Articles for June, 2017

US-backed forces cut off last IS escape route from Raqa
The SDF captured two villages on the southern bank of the Euphrates River that the jihadists had been passing through to withdraw from the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "The SDF has been able to completely encircle Raqa," said Ra...
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Albuquerque, Orlando Removed From 2017 Wizard World Schedule; Several New Cities To Be Added
Wizard World To Revamp 2017 Schedule With The Addition Of Several New Cities, Loss of Two   Albuquerque Cancelled, Orlando Postponed From ‘17 Slate; New Fall Dates, Cities, Venues Expected To Be Announced In Early July LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2017 – Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) today announced changes to its pop culture convention...
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Black Bolt: Royal Likeness

Over the years, Blackagar Boltagon has filled many roles: leader of the Inhumans, husband, father, intergalactic ruler—and now, prisoner! Writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Christian Ward set up quite a challenge for the one-time king when they launched BLACK BOLT a few months back: escape from an epic space prison!

Teamed up with the likes of Absorbing Man, Black Bolt continues to figure out how to flee the seemingly inescapable jail in the stars so he can find his way back to his family. We talked with Ward about designing Black Bolt’s cage, working on the silent hero, and making his mark on a childhood favorite.

Marvel.com: This book has definitely taken Black Bolt in some unexpected directions. How has it been crafting these stories with Saladin so far?

Christian Ward: I’m drawn to stories I can’t predict. I think that’s one reason why shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Game of Thrones” are so enjoyable. Reading Saladin’s scripts for BLACK BOLT [has] had those same unexpected elements and I’ve loved reading them. Bringing a story to life that you’re already enjoying in its script form is easy. I have a background in creator-owned comics; I’m used to working on books I’m personally invested in and working on BLACK BOLT with Saladin has felt no different.

I think he would agree that we’ve really clicked working on BLACK BOLT. It’s been an absolute joy and I feel very lucky to be working with Saladin. I felt like we’re telling one story together infused with all these personal elements. I definitely feel like we’re trying to say something with BLACK BOLT, whilst remembering it’s a super hero comic and it should also be a lot of fun. Even with his first comic, Saladin’s going to be [among] many peoples’ very favorite writers. He’s certainly one of mine now and hopefully this will be the first of many projects we do together.

Marvel.com: The story mixes elements from classic prison break tales with sci-fi and super heroes. Do you enjoy playing with those pieces and building new structures with them?

Christian Ward: I do! Lots of my previous projects—like ODY-C for instance—have been about clashing genres together. I love the tension you get from mixing disparate ingredients. With BLACK BOLT, as well as the genres you mentioned, I’ve been having fun approaching parts like a Gothic horror, not just with the scenery and the lighting but also trying to use page layouts to make it feel foreboding or claustrophobic.

There have been pages where I’ve tried to make the panel [borders] feel as much of the prison bars as the ones I’ve actually drawn. Becoming narrower and narrower as our characters are contained or crushed within them. It’s been fun to allow the different genres, like horror, influence how certain elements of the book look and even let each issue feel a little different. For instance, in issue #4 I’ve been playing with formal nine-panel grids and half tone textures as a way to exaggerate the old school comic book-ness of the issue. It keeps me on my toes and hopefully it keeps the [book] exciting from issue to issue for the reader.

Black Bolt #4 preview art by Christian Ward
Black Bolt #4 preview art by Christian Ward
Black Bolt #4 preview art by Christian Ward

Marvel.com: You’re setting much of the action inside of this jail. How much of it did you have designed ahead of time?

Christian Ward: Lots of great design is about tension and what Saladin had in mind for our prison was perfect to play to that idea. He had this idea that it would be equal parts Victorian gaol and [Jack] Kirby techno, so for every stone pillar there has to be this contrasting piece of insane, impossible machinery.

I read about Panopticon so I knew I wanted there to be eyes everywhere because big floating over-watching eyes are always creepy and it had to feel huge, I wanted Black Bolt to feel insignificant there. I certainly didn’t design a physical place like an architect would, rather I spent a lot of time thinking about how it would feel, or maybe how the inmates would feel being held there. I wanted the prison to feel intangible, like a monster glimpsed in the darkness, a place that was ever changing. Somewhere it would be impossible to get your footing or stay sane. An M.C. Escher drawing come to life.

Marvel.com: BLACK BOLT has incorporated some interesting characters from Absorbing Man to Death’s Head. How has it been putting your own spin on them and making them work in this story?

Christian Ward: The first thing I have to say is what a huge and continuing honor it is to be drawing these characters that so many greats have drawn before me. It’s very exciting to, as you say, put a spin on them. It’s a tricky balancing act to honor what’s come before and try to shine a different light on them. Hopefully success comes from loving the characters in the first place. For instance, when I was a teenager Death’s Head was my favorite character growing up in the UK. He was my Hulk, my Spider-Man, my X-Men. He was my number one. So when I came to design my take on him I let that love guide the design. What I love about the character—that’s what I bring to the forefront.

And oh boy, Absorbing Man! I love drawing Carl. This might be Black Bolt’s book, but I think Crusher’s the heart of it. It’s been so much fun to draw him not as a bad guy, but as a man, and try and make him feel real. Whereas I’m trying to keep Bolt at arm’s length I really want readers to feel very empathetic towards Crusher. I’ve really grown to love the guy so I hope that’s coming through.

Marvel.com: Does Black Bolt’s silence offer any particular challenges when you’re working from panel to panel?

Christian Ward: It’s a huge challenge. I remember reading about the difference between TV, movie, and stage acting and the “volume” in which actors have to project or emote in each. Unlike in theater, for instance, on a giant movie screen the smallest of facial movements can be read. I’m aiming for giant movie screen acting here. I’ve always enjoyed comic book acting and it’s huge fun to try and convey all the subtleties of Bolt’s face. I really wanted to have him feel reserved and withdrawn from us but that as the story progressed the wall that he’d built up around himself—his own personal inner prison wall—would break down and we’d see more of those emotions showing on his face and in his body language. You know, as much as I love the big cosmic moments of the book, it was the challenge of drawing Bolt that made me take the project on and I’m having the time of my life with it.

BLACK BOLT #3 breaks into stores on July 5, with issue #4 following on August 2, thanks to Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward.

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The Four Horsemen’s #SDCC 2017 – MYTHIC LEGIONS: COLISEUM Sneak Peek #1
From the legends of the blood-soaked ground of the Mercurian Coliseum comes the first reveal from the next Mythic Legions wave – the warrior of eternal power, Adamonn! Throughout the next couple of weeks leading up the San Diego Comic Con 2017, we’ll be revealing a new character from Mythic Legions: Coliseum every couple of days or so. Then, you’ll be able to...
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Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett Gets Brutally Honest With Mom Patti in Therapy in This Kendra on Top Sneak Peek
It's back to therapy for Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett and her mother Patti Wilkinson. Following their intense sessions on last season of Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition,...
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Follow the History of Spider-Man Pt. 9

For over 50 years, Spider-Man has been a sensational standout in the Marvel Universe, and this summer, the web-slinger swings onto the silver screen once more in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”! In celebration of this stories history, we present Spidey’s spectacular step-by-step story!

The X-Men’s Iceman clashed with Spider-Man in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #92, but after realizing his mistake, joined forces with our hero to put the kibosh on Sam Bullit, a crooked politician wooing Gwen Stacy following the death of her father. Spidey stood alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at a charity event in AVENGERS #85, but when Gwen announced a permanent move to London in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #93, he tried to drown his sorrows in a rematch with The Prowler.

After a bout with The Beetle in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #94, and making up his mind to fly to London to bring Gwen back, Peter Parker changed to his alter-ego in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #95 to put down some British criminals. Back home again in CAPTAIN AMERICA #137, the Web-Slinger held off an attack by The Falcon, then teamed with the high-flying hero and Captain America versus Stone Face in CAPTAIN AMERICA #138.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #92

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #92

  • Published: January 10, 1971
  • Added to Marvel Unlimited: November 13, 2007
  • Penciller: Gil Kane
  • Cover Artist: John Romita
What is Marvel Unlimited?

Peter took a job with Norman Osborn in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #96, but the business tycoon allowed the pressures in his head to explode and reawaken his other self, The Green Goblin. He battled Spidey in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #97, while unbeknownst to the two combatants, Norman’s son and Peter’s friend Harry fell under the spell of a drug dealer. The Wall Crawler crashed the pusher’s party in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #98, and made Norman see the light of reason by forcing him to face his son’s pill problem.

Spider-Man helped out Daredevil in a fracas with Namor the Sub-Mariner in DAREDEVIL #77, then broke up a prison riot in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #99. Later, weary of his role as a super hero, Peter concocted a potion to be rid of his spider-powers in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #100, but instead gave himself an extra four arms. Now sporting as many limbs as an actual spider, the young hero stumbled into the path of Morbius the Living Vampire in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #101, and felt immense relief when his friend Dr. Curt Connors cured him of his multiple arms in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #102.

Desiring nothing more than a chance to get away from it all, Peter flew with Gwen and his boss J. Jonah Jameson to the Savage Land in search of a legendary monster in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #103. When they found the creature, it took the timely intervention of Ka-Zar to unstick them from the web they’d fallen into.

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Sharknado 5: Global Swarming’s Key Art Is Finally Here: Get Your First Look!
Who's ready to go fin-ternational?! As the world impatiently awaits the latest installment of Syfy's deliciously bonkers film franchise, we here at E! News have a little something...
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The @MezcoToyz One:12 Collective Spider-Man Miles Morales Summer Exclusive #SDCC
Although many associate the name Peter Parker with Spider-Man, the hero’s mantle was taken up by Miles Morales in Ultimate Fallout # 44.  Following the death of Peter Parker, the teen Morales became Spider-Man after gaining powers similar to those of the original Spider-Man, which were derived from the bite of a spider genetically engineered by Spider-Man’s nemesis Norman Osborn in...
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Celebrating Star Wars #22

We all know that the first Star Wars film changed the face of pop culture forever when it hit theaters 40 years ago today—but it’s not just the movie that’s celebrating that milestone in 2017. Star Wars comics arrived with force in 1977, and hundreds of issues later, they’re more popular now than ever.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, we’re looking back at our 40 favorite moments from the history of comics from a galaxy far, far away—one day at a time.

Classic Star Wars (1992) #1

Classic Star Wars (1992) #1

What is Marvel Unlimited?

By 1979, the world started to understand that Star Wars went beyond just a blockbuster movie. Kenner’s toy line proved incredibly successful, Marvel’s STAR WARS comics flew off the shelves, and soon enough, our newspaper funny pages took fans to a galaxy far, far away. The CLASSIC STAR WARS line of comics reprints these strips.

If you’re inclined to assume that these stories never fit into Star Wars canon, CLASSIC STAR WARS #1 will squash such presumptions right away. The comic reissues an early-‘80s tale by Archie Goodwin—who also wrote many Marvel STAR WARS comics of that era—and penciler Al Williamson released by the LA Times Syndicate. Goodwin used knowledge gleaned from “The Empire Strikes Back” to craft a throwaway movie line into an entire story set between the first two films. Remember when Han tells Leia he’s leaving the Alliance because “The bounty hunter on Ord Mantell changed my mind?” Goodwin introduces us to Skorr—i.e., said bounty hunter!

The story of this encounter lasts through CLASSIC STAR WARS #2 and remains remarkably readable as a cohesive comic book arc, despite the chopped-up nature of its original media vehicle. It’s classic Star Wars, indeed.

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GreenLight Signs Lionsgate Agreement for Three New Properties
INDIANAPOLIS (June 2017) – GreenLight Collectibles is always seeking its newest licensing agreements to add to their unique die-cast collection and they’ve done that once again by recently signing with Lionsgate. The premier generation global content leader has continued to see success with blockbuster box office successes. A few of those fan favorites include the...
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