Brave New Worlds

Three other Dark Horse Comics properties that people often wonder about are The Goon, Criminal Macabre and Umbrella Academy.

The Goon and Criminal Macabre are going to get a one-shot team-up by Eric Powell and Steve Nile in June with another Criminal Macabre one-shot to follow before that character takes residence in the newly-relaunched Dark Horse Presents, out April 20.

As for the family of heroes in the Umbrella Academy, unfortunately Daniel Way is pretty busy and most likely will not get to anything anytime soon as he is currently working on Killjoys for Dark Horse, which the company hopes to see released in 2012.

That’s it from us Ray Conniff, cheese-puffing loving, moon writing fans.

Dark Horse Comics at Wonder-Con in San Francisco had some interesting news on the Buffyverse and some of their other titles as well.

First, Buffy will be returning with Season Nine in September, a 25-issue run with the first book written by Joss Whedon before he hands the reigns over to Whedonverse disciple Andrew Chambliss (who wrote for Dollhouse, as well as Vampire Diaries and Heroes). Georges Jeanty will be drawing the monthly book once again.

But before Buffy returns this summer, check out the start of an Angel/Faith 25-issue series written by Christos Gage (Avengers Academy) and drawn by Rebekah Isaacs (DV8, Gods and Monsters). Angel returns to Dark Horse Comics in a big way this summer as he travels to London with Faith, both of whom are still reeling from the devastating events in the Season Eight finale.

Also look for the return of Spike and his Bug Crew as well as some of the other Angel supporting characters (Illyeria, Connor, and others) as stories make sense for their return.

Scott Allie also said look for some mini-series of Buffy characters including a potential Willow run and a visit back to the universe of Fray.

Due to the heavy Buffy-centric  mission, don’t look for any new Serenity titles anytime soon. However once Whedon gets finished with his little movie called The Avengers, look for him to get busy with that other ‘verse of characters he created.

It would seem that this little title known as Uncanny X-Force has introduced a whole new batch of people to a guy I’ve been talking about for about five or so years now…A guy named Rick Remender.

Read the rest of this entry »

Action Comics #900

Paul Cornell, Richard Donner, David Goyer, David Lindelof (w) Pete Woods, Jesus Merino (a)

He’s Back! That’s right. The big guy with the cape has been absent from his debut book for a few years now. Not that we are complaining after the past year’s Lex Luthor centered stories, think Dark Avengers only with more arrogance. All that changes with this issue as Superman returns in this milestone book as he goes mano y mano with one certain mad bald dude. Plus other tales from some of the industry’s best and brightest.

Amazing Spider-Man #659

Dan Slott (w) Stefano Caselli (a)

Marvel has decided to leave us to our own devices when it comes to this week’s Spidey as they have included no information save “classified.” So we have to guess what this week issue is all about. My first thought is Spidey was shooting for some bubbling crude, black oil and then his family said Spidey you need to move away from here and that’s when he decided to move to Beverly.

Avengers 12.1

Brian Michael Bendis (w) Bryan Hitch (a)

Bendis and Hitch together for this one special issue of Avengers. If you have not been reading Bendis new Avengers you have been missing what feels like a movie in every issue. The first two arcs have centered on Kang and the Infinity Gauntlet. The latest Marvel point one issue is a great jumping on point for new and casual readers. Plus, if you have been reading you sure don’t want to miss this one as the Avengers have a lot going on. Spider-Woman is gone! Return of SWORD! And of course the Intelligenica as well.

Brightest Day #24

Geoff Johns, Peter Tomsai (w) Ivan Reis, Pat Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Joe Prado (a)

The finale starts here. Twelve heroes and villains were resurrected. Will all remain? Will one be Earth’s new chosen hero? Will Billy Campbell make a cameo and go all 4400 plan on the 12? Will I stop asking questions? All this and more as the end of Brightest Day begins now.

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Premium Hardcover Volume 4

Jonathan Hickman (w) Steve Epting, Nick Dragotta (a)

This is it! This is the one where the famed Fantastic Four are no more. And this one pulls out all the big hitters – Doom, Galactus, the Yancy Street Gang and of course the Thing turning back into Ben Grimm. What more could you ask for from this phenomenal run by Hickman on the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine. Collects Fantastic Four #583-588.

Flash #11

Geoff Johns (w) Francis Manapul (a)

Flashpoint is approaching and the seeds are sitting in this little ol’ issue of The Flash. After waiting months for the next issue of The Flash to come out, DC gives us our second issue in three weeks. Barry Allen is chasing after Barry Allen as more becomes revealed for the coming Flashpoint event in the DC Universe. The Road to Flashpoint continues here.

Marvel Select Thor Movie Thor and Loki Action Figures

From Asgard comes the next release of the awesome Marvel Select figures – movie versions for the upcoming Thor movie of Thor (of course) and Loki. These generally sell out fast so plan on grabbing yours right away. Brave New Worlds also has stocked up on previous releases including movie Iron Man, Juggernaut, Hulk, Thing, Magneto, Cyclops, Spider-Man and many more.

Mighty Thor #1

Matt Fraction (w) Oliver Coipel (a)

The “mighty” is back in Thor this week as Journey Into Mystery took over the other Thor title a few weeks back. This is where the story continues as Coipel returns to the God of Thunder! If you have yet to check out Fraction’s work on Thor, now is a perfect jumping on point.

Here were are looking at the list of the comics coming out for the last new comic book day of April 2011. Where the heck did April go?

Read the rest of this entry »

Click here to read previous strips of The Comicverse.

Reader nostalgia is the theme for DC this summer, after last year’s Wednesday Comics and the previous weekly mini-series of the years prior, DC is attempting something different for fans with its “Retroactive” line of one-shots staring in July.

Often times we hear many customer conversations in the store comparing the merits of Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern to that of John Stewart over even Kyle Rayner. Or how about Barry Allen’s Flash to Wally West? Well DC has an answer for this as they will be bringing back classic heroes and their former creative teams from the 1970s, 80s and 90s for all-new stories. Also included in each issue that will consist of 26-pages of brand-new material will be a 20-page reprint.

Not only are the former creative teams writing new material for these special one-shots, they will also be handpicking the reprint material as well. Talk about getting the chance to relive those issues you fell in love with back in the day. And for newer readers, here is an opportunity to see what all the fuss was about, or how your favorite characters have grown over the years.

July releases will include cover the 1970s; Batman by Len Wein and Tom Mandrake, Justice League of America by Cary Bates, Andy Smith and Gordon Purcell, The Flash by Bates and Benito Gallego, Green Lantern by Dennis O’Neil and Mike Grell, Wonder Woman by O’Neill and J. Bone and Superman by Martin Pasko and Eduardo Barretto.

The 1980s and 1990s will follow in August; Superman by Marv Wolfman, Wonder Woman by Roy Thomas, The Flash by William Messner-Loebs, Justice League of America by Gerry Conway, Green Lantern by Len Wein and Batman by Mike Barr as well as Louise Simonson on Superman, Messner-Loebs on Wonder Woman, Brian Augustyn on The Flash, Keith Giffen and J.M DeMatteis on Justice League (JLI anyone!), Ron Marz on Green Lantern and Alan Grant on Batman.

I already have my sights set on a few including all of the 1970s books plus the 1980s Justice League and Superman. However for my money the one I will be really looking forward to is Giffen and DeMatteis’ Justice League book. Here’s hoping they can get Adam Hughes to pencil it.

If you are as excited as us, make sure you reserve your copies today at Brave New Worlds!

Akira Kodansha Graphic Novel Volume 6

Katshurio Otomo (w/a)

The unofficial birth of manga and anime continues in collected form as Dark Horse presents the sixth volume this week. It’s a tale as old as time, you know two friends do everything together, grow up, become adults and then one day, whamo! super powers. I hate it when that happens. However, it begins to get fun when the government targets those powers, and we are not talking Twister fun either. And in case you are worried about jumping into the story at volume six, no worries, Brave New Worlds also has the previous five volumes in stock and patiently awaiting your purchase – it’s the way we roll.

Dan Clowes Mister Wonderful Love Story TP

Daniel Clowes (w/a)

Eisner-Award winner Clowes is back with a story that is probably the most heartfelt piece he has ever written, Mister Wonderful Love Story was originally published in serialized form in the New York Times. Marshall is a divorced, middle-aged and unemployed catch, on his first blind date, one which shows up about an hour late. However, when she shows up, Wow! Va-va-voom. Of course this being a story, the date itself should be a story in itself, and it is.

Dark Horse Presents #1

Frank Miller, Harlan Ellison, Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams, Richard Corben, Paul Chawick, and more (w/a)

Dark Horse’s analogy is back and this 80-page issue is jam-packed with a who’s who from the industry – and not just any names, but the giants. There is a new Concrete tale, a new Star Wars Crimson Empire story and an exclusive first peek at Miller’s prequel to 300, Xerxes.

Invincible #79

Robert Kirkman (w) Ryan Ottley, Fco Plasencia

The Viltrumite war is over and Invincible returns to Earth. But of course it’s just not as simple as that as he returns home to find things not as he remembered. Of course now I have to wonder, is this the result of a time jump, another dimension, black or worm hole?Questions, questions and more questions this week in the pages of Invincible. Wonder if we will get to see the alternate universe Olivia as well? What? Can’t I throw some Fringe love in here?

Page by Paige GN

Laura Lee Gulledge (w/a)

This one is perfect for the teen is your family who stays away from the cape books but might be hip enough to read a comic. This is the story of Paige (of course) who juts moved to New York City and is a little overwhelmed by the big city, who wouldn’t be? So she does what any normal kid would do, she starts coming up with different identities in her sketchbook, and this is where I story really begins.

Shield HC Architects of Forever

Jonathan Hickman (w) Dustin Weaver (a)

Remember that completely different mentioned in the opening tease? Well if you are looking for different here it is as Hickman takes Marvel’s super counter-intelligence team S.H.I.E.L.D. and populates its members with Isaac Newton, Imhotep, Galileo and more. Long before there were super heroes defending the Earth, there was these dudes.  Collects S.H.I.E.L.D. #1-6.

Super Dinosaur #1

Robert Kirkman (w) Jason Howard (a)

From the mind of The Walking Dead, Invincible and Astounding Wolf Man comes a brand-new book with a Dinosaur as its hero Yo. Turns out there is this evil dude by the name of Max Maximus that wants to take a trip to Inner Earth where the dinosaurs live. He is looking for a powerful mineral that exists only there and it turns out our new hero Super Dinosaur along with his pal Derek Dynamo can stop Max as the fate of EVERYTHING rests solely on their shoulder. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting two of these.

Zombies vs Robots Undercity #1

Chris Ryall (w) Mark Torres (a)

Admit it, you were hooked on IDW’s Infestation and kind of wishing it did not have to end. Well guess what – it’s not ending. Turns out just because the event ended does not mean the Zombies left. And that is where the fun starts. So the survivors head underground to their, wait for it, Undercity, where another threat looms, of course.

Another week passes and yet more comics hit the shelves! One of them with a very unique name chooses this very interesting date to be released…

Read the rest of this entry »

For me the first sign of Summer being right around the corner is Free Comic Book Day. Next to nothing beats firing up the grill, grabbing a cold drink and reading some comics…unless those comics are free ones!

Read the rest of this entry »