Comic News: Top Cow Reveals 2012 Talent Hunt Winners!

TOP COW REVEALS WINNERS OF 2012 TALENT HUNT

    by Frankie Rodriguez

         Top Cow President Matt Hawkins Unveiled the winners of this year's Talent Hunt: artists Rom & Martin Gimenez as well as writers Eugene Ward, Kenneth Porter and Hannibal Tabu. Normally, the Talent Hunt was limited to just artists who would have one shots printed and fans would vote for winners based on an American Idol styled process. This past year, Top Cow went digital and added writers to the mix.

        Matt Hawkins told CBR: "It was originally intended as an artist-only thing, as it's easy to do an art talent hunt. I added the writer portion when I realized that there really aren't that many ways for writers to break in. Writers either have to buy their way in by self-publishing, or they have to get a gig at a publisher and segue into writing. I'm sure there are some, but I don't know a writer who's broken into the comic industry on a blind submission."

  He almost mentioned that the writers were very hard to decided, partially because of over 800 writer submissions on top of the 300 artist submissions. Artist -Rom is from Italy. Writer Eugene Ward, with his Nottingham pitch which stuck out to Hawkins, is from Australia while the rest of the winners are from the United States. Readers should see their work later this year or early 2014. Congratulations to all the winners.

SPECIAL: Ron Marz & Erik Larsen Tweet About Writing Comics

Last Night, Ron Marz (@ronmarz , writer of various comics including current writer of Artifacts after a long run on Witchblade & papa to Kyle Rayner) started a discussion and gave a how to write comics. As his tweets went along, he was soon joined by other creators, such as Erik Larsen (@ErikJLarsen)& more.

Here is a transcript of the Tweets in semi paragraph form & take notes hopeful writers. I KNOW I DID.

RON MARZ:

First, I write 1-20 (or however many pages) down the side of a piece of notebook paper. I pace out what happens on each page in.....just a few words or a sentence. You make sure your story fits into the allotted space in this way. Then on notebook paper I break down each page into panels, figuring out the visual storytelling. No specific number of panels per page......is right or wrong. It's about what each page needs. But remember, somebody has to DRAW this. Don't overload the page with too much.But also be aware that each page is precious, and should add another building block to the overall story. Every page must have a purpose.
I'll include dialogue notes to myself in the page breakdowns, so I know there's room to convey information and characterization.You should have a page-turn/cliffhanger moment at the end of every page; metaphorically, you ask a question at the end of every page......"what will happen next, who is casting that shadow, who said that from off panel?" etc. Make reader turn the page to get the answer. Page-turn moments are more important at the end of odd-numbered pages (which are actual page turns).
Once I'm happy with the breakdowns -- and stuff gets moved around at this stage -- I type up the breakdowns and dialogue notes in MS Word. I don't use Final Draft or any screenplay software, because your script is NOT a screenplay. Your script is a long letter to the artist......so he/she knows what to draw. Writer's job is to give artist all info they need to draw the page, and then LET ARTIST DRAW THE PAGE.
Artist will interpret and often improve the picture in your head. Add panels, combine panels, change angles, etc. That's the artist's job. The artist is more than likely BETTER at it than you are. So don't expect artists to be art monkeys obeying your whims. Collaborate. Once I have breakdowns and dialogue notes typed up, I go through and write a more complete take on first-draft dialogue. First-draft dialogue is wretched, but conveys what will be said, in what order, and how much balloon room needs to be left. 
When that's done, off the script goes to the editor and artist. Include color notes if you have them, since colorist should get a copy too. As they art comes back in, I write the final dialogue, so it's matched to what's on the page. Adjust your script to fit the art. It's easier and more time effective to rewrite dialogue than redraw pages. Adjust what you do to what the artist does. Remember: 5 or 6 people in the world will read the script (editor or two, artist, letterer, colorist). Your script is NOT the final product.The comic is the final product. All parts of process should be working together to make a great comic, not to give any one part precedence. Also be aware that different types of scripts work better or worse for different artists: more detail, less choreography, etc.  If I can't see the page in my head, I do not have the right to hand it to the artist and say "draw this." But ... I fully expect the artist to come back with something different than what's in my head. That's where the creative magic is. 
Things to know: how much visual info fits on page; how much visual info fits in panel; how much lettering fits in a balloon and in a panel. Another thing to know: characters CANNOT perform multiple actions in a panel. Can't park a car, get out and walk into building in one panel.  When you write stuff like that, artists curse you soundly, laugh at you behind your back, and then tell other artists about it.Starlin explained it to me like this, at start of my career: each panel is a frozen moment in time. The job is to show the right moments.So that's what I know. Now I gotta go write some comics.
And that was what Ron Marz stated. He was then asked questions that he answered like:

The choice between breakdowns and full scripts, Marz answered:

Depends on the artist. Many are used to full script, because plot style has become much less common.
I'll work whatever way artist is comfortable, and yields best book. Sometimes I have specific thing that needs full script.
And Marz reiterated the importance of the Artist:


As I said earlier, writer gives the artist everything needed to draw the page, then artist decides how to do it.



And shortly after he sparked this fire, other creators sounded off. One of the most vocal is comic icon and veteran Erik Larsen added his own advice:

First things rookie writers need to understand is that they're not writing a movie. Characters can't do multiple tasks in one panel.  Second--is to understand that a reader sees every panel of a spread at once. Surprises don't work in panel three on a right-handed page.

And Erik went on to give answers to hopefuls on twitter which hold wisdom such as:

When dealing with ads:

generally writer contend themselves with single page bites and having each end on a mini-cliffhanger.

Also:

If you can cut a panel without harming the story--cut it. Keep only panels that add something. 
writing comics is a totally different discipline. You need to be succinct.
Every kind of writing has its rules. The important thing is to use them.
 

A lot of sound advice here. Hopefully, any one who wants to create comics get's something out of this.

Image Comics NYCC Signing Schedule

Image Comics at New York Comic Con: Complete Signing Schedule

(From Image Comics Site)

Image Comics' complete signing schedule for New York Comic Con is now available! The schedule includes signings by top creators every day of the convention, October 11-14 in New York City's Javits Center. Signings will take place at the Image Comics booth, #1229.

Several creators will also be signing convention exclusives, which Image unveiled on September 19. Details on the exclusives, as well as the panel schedule, can be found at Image Comics' website.

	Thursday 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
3:00-4:00	Haunt signing: Joe Casey and Nathan Fox
4:00-5:00	Not My Bag signing: Sina Grace
4:00-6:00	Think Tank signing/Talent Hunt: Matt Hawkins (Top Cow)
5:00-6:00	Mind The Gap signing: Jim McCann & Rodin Esquejo
5:00-6:00	Robert Kirkman signing (Skybound) (ticketed)*
6:00-7:00	Halloween Eve signing: Brandon Montclare & Amy Reeder
6:00-7:00	The Darkness and The Bulletproof Coffin signing: David Hine
7:00-8:00	Comeback signing: Ed Brisson & Michael Walsh
8:00-9:00	Great Pacific signing: Joe Harris
	Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
10:00-11:00	Pigs and Choker signing: Ben McCool & Ben Templesmith
11:00-12:00	Point of Impact signing: Jay Faerber
12:00-1:30	Mind the Gap signing: Jim McCann & Rodin Esquejo
1:00-2:00	Thief of Thieves signing: Nick Spencer, James Asmus, Shawn Martinbrough & Felix Serrano (Skybound)
1:30-3:00	Luther Strode signing: Justin Jordan & Tradd Moore (ticketed)*
3:00-4:00	Non-Humans signing: Glen Brunswick & Whilce Portacio
3:30-5:30	Think Tank signing/Talent Hunt: Matt Hawkins (Top Cow)
4:00-5:00	MacGyver signing: Lee David Zlotoff & Will Sliney
4:00-5:00	The Darkness and The Bulletproof Coffin signing: David Hine
4:00-5:30	Robert Kirkman signing (Skybound) (ticketed)*
5:00-6:00	D.O.G.s of Mars signing: Christian Weiser, Tony Trov, & Johnny Zito
5:00-6:00	Artifacts signing: Ron Marz (Top Cow)
6:00-7:00	The Manhattan Projects signing: Jonathan Hickman & Jordie Bellaire (ticketed)*
	Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
10:00-11:00	Point of Impact signing: Jay Faerber
11:00-12:00	Halloween Eve signing: Brandon Montclare & Amy Reeder
11:00-12:30	Think Tank signing/Talent Hunt: Matt Hawkins (Top Cow)
12:15-2:00	Saga signing: Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples (ticketed)*
1:00-2:00	Witch Doctor signing: Brandon Seifert & Lukas Ketner (Skybound)
2:00-3:00	Severed signing: Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, & Attilla Futaki (ticketed)*
3:00-4:00	Top Cow Universe signing: Jeremy Haun, Nelson Blake II, David Hine, Tim Seeley, & Ron Marz
4:00-5:00	Bedlam and Morning Glories signing: Nick Spencer & Rodin Esquejo (ticketed)*
4:00-5:30	Teen Wolf signing: Tyler Posey, Jeff Davis & David Tischman (ticketed)*
5:00-6:00	Great Pacific signing: Joe Harris
5:00-6:00	Thief of Thieves signing: Nick Spencer, James Asmus, Shawn Martinbrough & Felix Serrano (Skybound)
6:00-7:00	The Manhattan Projects signing: Jonathan Hickman & Jordie Bellaire (ticketed)*
	Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
10:15-12:00	Happy! signing: Grant Morrison (ticketed)*
11:00-12:00	Super Dinosaur signing: Jason Howard (Skybound)
12:00-1:00	Black Kiss 2 signing: Howard Chaykin
1:00-3:00	Saga signing: Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples (ticketed)*
3:00-4:00	Great Pacific signing: Joe Harris (writer/artist)
3:30-5:00	Robert Kirkman signing (Skybound) (ticketed)*
4:00-5:00	Valentine signing: Alex de Campi & Christine Larsen

*Tickets will be available at the Image Comics booth (#1229) on the day of the signing. One ticket per person will be available for each ticketed signing beginning at the start of the show each day and only while supplies last. No purchase necessary.

Do You Like Your Aliens Bi-Sexual: A Voodoo #1-8 Review

Voodoo 
Issues #1-8 
Written by Ron Marz & Joshua Williamson
Art by Sami Basri
DC Comics

Review by Frankie Rodriguez


TALE OF THE TAPE

     Long time ago, during 1993, Jim Lee had joined 6 other artist to form what is now called Image Comics. His studio, Homage, grew and became Wildstorm. Jim Lee's first book with Image Comics was called WildCATS. WildCATS has become a very popular property;so much so that it had a 13 episode cartoon series on CBC back in the 90s. Then it was reran on USA. The team comprised of many characters ... Grifter and Voodoo among them.

    Voodoo was introduced as a stripper who can see the alien Daemonites within the humans they possessed. She joined the WildCATS and Alan Moore had unlocked much potential with her; giving her training from Zealot to her being part Daemonite herself, Voodoo had gone from the whiny girl to a kick ass fighter.

   Fast Forward to September last year, the new 52 titles were coming and the Wildstorm characters had gotten intergrated into the new DC Universe. Grifter and Voodoo both getting their own series. How does Voodoo pan out? I'll give you that answer.



RUN DOWN

    Voodoo starts with our main character ... on all fours in a strip club called the Voodoo Club, dancing. Want to get attention right away, huh Marz? And attention she gets as many men and at least one woman are  staring at our man star as she strips off her top. The woman and one of the men in question are Special Agents Fallon (the woman) and Evans (one of the guys).They argue about them keeping tabs on their target and Fallon mentions how she does not want to be there. Evan states how he wants to stay close while Fallon reminds him that they are not to engage without executive orders. Evan's just watches Voodoo . .. much to the disgust of Evans who leave ... and finds herself beating up 3 guys outside the club before going back to the hotel.

Working hard for her money

   Voodoo shakes her ta tas and body some more while Evans gets a  . .. waitress at the strip club to give him Voodoo's real first name; which is Priscilla. After a small but interesting scene where Voodoo talks to the other strippers about helping each other and how men put down their defenses ...and wallets while they are at the strip club, she ends up being called into a private room where she was told that a customer wants a private dance. She enters the room and low and behold . . . it's Evans.  Evans and Voodoo have some flirting banter as she removes clothes still Evan's pushed a conversation about her past. Voodoo gives a story  about being a 'mixed-race' which Evans calls bullshit on.

   Evans proceeds to ignore a call from Fallon while telling Voodoo that he's a special agent and that they are on to her being an alien with shape changing and telepathic abilities. Then the smart special agent goes on about how they are gonna strap her down, cut Voodoo open and study her so they can know how her 'species' operates. Voodoo locks eyes to get a great telepathic visual which prompts her to slice open Evan's with her hands after she shape shifts to her real form. After killing Evans, Voodoo walks out, fully clothed, saying she quits. Fallon calls Evan's cell again but Voodoo answers it after shape-shifting into Evans herself.

    Fallon and 'Evans' romp around in bed while talking over details as to when they are supposed to attack Voodoo. The phone rings once but 'Evans' convinces Fallon to ignore the phone to fool around more. After more talk of the attack on Voodoo and how they could lose their jobs over what they are doing, naked 'Evans' crawls out of bed and goes to the bathroom. While in the bathroom, Fallon gets another phone call. Inside the bathroom, ' Evans' shape-shifts back to Voodoo and decides to leave. Fallon drops her cigarette as the call says they found Evans in the Voodoo Club ... dead.

   Fallon goes to the club to look over what happened to Evans and vows to get Voodoo. As Voodoo, now clothed, tries to get out of town as quickly as possible, she runs into her first encounter with the Black Razors  and Black Jack, who looks like Captain Atom Pre-New 52 but all black with white accents and a star in his chest. Fallon makes it to the site where the Black Razors corner Voodoo. Black Jack tells Fallon to back off only to be reminded that she out ranks him and that she will get the alien woman. After a quick chick fight, Voodoo escapes ... walk right out looking like Fallon.

  After a brief encounter with Green Lantern Kyle Rayner that proves to her that not all humans are bad, Voodoo marches on. During said encounter, Voodoo met with several other Daemonites who revealed that they were all half-breeds and that Voodoo's mission was to collect all he could about the super heroes on the planet Earth. She then broke into a government installation, in which Black Jack and Fallon are there reviewing their information on her and the heroes of Earth. Voodoo is able to get the information on the Earth's Heroes and escape in front of Fallon and Blackjack again.

   Voodoo goes to a top secret archaeological dig where they found an old Daemonite ship. After killing two guards, she enters the ship.She heads inside the ship in hopes of contacting the Daemonite War Council about the information she has on the heroes.  When she enters, she finds a guy there. This guy had been chasing her for sometime. Come to find out that he's a full-breed Daemonite and detests any half-breeds; so he plans on killing Voodoo and taking her information. After a hard fight, she brings out an image of Grifter, which the other Daemonite fears, and she BITES HIS HEAD OFF .... GOOD LORD!

   SHE ...BITE HIS HEAD OFF! WOW!

Ah ... Voodoo Gets More Head

*plays the rap from Janet Jackson's  So Excited*

Is ya is ya is ya hungry,
I gotcha
I gotcha
I gotcha licking on my
Licking on my
Licking on my body body like it's something to eat



While Voodoo is having some head, we find that Fallon and Blackjack feel that they are at their wits end. Voodoo's slipped by them three times. They fear their bosses will want their heads as Fallon tells Blackjack they have one chance. The two appear at a secret installation that only few others, besides Fallon, actually knows about. Blackjack and Fallon take down Black Razors as they open the doors to find . ..

   While Blackjack and Fallon are attacking guys they would be normally working with, Voodoo is accessing the information on the chip before ending it to her Daemonite masters when she finds a file called Mission Voodoo. As she opens it she finds . . .

That Voodoo is, indeed, a clone of the real Priscilla Kataen who was experimented on by the Daemonites.

   Cause of this revelations, two things happen: Voodoo ... angry and confused, goes through some kind of portal to see the Council of Daemonites while Fallon and Blackjack break out Pris from her captivity. Voodoo goes through several Daemonites, killing them till she meets with the Council for answers. Fallon and Blackjack succeed in helping Pris escape and she agrees to help them take down Voodoo without hesitation. Fallon and Blackjack's breakout calls attention from a certain Blackhawk.

   Voodoo is first rejected for a meeting with the War Council when she kills more Daemonites to prove her point. The Daemonites concede and begin to talk to Voodoo, point out how special she is as you find that she was the ONLY CLONE that actually worked. All the other clones were incomplete. She kills all the other clones, vowing there will never be another Voodoo when the Daemonites come to her with an offer.

   Meanwhile, at a safehouse that Blackjack has, the three heroes talk over what is going on with Fallon saying that they need Pris to catch Voodoo when Pris decks Fallon; for knowingly letting her stay captive in that facility. Pris vows to take down her clone but also warns that she will never again be a captive. The three track down Voodoo's last movements to the now destroyed Daemonite ship (forgot to say that the bomb that Voodoo's . . . dance partner had left detonated).

   As they look through the wreckage, Voodoo returns ... shifting her hands into an inhuman form. Pris, Fallon and Blackjack take on Voodoo as she kills Blackjack and . . .


BREAK DOWN

   Voodoo was definitely something interesting and different amongst the new 52. And I liked it ... intitally. She was full of secrets. Her using sex and other easily relateable methods of gathering information were intelligent yet very gripping. Voodoo kept your attention . .. for most of it.

  This book was one of the many titles mired in controversy when it first was released because of its sexual overtones, even with the Rated T+ on the cover. Yet, in the entire time of the initial writer, Ron Marz, wrote the book, the sexually never felt wrong, forced or out of character. Voodoo was a spy and that was played off very well by Marz. Williamson also did a good job with her but the tonal shift with Voodoo after he took control was very noticeable. And why, the story was still entertaining and pacing was still great, the shift seemed to hurt the book. The idea of a clone was a little rocky when first subjected to it but still fit within the confines of this first story arc.

  With that said, both Marz and Williamson did a great job with the character. They wrote a very complex Voodoo. Yet, I think the clone really took away from what Marz had originally  intended as Voodoo became flat out evil instead of being a woman who is on the fence. In issue 3, we saw the conflict within Voodoo as she came across Kyle Rayner . .. finding that all humans might not be bad. That was a glimmer of what Voodoo could have been if Marz had stayed or not been let go. Williamson did the best he could and did a great job with characterizations. Except for Voodoo. Making a clone of her and giving any possible redeeming qualities to Priscilla felt like a cop out. I understand the idea behind having two similar characters and it makes sense ... yet still downgrades Voodoo and all that she could have been. Still,overall plot and pacing, Williamson did a great job of keeping the story going, interesting following what Marz started.

   Sami Basri is a true wonderful find. While the style very simple, Basri is a true master of sequential art. Emotions are easily conveyed. One minute, Voodoo is seductive, sexy and innocent. The next, she is fierce, sly and horrifying. Basri gives panel after panel of quality work that really shines. Jessica Kholinne's colors for Voodoo have been amazing. Each panel is alive and vivid; each one matching the mood that needs to be conveyed with Basri's art. Every issue made me more excited with all the art I had seen.

  Overall, Voodoo was a thrilling ride full of mysteries, interesting characters with very human motivations and wonderful art. There was something that always made you come back. The tonal shift between writers and splitting Voodoo and Pris hurt the book somewhat but overall, it was a good, solid ride to start out with. I enjoyed the book very much.

 With that, I give the book a 4 out of 5. Which is a shame considering the book is cancelled as of September. Ah well. Here's to the formation of the WildCATs.

SERAPH'S (FRANKIE'S) TOP 10 # 1s of 2011

Happy Holidays Clashers. We here at CBC decided we are gonna have some fun this week. And how so? Why with a bunch of countdowns and more talking about all the stuff that happened last year.

So what do we start with? #1s of course. There have been soooooooooo many #1s this year that it was incredible. And yes, this is in part due to the New 52s. Yet, even with that, we saw a vast majority of interesting concepts and ideas seen this year. And These concepts carried over to new ideas. And you are about to see many of those concepts. I am only counting #1s that came out during 2011.

WARNING: This list is subjective while still explain why their places and prepare for a few surprises.

BY FRANKIE RODRIGUEZ (aka SERAPH)


HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
Batman: Knight of Vengeance # 1
Batwing #1
Daredevil #1
Flashpoint #1
The Occultist # 1
The Infinite #1
Demon Knights #1
FF#1
Catwoman #1
Cobra #1




TOP 11 #1 ISSUES OF 2011


11. VOODOO # 1

     Written by Ron Marz
      Art by Sam Basiri
     DC COMICS

        And right out the gate I am getting people going WTF. But make no mistake. This book is GOOD. The first issue is one that was a bit different from the others in the New 52. It told a story of two government agents. The female agent ended up proving herself to be tough and serious about her job. The male agent, on the other hand, seemed more laid back. Voodoo herself was a mystery; which is part of the allure of the book.
      Marz gives us a very different Priscilla Kitlen then we have seen before. She is sexy. She is smart. And Boy, is she dangerous. Yet, the question becomes is she good or evil. And Marz lets the reader either make their own judgement or have them decide to keep reading to see her ultimate fate.
    Basiri continues to give a very sexy book where men are men and women are GORGEOUS. Voodoo is still a stripper and we even get a link to her name. You are not sure what side Voodoo is on but it is the beginning of what will be an interesting, sleek & sexy romp. Good tone and pacing make it worthwhile. Unfortunately, the ending was great and left a good cliffhanger but there was points were I wanted more screen time of Priscilla herself. Still, one of the best #1s of this past year that is sorely underrated.



10. UNCANNY X-MEN # 1
   Written by Kieron Gillen
    Art by  Carlos Pacheco
   MARVEL COMICS

       Okay. This issue offered a lot. A whole lot. And I wasn't the biggest fan of Cyclops at the end of Schism. Yet, Scott Summers had changed so much since he became the "ruler" of mutantkind that it scary what the man thinks now. And it seems very consistent with the evolution that Scott's been having since the days he was in Grant Morrison's hands.
        Scott forms the Extinction Team; a team of X-Men with a dual purpose:
 First, to act as the World's Greatest Super Heroes; and already stepping on the toes of Avengers, I see Scott.

And Second, to show the world that the X-Men will not be victims anymore as proving that they are, as Scott says "weapons of mass destruction."

  With the team that he picked, Scott really showed us that this could very well be the strongest team in X-Men history: himself as leader, Storm as his second command (who was begged to stay with Cyclops' faction of X-Men), Emma Frost, Magneto (yes, he has not turned back into a villain), Namor, Colossus (who gained the powers of the Juggernaut during Fear Itself and lost Kitty Pryde in the process), Magik (yep, resurrected cause of House of M and still powerful), Danger & Hope Summers (technically, Scott's granddaughter).

      Showing that they will be handling as many big threats as possible, Scott and his Extinction team faces off against the Dreaming Celestial and . . . well. The number one established the team, gave some interesting character interaction to show that this team is not entirely happy being together and establishing Cyclops new status quo for the mutants on Utopia. The fact that Cyclops left a letter to humanity as both a call saying they are there to help but don't mess with mutants or you'll get it just bright to light how this group of mutants are gonna operate.

A great start for a different kind of X-Men.


8.  GI JOE#1


    Written by Chuck Dixon
     Art by Javier Salteres
    IDW PUBLISHING

      Yo Joe! After Chuckles infiltrates Cobra to kill Cobra Commander, Cobra decides to hold a contest to bring forth a new Cobra Commander. And the contest has 8 candidates. How do these candidates win this contest? Simple . . . the person with the most Joe kills becomes the new Cobra Commander. And this premise opens the doors to soooooooo much. We see ample Joes in the first issue as well as meet up with a few of the candidates. Baroness shows up. And Joes begin to die like flies.
    This new premise gives a new danger to GI Joe we have not seen before. Dixon composes a script where there are scores of characters but no one really feels like dead weight. And Cobra strikes while setting up multiple conflicts with Cobra and GI Joe as well as within both organizations. This issue made me want more and reminded me that NO Joe was safe. The large cast though made it feel crowded. It was handled well but still a bit sufficating at times.  A great starting point to a great story.



8. STORMWATCH #1


  Written by Paul Cornell
   Art by Miguel Sepulveda
  DC COMICS

        Now. Yes. I know that some people find this surprising. And it is a surprising to me. Yet, I loved this issue. And before I get ringed out for not posting other #1s . . . keep reading but let me point somethings out. Out of ALL the new 52 #1s, Stormwatch #1 is the one I read the most. Yes! READ THE MOST. Within the first week of its release, I read Stormwatch #1 7 times. SEVEN TIMES!
       The Wildstorm elements in the new DCU was really welcome and this book delivered it the best. Cornell, like he did with Demon Knights, showed us all the characters; each with distinct personalities, quirks and more. Engineer's trying to fix situations and questioning her leader. A bit of Adam One's interesting mental issues. Jenny Quantum's wonder as a super powered child. Apollo's want to do right but not be part of the costumed community. Jack Hawksmoor's way with the cities on the planet. Martian Manhunter's resolve to be a warrior, not a super hero. Projectionist need for recognition. Harry Tanner's misdirection and wonder.
     Stormwatch even hinted at connections with Milestone's Shadow Cabinet. World threatening moon. Wonderous excitement. People not getting along. Heck, Midnighter's appearance showed his ability and his desire for Apollo in one smooth appearance. ALL IN THE FIRST ISSUE.
    Why did I not top it on this list, you ask?  Simple. For all it's good, the other 8 issues were just better.Yet, Stormwatch holds strong as #8.





7. MOON KNIGHT #1


  Written by Brian Michael Bendis
   Art by Alex Maleev
  MARVEL COMICS

          Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev have been wooing audiences with their stuff for Marvel and Icon for quiet sometime now. The team has such a solid record that the mere mention of these two working together means the book will sell on that fact alone. So, what do they do together after celebrated hits such as Alias and Daredevil? Why, they deal with Marvel's answer to Batman . . . Moon Knight? Yet, this time, Marc Spector is a bit different this time around.
       Bendis first puts Spector back in the West Coast, actually producing a television show based on his time as Moon Knight. Next, the hero is sent on a mission by Captain America, Wolverine and Spiderman to take down the new Kingpin of LA. Spector agrees, taking down some smugglers as he finds some VERY important stolen technology. Third, Spector decides to look into the stolen tech  . . . which come to find out, has connections to a classic Avengers villain and an Avenger. Finally, Bendis shows us that Spector is just not over his multiple personality disorder . ..  but it is quite a different animal this time around.
       The clues are in our faces at first but we don't really see it. These interesting twists on the character makes for a new, compelling beginning for the Fist of Khonshu and made readers want to know more like: Who is the new LA Kingpin? What does this have to do with that "technology" that was being smuggled? And how crazy is Marc Spector?
       These were just some of the questions that made readers want more . ..  such as myself.



6. WONDER WOMAN# 1


  Written by Brian Azzarello
   Art by Cliff Chang
   DC COMICS

    GEEZ! This book is AMAZING! Ok. Let me calm my fanboy. *breathes in and out* Seriously, this book made me scream yes, yes, YES!! Finally. A creative team that is putting Diana up to a level where her adventures and threats are on par with Batman's & Superman's. Azzarello gives us a new, terrifying new version of the Greek Gods and it is GLORIOUS.
    Diana is sucked into a battle with the Gods as a young woman is being hunted down by Sentaurs . .. created by the latest incarnation of Hera by chopping off the heads of 2 horses and MAGIC!
   WOW! Azzarello commented over and over again that this WW was a HORROR book and Cliff Chiang lived up to that with some terrifying yet amazing imagery and panel work. Diana, still looking like the Amazon she always ways but a bit darker, did not hold back in this issue either. Yet, the thing that is putting this down was that it was between a quick issue and a full story. It felt like a few pages were missing. Otherwise, this was just solid.
   Did I reread this #1? Yes I did. Did I share it with my friends? Yes I did! This first issue gave us a Wonder Woman that was quite different from any other and it was amazing!




5. UNDYING LOVE #1 
     Written by Tomm Coker & Daniel Freedman
     Art by Tomm Coker
    IMAGE COMICS 

      Okay. I love mythology. It is one of the reasons why I love comic books so much. Stories of gods, heroes, villains and everything in between to give you lessons and/or warnings. So, when I heard this book was dealing with vampires and Chinese mythology, I was onboard.
       Coker and Freeman tell the tale of lovers Mei and John. John is former military and he and Mei want to be together. So, what does John want to do for his immortal love? Why turn her back into a human being. And how does he accomplish that . ..why, go after the vampire that sired her. But that is DEFINITELY NOT going to be easy from the looks of it.
      Coker and Freeman mix love, action, horror and mythology that flows together seemlessly in this first issue. Yet, there just felt that there wasn't enough in this first issue with the two lovers. With just enough information to get you to care and enjoy the characters and story but still keep you wanting more, Undying Love #1 was a true triumph of a number 1.
 

4. BATMAN #1
  Written by Scott Synder
   Art by Greg Capullo
   DC COMICS

   This book was definitely refreshing in so many ways that it hurt without me realizing it. Snyder took Bruce Wayne's world, Gotham City, and made it into the living organism that not only spoke to the readers and characters but seemed to have actions of its own.
     We see Bruce starting a new stage in his life and for Gotham as he plans a massive revitalization project for the slums where his parents were murdered. As we see Bruce and 3 out of his four wayward "sons", the city starts to react in its own way.. Murders start to spring up and an old urban myth reemerges leaving Batman stumped. Especially considering evidence that one of his "sons" may be a murderer.
    The characterizations of Batman and his supporting cast were spot on with slight evolutions to Bruce, Dick and Alfred. The fact that there was an organization that is moving against Batman with his own city helping along seemed intriging.
     All of this was rendered beautifully by Capullo's art. We get the dark, grim tones of Gotham, with plenty of villains to match but also a great look at Bruce and Batman in different ways. Capullo is drawing for his life in this book and it really shows. This book felt like a truly packed issue and full story and not a breeze some of the other DC 52 #1s did. The only thing that was really bringing down this first issue; a subplot idea that was introduced and left clues towards the cliffhanger but something that could have definitely been a story onto itself. Otherwise, a great start for Batman.



3.  ACTION COMICS #1
    Written by Grant Morrison
     Art by Rags Morales
    DC COMICS 

     Grant Morrison. The name alone has made people decide to buy the book, with a select number deciding not to touch it. And the name was not the only draw to the book. Unlike Batman, Superman's entire history was being rebooted with this book telling how Clark Kent aka Kal El started out as Superman. And let me tell you, this is distinctively different.
     Morrison crafts a tale of a Superman who is more for the common man; partially an omage to the early Superman comics in the 30s & 40s while also standing as a tribute to the sign of the times in our world now. This Superman is a brash, goes up against corruption and does not mind hurting the bad guys too much. Rags Morales's pencils really give depth and charm that really illustrates this Clark in a different way. Ma and Pa Kent have died and Clark is just starting out. Lois is the go-getting firecracker that she always was with a modern spin. And Lex . ..  in the few pages we see him, is VERY much the slimball we known.
    Action gives a great dipection of a man who is learning to be a Superman in EVERY sense of the world. Not just in power levels, which are decreased at this point in his career but also in attitude and mind frame. Yet, what is bringing this down. Well, honestly . .. the way it ended was good but it felt like they could have added a little more suspense to it. That is what is bringing this issue down. It is the story of the construction on the "world's greatest super hero" (YES, I STOLE IT FROM DAN SLOTT & SPIDEY). And Morrison and Morales really hits this first issue home about this everyman learning to be a true Superman.



2. WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #1 
   Written by Jason Aaron
    Art by Chris Bachalo
    MARVEL COMICS

    THIS BOOK IS SOOOOO GOOD!!! When they first announced that the X-Men were splitting in two with their books following suit, I was happy. I meant the the Cyclops/Emma Frost/Wolverine/Magneto/Namor show .. . I mean their continued use as the forefront characters was coming to an end so that other X-Men were gonna be able to shine.
    Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo bring the most fun, most ridiculously cool, high concept X-Men book in years. Not since the now fabled Whedon and Cassidy run on Astonishing X-Men has the book been so fun. Not since Morrison's X-Men run has the group mixed high concept with classic ideas. The next Generations of mutants in this school are not just pretty little things. They are multifaceted and are all colors and shapes, making this feel truly international and flavored.
     We see familiar characters in new roles or different roles that they have either never been in or just not comfortable with. And it is GLORIOUS! Wolverine is the uncomfortable headmaster who really feels that he does not know what he's gotten himself into and has dragged Kitty along with him as his headmistress. The Beast has made the new school, which he renamed the Jean Grey School For Higher  Learning. Ah if Wolverine is not giving the finger to Scott with this move, I don't know what is. The students are just as interesting as the teachers.With compelling, yet multifaceted characters like Kid Omega and Idie to new characters like Broo and Kid  Gladiator, this school is showing us a whole new charm of its own. And Aaron knows his X-Men history as he digs from the past to give us an old threat in a brand new way.
      All in all, this book is funny with great dialogue, characters that are believable in unbelievable circumstances with some brand new concepts mixed with classic X-Men tropes to really stand out. Bachalo is drawing the work of his career and this books is just so good. Pick this up. Yet, with all this, it could not top the next book. This book made me laugh and feel true happiness but it did not do what the number one did. Still, if you want to see and read one of the best and fun books in years, this book is it.


1. ANIMAL MAN #1
   Written by Jeff Lemire
    Art by Travel Foreman
    DC COMICS

     I know I am getting some interesting looks . ..  a few WTFs. And there are a few fans going like YES! This book has caught critical acclaim. It is the second most reprinted book of DC's New 52, besides Justice League. THIS BOOK. Not Action. Not Batman. Not Wonder Woman. Not Teen Titans. THIS BOOK. This book has single handedly turned nearly all its readers into fans. And I can honestly say that I am one of those people.
    I LOVE this book. I am a big team book person but this year, it was revenge of the solo titles. And BY THE  MATRIX, is this book worth every single drop of admiration it has gotten and more.
    Lemire brings us a brand new first issue which introduces us to Buddy Baker, Animal Man, and his family. Lemire constructs to us a man who feels that super heroing is part of his life but not the main focus. He see his family life. We see him as a hero and we see how twisted and quickly this book can change. Human reactions to his daughter getting powers. Foreshadowing of the horrors to come. Touching character relations when a father loses his child and Buddy must confront them.
   Foreman's art brings home the touching human moments, glorifies the super heroic parts and frightens the terrifying beings that will become Animal Man's protagonists. The shading, inking and color differs from each part just a little to make them distinct but still flow amazingly well. This book is NOT a typical book. Much like Voodoo, this isn't necessarily about superheroes but a family.
    Overall, this book set a new standard in writing and art that just resonates with me in a whole new way. It is the #1 issue I continually tell people to read. Yo . .. you should read this. Hey! READ THIS BOOK! If you haven't read this book yet, get the reprints of #1. You owe it to yourself to read it.
    This book made me think. This book made me laugh. This book made me tear up just a little. And this book scared me. I instantly became attached to Buddy and his family and I am horrified by the two major plot developments in the last third of the issue. With all this, I just could not stop wanting this book more and more; thus making it  my #1 book of the year.


And thus my list of the Top #1s of 2011. Feel free to agree or disagree and leave some comments below. And prepare yourself as Comic Book Clash will have a very big year ahead of itself. From everyone here in Comic Book Clash & J1 Studios, Happy Holidays!