Dec 24 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Happy holidays! Color artist supreme, Val Staples, drops down the 11 O’Clock chimney to talk to us about X-Men: First Class and Jeff Parker, Criminal and Incognito, X-Men: Deadly Genesis, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Bruce Timm, Mark Texeira, The Four Horsemen, Tim Seeley, Mike Norton, CrossGen, Greg Land, Mike Wieringo, Robert Kirkman, Transformers, and COLOR, of course! BONUS! Xmas presents REVEALED!
Oct 01 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Titanic TOM FOWLER drops by to drop some science on his Mysterius the Unfathomable miniseries co-created with Jeff Parker, Wildstorm, Brian Azzarello, Howard Chaykin, Douglas Adams and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, DC’s Focus imprint, Steve Gerber, Hammer horror, Cameron Stewart, Gabriel Hardman and Agents of Atlas, Caper, Mad magazine and Monroe, Drawn and Quarterly, Darwyn Cooke’s Spirit, Andy Jewett’s SICKO, clever obfuscation of genitalia in comic books, Canadian delicacies, the didgeridoo, and much more! Bonus! A veritable mountain of Hotline messages and the winner of Adam Besenyodi’s Deus Ex Comica essay contest!
May 01 2009
This is the first issue of Exiles I have ever read. Which is great because it’s the first issue of the new Exiles series, so it all works out. I’ll tell you this right up front: I recommend this book heartily.
It’s no secret that I’m a big Jeff Parker fan. With this issue he not only gets you up to speed on what this is all about, but you get introduced to the team in a way where no one gets shortchanged. Salva Espin first popped up on my radar with the Wolverine: First Class series and I think Salva’s linework complements Jeff’s words perfectly. Anthony Washington’s colors enhance the art and Simon Bowland’s letters are perfect in the sense that they aren’t distracting with balloons and caption boxes placed in unfortunate spots and of course are easy to read.
As stated, this issue is a great jumping on point. Having no knowledge of the previous volumes, but aware of their existence, at no time did I feel cheated or out of the loop with the title’s history. The team consists of Polaris (from Earth-8149), Beast (Earth-763), Earth-1119’s Panther (not once referenced as Black Panther), Forge (Earth-2814), Earth-8823’s Witch (sans the Scarlet label), and Blink. We’re introduced to each member (save for Blink) right as they are about to face certain death, plucked from their reality and facing Morph, who gives them a rundown of what the Exiles are designed to do. Have I mentioned how accessible this issue is?
What I found interesting is that we haven’t been old Panther’s real name yet. The character doesn’t ‘read’ like the T’Challa we’re used to in the 616 and Beast mentions that he doesn’t sound like the Black Panther from his earth. Everything else appears to be the same. Polaris and Witch are half-sisters, Forge is Forge (and married), Beast, while Hank McCoy, looks a little more beastly and seems to have a bit of a violent streak if his introduction is any indication. Blink, who I know from Age of Apocalypse and the other Exiles series, is the only one without an introduction, but we get brought up to speed fairly quickly.
And the last page? If I wasn’t coming back for the second issue based on the first twenty-one pages, the last page would have sealed the deal.
Seriously, this is a must have. I’m delighted to be along for this ride.
Exiles #1 “Deja Vu”
Writer: Jeff Parker
Art: Salva Espin
Colors: Anthony Washington
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover: Bullock, Irwin, and Washington
Editor: Mark Paniccia
$3.99, 40 pgs
Jan 22 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Brion “Sal” Salazar returns to the dugout, dragging us through discussion on Jackson Pollock, Camelot 3000, Nova: Origin of Richard Ryder, Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson’s Manhunter, ROM: SPACEKNIGHT, Chris Samnee, anthologies, Justice League of America #27, Thunderbolts #128 and the secret of the sell-out, Jeff Parker and Tom Fowler’s Mysterius the Unfathomable #1 from Wildstorm, Ellis‘ Ruins, Faces of Evil: Prometheus, Faces of Evil: Grundy, Seven Soldiers, the best-written monthly comics, JCVD, Eduardo Risso and 100 Bullets, and much more! Yee! De Hotline es ringink!
May 23 2008
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
It’s all hands on deck as we discuss Vertigo’s new House of Mystery, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files #2, Gene Colan, Jeff Parker, fill-in artists, silliness (or lack thereof) within Marvel’s Secret Invasion, ‘76, Millar and Hitch’s Fantastic Four, Jay Faerber’s Gemini and Noble Causes, the Horus Heresy, Crawlspace: XXXombies, the Larsenverse, Invincible and Atom Eve, beer, and much more!
