‘Champions’ gets a new first issue, new art team and international focus

Writer Jim Zub welcomes the ‘Wayward’ art team of Steven Cummings and Tamra Bonvillain to the series.

At New York Comic Con, Champions and Wayward writer Jim Zub was on hand to announce two new projects — including a relaunch of Marvel’s “teens saving the world” team The Champions.

The comic will receive a new #1 in January, along with a new art team — one Zub knows well. He’ll be joined by Steven Cummings and Tamra Bonvillain, who he worked with on the Image series Wayward. Zub explained the reason for the reboot on his blog.

“The response to my Champions stories has been great so far and many of the single issues have gone into second printings, but in the current retail climate the simple truth is that readers look to issue #1’s as a clear jumping on point for stories and characters,” Zub said. “When new Marvel Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski came on board I was already announced as the writer of Champions with issue #19 and so, as other Marvel series have been getting Fresh Start issue #1’s to mark important story changes and signal to readers and retailers that they have big plans, it was decided that Champions should get the same treatment in the new year. Marvel is really happy with what I’ve been doing and they want to make sure more people know about it and get on board.”

Continue reading “‘Champions’ gets a new first issue, new art team and international focus”

Smash Pages Q&A: L Nichols on ‘Flocks’

The ‘Ley Lines’ creator discusses the collected edition of ‘Flocks’ from Secret Acres, music, engineering and more.

L Nichols has been serializing Flocks for years, working on the comics memoir in between other projects, including overseeing the acclaimed quarterly comics series Ley Lines. Flocks is out now in a collected edition from Secret Acres. Also out now is the new issue of Ley Lines, which is written and drawn by Nichols. Nichols and I have met at various shows over the years but never sat down to talk.

Flocks is an immense achievement, but it’s also striking how well Nichols made the individual issues stand on their own and how well they work as chapters of a book — and how well it comes together into a thoughtful and emotional story arc. It is one of the best of the year, but also deserves a place among the very best graphic memoirs ever made. We spoke recently about Beethoven, engineering and religion.

Continue reading “Smash Pages Q&A: L Nichols on ‘Flocks’”

Comics Lowdown: Stan Lee speaks out on elder-abuse allegations

Patti LaBoucane-Benson appointed to Canada’s Senate! Finding Olivia James at CXC! Plus: Grant Morrison, Matthew Thurber and why we love Spider-Man so dang much!

People: In an interview subtitled “Those I Trusted Betrayed Me,” Stan Lee speaks to The Daily Beast about elder-abuse allegations against his daughter and the removal of several of his associates from his life.

“There really isn’t that much drama,” Lee said. “As far as I’m concerned, we have a wonderful life. I’m pretty damn lucky. I love my daughter, I’m hoping that she loves me, and I couldn’t ask for a better life. If only my wife was still with us. I don’t know what this is all about.”

People: The Outside Circle comic writer Patti LaBoucane-Benson has been appointed to Canada’s Senate by Prime Minister Trudeau.

Continue reading “Comics Lowdown: Stan Lee speaks out on elder-abuse allegations”

Smash Pages Q&A: e jackson

The cartoonist and scholar discusses ‘It’s Discourse, Archie’ and much more.

e jackson is a cartoonist and scholar. They have been drawing comics and illustrations for a few years now, making minicomics like Flux and Love Bites, webcomics like Warm Blood and Baby, and appearing in anthologies including We’re Still Here. They cohost the podcast Drawing a Dialogue with Cathy G. Johnson and are currently in the PhD program in Comics Studies at the University of Florida.

One of jackson‘s recent minicomics, It’s Discourse, Archie, captures a lot of what makes their work so interesting and so unique. The comic is autobiographical but states very clearly that it’s talking about issues as a way of commenting on the show Riverdale. The way they play with the expectation of autobio comics and of fanfiction, while also explaining and addressing ideas and theory. These are many of the same concerns that e addresses in their scholarship and I reached out to talk about how they work and being a comics creator in between classes.

Continue reading “Smash Pages Q&A: e jackson”

Vertigo unleashes a bunch of art from upcoming titles at NYCC

Check out artwork from ‘Lucifer,’ ‘Books of Magic,’ ‘Goddess Mode’ and more.

DC Comics brought a lot of news and even more art from upcoming titles to the New York Comic Con this past weekend. With Vertigo in the middle of a relaunch, they were front and center with new artwork from Goddess Mode, Hex Wives, High Level and the Sandman Universe titles Books of Magic and Lucifer.

Let’s take a look:

Continue reading “Vertigo unleashes a bunch of art from upcoming titles at NYCC”

1.5 million copies of new Raina Telgemeier graphic novels coming next year

A how-to guide to creating comics and a new memoir called ‘Guts’ will arrive in April and September, respectively.

Scholastic/Graphix has announced two new Raina Telgemeier graphic novels for 2019, including a new OGN and a “how to” book for creating comics.

Share Your Smile: Raina’s Guide to Telling Your Own Story will be released April 30, with a print run of 500,000 copies. Schlastic says it’s for “readers interested in writing, drawing or both” and “will guide readers in brainstorming ideas, making lists, featuring their personal photos and using their imagination as a catalyst for storytelling. For additional inspiration, Share Your Smile also features a behind-the-scenes look at Telgemeier’s work, including a teaser to her new memoir.”

Continue reading “1.5 million copies of new Raina Telgemeier graphic novels coming next year”

Dark Horse to publish final volume of Victor Santos’ ‘Polar’ next year

Fourth volume of the story of a retired spy is one of three ‘Polar’ projects planned by Dark Horse as the release of the movie approaches.

The fourth and final volume of Victor Santos‘ Polar series will arrive from Dark Horse next March, along with a “volume zero” and new edition of the first volume, Polar: Came from the Cold.

All of which makes a lot of sense, given that the Polar film is set to debut from Netflix next year.

Continue reading “Dark Horse to publish final volume of Victor Santos’ ‘Polar’ next year”

‘Black Widow’ returns in her own solo series next year

The Soska Sister team up with artist Flaviano to send the ‘officially dead’ Black Widow to Madripoor.

The Black Widow will return in her own solo series in January, courtesy of film directors/writers The Soska Sisters and artist Flaviano (Low Road West).

“This is actually a stand-alone adventure for Natasha that focuses on her doing what she does best,” Jen Soska told Bustle. “We’re taking Natasha to the baddest place on Earth in the Marvel-verse, Madripoor, where she’ll find the kind of villains that don’t deserve mercy. She’s back from the dead and she’s not happy about it. She’s looking to let off some steam in the most permanent of ways.”

Continue reading “‘Black Widow’ returns in her own solo series next year”

DC Comics shares more Wonder Comics art

The pop-up imprint curated by Brian Michael Bendis will include ‘Young Justice,’ ‘Dial H for Hero,’ ‘Wonder Twins’ and a new comic called ‘Naomi.’

At the New York Comic Con, the Brian Michael Bendis panel brought some additional tidbits and lots of art for the upcoming Wonder Comics line.

First up, here’s a look at more artwork by Patrick Gleason for Young Justice, which Bendis will write. Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, will also appear in the title, and will get her own series in the Wonder Comics line in the future.

Continue reading “DC Comics shares more Wonder Comics art”

‘The Girl in the Bay’ surfaces at Berger Books next year

J.M. DeMatteis and Corin Howell team up on a new comic coming from Karen Berger’s Dark Horse imprint.

The Berger Books line continues to grow, as the Dark Horse imprint announced a new title at the New York Comic Con this weekend — The Girl in the Bay by J.M. DeMatteis and Corin Howell.

This isn’t the first time the prolific DeMatteis has worked with editor Karen Berger, as Vertigo published The Last One and Mercy back in the day.

“The chance to work with Karen Berger again was too good to pass up,” said J.M. DeMatteis. “I was part of the launch of the Vertigo imprint 25 years ago, and I’m delighted to be a part of this exciting new chapter in Karen’s career. I’m equally delighted to have the amazing Corin Howell illustrating our project, The Girl in the Bay: a dark tale of mysticism, time-travel, cosmic identity theft, and murder.”

Continue reading “‘The Girl in the Bay’ surfaces at Berger Books next year”

Bellaire, Mora put a stake in BOOM!’s new ‘Buffy’ title

BOOM! Studios will relaunch ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ in January in stories set at Sunnydale High.

Following the announcement that BOOM! Studios obtained the license to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the publisher announced this weekend that writer Jordie Bellaire and artist Dan Mora will work with Buffy creator Joss Whedon on the title.

“Buffy has brought my life so much joy and to be part of that now is ridiculously overwhelming on many levels,” Bellaire said. “My very favorite aspect of Buffy is how we have a wide group of characters that love each other, hurt each other and sometimes, they even kill each other. I can’t wait to dabble within that universe to find new stories, explore older ones and forever maintain the theme of self discovery and growing up, whatever that means.”

Continue reading “Bellaire, Mora put a stake in BOOM!’s new ‘Buffy’ title”

Conan draws his ‘Savage Sword’ again in February

Gerry Duggan and Ron Garney headline the return of ‘Savage Sword of Conan.”

Conan the Barbarian won’t be the only new Conan title coming out from Marvel next year. The publisher announced at New York Comic Con the return of Savage Sword of Conan, by Gerry Duggan, Ron Garney and Richard Isanove.

“My first job was in 7th grade, working part-time at a comics shop that needed help going through their inventory,” Duggan told Marvel.com. “I fell in love with the classic Conan material that year. To be able to play in this sandbox now is a dream come true.”

Continue reading “Conan draws his ‘Savage Sword’ again in February”