Don’t say I dinna warn you…
Archive for June 22nd, 2007
Batman: The Dark Knight (spoilers…)
Posted by dailypop on June 22, 2007
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DC Comics’ The Metal Men
Posted by dailypop on June 22, 2007
Created by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito for Showcase in 1962, the Metal Men are whimsical and strange characters very much cut from the same ‘Silver Age’ cloth as ‘The Doom Patrol.’
I recently sat down with a DC Digest comic of the Metal Men and was astounded at the complexity and inventiveness of the story. Essentially an adventure story, the characters are created by Doc Magnus as living weapons to do the work that is far too dangerous for living people. Each character has certain traits that are tied to his/her material. Mercury is vain and prone to fits that cause him to turn into steam, Lead and Iron are both strong silent types, Gold is the self-sure leader type, Platinum is very amorous toward Magnus and anxious to help out, but it’s Tin that wins me over. When I first read the Metal Men as a kid, I hated Tin. He stuttered and blustered and was useless. But reading it now, he steals the show with his constant self-doubt and need to prove his worth to the team. In one adventure he even gets elected leader. Despite his doubts, he proves to be a natural and saves the day from Chemo!
Early on in their first adventure the characters are horrifically killed in graphic detail by a prehistoric radiated monster and left to rust in the ocean floor. It is only after a back-up set of Metal Men prove to be useless that Magnus concedes to dig up his creations and ‘fix’ them. The visual of a hero torn to pieces only to easily (and off-panel) be put back together is stunning and not completely alien to a reader of Arnold Drake’s Doom Patrol.
In any given issue of Doom Patrol, Cliff Steel (AKA Robot Man) would see his robot body mutilated, melted, torn limb from limb, crushed… etc. Later in the issue the Chief would just throw Cliff’s body back together, no problem. It wasn’t until the 90’s when Grant Morrison and later Rachel Pollack wrote the characters that this was looked at as a very unusual story device. It says a lot about one’s relationship to self to see your physical body destroyed and easily re-created as if there’s nothing to it. Cliff, in effect, has no body to relate to at all. He is a brain housed in a robot body, almost completely shut off from his own life.
But in the case of the Metal Men, they aren’t even people. A hastily introduced Aurora Borealis is used to explain their independent nature and human-like personalities, but it’s their creator Magnus‘ reactions and behavior around them that make them seem more than just lumps of metal. In particular, his annoyance at Platinum’s constant ‘woman-like’ behavior is turned on its ear later in the series. When he begins to call her pet names and shows concern at her safety… she has to remind him that she is just metal.
His concern over their well being makes the characters more interesting but even so, it’s that much more horrifying when Mercury gets melted down or Tin gets shredded into strips of metal.
Over the years there have been various attempts to revive the characters that have never actually worked. They made brief appearances in Kingdom Come, DC One Million and Justice. In recent years, they have built up a firmer fan base, if only for the role Doc Magnus played in DC’s 52.
This renewed interest in the characters has lead to a new mini-series by Duncan Rouleau (who told the origin story in the back-pages of 52 sampled above).
METAL MEN #1
Written by Duncan Rouleau
Art and cover by Rouleau
Bursting from the pages of 52 and SUPERMAN/BATMAN into their own new 8-issue miniseries by Duncan Rouleau — it’s Gold! Platina! Mercury! Iron! Lead! Tin! And now Copper! Doc Magnus’s creations are ready to take on all-new threats and some old, reimagined ones: Chemo, Doctor Yes, B.O.L.T.S., The Balloonatic and his Orphan Army, as well as the Robot Renegades led by an old Manhunter Robot! But the greatest threat lies in Le Cabinet Noir and its bid to control the natural order using dangerous lieutenants like the Nameless, an armored being that feeds off the blood of the innocent and controls the Gogoloth, giant stone Golems made of Granite, Bizmuth, Onyx and Lime.
On sale August 1 • 1 of 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
It looks like a very lively and fun Silver Age comic, very much in keeping with the origin of the series and the newer softer DC Comics as they approach what looks like a new Silver Age with the re-invention of the Multiverse and all that it entails.
Ofcourse there is also the recently announced film project as well. Headed by Lauren Shuler Donner, the producer of the X-Men Trilogy, the film would be live action and full of ‘lots of CGI.’
Personally, I hope the idea flops and the Metal Men are turned into a cartoon DVD by DC/Warner Bros. as part of the new straight to DVD series. The characters have little to offer as live action characters but would greatly gain by being turned into animated cartoon characters.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
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Advance Solicitations-August
Posted by dailypop on June 22, 2007
It’s easy to miss things in the sea of monthly comics these days. Often you just get tunnel vision on Wednesdays (new comic day in the US) and just want to pick up your package of comics and leave.
I hope that this list helps point out a few things you might have otherwise missed. These are almost all ‘under the radar’ books, including the recently ‘how did they make this comic great’ Iron Man, Brubaker’s outstanding ‘Criminal,’ and the Minx offering I think my Mike Carey fan brother would like, the co-creation with Invader Zim designer Aaron Alexovich, ‘Confessions of a Blabbermouth.’
There are a few ‘huh?’ comics I threw in like the ‘Captain Carrot’ series which is a real left-fielder from present day columnist Scott Shaw, E. Nelson Bridwell and Roy Thomas.
The Batman and The Outsiders collection appeals to you Jim Aparo fans out there and is just in time for the new series!
Likewise for Sword of the Atom, who is currently making a comeback in Countdown.
I threw Ex Machina in there because I adore John Paul Leon.
Annihilation: Conquest looks amazing and if you missed out on Timothy Green II, this is your chance to see his art!
Another comics journalist/writer, Matt Fraction is taking on the Champions, which can’t be as bad as the original, can it? Seriously, it looks great.
And the Amazing Fantasy Omnibus is on my wish list… if anyone’s interested.
Let me know what you think!
Showcase Presents: Captain Carrot, Vol. 1
Written by Roy Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and others
Art by Mike Sekowsky, Scott Shaw, Alfredo Alcala and others
Cover by Shaw, Bob Smith & Ross Andru
Experience the adventures of Captain Carrot and his Zoo-Crew battle Frogzilla, the Armordillo, the alien Bunny from Beyond and many more in this volume collecting NEW TEEN TITANS #16 and CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE ZOO CREW #1-20!
Advance-solicited; on sale September 26 • 520 pg, B&W, $16.99 US
The Spirit
Written by Darwyn Cooke
Art by Cooke & J. Bone
Cover by Cooke
Darwyn Cooke – the visionary creator of the acclaimed DC: THE NEW FRONTIER — turns his attention to the classic Will Eisner creation The Spirit in this amazing hardcover collecting the first six issues of the new series from DC Comics plus the BATMAN/THE SPIRIT special! In these thrilling tales. Cooke maintains the “spirit” of Eisner’s creation but brings his own original sensibilities to the character. The Spirit, a.k.a. Denny Colt, Commissioner Dolan, and his Daughter Ellen are reintroduced in this go-for-broke, shoot-the-lights-out collection of crime stories filled with action, adventure, humor and sexy girls!
Advance-solicited; on sale October 24 • 192 pg, FC, $24.99 US
Sword of Atom
Written by Jan Strnad
Cover by Kane
Art by Gil Kane, Pat Broderick and Dennis Janke
Collected for the first time in a single graphic novel! Sword of the Atom #1-4 and Sword of the Atom Special #1-3 take readers on a fantastic journey into the heart of a Central American jungle, where a race of 6-inch-tall aliens treats The Atom as their protector against titanic beasts and primeval sorcery!
Advance-solicited; on sale September 5 • 232 pg, FC, $19.99 US
Showcase Presents: Batman and the Outsiders, Vol. 1
Written by Mike W. Barr and Marv Wolfman
Art by Jim Aparo, George Pérez, Bill Willingham and others
Cover by Aparo
In this hard-hitting, value-packed volume, witness Batman’s formation of the original Outsiders! Metamorpho, Black Lightning, Katana, Halo and Geo-Force star in these stories from BATMAN & THE OUTSIDERS #1-19, BRAVE & BOLD #200 and NEW TEEN TITANS #16!
Advance-solicited; on sale September 12 • 552 pg, B&W, $16.99 US
The Jsa All Stars Archives 1 (Archive Editions (Graphic Novels))
Written by Gardner Fox, Sheldon Mayer, Bill Finger and others
Art by Bernard Baily, Irwin Hasen, Stan Aschmeier and others
This brand-new series collects all of the Golden Age solo stories of Johnny Thunder, Hour-Man, Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, Mr. Terrific, Wildcat and Red Tornado from FLASH COMICS, ADVENTURE COMICS, ALL-AMERICAN COMICS and SENSATION COMICS (January 1940-May 1942)!
Advance-solicited; on sale October 24 • 256 pg, FC, $59.99 US
EX MACHINA: MASQUERADE SPECIAL
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by John Paul Leon
Cover by Tony Harris
Superstar artist John Paul Leon (Earth X) joins writer Brian K. Vaughan for an extra-sized extravaganza that makes a perfect jumping-on point for new readers looking to sample this acclaimed political thriller! Halloween comes early to Manhattan in this all-new story from Mayor Mitchell Hundred’s super-heroic past. For the first time ever, learn what role New York City’s real-world “anti-mask law” played in the birth of the Great Machine.
On sale August 29 • 40 pg, FC, $3.50 US • MATURE READERS
THE PROGRAMME #2
Written by Peter Milligan
Art and cover by C.P. Smith
Catch up with the Cold War maxiseries by Peter Milligan and C.P. Smith! As the Soviet superhuman Spirit of Lenin gathers
the other “Russian Dolls” for war, the U.S. government scrambles to activate their own out-of-date superhuman program. But what they find is not encouraging. The American “hero” is an over-the-hill former musician with a fractured memory who’s clearly not ready for the coming conflict. Can the CIA get their champion in fighting shape before the storm hits?
On sale August 22 • 2 of 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Confessions of a Blabbermouth (Minx)
Written by Mike Carey & Louise Carey
Art and cover by Aaron Alexovich
When Tasha’s mom brings home an annoying hack novelist boyfriend, Jed, and his deadpan daughter, her dysfunctional family is headed for a complete mental meltdown. But Tasha has her blog, BLABBERMOUTH, as the ultimate weapon — and she’s not afraid to use it. Especially when she starts to suspect that the obnoxious Jed has a guilty secret that goes far beyond his bad prose.
Mike Carey (LUCIFER, Hellblazer, Crossing MidnighT, RE-GIFTERS) teams with co-writer Louise Carey, his 15-year-old daughter, who has written the Diary of a London Schoolgirl for the website of the London Metropolitan Archive and the novel-in-progress Bethany’s Words.
Aaron Alexovich contributed character designs to Nickelodeon’s Invader Zim and Avatar: The Last Airbender. His first published work was the critically lauded witch tale Serenity Rose for Slave Labor Graphics. Next up he is writing and drawing the MINX book, Kimmie66.
All MINX books contain 176 pages, black and white interiors with graytones and color covers. Each title also includes previews for three other MINX books as a special bonus.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 12 / 176 pg, B&W, $9.99 US
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST – STAR-LORD #2 (of 4)
Written by KEITH GIFFEN
Penciled by TIMOTHY GREEN II
Cover by NIC KLEIN
The bullet casings fly as Star-Lord’s motley crew of cult faves goes to war! Briefed, outfitted and dropped into chaos, it’s time for Bug, Captain Universe, Deathcry, Groot, Mantis and Rocket Raccoon to become legends! That is, if Peter Quill can truly embrace his legacy as Star-Lord! Are you prepared for the carnage that Keith Giffen (ANNIHILATION) and the insanely talented Timothy Green II (of the underrated Vertigo series Faction)are about to unleash?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
Don’t forget to check out this cover by the great Paul Smith!
The Champions #2
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils and Cover by BARRY KITSON
A team of long-dormant Soviet super-weapons is awake, angry and heading straight at the heart of Los Angeles ready to finish World War III! The front line of defense is a team that’s been together since just before nine this morning! The queen of PR starts her spin! A dead body hides more than just a murder mystery! AND AND AND — a super-sex tape! What on earth could justify the use of that many exclamation points? Surely, it could only be the second sensational issue of the yet to be named new ongoing series written by Matt Fraction (IMMORTAL IRON FIST and PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL) and with art by the amazing Barry Kitson
(Legion of Super-Heroes, JLA: Year One).
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99
CRIMINAL #9
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by SEAN PHILLIPS
Cover by SEAN PHILLIPS
Nominated for the 2007 Eisner Awards for Best Writer and Best New Series!
Tracy Lawless continues his relentless hunt for the truth about his brother’s murder, as he sinks deeper and deeper into the criminal world his little brother lived and died in. Now, as he learns more about the man his brother Rick had grown up into, and as he becomes close to the woman who loved his brother, he realizes that someone in the city has figured out who he really is, and that could mean big trouble. All this, and the Christmas Eve heist to end them all falls into place!
From the acclaimed and award-winning team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. And remember, every issue of CRIMINAL is packed from cover to cover with content, from back-up stories to noir articles by Brubaker and many other big-name writers.
32 PGS./Mature Content/No Ads …$2.99
Don’t forget to pick up Criminal Vol. 1: Coward
IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF S.H.I.E.L.D.
Written by DANIEL KNAUF & CHARLIE KNAUF
Penciled by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Cover by ADI GRANOV
Tony Stark, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. It_s day one of a new role for Tony as he takes up the mantle of the missing Nick Fury to lead S.H.I.E.L.D. into the 21st century! But what does this mean for the future of Iron Man? Collecting IRON MAN #15-18 and featuring comprehensive profiles of Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D! Also reprinting the first appearance of S.H.I.E.L.D. in STRANGE TALES #135; and IRON MAN #129 in which Tony Stark avoids a hostile takeover of Stark International by S.H.I.E.L.D.
144 PGS./Rated A… $14.99
ISBN: 0-7851-2299-0
THESE IRON MAN TRADE PAPERBACKS STILL AVAILABLE!
Iron Man Vol. 1: Extremis
D.P. 7 Classic Volume 1 TPB
Written by MARK GRUENWALD
Penciled by PAUL RYAN
Cover by PAUL RYAN
The Gru tackled the New and it’s here for you! Before his history-making work on Captain America and Quasar, Mark Gruenwald helped build the New Universe from the ground up with an outcast cast of Seven Displaced Paranormals on a quest leading them into urban legends, domestic disasters, and teen terror! Super-speed, super-strength, and superlative action from the creator of the ground-breaking Squadron Supreme miniseries! It’s an out-of-body experience you can’t miss! Collecting D.P.7 #1-9.
224 PGS./Rated A …$24.99
ISBN: 0-7851-2859-X
Amazing Fantasy Omnibus Volume 1 HC – Variant
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by STEVE DITKO, JACK KIRBY, DON HECK & PAUL REINMAN
Cover by STEVE DITKO
Across six issues of truly amazing adventures, Lee, Kirby, and Ditko dreamed up a cadre of ten-story tall menaces from Torr to Manoo to the one and only Monsteroso to trash unwitting Earthlings on a month-in and month-out basis. Backed up by weird tales of wax museums, witchcraft, Martians, and the occult master who set the trenchcoat trend in comics, Dr. Druid, it seemed these titanic tales could never be topped.
And then Stan Lee and Steve Ditko did just that by launching “The Magazine That Respects Your Intelligence!” An all-new approach for the young comics sophisticate, Amazing Adult Fantasy presented Twilight Zone-tinged tales of otherworldly aliens, time travel, ghosts, atomic nightmares, and maybe even the secret of the universe itself. With story after lushly-illustrated story, Ditko set a new standard for comic book illustration, and Lee raised the bar ever higher with his scintillating scripts. And, oh, in the last issue they created some guy named “Spider-Man.”
Collecting this lynchpin series of Marvel Comics’ history for the first time ever, the Amazing Fantasy Omnibus puts AMAZING ADVENTURES #1-6, AMAZING ADULT FANTASY #7-14 and AMAZING FANTASY #15 between two hardcovers 45 years in the making.
416 PGS./All Ages …$74.99
ISBN: 0-7851-2458-6
Trim size: oversized
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