Comics Alliance: An AOL Comic Book Community

From the vivid mind of Jenna Jameson and Witchblade co-creator Christina Z comes Shadow Hunter, the sexiest and deadliest demon slayer ... ever!! A young, orphaned woman, living a humdrum life in the big city, has her world turned upside down when she realizes her family is from hell ... literally. Ignited visions of a demonic past, dark passions, and a strangely dangerous power all surface along with revelations of her true lineage. As she struggles to come to terms with her new role, she must find her place in this world, and ends up saving humanity one demon at a time as the sexy, sultry and badass Shadow Hunter. Read the preview now for free.

Typically, I don't go to comics-related gallery openings, but if I lived on the Left Coast, I probably couldn't resist attending the premiere of Under the Influence: A Tribute to Stan Lee, cosponsored by Golden Apple and Gallery 1988, Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 7-11 p.m.

First off, Golden Apple and Gallery 1988 will sponsor a Be a Superhero fund raiser, in which real, live and professional comics artists will doing sketches to benefit the Hero Initiative (formerly ACTOR) of donors as their favorite superhero, so expect to see more sketches of Batman and Wolverine's less athletic brothers floating around Hollyweird than you'd ever care to see. And, Stan Lee of Who Wants to Be a Superhero? will be in attendance too.

I suspect, however, the real attraction for most of you will be the bizarre (who knew Magneto loved ducks?) and cool paintings by folks like Disney designer Eric Tan and Brandon Bird. If you love Eric's take on the X-Men below as much as I do, 100 signed and numbered posters will be available at the opening. Check the Gallery 1988 Web site the day after the show if there are any extras, should you want one...

Enjoy this sneak peek straight from Neil Gaiman.com of the animated adaptation of the Sandman muse's non-quite-a-children's-book Coraline by Laika Entertainment and director Henry Selick who directed Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Great thanks to Neatorama for the link to this Fast Company story about the Portland, Ore., production company that's making Coraline and its direct connection to Nike.

One of the first things I learned about writing screenplays back in the day: Nailing down the concept in as few words as possible -- 25 or less -- was the ticket to Hollywood. It didn't take me long to learn and practice the concept on the thousands of movies I'd seen in my relatively short life. (I could never quite master that same skill when it came to boiling down my own screenplays into salable, simple stories, however.) All the moneymakers have a hook that grabs your attention and won't let go until you're compelled to see it (and buy way too many DVDs too).

After reading the short Variety news item late last month about Matt Ogens' directoral debut, Confessions of a Superhero, concerning the further "adventures" of real people completely convinced that dressing up as superheroes eking out a meager existence posing for pictures with tourists along Hollywood Boulevard was their ticket to "fame and fortune," I had to see this film.

It's one thing to wear your favorite superhero costume at the five-day "Geek Vegas" party known as Comic-Con International: San Diego. It's quite another to count on it to survive without superpowers or billions of dollars of weaponry. Besides, what kind of person is really capable of doing such a thing in the real world?

Seems Ogens, a veteran of episodic TV and commercials, had been thinking precisely about the same thing traveling around Hollyweird...

Comics Alliance: How did you come up with the wonderful concept for this film?

Matt: Like everyone else in Los Angeles, I drove past these characters many times and was passively curious. As fate would have it, I was directing a commercial on Hollywood Boulevard right where the characters work for tips. In between shots, I spent every minute talking to Christopher (Superman) Dennis. It was like we were two animals curious about each other. Two weeks later, we started production.

CA: Obviously, you had many costumed "characters" from which to choose on Hollywood Boulevard. Aside from Christopher Dennis -- truly a natural and almost a dead ringer for Christopher Reeve -- how did you come to find this more interesting version of Fantastic Four for your film?

Matt: Superheroes are timeless and iconic. They are recognized everywhere. And I wanted a consistency in the type of character I chose – Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Hulk.

Imagine my surprise when opening Friday's Weekend Section of the Wall Street Journal to discover an insightful review of David Michaelis' Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography written by an unlikely source: Bill Watterson, the man who created Calvin and Hobbes, probably the closest thing to a successor to the venerable and long-dead strip that continues to this day via reprints in thousands of daily American newspapers and very successful book collections from Fantagraphics Books.

Save reviewing some of the more recent Essentials/Showcase collections of Silver Age comics from the comics industry's BIG 2 -- hefty packages of at least 500 pages and all in B&W -- rereading the Peanuts strips in book form once again is a "been-there-done-that" thing I don't care to repeat.

That said, Watterson's seal of approval of Michaelis' biography (debuting at a bookstore near you Tuesday) in the WSJ makes me curious to read more about how Schultz used his strip "to work through private concerns," for example, sparring with his first wife on the comics page with Lucy and Schroeder as surrogates.

Fact is, these historical tidbits are far more interesting to me than reading reprints of most strips, except for Calvin and Hobbes, Doonesbury or The Far Side...

Our friends at top Cow have provided Comics Alliance with a 5 page preview of the new Madame Mirage #3.

Madame Mirage #3
(W) Paul Dini
(A) Kenneth Rocafort
(Cov) Kenneth Rocafort

Award-winning writer Paul Dini (DC's Countdown, Lost) and hot new talent Kenneth Rocafort (Hunter-Killer) answer the question - "Who is Madame Mirage?"

A locked room, two deadly adversaries, and one loaded gun between them. Madame Mirage finds herself in a life or death duel with ASI's most skilled assassin, and the only way out is for one to kill the other. While the fatal drama unfolds, shocking secrets are revealed about our heroine's past, radically changing the direction of the series and everything you think you know about the mysterious Mirage.

Full Color
32 pages
$2.99
continuing series

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

Madame Mirage #3 Preview

Our friends at Warner Bros. have provided Comics Alliance with a preview of the this weeks episode of Legion of Super Heroes.

Learn the backstory of Lightning Lad ­ and meet his electrifying family ­ in an all-new episode of "Legion of Super Heroes" this Saturday. In the episode, entitled 'Chained Lightning,' Lightning Lad discovers that his sister, Ayla, long thought to be lost in the same Lightning Beast attack that gave him and his brother, Mekt, their powers, is really alive. However, Ayla is now in the form of pure electromagnetic energy. Lightning Lad must find a way to save Alya before Imperiex can harness this energy for his own diabolical use. Lightning Lad is voiced by Andy Milder ('Weeds'), while James Arnold Taylor ('The Boondocks,' 'Star Wars: Clone Wars') and Kari Wahlgren ('Ben 10') voice Mekt and Ayla, respectively. Directed by Brandon Vietti and written by Matt Wayne, 'Chained Lightning' airs Saturday, October 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT as part of the Kids' WB! Lineup on The CW Network.

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

"Legion of Super Heroes" Episode "Chained Lightning"

Our friends at Warner Bros. have provided Comics Alliance with a preview of the this weeks episode of The Batman.

Villainy scorches Gotham this Saturday in an all-new episode of The Batman. In an episode entitled 'White Heat,' Firefly becomes even more powerful when an accident turns him into Phosphorus, a superhot villain who ultimately threatens a nuclear power plant. Jason Marsden ('Step By Step,' 'Boy Meets World') provides the voice of Firefly/Phosphorus in an episode directed by Vinton Heuck and written by Joseph Kuhr. 'White Heat' airs October 13 at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT as part of the Kids' WB! lineup on The CW Network.

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

"The Batman" Episode "White Heat"

Our friends at Marvel Comics have provided Comics Alliance with a 6 page preview of the new Avengers: The Initiative #7.

Peter Parker and the Scarlet Spiders take center stage in Avengers: The Initiative #7, providing the perfect jumping-on point for new readers! From the acclaimed team of writer Dan Slott (She-Hulk) and artist Stefano Caselli comes this tale of the mysterious Scarlet Spiders, top secret agents who wear the Iron Spider armor and fight for Tony Stark's bold vision known as The Initiative. But by the end of this story, one of their identities will be exposed...and it's a face that fans will recognize! Plus, Peter Parker makes an important pre-One More Day appearance...but just why does he cross paths with the Initiative?

Critics continue to praise Avengers: The Initiative, as the series continues to impress fans and critics alike. "Definitely worth a read," said Gabriel Diaz of Comixtreme.com. "Slott is perfectly suited to write theses angst riddled super hero wannabes as they are taken through the motions to becoming someone great."

"Slott's Avengers: The Initiative may be the latest to arrive to the party, but it also happens to be the best," gushed IGN.Com's Richard George.

Just who is behind on of the Scarlet Spiders' masks? How does Peter Parker's meeting appearance impact his future? Don't miss the exciting answers in Avengers: The Initiative #7, as shocking secrets are revealed in this issue perfect for new readers!

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

Avengers: The Initiative #7 Preview

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #7 (AUG072210)
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by STEFANO CASELLI
Rated T+...$2.99
FOC-10/11/07, On-Sale 10/31/07

Our friends at Top Cow have provided Comics Alliance with a 5 page preview of the new The Necromancer: Pilot Season #1.

The Necromancer: Pilot Season #1
(W) Joshua Ortega
(A) Jonboy Meyers
(Cov) Francis Manapul

After the tragic and haunting events of The Necromancer Book I: Something In The Way, Abby van Alstine revisits her past, learns more about her strange connection to the Dark Age demon Mali, and encounters a monstrous creature that threatens to consumer her with its sickly evil. Original series writer Joshua Ortega (Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer, Star Wars) returns to his Harvey nominated co-creation alongside cover artist Francis Manapul (Witchblade, Iron & The Maiden) with interior art by breakout talent Jonboy Meyers (Danger Girl, Ninja Scroll), and a surprise ending that will have fans clamoring for more Necromancer!

Full Color
32 pages
$2.99
pilot issue

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

The Necromancer: Pilot Season #1 Preview

Our friends at Top Cow have provided Comics Alliance with a 5 page preview of the new Velocity: Pilot Season #1.

Velocity: Pilot Season #1
(W) Joe Casey
(A) Kevin Maguire
(Cov) Kevin Maguire

Cyberforce's resident speedster, Velocity, finally gets her groove on in this one-shot brought to you by Joe Casey (Uncanny X-Men, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes) and Kevin Maguire (Justice League, Superman/Batman)! How does a young heroine find love when she's the target of an all-new batch of super-villains?! Pure pop superheroics unlike anything Top Cow fans have ever experienced!

Full Color
32 pages
$2.99
pilot issue

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

Velocity: Pilot Season #1 Preview

Our friends at Top Cow have provided Comics Alliance with a 5 page preview of the new Witchblade Takeru Manga #9.

Witchblade Takeru Manga #9
(W) Yasuko Kobayashi
(A) Kazasa Sumita
(C) Blond
(Cov) Sumita

Takeru and Kuo learn more about the origin of the Witchblade and the return of demons to the world of man. But what is the US military's interest in the Witchblade? Originally serialized in Japan's popular magazine, Champion Red and written by Witchblade Anime head writer, Yasuko Kobayashi. And now every issue of Witchblade Takeru Manga is over-sized with 38 pages of story and art leading up to the stunning conclusion in issue #12!

Full Color
40 pages
$3.99
continuing series

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

Witchblade Takeru Manga #9 Preview

Our friends at Top Cow have provided Comics Alliance with a 7 page preview of the new Witchblade #110.

Witchblade #110
(W) Ron Marz
(P) Steve Sadowski
(I) Kevin Nowlan
(Cov) Mike Mayhew

FIRST BORN tie-in issue! Patience, the current Magdalena is suddenly drawn into the events of FIRST BORN as Sara Pezzini and new Witchblade bearer Dani Baptiste struggle to survive the battle. This issue will provide fans with a fuller reading experience and accompany this month's FIRST BORN #2!

Long time scribe Ron Marz (Ion, Samurai: Heaven & Earth) is joined in the second of three very special FIRST BORN tie-in issues by the unstoppable art team of Steve Sadowski (JSA, Red Sonja Annual), Kevin Nowlan (Batman: Black & White, Superman v. Aliens) and cover artist Mike Mayhew (Vampirella, The Pulse).

Full Color
32 pages
$2.99
continuing series

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

Witchblade #110 Preview

Our friends at Top Cow have provided Comics Alliance with a 7 page preview of the new First Born #2.

First Born #2 (of 3)
(W) Ron Marz
(A) Stjepan Sejic
(Cov) Dale Keown, Stjepan Sejic

First Born goes into overdrive as the delicate truce between the forces of Dark and Light breaks down and Sara Pezzini and Patrick Gleason are caught in the middle! The Darkness and the Angelus throw down in the ultimate melee and the true nature of Sara's pregnancy is revealed. Writer Ron Marz (Ion, Samurai: Heaven & Earth) and digital painter Stjepan Sejic (The Darkness: Level 1, Witchblade) deliver the second arc of Top Cow's epic three issue series that sets the stage for the next incredible year!

FIRST BORN #2 features covers by Dale Keown and series artist Stjepan Sejic.

Cover A) Dale Keown
Cover B) Stjepan Sejic
Full Color
32 pages
$2.99
Limited Series

Click the images below for a full sized preview.

First Born #2 Preview