A Primal Killer is Humanity's Last Hope in DARK ENGINE @imagecomics
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- Published on Monday, November 17 2014 11:44
- Written by Johnny M
This woman is a force of nature in December graphic novel from Image
n desperation, alchemists on a cracked and ruined Earth—where dead men’s ashes rain down and a plague of spore-beasts terrorize the living—create Sym. She is their last hope, their Savior. The mysterious figure at the heart of the Image Comics graphic novel DARK ENGINE by Ryan Burton and John Bivens is a primal force. Her story begins in DARK ENGINE VOLUME 1: THE ART OF DESTRUCTION, due in stores this winter.
Sent back in time to save humankind, Sym is a relentless killer, with gore in her long hair, ribsword in her hand, and a skull as her helmet. But what her creators do not realize is that, though they created her, Sym will not necessarily do their bidding.
“I wanted a female Beowulf…a Gilgamesh…a Kratos that didn’t shy away from her instincts, that was violent, that was fury-born,” said Burton of his fierce protagonist in an interview at Women Write About Comics. “That wasn’t afraid to get hurt or make a incredibly violent gambit in order to cut down her enemy. I believe that all women are a force of nature — they are capable, they are adaptable, they are scary smart. So with all that, it felt natural to make Sym a woman.”
With visceral, hard-etched art and action spanning epochs, DARK ENGINE is a graphic novel experience that artist J.H. Williams III (Sandman: Overture, Promethea, Batwoman) describes as “an otherworldly horrific poetic movement that is immediately immersive.”
DARK ENGINE VOLUME 1 will be in comic book stores on December 24, 2014 and in bookstores on January 6, 2015. It is available for pre-order now.
DARK ENGINE VOLUME 1: THE ART OF DESTRUCTION by Ryan Burton and John Bivens, colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick
ISBN 978-1-63215-176-6
Diamond Comic order code OCT140619
128 pages, paperback, full color
$9.99
In comic book stores December 24, bookstores January 6
Rated Mature
Collects DARK ENGINE #1-4
Daniel Bruhl Cast in Marvel’s Civil War
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- Published on Saturday, November 15 2014 07:38
- Written by Johnny M
The celebrated actor to join the super heroic battle in May 2016!
Daniel Bruhl (“Rush,” “Inglourious Basterds”) has joined the cast of Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,” set to rock the Marvel Cinematic Universe on May 6, 2016.
The celebrated actor earned Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA and Critics’ Choice nominations for his role as Niki Lauda in director Ron Howard’s “Rush.” In addition to Howard, Bruhl has also worked with other esteemed directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Paul Greengrass, Anton Corbijn, and Michael Winterbottom.
Bruhl joins Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man), and Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) in “Captain America: Civil War,” with Joe and Anthony Russo returning to direct after this year's hit Marvel's “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
“With Daniel's ability to deliver intense, nuanced performances, we knew we had found yet another great actor to share the screen with some of our biggest heroes,” said Producer Kevin Feige.
Bruhl is represented by Tavistock Wood Management, Players Agentur Management, and WME.
Stay tuned to Marvel.com for the latest on “Captain America: Civil War” and all Marvel Studios’ films!
Monster Motors Roar Back To Life @IDWPublishing
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- Published on Friday, November 14 2014 11:42
- Written by Johnny M
Classic Monsters Meet Classics Cars This February
San Diego, CA (November 14, 2014) – Following in the tire tracks of this summer’s Monster Motors, about which Comic Book Therapy said “Monster Motors is a one-shot, but hopefully IDW decides to extend the warranty on this shiny new car,” IDW is happy to announce just that: February sees the launch of the two-part follow-up to the acclaimed debut by Brian Lynch, Nick Roche and Leonard O’Grady: Monster Motors: The Curse of Minivan Helsing.
Genius mechanic Vic Frankenstein and his assistant iGOR (interactive Garage Operations Robot) have moved to the quaint town of Transylvania, Kentucky. But this quaint town has a bit of a problem; it’s becoming overrun by Monster Motors! Vampire cars suck gas from their victims and lunar-powered werewolf vehicles grow fangs and claws when the moon is full! And that’s just for starters.
Someone has to keep them all in check. Enter MINIVAN HELSING: four-wheeled monster-hunter. It is his job to hunt down the Monster Motors and bring them to justice. His new target? Vic and his Frankenride, a monstrous truck made from the parts of fallen cars and trucks.
“MONSTER MOTORS is a world I love coming back to,” said Lynch. “Combining everyone's favorite monsters (and, with this story, monster hunters) with the coolest vehicles originally made me say ‘wow, if I were a kid I'd love to see this’. But as the world gets fleshed out and we start figuring out each Monster Motors' personality, I realized this was a story anyone can enjoy, no matter their age. It's got tons of action, it's funny, it's scary, and thanks to Nick and Len, it's the best looking book you'll read all month.”
Don’t miss the next chapter in the story Horror Talk called “the kind of fun, creative story that comics were made for. It's silly and easy for kids to pick up while also being smart enough for adults. This needs to be an ongoing title. 10 out 10.”
Coming This February from @IDWPublishing
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- Published on Friday, November 14 2014 13:33
- Written by Johnny M
Art by Nick Runge.
Guardians of the Galaxy Join All-Ages Marvel Universe
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- Published on Thursday, November 13 2014 13:56
- Written by Johnny M
Joe Caramagna does not treat reaching a new generation of comics readers as merely an issue to ponder; he goes out and does something about it.
So far, that has led to MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE and MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN plus the upcoming MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE SEASON TWO as well as MARVEL UNIVERSE: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN WEB WARRIORS, both due out this month. In 2015, Caramagna will add MARVEL UNIVERSE: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY to his roster.
“I love comics, especially super hero comics,” the creator states, explaining his passion for all-ages material. “If I want them to be around for my kids and my grandkids, we have to find that next generation of fans to keep the lights on for us when we're done.”
However, for Caramagna, the reasons do not stop at merely keeping the medium of comics afloat. He also sees it as a tremendous resource for the children themselves.
“The more they read, the better they’ll read, and if they can read well, they can learn anything,” he argues. “That’s why, in my opinion, encouraging our kids to read is the most important thing we can do as parents to prepare them for their future.”
Adaptations of Marvel’s several animated series present unique and effective opportunities for introducing the next generation to comics.
“I know from my own experience that having super heroes in movies and TV is a powerful tool for turning kids into comic book readers,” Caramagna recalls. “Before I knew there were comic books, I was a fan of the animated series ‘Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.’ So when I came across the comics, I was so excited! ‘You mean there are Spider-Man books I can read? And they come out every month?! And there are hundreds of them?!’
“It’s not just me, I’ve spoken to many comic creators of my generation who've had a similar experience with that cartoon. And if you talk to some of the new talent coming in now, they had a similar experience with the X-Men animated series in the 90’s. Because of Marvel’s great success in movies and TV, we’ve never had a better opportunity to catch the attention of young people on the outside and invite them in to share our universe.”
Bringing the sense of fun and wonder from the cartoons to the comics while still tapping into what makes comics great as a medium presents its own challenges, of course. But Caramagna has spent considerable time figuring out how best to balance the needs of being a TV adaptation and being a fun comic.
“To keep all of this from reading like a dry information dump, I make an extra effort to keep as much of the humor and great character moments that represent the heart and soul of the series as I can,” he reveals. “And if I can't, I have to create my own, which means getting to know these characters and their relationships inside and out through watching, re-watching, pausing, rewinding. And as a rule I keep at least one Spider-Man cutaway gag per issue, even though they’re mostly not essential to the plot. Because they’re great!
“To keep them reading, the stories have to be fun and accessible, meaning they should be able to pick up any issue of the series and enjoy it without feeling lost.”
While MARVEL UNIVERSE: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY remains too far off to speak to storylines yet, the other two books in Caramagna’s quiver will drop this month and he has plenty of teases to offer about them:
“In volume one of Marvel Universe: Ultimate Spider-Man, Spidey trained with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. to become the ultimate hero. For volume two, Spider-Man is called up to the big leagues and will be teaming up with some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes—and then some!
“In Avengers Assemble Season Two, the Avengers are over their growing pains as a team and are ready to take on the most diabolical villains in the universe. That’s right, we’re going cosmic! And that means the baddest bad guy of them all, the Mad Titan, Thanos! I don’t want to give too much away, but it rhymes with Minfinity Mauntlet.”