U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Warlord! Warlord! WAARRLOOOORD!

Comic Book Resources has got a lengthy, in-depth interview with Mike Grell about his new, upcoming WARLORD series!! Including a look at the first 5 covers!!

I didn't think I could possible be more excited, but I just may be!!

Hopefully now we'll get a proper Warlord action figure!!

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V returns!

A year or so ago, V creator Kenneth Johnson was hard at work on getting a sequel to his original V mini-series off the ground. He even wrote a novel, V - The Second Generation, which was published in February of 2008. Plans for the TV event were eventually scuttled.

But now, while Johnson has been pushed aside (again, as he was for V: THE FINAL BATTLE and V: THE SERIES), Hollywood Reporter has announced that ABC has green-lit a pilot for a new V series.

Although I believe it's disingenuous to exclude Johnson from the mix, when you consider it was the original mini-series that most people love and remember and not the follow-ups... Being the hypocrite that I am, I'm so excited about the possibilities of this new series. I just wish it was a continuation rather than a do-over (probably) in name only. I want me some Jane Badler as Diana!!!

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Cigam semoc ot Ellivllams

TV Guide reveals that Serinda Swan has been cast as Zatanna in an upcoming episode of SMALLVILLE.

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X-Men the animated series on DVD!

from Newsarama:

The legendary Fox animated series, X-Men, is finally coming out on DVD through Walt Disney Home Video. The first two releases, simply entitled Volume 1 and Volume 2, have street dates of April 28. Both collections have suggested retail prices of $23.98. Volume 1 is two disks and times in at 368 minutes. The second is also two disks and times in at 391 minutes.

Read more...

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ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK #4
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU

Coming in April!!

Looking Ahead at DC Comics in April '09

The DC Comics Solicitation for April 2009 are up at Comic Book Resources and Newsarama. Here's my look:

THE WARLORD #1
Written by Mike Grell
Art by Joe Prado & Walden Wong
Cover by Mike Grell
On sale April 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

You have no idea how excited I am about this series. I can't even put into words. The only thing that could make this better is if Mike Grell were drawing it. But I guess we can't have everything. I just hope I don't get let down!! :)

Warlord! Warlord! Warlord! WOO!!

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BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #5
Written by Mike Kunkel
Art and cover by Mike Kunkel
On sale April 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

I absolutely LOVE this series. LOVE it!! I'd be happier if it weren't published on a quarterly schedule, but I'll take what I can get if it keeps being as awesome as it has been!!

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SUPER FRIENDS #14
Written by Sholly Fisch
Art by Scott Shaw! & Terry Beatty
Cover by J. Bone
On sale April 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US

I've not been a huge fan of this incarnation of the SUPER FRIENDS. It's just so watered down. It reminds me of that SUPERMAN/BATMAN issue, where the cartoon versions of the JLA turn up, and Superman's origin is that his parents sent him to Earth so he wouldn't get wet (since it rained on Krypton all the time). That sums up this take on the SUPER FRIENDS. Weak.

But this looks like a fun issue!! Funny Animals and Scott Shaw! How can you go wrong!!? Plus, Wonder Woman has a Kanga for her super pet!! This might rock!!

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JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #26
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham & Nathan Massengill
Covers by Alex Ross
On sale April 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Kinda sad that Geoff Johns is leaving the JSA. But it might be alright. I'm actually complaining here more than not...

In order to get the complete cover (which would have rocked as a gatefold), you have to buy 3 copies of the same book!! WTF? Good thing there's not a recession going on...

And where is Hippolyta? They have Jack Knight, Superman-22 and robot-Hourman. Where's the JSA's Wonder Woman!!!?? Alex Ross sucks.

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I'm kinda glad that DC Comics, like comics in general, is getting away from the objectifying of women.

Oh.

Wait.

ORACLE #2 | SUPERGIRL #40
Cover by Guillem March | Cover by Joshua Middleton

Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to both these books, but come on! At least the artwork is good. It would be worse if they'd been done by sloppy amateurs, like most covers of this type are.

But, come on!

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THE FLASH: REBIRTH #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Ethan Van Sciver
On sale April 1 • 1 of 5 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Although I'm not the biggest Ethan Van Sciver fan (I'm more of an Ivan Reis guy), I'm still looking forward to this. If anyone can justify bring Barry back, it's Geoff Johns.

I'm am a little hesitant about it starting off with the death of a speedster, though. Who's it going to be? Jay Garrick, Liberty Belle, Wally West, Zoom? Will they bring Max Mercury back just to whack him? Or will it be some obscure character no one will care about?

Hmmm...

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TEEN TITANS ANNUAL 2009 #1
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Fernando Dagnino & Raul Fernandez
Cover by Andrew Robinson (altho it's signed "Eddy Barrows")
On sale April 1 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US

I like this cover, despite Cassie's lack of fashion sense. But the TEEN TITANS has been pretty much sucky lately, I'm not sure I'm excited about this crossover with VIGILANTE.

I'm more curious about the guy in the hoody:

Who is he? Why does he have a Wonder Woman emblem on his arm on the TEEN TITANS ANNUAL and what may be an oxen head or devil's head on the cover of TITANS #12?

TITANS #12 | VIGILANTE #5 | TEEN TITANS #70
Covers by Andrew Robinson

Look! There's Donna! Hi Donna! :-)

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SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPER FRIENDS VOL. 1 TP
Written by E. Nelson Bridwell and Dennis O’Neil
Art by Ric Estrada, Vince Colletta, Ramona Fradon, Bob Smith and Kurt Schaffenberger
Cover by Alex Toth
Advance-solicited; on sale May 27 • 448 pg, B&W, $9.99 US

Now this is my SUPER FRIENDS! This will rock. I wish it was going to be in color. But 448 pages for $10!? I'm so there!!

The cover credit should read "by Alex Toth and Curt Swan," since DC had Swan re-draw Superman's head to conform to their idea of what Superman's face should look like...

Whatever. Not like Alex Toth wasn't a master, or anything...

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WONDER WOMAN #31
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti & Matt Ryan
Cover by Aaron Lopresti
On sale April 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I was kinda hoping that the male Wonder Woman would have a more Wonder Woman-esque outfit. But I'm definitely not complaining about his lack of coverage.

Does that make me a hypocrite after complaining about the ORACLE and SUPERGIRL covers? :-P

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WONDER WOMAN 1:6 SCALE Deluxe Collector Figure
Advance-solicited; on sale September 16, 2009 * Collector figure * $99.99 US

Ever since DC Direct started the 1:6 figures, I've been waiting for a Wonder Woman. Waiting and dreading, truth be told. And I don't think I was wrong to dread this. I don't care for it. I really don't like the plastic molded hair. The face is so generic, doesn't say Wonder Woman to me at all. The costume is so ill fitting, she looks dumpy in it.

DC should leave Wonder Woman dolls to Mattel. At least they look good. Can I really justify spending $100 on this, when I can get a Wonder Woman Barbie that looks 100 times better for about half that? I love Wonder Woman so much, but...damn.

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WONDER WOMAN MINI NEON SIGN
15" wide x 5" high and has a base measuring approximately 5.5” in diameter.
Advance-solicited; on sale September 16, 2009 * Neon Sign * $89.99 US

I'm pretty sure I won't be spending $90 on this. It's kinda cool. But that's a lot of money to spend on something that I really have no where to display. Plus it's a lot of money that could go to other comics that'll I'd probably get more enjoyment out of.

Of course, if someone were to give it to me as a gift, I'd cherish it!! ;-)

LOL!

Out.

DC Comics Collected Editions - May thru Aug 2008

Newsarama has got the lists of upcoming DC Universe trades and collections for May/June and July/Aug 2008. Click the links for the complete lists. Here are some of the highlights of older material that's coming:

-- SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN STORES IN MAY:

JACK KIRBY’S O.M.A.C. HC

Writer: Jack Kirby
Artists: Jack Kirby, Mike Royer, D. Bruce Berry and Joe Kubert
Collects O.M.A.C. #1-8 and material from WHO’S WHO #13
$24.99, 176 pages

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: 1,050 YEARS OF THE FUTURE TP

Writers: Otto Binder, Jerry Siegel, Edmond Hamilton, Jim Shooter, Mort Weisinger, Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, Mark Waid, Tom McCraw, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artists: Al Plastino, Curt Swan, Stan Kaye, John Forte, George Klein, Mike Grell, Keith Giffen, Kurt Schaffenberger, Howard Bender, Dave Cockrum, Jim Sherman, Joe Staton, Stuart Immonen, Olivier Coipel and Andy Lanning
Collects ADVENTURE COMICS #247, 304, 312, 354 and 355, SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #212, THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #300 and #0, LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE 80-PAGE GIANT #1 and THE LEGION #3
$19.99, 224 pages

THE SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY ARCHIVES VOL. 3 HC

Writer: Joe Samachson
Artists: Arthur Cazeneuve, Louis Cazeneuve and Jon Small
Collects LEADING COMICS #9-14
$59.99, 272 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: GREEN LANTERN VOL. 3 TP

Writers: John Broome and Gardner Fox
Artists: Gil Kane, Sid Greene, Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson
Collects GREEN LANTERN #39-59
$16.99, 528 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE HAUNTED TANK VOL. 2 TP

Writers: Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert
Artists: Russ Heath, Irv Novick, Joe Kubert, Mike Sekowsky, Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, Joe Giella and Doug Wildey
Collects stories from G.I. COMBAT #120-157
$16.99, 560 pages

THE STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC

Writer: James Robinson
Artists: Tony Harris, Wade von Grawbadger, Teddy Kristiansen, Christian Højgaard, Bjarne Hansen, Kim Hagen, Matt Smith, Tommy Lee Edwards, Stuart Immonen, Chris Sprouse, Andrew Robinson, Amanda Conner and Gary Erskine.
Collects STARMAN #0-16
$49.99, 448 pages

SUPERMAN: ESCAPE FROM BIZARRO WORLD HC

Writers: Geoff Johns, Richard Donnner, Otto Binder, E. Nelson Bridwell and John Byrne
Artists: Eric Powell, Curt Swan, Stan Kaye, Wayne Boring, Eduardo Barreto, Dave Hunt, John Byrne and Dick Giordano
Collects ACTION COMICS #855-857, SUPERMAN #140, DC COMICS PRESENTS #71 and MAN OF STEEL #5
$24.99, 160 pages

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF KRYPTON TP

Writers: John Byrne, Walter Simonson, E. Nelson Bridwell, Dennis O’Neil, Cary Bates, Marv Wolfman, Neal Adams, Elliot Maggin, Paul Kupperberg, Martin Pasko and Bob Rozaki
Artists: Mike Mignola, Rick Bryant, John Byrne, Dick Giordano, Murphy Anderson, Gray Morrow, Michael Kaluta, Dave Cockrum, Dick Dillin, Marshall Rogers, Frank Springer and Gil Kane
Collects THE WORLD OF KRYPTON #1-4, material from MAN OF STEEL #1, and stories from SUPERMAN #233, 236, 238, 240, 248, 257, 265, 367 and 375 and SUPERMAN FAMILY #182
$14.99, 192 pages

-- SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN STORES IN JUNE:

THE DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES VOL. 5 HC

Writer: Arnold Drake
Artists: Bruno Premiano, Bob Brown, Jack Sparling and Joe Orlando
Collects THE DOOM PATROL #114-121
$49.99, 208 pages

THE JOKER: THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP

Writers: Bill Finger, Dave Vern, Dave Wood, John Broome, Steve Englehard, Len Wein, Paul Dini, Jeph Loeb
Artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Lew Sayre Schwartz, Dick Sprang, Charles Paris, Sheldon Moldoff, Joe Giella, Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin, Walter Simonson, Dick Giordano, Alex Ross, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Tim Sale, John Byrne, Don Kramer and Wayne Faucher
Collects BATMAN #321 and 613, BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN #4, DETECTIVE COMICS #826 and stories from BATMAN #1, 66, 73, 110, DETECTIVE COMICS #332, 475 and 476, BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE VOL. 2, and BATMAN ADVENTURES ANNUAL #4
$19.99, 192 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: BATMAN VOL. 3 TP

Writers: Garnder Fox, John Broome and Mike Friedrich
Artists: Carmine Infantino, Sheldon Moldoff, Chic Stone, Gil Kane, Sid Greene, Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson, Ross Andru, Jack Abel and Irv Novick
Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #359-375, BATMAN #189-192, 194-197 and 199-202
$16.99, 552 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE FLASH VOL. 2 TP

Writers: John Broome and Gardner Fox
Artists: Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella and Murphy Anderson
Collects THE FLASH #120-140
$16.99, 552 pages

TANGENT COMICS VOL. 3 TP

Writers: Todd Dezago, Mark Millar, Peter David, Ron Marz, Dan Jurgens, John Ostrander, James Robinson, Karl Kesel, Tom Simmons, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Artists: Paul Pelletier, Jackson Guice, Angel Unzuetta, Dusty Abell, Darryl Banks, Jan Duursema, Joe Phillips, J.H. Williams III, Mike Mayhew, Georges Jeanty, Ryan Sook, Andy Lanning, Jaime Mendoza, Dexter Vines, Norm Rapmund, Jasen Rodriguez, Mick Gray, Wade von Grawbadger, Drew Geraci and Gene Ha
Collects TANGENT COMICS: SUPERMAN, TANGENT COMICS: WONDER WOMAN, TANGENT COMICS: JOKER’S WILD, TANGENT COMICS: JLA, TANGENT COMICS: TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN, TANGENT COMICS: POWER GIRL, TANGENT COMICS: NIGHTWING, TANGENT COMICS: NIGHTFORCE, TANGENT COMICS: TRIALS OF THE FLASH
$19.99, 208 pages

-- SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN STORES IN JULY:

BATMAN: GOING SANE TP

Writers: J.M. DeMatteis, Eddie Campbell and Daren White
Artists: Joe Staton, Bart Sears and Steve Mitchell
Collects BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #65-68 and 100
$14.99, 160 pages

DIANA PRINCE: WONDER WOMAN VOL. 2 TP

Writers: Mike Sekowsky and Robert Kanigher
Artists: Mike Sekowsky, Dick Giordano, Irv Novick, Curt Swan and Neal Adams
Collects WONDER WOMAN #185-189, SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE #93 and THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #87
$19.99, 176 pages

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOL. 2 HC

Writers: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and John Ostrander
Artists: Kevin Maguire, Bill Willingham, Luke McDonnell, Al Gordon, Joe Rubinstein, Steve Leialoha, Bob Lewis, Dennis Janke, P. Craig Russell, Bill Ray, Bruce Patterson, Dick Giordano, and Robert Campanella
Collects JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #8-13, JUSTICE LEAGUE ANNUAL #1 and SUICIDE SQUAD #13
$24.99, 208 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: HAWKMAN VOL. 2 TP

Writers: Gardner Fox, Bob Haney, Arnold Drake, Dennis O’Neil and Raymond Marais
Artists: Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane, Dick Dillin, Joe Kubert, Carmine Infantino, Johnny Craig, Sid Greene, Chuck Cuidera and Joe Giella
Collects HAWKMAN #12-27, THE ATOM #31, THE ATOM AND HAWKMAN #39-45 and THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #70
$16.99, 560 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: HOUSE OF SECRETS VOL. 1 TP

Writers: Mike Friedrich, Gerry Conway, Marv Wolfman, Steve Skeates, Len Wein, Robert Kanigher, Raymond Marais, Jack Kirby, Mark Evanier, Virgil North, Sergio Aragones, Lore Shobert, John Albano, Jack Oleck and Mark Hanerfeld
Artists: Neal Adams, Jerry Grandanetti, George Roussos, Jack Sparling, Bill Draut, Frank Giacoia, Werner Roth, Vince Colletta, Dick Giordano, Dick Dillin, Gray Morrow, Alex Toth, Mike Royer, Mike Peppe, Jack Abel, Don heck, Ralph Reese, John Costanza, Gil Kane, George Tuska, Michael Kaluta, Rich Buckler, Wallace Wood, Sam Glanzman, Murphy Anderson, Bernie Wrightson, Alan Weiss, Tony DeZuniga, Jim Aparo, Sergio Aragones, Lore Shoberg, Nick Cardy, Bernard Baily, Joe Maneely, Nestor Redondo, Bill Ely, John Prentice, Ralph Mayo, José Delbo, Adolfo Buylla
Collects HOUSE OF SECRETS #81-98
$16.99, 544 pages

-- SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN STORES IN AUGUST:

JLA VOL. 1: THE DELUXE EDITION HC

Writers: Grant Morrison and Mark Millar
Artists: Howard Porter, Oscar Jimenez, Don Hillsman, John Dell, Chip Wallace, Ken Branch and Anibal Rodriguez
Collects JLA #1-9 and JLA SECRET FILES #1
$29.99, 256 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERMAN VOL. 4 TP

Writers: Edmond Hamilton, Robert Bernstein, Jerry Siegel and Leo Dorfman
Artists: Curt Swan, George Klein, Al Plastino,
Collects stories from ACTION COMICS #293-310 and SUPERMAN #157-167
$16.99, 648 pages

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE ATOM VOL. 2 TP

Writers: Gardner Fox and Frank Robbins
Artists: Gil Kane, Murphy Anderson, Sid Greene, Mike Sekowsky and George Roussos
Collects THE ATOM #18-38
$16.99, 528 pages

THE SUPERMAN CHRONICLES VOL. 5 TP

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artists: Joe Shuster, Jack Burnley, Wayne Boring, Paul Cassidy, Dom Komisarow, Fred Ray and Paul Lauretta
Collects SUPERMAN #8-9 and stories from ACTION COMICS #32-36 and WORLD’S BEST COMICS #1
$14.99, 192 pages

The Wonderful World of Mike Grell

Honestly, I cannot remember what I was doing or looking for or where I was (website wise) when I clicked on a link to Mike Grell's website, but, damn, I'm glad I did.
Here is the news:

I didn't realize that DC was using past Legion artists to do variant covers for the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" arc running in ACTION COMICS. But they are. And Grell is doing the variant cover for ACTION 671. Here's the art from his website:
The original artwork is also (as I write this, anyway) available for sale at Catskills Comics. You can also request Mike Grell commissions from Catskills.

Mike drew a four-generational Green Arrow cover for the 2007 Pittsburgh Comicon. He included Justin Hartley from Smallville. How cool is that!?

And finally: You can read an all-new JON SABLE: FREELANCE graphic novel at Comicmix.com! They have issues of older Mike Grell books (like BAR SINISTER & SHAMAN'S TEARS) online, too!

Wonder Woman 217. May 1975

On this one, I only remember the cover, really, and that's only because it ticked me off, LOL!

This was (if you check the dates) shortly after I began my love affair with Mike Grell. When I saw this comic I about freaked!!

Mike Grell drawing Wonder Woman!!!

Except that he didn't. It was just the cover. :(

This was probably were I learned the lesson, never judge a book by it's cover...

Superboy 204. October 1974

Another comic memory from 1974.

I have two distinct memories from this one. I absolutely fell in love with Mike Grell's art. And the Brainiac 5 back-up story (2 complete stories in one issue, whoda thunk?).

The artwork blew me away. Instantly I knew that this was one of my favorite artists. And his style was so distinct, that from this point on I could spot his work a mile away. I also learned how to see differences in artists' styles. I remember thinking, "I finally get it." I had always heard how people could tell DaVinci, Michaelangelo and Rembrant apart, but I could never see it. They all just looked like paintings to me. But now I got that there were difference in art styles.

And that Brainiac story. I don't know why, but it just sucked me into the Brainy/Supergirl relationship. It was just an awesome story. And kinda sad at the end. I love it to death.

I also clearly remember the lead Anti-Lad story, but it just didn't have the impact on me that Grell's art and the other story had.

I still love this issue to this day.