Marvel Expands To The Original Graphic Novel Line With 'Season One' Books

Sure, Marvel is beating rival DC in terms of monthly comic book titles, but they're pretty much mediocre when it comes to creating and publishing original graphic novels, where DC is really really kicking some ass. Just check out the success of DC's most recent OGN: Superman Earth One, which topped the New York Times Bestsellers List for graphic novels for more than 10 weeks.

So in that light, Marvel has decided to push their luck in that department, with their 'Season One' line of books, which will re-tell the origins of their most popular characters starting with X:Men, Daredevil, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. Some of the titles will be released starting  February 2012.

Check out the covers for the aforementioned titles by Julian Totino:

X-Men Season One by Dennis Hopeless and Jamie McKelvie

Daredevil Season One by Antony Johnston and Wellinton Alves

Spider-Man Season One by Cullen Bunn and Neil Edwards

Fantastic Four Season One by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and David Marquez

Preview Of Marvel's New 'Avenging Spider-Man' Series

Now, this is something newsworthy (other than the DC reboot of course). 

Our friends from ComicsAlliance got the latest scoop on the newest Spiderman series to be released on November titled "Avenging Spider-Man" to be written scribe Zeb Wells and art by comic book and video-game artist, Joe Maduereira. 

According to the press release, this series is going to focus on a more action-packed and high-octane style of storytelling as opposed to the often dragging, soap-opera one, as evidenced by the following images courtesy of Marvel.com.

The images has the Red Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Woman and other members of the superteam Avengers teaming up with Spidey, which is going to be the recurring motif for the whole series.

I think this is going to be one bad-ass series full of web-swinging action, "pows!", "kapows" and the occassional "snikt!" each and every month. Fans love dynamic and well-drawn action sequences, and from what I have seen from the preview images - Maduereira has got that covered. We're in for a very good treat guys.

Head over to ComicsAlliance for the complete press conference transcript and be sure to check the awesome sketches by Joe M. after the cut. 

'The Avengers 12.1' Preview Covers Doesn't Entice Me At All

Marvel has another  Avengers comic book available on the shelves right now, especially made for newbies who are just starting to delve into the Marvel Universe and unsure on where to start on reading about their all-time favorite characters like Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man and Captain America to name a few.

The Avengers 12.1,  written by one of my favorite Marvel writer-artist tandems in  Brian Michael Bendis and  Bryan Hitch, with the latter being memorable for doing such a splendid job on his run on the Ultimates vol 1 and 2. He's the guy with the "photo-realistic art" that made reading the Ultimates like watching/reading a film. And with the influx of comic book film adaptations lately, this looks like a good move by Marvel in getting new readers joining the bandwagon. 

But let me focus on something entirely different here:  I cannot help but wonder what happened to Mr. Hitch while illustrating these covers for his latest project? Take a look:

Cool 2D Illustrations From CGHub Featuring Your Favorite Marvel Characters

Alright guys, more stunning art from great talent at CGHub. Check out the website for a lot of great art that ranges from regular 2D, digital 2D, 3D, and sculptures! 

For the meantime, here are some of the finds that I really liked the most while browsing. You'll get to see Wolverine, Thanos, Juggernaut, Spiderman and two awesome Daredevil and X-Men panoramas that you would die to get on your wall! Some made by unknown artists and some made by the pros. But all of them are stunningly bad-ass. 

More pictures after the cut. 

[Click on the images for their full sizes.]

Daredevil Noir by Jose Antonio Lopez

Storm by Eduardo Schaal

Cute Comic Book Movie Minimalist Art From GoggleGlasses

If you're looking for  alternative comic book movie posters, here's a cool minimalistic art from Niell featuring our favorite superhero movies such as Iron Man, The Dark Knight, Spider-Man, Hellboy, Superman and V for Vendetta.

Aren't they cute?

[via FuckYeahSuperman and googleglasses.tumblr.com]

Venom vs Spidey - Pinoy Style!

Way back when I was a kid, we used to hunt spiders and put them inside matchboxes. We will nurture them and feed them until the big fight comes - when me and my friends will pit our beloved spiders for some good 'ol fashioned "spider-fighting" action. Yeah, we're pretty crazy. But I have to admit, it was fun to watch two spiders fight to the death until one emerges as the victor... and it even gets sweeter if there's money involved. Pretty high stakes.

Imagine Venom and Spidey going at it like that. It would definitely look something like... this:

[Click on image for larger version]

Awww... they're cute aren't they?

Only in the Philippines. 

Cool "Animated" X-Men, Avengers, and DC Art from Marcio Takara

I'm not reading comic books lately so I'm on the hunt again for some of the finest works of art on Deviant. 

This time we have Brazilian comic book artist Marcio Takara, who according to his official website - has been working with illustrations, character design and graphic design since 2000. He also did comicbook work for companies like Marvel Comics (SpiderMan & Fantastic Four: Hard Choices), Chimaera (Consortium of Justice), Image Comics (Dynamo5) and Boom! Studios (The Incredibles). 

I frankly like his style - like its really made for animation shows that we see on TV. And to be honest, I have never seen such a clean and fine style of drawing like he has. How come animation studios don't get this guy to do their flicks? This guy is absolutely fit for that in my opinion, and its a shame that we are not seeing his illustrations come alive - literally - on our TV sets.

Anyway, check out more of my favorites from his deviantArt page featuring our guys from Marvel and DC.

Click to enlarge the images

First Photo Of Andrew Garfield As The New SpiderMan

Move over Tobey Maguire, a new-kid is in town and he looks like just about ready to prove all doubters wrong. Well at least for now, with this first official photo of Andrew Garfield as our beloved friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

In case you don't know yet, Sony has decided to reboot the whole SpiderMan franchise so no more Tobey and Kirsten Dunst this time around. The movie would feature a new story, a new villain, and for sure a new costume for our web-slinging hero. And I gotta admit, this new Spidey sports his new costume pretty well - he looks skinnier and younger (perfect for a teenage Peter Parker), he's all wet, battered and dirty, and his costume reeks of awesomeness. Check it out after the jump.

More Cool Toys From Hot Toys' Anniversary Blast

I'm not doing anything right now and since this is toy day, then lets get rollin' with more of Hot Toys' new figures featuring Iron Man, Thor, Spidey, and a couple of celebrities like Indiana Jones, the Predator, the Terminator, the zombie killing Alice from the Resident Evil films, and Bruce Lee!  I just can't get enough of these wonderful pieces of art.

Go see 'em all by clicking the link after the jump.

[images courtesy of tomopop.com and Tokyo Hunter. For the gallery, click here]

Iron Man's Mark V Armor as seen in Iron Man 2

"Im your friendly neighborhood!"

My Top 9 Comic Book Movies of All Time

Since I'm a fan of comic books, I have virtually watched every superhero/comic book film out there - except for a few good ones - like Sin City and V for Vendetta for example, which is a shame really. Anyway, I have been running out of things to write on my blog and I don't want to fill this up with comic book reviews all the time.

There were a lot of comic book movies that I own on DVD, some of them are good, some of them not, and only a few are memorable, and I will going to list them down in no particular order.

So without further ado here are the best comic book movies that I have watched:

Spider-Man

The original is always the best as they say and this first Spidey flick proved that. It told the classic Spiderman origin, of how an ordinary school geek named Peter Parker became a super powered hero because of a bite from an irradiated spider, and learning that "with great power comes with great responsibility." Our friendly neighborhood hero surely didn't disappoint, with Tobey Maguire playing an excellent lead role. 

Favorite Scene: What else? The Mary Jane-Spidey upside down kiss in the rain. 'Nuff said.

 Batman (1989) 

The mother of all Batman movies. Tim Burton (of the Edward Scissorhands fame) directed this new take on the Batman mythos (new at the time at least) while comedic actor Michael Keaton took on the role as the caped crusader. The villain? The Joker played by the legendary Jack Nicholson. Loosely based on the Alan Moore classic "The Killing Joke", it gave new breath to the character and paved way for the creation of the Batman franchise. It is still one of my favorite Batman movies and I remember being so excited every time it was played on TV. It was that memorable - especially Jack's performance.

 Favorite scene: The first ever Batman-Joker face off.