The Club Of Heroes Podcast Episode 22: Julie Explains It All

Titty Patrol vs. Dick Army!
Fringe vs. Batman!
Knitting vs. Crocheting!

Welcome to a very special episode of The Club Of Heroes!!

You can listen to or download the episode HERE.

The Colonel's Picks For May 8th, 2013

Hey Heroes! This week, it's Kung Fu, crime drama, and the Dark Knight like you've never seen him before. Without further ado, here's the popcorn overlord's picks for this week:

Paying For It (Drawn & Quarterly)

Chester Brown's controversial graphic novel about being a "John" was the talk of the walk back in 2011, and now it's available in a new edition if you missed it the first time. Seeing as this blog was not yet a thing two years ago, this old Colonel has decided to spare a few words about it now. With the Trinity War and the Infinity stuff coming up the pike this summer, they'll be plenty of superhero chatter in the coming weeks and I'd hate to overlook some of the great stuff happening left of center. Paying For It is one such project, a graphic novel depiction of the way one interacts with sex workers, from scary back alley rendevous to online hook-ups complete with Paypal transactions. A fascinating and thought provoking read to say the least.

Twelve Reasons To Die #1 (Black Mask Comics)

As a wise man once said, Wu Tang Clan ain't nothin' to f*** with! Ghostface Killah and the RZA have always branched out into other mediums besides music, and this is their stab at comic book writing. Featuring art by Breno Tamura, Christopher Mitten, and others, 12 Reasons to Die is the story of a vengeful street-saavy soul who wants to hunt down the twelve Mafia Dons responsible for his murder. The plot sounds cookie cutter, but really, what doesn't nowadays? The variety of art styles provide a nice blend of action and drama with a definent manga influence in the storytelling.

Batman: Death By Design TPB (DC)

Similar to Paying For It, this was released previously in hardcover format. Now that a less expensive softcover version is now available, it's time to gush about Chip Kidd and Dave Taylor's love letter to golden age Batman and urban architecture. Chip Kidd is the design genius behind the Bat-Manga collection and the Shazam retrospective published a few years ago and in this volume, he's doing the writing chores. Dave Taylor is an artist extraordinaire who spends this volume returning the dark knight detective to his pulp roots. If a bare-bones, low-tech Batman in a period piece setting sounds fascinating to you, it's worth going out of your way to pick up this graphic novel.

Chin Music #1 (Image)

Steve Niles and Tony Harris doing a crime comic with a supernatural twist? I'm there! The man known only as "Shaw" is on the run from forces unseen and lost in time. Landing in prohibition era Chicago, Shaw becomes embroiled in a war between the law and the spirit world. Fans of 30 Days of Night and DC's Starman should take note of this one. It's definently a different flavor than the 12 Reasons To Die book I mentioned above, but it's a damn good flavor. This is one of those titles that sells itself on the creative team alone.

Avengers #11 (Marvel)

Things are coming to a head in Jonathan Hickman's Avengers saga leading up to this summers Infinity event. This issue focuses on the man with the deadly hands, Shang Chi, as he leads a group of Avengers on a mission to China. I was beaming when Hickman put Shang Chi on the Avengers roster, as he is one character that doesn't get enough love in my opinion. His last appearance I recall was during Dan Slott's Spider-Island story and that didn't exactly set my world on fire. Let's see if Hickman and artist Mike Deodato can breath some new life into Marvel's Kung Fu master.

That's a swell stack of comics, friends! remember to check back on the regular for new episodes of the Club Of Heroes podcast (there's a new episode every couple of days ya'll) and other random musings from our contributors!

Cheers.

The Club Of Heroes Podcast Episode 21: Freaky/Naughty

From Kolchak to Vampirella, Evan and Chris leave no stone unturned in their search for quality horror and suspense. This episode, our heroes focus on the creepy and eerie periodicals of the Bronze Age of Comics! As the horror genre bounces back after the setbacks of the Comics Code Authority, the sordid becomes sensual as terror goes topless! Check it out or I'll keep rambling!!

You can listen to or download the episode HERE!

The Club Of Heroes Podcast Episode 20: Danzig, Doyle, & Team Venture

Return of the Bullpen! Evan talks about seeing Danzig and we give a once-over to his comic book Jaguar God. Also, movie news and chit-chat! And then the gang has a religious experience while talking about the return of the Venture Bros.

You can listen to or download the episode HERE!

The Colonel's Picks For May 1st 2013

Welcome back, comic lovers! Man, that last seven days just flew by. I'm just finishing up the stack from last week and it's already time to re-up on the four color dope I call comic books. Here's what jumped out at me this week...

Mister X: Eviction #1 (Dark Horse)

Once again, Dean Motter's pulp noir creation Mister X gets top billing on the Colonel's list of picks for this week. This is a three issue miniseries of brand new material from Motter and artist Hamid Bahrami. In addition to the main story, which features Mister X trying to quell a full scale riot brought on by the city's signature psychitecture, there's also a seperate stand alone story in this issue. More bang for my buck is always a good way to entice me, thank you Dark Horse!

The Movement #1 (DC)

The tagline reads, "They were the super-powered disenfranchised -- Now they're the voice of the people!" The Movement is a new DC concept from the minds and hands of Gail Simone and Freddie Williams. Now I'm a Simone-aholic, so this was already a 'buy' for me, but to see Freddie Williams on the art gets me even more juiced for a new series like this. Simone has a near flawless track record as a writer even when editorial seems to be working against her, so I can't see how DC could possibly mess this one up. Let's just hope this finds and audience because both companies need some new characters and concepts now more than ever if they want to keep the Colonel's attention. Also, this series will be running side by side with The Green Team book coming soon from Art & Franco, so they may be sharing some characters and crossing over a bit.

The Black Bat #1 (Dynamite)

Dynamite is at it once again, reviving another long lost hero from the Golden Age of comics. Not too long ago, I featured the return of Miss Fury on this very segment of our fine blog and I'll shine that spotlight over in Dynamite's corner once again with the release of a new Black Bat. He may bear a slight resemblance to a certain caped crusader, but this two-fisted crimebuster has a little of that edge the Dark Knight has been lacking since he abandoned his fuscia gloves and pistol. Writer Brian Buccellato (of DC's The Flash) and artist Ronan Cliquet bring D.A. Tony Quinn and his cowled alter ego back to life.

Ten Grand #1 (Image)

This week marks the return of Joe's Comics, a long defunct imprint within Image where writer extraordinaire J. Micheal Straczynski can help fellow creators get their rocks off in a creator-owned setting. Ten Grand is the first of a group of miniseries that will span many different genres and storytelling flavors. This one looks like a crime drama with a supernatural twist. JMS teams with artist Ben Templesmith to present the story of a mob enforcer named Joe who is ressurected over and over again, cherishing his few and far between moments of sweet release to be with the woman he loved but lost.

Iron Man: The Coming Of The Melter (Marvel)

The Marvel cinematic universe enters Phase Two with the release of Iron Man 3 later this week, so expect lots of one-shots and reprints featuring the armored avenger over the next few weeks. This one shot contains a new story by Christos Gage and Ron Lim. Mr. Gage is a very underrated talent in this Colonel's opinion and it'll be fun to see what kind of story he whips up without having to tie-in to Age of Ultron or anything like that. Ron Lim was a big name in the 1990's, having drawn the latter half of the the classic Infinity Gauntlet miniseries as well as many issues of Silver Surfer. Now that I dwell on it, this may actually be a throwback tale of sorts, to a pre-Extremis Iron Man and his supporting cast.

Good gravy, that's a fine stack of comics. While on your way to the LCS, I'd suggest the soothing tones of the Club Of Heroes podcast to get you in the mood. The boys here at my blog put on a fine show for your enjoyment, so download an episode today!

Cheers.

The Club Of Heroes Podcast Episode 19: Come and sit on my stack

Avengers Forever! Kagemono! Iron Fist! Strange comics! Chris and Evan review a few choice comic collections from various retailers. Buckle up and prepare for . . .opinions!!

You can download or listen to the episode HERE!

The Colonel's Picks For April 24th, 2013

Hey folks, Colonel Orville Reddenbacher here! Every week I tell you what to read from your LCS, because thinking is hard. These selections are guaranteed to satisfy your hunger for comic book excellence and stimulate your synapses.

Star Wars: Vader's Little Princess (Chronicle Books)

This is a follow-up to the critically and commercially successful Vader & Son by Jeffrey Brown. This isn't a comic book per se, but it's an interesting childrens book and I thought I'd give it Colonel's Pick status this week because Mr. Brown does a fine job in this genre. Imagine Darth Vader having to raise young Luke and Leia and the humor that stems from seeing the Sith Lord do everyday "dad stuff". This is a must have for Star Wars fans and geek parents everywhere. So lighten up from all the grim and gritty gunk on the comic shelves and inject a little whimsy into your life!

A Distant Soil #39 (Image)

Only recently have I come to appreciate the artwork of Colleen Doran, but she's been working in comics for over twenty years. Her series A Distant Soil has had a home at many publishers over the years and now after a six year hiatus, it will be making its return at Image/Shadowline. Mixing elements of fantasy and space opera stories, its a critically acclaimed work that is regarded as a masterpiece, even without a conclusion. Doran looks to rectify this by releasing the last leg of the series on a bi-monthly basis. She's done covers and other assignments here and there over the years, as well as work on trading cards and other merchandise, but this series is her baby and if you've never seen her art before, you're in for a treat.

Jupiter's Legacy #1 (Image)

Mark Millar and Frank Quitely unite for the first time since their run on The Authority several years ago and the writer promises this will be "a superhero epic that all future comics will be measured by". The superheroes of this world have grown old and passed the fate of the Earth on to a new generation. These "child stars" have all the power and none of the responsibility. Will the heirs to the superpower fortune be poison for the Earth? The pitch doesn't sound too original, but this old Colonel has faith in the bombastic pairing of Millar and Quitely. Mr. Millar may be Quitely's best collaborator next to Grant Morrison and I'm itching to see what they can cook up in this new miniseries.

Amala's Blade #1 (Dak Horse)

Writer Steve Horton and artist Michael Dialynas bring us a four-issue miniseries about a nation divided by technology and an assassin named Amala who's caught in the middle. Amala may be a little too good at her profession though, as the bigger powers in her world have conspired against her. Dialynas's artwork is something to behold, especially on a series like this, with wild fantasy and steampunk elements all over the place.

Superman Family Adventures #12 (DC)

Franco and Art Baltazar's awesome series comes to an abrupt ending this week. It's a damn shame too, as their take on the Super-Family may look too "cartoony" at first, but it reads well for both the younger and older set. This special final issue promises the return of Darkseid and will feature the other members of the Justice League, all rendered in the Art & Franco style. Fans of these two creators need not fret however, because they'll be doing a new series for DC later this year, reviving the Green Team concept. As much fun as their work on this and Tiny Titans has been, I can't wait to see what they do with a squad of teenage billionaires running rampant in the DCU.

And that's the stack for this week, breeders! Now let me remind you all that the boys put on a fine podcast production for your enjoyment as well, hosted on this very blog. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta spread my message of Peace, Love, & Comic Books to other corners of the multiverse.

Cheers.