From Friday, February 17 to Sunday the 19, in Orlando, Florida, Mega Con opened its doors once again to Comic, Sci-fi, and Anime fans for one of Florida’s biggest conventions of the year. People flock from all over, to one of the biggest gatherings of fans for the goal of trying to out nerd each other, and with over an estimated 40,000 attendees, this was one of the busiest years for Mega Con.

Despite the crowd, it is easy to get around the convention and check out all the shops that were set up. There were a vast variety of different shops; Comics, anime, collectables, cosplay costumes, and even weapons (blades). But probably the most impressive thing there were the prices.

Naturally you can find collectable comics that range between $100-$600, but they also sell various comics at a high discounted price. You could purchase a $30 comic set for only $5, and if you’re interested in the Essential or Showcase series, which average $17 a volume, can be picked up for around $9. This is usually the reason why many fans and enthusiasts go to the convention, and it is worth it.

If you were to come to Mega Con without friends, you would have made friends fast within the convention. Thousands of people, with similar interests, gathering together, it is real easy to just go up to someone and reference anything in comics or anime, and you’ll fire an instant connection. Here at Mega Con, you really feel like family.

One issue with Mega Con was that they did not prepare for the crowd that showed up. Employees were pointing people one way and others pointing them another. As for the convention floor, at points, it felt like trying to go downstream against migrating salmon. There were so many people that there was no order on where to go or how to get somewhere.

One solution that Mega Con should do for next year is to set up the convention floor like New York City. Setting the floor up in a grid and having certain paths go in one direction would help with the flow of traffic, rather than having everyone going everywhere which just adds more chaos into a very crowded environment.

Despite the few issues with Mega Con’s crowd, the convention itself was a truly amazing site and one of the best experiences of anyone’s life. If you are a fan of comics or just want to experience something unique, you should check out your local conventions.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/digital_ramapge/

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AMC’s smash hit zombie thriller ‘The Walking Dead’ will conclude its second season this Sunday with a dramatic episode set to deal with the fallout from last week’s cliffhanger.

In the most recent episode, “Better Angels”, Shane (Jon Bernthal) was killed off before immediately reanimating as a zombie without coming into contact with one – which the series had previously intimated was the sole way of transforming into one. This has led fans to ponder if all of the surviving characters are already infected with the deadly condition that has being driving the series’ main storylines since its very first episode, and an answer is expected to be given in this Sunday’s episode.

As for the other cliffhanger from the March 11 episode, the last scene showed dozens of zombies making their way toward the farm where the characters have been staying for the majority of this season, setting up a probable confrontation and potential character deaths in the much-hyed season ender.

Jon Bernthal’s exit from the series last week, when his character Shane was killed during a confrontation with Rick (played by Andrew Lincoln) came as little surprise to fans of the comic book series on which the television is based, as Shane was originally killed off much earlier in the story.

For fans of the television series who were unaware of the narrative timeline in the comic books, Shane’s death also came as a relatively minor shock, following the announcement in January that Bernthal was set to join the cast of ‘L.A. Noir’, a new series from Frank Darabont, who was in fact ‘The Walking Dead”s original show-runner until disagreements with the network led to his departure from the series last summer.

As for the remaining actors on the series, there have been no announcements about any of them joining new television projects, leaving the fates of their characters in this week’s finale unknown. However, the death of Bernthal’s character came just one episode after the death of fellow original cast member Jeffrey DeMunn’s character Dale, leading fans to speculate that the season finale could mark the most severe loss of life yet.

‘The Walking Dead’ already centred its mid-season finale around the revelation that the series’ youngest survivor from the pilot – Sophia, played by Madison Lintz – had died and transformed into a zombie, forcing group leader Rick to execute her in front of her mother Carol.

The relatively high number of on-screen deaths in recent week has been welcomed by some fans, after the first half of the season was criticised for being too slow-paced and lacking any particularly gripping storylines.

In spite of these criticisms, ‘The Walking Dead’ has continued to perform well in the ratings, maintaining its status as AMC’s number one program. Season-to-date, ‘The Walking Dead’ has averaged 6.7 million viewers per week over its 12 airings, up more than 20% compared to the 5.2 million average it received for its 6-episode first season. AMC has has given the series a vote of confidence by renewing it for a 16-episode third season.

This increased episode order makes ‘The Walking Dead’ one of only two series on AMC, the other being ‘Breaking Bad’, to go beyond the network’s standard 13-episode order, a standard still in place for ‘The Killing’ and its Emmy-favourite veteran ‘Mad Men’, which will take over ‘The Walking Dead”s time-slot when it returns for its fifth season on March 25.

As for whether ‘The Walking Dead’ will end its season on a cliffhanger or hint at what the characters will face in the future, fans have only a few more days left to wait and see.

Image Courtesy of    https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkingDeadAMC

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In the next installment of CLAMP’s Gate 7, the team of artists and authors who make up CLAMP keep readers captivated with their style as well as storyline. Although there are many characters throughout the story, readers will become acquainted with them as they continue on their journey through the upcoming volumes.

Quite a few names may ring a bell to anyone who has studied Japanese history, but don’t be alarmed if you do not recognize them, because CLAMP provides brief summaries at the end of the manga to let the readers know more about characters which may be a hazy memory.

Gate 7 does not lack in plot. In fact, it holds the usual suspects, including a romantic and dramatic storyline. The characters met on every page seem to have their own secrets. A playful and subservient teacher may turn out to have a darker side, and the cute, noodle-loving girl you see on one page may not be that same endearing character you see five pages later.

CLAMP keeps readers intrigued with their ability to bring about every emotion, within just a few pages.  Readers will find themselves laughing one moment and becoming defensive the next, as they follow each individual on their journey.

Also, since this is a manga translated from Japanese, the names of each character have a particular meaning.  Just to make sure readers do not overlook these seemingly small details CLAMP has included snippets in the back of the manga to inform readers of the meanings of the names.  Keeping these meanings in mind adds new light not only to the characters themselves, but to their particular importance in the story’s plot.

CLAMP has definitely taken an interesting turn when it comes to confronting historical figures in manga.  By adding a layer of oni (a sort of Japanese demon or ogre), which are prevalent in many aspects of Japanese culture throughout their history, the authors are reaching out to a variety of new fans, all the way from Japanese history fanatics to avid and loyal CLAMP followers.

This is a new manga that you will not want to miss.  For an overall rating I would have to give it a 4.  A 5 would have been ideal, but the great number of characters can be a bit confusing, unless you pay close attention or have an amazing memory.  The next installments, I am sure, will help with the repetition of little known characters met in this volume and make the story all that more enjoyable.

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DC Comics recently released the second installment of Sword of Justice, their new five-part series set in the world of Diablo, Blizzard Entertainment’s hit ARPG.

Issue #2 picks up right where its predecessor left off. Jacob ends up killing his father in self-defense, but it seems as if the old man’s mind had been poisoned by some mysterious ailment. With his last breath, he warns Jacob not to touch his blood. Back in the present, Jacob is still in the mysterious cave he discovered in the previous issue, staring at a glimmering sword that protrudes from the ground.

Jacob pulls it free, much to the relief of the hooded woman who had been guarding it. She introduces herself as a wizard named Shanar, and unlike most comic book females, she is actually somewhat modestly clothed. No chainmail bikini for her! She delivers some exposition about the sword, but her spiel is cut short when thugs from Jacob’s homeland pay him a visit. Jacob is reluctant to see them killed, so he forces Shanar to pull her magical punches.

In a nice nod to Diablo III, Shanar fights with wizard spells that will appear in-game, such as Electrocute and Wave of Force. Of course no good deed goes unpunished, and Jacob is rewarded for his mercy by being knocked unconscious and taken prisoner. Thankfully, Shanar returns to Jacob’s side and helps him to escape his captors. But the bad guys prove to be persistent, and Shanar uses a teleportation spell to whisk herself and Jacob from their grasp.

They end up in the Black Marsh near the Forgotten Tower (two areas that will be familiar to players of Diablo II), but the issue’s last panel suggests that they might have exchanged the frying pan for the fire.

The first issue was understandably a bit heavy on the exposition, but scriptwriter Aaron Williams has toned it down in Issue #2. He has also done a nice job of incorporating some of the newer lore that has been developed for the Diablo universe. The bit about the Crystal Arch in the High Heavens fits in nicely with the Book of Cain.

And speaking of lore, it is interesting to note that Williams told IGN that he had originally planned to have a scene in the Forgotten Tower. He ended up dropping it because the Tower apparently shows up in Diablo III and he did not want to create continuity problems. If the Tower does indeed make a comeback in Diablo III, it would be nice if we actually got to see it; in Diablo II, we only saw the (rather expansive) basement!

Despite Williams’ obvious talent, there are some plot issues that left me scratching my head in confusion. Take the battle in the cave, for example. Jacob tells Shanar not to kill the thugs, which seems spectacularly unwise given the circumstances. His decision to show them mercy might have been more believable if he were trying to reason with them, but he makes no such attempt.

Instead, he fights in moody silence and refuses to deliver killing blows. But what does he hope to gain by holding back? Does he hope his enemies will just get frustrated and leave him alone? Perhaps Williams was trying to show Jacob as naive and good-hearted, but instead he comes dangerously close to being ‘Too Stupid To Live’.

Similarly, when Shanar helps Jacob escape after he is captured, it seems hard to believe that she would not attack the thugs while they were busy dismembering their dinner. They were totally distracted; it would be the perfect opportunity for Shanar to take them all out. At the very least, she and Jacob should have discussed some sort of counterattack. Instead, she and Jacob just run off into the woods. That sort of behavior seems to be dictated by plot necessity rather than logic.

Those matters aside, Issue #2 was an enjoyable read. Overall, the story remains compelling, and it will be interesting to see what else Williams has in store for Jacob and Shanar.

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In part three of the interview with Cole Haddon, Cole discusses the way he saw the Jack the Ripper murders and how they influenced ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’. He also discusses the idea he wanted to get across when pitting the Ripper and Hyde against each other.

Toonari Post (TP): Other than classic horror, I also saw you delve into historical references with your antagonist, Jack the Ripper. I was thoroughly impressed with the details you put into the Ripper murders, even going as far as introducing an actual suspect in your comic as one of the plot devices, and especially the letter to “Boss”. What was your interest in the Ripper case, and why did you decide to have Jekyll and Hyde take on one of England’s most infamous murderers?

Cole Haddon (CH): I like the idea of pitting Victorian England’s greatest fictional monster against Victorian England’s greatest historical monster, which just sounded like fun. Jack the Ripper has a great place in history and clearly continues to fascinate people. I also think he’s become very mythologized; he’s almost as much of a fictional character as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

So, incorporating him seemed fun. I remember growing up and loving the first Elsewords’ graphic novel ‘Gotham by Gaslight’ where Batman confronts Jack the Ripper and, I think, that probably had a lingering influence on my smashing of these two characters together.

It also stems from the fact that I wanted to do a sequel to ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, to return to a character that I loved so much as a kid, but did not feel I could add anything to the original novel. It was a pretty solid novel, but I don’t feel it necessarily holds up today, in terms of its relevance.

The debate between good and evil had been usurped by the concept of ego which Robert Louis Stevenson was wandering around and exploring long before Freud pondered that theory. So, tackling the sequel, to wonder how Hyde might have evolved after he began to learn and think, because you meet him as a very young identity in the novella.

Carrying that forward, I found a very interesting character, with regards to philosophy and how the world really is, but I didn’t really think he was the bad guy anymore. If anything, he was possibly right in the train of thought I had followed.  I needed a villain worse than him, and the wondrous thing about Victorian monsters is that very few of them are true, outright villains.

Maybe the Invisible Man and Mr. Hyde are just mad, evil sons of bitches, but most of the characters have some sympathy, and the Ripper seemed like a great antagonist for a character who already was the boogieman of London.

Could there be a villain that Hyde’s ego couldn’t bear the thought of? You know, a character that was proud of the thought that he was the baddest of the bad, that he was the guy that parents warned their kids about when they went to sleep, so they would behave. The fact that someone existed to challenge that title also seemed to be very appealing, and somehow Jack the Ripper fell into that.

He just seemed like the ideal choice, and that helped establish the identity of the ‘Strange Case’ series, as it hopefully moves forward, which is not only mashing up a lot of the Victorian monsters in science fiction that I enjoyed so much as a kid, but mashing it up with actual history, rather than allowing it to exist in a bubble.

TP: I really appreciate your time with me today, and I just want to congratulate you on an amazing story and the amazing job you’ve done. I absolutely loved the comic. It was incredible! I really want to wish you luck, and I hope you continue on further with your career!

CH: Alright! Thank you so much!

‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’ collection comes out February 22 from Dark Horse Entertainment.

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In part two of the Cole Haddon interview, Cole goes into how he was able to put ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’ together, along with the many inspirations and influences he had when making the comic.

Toonari Post (TP): About your comic, ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’, your first issue was released in April 27 of 2011. Since then, you’ve released three other volumes, and now, in February, Dark Horse will be coming out with the four volume package. The one thing I was immediately impressed with was the artwork by M.S. Corley. How did you two come together for the project?

Cole Haddon (CH): M.S., I actually forgot what that stands for, but I know ‘M’ stands for Mike. At the time that the deal had been made and we were moving forward on ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’, my editor at the time, Dave Land, who has moved on from Dark Horse since then, sent me five or six really talented artists to consider, people who actually had name recognition. But a lot of it was, I don’t mean this as a slight, but it was the more conventional stuff.

There were a few that were a little out there, but for the most part, it was styles that I was familiar with. I knew from the start that I wanted ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’ to just look different, that when someone picked up the comic book to just immediately think that “this is something different, maybe I should pay attention to it.”

After going back and forth a little bit, they sent me Mike’s work, which I was immediately struck by because it didn’t look like other things that were out there. But he also didn’t have much of a history in comic books.

He had illustrated an eight-page story for Dark Horse Presents’ MySpace page. I believe that’s how it worked, which ironically enough involved Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Jack the Ripper, very odd, but a much more monstrous version of everything.

So it struck me as different and special, and we got on the phone and didn’t stop talking for like 90 minutes about how much we loved classic horror movies. Of course, that inspired ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’, and by the end, it just seemed clear Mike wanted to work on the research and figure out how to put on the page what I saw in my head.

I haven’t regretted the decision since. He’s done nothing, but amazing work and pushed himself every step of the way, even when there could have been easier ways of doing things. He consistently challenged the instincts that both of us had.

TP: At the point when Adye and Jekyll meet up with Newcomen in the Museum of Waxworks, that made me think of ‘The House of Wax’ with Vincent Price. What would you say your biggest influence for making this comic is?

CH: I think probably as an aesthetic storyteller, everything has come, for me, from film. Film has led me to every classic book I’ve ever read. It’s sort of the launching pad to my entire existence. Probably several years ago, upon seeing ‘Pulp Fiction’, it was the first time I realized that my natural instinct to mash things together, just because I thought it was cool, actually could work.

For instance, something that Tarantino has been doing ever since, is mashing together genres and films that have no business being in the same movie, but somehow works. I could only dream that I’m remotely effective as he is.

But that was really the launching point for combining a love of a lot of classic horror from Universal Pictures Monster movies of the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, which had a huge impact on this series, to the Hammer Horrors to the ’50s, ’60s, and early ’70s before they went off the rails.

That had a huge impact. In fact, there is a Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee cameo in the series if you look very carefully. It was always the intention to draw inspiration to from the films that had such an impact on me as a child, to somehow reintroduce that feeling, that love of Gothic horror to a reader who might not be all that familiar with it.

The colorist, Jim Campbell, did some remarkable work, I think. He was probably chiefly responsible for invoking the feel of those Hammer films, in particular with the color pallet he chose. Contrast, saturated, and de-saturated colors between the upper-class and the lower-class to thematic colors for characters, the use of the brightest, most garish red we could come up with for blood that is never diluted by shadows or distance.

Blood, just like in all of the Hammer films, just has to scream at the audience. Even the ‘House of Wax’ reference is correct. Madame Tussauds is a real location.

Because the film goes hand-in-hand with the comic book, it was important that there were set pieces, major set pieces that people would recognize and would be exciting to see on the screen, and Madame Tussauds was one of those just for what it offered in terms of action, in terms of being able to actually have a visual representation of what the popular idea of what Hyde is.

There is also the fact that I love the Vincent Price ‘House of Wax’ and go all the way back to the Michael Curtiz’s ‘Mystery of the Wax Museum’, which is an old, two-color inspiration for the ‘House of Wax’.

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Recently, Toonari Post spoke with Cole Haddon, author of ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’. The comic, by Dark Horse, was a successful four volume series which has recently breached Hollywood and will become a full-length motion picture. Cole Haddon explained to us how he got his start and how he came up with the story behind ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’.

Toonari Post (TP): How did you start your current career?

Cole Haddon (CH): I moved out here to L. A. six years ago with the intention of breaking into the film business as a screenwriter. That took about three years with the help of friends I made, because I got representation and got some attention on some scripts I was working on. That led to reaching the comic book world to a meeting with Dark Horse Entertainment, and that’s how I became a comic book writer. But, for the screenplay stuff, that was just hard work and people eventually liking what I was doing, and it paid off.

TP: How long have you been focused on screenwriting, and then evolved to comics?

CH: As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a storyteller. I think I’ve just gone with that title as an umbrella for what I wanted to do, because I drifted between so many different mediums. When I was 13, I thought I was going to be a comic book writer, and I was also an illustrator.

So I was trying to break into the business just as the image boom was exploding around the country. But it took me forever to draw a comic book. Where other people do it quite naturally, I would have been spending two years to do two issues. But I enjoyed the stories so much and transitioned into screenwriting, and then went off to college where I then again transitioned into writing novels and short stories.

Until about 28 or so, I just realized film was where my heart had always been, and I was just running in circles around it, because I think in Michigan, where I’m from, you’re largely told that’s a dream for other people, that you should just go get a job at General Motor or if you get your degree and become an engineer, or a lawyer, or doctor, or something simple and easy and clearly lucrative.

So I ran from diving in for a long time, and I just gave up on running and got in the car and drove out here, and I’ve been here ever since. Very long and winding, and not at all a direct path, but I always knew that I wanted to be telling stories, and that, so far, looks like what I have to do.

TP: When you went into making the comic, was there anything specific you wanted to introduce into the comic world? What did you feel was missing and that you wanted to add in the comic book industry?

CH: I’ve been a comic book fan since I was probably eight and worked at comic book stores, and like I said, I thought I was going to work in the comic book industry from a very young age. That was mostly from the love of super hero comic books, and as I got older, though, I found I wanted more and more sophisticated stories, which weren’t always to be found in the super hero series.

So, I think when I finally got the opportunity to move into the medium, thanks to Dark Horse, I really wanted to use it as a means to explore themes that I wasn’t really allowed to touch in my screenwriting career.

In many ways, I call comic books my independent film because it pays like shit, but the satisfaction is through the roof. I control everything, and you get to create your own property, such as ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’.

So having that freedom to explore ideas, sometimes challenging ideas about society and religion and politics and many of these things that I found in the medium that I wanted to play with, and I didn’t necessarily see enough. There is much of it out there, but it’s stuff I had to look for. So when I finally got into it, I wanted to, at least, focus on that myself.

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Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi -Force Storm is a comic set 36,000 years Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) where Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star.

This first issue sets up the world in which readers can become familiar with the re-imagined origins of the Je’daii. An Issue Zero was actually released that depicted the various buildings, pre-hyperspace ships, organizations and characters that readers would come to know in Dawn of the Jedi Issue #1.

Well written by John Ostrander with penciling by Jan Duursema, this comic reads and looks fantastic. With inking by Dan Parsons and Coloring by Wes Dzioba, the vividness of the characters almost jump off the page in their lifelike movements. Lettering was done by Michael Heisler. There are two covers available from artists Jan Duursema and Gonzalo Flores. The story was conceived by both Jan Duursema and John Ostrander.

The opening of the comic, after the set up by Issue #1, is 12 years after the end of the Despot War. This was a war in which the Je’daii fought in order to defend against the growing war path that Queen Hadiya, Queen of Shikaakwa was spearheading. In the end, she fell at Kaleth, the temple of knowledge.

The Je’daii take her actions and look for resemblances in her once noble goals to unify a nation. In her, they see a loss of balance and so strive to understand the ways of the force and how it binds the universe in equality.

The Balance of the Force is another essential element to the Dawn of the Jedi comic series. As issues progress, it is likely that the polarization between the light and dark sides of the force will become more and more prevelent. Master Ketu, an adult who is watching over two children, appears to be the narrator to the founding of the Je’daii. He speaks to the children of the balance of the force, about the balance in all things and that they should focus on balance even as they are in conflict.

A precursor to the Jedi Code, the Je’daii code is different in that it seeks balance between harmony and chaos rather than only harmony and no chaos at all as with the later Jedi Code, not to mention the sith code. The Je’daii code therefore includes tenants that accept the feeling of hatred and fear, as long as hatred and fear are not the only existing emotions a Je’daii feels.

In balance, a Je’daii feels hate but also feels love, they know chaos and they know harmony and are therefore immortal in the force. Meanwhile on another planet called Tatooine, another sort of conflict waged. Dawn of the Jedi Force Storm follows the tale of Force Hound Xesh.

A Force Hound is, much as the name describes, a seeker of Force Sensitive individuals on planets that the Rakatan Infinite Empire seeks to control. Force Sensitive’s are found and then destroyed. Xesh is owned by Predor Tul’kar, a Rakatan overlord.

The Rakatan Infinite Empire is a government that currently seeks the destruction and enslavement of other cultures. As an Empire they cull Force Sensitive’s when possible, likely to remove competition and take only a select few to become Forces Hounds to hunt for other Force Sensitive’s within the galaxy. What weapons will these Force users utilize since the only sword wielding of any kind in Dawn of the Jedi will involve real steel rather than light particles.

It seems then, that through the force, Master Ketu and Xesh therefore will eventually clash. The first issue gives clues to the exciting next issue that will come as Xesh and his master Predor Tul’kar set out to hunt a new planet of Force Sensitive’s, possible Master Ketu on Tython itself. As the first issue comes to a close it seems as if conflict is imminent and only time will tell who will be the victor.

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Keeping the tradition of its creator-owned mentality, Dark Horse Comics has announce its newest venture with Mike Norton—Battlepug

“I was really happy when people first reacted to the comic. It’s hard to predict if the public needs another ‘Giant Pug Epic Fantasy’ story. I mean, we all know those are a dime a dozen, right? Luckily, the story of a barbarian’s quest for revenge with the aid of our favorite four-legged freak seems to have legs,” said Norton.

“When I first made the Battlepug T-shirt, people kept asking when the comic was coming out. So, I put out the webcomic and now everybody wants to know when the book is coming out! I guess now people will want to know when the movie is happening?” This volume collects the first year of Mike Norton’s Battlepug—the perfect opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the fan-favorite webcomic by Mike Norton, Allen Passalaqua, and Crank.

Join Moll and her dogs Mingo and Colfax, as she recounts the legend of “The Warrior and the Battlepug”—a tale of a fearless barbarian, his trusty and freakishly large pug, and evil baby harp seals.

“I’m a huge fan of Dark Horse and couldn’t be more excited to have Battlepug published by them. Hellboy, B.P.R.D., Buffy, Star Wars—they put out some of the best comics currently being made and it’s humbling to even be on the same shelf with that kind of product! I’m super excited for people to read it and look forward to much more in the future!” stated Norton.

Mike Norton’s Battlepug Volume 1 is on sale July 4, 2012. Also (re)joining the Dark Horse Family is Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, bringing their epic Dark Horse Presents tale of an alien hero named Harry to a fully fledged series beginning with Resident Alien #0. 

“I blame Steve Parkhouse. Having collaborated with him long ago on a couple of stories for The Dreaming, I was keen to do so again—and anyone who’s ever seen Steve’s work (on The Bojeffries Saga or The Milkman Murders, to name but two) already knows the reason why: he’s stunningly good,” stated Hogan.

“We introduced our friendly alien to the world in the pages of Dark Horse Presents last year, and those installments have now been collected into Resident Alien #0. Over the next few months, you’ll learn a bit more about Harry and his supporting cast and watch as he attempts to catch a murderer—and that’s just for starters. This alien is here to stay.”

A stranded alien seeks refuge in the small town of Patience, USA, where he hides undercover as a semiretired doctor, masking his appearance using his unique mental abilities. Now known as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, all the alien wants is to be left alone until he’s rescued. However, when the town’s real doctor dies, “Dr. Harry” is pulled into medical service—and also finds himself smack dab in the middle of a murder mystery!

He’d rather be fishing. Acclaimed creators Peter Hogan (2000 AD, Tom Strong) and Steve Parkhouse (Doctor Who) deliver a truly unique sci-fi adventure tale.

The article Dark Horse Comics Introduce Battlepug, Resident Alien appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Cole Haddon, along with his artist M.S. Corley, has created an astounding illustrated tale based off of the classic novella ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. Haddon has given the classic novella his own twist to the story but importantly, stayed true to the original source.

The story itself is an elaborate crossover between the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novella and the historical murders of Jack the Ripper. The plot, which takes place five years after Hyde’s rampage, is an intriguing “Holmes VS Moriarty” detective thriller where the reader follows Inspector Thomas Adye of the Scotland Yard as he begins his investigation into the Whitechaple murders.

Once on the case, Adye finds himself in a situation beyond his control and realizes he is on the trail of someone, or something, that may be too much for him to handle alone. So Adye turns to a similar case of gruesome murders for helpt and finds the one man who may know how to stop the Whitechaple murderer (AKA Jack the Ripper). We are introduced to Dr. Jekyll in the same way Clarice met Hannibal Lecter. This event really sets the tone of the comicbook and the conflict between Adye and Jekyll.

The characters in the story are very interesting and aid the pace and details that really brings this story to life. Adye is a young detective whose goal in life is to become a prestigious members of society, believing that true justice will prevail. On the other hand we have Dr. Jekyll, who used to have the same ambitions as Adye for his science experiments, but after taking the serum and becoming Hyde, now sees the darker side of humanity and believes it should be embraced. These contrasting ideologies are really what drive this story.

The illustrations are another astounding success for ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’. The action scenes are expertly crafted, very visual, and beautiful to look at. The style owns a mature, cartoonish feel with very vibrant colors. The designs are extremely detailed and you can tell that a lot of effort has been put into making this comic book look truly beautiful.

Probably the only gripe with the book would be some of the character designs of the background characters. In one scene when Adye and Jekyll enter a manor, they are greeted by two butlers. The two butlers look as though they have the same exact facial design, which I find slightly troublesome, and the same could be said about some of the police officers. However, this issue can easily be overlooked (and forgiven) when considering how great the illustrations are in general.

Overall, the ‘The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde’ is an amazing work of art and a must read for comic enthusiasts. I found myself giddy when Inspector Adye was introduced to many of the characters from the original novella and the historical figures from the real Whitechaple murder case.

I was especially excited beyond comprehension when Adye received the ‘Dear Boss’ letter from Jack the Ripper. I personally loved this comic do death and found myself wanting more and would implore comic readers to pick this up once it hits shelves on February 22nd! Click here for more details from Dark Horse Comics.

Rating 8/10

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Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine & The X-Men and Avengers; All have new and amazing covers for their new issues unveiled by Marvel this month. As the Phoenix Force continues its bee-line towards Earth, Cyclops leads the X-Men into their toughest battle yet. Also, fans can’t miss two mammoth titans, Colossus and Red Hulk, square off in a bare knuckle brawl across Utopia with an outcome that may sway the tide of the war.

Can the X-Men keep the Avengers out of their nation? Find out in Uncanny X-Men #11 from the blockbuster creative team of Kieron Gillen & Greg Land, available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!

This April as well, as the Marvel Universe waits on baited breath for the arrival of the all-powerful Phoenix Force, Wolverine must choose a side of the coming war…but will the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning follow? Find out if Logan fights for mutantkind or mankind in Wolverine & The X-Men #9 from the blockbuster creative team of Jason Aaron & Chris Bachalo available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app.

Ever imagine what the Avengers would look like if they existed throughout the ages? Well here’s your chance as Marvel is proud to unveil Avengers Art Appreciation Variants available throughout all of April.

With everyone on the edge of their seats for Marvel Studio’s The Avengers, fans will have the opportunity to see their favorite super hero team in the styles of the world’s greatest artists like Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Monet, Pollock, Schielle and more.

No fan can miss their favorite Marvel artists like Alex Maleev, Michael Kaluta, Gabriele Dell’otto, Greg Horn, Gerald Parel and more put their spin on these surefire classic covers.

So be on the look-out True Believers, because in April – these Avengers Art Appreciation Variants are sure to go fast!

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

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When Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre, 30 Days of Night) premiered artwork from his upcoming collaboration with artist Menton3 (Monocyte, Proof: Endangered, Crawl to Me) via his Twitter feed, speculation and anticipation spread like wildfire across the Internet. Now, Dark Horse has finally announce that this new vampiric tale will premiere in Dark Horse Presents.

The Black Plague was a time of death and misery; except for the undead. For vampires, the Black Death was a welcome relief from being hunted and a time of incredible growth for the undead. On the night of their wedding, two vampire lovers are torn apart and separated for five hundred years, setting off a sequence of events that will bring the modern world to its knees.

“I haven’t been this excited about working on something in a long time. Menton3 is the perfect artist and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be doing this at Dark Horse,” Niles said. “This year I’m making a big push to become 100 percent creator owned. Nosferatu Wars will be a big part of that, I hope.”

Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith redefined the vampire genre with the groundbreaking comic series 30 Days of Night in 2002. Ten years later, Niles is poised to make history again, as he and Menton3 blow the sparkle off of the undead in Nosferatu Wars, premiering in Dark Horse Presents later this year.

Earlier this month, Dark Horse Originals also announce two new amazing series from critically acclaimed creators Matt Kindt and Gilbert Hernandez.

Matt Kindt, the most original voice in genre comics, outdoes himself in his bold new espionage series, Mind MGMT. Reporting on a commercial flight where everyone aboard lost their memories, a young journalist stumbles onto a much bigger story, the top-secret Mind Management program. Her ensuing journey involves weaponized psychics, hypnotic advertising, talking dolphins, and seemingly immortal pursuers, as she attempts to find the flight’s missing passenger, the man who was Mind Management’s greatest success—and its most devastating failure. But in a world where people can rewrite reality itself, can she trust anything she sees? If you think you know what Matt Kindt can deliver, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Comics luminary Gilbert Hernandez envisions his strangest, most thrilling future yet in Fatima: The Blood Spinners, a horrifying new take on zombies. A drug called “spin” offers the wildest trip imaginable, followed by its users’ inevitable, rapid deterioration into undead flesh eaters. Despite the side effect, the drug is so popular that the human population is dying out. With no cure to be found, the beautiful, lovesick Fatima may be the only thing standing between the survivors and the apocalypse. Get ready for four issues of zombies, drug lords, and gorgeous women.

Also, announced this month was multiple Harvey and Eagle Award winner Peter Bagge’s Reset, which leads off the Dark Horse Originals variant-cover program.

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Fans of Avengers Vs. X-Men has a lot to look forward to this April; new covers are ready to the upcoming issues. First, as the Phoenix Force continues its crash course towards Earth during the blockbuster comic event of the year, Avengers Vs. X-Men, Iron Fist learns that he has a shocking connection to the all-powerful embodiment of rebirth and destruction.

But what does that mean for his team? Find out in New Avengers #25 from the blockbuster creative team of Brian Michael Bendis & Mike Deodato, available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app.

Next, as the Marvel Universe sits in-between the crosshairs of the all-powerful Phoenix Force, Thor leads the Secret Avengers to space to face the cosmic entity head on. Will their plan work or has Captain America thrown the team into a suicide mission? Find out in Secret Avengers #26 from critically acclaimed writer Rick Remender and fan favorite artist Renato Guedes available in comic shops worldwide. With a cover by living legend Alan Davis, no fan can miss this.

And it does not stop here. The biggest names in the industry pit the largest super hero franchises against one another for the biggest war in comics history. To celebrate this blockbuster event, Marvel has your first look at the Avengers Vs. X-Men #2 Bradshaw Variant by red-hot artist Nick Bradshaw. With the opening salvo fired, the time for talking is over. What side does Wolverine choose and what decision will Hope make that may turn the tide of the war… just as it begins?

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

The article Avengers Vs. X-Men Will Explode this April appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The adventures of Zoey Redbird continue in the newest installment of House of Night, Issue #3. The House of Night is a finishing school for fledgling vampyres awaiting the change to come into their full powers. Boys and girls will eventually become men and women, but until such a time arrives, they stay and train. Learning is the same whether you are human or vampyre, and this lesson is evident within the story.

Written by P.C Cast and Kristin Cast, the mother and daughter team successfully bring the reader into another exciting episode in the life of Zoey, now head of the Dark Daughters. With art by Joelle Jones and Daniel Krall, House of Night is gaining a tradition of excellently drawn imagery, coupled with dramatic storytelling. Daniel Krall also worked on coloring with Ryan Hill for this issue, and lettering was done by Nate Piekos of Blambot. The cover was done by Jenny Frison, who also worked on the covers for issue numbers 1 and 2.

In this newest issue, Zoey meets with the element of water. She learns the story of Circe and how she managed to change the perception of the ignorant outside world with her good deeds and valiant honesty. The lesson of water starts with Zoey using her powers to pour rain on an unsuspecting mob of villagers. Blatant destruction is avoided, but only because Zoey fanned the flames of distrust between the townsfolk and the House of Night residents.

John Heffer is a new character introduced into the series to serve as a primary antagonist now that a tentative friendship with former rival, Aphrodite, has been forged. John Heffer is the reverend of Tulsa and arrives with a mob set on removing the House of Night from their town. A holy man of some considerable renown, John is called “StepLoser” by Zoey. It is his outrage and shame that Zoey has become a resident at the House of Night. With no real knowledge of the House besides what God has given him, John is a stoutly religious man who rejects Zoey’s way of life.

Another new character is Neferet, the school’s alluring High Priestess. It was she who gave Zoey formal control of the Dark Daughters. Her roll has yet to be revealed, but she seems to have a good grasp of leadership in contrast to the impulsiveness of Zoey. The little that is known about Neferet shows that she is quite calm and collected, much like the vampyre, Circe.

In this story, Circe saves Odysseus and his men from great peril. On his journey home, Odysseus and his men encounter a fierce storm and must land on Circe’s island. Initially wary and scared of the unknown, they attack Circe, who defends herself while not attacking anyone, much like High Priestess Neferet has done. Circe convinces Odysseus to give his blood as payment for helping him and his men. In return, she promises to see Odysseus home safely to his family.

The lesson in House of Night, Issue #3 is be more accepting of others and to gain knowledge before casting judgment. Zoey eventually starts small by first saving her younger brother who is being harassed at school for something equally ignorant, his race. She speaks to her brother, Kevin, and slowly he sees that maybe Reverend John, his mother’s husband, and his own mother are maybe not completely right.

This issue of House of Night brings together yet another aspect of teenage life, emulating the bullying that happens in both vampyre and human worlds. There is no one emotion greater than fear of the unknown, and it is this that charges Issue #3 of House of Night with great energy and forward momentum.

Learning each of these lessons gives younger readers a great guide to how art can imitate life accurately. Older readers will certainly enjoy the storytelling, as well as some of the mythology evident throughout the series. This comic is available through Dark Horse Comics now.

The article Comic Review: House of Night #3, Where Zoey Meets Water appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The second issue for House of Night heralds continued pressure for fledgling misfit Zoey Redbird.

The vampyres of this world attend a boarding school called the House of Night and here they receive training and guidance not unlike those at a mortal school. However, newcomers to the series, regardless of age, will recognize the historic references scattered throughout the pages.

Based on a novel written by mother and daughter team P.C and Kristin Cast, this is a new comic series where puberty for some select teenagers will lead not only to odd skin and hormone changes, but adopting new vampire powers as well. With art by Joelle Jones and Joshua Covey, House of Night is drawn beautifully, with each page filling out the story wonderfully. Available here to order at Dark Horse Comics and on store shelves near you.

The cover was done by Jenny Frison, with lettering by Nate Piekos of Blambot and annoyingly authentic teenage conversations scripted by Kent Dalian. The conversations and tone in this comic will ring true to anyone within close proximity to a teenager. The series continues to deal with the drama of growing up as well as the harsh reality of not fitting into your own life.

From the first issue readers will know Nyx, the Vampyre Goddess, has given Zoey the task of learning 5 lessons of leadership with which each associated lesson correlates with a basic element. In issue two Zoey exhibits more confidence in her actions, no longer hiding behind a hooded sweatshirt like an outcast. She displays her ceremonial markings proudly and doesn’t appear concerned with the stir that it might still cause.

Zoey’s main concern is how she will lead the Dark Daughters, a student group that functions as a fledgling support group. The history of the Dark Daughters is revealed within this second issue, so readers from the first issue will have a more clear idea of just how their society functions. Whereas the first issue was rather light-hearted in many respects, this second issue is filled with dark themes and eventual rebirths.

Zoey’s arch nemesis, Aphrodite, is the former leader of the Dark Daughters. Her personality shows the archetype image of the female bully with emotional baggage. For the most part she has belittled, embarrassed, and bullied classmates she believed to be lesser than her. While her story will soon unfold, it is likely that she has a bigger part to play than just the mere bully of an international finishing school.

The newness of the series will make for surprising twists and turns while hopefully avoiding the pitfalls of vampire fantasy. These are all young people in the story, but the themes set deep into the plot are classic storytelling tools that guide a reader along on a journey that often mirrors life. The start of a new comic series, especially when the source material is a novel, should make for a very engaging storyline. So far, this has rung true, with the plot moving along at the proper moments.

This comic is hugely entertaining and gives a visual representation of characters from a long standing novel series, which should do well with fans and new readers alike. It is likely that fans will wait to see their favorite storyline moments unfolding while new readers of the comic will go to the novels for further reading. Pre-orders are also available for the next two issues through Dark Horse as well.

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The second printing of “The Good: Wicked Inclinations” Volume 5, a collection of Issues #14-18, has come out this November 30, almost exactly five years after its original publication in 2006. Featuring an all-new design for the cover illustrated by author, Eric Powell, the second edition of “Wicked Inclinations” offers a humorous and action-packed look into the world of The Goon.

Volume 5 opens with a brief background of one of The Goon’s allies, The Buzzard, who has discovered the Priest’s real name. Armed with this information, he successfully scares The Priest into not calling up any more of the undead, but The Priest is determined, and he manages to create an unholy army of minions set on destroying The Goon.

Meanwhile, Goon and his friend, Franky, defend their territory from several local crime families, as well as help the owner of the bar they frequent from a powerful gypsy bent on getting revenge.

For someone who hasn’t read the first four volumes of “The Goon” series, the beginning comes off as being very serious and a little dark. But as the story continues, the humor shines through. Although it can be easy for humor to overpower or detract from a relatively serious plot, Powell manages to keep the tension going, while at the same time encouraging his readers to have a few laughs along the way.

Originally, Powell had planned on making Issue #18 an independent piece called “Satan’s Sodomy Baby,” but word got out about its possibly blasphemous nature, and it began to be boycotted even before its release. As a result, Powell ratcheted up the offensive content and Dark Horse Comics released it separately as a one-shot.

The title on the cover was changed to “Satan’s **** Baby” with a parental advisory sticker on the front, and plastic wrapping was put on it so no one could accidentally be offended by browsing through its pages. Because of the controversy, “Satan’s **** Baby” will never be put into a collection, but Powell does reference it in “Wicked Inclinations.” Franky finds a copy of the comic and makes several humorous comments about it to Goon.

Eric Powell is most well-known for his work in “The Goon” series, but he has also been involved in a number of other popular comic series such as, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, and The Incredible Hulk. Powell is a talented writer and author, and both abilities shine through in “Wicked Inclinations.”

Stirring violence mixed with humor that is often irreverent, “The Goon: Wicked Inclinations” is a riveting and amusing journey into a mix of 30’s noir, zombies, and fantastic creatures. The winner of the 2005 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication and Best Ongoing Series, this comic is a must-read for anyone looking for a high-quality humorous tale.

The article “The Goon: Wicked Inclinations” Volume 5 Review appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Following up on an announcement made at this year’s New York Comic Con, Dark Horse unveils the schedule for Mike Mignola’s 2012 Year of Monsters program.

The program kicks off in January with a highly anticipated Lobster Johnson miniseries, The Burning Hand. Following up on the critically acclaimed 2007 series The Iron Prometheus, this new story pits the 1930s vigilante against one of the more terrible villains of the twentiethcentury.

These special variant covers will be available to any retailer who orders five or more copies of the standard cover. These are sure to be sought-after items with a broad appeal to fans of Mike Mignola’s work, as well as monster fetishists of all types. “Mike Mignola got into the comics business with the simple goal of drawing monsters for a living,” said Dark Horse managing editor Scott Allie.

“Mike celebrates 2012 by pitting his greatest characters against his favorite monsters on these special covers, unrelated to the stories inside.” With Dark Horse Presents continually adding new and awesome stories to the lineup, Evan Dorkin wants to tell you about House of Fun.

“While we were working on the Milk and Cheese collection with Scott Allie and Daniel Chabon, I pitched the idea to do new material for Dark Horse so I could revive some of my old characters. This dovetailed nicely with the revival of Dark Horse Presents, since most of my humor comics originally ran in various anthologies including several from DHC like Instant Piano, Deadline USA, and the first run of Dark Horse Presents.

“The idea was to bring back as many of my old characters and concepts from Milk and Cheese and Dork as possible, grouping it all under the new House of Fun name. I decided not to use Dork as a catchall title for these comics. I got sick of the name a long time ago and this relaunch felt a good opportunity to finally retire it.

“So, what I’m doing is twenty-four pages of comics to be spread over three issues of DHP, with each eight-page anchored by a new Milk and Cheese strip. The other features will include a new Murder Family episode; several pages of Fun gag strips, as well as the return of The Eltingville Comic Book, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Role-Playing Club.

If all goes according to plan I’ll also be doing a one-page Fisher-Price Theater adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 and a short Devil Puppet story. “Also, the comics will all be colored by my longtime collaborator and long-suffering wife, Sarah Dyer. “This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now.

The last issue of Dork came out in 2006 and it’s been even longer since I worked on an Eltingville or Murder Family strip. I’m excited to be working on my own stuff again, I’m having a lot of fun making these comics, and I hope folks will have fun reading them. If not they can go suck an egg.”

House of Fun will premiere in Dark Horse Presents #10, on sale March 21, 2011.

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Dark Horse rolls out the announcement of all four titles that will be featured in two different comics to be given away to thousands of fans on May 5, 2012.

First comes a special flip book featuring both Felicia Day’s gaming web series turned comic, The Guild, and Dark Horse’s best-selling comics continuation of Joss Whedon’s iconic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Buffy has never needed a vacation as badly as she does now, with the world overrun with zompires and other fallout from Season 8.

After an old friend suggests arelaxing getaway from all things that go bump in the night, it turns out to be harder than she could ever expect for a Slayer to get a day off!

Felicia Day, creator of The Guild, continues to bring on the funny with high jinks from her diverse group of gamers when the Guildies struggle to find a meeting place they can all agree on. A little in-game battle becomes the deciding factor, and the circle follows the decree of the winner: the beach?!

Next up is one of the biggest flip books we’ve ever published, when Zack Whedon brings you tales of the coolest guy in the galaxy and the most charming rebel in the ’verse! That’s right; we’ve paired Star Wars with Joss Whedon’s Serenity.

Han Solo and Chewbacca have a falling-out after a deal with their slickest—and shadiest—customer goes bad. But when the client gets designs on the Millennium Falcon, Han and Chewie present a united front that can’t be beat.

Meanwhile, Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds is no stranger to jobs gone wrong himself. But when the chips are down, he’s able to rely on the amazing, odd, and diversely talented crew of Serenity.

Dark Horse Free Comic Book Day 2012: Four great stories for the price of, well, none!

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Marvel fans rejoice! An array of new comics are on their way as you can join the hunt for Blink in this first look at New Mutants #35. Just as Dani Moonstar and her team have the renegade mutant fall into their laps, they must go head to head against chaotic forces summoned by a group of death metal rockers. Can the New Mutants put an end to the music AND get Blink back in time? Find out in New Mutants #35.

February is going to be an action packed month for another addiction, Venom, but before the insanity begins we’ve got your first look at January’s jaw dropping Venom Variants.

Brought to you by some of the best artists in the industry, get ready for a unique look at your favorite Marvel heroes as they get infected by symbiotes.

Kicking off February with a bang, Venom makes unholy alliances with Red Hulk, Ghost Rider & X-23 to save Sin City, Las Vegas, from total chaos in Venom: Circle of Four. Then, just as Rick Remender and Gabriel Hardman take the reins as the new creative team of Secret Avengers, they draft Venom to the team’s lineup!

Finally, your first look at Secret Avengers #20 is right here – the Secret Avengers are dead and only the Black Widow can save them.

Fan favorite creators Warren Ellis & Alex Maleev send the Black Widow on her most secret mission yet; even her teammates don’t know she’s on it. Can the world’s greatest secret agent save the team alone? Find out as Ellis’ critically acclaimed run on Secret Avengers continues in Secret Avengers #20. Run the mission. Don’t get seen. Save the world!

Want to know more about X-Men Regenesis, Venom and the Secret Avengers? Head on over to Marvel.com and get in on the action.

The article Mutants, Avengers and Venom All the Way from Marvel appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The epic story line that began back in 2010 with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: New World is coming to a head in 2012. Dark Horse announces the most ambitious B.P.R.D. publishing schedule yet, with five new titles and some of the most earth-shattering events in the history of the series.

First up, in February comes B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death, written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, with art by James Harren (Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest, Heralds). A team is sent to the deadly woods from New World to investigate a new series of disappearances, but they discover more than just the monster responsible, as loyalties are questioned and tensions mount.

March will see the release of B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Pickens County Horror, written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, with art by Jason Latour (Wolverine, Scalped) and an all-new cover by Becky Cloonan! This chilling two-issue series brings a B.P.R.D. crew into the grips of a backwoods vampire clan hiding out in a Gothic southern home.

Next, in May comes B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Transformation of J. H. O’Donnell, pairing Mike Mignola with Scott Allie again for the discovery of what drove the Bureau’s expert on ancient foes to near madness after a mission with Hellboy twenty-four years earlier. This supernatural thrill ride features art by B.P.R.D. newcomer Max Fiumara (Amazing Spider-Man) and a cover by Becky Cloonan.

That same month features the return of the regular B.P.R.D. team of Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and Tyler Crook, with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Devil’s Engine. The Zinco Corporation again rears its ugly head after a devastating earthquake, pitting Devon and Fenix in an uneasy alliance against bat-faced monsters and the evil empire’s other mad-science experiments. Additionally, this new series will feature covers by former Hellboy artist Duncan Fegredo.

Finally, Cameron Stewart returns to the B.P.R.D. universe in June with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth­: Exorcism! In this story we learn more about Ashley Strode’s evolution as an agent after she meets up with a familiar face for a series of exorcisms in a rural Indiana town. Mike Mignola and Cameron Stewart team up to share writing duties, with pencils by Cameron and covers by Viktor Kalvachev.

“Let’s break some stuff that can’t be fixed. Let’s turn some corners where there’s no going back” said Mike Mignola. “In both Hellboy and B.P.R.D., we’re saying, “Well, once we do this—once we round this corner—that’s it!” It’s not like, “Oh, Batman, different costume.” We’re doing stuff where there’s no way to fix it. That is the new reality in our world. You’re REALLY going to see that in 2012.”

B.P.R.D. is sure to be the most-talked-about series of the coming year, as the team stands at the brink of the end of the organization and the world itself. Finally, fresh off their long tenure on Stargate, one of television’s most successful science-fiction epics, series writers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie flex their comic-book storytelling muscles to create a thrilling new science-fiction universe.

Mallozzi and Mullie, best known for their work on the Stargate franchise series (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe), are about to give you: Dark Matter.

A derelict ship floating in space. Its troubled crew awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got onboard. Their search for answers triggering the vessel’s deadly security system, awakening a relentless android bent on their destruction. Facing threats at every turn, they will have to work together to survive a dangerous voyage charged with vengeance, redemption, betrayals, and, ultimately, hidden secrets best left unknown.

Science fiction by science-fiction veterans is sci-fi action at its best! Dark Matter #1, the first in a four-issue miniseries with kinetic artwork by exciting newcomer Garry Brown, is on sale January 11, 2012.

The article Five New B.P.R.D. Titles and Dark Matter from Dark Horse Comics appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

“Baltimore: The Plague Ships,” the first comic in the Baltimore series by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, focuses on Lord Baltimore’s journey to find and kill the evil vampire, Haigus. Both volumes of the comic series are based on the book “Baltimore: The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire” by the same authors. Set during the events of the book, they offer a deeper look into the world of Baltimore.

With him on his journey is a young woman named Vanessa Kalderas that he met in the town of Yillefranche, France. Wishing to flee the plague, and the feelings of hopelessness that accompany it, Vanessa insists that Baltimore bring her with him when he leaves the city.

Her grandmother has a number of supernatural abilities, which she uses to help Baltimore fight off vampires that are attacking the city. But despite her willingness to help him, she believes wholeheartedly that Baltimore is a cursed man. As a result, when Vanessa expresses her desire to leave with Baltimore, her grandmother is very concerned about her welfare.

After leaving the city, Baltimore confronts a horde of fungus-covered plague victims that rise from the depths of the ocean. Baltimore is faced with seemingly insurmountable odds when given the task of dispatching a seemingly endless wave of enemies armed with only a crucifix, a sword and a pistol.

Unlike Mignola and Golden’s “The Curse Bells,” “The Plague Ships” goes into greater detail about Baltimore’s past, the origins of the plague, and just why he is so focused on tracking down Haigus and finally killing the vampire. Baltimore tells Vanessa of his first meeting with Haigus on the battlefield against the Hessians when he lost his leg and the plague began.

For those who have not read the book that both comics are based on, this inclusion of the back story is a pleasant addition. For those who know the original story, it is exciting to see the events from the book unfold visually. The artwork, done by Ben Stenbeck, is superb and it adds an important element to the telling of the story. When the vampires are in their bat form they are quite intimidating, and the drawings of the plague victims covered in a strange fungus are both grotesque and compelling.

The story moves along at a fast pace, drawing the reader in with intense action sequences between Baltimore and his foes. Baltimore’s origin story, as well as the inclusion of Vanessa’s character, serves to create a greater depth to the story and make it more than just a simple revenge plot. An added layer to the tension is the man from the Inquisition who begins to hunt Baltimore down for his violent actions.

Written by one of the same authors as the popular “Hellboy” series, “The Plague Ships” tells the story of one man’s struggle to find revenge, while also trying to absolve himself of his part in the creation of the plague. Often forced to balance his need for revenge with other’s insistence that he use his abilities to help those around him, Baltimore is a complex character within a riveting story. “The Plague Ships” is recommended for anyone who enjoys action comics coupled with three-dimensional characters.

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Although Diablo III has been postponed until 2012, fans of the series can tide themselves over by picking up the first issue of Sword of Justice, which hits the shelves this week. Set in the same dark-fantasy world as the game, SoJ is a five-issue comic series published by DC Comics which takes place during the twenty years that elapsed between the ending of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction and the beginning of Diablo III.

The issue starts with a nice little summary of the overarching story of the Diablo universe.  Sanctuary (the world of mortals) was created by angels and demons as a place of refuge. Despite the best intentions, Sanctuary was almost destroyed twice, and each time it owed its salvation to Tyrael, the Archangel of Justice.

We then segue out of the past and into the present, where a young wanderer is confronted by an old beggar who claims to be able to see the future. He knows that the young man’s name is Jacob and that he is being pursued by hostile men. He tells Jacob to seek out a mysterious mountain.

At first, Jacob doesn’t believe the old man’s ramblings, but after almost dying of thirst in the desert, he stumbles upon the mountain that the old seer described. Inside, there’s a great cave whose walls are carved with scenes from his past, and a shining sword protrudes from the stone.

Seeing the scenes on the wall bring back painful memories for Jacob, and the reader finally starts to understand what the young man is running from. Video game tie-ins often leave a lot to be desired, but SoJ manages to be a compelling read. Scriptwriter Aaron Williams has a done a nice job with Jacob’s characterization, and he has a knack for incorporating subtle humor into the dialogue.

The story he’s crafted appears promising, and it will be interesting to see how SoJ fits in with the storyline of Diablo III when it’s finally released. The art, however, may not be to everyone’s liking. If you’re one of the fans who thinks that Diablo III isn’t dark and gritty enough, then you might want to steer clear of SoJ.

Joseph Lacroix’s work is visually appealing, but his highly-stylized drawings may not appeal to those looking for gritty realism. All in all, SoJ is a promising addition to the world of Diablo. It could have easily become a cliched ‘young warrior finds a magic weapon’ story, but it looks like they’ve managed to create something fresh and new.

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When I was offered the chance to review the first issue of The Occultist, I was excited. I’m a huge fan of contemporary fantasy, and the series description sounded intriguing. I was expecting something like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but alas my hopes were dashed.

The hero of the series is Rob Bailey, a college student who has received mystical powers from an arcane artifact called “The Sword.” Now he must learn to use his new-found powers while avoiding death at the hands of  a bunch of “hit mages.” Apparently, this series is based on a one-shot comic that appeared last year.

I haven’t read it, but the writers do a decent job of getting the newbie reader up to speed on what’s come before. Apparently, Rob’s friend/mentor Jacob Elder died in mysterious circumstances, and Rob feels some regret that he was not able to save him. The police get involved, and they suspect that Rob might be hiding information, but he’s able to divert their attention by means of his magical mojo.

But when the buxom lead detective goes hunting for clues, she inadvertently stumbles onto something much more sinister, setting the stage for an epic battle between Rob and a bunch of supernatural baddies. Throughout the issue, it’s clear that writers Mike Richardson and Tim Seeley are determined to keep things as mysterious as possible.

The reader doesn’t learn much about Rob’s power. Rob’s hand is green, and when he gets frustrated, his eyes glow green as well. He’s able to manipulate the mind of the detective who comes to visit him and survive a leap from the roof of his dorm, but it’s clear that Rob himself is as much in the dark as we are as to the exact nature of his “gift.”

Unfortunately, despite the promising setup, the first issue ends up falling flat. The writers are so busy trying to be mysterious that they forget to make the reader care about the main character. Rob isn’t particularly interesting, and his power isn’t well established enough to draw the reader in.

We know he’s in some kind of danger, but it’s all kind of vague at this point. The issue ends with the promise of a big battle, but the whole thing is set up at the last minute, making it hard to get terribly excited about it. Art-wise, The Occultist is quite well done, though artist Victor Drujiniu seems to be a bit unsure of how to portray Rob, and his appearance varies from page to page.

Drujiniu is clearly targeting a male audience, as almost every woman in the issue has mountainous breasts and isn’t shy about showing them off. The Occultist has an interesting premise, but fails in the execution. There are some tantalizing hints of interesting things to come, but right now the story is just too inchoate to be interesting.

OVERALL GRADE: C

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The second issue in the “Orchid” series came out last week on November 9, and it is already gaining interest. Set in a dystopian future, “Orchid” follows the life of a prostitute and her little brother as they struggle to survive. In the first comic she meets up with Simon, who has been involved in a group trying to fight those oppressing their human slaves that they use for manual labor.

Similar to the first issue, “Orchid” #2 starts off by giving some more details into the history of this universe and how things got to where they are. The details are gruesome and compelling, adding some depth to the story. By juxtaposing the present with the past, it helps the reader to slowly gain more insight into the motivations of the characters, and adds to the storyline.

The idea behind the story is one that has been told before, but the author, Tom Morello, has added some interesting elements, such as the fantastic creatures and the sometimes unexpected interactions between the characters. All of the animals have become behemoth mutant creatures, pushing the humans to the bottom of the food chain.

In addition to Morello’s work with the “Orchid” comic, he has been the guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, and after leaving the band, also played in Audioslave and Street Sweeper Social Club as well as having a solo career as The Nightwatchman. Morello is a strong supporter of the Occupy movement, and his views on the oppression of the underclass are made quite clear in “Orchid.”

He feels very strongly about protesting against the oppression of the underclass, and has even begun travelling around to various cities to sing at the different Occupy demonstrations to help bring awareness to the movement and solidarity to those who are protesting.

Music is a large part of his life, and he has managed to bring that passion to his “Orchid” comic as well. He has provided theme music for each of the first two issues, and this innovative idea adds a nice unexpected element to the story. While it is not clear exactly how the audio is supposed to accompany the comic itself, the tone of the music does seem to reflect the tone of the story.

In the music for the second issue of “Orchid,” the track titled “The Deluge” starts off softly with the sound of waves gently lapping up against the shore. Then as the track continues, a single guitar begins playing, followed by a full orchestra. The music is morose and poignant, and it creates just the right mood for the story.

Because it is only four minutes and sixteen seconds long, it is not really possible to read the entire issue before getting to the last page. The track seems to be a musical rendition of this part of “Orchid” and even though it may not be understood by everyone, it is certainly a nice addition to the story.

Scott Hepburn is the main artist for “Orchid” and he does very detailed drawings. One of the visual appeals to this series is all of the strange creatures, such as the six-legged bear with a scorpion tail that is featured on the cover. Hepburn first worked on several Star Wars comics, but he has been very excited to work on this project with Morello and to draw numerous fantastic creatures, according to an interview with comicbooked.com.

The second issue of “Orchid” delves deeper into the story, ending with a compelling mystery that is sure to leave readers waiting anxiously for the next issue to come out. While “Orchid” is not groundbreaking as far as the theme of the story goes, it is an enjoyable read, and is very visually appealing.

The addition of the musical soundtrack for each issue adds a certain depth that would otherwise be missing. “Orchid” is a good story that compels the reader to consider wealth and class, not only in the context of the comic, but in our society as well.

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Over the past few years we have seen a lot of movie remakes or rebooting — has Hollywood run out of ideas or could it be an excuse for making a mistake the first time round? Among the most recent examples, we have seen remakes of movie and television series such as The A-team, Footloose and Fame with The Amazing Spider-man and Superman in the pipes.

If you think they are about to slow down, you should check out the amount of remakes that are in the planning stages. According to OhNoTheyDidnt.livejournal.com there is an extensive list of movies that are being dusted off and ready for a reboot, including Guys and Dolls, Alien, Total recall, Romancing the Stone and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Were these movies that terrible? Why do we need to see them remade?

The new saying in Hollywood seems to be ‘if it’s is not working, let’s go back to the beginning’; the studios seem to be finding big bucks in well-established franchises and rebooting them with young fresh faced stars. But the exciting thing about movies with original ideas is that we don’t know what’s going to happen next; Is the films ending going to make us feel good, sadden us or is it going to shock us?

The problem with these prequels or reboots is that we know how the story is going to end. A reboot can be a risky proposition because it takes some of the drama out of the story.

When Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi were fighting during the Star Wars prequels, we already knew already how that was going to end — we knew Obi Wan would win and Anakin would get burned and be transformed into Darth Vader.

Boxoffice.com editor Phil Contrino says it’s a real test of the filmmaker and the story to use younger, well-established actors for their reboot without running the risk of not having the same “star power.” Films like Indiana Jones, Die Hard, and Rambo are all associated with the actors who played these characters and bringing in someone new may not have the same impact.

So if that’s the case, then why reboot? Well one of the reasons is that it’s much less cost efficient. By the time you get into the third or fourth sequel, the actors and directors demand ridiculous amount of money, says Contrino. There is also a lot of control over the project at this point so if the whole thing is scrapped, the writers and producers can start fresh and simpler.

This is one of the reasons why the Spiderman movies starring Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst was ended and rebooted with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone — it was just too difficult to make the movie with the same cast and crew. Another factor for reboots is that it bring a new energy to the franchise. Contrino points out if a reboot is successful, it sets the stage for a really good rebooted sequel.

After Batman Begins came The Dark Knight and this movie earned $530 million at the box office, becoming the 3rd film of all time and will be followed by another sequel in 2012, The Dark Knight Rises.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.facebook.com/officialateammovie

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Green Lantern is part of the DC Comic world coming to the big screen.  The movie follows Hal Jordan, a human who is chosen by a ring of infinite power to save Earth, from Parallax, a parasite attacking Earth.  Hal Jordan, a test pilot, is called forth to protect Earth by joining the Green Lantern Corps. —an intergalactic embassy that harnesses green energy through rings to protect the universe.

To those who have read the comics, there have been some changes in the transition from comic to movie.   The movie seems like it will follow the later series, as having Hal Jordan fight off the Parallax.  Hector Hammond is also in the movie and will have run-ins with not only Hal but with the fear monger, Parallax.  It seems like the movie will incorporate different areas and villains of Green Lantern from all different eras of the Comic, but will ultimately focus on the origins of Hal Jordan.

Directing the movie is the well-known action director Martin Campbell who created such titles like: 007 Goldeneye, Casino Royale, and The Mask of Zorro.  Having done these movies, it feels like he will be right at home with the action sequences of Green Lantern.  Nevertheless, it seems like Martin Campbell didn’t know the story of Green Lantern that well before he was put on the project, so the movie might not necessarily follow the story line of the comics religiously.  However, they did have Ozzy Iguanzo, a comic book expert, so they could set the record straight on some details.  Mister Campbell  had stated in The Telegraph that, “It was an extraordinary learning curve, conceptualizing the characters, going to another planet, deciding what the planet looks like and keeping a sort of reality, if you can call it that.”  However, despite the difficulties and differences from the comics, the producer/writer of Green Lantern is none other than Greg Berlanti, whom has worked on Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, an animated movie based around Hal Jordan, Kilowog and other Green Lanterns.

The cast has its fair share of stars like Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan/ Green Lantern.  Martin had picked Reynolds based upon his physical acting in “Buried”, and has been quoted saying in his production notes that, “he also physically looks the part, is charming, funny, and has a great sense of decency.“  Ryan Reynolds isn’t the only star in the movie.  Blake Lively (The Town) is taking on the role opposite of Reynolds as Carol Ferris, a fellow test pilot and lifelong friend of Hal Jordan.  Lively has this to say in the production notes about Green Lantern, ”… I love that the movie also has a great sense of fun and a hint of romance about it.”  Voices of Geoffrey Rush (King’s Speech) and Micheal Clarke Duncan (Green Mile) are used for Tomar-Re and Kilowog respectively.   Tim Robbins (Shawshank Redemption) also makes an appearance as Hector Hammond’s pushy father.

One thing that will make or break this movie is the special effects.  Spending about 50,000,000 dollars on them alone they should be pretty impressive.  Why spend so much?  Not only is making Parallax, Tomar-Re, and Kilowog entirely in CGI a task in itself, but trying to make an entire alien planet in less than a year is a daunting task.  Oa, the Green Lantern Corps. planet is all CGI, so creating an entire planet that looks realistic and pleasing to look at will take some serious skill.  What also is all CGI is the famous Green Lantern suit.  To do this, Reynolds is wearing a motion tracking suit.  Kind of like a leotard but soupped-up with motion tracking modules so that the artists can paste Green Lantern’s suit on Ryan Reynolds’s body. For such a daunting task there is good news.  People like Karen Goulekas (Spiderman) and  John DesJardin (Watchmen) are both overseers of the effects teams, and to top it all off Grant Major who worked on The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King will be the production designer.  Green Lantern may have a lot of daunting effects in over 1,300 of their shots, but they have chosen the right people in order to get the effects done well.

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