Issue in 5 - Daredevil 6

Want to know what happens in Daredevil #6 but don't want to read the whole thing? Well here it is, summarised in just 5 of the comic's pages! Matt Murdock has been working on a case where a blind employee is fired from a big corporation for overhearing something he shouldn't have. The corporation is Evil. Daredevil is on the job...

Issue in 5 - X-Men Legacy 259

Want to know what happens in X-Men Legacy #259 but don't want to read the whole thing? Well here it is, summarised in just 5 of the comic's pages! The Starjammers are finally back on earth, but they arrive to find the x-men spilt. Rogue is having a hard time figuring out which side she wants to be on...

Creator Roundup

This week, Dan Hipp goes were the wild things are, Charles Soule gives free advice, Jo Chen paints a giant axe, Peter David stands up for nerd rights, Becky Cloonan and Brian Wood tease Conan, Jim Rugg sells some girl on girl, Peter Nguyen paints a red, conical bra, Alan Moore speaks, which is always good, Dave Johnson Does not Jest, Sara Pichelli listens to Karma Police, Cameron Stewart is not just an artist, and Ben Templesmith defaces classic literature.

Wednesday Reviews - Pilot Season: Theory of Everything

I love the idea of Pilot Season – put out the first issue of a bunch of new series and let the readers decide which one stays. Theory of Everything by Dan Casey and Thomas Nachlik is a good entry, especially if you like intelligent science fiction.

Wednesday Reviews - Savage Dragon 176

When I went to school, you were teased for wearing the wrong hat, or having red hair. Imagine what school would be like if you were green, had a fin on your head and a disproportionately large upper body? Issue 176 was a great issue of Savage Dragon. Malcolm has a run in with the self-proclaimed ‘king of the school’, as well as his father’s arch nemesis!

Oz & Tim's Weekly Picks

There's no new 52 books this week, so Oz’s pull list is… a tad on the small side. Tim still manages to rustle up a bunch of great books and trades, though.

Nerdy Gear - Things From Another World

The black friday sale at Things From Another World has only one day to go, so get in a grab your bargain! On top of the huge amount of comics and graphic novels they have reduced to 80% off, they also have a bunch of toys, collectibles, statues and apparel at amazing prices. Check out some fine nerdy gear after the jump.

DC one of America's Hottest Brands

Advertising Age has recognised DC comics as one of America's hottest brands. With the DC New 52 Initiative, their movie franchises and all the merchandise that goes with them, DC have cemented their place in current popular culture. Brian Steinberg reports "DC began parceling out news of its characters to as many niche and mainstream publications as showed interest. It also tapped into a technique that comic-book publishers rarely embrace -- actual paid video commercials.

Enter the Hero

Enter The Hero is 135 pages of full color graphic novel by Michael Heitkemper and Simon Butler that will keep you guessing till the end. Coming soon to Arcana Comics, I had the opportunity to interview the author and first time graphic novelist Michael Heitkemper about the project.

Welcome to Comic Book Nerds are Hot, Michael! You're putting the finishing touches on your new book Enter the Hero. What's it about?
First off, thanks so much for the interview.  Now, Enter The Hero is the tale of an unusual super hero whose powers, motives, and even his identity is a secret to everyone, including the reader.  The story revolves around many different characters whose lives unbeknownst to them are in some way connected to the Hero's secrets.  Meanwhile, a mysterious villain is stealthily attacking the city, and the only way for the Hero to stop him is to reveal his secrets.

Madman 20th Anniversary Monster!

From Image: This December, 20 years after Michael Allred's independent comics icon was introduced to the world, a celebration of all things Madman will take the form of a gigantic 11 x 17 hardcover! The MADMAN 20TH ANNIVERSARY MONSTER HC will include an all-new MADMAN story from Allred, as well as contributions from an impressive list of industry giants. Twenty years on, Madman still holds the same appeal with fans, and with his creator, more than ever. "In my new story I was inspired to take Frank "Madman" Einstein on an adventure that took him on retrospective time trip, an inter-dimentional detour, a jungle excursion, and a kind of faux-family therapy exchange. I pulled out all stops," Allred said. "We're making sure that everyone will be getting some serious bang for their buck!"

Visual Recap - The Walking Dead 2.07

We Recap this week’s episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead in pictures. It’s episode 2.07 - Pretty Much Dead Already and everything finally comes to ahead...

Comics and Fashion

Kevin Ward is a designer who mixes fashion with characters, his blog incorporates fun comic book style with a high fashion sensibility. I've fallen partially in love with him just based on his art work, but he seems like a nice guy as well. This San Francisco based designer has turned some of the biggest names in comic book characters (some that even a complete moron when it comes to comics will recognize), into fashion icons by creating fashion paintings based on those characters.

Top 5 - Non-Powered Superheroes

This week, we count down the top 5 non-powered Superheroes, as voted by members of the facebook group. 

The rules stated that the hero must be a good guy, wear a costume and be a regular human being. no powers, no enhancements, just awesome skill.

As always, the very nature of lists means that absolutely no one will agree with it, but feel free to voice your opinions in the comments.
see the list Here.

Talking Trades - Local

I’ve found that as my taste in comics has matured, I’ve stopped following titles and characters and began following creators. This opened up a whole new world of amazing comics for me, and the guy at the top of the list is Brian Wood.

It began with Demo, and progressed onto everything he’s ever written. I’ll admit it. I’m a Brian Wood fanboy. But of all the amazing stories he’s done - Demo, Northlanders, DMZ, the Couriers – It’s Local that sits at the top as my favourite. Mostly because of the amazing story it tells, but partly because of Ryan Kelly’s beautiful art and partly because of the gorgeous oversized, cloth bound hardcover it comes collected in.

On the Cover - Jonathan Luna

This week in On the Cover we look at the amazingly talented Jonathan Luna. The Luna Brothers are first and foremost storytellers, and Jonathan's interior art reflects that. He is not flashy, just a good, solid story teller - an amazing sequential image artist. Jonathan Luna’s covers reflect that talent for storytelling, and he embodies the old adage ‘a picture tells a thousand words’. Hit Read More... for some examples!

Oz's 2-Cent Reviews

This week, Oz reviews Flash #3, Annihilators: Earthfall #3, Green Lantern New Guardians #3, Wolverine & the X-Men #2 and Justice League: Dark #3.

Issue in 5 - Wolverine & the X-Men 2

Welcome to issue 5, were we reduce a comic book back to 5 pages! This week we look at Wolverine and the X-Men #2. Basically the Hellfire Club do their evil child thing and try to destroy the school. The issue had some great moments, but overall felt a little flat. So here we go - W&TXM 2: the best bits!

Fantastic Four #600 - Review

Issue 600 - and how could one fathom topping that miraculously drawn issue where Johnny died as depicted by the amazing Steve Epting?

Well Hickman did just that. He topped and connected everything together in fine fashion and form. Of course, it is a let-down how Marvel lies about death, as seen with Thor and Bucky again in FEAR, but while Johnny did die...he returns...and returns. It's Gladiator redux here but what makes it work is the brilliant Carmine Giandomenico artwork and a concoction that sets Storm in a light rarely seen while still keeping his wholesome daredevil integrity intact. Annihilus is also smartly done in a plot that ties in nicely to the alternative Reed Richards' collective where Doom factors in.

Palmiotti Creates Crustacean Nightmare

Jonah Hex co-creator Jimmy Palmiotti goes solo for his new creator owned graphic novel Queen Crab! Queen Crab is “a distinctly off-kilter story of one woman's life as it transforms from hopeless monotony... to crustacean nightmare! “

Artiz Eiguren provides art, and Palmiotti says "For me, getting someone with the right skills for the job was mission number one and when I was introduced to Artiz’s work. I felt it was the perfect style to capture the emotional beats, the storytelling I was looking for, and a style of drawing that we don’t see very often in American comics."

We love Jimmy Palmiotti here at CBNAH, and look forward to Februrary 1st when we can get our hands on this 64-page hardcover from Image Comics.

Axe Cop Vol 3

Dark Horse announced today that Axe Cop vol. 3 is scheduled to be released in March next year! A creative collaboration by superstar six year old Malachai Nicolle and his Eisner Award nominated 30 year old brother Ethan, Axe Cop became an internet Phenomenon.

The Trade collects 8 Axe Cop stories, as well as the Axe Cop/Dr McNinja crossover.

Creator Roundup

This week Dan Hipp solemnly swears he’s up to no good, Mark Waid talks about Marcos Martin, Dave Johnson gets the ink out, Charles Soule talks about being helpful, Becky Cloonan goes vampire, Eduardo Risso talks about Brian Azzarello, Chrissie Zullo captures dualism, Christos Gage writes angsty teens and Peter Nguyen graws a seascape.

Nerdy Gear - Might Fine Tees

T-Shirt company Mighty Fine have just released some amazingly nerdy shirts in women's sizes. The include X-Men, Scott Pilgrim, Futurama, Star Trek, Adventure Time and other great franchises. Chech out there full range here, and enjoy my personal favourite below!

(Comics Alliance)

NBC Orders Booster Gold Pilot

The Hollywood Reporter reports that the the Syfy cable network wants a script written for an hour long Booster Gold pilot. Greg Berlanti, who worked on Green Lantern, is down as an executive producer, while Andrew Kreisberg will write the script.

Booster Gold appeared in the final series of the hit TV show Smallville, so perhaps Syfy feel they can feed of that success, as well as the current trend towards comics in visual media.

X-Factor 229 Cover

After Peter David was quite vocal about their being a death in X-Factor 227, readers were dissapointed to find out that none of the deaths (there were 4) actually meant anything at all. With the release of the cover for issue 229, one must ask - is Peter David poking fun of himself with this one?

Nice one, PAD.

The Governor Rises to a Deluxe Treatment

The Walking Dead prose novel, Rise of the Governor, is getting deluxe edition. The book will be a leatherbound hardcover with a special slipcase, and will retail at US$74.99, with s limited signed and numbered edition for US$124.99.

Series creator and co-author (along with Jay Bonansinga) Robert Kirkman said "Many have asked my whether I will ever write a prequel about the lives the characters lead before. Well, that's basically what we're doing with these novels. And we wanted to offer the fans a special edition before the holidays."

The deluxe edition will feature spot illustrations by Charlie Adlard and will be available from December 7.

Week of 23/11 - Oz and Tim's Picks

This week Oz picked up 5 books:
The Flash 3
Green Lantern: New Guardians 3
Justice League Dark 3
Annihilators: Earthfall 3
Wolverine and The X-Men 2

Tim sticks to his 12:

27 second set 3 – Because It’s a book about the magic of music.
All Star Western 3 – Because I really want this book to be good.
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Russia 3 – Because the Mignolaverse is awesome.
Captain America and Bucky 624 – Because it’s Brubaker and Samnee.
Daken 17 – Because THE RUNAWAYS!
Dark Horse Presents 6 – Because it’s got a new beasts of Burden story! And a new Fabio Moon story!
DMZ 71 – Because it’s the penultimate issue
Hellblazer 285 – Because it’s a story about a festy old trench coat that just happens to be magical

Invincible 85 – Because Corey Walker is doing the art
Locke & Key – Guide to known Keys – because I’ve lost track of them all
Unwritten 31.5 – Because Tommy has to beat the bad guys sooner or later. Doesn’t he?
Wolverine and the X-Men 2 – Because Issue one was solid enough for another go.

Cover Art 101 with Dave Johnson

I

came across this over at Comics Alliance: The celebrated cover artist of 100 Bullets, PunisherMAX, Detective Comics and many, many more great series, Dave Johnson knows what he's talking about when it comes to creating great comic book cover illustrations. Followers of Johnson's Twitter feed have been treated recently to the artist's variously provocative and fascinating insights into what he thinks makes or breaks a fine piece of cover art, showcasing with visual aids some "wins" and "fails" of the week's new comics. Response has been such that Johnson's actually created a new blog where he intends to go more in-depth, and in some cases has already edited some covers to demonstrate his points. The blog has only a couple of posts so far, but you can check out a helpful compilation of Johnson's previous Twitter activity after the cut. Read the rest at Comics Alliance.

5 New B.P.R.D. Series in 2012

Dark Horse has announced 5 new B.P.R.D. titles to be release next year:

February - B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi, with James Harren on art;
March - B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Pickens County Horror by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, art by Jason Latour;
May - B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Transformation of JH O’Donnell by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, art by Max Fiumara;
May - B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Devil’s Engine by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi, with Tyler Crook on art;
June - B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Exorcism by Mike Mignola and Cameron Stewart.

Mike Mignola is amazing. What a year!

The Graphic Word 9

I review a bunch of comics, including Rachel Rising 3, Batwoman 3, X-Factor 227, Morning Glories 14, Severed 4 and trades Daytripper and CBGB.

Visual Recap - Walking Dead 2.06

Oz Recaps this week’s episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead. It’s episode 2.06 - Secrets. Nothing much happens. Oz will show you.

Visual Recap - Misfits 3.04

Oz isn’t really enjoying Misfits this season, but he’s the man, so he’ll take one for the team and recap it anyway. “I’m only reviewing this episode because it was requested a lot.  Hopefully, you won't notice my pessimism towards it.  Here we go.”

Terry Moore on CBR TV

We’re fans of Terry Moore here at CBNAH, and the indie legend sat down to chat with CBR at NYCC about making a living in comics, doing mainstream work and being a bit of a perv.

Adventure Time Comic Coming in February

Popular Frederator studios cartoon Adventure Time is getting it’s own series from Boom! Studios’ all-ages imprint, Kaboom. Ryan North will be writing it, and Shelli Paroline will provide art. Can you spell excited?

Visual Recap - Young Justice 1.18

It took a while to register, but this week's episode actually hails from a previous story-arc of the YOUNG JUSTICE comic. Obviously a touch re-imagined for the animation, but it's written by Peter David who scribed the original YJ comic through its entirety. I'm a huge fan of David so this episode was a treat. It contains his patented sharp dialogue and break-neck speed action sequences that I love so much. But enough of me telling you, let me show you.

Visual Recap - Thundercats 1.12

Oz takes us through this week’s episode of Thundercats, entitled Into the Astral Plane. Click Read More... for the recap and visit Oz’s blog - 4 Color Crack.

Katchoo, Princess of Mars!

Here’s some more Strangers in Paradise cosplay for you care of the amazing Terry Moore. You’re welcome.

Comic to Movie - Batman Redux

Paul Dini? David Goyer? No more Nolans.

Who will helm the franchise when Nolan ends it with Bane? This reality shtick was nice while it lasted. Nolan didn't target teens, else he'd make the suit with twilight nipples...he went after adults...it's dark and dreary.

Talking Trades - Phonogram

For the next 13 weeks, I’ll be counting down my 13 favourite comic series or graphic novels of all time. This week, & coming in at number 13, is Phonogram by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie.

For music lovers, songs have always held a certain amount of power. They have the ability to move us– physically, emotionally and spiritually. Some songs take us away into fantasy, some have the ability to ground us in reality. What if we could take that raw power that music holds and channel it into magic? This is exactly what Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie manage to accomplish in Phonogram.

On the Cover - Juan Doe

This week in On the Cover we showcase the work of amazingly talented artist Juan Doe. His use of non-organic lines and sharp, stylistic imagery is heavily influenced by communist propaganda. Doe’s composition is always flawless, and the depth and texture in each of his covers are breathtaking. Check out some of his work by hitting Read More!

Oz's 2-Cent Reviews

This week, Oz reviews X-Factor #227, Red Hood & The Outlaws #3, New Mutants #34, Justice League #3, Green Lantern Corps #3, X-Men #21, Legion of Super-Heroes #3, Generation Hope #13 & Wonder Woman #3.

Renaldo's Reviews - Avengers, Justice League, Severed

Avengers 19 –
No to the last page. To me it defies and defiles the purpose of the duplicity that lies behind the new Dark Avengers. I really don’t know what goes through Bendis’ mind at times. Then again, this issue is compounded with a bunch of quippy one-liners and sexual tension, you’d think Peter Parker ran though everyone’s veins. Funnily, he and Logan barely get screen time. Bendis loses his handle on how he wrote Stark and Rogers, and the grasp of a returning ex-teammate doesn’t shine as much as I thought it would. It seemed robotic too much, pun intended. The roster is uninteresting and Steve, out of character, goes about this in a very go-lucky yet haphazard manner. Such an issue is one of rebuilding, rehashing and pure poignant themes. It’s pertinent and telling…or at least it should be. Bendis makes it shambolic and a bit too humorous for me. Acuna’s art barely passes but only because there aren’t any real action scenes. What irks me is that Jess Drew and Noh-Varr keep serving no purpose. The one bright spot is focused on Daisy Johnson, who is back with Bendis, after loan to Hickman…and she knocks the issue out the park. She steals the spotlight and despite that stammering final page, I’m coming back to see Bendis write her…she’s the only he seems to be in sync with!
 

Justice League 03 –
Lee’s art is ever improving by the issue and here, he cuts loose with some wonderfully spread panels of unbridled action and chaos. It’s filled with charisma and enthusiasm but Williams on inks and the colouring team, need be praised. They are making Lee’s stuff gleam. That aside, Johns doesn’t turn out a great script…actually, wait…the script is decent but his dialogue, one-liners, oogling over Diana are a bit cheesy and lax. He takes a powerful team and adds too much nonchalance in. Diana, a la Marvel’s Herc, is well written as is Steve Trevor, but the heroes really lack a voice…it seems they just spew what the average fanboy seems to think. Johns doesn’t grab with this issue but at least the action points to a certain rising villain, who literally ascends and teases his presence. While the Cyborg arc seems too forced and sketchy, the manner the team assembles is thought out and crafted nicely. Planning is good and the execution not too bad…but by Johns’ high standards, more is expected. His work is dwindling since BRIGHTEST DAY ended but I’m inclined to return as the villain rears his head, along with one of the cheesiest written final pages ever…but the role it plays in the story…is spot on. Overall, this issue fits nicely but really…Johns needs to step up a bit more.
 

Severed 1-4 –
Tuft and Snyder…craft an early 1900s tale of friendship, subtle romance, paternal losses…over a curtain of hidden gore and an eerie calm of cannibalism…so well…that it really takes you back to a time when you loved Stephen King. The art of Attila Funaki is so smooth and segues amazingly with the tale strewn by the creators about Jack, a young runaway searching for his long-lost father, while taking in a friend, Sam, leading to a journey with a monster that devours children for fun. It’s basic a story but the machinations here, while simple, offer an uneasy feel of horror and impending doom basis the innocence and naivety of youth. This theme is played on perfectly as the monster stands licking teeth and waiting. It’s not dark and broody and gory…but it’s full of precise tact and embeds itself nicely onto the main issue of trust. Who do you trust? New friends or new strangers? This book is calm yet it gets a pulse racing because there’s always an unsettling worry with the antagonist lurking nearby. It is what a horror story needs to be…well paced and keeping you on the edge of the pages…flipping with anxiety and unsuspecting nerves. Few curve balls have been thrown here but there was a particular demise that to me reeks of a special twist that I didn’t see coming. I guess the book didn’t hold back as much as I thought it would…and that, by no stretch of the imagination, is no bad thing. Pick this up and when issue 5 hits, expect fireworks…or blood…a lot of!

Issue in 5: X-Factor 227

This week on issue in five we look at X-Factor 227. Peter David had been advertising a major death in this issue, and while we got one (more than one, actually) it was kind of weird. Weird, but awesome! check it out with the read more button!

Joss Whedon's Vision for Avengers

Yesterday, I was privy to see the Avengers trailer, not for the first time, in my Trinidadian cinema, Palladium – more vintage a cinema than anything else.

No one got the nerdgasm much but they liked the action and unbridled grit displayed in the trailer. What worked for me was the NIN theme song…if you don’t know the fragility of it…GTFO.
I haven’t been a fan of Whedon for some time now. Dollhouse, his recent Buffy/Angel comics, as well as his run-in to end those particular series, left a lot to be desired to me. While he draws my ire, many seem to take to him as the director of Avengers. Now, I hated his Astonishing X-Men run, as reviving Colossus, rejuvenating the Pryde romance…only to lampoon her in space…reeked of failure to me. That Ord plot, woefully followed by Matt Fraction recently, was not cohesive and interesting to me, and Whedon didn’t win me over on Runaways, which I already had high standards set based on Brian Vaughn’s propensity to kick the proverbial ass on that book.

Marvel Cancels X-23, Ghost Rider and Others

Marvel seems to be on a cost cutting rampage, first downsizing staff, and now cancelling books. It seems a slew of marvel Books are getting the Axe:

- X-23 will be canceled at issue 20;
- Ghost Rider’s getting the chop, which means Marvel’s 2 books with lead female characters are gone;
- Black Panther: Man Without Fear is ending with issue 529;
- Villains for Hire has been downsized an issue;
- PunisherMAX is also ending but jason Aaron has said that it’s not getting cancelled, just ending.

Creator Roundup

This week Dan Hipp draws Travolta, Nick Spencer talks about his guidance councillor, Jeff Lemire rejoices over a lost dog, Charles Soule discusses process, JH Williams III flogs a bit of art, Jason Aaron shows off his mightily impressive beard, Peter David pens a bill of rights, Jim Rugg does OC Weekly, Dave Johnson draws a rabbit, Frank Miller opens his mouth, Brandon Graham confirms the rumours and Skottie Young draws Wormwood.

Week of 16/11 - Oz and Tim's Picks

Oz has a big week, introducing a few more x-titles:
Green Lantern Corps 3
Justice League 3
Red Hood and the Outlaws 3
Legion of Super Heroes 3
Wonder Woman 3
Generation Hope 13
New Mutants 34

X-Factor 227
X-Men 21

Tim’s picks are surprisingly Marvel heavy:
Amazing Spider-Man 674 – Because fallout stories are always better.
Chew 19 – Because it’s a perfect blend of quirky humor and intense violence.
Gen Hope 13 – Because it’s a Regenesis title.
Key of Z 2 – Because the first issue was truly amazing.

Morning Glories 14 – Because we might have a genuine escape from the academy.
New Mutants 34 – Because Blink is on the cover.
Northlanders 46 – Because I’m a Brian Wood fanboy
Punisher 5 – Because Ruka is focusing on those affected by the Punisher.
Walking Dead 91 – Because it’s TWD.
Wonder Woman 3 – Because I smell violence…
X-23 17 – Because it’s a great book that doesn’t deserve to be cancelled.
X-Factor 227 – Because the solicit says a member will die.

Trades
Captain Swing and the Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island – Because Warren Ellis writes steampunk pirates and Raulo Caceres’ art is breathtaking.