Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001

DC COMICS FOR APRIL

DC Comics has released its solicitations for April.

For the complete listings, including DC Direct, and art, CLICK HERE.

DAVID MACK UPDATE

David Mack updated The Continuum on his projects, including the animated Kabuki movie and his work at Marvel.

Here's a rundown of what Mack said:

* Kabuki movie: "It looks like the final script has been turned in, and we've all went over it. I'm awaiting my assignment for the next step."

* Daredevil: "I recently saw the art to DD #15, the conclusion to the storyline that I wrote. Very happy with it. This issue was always my favorite one. It's all from the POV of the Kingpin and it brings all the other issues together.

"I'm also finishing up the paints to the four-issue (#16-19) story I'm doing with (Brian Michael) Bendis."

* Marvel: "I'll also be doing all the painted covers to a brand new series that Bendis will be writing and starting at Marvel. The project/title is still a secret so far."

* DC/Vertigo: "I did three Swamp Thing covers a couple of months ago."

FABRY COVERS JUST A PILGRIM

Black Bull Entertainment on Monday announced that the second issue of Just A Pilgrim, the new comic book title by Garth Ennis, will feature cover art by painter Glenn Fabry.

Fabry, known for his work with Ennis on the covers for the DC Comics/Vertigo series Preacher, paints the Pilgrim set against a grotesque backdrop of deformed and twisted characters from the all-new series.

Speaking about Just A Pilgrim #2, Ennis said, "I've pulled out all the stops...possibly the most dreadful thing that I've ever done to a character happens in issue two."

The creative team on this series is completed by artist Carlos Ezquerra, one of the co-creators of Judge Dredd, who has most recently collaborated with Ennis on Adventures In The Rifle Brigade, and colorist Paul Mounts.

Just A Pilgrim #2 goes on sale on April 18.

BLADE VIDEO GAME SEQUEL

Activision announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement with UK-based developer Mucky Foot to begin working on a sequel to Blade, the game based on Marvel's vampire hunter.

The game is being developed for next generation console systems. The deal marks the first time that Mucky Foot, creator of the action-adventure title Urban Chaos, has developed for a publisher other than Eidos Interactive, and represents an expansion of the company's development portfolio.

Mucky Foot's founder, industry veteran Mike Diskett, will be working closely on the project.

"We are delighted that Activision has decided to work with Mucky Foot on this exciting new project," Diskett said. "Activision's long-standing commitment to partnership and independent development, coupled with our vision as one of the pre-eminent game developers, will make for a winning combination."

FANBOY ENTERTAINMENT FOR APRIL

Following are the April solicitations from Fanboy Entertainment, with information coming from the company.

ESSENCE: THE ART OF YOSHITOSHI ABE

An all-new book from Yoshitoshi ABe, one of the creators of the anime series Serial Experiments LAIN. Written, drawn and designed entirely by Yoshitoshi ABe himself, Essence is a collection which puts the work of one of Japan most acclaimed illustrators in the hands of his American fans and followers. His sensitive linework and attention to detail was first seen in Serial Experiments LAIN, the hit anime series of last year. Since then, ABe's art has been becoming more readily available, seen on posters, lunchboxes and lithographs, but never in print.. until now. Never has there be such a complete collection of the best of his work. Essence will also feature new manga stories, character designs, figure studies, rejected anime and game ideas and designs as well a few surprises ABe has chosen to include for his Western fans.

72 pages, black and white, $7.95.

SIDEKICKS #3

Written by J. Torres, art by Takeshi Miyazawa.

Since when did students have to deal with crappy cafeteria food, loud snoring roommates and zits big enough to be seen from Mars? On top of surviving Battle-Bot VR programs, passing Superhuman History mid-terms and getting detentions for morphing, flying or turning invisible on school grounds, that is. Welcome to the world of Terry Highland and her classmates at Shuster Academy. High school has certainly changed. Every school has its secrets and legends, and a school for super-powered teens is no diffferent. Except the secrets the halls of Shuster Academy hold are a little bit more bizarre, and dangerous, than most myths. Terry Highland makes it her mission to get to the truth behind some of the legends and drags the rest of the student body into it with her. Just who are Biff, Bam and Pow? Will the truth they discover change the future of the academy and superheroing forever?

32 pages, black and white, $2.75.

MOBIUS KLEIN #4

Written and art by Kia Asamiya.

The gathering of the world's most powerful wizards in Tokyo continues. Joining Gigelf Liquer are fellow mages from around the globe, many of who's names should be familiar to Silent Mobius fans - Maverick, Yamigumo, Cheyenne, Saito. Why has the Magician's Guild been forced to convene? The dire emergency that threatens Tokyo, and quite possible the fate of the entire planet, is finally revealed. Also, Fuyuka is plagued by dreams of a mysterious stranger... a stranger clad in black leather who looks just like her.

32 pages, black and white, $2.75.

SPELLBOUND: THE MAGIC OF LOVE #3

Written and art by Tomoko Taniguchi.

The conclusion of the all-new original manga series created exclusively for U.S. fans from Tomoko Taniguchi. In this final issue, Ami's magic abilities come full circle. She finds new powers she never knew she had and their intoxicating force is almost overwhelming. Will Ami be able to control the mystical energies she has unleashed and save Hiro or will she be seduced by them and side with Nicole? Will she turn to the dark side or will her love for Hiro, her friends and family help guide her back to the road of righteousness? And what will happen to Miyako City if she loses control?

32 pages, black and white, $2.95.

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS FOR MAY

Following are Fantgraphics Books' solicitations for May, with information coming from the company.

THE COMPLETE PALESTINE

By Joe Sacco, with an introduction by Edward Said.

Prior to Safe Area Gorazde: The War In Eastern Bosnia 1992-1995 - Joe Sacco's breakthrough novel of graphic journalism published earlier this year - the acclaimed author was best known for Palestine, a two-volume graphic novel that won an American Book Award in 1996. Fantagraphics Books presents, for the first time, a single-volume collection of this 288-page landmark of journalism and the art form of comics. Based on several months of research and an extended visit to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the early 1990s (where he conducted over 100 interviews with Palestinians and Jews), Palestine was the first major comics work of political and historical nonfiction by Sacco. Sacco's insightful reportage takes place at the front lines, where busy marketplaces are spoiled by shootings and tear gas, soldiers beat civilians with reckless abandon, and roadblocks go up before reporters can leave. Sacco interviewed and encountered prisoners, refugees, protesters, wounded children, farmers who had lost their land, and families who had been torn apart by the Palestinian conflict.

288 pages, $24.95.

NO MORE SHAVES: A DUPLEX PLANET COLLECTION

By David Greenberger and various artists. By turns poignant, hilarious, and confounding, David Greenberger's interviews with nursing home residents have made his zine Duplex Planet a cult favorite for over 20 years. In addition to over 150 issues of the flagship zine, under Greenberger's reverent watch the material has also spawned an NPR radio program (The Duplex Planet Radio Hour), two independent films, two spoken word CDs, a series of musical CDs featuring lyrics by octogenarian Ernest Noyes Brookings (and performed by XTC, Robyn Hitchcock, Ben Vaughn, Morphine and many more), a play, a series of performances of monologues with music, lecture series, a travelling art exhibit, a host of celebrity afficianados (from Lou Reed to Allen Ginsburg to Michael Stipe and Geroge Carlin), appearances on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and now No More Shaves, a collection of comic strips written by Greenberger and drawn by many of the best cartoonists in comics. No More Shaves focuses on six of the Duplex's most prominent residents, including the ever-cranky Arthur Wallace and the hard-living Larry Green, with an introduction by Greenberger. The line-up of cartoonists is a Who's Who of contemporary talent: Dave Cooper, Jason Lutes, Rick Altergott, Doug Allen, Pat Moriarty, Dame Darcy, Ron Rege, and many more. Each artist interprets one of Greenberger's interviews in wildly imagined ways, adding depth to the words and giving form to the people who lived in the Duplex Planet Nursing Home and many other locales he's frequented through the years.

144 pages, $18.95.

LOVE & ROCKETS VOLUME II #2

By Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez.

In Beto's "Julio's Day," Julio goes to school, encounters bullies, difficult school work, attention deficit disorder and the slow destruction of passion and creativity by the school system. Mario gives us part two of "Me for the Unknown" - a story filled with crooked politicians and revolution in the Comprachican bayou. And in Jaime's tale, Maggie asks herself, "Does the world suck or do I suck? That is the question." while Izzy is still in her apartment and someone called The Frogmouth wants to be her best friend.

32 pages, $3.95.

WEASEL #4

By Dave Cooper.

In the on-going serial, Ripple, Martin tries to mend his & Tina's sickly relationship, but eventually his jealousy sets Tina off in rage. It all leads to a surreal night of antagonism and debauchery. Also included is another wonderfully disjointed "television program x-32b" dream story, this time starring Eddy Table, a goat & a 12-foot Amazon with immense breasts. As an added treat, there will be an all-new work by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. Mignola contributes a five-page story and back cover, both coloured by Cooper. Round it off with four pages of "encyclopedia nonsensical."

40 pages, black and white, $4.95.

BRIEFLY