‘Superheroes Decoded’ (review) at Forces of Geek

Superheroes Decoded is a two-part documentary about the history of superheroes and comic books. Piggybacking on Brad Meltzer’s Decoded series title, this is in-depth look in to how American comic books and heroes have developed into a major money-maker for studios but also a reflection of over seventy-five years of pop culture.

Capped on each end by the creation of Superman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and the invention of a Pakistani Ms. Marvel in 2013 the just under three hour documentary has a lot packed in.

Interviews with creators Stan Lee, Iron Man director Jon Favreau, creators Brad Meltzer, Joe Quesada, Mark Waid, Dan DiDio, Nicola Scott, G. Willow Wilson, Sana Amanat are poised against non-comics people and celebrities George R.R. Martin, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Clark Gregg, Anthony Mackie, T.J. Miller and many more to paint a historical perspective on comics and heroes.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. April 25, 2017

COMICS

The Shadow knows who lies behind the cowl! Batman/The Shadow #1 from Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando puts two pulp heroes together for the first time! … Yo, Joe! Cobra unleashes sinister plans in G.I.Joe #239! … Boop Bip, Boop, Bip! 24 Legacy #1 celebrating the new series is drawn by G.I.Joe Cobra’s Antonio Fuso. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

FOG! Chats With J.T. Krul, Writer of ‘Sand+Bone’ - at Forces of Geek

Comics writer J.T. Krul is best known for his work recently on Green Arrow and Teen Titans, but cut his chops at Aspen with Fathom and Soulfire. His latest book, Sand + Bone, from Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray’s Adaptive Books, J.T. and artist Andrea Mutti tackle PTSD and an unexplained supernatural phenomenon.

Sean Hitcher has just returned from war. He didn’t die in Iraq, but part of him wishes that he did. He’s home now, back in the small Midwestern town he grew up in. But he is haunted by nightmarish visions of killing and carnage that seem to be the result of severe PTSD. But are they? Is there something he’s missing. …

As mysterious acts of violence spread throughout the town, Sean begins to wonder if there’s more going on than he originally thought. What terror did he experience on the battlefield, and what horrifying secret did he bring back with him?

J.T. took some time to discuss Sand + Bone, PTSD and working with Adaptive Books.

*   *   *   *   *

FOG!: Thanks for joining us to discuss Sand + Bone! First off, we can’t ignore the art on this book. How did you hook up with Andrea Mutti?

J.T. Krul: That was actually thanks to Jimmy and Justin. They’ve been working with Adaptive to develop their graphic novels, and as we started putting the project together, they recommended Andrea. His style works great with the tone and vibe of the story we are telling. It’s dark and brooding, with a lot of the mystery and the drama hidden in the shadows. And, Vladimir Popov really complements Andrea’s art perfectly, adding a sense of texture and grit in his colors.

[READ MORE AT FORCE OF GEEK]

FOG! Previews Jonathan Coulton’s Upcoming Album and Graphic Novel, ‘Solid State’ AT FORCES OF GEEK

The music business has changed so much in the past few years that there is a huge gap between what was thought of as the studio album being replaced by lyric videos and viral sensations. What happens when you’re a former programmer that wants to create music instead of being a cubical code monkey in this environment?

You get the uncanny Jonathan Coulton, a man who’s career was quite literally forged by riding the crest of the internet wave like oh-so-many primates on the cover of the original T&C Surf Designs NES cartridge.

JoCo infamously indulged in a year long quest to make a “Thing a Week” in 2005, creating memorable geek singalong numbers “Shop Vac”, “Chiron Beta Prime”, “Tom Cruise Crazy” and of course “Mr. Fancy Pants”. Alright, you might not know these songs yet, but you can listen to them for free on his site along with the unofficial “Ikea” theme song (‘plywood, brushed steel; meatballs, tasty’).

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. April 19, 2017

COMICS

If you are getting ready for this summer’s Wonder Woman movie, the Wonder Woman: Earth One trade from Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette is the best way to twirl into a new Wonder Woman age! … Jazmine St. Cocaine returns in Sex Criminals #18! … Trouble in Rockwood in a brand new story arc for Black Hammer #8 from Jeff Lemire. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. April 12, 2017

COMICS

Weapon X is the program that created Logan, and now they’ve loaded up on Adamantium for bear in Weapon X #1 from Greg Pak and Greg Land! …The original X-team is back in X-Men Blue #1 from Cullen Bunn! … Black Panther, Storm and Luke Cage star in Black Panther and the Crew #1 debuting this week drawn by the legendary Butch Guice! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. April 5, 2017

COMICS

Jyn Erso hits the comic pages for the first time in Star Wars Rogue One Adaptation #1. Join the Rebellion! … Aw Yeah, IDW! Famous Cartoonist Art Baltazar pits G.I. Joe against The Transformers and Micronauts and Rom in Revolution Aw Yeah #1! … Batman and Robin discover secrets of the Son of Batman in Superman #20! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

‘Black Hammer Volume 1: Secret Origins’ TPB (review) at FORCES OF GEEK

Jeff Lemire’s vision of a superhero universe, rooted deep in his indie roots comes to fruition today in the release of the first volume of Black Hammer (Dark Horse Comics).

Drawn with a Mignola-esque sensibility, the art by Dean Ormston (2000 AD, Sandman Mystery Theatre) drops you into this new universe that is as much Kirby as it is Lemire’s own Sweet Tooth.

Let us back up a couple of steps. Why should you read this book about a superhero team from another dimension trapped within a 10 mile radius of a simple farm house?

The answer is simple: This book is very good.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. March 29, 2017

COMICS

X-Men Prime #1 starts RESURRXION with a new #1 with a team led by Kitty Pride. … This ain’t Riverdale, it’s Little Archie one shot from famous cartoonist and Aw Yeah Podcast’s Art Baltazar! … In Batgirl Annual #1, Supergirl and Batgirl take on Arkham Asylum! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. March 22, 2017

COMICS

The Defender from K’un Lun is here in his very own new #1 to coincide with his Netflix show, Iron Fist! … From the artist of Tank Girl comes a kick ass caffeinated sci-fi adventure comic in Helena Crash #1. … Matt Kindt kicks off a new volume of X-O Manowar #1 with slick artist Tomas Giorello. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. March 14, 2017

COMICS

Star Trek takes on the ‘What If?” or Elseworlds premise in Star Trek Deviations #1 where the Romulans discovered Earth before the Vulcans! …Batwoman is back in her own ongoing series drawn by the amazing Steve Epting (Captain America) and written by Marguerite Bennett (Bombshells, X-Men). Batwoman #1 puts Kate on the mysterious island of Coryana! … Yo Joe! Destro is after the Joes in G.I.Joe #237!

Ryan Ferrier Talks All Things ‘D4VE’ at FORCES OF GEEK

In December, we previewed D4VEocracy #1 from Ryan Ferrier and Valentin Roman.

In D4VE’s first 100 days, we decided to knock on Ryan’s door to figure out what exactly is going on in the post-human robot society without a real president. We had to go all the way to Canada to get the answers and the election results we deserve.

*  *  *  *  *

FOG!: Pretty crazy election cycle, amiright? What can D4VE bring to the Presidency that, let’s just say, the current US President does not have?

Ryan Ferrier: Crazy to say the least. I am Canadian, so I maybe shouldn’t comment. Okay, fine, y’all are fucked. I mean, you’ll fight and resist and it’ll be okay, but it’s gnarly and I’m sorry. What does D4VE have that the current one doesn’t? Easy, its empathy. Makes you wonder who the real robot is.

Over the last two volumes D4VE’s shown just how emotionally connected he is to his family, his planet, and his role in society. His intent to lead the last living population seems pretty fitting.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. March 8, 2017

COMICS

A new era begins with Charmed #1 from Dynamite as the Charmed Ones balance work, life, and witchcraft! … It’s a regular sized Man-Thing #1 from Goosebumps author R.L. Stine! … Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #5 has the good doctor poking around an ancient Jedi site! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. March 1, 2017

COMICS

Ryan Ferrier’s robot future presidential race is only slightly weirder than what we have going on in the White House today. Check out forces of geek today for an interview about D4VEocracy #2 from IDW! …Our pal Ben Percy (Green Arrow) enters the James Bond world with a new #1 for an adventure in the French Alps! … It’s Batman and Robin reunited in Nightwing #16!… Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. February 22, 2017

COMICS

We have all creator-owned picks this week! Support your local comic shops! Greg Rucka is back with The Old Guard #1 from Image Comics to tell the story of old soldiers that never die. Paul Grist joins the Mignolaverse with art on The Visitor and Why He Stayed #1 for a mysterious Hellboy spinoff!… Gabriel Hardman (Star Wars, Invisible Republic) gives us the horror one-shot The Belfry #1 from Image. a Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. February 15, 2017

COMICS

She’s back in her own series once again starting with Batwoman #1. Written by Marguerite Bennett, we start here with Katherine Kane v Monster Venom! … Warren Ellis reboots ’90s WildStorm Universe at DC with Wild Storm # 1.  … The sons of Batman and Superman star in Super Sons #1 from the Batman and Robin team of Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. February 8, 2017

COMICS

Torchwood 2 #1 from Captain Jack himself, John Barrowman puts you in the middle of the action with Station Zero. … Jessica Jones is still facing some tough choices with her baby and husband Luke Cage in Jessica Jones #5. … One of our favorite writers Steve Orlando takes over on Justice League of America Rebirth #1 and introducing — Lobo! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

Antony Johnston Discusses ‘The Coldest Winter’ on The Cosmic Treadmill at FORCES OF GEEK

New York Times bestselling author of comics and video games Antony Johnston (Wasteland, Dead Space, The Fuse, Daredevil) joins us today to talk about his latest graphic novel The Coldest Winter. This is the prequel graphic novel to the upcoming film, The Coldest City starring Charlize Theron (Lorraine Broughton) and James McAvoy (Percival) about MI6 agents in The Cold War.

The Coldest Winter is for fans of the action spy genre and a good murder mystery. Antony bravely sends agents behind the Iron Curtain with no certainty of returning and the loyalty of his characters and the mission is always at the forefront.

When you are a spy, you must always watch your back!

* * * * *

FOG!: Thanks for joining us to talk The Coldest Winter, Antony! Is it cold where you are right now?

Antony Johnston: I live in north-west England. It’s always cold here.

This is the volume that precedes The Coldest City (soon to be a major motion picture). Were the volumes meant to be released in this order?

That’s a bit of an odd question. If I’d wanted to tell the story of The Coldest Winter first, I would have written it first instead of The Coldest City. So yes, that was always the intention.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. February 1, 2017

COMICS

When it comes to Star Wars legends, the characters with the least screen time get a special place in the hearts of fans. And as Sith Lords are concerned, Darth Maul is one of the coolest looking! Darth Maul #1 fleshes out more background to this badass in a limited series. … Over on the Light side, Yoda is trapped with a mysterious race of crystal worshippers, can he escape? Find out in Star Wars #28! … Hawkeye #3 puts Kate cracking the case of the campus culprit! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. January 25, 2017

COMICS

Ra’s al Ghul hired Catwoman to steal a book, and only the Caped Crusader and the Amazonian Princess can get to the bottom of it in Batman ‘66 meets Wonder Woman ‘77 #1! … We’re not completely sold on the newest season of G.I. Joe, but issue #2 stars our favorite Dreadnok, Road Pig! … Jason Latour (Southern Bastards) is back with Loose Ends #1, a southern fried crime drama over at Image. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.