In this weekend’s Comics Relief,  we have news on the controversial new issues of Action Comics, which feature Superman going toe-to-toe with the police in a story the echoes recent headlines, the latest All-New, All-Different Marvel news, and much more. But first, Marvel has released the first few pages from their comic which bridges the gap between the classic Star Wars Trilogy and The Force Awakens. Read on for your first look…
Marvel Previews First Interior Art From Star Wars: Shattered Empire
Star Wars comics have been killing it over at Marvel, ever since the publisher got the rights to that galaxy far, far away earlier this year. But maybe the most anticipated Star Wars title coming from Marvel this year is Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto’s Star Wars: The Road To The Force Awakens: Shattered Empire, which covers the thirty year time period between the end of the Return of the Jedi and this year’s new film. Now Marvel has just released some beautiful looking preview art from the new book, and it shows that the first issue begins exactly where Jedi leaves off, at the big Ewok party on Endor. You can check out the unlettered preview pages below.
Some 27 years later, Batman: The Killing Joke tops hardcover graphic novel sales in July
Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s 1988 graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke has always been a consistent best seller ever since it first came out, but it has received quite a bit of publicity these last few weeks, with news that Bruce Timm was going to adapt the story for a direct-to-video movie, and then further news that Mark Hamill, who voiced the Joker in the classic animated series fom the 90s, would return to voice the Joker once last time.
Well, it seems that publicity has paid off, as The Killing Joke was the #1 selling OGN in hardcover graphic novels for the month of July. Not bad for a book that Alan Moore still refuses to talk about. Other classic graphic novels from the same era in the top ten are The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen, which proves that the period between 1985-89 might still be the greatest period in comics ever. [icv2]
Fan Film Based On Classic Elseworlds Batman Tale Gotham By Gaslight Gets A Trailer
Speaking of Batman comics from the eighties, one of the first Elseworlds graphic novels from that period was Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, which was written by Brian Augustyn and illustrated by a pre-Hellboy Mike Mignola. This story was set in an alternate world where Batman operated out of Victorian London, not Gotham City, and was on the case of Jack the Ripper in 1888.
Now a fan named James Campbell has gone and made a fan film based on that Elseworlds story called Ripper, and has released a trailer for the movie that gives fans their first look at a live-action Victorian-era Batman. The project’s first crowdfunding campaign raised more than $9,400 to help pay for filming, and now producer Adam Bouabda has launched another to assist with post-production. The goal is to complete Ripper by the end of September, for a premiere at a U.S. comic convention. [CBR]
Bruce Timm Takes A Brief Leave From DC For Invincible Iron Man #1 Cover
The biggest of the relaunches from Marvel for their “All-New, All Different” initiative this fall is no doubt Brian Michael Bendis’ Invincible Iron Man #1, which already has a pre-order of some 250,000 copies from comics retailers, making it Iron Man’s best first issue debut ever. Now Marvel has brought in DC animation legend Bruce Timm to do a variant cover for the first issue. Comics history fans will note that Timm’s cover pays homage to the first issue of the Invincible Iron Man series from 1968, which was illustrated by legendary artist Gene Colan. Timm does a great job of recreating Colan’s cover in his own unique style, and for someone known mostly for his DC work, it’s nice to see the Timm touch on a big Marvel property for a change. [Comic Book]
Marvel Releases First Image of Gatefold Cover For The Mighty Thor #1
In other “All-New, All-Different” Marvel news, one of the other relaunches that has people most excited is the new Thor series, which features Jane Foster, traditionally the Thunder God’s love interest, now wielding the hammer Mjolnir as the Thunder God herself. Now new series artist Russell Dauterman has released a full color image of the gatefold wraparound cover for The Mighty Thor #1,  which is set for this fall, and it is indeed a beauty. With Jane Foster standing in the middle of the action, you can still see the Odinson, back turned, as well as Odin himself, Loki, the Warriors Three, Sif, and many other supporting players from the Asgardian pantheon. Check out the cover for The Mighty Thor #1 below: [IGN]
Superman Takes On Police Brutality In Latest Issue of Action Comics
The latest issue of Action Comics, #42, has become somewhat controversial this week, as the story, which features a depowered Superman, whose identity as Clark Kent has been made public by Lois Lane, being locked out of his own Fortress of Solitude, then coming home to his neighborhood in Metropolis, and to neighbors who know all now know his secret big secret.
But that’s not the controversial part. The controversy lies in that the issue tackles police brutality, as Metropolis police, many of whom aren’t big fans of the Man of Steel for the villains he draws in, decide to show up to a “Welcome Home Superman” block party in Clark’s neighborhood in riot gear. One thing leads to another, and before you know it, tear gas is being thrown and chaos ensues, all meant to echo recent real-world riots in Ferguson and elsewhere. Not everyone is crazy about this latest development in Superman’s comics (Fox News for example) but it’s the most topical Superman comics have been for a long, long time, that’s for sure. [Business Insider]
Deadpool and Snoopy: A Match Made in Heaven?
The Deadpool movie is getting all the buzz right now that Fantastic Four wishes it was getting, and that’s mostly due to the awesome trailer they put out this week. Deadpool’s creator Rob Liefeld couldn’t be happier, and to celebrate the trailer’s release, (and also to commemorate Snoopy’s fictional birthday, August 4th) he released an image on his Instagram of this adorable mash-up of Deadpool and Snoopy, and it’s a mash-up image that actually works better than you think it would. Because we all know that Deadpool would totally do the Snoopy dance if given the chance, right?  [Rob Liefeld]
