Masamune Shirow’s Orion
Trade Paperback | Kindle Edition
Story and Illustrations by Masamune Shirow
Translation by Frederick Schodt and Toren Smith (Studio Proteus)
Lettering by Tom Orzechowski, Molly Kiely, Susie Lee (Studio Proteus)
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: 2008 (4th Edition)
Cover Price: $17.95

Picture in your mind a universe in which magic and science are one and the same, in which interstellar travel is accomplished with incantations through the art of “psycho-science;” where power is measured in terms of “psychs.” In the Yamata People’s Empire, a strange mix of Tantric Buddhism, Shinto mythology, Cthulhu mythos and varied Eastern philosophies combine into one.

The empire, an offshoot of the Greater Galactic Empire in the Orion galaxy, is about to embark upon its greatest feat: Collecting, gathering, and destroying all of the negative karma in the galaxy. Welcome to the wacky, mind-blowing narrative that is Masamune Shirow‘s Orion.

Superman: The Atomic Age Sundays, Vol. 1 (1949-1953)
Hardcover
Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster
Scripts by Alvin Schwartz
Art by Wayne Boring
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 15, 2015
Cover Price: $49.99

First off, let me get one thing straight. I’m no fan of The Man of Steel. That’s right, not loving Big Blue. Now, having said that, I will give credit where it is due; he is an icon and well-loved the world over. But I like to get outside my comfort zone as often as possible and how better to do that than to review a character I don’t really enjoy reading. Therefore, I am happy to review Superman: The Atomic Age Sundays, Vol. 1 (1949-1953).

This hardbound compilation is completely composed of never before reprinted Sunday comics. The time span is October 23, 1949 through March 15, 1953. Looking back on comics as they were presented over six decades ago is akin to staring into the history of America. We not only get a glimpse of the fears and challenges of life back then but we get to look at how less convoluted the world was at that time. Disregarding nostalgia for what it is, the strip presents the reader with a time capsule of sorts, in comic form and in that respect, this book produces something not easily replicated.

Red Sonja: 1973
Written by Eric Trautmann, Roy Thomas, Luke Lieberman, Gail Simone, David Walker, and Cullen Bunn
Art by Jonathan Lau, Bilquis Evely, Kewbar Baal, Rod Rodolfo, Rich Buckler, and Ivan Rodriguez
Colors by Marcio Menyz, Arison Aguiar, Bilquis Evely, and Ivan Nunes
Letters by A Larger World Studios
Cover art by Ed Benes and Dinei Ribeiro
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 15, 2015
Cover Price: $7.99

Red Sonja: 1973 is a great anthology book featuring a stellar line-up of creators celebrating the 42nd birthday of the character! Sure, the book has some great writers and fantastic artists, but is it any good? Yeah, I think you all ready know the answer, but let me tell you what I thought of it…

The only question I have is… why hasn’t Joss Whedon received every award that has ever existed in the history of awards? Saturday, he delivered his yearly sermon in Hall H (he skipped last year) AND won the Comic-Con Icon Award (the 9th of its kind). He likes to give his fans what they want – a chance to listen to him speak in that genius voice, and to ask questions about anything and everything, which he is only too happy to answer. But the most important question of the night was:

Who is his favorite character?

The answer is…

Warner Bros. and DC Comics announced on Friday that they will be producing three new direct-to-video animated features featuring Batman for release in 2016. With Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice poised to explode onto the big screen next March, there will no doubt be another resurgence of interest in Dark Knight-related merchandise.

Among the three new animated movies coming our way next year will be an adaptation of what is arguably one of the greatest stories of the Caped Crusader ever told, Batman: The Killing Joke.