Posts Tagged ‘Comic Heroes’

Comic Heroes #4 on sale

December 16th, 2010

It’s that time again! Comic Heroes #4 has been released, so I’m going to do a bit of plugging. Not much, but some.

In this issue, you can find an article entitled Ten Essential Thor Stories which, in the vein of previous works, picks out ten storylines that can prime interested parties on the appeal and history of Marvel’s top Asgardian before his movie hits cinemas soon. Frankly, it was a far more difficult prospect than picking out Captain America or Iron Man stories, but that’s only because Thor’s best stories involve things like Thor turning into a frog, or fighting an entire sentient planet. Don’t believe me? Buy the magazine and read the article then, you contrary git!

I have also done my regular Comics Preview feature, in which I serendipitously selected Nick Spencer’s Infinite Vacation as my Indie Spotlight comic. Serendipitously because the comic also comes with a preview of issue #1 in the Sidekick (along with some Jack Kirby postcards and a free copy of The Traveler #1).

As usual, the issue is full of excellent comic-related articles, and with issue #5 (released February 24th) it’s moving to a bi-monthly schedule. Which hopefully means more work for me. Hurray! As usual, more information can be found on Comic Heroes’ Facebook Page.

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Comic Heroes #3 On Sale

September 17th, 2010

Hey, how about that, I’m getting pretty good at this remembering-to-self-promote lark, aren’t I?

This week, Comic Heroes #3 has been released, and can be found at all good comic shops and WH Smiths stores. And probably in other places too. I don’t know, I got a free copy which arrived in the post. You know how it is.

This issue I don’t have any features in it, mainly because it filled up while I was still writing my stuff for issue #2 – but you can find, on pages 12-13, the first instalment of my regular look ahead to the season’s big new releases, covering September, October and November – the time the issue’s on shelves.

I’m especially pleased because a terrible joke I put in the article (you have to buy it to read it) got an editor’s comment, of the kind I used to love reading back in the days when I would spend my weekends glued to issues of Commodore Format. I always sort of assumed they were fake! (That’s because some are. - Ed)

Stuff not by me in the issue includes interviews with Robert Kirkman and Grant Morrison, features on both Sandman and Charles Vess, and a look at the UK small press scene-that’s-not-a-scene. I can say, with interests fully declared, that this is the best issue yet. Oh, and you can get some Walking Dead badges and a double-sided Wonder Woman/Superman poster as well, if you’re into that.

Happily, from this issue you can also order subscription to the magazine, which I hope will means a long and fruitful life for it – especially since subscribers get £2 knocked off the cover price, which I know many people are a little put off by. The next issue is due in December, which I should have a couple of things in, and in the mean time there’s more information to be found at the Comic Heroes Facebook page, and the SFX website.

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The Grind

August 13th, 2010

The life of a freelance journalist is nothing if not eventful, assuming you take “eventful” to mean “largely comprised of sitting at home in your bedclothes”. Sometimes, however, you get to do something you actually like, for free. Case in point: I just got back from a Scott Pilgrim press screening.

I imagine I’ll be reviewing the movie properly somewhere, so I won’t go into too much detail right now, but let me repeat what I said on Twitter: you will not be disappointed. Unless you have never played a computer game, in which case, don’t waste your money because it won’t make sense anyway.

Right, now the small talk’s out of the way, I would like to also mention that I am very pleased to be taking on a new 2-page preview slot in Comic Heroes Magazine, looking at the big comicbook and graphic novel releases for the coming quarter. The first instalment will be appearing in issue #3, out mid-September, and unless I make some colossal faux pas, it should be in every subsequent issue thereof. Ooh, look at that, it’s almost like this is my career or something!

Did that sound natural? I’m not very good at self-promotion, unfortunately. It would probably help if I didn’t draw so much attention to it, wouldn’t it? I’ll try and remember that next time.

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Comic Heroes #2 on shelves

July 3rd, 2010

The second issue of Future Publishing’s SFX spin-off, Comic Heroes, is now on shelves, and I am a featured contributor, which means yet another picture of my grinning head is now sitting in WH Smiths shelves up and down the country twice, every day for the next three months at least.

In this issue, I have contributed two articles:

10 Essential Captain America Stories, in which I pick apart Marvel’s entire back catalogue for the ten stories that will help you get the most out of the Star-Spangled Avenger, and a New X-Men Retrospective, in which I look back on Grant Morrison’s now-classic X-Men run, picking out the hidden meanings, meta-narratives and all the other hidden stuff that you might have missed.

Also in the issue, Seb Patrick, my friend and writing partner on various comedy projects, has a feature about Licensed Comics. And Alan Moore gives his “Last Ever Comics Interview” which is worth the cover price alone. He doesn’t so much burn his bridges as he does nuke them from orbit. Yikes.

Comic Heroes #2 is on shelves until mid-September, priced at £8.99, but if that seems expensive, remember that you do get an excellent magazine, comic, poster and a limited edition Hellboy/BPRD sew-on patch for that price. More information can be found on the SFX Site or the official Comic Heroes Facebook page.

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