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Exclusive Preview: TMNT Villain Micro-series #5: Karai

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More TMNT from IDW? Yes, please! The publisher has dedicated their latest round of one-shot issues to flesh out their villains and this time around, the they're pulling back the curtain on Karai's involvement with the Foot and her history with her grandfather, Shredder. The issue comes out August 21st, but in the meantime, you can check out this extensive preview the publisher has sent out way.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villain Microseries #5: Karai

Erik Burnham (w) • Cory Smith (a) • Tyler Walpole (c)

Karai, a deadly assassin, is the embodiment of the Foot Clan. But it was not always that way! Explore the shadowy history of this complicated character and see exactly how far her ambition takes her! Secrets from the past and present revealed!

  • Ties directly into mega-event “City Fall”!
  • Fan-favorite team of TMNT Micro-Series #5: Splinter returns!
  • Variant cover by Cory Smith!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99


Exclusive Preview: HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #5

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There's some crazy things happening in the world of He-Man. You may be aware that He-Man, or Prince Adam, actually had a sister, She-Ra (or Princess Adora). Adora has been under some dark influences and, as Despara, has been working against the Masters of the Universe. She's about to find out what her true origin is.

Check out this exclusive preview for next week's issue courtesy of DC Comics.

HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #5

Despara’s origin revealed! Plus, Hordak tells a shocking story that will change her world forever!

Written by: Keith Giffen

Art by: Pop Mhan

Cover by: Ed Benes

Color/B&W: Color

Page Count: 32

U.S. Price: 2.99

On Sale Date: Aug 21 2013

Comic Vine Battle of the Week Results: Predator vs. Boba Fett

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This week, two titans from the sci-fi genre faced off in a battle of blasters and blades. Let's be honest, both characters don't exactly have the most favorable showings when it comes to the films. However, once we dive into the expanded universe, we see why these characters deserve both our fear and respect. The Comic Vine community had all week to debate and vote on a winner and the answer is clear: they think Predator will add Boba Fett's skull to his trophy collection.

Image by DeviantART's rhymesyndicate

48% side with the deadly Yautja and 44% were fans of the Fett until the very end. 8% think it's too close to call, and I gotta admit, I'm BARELY siding with the 48% on this one. Predator has the physical edge (strength, speed, pain tolerance) and cloaking could prove to be an immediate wildcard. The opportunity to connect first with one of his weapons could be a much required edge. The plethora of gear they tend to bring to the table would be a formidable obstacle too, even for Fett's very durable Mandalorian armor.

That said, I've seen Fettt overcome a variety of obstacles with his wits and wealthy amount of technology at his disposal before, so one simple moment of arrogance from the Predator could ultimately lead to its downfall and that's definitely worth factoring in as well. Overall though, I think the Predator's physicals and a few key pieces of technology could be huge factors and do warrant a slight edge. I by no means think it would be an easy victory and Fett's mentality and own impressive arsenal should absolutely not be overlooked, either. Regardless of who's left standing, I'm sure the victor isn't going to walk away in serious need of medical attention and this definitely has the potential to be an epic encounter. I can't help but wonder why Dark Horse never made this happen.

Viner Argument of the Week in favor of Predator is by Jwalser3

"I really like this battle. Both are very cool, but the Predator is packing more. While Boba's armor gives him the edge in armor, the Predator species is naturally durable. In Predator, the Jungle Hunter was tanking point blank explosive arrows shot by Dutch. In Predator 2 the City Hunter tanked 7 shot gun blasts to the chest. Not to mention the novels, comics, and games, all showing similar feats.

When it comes to combat speed Predators have it, Boba's jetback will make him faster. But it won't help with his reaction time. Predators have been stated to easily dodge bullets.

Strength is no contest here. Predators have been able to break bone, tear off heads, bust open steel doors, etc. in movies, and comics. I don't recall Boba having any strength feats on par with any Predator.

Both have great weaponry, the Predator's plasma caster. Boba's jetback. But the big game changer is the Predator's cloaking. This will give it the advantage it needs to get the drop on Boba. But the destruct capabilities of the plasma caster is insane. They've been shown to destroy military helicopters, small transport ships, and easily turn humans to Swiss cheese. I know Boba's E3 blaster can complete disintegrate some one, but the plasma caster shows better explosive power.

This is a great fight no doubt, but the Predator has a slight edge in weapons and completely stomps in the stats department. Both are bad ass, but I just hope people read the arguments and not go on who is more cool."

Tom Taylor, writer of STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES & STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES: BOBA FETT IS DEAD

"Boba Fett versus Predator? No contest. Fett was directly responsible for the end of Luke's training. Fett captured Han Solo and even managed to get the emotionally stunted smuggler to admit he loved Leia... kinda. If Vader and his troops had have been more competent when Fett led them to Cloud City, the rebellion could have been over right there. If not for Fett's actions, Luke's daddy issues never would have advanced. If Boba Fett had have been in Greedo's shoes, he would have shot first, second and third. Predator couldn't even deal with Kindergarten Cop when he got a bit muddy."

Last but certainly not least, here's a tease for next week's battle! It'll go live on the homepage Monday morning, so be sure to check back then.

Start researching, ladies and gentlemen!

Previous 'Comic Vine Battle of the Week' results

Want to suggest a battle? Feel free to comment below or send it to Gregg via Twitter.

Awesome Art Picks: Cassandra Cain, Wolverine, Mr. Spock and More

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We're back. Apologies for the missing edition last week but, you know, time off for good behavior or something. What we like to do each week is gather up the coolest comic book art that will never appear in actual comics. The reason you won't see these fine pieces of art in comics is because artists often do sketches and commissions and post them on their blogs, Tumblrs and Twitter pages. Some artists even pre-arrange commissions through their sites so be sure to check them out.

Marcio Takara is taking pre-commissions for NYCC on his Tumblr. Check out what he's posted so far. His Cassandra Cain makes me wanna cry over her absence in the New 52.

Todd Nauck posted a couple Wolverine pics for some good causes. Check out his Tumblr for more info. He also posted one of Koj from TELLOS by the late and grate Mike Wieringo.

Chris Burnham was at Wizard World Chicago and posted some of the sketches he did on his Twitter.

J. Scott Campbell was also at WWC and posted some of his sketches on his Instagram.

Agnes Garbowska continues her world tour of comic conventions (at least it seems like she's always going somewhere). She'll be at FanExpo coming up soon in Canada. You can find her schedule on her Tumblr. And we'll bend the rules a little here, the Red Sonja piece was from and exclusive cover at Larry's Comics for RED SONJA #2.

Brett Booth posted a pic of Guardian from Alpha Flight along with some BATMAN/SUPERMAN art on his blog!

Freddie E Williams II posted a couple sketches on his TwitPic page this week.

Joel Gomez posted a few new pieces on his Tumblr this week.

Dustin Nguyen posted (or maybe reposted) some cool Mr. Freeze pics on his Tumblr in honor of Michael Ansara, the voice actor in Batman: TAS, who recently passed at 91.

Robert Atkins posted some new art on his blog. Always cool seeing his G.I. Joe pics.

Peter Nguyen posted some new art on his Tumblr. He'll be at FanExpo and NYCC so head over to his Tumblr for info on pre-commissions.

Skottie Young was at Wizard World Chicago as well and posted a bunch of art he did as well as an Axe Cop pic on his Tumblr.

That's it for this week. What did you think of all these glorious pieces? We'll have more next time.

Awesome Toy Picks: SDCC Exclusive Green Lantern 4-pack

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Every week we take a close look at some cool comic book collectibles. That means opening up the packaging. This week's is is a 4-pack straight from San Diego Comic-Con 2013. It's the convention exclusive set featuring Black Hand, Sinestro, Arkillo and Dex-Starr.

These figures are in the 3 3/4" scale (obviously Dex-Starr is a bit smaller). DC Collectibles has released other convention exclusive sets (still available at GraphittiDesigns.com). These past sets included a Guy Gardner and Larfleeze 2-pack and a John Stewart and Atrocitus 2-pack.

While these sets still appear to be available at Graphitti, this 4-pack hasn't been listed. The bad news is looking on eBay shows a couple sets around the hundred dollar mark.

We'll look at 'Green Lantern' Sinestro first.

Just like other 3 3/4" figures, there is a small sacrifice in terms of detail. But that doesn't make this a bad figure. The nice thing about figures in this scale is it's easier to gather up more. Also since these are in the same scale as the Marvel Universe figures, that means you can act out whatever crossover you want.

What's a Green Lantern figure without a light construct? Whoever designed this figure decided to include one for Sinestro. He comes with a big old sword. It does make some sense because, if I remember correctly, he made swords in that one Green Lantern movie.

Sure, it's a little ridiculous but you have it admit it's pretty dang impressive that he can hold the gigantic sword and stand up without any support.

You can imagine how awkward it must be in the packaging for Sinestro and Arkillo, a member of Sinestro Corps.

Arkillo is a little bigger in scale. He's wider as well. The main problem with this figure is his legs seem a little off. He can stand on his own but it takes a little adjusting.

The little symbol on his arm is a nice touch. It's also cool looking at figures from behind to see what their costumes are like on their backs.

Black Hand was an interesting choice to be included. It is nice he is part of the set as it does add more variation to the other Lantern figures.

He does have a hard plastic cape. But the way he stands, it almost looks like he's proud.

Black Hand also comes with a construct. Being a Black Lantern, he deals with death. His construct is fitting. It's a little hard to see in the pics but it's a pretty cool looking face on the construct.

The cape is okay looking. The cape can be used to prop the figure up. He doesn't really need the help but it does make it so you don't have to mess around with the legs to get them in the right position.

It's almost a little funny calling this a 4-pack when the fourth figure is little old Dex-Starr. But if we're being honest, it's really cool to have a little tiny Dex-Starr figure.

Before you dismiss this as a little piece of colored plastic, it actually has six points of articulation. the arms move as well as the head and waste. That's pretty impressive for such a small figure.

Isn't he just so cute? He can even sit up and beg to spew blood in your face.

Unfortunately this last pic kind of looks like Dex-Starr had...an accident.

That's it for this week.

I'll admit I wasn't aware of what this set was going for now. There could be a chance it'll show up on GraphittiDesigns.com at some point. You'll have to keep your eyes peeled.

The Best Stuff In Comics This Week: Episode 56

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You've heard about all the best plots and art but here's a look at some other 'best' stuff that happened in comic books that may have been overlooked.

Dynamite Announces ASH AND THE ARMY OF DARKNESS #1 Returnable for Retailers

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The way comic orders works is retailers place their orders - how many copies they want and then the publisher prints copies based off those numbers. Neither retailers nor publishers want to be stuck with extra inventory. What usually happens in publishers will print a few extra copies just in case there are reorders but they will play it safe. If there's demand, retailers will place reorders from Diamond if they wish for more copies. This is when we see the news about comics selling out.

With the upcoming ASH AND THE ARMY OF DARKNESS by Steve Niles and Dennis Calero, Dynamite Entertainment is doing something publishers don't do too often, they are offering the first issue with a returnable incentive for qualifying retailers. This means retailers can make a strong order with minimal risk.

This is how it works for retailers:

Any retailer whose September Previews catalog initial order of Ash and the Army of Darkness #1 (any combination of the Ben Templesmith regular edition and the Dennis Calero subscription-only edition) matches or exceeds 120% of their final Red Sonja #1 orders (corresponding to Diamond item codes MAY130985-89, and MAY130993) will be eligible to return any unsold units during a window after the on-sale date.

Bottom line, this means Dynamite has faith in this title. They believe retailers can order higher than they might usually and be able to sell those copies. Gail Simone's RED SONJA was a success for them. The relaunch series sold out of its 35,000-unit print run which is pretty impressive in today's market. Steve Niles has a great track record and plans to return "grueling horror" to the Army of Darkness franchise. Here's what Niles had to say about the series:

"We start at the last frame of the film and then go right to the next. It's a wild ride and I think fans of the film will be very happy because I am bringing back a lot of what made the movie so fun. My run of Ash and the Army of Darkness takes place almost entirely in the 1300's setting. That was what made Army of Darkness stand apart. I'm hoping readers agree."

Nick Barrucci, CEO and publisher of Dynamite also expressed his faith in the series:

"We have an incredible amount of confidence in the series, and are excited to be part of the select publishers who are able to ship our key projects on a returnable basis. Steve Niles on Ash and the Army of Darkness will be one of Dynamite's biggest launches of the year, and if Red Sonja is any indication, we will sell out quickly and build a large audience of readers. Anticipating that this huge launch will attract a tremendous readership, and with Steve Niles leading a great creative team, we're proud to bear the risk and have this first issue returnable for retailers who support the launch. This program will allow retailers to order plenty of copies for day-and-date on the shelves and achieve maximum sell-through. And as a bonus, retailers will have sales data for Diamond's Final Order Cut-Off procedure on issues #2 and up."

You can also hear what Calero had to say about working on the series on last week's Invincibly Super Massive Comic Book Podcast of Stuff.

Ash and the Army of Darkness #1 is solicited in the September 2013 Previews Catalog #300, corresponding to items shipping in November 2013; the anticipated on-sale date is Wednesday, November 6, 2013. Two cover editions are available for order, the regular edition by Ben Templesmith (Diamond Item Code SEP131050) and Subscription-Only variant edition by Dennis Calero (SEP131051); each edition retails for $3.99. Retailers serviced by Diamond Comic Distributors can place wholesale orders online, via fax, or by contacting their dedicated Customer Service Representative. Initial orders may be placed onAsh and the Army of Darkness #1 beginning on August 28, 2013, and the deadline for September PreviewsCatalog initial orders is September 26, 2013.

Infinity: Against the Tide #1

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The Good

This is what I want in an "event" tie in. INFINITY started last week with a good start. We're seeing the seeds sprout from Jonathan Hickman's AVENGERS series. This "Infinite" comic shows us another part of the Marvel Universe. We see the Builders' razing Hy'lt Minor.

What's most fascinating about this story is we're seeing a Skrull planet attacked. With what happened during Secret Invasion, it would be difficult to ever sympathize with these aliens. But the way Jason LaTour lays out the story, you can't help but feel for them. The story is narrated by the Silver Surfer and it adds a great perspective on the events. It's sometimes hard to remember what he must be going through and how detached he must be since he received the power cosmic.

Agustin Alessio provides some gorgeous artwork. It's almost eerie seeing the Skrulls portrayed with this sort of detail but it fits the story perfectly. The use of the Infinite format allows for some subtle tricks with the art that makes the reading experience more enjoyable. Seeing the Silver Surfer in action here was incredible.

The Bad

The story doesn't appear to be essential to the overall story. At least not yet. It does give a great taste of how vast the Marvel Universe is and that this "event" is having an effect on far off areas as well.

The Verdict

Marvel's Infinite Comics are a blast to read. The little enhancements adds some life to the comics and makes the reading experience a little more interactive. This story ties into INFINITY but doesn't appear to be crucial. For $1.99, it's an impressive story with gorgeous art that should definitely be checked out. Apparently those that redeemed the digital code for INFINITY #1, you may have noticed this comic included at no extra charge. Jason LaTour makes you feel sympathy for the Skrulls. This is something I thought I'd never see. You just might not look at them the same after this.

If you're interested in what impact Infinity arc will have on the rest of the Marvel Universe, this is a great example. You're taken away from the main portion of the action and are treated to an interesting story. Plus, you'll want to see how much butt the Silver Surfer kicks. If you've never read an Infinite Comic, you need to check this out.


Exclusive: S2 Games to Reveal ‘STRIFE’ and Kevin Eastman's Comic at PAX Prime 2013

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PAX Prime is coming up next week in Seattle (I'll be there) and one announcement coming from S2 Games is Strife. S2 Games is the developers of the free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Heroes of Newerth. Their new MOBA, Strife, will be revealed to the public for the first time at this year's PAX Prime expo.

Strife will be available to play from August 30 through September 2 at PAX Prime and S2 team members will be conducting demos at booth #352 in the main hall. On Monday, September 2, S2 will have a special guest as Kevin Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will be there and will reveal an exclusive preview of the Strife comic he and S2 have been working on. Eastman will be available for a signing and to answer questions.

S2 has given us an exclusive first look at the cover of Eastman's STRIFE.

At PAX Prime, S2's booth will feature behind-the-scenes looks at Strife's development along with live Q&A's, discussions and presentations as well as giveaways, including the exclusive preview version of the comic. There will also be a Strife lounge at the Daily Grill across the street from the convention center for more time with the game.

S2 has also shared some never before seen screenshots of the game. Click to enlarge.

You can check out some more information, including a teaser trailer, over at GameSpot as well.

Strife will be available this winter, promising a realm of conflict, competition and glory. For more information on Strife, visit www.Strife.com, or follow along on Twitter (@S2Strife), Facebook (www.facebook.com/StrifeTheGame) and YouTube (YouTube.com/S2Strife).

Comic Vine Battle of the Week: Venom/Scarlet Spider vs. Luke Cage/Iron Fist

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It's time for a little bit of Marvel mayhem in the segment's second team battle. In one corner, we have the Heroes for Hire, Iron Fist and Luke Cage. In the other, we have two characters connected to the Spider-Man family tree, Scarlet Spider (Kaine) and Venom (Flash Thompson). If these two teams were forced to fight under the following rules (see below for details), which side would have your support and why?

Comic Vine Battle of the Week Rules

  • Combatants are in character.
  • This is a random encounter.
  • They're fighting in a generic downtown city setting. It's unpopulated and at night and all standard city lights remain on. Assume they start roughly 20 feet apart and visible. However, there's a fair amount of cover between them (parked vehicles and such). The entire area is on limits. This means alleys, rooftops, building interiors, etc.
  • Everyone has their standard gear.
  • Incapacitation, knockout or death all count as elimination.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Comic Viners, you have until this Friday morning (ET) to research the characters, present a case and/or dive into the debate with others and, of course, cast your vote! As always, Friday's update will include one Viner's argument for the winning character (only posts in the poll thread will be considered and they can't include scans *link above*), the staff's thoughts and if we're extra lucky, thoughts from writers, artists and others in the industry (spoiler: one writer has already provided a blurb)! Viners, it's understandable that debates over "who would win?" can get heated, but please try to keep the conversations informative and not personal.

Feel free to make future match suggestions in the comments below or via Gregg's Twitter page.

This Week's Essential Comics: 08/12/13

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It's the beginning of the week so that means it's time for us to share what comics we are looking forward to and the ones you should make sure to pick up when you visit your local comic shop this Wednesday. It's always a tough decision narrowing it down to two titles (which is why sometimes we cheat and pick three).

Check out our selections below. If a book you're super excited for didn't make our list, be sure to mention in in the comments!

Tony 'G-Man' Guerrero's picks

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3

Scott Snyder and Jim Lee have created a new threat for Superman. At least it sure does look like he's going to be a threat. In the first couple issues, we saw bits of a new character and it turns out the U.S. Army has been trying to keep him a secret from Superman. The two met in a cool way last issue and there's no telling what will happen next.

Snyder and Lee have been carving out a great little corner of the Superman universe. They're telling their own story yet it feels completely immersed with the rest of the New 52. Seeing characters like Lois, Jimmy and Lex have been great treats as we wait to see what the story has in store for them.

Snyder has also brought out Superman's inner voice. We've sometimes heard the thoughts going through Superman's head but lately there hasn't been too much. Seeing what he's thinking and how he perceives everything allows us to gain further insight into the Man of Steel and appreciate what makes him the character we all love. All this plus some big time action has been making this a fun read.

Of course we can expect another backup by Snyder and Dustin Nguyen.

A preview can be seen over at Maxim.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #16

I may have mentioned once or twice (or a dozen times) how great the Hobgoblin is. He was one of the great mysteries in comics that last over a decade. Dan Slott pulled a shocking move with the apparent death way back in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #649 (2011) but the way it played out was perfect. Things aren't always as they seem.

It was Phil Urich that thought he killed the original Hobgoblin. Now he's found himself working for the original but he's been having a bit of a hard time lately. Working for the Kingpin, Urich suddenly lost his job security when the SUPERIOR Spider-Man decided to take him down including all of Shadowland.

As Otto Octavius continues his brutal crusade as Spider-Man, Hobgoblin has been targeted and his identity has been revealed. The cover doesn't bode too well for Urich especially with Spider-Man's new track record. We'll definitely want to see what Dan Slott has planned for Urich and with Humberto Ramos' art, it's going to look pretty cool.

Check out the rest of the preview at CBR.

DAREDEVIL #30

Mark Waid has been on a major roll with this series. It's been mentioned before how we've been seeing amazing runs with Daredevil and Mark Waid is no exception to that. Each issue has kept us on the edge of our seats and Waid is always throwing the twists and turns our ways to catch us off guard. The overall story thread mixed with each issue's individual story has given the series a great cohesive vibe and you just feel Waid truly cares about the characters.

And now we have the Silver Surfer showing up. What possible reason could these two characters be together? It's pretty crazy but just the sort of thing Waid could pull off with ease.

Throughout the series we've also been treated to amazing art by several great artists. Javier Rodriguez has been doing the colors and did the art the last couple issues. And anytime we can see some Chris Samnee art, it's a good time.

Honorable Mentions: So many this week - BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #1, BATMAN AND NIGHTWING #23, JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23, 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO #3, NOVA #7, ...

Mat 'Inferiorego' Elfring's picks

KISS KIDS #1

Ok, I get it. The title of this comic comes off as a bit weird/creepy, but the book isn't. If you ever watched Muppet Babies, growing up, then there's a lot of familiarity to this book.

Also, if you like the band KISS, at all, you'll probably going to pick this book up.

Writers Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz and artist Jose Holder provide a book filled with numerous, fun, short stories. If you've ever wanted to see an adorable version of KISS as kids, then this is the book for you. Have a little fun. Pick up something a bit out there. Try something new. I'm telling you all the same things that your mom told you as a kid, for good reason.

KISS KIDS may be different from what you normally read, but sometimes different can be really good.

X-O MANOWAR #16

It's the road to UNITY!

In the last issue, Aric and Gilad has a long talk about Aric's place in this new world, and where he fits in. At the end of the issue, it didn't end to well, and it looks like Aric and Gilad will be battling it out this month. X-O MANOWAR has been awesome. It's a fantastic series that mixes science fiction, super-hero, and historical fiction together insanely well.

Valiant fans will love this issue even more because of the cross over between X-O MANOWAR and ARCHER & ARMSTRONG. This may not be the best place to jump onto the book, but if you're looking forward to the upcoming UNITY event, then you need to start reading this series now. Also, you should read it because it's awesome.

You can check out the full preview we posted last week HERE.

Gregg 'k4tz' Katzman's picks

TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES #5 KARAI

"There's a new IDW TMNT book coming out this week. I bet that guy on Comic Vine is going to bug me to read it."

You're darn right, random reader! First and foremost, if you even remotely like TMNT and you're NOT reading City Fall, then you need to rectify that, like, right now. Once you've caught up, you can dive into this new issue focused solely on Karai.

That's right -- the very awesome granddaughter of the Shredder has a chapter all to herself and you bet I'm stoked. If the Micro-Series has successfully given more depth to the likes of Alopex, then you bet I'm beyond anxious to see more of Karai's life and backstory.

This is sure to be a good one, my fellow TMNT fans.

Check out our full exclusive preview HERE.

VENOM #39

If you've been reading VENOM or have at least read the last issue, then yeah, it's safe to say you know why I'm itching to pick this one up.

Sure, VENOM is consistently awesome for numerous reasons, but now a major game changer has been thrown into the mix and I'm pumped to see how writer Cullen Bunn will make everything unfold from here.

Besides, more of Kim Jacinto's art + guaranteed action = my eyes are in for a very good time.

BLOODSHOT #0

It's time to FINALLY dive face first into Bloodshot's past. Who is he? Are any of those memories real or is every family member in his head a complete lie? Also, why was he created in the first place?

Sure, the gritty action and spanning drama with shady organizations occasionally helps us cast aside these questions, but now it's time to get some answers. Naturally, it's only convenient this zero issue comes before a new creative team and new direction takes over the title.

Long time Bloodshot fan or not, this seems like a solid place to jump on and understand why so many of us love this chaotic book.

Honorable Mentions: TMNT New Animated Adventures #2, Indestructible Hulk #12

Jen 'MissJ' Aprahamian's picks

WONDER WOMAN #23

Let's get ready to rumble.

After a powerful build-up through Issue #22 -- but maybe not as much on the action side of things in last month's "The Calm" -- we're primed for a pretty big face-off with First Born. With Villains Month coming up, WONDER WOMAN is right on that precipice before a great, arc-closing battle, and Issue #23 looks like it's going to deliver.

And if you needed any extra convincing? Chiang's brilliant cover should do the trick (I'm going to throw this in as a suggestion for this week's Best Covers as well as one of my Essentials picks!).

CHIN MUSIC #2

I've been waiting for this book. Since May, in fact. Sending a bullet through Al Capone's skull and then leaving us hanging for a few months is a cruel tease, but I'm confident that it'll pay off in this next issue. We get to see an Eliot Ness who lost his big catch, the supernaturally-powered man who stole it from him, and the fallout of the Capone hit. And if it's anything like the debut, we'll be treated to more lush, deco art from Tony Harris.

I'm calling it an essential for Image readers, supernatural/occult fans, and anyone who needed a little reminder that this fascinating little tale from Steve Niles and Tony Harris wasn't just a one-shot.

No preview available.

REVIVAL #13

KARAOKE TRIPLE DATE NIGHT sounds like a cheesy idea, but in Wausau, it's probably far scarier than just bad singing.

We've got a set up for some great character moments (what's a better time for emotional tension than Valentine's Day?), and also for anything and everything to go awry when Em babysits a kid "like her."

Count this as the week's essential pick for horror fans, complete with a positively creepy cover by Jenny Frison.

You can check out the full preview at CBR.

Corey 'Undeadpool' Schroeder's picks

BATWOMAN #23

Who better to bring down the Bat than the woman who put on his mantle, but found her own way to own it. J.H. Williams III has made this one of the breakout hits of the New 52 by showing us a much more different side of Gotham than the one we see in the numerous Batman titles.

From ghost hunting to demon slaying, Batwoman has uncovered a side of the city that gives this book its own voice and its own tone. W. Haden Blackman co-writing has been an absolute treat, and with series regular Trevor McCarthy returning to artistic duties for this, a story that eschews many of the supernatural elements the series is known for, seems like a perfect fit for a more grounded tale. And I am on pins and needles for when Katherine Kane finally crosses swords (metaphorical or literal) with Bruce Wayne.

You can check out the full preview over at USA Today.

SUPERGIRL #23

The last few issues of Supergirl have been an absolute renaissance for the book. With Michael Alan Nelson at the forefront and the always-excellent Mahmud Asrar continuing artistic duties, the adventures of Kara Zor-El have never been more interesting or more character-driven.

From a promising start at the beginning of the New-52 as a stranger in a strange land quickly devolved into her being a dull, near-bumbling elitist who couldn't stop being absorbed into villains or falling in love with them.

This new direction has not only taken her off Earth so she can establish herself, with a few knowing, self-referential jabs at the series' past.

The introduction of Cyborg Superman has been one of the most interesting reveals of the relaunch as well as being a great, strange new character with absolutely fascinating motivations, but VASTLY more realistic methods has me actually anticipating this book as opposed to pre-rolling my eyes.

No preview available.

AVENGERS #18

Infinity is here and it has exploded out of the gate with an amazing first issue. Jonathan Hickman, one of the principle minds behind Infinity, continues his cerebral, surreal run on Avengers now with all the plot threads coming together.

And while I'm not ever thrilled about Stefano Caselli departing a book, replacing him with the razor-sharp lines of Leinil Yu isn't a bad way to the take the sting out of that news.

Hickman has been amazing at keeping more balls in the air than I can count and the way he's been keeping things (mostly) coherent is absolutely stunning and to see them all come to a head across these titles should be one of the highlights of the last few months, if not the entire year.

You can check out the full preview over at CBR.

And if you want to follow us on Twitter: Tony, Mat, Gregg, Jen, Corey.

Early Review: MIGHTY AVENGERS #1

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The Good

The immediate question is, do we need another Avengers-title? Al Ewing sets off right away to give this title a separate feel from the others. From the beginning it starts off with a Heroes for Hire feel. That's what Luke Cage has been up to since leaving the Avengers (he does have a family to support after all). Cage has been working with the new Power Man (Victor Alvarez as well as the current White Tiger (Ava Ayala). The hook of the story and connection to Infinity is all the Avengers have left the planet (as seen in INFINITY #1) and Thanos has decided this is the perfect time to push his plans and move towards Earth.

You can maybe see where this is going and why the "Avengers" name will become attached to these heroes.

The nice thing about this team is they definitely have a more cohesive feel to them. With Jonathan Hickman's (main) team, we're seeing a huge team, which makes sense in having the right hero available for different threats. The problem is, you start to lose the team feeling that way. These characters have more of a connection. Having the SUPERIOR Spider-Man around adds to the tension that makes team books more entertaining.

The villains we see in the beginning sheds a different sort of light upon the Marvel Universe. Too often we see the same old villains fighting the heroes and you have to wonder why they never get the point that they'll just keep losing to them. Throughout the evolution of this new "Mighty" Avengers, we get a sense of how this team will be different along with some mystery showing that we haven't seen the full picture yet. In other words, the whole gang isn't here just yet. How the few do gather here is great since you'd expect a city full of heroes to eventually show up in the same places.

The Bad

It is a little strange having what basically appears to be street-level heroes tied up in a galactic crossover like Infinity. That event may be the what launches the formation of this team but it just feels odd having a cosmic level threat involved. We don't see the entire team so we can't form a firm opinion on how this team will be. It is an interesting start so far.

The art by Greg Land sometimes comes across as too pretty or the characters appear like they're posing for the camera. This isn't anything new. There was a great panel with Luke holding the bridge of his nose in exasperation but it's a little distracting when the background people all look "pretty" as well.

I like the idea of a bickering and snotty Spider-Man being around to be a pain but there are times it comes across as too much. SUPERIOR Spider-Man works in his title. SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP was pushing things a little. This could become more annoying than enjoyable really quick.

The Verdict

We may not need another Avengers title but we do have a fascinating gathering of heroes here. Event tie-ins sometimes feel forced but this gives an interesting twist with all the heroes busy elsewhere. With the Marvel Universe containing so many different characters, it's easy for some to get lost in the shuffle. If you've been missing any of the characters here, you'll definitely want to check this out (except for Spider-Man, since it's hard to miss him with him popping up more and more in the Marvel U). Al Ewing starts off the series on the right foot. We don't have all the players in place but there is a curiosity that will make you want to come back. With a mysterious character right away and more members to come, there's no telling what the next issue will bring us. MIGHTY AVENGERS isn't the series you were expecting but it's going to be the one you're happy to read.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #1 is on sale September 11, 2013.

Ask, and Ye Shall Receive...Answers: Episode 47

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This week it's about pairing DC characters in an ongoing title. Who would you want to see? Plus a couple other questions.

'Man of Steel' Blu-ray Details Revealed

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Man of Steel is headed your way on November 12. As expected, you will have a choice. The movie will be available on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD 2-disc Special Edition, 3D Limited Collectors' Edition and Digital Download from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The movie, of course, stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Kal-El, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as Zod, Kevin Costner as Pa Kent, Diane Lane as Ma Kent, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Russell Crow as Jor-El and directed by Zack Snyder.

The suggested retail price for each will be: Blu-ray 3D Combo - $44.95, Blu-ray Combo pack - $35.99, DVD 2-Disc Special Edition - $28.98 and the 3D Limited Edition - $59.99. Again, these are the suggested retail prices. You'll likely be able to find them at lower prices when released.

The 3D Limited Collectors' Edition includes a limited release metal "S" glyph with lucite glass stand.

The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack and 3D Limited Collectors' Edition will include nearly four hours of special features and contain the following:

  • Journey of Discovery: Creating “Man of Steel” – This immersive feature-length experience allows you to watch the movie with director Zack Snyder and stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane and others as they share the incredible journey to re-imagine Superman.
  • · Strong Characters, Legendary Roles – Explore the legendary characters of the Superman mythology and how they have evolved in this new iteration of the Superman story.
  • · All-Out Action – Go inside the intense training regimen that sculpted Henry Cavill into the Man of Steel and Michael Shannon and Antje Traue into his Kyptonian nemeses. Includes interviews with cast and crew.
  • · Krypton Decoded – Dylan Sprayberry (Clark Kent, age 13) gives the lowdown on all the amazing Krypton tech, weapons and spaceships featured in “Man of Steel.”
  • · Planet Krypton – The world’s first exploration of Krypton and its lost society.

“Man of Steel”DVD 2-disc Special Edition contains the following special features:

  • · Strong Characters, Legendary Roles
  • · All-Out Action
  • · Krypton Decoded

The movie will be available for download in HD or standard definition from online retailers including (but not limited to) iTunes, Xbox, PlayStation, Amazon, Vudu, CinemaNow and more.

The movie will also include the Ultraviolet feature which allows you create a digital collection of movies and TV shows to watch on different devices.

Dynamite Entertainment Exclusive Extended Previews: 8/21/13

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It's that time of the week again. Each week Dynamite Entertainment gives us some exclusive extended previews for the week's new releases. This week they gave us FIVE. Check them out below before you head out to the comic shop on Wednesday. You can also check out the rest of this week's Dynamite releases HERE.

RED SONJA: UNCHAINED #4 (OF 4)

Peter V. Brett (w)

Jack Jadson (a)

Mel Rubi (c)

FANS, ASK YOUR RETAILER FOR THE:

Mel Rubi “classic chainmail” retailer incentive cover

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

Her soul trapped in an alternate dimension while the demon Bhamothes uses her body to wreak havoc in Hyrkania, Sonja must confront the spirit of the boy she murdered to stop the killing spree.

GREEN HORNET: LEGACY #40

Jai Nitz (w)

Jethro Morales (a)

Phil Hester (c)

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

Century City is overrun by… costumed crimefighters? A wave of new heroes pours into the city to “help” and they’re all here to see the same man, Green Hornet! Can Green Hornet focus these unwanted vigilantes into a force for good, or will they end up on the other side of the law? Four-color fisticuffs brought to you by Jai Nitz and Jethro Morales!

VAMPIRELLA #32

Brandon Jerwa (w)

Heubert Khan Michael (a)

Fabiano Neves, Lucio Parrillo (c)

Fans & retailers, order the cover of your choice!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

Vampirella finds terror in the heart of Cote de Soleil, an island nation with dark Voudon secrets... and that's not all! A classic Vampi adversary may be hiding in the shadows, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike!

THE LONE RANGER #17

Ande Parks (w)

Esteve Polls (a)

Francesco Francavilla (c)

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

The "Back East" arc nears its conclusion as the Lone Ranger and Tonto find themselves betrayed, separated and outnumbered. The West's most iconic heroes have crossed the Mississippi looking for answers after being set up by a federal agent. They have found agent Winston Marle. They have also found a new villain who intends to see the Ranger either turn his back on all he stands for or dead and buried. Intrigue and action as the Lone Ranger and Tonto fight to survive in the "civilized" world.

DARK SHADOWS: YEAR ONE #5

Marc Andreyko (w)

Guiu Vilanova (a)

Patrick Berkenkotter (c)

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

Joshua Collins, desperate to save his son Barnabas' soul from vampiric damnation, seeks out help -- any help --- from the unlikeliest of places: a witch?! Can Barnabas be reclaimed from an unlife of bloodsucking? Or will Angelique's prophecy that Barnabas would watch everyone he loves suffer and die come true?


Interview: Bryce Carlson and Vanesa R. Del Rey Talk HIT

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There's something really fascinating about pulp noir and crime stories. The fact that we're seeing a resurgence of the genre is a great thing.

While we're on the subject of great things, Boom! Studios is ready to unleash another new series. They have been on a roll lately so when word came out they had a new LA noir story set in 1955 by Bryce Carlson and Vanesa R. Del Rey, it's safe to say HIT is going to be something to keep an eye out for.

We took the opportunity to speak with the two about this new series to find out more.

Comic Vine: How did HIT come about?

Bryce Carlson: It all started with a story I heard from a longtime Los Angeles Police Department officer. While telling countless tales of his decades on the force, he mentioned "hit squads" and at that exact moment, I knew I had a story to tell. I pitched it to Ross Richie (CEO & Founder) at BOOM! Studios, he loved it, and then I spent a couple years researching and developing it with BOOM!, which led to us finding an absolutely perfect interior artist in Vanesa. I know I praise her like crazy every time I talk about the book but it's because I truly believe in her art and abilities -- I've been around long enough and seen enough artists to recognize truly great talent when it's staring me square in the face. Match all that with Ryan Sook wanting to do covers, Archie Van Buren refusing to let anyone else touch the colors, Ed Dukeshire threatening me if he wasn't on lettering duties, and Eric Harburn (Editor) and Matt Gagnon (Editor-in-Chief) at BOOM! helping me significantly elevate the project, and you have a very narrow look at how HIT came about. I could go on for hours about what my wife Lindsey had to hear and see at home while I was working on it...

CV: How did you become attached to HIT?

Vanesa R. Del Ray: I got an e-mail from Dafna Pleban at BOOM! early this year. She wanted to test me for a series but it ended up not working so I got transferred on to Eric Harburn and Bryce with HIT! It's been an awesome trip since.

CV: Does the story mainly take place in LA?

BC: HIT almost exclusively takes place in L.A., which results in a nice little tour of the city throughout the series. The only places we visit outside of the greater Los Angeles area are Cleveland for a hot second and somewhere in the open sea off the Ventura County coast. It's a purely L.A. story where the city is it's own character so it's showcased in every issue.

CV: What sort of research was involved in establishing all the details or did it just come from your love of the genre?

BC: God, there was a lot of research. I already had a great base from my love for the genre and growing up in Southern California, but nowhere near what I needed to make HIT truly authentic. I read, I studied, and I could probably rack up at least a couple prison sentences with my Google search history. It was a major goal of mine to make this a truly genuine story that properly presents the era and that took copious amounts of time. What guns were standard issues for LAPD officers? When did the Hollywood Division Police Station move to Wilcox? What cars were popular? What streets and bars existed? What was the socio-political climate of Los Angeles? There were so many questions that needed answers and while books and online research can get you a ton of answers, there were some things I only figured out because I took the time to talk to people and interact with the city. It was far and away the most fun I've ever had researching.

CV: How dark and gritty can we expect things to get?

VR: Very very dark and gritty. The script gives room to have fun with the ink and not shy away from blacking out large areas and using random tools to get cool effects on the page.
I found out that using my fingerprints was useful to depict blood on a carpet. The genre lends itself to that sort of treatment.

CV: What sets HIT apart from other pulp noir tales (besides the fact that it's gonna be awesome)? Is there room for more stories after this mini?

BC: That's a question that readers will be able to answer better than me. But I will say that what I hope sets it apart from other pulp noir stories are the characters and the voice. The fact that it's a story about the police acting as hitmen sets it pretty far apart from most stories in the genre but I'm more interested in seeing characters like the protagonist Harvey Slater stand out as original, and telling a story in a familiar genre but in a new way.

The ending of the miniseries ties the main story up nicely but also blows things wide open. If this is the only HIT story that people get to experience, it will be fully satisfying. But if there's an opportunity to continue strolling in the dark, there's plenty of more story to tell.

HIT #1 is on sale September 11, 2013. Be sure to let your local comic shop know you need a copy.

Interview: Ray Fawkes Talks Riddler, BATMAN 23.2, Villains Month and Zero Year

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Villains Month is just around the corner. During the month of September, all of the New 52 titles will be taken over, in a sense, by the villains of the DCU. All current series will sort of be put on hold as the villains step up to take the spotlight.

One of those spotlight book will feature the Riddler. BATMAN 23.2 will be written by Scott Snyder and Ray Fawkes. Snyder is currently writing Zero Year in the BATMAN title which, besides showing us a younger Bruce Wayne, is also showing us the Riddler in his early days.

We asked Ray a few questions to see how the Riddler story in the Villains Month issue will tie into Zero Year.

Comic Vine: Will the story take place in the present or be a flashback to Zero Year? Or both?

Ray Fawkes: This story takes place in the present, but we'll see some flashbacks to Zero Year. I don't want to give anything away, so that's all I'll say about that!

CV: Will this issue give away any spoilers for Edward's role in Zero Year?

RF: Not spoilers, per se, but it will give additional perspective on his role, and the way the ordinary citizens of Gotham see him. Let's say that he earns his reputation in Zero Year, and we see him flex it in this story. When we sat down to write this, Scott Snyder and I had a lot of discussions about what the Riddler got up to in Zero Year, and why people would really fear him after that. The product of those discussions will be on full display in Villains Month.

CV: What do you see as Edward's motivation?

RF: That's complicated. Personally, I think Edward is frustrated by a combination of the ordinary world's inability to challenge his intellect and its ongoing inability to pay him the respect he thinks he deserves. So he has this urge to act up, to play these "games" in hopes that someone will face off against him and allow him to prove his superiority. Further to that, he adds layers to the game to keep himself entertained - anyone can commit an ordinary crime. Only he can commit one that he enjoys.

CV: Edward has often been portrayed as a brilliant character (and sometimes a little silly). Will we see what drove him down a darker path rather than a more heroic one?

RF: The Riddler's origin is handled completely in Zero Year. This story is more one where we get to see the full extent of Edward's criminal tendencies, and the effect that years of failure and incarceration after the end of Zero Year have had on him. Let's say this: he didn't get any better in Arkham. And he had a lot of time to sit and think about what he wanted to do when he got out...

CV: Are there any hints of the Secret Society of Super Villains present or does Riddler prefer to play by himself?

RF: The Riddler doesn't play very well with others. Not at all. I'm sure that the Secret Society could figure out how to motivate him, but nobody's found the right approach yet - so he's a free agent in this story, carrying out the elaborate crimes that he planned so meticulously in his asylum cell. Of course, nothing goes exactly as planned...

CV: How would you compare Edward's intellect to someone like Lex Luthor?

RF: Honestly, I'd say that Edward is incredibly talented, and may well be the world's foremost thinker with regards to pattern recognition, strategy, and complicated mathematics - but he's not an inventor or a theoretical scientist, so comparing him to someone like Lex is a bit of an apples-and-oranges question. If not for Batman, Edward would be the very best there is at what he does.

That said, I think if you put Edward and Lex in a room, with no equipment and no advance warning and had them face off in competition, I'd put my money on The Riddler.

CV: How good are you at solving riddles?

RF: Not bad, actually. I regularly do cryptic crosswords for fun - I have ever since I found out that they were used in recruitment interviews in England's famed Bletchley Park WWII codebreakers program - and I had a blast writing up (hopefully) difficult riddles and puzzles for this book!

Be sure to pick up BATMAN #23.2 on September 11, 2013.

Comic Book Question of the Week: Favorite Image Series

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With Marvel busy with Infinity and DC immersed in Trinity War, we thought we'd give the other publishers some love in the "Question of the Week." Last week, we asked what your favorite Valiant comic is and the Comic Vine community chose X-O MANOWAR. This week, we want to know what your favorite CURRENTImage series is.

The publisher has a massively diverse catalog with a lot of great titles, ranging from survivors battling zombies to new material from all of your favorite writers and artists in the industry. There's A LOT of options on the poll. Yes, it doesn't have ALL of them, but we're confident we were able to throw a good amount of representation in there, and in the event your favorite isn't there, vote "Other" and say what title earned your support. Like we said, there's a lot of superb options, so make sure you reaaaaaaaaally mean it before casting your one vote.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Voting remains open until Thursday morning (ET). Shortly afterwards, a new feature with the poll results and more will hit the homepage, so be sure to check back then!

Batman: Arkham Origins - 'Nowhere to Run' Trailer

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A younger Batman has eight assassins after him. Does he have what it takes to defeat them all?

Interview: Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz talk about KISS KIDS

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There's been a growing trend in comics where a property, whether it be super-heroes, famous people, etc, is taken and put into a kiddie form. All of these books provide a new perspective on these characters and provide a ton of fun for children as well as adults.

The newest book from this trend, debuting August 21st, features one of the greatest rock bands of all time put into kid form: KISS. The writers of this new book, entitled KISS KIDS, Chris Ryall (IDW Editor) and Tom Waltz (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES) took the time to answer some KISS KIDS and KISS related questions.

Comic Vine: How did this project come about?

Chris Ryall: Kiss comics in general came about because Tom and I are big fans of the band and enjoy working with Gene Simmons. As we were working on the regular series, a local retailer, Robert Scott at Comickaze, suggested a more all-ages Kiss series. We loved the idea, doing something akin to Tiny Titans but for Kiss fans, and got things rolling from there.

Tom Waltz: As Chris says, a visit I paid to Robert Scott's Comickaze in San Diego is what got the ball rolling. Robert told me he liked our KISS books and thought there might be a market for an all-ages version. It was a great idea (of course, for a diehard KISS fan like me, any KISS idea is a great idea) and I immediately shared it with Chris, who was as gung-ho as I was. We then presented it to Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley and they also dug it, and the rest, as they way, is KISStory.

CV: Who is this book for?

CR: Kiss fans of all ages. But also people who just want fun, goofy, all-ages comics for themselves or for their kids. My daughter is 7 and knows nothing about Kiss’ music (although she does curiously refer to the Demon as “Uncle Gene”) but she had a lot of fun with the issues so far, too. The in-jokes are there for longtime fans and hopefully the fun is there for everyone who reads it.

TW: Like Chris, I have a young daughter (9), and she's been getting a huge kick out of KISS Kids, but even more pleasantly surprising has been my wife's reaction—she's been extremely vocal about how “cute” and “fun” she thinks the comic is and has asked me to bring extra copies home so she can share with her friends and co-workers with kids (and I'm pretty sure my wife doesn't get any of the in-jokes Chris mentioned above).

CV: How did artist Jose Holder get involved?

CR: Jose has worked with Tom on some Ghostbusters comics in the past and his samples here were immediately winning. So much fun and liveliness, and Jose, along with master colorist Jeremy Colwell, are injecting so many more little nods and gags and just really dynamic body language, layouts and colors into the art that I can’t imagine things working as well without them.

TW: I've been a HUGE fan of Jose's work since I first saw it online. Since then, he's worked with me on LEGION: PROPHETS, MARS ATTACKS THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS and BORDERLANDS: ORIGINS, and he's killed on every project I've thrown his way—and KISS Kids is no exception. He's brought a ton of personality and personal flare to the book and his skill and passion come through in each and every panel. And colorist Jeremy Colwell? Damn—that guy's freakin' good!

CV: This first issue really has a great sense of humor to it. How do you keep this book light and fun for kids as well as adults?

CR: I think it helps that Tom and I are big goofs who never take things too seriously. It’s nice to have a series that allows us to work out a lot of our juvenile humor and do more than just make our wives roll their eyes at us.

TW: Whenever I write these, I always try to think of a young Tommy Waltz—what would've made that guy laugh? In the end, it's usually the same exact stuff that makes old Tom Waltz laugh, so I start from there and just go with it!

CV: Where do the story ideas come from?

CR: Our twisted psyches, both of which are fueled by decades of listening to Kiss, reading comics, and staying in touch with our inner 10-year-olds.

TW: From the music, the make-up, the myth... mix it all up, throw in some goofiness and exaggerated (and some not-so-exaggerated) memories from my own life and cook it till it's ready to serve.

CV: This book is separated into shorter stories, usually around a couple pages long. Will KISS KIDS have any longer story lines or will it continue to be in bite-sized moments?

CR: Likely no issue-length stories, since there are so many things we want to do with the (so far) four issues. But I’m working now on a longer “field strip” story for issue 3, that one might run half the issue. It’s got the Kiss Kids, girls, dinosaur mummies and more, so it’s demanding a bit more space.

Meanwhile, Tom has been doing some great 1- and 2-page gag strips in addition to some longer stories, and I’d like to see more of those from him since he’s really good at it.

TW: Yeah, the 1- and 2-pagers have been an absolute blast for me. They're definitely challenging but I love writing 'em!

CV: What's your favorite KISS-related moment or pun from the first issue?

CR: It feels a bit congratulatory to mention our own jokes, but I mostly just enjoy things like working in Kiss nods for the longtime fans: the shoestore is “Carnival of Soles,” the babysitter is Christine, who’s 16, their school looks like the building from the old Casablanca Records label and the principal’s door is the door from The Elder… all things that people reading the book don’t need to pick up on but if they do, it makes for fun little bonuses throughout the series.

TW: I think I laughed the hardest at Lil' Demon's birthday presents—huge cudos to Chris, Jose and Jeremy in putting that pun together so perfectly!

CV: Assuming you're both KISS fans, what are your favorite moments from a KISS music video or favorite lyric from a KISS song?

CR: Is there any finer moment of music-video acting than Gene going “Iron Eyes Cody” and shedding a tear at the end of the “World Without Heroes” video? I don’t think there is. Favorite lyric from a Kiss song? The one where they compared their crotch to some other object (see: Love Gun, Rocket Ride, etc.)…

TW: Actually, more than any video, I was mesmerized by the album cover for KISS ALIVE II when I was a kid (and still am). It was a double-album, so it folded open like a book and there was a killer wide-shot of the band on stage (explosions!) on the inside. Loved looking at that as I spun that record over and over. As for lyrics, as a native Michigander, three words always mean the most: “Detroit Rock City!”

CV: Did any members of the band have anything to do with this book or was this completely a solo effort?

CR: They all four see it and Gene and Paul have been especially involved and encouraging. In fact, Paul even designed his “Kiss Kids” hairstyle himself.

TW: As with all our KISS-related projects, the band has been deeply involved... from early designs to final approvals. And, as always, they've been super-cool to work with... and, honestly, extremely excited and positive about KISS Kids.

CV: There's a couple stand-out characters within the first issue, aside from the kids: Christine, the babysitter, and the KISS Robots. Will they be returning in future issues and will we be seeing other reoccurring characters in this series?

CR: They will. Kiss Kids are interesting but they do need various friends, antagonists and schoolmates who’re just as much fun as they are. There’s even a certain “Ronnie J,” who’s always going around saying that he was the one who pioneered the devil horns.

TW: I was actually able to get three of my long-time buddies from my hometown into the mix—huge, huge KISS fans like Ryall and me. Look for the “Rowdy Roadies” in issue #2.

CV: What's the most "out there" idea you guys have had for a story that didn't make the cutting room floor?

CR: Well, seeing that we have dinosaur mummies coming up, in addition to all the things we mentioned above, there doesn’t seem to be any cutting-room floor just yet. We have so many story ideas here, the only real challenge seems to be finding space to fit all of them into the miniseries. Hopefully it works well and can continue on so we have a regular outlet for the craziness in our heads.

TW: We don't worry about anything being too “out there”--we just focus on creating things that are fun and funny... for the whole family, whether they are long-time KISS fans or not. We want everyone to enjoy this wacky ride as much as we are!

Many thanks to Chris and Tom for taking the time to answer our questions! Make sure to check out KISS KIDS from IDW Comics which hits local comic shop shelves on August 21st!

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