Comic Years |
- IDW D&D Humble Bundle Includes Over $300 Worth of Comics
- Marvel Comics Diamond Distributors Deal Ending, Following DC Comics Last Year
- Lucy Liu Joins Cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods
- Season 6 Trailer For DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow Introduces Time Aliens
- Arcadum Streaming New D&D Campaign
- Book Review: Victories Greater Than Death By Charlie Jane Anders Is A Vividly Imagined Space Opera
| IDW D&D Humble Bundle Includes Over $300 Worth of Comics Posted: 13 Apr 2021 09:45 AM PDT There’s a growing interest in Dungeons & Dragons across popular media. Whether it’s the new video games in development or more time at home to learn about the game, many are slowly getting into this scene. There’s a lot of ways to introduce yourself to the wide-spanning world of D&D. Many opt to watch videos but comics can be quite effective as well. You learn a lot by following stories that explore this world and all it offers. The timing couldn’t be better if you ever considered learning more about Dungeons & Dragons. In a new IDW D&D Humble Bundle, you can snag over $300 worth of comics for a discount and support a great charity at the same time. If you’re curious about what’s in the bundle, then let’s highlight some of the great titles included this time around. Here’s What’s Included in the IDW D&D Humble Bundle Image Credit: IDW/Humble Bundle As always, Humble Bundle offers you a ton of great content in tiered-price ranges. At the very least, you can grab five huge collections of D&D comics for a buck. That said, if you can give more, then it goes to a good cause. This Humble Bundle is supporting the Hasbro Children’s Fund. The organization provides assistance and aid to children in crisis and need. Plus, they also help connect children and their families to games and other things every kid should have. It’s a great organization, and you can also choose to give some of your money to Humble Bundle as well as the publishers. In the IDW D&D Humble Bundle, you get a great mix of old and new comics in the franchise. There’s a ton from the DC Comics series Dragonlance with its classic 80s styling. I’m really keen to check these out since I’ve only really dived into the newer D&D stuff. There are also great dives into newer series like The Legend of Drizzt which adapts the R.A. Salvatore novels. I’m thinking that there’s something here for non-D&D fans as well. Whether it’s Arcadum streaming a new D&D campaign or simply checking out some of the games and comics from the franchise, it’s neat diving into this world without a ton of background or knowledge of D&D. You learn quickly that even those who haven’t played the tabletop game can enjoy the rich lore and world-building at the heart of this series. The whole IDW D&D Humble Bundle is worth the $25 average it costs to grab all the content now. But even for $1, it’s well worth learning more about this world if you’re into fantasy novels, games, or movies. You can find the full lineup on Humble Bundle. Featured Image Credit: IDW IDW D&D Humble Bundle Includes Over $300 Worth of Comics  |
| Marvel Comics Diamond Distributors Deal Ending, Following DC Comics Last Year Posted: 13 Apr 2021 07:16 AM PDT For decades, Diamond Distributors were the only comic distribution game around, and they knew it. But last summer, just one month into the pandemic, DC Comics decided to part ways with Diamond and use two new distributors. Midtown Comics and Discount Comic Book Services run those distributors. The rest of the industry spent the last year paying attention to how DC did without Diamond. Apparently, it went well. How do we know this? Because Marvel Comics is ending their deal with Diamond Distributors. But unlike DC, Marvel is going with a much bigger, and established, distributor: Penguin Random House What Does Marvel Comics Ending Their Deal with Diamond Distributors Mean For Industry?As The Hollywood Reporter writes, some industry people are calling it the end of the industry as we know it. They said the same thing a year ago when DC Comics and Diamond Distributors did the same thing. They'll say the same thing next year when Image or Boom or Dark Horse or IDW follow suit. However, Marvel (and all the other imprints) all have one love in common: money. And a competitive distribution market is good for the industry. Diamond is no longer in a position where they can just assume everyone will go through them. It's also indicative of how profitable other companies see the comic industry. Penguin House doesn't make choices like this one without several months, maybe years, of research and analytics. Plus, as THR reports, the publishing company "created a dedicated Direct Comic Market team to handle the Marvel account, headed by newly promoted associate director, comic market sales, Tyne Hunter." Marvel's Distribution Change Will Impact Comic Shops the Most (Marvel Comics and Penguin Random House Logos The one main area of concern is discounts. Under Diamond, retailers got up to 59% off, depending on how many issues they purchased. But, under Penguin, it's a straight 50% discount regardless of quantity. To compensate for this loss to retailers, Penguin is waiving all shipping fees. That might not be enough. Retailers have always had problems with Penguin's shipping quality. For a collector's market, a massive distribution company might be counterintuitive unless, as Marvel and Penguin promise, they find a way to solve the quality issues. But until then, Marvel Comics ending their deal with Diamond Distributors will make shop owners around the country nervous. Marvel Comics Won't Be the Last Imprint Ending their Deal With Diamond Distributors With this change, will we see more bookstore exclusives, like this edition of Mister Miracle at Barnes and Noble? (Image: Mister Miracle: The Complete Series, Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition, DC Comics) In October 2020, Marvel made up 62% of Diamond's sales, a reflection of how much DC's move affected the company. That's a massive chunk of sales to lose. Image Comics, Diamond's next biggest client, only makes up 12%. But why did DC Comics decide to bail on the de facto distributor? Mainly, Diamond hasn't been operating as strong as it used to, even before DC left. This became abundantly apparent when, during the COVID-19 shutdowns, Diamond halted payments to their vendors. This was the final straw for DC Comics, but we have no idea what the rest of the haystack looked like. With Marvel Comics also ending their deal with Diamond Distributors, it's clear that the company is in worse shape than people thought, and other bigger imprints will probably follow the Big 2. But then there are the little guys… Marvel Comics Ending Their Deal With Diamond Distributors May Impact the Indie Comic Industry the MostFor as much grief as many indie creators and publishers give Marvel and DC (and even Image and Boom), they need those big companies to survive. And the Big 2 kept Diamond afloat for decades. Without them, the company might collapse. However, the problem for the indie industry is that many smaller presses solely used Diamond to distribute. After all, Diamond was the only game in town. But, there might be another change coming too: Penguin could become the biggest distributor, replacing Diamond. THR reports that just after Marvel's announcement, industry professionals began speculating that DC Comics would also switch to Penguin Random House. And why not? They already distribute the DC collected editions. Depending on how Penguin develops as a distributor, those smaller presses could find a new home with Penguin—if they are still alive long enough to make the switch. If Diamond Distributors goes bankrupt as a result of Marvel Comics ending their deal with them, those indie imprints won't get the money Diamond owes them, and will effectively go bankrupt with them. It's a turbulent time in the industry. We're still recovering from the shutdown last year, and from the shipping delays that are still going on. But this industry is a century old. It's going to take more than a distribution change to end it. (Featured Image: Diamon Comics Distributors Logo) Marvel Comics Diamond Distributors Deal Ending, Following DC Comics Last Year  |
| Lucy Liu Joins Cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods Posted: 13 Apr 2021 04:19 AM PDT You know the movies that roll around in theaters (pre-COVID days, of course), and you miss seeing them on the big screen, only to finally watch it on streaming months or years later? Sometimes these movies end up being the best ones, making you kick yourself for not watching it sooner. For me, Shazam! was one of those movies. And with a thirst for superhero movies in such a dry season, I’m sure plenty of you have discovered it similarly. Fortunately, while the present isn’t the best time for releases, it is a fruitful time of casting news. And boy, are we in for a treat with this one! Lucy Liu has just joined the cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Lucy Liu Is Added to the Cast of Shazam! Fury of the GodsLucy Liu (Kill Bill, Elementary) will join the cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods in the role of Kalypso. The villain is the sister of Hespera, a character in the cast played by Helen Mirren for the Shazam! sequel. Both Kalypso and Hespera are not major players in the DC Comics that the titular character is based on. Though, they are both daughters of Atlas, one of the sources of Shazam’s powers. The sequel to 2019 Shazam! has gone through a few release date shuffles. It is currently scheduled for a June 2nd, 2023 release date. Fortunately, fans of the franchise won’t have to wait too much longer for more content, as a spin-off, Black Adam, will be releasing in July 2022. And with a cast that includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Pierce Brosnan, our expectations are equally elevated.  Image via Warner Bros/DC Liu is an actress that has proven her acting chops in pretty much every genre. From playing the ruthless O-Ren in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 to voicing Viper in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, we’re convinced that there’s nothing she can’t do. So, suffice to say, we’re pretty thrilled to hear that Lucy Liu has joined the cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Readers, we want to hear what you think about this casting news! Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Featured image via CBS All Access. Lucy Liu Joins Cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods  |
| Season 6 Trailer For DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow Introduces Time Aliens Posted: 12 Apr 2021 06:20 PM PDT DC's Legends of Tomorrow is one of the purest comic book series on TV. What I mean by this is that they do an excellent job of blending serious emotional character stories with silly premises and general weirdness. The main theme of this show is that this group of time-traveling heroes generally make huge mistakes, but their hearts are in the right place. Season 6 of Legends of Tomorrow promises more of the same, at least if the trailer is any indication. This short teaser sets up the larger chase for the year: the Legends are going after aliens who are "scattered through time." Again, if you're trying to figure out the science of that or even the logic, to paraphrase the inimitable Harrison Ford: Kid, it ain't that kind of show.  Image via CW Unlike most of the CW series, which have full 22-episode runs, the season 5 finale of Legends of Tomorrow was shot before the pandemic lockdown. Both they and Black Lightning only have 13-episode seasons. So, they were able to set up and payoff their big season-long storyline. Captain of the timeship and the White Canary, Sarah Lance (played by Caity Lotz) was last seen being abducted by aliens. The season 6 trailer for Legends of Tomorrow shows her and Adam Tsekhman's Gary Green* trying to escape the clutches of these strange creatures. It looks like we're not seeing too much beyond the first episode or two of season 6 in the trailer. While they may keep Gary and Sarah separated from the team for a few episodes, with a shorter season my money is on them reuniting by the end of the second episode or the end of the season 6 finale. Still, we're in for more merry mayhem with DC Comics' best superheroic misfits. DC's Legends of Tomorrow premieres on the CW on Sunday, May 2, 2021*all the man we need. Featured image via Warner Bros. Television Season 6 Trailer For DC's Legends Of Tomorrow Introduces Time Aliens  |
| Arcadum Streaming New D&D Campaign Posted: 12 Apr 2021 03:34 PM PDT Dungeons & Dragons is a growing phenomenon thanks to the pandemic. Despite the game existing as an in-person group activity, it boomed during quarantine. Thanks to game streaming platforms like Twitch, many who might have thought they didn’t have the game circle to play are finding new friends online. Spurring this huge boom in awareness, apart from Wizards of the Coast themselves, are big-name streamers. One of the most popular D&D streamers, Arcadum, is streaming a new D&D campaign that’s perfect for newcomers. If you’ve ever wanted to see what Dungeons and Dragons is all about, then here’s your chance. Session 0 Kicks off Today for Arcadum’s New D&D Campaign Streaming on Twitch Image Credit: @GloriousArcadum on Twitter Twitch and D&D star Arcadum is launching a new D&D campaign today with streaming of a session 0. For newcomers, a session 0 in D&D is essentially the character establishing a session. It’s here that players choose their characters, which is one of the most creative and exciting parts of a D&D game. Other streamers in the Dungeons & Dragons Twitch world. Some players joining Arcadum include Ezekiel_III, CohhCarnage, Ellohime, TomFawkes, and ChilledChaos. In my eyes, I think watching streamers play a game of Dungeons & Dragons is the best way to learn more about the game. There are plenty of books and even YouTube series but it’s great to see the games play out in real time. A session 0 is especially fun to follow because you can see some insight into character creation and the early stages of a game. If you’re new to D&D, then this is a good way to get to know some of the processes of the game. Likewise, it’s a great time to get into D&D. A new open-world Dungeons & Dragons game is in the works as well as upcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie. There’s also a ton of great D&D content in a recent episode of the Comic Years Podcast with Eric Silver. We don’t know the full schedule for this campaign, but we’ll let you know when we do! We love talking Dungeons & Dragons here at Comic Years so keep checking back for more fun updates into the exciting world of D&D! Featured Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast Arcadum Streaming New D&D Campaign  |
| Book Review: Victories Greater Than Death By Charlie Jane Anders Is A Vividly Imagined Space Opera Posted: 12 Apr 2021 12:56 PM PDT Charlie Jane Anders has made a name for herself in the realm of genre fiction in recent years. Her novels All The Birds In The Sky and The City In The Middle of the Night have both won 2020 Locus Awards and reached bestseller lists. Now Charlie Jane Anders makes the move to YA fiction with her new novel Victories Greater Than Death. It is the first book in a planned trilogy. Although it is designed for a teenage audience the novel deals with a lot of weighty subject matter. Let's delve into Victories Greater Than Death, and discover why it's a great read for genre fans of any age. Victories Greater Than Death Is A Fun Action-Packed Ride For All Ages Image via Tor Teen A vividly imagined space opera that is perfect for fans of Doctor Who and Star Wars. Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders follows a teen girl who knows that she is an alien. Tina has long been told her origin story. She was dropped on her mother's doorstep as a tiny purple-skinned baby. The aliens who delivered her to Earth needed somewhere safe to hide her. Until the day she could take up her birthright. Tina is the clone of a legendary alien war hero. And there are some murderous aliens who will come after her as soon as her emergency beacon activates. Tina has spent her whole life waiting for this moment. But she’ll soon discover that the reality is far different from what she expects. The fast-paced novel departs Earth pretty quickly. Tina and her best friend Rachel are scooped up by an alien spaceship. They find themselves thrust onto the front lines of an intergalactic war. Soon they are joined by a group of other teenage Earthlings – the best and brightest young minds that the planet has to offer. This small group will band together to fight the genocidal group called the Compassion. Along the way they also fall in love and struggle to figure out their shifting identities. An Ensemble Cast With Unique Characters Image via Tor teen Anders does a great job of fleshing out the characters in a short span of time. Each of the Earthlings has a unique skill set, background, and knowledge that will be valuable in the fight to come. They are artists, musicians, and activists along with being brilliant engineers, hackers, and scientists. The friendships between the Earthlings provide a solid foundation for the story, as their relationships with one another are just as important as the fight they’ve undertaken. It would be easy for any member of this ensemble cast to get lost in the background. But each member of the group has a moment to shine. The aliens are also a diverse assortment of races that we get to know pretty well as the story progresses. It is easy to follow the characters and story without getting bogged down in the history of each race, or their physical characteristics. Gender And Sexuality Are Important To Character Development Image via Tor Teen There are a number of difficult topics that Anders addresses in her story in a natural way. Gender identity is an important element of the language, with each character introducing themselves with their preferred pronouns. With a universal translator adapting the foreign languages of the Earthlings and the aliens alike, the need to be precise is tantamount. And so we have third-gender characters, genderqueer characters, transgender characters who are all part of the story. The universal translator helps to identify pronouns to prevent any misunderstandings. Sounds like something we need here on Earth.  Image via Tor Teen In an interview, Anders spoke about the importance of the pronouns in the story, and how it tied into her worldbuilding. She says: “It made sense that, if you had a universal translator, it should let you know someone's pronouns. When you meet an alien, you're not going to be able to tell what gender, if any, they might have and how they want to be referred to in the third person just by looking at them.”  Image via Tor Teen A number of queer characters also make up the ensemble cast of Earthlings. And it is refreshing to see queer teenagers living their lives (in space) and falling in love without a dramatic struggle over their sexuality. Instead the struggles that they face are tied to the larger war they are fighting, along with their own personal conflict about becoming soldiers in this war. Tina struggles with her own identity a bit. But that is due to the fact that she is a clone, and expected to live up to the great legacy of the woman whose genetic structure she shares. Fighting Genocide In SpaceIn Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders the antagonists are a group called The Compassion. A bit of a misnomer since they don't really have any compassion for others. This group is a collective of aliens who are dedicated to wiping out races that do not appear humanoid. In the distant past there was another group of aliens who meddled in planetary development. That group helped boost humanoid races, while trying to eradicate any races with too many arms, tentacles, or who were just shaped differently. The real-world parallels with genocide, racism, and xenophobia are very clear. Fortunately all of the Earthlings in the group are teenagers who are open-minded and accepting of the weird and wild space they've entered. They are all horrified by the genocide of these non-humanoid races and dedicate themselves to the fight for alien autonomy and equality. Despite the heavy themes, Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders is brimming with hope and optimism. The space battles are fast-paced and extremely fun to read. The characters are all compelling, with unique personality traits that make them stand out on the page. The story never gives into darkness and despair. Instead the Earthlings keep each other sane, and still manage to have some light-hearted fun along the way. Here’s Hoping We Get An Adaptation of Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders Image via Tor Teen The writing style of Victories Greater Than Death is also extremely visual. Anders goes to great lengths to describe the aliens, along with the sophisticated spaceships and diverse worlds. The story draws a lot of influence from comic books, along with other genre media. In fact it seems like this story would be ideal as a graphic novel. And the story is just ripe for adaptation on-screen. I would love to see a television show come from this story. The ensemble cast and the highly visual nature of the story would lend itself perfectly to the screen. Victories Greater Than Death is the first book of the Universal Expansion trilogy by Charlie Jane Anders. It is out from Tor on April 13, 2021 wherever books are sold. We are definitely looking forward to seeing what will come next for Tina and her friends in future installments. And keep an eye out for our upcoming Q&A with author Charlie Jane Anders who will also be appearing on a special episode of the Comic Years podcast in June. For more news and reviews, be sure to follow Comic Years on Facebook and Twitter today! Book Review: Victories Greater Than Death By Charlie Jane Anders Is A Vividly Imagined Space Opera  |
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