Read Monsters Unleashed #1 FREE

Monsters Unleashed #1

Scheduled for official release on the 18^th, you can preview the entire first issue of Marvel's Monsters Unleashed #1 online right now. Just follow this link to read the entire first issue for FREE!

© The Weirding, 2017

Marvel Now Point One

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

Marvel Augmented Reality

Yesterday, at the SXSW Interactive Festival, Marvel Entertainment unveiled Marvel AR, the first major augmented reality app from a comic book company. As part of the recently announced Marvel ReEvolution, which brings the world of print and digital media together for a comics experience like never before, the Marvel AR app powered by Aurasma will be released on April 2^nd for iOS and Android devices. Fans can first discover the power of this new app in Avengers VS X-Men #1, arriving in comic stores on April 4^th and kicking off the comic book event of the year in which the world’s most popular Super Heroes go to war!

By opening this app and scanning select Marvel products featuring the Marvel AR logo, you’ll unlock exclusive content starring the world’s most popular super heroes -- including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk and many others! Go behind the scenes of your favorite comics, see new footage, hear from creators, get caught up on past events and more!

“It’s time to join the Marvel ReEvolution, as we bring the worlds of print and digital media together for an unprecedented fan experience," said Peter Phillips, senior vice president and general manager, Marvel Digital Media Group. "Avengers VS X-Men is the biggest story we’ve ever told and teaming with Aurasma allows us to bring our fans a deeper experience when they purchase select Marvel comics and other Marvel products. Just wait till you see what we’ve planned!”

Marvel partnered with Aurasma, the world’s leading augmented reality platform, to create a mobile experience designed to empower fans to discover a new world of content that brings their favorite Super Heroes to life through tablets and mobile devices. Aurasma's cutting-edge image recognition technology enables the Marvel AR app to recognize images in new Marvel comic books, promotional posters and other merchandise, seamlessly augmenting the images with interactive virtual content such as videos, animations and more.

“Marvel is no stranger to digital media and is once again making history, this time by using Aurasma’s transformative technology to bridge the physical world with the virtual,” said, David Stone, Aurasma's director of client services. “What better way to excite and engage fans than to give them the power to interact with all of their favorite characters in a new way?”

Aurasma's free platform unlocks a whole new dimension for partners to creatively enhance the real world. In this case, comic books will reach new depths by unleashing coveted and fan-pleasing content like director and editor commentary and other special features, only accessible through the Marvel AR app.

The Marvel AR companion app, powered by Aurasma, will be available for free in April at the Apple App Store and Android Market.

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

Hickman Goes Digital

Making waves in the digital realm today, superstar comic creator Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four, The Red Wing) announced the digital release of not only his new creator-owned Image Comics series The Manhattan Projects, but also the release of an exclusive digital collection of all his previously published creator-owned work through Image Comics. This digital exclusive collection, Test Pattern, is available only on the Comics by comiXology platform —including iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, and the Web.

Test Pattern, a five-volume omnibus, collects Hickman’s entire creator-owned Image Comics back catalog, including The Nightly News, Pax Romana, Transhuman, A Red Mass for Mars, and The Red Wing into one digital edition that both long-time fans and new readers alike can enjoy.

The move toward releasing the entire back catalog of Hickman’s impressive creator-owned career and the digital exclusive collection — available only through comiXology — is also accompanied by the release of a FREE Test Pattern sample edition showcasing the first issues of each original Hickman series. The free Test Pattern sampler serves as a great starting point for new readers interested in Hickman’s work.

“As an innovator in the world of digital comics, comiXology is the logical place to release the entire back catalog of my creator-owned work along with my latest work, The Manhattan Projects. Digital is here to stay, and I look forward to finding a whole new audience with these projects and with comiXology,” says Hickman.

“The Test Pattern collection is an amazing way to introduce fans to Jonathan’s recent back catalog all in one shot,” says comiXology CEO and Co-founder David Steinberger. “Getting creator owned comics into the hands of new readers is a top priority for us and as a long-time fan of Jonathan's work myself, I couldn’t be happier!”

"From the moment I opened the package containing Jonathan's pitch for The Nightly News, I knew he was a creative force to be reckoned with. The work he's done for us since then has only reinforced my high opinion of his many talents, and it's nothing short of an honor to associated with a creator of his caliber," said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. "We're proud to partner with Jonathan and comiXology in bringing his entire catalog of creator owned work to digital comic fans everywhere."

The Manhattan Projects is Hickman’s new creator-owned series from Image Comics that asks the question: “What if the R&D department created to produce the first atomic bomb was a front for more unusual programs?” Teaming with Jonathan Hickman on The Manhattan Projects is artist Nick Pitarra (Astonishing Tales, The Red Wing) the duo unites once more following the success last year’s Image Comics smash hit The Red Wing. The Manhattan Projects will debut as Jonathan Hickman’s first creator-owned, same day as print digital release.

The Manhattan Projects #1, the five-volume Test Pattern collection, and five-issue free sampler are available for download on the Comics by comiXology platform, the Image Comics App, and the Image Comics digital webstore. The Test Pattern five-volume collection and sampler is exclusive to the Comics by ComiXology platform and can also be found on the Image Comics App, powered by comiXology.

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

Marvel Digital Graphic Novels

Marvel announced that more than 80 of its most popular graphic novels, featuring the Avengers, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and more of the world’s most popular super heroes, are now available on the iBookstore.

Marvel graphic novels such as Civil War, Avengers, Stephen King’s Dark Tower, Castle: Richard Castle’s Deadly Storm, and Astonishing X-Men can now be read on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, and customers can download a chapter from New Avengers Vol.1. for free.

"Marvel is taking the world of comics by storm and releasing a massive selection of our best and brightest graphic novels on the iBookstore,” said Peter Phillips, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Marvel Digital Media Group. "For the first time ever, fans will be able to easily find and enjoy all of their favorite heroes including The Avengers, Spider-Man, and The X-Men on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch -- one of the best digital platforms for reading comics and graphic novels."

For the full selection of Marvel Graphic Novels now available on the iBookstore, launch the iBooks app on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch or go to www.itunes.com/marvelgraphicnovels. The list of available Marvel graphic novels can be found at http://marvel.com/help/category/27.

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

Ultimate Spider-Man Premiere Free

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

The Walking Dead Live on iBooks

Days Gone By

THE WALKING DEAD is a best-selling comic, became an acclaimed television series on AMC, and now Robert Kirkman’s creation expands its pop culture empire as it becomes the first Image Comics title to be available on Apple’s iBooks.

Readers wanting a digital reading experience won’t have to wait to get the whole story.
All fifteen collections of the ongoing comics series are available now in the iBooks store, priced at $9.99 each, except for volume one Days Gone Bye, which is $8.99

The collections of THE WALKING DEAD occupied more than half of the top 25 slots in Diamond Comics’ list of top-selling graphic novels of 2011. The debut of Image Comics’ best-selling title on iBooks is part of the publisher’s overall commitment to releasing their creator-owned properties in a variety of media. Besides being sold in retail stores, individual issues of Image comics are available on multiple electronic platforms.

The publisher expects to release more titles on iBooks in the coming weeks, beginning with John Layman and Rob Guillory’s Eisner-winning, New York Times bestselling series, Chew.

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

Ultimate Comics X-Men #7

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

FREE Hack/Slash Digital Short

HACK/SLASH creator Tim Seeley has a gift for you -- a gift of horror! A free HACK/SLASH short, available as a digital download at ImageComics.com, serves as a good introduction to the fan-favorite series and a gesture of good will from a man who's made the creation and slaying of comic book serial killers his job!

Have you been looking for a good way to get a taste of the HACK/SLASH series, but weren't sure where to start? Maybe you're already a fan, but want a good way to share the series with a friend? Well, Tim Seeley's provided the perfect opportunity by giving fans the gift of a free digital comic this holiday season!

Though he usually works with artists like Daniel Leister to illustrate his ongoing series, this free digital comic features art done entirely by Tim Seeley himself. "Since this is my personal gift to the fans, I felt it was only right that I do the art for these pages myself," explained Seeley, "The style is very similar to the regular series though, since Dan and I work so closely together on art production."

The HACK/SLASH series appeals to fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Scream, as well as many of the classics like Friday the 13^th, Chucky, and Halloween. Regularly featuring guest appearances and references to horror, cult, and pop culture favorites, HACK/SLASH both uses and mocks the tropes and codes of horror films in the ongoing series. Starring former victim turned serial killer slayer, Cassandra Hack, HACK/SLASH has been described by Fangoria as mixing "the horrors of adolescence with the scares of slasher movies."

THE GIFT OF HACK/SLASH introduces the main characters and themes of the series in a 4-page story. Seeley, along with Image Comics, encourages readers to share the free download link with friends and wishes everyone happy holidays!


HACK/SLASH: MY FIRST MANIAC, TP VOL. 1 (SEP100462, ISBN: 978-1-60706-338-7), a 112-page novel for $9.99, is the perfect collection to pick up if you like THE GIFT OF HACK/SLASH digital short. HACK/SLASH: MY FIRST MANIAC, TP VOL. 1 is on sale now and available for reorder, along with the HACK/SLASH OMNIBUS VOL. 1, 2, and 3.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

The Wormworld Saga

I am not certain who on Twitter passed this fantastic treasure along, but they were retweeting someone else's suggestion, so let me just thank Twitter people in general for passing along The Wormworld Saga.

This beautifully illustrated, capably written, completely free webcomic -- the first chapter of which is available right now -- is a work to be celebrated. And though I am not as familiar with webcomics as most of my peers, or even probably most of you reading this, The Wormworld Saga really opened my eyes to the form.

I maintain that comic books lose something significant when they are taken out of their original form. Comics have a tactile sense association, at least for me; I need to feel the paper, smell the paper (with older comic books), even run my finger over the panels if I am so moved. The handful of webcomics I've seen until recently were little more than scans of pages or strips, despite how they were created, laid side-by-side, page-by-page. The Wormworld Saga uses a vertical layout, but it goes far beyond that.

This is an all-ages piece about a young, somewhat frail, daydreamer told beautifully through painted panels. I do not know if the work was handpainted or created through some graphics or even comic book -creating program, but it is very nice. It looks handpainted, but I cannot tell, and it is not only beautiful, it tells the story capably.

This is a truly beautiful work that is free, appropriate for all ages, and just plain good. Highly recommended.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Who is the Black Panther?

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Who is the Black Panther? Animated Series for Xbox, Zune, iTunes, and More

Marvel Knights Animation is proud to announce Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther?, an all new series debuting on iTunes, Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Zune, and PlayStation®Network on June 23^rd. Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther? is a 12-episode series in weekly installments.

Inspired by the acclaimed graphic novel from respected filmmaker/producer Reginald Hudlin and legendary comic book artist John Romita Jr, Black Panther: Who Is The Black Panther? introduces viewers to the Black Panther, the warrior king of Wakanda, a technologically advanced nation in the heart of Africa. As outside forces conspire to plunder this proud nation, the Black Panther faces his greatest threats as he meets Klaw, the man who murdered his father.

“The positive response to news of the show have been so overwhelming, it's great to finally make the Black Panther series available to everyone,” said Hudlin. “Audiences get caught-up on many levels – seeing John Romita Jr’s art come to life, the quality of the voice work by an award winning cast, the boldness of the politics, the music and humor. But see it for yourself!”

Romita Jr added, "The reaction by any person, upon viewing footage of a black panther, is universal: Awe. There is no more elegant a creature on the face of the planet. The creation of the character by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, in a turbulent political time, maintained that quality. Reggie Hudlin's updated version follows that and adds an amazing, cinematic flair to it. In my opinion, reading - and now viewing - the Black Panther series is akin to witnessing a panther in person. Enjoy the elegance of the story, the elegance of the actors, their voices, their words, and... the imagery."

This exciting series also features the voices of major celebrities, including Academy Award-nominee Djimon Hounsou as Black Panther, Jill Scott as Storm, Kerry Washington as Princess Shuri, Alfre Woodard as both Dondi Reese and Queen Mother, Carl Lumbly as Uncle S’Yan, and comics legend, Stan Lee, in a special role.

You can learn more by clicking on the image above.

© 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

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

See the Hawkeye & Mockingbird Sketchbook FREE @ Marvel Digital

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Iron Man: Extremis Motion Comic #2 - On-Sale Now!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Spider-Man: Origin of the Hunter #1

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Marvel Comics App for the iPad

New York, N.Y. – April 2, 2010 – Marvel Entertainment is proud to announce the launch of the Marvel Comics App for iPad on the App Store. This landmark app launches with over 500 of Marvel’s greatest comic books, from classic stories to modern tales, featuring Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, and more of the world’s most popular Super Heroes. The Marvel Comics App brings the world of Marvel to iPad owners, with each comic presented at the incredibly high resolution possible on iPad’s full-color screen, a user-friendly search engine, innovative viewing options, and more.

“We’re excited to introduce an unparalleled digital comic experience to our fans with the Marvel Comics App for iPad,” said Dan Buckley, publisher & CEO, Marvel Publishing. “The iPad is the first device that offers us a chance to present digital comics that are even close to replicating the experience of reading a print comic. This new world of digital comics distribution provides us great opportunities to reach new readers, allow consumers to sample our diverse stories and characters, and we believe it will drive these new fans into the App Store and local comic shops each week to find even more.”

Fans will be granted unrivaled access to Marvel’s rich library of comics, with launch titles ranging from the first appearances of characters such as Spider-Man and the X-Men, to modern classics like the debut of Red Hulk, Jonathan Hickman’s acclaimed Fantastic Four run, Joss Whedon & John Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men, and lots more. Every comic available through the Marvel Comics App is optimized for the iPad through painstaking re-coloring and re-digitizing of select content.

Marvel worked with ComiXology to create the perfect app for new readers, offering the option to preview three pages from each available comic before purchasing, as well as a cutting edge recommendation engine for every fan to find comics they’re sure to love. The app also arms fans with a handy comic shop locator, allowing them to find their local retailer’s address and phone number, then journey even further into the Marvel Universe. To further enhance the mobile reading experience on the iPad, the Marvel Comics App features multiple viewing modes, taking readers panel-by-panel through the comic book in a smooth, action-packed progression using just the swipe of a finger.

The Marvel Comics App for iPad is available for free from the App Store on iPad. Individual comics are priced at just $1.99 each with new content arriving every week.

To commemorate this historic event, Marvel is offering select titles free for a limited time, such as New Avengers #1, which launched a new era for super hero comics; Captain America #1, Invincible Iron Man #1, and Thor #1 - the perfect place for new readers to discover the titular heroes; and Super Hero Squad #1, suited for fans of all ages, especially our youngest ones.

The Marvel Comics App is also available for iPhone and iPod touch. For all the details on Marvel’s historic announcement and a closer look at the Marvel Comics App, please visit the site.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Iron Man: Extremis - Available Elsewhere!

New York, NY (March 25, 2010)—Marvel Knights Animation is proud to announce their newest motion comic epic: Iron Man: Extremis, available April 16^th! Adapting the critically-acclaimed storyline by superstars Warren Ellis and Adi Granov, Tony Stark (AKA Iron Man) faces his greatest threat ever—a terrorist transformed into an unstoppable force with the powerful bio-engineered Extremis super-soldier serum! Now Tony Stark redefines Iron Man’s mission for the 21^st century, setting the Armored Avenger on a new direction that’ll alter his life forever…if he can find a way to defeat a modern day nightmare!

Featuring groundbreaking animation and special effects never before seen in a motion comic, Iron Man: Extremis will leave your jaws on the floor! Each of the six episodes are only $1.99, with an extra-sized premiere running nearly 20 minutes, and a can’t-miss season pass priced at $9.99! Iron Man: Extremis will be available for download on iTunes, Zune, and Xbox, with new episodes available bi-weekly through June.

"Iron Man: Extremis is one of the pre-eminent Iron Man stories, thanks to the amazing work of Warren Ellis and Adi Granov," explained Marvel Editor-In-Chief, Joe Quesada. "Just as the Iron Man: Extremis comic book forever changed how we see Iron Man, the motion comic adaptation represents the next evolution of the medium."

The worldwide leader in bringing super heroes to life, Marvel redefined the motion comic medium with their first two releases—Spider-Woman (from Brian Bendis & Alex Maleev) and Astonishing X-Men (from Joss Whedon & John Cassaday). Staying true to their source material, Marvel Motion Comics utilize each story’s original art and scripts while adding seamless motion, dynamic voice acting, and stunning special effects to deliver a whole new way to experience some of the greatest storylines in Marvel Comics’ history.

"Having the chance to work on something created by Adi and Warren has been a dream come true," exclaims Ruwan Jayatilleke, Marvel Senior Vice President, Development & Planning, Print, Animation and Digital Media explained, "As the lead producer on this motion comic, I am thrilled with all the effort and energy that Magnetic Dreams, Edge Studio, Underground Music, and NYAV have thrown into this project—creating an incredibly compelling series of animated content! I don’t want to give away any of the surprises, but once you see Tony Stark suit up and Iron Man take flight, you’ll know just why I am so excited."

Get your first look at the Iron Man: Extremis right now.

Please note that Iron Man: Extremis is intended for mature audiences only.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Mass Effect: Redemption Sell-Out

FEBRUARY 3, MILWAUKIE, OR, and EDMONTON, AB—Just in time for the arrival of the hit series’ second issue, in stores today, Mass Effect: Redemption #1 will be reprinted to fill demand after selling-out across the country.

Mass Effect: Redemption tells the exciting backstory that leads up to the events of Mass Effect 2, the recently released video game developed by the award-winning creative team at BioWare. The game’s lead writer, Mac Walters, takes up the pen to give fans exclusive insight into the events that unfolded between the conclusion of the original Mass Effect and the beginning of Mass Effect 2. Scripted by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, The Invincible Iron Man) and drawn by Omar Francia (Star Wars: Legacy), this four-part series explores the exotic and dangerous future Milky Way of Mass Effect, revealing previously unseen locations, aliens, and enemies in this rich science-fiction landscape.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science-fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich, futuristic story line, stunning space exploration, and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

“Dark Horse has enjoyed a close and productive working relationship with everyone at BioWare and EA,” said Dark Horse’s senior director of marketing, Micha Hershman. “Thanks to that relationship, our team created an awesome comic that we feel authentically supplements the gaming experience,” he continued. “We’re geeked that comics, gaming, and science-fiction fans appreciate the quality of our work and continue to drive unprecedented demand for both the comic and the iPhone app.”

For those who have yet to read this explosive first issue, it is also currently available for free download on iTunes until Thursday. After that, Mass Effect: Redemption #1 will be available for just ninety-nine cents.

Mass Effect: Redemption is the fifth title to arrive in Dark Horse’s ever-growing stable of comics available on the iPhone platform. Other titles available now include Gerard Way’s smash hit The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, Terminator: Death Valley, and multiple titles from the critically acclaimed line of Star Wars comics. The first issue will hit iTunes February 3^rd, just in time for the release in comic shops of the second issue of the series.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010