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06/08/16 @ 10:24 pm EST
A Writer’s Commentary: Matt Wagner talks The Shadow: The Death of Margo Lane #1, on sale now from Dynamite. Cover and interior art by Wagner. I’m happy to have been asked to provide a Writer’s Commentary on the first issue of my newest project for Dynamite Entertainment, THE SHADOW: The Death of Margo Lane. Fortunately, I’m both writing and drawing this series so, hopefully, I can provide even more insight for this behind-the-scenes look at how such a comic goes from idea to full fruition to publication. So, let’s get to it… Pg. 1 The Shadow is familiar and well-established character in most people’s minds but perhaps not so much his “constant friend and companion, the lovely Margo Lane”. Margo was a regular fixture of the long-running Shadow radio program from the 30s-40s but didn’t play such a prominent role in the pulp magazine version of our hero’s adventures. My comic-book approach combines elements of both narratives. For this intro page, I wanted to spotlight Margo and introduce her to readers, along with a montage that reflects the dark and dangerous world she faces as one of The Shadow’s agents. We also learn that she acts as his most intimate chronicler. Pgs. 2&3 From our intro to Margo we move straight into a double-page action spread. This is also a montage that’s meant to convey a sense that The Shadow has been active in his crusade against crime for some time. We’ve got many of his classic visuals here; an urban setting, battling gangsters, his blazing automatics, his mystic girasol ring and his stealthy exploits. He now faces one of his more frustrating foes, the mysterious Red Empress, here represented by an iconic element that was featured on many Shadow pulp covers…a living skull!  Pg. 4 His search for his foe meets a dead end and so The Shadow, in his guise as Lamont Cranston, and Margo carry their quest to the Orient. I couldn’t resist the matinee-serial shot of a plane overlaid on a map with directional arrows. One of the joys of working with these older characters is getting to use such classic scenarios. Pg. 5 This page was inspired by a piece from a 20th century illustrator whose work I admire, Mead Schaeffer. I also liked the idea of using a full-page splash, which in comics is usually reserved for, well…splashy action shots, to depict a more quiet and contemplative moment. You might also notice by this point that we’re using a distinct and somewhat limited color palette for this series. I had a very specific look in mind for this story and I worked with my son and colorist, Brennan Wagner, to develop the evocative hues we would use throughout the five-issue run. Part of the inspiration for this palette came from the original Mead Schaeffer piece, which Brennan has used to beautiful effect. Pgs. 6-11 As Cranston and Margo return to the states via luxury ocean liner, they are attacked one night on deck by a pair of mercenary thugs out to claim a reward the Red Empress has leveled on our heroes. The radio version of The Shadow wielded “the power to cloud men’s minds” to make himself invisible. The pulp incarnation was much more action-oriented and operated via subterfuge and misdirection. Here again, I’m combining several elements for this scene where we see Cranston easily outfox and defeat his enemies while barely lifting a finger and utilizing his training in Eastern mysticism. I also wanted to establish Margo as more than just arm dressing for The Shadow; she’s one of his active agents and is both willing and capable of holding her own in a fight. Another important element of this scene is The Shadow’s ruthlessness when dealing with violent criminals. He casually commands one attacker to leap to his death in the middle of the ocean…and then tosses his already-dead comrade’s body overboard like a bundle of refuse.  Pg. 12 The action shifts dramatically back to New York and the revelation that a prominent heiress has gone missing. Anyone who’s familiar with my work knows that I love weaving Art Deco-inspired elements into these sorts of narratives. Pg. 13 Longtime fans of The Shadow will recognize these two characters as Police Inspector Joe Cardona (a precursor of Jim Gordon) and Clyde Burke, one of The Shadow’s many covert agents. Burke was a reporter for a tabloid newspaper and operated as a side investigator for the Master of Darkness. Pg. 14 A New York City night. A bridge in the distance. A dank alleyway. A clandestine meeting. All very Shadowy! Pg. 15 In the pulps, Lamont’s Cranston’s family mansion was located just across the river from Manhattan, in New Jersey. In fact, The Shadow is not actually Lamont Cranston but a former WWI spy and aviator named Kent Allard. The real Lamont Cranston is a millionaire big-game hunter who spends most of his time abroad and has agreed to let The Shadow utilize his identity in all regards as the most prominent of his many disguises. You might notice that, even though she speaks to him as “Lamont” in conversation, Margo’s chronicles of The Shadow only ever refer to him as “he”…almost as if she doesn’t really know what to call him.  Pg. 17The Shadow has deduced that the abducted heiress is most likely being held in an abandoned warehouse…one that, according to the sign, had previously been home to a business owned but the Rozen Brothers. This an Easter Egg for longtime Shadow fans as George and Jerome Rozen were twin-brother artists who contributed a majority of covers for the original pulp magazine. It is their depiction that most fully defined The Shadow’s iconic appearance. Pg. 18 One of Cranston’s most active field agents acted as chauffeur for The Shadow; Moe Shrevnitz was a cab driver whose life was saved by The Shadow before becoming one of his operatives. From an artistic standpoint, I’m particularly happy with the last panel on this page. As a character, The Shadow tends to glide about in the darkness, looming and intimidating those he pursues until those moments when gunfire inevitably erupts. You rarely see him running. But here, I managed to strike a pose for our hero that shows him in a full sprint…and yet it doesn’t feel out-of-character. He still looks exactly like…THE SHADOW! Pg. 19 Another element from the original pulp adventures were the suction-cup devices that The Shadow used to scale buildings. Panel #2 is another visual homage, this time to one of the pulp magazine covers from fairly early in that publication’s 300-plus issue history.  Pg. 20 A deadly snare? No problem. The Shadow knows! Pg. 21 After having avoided a booby trap on the previous page, our hero finds the missing heiress laid out like trussed-up bait. Notice what the bad guys have done to her pet leopard! His concern over the poor victim’s obvious distress leads The Shadow to rush to her aid…and trigger yet another trap. Pg. 22 And we end with a classic cliff-hanger…our hero ensnared by his enemy’s devious machinations. Could it be any more evident that I’m having a total blast with this series?!
04/24/24 @ 5:02 pm EST
Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic rights to Valiant One, a military action thriller starring Chase Stokes (Outer Banks) and Lana Condor (To All the Boys franchise), slating it for release in theaters nationwide on January 24, 2025. Check out a first-look still above. Marking the feature directorial debut of producer Steve Barnett, the film watches as a routine mission goes awry when a U.S. army helicopter crashes deep within North Korean territory. Now, a team of non-combat tech specialists, led by Captain Edward Brockman (Stokes), must navigate the hostile terrain and fend off North Korean forces as they desperately race to escort a civilian tech specialist across the treacherous Demilitarized Zone. A Monarch Media production written by Barnett and Eric Tipton, with counsel from former members of the U.S. Military, CIA and Department of Defense, Valiant One also stars Desmin Borges (Only Murders in the Building) and Callan Mulvey (The Grey Man). The film is produced by Bernie Goldmann and Alan Powell, and executive produced by Vicky Patel. Stokes served as co-executive producer. (via Deadline) 04/24/24 @ 4:46 pm EST
Marking the milestone 50th issue of Benjamin Percy’s run and hitting stands during Wolverine’s 50th anniversary year, next month’s WOLVERINE #50 will be one of the character’s most pivotal issues ever! In anticipation of this landmark issue, fans can check out never-before-seen artwork from each story now. Packed with bonus material, the giant-size issue presents the explosive final chapter of Percy, Victor LaValle, Geoff Shaw, and Cory Smith’s 10-part epic “Sabretooth War” storyline plus a story co-starring Jubilee from legendary Wolverine scribe Larry Hama and a special sneak peek at Wolverine’s upcoming adventures in the From the Ashes era! Having masterfully guided Logan over the last few years, Benjamin Percy will also bid farewell to the character in WOLVERINE #50. After closing out Wolverine’s Krakoan age adventures in the main story, Percy will team up with artist Javi Fernández in a special send-off that explores Wolverine’s incredible legacy. On closing out his run, Percy shared, “Fifty issues of Wolverine is a hell of a lot to be thankful for. But the math gets hairier when I do some accounting. I've actually been writing Logan -- in the audio drama, in X-Force and Wolverine and all the crossovers and spin-off events -- for seven years, twenty episodes, and a hundred thirty-ish issues. That’s a whole lot of SNIKT. That’s a big part of my life and career, and I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience. I can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to serve as the custodian of a character who is so important to me. Thanks, bubs, for joining the mayhem.” The Sabretooth War concludes in the way it began - a violent, bloody battle - but WHO will be left standing? Preorder WOLVERINE #50 at your local comic shop today!       
... 04/24/24 @ 2:50 pm EST
Jeffery Self (Search Party, The Horror of Dolores Roach) and Gabrielle Ryan (Power Book IV: Force, Bonding) have boarded Christopher Landon’s coming fast-paced thriller Drop from Blumhouse, Platinum Dunes and Universal Pictures. The duo join the previously announced cast including Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar. The film’s logline is being kept under wraps at this time. Drop is written by Jillian Jacobs & Chris Roach. Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller and Cameron Fuller are producers. Ron Lynch and Sam Lerner are EPs. Drop is a Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse production for Universal. (via Deadline) 04/24/24 @ 2:52 pm EST
Today Skybound Comet and Image Comics revealed all-new interior pages from Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Three: Queen of Mercy, the third and final installment of the high seas fantasy trilogy about growing up and changing your fate from acclaimed creators Mairghread Scott (Netflix’s Dragon Age: Absolution, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy) and Pablo Tunica (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Three concludes the fantasy Young Adult trilogy from Skybound Comet, the original graphic novel imprint aimed at Young Adult (Ages 12+) and Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) audiences, but sure to captivate readers of all ages. In the final chapter of the Sea Serpent’s Heir Trilogy, the hunter becomes the hunted after Aella’s aunt Kiana steals the power of Xir for themselves! Can Aella stop the person who taught her everything she knows about magic from destroying the world? Sea Serpent’s Heir Book One: Pirate’s Daughter (Lunar Code 0623IM958, ISBN 978-1-5343-2129-8 I SRP: $14.99) and Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Two: Black Wave ( Lunar Code 0723IM381, ISBN 978-1-5343-9993-8 I SRP: $14.99) are available everywhere books are sold now. The Skybound Comet slate also includes the upcoming release of Ava's Demon Book Two: Aftermath (Lunar Code 0324IM187, ISBN: 978-1-5343-9852-8 SRP: $17.99), the next chapter of the groundbreaking YA graphic novel by acclaimed author Michelle Fus, available for the first time in the book market in May 2024 along with the July release of Super Dinosaur Compendium One (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2775-7 I MSRP: $34.99) from Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Jason Howard (Batman, The Flash). Clementine Book Two (Lunar Code 0923IM926, ISBN: 978-1-5343-2519-7 SRP: $14.99) by acclaimed writer/artist Tillie Walden (Spinning, On a Sunbeam) is available everywhere books are sold now. Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Three: Queen of Mercy (ISBN: 978-1-5343-3209-6 SRP $14.99) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday September 4, 2024, and at booksellers, along with digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play Tuesday, September 17, 2024.           
... 04/24/24 @ 2:33 pm EST
The New York Times bestselling, multiple award winning writer Chip Zdarsky (Newburn, Batman), fan-favorite artist Rachael Stott (Fantastic Four, Dr. Who) and stellar colorist Eren Angiolini (Justice League: Last Ride) bring fans of the Eisner Award winning series Public Domain its comic-book-within-the-comic-book in the upcoming new title, The Domain. This five-issue miniseries is the in-universe comic book at the center of the Public Domain series and will launch this July from Image Comics. In the pages of Public Domain, Syd Dallas and the team at Dallas Comics reimagine their classic character The Domain for a new audience, and… this is that comic! “When I realized that my characters from Public Domain would be creating a new superhero comic, I just knew I had to actually make that comic! It was an opportunity to create a fun, classic superhero comic while also enhancing the narrative of Public Domain and those characters’ journeys," said Zdarsky. "But to do it right I needed a great art team who could pull off a kinetic, explosive superhero style, and Rachael Stott and Eren Angiolini are the perfect fit for this story. The only problem has been that fact that they’re too good and have, in fact, made Public Domain look bad by comparison. I did this to myself!" Stott added: "Every single time I get to work with Chip Zdarsky I feel like the luckiest artist in comics—we've worked in his sexy Sex Criminals universe on the Sexual Gary Annual, and then an equally sexy Spider-Man one shot, but now we get to create a world and characters together for Domain. Every (sexy) page has been a joy and delight to draw. And sexy. Then add Eren Angiolini into that equation and you have a dream project. They are one of the most talented colourists working today, and I'm so lucky to get to collaborate with them again. I love being a part of this team, and we've made a really cool, beautiful book together and I'm so proud excited for people to read it. Chip, did I say sexy enough? How many times did you say it would take to get the book on Oprah's book club?" In the upcoming The Domain, three best friends discover a crashed UFO and uncover technology that imbues them with incredible abilities. But there’s a catch: only one of them can use the powers at a time! Can their friendship survive the power’s temptation? The Domain promises a classic superhero story for those coming in fresh, and a fun meta story for readers of Public Domain. "Do you know what is better than working with Chip Zdarsky on Justice League and better than working with Rachael Stott on Doctor Who? Working with BOTH Chip AND Rachael on a fun, cosmic adventure filled with badass characters and handsome aliens," said Angiolini. "I had a wonderful time colouring this series and I couldn't be prouder of the result! Also, they let me go wild with illustrating the TTRPG variant covers! Pretty cool, right?!” The Domain #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 10: Cover A by Stott - Lunar Code 0524IM229 Cover B by Angiolini - Lunar Code 0524IM230 The Domain will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play. Public Domain, Vol. 1 trade paperback (ISBN: 9781534324572) is available now at local comic book shops and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones. Public Domain #6 (Lunar Code 0524IM245) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 3.        
... 04/23/24 @ 5:33 pm EST
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Famke Janssen isn't expecting another X-Men rebirth. The Boy Kills World star played the telepathic mutant Jean Grey / Phoenix in five X-Men movies between 2000 and 2014, including cameos in The Wolverine and X-Men: Days of Future Past. Sophie Turner took over the role as young Jean in two prequels, 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse and 2019's X-Men: Dark Phoenix, the latter marking the final film in the Fox franchise following Disney's purchase of 21st Century Fox. But — like a phoenix — the X-Verse has slowly risen from the ashes in the MCU. Hugh Jackman will soon return as Logan in Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine. With the just-released trailer revealing multiversal cameos of actors and characters from past X-Men movies, could Janssen's Jean Grey make her first appearance in more than a decade? "I don't know. I mean, I didn't expect to come back after dying as Jean Grey," Janssen told ComicBook ahead of her new movie, the bloody action-thriller Boy Kills World. "I came back as the Phoenix [in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand], and I came back in flashback scenes in The Wolverine, and then in Days of Future Past." Jean's post-X2 returns "were all surprises that I never anticipated," Janssen added. As for yet another unanticipated return in July's Deadpool & Wolverine, she said: "I don't know. I doubt it, but you never know." ... 04/23/24 @ 5:13 pm EST
The trailer for Zoe Kravitz's directorial debut thriller Blink Twice has hit the internet. Written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, the film stars (Channing Tatum), Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Christian Slater, Kyle MacLachlan and Geena Davis. Producers are Bruce Cohen, Tiffany Persons, Garret Levitz and Kravitz. Tech billionaire Slater King (Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Ackie) at his fundraising gala, and sparks fly. He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun-soaked days and everyone’s having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality. There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of this party alive. (via Deadline) Trailer: https://youtu.be/aMcmfonGWY4 04/23/24 @ 5:38 pm EST
 BOOM! Studios, together with leading toy and game company Hasbro, today announced the FINAL issue in the eight-year comic book saga… MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: DARKEST HOUR #1. It all ends here! With the Morphin Grid in peril, the people of Earth are left without the Power Rangers to protect them. The ultimate battle against Dark Specter will play out with unexpected consequences, while an unlikely group of rogues, villains, and Rangers make strange company… But even if they win… can they rebuild everything they’ve lost? Fan favorite Rangers writer Melissa Flores (Spider-Gwen: Smash), acclaimed artist Simona Di Gianfelice (Firefly: Return to the Earth That Was), and acclaimed colorist Raúl Angulo, weave together a story that fans have been waiting nearly a decade for… delivering an unforgettable finale that everything has been building to! “After nearly two years, the Darkest Hour comes to a close. This event has been one of the biggest tasks of my career, but I've enjoyed every single, heart-wrenching minute. Although I put our poor Rangers through the ringer, I hope the ending is as satisfying for the reader as it was for me to write it!" said series scribe Melissa Flores. “I’m really excited to tell this incredible adventure together with Melissa. So far she has kept us in suspense and now she's ready to surprise us again! Get ready to dive into this final chapter of Darkest Hour! GO GO!" said veteran Power Rangers artist Simona Di Gianfelice. This epic, oversized issue will feature a main cover by the iconic Taurin Clarke, alongside a new Dark Grid variant by Björn Barends, Helmet variant by Goñi Montes, and a top secret Spoiler variant by Santa Fung, among many others. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 A Main: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 B Variant: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 C Dark Grid Variant: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 D Helmet Variant: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 E Spoiler Variant: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 F Foil Variant: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 G 1:5 INCV: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 H 1:10 INCV: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 I 1:25 INCV: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 J FOC Reveal Variant: TK Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 K Unlockable Variant: TK MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: DARKEST HOUR #1 will be available in comic shops July 31, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play. Ahead of this milestone issue, fans can pick up the final issue of the main series, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #122, a week earlier on July 24, 2024. Additionally, fans can look forward to many exciting POWER RANGERS announcements from BOOM! Studios in the coming months, including exciting plans for San Diego Comic-Con. MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: DARKEST HOUR is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; and Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Corrino from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Simone Ragazzon; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine.    
... 04/23/24 @ 11:12 am EST
Blue Beetle has grown to be a beloved character in the modern DC Universe, with the Jaime Reyes incarnation of the hero starring in a number of comics and his own self-titled movie last year. As DC's new July 2024 solicitations reveal, Jaime's next foray will be into the world of graphic novels. The solicits include the first look and details surrounding This Land Is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story, a new standalone graphic novel centered on Jaime. Scheduled to be released on October 1st, This Land Is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story hails from writer Julio Anta (Home) and Jacoby Salcedo (It's Only Teenage Wasteland). (via ComicBook.com) Per the DC solicit: "Jaime Reyes is an ordinary high school student in El Paso, Texas, with a deep love for his family, culture, and home, and loves nothing more than his neighborhood’s spontaneous gatherings that go late into the night. But lately, he’s begun to realize that he and his border community are being used as pawns in an increasingly toxic immigration debate. The last few months have seen armed troops deployed along the U.S. and Mexico border, manufactured crackdowns at official border crossings, and a mounting resentment among a group of disaffected and reactionary youth. Jaime’s problems get even more complicated when he finds an odd bug-like artifact while stargazing. He starts feeling a little different—like there’s another voice in his head pushing him toward his most base instincts. And to make matters worse, he’s been having surreal dreams that show him that the true threat El Paso faces isn’t “illegal aliens” but actual aliens known as the Reach. In fact, according to his dreams, Jaime is meant to pave the way for the Reach’s impending invasion!" 
... 04/23/24 @ 10:58 am EST
Jennifer Lopez is the savior of the future in the Brad Peyton-directed sci-fi Netflix film, Atlas–and a full trailer has dropped for the film. Written by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite, Lopez stars alongside Sterling K. Brown, Simu Liu, Gregory James Cohan, Abraham Popoola, Lana Parrilla, and Mark Strong. The film follows Atlas Shepherd (Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it. Atlas debuts on Netflix May 24. (via Deadline) Trailer: https://youtu.be/Jokpt_LJpbw |
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