Cyberspace Comics market report, reviews and more

August 31, 2010

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #22 Scarface

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 6:53 am

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

1983’s Scarface starred Al Pacino and has risen in popularity as a cult classic. If you caught any episode of MTV’s Cribs, you were sure to see a rapper showing you his copy of the movie. And, as is the case with anything popular, it becomes the target of spoof, satire and parody! The famous line “Say hello to my little friend!” has been used in countless other movies and in 2009 Deadpool got in on the action with a cool cover swipe.


Scarface
1983
 

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #4
December 2009
Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Deadpool | Arthur Suydam | Scarface

August 30, 2010

One-Shot At Greatness #22 Troll Halloween Special

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 7:19 am

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Troll Halloween Special #1 guest-starring the MaxxPublisher: Image Comics
Cover Date: October 1994
Cover Price: $2.95
Writer: Andy Mangels
Artist: Gabe Alberola

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

In a curious blend of flashback and dream sequence, Mr. Gone transports Julie and the Maxx back to Victorian England where he’s been killing woman and been dubbed Jack the Ripper. Bouncing in and out of England and the Outback, the Maxx is teamed with the Victorian-Age Troll (who’s existed for centuries) as they try to stop Gone from murdering his next victim: Julie Winters. The villain beats a hasty retreat … but his killing spree has come to end.

Andy Mangels has woven a fun little time-travel/dream story that leaves you guessing whether Gone really was Jack the Ripper OR if this was all some elaborate lifelike fantasy he concocted. Unfortunately, the interior art by Gabe Alberola doesn’t quite live up to Chap Yaep‘s exquisitely detailed cover art but, it’s certainly not terrible. From the cover, I only expected a minor appearance by the Maxx but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Maxx (as well as his mythos and supporting characters) was an extremely important part of this storyline. In fact, the title should have been named Troll/Maxx … and, had it included an indication of them fighting Jack the Ripper, I’m sure it would have sold even more on its release date.

On Ebay: Maxx | Troll | Andy Mangels

August 28, 2010

Minimate Spotlight #17 Street Fighter

Filed under: Minimate Spotlight — Donny B @ 1:42 pm

Action figures have long been a perfect compliment to comic books, since every kid (or kid at heart) has that natural desire to act out adventures with their favorite heroes off the drawn page. Every so often, a unique style of figure comes along that breaks the mold, so to speak. Each Saturday, Donny B will be showcasing various offerings from Art Asylum’s take on the ‘block figure’, with a weekly spotlight on Minimates.

Art Asylum has built their Minimates line primarily using comic book characters. However, they have dipped into many other licenses over the years, from movies to musicians to video games. Back in 2006, a Street Fighter 2 line was released, lasting only 1 wave due to poor sales. As a result, many core characters were never produced, but among the few that we were given: M. Bison, Ryu & Chun-Li

Behind the Image:

I’m a child of the late 80’s/early 90’s. I grew up playing Street Fighter 2 on Super Nintendo – that was my bread and butter when it came to this particular series. So to honor my own history with this game franchise, I pulled out the original SNES version of Street Fighter 2 and paused it on the M. Bison, Ryu & Chun-Li stages. I positioned the figures in front of the screen, and viola: each character in thier native habitats. No photoshop required 😉

On Ebay: Street Fighter

August 27, 2010

Retro-Read #21 Daredevil: Father

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 7:42 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Publisher: Marvel Comics [Marvel Knights]
Number of Issues: 6
First Issue: June 2004 ($3.50)
Last Issue: February 2007 ($2.99)
Writer: Joe Quesada
Artist: Joe Quesada

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

A heat wave has put the pressure on the people of Hell’s Kitchen as a new serial killer, named “Johnny Sockets” by the media, is leaving a trail of murdered victims without their eyes. Meanwhile, a group of vigilantes known as the Santerians aren’t too pleased with Daredevil’s methods. He cleans up Hell’s Kitchen but isn’t concerned with the other ares of NYC that are affected by the criminals who’ve changed locales to avoid him. An altercation with them leaves Daredevil battered and bruised. But, he’ll need all the strength and speed he can muster to uncover the true identity of the murderer before the next target, Foggy Nelson, is killed!

The Bad: Not that it matters now but, there were over 30 months between the cover dates of the first and last issues. I’m glad I wasn’t reading this issue by issue (the joys of “retro-reading”!). The killer’s motive is kind of left up-in-the-air … insanity, while certainly a motive in reality, is not quite a fulfilling plot conclusion.

the Good: Quesada’s art is high-quality and features brilliant coloring by Isanove. Joe’s created a murder mystery here that’s very well done and I must admit that I did not see the plot twist coming (although, if you go back and check issue one, the clues shown in issue six were certainly included).

The Verdict: This is a murder mystery that also explores the relationships between sons and fathers. I enjoyed that Quesada introduced new characters to set up several possibilities for the reveal and his art, coupled with Isanove’s coloring, did a great job of keeping the story visually-engaging. If you accurately guessed the killer by issue two, color me impressed!

On Ebay: Daredevil | Joe Quesada

August 26, 2010

Famous Fanmail #21 J.M. DeMatteis

Filed under: Famous Fanmail — Doorman @ 8:36 am

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

J.M. DeMatteis has written some of my favorite, gone-too-soon comics. He wrote the third Man-Thing series from Marvel’s short-lived Strange Tales line of comics. Unfortunately, the final parts of that story were written (and I think some even pencilled) but never published. And, a few years later, he wrote the whimsical (And Wizard of Oz inspired) Abadazad, published by CrossGen. And, when that comic publisher folder, it was snapped up by Disney. Hmmm… Disney now owns Marvel Comics so maybe there’s hope they’ll revive this fantastic series. Anywho, J.M.’s back with another letter to Marvel’s God of Thunder … this one was printed in Thor #212 (cover date – June 1973).

Thor letters page with J.M. DeMatteis

On Ebay: Thor | J.M. DeMatteis

August 25, 2010

3-D Comics Showcase #1 Battle for a Three Dimensional World

Filed under: 3-D Comics Showcase — Doorman @ 3:14 pm

James Cameron’s Avatar inspired an all-new wave of 3-D hype but the comics medium has been meddling with the third dimension (in both form and story) for ages now. Here’s a look at some 3-D comic movement.

3D Cosmic Publications published Battle For A Three Dimensional World in 1982. It was written by Ray Zone (famous for his 3-D comic process) and illustrated by the legendary Jack Kirby. A poster was released in tangent with the book that you can see below.


Battle For A Three Dimensional World by Jack Kirby

On Ebay: Jack Kirby | 3-D Zone

August 24, 2010

Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed #21 Alien

Filed under: Swiped: Comic Book Cover Swipes Exposed! — Doorman @ 8:51 am

After looking at hundreds of comic book covers, it becomes quickly apparent that not every cover is 100% original. Whether done intentionally or even underhandedly, there’s something about uncovering these “swipes” that adds a new element of fun to reading and collecting comics.

1979’s Alien was a ground-breaking sci-fi film that’s gone on to spawn several sequels, video games, comic books, toys, posters and tons more pop-culture items. It’s popularity has made it the target of a few comic book cover swipes over the years.


Alien
1979
 

Bad Eggs: That Dirty Yellow Mustard #3
December 1996
Don Perlin

Deadpool #40
May 2000
 

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #6
February 2010
Arthur Suydam

On Ebay: Deadpool | Arthur Suydam | Bad Eggs

August 23, 2010

One-Shot At Greatness #21 Daring Mystery Comics

Filed under: One-Shot At Greatness — Doorman @ 9:23 am

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: November 2009
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: David Liss
Artist: Jason Armstrong
Cover Artist: Clint Langley

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

In 2009, Marvel Comics published 70th anniversary specials for ongoing titles they had released way back in 1939 when they were known as Timely Comics.

In an interview in the present time, the Phantom Reporter recalled his origin from 1939. Dick Jones had the best of luck! His wealthy parents encouraged him to follow his dream of being a reporter. His colleagues and boss allowed him to quickly work his way up the ranks and an important story quickly changed his life. He began to uncover a murder investigation that led to some very corrupt dealings by a wealthy and powerful businessman named Oswald Chancellor. Chancellor owned a pharmaceutical company and when a scientist discovered the secret to eternal life, he had the man killed and the formula stolen. He used the formula on himself, giving him five times the strength and density of a normal man. Jones, delving deeper and deeper into the investigation, donned a mask to protect his identity. Although, as powerful as Chancellor was, it was easy for him to uncover the Phantom Reporter’s true identity. Ultimately, the formula led to Chancellor’s death (in a roundabout way) but the event taught Jones about the important balance between his job as an ace reporter and his life as a vigilante.

David Liss‘ first comic story is a wonderful pulpish crime thriller. He adds plenty of depth to a one-dimensional golden-age character who hasn’t seen much limelight in the past 70 years. Liss also delves into the character’s origin and creates a story that makes it seem plausible how this man would go from a reporter to a masked vigilante. In contrast to the well-crafted story is Armstrong’s sketchy, unfinished style. I suppose some may feel that it goes well with the pulp story but, when I compare it to the excellent cover provided by Clint Langley, the interior artwork comes up short.

To round out this great comic book experience, they’ve included a pin-up, artist sketches and an afterward by Liss. There’s also a full-color reprint of the Phantom Reporter’s first appearance from Daring Mystery Comics #3, which was originally published in April 1940.

On Ebay: Phantom Reporter | David Liss | Jason Armstrong | 70th Anniversary Special

August 21, 2010

Minimate Spotlight #16 Vault Guards

Filed under: Minimate Spotlight — Donny B @ 6:27 pm

Action figures have long been a perfect compliment to comic books, since every kid (or kid at heart) has that natural desire to act out adventures with their favorite heroes off the drawn page. Every so often, a unique style of figure comes along that breaks the mold, so to speak. Each Saturday, Donny B will be showcasing various offerings from Art Asylum’s take on the ‘block figure’, with a weekly spotlight on Minimates.

What do you do with all those super villains after they get arrested? In DC’s continuity, the most favored spot to place a captured baddie is Arkham Asylum. But in the Marvel Universe, it’s a place known as “The Vault”.
Thanks to technology from Tony Stark’s Iron Man armor, the Guardsmen who work security in The Vault are able to keep super powered villains in check even without special powers of their own.

Art Asylum decided to utilize the “Vault Guards” as their army builder for Marvel’s 30th wave, giving collectors a chance to own yet another character (or rather, characters) who may never have been produced otherwise.

Behind the Image:

As I’ve stated in the past, I love playing around with lighting. I also love trying to use random objects as background filler. In this case, I arranged various parts from a computer that I had recently disassembled, and highlighted everything with a few yellow and blue lights.

On Ebay: The Vault | Guardsman | Arkham Asylum

August 20, 2010

Retro-Read #20 Hitman

Filed under: Retro-Read — Doorman @ 7:52 am

With years spent reading single issues here and there, juggling storylines of dozens of titles, I decided it was time to find a better way to read comics. So, it was off to the back issue bins armed with the longest want list you’ve ever seen! Putting together series after series and reading them in their complete goodness, I was reborn as the Retro-Reader!

Hitman #1Publisher: DC Comics
Number of Issues: 60
First Issue: April 1996 ($2.25)
Last Issue: April 2001 ($3.95)
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: John McCrea

*Warning! Plot Spoilers Below*

Tommy Monaghan is a hitman based out of Gotham City. But, he’s not just any hitman … he’s the only guy in the business of killing superpowered targets. And, armed with x-ray vision and telepathy (which he got during DC Comics’ Bloodlines crossover) he’s the right guy for the job. Even though he’s a killer, he’s still got some morals instilled from his Catholic upbringing … y’see, he only kills people he thinks are “bad”. But, the Arkannone want that changed for their own evil purposes, so they’ve sent the Mawzir to Earth to corrupt our hero, Tommy.

The book kicks off with Tommy being offered $1,000,000 to kill the Joker. He figures it would be easy enough to break into the Joker’s cell in Arkham … after all, the prisoners are always breaking out of there. But, he didn’t figure on the villain having his very own protector … Batman! Naturally, Batman’s isn’t going to let Tommy cash in on this job but there are plenty of others that the Hitman can do. And, each job brings him closer to his dream of retiring in New York City.

Hitman #43Following an aquatic zombie invasion, the Mawzir overthrows his Arkannone masters and rallies some forces to destroy the Hitman. Luckily for our boy, Tommy, he’s got plenty of friends of his own willing to lend a hand. Natt the Hat, Catwoman, Etrigan the Demon, Section Eight and a few others join in to fight against the Mawzir in the six part storyline, Ace of Killers, which seems to close out the first “act” of this series.

One might hope for some R&R with the threat of the Mawzir eliminated but, no such luck for our hero, Tommy. He quickly gets caught up in an old vendetta against a squad of S.A.S. forces as well as Men’s Room Louie and his goons. After pitting both sides against each other, Tommy makes an unscheduled detour to Ireland to discover some startling revelations about the family he never knew he had. Now that he’s discovered the horrible truths about his father, Tommy decides to do something good with his life. So, he and his pals go the African Republic of Tynanda to unseat an unjust dictator and, by the time they get back from their mission, they discover that their home city of Gotham has undergone quite a few changes due to the events from Batman’s No Man’s Land storyline. And, while Batman’s out picking up the pieces of Gotham, Tommy and his pals are left to stave off a vampire invasion of the city.

The home stretch of the series begins with a death of a major supporting character and then takes a U-turn into a battle against a pack of time-travelling dinosaurs. Then, it’s back to some more deaths of important characters before the final storyline of the series, Closing Time. In this eight part tale, Tommy has to stop a group of rogue scientists who are attempting to utilize the alien DNA from the Bloodlines crossover (wherein Tommy developed his super-powers) to create their own team of loyal super-beings. This operation goes all the way to the top and involves some important federal agencies. Agencies that can make or break you. Will Tommy be able to stop these terrible experiments and escape to freedom?

Hitman #49The Bad: Even after sixty issues, I still feel like there was a lot more story to be explored … and I would have liked a happy ending! My other minor beef is that Ennis quickly strayed from the “super-powered hitman” idea. Sure he went after the Joker initially … but, there were very few super-powered hits after that. Now, I do see the problem here. Sending Tommy out after well-known villains and not being able to have them killed in continuity would make Tommy look pretty inept. However, I’d still have liked to see him go up against some DC heavy-hitters.

The Good: At one point, Hacken gets his hand bit by a zombie penguin. For fear of the infection spreading to his brain, he begs Tommy to cut his hand off. Moments after doing so, the evil scientist who created this zombie infection informs them that you can’t catch it from a zombie bite. Scenes like this are what Garth Ennis is known for … and there’s plenty of this black humor to be had here! Despite the time-traveling dinos and zombie penguins, most of the series isn’t so over the top that it takes you out of the ground-level action and character moments. The series plays up a lot of dark humor but it’s also a real genuine book. There are a lot of down-to-earth stories here that allow you to delve into who these characters really are. And, despite being a hitman, Tommy’s really a good guy, deep down. This is at the root of what makes it possible for us, the readers, to root for a murderer and still feel OK about it. To top it off, the creative team of Ennis & McCrea stayed on the book the entire time, giving it a great feeling of consistency.

The Verdict: Garth Ennis and John McCrea have put together a great, fun read about a charming hitman. It’s weird to be rooting for a murderer but, Tommy’s really such a good guy beneath that cold, hard exterior that you can’t help but want things to work out for him. And, what’s a book without a strong support cast? This one’s got quite a few that all stand out as unique, believable and genuine characters. Ennis writes their conversations and great witty banter in a way that allows us to get a good handle on how close these guys really are. I would have liked a happy ending but, the door’s still slightly open enough for some more adventures. And, I’ve a feeling that there are more out there!

On Ebay: Hitman | Garth Ennis | John McCrea

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