Chris Bushley - Page 10

AMC Trumps Ratings On Bad Shows: The Walking Dead Previews On Comic Book Men

“The Herded Sheep”

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

After last week’s midseason premiere of The Walking Dead, Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Men hit the airways. I was really looking forward to a show that would spotlight our glorious hobby while adding in all the hilarity of a Kevin Smith production. But, alas, I apparently set my standards too high. By the first commercial break I was pretty much over the Pawn Stars duplicate, looking only forward to the following week’s preview for The Walking Dead!

Yes, AMC put the preview for episode nine of The Walking Dead in the first commercial break of Comic Book Men. Smart, very smart actually! How better to spike the ratings of a brand new show than to pull along the enraptured audience from one of their smash hit series! Just embed the previews for the next week within the new show’s commercial break, instead of at the conclusion of said show as per usual, and you have an instant ratings cushion! Brilliant for them, not so much for us. I would really love to see how drastic the ratings fell immediately after The Walking Dead preview concluded — because I was out of there faster than a fat kid in dodge ball!

So, I was thrilled this week as episode nine of The Walking Dead concluded, and we were graced with previews for episode ten immediately after! Until, AMC revealed that a sneak peak of episode ten would be shown during Comic Book Men! “Noooo! Well, I guess I could watch until the first commercial break,” I slyly convinced myself. But as I watched Kevin Smith and his collection of oddities amuse themselves with discussions of future self defilement and which super powers they would like to have, I realized I had been herded into a corral once again. If donkey wants the carrot, he pulls the wagon I guess! So, as the first and second commercial breaks fell by the wayside I looked at the clock. Finally, thirty-six minutes into this mind numbing “comic book show” I was given what I had come for — The Walking Dead sneak peak! All twenty-five seconds of it! I had spent thirty-six minutes watching forty-somethings attempt to play hockey, for a whopping twenty-five seconds of my favorite show! I will admit it openly, you got me AMC — but never again!

We here at the CBN offices offer to you a vast array of comic book, movie, game and television information. So, if you don’t enjoy having to wade through shows that you could care less about just to get your fix of the ones you do — I suggest this. Check out your favorite previews and sneak peaks here! Why should a mediocre show get trumped up ratings just because you want to see something from another show?! Let it falter, let the creators know that their product is not as good as the numbers show so that they can make it a better product! I am a huge fan of Kevin Smith, from his movies to the comics he has done, but this show just is not good, and it should not reap the rewards from a highly better show. AMC is smart, let’s be smarter and not fall into the trap they have set for us again. If you like Comic Book Men, great, enjoy it, but if the only reason you have it on is to see snippets of The Walking Dead — turn the channel! We will have it all for you here later and you won’t have to feel like a sheep anymore!

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The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for February 15, 2012

The DOC’s Top of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

(A weekly “quick pick” of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. In no particular order!)

I do the research, you reap the reward! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, be sure to add these five books to your list of goodies. Forget that apple a day nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription for good health starts with these top five titles of the week!

1. Batman #6: Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are creating DC’s best book today! The Court of Owls has broken Bruce Wayne like they did to his ancestors before. Can he emerge from the horror unscathed or will he be changed forever? Check out my review for more details!

2. Green Lantern Corps #6: It’s the Keepers against Guy Gardner’s band of warriors. All hell breaks loose, but did Guy bring enough bullets to save his fellow Lanterns? Find out more in my full review!

3. The New Avengers #21: Norman Osborn has been two steps ahead of the Avengers the whole time. But when his new Dark Avengers unleash Ragnarok on them, will there be anyone left to outwit? Bendis gives us one awesome battle book way before A vs. X!

4. B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth – The Long Death #1: The end is coming and wheels that have been set in motion years ago, begin to spin out of control! Mignola promises that, “we are breaking things that cannot be fixed!” Jump aboard now before it all goes to hell!

5. Fables #114: As the cubs find out their foretold roles for the future, on of them maybe inviting in something demonic. Check out one of the most underrated books out there! You will never look at your childhood fairytales the same again!

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Review: Green Lantern Corps #6

The Guardians have kept yet another secret from their beloved Corps. Before they entrusted each Lantern with the safety of their own batteries, the Keepers were the ones who protected all of them! The residual power eventually intertwined with the very fabric of their world and it’s inhabitants, causing them to become quite dependent upon the batteries to sustain any form of life. Once the Guardians decided to remove the batteries from the planet Urak, their world withered into a shadow of what it once was. Now on the brink of oblivion, the Keepers lash out against the Green Lantern Corps and the Guardians themselves. They will stop at nothing to regain what they see as rightfully theirs, and the Corps will be the first to fall!

The Keepers have been decimating the Corps for the past few issues, using torture and death to pry information regarding Oa from them. Now, finally, Guy Gardner has amassed a small group of warriors that might be able to save their lost friends, but at what cost will freedom come?

Peter J. Tomasi has been churning out some amazing stories for the past six issues. Full of betrayal, hatred, insane action and revelations, Green Lantern Corps has been the best of the “Lantern” books each month! But this week has been the best yet! The conclusion of the Keepers arc is chock full of battle sequences that will assault the senses! Page after page of brutality and strategy, this one might be a quick read — but it will blow you away! Pasarin has been working overtime creating splash pages that encompass every inch of the page! Blades, rings, bullets, body armor — everything stands out, creating a chaotic flow that entrenches you within the battle! You will return again and again to his page layouts, scouring the images for all the details you may have missed before. Perfection at it’s finest!

I really can’t say enough about this book. If you ever wanted an adrenaline ride that will make you wish you could throw on a ring and join the fight — this is it! It’s time the Corps kicked a little a$$ of their own! But don’t take my word for it, the cover says it all — Lock and Load!

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Review: Batman #6

Snyder’s viscous breakdown of the Batman continues here, and the Court of Owls is on the cusp of victory! The Talon has emerged from the shadows with his sights solely locked on the utter destruction of the Dark Knight. Will he be able to remove Batman from the heart of Gotham permanently, or can Bruce dredge up enough strength to live another day?

Continually spellbinding, Snyder’s vision for the premiere Bat-book is one like you have never seen before. Never have I read a Batman series that mentally and physically breaks him with every page. It is gut-wrenching to witness the amount of brutality that is bestowed upon such an iconic character, and yet — you will relish every moment of it! The pomposity that is the facade of Bruce Wayne is nowhere to be seen, this is The Batman; the hero that was created the night his parents were killed, the cunning nightmare that stalks the minds of criminals everywhere! When you are broken beyond repair, all you have is your mental strength to carry you onward. Will it be enough for Bruce Wayne, or has the Court of Owls already sunk their talons in too deep?

This series is outstanding! Snyder’s writing continually gets better with every page and Capullo’s art is off the charts. The cover alone is mesmerizing! It is a horrific amalgam of Bat and Owl, showcasing the utter hell that Bruce Wayne has been going through. I dare you to stare at it and not feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! Utterly amazing!

This series is the best that DC is putting out right now! Every month it is the book I look forward to most — from any company! It is a complete re-imagining of the icon we grew up with and breaks down the walls of expectations. Bruce Wayne is a man that has over estimated his observations, and must now deal with a world that has been turned upside down. Gotham will change, Batman will change, and the scope of the book will forever change the way we see our hero. Snyder has changed the status quo of “super hero” books and I can’t wait for the future!

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Review: Wolverine and the X-Men #5

Last issue’s shocking revelation continues here, as we see Kitty Pryde suddenly eight months pregnant in a matter of two days!

Jason Aaron let’s us have a glimpse into the quirky folds of his mind, giving us a combination of both insane and enduring qualities to his story. The enduring aspect is the time and thought he has spent evolving these characters into creations we can care about, and in some instances, even relate to. Without the underlying character development, the chaotic situations Aaron creates for these characters would just be passed of as hokey and lame. It takes a keen sense of self to focus on bringing a level of stability to a book, and yet, throwing all the rules out the window! Aaron has created something that does not quite fit within the normal confines of an X book, all the while showing us what the best X book should be like!

Nick Bradshaw does a good job of rendering Aaron’s vision, but I must admit that I am missing Chris Bachalo! No one can quite match the utter chaos that Aaron puts forth in his writing like the way Bachalo can. It was the perfect match-up of writer and artist, the synergy was astounding, and it now seems to be lacking that same intensity with Bradshaw at the helm.

From Beast’s class field trip inside the body of another mutant, Angel’s change in status quo and Kitty’s little bun in the oven, Aaron gives us plenty of twists and turns that will keep your head spinning! A great book by a writer who uses controlled chaos to create something truly unique!

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Review: Suicide Squad #6

Harley Quinn has broken out of Belle Reeve prison, and Amanda Waller will not let that jeopardize her plans for the Task Force X program. “Suicide Squad” has been given their orders — bring Harley back any way you can!

Adam Glass is insane! Thank the Lord for that! This book is riddled with bullets and blood, midget clowns and man-eating sharks, and yes the rumors are true — good ol‘ puddin‘ is thrown in there, too! The Joker has finally made his full debut in the new DCnU, not just a skinned face pinned to a wall! And even though it is through flashbacks that we see our insane fiend, it is well worth it!

Though the hype has been about the Joker’s appearance, it is the origin of Harley Quinn that is the most intriguing part of this book. What could ever make Dr. Harleen Quinzel into one of the most deranged characters in the DCnU? Glass gives us an intense analyzation of how a devious mind can sift through your thoughts, finding the triggers within that will change you forever. The back and forth between Harley and the Joker is pitch perfect, leaving you with the feeling of two caged animals eyeing each other for weaknesses. A well played chess match that will leave one of them scarred and both of them smitten.

Adam Glass may well be insane, but his writing is completely engrossing. From the Harley horde to the eventual realization as to where Harley is truly going, Glass gives us an emotional roller coaster that is coated slick with blood! Not only does he create a solid tale of mayhem for his own book, he even intertwines storylines that are concurrently going on in Stormwatch, Green Arrow and Detective Comics! Amazing!

This is my “fun” pick of the week! It has everything a favorite comic needs to let you escape from reality for awhile. Guns, girls, razors, bullets, Siamese cross dressers — you name it, and Glass throws it in! But enough about what I think, get this book and enjoy one hell of a ride!

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Review: Severed #7

Secrets are strange things. Sometimes they are shared amongst friends, becoming a special bond between them. Sometimes they reside within a single soul, fascinating or terrible, the choice is solely theirs. But sometimes, a secret is something that is hidden so deep, it becomes forgotten. A wall built up just so we can try and live a normal life after we have lived through a nightmare. These are the secrets that are the most dangerous, because sometimes they come back to bite us again!

That is exactly the story that Snyder and crew lay before us. A secret told to protect the innocent lives that have formed around Jack Garron over the years. His wife and family have never been told the truth about what happened to his arm, it was easier that way. But now, decades later, a scorched photograph was given to his grandson, and the secret of his youth came screaming up from his memory!

Snyder and Tuft have given us a tale that is as ancient as time and yet, still as scary today as it ever was. It is about the purity of evil and how, even when we think we have bested it, it never goes away. It seethes through the years, waiting and mending itself for when we are at our weakest. Then, and only then, will the game begin anew.

This tale is nothing short of fascinating! It is emotionally jarring and will leave you with a sense of awe at how well the writers have silently crept into your consciousness, sifting through your fears. It is a tale that is far too short, not that it isn’t thoroughly fulfilling, but rather, you yearn for it to continue on forever. There just isn’t enough options on the shelves these days to compete with the quality that is found in Severed! It is a visceral look at what life can bring when you are chasing a dream blindly. Our peripherals will hide shadows that creep beside us, until the horrors eventually over take you. And then what, do you fight for the very life you were trying to change, or do you simply crumble from the fear inside you?

A thank you has to go out to the entire creative team that has given us a wonderfully, horrifying book over the past seven months. Severed is a tale that is not confined to the medium it was conceived in. It is something that can bring a larger scope to the medium, creating new readers that can appreciate the fact that, sometimes, great pieces of literature can be found in comic shops.

If you haven’t traveled down the vicious road that is Severed yet, you are not too late! Not only will the hardcover edition be coming out in April, I already have a spot picked out on my shelves, but you can also leave your comments and praise at Systemiccomics.com. They love to hear your own thoughts and stories — so check it out!

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The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for February 8th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

(A weekly quick pick of the five titles that should reside at the top of your pull list. In no particular order!)

I do the research, you reap the reward! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, make sure you add these books to your list of goodies. Forget that apple a day nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health starts with these top five books of the week!

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1. Severed #7: Scott Snyder’s classic look at American horror reaches it’s conclusion! This is the best mini-series I have read in a very long time and if you haven’t been reading this one — you missed out on something amazing!

2. Wolverine and the X-Men #5: Kitty’s pregnant, Beast teaches a biology class inside a living mutant and the school is completely out of money! Jason Aaron continues his fabulous run on a series that is both fun and thought provoking!

3. Suicide Squad #6: The hunt for Harley Quinn begins with this issue! Plus, this is the only place you will be seeing the Joker anytime soon, too bad it’s only in flashbacks! Great story!

4. Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #2 (of 5): Mignola’s pulp hero returns for his second mini-series and you will be kicking yourself if you don’t pick this one up! B.P.R.D. fans will be pleasantly surprised by the last page reveal!

5. Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #529: David Liss‘ fantastic work, on redefining the Black Panther for future generations, ends here with the series finale! This underrated character has never before been so appealing!

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The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile for February 1st, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

(A weekly quick pick of the five books that should reside on the top of your pull list. In no particular order!)

I do the research, you reap the rewards! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, be sure to add these titles to your list of goodies. Forget that apple a day nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health begins with these top five books of the week!

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1. Swamp Thing #6: Scott Snyder continues to prove he is the new face of horror, and this book will embed itself in your nightmares for weeks to come! Just a tip, leave the lights on for this one! Check out my review for all the gory details here!

2. The Strange Talent of Luther Strode #5: Luther is finally forced to make a decision on whether he will become the man the Librarian wants him to be or not. But things aren’t so black and white when they’re covered in red! Check out Kenneth’s review here!

3. Dark Horse Presents #8: Mike Mignola headlines this one with a compelling story of Kate Corrigan and her revelation about Hellboy! Plus a creepy Beasts of Burden story by Jill Thompson and the continuation of Neal Adams’ Blood! 80 pages of great stuff!

4. The Boys #63: Garth Ennis’ over the top series may be gradually coming to it’s conclusion, but the story continues to heat up! Both teams take some big losses when the Seven and the Boys begin their cataclysmic collision course! The end begins here!

5. Fatale #2: Ed Brubaker weaves a crime noir tale like no other! Now factor in devil worshippers and demons, and you have another amazing book from an amazing trio! Don’t believe me? Read my full review here!

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Review: Swamp Thing #6

This is the day the world dies! No one can withstand the Rot, it has chosen it’s Black Queen and she will rule the very fabric of reality!

Snyder’s darkest book to date, Swamp Thing #5, is a complete assault to the senses. Visually traumatic and emotionally jarring, it will nest itself within the recesses of your consciousness, waiting there until you slip into a calming slumber — just to assault you again as you close your eyes!

Dr. Alec Holland can no longer run from his responsibilities as the avatar of the Green. It is not because he has finally chosen to accept his fate, it is because he no longer has the luxury of a choice. While he has been trying to find answers to a past life, one he can barely remember, the Rot has been moving with urgency against him. A veritable life or death chess match, Alec has lost far too many moves from indecision. Now, all he hears is the whispering voices of the Rot as it utters the word — checkmate!

This book will seize your attention and not let go until you give into it’s overwhelming sickness! Snyder is a classically trained maestro of the horror genre and he is conducting his most disturbing symphony for us right now! Although Yanick Paguette is absent from interior art chores this time around, Marco Rudy does a phenomenal job of rendering the pure viciousness of the book. His style, especially the splash pages, remind me of Tom Mandrake’s work on the Spectre series oh so many years ago. It is perfect for the Vertigo-esque style of this book!

Filled with horrifying revelations and pushing the characters to their breaking points, issue five is now the catalyst for things to come. The road from Snyder’s Swamp Thing to Lemire’s Animal Man is growing ever shorter — you need to get this book now before they converge! Don’t be the last to get to your local comic shop, you may just miss out on this amazing book!

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Review: Fatale #2

Josephine is running out of time. That’s something she never thought would happen, but this is the endgame. The players are finally all in motion and the stakes are high. Especially for someone who has lived as long as she has!

The crime noir Holy Trinity of Brubaker, Phillips and Stewart have created something that is familiar to their past work, and yet, is something purely original. A slow burn read, it is teeming with twists and secrets that shock at every turn! Multiple characters and dual timelines keep you on your toes, trying to stay one step ahead of the multi-faceted story. The converging lives of the three main characters could have become overwhelming to readers, the story lost, if not in the capable hands of this tried and true trio.

Fatale is a classic book, one that merges Lovecraftian fundamentals and crime noir fiction into the perfect amalgam of genres! Just when you think you have a handle on what to expect, Brubaker opens up a completely different doorway for the tale to travel down. It is thoroughly engrossing, drawing upon character flaws to expose the readers to the rich and dark corners of the tale laid before us.

Morally corrupt, seductive and shocking, Fatale is a book that will not disappoint readers looking for something fresh. It is a book that draws you in like a slow pull on a French cigarette, soothing, relaxing — then it bites you in the face!

Brubaker and crew have created perfection yet again!

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The “DOC’s” Top Of The Comic Book Pile For January 25th, 2012

The “DOC’s” Top Of The Pile

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

(A weekly quick pick of the five books that should reside at the top of your pull list! In no particular order!)

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I do the research, you reap the rewards! Before you head out to your favorite shop today, make sure you add these titles to your list of goodies. Forget the apple a day nonsense, this “DOC’s” prescription to good health starts with these top five books!

1. Justice League #5 : Johns and Lee are on fire with this book, creating some awesome moments and hokey catch phrases to boot! One word sells this book — Darkseid!!! For more, read my review.

2. Secret Avengers #21.1 : Uncanny X-Force scribe and CBN favorite, Rick Remender, breaks his way into the Bendis Fort Knox world of the Avengers! It’s a Hawkeye run team but all we care about is Venom!

3. Teen Titans #5 : Scott Lobdell pits his teenage team against Superboy with disastrous results. His re-imaginings of these characters are outstanding and so is Brett Booth’s pencils! Now check out my review!

4. American Vampire #23 : DC’s golden child, Scott Snyder, has made vampires cool again! But they’re not as cool as the kid hunting them down! Take a trip back to the fifties and hold on as the book careens out of control! Here’s my review for that.

5. The Walking Dead #93 : “Jesus” has come to save Rick and his crew, but do they really want saving from the guy who just kicked their ass? Kirkman’s next big arc starts here and Rick is more pissed than ever!

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Review: Justice League #5

Destruction rains down wherever the eye can see. Creatures from another world soar through the air, causing chaos to the very fabric of the earth. All this, the pain, the suffering, is being done on the breath of a single name — Darkseid!

Johns and Lee pit our newly formed heroes against one of the greatest foes the world has ever seen! And the victor in this malevolent battle — the reader!

I must say, that between Lee and his bevy of inkers and colorists, this is the best work he has put out to date. Not only beautiful, it is explosive and fluid — creating page after page of pure excitement! If this book doesn’t get your pulse pounding — you’re dead inside!

Not to be outdone by his artistic counterpart, Geoff Johns creates a tale that is brimming with action and yet, focuses in on select characters of the team to further enhance who they are. Yes, we all know these characters, but Johns brings new niches to their iconic status. He makes them fresh and energetic for not only new fans, but for all fans of these beloved characters. I personally appreciate that Johns does not set these heroes up as the near omnipotent Justice League that they will become. Remember, this story takes place five years in the past, this team is actually forming before your eyes and Johns makes their partnership faulty at best. But, it is the lack of leadership, even teamwork, that makes this book so well done. Plus, Johns has made Green Lantern one of the cockiest S.O.B.’s around, and yet, he gets pummeled EVERY issue! Brilliant stuff!

The alien, the amazon, the cyborg, the king, the lightning bolt, the hotshot and the human; all heroes in their own right, must finally learn to depend on others to topple this unstoppable force set before them — before it’s too late! An amazing book, full of velocity, ferocious action and whip smart tenacity; this one should sit proudly atop your pull list. Pull up a chair and watch Hal Jordan break! Too bad it wasn’t Ryan Reynolds instead!

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Review: American Vampire #23

Travis is a young man with a lot of likes. He likes fast cars, records by The Nocturnes, he likes girls in poodle skirts and cigarettes. Like I said, he has a lot of likes. But he only has one love. The love of killing vampires!

Chapter two of the “Death Race” storyline comes out of the gate full throttle, shifting gears between Travis’ past and present faster than a race down Deadman’s Curve. Through flashbacks, Snyder shows us there is a depth to this “greaser” that we never knew, and maybe don’t want to. Tragedy seems to have nestled its way into the soul of Travis, and nothing will help rectify that incessant ache like killing the man that is speeding away from him. The man that killed his parents!

This is a fabulous issue, loaded with tension, slamming gears and revelations! After the — what I thought to be not on par — “Beast In the Cave” storyline, Snyder is firing on all cylinders with the past two issues. Excitement pummels you as the “Rock A Billy” style tale slams into drive and you are forced to hold on as Travis’ world is sent careening over the edge. The youngest vampire hunter and coolest cat since the originator Skinner Sweet, must decide how much he is willing to lose in order to exact revenge. Especially when his prey is even more vicious when cornered!

Snyder and Albuquerque have outdone themselves on this issue. To create a character that fans instantly love is no small feat, but to have done it twice in a twenty-three issue span — completely unheard of! I hope that we get to see the character of Travis far past the four issue arc of “Death Race.” He is unique and multi-faceted, a true pleasure to read.

So roll up your boot cut jeans, tuck a Lucky Strike behind your ear and get your motor runnin’ to the nearest soda shop with the newest copy of American Vampire! It’s the coolest daddio!

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Review: Teen Titans #5

Just like their older counterparts, the Justice League, the Teen Titans must face a dire threat while the team is still in it’s infancy. But at least the Titans know who they are fighting against, not that it will help them much!

N.O.W.H.E.R.E., an international organization that has been collecting young metahumans for unknown reasons, has set their sights on Wonder Girl to be their next acquisition. And who better to collect the reluctant hero than their top science experiment — Superboy!

From issue one, Lobdell and Booth have created a book that has thoroughly blown me away! They have brought a newfound richness to the core characters, while creating some amazing new ones as well. Though some of these characters have been around for decades, Lobdell makes them completely accessible for new readers and completely exciting for ALL readers. The way he has amped up their personalities, Kid Flash especially, brings excitement to the reader and a smile to your face. The infighting, the lack of control, teen angst and the overall camaraderie of these new found friends in the face of overwhelming odds, harkens back to the days when five mutants first enlisted in a school for gifted youngsters. It is a pleasure to read characters that have been given so much depth in such few issues. Lobdell truly has a vested interest in the development of these heroes and it shows.

Teen Titans #5 is vibrant, fierce and explosive with a break neck pace! It exudes excitement on every page, culminating in a violent crescendo that leaves everyone rocked to the core. Lobdell and Booth have created something quite special here and you owe it to yourselves to check it out. You will not find a better written teen dynamic book on the shelves today!

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Advanced Review: Superior #7 (of 7)

Simon Pooni was just your average boy. Smart, outgoing, captain of the basketball team, but one day his whole world changed when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. A ravaged body left him in a wheelchair, broken but not beaten. His world had been changed once already — soon it would change again!

Mark Millar gives us his all in the long awaited finale of Superior! Intense action sequences, that will rock the senses, hit you from page one. It is the undaunting barrage of earth shattering battles that will pique your interest, but it is the heart of the Simon Pooni character that will hold sway over you. A boy that has endured so much, must now make the ultimate decision — sell his immortal soul to a demon, in order to become Superior again, or watch as the world is torn asunder!

It is moving how Millar has created a character that — in every essence of his being — is a hero. He was given an average life, then it was taken away. He was given a boon to become something truly amazing, then it was taken away. Now, he has been asked to give even more of himself, so much more than even he can comprehend! The character of Simon is built from the essence of everything that is great in the world of comics. He is a nostalgic look at what came before and a glimpse of what could come again. Millar creates a pure homage to the iconic vision of Superman, while modernizing it without tarnishing it’s integrity.

It took FOREVER for this book to come out, but the wait is now over! It is a blockbuster of a finale, one that will make you think you’re watching a summer action film instead of reading a comic book! But that’s exactly what Mark Millar does on each issue he writes! He creates something that makes you ponder just how good the industry could be if half the talent — had half his talent!

As the cover says, “The gloves are finally off!” Truer words were never spoken!

“Superior” #7 provided by friend of Cosmic Book News.

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Advanced Review: Wolverine and the X-Men #4

The repercussions from Rick Remender’s current Age of Apocalypse storyline, in Uncanny X-Force, make their way into Jason Aaron’s phenomenal book.

Genesis has been enrolled as a student, Angel believes he is something more than a mutant, and Deathlok’s choice to be a guest speaker, has some startling effects! I have said it before, but it is worth repeating — this is Jason Aaron’s best series to date!

I have never had this much fun reading an X series before, and I have been reading them for over twenty years! Aaron’s wit is beyond brilliant; the subtle nuances he creates between all the characters is amazing! He pits new, crazy characters against the familiarity of classic ones, to create the perfect mesh of fun and nostalgia. But the Deathlok scenes in this book is what really makes this current issue! A cyborg from the future begins spewing statistics about the class he is lecturing, ones that include the percentage of how many of them will die. It helps bring a moment of clarity amidst the chaos, a slice of realism in a pie of insanity. But nothing brings you back to reality as quickly as the final page does! We have all heard rumors as to what will happen, but I gave up spoilers as a New Year’s resolution — so you will have to buy your own copy to find out!

My only complaint is that Chris Bachalo was not on art chores this issue. Nothing irks me more about a new book, as when the artist can’t make it through the first year of issues! But Nick Bradshaw, amazing artist as well, brings his own level to this book! He has so much going on in the foreground as well as the background, that you can barely fathom everything that is going on. You can peruse each panel for twenty minutes and still find something new when you read it through again. Oh, you will read it through again! It’s just that good!

Aaron gives us his all yet again, and all you need to do is pick it up and enjoy! I dare you to find something cooler on the shelves this week! I dare ya!

Copy of “Wolverine and the X-Men” #4 provided by friend of Cosmic Book News.

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Advanced Review: Scarlet Spider #1

Let me begin by saying, I have not read a Spider-Man book since Erick Larson left Amazing Spider-Man with issue #350. It just seemed like too much effort to follow a single character throughout WAY too many books. Too little bang for the buck, as they say.

But when Marvel released information at this years NYCC, regarding a new Scarlett Spider series, I was more than intrigued. They promised a character that had almost the same skills, but not the high brow penchant for human life, that Peter Parker had. All the strength of Venom, but not all the insanity. And when they said it would be penned by Chris Yost, I was sold!

Though I do not pretend to know the vast history the character Kaine has within the Spider-Man mythos, I do know a good story when I read one. Yost creates a tale of a man who has been given a second chance on life. A man that needs to determine where he fits in the world, a world that is both wondrous and threatening. But does a man that has been deemed a monster for most of his life, have the fortitude to become a hero? Or is it just too much effort for a reborn man to care?

That is the heart that Chris Yost brings to this book. You get all the cool Spidey action, with a levity of a character that is trying to find not only his place in the world, but find himself as well. Hero, villain or simply a man that does not care either way, Kaine is an enigma; one that I cannot wait to try and figure out!

This book is the perfect point for fans that were always too intimidated to dive into the Spidey world. A single book, with a single character, who has virtually nothing to lose. Though Kaine is a character that is not new to the convolution to Spidey history, he now has a fresh start — and so do you! Yost brings his A game yet again, and don’t worry — he left the hoodie in the nineties!

Copy of “Scarlet Spider” #1 provided by friend of Cosmic Book News.

Movie News

2011: A Year In Review

By: Chris “DOC” Bushley

THE “DOC”

I have finally worked through my Holiday coma that was induced by a combination of turkey, sugar cookies and egg nog, and found that it was time to look back on the year 2011. And since this will be the last “Year in Review” I will ever get to do — damn you Mayan calendar — I better get crackin’!

(NOTE: This list is compiled of media that I personally read or saw throughout the year 2011. Sales charts and reviews have no sway over this list! It is my pure, unadulterated opinion! So have some fun and read along, and if your favorites don’t appear here — go to the forums and make your own list. We always want to know how other fans feel. This is a site for you after all!)

BEST WRITER: Scott Snyder — This man really came into his own in 2011! With three amazing ongoing series, American Vampire, Batman and Swamp Thing, as well as two spectacular mini-series, American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest and Severed; Scott Snyder churned out some of the darkest, most engrossing books on the shelves today. All that, plus he’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet!

BEST ARTIST: Jim Cheung– The artist on Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, makes every panel dance with excitement. From splash pages to close-ups, everything he does is poster worthy!

BEST ONGOING SERIES: Uncanny X-Force! — Shocker? Not to those that read this book! Rick Remender really knows the voice of these characters, making them better than they ever were before! Every issue is a complete tour de force of action and characterization. Plus he had Fantomex shoot a child Apocalypse in the face! Brilliant!

WORST SERIES: Heroes For Hire — This series started out as one of my favorites, but by issue four, I was running for the door! Multiply artists that were not on par with Brad Walker and storylines that kept getting worse — made me feel as if DnA were D.O.A.!

BEST COVER ARTIST: Joao Ruas — The covers to Fables are some of the most poetic images I have ever seen! Gallery worthy, Raus mixes nostalgia with modern sensibilities to create truly breathtaking images.

BEST LIMITED SERIES: Baltimore: The Curse Bells — Mike Mignola trumps his first Baltimore series, Baltimore: The Plague Ships, by weaving in plot devices to further enrich the Lord Baltimore character. Demon births, tortured children, black magic and a coven of vampire nuns — how can you get any better?

BEST CHILDREN’S SERIES: Tiny Titans — My four year old and I truly love this book and are saddened that it will end with issue 50. Art Baltazar and Franco do a great job of making the book fun for the kiddies, while factoring in current storylines for the adults. They even had the mysterious Pandora make an appearance, only to be revealed that it was really Ambush Bug in disguise!

BEST TV SERIES: The Walking Dead — Did I really need to include this category on my list? Hell yeah! Everyone needs to watch this show! If it can get my wife hooked, than anyone can become a fan of this amazing series. Sunday nights will never be the same again!

BEST COMPANY: DC — This should come as no surprise! 2011 was the year that saw DC finally take the reigns back from Marvel on the sales charts, though just barely! But it was the decision to throw caution to the wind and relaunch 52 new number ones that made them outshine the competition. What could have been an epic fail, turned out to be the biggest success of any company this year! Their multiple genre product line has something for everyone, from horror to cosmic, anyone can find a book that will appease them. I personally read more DC books now than I ever have in my life!

BEST RELAUNCHED SERIES: Animal Man — This Jeff Lemire book is one of the best things I have ever read! It is disturbing and horrific, but it also has a depth to it that is astounding! He has taken the Buddy Baker character and stripped him of all the hokey aspects DC has pumped him with over the last few years, and made him superb again!

BEST STORY ARC: “No Way Out” The Walking Dead — Robert Kirkman finally settled his characters into a nice, safe environment. And just when everyone was starting to conform back to electricity and warm baths, BOOM, all hell breaks loose! Mamma always said, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, they might break.” And that’s exactly what happens in this arc — things break!

BEST GUILTY PLEASURE: Hasbro’s Marvel Universe 3.75” figures — No they are not dolls, they’re action figures! I just wish they had these when I was a kid. These are the coolest toys on the shelves and some of the toughest collectibles to get your grubby little hands on. Everyone has Iron Man, but how many of you got the super rare Archangel with the full wings? Oh, I’m the only one who knows what I’m talking about? Okay.

MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: Carl shot in the face! The Walking Dead #83 — Just when you think Rick and Carl will make it through the zombie hoard that is ripping through the streets, Kirkman kicks you in the gut and flips you off! I have to say that Robert Kirkman has put more holy $#*% moments in this series than any other I have ever read, but the splash page of Carl with a hunk of his head blown off — shocked the hell out of me!

BEST VILLAIN: Norman Osborn — Brian Bendis has taken a classic character that had become mired in mediocrity, and created one of the most maniacal villains ever! The best part of the character is that even though he is on the fringe of insanity, his plans actually make sense and they make you second guess every move the Avengers have made in the last five years!

MOST IMPROVED CHARACTER: Cyclops — No longer the whiny Boy Scout, Scott Summers has emerged to become the patriarch of the whole mutant race! It took a group effort of great writers, Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, Mike Carey and Paul Jenkins, to get him to that status though. But now he is one of the best X characters around! I mean, how many people has Magneto bowed down to before? ‘Nuff said!

BEST NEW CHARACTERS: The Black Legion, Uncanny X-Force — Okay, so they aren’t really “new” characters but whose nit picking? These amalgams of Marvel elite characters are completely bad ass! Hailing from the Age of Apocalypse storyline, we can only hope to see more of them in the new Age of Apocalypse book in March! An Orange Hulk that is energized by the sun and Ghost Rider wearing Iron Man armor–too cool!

BEST BOOK YOU ARE NOT READING: The Strange Talent of Luthor Strode — This crazy book by Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore is visceral, grotesque and yet, spends enough time on characterization that you actually care about these characters! The brutality of Kick-Ass and the heart of Invincible, this is an awesome book for the not too faint of heart!

BIGGEST FLOP: X-Men: Schism — This book had so much promise and gave off too little bang for the buck. Wolverine and Cyclops almost kill each other over who had better management skills? C’mon Jason Aaron! The reasoning behind the “schism” was laughable at best, but it did lead to my next category!

BEST NEW ONGOING SERIES: Wolverine and the X-Men — What Jason Aaron lacked in thought for Schism, he more than made up for here! Funny, charming and action packed; this book has it all! Great character development and a quick wit makes this book stand out above the rest. Plus, it has tiny Nightcrawlers called BAMFs, that steal Wolverine’s whiskey — AWESOME!

WORST RUNNING THEME: Marvel’s “not dead” revival — Over the past year Marvel said they would kill a character every quarter. Now, that may have technically happened, but how many of these characters are still gone? And what about those characters that “died” years ago? Here is a list of those that “died” and have now come back in 2011. Hence the phrase “not dead!” Johnny Storm, Thor, Cable, Aerial, Bucky Barnes, Sabretooth, Joseph (Magneto’s clone) and Scott Lang! I probably missed a few, but I stopped counting! Make death in comics mean a little more and fans will appreciate it more!

CREATOR OF THE YEAR: Robert Kirkman — The man writes four comic series, has a hit T.V. show, a hit novel, is the COO of Image comics, created his own imprint under the Image banner called Skybound, has a TWD board game, TWD action figures and countless merchandising! Plus, he’s a family man! I don’t know when this guy has the time to breathe let alone sleep! And the crazy part? All his stuff is great! He is a fan favorite and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, just don’t ask him why Atom Eve has put on so much weight!

HIGHLIGHT OF 2011: The New York Comic Con — This was fanboy nirvana all wrapped in a four day package! From the free swag, the acquired art work, Marvel’s exciting panels, the interviews, the Mark Hamill panel, hanging out with the guys from DC, the MTV Geek party and the general camaraderie of the fans and the CBN staff– THIS WAS AWESOME! Thanks to everyone who came out and we hope to see you in 2012!

Well, that’s the list! Now we want to see what you thought of 2011. Go to the forums or hit us up in the comments below, and tell us all your favorites or what really ticked you off about the past year in the world of comics!

And tell us what you are most looking forward to in 2012, besides the end of the world!

Movie News

Review: Animal Man #5

I’m just going to throw this out there — THIS BOOK IS COMPLETELY INSANE! And I love every single moment of it!

Jeff Lemire and his entire artistic crew have created something that is equal parts disturbing and fascinating. A cornucopia of twistedness that assaults the senses, Animal Man is a book that is beyond expectations for any genre! It is something that worms it’s way inside you and nestles within, scratching you tediously until you want to scream!

Issue five is a blur, a quickened pace to the story because there is a true need to run. The third Hunter has stalked it’s prey long enough and now it must feed. And Buddy Baker’s family is the main course! Buddy, Maxine and “Socks” rush to save them, but who will be there to save the trio once the Hunter sets its gaze upon them? Maxine makes a decision that will not only forever change the dynamic of the book, but that of the entire DCnU as well! There is only one hope for triumph over the Rot, but it lies in the pages of another book!

Look at the cover to this book. It is one of the most horrific covers I have ever seen! Now, imagine a book that mimics that grimacing emotion on every page and you will understand Animal Man. It is completely amazing how Travel Foreman can conceive of such horrific images and still be able to sleep! There is a section of the book where the Hunter shows Buddy just how the Rot will change Maxine when they get their hands on her. It is quite disturbing and yet utterly amazing! The caliber of talent on this book, from art to prose, is unfathomable! Other than Scott Snyder’s Swamp Thing, you will find nothing like this book on the shelves today.

If you are not reading this book you are missing out on something that will change your mind about the landscape of comics today. It is a rare and wretched book that deserves more than just a mere moment of your time. And once you read one issue, you will be hooked like a rotting piece of meat on the end of barbed wire! Ewwww! But oh so good!

Movie News

Review: Uncanny X-Force #19.1

Enter Now: The Age of Apocalypse! Nuff’ said!

Remender’s Uncanny X-Force #19.1 is the set up issue for Age of Apocalypse, which debuts on March 7th. And like most “set up” issues, Remender lays the landscape wide open for us as to what we will expect from the regular series. If this new series is half as good as what Remender gives us — I’m sold!

Following the A.O.A. versions of Jean Grey and Sabretooth back to the Age of Apocalypse after their mission with X-Force, Remender shows us just what has been going on while they were on leave. Apocalypse (Wolverine version, in case you were wondering) has taken his fight against all humanity up to the next level. All humans, and their mutant sympathizers, are to be exterminated on sight, but there is one group that has a plan that might just be able to turn the tide of genocide. A group of humans that have perfected their fighting abilities since early childhood, in order to survive long enough to fight back. Those that have made it this far, and have stood up in the face of terror, have been dubbed — The Exterminated!

Remender has out done himself again! Mixing familiar characters with new ones, and letting the newer ones have a resounding voice throughout is something quite unique. Especially when the new characters are so well crafted that they could have carried the book by themselves! The entire past and present of the character Prophet was told in a mere four pages, and yet it was so good that I am completely vested in this character already! There is a depth that Remender gives to his characters that makes them so much more than the sum of their parts. He truly gives them a “voice” that once you’ve heard, it becomes a siren song that you need to hear over and over again.

There is so much going on in this book, that you never notice there are no Uncanny X-Force members even in it! Remender has invested so much time between the readers and the A.O.A. characters in the last few months, that it doesn’t feel out of place at all. Plus, the things that go on within the story are so shocking, you could really care less what is going on with the core team! No spoilers here! But I will say, that it’s a good thing they introduced so many new characters. It’s kind of tough to write a book with no one in it! Go Black Legion! That’s not really a spoiler — is it? Oh, Man!

Go get this book and get in on the ground floor of the new series, Age of Apocalypse! The only way the month of March could get any better, was if Remender was writing the series himself!

Movie News

Review: Avengers X-Sanction #2

Falcon has been taken down from above and Captain America has been beaten into submission. Next on Cable’s hit list? Iron Man!

Issue one ended with Cap and Cable fighting each other, with Cap losing at gunpoint. The final panel has a resounding “BLAM!” across it and you are left pondering the fate of America’s star spangled hero. Issue two tells us that Cap has been stun gunned and harnessed into a chair that can scramble his neurological system. Cable doesn’t want him dead –yet! Then he decides to take on Iron Man, and every other Avenger, until they can tell him why the alternate future he just left didn’t have Hope there to save it. Oh yeah, Cable is also dying from his techno virus and only has twenty-four hours to accomplish his task!

I have to say, this one is just not working for me!

I’m sorry, but there is nothing in the first two issues, of this four issue mini, that has made me want to see where the story is going. It has no heart or emotion, save the continual moaning from Cable that he needs to save his “daughter.” There is nothing that grips the reader and makes you care about any of it. The fight scenes, though rendered well by McGuiness, are quick and bland — it is only four issues mind you. And the battle set-ups are continually the same. Cap sees Red Wing flying toward a freighter with no Falcon in sight, lets follow him and get captured. Iron Man sees Red Wing flying toward a freighter with no Falcon around, lets follow him and get captured. At this point, one has to wonder if Cable is paying Red Wing off with small rodents in order to betray his human cohorts! The story is just not there, and to have Cable come back from the “dead” after such a great send off in X-Men for this — it tarnishes the great ending of Second Coming.

I know this mini-series is just a set up for Avengers vs. X-Men, but I really expected more from the amazing talent of Jeph Loeb. Only the absolute collecting purists need to buy this book. Otherwise, spend your four dollars on lunch while you read something better!

Movie News

Mark Millar: “Is the Big Two about to become the Big Three?”

“Is the Big Two about to become the Big Three?”

That’s the question Mark Millar poses during his Millarworld Editorial in the pages of Kick-Ass 2 #6. And with the lineup he’s bringing to Millarworld in 2012 — he damn well has a shot!

According to Mr. Millar, 2012 will see some HUGE books coming out, but we’ll have to wait a little bit to get them in our hands. Patience is a virtue after all, and it will be well worth it!

March is when we will see not only one new series come out of the Millarworld stable — but two! First will be Supercrooks, with art by fan favorite Leinil Francis Yu. Shipping almost simultaneously will be The Secret Service, drawn by comic legend — Dave Gibbons! This book was also co-conceived by the Kick-Ass film director, Matthew Vaughn! Then in April, we will finally see the long awaited Hit-Girl series, by Kick-Ass veteran artist John Romita Jr!

Around the end of summer, Millar will launch an as yet to be named book that he is calling, “a vast superhero epic, something as wide in scope as the Lord of the Rings, for a superhero audience!” Nothing can make that sound more exciting, unless you factor in that superstar artist Frank Quitely will be doing the art chores!

And finally in November, fans will get to see one of the most insane, brutal and disturbingly cunning books back on the shelves, as Steve McNiven draws the coolest killers around in the pages of — Nemesis 2!

All these artistic legends led by the crazy intelligence of one Mark Millar? Is there any doubt that the Big Two might actually have to look over their shoulder in 2012? And remember boys, the toys in the Millarworld aren’t as precious as yours! Anything goes, and it usually does, which is exactly what fans want! And I will be the first in line to get the most exciting and original books on the shelves today — Millarworld books!

If that wasn’t enough for you, you can travel across the pond and go to Millar’s own Kapow Comic Convention! Tickets are on sale now for this London based event that takes place on May 19th and 20th. Be sure to visit www.kapowcomicconvention.com for all the insane details!

Image sources: CBR

Movie News

Review: Batman #4

Explosions rock Batman as he continues on his quest stop the Talon, the Court of Owls menacing assassin. But it’s not the explosions that will cause the most damage, it is Batman’s disbelief that the Court of Owls even exists that will hurt him the most! Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo continue on their quest

Movie News

Review: Wolverine and the X-Men #3

So far, the first day at the Jean Grey School For Higher Learning has gone off without a hitch. The school has been overrun by Frankenstein monsters with flame-throwers, the New York state inspectors have been turned into a Sauron and a Wendigo, and the very grounds of the school have been taken over

Movie News

Review: Green Lantern Corps #4

A small band of Green Lanterns have been stranded on the planet Xabas, surrounded by executioners that have a far greater grasp of “will” than any Lantern — ever! All hope is lost and Guy Gardner’s interrogation of one of the murderers has proven fruitless. That is, until Guy has a surprise visitor, someone he

patrick-melton-marcus-dunstan-black-light

Movie News

Interview: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan On “Black Light”

(Editor’s Note: The following interview was conducted at the New York Comic Con on Saturday, October 15th, 2011)

Immerse Yourself In The Darkness

Interview With Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan & Stephen Romano on Black Light

By: Chris Bushley

Back in October, our friends at Mulholland Books sent Cosmic Book News an advanced copy of one of the most intriguing, multi-faceted books I have read as of late — Black Light.

This is the debut novel by the screenwriters of the Saw franchise, Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, in conjunction with the enigmatic Stephen Romano (The Riot Act). It is a literal “bullet train ride” of a read, hitting you with every emotion. From lust, fear, sorrow and utter revulsion, you can’t help but get caught up in this whirlwind tale of a man with incredible skills, trying to find out just what really happened to his parents so long ago.

Black Light is the story of Buck Carlsbad, a paranormal expert that has the unique ability to pull a “mark” (ghost) into himself in order to finally set them to rest. He is a walking amalgam of genres, ghost hunter, martial artist, reluctant lover, but mostly he is a man set off on a quest of self discovery — one that may leave him broken and dying for his efforts. The character of Buck is one of the richest characters that I have ever read. He exudes confidence yet is emotionally stunted, he is completely bad-ass and yet internally broken, he is the every man, yet so much more! He is completely fleshed out, from external shell to the subtle nuances, an original character brought together from all the coolest aspects of a thousand archetypes.

The novel itself is a rare find within the confines of the Horror genre. It is not bound by the shackles of the “in your face splatter fest” that is all too often relied upon in the modern Horror novel. And considering the trio of authors on this book, one would expect to constantly be immersed in gallons of gore. But the obligatory acts of violence are used sparingly, creating a sort of horrifying crescendo when they occur, making the scenes reverberate within in you so much more than they ever would have!

This is a great book that bends the senses and thrills until the final page. But you don’t have to take my word for it.

You can hear what the authors had to say about their collaboration right here, in this CBN exclusive interview from the New York Comic Con. From Black Light, to the movie, to Stephen Romano’s new novel and more, the creators gave us some of their time to sit and chat about it all.

MARCUS DUNSTAN & PATRICK MELTON
Photo Credit: John Gulager

Cosmic Book News: Steven [Romano] is a veteran novelist, but this is a first for Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. The two of you have written so many screenplays in the past, why was this the perfect time to come out with a novel?

Patrick Melton: Well, Marcus and I had dinner with an editor, John Schoenfelder, who follows this sort of template that Guillermo del Toro followed with Chuck Hogan, where they collaborated their ideas to make a book. And we talked about this idea we had about this guy, a paranormal expert who has these skills, and he takes a job that takes place on a bullet train. John said, ‘Great I love it!’ and that’s the beginning. That’s when Stephen was brought in because of his literary expertise, and that’s how it all came together.

Cosmic Book News: Buck Carlsbad, the main character, is such an amalgam of characters. He has many different facets, from his martial arts skills to his ghost hunting expertise. With three writers on the book, who was the quintessential “voice” of Buck?

Patrick Melton: It began as a screenplay that Marcus and I wrote, right after Feast actually! But when we wrote it, it was when “ghost stories” were going out of vogue and the “torture porn,” as we call it, came in. So we jumped on the band wagon!

Stephen Romano: And oh, what a band wagon it was!

[Laughter]

Cosmic Book News: So, did you adapt the screenplay into the novel? Is that essentially where it came from?

Patrick Melton: So, we never showed anyone the screenplay. We wrote, like, a treatment and our editor shared it with Stephen who helped to “pulp” it up more than it was at the time. Which was the direction we were going. And he added a lot of the film noir elements to it.

Stephen Romano: Plus expanding it a little bit, making it a little bit more epic in certain ways. Making the stakes a little higher, adding a cast of characters that was maybe a little more expanded. John Schoenfelder and I would throw these ideas at Patrick and Marcus, and they really liked them. So, to answer your question directly, I’d write stuff and show it to them and they’d say, ‘Oh wow cool’ or ‘This needs to be changed,’ and it was great! A real collaborative effort, a lot of fun!

Cosmic Book News: You guys are known for a lot of slaughterfest, in your face grotesque scenes. But, with Black Light, the gore is kept to a minimum. Was it intentionally pulled back to showcase Buck as a character and the things he endures, as opposed to just shock value?

Marcus Dunstan: With Black Light, the ideas was to put a twist on the supernatural that would ground it a little more. Patrick and I loved the idea of taking something that isn’t confined by a 90 page format that didn’t need to hold back in any case to its concept. So, this supernatural terrain allowed us to go back to our childhoods and pepper it with visceral images and viscous entities. There is still cutting, there is still nail, claw and there is anger. But it feels more real and it doesn’t have to push as hard to get you there.

Stephen Romano: It’s more along the lines of a non-stop action adventure kinda thing. But we do have the token torture sequence in there, but it’s not like we’re trying to rehabilitate our image either. We’re just trying to tell a really good story. I think when you’re known for doing certain things, it’s harder to do other stuff and I think this was, at least for me, really refreshing.

Cosmic Book News: The character of Buck Carlsbad has a lot of quirks. His use of urns, his no drinking and his use of a Walkman. Who’s brilliant idea was it to use Warrant’s song Down Boys? That thing was in my head for the duration of the book!

Patrick Melton: Well Stephen was in a hair band when he was young! Which is quite ironic!

[Laugher]

STEPHEN ROMANO
Photo Credit: John Gulager

Stephen Romano: I was! I’m a big fan of hair metal! The thing with Down Boys is it’s about life worn stuff, and people don’t really think about the deep meaningful side of lyrics to songs like that. We wanted to make Buck a more interesting character in ways that were original. You don’t see a private eye listening to Motley Crue, it just ain’t gonna happen! So, anytime we could make him quirky and interesting and come up with a reason for it within the context of the character — we went for it! It made it much more fun to write! On that note, we intended to dedicate the book to Jamie Lane who died just before the book came out. But, unfortunately our publishing schedule didn’t allow for that. But in future editions it will say, “For Jamie.”

Cosmic Book News: The title, “Black Light,” actually refers to Buck’s ability to see what the dead see, and he can actually bring back objects to the mortal plane. How did the name come about?

Patrick Melton: We always had the concept that he could go into this other plane, but at one point John said, ‘You gotta name it something cool!’ And Stephen said, ‘What would Andy Wharhol call it?’

Stephen Romano: Actually that was John [Schoenfelder]. He said, ‘You have to come up with a post-modern expression that defines it. What would Andy Wharhol call it?’

Patrick Melton: Hmmm, Black Light? It was originally titled “Black Jack Nine.” Which, for some reason sounded too cute or cool for them [Stephen and John].

Stephen Romano: I think Black Light is a better title! The idea of pulling something out of the “black light” was an idea given to us by our editor, he really did drive a lot of what we were doing in terms of really pushing for originality.

Cosmic Book News: The book has a lot of potential for not just a sequel, but a series of books. Is there a possibility of that seeing fruition?

Marcus Dunstan: Buck Carlsbad has pissed off people on two realms of existence. He has set off a number of possible courses to take as he wrestles with his “gift.”

Patrick Melton: We had a lot more room to set up Buck’s world, more so than when doing movies. We got the chance to set him up, his world, his past; we had the chance to set up these other characters as well. There are characters that don’t sort of play up as much as you’d think because we are leaving them to do things in the future. So, the idea was to set a full plate and then have subsequent adventures with Buck. We have discussed a sequel as a group, but a lot of it comes down to [this book’s] success and if Mulholland Books wants to do more. So we will see!

Cosmic Book News: Well if we have to wait for a sequel, let’s talk about the movie!

Patrick Melton: The book came out [with] intentions to make it into a movie. So Mike De Luca is the producer, who did Social Network and MoneyBall.

Stephen Romano: The great thing about De Luca is that he is not just a legendary producer, but he is also a writer. He wrote [John] Carpenter’s In The Mouth Of Madness and the last Freddy movie before they rebooted it.

That’s great. He was the first guy we wanted to work with.

Cosmic Book News: How faithful will the movie stay to the novel? Will it be more gory?

Stephen Romano: The novel is pretty gory.

Marcus Dunstan: At the same time, whenever you can cloak it in the supernatural, I think there is a way to break fingers, tackle ghosts, ingest, regurge — whatever you have to do, but keep it within that PG-13 net that has grown quite violent in its own right.

Cosmic Book News: Who would you cast to play Buck? Would you bring in an unknown actor or go with someone that would draw in a crowd?

Stephen Romano: Who do you want to see as Buck Carlsbad?

Cosmic Book News: No one cares who I want as Buck!

[Laughter]

Patrick Melton: Marcus has this deep, deep love of Manhunter. So we want William Peterson circa 1985!

Cosmic Book News: Well, the Back To The Future Delorian is down the hall, we could possibly make this happen!

[Laughter]

Patrick Melton: We will cast William Peterson from now, but give him the “Benjamin Buttons” treatment!

[Laughter]

Patrick Melton: But in all seriousness, you guys know the names as well as we do. I mean you could say Jason Statham is tough, but he often has roles that don’t show off his charming side, not since Snatch really. But I don’t think he does an American accent, especially not a Texas one!

Stephen Romano: You had mentioned Matthew McConaughey.

Patrick Melton: He would be an interesting guy, just because he has that Southern charm and he can be tough! I heard he was great in Killer Joe, it hasn’t come out yet, I think it was at Sundance. But he’s also from Austin, Texas which would be great!

Stephen Romano: I think your idea was pretty good about casting a relatively unknown guy, maybe somebody that was on a show, like The Wire. Somebody who is a good actor but not yet a superstar, then surrounding them with Gary Oldman types. But don’t put me in charge of that ’cause I’ll just hire Kristen Stewart as Bethany Sin! [Laughter] But she’s not going to vomit for us!

Patrick Melton: We like to say regurgitate!

[Laughter]

Cosmic Book News: Before we wrap up, you guys have a lot of things going on right now. Can we here a little bit about them?

Marcus Dunstan: Next year, we will see the release of Piranha 2 3DD and The Collection, the sequel to The Collector! And Stephen has some fantastic news of his own as well!

(Editor’s Note: We were informed Marcus was working with Guillermo Del Toro on the sci-fi monster blockbuster, “Pacific Rim,” currently filming in Toronto, ON. However, this was deemed “top secret,” but the news has since come out.)

Stephen Romano: I recently signed a deal with Simon and Shuster to release my first solo thriller. Currently it’s called, “Resurrection Express.” I always refer to it as ‘Mission Impossible meets The Bourne Identity, directed by Quentin Tarantino.’ It’s going to be a wild one! It’s not Horror, but a straight up thriller like Black Light is!

Cosmic Book News: Thanks to Mulholland Books for contacting us, and a thousands thank to Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan and Stephen Romano for taking the time out of their insane schedules to hang out with the CBN staff! It was an amazing time and we appreciate it whole heartedly!

“Black Light” is currently available at Amazon.com and at fine book stores everywhere.

For more on Stephen Romano, head on over to his official site: http://www.stephenromanoshockfestival.com/

You can check out “Black Light” on Facebook as well.

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Immerse Yourself In The Darkness Interview With Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan & Stephen Romano on Black Light

By: Chris Bushley

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Immerse Yourself In The Darkness

Interview With Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan & Stephen Romano on Black Light