07/31/14 @ 9:06 am EST

Source: Bleeding Cool | Categories: Magnus

Part of the Gold Key revival at Dynamite is Magnus: Robot Hunter. The rebirth of the character has been in the hands of Fred Van Lente. Now Byron Brewer talks with the writer about the future for the classic comic character.

BYRON BREWER: Fred, of all the Gold Key Universe revivals (perhaps that is not the right term), as a reader I have found Magnus: Robot Hunter to be one of the most involving. Have you been having fun with this character?

FRED VAN LENTE: Thanks! Yes, I very much have. I enjoyed the original Russ Manning stories when I was a kid (in reprints, I’m not that old) and bringing his world to a new generation has been extremely gratifying.

BB: The revival of the Gold Key Universe certainly has been well embraced by the fans of modern comics. Were you expecting that when you signed on?

FVL: You know, you start coming up with these concepts and stories in the hopes that it’ll be well-received by readers, but it’s always gratifying — and relieving! — when they are. So you definitely never take that for granted. It’s been awesome how well received Magnus has been.

BB: July’s special Zero Issue has its origins in a celebration of Dynamite’s grand 10th anniversary. How does it feel to be part of that?

FVL: Very flattering. Doing a standalone story so early in the comic’s run that wasn’t really connected to anything else was a bit of a challenge, but fortunately we hit upon the idea of doing it as a bit of backstory of the North Am religion, which of course is such a huge part of the robot society there.

BB: I enjoy the juxtaposition between Magnus’ worlds and how robots are humans are robots. Is this hard to deal with or do you enjoy the story elements that North Am offers?

FVL: That’s a great way of putting it! Yeah, at the heart of this story are the questions of what makes humans human, can a copy be better than the original, and is there such as thing as The Essential? I’m as attracted to the philosophical and psychological aspects of the series as the action and satire.

BB: So, Fred, what can you tell us about the dread … Butcher Bloc? (Someone has been watching Chopped on Food Network, lol.) And should I ask about “soft” robots?

FVL: Is that a thing on the show? I’ve never seen it, but given the title I’m not surprised…The title for this second arc is UNCANNY VALLEY. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, I won’t spoil any surprises, but suffice it to say it involves the Transmechs, an offshoot of the robot religion who believe in incorporating human tissue into their chassis. They get those tissue from victims thrown to the Butcher’s Bloc, where they are enhanced with a brush with their own mortality. Robots don’t really understand death, you see, since they can always be rebuilt, and the Transmechs like to observe it in action — that’s what Butcher’s Bloc is for.So, suffice it to say, Butcher’s Bloc is pretty horrifying, and Magnus may not survive. For one thing, there are no robots down there, and his powers of communication and weakness-finding only work on artificial intelligences…Soft robot! I know this term. And yes, it is important. But I can say no more for now…

BB: What is it like working with Cory Smith?FVL: An absolute joy. His designs are amazing, his compositions are incredibly dramatic, and his acting is never less than soulfully empathic. This is the beginning of his superstardom, so snatch up those issues of Magnus before they quintuple in value as his early work!!BB: In this world of angst and struggle, there have not been a lot of opportunities for the ol’ FVL sense of humor ala Hercules (although the FVL wit has been rampant). Do you foresee things lightening up for our hero even for one issue?

FVL: Well, I don’t really agree with your premise too much (we have this H8R character, after all) but as Magnus goes into Butcher’s Bloc if anything things are getting to get a bit grimmer — and he may learn some unpleasant truths before this arc is over, that will change him forever. (You’ve never heard a comics writer say that before, right?!)

BB: After all he has suffered thus far, what is next for Russell Magnus?

FVL: He’s currently on a quest to find his robot father, 1A. And once they meet up, all of North Am should tremble, because some metal butt will begin to seriously be kicked.

01/28/15 @ 9:22 am EST

Source: DiamondGalleries.com | Categories: The Twilight Zone Shadow and Substance

Dynamite; $3.99 According to Thomas Wolfe, “You can’t go home again.” But Mr. Wolfe didn’t mention anything about going home to your past. In the first issue of Twilight Zone a successful writer flies back to his hometown for a book signing. What he finds is more than he anticipated when he finds himself face to face with his younger self. Upon encountering his younger self, he must decide if he should help the troubled, abused boy or leave him to suffer knowing what the future holds after that suffering is endured. The story written by Mark Rahner is very interesting both for its philosophical and ethical quandary. The question posed to this man is one anybody would struggle to answer. On top of that is the eerie, unsettling feeling leading up to these moments. The weight of the title is enough to warn readers that this plane ride will not be the usual trip. Edu Menna’s art aides the story by drawing characters with haggard visages, setting the tone for a story both complicated and thought provoking. This first issue comes with covers by Guiu Vilanova, Francesco Francavilla, Jay Shaw, and Jonathan Lau.

01/20/15 @ 1:51 pm EST

Source: Comics Beat | Categories: Reanimator

Lots of Dynamite/Dynamic Forces news: Art sales, Reanimator returns, Looking for Group and Jungle Girl by Frank Cho 01/19/2015 by Heidi MacDonald Leave a Comment <!-- Simple Share Buttons Plus (v0.5.3) simplesharebuttons.com/plus --> Dynamite and Dynamic Forces have been making a lot of announcements, and there isn’t even a con coming. Here’s the round-up: • Dynamic Forces CEO Nick Barrucci is selling art from his personal collection by Tom Raney, Mark Bagley, Scott Hanna, and Patrick Zircher from books like The Outsiders, The Punisher, Uncanny X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man, The Order, Robin, and more. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the CBLDF. Barrucci owns hundreds of pages of art, and fans can order by artist: orders will be filled randomly for $75 a page. Here are the links to the pages:
Part One Part Two Part Three “Art collecting has been a passion of mine for years,” Barrucci explained. “For the past 30 years, I have been picking up pieces from my favorite artists whenever I can. I look at my collection on a regular basis, as I love to appreciate the form, ...

01/20/15 @ 11:04 am EST

Source: comicvine.com | Categories: Jungle Girl

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that industry sensation Frank Cho will return to Jungle Girl, the comic book series that showcases Jana, a primal heroine in a prehistoric Lost World. Co-written by Doug Murray (The 'Nam) and illustrated by Jack Jadson (The Savage Hawkman), Jungle Girl: Season Three will debut with a new #1 issue in April 2015, featuring an explosive cover by Frank Cho.Jungle Girl: Season Three picks up where the previous series left off, following Jana's escape from an underwater city and a gigantic, otherworldly creature. However, her father soon reveals that those actions have doomed the Lost World in which they all live, as a wormhole appears in the sky and flaming debris begins to fall through. As the jungle burns, Jana and her friends must contend with stampeding behemoths and displaced, murderous natives. Furthermore, the rift presents a new, fearsome threat, for the fire from an alien dimension was not the only thing to come through."I'm delighted to be back with my co-creator, Doug Murray, and finish out the final story arc of Jungle Girl," says Frank Cho, one of today's most recognizable names in comic book illustration. Cho began his career with a cartoon strip called University2, published in the Diamondback student newspaper at the University of Maryland, College Park. The series evolved into the nationally syndicated comic strip Liberty Meadows, later published and expanded in monthly comic books. Cho became the go-to artist for high-profile comic book projects, including Mighty Avengers, X-Men: Schism, Savage Wolverine, and many more. Over the years, he has garnered numerous awards including an Emmy Award for the Frank Cho's World documentary, the National Cartoonists Society's Awards for Best Comic Book and Book Illustration, the Eagle Award, the Charles M. ...

01/20/15 @ 10:42 am EST

Source: Bleeding Cool | Categories: Legenderry Green Hornet Legenderry Red Sonja Legenderry Vampirella

We have an exclusive first look at the solicitations and covers for Dynamite’s Legendery comics, Legenderry: Green Hornet #3, Legenderry: Red Sonja #3 and Legenderry: Vampirella #3. LEGENDERRY: GREEN HORNET #3 (OF 5)
Cover: Sergio Fernandez Davila Writer: Daryl Gregory Art: Brent Peeples
ON SALE DATE: April 22 Will our heroes escape from Tik-Tok’s clockwork deathtrap? (Probably. It’s only issue 3.) They should hurry, though, because waiting in the wings is the mastermind behind the gang war… The Brass Hornet! Catch an issue full of hot Hornet on Hornet action. LEGENDERRY: RED SONJA #3 (OF 5)
Cover: Sergio Fernandez Davila Writer: Marc Andreyko Art: Aneke
ON SALE DATE: April 15 Sonja always fancied herself a pirate extraordinaire… until now! As she and her newest ally sail the high seas in pursuit of a madman bent on defying death, Red comes face to face with one of the most, ahem, legendary pirates of all time! The question is: whose side is he on? The adventure exploring the outer reaches of the LEGENDERRY world continues! LEGENDERRY: VAMPIRELLA #3 (OF 5)
Cover: Sergio Fernandez Davila Writer: David Avallone Art: David Cabrera
ON SALE DATE: April 8 Alliterative action, as Vampirella faces and fights corruption with Kurtz, romance with Rassendyll and violence with Van Helsing. Hentzau’s plot is in motion, Vampirella’s secrets are revealed and the moral of the story is never let Dr. Moreau give you a haircut.

08/13/14 @ 4:10 pm EST

Source: Bleeding Cool | Categories: Legends of Red Sonja