Captain America: Reborn #1
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Bryan Hitch and Butch Guice
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release date: July 1, 2009

I should be more excited about this. I have loved Ed Brubaker’s run on Captain America since I picked up the first trade. It’s probably my favorite book that I’m currently reading on a monthly basis. So why is ‘underwhelmed’ the first word coming to mind? I’ll tell you why: it’s mostly that too much of Captain America: Reborn #1 is spent recapping info that was recapped two weeks ago in Captain America #600. So what we get is a second issue in a row of set-up; well-illustrated set-up, but set-up nonetheless.

This issue follows from where Issue #600 left off. Sharon Carter and the Falcon take the gun that killed Steve Rogers to Hank Pym for some investigation. They discuss Sharon’s memories from when she was under the Red Skull’s control and how she saw what could be one of Dr. Doom’s Time Platforms and that the Red Skull may have already brought Steve back. Meanwhile, the current Cap and the Black Widow try to track down the Time Platform so they can see what it really is. Unfortunately, the Platform is in the custody of Norman Osborne, so they have to break into a H.A.M.M.E.R. facility, where all does not go according to plan. Finally, we get a hint of what may be happening to Steve, and how he may be brought back [...]

Just a few days ago, word swarmed the internet that Shia LaBeouf had decided to step away from the long-rumored Y: The Last Man adaptation (Read: Shia LaBeouf Takes Himself Out Of The ‘Y: The Last Man’ Equation), where he was set to play the lead Yorick Brown behind director D.J. Caruso. LaBeouf had apparently come to the conclusion that the character of Yorick was far too similar to his Transformers character, Sam Witwicky, and that wasn’t a good thing for him.

Many loved this news because, well, Yorick Brown is a hell of a lot more complicated than Sam Witwicky, for one; but if LaBeouf did play the part in Y, he would definitely seem like Sam Witwicky just by default, and this was bad. Unfortunately for those who had become elated with this recent development, it has now quickly been clarified.

Shia LaBeouf sat down with Frosty at Collider and let it all pour out. He explained that Y: The Last Man is his absolute favorite comic book, and it’s D.J. Caruso’s favorite as well, so they still really want to do it. He also clarified that right now, right this moment, the script is nowhere near ready. But because of the similarity of Witwicky and Yorick Brown, he wants to do something else now, but doesn’t want to completely walk away from Y: The Last Man either. [...]

Captain America #600
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Butch Guice and others
Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
Released date: June 15, 2009

The big news in the comics world was Marvel’s announcement of the imminent return of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers. Now if you’ve been reading comics for any amount of time, you probably know that death is only a temporary issue for any of the major characters, and that eventually ALL dead characters will be coming back, so I wasn’t surprised to hear that Steve would be coming back.

I had hoped that Marvel Comics would leave him alone for a while, mostly because the current Captain America series following Steve’s old sidekick Bucky Barnes as Cap has been amazing. The twenty-five issues since Steve Rogers’ “death” have been easily the best book being produced today by anyone. The series has been consistently smart, action-packed, and straight-up entertaining, and it’s all due to the writing of Ed Brubaker, who managed to bring back Bucky and make it not only believable, but compelling. Now that we’ve seen the start of the return of Steve Rogers, it will be interesting to see if Brubaker can maintain the high level of quality that he has brought to this title [...]

Though most hardcore comic fans focused on Heroes Con this past weekend, the noticeably stripped-down Wizard World Philly convention still set the stage for some exciting previews, a little bit of unexpected drama and, since I was involved — some good, silly fun.

Going into WWP, I knew I was on a mission. There were promises to help out the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, I was asked to cover a few panels for another site, and almost immediately after I arrived on Saturday afternoon, me dear friends (and consiglieri of comics) Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner asked me to watch their booth while they partook in their own panel event.

“Here, have a cheesesteak,” said Jimmy, handing me a warm, salty-smelling small missile. Huh? Apparently, Jimmy mentioned in his Newsarama blog that he’d give a “free crappy sketch” to anyone who brought him the classic Philly munch-out food. The result? No less than 10 free heroes. While I thanked him for it, I knew I wouldn’t be wasting my calories on it when the delights of the Reading Terminal Market were mere feet away from the convention center [...]

The Deadbeat
Story and Words by Jeremy Massie
Alterna Comics

After finishing The Deadbeat (Alterna Comics) a serious, graphically told story wrapped in the familiar guise of super-hero fiction, I’m left wanting more.

The story, written and illustrated by Jeremy Massie, follows an unnamed super-powered man who whose average day consists of going to the local pub to get drunk off of the chocolate-flavored beverage “YooHoo” served in a dirty glass — the only thing that’ll affect him due to his inherent invulnerability. His retirement, so to speak, came as a result of an epic battle with a mad scientist that killed hundreds of civilians, which included his wife. Distraught from this loss, he sends his infant daughter Vera to live with her aunt. Years later, he receives a letter informing him of Vera’s death, allowing him to further plunge into a shell of his former life.

When Vera, now fully grown with powers of her own, appears at the pub, our invulnerable man comes out of retirement with a new outlook on life [...]

Out there in the world, right this moment, there are countless independent comic book writers and artists trying to make their mark in the comic world. Silber Media is one of those folks, but instead of sticking on the regular path or taking the new road of digital comics, these guys and gals took an alternative path rarely traveled: mini-comics!

Mini comics aren’t comic books, and they’re not comic strips. They’re kind of a hybrid of the two. Each is about the size of a matchbook, with one panel, one picture, and one or two lines of dialogue on each page, but in the page-turning book format. Basically, you throw a handful of them in your pocket and go wherever you need to go. At a low point in your day, grab a mini-comic and go to town.

Currently, Silber has multiple mini-comic series going on, including Lost Kisses — which follows a lowly stick figure on his bitter, loathing quest for vengeance on a hated ex girlfriend; as well as Worms — a nightmare of a story that sees a girl waking up in a mysterious hospital, tied to her bed and attached to an IV with worms in it that slowly work their way into her system. [...]

The original Sentinel of Liberty Steve Rogers will resume his role as Captain America when he returns to the Marvel Universe just in time for Independence day, according to Marvel Comics veteran Senior Editor Tom Brevoort in a recent interview with UGO.

Rogers will make his debut in Reborn #1, the first issue of a new series written by ongoing Cap scribe Ed Brubaker with art from Bryan Hitch and a cover by Alex Ross. The series is reported to hit comic shops on July 1, Brevoort said, and it will reveal all of the ground work that was laid out years before.

It made headlines two years ago when Steve Rogers met his untimely death in Captain America #25 at the hands of former lover Sharon Carter during the Marvel Universe Civil War, preceding a massive Skrull invasion [...]

Sci Fi Channel’s Warehouse 13 premieres on Tuesday July 7th at 9/8c. Starring CCH Pounder (The Shield), Eddie Mclintock (Bones), Joanne Kelly (Vanished) and Saul Rubinek (Eureka), the show follows a group of government agents assigned to retrieve strange supernatural objects for the U.S. Government. Once obtained, they are housed and safeguarded in a super-secret facility known only as Warehouse 13. According to the Sci Fi Channel, the show is a cross between the X-Files and Moonlighting, two very awesome shows in their own right.

In celebration of this super show, we came up with the Top 13 coolest objects from the comic-verse that would fit perfectly on the vast shelves in Warehouse 13. Get it? Because there’s 13 items and the Warehouse is numbered 13…and it is…uhh…funny…ha..umm..hah…..moving along…

X-Men: Manifest Destiny
Written by Jason Aaron, Mike Carey, Frank Tieri
Drawn by Michael Ryan, Stephen Segovia, Takeshi Miyazawa
Marvel Comics
Release date: May 13, 2009

Having been decimated, become an endangered species, and developed a Messiah Complex, it is safe to say that the X-Men have had a rough couple of years. The years have not been kind to the merry mutants as their population dwindled and the hatred toward them increase twice fold. In their latest storyline, Manifest Destiny, with their home in ruins and with no allies to be found, the X-Men have decided to abandon their home in Westchester and set up shop in mutant friendly San Francisco. It is there with Warren Worthington’s (aka Angel) money, they set up a new facility to house any mutant in need of shelter, sort of like a new age Xavier Academy.

The storyline is actually pretty entertaining but too bad it is not in this hardcover. X-Men: Manifest Destiny hardcover does not collect the main story but rather the back stories and various mini-series that spun off from the storyline itself. One of the mini-series that it collects are Wolverine: Manifest Destiny, where fists fly and kung fu chops are thrown as Wolvie must confront his past in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. In Nightcrawler: Manifest Destiny, our favorite elf heads off to a museum dedicated to him and the monster that lurks the area. Other back up stories revolving around Iceman, Mystique, and Boom-Boom that were presented as back up stories are also published in this book [...]

Atomic Robo and the Shadow From Beyond Time #2
Written by Brian Clevinger
Art by Scott Wegener
Colors by Ronda Pattison
Red 5 Comics
Release date: June 3, 2009

First off, how can you NOT love a comic called Atomic Robo and the Shadow Beyond Time? Everything you need to know about this comic is sitting right there in the title. It’s got robots, horror, and just the right about of humor. Of course, the book itself is pretty good too, which is a good thing because people generally buy a comic for more than just its title.

This is the third mini in the Atomic Robo series, and from the first two issues, I’m enjoying it even more than I did the first two. In this one, we follow Atomic Robo in 1920’s New York as he has to stop a Lovecraftian monster who has taken over the body of the actual H.P. Lovecraft. And that’s not even the craziest of the ideas in this issue. Brian Clevinger continues to make this a supremely fun comic. It’s filled with a lot of humor, but I wouldn’t really describe it as a humor book. It’s an adventure book, and Clevinger always keeps the action at the forefront. This issue in particular has a great balance between action and comedy, as Robo has a great conversation with Nikola Tesla while taking on the monster. The other nice thing about this series is that you never know what kind of story is going to be told. Each series has told a different kind of story, yet the central character keeps the whole thing together.

God bless the Internet.

Avid Twitter-user Jon Favreau has been keeping his fans well up-to-date on the happenings of his Iron Man 2. Over the past couple of days, he has been dropping mini Tweet-sized hints that something new was coming very soon. Well, the man wasn’t lying, and via his latest message, he offered up a link to the first picture of Mickey Rourke as the dreaded Whiplash over at USA Today.

The image shows Rourke’s Whiplash at a race track sporting a makeshift suit of his own, which bears similarities to Iron Man’s suits. The suit will include two whips which are powered by that rascally glowing chest piece and will surely do some heavy damage. Favreau says that the matching glowing chest-pieces and technologies are “definitely related,” but no guarantees that Whiplash works as a designer for Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) as he does in the comics.

This our second official look at Iron Man 2 after the first image of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was released at the beginning of last month (Read: Geek Peek: First Look At Robert Downey Jr. In ‘Iron Man 2′). [...]

In an unexpected turn-of-events, it appears that actor Shia LaBeouf is going to pass on starring in the feature film adaptation of Brian K. Vaughan’s brilliant graphic novel, Y: The Last Man, as Yorick Brown — a role that he had long been rumored to be a lock for.

It seems like an eternity ago that we heard that a movie based on Y was on the way. Then it was announced that Disturbia director D.J. Caruso would be directing the movie, and that the then-budding superstar LaBeouf would be starring. All was good in the world then.

Since that time, LaBeouf has become one of the top young faces of Hollywood, starring in blockbuster franchises with Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. This explosion of popularity has ultimately left a bitter taste in many a mouths and the once-perfect fit for Y: The Last Man suddenly didn’t seem so appealing anymore. [...]

Geeks of Doom was very lucky to interview writer/artist Jimmy Gownley of Amelia Rules! fame. Jim talked about his series Amelia Rules!, how to break into the business, and most importantly, what is in his fridge.

If you have not read Amelia Rules!, you are missing out on some great comic writing. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy at your local book store or comic book store. You will be glad you did. Special Thanks to Jim for giving us a chance to interview him.

You can learn more about Gownley and Amelia at ameliarules.com [...]

The Muppet Show #3
Written and drawn by Roger Landridge
Boom Studios
Release date: June 3, 2009

When news came down the pipe that Boom! Studios was creating a line of child-friendly comics off some licensed properties, I was pretty surprised. I mean, it is tough enough for a smaller publisher to publish non superhero-centric books in this current market, let alone comics geared towards kids. It has the terms “no good deed goes unpunished” and “shoot yourself in the foot” written all over it. But, leave it to the crafty publisher to bring out several quality properties that not only have massive kids appeal, but also mainstream appeal such as The Muppet Show.

Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzy, and the rest of the Muppets are back in comic form once again. Following the pattern of the original variety show, readers are treated with an actual Muppet Show as seen on TV, filled with musical numbers, skits, and backstage shenanigans that you come to know and love. While the show is in session, readers are given a main story to follow that spotlights one member of the Muppet clan. So with any given issue, the focus is on a different Muppet and their story.

Writer/artist Roger Landridge does a great job creating a whole Muppet episode on paper [...]

The NY Post was able to sit down with Spider-Man 4 producer Todd Black and get some answers to some of the big rumors that have been floating around the Internet for the past couple of months. Namely: the inclusion or departure of Kirsten Dunst; the use of the vampire Morbius as a villain; and something about a wedding for Peter Parker and Mary Jane. Black was able to handle all of these rumors with ease.

He announced that Kirsten Dunst was indeed on board, which isn’t too much of a shock as she seemed fairly confident in here return while out promoting How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (Read: Kirsten Dunst Unofficially In For ‘Spider-Man 4′). Many fans seemed intent on her not returning to the franchise, but I personally am all for it. The role hasn’t had to be anything that supports the movie and that we rely on, so whether you like her or not, she is Mary Jane — changing to a completely different actress would just be too annoying to be worth it. Black also cleared the air and admitted that he has heard nothing about any kind of wedding being involved. [...]

Last year we learned that the long-awaited new Heavy Metal movie adaptation was finally moving forward and that Watchmen director Zack Snyder had joined David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) and Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) as directors on the project (Read: Zack Snyder Joins David Fincher & Gore Verbinski For ‘Heavy Metal’). Heavy Metal consists of multiple different chapters or sections, and the goal was to find a team of top-notch talent to handle these various sections.

Fortunately for us, the party does not end there: Film School Rejects have spoken to Kevin Eastman (Owner of the Heavy Metal Magazine, as well as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator) who dropped the bomb that now a one Mr. James Cameron would be executive producing on the project, and that he would be directing one of the segments as well!

Eastman also shared that Kung Fu Panda co-director Mark Osborne would be doing a comedy segment of the Heavy Metal project along with Jack Black. They are really putting together one of the — if not THE — greatest collection of filmmakers ever seen; and this is just the directors — they still need to cast what I’m assuming will be all kinds of big name stars for the project. [...]

Ain’t It Cool News has obtained multiple images of various movie posters and title graphics from a licensing show. Included in the mix are posters for Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Johnny Depp’s animated movie Rango, Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon, and Despicable Me with Steve Carell. But the one that stands out over all of the rest, is a great little graphic of the huge summer Marvel slate through 2012, including Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America, and the massive grand finale: The Avengers.

Click the image to check out the Marvel title graphics and head over to AICN to see all of the posters!

Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2 is currently filming and just recently reached the half-way point of filming before their May 7, 2010 release date. Kenneth Branagh’s Thor is currently gathering a very interesting cast before they get moving toward their May 20, 2011 release. Later that same year on July 22, 2011 Captain America will get a release, but we still have no idea who will direct and star for that one yet. Lastly, the Marvel characters will unite in one massive superhero ensemble movie on May 4, 2012 when The Avengers finally come to play. [...]

In continuing with his casting of actors who are mostly unknown in the United States, Thor director Kenneth Branagh has cast boom-voiced actor Brian Blessed in the role of Odin, father of Thor and Loki, as well as All-Father of the Norse afterlife, Valhalla.

Blessed is perhaps best known for his role as Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon, but has appeared in some well-known movies such as: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves as Lord Locksley, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as Boss Nass, and Disney’s Tarzan as the villain Clayton.

So far, Branagh has only cast unknowns with Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and now Blessed as Odin. Again, Thor is a comic that used a lot of Old English dialogue, so Branagh has brought in the best actors to perform that kind of style. On the other hand, will the lack of star-power in this Marvel summer blockbuster affect its box office take?

These are the things that are making Thor an interesting project to watch. [...]

Hotwire; Requiem for the Dead
#3 of 4
Written, Illustrated and lettered by Steve Pugh
Created by Warren Ellis and Steve Pugh
Radical Publishing, Inc.
Cover price: $2.99; On-sale date: May 2009

“Blue-Lights have started to penetrate the suppressor fields into the cities and are possessing the living. The living are being turned into “Ghost-Bombs,” capable of enormous damage. When the dead threaten the living, you call the police and they have a department of One to take care of the problem. The Detective Exorcist, Alice Hotwire.”

This is the foreword on this Warren Ellis and Steve Pugh created miniseries. Newcomer Radical Publishing is producing this comic, based on a story by Warren Ellis, which, judging by the intense, strange, vivid world and equally traited characters, is not hard to believe. Steve Pugh is handling the rest of the series though, by writing, illustrating and even lettering this futuristic/technological ghost/zombie story [...]

If you’ve yet to hear, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are directing a trilogy based on the popular Tintin character. Spielberg is directing one, then Jackson will direct, and then they may co-direct the third or maybe even find someone new to do the honors. The movies will be shot using motion-capture technology and they will be released in the booming 3-D format. The first movie in the trilogy is happily titled The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.

U.S. distributor Paramount Pictures and international distributor Sony Pictures have officially announced that Secret of the Unicorn will be released on December 23, 2011 in the U.S., with the movie opening in late October and early November of 2011 internationally.

The Adventures of Tintin follows a determined young reporter who stops at nothing to get his story, a trait that sees him always in wild predicaments and encounters. The movie stars Jamie Bell as Tintin, Daniel Craig as Red Rackham, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Thompson and Thomson, and Andy Serkis. [...]