What’s SHOOT THE MESSENGER?
Well, AICN COMICS: SHOOT THE MESSENGER is your weekly one stop shop for comic book news that’s dropped in the previous week. Thanks to Newsarama, CBR, Wizard, etc. for reporting it as it breaks. Click on the links for the original stories. This column cuts the crap to run down all the vital information for those of you who don’t follow it as it comes in, and serves it all up with that special ingredient of @$$y goodness. It’s also the place for interviews, previews, and special reports.
Stones Throw here, back with a round-up of comic book’s recent news…
@ GENUINELY NEWSWORTHY STUFF… A federal judge has ruled that the heirs of Jerry Siegel (Joe Shuster having no heirs) are entitled to claim a share of the United States copyright of Superman, and have been since 1999. This may involve compensation from Time Warner for use of Superman since then. It was also ruled that the copyright to the Superman material in ACTION COMICS # 1 is owned by Siegel and Shuster, having not been work for hire…@ DARK HORSE/UNIVERSAL COLLABORATION… As already announced on AICN, Dark Horse’s deal with Universal gives the film studio full access to any and all of its properties in regards to movie adaptations…
@ WIZARD WORLD LOS ANGELES NEWS… More BRAND NEW DAY team announcements… Joe Kelly will write an upcoming arc of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, which series editor Steve Wacker compares to his work on DEADPOOL in the 1990s, while Mike McKone will illustrate Spidey scribe Bob Gale’s next arc…
@ Meanwhile, Norman Osborn and the Thuderbolts will show up in a Dan Slott and John Romita Jr.’s arc in May, entitled “New Ways to Die”…
@ Tim Sale has signed exclusive with Marvel and will reunite with old bud Jeph Loeb for the unfortunately racial-sounding CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE…
@ Matt Fraction joins Ed Brubaker on UNCANNY X-MEN. They’ll be paired with Greg Land and the newly Marvel-exclusive Terry Dodson…
@ Howard Chaykin and Marco Turini will launch a new SQUADRON SUPREME series that continues on from the unfinished JMS run…
@ Ron Garney is the artist on the WORLD WAR HULK sequel SKAAR: SON OF HULK. More details here…
@ DC’s announcements included the return of MANHUNTER in June, with Marc Andreyko on script and Michael Gaydos on art. Dan DiDio describes it as the “Law & Order” of the DCU…
@ Frank Miller’s RONIN gets the Absolute treatment…
@ James Robinson’s second series at DC is JUSTICE LEAGUE, which will focus on a second, more pro-active team starring Green Lantern and Green Arrow…
@ OTHER STUFF…Stephen King’s THE STAND will be adapted by Marvel Comics. No further details yet…
@ Richard Corben returns to Marvel MAX in June to write and draw the three issue miniseries HAUNT OF HORROR: LOVECRAFT. Each issue will contain three comic book adaptations with the original text stories in the back…
@ Co-creator Tony Moore returns to FEAR AGENT with #22 for a “western in space”…
@ Avatar to put out new Alan Moore material in 2009? Details here…
@ Hugh Jackman will work with Marc Guggenheim and Virgin Comics on the sci-fi series NOWHERE MAN…
@ Stan Lee will be the first recipient of the New York Comics Legend Award at the New York Comic Con on April 18…
@ And finally, Howard Chaykin’s AMERICAN FLAGG gets collected with an all-new twelve page story by Dynamic Forces/Image in June…
Well, that’s it for now. I have to say, while I’ve found the BND stuff I’ve read to be a step backwards in terms of mature storytelling, they’re sure getting some top talent to draw it. Did you see those preview pages? With Marcos Martin, Mike McKone and J.R. Jr. all turning in stuff like that I’m gonna find it hard to hold out. Feh.
ROUND ONE – BRACKET ONE
Lay-deeees aaaand gentlemennn! Ambush Bug here, on behalf of the @$$Holes at AICN Comics, welcoming you all to the first round of the first annual SECRET TOURNAMENT OF INFINITE @$$-KICKERY; a contest unlike any other; boiling fanboyism down to its basics...whether one guy can kick the other guy's @$$.
Much like battle royales such as Marvel’s SECRET WARS & CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS and DC’s ARENA, this tournament pits popular comic book characters against each other. Those attempts were bogged down, though, with the need for a cohesive story about the whole thing (why they were all there, how they can all escape the matches, crap like that). Really, who gives a shit about that? We just want to see the best of the best square off.We have sixty-four of comic bookdom's best fighters, brawlers, kung fu artists, bad girls, @$$-kickers, and even a duck; all eager to be deemed THE SECRET TOURNAMENT OF INFINITE @$$-KICKERY CHAMPION. Over the next few weeks, we'll whittle down the competition. Contestants enter the ring in a one-on-one, no holds barred death match, stripped of all weapons and powers. That means no radar senses, no healing factors, no super strength, no iron fisting (eww!). This slugfest will have to be won through fighting prowess and character alone.
So the stage is set, the contestants are ready, and the first four fights are ready to blast off. Now all we need...is you!!!
In celebration of the glory that is Fan Fic, this fight will be determined by a judge, jury, and firing squad of @$$Holes. The battle and the victor of each match is up to you!!!
For each fight, your job is to flex those writing muscles and email a 300 (or less) word fight scene between the chosen contestants. Please indicate the winner of the bout clearly in the subject line of these emails. The email boxes will be open all week for you prove your writing prowess and come up with the most entertaining and kick-@$$ fight scene. The winning fight scenes will be printed in the column of the following week. Submit as many times as you want, but there will be only one winner per match.
THIS CONTEST IS NOT FOR PROFIT! It's purely for the love of comics, Fan Fic, and the type of fanboy shit-talk that's been going on in comic book stores, lunchrooms, bars, and convention tables for years. It's time to settle the score. Get to know the contestants by clicking their names and checking out their Wikipedia entries. Let's put this puppy in the bucket and get on with it, shall we?
Bracket One
Fight One
BATGIRL VS RED SONJA
Without her utility belt, one might think Batgirl is powerless, but those who have opposed her before know that she is one of the DCU’s most vicious martial artists. Batgirl is able to anticipate her opponent’s moves before they make them. She can be seen in DC’s BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS series.BATGIRL VS RED SONJA
Red Sonja, dubbed the She-Devil with a Sword. A crimson-locked adventurer; this bad girl fears no man and faces barbarians, monsters, and magic in her monthly comic from Dynamite Publishing. But without her sword, will this she-devil stand a chance against Batgirl?
Bracket One
Fight Two
BANE VS CROSSBONES
The man who broke the bat, Bane, now teeters on the edge of good and evil. He’s a self-made man once addicted to the drug Venom. His mind equals his might now that the drugs are out of his system. Bane is currently trying to survive DC’s SALVATION RUN miniseries.BANE VS CROSSBONES
Crossbones is the Red Skull’s right hand man and is about the craftiest and most evil foe Captain America has ever faced. Crossbones took part in the assassination of Cap and terrorizes almost everyone in that Marvel series on a monthly basis. But how will he fare in hand to hand with someone the size of Bane?
Bracket One
Fight Three
KARATE KID (LOSH) VS TASKMASTER
The Legion of Super-Heroes ultimate warrior from the future and master of every martial art known to man, woman, and alien across the galaxy, Karate Kid’s martial arts skills held their own against Superboy. Karate Kid waxes on and off every month in DC’s LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES series.KARATE KID (LOSH) VS TASKMASTER
With his talent of photographic reflexes, all the The Taskmaster has to do is watch an opponent move to match their skills and find their weaknesses. Currently, Taskmaster is trying to stay alive and train recruits in Marvel’s AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE monthly. Who will win: the man with an infinite number of martial arts techniques or the man who can copy each of them?
Bracket One
Fight Four
HELLCAT VS CATWOMAN
Don’t let this former teen model fool ya. Trained in martial arts, Hellcat is a formidable foe, but she may be too reliant on her ties to the occult and her own psychic abilities. Once they can’t be accessed in the ring, how will this Marvel femme fatale stand up against the furry fury of…HELLCAT VS CATWOMAN
Catwoman, Batman’s arch nemesis/perfect love match depending on what day of the week it is. She may be a better thief than a fighter, but like any wild beast, Catwoman can hold her own when cornered. Check out Catwoman in her own monthly DC title. Who will win in this cat-fight?
