TAKE THAT received a video this morning, emailed from a mirror satellite that sent it directly to every email provider, blog and news site throughout the internet. In our efforts to warn the world, we’ve transcribed the contents of that video here. Please read and pass along. Warn the world. They’re coming.

“Hi, Super Skrull here.”

“I left my last battle with the Fantastic Four, supercharged with hate for you Earthlings and your heroes, and so I made this video. It’s a little ramble filled in places and just for clarity’s sake I’d like to simplify things a little. I think there’s a way for the glorious Skrull Empire to invade Earth, conquer it, kill your heroes and make everyone happy doing it. I don’t claim to be right, but I think there could be something to this.”

(more…)

Columnist’s Note: Due to personal issues, your intrepid author was unable to pull together this week’s column. Rather than deny you, the faithful reader, your bi-weekly dose, he’s running a column from the previous volume of TAKE THAT, formerly posted three years ago at Popcultureshock.com. He appreciates your understanding and has revised the text slightly for comedic effect. Please note that this particular column was written before the Ed Brubaker CAPTAIN AMERICA run and first appearance of the Winter Soldier and should be read in that context. Share, enjoy and return in two weeks for fresh TAKE THAT! As in the past, heartfelt thanks to Scott McCloud for allowing us to use his wonderful book, Understanding Comics, as the structure for this column. If you have yet to read Scott’s books you should be ashamed. Check out Scott’s experiments, inventions and intelligent crackpot schemes at www.scottmccloud.com. It’s a long one, too, so breathe and enjoy.

Artwork copyright Scott McCloud, 2008

(more…)

RORSHACH’S JOURNAL.
July 22nd, 2008

Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood.

No one notices. Chesty girl in Elektra costume walks by and lecherous men stop to take photos.

Accumulated filth and sex, whores and politicians, following the droppings of lechers and capitalists. They had a choice, all of them. They could have followed in the footsteps of good men. Decent men who believed in a day’s work for a day’s pay.

Instead, they came to Comic-Con. Now they stand on the brink, staring into bloody hell.

Hurm.

(more…)

From: ‘Alexander Stevens (astevens@caa.com)
To: ‘Joker’ (misterj@yahoo.com)
Subject: To the future Clown Prince of Hollywood

Mister Joker,

Thank you once again for agreeing to let Creative Artists Agency help steer you through the ins and outs of Hollywood and as we embark on the grand adventure that will be Warner Bros.’ Blockbuster film, The Dark Knight. Everyone here at CAA is thrilled and excited to have you on board and we promise to work our best to serving your needs.

Though we understand that Warner’s’ dedication is to creating a franchise based on Batman, a man who understandably has stolen your spotlight, we at CAA feel the tremendous potential for building the Joker into a Hollywood brand, no less infamous than classic movie villains like Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter and the Terminator.

We pledge to do everything in our power to represent your interests and needs throughout this project, and hopefully, beyond. Please feel free to contact me should you need anything.

Yours,

Alexander Stevens
Creative Artists Agency

P.S. – If concerned at all about slipping into bed with a large agency, having heard some of the horror stories, no fear; from what I understand a Hollywood agent is only two steps below the folks you surround yourself at Arkham – you’re already ahead of the game.

(more…)

Last survivor of a dead planet. Strange visitor to planet Earth. Hiding among us, assuming a secret identity, to protect his adopted planet. Sure – we all know the first person that springs to mind, but we’re not talking about Him. Today we pay homage to a Justice League mainstay that left us far too soon, the late, great J’onn J’onzz AKA John Jones, AKA the Martian Manhunter. Accidentally teleported to Earth by Dr. Mark Erdel, the confused alien is left to fend for himself when the scientist dies of a heart attack, leaving the Martian stranded. Using his powers to disguise his appearance, the alien adopts several human identities, including that of police detective John Jones, and eventually reveals reveals his existence to the world and becomes a charter member of the Justice League. He was the glue that held the superhero community together and this summer, he was killed by the villainous Libra and buried on his home planet, beneath the red sands of Mars.

Of course, in the DC Universe, “dead” just means you don’t have a movie franchise in circulation and eventually – months, maybe years from now – the Martian Manhunter will return.

The DC Comics Editorial Offices are a tightly patrolled stronghold of dungeon-like cubicles and heavily padlocked Batman Licensed sauna rooms, but deep within the warren of labyrinth-like halls and guard dog-like interns sits the Office of the Executive Editor of the DCU, a palatial suite filled with wonders as far as the eye can see, including the golden helmet of Nabu and the lost final issues of CHASE, CHRONOS and MONOLITH. Inside the office, on the private desk constructed from unreturned pages of Jack Kirby pencils, sits a proposal packet for the eventual triumphant resurrection of the Martian Manhunter. DC editorial reached out to some of the comic book industry’s most popular talent to see how they might make the backbone of the Justice League a saleable property.

Below are excerpts of these short proposals, reproduced for your entertainment and excitement. Please remember that these are top secret and have been brought to you at great peril to my writing career and possible future with DC Comics. Good luck, god bless.

Long Live the Martian Manhunter.

(more…)

Twitter is for staying in touch and keeping up with friends no matter where you are or what you’re doing. For some friends you might want instant mobile updates—for others, you can just check the web. Invite your friends to Twitter and decide how connected you want you to be. To Familiarize yourself with Twitter, please click here

Recent | Replies| Archive| Everyone

(cut and pasted from the Marvel Universe Twitter page. Please follow through your Twitter account to keep up to date)

drbanner Spent the day in Nevada, hiding from cops. Struggled not to lose it in local diner. Sleeping in ditch outside vegas. | 02:56 AM April 5, 2008 from phone

drbanner Last week a blur. Holed up in Austin YMCA, Vegas rebuilding. Bum stole my shoes. WILL I EVER TAME THE BEAST WITHIN? | 5:30 PM April 13, 2008 from phone

SPIDEY oh, aunt may. wheatcakes again? | 3:00 AM April 15, 2008 from web

Stark2.0 cross-post from SHIELD blog: I know nick fury hid some cohibas around this helicarrier, but where? | 6:17 AM April 15, 2008 from suit

drbanner third backpack I’ve been through this month. I can build a gamma bomb, but when it comes to mending canvas I’m the freakin Rhino | 01:09 AM April 18, 2008 from web

SPIDEY @drbanner preach, doc. Uncle ben didn’t raise me to sew costumes. One day maybe I can pawn that off on a Mrs. Spidey | 8:24 PM April 20, 2008 from web

SPIDEY Yknow I feel like I’m forgetting something | 9:15 PM April 20, 2008 from web

drbanner STUPID BACKPACK HULK SMASH | 11:31 AM April 18, 2008 from web

(more…)

Every Monday, Diamond provides the comic book industry with a list of products shipping for the current week, as well as those products expected to ship the following week! It’s everything you love, everything you hate, and everything you have to read again. A look forward to the one list that’ll rock your week… this is Best Shipping List Ever.

Up This Week – The following products are expected to ship to comic book specialty stores on Wednesday, June 4th. This list is tentative and subject to change (Please check with your retailer for availability) and many items have been moved around, eliminated and commented upon for purposes of parody and hilarity. The complete list can be found here.

Here’s what comic book publishers are offering YOU this week:

(more…)

DC_B0y LIVES!
Speaker of Truths! Righter of Wrongs!

Date: 1997-11-02 19:20
First Day

Ok, so I’ve been doing this job for a while now, but have to say, I finally feel like I’m REALLY here. You know know how you grow up loving the Rolling Stones, and wondering how in the hell they get Mick Jagger into the leather pants and Keith Richards off the ventilator long enough to ROCK, but then you find out it’s just a group of leathery Brits who do the same thing thousands of times over and over again? You dream of a place for so long but then you get there and it’s nothing like what you want it to be? That’s not this. This is way opposite of that. People here in the Watchtower DO what I hoped they did, and now I’M actually part of it! I feel like I have a voice. It’s crazy weird and I can’t believe it’s real…

Add a comment | Read comments (52) | Send a message | Permalink | View trackbacks (0) | Blog it | Hobbies

Date: 1997-11-07 11:32
KR

Green Lantern rocks so much. I can’t wait to see what you guys think of him!! Yeah, there’s some stuff you may not really get or agree with, like that he’s going from zero to hero with no experience, but he’s had some pretty awesome moments. And, hell, he’s one of those dudes who respects the history and did his homework (unlike some people, Guy Gardner, who never invites me to his Warriors poker game!)

Ugh. It keeps raining real rain and no giant starfish. This is the freaking Justice League – It should rain GIANT STARFISH!!!!

The annual JLA/JSA retreat/extradimensional fight is coming up. I don’t get to go, but people who do always tell us what went down, esp if it sucked. Good times.

Add a comment | Read comments (52) | Send a message | Permalink | View trackbacks (0) | Blog it | Hobbies

(more…)

Nighttime in New York; a time when all things are possible. The nine-to-fivers scurry home in cabs and trains, heading for the precarious safety of Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, the ‘burbs. In Manhattan, however, no one is safe from the pull of the lights, the call of the nightclubs, the cool, dim recesses of posh restaurants with highly priced sirloin and highly valued privacy. Thankfully, for those who fear for their safety, there’s a well-tailored hero to protect us all.

Lounging in the back room of Pride, one such upscale bistro on West 53rd Street, around the corner from the Zeigfeld Theatre where story-high posters advertise his gold-and-scarlet plated face, multi-millionaire Anthony Stark surveys his protectorate with a speculator’s eye. Every booth contains a subject, every table an adventure. Stark, through various multi-national conglomerates has a very real stake in each and every seat; Stark International owns the restaurant. With a smirk on his face and a reasonably priced glass of mineral water in his hand, Stark looks like the cat planning to eat the canary — and who can blame him? He controls the largest corporation in the world, directs a private organization of well-armed secret agents, leads a powerful team of flashy, sexy, well-dressed superheroes and spends his days soaring through the air in what can only be described as a one-man guided missile, though a one-man guided missile with style. He’s also the subject of the summer’s most-anticipated blockbuster movie, already the second largest first-day debut for a non-sequel in box office history. On May 2nd, IRON MAN soared into movie theaters across America and around the corner from the Zeigfeld’s long lines and rave reviews, Tony Stark surveys his protectorate and dubs it good. TAKE THAT sat down with the cocky financier for a face-to-face to learn about the life, secrets and much-abused theme song of Iron Man.
(more…)

Geoff Johns holds universes in the palm of his hand. At least that’s the way it seems when reading his books. The prolific writer has tackled the biggest guns of the DC Comics Universe including Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash and everyone else in his world destroying, continuity tearing summer event, INFINITE CRISIS, and currently he’s reforming the legendary Justice Society of American while helping team up to chronicle 52 weeks in the DC Universe alongside other event-level writers, Mark Waid, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Keith Giffen. Geoff has a way of finding the humanity in the four color heroes that reach out and massage your heart, enabling the reader to form tight bonds of friendship, joy, sadness and triumph just before introducing another element that will change everything you thought you know and everything you held dear.

A passionate, diligent and in demand writer, Geoff’s name has been appearing in the writer’s credit block for everything from the industry’s hottest comics to upcoming film and television projects. A fellow Michigander, Geoff was kind enough to put aside existence for a short awhile and tear himself from his desk to talk about writing “events” and the value of discipline.

(more…)

Recently, certain advertisements have run at this website claiming that the United States government’s Superhero Registration Act and those supporting it are fascist and unpatriotic. These libelous accusations have been been directed by our great country’s former symbol of freedom, ex-Avenger Captain America.

What you’re not being told, however, is how Captain America – currently a fugitive, running from the law of this great nation of ours – has spent over half a century hiding his true colors behind a hypocritical mask of red, white and blue.

How well do you know America’s greatest living legend?

(more…)

Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, wants you to believe that his work for the government’s recently enacted of a Super-human Registration Act, mobilizing registered superhumans in an effort to hunt down and jail those who refuse to give up their civil liberties, is noble and for the good of the country. Stark hides behind the banner of patriotism and responsible obligation.

But how well do you know your government appointed superhero?

(more…)

Ive always wanted to write a pirate story.

Not so much a yarr and avast story, but something that captures the adventure, mystery and excitement of the high seas, the thrill of hunting buried treasure and danger at every turn. Sure, pirates are whats hip[ with the kids these days, but what really drew me, what really tempted me to begin laying out the geography and back story youll read about and walk around in while reading TODT HILL was borne from two things: Staten Island and THE GOONIES.

Lets take the first part last.

(more…)

Kevin Colden: Hardest working man in show business. And though his name might not trip off your tongue in the manner of artists like Lee, Hitch, Seth or others there is no doubt in my mind that it one day will. Kevin’s artistic style allows him to easily cross all genres and quickly pencil, ink, color and letter all kinds of stories – and quickly he does, for I’ve never met an artist faster, more efficient and more professional than Our Man Colden. His work has graced the pages of various indie anthologies like HOUSE OF TWELVE, TRUE PORN 2 and MAULED and the next year will see him complete his two color graphic novel, FISHTOWN. Recently, Kevin has joined webcomic collective, The Chemistry Set, lending digital pen and ink to TODT HILL, written by your humble blogger.

Hands deep in all forms of medium – comics, film, graphic design and more – and creating strange, unique worlds on a battered and time-worn drafting table that has the distinctive honor of once belonging to sequential master, Bernard Krigstein, Kevin Colden’s feet are teetering on the precipice as he peers over the edge into artistic fame: all he has to do is jump.

Kevin took a minute away from posting today’s TODT HILL to answer questions about his work, collaboration and limited color palletes.

(more…)

Dan Vado needs a vacation. Strapped to the Commander in Chief seat in the headquarters of his San Jose-based publishing company, Slave Labor Graphics, he’s overseeing a production schedule that includes books from cartooning icons Evan Dorkin, Roman Dirge and Andi Watson while shepherding in a new generation of comics from a diverse range of creators like Steve Emond, James Turner and Sonny Liew. Some days, his schedule sounds like a comic book/pop culture wet dream way to make a living. Check out proofs for the new issue of fan-favorite GARGOYLES, envision bold new venues in which to offer comics, organize the annual kickass SLG Halloween Party – it sounds like a dream gig, sure, but it takes a business savvy, strategically thinking, industry minded publisher to weather the trials, triumphs and tribulations of twenty years of putting out monthly comics to make it work. It takes a man, in short, like High Commander Dan Vado.

The history of Slave Labor Graphics is well-documented and many well-known cartoonists and rising stars have sought to place their creator owned projects in its production schedule, appreciating the creative freedom and quality product Vado and staff have offered now since 1986. Today, after twenty years of Milk, Cheese, Samurais, Ninjas, Angels, Ghouls, Pirates, Sparks, Bears and Homicidal Maniacs, Dan graciously sat with me and answered twenty questions about his company, his legacy and what the future holds.

Who knows, Dan? Maybe one day it will include that vacation.

(more…)

Andrew Dabb plays with other people’s toys. Though at first glance that might sound dirty, in reality it points to a growing body of work that the young writer has amassed adapting well-loved novels, films and licensed properties to the medium of comic books and graphic novels. Practiced at the art of distilling stories down to their essentials and transferring them from prose to sequential or one visual stage to another, Dabb has been sought by companies from Devil’s Due to Slave Labor Graphics to handle such popular properties as G.I. JOE, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, TRON and GHOSTBUSTERS with a hand that displays knowledge of the source material, a refinement of craft and a touch of dry sarcasm that makes you think while making you laugh.

Dabb, scribe of such offbeat and admittedly “mature” tales as HAPPYDALE for DC/Vertigo and VAISTRON for Slave Labor, spent some time with me this week explaining ways and means of adapting licensed products and stories into comics books.
(more…)

SCHEHERAZADE scribe Elizabeth Genco posted a short conversation with BIRDS OF PREY and SECRET SIX writer Gail Simone at the Chemistry Set as part of her “From the Library” series. In it, they discuss her mainstream work, the comics industry and her thoughts on writers blogs and websites:

“The truth is, I just don’t find myself all that fascinating, and if you want to learn about my writing, the best place is always going to be in the books themselves. So it’s kind of an oddball spot where I will occasionally drop a bit of drabble and if people read it, fine, if not, that’s also okay. But I don’t worry about updating…if it gets updated, it’s because I had some dumb thing to say at that exact moment, rather than because I’m trying to maintain traffic.”

Go have a look.

Joshua Hale Fialkov is all about the karma. If you’re a fan of independent comics, and have been paying attention over the last several years, you might have heard of his book, ELK’S RUN. The story of a small town that will do anything to keep their isolated existence intact has given the California-based writer its fair share of heartache and triumph, changing publisher hands over the course of what seemed a lifetime until landing itself at Villard, a division of the Random House Publishing Group and garnering a total of seven Harvey nominations. It’s been a long, rough road but as said earlier, Josh is all about the karma and in the end, things are back on track. He’s got several projects in the pipeline and between PUNKS, his collaboration with artist Kody Chamberlain, the soon to drop ELK’S RUN trade and TUMOR, a new series with ELK’S RUN artist Noel Tuazon, Fialkov is making sure he doesn’t need to depend on karma – not when it’s joined by hard work, solid writing skills and pure determination.

Josh looked up from his heavy workload to answer a few questions about his projects, music and why Howard Chaykin doesn’t hate him.

(more…)

Continuing the theme of self-hype, I want to talk a bit about my next cartoon book, MIGDAL DAVID (literally translated as “David’s Tower”).

MIGDAL DAVID is a cartoon memoir about two boys growing up in an orthodox jewish community — one living with an uncommon disability, struggling to find his place in community and religion; the other given all the advantages in life, frustrated and seeking ways out of both.

Judaic publisher Seraphic Press will publish the 150 page black and white hardcover and make it available in both bookstores and via the direct comics market in Fall/Winter 2007.

(more…)

Anthologies are the proving ground for the untapped future. And there are hundreds, each week a new offering of bound short stories cobbled together with grit and determination appearing on the comic book racks hoping to catch your eye and sell you on one of the short tales contained within. Some of the industry’s best and brightest began long, successful careers by creating pieces for beautifully organized anthologies designed to present a broad range of work – books like the annual SPX anthology, AdHouse Book’s PROJECT series, the Top Shelf volumes and DC Comics’ BIZARRO COMICS to name a few. Genres and themes from Western to Superhero to Horror to Romance; Subsets of a diverse comics community with individual appeals and individual tastes. No matter what you dig there’s an anthology of sequential short stories out there for you.

Take a look behind the curtain. Behind every good anthology is a patient, determined, organized editor with a singular vision to create a well-balanced, targeted book that will be accepted by a wide range of readers and perhaps bring a brand new talent to the attention of a comics-hungry world.

Bound and set to understand what makes an anthology successful and the truth behind the mantra that “anthologies don’t sell’, I posed a series of questions to the editors of three anthologies on the radar of the comics market: Ivan Brandon, writer of Image Comics’ NYC MECH and editor of the related 24SEVEN anthology; Cheese Hasselberger, organizer of the NYC HO12 Jams and editor of underground anthology HOUSE OF TWELVE; and Jason Rodriguez, editor of the critically acclaimed ELK’S RUN and the upcoming POSTCARDS anthology.

Join us, won’t you?

(more…)