Double Take Announces Seven New ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ Series, Kickstarter Campaign!

by Derek KraneveldtMay 8, 2015

Briefly: It’s pretty clear if you’ve seen our co-produced Doc of the Dead that here at Geekscape we’re pretty big fans of the undead. Saying that, we were more than excited to learn that this Double Take is expanding their Night of the Living Dead universe with a batch of new books.

The first three series in the universe were announced back in March, and today the publisher has announced seven new titles, along with a pretty cool Kickstarter campaign.

The first issue if all ten series will launch on September 16th, at the cool cost of $3.50 a piece (or $20-$25 for the super-pack containing each book), but backing the Kickstarter will get you the super-pack for just $10. It’s really a n0-brainer… get it?

As Double Take notes, “Our first 10 stories start in the world established by the 1968 cult classic Night of the Living Dead, then we let our imaginations…and our zombies…run wild. ” The cover art for each book (as well as a description) have been revealed, and all of them sound pretty cool. You can take a look at the previously announced books here, and head below for a look at the newly announced titles.

As ghouls surround her station, KBRF Radio ace DJ Samantha stays on the air all night. Will Rock & Roll save her soul?

The posse shoots to kill, but Ben survives. Too bad it’s all-downhill from here.

Doctors, and nurses, and zombies, oh my!

Hot sun, hot babes, and the cold decaying flesh of the zombie horde. It’s co-eds vs. the undead.

Even a brain a-day won’t keep this Doctor away.

Protect. Serve. Beat. Burn.

Thanks to some hungry customers, the closing shift at George’s Market has turned into the graveyard shift.

Will you be picking any of these up? I’m a big fan of each piece of cover art. Again, you can contribute to the Kickstarter campaign here, and be sure to let us know which book you’re most looking forward to!

Geekscape Comics: ‘Aliens Vs. Zombies’ Miniseries Incoming!

by Derek KraneveldtMay 7, 2015

Briefly: Those of you at this year’s Wizard World Philadelphia, you’re in for a treat. First of all, the official Wizard World after party is also the Zenescope 10th anniversary party, and in addition, the first 100 people to come to the Zenescope booth (#501) will receive a FREE limited edition Aliens vs. Zombies art print with artist David Seidman (Charmed) on hand to sign.

Aliens vs. Zombies is an all-new five issue miniseries that’s set to launch this July. The book was created and written by company co-founders Joe Brusha & Ralph Tedesco, and is a blend of science fiction, horror, and action with moments of levity and tongue-in-cheek humor, the action-packed genre mashup features art from Vincenzo Riccardi (Wonderland).

The official series synopsis reads that “When a meteor carrying the Zombie virus hits Earth it triggers the potential end of mankind. The last chance for humanity is a spacecraft full of Alien scientists tasked with tracking and eliminating the interstellar virus; one that has wiped out many other planets and lifeforms. What will happen when humans must team with aliens to survive the zombie apocalypse? Find out in Aliens Versus Zombies!”

You can take a look at the key art for the series below, and be sure to grab that print if you’re lucky enough to be at Wizard World!

Geeksape Comics: Three New ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ Series Coming From Double Take!

by Derek KraneveldtMarch 26, 2015

Briefly: It’s pretty clear if you’ve seen our co-produced Doc of the Dead that here at Geekscape we’re pretty big fans of the undead. Saying that, we were more than excited to learn that this June, Double Take is set to debut not one, but three new titles set in the universe of George A. Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead.

All three monthly series are set to debut this June in print and digital formats, and you can peek the first info and cover for each series by taking a look below!

Home, written by Peter Aguero, with art by Julian Rowe, Monica Catalano, and Javier Mena  :

A happy family, a lovely spring evening, and Zombies.

Home follows a working-class farm family through the events of the zombie apocalypse in western PA. On the night the dead rise, the Foster family has gathered for a quiet Sunday dinner. Oblivious to the horrifying events that will soon unfold, Paul Foster takes his wife and two young children into town, leaving his teenage daughter home alone with her boyfriend. As his small town falls into chaos, Paul has to keep his family together and somehow get back home to his daughter, who is left to fight her own battles.

Z-Men comes from writer Jeff McComsey, and features art by Kurt Tiede, Alisson Rodrigues, and Max Flan:

Dead and/or alive. LBJ orders the Secret Service to bring him back a Zombie.
It’s 1966 and the Oval Office is in an uproar; there’s been a spree of mass murders in Western Pennsylvania (and reports of the dead returning to life). President Lyndon B. Johnson assigns the head of the Secret Service to send agents into the field to investigate. Agents Stuart and Clancy are given the opportunity to serve their country and see if the zombie apocalypse has indeed begun.

Rise also comes from Jeff McComsey, and features art by Kurt Tiede, Frederica Manfredi, and Vladimir Popov  :

They’re coming to get you Barbara. Follow our favorite siblings, Barbara and Johnny, from the classic 1968 Night of the Living Dead film as they try to survive beyond the night at the abandoned farmhouse.

All three book sound very cool, and I’m especially excited to follow the continuing adventures of Barbara and Johnny. Not to mention that gorgeous art. As 2T notes, “this marks the first releases in a major initiative surrounding the classic horror franchise, which frightened moviegoers all around the world and made zombies a household name. Having commissioned a new generation of writers to breathe new life into the classic franchise, 2T has a dozen series in the works – some following characters from the film in surprising new directions; other stories are all new. All creators are working in collaboration with 2T GM, Bill Jemas.”

Which books will you be picking up this June? Sound out below!

Geekscape’s Favorite Things Of 2014: The Comic Series You Should’ve Been Reading This Year!

by GeekscapeStaffDecember 30, 2014

2014 is very quickly coming to a close, and it’s crazy to look back at what an iconic year its been for movies, music, gaming, books, and, of course, comics. But there’s just so much stuff to see, play, listen to, and read, that it’s impossible for some superb media to fall through the cracks. That’s why Jonathan and Karson, Geekscape’s biggest comic geeks, have teamed up to tell you the top comic book series that you should have been reading this year.

Did they miss any? Read through, and be sure to give us your suggestions in the comments below.

Jonathan London

2014 was a big year for me as far as comics go. Not only was it filled with some of the best reading I can remember, but my first written series saw publication. Lionforge Comics published Miami Vice from March through November and the 8 issues mini-series (to be followed soon by a second) helped me stick my big toe into comic book writing in a big way! You should all be reading some of the awesome Lionforge books (may I suggest Night Trap by Cullen Bunn?) and hopefully this time next year we’ll be talking about more Super Action Man and Miami Vice comics and who knows what else!

So now that my bias towards putting Miami Vice on this list has been avoided, here’s what I loved reading this year (with many books left off for the sake of keeping this to a manageable length)!

Birthright by Joshua Williamson, Andrei Bressan

Looking at it, there is a lot of fantasy on my list… and a lot of Image Comics! Why not? I mean, the publisher is putting out quality stories at an all time high and should be known for more than just The Walking Dead and Saga. Take Birthright for instance, the story of a missing child who returns a year later as a full grown barbarian warrior claiming to have spent his childhood being raised on an alternate fantasy world. If that doesn’t hook you, Bressan’s art definitely will. Only 3 issues have come out so you can still jump on the bandwagon!

The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw by Kurt Busiek, Ben Dewey and Jordie Bellaire

Yet another Image published fantasy series… but this one has anthropomorphized animals performing magic incantations in the hopes of fixing their broken world! And within just the first 2 issues, things appear to be getting a LOT more broken before they’ll ever start turning around (if they do). It goes without saying that you should read anything Kurt Busiek writes and this is Busiek at his best.

Manifest Destiny by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts

Another Image book, this one from The Walking Dead publisher Skybound. Anyone who’s been to grade school in the US knows the story of Louis and Clark and their mapping of the Western territories ahead of Westward Expansion… but what if the stories you read in school were only part of the truth? What if the Western United States in the early 1800s were teaming with things like tribes of violent Buffalo Centaurs and hungry men eating fungi? This book is one of the most fun titles I read all year and is a completely insane take on actual historic events. I’m pretty sure after reading it you’ll accept this more exciting version as fact!

The Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Verse by Dan Slott and Oliver Coipel

In 2014, the best comic book event from the Big 2 comic book publishers wasn’t Axis, Time Runs Out, Multiversity or Future’s End! Heck, it didn’t even span more than ONE title (so you can’t really call it a crossover unless you really want to read the spin-off books)! It all went down (and is still going down) in The Amazing Spider-Man, as part of the months long Spider-Verse storyline. The story stretches across the Marvel multiverse but does it in a way that is easy to follow, exciting and has long reaching repercussions for the future of the Marvel U. Major characters die, others are introduced and the stakes can’t be higher for the #1 hero in the Marvel Universe. If you’re worried about taking the plunge, read our handy guide to the Spider-Verse and give this story a try.

Batgirl by Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart and Babs Tarr

I’ll admit, when I first flipped through this book at NYCC I thought there was no way I was going to start reading it. And no, not because it’s Batgirl. And not because of its cuter, more teen girl look. I just couldn’t wrap my head around reading a story that played out like multiple IM windows jumping in your face at once. How could this A.D.D.-riddled collection of pop up balloons, fonts and panels result in an engaging (or even cohesive) story? It looked more like a manic Youtube video than a comic book. Well, I have to tell you that it DOES and it WORKS. Batgirl brings a level of freshness and dynamic storytelling that is much needed in the current New-52 landscape of the DCU.

The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

If you’re going to be reading comics, you need to be reading anything that Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips put out. The duo, who have been kicking ass on books like Criminal, Incognito, Fatale and Sleeper for almost two decades have long since hit their stride as the best in comics. Nowhere is this more apparent than the first few issues of The Fade Out, a story of murder and cover up set against the backdrop of the early days of Hollywood.

Punisher by Nathan Edmondson
Black Widow by Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto

I’m going to put these together because they both make up Nathan Edmondson’s coming out party at Marvel. Granted, I picked up Black Widow because I’m a fan of Phil Noto’s beautiful artwork, and Punisher because he’s one of my favorite characters and has a solid track list of writers for years, but Edmondson and company are put out issues in both series that should not be ignored. Sure, there are bigger writers at Marvel who are putting out more popular work, but these two titles are right up there with the best quality you’ll find. Frank Castle’s story bring him to Los Angeles where he goes head to head with gangs and villains like Electro and Crossbones… all while being tracked down by the modern day Howling Commandos. And Natasha Romanov is in search of redemption (and answers) after years of playing both sides of the Cold War. Her cast of characters and resources have been stripped down and she’s spent most of the series on the run. By taking both characters out of their safety zones and away from the same recurring rogues that have been defined them for years, Edmondson has gotten to the bottom of what make both of these characters work.
Outcast by Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta
Just when you start thinking of Robert Kirkman as “the zombie guy” he proves it wrong with Invincible. And when Invincible proves that he’s got a firm grasp on superheroes, here comes East of West. And to really drive home the fact that Kirkman is one of the most dynamic storytellers in comics today, this year saw the release of Outcast, a story about a mysterious young man who deals with possessions. I’ve been a fan of Paul Azaceta’s artwork since Grounded and his moody, chiseled depictions characters’ expressions and their real world settings are the perfect canvas for this haunting storyline. Sure, a TV show is in development. But you don’t want to wait that long to start reading a story that’s only getting deeper (and darker).

Trillium by Jeff Lemire

Jeff Lemire can do no wrong… even when he gets really weird on you, as he does in Trillium, his science fiction story that spans from the distant future and space colonization of man to the building of the Aztec ruins. The story is told against a huge backdrop but is told in such a personal way that you won’t lose site of its strong emotional core. When faced with the threat of extinction, out among the stars and far from home, is humanity’s salvation found in our distant past? And how do we bridge that gap both as a species and as individuals? It’s heady and emotional stuff but told in a very accessible way. And Lemire’s ephemeral artwork will lead you through the story with just enough clues to guide your way but not so many that you lose your will to discover it for yourself.

Stray Bullets by Dave Lapham

2014 needs to be remembered as the year that Stray Bullets returned to comic store shelves. After going missing for a decade, Dave Lapham’s spider-web of a modern crime classic came back with a bang as both a new ongoing set of miniseries (starting with this year’s Killers) and a mega omnibus collection of everything Stray Bullets that came before. I rarely seek out signatures from professionals but one of two that I made sure to get this year was from Dave Lapham, a true writing inspiration to me (the other was from Zander Cannon, who I write about in the Bonus section). I’ve been a fan of Stray Bullets since the first issue came out (when I was in High School!) and it’s just as good as it ever was. The story is a collection of disparate and unique characters who criss cross each other’s lives against a backdrop of low level crime that stretches from the big cities to suburbia and growing up in the 70s to the modern day. It’s a pretty intricate canvas and after spending years as an effective creator for hire for the bigger comic publishers, it’s great to see Lapham back to doing what he does best.

BONUS!

Heck by Zander Cannon

This was the best Graphic Novel that I read this year. Even though it was released in 2013, I picked it up at SDCC 2014 and was completely blown away by this quirky, emotional (and sometimes hilarious) tale about venturing into the underworld in order to make peace with the afterlife… as a job! I can’t recommend this one enough.

Karson Braaten

Afterlife with Archie by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla

As the title suggests, this is the story of a zombie apocalypse in the Archie universe. I’ve never read an Archie comic in my life so I was surprised by how accessible it was. There were a few times I felt that I didn’t know the significance of certain person or place but it was never a detriment to the story. In fact, it made me want more Archie! (and I’ll finally be getting my fix in the New Year with the Waid and Staples helmed Archie Relaunch). Francavilla’s masterful use of color helps create panel after panel of haunting imagery. This title is as good as any zombie story on the market.

Black Science by Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera

This is science fiction at it’s best. Heck, for me, this is comics at its best. The story follows a team led by anarchist scientist Grant McKay as they travel between dimensions trying to stay alive and get back home. It gets a little bonkers, reading month to month I tend to re-read the last issue before going onto the new one in an attempt to keep everything straight in my head. While his work on the more well-known Captain America and Uncanny Avengers has been great, this is the title of his to be reading.

Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

Another series from Image that continued to pick up steam in 2014. This is science fiction at it’s… weirdest? Sex Criminals is the story of Suzie and Jon, a couple who meet at a party and after sleeping together realize they share the ability to freeze time when they orgasm. They use their shared power to attempt to rob a bank but not all goes as planned. Fraction’s writing is hilarious and the concepts are fresh. Zdarksy’s artwork is unique and memorable, I especially enjoy how he handles when time is stopped. I can almost guarantee you’ve never read anything like this!

Superior Spider-Man by Dan Slott, Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, Giuseppe Camuncoli

I’m sure by now you’ve heard about Doctor Octopus running around in Peter Parker’s body. Seeing how Otto handled both internal and external conflict of trying to be a hero was both extremely gratifying and thought provoking. The finale was one of my favourite moments in comics this year. There was a lot of doubt and hate casted at Dan Slott by fans when this series began but issue by issue he proved it could work. Peter Parker is back now, and in more danger than ever, in Amazing Spider-Man (a title you should be reading!). It is a great time to be a Spidey fan!

Silver Surfer by Dan Slott and Mike Allred

Another book being written by Slott. This is a fun read that doesn’t require a whole lot of thinking. If you can’t get enough Doctor Who, this might be the series for you as they share a similar structure. Dawn, a quirky Earth girl, accompanies the Surfer as they adventure across the universe and get mixed up in conflicts along the way. The dialogue between the characters will often having you giggling. I’ll admit, I’ve never been a big fan of Allred’s art style but he does a great job here creating looney, colourful worlds. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

BONUS

Oz: The Emerald City of Oz

I couldn’t talk about my favourite comics without mentioning Skottie Young. I love his artwork. If he painted a wall, I’d probably enjoy watching it dry. This book is absolutely gorgeous. The story itself feels more direct and focused than the previous Oz books but like I said, this is all about the artwork for me. If The Wizard of Oz isn’t your thing, I’d recommend checking out Rocket Raccoon, another fun, easier read with Young in the artist seat.

This Week In: Dark Horse Comics

by Shane O'HareDecember 6, 2013

We’re trying out something new here at Geekscape. “This Week In” will cover a different comic book publisher each week and their releases for said week. We’ll give you our insight and a slight preview of what to expect in each issue. Sometimes it will be Dark Horse, sometimes it’ll be another publisher. Sometimes it will be from a single writer’s point of view, while other times it will be a big old Geekscape group effort! Let’s go!

These books will all be available on

Catalyst Comix #6

This is actually three mini comics in one! The art and story changes drastically between all three stories. We have “Amazing Grace,” “Agents of Change,” and “The Ballad of Frank Wells”. In “Amazing Grace” we have the titular superhero fighting a recently outed alien invader as he outlines his plans for world domination. “Agent’s of Change” is about a group of superheroes bent on changing the world for good. This issue, the character Wolfhunter is in some sort of coma and is battling some inner demons. “The Ballad of Frank Wells” has Frank fighting a evil super villain who can control hydrogen atoms and summon water, all the while being led by his inner spirit guide.

The one thing each of this stories has, is a message, and it comes off a tad preachy. It might be that I am jumping in too far into the story to understand the characters motivations, but they all feel like they were written by a Social Justice Warrior. Almost each panel has an abrupt narrator jumping in to tell you what is going on. Agent’s of change was my favorite as it was actually funny and didn’t stuff its message in your face. The end to Frank Wells was just absurd.

Grindhouse: Doors Open At Midnight #3

Prisonship Antares is pretty much the polar opposite of Catalyst Comix. This is probably the best example of a Grindhouse film brought to the pages of a comic book. The story surrounds the transport of an all Women prison to colonize a planet deep in space. The warden is a next level psycho bitch, and half way through this book is a page that made my jaw drop. I am definitely going back and getting this book from the start and will follow it to it’s conclusion. The art is awesome and the writing flows great. Must read for any fan of Grindhouse films.

Hellboy In Hell #6

This issue is subtitled “The Three Gold Whips”. Hellboy runs into a lost soul who is trying to save himself from the demon he should (get it…sould?…nevermind) his soul to and get off scott free. I always love Mike Mignola’s artwork and this particular issue shows it off great. We learn more about the great exodus of the demon princes after the rumor of Satan being killed gets out. This issue has a nice slow somber pace and feels like it will be a huge setup for next month.

The Occultist #3

Whoa damn! This cover pulled me in hard. The artwork in this book is top notch, next level! This book follows Rob Bailey. A mild mannered college student who has been given an ancient spell book and mystical sword and must learn to control his new powers. This issue we see Rob and his friends going into a spirit world, trying to break free their mortal coils and become one with all the gods in the universe. I got a creepy vibe from these scenes but the artwork is beautiful. Someone give Mike Norton an award.

This book reminds me of a funnier more colorful Buffy and any fan of those books would love this short run.

The Star Wars #3

This is the book I’ve been waiting for! If you aren’t in the know, this series is based on George Lucas’ original screenplay for Star Wars. It is really a joy to hear about the premise. It’s like a super well done fan fiction, without the gay shipping scenes! Only on issue 3, this is an easy time to jump into the series. It’s awesome seeing how the characters from the screenplay have changed. The art and feel in this comic is probably the most accurate for the Star Wars universe.

Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle #1

This is a mini series written by J. Michael Straczynski and promises to be an amazing set of books. The first issue is all setup and is fairly light though. The story moves the skynet war to 2029, but the narrative jumps around to various times, like 2003. The writing is awesome as always and the art feels like it fits the universe perfectly. If you’re a Terminator fan this is a must read series. This is gonna be big!

The Victories #7

After reading this issue of The Victories I am completely in love. The art reminds me of Samurai Jack and the writing is hilarious. The set pieces and layout of each and every page shows that they have some serious attention to detail. I am excited to see where things go from here.

So that is it for Dark Horse for the week of 12/04/2013. Be sure to come back next week for another “This Week In”!

Geekscape Comics: Preview ‘Nova’ #10!

by Derek KraneveldtOctober 22, 2013

Briefly: Marvel today sent out the first preview pages for the upcoming 10th issue of Nova. This mark’s the 100th issue of the Human Rocket, and the issue is super-sized in order to celebrate.

From the press release:

This November, celebrate the milestone 100^th Issue Anniversary of the Human Rocket with the supersonically supersized Nova #10! High adventure in deep space from the team of Zeb Wells & Carlo Barberi. But that’s not all! Nova #10 also features the debut of new regular Nova writer Gerry Duggan (Deadpool) in a story drawn by superstar Nova artist Paco Medina!

Since acquiring the Nova Force it’s been a bumpy ride for fifteen year-old Sam Alexander! Fighting alongside Rocket Raccoon & Gamora, a not-so-nice encounter with the Superior Spider-Man – not to mention a run in with Thanos and his Black Order! But that’s all about to change! Big changes are coming for Nova, and it starts here! (Oh, and did we mention a guest appearance by the new New Warriors setting up their All-New Marvel Now! series in February?)

“It took us a few decades to get to #100 and Zeb’s wrap up along with Gerry’s explosive debut story is a perfect way to celebrate this well-earned anniversary,” says Senior Editor Stephen Wacker. “With the Nova Corps showing up in next summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Marvel’s coolest new hero is going to have a huge spotlight and this is the place where Nova blasts off big time!”

Don’t miss the start of a bombastic new beginning for Marvel’s sentinel of the stars whenNova #10 rockets into print and digital this November!

Take a look at the new preview pages below, and let us know if you’re enjoying Nova!

Geekscape Comics Reviews: ‘Ballistic’ By Adam Egypt Mortimer And Darick Robertson

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 9, 2013

Black Mask Studios has yet another hit on their hands.

Not a fan of wordy reviews or slight spoilers? Here’s a quick take: Ballistic ranks among the best premiere issues that I have read in a long time. The book is violent, irreverent, and completely absurd, and I can’t recall the last time I’ve experienced such a fantastic mixture of those three things.

Years in the making, Ballistic‘s infectious, humorous script comes from writer Adam Egypt Mortimer, while the superbly detailed, oft-disturbing artwork (right from the very first panel) has been created by HAPPY! and Transmetropolitan alum Darick Robertson.

Ballistic‘s memorable opening begins with a unique issue: bad dudes have bad things to do, and it’s too freaking hot. Naturally they call in Butch: an HVAC repair man with dreams of becoming a criminal, whose best (and possibly only) friend is his talking, living gun. The dialogue shared between Butch and his firearm are some of the standout pages of the book; they speak as though they’re best friends, they act as though they simply couldn’t function without each other, and this relationship takes Ballistic to a completely new level.

That gun isn’t the only typically inanimate object that’s alive in Ballistic… every piece of technology is. This leads to some original problems (and solutions) throughout the course of the book, and gives Robertson’s artwork a very particular and distinguished feel. From pulling an optic nerve from an A/C unit, to a building with spines instead of pillars, all the way to an attempted bank robbery (which fails because the gun can’t fire due to having an overage of drugs in its system), Ballistic‘s slick writing and phenomenal art are both to be celebrated.

Ballistic is set to hit shelves tomorrow (Wednesday, July 10th). The five issue miniseries began with a bang (in the biggest sense of the word), and I’m unbelievably excited to learn what comes next. If you can pick up one comic this week, make it this one! Ballistic scores a clear 5/5; this book is bound to sell out fast, so you may find it advantageous to call your LCS and add Ballistic to your pull list.

If you’re in the Los Angeles area, Ballistic writer Adam Egypt Mortimer will appear at Meltdown Comics tomorrow (July 10th) at 7:30PM for a signing. It’s a great opportunity to meet one of the creators of one of the best new miniseries’ of 2013. I wish I could be there, but unfortunately, I don’t fly down for a few more days!

Geekscape Comics: Preview ‘The Last Of Us: American Dreams’ Issue One!

by Derek KraneveldtApril 8, 2013

If you’ve been keeping up with the consistent coverage we’ve been giving Naughty Dog’s upcoming survival/horror/action title, The Last of Us, then you know full well just how excited we are for its release. Every image, every trailer, every clip has been utterly fantastic, and coming from a studio like Naughty Dog, it’s easy to see that The Last of Us is set to be one of the best games of 2013.

To get you up to speed in this terrifying new world, Neil Druckmann, lead writer on The Last of Us, and comic artist/writer/sensation Faith Erin Hicks have crafted a prequel tale that introduces us to the game’s heroine, Ellie, and takes us through her post-apocolypic journey (which of course, eventually leads us to Joel and the events of the game).

Issue #1 of the four issue miniseries is now available at your local comic store. If you’re a digital reader (or outside of North America), you’ll have to wait until April 10th when American Dreams hits Dark Horse Digital.

Take a peek at some preview pages from issue one below! Already pick the book up? Let us know how it is! The Last of Us releases worldwide on June 14th.

Geekscape Comics: ‘Superman’ Gets New Creative Team. ‘Green Lantern’…Gets A Gun?

by Shawn MaddenJune 11, 2012

Over the past week a flood of the covers of DC’s “zero issues” have hit the web. Some good. Some bad. Well here we have an example of both.

The good.

The Huffington Post is reporting that ‘Superman’ will be getting a new creative team in the form of writer Scott Lobdell (‘Teen Titans’) and artist Kenneth Rocafort (‘Red Hood And The Outlaws’). While I don’t read ‘Superman’ myself.. this is definite good news for this book. However bad news for my love of ‘Red Hood And The Outlaws’. Once again DC…you’ve done me wrong.

The bad.

Well, now I don’t even know what to say here. Why would a character that can create anything from his imagination (including a gun) be carrying a gun? This ‘Green Lantern’ number zero cover features a new GL rocking some form of s&m/ ‘Kick Ass’/wrestler fusion type outfit and holding…well, a gun.

He also has a very noticable tattoo on his forearm. Bleeding Cool has translated the tattoo. It reads: “Courage, Bravery, Valor, Guts, Prowess and Spunk”.

Uh…what? Okay DC. You have me lost on this one even.

Geekscape Comics: Axel Alonso Talks Significance Of “The Phoenix Five” In AvX

by Shawn MaddenJune 11, 2012

At the end of ‘AvX: Round 5’ we witnessed Tony Stark make a fatal error and split The Phoenix force into five taking control of five hosts. Emma Frost, Namor, Cyclops, Magik and Collosus now each were host to a piece of The Phoenix force and Marvel EIC Alex Alonso recently discussed this with Comic Book Resources.

CBR: So this week we got introduced to what I keep calling the Phoenix Force Five — Phoenix because they’re empowered by it, Force because they’re a force to be reckoned with and five because there’s one, two, three, four, five of them…

Axel Alonso: We’re calling them the Phoenix Five, Kiel.

CBR: Okay! For a while, you’ve been talking about how the end of each act will be a turning point in the story that shakes the action up in a major way. How does these characters getting empowered like this change the course of the event?

Alonso: The most immediate question is, “Can the Phoenix Force be controlled?” Are these five individuals — any one of them or all five collectively — capable of controlling it? The Phoenix Force is destruction and rebirth, so it’s safe top say they’re going define exactly what that means. And as the teaser suggests, they have a chance to remake the word in their image. But what does that mean? You might be surprised.

CBR: How did the discussions go around who would be members of the five? Leaders like Cyclops and Emma seems like obvious picks, though I look at someone like Magik and wonder what specific role she’ll have to play.

Alonso: We carefully picked these five characters — Cyclops, Emma, Colossus, Magik and Namor — because of their personalities, their power sets, and the windows they offer into pockets of the Marvel Universe — hint, hint. Namor, for instance — you’ll see why we picked him, as Act 2 unfolds.

CBR: So far, the core argument of the series has been that question of whether the Phoenix will be a force of destruction or rebirth. The Avengers have had one idea and the X-Men another. Now it feels like the Phoenix Force has its own ideas and its own agenda for where to go next. How does that concept change the series? Can it contradict what either side expected up to this point?

Alonso: It’s possible that both sides are right. I mean…I can’t say anymore, man! [Laughter] That’s the beauty of the Phoenix Force — within it resides the potential for good and bad.

CBR: Like you said, we’ve had this “No More Avengers” teaser out for Act 2. Is that now the rallying cry for the Phoenix Force and the Phoenix Five? Does that force know the Avengers are the people hellbent on destroying it?

Alonso: All I can say is that the world might not be big enough for the Phoenix Five and the Avengers. If you think of Act 1 [“AvX” #1-5] as a boxing match, it’s safe to say the early rounds went to the Avengers, but the last round ended with a game-changing punch that sent the Avengers staggering to the ropes. That’s where we pick up with issue #6. Cap, Iron Man, Thor and the gang have got to shake it off and figure out just who their opponent is now, and what their next move should be. And let me make one thing perfectly clear: Do not assume the Avengers are the good guys and the X-Men are suddenly the bad guys. I’d wager that the Phoenix Five are going to earn some fans — including people who rooted for the Avengers in round 1.

‘AvX Round 5’ is on shelves now with ‘Round 6’ hitting shelves in two weeks.