I've finally been able to arrange to return to the Chicago area this year! I'm going to be at Chicago's C2E2 in a couple weeks -- April 16-18.
I'll be exhibiting with my pals Scott Kurtz and Kris Straub, and I'll have all four Evil Inc graphic novels and copies of the Phables book available -- as well as the Complete Greystone Inn hardcover that was released in February.
As always, if you're interested in buying original art priced at the convention-only 20%-off rate, please e-mail me so I can have your favorite on hand.
Scott, Kris and I will also be doing a special, live version of the Webcomics Weekly podcast on Saturday night at 6:45 in Room E351.
For those of you on the left coast who can't attend, fear not: I will be turning right around and jumping a jet for the Calgary Comics Expo the very next week.
And later on in June, I'm going to be hitting the South for Heroes Con in Charlotte, N.C. Watch the column to the right of the blog to see an updated list of all of 2010's convention appearances.
What a weird week. I don't know whether it's the fact that Dark Reign and Blackest Night have reached (or nearly reached) their conclusions -- or whether it's just a lull week in comics, but nothing -- and I mean nothing -- looks good on the stands for this week. So I'm re-naming the feature this week: Five to PASS / One to PULL.
Captain America and Black Panther #1 Creative team: Story by Reginald Hudlin; Art by Denys Cowan
Villain to Watch: Nazis
They say: For the first time ever, see the full story of the first meeting of Captain America and the Black Panther! It's a World War Two adventure featuring a young Steve Rogers, the Black Panther and Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos in combat with the nastiest Nazi villains in the Marve Universe!
I say: Show me the Captain America with the pointy shield, and I'm looking for the exit sign. I mean, he can't really throw that puppy, and the whole throwing-the-shield thing is as essential to the Cap mythos as the wings on his head. Throw in a plethora of prequels flooding the market and you have the reason I'm passing on this one.
Deadpool Corps #1 Creative team: Story by Victor Gischler; Art by Rob Liefeld
Villain to Watch: TBA
They say: The Deadpool Corps embark on the universe-spanning mission that only they can accomplish. Tapped by the Elders of the Universe to gather a crack team of his alternative universe selves for what amounts to an intergalactic suicide mission, Deadpool just can't say no. Enter: Headpool, Kidpool, Dogpool and Lady Deadpool - and it's off to the rescue, right? Not so fast. Turns out another Elder, the Champion, isn't quite sold on this new super-team. If Deadpool and crew want to streak across the universe to face the ultimate enemy, their destiny, and much needed tacos and beer, they're going to have to pass a little test first.
I say: Like I said a short while back, Marvel has officially hit Deadpool Overload. I was actually intrigued by the first issue of Prelude to Deadpool Corps, but I was really left cold by what I saw in the ensuing issues. So, I'm pulling up my stakes and heading for the higher ground of Deadpool - Merc With a Mouth, the series that, for me, has outshined the ninety-billion other Deadpool monthlies on the stands today.
Great Ten #6 Creative team: Story by Tony Bedard; Art by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens
Villain to Watch: Chinese god of death
They say: Every crook in Hong Kong grew up hearing tales of the Ghost Fox Killer - how her slightest touch is death, how she collects the souls of the damned. Now, the mysterious and seductive Ghost Fox Killer raises her guns - and the ghosts of her victims - against the Chinese God of Death.
They say: MACHINE MAN IS BACK! Zombies of the multiverse, watch your rotting backs! To obtain a cure for the zombie virus for Morbius the Living Vampire, Aaron Stack, Agent of ARMOR, must traverse alternate realities hunting down the plague in all its myriad forms...with a most unusual (but somehow oddly appropriate) partner! First up: in the Alterniverse known as 'The Territory,' the Old West never died. But when the greatest gunslingers of Marveldom -- Two-Gun Kid, Phantom Rider, Kid Colt, and many others -- rise from their graves in Boot Hill, the stage is set for a High Noon showdown with flesh-eating outlaws the likes of which you've never seen! Saddle up and ride into the tale we had to call 'THE DEAD AND THE QUICK!'
I say: OK. Machine Man I like, but honest to goodness, I'm a little zombied-out right now. I need a breather on all of the evil undead stuff.
They say: One of comics' most innovative and original voices, Brendan McCarthy, brings SPIDER-MAN: FEVER -- a truly unique and surreal story evoking the classic Silver-Age psychedelia of Steve Ditko's Dr Strange. In FEVER, Spider-Man is abducted by a depraved tribe of spider-demons to a bizarre dimension, where he is to be eaten alive. Dr. Strange goes on a perilous occult quest to rescue his friend -- and tangles with some very peculiar characters along the way...
I say: This has an interesting story hook, but I was really turned off by the visuals when I checked out the preview. Check it out for yourself; you might like it. It just wasn't to my personal taste, though.
...And One To PULL...
World War Hulks #1 Creative team: Story by Jeff Parker and more; Art by Ig Guara
Villain to Watch: The Leader
They say: After the jaw-dropping conclusion of FALL OF THE HULKS, secrets, mysteries and surprises galore are revealed in this giant-sized, bone-crushing, gamma-irradiated special featuring key players of the biggest Hulk-saga ever told: A-BOMB, COSMIC HULK, RED SHE-HULK, DOC SAMSON and DEADPOOL! What is the heart-breaking decision that Rick Jones must make? Is there a hero left in the dark abyss of Leonard Samson's distorted mind? Whose appearance will shock the wild Red She-Hulk to her core? Can an ancient alien technology spell certain apocalypse to the world? Don't miss out on this essential assembly of startling secrets in one of the greatest conspiracies in the history of the Marvel Universe!!!
I say: I'll admit it right now, I'm just putting this here because I need something to suggest as a Pass for the week. I've been following World War Hulks and Fall of the Hulks, and I really, truly couldn't explain to a newb what the heck is going on. And if something "jaw-dropping" is going on, it zinged right past me. I'm telling you, I'm pulling this out of sheer habit alone.
What a crappy week for comics. Help me out, folks. What am I missing?
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Captain America and Black Panther #1
Deadpool Corps #1
Great Ten #6
Marvel Zombies 5 #1
Spider-Man Fever #1
World War Hulks #1
