Comixology for November

Lately I've been cutting down on my weekly comic book buying. With so many comics moving up to the $3.99 price point I've just become really vigilant about what I'm picking up. I've dropped quite a few books from the Big 2 and looking at my pull list for this month I don't seem to be getting any indy books. As a creator I really try to promote, push and purchase books from the other publishers. I guess November must be a fluke. I'll certainly try a little harder in December.

Thwipster

Just wanted to do a quick post praising this great website to get comic book trades and collectibles. I use Thwipster all the time. They have a daily email that goes out showing what the items for sale that day or week are. And these are at insane discounts of up to 80%. Today I ordered a few Marvel Masterworks at 70% off of cover price. So please go by and check them out and sign up for the emails. You'll love it.

Captain America Movie promo poster

I've been busy working on more scripts related to The Venger: Dead Man Rising. I'm really pushing to get the Special done soon. I'm going to be posting some more inked pages from the Deadly Beginning story in a couple of days so please check back or subscribe to the blog to get the updates.

Today Marvel released pictures of the promo posters they will be handing out at the San Diego Comic Con. They have two, one for Thor and one for Captain America. I had posted the first look we got at the movie uniform they are using for Cap. I actually really like it. The posters they are giving out are based on movie concept art. I've posted the Cap one below. Looks great to me; hope the movie looks this good.

Captain America: First Avenger concept art

Captain America movie costume

The last couple of days there has been a lot of rumor talk regarding the costume Chris Evans will be wearing in Marvel's Captain America: First Avenger movie that will be filming later this summer I believe. For months the bloggers have gone back and forth on what should and would the uniform he wears look like with alot of it focused on what looks good on film might not be the same as the comic. I love the character of Captain America. But I'm more of a realist and not a purist. I realize that what we see in the comic books every month just won't work in a motion picture. Remember that low budget Matt Salinger movie?

Well it seems that finally some of the concept art Marvel Studios is using to develop the uniform has been leaked. Check out Aintitcool.com for a look at all FOUR images. I have to say I approve. They look close to a combination of the designs Bryan Hitch did for 'The Ultimates' and 'Captain America Reborn'. They look realistic and purposeful and close to something that might be from WWII. And folks need to remember we will probably get another uniform for the Avengers movie too and that might be a little closer to his classic look.

costume design from the Captain America movie

Cap is Back!

I have been loving the Captain America: Reborn series so far. Brubaker and Hitch are doing excellent work. It's been a slow build up to Steve's return but we still have a couple more issues to go. But Marvel has solicited this one-shot follow up to the series- Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield?. This will be written by Brubaker and with art by Butch Guice who is going solo after working with Hitchy on Reborn. I am so eager to get this. Like almost everyone I have been enjoying Bucky's turn as Cap and I feel confident in Bru to keep true to the characters and story. I know he has something planned for Bucky. Anyway, can't wait for the book.

Marvel Motion Comics

Not sure if this is my idea of the future of comics but I always find it interesting when somebody tried something different. This time its Marvel with Bendis and Maleev's long awaited Spider-Woman series. The kicker here is that it will be available first as a motion comic and then shortly thereafter be distributed in print. Now I am not sure if I would want to consistently follow a series in this format. I could see developing preview trailers or something else. But there does seem to be interest so good for Marvel for trying.

A Whole New World

Everyone is talking about the big surprise news of the Disney Co. buying Marvel for $4 billion. And this certainly is a historic day in the industry. Now everyone is wondering what will be the new reality in the comci book world.

My opinion is that everything will be the same for quite some time. The details of the merger show an expected timeline of the end of the year for the buyout to take place. After that there will be an evaluation period where Disney will decide how it wants to play with their new toys. But I just don't seriously see them messing with content at all. The expected relationship is supposed to be similar to the Disney/Pixar one- very hands off. Disney also is involved in film companies and networks like ABC and ESPN and there they also don't dictate content. And sadly another reason is because I don't think the deal was ever about the comics; its about the 'intellectual properties'.

Nowhere in the official press release or in the investor conference call or in any follow up comment has there been any mention of publishing- only the characters, movies and increasing exposure. You could take it to mean they want to mine Marvel for viable properties but that would be taking a very draconian stance.

I'm sure it is somewhere in the middle. Exactly how this plays out will indeed take some time. I'm hoping this does lead to more 'comic book' exposure and not just 'character' exposure and that we will see comics and trades popping up in Disney stores and the parks and brings the industry a little bit of new life.

Captain America: Reborn Prelude at Marvel.com

Marvel has put up a an all new/original prelude to tomorrow's Captain America: Reborn. The story is by the Cap team of Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross. Check it out. Continuity-wise I think it happens right before Cap #600.

Captain America: Reborn

It's no secret to folks that know me that Captain America- Steve Rogers- is my favorite comic book hero. Has been since I was a kid. And I have been loving what Ed Brubaker has been doing on the book since day 1. Even loved the death stuff- only because I knew that they would bring him back someday. Well that day will soon be here because Marvel has confirmed that Steve will be coming back in Captain America: Reborn, by Brubaker, Bryan Hitch and Butch Guice. I can't wait bevause I know it will be good and will all make sense, that it wasn't just a shoe-horned in resurrection for the corporate suits. I am also hoping that Hitch can pull this off. But regardless, it is great news indeed.