This week Super Folk, Publishers Weekly’s one stop superhero destination, covers the deluge of news from the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) including lots of big news from the Big Two, IDW, Archaia, Mark Waid and more, as well as some news from outside the convention.
Marvel at C2E2
Marvel arrived at C2E2 with a full clip of announcements starting early on Thursday with news of the return of the Ultimate Marvel Universe Captain America in an upcoming crossover that will include Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Ultimate Comics X-Men and Ultimate Comics Ultimates (Ultimate Cap has been M.I.A. since last year’s high-profile “Death of Spider-Man” storyline) and contain a bombshell decision by one character that will garner mainstream media attention. On Sunday Marvel revealed the title of the crossover as “Divided We Fall.”
On Friday at the “House of Ideas” panel (which consisted of Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada, director of communications Arune Singh and digital executive editorial director Ryan Penagos) the publisher ran down its digital initiatives beginning with Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited and its rapidly expanding library available on various mobile devices via the Marvel Digital Comics App. Then onto reemphasizing that all titles priced at $3.99, as well as some original graphic novels including the “Season One” series, will include a download code for a free digital copy of the book. Next was Marvel ReEvolution’s AR (augmented reality) initiative and digital imprint, Marvel Infinite, with Singh and Quesada admitting to having fun with the new possibilities of “motion comics,” comparing the excitement surrounding the new format to that of early video games. The panel then talked about Marvel’s redesigned website which features increased social networking capabilities, weekly podcasts, and even a new Avengers Vs. X-Men-themed video series inspired by ESPN’s Sportscenter.
Following last week’s “Coming Soon” teaser, on Saturday Marvel revealed a new Hawkeye ongoing series by writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja. The new series teams protagonist Clint Barton with Young Avengers’ Kate Bishop to fight crime in New York City, and the two creators (who previously collaborated on the critically acclaimed Immortal Iron Fist) explained the dynamic between the two archers as playing a large role in the attitude of the book. Also that day Marvel revealed a new Wolverine story arc entitled “Sabretooth Reborn,” a continuation of 2007’s “Evolution” story written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Simone Bianchi. The new story, beginning in July with Wolverine #310 follows Sabretooth (the classic X-Men villain and Wolverine nemesis) now that he’s “[found] his way back to the land of the living” after being killed by Wolverine. Marvel also announced two artist changes: Ryan Stegman (Scarlet Spider) will join Jonathan Hickman on Fantastic Four starting with issue #609, while Khoi Pham (X-Men Legacy) takes his place on Scarlet Spider, joining writer Chris Yost beginning with issue #7 in July. Finally, writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Avon Oeming announced the return of their popular series Powers, now renamed Powers FBI, in July.
On Sunday at Marvel’s “Next Big Thing” panel, the publisher revealed the cover to its upcoming Gambit ongoing series, written by James Asmus (Generation Hope) and illustrated by Clay Mann (X-Men Legacy). The new title, which was teased last week, follows the fan favorite mutant as he steals items from across the Marvel Universe, and creators Asmus and Mann hope to appeal to both longtime Gambit fans, as well as those familiar with the character from the popular 90’s X-Men cartoon. The panel also announced that Jamie McKelvie will take over artist duties on Defenders (written by Matt Fraction) beginning with issue #8, and that a crossover between sibling titles Mighty Thor and Journey Into Mystery (starring Loki) called “Everything Burns” is on its way.
Outside of C2E2 Marvel confirmed the upcoming Spider-Men miniseries starring both Peter Parker and Mile Morales (Spider-Man of the Ultimate Marvel Universe) to commemorate Spider-Man’s 50th anniversary. Series editor Mark Paniccia promised fans some surprising villains as well as a conclusion that won’t be “tidily back in the toy box.” Marvel also revealed that Garth Ennis’ new issue of Fury (out in July) will follow CIA agent Nick Fury as he travels to Cuba in an attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro in 1961.
DC Comics at C2E2
DC Comics came to Chicago with big news concerning its new “digital first” lineup and Before Watchmen, as well as publisher’s usual New 52 updates. On Friday DC announced two new titles for its line of digital comics (joining previously announced Smallville Season Eleven, Batman: Arkham Unhinged, and Batman/Superman Beyond). First was Ame-Comi Girls, a new female-centric series based on the popular manga-inspired statue series from DC Collectibles (formerly DC Direct) beginning in May. Ame-Comi Girls is written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray and features art by various creators including Amanda Conner (Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre, Powergirl) for Wonder Woman, Santi Casas (Batman: Arkham Unhinged) for Supergirl, Ted Niafeh (Courtney Crumrin) for Duela Dent, Mike Bowden (World of Warcraft) for Powergirl and Sanford Greene (Legion of Super-Heroes) for Batgirl. Each artist will draw story arcs leading up to the main storyline in which the female heroes face off against a female Brainiac. Then in June comes a new series simply titled Batman, which will contain out-of-continuity, standalone stories (ala Batman: Black and White) by a number of writer-artist pairings including Damon Lindelof and Jeff Lemire, Jonathan Larsen and J.G. Jones, Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott, Clay Moore and Ben Templesmith, and many more.
Earlier in the week DC released new covers for Before Watchmen including Before Watchmen: Minutemen (by Darwyn Cooke) and Before Watchmen: The Comedian (by J.G. Jones). Then at C2E2 at the “DC All Access Special Edition: Before Watchmen” panel (consisting of Co-Publisher Dan Didio, Senior Editor Will Dennis and a few Before Watchmen creators) answered fans’ questions (and doubts) and unveiled a new marketing campaign for the series, a website modeled on the fictional “New Frontiersman” newspaper from Watchmen. The webpage has a number of fake articles which link to preview art as well as a New Frontiersman Twitter account. The publisher also revealed a collage of uncolored interior art from the seven miniseries.
Finally, after previewing the upcoming “Night of the Owls” massive Batman crossover, DC announced “The Culling” a crossover between Superboy and Legion Lost, written by Scott Lobdell (Superboy, Teen Titans) and drawn by a handful of artists including Brett Booth (Teen Titans), R.B. Silva (Superboy) and Ig Guara (Blue Beetle). The crossover, beginning in May, will center around the origin of Kid Flash, currently a member of the Teen Titans, and his relation to the Legion Lost.
Archaia Goes For Digital at C2E2
Over the weekend Archaia and comiXology announced “digital first” and same-day digital releases for a number of its titles including Pantalone, TX, Mumbai Confidential, Strange Attractors (by Charles Soule) and Space: 1999: Aftershock and Awe (by Andrew Gaska), as well as two new series, Hopeless, Maine (by Nimue Brown and Tom Brown) and The Grand Duke (by Yann and Romain Hugault). The publisher also plans to digitally release a number of its published books.
Danger Girl/ G.I. Joe Crossover, Dredd Creators and Crow pages from IDW
IDW announced an upcoming crossover between Danger Girl and the publisher’s G.I. Joe comic series. The crossover will be written by Danger Girl co-creators J. Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell and illustrated by John Royle. The publisher also shared the creative team for the upcoming North American Judge Dredd series: Zach Howard and Nelson Daniel (the two previously collaborated IDW’s The Cape). The publisher also released two covers and a five-page preview of its upcoming series The Crow, written by John Shirley.Mark Waid at C2E2, Hypernaturals, Tower Chronicles, 47 Ronin, Monolith
Digital comics proponent and writer Mark Waid (Daredevil) was at C2E2 promoting Thrillbent, a new digital imprint for creator-owned series bycreators who want to push the boundaries of digital comics. Launched with John Rogers, Thrillbent will open May 1 and its first offering is Insufferable, a new weekly series from Waid and artist Peter Krause (the two worked together on BOOM! Studios’ Iredeemable) about a superhero sidekick who parties and shirks his responsibilities.
Following a teaser for a “cosmic” project from frequent collaborators Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, BOOM! Studios revealed Hypernaturals. The series takes place far in the future when mankind has colonized the galaxy and the super team known as the “Hypernaturals” police the stars, that is, until they all mysteriously vanish. BOOM! is also offering a Free Comic Book Day edition of Hypernaturals in May, before the series officially kicks off in July.
Announced at C2E2, Legendary is releasing The Tower Chronicles, the publisher’s first original IP. The series, written by Matt Wagner (Grendel) and illustrated by Simon Bisley (Judge Dredd, Hellblazer) is about a “supernatural bounty hunter who has a very small and very wealthy client base,” according to Legendary Editor-In-Chief Bob Schreck. SChreck also revealed that The Tower Chronicles will be released in four 72-page installments beginning in September.
Last week Dark Horse Comics announced 47 Ronin, a graphic telling of the “47 Ronin” story about a group of ronin (leaderless samurai) who avenge their lord who was forced to commit the ritual suicide practice, seppuku. The series is written by Dark Horse President Mike Richardson and Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai, with legendary Lone Wolf and Cub mangaka Kazuo Koike serving as an editorial consultant. Both Richardson and Sakai are very familiar with the story, which has taken the form of a national legend in Japan. 47 Ronin is set to begin in November.
Image Comics announced that it will be reprinting The Monolith, by writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray and artist Phil Winslade. The series, about a Golem who protects Brooklyn, was originally released by DC Comics in 2004, the series eventually went out of print allowing Palmiotti and Gray to obtain the rights. The first volume, out in July, will collect the first four issues (of twelve).
