In celebration of the 35th anniversary of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, return to the world of Thra in an official sequel to the beloved fantasy film. Discover an all-new race of creatures called Firelings that live in a realm near the planet’s core, based on official character designs by Brian Froud. Years have passed since the events of the original film, and though Jen and Kira have ruled Thra as King and Queen, bringing Gelfling back to the land, they have become distracted by power and can no longer feel or see the needs of the world the way they once did. Thurma is a young Fireling tasked with stealing a shard of the Dark Crystal to restore power to her realm. Along the way she’ll befriend the young Gelfling Kensho, bring back the Skeksis and Mystics, and embark on one incredible adventure.
Writing
After an eternity of waiting, the story many have wish for finally arrives. Based on screenplays by David Odell, Annette Duffy, and Craig Pearce, the long awaited sequel to the cult classic film The Dark Crystal can finally be explored by fans. After it was announced the sequel would finally be free of development hell and presented in a comic, many were fearful the project would live up to the hype. Fans have nothing to worry about as writer Simon Spurrier has successfully adapted these stories into an intriguing series which truly captivates the feel of the original film.
From the very start of the comic, the narration finds a way to perfectly capture the voice of the world. All it’s missing is Joseph O’Conor reading the words and it would feel like a direct continuation of the original story. From there the series introduces the reader to Thurma, a fireling, a character made of flame who has come to the surface world in need of the power of the crystal. Her curious nature and lack of knowledge of the surface culture helps to update the audience on what has been happening in the world of Thra. Still, she has a long way to go before she catches up with the heroes of previous tale.
Speaking of which Jen and Kira are back and haven’t lost their charm. Unfortunately, age has caught up to them so all they seem to do lately is sleep. There are worse ways for beloved characters to be portrayed than simply being drowsy all the time because they are so old and have lived such long and productive lives. Hopefully, they’ll get a chance to have one more adventure as the series goes on.
Artwork
The artist team of Kelly and Nicole Matthews delivers a beautiful visual aesthetic to the series. The appearance finds a way to encapsulate the original movie to the point you immediately recognize characters like Aughra or the new Gelflings. The bright, vibrant look of the book and characters makes it seem almost impossible to think this sequel could be told with just puppets. Though let’s be honest, the Muppet studios would have found a way to make it work, but if the movie was still being made there would be no doubt the production team would look to this book for inspiration on where to begin.
Conclusion
If you are a fan of the Dark Crystal, you need to buy the book. It perfectly captures the look and feel of the story. It aids those who wish to journey again to the world of the Thra and encounter all the wonderful characters who inhabit it.
All month we’ve looked back at the African-American actors, directors, and films that graced cinema screens throughout history. We’ve celebrated the likes of Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, and Voila Davis. The legacy of African-Americans on film is a long and brilliant one. In our last installment for Black History Month, Monkeys Fighting Robots looks to the present at creative talents who are making fantastic entertainment today. The future of African-Americans on film looks bright, and we can’t wait to see what comes next!
To call young director Ryan Coogler a rising star would be an understatement. His first feature film, Fruitvale Station won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance in 2013. Two years later, Coogler took the helm of the sagging Rocky series and made another Oscar-nominated entry by the name of Creed. For the past several months he’s been working on Black Panther for the Disney-Marvel Cinematic Universe.
John Barrowman has announced Torchwood: World Without End, the first compilation volume of the new Torchwood comic.
The story takes place after the events of Torchwood: Miracle Day and shares continuity with the Big Finish audio adventures. The book features Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams.
Jack Harkness is back in Cardiff, and there’s only one person he can turn to, the last person who expected to see him, Gwen Cooper! On the road, on the run, and under fire, can the pair put aside their differences and rebuild the heart of Torchwood, before its flame is stamped out forever?
John and his sister Carol Barrowman write Torchwood. John Barrowman played the lead character of Jack Harkness on Doctor Who and the spinoff. The Titan comics series launched in August 2016 and Torchwood: World Without End is available May 17.
Excited for more Torchwood. What do you think of the ways they’re continuing the series? Leave a comment below!
Spring and summer are just around the corner. This means bonfires, beach days, camping, and road trips. When you are planning on doing a whole lot of beer drinking, and making it an all day activity, Session Beers are for you.
This beer style is not defined by flavors or aromas, which can place it in almost any style category. Instead, what makes a session beer is primarily refreshment and drinkability. Any style of beer can be made lower in strength than described in the classic style guidelines. The goal should be to reach a balance between the style’s character and the lower alcohol content. Drinkability is a factor in the overall balance of these beers. Beer should not exceed 5 percent ABV.
This is the type of beer you can drink on a long term basis because the ABV is so low, and it is rich in flavor. Basically, it tastes so good you are going to want more than one.
with a sweet grapefruit taste, and the feel of summer, this juice tasting shandy will keep you company during your session. With an abv od 4.4% you are going to seep coming back for more.
Sitting at a 4.7% on the ABV scale, this IPA has the hoppy crisp flavor, one that you can drink all day long. It’s also available year round, and in both bottles and cans, including 15 packs for your session needs.
Coming it at an amazing 2.7% ABV, this is the true session beer. It’s a pale ale, and is as delicious as any other pale ale out there. It makes it easy to drink, smooth and fun bodied. Also available in bottles and cans as well as all year.
In case you thought session beers were just a brand, or wasn’t really sure what it meant, this article should enlighten and make you want to start your own session.
It was Two Beers founder, Joel VanderBrink who said the now famous quote
“I guess life gets a little more honest after two beers”
Detective Comics #951 hits comic book store shelves this week with “League Of Shadows Part I: Unleashed.” The mysterious war that Batman has been preparing for draws near as The League Of Shadows enters Gotham.
Shiva and her League quickly send Batman and his allies into a downward spiral of chaos. Framing Batman for the murder of Mayor Hady, killing two news anchors (Joker style), and setting a trap for the Bat-Family under the guise of a Joker attack.
Writer James Tynion IV finally gets to the big bad threat that’s been waiting in the background. All of his Detective Comics arcs thus far have been building to this. All plot lines and characters introduced and utilized along the way play a major role in Batman’s war with The League Of Shadows.
Shiva looks to be a brutal force, capable of crumbling Batman’s defenses. The Joker misdirection was well executed. Every member of this Bat-Team has had their moment in the spotlight. It seems Orphan is next up, this arc may dive deeper into her character.
Tynion has developed these characters, and their relationship with Batman, delicately. As they face their deadliest test yet, we’ll see if those extra “Mud Room” sessions paid off.
Batwoman’s leadership role has increased throughout the series. Her captive father may play a significant role in dismantling the League Of Shadows. Will she betray Batman and free her father in order to stop whatever Shiva has planned?
The energy and tension are big driving forces in this issue. Christian Duce and Alex Sinclair combine forces and deliver a visually exciting experience. Other than a few inconsistent panels, the dark tone translates throughout.
All the gory violence and mysterious nature of Shiva and her League leaves a lasting impression. The wheels are coming off for Batman, readers can feel that panic through the art.
Tynion and company deliver another exciting chapter of Detective Comics. All the groundwork laid up until this point is paying off. Stakes are high, the threat is big, Gotham is in trouble.
What do you think of this run so far? Is Detective Comics the best Batman book right now? Let us know in the comments!
After a mysterious plane crash in a jungle, a group of survivors try to piece together what happened and find a way to saves themselves. Meanwhile something stalks them out among the trees, and a strange transformation begins to spread among some of the survivors.
The Belfry #1 (One-shot)
Written and Drawnby: Gabriel Hardman Published by: Image Comics
Writing
This book was a total surprise, as I had not yet seen or read any of Gabriel Hardman’s work and had also not heard about this release. I’m glad I chose to review it, though, as it was a welcome change of pace. Not only was it a horror comic, which is a growing genre in the medium, but not as prevalent as sci-fi or superhero, but it was also a one-shot, which is a sadly rare occasion in comics these days.
The story is simple in set up; a plane crash, a jungle, and vampires. But it is heavy on atmosphere and narrative drive, and that makes it an excellent read. There is also a lot explained with story telling and not exposition, itself a welcome technique. Plus, it’s genuinely creepy and scary, which is hard to achieve in comics, but Hardman nails it.
Art
This is stellar art all around. Everything from the weird, angular panels and off-kilter page layout give you a very displaced feel, which excellently expresses what the characters are feeling. The vampire designs are also grotesque and eerie. The jungle, all deep shadows, and thick lines makes for an ominous visual setting. When the story gets gory, it’s enough to make you cringe (folks with eye-ball issues have been warned.) Everything here is a visual horror treat.
Conclusion
Belfry REALLY reminded me of something you would find in an EC Comic’s book like Tales From The Crypt. It’s short, quick and brutal. Pick it up for something new, and check out some of the rest of Hardman’s work. I know I will.
It’s the little brewery with the big plans. Tilted Mash is among the newer of the Sacramento region’s breweries and maybe the smallest. The Elk Grove tasting room is no more than about 900 square feet. That’s barely room enough for a 3-barrel brewing system, a small walk-in cooler, a bar and a handful of tables. That lack of room has not gone unnoticed by the two men behind the brew.
“We’re pretty much tapped out on our tanks right now. We can’t really grow from here on,” says co-owner Jonathan Martinez.
“The capacity is not with how much we can brew, but how much we can store when we’re brewing,” adds co-owner Derrick Prasad. “We just need space.”
Left to right: Current taproom, current cold storage
So less than a year after opening at their current location, Martinez and Prasad are getting ready to make a big move to a new location. Actually, move itself is small. It’s just around the corner from where they are now. But it’s the new location that’s big; huge in fact. More than 7,000 square feet. And for the Tilted Mash duo, they are literally building off the success they’ve already had.
Clockwise from top left: New main taproom, secondary seating area and barrel room, brewing area, kids room
“Everything we’re doing with our move is all financed through the taproom. It’s financed with us; we’re not putting any additional money in it. Everything we’re doing is either our labor or friends and family or ‘will work for beer,’” says Prasad with a laugh.
Martinez says the new facility was a former motorcycle showroom and that’s about how it looks for now. He says the huge space will be divided into four areas: the main tasting room, a secondary seating area and barrel room, the brewing location and a room just for the kids.
“We’re trying to make an experience. We’re trying to make our brewery a destination,” says Martinez.
“We want to make it a comfortable, neighborhood environment where people can just come hang out have a pint or two,” Prasad says.
The new space will also address the biggest issue for Tilted Mash, its overall lack of storage space. And it will also allow Prasad and Martinez to set up a canning line with the hope of being in regional stores soon.
“We’re not trying to push every beer,” says Prasad.
Martinez adds, “Overall goal is to bring people in, ‘Oh wow this is great, I wonder what else they have at the brewery?’”
The pair hopes to open the new brewery by their first anniversary in April.
It all Started in Preschool
This history of Tilted Mash goes back to preschool. No, Martinez and Prasad were not plotting to open a brewery between snack and nap time. Instead, they met while chaperoning a field trip for their daughters more than a decade ago.
“Derrick was just dabbling in the craft beer stuff, brewing at home and I was very interested so I wanted to just go and check it out,” Martinez says.
“And stand there and drink beer while I was brewing,” laughs Prasad.
They quickly became brewing buddies, using an old homemade 3-tier brewing system. In fact, Prasad says they used it so much, their mash tun started to tilt (hence the name: Tilted Mash). “Toward the end, one of us had an old grandma style heating pad with flowers and would have to hold it during the entire hour-long mash because we couldn’t wedge it to keep it stable enough with the liquid in there.”
Eventually, their beer-drinking beer-making hobby became serious business.
You can’t buy Tilted Mash in the stores yet, but you can buy crowlers in the taproom.
“We started researching early on what it takes to actually make it a business. So we’ve taken business classes, we went to Siebel in Chicago just to learn about the business side of brewing,” says Prasad. “Learned all that information and then promptly broke every one of those rules by moving into the spot we’re in right now, which is why we’re getting ready to move to a larger location.”
Things really took off when they came across an online ad from a brewery in Paso Robles which was selling a 3-barrel electric brewing system.
“The tanks looked brand new, looked like he maybe brewed on it once or twice,” says Martinez. “It was still spanking brand new!”
And Prasad says just like that they were brewery equipment owners. “Once we had it sitting in storage, it was like, ‘OK, it’s real now. We own a brew system. Let’s figure out how to do this.’”
Who Needs Sleep When you Have Beer?
Tilted Mash typically has eight different beers on tap.
It was the winter of 2012 when the Titled Mash duo bought their brewery system. It wouldn’t be until the spring of 2016 that Tilted Mash opened its doors. Why did it take so long?
For starters, Martinez and Prasad are doing it on their own. They didn’t take out loans or take on investors.
“We wanted to make sure we would be able to do whatever we wanted without worry about paying the bills,” Prasad laments. “We buy tanks and we buy stuff as we can afford it based on taproom sales. It’s a self-sustaining entity now.”
They both also have full-time jobs, Prasad owns a printing company, Martinez sells real estate. They also have families. So when you’re juggling that much, something has to give.
“Our brew days start like 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning and probably finish around 3ish,” Martinez says.
“You don’t sleep. We both have small kids too. We’re both involved parents, so one sacrifice is sleep,” Prasad adds. “We don’t miss events with our kids, we miss sleep.”
Barrels of Fun… and Beer
At Tilted Mash you aren’t going to find some off-the-wall craft beer. That’s not their style. What you will find is solidly crafted beers meant for everyone to enjoy.
“We want it to be comfortable. We want you to come in and not have to be a craft beer junky to sit and enjoy our beers,” says Prasad.
The taproom features 8 different beers at a time including cream ales, IPAs, lager and a red. That’s not to say they don’t experiment. In fact, Titled Mash is already gaining a reputation for its barrel-aged beers, specifically rum barrels from Saint Croix. They also use Wild Turkey barrels and in fact, the pair is about to embark on an experiment using both.
Rum and Wild Turkey barrels used for barrel-aged beer.
“We have a 12% Belgium dark strong, brewed in conjunction with a home-brew winner,” Prasad explains. “We’re going to release a non-barrel-aged version, but then put 1/3 in rum barrels and 1/3 in Wild Turkey barrels. And sometime next fall see what it turned into. Really differentiate what barrels do.”
Even though their previous barrel-age beers have sold out quickly, the pair admits it’s not exactly the most fiscally responsible brewing model.
“It’s something that when it’s done it’s very fulfilling, but financially it makes the business finance side of me cry,” Prasad says. “Of course, (we have) no investors so we can do what we like.”
And so far, doing what they like is paying off for the little brewery with big plans.
Like most Gore Verbinski movies, A Cure For Wellness delves into excess and extremism. A psychological horror-thriller in the vein of Shutter Island, The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and American Psycho, to name a few notable comparisons, it’s a demented, disturbing, delusional and utterly bonkers mind trip that, ultimately, weirdly charms you. Self-aware of its absurdities, and heightening them with pitch-black comedy and squirm-inducing visual delights, it’s a trippy, deprived mood piece that’s rich in translucent atmosphere, sickening imagery and heart-pounding discomfort. It’s an insane thrill ride.
On an untypical weekday morning, arrogant young hotshot financial executive Lockhart (Dane DeHaan) is given an unusual assignment. With Roland Pembroke (Harry Groener), the company’s CEO, secluded without contact in a remote Swiss Alps wellness center, where Pembroke shipped himself in order to cure an unknown (and presumed unreal) mental illness, Lockhart travels all the way to the mountains to retrieve his boss before their flailing company officially goes underwater. Upon arriving, Lockhart realizes Dr. Volmer (Jason Isaacs), the spa’s mysterious director, holds a weird power over his patients, one that enraptures Lockhart following an intensive deer-related car accident.
With his leg broken and his sanity questioned, Dr. Volmer performs a variety of different tests on Lockhart, all of which provide nightmarish visions and horrific eel-related images. Lockhart knows things must be askew, yet the evidence suggests he is, in fact, unwell. Only Hannah (Mia Goth), Victor’s much-younger sister, holds the key to his real safety.
Where so many directors service the studios these days, Verbinski genuinely takes risks. They don’t always work in his favor, admittedly, but he’s among the most exciting filmmakers we have working today, if purely because he knows how to excite you. His filmography ranges from generally misguided (The Lone Ranger) to criminally underrated (The Weather Man), but he’s an uncompromising, unrelenting force of cinematic fortitude. He is a filmmaker that challenges, provokes, intimidates and ultimately excites the viewer.
A Cure For Wellness is not his best work. It’s overlong, overstuffed, convoluted and its overreaching finale is perhaps a little (i.e. waaay) too goddamn ridiculous for its own, ahem, well-being. But Verbinski’s latest film, which is his first horror film since 2002’s The Ring and his first R-rated movie since 2005’s aforementioned The Weather Man, is an exhilarating, unintimidated mild return-to-form, filled with suspense, dread and gloriously invigorating unsettlement. Where other studio horror films lack a pulse, this movie pounds.
As such, this is Verbinski letting loose, freeing himself of nitty-gritty studio notes and overwhelming compromises, to make the ridiculous, inhibition-less horror film he didn’t ultimately make as a rightful follow-up to his unusually-inspired Ring American remake. For better or worse, Verbinski is a visual filmmaker with intensive drive and specific creative energy. To ignore or discredit that so easy — as his critics often do — is to discredit his persistent, continuous adversities in the face of studio-fueled cinematic banality today.
From the beautiful cinematography to the excellent production designs to the unnerving performances, notably from a committed DeHaan and a marvelous Goth, A Cure For Wellness isn’t necessarily the year’s most spotless movie, but it is an uncompromising accomplishment all its own. To hell to those who dismiss it due to its apparent influences. This movie might be inspired, yes, but that’s also what makes it so enjoyable and rousing. Yes, it is intemperately stylized and over-extended, but that’s what makes it all-the-better. Well, for the most part, at least. The creative liberties give it more queasy zest. The 2 1/2 hour runtime, while certainly exhausting, gets you further into the psychopathic madness.
Even in a time where horror films are more exceptional than usual, from The Babadook to It Follows to The Witch to last month’s surprising Split (at least, for the most part), A Cure For Wellness feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s fraught with high tension, unsettled invigoration and hard-fought artistic flourish, and that’s a damn good thing to see realized. Is it a masterpiece? Certainly not. Is it temperamental in its effectiveness? Sometimes, yes. But it’s just so exciting to see a movie this freely insane get the chance to go wild. Creative bankruptcy can be an uncurable nightmare, but that’s no concern for Verbinski.
Greg Hettinger, formerly known as the Black Hood, was living as a vagrant in California after giving up his life of turmoil as a masked vigilante in Philly. He just wanted trouble to stop following him wherever he went, but even living on the fringes of society couldn’t prevent that. His need to help others and stop to stay hot on his trail. The Nobody’s been scouring the country to find Greg, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. He’s dead-set on undoing Greg’s heroic work, creating a higher body count everywhere that Greg has stepped foot. Now it’s up to Greg to retrace his footsteps all the way back to where it all began—but what will he find there?
The Black Hood Season 2 #3
“The Nobody Murders Pt. 3”
Written by Duane Swierczynski Art by Gregg Scott
Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettering by Rachel Deering
Published by Dark Circle Comics, an imprint of Archie Comics
Writing
This issue of The Black Hood REALLY ups the tension and suspense, as the confrontation between Hettinger and the elusive Mr. Nobody finally happens, albeit just for a moment. Duane Swierczynski writes with precision, as we get sharp-edged interior monologs for Black Hood that truly depict the desperation the ex-cop is feeling. It continues the ‘hard-boiled’ style and flow that has been such a good part of this comic.
The Nobody also comes across as a deadly, yet entertaining villain (the best kind in my opinion), who, misguided as it is, has a philosophy for his violent rampage. I find myself thinking about HIS backstory and what created such a human monster of a man.
The pacing here is excellent, with a perfect ‘cat and mouse’ intensity that propels the narrative forward. We’re heading to a conclusion here soon, and you can feel the tension about to pop.
And then there is a surprising cliff-hanger of an ending that sort of turns the series on its head and brings into question some of what has happened not only in Season Two but in the set-up and origin of Greg Hettinger as Black Hood as well.
Art
Gregg Scott and Kelly Fitzpatrick drive the story with very cinematic panels and layouts, that really express the suspense of the narrative. There are a lot of ‘widescreen’ panels, scenes of driving, with claustrophobic depictions of Hettinger behind the wheel as we see slightly off-colored scenes of Nobody’s actions and their aftermaths. This juxtaposition makes the reader sweat along with the Black Hood, as we feel as helpless as he does.
As has been the case for the whole series, the linework and colors are refreshingly non-glossy and gritty. This work is comparable to what Sean Phillips has been doing for years, putting it in the BEST company for the crime comic genre.
Conclusion
Crime comic fans should really be reading this title, as it offers something unique with its mythology. It’s also a visual treat with a very taut narrative. Next issue seems to be the conclusion to this first Season Two arc, so it’s a good time to go back, catch up, and get ready for what is going to be one hell of a showdown between Black Hood(s)? and Mr. Nobody.
You can pick up The Black Hood and other Dark Circle Comics here or at your local comics shop.
This issue includes a backup, a classic Black Hood story written by Robin Snyder and Marv Channing with art by Al McWilliams. It’s a fun bronze-age story from 1981 that will give you a nice sense of history regarding this character.
Marvel must rack up a lot of macitence costs polishing those massive, brass balls of theirs. That’s only explanation I can think of as to why their upcoming crossover event, Secret Empire, is so damn costly. May will release the end of the Captain America Hydra Agent storyline that caused so much controversy last year. Yesterday’s solicitations for the month of May revealed upcoming plot details, artwork, and costs for the big budgeted, super-mega, crossover event. And yes, if we add all the comics that are connected to Secret Empire, it comes out to 55 dollars.
Now it’s time to play comic book math!
Let’s crunch the numbers! Each title below will have the exact price next to it, the numbers on the right (in parenthesis) will be the former number rounded up for simplicity’s sake. At the bottom I’ll add everything up for you, because I’m sure Math is the last thing you want to think about.
Quick note: some of the tie-ins don’t have plot descriptions.
SECRET EMPIRE #1. $4.99 ($5.00). 48 pages.
“It’s been building for months, across a bevy of titles! But now, the moment has arrived for Steve Rogers to step into the light and declare his allegiance to Hydra! How can the heroes of the Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted figure among them? And what will this mean for the world? The map of the Marvel Universe changes in ways nobody will expect — TRUST THE SECRET EMPIRE!”
SECRET EMPIRE #2. $4.99 ($5.00). 48 pages.
“Enshrouded in darkness, plagued by the minions of Baron Mordo and cut off from all assistance, The Defenders and Doctor Strange struggle to save the lives of the innocent people consigned to this hell on Earth. Will Dagger prove to be the key to stopping this nightmare? Meanwhile, will the appearance of a new hero provide Iron Man with the key to Captain America’s startling change? THE SECRET EMPIRE WILL DEFEND YOU!”
SECRET EMPIRE #3. $3.99 ($4.00). 40 pages.
“Under constant attack from wave after wave of invading Chitauri aliens, Captain Marvel and the deep space task force under her command is waging a war of attrition — one they may not be able to survive! And back on Earth, things aren’t looking too rosy for Hawkeye and his band of renegade heroes, either! But don’t worry —THE SECRET EMPIRE WILL AVENGE YOU!”
CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #17. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
U.S.AVENGERS #6. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“Steve Rogers shoots to kill — and A.I.M. is the target! As Roberto Da Costa’s dreams come crashing down, can the U.S.Avengers stay in one piece? Plus: Are we actually going to kill Cannonball?”
CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #22. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“In a world that’s undergone dramatic changes, Sam Wilson takes to the skies again! What is the mission that brings Sam back out from the shadows?”
DOCTOR STRANGE #21. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“New York City is under attack by dark forces, and only Doctor Strange has a shot at saving it. But it’s quite a longshot!”
ULTIMATES 2 #7. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“As Steve Rogers makes his move, the Ultimates find themselves on the wrong side of his plans. With an existential threat in control of Earth, Galactus might be their last hope… but the Lifebringer has problems of his own.”
DEADPOOL #31 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“Deadpool trusts Steve Rogers implicitly. How could he not? Now, it’s time to put that trust to the test. The result will have serious ramifications for Deadpool in days to come.”
THE MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL #5. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“The Chitauri fleet has nearly reached Earth space and it’s up to Captain Marvel to stop it. Taking on an entire armada of alien spacecraft is a tall order for Carol and the crew of Alpha Flight Space Station. Luckily they’ve got some help from their Sisters (and brothers) in arms.”
SECRET WARRIORS #1. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“Captain America has been revealed to be an agent of Hydra – and he’s coming after Inhumans! S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Daisy Johnson, a.k.a. QUAKE, wants no part of Hydra, so she goes underground, teaming up with MS. MARVEL, MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR, KARNAK and INFERNO to set things right – for the Inhumans, but also for the entire country! Penned by rising star Matthew Rosenberg (Kingpin, Rocket Raccoon, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank) and drawn by the immensely talented Javier Garrón (Death of X, Inhumans vs X-Men), SECRET WARRIORS is one part coming-of-age story, one part spy-thriller, all action and all heart. Don’t miss the next (and final?) generation of Inhumans as they take the Marvel Universe by storm!”
SECRET WARRIORS #2. 3.99 (4.00). 32 pages.
“When Karnak reveals what he believes to be S.H.I.E.L.D.’s true motivation for imprisoning the Inhumans, Quake finds a new sense of direction for her mission…but not everyone on the team agrees. As tensions rise between Ms. Marvel and Quake, Moon Girl finds an unlikely kinship with another team member. Can Quake steady the rocky relationship with her Secret Warriors before S.H.I.E.L.D. finds what they’re looking for? Or will a rift between allies leave the entire world in darkness?”
So of the 14 comics, three of them cost $4.99. That’s $14.97. We can round that up to $15.00. Plus, the ten additional comics come in at $3.99, which ends up costing around $39.90. We can also round that up to $40.00. Adding it all together, we get to exactly $54.87. But again, let’s round up for the sake of simplicity. As the title of this article states, the first month of this nine issue crossover event with tie-in stories will cost $55.
Of course it’ll be spread out over the month of May; nobody will be buying all in one go. But, even still that pricing is just ridiculous.
Comics are not as inexpensive as they used to be, and can be very expensive hobby. The rise in cost is more complicated than Marvel jacking up the price: economic inflation, printing costs, coloring costs, talent contracts, and other factors all contribute to the price. However, the expansive list of tie-in comics demands a stronger investment from customers.
There are two rebuttals that I’m sure many fans will point out. The first is that Secret Empire (particularly issues#1 and #2) will have extra pages than the average comic. That is definitely a plus, but for many people that $4.99 price point is still too much money to part with. Especially when there are cheaper books from other companies. Plus, those comics will still have advertisements in them.
Second, some people might say that there is no obligation to buy all those tie-in comics. This is true, you don’t have to buy them, and just focus on the main series, which will only be $15. That’s $40 cheaper. However, there’s nothing to stop Marvel from putting in vital information for the overarching plot in the tie-ins. They’ve done it before in just about every crossover event since the first Civil War. (The one event that sticks out in my mind as the biggest accuser of doing this was the awful Shadowland series). This strategy basically hijacks these comics into a storyline that could alter their storylines. Ignoring the completionists, who will buy it all no matter what, there will be fans who begrudgingly will buy the tie-ins featuring their favorite characters to see how it effects them.
What’s really bothersome about all this though (despite the incredibly high cost) is that Marvel has been crossover crazy for ten years now. And since Civil War II was introduced last May, Marvel has had at least one crossover event going on. Right now, there are two happening at the same time. Monster Unleashed and Inhumans vs X-Men; the former has a ton of tie-in comics too! And when those end, April will be the first month without a crossover event in 11 months.
Their crossover events, no matter how world shattering, have no meaning anymore. We as fans can’t savor them anymore, or consider them special, because they don’t break from the norm. They are the new standard. These crossovers are exhausting and causing a burnout amongst fans, and if Marvel can’t see that then they are willfully ignorant. Or they’re too busy polishing those massive brass, balls of theirs to care.
Are you sick of these crossover events? Want Marvel to change their strategies? Think I’m an idiot? Leave a comment to explain your thoughts.
The Belfry #1 (One-shot)
The Black Hood Season 2 #3
