Top 10 New Comic Books of 2014
In this episode, I introduce our new partnership with Midtown Comics and review the top 10 comic books of 2014 so far, which include Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, Cyclops, Batman Eternal, and many more. Continue reading Top 10 New Comic Books of 2014
I Let My Pokémon Down
by Dave Lee
Pokémon is the shit on many different levels.
First of all, I don’t consider myself a true gamer in the sense that I’m looking for more of an experience and less of a challenge. Also, I don’t have time to be consumed by a game for that long of a time. I’m trying to get that run-through action similar to when you set aside those weekends to binge-watch all of Breaking Bad. Yeah, there’s post-game content, online play, and it’s definitely heads out there on a serious quest for shiny pokémon (#veryrare). But the RPG format provides that one and done feeling.
Also, the game is marketed towards a younger audience. You know what that means to me? I’m not piling on more stress on top of the stress I already face as a dude in his late 20s, still trying to find his way in the world. Just some good ol’ fashioned fun that’s easily accessible, especially for dudes who haven’t been keeping up with the new generation consoles and getting their subscriptions of Gamepro, which doesn’t even exist anymore.
Designing the Covers for Image’s Thief of Thieves
Designing comic book covers can be a challenging process especially when you’re also drawing the interiors. Since covers are done months in advance (for sales and solicitation purposes), the final script typically hasn’t been completed yet. As the artist, you have to create an image that teases the story without knowing exactly what that story is.
Usually, I’ll turn a cover design around within a day or two after I get the concept. Once approved, I’ll turn around the cover a few days after that. The biggest hurdle is stopping the process of drawing the sequential pages to shift gears and tackle the cover.
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Cosplaying While Black? The Homicide of Darrien Hunt
by Jamie Broadnax | Originally posted at Black Girl Nerds
This morning I read the link to a news article tweeted to me about Darrien Hunt, a 22-year old Black male who was gunned down by police on Wednesday September 10 by the Saratoga Springs police department. Several news outlets initially picked up the story as reported by the police and Tim Taylor, the chief deputy attorney for Utah county. His statement to the press was as follows:
When the officers made contact with Mr. Hunt, he brandished the sword and lunged toward the officers with the sword, at which time Mr. Hunt was shot.
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That Denys Cowan & Bill Sienkiewicz Shaft Cover
Yesterday, we brought you the exciting news that the top secret project David Walker has been cryptically tweeting about was none other than Dynamite Comics’ upcoming Shaft comic! To learn more about how this collaboration came about — and what you can expect from the series — check out Albert Ching’s exclusive interview with David at Comic Book Resources.
Speaking of collaborations, one of the things I’m most excited about are all the variant covers for issue #1 — especially the one by living legends Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz! After the jump, you can see the cover everyone has been raving about (featuring beautiful colors by Ivan Nunes). We’ve also attached — with Denys’ permission — a version with just the original pencils and inks as well!
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Our Own David Walker is Writing Dynamite’s Shaft
Big news from Dynamite Comics this morning! A few months ago, Dynamite — the independent comics company that specializes in comic adaptations of licensed media — announced they were doing a run based on the classic character Shaft, made famous by the 70s film franchise starring Richard Roundtree. In addition to all new comics and graphic novels, though, Dynamite also intends to republish the original novels by Ernest Tidyma.
This morning, the company announced the creative team on the books would be none other than fellow Nerd of Color David Walker with interiors by Brazilian artist Bilquis Evely! After the jump, check out the official announcement from Dynamite and a peek at the alternate covers for issue #1 (including a collabo between Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz that should probably be framed and hanging on your wall).
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Forget Aquaman, Jason Momoa Must be Shazam!
In the history of comic book superhero movies, having a casting announcement be met with near-universal praise by the fickle fanboy community is a very rare occurrence. In fact, I’m not sure it’s ever happened. From Keaton to Affleck, ScarJo to Gal Gadot, the nerd reflex is to cry foul — or at least raise a suspicious eyebrow — at Hollywood’s disrespect of comic book continuity. (And don’t even think about casting non-white actors in any of these roles). Nine times out of ten, though, fanboy condemnation — at casting, say, a “vapid pretty boy” like Chris Evans as Captain America or a “gay cowboy” like Heath Ledger as the Joker — gives way to reluctant acceptance and eventually hyperbole over how perfect these actors are in their respective roles.
A few weeks ago, though, when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson finally revealed he will be playing Black Adam in a Shazam! movie, the internet reaction was entirely positive. It probably helped that this rumored casting had been gestating for nearly a decade. But while fans were celebrating The Rock as Black Adam, I had one question: who could possibly be (physically) big enough to play Shazam1?
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It’s Show Time!
Early this morning, which was in actuality more of a continuation of late last night, I arrived at my home in Atlanta. The Crisis On Intimate Earths Tour is officially done and I could not possibly be more grateful to everybody who joined me for any part of it. You all are the reason I do this and the reason I get to do this. Thank you.
So, yesterday on twitter and facebook I mentioned that I had three super awesome announcements to make today and that is the truth. I have three things to announce. And all three of them are super awesome. So let’s get announcin’!
Robin Ha’s Banchan Comics Will Make You Hungry
Last weekend, at Baltimore Comic-Con, I had the opportunity to run in to several members of the SIUniverse fam in attendance. One of the alums I visited with was artist Robin Ha, who was exhibiting in Artist Alley for the first time. Not only was it great to catch up — however briefly — but it was also an opportunity to get a print copy of Banchan in Two Pages, a pretty cool recipe comic she’s been updating on the tumblr of the same name.
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My Chance Encounter as Captain America with a 9/11 Responder
by Vishavjit Singh | Originally posted at Medium.com
On a hot July summer day in New York City, I was working with a film crew hopping in and out of the subway in my costume as Captain America. We stepped out on one of the stops and after shooting for a few hours in Washington Square Park hopped back on the subway. That is when a couple spotted me and appeared amazed at having seen me a second time on the subway that day. The wife initiated the encounter and I sat down next to them for a few brief moments. The couple was from Arizona, and they were in town primarily to tick an item off the husband’s bucket list. To attend an Arsenal soccer match. They asked me what I doing, and I summarized the motivation of my social experiment. I stepped out on my next stop.
We finished the film shooting the next day. Two days later I received an email titled “Our chance encounter” from a sergeant in an Arizona police department. It was one of the most touching mails I have ever received.
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Read Yumi Sakugawa’s Ignatz-Nominated Never Forgets Online This Week
If you love comics and live in the Baltimore-Washington area, this is a big week. The ever-growing Baltimore Comic-Con just concluded one of its biggest shows ever, filling the downtown convention center with fans, cosplayers, and families looking to meet artists and have a generally good time. And this coming weekend, 45 minutes down I-95 in Bethesda, the Small Press Expo (SPX) will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.
A veritable who’s-who will be in attendance at the Marriott Bethesda, including Ignatz Award-nominated artist Yumi Sakugawa. In honor of SPX — and for a limited time, Yumi is letting you read her nominated minicomic Never Forgets online for free.
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Who is Arthur Chu?
Originally posted at The Huffington Post
When I first “went viral,” I was as skeptical about “why this Arthur Chu guy is even a thing” as much as anyone else, believe me. The weirdest thing about this year was seeing an explosion of media discussion of some random guy and not being able to blog about how weird and misplaced it was because for the first time I was that guy.
And the weirdest thing about that is seeing other people doing the obnoxious thing I used to do, blogging about complete strangers confidently making assessments about what they’re “about” based on the tiny slice of their life that made them YouTube famous.
MariNaomi Joins the Latest Hard N.O.C. Life
In a special one-on-one conversation, Keith talks to award-winning cartoonist MariNaomi about her recently launched Cartoonists of Color database and forthcoming graphic memoir Dragon’s Breath and Other True Stories from 2D Cloud and Uncivilized Books.
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Mystery Solved: The Rock Will Be Black Adam
For a few months now, everyone’s favorite wrestler-turned-action-movie-franchise-savior Dwayne Johnson has been hinting at his involvement in the nascent DC Cinematic Universe. A few weeks ago, he all but confirmed that movie would be Shazam though he wouldn’t confirm which part he’d play. William Evans of Black Nerd Problems speculated on what it might mean if The Rock actually played the lead hero (née Captain Marvel) in that upcoming DC movie.
Well, The Rock took to twitter this morning to reveal his role, once and for all.
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From Invisible to Inevitable: Why We Need Diverse Books
by Gene Yang
[Ed. note: Over the weekend, Gene delivered the following speech at the National Book Festival gala in Washington, DC.]
I’m a comic-book guy, so tonight I’d like to talk about another comic-book guy. Dwayne McDuffie was one of my favorite writers. When I was growing up, he was one of the few African Americans working in American comics. Dwayne worked primarily within the superhero genre. He got his start at Marvel Comics but eventually worked for almost every comic book publisher out there. He even branched out into television and wrote for popular cartoon series like Justice League and Ben 10.
Dwayne McDuffie is no longer with us, unfortunately. He passed away in 2011, at the age of 49. But within comics, his influence is still deeply felt.
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The Cartoonists of Color Database is Now Live
A few weeks back, we mentioned that cartoonist MariNaomi was in the midst of creating a database of cartoonists of color. As of today, that database has not only been created, but it’s now live and available here!
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SkyBlew Pays Homage to Nickelodeon’s Hey Arnold!
“The Ballad of Pigeon Man” — featuring D&D Sluggers and produced by SublimeCloud of The Digi Destined — is the latest single from North Carolina-based emcee SkyBlew. The song pays homage to the classic Nickelodeon cartoon Hey Arnold!, a show that had a major impact on SkyBlew’s life and serves as the main subject of his latest album.
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Ghostbusters is Back and Ready to Believe You
It’s no secret that we’re huge Ghostbusters fans here at the N.O.C. It’s hard to believe that it’s been three decades since the movie first hit theaters. And to celebrate the occasion — and allow the kids who never got the chance to experience ghostbusting on the big screen, Sony Pictures is re-releasing the film in over 700 theaters across the country.
So before you fire up the Ecto-1 and head to your closest multiplex, here are some places to visit online to get you pumped for the flick.
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Why So Serious? Of Course DC has a “No Jokes” Policy
Earlier in the week, Drew McWeeny at HitFix sent the internet into a tizzy when he reported that Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment had mandated a strict “no jokes” policy for their entire slate of upcoming superhero movies. As per usual, much handwringing ensued, followed by several reports debunking the original one.
Whether that no joking policy was true or not is irrelevant. The mere fact that so many people believed it in the first place shows just how different and far apart DC and Marvel are in their approaches to superheroes. For decades, DC has embraced grimdark — in both their comics and their movies — to their benefit as well as their detriment.
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It’s Dangerous to Go Alone: Why Are Gamers So Angry?
Originally posted at The Daily Beast
Okay, gamers, let’s have a talk.
First of all, my cred — rest assured I am one of your tribe. I have saved the princess, I have united the Triforce, I have shot rockets into the giant goat skull to blow up John Romero’s head. There is documentary evidence that I proposed to my wife at a video game convention where she had to beat the final boss from Sonic 3 & Knuckles before I would marry her.
So no, I’m definitely not one of the fake gamer girls you fear and loathe so much, especially since I’m not a girl. So when I tell you you’re being misogynist losers who are making us all look bad, maybe you’ll listen.
Probably not, though.
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Hello Kitty, Not Actually a Kitty — Or Asian
In a stunning development, it has been revealed that Hello Kitty, Sanrio’s iconic — and forever mouthless — character is not, and has never been, an actual cat. How is that possible, you ask? Beats me.
The Los Angeles Times broke the news today — in advance of a special exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo — in an interview with noted Hello Kitty scholar Christine R. Yano:
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Donald Glover is Finally Spider-Man
It may have taken four years, but the internet’s “Donald Glover for Spider-Man” campaign has finally found success. No, Avi Arad and the folks at Sony have not changed their minds about bringing a black Spidey to the big screen. Instead, Donald Glover has been cast to voice the hero in an upcoming episode in the new season of DisneyXD’s Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors.
Days of Future Ferguson
Originally posted on Silva Culture
I finally saw X-Men: Days of Future Past at our local close-to-DVD-release cheap theater that we South Minneapolitans all love, The Riverview. I loved it. I knew a few of the main comics discrepancies beforehand, but they didn’t bother me. It was gripping, the effects were sick, and I for me personally, I’m not sure there’s a limit to great acting performances once Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender hit the screen in damn near everything they do. All of that said, once I was waiting for the credits and the usual Marvel post-flick teaser, I started thinking about something else: Ferguson, MO.