Wednesday's Comics!! (2-1-12)

ACTION COMICS #6
ACTION COMICS #6 COMBO PACK
ACTION COMICS #6 VAR ED
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #679
ANIMAL MAN #6
ANNE RICE SERVANT OF THE BONES #6 (OF 6
AVENGERS ACADEMY #25
AVENGERS HAWKEYE TP
AVENGERS X-SANCTION #3 (OF 4)
BATMAN RIP TP
BATWING #6
BETRAYAL O/T PLANET O/T APES #4 (OF 4)
BOYS #63
CASTLE: PREM HC - RICHARD CASTLE'S DEADLY STORM
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8
DEFENDERS #3
DETECTIVE COMICS #6
DETECTIVE COMICS BATMAN COMIC COVER GIANT WALL Decal
DOCTOR WHO ONGOING VOL 2 #14
FATALE #2
FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #8 (OF 12)
GAME TRADE MAGAZINE #144
GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #175
GI JOE VOL 2 ONGOING #10
GREEN ARROW #6
GREEN HORNET #21
HAUNTED CITY #2
HAWK AND DOVE #6
HELLRAISER MASTERPIECES #7
HULK #48
HULK WWH TP FRONT LINE
HULK WWH TP FRONT LINE
ICE AGE: ICED-IN ONE SHOT
IRREDEEMABLE #34
IZOMBIE #22
JOHN CARTER A PRINCESS OF MARS GN TP
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #6
KIRBY GENESIS: CAPTAIN VICTORY #3
LOCKE & KEY CLOCKWORKS #4 (OF 6)
MAGIC THE GATHERING #1
MAGIC THE GATHERING #1 10 COPY INCV
MARVEL HEROCLIX INFINITY GAUNTLET MONTH 2 OP KIT
MARVEL PREVIEWS FEBRUARY 2012
PREVIEWS #281 FEBRUARY 2012
PUNISHER #8
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL CLASSIC TP VOL 01
RACHEL RISING #5
RAT CATCHER TP
RED LANTERNS #6
SAVAGE DRAGON #178
SERGIO ARAGONES’ FUNNIES #7
SIMPSONS ILLUSTRATED #1
STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI #0
STATIC SHOCK #6
STORMWATCH #6
SUPERNATURAL #5 (OF 6)
SWAMP THING #6
THE LONE RANGER #2
THOR DEVIANTS SAGA #4 (OF 5)
THUNDERBOLTS WARREN ELLIS TP VOL 02 CAGED ANGELS
TWELVE #9 (OF 12)
UNCANNY X-FORCE #21
UNCANNY X-MEN #6
VENOM #12 – Shortage Replacement
VENOM #13
VILLAINS FOR HIRE #3 (OF 4)
WALKING DEAD COMIC BOOK MEN SHELF TALKER
WARLORD OF MARS ANNUAL #1
WARRIORS OF MARS #1
WINTER SOLDIER #1
X-CLUB #3 (OF 5)
X-FACTOR #231
X-MEN: COMPLETE AGE OF APOCALYPSE EPIC TP BOOK 02

Cape Books: Thoughts on the Nature of Genre

Originally posted on Guys' Lit Wire.

I read a lot of comic books. With some exceptions (Hellboy, Northlanders), most are superhero titles from the two major comics companies: Marvel and DC.

The superhero mold was stamped in 1938, with the first appearance of Superman. There have been highs and lows in popularity, but superheroes have largely dominated comics ever since. (As well as American culture in general. Superman alone has been featured in almost every medium popular in the last 75 years, from serial radio to over a dozen video games.) Despite this, or more likely because of it, people sometimes dismiss superhero titles as "cape books," or more commonly, "another f*cking cape book."

As comics struggle to find their footing in the new millennium, a lot of the blame for shrinking sales falls on the superhero books. Detractors see all superhero books as the same, churned out for fanboys already invested in the characters. The thinking goes that industry will never find new readers unless it expands into new genres. I'm all for trying new things, and again, I do read non-superhero comics (American Vampire, the recently completed Samurai's Blood), but I also believe that the reason the superhero genre has thrived for so long is because it's an incredibly flexible genre, able to be bent and stretched to suit almost any taste.

Not all genres are created the same. Some, like horror, focus on a single emotion. Others, like romance or mysteries, are hemmed in by conventions and audience expectations. But the superhero genre seems to contains an ever-expanding number of sub-genres. Just looking at stuff coming out currently, there's high adventure (Superman, The Amazing Spider-Man) and gritty crime stories (The Dark Knight, Punisher.) You've also got interpersonal drama (Fantastic Four, Birds of Prey) and epic story-telling (nearly every X-Man storyline since Days of Future Past). Then there's space opera (Green Lantern), teen angst (Ultimate Spiderman, Blue Beetle), comedy (Deadpool), and detective stories (Detective Comics, anything Ed Brubaker is writing). And around the edges, the superhero genre starts to crinkle up and examine its own assumptions (The Boys, Kick Ass 2, anything Warren Ellis is writing.)

This doesn't mean I love all "cape books" or agree with every decision the two major publishers have made in the past. I've written before about my disappointment in some of DC's most recent titles.* but I don't think the problem is that all superhero books are the same. Rather, I'm continuously amazed at how the superhero genre's ability to continuously evolve and reinvent itself over the past 75 years. And I think it will continue to grow--in one form or another--simply because it will never run out of stories worth telling.

*I still maintain that, if comics are going to survive, they've got to make a sustained effort to bring female readers back into the fold. However, my anger has subsided some since I wrote those two posts, mainly because DC is putting out some fantastic titles featuring women (Wonder Woman, Batwoman, and hopefully the upcoming World's Finest.)

Six DCnU titles caneled, six new titles coming in May

A sample of Chris Burnham's art from the upcoming Batman, Incorporated.

From Comics Alliance:

Blackhawks, Hawk and Dove, Men of War, Mister Terrific, O.M.A.C. and Static Shock are the first cancelations of the New 52, DC Comics' aggressive initiative to reinvigorate its publishing line with an aesthetic overhaul that saw the company launch or relaunch all superhero titles from issue #1. Notably, all six of the cancelled series were newly created for the New 52, as opposed to relaunches, and will conclude with April's issues #8.

Also confirmed on Thursday was what DC is calling the Second Wave of the New 52: six new titles beginning in May including World's Finest by Paul Levitz and George Perez and Kevin Maguire; Dial H by China Miéville and Mateus Santoluoco; G.I. Combat by J.T. Krul and Ariel Olivetti; The Ravagers, a Superboy and Teen Titans spinoff by Howard Mackie and Ian Churchill; Earth 2 by James Robinson and Nicola Scott; and the return of Batman Incorporated by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham.

Read the whole story at Comics Alliance.

Pathfinder leads to New Comic Book Series in 2012!

Paizo Publishing has licensed its award-winning Pathfinder Roleplaying Game to Dynamite Entertainment, who will publish comics based on Pathfinder's exciting fantasy world in 2012! Launched in 2009, Pathfinder has taken the tabletop gaming world by storm, and is now tied with Dungeons & Dragons as the best-selling hobby roleplaying game in the world, spawning rulebooks, adventures, collectible figurines, and novels, as well as the forthcoming Pathfinder Online massively multiplayer computer game.

"We are thrilled to be working with Dynamite on a new Pathfinder comic!" said Paizo Publisher Erik Mona. "Dynamite's proven record with licensed properties and their ability to attract top creative talent to their books make them a natural fit for Pathfinder, and we can't wait to see how they explore the Pathfinder world!"

"When we sat down and first started speaking with Paizo, the excitement that Erik had for Pathfinder was amazing, and the success he and his team have had is well earned." states Dynamite Publisher Nick Barrucci. "We're proud to be working with them to help bring Pathfinder to the comics market, and to bring our comics to their market. It's the best of both worlds. This is the start of a great working relationship."

Here's What People are Saying About Pathfinder:

"Pathfinder is a game surging in popularity amongst a hobby gaming field that is already enjoying steady growth." - Mtv Geek

"The excellent Pathfinder role-playing game should be up every old-school tabletop enthusiast's alley." - GameInformer Magazine

"A bold idea executed in the best way possible-with a lot of class. It's definitely worth a look." -Ain't It Cool News Tabletop

"#1 in the roleplaying game category." - iCV2 Magazine

Wednesday's Comics!! (1-11-12)

7 WARRIORS #3 (OF 3)
ALL NEW BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #15
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #677
ANITA BLAKE #3 (OF 5)
AVENGERS 1959 #5 (OF 5)
AVENGERS: CHILDRENS CRUSADE #8 (OF 9) – Shortage Replacement
BATGIRL #5
BATMAN AND ROBIN #5
BATMAN THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS HC
BATTLE SCARS #3 (OF 6)
BATWOMAN #2 - Reorder
BATWOMAN #5
BLACK PANTHER MOST DANGEROUS MAN ALIVE #527 – Shortage Replacement
BLACK PANTHER MOST DANGEROUS MAN ALIVE #528
BRILLIANT #2
BTVS SEASON 9 FREEFALL #5
CAPTAIN AMERICA #7
CARNAGE USA #2 (OF 5)
COBRA ANNUAL 2012 ORIGIN OF COBRA COMMANDER #1
DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE #19
DARK MATTER #1 (OF 4)
DARK TOWER: GUNSLINGER - WAY STATION #2 (OF 5)
DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #21
DEADLANDS: BLACK WATER (ONE SHOT)
DEADPOOL #49
DEATHSTROKE #5
DEMON KNIGHTS #5
DOCTOR WHO ONGOING VOL 2 #13
DR WHO MAGAZINE #442
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR
FORMIC WARS: SILENT STRIKE #2 (OF 5)
FRANKENSTEIN: AGENT OF SHADE #5
GHOST RIDER: CYCLE OF VENGEANCE #1
GI JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #174
GREEN LANTERN #5
GRIFTER #5
HP LOVECRAFT: THE DUNWICH HORROR #4 (OF 4)
INCREDIBLE HULK #3 – Shortage Replacement
INCREDIBLE HULK #4
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #633
LEGION LOST #5
LOBSTER JOHNSON THE BURNING HAND #1 (OF 5)
MAGNETO: NOT A HERO #3 (OF 4)
MISADVENTURES OF ADAM WEST #2
MISADVENTURES OF ADAM WEST #3
MISTER TERRIFIC #5
MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #4 (OF 6)
NEW AVENGERS #20
NORTHLANDERS #47
ORCHID #4
PIGS #5
PUNISHERMAX #21
RAY #2 (OF 4)
RESURRECTION MAN #5
SCARLET SPIDER #1
SCARLET SPIDER #1 BLANK VAR
SECRET AVENGERS #21
SHADE #4 (OF 12)
SNAKE EYES #9
SPIDER-MAN DARK SPIDER BLK T/S LG
STAND NIGHT HAS COME #6 (OF 6)
STAR WARS: AGENT O/T EMPIRE - IRON ECLIPSE #2 (OF 5)
STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC - WAR #1 (OF 5)
SUICIDE SQUAD #5
SUPERBOY #5
TRANSFORMERS: MORE THAN MEETS EYE #1
ULTIMATE COMICS: ULTIMATES #1
ULTIMATE COMICS: X-MEN #6
UNWRITTEN #22 – Shortage Replacement
UNWRITTEN #33
WHISPERS #1
WOLVERINE #300
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #4
X-FACTOR #230
X-MEN LEGACY #260.1
YOUNG JUSTICE TP VOL 01

Every (Significant) Batsuit

[Via: Screen Rant]

RIP, Joe Simon...

From CNN:

Joe Simon, the co-creator of star-spangled comic book hero Captain America, has died at 98, his family announced.

Simon, a writer, editor and artist, passed away late Wednesday in New York after a short illness.

Simon and artist Jack Kirby, who ran a studio, developed the character in the early 1940s and worked outside the box to develop a distinct design.

"Together, the team created Captain America as well as long list of characters, including The Newsboy Legion and The Boy Commandos," a statement Thursday from Simon's family said.

A Marvel Comics website provides a summary of Captain America and his superhero quest.

"In World War II, patriotic soldier Steve Rogers, recipient of the 'Super Soldier Serum,' became the living symbol of freedom, Captain America. Left for dead while frozen in ice, the star-spangled hero with an indestructible shield awoke years later to continue his never-ending battle for liberty."

The movie "Captain America: The First Avenger" was released this year. Chris Evans, in the title role, went up against villain Red Skull, played by Hugo Weaving.

Kirby and Simon created Captain America for Timely Comics, Marvel's predecessor. The comic was a huge hit during World War II.

With Captain America came some of Kirby's comic book innovations, Mark Evanier, author of the book "Kirby: King of Comics," told CNN in 2008.

Comic books, which had started as reprints of newspaper comic strips, had adhered to that form's look of repetitious boxes. Kirby and Simon used different-sized panels, varying shapes, even full pages.

"They kind of invented things that made comic books different than strips," Evanier said. They realized they "had the whole page to play with. ... They'd take three or four pages for a single action scene."

The popular genres after the war were crime and horror comics, and Simon and Kirby created a handful, including the dramatically named "Justice Traps the Guilty." They also pioneered the romance genre, juxtaposing Kirby's innately thrilling style with primly dressed women and men in neat suits and sweaters.

Simon served a few stints at DC Comics.

"Joe Simon was a true legend in the comic book industry. So much of what we are today is owed to him and his amazing creativity," said Dan DiDio, co-publisher of DC Entertainment. "In addition to one of the great writers of the Golden Age, he was also an editor at DC Comics. We appreciate all of his contributions to DC Comics and the industry as a whole, both on the page and behind the scenes."

The writer's passing came a week after the death of cartoonist Jerry Robinson, who worked on the earliest Batman comics and claimed credit for creating the super-villain The Joker. Robinson was 89.

Simon is survived by two sons, three daughters and eight grandchildren.