Once again I’m impressed and intrigued by the unfolding story in Kill Audio. As the story reaches its next to last issue with issue 5, Claudio Sanchez delves further into the reasons why the Void is trying to rid Sight and Sound of all art, especially the mixed up music world. Chondra Echert’s art once again contributes spot-on art that complements the cacophony and chaos surrounding Kill Audio and his compatriots.
It’s easy to tell from previous reviews of this title that I am a fangirl through and through, and with issue 5, I continue to jump up and down in delight when I read Kill Audio. It combines so well two of my favorite discussions: comics and music, and how they fit into the realm of art. Sanchez provides such insightful commentary amidst a raucous mix of action and humor that is so much fun to read. As this story begins, KA’s bony friend has been kidnapped, and his siblings are concerned about their brother Art. Seems he purchased some art at an art gallery, which is atypical behavior for the guy who’s supposed to be devoid of art and creativity. The plot thickens, but from there you’ll have to read for yourself.
If you haven’t been reading this book, what are you waiting for? Go find back issues and catch up before this series ends with issue 6 in March. You don’t want to miss it. It’s definitely not your typical capes and tights fare, but then I would expect nothing less from BOOM!
Stacey Rader
Senior Reviewer
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Tessaract: Part 2 of 2Doctor Who #8 continues where the previous issue left off, as the Acari spaceship and the TARDIS are both at a standoff and forcibly merged within Fifth dimensional space. Not only has this act invaded the home of the mythical temporal creatures known as Tef’Aree, it creates a scenario where both ships are threatening to destroy each other, and destabilize the Tef’ Aree’s home dimension. 
Of course all of this is just a ruse, as the main villain has set this scenario into play in order to obtain an artifact of unlimited power, capable of finishing off both the Shadow Proclamation and the Doctor. While the struggle for both power and freedom is quite evident in this story, the main villain’s motives behind such a move are still shrouded in mystery. For me, this is a major power grab, but to what degree? I mean you would think by now more would have been revealed about this grand scheme, but unfortunately it is not. To be continued I guess..??
I also feel there is a sense of competition for both power and recognition from the Doctor’s side as well via the two new companions Emily Winter and Mathew. Emily does not seek to be a hero, but she does come off as someone quite capable of getting the job done, if required. Mathew on the other hand, seems to be the “want to be hero”, who is either too late when it comes to saving the day, or feels unappreciated when it comes to actually being recognized for achieving such a goal. I understand why now the main villain manages to draw parallel lines between Mathew, Adrid, and Vislor Turlough. It’s feels like the old “Divide and conquer” trick, and only time will tell how this strategy will play into the villain’s grand scheme.
As I mentioned in my previous review of this series, the quality of the Tenth Doctor’s adventures seems to be improving, but yet I still find the minimalistic art to be very distracting. I know the devil is in the details, but it’s those little details which I find the most enduring.
Again, this is a great book for any David Tennant fans out there that are looking for the continuing adventures of Tenth Doctor. As for anyone else who wishes to pick up a copy, I do urge them to do so, and see what Doctor Who is all about.
Writer: Tony Lee
Artist: Al Davison
Ed Rondo
Senior Reviewer
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Radical Comics returns to mystic Arabian nights with Ian Edginton’s Aladdin: Legacy of the Lost. This revisit to the classic story of the boy and his genie is very faithful to what I remember of the old story, with a few new twists and turns. The story is interesting enough, but almost seems like a story better suited for cut scenes in a video game. However, Patrick Reilly’s lush landscapes and storybook-like illustrations are a feast for the eyes.
To begin, I am not saying I didn’t like the story. On the contrary, I actually liked the story, but in this issue, it was more setup and rehashing than “Wow, wait to see what happens next!” That can be a positive, though, because readers may stay tuned to see what’s new. Others may pick this up and realize they’ve heard it all before and not come back. My take on it is that if you’re a fan of Aladdin and Aladdin-type stories, you’ll enjoy it.
Reilly’s art is the star of this book. It reminds me of an old leather-bound storybook with gilded pages. The inks are warm and suit the richness of the story’s setting very well. He captures the action of the story as well as the magic of the old tale. The cover duties are shared by revered cover artists Marko Djurdjevic, Arthur Suydam of Marvel Zombies fame, and Clayton Crain, and all are equally beautiful, though I’m partial to Suydam’s art myself.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking to add a few new adventures to an Aladdin collection, or to anyone who likes a good old-fashioned adventure tale. Though this first issue was, in my eyes, little more than setup, I can see that this story has potential.
Stacey Rader
Senior Reviewer
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Warner Brother presents the opening 1:47-second clip from "The Babysitter" episode of "Halo Legends." “The Babysitter” was animated by Studio 4oC under the creative supervision of director Toshiyuki Kanno and producer Eiko Tanaka.
"Halo Legends," an all-new, CG and traditional anime PG-13 experience that presents enthralling new stories from one of the world’s most popular video game franchises, will be distributed February 16, 2010 by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™, as well as single disc DVD, On Demand and Digital Download.
“The Babysitter” focuses on the intense rivalry between the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) and the Spartans. When given an assignment to assassinate a high-ranking Covenant Prophet, a four-man team of ODSTs must accept a Spartan Sniper to their strike force. Each discipline learns something important about the other as the mission progresses into hostile territory - and old rivalries must be reexamined if the mission is to succeed. The episode emphasizes the differences in ability and style between the two soldier types, and features a few familiar faces – Dutch from Halo 3: ODST and his teammates Private O'Brien, Master Sergeant Cortez and Corporal Checkman.
Produced by 343 Industries, a part of Microsoft Game Studios, "Halo Legends" is a seven-story anthology – told across eight spectacular episodes – that explores the origin and historical events of the Halo universe and its intriguing characters. Halo Legends has been created in the same breakthrough format as The Animatrix and Batman Gotham Knight with each individual episode imagined by a cutting-edge, renowned Japanese anime director/animator.
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KIRKMAN & SILVESTRI’S DEMON SOLD OUT AT DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL
Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that following the path of Pilot Season: Murderer #1, the second installment of the 2009 Pilot Season, Pilot Season: Demonic #1, has also sold out at the distributor level.
”It’s really exciting to see the reactions of fans, reviewers, and retailers for the new Pilot Season concepts,” commented Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik, “We really appreciate the retailer support for another immediate sellout.”
From the creative minds of Image Comics partners Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible) and Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri (X-Men/Dark Avengers: Utopia, The Darkness), Pilot Season: Demonic #1 is 32 paged-look into the story of Scott Graves and his inner demon. Unfortunately for Scott, his demon manifests itself in his real life. Written by Kirkman and featuring art from Top Cow alumni Joe Benitez (Soulfire, The Darkness), Scott’s demon is only satiated when Scott kills. In a conflicted Faustian bargain, Scott will continue to kill as long as the demon promises not to make him kill his wife and daughter. Stalking the night as Demonic, a vigilante known for savagely slaughtering the wicked, Scott must asks himself how long can he continue living this way and if the demon is in fact real.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. plans to digitally release the comic through channels set up with partnered digital content producers for fans to catch up.
Up next for Pilot Season 2009 is Pilot Season: Stealth #1, set to hit stores in March. Written by Kirkman and featuring art from Top Cow studio artist Sheldon Mitchell (Trinity: Blood on the Sands, WItchblade: Annual), Pilot Season: Stealth #1 centers on the story of Todd Carey whose life is falling apart on him. While recovering from a nasty divorce, he learns that his daughter is flunking out of college and his father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Even though he is unable to really take care of himself, Todd allows his father to move in with him. What Todd doesn’t know is that his father is the masked vigilante Stealth, and has been his entire life. Stealth has many enemies and his erratic behavior could easily get him killed – and all these troubles fall squarely in Todd’s lap.
Pilot Season has been an annual Top Cow tradition since 2007 that give fans the power to choose the next Top Cow series based on a selection of one-shot Pilot Season “pilot” issues through online voting. The inaugural Pilot Season initiative garnered more than four million votes from fans across the globe.
Pilot Season: Demonic #1’s success joins five other recent sold-out Top Cow titles, The Darkness/Pitt #1, The Darkness/Pitt #2, Tracker #1, Angelus #1 and Pilot Season: Murderer #1.
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Volume Two of New York Times best-selling series by Berkeley Breathed features Ted Koppel introduction
The wildly successful return of Opus, Binkley, Bill the Cat and the entire cast of Bloom County continues in April with Bloom County: The Complete Library, Volume Two. Creator Berkeley Breathed offers even more funny and insightful commentary than in the first volume, while context pages help fans recapture the glory of the 1980's. IDW is also expanding the series to include a limited edition of the first volume, featuring a tipped-in bookplate signed by Breathed himself.
"In the spirit of humiliating self-disclosure that has become so trendy of late, I stuffed this volume with more embarrassing background stories behind the cartoons. Drugs, sex and gunplay, it's all there," added Breathed.
Beginning with September 27, 1982, Bloom County: The Complete Library, Volume Two offers every daily and Sunday through July 1, 1984, most reproduced from Breathed's personal archives of original art. Kicking off this second installment, renowned journalist Ted Koppel takes readers on a brief journey back to the Reagan years and reflects on the strips he shared with Opus in his introduction: "It's come to this. I'm the opening act for a penguin."
"Berkeley just turned in his margin comments for Volume Two," said editor Scott Dunbier, "and they are hysterically funny. One of the many things I love about my job is that I get to read things like this-before any of you-and I get PAID to do it!"
Bloom County: The Complete Library Volume Two features the introduction of Binkley's anxiety closet and boy genius Oliver Wendell Jones, as well as the fondly remembered death of the Bill the Cat storyline.
Bloom County: The Complete Library Volume Two is published by IDW under its Eisner award-winning imprint, the Library of American Comics. Bloom County: The Complete Library series is edited by Dunbier and designed by Dean Mullaney.
Bloom County: The Complete Library Volume Two ($39.99; 304 pages; hardcover) will be available in stores in April. Diamond order code FEB10 1005; ISBN 978-1600105838.
Bloom County: The Complete Library Volume One Limited Signed Edition ($50.00; 288 pages; hardcover; signed and numbered) will be available in stores in April. Diamond order code FEB10 1006; ISBN 978-1600107306.
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This Wednesday, IDW continues to bring you our G.I JOE series, plus Doctor Who #8 and the next installment of Angel: A hole in the World!
G.I. Joe: Origins #12
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Marc Andreyko (w) • Ben Templesmith (a) • Tom Feister, Templesmith (c)
The Baroness was once part of a respectable, aristocratic family, before leaving them in search of her own destiny. Soon, she would meet the man that changes her path in life forever. Now a deadly COBRA operative, The Baroness seeks this man once more, but perhaps rescue is not her intention...
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Angel: A Hole in the World #3
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Scott Tipton (w) • Elena Casagrande (a & c)
Continuing the harrowing story of one of the Angelverse's most controversial characters, Fred continues to be gutted from the inside out as Angel and Spike discover that the cost of saving her might be more than they can sacrifice.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Doctor Who #8
Click here for a preview!
Tony Lee (w) • Al Davison (a) • Paul Grist, Davison (c)
"Tessaract" Part 2 (of 2): With the TARDIS breached by invaders and with only moments before both vessels implode, The Doctor and his friends must find a working console and escape the fifth dimension. But what happens when the clock runs out-and everything ends? What happens to a Time Lord when his song finally ends?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
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Renowned publisher at the forefront of digital distributionInaugural appearance at Macworld, February 9-13, 2010, features the latest comic apps for the iPhoneTM and iPod touch®
Only one month into a new year, and the future is already upon us! Join IDW Publishing at Macworld 2010 for a glimpse at the great things to come to the digital world. With more comics available on more devices than any other comics publisher, IDW is leading the charge into this future, leveraging ever expanding technology to bring a new audience to the comics medium.
IDW at Macworld
IDW will be making its inaugural appearance at this banner convention, showcasing the company's unique comics interface and customer experience with technology partner, iVerse. Throughout the show, IDW will also be raffling off free comic apps.
"We're excited to be making our first appearance at Macworld," says Jeff Webber, IDW's Director of ePublishing. "The iPhone and iPod touch have helped make digital comics a viable medium. We look forward to reaching more and more readers with these devices, and also with the iPad. The iPad is a wonderful format for full-color comics, and we're already crafting updates to our comic apps so that the first iPad users can enjoy IDW comics."
IDW on Your iPhone and iPod touch
IDW is the first comics publisher to launch its own "in app purchase" storefronts for the iPhone and iPod touch with not one, but four new comic shop applications. For fans of G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS and Star Trek, IDW has introduced new comic applications that offer full collections all in one app. The company also introduced the IDW Comics app, which collects the entire digital catalog. All IDW store front apps are powered by iVerse.
IDW currently has over 300 individual issues available through the App Store, with more available every week. "No other comic publisher has made the same kind of commitment and investment that we have," added Webber. "Many publishers have made announcements, but none have delivered to the extent that IDW has.
"For example, with our store fronts, each comic shows the full page as well as custom-crafted panel-by-panel reading -- the easiest and most satisfying reading experience for the small screen. IDW doesn't cut any corners in bringing the finest comic reading experience to our iPhone readers."
IDW on Your Sony PSP
IDW is a leader on this new platform, and currently boasts over 200 comics. In addition to offering major brands like TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE, IDW has featured several of the company's creator-driven books with very strong results. IDW has pioneered a new reading experience by introducing audio commentary to creator-owned comics. This innovation has paid off, as half of the top ten books are consistently from IDW.
New Platforms in 2010
Charging ahead into the future, IDW intends to distribute the company's catalog on every major digital device and distribution platform, with comics coming soon to the Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble Nook, Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile, and PC desktops everywhere. Through direct relationships or distribution partners, IDW comics are also available through major US mobile phone carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and TMobile. IDW comics are available on more mobile phones and devices than any other comics publisher.
Concluded Webber: "We see our digital comics continually bringing new readers on-board. All these formats and distribution models allow us to reach casual or hardcore comic readers in whatever way they prefer. This, in the end, brings more people to comics and helps the industry as a whole."
IDW comics are currently available for the iPhone and iPod touch through the App Store.
IDW comics are currently available for the Sony PSP through the Digital Comics store.
Visit IDWPublishing.com to sign up for updates and learn more about the company and its top-selling books.
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Don’t miss the brand new Avengers #1, from the superstar creative team of Brian Bendis and John Romita Jr, this May!
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Gail Simone, Amanda Conner and Colleen Doran Join High Profile Personalities
Women creators form a significant part of the powerful programming that is being put together by officials at C2E2. The new pop culture show is set to launch at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center, April 16 -18, 2010 and the women who will be participating in various appearances and activities are the best in their field and they represent the convention’s overall goal to focus on top notch talent. The new guests who will be appearing at C2E2 include award-winning and critically acclaimed writer Gail Simone, and renowned illustrators Amanda Conner and Colleen Doran. These creators join previously announced female creator Jill Thompson. All the women who will be featured guests at C2E2 are accomplished artists who have wide and loyal audiences.
Other guests who have already been announced for C2E2 include: Chuck Dixon, Steve Epting, Jackson Guice, Gene Ha, Bob Layton, David Lloyd, Steve McNiven, Mike Mignola, Mark Morales, Mike Norton, Joshua Ortega, Mike Perkins, Khoi Pham, Alex Ross, Jeff Smith, Ben Templesmith, David Uslan, and Ethan Van Sciver.
"We are wowed with the amazing line up of talented artists appearing at C2E2,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President for the Reed Pop Culture Group and Show Manager for C2E2. “Every single creator and artist brings their own sensibility to the show and we want to embrace each individual and give them their own platform to speak and to meet their own individual audience. I couldn't be happier that we have such a diverse group of talent already lined up for C2E2. And we still have so much more to come!"
The women artists joining the pop blowout at C2E2 include:
Amanda Conner: Amanda Conner started out working as an illustrator for New York ad agencies Kornhauser and Calene and Kidvertisers. She worked on a number of launches and campaigns including Arm and Hammer, PlaySchool and Nickelodeon; however, loving comic books and cartooning the most, Amanda found herself working with Marvel on their Barbie and Disney lines. At the same time, she was illustrating Soul Searchers & Co. for Claypool Comics and was soon working on other Marvel projects, such as Excalibur and Suburban Jersey Ninja She-Devils. Amanda then moved on to do what is probably her best known work -- several years as penciler on the hit series Vampirella for Harris Comics. While illustrating Vampirella, Amanda worked with the top writers in the field, Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Warren Ellis. Continuing to expand her horizons, Amanda illustrated the best-selling Event Comic Painkiller Jane vs. The Darkness and went on to work on Painkiller Jane #0. She also wrote and illustrated a story for Kid Death and Fluffy. Since then, Amanda has moved on and has worked on many of the top titles in comics such as Lois Lane, Codename: Knockout, Terra and Birds of Prey for DC, X-Men Unlimited for Marvel, co-created Gatecrasher for BlackBull Comics, and The Pro, a creator-owned book for Image with Jimmy Palmiotti and Garth Ennis. Amanda's work can also be seen outside the comic book world in such places as ABC's Nightline, The New York Times, and Mad Magazine. Amanda’s current work can be seen in Powergirl monthly for DC Comics as well as the Supergirl series for Wednesday Comics.
Katie Cook: Katie Cook is a popular artist among Star Wars fans. Her work can be seen in many Topps Star Wars Trading Card sets, Star Wars how-to-draw tutorials, and webcomics for The Clone Wars on starwars.com. She's also done licensed work for The Lord of the Rings, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Heroes, and -- soon -- Fraggle Rock! A fan favorite and a huge nerd, her work can be found at www.katiecandraw.com.
Colleen Doran: Colleen Doran is an illustrator with hundreds of credits for clients including Lucasfilm, The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, DC Comics, Reader’s Digest, Scholastic, and many more. She was artist in residence at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC where she lectured on Hokusai and ukiyo-e prints and their relation to pop culture and manga. She has also lectured on graphic novels in arenas as diverse as the Singapore Writers Festival and the American Library Association. Further, she has illustrated the work of Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice, and Clive Barker. Currently, she is working on two original graphic novels for Vertigo, one by Warren Ellis called Stealth Tribes, and another by the Eisner-nominee Derek McCulloch entitled Gone to Amerikay. She is also artist for an upcoming original graphic novel for publisher Houghton Mifflin with best-selling novelist Barry Lyga. Other credits include Wonder Woman, Amazing Spider-Man, X-Factor, Captain America, Teen Titans, and officially licensed illustrations for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings. Her graphic novel series A Distant Soil, published by Image Comics, was listed among the 101 best graphic novels of all time and has tens of thousands of readers online.
Lora Innes: Lora Innes's first solo work, The Dreamer, was published by IDW Publishing as a six issue mini-series, then collected as a graphic novel. The Dreamer began as a webcomic in 2007 and quickly gathered a large, cult-like following online. This year, The Dreamer collected two Harvey Award nominations: Best New Series and Best New Talent for Innes herself. The Dreamer is currently a finalist in the 2009 Cybils in the Graphic Novel for Young Adults category. Lora has also done work for Vertigo's American Splendor. Read The Dreamer online at www.thedreamercomic.com.
Sherrilyn Kenyon: The #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon lives a life of extraordinary danger... as does any woman with three sons, a husband, a menagerie of pets, and a collection of swords that all of the above have a major fixation with. But when not running interference (or dashing off to the emergency room), she's found chained to her computer where she likes to play with all her imaginary friends. With more than twenty million copies of her books in print, in over thirty countries, she certainly has a lot of friends to play with, too. In the past two years, her books have claimed the coveted #1 best-selling spot ten times, and this extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre she writes in. Her current series include The Dark-Hunters, The League, Lords of Avalon, BAD Agency, and the forthcoming Nevermore and Chronicles of Nick. Her Lords of Avalon novels have been adapted by Marvel and her Dark-Hunter novels are now a New York Times bestselling manga published by St. Martins.
Gail Simone: Gail Simone is an award-winning, critically acclaimed writer of comic books and animation. She has had classic runs on titles including Action Comics, Deadpool, Agent X, The All-New Atom, The Simpsons, and The Secret Six, as well as her creator-owned works, Killer Princesses (with co-creator Lea Hernandez) and Welcome to Tranquility. She is currently resuming her definitive run on DC's Birds of Prey. In animation, she's written for Justice League Unlimited and The Brave and The Bold and was co-writer of The Wonder Woman animated film. Gail lives with her family on the Oregon coast.
Allison Sohn: Allison Sohn is an illustrator working primarily in the trading card industry. Allison has worked on such licensed card sets as The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Heroes, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Red Sonja to name but a few. Drawing for both sketch cards as well as printed cards, Allison has been featured in more than a dozen different trading card sets in the last several years. Visit www.justsayah.com and www.allisonsohnart.com for more.
For more information on guests, tickets, or C2E2 in general, visit www.C2E2 or check out the show’s official blog, MediumAtLarge at www.mediumatlarge.net, or follow C2E2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/c2e2.
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