NEWSDynamite issues statementTom King publicly apologizes to Jae LeeIDW Publisher put on admin leaveX-Men nominated for design awardWill you click Bad Idea’s Button?Tom Taylor is teasing again and again and then it leaksScott Snyder moving away from DC's central line in 2021Razorblades, new horror anthology releases in pay-what-you-want formatSina Grace writes a letter about marginalized creatorsSegment: TKO Corner - What TKO are you reading this week and what did ya think?!Our Top Books of the WeekDave:Pulp (W: Ed Brubaker, A: Sean Phillips)Sleeping Beauties #2 (W: Rio Youers, A: Alison Sampson)Nathan:Pulp (W: Ed Brubaker, A: Sean Phillips)Hellblazer #8 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Aaron Campbell)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Giant-Size X-Men Fantomex #1 (Hickman and Rod Reis)Nathan: Coffin Bound #5 (W: Dan Watters, A: Dani)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: The Goddamned: Virgin Brides #2 (R.M. Guera)Nathan: Giant-Size X-Men Fantomex #1 (Rod Reis)Off TOPIC TOP SHELF - Nathan's been binge watching familiar shows/comfort food TV

AIPT Comics

Throwing love at TKO and game-changes across comics

NEWSTom King calls out Jae Lee, then clears the airDynamite cuts ties with CG related campaignMarvel Solicitations and early looks for October 2020 releasesDC Solicitations are out tooCom2uS, Skybound/Image Comics team up for ‘Summoners War: Legacy’Marvel hypes Knull/Empyre prelude, and also hypes X of Swords in Cable and ExcaliburMarvel Launching Marvel’s Storyboards on YouTube - Hugh Jackman kicks it offIDW President, COO, and Publisher steps down and IDW names replacementsSDCC:Cates announces CrossoverOscar Isaac teams up with comic creators to create a graphic novelEisner Winners AnnouncedShe-Hulk to go through “green door”?Tini Howard says X of Swords is weirdMarvel’s 616 actually looks goodEndless Winter coming December 2020Our Top Books of the WeekDave:Empyre: X-Men #1 (W: Jonathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Artist: Matteo Buffagni)Harley Quinn Black + White + Red #5 (By Riley Rossmo)Forrest:Wynd #2 (W: James Tynion IV, A: Michael Dialynas)Hellions #2 (W: Zeb Wells, A: Stephen Segovia)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Hedra (by Jesse Lonergan)Forrest: Lost Soldiers #1 (W: Ales Kot, A: Luca Casalanguida, Heather Moore)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: DC's Cybernetic Summer #1: Dan MoraForrest: Plunge #5: Jeremy WilsonSegment: Interview:  Jill Carter Comicazi Manager - 2017 Eisner Award Winner407 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02144First, could you talk a little bit about the store, what you offer, and what it takes to win an Eisner haha?Somerville officially closed non-essential businesses March 20, did you anticipate this would happen and if so how did you prepare?During the pandemic do you continue to sell comics and do curbside pickup, how does that seem to be going? Reopening started in June, is that right? How did you guys open, what was foot traffic like?The pandemic has been accentuated by a change in the direct distribution world too, can you tell us your thoughts on DC’s move away from Diamond and what it means for LCSs like yourself?In that same vein, Bad Idea is a positing a world where comics are exclusive to LCSs, and even limited there. Do you think a kind of forced exclusivity model is good for comic shops, or does broader promotion and availability bring people in?What’s the biggest win you’ve had during this very weird year, and what do you wish you could have done differently?Have you noticed any difference in sales for a certain publisher during these pandemic times?With Comic-Con@Home, have you tuned in at all? What function does the convention scene serve for a comic store manager?What comics are you reading right now? How do you discover new things to recommend to customers?If you weren’t managing a comic shop, what would you do and why?Off TOPIC TOP SHELF - Jill Carter - Cheesy Horror Movies

Talking shop with Eisner winning store Comicazi, plus Comic-Con@Home coverage!

NEWSWarren Ellis accusers launch website detailing victim experiences, resourcesMarvel and ReedPOP launch ‘Marvel Made’ high-end collectible storeKirkman says he has no plans for more Walking Dead or Negan comicsNew Rorschach comic on the way from Tom KingMarvel reveals Dark Ages for Fall 2020Second Coming sequel comingNBCUniversal launches comics company, with Grant Morrison on first titleYojimbo CG show in the works at NetflixMarvel posts X of Swords “chapter” covers throughout Thursday then teases Swordbearers of ArakkoBOOM! Studios launch sci-fi epic ‘Origins’ a new limited series for November 2020BOOM! Studios unleashing Keanu Reeves-written BRZRKR #1 in October 2020Comic review and news websites lead call to drop Dynamite coverage after the company advertises a Comics Gate product Our Top Books of the WeekDave:Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 (W: Scott Snyder, A: Greg Capullo)Virtually Yours (W: Jeremy Holt, A: Elizabeth Beals)Forrest:Undone By Blood #4 (W: Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler A: Sami Kivela)Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto #1 (W: Jonathan Hickman, A: Ramon Perez)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Lords Of Empyre Emperor Hulking #1 (W: Anthony Oliveira, Chip Zdarsky, A: Manuel Garcia)Forrest: Chu #1 (W: John Layman, A: Dan Boultwood)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Wolverine #3 (Adam Kubert & Greg Hildebrandt)Forrest: New Mutants #11 (Flaviano) Segment: Interview: Discussing Virtually Yours with creators Jeremy Holt and Elizabeth Beals.1. How did this project come together, and how long has the project been in the works?2. How did Virtually Yours end up at Comixology? What made them feel like the right fit for this story?3. How does the artistic and creative process differ when you know a story is going to be delivered digitally if at all?4. Is the idea behind Virtually Yours based on any real experiences with dating apps? 5. How did you approach bringing elements of modernity into the traditional meet cute romance story? Did you start with the characters and then build out the app, or vice versa?6. What if Virtually Yours gets its own Netflix series - what will the streaming service be called in the real Netflix show?7. What other media: books, movies, television, etc. informed the making of Virtually Yours?8. Having been in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship before, I connected with Max, and there are elements of each character that seem so real, too. When crafting a character like these are they amalgams of people you know, or parts of yourself you put into the character?9. Do you have any ideas for expanding the world of Virtually Yours? What might a sequel look like?10. What did you want to be when you were little?11. What comics are you reading now?Off TOPIC TOP SHELF - Elizabeth Beals: TV show Gentleman Jack and Jeremy Holt: Devs - Animal Crossing

Swipe right for 'Virtually Yours' with Jeremy Holt & Elizabeth Beals

NEWSMarvel’s Comic-Con@Home schedule announcedMarvel and Scholastic teaming up to make OGN series for middle-gradersRobert Kirkman says he was “treated like crap” at Marvel ComicsMarvel’s King in Black coming December 2020Marvel’s digital-only...digital-only no more!Eve L. Ewing & Simone De Meo’s CHAMPIONS is back on Marvel’s schedule for OctoberDragoncon CancelledHumble Bundle from Image Comics generates 140K to help LCS’Full list: http://ppprecipients.com/BOOM! Keeps locking in artists for long deals...hmmmGary Larson returns with new Far Side comics DC delivering 2 horror anthologiesComic and graphic novel sales reach $1.2 billion in 2019Segment: TKO Corner - What TKO are you reading this week and what did ya think?!Pound For Pound - Natalie Chaidez, Andy Belanger, Daniela MiwaOur Top Books of the WeekDave:Empyre #0 Fantastic Four (W: Dan Slott, A: Sean Izaakse, R. B. Silva)Justice League #48 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Aaron Lopresti)Forrest:Alienated #4 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Chris Wildgoose)Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow #1 (W: Mariko Tamaki, A: Natacha Bustos)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Spider-Woman #2 (W: Karla Pacheco, A: Pere Perez)Forrest: Giant Size X-Men: Magneto #1 (W: Jonathan Hickman, A: Ramon K. Perez)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: DARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL #2 1:25 DOUG MAHNKE VARIANTForrest: Amazing Spider-Man #44 (Carlos E. Gomez)Off TOPIC TOP SHELF - David picks Marvel Legends action figures, specifically Beast and Sentinel

Going Pound for Pound with TKO, BOOM!, and Empyre

NEWSSteve Geppi announces he is reassuming role of prez for his enterpriseDiamond Comic Distributors charging customers increased shipping rates21 Empyre Tie-ins are no moreScott Lobdell stepping away from Red Hood, others share Geoff Johns, Joss Whedon, Jim Lee experiencesJudge Dredd getting a live experience in the UKMandalorian comics on the wayDisney+ adds “A look inside the 616” to comic-con@home lineupAlien and Predator comics head to Marvel A Hamilton comic was once on the way.Segment: What's your favorite webcomic or zine?Our Top Books of the WeekDave:Devil’s Highway #1 (W: Benjamin Percy, A: Brent Schoonover)Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red (2020) #2 (W/A: Mirka Andolfo)Forrest:King of Nowhere #3 (W: W. Maxwell Prince, A: Tyler Jenkins, Hillary Jenkins)Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red #2 (W/A: Mirka Andolfo)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Strange Academy #2 (W: Skottie Young, A: Humberto Ramos)Forrest: Alienated #4 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Chris Wildgoose)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Detective Comics #1024 (Brad Walker)Forrest: The Sky Is Blue With A Single Cloud (Kuniko Tsurita)Off TOPIC TOP SHELF - GeoGuessr

Our favorite webcomics and why the format works so well

NEWSDark Horse and Mignola cut ties with Scott Allie following sexual assault claimsDC pulls Warren Ellis Dark Nights Death Metal shortVault cancels Hundred Wolves due to Myke Cole misconductCharles Brownstein has resigned from the CBLDFDC's Event Leviathan: Checkmate by Bendis and Maleev postponed indefinitelyRick Remender reveals The Scumbag for OctoberDC Solicitations for SeptemberMarvel's Tom Brevoort launches comics editor RPG - play as DC, Marvel, or ImageVault is kicking off a horror imprint with new series The AutumnalSkybound celebrates 10 years with virtual Skybound XpoKieron Gillen announces Marvel’s Warhammer 40,000 booksOur Top Books of the WeekDave: Marvels Snapshot (2020): Captain America #1 (W: Mark Russell, A: Ramon K. Perez)Suicide Squad (2019) #6 (W: Tom Taylor, A: Bruno Redondo)Forrest: Marvels Snapshot: Captain America #1 (W: Mark Russell, A: Ramon K. Perez)That Texas Blood #1 (W: Chris Condon, A: Jacob Phillips)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: The Goddamned: The Virgin Brides #1 (W: Jason Aaron, A: R. M. Guera)Forrest: Olympia #5 (W: Curt, Tony Pires, A: Alex Diotto, Dee Cunniffe)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Red Sonja #16 (Jae Lee)Forrest: Buffy The Vampire Slayer #15 (Becca Carey)Segment: Interview: Ryan StegmanYour podcast Steg-Man and His Amazing Friends has surpassed 100,000 downloads after 44 episodes, what inspired you to take to the internet-air-waves?As a podcaster, has the show helped your comics career connecting with fans and creators? Recently a debate has sprung up on Twitter about the function of a comics writer and artist and their differences and similarities. How would you describe your collaborative process with different writers across the industry? How frequently do you and Donny Cates meetup or get on a call to discuss the development of Venom? Are your discussions more focused on issue-to-issue details or long term storytelling?How has your view of Venom and by extension Eddie Brock as a character changed throughout working on this story? What contribution to the world of Venom are you most proud of making to-date?Free comic book day questions…Do you miss con season?What books, movies, games or other media most inspires your work generally and more narrowly for Venom? Do you make moodboards or any other sort of diagram to help establish tonality or style?Can you tell us about one panel or moment that was surprisingly difficult to nail? one that came to you surprisingly easy?If you could develop a prestige graphic novel for any character, no holds barred, who would it be and why?Many folks are struggling to keep their creative juices flowing right now, do you have any tricks or means of getting your creativity flowing?What did you want to be when you were little?What comics are you reading right now?What one writer that you haven’t worked with would you like to work with most?Off TOPIC TOP SHELF - Ryan Stegman - Video games, Studio Ghibli movies, and more

Artist Ryan Stegman Interview: Talking Venom, new villain Virus, his podcast, and more

NEWSSeveral claims of misconduct and grooming were made against Cameron Stewart and other creators including Warren Ellis, with DC pulling a yet to be released book by Stewart and Martin Morazzo pulling a Stewart variant cover with that money going to Safe HorizonX of Swords is 24+ issues, X-Office releases reading guideImage and Marvel solicit books with “Back the Comeback” labelsECCC, Keystone Comic Con, PAX canceled + shifting to digital events What is DC FanDome?HBO Max comics...Vault partners with Heavy Metal to sell merch and comicsNorman Osborn is BACKKKKKK...after only 2 yearsMarvel’s The Pull List reveals September books to look forward toAscender and Descender optioned for TVDark Nights: Death Metal Marylin Manson video!Empyre: Aftermath Avengers #1 announcedOur Top Books of the WeekDave: Ant-Man (2020) #5 (W: Zeb Wells, A: Dylan Burnett)Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 (W: Scott Snyder, A: Greg Capullo)Forrest: Wynd #1 (W: James Tynion IV, A: Michael Dialynas)Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 (W: Scott Snyder, A: Greg Capullo)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular #1 (Lots and lots)Forrest: Captain America Marvels Snapshot #1 (W: Mark Russell, Kurt Busiek, A: Ramon K. Perez)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular #1 (Liam Sharp)Forrest: Batman The Smile Killer (Andrea Sorrentino)Segment: Interview: Primer DC OGN - Thomas Krajewski, kry-effsky and possibly Jennifer Muro - June 23How long has Primer been in the works from idea to creation? What sparked the original pitch?This world is vibrant, colorful, and most notably more kind than most depictions of Gotham, can you tell us a little bit about the creation of Ashley's view of Gotham and how you pushed those ideas in the narrative and the art?Primer tells a story that’s very accessible to younger readers but also relevant to older ones. Can you speak about the creation of a cross-generational story like this? Primer’s powers are those that are so full of life and creativity I could see a kid come up with them, but dropping after the crayons run out, what other media or life events inspired this story?About midway through the book we see an extensive list of all the colors and their associated powers, one notable reference is the color Scarlet allowing Ashley to make illusions, are there any other secret references or nods there?When it comes to color Theory how would Ashley Rayburn do?Themes around adoption, abuse, a parent who is incarcerated, and finding a new home can be heavy, what lead you to use these for your story?Many folks are struggling to keep their creative juices flowing right now, do you have any tricks or means of getting your creativity flowing?What did you want to be when you were little?What comics are you reading right now?We would be remiss to not mention Primer’s cliffhanger ending. Is there already a larger universe or story in the works? In an ideal world does Primer become a weekly comic or do you think it will always work best as a graphic novel?Off Topic Top Shelf - Jennifer: Gardening Thomas: Fallout 4, Borderlands, What We Do in the Shadows

Discover DC Comics' Primer with creators Thomas Krajewski and Jennifer Muro

NEWSFCBD moves to July from MarvelJupiter’s Legacy getting TPB reprints in prep for Netflix show this fallGeoff Johns teaching a course at the Kubert SchoolDeath Metal getting 3 one-shot stories in September and Snyder details the releaseDC is Anthology crazy:SUMMER SIZZLEDetective Comics 144-pagerOh and JOKER WAR ZONEMarvel collection info details:Reprinting X-Men: Evolution tie-in comics for 20th anniversaryMarvel's U.K. super-team The Union forges ahead with 2020 debutBendis is wrapping up his Superman run...but what does this mean!?Bendis introducing new Superman villain this SeptemberHellblazer Rise and Fall - a 3-part series by Tom Taylor coming in SeptemberSDCC is set for July...virtuallyNew Iron Man suit and series creative teamDC and Diamond make a short term planOur Top Books of the WeekDave: Batman Secret Files #3 (W: Dan Watters, Vita Ayala, James Tynion, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Mariko Tamaki, A: Sumit Kumar, Andie Tong, Riley Rossmo, John Paul Leon, Victor Ibanez)Batman #92 (W: James Tynion IV, A: Guillem March)Forrest: Undone By Blood Or the Shadow of A Wanted Man #3 (W: Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, A: Sami Kivela)No One’s Rose #2 (W: Zac Thompson, Emily Horn, A: Alberto Jimenez-Alburquerque)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 (W: Scott Snyder, A: Greg Capullo)Forrest: Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 (W: Scott Snyder, A: Greg Capullo)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Ludocrats #2 (Jeff Stokely)Forrest: Wonder Woman: Dead Earth #3 (Daniel Warren Johnson)Segment: Interview:  Wynd limited series - James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas the-all-ee-nass - Out June 17

Talkin' new BOOM! series Wynd with James Tynion and Michael Dialynas

NEWSComic book artists support Black Lives Matter with commissionsGail Simone launches #ComicWritersChallenge to help raise funds for Black Lives MattersMarvel and DC/Warner Bros. express support for black community, is it enough?Marvel donates 5 millionMarvel comments on use of Punisher logo#BlackOutTuesday - The Comics Beat reposted content that spotlights black voices and issuesMan-Bat is the latest DC title to fall to COVID-19Eisner Awards 2020 nominations are inDC cuts ties with Diamond - Going with Lunar Distribution and UCS Comics DistributorsComic shop owners reactOur Favorite BOOKS by Black CreatorsDave: The Wrong Earth by Jamal Igle and Tom Peyer, Naomi by Jamal Campbell and Brian Michael Bendis - Far Sector Jamal Campbell & N.K. Jemisin - ‘Black Panther & the Crew: We Are the Streets Ta-Nehisi Coates and Butch Guice Nick: Postal (and Postal Deliverance) by Bryan Edward Hill (writer) - Farmhand is written and drawn by Rob GuilloryTOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Decorum #2 (W: Jonathan Hickman, A: Mike Huddleston)Nick: Daredevil #20 (W: Chip Zdarsky, A: Marco Checchetto)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Bitter Root #8 (Chris Visions)Nick: Pandemica Vol. 1 (Esteban Salinas)OFF TOPIC TOP SHELF: Nick - NOS4A2 season 2

Our favorite comics by Black creators and a look at how the industry is standing against racism

NEWSVault Bound initiative continues/expandsMARVEL Cancels 53 Variants, Three Themed ProgramsDC and Diamond...not a good first startSteve Geppi makes the case for the Diamond monopoly New Marvel “Digital first” titles announcedMarvel celebrates new comic book day with videos from creatorsDC announces Instagram-exclusive Batman comicsMarvel bringing back ‘Marvel Mini-books’, smallest comics of their timeTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveAvengers #33 (W: Jason Aaron, A: Javi Garron)Alienated #3 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Chris Wildgoose)ForrestAlienated #3 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Chris Wildgoose)Doctor Aphra #1 (W: Alyssa Wong, A: Marika Cresta)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #6 (9.8)Fan: Suicide Squad #5 (8.9)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Far Sector #6Forrest: Swamp Thing Giant #4JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Catwoman 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular #1 (1940s Adam Hughes Cover) *Forrest: Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #5 (Scott Hepburn)Segment: Interview: Chip Mosher - Blacking Out (with Peter Krause), working at Comixology as Head of ContentBlacking Out is already funded, congratulations! Your Kickstarter states this work is 3 years in the making, but when did the bud of the idea start?What specific goals did you have when establishing the Blacking Out Kickstarter? What made Kickstarter feel like the right platform for this project?What one piece of advice would you give to comics creators conceptualizing or launching their own crowd funded projects?To say your background in comics is robust is an understatement. Working at Oni Press between 1999 to 2005, Marketing at sales at BOOM! in 2007 to 2011 and now 8 years at Comixology as Head of Content, from your perspective what is something surprising to see emerge in comics over the years, what is something not so surprising?What is it about gumshoe detectives and muscle cars that will never go out of style?What is your approach to creating a mystery, how do you come up with twists, turns, and seeding the story with details that will matter later?Blacking Out has a sleek visual style marrying the 70s and modern aesthetics, can you tell us how yourself, Peter Krause, and Tom Muller developed the look of the book?What other media (Books, movies, television) informed the development of Blacking Out? Many folks are struggling to keep their creative juices flowing right now, do you have any tricks or means of getting your creativity flowing?What did you want to be when you were little?What comics are you reading right now?OFF TOPIC TOP SHELF: Chip Mosher - Genealogy

Comixology Head of Content Chip Mosher talks his Kickstarter OGN, his storied career in comics, and...genealogy!?

NEWSBOOM! Surprise Announces Wynd as limited seriesNew details emerge around Tom Taylor’s Seven SecretsDCeased gets a digital-first series starting this week running 14 chaptersMarvel Comics releases full July schedule with a return to weekly single issuesDuncan Jones’ Moon trilogy to close out as graphic novel on KickstarterMega Man comic announced for AugustJackpot...MOVIE?!Furloughs turn to layoffs at IDWAugust Solicitations at MarvelDC Announces DC Connect - Solicitations for AugustTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDavePlunge #3 (W: Joe Hill, A: Stuart Immonen)Star #4 (W: Kelly Thompson, A: Filipe Andrade, Javier Pina)NathanHawkeye: Freefall #5 (W: Matthew Rosenberg, A: Otto Schmidt)Red Sonja #15 (W: Mark Russell, A: Bob Q)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: 9.2 Lost on Planet Earth #2 (W: Magdalene Visaggio, Claudia Aguirre)Fan: 9.2 Hawkeye: Freefall #5 (W: Matthew Rosenberg, A: Otto Schmidt)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Venom #25 (W: Donny Cates, A: Mark Bagley)Nathan: Doctor Aphra #1 (W: Alyssa Wong, A: Marika Cresta)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Batman Beyond #43 (Francis Manapul)Nathan: Rogue Planet #1 (Andy MacDonald)OFF TOPIC TOP SHELF: Nathan Simmons - Blood Machines (film and album)June 8 - Silver Linings PlaylistUpcoming episodes of The Stage Moms and Two Drinks & A Haunting

Epic August Marvel/DC solicitations are in and BOOM! Studios dazzles again

NEWSDiamond announces “comeback” plans for May 20DC eliminating preview days for LCSDC's GENERATION Event Absent from JULY ScheduleDC releases July scheduleBatman: Three Jokers set for AugustDark Nights gets 2 tie-in issues, additional 7th issue, and a September breakSupergirl #42 is going digital-onlyRose City Comic Con Cancelled James McAvoy, a dozen other stars join Sandman audio dramaJeff Lemire bringing Sweet Tooth back to DC, RDJ bringing it to NetflixMarvel starts revealing August/September scheduleMaestro is getting an origin storyX of Swords is coming...in SeptemberMark Waid + Neal Adams collaborating on FFAIPT BOOKCLUB: Upgrade Soul by Ezra Claytan DanielsThe Story So Far: Molly and Hank Nonnar, a lovingly close elderly couple, undergo a cloning/physical perfection process called Upgrade Cell under the care of a legally shaky and potentially unethical group of scientists eventually coming face-to-face with a different, seemingly perfected version of themselves. Philosophically, dramatically and narratively dense Upgrade Soul touches on what it means to be human, beauty, family, intelligence, science, transhumanism, and ultimately love in a deft equally horrifying and beautiful story that eschews the common “what if you could be your best self” question of Superman comics and instead asks “what if you met your best self”What Works: Body language and set dressing, hidden intentions, lettering, balance of horror and beautyWhat Doesn’t: Frequent flashbacks confuse narrative structure, don’t see much of Molly/Hank’s younger life Favorite Artistic Moment: Molly visiting Manuela, 4 grid comparing the twoFavorite Narrative Moment: Henry at grave, Where We Think This is Going: Optioned for a movie, Daniels now working on BTM FDRSSegment: Interview: Chris Arrant - Newsarama Editor1. Walk us through a day in the life of a Newsarama editor.2. Can you think of a time in comics that have been as tumultuous today and with news changings so quickly? How do you keep all the different things straight?3. The 5,000 dollar question...where do you see comics for the second half of 2020? How about 2021?4. What do you think the comics industry can learn from overcoming this hurdle? How would you like to see publishers, distributors, and retailers react and change? 5. What did you want to be when you were little?6. If you could interview one comic creator living or dead for as long as you wanted, who would it be? 7. If you could choose one comic to come out regularly during quarantine times, which would it be?8. What comics are you reading right now?9. You’re super active on Twitter and I’m curious, is that part of being editor at Newsarama, or is that a private endeavor?OFF TOPIC TOP SHELF: Chris Arrant - Gardening, magazine reading

Chris Arrant gives a full report on editing at Newsarama & the industry, plus we analyze 'Upgrade Soul'

NEWSNew Marvel Comics coming NEXT WEEKDigital comics shop shutting downRosenberg comments on Hawkeye being one of the booksAdvance copies of Black Widow out with no release dateDC Comics going big in JuneOver $950,000 going to comic stores via BINC May 12thDiamond says May 20 orders “Better than we thought”Tom Taylor teases:Superman?DCeased: Dead PlanetSeven SecretsHumanoids working with Hero InitiativeMad Cave showcasing virtual conventionMarvel extending free access to some stories in Marvel Unlimited through June 2Image Comics June solicit updateAIPT BOOKCLUB: Nextwave by Warren Ellis and Stuart ImmonenThe Story So Far: What Works: What Doesn’t: Favorite Artistic Moment: Favorite Narrative Moment: Where We Think This is Going:Segment: Interview with Gene Luen Yang - Superman Smashes the Klan debuts May 12.Superman Smashes the Klan is inspired by the 1940 radio drama “Clan of the Fiery Cross”. Did DC provide you with recordings of those shows or transcripts? What was the research like for dipping into this specific period of Superman stories.Obviously and unfortunately, the fight against racism is timeless and that made this story a good candidate for adaptation, but was there anything in the original content you intentionally excluded? What do you think is the quintessential Superman story? Is that also your favorite?I love your concept of the boy scout in Superman and he wears these bright colors due to his immigrant status and make everyone around him know he’s a good guy. It makes sense even if it was subconscious. I’m curious, why the black within the logo?Speaking of Super-Man...might you know when might we see Kong Kenan back in a DC Comics book?I’m incredibly excited for your Shang-Chi series set for a June release. It’s your Marvel debut, congratulations! Can you tell us a bit about your love of the character, what era of the character you’re a fan of, and how excited you are for the movie?How does your process differ writing for different publishers and established properties versus creator owned projects? Do you prefer one over the other? What did you want to be when you were little?What comics are you reading right now?What one artist that you haven’t worked before do you most want to work with?Pie in the sky, what one character would you like to work on you haven’t yet written?Off Topic Top Shelf: Gene Luen Yang - Holo Man

Guest Gene Luen Yang talks Superman Smashes the Klan (and more), plus book club #6 and the news

NEWSDC Explains Why It Began Distributing Through Others During DIAMOND ShutdownDiamond CEO Steve Geppi talks and talksSays DC made things awkwardMentions Fox News...Diamond lists titles to be released May 20 from most publishers, DC releases May 19 and 26 release listMarvel clarifies new comics coming the 27thExplains rationale behind delayed releases, full line coming July 15BOOM! Revises May and June solicits March 2020 comic book sales figures are inAWA signs exclusive distribution deal with DiamondComics displays going into 3,000 Walmart storesDan Slott ending Iron Man runAIPT BOOKCLUB: East of West vol 1 by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta (issues #1-5)The Story So Far: What Works: What Doesn’t: Favorite Artistic Moment: Favorite Narrative Moment: Where We Think This is Going:OFF TOPIC TOP SHELF: David Brooke -  The Last Dance

Comic book club #5 - East of West: A menacing sci-fi genius

NEWSDC Comics announces new slate of digitally available comics 7 days a weekFirst week of titlesDC Comics releases Daphne Byrne #4, Batman Giant #4, The Dreaming #20Diamond refutes DC’s claim about canceled ordersJim Lee debuts 20th sketch on AIPT in his 60 days of 60 sketches to benefit comic shops.No new marvel comics next weekKodansha signs on with InkyPen app, adding Attack on Titan, Parasyte, others to Nintendo Switch ReadingBill Sienkiewicz shares risque reference photo, artists take it and run with #billsbuttchallengeAIPT BOOKCLUB: Swamp Thing by Writer: Alan Moore Artist: John Totleben 1982 (SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING BOOK ONE collects issues #20-27)The Story So Far: What Works: What Doesn’t: Favorite Artistic Moment:Favorite Narrative Moment:Where We Think This is Going:OFF TOPIC TOP SHELF: Forrest -  Nvidia Shield TV

Book club breakdown #5 - Alan Moore's The Saga of the Swamp Thing

Weekly comics news and review podcast keeping you up to date and connected. We cover the news, conduct interviews, review the best comics of last week and look ahead to new releases next week.

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