Marvel Mondays: Marvel Zombies 2

Here's a Marvel Monday feature close to my heart: artist Sean Phillips talks about Marvel Zombies 2!


MARVEL MONDAYS:
‘MARVEL ZOMBIES 2’
Artist Sean Phillips takes us on a gore tour of his creative process

By Jake Rossen

Posted December 17, 2007 6:25 PM

After dining on Galactus, you’d think that the gluttonous zombies of writer Robert Kirkman’s imagination would be loosening their belts and resting. But 40 years later, they’ve returned to Earth just as hungry as ever.

Marvel Zombies 2 #3 ships next week, and the stakes are even higher as Wasp and T’Challa struggle to maintain their humanity while thirsting for some tasty flesh. To that end, we thought we’d pick artist Sean Phillips’ brain on the secrets to illustrating the plight of the living dead.

WIZARD: From a design perspective, how do you “zombify” a character? What's the secret? Where do you start?

PHILLIPS: Those teeth! I just followed what Greg Land did in the Marvel Zombies’ original appearance in Ultimate Fantastic Four—blank eyes, and what I thought was no lips. Unfortunately, I was working from small JPEGs of his pages and didn’t quite get it right. Apart from that, it’s just my natural style with the heavy blacks that I played up.

What’s your work process like in getting a page done?

PHILLIPS: After drawing very rough thumbnails to work out the storytelling, it’s straight to the actual pages. I pencil a page very loosely in about 20 minutes and then it’s all done in the inks.

How gory is too gory? Have you ever been asked to tone it down?

PHIILLIPS: I've been able to do whatever I like. No one has asked me to hold back. Although, with Spider-Man eating Mary Jane, I did keep it all off panel and very vague. It just didn’t seem right to show that.

Does Robert Kirkman give you advice, like “more gore”?

PHILLIPS: Nah, but I don’t think what we do is that gory. I spent around 10 years drawing horror books for Vertigo and vampires for 2000 AD before Marvel Zombies. Some of that stuff was far more explicit.

Who has been the most fun to zombify?

PHILLIPS: The Hulk! I'd like to draw a straight Hulk story one day.

Who would be least effective as a zombie?

PHILLIPS: Werewolf by Night?

The latest toy customizing craze is to take action figures and “zombify” them. How does it feel to have helped start a trend?

PHILLIPS: I’m just waiting for the day when people make zombie versions of characters from [Phillips’ and Ed Brubaker’s comic noir] Criminal.

You can zombify any Marvel employee. Who is it?

PHILLIPS: Anyone who isn't needed to sign the checks.

Are zombies legally dead? Could they spend their own life insurance policy?

PHILLIPS: Where could they spend it? Brains R Us?

Serious question. Would Reed Richards’ brain taste better than Hulk’s because he’s smarter?

PHILLIPS: It might, but it may be a bit stringy.

[PREVIEW OF THE WEEK] Marvel Zombies 2 #2

OoOooOOo...didn't realise Marvel Zombies 2 #2 was going to be released this week! Guess I'll have to make a jaunt down to either Comics R Us or Classic Comics to pick this up while it's still there. And since Ex Machina Vol.6 TPB was in last week (and I didn't notice until I was at Comics R Us), that's something for me to buy too!

In the meantime, to whet my (and other readers') appetite, here's a preview of Marvel Zombies 2 #2:

[PREVIEW OF THE WEEK] MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #2
The Zombies’ own Civil War continues here!

Posted November 26, 2007 1:30 PM

The Zombies’ own Civil War continues here! The undead former heroes return to Earth in search of new food—but does anything exist on the world they picked barren decades ago? And if there is, can our ghoulish group put their differences aside long enough to feast—or are they doomed to rip each other apart instead? You know whose side you were on, but now it’s time to find out whose stomach you’re in!

MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #2
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Penciled by SEAN PHILLIPS
Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
Parental Advisory…$2.99
On Sale—11/28/07

Awesome cover, but I don't recognise it. I wonder what other covers Arthur Suydam has planned to lampoon?

LMS: Marvel Zombies Vs Dawn of the Dead Zombies Vs 28 Weeks Later Zombies

Inspired after Theo's hand at crafting two Last Man Standing features, I wrote the first of my four Last Man Standing features on 14 September 2007.

It's zombie-riffic with a trifecta of Zombies from different worlds!

Here are the original comments I posted in the blog entry too:


You know this would happen sooner or later, consider how aptly our blog is titled: A trifecta battle of zombies!

Cue klaxon blaring and a monster truck announcer yelling out:

ZOMBIES ZOMBIES ZOMBIES on SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!



Tale of the Tape

From:
Marvel Zombies - An alternate Marvel universe
Dawn of the Dead Zombies - Milwaukee, Wisconsin aka Cheese Country
28 Weeks Later Zombies - Dreary olde England

Powers:
Marvel Zombies - the adamantium claws and healing factor of Wolverine, the repulsor rays and many other weapons of Iron Man, the strength of the Hulk...basically all the powers of the heroes (and villains) of the Marvel Universe
Dawn of the Dead Zombies - able to run really fast
28 Weeks Later Zombies - able to grunt loudly, make really terrifying noises and explode messily

Disposition:
Marvel Zombies - often cheery, but occasionally pissed off
Dawn of the Dead Zombies - aggressive, violent and think the whole world owes them a feeding
28 Weeks Later Zombies - stoned, like permanently on weed and other drugs

Favourite body part to eat:
Marvel Zombies - spleen
Dawn of the Dead Zombies - liver
28 Weeks Later Zombies - brain

Human protagonist(s) that killed most of their numbers:
Marvel Zombies - Ashley J. Williams
Dawn of the Dead Zombies - Ving Rhames and Sarah Polley
28 Weeks Later Zombies - Cillian Murphy

THE PLAYERS:
Led by Colonel America, the Avengers sought to stop the invasion of their planet by an infected Sentry. But all it took was one bite, then another, and another, and soon the Marvel Universe ceased to exist, and born was a world...of Marvel Zombies!

No one knows what started the outbreak of infections that led to the rise of Zombies in Wisconsin. The zombie infection plague spread wide and fast across the state and soon the rest of America was infected in less than 36 hours. As the food supply drastically decreases, all the Dawn of the Dead Zombies can do...is feel even hungrier.

In England, chimpanzees that were dosed with the deadly "Rage virus" were freed by witless animal rights activists...who were the first to be attacked and bitten by the chimps, turning them into mindless zombies, seeking only to infect the rest of the United Kingdom!

THE BATTLE:
As Ashley J. Williams jumps through the wormhole created by the Necronomicon, he turns back and gives the Marvel Zombies (MZs) the finger. Enraged, Sorcerer Supreme Dr Strange casts a magical spell that keeps the wormhole open...and soon the MZs are jumping through the wormhole to catch the boomstick-wielding sonovagun! A hungry Hulk smashes his way to the front of the pack, only to accidentally crush Dr Strange's head, breaking his concentration and sending the MZs spinning wildly out of control in the wormhole and crash landing in the old remains of Big Ben in London.

"Wrrr?" one of the 28 Weeks Later Zombies (28WLZs) grunts, as it looks up just in time to catch a kick in the face from your friendly and rotting neighbourhood Spider-man. "Ewww...gross! I've heard of getting ahead, but this is ridiculous!" Spidey exclaims as the zombie's head explodes at the slightest of touches. The 28WLZs stop chasing a hapless Cillian Murphy and turn to face their new enemies. What they lack in firepower, they more than make up for in numbers, and the 28WLZs charge in blindly, hoping to swarm the MZs en masse.

Without warning, large ocean liner smashes into one of the jetties across the River Thames and the battle is soon joined by the Dawn of the Dead Zombies (DDZs), fresh from eviscerating Ving Rhames and Sarah Polley and making the transatlantic trip all the way from the US! The battle is joined as all the zombies start tearing into each other in an attempt to put their breed at the top of the food chain. Sinews tear, legs break, brains explode as the sound of gnashing and gnawing escalate to a feverish pitch.

An enraged Hulk goes ballistic and yells out: "RRRAAGH! Hulk mad! And the madder Hulk gets, the hungrier Hulk gets! Hulk hungriest one there is!" And with that, Hulk bites down on the head of a DDZ and an arm of a 28WLZ. "You no taste very good. Hulk feel sick," exclaims Hulk as he regurgitates the nasty rotting flesh from his mouth.

"Citizens, stop! Can't you see this fighting is pointless?" yells Colonel America, as he kicks a DDZ in the groin. "Why all this pointless fighting? We should be working together to look for fresh meat to feast on!" All the zombies give pause momentarily. Wolverine sniffs the air and locates Cillian Murphy, who's trying to hide unsuccessfully in the clock face of Big Ben. "GET HIM!" yells Luke Cage, as a mass of zombies all surge towards the hapless Murphy. "No no, get AWAY! Leave me alone! I was the Scarecrow in Batman Begins! I was the terrifying villain in Red Eye! I was..." But his words get cut short as Iron Man, able to move faster than all the other zombies, thanks to his armour, takes a big chomp out of Murphy's oesophagus.

"Come on guys! There's plenty of him for just us Avengers," Iron Man says, as he flies off with Murphy's body, motioning for the rest of the MZs to follow him. The DDZs and 28WLZs try to follow in vain as they realise their greatest failing: none of them can fly! The MZs all work together and fly, leap or swing their way away from the carnage, while the DDZs and 28WLZs are left stranded to wander around fruitlessly, wondering where their next meal will be coming from.

Winners: The Marvel Zombies


Hope that one went well. What do you think, Theo? There really shouldn't be any question about the Marvel Zombies winning this one...it's like Brazil taking on Singapore in football.

Incoming: Zombie Brains!

Now, I'm not usually one for statues or busts or any sort of comic paraphernelia of that type. They're really nice to look at, but I'm not a collector for those sorts of stuff...but I just thought I'd post this up anyway because it looks awesome!


INCOMING: ZOMBIE BRAINS!
Wizard-exclusive Spider-Man bust limited to 1,000 pieces!

Posted November 7, 2007 2:30 PM

As a corpse in ragged tights, Spidey has certainly seen better days, but you might not see a better-looking zombie bust. In between snacking on human brains, red-and-blue Spidey posed for this Wizard-exclusive Marvel Zombies: Spider-Man bust limited to just 1,000 pieces. Sculpted by Rudy Garcia, this 6-inch bust will be available exclusively through Wizard Entertainment’s magazines. Each bust also features a hand-numbered base with matching box and Certificate of Authenticity. It ships in late November, but you can order your bust now by picking up a copy of Wizard or ToyFare magazine, or by heading over to the wizarduniverse.com store now.

Heaps of new comics purchased yesterday!

Bought my comics yesterday! I used the 25% voucher at Classic Comics so I got a nice big fat discount. Or, the way I looked at it was like this: I didn't get a discount. I paid full price for my comics, but I received a free TPB thanks to that voucher. :D

Picked up quite a bit of stuff:

Y - The Last Man Vols.1-3 TPB (yes, I'm trying to recreate my collection here a la Preacher! It's such a great read after all)
Exiles Vols.13-15 TPB - have the first 12 volumes in Singapore and I love this series
Grimm Fairy Tales Vol.2 TPB - the first TPB is out of print! So I can't even ORDER it! NOOO...where can I get it from? Comics R Us hopefully? Amazon a last resort?
Mighty Avengers #5 - review to come soon
Marvel Zombies 2 #1 - YESSSSSSSSS! More brains for everyone!
Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-man #whatever - part two of One More Day
Captain America: The Chosen #3

Would have been a bit more, had I been able to order Grimm Fairy Tales Vol.1 and if they had New Avengers/Transformers #4 in stock. Ah well...I have another 25% coupon to be used sometime over the next two weeks! I AM running out of TPBs to buy though...only the expensive HCs I'm sort of after nowadays. :(

Read all the single issues yesterday night. All really good reads! My one gripe with the Captain America: The Chosen storyline is that it's just moving so SO slow. The penciller, Mitch Breitweiser looks like he's going to be Marvel's next breakout star penciller. His pencilling reminds me of Bryan Hitch's super detailed pencils, but with a bit more grit to give his characters that rugged look. He seems to draw all the individual links in Cap's chainmail armour as well!

I'm still trying to figure out where The Chosen fits into Marvel continuity. They have Captain America half dead in some facility somewhere...is this straight after events in Civil War and Captain America #25 when he was shot? Or is this some separate incident? It's hard to tell.

And writer David Morrell has revealed that Captain America has some sort of additional powers! He is some sort of pseudo-telepath! What the !?!?!?

The story goes as such:

As we all know, the super soldier serum that Captain America took increased his physical ability immensely. What we DIDN'T know (and what David Morrell has suggested in The Chosen) is that his BRAIN was also affected by the super soldier serum.

There was a time when Captain America's body had broken down and he couldn't fight anymore. But Cap's brain was still functioning at peak capacity. Cap discovered he could visualise certain parts of the world...enemy bunkers and territory...just like a satellite could, but in more vivid detail! And Cap was a commercial artist, so he could draw up those "maps" he envisioned in his mind.

The US government conducted some experiments on Cap (with his approval) and they basically linked his brain with some computer or whatever...and it was discovered that Cap could ALSO project his likeness in certain places in the world! Cap could "telepathically" project his likeness in, say, an enemy base, and make people think that he was there.

Ugh. I'm still interested in how this series goes (because I think they might choose a NEW Captain America), but I'm hoping Marvel doesn't tinker too much with Cap's powers. It's one thing that he's a super soldier, but to give him mental abilities too? Hmmm. :(

I really enjoy Joe Quesada's pencils on this One More Day arc in the Spider-man titles. The weblines he draws are amazing...very Todd McFarlane-esque! The story seems to be really awesome as well, tugging at the core elements of Spidey-lore: things like "Spider-man does not kill" are tested and examined and how Aunt May is a centric character to Peter's world and what happens when she's taken away from him.

Unfortunately, I was really tired when reading it and I kept nodding off, so I don't quite remember what I read anymore. I think I'll have to read it again tonight.

Strangely enough, after finishing the second part of One More Day, I was awake enough again to read finish the other two issues! Mighty Avengers was brilliant again...can't get enough of Frank Cho's cheesecake art. The way he draws Ms Marvel...rrrrrrooowwwwwwwwr.

Mighty Avengers featured a knock-down drag-out fight between Sentry and the female Ultron. But the man with the power of a million exploding suns just could not put Ultron away...his punches wrecked half of Ultron's face...and all Ultron did was to reform it again, a la the T-1000 liquid metal regeneration in Terminator 2! It was revealed that Ultron was just trying to distract the Avengers while achieving the REAL goal of hacking into the computers of nuclear installations over the world.

Ares has really been elevated to being a major player in the Marvel pantheon. He devised this plan all on his own to get Hank Pym to shrink Ares down to a microscopic level, and then Ares could enter the body of Ultron and hit her with a virus. Hmmm...someone's been watching Independence Day too many times I think. When Hank Pym suggests that his ex-wife, the Wasp, would be the ideal person to plant the virus, Ares insists he be the one to do it, because Ultron has no idea what to expect from him and because Ares has the self-confidence in his own abilities to layeth the smacketh down.

Marvel Zombies 2 was last, and boy, was I really anticipating this. It's 40 years later and the core team of Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-man, Captain America, Luke Cage and Giant Man, who were imbued with the power cosmic after they defeated (and ingested) Galactus, have joined up with some other cosmic characters in Gladiator, Dark Phoenix, Thanos and Firelord. They have scoured the entire universe...and found there is nothing left to eat! They decide to head back to Earth, because Giant Man vaguely remembers a dimension-hopping device that Reed Richards and Iron Man were working on could send them to another dimension...with a lot more food.

While they're on their way back to Earth, Hulk punches Thanos' head clean off and the Marvel Zombies discover Ego, the Living Planet! It's pretty funny the way they start chomping down on Ego and when someone remarks: "A living planet! Why didn't we find this earlier?"

Back on Earth, Black Panther and his Acolytes have rebuilt some semblence of civilisation. They have not been able to repopulate the world, but they have, at least, birthed the new generation of Acolytes...who aren't too keen to adhere to Black Panther's rule as they see him as an archaic, no-action leader. The Acolytes plan to assassinate Black Panther and take over his rule.

Meanwhile, Black Panther's sun finds the head of Hawkeye and brings him back to the Panther's kingdom. It is revealed that while the Wasp is still a zombie, she no longer feels "the hunger" and it is further revealed that without eating flesh, the Marvel Zombies go through some sort of "zombie detoxification" and can live as normal again.

Black Panther gets stabbed when he sleeps and to save him from a certain death, the Wasp chomps down on his neck...rebooting "the hunger" in her and changing Black Panther into a Marvel Zombie! The two of them greedily devour the Panther's assailant and intestines, livers and spleens all fly across the room and get digested.

Oh man, I can't wait for the next issue! Are the rest of the Acolytes dead, since they're just food for Black Panther and the Wasp? What's going to happen when the power cosmic-imbued Marvel Zombies return to Earth?

Only a month's wait to find out!

Marvel Zombies 2 and Transformers: the DVD!

Wahey! The Transformers DVD is out this week in the US! No idea when the Australian release is, but it shouldn't be too far away since this IS a big budget movie that did splendidly well at the box office...and was well received worldwide.

Marvel Zombies 2 is out this week as well! I'm going to have to find a way to make my way to a comic shop in the city either tomorrow or Friday to pick it up while it's still on sale. If Marvel Zombies has taught me anything, it's that anything Marvel Zombies-related gets snapped up very VERY quickly. Even the reprints and HCs!

I'm also reminded that I need to update my list of single issues that I have here in Oz. One of these days...

Marvel Zombies 2: Civil War

The biggest story in 2007 was Marvel Comics' Civil War. Forget about DC's Infinite Crisis, forget about 52, forget about World War Hulk even! Civil War was THE focus point of the comics-verse with the ramifications still being felt in the Marvel-verse. In fact, one might argue that the events leading up to Civil War triggered the World War Hulk storyarc when the Illumnati exiled Hulk into space. If Civil War doesn't become the storyline of the year or the comic book event of the year as voted by the Wizard staffers...well...I dunno what I'll do but it won't be pleasant!

Anyway, what happens when you combine the hottest event of 2007 with the hottest comic book series/property of 2006 (and that's Marvel Zombies for those of you who are thinking of any other comic series!)? Why, you get the sequel to Marvel Zombies of course!


MARVEL ZOMBIES 2: CIVIL WAR
Mark Millar’s ‘bad idea’ not only inspired Kirkman and Phillips’ zombie epic, but also a sequel based on his best-selling miniseries

By Ben Morse

Posted October 2, 2007 11:50 AM

The success of Marvel Zombies—and its impending sequel—proves that even Mark Millar’s “bad” ideas usually turn out pretty well.

“When I pitched it years ago, everybody absolutely hated the idea,” laughed Millar in reference to his brainstorm for a Marvel Universe filled with zombie versions of its heroes. “Marvel said, ‘That’s the worst idea you’ve ever come up with.’ Then later, when [writer] Warren [Ellis] was leaving Ultimate Fantastic Four and they had nobody lined up, [Marvel Editor-in-Chief] Joe [Quesada] said to me, ‘Why don’t you do your zombies idea?’ and it turned out to be very popular.”

So popular it would spawn Marvel’s biggest surprise success of 2006: the best-selling Marvel Zombies miniseries written by Robert Kirkman, a veteran of the undead genre with his self-created Walking Dead, with art by Sean Phillips (Criminal) and unforgettable covers courtesy of painter Arthur Suydam, who re-created classic Marvel scenes with a zombie twist.

Beginning Oct. 3, Kirkman, Phillips and Suydam reunite for the five-issue Marvel Zombies 2 and throw another Millar concept into the mix with an internal conflict among the zombies that echoes the writer’s monster hit Civil War, a comparison the Zombies team isn’t looking to discourage with Suydam aping Michael Turner’s cover to Civil War #1 for the first issue. The story takes place 40 years after the original series’ conclusion, and features the zombies returning to Earth following an interstellar sojourn.

“The Zombies are noticing changes in themselves and a few want to stop their flesh-eating ways, while others do not,” explained Kirkman.

Spider-Man, still full of guilt over devouring his wife and aunt, leads the Zombies looking to reform while Giant-Man heads up the unrepentant undead. “Spider-Man is the most popular character in the Marvel Universe, so he has to be a figurehead,” chuckled Kirkman. “Giant-Man stepped up in [the first Marvel Zombies] and started bossing people around, so that continues.”

The rest of the cast includes the zombie incarnations of Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Wasp and Luke Cage, plus what Kirkman calls “the triumphant return of zombie Hawkeye,” who got decapitated in the first issue of the original series, as well as the new cosmic additions of Thanos, Firelord, Gladiator and Phoenix. “With a big cast, there are tons of people for me to kill,” noted Kirkman with glee.

Throwing either a wildcard or more potential snacks into the equation, surviving heroes Black Panther and Forge have re-established a burgeoning civilization on Earth and must contend with the return of their former comrades.

While Kirkman joked that Millar “doesn’t speak to me anymore because he’s worried I’ll steal another of his ideas,” how does the father of Marvel Zombies feel about his once-mocked idea continuing to flourish?

“I absolutely love it,” enthused the Scotsman. “Robert is the best zombie writer in the world and did a much better job than I’d have done. It kicks ass.”


Oh wow. I knew the sequel to Marvel Zombies was going to be big...but THIS big? Looks like single issues AND the HC reprint for me again! Just can't get enough of Marvel Zombies and the brilliant covers by Arthur Suydam! Heck, I'm even thinking of getting his Dead Days poster which is a parody of the record-breaking, best-selling X-Men #1 cover by Jim Lee! See the above picture.

A MARVEL ZOMBIES FEAST!

ZOMBIES ZOMBIES ZOMBIES!

Marvel Zombies!

I want to buy the Marvel Zombies: The Covers HC too. It's spiffy.

A MARVEL ZOMBIES FEAST!
Halloween is looming, and so is a host of Marvel Zombies stories!

Posted September 25, 2007 10:55 AM

After they gorged themselves on (just about) everything in the universe, Robert Kirkman (Marvel Zombies, Ultimate X-Men) and Eisner-Winning Sean Philips (Marvel Zombies, Criminal) bring the Marvel Zombies back home in Marvel Zombies 2 #1 (of 5)! Taking place forty years after the original best-selling series, Marvel Zombies 2 features an unprecedented event of stomach churning proportions: the MARVEL ZOMBIES CIVIL WAR!

This amazing sequel limited series reunites Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips as they continue the amazing smash hit series that won two Spike TV Scream Awards (Best Comic Book Series and Best Comic Book Artist: Sean Philips), and went back to press numerous times, both in single issues and in collections. Each issue of Marvel Zombies 2 features gorgeous new zombie interpretations of classic Marvel covers by the critically acclaimed Arthur Suydam!

What awaits the Marvel Zombies back on Earth is beyond anything even they (or you) could have possibly conceived! Will any of these monsters rediscover their humanity? Or will the fledgling human population find that their days are numbered?

And don’t miss more Zombie goodness in October, as the now-classic Marvel Zombies covers are collected in Marvel Zombies: The Covers HC; the oversized Marvel Zombies: Dead Days Poster arrives; and go behind the scenes of this pop culture phenomenon in Marvel Spotlight: Marvel Zombies. Plus, next week brings Marvel Zombies: The Book Of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities, exploring the secrets of the Zombie-verse and revealing the true history of the Marvel Zombies!

True believers, keep your eyes peeled for special, as select Marvel titles will ship with unannounced, top secret Zombie variant covers! That’s right—October is Marvel Zombie Month at your local comic store!

The Marvel Zombies are back, daring to ask: "Whose stomach are you in?" The answer comes in the can’t-miss Marvel Zombies 2 #1,

MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #1 (of 5)
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Penciled by SEAN PHILLIPS
Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
Parental Advisory …$2.99
On-Sale—10/17/07

MARVEL ZOMBIES: THE BOOK OF ANGELS, DEMONS & VARIOUS MONSTROSITIES
Written by JEFF CHRISTIANSEN, MICHAEL HOSKIN, STUART VANDAL, CHAD
ANDERSON, MADISON CARTER, DAVID WILTFONG, RONALD BYRD, ERIC J. MOREELS,
ANTHONY FLAMINI & AL SJOERDSMA
Cover by GREG LAND
Parental Advisory …$3.99
On-Sale—9/26/07

MARVEL ZOMBIES: THE COVERS HC
Featuring the artwork of ARTHUR SUYDAM, GREG LAND & KYLE HOTZ.
104 Pages/ Parental Advisory …$19.99
On-Sale—10/24/07

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: MARVEL ZOMBIES
Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS
Rated T+ …$2.99
On-Sale—10/24/07

MARVEL ZOMBIES DEAD DAYS POSTER
55x20 Color Poster…$15.99
ON-SALE—10/3/07

Bruce Campbell Vs Doom!

About a month ago, I blogged a quick review about Marvel Zombies Vs Army of Darkness:

New comics reviews!

In it I mentioned the best and funniest part about the series was when Ash poked fun at Dr Doom...well, at least off panel, since Doom refers to it in a word balloon.

Thanks to Theo's scans, I can now show the hilarious page in question!


Haha!

Oh, the Captain America Omnibus HC should be out today and the Marvel Zombies Vs Army of Darkness HC should be out next week! What a glorious time to be a comic book geek...especially after my first paycheck in the current job hit my account yesterday. :D

I want want want (but can't have all at once)!

Back this week for more comics and pop culture shenanigans! Aeris and I went to Classic Comics on Friday, so I could see whether my ordered copy of The Complete Bite Club was in yet, but the stupid Connex train and Yarra Trams tram services conspired to get me there AFTER 7pm, when the shop was closed.

I think I also want to purchase the entire run of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's Preacher, which has been one of the most awesome series I have ever read. Nine books in total, so it will cost a fair bit...I really need to work out my budget over the next couple of months, because I also want to get Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting's Captain America Omnibus which collects, in HC, the first 25 issues of their run, plus two other related comics. And then we've got the move as well, which has eaten into my finances...need to prioritise what I want to get.

And the Marvel Zombies Vs Army of Darkness HC will be released sometime next week too, which is something I want to get as well! So many choices. Not enough money. Grah.

Marvel Zombies in October!

They're heeeeeeeeeere.

I so can't wait.

MmMmm...Brains. The Marvel Zombies: The Covers HC will be so worth getting alone.


[PREVIEW] MARVEL ZOMBIES IN OCTOBER!
Marvel's undead rise again this October, and we've got your first look–including art from Marvel Zombies 2!

Posted August 27, 2007 3:15 PM

The Marvel Zombies have devoured most of the living creatures in the universe and now they’ve got their sights set on something new: your local comic shop! This October, the Marvel Zombies will be everywhere, as select Marvel titles will celebrate All Hallow’s Eve with a big surprise: Zombie variant covers! Featuring the top artists in the industry re-interpreting Marvel characters as the undead, these top secret covers won’t be seen online, in print or anywhere before their release!

If that wasn’t enough to satisfy your hunger for more of the award winning monster-piece that took the world by storm, then prepare yourself for Civil War within the Marvel Zombie ranks in Marvel Zombies 2 #1 (of 5). After eating everything—and everyone—in the universe, the Zombies return home to Earth, hoping to devour the remaining humans…but are confronted with something that will cause them to take sides against each other! Acclaimed author Robert Kirkman and Eisner-winning artist Sean Phillips re-team with red-hot cover artist Arthur Suydam for the can’t-miss sequel of the year! Plus, a special behind the scenes look at the Marvel Zombies phenomenon arrives in Marvel Spotlight: Marvel Zombies, with never before seen art and interviews!

For those fans that missed the now-classic Marvel Zombies HC in its first four undead-approved printings, don’t miss out on the brand new fifth-printing, featuring a brand new zombie Mary Jane cover by Suydam! Plus, don’t forget the Marvel Zombies Dead Days Poster, featuring a bold new version of the classic cover to /X-Men #1/; Marvel Zombies: The Covers HC, bringing together some of the industries most acclaimed artists, from Greg Land to Sean Phillips to Arthur Suydam, and showcasing their jaw-dropping zombie art, with an all new cover by Arthur Suydam; and Marvel Zombies/Army Of Darkness HC, collecting the sold-out Marvel/Dynamite limited series teaming Ash, from the classic /Army of Darkness/ films, with the remaining humans in the Zombie-verse

It’s time to celebrate with the Marvel Zombies, as they return to our galaxy—and invade comic shops around the Earth! This October, take a bite out of the comic book phenomenon that puts the “Mmmmmmmmmmm” in Marvel!

Retailers, please check the next Marvel Mailer for ordering details on the Zombie Variants or contact your Diamond representative.

MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #1 (of 5) (AUG072242)


Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN

Penciled by SEAN PHILLIPS

Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM

Parental Advisory …$2.99

FOC—9/27/07, On-Sale—10/17/07


MARVEL ZOMBIES: THE COVERS HC (AUG072292)

Featuring the artwork of ARTHUR SUYDAM, GREG LAND & KYLE HOTZ.

Parental Advisory …$19.99

FOC—10/04/07, On-Sale—10/24/07

MARVEL ZOMBIES/ARMY OF DARKNESS HC (JUL072223)


Written by JOHN LAYMAN

Penciled by FABIANO NEVES & JUNE CHUNG

Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM

Parental Advisory …$19.99

_{ARMY OF DARKNESS TM & © 1993-2006 Orion Pictures Corporation. DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT TM & © 2006 DFI.}

On-Sale—9/12/07

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: MARVEL ZOMBIES (AUG072241)


Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS

Rated T+ …$2.99

FOC—10/04/07, On-Sale—10/24/07

MARVEL ZOMBIES DEAD DAYS POSTER (AUG072314)


55x20 Color Poster…$15.99

FOC—9/13/07, ON-SALE—10/3/07

Ultimate FF: The debut of the Marvel Zombies!

Not much on the comics front today. I finally opened up the Vol.3 HC of Ultimate Fantastic Four and read the first couple of issues of Mark Millar's and Greg Land's run on that title.

The first arc was also the arc that gave birth to the uber popular Marvel Zombies who's popularity just keeps going up and up and up. Then the second arc introduces the Four to the lost continent of Atlantis...and when there's Atlantis, you know who can't be far behind: Namor! What I really loved about Millar and Land's Namor though, is that he's not who you THINK he is. I remember reading those issues for the first time last year and the twist threw me for a loop. Fantastic stuff.

Greg Land's art is just spectacular as well: lush and sensual and photo-realistic. One might argue that it's photorealistic only because Land does a lot of photo-referencing...and tracing.

Cue random Kevin Smith pop culture reference from Chasing Amy:

"Your mother's a tracer!"

Check out Greg Land's Wikipedia article:

Greg Land - Controversy

But hey, his artwork is gorgeous to look at, whether he traces or not.

I remember seeing a recent Morbius ad which had artwork by Greg Land. Looked very much like a Gene Simmons pose, if you ask me!

Perth Comic Shops!

I'm back! And even though I was all the way over there in Perth, these eyes were still always looking out for a comics shop...and after nasty weather hindered our efforts to play the role of tourists on Monday, our fourth and penultimate day in WA, I grabbed the Yellow/White pages from our studio apartment and tracked down a couple of comic shops located in the CBD area.

I only found one White Pages listing that began with "Comics", and that was Quality Comics, located at 872 Hay Street. Checked the Yellow Pages under the listing of "Bookshops" but that was the only name that seemed to indicate it was a shop selling comics. So when the rain eased off, I dragged Aeris and Francis along with me and we proceeded to search for the place.

While walking down Hay Street, we occasionally stopped into souvenir shops so that Francis could buy some Australian souvenirs for his nephews. At one such stop, we discovered another comics shop that wasn't listed in either the Yellow or White Pages: The Comic Zone, located at 572 Hay Street. I couldn't find a website for this shop, but while Google-ing the shop name, I found this blog entry about it: ComicZone in Perth

Seems like that blog was created and owned by one Ben Templesmith, the Australian artist best known for his association with IDW and art on 30 Days of Night and Fell. I've added his blog address in the links column.

Anyway, I was chatting with the clerk at The Comic Zone and he said the shop had only been open for about three months, which would explain why they weren't in the Yellow/White Pages listing. I didn't spend too much time in there, because we were really supposed to be looking for Quality Comics, so I quickly browsed through the single issues on the racks...they were definitely much cheaper than Comics R Us and Minotaur back in Melbourne!

Picked up single issues of Black Panther #30, Onslaught: Reborn #4 and Mighty Avengers #4. The TPBs and HCs seemed fairly cheap (perhaps not as cheap as Minotaur), but like I said, didn't have much time to browse.

Just as I was about to head to the counter to pay for my haul, I noticed this little beauty hanging on one of the T-shirt racks:


Omigod! The cover art of Marvel Zombies #3! In all its beautiful glory! And it was nicely priced at $35...yes, expensive for a T-shirt, but it was an authentic American shirt produced by Marvel! I took it off the rack, knowing that I was going to buy it, and then I found this directly behind it:



Homina homina homina. That was only the shirt I'd been looking for in AGES! This shirt sold at K-Mart quite a long time back and I'd always wanted to get it but never did. Then when I finally decided to get it, K-Mart wasn't selling them anymore. I've been searching for this T-shirt in Australia for so long, even going to the really expensive shop that specialises in selling authentic Marvel/DC T-shirts at Little Malop Street which didn't have any available.

Needless to say, I put back the Marvel Zombies T-shirt and purchased the Captain America tee instead.

When Captain America throws his mighty shiiiiiiiiieeeeeeellllllllllldddddd..........

They also had DC Comics buttons/badges that were free at the counter, so I picked up two for myself and one to give to Theo.

We then hurried off to find Quality Comics. After walking Hay Street for another 10 to 15 minutes, occasionally stopping to go into some other shops, we finally found Quality Comics. The single issues there priced a bit more than those at The Comic Zone, but there was a HUGE price difference in TPBs and HCs. Quality Comics priced their TPBs and HCs more than twice the US price while The Comic Zone sold them about 1.7 times the US price. But Quality Comics was a MUCH bigger shop and, of course, it would have much more stock for single and back issues, being the bigger shop.

Picked up Black Panther #29, Avengers: The Initiative #4, Captain America #25 Director's Cut and Army of Darkness #13 (the precursor issue to Ash "jumping" into the Marvel Zombieverse!). Picked up a whole stack of free CSNs (Comic Shop News), something that don't seem to be available in Victoria at all! That used to be the main way I kept up to date with what was going to be released in upcoming weeks and months when back in Singapore...I only get to rely on Wizard (and occasionally surfing the net) nowadays.

Oh yeah, on the way to Quality Comics, we passed by this place called Empire Toys. I really wanted to go in, but we didn't know how much time I'd be spending in Quality Comics, so I decided not to. And I had forgotten about Empire Toys when we passed it on the way back to the CBD. Found out from Theo later during dinner that Empire Toys also sold comics and manga! D'oh!

We did more shopping in the CBD then found that we still had some time before meeting up with Theo and Serene, so we proceeded back to The Comic Zone where I could now thoroughly check out all the stuff that was on the racks. Purchased TPBs of The Boys, Alan Moore's Another Suburban Romance and once again, something else that I don't remember. I also wanted to get the Ultimate Fantastic Four HC which reprinted issues #21-32...which included the TWO story arcs involving the Marvel Zombies!

As you all know by now, I'm a HUGE Marvel Zombies fan and I'm trying to compile all the appearances of the Marvel Zombies in comics, be it single issues, TPBs or HCs, and that was absolutely perfect to get. Aeris knew how much I wanted it, so she got it for me as a birthday present. Thanks dear. *muaks*

There was this really huge hardcover slipcased box of ALL the Sin City comics which really interested me too, but it was $250. $250!!! I think it was the combination of Frank Miller's Sin City Library I and Sin City Library II HCs.

Aeris asked me if it was worth getting and I couldn't really answer that. On the one hand, it probably would have been worth every penny, since it'd be one of those limited edition things that would be a lot cheaper than if you bought it off Amazon.com. But on the other hand, $250 is a lot of money...and of course, lugging it back with us to Victoria (and maybe Singapore!) would be kind of pointless. Ah well...perhaps if I see it again in the future.


Edit on 3 August @ 0855: The Alan Moore graphic novel I purchased from The Comic Zone was actually "Another Suburban Romance". Have changed it above to reflect the mistake!

Arthur Suydam on Crisis on Infinite Earths

Anyone who knows my love for comics also knows how big of a fan I am for Marvel Zombies, especially Arthur Suydam's gorgeous colours.

Wizard magazine recently commissioned Suydam to recreate the artwork for one of DC Comics' most famous covers, Crisis on Infinite Earths, in Wizard #189. Check it out here!


Absolutely marvellous.