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09/10/16 @ 8:07 pm EST
A Writer’s Commentary: Ben Fisher talks The Great Divide #1, on sale now from Dynamite. Grab your copy and follow along. Cover by Mike Henderson and interiors by Adam Markiewicz.  Page 1I knew from the first draft of the script that I wanted to open with a “man runs into a bar” joke. It sets a thematic introductory bookend for the issue and also juxtaposes nicely with the gruesome imagery. This contrast is a technique that we utilize frequently. Page 2-3The Great Divide is a story about deciding to move forward even when all hope is lost, so I didn’t want to spend too much time dwelling in the past. But I did want an establishing shot of the Divide first occurring, which gives us a quick introduction to the deadly effects of physical contact as well as the concept of “riders” (absorbing the consciousness of people you’ve touched). These first few pages build the initial momentum, but also serve to underscore how quickly everything can fall apart in the new world order. This will not be the only panel featuring explode-y eyeballs. Page 4And here we meet Paul Halliday doing what he does best — using humor as a coping mechanism and stealing what he needs to survive. Introducing Paul in mid-theft is important because I didn’t want to cast him in the light of a hero. He’s not evil, really, but his scavenging existence is relatively simple at this point, unburdened and uncomplicated. I sure hope nothing bad happens to this guy. Page 5We establish a time jump by showing the same bar exterior, now covered with bullet holes and odd markings. I prefer using contextual clues like this instead of simply adding a “# Years Later” caption whenever possible. It also sets up the post-Divide barter economy, with porn being a particularly valuable currency.  Page 6-7A danger with any high concept story is getting bogged down with world-building exposition. I decided to use limited captions in the early part of this issue for reasons that I’ll discuss later, and I used Paul’s voice so that we learn as much about his personality as we do about his environment. With respect to the art itself, The Great Divide is an exploration of intimacy and close relationships, and I wanted to visually capture how empty and hollow everything can become when those things are removed from the equation. Page 8-9 Ah, the traditional Hollywood romance of Boy meets Girl, Girl smashes Boy’s face with a crowbar and steals all his stuff. Maria is the other primary protagonist in The Great Divide, and like Paul, she’s no hero. Unlike Paul, she has no problem taking control of a situation. Page 10Look, if you can talk your artist collaborator into drawing a close-up rat face, do it. Page 11One of the quirks that makes The Great Divide an interesting apocalyptic concept for me to explore is that banding together for protection really doesn’t work. In fact, it tends to have the opposite effect. But even so, would people be willing to live solitary lives? Is the herd mentality so hard-wired into our DNA that we’d seek each other out, even at the risk of death? As an aside, the third panel, transitioning Paul’s captions into dialogue, is a meta-joke about the medium. Page 12-13Here we meet Carlos, who’s going to make Paul’s life difficult for a long, long time. These pages also include a few references to “walkabouts” — an unexplained global sleepwalking-like phenomenon that will be explored in future issues. The Vampirella comic is an inside nod to Dynamite. The original script had a few different comic options, to be finalized depending on which publisher we ultimately partnered with.  Page 14-15This first meaningful dialogue between Paul and Maria was important for a number of reasons. It establishes their uneasy relationship, with Maria revealing a bit of vulnerability when she relents to Paul’s begging for gloves. We also get our first bit of character background as Paul drops some medical knowledge. (True fact: what Paul says about the pills is generally true, although his description of tetracyn is a bit over-stated. The more you know!) Page 16-18Sexuality is obviously a recurring theme in The Great Divide. We’ll be tackling it from a few different angles throughout the series including, in this case, how live pornography would be impacted. This scene also briefly hints at one of the side effects that accompanies having a rider: acute dyslexia. Page 19A careful observer will notice lots of “interesting” graffiti on various walls in every issue. Adam and I believed that one of the ways sexual frustration would manifest would be in street art. Page 20-21Now it’s Paul’s turn to show some vulnerability, agreeing to help Maria despite his better judgment when she pleads with him to save Carlos. These moments set the tone for what is going to be a tumultuous relationship between two strangers who will slowly, begrudgingly, grow closer in a world where “letting someone in” is a death sentence.  Page 22I promised more exploding eyes. Page 23-24So a lot is going on here. Paul is caught up in Maria’s heist without having any idea what her actual agenda is, and Carlos is now “trapped” in Paul’s head as a rider. From a lettering perspective, we wanted to do something unique with this concept which is why we decided to use captions earlier in the book. The reader can now see that Paul’s “inner voice” includes Carlos’ thoughts (the latter of which are in his native Colombian). And here we also get Paul telling a joke to bookend with our opening scene. Page 25These chatlogs will be included in every issue, and are an opportunity for anyone interested to learn a bit more about what’s going on outside of Paul and Maria’s limited world view. And who knows, maybe some of the concepts being discussed, and the people discussing them, will play their own part in future issues. (Spoiler: they totally will).If I may be serious for a moment, we are genuinely deeply grateful to everyone joining us on our journey with Paul and Maria. We’ve got some really fun twists and turns looming, and we can’t wait to explore them with you! 05/16/24 @ 11:42 am EST
Signature Entertainment has picked up UK and Irish rights to Unit 234, a thriller starring Don Johnson (Knives Out), Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan: First Kill) and Jack Huston (Kill Your Darlings) from sales agent Radiant Films. The feature is directed by Tennant from a script written by Derek Steiner and is produced by Blythe Frank (Being Charlie), Hadeel Reda (The Ride), Lee Dreyfuss (The Misfits) and Productivity Media’s William Santor (Stockholm) and Doug Murray (Unplugging). The synopsis: After the shocking discovery of an unconscious man in a locked unit, the lone employee of a remote storage facility must fight to survive the night against a ruthless gang, dead set on retrieving their precious cargo – at any cost. (via Deadline) 05/16/24 @ 11:43 am EST
The dust was just beginning to settle and the smell of guzzolene was still in the air after Wednesday night’s high-octane Cannes premiere of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. But after more than a decade of development and a grueling shoot, the work was not done for filmmaker George Miller and stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, who faced the international press during a lively conference to discuss the long journey to their Fury Road prequel. Australian filmmaker Miller has now made five Mad Max films over 45 years, but none have been as anticipated as Furiosa. That’s thanks to the pedigree of Fury Road, Miller’s 2015 film that introduced the world to Imperator Furiosa, played in that feature by Charlize Theron. It is considered one of the greatest action movies of all time and became a surprise awards season juggernaut that won six Oscars. “There are certainly other stories there. Mainly because in order to tell the story of Fury Road, we had to know the backstory of Furiosa and Max in the year before,” said Miller when asked if he has more Mad Max movies left in the tank. “That was a tool for the cast and crew. We know the Max story from the year before. I’ll definitely wait to see how this [Furiosa] goes, before we even think about it.” So far, the reception has been promising. On Wednesday night, Furiosa received a seven-minute standing ovation, one that potentially could have lasted longer as Miller took the microphone to speak, which had the perhaps unintended effect of silencing the applause. (via THR) ... 05/15/24 @ 9:36 pm EST
BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at UNDERHEIST #4. The hit Stray Bullets creative team of David & Maria Lapham, along with colorist Hilary Jenkins (Grass Kings), continue a hellish new hardboiled heist series in UNDERHEIST, available May 2024. In the penultimate issue of the crime thriller, David falls victim to terrifying drug-addled visions that warp his sense of certainty, what’s real, and what’s actually going on. And through a series of mind-bending events involving Doc, Oscar, and Gabriella, David gets a phone call that could finally help with his money problems… UNDERHEIST #4 features a main cover and variant covers by David Lapham and Hilary Jenkins, with variants by Tyler Jenkins (Operation Sunshine: Already Dead) and Dan Panosian (Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin). UNDERHEIST is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; and Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Corrino from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Simone Ragazzon; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine. UNDERHEIST #4 will be available in comic shops May 29, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle. Underheist #4 A Main: JAN247615 Underheist #4 B Variant: JAN247616 Underheist #4 C 1:10 INCV: JAN247617 Underheist #4 D 1:25 INCV: JAN247618        
... 05/15/24 @ 9:27 pm EST
Marvel Comics proudly marks Iron Fist’s milestone 50th anniversary year with a special oversized one-shot! Hitting stands in August, IRON FIST 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 will spotlight different eras of the mystical martial arts hero’s storied adventures with a wide variety of epic tales. Packed with superstar creators, the one-shot will see definitive Iron Fist writer Chris Claremont’s long-awaited return to the character as well as writer Alyssa Wong’s return to the journey of the current Iron Fist, Lin Lie! The legacy of Iron Fist is a long-lived legend spanning centuries…all the way back to the year 10,000,000 B.C.E.! After an expedition to find K'un-Lun left Danny Rand's parents dead, he found the path to the mystical city and gained the shattering power of the Iron Fist! After avenging his parents' deaths, Rand became an iconic super hero, working alongside teams like Heroes for Hire, the Defenders, and the Avengers. IRON FIST 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL will have a range of stories that spotlight Danny Rand’s past, present, and future! Here’s what fans can look forward to: · Visionary Iron Fist scribe Chris Claremont teams up with artist Lan Medina for a classic tale set during Iron Fist’s early years and co-starring Wolverine! · Alyssa Wong, the writer behind today’s Iron Fist, brings you the next chapter of Lin Lie’s saga alongside artist Von Randal. · Writer Justina Ireland and artist Elena Casagrande send Iron Fist on a mission where he join forces with his longtime allies—THE DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON! · Writer Frank Tieri and artist Ty Templeton’s story sees Iron Fist send out the call to his old teammates—HEROES FOR HIRE! · And writer Jason Loo and artist Whilce Portacio spotlight what the future may hold for Danny Rand! "Ever since I saw Danny Rand in those green and yellows, I was a fan—not just because we shared a name, but because that look was so iconic!” Editor Danny Khazem shared. “So to be able to work on this issue with all of these talented creators is a huge honor and pleasure. Danny's story has spanned five decades, but the legacy of the Iron Fist spans MILLIONS of years! And this issue dares to be the next step in not only the future of Danny Rand, but the future of the entire Iron Fist lore! Strap in as this is just the beginning!" Check out legendary creator Alan Davis’ main cover along with variant covers by Kevin Eastman and Howard Chaykin. Pick up IRON FIST 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 at your local comic shop this August!   
... 05/15/24 @ 2:49 pm EST
Natasha Lyonne is the latest star to join The Fantastic Four. The actress is set to board the cast of the forthcoming Marvel Studios movie in an undisclosed role, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. Matt Shakman is directing the high-profile Disney project that is aiming to begin filming mid-summer in England ahead of its planned release date of July 25, 2025. The Fantastic Four will star Pedro Pascal as scientist Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richards’ pal Ben Grimm/The Thing. The cast also includes Julia Garner as a female Silver Surfer, in addition to unannounced roles for Paul Walter Hauser and John Malkovich. Additionally, news broke last week that British actor Ralph Ineson, known for his role in the Harry Potter films, is set to play The Fantastic Four’s primary antagonist, Galactus. 05/15/24 @ 2:47 pm EST
Oni Press, in collaboration with Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street, is proud to present a whole new way to visit your friends Big Bird, Grover, and more in SESAME STREET #1 (of 4)– a brand-new comic book series made for the young and young-at-heart! The series features a rotating cast of fan-favorite comic talents across all four issues – beginning with writer Joey Esposito (Batman: Urban Legends) and artist Austin Baechle (Rick and Morty: The Coloring Book). See the iconic characters from one of the most famous streets in the world as they explore, learn, and play in the first of many new monthly adventures to come, available in comic shops everywhere August 28th! “Oni Press, a premier publisher of comic books, blends imaginative narratives with vivid graphic artistry,” said Gabriela Arenas, SVP of Global Licensing, Sesame Workshop. “We’re so pleased to team up to introduce kids and fans to visually innovative and fun stories featuring everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends.” “We are incredibly excited and grateful to be able to partner with the incomparable Sesame Street, who has been at the forefront of children’s education since its inception in 1969,” said series Editor Megan Brown. “As someone who grew up with the likes of Big Bird, Elmo, and more, it’s been a joy to be able to enter this world and add to its comics legacy. We hope that readers of all ages will enjoy the wonderful and heartwarming antics of Grover, Bert & Ernie, The Count, Cookie Monster, and all the other residents as they take a trip down Sesame Street!”Grover wakes up to another beautiful day on Sesame Street! But he soon discovers that his friends each have a problem to solve before they can enjoy it. Read along in this brand-new comic book as Grover does what he does best: lends a helping hand. After all, the most fun on Sesame Street comes from working together! Featuring covers from colorful creators Austin Baechle (Rick and Morty: The Coloring Book), Erin Hunting (The Loud House, Catkwondo), and JustaSuta (My Little Pony), revisit the most celebrated neighborhood in the world when SESAME STREET: GROVER LENDS A HAND, the comic book, arrives August 28th! Talented writers Stephanie Williams (Wonder Woman: Black and Gold) and Mary Kenney (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) join the fun with self-contained stories in the series’ four-issue run, with magical artists Beth Hughes (Nat and Cat), Michela Cacciatore (Hades: I Am The End), Sean Dove (BroBots), and Alison Acton (The Books of Clash) bringing all your friends on Sesame Street to life! 
... 05/15/24 @ 2:38 pm EST
Let the music play! With the fall of Krakoa, the X-Men’s dream of coexistence has never felt more impossible. Luckily, mutantkind’s very own pop princess has a song that will unite the masses—and paint a big target on her back—in an all-new DAZZLER comic book limited series! From rising Marvel star Jason Loo (Sentry, Infinity Paws) and extraordinary Marvel newcomer artist Rafael Loureiro, DAZZLER will launch this September as part of the X-Men’s new From the Ashes era! No stranger to headlining, Alison Blaire enjoyed a successful solo career outside the X-Men in the 1980s with the fondly remembered and long-running Dazzler series. Now, she’s back to inspire a whole new generation, spreading a message of love and acceptance one sold-out show at a time. Her tour is for everyone, but backstage, Alison is joined by a crew of fellow mutants—head of security Domino, personal guard Strong Guy, one-man roadie Multiple Man, drummer Shark-Girl, and expert publicist Wind Dancer! Anti-mutant fervor has never felt more personal, but anyone who tries to dim Dazzler’s light will just have to face the music! OUT & PROUD AS A MUTANT AND BACK ON THE ROAD! Dazzler, Marvel’s glittering mutant songstress, has been in and out of the limelight over the years – but now the time has finally come for her to take center stage! Dazzler embarks on a new world tour, the culmination and celebration of her entire musical career. But while Dazzler may be ready to focus on her music, her celebrity-mutant status and a violent attack may sideline the entire endeavor before it’s even begun… “Rafael and I are giving everyone backstage access to the greatest show of the decade: the Dazzler World Tour!” Loo said. “Sounds exciting? Not for Dazzler when she’s facing tons of pressure from all sorts of people trying to cancel her shows. But she’s not going down without a fight.” "Ever since I can remember, I've been crazy about two things: music and drawing comics. To think that I would be able to combine both passions in my Marvel debut is beyond my wildest dreams. Not only that, but with such an amazing X-Men character as Dazzler—I absolutely had to jump at the chance!” Loureiro shared. “When I read Jason’s script, I kept thinking to myself ‘Oh, I'm gonna have so much fun with this!’ Now, Dazzler has a special place in my heart, and I can almost hear her singing inside my head with every page that I draw. I'm honored to be a part of this project, bringing her into the spotlight for all readers and lifting her to her rightful place as a super star!” Each issue of DAZZLER will also feature all-new song lyrics from Ali’s notebook! “Get ready to sing along to some new, original songs off of her new album!” Loo added. “Some of them may be about her exes.” Don’t miss the concert – and comic – event of the year! Check out the main cover from Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson and preorder DAZZLER #1 at your local comic shop! 
... 05/14/24 @ 10:46 pm EST
There’s a new slate of Marvel shows coming to Disney+ soon. During Disney’s Upfront presentation, Marvel Studios revealed that Agatha All Along will be flying onto the streamer on September 18. Two episodes will be available at launch, with episodes becoming available weekly thereafter. Meanwhile, audiences can expect Daredevil: Born Again in March 2025. Ironheart is also coming in 2025, though the studio didn’t say when, exactly, to expect that series. (via Deadline) 05/14/24 @ 10:39 pm EST
Yesterday, fans learned an X-Man would be joining the ranks of Marvel’s premier super hero team this summer, and today, it’s revealed to be none other than the goddess herself— STORM IS EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT! Storm will join the cast of Jed MacKay’s current run starting in August’s AVENGERS #17. The issue will also mark the debut of new series artist Valerio Schiti! Fresh off his bold work on G.O.D.S., the acclaimed artist known for his breathtaking action and dynamic character work takes the helm just in time for this exciting new era. Krakoa’s tragic fall has made the Avengers realize how vital a mutant voice on the team is, and they’ll settle for nothing less than the most prominent and beloved mutant super hero on the planet! A pop culture icon, Storm has assembled with the Avengers before—in both comics as well as other forms of media—but never like this! Not only will the Avengers need her Omega-level power for the battles ahead, but they’ll need to rely on her unique expertise and leadership skills as MacKay’s overarching plots involving Kang, the Twilight Court, and more kick into high gear. This only marks the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a monumental period for Storm as she’ll also headline an all-new solo ongoing series launching later this year! In the aftermath of Blood Hunt and Fall of the House of X, the Avengers are licking their wounds and reassessing their goals. One member takes the initiative by approaching Storm, hoping to add her strength and perspective to the team’s upcoming missions! And the roster won’t be the only thing shaken up when a deadly threat sets its vengeful sights on Earth! On the decision to add Storm to the lineup, MacKay said, "When we were putting together thoughts for X-Men, one problem kept coming up—Storm needed to have a presence in a book befitting her status, but it would be weird for her to be on an X-Men team if she wasn't the leader. The solution was simple—she needed to be on the global stage, among equals, and what better place for that than the Avengers? We're excited to bring Storm back to the Avengers and show what adventures she'll get up to as part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes!" On being the new AVENGERS artist, Schiti said, "As a reader, I am a great fan of Jed's run, and I really love the way he writes the team: not just as fellow soldiers, but as a group of friends with a shared past. At the same time he doesn't hold back on action and fight scenes! The balance between these two moods is exactly what excites me the most when I have to start a new gig!" "I have a soft spot for the mutants, so you can imagine my happiness when I knew that Storm was joining the team,” Schiti continued. “It's always fun to draw her powers, her body language, and her outfits. There's just one challenge: you always have to remember that she's not just a mutant, she's a goddess!" Check out Joshua Cassara’s electrifying AVENGERS #17 cover now. Stay tuned later this week for the full announcement of Storm’s new solo ongoing series and reveal of her new costume! 
... 05/14/24 @ 12:00 pm EST
The Tomb Raider TV series is moving forward at Amazon. A year and change after The Hollywood Reporter revealed Emmy winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge was writing and producing an adaptation of the popular video game turned action movie Tomb Raider, the retail giant/streamer has handed out a series order for the live-action series. A worldwide casting search will begin soon for an actress to play Lara Croft in the series from Legendary Television. The surprise announcement was made Tuesday during Amazon’s first trip to woo Madison Avenue ad buyers at TV’s Upfront week in New York, with the news arriving after another video game adaptation, Fallout, has become a breakout hit for the service. The Tomb Raider TV series is the first project to stem from a massive rights deal with Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment. A feature film and at least one video game in the Lara Croft franchise are also in the works as Amazon plots a Marvel-like franchise with all of the projects connected. |
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