is on the 2012 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens List!

40 PGS./All Ages …$3.95

© 2012 Jinxworld Inc.

NOW’S YOUR CHANCE

Cover by Frank Quitely

Missed out on the last printing of the Omnibus collecting the epic run of New X-Men by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely? Now’s your chance to pick up to run that redefined the mutants for the 21st century

NEW X-MEN OMNIBUS HC (NEW PRINTING)

Story by GRANT MORRISON
Art by FRANK QUITELY, ETHAN VAN SCIVER, LEINIL FRANCIS YU, IGOR KORDEY, JOHN PAUL LEON, PHIL JIMENEZ, KERON GRANT, CHRIS BACHALO & MARC SILVESTRI
Cover by FRANK QUITELY

Grant Morrison’s wildly innovative X-Men saga returns!

The X-Men, re-imagined with a new look and a new mission, must face weird new threats including evil twins, organ harvesters, sentient bacteria, rebellious mutant youth, power-enhancing street drugs and living weapons! Joined by wicked telepath Emma Frost and mysterious powerhouse Xorn, the X-Men go public — expanding Xavier’s school to train a new generation of mutants including the insect-like Angel, the bird-boy Beak, the living sandstorm Dust and eerie telepathic quintuplets the Stepford Cuckoos.

And as secondary mutations alter familiar mutants, the team is tested when Emma Frost sets her seductive sights on Cyclops, the all-consuming Phoenix threatens to rise again, and shocking traitors plot the destruction of everything the X-Men have accomplished!

Featuring the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, the X-Corporation, Fantomex and more!

Collecting NEW X-MEN (2001) #114-154 and ANNUAL 2001.

1120 PGS./Rated T+ …$125

ISBN: 978-0-7851-6505-7

Trim size: oversized

WHO DOESN’T LOVE HANK PYM?

Seems like Hank Pym is everywhere this month.  From last week’s hot debate over the character, and now this. For those curious about the rise and fall of Hank Pym, this looks like the collection for you

AVENGERS: THE MANY FACES OF HENRY PYM TPB

Story by STAN LEE, LARRY LIEBER, ROY THOMAS, STEVE ENGLEHART, KURT BUSIEK & DAN SLOTT
Art by JACK KIRBY, DON HECK, JOHN BUSCEMA, AL MILGROM, IVAN REIS & KHOI PHAM
Cover by JOHN BUSCEMA

Dr. Henry Pym, the Avengers’ resident scientist, has had many heroic guises — and this Giant-Man-sized collection spotlights them all!

From his pre-Avenging days to his various turns as Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket and even the Wasp, Dr. Pym has been a nearly constant presence on the Avengers’ roster since the team’s inception. Relive the excitement, the horror and the heartache!

Collecting TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #27, #35 and #49; AVENGERS (1963) #28 and #59-60; WEST COAST AVENGERS (1985) #21; AVENGERS ANNUAL 2001; and SECRET INVASION: REQUIEM.

184 PGS./Rated T+ …$19.99

ISBN: 978-0-7851-6206-3

SWITCHAROO

And finally, from time to time, it’s clear that fill in artists are sometimes needed, Lately, it seems as if Marvel’s been handling this challenge with rotating creative teams. Personally, I think nothing stunts the momentum of a series more than changing the artist and it especially stings when it’s an artist who seems to be doing really great work and is in sync with the writer. After reviewing the May solicitations from Marvel, I was shocked with the number of artist changes that were occurring across numerous titles. To put it in perspective, here’s a rundown of several single issues coming out in May. Series that previously featured a “hot” artist who received critical and fan priase, and the artist replacing them:

Secret Avengers #27 – you loved Gabe Hardman on this book that JUST relaunched with a new creative team, so HERE’S RENATO GUEDES!

Ultimate Spider-Man #10 – you loved Sara Pichelli and her new take on Ultimate Spider-Man, so HERE’S DAVID MARQUEZ!

Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #10 and #11 – Esad Ribic blew your minds with the opening chapters of Hickman’s run, so HERE’S LUKE ROSS!

Scarlet Spider #5 – you loved Ryan Stegman after he launched this title, so HERE’S NEIL EDWARDS!

Fantastic Four #605.1 – you loved Steve Epting, so HERE’S MIKE CHOI (Speaks for itself after last week’s Green Lantern #6 atrocity)!

Defenders #6 – you loved Terry Dodson, so HERE’S VICTOR IBANEZ!

Daredevil #12 – you loved Paolo Rivera SO HERE’S CHRIS SAMNEE – oh wait, this is a good one…

EXCEPT, next issue…

Daredevil #13 – you loved Paolo Rivera and Chris Samnee, so HERE’S KHOI PHAM!

Don’t mind me, my head’s too busy spinning.

For the full list of Marvel Solicitations for May, 2012, head over to Comic Book Resources

It’s odd how I have this impulse to defend my choice of The Hunger Games.  The haughty geek in me derides the title as pop teen science fiction, not “serious” enough for me, who has spent most of his life reading battered paperbacks of “real” science fiction.  (Of course, haughty has another urge to list them and will ignore it.) That geek, of course, may be chastened to hear that I bought the book late Saturday night, not even two full days ago; I have not read a book that quickly since I was devouring Hardy Boys mysteries once, sometimes twice a day – the book is a page-turner, that’s for sure.

Over the years, however, I have really worked hard to cleanse myself of this idiotic prejudice. Popularity does not mean something is bad — or good. I find myself feeling good when I see copies of Harry Potter or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, or, now, incredibly, Clash of Kings, popping out of handbags or sitting on a beach towel.  I had a similar sneering when everyone and his mother seemed to be reading Watchmen — they won’t get it, they are only reading it because there’s a movie coming, they’re not really into comics. Just as folks reading the aforementioned titles are not really into fantasy or science fiction.

Those folks? The ones my “dark nerd” sneers at? They are reading those books because they are curious. Which I have not been lately.

In addition to finishing The Hunger Games, I just now finished the final issue of DMZ, which I found to be a bit disappointing, while at the same time understanding that there really was no other way to finish the story.  I wrote an article about endings before, so I won’t go into that too much, but as I put down issue 72, a bit of my curiosity about what to read next…died a bit, probably because I just felt let down. I stuck with the title for the entire six year run and…well, we’ll get to this later.

Similarly, at the end of The Hunger Games, there’s a little ad facing the final page, with one of tags reading, “What will happen next?”  I realized, somewhat to my chagrin, somewhat to my disappointment, that I did not care, really. I had half-expected to swing by Barnes and Noble on the way home to pick it up — everyone I know has told me that it just gets better, my wife Whitney assures me that the third book will be my favorite, which is fine, but that curiosity that she felt, and seemingly every other reader has felt, just felt muted for me. Probably because even though there were aspects of the story that were interesting, it didn’t blow my mind, since most of the time, my mind is occupied with high concept science fiction stories, fast paces superhero adventures or dense fantasy epics filled with dozens of characters. For me, the story of this one girl dealing with her interesting problems…eh, kind of been there. Or at least been to that neighborhood. (I actually started reading the next one before I went to bed and now that I see where the story seems to be going and now I am even less inclined to keep going.)

If we’re not careful, too much experience with a given subject or experience can cultivate cynicism.  Cynicism kills curiosity. I remember reading once that cynics are “optimists who have been disappointed too many times.”  These days, as I scan the issues available on my iPad or as I peruse the covers at my local comic book shop, I find myself fighting the urge to be cynical while at the same time, propping up my need to be curious.

Why is this happening?

We’ve talked before about the heroes that keep us going, the relationships we can’t get enough of, the artists who bring us back to comics, month after month. That’s all fine, good and real, but none of this is fun if it feels like work, and I think when we are so used to a storytelling medium, when the twists and turns feel less inspirational and more rote, than the weariness creeps in.  We see the same patterns start to emerge after awhile because, well, we live this stuff, and I find myself less and less willing to take that leap with the creators, especially after last year, which I honestly don’t think was a fantastic year in comics.  What I am trying to say is that many of us, we are just too close to this stuff, that we can get in our own ways when trying to actually enjoy it.

I am sure some of you may have felt the same way and am looking forward to reading how you dealt with this slow erosion of curiosity — and when it started happening for you. For me, as I now sit back down, to finish this article, a few hours later, it seems to boil down to endings. In this day and age, where things move so fast and everything seems to be serialized, I think we bump into real endings less and less often. After reading DMZ, Ready Player One and Reamde, I understand that it’s been awhile since I’ve thought about how important it is to end stories, and perhaps the feelings I’ve had today come from a feeling of gentle resentment, that many of the books and shows and comics I read just keep…on…going.

Which is the whole point of serialized comics, sure, But with stories that end, I can think about the story as a complete work, and can file away that experience in a different way than forty issues of said comic.  Though I might not have felt satisfied by Wood’s endings for DMZ and Local, the ending still completes a statement, a definitive story that he leaves behind. Endings are important. Beginnings are important. Without them, what do we learn? What do we get from the experience? When there is a end, my curiosity about the story is resolved, it’s done — I got the answers, and if I didn’t get all the answers, well, too bad, because there’s no more story coming.  An ending releases curiosity. So, when I remarked at the beginning of the article where I was complaining about being let down by the ending of DMZ, at least we got one. Yes, I was disappointed that I won’t be seeing Matty Roth again, but perhaps that’s the whole point, you know? No one will.

The fact remains, that most comics I read are ongoing, and only end when sales taper. For me to complain about the format is unfair, to talk about my curiosity flagging and cynicism building can only be met with a shrug and a “what did you expect? It’s comics!”  Well, it’s a lot more than comics, it’s happening with TV and movies as well, and I think maybe this is what can propel people into telling their own stories, you know? Furthermore, I can see one of the thrills of being a parent is because you have no idea how your kid’s story is going to go — not to mention that you get a chance to see stories you’ve grown up with from a totally new perspective.

And that’s probably it, right? To keep things fresh, especially when experiencing stories that really will never end, it is up to you to keep your cynicism at bay, and to do that you need to change your perspective, and accept the fact that that takes energy. It is easy (and, let’s face it, fun) to complain about how lame a book is, but go to far, doing so can result in a poisonous perspective that’s hard to shake.

Perhaps what I need to do is read different kinds of comics completely. Start reading non fiction. Watch more documentaries. Go to more plays. Fill my head with different ways of telling stories so that when I do go back to comics (I always will), it will be easier to enjoy them. I will be more interested in that new fantasy book. Wait, with actual excitement, in line for that genre movie.  Fo stagnation kills curiosity, and I have a feeling that curiosity is what keeps life…life.

Mike Romo is an actor living in Los Angeles. You can reach him through email, visit his Facebook page, connect with him on Google +, and collect his tweets on Twitter.

It may not be cherry pie, but if you’ve got a spare $6.31, you might want to try some new comic books? Here’s some suggestions that even Diane would approve of.

Ron says try…

New Mutants #38

By  Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, and Leandro Fernandez

Very quietly, Abnett and Lanning have done it again, taking the New Mutants and building it up to be one of the books I find myself looking the most forward to each issue. They’ve really captured the magic that made this group of mutants so much fun to read back and the day, without taking any cheap retro approaches or gimmicks. They’ve just honed in on the characters and do what they do best, tell good stories. Leandro Fernandez on art is just the icing on the cake with this first issue of a new story arc.

Josh says try…

Mondo #1

By Ted McKeever

A man cannot know everything. A man cannot be an expert on all things. A man can know many things, and have much wisdom, but there may still be an area lacking. I know of Ted McKeever. I know his work has resonance, and importance to those who know about such things. I know this is a book by Ted McKeever, and if you were the kind of person who knows about him, you’d want to know about this. If you don’t, maybe this is a great place to start.

Conor says try…

My Friend Dahmer

By Derf Backderf

One of the most interesting, chilling, and disturbing graphic novels that I read last year gets a new printing and it’s not to be missed. Remember that weird kid in high school? The one who skeeved you out for reasons you can’t quite explain? Well, I bet that kid didn’t grow up to be one of the most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States. Writer/artist Derf Backderf’s weird high school friend was Jeffrey Dahmer and this memoir looks back at their time together and asks many disturbing questions, not the least of which is, “how did I… how did everyone… miss the warning signs?” My Friend Dahmer is one of the most engrossing reads you’ll come across.

5. The Greatest American Hero

4. Spider-Man the Animated Series

3. X-Men The Animated Series

2. Batman

1. The Hulk End Theme

As the local SF Bay Area resident, I (Ron) will be in attendance, working the con floor, interviewing creators and talking to folks. If you’re attending the convention, please come say hi!  If you would like to be sure to see me as well as the other iFanboy crew in attendance, here’s the details on where you can find us:

PANEL:

Saturday, February 25, 2012 – 1 PM

I’m incredibly excited to announce that I’ll be moderating the below panel, featuring the Image Comics founders. It’s an honor to share the stage with these ground breaking comics creators who changed the landscape of comics 20 years ago. Here’s the full details:

Twenty Years of Independence: The Image Comics 20th Anniversary Panel
Twenty years ago, a group of young artists left their work-for-hire jobs to forge their own path in comics. The result was Image Comics, a publisher dedicated to creators’ individual visions and a champion of creative ownership. The Image Comics partners and some of the original founders now come together to talk about that momentous meeting of minds and talent.

Panelists: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino

Moderator: Ron Richards

PARTY:

Friday, February 24, 2012 – 8 PM

We’re excited to be teaming up with Image Comics and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund to present the official Image Expo Welcome Party! Kick off the con in style with a fun night out in Oakland, with live music and DJs and rub elbows with some of the biggest comic book creators appearing at the con, including Robert Kirkman, Jonathan Hickman, Brian K. Vaughan, Blair Butler and more!

WHEN: February 24, 2012 – Doors open at 8 PM
WHERE: The Uptown – 1928 Telegraph Avenue  Oakland, CA

FREE FOR CBLDF MEMBERS
SUGGESTED DONATION: $10/all others
Proceeds will benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

RSVP on Facebook!

It promises to be a great weekend of celebrating comics! Will you be there? Give a shout in the comments below if you’re planning on attending and what you’re looking forward to.

You can see the complete programming schedule and full list of exhibitors at the Image Expo website.

Disney could take more than a few cues from Jeremy Whitley and M. Goodwin’s PrinceLess, a refreshing response to the frustratingly persistent damsel in distress genre. But the series is more than mere sendup, offering a vibrant and thoughtful adventure that never talks down to its all-ages audience. If there’s a kid in your life, they deserve to experience high fantasy from another angle, where tired gender roles are deconstructed and important questions are posed. Readers of all kinds will be thrilled to find smart, active characters ready to save the day. No more fainting couches.

PrinceLess is fun, funny and brimming with adventure. It takes an all-too familiar fairy-tale setting and breaks down time-honored stereotypes and cliches one by one. What remains is a bold heroine far more compelling than the pile of princes left smoldering in her wake.

You can grab all four issues of PrinceLess today on Graphicly.

Get to pulling this

What are the iFanboys buying? Check their pull lists out here: Conor, Ron, and Josh.

And what about the rest of the staff? What are they buying? Check out their pull lists: Dave, Jim, Paul, Mike, Chris, Molly, Ryan, Josh, Ben, Ali, Chris, Jeff and Matt.

This week Ron has the Pick of the Week!

Bonus Question: A million dollars or a million cupcakes. Which would you rather have? THINK ABOUT IT.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Directed by Neveldine/Taylor
Story by David S. Goyer
Screenplay by Scott Gimple, Seth Hoffman, David S. Goyer
Starring: Nicolas Cage (Johnny Blaze, Ghost Rider), Johnny Whitworth (Ray Carrigan, Blackout), Fergus Riordan (Danny), Ciarán Hinds (The Devil, Roarke), Violante Placido (Nadya), Idris Elba (Moreau), Christopher Lambert (Methodius the Monk)

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance has all the makings of a sensational B movie, replete with a curious conglomerate of foreign production companies (Imagenation Abu Dhabi?), a nebulous eastern European setting and a freshly shaven Christopher Lambert. Add in a stark conflict between the forces of Heaven and Hell, and you’re one Gary Busey cameo away from a Cloud Ten Pictures direct -to-video midnight matinee. It’s evident from the dubious opening animation that the filmmakers, wholly aware of their property’s potential for late night lampooning, were eager to embrace the schlock value. Somehow, things didn’t exactly go according to Plan 9.

So even if you’re revved up for tongue in cheek absurdity, expect trauma, not Troma. Maybe a few Red Hot moments, but not a single red jellybean to be had.

Nicolas Cage has journeyed to the bleak nation of Eastern Europe to battle his inner demons through zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. Here, the Johnny Blaze character is cast as a kind of wry Bruce David Banner, burdened by his alter ego and constantly on the run, minus the sad piano music. He’s staked out what appears to be an entire abandoned town where he can while his days in solitude, far from any potential victims for the vengeful spirit roiling beneath his hairline. He meets the charming Frenchman Moreau (a woefully misused Idris Elba) and reluctantly agrees to take part in a rescue mission. Should he save Danny and his mother Nadya from the forces of darkness, the warrior priest Moreau will help him cast off the Vengeance Spirit once and for all. Blaze agrees and sets out after mother and son, currently on the run from Ray Carrigan, Nadya’s former lover. Worth noting, the gunrunner is employed by devil incarnate Roarke, the same dapper don who made that fateful deal with Blaze so many years ago.

There’s the setup. Warrior monks will enter the picture. Carrigan will eventually get a supernatural upgrade. Danny, the sire of Satan, will eventually find himself swaying, shark-eyed, in a Turkish amphitheater. It’s the stuff of Syfy original movies. But as Ron and Conor agreed on our Special Edition Podcast, the movie only rarely reaches the mania or absurdity of late-night cinema’s best worst films. Or even the dizzying degree of the directors’ Crank flicks. Cage tries something in early scenes, wrestling for control of his psyche. He slams his fists on tables and chews the scenery in bit where the Spirit wants to come out and play, enticed by the proximity of a sinful thug. Here it’s less Hulk and more Jim Carey in The Mask, as Cage’s head balloons with digital protrusions of the iconic skull head. Once they’ve collected the information they need, Blaze races to his motorcycle and surges off toward the camera, cackling with glee. The effects have that brand of popsicle commercial flamboyance, but set against the comparatively serious tone of surrounding scenes, it feels out of place.

The Ghost Rider itself is a strong link in a weak chain.

The Spirit of Vengeance himself appears far too rarely, as his characterization separate from Blaze is perhaps the high point. The Ghost Rider’s first appearance will likely polarize audiences. Off his bike, he’s not terribly fast. He’ll use his chain whip to incinerate enemies, but his favorite thing to do is brandish the Ryan Gosling stare from Drive. Ron’s remarked at how awkward this moment is visually, given that it’s not accompanied with any terrific special effects. The Penance Stare is just a stare. Me, I kind of liked how unsettling the character is. He’s more reminiscent of the Universal monsters like Frankenstein or the Mummy, moving around with a herky-jerky stutter step, cocking his head to the side like an animal. It’s a strange presence. It’s just unfortunate he had so little to do. It should be noted though that the Ghost Rider’s power set was especially confusing. One explosive barrage landed Blaze in the hospital. Later, Carrigan launches what sounds like the Oxygen Destroyer device from the original Godzilla film, a much more sinister explosive, directly at the creature to little effect. That’s okay though, because the Spirit is able to imbue any vehicle with the same infernal powers as his motorcycle, and this concept is put to work on a massive…well, let’s not give that away.

At the end of the day, the most dire of the movie’s sins is this: Neither Carrigan or Roarke wear track-suits or gold chains at any time. For eastern European B movie villains done right, see last year’s Hanna. Monks with scripture tattooed all across their heads are fantastic, but this project ached for more sleaze and dubious accents. If anything, the film is too restrained to fully work as a cohesive whole. Nic Cage playing himself and Christopher Lambert undertaking three months of sword training for a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it cameo is simply not enough to cast off the tedium. A project that could’ve been outrageous and self-aware ends up delusional in its ambitions.

Credit where it’s due though. The Twinkie joke was pretty good.

2 Stars 

(Out of 5)

Listen to Ron and Conor review Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance on a Special Edition podcast!

NEAR DEATH VOLUME 1

written by JAY FAERBER
art by SIMONE GUGLIELMINI

Collects issues #1 through #5

Image Comics
120 PAGES / $9.99

WHAT IS IT?
Near Death is a crime fiction/action comic that tells the story of Markham, a professional killer who has a near death experience and gets a glimpse of what awaits him in Hell. After surviving that, he vows to do whatever he can to avoid returning to Hell and facing those who he killed, he turns over a new leaf to start saving a life for every life that he’s taken.

WHY SHOULD YOU READ IT?
Writer Jay Faerber has been best known for his super hero work, writing at Marvel and then doing Noble Causes and Dynamo5 at Image Comics. This is some of Faerber’s strongest comic work to date.  Teaming up with artist Simone Guglielmini, Near Death is a great crime/action comic that tells single, episodic stories that  feel like a 1980s action TV show (in a good way).  Image Comics publisher Eric Stephenson recently talked about how great Near Death is, and both Ed Brubaker and Brian K. Vaughan have raved about the series.

IF YOU LIKE…
If you’re a fan of the crime fiction genre such as Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Criminal series, the Parker graphic novels by Darwyn Cooke, Gotham Central from DC Comics or you miss Fell from Image Comics, then Near Death is right up your alley.

WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY THINK?
Ed Brubaker and Brian K. Vaughan not enough for you? See what your compatriots at iFanboy thought.

iFanboy users who have pulled & rated the the first 5 issues of Near Death has averaged 4 stars (out of 5)

Near Death Volume 1 goes on sale this week, on February 22, 2012 and collects the first 5 issues of the series for just $9.99
You can preorder it from Amazon

Get a taste of Near Death #1:

Last week, a stray thought struck me while I was taking a chance on the first volume of Uncanny X-Force’s ”Dark Angel Saga.” In case you’re not familiar: in this story, our wisecracking band of heroic murderers has been thrust into the Age of Apocalypse, an alternate timeline in which the mutant villain Apocalypse was able to rise to power relatively unchecked and make the whole world look like an episode of Hoarders. In this alternate timeline, Wolverine and the Stabby Bunch meet up with the remnants of that world’s X-Men, who join forces and help the Stabbies in the name of forever protecting “Xavier’s Dream.”

“I’m sorry,” I thought when I read those words for the first time in ages. “Whose whatnow?”

Remember Charles Xavier? He was one of the main guys in the hit film X-Men: First Class last year. After I saw it, I did some internet research, and it turns out that Charles Xavier is actually based on a character that used to be in the X-Men comics as well.

Ponder this for a moment, won’t you?: for years, in either the eyes of the government or the eyes of the world at large, Charles Xavier has been the face of mutation. He is the most famous, outspoken public figure on the most controversial issue of the century. He is the preeminent civil rights leader for an entire new species of people. Any time a mutant does anything, he is the first person every cable news producer tries to book for that evening. He’s such a powerful character that half the X-Men writers could only tell stories by faking his death or whisking him into space for years at a time. When they were forming the Illuminati, he was chosen to represent the interests of his entire race without even running it by anyone else. He had an Infinity Gem under his pillow.

So… what’s he up to?

Anybody?

I think the last time I saw Charlie, he was visiting Logan’s new school and giving him a few attaboys but steering clear of talking about anything heavy, like politics or anything that was actually going on. This was after Logan and Cyclops had a gigantic falling out in which they appeared to be trying to kill one another, even if it meant ignoring the Sentinel that was coming to wipe out Xavier’s entire race. Charlie didn’t really feel the need to weigh in on that one.

Quick: what did Charles Xavier think about Schism? You know, the most important thing to happen to mutants in recent memory? When they asked him?

What’s that?… Nobody? Not even Olbermann?

Professor Xavier is a mess. He’s been a mess for years.

A few weeks back, I was bloviating about how someone needed to reestablish the Hulk Rules, because that character had so badly lost his way that I no longer knew who I was reading about anymore. (Jason Aaron seems to be doing something close enough, although it feels like more Bruce Banner fans should be having online strokes over what he’s been up to with that guy. Another subject for another time.) Since then, I’ve been thinking that there are actually quite a handful of misbegotten souls who could use Character Rehab, and Professor X is Exhibit A.

The more-or-less-accurate recent history, as researched via the top of my head:

• The mansion’s Danger Room turns out to be sentient. The X-Men discover Xavier knew this and just sort of kept it locked up. Angry, Cyclops bans Xavier from his own house. The most powerful telepath on the planet responds by timidly going off to sleep at the Y.
• The Scarlet Witch remakes the world into a paradise for mutants. Xavier is not in it. One day, after everything is restored, Xavier strolls back into his house like he’s been at Trader Joe’s. No one ever explains where he went, where he reappeared, or what he’s been doing with himself. Oh, by the way, there was another team of X-Men he never mentioned before. Cyclops’ brother he never knew was on it. Anyway, they’re all dead now. What’s the soup of the day in the cafeteria?
• After M-Day, the home of the most famous mutant civil rights leader is turned into an internment camp by the U.S. government. As far as I know, he never so much as files a complaint at city hall.
• Xavier learns from the Illuminati that the Skrulls are invading. He can’t tell Black Bolt is a Skrull. He leaves the meeting to promptly not tell any of the X-Men any of this is happening. The Skrulls surprise-attack the X-Men. Xavier doesn’t show up until all the aliens are gone.
• Norman Osborn uses a fake Xavier to discredit the X-Men during Dark Reign. The media are never curious about this again. Xavier wants to clear his name, but his former student orders him to stay on the island and go to his room. The world’s most powerful telepath slams his door, cranks up his stereo, and cries into his pillow. This is never resolved.
• Xavier spends the rest of the series puttering around Utopia in a cardigan and slippers like Abe Simpson, saying, “Tut tut, that’s not how I would have done it,” and hearing, “Shut up. No one asked you.” This seems to be fine with him; he doesn’t leave. Or maybe he does. Have you seen him?

At the very least, Charles Xavier is a terrible, terrible civil rights leader.

Everyone just decided to Mean Girl him, and he doesn’t even care. Has he become an alcoholic? If not, why not?

In the next arc of Uncanny, he shows up as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.

Is this character arc not insane? From a plausibility standpoint? Or am I making too much of something for a change?

I never read Onslaught, but if I recall correctly, this is a man who was once so central and powerful that he accidentally ripped Marvel in half.

It’s not too late for Professor X, not like Hank Pym. Wait. I probably shouldn’t bring that up again. If nothing else, you know as well as I do that the Schism isn’t built to last; maybe Charlie is the one who’ll bring everyone together again and have one more moment to shine. I hope so. That cardigan is not flattering.

Jim Mroczkowski could probably use a little character rehab himself.

But why not a live action movie? To make the special effects for a live-action Nova and to do it right, it would take a budget in the 100s of millions, and after the debacle that is Green Lantern you could easily assume no one’s ready to risk that. Instead, turn that negative into a positive and push Marvel into what could be it’s next major growth: animated feature films. Their parent company Disney is known for it, and with PIXAR’s ingenuity part of the mix it could be something unexpected and unparalleled.

The Concept:

As I said earlier, Nova’s origin mixes the best of Spider-Man and Green Lantern and sets a foundation for a world of stories set in space on on Earth dealing with aliens. Don’t think of the recent Green Lantern movie — think The Last Starfighter. By employing the animation medium and sleek effects as seen in the heavily-CGIed Tron: Legacy, a Nova movie could show a young American teenager having to cope with the mantle — literally — of being Nova and dealing with threats on and off his planet Earth. From zero-G training sessions on Xandar and meeting Worldmind and the Xandarian princess Adora, to being pulled back to his home planet to save it from the Sphinx, it could be a exhilarating two-hour thrill ride taking advantage of what’s possible in animation.

The Director:

Some might argue that it’d be best to bring an experienced live-action director to call the shots on this animated film, but instead I’d go with a vet: Genndy Tartakovsky. Currently working on Sony’s Hotel Transylvania movie, Tartakovsky is still best known for his epic Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory series on Cartoon Network. If you factor in his experience with space dramas and sci-fi with his work on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the criminally underrated Sym-Bionic Titan, he seems built to create the first successful major action animated feature in the 21st century.

The Cast:

Nova – Jamie Bell: Bell would be well-suited for both a animated Nova as well as a live-action iteration, and despite not being an A-list actor would easily live up to the role and perhaps bring an extra sizzle to the movie by people discovering him for the first time.

Worldmind – Brad Garrett: Although he’s best known for his comedic roles such as on TV’s Everybody Loves Raymond, Garrett has a resoundingly deep voice and the chops to deliver a more patriarchal performance as the Xandarian Worldmind.

The Sphinx – Tim Curry: While Rocky Horror Picture Show and It were both stellar performances, if you think about it it’s Tim Curry’s amazingly theatrical voice that makes him who he is. Curry’s is one of the most in-demand actors-turned-voice-over artists, and could literally chew up each scene as he goes through it. Some say Mark Hamill voices the best comic book animated villains, but I think Curry could show him up and then some.

Adora – Molly Quinn: Although it’d be a slight departure from her comic book character, putting Molly Quinn as the Xandarian princess (and future warrior) Adora would be an interesting facet to the Nova movie. She’s add a touch of royalty, but also be able to impart the history of the Xandarian people and why the Nova Corps were founded. Quinn can deliver both an innocence and an experienced performance that would make her more than just the “obligatory love interest.”

“Triggerfinger”

or

“Street Surgery Almost Never Goes As Planned”

Last week Rick shot a couple of nice boys from Philly who just wanted to know where Rick and the gang lived and what supplies they had how many people were in their group. You know, normal, non-suspicious stuff like that.

Also, Lori crashed her car which is a problem because she got knocked unconscious, she’s bleeding, and she made a lot of noise. That’s like ringing the zombie dinner bell. As this week’s show opens up a zombie is attempting to get to to Lori by… eating through the windshield? Yikes. And I have to say, I’ve had some rough wake-ups in my life and that would rank right up there.

Roll credits!

Rick isn’t done shooting Dave and Tony from Philly, apparently, so he empties his revolver into their dead bodies. And that probably feels good but would have been a big problem if there were other boys from Philly outside the– hey, there are! Dave and Tony had friends and they think they heard shots so now it’s time for Rick, and Glen and Hershel to hide.

Meanwhile I’m betting Lori wishes she has a place to hide because the zombie has broken through the windshield. Instead of pulling out the gun she packed with her last week and shooting it in the face, there’s a bit of a struggle which ends with Lori triumphantly stabbing it in the eyeball with a screw driver. Triumph! Lori can now exit the vehicle and bask in her success… for 3.2 seconds until she’s set upon by another zombie. More struggling ensues until she frees herself via a hubcap to the head of the zombie. Lori crawls back in the car, retrieves her gun and blasts the second zombie in the head. Done and done.

Back at the house, the rest of the gang is starting to get worried because it’s dark now and Rick and Glenn haven’t come back from town. It’s a good thing this isn’t a horror movie or anything! They might as well sit down to a big family dinner and since neither Rick or Hershel are around, Shane gets to sit at the head of the table. it’s a short lived dinner, though, as soon as everyone realizes that Lori is missing.

Rick and Glen and Hershel are still holed up in the bar as Dave and Tony’s friends search the town VERY LOUDLY. Before the friends have a chance to storm the bar, Rick admits that he killed Dave and Tony. His bad, he says, but Dave and Tony did draw on them first. Makes sense, right? I’m sure they’ll listen to reas– nope, Dave and Tony’s friends are shooting up the bar from the outside. We’re officially in Butch and Sundance (and their drunk old friend) territory.

Carol finds Daryl and tells him that Lori is missing. Daryl chalks it up to her being an idiot. Plus, she asked him to go look for Rick and Daryl refused. (He HAD been gone for a whole ten minutes). Daryl is crotchety and refuses to help find Laurie. Shane grabs a gun and fires up an SUV and heads to town. It’s Ten Little Indians!

At the bar, Rick reloads his revolver and implores Dave and Tony’s friends to let them go because it’s not going to end well. Glen wonders how they ended up in Bolivia before shooting someone trying to break into the back door of the bar.

On the road to town, Shane comes upon Lori’s wreck. He finds the zombie bodies, but no Lori.

In the bar, Hershel moves to cover Glen in the back and almost gets himself shot because Glen is a might jumpy after killing a man. They make their move out into the alleyway to try to get to their car but it all goes a bit pear shaped when one of the Philly boys appears in the alley and shoots at Glen. Hershel drops the Philly boy with a well placed shot of his own, but doesn’t kill him. Instead, he lays there screaming and moaning while Glen huddles in the alley. The kid’s slipping into shock. There’s no time to dwell on the PTSD before Rick shows up and they both almost get shot by a Philly sniper. All this shooting and screaming is attracting zombies, so the Philly boys jump in their cars and take off, leaving behind the wounded guy in the alley and the sniper who caught his leg on a spiky fence trying to jump from the roof a small building. Zombies quickly descendent on the wounded guy in the alley and Rick, Hershel and Glen take this opportunity to debate leaving the Philly sniper behind, trying to rip him off the fence, or just shooting him. They opt for door number two and there is talk of hatchets, ligaments, and cauterizing and I just ate dinner so this isn’t going well for anybody. Making matters worse, there’s a whole horde of zombies coming at them. Hey, there’s nothing like a pressure filled street surgery to get the blood pumping! While Dr. Hershel, Medicine Man, readies his first incision, Rick and Glen do the zombie to ammo ratio math and realize they need to boogie out of there with a quickness. Hershel says he needs more time to cut, so Rick does what only Rick can do he shoots Hershel and the boy he forcefully rips the boy off the spike!

After the commercial break, Shane finds Lori out wandering the road all alone. He convinces her to come back to the house only when he lies and says that Rick and Glen have already returned safe and sound.

Carol shows up at the camp Daryl keeps outside of the house. There she finds Daryl’s collection of zombie ear necklaces and now the surprise is ruined. He was going to unveil those at the next county fair! She tries to make nice with Daryl but he lashes out and blames her for her daughter’s death. Despite that being an especially low blow, Carol doesn’t take the bate. He’s clearly lashing out at Carol because he feels guilty about Sophia’s death. It all comes to a head when Daryl gets especially loud in Carol’s face and she flinches waiting for a slap that never comes.

Lori and Shane arrive back at the house and it’s not 20 seconds before she finds out that Shane was lying. But she’s got bigger problems now because Shane accidentally lets slip that she is pregnant and now Carl knows he’s about to have a sibling. Ooops!

Andrea, and Dale sit in the living room while Lori and Carl talk awkwardly about the baby on the way. Shane shows up and makes things doubly awkward as he jokes with Carl about being a big brother. Lori wants no part of talking to Shane, but he wants to apologize for lying to her to get her back to the house. Everyone else gives them the room so they can argue some more. I kind of zone out until Lori brings up Otis and she asks him about that night. She says he hasn’t been the same since last night and he was a bastard before that. (Okay, I added that last part myself.) Shane doesn’t answer so Lori twists the knife and tells him that she told Rick that they slept together. This causes Shane to shame spiral into a verbal flailing session in which he displays some guilt about sleeping with his best friend’s wife while simultaneously trying to get her to admit that what they had was real. You’re embarrassing yourself, Shane.

The sunrises and there is still no sign of Rick, Glen, and Hershel which is a problem because the random blonde chick (Betty? Betsy? I’ve already forgotten) is still possibly dying. Andrea and Maggie have a heart to heart about Maggie’s family discovering her birth control pills during a trip home from college. Then they talk about Glen being a good guy. Dude’s going to get soooo laid when he gets back.

Shane, Daryl, T-Dogg (hey he’s still on the show!) and Andrea arm up to go find Rick, Glen, and Hershel. Dale doesn’t want Andrea to go because he doesn’t trust Shane. Andrea wants to go because not only does she like killing zombies, but she trusts Shane. Probably because of the road side sex they had. It’s all a moot point, however, when a truck pulls up and Rick, Glen, and Hershel hop out. The Philly sniper doesn’t hop out because of the whole mangled leg thing. Plus, he’s blindfolded. We learn the Philly sniper’s name is Randall because T-Dogg asks, “Who the hell is that?” I hope he says the same thing when he finds out about the random blonde girl.

Hershel conducts a quick surgery in the barn and now the great “What To Do With Randall” debate begins. Rick wants to patch him up and send him on his way. Shane wants him gone, now. Hershel wants Shane to shut up because he doesn’t like his face. Plus, the opening the barn full of zombie family members thing.

After the debate, Glen and Maggie talk privately. He tells Maggie that he froze up in the gun battle because she told him she loved him and now all he can think about is surviving and getting back to her. Maggie finds this incredibly attractive, but Glen feels incredible shame for letting the guys down in battle. Chicks, man.

Maggie confronts Hershel while he checks on the random blonde girl. She’s pissed because not only is he drinking again, but he left her in the house.

Outside the house, Andrea tells Shane that maybe he could catch more flies with honey around the camp, which basically implies that he’s an ass. Shane tells her that the two of them are the only ones who see the world as it really is and that maybe they should have left the group together when they had the chance.

In their tent outside the house, Rick and Lori very awkwardly change clothes because they’re both sore from car accidents and all night gun fights. Lori is worried about Shane. He won’t accept that the baby is (maybe) Rick’s, he’s scaring everyone in the camp, and Lori is pretty sure Shane killed Otis. Rick tries to tell Lori that he understands the desire to kill in order to protect those he loves, but Lori is having none of it. Lori whispers into Rick’s ear that Shane loves her, and her baby which he thinks is his, and she basically says that Shane’ll kill Rick if Rick doesn’t kill Shane first.

Rick gets that terrifying look on his face that usually means someone is about to get killed and it ‘ain’t gonna be Rick.