Sunday, November 30, 2014

Submit to the Black Vortex – Presenting Your First Look at the Cover to GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & X-MEN: THE BLACK VORTEX ALPHA #1

This February, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the All-New X-Men, Nova, Captain Marvel, Cyclops and more team up for a cosmic throwdown the likes of which have never been seen in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & X-MEN: THE BLACK VORTEX! Today, Marvel is proud to present your very first look at the cover to GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & X-MEN: THE BLACK VORTEX ALPHA #1, the highly anticipated first issue in the upcoming crossover from fan-favorite writer Sam Humphries and blockbuster artist Ed McGuinness!
The Black Vortex, an ancient artifact of immense and immeasurable power has resurfaced on the far side of the galaxy. With the power to unlock it’s users true cosmic potential, in the wrong hands, the Black Vortex’s power could be a force of unparalleled destruction. Imagine the power that transformed Jean Grey into the Phoenix or Norin Radd into the Silver Surfer available to anyone, and in the hands of those who would use it for evil!
“What happens when one person submits to the Black Vortex and becomes a titan of the cosmos?” asks Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha writer Sam Humphries in an interview with Marvel.com. “What happens when a whole team does it. Or a whole planet? But against the epic scale, we’re grounding the story in the deeply personal conflict each character will go through just by encountering the Black Vortex.”
The Black Vortex has been claimed by the villainous gangster Mr. Knife and Thane, the wayward son of Thanos. With billions of lives across the universe at stake, it will take the combined might of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men and more to stem the coming darkness.

Kicking off in this special Alpha issue and continuing through some of your favorite Marvel titles including Guardians of the Galaxy, Legendary Star-Lord, All-New X-Men, Captain Marvel, Nova, Cyclops and more, be there for the beginning of the next great out-of-this-world crossover when GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & X-MEN: THE BLACK VORTEX ALPHA #1 hits comic shops and digital devices this February!

Marvel and Disney Kingdoms Take You for a Ride with BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD #1!

Coming in spring 2015, the world famous, thrill-packed Disney attraction – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – roars to life as an all-new Marvel and Disney Kingdoms comic book bursting with action, romance, mystery and adventure. The new series, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, continues the unique collaboration between Marvel Comics, Disney Kingdoms, and Walt Disney Imagineering. This five-issue series, created by rising star writer Dennis Hopeless (Spider-Woman, Avengers Arena), fan-favorite artist Tigh Walker (Avengers Undercover), invite readers all aboard an all-new adventure that reveals the never-before-told saga of how the gold mine in Big Thunder Mountain became the haunted legend it is today!

A mainstay of Disney Parks since 1979, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has entertained countless guests on this classic attraction in four Disney theme parks around the world. Now, Disney Kingdoms is proud to add 'the wildest ride in the wilderness' with an all-new tale of mystery and adventure set in the wild Frontier!

“Building on the momentum of the sold out Figment series, we are excited to embark upon what may be our wildest adventure yet,” says editor and Creative Director Bill Rosemann. “As one of the most famous Disney attractions, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is packed with a combustible combo of drama, humor, and thrills that will explode across the page and deliver all the action and surprises that the Disney Kingdoms imprint has quickly become known for.”

Series writer Dennis Hopeless continues, "Everybody knows Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as a rumbling, tumbling runaway train car attraction through an exploding gold mine. But it’s always been more than that. It’s a trip back in time to a Gold Rush town where daring men and women risked their lives in the daily battle between man and mountain. And let’s be honest, it’s the perfect setting for an adventure comic.”
  
Earthquakes! Floods! Dynamite-chewing goats! Can the denizens of Rainbow Ridge survive the clash between mankind’s greed and nature’s fury? And what is the protective power that dwells deep within the mysterious mountain? Surprises await you in the latest Disney Kingdoms saga coming in spring 2015.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

JAMES PATTERSON AND MARVEL ANNOUNCE MAX RIDE: FIRST FLIGHT

James Patterson’s Max Ride: First Flight will feature the talents of writer Marguerite Bennett (AngelaAsgard's Assassin, Amazing X-Men) and artist Alex Sanchez (Elektra) and will follow the fast paced adventures of Max, a teenage girl who, due to genetic tampering, is part human and part avian and Marvel Comics is set to elevate Max and her “flock” into an even bigger pop-culture property.

Series editor, Sana Amanat, says, “At Marvel we’re always looking to create bold stories that push expectations and attract new audiences into the world of comics—and that’s what we plan to do with Max Ride. It’s the familiar world of Maximum Ride told through the thrilling Marvel narrative. We’re taking a heart-pounding adventure and giving it an extra shot of adrenaline.”

Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, Patterson says that he is excited to see Marvel’s fresh new take of his young adult series, “I’ve given Marvel license. In fact, I’ve encouraged them to make this Marvel’s ‘Maximum Ride,’ so I expect some changes in the story.”

Coming in spring 2015, the 5-part Marvel Comics mini-series, James Patterson’s Max Ride: First Flight, will follow the soaring adventures of Max and the "flock" – Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel – a group of ordinary teenage kids – only they are the product of genetic tampering that has given them extraordinary abilities, but their lives quickly morph into a living nightmare as they try to escape their creators and defend themselves from half-human, half-wolf "Erasers". Along the way Max discovers her purpose – saving the world – but can she? Find out next year!

Friday, November 28, 2014

From His End Comes a New Beginning in WOLVERINES #1!

His death was only the start! Wolverine may be dead, but his legacy lives on. Spinning directly out of Death of Wolverine, The Weapon X Program and The Logan Legacy comes WOLVERINES #1, a brand new weekly series beginning this January! The friends and foes he left behind unite as they seek to uncover the secrets behind Logan’s death and issue a healthy dose of revenge on those involved in his demise. Announced at NYCC, blockbuster writers Charles Soule and Ray Fawkes team with Marvel All-New Young Gun artist Nick Bradshaw for the weekly journeys of X-23, Daken, Sabretooth, Mystque, Lady Deathstrike and more!
“In a way, most of the characters featured in [Wolverines] are incomplete reflections of Wolverine,” says co-writer Ray Fawkes in an interview with Marvel.com “Perhaps now that he’s gone, they are free to fully realize themselves? Or maybe they’ll be annihilated by the void that he’s left behind?”
The true enemy is still out there. With Logan dead and buried, they pose a greater threat than ever before. An unlikely team of his closest friends and deadliest foes will need to work together if they have any hope of avenging his death – but how can they? As personalities clash and tempers flare, the claws are going to come out!
“The group here is not a set of people who are particularly interested in doing anything together unless they absolutely have to,” says Charles Soule.
Logan’s end was just the beginning. As those who called him friend mourn his passing, those who called him foe are free to pursue their sinister aims. Now, those with close ties to him will forge an uneasy alliance to uncover the secrets behind  the death of one of the world’s greatest heroes, and uncover shocking new revelations concerning the life he led! Be there when a new team is born, and the new year kicks off with a “SNIKT” that shouldn’t be missed in WOLVERINES #1!   

FanFare moves from Dearborn to Sterling Heights in 2015

The Detroit FanFare Comic Convention is back, but it won’t be in Dearborn like it has been for the last four years.
After missing 2014, the convention will move from October to February in 2015 for its fifth incarnation.
For the last three shows the convention was held at the Hyatt or Adoba Hotel in Dearborn, this year the show is moving to the Best Western Sterling Inn Convention center and Indoor Waterpark. The show will be Feb. 6-8.
According to co-promoter Dennis Barger--who also co-owns Wonderworld Comics in Taylor--FanFare is a throwback to the Detroit Triple Fan Fair which was the nation’s first ever annual comic convention beginning in 1965 running through 1978.
“2015 is the 50th anniversary of the comic convention,” Barger said. “And it was originally founded right here in Detroit.”
According to Barger, it’s unclear exactly who had the idea first, but the first two conventions were both held in 1965, one in Detroit and another in New York. The New York show happened first, but there is murky history as to who was promoting their show first.
The big guest at this year’s FanFare will be comics legend Denny O’Neil, who famously worked on Batman, and The Green Arrow along with Neil Adams for DC Comics.
O’Neil also had runs on Spider-Man and Daredevil while working at Marvel Comics, and oversaw Daredevil and G.I. Joe as an editor.
He has created characters of note such as Ra’s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Killraven, Hydroman, John Stewart, and the Earth 2 versions of Batman and Superman. Not only is he known for adding more depth to Batman/Bruce Wayne, he also became known for creating deep and complex stories for characters such as The Shadow and The Question. He also came up with the name for Optimus Prime when the Transformers line first launched.
Now retired, O’Neil has not left the comic book industry behind him. He sits on the Disbursement Board for the Hero Initiative, a non-profit organization which helps comic book creators in need.
New for Fanfare this year is a Kickstarter campaign to allow people to earn special perks while at the show, or to buy some perks even if they can’t make it to the show.
“It’s not about raising money,” Barger said. “It’s about letting people have a unique experience at the show.”
Barger said what makes his show special is that it’s still primarily focused on comics, not being dominated by media guests like most bigger shows.
“We keep prices down, and we focus on comics,” he said. “Even when we’ve brought media guests in, we make sure they are one degree of separation from a comic book.”
The Kickstarter can be found at http://goo.gl/DwSYb3.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Archie Meets Predator: Dark Horse Comics and Archie Comics team up for a bloodbath in Riverdale!

America’s favorite teen meets the galaxy’s fiercest hunter! Archie Comics and Dark Horse Comics are proud to bring you spring 2015’s hottest crossover: ARCHIE MEETS PREDATOR.

With writer Alex de Campi (Grindhouse, Lady Zorro, Smoke/Ashes) at the helm, and artist Fernando Ruiz, things are going to get wild quickly.

“In the grand tradition of ARCHIE MEETS THE PUNISHER and ARCHIE MEETS KISS, we’re unbelievably excited to partner with Dark Horse to show what happens when the Predator comes to Riverdale,” said Archie Comics Publisher/Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “It’s going to be a surprising, energetic, and must-read series, and we’re so glad Alex de Campi and Fernando Ruiz are joining forces to tell this off-the-wall story.”

Archie and friends hit Costa Rica for spring break, where party and beach games soon get replaced by the most dangerous game! What mysterious attraction does the gang hold for the trophy-collecting Predator, and will the kids even realize they’re in danger before it claims them all?

UNSTOPPABLE EVIL ENTERS THE PAGES OF AMAZING X-MEN

The fledgling team of the Amazing X-Men have already faced off against demon arms from Hell and ravenous hordes of Wendigos and there is no rest in sight for our band of heroic mutants as one of the X-Men’s most notorious villains charges back into their world. This January marks the return of The Unstoppable Juggernaut within Amazing X-Men #15 by series writer, Chris Yost and interior artist Jorge Fornes.
The story, called “The Once and Future Juggernaut” finds former wielders of the Gem of Cyttorak, Cain Marko and X-Man Peter “Colossus” Rasputin, getting the call to become the inter-dimensional power’s external force once again, but they’re not the only ones invited to the party.
While Yost remains tight-lipped about who those other characters might be he does give a few hints about what kinds of folks are being called. “A few of the strongest characters in the Marvel Universe get the call,” Yost tells Marvel.com. “But Cyttorak needs a specific kind of person… someone they can manipulate. Someone who craves the power.”
“Cyttorak wants an avatar,” Yost continues. “It’s a status thing among the other mystical entities/gods. All the cool other-dimensional powers have one. The return of the gem is part of the mystery, but the X-Men know that whatever Cyttorak wants, it’s probably not good."
Next year, Amazing X-Men #15 charges into comic book retailers and ushers in a new era for the X-Men as we bear witness to the rebirth of one of the most well-known X-Men villains of all time – The Unstoppable Juggernaut!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Grand Rapids Comic Con fills DeltaPlex to capacity

Last weekend's Grand Rapids Comic Con was my first time heading out to the show, which is about a 4 hour drive each way.
At first I wasn't going to go, then when they announced that a pair of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers would be in attendance as well as a few other guests, I couldn't resist.
So I packed up the car and drove out farther west into Michigan than I had ever ventured before.
While the convention guests were great for a show of that size, moving inside the DeltaPlex convention center was tough. Aisles were not as wide as they could have been, and there was a massive amount of people in the building.
From friends that went to the show on Sunday, I heard things went much better. Hopefully I was just a victim of circumstance. Either way, I got a few good photos, and picked up some sweet Ninja Turtle toys.
Also I got to find out that Karan Ashley (second MMPR Yellow Ranger) is a TMNT fan, that in itself was worth the drive out to the convention.
I'll check it out again next year.
Enjoy the photos!

Photos: Pictures from the Grand Rapids Comic Con

'Comic Nurse' explains why graphic novels are the future of medicine

At one time Congress held hearings to decide if comic books were contributing to the delinquency of the nation’s youth. Now comic books and graphic novels are being used as a treatment for some patients with terminal illnesses.
SLIDESHOW: Photos from Graphic Medicine presentation.
Over the last 30 years comic books have went from being perceived as “kids stories” and have become a staple of popular culture. It’s nearly impossible to go somewhere without seeing merchandise for one comic book property or another, doctors offices and hospitals were one of the last holdouts until recent years.
Last month the Ypsilanti Public LIbrary teamed with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital to present the “Comic Nurse,” with guest speaker MK Czerwiec.
Czerwiec is a nurse by training who began writing comics as a way to relieve the stress of her job and better empathize with patients. She blogs as Comic Nurse  and teaches courses including a seminar called “Drawing Medicine” at Northwestern’s Feinburg Medical School.
She is also a member of the international Graphic Medicine group which is a web-based group of health care practitioners, patients, scholars and comic fans who are popularizing the use of graphic novels in health care and who recommend and review relevant graphic novels.
While not used as a method to treat physical symptoms of any ailments, graphic novels and comics are being used to teach doctors and patients alike what it’s like to have these diseases. Many of the recommended materials were written or drawn by authors and illustrators that had the disease, or at least had family members deal with them first hand.
“Many people who are dealing with something like Cancer would never think of picking up a

graphic novel, but reading and seeing the experience of someone who has been through what you are going through can be exactly what you need.” said Gillian Ream Gainsley, Communications Coordinator the library. “Graphic novels lend themselves to memoirs and many of the stories are incredibly personal, plus they are visual, which makes them that much more powerful.”
Czerwiec said she uses comics to help contemplate the complexities of illness and caregiving. She started out keeping her own journal with drawings to help her unwind after a day at the hospital, and eventually discovered that if it helped her, it might help patients as well.
“When a patient is admitted to the hospital, orders often call for me to draw blood,” Czerwiec said. “(pause) The doctors never thought that was very funny.
“In nursing school pathogens made sense to me as characters and I always explain things to my patients this way.”
She said she tells patients that tests show a “bug” in their blood that can be treated with medicine.
Czerwiec said serious stuff can be in comics too, hence the growing number of autobiographical books about what it’s like to have a terminal illness.
It wasn’t until Czerwiec stumbled upon a book called “Mom’s Cancer,” by Brian Fies, that she fully considered the power comics could have in health care. The book is the true tale of Fies’ mother's battle with metastatic lung cancer. The story describes how a serious illness affects patient and family, both practically and emotionally.
That was in 2009, since then Czerwiec and others like her have been working to integrate books like Fies’ and others on similar topics into curriculum for medical students and also to get them into the hands of patients that could benefit from the perspective offered in the books.
Since 2010 when the Graphic Medicine group launched in earnest, there have been five different Comics and Medicine Conferences where the group has worked to educate physicians on the benefits of graphic novels in patients emotional well being.
Locally in Michigan the Ypsilanti Library has become the first library in the country with a Graphic Medicine section. The library has more than 75 different graphic novels that topics as cancer, STDs, depression, mental health, aging, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and alcoholism.
The library also offers selected titles as book group sets aimed at support groups, seminars, or even families that may be interested in this unique way to explore a difficult topic.
Graphic Medicine was funded through the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Award. YDL was one of two libraries in the country to receive the grant, valued at $7,000, in July of this year to expand graphic novel offerings in each library. Grant funds could be used in any way the library saw fit, as long as it was to promote graphic novels.
“Graphic novels really lend themselves to memoirs, so there are some really personal accounts of what it is like to deal with illness and addiction,” said Susan Brown, the librarian who manages the adult graphic novel collection at the library’s Whittaker road location. “The medical collection is an interesting project. I’ve been following the Graphic Medicine group for several years and I’m glad we’re going to be able to expand this collection.”
Eisner was a cartoonist, writer, and entrepreneur. He was one of the earliest cartoonists to work in the American comic book industry. His series “The Spirit,” was among the earliest continuing series in the industry. In 1978, he helped to popularized the term graphic novel with the publication of his book “A Contract with God.”

Presenting Your First Look at the Cover to AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON

This Spring, from the star-studded creative team of Rick Remender (Avengers & X-Men: AXIS, Uncanny X-Force), Jerome Opeña (Avengers, Uncanny X-Force) and Dean White (Avengers, Uncanny X-Force) comes an original graphic novel that will take Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to the brink and beyond. Today, Marvel is proud to present your very first look at the cover to AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON OGN!
Gorgeously rendered by Opeña & White, this full length original graphic novel marks another stellar offering from Marvel’s all new OGN line, featuring the world’s most popular super heroes brought to life by the best creators in a high-end, oversized format.
“This cover holds a ton of secrets,” says Avengers: Rage of Ultron writer Rick Remender speaking with Marvel.com. “There are Avengers from two different eras, and the story takes place in both of those eras. This is some of Jerome and Dean’s best work and the story promises to be nothing short of Earth shattering for the Avengers.”
“When you release a cutting-edge graphic novel featuring some of the greatest pop-culture icons in the world just in time for their next summer blockbuster, you go big,” says Tom Brevoort, Executive Editor. “That’s why we brought out some of the industry’s top flight talent, Rick Remender, Jerome Opeña and Dean White for an unforgettable adventure that will redefine Ultron, one of the Avengers’ baddest villains for old and new fans alike.”
Time and again, Ultron has reformed. Each time more powerful and more deadly than the last. Now, with complete control over the central computer core of Saturn’s moon Titan, only the Avengers stand in the way of total annihilation at the hands of Planet Ultron! Home of the Eternals and birthplace of Thanos, Saturn’s moon Titan now bends to Ultron’s will. Only Ultron’s inventor, Hank Pym holds the key to defeating his own creation – but at what cost?

Peggy Carter & Howard Stark Unite in OPERATION S.I.N. #1!

This January, journey to the Marvel Universe of the 1950s for an all-new globetrotting adventure in OPERATION S.I.N. #1, the blockbuster new limited series from fan-favorite writer Kathryn Immonen and artist Rich Ellis! Tying in to the explosive events of Original Sin,OPERATON S.I.N. tells an untold story of the origins of the Marvel Universe starring Peggy Carter, Howard Star and Woodrow McCord!  
At the height of the Cold War, a supremely powerful alien energy source is discovered on Russian soil. In an effort to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, secret agent Peggy Carter and Howard Stark must intercept it before it’s too late. Only they’re not the only interested parties…
A new terrorist splinter group named Hydra is on the hunt, seeking the alien technology for their own sinister purposes. It’s only when a mysterious operative named Woodrow McCord enters the picture that Peggy and Howard will see just how far some people will go to keep Earth safe from harm. But is he there to aid Peggy and Howard? Or to stop them?
“To me, there was no one else that could handle this story with as much finesse and style as Kathryn and Rich,” says series editor Jon Moisan, in an interview with Marvel.com. “There was no one else in my mind that would write it as well as Kathryn.”
Explore Marvel history like you’ve never seen it before as Peggy Carter, Howard Stark and Woodrow McCord do battle against the rising forces of Hydra. The Cold War spy espionage adventure kicks off this when OPERATION S.I.N. #1 explodes into comic shops and digital devices this January! 

Marvel Welcomes You to Level 8 For The S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 Launch Party!

End the calendar year with a bang this New Year’s Eve as high-tech weapons, high-stakes missions and high-octane adventure come to a comic shop near you with S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 – the debut issue of one of the most highly anticipated titles of the year! In addition to being among the first to purchase and read this exciting first issue, fans will also be able to receive special items exclusive to these launch parties.

Along with All-New Miracleman Annual #1S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 stands as one of only two Marvel comics being released on 12/31 and Marvel making sure comic book stores nationwide are armed and ready to close out 2014 with a bang when these two books explode onto stands!

Written by Eisner-award winning writer Mark Waid and drawn by a rotating crew of top-flight including Carlos Pacheco, Humberto Ramos, Alan Davis and more – each issue of S.H.I.E.L.D. teams Special Agent Phil Coulson and his team with the best and brightest the Marvel Universe has to offer. From Thor to Ms. Marvel to Captain America to Howard the Duck. If you’ve got the skills – S.H.I.E.L.D. has a mission for you!  
                                                                                            
To ensure these parties are a success, each retailer opting in to the event will receive a S.H.I.E.L.D. Party Kit from Marvel, containing exclusive promotional materials. Check your Marvel Mailer for more information on how to opt-in to ensure your store has these exclusive promotional items including two-sided S.H.I.E.L.D. trading cards and Skottie Young lithographs.

But that’s not all! Don’t miss out on your chance to snag some exciting variant covers to S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 featuring your favorite Marvel characters! S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 Launch Parties are the best place to get your hands on one-of-a kind variant covers including John Tyler Christopher’s highly collectible Deadpool Party Variant, a photo variant featuring Agent Coulson and Agent May from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a set of 6 variant covers from Marvel’s rising star artists, the All-New Young Guns!  

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Special Unannounced Final ROCKET RACCOON & GROOT VARIANT of 2014 is Coming!

They’re already invading your favorite comic book titles this November, bringing with them the best and brightest talent in the comic industry. Today, Marvel is proud to announce that the breakout comic book characters of the year – Rocket Raccoon & Groot are coming to one additional, previously unannounced cover in December! That’s right, December’s SPIDER-WOMAN #2 will get the last Rocket Raccoon & Groot variant of the year, courtesy of legendary artist Simone Bianchi!

“We were totally overwhelmed by the response to the Rocket Raccoon & Groot variants when we released them last month,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “When Simone Bianchi said he wanted to do one too, we couldn’t resist! We couldn’t be happier with the stunning cover he turned in.”

Rendered in Simone Bianchi’s unique style, this previously unannounced variant provides a classic homage to the iconic cover to Amazing Spider-Man #129 – starring everyone’s favorite Guardians of the Galaxy! Marvel urges retailers to check their orders on the final Rocket Raccoon & Groot variant of the year when SPIDER-WOMAN #2hits comic shops in December!

Exclusive 'Star Wars' trailer to premiere at Ypsilanti movie theater

YPSILANTI —  "Star Wars" fans can catch a glimpse of the new, highly anticipated "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" at the Rave Motion Pictures Ann Arbor 20, 4100 Carpenter Road, in Ypsilanti, starting Friday, Nov. 28. 

The Ypsilanti location is one of 30 theaters in the country to carry the trailer, and the only theater in Michigan. 

The 88-second teaser will run all weekend as part of the movie previews. Following this weekend, the tease can be seen in theaters around the world this December.

For more, visit starwars.com

Asgard’s Newest Warrior Goes Solo in ANGELA: ASGARD’S ASSASSIN #1!

She’s deadly. She’s dangerous. And she’s getting her own solo series this December! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look atANGELA: ASGARD’S ASSASSIN #1, the explosive new ongoing series debuting this December! Launching as part of Avengers NOW!, the star-studded creative team of Kieron Gillen, Marguerite Bennett, Phil Jimenez and Stephanie Hans will show you a side of Angela you’ve never seen before, as she cuts a bloody path across the new and unfamiliar Marvel Universe!
The finest warrior in the Tenth Realm, she has been raised to hate Asgard with every fiber of her being. Training, preparing and waiting for the day when the war between Asgard and Heven would begin again. But following the events of Original Sin: Thor & Loki –The Tenth Realm, she must confront her true lineage. She is Odin’s daughter. Thor’s sister. Asgardian
Now, cast out from the Tenth Realm and wanting nothing to do with Asgard, she will strike out on her own and forge a new path. What does she want? A clean slate. And she will destroy any who try to take it from her. But what does she have that both Asgard and Heven want? And what are they willing to do to take it from her?
“The story is Angela is basically on the run,” says Kieron Gillen in an interview with Marvel.com. “It gives her a chance to interact with a lot of different people so by the end of the first arc we really get a sense of who Angela is vis-à-vis the Marvel Universe. You get a sense of who she is and where she fits into the larger picture.”
As the Marvel Universe’s newest star prepares to make her solo debut, no fan can afford to miss the bombastic adventures of the angelic warrior when ANGELA: ASGARD’S ASSASSIN #1 explodes into comic shops and digital devices this December!

FFL Commissioner Boomer Esiason Inducts Star CATletes Into The FFL Hall of Fame

Feline Football League Commissioner Boomer Esiason has officially inducted TomCat Brady, Ferrell Owens and Mr. Whiskers into the FFL Hall of Fame. To view the CatCenter video, click here: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/cat-center/videos
For more information on CatCenter, Hallmark Channel’s only destination giving you an exclusive sideline pass to the Feline Football League, visit Hallmark Channel’s website.

Monday, November 24, 2014

MARVEL TAKES A STAND AGAINST BULLYING WITH AVENGERS: NO MORE BULLYING #1

Following the attention of Marvel’s anti-bullying variant covers, Marvel is proud to combat the growing epidemic of bullying with an all-new one-shot comic book, Avengers: No More Bullying #1. Featuring original stories by fan-favorite author Gerry Duggan (Deadpool, Nova), rising star Sean Ryan (Uncanny X-Men and Iron Man Specials) and Jody Houser in her first-ever Marvel story!  With artwork by Carlo Barberi (Thunderbolts) and Tana Ford (New Warriors) and Marcio Takara (Captain Marvel), and covers by Paul Renaud featuring Spider-Man and Pascal Campion featuring The Avengers.

In Avengers: No More Bullyingthe Earth’s mightiest heroes, The Avengershave a new and vital mission - to make bullying a thing of the past! Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, and more have always stood up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, but this time they’re in for a bombastic adventure of the highest order! Featuring surprise guest stars from across the Marvel Universe including Spider-Man and The Guardians of the Galaxy!

“From Peter Parker, Midtown High’s only professional wallflower, to the ever-misunderstood Kamala Khan, Marvel has a proud history of working to raise awareness about bullying and representing its victims as much as possible,” says series editor Devin Lewis. “Bullying is a problem that can affect everyone in a community, and it’s up to that very community to come together to combat it, and, with this issue, Marvel’s Avengers, Spider-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy are joining the fight! I know how comic books can help ease that feeling of isolation, and I couldn’t be more proud or excited about the talent we’ve pulled together for this project!”

Avengers: No More Bullying #1 will be available in January within local comic book retailers and digitally through Marvel.com and the Marvel Comics App.

ARCHIE COMICS COME TO TELEVISION WITH 'RIVERDALE' TV SERIES

The news is out: “Riverdale,” a one-hour drama based on the iconic Archie comic book characters, has landed at Fox. Warner Brothers Studios is producing along with studio-based Berlanti Productions. 
 
“Riverdale” offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring the surrealistic twists of small-town life plus the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. Set in the present in the small fictional town of Riverdale, New York. The show will focus on the eternal love triangle of Archie Andrews, girl-next-door Betty Cooper, and rich socialite Veronica Lodge, and will include the entire cast of characters from the comic books—including Archie’s rival, Reggie Mantle, and his slacker best friend, Jughead Jones. Popular gay character Kevin Keller will also play a pivotal role. In addition to the core cast, “Riverdale” will introduce other characters from Archie Comics’ expansive library, including Josie and the Pussycats.
 
The show will be produced by Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions (“Arrow,” “The Flash”), written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (“Glee,” “Looking”).
 
Bertlanti’s track record as a producer includes a number of small-town teen dramas, such as the acclaimed “Jack & Bobby” and “Dawson’s Creek” and superhero fare pulled from the four-color pages of legendary comic books like “Arrow” and “The Flash.” Aguirre-Sacasa, in addition to being the Chief Creative Officer at Archie Comics, also writes two of the publisher’s best-selling titles - the horror series Afterlife with Archie and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He spent three years as a writer on “Glee” and penned the remake of teen-angst classic “Carrie” and the cult horror classic “The Town that Dreaded Sundown,” as well as the Broadway-bound musical adaptation of “American Psycho.”
 
“This is a historic moment for Archie Comics, and we couldn’t be happier to partner with FOX, Warner Bros. and Greg Berlanti to bring our characters to television,” said Archie Comics Publisher/Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “Greg and Roberto are experts when it comes to making great, compelling television and bringing beloved comic book creations to life on the screen. They’re the perfect team to welcome viewers to ‘Riverdale.’”
 
“This is something we’ve been working on for awhile now, figuring out the best way to bring these characters to life for what will be, essentially, the first time,” Aguirre-Sacasa said. “The entire team working on ‘Riverdale' is as passionate about Archie as Jon and I are, so it feels like the stars have finally aligned for Archie and the rest of the gang.”

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Comics Meet Kitchen in the Debut of MARVEL’S 3 COURSE COMICS!

Marvel’s 3 Course Comics is the newest Marvel Original Video Series bringing you inside our comics like you’ve never seen before! Debuting on Marvel.com and on Marvel’s YouTube Channel, fans will be treated to their favorite Marvel creators and editors as they discuss the epic events of Marvel’s biggest story lines  over a specially prepared themed meal!
Join C.B. Cebulski, your host and Marvel’s VP of International Brand Development as he takes you inside Spider-Verse in this inaugural episode! Prepare for an event featuring every Spider-Man ever as C.B. sits down with writer Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man), Senior Editor Nick Lowe and Editor Sana Amanat for a 3-course spider-themed meal and a discussion about all things Spider-Verse – complete with a recipe for a variation on Aunt May’s famous Wheatcakes!
Marvel’s 3 Course Comics focuses on the crossroads of food and comics,” says Cebulski. “Cooking has always been a passion of mine, and if I hadn’t gotten into comics, I probably would’ve become a chef. So I’m thrilled to bring some of my international experiences from doing business around the world back home to my kitchen and table to share with creators and editors as we talk about exciting stories happening around the Marvel Universe.”                                                                          
Fans looking to get their very first delicious taste of Marvel’s 3 Course Comics can watch the first episode right now. But save room for the main course, as episode 2 is coming soon!

Bullet Gal Pays Tribute To Noir & Pulp Fiction

The first thing you need to know about Bullet Gal is that it’s a loving homage to hardboiled noir
— the detective fiction and pulp produced in the first half of the 20th century by writers like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.
As a writer with four published novels of his own as well as a graphic novel already under the belt, Andrez Bergen wears this influence with pride.
But he also loves his sci-fi and dystopia, anything from The Matrix to Blade RunnerInception to Ghost in the Shell — and the Bullet Gal comic book embraces these inspirations too.

And then there’s the art.
Bergen, an established artist with music video clips, photo exhibitions, sequential art shorts and that graphic novel on his resume, pushes the visual perimeters here.
Taking cue from innovative people like Marcel Duchamp and William Burroughs with their cut-ups, ‘found’ art and collages, Bergen also cites the witty photomontage work of Terry Gilliam in his Monty Python days.
The imagery used on Bullet Gal falls under the various categories of the creator’s own photos, fair use of public domain advertising imagery, alteration of existing imagery, a heavy element of homage, and original art.
All this from a man equally heavily influenced by the comic book art of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Jim Steranko, Frank Miller, Steve Epting, David Lloyd, Michael LarkBen Templesmith, Sean Phillips and David Aja.

This shows in his own art — a newfangled exercise in digital manipulation and experimentation that still remembers the tale being told, at the same time catching the imagination of media people and fans who have been privy to this developing exercise in new comic book storytelling.
In its short life to this point, beginning as a limited-edition monthly comic in Australia only in August 2014, Bullet Galhas since received international critical acclaim. The series has been compared with Frank Miller’s Sin City and Ed Brubaker’s Velvet, the heroine labelled a female Jason Bourne.
Author and artist Bergen has already finished the series, a 12-issue arc set to conclude in June 2015 — but Under Belly has been able to get all those 12 issues, some of them as-yet-unpublished, and compile the lot together for an exclusive 280-page collection.
Also included will be author notes and mock-ups, guest illustrations from other artists, the original covers in full-colour, plus the added attraction of a gorgeous, special collected-volume cover painting by Niagara Detroit.
Most important is the grandiose story that fills out these pages: a series that is oh-so-heavily noir, has its fair share of drama, tragedy, mirth and the bizarre, snappy dialogue, and characters you will never easily forget.
Under Belly is proud to be able to work with Andrez Bergen and IF? Commix in Australia to present this groundbreaking series to the international audience it deserves.
FIND OUT MORE HERE:

Saturday, November 22, 2014

New World DISORDER! Your New Look at AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #7!

This December, heroes and villains clash like you’ve never seen before as Act III: New World Disorder kicks off in AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #7! This is it! Blockbuster creators Rick Remender and Adam Kubert bring all-out war to the streets of Manhattan as Avengers, X-Men, the deadliest villains and more battle for Manhattan – and their very souls! Apocalypse has risen, an army of X-Men at his side. The Avengers have been inverted – their moral compass spinning hopelessly on its axis. And the world’s most vile villains now stand as the Marvel Universe’s only hope. Yet amidst the chaos the Red Skull, coupled with the awesome psychic powers of Charles Xavier has escaped his prison cell. Where has he gone? Who aided him? And what will he do now that he’s been set free? The pieces are on the board and the final battle is about to begin. Be there when chaos and disorder washes over the Marvel Universe in AVENGERS & X-MEN: AXIS #7!

The Heavyweight Battle of the Century – Your New Look at THANOS VS. HULK #1!

The Green Goliath goes toe-to-toe with the Mad Titan for a universe shaking cosmic throwdown in THANOS VS. HULK #1 – the first issue in a brand new limited series kicking off this December! Legendary creator Jim Starlin (Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos: The Infinity Revelation OGN)returns to answer the question – is Hulk really the strongest there is? Abducted by Pip the Troll and dragged halfway across the galaxy to be ransomed to Annihilus, Hulk is already angry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. But Annihilus has plans of his own – plans that will put the Incredible Hulk directly in the path of Thanos, the Mad Titan! Guest starring Iron Man, Blastarr, S.H.I.E.L.D. and more, be there when Jim Starlin brings two of the Marvel Universe’s heaviest hitters to planet shaking blows in THANOS VS. HULK #1 this December!

Friday, November 21, 2014

CM Punk, Jason Aaron, Noelle Stevenson & More Headline THOR ANNUAL #1!

This February, star-studded creators from all corners of comics and entertainment unite for three thunderous stories in THOR ANNUAL #1! Uniting wrestler CM Punk, blockbuster writer Jason Aaron (Thor, Original Sin), rising star Noelle Stevenson (Lumberjanes), Rob Guillory (Chew) and more, this can’t miss lineup brings you three stories featuring three Thors of three eras!
First, wrestling superstar CM Punk makes his comic writing debut alongside artist Rob Guillory for a tale of the brash, boisterous young Thor and his genius idea to prove himself worthy to wield the mighty hammer Mjolnir – by drinking all of Asgard and Midgard under the table!
“The idea was, let’s do a story about young Thor as this kind of brash bratty teenager who’s like, ‘I’m totally worthy of this hammer’,” said CM Punk in an interview with Marvel.com. “’I don’t know why I’m not worthy of the hammer. Look at all this cool stuff I did.”
Then, rising comic stars Noelle Stevenson and Marguerite Sauvage make their Marvel debuts to bring you an all-new tale of the new Thor! Who is the mysterious woman behind the mask? No one in all Ten Realms knows her secret!
“It’s a fun challenge both as a fan of the classic character, but also to be working with a new character who readers haven’t seen much of yet,” says Stevenson, speaking with Marvel.com “I have the old mythology to work with, but I can also help contribute a little bit of new mythology as well!”
Finally, blockbuster Thor writer Jason Aaron and fan-favorite artist Timothy Truman bring you an all-new tale set in the future starring King Thor! Join the Girls of Thunder on their epic quest to find their grandfather the perfect birthday present. How about a brand new Garden of Eden?
Three creative teams. Three Thors. One explosive annual. No fan can afford to miss the explosive THOR ANNUAL #1 – on sale this February!

Commissioner Boomer Esiason Announces The Opening Of The Feline Football League Season

FFL Commissioner Boomer Esiason has announced the opening of the first official Feline Football League season! The teams competing for the chance to win a coveted spot in the KITTEN BOWL II games are Hallmark Channel Hearties, Last Hope Lions, Good Witch Wildcats, Northpole Panthers, Cedar Cove Cougars, North Shore Bengals, Countdown to Christmas Cheetahs and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Mountain Lions. The season will begin with a combine and draft and then mark six weeks of hard-fought, must-see plays by the most agile and furr-ocious kittens across the country. The road to Kitten Bowl II has begun!
To get the latest on THE ROAD TO KITTEN BOWL II, follow @HallmarkChannel & @KittenBowlTV or go to www.facebook.com/HallmarkChannel & www.facebook.com/KittenBowl

SPIDER-MAN & THE X-MEN #1 Brings the Wallcrawler to the Classroom in December!


This December, the newest member of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning swings into action in SPIDER-MAN & THE X-MEN #1 – the new ongoing series from rising stars Elliot Kalan and Marco Failla! That’s right, it doesn’t take an X-Gene to sculpt the next generation of young mutants and Peter Parker is happy to take on his new position as the Jean Grey School’s new Special Guidance Counsellor. But keeping young mutants on the straight and narrow isn’t the webhead’s only reason for being there!
“He’s there because Wolverine asked him to do it,” says series writer Elliot Kalan in an interview with Marvel.com, “though being a teacher isn’t the extent of his mission. Before Wolverine died, he had a suspicion that something was amiss at the school and that one of the students wasn’t what they seemed. Only he didn’t know which student. It’s Spidey’s job to find the truth – though he can’t help but hope to also have a positive influence on the lives of the students.”
Though the rest of the faculty might not be down with their newest member, especially when he leads his group of students into battle against Sauron and Stegron, the Dinosaur Man! That’s right – it’s a prehistoric villain team up 65 million years in the making. And you can be there for it when the webhead swings into action with the next generation of mutants in SPIDER-MAN & THE X-MEN #1 – on sale this December!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

StormQuest Creators Together at Cavalcade of Comics!

 On Saturday November, 22nd, 2014 Bill Nichols, Willie Peppers and Robert W. Hickey part of the creative team from the STORMQUEST Graphic Novel and SKYSTORM ORIGINS #1 will be together for the final time this year.

The 1st annual Cavalcade of Comics Convention in Louisville, KY offers the creators a chance to unite and display the collected volume of STORMQUEST. "The STORMQUEST Graphic Novel is the starting point for the SkyStorm Universe." replied Robert W. Hickey, "From this story everything changes for our characters and we get to show the readers within the pages of SKYSTORM ORIGINS which ships March, 2015 exactly what changes and what's on the horizon." finished Robert.

But you don't have to wait until 2015 to see the artwork and see what SkyStorm and its publisher Afterburn has coming out to stores. Bill, Willie and Robert will have pages from the SKYSTORM ORIGINS #1 story on display along with a few copies of STORMQUEST Graphic Novels Kickstarter volume for sale.

Don't miss this great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Cavalcade of Comics Louisville, KY November 22 @ the Ramada Plaza Louisville - Triple Crown Pavilion and stop by the Afterburn/SkyStorm tables.

Deadpool Gets Wordy For His Own Original Prose Novel in 2015!

Sure, he’s got his own comic series. Sure, he’s one of the world’s most popular super heroes. But you know what he’s not? Fine literature. Well, let’s fix that! That’s right: In 2015, the Merc With a Mouth is conquering the world of prose fiction with DEADPOOL: PAWS, an all-new original story penned by novelist and comic-book writer Stefan Petrucha (Teen, Inc., X-Files).

Something is turning the city’s dogs into giant, bloodthirsty killing machines. And Deadpool is charged with taking care of business. Only thing is – Deadpool likes dogs. He doesn’t want to kill them. Now, people – that’s a different story. He can kill loads of people. At least the ones who deserve it. So what we’ve got here is a genuine character dilemma.

“Deadpool is such a fun character that transcends the comics themselves,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “When we were discussing which characters should get the prose treatment, Wade Wilson was always right near the top. From the first chapter, the book has everything you love about Deadpool, and I can’t wait for fans to get their hands on it.”
                                                                                                                                                            
In 2015, be there when the Merc With a Mouth conquers the brave new world of prose. DEADPOOL: PAWS brings you a disturbing tale of mutated canines…and the regenerating, loudmouthed mercenaries who love them

Dynamic Forces to bring the Force to consumer's worldwide

The following is a press release from Dynamic Forces in it's original unedited form.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (November 14, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ)….
It is a period of excitement. Lucasfilm, recently acquired by Disney, have wrapped filming on Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
At the same time, Marvel Comics re-acquired the rights to the Star Wars comic book, returning it to its original home after almost 30 years. This is a new golden age for Star Wars fans!
In the wake of the Star Wars resurgence, Dynamic Forces proudly announces a series of all-star signings and original sketches that will excite fans and restore freedom to the galaxy…
 
Dynamic Forces brings you Star Wars #1 signed by legendary artist John Cassaday! John's schedule has been so busy, that this is the first signing he's been able to fit in fur us in nearly 7 years.  Thankfully he was able to make the time for this historic first issue, which is a great reward for the fans!  And for a limited time, we're offering this at the Introductory Price of $19.77 - to commemorate the year the Star Wars legend first launched. Check it out here:
We are not stopping there! There is also the Star Wars #1 signed by John Cassaday Bonus Package for fans who enjoy the "chase" of getting a bonus book!
And for the Premium Collector - we're proud to present the Gold Signature Elite Edition!
And we also have available the Rare Variant cover signed by the incredible Skottie Young!
 
In addition to this, we are presenting a series of remarked covers by our amazing DF artists! Ken Haeser presents Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and everyone's favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett! Grand Moff Tarken, the most Imperial of officers, is drawn by Chris Caniano, along with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Yoda! Love these, you will!
For those fans that like to have their books frozen in carbonite, we have Star Wars #1 CGC Graded 9.8!
Marvel is bringing their A Game to the comics market and it shows by bringing in Jason Aaron and John Cassaday, working together to launch the series. Jason is one of the best writers in the industry and John one of the greatest artists in the industry. Seeing them work together is a dream come true, and even more so when it is a project both of them have a clear passion for. On top of that, we are very fortunate to have John taking the time to sign these books. As we've mentioned, it's been seven years since we've had him sign for us and we couldn't be happier to have him back on board!
We at DF are excited with Marvel's planned Star Wars launch, and are extremely excited to bring these cool collectibles to the Star Wars fans worldwide!

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About Dynamic Forces:
The Comic Industry's leader in pop entertainment and collectibles!
DF is the comic book and collectible industry's top producer of limited edition and autographed memorabilia, including comic books, lithographs, as well as functioning as a packager of comics, and having ranked as high as one of the top 5 suppliers of Diamond Comic Distributors, and a premiere comic and entertainment supplier for United States and International TV Shopping Channels (including being instrumental in QVC US' Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith Movie and DVD Release), having placed key items in QVC's Batman: Begins Movie shows and more!
Active and previous licenses include: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Aspen Entertainment MLT Incorporated, Top Cow Productions, Universal Studios Hit series Battlestar Galactica, and Classic Battlestar Galactica, Xena, and Darkman, Revolution Studios' Hellboy, MGM's Army of Darkness, Pressman Films' The Crow, Sony Pictures' Underworld, T2, Hasbro's G.I.Joe, Sandy Frank Productions' Battle of the Planets (G-Force), Jim Starlin's Dreadstar, Howard Chaykin's American Flagg!, Frank Miller's Sin City, Walter Simonson's Starslammers, Classic Media's Lone Ranger, Magnus Robot Fighter and Solar, Man of the Atom - and many other entertainment industry giants. DF continues to set the pace in the comic collector and comic memorabilia markets.