Feds Sue Floridian for Pirating Comic Books Online

The FBI has filed suit against Database Engineers Inc. out of Tampa, FL, for posting copyrighted materials online without the permission of the authors or publishers of said materials. Database Engineers Inc. is actually one man, Gregory Steven Hart, who ran six websites that contained scans of whole comic books and magazines, which visitors could read for free. The FBI filed suit against six of these sites, including HTMLcomics.com and ComicBooksFree.com.

According to sources, Marvel Comics contacted Hart in 2009 and asked him to remove copyrighted content. Hart informed Marvel's attorneys that he designed the websites and though he didn't own the comics being displayed, he received scans from users. Hart then told Marvel's lawyers that if they did not agree to a revenue-sharing plan, he would continue running the websites and allow visitors access to the comic books for free. The details of the suit are not exactly clear (to me), but that sounds like blackmail; I do not know that it is, nor that anything like that is even mentioned in the suit (much less the basis), but that is what it sounds like to me.

Hart's websites were no longer accessible as of last Friday (May 28^th, 2010), and calls to the phone number listed for Database Engineers Inc. went unanswered.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Juan of the Dead

A $1.3 million peso production, Juan of the Dead features a 40-year old slacker who has been letting life slowly slip away from him while he plies his trade as a janitor, until that fateful day when Cuba is overrun by zombies. Juan finds his calling, protecting people from the undead for a price. But, as more Cubans flee the island, Juan finds he has to stick around... for some reason or other.

I don't know if this is direct-to-DVD or if it will only be available as an import or what, I just thought the idea was kinda cool and figure it'll be sought-after in no time flat. I do wonder if this is the turning-point for zombie flicks, though; have we finally hit the wall with Juan?

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guillermo del Toro Backs-Out of Hobbit

Peter Jackson hand-picked director, Guillermo del Toro, to direct the two-part Hobbit prequel to the three-part Lord of the Rings series (helmed by Jackson himself), but del Toro has now pulled-out, due to issues at the studios behind it. The Hobbit was pushed-back to the last quarter of 2012 in January of this year, and fans were told that was only tentative.

Problems plaguing the new JRR Tolkien adaptation include everything from rights and profit shares to changes at the studios, but after two years of dealing with it all, del Toro finally had enough. He had even moved his family to New Zealand to prep the films with Peter Jackson. Guillermo del Toro will remain credited as a co-writer.

The production team is now looking for his replacement.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

On Reviews

If you've ever read one of my comic book reviews, you probably quit reading it halfway through; I freely admit, I write long, in-depth, sometimes sprawling reviews. It's a learning process, and I get a little better with each one, but every review is different, so I haven't created a template for them, nor any standard procedure, etc. Still, if you have never read one of my comic book reviews entirely, then you aren't getting the most out of what I write, because comic books are what I do.

I have some experience in everything I critique, but I literally know comic books. Strangely, even though I played music semi-professionally until just about five years ago (meaning I made several demos/worked with others on their demos, and played many live shows, but I never made enough to join any unions or professional groups, etc.), I would say I know more about comics than I do music. For whatever reason, I just have a... connection to comic books and sequential art that is stronger than the connection I have to other media and mediums (music, TV, movies, et.al.). Like I say, I don't know if it's a "calling", but I think there's something to that - it may well be - and I definitely feel that pull.

So, by reading my comic book reviews, you truly get a better handle on whom I am - the way I perceive things (above and beyond comic books, though they are the focus), my acumen, my other pursuits, and so on. But, again, I know they're long, tedious, and - unless you're truly an uber-geek like me - probably kinda boring.

So I'm starting to do some Rundown-style reviews: Concise and to-the-point, with no real direction for the creators. These reviews have only the reader in mind, and are written from that POV: Will the average reader like this? Will the not-so-average reader like this more and why? Would I suggest subscribing or is this the only issue I'll read? And so on.

Also, if you're wondering why I do a lot of these "agenda" posts - why I spend time telling you what I plan on doing, instead of just doing it - it's because I rarely ever get to these things when I say I will, but usually spend a whole lot of time working on them (which you can't see). I go back and forth in the same direction: I want things to be as close to perfect as possible, but when it takes too long, I settle for posting what I have and promising myself I'll fix it later. Either way, I'm never satisfied.

It just takes a lot longer than it would appear to take, for all sorts of reasons, and I'd rather you had an idea of what I am working on/toward than think I abandoned the project or whatever. It's just to keep in-touch, basically. Because knowing is half the battle.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

X-Men Legacy #236 - Second-Printing Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Briefly

I wrote this long "Agenda" post, filled with all the stuff I've been doing and have planned and so forth, then decided not to post it because I always post them then never follow-through for one reason or another. So I decided to publish this brief post, instead.

I just wanted to dissuade you of the notion that we are going back to posting over the weekends, because we are not. Since my connection has been down this whole month and I have gotten so far behind, I had to go ahead and get a few things out as badly as I need a few days away, but there are also some personal issues with which I have to deal and I'll need time to do that, so...

Anyway, no, we are not going back to weekend posts, this is just an exception, and I apologize for the inconsistency.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Ultimate X #2 - Second-Printing

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Buy WoW, D3 Accounts, and More

This sponsored post has been removed due to non-payment.

Busty Barbie

Mattel has launched a new line of Barbie dolls called "Back to Basics." The collection features numerous, ample-bosomed dolls, both black and white, in revealing clothing. While parents are upset over the line in general, one in particular - the black-skinned, Busty Barbie - has them seeing red.

Some say the Busty Barbie sends young girls the wrong message, while others say many children see their own mothers wearing similarly revealing outfits when they dress-up for dates with their boyfriends or husbands, and there is nothing wrong with the girls mimicking such things. Others note that this is actually part of the problem:

Reality shows such as Basketball Wives and the Real Housewives series feature several women whose only accomplishment is having married well. Busty Barbie, with her too-perfect breasts some say are meant to emulate fake boobs, and her revealing outfit is simply another step in this direction. According to these critics, though Busty Barbie is only symptomatic of a larger societal issue, she reinforces the wrong message being sent to American girls.

Mattel has not yet responded to the matter, but said the Back to Basics Collection is not going to be pulled from shelves. Busty Barbie, along with the rest of the line, is $20.00 and available at many mainstream outlets, including Target.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Adam Ant Hospitalized Again

Stuart Goddard, who had several hits in the 1980s under the name Adam Ant, has been hospitalized again, following a number of bizarre and offensive public outbursts. Goddard has a history of depression and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He was hospitalized under Britain's Mental Health Act, which apparently allows authorities to lock-up people they deem "offensive."

Adam Ant angered the crowd of a charity concert by singing Sympathy for the Devil, and when they began booing and jeering him (certainly offensive), he allegedly went on a "tirade" in which he told them all to "fuck-off." Another version of the story says Goddard stopped the concert to teach a four-year old the words to a song, and when the audience began jeering him, asked if any of them were Christians before cursing them. However, the concert was held at a church hall and billed as a Christian charity event.

Even more bizarre, some fans who were in attendance say Adam Ant swore and sang Sympathy for the Devil, but did not storm off stage, and the church/congregation was not at all upset with him. Ant's nieces and the promoter's son apparently got into an altercation and that angered some of the congregation.

What actually happened is not clear; what is clear is that Adam Ant managed to say something which offended an audience of Christians who were jeering the performer, so they had him detained and placed in a mental hospital against his will for "observation."

Make no mistake about it though, Stuart Goddard deserved to be placed under observation in 2003, when he attempted to break-in to a neighbor's home, then pulled down his pants.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Missing Thundercats Writer Murdered, Police Say

On May 16^th, Florida police investigating a report of a foul smell coming from a van that had apparently been abandoned in a motel parking lot found a severed body part laying nearby. The van was registered to 56-year old Stephen J. Perry, a comic book writer best known for having penned several episodes of both Thundercats and Silverhawks, two popular cartoons of the 1980s. Police found Perry's home ransacked, but did not find Perry, nor his two roommates, 45-year old Jimmy Davis and 49-year old Roxanne Davis. Neighbors said Perry had last been seen the week before.

Police located the Davises in Dade City last Friday and both were arrested on unrelated charges. Police now say they are "people of interest" in the missing writer's case, but neither has been charged. Jimmy Davis is under arrest on drug charges and his wife was arrested for violating probation. Police found additional evidence related to Perry's disappearance in a nearby dumpster but, like the identity of the body part found outside the van, have given no details.

Stephen Perry received help from the Hero Initiative, as he had become financially unstable after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. Doctors had told him in April that his cancer was terminal and he had only two years to live. Perry, who has not yet been declared officially dead, is survived by his five-year old son.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 - Third-Printing Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I'm Buying One, Not the Other

You have to give Marvel Comics this much: While they may not know from good work, they certainly know how to maximize return from hot properties. In the restructuring of the Avengers title line, we find Moon Knight in Secret Avengers and Wolverine in Avengers, even though neither character is exactly a team-player, nor does either actually have the contacts which would merit this move.

Of course, Wolverine has a history with basically every character in the Marvel Universe, as he's been the company's hottest property for about 30 years now, and Moon Knight is no stranger to guest appearances in his own title, nor to making guest appearances in other titles; still, being a loner is literally key to both characters' personae. Furthermore, as the whole thing is supposed to usher-in The Heroic Age, it's somewhat ironic that they should choose two of the more brutal superheroes to anchor their flagship team.

But we're not going to look at this from a literary standpoint; that these two characters are among the very least likely to join a team of any kind, much less on a regular basis, is regardless - certainly no one at Marvel ever stopped to consider this; that these two characters move units is the criterion here. The problem is that I didn't realize Moon Knight actually moves units. Wolverine, sure - duh! - but Moon Knight?

Again, can't stress enough just how little I hold it against companies which seek to make a profit; companies exist to make a profit. But neither Wolverine nor Moon Knight are appropriate members of any team, and Wolverine now belongs to at least 14.

Anyway, I'm subscribing to Secret Avengers only to follow Moon Knight, and I may wind-up canceling that after a handful of issues. I quit trying to follow Wolverine's exploits 20+ years ago - even if I were rich, I couldn't read all the issues in which Wolvie makes an appearance each month. Still, I'm literally doing this more for research than enjoyment, so we'll see how it goes.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Hulk #22 - Second-Printing Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Gary Coleman in Critical Condition

Former child star, Gary Coleman, has been hospitalized in Utah for "a serious medical problem" and is said to be in critical condition. His family refused to give further details, because, as Coleman's lawyer told reporters, "Anything they could say would be premature." Rumor has it Gary Coleman suffered a head wound, possibly due to a fall.

Best known for his role on NBC's Diff'rent Strokes, Coleman moved to Utah in 2005 after starring in the Church of Latter-Day Saints movie, Church Ball. He met his wife, Shannon Price, on the set and the two were wed in 2007. The couple appeared on Divorce Court in 2008.

Gary Coleman has a history of violence and charges for the same. He recently made news when he was arrested for failure to appear in court on charges stemming from an April 2009 citation for domestic abuse. In 2007, the actor was cited for disorderly conduct after police witnessed him yelling at Price in a parking lot. Shannon Price was cited that same year for locking Coleman out of his own home and trashing it. In February of this year, Coleman appeared on the TV gossip magazine, The Insider, where he lost his cool on-camera after being pointedly asked about his relationship with his wife. He later suffered a seizure on the set and was aided by Dr. Drew Pinsky.

Coleman's troubles are not isolated to his relationship with his wife. Also in 2008, Gary Coleman was accused of hitting a pedestrian with his car after the fan took a picture of the actor without his permission. He was arrested for assault in the late 1990s for allegedly slugging a female fan who requested his autograph. In the late 1980s, Gary Coleman successfully sued his parents and former manager for $1.3 million, but his recent financial hardships have repeatedly made headlines.

Gary Coleman's diminished height is related to health issues with his kidneys from which he suffered as a child. He has had two kidney transplants and is still on dialysis. Last fall, he underwent heart surgery which was complicated by pneumonia. Gary Coleman is 42.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

More Readers to See The Light

Berkeley, CA - 27 May 2010 - Image Comics announces the distribution-level sell out of THE LIGHT #1 and #2, written by Nathan Edmondson (OLYMPUS) and illustrated by Brett Weldele (SOUTHLAND TALES, THE SURROGATES). The two sold-out issues will be collected under an all-new cover. Release of THE LIGHT Bumper Edition will coincide with the release of THE LIGHT #3 on June 9^th, 2010.

"We're excited to see that THE LIGHT is burning brightly out there," exclaims Edmondson. "This is an opportunity to let this story glow in the hands of more readers -- and we're ecstatic about that!"

THE LIGHT: In Oregon, a mysterious virus infects anyone that looks into an electric light. An abusive father blindfolds his daughter and together they escape town as people are burning alive from the inside out. A fierce, action-packed and gritty tale of survival, THE LIGHT is 28 DAYS LATER meets 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.

THE LIGHT bumper edition (APR108074), a full-color, 48-page comic book collecting THE LIGHT #1 and #2, will be on sale June 9, 2010, for $4.99. THE LIGHT #3 (APR100463), a 32-page, full-color comic book for $2.99 will arrive in stores the same day.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Invincible Iron Man Annual #1 - Iron Man By Design 2.0 Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Megan Fox Cites 'Abusive' Michael Bay as Reason for Leaving Transformers 3

Reports say Megan Fox quit Transformers 3 because director, Michael Bay, was "verbally abusive toward her." According to some sources, this is not the first time Bay has been accused of such behavior, and he is actually known for "demeaning his leading ladies." Paramount maintains that Megan Fox' option had not been picked-up for the third installment, while Fox insists she "left the project on her own."

The source breaking this news, TheWrap, reported that Michael Bay is "not well-liked" by the female talent community, and that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen star, Isabel Lucas, bowed-out of a publicity tour for the Transformers sequel due to Bay's rude behavior. TheWrap also reports that the director "has a reputation for being... extremely controlling [and] difficult to work with."

Michael Bay and Megan Fox have a history of discord. In a 2009 interview, Fox likened Bay to Hitler, saying "he's a nightmare to work for," prompting Bay to respond by saying he not only 'invented' her, but Shia LeBeouf, Ben Affleck, Nicholas Cage, Will Smith, and Martin Lawrence. Anonymous posters on Michael Bay's website who claimed to be crewmembers on the Transformers movies posted long diatribes in which they referred to Fox as a "thankless, unfriendly bitch," among other things.

The rumor mill has model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, replacing Megan Fox, and Heidi Montag has wormed her way into the discussion by publicly requesting a role in the third sequel and releasing an "audition tape" of her shooting targets at a gun range while [maybe] hubby, Spencer Pratt, films it on his iPhone.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Iron Man Legacy #3 - Iron Man By Design 2.0 Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Free Iron Man: Extremis Motion Comic in Select Titles

Already topping the iTunes charts, Marvel is offering readers a free Iron Man: Extremis download from now through June, whenever they buy select titles (listed below). These titles have an insert (pictured below) with a coupon that's good only for a limited time.

Marvel's motion comics have proven quite popular, though some experts dispute their being referred to as "comics." Motion comics are not straight webcomics, though they are not exactly motion pictures, either; some critics have drawn parallels between today's motion comics and the original Marvel Comics-based cartoons of the 1960s, in which actual animation was sparse - they were mostly stills accompanied by voice-overs and narration.

Subscribers to Marvel's Digital Comics have access to a number of motion comics, as well as digital reprints of classic titles and issues. Not all of these are "motion comics."

• AVENGERS #2
• AVENGERS ASSEMBLE HANDBOOK
• AVENGERS PRIME #1
• AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT
• BLACK WIDOW #2
• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #26
• IRON MAN NOIR #3
• IRON MAN: LEGACY #3
• NEW AVENGERS: LUKE CAGE #3
• THOR #610
• THUNDERBOLTS #144
• ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #2

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

X-Men Day, July 8th

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

On Getting It Together

If you are an even semi-regular reader, you know that we have been offline more than we have online this month, thanks to the fact that we are literally in the very epicenter of the floods which affected Tennessee. What you may not know is that the storms which produced those floods were bookended by weekends of tornadic storms. While we were lucky enough to escape any direct damage from any of these storms, our Internet provider was not.

So I am - and I mean this as literally as you can imagine - one month behind on basically everything - everything, that is, except for comics; the only good thing to come of all this (for me, and thus for you) is that I've had plenty of time to catch-up on my reading - especially since lately, I have been ordering far more comic books than anyone could read in three months' time, much less one! The reasoning behind this was to get current on what's going on in the actual comic books - with the characters, within the titles - as well as the state of the industry from a reader's perspective; I wanted a panoramic overview of the comic book universes (between the covers), as well as the popular trends, tropes, and concepts being bandied about by creators. Were it not for the downtime I've had due to the storms, there's no way I could have read even half as much as I have.

Still, I've fallen far, far behind on pretty much everything in that time (which is why I rarely get to read as often, or as much, as I'd like), and it's going to take several weeks - at the very least - for me to get back up to speed. Please bear with me as I do, but know that - for the immediate time-being - I now at least have some idea as to what's going on in the Marvel, DC, and Image universes, and the posts will reflect that.

I still don't get the whole "Ultimates" line. It's - they're like one of DC's "multiverses," right? Like an entire line of What If...!? titles with their own continuity. Right?

Whatever.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Elephantmen's Richard Starkings Signing in Leeds Tomorrow

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Paula Abdul's Got to Dance

Paula Abdul is coming back to reality TV, but not American Idol (well, no one knows that for sure; many think she may appear on the show's season finale, but that remains to be seen): Paula Abdul will be a judge on ABC's newest reality TV show, Got to Dance.

Got to Dance is an all-ages dance competition coming to CBS. Paula Abdul also serves as the executive producer and will coach and mentor the competitors. Like So You Think You Can Dance, Got to Dance features all styles of dance, and - like American Idol - it is the American adaptation of a UK hit.

CBS has not announced when the show will debut, but Got to Dance is expected to be on next season's schedule.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Black Cat #1 - J Scott Campbell Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel Comics on Shelves Today - 05-26-10

Well, this one is on Marvel, as I just this morning received the weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics that should be on your local comic book retailer's shelves today, Wednesday, May 26^th, 2010:

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #632
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #632 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #37
DARK WOLVERINE #86
DARK WOLVERINE #86 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
DAZZLER #1
DEADPOOL: MERC WITH A MOUTH #11
DOOMWAR #4
DOOMWAR #4 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
FALL OF THE HULKS: THE SAVAGE SHE-HULKS #3
FALL OF THE HULKS: THE SAVAGE SHE-HULKS #3 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
FANTASTIC FOUR #579 (HA)
FANTASTIC FOUR #579 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
IRON MAN: EXTREMIS DIRECTOR'S CUT #1
MARVEL PREVIEWS #82 GATEFOLD COVER
MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #3
MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #3 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
MARVEL ZOMBIES MGC #1
PETER PARKER #3
SECRET AVENGERS #1 (HA)
SECRET AVENGERS #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT (HA)
SECRET AVENGERS #1 GATEFOLD VARIANT (HA, COVER ONLY)
SECRET AVENGERS #1 HERO VARIANT (HA)
SECRET AVENGERS #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
SECRET WARRIORS #16
SECRET WARRIORS #16 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
SENSE & SENSIBILITY #1
SPIDER-MAN #2
TALES OF THE DRAGON GUARD #3
THE THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION #1
THOR #610
THOR #610 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
THUNDERBOLTS# 144 (HA)
THUNDERBOLTS #144 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #4
WEAPON X NOIR #1
WEAPON X NOIR #1 CALERO VARIANT
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #48
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #48 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #13
X-FORCE #26 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
X-FORCE #27 (XSC)
X-FORCE #27 FINCH VARIANT (XSC)
X-FORCE #27 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (XSC)
X-MEN ORIGINS: EMMA FROST #1
X-MEN: BLIND SCIENCE #1

Collections On-Sale:
ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE LAUGHING CORPSE BOOK 3 - EXECUTIONER PREMIERE HC
ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE LAUGHING CORPSE BOOK 3 - EXECUTIONER PREMIERE HC (DM ONLY)
AVENGERS: WEST COAST AVENGERS ASSEMBLE PREMIERE HC
AVENGERS: WEST COAST AVENGERS ASSEMBLE PREMIERE HC (DM ONLY)
CAPTAIN MARVEL: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL PREMIERE HC
CAPTAIN MARVEL: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL PREMIERE HC (DM ONLY)
ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 8 TPB
FORTUNE AND GLORY: A TRUE HOLLYWOOD COMIC BOOK STORY DELUXE ANNIVERSARY EDITION GN-HC
IRON MAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA TPB
KOOKABURRA K PREMIERE HC
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL. 4 HC
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL. 4 HC VARIANT (DM ONLY)
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 4 TPB
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 4 TPB VARIANT (DM ONLY)
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AVENGERS VOL. 10 HC
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE AVENGERS VOL. 10 HC VARIANT (DM ONLY)
SPIDER-MAN: THE COMPLETE CLONE SAGA EPIC BOOK 2 TPB
SPIDER-MAN: THE REAL CLONE SAGA HC
SPIDER-WOMAN: AGENT OF S.W.O.R.D. GN-HC WITH MOTION COMIC DVD
THOR: LATVERIAN PROMETHEUS TPB
X-MEN FOREVER VOL. 3: COME TO MOTHER...RUSSIA! TPB
X-MEN: PSYLOCKE TPB

Posters On-Sale:
HEROIC AGE CHEUNG POSTER

*HA = Heroic Age tie-in
*XSC = X-Men: Second Coming tie-in

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Image Comics Booth #4558 - Book Expo America

New York, NY - 25 May 2010 - Image Comics will be exhibiting with Diamond Distribution during Book Expo America, May 26-27, 2010, at the Javits Center in New York. Image will exhibit with Diamond at booth #4558, where Image will be giving away a variety of single issues and trades.

In addition to giveaways, Image is hosting signings by SPAWN creator, Todd McFarlane, as well as Ron Marz (ARTIFACTS, WITCHBLADE), and Ben McCool (CHOKER).

IMAGE COMICS BEA SIGNING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 26

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. RON MARZ, signing copies of ARTIFACTS #0
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. TODD McFARLANE, signing copies of HAUNT TP #1

Thursday, May 27
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. BEN McCOOL, signing copies of CHOKER #1

Don't miss Image Comics at BEA, exhibiting with Diamond Distribution, booth #4558, for a variety of free books, signings, and more!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel Booth #4564 - Book Expo America

Book Expo America is coming to the Jacob Javits Center and Marvel Entertainment will be there! Booth #4564 is the place to be as Marvel is bringing some of its top talent along to showcase both the Marvelous Land of Oz and Sense & Sensibility literary adaptations!

Critically acclaimed and New York Times Best Selling author, Eric Shanower, will be present on Wednesday, the 26^th, from 11am-12pm to sign for his newest hit series, The Marvelous Land of Oz . Nancy Butler, author of Marvel’s Sense & Sensibility, will also be on-hand Wednesday from 2-3pm to sign copies of the very first issue of the highly anticipated comic! Following Wednesday’s events, Eric Shanower will also be signing at Books of Wonder for their Great Books for Young Readers Event on Thursday from 6-8pm.

Please be sure to join Marvel at booth #4564 at Book Expo America for what is sure to be a memorable signing event with two of the industry’s most talented creators!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Invincible Iron Man #27 - Iron Man By Design 2.0 Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Cartoon Network to Fight Bullies

Actually, Cartoon Network's anti-bullying campaign will target not bullies nor victims, but witnesses - those who see others being bullied - and teach them how to intervene. Alice Cahn, Cartoon Network's Vice-President of Social Responsibility (would that every corporation had one - especially Marvel Comics), called them the "bystander community: [those] who know they should do something, but are not sure what." Studies show about 85% of all bullying incidents are witnessed, but witnesses take action only about ¹/₅ of the time.

Cartoon Network's anti-bullying campaign targets middle-school students, where bullying is most prolific, and will include content within the cartoons and programs, as well as public service ads, and online content. CNN will also participate, with complementary programs for parents.

The program launches October 1^st.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

New Avengers Finale Second-Printing Unmasked Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Hulk Hogan Suing Post Cereal, Cementing Douchebaggery

Those douchebag Hogans are in the press again, this time it's because Hulk Hogan, aka Terry Bollea, claims Post cereal "humiliated" him by using his likeness in a Cocoa Puffs commercial. For real. (Cuz his, and his family's, own actions didn't humiliate him at all.)

The commercial, featured here, shows a character named Hulk Boulder entering the ring with Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, whom he defeats handily before losing to Bam-Bam, Barney's son. Hulk Hogan claims the company used his likeness without permission and humiliated him by having said likeness lose to Bam-Bam. In the lawsuit, Hogan claims he used the stagename, "Hulk Boulder," early in his career, before changing it at Vince McMahon's behest. Hogan (Bollea) complained about the commercial in August of last year, but Post continued airing it.

Terry Bollea and his entire family are a complete joke. Every, single bit of respect this guy once commanded as an American legend - let's face it, Hulk Hogan almost single-handedly made professional wrestling something to watch - has been lost,

Hulk Hogan has his own food line, which is sold at Wal-Mart. The line consists of Hogan Energy drink and Hulkster Burgers - microwavable hamburgers.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Richard Starkings in Manchester Today

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Really!? Really.

Just got back online again. If you're keeping track, yes, I have basically - literally - been offline all month long. Even the two weeks where I was connected, I wasn't able to do much because it was dropping packets left and right, so I have more or less been without a connection since the start of the month.

There are thunderstorms in the forecast throughout the week, all the way through Saturday, so I'm just going to do what I can and hope for the best. But I'm not paying for this month!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Slipknot Bassist Found Dead

38-year old Paul Gray, bassist for the shock rock group, Slipknot, was found dead in his hotel room in Urbandale, Iowa, this morning, by a hotel employee. While the precise cause of death has yet to be announced and police are investigating, foul play has been ruled-out. Gray was known as "The Pig," for the nature of the latex mask he wore during performances. Slipknot's gimmick is wearing strange masks while performing onstage. He was also known as #2.

Paul Gray was a Grammy-winning musician and one of the original three, founding members of Slipknot. He also played in bands such as Anal Blast and Vexx. He occasionally provided backup vocals for the band.

Gray's wife, Brenna, a model for GodsGirls, is said to be pregnant with the couple's first child.

Our condolences to his friends and family.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Brittany Murphy's Husband Found Dead

Simon Monjack - actress, Brittany Murphy's husband - was found dead in his bedroom Sunday night by Brittany Murphy's mother, who also lives in the house. A 911 call was placed right at 9:45p Sunday night, and emergency responders pronounced the British screenwriter and director dead on the scene. Initial reports indicate he died of natural causes. No illegal drugs were found in the house.

Brittany Murphy was a prolific actress who appeared in many popular films, as well as the long-running animated TV series, King of the Hill, but her career had lapsed in recent years. Monjack blamed her flagging career on rumors of drug use, mental illness, and eating disorders. Her death shocked the entertainment world.

Monjack faced a backlash from fans and critics following Murphy's death, as he and her mother put their home on the market and tentatively considered charging fans to attend a memorial service. However, the memorial service never took place and the two took the home off the market. Monjack was visibly upset at the actress' funeral, referring to her as his soulmate.

The marriage was controversial from the start, especially since the couple were hardly ever seen together in public; many said Monjack was facing deportation. Simon Monjack was 39 years old.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Morning Glories

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Image Delivers Nancy in Hell

Berkeley, CA - 19 May 2010 - How does a former cheerleader become a hardened hellraiser? Artist Juan Jose Ryp and writer El Torres answer that question with NANCY IN HELL, a four-issue miniseries that sends a good girl into a Hell filled with tortured souls, lusty demons, and armed outcasts.

Fans of Warren Ellis's BLACK SUMMER and NO HERO will recognize Ryp's highly detailed art style. Torres is the writer behind the critically acclaimed THE VEIL, as well as ZOMBIES!: ECLIPSE OF THE UNDEAD.

"Nancy was one of our first creations together, and foolishly, we still love her," explains Ryp, a resident of Andalusia, Spain.

"There weren't any deep questions or psychological undertones to this book when we first started," says Torres, who also lives in Andalusia. "We just wanted to create a fun little romp with a blond bombshell armed with a chainsaw, carving her way through demons and the undead. Though, after starting with some story details involving Christian cosmogony -- after all, she is wandering through a sort of Christian Hell -- the deep questions invariably came up."

"But we never lost sight of the monsters or chainsaws," laughs Ryp.

NANCY IN HELL: Good girls go to heaven, right? But it seems like there are no good girls anymore. After her death, Nancy awakens in a creepy landscape to find decomposing lost souls, demons lurking in the shadows, outcasts, chainsaws, booze, and certain doom. Can Nancy escape from Hell? Amazing artist JUAN JOSE and writer EL TORRES take you on a white-knuckle tour of the underworld to find out!

NANCY IN HELL #1 (of 4), a 32-page, full-color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores August 4^th, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel: You Can't Buy Just One

Written 05-02-10

It’s Sunday morning and I’ve been reading comics since yesterday, because the storms knocked-out my Internet. It was a mixed blessing; I am so far behind in my reading that I’m literally lost -- period -- and this gave me the chance to catch-up on some of it, but I obviously need my Internet and lost money while it was down. So I’m expounding on my dissatisfaction with Marvel’s Siege crossover, because I’m almost caught-up on my reading now... and I’m still completely lost.

Here’s how this works: The editor is called into the editor-in-chief’s (EIC) office, and told, “We have this major event we’ve been PLANNING FOR SEVEN YEARS [but didn’t bother to tell anyone else about until just now -- because we’re that good at ‘keeping a secret’ - MD] and we want your title to be part of it.”

The editor usually says something like, “But... we just got a new writer and he has this great story arc all charted-out -- I sent you the outline the other day -- and...”

The EIC dismisses him with a wave of his Cuban cigar, and gives with this speech:

“Well, you’ve got a hot title there and we need some of that heat on the 44352 titles that aren’t performing as well. We’d cancel them and focus our attention on the good ones, but we want to make a shitload of cash. These snotnosed kids’ll buy anything, and if those old nerds had anything going for them, they’d be spending money on something else -- hell, we’re doing them a favor! They’ll throw money at anything we do right now, so instead of doing them right, we’re gonna pump as much shit into the pipeline as humanly possible... cuz we’re gonna make some movies.”

Editor, “With all due respect, Mr. EIC, I -- I mean, I love movies, but -- I got into comic books because I want to do comics, not movies, and...”

The EIC laughs, “That’s why I like you, Editor: You’re flippin' stupid!

"Fuck comic books! Fuck ‘em right in their four-colored ear! We’re here to make money, son - fat, sloppy, dripping piles of money; crunchy, munchy, nutritionless money. Now, you need to work this big event into your title month after next. And don’t give me that, ‘It’ll screw-up our storyline’ nonsense, either -- just do it.

"Oh, and editor?"

"Yes, Mr. EIC?"

"The door. Mind it doesn't bump you on the ass when it closes behind you."

Now, that’s a fairly accurate depiction of what goes down: The editor of a title is told to work-in something, and he has to wrangle the creative team into doing it, because they tend to balk at such obvious, commercial machinations -- especially since they have to submit a year or so’s worth of plotting just to land the gig, and they have about 25 days to get the next issue together. And they generally don't use a fill-in team, because the whole point is to get as many Names involved as possible.

Marvel is known for these "editorial retreats" at which the editors and writers all go out to a moose lodge in the middle of nowhere and bounce ideas back and forth -- sort of like a Nerd Summit, I suppose. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? And I truly think it would be, but at the end of the day, the ideas are ranked not by importance, sense of drama and fun, or anything other than Potential for Return. Yeah, it's a business, but it's also an art form, and when it goes too far in either direction, it's a tragedy.

So I open Mighty Avengers #35 to find that I know absolutely nothing about what’s going on and the whole Siege “tie-in” is nothing more than a quick wraparound (it opens with some Siege-related scenes and closes with the same, but the story in-between is entirely independent of the crossover event which prompted my purchase), then I open New Mutants #11 to learn that something -- a BIG something -- happened between issue #10 and this one, and I have no idea what that was. As usual, I found out that I couldn’t read the current issue until I’d read five others I don’t usually collect.

[POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD]

Apparently, Dani Moonstar became a Valkyrie (again?) -- maybe sometime between issues 10 and 11, during which time the team also (apparently) forgave Doug (which was a major theme of issues 9 and 10, but... you know, suddenly isn’t anymore!) -- and this may have happened during Dark X-Men, Nation-X, or Doomwar. Or maybe in Uncanny X-Men, or X-Factor, or X-Force - or even 20 years ago, in the first run of the title! Whatever the case, the only thing I know for certain is that it did not happen in New Mutants #9 or 10! Nor does New Mutants #11 bother telling me exactly where or when it happened (as in: *TITLE #n - ed.).

Oh sure, I could go ahead and read it, but then again, I’m not going to know WTF is going on -- and I may as well just give-in because it isn’t getting any better! You can’t even subscribe to a Marvel title anymore, because you are going to get n number of sequential issues before the whole thing jumps ship and starts-up, in-media-res, with a storyline about which you know absolutely nothing until you buy five or six issues of titles you don’t collect. I had fallen in love with Uncanny X-Men -- for the first time since I was about 15 - only to pick up issue #514 to learn I had absolutely no idea as to what was going on, and needed to buy several issues from several titles to find out. Worst of all, there weren’t even any editorial notes telling me which issues from which titles I needed to buy -- I had to go online to find out for myself!

[END SPOILER ALERT]

Now, why would I want to read this issue, not knowing WTF is going on, and possibly spoiling the other story, before I read the pertinent ones leading up to this? I have all these crossover issues and mini-series because I collect X-everything, but I haven’t had the chance to read them all, largely because, in the last six months, they have gone from Utopia to Dark X-Men to Nation-X to Doomwar and are heading into Shadowland -- meaning I need to read at least six or seven issues a month just to keep-up with Uncanny X-Men, or New Mutants!

Now, think about that for a moment; really let that sink-in: Six to seven issues at $2.99 each is right at $20.00, per month, to follow one title. And, were you to really be faithful to a character/team (property), that's not even scratching the surface; Wolverine appears in no fewer than 10 titles each month.

I subscribe to a title because I want to follow that character/team's story, and when that story happens offstage, I have every right to feel robbed - because I have been! I shouldn't be coerced into spending another $15-30 just to find out what happened to the characters in the title to which I subscribe and/or follow -- yet that is exactly what is going on! And I could stand this, to a greater extent, if it happened once in a while -- say every 15-16 months or so -- but not (literally) every three to four issues!

Like I say, I think I have all the comics that will fill me in on what I’m (at this point) missing, but it cost me dearly, and few have the money for that. You may say, “Well, that’s your job,” and you're right, and that's why I did this; this is what I do and, were it not for this, I could never afford all these comics. But there is the other thing: I’ve wanted to work in comics since I was a child, and Marvel is making it harder for everyone to enjoy the medium, and the hobby, because they are flat-out greedy.

Despite what you may have heard, greed is not good. In fact, it's a fucking sin. But it's not like I'm a particularly religious man myself, so let's move on.

Though comics may be a "springboard"-type industry these days (for people who really want to make movies, TV, or just get their name "out there"), the people who use it for such aren’t actual "comic book people." Most of the artists, writers, creators, et.al., in the industry want to be there -- they want to do comics -- not make movies, not make TV. I don’t want to say it’s a "calling" -- I believe that it is, but I’m not here to wax poetic -- but however you look at it, a lot of the people making comic books are doing so because they really want to, and they deserve better than this. And so do I. And you do, too!

I don’t want people to get turned-off by comics the way we were all turned-off to them back in the ‘90s, because it took 15 years for us to get back into them, only to have Marvel (and DC) PULL THIS SAME SHIT AGAIN! (I told you so I told you so I told you so!)

I want comic books to be a popular medium and pastime; I want Marvel Comics (and DC, and Dark Horse, and Image, and Bluewater, and Antarctic, et.al. ¹) to make money; I want to enjoy good product. What I'm saying is that these things are not mutually exclusive!

By churning out product and flooding the market, the publishers are forcing both retailers and readers/collectors to choose sides, as well as books, and that's not good! The Big Two could easily run a crossover event through multiple titles that not only boosts sales of flagging titles, but entertains the readers, and fulfills its purpose. Instead, they create separate mini/maxi -series, run their consequences through 10-12 different titles over the course of four or more months, slap-on another mini-series or two at the end, then rack a slew of one-shots. The result is nothing short of robbery.

Did you know that Iron Man got a total "reboot," so Tony Stark doesn't remember anything that happened in the last five years or so? Kinda like how Spidey made a deal with a devil to "forget" his marriage and the last 20 years of continuity. In other words, we all just bought thousands of dollars' worth of comic books to follow stories that never happened!

That's like paying for a concert at which the band walks onstage and says, "Goodnight!"

It's affecting the community, it's killing the hobby, and it's bad business all the way around -- to say nothing of the fact that it's sloppy work any hack off the street could do! And that makes me angry -- as a reader/collector/fan, as a creator, as a wannabe industry worker... on more levels than I can even think of without doing a full inventory. The Big Two have hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of complex, wonderful characters, and nearly 100 years of history, and these people just wring it out, hang it out to dry, then pull a Dallas. With straight faces, no less!

I've lost all respect for these "colleagues" of mine. I understand it's a paycheck; I understand these are properties; what I don't understand is why all of these people have the work ethics of a 16-year old fast food cashier! They should be ashamed, but it's probably hard to feel much of anything beneath a pile of cash.

I love comic books; I love the characters, the medium, the hobby of collecting -- the whole shebang; I honestly love them blindly, madly, passionately. Would you hacks kindly remove your collective dick?

---
¹ I'm leaving Dark Horse, Bluewater, and the rest out of this discussion because they don't pull this crap. Image is starting to, to some degree, but I can't blame them, either; it is a business and I'd like to see Image give the Big Two a run for their money, even if that means getting down to their level to do so. Besides, Image needs a good crossover event or two to establish the Image Universe's connectivity and continuity.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Kevin Smith is 37

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Thanks Marvel Comics

A POST 15 YEARS IN THE MAKING

I have finally figured out what Marvel is up to, and I have to thank them:

By lowering the overall quality of each issue while simultaneously raising the price, they are weening us off of Marvel comic books! It’s exactly what the government is doing with cigarettes: By continuing to raise the price without removing any of the harmful additives, they are making it harder for us to afford cigarettes, yet keeping them just as dangerous when we do. This way, the government figures, we will either die or go broke, and we can't ask for a bailout because we did it to ourselves and got what we deserve.

Marvel is simply making the point that, at 35, I don’t need to be reading Marvel Comics; I need to be buying cigarettes!

Wait.

I mean, they are telling me I need to be saving that money for when cigarettes cost $10 a pack, instead of $5.00! Dammit.

Marvel is making comic books cost more so that we stop buying them. Then they can fill them with nefarious messages about blindly following the orders of mice and goofy dogs and get those messages out to the youth, where they belong. Kids should be reading comic books, Marvel is saying, not adults, and kids don’t care how well they are written or drawn, because... well, because they’re KIDS!

So, thank you Marvel! I was all lost there, thinking you didn't know what you were doing and were just ripping me off to fill your coffers so you could make more mediocre movies, while all along, you had my best interests in mind!

Make Mine Not Marvel!

(Wink; thanks again! Sorry for all those "shitheels" and "hacks" comments! No hard feelings? I realize that, just because I grew-up with these characters, it doesn't make them any less the lucrative corporate properties they always were, and the more I fret over what you are doing to them, the unhappier I will be. So I will stop buying Marvel Comics and let you get back to tanking the industry once again! Now get back to those drawing boards and turn out some product, you effing shitheel hacks!)

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Graphic Novelist Suing Heroes for Copyright Infringement

Graphic novelist Jason Barnes, aka Jazan Wild, has filed a complaint against NBC Universal, seeking monetary compensation and an injunction against the further distribution of Heroes Season 4 (I wouldn't worry too much about that one, bud), claiming the season finale "knowingly and maliciously" ripped-off his graphic novel, Carnival of Souls. Carnival of Souls is a webcomic which Barnes obviously hopes to one day print.

Some of the similarities noted in the suit include a carnival which can appear and disappear at will and a circle of mirrors as a major plot device. In fact, Barnes suggests that some of the scenes from the series finale of Heroes appear to have been lifted straight from his source material.

NBC Universal called the suit "meritless." Heroes has been canceled by the network.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #1 - Finch Sketch Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Sullivan's Sluggers

Berkeley CA - 12 May 2010 - Image Comics announces the release of SULLIVAN'S SLUGGERS, a powerful collaboration between writer Mark Andrew Smith and artist James Stokoe (ORC STAIN). Smith, winner of a Harvey Award for co-editing POPGUN 1, is also the writer behind the offbeat favorites AMAZING JOY BUZZARDS, AQUA LEUNG, and NEW BRIGHTON ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

"Sullivan's Sluggers is a great blending of sports comics and horror," says Smith. "It was great to do a story about a baseball team while also, at the same time, working in the horror genre. I think this book will simultaneously resonate with sports and baseball fans, as well as horror fans, making it a perfect storm."

"The horror genre has played a hugely influential role in comics, so it's been really cool to dip my toes in that pool," adds Stokoe. "Mark's cranked out a really fun script that puts a lot of emphasis on stuff that can only be done in comics and has stuffed panels with crazy amounts of gore and action. Our unsung hero, Rodrigo Aviles, is laying down some really vivid and imaginative colors as well. Lots of red splatter and juicy monster gizzards!"

"From THE AMAZING JOY BUZZARDS to POPGUN, Mark Smith has long been one of Image's most imaginative and prolific writers," observes Image Publisher, Eric Stephenson. "He has a great eye for artistic talent, and a head full of ideas that in many ways are ahead of their time. Aided and abetted by the incredible James Stokoe, SULLIVAN'S SLUGGERS is easily one of his best projects yet. If you haven't been exposed to the madcap wonder of Mark's work, this is the place to start!"

SULLIVAN'S SLUGGERS: When Sullivan's bedraggled minor league sluggers accept an invitation to play an out-of-town game, they have no idea their small-town destination is cursed. When the sun goes down after the 7th inning stretch, the dysfunctional teammates find themselves fighting for their lives against a town crawling with flesh eating monsters.

SULLIVAN'S SLUGGERS, an all-new 176-page full-color trade written by Mark Andrew Smith and illustrated by James Stokoe and published by Image Comics, will be available in stores on August 11, 2010, for $16.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Secret Warriors Enter the Heroic Age

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

DAMMIT!

What can I tell you, folks? I've been offline since about 7:30 last night! Since we have storms here now and are expected to have more throughout the weekend, I don't know what to say... All I can do is try my best to get what I can up before the network craps-out again.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #1 - Finch Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

One Betrayal Damns the Heroic Age

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Bluewater Closes Twilight Bios with Lautner

Bluewater Productions has already completed comic book biographies of Twilight actors, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, and of the author who first brought Twilight to life, Stephenie Meyer. In August, the comics company will add actor Taylor Lautner to the mix.

Lautner, who plays shape-shifter Jacob Black in the Twilight films, will get his own comic from Bluewater this August. The 32-page Fame: Taylor Lautner will retail at comic shops, Amazon.com and other online sites for $3.99.

Lautner was a relatively unknown actor until he made his debut in the popular vampire-romance movies. Those days are over. Today, Lautner is as much a household name as are Stewart and Pattinson. Lautner is also a committed actor. He studied martial arts and packed on 30 pounds of muscle for his role in the Twilight movies. Of course, Lautner's smile and chiseled features haven't hurt his popularity, either, at least not among the movies' largely female audience.

Kimberly Sherman, who's penned the biography comics of both Pattinson and Stewart, also wrote the new Lautner comic. Warren Martineck, an artist for DC Comics' WildStorm studio, provided the interior art, while JuanMar Studios produced the comic's cover.

“The Twilight series has become a pop culture phenomenon,” said Darren Davis, president and founder of Bluewater Productions. “It's transformed previously unknown actors into superstars. It seems that the same thing is happening with Taylor Lautner. We at Bluewater are happy to bring Taylor's story to his fans, and hope that his comic helps introduce these readers to the joys of graphic storytelling.”

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Most Likely to Save the World

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Bear With Us, Here

Apparently, we are still experiencing some network problems. Again, nothing I can do about this, but it hasn't kicked me offline for an extremely long period yet - a few minutes last night and about half an hour just then. Still, I guess we're not completely out of the woods just yet.

I got a shipment of comics in today, so I'm going through that, but I'll call the provider if it happens again, just so we can get a trouble ticket started.

Really sorry about this, but obviously, with all the inclement weather we've been having in the area - and across the country - these last few weeks, things happen.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Steve Rogers: Super Soldier #1 - Pacheco Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Emma Caulfield Back Anya Market

What do want from me? Achingly bad headlines aside, 37-year old Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, Emma Caulfield, is separating from her husband of three years, citing irreconcilable differences. Caulfield played vengeful demoness, Anya, who originally granted spurned women their darkest wishes, but was eventually "tamed" by wise-cracking Xander.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel Comics Shipping 05-19-10

Here it is, Zombies, your weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics shipping this Wednesday, May 19^th, 2010:

Comics On-Sale:
AGE OF HEROES #1 (HA)
AGE OF HEROES #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: AMERICAN SON #1
ANITA BLAKE: CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED - THE CHARMER #1
ATLAS #1 (HA)
ATLAS #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
ATLAS #1 WOMEN OF MARVEL VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 (HA)
AVENGERS #1 BLANK COVER VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 JRJR CHARACTER VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 JRJR GATEFOLD VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS #1 JRSR VARIANT (HA)
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 (HA)
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER - THE JOURNEY BEGINS #1
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER - THE JOURNEY BEGINS #1 LEE VARIANT
DEADPOOL #23 (HA)
DEADPOOL #23 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
DEATHLOK #7
ENTER THE HEROIC AGE #1 (HA)
GALACTA: DAUGHTER OF GALACTUS #1
GIRL COMICS #2
HER-OES #2
HEROIC AGE MAGAZINE (50/50 CHEUNG COVERS)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #26 (HA)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #26 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (HA)
MARVEL 1602 MGC #1
ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS #1 (HA)
RESCUE #1
THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ #6
ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #2
X-FACTOR #204 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
X-FACTOR #205
X-FACTOR #205 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
X-MEN FOREVER #24
X-MEN LEGACY #235 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (XSC)
X-MEN LEGACY #236 (XSC)
X-MEN LEGACY #236 FINCH VARIANT (XSC)
X-MEN LEGACY #236 HEROIC AGE VARIANT (XSC)
X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK #4

Collections On-Sale:
DESTROYER TPB
HULK VOL. 5: FALL OF THE HULKS PREMIERE HC
SPIDER-MAN: THE GAUNTLET VOL. 3 - VULTURE & MORBIUS PREMIERE HC
THE TROJAN WAR GN-TPB
X-FACTOR: INVISIBLE WOMAN HAS VANISHED PREMIERE HC
X-MEN ORIGINS TPB
X-MEN: NATION X HC

*HA = Heroic Age tie-in
*XSC = X-Men: Second Coming tie-in

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Battle for the Soul of New York

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Again with the Lightning!

Well, the week-long connectivity issue has (hopefully) been resolved. It seems lightning hit something at the local station and fried it up. And, despite area-wide disruptions over the past two weeks, no one thought to check that out.

If I ran this world... Things would get done. Things.

At any rate, I'm back and will get right to it.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

X-Men #1 - Curse of the Mutants

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Todd McFarlane Appears at Book Expo America

Berkeley, CA - 14 May 2010 - Image Comics is proud to announce that SPAWN creator and Image Partner, TODD MCFARLANE, will appear at Book Expo America (BEA) on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at the Javits Center in New York City.

Image Comics will be exhibiting with Diamond Book Distributors, booth #4558. McFarlane will be at the booth for an exclusive signing from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Complimentary copies of the first HAUNT trade will be available during the signing. Image will also distribute copies of various Image Firsts titles throughout BEA.

"As the comic book culture continues to outgrow its historic roots of the comic book store, a big movement has been made toward book stores," says McFarlane. "Book stores have now become fertile ground for people like myself, and I need to make sure I get out there, put my best foot forward, in terms of making presentations to the stores and letting retailers know what's coming out. Now, there're arguably just as many consumers coming to bookstores for comic product as comic book stores. They're an extremely important part of our business."

From budding baseball player to comic book artist extraordinaire to family man, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane has a wealth of experience in the world of entertainment. McFarlane's road trip to creative autonomy began when he accepted an assignment penciling for Marvel/Epic Comics in March 1984. From there, he worked his way to the top of the talent roster before leaving Marvel to help found Image Comics with six other artists. It was then that Todd introduced his own character, Spawn. In 1994, Todd founded McFarlane Toys. Over the years, the company has become one of the largest, most renowned toy manufacturers in the world.

Don't miss Todd McFarlane during his one-day-only appearance at BEA on Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Shadowland - Coming in July

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Chuck, The Cape, V, FlashForward, Heroes - TV News

NBC announced that Chuck will return for a fourth season, though (at this point) it is limited to a 13-episode run. NBC also picked-up The Cape, a superhero show about a cop who was framed for a crime he did not commit and takes up vigilantism beneath a mask.

ABC renewed V for a second season, and finally canceled FlashForward.

UPDATE: NBC also announced that they have canceled Heroes! The last episode, which aired in February, is apparently the series finale. Heroes ran for four seasons, all told, but never regained the momentum of its first season.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Murderland

Berkeley, CA - 13 May 2010 - Artist DAVID HAHN joins newcomer, STEPHEN SCOTT, to tell a story of doomed romance, bloodshed, and the outer limits of human potential, in MURDERLAND, published by Image Comics

Scott states, "In MURDERLAND, I wanted to do several things: (1) Teach people what an Arabber is before they are all gone, (2) show why Baltimore is more like a difficult lover than a crackhead relative, and (3) stir funny feelings about a bearded woman. All I'm sure we did was mix some comedy with solid action and strangely authentic characters."

"Method is the money character," says Hahn. "Not just another pretty face, but one with the most unusual body issues I've ever seen. She is at one moment beautiful, then unexpectedly repulsive. I have a certain squeamishness regarding Method's 'hair powers,' but I have to say, I have never seen a writer so unafraid to 'ugly-up' his female lead without just beating her up. This is like nothing else I've drawn or even seen in mainstream comics."

BOO COOK, who provides the flip cover for the first issue, adds, "It just so happened that I was fired up about Baltimore from watching THE WIRE, and the MURDERLAND pitch just hooked me in."

"I've been a fan of David's artwork since his PRIVATE BEACH days, so I was thrilled when he and Stephen approached Image with MURDERLAND," says Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Together, they've come up with one of the more unique takes on the vigilante concept, and I think fans of crime comics are going to eat this up."

MURDERLAND unfolds on the "complicated" streets of Baltimore, Maryland. The Arabber is a reformed killer bent on bringing peace to his hometown. Method is his lover and partner in crime, but she may not be long for The Arabber's crusade.

MURDERLAND #1, a 32-page, full-color comic book for $2.99, will be in stores August 4, 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010