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A couple of new books to look at from Olivier Cadic’s Cinebook –The 9^th Art.  As usual I have the ‘hard task’ of reading and reviewing –but no spoilers!

 

 

LARGO WINCH –THE HEIR

PAPERBACK

Authors: Francq & Van Hamme

Age: 15 years and up

Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm

Number of pages: 96 colour pages

Publication: March 2008

£9.99

ISBN: 9781905460489

 

 

Largo Winczlav, born in Yugoslavia, is an orphan. Thousands of miles away, one of the richest men in the world will change Largo’s destiny. He has the same name, but slightly different: “Winch.” This man, Nerio Winch, wants to find an heir to his empire and adopts

Largo, offering him the best education. When his adoptive father disappears under dramatic circumstances,

Largo inherits the W Group, the biggest conglomerate of multinational enterprises ever possessed and managed by a single man. From now on, he will be worth $10 billion. Which is not to everybody’s taste, as he is about to find out…

 

This two-volume book includes “the W Group”

 

 

Jean Van Hamme’s work I first read in the 1970s in ZACK 2000. If you are new to his work you can find out more at:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Van_Hamme

 Van Hamme offered Phillipe Francq work on a book he had written the basis for in 1990. The  series was Largo Winch. And it became a hugely successful series with initial sales of over 600,000 copies per album in French alone.  It is now the only series Francq works on at a rate of one album a year.  Living in the South of France,who can blame him?!

Paul Brown’s reaction was “why do all these women have to look gorgeous?” Well,D’uh!

 

 

In fact,the book,or rightly “books”,start with Winch senior’s rather brutal murder and from there on in it’s high octane actin –car chases,jail fights,shoot-outs and more,including the beautiful women!  You can see why this series is so successful:the use of great colours and varying scenery adds to this comic “eye-candy”.

 

 

Over the years Van Hamme has proven his skill as a writer and nothing is lost in Luke Spear’s translation.

 

 If you want a good read and visuals then Largo Winch is for you.

 

 IZNOGOUD –THE WICKED WILES OF IZNOGOUD

PAPERBACK

Authors: Goscinny & Tabary

Age: All ages

Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm

Number of pages: 52 colour pages

Publication: March 2008

ISBN: 9781905460465

£5.99

 

 

Legend has it that in Baghdad the magnificent, a great and particularly dark-minded vizier, who answers to the name of Iznogoud, works on his ambition to lay claim to the throne of caliph Haroun al Plassid. Thus his favourite saying: “I want to be caliph instead of the caliph!”

 

Seconded by Wa’at Alahf, Iznogoud tries ever more diverse and even crazier means to reach his ends – in vain, of course!

 

 

Probably not as well known in the UK as Goscinny’s other work,Iznogoud was another book I first saw in German.

 

I actually find this a lot fresher than,say,Asterix.  If you want to try your kids on something other than Asterix then this has to be the title to try.  Same goes if you’ve been an Asterix fan.  There are plenty of gags and slapstick –as in “The Time Machine” and if you are a big Euro comics fan then this will be an excellent addition to your collection.

 

There are some really great books coming from Cinebook and if you check out their site you’ll find info on Cedric,Melusine,Yakari,Yoko Tsuno,Lucky Luke,Blake & Mortimer,Biggles,Lady S,Alpha and many other titles –sign up for their e-newsletter:

 

 

http://www.cinebook.co.uk/index.asp

 

 

And if you are going to the May International Comic Expo pick up the 32 pages catalogue and say “Hi” to the folks at the table.

Olivier Cadic has really revitalised comic book reading in the

UK.

Michael Golden Helps Make-A-Wish in

Pittsburgh!Golden Art Wraps-up Collectible Program Book 

Monroeville,PA–Fresh back from a slew of honors and gallery exhibitions in Barcelona, Michael Golden hardly has a minute to rest before he heads to this weekend’s Pittsburgh Comic Con, to meet fans at one of the regions favorite shows. 

In celebration of the comic creator who strives to recreate himself with each new endeavor, the PCC is honoring Michael as a spotlighted guest at their 2008 show, April 25-27, by featuring Golden artwork on their wrap-around collectible program cover. And be sure, Michael will sign every copy put before him. 

Needless to say–as you can see by his schedule–Michael’s limited return to the convention circuit, has brought a great deal of interest in his artistic legacy, noted by numerous new books and DVD’s on the artist, including: “Excess: The Art of Michael Golden,” from Vanguard Productions–which has sold out and is going into a second printing with a new Vampirella cover; “Modern Masters Vol.12–Michael Golden” tradepaperback from TwoMorrows Publishing; “Modern Masters in the Studio with Michael Golden DVD”;  the upcoming two disc set “Creator Chronicles: Michael Golden” from Woodcrest Productions and Eva Ink; as well as the upcoming sketchbook “Michael Golden Heroes & Villains” from BrandStudios and Eva Ink.  You can also see new Michael Golden covers on “Exiles,” “Demon’s Regret,” “Wolverine,” and more! 

It’s no wonder that the Pittsburgh Comic Con scheduled Golden for an appearance at this years show as well! Michael will be on hand all days of the PCC along with other comics and media luminaries:  Sal Buscema; Tommy Castillo; Tom DeFalco; Al Feldstein; Mike Grell; Joe Jusko; Michael Kaluta; Joseph Michael Linsner; David Mack; Tim Truman; and Billy Tucci among many others. 

In support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Michael will be offering a limited edition giclee of his program cover art for the conventions charity auction, signed and numbered for the occasion. The piece will also feature an original sketch by Golden as well!! 

For more information, check out: www.pittsburghcomicon.com

 

For more information on Michael Golden and his work, go to: www.evaink.com

 

 

 

Some sad news but here’s hoping Josh recovers.

 

 

PRESS RELEASE - JOSH MEDORS BENEFIT AUCTION AT UPCOMING

EMERALD CITY COMIC CONAuction to benefit Josh Medors’ fight with cancer at this year’s Emerald City Comic Con 

 

23 April 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - Unknown to the general public, FRANK FRAZETTA’S SWAMP DEMON, RUNES OF RAGNAN, WILLOW CREEK, GI JOE and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT artist Josh Medors has been fighting cancer for the past several months. In his time of need, Image Comics and Frazetta Comics have stepped in organize an auction with all proceeds going straight to Josh. 

 

“Josh is a good friend, father and artist. With the support from the comic industry that he loves so dearly, we can all help with costly medical bills and ease his pain just a little would be most appreciated,” said Frazetta Comics Editor/Artist Jay Fotos. “We are under a crunch, for the show is just a few weeks away, so anyone that would like to donate please contact me as soon as you can so we can get your donations there for the auction in time, we are also taking PayPal donations as well that go directly to Josh.” 

 

Many of the industry’s finest are donating items to auction, including Frank Frazetta himself. Any other creators interested in donating are encouraged to contact Jay Fotos at jayfotos@cox.net.

 

 

 

The Josh Medors Benefit Auction will take place Saturday, May 10th at the Emerald City Comic Con. If you would like to make a PayPal donation, please do so to jmedors1@insight.rr.com.

 

 

 

Contributors thus far: 

 

Frank FrazettaJerry BeckBrian HaberlinTom BelandMark KidwellTodd McFarlaneNat JonesTony MoorePeter BergtingRichard StarkingsSteve NilesKody ChamberlinJay FotosRick RemenderChristian BeranekAhmet ZappaImage ComicsIDW PublishingZenescope Entertainment 

 

Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the

United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com. 

Joe KeatingePR & Marketing Coordinator

Image Comics

And he’s packin’ pencils and paint brushes for the PCC!

Monroeville,PA– That’s right! The Pittsburgh Comic Con has announced the late addition of renowned illustrator Mark Texeira to their already stellar guest lineup, and his fine art style is sure to add  even more excitement to both the convention and the Saturday night charity auction as well!

  

Known for his stunning interiors on “Ghost Rider” and “MoonKnight,”  and his fantastic cover work on “Red Sonja,” “Vampirella,” “Ghost Rider,” and more, Texeira has always been a fan fave at shows and on the book stands. Not to mention that his convention commissions are always wildly popular–just look at the lines at last weekends NYCC!!

  

And, hey if you missed that craziness, check out the con photo updates at:

 

http://buncheness.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-york-comicon-images-from-floor.html

 

Now, thanks to the PCC, there’s still a chance to get caught up in the convention madness, as Tex will be on hand all days of the show to sign copies of his work, sketch….and, you might even see him taking part in a not-to-be-missed “Win/Lose/Or Draw” on Friday. In addition,

Tex is offering a limited edition giclee in the Make-A-Wish auction Saturday night. The piece will be signed and numbered by Mark, and will also feature an original sketch by the artist.

 

 

 

Want more? You can also catch Mark’s work in the upcoming art book “Tex: The Art of Mark Texeira” from Vanguard Productions and the new “Creator Chronicles” DVD on the artist, both due out later this year. 

The Pittsburgh Comic Con is taking place April 25-27 and also features such great talents as: Sal Buscema; Tommy Castillo; Tom DeFalco; Al Feldstein; Michael Golden; Mike Grell; Joe Jusko; Michael Kaluta; Joseph Michael Linsner; David Mack; Tim Truman; and Billy Tucci among many others.

  

For more information visit:

www.pittsburghcomicon.com

For more information on Mark Texeira and his work, contact:

 

EvaInk@aol.com

 

   Graphic Classics Volume 4:H. P. Lovecraft 

GRAPHIC CLASSICS:

H.P. LOVECRAFT

Second Edition

144 pages, b&w, color cover

Retail price $11.95

Only $10

 

 

Firstly,let’s get on to the company info about this book:

 

 

SECOND EDITION – WITH 75 NEW PAGES!

Featuring three new comics adaptations:

 

• The Shadow Over Innsmouth — one of HPL’s greatest stories,

adapted by Alex Burrows, and illustrated by Simon Gane

 

• Dreams in the Witch-House — witchcraft, mathematics and a talking rat by Rich Rainey and Pedro Lopez

 

• Sweet Ermengarde — a rare Lovecraft comedy,

scripted by Rod Lott, and illustrated by Kevin Atkinson

 

And returning from the first edition:

 

• Herbert West: Reanimator — presented in four chapters by Richard Corben, Rick Geary, J.B. Bonivert and Mark A. Nelson

 

• The Cats of Ulthar — illustrated by Lisa K. Weber

 

• The Terrible Old Man — illustrated by Onsmith Jeremi

 

• The Shadow Out of Time — adapted and illustrated by Matt Howarth

 

• Plus illustrations by Jim Nelson, Gerry Alanguilan, Skot Olsen, Maxon Crumb,and a terrific cover painting by Italian artist Giorgio Comolo

 

 

The package containing the latest treats from what must be one of the best U.S. Independent comic publishers arrived Monday morning.  Just as I was leaving for the occasional meeting at Paul Brown’s pad –Darron Northall was there and as he plays a part in what I’m about to write I have to mention him.  Or this won’t make sense.

 

 

I unwrapped the three books [keep reading to learn about the other two!] and asked whether anyone might care to review?  Mr Northall flicked through the books briefly,not even enough time to read them.  “I can’t see the point” he announced.  I asked what he meant?

 

 

It seems that Mr Northall cannot see the point in adapting H. P. Lovecraft stories into comic strip form unless the story is altered to be ‘new’ in some way.  He simply could not see why Lovecraft’s narration had to be used –“they might as well go out and buy his books!”

 

 

At this point the conversation got very heated. I left the room twice.  It was that or strangle,uh,”someone”.

 

 

The almost “late” Mr Northall could not understand that you cannot criticise a book without reading it and that these creators have taken the time to adapt and draw the Lovecraftean works..while we are waiting for part 2 of his “Outlaws” story.  My anger,I think,was justified after reading the book.

 

 

Giorgio Comolo’s cover is simply beautiful.  A real work of art that,as a long time horror comic fan,I can appreciate.  There is another great black and white illo by Gerry Alanguilan for “A Memory”. 

Alex Burrows adapts “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” and this is drawn by Simon Gane. This one had me page-turning in a frenzy.  A really good and gripping story with an art style that added to the mounting horror.  Worth the book price for this one alone!

 

 

The other story that kept me gripped was,again drawn in a unique style,was “Dreams In The Witch House”.  Adapted by Rich Rainey and illustrated by an artist new to me –Pedro Lopez.  This was wonderful stuff!

 

 

Kevin Atkinson draws,while Rod Lott adapts,a humourous tale:”Sweet Ermengarde”. A nice treat after the dark horror up to that point.

“The Cats Of Ulthar” has been adapted by Tom Pomplun and the art is just WONDERFUL –thanks to Lisa K. Weber,who I believe I mentioned in my last GC review.  Whether these are colour illoes that have been grey-scaled I’m not sure but it is worth looking at a few times.

 

 

Matt Howarth adapts and draws in his unique and great style,”The Shadow Out Of Time”.  Pure joy.

 

Adapted by Tom Pomplun,”Herbert West:Reanimator” is drawn in four parts by four artists –Richard Corben,Rick Geary,J.B. Bonivert and Mark A. Nelson.  Of which,old Undergrounder [comics] here,Corben has to be my favourite –a class act.

 

 

I could go on but I think you’ve gotten the point?  This is 144 pages of horror comic that might –might—get you interested enough to go out and buy Lovecraft’s books or even try your hand at a horror strip!

Quality of printing,of course,doesn’t need to be raised.  It’s quality from cover-to-cover and would make an ideal Christmas or birthday present for someone you know with a comic or horror comic interest.

 

 

 

 

 

HORROR CLASSICS

Graphic Classics Volume Ten

144 pages, b&w, color cover

only $10 

Stories from the original masters of horror in comics.

 

EDGAR ALLAN POE -Some Words with a Mummy Poe’s satiric tale adapted by Rod Lott and illustrated by Kevin Atkinson

 

H.P. LOVECRAFT -The Thing on the Doorstep Obsession, possession and terror by Michael Manning

 

 

SAKI- The Open Window An impressionable man meets The Bad Seed, illustrated by Gabrielle Bell

 

 

W.W. JACOBS- The Monkey’s Paw Nothing comes for free, as illustrated by John Pierard

 

BRET HARTE- Selina Sedilia A gothic farce from the great Western author,adapted by Antonella Caputo and illustrated by Nick Miller

 

JACK LONDON -Keesh, Son of Keesh Terror on the Tundra, illustrated by “Johnny Jihad” creator Ryan Inzana

 

OLIVE SCHREINER -In a Far-Off World  A nightmare fantasy by the South African author, illustrated by Jackie Smith

 

HOWARD GARIS-Professor Jonkin’s Cannibal Plant

The precursor to “Little Shop of Horrors” from the creator of

“Uncle Wiggly”, rendered in comics by Onsmith Jeremi

 

 

HONORE DE BALZAC-The Thing at Ghent A horrific tale retold in one page by Mark Dancey

 

FITZ-JAMES O’BRIEN-A Day Dream A simple “what-if” goes to extremes, as pictured by Milton Knight

 

AMBROSE BIERCE-The Mummy A tribute in verse, illustrated by Brandon Ragnar Johnson

 

CLARK ASHTON SMITH -The Beast of Averoigne Medieval terror adapted by Rod Lott and illustrated by Richard Jenkins• With a stunning cover painting by Mark A. Nelson

 

You have all the info and credits there so let’s get into this.

“The Thing On The Doorstep” is presented to us by Michael Manning.  There is much about this ‘strip’ that would be familiar to readers of pre-1940s comics.  Illustrations in amongst the text so there is no set panel layout.  Very nice art style indeed.

 

 

Kevin Atkinson illustrates Poe’s “Some Words With A Mummy” with a very nice humourous art style that works well. 

Jackie Smith,Mark Dancey,Saki,Milton Knight and Ryan Inzana are also notable contributors.

 

John W. Pierpard contributes “The Monkey’s Paw” which is incredibly stylish and a major highlight in this anthology. 

Mark A. Nelson’s cover is,as you might expect,up to the usual Graphic Classics standards but he also contributes an absolutely incredible black and white piece of art within the book.  I wonder what his comic strip work might look like?

 

 

You might think that books of this quality would be in every comic book store.  But they are not and I have wonder if it’s just because they are not full colour and featuring the latest Marvel or DC hero?

 

 

Well,I highly recommend Graphic Classic books and,if your local store participates in Free Comic Book Day [1^st May] you have a chance to check out a give-away.

 

Want to know what’s in it?  Well…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic Classics:Special Edition will present five new comics adaptations of some of the favorite authors from the regular Graphic Classics series:

 

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Black Cat

adapted by Rod Lott and illustrated by Gerry Alanguilan

 

Ambrose Bierce’s Diagnosis

adapted and illustrated by Mark Dancey

 

Arthur Conan Doyle’s John Barrington Cowles

adapted by Alex Burrows and illustrated by Simon Gane

 

Mary Shelley’s The Dream

adapted by Antonella Caputo and illustrated by Anne Timmons

 

Lord Dunsany’s A Narrow Escape

adapted and illustrated by Milton Knight

 

 

Artist Signings —

• Two of the artists from Graphic Classics: Special Edition will be signing copies of the book at stores on Free Comic Book Day:

 

• Anne Timmons, artist for Mary Shelley’s The Dream will be appearing at Excalibur Comics,

2444 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland Oregon

. Stop by and meet her if you are in the area.

• Gerry Alanguilan, cover artist, and artist for Poe’s The Black Cat will be appearing at Comic Odyssey in Robinson’s Galleria, Edsa corner Ortigas, Metro Manila, Philippines. The event will be webcast live on Filipino fansite Azrael’s Merryland. Thanks, Azrael!

 

 

If you see a copy grab it.  If you see either of the books reviewed here and you have a taste for classy comics –I don’t think “comics” is adequate— buy them.  See why they are called “Graphic Classics” and why that should,as with the UKs Classical Comics,recommend the books to schools or libraries and,hopefully,get kids or older folk the impetus to get the text versions and check out.

 

 

This is the Educational Age Of Comics!

Tel Sed!

 I raved after seeing Suzuki’s Purgatory Kabuki #1 and thought the preview pages on Dr Master’s site of  The Art Book of Yasushi Suzuki.  So read this –and check out the company site and ask your local store –Forbidden Planet included- to get copies in! 

  

DRMASTER PUBLICATIONS PRESENTS 

YASUSHI SUZUKI’S GOTHS CAGE 

  

SAN JOSE, CA – April, 2008 – DrMaster Publications proudly announces the production of the highly anticipated picture book by internationally acclaimed video game designer Yasushi Suzuki (a.k.a. – D-Suzuki), Goths Cage (previously titled Phantoms).

   

Goths Cage is an enchanting manga-esque picture book anthology of three short stories with a malicious twist of love and romance. It is based on Yasushi Suzuki’s art series that was previously released online in Japan under the name Phantoms KADAN. Suzuki-san re-adapts his art series and transforms it into a bewitching picture book with entrancing grace and charm. Each of his gothic tales is exquisitely crafted with elegant detailed illustrations that transport readers into an enchanted world of gothic glory.

   

In his first story, Glass Magic, Suzuki-san does a twisted take on the classic Cinderella tale.  An ugly corpse-like servant girl wishes to fall in love with a prince and become a beautiful princess. Then a sinister old witch offers her a magic potion that can grant her heart’s desires, but in order for the magic to work she must abandon her soul. She gets rid of her memories, her face, and her master to become a cruelly beautiful glass princess.  

  

In another of Suzuki’s splendidly dark tales, the shop keeper of an enchanted barbershop attends to his beautiful victim under the moonlight. He snips away at her thoughts and memories, mystically cutting away all her painful memories that scar her heart. However, because she is sapped of her thoughts and memories, all that is left is her pitiful empty body. 

  

Prepare to be mesmerized by Yasushi Suzuki’s spine-chilling tales of love and entrancement this Fall 2008, because this enchanting collection of spellbinding illustrations and twisted tales is a must-have! 

  

About the Creator: Yasushi Suzuki is a world renowned video game conceptual designer and animator. His work on IKARUGA (Sega), Sin & Punishment (Nintendo), Radiant Silver Gun (Sega), and so many other games, mainly under the gaming development giant TREASURE GAMES, has earned him a following few other conceptual designers can match. He has also meticulously compiled a stunning cache of his own work history in an art book – The Art of Yasushi Suzuki, which showcases nearly 100 images, some of which were designed specifically for the collection, including art from the video games Ikaruga (Sega), and Sin & Punishment (Nintendo), as well as cover art from the Japanese language version of George R.R. Martin’s New York Times bestselling novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire. 

 

Availability Goths Cage will be available October 2008, and will be priced at $12.95. All 32 pages of the hardcover book will be printed in full-color. 

         

About DrMaster Publications Inc.: 

DrMaster Publications Inc. is a uniquely quirky publishing company that was started in 2004. Specializing in bringing interesting graphic novels from Japan and China, across the Pacific for American audiences, DrMaster Publications offers a myriad of titles to cater to its various niche readers. The company is what some may call a boutique publisher, which tailors each its titles to suit every reader’s unique desires. Ranging from side-splitting comedies and heart-wrenching dramas to explosive action adventures and enchanting fantasies, DrMaster books provide a glimpse into a new realm as seen through the eyes of the authors and artists. You don’t just read a DrMaster book-it jolts you to life, as you are propelled through the pages.

   

Please visit

www.drmasterbooks.com

for information on our current and upcoming titles. And feel free to tour the site. Regular updates will follow as our line of “masterful” comic series expands.  

  

About DGN Productions International: 

DGN Productions (Digital Graphic Novel Productions) is a newly-formed production company and studio made up of industry veterans within the comics and video game industries. Through strategic licensing of key comic book titles and the use of recognized industry professionals within the fields of animation and video game development, DGN Pro. Intl. is dedicated to producing cutting-edge video games, comics and animated features adapted from some the biggest and brightest in Hong Kong, Japanese and Korean comic book properties. DGN Productions Intl. was founded June 2004 and is based in Fremont, California.   

 

 

 

 

The Art Book of Yasushi Suzuki  

Author: Yasushi Suzuki

ISBN: 978-1-59796-069-4

Date Published: 6/27/2007

Format: Paperback / Color

Number of pages: 84

Rating: All age

Price: $26.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purgatory Kabuki volume 1  

Author: Yasushi Suzuki

ISBN 13: 978-1-59796-070-0

Date Published: 12/27/2007

Format: paperback / B&W

Number of pages: 144

Rating: 15+ Price: 

$9.95 

 

 

Following a question on my Yahoo American Mysterymen group re. the recent events in the Marvel Universe,I found myself answering at length. To quote that great comic store owner,I realised “My life has been wasted!” But the response might solicit some response from fellow Comic Geeksters out there. 

Take a deep breath here. 

 

 

Just before/during the Marvel “Civil War” which was,basically,caused by Tony [Iron Man] Stark,there was a short series titled The Illuminati.  This revealed how Prof.Xavier,Black Bolt,Sub-Mariner,Dr Strange,Iron Mand and Reed Richards had been meeting for years and keeping one another up-dated on the heroe community,etc.. Spying on their own. 

 

 

At one point they travelled to a duplicate Earth where The Beyonder [!] had Earth heroes-villains re-enacting fights.  They also got captured on the Skrull Home World where they were experimented on but escaped too easily. 

 

 

Stark gets in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. after Nick Fury is hounded out and vanishes. 

 

 

Stark creates the Civil War.  Everyone fighting one another. 

 

 

So,you have the following: 

 

 

1] In The Illuminati did the real heroes escape so easily or mind-swiped Skrulls -as in some that have been revealed so far? 

 

 

2] Was Nick Fury aware of this “Invasion Of The Body-Snatchers” event but realised he needed to set up a resistance -so vanished? 

 

 

3] Even without the Civil War,the trusted heroes could replace group members close to them as with Sue Richards [Invisible Woman],etc. 

 

 

4] With the “Registration Act” Stark,if a Skrull,would know every heroes details -including those that had “slipped the net”.  Those not signing up left the country or went underground so were not in a position to realise there was Skrull activity. 

 

 

5] The more Cosmic space heroes were off fighting their own major “Annihilation” storyline so were out of the way. 

 

 

6] And the most powerful being in the MU -The Hulk- is exiled into space BY The Illuminati for some dumb reason while he saves the Earth!  Space Phantom and others have tried to take Hulk’s place/mind over and failed. You don’t want him in the way. And his return softened up a lot of the “opposition”! 

 

 

7] So all of this -The Illuminati,Death Of Captain America [a Nation rallying figure if there was an invasion],Civil War and the World War Hulk situation created BY The Illuminati all seem to be part of a long drawn out plan.  Coincidence or is it just luck that it reads that way? 

 

 

8] Captain Mar-Vel returning from the past to the future?!  Really?  How many times has the Marvel Universe been destroyed,altered or rebuilt since his death?  How can this be the same CM turning up at this vital point?  A Super Skrull or -out on a limb here- The Beyonder?   

 

 

The “Captain Marvel flies to the future” scenario seems a nonsense. 

 

 

If this is all connected out in advance then we have a genius,or very good creative team working this all out a few years ahead of the event. Or they simply slide together -luckily? 

 

 

 

 

I recall,with great joy,The Kree-Skrull War masterpiece and even the Dire Wraith threat [anyone remember Rom:Space Knight?].  

 

 

Secret Invasion makes sense.  In the Kree-Skrull War it was Rick Jones who stopped both races galaxy-wide [buy the book!].  Invasion Armadas stopped dead. Armies paralysed. And the heroes have foiled both races in the past.  So: 

 

 

[1] Outright attack –DUMB! 

 

 

[2] Softly Softly One At A Time then Strike –Brilliant strategy. 

 

 

However,the question is this:how can Marvel top this? 

 

 

How about something happening at the vital moment that saves Earth but then reverses everything that has taken place…The Beyonder? 

 

 

All guessing.  Let’s wait and see. 

 

 

One final very important question:should I get a life? 

Terry

 

 

I’ve been asked when issue #5 of The Twelve would be out.  Marvel has a site,y’know.  But for your info #5 should be in stores on 7^th May.  And as for details..

 

 

 

 COVER BY: PAOLO RIVERAWRITER: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI PENCILS: CHRIS WESTONINKS: GARRY LEACHCOLORED BY: CHRIS CHUCKRYLETTERED BY: COMICRAFT  

“THE STORY: Tensions rise and heroes come to blows as the time-lost Twelve from the Golden Age find their fundamental beliefs challenged in the world of the 21st Century. Plus; the Origin of the Witness—he’s seen what you’ve done! “Rated T+ …$2.99  

 

 

 

 

Ramifications For Comic Fandom On The Net?

I know that a few people running web fan sites dedicated to comic book characters have had scares -one site dropped all images of Dan dare after the solicitors of the copyright owners threatened heavy legal action.  There are others.

To use images of characters on web sites,as in printed fanzines,is quite acceptable.  You put “c 2008 DC/Marvel/whoever” and that’s fine.  Were it not for the hardcore fans the Dan Dare copyright owners would not have a “product” they can milk dry.

So,imagine what would happen if you set up a fan site based around your favourite comic character and after a year you hear that everything from your site has been taken and printed off into a book that you can buy over the internet?

Annoy.  Maddening.  Blood-vessels popping time.

The following Associated Press story should be read with this in mind.

 

By David B. Caruso, Associated Press

 

 

NEW YORK — For a time, Harry Potter superfan Steven Vander

Ark seemed to be living a geeky dream.

 

 

His website — an obsessive catalog of spells, characters and creatures in J.K. Rowling’s novels — was a hit among fellow fanatics. He spoke at conventions. Journalists sought him out for interviews. He was a guest on NBC’s Today show.

 

 

Better still, Rowling knew who he was. She gave his site, The Harry Potter Lexicon, an award and confessed that she occasionally used its online encyclopedia as a reference. Warner Bros. invited him onto the set of Harry Potter and the Order of the

Phoenix. He even made it on to the DVD, appearing in a documentary included as a special feature.

 

 

But all that changed after a little-known publishing company, RDR Books, announced it would release a print version of the lexicon. The author and Warner Bros. sued, asking a judge to block publication on the grounds that it violated copyright law, and the case went to trial this week.

 

 

The dispute has thrust

Vander Ark into the middle of a closely watched case that illustrates the muddled state of copyright law enforcement when it comes to the Web.

 

 

Computers have given just about everyone the ability to copy sections of books, movies or songs and whip them into something new that they can post on the Internet.

 

 

The Web is awash with fan-produced material that could be the subject of a copyright fight, from remixed pop songs, to new fiction based on existing characters from books and TV shows, to countless tribute videos cut together with clips from TV shows or films.

 

 

“There is almost a parallel universe,” said Alan Behr, an intellectual property lawyer in

New York. “On the Internet, people basically do things you would never do in print.”

 

 

And, for the most part, Behr said, the big media companies that own the material being mashed up and manipulated let it slide. There are simply too many offenders to chase, he said.

 

 

Warner Bros. and Rowling took a different approach when they sued on Halloween last year. During a three-day trial that concluded Wednesday, Rowling savaged

Vander Ark as a plagiarist and a thief, saying the lexicon ripped off too much material from her books. It all reduced

Vander Ark to tears at one point during the trial.

 

 

It was a surprising departure for Rowling, who has encouraged so-called “fan fiction” and once said there is nothing wrong with people writing new stories for her characters, to share with friends.

 

 

The author and her lawyers said they were stirred to action by the proposal to move the Potter lexicon from the anything-goes Web, where it was available for free, into book form, where it would compete directly with a Potter encyclopedia that Rowling plans to write herself.

 

 

In short, by deciding to sell his material,

Vander Ark was stepping across a line. He was no longer just an enthusiastic fan, but a professional and potential competitor — fair game for the lawyers.

 

 

The question now for the courts is whether the lexicon itself violates copyright law, and the decision may not be easy.

 

 

U.S. rules allow for the “fair use” of copyrighted material in unauthorized works, but there are limits. Journalists may quote from films and books when writing a review. Scholars can use excerpts from a novel while penning an author’s biography.

 

 

Generally, the call on whether such uses are legal comes down to how much material was taken and how different the end product is from the original work.

 

 

Lawrence Pulgram, an intellectual property lawyer who represented Napster in a copyright fight with the rock band Metallica, said deciding where to draw the line is rarely easy.

 

 

“Fair use is the most erratically applied doctrine in copyright,” he said.

 

 

Works like

Vander Ark’s lexicon fall into one of the tougher categories. It takes the form of an A-to-Z list of the hundreds of characters and place names from her books, followed by brief entries summarizing how they fit into the plot. There is also information on the origin of some of her characters in mythology and folklore.

 

 

Rowling and her legal team acknowledged that readers’ guides like the lexicon are, in fact, allowed under the law, but made the case that Vander Ark simply took too much material.

 

 

U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson Jr. indicated that the case could go either way and encouraged both sides to settle. He suggested that a creative negotiation might produce a book that both sides could live with.

 

 

Rowling said during her testimony that Vander Ark could still do his book, as long as he changed it to take less of her material.

 

 

“I never ever once wanted to stop Mr. Vander

Ark from doing his own guide. Never ever,” she said, before asking the judge again to block it in its current form.

 

 

RDR Books Publisher Roger Rapoport said he was open to the idea of revisions but said that neither Warner Bros. or Rowling have indicated a willingness to compromise.

 

 

He also questioned whether there was a danger in granting artists too much control over books about them. Should an author, he asked, be able to kill any unauthorized biography, simply because they don’t like it?

 

 

“We would have to get approval before we could write or publish on people’s work. They would control critical commentary on their work, at any time, whether it is our kind of book or an Associated Press article,” Rapoport said. “It would create total chaos in the area of critical commentary. Frankly, I don’t think that would be good for anyone, even the authors themselves.”

 

 

Patterson is not expected to make a decision in the case for at least a month.

 

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

 

 

THE ACTION & EXCITEMENT OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG’S CLASSIC ADVENTURES LIVES ON IN SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #8!

In November, 2006, Archie Comics offered Sonic readers both new and old the opportunity to relive the earliest adventures of their favorite hero with the release of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #1.  Now, here we are on the eve of the release of the 7th volume, and everyone agrees: this new classic reprint series is a hit!  Fans are jumping at the chance to travel back in time to where it all began.  Back in 1993, Sonic the Hedgehog sped his way from video games to comic books.  Almost 200 issues later, “the blue blur” can lay claim to having the most successful comic book career of all video game heroes.  Now, SONIC THE HEDEHOG ARCHIVES, a thrilling series of upscale reprints, lets you revisit Sonic’s early days in a premium yet affordable format.  These special 5 x 7 & ½ inch editions contain 112 action-packed pages, faithfully re-colored and printed on superior stock, with a low cover price of only $7.49 US! 

Picking up where the SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #7 left off (which reprinted the original Sonic series issues #25 through #28), SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #8 brings fans these classic tales from issues #29 through #32 – including exciting events like Sally’s roboticization, the introduction of Dulcy the dragon, the solo adventures of Knuckles which led to his regular comic book, and other historic occurrences!  Stories include: 

“Steel-Belted Sally” (issue #29): The unthinkable happens: Sally is robotcized!  Also features the first appearance of Dulcy the Dragon!   

“Growing Pains, Part II” (issue #29): Tails has fallen in love with Fiona the Fox, but his new sweetheart may not be what she seems!  This story led directly into the popular “Sonic’s Buddy Tails” mini-series.

“The Return of Uncle Chuck” (issue #30): Since the start of the series, Uncle Chuck has been a mindless robot in Robotnik’s servitude. But when the villain’s latest experiment goes awry, Uncle Chuck regains his free will and aids the Freedom Fighters in their fight against oppression! 

“Who Keeps Stealing My Chaos Emeralds?!” (issue #30): A Coconut solo story of slapstick proportions! 

“Knuckles Chaotix Sneak-Peak” (issue #30): The two-page lead-in to the famous “Knuckles Chaotix Super Special” introduces Knuckles’ team The Chaotix and foreshadows Robotnik’s plans to capture them all.    

“A Robot Rides the Rails” (issue #31): Robotnik delivers his new super-robot, the Dynamac 3000 to the western coast by rail, and it’s up to the Freedom Fighters and Geoffrey St. John’s Rebel Underground to derail the treacherous train trip!

“Lost… and Found!” (issue #31): A follow-up to the “Chaotix Super Special,” Knuckles must rescue the Chaotix and Arhimedes, leading to the much-loved Knukcles mini-series.

 “Tundra Road Part 1” (issue #31): Rotor must return to his homeland where Robotnik has brainwashed everyone in sight!  Can he stop Robotnik’s “chilling” plot to bring on a new ice age? 

“Blast from the Past” (issue #32): The Freedom Fighters find themselves up against a swatbot ambush, the robotic fangs of Muttski, and a Mobian Cavebear in this action-packed adventure!

“Prisoners!” (issue #32): The Chaotix are trapped by Archimedes – is he friend or foe?!

 

 “Tundra Road, Part 2 (issue #32): Rotor’s mission to rescue his family and countrymen takes a dangerous turn, and it’s up to the Arctic Freedom Fighters to join the fight!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #8

SCRIPTS: Mike Gallagher, Angelo DeCesare, Mike Kanterovich, Ken Penders & Paul Castiglia.

ART: Art Mawhinney, Dave Manak, & Pat “Spaz” Spaziante. Colossal cover by Spaz!

Shipping Date: July 23rd, 2008

On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 30th, 2008

On Sale on Newsstands: August 12th, 2008

112-page, full color paperback

$7.95 US.