News, Notes, and Updates: March 12th, 2007
FCBD Spidey Story Ups Page Count
By Christopher Hoerdemann
According to a press release sent out by Marvel today, Dan Slott's Amazing Spider-Man: Swing Swift special will now have 40 pages of content. The extra pages were added to accommodate a special sneak peek of J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada's One More Day Spider-Man event, which is slated to hit this summer. Along with the press release, Marvel also sent out some preview art (pencils by Phil Jimenez) from the Spider-Man special. Check that out below. Plus, if you're looking for even more info on Marvel's FCBD offerings, click here.
Cover of Amazing Spider-Man: Swing Swift     
Captain America's Shield Found Missing
Unbreakable symbol of freedom and heroism disappears
Details are sketchy at this time, but a S.H.I.E.L.D. spokesperson has revealed that Captain America's shield has gone missing. It's unclear who has taken the shield as no photographic evidence exists, but S.H.I.E.L.D. has issued an artistic rendering of the accused along with this statement.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is following several leads and we are working with the cooperation of New York City authorities to resolve this matter." Un-named sources have spotted several S.H.I.E.L.D agents in and around television studios owned by Comedy Central. One of the biggest questions is "Why?"
Few have shown the strength, let alone have had the training, to properly wield the shield, so its use as a weapon seems negligible. If it was stolen to act as a trophy, then it must be taken back and placed in a museum proper. Whatever the reason, whosoever has the shield now will have much to answer for, particularly in these tumultuous times.
With just one of the two shooters believed to be behind the killing of Captain America in custody, this new wrinkle in the Cap case has the country even further on edge and authorities scrambling to find the famous shield.
The shield, granted to Captain America by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 is composed of several virtually indestructible--yet classified--metallic alloys. Though not his first shield, Cap famously used this circular weapon as both a rallying force for U.S. troops, as well as to battle Nazis prior to his disappearance at the end of World War II.
Upon his reemergence decades later, the shield followed with him. More than 60 years after its creation, the shield remains a symbol of American strength and will. With the country still reeling from Captain America's death, the location and security of the shield has become a priority for authorities from S.H.I.E.L.D. to local police. Visit www.Marvel.com for full coverage on the death of Captain America.
Editor's Note: There you have it! Straight from the mouth of Marvel. Captain America's shield was found missing..............
Here's the Drawing of the possible culprit......
Hey, he almost looks like Stephen Colbert.....
Shanower Talks Age of Bronze at Illinois Wesleyan
BERKELEY, CA -- 12 March, 2007 -- Award-winning cartoonist Eric Shanower will discuss Age of Bronze, his graphic novel retelling of the Trojan War, in his keynote speech for Illinois Wesleyan University's Greek and Roman Studies Program on March 15 at 4 PM. In words and pictures Shanower will demonstrate how he uses both the literary and archaeological traditions to create a new version of the story for today's readers. The continuing graphic novel series, Age of Bronze, encompasses the complete story of the Trojan War, from the abduction of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, through the fall of Troy when the Greeks used the Wooden Horse to gain entrance to the city. Age of Bronze began publication in 1998 from Image Comics, Inc. Since then it has won major comic book industry awards, including the Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist in both 2001 and 2003.
The second volume of the series, Age of Bronze: Sacrifice, was selected as one of the Best Books of 2004 by the editors of Publishers Weekly. Last year, the Italian edition, titled La Eta del Bronzo, won the Gran Guinigi, the highest Italian comics award.
Shanower draws upon a wide variety of sources for Age of Bronze, to present what he hopes is a definitive version of the Trojan War story. The earliest versions of the Trojan War were The Iliad and The Odyssey, composed by Homer sometime around the 8th century BCE. These two epic poems formed the foundation of Western literature and have been famous for centuries around the world. Many of the greatest writers and artists in history have used Trojan War themes and episodes in their work -- fleshing out the story, adding new characters and events, and retelling the ancient story in modern ways. These include the Roman poet Virgil, Chaucer, Shakespeare, James Joyce, and Eugene O'Neill, among many others. All these versions of the Trojan War story provide material for Age of Bronze.
In addition to written and artistic sources, Shanower also delves into the archaeology of Late Bronze Age Greece and the surrounding areas. Of particular interest is the ancient city of Troy itself. In the summer of 2006 Shanower traveled to the archaeological site for the first time. He spent eleven days in Troy and the surrounding area, sketching, photographing, and talking to the archaeologists currently digging at Troy.
Says Shanower, "I was grateful for the opportunity to finally visit the place I'd been drawing for so many years. Hiking across the plain where Achilles and Hektor might have battled, standing on the ruins of the walls where Helen may once have stood was inspirational."
Eric Shanower will be speaking about Troy and Age of Bronze on Thursday, March 15, at 4 PM at Illinois Wesleyan University, 1312 Park Street, Bloomington, IL 61701. The general public is welcome. There is no charge.
Editor's Note: I will be covering this seminar in person, so be on the lookout for an in depth report on the event in the coming days.
News, Notes, and Updates: March 13th, 2007
Iron Man #15 and Initiative One Shot Sell Out
By Christopher Hoerdemann
Tony Stark's new position as director of SHIELD has caused comic book fans everywhere to go into a frenzy. According to a Marvel press release sent out this afternoon, Iron Man #15 has sold at Diamond, and there will be a second printing of the issue. The cover to the second printing will feature a splash page from the issue drawn by Roberto de la Torre (seen below).
To read Christopher Hoerdemann's review of Iron Man #15, click here.
Along with that announcement, Marvel also confirmed that the Civil War: The Initiative One Shot has sold out. The success is no surprise however. Brian Michael Bendis, Warren Ellis, and Marc Silvestri all worked on the jam packed issue. Any one of those creators on a book means that the issue will sell well, but when all three come together, things go to a different level. The cover (below) to the announced second printing is a splash page from the interior of the book, drawn by the aformentioned Marc Silvestri.
To read Christopher Hoerdemann's Review of The Initiative One Shot, click here. |
