Archive for December 5th, 2006

Delays Ahead for newuniversal?

Dec 5th, 2006 Posted in Pop Culture | Comments

Newsarama’s interview with newuniversal artist Salvador Larroca suggests it might be yet another high-profile series Marvel is unable to ship on time:

NRAMA: Could you tell us what was your first impression when you read newuniversal script?

SLR: I loved it. It was water clear that Warren Ellis would write a solid script, but I really got impressed with the visual strength of his writing: I could really see the movie inside the story and drawing it was not only easy but a real pleasure. After more than 14 years in the comic industry, the script got me so impressed that I regained illusions that I thought that were irredeemably lost. I began to draw more that twelve hours a day and I only left my studio to eat and sleep – to my wife’s despair.

NRAMA: How many hours do you work on an average day?

SLR: I do not have an average day! I think more in terms of weekly production, if I have a quite complicated page, I combine it with another simpler and this way I draw two pages a day. On a project like newuniversal that means 14 hours a day and some hours on weekend.

When I am not so interested on the story, I tend to work less and take time to play tennis and other sports. Right now I have relaxed a little bit because poor Warren cannot provide me the scripts as fast as I would like to – he is a busy guy and has some other projects on his schedule. That’s why I am here at Getxo Comic Con enjoying delicious Basque food, visiting the Guggenheim Museum (much more impressive building than the New York one, guys!) and talking with good old friends. It is not so usual that I got so interested on a script and you can blame on Warren’s high quality stuff because I cannot wait to read what happens next.

I wonder if it’s the revamped Thunderbolts that’s thrown Ellis off schedule? Certainly isn’t Fell!

It’s interesting when it turns out to be the writer falling behind schedule as opposed to the artist, and in light of the hubbub surrounding Civil War’s latest delay and the interesting story behind Emissary’s creative switcheroo over at Shadowline, you have to wonder how any comics make it out on time.

What exactly does a comic book editor do again?

PS: Larroca’s admission that he doesn’t work as hard on stories he’s not personally all that interested in is both refreshingly honest and astoundingly unprofessional. Makes you wonder if Steve McNiven’s delays really stem from his being bored with Millar’s wack-ass story?

On the Shelves: 12/6/06

Dec 5th, 2006 Posted in Pop Culture | Comments

Reading is fundamental. Don’t waste your time reading bad comics out of habit!

My weekly, semi-informed look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 12/6/06 follows. The full shipping is list available at ComicList.

[NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com]

PICK OF THE WEEK
Robotika HC

Robotika (HC)
ARCANA STUDIO
Ezra Evoked Emotions #2 (Of 3), $3.95

I missed the first issue of this new mini and didn’t see it on the shelves at Midtown last week, so I might have to wait for the trade. Hopefully it lives up to the promise of the first installment.

ARCHAIA STUDIOS PRESS
Mouse Guard 3rd Ptg #3 (Of 6), $3.50
Robotika HC, $19.95

Yet another chance to catch Mouse Guard without paying through the nose for a first printing. If you haven’t been reading it yet, you’re missing out on one of sure-shot Best of 2006 titles. *** Robotika is one of those singular visions that generally evoke extreme reactions of love, hate or appreciative bewilderment. After not feeling the first issue, Sheikman sent me the second issue, asking me to give it another shot, and I did and ended up enjoying the full story, which I think will work much better in collected form. Archaia is one of a handful of publishers who have carved a signature niche for themselves in my brain and from whom I will check out anything they deem worthy of publishing.

COMPASS BOOKS
Wisdom From The Batcave How To Live Super Heroic Life TPB, $13.95

No idea what this one is, but I generally enjoy these types of books, and loved The Batman Handbook, so I’ll give it a flip-through if I come across it.

DARK HORSE COMICS
Conan Book Of Thoth TPB, $17.95

Yet another entertaining Conan spinoff, Dark Horse has been doing right by the license the past few years.

DC COMICS
Batman Confidential #1, $2.99
Detective Comics #826, $2.99
Jonah Hex #14, $2.99
Justice Society Of America #1, $3.99

Andy Diggle + Batman = WINNER! With Grant Morrison on a break from the main series, there’s now four Batman titles on my pull list, the most since pre-War Games. *** Jonah Hex’s two-part origin story concludes this issue and I sincerely hope that part of Palmiotti/Gray’s exclusive deal with DC included a clause that the series would continue as long as they wanted to write it. *** I’m seriously on the fence about Justice Society Of America #1, the enthusiasm I had for it months ago pretty much sapped by the current state of the DCU. Batman aside, I think I’m staying on the fringes as much as possible when it comes to their titles.

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
GI Joe Americas Elite #18, $2.95

The Baroness is about to kick some ass.

IMAGE COMICS
Cowboys & Aliens TPB, $4.99
Cross Bronx #4 (Of 4), $2.99
Meltdown #1 (Of 2), $5.99

There’s apparently a free edition of Cowboys & Aliens available, commemorating Platinum Studios’ first print product, with two writers I like, Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley, onboard, so I’ll be checking it out purely out of curiousity. *** Cross Bronx fell victim to my hiatus so I’ll be checking out the TPB when it comes out. The first issue was solid and intriguing, so hopefully Brandon and Oeming don’t let me down. *** Meltdown is Sean (Runners) Wang’s latest project, an intriguing look at a dying superhero’s literal and metaphorical meltdown, and the preview of the first issue I read was pretty good. (Yet another hiatus victim on the review side of things. Sorry, Sean!)

MARVEL COMICS
Essential Defenders Vol 2 TPB, $16.99
Incredible Hulk #101, $2.99
Newuniversal #1, $2.99
Spider-Man And Power Pack #2 (Of 4), $2.99

Any volume of Essential Defenders is definitely essential reading! *** The “Planet Hulk” saga continues its entertaining run, which unfortunately brings the series ever closer to returning to the MU-proper and the World War Hulk event I’m not terribly looking forward to. *** I’d be more interested in newuniversal if I believed Warren Ellis was going to stick with it for more than 12 issues. (Assuming it’s an ongoing…?) *** Yay, Power Pack!

NETCOMICS
Lets Be Perverts Vol 1 GN (Of 4), $9.99

Um…what?!?!