In 1980, Mattel released Black Barbie, which is largely considered the first African-American Barbie, but there were two black Barbie dolls preceding it.
In 1967, Colored Francie was merely a Barbie with darker skin; Barbie's head was used unchanged, so Colored Francie lacked African-American features. The connotation, though politically-correct for the time, also offended the black community, so Colored Francie was quickly discontinued.
In 1968, Mattel released Christie, which experts consider the first black Barbie. Christie had coarser synthetic hair than Barbie, as well as facial features specific to African-Americans. Some historians credit this move as bold and empowering, as it was the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Christie was well-accepted, and continued to be popular up to the 1980 release of Black Barbie.
Mattel also released the first Latino Barbie, Teresa, in 1980.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Christie, the First Black Barbie
Did Scots Invent the Comic Book?
A new documentary entitled Scotland's amazing Comic Book Heroes claims that The Looking Glass periodical was the first comic book. The first installment of the periodical was released on June 11th, 1825; the last was published the following year. However, some insist certain characteristics of the magazine founded by John Watson make it the first comic magazine in history. Is a comic no more than the mere inclusion of such phrases as "To be continued..."?
The Looking Glass became The Northern Looking Glass, and it was during this run that experts say it introduced the word balloon. William Heath is the cartoonist who added those three words to a comic strip entitled "This Soldier's Life." Heath moved to London and became one of the most successful caricaturists of his day. He revived The Looking Glass years later, but it quickly folded and William Heath died shortly thereafter.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Charlie Sheen's Rants Lead to Two and a Half Men Cancellation
Charlie Sheen made headlines all week with rants he made live on the Alex Jones radio show, much of which was aimed at Two and a Half Men creator/producer, Chuck Lorre. After a series of these rants, CBS and Warner announced yesterday that they are canceling Two and a Half Men for at least the rest of the season. Sheen remains defiant, noting he'll "go make movies with superstars," before leaving for the Bahamas with a couple of porn stars.
All of this began several months back, when Charlie Sheen was arrested in Denver for domestic abuse. Last October, reports say police found him outside New York's Plaza Hotel, naked, screaming racial epithets at the top of his lungs. A completely different porn star was locked in his bathroom. Another bender in January, 2011 landed him in the hospital and production on his sit-com, Two and a Half Men, was halted. Throughout this time, Sheen was in and out of rehab.
Sheen began calling radio shows on the 16th of February. He also sent hastily-scrawled messages to various websites. His on-air rants and tirades were increasingly insulting to Chuck Lorre, creating a situation which quickly escalated. Warner Bros. and CBS made the decision to pull the plug on the remainder of the season yesterday, citing Sheen's behavior.
Charlie Sheen's Two and a Half Men contract has no "morals clause," which would allow producers to fire him for behaving in a way that reflects poorly on the show.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
D&D Ruled Unlawful
Dungeons & Dragons threatens prison security, according to a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Appeals Court said "cooperative games can mimic the organization of gangs and lead to the actual development thereof." This was in response to prisoner Kevin T. Singer's request to be allowed D&D materials. Singer is serving a life sentence for murdering his sister's boyfriend.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
'Lost' Detective Comics #27 Proofs Up for Auction
Detective Comics #27 contains the first appearance of the Bat-Man, who would later become the Dark Knight of Gotham. For years, fans assumed the original art for the issue had been lost or destroyed, and it may well have been, but one lucky junker found what may be the only surviving proofs from the issue that introduced the world to Batman.
Mario Sacripante rescued a steam trunk from the curb outside his apartment builduing in 1975. He learned later that Batman artist and creator, Bob Kane, had once lived in the building. The trunk contained the proofs, as well as sketchbooks, and more. All items are up for auction.
A copy of Detective Comics #27 recently sold for over $1 million. These proofs are expected to fetch about $1000 per page, but that price could well skyrocket. At the time of this writing, Internet bidding is closed at $1100. The auction is today.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Get Satellite
Sometimes, cable is simply too high or you are too far out of the service area. Satellite TV is almost certainly available. Furthermore, DSL connections are comparable to cable Internet connections, according to tests.
When we were young, there were only a handful of networks, and though there was a lot of news, there was nothing like the kind of widespread coverage the Internet offers us today. Many times over the last few years, Internet users were made aware of news events before the mainstream press, thanks to social networks. Satellite TV keeps you apprised of current events, and brings you hours of entertainment.
Also, you often hear so-called "experts" say that cable is faster than Satellite TV. We told you before that tests prove otherwise, but it is a persistent rumor that is simply false. Go ahead and poke-around if you don't believe me, but you'll see there is absolutely no evidence that satellite connections perform better or worse than their cable counterparts.
Imagine a World Without Sherlock: Moriarty
Image Comics presents another new title as well as some exciting new talent with MORIARTY, a collaboration from the up-and-coming creative team of writer Daniel Corey and artist Anthony Diecidue. This new series, set to debut in May, follows the world’s greatest criminal mastermind as he adjusts to life without a foil.
Although the venerable series created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle covered a great deal of ground, it left one question unanswered: What would happen if Professor Moriarty finally achieved mortal victory over his ages old nemesis? With Diecidue's art evoking the dark and foreboding atmosphere of London after dark, Corey shows readers the story without a Sherlock Holmes.
“Would Moriarty revel in victory, spend the rest of his life smoking cigars and sleeping on stacks of money?” Daniel Corey wondered. “Probably not. I think he’d fall on hard times, and it would take one heck of an event - say, a World War - to jolt him back to life.”
Corey continued, "Moriarty's not an evil person, not in his own mind. In working with Anthony Diecidue to create this series, I thought we’d take a look at things from Moriarty’s perspective, get to know his thoughts. Along the way, we see him delve into some mind-blowing deductive reasoning, get into a few sword fights, decipher riddles, and discover technology 50 years ahead of its time. Would we expect any less from the original super-villain?"
MORIARTY #1, a 32 page full-color, science-fiction, noir comic book, is in stores in May 2011 for $2.99.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
'Found' Crumb Art Going to Auction
A "lost" sketchbook diary of Robert Crumb's is set for auction the weekend of March 4-6th, 2011.
The iconic counterculture artist was best known for his album cover work for bands like Big Brother and the Holding Company and the Grateful Dead for the first half of his career; later, R. Crumb became known best for his underground comics. Ralph Bakshi based his film, Fritz the Cat, on several of his comics (Crumb did not like the movie).
The sketchbook is the main draw amongst several pop-culture lots, including Marvel and DC comics, animation, and Disney memorabilia.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Early Days
Hey guys, I just want to apologize for stopping at 2-3pm here lately. A month or so back, it started hurting when I was seated. I dealt with it for about two weeks before I finally capitulated. The doctor told me it was due to stress and sitting too much for long stretches of time. I took a week off, working only a few hours a day here and there, and was supposed to cut-out all sorts of things like caffeine, smoking, chocolate, and so forth.
I did none of this (stress and sitting on my ass are the major factors here -- the rest of that stuff is to be considered, but isn't the real problem), though I did cut-down my intake to almost nothing -- something else I fought with the entire week I took-off, and am still fighting with now -- and, between that and taking the medicine prescribed, I got to feeling better. But it still bothers me; this was only about three weeks ago and the medicine took almost an entire week to get into my system and start working, so I've only been feeling demonstrably better for about a week now.
Between this and my pets, I got my sleep turned every which way, and I've literally been waking-up somewhere between 3:00 and 5:00 AM, working until about 2:00 or 3:00 PM, then going back to bed. In fact, I just woke-up around 9:00pm, so I'll likely be up until at least 3:00 or 4:00 AM and won't get out of bed until some time after 11:00am.
Blecch!
Anyway, that's what's going on with that.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Batmobile Sells for $12,000
A model of the Batmobile featured in the 1989 classic, Batman, sold at auction for $12,000 on January 22nd, 2011. The Batmobile was built on a 1985 Corvette chassis with a Corvette engine and was used in the Tim Burton movie. It was expected to fetch between $5000 and $10,000.
The Batmobile was the big draw of the hundreds of lots offered as part of the American Superhero Museum sale. Sadly, the American Superhero Museum closed its doors, and sold-off its inventory. It was open less than five years.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Ridicurous! Toho Sues Honda for Godzilla Image
Toho Inc., the proprietor of Godzilla and related properties, filed suit against Honda for the unauthorized use of Godzilla in a recent commercial. The famous lizard is seen for maybe a full second in a split-screen with Judas Priest's guitarist who is hamming it up. I honestly did not even see Gojira the first time through!
Toho claims "copyright infringement" and I don't think they're going to get that; Honda is not necessarily using Godzilla to sell anything. In context, the brief image of Godzilla is meant to communicate "blockbuster movie entertainment" -- to highlight the device on which it is playing -- and appeal to young men, as is the heavy metal. No one thinks he is going to get Godzilla, or even a signed photo of him, by purchasing a van.
That said, Toho may well win "unauthorized use."
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
NPR Covers Comic Jam
Green Brain Comics started the Comic Jam event just last year but found a wealth of support, and NPR has the story behind the whole thing. Just click here to listen.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
From the Vaults: Jeff Bridges on Tron Sequel, 2008
Here is what's cool about checking-out our archives: I was doing something completely unrelated when I came across this post on Jeff Bridges, talking about how excited he was for the Tron sequel that came out this year. Of course, we all know how that turned out, which makes the post all the much better a read.
I already know the problem is the tagging and Blogger's ironically bad search capabilities, and I've done a lot in this regard. I admit I've been lax about maintaining the whole thing, but it's an extremely large and daunting project, so please forgive me. I am trying to develop a system incorporating the new Pages function, but it is slow-going because it is not as high a priority as other projects on my table.
For example, I updated the Entertainment page over the weekend. Which is a great example: Though I screwed it up; you can see where the title is supposed to be before the text block... I am going to fix it, but it isn't that big a deal, so who knows when I'll get to it, meaning I'm likely to forget it then come across it weeks, even months, later and ... well honestly, probably do nothing. BUt I'll make a NOTE of it, which I will quickly lose... You get the idea.
Anyway, however you do it, I promise there's some crazy shit in here -- I come across it all the time -- so do yourselves a favor and poke around.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Firebreather Holmgang #1 - A Review
Firebreather Holmgang is Image Comics' flagstaff monster tween, and now he has his own series. But Firebreather Holmgang is not a book for little kids; it is akin to DeGrassi Jr. High or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This is why I enjoyed the first issue. That and the art.
This is the first and only issue of Firebreather Holmgang I've ever read, so it may not be typical of the series, but I really enjoyed it. The dialogue flowed smoothly and the story unfolded without too much narration cluttering the art. The story and concept are weak, but don't let that scare you away; Firebreather Holmgang is a gripping read that will inspire nostalgia in those my age. Readers relate to Holmgang, despite the ridiculousness of the situations, which are usually related to his appearance.
See, Firebreather Holmgang is the half-demon son of a dragon and a human mother who is going to public highschool for the first time. He experiences the typical teenage problems but due to his insecurity over his appearance, what should be normal growing experiences become overwrought and often explosive. It's an obvious metaphor of any average, American teenager, but that's exactly what makes it work. Teens and adults can relate to Holmgang because we've all experienced his travails, and the explosiveness of his character ensures us a fight scene or two per issue.
Mind you, the writing is not at all bad -- it's quite good, in fact -- it's just aimed at a younger audience. That age group should love it, but adults have already read this story. The concept is a very commercial one, and the art and writing styles are very aware of this. I would certainly watch a Firebreather cartoon, movie or TV show, but I would have a good idea as to where the story was going pretty early-on.
The art itself is what makes Firebreather Holmgang stand out. True to its name, Image has an eye for drawing talent and they've hit the jackpot with Andy Kuhn. His deceptively simplistic style belies his abilities. I was especially taken with his knowledge of anatomy and how people (and half-people) move. But, best of all, Kuhn makes the action in his panels dynamic! A slight change in angle can provide all the drama an otherwise boring situation lacks, and Kuhn shows this. His art kept my eyes moving from one panel to the next even when I knew what was coming.
Firebreather Holmgang #1 is a great book, appropriate for kids 14+. Recommended.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Detroit to Get Robocop Statue
Detroit artists, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts raise $50,000 to build a statue of iconic cyberpunk superhero, Robocop. But city officials are not sure if they will allow it to become a public fixture, as it may send the wrong message about Detroit. The group has already commissioned the sculptors. A spokesperson said a nonprofit arts group plans to display the statue if the city refuses.
Jeff Pallendorf sent Detroit city mayor Dave Bing a message through Twitter, asking if the mayor supported the idea of a statue of Robocop. Bing tweeted back that there were no plans for such a project and his remark went viral. A spokesperson for Bing's administration said the city is now looking into how it could display the Robocop statue.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Disney*Pixar Presents
Marvel and Disney Publishing will debut DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS, a new monthly magazine featuring some of the most popular characters from the acclaimed Disney/Pixar films. Intended for readers of all ages and priced at $5.99, the first issue will hit stores in May 2011.
Each issue of the magazine contains 96 full color pages of content, including a mix of brand new stories, classic adventures, puzzles, games and more. Featuring characters from Disney/Pixar’s hit movies Cars, Cars 2, The Incredibles, Toy Story 3, and more, DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS will be available at bookstores, retail chains, comic stores and more. The series debuts with DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS: Cars Magazine #1.
“We’re excited for the launch of DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS, teaming with our friends at Disney/Pixar to bring some exciting new material to fans all over the world and introducing a whole new generation to comics,” said Axel Alonso, Editor-in-Chief. “We’re committed to providing a great product and ensuring these books are available in locations that parents and kids frequent. The Disney/Pixar library includes some of the most popular characters of all time, making DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS exactly the kind of comic magazine that kids and parents have been demanding!”
Rev up those engines and join your favorite characters from CARS in DISNEY•PIXAR PRESENTS: Cars Magazine #1 as Lightning McQueen organizes a charity race for young cars with special needs, but he didn’t invite Piston Cup champion Chick Hicks. The snub gets Hick’s competitive juices flowing, and he’s out to show McQueen a thing or two about racing! Will Hicks ruin the good nature of the Radiator Springs Rally Race? Find out this May everywhere books and comics are sold.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Top Cow Seeking New Artists
Berkeley, CA - 14 February 2011 - Those who have dreamt of having their work featured on the cover of a Top Cow comic will get their chance with the NETHERWORLD "We Are All Lost" Variant Cover contest. Artists, amateur and professional alike, are encouraged to enter their images of an urban landscape with the phrase “We Are All Lost” embedded into the setting. The best entry will be selected to appear in April as the retailer incentive variant cover for NETHERWORLD #1.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Heroes and Villains Entertainment present NETHERWORLD, a gritty supernatural story about the message on the walls of a city with no sun and no hope. Ray, a former cop turned private eye and junkie, has been entreated to find a girl named Madeline. As he searches through the city's twisted underbelly, Ray must unveil the darkest secrets of NETHERWORLD, including his own.
"The guys over at Heroes and Villains along with Bryan Edward Hill and Rob Levin has created a tremendously rich and vivid reality in NETHERWORLD. The phrase "We Are All Lost" plays an important part in establishing the tone of the series and was featured prominently in our teaser campaign," explained Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik. "We wanted to take that a step further and really involve the fans in 'tagging' pieces of art to create a unique variant cover for the first issue."
Images can represent any city’s urban landscape and may feature original art of any medium, including photography and digitally-manipulated public domain images. Entries must be submitted at http://www.topcow.com/barn from February 14th, 2011 to 6pm PST on March 1st, 2011. Rules can be found here.
Besides being awarded the opportunity to have their art featured on the cover of NETHERWORLD #1, the winner will also receive other prizes, such as: an original sketch from artist Tony Shasteen, one copy of Netherworld #1 signed by co-writers Bryan Edward Hill and Rob Levin and artist Tony Shasteen, ten copies of their variant cover, and a selection of Top Cow comics and trade paperbacks!
NETHERWORLD #1, a 32-page, full-color comic book for $3.99 will be in stores on April 13th, 2011.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Warhol Self-Portrait Sells for $10.8m
A rare and iconic, two-tone self-portrait of popular modern artist, Andy Warhol, was auctioned at Christie's and fetched $10.8 million. The portrait was created in 1967 as part of a series. There were 11 self-portraits in all. The winning bid was from an anonymous participant.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Go Inside Echoes
In anticipation of the third issue of ECHOES, a disturbing horror noir by writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Rahsan Ekedal, Comic Book Resources and Robot 6 will be releasing one page per day of ECHOES #1 alongside fresh new creator commentary by Fialkov.This 5 issue miniseries published by Minotaur Press, an imprint of Top Cow, and Image Comics, has been described by USA Today as having "honest-to-goodness creepiness" at its heart.
Jonah Weiland of Comic Book Resources stated, "I'm very pleased Top Cow has allowed CBR & ROBOT 6 this opportunity to serialize the first issue of ECHOES online. ECHOES is an engaging and creepy story, the kind that sticks in your head well after you've read it. It's an example of the incredible creativity that exists in the comics medium that deserves greater exposure and we're happy to do our part."
Fialkov also looks forward to this opportunity to provide some of the real behind the scenes story of ECHOES to the fans. He added, "As a comics creator working outside the mainstream, I've had to fight for every reader. Getting a chance to show off all of that hard work to the huge audience of CBR is thrilling beyond words. It's a sign of support that every creator dreams of."
Monday, February 7th, 2011, readers not only get an opportunity to enjoy ECHOES #1 for free, but also get an opportunity to go behind the scenes each day with Fialkov to explore the team's creative process.
ECHOES #3 (DEC100530), a 32-page, black and white, horror comic for $3.99 will be in stores on February 23rd, 2011. Echoes #1 2nd-Printing and Echoes #2 are both available for immediate reorder.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Savage Dragon: Life After Death
Malcolm Dragon Has Some Big Shoes to Fill in Savage Dragon #169.
A changing of the guard is taking place next week in Chicago. Having lost its great protector, citizens of the Windy City and the family of Officer Dragon must face a new reality. Issue 169 provides a great starting point for new readers or thosewho wish to be reintroduced to this no-holds-barred superhero comic that includes plenty of heavy-hitting fisticuffs, good-natured humor, and universal themes at a time of great change for the characters.
As Malcolm Dragon, son of the famous (sometimes infamous) Savage Dragon, copes with the final loss of a superhero father who had not always been a reliable presence in his life, he must fend-off nefarious villains and ne'er-do-wells. Malcolm may feel unprepared to assume such responsibilities, as he must also deal with a life filled with the normal awkwardness of a teenager, as well as the damaged legacy his father left behind.
"In the last couple years, Dragon went from being a cop to being the greatest menace to ever appear in this book," said Image Comics founder and creator of SAVAGE DRAGON, Erik Larsen. "Characters in SAVAGE DRAGON change just like people do in the real world. Malcolm didn't even exist when the series started, but readers have been there to see him grow from a baby to a guy old enough to star in his own book. This is a big step for him and a big turning-point for the series. It's an exciting time for everybody."
SAVAGE DRAGON began in 1992, but the character was originally conceived in Larsen's childhood. Since the beginning, the story has moved forward in real time, including the gradual growth and aging of characters. Now the young Savage Dragon who sought to fight crime in the early '90s is gone, but Chicago still needs a hero. Enter: Malcolm Dragon!
SAVAGE DRAGON #169 (DEC100491), a 32-page, full-color comic book, is in stores on February 23rd, 2011 for $3.50.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Outer Darkness from Top Cow
In the wake of Top Cow's announcement of THE DARKNESS II video game for the Sony Playstation 3 from 2K Games, Image Comics and Top Cow Productions will present a new six-issue story arc entitled "Outer Darkness" for the ongoing comic book that started it all. Beginning in THE DARKNESS #90, Darkness bearer Jackie Estacado will be forced to confront his ultimate enemy.
Having previously dispatched The Sovereign, Jackie Estacado was hoping to finally have some time for reflection, but his plans are interrupted by assassins. Estacado must discover who has sent them, but things get complicated when The Foreigner returns to warn Jackie that the enemy he should really be watching for is the one within!
This high-stakes story is brought to life by artist Sheldon Mitchell, who is returning to THE DARKNESS for this arc, along with inkers Sal Regla and Rick Basaldua, and colorist Felix Serrano. This creative team will illustrate the story arc that begins to wrap-up acclaimed writer, Phil Hester's long run, which ends with issue #100.
"It seems like I started on THE DARKNESS just yesterday," Hester reminisced. "To know that there are four trades out there now is kind of mind-boggling. Time does fly when you're having fun, and working with Sheldon Mitchell, as well as artists like Michael Broussard, Jorge Lucas, Romano Molenaar, and Whilce Portacio certainly qualifies as fun."
Hester added, "I hope it's as fun to read as it was to write. I'm not given to hyperbole, but this next year of THE DARKNESS is going to come at you hard and fast!"
"Phil Hester has put together what I believe will one day be looked at as one of the definitive runs on THE DARKNESS and 'Outer Darkness' begins the culmination of the third arc that Phil wanted to tell when he first pitched for this series," said Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik. "Sheldon Mitchell has really stepped up his already impressive game and is delivering some of the best art of his career. 'Outer Darkness' promises to be a tense, high stakes arc fans won't want to miss!"
THE DARKNESS #90, a 32-page, full-color comic book will be for sale in stores on March 2nd, 2011 for $2.99.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Pfeiffer Joins Burton's Dark Shadows
Michelle Pfeiffer is set to appear as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard in Tim Burton's big-screen adaptation of the classic horror soap opera, Dark Shadows. Pfeiffer worked with Burton previously on Batman Returns, in which she famously portrayed Catwoman, Selena Kyle.
Burton's Dark Shadows reportedly involves his usual stable of actors, including Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, as well as Eva Green and Jackie Earle Haley, but details are still emerging.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Toon Junkie!
Basically everyone alive today under 35 or so grew-up with anime and manga, and a lot of those people are fans. Younger readers are especially enamored with the forms, as programs like Digimon and Dragonball-Z were very popular when they were children. Of course, America has many cartoons of its own that hold a special place in pop-culture -- G.I. Joe, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and others -- and fans of one form often have favorites throughout the field of animation.
While you do not have to be a child to enjoy cartoons and anime, it certainly helps. Few adults have the time to sit and enjoy cartoons on a regular basis, and that is why many people have kids. That is a FACT. How many parents have bought a Digimon DVD and felt compelled to tell the cashier that it is "for the kids?" Probably most of them, and they are all lying! I am certain a lot of the joy comes from sharing something they loved as children with their own kids, but there is nothing wrong with loving cartoons.
Toon Junkie! not only carries DVDs of your favorite anime and cartoons (including Digimon Season 1 and up), they also carry a large line of fabric wall posters featuring your favorite characters and cartoon properties. Toon Junkie! also allows you to purchase gift certificates and create wish lists, for both giving and (hopefully) receiving gifts. Basically, it is your one-stop shop for all things anime and cartoon -related, for both kids and adults.
Roseanne's Nut Farm
Roseanne Barr left showbizness behind (kinda) and bought a macadamia nut farm in Hawaii. No, really. And Lifetime has greenlit 16 episodes of a new reality series in which viewers will be able to follow her exploits!
While the show has yet to receive an airing date, or even a title, it will feature Roseanne, her boyfriend Johnny Argent, and son, Jake, as they try to establish a new life for their family. On a livestock nut ranch in Hawaii.
I'll watch the shit out of that.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
X-Men: Prelude
This May, leading up to the biggest decision of the X-Men’s lives, Eisner Award-winning writer Paul Jenkins and rising star artists Robert De La Torre and Laurence Campbell sow seeds of this discontent amongst the ranks of the mutant nation in X-Men: Prelude #1 (of 4)! There is a calm before every storm and in the months to come, the Children of the Atom will be faced with a decisive turning point. One that threatens to pit brother against brother, lover against lover, and mutant against mutant.
“To understand what is coming in the X-Men, you need to understand what has already transpired” says X-Men Senior Editor Nick Lowe. “The history of the X-Men is a huge tapestry and what we’re trying to do here is sum up the necessary info, while filling in blanks and adding new twists that will set fanboys a-Twittering. In this series, Paul lays out the complexities for the fans so they can see the foundation that is beginning to crack.”
The dream that Charles Xavier built – crumbles and what you knew about the X-Men changes here. It all begins in X-Men: Prelude #1 (of 4)!
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Astonishing X-Men in the X-Universe
This spring, Astonishing X-Men takes a dramatic twist as two amazing pairs of creators team-up for an astonishing crossover event—all in one series! This April, acclaimed creators of Daniel Way, Christos Gage, Jason Pearson, and Juan Bubillo set Astonishing X-Men on a monstrous monthly new path! The X-Men split into two teams, each on seemingly separate missions (told by rotating creative teams) that collide with major consequences for the X-Men!
“For the first time since its inception, the events of Astonishing X-Men are happening in the current X-Continuity” explains X-Men Senior Editor, Nick Lowe. “Not only are they reflecting where the X-Men are, you will also see the debut of a character that is going to be an important part of the X-Universe at the end of 2011!”
Way and Pearson kick things off in Astonishing X-Men #37 as Wolverine, Cyclops, Emma Frost, and Armor are all ready knee deep in a giant monster outbreak flattening metropolitan Japan! When the monstrous Fing Fang Foom attacks, the X-Men head into action! But while the X-Men are fending off the catastrophic beasts of Monster Island, Armor is contending with matters of a more personal nature. Can the X-Men save Tokyo without losing Armor?
Christos Gage and Juan Bubillo step in with Astonishing X-Men #38 for a story that truly shows you’re not always better off sitting it out when it comes to mutant adventuring! Starting this May, Storm, Colossus, Kitty Pryde, and Beast will have to pick up the slack, as Brood invasion threatens the other side of the Pacific coast in a tale that gives a whole new urgency to the term “meanwhile!” And that’s not all: not only will Lockheed be meeting Kitty Pride for the first time since the silver bullet, but S.W.O.R.D.’s Agent Brand comes back into the X-fold!
No fan can miss this truly unique take on serial storytelling as the X-Men take on Foom AND the Brood at the same time! The Astonishing line, bringing fans the top creators in the industry on the top characters, gets even bigger this April as fans get a monthly dose of Astonishing X-Men!
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Wrath of the Titans: The Revenge of Medusa
He defeated the Kraken, saved his son, and fortified his demi-god power. All seemed well for Perseus at the end of the 2008 comic book mini-series Wrath of the Titans. Now fans of the title get to experience what happens next as Bluewater Productions is set to return to Olympus with a second sword-and-sandals mini-series.
The first issue of Wrath of the Titans: The Revenge of Medusa, scheduled for an April 2011 release, picks up a few months after the events of the previous series and thrusts Perseus into new challenges that threaten the kingdom of Argos, his family and even Olympus.
“Greek mythology is so vast, so rich with drama and conflict. The series looks to tap into that tradition,” said series scribe Scott Davis. “It allows fans to further invest in Perseus' hero quest while exploring new realms of possibility and myth. And of course, there are monsters, gods, and mayhem!”
The four-issue series, written by Davis and illustrated by Jaime Martinez, is a sequel to the 2008 mini-series which itself was a Ray Harryhausen-authorized sequel of the 1981 film, Clash of the Titans. According to Davis, this latest installment expands the movie's tradition with a broader scope of Greek mythology.
“How do you challenge someone like Perseus? He's already defeated some of mythology's most dangerous creatures." Davis said. "You attack from within. You find ways to erode his confidence and shake his faith. And in this case, you do it with what made the last series memorable: monsters and Olympian intrigue!"
“I enjoy this universe and look forward to finding new and more exciting stories to bring to life,” said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis, who also served as the title's story editor.
Bluewater also announced that Wrath of the Titans: The Revenge of Medusa will reach shelves as a graphic novel later this year after its initial single-issue run. The 2008 Wrath of the Titans graphic novel was recently translated into a motion comic by Eagle One Media and is available on DVD.
It is currently rumored that the sequel to the 2010 film remake of Clash of the Titans will be titled Wrath of the Titans. The two projects are not connected.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Blue Estate
Berkeley, CA - 10 February 2011 – Looking for a high-octane adrenaline shot of comic violence? Viktor Kalvachev, the creative force behind the graphic novel PHERONE, leads readers through the breakneck landscape of mistaken identities, backstabbing conspirators and maximum firepower with BLUE ESTATE, an all-new 12-issue miniseries debuting in April from Image Comics.
Slacker detective Roy Devine, Jr. narrates this fast-paced tale of tangled relationships and alliances. His tale begins with a pair of tabloid darlings: former "It girl," Rachel, and her leading man, the action film star Bruce Maddox. Bruce has been involved in some shady dealings on the side, and it doesn’t take long for a handful of merciless big shots and careless bit-players of both the Italian and Russian mafia to enter the scene!
Viktor Kalvachev and his team of regular and special guest contributors have designed the look and feel of BLUE ESTATE to complement the unconventional story and characters. Artistic styles shift within issues to indicate jumps in time, swings of mood, and reversals of fortune from scene to scene.
“The feel of the book is like a comic jam session between talented friends,” says Kalvachev. “Plus, it keeps readers guessing at what will happen next!”
"Viktor has done an amazing job assembling his creative team for this series," adds Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "He's got some great artists involved and they're working together in a truly unique way that brings out the best in what's shaping up to be a fun crime caper."
BLUE ESTATE #1 features a story by Viktor Kalvachev and Kosta Yanev, script by Andrew Osborne, and art by Toby Cypress, Robert Valley, Nathan Fox, and Kalvachev. But while the creative team behind BLUE ESTATE includes an impressive line-up of talent, what’s sure to stick with readers is the book’s memorable cast of desperate heroes, ruthless villains, and hapless bystanders!
BLUE ESTATE #1, a 32-page full-color comedic crime comic book that will appeal to fans of films like Get Shorty, Snatch, and Inglorious Bastards, will be for sale in stores on April 6th, 2011 for $2.99.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Smashing Pumpkins' D'arcy Wretzky Jailed
Smashing Pumpkins' former bassist, D'arcy Wretzky, is in jail and expected to be there for some time. Wretzky was cited when her horses got loose in 2009. Wretzky has not paid the fine and missed four court dates related to the matter. The judge sentenced her to no fewer than six days in jail.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Out of the Woods on Weather
What? So I've been away for a while; I do stupid puns alla time. Besides, I really do live in the middle of the woods and I haven't been here this week because of weather:
Monday, we were not expected to be in the middle of the downpour that covered practically everywhere around us, but it had been snowing off and on throughout morning, so by early afternoon, it was starting to look like we might just get snowed-in. Wednesday was to bring us "The Worst Storm of the Season So Far" and what-not, so I was worried the roads were going to freeze-over and I was going to be snowed-in until next week! I called around and got a ride to a convenience store, where I spent far too much on cigarettes, milk, and "just enough [whatever -- milk, et. al.] just in case."
We did get a ton of snow Wednesday, but the roads are still clear, and there haven't been a lot of problems. Yesterday, my connection was bad or non-existent, but that was the worst of it. I used the time to handle personal stuff (bills, all that) and just kick-back. By yesterday evening, I was stir-crazy and bored.
Anyway, the weather is fine, the roads are clear,
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
New Bluewater Collectible Figures
GO HERO is teaming up with ZICA TOYS to create new 1:9 scale collectible figures based on more of the exciting BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS titles! Figures based on The Misadventures of Adam West, Logan's Run: Last Day, and Sinbad: Rogue of Mars.
Each figure features ZICA Toys' highly-articulated Z-Body (recently used in the BUCK ROGERS line - Available Now). The goal is to strike the best balance between the popular retro aesthetic and the modern quality and detail to deliver exciting figure designs.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Beavis & Butthead's Return Confirmed
MTV has confirmed that Beavis & Butthead will return - actually Justin Bieber tweeted it! A Biebertweet! Twitterific. Reports that creator, Mike Judge, outlined some 30+ new episodes surfaced several months back, and the animated pair appeared briefly in last summer's Jackass 3, but nothing more was known about the project until the B&B Bieber tweet. LOL.
Beavis & Butthead ran for 200 half-hour episodes on MTV between 1993 and 1997. Although no specific date has been mentioned, Beavis & Butthead is set to return this summer.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Farrah Fawcett's Swimsuit in Smithsonian
Farrah Fawcett's famous red swimsuit, worn in the 1976 poster that shot her to superstardom, was donated to the Smithsonian. The museum will feature a pop-culture memorabilia display over the summer in which the swimsuit will be included, along with a Farrah Fawcett doll and a collection of Charlie's Angels first-season scripts.
The 1976 poster is the best-selling of all-time, and became iconic of 1970's American pop-culture. The memorabilia was presented to the Smithsonian by Fawcett's surviving family, including Ryan O'Neal and the couple's son. Fawcett herself died in 2009 after an extensive fight with cancer.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
NTBS Austin
Austin Roofing can cost you a pretty penny and take far longer than projected if you do not know where to look and what to look for. I know a family who recently had their roof replaced, and it took several months when it was only supposed to take a handful of weeks. While most jobs are not this major, they can result in similar, unforeseen complications.
Austin Roof Repair is a large market, as it is in any major metropolitan area. NTBS has over a decade of experience in the field, as well as an "A"-rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). NTBS is also a recognized GAF/ELK Certified roofing installer.
If you are looking for an Austin Roofing Contractor, NTBS can handle all of your needs in a reasonable time, at a reasonable price. Repairs are often quite affordable and easy to undertake, though they can handle larger projects as well. NTBS also handles businesses and residences in the surrounding areas, so be sure to contact them for more information.
Hiatus
Guys, I'm very sorry, but I probably won't be back much until at least next week. I have taxes and bills and errands and everything else to do and obviously just can't get it all done in a handful of days like I'd hoped I could.
I didn't want to write this post, but what can I say? We've got nearly five years' worth of posts in the archives, so please enjoy them until I return! Thanks.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
Errands
Sorry guys, but I am busy doing the regular bill-paying thing, as well as some larger projects, such as cleaning and taxes. Yes, taxes. I should be able to get at least something out to you today, though I know many of you will be busy reading new comics, and should return to regular posting later this week or next. I would have written sooner, but I really didn't think all of this was going to take this long.
Thanks!
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
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