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!

NEWS EDITION #10 - CABLE RETURNS . . ., KRUL LEAVES GREEN ARROW AND AMERICAN WELCOMES THE LAST BATTLE

 Welcome to News Edition 10. And now we get into it will new comic book news.


CABLE RETURNS . . . TO SANCTION THE AVENGERS?!

   A while back, Marvel announced that writers Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness were working on a project, tentatively titled at the time 'Cable Reborn.' Yet ..  . there has been more details and a title change. Cable returns to Marvel but not right back to the X-titles. No . . . Cable returns in Avengers: X-Sanction.
   Yes, Loeb and McGuiness come back after their stunning Hulk run with this new miniseries in which Cable returns from the future. His goal . . . well, it seemingly unclear but it looks as if Cable is gonna take out the Avengers. And as Loeb puts it, this has ties to 'Messiah Complex' and 'Second Coming', where Nathan has done his best to protect his daughter, Hope Summers.

Jeph Loeb offered:

how Cable survived 'Messiah Complex' and 'Second Coming' -- and I do consider those one big arc -- if there had been even a hint that the Avengers had something to do with Hope's future, he would... do something to them. . . .What you really want to know is that this man's daughter is in danger, and he will do anything to protect her -- that's all you need to know"

Tom Brevoort added:

Cable knows he's going to do battle with the Avengers, so he comes loaded for bear.

 As Marvel stated, Cable will only have 24 hours to take out the Avengers in order to seemingly to protect Hope Summers  This historic confrontation will have some interesting reactions . . . especially futurist Tony Stark, whose had very little interaction with Cable. Will Cable meet with his deadly mission and what will his daughter and the Avengers think? Loeb & Brevoort also stated that this mini series will set up things for the Marvel Universe for 2012. Avengers: X-Sanction will hit stores this December.




KRUL OFF GREEN ARROW PLUS MORE CREATIVE SHUFFLE


JT Krul this past Monday announced that he is stepping off Green Arrow. As of issue 4, legendary writer/artist Keith Giffen (who is also co writing & drawing OMAC) will join GA artist Dan Jurgens as writers for Green Arrow. The decision was made this monday as Sunday night, Krul had stated that he had a tough choice in his tweeter; which he reiterated later on his facebook:

Hey everyone! Effective as of issue #4, I will no longer be writing Green Arrow. As many of you know, Oliver Queen is one of my favorite characters in the DC Universe, so this decision was not easy to make. Getting the chance to do the fall of Green Arrow and my run during Brightest Day was a dream come true, and I was excited to bring a new yet familiar take on Green Arrow in the new 52. But, I’ve been writing him for a few years now and an opportunity came up that I really wanted to tackle. I had to make a choice. In a way, my decision to leave is more a testament to how incredibly thrilled I am about Captain Atom. I don’t think I’ve been more excited about a project. Working with Freddie Williams is amazing and I really think it’s among my best work at DC to date. It was a tough call – like picking a favorite child.

I can’t talk about my new project just yet, but it perfectly exemplifies what DC is all about with the New 52 – taking the best characters in comics and presenting them in new and exciting ways. The ability to think outside the box, take chances, and tell different kinds of stories is why it’s a great time to be writing for DC Comics.

For sure, I’ll miss Oliver Queen – and working with the likes of Dan Jurgens, George Perez, David Baron, and Dave Wilkins – but I’m sure the Emerald Archer will be in good hands for more globe-trotting, James Bond, high adventures.

And, at the very least, I got to include my version of the boxing-glove arrow.

jt

So JT will continue on with Captain Atom and a new DC project that they have yet to reveal. Then there has been some interesting changes as John Rozum, just last week, was announced to be leaving Static Shock. He said that he was willing to leave and that there was no bad blood between him and DC. So . . . another secret DC project, perhaps? (if it is . . . please GOD, let DC bring back Xombi). There were rumors of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning were leaving Resurrection Man but those proved to be false. Then there were also rumors of Eddy Barrows & Kyle Higgins leaving Nightwing; which come out to be untrue.There are artist filling in for others or taking over for the 4th month of the relaunch; such as Mike Choi doing the majority of the art alongside Diogenes Nieves in Demon Knights #4 or Victor Ibenez filling in for Yanick Paquette for Swamp Thing for issue #4. Yet . . . there are other books that will have other artists and we are not sure it is just fill ins or permanent changes. We will follow up with this story as time passes.
   Overall though, DC seems to be keeping their word on make sure their books are timely and that they keep the creative teams fresh. And there is the recent announcement of the new The RAY miniseries with art by fan favorite Jamal Igle but more on that next week.


IMAGE TRANSLATES THE LAST BATTLE FOR AMERICAN READERS

  The popular graphic novel, The Last Battle will finally be hitting American shores this December. Image Comics has translated the graphic novel into English and prep it for it's American release. The Last Battle depicts the war between the armies of the barbaric Gaul and Ceasar himself. Written by Tito Faraci, he gave some insight on how The Last Battle came to be:

"The 'peplum' or 'sword and sandals' genre was very popular in Italy, mostly in the seventies," said Faraci. "As a child my imagination was formed by the gladiators, centurions, slaves, rebels and charming maidservants of those films. As a student, I studied, learning how the ancient world truly was... and found it fascinating. In THE LAST BATTLE, I tried to transmit the 'peplum' emotions of my youth with a correct, trustworthy historical approach."

 Rich with Celtic and Roman history, the book displays the struggle and whether Calius Rodius, favored General to Ceasar, wants to keep this long road of blood and destruction. The 80 paged graphic novel, the Last Battle, written by Tito Faraci with art by Dan Brereton will hit stores in December for $7.99.


THIS WEEKS VIDEO OF AWESOME


  Every week we will now show one video related to comics in someway. Last week, we showed a trailer of the new Vescil comic from Image. This week . . . journey into the dark with . . .

SUBMISSIONS, WE WANT THEM!!!

   We are looking for people's opinions. We are looking for Your opinions for any and all of the books of the DC Comics Relaunch number #1s, the new Ultimate Spiderman, X-Men Regenesis and recent rise in indy books. We want your feed back. Just give us a paragraph to a page of your own views on any of theses and we will post them in up coming specials here at Comic Book Clash.

Plus, if you are looking to sell comics or want to promote your art and/or writing, feel free to email us and get  posted. Email your submissions to francisco.k.rodriguez@gmail.com and we will give post your submissions on our specials or next news edition.

Thank you for interactiving with us here at CBC and J1 Studios.

CBC Chief
Frankie "Seraph" Rodriguez




J1 STUDIOS ARE LOOKING FOR ARTISTS

   We here at J1 Studios are looking for artists to work on several comic book projects. We are looking for artists who have experience with comic book layout formats and can draw (obviously). For more information, give us an email at j1studios1@gmail.com or francisco.k.rodriguez@gmail.com.



That is all for this week. See you next week everyone and remember . . . keep clashing!