MORIARTY #8FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF SHADE #5MONDO #1
COMICS
Moriarty (Image Comics) sold out the first issue, an extraordinary feat! Taken from the journals and adventures of Sherlock’s antagonist, Moriarty #8 finds the Professor investigating the murder of his student and ally in Burma. … Why not make the first science fiction monster a secret agent and pit him against O.M.A.C. (One Machine Army Corp) in a freak battle royale? The New 52 gives us Frankenstein, Agent of Shade #5! … Ted McKeever chose a black & white, Golden Age format for his latest, Mondo #1. You won’t like Mondo when he’s chicken! BTW, You should totally swing by Hub Comics on Saturday. They’re rebooting the store.
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I learned last week while meeting my friend’s wife for the first time that you are to say “Congratulations” to the groom and “Best Wishes” to the bride. Today we double up on the congrats because Lt. Kevin Keller of Archie Comics is getting married to a Dr. Clay Walker in Life with Archie #16 on the shelves today.
Lieutenant Kevin meets the good doctor after recovering from an injury in the Iraq War. Some have hypothesized that Riverdale is in Mississippi, home state of Archie creator John Goldwater. That’s likely not accurate, as Mississippi has prohibited same-sex marriage since 1997, and has since amended the Mississippi Constitution in 2004 to drive the point home.
My debut colum covers everything you need to know about the new Cobra Commander!
I was eleven when they were building Serpentor. Serpentor was derived from the DNA of the world’s greatest warriors, and I was along for the ride. Who needed Chrome Dome leading Cobra when you could build your own? Issue #49 still has the teeth marks on the spine. Smartly, I brought the next issue home on my bike in a bag. Now, here’s my first column of EARTH PRIME TIME.
Storm and Cyclops are about to lock lips, but that seems a bit off, right? Scott and Ororo don’t hang like that! Who’s fogging up the windows post-Schism and why is Logan rocking a mustache? Greg Pak delivers a solid caper worthy of Claremont in Astonishing X-Men #45! … Ron Marz has concluded his epic 71 issue run of Top Cow’s Witchblade. Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, G.I. Joe) takes over with Witchblade issue #151. This is absolutely the best time to jump on! … Lone Ranger and Tonto are classic heroes nearly 80 years old! They capture the spirit of the old west idealism while fighting injustice with perfect grammar. Lone Ranger #1 hi-ho’s onto shelves today! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
The closest we’ll come to a holiday edition is making Fables #112 our marquee pick this week! Snow White’s sister Rose Red glimpses at the Christmas future of Fabletown, where legends try to assimilate with our society. … Geoff Johns finally reels his Aquaman character into the Justice League in issue #4. Fish stick jokes aside, the King of Atlantis is badass in the New 52, and the legend behind his trident has yet to be revealed! … Wolverine and the X-Men #3 is part of X-Men: Regenesis. Logan’s team is forced to rely on Quentin Quire to stand up to the Hellfire Club, but does that mean more trouble in Westchester for the new headmaster Wolvie? Picks this week from the holly jolly LeaguePodcast.com!
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JAMAL IGLE - THE RAYMEMORIAL #1 - CHRIS ROBERSON, IDW
SACRIFICE - SAM HUMPHRIES, DALTON ROSE
COMICS
Jamal Igle (Supergirl, Action Comics #900) is a superstar artist working exclusively for DC. His latest assignment is with Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray (Jonah Hex) for a New 52 reimagining of The Ray. Lucien Gates is transformed from surfer dude to glowing hero The Ray to fight Godzilla-sized monsters! Want to hear more about this? We’ve got an exclusive interview with Jamal posted at LeaguePodcast here! … Memorial #1 from Chris Roberson (Superman/iZombie) features the story of Em, a young lady who inherits a disappearing magic shop and talking cat! … What happens when you are ripped from the present, bumping Unknown Pleasures in your earbuds and awaken to find yourself facing the bloodlust of the Aztecs? Sacrifice #1 illustrates just what might happen! Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.
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The Defenders are back, as Architect Matt Fraction endeavors to write Marvel style with artist Terry Dodson (Harley Quinn, Uncanny X-Men). The 2011 lineup of Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, Namor, Iron Fist, and Red She-Hulk is worth the price of admission any Wednesday! …Blair Butler, G4’s Mixed Martial Arts and Comic Book Correspondent (for real) has broken into the business combining her passions! Heart #2 is the origin of cage fighter Oren ‘Rooster’ Redmond. Preview the blood sport here. …Voltron #1 re-imagines the savage regime of King Zarkon, and the Voltron Force risks exposing a long forgotten secret of the Galaxy Alliance! Alex Ross Cover, For The Win. …Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.
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DC’s New 52 keeps ‘em coming with T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 from Nick Spencer and Wes Craig, packed with superhero team action from rising talent in the biz. … “Riverdale, you wanted the best, you got the best!” Melding a long tradition of incongruous crossovers (see Archie Meets the Punisher) and the vital fluid of KISS marketing, we present Archie #627 - Archie Meets KISS! … For tales of the weird and absurd, look no further than Michael Kupperman’s Tales Designed to Thrizzle #7. That’s right, more tales of Snake N’ Bacon plus this ish features the comic book debut of creepy 70s TV medical examiner, Quincy, M.E. in ‘Quinception’…. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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Excelsior! Fifty years ago, Fantastic Four debuted as Marvel’s grounded in reality super family, sprouting from the minds of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. 50 years on, the selfsame World’s Greatest Comics Magazine celebrates 600 issues, natch! We hope will we finally see the return of the Human Torch! … Families have their share of complicated history in the Marvel Universe, and as you belly up to that Thanksgiving table, be thankful your twin brother isn’t in The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Catch Avengers Origins Quicksilver And Scarlet Witch over some pumpkin pie. … Terry Moore continues his nifty art school series this week with How To Draw #2 - Expressions. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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An old enemy of the Waynes in Gotham City resurfaces as crime spikes, busying the Dark Knight with bat-famliy domestic disturbances in Batman #3. … British creator Paul Grist delights audiences with his adept cartooning and clever callbacks to comic book history. Welcome Grist’s teenage Mudman #1 from Image Comics into your home, but insist on leaving those boots at the door! … Superior and Kick Ass fans, get the Kapow Guinness World Record Special penned by over 50 creators in just 12 hours to benefit sick kids. … LeaguePodcast.com have reached a comic book milestone today - download or stream episode #100 today! Special shout-out from our nerd MC Frontalot here!
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Manhattan is cured from the #SpiderIsland virus, thank goodness. Spidey gets to focus on his new role as a member of the Avengers in Avenging Spider-Man #1, a modern take on the Marvel Two-In-One stories of the Seventies! Brave? Sure. Bold? Uh-huh. Wise-cracking action? You can bet on it, Tiger! … House Of Night #1 follows chosen young ladies banished to the woods to survive a vampiric turn. Follow the fledgelings monthly from Dark Horse, in an adaptation and expansion on the NYT best-selling YA series! … What’s in your Magic Bag of Tricks? Something that’ll make you laugh, I bet! Catch a magic carpet ride to strange lands with Felix The Cat - Greatest Comic Book Tails softcover from IDW. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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Invincible (written by Walking Dead’s Robert Kirkman) is a likable teenager much like Peter Parker with Superboy level powers. Truth is, Mark Grayson has seen so much destruction since discovering his powers and taking on the baddest of bads that it may be time for him to hang up the mask. Don’t miss Invincible #84. … Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes #1 is co-written and drawn by Gabriel Hardman (Inception, Incredible Hulk). Boom! Studios stays well within the original movie canon pitting General Aleron face to face with Dr. Zaius! … The publisher’s KABOOM! kids line is fortunate enough to welcome Charlie Brown and pals back to monthly all-new original comics with Peanuts #0 for a cool buck! Sounds like a great excuse to visit your local comic book store with the kids this weekend. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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Looking for some last-minute costume inspiration? Vampires Marvel Undead #1 hits the shelf this week! This is your Official Handbook of the Undead Marvel Universe featuring Dracula, Blade, and even the recently bitten bloodsucker Jubilee of the X-Men. … Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Punisher, The Boys) debuted his horror film of a downed American helicopter in Taliban country at San Diego this year. Ennis continues the story with Stitched #1 from Avatar. Ancient supernatural powers make matters impossible for the wounded soldiers stuck behind enemy lines. … Usagi Yojimbo from Dark Horse celebrates a milestone of 200 total issues with a self-contained story of the rabbit ronin in “200 Buddhas” (issue 141). Congratulations to comic master Stan Sakai! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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We’ll gladly pay you Wednesday for a comic book today! Bela Lugosi’s Tales From The Grave #2 compilation features the story of a pop-eyed sailor released from a sunken ship after 70 years. This one is strong to the finish because he sucks out your soul! … Do you have a problem with the saucers? Addicted to abductions? Can’t make it through the day without an evasive space probe? Join the 12-step program in Xenoholics #1. Families and friends do not understand the truth about aliens, so XA offers support. Check out the hilarious preview here. … Who needs another Deadpool book, right? We do. Especially if the writers get to put Wade under the Marvel MAX 16+ explicit banner! Deadpool and his sidekick Bob, Agent of Hydra are accused of killing a quarter of a million people. Uh-Oh. Better call Saul! It’s Deadpool Max 2 #1! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!
Censorship is just plain rude and ugly. We’ve The First Amendment to protect us from the beast, and real-life heroes locking arms in city parks against the thing. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization protecting those rights in the comics art community of creators and retailers. The CBLDF Annual 2011 features too many creators to list, and John Cassaday’s muted Uncle Sam cover is awesome, check it out here. … Dwayne McDuffie (Static Shock, Justice League Unlimited) passed away unexpectedly this year. DC collects his Batman: Blink this week from Legends of the Dark Knight. … Just in time for Halloween, Marvel drops a Legion of Monsters mini! Make mine Morbius the Living Vampire! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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It’s October now. There is a sharpness in the appetite for the flesh as the cold snaps the air! Vertigo is reprinting its 1995 epic The Eaters, a story of your average American family, The Quills, who happen to find human meat delectable. … Penguin: Pain And Predjudice, written by bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz, delves deep into the past of Gotham’s deformed rogue gang leader from swaddle to waddle. … Avengers: 1959 by American Flagg’s Howard Chaykin is a period tale of Nick Fury’s Avengers with the flavor of Mad Men or this summer’s X-Men First Class. Fury leads his team of Sabretooth, Kraven and Namora to track down a secret Nazi cloning gang! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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The Bombpops have proven to be one of Southern California’s hardest working bands, drawing influences from ’90s skate punk and Fat Wreck Chords bands like NOFX, Lagwagon, Descendents, and No Use For A Name.
Fronted by two girls ripping on guitars and vocals, and backed by dudes holding down a strong rhythm section, The Bombpops offer a fresh, honest, in your face, delivery of catchy melodic pop punk songs.
Formed in early 2008, with members fresh out of (and others still in) High School, The Bombpops quickly established a name for themselves in the So-Cal punk scene opening up for punk rock giants such as Bad Religion, GBH, TSOL, The Adolescents, Strung Out and The Queers.
With their first official EP “Like I Care” released on Red Scare Industries in November 2010, their second EP “Stole the TV” on the way and relentless touring under their belts, The Bombpops have no plans of slowing down.
“Perfect for blasting through some pool corners or for keeping the good attitude going” - EuropeSkate.com
“The Bombpops are a female fronted quartet and a force to be reckoned with… Like I Care delivers some of the quickest and most melodic punk tracks of the year! “- Scene Point Blank
Hailing from the Hallowed grounds of the garage at 123 Centre Street (former home of the “Dropkick Murphy’s” and “Everybody Out”) comes Rick Barton’s latest and greatest incarnation “Continental.”
Continental will never be defined by a particular genre. They blend a unique style of rock, folk,country and blues to as closely follow Gram Parsons mission of “Cosmic American Music.” Some of the initial comparisons have been to Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and The Velvet Underground. Continental will be a touring, starving, and hard working band coming to your town.
Remember when punk rock bands played in basements? Tall boys, best friends, bad lighting, and bands without make-up or hair that impaired their depth perception? This is Hands Like Bricks.
A Los Angeles foursome with an idea that punk rock is about best friends having awesome times together, Hands Like Bricks write unpretentious, sing-along anthems that speak to your soul, and voice things we can all relate to. With an impressive punk rock pedigree that stretches from New Jersey to Los Angeles, Hands Like Bricks is bringing punk rock back to the kids that couldn’t find a family anywhere else, whether they are 13 or 37.
Craving a high energy musical fix full of soulful melodies, innate harmonies, and carefully crafted songwriting? SEXCoffee is an alternative rock quintet best served live, loud, or recorded. Sean McCarthy from Standard Times praises SEXCoffee as “a high-energy rock band with a solid reputation”, while The Noise Magazine says “They sound like a band that knows how to carve their own musical path and does so with aplomb.”
Through the in-your-face vocal presence of front-woman Ruth Charbonneau, the dueling guitar riffs of Joey Magnanti (guitar/vocals) & Josh Baptista (guitar), and the thunderous low end rhythm section of Sharlene DeNardo (bass/vocals) and Paul Campbell (drums/vocals), SEXCoffee’s eclectic musical brew is a genre-breaking force in both their recorded and live sound.
Sharing the stage with such high profile acts as Candlebox, Halestorm, Siobhan Magnus (from American Idol) Company of Thieves and Me Talk Pretty, this multi-award winning band maintains and values a competent work ethic along with attention to melodious detail. Once you’ve had a taste of SEXCoffee’s infectious blend, you’ll be feeling satisfied to the last drop!
Come early - Chip’s set opens the night at 8:30! Chip is saddled with the burden of being one of Clay’s closest friends. This Middle East Upstairs debut of the CHIP AND THE CROSSTOWN EXPRESS is going to be epic.
“Just in case you weren’t aware: Jimmy Fallon is my best friend. We opened an old phone museum. Fell in love with a Korean. Soup friends for life. Oh yes, soup friends for life.”- Soup Pals
Boston / New York singer songwriter. Tributes to old phone museums (Old Phone), The Turkey’s Nest in Brooklyn (Soup Pals), Jacket Magazine (Jimmy I Lost My Jacket), Jimmy Fallon , Brooklyn’s G-Train (G Train), Soon Lee from M*A*S*H (Soon Lee), and many more. The Chip and The Crosstown Express EP was produced by Randy Miller and Iyad Kheirbek (Wild Zero, C.O.N.D.O.R.).
Here’s Chip and the Crosstown Express at the Miss G-Train Pageant, 2009.
“Parker!” J. Jonah Jameson’s smitten by the same blasted affliction of his rival, The Amazing Spider-Man in this chapter of #SpiderIsland! Who’s the menace, now? The erstwhile editor of The Daily Bugle swings in to action as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Mayor in ish #670! ‘Nuff Said! …Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic? When we yelled “Parker!”, did your mind’s eye picture Ray Parker, Jr.? I think you better tap your bluetooth and call on Ghostbusters #1 from IDW! All new, ongoing, and slimey! Alright, who brought the dog? …Eric Shanower and illustrious illustrator illuminati Skottie Young bring you back to the land of OZ after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake swallows Dorothy and her kitten Eureka in our all ages pick of the week, Dorothy And Wizard In Oz #1! Picks from LeaguePodcast.
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Did you know there are still people out there in the world who don’t read comic books? That’s weird. I asked my main comic nerd Clay N Ferno, who does a weekly comics podcast, to share some ideas of jumping off points for people who are sick of reading books without pictures.
Luke and I are taking turns buying and ‘trading’ trade paperbacks of The Walking DeadAMC hit, Season 2 premieres October 16). That swap came to a halt as Luke prepares for legal battles with The Daily Show because of his current obsession with A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin (aka HBO’s Game of Thrones). He asked me to suggest some comics to this jaded blog audience and he promised I didn’t have to be funny about it or talk about masturbatory shame related to our girl Kreayshawn. “Bonus points for that, though,” he said.
First, a bit about our podcast. Not everyone in town has a comic book podcast, and believe me, our egos can take the blows of any criticism you might drop on us for that. Three of us have known each other from high school. ‘Awesome’ John Hunt was the older brother and Executive Producer of the VHS masterpiece ‘Dursin the Firestarter’ films circa 1990s Abington, MA. Like minds meld together. Jaush Lingel bonded with Dursin about comics over some beers at an ‘adult’ party, or so the legend was told to me, at the 2009 New York Comic Con. We’re not too old, too young, too nerdy, too humble, or too ridiculous for putting out a weekly podcast about comic books. John, for example, is a comic book colorist and letterer who’s worked on Star Trek books, One Piece and most recently at Marvel Comics.
For everyone that skipped to this bulleted list, here’s some comic book suggestions for you. Go visit a comic book store. They usually have candy this time of year. It’s a good time because DC Comics did a marketing stunt in September…and it worked. How they pulled it off was pretty awesome.
Catwoman #1 - There’s more bra and panty fetish drawings in this book than all get out.
Captain America by Jack Kirby, Vol. 1: Madbomb - Jack Kirby is the guy that made Stan Lee famous. To say anything bad about King Kirby damns you to an eternal damnation of Bronies dressing you up for pretty costume contest that you always lose. He invented Marvel Comics and got like 1% of the money and credit.
Tiny Titans Vol. 01: Welcome to the Treehouse [Paperback] (or just any old issue of Tiny Titans) - This is cute, younger versions of the World’s Finest Comic Heroes. Robin heads the team, but Alfred makes them take baths! I always ‘buy this one for my niece’ when I go to the store. Always some meta comic book in-jokes about continuity and costumes in here. Darkseid is the substitute principal! Aww Yeah, Titans!
Phonogram Vols. 1 & 2 - Kieron Gillen (now on X-Men!) and artist Jamie McKelvie (Cable, X-Men & More!) wrote this unbelievable tribute to new wave, magic, The Pill (Causeway Above the Penalty Box years), The Ting Tings, girl singers, love, betrayal, murder, and record collections. Set in 2006 London and referencing ‘bands I never cared about’ like The Auteurs, The Libertines, and Ocean Colour Scene, this well indexed tome is better than a Saturday night at The Common Ground (RIP). Just remember the rules - no boy singers, you must dance, and NO MAGIC on the dance floor.
OK, that’s it. Don’t be such a pussy when you go into the store, either. Just pick up some books, ask for one of these, and be a (wo)man about it. There’s no secret sauce, but the artists, writers, and John need you to spend a couple bucks at the store. I write the comic picks of the week for DigBoston’s Wednesday email. Check that out or see them on our page, LeaguePodcast.com where we make fun of girls, talk about working out, what’s wrong with Hollywood, and the REAL losers we went to high school with. Maybe you don’t like comics, but you DO like wasting time at work, so listen to our Odd-io Comics. These are audiobooks for comics. Here’s my favorites: SUPERMAN in POWERSTONE, and yours truly as SPIDER-MAN in BETRAYED.
—Clay N. Ferno, Assistant Manager, LeaguePodcast.com
J.J. Abrams has finally committed to directing the Star Trek sequel, and IDW is counting down the stardates with a new Star Trek #1! First up, a retelling of the classic debut episode, ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’ with the sexy new cast! … Tastemaker celebrities like John Hodgman, Ted Leo and our own Luke O’Neil got a smack of A Song of Ice and Fire when the show debuted on HBO in April. Dynamite brings you the adventures the Starks and Tyrion in A Game Of Thrones #1, with cover by Alex Ross! … A new Supergirl crashes to Earth as the Last Daughter of Krypton. She has the same powers as her cousin but does not have sympathy for humankind in Supergirl #1. It is a million times harder than moving to a new high school! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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MORIARTY #8
FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF SHADE #5
MONDO #1
