FUCK YEAH! Gail Simone and Nicola Scott are launching a Secret Six ongoing series!

It’s day two at the NYCC, and thus far, Marvel has been severely underwhelming in terms of big announcements. DC, on the other hand, has been kicking my ass with news. First, there was the announcement of a Power Girl ongoing with the thoroughly awesome Amanda Connor on art; now, it’s a Secret Six ongoing by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. The previous Secret Six minis are my favorite works by Simone, and given the group’s relatively low profile since the last one, I didn’t think we’d be getting a new mini-series, let alone a monthly title. Now if only DC Direct will get off their keisters and make a Catman action figure… and a Deadshot that doesn’t look anorexic…

DC announces ongoing Power Girl series

FINALLY. Here’s a series I can definitely get excited about. I’m not much of a Power Girl fan, so the idea of a monthly series starring the character doesn’t really do a heck of a lot for me. But I have been waiting years for Amanda Connor to choose a regular, monthly assignment, so the subject really doesn’t matter to me. This is an automatic purchase.

Click the Newsarama banner for direct access to complete and continuous coverage of the New York Comic Con! We’ll try to post some links to top stories over the weekend, and perhaps offer some “Con Job” analysis. Newsarama already has video interviews with Dan Didio covering James Robinson on Justice League, Legion of 3 Worlds, Final Crisis, Batman: R.I.P., and more.

That was painful to watch, and I blame neither candidate for it, really, the Republican OR the Democrat.
The less people see of that performance by ABC News, the better.

“Batman: Gotham Knight” is an animated collaboration between six different artists/writers who will be using Japanese Anime for the animation. The animated movie takes place in between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. It is going to be similar to another movie project that attempted the same type/style/art and directing called “The Animatrix“. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Animatrix movie since some of the short stories were brilliantly done while others were just plain mediocre. A few of the Japanese animation companies that will work on the segments will be Madhouse, Studio 4*C, & Production I.G. (Of Ghost In The Shell fame.)

The movie will be directed by Bruce Timm, co-creator and producer of Batman: The Animated Series and he will be collaborating between six different writers, which are: Josh Olson, David Goyer, Brian Azzarello, Greg Rucka, Jordan Goldberg, and Alan Burnett.

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I found out a couple of weeks ago that my first foray into comics, ‘Breakfast’, is going to be reprinted this summer in NEGATIVE BURN #20 from Desperado Publishing.


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As picky as fanboys usually are about changes to traditional costumes in comic/toy/cartoon-to-film adaptations, it’s my guess that very few straight male fans will complain about how Scarlett looks.

Well, at a certain someone’s behest, I caught up on GA/BC today. I hadn’t read since the same plot device used at the end of the wedding was used at the end of issue #3, and 3 issues in we’d already had a Mia “I HAVE AIDS!!!!!” tirade.

Nevertheless, I decided to go ahead and catch up, reading four issues in a row, ending with last week’s issue #7. I’ll be honest, #4 to a lesser extent, but I somewhat enjoyed 4-6. The broody Ollie is not as fun as the carefree Ollie, of course, but the characters still mostly acted like themselves, and some of the bits were pretty heartwarming. The do-over wedding in particular was nice; my wife and I had a small, intimate wedding, and we’ve also dressed as GA and BC for a Halloween. I digress. After feeling somewhat ok about this book all of a sudden, I then opened up #7.

It started off ok, with a decent little chase/action scene. A comedic beat followed, featuring Hal Jordan. Then, Team Arrow used the threat of sodomy by overweight shirtless clown, old lady in bikini and bunny ears, and a sheep as interrogation tools. Go ahead, re-read that sentence. I couldn’t possibly make this stuff up, folks, that’s what REALLY happens in the book.

Overseas in London, England, Team Arrow meets/tussles with/then decides fighting is silly (where have I seen that before? Oh, every team up. Ever. Forever.) with Gambit. Er…some kind of British Gambit wannabe who throws a mace instead of cards. He even has the two-toned spandex under a trench coat, a tussle to his hair, and a cavalier attitude. He’s a thief that’s made some bad moves, but everyone just can’t help but like him. So, like I said, they meet Gambit. He leads them to the big reveal…

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Last week, I reviewed the new Titans #1 from DC. I didn’t like it.

What’s of interest is less the review, which I think is pretty straight-forward, and more the reaction to it. I’m not going to talk about the threads at Newsarama or Comic Book Resources; I just wanted to point out a couple of interesting spin-off discussions.

Valerie D’Orozio of Occasional Superheroine uses the issue as springboard to talk about moderated forums and civility.

Heidi MacDonald at The Beat takes a view at the bigger post-fest, complete with a couple of links.

I will address one recurring point in the Newsarama thread. Do I have an agenda? Yes. I want to read good comics. There you have it.

(Please note: Yes, it’s satirical.)

For Immediate Release

April 9, 2008

SEAN PATRICK FLANERY JOINS ILLUSTRIOUS CAST OF “BUMP”

Star of “The Boondock Saints” and “Young Indiana Jones” attached in the role of “Brett”

Another casting coup today from producer Scott Licina, who is proud to announce that Sean Patrick Flanery, known to movie goers worldwide for his brilliant work in the cult classic film “The Boondock Saints”, will take on the role of Brett in the adaptation of the hit comic book mini-series, Bump. Mr. Flanery joins the previously announced Ashley Laurence (“Hellraiser”) and Tobin Bell (“Saw”), with special effects master and director Robert Kurtzman at the helm.

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Entertainment Weekly, a magazine that continues to endear me for how much comic book-related material they cover, has a terrific feature on their website right now, “Comic Books: The One That Hooked Me!”
In it, over a dozen of the top industry talents show what was THE book that brought them where they are today. I like that in many instances the writers and artists acknowledge that they may have picked up something here and there in their youth that was practically throwaway, but here they detail the one that really stuck.

For me?
That’s easy: The New Teen Titans #16

As a kid growing up in the 70s, I was all over ANYTHING to do with superheroes. I’d follow the adventures of the Hulk, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, you name it, on TV. Mom would buy me the occasional comic book of said characters, and artistically I could never have enough superhero coloring books.

But it wasn’t until the family moved cross-country at the end of 1980, and I started figuring out the monthly schedule of comic books at my new neighborhood’s 7-11. The book that locked me in like a tractor beam was this gem by Marv Wolfman & George Perez. The story blew me away as a kid (no happy ending??), but even more so was Perez’s rendering of Robin, someone I only knew as a guy voiced by Casey Kasem (Super Friends), and portayed in the flesh by Burt Ward (Batman). I don’t think think Dick Grayson ever looked so bad-ass in the yellow cape and red & green tights, but it turned out to be a sign of good things to come for the character. Nightwing, anyone? Plus the other characters who were brand new to me (Starfire, Cyborg, Changeling) were instantly easy to connect with.

So what locked YOU in?

DISCLAIMER (angry creators, please read)

[[WARNING! THIS COLUMN MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!]]

“If you’re hunting nerds for sport I’d like you to know I’m PERSONALLY offended.” Spider-Man, Amazing Spider-Man V1 #555.

Well, here’s the column for last week’s comics, and I’m sure a lot of you take it personally, like Spidey. Last week’s DT! was correctly assessed by Snarf5181; the post Infinite Crisis Colossal Boy does not grow, he’s a giant who shrinks. Badge for ya! The Dissector’s Picks Of The Week will be short and sweet; as I’m not feeling very well as I write this (my neck is killing me).
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The official release:

For Immediate Release

April 8, 2008

ASHLEY LAURENCE JOINS CAST OF “BUMP”
Star of “Hellraiser” films attached in the role of “Elaine”

Producer Scott Licina announced today that Ashley Laurence, best known to horror audiences worldwide for her work in the fan-favorite “Hellraiser” series of films, will take on the role of Elaine in the adaptation of the acclaimed comic book mini-series, Bump. Ms. Laurence joins the previously announced Tobin Bell (“Saw”), who will also produce. Horror icon Robert Kurtzman will direct.

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THE SCREAM FACTORY IS HERE!!!

Basics here.

MySpace and directions on free comics downloading here.

Dig it.