How I Would Have Done It: New 52 Beyond
How I Would Have Done It: New 52 Beyond by Jerry Whitworth
Having covered Superman, Batman, the Justice League, and Young Justice in previous editions of “How I Would Have Done It,” now it’s time to finish out the new 52. When a new Earth popped up following Flashpoint, it essentially merged the Earth most stories of the DC Universe took place upon with WildStorm and Vertigo folded into it (with, of course, elements of Fawcett, Quality, Charlton, and Milestone already in the mix). However, a number of stalwarts of WildStorm were largely absent (or present but removed from where they were best recognized). Further, another opportunity was squandered to incorporate popular franchises of Hanna-Barbera which have largely gone extinct (outside the humor of [adult swim]). Previously, I had described how an Earth based on Hanna-Barbera would be popular with fans (as well as fairly easy to pull off). Now we can examine the DC Universe beyond the Justice League be it other heroes, in the past, the realms of the supernatural, or across the stars.
Read MoreHeroes Con 2013 Art Auction Walk-through
Heroes Con 2013 Art Auction Walk-through
Here is a video I shot while walking through the Art Auction display at Heroes Con this year. In some spots the line stopped me and at other spots it was rushing me on. So every piece may not have the face-time it deserves. PLUS I missed a few pieces. This is not all there was. I didn’t get the Batman/Predator piece by Suydam that was in front of the stage and probably more than a few of the final pieces that hadn’t been hung up yet.
The video has no sound to keep the comments made around me private. Play your favorite music in the background instead.
It’s over 9 minutes but worth the time to see all of the great art. The video is in high definition so if you view it at full size it will probably look good. The light in the room was pretty dim so it may not be the best video quality – but I tried!
How I Would Have Done It: New 52 Young Justice
How I Would Have Done It: New 52 Young Justice by Jerry Whitworth
Having covered Superman, Batman, and the Justice League of the new 52 previously in “How I Would Have Done It,” it’s time to look at the next generation. Of the changes made in the new 52, those to the younger heroes seems the most radical. Altering the time frame of the narrative to five years rather than ten or fifteen of the previous Silver Age-centric structure of DC Comics, a number of issues arose, most notoriously Batman and his Robins (four in five years seemed dramatically implausible). Fixes were hastily put into place, such as Batman operated in secret for several years before Superman first appeared and Red Robin may or may not have been Batman’s sidekick. Other issues arose such as Cyborg made a founding member of the Justice League and characters like Wally West, Donna Troy, Garth, Holly Robinson, Connor Hawke, Mia Dearden, Kaldur’ahm, and Stephanie Brown seemingly wiped out of existence. Lets see how the younger generation could have gone in the new 52.
Read MoreHow I Would Have Done It: New 52 Justice League
How I Would Have Done It: New 52 Justice League by Jerry Whitworth
Previously on “How I Would Have Done It,” we discussed new 52 Superman and Batman and now it’s time for the rest of the Justice League of America. The Justice League dropped the America from its title for the new 52 and subbed out Martian Manhunter (often referred as the heart, or rock, of the Justice League) with Cyborg (former teenage superhero who formed arguably the most well-known iteration of the Teen Titans, which was largely a group of Justice League sidekicks originally). Aquaman obtained a big push as Geoff Johns continued work on the character from his Brightest Day event as Green Lantern largely went untouched and the Flash continued on from Flashpoint (seemingly with Wally West phased out). Lets examine how the new 52 could have been done differently.
Read MorePower Rangers Reunion a Bust?
Power Rangers Reunion a Bust? by Jerry Whitworth
With Power Rangers Megaforce, the multimedia franchise Power Rangers is turning twenty years old. The season following it, Power Rangers Super Megaforce, which will adapt elements of Tensou Sentai Goseiger, Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, and the film Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle (which celebrated thirty five years of Super Sentai, what Power Rangers is based upon), will pay homage to rangers of years past and bring back some past characters from the series. When news broke of returning actors and actresses, the eyes of fans current and past turned to the series to see what it had planned to celebrate the milestone (especially considering the tenth and fifteenth anniversaries/reunion specials were arranged by a different company). Thus far, it seems fans have been given quite a bit of disappointment.
Read MoreSuperman vs. He-Man
What’s Old is New Again: Superman vs. He-Man by Jerry Whitworth
This summer, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe will follow Skeletor to Earth and battle the Justice League in DC Universe vs. The Masters of the Universe. Written by Keith Giffen and drawn by Dexter Soy set to start in August, this six-issue miniseries is the latest in a line of multimedia crossovers for DC Comics (including 2008′s Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, 2011′s Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes, and the aborted Transformers/JLA). The concept itself has origins in the Toys “R” Us-exclusive DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe Classics toyline that started in 2010 featuring two-packs of repainted/remodeled action figures from the DC Universe Classics and Masters of the Universe Classics toylines from Mattel. Both premiering in 2008, the separate toylines were produced by Mattel featuring sculpts from Four Horsemen Studios before being paired together later in seven sets. Beyond this, the Masters of the Universe has in many ways had a long relationship with DC Comics.
Read MoreHow I Would Have Done It: New 52 Batman
How I Would Have Done It: New 52 Batman by Jerry Whitworth
Previously in “How I Would Have Done It”, we discussed DC Comics’ New 52 and how Superman could have been revised in a different way. It’s only natural to follow with Superman’s grim ally Batman, one of the most popular and recognizable heroes on Earth. The Caped Crusader of Gotham City, Batman was left relatively untouched by the new 52 changes save for Bruce Wayne’s great-grandfather being involved with a secret organization known as the Court of Owls and the Joker given a Leatherface-like remodel. Lets take a look at Batman and how I would’ve done it.
Read MoreVALIANT Gets Fired Up for PHOENIX COMICON 2013!
Phoenix Comicon
This weekend, Valiant is hitting the road for Phoenix Comicon 2013 – the signature pop culture experience of the Southwest!
From Thursday, May 23rd to Sunday, May 26th at the Phoenix Convention Center, visit Valiant at booth #652 for a weekend packed with signings, panels, and exclusive giveaways!
Stop by for a full selection of Valiant comics, trade paperbacks, hardcovers and merchandise – including convention-exclusive, double-sided Shadowman #1/Harbinger Wars #1 Sketch Flipbooks! And get an advance look at the summer’s biggest releases with the Valiant Summer 2013 Preview Edition – a FREE convention-only comic book, featuring a look inside Quantum and Woody #1 by James Asmus and Tom Fowler and an extended preview of Harbinger Wars #1, the debut issue of Valiant’s first crossover event. And look for signings by Harbinger Wars creators Joshua Dysart and Clayton Henry throughout the weekend!
Read MoreRobotech RPG Tactics is Coming
Robotech RPG Tactics
Robotech RPG Tactics is Coming by Jerry Whitworth
Hit 1980s animated series Robotech has found new life in the tabletop wargame Robotech RPG Tactics.
Produced by Palladium Books, who has published Robotech role-playing materials for almost thirty years, Robotech RPG Tactics is a new game taking notes from sources like other tabletop wargames Warhammer 40,000 and BattleTech. Players will be able to delve into the Macross Saga of the series playing as either the invading Zentraedi forces or Earth’s Robotech Defense Force using miniature models of mecha like Veritech Valkyrie fighters, Zentraedi Tactical Battle Pods, and Destroids. Crowd funded on Kickstarter in April, the game met its minimum goal in only a few hours of being made available and has raised over half a million dollars with over 2,700 backers around its halfway point. Since the beginning, Palladium has offered incentives for the amount of funds raised adding new mecha for additional purchase, upgrading the quality of game materials, and increasing the number of pieces released with purchased sets. The Kickstarter for the game ends May 20, 2013 with delivery estimated for December 2013.
Read MoreHow I Would Have Done It: New 52 Superman
How I Would Have Done It: New 52 Superman by Jerry Whitworth
With DC Comics reinventing itself again with the so-called new 52 following Flashpoint, they had the opportunity to inject new life and story elements into properties that a softer approach like Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis failed to present. The result was mixed: initially boosting sales, after months of publication the result was sales essentially the same as before the change (while angering many fans in the process, most recently with the WTF Certified month of releases). Perhaps a different approach could have offered better results and so I offer my own interpretation. To start with, lets take a look at Superman where his new 52 version has largely been altered to try and separate the character from its perception as a “boy scout.”
Read MoreFree Comic Book Day: A Chance To Share What We Love
Free Comic Book Day
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: A Chance to Share What We Love by Jerry W. Vandal
On Saturday May 4th, comic book stores across North America will be giving out free comic books to anyone who steps into their store. Since 2002, the comic book community has got to take part in this event the first week of May and each year seems to get bigger and better. This year we will have a chance to get our hands on Marvel’s prelude to their big summer event book Infinity written by Jonathon Hickman with art by Jim Cheung. Geoff Johns will also collaborate with Richard Donner and Adam Kubert to write Superman (being promoted as a good jumping on point). Brian Wood is writing a Star Wars book and Robert Kirkman is releasing an untold tale for the Walking Dead. There are also 48 other books to choose from. With 52 books to choose from there should be something you like.
Read MoreGuardians Of The Galaxy
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy: An Overbearing Father and a Tough as Nails Team
By Jerry W. Vandal
Story Tellers: Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven, John Dell, and Justin Ponsor.
“Go Krutack Yourself,” Star-lord said defiantly to his father—King of the Spratax Planetary system. The opening scene between the king and prince sets up two things very quickly; Peter Quill, the Star-lord is a rugged playboy and he doesn’t think all that highly of his father. Now, I’m not up on Guardians at all. Outside of knowing of them I’ve never read an issue. I’d wager there are quite a few readers who are in the same boat and decided to pick up this book because it’s being done by Brian Bendis and Steve McNiven and that sounds like a great pairing, to see what one of next summer’s big comic book flicks is all about and/or there’s a talking raccoon in it who has a large krutacking gun and goes by Rocket Raccoon. I’m assuming the usage of an alien language to guise the swearing is to give the book an edge and an attempt to play up the whole “these aren’t your average superheroes,” type thing. While its usage of the word throughout the book feels a little forced it doesn’t hinder what is a good read and could be a very good series.
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