Broken Frontier

Rejoice! The incredibly talented Cullen Bunn and Joelle Jones are prepping a new book, scheduled to be released later this year from Oni Press.

In a Valentine’s Day interview with Multiversity Comics, Jones unveiled that she’s working on a comic with Cullen when asked about her dream project. She replied:

“I have so many dream jobs but I think the one I will be doing next with Oni Press is going to be amazing. It is more of a horror comic with Cullen Bunn writing who, by the way, I think is just the greatest.”

We think Cullen is the greatest too (just check who won our 2011 BF Award for Best Indie Writer) and Joelle isn’t too shabby herself. In our book, she’s definitely one of the artists we want to see make it big, and if that means mainstream projects, so be it. Cullen’s doing the same thing anyway, and see where it’s taking him (did someone in the crowd just shout ‘Wolverine’? Well, I believe they did)!  For proof of how good Joelle is, just check out her work on Dark Horse’s House of Night.

Anyway, with the beans having been spilled, we checked in with Cullen for a few words on the horror book. Although he didn’t want to reveal too much about the series just yet, he did give us this:

“[The project] is currently planned as a limited series. It's definitely one of the darkest things I've written so far – a kind of horror mash-up that I'm pretty excited about it.

“Joelle and I sat down with our editor during SDCC last year to discuss the project, and I was thrilled that she was so excited about working on the book. She's finished the first 20-something pages of story, and I think fans will be absolutely blown away by what she's done. This is a book full of menace and violence and all manner of ass-kicking. That's all I'm saying for now!”

Is Top Cow secretly working on new Cyberforce and Pitt series? Could be.

After we published our talk with Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik earlier in the week, @Albatorak, one of our followers on Twitter, said that he had hoped “to read in [the interview] that Cyberforce and Pitt would soon get new monthly series.”

There’s no doubt about it he’s not the only one feeling that way, so we got in touch with Sablik to see what’s what.  He said “I love both of those properties too. [But] there’s nothing I can really comment on at this time other than to say that we have a great deal of affection for those characters.”

That’s not a confirmation, but it’s definitely not a denial either. And did you notice that ‘no comment at this time’? Reading between the lines, that might be subtle hint you’re looking for to get your heart racing if you’re a fan of Pitt, Ripclaw, Cyblade and the gang.

Dale Keown’s Pitt was last seen in 2009’s The Darkness/Pitt miniseries, and Cyberforce last saw action in the Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer mini, which wrapped in early 2010. So, it’s been quite a while… and hey it’s Image’s 20th Anniversary for crying out loud. Surely, there’s no better time for these characters to be dusted off than 2012, right?

Here's one for nostalgia's sake:

Aspen Comics has dropped a trailer in our lap for the second issue of Broken Pieces, which goes on sale next Wednesday, February 22. Check out a preview here, and catch up with our reviews of #0 and #1.

BROKEN PIECES #2
Mark Roslan – Writer / Micah Kaneshiro - Art

What is lost in life is found in…death!
Aspen Comic’s newest original series, BROKEN PIECES, continues!

Dr. Richard Adams’ life has been torn apart by a horrible discovery made by his wife Gabriella. However, the astounding breakthrough they made in the science of bio-rejuvenation has left Richard with a small shred of humanity to cling to, as everything else crumbles around him. With the odds of survival diminishing by the second—Richard will be forced to make the most consequential decision of his life, one which will effect the future of mankind itself!

Looking at the new cover to Worlds Finest #1 as part of DC's May 2012 solicits (shown below on the right), which features new designs for Power Girl and Huntress in the brave new DC universe, it's clear that a dramatic change has been made to Power Girl's appearance. It's a change I lament, and feel all of us should.

In the new DCU, Power Girl no longer has her immense "boob window" and instead is getting a costume that to me, lacks the appeal and identity of Power Girl. Even her boobs have been reduced to more or less 'attainable in real life' levels.

Argh, what have you done, DC? You've taken the 'power' right out of Power Girl. Where is the drool factor now?  Why can't we just have the old version back, done, with tongue firmly in cheek by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and the wonderful Amanda Conner?

Top Cow has provided BF with an exclusive look at artist Romano Molenaar's design work for a new character appearing in The Darkness for the first time.

This bad boy is not officially named in the pages of today's The Darkness #99, the penultimate issue before Phil Hester wraps up his run on the book, but the folks at the Cow are referring to him as "the Darkness Beast" internally. In Hester's final storyline, the Darkness is hell-bent on crushing Jackie Estacado by any means necessary, and this armored beast is one of the final weapons the Darkness uses against Jackie to prevent him from getting to it.

The Darkness #99 is on sale as of today in comic stores everywhere, retailing for $2.99.

Former 2000AD artist Brett Ewins was hospitalized over the weekend of January 14-15 after an altercation with Police in Hanwell, West London, who were called in response to a disturbance in the street, and has now been remanded into custody charged with Grievous Bodily Harm after inflicting stab wounds on a Police officer.

Brett, who is 56 and has had a history of well-documented problems since suffering a breakdown in 1991, sustained severe head injuries in the incident after allegedly being struck repeatedly by Police and was apparently comatose for some days, according to his brother Russell Ewins-Kinsey.

Russell has since added that Brett also suffered fractured and broken ribs and a collapsed lung as well as being beaten around the arms, legs and shoulders in an attempt to subdue him. It is understood that Brett was carrying a knife and that a Police officer received minor wounds while attempting to disarm him. The officer apparently left hospital later the same day after receiving treatment.

Brett was reportedly kept in hospital on fluids for three weeks while recovering from the incident. He is said to have been in an extremely confused state throughout; again according to his brother. When he regained consciousness he initially thought that the year was 2003 and that he was in Thailand. He had no memory of the events that led to his being there, and seemingly still doesn’t.  He is described as still being “confused, disorientated and demoralised”.

On the afternoon of Thursday February 9, Brett was taken from the hospital to a West End Police station after being pronounced fit to be interviewed. The following morning he was taken to Uxbridge Magistrates Court (apparently still in his pyjamas and dressing   gown from the hospital, according to his brother), was charged with GBH and remanded into custody. He is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Friday, February 17.   

It is understood that the Independent Police Complaints Committee is investigating the actions of Police during the incident.

Update: The Hollywood Reporter has run a statement from Robert Kirkman, in which he says Moore's claims are incorrect and showing a credits page from an early issue of the series that lists Kirkman as 'Creator/Writer/Letterer' and Moore as 'Penciler/Inker/Gray Tones':

"The lawsuit is ridiculous, we each had legal representation seven years ago and now he is violating the same contract he initiated and approved and he wants to misrepresent the fees he was paid and continues to be paid for the work he was hired to do. Tony regularly receives payment for the work he did as penciler, inker and for gray tones on the first six issues of The Walking Dead comic series and he receives royalties for the TV show, to assert otherwise is simply incorrect."

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Just when you thought that the legal storms inside the comics industry were cooling down now that Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane had settled their age-old dispute over certain Spawn creative rights, a surprising story broke last night on The Hollywood Reporter.

Artist Tony Moore has sued his childhood friend and The Walking Dead co-creator/writer Robert Kirkman, claiming Kirkman ‘swindled’ him out of his copyright interests and ensuing profits stemming from The Walking Dead and presumably other projects the duo created together. Long regarded as one of the great examples of the 21st century wave of creator-owned comics, this lawsuit – if Moore’s claims are true – will no doubt put more oil on the fire of creator rights issues.

The creator rights debate flared up again just last week when DC announced Before Watchmen, the ‘prequel’ continuation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen classic, the rights of which never reverted back to the original creators because of several illusive publishing tactics 25 years ago.

If Moore is telling the truth, he’s missing out on a lot of dough, as The Walking Dead has become a cash cow not only for Image Comics (the graphic novels continue to top best-seller lists), but for AMC as well since TWD currently ranks as the top show on cable television in the US.

Kirkman’s attorney says Moore’s claims are “totally frivolous” and that Moore is “owed no money at all.”

Here are a few outtakes from the THR article:

"Moore claims that in 2005, Kirkman and his agents devised a scheme to fraudulently induce him to assign his copyright interests over to Kirkman's company. Moore, who grew up with Kirkman and worked together on several projects, claims he signed a deal granting him 60 percent of "Comic Publishing Net Proceeds" in connection with Walking Dead and another project called Brit; 20 percent of "motion picture net proceeds" in connection with Walking Dead and Brit; and 50 percent of "motion picture net proceeds" from another project called Battle Pope."

"But Moore says he hasn't received much revenue nor any profit statements from Kirkman or his company, despite the success of his projects. "Indeed, they have not issued a single statement or allowed access to their books and records in accordance with the reporting obligations of the agreement," the complaint alleges."

"Moore claims he was told in 2005 by Kirkman that a big TV deal was on the table but "that Kirkman would not be able to complete the deal unless [Moore] assigned all of his interest in the Walking Dead and other works to Kirkman," according to the complaint. Thinking the deal would fall apart, Moore signed the contract, he says, allowing Kirkman to "swindle" him out of his 50 percent interest in the copyright and never intending to pay him his share of royalties.

DC Comics continues to do the creator dance on its New 52 titles. Following last week’s writing carrousel that saw Jeff Lemire, Peter Milligan and Matt Kindt move to new assignments, today the publisher dropped word that Jesus Saiz is leaving Birds of Prey for Resurrection Man and that Fernando Dagnino is swapping the latter title for Suicide Squad.

They will both start on issue 9 of their titles, released in May (covers shown below). Here’s what the two creators told The Source about their new assignments:

Jesus Saiz:

“I’m going to miss BIRDS OF PREY immensely, although it’s also true that I was dying to work on the Dark line of books,” said Saiz. “There’s some very interesting stuff happening in these books, and I’ve always considered horror / creating dark settings are some of my stronger areas as an artist, and I really haven’t had many chances to flex those muscles working in this genre during my career. So…I think I’m really going to enjoy working on RESURRECTION MAN! Crrrrazy fun!”

Fernando Dagnino:

“Call me insensitive but I must admit I’ve really enjoyed killing Mitch twice or thrice per issue,” said Dagnino. “Nevertheless, it all falls into place knowing that he will be in Jesus’ hands now. This run on RESURRECTION MAN has REALLY been loads of fun but now I must confess I am even more excited to take over the responsibility of dealing with such a thrilling cast of characters as the SUICIDE SQUAD. Harley…I’m coming!”

Cocotte is a new webcomic from Kat Vapid and Ryan Kelly that kicked off yesterday.

The question at this stage is, ‘What’s in a name?’ because Cocotte is leading us towards two possibilities: this story is either about a small item commonly found in a kitchen or it’s about a prostitute.

I’m leaning towards the former as Kat Vapid is a part time chef… but I’m not ruling out the latter as she also runs one of the frankest blogs on writing and craft I have ever come across. At this stage, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was about both.

Still, with Ryan Kelly, he of New York Five and Vertigo’s upcoming Saucer Country fame, providing art, the webcomic is sure to look gorgeous. The man knows how to handle drama and he can draw the hell out a cityscape, so when he teases Cocotte as a “frank, humorous, and often soul-crushing look into the world of cuisine and the professional kitchen environment, as well as a love letter to life in Minneapolis”, we can’t help but get excited!

Page 1 went live yesterday, with pages 2 and 3 to follow on Friday and Monday. After that, the webcomic goes weekly on Mondays.

Whether it’s inspired by hipster kids in the upcoming issue #7 of Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman’s Animal Man, (or from #1’s interview with Buddy Baker for The Believer Magazine), the phrase ‘Evolve or Die’ is proving popular enough with the DC crowd that it is spawning its own T-shirt.

You can show your support for A-Man’s cause with this pretty awesome shirt, featuring the art of Travel Foreman, directly from Graphitti Designs and your local of comic retailer if you ask them to order it in nicely.

Or if you want to go a little more grassroots, like Buddy in his younger days, you can still order one of artist Blair Campbell’s minimalist Evolve or Die shirts from Red Bubble in a variety of colors and sizes.

The choice is up to you, either way – Issue #7 of Animal Man will hit shelves on March 7th as we head towards the first crossover with Swamp Thing. Good times!