Comic Books

#leftcontainerBox { float:left; position: absolute; top: 60%; left: 70px; } #leftcontainerBox .buttons { float:left; clear:both; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px; padding-bottom:2px; } #bottomcontainerBox { height: 30px; width:50%; padding-top:1px; } #bottomcontainerBox .buttons { float:left; height: 30px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px; } Gunn is high level agent for ARGUS, an offshoot of Homeland Security in the DC Universe formed especially to deal with superhuman threats in the wake of Darkseid’s attack. Gunn reports directly to Amanda Waller, who has tasked Gunn to approach and recruit Francisco Ramon. Ramon hides a secret, but ARGUS has learned that Ramon [...]

According to Perez Hilton, who appears to have no real track record in this particular kind of reporting* at all, rumours of Hawkeye being recast in the next Avengers movie simply aren’t true. You may have missed the rumours – they didn’t appear to be very substantial – but Perez is going so far as to quote ‘sources.’ Not sources he’ll name, mind, but all the same. It’s something. Our sources tell us that the recasting rumors are completely untrue and that he will indeed return to the silver screen as Hawkeye! Phew! And, though it had been reported that some comments Jeremy made pissed off the execs over at Marvel, we’re told he’s still “very much a part of the Marvel family.” I’m inclined to believe Perez spoke to somebody in Renner’s PR camp. This story isn’t typical for him, and I doubt he’d run it without reason. But it’s not an official comment or a tested source, so I guess it’s still pretty rumourish as well as rumourbusting. Still, I believe it. And I’m glad he’ll be back. *Or, really, any kind of reporting. He gossips, and that’s fair enough. Rumourish Rumourbusting – Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye To Return For Avengers 2

So Yahoo is buying Tumblr for over a billion dollars. The micro-blogging network sometimes seemingly to be supported by pure feels, is deemed worth that amount by Yahoo, a company which, well, sorry can anyone remind me what Yahoo do these days? I seem to have forgotten. So well done Tumblrers, showing us how much you care has made some people very rich. Anyway, Tumblr has reacted as you might expect. Mark adds: By the way, follow us on tumblr. All Your Tumblr Are Belong To Yahoo

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Only an idiot, of course,would interview one member of a comic-strip creating team and forget to interview the other partner.  So, just to prove my not interviewing Sheila for CB#3 was part of an over-all strategy -here’s the interview!  [I wonder if anyone bought that excuse?] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TH:Sheila,thank you for taking the time out to answer these questions.  As far as I canfind out,even in girls titles,you were one of a very few women working in British comics;were you ever aware of this? SHEILA:Yes! TH: Before anyone writes in,I am not forgetting Hilary Robinson who wrote for 2000 AD! Oh,I suppose I ought to have asked this question first since it is tradional -if I may?  Where and when were you born? SHEILA: 1930.  Islington,London. TH: Did you grow-up reading comics yourself? SHEILA: Yes, usually other peoples copies -CHIPS!, KNOCKOUT [the original], GIRLS CRYSTAL, DANDY, etc.. TH: I presume, if I may, that you never thought about writing comic strip scripts until you met Terry?  When did you first meet him and at what point did he reveal that he wanted to draw comic strips for a living? SHEILA: At the Dali Continuation School from work -handing out an exercise book covered in cartoon drawings of comic characters. TH: Did you get involved in helping Terry write the scripts?  I know it takes a great deal of time and effort drawing comic strips, so how did you and Terry manage before his big break in 1967 -did you both have other jobs? SHEILA: Yes, then immediately on a freelance/part-time basis. TH: You decided to help scripting; did you find this easy at first or did it take a while to get into the stride of things -in fact, I don’t think I even asked Terry if you wrote scripts or whether you both just put your heads together and “talked scripts” through? SHEILA: Its a very joint effort and we “talked scripts”.  First script was “Belles Of St. Dominic’s” for POW! Annual. TH: Are you an artist, yourself?  SHEILA: NO! TH: I was wondering whether at some point you ever thought “I’d like to have a go at drawing comic strips”? SHEILA: NO! TH: Maybe inking a page of Terry’s pencils? SHEILA: No,No,No  -I’M NORMAL!!! TH: Ahh.  The comment of a woman married to a comic artist!  Most women not involved in the comics industry tend to view comics as “childish” and not to be taken seriously,but,having worked with Terry since the 1960s,has your opinion changed? SHEILA: No!  I have always believed that comics should be additional “fun” reading -for children. TH: Was there ever a low point when you suggested to Terry that it might be a good time to quit? SHEILA: No! TH: I’ve asked Terry this but I wondered–is there specific work in comics that you think is his best? SHEILA: They have ALL been good in their time! TH: Which character that you’ve both worked on do you think was the most fun? SHEILA: “The Scarey’s Of St. Mary’s”  and “Ginger’s Tum”! TH: What point in yours and Terry’s career do you think was the best? SHEILA: It’s been a very consistent “fun time”! TH: If you had to give advice to a young woman wanting to start a career in writing/drawing today what might it be? SHEILA: DON’T!!! There isn’t the market today! Terry: Any final words for the Readers? SHEILA: Having experienced a time in remedial reading at [Middle School] “fun reading” was great help in starting youngsters off -into more serious reading!  So,comics have their place! Enjoy! TH: Again, thank you, Sheila.

If True Blood Season Five could be easily summed up – and really, it can’t – the theme was about the consequences of one’s actions. Unlike the previous season, this one seemed determined to tidy things up and thin out the herd a bit. During the course of the season, Alan Ball let it be known this would be his final outing as showrunner and clearly, he was determined to be the one to say farewell to a few friends and foes. The season therefore zipped along at a wild, frenetic pace that saw more fangs, blood, and naked bodies than before. Since Charlaine Harris’ novels began being adapted for HBO, the supporting cast has grown and interestingly, they’re the ones who appear to be the most interesting, getting the deepest development. The triangle of protagonist/antagonist/lover of Sookie, Bill, and Eric sees them getting the least depth this time around as the focus moves with regularity. Sookie (Anna Paquin) is a telepathic human/fairy who can’t decide who will make her happiest: long-suffering Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), now King of Louisiana; long-lived Viking Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård), or Alcide (Joe Manganiello), a werewolf for variety. She bounces from man to man, scheme to scheme and during the season never seems to take charge of her destiny, making her appear weak. The series’ mix of characters, themes, and setting in Bon Temps has made True Blood addictive viewing and Ball gets the credit for finding ways of taking the novels and enhancing them for premium cable, highlighting the more visual character traits and dosing the series with plenty of sex and nudity. Its compelling television as pure entertainment and the fourth season left us panting for more. Similarly, by resetting the stage, season five left us ready for some new directions which arrive in June. Meantime, HBO has released season five in a combination Blu-ray/DVD boxset complete with excellent extras and Ultraviolet digital copies. After a season resting under tons of concrete, Russell Edgington (Denis O’Hare) is back and seeking revenge against Bill and Eric. With Marnie the witch dispatched, they can concentrate on dealing with him, largely adapting Dead as a Doornail. Ball, unlike previous outings, knowing this was his last chance, as well as liberally lifting from subsequent novels in The Southern Vampire Mysteries. As has become custom, the new season picks up immediately where we left our fangbangers with Lafayette and Sookie standing over the bodies of Tara (Rutina Wesley) and Debbie. In short order, Pam turns up and agrees to turn Tara, a warped way of preserving her life and continuing to torture the strong character. Sookie agrees to help Pam (Kristin Bauer) fix things up with Eric, which is easier said than done, especially with the sexy blond, and Bill, arrested by the Vampire Authority, led by Roman (Christopher Meloni), for Nan Flanigan’s murder. Rev. Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian) is back, declaring himself a “Proud Gay American Vampire” while Jason (Ryan Kwanten), his former acolyte, deals with his new relationship with Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll), realizing the hookup now means his lifelong friendship with Hoyt (Jim Parrack) is done. Tara is finally resurrected and furious at being a vampire and her arc this season is coming to grips with her new reality, which also shows us another side to Pam. See? Consequences. There’s plenty of Council political intrigue as they hunt Russell and deal with the rebellious Sanguinistas and Alcide has contend with the wolf pack that still disapproves of him. Meantime, the humans are tired of seeing their own kind become victims in the fighting and before the season is over, become a new threat. Meanwhile, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) has had enough brujo magic and finds his spiritual roots in signs from Jesus or is it his lover Jesús (Kevin Alejandro)? Jason, meantime, has his own spiritual journey as he learns what really happened to his and Sookie’s parents. Jessica, one o

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}     Terry was interviewed in COMIC BITS #3 and 5 as those with long memories will remember.  I’ve never posted this online and it was, sadly, not included in The Hooper Interviews book. But for posterity…here you go! _____________________________________________ TH:Now,Terry,you went along to see Cos [Albert Cosser,Editor of WHAM!] over at Odhams when you were in your late thirties.  You mention,in a chaper of your autobiography I’ve seen,that this was going to definitely be your last attempt at getting into comics.  How long had you been trying before the big break in 1967 Terry:Forever!!?   Above:Terry at the drawing board and his wife Sheila. c. 1970? TH:I’ve known many comic artists and you can always tell those who enjoy their work.  This is what really shines out in your work;the love of drawing.  So,my question has to be;could you really have thrown it all in and said “Well,I’ve given it my best shot -where’s the ’Situations Vacant’ page?” Terry:No.  I’ve always been enthusiastic about drawing “fun pics” along with a great interest in other artists’ work!   TH:In CB#3 you mentioned how you and Sheila tested ideas on children to see if they’d catch on.  Big problem is that kids today don’t grow up with comics like they used to [though,as with my nephew,Gerhard (7),put old comics and annuals in front of them and they’re engrossed.  So does the “kid test” still work? Terry:It still works -I get involved through grand children and young groups. TH:Going back to when you met Cos;you took on the ailing “Sammy Shrink” strip.  Presumably you worked on this from home? However,when you got more involved,such as assisting Jack Legrand to put together WHIZZER & CHIPS,was this an office job?  What was it like to initiate the preliminary work on a new British comic -were there any problems? Terry:Always worked from home.  No real problems;the time was right. Above: Terry & Sheila at the London Eye 2000 TH:Now,I know the idea of WHIZZER & CHIPS was that there was a comic within a comic that you could,if you wanted to pull out.  The amount of blather over “why?” is almost daft -what was the idea about and whose idea? Terry: “Two comics-in-one” -Bob Paynter’s idea- we always,from day one,worked closely with Bob on all future projects.  I always told young audiences that the two-comics-in-one idea was to save arguements in a two child household when the comic popped through the letter-box -often,a bright child in the audience would suggest that the “two children” could still argue over who read which part first!!!! TH: Just looking at your stripography in CB #3, you either created,ghosted or took over strips that most of us today would say were the strips of their time -“Danny Dare”,“Sammy Shrink”,“Baby Whamster”,“Grimly Fiendish” - to name a few of the hundred plus[!!] characters you worked on.  You must have been really pleased!  The question is,have you ever received fan-mail while working on the strips,or since [most creators seem to have been unaware of just how loved their work was]? Terry:Yes!  From all over the World.  A couple of years back now,there was one from New Zealand from a father who was introducing his own child to the art of comics -my art! In the early days we broke all Fleetway records on fan-mail with the strip “Scribbler”! Cartoonist Terry Bave from a February, 2013 Isle Of Wight County Press Interview to be found here:http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/wight-living/desperate

Richard Caldwell writes; Camilla d’Errico is a highly skilled and impressively imaginative artist. Freely exploring multiple mediums with multiple media, among her many in-progress projects is illustrating the core thread to the DRAVN project, currently taking over the pages of Heavy Metal. Was a creative spirit fostered in your childhood? Do you feel that artists can be especially sensitive to their formative environments? My childhood was full of Saturday morning cartoons, and filled with the company of many children. I was always encouraged by my mother to draw and be creative, she would teach me how to draw animals along with the other children in her daycare. I’m not sure whether being an artist made me more sensitive to my surroundings, but I do think that the 80s was a great time to be a kid. There were so many cartoons and shows for kids that encouraged strong morals and they did it in a way that was very relatable. I do think that my own environment helped me become the artist I am today, so it could be true for others as well. Were comic books what led you to graphic arts specifically? Does your creativity spill over into other mediums? I have a lot of ways that I channel my creativity, I draw, paint, sculpt, fashion design, and never stop trying new mediums. Graphic design was one way for me to focus my ideas, to see the printed media in a new way and to understand the mechanics behind the art. My love for comics has led me to try 3D animation, fine arts and graphic design. I can’t help but continually expand my knowledge in multiple medias. What was your first impression upon hearing about the DRAVN project? I was really excited! This was right up my alley, as it’s a great mix of steampunk, teenage drama, sci-fi, and history. I couldn’t dream up a better combo. I really liked Jesse as well, his enthusiasm and creativity were infectious and I was on board immediately. As the character whose segments you are illustrating is in many ways the focal point connecting the assorted stories through time together, does it feel like you’re fronting a band? Was she your preference, of the diversive cast? Britney was the first character conceived in the DRAVN project and the one that Jesse brought to me, so I do feel, in a way, that I was at the forefront of the project. I didn’t have a choice who I would draw, but that doesn’t matter because I feel very attached to Britney and her story. What was the most challenging aspect for you, in your contributions to this world-building? To create a character that was average but that stands out. Britney is limited by her circumstances, so she can’t have movie star hair or an outfit that was striking and truly harajuku or even remotely well put together. She’s a poor kid, in a small town, without the kind of lifestyle that lends itself to beauty. Unlike the other comic heroes out there, Britney doesn’t have the perfect look, so it’s refreshing, but challenging because people want to be attracted to their heroes, they want someone to aspire to be. Perfect body, perfect hair, perfect fashion. I think creating a world and characters outside a metropolis of fashion is great and refreshing but also challenging. DRAVN creator Jesse Negron is new to comics, but not at all new as a writer or storyteller. As large as the premise is, and considering the creators involved reside all around the globe, was it the slightest bit surprising to see how everything came together like so? Is this the largest project you’ve thus far worked on? Jesse’s mind is boggling! He has an absolutely incredible vision and I think he’s done a beautiful job bringing it to life and factoring in all the various layers to the DRAVN world. It is definitely one of the biggest projects I’ve ever worked on, but I also work in the gaming industry, so I’m used to projects with large worlds. It was definitely a ride to see DRAVN

Lego Batman: The Movie DC Super Heroes Unite Out on Tuesday is Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, a long title for a short (71 minutes) computer-animated original movie. It’s awfully cute, though. This film caused lots of giggling at our house, part just from the weirdness of seeing these characters as Lego, but more from how fun it all was. (I worry that some six-year-old is going to be disappointed that his Lego figures don’t walk and talk and clap by smacking their U-shaped hands together.) I kept being amazed by what I was seeing, and what they all said, and their expressions, and the goofiness. Once of the Joker’s henchman actually holds someone upside down and shakes him until coins fall out of his pockets. It’s a high-tech throwback to Saturday morning fun with a unique visual design sense. Each surprise brought new laughs from sheer enjoyment. There are lots of neat details, rewarding close attention, whether it’s Batman’s alternate suits or the Lego skeleton floating in the chemical pool. It looks rather like any DC animated film, sleek and plastic, until you get close up. The characters, Superman and Batman, have those blocky legs. Capes are weird in Lego superhero world, since they’re grained to look like rough fabric. Bald Lex Luthor is particularly strange, since without hair, all we see is the nub on top of his head block. The movie retells the plotline from the LEGO Batman 2 videogame. The action starts when Lex and Bruce Wayne are up for a Man of the Year award at a ceremony crashed by the Joker. Luthor is running for President, and he enlists the Joker’s help to win. We also get Catwoman, Two-Face, the Riddler, the Penguin, Harley Quinn, Robin … a whole gallery of heroes, plus Lego bats and sharks. Superman’s an overwhelming do-gooder while Batman is jealous and hurt that his pal didn’t come to see him get an award. After Lex and the Joker team up, releasing a bunch of villains from Arkham Asylum along the way, Batman reluctantly gets help from the Big Blue Boy Scout. Seeing the three heroes interact is funny, as Robin looks up to Superman while Batman is grumpypants, muttering to himself about Superman’s powers destroying the evidence. There’s lot of welcome humor (even in the end credits). Particularly, I find, when they use the Lego abilities. For instance, one vehicle during a chase splits in half, while another time, Robin turns his cycle into a boat in mid-air by reconfiguring the bricks. Also, I loved the way they played the classic theme every time Superman appears. That fanfare is inspirational. Clancy Brown voices Lex Luthor in Lego Batman Although Batman (voiced by Troy Baker, videogame regular) is the star, the best-known member of the voice cast is Clancy Brown, “the definitive voice of Lex Luthor”, who also played the character in Superman: The Animated Series. Here, Superman is played by Travis Willingham; Christopher Corey Smith is a dynamite Joker; and Charlie Schlatter is the voice of Robin. (You know, I liked 18 Again!) The Joker, in particular, is hilarious in his dementia. Said Brown about the part, “I think Lex getting some laughs is a little overdue. And it’s fun for me to go a little bit out of character. Lex is usually so sincere and scary, and now he finally gets to say something clever to get some laughs.” Eventually, the Justice League shows up to help out, and Gotham is saved. Here’s the movie trailer (which overplays the JL involvement, in my opinion): Creation credits are given for Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, Martian Manhunter, and Bane. I guess that means the Joker, Green Lantern, and the Flash just sprung into being on their own. Then KC explained to me that second-generation legacy characters are complicated, because the question of whether to include the Golden Age creators is difficult. (Should Martin Nodell get cred

Posted On Today at 12:42:03 pm EDT by Blargh [Reply] [Quote] [New] Quote: BEN REILLY? I was looking at the upcoming Solicitations for August (I believe.), and it looks like in the Scarlet Spider books, they're going to bring back: BEN REILLY! Why Marvel, why? Are they really that low on ideas? Yeah, I know, Ben Reilly has a fanbase, but still, the Clone Saga almost ruined the Spidey franchise. Why open that can of worms again? To appease a few people? Ben Reilly is seriously better off staying dead. They killed him for a reason. Why are they doing it? Probably because Yost has constructed a wonderful story with the Scarlet Spider title. A story is only as good as its writer. Some of my favorite comic book issues have a fairly mundane premise such as "day-in-the-life", but they read so well (Jason Aaron did this really well in one of his runs on Wolverine). Similarly, other plots that sound amazing and astounding and action packed fall completely flat, like the SPIDER-MAN IN JAIL!!!! plot during the middle of the Brand New Day era. Quote:Plus, his death actually CAN be as pivotal to Peter and impact him on a level akin to Captain Stacy, Gwen, etc. If other writers acknowledge it. Okay, they do. A lot. No, not as often as Gwen. But it has been acknowledged several times. Quote:Can't ANYONE in comics stay dead anymore? Because if the story is good enough, writers shouldn't be restricted by dumb "rules" for stories. Without Bucky coming back from the dead, we would never have had Brubaker's wonderful runs on Cap and Winter Solider.

Later on, I’m going to watch The Name of the Doctor. I wasn’t fit and well enough to see it with all of you. It was the first episode this year that I hadn’t live blogged, actually. So I’m going to not-live blog it later. I’ll send a tweet out via @BleedingCool to give you a heads up on when I’ll start. And then you’ll be able to voyeuristically peer in on my viewing, witness my reactions and read my observations as I try to catch up with the rest of the world. For now, just a heads up that this will be coming later. I’ll let you know exactly when as soon as I can. Doctor Who Not-Live Blog: Watching The Name Of The Doctor After The Rest Of The World