DC COMICS ANNOUNCES “AFTER WATCHMEN, WHAT’S NEXT?” PROGRAM

The excitement surrounding the upcoming WATCHMEN feature film has brought new readers to the graphic novel format. Now that they’ve read WATCHMEN, where do they go next? DC is helping to point them in the right direction with DC Comics’ “AFTER WATCHMEN, WHAT’S NEXT?” program. DC has produced five key titles priced at just $1.00 each!

OUR STORE SPECIAL: If you buy any one of these (they ship one per week starting March 11th) and return it towards the purchase of the Graphic Novel it is part of, you get your money back, PLUS get $1 off that graphic novel.

SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMERS: All of these are already in the Online Subscription System. Search for SPECIAL EDITION and add them to your list if you are interested.



SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #21 SPECIAL EDITION
Written by Alan Moore
Art by Stephen Bissette & John Totleben
Cover by Tom Yeates
On sale March 11; 32 pg, FC, $1.00 US • MATURE READERS


TRANSMETROPOLITAN #1 SPECIAL EDITION
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Darick Robertson & Jerome K. Moore
Cover by Geof Darrow
On sale March 18; 32 pg, FC, $1.00 US • MATURE READERS


PLANETARY #1 SPECIAL EDITION
Written by Warren Ellis
Art and cover by John Cassaday
On sale March 25; 32 pg, FC, $1.00 US



PREACHER #1 SPECIAL EDITION
Written by Garth Ennis
Art by Steve Dillon
Cover by Glenn Fabry
On sale April 1; 48 pg, FC, $1.00 US • MATURE READERS


IDENTITY CRISIS #1 SPECIAL EDITION
Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Rags Morales & Michael Bair
Cover by Michael Turner
On sale April 8; 48 pg, FC, $1.00 US

You would think I am preaching to the choir here, but yet, every day I am surprised by how many of our regular comic book customers have yet to read the book that is considered by most the comic book "holy book". The older readers have read it of course, guys in their 40s remember picking up the issues as they came out. It's the newer 20-something crowd that has somehow managed to read everything BUT it, and that is scary.


I did not get into comics until I was in my early 20s. I remember the day I got my first comic book. I was working at Fairfax High School on Melrose Ave., and that day the whole world of news was abuzz with the "Superman is dead" story. You could not do anything without being reminded that Superman was now dead. I had to see with my own eyes, so I went to Golden Apple Comics (right across the street) and bought my first comic book. Within a week I had all the "doomsday" issues and my fate was sealed. Because my history with comics is not that long, I still remember the first time I read many of my favorite books, like Batman Year One, Kingdom Come, Earth X, Inhumans (by Jae Lee, possibly the most under read book ever). But I can not remember the first time I read Watchmen. Maybe it's because I have read it so many times since I got it. 2-3 times a year faithfully since the early 90s I have a desire to read it again, even though I already know it from cover to cover. I have always been amazed how I ALWAYS find something new that I have not seen the times before. I can't believe that I am still surprised and fascinated by the ending, even though I know it's coming every single time. I still love the characters, who are as vivid and exciting as any other character in comics, all flawed and yet all amazing.


A customer, who is a very well known movie critic, came in on Friday, after going to the Press screening of the movie. I did not need to ask him what he had thought of the movie, the answer was in his eyes, in his enormous grin, and in his body language, before he even told me. But it was the way he told me that I found most reassuring. He silently put both of his hands forward and did a "I am not worthy" bow, and at that time the load of anticipation and fear lifted completely. I know this guy's taste in movies and I trust him with this one. I told him about the tickets we (Nick and I) had already bought for the opening screening at Archlight (did you know they are already available?)

So, where am I going with this? Well, obviously I am trying to sell the book. But for the first time in all of my MANY attempts to get people to read a comic book I believe in, I feel like I am possibly doing them a favor. I honestly do not think someone can truly call themselves a TRUE comic book fan if they have not read Watchmen. It is THE book that our industry is measured by, and before you see the amazing movie adaptation come March, do yourself a favor and read the original book the way it was meant to be seen, IN PRINT.

Who else would announce it to public by wearing that shirt? Pure evil genius. Check out my post a couple of posts down about the true meaning of this EVIL event.

Let's go back to September 1986. DC Comics had planned a big event called "Crisis on Infinite Earth" which they knew would be a Reboot of the whole Universe. They knew specifically that the reboot would affect Superman the most, leading to the famous John Byrne reboot with the "Man of Steel" mini-series. They wanted to end the adventures of Silver Age Superman in style, so they hired one of the best "new" writers of the time, Alan Moore, to write the famous final issues of Superman (Vol. 1) (#423) and Action Comics (#583). They called the 2 part story "Whatever happened to the Man of Tomorrow".

Let's get back to our time. DC Comics is coming off their controversial "Final Crisis" & "Batman R.I.P." series by Grant Morrison (who many think of as a stylistic successor to Alan Moore). Batman is (seemingly) dead at the end of the 6th issue of Final Crisis, at least to the people in his life. They are ending both Batman and Detective Comics series (for a short time of course) and are focusing on his replacement in "Battle for the Cowl". Would not this be a perfect time to do something special? Well, that they did.

Coming out this Wednesday, is the first part of "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?", an amazing 2-part story by NEIL GAIMAN (Sandman, Coraline, 1602) and Adam Kubert (Batman, Wolverine, 1602). The 2 parter will be a one of a kind story that should be treasured by Batman fans, and a book that they CAN NOT miss. I honestly can say that I have NEVER EVER looked so much forward to reading a Batman book as I am today. Wednesday can not come fast enough. A very cool thing about the art in this book is that Gaiman requested to artist Andy Kubert that the artwork throughout the series represented various eras of notable artists that had worked on Batman. Major names of mention by Kubert include Jerry Robinson, Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams, and of course, Batman's creator Bob Kane. The book reflects on Batman as a character throughout his whole career. Two regular covers are available (Alex Ross and Adam Kubert) and a rare 1:50 SKETCH VARIANT is also available (very limited supplies).

Here is potentially the biggest independent title of this year. This will be the "Boys" of this year, on a much more serious level. This will be the "Wanted" of this year, and the "Kick Ass" and the "Pax Romana" of this year. Below is a copy of an essay Mark Waid (one of my favorite writers, from books like KINGDOM COME, EMPIRE, and Fantastic Four) wrote in this month's PREVIEWS magazine. This is IRREDEEMABLE in his own words:

"IRREDEEMABLE

An essay from the creator and writer, Mark Waid

In superhero comics, pretty much everyone who’s called upon to put on a cape is, at heart, emotionally equipped for the job.

I reject that premise.




“Irredeemable” is an idea that’s been kicking around in my head for a long, long time. You saw flashes of it in “Kingdom Come” and in “Empire”—but the first was about the ethical price of heroism and the second was about a world where heroism just flat-out didn’t exist. “Irredeemable” is, in a way, the third and most complex chapter on the cost of superheroics—a pulp adventure tale of horror about how the lessons we learn about right and wrong as children can become warped and twisted when challenged by the realities of the adult world. “Irredeemable” is the story of a man who was the greatest and most beloved superhero of all time...

...and how he became the world’s greatest supervillain.

No one simply turns “evil” one day. Villainy isn’t a light switch. The road to darkness is filled with moments of betrayal, of loss, of disappointment, and of superhuman weakness. In the case of the Plutonian, there were sidekicks who sold his secrets. There were friends who preyed too often on his selflessness and enemies who showed him unsettling truths about himself. And those were the good days.

“Irredeemable” takes us down that Conradian path of transformation in horrifying detail, as illustrated with grim poignancy by the unbelievably talented Peter Krause and narrated by the Plutonian’s former allies—a team of heroes on the run from the world’s most powerful and angry being, racing desperately through time and space to learn the Plutonian’s secrets just as he knows all of theirs. How did he come to this? What became of the hope and promise once inside him? What happens to the world when its savior betrays it?

What makes a hero irredeemable?

Mark Waid
January 2009"

'Nuff Said??? Oh, but there is more. About 2 weeks after issue #1 hits, you may just be able to meet Mr. Waid at our store. How? Too soon to reveal!

Last week, hopefully I opened a few new eyes to the talent of Jonathan Hickman. As I said in the earlier installment, Hickman's FIRST major Marvel Project comes out this week, in SECRET WARRIORS #1, a book he is co-writing with Bendis. From what I understand, the book's direction may be Bendis, but the writing is ALL Hickman.



And just to show you the type of Dedication Hickman puts into his books, here are a couple of pages of proposal stuff that he sent to Marvel when he was fleshing out this new series, showing relationships between all the groups in the hierarchy of the Marvel's underground power struggle(click to see larger versions):



And another fact, not very publicized by Marvel or anyone else. Jonathan Hickman has a story in the new Astonishing Tales anthology out this week.



Here is a list of Jonathan Hickman's Image projects, completed and still in progress:

Nightly News - As an act of violence spirals out of control to encompass the entirety of the news media, a cult has emerged from the errors and retractions that have ruined careers, marriages and even lives. Under direction from his cult master, The Hand leads an army of followers committed to revolution, willing to die for their cause. - Graphic Novel out now.

Transhuman - Jonathan Hickman and JM Ringuet present a mockumentary about the future, where genetically engineered humans are created by rival companies in an attempt to corner the market under the guise of bettering the world. Transhuman is an irreverent view of the origin of a new technology, the starting of rival companies, the piles of cash made from taking them public, and the marketing wars that end with one company dominating the other. - Graphic Novel out last week

Red Mass For Mars - From the mind of comic book innovator Jonathan Hickman and the pen of super-talent and Image debutant Ryan Bodenheim comes the visually stunning A Red Mass For Mars. In a world that has survived every catastrophe imaginable, a new threat from the beyond stars looks to be the end of all humanity. A Red Mass For Mars tells the story of the last days of Earth and the one man who could have saved us all - but didn't! - 2 issues out so far...

Pax Romana - In 2045, as Islam has overrun Europe and the West openly shuns monotheism, the Vatican funded, CERN Laboratories 'discover' that time travel is possible. The Pope orders the creation of a private army, and led by a few handpicked Cardinals and the finest graduates of selected war colleges, they travel back in time to 312AD - the reign of the first Christian Emperor, Constantine. Upon arrival, conflicting agendas, ideological differences, and personal greed see grand plans unravel. Pax Romana is the tale of 5,000 men sent on an impossible mission to change the past and save the future. At the end of the world, will they succeed, or will they fail? - Graphic Novel out in the next few weeks