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Archie Prequel

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THE ARCHIE PREQUEL “FRESHMAN YEAR” GETS IN FULL SWING IN ARCHIE #588!   

  

In the tradition of such famous comic book series and mini-series as John Byrne’s “Superman: the Man of Steel,” Frank Miller’s “Batman: Year One” and Marvel’s “Ultimate” line comes the latest comic book icon to get the “prequel” treatment: Archie!   That’s right, now you, the reader can travel back in time with Archie and his friends to their very first year in high school in this five-part epic storyline we’re calling THE FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA!   

  

It all began last issue (ARCHIE & FRIENDS #587) with a poignant prologue called “The Summer Before,” exploring how the famous friends who just graduated junior high would deal with their pending positions as high school seniors.  Now, in issue #588’s “Freshman Year: Fall Semester,” Archie and his friends are starting the fall semester of their first high school year.  Having survived a summer that saw the departure of Jughead and bickering parents, the gang arrives at high school… to find elementary school Principal Mr. Weatherbee has now become the high school Principal!  But it’s not just about reunions at Riverdale High.  Archie also makes a new friend in Pencilneck G., although he prefers his more laid-back buddy Jughead.  He also makes some new enemies in Jared McGerk and his band of bullies!  Along the way the other classic faculty members are introduced, as well as Pop Tate and his Chok’lit Shop!  It’s the funniest first year of high school ever! 

  

This special storyline is brought to you by none other than fan-favorite writer Batton Lash.  No stranger to Archie Comics, the famed writer of the “Wolff & Byrd” series turned the comic industry upside down in 1994 when he penned the unlikely Archie/Marvel cross-over comic, “Archie Meets the Punisher.”  Many thought it would never work, but Batton’s ingenious script won over even the toughest skeptics, and the comic wound up being not only one of Archie’s biggest-selling issues ever, but also one of the most highly-acclaimed.  Batton returned the following year with another well-received story arc appearing across several Archie titles.  The “House of Riverdale” was a loving tribute to the type of serio-comic, spooky mysteries so prevalent in the vintage “Life with Archie” series.  Handling the art chores is “Scrapyard Detectives” creator and popular Archie artist/writer Bill Galvan.  This is one “year” you can’t afford to miss! 

  

ARCHIE #588 

SCRIPT: Batton Lash.  

ART: Bill Galvan.  

Shipping Date: August 13th, 2008 

On

Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 20th, 2008 

On

Sale on Newsstands: September 2nd, 2008  

32-page, full color comic 

$2.25 US.  

SPEED RACER

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SPEED RACER –The Movie! 

 

A couple of weeks back I discovered,quite by chance,that there was a movie based on an old Manga comic –Speed Racer.

 

Just in case anyone has missed it there is an item from BBC  entertainment over at:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7374596.stm

 

And the official site where you can see clips and trailers and much more at:

 

http://speedracerthemovie.warnerbros.com/

 

Looks like it should be fun!

 

 

ARCHAIA STUDIOS

HYBRID BASTARDS 1 & 2 

Archaia Studios

Writer Tom Pinchuk

Artist Kate Glasheen

$3.50 US

 

 

Having interviewed Kate and Tom here at CBO,I hope everyone knows the story? No? Oh well.

 

 

In a nut-shell:the God Zeus is known as a womaniser –having his “way” with any mortal woman he takes a fancy to.  However,18 years ago,Hera ,being really ticked off by all this,cast a spell so that the big guy could only fall in love with..inanimate objects [I think there’s a web site for that type of thing somewhere!].  Now,of course, these titular “hyrbid bastards” have all reached adulthood and are collected together by Panos,apparently sired by Zeus to get revenge upon Zeus. The group is made up of,and please do not check your prescription drugs here: a half-car, a half-apple, a half-brick wall and a half-pile of dirty laundry. 

 

The rest you’ll have to buy the books to find out about!

 

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I was very surprised to have read Brian Cronin over at CBR being rather enthusiastic about the plot to HB and Tom’s “high concept” but slating Kate Glasheen’s artwork and writes:

 

“Glasheen’s artwork, while decent enough for most of the book, falls apart quite a bit when the actual hybrid bastards themselves are introduced!

Her art it is definitely interesting to look at, there’s no doubt about that. As strictly an artist, she is great, but the sequential art falls down for me. Especially as her watercolor style quite often causes objects in the foreground to bleed together with objects in the background, which is deathly when you’re dealing with characters as bizarre as these…”

 

 

Ahh,the problems with critics!  I wonder whether Cronin is an artist himself or just a reviewer?  I really did not have or see the problem Cronin describes.  I’m wondering whether in his haste to be critical he just scanned through the book?  Initially,my thought was “what’s this?” when I saw the artwork but having an artist’s eye [rather than Van Gogh’s Ear] I could appreciate the unique look of the art and its stylistic use of colour.

 

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In fact,in issue 2 to art seems to have developed more and rather than a two minute Marvel or DC comics read,HB,through Kate’s art,makes you read the story and then study the images and it is when you do this that you can appreciate things more.

 

 

 

I’ll hold my hands up here –I have two original pieces of Glasheen artwork and they look even better than the printed pieces!

 

 

There was only one thing I think distracted from the art –the word balloons.  However,looking at the books again as I write this,I’m not sure why I originally thought this!

 

 

According to Kate all three issues will be going into a collected edition this Summer and re-scanning should make the art crisper and,whereas Croning could not recommend Hybrid Bastards,I fully recommend it!

 

 

Don’t have the closed eyes of the Mainstream comic geek –look at how other styles are being used to revitalise the look of comics.  There are many great artists out there like Kate who do not “draw the Marvel way” and if it were not for them the industry would be just pap.  Samey.  Boring.

 

I say this never having received a bribe.  Image Comics,Graphic Classics and a few others are opening up to new and innovative creators.  You don’t like it then stick with the X-Men or Batman.  There are those of us out there who appreciate style.

 

Highly recommended.

WHO’S WHO at the Comic Expo

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Well,I promised you a quick item on who’ll be at the May Comic Expo [now just a week away].  So,here goes.

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 The incredibly talented Yishan Li will be there and remember that every copy of her work you buy only encourages her to draw more -so you cannot lose!

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Willie Hewes will also be attending and I hope that this means you folk going will buy either the Amaranth series or the collected book!  After all,Willie is Bristol’s Queen Of Comics!

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Well,how can you describe them?  Mad?  Creative?  Whacky without the baccy?  Or do we just say that the Boys From Blink Twice -the Etherington Brothers- will also be available to buy books from?

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 two little Dutch girls er,the incredible dynamic duo of UK Manga -Sonia Leong and Emma Vieceli- will be around and this year you may catch them in the bar..in a nice way!!

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He’s been around a while now and with Classical Comics he has proven his skills.  Yes,the one -the only- Joooon Haward will be around.  As,of course,will the Classical Comics team.  I like my coffee strong and black.

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 That Gallic druid of the European comic album Olivier Cadic and his team will be present.  You really must check out their table and,rather than buy X-Men comics,buy Cinebook albums!

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Some old fart..actually,a rather good looking chap.  Oh. It’s me.  Well,you can say “Hullo” and see which of these traditional responses you get:

“Uh,does he owe you money?”

“Are you ‘Chubby Chaser from Chelsea’?”

“Can I take a minute to think about that one?”

“Go away -I’m looking for Goth/Punk/Hippy chicks”

Not pictured but also present will be Vanessa Wells of Shrouded fame and many others.

Remember:the Expo is NOT just about DC and Marvel -check out the Independents and any Small Press publishers around.

I’ll be seeing you!

Number 203

Yaoi Press -CAIN vol.3

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 CAIN VOL.3 [OF 3] 

WRITER & Artist Le Peruggine

ISBN: 1-933664-32-3

Genre: Yaoi Romance

Pages: 144

SRP: $12.95 US/$14.50 Can/£8.50

UK

Each individually shrink-wrapped

MATURE READERS ONLY

The final chapter in the gothic Cain trilogy. What is the fate of the anti-hero Cain? Things can only get more complicated when Lucifer, the king of Hell himself, makes his move. Also in the book: a risque side- story that yaoi lovers won’t want to miss!

 

 

 

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Yaoi Press Convention Appearances 

16 MAY 2008 - Anime Central, Chicago

16 MAY 2008 - Jacon, Orlando

21 MAY 2008 - Anime North,Toronto

12 JUN 2008 -Phoenix Con Games

20 JUN 2008 - Yaoi Jamboree,Phoenix

03 JUL 2008 -Anime Expo, California

08 AUG 2008 -Otakon, Maryland

30 AUG 2008 - Anime Vegas 

*Meet Dany&Dany and Yamila Abraham at Anime Central 

*Meet Yamila Abraham at Anime North 

*Meet Le Peruggine, Aoi Futaba, Kurenai Mitsuba, Eiki Eiki, and Mikiyo Tsuada at Yaoi Jamboree

More Archie Creators On The Road!

EVEN MORE ARCHIE CREATORS ON THE ROAD FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

 

 

 tracy_yardley.jpg  Tracy Yardley, artist and writer for ARCHIE COMICS’ SONIC, will be providing sketches and signing autographs from 11:00am until 7:00pm. at… 

Richard’s Comics & Collectables

1214A Laurens Road

Greenville, SC

29607(864) 271-1104

www.richards-collectables.com

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   Bill Galvan, artist and writer for ARCHIE COMICS, will be providing sketches and signing autographs from 3:30pm until 6:00pm. at… 

NIGHT FLIGHT COMICS

6222 So. State Street

Salt Lake City, UT

84107(801)263-1940

www.night-flight.com

A Teaser!

I’ll be putting up a “Last Week” up-date on the Comic Expo about Tuesday.

I’ve been in touch with Dave Ryan of War Of The Independents fame and arranged an interview with him once his home move is complete.

I’ll also be doing a review of Hybrid Bastards #2 which Katie kindly sent me -along with a GORGEOUS piece of original art from the book!

A few other things that I’ve got lined up but it’s all being kept quiet for now.

One question I keep getting asked is why I do not include my own work and projects here.  Well,I do have my own art site and a nice spot over at Comic Space.  The purpose of this site is not self-promotion.

That said,I thought I would offer a very brief teaser on two projects -one is fairly well known:The Supernaturals.  This was the strip I created to replace a comic Fleetway lost copyright to.

So here you go…

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The other page is from a little “Preview” project that leads into a mini series.  The strip is titled “Words Between Worlds” -this is unfinished/un-lettered art so kind of raw.

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There -happy now?  Next I’ll be showing off some of Paul Brown’s Outlaws 4025 artwork!

Be happy.

Archie -Creators Are Go!!

 

 

ARCHIE CREATORS ON THE ROAD FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

 

 

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Craig Boldman, writer for ARCHIE COMICS, will be available to meet with fans and sign autographs from 10:00am to 12:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm

 

COMICS 2 GAMES

166 Mt. Zion Road

Florence, Kentucky,

41042

859-647-7568

www.comics2cars.com

 

 

 

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Fernando Ruiz, artist and writer for ARCHIE COMICS, and a Joe Kubert school instructor, will be providing sketches and signing autographs from 1:30pm until 3:30pm. Fernando has been a part of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY at Dewey’s Comic

City every year since it began.

DEWEY’S COMIC

CITY

13 Park Ave.

Madison, NJ

07940

(973) 593-0042

www.deweyscomiccity.com

 

 

and one week later on Saturday, May 10th

 

 

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Dan Parent, artist and writer for ARCHIE COMICS, will be available to meet with fans and sign autographs from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. We hope to see you there!





MAIN STREET COMICS

157 Dolson Avenue

Middletown, NY   

10940

(845) 342-0458

IMAGE -ONLINE!

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PRESS RELEASE - ALETHEIA PREMIERES ON MYSPACE!

Image Comics/Shadowline’s ALETHEIA premieres online in an unprecedented way!

 

 

30 April 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - In an unprecedented move, Image Comics Shadowline has teamed up with MySpace Comic Books to release the entirety of the upcoming ALETHEIA weeks before release.

 

 

“With the ever increasing amount of new titles on the stands, we really wanted to do something new and different to help ALETHEIA stand out,” said Shadowline President Jim Valentino. “Teaming up with MySpace in this manner gave the series a spotlight it may not have had otherwise had and we don’t doubt it will result in many more readers heading into stores for the book.”

 

 

The one-time MySpace pre-release preview of ALETHIA #1 details the origins of the series, showing the gods never left the Earth and have a secret, yet strict stranglehold on our society. When one woman loses the love of her life them, she goes on a quest for revenge against these hidden kings of humankind.

 

 

ALETHEIA #1, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in stores March 29th. The full preview can be seen at www.myspace.com/comicbooks

 

 

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.

 

 

 

New CBO Staffers

CBO would like to introduce two new staffers who will deal with interviews and reviews.

First up is Billy ‘13″ C’ Goldbrick Jnr.  CBO asked Billy how he saw his CBO duties:

“Word,dawg. Some ****** ******* bro tries t’ ********* tippy-toe up mah crib t’ ******** deisrespect m’ho goddamn if’n the **** ain’t gonna get slapped upside th’ head.  Suck this! Word”

No idea what it means but -well said,sir!

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“Get outta m’face,bitch!”

 Jimmy “Jack-Knife” Pomparini when asked how he’d tackle hard interviewees or criticism over questioning remarked:No One argues.  Meat-hook” ?

Jimmy worked at Stupidly Blatant Comics where many staffers simply disappeared and I asked Jimmy whether this was due to editorial policies?  Jimmy responded with “I take the Fourth” -which I have no idea about unless he wants the fourth interview I’ve lined up for May?

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Jimmy and Billy will be at the Comic Expo and both said they were looking forward to “Coming to mutually beneficial deals with publishers and dealers”.

Inspirational!

Welcome lads.