Luckily for me IDW have just started a new major event in their G.I. Joe line, which covers all three of their monthly releases; Cobra Civil War. As the tagline states “Cobra Commander is dead, long live Cobra Commander!” essentially one of the Joes shot the Cobra commander clean through the head, now the organisation is looking to elect a replacement. Obviously noone undertakes a sensible and organised interviewing system looking at each of the contender’s individual skills and past experience, oh no not in G.I. Joe… To gain the title of Cobra Commander each of the candidates must prove their worth by inflicting as much pain and destruction on G.I. Joe as possible.

This issue was like watching a good Michael Bay film, with all the same action and cheesy one-liners but without the ear-splitting explosions and crappy acting. Writer Chuck Dixon tries to balance the action along side character development, and whilst this is sometimes overly expositional, it does the job fine, and all the material is interesting enough to keep you reading. Saltares’s artwork is clear and pretty simple, his use of the frame is bold and he often opts to let the action play out with the minimum amount of frames within the page, really displaying the characters movements.

G.I. Joe was loads of fun; although the team is quite large (on both sides) the characters are drawn from well-known archetypes so it doesn’t take longer than an issue to become fairly familiar with the set up, I managed to pick up and enjoy this issue with the limited knowledge of a) G.I. Joe good b) Cobra bad, and c) Snake Eyes doesn’t talk so much. Right I’m going to go and research 3 years worth of G.I. Joe back-story in preparation for the next issue, wish me luck!

Will Pond.

The stories will be written by Infestation writer Erik Burnham and artist Dan Schoening (Ghostbusters: What in Samhain Just Happened?!) with Cover artist Nick Runge.

Ghostbusters #1 will have psychokinetic energy on the rise once more with business good for the boys at Ghostbusters, however Ray is troubled by dreams that could either prove to be a prophetic omen of an impending apocalypse… or he has indigestion. Here’s hoping both apocalypse and indigestion! In fact that’s not a bad name! Ghostbusters: Apocalypse and Indigestion #1. Although that is not the real title, spooky behaviour is absolutely guaranteed, and from the look of the previews ectoplasmic goo is not in short supply.

There will be a range of collectible covers including a “Who Ya Gonna Call” cover by Schoening and A GLOW IN THE DARK COVER! Retailers will also be able to order unique covers with up to four customised Ghostbusters! IDW encourage fans to contact their local retailers to find out more about these covers.

Watch this space for more news.

Bustin’ makes you feel good!

John Paul de Quay.

How will Kirk’s new cavalier attitude have on those classic adventures? And what new threats and characters will they come across? Sounds like a great idea to me, hopefully it’ll be as awesome as it sounds…

Star Trek #1 is out in September, exciting eh? We’ll let you know if it’s any good.

Press Release:

San Diego, CA (June 17, 2011) – The Star Trek universe will never be the same following the events of the game-changing, blockbuster 2009 film. Beginning with STAR TREK #1 in September, IDW Publishing and CBS Consumer Products join forces with Star Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci to explore the vast implications of the alternate timeline created by the film in a new, monthly, ongoing comics series.

“Movies cost money. Lots and lots of money,” said Orci. “But comics give us unlimited budgets to take the crew of the Enterprise farther than they’ve ever been. Join us!”

The adventures of the Starship Enterprise continue with the new cast from the film as they embark on missions that re-imagine the stories from the original television series, along with new threats and characters never seen before.

Under the creative direction of Orci, fan-favorite STAR TREK writer Mike Johnson and artist Stephen Molnar bring this alternate universe to life and begin the countdown to the highly anticipated Star Trek sequel. The series kicks off with a dramatic new envisioning of The Original Series second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”

“Finally, new STAR TREK comics that showcase the new Enterprise crew,” said editor Scott Dunbier. “The only thing more fun than reading them is editing them!”

STAR TREK #1 will feature covers from Tim Bradstreet and David Messina, plus four rare photo covers. Readers are encouraged to talk to their local retailer about the photo covers, and the super rare STAR TREK #1 signed by Orci and Johnson.  The debut issue will also feature a golden ticket promotion, with more details to come shortly from IDW.

Wonderful people involved with this issue include Darwyn Cooke, Lowell Francis, Mark Waid (writers) • Darwyn Cooke, Gene Ha, Chris Weston, Pinups by Geof Darrow (artists) • Alex Ross, AND Dave Stevens (covers)

COOL.

IDW says:

This issue of ROCKETEER ADVENTURES continues to soar with a trio of stories crafted by masterful comics creators. Mark Waid and Chris Weston provide a pulse-pounding story of revenge set to a colorful backdrop of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge, Lowell Francis and Gene Ha put Cliff through his paces in an-all action extravaganza that has him fighting tooth and nail for his very survival—plus a special guest star! Finally, Darwyn Cooke delivers the goods (as always!) with a tale that we won’t say one word about—it’s too good to even hint at and ruin the surprise! Plus, a pair of pin-ups, BOTH by Geof Darrow—his incredible piece was just too massive to be held to the confines of a single page, so he’s supplying a gorgeous TWO-PAGE pin-up!

In May, IDW Publishing reissued the classic; The Rocketeer, now available in one volume. The first issue is now available as a Hundred Penny Press taster, they also launched The Rocketeer Adventures, a brand new instalment of the saga! Gee Whizz! (or whatever the 1940′s equivalent was in America).

Hundred Penny Press: The Rocketeer #1

Cliff Secord is a man! Cliff Secord with a stolen, military, experimental rocket strapped to his back, wearing nothing but breeches, a leather jacket and a tin hat for protection make him definitely… more manly than most men! Cliff Secord is The Rocketeer!

When Cliff became a potential human firework in order to impress his equally explosive girlfriend Betty, he inadvertently attracted military attention from both America and Germany in the lead up to the Americans joining WWII. The Hundred Penny Press “Classic first issues for a buck!” presents the first few stories in the saga and is a perfect introduction to The Rocketeer! Dave Stevens who sadly died in 2008 was a rare genius in his attention to detail in his flawless artwork.

Even though it was produced in the 1980′s, the artwork and dialogue instantly transports you back to 1938 (if you remember it first time round). The re-issued Rocketeer has been recoloured by Laura Martin, I don’t know what the original colouring was like but the new stuff fits the style like a pair of lycra shorts! Dave Stevens’ Rocketeer is Pretty much the closest thing i can think of to an American Biggles who doesn’t own a Spitfire or a Sopworth Camel, or have a friend called Ginger. However he does have a highly dangerous rocket pack, a nice leather jacket and of course….Betty! It’s only a pound (or a dollar) so go and buy it now!

Rocketeer Adventures #1

This new instalment of The Rocketeer presents three gripping short stories by various writers and artists, all of whom recreate the atmosphere of Dave Stevens’ Rocketeer perfectly. Each writer concentrates on different aspects of Cliff’s life. They range from battling Los Angeles gangsters in an attempt to save Betty who is being held hostage, to Cliffs’ problems at home and with his battle to stay on the right side of the Authorities.
The standout story is Dear Betty…by Kurt Busiek. The story is told from Betty’s point of view receiving letters from Cliff who is in active service as a pilot against the Japanese in 1944.

His letters at the beginning are long and comforting but slowly become shorter and full of lies to ease Betty’s anxiety. But Betty is no fool and knows full well he is secretly being used as the Rocketeer to fight the Japanese. We however see the photos taken in Japan that Betty does not of the Rocketeer fighting war machines and monsters. The letters become fewer and fewer which only adds to Betty’s anxiety. The fact you do not actually see any Rocketeer action is cunning as you feel sympathetic towards Betty, who like the reader is kept in the dark. If The Rocketeer Adventures keeps up the pace of this spectacular first issue, and stays as charmingly in character with Dave Stevens’ vision as it has done, then this is definitely a comic to keep up with!

John Paul de Quay

The story is fairly unambiguous too; some bickering, cold blooded scientists accidentally bring a zombie plague back from a random point in time after a short excursion through an experimental trans-dimensional portal. Meanwhile another scientist decides to activate his robot collection back just before the zombies arrive.

Brilliant!

Ashley wood deserves huge credit for his artwork on Zombies vs. Robots. It looks nothing short of sensational! The artwork is meticulously messy and festooned with blocky halftone shading. It’s constructively messy and the feel for movement and energy is exceptional.

I can’t decide whether the storytelling is vague or whether Chris Ryall meant to leave huge chunks of story for the reader’s imagination. Either way compliments Zombies Vs Robots as it is written with a beautifully childlike quality. Scattered and broken robots reassemble as reinforcements at the push of a button, zombietaurs (a zombie minotaur stupid!) and reassembling super composite zombies appear to wreak havoc just when you thought things couldn’t get any sillier! The baddies keep getting badder as robot Skull Face (Bertie) finds new weapons and comrades to destroy the zombie hordes (Weapons include the worlds entire nuclear arsenal!).

Zombies vs. Robots eventually trips up on its wonderful randomness as Bertie discovers a tribe of Amazon warrior women who have survived both zombie and nuclear apocalypse. There is no reason for the resulting obscene images of an all female fruit smearing “ritual”. These border pornographic images (or geek porn*) ruin the whole playful quality of the story and are so unnecessary that they rather paint a perverse picture of the writer. The occasional strong use of obscenities also tarnishes the otherwise innocent quality of writing.

Due to the nature of comics there is very rarely anything to be left to the imagination, perhaps the main reason they are regarded by many as a less intelligent form of literature. Zombies vs. Robots however is rare in that there are details left for your own interpretation allowing you to be lost in your own childish zombie robot wonderland, a zombie robot wonderland that will vary immensely from reader to reader.

Overall my wonderland was highly enjoyable until I was brought to rather sharply by a hard, crass slap in the face with some rather adult themes! However it is a highly entertaining read.

Note to Author: Can we have aliens in the next one please Chris? Thank you.

*Obscene content designed to sell to those less inclined to being caught buying regular indecent periodicals.

Complete Zombies Vs. Robots by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood.

John Paul De Quay.