New comic book releases 8/27/14

Credits: Rebellion/2000 AD cover art Simon Coleby

New comic book releases 8/27/14

Here with all you need to fulfill that need for some good reads is this week’s release list. That’s right, a list jam packed with titles that tell tales of the fantastical, the shocking, the horrifying, and the inspirational. Where can you get your hands on these stories? Why your local comic shop of course. But, before you head out the door, let’s take a look at some of this week’s stand out titles to give you an idea of what is hot. Let’s head over to Dark Horse Comics where two titles roll out this week; those being Sundowners #1 (Tim Seeley, Jim Terry, Chris Brunner) with some with superhero action and sci-fi story telling in the pages of Deep Gravity #2 (Mike Richardson, Gabriel Hardman, Corinna Bechko, Fernando Baldo, Matthew Wilson). DC Comics has the final entry in what was a great western series featuring the iconic Jonah Hex with All Star Western #34 (Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Darwyn Cooke). Rolling with the western theme, Oni Press sprinkles in a bit of the supernatural in the strong title The Sixth Gun #42 (Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt). Image Comics continues to weave tales of the fantastical with the next entry in this new series with Low #2 (Rick Remender, Greg Tocchini) and the debut of what looks to be a wonderfully creepy new title Wayward #1 (Jim Zub , Steven Cummings, John Rauch, Ross Campbell). For some dystopian future madness from across the pond check out Rebellion/2000 A.D and the one shot release of Jaegir: Strigoi, One Shot (Gordon Rennie, Simon Coleby). Now for something really special that isn’t on this week’s list. If you are in the market for some great indie work that will spark your imagination, check out Legends Pess Project: Wildfire #2 (Quinn McGowan). Currently available for digital download, this tale takes comic book conventions that we are all familar with and breathes new life into them. So, take note, Project: Wildfire is worth the read. That will do it for this week, so get that pull list together and get ready to do some epic reading. Until next week, stack them high and enjoy!

Marvel

All-New Invaders (2014) #9

All-New Ultimates (2014) #7

All-New X-Men (2012) #31
All-New X-Men (2012) #31 Variant

Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #1 .4
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #2 2nd Print
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #3 2nd Print

Avengers (2012) #34

Avengers Undercover (2014) #9

Cyclops (2014) #4

Fantastic Four (2014) #9

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2013) #18
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2013) #18 Variant

Inhuman (2014) #4

Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man (2012) #29

Ms. Marvel (2014) #2 4th Print

Original Sin (2014) #2 2nd Print
Original Sin (2014) #5 2nd Print
Original Sin (2014) #5 .4
Original Sin (2014) #5 .1 2nd Prt
Original Sin (2014) #6 2nd Print

Savage Hulk (2014) #3

Silver Surfer (2014) #5
Silver Surfer (2014) #5 Variant

Thunderbolts (2012) #30

Uncanny Avengers (2012) #23
Uncanny Avengers (2012) #23 Variant

Wolverine & The X-Men (2014) #8

Wolverine (2014) #12

DC Comics

Adventures of Superman (2013) #16

All-Star Western (2011) #34

Aquaman (2011) #34
Aquaman (2011) #34 Selfie

Batman ’66 (2013) #14
Batman ’66 (2013) #14 Selfie

Batman Eternal (2014) #21

Batman/Superman (2013) #13
Batman/Superman (2013) #13 Batman
Batman/Superman (2013) #13 Combo
Batman/Superman (2013) #13 Variant

Batman: Beyond Universe (2013) #13

Bodies (2014) #2

Catwoman (2011) #34

Catwoman (2011) #34 Selfie

Dead Boy Detectives (2013) #8

Flash (2011) #34
Flash (2011) #34 Selfie

Harley Quinn (2013) #10
Harley Quinn (2013) #10 Variant

He-Man & The Masters of the Universe (2013) #16

Injustice: Year Two (2014) #10

Justice League Dark (2011) #34
Justice League Dark (2011) #34 Selfie

New 52 – Future’s End (2014) #17

Red Lanterns (2011) #34

Secret Origins (2014) #5

Sinestro (2014) #5

Star Spangled War Stories: GI Zombie (2014) #2

Superman (2011) #34
Superman (2011) #34 Combo
Superman (2011) #34 Selfie

Dark Horse Comics

Baltimore: Witch of Harju (2014) #2

Captain Midnight (2013) #14

Conan the Avenger (2014) #5

Deep Gravity (2014) #2

Dream Thief: Escape (2014) #3

Emily & The Strangers: Breaking the Record (2014) #3

Goon: Occasion of Revenge (2014) #2

Groo vs. Conan (2014) #2

Halo: Escalation (2013) #9

Massive (2012) #26

Mind Mgmt (2012) #25

Pariah (2014) #7

Pop (2014) #1

Star Wars: Legacy (Vol. 2) (2013) #18

Sundowners (2014) #1

Tomb Raider (2014) #7

Image Comics

Aphrodite IX/Cyber Force (2014) #1 E Signed

Black Science (2013) #8

Chew: Warrior Chicken Poyo (2014) #1 2nd Print

Cowl: Chicago Organized Workers League (2014) #3 2nd Print
Cowl: Chicago Organized Workers League (2014) #4

Dream Police (2014) #4

Drumhellar (2013) #8

Genius (2014) #4
Genius (2014) #5

Low (2014) #1 2nd Print
Low (2014) #2

Manhattan Projects (2012) #23

Mice Templar Vol. 4: Legend (2013) #13 A
Mice Templar Vol. 4: Legend (2013) #13 B

Outcast (2014) #2 2nd Print
Outcast (2014) #3

Revival (2012) #23

Saga (2012) #22

Sex (2013) #15

Spawn (1992) #246
Spawn (1992) #246 B&W

Wayward (2014) #1 Cruz
Wayward (2014) #1 Cummings
Wayward (2014) #1 Phantom
Wayward (2014) #1 Phantom B&W
Wayward (2014) #1 Urusov
Wayward (2014) #1 Warren

Wildfire (2014) #3 A
Wildfire (2014) #3 B

Action Lab Entertainment

Bo Plushy Gangsta (2014) #4

Hero Cats (2014) #1
Hero Cats (2014) #1 Variant

Shinobi: Ninja Princess (2014) #1
Shinobi: Ninja Princess (2014) #1 Variant

Amryl Entertainment

Cavewoman: Fallen One-Shot (2014) #1 E

Archie Comics

Jughead & Archie Double Digest (2014) #5

Mega Man (2011) #40
Mega Man (2011) #40 Variant

Sonic Universe (2009) #67
Sonic Universe (2009) #67 Variant

Aspen

Damsels in Excess (2014) #2 A
Damsels in Excess (2014) #2 B
Damsels in Excess (2014) #2 C

Autism At Face Value

Face Value (2014) #1

Bongo Comics

Kang & Kodos (2014) #1

Boom Studios Publishing

Bee & Puppycat (2014) #3 A
Bee & Puppycat (2014) #3 B
Bee & Puppycat (2014) #3 C

Bravest Warriors (2012) #23 A
Bravest Warriors (2012) #23 B
Bravest Warriors (2012) #23 C

Evil Empire (2014) #4

Regular Show (2013) #14 A
Regular Show (2013) #14 B
Regular Show (2013) #14 C
Regular Show (2013) #14 Connecting

Steed & Mrs. Peel: We’re Needed (2014) #2

Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #87 Deluxe
Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #87 DLX Var

Comixtribe

And Then Emily was Gone (2014) #2

Cosmic Times

Giant Robot Warrior Maintenance Crew (2014) #1

Cryptic Entertainment

Wool (Hugh Howey) (2014) #2

DYNAMITE Entertainment

Army of Darkness: Hitched (2014) #2 Francavill
Army of Darkness: Hitched (2014) #2 Franca Vir
Army of Darkness: Hitched (2014) #2 Lee
Army of Darkness: Hitched (2014) #2 Lee B&W
Army of Darkness: Hitched (2014) #2 Parrillo

Bob’s Burgers (2014) #1 Blank Cvr
Bob’s Burgers (2014) #1 Forte
Bob’s Burgers (2014) #1 Forte Vir
Bob’s Burgers (2014) #1 Roth
Bob’s Burgers (2014) #1 Roth Virgin

Flash Gordon (2014) #5 Castro
Flash Gordon (2014) #5 Haeser
Flash Gordon (2014) #5 Laming

Red Sonja (2013) #5 Frison Vir

Future Dude

Brainstorm (2014) #1

IDW Publishing

24 (2014) #5
24 (2014) #5 Subscript

7th Sword (2014) #4

Borderlands: Fall of Fyrestone (2014) #2
Borderlands: Fall of Fyrestone (2014) #2 Subscript

Cartoon Network: Super Secret Crisis War (2014) #3
Cartoon Network: Super Secret Crisis War (2014) #3 Subscript

Ghostbusters (2013) #19
Ghostbusters (2013) #19 Subscript

Godzilla: Rulers of the Earth (2013) #15

Kill Shakespeare: Mask of Night (2014) #3
Kill Shakespeare: Mask of Night (2014) #3 Subscript

Last Fall (2014) #2
Last Fall (2014) #2 Subscript

Last Fall (2014) #1 2nd Print

Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever (2014) #3
Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever (2014) #3 Subscript

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (2014) #3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (2014) #3 Subscript

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe (2014) #2
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe (2014) #2 Incentive
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe (2014) #2 Subscript

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye (2011) #32
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye (2011) #32 Incentive
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye (2011) #32 Subscript

V Wars (2014) #5
V Wars (2014) #5 Subscript

Kenzer & Company

Knights of the Dinner Table #211

Oni Press Inc.

Letter 44 (2013) #9

Sixth Gun (2010) #42

Monomyth (2014) #2

Rebellion

Brass Sun (2014) #4

Jaegir One-Shot (2014) #1

Red 5 Comics

Bad Dreams (2014) #4

Haunted (2014) #4

Super Genius

WWE (2013) #7

Titan Books

Doctor Who: 10th Doctor (2014) #2 Casagrande
Doctor Who: 10th Doctor (2014) #2 Casagra B&W
Doctor Who: 10th Doctor (2014) #2 Photo
Doctor Who: 10th Doctor (2014) #2 Zhang

Titan Distributing

Alien Legion: Uncivil War (2014) #3

Valiant Comics

Rai (2014) #1 Crain 4th
Rai (2014) #3 Crain 2nd
Rai (2014) #4 Crain
Rai (2014) #4 Valiant

X-O Manowar (2012) #28 Bernard
X-O Manowar (2012) #28 Poster 13
X-O Manowar (2012) #28 Segovia
X-O Manowar (2012) #28 Valiant

Zenescope Entertainment Inc

Grimm Fairy Tales: Godstorm – Hercules Payne (2014) #5 A
Grimm Fairy Tales: Godstorm – Hercules Payne (2014) #5 B
Grimm Fairy Tales: Godstorm – Hercules Payne (2014) #5 C

Grimm Fairy Tales: Warlord of Oz (2014) #4 A
Grimm Fairy Tales: Warlord of Oz (2014) #4 B

Grimm Fairy Tales: Warlord of Oz (2014) #4 C

Read More by Mark Turner

 

Ellen Hopkins reflects on ten years of writing YA with publication of ‘Rumble’

Credits: Simon & Schuster

Ellen Hopkins reflects on ten years of writing YA with publication of ‘Rumble’

Faith and bullying take center stage in the world of young adult literature with today’s release of Rumble, the latest book from New York Times best-selling author Ellen Hopkins.

The book follows teenage protagonist Matthew Turner, who has lost his faith in everything after bullying lead his younger brother to commit suicide. But events soon force Matthew to question everything he’s ever not believed in.

Hopkins is no stranger to tackling tough subjects when it comes to her teen novels. Her previous books have covered subjects as serious as drug addiction, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, and suicide. But the author says it was a reader who inspired her to address the subject of faith in Rumble.

In an exclusive interview with Examiner.com, Hopkins explains: “There were a couple of mosque burnings in the news at the time, and I posted on my Facebook page, ‘We all serve one Creator,’ meaning Christians, Jews, Muslims, whomever. A young woman, 16, responded that I was ‘awfully arrogant to think she had to believe in ANYTHING.’ It struck me that when you’re a teen you should be asking big questions, rather than cutting yourself off from them. I know I did, and so the idea of lack of faith took root in my brain.”

Hopkins is eager to add, “The operative word here IS faith, not religion.”

If there’s a message teen readers take away from reading Rumble, Hopkins hopes it’s this: “That life does present us with huge questions, and it’s healthy to explore them. You might not find definitive answers, but debating possibilities is important. Cutting yourself off from possibility limits your imagination and problem solving skills.”

Rumble hits store shelves ten years after Hopkins’ first novel, Crank, was published. In that time, Hopkins’ many novels have left a lasting impression on readers – especially teen readers.

“ I get many [responses from readers] every day, thanking me for turning them away from this path, shedding light on a loved one’s addiction, or even from kids who’ve decided they want to help others by becoming counselors or psychologists,” Hopkins says. “One does stand out in my memory, though. It was from a young lady who said Crank had saved her from her own addiction, and as she was packing for college her younger brother spotted the book. Thinking it was maybe glorifying meth, he asked to read it. He and his girlfriend were both high on meth that night. They read the book in one sitting, and both quit the next day. Seeing oneself in Kristina can be a huge wake up call.”

Crank has not only impacted her readers’ lives, but it’s made a huge impact on Hopkins herself. The book was inspired by her own daughter’s addiction to meth.

“Writing the book brought a lot of necessary insight into the choices my daughter made,” Hopkins says. “Parents want to assign themselves a lot of guilt when a child takes a wrong turn, and while we can shoulder some of the blame, it’s important to realize that kids, especially once they reach adolescence, start making decisions (and not always good ones) for themselves. But telling that story also brought me to where I belong as a writer—writing books for teens that can bring them knowledge and understanding of issues touching their lives every day.”

The experience of writing about troubled teens – and hearing about the massive impact her books have had on so many young lives – is part of what lead Hopkins to another impactful moment in her life: the creation of Ventana Sierra.

The recently-founded nonprofit organization provides housing, education, and life resources to disadvantaged youth.

“In my travels I often come across young people who have big dreams, but lack the resources to go for them. Since it’s this generation that largely built my career, I feel it’s necessary to return what I can in the form of hope for a brighter future,” Hopkins says. “In the year plus since we’ve opened our first house, we’ve helped some 20 kids off the street, helped a half-dozen graduate high school and twelve into college. They haven’t all stayed, but at least we’ve given them a jumpstart.”

Ventana Sierra is always looking for donations to help support the organization – especially as it continues to grow. Right now, fans of Hopkins can contribute to a crowdfunding campaign for a filmed version of the stage adaptation of Crank, which Hopkins oversaw last year. All proceeds from the crowdfunding campaign will benefit Ventana Sierra.

Readers can contribute to the campaign here.

Rumble is in stores now.

Read More by Sara Gundell

The top 3 X-Men may surprise you

               Credits: Marvel Comics

The top 3 X-Men may surprise you

Marvel’s X-Men is without question one of the most successful comic book properties in history. Created in 1963 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, by the ‘80s, the X-Men rose to the top of the sales charts and ignited into a full fledged franchise. From “The X-Men” spawned such successful titles as “Uncanny X-Men,” “X-Factor,” “New Mutants,” “X-Force,” “Excalibur,” “Alpha Flight,” “Astonishing X-Men,” “Ultimate X-Men” and many more. Beyond comic books, the X-Men have expanded into animated series, toy lines, a plethora of other merchandise and a film franchise earning a climbing total of over $1.85 billion dollars at the box office, worldwide.

As one may have ascertained from that list above, the “X-Men” franchise found a majority of its success in team books, rather than series starring solo characters. As a result, out of hundreds of characters affiliated with the franchise, only a few handfuls have been given an opportunity to find individual success, let alone actually achieving it.

Examining those characters, some statistics about the three most successful solo X-Men characters may surprise you. None of them were original members of the X-Men, nor were their first appearances in the lead “X-Men” or “Uncanny X-Men” comic book series. In fact, the most successful solo character was not even first introduced in an X-Men-related series. Only one of the three is an American (according to current continuity). And only one of them is a longstanding member of an X-Men proper team.

Factors used to determine success are number of solo starring comic books, box office receipts and variety and reach of merchandise.

…

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‘Harry Potter’ director David Yates signs on for spin-off ‘Fantastic Beasts’

Credits: Wikipedia

‘Harry Potter’ director David Yates signs on for spin-off ‘Fantastic Beasts’

Harry Potter director David Yates is returning to the wizarding world for the new Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them spin-off.

Variety reports that Yates has accepted an offer to direct the first Fantastic Beasts film, which is being written by Potter author J.K. Rowling. The Fantastic Beasts story takes place in the same world as Harry Potter, but decades prior to the events of the renowned book series.

Rowling has called the series “neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world.”

Warner Brothers appears to be planning on three films in the Fantastic Beasts movies, which will center on the author of the Fantastic Beasts textbook (which Harry and his friends used during their time at Hogwarts), Newt Scamander, and will take place in the early 20th century in New York.

Yates is no stranger to the world of Harry Potter, having directed the final four films in the series (Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and both Deathly Hallows films). Fantastic Beasts is expected to be filmed at Leavesden Studios in London, where most of all eight Harry Potter films were made — and where Yates is currently working on his reboot of Tarzan.

Previously, Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuaron was approached about directing Fantastic Beasts, but that did not pan out.

Read More by Sara Gundell