NEWS EDITION # 1 - VALIANT REBORN, X-MEN REGENESIS & DCNU EDITORIAL

WELCOME ONE & ALL to the Evolution of Comic Book Clash & Comic Book Quick Hits; CBC News Edition. Here, we will give you news, rumors and more on all things comics. We are gonna touch all sorts of areas and there will be more. We here at J1 Studios & Comic Book Clash believe we need to give you more so that is what we are doing; more content to make Comic Book Clash and J1 Studios a Leader in all things Geek, Sheek & Complete. We are gonna start with a break down.


SHINKU SELLS, REPRINTS ON THEIR WAY

   First off, a great congrats to Ron Marz, Lee Moder & Image Comics for selling out their first issue of Shinku. The new series features a war between vampires and ninjas that started in feudal times has now taken root in the present. Ron Marz is scripting with Lee Moder doing art. If you do see a  Shinku in the store, GRAB IT as it is going back into the press for a 2nd printing.

 And why is Shinku doing so well. Many critics have praised its story and artstyle alongside the interesting concept of Samurai vs. Zombie. Don't believe me? Ask your local comic shop keeper about it.

Shinku #1 is written by Ron Marz (of Witchblade & Green Lantern fame) with art by Lee Moder ( of post zero hour Legion of Superheroes fan) for $2.99, out now and reprints due July 7th, in time to get it with Shinku #2 which comes out the same day.

ANGEL & FAITH RETURN IN AUGUST

     Over in Dark Horse, the next stage of Angel's comic book tales begins in August with the brand new Angel & Faith. Yes, you saw that correctly. Angel, the vampire with a soul and Faith, the rogue Vampire Slayer, will be featured in a new ongoing series. In the new series, Angel wants to make amends for his ill conceived plans as Twilight during Buffy Season 8. Faith is also working towards redemption. So with access to the Watcher Files, the two embark on a journey of redemption as Angel awakens from a near catatonic state from Buffy Season 8. Angel does not have his Fang Gang anymore but with Faith, they both work towards making up for their past . . . and future deeds.

 Dark Horse begins their Buffy/Angel attack again starting this August with the new Angel & Faith ongoing series. Written by Cristos Gage with art by Rebekah Issacs, Angel & Faith #1 will hit stores August 31 for $2.99.





VALIANT REBORN

      Valiant Comics back in the day was going toe to toe with Marvel, DC and directly at odds with Image Comics for the number 3 spot back in the 90s. And now . . . finally, the company is going to have a resurrection. After Acclaim went defunct, Cueno & Co, LLC. gave Valiant management the finacial backing they need in order to resurrect. And resurrect they shall with a bunch of new titles coming out in 2012.

There have been no formal details of which titles and who will work on them with only mentions that Bloodshot, Ninjak, Harbinger & X-O Manowar will be among those titles that will return come 2012.

Valiant, now Valiant Entertainment has already shifted gears as a Bloodshot promotional poster has been made by former Immortal Iron Fist artist Danny Aja!

We will look more into Valiant's return once we get a full scope of their launch titles.







HARVEY AWARD NOMINEES REVEALED

   Our Next article is a break down of the nominees for this years Harvey Awards; A comic book industry award given each year and named after the founder and cartoonist who started MAD Magazine.

Best Letterer
• Scott Brown, Box 13, Http://www.comixology.com and Red 5 Comics
• Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit, IDW
• Dustin Harbin, Casanova, Image Comics
• Troy Peteri, Witchblade, Top Cow
• Robbie Robbins, Locke & Key: Keys To The Kingdom # 1, IDW
• John Workman, Thor, Marvel Comics

Best Colorist
• Veronica Gandini, Mice Templar: Volume 10, Image Comics
• Laura Martin, The Stand, Marvel Comics
• Ed Ryzowski, Gutters, http://www.the-Gutters.com
• Dave Stewart, BPRD, Dark Horse Comics
• Jose Villarubia, Cuba : My Revolution, Vertigo/DC Comics

Best Syndicated Strip Or Panel
• Cul De Sac, Richard Thompson, Universal Press Syndicate
• Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau, Universal Press Syndicate
• Mutts, Patrick Mcdonnell, King Features Syndicate
• Non Sequitur, Wiley Miller, Universal Press Syndicate
• Tom The Dancing Bug, Ruben Bolling, Universal Press Syndicate

Best Online Comics Work
• Guns Of Shadow Valley, David Wachter and James Andrew Clark
• Gutters, Lar Desouza, Ed Ryzowski and Ryan Sohmer
• Hark! A Vagrant, Kate Beaton
• La Morte Sisters, Created Tony Trov, Johnny Zito and Christine Larsen
• PvP, Scott Kurtz

Best American Edition Of Foreign Material
• AX: Alternate Manga, edited By Sean Michael Wilson And Mitsuhiro Asakawa, Top Shelf
• Blacksad, Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, Dark Horse Comics
• It Was The War Of The Trenches, Jacques Tardi, Fantagraphics
• The Killer: Modus Vivendi, Matz And Luc Jacamon, Archaia
• Torpedo Volume 2, Jordi Bernet, IDW

Best Inker
• Damian Couceiro, Hawks Of Outremer, Boom! Studios
• Steve Ellis, Box 13, comiXology & Red 5 Comics
• Gabriel Hardman, Agents Of Atlas, Marvel Comics
• Mark Morales, Thor, Marvel Comics
• Sal Regla, Magdalena, Top Cow

Best New Series
• American Vampire, Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque, Vertigo/DC Comics
• Echoes, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rashan Ekedal, Top Cow
• Gutters, Lar Desouza, Ed Ryzoski and Ryan Sohmer, http://www.the-Gutters.com
• Kill Shakespeare, Anthony Del Col and Conor Mccreery, IDW
• Sixth Gun, Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, Oni Press
• Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee, Marvel Comics

Most Promising New Talent
• Barry Deutsch, Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword, Amulet Books
• Comfort Love And Adam Withers, Rainbow In The Dark
• Chris Samnee, Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Marvel Comics
• Scott Snyder, American Vampire, Vertigo/DC Comics
• Nick Spencer, Morning Glories, Image Comics

Special Award for Humor in Comics
• Matt Groening, The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis, Abrams ComicArts
• Roger Landridge, The Muppet Show, BOOM! Studios
• Ryan Sohmer, Gutters
• Shannon Wheeler, I Thought You Would Be Funnier, BOOM! Studios
• Thom Zahler, Love And Capes, IDW

Best Original Graphic Publication for Younger Readers
• Amulet # 3: The Cloud Searcher, Kazu Kibuishi, Graphix
• Jingle Belle, Paul Dini
• Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3856 Story Possibilities, Jason Shiga, Amulet Books
• Reading With Pictures, Josh Elder, executive editor, Reading With Pictures
• Smile, Raina Telgemeier, Scholastic Graphix
• Tiny Titans, Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, DC Comics

Best Graphic Album Previously Published
• Art In Time, Edited Dan Nadel, Abrams ComicArts
• Beasts Of Burden: Animal Rites, Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, Dark Horse Comics
• Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer: Aritist’s Edition, Designed by Randall Dahlk, Edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
• The Marvelous Land Of Oz, Eric Shanower and Skottie Young, Marvel Comics
• Tumor, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon, Archaia

Best Anthology
• Blab World #1, Monte Beauchamp And Bill North, Last Gasp
• CBGB, Kieron Gillen and Sam Humphries, BOOM! Studios
• Popgun # 4, Edited by D.J. Kirkbride, Anthony Wu and Adam P. Knave, Image Comics
• Reading With Pictures, Josh Elder, executive editor, Reading With Pictures
• Strange Tales, Volume II # 1, Edited By Jody Leheup, Marvel Comics
• Uniques Tales, Tanya Eby and Mallette Pagano

Best Domestic Reprint Project
• Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer: Aritist’s Edition, Designed by Randall Dahlk, Edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
• The Darkness, Garth Ennis, Marc Silvestri and Batt, Image Comics
• Jet Scott, Jerry Robinson and Sheldon Stark, Dark Horse Comics
• Li’l Abner: The Complete Dailies and Color Sundays, Edited By Bruce Canwell, IDW
• Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, Neal Adams and Dennis O’Neil, DC Comics

Best Cover Artist
• Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit, IDW
• Jenny Frison, Angel, IDW
• Marcos Martin, Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Comics
• Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Dark Horse Comics
• Frank Quitely, Batman and Robin, DC Comics

Best Biographical, Historical or Journalistic Presentation
• 75 Years Of DC Comics: The Art Of Modern Myth-Making, Paul Levitz, Taschen Books
• The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death, Edited by Todd Hignite, Abrams Comicarts
• Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics, N. C. Christopher Couch, Abrams Comicarts
• Oddly Compelling Art Of Denis Kitchen, Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein, Edited By John Lind and Diana Schutz, Dark Horse Books
• Portrait Of A Sequential Artist, Directed by Andrew D. Cook, Montilla Presentations

Special Award For Excellence In Presentation
• Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer: Artist’s Edition, Designed by Randall Dahlk, Edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW
• Oddly Compelling Art Of Denis Kitchen Kitchen, Denis Kitchen and Charles Brownstein, Edited by John Lind and Diana Schutz, Dark Horse Books
• Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit, Darwyn Cooke, IDW
• Shazam! The Golden Age Of The World’s Mightiest Mortal, Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear, Abrams Comicarts
• Wednesday Comics Hardcover Edition, Edited By Mark Chiarello, DC Comics

Best Graphic Album – Original
• Duncan, The Wonder Dog, Adam Hines, Adhouse Books
• Market Day, James Sturm, Drawn and Quarterly
• Scott Pilgrm Volume 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Oni Press
• Wilson, Dan Clowes, Drawn And Quarterly
• X’ed Out, Charles Burns, Pantheon

Best Continuing Or Limited Series
• Chew, John Layman and Rob Guillory, Image Comics
• Daytripper, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, Vertigo/DC Comics
• Echo, Terry Moore, Abstract Studio
• Fantastic Four, Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham, Marvel Comics
• Locke & Key: Keys To The Kingdom # 1, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriquez, IDW
• Love And Rockets: Volume 3, Jaime And Gilbert Hernandez, Fantagraphics

Best Writer
• Cullen Bunn, Sixth Gun, Oni Press
• Joshua Hale Fialkov, Echoes, Top Cow
• Roger Langridge, Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Marvel Comics
• Ryan Sohmer, Gutters, http://www.the-Gutters.com
• Mark Waid, Irredeemable, BOOM! Studios

Best Artist
• Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit, IDW
• Dean Haspiel, Cuba : My Revolution, Vertigo/DC Comics
• Brian Hurtt, Sixth Gun, Oni Press
• Ed Ryzowski, Gutters
• Chris Samnee, Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Marvel Comics

Best Cartoonist
• Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit, IDW
• Jaime Hernandez, Love and Rockets, Fantagraphics
• Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth, Vertigo/DC Comics
• Bryan Lee O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour, Oni Press
• Jeff Smith, RASL, Cartoon Books

Best Single Issue or Story
• Acme Novelty Library #20: Lint, Chris Ware, Drawn and Quarterly
• Echoes # 1, Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rashan Ekedal, Top Cow
• Daytripper, Fabio Moon and Gabiel Ba, Vertigo/DC Comics
• Locke & Key: Keys To The Kingdom #1, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriquez, IDW
• Love and Rockets: New Stories, Volume 3, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Fantagraphics
• Popgun # 4, Edited By D.J. Kirkbride, Anthony Wu and Adam P. Knave, Image Comics
• Wilson, Daniel Clowes, Drawn and Quarterly

POWERS CAST JASON PATRIC & MORE

    FX is currently working on a pilot for the fan favorite series, Powers. Co-creator and executive producer Brian Michael Bendis says shooting will begin soon and we got characters picked out. Lucy Punch as Deena Pilgrim and Jason Patric, of Lost Boys and Speed 2 fame, will take the lead as Christian Walker. Charles Dutton & Baliee Madison round out the main cast. Considering the actual track record of FX shows and the material, this could be the next big hit.




X-MEN: REGENESIS AFTER DEATH




6 - Over in Marvel. It has been confirmed. Uncanny X-Men will come to an end this fall with issue #544 . . . ONLY to restart again. Yes. You heard me right. Uncanny X-Men #544 will be the FINAL ISSUE . . . of Volume 1. It seems that the X-Men event, Schism, will end up dividing mutants for years to come as we find the Cyclops and Wolverine will each lead a faction.
      The split will be more of a philosophical and methodological split; so no . . .THIS WILL NOT BE BLUE TEAM & GOLD TEAM that first split the X-Men into two titles back in the 90s. This will be about how and where mutants are going and how to handle the world around them. There will be no reconciliation anytime soon.

This break will lead to the two teams with two new #1s. The new Uncanny X-Men # 1, featuring Cyclops' team as we see them try their best to become the premiere super hero team on the planet. The new Uncanny X-Men will be written by current Uncanny X-Men writer, Kieron Gillen with art by both Carlos Pacheco & Greg Land.

While Wolverine's group will be congregate in Wolverine & the X-Men which will be written by Wolverine and Schism writer Jason Aaron with art by fan favorite, Chris Bachalo. Aaron commented about the book with this:

 " big crazy plots, intense character drama, love, sex, anti-mutant hysteria, man-eating aliens, all-new characters, old favorite characters, bizarre space tech, strange transformations, property damage, telepathic shenanigans, Wolverine drinking whiskey, mutants playing baseball. Except perhaps for that last part.”



All 3 issues of these books are all slated for this October. As for the other X-Men titles, they will be effected by Schism as well; particularly X-Men: Legacy as soon as the mutants return from the Shi'ar.So see the new beginning of the X-Men. See the X-Men: Regenesis.


EDITORIAL


Okay. Finally. Unless you have been hiding under a rock or have not spoken to a single person in the last month . . . you know that DC Comics is planning to relaunch their entire line of comics. Yes. This September, DC Comics will release 52 new #1s, saying that this is not a reboot but a relaunch. And it has been confirmed that some of the characters origins have changed while others will stay the same. Most of the events before will have happened while others did not. There has been a LOT of information since the beginning of June about all the titles, creative teams and when all the books will be due out.

    This is also DC's first foray into day to digital, offering all their books on line for$3.99 the month they come out then go down to $1.99 the next month.  And just recently revealed, Justice League, the flagship title that will start the relaunch is the only book that will have a digital & physical copy sold at $4.99 . . .EVERY MONTH. It was recently confirmed that every issue of Justice League will sell a dual copy edition for now. This will not stop after the first issue but will be ongoing.


This is HISTORIC and EPIC as it gets in terms of the comic book industy. DC is making a big gamble in order to catch new readers while still keeping their old ones. Nicknamed the DCNU, the relaunch has been on the lips and minds of all comic book fans for the past month.
   And fan reaction has been mixed. There are upset fanboys who find this to be an act against God and Man, readying to march in protest & swear off DC Comics come this September. Meanwhile, a lot of casual readers, some die hard fans & even non comic book readers are thinking of actually picking up the books and start collecting come September.

   With that said, this is definitely in the minds of everyone in the industry. This has and will make history . . . whether it works or not. But due to a lot of the confusion and anger of Fanboys, and because still much information has been tight lipped, I would like to report something that will go along with the relaunch:

 FACT: The relaunch will provide jump on points for all the books.

  FACT: Previous continuity STILL counts and does not at the same time!

 And I will explain that briefly. The changes are going to occur after Flashpoint . . . immediately after Flashpoint as . . . 1. Flashpoint # 5 and Justice League # 1 will be the ONLY TWO books printed from DC come August 31st.

   Second, Geoff Johns, writer of Flashpoint, Green Lantern and upcoming Aquaman and Justice League titles has commented on several occassions since the beginning of Flashpoint is NOT just some event that won't matter after a while. He has said, over and over again, that Flashpoint would count in a major way. So, as Flashpoint goes on, we will see just how DC goes from what it was to DCNU DURING FLASHPOINT.

Let me say that again. We will see how the DCNU will come to be DURING FLASHPOINT.

Before I get the fans that say that the old continuity does not count . . . allow me to continue with YES IT DOES!

In order for Flashpoint to have occurred . . . the previous continuity had to have happened. That means everything before Flashpoint had to happen in order to get there.

Now, SPOILER:

  The Flash is working to get the universe back to the way it was will have to somehow bring about the birth of the DCNU.

So, cause the universe is the same but different, we will see this new universe come to be. Where? In Flashpoint.

That is why the changes in the DCNU are possible and yet, at the same time, many of the stories of the previous DCU are still in continuity.

It's like in Back to the Future when the Doc was shot down as Marty traveled back into 1955; Marty wrote the letter in to the Doc's younger self; Marty returns to 1985 and the Doc gets up after being shot wearing a bullet proof vest.

Fact of the matter is, the relaunch is happening. I am happy for it cause it means that comics are doing its best in order to stay alive. Comics don't have the readership that it used to and shops closed up around the country cause people stopped buy comics. We need new readers. We need fresh ideas. I love the old stuff too but this seems to be the best of both worlds.

DC is doing nothing more but what they have done with the Green Lantern, written by Geoff Johns, and had gotten so popular over the last decade that it warranted a movie at last; the Teen Titans, which is still a largely popular book spawning 2 cartoons in the last decade and The Flash; who we are seeing now grow and grow in popularity again.

Readers didn't mind that some old stuff was written out then. Why now?

I am looking forward to Teen Titans. I am looking forward to Geoff John's Aquaman and hope that he can do his best with make the character less of a joke and more of the king that he deserves to be treated like. I look forward to seeing Martian Manhunter on Stormwatch and seeing how the Wildstorm characters interact with the rest of the DCNU. I look forward to Static moving to NYC and making his mark there. I am looking forward to Batman, Bruce Wayne, actually working with his biological son, Damian Wayne and see how that works out. Heck, I am even intrigued to pick up Batgirl now because Barbara Gordon will be back as Batgirl. Yes . . . you read that right. And She's being written by Gail Simone. So that's win for me.

All I am saying is give the relaunch a chance. Give the company a chance to wow us. Give them the first six months to show us what this new world is made of. See the characters. Look at the art. See how this all works out before you decide to bury it, if you are against it. If you are for it . . . You will see me there every week in September getting as many #1s as I can afford.

I want to support my shops. My artists. My writers. My inkers. My colorists. My editorial teams. Their assistants. Their resources. Their books.  Do not let your own personal wants end up killing a company doing their best to give something for everyone.

And not just DC, but J1 studios too. Look at all our content. Look at our comics, our blogs, our videos . . . our events. We are doing this all for you fans. But we need your support to do that and if we don't get enough support we can't go on.

DC is merely doing the same thing.

And that is my own take on this. Me, Francisco K. Rodriguez. No one else. This is just my editorial and not the feelings of everyone at J1. Thank you for reading.


Sincerely, 


Francisco K. Rodriguez
Comic Book Clash Head






Calling all artists & writers. Have a project but understaffed? Have a great idea and art for it but no writer to flesh it out and make a great story of it? Have a great idea but just need that kind of artist that will give you that explosive, dynamic look your book needs? Well, Comic Book Clash News Edition will start posting WANT ads as soon as next week. Yes. We want you to give us your ads for the stuff you want or need. It can be a writer, artists, editor, inker, photographer or colorist. Let us know and show us what you need and we will post weekly. For details, contact me, Frankie, at francisco.k.rodriguez@gmail.com with the subject Comic Book Clash Want Ad and we will post the following week. All ads are due for that week no later than the monday before that week's CBC.

When you do put in for an ad, please put the following:

Your Name:
What You are Looking For:
A Small Description of What kind of Project:
Contact Information:

Hope to see those ads for next weeks regular News Edition.


SEE YA NEXT WEEK