Stubbed my toe

DC Comics just announced they will be releasing Big Bang Theory comic books featuring the stars of the hit sitcom in their own story line.  Expect to receive more BAZINGA for your buck!

Marvel released "Captain America" last Tuesday on Blu-Ray, DVD, and available for digital download.  On the homepage of Marvel (marvel.com) they have featured a deleted scene from the film that everyone should take a minute or two to check out.  "Captain America", as well as the brand new trailer for the Avengers film, are the latest in the film industry to continue the superhero franchise.

Check out the Avengers trailer:

Smoothly played, Marvel.  For a second there, I thought you were trying to hide the fact that you couldn't get a hold of the same actor to continue to role of Hulk.  I am particularly excited for furthering Hawkeye's character (for those geeks out there who caught the reference in Thor) and if they are going to continue the story lines of all the characters.  Let's be honest, after the tender romance between Steve and his Peggy, we all want to know if he will ever find his way back to 1943.  Will Thor get his Jane?  Will Black Widow continue to break hearts and skulls?  Is Tony Stark finally going to marry Pepper Potts?

Now we play the waiting game.

Poked in the eye

Much has been going down in the comic book world, but have no fear!  Here are the bite-sized nuggets of the happenings and goings-on in the industry.

• DC has granted Amazon exclusive digital copy rights for some of their best selling graphic novels for the coming Kindle Fire.  
• In response, Barnes & Noble (BN) and Books-A-Million (BAM) have removed these graphic novels from their shelves.
• BN and BAM say they refuse to shelve any print item that can't also be accessed from their digital library and find the exclusivity of DC to Amazon to be unfair.

It is unfortunate to see some of the United States largest book proprietors removing these incredible pieces from their stores, but it is understandable.  It will be interesting to see how this will impact DC's distribution and sales, and to see what kind of response they will give.

Finally, the saddest bit of news to share:

Mark Hamill (a.k.a. Luke Skywalker for those of you living under rocks) has been the voice of the the Crown Prince of Crime for nearly 20 years and has announced his retirement from the role upon completing Arkham City.  Unfortunately, the internet has not provided us with a decent clip, so you will just have to deal with this low-quality vignette.  I highly recommend skipping to :15.

Then there was that time I got stabbed . . .

The release date of Batman: Arkham City has been announced for October 18th and I am still geeking out over the trailer.  There are several dozen to check out, but this is my personal favorite.  Who doesn't love a creepy clown?

Vertigo comics just released a collection of issues #1-5 of American Vampire, written by . . . drum roll please . . . STEPHEN KING and SCOTT SNYDER.  Get excited. These aren't the pansy wansy vampires of Twilight "lore", these are the cunning, conniving, and downright frightening monsters that made Bram Stoker turn on his nightlight.

I found an interesting article on the art and design of creating a cover on the dccomics.com site.  To anyone interested in seeing some of the design behind the cover, check out this link.

Comic book of the Week: My personal, all-time-favorite-graphic-novel-ever would have to be "Kingdom Come" written by Mark Waid and watercolor artwork by Alex Ross.  Batman in an exoskeleton, Superman living like a hermit with grey hairs, and the world gone completely nuts with supergoodies who are acting like superbaddies.  Oh, and Kansas gets blown up.  I highly recommend this, if just for the art because it is exquisite.

It all started the day I got shot . . .

Comic books: one of the greatest forms of modern art that combines the poignancy of story, the wordless power of images, and the finesse of design.  Whether it is your grandfather’s collection or a fresh-from-the-stand edition, there are few feelings comparing to the excitement of holding the next chapter in an eternal saga. 

Yes, there are the purists, but then there is the underworld beyond the art, behind the legends, and beneath the layouts.  Networks of industry and business weave and connect the hammock upon which the comic book rests.  This is my dream: to become a hammock maker of the comic book world.

Since childhood, my favorite stories have been told in the pages of a comic book and have shaped my philosophies of good, evil, trust, responsibility, and maturity.  From superheroes, remolded fairy tales, historical fiction, and even classic literature, comic books told stories from a new and fresh perspective.  It is a cultural phenomenon that has grown exponentially in the past decade alone, and is showing no sign of slowing down.  Thank God.

I am by no means claiming the title of expert in this realm of publishing, but it is a field in which I am passionate.  My dreams lie in the offices of DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse, and I hope to one day be one of the fortunate who gets the pleasure of writing the modern myth. 

These sentences shall follow the industry and latest news of the comic book world, generate conversation, and maybe get someone to pick up a graphic novel for the first time.