AMERICAN VAMPIRE Up-Close: Old-Fashioned EURO Vamps

Source: newsarama.com

There may be bloodsuckers who thrive on sunlight in Vertigo’s American Vampire comic, but the series hasn’t abandoned the more traditional idea of vampirism.

The “European vampires,” who can only go out in the dark and can be killed by wooden stakes, are still around in American Vampire, but the vampire bloodline sometimes mutates and creates new types of vampires. So while the “Euro Vamps” may be in the greatest abundance, new species can emerge.

“The idea is that the Euro Vamps are actually a particular species of vampire that comes about at a certain point in history, in the 1300′s in Eastern Europe,” explained Scott Snyder, the series creator who launched the title earlier this year with author Stephen King. “Now that we’ve introduced them and the premise of the story, we’ll find out more about their history and why they’re the most common type of vampire.”

READ MORE HERE

A Brief (Illustrated) History Of Marvel Comics

Source: geekologie.com

This is a brief history of Marvel comics in the style of an informational graphic. It’s only appropriate that the history is illustrated because — and I don’t know if you knew this or not — but Marvel actually produces comic books. So like, there are pictures in those too. But that’s not what’s important, what’s important is that Marvel used to own the rights to the word zombie. ZOMG! Could you even imagine owning the rights to a gem like zombie?! You’d be like a gazillionaire. Unfortunately Marvel doesn’t anymore, which is why they got bought by Disney.

READ MORE HERE

What do you think of today’s comic book news?

Join us in the forum to discuss!

Bruce Wayne AND Dick Grayson Are BATMAN This Fall

Source: newsarama.com

We already knew Bruce Wayne was coming back this fall, and let’s face it, Dick Grayson has been doing a pretty good job as Batman. So what to do, DC? This morning the NY Post has confirmed what fans and observers have guessed all along. There will be 2 Batmans … uh, Batmen in November.

Beginning that month, Detective Comics, Batman and Batman and Robin will feature Dick Grayson as Batman (with the black Bat-symbol on his chest) with Damian Wayne as Robin, while Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s Batman Inc. and David Finch’s Batman: The Dark Knight will both feature Bruce Wayne (with the yellow chest symbol) in their pages.

READ MORE HERE

Fantastic scifi graphic novels (that will get you hooked for life)

Source: io9.com

Comic books can be a difficult to get into, what with their years of serial storytelling and convoluted continuity. Luckily, there are plenty of one-and-done graphic novels out there. Here are some of the best four-color gateway drugs.

In picking these books, I tried to avoid picking from the über-obvious (Watchmen) and those books about familiar superheroes (Dark Knight Returns). We love ourselves some capes here at io9, but the medium goes beyond up, up, and away. Also, I wanted to keep the selection affordable, self-contained, and accessible — you should be able to find all of these books at a fair price online. And with these stand-alone stories, all you need is one hit.

READ MORE HERE

Huh, Interesting move for DC comics, having both Bruce and Dick as Batman. As a Bruce and a Dick fan, I was always of the opinion that Bruce Wayne was Batman, Dick Grayson was Nightwing – and neither Bruce or Dick wanted Dick to take the Bat legacy. We’ll see how this plays out.

Are you a Batman fan? What do you think of this move?

Join us in the forum to discuss!

The rise of the fangirls: Love of superheroes, science fiction and comic books isn’t just for guys anymore

Source: pressofatlanticcity.com

Jessica LeBlanc spends her days selling comic books and game supplies at Jester’s Playhouse in Northfield.

So, what does she do for fun?

Earlier this month she headed out to Illinois to attend the Gen Con gaming convention in Indianapolis, spending a couple of days learning about what’s new in gaming.

While she was there, LeBlanc, 21, noticed there were a fair number of women mixed in among the hordes of fanboys flipping through stacks of comics.

“In the last couple of years, I’ve been talking to a lot more women that are into it. There were a lot of women dressed in anime costumes. I think the women are feeling more comfortable,” the Galloway Township woman said.

The cliche of a bunch of dateless geeky boys and men being the only ones to attend comic book conventions or spend their days engaged in role-playing games is out of date.

More and more women are proudly letting their devotion to specific TV shows, movies, comics and games shine. The growing visibility of these fangirls is altering the pop culture landscape.

READ MORE HERE

Today Is ‘Read Comics In Public’ Day

Source: geeksofdoom.com

Avid consumers of graphic fiction, it’s time for you to grab a small stack of comic books or a good graphic novel and head out to a public park, coffee shop or other crowded venue. Today is international “Read Comics In Public” day and coincidentally also the birthday of legendary artist Jack Kirby.

The point of reading comics in public is to help end the feeling of embarrassment associated with reading comic books, explains Editor of The Daily Cross Hatch Brian Heater, who came up with the idea.

READ MORE HERE

Graphic Novel Friday: “The Amazing Screw-On Head”

Source: omnivoracious.com

When I interviewed creator, writer, and artist Mike Mignola at the 2009 Emerald City ComiCon, I had to smile and nod when he mentioned his side project, The Amazing Screw-On Head, because I knew next to nothing about it. Afterward, I decided to do some digging, and while I could not find reasonably priced, available copy, I did uncover a few interesting tidbits. In 2002, Mignola wrote and illustrated The Amazing Screw-On Head as a one-shot comic, and it went on to win the Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication. A few years later, Mignola developed the comic into a pilot for the SciFi (now, cringingly, “SyFy”) Channel. (Unfortunately, it was not picked up for further episodes.) Not too shabby for a comic with a quirky title; if only I could read it.

Cut to this September, when Dark Horse Comics will release a special hardcover edition of The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects, including three never-before-published short stories and “The Magician and the Snake,” another Eisner Award-winning tale, all written and drawn by Mignola.

READ MORE HERE

YAY! The days of me pretending to be embarrassed about being a woman interested in comics may be coming to a close!

What do you think of today’s comic news?

Join us in the forum to discuss!

Source: screencrave

TRUE BLOOD COMIC SELLS OUT

“True Blood” fans have made the first issue of the comic series a success! HBO and IDWPublishing have just announced that True Blood #1 has officially sold out. The first issue launched at San Diego Comic-Con and then made its way to comic retailers throughout North America.

The series is the first-ever comic book series to be based on a hit TV series. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that “True Blood” fans are very dependable. To meet the continued demand, IDW and HBO are rushing a second printing to stores for a release date of August 25th.

Here’s the info on the series:

True Blood #1 boasted a print run of over 53,000 copies, sold through comic stores and other outlets, and offering multiple covers. IDW and Diamond Comic Distributors also offered exclusive versions of the first issue at San Diego Comic Con, all of which were sold out by the end of the show. The second installmentof the series will release on August 18th.

Read more here…

Source: newarama

WONDER WOMAN DAY 2010

It’s been a big year for Wonder Woman. She turned 70 (but doesn’t look a day over 29) and her 600th issue marked a drastic costume and life change for the Princess as writer J. Michael Straczynski took over the reins of her comic. With all the press she’s received there’s no better time for creators and fans alike to get involved with Wonder Woman Day.

If you aren’t familiar, Wonder Woman Day is an annual bi-coastal fundraising event founded by Andy Mangels that takes place each October during national Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In the last four years the event has raised over $89,000 for domestic violence shelters and programs. Not too shabby for some doodles.

Read more here…

No surprise True Blood Comic sold out considering the show’s popularity. Have you gotten you hands on a copy?

Source: fearnet

The folks over at IDW have seen fit to bring back the notorious, human-harvesting Farmer Vicent — in comic book form.

On October 6, fans can pick up the first issue of MGM Drive-In Theater: Motel Hell. According to IDW’s site, in this 32-page book (which sells for $3.99), the insane Vincent and Ida Smith “recruit some new prospective ‘crops’ for their special garden. A group of wine snobs are flown into to their Napa Valley winery for the time, as in last, of their lives!”

Read more here…

We love the cover art! Looks very creepy!

Source: hollywoodreporter

GRAPHIC NOVEL ‘LORE’ COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN

Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance and Circle of Confusion are teaming up to give IDW Publishing graphic novel “Lore” the big-screen treatment.

Cory Goodman, the scribe who wrote the Paul Bettany vampire thriller “Priest” for Screen Gems, and Jeremy Lott will write the screenplay.

The producers are hoping to launch an action-adventure franchise in the vein of “Men in Black,” this one focused on mythological creatures. The story focuses on a young man who reluctantly becomes a member of an elite secret order charged with protecting humanity from the beasts of folklore who invade our world.

The comic was created by Australian Ashley Wood and T.P. Louise, who at last year’s Comic-Con sold the rights to their book “World War Robot” to Jerry Bruckheimer.

Read more here...

Source: comicbookmovie

RED CREATORS TALK COMIC BOOKS

The creators of Red, Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, talk about how faithful the upcoming movie adaptation is to their comic book series…

“The tone is very different, but there is a fair amount from our book that is in the movie,” Hamner told MTV News. “The setup is pretty close, I would say.”

“They go off in their own direction, but you know how if you read ‘Jaws’ and see the movie ‘Jaws,’ they’re two completely different things? They’re both valid, they’re both great. I don’t know if I would want to give up the film version of ‘Jaws’ to make something that’s note-for-note exactly the same as the book.”

Read more here…

What do you think of today’s Comic News? Are you a fan of Lore?