@$$Holes Abroad: Optimous Douche’s WizardWorld Philly Report Part II @@@@ Spinner Rack Previews: THE MIGHTY! STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN! MARVEL DIVAS! ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN! LOCKE & KEY: HEADGAMES! CHEW! AGENTS OF ATLAS! @@@@ R.I.P. Professor Jeremy Wade Mullins… @@@@

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What’s SHOOT THE MESSENGER?

Well, AICN COMICS: SHOOT THE MESSENGER is your weekly one stop shop for comic book -EWS. What’s comic book –EWS? Well, it’s our hodge podge of everything not reviews here at AICN Comics. Sure you can find out the @$$Holes’ critical opinions of your favorite books every Wednesday at AICN Comics. But here, you’ll find special reports such as previews, interviews, special features, and occasionally news gathered here from our online brethren at Newsarama, CBR, Wizard, etc. Sure those guys are the best at reporting news as it breaks. Click on the links for the original stories. This column cuts the crap to run down all the vital information for those of you who don’t follow it as it comes in, and serves it all up with that special ingredient of @$$y goodness.

Ambush Bug here, passing the mic over to BottleImp who has a correction applying to his review of GREEN LANTERN: MOSAIC and a word from the artist, Cully Hamner. Take it away, Imp.

BottleImp here with a correction for last week's column. In my RAIDERS OF THE LONG BOX review of DC's GREEN LANTERN: MOSAIC series, I wrote this statement:

"MOSAIC ended up suffering from low sales and the series ended with issue #18…"

I had made this assumption based on Gerard Jones' replies in the letters pages of MOSAIC's later issues. However, MOSAIC artist Cully Hamner soon emailed me and set the record straight regarding the title's sales.

Cully Hamner: "The book wasn’t cancelled for low sales at all—the first issue sold about 210, 000 copies, while my last (#15) sold about 70,000. I still have my royalty statements. Interestingly enough the word came down that DC was canceling it at around *issue #5*, and they allowed Gerry Jones another 13 issues to wrap it up—something they’d never do if it was losing money for DC.

"No, the reason was that it was too strange for the DC Universe, and didn’t fit with their vision of it in the climate of what might be called the Image Explosion. It’s true enough that sales expectations were a bit higher across the board back then, but the sales were never considered 'low.' It was still a moneymaker, and it was cancelled while sales were still relatively high.
"Anyway, thanks again for remembering it so fondly!"

A big thank-you to Mr. Hamner for providing us with this information, and for being an AICN reader!

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And now for the second half of Optimous Douche’s WizardWorld Philly Report. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to a computer error, I wasn't able to use OD's pics from this portion of his report. My apologies to Optimous, and the rest of the readers for this. If possible, photos may be posted in a future column.) Take it away, OD!

Wizard World Wrap Up Part II
Indies and DC Panel Boogaloo

Hey guys, Optimous Douche here. No, I’m not suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (yet). I realize that last week’s report was full of Indie goodness as I traversed the likes of Dynamite and Zenoscope, but those were the BIG INDIES, the guys that can afford the complex booths and booth babes dressed in naughty apparel. This week I’m going to discuss the guys truly in the trenches, the guys off printing by themselves and peddling their wares across America like late 1800’s elixir apothecaries; basically the guys that NEED some “press’ love like this to get their word out. Oh ya, I also got some comeuppance at the DC panel, but more on that later.

The Lunch-Table Squad

This is my affectionate little pet name for the guys that can’t or won’t shell out the clams for a front and center booth extravaganza. If you’ve never been to WW before the room is essentially divided into four parts. Right when you walk in are the big booths, to the left you will find all of the “stars” hocking autographs and personal pictures (kudos to Erin Gray for giving all of her picture proceeds to charity - $10 well spent, even though she was only asking for $5), next to wash out alley is the half-off trades and then waaaaayyyyy in the back are the Lunch-Table squad.

The Lunch-Table Squad are so aptly named because their aisles and makeshift booths are cobbled together lunch tables held with bubblegum and the dream of getting their materials noticed. This is not to say that the area is solely for no-names, quite the contrary. Especially at this Wizard World, this area was the only place you would get face time with some of the bigger names like Greg Horn and J.G. Jones. Last year this was also the squatting area for Peter David as he hocked some of his non-comic ventures.
I spent a few minutes speaking with Horn who was probably the most inventive with his make-shift space and had a “booth” that was a sight to behold. I’m biased since I love his art work (especially his EMMA FROST covers) and it was adorned everywhere. Greg didn’t have a lot of time to talk (hey Brother needs to make a buck), but he did say he was going to have a special collected volume of his work just for San Diego. Times like these I lament not living on the left coast. Jones you could have simply walked by, very unassuming table and he was head-down in sketches, I didn’t want to bother him.

But what about the rest? I know from my day job that Press Passes are virtually worthless. You simply pay more money to enter the event to receive a special name tag and generally a worthless press packet summarizing the event. Plus, I want to talk to those creators that love the fans, not the ones that simply respond to a Press Pass on your lapel. So, this is how I did my reporting: if creators looked up from their writing and art work, or unlocked from their conversation to the folks in their booth or the booth next to them, I would spend time talking to them and introduce myself as OD from Ain’t It Cool.

Please keep in mind any books I mention going forward are not endorsements. Reviews of individual books will be coming along shortly, but no matter how nice someone is I would not recommend their books if I don’t like them or especially if I have not read them. And away we go:

Silent Devil (soon to be Lead Pipe)
Tony Digerolamo took a few minutes to show me the compilation tome of his Web comic SUPER FRAT. Basically think of all the stupid shit you did in college and extrapolate this filthy existence to the super hero level. Also on the docket from Silent Devil is a way to help the collegiate crowd get through the Greek tragedies of Theater 101 by offering a fresh spin on the likes of Antigone and other names I have a hard time pronouncing despite spending 6 years in college.

LeadSlingerStudios.com
I spent a good time talking with the guys from leadslinger. I give them props for hanging with me since I kept fucking up their name and calling them Lead Singer Studios. The main book they were hocking was TALES FROM NEROESVILLE. When asked to summarize the title they unabashedly admitted it is in the same vein as ASTROCITY. The town of Neroesvile is the centerpiece so they can indulge in ADD genre swapping with each issue.

scaretactixgraphix.com
The guys from Scare Tactix were some of the most exuberant bunch I have ever met, full of energy and willing to talk in length about any of their titles including: BILLY THE MONSTER HUNTER, a children’s tale; BUBBA THE REDNEXK WEREWOLD, which I think speaks for it self; HONOR THY FATHER, which is or is not possibly created by someone who could or could not be connected with a certain crime element that is very organized; and a line of comics that I can’t remember the name of right now, but was inspired by the B-Cheesy movies they watched as kids. This one I find most interesting since my cursory glance at the level of art work detail appeared to be anything but cheesy. I know I should be more thorough, but they talked to fast and my penmanship sucks.

Joe Kelly
Joe is just a damn nice guy and I’m not saying that simply because he is a fan of the AICN @$$holes (which he is). I’m even saying he’s a nice guy when he professed that Liam The Kid is one of his favorite reads each week and not ole’ Uncle Optimous. Joe’s big passion product right now is a book he wanted to write so he could share his love of the picture story-telling medium with his kids. HOUSE OF THEY will be my second review of children’s oriented graphic novels, perhaps if I like it enough Mrs. Douche will break through my persistent procreation blockade.

Michael San Giacomo
Michael’s one of those interesting guys whose passion for comics and the fans is felt the instant you walk up to his table. Friendly, outgoing and a damn engaging conversationalist, Michael sucked me into his latest offering, TALES FROM THE STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN. Set in separate story vignettes over a fifty year period at one of the forgotten palaces of teenage pregnancy, Michael wanted to accomplish two ambitious feats with this tale: one, each story must work as a stand-alone and two, it all of the stories had to fit together to tell the overall tale of the drive-in. I also applaud Michael’s industrialism by spending the summer travelling to the last few drive-ins left in America to spread the word of his tale. As someone who has only seen a drive-in in Fallout 3 and Grease, I’m intrigued to see where this tale goes.

Douche Does DC Panel

Already an hour past when I had told Mrs. Douche I would leave the city and transform back into a mild mannered suburbanite, as I was leaving I decided to peek my head into the conference rooms that sit off the main convention floor. Yes, I’m a nosy busy body. When I stuck my head into one room and saw Dan Didio addressing a packed room of fans I figured domestic bliss be damned, how many chances would I have in my life to get this close to the editor-in-chief of DC comics.

I walked into the room and stood in the very back watching Dan work like the crowd like a rodeo auctioneer, spouting off comic titles at a rapid pace asking for legitimate fan feedback. For the most part the crowd was doling out so much praise I thought that AICN Talkbackers are the only cantankerous comic fans in the universe. However, when BATTLE FOR THE COWL came into the conversation one lone voice said he didn’t like it, when Dan fired back why, the wheels completely fell off and the lone voice of discord was silenced.

“JSA, who liked JSA?” I raised my hand. Even though I was in the back of the room, my 6’ 6” frame and bushy blonde hair don’t exactly lend to me blending in a crowd. Dan pointed at me, “you what did you like?” Not expecting to be called on I quickly thought back to my many reviews of the book and some of the controversial issues surrounding John’s run, “ I thought it was epic, I was totally cool with KINGDOM COME being brought into canon, I liked every part except Forrest Gog’s endless panels of walking and the very last issue. I understand Geoff wrote it for his sister, but to close out such a great run with these iconic heroes in tights at a punch bowl felt weak.” Across the room someone yelled “Shut Up!’ Dan quickly reminded them that we respect all opinions. I figured I would put my enemy at ease by mentioning I write for AICN and probably get 5 e-mails a week that are much worse than a shut-up. Dan’s head salesman said I should see their mailbox sometime. Dan then asked me what I think of a book about the new upcoming bleed-off series MAGOG. “I never shit on a book or idea until I read it.” That seemed to satisfy Dan and the crowd.

Before getting to the Q&A portion of the panel (where I asked yet one more challenging question and some information leaked about the fate of the multiverse), Dan unveiled what seems to be a source of great pride at DC: the DC Weeklies. Laid out in Newspaper style that can be easily folded to fit our mylars we will basically get comic strips of our favorite DC stories. As I said I try not to judge until I’ve traversed the pages, but if the last lackluster weekly TRINITY is any indicator, I’m not waiting with bated breath for this one.

Finally it was Q&A time, most of the fans simply stood up to offer their words of praise to the DC guys (I was really surprised at the number of pro RED ROBIN responses). The person standing in front of me asked about the fate of the multiverse, FINAL CRISIS brought it back, but we have not seen hide nor hair since. Dan said there were simply enough great stories to tell in the main universe. He also alluded to the fact that the multiverse is Grant Morrison’s baby and a title will be forthcoming, it was something like muntiversity. I hope I’m screwing the name up. For my question at the mike, I simply asked how do does DC decide whether a title is $2.99 or $3.99 these days. Dan assured me that if a title is more money we are getting more content. Having not counted every page of every DC book, I will have to take his word for it. It sure as feels though like the comics keep getting thinner with every price hike.

All right kiddies, that’s the low-down from Wizard World Philly. My fingers are tired and I really have no appropriate close, except I had a blast, I sincerely hope this show does not get cancelled next year.

When Optimous Douche isn’t reading comics and misspelling the names of 80’s icons, he “transforms” into a corporate communications guru. "What if the whole world had superpowers? Find out in the pages of Optimous’ original book AVERAGE JOE. Read the first full issue on Optimous’ New Blog and see original sketches by fellow @$$hole Bottleimp. If you are a publisher or can help these guys get AVERAGE JOE up, up, and on the shelves in any way, drop Optimous a line."

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Get me off this crazy spinner rack, I’m gettin’ dizzy and I can’t read my comics with barf all over them!!! Check out these glimpses into what’s coming soon in comics while I do the porcelain yodel!

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THE MIGHTY #6
Writer: Peter Tomasi & Keith Champagne
Art: Chris Samnee
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: This Wednesday!

I love this series. It’s got a foreboding sense of doom that can’t be shook. THE MIGHTY #6 comes out this Wednesday!

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STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN #3
Writer: Andy Schmidt
Art: Gabriel Rodriguez
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: This Wednesday!

Wrath your Khan off when STAR TREK II: WRATH OF KHAN #3 hits the stands this Wednesday!

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MARVEL DIVAS #1
Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art: Tonci Zonjic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: This Wednesday!

MARVEL DIVAS #1 steal the show on Wednesday!

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ASTOUNDING WOLF MAN #17
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Art: Jason Howard
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: This Wednesday!

ASTOUNDING WOLF MAN #17 astounds on Wednesday!

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LOCKE & KEY: HEADGAMES #6
Writer: Joe Hill
Art: Chee Yang Ong
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: This Wednesday!

Wait…what the fuh was that!?!?! I’m going to have to check out this LOCKE & KEY: HEADGAMES a bit closer. Issue #6 drops this Wednesday!

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CHEW #2
Writer: John Layman
Art: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: This Wednesday!

This book is unique from premise to art. CHEW #2 hits the stands on Wednesday!

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AGENTS OF ATLAS #7
Writer: Jeff Parker
Art: Gabriel Hardman
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: This Wednesday!

Be sure to check out one of Marvel’s coolest titles when AGENTS OF ATLAS #7 is released on Wednesday!

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superhero remembers
Professor Jeremy Wade Mullins

I didn’t know Jeremy Mullins but I was extremely saddened to learn of his passing. Shocked actually. I found out about his death because I listened to his podcast, Seqalab, religiously. When it hadn’t been updated in about two weeks I went to the podcast’s website, seqalab.com, to see if there had been any updates. I figured there was a problem with iTunes updating my subscription. God knows that it had happened before with other podcasts. When I got to the site is when I saw the horrible news.

Again, I didn’t know Jeremy Mullins but when I saw the news of his passing I sat at my desk stunned. I couldn’t move for a few seconds. I just stared at the screen, blinking. Not understanding what I was looking at. The day I found out was the same day that we all got the news of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett’s passing and while their deaths were sad this news actually affected me. I actually had to call my wife and talk to her about it. Get her to talk me through it.

It’s hard to explain but this news hurt. See, when I grew up comics weren’t cool. You weren’t supposed to read them, much less dream of wanting to create them. If you even expressed an interest in comics to an art teacher you were scoffed at. If you tried to tell your parents that you wanted to draw comic books they told you to become a lawyer or a doctor. Comics were not a field you wanted to get into. You were discouraged at every turn. At least I was. And as life went on you were supposed to pursue more practical lines of work and forget comics. While I can’t say that’s what I did my dream of creating comics did get shoved aside. I kept dreaming of the day where I’d create my own comics but life gets in the way and things don’t always go the way you want them to and, well, you know…excuses, excuses. I’d pretty much accepted that I’d never get it together enough to create my own comic book.

That is…until I found the Seqalab podcast.

I listen to a lot of podcasts. A lot of them happen to be podcasts about comics. But until I listened to Jeremy Mullins and his Seqalab crew I never found one that actually inspired me. Mullins and his crew’s love of comics was infectious. With every episode I found myself either learning something new or just listening with envy about the lessons that Mullins’s students were learning. Mullins just came across so optimistically about the craft and art of comic books that it would just get you cyked to want to create something…anything. While I’ve never lost my love for comics the Seqalab podcast helped me regain some of my passion for creating comics. For wanting to do something and hoping to follow through with it. For the first time in years I found myself actually contemplating getting it together and picking up my pencil again on a regular basis. With each episode of Seqalab Mullins gave me my passion for comics back and that’s no small thing.

So yes, I’m upset that Mullins is gone. But I’m also thankful that I was touched by his enthusiasm. I’m sure I don’t have to tell his students how lucky they were to have a professor who seemed to care so much about teaching comics. I just want everyone else out there to see a bit of the legacy he left behind with his podcasts. They’re still out there and you can learn a lot from them. I did.

So goodbye Professor Mullins. Thanks for what you taught me…even if you didn’t know I was out there listening.

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Professor Jeremy Wade Mullins
September 1976-June 2009

Discovered as a babe in an abandoned comic book storage box and bitten by a radioactive comic fan when he was a teenager, superhero is actually not-so mild mannered sometime designer & cartoonist, Kristian Horn of Los Angeles, California. He's been an @$$hole for three years. Some of his work can be seen at www.kristianhorn.com.

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Editing, compiling, imaging, coding, logos & cat-wrangling by Ambush Bug
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G

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Ad by Prof. Challenger