Marvel Announces $1 Comic Book Program

Press release from Marvel Comics:

MARVEL'S GREATEST COMICS $1 First Issue Program Launching


Start Here with Marvel’s Greatest Comics For Only $1.00!

Marvel is proud to announce the all-new Marvel’s Greatest Comics imprint, spotlighting Marvel’s most-acclaimed series with new printings of these must-read issues priced at only one dollar each! This bold new venture, launching in March 2010, offers a perfect jumping on point for new readers as well as provides retailers with a great low cost first chapter to some of the hottest selling Marvel Collected editions. And to really get things going, the first title from this line, Invincible Iron Man #1, is free!

“We’re proud of the books Marvel publishes and now not only are we giving retailers a great way to promote our top collections, but also giving consumers a chance to sample some of our top comics, maybe for the first time and at an unbeatable price,” said David Gabriel, Marvel Senior Vice-President of Sales & Circulation. “Marvel’s Greatest Comics represents one of the best values in comics today and with Free Comic Book Day only months after the initial launch, retailers will want to be well stocked.”
Retailers can check upcoming editions of the Marvel Mailer or with Diamond Customer Service to find out how they can qualify for the free copies.

The titles launching in March, at one per week, are:

March 3: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1
March 10: CAPTAIN AMERICA #1
March 17: WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #1
March 24: THOR #1
March 31: PUNISHER MAX #1

Stay tuned for more details on Marvel’s Greatest Comics at www.marvel.com!

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com/ [END]

Deadwind Sea, Novel Due from Josh Wagner

Press release from Josh Wagner:

Josh Wagner, creator of the award-winning mini-series Fiction Clemens published by Ape Entertainment, and writer of the current Image Comics series Sky Pirates of Neo Terra will be releasing his second novel, Deadwind Sea, in January of 2010. The book’s cover is painted by comic-artist, Joiton (of Fiction Clemens), and designed by comic-designer, Tim Daniel (Powers, Existence 2.0).


Deadwind Sea synopsis:

Before America became the "Land of the Free", it was the Land of the Dead—the realm beyond the setting sun, to which expired spirits made their lonely way. Deadwind Sea is a collection of interwoven short-story myths, some deeply moving, others hilarious and bizarre, centering around one unfortunate shepherd's journey across the Ocean Sea to rescue his true love from death.

Sergio, a young shepherd of medieval Spain, has a knack for mucking things up. To the shock of his fellow villagers, Sergio manages to win the heart of the most beautiful girl in town. When his love unexpectedly dies, Sergio undertakes a voyage to the Land of the Dead on a quest to bring her home.

The story begins in 14th century Spain, making stops in Rome, Byzantium, and the North Pole before following the setting sun into the timeless Land of the Dead. Here, on the untouched continent that history would later call "America", spirits prepare a New World for the imminent arrival of the living. Sergio finds himself at the heart of a drama to liberate the new frontiers from stagnation, a drama that takes him at last far beyond the edge of the earth.

The sub-stories of Deadwind Sea interact with the overarching narrative in richly innovative ways, pushing the boundaries of the very art of storytelling. Highly accessible, yet starkly intelligent, Deadwind Sea maintains an air of whimsy and imagination, while packing one heck of an emotional punch.

You can find out more about the book (and download sample chapters) here: http://www.deadwindsea.org/

I Reads You Review: VAGABOND, VOL. 29

Creators: Takehiko Inoue; Yuji Oniki (English adaptation)
Publishing Information: VIZ Media, paperback, 200 pages, $9.95 (US), $11.50 CAN
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-3148-9 (ISBN-13); 1-4215-3148-8 (ISBN-10)

In the manga series, Vagabond, Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk) presents a fictionalized account of the life of Miyamoto Musashi. Vagabond also loosely adapts Eiji Yoshikawa’s 1935 novel, Musashi, another fictionalized account of the Japanese swordsman, duelist, and author (The Book of Five Rings) who lived from the late 16th century until the mid 17th century.

Vagabond, Vol. 29 finds Musashi imprisoned at Nijō Castle. He survived a battle in which he single-handedly killed 70 men of the Yoshioka Clan, but is left with an injury to his right leg that may end his sword-fighting days. Takuan Sōhō, the monk who is trying to bring enlightenment to Musashi, takes up that mantle again. Meanwhile, Kōetsu receives two visitors. One of them is an accomplished swordsman named Ogawa Ienao, who promptly challenges the twig-wielding Sasaki Kojiro.

Anyone who has read Takehiko Inoue’s wheelchair basketball drama, Real, knows that Inoue’s ability at character drama can be described, at the very least, as brilliant. Vagabond is also a robust character drama, in which Inoue not only plumbs the depths of Musashi’s soul, but also investigates the lives of the supporting characters. It seems as if Inoue doesn’t leave one intricate thread connecting one character to another unexamined. Vagabond is also a philosophical samurai drama; using Takuan Sōhō as a medium, the narrative contemplates the meaning of existence, seeing it through the prism of Musashi’s violent nature and activities.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Vagabond is a kick-ass, comic book version of the chambara – the post World War II samurai movies that were more action-oriented than earlier samurai films. Like these “sword fighting movies,” Vagabond offers the startling, immediate, visceral violence of sword cleaving into flesh. Great violence plus great drama equals a fantastic read.

A

Buy Vagabond, Vol. 29 (Vagabond (Graphic Novels))

Flixster Users Choose Avatar as 2009's Best Film

From Business Wire:

Moviegoers Name Avatar, Star Trek and The Blind Side as 2009’s Best Movies

55 Million Ratings Generated by Flixster Users Determine the Year’s Top 10

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Avatar, Star Trek and The Blind Side are the best movies of 2009, based on more than 55 million moviegoer ratings at Flixster (http://www.flixster.com/), the world’s biggest online movie community and leading mobile movie-information provider.

“Lots of critics create year-end ‘best’ lists, but Flixster’s top 10 list is determined by what real moviegoers say”

Flixster's list is based on the average score users gave to each of 150 wide releases. "Out of 55 million ratings, only three movies – Avatar, Star Trek and The Blind Side – received more than 90% positive response, which is really impressive," said Joe Greenstein, Flixster’s co-founder and CEO.

"Lots of critics create year-end ‘best’ lists, but Flixster’s top 10 list is determined by what real moviegoers say," Greenstein said.

Topping Flixster’s Top 10 of 2009 list: Avatar, which has received more than 450,000 ratings since opening Dec. 18, and has a 92% positive rating from moviegoers.

"It may be true that you can’t please everybody, but Avatar comes about as close as you can get," said Steve Polsky, president and COO of Flixster. Star Trek was close behind with 91%, and The Blind Side had 90%. "They all have one thing in common: They’re not just for adults or kids, but movies that all ages can enjoy together."

According to Flixster users, the 10 best movies of 2009 are:
1. Avatar (92% positive)
2. Star Trek (91%)
3. The Blind Side (90%)
4. Up in the Air (88%)
5. Inglourious Basterds (87%)
6. The Hangover (87%)
7. Zombieland (87%)
8. Up (86%)
9. Michael Jackson’s This Is It (85%)
10. Taken and I Can Do Bad All By Myself (tie, 83%)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the year’s lowest-rated movies were: Whiteout (35%); Year One (32%); Dragonball Evolution (30%); Streetfighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (30%); and Transylmania (25%).

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen had the most reviews and ratings at Flixster – more than 3.8 million ratings (76% positive) and 125,000 reviews since June.

Launched in January 2006, Flixster (http://www.flixster.com/) offers its users access to more than 2.3 billion user ratings and reviews, nearly 20,000 trailers, plus quizzes, games, photos and details about more than 75,000 movies. Flixster’s mobile app is available on the iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre, and on Android mobile devices. [END]

Luffy is the 100 Million Berry Man

I finished reading One Piece, Vol. 25 (One Piece (Graphic Novels))

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin. This is the second of 5 volumes slated for release Tues, Jan. 5th.

Genesis as Comix

I read The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin. I actually finished reading this some weeks ago, but various tediums delayed the review's posting until today. This book is a very revealing way to read Genesis, but ultimately, this is more a Crumb comic book than it is biblical.

Spotlight on Ren in Nana

I finished reading Nana, Vol. 20

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin. Slimmer than usual volume with big turning point.