Marvel Movies And Their Release Dates

Every geek I know is enjoying the current comic book movie Industrial Revolution.  And it isn't over.

What makes these movies great (except for Spider-Man) is that they're made with the comic fan in mind (except for Zombie Hawkeye in The Avengers).  The Avengers was the perfect blend of that. People that weren't even into comics loved it because it was a good damn movie. And geeks loved it because it packed full of stuff aimed right at us (except for Zombie Hawkeye).

 I left out the Spider-Man franchise and the Fantastic Four franchise because I think those movies are horrible.

With that said, take a look at what we've been able to enjoy over the course of the last few years and the years to come:




 And that's just what's been released, and not even every title!

 Here's what we've got to look forward to:

Iron Man 3 2013
The Wolverine 2013
Thor: The Dark World 2013
Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2014

Yeah, that's ALL good stuff!

Click on something and buy it...I get a little sumpin' sumpin.

Iron Man 3 Trailer

In the ongoing badassery that is comic book driven movies over the last few years, the latest is Iron Man 3.  Hopefully it will deliver in the action department a bit from the slight gab-fest (yet still completely awesome) Iron Man 2 was, but I don't expect this to be anything but awesome.

Here's the trailer and some screen-caps...

My Badge Of Honor - Or, Why Brian Michael Bendis Is An Ass

Brian Michael Bendis, the pillager, ransacker and slaughterer of The Avengers franchise is an assjacket dickburger.

One bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day, he didn't seem to like a twitter post I made concerning his run on The Avengers, particularly his megalomaniacally rewriting of Avenger history. This atrocity appeared in most of the first 10 or so issues of the new Avengers books that came out a year or so ago.  Books like The Avengers,  New Avengers, Bendis Avengers, The Amazing Bendis Avengers, Bendis Academy, Bendis And The Magnificent Avengers, Bendis Assemble, Mighty Bendis and The Mighty Bendis etc.

Regardless of all the detestable mistakes riddled within his "oral history" the gall, hubris and ostentation involved in doing this: erasing all the lore and history of the Avenger that came before him, he basically ruined the Avengers.

He's obviously obsessed with Spiderwoman. I dare you to find an appearance of her in any of the Bendis Avengers books that doesn't somehow show her ass, her tits or some kind of overly sexual post. Some call that a beard.

Oh, and his obsession with Luke Cage is something I won't understand. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Anyway, my point is this.  As I stated earlier, 4 incredibly well written paragraphs ago, one day he didn't like that I said something like "Bendis is ruining the Avengers".  It wasn't directed at him, it was just a comment to the #comicmarket community.

Then one day I did tweet to him and was greeted by the following:

MY day was made.

What a fragile, feeble delicate little man.  If this is how he reacts to fans that express their dislike...imagine how The Architect is in the office.

I feel for whichever editor is forced to work with him.

Avengers Blu-Ray Release - Gotta Pull The Trigger

I've waited long enough.

I have to buy Marvel's The Avengers Four-Disc Combo

You should too.

Blasphemy? Perhaps. But the best thing about what may be the most rousing and well-crafted superhero movie since The Dark Knight is not the boffo action scenes that culminate in a New York City-destroying finale that rivals Michael Bay's obliteration of the Chicago skyline in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. No, the real appeal of The Avengers comes from the quiet moments among a group of decidedly unquiet humans, extra-humans, mutants, and demigods...

Read more of the Ted Fry review over at Amazon...

Cost

Cost for a fucking weekend pass to Boston Comicon: $35

Cost of getting a fucking awesome Hulk sketch from Skottie Young: $60

Cost of coming home from work to see that your fucking wife had destroyed the piece: 4 fucking years off my life expectancy

"I'll just put these blankets in my husbands closet. But where? Oh, here on top of this 'paper'. I'm sure this stuff has nothing to do with where he was all weekend".

Paolo Rivera Is Brilliant

The new Daredevil series is amazing. Mark Waid has drafted a genius turn for The Man Without Fear and the art has been amazing, with a particular nod to Paolo Rivera's cover work.

Each issue popped off the shelves.  Good covers are a lost art, imo.  When people are scooping up mailed in stuff like this:

That's not good cover work, imo.  Bendis and Romita have mailed in the entire Avengers title, and Bendis has utterly and completely destroyed every Avengers title he's touched since the renumbering.

This, however, brilliant:

I'm not one very easily given over to hyperbole, but I believe this is not only the best cover of 2012, but the best cover in 15 years.  Perhaps one of the most beautiful covers of all time.

I challenge you to find a cover that is not only gorgeous, but reflects the actual story inside.

You'll be hard-pressed.

But let's see your submissions.

My Pull List for March 28, 2012

Grade: A


Grade: C- Big drop from first issue. Listless, hard to follow, nudity for nudity's sake. Will give it another issue.


Grade C- OMG A MARVEL/BENDIS EVENT! I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THESE IN YEARS!! I'm sure they'll keep it self contained...pfft.


Haven't read this finale yet. But the entire series has been an A+, I doubt the ending will be any different.


Grade: B+


Grade: A+ What a cover!


Grade: A Marvel: If you kill this title you lose me.


Grade: A++ One of the best titles on the stands. Image is on top right now.


Grade: B


Grade: B Well, Robert "I Pad For Trade, Fuck Tony Moore, It's All Mine!" Kirkman finally did something...what's it been? 15 issues since he shot Carl's eye off? But still, notice you always have to wait until the last page for that thing to actually happen?

Liss' Black Panther Failboat

"END" being the operative word.

Seems like Marvel (@Marvel) needed to get their minority characters in full view so they hijacked one of the most revered titles ever and gave it to likes of Liss, who did nothing but write arc after arc of 'Angry White Man'.  With Black Panther 529, we see David Liss' (@David_Liss) reckless joyride come to a close.

I've never seen characters more misused and misunderstood by a writer.  Ever.

People were relentlessly backbiting 'Franken-Castle', but underneath the story the character's foundation remained the same: A "monster" focused on one thing and one thing only, revenge against whomever he feels has wronged him. In fact, one can argue that the 'Franken-Caslte' ultimately put the Punisher right where he most of the MU viewed him...a freak.

Back to the sorry BP: It started out nicely enough, I was giving it high marks and praising it publicly. Very smooth penciling and layouts gave the book the "new" feel it was going after...but it quickly started to go downhill - all due to David Liss' simple and prohibitive writing combined with an arrant misunderstanding of the characters he was writing about: Fisk talking like a 90 year old Asian man? Did they use the word "Shall" enough? What does Liss have against contractions?  I remember that trick from high school, don't use contractions and your word count goes up, very sophomoric.

On the other side of this coin was the incredible work of Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) and Co. on 'Daredevil' in what is being considered one of the best new books of 2011-2012.  Off the heels of Shadowland, which divided the DD community (to my bewilderment. Detractors of the "event" were disappointed with the device, or machine, used to explain Daredevil's change in behavior: "possesion"...yet they seem at ease with underused characters like BP being used as did Liss).  Find me a DD fan that doesn't like the new Matt Murdock. Dare ya.

Marvel needed to re-invigorate the fan base and Waid did so, with adroitness, creativity, invention and originality...all the things a writer wants coming coming off his or her pages - well, unless one were speaking with David Liss.  Some writers simply have an agenda and need to push it, regardless of that upon which they trample.

The DD Waid and Co. have may have refashioned but he stayed true to himself, is rediscovered and is renewed.  Bring him back into the regular numbering and let's get back to the titles we love.  The Panther as who he truly is, Fisk as he truly is and this new, dynamic DD.  Comic readers need to realize it isn't what's on the "outside" of a character, or his or her setting; it's whether or not the character is being true to the characters base and foundation.  The Punisher was exactly that in 'Franken-Castle'.

Liss' run is and will remain, an utter failure...only purchased by those that don't want a gaping hole in their DD collections. As a Hollywood slurping Marvel likely refuses to still see, tokenism doesn't sit well, even with their ever adoring, ultra-liberal base. Ask them for the truth of 'Ultimate Spider-Man sales'.  It's dismal.

I stray, the point is characters were used as placeholders to serve Liss' 'Angry White Man' agenda and not a single character (from Fisk to Falcon [reduced to nothing but a "flier"] to Lady Bullseye) was used correctly.  I saw none of their distinguishing characteristics in any of their appearances.  They were blank, faceless "fists".  Liss simply needed a team for the finale, and Affirmative Action came into play.

For one, I'm glad to see this over. It was painful, and I had to choke it up when buying each issue and I feel used.  Yes, no one put a gun to my head to buy it...but when a reader has nearly all 600 issues of a title, they aren't going to leave that above mentioned gaping hole in their run...and Marvel knows this.

So, in closing I hope Marvel filled their quota, I hope Liss got all his white-guilt out of his system (doubt it, it's an endless well for the Left) and we won't see a road once walked by the likes of Stan Lee, Frank Miller, Ed Brubaker and Gerry Conway sullied and littered with the filthy remains of someone like Liss again.

@RobertKirkman of #TheWalkingDead Fame Needs To #PayTonyMoore

That's right.  #PayTonyMoore

Glenn Hauman over at comicmix.com does a great job breaking down the fundamentals of what people need to be paying attention to concerning The Walking Dead.  Here is his article in its entirety...and the final two points sum it up perfectly.

All this does it make me think of Gary Friedrich and how Marvel screwed the living shit out of him over Ghost Rider.  And that was "just business".  Tony Moore and Robert Kirkman supposed to be lifelong friends from the schoolyard.

I guess the fat kid is getting his revenge.

With The Walking Dead returning to AMC tonight, there could be an even bigger threat to the series as we know it: Original artist Tony Moore, co-creator with Robert Kirkman on the first six issues of the series, has filed suit against his onetime partner accusing him of promissory fraud, breach of written contract and other charges.

Moore claims that Kirkman persuaded him to assign his rights on Walking Dead and other properties to a limited liability corporation controlled by Kirkman, who allegedly hasn’t shared any royalty or other payments for Walking Dead or any of the other works.

Moore asserts that in September 2005 he and Kirkman entered into the agreement which assigned Moore 60% of comic publishing net proceeds for The Walking Dead and another title Brit, 20% of all motion picture net proceeds for Walking Dead and Brit and 50% of all motion picture net proceeds in connection with another title Battle Pope. Moore says in the suit he was reluctant to enter into the agreement. But he claims Kirkman informed him that if he didn’t assign his rights as specified it would kill the “large television deal on the table” and no one would receive any money. Kirkman allegedly promised to pay Moore royalties and provide regular, accurate accountings. Moore claims that Kirkman has never paid any royalties or provided an accounting of profit or loss.

Moore seeks damages in association with his purported share of any money Kirkman has already received plus his any share of any money outstanding. He’s asking for a court order for Kirkman to provide complete and timely accounting as well as payment of accrued interest and court costs. You can read the lawsuit here.

Let’s unpack this a bit:

1. If, as a comic creator, you ever felt screwed over by an Image Comics deal before, you now have yet another reason to feel so. If you ever considered bringing your comic to Image, you now have to wonder if you can trust the partners to give you a fair accounting.

2. If Moore is correct that no monies have been paid under the contract, then the entire contract can be declared null and void, which means that Moore would then have a claim on both the comic series and, more crucially, the television series– and since the TV series would then have been made without his permission, he can extract a tremendous amount of money from the production company.

And remember– just like zombies, it takes a lot to kill a lawsuit.

What have you got as a man in this world if you don't have your word? What have you got as a man in this world if to a lifelong friend your word mean shit? Nothing but a bunch of paper you can't take with ya.

Let's just say...I'll be treating Kirkman's intellectual property with the same kind of respect he's treating his supposed friend's intellectual property.

Pirate.

Robert Kirkman Appears To Be An Asshole

#PayTonyMoore

Firstly, Robert Kirkman, along with artist Tony Moore, created The Walking Dead. A wildly successful comic book that is approaching it's 100th issue...a milestone in comics - especially a "creator owned" comic published by Image Comics as opposed to a Marvel or DC title.  Image used to have a bit of a reputation for not getting books on shelves in a timely manner...but I think they've improved and I love their books.

I digress...

For someone that has many times espoused his support for the Occupy Wall Street camping trips, Robert Kirkman sure doesn't walk the walk.

Secondly, the comic became so popular you've probably seen:

• The Walking Dead TV Show
• The Walking Dead T-Shirts
• The Walking Dead Halloween Costume
• The Walking Dead Deluxe Step-by-Step Make Up Kit
• The Walking Dead Official Companion Book
• The Walking Dead Pint Glass Set
• The Walking Dead Posters
• The Walking Dead Etched Glass Stein
• The Walking Dead Action Figures
• The Walking Dead Bookmark
• The WalkingDeadBusts
• The Walking Dead Book
• The Walking Dead Special Edition Book
• The Walking Dead Kindle Book
• The Walking Dead Trading Cards
• The Walking Dead Buttons
• The Walking Dead Zombie Cubee
• The Walking Dead Cast Signed Photos
• The Walking Dead Sticker
• The Walking Dead Postcard
• The Walking Dead MP3s
• The Walking Dead Calendar
• The Walking Dead Board Game
• Another Walking Dead Board Game
• The Walking Dead Lunchbox
• More Action Figures
• The Walking Dead Lighter 

The first item on that list, the television show, is what's upsetting me.  It's extremely popular - and rightly so.  It's fast paced and the characters from the comic book are very nicely represented by fine actors.

When the comic book initially started, an artist named Tony Moore was drawing for the book.  Moore is Kirkman's childhood friend with whom he went to grade school and just so happens to be an incredible artist:

Tony Moore drew the first 6 issues of The Walking Dead.  That may not seem like much, but considering a large majority of new comics get canceled somewhere between issues 5 and 10, he basically laid the foundation and created these characters.

After Moore, came along Charlie Adlard:

 

Personally, I can't draw a straight line with a ruler.  I can't even trace something from one piece of paper to the next.  So this is all just my opinion.

The Walking Dead is absolutely rolling in the dough right now, and good for them. Make that buck in this world and go do you.  But don't do it while your friends are underneath your steam-roller.

However, Tony Moore is suing Kirkman over royalties he claims were never paid to him.  According to The Hollywood Reporter Moore believes he is due 60% of The Walking Dead's "comic publishing net proceeds" along with 20% of the "motion picture net proceeds".  Sounds 'bout right to me.

Kirkman's now infamous quote about how the tactics he uses to reel artists in for his work: "Trickery and deceit" may come back to bite him.  It is my opinion Moore created these characters.  Proverbially the writer tosses a ball in the air and the artist hits it with his pencil.

Kirkman ain't starving.

Given that we know comics hardly make it to ten issues, never mind 100 (The Walking Dead is currently at issue #93 and shows no signs of slowing down...(well, other than what some people [myself included] perceive to be major decompression at play because the book now sells better at the Trade Paperback level than it does at the single issue level).

Is it fair to think that Kirkman used a kickass artist like Moore to get people hooked on the comic?  Knowing full well most fans don't pick up black and white books, he'd obviously want someone that could make fans look past that, and look at the awesome, gory details of each scene and character and then swap them out so he can start cranking out the fluff?

By the way, the first issue of The Walking Dead sold out instantly...the first 20 issues or so are impossible to find and issue 1 could put your kid through college.

So, Kirkman establishes this great book, "Hey look how amazing the art is! Look how well written the story is!"...people buy it up and he makes a fortune.  Then, to speed things up a bit, Kirkman could go ahead and hire someone like Adlard who, in my opinion, is not nearly as good as Moore in this title.  The detail is lacking, there are two colors: black and white (where Moore used shades of black, grey, white and was wonderful with lighting and shadowing).

Look at the backgrounds of the Moore pictures above...the environment is rich with background settings and extra details.  Adlard seems to draw everything in a white room.  Please goggle the two artists for more comparisons.

Moore's "Rick" on the left, Adlard's on the right.

Another that people began to notice as soon as Adlard took over...Kirkman started having characters address each other by name because, some folks think, they all look, well, indistinguishable.

Again, this is no knock on Adlard...though I'm sure it's coming out that way.

This is more of a fuck you to Kirkman, who is going to be counter-suing Moore for $17,000 is lawyer fees.  Says Kirkman's lawyer:

...Mr. Moore’s contract has an attorneys’ fees clause in it so we will be going after him to collect attorneys’ fees.

Are you kidding me?  Like I said at the onset, it seems Mr. Occupy Wall Street  doesn't like it in his backyard.  He's also the first to preach about intellectual property, how stealing comic books is wrong (he's right by the way)...but it goes both ways Kirkman...those character designs are Mr. Moore's intellectual property.

So, with all that being said: If Robert Kirkman counter-sues Tony Moore for anything, specifically his lawyer fees (nevermind actually paying Mr. Moore for what he's owed),  The Walking Dead (and any other Kirkman book) will not see my money.  Another telling bit of info about all of this, maybe it's just me overanalyzing but: you know the old saying about a how the guilty prisoner falls asleep in the jail cell, while the innocent guy is climbing up the walls in panic?  Well, listen to all the noise and vitriol coming from the Kirkman camp...and compare that to what's coming from Moore and his lawyers: calm silence.  Kirkman and his lawyers have called Mr. Moore and this lawsuit every name in the book..."frivolous", "ridiculous", "absurd" etc.  Gee, Robby, trying to sway public opinion much?

I believe in certain principles and I live by them, I don't simply preach them.

Apparently, Mr. Kirkman just preaches them.

In the meantime, go read the new Batman title drawn by Tony Moore, it's incredible.