Normally when I write a review I’ll spend a whole lot of time on the story and the writing. In this case though I have to start with what really makes the book work. The art from Skottie Young. This is everything I love about comics, it’s kinetic, energetic, and fun. It’s impossible for me not to put a huge grin on my face as I look at Eureka the cat’s facial expressions and the emotion that is clearly conveyed from every character. It feels alive and continues to be the best work of his career. The designs feel like they were torn straight from my imagination and thrown straight onto the page. I love everything about what he’s done with the series thus far. The coloring from Jean-Francois Beaulieu adds even more to the book giving it a storybook vibe that feels like a book I would read as a kid. It brings me back, it makes me happy, and I’m in a place where I reember the feeling I got as a kid when I would sit and read for days on end.

One of the things the art really does for me is this, it makes me really like Dorothy who up until this point was my least favorite character from the original works. I don’t know why, but I never really found Dorothy that interesting. I think it might be the fact that up until now whenever I saw her I only ever saw the version from the film. Now the picture in my head is a vivacious and strong young girl with a great sense of adventure that loves life. That’s the thing, this book hasn’t just been an enjoyable adaptation, in the case of one character, it’s actually made my views on the original works far more positive than they already were.

I guess I should talk about the rest of it now too shouldn’t I. Eric Shanower does a fantastic job of making the books feel like they should. I’m given the same feeling I had when I read the original works. The characters are spot on the stories are what I remember and I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.

There is a joy here from everyone working on this book. You can see in the work itself how much fun and joy the people making this book are feeling while they make it. It’s alive and it shouts out that they are all having fun and honestly, I hope it never ends. Buy this book, if you haven’t bought the previous series’ yet, buy those books. You and any children you might have will be more than happy with what you will be presented with.

All-Star Western was a comic I knew I was going to pick up totally based on the premise alone. We have Gotham City during the area of Americans expanding out into the west, a murder mystery and a team up involving Jonah Hex and Amadeus Arkham. How am I supposed to say no? And while I haven’t read anything with Jonah Hex in the past, the overwhelmingly positive things I’ve heard that writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti have done with it gave me total faith.

I’m happy to say that my faith was rewarded. All-Star Western #1 is an intelligently written introduction into what I am sure will be a fascinating story arc. In the opening we are introduced to the character Jonah Hex through the thoughts of Amadeus Arkham as Jonah Hex making his way through the thugs of this old west Gotham City. The rough sepia toned art that artist Moritat (Justin Norman) and colorist Gabriel Bautista speaks volumes for the overwhelming sense of corruption and dread that looms in this world. The story itself centers around the mysterious murders of several prostitutes in Gotham where the word “fear” has been seen written in blood in a different language for each victim. Amadeus Arkham, who has taken an interest in the case, employs Jonah Hex to be his second pair of eyes as well as his strongest pair of fists.

The two characters play off each other very well and the dialogue, which could’ve easily devolved into typical brains vs. brawn banter, establishes an interesting chemistry between the two. The two characters seem equally adept at solving the mystery behind the murders but their resources allow their means to differ. While Amadeus toils at his desk, with his insightful thoughts carrying the story along, our bounty hunter of little words is getting information with a bit more … force. Beyond that the character interactions among the entire cast are very natural and even as someone unfamiliar with Jonah Hex and the rest of the cast, Palmiotti and Gray set up these characters extremely well. And where there are well written characters, you can bet there is a higher chance of a thoroughly engaging story. That rings true here as well.

I find it difficult that the people who put this delightful issue together are going to see it fall off the wagon anytime soon. All-Star Western #1 sets a precedent as one of the most promising era intrinsic pieces of the New 52. With snappy well written dialogue, a well-paced introduction and a killer visual presentation I’d say this is a #1 well worth investing in.

[UPDATE : The figure just went up for Pre-Order at AmiAmi]

[Gallery Update Via : AmiAmi]

[Via Kotobukiya's Facebook by way of Plastikitty]

This time around the new crop of characters include a fantastically disco Dazzler, the Retro Cyclops, a website exclusive Ultimate Captain America (sold out) and Ms. Marvel in bust form. I’ve already picked out what I’m wanting from this set of releases that should be popping up for order in Previews at the end of the Month. Hit the Jump to take a look at all the upcoming statues.

• Ms Marvel Mini-Bust
• Sculpted by : Roberto Von Behr
• Size : 6.5+ Inches
• Price : $80
• Estimated Release Date: January 2012

• Dazzler
• Sculpted by : Mike Cusanelli
• Size : 14.5 Inches
• Estimated Release Date: January 2012
• Price : $230

• Website Exclusive Ultimate Captain America
• Sculpted by: Tron and Randy Bowen
• Size : 13.5 Inches
• Estimated Release Date : Fall 2011
• Price : $250 (Pre-Order at Big bad Toystore)

• Retro Cyclops
• Sculpted by : Khurram Alavi (Digital Sculpt)
• Size : 12 + Inches
• Estimated Release Date : January 2012 
• Price : $200

Head on over to Marvel.com and download the audio version to check it out.

If there is one thing I love about the comics industry it’s the people inside it. Yeah there are some egos but for the most part, comics are made by guys who just love comics. Brandon Jerwa is currently in the process of giving us a documentary about exactly that, comics and the people who make them. Why we love them, why we are passionate about them, and why we love making them. Yes you could do a documentary about specific creators and just talk about their history, but that would be somewhat boring. I would much rather have a documentary focused around just bull shitting about our passion and why we do the things we do. It seems that this is exactly what Brandon intends to give us with this project. So what are you waiting for, head on over to the Kickstarter page and pop down a pledge to help this fantastic looking project come to fruition.

Be sure to check back soon as we’re going to be teaming up with one of our network sites, Plastikitty, to give away a signed copy of Femina and Fauna.

[Via Camilla d'Errico]

1) They seem serious about not letting things be delayed. I’m seeing a couple fill in artists on books and while for a lot of people this could be a good thing, I also worry that some of the books could suffer from some sloppiness if any of the creative teams are forced to rush thing. However I’m still glad to see they are clearly focused on getting their books out on time rather than allowing another debacle like we had with some of the One Year Later relaunch titles. They said they would stick to their guns and bring us 52 non delayed issues and they are working to keep that happening.

2) What’s happening with DC Direct? In the current solicits we have essentially 4 items. 2 variations of the Ame-Comi Raven, a Batman Bust, and a set of action figures based on the New 52. It’s odd to see this little merchandise go up and it leaves me wondering what the future of DC Direct is with people like Sideshow Collectibles getting a license to do statues and Kotobukiya producing the Batman Arkham City statue. What is happening? Are they shifting away from statue production? Will we see more companies pick up licenses to do figures? Only time will tell but this month has me wondering what the future of DC Direct will be. Will it be more focused on the action figures? Will the Ame-Comi line have anything new to offer or will they just shift to producing repaints?

3) TV and video games seem to be where it’s at. Supernatural, Uncharted, Diablo and more. It seems DC is continuing to grab property after property to pop out as many gaming and television related books as they can. By itself this isn’t a bad thing, I actually think the Gears comic is better than anything in the games up to this point and they have shown it’s possible to put together a solid book based on properties you wouldn’t really think of as being great for comics.

4) The kids are alright. This right here is everything I want in a comic. If there is one thing DC has really been nailing over the last few years it’s the all ages material. For some reason having more than dudes as Robins is confusing for adults, but for kids, having all 6 of them in one book is just another dose of awesome added to an already awesome pile of awesome. Have I mentioned the word awesome enough? Because the solicits for the Johnny DC titles (Especially Brave and the Bold #13) have me grinning pretty good. Johnny DC Continues to do a solid jop of appealing to both kids and long time fans and that clearly is continuing in this round of solicits.

5) The books I’m excited about? I’m still really excited about. A lot of times I’ll run across something in solicits that intrigues me, usually until I read the text and find something that turns me off. Since the relaunch was anounced I’ve had a bit of a negative reaction to a lot of it but some books just cam off as things I really wanted to see. Some creative teams are too good to pass up and the stories solicited are keeping me interested. What am I excited about? Action continues to look like something that appeals to me but most importantly you have everything from Scott Snyder, Jeff Lemire, and Paul Cornell keeping me giddy with anticipation. Everything I’m seeing about those books is getting me more and more excited. I mean really it’s Stormwatch, fighting the Moon. If that doesn’t have the potential for batshit crazy awesome I don’t know what does.

Well, that’s what I learned this month, what about you guys? Let me know in the comments below.

I’ve long been a fan of Kotobukiya’s Bishoujo line. Since its inception it has done nothing but improve with each new figure. Being a sucker for both clear PVC and Emma Frost I knew this is one of the few exclusive figures that I had to get my hands on, and boy they did not make it easy. Being a Diamond Exclusive figure meant that it couldn’t be bought from Kotobukiya at the show. Only specific retailers at the show that had gone through Diamond to sell the figures were able to sell her at their own booths, which meant getting one was pretty much a treasure hunt of searching retailer after retailer on the floor of the show in order to get your hands on one. Was it worth it for those who decided to go in search of her? Click on through to find out.

To start, the packaging is exactly the same as the original figure. In fact, it is the same box. It has the same artwork, the same images, the same data. It’s not exactly what you would call indicative of a special figure. However it’s not the box that matters, it’s what’s inside the box that counts, so let’s take a look inside and bring this lady into the light.

As I mentioned in the opening, I’m a huge sucker for clear PVC. To see it used on this scale is something that ended up making this a fascinating figure. In fact it’s the only Bishoujo figure I have that isn’t displayed with the others due to the way it interacts with light; it’s interesting how it constantly looks different from every angle throughout the day.

The thing I love about it is that while the sculpt is exactly the same as the original, it manages to have a completely different feel and life to it than the original figure. The clothing is the same, the base is the same, but the clear PVC makes her feel so different from the original that it manages to feel completely new.

When I first saw the promo images I was really unenthusiastic about the idea of having no real painted details. Clear PVC is great but I wondered if the sculpt would be able to stand on its own and still have all the detail it needs to show emotion. It’s pretty amazing how well the details stand out. Once again this is thanks to the effect of the shifting light on the clear PVC. Thanks to this it is able to stand out from the rest of the line and could quite easily be my favorite one to date.

I can’t say enough times how much I love the way Kotobukiya has been using clear PVC. To use it to this extent and have each area still be easy to differentiate from the others is something of a feat. Slight tints take in the light and make the figure seem vibrant and alive giving off a rainbow spectrum of color that changes depending on the angle and lighting in the area. The slight use of blueish and purple hues in the hair sets it off from the face of the figure giving you a clear picture of all the little details.

One of the things I loved about the figure was the cloak that is clearly billowing in the wind. The natural flow is enhanced by the slightly blueish tint of shading to enhance the details of the curves and wrinkles.

The clear PVC effect was used for the entirety of the body. Even the hidden areas like behind the corset and the hidden folds of the cloak are meticulously sculpted without any hidden area blemishes you sometimes run into from some companies.

The only real issue with the figure is that you can kind of make out the pegs where the individual pieces are connected together. Which is kind of understandable considering that it’s an entirely clear figure. The thing I like though is that you really can’t make that out unless you are staring at her from a close range and from just the right angle. For most people when you get it on display this really isn’t an issue at all.

As with anything designed by Shunya Yamashita you are required to have a glorious butt shot. In this case I love the fact that it looks like a pair of pants rather than spandex. Yeah, sure, she’s probably got a pretty epic wedgie going on but rather than just being form fitted and glued on like it was pretty much just colored skin it has texture and creasing to make the pants look like, well, pants while her boots also are easily noticeable and separate despite sharing the same colors.

The base is once again the same as the original figure with a nice stone pattern that the figure is screwed in to. It works well and I really am fine with them not changing it.

I love everything about this figure and I can confidently say that anyone who went through the trouble of trekking through SDCC trying to find one to buy was making the right move. This is easily one of my favorite figures this year along with Kotobukiya’s X-23 statue.

Currently there are still some available for reasonable prices on Amazon, Entertainment Earth, and Ami-Ami and I’d recommend that any fan of good figures, clear PVC, or Emma Frost should snap one up now before they sell out and people start gouging the hell out of prices on them.

Be sure to hit up the gallery below for more images of this fantastic figure.

[Thanks to Kotobukiya for providing this sample for review]

I had no interest in this figure when it was originally solicited, though, due to a complete lack of interest in the character and an extreme dislike for the incarnation of X-Force that this character was based on. However that all changed once I started reading the current X-23 series from Marjorie Liu. Suddenly I had to own this statue. Seriously, if you haven’t been reading this series, do so now as it’s one of the best written comics I’ve read in a while; it made me care about a character I have absolutely no interest in and made me a fan of another character in Gambit, whom I absolutely loathed. On that note, can I please get myself a Vampire Jubilee? Koto, wanna get on that?

So what about the statue? Does it live up to the quality of the book I greatly dislike, or is it closer in quality to the current ongoing series? Hit the jump to get a closer look at my girl Laura and find out.

The packaging, like all of the Kotobukiya Marvel products, is a simple white box with a gold tinted logo and name across the front with a basic overview of the sculpt, sculptor, and character on the back. Along with all this basic information you also have an image of one of the upcoming figures in the line. In this case it’s the sadly cancelled Rogue statue which, to be honest, really kind of bothers me. Yes, I understand your boxes are probably made in advance of the decision to cancel Rogue, but seriously, if it’s not coming soon anymore, I don’t want to see it being listed as such. Enough of that, let’s open the box and take a look at the figure itself.

One thing I like is that Kotobukiya has really improved the quality of the interior packaging with a far more solid foam. The first few statues I bought from them had really flaky and thin packaging and honestly had me worried the figure would crack in shipping. I understand the reason of shipping cost being less but I would rather pay a little more for a solid base like this than for the thin and flaky packaging I got with the older releases.

The base is an interesting take on what is supposed to be a piece of the New York skyline. The rustic look of an old rooftop manages to look appealing and give an extremely solid base for the figure. There is no wiggle to the figure at all as she fits tightly into the 2 peg holes on the base.

Her swapable head fits solidly via a magnet in her neck. It’s also one of the most streamlined attachment points I’ve seen on a figure with swappable parts as the head fits seamlessly into the neck keeping it from detracting from the final figure in any way.A lot of times a neck point like that will leave a far more noticeable seam than this one does. An admirable feat for a figure with alternate parts.

When you take a look at the full figure you really see the craft and skill that went into making it. The base goes really well with the whole atmosphere and the smaller details came out amazingly. Let’s take a look at those now starting with the masked alternate head.

I’ll say it: honestly, I really don’t like this look. I really doubt I’ll ever actually display it with this head, it just doesn’t appeal to me at all. There are multiple reasons for this, mostly because she really just doesn’t look good with the mask on. The other reason is that if I take it off it stops being X-Force X-23 and just becomes X-23. I like being able to look at the details they put in the other head. Still it’s a pretty solid job and if you are more of a fan of that design it’s a great option to be able to display her with this head.

Still, it’s a very solid look and you can really see that while there are a few paint issues, it’s a pretty solid job for a production line figure and has no real glaring issues. The arms, the shoulders, the hairline, and the pattern design on the outfit all wound up with a tiny bit of bleed but it’s all within the levels one would expect from a mass produced figure. I can say that honestly, it’s one of the better paint jobs I’ve seen in the last few figures I’ve bought.

Take a look at her without the mask on and it’s a vast improvement in my eyes: focused determination and badassery all at once. Clear emotion with some sassy badassery that really just sells me on the whole thing. Can you tell I love the unmasked face? Because yeah, I love the unmasked face. Let’s really get in close on that for a second.

This is everything I want to see in a figure. It really is. A great facial sculpt with expression and emotion. This is what Erick Sosa really brought to the Kotobukiya line. A greater understanding of the characters and the ability to impart the emotions they should be showing rather than the generic grimace that most of their figures had.

I really like the tones on the figure. I’ve run into more than a few belly laden figures that have issues with shading. It’s also nice to see something that actually knows muscle definition and belly buttons are things that you should probably get right on a figure with an open tummy.

One of the things you will also notice here is that there isn’t a lot of spillover paint on the top of the belt which is something that I’ve had a huge issue with on figures before. It’s nice to see a figure with such a small amount of spillover. This is something I would say is one of the biggest issues with statues, the spillover between 2 sections is one of the most common quality control issues you run across and to see this little of it on a figure is really noteworthy.

The detail on the legs is defined pretty well for being in a mostly black space. It would be easy to take shortcuts on these areas that have a lot of detail that all shares the same color tone, and yet they don’t, details from the fold of the boots and more are all still there and well defined.

The glove areas share similar traits to the boots. Once again they are well defined and the claws are free of any splotches or globbing of paint. They are smooth and fantastically sculpted and the same goes for the claws on the feet.

I love the fact that yes, the boots look like the boots of a superhero. They aren’t bright and shiny, they are scuffed and well worn. They have a lot of small touches that so many people ignore and for that Kotobukiya, I say bravo.

Erick Sosa and Kotobukiya have absolutely knocked this one out of the park. I’m more than impressed with this statue and would recommend it to any fan of the character, including ones like me who really didn’t like this incarnation of X-Force, and especially since it was sold for the fantastically reasonable price of $169.99. Currently, it’s still available on Amazon and If it interests you you should head on over and snag one. Or, alternatively, head to your local comic shop and check and see if it’s still available to be ordered through Diamond.

Also thanks to Stephen Donaldson for teaching me to use Photoshop and vastly improving the quality of my photos.

Big Batman fan? Want to see a little more birds and less cats in Batman: Arkham City? A little birdy told us that if you’re not a fan of the seductive cat burglar, maybe a sidekick cameo will get you pumped for the next installment of the Batman video game franchise. Robin has been announced as Best Buy exclusive for Batman: Arkham City.

You may be wondering, which Robin is it? Details have surfaced and it’s now official — Tim Drake will wear the red “R”. He will be a playable character in the challenge mode which focuses on defeating enemies using move combinations, stealth, and gadgets.  Robin is not just a simple re-skin, as he will be a completely new character with new moves and equipment for all challenge modes. There will be two new maps included with the character: Black Mask Hideout and Freight Train Escape giving an extra incentive to buy from Best Buy along with the “Red Robin” alternate costume. I’m excited already!

So as of now, if you’d like to play as the Boy Wonder, your best bet is to reserve from Best Buy.

[more info via destructoid]

Hello and welcome to another edition of Fanart Friday! We’re a little late delivering these amazing works of arts due to technical difficulties, but late is better then never. This week, we feature some distinct and unique styles that are definitely  worth checking out.

Ming Doyle provides us with wonderful art like this. Powerful shadows and rich colors look great on these power house women of the DCU!

Dean Trippe gives us a sunny side Mary Marvel as pictured above. Trippe’s art is personally a favorite due to how minimalistic it is, but still remains gorgeous.

Evan Bryce draws one of my favorite Batgirl fanart. Hot pinks and deep aqua colors are so unusual for the caped crusader but it works so well, as you can see.

David William‘s Invincible piece seen here is absolutely breathtaking. I love how deep the colors and shadows and the transitions from hot to cool colors.

Another week has come and gone. This week has been fun finding art, since I’ve been given a lot of cool artists to check out. We hope you visit the artists and pay some respect to them. Thanks for viewing!

[Via Kotobukiya's Facebook]

If there is one thing I really appreciate it’s doing something good to support a cause. We’ve posted in the past about Kotobukiya and our very own Pat Loika using eBay to bring more money to Japan relief efforts and this time it’s the artists of Periscope Studios taking charge with a series of Japan themed art auctions. Currently there are a few about to expire like the spectacular Lupin III/Coboy Bebop piece in the header from Ron Chan, a Final Fantasy 7 Tifa from Colleen Coover, and a stunning Akira piece from Dustin Weaver with the rest having more time remaining. So head on over the their eBay page and slap down some bids or take to blogging, twitter, or facebook to let people know about this pretty sweet art auction with proceeds going to Peace Winds Japan via Mercy Corps.

Take a look at all the pieces up for auction below. Really quite stunning works and I am going to keep trying to win a couple of them. Most notably the pieces from Ron Chan and Natalie Nourigat.

What you are about to look at are the 3 new upcoming fine art statues sculpted by Erick Sosa. In the gallery you can see the X-Force Warpath statue which is currently up for pre-order from Entertainment Earth and Big Bad Toystore for $164.99 and the Gambit statue which should be coming up for order sometimes soon. Thor, being an unpainted Prototype is probably a little further down the line but I absolutely love what I’m seeing. Hit up the gallery to take a closer look at these statues that you won’t find anywhere else.

One of my favorite finds this week comes from dichiara. Deep, contrasting colors sparked my interest immediately. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the art, specifically the Legion of Superheroes stuff.

The next artist that I’ve found to be quite interesting is kajusx. The bold lines, vivid coloring and amazing light source usage earned a spot on the list this week. I’d love to see more from this artist in the future.

Riq wasn’t an artist I originally liked. However, looking back on the gallery… I don’t know what the hell I was thinking! Riq’s art is very unique with a more distinct style then most. It seems like a hybrid of Bruce Timm and Shane Glines. I love how cool the colors are and the blended shading.

Finally, JoshawaFrost gives us a cartoony look at some of our favorites! While the style may seem simplistic, overall, it is very detailed. Each redesign, envision and portrayal has left me thinking “oh, that’s JoshawaFrost alright”! It’s hard to leave an impression, but after the adorableness pictured above, consider me a fan!

That’s all for this week! Hope you found some artists to support in these bunch of talented individuals. Til next Friday!

EW.com have posted shots Adrianne Palicki in her Wonder Woman garb for the upcoming TV series.  It’s different from her traditional comic book costume.  And we all knew it would have to be, given how gravity and the actual human body work.

I was a big critic of DC’s Wonder Woman Redesign last year.  Not because it was putting Wonder Woman in pants, but because it was stripping the character of her iconography and trading said iconography for an early-90s X-Men knock-off look.

If DC had submitted this as a redesign, I would have had zero complaints.

[via EW.com]

J.K. Simmons has defined the media representation of Daily Bugle owner J. Jonah Jameson. As of Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man, Simmons will pass the torch on to a new actor. However is he truly done with the role? Fans can rejoice as he will be the loud mouth newspaper editor we all know and love one more time.

Disney DX’s upcoming show Ultimate Spider-Man will include Simmons as his signature role. Hopefully debuting in Fall of this year, the show has already become a hot spot for comic book writers to get involved. The likes of Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Dini,  Joe Kelly and many more will have ties to the show. It’s no shock that a great voice cast will be on par with it’s creative team!

Simmons was thrilled to be able to have the role back. Simmons says, “I don’t know when the show’s gonna be out, but yeah, J.J.J. lives on in my career at least (laughs) for a while with the new cartoon show, yeah.”

Personally, I’m very excited for this. I was a bit skeptical after the cancellation of the Sensational Spider-Man, but I must admit Ultimate Spider-Man has been shaping up to be interesting.

For more information pertaining to The Amazing Spider-Man and Simmon’s future roles, click the source below!

[via Spinoff]

I’m still not quite sure on what I want to think of Zach Snyders new flick, but I do know that I am, and always have been a huge fan of Mark Sable (Rift Raiders, Teen Titans: Cold Case) who wrote a little animated feature taking place in the Sucker Punch world. It’s a pretty cool look and Kieth David’s voice makes everything worth watching.

Normally I’m not a fan of Sideshow but every once and a while they go and do something like this. I mean seriously, Mohawk Storm! This I can’t really think there was a ton of demand for out there and yet somehow, sideshow has come to the rescue and given me a statue of something I’ve always wanted. I mean really, this isn’t exactly something I saw coming. The statue was created by Jean St. Jean, Mirea Romo-Bowen, and based on the art of Jelena Djurdjevic.

It’s got a pretty nicely designed base, a good pose, stands 16.5 inches high, and will ship sometime in the fall. At $200 this statue is a steal, especially with recent price increases from a lot of the statue companies. You can get the exclusive edition now which comes with a print of the artwork the statue was based on or the regular edition for the same price. I’ve got my order in, how about you guys?