Boom Studios has released previews for their books coming out on January 20th.
FARSCAPE #3 (Ongoing)
Written by Rockne S. O’Bannon, Keith DeCandido
Drawn by Will Sliney
SC, 24 pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
COVER A: Joe Corroney
COVER B: Will Sliney
Diamond Code: NOV090674
Chiana will do anything for her friends and on this mission to find Crichton’s pursuer that “anything” might include sleeping with the enemy! This Nebari will find out how far she’ll go for her companions in the third issue of the new ongoing FARSCAPE series written by the show creator Rockne S. O’Bannon!
INCORRUPTIBLE #2
Written by Mark Waid
Drawn by Jean Diaz
24pgs, FC, SRP: $3.99
COVER A: Dennis Calero
COVER B: Rafael Albuquerqu
Diamond Code: NOV090677
Last April BOOM! Studios showed the world that MARK WAID IS EVIL with the smash-hit series IRREDEEMABLE. Now BOOM! shows the world that Mark Waid is… INCORRUPTIBLE! In this new ongoing, the reformed super villain Max Damage and his sidekick, the less reformed Jailbait, set out on their first mission–to extract vengeance against an old ally who must be brought to justice and who holds an important key to Max’s plans to bring down the Plutonian!
MUPPET PETER PAN #4
Writen by Grace Randolph
Drawn by Amy Mebberson
SC, 24 pgs, FC, (4 of 4), SRP: $2.99
COVER A: David Peterson
COVER B: Amy Mebberson
Diamond Code: SEP090709
Captain Gonzo will stop at nothing to defeat his arch enemy Kermie Pan. His latest sinister plot involves recruiting the Darling Children and the Lost Boys! Can Pan convince them that being a pirate isn’t fun and adventure on the high seas? Oh, who is he kidding?! Being a pirate is a blast—especially when you can shoot your captain out of a cannon…
Features A covers by Eisner-award winning MOUSE GUARD artist David Petersen!
NOLA #3
Written by Chris Gorak, Pierluigi Cothran
Drawn by Damian Couceiro
SC, 24 pgs, FC, (3 of 4), SRP: $3.99
COVER A: Erik Jones
COVER B: Chris Brunner
Diamond Code: NOV090682
She cheated death and now the hunt is on! Nola continues her quest for revenge in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans and finds herself in the destroyed city’s twisted web. From Chris Gorak (Right at Your Door) and scripted by Heroes comic writer Pierluigi Cothran!
UNCLE SCROOGE #387
Written by Erik Hedman
Drawn by Wanda Gattino
SC, 24 pgs, FC, SRP: $2.99
COVER A: Wanda Gattino
COVER B: Scott Gross
Diamond Code: NOV090694
Continuing BOOM Kids!’ all-new ongoing with everyone’s favorite-feathered penny pincher, Uncle Scrooge! The hunt for the Old Number One continues, as Magica DeSpell and the Beagle Boys pull out all the stops in their attempts to beat Uncle Scrooge to his prize!
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Radical Publishing has released information on what they are offering for Free Comic Book Day.
RADICAL: BIGGER BOOKS! BIGGER VALUE!
Cover by CLINT LANGLEY
Credits:
AFTER DARK
Creators ANTOINE FUQUA AND WESLEY SNIPES
Writer PETER MILLIGAN
Artist JEFF NENTRUP
TIME BOMB
Creators and Writers JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY
Artists PAUL GULACY
DRIVER FOR THE DEAD
Creator and Writer JOHN HEFFERNAN
THE RISING
Creator and Writer E. MAX FRYE
Artist J.P. TARGETE
32 pages, FC
Winner of the Diamond Comic Distributors Gem Award for “Best New Publisher,” Radical Publishing’s philosophy is to shake up the comic industry with exciting stories complemented by breathtaking illustrations. For Free Comic Book Day 2010, fans can read the first 8 pages of 4 incredible titles that will showcase Radical’s innovative “Bigger Books! Bigger Value!” format. Wesley Snipes (Blade) and award winning director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) join acclaimed writer Peter Milligan (Skreemers, X-Statix) and artist Jeff Nentrup to create the science fiction saga After Dark; Next, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, the team behind Jonah Hex, deliver a trapped-in-time adventure set to explode with Time Bomb, featuring illustrations from award-winning comic legend Paul Gulacy (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight); Driver for the Dead will keep your heart racing with a tale of action, horror and voodoo from Snakes on a Plane scribe John Heffernan; Finally, Radical presents Spartacus for the future world, The Rising, from creator/writer E. Max Frye (HBO’s Band of Brothers) and artist J.P. Targete (illustrator for Pixar’s John Carter of Mars film adaptation).
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Radical Comics has released their solicits for March 2010
ALADDIN: LEGACY OF THE LOST #3 (3 of 3)
Writer IAN EDGINTON
Illustrator STJEPAN SEJIC
Letterers RICHARD STARKINGS and COMICRAFT’S JIMMY BETANCOURT
The amazing conclusion to multi-Eisner nominated writer Ian Edginton’s retelling of the classic Arabian fable! With Aysa, the Djinn of the Ring, Aladdin seeks help from the Queen of Sheba, sorceress and ex-wife of the evil sorcerer Qassim. As Aladdin learns the secrets of his Aramaspi ancestors and their ability to rewrite the world through the power of the Dreaming Jewel – a vast diamond cleaved with nine million facets – Qassim draws closer and closer to victory and armageddon. It all comes down to this: the battle in the lost kingdom of the Aramaspi between Aysa, the fabled Djinn of the Ring, and her husband Rhaz, the all-powerful Djinn of the Lamp. Can Aladdin and Sinbad brave the secrets and perils of the Aramaspi lineage to rescue Princess Soraya and save the world?
Featuring covers by Luis Royo (Heavy Metal), Clint Langley (Sláine) and a special 1:10 incentive cover from Clayton Crain (X-Force).
CALIBER: FIRST CANON OF JUSTICE
(Hardcover)
ISBN: 1-935417-00-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-935417-00-2
Price: $14.95 (C $17.99)
Writer SAM SARKAR
Artist GARRIE GASTONNY
Colorist IMAGINARY FRIENDS STUDIOS
Letterer ANNIE PARKHOUSE
Page Count: 176
Format: TPB, Full Color
Publication Date: March 2010
Description:
From visionary writer Sam Sarkar comes a stunning reinvention of the Arthurian legend where the knights of the Round Table ride the Old Pacific Northwest, where lawlessness runs rampant and only a mystical six-shooter, forged from the metal of the legendary Excalibur, can balance the scales of justice. With Caliber in hand and posse at his side, Arthur must fulfill his destiny as the Lawbringer to defeat the unjust and restore order to his homeland. Included with the 5 issue miniseries are character renderings and a cover gallery of works from Luis Royo, Tomm Coker, Dave Wilkins, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, and more. Soon to be adapted as a major motion picture from Johnny Depp’s Infinitum Nihil production company!
INCARNATE (Hardcover)
Creator and Writer NICK SIMMONS
Penciler NICK SIMMONS
Inker MATT DALTON
Colorist BRIAN BUCCELLATO and DAMI DIGITAL
Assistant artists NAM KIM, BEN HARVEY & SHI HUA WONG of STUDIO IL
Letterer ROB STEEN
ISBN: 1-935417-02-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-935417-02-6
Price: $19.95 (C: $21.99)
Page Count: 168
Format: Hardcover, Full Color
From Nick Simmons, star of A&E’s GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS, comes a revolutionary new take on the undead.
Mot is a boy who cannot die.
Riddle him with bullets, burn him at the stake, douse him with napalm, hang him from the gallows…still, he will walk away.
Forever haunted by a mysterious doppelganger that no one else can see, Mot has wandered the world for centuries, searching for meaning and, perhaps, an end to his endless life.
He is a Revenant—an immortal, ageless creature that has existed since time immemorial. Their origins are a mystery—they have been worshipped as gods, feared as monsters, and scorned as devils. But they have always been there, living in plain sight, in the bright altars and dark corners of every ancient civilization since the beginning of humanity. There has never been a force on this earth that has been able to give them the death that Mot, secretly, seeks.
Until now. Now, something is different. Now they are being hunted.
A shadow organization known only as Sanctum has discovered a way to kill the Revenants, and is carrying out a secret genocide that spans the globe. Mot, his protégé Connor, and the rest of the Revenants now must decide how to ensure their place at the top of the food chain.
Mot finds himself smack in the middle of an escalating war between mortals and immortals, neither of which he identifies with. Will he choose a side? Or will he be labeled a traitor, and be hunted down not only by humans, but by creatures as invulnerable and merciless as he is?
Nick Simmons’ breakout American Manga title reveals a world that challenges even the imagination, planting its tongue firmly in cheek, then biting it off...And swallowing it.
This hardcover trade collects the three-issue miniseries containing an in-depth interview with creator/artist Nick Simmons, previously unseen concept art from Nick Simmons and a spotlight gallery of artwork from Jo Chen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8).
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Standing in front of the mechanical wolves from the film Wolfen on display at Museum of the Moving Image, Mike Drake, Mezco's Director of Special Projects, "handed off" various items from the new film The Wolfman to Barbara Miller, the Museum’s Collection Curator. The donated items include two prototypes of action figures of the new film's main character: The Wolfman.
Set to be released in theaters on Friday, February 12th, the new Wolfman film is considered by many horror fans to be the "must see" horror film of 2010. Starring Academy Award-winners Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro, the new big-budget film tells the tale of Lawrence Talbot, a haunted nobleman, who is lured back to his family estate after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father, Talbot sets out to find his brother...and discovers a horrifying destiny for himself. “With a Wolfman designed by 5 time academy award winner Rick Baker, this film is destined to be a howling good time!” said Mark Kwan of MyMovieScreenings.com “Mezco has really captured the essence of Rick Baker’s design. This is the type of thing that makes collecting exciting”.
Mezco has produced both 7- and 12-inch figures of the title character.
Prototypes of both figures are being donated to the Museum. The towering 12-inch-scale figure features intense film-accurate detail, 13 points of articulation, and a real cloth vest and shirt. Mezco has also produced a Mez-Itz designer vinyl figure. The collectible figures are available now at ToysRUs.com and other fine retailers.
The only museum dedicated to the art and industry of all of screen culture, from the earliest silent films to today’s video games, Museum of the Moving Image includes a collection of more than 130,000 artifacts from motion pictures, television, and digital media. Among these, the Museum’s licensed merchandise holdings are particularly noteworthy with more than 17,000 artifacts dating from 1914 to the present. Highlights include an extremely rare, original Shirley Temple doll (c. 1934); more than 150 artifacts relating to Our Gang films dating from 1922 through 1944; and a collection of 1,200 action figures, toys, board games, housewares, and other items from every Star Trek television series and all 10 motion pictures. The Museum provides access to the collection through its website, exhibitions, and education programs.
Both Wolfman figure prototypes will be accessible on the Museum’s online Collection Catalog at http://collection.movingimage.us.
About Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image advances the public understanding and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media. It does so by collecting, preserving, and providing access to moving-image related artifacts; screening significant films and other moving-image works; presenting exhibitions of artifacts, artworks, and interactive experiences; and offering educational and interpretive programs to students, teachers, and the general public. Construction is currently underway on a major expansion of the Museum, designed by architect Thomas Leeser. The project entails a complete renovation of the existing first floor and construction of a three-story addition housing a new theater, screening room, galleries, and a multi-classroom education center. The Grand Opening of the expanded Museum is scheduled for fall 2010. For more information, visit movingimage.us
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Presented by The Cartoon Art Museum and
The Hero Initiative
Cartoon Art Museum exhibition:
February 13 – June 20, 2010
Reception and Charity Auction: April 2, 2010
The Cartoon Art Museum and the Hero Initiative proudly present Ed Hannigan: Covered, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the art of Ed Hannigan. This retrospective features a selection of covers and original artwork created by Hannigan for Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1970s and 1980s, including such popular characters as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and The Defenders.
Today, Hannigan is 58 years old and has multiple sclerosis. The Hero Initiative, a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to comic book professionals in need, and Marvel Comics have collaborated on a tribute book, Ed Hannigan: Covered, that features highlights from Hannigan’s artistic career. The Cartoon Art Museum will display some of Hannigan’s most notable covers alongside the cover and complete interior artwork for one of his most famous single-issue stories, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64, which introduced the crime-fighting duo Cloak and Dagger.
Sponsorship for this exhibition has been provided by The Comic Outpost. The Comic Outpost, located on 2381 Ocean Ave. San Francisco, CA has been fulfilling the needs of comic book lovers for well over 15 years. Current owners Gary Buechler and Roger Yan firmly believe their customer service and subscriber program is second to none. For more questions, visit their website at www.comicoutpost.net or call (415) 239-2669.
SAVE THE DATE: An auction of original artwork will be held at the Cartoon Art Museum on Friday, April 2, 2010, in conjunction with San Francisco’s WonderCon Comics convention.
About Ed Hannigan
Ed was born August 6, 1951 in Newport, Rhode Island, the first of what would become eight children. His dad was an officer in the U.S. Navy, and later an engineer/sales executive for Tidewater Oil (later to become Getty Oil). He grew up throughout the Northeast, where his grandmother used to give him comic books. With their help, he learned to read at a young age, particularly impressed with World's Finest, featuring Superman and Batman.
Ed soon became a Marvel fanatic, and was determined to draw comic books some day. In high school in Ashland, Massachusetts he practiced drawing constantly and produced comics of his own. He also illustrated the senior yearbook. In 1971, after moving to New Jersey, he managed to wrangle an invitation to visit Marvel Comics’ offices. He showed his art samples to the folks there—Marie Severin, Mike Esposito, Herb Trimpe and others. They were polite, but less than impressed. But he still kept coming around. Then one day Sol Brodsky needed someone to do some lettering corrections on the British weekly reprint series, Mighty World of Marvel. Ed volunteered and for a short while, became a letterer.
Sol then needed someone to do some zip-a-tone shading on the same reprint line. Ed and Klaus Janson took on that job and were friendly rivals for a while as they shaded photostats of old Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and Thor stories. But Ed did not give up on drawing comics, practicing and learning from the pros at Marvel. Eventually he was allowed to do some sketches for those same British reprints and finally was given a Planet of the Apes cover to draw. After that he started helping Art Director John Romita to design covers for other artists and occasionally himself to draw. He also illustrated some stories. By and by, Ed became the busiest comic cover sketch artist in the place. At one time or another he did cover designs for just about every comic in the line.
Ed tried to tailor cover designs to the style of whichever artist was going to do the final art, but he also introduced some trademark features of his own, most famously, "messing with the logo" in some way or another, destroying or distorting it. The sketches became more elaborate and often were fully colored. He continued to draw some stories ands even wrote a few (Defenders was his longest run), but cover sketches were his mainstay for the next several years, and that's what he is best known for in the industry.
When the comics business contracted in the early 1990s, Ed was forced to find other employment. He end up doing computer graphics for a publisher in Massachusetts for nine years. In the course of those years, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which at first was a minor annoyance, but soon progressed to a major disability. He now lives in New Hampshire with his wife and two children.
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Matty took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions.
1) With Mattel unable to be able to produce certain Filmation Masters of the Universe figures, is there any sort of easy guideline so that fans can know which characters can and can't be produced in the line? Could you possibly produce a list or something?
In MOTU Classics you will see a character who had a figure (toy) in the 1981 MOTU line, 1985 POP line, 1989 NA line as well as characters who were in the 200X series TV show or toy line. We can also do figures who were in the Mattel Mini Comics.
2) Can we expect any more figures in the DC Super Friends style to be offered through the site (as Robin & Hawkman were)?
Right now we do not have any plans to pursue futher 6” Superfriends figures. You can still find great Imaginex Superfriends figures in the Fisher-Price aisle!
3) The Retro-Action Heroes Green Arrow was amazing. Even though it’s still early in this line, have you considered female figures or teenage body figures (i.e. Mego’s Teen Titans)?
Absolutely!
4) You've said in a couple of recent Q&As that your intention was to eventually produce two Prince Adams, with one being based on the 80's toy and another closer to the 200X concept of the character. Can you tell us if the 80's Adam will merely be a bonus figure or will he be worked into the emerging MOTUC continuity. While I welcome the extra figure, I'm wondering how you would justify a second Prince Adam?
How a second Prince Adam will be offered is yet to be revealed. After all, we haven’t even offered one version yet. Unlike say with the case of Zodac/Zodak, Prince Adam is the same guy. It is just a “design” difference if you prefer him as a teen or a repaint of He-Man. So the bios will be just a continuation of one another as they aren’t intended to be separate characters.
5) Will we be seeing more DC Infinite Heroes packs like the 3-Packs or Battle for Metropolis pack?
We have more 3-packs for 2010. The 6 packs will wrap-up with the Doomsday pack at Wal-Mart.
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This past Thursday, New York Comic Con and Newsarama, in association with Marvel Animation and Lionsgate Home Entertainment, presented a bi-coastal premier screen of the much anticipated Planet Hulk DVD.We were invited to the event and able to bring a brief recap back.
Held at the Paley Center for Media in New York, the evening started off with the premier of Planet Hulk. Now, we are planning a full review and I don't want to give away anything, but it was extremely enjoyable.
After the film, there was a Q&A panel with comic writer Greg Pak, President of Marvel Animation Eric Rollman, and Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. It was followed by a quick trivial contest. The entire panel was moderated by WWE SmackDown Superstar Matt Striker.
Eric assured fans that Marvel Animation is growing, and soon they'll be able to cross-over some properties they weren't able to before. Meaning, we may see Spider-Man in an episode of Wolverine and the X-Men, as an example.
While nothing was leaked during the Q&A, all three panel guests got suspiciously quiet when someone asked if they would consider doing Annihilation as an animated feature. Could Annihilation be in the future? We'll just have to wait and see.
Afterwards, all four of them signed Planet Hulk movie posters.
Thanks go out to New York Comic Con, Newsarama, and Bender/Helper Impact for putting this all together.
Planet Hulk will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 2nd.
WWE SmackDown Superstar Matt Striker
Marvel Comic Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada
The panel (left to right): Joe Quesada, Matt Striker, Greg Pak, Eric Rollman
Greg Pak & Matt Striker signing posters
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I should preface this review by saying that I am a moderate fan of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and of several of its tie-in comics. I mention this because it is a very divisive issue within G.I. Joe fandom, and I want anyone reading this to understand I am not merely dismissing the comic because it is tied to the Rise of Cobra universe.G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes #4 is, quite simply, not a good G.I. Joe comic, and not a good comic period.The art is bad. The writing is bad. The plotting is bad. It's bad. It's practically an exemplar of badness. To borrow from P. Opus, "Maybe it wasn't that bad, but Lord, it wasn't good."
And really, it isn't. A Snake-Eyes comic should, probably, prominently feature action, particularly of the ninja variety. This does, only the actual action moments are drawn with the focus so closely on faces, hands, or feet (or the meeting between faces, hands, or feet) that it is very difficult to get a sense of how the fight actually flows. There's no grace in the martial arts here. There also is not much continuity in what happens from panel to panel; one moment, an opponent is wearing an orange robe and is unarmed. The next time Snake-Eyes sees him, a few panels later, with certainly no more than a few seconds passing, he's wearing a black outfit identical to Snake-Eyes', and carrying a sword. That was a quick change. It is even worth mentioning that, in the interim, Snake-Eyes has more or less randomly sprayed bullets around in the area the opponent disappeared to? Is that something a highly trained ninja-commando does?
Later, Snake-Eyes unveils a hand-held EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) device, something which, if he has access to, would be awfully handy against enemy equipment of pretty much any kind. Going to be quite a poser when he and the rest of the Joe team do not just pop those out the next time they are staring down an attack from all that fancy, high-tech Cobra gear, no? It's not that I'm not accepting the sci-fi elements here; they've always been a part of G.I. Joe. I am not accepting that the best use of it is against a single, non-military opponent.
The writing is, as I mentioned, expository, and simplistic. In one panel, the narrative voice actually says that Snake-Eyes' "identity [is] virtually unknown...even to some members of his own team."
That's fan-fiction style. It's not professional. And neither is this comic.
IDW is doing fantastic work with the rest of its Joe titles. G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe: Origins and, especially G.I. Joe Cobra, are great. They are a breath of reviving, original, and sometimes surprisingly gritty air into an old, proud, and occasionally musty franchise that is my oldest favorite. Save your money for the next issue of any of those, or for the trade collections; don't spend it on this.
Written by Ray Park & Kevin VanHook
Drawn by Lee Ferguson
Dan Ford
Staff Reviewer
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From IDW: Introducing a brand-new series focusing on some of the most famous Captains in Starfleet history! In the debut issue, Captain Hikaru Sulu, still new to the command of the U.S.S. Excelsior, finds himself once again face to face with one of the Federation's most dangerous and mysterious adversaries-the Tholians! From the creative team behind Spock: Reflections! 
Art: Federica Manfredi provides the pencils in this issue, with colors by Andrea Priorini. The art is sufficient for the most part, although there are a few things holding it back. The pencils aren’t always crisp, which can be problematic when dealing with the lines of machinery such as the inside of the Excelsior. This also leads to some “wonky” proportions on the ship’s crewmembers, and Manfredi seems to have had difficulty deciding how old Sulu should look. Some panels have him looking a bit older than he did on Star Trek, and some have him looking like an old woman, so I would say that there’s a bit too much variation. The likeness of George Takei slips back and forth as well. One other problem area with the pencils is that there isn’t much background to speak of in some of the panels, instead just a flat color.
The colors by Priorini are a bit flat. I understand that the interior of the ship is going to be mostly grey and that everyone is going to have the same color uniform, so I don’t expect to see every color of the rainbow, but a smoother, warmer look to the colors would help with the hindered pallet.
As I stated before, the art is sufficient for the most part, and the shortcomings don’t hinder the book from being enjoyable. Besides, I’ve seen much worse from high profile artists who get paid millions of dollars to draw like they are in the 2nd grade. (I’m looking at you Chaykin and Liefeld)
Writing: This is where the issue really thrives. From the very beginning you get the sense that Scott and David Tipton know their Star Trek history. In the opening of the issue, Sulu is practicing his fencing with his first officer. At first this seemed a bit “on the nose” and too obvious since the “fencing incident” from Star Trek seems to be the most often remembered thing about Sulu. However, the principle’s and ideology behind fencing come back later on in the issue, and we realize that Sulu’s love and respect for the sport influence his own philosophy and command style. Lesser writers would have just thrown out the fencing references in a thinly veiled attempt to win over Star Trek fans, yet the Tipton’s show their writing strength by actually tying the reference into the story.
Another plus on the writing side is that this issue deals with the Tholians, rather than the better known Klingons or Romulans. Sulu recounts his own personal experiences with the Tholians to his first officer, and we see this visually through a flashback to the Star Trek episode “The Tholian Web”. Not only does this let Sulu’s first officer know what possible dangers they may be facing, but it lets any reader who isn’t familiar with the Tholians know what Sulu and crew may be up against.
While I don’t have any particular complaint against the writing itself, it is hindered by the one shot format. Since the writers had to come to the table with a “one and done” storyline, it feels a bit rushed and not fully fleshed out. The story is still well written and entertaining, I just feel that giving it two or three issues to play out would have helped it feel more dramatic.
Unfortunately this is a hindrance that will likely affect the follow Captain’s Log issues. If IDW wanted to create a new Star Trek series to highlight the different command style’s of the most decorated Captains in Starfleet history, maybe they could have formatted it differently. Perhaps instead of a series of one shots, they could have simply created a series called Star Trek: Captain’s Log. Issues one and two could have been this story expanded, with issue three starting a new story. I think that would have allowed the stories to breathe a bit more and not feel so rushed. Regardless, this is a pretty good one shot for Star Trek fans.
Written by Scott & David Tipton
Drawn by Federica Manfredi
Terry Barnhill
Staff Reviewer
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I'm coming in a few issues late to IDW's new Transformers series but I have to say that I am quite impressed with what I have seen so far. As a long time G1 fan, I am happy to see that they are using the old continuity as their springboard and Transformers #3 is full of cameos from some classic Transformers characters. 
The story is set on a planet earth which has turned on all Cybertronians, Autobots and Decepticons alike, and what Transformers are left, are hiding from human task forces which hunt them down. This humans vs. Transformers theme is an interesting exploration of themes not adequately explored in previous Transformers stories.
The Autobots have broken off into two different factions, the classic faction now led by Bumblebee and a rebel faction that is teaming up with Decepticon remnants with the goal of freeing the "enslaved" Cybertronians and getting off the planet. This second faction is led by Hot Rod. Optimus Prime has turned himself in to the human officials. Newly arrived is Ultra Magnus, who (much like his Transformers Animated counterpart) is an arrogant, high-ranking official from Cybertron sent to investigate the situation.
I'm very impressed with the art on this series which is a happy middle between the blocky G1 designs as the overly-complicated movie designs. All of the characters are immediately recognizable, yet the designs have been subtly updated to modern standards of realism. IDW's Transformers series is at once a great throwback to classic Transformers and at the same time, draws the series into a new direction.
Written by Mike Costa
Drawn by Don Figueroa
Patrick Garone
Senior Reviewer
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Get a behind the scenes look at the chart-topping Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic with this all new video! Based on the acclaimed story by superstars Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and John Cassaday (Captain America), the X-Men are faced with a mysterious new villain and a possible cure for the mutant gene! Now Cyclops, Wolverine and all your favorite mutants must face the greatest threats of their lives and, before it’s all done, experience one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Marvel history!
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I am such a fan of the Muppets and Jim Henson. When I was a kid, the Muppets had the best game in town when it came to entertainment. Why, I even screamed “I DO!” during the wedding scene in “The Muppets Take Manhattan”, which led to a family joke that for years I was married to Kermit the Frog. That being said, I was excited to check out BOOM! Studios ongoing Muppet Show comic. I was hoping for a trip back to the Muppet Show of my youth, with humor that pleases both kids and adults, like when I watch reruns of the Muppet Show on DVD and catch jokes that I didn’t get as a kid. 
First of all, Roger Langridge is a great fit for this book. I’ve kept up with his blog, Hotel Fred, for quite some time now. I love his art, because it’s cartoonish without being juvenile. In the Muppet Show, it’s reminiscent of the drawings in the old Muppet Magazine. He seems to really get the vibe of the original Muppet Show and the way things looked in the Muppets’ heyday.
Langridge does double duty as artist and writer on this book, and he succeeds in both arenas. The story of the Muppets taking their show on the road is much like watching a sequel to the Muppet movies in the 80s, complete with a good message for the kids about friendship and sticking together. It’s a cute story and a fun read, something that would be a fun way to introduce your kids to comic books and/or the wonder of the Muppets. The humor is universal without readers feeling like he’s dumbing it down for the younger crowd, and I think it’s a great way to teach new readers some more difficult words, as the vocabulary is a little above what you’d find in a typical kids’ book.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of the old Muppet Show and wants to take a nostalgic trip back to their childhood. While it’s not quite as funny as what Henson and friends did back in the 70s and 80s, this is pretty close. It’s a really fun read, and something that you can share with the next generation of comic book/puppet-based humor fans.
Written & Drawn by Roger Langridge
Stacey Rader
Senior Reviewer
geekyvixen@gmail.com
http://geekyvixen.blogspot.com
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