It seems Christmas is coming in October for comics fans this year as yet another gift has been announced. Legendary artist Alex Ross will be releasing a collection of portraits, done in his signature realism style, of Marvel Comics characters in the Timeless Variant Covers series.
Says Marvel’s Executive Editor, Tom Brevoort, of Ross’ work: “His work makes people relate to these fantastical characters in an entirely new way–they become plausible and real without giving up their larger-than-life qualities in the process.”
You can read all about the collection, and take a peek at the portraits, from the official Marvel press release below.
Are you an Alex Ross fan? Will this collection be on your Christmas wish list this year? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media using the link below.
MORE ALEX ROSS TIMELESS VARIANT COVERS COMING IN OCTOBER!
Spider-Man, Thor, Wolverine, and more featured in stunning covers by artist Alex Ross
New York, NY— July 20, 2020 — Last month, the first of Marvel’s Timeless variant covers were unveiled. Now is your chance to see the additional covers in this incredible collection coming your way this October! These gorgeous covers feature Marvel’s greatest heroes brought to life by the iconic art of legendary artist Alex Ross. Behold Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Jean Grey in painted portraits, depicted in their most classic and beloved costumes. Don’t miss your chance to begin collecting all 28 of these stunning variant covers at your local comic shop starting in September!
“Nobody else embodies the term Timeless quite as well as Alex does,” Executive Editor Tom Brevoort told ComicBook.com last month. “His work makes people relate to these fantastical characters in an entirely new way–they become plausible and real without giving up their larger-than-life qualities in the process. He’s also just about the hardest-working guy in the business–his output, given its quality, is truly staggering.”
See below for a complete list of the Timeless Variant Covers available in October. To see all fourteen Timeless covers, visit marvel.com.
Stay tuned to Marvel next week for a rare glimpse inside Alex Ross’s incredible creative process and see how his timeless imagery was made into a magnificent mural in Marvel’s NYC offices!
Valiant Comics’ superhero ninja, Ninjak, will return for his own on-going series in 2021 according to a new announcement released this afternoon. Written by Ringo-Award winner, Jeff Parker, and prominent Spanish artist, Javier Pulido, NINJAK #1 will bring to life a new chapter in the Ninjak mythos where the deadly super spy loses the cover of his secret identity.
You can read all about it in the official Valiant press release below.
Are you a fan of Ninjak? Are you looking forward to a new on-going series? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this exciting announcement on social media using the links below.
NEW NINJAK SERIES BY JEFF PARKER & JAVIER PULIDO ARRIVES IN 2021
July 20th, 2020 (New York, NY) – A spy thriller story that is unlike anything you’ve seen before starts next year in NINJAK #1!
Arriving in 2021, Ringo Award-winning writer JEFF PARKER (Batman ’66, James Bond Origin, Thunderbolts) and visionary artist JAVIER PULIDO (The Amazing Spider-Man, Robin: Year One, She-Hulk) have crafted a non-stop thrill ride that is full of shocking twists and turns.
Colin King is NINJAK, an ex-MI6 superspy who is second to none in the Valiant Universe. There is no target that Colin cannot strike, no mission that he cannot complete. But what happens to the world’s greatest secret agent when all of his secrets are exposed? The entire criminal underworld has Ninjak in their sights… How will the undercover operative survive when there’s nowhere left to hide?
“I love how Javier’s mind works,” said Jeff about the acclaimed artist. “He comes up with the most brilliant panel progressions and layouts, and very striking compositions that look so simple but you have to be a next-level talent to attempt a lot of what he does.”
“Senior Editor Lysa Hawkins’ relentless support, along with Jeff’s steely story-sense for adventure, and NINJAK is
the action book I’ve wanted to work on for years,” stated Javier. “In fact, it’s designed to grab the reader by the throat as soon as the first page is opened.”
Senior Editor LYSA HAWKINS calls Jeff and Javier an unstoppable creative team and a perfect fit for this globe-trotting spy saga. “Jeff weaves a spy thriller that starts at full throttle and never lets up! Coupled with the eye-popping bold strokes of Javier’s art style, you’ve never seen Ninjak like this before!”
Jeff Parker and Javier Pulido’s pulse-pounding adventure kicks off next year in NINJAK #1. More info will be revealed closer to the debut issue’s release date. Stay tuned and, as always, Stay Valiant!
NINJAK was co-created by Mark Moretti and Joe Quesada.
Executive Producer Gabriele Pennacchioli (Emmy-Award Winner for Love Death + Robots) and writer Tommaso Triolo join the international best-selling writer/artist for the erotic romantic comedy; Arancia Studio and Grey Ladder Productions to produce.
Mirka Andolfo, the international bestselling Italian comic writer and artist behind Unnatural, Mercy, Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman, has announced her debut animated project, SWEET PAPRIKA. Based on a series of sketches shared initially on social media, SWEET PAPRIKA follows the erotic misadventures of a career-driven woman—Paprika—who reluctantly engages a charming, if immature, delivery boy named Dill. Though Andolfo has only hinted at this story through her drawings, her fanbase has quickly embraced the mismatched devil-and-angel couple, requesting sketch commissions and even cosplaying as the pair at major conventions.
Andolfo is partnering with the Italian media company Arancia Studio and CEO Davide G.G. Caci to develop the animated project, which has been optioned by Alessandro Regaldo at Grey Ladder Productions. Andolfo describes SWEET PAPRIKA as an urban fairy tale for adults, carrying the coming-of-age themes of The Devil Wears Prada mixed with the progressive, feminist romance of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Sex and the City.
Gabriele Pennacchioli, who received a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Supervising Director on Love Death + Robots, will serve as Executive Producer. Pennacchioli has 25 years of experience in animated features, working on such films as Shark Tale, Shrek the Third, Kung Fu Panda, and How To Train Your Dragon. Tommaso Triolo, of the Italian comedy troupe The Jackal, will write the script for SWEET PAPRIKA based on Andolfo’s story.
“I’m feverishly excited to both tell the hilarious, amorous story of SWEET PAPRIKA, as well as see Paprika and Dill come to life (and flirt) through animation,” Andolfo says. “The production team has helped ignite what was once a dream into a vibrant and massive project. I’m still devoted to creating monthly comics, but the idea of starting a new adventure in another medium is exciting, and working alongside professionals like Gabriele and Tommaso is more than I could ever hope for!”
SWEET PAPRIKA takes place in a world similar to ours, but inhabited by characters with the appearance of angels and devils. Protagonist Paprika is a New Yorker of Italian origin, working endless hours as a Chief Creative Officer at a publisher in the center of the thriving metropolis. Far from a traditional princess, Paprika’s job and career drive consume her, forcing her to neglect her personal needs as well as her relationships with friends and family.
Enter Dill—a naïve and charming delivery boy whose “angelic” attitude grates against Paprika’s no-nonsense practicality. This odd-couple prince and princess embark on an unexpected courtship that both tests their temperaments, as well as embraces the themes of female empowerment and sexual identity.
“When I was contacted with the proposal to work on SWEET PAPRIKA, it was love at first sight,” Gabriele Pennacchioli says. “It’s a lively and inspiring project, with a dynamism suited to the magic of animation. Mirka’s imagination offers a wide and multifaceted world, with a breath of global creativity and Italian romanticism.”
We’ll have more to announce on the development of SWEET PAPRIKA soon!
Pardon the Batman (1989) reference. It was too much to resist.
DC Comics has release a preview of DETECTIVE COMICS #1025, the tie-in issue to The Joker War event. Joker has seized “legal” control of Bruce Wayne’s wealth and now…his tech via Wayne Enterprises R&D.
What’s a killer comic to do with the full might of Batman’s gadgets at his disposal? Find out when DETECTIVE COMICS #1025 hits retailer shelves on August 11th. You can read DC’s full announcement and check out the issues preview pages below.
DC is a on a post #PencilsDown roll. Does The Joker War build on DC’s momentum for you? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media using the links below.
DETECTIVE COMICS #1025
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Card stock variant cover by LEE BERMEJO
“The Joker War” explodes with an assault on Wayne Enterprises! The Joker has taken control of Waynetech R&D—and with it, all the weapons hidden in its sublevels—plus Lucius Fox as a hostage!
The Joker and his clown-masked henchmen are now using Wayne Enterprises as an armory, using sophisticated 3-D printers to produce weapons to rule Gotham City… but Batman and Batwoman might have something to say about that. It’s all-out action in this nonstop issue!
Whether it’s dancing or fighting with demons, BOOM! Studios’ Angel series does both with style. As quickly as Bryan Edward Hill dispatches one demon, finishing the current arc, he sets up greater challenges for the cast to face. It is not always obvious what is happening in the background but one thing is for sure, Hill loves to surprise you.
Angel + Spike #12 sees the Vampire with a soul fight against friend and foe, who are trapped within one body. With the heckling of Spike, Angel must decide how long to hold back before taking one life to save many. Meanwhile, Fred is learning all about her powers and potential but what will be the cost? In the darkness surrounding the cast, is anyone ever a winner?
Angel + Spike #12 Credit: BOOM! Studios
Fighting to the end
Demon possession is a popular trope within the Buffy-verse. Quite often extras get the body takeover treatment to cause trouble for the regular cast, however, Hill takes it a step further. Already in his run Hill has used the regular casts as hosts for supernatural creatures; it was his way of introducing Fred into the mix. The title character for the comic is basically a demon inhabiting a human body, so every time this trope appears the reader is forced to consider their opinion of Angel. Hill often draws parallels between the heroic character and the evil that he fights.
Within this issue Hill almost drowns the nuances of his story with violence and the magical transformation of Fred, overseen by Wolfram and Hart. However, he still manages to drop a number of hints towards the point he is trying to make, usually with the help of the sarcastic Spike.
This is an action packed issue composed of two separate fights that are linked by the possessing demon who exists on two plains. One is a fight of desperation with no control and only a small hope that the victim can be saved. The other is a truly magnificent transformation which wouldn’t be out of place in DC’s Demon Knights comic of old.
Although there is nothing groundbreaking in the development of this plot, it is the execution that makes it worth reading. There is no surprise in the ending of the Angel/Gunn fight however the violence that the vampire unleashes on the human is brutal. It is unexpected but, thanks to Hill’s script, completely believable. The sub-plot with Fred, however, is a different kettle of fish. At one point it reaches energetic highs akin to the best superhero comic only to bring the character, and the reader, crashing down into reality.
Angel + Spike #12 Credit: BOOM! Studios
Action Illustrated
Whereas Hill crafts an intriguing story about good versus evil, it is Gleb Melnikov’s artwork that brings it to life. With color work by Roman Titov, the energy of the action sequences burns through the pages. In L.A. the characters have a gravity that holds them realistically in the images even while their physical forms mutate. In contrast, the ‘inbetween’ worlds where Fred finds herself, the laws of physics break down and the rendering of the scenes produce a believable, magical world.
The major theme of this issue is the contrast between the worlds that Angel and Wolfram and Hart inhabit. Their approaches to confrontation are vastly different and this is depicted in the way that Melnikov draws both worlds. There is a clear distinction between them while maintaining a single style of art. Part of this is the coloring with Titov using different focal colors for each part of the story. Angel’s fight is shrouded in a sickly green, highlighting the infection that has inhabited Gunn. Fred’s world has a streak of blood red throughout.
At no point in the comic does the audience get lost between the different plot threads, even though the chaos of the fights themselves can spin you around. Clever use of panel layouts make the transition from one thread to another easy to follow. Melnikov directs the action and controls the reader perfectly. His adeptness for drawing horror is only surpassed by his visual storytelling.
Each panel is owned by the image it contains but the composition is such that Ed Dukeshire can place the speech balloons in the most optimal positions. The lettering guides the reader safely across the page, weaving in and out of the fights. Each speech is important, the words giving the reader access to the characters, but at no point do they infringe upon the action. They blend together to create a convincing and satisfying single entity. Where Melnikov directs the cast physically, Dukeshire gives each character their voice.
Angel + Spike #12 Credit: BOOM! Studios
Conclusion
Throughout Angel, Hill has played with the readers emotions and this issue is no different. Each month brings a roller-coaster of emotion as the creators dish out victories and loses. The straightforward horror aspect of the comic, with excessive violence and shock tactics, is played against a more disturbing aspect. The true horror is harder to fight and harder to see coming.
This is where Angel has excelled over the last year, building a world where every action has consequences unseen and trouble just around the corner. Just when you think you are winning you discover the opposite to be true. When you think you’ve finally defeated the evil, a new challenge rears its ugly head. And if that doesn’t sum up 2020, I’m not sure what does.
Well… Are they scarier in color? Image Comics certainly hopes so, and you’ll get a chance to find out for yourself in time for Halloween. Image is re-releasing Robert Kirkman’s seminal zombie series, The Walking Dead, this October in full cover with the help of pro artist, Dave McCaig.
This updated version of the series was announced today during the Skybund Xpo, and full color will not be the only new feature. The deluxe edition, available in your LCS on October 7th, will include an assortment of variants covers and commentary notes from Kirkman recorded during the original writing. Please note, there will be no trade version of this release, so make sure to get all the issues when they’re released.
You can read all about it in Image’s full press release, along with some all-color preview pages, below.
Are you excited for a color version of The Walking Dead? Does color make it better or just…different. Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media using the links below.
THE WALKING DEAD SERIES WILL BE IN FULL COLOR FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS OCTOBER
The pop culture phenomenon will be re-issued with colors by Dave McCaig
PORTLAND, Ore. 07/18/2020 — Read it again! Image Comics/Skybound Entertainment will revisit the historic independent series that took the entertainment world by storm 17 years ago—The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman (Fire Power, Oblivion Song) and Charlie Adlard (Vampire State Building)—with newly, fully colored issues. Featuring the stunning work of the masterful Dave McCaig, these new issues will launch in October with The Walking Dead Deluxe #1. Kirkman first announced the fully colored issues during Skybound Xpo, Skybound’s virtual pop-culture convention, earlier today.
This deluxe revival of the series will also feature a memorable array of variant covers—by such artists as David Finch, Tony Moore, Julian Totino Tedesco, and Arthur Adams—commemorating major character introductions and the series’ most memorable twists and turns. Each issue will include a new installment of “The Cutting Room Floor,” featuring Kirkman’s original handwritten plots along with commentary on abandoned storylines and plot points that may have changed along the way.
This definitive presentation of the story will NOT be collected into trade paperback any time soon, so fans and new readers should not trade-wait to experience this fully colored edition of the popular survival horror series. Issue #1 will be available on October 7. Each following month two issues will be released.
The Walking Dead Deluxe #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, October 7:
The Walking Dead Deluxe #1 Cover A David Finch & Dave McCaig – Diamond Code AUG200027
The Walking Dead Deluxe #1 Cover B Tony Moore & Dave McCaig – Diamond Code AUG200028
The Walking Dead Deluxe #1 Cover C Charlie Adlard – Diamond Code AUG200029
The Walking Dead Deluxe #1 Cover D Julian Totino Tedesco – Diamond Code AUG200030
The Walking Dead Deluxe #1 Cover E Arthur Adams – Diamond Code AUG200031
The Walking Dead Deluxe#1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.
Writer and artist Jason Howard (Trees) is back with a distinctly western-world take on Kaiju stories with “Big Girls” #1. The debut issue is packed with massive action, solid world-building, and enough political intrigue to make it as engaging to read as it is to marvel at.
“When men become giant monsters hellbent on destroying the world, only girls can stop them—BIG GIRLS. Meet Ember—she writes poetry, loves to read, and she’s a 300-foot-tall full-time monster killer! She and the other big girls are all that stand in the way of our world’s complete annihilation!”
Writing & Plot
The strongest storytelling aspect in “Big Girls” #1 is how deliberately Jason Howard presents the plot. The more boring expository reading on how the world ended up a giant-monster infested wasteland is cut up by fantastic turn-of-the-page reveals that work to really sell what this comic’s game is. The first time we meet Ember – the titular Big Girl – I audibly chuckled because of how simple and clever the reveal was. Much of Howards’s sensibilities about framing a narrative come from his work as an artist, but more on that later. This chapter also makes it a point to introduce the numerous complex motivations and conflicts within the small cast of primary characters. The troubling reality around the origin of Howard’s manmade Kaijus makes for what’s obviously going to be a compelling character drama in between all the gigantic punchouts. If there was any complaint to be had in regards to the writing, it would be about that noted expository narration. Again though, it’s so cleverly interwoven with the panel reveals and pacing that it’s basically a non-issue.
Art Direction
“Big Girls” #1 is a prime example of knowing how to utilize the comics medium for storytelling, as Jason Howard’s visual direction here is what makes this issue such a fun reading experience. The handling of the panel layouts and visual pacing makes this an exciting comic to flip through and be surprised by the numerous tun-of-the-page revelations Howard has to offer. One of the smartest moves in “Big Girls” is framing Ember and the various giant monsters from below, as a normal spectator would. This is a move common to giant monster movies, but seeing in in a comic where the reader can marvel at the illustrated scale of what’s happening on the panel is an excellent directing decision. Of course, none of this would mean anything if Howard’s art was no good, so it’s fortunate that he’s also talented with pencils and colors. The details and designs of the various characters, ruined environments, and lesion-covered monsters are polished and full of a kind of kinetic energy perfect for this kind of book. Howard’s crosshatch-heavy and textured work is reminiscent of the work of Cully Hamner or Sean Gordon Murphy, and it’s great art for this ruined-future action series. His colors dominate the pages with a use of eerie dark purple or pale green tones that work as a thematic blanket for different sequences. Jason Howard is a proven tour de force of comic talent, and his visual storytelling on this first issue is one more example of his know-how.
“Big Girls” #1 is a bracing good-time of a start to this giant monster-filled comic series. Jason Howard’s skills as both a writer and an artist allow him to craft a story that utilizes the comics medium’s ability to combine visual pacing with text narration. The use of massive turn-of-the-page reveals and cinematic direction, in combination with compelling plot and character work makes this first issue a very promising debut. Be sure to pick up “Big Girls” #1 from your local comic shop on August 12th!
Marvel Comics has released a cover for the upcoming X Of Swords event that puts the main villain on full display, the mysterious Swordbearers of Arakko. X Of Swords is the culmination of storylines first started in Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men run and Tini Howard’s time with Excalibur that pits the mutant menagerie against a new enemy not seen in the Marvel Universe up until now.
Says Marvel in their official press release: “Arakko and its visitors are shrouded in mystery, and none more so than the group’s leader. While her identity remains classified, her story is sure to shock X-Men fans everywhere.”
The X Of Swords event has been met with mixed reaction so far, but maybe an epic new villain is just the thing needed to build excitement for X-titles moving into the latter half of 2020. You can read more about the event and check out the reveal cover below.
Have you been hyped for X Of Swords so far? What are you predictions for the origins of this new villain? Let us know what you think in the Comments section, and please share this post on social media using the links below.
MYSTERIOUS CHALLENGERS EMERGE TO FACE OFF AGAINST THE X-MEN IN ‘X OF SWORDS’
BEWARE THE SWORDBEARERS OF ARAKKO
New York, NY— July 17, 2020 — X OF SWORDS, the next great X-Men crossover, kicks off this September and rages on in October with Chapters 3-11. Over the last few days, the covers for the October chapters were unveiled, and fans got their first look at the X-Men’s newest foes in Pepe Larraz’s cover of X OF SWORDS: STASIS #1. This mysterious group of swordbearers come from the land of Arakko, and the X-Men will have to draw swords of their own to defend the new mutant nation of Krakoa. Arakko and its visitors are shrouded in mystery, and none more so than the group’s leader. While her identity remains classified, her story is sure to shock X-Men fans everywhere.
Spinning directly out of Jonathan Hickman’s X-MEN and Tini Howard’s EXCALIBUR, X OF SWORDS will be a massive mutant milestone that each X-Book will take part in. Every current X-Men writer— Jonathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Gerry Duggan, Benjamin Percy, Ed Brisson, Zeb Wells, Leah Williams, and Vita Ayala— have come together to craft a modern epic that will go down in X-Men history! Joined by incredible artists like Carmen Carnero, Pepe Larraz, R.B. Silva, Viktor Bogdanovic, Matteo Lolli, Mahmud Asrar, Phil Noto, and Rod Reis, the dramatic battles in store for the X-Men will be unforgettable.
See all of October’s covers by visiting marvel.com and prepare to meet these major new players in the X-Men mythos when X OF SWORDS begins in September!
THE WOLF AND THE CROW #1 from Action Lab – Danger Zone, available now at Comixology, begins a mature and magical drama about a prehistoric tribe facing predators, starvation, and something sinister trying to destroy them. Dan Gordon’s story and Ismáel Hernandez’s stunning art combine for a simple tale about community and the rigors of life that quickly turns into a dark and dangerous fantasy.
Cover Art
Hernandez’s painting is saturated in the same watercolor style that permeates the pages of the book. The sabretooth skull immediately ties the reader to the prehistoric setting. The bleached bones creeping forward from the shadows let you know the darkness is something to be feared in this story, and with good reason.
Writing
Gordon demonstrates an excellent command of pacing and escalation with this first issue. The Lotari tribe is set up quickly in a series of scenes depicting life as a constant struggle to find food. Hunting and gathering are both deadly activities when attention slips for just a moment. Gordon establishes the personal dynamics and tribal politics through the hunts to very clearly establish power struggles on multiple levels.
The reader would be tempted to think from the first few pages that this is another take on Clan Of The Cave Bear, but then a few sparks of the fantastic pop in. It’s clear the tribe is not one big, happy family, and a dangerous, external force looks to push them into a different kind of hunt for survival. With each scene, Gordon establishes more complexity between the tribespeople, and the sparks of magic develop a sense of impending conflict that the tribe can’t see coming due to their infighting. I don’t often see a group of characters fleshed out so completely in just one issue, and the stakes build with every page.
Pencils/Inks
This book is gorgeous. Hernandez went with a watercolor style that projects a type of grounded earthiness that’s perfect for the characters, setting, and story. There’s a tendency for watercolors to bleed a little too much to the point of sloppiness, but here Hernandez manages to keep the finer details clear and recognizable. Blades of grass punctuate the river’s edge to accentuate the shoreline. Underbrush and vines flow over the trees where the tribe forages for edible fruit. Matted fur on deer, wolf, and mastodon lay in naturally organic patterns. The look of the book is beautiful.
Even more impressive is Hernandez’s combination of watercolor style with the action scenes. Instead of using the traditional action lines to express speed and movement, Hernandez uses sweeping, curving brush strokes to imply the blur of motion to significant effect. That combination gives a spear throw the energy of speed, but the weight of the thrower’s arm through the arc, creating power and exertion behind the throw. The net result is ferocious action inside a gorgeous painting.
Coloring
Hernandez keeps the colors grounded with a myriad of earth tones. The tribe is tanned and weathered from outdoor life. Their clothes, a combination of animal bones and hides, retain their animalistic hues from the different wildlife the tribe encounters. And Hernandez’s, again impressive, execution on watercolor style in painting shadows fleshes out the forest surroundings. The reader is constantly immersed in outdoor scenery that’s in constant motion through color, from crouched hunters silhouette against the rising sun to deadly arguments outlined against lonely firelight at night.
Lettering
Hernandez takes the art up another notch by integrating the lettering into the painting with an airbrush background technique that works beautifully. There are no caption boxes to speak of. Instead, Hernandez subtly softens a vague area underneath the blocks of narration text to provide a readable background that’s blended with the painting but still smooth enough to keep the letters clear. It’s a very specific technique that shows what can happen when art and lettering are done cohesively.
Conclusion
THE WOLF AND THE CROW #1, available now at Comixology, is a compelling, prehistoric drama that evolves into an engaging, dark fantasy. The writing builds a fully-realized world in record time, and the art is spectacular. I’m keenly interested to see what happens next.
Stay in your lane is a popular refrain offered when people speak out or enter into areas where others are not accustomed to seeing them. Actors or athletes crossing into the political arena can often spark someone to utter this phrase.
What about athletes turning into actors? People don’t seem to be as offended by that change of direction. Plenty of athletes dabble as thespians. Sometimes, it’s as simple as portraying themselves. Babe Ruth did this in Pride Of The Yankees, just as Brett Favre was himself in There’s Something About Mary.
Then there are those who almost seamlessly make the transition from starring roles on the playing field to starring roles in film or television.
These are the best athletes turned actors.
Jim Brown
Brown walked away from the NFL at the age of 29 as arguably the greatest running back in league history. His transition into a solid character actor on screen appeared seamless.
Brown made his film debut in Rio Conchos and was also stellar in the Dirty Dozen. He played opposite Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch in 100 Rifles, Arnold Swarzenegger in Running Man and Jack Nicholson in Mars Attacks.
Bernie Casey
A Pro Bowl receiver who played with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in the NFL from 1961-68, Casey turned to acting shortly after leaving football.
He made his film debut in the 1969 western Guns Of The Magnificent Seven. Casey played opposite Burt Reynolds in Sharky’s Machine and Rent A Cop. He was in the Bond film Never Say Never Again, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and the Revenge Of The Nerds movies.
Randal “Tex” Cobb
A talented enough boxer to earn a world heavyweight title fight against Larry Holmes, Cobb was known for his granite chin. He turned to the silver screen when he stepped out of the ring.
Cobb’s film credits included roles in Fletch Lives, Raising Arizona, and the Naked Gun and Police Academy movies.
Terry Crews
Until the current occupant of the White House moved in, President Camacho, the character portrayed by Crews in Idiocracy, was hands down the worst occupant of the Oval Office. He’s currently seen on the television show Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
On the gridiron, defensive end Crews played in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers.
Fred Dryer
Dryer played 13 NFL seasons. He recorded 104 career quarterback sacks and is the only player in league history to record two safeties in the same game. He played for the Rams in Super Bowl XIV.
Drye’s star would shine in the TV police drama Hunter during the 1980s, a character known for the catchphrase, “Works for me.”
Vinnie Jones
On the soccer pitch as a star defender in the English Premier League, Jones earned a reputation as a hard man. He captained the Welsh national team and won an F.A. Cup with Wimbledon.
Director Guy Ritchie cast Jones as a leg breaker type in his British gangster films Snatched and Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. His turn as a Manchester United soccer hooligan in the film EuroTrip was an absolute scene-stealer.
Alex Karras
An all-star NFL lineman, the first taste of Hollywood for Karras was playing himself in Paper Lion, the movie about writer George Plimpton’s tryout with the Detroit Lions.
His longest recurring role was as George Papadopolis in the TV series Webster. But Karras is best remembered as Mongo, the guy who punched a horse in Blazing Saddles.
Ed Marinaro
Before he was officer Joe Coffey on the acclaimed TV series Hill Street Blues, Marinaro was a Heisman Trophy runner up as a running back at Cornell. He led the nation in rushing in 1971.
Marinaro played in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks. He appeared in two Super Bowls with the Vikings.
Merlin Olsen
A teammate of Dryer’s along the Los Angeles Rams defensive line, Olsen is both a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer who was selected to a record 14 consecutive Pro Bowls.
Olsen landed a supporting role on Little House On the Prairie. He was later given his own series, Father Murphy.
The Rock
Better known to mom and dad as Dwayne Johnson, before he gained fame as a pro wrestler, Johnson was a college football national champion at Miami who got a pro tryout with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.
Today, he’s among the most recognizable action stars in Hollywood, though The Rock has displayed the acting chops to branch out into other roles.
Jason Statham
The British version of The Rock, Statham is an action star staple.
His athletic pursuits were in diving. He represented Britain at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.
Carl Weathers
Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies and Chubbs Peterson in Happy Gilmore, Weathers first gained notoriety on the gridiron.
He played for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and the CFL’s B.C. Lions.
Johnny Weismuller
A five-time Olympic medalist in swimming for the USA, to the world he is the true Tarzan.
Weismuller appeared in a dozen Tarzan films between 1932-48.
that took the entertainment world by storm 17 years ago—The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman (Fire Power, Oblivion Song) and Charlie Adlard (Vampire State Building)—with newly, fully colored issues. Featuring the stunning work of the masterful Dave McCaig, these new issues will launch in October with The Walking Dead Deluxe #1. Kirkman first announced the fully colored issues during 
