This week in Super Folk, Publishers Weekly’s superhero news roundup, Marvel gets ready for the launch of Avengers Vs. X-Men, the schedule for C2E2 convention is announced, teasers and previews for upcoming comics from Image, Avatar and Alan Moore, the National Cartoonist Society reveals its nominees and GLAAD Award name their winners, and more.
HD Comics from ComiXology and Marvel
Last week both ComiXology, the leading purveyor of digital comics, launched a new high-definition format for select comics. The new app, known as CMX-HD, was developed with reading comics on higher resolution screens, particularly those of the new iPad, in mind, and also incorporates more social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter updates. The price of the new comics will remain the same, and the company is offering a free HD upgrade to users who have previously downloaded the now updated comics. ComiXology is working on updating its entire catalogue in the coming months. Marvel Comics also introduced an HD format for their digital titles, available through their own Marvel Comics App.
Avengers Vs. X-Men Fever Pitch
With just over a week before the debut issue of Avengers Vs. X-Men, Marvel is doing everything in its power to make sure the book is the monumental success it seems to be. First, in order to assure every comic book retailer, of the over the 1,000, celebrating the release of AvX #1 gets their batch of books, Marvel is shipping the debut issue one week early. The company is also offering a five dollar coupon good towards any Marvel book when users reserve their copy of AvX #1 on Marvel’s app through comiXology. Finally Marvel released an unlettered preview of Avengers Vs. X-Men Versus #1, the sister series to the event’s flagship book, written by Jason Aaron and Kathryn Immonen and illustrated by Adam Kubert and Stuart Immonen, depicting standalone one-on-one fights between two Marvel heavyweights. Avengers Vs. X-Men: Versus #1 hits shelves on April 25.Marvel also released a preview of Avengers #25, the first in a six-issue storyline written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by iconic artist Walt Simonson. The issue marks Simonson’s return to Marvel after working elsewhere for almost a decade.
DC Comics Tidbits
It was a light news week for DC Comics, which is getting ready for the “Second Wave” of new titles beginning later in the Spring as well as its upcoming New 52 collected editions, followed by the comic book publishing juggernaut that is “Before Watchmen” in summer. On Friday, DC’s blog released a sketch of a new villain to appear within the pages of Justice League, currently its (and the industry’s) best-selling comic book. The villain, designed by series artist (and DC Comics Co-Publisher) Jim Lee, will make its appearance in “The Villain’s Journey” storyline, beginning in issue #9 when Lee resumes artist duties (issue #8 is drawn by Gene Ha).
In an interview with IGN,writer Brian Q. Miller spilled a few details on the upcoming Smallville Season 11, the comic continuation of the popular TV series which ended its ten-season run in 2010. Miller promised “flights and tights,” in reference to the TV series’ infamous rule banning Clark from flying or wearing his costume. The series will initially be released digitally, and every three issues will be collected in a $3.99 print comic. Smallville Season 11 begins digitally April 13 and in print on May 2.
In lesser DC news, Editorial Vid, the licensed publisher of DC Comics in Mexico, recently announced it no longer had said rights and would cease publication of DC’s titles. The company had been sluggish with releases over the last few years, and does not currently have any plans to renew its license. Also, DC confirmed that it will release the long awaited Marshal Law Omnibus, written by Pat Mills and illustrated by Kevin O’Neill, a collection of the solo stories and crossovers starring the British antihero who loathes superheroes and hunts them down. The announcement followed years of rumors and delays which included the book coming out from Top Shelf.
Previews and Teasers of Upcoming Comics
Lately never a week goes by when there aren’t at least a few teasers and previews for upcoming series. First (and most mysterious) is a teaser and blurb for a new book from Image Comics by author Ales Kot. Currently without a title, the book focuses on schools that manufacture students in order to fully function in an increasingly demanding society. Next, artist Phil Winslade teased a new project presumably called “Spam Man,” with a series of colorful silhouette images all asking “Who is Spam Man?” Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodirqguez, the creative team behind the popular Esiner-Award winning Locke and Key series revealed that they are working on a new superhero title for either DC Comics or Marvel. They are set to begin on the new series after Locke and Key concludes later this year.
Comic book news site Bleeding Cool has released some preview pages of the upcoming installment of Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s popular League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (LXG for short) series, titled LXG: Century 2009. The series, which had previously taken place in the past will finally come to the modern era when the series beings this June. Avatar Press has released a nine-page preview of May’s Dan the Unharmable #1, by writer David Lapham and artist Rafael Ortiz. The series centers on an impermeable gadabout and his misadventures.
C2E2 Schedule
The Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) posted its Friday schedule for this April’s upcoming convention, containing an array of information panels, author signings, screenings, workshops and more. DC Comics, which previously was M.I.A. from the weekend’s proceedings, announced a total of nine panels, including one showcasing and answering questions on “Before Watchmen” on April 14 with guests including Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo, Amanda Conner, Adam Hughes, J. Michael Straczynski and Len Wein.
Recent Awards and Nominees
The annual GLAAD Media Awards, celebrating the depiction of LGBT lifestyles in a variety of forms, presented Batwoman, the Outstanding Comic Book award for 2011. The series, by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, stars Kate Kane, a lesbian who decides to fight crime ala Batman after being discharged from the military. Other comic books in the category included Marvel Comics’ X-Factor (2010 winner) and Archie Comics’ Veronica Presents Kevin Keller.The National Cartoonist Society announced its 2012 Divisional Awards nominees yesterday with J.H. Williams III for Batwoman, Duncan Fedrego for Hellboy: The Fury and Darwyn Cooke for “Betty Saves the Day” from Rocketeer Adventures #2, all up in the Comics Books category.
