There are a few ways to win the Golden Udder. Two sure fire ways are; one, show me something fantastic and two, appeal to something I like. Fanboys vs. Zombies #5 did the latter.
There are a few different covers for FvsZ #5, but the one that is taking home the gold pays homage to one of the greatest movie franchises of all time, (Hehe... time.) Back to the Future.
It appears to be an amalgamation of the three original BttF posters. They tossed in the classic Marty attire from I, the futuristic shades from II with the western theme from III. Nice job guys.
UPDATE: The picture indicates issue #9. Though when researched it was listed as a #5 cover. The actual issue # is currently uncertain to us.
Over the weekend, your beloved CBC editor-in-chief dropped off some comics during a friendly Saturday gathering of Dungeons and Dragons. When he presented me with Valen the Outcast, I didn’t think much of it. The cover looked okay, I had never really read a Boom! Studios book before and the chick on the cover was hot. I didn’t know what to expect. But what I got was a delightful treat and a great read.
Valen the Outcast is the story of well… Valen, former King of Oakhaven turned undead abomination and his quest to retrieve his soul from the evil and nefarious necromancer, Korrus Null. The exact details behind Valen’s rebirth into the ‘unlife’ have yet to be revealed by issue three. However, it is apparent that after a hard battle with the army of Korrus Null, Valen’s army was quelled and he was defeated and turned into an undead minion to under the necromancer’s control. Through, presumably (unless it is a hidden ploy at the hands of Null), the sheer force of will, Valen’s personality overpowered the spell over him. With the help from Zjanna and Cordovan, Valen makes sets out on a trek for Wraithendal and his soul.
VTO follows the classic pattern of a hero who embarks on a journey and picks up companions on the way. These companions may hate him or feel indifferent toward him at first, but come the end game, they will be loyal in one manner or another. VTO actually reminds me of an rpg, roleplaying game. It has a D&D and Dragon Age feel to its atmosphere. It could be the medieval setting, in a fantasy world of swords and magic. But I think it really comes down to the characters.
Valen is the leader and an ox of a man. He’s very tank like in appearance and personality. He prefers to attack things head on and would rather shrug off a blow then outright evade it. His undead disposition… gives him the ability to shrug off more than the average man. The only way to put him down permanently is to sever his head or pierce his heart. Combine that with the military mind of a warrior king and you get fine inventions like heart armor. Possibly my favorite part of the three books; Valen has a blacksmith forge him a device built to his specifications that he employs as a orb of armor for his heart. That’s just badass. Then you have Cordovan, who is a seedy, sly and witty drunkard. He is the rogue of the group, with connections to the shadier side of the world and excels with daggers and knives. Lastly, is Zjanna who I presumed was skilled in magic. She separates the link between Valen and Null, an act equivalent to taking the ring off Frodo’s finger, preventing Sauron from seeing him. Zjanna comes off more as a ranger like character, one skilled in the hunt, traps and tracking.
So far the series has been awesome and it held my attention more than anything else I’ve read in the past two weeks. Accept maybe Suicide Squad. The art fits the tale and Scalera does a great job of capturing the scenery, the gore and the overall atmosphere of this world. But the real star here is the writing. Valen the Outcast gets a 4 out of 5 and I look forward to following this series down the brimstone brick road.
Welcome to News Edition for the Week of April 11th, 2012. Clashers, give a warm welcome to new staff writer, Jeremias de Leon, better know as Xaos of the Ikaricast and new reviewer, Devin Walker.
HE-MAN RETURNS TO DC
by Frankie Rodriguez
Back in the 80s, DC was printing Masters of the Universe. After a while, that franchise died out but re-emerged at the beginning of the new millennium with a brand new Masters of the Universe cartoon and comic. This time, the comic was produced by Image Comics. After that, a short lived run in Crossgen, the comic died once again. Now, time has past yet again to the point were present day. The Masters of the Universe are coming back to DC Comics in a whole new way.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe will hit shelves this summer from DC Comics in a brand new, 6 issue miniseries. The new miniseries will be brought together by fan favorite author, James Robinson with art by Philp Tan and Ruy Jose. The new comic features Skeletor getting the power to alter reality to the point where he finally achieves his goals, dominance over Eternia and complete control over Castle Greyskull.
The former Masters of the Universe will have no memories of their previous life; save for Prince Adam, who is a woodsman dealing with hallucinations and flashes of a man battling with a sword. What will Adam choose to do? Ignore these visions or will he follow them.
James Robinson told MTV Geek:
Adam is in a place where he really has to reconnect with what it means to be a Master of the Universe. It’s his odyssey, much like the Greek myth in fact, that is the backbone of this series.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe # 1 by James Robinson with art by Philp Tan & Ruy Jose from DC Comics will hit stores this July.
SUPURBIA EARNS ONGOING
by Frankie Rodriguez
After one issue released and strong sales, Grace Randolph's Supurbia from BOOM! Studios has gone from a 4-issue miniseries to a full fledged ongoing. After the inital miniseries is finished, there will be a brand new # 1 this summer to open the ongoing series. The book focuses on the exploits of the spouses of a super hero team known as the Meta Legion. Taking prompts from books like Gotham Central and from shows like Army Wives, the new book shows the lives of the spouses and lovers of big time heroes and how they cope with life as the significant other of a major hero or heroine.
Randolph commented to CBR about how she is twisting super hero archtypes and tropes to help play with her main characters and more.
"Supurbia" is all about twisting those tropes and archetypes. I see a lot mainstream characters stuck in a corner these days, like a wind-up toy with nowhere to go yet they can't change direction. And I understand that because these are big companies that have to maintain brands that bring in huge amounts of money. But in "Supurbia," I can tear down walls and take risks.
So of course, you're supposed to recognize these archetypes at first glance but then the fun comes in watching them change before your eyes. As the series continues, you'll see the superheroes of "Supurbia" deviate more and more from what inspired them and - hopefully readers will agree - reach new levels of potential.
Supurbia # 2 by Grace Randolph with art by Russell Dauterman & Gabriel Cassata from BOOM ! Studios is in stores now.
EDITORIAL - CAROL DANVERS AS CAPTAIN MARVEL
by Jeremias de Leon
My name is Jeremias and as a new author here the first thing you will learn about me is that I am a fan of Carol Danvers, most famously known as Ms. Marvel.
Carol Danvers, the air force pilot who became super powered with Kree DNA, will become known as Captain Marvel? Does this matter? Should we care?
Carol, after fighting a clone created by the skrulls of Captain Marvel during the Secret Invasion event will now call herself Captain Marvel and donning a new rainbow inspired outfit. Formerly known as Ms. Marvel, Carol's reason for the change was to honor the legacy of Captain Marvel by using the name.
As asked before does this matter? Should we care? It matters to fans of Ms. Marvel and people who like to see the spotlight in Marvel Comics to be on characters besides favorites like Spiderman and Iron Man. Carol has been featured in events like the aforementioned Secret Invasion and in Civil War, but hasn't really had much in terms of solo comics. She did have a solo series, which ended in 2010, but it was canceled. This is the first female solo title since the announcement of cancelations of other female titles that started in January of this year.
This series can show that Marvel does care about the other characters in their pantheon, including their female characters. Which, earlier in the year, it wouldn't be tough to argue against because of all the cancelations. With Carol in her own title, if it's done right can lead Marvel to make more series for other characters that haven't had a solo series in a while, especially more female characters. Remember to vote with your money because these companies do listen to the fans.
But, of course, the success of this series isn't just on sales; the series does have to be liked by the people reading it. Kelly Sue Deconick, the writer for this series should do a good job. If you didn't know, she is also doing the Ghost re-boot for Dark Horse comics. So, this series shouldn't fail in that regard. Though, of course, whether or not is good is ultimately for you to make.
So, in short, even if you're not a fan of Carol as Ms. Marvel or as she'll now be called Captain Marvel. Wish her well, if not for her sake, then for the other heroes that don't have a spotlight on them that deserve it, especially the female ones.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
He-Man & his sister She-Ra in the Battle For Eternia Fan Trailer!!!
Eternal Descent and Calabash Animation Launch Animated Series on IndieGoGo
FROM IDW Page
Star studded heavy metal series from IDW Publishing puts music and comics in motion.
The Eternal Descent comic series from IDW Publishing has bridged the worlds of music and comics like no other, with an army of chart topping heavy metal stars including Joe Satriani, Wayne Static, Gus G, Arch Enemy, Periphery, Shadows Fall, and many more appearing throughout the saga.
In Eternal Descent's continued effort to explore the unholy alliance between heavy metal and high fantasy, they have teamed up with Calabash Animation, the acclaimed animation studio led by Sean Henry and Wayne Brejcha, to bring an animated reimagining of Eternal Descent!
Having tested their mettle with a 2 minute animated preview, they are now in pre-production for a 22 minute pilot episode, which would realize Eternal Descent as a fully animated TV show. Eternal Descent is pleased to announce that Mike Sizemore is handling the script, and if you love animation, fantasy, and heavy guitars, then this could be the show you’ve been waiting for! See the preview and find out how you can get involved at: www.indiegogo.com/eternaldescent
While Eternal Descent aims to have a complete series commissioned by a network, the pilot will be released online, to be enjoyed for free. The pilot will be launched as an episodic web series with 5 action packed installments!Eternal Descent remains entirely creator owned and they want to include the fans as much as possible. Sharing this message will be a huge help to their cause, but if you would like to contribute directly, the have created an awesome array of rewards, perks and experiences to show their appreciation. From signed comics to custom ESP Guitars, Eternal Descent has got you covered!Bringing this project to life will be a creative challenge, and they want you to be a part of the production every step of the way. Eternal Descent will be shooting exclusive behind-the-scenes footage to release alongside the animated series, so you’ll get to see how the animators work their magic and follow studio sessions with the incredible guest guitarists who have always been a part of this world. The pieces are in place, the descent begins!
To learn more about Eternal Descent visit www.EternalDescent.com and for further information, images, review copies and interview opportunities with the creators and musicians who appear in Eternal Descent, contact press@eternaldescent.com .
G-MAN creator gives classic Image characters a make-over
On April first at Emerald City Comicon, Robert Kirkman and Chris Giarrusso revealed a new project: THE WALKING DEAD for Kids. A panel-by-panel recreation of the original issues using Kirkman's scripts, THE WALKING DEAD for Kids would be drawn in an art style with kid appeal by G-MAN creator Giarrusso.
The project, of course, was yet another April Fool's Day prank on a day that saw a few "announcements" come out of the convention. But the image is part of a series of special limited edition variant covers that Image Comics will be releasing in the upcoming year.
In commemoration of Image's 20th anniversary, Giarrusso will re-create twelve classic first issue covers. First to get the too-cute treatment is YOUNGBLOOD, the very first Image title. The cover will ship in limited quantity as a variant for YOUNGBLOOD #71 (FEB128256), the relaunch of the Rob Liefeld Extreme Studios title written by screenwriter John McLaughlin (The Black Swan, Parker) and drawn by John Malin (AVENGELYNE) and Liefeld. YOUNGBLOOD #71 will be in stores on May 23.
The covers are Giarrusso's tribute to his youthful love of Image Comics. "Twenty years ago, I was eagerly anticipating the launch of Image Comics," said the artist. "Maybe it was partially due to my upcoming high school graduation, but it felt like the whole world was changing. I vividly recall the excitement of seeing the Image books on the shelf for the first time. It was a new era, and these cover images were instantly iconic. The opportunity to pay tribute to these classic Image covers is an honor and a privilege, and I couldn't be more excited about my role and participation in Image's 20th anniversary celebration."
Look for more Giarrusso tribute covers in the coming months!
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.
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!
And don't for get the recently released Sonic Remix Album, SPIN DASH AUDIO is also available now. Al
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 NIHONTake a listen as CBC's Frankie Rodriguez guests stars on a special 2 & a half hour podcast where he, Toku Time's EZ Rider, Oga of Rajio Nihon & Alex "Aznable" Smith talk about Sentai Music vs. Kamen Rider music and more.
And don't forget to catch the Ikaricast from Reviewtopia!! Please look forward to it as CBC's Frankie Rodriguez comes in as a guest stars in Season 4, Episode 11. Hosted by Jeremias de Leon aka Xaos.
Welcome Ladies & Gentlemen to another edition of CBC NEWS!
MORE OF THE DC CREATIVE SHUFFLE
by Frankie Rodriguez
The more things change . .. the more change comes about it seems. With all the recent looks at sales from DC and Marvel Comics since the New 52 came out, DC has been determined to make sure that they and their readers are not complacent. 2 weeks ago, Hector Ramirez reported about the 6 titles that will be ending in April and their 6 replacements premiering in May. Yet, DC is still making more changes with certain titles, hoping that the new creative teams will have readers staying and bring in new ones.
So what else is changing? Prepare for the breakdown.
Batwing's sales have been doing extremely well. Yet, there will be an artistic change as of issue #9. Ben Oliver's last issue of Batwing will be issue #7; tying Gotham City into his current Massacre storyline while also setting up a crossover for the Bat-books dealing with the Court of Owls, called "Night of Owls", that has been prominent in Batman. And while issue #8 will have a fill in artist, Marcus To, who was regular artist on Red Robin Pre-New 52 & artist on the Huntress miniseries, will be taking over art chores. To nearly everyone's delight (and to some's disdain) Judd Winnick is still writing the book.
Marcus To commented on his approach to his new job:
Actually, at first, when I was approached to draw the book, it took me a second to think about my approach to this book, because he is a different character from the traditional Batman look. So I had to think, how am I going to do this? Ben Oliver did such a great job on launching the title. So I looked at the art and thought to myself, how can I put my own spin on this?
I think readers are going to see a different aspect of my art. That's the great challenge of this job, figuring out how I want certain angles to look, how I want his armor to look, but how to keep it in the vein of Batman. Just like you said, you can use the silhouettes that Batman has, with the wings and the symbol and the ears and everything, to really pull it together, and associate the Batman look with Batwing. . . we're actually starting my run in Gotham, which is where my attention is concentrated right now. But Batwing will be back in Africa soon, and I've talked to Judd about some ideas we have. He's sending me a movie that has a style that's related to the story he wants to write next. So we're communicating about the direction the book is going and where we want to take it visually.
But once we get back to Africa, and once I know what the location is for the next story, I do intend to use references to do my best to make it accurate and pay respect to what is real.
Meanwhile, Rob Liefield was slated to take over 3 books after finishing Hawk & Dove with #8. Which 3 books? Rob Liefield will be co-plotting both The Savage Hawkman and Grifter. His co-writer on Hawkman is none other than Mark Poulton, who currently also writes Avengelyne over in Image Comics. And former Deathstroke artist Joe Bennet will move to take over art duties on The Savage Hawkman.
Co-writing Grifter is writer Frank Tieri , who recently wrote Marvel vs Capcom 3, with Stormwatch's very first artist Scott Clark will stay on as artist. And finally, Liefield will be taking over the Deathstroke book, handling both writing and art chores on the book.
Over in Batman: Dark Knight, Gregg Hurwitz takes over completely as full writer while David Finch steps down from writing chores to just draw the Batman book.
Peter Milligan steps down as writer for Justice League Dark yet he ends up taking another popular team book; Stormwatch. The writer decided to jump over after 2 fill in issues by Paul Jenkins and seems to be enjoying the book and making it fit into the DC Universe.
Peter Milligan joins regular artist Miguel Sepulveda as the new creative team as of issue #9 this May. And while he did confirm that he will keep the roster as is for the time being with 1 possible edition, Milligan teased his direction for the book:
I want to dig deeper not only into the characters themselves but also the history and meaning of Stormwatch. The strange strategies they’ve employed to do what they do and remain covert. Before I start throwing people off of the team I want to get deeper into them. However, we will have an appearance of a character who was around long before this team was formed who throws a different light on the life of a Stormwatch agent.
My first story deals with an intruder on earth from the planet Ysmault — he’s red and he’s got a lot of rage — and also a former Stormwatch member. We’ll also get deeper into the mind of Midnighter.
And finally, fan favorite writer of the one of DC's highest selling titles, Animal Man writer Jeff Lemire, will be taking over for Milligan on Justice League Dark. Calling the title his dream gig, Lemire is more than happy to dive into several of his favorite characters: Deadman, Shade - the Changing Man, Zatanna & John Constantine. He promises to bring a true connection to the Justice League to answer why they have the name with a few other surprises:
One of the things I’m anxious to explore is just why the name “Justice League” is in the title of this book. I want to explore and create new connections between this team of mystical misfits and Geoff and Jim’s big guns in the Justice League. On that note, Geoff and I have had many discussions on how to link our two books and make the Justice League franchises connect in new and unexpected ways.
With that, Lemire also promises two new members, one guy and one girl to this already seemingly stacked mystical team and plans to have John Constantine emerge as the leader of this group. Mike Janin will stay on as artist for the book.
With all these changes, DC hopes to keep readers. Will this work? I am sure it will to some extent but there will be a lot of competition. While all this is happening, Marvel will be knee deep into Avengers vs X-Men event, Extreme Studios relaunch will be in full steam with all 5 titles will have debuted and Valiant Entertainment returns with X-O Manowar debuting during the first week of May. The gauntlet has been thrown and we will see if these changes will help or hurt DC's books.
WINNER OF TOP COW'S PILOT SEASON WINNER IS . . . by Frankie Rodriguez
Over the last few years, Top Cow has used the pilot season , a contest with several different one-shots where the fans choose the winner, in order to set up new miniseries with concepts and ideas you may not see anywhere else. This year, there were 8 different one-shots of all kinds but only one emerged as the winner. And the 2011 Top Cow Pilot Season Winner is The Beauty.
The Beauty was created by writer Jeremy Haun and artist Jason Hurley. The Beauty is about a sexually transmitted disease that has people become nearly irresistibly attractive. So much so, there are scary consequences and implications because of this STD. It is up to two detectives to stop the people who are infected by it.
Jeremy Haun talked about the upcoming series:
Now that we've won we're going to be able to finish the story. I'm really excited to do that. It's exciting to be co-writing and drawing something like this. The process is surprisingly fast and a hell of a lot of fun. The trick of it is going to be balancing work on The Beauty with my regular art duties on The Darkness monthly book. Luckily, they're both books that I absolutely love. It also doesn't hurt that I just love to work. As crazy as it may seem, drawing two books is kind of my idea of fun.
And while artist Jason Hurley added:
Winning Pilot Season is easily the biggest moment of my career so far, and I couldn't be happier. It was a hard-fought battle, but thanks to all of the fans of The Beauty, we came out on top. I can't wait to get back to work on the book. We've got a lot of exciting stuff planned for the future of The Beauty, and since we've won Pilot Season, we'll be able to share all of that with our fans. More than anything, I just want to send a huge thank you out to all of our family, friends, and fans for their support throughout the entire voting process. It's thanks to them that we're able to continue The Beauty.
The Beauty is set to debut later this year.
IRREDEEMABLE & INCORRUPTIBLE SAY GOODBYE by Frankie Rodriguez
As recently stated by writer and creator Mark Waid, he is ending his cult following books: Irredeemable and Incorruptible. The BOOM! Studios comics have been hit with fans since shortly after their release and have won multiple awards and grabbed fans. Waid stated that while he knows he has dealt with all the darkness within him, he felt that it was time to end both series.
Okay, really, truly — I’m just stretched thin right now both personally and professionally, and I live in mortal fear that I’m going to overstay my welcome on these books. Moreover, I feel that Max Damage’s character arc is reaching its end in Incorruptible. And in Irredeemable, I’ve long known what the end of that series is, and lately, it’s as if all the characters are moving into position for it whether I want them to or not. So let’s go out big and grand, I say.
The final arcs of Incorruptible will be played out from issues #27 to #30. Meanwhile, Irreedeemable's storyline will reach its climax in issue # 34-#30. Fans will miss these series but everyone can understand. Between all that Waid has been doing in Marvel along, the man needs a breather.
FAN REVIEW OF SUPERGIRL
By Brickie Bowman
it's not much but I have read the first 3 DC 52 Supergirls and so far I am impressed with the story thus far for one she not some sniveling teen but a confidant young adult she hasn't quite got the hang of her power here on earth but she has a good teacher after she beat the crap out of him for a minute. I did notice that as with Kal El in his book the take a interest in the costume and it is just as indestructable as they are and that goes back to the original story that his cloth that his cape was his baby blanket he was wrapped in when he got to earth.
it It was well drawn. The artist did his homework on the character to give the right look for her. She is s a young adult and the art is also close to the look for Action Comics and Superman which is good so if the stories cross the art won't throw you off.
I like the the look she has in this and the writing would hold you if they keep this style going but if they change the formula it will fail add all that. I like the ideal that she already has some people trying to capture her and had her for a moment but she got away and she is also dealing with the fact that Krypton is no more but if this story keeps going like it has so far the book 4 and 5 should keep me roped in I have always like her but this to me is a better portrail of her in the DCU and should go a long way.This Supergirl is a better version in my point of view. She is more sure of herself than the teenage one and more assertive. She is a serious minded person that is wanting to learn why Krypton is gone.
I give it thus far it's 4 out of 5 Superman Shields.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
It's the AVENGERS!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! BROUGHT TO YOU BY . . . br />
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.
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!
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
Hey everyone. Yes, another countdown from me. I seem to be good at it. Anyway, this time, we are gonna be going through our childhoods and seeing what out there could use a continuation or remake with a comic. There are gonna be some great surprises in this and some real no-brainers.
Now, this is all just opinion based. Feel free to agree or disagree and make your comments known. With that out of the way, let's get to it.
15 - INHUMANOIDS
You know what I loved about this show? It was GI Joe meets Lovecraft. A team of scientists and soldiers fighting against both corrupt organizations and demonic monsters from under our feet. The corrupt organizations freed the monsters, who were the size of Godzilla and all help broke lose. This proper could really shake things up. Cloverfield was an interesting take on this but needs to be done better. With deep characterization, good science fiction and a great dose of horror, Inhumanoids could very well grab comic readers like DC New 52s Swamp Thing and Animal Man.
14 - SHE-RA, PRINCESS OF POWER
Basically He-Man with boobs and a more powerful sword. Seriously. Her sword could do everything her brother's sword could and transform at her command to other weapons. She had super strength but in her world . . . She was the outlaw. Etheria was ruled by the evil Horde. And while many people joined the rebellion, the majority of Etheria is ruled by the Horde. That makes her a bad guy in her eyes. So she and her Great Rebellion fought many, many Horde generals and the overlord of Etheria, Hordak. Her brother got a reboot in comics and tv, why can't she? A warrior woman with mystical power. I can deal with that. Don't tell me that a new series with She-Ra going toe to toe like her brother, with some blood but good amount of characterization and adventure wouldn't be great.
13 - VISIONARIES
Magical Warriors of Light. Yet, the twist of this . . . it was a planet, Prismos, where technology such as we have today once existed till a magical event happened which made technology inert. As a hundred years past, the world had become lost in the medieval age with glimpses of the technological present they once knew. The powers of magic, thanks to a wizard, stood unleashed between two different factions. And thus, the war with the Spectral Lights began.
With nods to Arthurian myth, mixed with a little technology, this show is ripe for a writer to come in and give us a story of a Neo Medieval time. Where cars and planes and boats are powered by magic. With a look at this new world, that could be the most interesting journey yet in comic form.
12 - MIGHTY MAX
When I first heard this from CBC staffer Hector Ramirez, I was scratching my head and thought "Are you serious?" Then I got to think about it. This kid has the powers and abilities to go through time and space using a cap and a shirt. He's got a wise old sage in the form of Virgil, this giant . .. chicken/owl bird being and a Norse Warrior as a bruiser named simply named Norman.
Yet, his main enemy was called Skullmaster . .. who was voice by Tim Curry. OKAY. I am sold. While comes has done the whole alternate dimensions and different worlds thing to death, this is great breeding ground to do a lot of new stuff with Max; especially as he gets older. Skullmaster can still be the main enemy but give the kid some new enemies. Plus, if Max is protecting the ENTIRE multiverse, some more friends would help.
Yet, with a plethoria of worlds, this is Sliders meets Dr Who meets the Scoobies from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Or that is what it could be with the right writer and artists.
11 - CENTURIONS
Wait. You haven't heard of it? Okay. Let me explain why this is kind of a gold mine to actually bring back. First, it is a story of a team of experts in different fields and get special suites that give them powers to fight the evil Doc Terror and his army, who try to take over the planet. Originally starts with 3 operatives but later joined by 2 others, they fight off Doc Terror, Amber, Hacker and legions of robots.
Second, the show ran for a LONG time with lots of GREAT writers. A 5 episode miniseries than an extra 60 episodes on top of that. And writers who were writers on the show include Michael Reaves, Larry DiTillo and Gerry Conway to name a few.
Third, the designs are from GIL KANE & JACK KIRBY. Seriously, two of the greatest artists in comic book history are behind the designs of the show. That makes it automatically demand your love.
With the right writer and artists updating Kirby's & Kane's designs and giving the Centurions a bigger threat (with or without Doc Terror), this book could be GI Joe meets Bionic Man. Kirby & Kane demand your love creators!
10 - POWERPUFF GIRLS
Our new writer, Darryll Carter, suggested this. The Powerpuff Girls had a comic but has long since stopped. And the question is, why the Powerpuff Girls . . . well, deal with them as teenagers. They were only little girls during the course of the show. Make them teens. That creates a WHOLE new set of problems. Plus, the art of JH Williams III on this would make this Powerpuff Girls extremely different yet awesome, catching the joys of youth with the grit of being a teen and fighting evil. You can see it, can't you?
9 - EXTREME DINOSAURS
Picture dinosaurs being turned into Intergalatic heroes. In the cartoon, they protected Earth. A new comic with these characters can have them facing threats all over space. That way, it gets them a different distinction as a group of freedom fighters from space instead of another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles clone. The characters are distinctive enough to really dive into their personalities but still have plenty of room to work with. They are likable, skilled and can be a force to be reckoned with. Come on creators. You can do sooooooo much with this.
8 - SYMBIOTIC TITAN
This is on the list cause I want it to continue. It was a TRAVESTY that the show was not renew or re aired with high demand of fans by Cartoon Network. Stating that there wasn't enough toys that connected (aka the toys didn't sell enough) for them to continue and just scrapped the show. The show had brilliant writing, a great collection of characters and great potential to be the greatest Genndy Tartakovsky cartoon ever (behind another contender). The story of an alien princess, her defender and a robot dealing with life on Earth and defending the galaxy. This story needs to be completed.
7- EXO SQUAD
THIS EPIC NEEDS TO BE A COMIC. I say that cause the original cartoon that it came from was about a war with another species . . . that humanity created as slaves. The writing on the show was strong and the conclusion was indeed satisfactory but there was SO much more that could have been done with the show itself that a comic can really dive into. What about the humans who didn't want to make the Neo-Sapiens. What about those Neo-Sapians who did not want to fight? What would life be live on Mars & Venus after we terraformed them? What about the people in the wars being fought? What about the formation of the Exo Squad itself? These are all questions that can be examined in a reboot of this classic cartoon about war & tolerance.
6 - SKYSURFER STRIKE FORCE
I know. I know. I am getting looks. But deep down, this property is great staging ground for a comic to take over. And I will tell you why. You have a story of a man who is going to jail for a terrorist act that he did not commit. Then you have a criminal genius who not only set up the man to go to jail, but actually took his brain and put it in a body where he would essentially become immortal. He forms his group of mercenaries using cybernetics while brainwashing his own daughter to be a psycho like him. Finally, the scientist that was frame has a son who is vowing venges; using his father's works to form his own vigilante band that fly on hover boards that can become cars. TELL ME THAT IS NOT AWESOME AND I WILL CALL YOU A LIAR!
This is a property that can very well be like IDW's GI Joe or Cobra with some new spins as well as making Psyphron, the main villain, a truly depraved super-genius. This has story potential with all the characters involve; not to mention the psychological and technological applications to crime and crime-fighting. This could be a book that could very well surprise people . .. with some redesigns for the heroes.
5 - C.O.P.S.
This cartoon was a cult classic to many of the people who grew up during the 80s. And with good reason. It was good, ole fashion good versus evil . . . just with super powers. And these super powers were either a product of technology or science. You have a ruthless mob don with a cartel of enhanced humans cause all sorts of crimes from embezzling to down right theft. You can just up the stakes in a comic version and really flesh out the characters. Get into personal relationships between the characters and develop some new and impressive ways of how C.O.P.S. stop crime in a future time.
With a strong leader, the right creative team and some slight updates to an otherwise great looking property, C.O.P.S. can inspire many fans to believe in their officers.
4 - W.I.T.C.H.
Did you remember this? Does your girlfriend? I bet she did. The tale of 5 girls with elemental powers, chosen to fight the mystical enemies from another dimension in order to save both the magical dimension and their own. And while the series enjoyed a 3 season run worth of story, there is still a lot of potential with these girls.
Jumping ahead with the girls with their powers or just a full reboot with a dramatic retelling the story of how 5 girls ended up with the powers of the elements and must combat everything from evil sorcerors to demons and must make a stand to save both the magical dimension and Earth. Let these girls really learn about their powers and grow up while fighting would be ideal for a new comic book. And with the lead characters all being women, many female readers may very well flock to it. Maybe hand it over to Gail Simone perhaps? Or Kathryn Immonen? hmm?
3 - BIONIC SIX
Seriously, why hasn't this property been touched? It has elements of the Fantastic Four, a family with super powers and go off on adventures, with a touch of Bionic Woman, Six Million Dollar man and G.I. Joe with an evil organization called Scarab. And while Scarab isn't the only enemy of the Bionic Six, they are the main adversaries. The art was beautiful. The characters were multifaceted. Including the struggle between Professor Sharp and his brother, the vile and ruthless Dr. Scarab.
Scarab members themselves were so different with very different motivations. Mechanic just loved to beat up things and watch cartoons. Chopper just loved destruction while Glove was the backstabbing, schemer who wanted to take over Scarab himself.
And those are the villains. The heroes, from IQ, the sole African American member, who was adapted but the smartest and third in command of the family. Karate-1 was somewhat brash but very loyal to his heritage and his teachings. And a consistent joker. Bionic-1 is the strong father who is the patriarch of the family but loves to experiment in the kitchen.
These characters and more are just the appeal of this property that could use a proper facelift or new beginning.
2 - SILVERHAWKS
You knew this was gonna be on this list. You knew this was gonna be here. The Thundercats has come back to a roaring applause. These characters are near blank slates that are ripe for writers to dive into their histories, personalities and really make the Silverhawks' war with Monstar into the epic battle that it always should have been.
Plus, the Silverhawks could also use some more characters to its roster. Monstar's band of villains seem to be much larger than the Silverhawks. Plus, with the right writers, they can do so much with each of the Silverhawks.
1 - M.A.S.K.
This property is in DIRE need of a reboot. So much potential. This was the love child of G.I. Joe and Transformers, with vehicles that would transform into different modes. Mobile Assault Strike Kommand fought against the evil organization known as V.E.N.O.M., who was bent on either being rich or taking over the world in their own way. During the second season of the show, V.E.N.O.M. was lead by Vanessa who wanted to actually take out members of M.A.S.K. one by one.
Take this concept and the characters and give them a new beginning. Update the characters, the vehicles and give new missions for the operatives of M.A.S.K. and double or triple V.E.N.O.M.s operative. Writers can do everything from crime stories to thrillers to war stories to fun races to mysteries. It is all in the manner of how you take this property. The mask helmets used were all special but the origin of said helmets were never explained. That is another story that could be told. So much potential here just waiting to be used for a new audience in a comic.
And this is my list of the Top 15 properties that I believe that should be comics now. What do you think? Did you disagree and have some choices of your own? Feel free to leave your comments below. Thanks again.
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