Justice Society of America fans, take note. It appears the speculation about the return of one of DC’s classic super teams was correct. Doomsday Clock artist Gary Frank posted an image on Twitter from issue #10:
The page, is of course, an homage to the Justice Society’s first appearance in All-Star Comics #3 from 1940. From left to right around the table are the Atom, Sandman, the Spectre, the Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, and Hourman.
“I know the wait for 9 is frustrating but here’s a glimpse of 10 to be getting on with.”
“The wait for 9” refers to the well-publicized delays that have plagued the series. As of this writing, both issue 9 and 10 are still on DC’s schedule for March.
This isn’t the first time Frank has used the Justice Society meeting table scene. Here’s a previous tease for #10, with an extra attendee at the meeting:
Still TBD in the series is the fate of the Legion of Superheroes, though there have certainly been ample hints dropped about upcoming news on that front.
Are you excited about the return of the Justice Society? Should they get their own series post-Doomsday Clock? Comment below!
In light of recent rumors suggesting that the Walmart-exclusive line of DC Comics 100-Page Giants could be nearing its end, Co-Publisher Dan Didio took to Facebook to address fan concerns:
“For those fans of the DC Giants at Walmart, have to clear up some misinformation making the rounds. Just want to let you know these books are doing well, so well that we are looking to expand the number of original pages in each book and include distribution to the direct market. Look for these and new titles later this year. The promise is to keep it one of the best values and reading experiences in the market.”
As you can see, DiDio’s statement not only (seemingly) puts to rest rumors of the line’s demise by announcing more titles still to come, but also takes on the frequent comics retailer complaint that none of the new material in the Walmart issues has been available via comic stores.
DiDio’s comments come in the wake of the news that DC Collectibles will be releasing a Batman Black and White figure line exclusively at Walmart.
Have you been one of the lucky fans to actually find the 100-pagers at your Walmart? Would you buy a collected edition via your comic store? Let us know in the comments!
Martian Manhunter #3 hits your local comic book store on February 27, but thanks to DC Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive five-page preview for you.
The book is written by Steve Orlando, with art by Riley Rossmo, colors by Ivan Plascencia, Deron Bennett worked on letters, Josh Middleton created the variant cover.
About the issue: Detective Diane Meade knows the shocking truth: her partner is not the real John Jones! With a gun to his head, J’onn J’onnz must explain his first horrifying night on Earth, and how he came to wear her partner’s face…but even as they speak, Middleton’s serial killer is back at his bloody work!
Check out the preview below:
Do you have Martian Manhunter on your pull list, what do you think of Orlando’s writing? Comment below with your thoughts.
Vik Sharma is the composer of Fighting With My Family an upcoming movie from Stephen Merchant and Produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson about a wrestling family and two siblings who dream of becoming professional wrestlers.
Fighting With My Family might be Vik’s first foray into scripted feature film scoring, however, the musician and composer is no stranger to creating soundtracks. Vik’s extensive resume includes The Undateables, Hoff the Record and Hello, Ladies to name a few.
PopAxiom spoke with Vik about his career making music for television and the jump from aliens to wrestling.
Opening Act
Fighting With My Family centers around a close-knit family which isn’t much different from Vik’s own life “My family was very musical. My grandfather in India was a classically trained musician. My father too and my mother works in music and the arts.”
Vik travels a little deeper into his musical DNA “You’re not really taught Indian classical music, you just sort of learned it orally and by being shown. So, I received no formal training.”
As kids will often do “I got into rock and roll … Picked up a guitar and taught myself to play. I’d play along to people like Keith Richards, Jimmy Hendrix, Neil Young, stuff like that.”
Vik joined bands, most notably one called Joi which was signed to Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records for a time. Joi brought the next chapter of Vik’s life “A filmmaker knew the band and asked me if I’d like to score his first documentary. I’ve been plugging away doing TV stuff.”
Out Of This World
One of Vik’s earliest gigs is a fun guilty pleasure — UFO documentaries. Vik worked on four episodes of Britain’s Closest Encounters “I got some recordings from pilots and conversations that took place over the telephone of people reporting UFOs. I incorporated that static and dialogue into the score. It was a lot of fun.”
Vik shares a not-so-serious behind-the-scenes moment “My original pitch was ‘let’s do dub-reggae. You want spacey? Let’s go there, man. But the Producers talked me down off of that cliff.”
Some could argue that David Hasselhoff is out-of-this-world and Vik also scored Hoff the Record. However, he never met the man himself “I would have loved to do a collaboration.”
About Fighting With My Family
Vik’s filmography includes composing for the series An Idiot Abroad. That’s where he met Stephen Merchant (An Idiot Abroad, Hello, Ladies), the director of Fighting With My Family. Vik appeared on Merchant’s podcast as a guest talking music. Then, one day, they were at a pub together watching football, the non-American kind, when Stephen brought up a new project “Stephen sent me the script, and it was laugh-out-loud funny, and it was feel-good, lots of heart, really good dialogue and imaginatively laid out.”
You don’t really think of Stephen Merchant and wrestling, but Vik thinks “… Stephen saw something in the character of Paige that resonated with him. He thought there was a lot of potential there. This sort of rags to riches story.”
What’s the soundtrack to Fighting With My Family going to sound like? “It had to be a kind of rock score. Stephen wanted the guitar to lead. We did a collaborative playlist on Spotify of what we might want in there.”
Expect the film’s score to be absolutely rock since that playlist of inspiration included the likes of Metallica, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, metal, death metal, and so much more “Motley Crew opens the movie.”
Wrapping Up
With so much content out there it means there’s a lot of stuff to love. Who’s composing work does Vik look forward to hearing? “So many. Johnny Greenwood, the guitarist from Radiohead who did You Were Never Really Here. Amazing stuff.”
What’s next for, Vik? “I’m just letting’ the royalties roll in! No, I’m kidding. I’m actually working on a solo album using this 3D recording technology. I’m recording outdoor areas like forests and beaches then writing ambient pieces to go with it. It’s a duet between Vik Sharma and nature.”
Fighting With My Family is in theaters now!
Thanks to Vik Sharma and Impact24 PR for making this interview possible.
Black Hammer ’45 by Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes, Matt Kindt, Sharlene Kindt and Marie Enger adds even more history to the Black Hammer universe with an action-packed debut issue filled with intrigue, emotion, occult threats, beautiful art and a rollicking narrative pace.
Black Hammer ’45 #1 Story by: Jeff Lemire & Ray Fawkes Written by: Ray Fawkes Art by: Matt Kindt Colors by: Sharlene Kindt Letters by: Marie Enger
During the Golden Age of superheroes, an elite Air Force crew called the Black Hammer Squadron was formed to fight the Axis powers. Facing occult threats from the German side, this team must save a family of scientists from the Nazi’s. But the mysterious and dangerous Ghost Hunter is hot on their trail.
Writing
The Black Hammer books have always been comics about comics in some way. From the beginning, the concept and story were deeply rooted in the history of the medium. Black Hammer ’45 is no different, as it’s a take on the classic WWII flying aces squadron (think DC’s Blackhawks). But like all BH comics, it’s also much, much more. The creators behind BH have always put a large amount of heart and emotion into everything; they also focus heavily on relationships. Black Hammer ’45 does just that. As awesome as the action and concept are, it’s the bonds between the Squadron that really pulls you in. The men are scarred both physically and mentally and all they really have is each other (this family dynamic is also something Lemire often explores beautifully).
Lemire is not writing alone here, he’s got seasoned scribe Ray Fawkes sitting behind the keyboard. Fawkes brings a kinetic pace to the story that gives it it’s a strong narrative drive. The narration is fantastic and ‘sounds’ real. It creates a voice inside your head. The two collaborate effortlessly and this is as much Fawkes’ book as it is Lemire’s.
Art
Matt Kindt’s art is unique and hard to describe, the linework is soft and sketchy. Perhaps impressionistic is the closest traditional art term one could use, especially with Sharlene Kindt’s use of light and colors. But it’s so much more than that too. It has echoes of the pastoral and the look of watercolors. It’s a beautiful book to look at. Both ‘quiet’ and ‘loud’ scenes also work within this style and look.
Conclusion
At this point, it’s safe to say anything falling under the Black Hammer banner is going to be worth your time and money. This growing universe and this book is a total must for any fan who loves comics. Do not miss this book.
Black Hammer ’45 is out March 06, 2019 from Dark Horse Comics.
Monkeys Fighting Robots, POPAXIOM, and Marvel Studios have teamed up to bring you three special screenings of CAPTAIN MARVEL!
The screenings will be held in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando on Tuesday, March 5.
AMC Sunset Place 24
5701 Sunset Dr Suite 300
South Miami, FL 33143
Regal Pointe Orlando 20
9101 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
AMC Veterans 24
9302 Anderson Rd
Tampa, FL 33634
The contest is straightforward to enter, find your city and follow us on Instagram. If you’re already doing that, share the contest with your friends to increase your chances to win. Check out all the options to enter below.
Winners will be chosen at random on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at noon EST. You will increase your odds of winning the more you share the contest.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Limit 1 admit-two passes per person. This film is rated PG-13. Must be 13 years of age or older to win passes. Employees of all promotional partners and their agencies are not eligible. Void where prohibited. Entries must be received by 11:59 AM, MARCH 3,2019, to be eligible to receive pass. Winners will be contacted via e-mail to receive their pass. Sponsors not responsible for incomplete, lost, late or misdirected entries or for failure to receive entries due to transmission or technical failures of any kind. SEATING IS LIMITED, SO ARRIVE EARLY. PASS DOES NOT GUARANTEE A SEAT AT THE SCREENING. Refer to screening pass for further restrictions. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON.
Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL
Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.
The film stars Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Rune Temte, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace, with Annette Bening, with Clark Gregg, and Jude Law.
Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” is produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Patricia Whitcher and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The story is by Nicole Perlman & Meg LeFauve and Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck & Geneva Robertson-Dworet, and the screenplay is by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck & Geneva Robertson-Dworet. “Captain Marvel” opens on March 8, 2019 in U.S. theaters.
After you see the movie, be sure to let us know what you think.
“If you could have any superpower, which one would you pick?” It’s a question people often ask as an ice breaker. You may also remember hearing it on the playground in elementary school. It raises two critical follow-up questions, though: Why would you choose that power, and what price would you pay for it? Batman #65 asks those questions.
The book continues the Batman/Flash crossover event The Price, which is also a Heroes in Crisis tie-in. Batman and Flash attempt to run down the batteries on Gotham Girl’s venom-powered undead fighters. Meanwhile Gotham Girl, her specific goals—if she has any at all—still kept ambiguous, plans her next attack against Central City.
The Writing
Batman #65 is more action-centered than the previous entry in the event, but the action is not as compelling as you would hope. For example, Barry describes Gotham Girl’s undead fighters as being like “an army of Supermen.” However, he and Bruce come up with a rather anticlimactic plan to handle the threat. Later, the duo go up against another attacker, only for the threat to fall apart in a few pages again.
The book’s more interesting aspects focus on exploring Gotham Girl. From the beginning, she saw herself as a support character to her brother. In this chapter, though, we see her striving to make up an origin story for herself and nail down a motivation. She invents herself in the same way a comic book writer would invent a character. And, by the book’s end, Gotham Girl takes an action propelling us forcefully toward the story’s conclusion.
Williamson’s writing in Batman #65 is good overall, with strong dialogue that manages to be emotive without slipping into melodrama. However, the action feels like an afterthought, only serving as beats to hit simply as we move the plot along.
The Artwork
Guillem March returns to provide art in this issue. Much like in Batman #64, the artwork is great on a technical standpoint. However, the frantic action goes beyond dynamism, to the point that it’s almost a bit overwhelming. It can be hard to decipher the flow of the work, as panels can feel random and chaotically-placed, making it hard to focus on any one image at a time.
Tomeu Morey’s excellent color work is, once again, a high point of the art. His colors are painstakingly-detailed, and truly gorgeous.
Final Thoughts
The storytelling in Batman #65 isn’t quite as strong as Bruce’s previous chapter. However, it’s a solid installment in the four-part The Price storyline overall.
Brian Michael Bendis has confirmed a second set of titles for his Wonder Comics line, including Naomi Volume 2 and a new Amethyst series. The writer broke the news during his Reddit AMA.
“Issue six wraps the first Naomi run. We’re going to do it Hellboy style because Jamal [Campbell] needs to take a break! David [Walker] and I will be building the next part, but by issue four of this series you will see EXACTLY how different. Naomi 2 joins Amethyst as a previously announced Wonder Comics Season 2 book!”
His reference to “Hellboy style” is an indicator that Naomi will be a series of miniseries rather than a traditional ongoing. We also got a look at the cover for issue #6, which ends the first volume in June:
The news about Amethyst joining the Wonder Comics line is further confirmation of what Bendis mentioned on Twitter in January, though we still don’t know the “major creator” to whom he referred.
Longtime readers might remember back to when the “Princess of Gemworld” first showed up in the DC Universe in the 1980s:
The sole title from Wonder Comics’ first wave still to debut is Dial H For Hero, which arrives March 27.
Have you been enjoying Wonder Comics so far? Are you looking forward to more? Comment below!
Valiant Comics is diving into the world of the dead with their new limited series INCURSION. The first of this four-part story introduces us to Imperatrix Virago, an extraterrestrial necromancer who has set her sights on Earth. And the only defenders standing in her way are the Eternal Warrior Gilad and a young Geomancer named Tama.
Story
Expanding on the continuity in any established fictional universe is a tough task, but Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel are up to the challenge. From the onset, they plunge readers into the midst of a starving planet overrun by a parasitic virus. There’s almost no context at first, but the intensity makes the initial confusion all the more exciting.
We’re drawn into the inner turmoil of one of the planet’s inhabitants as he pleas for mercy from their ruler Imperatrix, who reveals she’s been sapping the planet of its life. The peasant slowly grapples with the knowledge that they’ve been betrayed. Reader’s easily sympathize with his distress as any hopes for survival are extinguished.
Diggle and Paknadel also introduce us to Earth’s first line of defense: Gilad and Hama. Gilad, the Eternal Warrior, is a warrior charged with protecting the earth-bending Geomancers, returning century after century in a reborn body. Hama, Earth’s current Geomancer, is a young girl who’s learning how to control her incredible powers.
Through the Imperatrix, Gilad, and Hama, Diggle and Paknadel brilliantly introduce a new villain with its own history while also paying homage to the Valiant comic canon. This story’s foundation is solid and will likely entrance readers by the hundreds.
Art
Doug Braithwaite, Jose Villarrubia, Diego Rodriguez and Marshall Dillon offer great illustrations for this fantastic fantasy. With Braithwaite on pencils and Villarrubia and Rodriguez on colors, the reader is treated to highly detailed scenes of exotic alien landscapes one minute and a horde of undead charging through Iowa’s plains the next. Their ability to transition seamlessly between settings helps connect these new worlds to our own, whether they be an alien planet or dimensions containing the dead.
Dillon’s lettering adds to the dynamics of the story as well. Among these include variations he adds to the undead army’s speech, which helps readers imagine their guttural voices. This coupled with the other character’s inflections makes for an engaging story readers won’t want to put down.
Conclusion
INCURSION #1 perfectly sets up all the players in this epic battle for Earth. The plot might seem straight-forward at first glance, but readers will find there’s much hidden within each of its enticing characters.
Do you think the Imperatrix has the potential to become an epic villain in this series? Let us know in the comments below!
Jen and Sylvia Soska’s new run on Black Widow is shaping up to be one of the hero’s most intense stories yet. Recently revived from death via a cloned body, Natasha Romanoff has been spending time fighting corruption on the fictional island of Madripoor. This serves as the backdrop for BLACK WIDOW #2, which features Natasha’s rage at one of the most horrific imaginings in human history: a live stream torture website.
Story
Natasha is most often associated with the horrors she faced during her training in the Red Room. But she has never witnessed such widespread torture of innocent women as that on the website No Restraints Play. Site users are asked to bid on any form of torture they wish to command and the organization will find young women to inflict it upon.
The brilliant writing talent of the Soska sisters uses this horrific syndicate as the perfect outlet for Natasha’s inner demons; her revival forced her to relive horrors throughout her life as well as the events leading up to her death. And in her mind, the degree of evil behind No Restraints Play justifies any lack of restraint against it. She’s done playing by the rules propagated by Captain America and the other Avengers. Her one goal is to dismantle No Restraints Play at any cost.
Art
Clayton Crain’s cover art is a great visual setup for the book. Depicting Natasha fighting the crooks up close, as opposed to attacking from a distance like Tyger Tiger, shows how No Restraints Play has affected her on a deeply personal level.
Flaviano, Veronica Gandini and VC’s Joe Caramagna weave together action-packed artwork throughout the issue. Flaviano effectively uses blurred lines to bring Natasha’s quick styles of attack to life. In addition, Gandini adds in the right touch of shading to emphasize the dark horrors found in this story.
Caramagna’s lettering captures Natasha’s voice perfectly with its inflection in her threats against No Restraints Play. This adds greater dimension to the character and helps the reader feel her intensity.
Conclusion
BLACK WIDOW #2 brilliantly draws readers into Natasha’s rage and pain as they’re fully realized via No Restraints Play. Readers will be amazed at how far Marvel is willing to push her as a character.
Do you think Natasha will reach her breaking point in this issue? Let us know in the comments below!
