NEWS EDITION # 35 - THE END OF THE JLI, THIEF STEALS MORE PRINTINGS & THE FIRST X-MEN?!

Here is the news for the week of May 16th, 2012.


JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL .. . CANCELLED!!!

by Frankie Rodriguez 

    Early this week, it was announced that DC will be cutting another title. And while many had speculated that it would be either Resurrection Man, Voodoo or Captain Atom that would get the axe ... surprisingly, Justice League International will be the latest DC series meeting its end.

    The series has been a rollercoaster as they just formed in issue # 1 only to lose half it roster after bomb at the end of issue 6. Vixen, Ice and Fire were all critically injured while Batman has taken himself off the main roster only for Batwing and OMAC to help. Yet, even worse, the bomb ended up killing Rocket Red. While there has not been a reason as to why the book is being cancelled as of issue #12 and annual # 1, many speculate that JLI is ending due to poor sales.

  The current storyline will end the series with its climax in JLI annual # 1. Although, there is still speculation of news that it will have a Zero issue during the month of September, which serves as the company's second Zero Month in DC's existence.

   The final issue of JLI by Dan Jurgens and Aaron Lopresti will hit selves this August.


FIRST X-MEN ARE COMING 

by Frankie Rodriguez 

   As announced this past Monday, the reveal behind the First X-Men teasers from last week have come. Writer Christos Gage and legendary artist Neal Adam, who drew the X-Men back in the 60s and 70s,  will be doing a miniseries called First X-Men.

   The premise behind the series. Neal Adams revealed in CBR:

"Something must have happened before Professor X became Professor X," Adams said. "He could pass. He didn't look like a strange X-Man. He didn't look like a mutant. Maybe this was going on when Professor X was a teenager and mutants were being abused by the government … and somebody stepped out to protect these kids. … Who would he be and why would he go to Charles Xavier? … That became my premise."

Gage adds from an interview with CBR:

"Basically it takes place before the original X-Men and it's a time when mutants are coming [out in the country]," said Gage. "In this context, Wolverine is noticing this going on and says, 'Someone needs to protect these people.'" 


  The First X-Men cast is mixed as it has Wolverine,  a merc for hire Sabertooth, a Nazi killing Magneto and some new characters. The series, as promised by X-book Editor Nick Lowe, this book will reveal WHY people hate and fear mutants as well as lead to some questions. The 5 issue miniseries written by Christos Gage with art by Neal Adams will kick off this August.


THIEF OF THIEVES #1 GETS 4TH PRINTING

From Image Comics Website & Frankie Rodriguez.

The Image Comics/Skybound series THIEF OF THIEVES, Robert Kirkman's cinematic crime comic has no zombies, no superheroes, and no larger-than-life arsenal — and it has become one of the best-selling independent comics hits of the year. The first three issues are now entering their fourth printings, with the fourth issue not far behind with a third printing.

With a story overseen by Kirkman (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE), scripts by Nick Spencer (MORNING GLORIES) and art by Shawn Martinbrough, THIEF OF THIEVES is the story of a master thief, "Redmond," who tries to leave a life of crime to reclaim his "real" life and family as Conrad Paulson. Or is it his real life? An estranged wife, a son set on following in his footsteps — Paulson is finding that identities can't be changed as easily as suits.

The third printing of THIEF OF THIEVES #1 will be in stores this week, on May 16, and the third printings of #2 and #3 and the second printing of #4 will be in stores the following week, on May 23. The most current printings will land on shelves on June 13 and can be pre-ordered from comic book stores now. THIEF OF THIEVES is an ongoing series, and issue #5 will be stores on June 6.

Previews of each new THIEF OF THIEVES, which is published by Image Comics under Kirkman's Skybound imprint, appear on The Hollywood Reporter website exclusively on the Friday before its release. It is available in comic book stores and digitally from multiple platforms. AMC has optioned the title as a series with Kirkman and Chic Eglee (Dexter) serving as Creators/Executive Producers/Writers.

  Thief of Thieves join the over a dozen books that have had reprints that include: Epic Kill # 1, Mind the Gap #1, Supreme # 63, Darkness # 101, Danger Club  #1, Saga # 1, Fatale # 1 (which has 5 printings) and many more. 

NOW AVAILABLE

CBC's very own Jeremias de Leon is not just a writer but an artist and is currently taking commissions:

Go here for his deviant art.  And this is his paypal. 

ON SALE NOW:


Michael Turner Wizard World Hulk # 1 Variant


Iron Man, Ultimate Extinction, Ultimate Origins


Spiderman Books including first Black Costume appearance


AVENGERS ASSEMBLE: Including Avengers (Volume 1) # 16, 1st Wonder Man & More


Action Comics # 1 & 2 SIGNED WITH VARIANTS


Death In Comics SET


Yugioh Lightsworn Cards


X- Saber Cards


Yugioh DESTINY Hero DECK!!!


Wind Up Rabbit Cards






BROUGHT TO YOU BY . . .


COMING THIS MAY!!!!

One of the few Tokusatsu Reviews I know. Great guy with a good set of reviews, a few countdowns and some specials. Tokusatsu is special effects in japanese but it is what the genre of live action stuff like Power Rangers and Kamen Rider Dragon Knight are based off of. Toku Time or Reviewtopia: Toku Time is where you can find him.

Where you can find J1 Studios President, Jason Richson aka Spider Tribble, every single week on the Black Tribbles podcast. 








It's the new, BRAND NEW, Super Mario Dubstep Album. Listen as your favorite music from Super Mario has been transformed into remixes. The album is so addicting, you will feel like you're an addict!


GREEN MUSHROOMS & SUPERSTARS

From J1's own Shinigami (Ray Riley) & Forafire (Forrest Shamlian). FREE TO DOWNLOAD! NOW! 

FREE ALBUM DOWNLOADS

And don't for get the recently released Sonic Remix Album, SPIN DASH AUDIO is also available now. 

RAJIO NIHON . . . the internet Toku Station where they play songs from tokusatsu, anime and give you in depth looks into the world of Tokusatsu. RAJIO NIHON  Take a listen as CBC's Frankie Rodriguez , Jeremias de Leon & Devin Walker go on and give you Tokusatsu News from Japan and around the world on Morphin Bracers.  

And don't forget to catch the Ikaricast from Reviewtopia!! Please look forward to it as CBC's Frankie Rodriguez guest stars in Season 4, Episode 11 & 13. Hosted by Jeremias de Leon aka Xaos. 


Also Don't forget to check out Frankie & Jeremias as they guest on 16 Bit Jeff's 

Episode 6 where they talk about Super Hero fighting games.

#41 - JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL : THE SIGNAL MASTERS

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL
#1 - 5
Storyline: The Signal Masters
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Aaron Lopresti & Matt Ryan
Colors by Lopresti (issue 2) &  HI - FI

by Frankie Rodriguez

TALE OF THE TAPE

            Welcome again to another review as we continue to enjoy Justice League Month. As we continue to look at things with the Justice League, we are gonna take the time to look at the second Justice League title that has come out in the new 52; Justice League International. Now, the original Justice League International run was beloved by many fans. There was slapstick with great adventure and serious plots mixed together to be one of the most beloved incarnations of the League. Come 2010, Justice League Generation Lost actually dealt with some of the most popular members of the JLI together to face off with their former benefactor and manipulative, murdering bastard, Maxwell Lord.

            Yes. I am NOT a fan of Mr. Lord. Why? First, he manipulated the Justice League into getting UN status and adding members, then he was good, then we became evil and lost his body and became the NEW Lord Havok. After that, he some how got his body again and was a good guy . . . again. Yet, that changed once he got on Checkmate. Max proceeded to kick off everything from Infinite Crisis to Final Crisis to even Justice League Generation Lost. Max Lord proceeds to SHOOT TED KORD, the former and much beloved Blue Beetle, in the head to kill him. Sure, he ended up manipulating Superman and forcing Wonder Woman to kill him. Yet, Max gets resurrected ... only to manipulate the JLI back together; who ultimately defeat Max but not without cost.

            And now the new 52 happened. The Justice League International was chosen as one of the titles chosen as the first wave of relaunch. And look: We got several big JLI alumni with Booster Gold, Fire, Ice & Guy Gardner. We got new Rocket Red Gavril Ivanovich, JL alumni Batman & Vixen and brand new members Godiva and August General In Iron. Yet, how does this team function? Do they live up to the old JLI legacy?

CLASH FACTS

            Justice League International begins with a discussion between Andre Briggs, UN Head of Intelligence and several members of the UN. Briggs states that they need they own team of heroes. Heroes who don't hide behind secret identities and heroes they can control. The UN agrees to it. We cut to a UN research team in Peru where they are checking on semic activity when they all fall into a big hole that just appears out of nowhere. Booster Gold arrives to see groups of protestors in front of the Hall of Justice against this new Justice League as Gold talks to Briggs. Briggs tells Booster to ignore the people when he says no and tries to calm the people down. One person in the crowd says that the UN has crossed a line and that they are gonna take measures. Briggs tells Booster that he's been chosen to lead the new League and we get a reaction we know and love from Guy Gardner . ..

   "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME?!"

            Ice and Rocket Red tell Guy to give Booster a chance when Guy just leaves. On his way out, Guy runs into Batman. Batman actually endorses Booster as leader but Guy just waves Batman off and flies away. The rest of the JLI has introductions as Briggs shows them their new jet which starts the first of many snipes between Rocket Red and August General in Iron. Red goes over to Booster saying he can't work with August General but Booster isn't hearing it. Booster tells Briggs he wished the team had more raw power but Briggs just goes on to blame Booster for not keeping him on the team. Booster shoots back that he just met the team and has no information on their abilities but Briggs says that it should not matter for a real leader.

  Yeah . . . Briggs . . . you are kind of a douche.

   the team head out with a surprise . . . Batman being already on board. Booster Gold immediately thinks that Batman thinks he can't cut it as leader but Batman reassures him quickly that he's here to lend a hand and give a connections between the JLI and the Justice League. As the newly assembled (seriously, they just met literally 5 minutes ago and they are thrown into this mission) JLI head for Peru, some of the protestors decide they don't like the UN and their idea of a JLI so much ... they'll blow up the Hall of Justice. Yay. 


    The JLI lands in Peru where they start a search as Godiva decides to show how uncomfortable she is by being snarky. Booster tells the team to split up in pairs which Godiva decides to remind him (& the readers) that Booster JUST met them. Suddenly, from the ground, the JLI are attacked by demonic looking ... Gotsumon?!  Um ... I am serious. They look like red, scary Gotsumon. *sigh* 


    As they fight, Godiva proves her snarkiness again after BATMAN tells her to get more involved in the fight.

 "Sod off, Bats. Lethal rock creatures aren't my style." 


    Godiva .. . you make me miss the Beefeater!! THE FRELLIN' Beefeater!!! 


   The rock creatures retreat only to give way to big ole giant . ..Um . .. It looks like a cross between the Iron Giant and Monarch. And he's huge. The JLI try to fend off the first of the Signal Men (hmm ... not the most original name. Honestly, it would sound better if the Signal Men were fighting Dr. Who) but . .. with little luck. Between Rocket Red's failed attempt at talking to the Signal Man through his techno-telepathy ability (new but very welcome), Godiva make sure she sticks out like sore thumb and Brigg's deciding to berate Booster and the team, we get to see Booster and the league get cut down to size. After the Signal Man smack them around and nearly kills Ice, Booster (against complains from Vixen & Rocket Red) calls a retreat. By the way, Briggs showing up early decided to tell Booster that they are televising the League against the Signal Man. And it was televised world wide ... which ends up having Guy throwing a fit at a bar when he sees Tora getting hurt. 


  The team returns to Booster getting berated immediately by Briggs till he sees Batman and says . .. *laughs* 


 Briggs : "You . .. You have no Authorization to be part of this . . "  Hahaha. You told Batman he can't be there. To pilfer a joke from comic book reviewer Linkara: He's the God damn Batman. He'll do what he wants.

   Only to have Booster stand up to him, making it known that he is leader of this team. Rocket Red snaps at Booster for not being a real leader but Booster defense himself till Guy flies in. Guy insults Booster, asks to be made leader and checks on Ice with in seconds. Ah ... nice to see Guy has really grown as a person. Booster is about to walk when August General in Iron gives a vote of confidence to Booster. Batman and Godiva do the same. Briggs opens him mouth again but its ignored and Booster continues to lead. Great! Just in time for things to get WORSE. 3 more Signal Men show up and start blasting entert to the sky, each as big as the first one the JLI met. And in space, we get to see our main protagonist for the first time ... Perax . .. Perac ... Peraxes? No, that's not it. Peracola? Nope. Not it either. Peraxxus. 


  Peraxxus has a sort of Jack Kirby look to him and has the original Batwing color sheme of light blue and purple. Yay. The JLI splits up into pairs, going for a classic team up route as each pair checks on the Signal Men and a way to stop them. Vixen and Fire go to South Africa. Godiva and August General end up in Canada. Ice and Rocket Red end up in the depths in Russia with Batman and Booster Gold back in Peru. Each team end up in caves only to find themselves swarmed by more . ..  evil Gotsumon. Seriously. 


 Briggs pitches a fit about the JLI being a media disaster and that they found that the controller of the Signal Men are out in space. Guy eavesdrops and heads into space where Peraxie gets the drop on the Green Lantern. Each set of the League tries to break free but are captured and teleported to Peraxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxus, who is beating Guy Gardner around like a rag doll. Then we get the reason why Pera-mydius ( Gold Ranger: I call on the power of Peramydus, HIYAH!!!) Godiva, after coping a feel on Batman with her hair, grabs a laser from his utility belt and frees the team. The 9 heroes gather together to face off against Peraxxus only to find that he pressed the button . . . which made him transform into a even more gruesome monster ... WAIT! NO! That didn't happened. No, Peraxxus presses a button to make the Signal Men light up faster . .. which actually sets about the end of the planet.
  
   Do our heroes stop him? Sure! How? With the power of Friendship, Heart of the Cards . .. blah blah blah. 


No. That's not what happened. But if you really want to know what happened . . .




CLASH TACTICS


   Okay. This was one of the new 52 books. How do I think it faired? I am getting to that.  Artistically, Aaron Lopresti is drawing some of his best work here. He seemed to have gotten a real hold on a majority of these characters when he did Justice League: Generation Lost, pre New 52. Yet here, he's making some spectactular panels. Matt Ryan's inks are really making Lopresti's pencils stand out alongside colors from HI-FI, giving us something visually appealing on each page. Ever character is distinct. Ever emotion is capture. There are a lot of different characters in this book and this team is really show casing them all artistically. Which gets me to the writing for the book. 


    Dan Jurgens is swimming in somewhat familiar territory. You see, back in the early 90s when the JLI reform both its American and European Branches after the landmark Breakdowns crossover, Dan Jurgens has wrote Justice League America which featured Booster Gold, Guy Gardner, Ice, Fire and more. And while these characters are almost the same, there are some differences in characterizations. The character interplay with the team has been excellent, helping to flesh out personalities and really give us a feel that this is a new team, a new time and a new place. Particularly enjoyable have been the interactions between Rocket Red & August General in Iron and Godiva's lovely interactions which reveal her nervousness to this whole grand stage that is the JLI. These character bits make the book truly enjoyable. The pacing was excellent. Every breather had a reason. Every battle great in scale. But so did our heroes. My only real issue with this story is the fact that the first 2 issue felt very much like Booster Gold guest starring the JLI. I know that Jurgens had literally just finished his run on Booster Gold prior to the new 52 and I guess that the fact that Booster had so much focus as leader was a good thing. But this is still Justice League International. The balance between all the characters didn't really happen till issue # 3. Batman was being a different kind of mentor to Booster Gold which was a far cry from the original JLI days. And while the majority of the League got some great development, Vixen was the character that was least developed; I think she was the casualty of Booster's "I'm the Leader" subplot; hence the balance of characterizations leaning heavy on Booster but lighter on Vixen or Jurgens did not feel comfortable with her. I'm not sure. Hopefully, this will change over time.

  Overall, Justice League International was and enjoyable ride from start to finish. The threats felt imaginative and grandiose. The characters were fleshed out well. The plots were moving along at a great pace and it made you want to know more about these characters and the status of the team. Evil Gotsumon aside, Lopresti, Ryan & HI-FI give some of their best work with JLI. It is something for them to be proud of. Jurgens gives us a fun book that retains the spirit of the original and yet, different. While it does seem that Booster really overtakes the first two issues, Jurgens breaks down the other characters the remainder of the storyline. I know he'll do well cause Jurgens is the writer that had Blue Beetle Ted Kord beat a Darkseid level like villain, Starbreaker, with his brain. 
 
With all that, I give Justice League International (#1-5): The Signal Masters, an Intercontinential Champ Contendership (4 out of 5). Besides the heavy Booster focus and lack of character balance the first 2 issues, this is a great read. You can pick up all 5 issues at either your local comic shop (like I do) or get them digitally from Amazon or DC.


NEXT WEEK: The Justice League Enters the Dark Side when we go JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK!