Andrew Wheeler
Women Triumph at Ignatz Awards with Wins for Foster-Dimino, Goldstein, Carroll, Carre, and J. Tamaki
The Eisner Awards at San Diego Comic-Con back in July were a great night for women in comics, but this past weekend's Ignatz Awards at Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland, recognizing achievements in small press and independent creator-owned comics, went one step further in celebrating women's contributions. Women claimed victory in every category.
Snoopy Flies Again in ‘Peanuts: Where Beagles Dare’ [Preview]
Charles Schulz was a master humorist whose enormous Peanuts library will surely be remembered as one of the great works of the 20th century, and while he will never be replaced, I'm glad to see his work live on with new entry points for modern audiences that may help lead them back to his work.
One of those entry points is the Peanuts movie coming out in November. Another, aptly timed ahead of the movie's release, is next week's original graphic novel Peanuts: Where Beagles Dare, from Jason Cooper and Vicki Scott, published by Kaboom. It's a full-length Snoopy adventure that sees the hound in his World War I Flying Ace mode --- and therefore emboldened and no doubt headed for trouble. Check out an extended ten-page preview.
Super: The Inhumans and the Sinister Gentrification of Otherness
The Inhumans used to be one of the more fascinating minor oddities of the Marvel Universe; ultimately only about as important as the Atlanteans or Monster Island, but just as pleasingly weird. With Medusa's magnificent hair, Gorgon's thunderhooves, and Black Bolt's mute power in a world of chatty heroes, they were deservedly called 'uncanny' back when the X-Men were still a preppy study group.
But the Inhumans have become the "fetch" of the Marvel Universe; the more Marvel tries to make them happen, the more certain it seems that they never will. What makes the Inhumans' rise especially hard to accept is that it seems directly tied to the fall of the mutants. Today's X-Men are comics' most significant icons of otherness, and treating them as interchangeable with another set of outsiders is dehumanizing on a whole new level.
Your Necessary Reminder That Daniel Acuna is Ridiculously Talented, Courtesy of ‘Sam Wilson: Captain America’ #1 [Preview]
Daniel Acuña is ridiculously talented. These unlettered preview pages from the upcoming Sam Wilson: Captain America #1, with writer Nick Spencer, are a testament to that truth, which probably ought to be acknowledged more --- though the fact that Acuña has been selected for such a prime gig as the new Captain America book is also a pretty good indicator of where he stands in the industry. Daniel Acuña is very, very good.
Previously, on ‘Battle Chasers': Joe Madureira On Returning To His Hit Series After 14 Years Away [Interview]
Joe Madureira's fantasy adventure series Battle Chasers was a huge hit when it launched in 1998 from WildStorm's Cliffhanger imprint, but it quickly fell to an irregular schedule, with one issue delayed by sixteen months, and the series disappeared altogether after its ninth issue in 2001.
But that sixteen month delay is going to look like nothing compared to the gap between issues #9 and #10! Yes, Battle Chasers is finally coming back after a fourteen year break, to coincide with the launch of a Battle Chasers video game currently being crowdfunded on Kickstarter. To celebrate the book's long-awaited return, we spoke to Joe Madureira about what he's been up to, and why readers should give the series a fresh chance! We also have an exclusive look at some of Madureira's character sketches and concept art for the series.
Exclusive: Marvel Unveils Final Cosplay Variants For ‘Sam Wilson, Captain America’ And New Series ‘Rocket Raccoon And Groot’
Marvel released almost all of its cosplay variant covers for the coming months a few weeks back, but there were two omissions that we're unveiling exclusively today. The first is Eddie Newsome's Captain America cosplay for the cover of Sam Wilson, Captain America #1, by Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuña. The second is for a new title that was only announced last week; Hurley Fx brings the Monarch of Planet X to life for the cover of Rocket Raccoon & Groot #1, by Skottie Young and Filipe Andrade.
Tony the Tiger? Why Is Mary Jane Joining the ‘Iron Man’ Cast?
Well, this is weird. Mary Jane Watson, model, nightclub owner, and ex-wife of Peter Parker (it's a fact, you gotta deal with it) is making a transfer to the Iron Man supporting cast in the fourth issue of Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez's Invincible Iron Man this December. Marvel made the announcement on its website today, declaring that she will take on a new, "unexpected" role.
The Lumberjanes Embark On An Aquatic Adventure with Watters, Leyh and Nowak [Preview]
As a wise crab once observed, the seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake. That's the sort of sensible advise that might help resolve the rivalry between two mermaids in next week's Lumberjanes #18, from the creative team of Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, and Carolyn Nowak.
Of course, before we get to the advice, we might want to account for the presence of mermaids and other strange mer-creatures in the lake. And before we get to that, there's the promise of ducks, and a donut inflatable, and an awesome rock 'n' roll vest to encounter. Check out a five-page preview kicking off the next great Lumberjanes adventure!
First Look: Madness and Monsters in Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo’s ‘Doctor Strange’ #1
Just about every comic book writer or artist I've ever met has a Doctor Strange pitch somewhere on their hard drive; there's something about the good doctor that makes him an irresistible subject for stories, at least to the people telling them. Whether that translates to the readers as well, we'll find out when Doctor Strange #1 goes on sale October 7 --- but we can offer a little preview of the action right now.
Super: Where is the LGBTQ Ms. Marvel?
Superheroes meant a great deal to my sense of queer identity when I was growing up. The men were rarely drawn as sex symbols, but their athleticism and close male friendships were as close to homoeroticism as the culture allowed me. The presence of strange outsider heroes like Cloak and Dagger, the X-Men, and even DP7, combined with the fantasy of superhuman champions fighting on behalf of the weak and oppressed, made superheroes integral to my sense of self-worth when everything else conspired to tell me I was worthless.
With this new series of columns, 'Super', I'm going to look at some of the questions arising at the intersection of LGBTQ identity and superhero fiction, starting with a really vital one. Why isn't there a gay Ms Marvel?