Review - Jirni #2

A daughter's quest to find her mother is one fraught with peril and emotion. For whatever reason, the mother needs to be found and Ara is hellbent on finding hers. Her journey continues in Jirni #2 from Aspen Comics.

The issue is written by J.T. Krul, illustrated by Paolo Pantalena, colored by Brett Smith and lettered by Josh Reed.

Valiant Prepares for Phoenix Comicon

Ready for Phoenix Comicon this weekend? Valiant is and they're bringing their comic ruckus to the show to booth #652. The publisher will be bringing along exclusives, panels and some signings.

Stop by for a full selection of Valiant comics, trade paperbacks, hardcovers and merchandise – including convention-exclusive, double-sided Shadowman #1/Harbinger Wars #1 Sketch Flipbooks. And get an advance look at the summer's biggest releases with the Valiant Summer 2013 Preview Edition – a FREE convention-only comic book, featuring a look inside Quantum and Woody #1 by James Asmus and Tom Fowler and an extended preview of Harbinger Wars #1, the debut issue of Valiant’s first crossover event. And look for signings by Harbinger Wars creators Joshua Dysart and Clayton Henry throughout the weekend.

Then, get the inside track on the Summer of Valiant 2013 on Friday, May 24th at 1:30 pm in room 125B at the Valiant 2013: Harbinger Wars and Beyond panel presentation, featuring special guests Dysart, Henry, Christos Gage and Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. Find out everything you need to know about the next year of the Valiant Universe directly from a panel of Valiant insiders.

Full press release below.

Ghosted Debuts in July

Finding ghosts is a lot easier said than done. You need someone who knows what they're doing and actually has the ability to find said ghosts. Jackson T. Winters is one such man in Ghosted from Image Comics, written by Joshua Williamson and illustrated by Goran Sdzuka (colors by Miroslave Mrva).

"For years my obsession has been to do a book that took place in a haunted house; a crime and horror title, one that was fun but went to some dark edgy places,” said Williamson. "'Gritty' has become a sort of pop word to describe a certain kind of book but it really is the best way to illustrate Ghosted.”

Winters has spent the last decade languishing in prison after his last heist went horribly wrong. Now, in return for breaking him out, a rich eccentric tasks him with capturing a ghost for the millionaire's macabre collection. The dark, supernatural mystery is crossed with a classic caper. Expert thief Winters must assemble a completely different kind of team than the one he lost ten years before, made up of ghost hunters and paranormal experts. But the haunted house they enter may be more of a match than they'd bargained for.

Williamson isn't shy about putting his characters' dark sides on display, either. "One of my favorite things to write are the bad guys. The underbelly of the crime world. Characters that are tortured, and are kind of jerks. Ghosted has plenty of that and has been a blast.”

The first issue of the five-issue miniseries is set to go on sale on July 10. It can be pre-ordered now (Diamond Code MAY130405) from the May issue of Previews. Full press release below.

Review - The Bounce #1

Superheroes. Every day it seems like more and more of them are springing up, capitalizing on whatever problem or event in their life to become a new persona. Why those heroes do what they do sometimes remains a mystery. What they actually do however, often doesn't. If a character is called The Bounce, it's pretty self-explanatory, such as in The Bounce #1 from Image Comics.

The issue is written by Joe Casey, with art by David Messina, colors by Giovanna Niro and letters by Rus Wooton.

Zenescope Entertainment Uniting All-Stars in Realm Knights

Every publisher loves a good crossover. Crossovers lead to team-ups, bringing together a slew of familiar characters to fight on one super-team against a common enemy. Zenescope wants to create their own super-team, bringing together some of its most popular Grimm Universe characters for Realm Knights, written by Patrick Shand.

“It's a great mix of fantasy, action, horror and humor.” says writer Patrick Shand. “It's a blast to take these characters out of their separate titles and allow them to come together against common threats while also trying to get along with one other. For Grimm Fairy Tales fans, the elements will be familiar but also feel fresh and different.”

The brand new four issue mini-series teams up characters such as Robyn Hood, Van Helsing, Red Riding Hood and Sela Mathers. Together the group forms the Realm Knights, a powerful modern day team of heroes that is chosen to help eliminate daunting supernatural threats against our world. The first issue of Realm Knights is available now for pre-order in Diamond's June 2013 edition of PREVIEWS and will be released both in print and digitally in August. The #1 issue will feature covers by Anthony Spay, Marat Mychaels, Alfredo Reyes and will also include a unique “suiting up” connecting cover by Spay that will spread across all four issues.

Full press release below.

BOOM! Studios Debuts at Phoenix Comicon

Phoenix Comicon isn't quite so new, but some publishers appearing at the show are a little greener than others. Take--for instance--BOOM! Studios. The publisher has been around for a while, yet have somehow managed to avoid hitting Phoenix. 2013 will change that, with the publisher poised to bring its wares to the show for the first time to Booth #559. Not only that, but 2 Guns creator Steven Grant will also be on hand.

There will be four exclusive variant covers, available only at the booth. Those books will include Adventure Time Annual #1 and Regular Show #1 (both by Meredith McClaren), Suicide Risk #1 (by Joëlle Jones) and Clive Barker Next Testament #1 (by Haemi Jang). Talent on hand will include Gant, Eric Esquivel, Caleb Monroe, Grace Randolph and Travis Hill. BOOM! Studios is also a proud sponsor of the Bleeding Cool Fan Awards, to be presented at Phoenix Comicon on Friday at 6PM in Room 132. Attendees will receive a free Adventure Time #16 limited edition variant cover, which only available by attending the awards.

Phoenix Comic Con will take place at the Phoenix Convention Center located at 100 N 3rd St. Phoenix, AZ 85004. On Thursday the 23rd, the shows hours are from 4 PM-9 PM, on Friday the 24th, the hours are from 10 AM-7 PM, on Saturday the 25th, the hours are from 10 AM-10 PM and on Sunday the 26st, the hours are from 10 AM-5 PM.

Full press release below.

Aspen Comics Announces Phoenix Comic Con 2013 Exclusives

Aspen Comics is at Phoenix Comic Con. That's not really news. What is news is all the exclusives the publisher will be bringing to the table, including creators and exclusives. Among the creators will be Frank Mastromauro, Peter Steigerwald, Vince Hernandez, Mike DeBalfo, J.T. Krul, Brett Smith, Nei Ruffino and Alex Konat will be appearing at the Aspen Booth throughout the weekend for signings, sketches and more.

The popular Aspen Splash swimsuit pinup book by Aspen returns this year with an oversized special edition featuring both new and classic pieces by Aspen’s top talents and more. The Aspen Booth #873 and 972 will be offering an exclusive Aspen Splash 2013 Phoenix Comics Con edition with a cover by Michael Turner along with Steigerwald, limited to 250 copies.

The best-selling “10 for 10” initiative celebrating ten years of Aspen Comics continues with two all new “10 for 10” exclusives for the convention. Charismagic will feature a special Charismagic #2 Phoenix Comic Con 2013 cover by artist Paolo Pantalena and Steigerwald limited to 200 copies, two weeks prior to its release exclusive only for PCC attendees. Aspen will also be offering an exclusive with a Jirni #2 Phoenix Comic Con cover by series artist Pantalena and Steigerwald, limited to 200 copies.

In addition to exclusive comics, Aspen will be releasing an all-new series of their industry-leading art prints including the Aspen Tour Print 2013 Phoenix Comic Con Edition by Turner and Steigerwald limited to 100 editions. Also, Aspen will be offering new Aspen Splash, Charismagic, Jirni and Shrugged prints by Turner, Eric “Ebas” Basaldua and Pantalena.

Full press release below.

Review - Akaneiro #1

Little Red Riding Hood had a basket of food and was off to see her grandmother. Little did she know of the perils of traveling through the forest alone or that she would be set upon by a bloodthirsty wolf. Had she brought an axe however, well, then maybe the trip would've been a lot easier. Akaneiro #1 from Dark Horse Comics is an adaption of sorts of Little Red Riding Hood, proving that even an axe may not be enough.

The new series is written by Justin Aclin, with art by Vasilis Lolos, colors by Michael Atiyeh and lettering by Michael Heisler.

Dark Horse Publishes Last Man Standing

Most comics start with issue number one. Few start with a 272-page tome that establishes the entire universe for the comic. Dan LuVisi does things a little differently, giving readers a lot to take in Killbook of a Bounty Hunter from Dark Horse Comics. Yes folks, the book is set for reprint.

The hardcover book will include thirty pages of all-new material and a new cover. This bible takes the form of a scrapbook filled with maps, history, over forty character biographies and dossiers, tons of faux advertisements, and much, much more. A limited San Diego Comic-Con exclusive edition is currently in the works, with a special cover shown here, which will only be for sale through Dark Horse at Comic-Con International 2013.

Gabriel is the last of a genetically engineered breed of supersoldiers known as the Paladin. After winning an interstellar war between Earth and Mars, Gabriel is celebrated back home and given the new title of Protector of Amerika. All goes well for the newly entitled superhero as he begins to rid the streets of the scum that plagues it. However, as Gabriel is distracted by his duties, a terrorist organization known as Pandemonium frames the hero for a series of atrocious crimes.

Now stripped of his title and prestige, Gabriel is sentenced to the notorious Level-9 Facility, where he endures nine long years of torture and imprisonment. But as the clock ticks down to Gabriel’s eventual demise, he is introduced to the elusive Agent O, who offers the Paladin a chance at redemption. Learn his story—and that of his allies and enemies—through Gabriel’s eyes, as he begins to orchestrate his revenge in the scarred and vivid world of New Amerika.

Last Man Standing is on sale November 6, 2013. Full press release below.

Sheltered Teaches the Way of the Doomsday Prepper

The cold reality is that it's very likely we'll be faced with an apocalyptic, Mad Max situation where leather is valued like gold and there are no rules. It'll be a time when doomsday preppers may have the upper hand (until the less seasoned ones are taken advantage of and dispatched for their resources). Still though, they make for entertaining stories and Image Comics plans on telling some of them in Sheltered, a new series by Ed Brisson and Johnnie Christmas hitting stores on July 10.

"Initially, I was researching preppers — people who are actively preparing for natural disasters, nuclear war, societal breakdown — to get and idea of how people would be able to survive any of the above,” said Brisson. "My initial idea was to do a post-apocalyptic story. Through my research, I started to get obsessed with the culture — from the outside! I don't own a bunker! — and how it would affect children raised in that sort of environment.”

Safe Haven is a survivalist colony sure the end of civilization is at hand. Economic collapse, natural disaster, civil war — they're prepared for it all in their underground compound deep in the woods of America's northeast. The threat to their existence comes from a source they never expected: their own children. Raised in paranoia and isolation, they rebel against their parents and take over the compound. Two leaders emerge from the rebellion: the teenagers Lucas, who led the revolt, and Victoria, who leads another group of kids in their escape. With Victoria set to expose Safe Haven, Lucas and his faction are determined to hunt her and her group down before they reach the nearest town, forty miles away through dangerous wilderness.

"We're going to be facing down the apocalypse with these people," said Christmas," it's important to really get a sense of who they are and what they're capable of,” he said. "These kids aren't even out of high school, but they are probably the most prepared folks on earth, when it comes to riding out the end of the world.”

Full press release below.

Hank McCoy (Before the Fur)

Damian Wayne.

What can be said of this treacherous, bloodthirsty little monster? Probably the most accurate thing that can be said of Damian is that he’s the son of the Batman. Not Bruce Wayne, but Batman.

He embodies the most vicious, sadistic parts of Batman’s personality. And in a way, Damian is only kind of aspiring to what he thinks he should be. I mean, if Batman is his father and Talia al Ghul is his mother, given the League of Assassins' ideas about what Batman should be doing with his time, is it any wonder that Damian is kind of confused about what Batman stands for?

Totally remorseless and a prodigy in all of the ways that Batman is, Damian gives you a preview of what a Batman on the side of the Ra's al Ghul would be like. And it’s disturbing stuff to say the least.

Review - Steam Engines of Oz #1

If you're off to see the wizard, there's a good chance you're off to see the Wizard of Oz. Did you know there's more to Emerald City than just the man behind the curtain? Such as that the Tin Man is a king with an army? Or the Witch of the North lives in the cold and doesn't like engineers? That's all found in Steam Engines of Oz #1 from Arcana Comics.

The first issue is written by Erik Hendrix and Sean Patrick O'Reilly, with art by Yannis Roumboulias, colors by Chandran Ponnusamy and letters by Amanda Hendrix.