June Solicitations

Click here for a rundown on the comics with images

Click here for a rundown on the trade paperbacks with images

by Jonah Weiland,
Posted: March 19, 2004
Source : ComicBookResources

Fox Television's "24" is known for its unique format where each episode of the series equates one hour worth of story, with a full season detailing the events of a terrorist threat played out in a single day. Focusing on the Los Angeles branch of the Counter Terrorism Unit, "24" is filled with high action and suspense. The show stars Kiefer Sutherland as CTU agent Jack Bauer, a character that's been dubbed by many fans as the "manliest man alive" due to the sheer number of times he's escaped imminent death. This July, Jack Bauer gets his chance to prove his worth on the printed page.

"24: One Shot" is a 48-page, full color, squarebound graphic novella coming from IDW Publishing this July. In keeping with tradition, the comic itself will keep to the unique time format, where two pages of printed story will equal one hour of time. "24: One Shot" is written by J.C. Vaughn and Mark L. Haynes of "Battlestar Galactica" fame with art by "CSI: Miami" artist Renato Guedes.

"24" joins a number of other high-profile licensed properties at IDW, including television programs "The Shield" and "CSI" and the film "Underworld."

In "24: One Shot," CTU agent Jack Bauer has to protect a beautiful and deadly terrorist for twenty-four hours, but after an attack by her former friends, he has only one bullet left in his gun. Will Jack save the day? Viewers of the television show know that with "24," no one is ever safe.

"We at IDW are big fans of the series 24," Editor-in-Chief Jeff Mariotte said in a press release. "We had some difficulty at first trying to figure out how the ticking clock element, so crucial to the show, would work on the printed page. But J.C. Vaughn and Mark Haynes had some ideas, and they convinced us that it could work. We teamed them up with Renato Guedes, who does some of the best actor likenesses ever, and we think the book will be every bit as entertaining as the TV series."

The book goes on sale this July with a retail price of $6.99. Promotion includes an excerpt in a Free Comic Book Day Release and major national publicity, according to the publisher.

Dateline: Monday, March 22, 2004
By: PATRICK SAURIOL
Source: Newsarama

During a panel held at last weekend's Wizard World in Los Angeles, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada announced that the company will be dusting off its X-FORCE comic book property this coming September. What makes the news more interesting is that the book will be drawn by none other than Rob Liefeld, the creator of the team. Fabian Nicieza will write the book.

After a run on THE NEW MUTANTS turned the book into a bestseller for Marvel, Liefeld helped create X-FORCE and turned it into a title that regularly sold hundreds of thousands of copies a month. One of a new wave of superstar comic book artists, Liefeld grew rich and achieved fame outside of comics. Eventually he left Marvel in the early 90s, ditching X-FORCE to help found Image Comics with six other artists. Liefeld's project at Image, YOUNGBLOOD, proved to be another hit. But Liefeld's ride at the top was soon to come crashing back down to Earth as the speculator boom of the early 90s ended, comic book shops went out of business and books that used to sell half-a-million copies a month were barely reaching six figures. Liefeld was hired by Marvel in the later half of the 90s to work on the company's Heroes Reborn reboot for CAPTAIN AMERICA which didn't materialize as planned. He was then removed from Image Comics by the other founding fathers. Critics of the artist chide him for missed deadlines, failed promises and substandard art, but it doesn't change the fact that his name alone could once guarantee a comic book massive sales.

Based on the artwork released by Marvel, it appears the team will consist of Cable, Domino, Feral, Shatterstar, Warpath and Caliban. The new X-FORCE comic will be a limited series of unspecified length.

Just a short note to say the Comics Uncovered Amusement Arcade is now open in The Pub. There are currently two games available to help you pass a few quiet moments.

Battleships - Help Batman prevent the Penguin from destroying the GCPD fleet.
Checkers - Assist Professor X in a tactical battle against Weapon X


We intend to add some more games in the future. If you have any suggestions please make them in the Letters Page Forum.

So, here's the set up....if all of your favorite Avengers were action on the TV Show Survivor...who do you think would be the first one you'd vote off the island and why?

Feeling a bit at a loss for something to do? Looking for a little diversion? Then click on one of the images below to play the games in the Comics Uncovered Amusement Arcade. We will be adding new games as time allows. If you don't find something that tickles you're fancy then let us know what you would like to see over in The Letters Page.

Did anyone read the interview Kordey did after he was fired from Marvel? This guys needs a serious dose of professionalism! I mean, he starts out by knocking the company that paid his bills for a long time, badmouthing anyone and everyone who'd listen. I wonder if he ever expects to work in comics again? Seriously because I personally believe the guy is a decent artist, but he's no *artiste* and he certianly can't draw superheroes, he draws decent people who are superheroes, but had no idea how to capture a superhero.
I personally don't think I'll be picking up any books Mr. Ego trip draws, if he can ever get a job again. Most companies will shy away from a person who openly badmouths their competition.

This is a thread to help all our RPG players. You are having problems coming up with ideas for characters or backstory? You have a character but can't come up with a name? In this thread we will have links to sites that can help you give your creativity a kick start. (You can also use most of these links in your fan fiction too.)

I just read the new X-Men Unlimited #1, and was surprised with the quality. This book was often a haven for the second rate stories that didn't fit into the regular titles, but this new run could be something better.

If they can pull it off, X-Men Unlimited could become the place for the really great stand alone stories. The first half of #1 dealt with Sage, a character that has never really interested me all that much in th past. She always seemed to be a boring uninteresting character. But this story went a long way to endear her to me. It is a nice introduction to a character that should be treated as well as the rest of the X-Men.

But, as good as the first story was, the book really grabbed me with the second story. Its about a mutant boy who attends the Xavier Institute that, because of his mutant looks, feels like a freak anywhere outside the walls of the school. But this story shows him on the one day of the year that he can roam free without worrying about his looks...Halloween. Its a touching story that in only a few pages, makes me care about this character, and want to learn more about him.

I would highly recommend this book. It's definately worth your time.

TMT

I really wasn't sure how I this book was going to appeal to me. I am a fan of Salvador Larocca's artwork, so that pulled me to the book. I do LOVE the way the book was colored.
The story itself is classic. How many times are comics going to steal Shakespeare?
Not that I mind it, but come on, let's do the Taming of the Shrew for a change? Maybe even 12th Night????

So, what were you're thoughts on She Lies with Angels?