New Mutants #6 Cypher returns in X-Necrosha

This week, Zombie Watch returns, with a whole new dimension!

When I first read of the X-Necrosha crossover in the solicitations three months ago, I was unimpressed. Now you know I love a good zombie as much as the next man, but I saw this X-crossover as simply a competitor to the Blackest Night, little more than a cheap marketing ploy. As if Marvel Zombies was enough. And let’s not get started about the eventually arriving Marvel Zombie Apes, or is that Marvel Ape-Zombies?

I could not of been more wrong. Forgetting that X-Necrosha was in my pile, I read New Mutants #6 first, as next to the Titans, the New Mutants have been my longstanding favourite team. I was also pumped to see the return of Doug Ramsey (Cypher), a character whose return has been dangled in front of us for years, such as the creation of Douglock, who it transpired was Warlock himself, but initially only having access to Doug’s memories.

I was not disappointed at all. Although Doug did cave in the skull of fellow New Mutant Magma on the direction of Selene, what really shone was the use of Cyphers gift of translation. Beneath every speech bubble that Cypher heard was his own interpretation of what was being said, which makes this issue an excellent jumping on point for new readers. The politics between the members is illustrated nicely, and there were a few points that really made me laugh. Take this interpretation of one of Dani Moonstars statements: “It is important that you see me speak for our team. I need you to know I still matter.” Beautiful! With just a few narration boxes, we can see how much some of the Mutants have changed, and how some still cling to their teenage insecurities.

So, I went back and read X-Necrosha #1, and I loved it. These are not your average zombies, but the bodies of many of the mutants dearly departed, reanimated by the technovirus. The original personalities and memories remain intact, but I doubt the question of their souls will even be raised. As I understand it, these are new beings, simply with the memories of the originals, which if they survive this storyline should lead to yet more heart-wrenching drama. In the meantime, they are under Selene’s domination, but carrying their own personalities, many are champing at the bit.

For the first time to my knowledge, the origin and nature of the Black Queen Selene is explored with some detail, and I believe it is worth the wait. I have never really taken her seriously in the past, even her exploits in Nova Roma (Magma’s hometown) never made her appear to be more than a throwaway villain. The long forgotten classification of External (immortal mutants), of which Selene is the sole known survivor is not even touched upon, but is implicit throughout the story.

Another return I fondly welcomed was that of the original Hellions, Emma Frost’s students from the now destroyed Massachusetts Academy. As these students come face to face with Emma, the horror aspect of this is revealed, although I am grateful to say it is not overplayed. These beings make the Black Ring Bearers seem quite two-dimensional in comparison.

Oh, and Destiny is back. You can’t miss this.

Alright! Marvel fans. This it, bring some of your favorite Marvel Comics characters without worrying about accidentally folding or damaging you Marvel collection. The iPhone App Comics has just gone public and is now a free download from the iTunes Store, and it brought along some of your favorite Marvel Comics available for in-app purchase from the iTunes Store.Some of the great titles that are currently available include – Joss Whedon’s 24-issue run on Astonishing X-Men, Robert Kirkman’s five-issue Marvel Zombies miniseries, Ed Brubaker’s first 30 issues of Captain America and two other X-men related books, X-23 and six issues of X-men:Age of Apocalypse . Comic prices ranges from $1-2.

If you want some other sources of Marvel Comics for your iPhone there are to others out there including two “motion comics” which are sold directly on iTunes. These include Spider-Woman and an adaptation of Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men.

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Guardians Of The Galaxy #19

I was going to title today’s column ‘Pointless Comics Books’ after reading the finale of The Last Days Of Animal Man. I said before how much I like Buddy Baker, but after reading all six issues, I feel cheated. Gerry Conway, pleasant as his writing is, is no Grant Morrison, so the appearance of the yellow aliens (who I would like to see more of) did nothing to satisfy me, or give me a reason why I have bought the entire series.

However, Blackest Night has continued apace, enough for me to forgive DC. In the conclusion of Blackest Night Titans, we have seen it’s not just the assembled corps of the emotional spectrum that can conquer the Black Rings, but also Dove (formerly of Hawk and Dove, erm, twice) has access to a power that is equally as devastating to the Black Corps. This is not without precedent either, after her role in the downfall of Extant back in JSA a few years ago.

What has really blown me away however is the latest Guardians Of The Galaxy, and the culmination of the Adam Warlock/Magus storyline. Despite the previous issue seeming a little tenuous, the conclusion more than justified the arc with a big story. One surviving Time Keeper; Kang leading an army of Starhawks (with a cute little aside between him and Mantis); a Cosmic Cube and Phyla Vell / Martyr (yes, it’s a silly name) receiving her comeuppance.

Looks like I was right the first time when I observed the Magus will not be featuring in the Realm Of Kings storyline. I should be disappointed, but after this issue, I’m not. We all know that Adam Warlock will be reborn, and thus so will the threat of the Magus, but that is in the future.

I also like how it is left open that Phyla-Vell may have got everything horribly wrong. The Champion of Life has been defined as the Magus (as he opposed Thanos in his own timeline) as well as Warlock. Maybe she killed the wrong guy. Still, it’s all moot now.

Thunderbolts #137, Not zombies, honest guv

Thunderbolts is not a title that I have been reading regularly since it renumbered itself, however after picking up the last three issues, I may have to change that.

In the latest issue (#137), there was none of the original cast that I remember (although they have featured in previous issues), but nor did I care. However, if you are an old-time fan of the duo Power Man and Iron Fist, this is an issue not to be missed. The cover headline states they are joining the Thunderbolts, however they look more like refugees from Marvel Zombies.

I don’t want to give away the entire plot of the issue, but suffice to say that Norman Osbourne arranges for the capture and brainwashing of Danny Rand, in order to turn him into a weapon against Luke Cage, for revenge over something I obviously missed happening. (There’s only so many comics even I can read!). This tests their friendship and teamwork to the limit. Well, briefly.

The other ‘Bolts I am psyched about are the Ant-Man and Paladin. Now I have always liked Paladin ever since he dated Janet van Dyne back in the late eighties and also worked with Captain America for a while (in the Superia Strategem, oh how I loved Mark Gruenwald’s stories) and I feel he is a character who deserves a lot more attention and detail. I have still to find it in these pages however, but it seems everyone gets their turn. I’m even liking the Ghost!

As for Ant-Man, he is successful in escaping Osbourne’s clutches, but the escape route he has to take? Euuwwwww! I’m not gonna spoil that one for you, just don’t read this issue while you are eating.

Tomorrow, Zombie Watch begins again, with the climax of Blackest Night: Titans, Green Lantern #47 and Blackest Night #4 hitting the stands. I can’t wait!

Mighty Avengers #30 - Finally they are starting to regroup

I’ve really enjoyed the issues of Mighty Avengers recently, and this weeks #30 is no different, although I do have a few reservations about it. The road to redemption for Henry Pym is a long one, and one he should have started a long time ago. The fact that he was replaced by a Skrull at some indeterminate point not withstanding, how many times has he broken down and tried to kill his team-mates? Beaten his wife? Created a machine dedicated to the eradication of all organic life?

So, nice to see the Macroverse after its scant attention in the pages of Fantastic Four, although it’s remarkably like the Dimension Of Manifestations as seen in Quasar and home to the beings that became the Magus Dopplegangers in the Infinity War.

Still, Scientist Supreme? Eternity trusts Pym? Avengers Forever intimated that Immortus may have been behind Pym’s breakdowns, and Eternity sees that as a qualifying factor?

Mind you, it was well worth seeing Eternity punching Pym out. I don’t want to spoil the issue if you haven’t read it, but what a scene.

The threat of the Unspoken is still gaining in importance, but what I didn’t like was that there was barely a tacit mention of Loki posing as the Scarlet Witch. Are all the Young Avengers under the same spell as Cassie now?

One other taster was the full page advert for the Realm Of Kings! Now that I am looking forward to.

Siege #1 cover, released in January

In January, Osbourne launches the Siege Of Asgard, with a central series and numerous tie-ins, the seeds of which have apparently already been laid. I think I need to go read my Thor issues. I rather hope that this will be more poignant that the Dark Reign:The List issues, which so far have been little more than amusing stories of Normans failure.

It’s nice to know there is light at the end of the tunnel, but that light won’t be dawning until at least April, as Siege is a four issue series. However, today’s release of Dark Reign: The List Avengers is included in the Road To Siege Hardcover, so I think that this will be one not to miss.

With the upcoming Necrosha, and Nation X, and the already commencing Realm Of Kings, it looks like the age of the uber-story is here for the duration. Great for continuity freaks like myself, but not so easy on the wallet. I hope once the dust settles from the Dark Reign, Marvel will allow each series freedom to pursue their own plotlines, but the solicitations don’t yet seem to reveal the threat posed by Adam Magus, the new, evil form of Adam Warlock. If they are paying homage to the original timeline of Jim Starlin’s Warlock, then I feel that may yet be waiting in the wings.

So in comparison, Blackest Night is certainly cheaper, but certainly not lower quality. And January’s solicitations have revealed what I knew! Nekron is the big, big bad. The only release this week is Blackest Night:Superman #3, I only hope this series in it’s final issue manages to be as relevant as the excellent Blackest Night: Batman.

My other recommendation for today? Zenescope’s Escape From Wonderland #2. If you haven’t picked any of this series up so far, you have missed a treat. The Wonderland they portray is even more twisted than in the original novels, and if you like your classic stories with a twist, this is the one for you.

Action Comics #882

It’s been a good week this week.

I plugged REBELS in my last column, so I will say little more that pick up #9, where we learn what R.E.B.E.L.S stood for the first time round, Adam Strange, Captain Comet and Kanjar Ro join the fight, and the Omega Men travel to one of Starros home galaxies.

What really caught my attention was Action Comics #882. While the hunt for Supergirl, Chris and Thara heats up after they have been framed by General Sam Lane (always been such a lovable guy) and his agents Reactron and Metallo, it is the back up strip starring Captain Atom that has started to reveal its secrets. Trapped in a world of magic, a former enchanted slave of Mirabai The Forlorn, an ally of Lane’s, and it looks maybe responsible for his time as Monarch during Countdown. I had rather thought there was a lot more to Monarchs tale than had been revealed so far. Just being put in armour did not seem enough to send him so completely over the edge.

Now this is just a guess, but I assume she is tied in with the Lords of Chaos and Order if they still exist, considering Monarchs first incarnation was Hank Hall, carrying the powers of both Order and Chaos within him after the first death of Dawn granger – Dove.

Of course this is before he absorbed the powers of Waverider, became Extant, who was merely a pawn of the yellow fear demon Parallax possessing Hal Jordan. An unwitting agent of Parallax, Extant was also responsible for the creation of the Team Titans timeline, the Time Trappers interference in creating the second Terra, Mirage and Deathwing not withstanding.

Extant met his end in an arc of the JSA in a little universe he had created himself. Then again, Hank Hall has just returned as a Black Lantern, so depending on what the fates of these undead Lanterns will be, there may be more to add there. After all, is Hawkman dead again?

So Mirabai was responsible for Monarch II, erm make that III. In fact it’s IV, considering prior to Infinite Crisis in the pages of Extreme Justice, it was revealed that Monarch was the original Captain Nathaniel Adam (only in Action Comics it’s now Allen), and that Captain Atom was only the alien metal imprinted with Adam’s, erm, Allen’s personality and memories.

That’s what I like about Captain Atom/Monarch. He’s always been such a straightforward, simple character.

Considering this is being written by James Robinson, I am hoping that many of these plot threads will be touched upon, after all it is not like Mr Robinson to ignore the slightest detail, you only have to look at Justice League: Cry For Justice to know that.. And lets face it, there’s a minefield full of them here.

Oh, and if you want to know who the Black Beetle is, pick up Booster Gold #25. I hope this one is a lie. Oh, and for the most hilarious Thor/Hercules fight ever, read the Incredible Hercules #136

X-Babies #1 Cover

It’s here! It’s finally here!

X-Babies #1 hit the stands yesterday, and I couldn’t get to my comic store fast enough. On a general level, I loved it, except……

These are not the X-Babies that I know. Where was Ricochet Rita? Where was Wolvie and Stormy? Or Baby Bishop? Just how many troupes of X-Babies are there wandering around the Multiverse? This is not the set who met Excalibur, or the group that met the X-Men! I feel cheated! And what about the Mity ‘Vengers? Are we ever going to see those little critters again?

Still, all of my questions vanished with the long awaited (by me at least) return of Planet Terry at the end of the issue. That Mojo has been deposed (again), this time by a programmer who wishes to create educational shows (education? From my TV? Who would want that?) is certainly a departure from the revolt of the Spined Ones, or the rise to power of the rival Mojo II.

In Exiles it was implied that there is only one Mojoworld, and one Mojo. Still, that continuity is a mess, and only one Mojo, but at least thousands of divergent Longshots? Mmmm, that makes sense.

This weeks offerings are a mixed bag. Jim Starlin’s Strange Adventures mini comes to a conclusion, of sorts. A continuation of a plot line that began in Hardcore Station, we see Synnar’s quest for omnipotence, depending on six heroes, the Aberrant Six; Comet (formerly Captain); Eye, a character who hasn’t been explored enough; Adam Strange; The Weird, Starman Prince Gavyn and Bizarro (replacing Hawkman after his untimely demise at the hands of a Black Lantern).

This was not what I call a conclusion, and although it promised to be other earlier, it seems like a re-run of Thanos’ quest for power but in the DCU. The only good thing to come out of this series is that the Weird returned to Earth. Starman under goes a transformation at Synnar’s hands that seems pointless. A waste of a good character if this is to remain permanent, I hope it is soon rectified. We had to wait a long time to see the return of Synnar, but I rather hope that this plotline does not drag on for another few years.

My highlight has to have been Superman:World Of New Krypton #8. After facing an attack by the Thanagarians, which has yet to be fully explained, an old face reappears at the end of this issue angry about the Kryptonians stealing the moon of Callisto to provide their artificial world with a moon. Welcome back to centre stage Jemm, Son Of Saturn!

Considering that the Kryptonians grew their planet, why on earth shouldn’t they have the ability to grow a moon? It seems like the Solar System is getting to be a very populated place, and it is nice to see the Saturnians again, and Jemm healthy and in control of himself.

Now, I wonder if we will see the return of the blue-skinned Venusians that Hal Jordan assisted early in his career? In fact I lose track of just how many different Venusian races there were in the Golden and Silver Ages, now that must have been one busy planet!

Other recommendations? Justice League Cry For Justice #4 – Do not miss this!

Justice League Of America 80 Page Giant #1

And the award for Most Bizarre Relationship goes to:-

Cheetah and Snapper Carr, mascot of the Justice League!

JLA 80pg giant #1 (I’m sure it should be #4) was released last week, in a story that was reminiscent of the high points of the Silver Age and a traditional Gardner-Fox Justice League story. Epoch the Lord Of Time casts the team (obviously before the latest schism in membership) across the ages, allowing such stars as Cinnamon, the Black Pirate, the Shining Knight and the Crimson Avenger to team up with the League, plus a wonderful little short featuring The Bride (who I’m convinced is a fairly new character). I have no doubt said before how much I love seeing the characters that once filled the comics of the Golden and Silver Ages still receiving attention, and this one issue does not let us down.

However, it was the framing sequence that made it for me. Snapper Carr, the luckless mascot of the League, who during Final Crisis:Resist was a saviour for Mr Terrific and the remains of Checkmate until his, erm, urges got the better of him; seems to be letting those urges lead him astray once more. He never was known for his sense of character.

Or it seems his sense of location. The issue begins with Snapper meeting Barbara Minerva after he calls her, in the old JLA mountain base. Perfect venue, wouldn’t you say?

Now I have always liked George Perez’ reinterpretation of the Cheetah. Despite later stories trivialising her, Minerva was always a complex character, mercenary but not heartless, held in bondage to the fertility god Urzkataga (who always reminded me of the aspidistra Great Uncle of an old show called the Adventure Game, in his part-time role as a drug dealer and pimp), focussed on her goals but apart from when driven mad by her god, lacking the maniacal qualities of many super villains that spring to mind. However, relationships with super-villains never tend to work out, just look at Speedy/Red Arrow Roy Harper and the assassin Cheshire, but still, I hope this one plays out for years. It will all go wrong, even without Snappers bad luck and judgement. However, would we like to see a young Snapper-Cat?  Hopefully it won’t go that far, but then, she does serve a fertility god.

Then again, I thought he was the jealous type.  I mean, how can Snapper compete with a potted plant?

I don’t want to spoil the story, or reveal just how Snapper remains as luckless as ever, but when Minerva asks him towards the end if he wouldn’t rather be a super-villain considering that he seems so good at it made me laugh out loud.

It’s a while since a comic made me do that. Now the dark and gritty fad seems to have been relegated to where it belongs and today’s creators feel free to draw on the better parts of each decade, I find I am now enjoying nearly every comic I read, rather than it being hard work. Long may the quality, and humour, continue.

Well, Blackest Night #1 is out on the shelves, and as set up issues go, it was okay. As I feared however, it looks like the Blackest Night is going to swamp the War Of Light storyline in Green Lantern unless that carries on after this crossover is finished, which I doubt. It does run the risk so far of just being a zombie story I think, but I will refrain from criticism until we are at least three issues in.

Speaking of super-zombies however, the Super-Zombies title from Dynamite has sucked me in. A whole new universe of characters, politics and intrigue established from the get-go, and in four issues I have already begun to care about the characters. This has risen to the top of my must-read list, and if you haven’t seen it already, I advise picking the issues up and giving them a chance. Yes you will be confused as to who everyone is to start with, I still am and need to re-read it to check who’s who. However, I started reading the DC Universe with Crisis On Infinite Earths, and you can imagine how much back-reading I had to do to find out who everyone was there. My only regret is that with Super-Zombies, that back material is not available to dip into.

What has me really pumped however is how the return of the Milestone universe is rolling on, this week in The Brave And The Bold #25, starring Hardware and Blue Beetle. Hardware is his usual sociable self and we see the return of his age old adversaries The System. Oh yeah, and the new Blue Beetle was in it as well.

I adored the confrontation recently between the JLA and the Shadow Cabinet, culminating in Justice League Of America #34, where we learnt just how it is that the Milestone Earth is now part of the DCU. The mysterious Dharma used the power of Rift Fred Benson (from Worlds Collide) to merge his universe with the DCU.

(Erm, from pre Zero Hour to the New Multiverse, did he misfire and shoot past the post-Zero Hour earth? Hell of a pattern that, knit one, drop one, knit one. “Ma, I lost a universe, have you seen it anywhere?)

Anyway, for a geek like me that means for once, all the previously titles still stand in continuity. There was some really good stuff in the old Milestone, and I was very disappointed to see it go.

Now, we’ve seen Holocaust, but I can’t wait to see what’s left of the rest of the Blood Syndicate and what they are up to nowadays.

Of course nostalgia seems all the rage at the minute. Anyone else dig that updated sixties-vibe in Superman World Of New Krypton? And how about the latest revamp of the Red Circle characters? !mpact comics was a bit of a flop, although it too had some good stories. However, I am just old enough to remember some of the actual Red Circle comics themselves. The Crusaders, The Fly and Fly-Girl. Villains like the Brain-Emperor and Eterno.

I am pumped about these, and I look forward to seeing the latter four characters again. The legacy of The Fly with the legacy of Shazam – now that would be an interesting mix.

Oh and have you seen Octobers solicitations? The X-Babies are coming back, but get this, WITH PLANET TERRY! I was too old to read Planet Terry the first time round but that didn’t stop me then, and it won’t stop me now.

Recycling in the music industry is bad. But here in the comic world? It’s good to see all of these old friends again.

As long as they are not zombies.

Although it is a phrase you may have heard many times before, there has never been a better time to be a superhero comics fan. The current output of quality material doesn’t show any signs of abating, and even the dreaded crossover event has begun the long trek to redeem itself.

Recession? What recession?

This week, the long awaited Blackest Night begins, as before the War Of Light has even really kicked off in the DC Universe between the Green Lantern Corps and their other-hued counterparts, the dead shall rise.

The boards are ablaze with all the possible pros and cons of this newest crossover, but if the recent Sinestro Corps War is anything to go by, then we are assured an exciting ride, even if everything seems a little convoluted at the minute. My own personal theory is that the Blackest Night will prove to be the birth and baptism by fire of the new Corps that have formed, and they shall be sticking around for many years to come, this may only be the first act in the War Of Light.

Despite the touted horror elements, if this turns into nothing but a zombie-fest (especially in the crossovers), then it will be an abject failure. I don’t think this will be another Marvel Zombies however, the writing on the Green Lantern Corps, and to a lesser extent the Green Lantern title itself has shown itself.

That is not to criticise Marvel Zombies, but we have seen that idea already. However, if you haven’t picked up the current series of Marvel Zombies, it is well worth a look, as the direction has totally changed. The Zombies (well, one of them) have finally reached the prime Marvel Universe, but thanks to A.R.M.O.R (the Alternate Reality Monitoring and Operation Response agency), the earth is forewarned, and characters that have not seen the light of day in a good while (pun intended) have been drafted to contain the outbreak. Daimon Hellstrom the Son Of Satan, Morbius the Living Vampire and my old favourite Jennifer Kale, to name a few. She never did get the attention she deserved IMHO.

Back to the plot. There are a number of projected I am pumped about, and this is one of them. The crossover are being touted as stand-alone minis, and the one I am really looking forward to is the Blackest Night: Titans.

Given the Titans history, this has the potential to be either really really good, or abysmal. I am hoping for the former. The good news is these crossover minis are not mandatory for following the story, just a matter of personal taste; unlike the minis that accompanied the Secret Invasion event. I think we can rely on Johns et al to provide characterisation and action in equal helpings in each issue, rather than relegating action to one and characterisation to another. After all, with an event touted to be as big as this, I can’t imagine a character who wouldn’t be affected, and I don’t just mean an epidemic of Peter Parkers Parents syndrome.

Hopefully, the Blackest Night may prove that after nearly twenty five years or more of the company-wide crossover, it may have finally grown up. We can hope.

“While you’re visiting, there is something you need to know to survive in Netropolis. There are no police here; no Emergency Services. You are alone in this city of darkness and light, alone and vulnerable.

That is why we built Norton HQ – a beacon of security against the dangers lurking around every corner. A place you can trust when you come to Netropolis, a place where someone will watch over you.”

Maybe I’m wrong, but I get the feeling that, in general, those for whom comics in this genre will appeal already know about computer security, and as likely aren’t using Norton products.

What do you think? Take a look at some pics of Norton’s “we’re trying so hard not to be corporate” comic:

For the true-blue and hardcore geek no other country in the world would be the destination for a pilgrimage more than Japan and when in Japan, the geek will naturally gravitate towards Akihabara, like a pigeon sensing magnetic north.

Akihabara is the flashiest district in Tokyo and covers practically everything the geek will have any interest in. Akihabara is considered the technological district of Tokyo and with good reason. It is located in the eastern part of Tokyo and just a two stops away from the northern section of the main Tokyo Station. For the uninitiated, Akihabara is commonly known as Electric Town — a throwback from its earlier reputation as the center of electronics and home appliance retailers. But even though the area is littered with a wide range of shops that offer all of the gadgets and electronics you can think of, it has also acquired a new, much deserved, reputation as the place where geeks can go see the things that interest them.

Name the geek pursuit and Akihabara will most probably have it. What makes Akihabara a geek paradise is that it actually caters to all the kinds of geeks out there. Oh yes, there are many types of geeks and they have different pursuits, passions and obsessions.

One of the most common type of geeks are the gadget freaks that absolutely must have the latest and greatest gadget out there. Akihabara is the perfect place for these geeks because it enjoys a “pioneer” reputation for getting technologies and gadgetry fads way before it becomes popular or even hits the rest of the world. You will often see gadgets and electronic equipment there that will only catch the world’s attention after a few years. Just the thought of getting a gadget before everyone else boosts your bragging rights and makes you the ubergeek of your neighborhood.

Anime and manga geeks will also find their Shangri-la in Akihabara. The Tokyo Anime Fair is held near the area and there are many merchandising shops in the district that sell anime stuff — from OAVs, plush toys, replica weapons and action figures. Beware though, the hentai anime figures are also quite ubiquitous in the area so be vigilant if you’re going to visit with youngsters.

Of course, for geeks from the West, Akihabara has become synonymous with a particular geek pursuit — gaming. Electric Town is where you can find shops that sell all manner of gaming consoles (you can even get lucky and find the discontinued console you’ve been looking for). You’ll also find a dizzying array of games for sale for absolutely all kinds of platforms. Even games from discontinued platforms (even those that’s more than a decade old) will usually be available there. And the most insane thing is that they’re housed in huge places. You’ll find stocks in stores that are contained in several floors. All manner of games are represented in Akihabara. You’ll be amazed at the sheer number of games that have been developed in Japan that never got to see the light of day in the West — from RPGs to shooters to hentai type sex games.

Geeks that love music and movies will also find many interesting places to visit and shop in at Akihabara. Shops that sell second hand and brand new CDs and DVDs proliferate around the area. For non-music loving geeks here’s an interesting piece of information — Japan-pressed CDs have gained a reputation among audiophiles for having the best audio quality. Additionally, Japan-pressed albums usually contain additional tracks that are not usually available in CDs pressed in the US or the EU. These are the factors that make buying CDs in Japan a very interesting proposition.

Cinephiles will go nuts over the selection of Japanese movies that are the rage among movie lovers. From the wide array of horror movies to thought provoking dramas and in-your-face action — Japan offers films that are worth watching and collecting.

Akihabara is a wonderful place to explore. If you’re a geek there is just so many things to do and explore there that you’ll get lost in your own mind just looking at the dizzying array of products and things that cater to your every desire. But non geeks will love it too because Akihabara is the perfect reflection of what Japan is — a place steeped in history and culture that is not afraid to embrace the new. Go book hotels in Japan and don’t forget to visit Akihabara.

The accompanying article complains mostly about the violence in the new generation of cartoons featuring the “weirdies”, the Super-Heroes. While the piece does mention both sides of the argument about the effects of violence on children it comes down in favor of the classic and presumably more kid-friendly characters from animation. The author seems to have forgotten how incredibly violent the old cartoons were. They were astonishingly brutal even with the heavy editing that was performed prior to network broadcast to ensure all the explosions and maiming of bunnies at the hands of crazed opera singers were not shown and all the horror occurred between scenes or off-screen.

Read more at That’s My Skull, but do not forget to admire the illustration in the article.

I like this style of introducing new comics. Preorder and more preview images here.

Dave over at Cross-Eyed Cyclops has posted all Marvel Super Special Issues. Get them while they’re hot.

Here’s the list of all submitted comics:
1 Kiss (1977)
2: Conan (1977)
3: Close Encounters (1978)
4: Beatles Story (1978)
5: Kiss (1978)
6: Jaws 2 (1978)
7: Sgt. Peppers (1978)
8: Battlestar Galactica (1978)
9: The Savage Sword Of Conan (1978)
10: Star-Lord (1978)
22: Blade Runner (1982)
11: Warriors Of The Shadow Realm (1979)
12: Warriors Of The Shadow Realm (1979)
13: Warriors Of The Shadow Realm (1979)
14: Meteor (1979)
15: Star Trek (1979)
16: Empire Strikes Back (1980)
17: Xanadu (1980)
18: Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
19: For Your Eyes Only (1981)
20: Dragonslayer (1981)
21: Conan The Barbarian (1982)
23: Annie (1982)
24: Dark Crystal (1982)
25: Rock & Rule (1983)
26: Octopussy (1983)
27: Return Of The Jedi (1983)
28: Krull (1983)
29: Tarzan Of The Apes (1983)
30: Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)
31: Last Starfighter (1984)
32: Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
33: Buckaroo Banzai (1984)
34: Sheena (1984)
35: Conan The Destroyer (1984)
36: Dune (1984)
37: 2010:The Second Odyssey(1984)
38: Red Sonja (1985)
39: Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
40: Labyrinth (1986)
41: Howard The Duck (1986)

One of the hotly anticipated events would of course be Blackest Night. This is the third part of the trilogy that has been preceded by Green Lantern: Rebirth (Hal Jordan’s return!), and the Sinestro Corps War. Blackest Night revolves around the so called Blackest Night prophecy that will result in an all out war between the two corps and five new ones that will appear, which could end up destroying the universe.

Just to whet your appetite, here’s the cover for issue Number 1 of Blackest Night. I can’t wait for this!

Amazing zombie art work.

More Zombie art by Artur Suydam here and here.

DC Comics has said that the events that are happening right now will have far reaching repercussions in the Batman universe. I can’t wait to find out what it’s going to be.

And speaking of repercussions, I am also eagerly awaiting the big things that are going to happen with Green Lantern. But that’s another blog post.

An interesting addition to the team is Prof. X’s son, Legion. The last time we saw him was when he ushered in The Age of Apocalypse. It will be interesting to find out how a super mutant like Legion who is deranged has been allowed to join the team. Rumors are that he’s actually instrumental in reforming the New Mutants.

Can’t wait to find out.

According to reports, development on the live action movie is now moving again at Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures. This means that we could finally expect to see every fanboy’s wet dream on screen pretty soon. Hopefully the Wonder Woman movie will come out soon after the Green Lantern movie is finished. Writers are now being hired to write the script for Wonder Woman.

Here’s a little trivia — if Joss Whedon had pushed through with Wonder Woman he wanted How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders to play Diana.

Of course, for many people who will get to play Thor is more important than who will get to direct it. There have been a lot of names thrown around lately on who will most perrfectly fill the role of the God of War — Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Karl Urban. One guy I know even wanted Triple H from the WWE. But Branagh seems to also have made that choice already. Reportedly, the director is already in talks with actor Alexander Skarsgard to play the role of Thor. Alexander Skarsgard is the son of Stellan Skarsgard (Pirates of the Caribbean, Mamma Mia), and he is most well known for starring in both HBO series Generation Kill and True Blood.

I think Branagh is making the perfect casting choice here. Skarsgard looks the part (he just needs to hit the gym pronto) and is even from Sweden so the Scandinavian/Nordic connection is even present. I hope this pushes through.

But what about you guys? Who do you think would be perfect for Thor? And since we’re talking about casting choices, who do you think will be perfect to play the part of Loki? Recent rumors has it that Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down) is being seriously considered for the role.

The Time of Revenge Has Come! Beat Down Iron Cross Group!” The first episode of the TOEI-produced Japanese “Spider-Man” TV series sees motorcycle racer Takuya Yamashiro gain the powers of Spider-Man! With his new powers and the help of Marveller, he transforms into Leopardon in order to defeat Professor Monster and his evil Iron Cross Army.

Marvel.

Rumors are going around the net that Marvel Comics’ Captain Britain and MI: 13 is going to be cancelled because of low sales it has been posting right after the Secret Invasion summer event.

But Marvel has assured fans that Paul Cornell written comic book is not going to be cancelled after all. In fact, a new storyline is about to commence that Marvel said will forever change the whole team. The new storyline will begin in issue #10 of the series. Fans should look forward to the return of Meggan as well as an appearance of the whole team in the pages of the Mighty Avengers.

I’ve been collecting comicbooks since I was a young teen and I have never lost my love for the superheroes that I have grown up with. Even though I would sometimes stop collecting (the pressures of fatherhood can sometimes be a sobering jerk towards reality and practicality) I never lose track of what is happening to my favorite titles.

What got me surprised though is a new way of presenting comics — and no, it’s not the comic scans that are proliferating on the net right now. Marvel has pioneered the presentation of comics that move. Yes, you read it right — Marvel now offers motion comic books.

The new comics “format” will be made available on both the iPhone and iPod Touch. Basically the presentation here is just like scanned comic but with certain animated frames and also voiceovers for the text. Kids will probably fall in love with this format. But I don’t see the appeal. Marvel, there’s nothing wrong with READING and IMAGINATION.

Sinfest

Sinfest is one of those instant classic comics. Hard to describe, but totally funny. Actually this is one of the only webcomics which ever made me spit coffee on my screen.

Shop.

Just A Bit Off…

Just A Bit Off… by Jeff Zugale is a popular relationship comedy comic. Your online sitcom. It is a rather popular genre and always good for a laugh. Just A Bit Off is published on Mondays and Thursdays.

Store

Garfield Minus Garfield

Garfield Minus Garfield is at times even better than the regular comic. From the description:

Garfield Minus Garfield is a site dedicated to removing Garfield from the Garfield comic strips in order to reveal the existential angst of a certain young Mr. Jon Arbuckle. It is a journey deep into the mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness and depression in a quiet American suburb.

A Softer World

A Softer World by Emily Horne and Joey Comeau has turned 7 last weekend. The comic concept is based on picture strips or single pictures sliced up with some dose of snark.
You might also want to read Overqualified, a series of application letters written by Joey, but they come without pictures.

Store.

AppleGeeks

AppleGeeks just has it all: ‘Friends’ alike sitcom humour and story line, spiced up with robots, fun t-shirts and lots of geekery.

Store.

Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk is a webcomic by Vincent LaBate and Braden D. Lamb about a female pilot in 1930s Seattle. Every Friday 2 pages are published.

Traffic & Weather

The title of this webcomic by Rob Ullman hints at what you can expect, but it isn’t all complaining and moaning. Traffic & Weather is a real life based comic and published on a weekly base in Richmond Magazine.

XKCD

XKCD is a webcomic which doesn’t need any further explanation anymore. A slight tech background can help understanding most puns. ;)

XKCD Store

Perry Bible Fellowship

The Perry Bible Fellowship by Nicholas Gurewitch hasn’t been updated since 2008 anymore but still is good for an occasional laugh. If you don’t like dry and very sarcastic humor this comic, previously published in the Guardian, might not be your cup of espresso.

Indexed

Jessica Hagy’s collection of index cards analyse life is a relational sense. Or something like that. Indexed has been published on weekdays since 2006 and received much of coverage in the media. Indexed also has been released as a book.

Index at Amazon – Indexed Shirts.

The Small Picture

Not really a webcomic The Small Picture is “a battle of wits of sorts” between Nostrich and Aedison. They use pictures from The Boston’s Big Picture and add some snarky commentary, wits to the picture.

Ruben & Lullaby

Ruben & Lullaby is a “comic” of the special kind. Available for $2.99 in the App Store this is more a game than a comic, the publishers call it opertoon and by shaking your iPhone you can create emotions in the characters or even make them break up.

I have added a link to the online shop of most of these webcomics. If you like the work of the crew behind them, have a look at their shop as oftern their shop is the only base revenue for their work.
And do not forget to tell me about your favourite comics, I’m always looking for new stuff comics, even if I have another 40-50 comics to add to this list.

It seems that every year more and more comic books and graphic novels are making the passage from the page to the big screen. Hollywood has cottoned on that not only are these art forms quite often full of great stories but they come complete with an already made fan base who will flock to the silver screen to see their heroes brought to life.

It is with this passion in mind that I�ve pulled together a list of forthcoming (and in one case now out) movies that originated in a comic book or graphic novel.

Punisher: War Zone

Date: Now

The only film in this entire listing that is now available for viewing (it was only released here in the UK on Friday); it�s safe to say that unless you�re a die-hard fan then you are probably going to be okay about missing this. It isn�t to say that Ray Stevenson does a bad job at being Frank Castle or that jigsaw doesn�t look cool, but the action is fairly derivative and to be honest I preferred Thomas Jane�s outing as the man with the black t-shirt featuring the white skull motif.

Website – Trailer – Rotten Tomatoes Review

Watchmen

Date: 6 March 2009

Arguably one of the most eagerly awaited titles for all geeks this year, Watchmen brings to the big screen a graphic novel featuring an epic story, flawed characters, moral dilemmas and superheroes without powers. The story is set in the 1980�s and the �Doomsday Clock� is set to 5 minutes to midnight, so tensions are running high between the US and the USSR. Rorschach (a masked vigilante) investigates the murder of hero, only to discover the plot gets much thicker.

Alan Moore�s graphic novel of the same name should provide excellent material � but my top tip for this one is to read it in its original form before going to see the film. Whilst Moore won�t have anything to do with the movie adaptation, I�m fairly certain that everything we�ve seen so far is showing that this is going to be quite faithful in look and feel � but perhaps most importantly will offer a lot even for those who don�t know of the graphic novel.

website – Trailer

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Date: 1 May 2009

Wolverine proved very quickly to be one of the most popular characters following the screen adaptation of the X-men comic book, so it should be no surprise that his movie comes out first. Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the eponymous character, meanwhile we see a host of other characters appear from the Marvel/X-Men universe including Deadpool, Sabretooth (Liev Schriber), Silver Fox, Gambit, The Blob and more. Should you be excited? Oh yes, the action looks great and I�m expecting big things after the frankly poor X-Men: The Last Stand

Website – Trailer

Thor

Date: 16 July 2010

I�m a bit baffled why Kenneth Branagh is going to be directing Thor, but there we are. The plot is apparently going to feature Dr Donald Blake � a disabled physician who has an alter ego inside of him � none other than The Mighty Thor! For me, this one could go either way. I�m hoping that it isn�t too far out there, but as it is quite a while away I didn�t find too much info out on it. More info as it comes but I’ve heard a range of names mentioned for the role of Thor, including wrestler Triple H!

Sin City 2

Date: 2010

Unfortunately still listed in preproduction (so whether it will make 2010 is debateable) but the best received graphic novel to hit the big screen barring 300 was Sin City. Should the sequel live up to the original then this should definitely be a film on your list. This title is also known as �A Dame To Kill For� and covers the story of the same name along with an unshelved Nancy Story and some short stories. It will return with the same look and feel and no doubt excellent action set pieces. Definitely one to see.

The First Avenger: Captain America

Date: 2011

After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals. There�s talk of this being a period piece, which could be quite interesting. The title indicates that this may well be the first of several Avenger films � though whether you like your superheroes on their own or all together may decide on how you�ll view such a film. I�m not a big fan of Cap but I am going to withhold judgement until we�ve seen a little more.

Iron Man 2

Date: 2010

Marvel Studios completely self-financed Iron Man, and I�m fairly sure that they are quite happy that they did so, given that it was such as resounding success. In the sequel, Robert Downey Jr returns to play Tony Stark in what appears to be a role he was born to play. Still not sure on the plot of this one, but there has been talk of Whiplash/Backlash as well as Crimson Dynamo. Don Cheadle is in whilst Terrance Howard is out for the role of War Machine/Jim Rhodes.

Other Films Of Note Coming Soon:

Super Max (2010) � Green Arrow
Green Lantern (2010)
Ant-Man (2010)
Dead of Night (2009) � Dylan Dog
Spider-Man 4

Some of the names being thrown about by fans include Brad Pitt (not a bad choice, actually) Serenity star Nathan Fillion, Matt Damon, Aaron Eckhart, Ryan McPartlin (the guy who plays Captain Awesome in Chuck), and Cole Hauser.

I myself am partial to Brendan Fraser.

What about you guys? Who do you think should play Captain America?

Barack Obama’s first appearance as president in a comicbook is officially with The Savage Dragon.

In a strip made for the Chicago Tribune The Savage Dragon, created by Erik Larsen, shakes hands with the President-Elect, who comments about the Dragon’s re-entry to the Chicago Police Department.

Larsen is a big Obama supporter and in issue #137 of The Savage Dragon, the Dragon even endorses Obama. This stunt caught the ire of many fans who thought that comics and politics should not meet.

Obama could, at least, count on the Dragon when the going gets tough during his term.

WB also announced that the current focus for its superhero properties are on single characters and that the Dark Knight template will be used–meaning it will be darker superhero movies.

Hmm, a dark and brooding Plastic Man movie… that could be a first.

The story is entitled “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?”. If you’re a big comicbook fan you’ll immediately know why anticipation is so great for this project. The title is an homage to Alan Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”, a two-issue story that basically closed a whole chapter on Superman, effectively closing his Silver Age roots and preparing him for the amazing reboot that John Byrne was readying for him. The story is considered as one of the greatest Superman stories ever told.

Hopefully, Gaiman and Kubert will equal this feat with the Dark Knight.

One of the games I was most excited about in the recently held E3 is DC Universe Online. I know, the superhero MMO has been done already with City of Heroes but with generic superheroes it’s just not that much fun when you compare it with the possibility of role-playing someone like Batman or the Green Lantern (I’ll never choose Supes, I think he’s a dork).

The somewhat gritty look of DCU Online is something that I am also quite excited about. This could mean a decision to go all dark and noirish with the game, which I think is the right direction to go. I can’t wait to play this game when it arrives.

There are no words to describe the awesome Red Sonja teaser poster that was recently unveiled at Comic Con. I have said this before and I will say this again: Rose McGowan is the perfect Red Sonja.

Geeks all over the world will most probably dream about this poster tonight.