Obsession Underground

Last week, Image Comics began the run of a new series called Saga with a 44-page #1 that will leave you restless.

The comic seems to incorporate elements, ideas and styles from works as diverse as Dune, Rice Boy and Star Wars. Its story follows two deserters of a galactic war in a dash for freedom away from militaries, princes and at least one very interesting bounty hunter called “The Will” who is in possession of a big cat who exposes all falsehoods (Don’t worry; it’s weirder than you think.)

The art, to me, is captivating in its simplicity. I find myself tracing the scarce lines on the pages, wanting to hang several of its images on the walls of my room, if it wouldn’t deface this wonderful book. The faces are all expressive and diverse, and the fashions, architecture and engineering are believably space-age without overdoing it. Saga uses magic in ways that seem like science and vice versa, including such concepts as “heartbreaker” class pistols that “hurt like the day [one’s] dog died” and a race of (ruling) humanoids with CRT monitors for heads, antennae and all.

The doubled size of the first issue was an absolutely inspired move; I could not possibly imagine being more immersed in the world of Saga than I am now. Seeing the birth of a main character, a partial history of the war driving the plot, a teaser of the home world’s bizarre political system, the introduction of a major antagonist, the bonding of our heroes and brief glimpse of the vastness of a terrifying planet is certainly enough to get anyone engaged. While I expect to absolutely devour the upcoming 22-page issues far too quickly, it’s obvious that they’ll be filled with delicious plot, not (admittedly fascinating) backstory.

Do yourself a favor and get to your local comic shop as quickly as possible. If they don’t have Saga, threaten to turn them in to Baron Robot XXIII for treason.

The third (and final released) cover of Marvel’s lost Victor Von Doom miniseries. I’ll just be crying over here

I just found the cover of the second issue of Marvel’s cancelled Victor Von Doom series.

Now we here on OU try not to swear, but

****! ******* **** *** **** everything, this would have been so cool WHY MARVEL WHY

markandrewsmith:

And this is the final for the character concepts as designed by Armand Villavert for the main characters in the book.  The Speedster character will appear in the next story arch.  He’s on the cover of the first issue and the trade, and he’s going to becmoe a regular later on in the series.  I won’t give his name just yet, and you’ll have to pick up the issue to find out who he is.

 I have been wondering about that guy…

markandrewsmith:

GLADSTONE’S SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS: THE BATTLE OF THE SUPERHERO ARCHIVES is in the works right now and drawn by Matthew Weldon (New Brighton Archeological Society).

The series is written and we’re waiting to have four issues wrapped up before the first of six comes out. Each new volume will start with a new number one.

I’m starting writing on series three and hope that the third series can be drawn while the second one is being created.

 Thank god it wasn’t cancelled! (Our worst fear for this series because we love it so much.)

justinrampage:

Barry Wazzy is back with another collection of real life Pokeballs thanks to his Photoshop skills. Harry Potter, The Dark Knight and Dragon Ball Z hit the Pokemon battlefield in this powerful set!

Related Rampage: Real Pokeball Types 1

Real Pokeball Types 2 by Barry Wazzy

justinrampage:

The Dark Knight and Kill Bill films accidentally run into one another in Dan Hipp’s hilarious new mash up. Buy the original illustration for $80 here.

Related Rampages: OH MY GLOB! (More)

IT’S SIMPLE. WE KILL BILL. by Dan Hipp (Tumblr) (Flickr) (Twitter)

Via: mrhipp

diisaster-zombiie:

COSPLAY: Raven!!!

(Source: galaxy-piroriparopirirora)

Many of DC’s New 52 comics have drawn fire from feminist critics, but if you’re still holding out for a well-developed female character that doesn’t exist as a sex prop, there is hope in Batwoman.

The first arc of Batwoman, “Hydrology”, centers around a string of child abductions with a seemingly supernatural perpetrator.  As Kate Kane investigates, she must also contend with a headstrong sidekick, bitter feelings towards her father, and a government agent who’s determined to unmask her.  While she has a similarly tragic past and wealthy background, Kate is not just a genderbent Bruce; her demons are her own, and W. Haden Blackman’s writing does an excellent job conveying the intricacies of her struggles.  And while Kate is openly lesbian, her sexuality is treated as a single facet of her complex personality, not an overblown gimmick.

As far as art goes, I’m of the opinion that this series should be shown to anyone who still believes that comics are not an art form.  J.H. Williams III’s work is absolutely mind-blowing, using as many as three different styles on one page to capture the psychological subtleties of a scene.  Still, the pages never feel disjointed or cluttered—though I definitely found myself taking a few minutes just to marvel at them.  The details, the colors, the paneling: everything is borderline flawless.

In short, if you’ve been wishing for a comic with a great female protagonist, or if you’ve just been searching for another great series to pick up (or both), take a look at Batwoman the next time you’re at the comic shop.

Doctor Nemesis, on where he gets his ideas.

X-Club #1, 12/7/11

GET THIS COMIC: AVENGERS ORIGINS: VISION

Another bright and sunny Wednesday, and that means it’s time to trek down to your local comic shop and peruse the shelves. My suggestion for this week is Avengers Origins: Vision.

Marvel has released a series of one-shots titled “Avengers Origins” which describe, surprisingly, the origins of the Avengers. Today’s big hero is Vision, one of my favorite Marvel characters. In a series of descendants rivaling a passage from the bible, Henry Pym begat Ultron (who turned evil) who begat Vision (And Victor Mancha) who (both) turned good. As such, Vision’s electrically-powered emotions are very much tied to who exactly he should be as a free man. It always makes for a compelling philosophical story, which is written in a beautifully natural style by Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel.

On top of a great concept, the art is absolutely top-notch. Stephanie Perger builds pages masterfully, letting everything feel loose and interesting while secretly keeping it tight and easy to follow. Her shading and coloring is smooth, yet expressive, and the laser and explosions (yes, action-fans, there are tons of them) feel eye-searingly bright (in a good way) without seeming like blank space on the page. Speaking of action, this book certainly holds a great amount. Just about everyone gets thrown, punched or blown up, and the Avengers make for a great battle.

If you’re just looking for a good one-shot to keep around for the art, Vision and a team of fully-cohesive Avengers, definitely check out Avengers Origins: The Vision.

—Galen

(via tumblingus-deactivated20120407)

The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning Curriculum Pamphlet

The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning Faculty and Students Roster

AKA Why you should be reading Wolverine and the X-Men oh my god

Wolverine and the X-Men came out today (10/26/11) and it’s fantastic. The short pitch is that Wolverine and Kitty Pryde have started the newest iteration of the whole “School for Gifted Mutants” plot around which X-Men comics are generally based.

But beyond that, just look at this cast. It has some of my very favorite characters: Gambit, Chamber, Anole,  and Kid Omega (Who’s so cool in this series’ art compared to his previous Bully-style art) not to mention all the other way cool and colorful characters wreaking chaos in the new school in the very first issue!

From what I’ve seen in the first issue, their main enemy will be the mass paranoia homo sapiens hold against mutantkind, especially with respect to the idea of a super-powered school that can barely hold itself in. A lot of the action will also focus on the faculty and their Adventures in Aging, as well as their secret battles against The Hellfire Club, an anti-mutant society known for fighting the X-Men fiercely.

Wolverine and the X-Men #2 comes out November 23, 2011