Wednesday, September 1, 2021

The Beat

The Beat

Jeff Lemire announces Substack deal for his next graphic novel, FISHFLIES, plus new BLACK HAMMER

Posted: 31 Aug 2021 12:15 PM PDT

You didn’t honestly think we heard the last of the Substack announcements did you? Today superstar comic creator Jeff Lemire announced that he has signed a deal to move his “Tales from the Farm” newsletter from its existing TinyLetter home over to Substack in order to expand it into something more akin to an “online studio.” One of Lemire’s first projects through the platform will be Fishflies, a graphic novel he will be writing and illustrating.

Fishflies

Here’s how Lemire described the project

FISHFLIES is a project I am both writing and illustrating, and I've been working on it since I finished Mazebook and Sweet Tooth: The Return at the end of 2020. At the time of writing this I have about 120 pages fully drawn, and the entire story is plotted out. It's going to be a BIG book. Probably my longest book since I finished the original Sweet Tooth series. I'm projecting it to be at least 500+ pages long, and it will likely take me a couple more years to draw.

Lemire plans on publishing approximately five pages each week through the service and then providing digital copies so subscribers can essentially read and watch him create Fishflies in real time.

Additionally, Lemire will be publishing new Black Hammer short stories through Substack, as well as a new full-length Colonel Weird comic co-written by Tate Brombal and fully painted by Ray Fawkes. This comes on the heels of the recently-launched Black Hammer: Reborn limited series, currently being published in print through Dark Horse.

Lemire will also be opening up the proverbial vault and share his sketchbooks, scripts and process material from his various collaborators including om Andrea Sorrentino, Dustin Nguyen, Dean Ormston, and Caitlin Yarsky. Additionally, Lemire will be partnering with his art dealer at Cadence Comic Art and working with Dark Horse to offer exclusive merchandise such as variants, prints, commissions, and much more.

Lemire closed the announcement by addressing the controversy surrounding Substack and many of the other (non-comics) personalities who have lucrative deals with the platform. Lemire said that he will donate “[his] portion of this year’s subscription money” to the non-profit Rainbow Railroad, similar to donations being made by other Substack comics creators.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Jeff Lemire is one of the busiest creators in the comics industry right now. Between his Mazebook limited series from Dark Horse and the upcoming Image Comics Primordial limited series, the Netflix adaptation of his Vertigo series Sweet Tooth was renewed for a second season.

Lemire joins the growing list of creators making the move to Substack that includes James Tynion IV, Scott Snyder, and Jonathan Hickman, Chip Zdarsky among others.

You can read the full announcement from Lemire here. Time to start taking bets on the next creator to join Substack!

The post Jeff Lemire announces Substack deal for his next graphic novel, FISHFLIES, plus new BLACK HAMMER appeared first on The Beat.

Marvel unveils a slew of 2022 titles, including the Kang-centric TIMELESS, Rowell & Antônio’s SHE-HULK, and more

Posted: 31 Aug 2021 10:30 AM PDT

Marvel Comics has released information on a number of titles and storylines launching in December 2021 and into early 2022. Included are the December-launching Devil’s Reign, the continuation of Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto‘s Daredevil storyline; a multiverse-spanning Avengers adventure from Jason Aaron and Aaron Kuder; a new She-Hulk series from Rainbow Rowell and Rogê Antônio; and much more.

Here’s the full breakdown of the announced titles:

All hell breaks loose in the Marvel Universe as The Kingpin finally declares all-out war on the heroes in Devil's Reign!  Having set the stage in their Eisner-nominated Daredevil epic, Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto's far-reaching crossover event finds Mayor Fisk outlawing all Super Heroes in New York and unleashing intel on all their dark secrets, while pitting Daredevil, Elektra, Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and many more against his Thunderbolt agents. But in the end…Who Will Reign?

This story was teased a few weeks back in the Spider-Man/Venom FCBD one-shot. The Zdarsky-written Daredevil series has been really excellent, and he’s worked hard to build up Wilson Fisk and his conflict between wanting to maintain his previous control of New York while also wanting to be taken seriously as a reformed politician. It’ll be interesting to see how this series builds on those themes.

Marvel Comics' Avengers Forever pulls together archeologist Tony Stark aka the Invincible Ant-Man and Avengers from across the multiverse to bring order to timelines where 'hope' is a four letter word. Jason Aaron and Aaron Kuder present an all-new series that will redefine the Avengers as…the Multiverse's Mightiest Heroes.

Another story that seems to have been teased a few weeks ago, this time in the Avengers/Hulk FCBD title. The multiverse is all the rage right now so this is also a totally logical move on Marvel’s part.

The future of the Marvel Universe is here, and Timeless is where it all begins. When a threatening new timeline emerges, Kang the Conqueror must fight his way through the coming year to protect the main 616 timeline he's worked centuries to solidify as his own. Jed MacKay, Kev Walker, Joe Bennett, Mark Bagley and more provide a first look at what's coming to the Marvel Universe in 2022 in a story that will prove…the Future is Timeless.

Speaking of things that are all the rage, given his debut at the end of the Disney+ Loki series the rise in prominence of Kang on the publishing side was pretty much a foregone conclusion. Jed Mackay has quickly become one of Marvel’s most consistently entertaining writers on books like Black Cat and Moon Knight.

House of X and Powers of X ushered in The First Krakoan Age of the X-Men. Now, Marvel Comics' X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine will test 'the best there is at what he does' before any mutant can survive to The Second Krakoan Age. Benjamin Percy, Joshua Cassara and Federico Vicentini tell two interlocked tales about what happens to Wolverine when…His Pasts Meet His Future.

It’s unclear if this will be a separate miniseries or a storyline in the ongoing Wolverine series that Percy and Cassara are already working on.

Marvel Comics' She-Hulk, from Rainbow Rowell and Rogê Antônio, throws the book at Jennifer Walters as she tries to put her rage-filled days behind her and return to practicing law in defense of the innocent. But when a friend from her past comes knocking with a mystery she can't resist, She-Hulk gets…Back To Bashing.

Shulkie’s return has also been pretty expected given the upcoming Disney+ series. She’s had a string of pretty great solo titles in recent years, so hopefully this one will continue that streak.

Dan Slott is joined by Carlos Pacheco and Rachael Stott for Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four: Reckoning War, an epic saga over 15 years in the making. The original secret war of the Marvel Universe has been reignited and every living being in reality is in danger, for we are finally at…Our Day Of Reckoning.

“Over 15 years in the making” is interesting. What significant events took place in the Marvel Universe in 2007? Let the speculation begin!

Lunella Lafayette and her lovable twenty-foot dinosaur are BACK in Marvel Comics' Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.  But what shape will their partnership take in this exciting new era?  Keep your eyes peeled in the coming months for more news about the next adventure of the biggest brain in the world that will send dino-sized shockwaves throughout the Marvel Universe. In 2022, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur will bring new meaning to the term "Marvel Team-Up" in a tale that promises to… Shake Your World.

No creative team listed for this title yet, but MG&DD has by accounts been a solid performer in collected editions. I’d wager this’ll be written by a YA author with some name recognition in the bookstore market.

Look for all of those titles from Marvel, and surely more that have yet to be announced, in December 2021 and January & February 2022.

The post Marvel unveils a slew of 2022 titles, including the Kang-centric TIMELESS, Rowell & Antônio’s SHE-HULK, and more appeared first on The Beat.

REVIEW: Dance ‘til you die in THE DANCING PLAGUE

Posted: 31 Aug 2021 10:00 AM PDT

The Dancing Plague
The Dancing Plague by Brookes, available now.

The Dancing Plague

By Gareth Brookes
Published by SelfMadeHero

In The Dancing Plague, a fictionalized figure offers the reader a narrative window into one of the most enigmatic and perplexing events in history: the Dancing Plague of 1518 in Strasbourg, Alsace.

Through a mixed-media approach that emphasizes key thematic elements, a narrative perspective that takes the form of a fictionalized composite of two historical figures, and a story that follows people being tormented by a plague whose source is invisible to their eyes but whose effects are all-too-immediate, The Dancing Plague is an extremely timely historical fiction graphic novel.

Strasbourg, 1518 

In the foreword to The Dancing Plague by Anthony Bale, Professor of Medieval Studies at Birkbeck, University of London, it is noted that the perspective character from the graphic novel, Mary, is a composite of two historical figures: St. Christina the Astonishing and Margery Kempe.

If it seems remarkable that multiple historical figures would inform a single character, consider that the outbreak of dancing that took place in Strasbourg was not, as one might expect, a singular incident… even in Strasbourg. Professor Bale notes in the introduction that similar dancing outbreaks occurred in Strasbourg in 1374 and 1418.

And there are also plenty of details about day-to-day medieval life included in this graphic novel, as well.

One example is the practice of becoming an anchoress – a woman who elects to be walled into cell for the duration of her life, so as to better devote her life to prayer and devotion – which plays into the narrative in an unexpected way (and if you've been following the books released by SelfMadeHero closely, you might remember an anchoress from one of the stories in the I Feel Love anthology – perhaps 2021 is, fittingly, the year of the anchoress).

Choreomania & Pyrography

In order to tell the tale in The Dancing Plague, Brookes utilized his unique "pyrographic" technique, a method of burning images into the material using heated implements, combined with actual embroidery (if you want to see more of his work – and no one could blame you – check out his website).

To suitably convey the details of the methods used by Brookes, the graphic novel is beautifully printed, so effectively that even the texture of the paper is visible on the page. The result is an historical fiction graphic novel that at times feels more like an historical artifact itself – there's very little to stop you from slipping into this world (shout-out to the incredible design of this book by Txabi Jones).

While this innovative mixed media approach imparts a unique aesthetic to the graphic novel – and one that's just genuinely enjoyable to look at – these techniques are also used to convey important thematic meaning.

The pyrographic elements are used for the elements that are "of our world," like the humans and the buildings. Meanwhile, the embroidery elements represent the stuff that falls under the purview of the supernatural: the demonic figures that force the humans to dance, for example, or the heavenly visions experienced by the narrator.

This duality is further emphasized by the fact that the embroidered demons are unbound by comic conventions like panel borders, their supernatural dance steps taking them into the gutters as they force the people of Strasbourg to endlessy boogie until they collapse.

This distinction, between the elements of the narrative that belong to the heavens or the earth, ultimately proves important to the climax, specifically through the red shoes worn by the hapless dancing citizens. 

The Dancing Plague

In the acknowledgements section, Brookes notes that much of the work on The Dancing Plague was completed during "the great pandemic of 2020." This is evident throughout the book: it's as though the isolation and torment by the invisible – common elements for both the 1518 and 2020 plagues – are baked into every page.

As we head into an uncertain and quite-possibly indefinitely plague-ridden future, The Dancing Plague is recommended reading, offering a meditation on instances in the past when people have been similarly faced with the unknown… And as you read, you can hope that maybe the next time a plague comes around, we'll all be a little better prepared.

The Dancing Plague is available at a bookstore or public library near you beginning today, Tuesday, August 31st, 2021.

The post REVIEW: Dance 'til you die in THE DANCING PLAGUE appeared first on The Beat.

Black Adam, Peacemaker, Super-Pets & much more among DC FanDome programming highlights

Posted: 31 Aug 2021 09:15 AM PDT

Announced earlier this year, DC FanDome, the 24-hour immersive virtual fan experience, is returning once again this October. Today, the DC FanDome programming was revealed.

DC FanDome programming

Considering the immense success of the first DC FanDome last year that left WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar “giddy” it’s no surprise that Warner Bros. is opting to host the virtual event once again. Moreover, despite the vaccination rollout when it seemed like the country would be returning to normal, the rise of the delta variant has people once again cautious about attending in-person events. It will be particularly interesting to see the turnout for New York Comic Con which is meant to take place at the Javitz Center two weeks before DC FanDome. Reportedly, WB’s entire live marketing budget went into making the 2020 Fandome a success, so it seems safe to assume WB is opting out of NYCC to put all its efforts into DC FanDome.

Check out the launch video and details for the DC FanDome programming below.

Get ready to suit up! DC FanDome, the ultimate global fan experience, will return on Saturday, October 16 at 10 a.m. PDT, with an all-new, epic streaming event. The free virtual event will once again welcome fans from around the world to immerse themselves in the DC Multiverse at DCFanDome.com and celebrate the stars and creators of their favorite feature films, live-action and animated television series, games, comics, home entertainment releases, and more. DC FanDome 2021 will also be available on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, giving fans more ways to watch the events unfolding in DC FanDome's Hall of Heroes. Additionally, DC Kids FanDome will launch the same day with a special kid-friendly experience accessed separately at DCKidsFanDome.com.

Ann Sarnoff, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, said: "DC FanDome 2020 was a first-of-its kind global virtual fan experience and showcased every aspect of the DC Universe with unprecedented scale and access. This year, we're taking everything that people loved about DC FanDome and supercharging it to super-serve fans with even more exclusive first-looks, breaking news, in-depth interviews and insight from the stars and creative teams of their favorite DC content."

World's Greatest Super Heroes — and Super-Villains

DC FanDome will feature an unrivaled gathering of casts and creators behind fan-favorite DC games, comics, movies, and TV shows. Expect breaking news, exclusive trailers and announcements, never-before-seen footage, revealing conversations, and more surprises in the DC FanDome:

-Warner Bros. Pictures will showcase six highly anticipated titles with an exclusive new trailer for The Batman, new content from DC League of Super-Pets, a first look at Black Adam, a sneak peek at The Flash, and behind the scenes looks at Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

-Warner Bros. Television will offer a look at new seasons of Batwoman, The Flash, Superman & Lois, and Sweet Tooth; a farewell tribute to Supergirl as it approaches its epic conclusion after six seasons; a celebration of 100 episodes of DC's Legends of Tomorrow; a first look at forthcoming new drama Naomi; and a sneak peek at an upcoming episode of DC's Stargirl.

-Warner Bros. Games will feature new reveals from the highly anticipated Gotham Knights, developed by Warner Bros. Games Montréal, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, developed by Rocksteady Studios.

-DC publishing will honor the legacy of one of the world's greatest Super Heroes and icon of truth and equality, Wonder Woman, with a showcase of three upcoming books. DC explores her history with the DC Black Label miniseries Wonder Woman Historia, expands the Amazon mythos with Nubia and the Amazons, and honors the inspiration she has provided to women around the world with the original graphic novel Wonderful Women of the World. Additionally, DC will share details about the next installment of the epic, universe-spanning Batman/Fortnite comic crossover, and fans can also expect to hear more about the upcoming Batman: Fear State, the new six-issue Black Manta series, the return of the Milestone Universe, and much more.

-HBO Max will unveil an exclusive look at the upcoming series Peacemaker and limited event series DMZ. The streamer is also debuting more surprises and sneak peeks from new series as well as returning favorites such as Titans and Doom Patrol. All four series hail from Warner Bros. Television.

-Warner Bros. Animation will feature a look at the upcoming limited series Aquaman: King of Atlantis; provide a sneak peek at season three of the adult animated comedy series Harley Quinn and share what's in store for #HarlIvy; deliver a very early look at the next animated chapter of the Dark Knight in the all-new upcoming series Batman: Caped Crusader; and give fans a preview of Young Justice: Phantoms (warning: there will be spoilers!).

-Warner Bros Home Entertainment will preview two upcoming original DC Animated Films: a sneak peek at Superman and the rest of the Justice League in Injustice, an all-new animated movie inspired by the popular games and comic, as well as the premiere of the trailer for the all-new animated heist movie Catwoman: Hunted. Both movies are produced in association with Warner Bros. Animation.

DC FanDome Around The Globe

All DC FanDome programming will be captioned in multiple languages, including Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, and Spanish. And DC FanDome will again be completely free to all fans worldwide. Adding to the worldwide DC FanDome experience, fans in China will be able to enjoy the global content plus a variety of exclusive and engaging local DC content.

DC Kids FanDome

Once again, DC FanDome is going to be a family affair, serving the youngest DC fans with their own special experience in the DC Kids FanDome. Kids and their parents around the world can explore the DC Multiverse alongside their favorite DC Super Heroes, catch sneak peeks of upcoming DC animated adventures like Batwheels, DC Super Hero Girls and Teen Titans Go!, and immerse themselves in at-home digital activities all in a safe, kid-friendly environment at DCKidsFanDome.com.

All Access DC FanDome

In addition to joining the DC FanDome at the main DCFanDome.com destination, fans will be able to watch the event via Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. DC FanDome will be fully accessible on phones, tablets, laptops, or desktops, allowing fans to take DC FanDome with them wherever they are. For all the latest scoop on DC FanDome, please be sure to visit DCFanDome.com regularly for news and updates. By registering at DCFanDome.com (it's free!), you'll get DC FanDome news directly in your inbox and gain access to members-only exclusives. And please follow the #DCFanDome hashtag on social media and the DC social channels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

DC FanDome Shop

Beginning today and running through the end of October, Warner Bros. Consumer Products will launch the DC FanDome Shop in the U.S. with additional territories around the world to follow, allowing fans from across the globe to stock up on DC FanDome apparel, accessories, collectibles and more. Featuring exclusive, only-available-here DC Comics merchandise, the DC FanDome Shop will drop new items every week leading up to the main event on October 16.

Legion of Brand Super Heroes

WarnerMedia Ad Sales has recruited a Legion of Brand Super Heroes to join the action at DC FanDome 2021. Ally and Unilever have come on-board as official sponsors and brand collaborators. With Ally's commitment to The Milestone Initiative and Unilever's support of Believe in Wonder, these franchise-first partnerships will allow each brand to align with DC's IP to drive impactful change across the advertising and entertainment industries, as well as fans worldwide.

DC UNIVERSE INFINITE

Leading up to DC FanDome and the event day itself, DC UNIVERSE INFINITE will be releasing more than 300 comics and graphic novels available to read for FREE with registration. New titles will be available each week, starting with the complete storyline of "Flashpoint", fan-favorite series "Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 1" and, available for the first time on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE, "The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes"!

Legacy

DC FanDome 2020 was the first-of-its kind global virtual fan experience and brought together the largest gathering of talent, announcements and content reveals in DC history. DC FanDome: Hall of Heroes and DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse supercharged the worldwide fanbase, generating over 22 million global views across 220 countries and territories with more than 150 million views of trailer content.

 

The post Black Adam, Peacemaker, Super-Pets & much more among DC FanDome programming highlights appeared first on The Beat.

DC ROUND-UP: Nothing to fear but BATMAN – FEAR STATE ALPHA

Posted: 31 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT

THIS WEEK, the DC Round-Up crew looks at Batman – Fear State Alpha #1 and Batman/Superman Annual 2021 #1, two very different Bat-stories that are both very good. 

Note: the reviews below contain spoilers.  If you want a quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendation on the comics in question, check out the bottom of the article for our final verdicts.

Batman: Fear State AlphaBatman – Fear State Alpha #1

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Riccardo Federici
Colorist: Chris Sotomayer
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover: Ben Oliver

And thus, the finale of James Tynion's Batman era begins, as we have reached the opening salvo of Fear State. I think the idea behind this event is a fantastic one, with Scarecrow actually getting the chance to really come into his own as a villain, and to do so without the need for fear gas, but instead just psychological manipulation is inspired.

One thing I am caught wondering though after reading Batman – Fear State Alpha, is just how much synergy there is between HBO Max and the DC Comics office right now, because while Tynion has made it clear that this arc has been in the works for a good while on his end, that lead time also matches up pretty nicely with season three of Titans, which is also featuring a Scarecrow driven plotline and also introduces a character named Molly into the world of Gotham City. Now, these could be coincidences, but I would love to hear that the two offices are working that closely in sync and not really expecting either to play reactionary.

I've started to liken the Tynion-driven Bat-office to the Hickman-driven X-office and as both are now stepping away from those roles, it feels that the comparison has just gotten more apt. It feels like both creators have set the lines up for continued success with or without them at the helm, and that's a good feeling for two of the most important franchises in comics.

In that respect, Fear State really feels like it's paying off multiple ongoing storylines through multiple titles, much like last year's X of Swords did for the X-line. It's tying things together from Batman and Detective, it's playing with stories that got page time in Urban Legends, it's advancing plots that started as backups in the main books. It's bringing in all the ancillary titles in a way that feels more natural than most of the recent Bat-events.
One of the stories that is most intriguing doesn't belong to Batman or Crane, but to the Batgirls. Oracle losing control of her system is something we've seen before of course, it was recently done in Batgirl after all, but this time feels smarter and more calculated. Using Oracle to sow even more fear is an ingenious idea and one that could be used to great advantage here.

The sheer number of storylines that are all coming together throughout this single event is actually incredible. It's naturally bringing the Harley Quinn and Catwoman stories together for example, in a way that utilizes the main Batman plot as well. And clearly, it's setting up I Am Batman extremely effectively.

I absolutely loved Chris Sotomayer's colors throughout Batman – Fear State Alpha #1, especially when he bathes Simon Saint in warm reds and oranges, it is a stark contrast to the normal cool colors we associate with Gotham City, and thus makes him seem more diabolical and sinister in comparison. The colors really work in concert with Federici's really tight pencils to really make this feel realistic and drive home some of the tension that is ramping up throughout Gotham City.

In the opening salvo to his last hurrah with the Dark Knight, James Tynion continues to deliver every step of the way.

Verdict: Buy

–Cori McCreery

Batman / Superman Annual 2021 #1

Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artists: Francesco Francavilla (story one) and Paul Pelletier (story two)
Inker: Mick Gray (story two)
Colorist: Hi-Fi (story two)
Letterer: Troy Peteri

Batman / Superman Annual 2021 #1 essentially serves as an epilogue for the recently-concluded run on this title by writer Gene Luen Yang, artist Ivan Reis, and the rest of their team. In that six issue arc, Batman and Superman live on two separate earths — much as they seemed to do during the Golden Age of comics. To further the homage to that time, the earth’s are a bit anachronistic, and each of the titular characters bear resemblances to the bygone characters they were during their first appearances.

The proper arc for the book served up an adventure where the two earths sort of collided, slamming the leads together and having them team up against a multiversal foe, an archivist named Auteur.io. It was all really well done, and now we get a coda with this annual, which is essentially two distinct comics with a single overlap point. In these separate comics, the two characters — you guessed it! — switch earths.

First and foremost, it’s really a credit to this book that it’s able to do that without feeling at all played out. Part of this, I think, is that that superhero story convention has become dated to the point that I can’t remember the last time a modern superhero book went to that well. When I picked up on the structure of this annual, it was almost like seeing an old friend, a superhero concept I was familiar with and also didn’t realize that somewhere deep down I missed.

The second reason this book transcends its setup is that aforementioned overlap point. It occupies I believe a pair of spreads in this comic, but it really serves to elevate the whole affair. See, DC Comics is currently going through some serious experimentation with its multiverse. The company’s long-time leadership recently underwent a serious pruning, with new faces coming in and some long-time talent that had been in mid-tier editorial roles being elevated. For readers, it has felt like that old regime took quite a bit of editorial restraint with it, enabling new use of the multiverse as well as the ability for creators to dive into and draw from past eras.

This book does all of that, and it does it exceedingly well, armed as it is with one of the best creators in all of comics — Yang — and a pair of capable artists, with Francavilla’s work on the first half Superman story standing out as exceptional. In the end, I’m fairly confident that any reader who enjoyed the full story arc of this book will also enjoy this little epilogue. But you know what? I think this one stands alone pretty darn well too, earning it my highest recommendation.

Verdict: BUY

–Zack Quaintance

Round-Up

  • Infinite Frontier #5 continues to play with the multiverse in an extremely fun and interesting way, better than any book really has since <em>Multiversity.</em> The idea that Darkseid has recruited his own dark reflection of the Justice Incarnate is clever and bringing the 90s version of Fate into is phenomenal. Never thought I'd see that guy again. –CM
  • The other major release this week was the Aquaman 80th Anniversary Spectacular, the latest in what has now become a robust line of 80th birthday celebrations for DC Comics characters. The vast majority of these books have been strong, and this one is no exception, covering a pretty wide swatch of the character’s long mythos. The creators DC has brought on to celebrate Aquaman are an apt and interesting bunch, ranging from folks who will be taking over this character in the near future to established names who have previously had long Aquaman runs. What I especially appreciated about this volume was that it used the static pin-up artwork placed between chapters to give us some of the Aqua-family’s history, including real names and the dates/issues of first appearances. It’s a small touch, but it goes a long way toward really making this feel like a true celebration of this comic and these characters. Kudos! –ZQ

Miss any of our earlier reviews? Check out our full archive!

The post DC ROUND-UP: Nothing to fear but BATMAN – FEAR STATE ALPHA appeared first on The Beat.

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW + NEWS: Slight delay for THE GOOD ASIAN #5

Posted: 31 Aug 2021 07:00 AM PDT

Have you been keeping up with The Good Asian? The outstanding historical fiction detective tale from Pornsak Pichetshote, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Lee Loughridge, and Jeff Powell, with main cover artist Dave Johnson, has been making waves, and with good reason: between the impeccably researched history and the irresistibly intriguing protagonist, this mystery comic is a can't miss!

Issue 5 Delayed Until September 29th

The Good Asian #5 main cover by Johnson.

First, some news: The Good Asian #5 has been delayed from Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 until Wednesday, September 29th, 2021. This means two things!

The first is that the Final Order Cutoff for The Good Asian #5 is now September 6th, 2021, so call your local comic shop now if you haven't ordered it already.

The second is that the fifth issue of the Chinatown noir comic will now be timed to release with the first trade paperback collection, collecting issues 1 through 4…

So even if you've been sleeping on this series, you’ll have the ideal opportunity to catch up just as issue five is released!

More Variant Availability

However, that's not the only news about The Good Asian we have to report on The Beat today!

Thanks to the positive response to the variant covers for the series, they will be offered at a frequency of 1:10 moving forward…

So if you can't get enough of this Afu Chan variant for The Good Asian #6, which The Beat can exclusively debut today, you may be in luck!

The Good Asian #5 

If you want to know more about The Good Asian, consider reading The Beat's interview with Pichetshote and Tefenkgi here. 

Have you been keeping up with the series, including its incredible back matter? Are you one of the people who have been part of the strong response to the variant covers (and if so, which variant is your favorite)? What do you think of the five-page preview of The Good Asian #5, included below?

We want to hear from you! Let us know what you're thinking in the comment section or on social media over at @comicsbeat!

GOOD ASIAN

GOOD ASIAN

GOOD ASIAN

 

The post EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW + NEWS: Slight delay for THE GOOD ASIAN #5 appeared first on The Beat.
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