IDW – CHILLER ANNOUNCES REMAINS….

CHILLER ANNOUNCES REMAINS: ROAD TO RENO SPECIAL WEBISODE PREQUEL TO FIRST ORIGINAL MOVIE STEVE NILES’ REMAINS
Online-Only Webisode To Premiere on Chillertv.com Friday, December 9

‘Steve Niles’ Remains’ Premieres Friday, December 16 @ 10pm on Chiller

New York, NY – December 8, 2011 – A week before the premiere of its first original movie, Steve Niles’ Remains, Chiller will whet viewers’ appetites for zombies with the debut of a special online-only prequel, Remains: Road to Reno. This eleven-minute webisode, produced exclusively for Chillertv.com, will debut online Friday, December 9 and will give viewers a glimpse at the origins of Remains’ post-apocalyptic zombie invasion.

At the outset of the film (premiering Friday, Dec 16 @ 10pm on Chiller), a radioactive blast transforms every tourist and local in Reno, Nevada into mindless, ravenous zombies. But before the action begins in Reno, somewhere just outside the city a lone mechanic (Morgan West) is learning first-hand what’s required to survive the undead.

With Remains: Road to Reno, Chiller’s official prequel to Steve Niles’s Remains, viewers can head back before the blast to watch as the virus descends upon an isolated gas station. Imagined by writer Steve Niles, this exclusive online event reveals the origins of Remains characters – both alive and undead – and pits zombie against zombie on the blood-soaked road to Reno. Remains: Road to Reno is written by John Doolan and directed by Colin Theys (who wrote and directed, respectively, the film).

The Remains graphic novel by Steve Niles is available where books and comics are sold.

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS DESTINED TO BLOW UP

Berkeley, CA – 8 December 2011 – What if the union of a generation’s brightest minds like Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer was not a signal for optimism, but foreboding? What if everything… went wrong?

In the year 1945, the atomic bomb proved its capacity for immense devastation, but what if the creation of that ultimate killing machine was just a cover for a series of other, more unusual, programs? A brand new, monthly ongoing series from Image Comics will pose that question by taking a look at one of the most critical periods of change in the 20th century through a lens both darkened and strange. Join us, for what is poised to the breakout hit of 2012, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS!

Award-winning writer Jonathan Hickman (THE NIGHTLY NEWS, FF) and one of the best new talents to debut in comics during the last year, Nick Pitarra, are teaming up once again to present THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS. Following the completion of their critically acclaimed science fiction success, THE RED WING, the duo are taking the cautionary aspect of science fiction and applying it not to the future, but to our past!

“I think anyone that’s followed my work knows about my affinity for near-future/alt-history, and THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS pretty much represents the crown jewel of all the stories I’ve ever cooked-up in that vein,” detailed Hickman. “Honestly, if we do this right — and at this point in the process, it sure feels like we are — I think this might the perfect example of why I do these stories: It takes a world everyone knows, and blurs the lines between fiction and reality in a way that makes you question where one ends and the other begins. I can’t wait for people to read it!”

“Jonathan is a great collaborator, he really sees the page as an artist first,” explained Pitarra, “With THE RED WING and with this new series, his guidance has meant everything. I have freedom in the layouts and planning stages, but I know that with him, as careful a storytelling as he is, if he suggests a change the page always comes out better. It’s good to work with a writer you can trust.”

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1, a 32-page full-color science fiction comic book for $3.50, will be on sale in stores on March 7 and available for order in the January issue of Previews. In the mean time, both THE RED WING TP (OCT11047, ISBN: 978-1-60706-479-4), a 144-page full-color trade paperback for $14.99, & THE NIGHTLY NEWS ANNIVERSARY EDITION HC (SEP110423, ISBN: 9978-1-60706-4619), a 272-page full-color hardcover graphic novel for $34.99, will be on sale in stores December 14.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

The Standard Reviewed at Comics Anonymous

The reviews of The Standard #1 and #2 are still coming in, and the response is still positive.  Gary Watson, of Scottish-based comics site Comics Anonymous, recently picked up the first two issues, and here’s what he had to say:

Now as you’ll no doubt have seen in my recent reviews…..the small press shelf is not to be passed-by……and “The Standard”….is yet another reason for that.

The special powers of writing belong to John Lees with his art sidekick Jonathan Rector and they combine to bring us the story of Gilbert Graham aka The Standard.  A mild-mannered scientist given superpowers when a meteorite hits his lab…..don’t you hate it when that happens?  Now that premise is pretty typical of a superhero origin…..but thankfully that’s where this stops being your typical comic book.

The Standard #1:

Gilbert’s days as The Standard seem to be long behind him as his side-kick, Fabu-Lad (aka Alex Thomas), has taken on the role following Gilbert’s retirement from the hero game.  Set in Sky City, we see that Alex has veered away from the hero business and into the world of celebrity…..fame, fortune and reality TV has grabbed his attention these days….but at heart he’s still a hero.  When a young girl goes missing he promises to find her…..and from here we’re on the betting game as to whether Alex will become a hero “The Standard” should be or give in to the celebrity life-syle.  The issue plays out with a mysterious figure and a violent ending that I’m trying not to give away as best I can.

The Standard #2:

Issue #2 builds on the fallout from #1 and we get to know a lot more about Gilbert’s life these days as a school teacher……answering questions about his hero days and wowing the class.  Intermingled with this we have some back-story on Fabu-Lad and we get to sit-in on some pretty poignant moments as Gilbert finds out about his abusive life so-far……false papers and an alias later, Gilbert has taken “Alex” under his wing and his training begins.  We have mentions of secret serums, corporate goings-on and Alex’s agent chasing after Gilbert for what seems like ulterior motives but it all boils down to the missing girl and the quest to find her.  Another hint at the mysterious figure at the end of the issue has me hooked BIG time.

It’s rare that I read and re-read an issue, let alone 2, in the way I have with The Standard……there’s something about it that seems familiar….the writing is so strong and involving that I just can’t seem to put them down……but that’s a good thing……I can only imagine that I’ll be re-reading the whole thing as each issue comes out.  The pacing and plot are perfect, with a switch between now and a flashback here n there at just the right point to keep you up to date with the info you need.  Even the supporting characters in this are likeable….the Scottish agent guy is BRILLIANT…..and the Villain, “The Frying Scotsman” is a stroke of genius.  It’s actually a welcome change to see a Scottish character in a comic….one that I can pick up on his accent….even though it’s in print.

This is all backed up by Rector’s art which is exceptionally detailed where it needs to be and then slips into minimalist panels and bold colours that you’d expect from a hero comic.  Looking at that cover for issue #2, it reminds of Joe Quesada and the colouring throughout both issues just seems to seep into the pages and settle into a natural look.

For me, the 2-issues here are among some of the best I’ve read in quite some time – thanks to both the writing and the art.  It’s got a nostalgic edge to it but not in a schmaltzy way and somehow managed to keep hold of its on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller status….as well as being about a superhero.  That’s no mean feat from an independent title – a first class book and I’m holding my breath for issue 3….4….5……AND 6…..because I’m getting them all.  It’s no wonder it gained 2 nominations at this years Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards (SICBA)….if anything, it should’ve won them….in my opinion anyway.

Hoping to have more reviews of this as the issues hit the comic book shelves.

Thanks to Gary for the very kind review.  Comics Anonymous is a great collective of comics journalist, commentators and reviewers.  I got to meet a couple of them at a Glasgow League of Writers event a few weeks back, and they’re nice folk too.  Check out the review at the site here, and while you’re there, check out the rest of the site, with insightful reviews and cool creator interviews, among other goodies.  Thanks again!

MARVEL – AVENGERS: X-SANCTION #1 PREVIEW

The opening salvo in the upcoming war between the Avengers and X-Men is fired in next week’s Avengers: X-Sanction #1 from the chart topping team of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness! The time-traveling mutant known as Cable, has returned from the future with 24 hours to save the world…by destroying the Avengers?! What makes Earth’s Mightiest Heroes such a threat to a better tomorrow? Cable’s on a mission to prevent the tragedies that lead to the events of Avengers VS X-Men…and every move he makes irrevocably changes the direction of the Marvel Universe!

“On the eve of the biggest Marvel event—maybe ever—Ed McGuinness and I are thrilled to be the lead-in for Avengers VS X-Men,” said Loeb. “Hopefully longtime fans and first time Cable, X-Men and Avengers readers will be excited by a story that can be read entirely on its own — and at the same time has lots of stocking stuffer-esque surprises just in time for the holidays.”

It all begins with Cable versus Captain America…and only one will emerge victorious! The Avengers and X-Men are on a collision course…and the first steps towards war are taken in Avengers: X-Sanction #1, available in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app next Wednesday!

Retailers: Please note that Marvel is rush printing a second printing of Avengers: X-Sanction #1 due to expected demand and its relationship to Avengers vs X-Men. Check the Marvel Mailer and Diamond Daily for more details.

AVENGERS: X-SANCTION #1
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art & Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
ON SALE – 12/14/11