Saturday, July 7, 2001

IMAGE COMICS' NEW SHOWCASE BOOK

   Image Comics has announced the publication a new book called image introduces...

    Each issue of the 32-page, full color bi-monthly will cover feature an all-new concept by a different creative team, plus a five-page preview of the following issue.

   The series will feature veteran creatures such as Beau Smith, Pat Lee and Ben Raab (making his Image debut) and newcomers like Rob Schamberger, Rob Hunter, and RV Valdez. The series will feature a standard trade dress and a self-contained 22-page story per issue giving the reader 27 pages of content for $2.95.

    Said Image VP-Publisher, Jim Valentino, "We are scheduling the features on a first-come, first-served basis, so the entirety of each succeeding issue must be in hand before we will preview it in the preceeding issue. This will keep the title on schedule and on-time."

   The six issues planned thus far include:

    Primate, which debuts the series in October, by Beau Smith, Kevin Bernhardt, and Mitch Byrd. This issue will feature two covers - one by sci-fi painting legend Dave Beck, the other by Danger Girl artist, Alex Garner. Primate tells the story of an ape who utilizes his full brain potential (unlike humans who use only 1/10th of theirs).

   The first issue's back-up feature and cover feature for the second issue is The Believer by newcomers Rob Schamberger, Thom Thurman and Chad Molder. An urban crime-suspense drama not recommended for the faint of heart or easily offended.

  Other features to follow will include:

   Cryptopia, by Ben Raab, Pat Quinn, and John Lowe. Set on an exotic island with scores of deadly unknown species, a group of scientists discover that man is the most dangerous animal of them all.

   Dog Soldiers, by Rob Hunter, Pete Pachoumis, and Luke Rizzo - a combat themed book where the government has bio-engineered soldiers by mixing human and canine DNA.

   Sandscape, from Pat Lee, Vex Li and Lou Kang, set on a world of caprice and conflict - a bit of sci-fi, a bit of fantasy in the DreamWave manga style.

    And The Legend of Isis, by Darren Davis, RV Valdez, and Jay Lester, the story of a forgotten Goddess attempting to reclaim her identity and forge a new legend.

   Valentino said he was inspired by the title that launched the Silver Age, Showcase.

   "Each issue will demonstrate the wide diversity of genre and stylings Image Central has become known for. Everything from horror to manga, sci-fi to urban drama, and some that just defy classification," he said.

CROSSGEN HIRES KARL MOLINE

   CrossGen Comics has hired penciler Karl Moline, who is currently working on the Joss Whedon's Fray for Dark Horse Comics.

   Moline will join CrossGen at their Tampa based studio after the completion of the Fray series in January.

  Moline has been working in comics since 1995, and his credits also include Marvel Comics' 2099: World of Tomorrow and Harris Comics' Vampirella Strikes.

    When he arrives at CrossGen, Moline will begin work on relief issues of Ruse and Negation. He will then receive his own ongoing title near the end of 2002.

    "I'm honored that CrossGen wants me to draw a book for them," Moline said. "After spending just two days in Tampa with everyone, I'm really excited to get there and get started. The energy is contagious. It's amazing to see that every artist right on up to George Perez feels this same way. I've never experienced anything like that before."

    "Karl is another excellent addition to our artistic staff," said CrossGen publisher Mark Alessi. "He brings with him everything we look for in a new employee. He's extremely talented, hard working, and he's an exceptionally nice person. Karl Moline is a name to watch out for in the coming year."

DON MCGREGOR PREMIERES DETECTIVES, INC. MOVIE

   Don McGregor announced the debut of Detectives, Inc. - The Movie at Comic-Con International in Sqn Diego on Friday, July 20 at 4:30 p.m.

    McGregor - whose comics credits in Jungle Action, Amazing Advnetures and Zorro -- wrote and directed this independently produced feature based on the comics series. The film stars Alex Simmons, Richard Douglass and Marsha McGregor as the lead trio of characters readers have loved from the graphic novel, Detectives Inc. - A Terror Of Dying Dreams. The graphic novel was actually adapted from the screenplay.

   "I showed 21 minutes of the film at last year's annual James Bond Weekend festivities headed by Matt Sherman, and the audience responded enthusiastically. There were gasps at shots I had thought would provoke gasps. It was great," McGregor said. "The vocal concern to what happens to our intrepid trio of Denning, Rainier and Deirdre, convinced me I should go forward. So, with the invaluable help of Paul Scrabo, I was able to finish the film I'd begun long ago."

   Here's how the film is described:

    "Private investigators Bob Rainier and Ted Denning are hired by social worker Deirdre Sevens to look into a case of domestic violence that takes them from the suburban communities of Flushing Meadows, Queens to the Coney Island Brighton Beach boardwalks. Relationships are formed, broken, stripped away, re-evaluated, and some are ended by murder!"

MARVEL COMICS' RATINGS

   Marvel Comics has released its ratings levels for its new self-imposed system since leaving the Comics Code Authority.

   Here's the breakdown:

   All Ages: These titles will carry no label and are appropriate for readers of all ages. Titles such as Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, and Ultimate X-Men will fit in this catagory.

   MarvelPG: These titles are fine for most readers, but a parent might want to read them with younger children. Titles you expected in this category will be Fantastic Four, Thor, New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man.

   MarvelPG +: Similar to MarvelPG, but with a kick. These titles generally will have the violence and language turned up a notch. Recommended for teen and adult readers. Look for titles like Punisher, Elektra, Marvel Knights: Double-Shot, and Banner to carry this label.

  Parental Advisory: Explicit Content: These comics, falling under our new MAX Comics banner, will contain what readers would experience in an R-rated movie. Some harsh language, intense violence, perhaps even some partial nudity. To avoid confusion, the MAX titles will be designed to look very different from our mainline Marvel titles. They will not carry a Marvel logo on their covers, they will not be sold on the newsstand, and they will not be marketed to younger readers. So far, Alias, Fury, and U.S. War Machine have been offered to retailers, with more titles joining them in the near future.

   Each title will have its rating listed in Marvel's solicitations.

FIRST LOOK: HARLEY QUINN #10

   Harley Quinn #10 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Karl Kesel, with art and cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson.

   Here's how DC describes the issue:

    "Reintroducing the original, accept no substitutes, Batgirl, But how can that be possible when Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl is wheelchair-bound? She'd certainly like to know, and so would Nightwing, Robin, and a certain new hero out there named - you guessed it - Batgirl. Meanwhile, Harley's still in the clutches of Killer Croc; Bo and Surly of The Stooges have a tender, defining moment; and the Quinntets get a new member: Matches Malone."

   Harley Quinn #10 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: DETECTIVE COMICS #760

    Detective Comics #760 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker, with art by Shawn Martinbrough, Darwyn Cooke, Jesse Delperdang, and Cameron Stewart and a cover by Dave Johnson.

   Here's how DC describes the issue:

   "Batman faces off against the sinister Mad Hatter as Montoya and Allen are trapped in a jail cell and a precinct full of cops fall into Hatter-induced chaos. Plus, 'Trail of Catwoman' continues in the backup written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke and Cameron Stewart."

   Detective Comics #760 will be 40 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY