Monday, December 31, 2007

Omnicomic blogs about Pilot Season

Top Cow Pilot Season on Myspace
We're rapidly approaching a scenario where just about all comics will be online. I'm not one to argue with which medium is better, print or online, but it seems that just about everything print is slowly going the way of the dinosaur. No, newspapers aren't going to be destroyed by a giant meteor (I know that's not been proven, but its the scenario with most support), rather, online publications are going to replace written publications. In that light, Top Cow has produced five new comics called Pilot Season, and have posted them on Myspace now for free reading. CLICK HERE





Witchblade Anime Vol 3 DVD reviewed

In the latest entry in this Top Cow/Studio Gonzo collaboration, we are introduced to two new adversaries for the latest bearer of the Witchblade. We also get some nice side stories, the top one being where Masane’s daughter Rihoko meets a bizarre stranger who has some very dark, and very critical, secrets that will effect the series. CLICK HERE




Friday, December 28, 2007

Darkness Levels and Madame Mirage #4 reviewed

Darkness Levels and Madame Mirage #4 reviewed CLICK HERE





Malaysia Star notes First Born in Comics Year in Review

Malaysia Star notes First Born in Comics Year in Review CLICK HERE




All 5 Pilot Season Comics FREE on MySpace!

A little holiday gift from Top Cow and MySpace to you, the fans! Right now, you can click over to MySpace Comics Books and read all FIVE Pilot Season pilot issues completely FREE of charge in their entirety!
Then jump over to the official home of Pilot Season on MySpace and join the thousands of fans voting to determine which two characters get their own series next year!


Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

From all of us at Top Cow we would like to Wish you all a Merry Christmas and
a Happy Holidays!.

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us


Lying in the Gutters teases something special regarding Pilot Season

Welcome to the most popular and longest running comics column on the internet. In its various forms, Lying In The Gutters has covered rumours and gossip in the comics industry for thirteen long glorious and quite scary years. CLICK HERE


Madame Mirage #4 review

I just can’t say enough times how much I am enjoying this series from Top Cow. I’ve always considered Paul Dini to be a decent writer. His Batman stuff has been good more often than not, but Madam Mirage has truly been outstanding since issue #0. CLICK HERE




Monday, December 24, 2007

First Born # 3 Reveiw

First Born #3 brings the mini-series to a close and yet the story is just beginning. Sara Pezzini, the previous Witchblade wielder is due to have her baby at any moment. She has fled to a secret mob safe house deep beneath the surface along with The Darkness, Danielle Baptiste (the new Witchblade) and The Magdelena who remains a bit conflicted over which side of the war to be on…the side with the Darkness or with the Angelus. CLICK HERE




Sunday, December 23, 2007

The Darkness Signing Tour Photos

The Week The Darkness #1 launched in stores, Michael Broussard and Phil Hester embarked on a mini-signing tour in the Los Angeles and Midwest. Our awesome retailer friends at Earth 2 in Sherman Oaks, CA and Krypton Comics in Omaha, Nebraska sent us photos from the signings and we thought we'd share them with you!



Paradox Comic Group reviews The Darkness #1

I’m always worried when a new team hits something as well entrenched within it’s own universe as The Darkness, as they need to ‘get’ the characters pretty sharpish and satisfy fans of the old team. CLICK HERE




Ye Old Iowa review The Darkness First Look on Newsarama

As this is a just a preview issue, it goes unranked. However, I would say that the Hester/Broussard era of The Darkness looks promising. My track record with the character is spotty at best, but thanks to the strong introduction to the Darkness entity and the well crafted first few pages presented here, I have a strong enough understanding of the basic premise to want to pick up the series when it officially launches (then again, its Phil Hester, so I’d be picking it up anyway). CLICK HERE




Inked reviews The Darkness #1

Top Cow has given Jackie Estacado another shot in their latest release of The Darkness. This time writer Phil Hester and artist Dan Broussard have taken Jackie to South America and given him responsibilities that he’s never had to undertake before. CLICK HERE




Comic Pants reviewed The Darkness First Look

This is one of those 99-cent preview issues, so it’s more prelude than anything else. Eight pages of story, a few sketches, an intro from new writer Phil Hester…like that. In any case, it’s my first exposure to the title (which I’ve heard led to a pretty cool video game recently), and I was pleasantly surprised to find some promise in it. CLICK HERE




Ultimate Comics reviews The Darkness #1

My first experience with the Darkness came with The Darkness/Wolverine one shot about two years ago. The idea of Logan running into this guy’s son and seeing some of the same was a compelling read. It is always good to see Logan in flashback mode. I liked it so much that I bought the Compendium when it came out last year and devoured it. CLICK HERE




Comic Pants reviews The Darkness #1

I hate The Darkness, but I love Phil Hester’s writing. As you might expect, the average result is that I’m mildly interested, but not much more, in the latest Darkness relaunch. CLICK HERE




Friday, December 21, 2007

Stjepan Sejic Named Wizard's "On The Rise" Artist for 2008 in Wizard #196

With his upcoming tenure on Witchblade and his breakout performance in First Born and The Angelus: Pilot Season #1, Stjepan Sejic is on his way to super stardom. Read more of Wizard's preview of 2008 in issue #196, on stands now! Plus get a free copy of Dark Sector Zero in every copy of Wizard this month.
Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us



Top Cow cover featured in Fantasy Art Magazine in China

Top Cow was featured in Fantasy Art Magazine #9-#11, with cover features for Witchblade and Tomb Raider in two of the issues. Check out these beautiful covers!
Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us


Masane vs. Cutey Honey in Anime Insider!

Masane from Witchblade Anime takes on Cutey Honey from the anime of the same name in Anime Insider's "Last Man Standing" feature in AI #52. AI gives the edge to Cutey Honey but we demand a rematch!
Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us


Thursday, December 20, 2007

AICN reviews The Darkness #1

Right off the bat, I’m going to say that I’m definitely not the generation of readers and gameplayers out there who are the type to get into THE DARKNESS. But Top Cow keeps surprising me with their WITCHBLADE/THE DARKNESS series of titles, this first issue of the new ongoing DARKNESS series being no exception. I’m generally not a fan of these gory evil villain-as-anti-hero types of characters but I still found myself intrigued by the setup in this issue.

"Just as Ron Marz breathed new creative life into WITCHBLADE, comic vet Phil Hester steps up to reinvent THE DARKNESS for this new era for the character" CLICK HERE





EVA TEAMS WITH THE DARKNESS IN MARCH

Dynamite has confirmed for Newsarama that it will continue its “Eva” property (though now re-named “Eva: Daughter of Dracula”) in March, when the character will crossover with Top Cow’s the Darkness, marking the two company’s second such collaboration. CLICK HERE




Image and Top Cow solicitations for March on CBR

Image Comics has provided CBR News with covers and solicit information for product shipping March, 2008. Discuss these solicitations here on CBR's Image Comics forum and tell fellow fans what you plan on picking up. CLICK HERE




Pilot Season featured on MySpace Comic Books

Pilot Season featured on MySpace Comic Books CLICK HERE




Madame Mirage #4 review




In which Harper's real plan begins to appear. I have to admit, I wonder what's going to happen when Dini runs out of double-reverses for this series, but for now, still unexpectedly awesome, especially given my doubts after issue 1. CLICK HERE


Angelus: Pilot Season #1 review

The last “episode” in Top Cow’s pilot season, Angelus is Top Cows fifth pilot of its new “season” and unfortunately there has yet to be a series to knock Velocity off its throne. A brief recap of the Pilot Season, it’s five one-shot issues of Top Cow characters where fans will get to vote on which character should receive their own ongoing series. CLICK HERE




Witchblade Takeru Manga #11 review

The bearer Takeru is moving. She looks gorgeous in her almost not there costume. The witchblade conceals very little. Watching her in acton is a pleasure. The poses are provocative. They are also full of action as she is shown moving fluidly. CLICK HERE




Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Ron Marz announces return of letters pages in Witchblade & Darkness on Comic Blog

Starting with issue #116 of Witchblade, as well as in the new Darkness series, letters pages will return to Top Cow titles CLICK HERE




Top Cow Solicitations For March 2008

Witchblade #116 Ron Marz/Stjepan Sejic $2.99
Witchblade Volume 1 TPB (O/A) Ron Marz/Mike Choi $4.99
First Born: Aftermath Hester/Marz/Sook/Moder $2.99
First Born Volume 1 TPB Ron Marz/Stjepan Sejic $14.99
The Darkness: Butcher One-Shot Rob Levin/Michael Broussard $3.99
Witchblade Volume 3 TPB Marz/Choi/Bachalo/Cha $14.99
The Darkness: First Look WWTX Hester/ Broussard/Silvestri $10.00
Witchblade Takeru Manga 7-12 Set Yasuko Kobayashi/Kazasa Sumita $15.99
First Born #1 CGC Graded Sejic Cover Ron Marz/Stjepan Sejic $69.99
First Born #1 CGC Graded Silvestri Cover Ron Marz/Stjepan Sejic $69.99
Witchblade Takeru Manga #2 WWLA(O/A) Kobayashi/Sumita/Kirkham $10.00
FOR COVERS AND MORE INFO CLICK HERE


Jason Aaron blogs about Pilot Season

Wanna see me and Jorge Lucas do more RIPCLAW? Then head over to the Pilot Season page on MySpace and cast your vote. CLICK HERE




Between the Staples blogs about Pilot Season

Top Cow has opened up voting on Pilot Season books today. Go and vote!
CLICK HERE




REVIEW Witchblade #112

First Born epilogue issue! A new life has entered the world ... but that life, as well as the world, might be in more than danger than ever before. CLICK HERE




REVIEW Madame Mirage - #4

In case you were worried that things were going to slow down with last issue's big reveal, rest assured, the ride hasn't stopped yet! CLICK HERE




INSTORES THIS WEEK

Madame Mirage #4
(W) Paul Dini (A) Kenneth Rocafort (Cov) Rocafort
With the answer to the most asked question of the summer answered – “Who is Madame Mirage?”, award winning author Paul Dini (Countdown, Lost) and hot new artist Kenneth Rocafort (Hunter-Killer) turn the excitement up to eleven. Mirage cuts loose in this issue and stretches her powers to the limit as she unleashes an all out assault on Aggressive Solutions International’s headquarters!
Mirage is through toying with the villains of ASI… or is she?

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 continuing series

CLICK HERE


Phil Hester & Michael Broussard on Fanboy Radio Today LIVE!

Following the hot release of the first blockbuster issue last Wednesday, The Darkness creative team of Phil Hester and Michael Broussard are joining Scott and Oliver on Fanboy Radio to talk about the new series. Don't miss out on the show broadcasting LIVE at 2pm EST and call into the show to pose your own questions directly to Phil and Michael. The show will be available for download after it airs through iTunes and other podcasting sources.
CLICK HERE for more info!


Saturday, December 15, 2007

Official Pilot Season Home on MySpace LIVE!

Active Voting Begins Monday December 17th!

Top Cow is proud to announce that the official home of Pilot Season on MySpace, the world’s leading social networking site, is now online and fully live. Fans can direct their browsers to www.myspace.com/pilotseason to participate in the voting process, download exclusive content, and interact directly with creators involved with Pilot Season.

Pilot Season is the innovative publishing initiative from Top Cow Productions that places fans in control of the publisher’s 2008 publishing plans. Top Cow released five self-contained pilot issues starring established characters without a current series by established creative teams. Each issue sets up a potential series much like a television pilot episode. Fans will determine which two series get their own series in 2008 by voting online at www.myspace.com/pilotseason. Fans can vote as often and as many times as they like and those fans who purchased all five pilot issues will be rewarded with a secret voting code that allows for their votes to count double the normal votes.

In addition to hosting the voting mechanism the Pilot Season home page will feature downloadable content fans can use to promote their favorite character, exclusive blog entries by the Pilot Season creators, and forums for fans to interact with each other and creators. Voting will become active on Monday, December 17th and will continue through January 21st. The winners will be announced in February. Fans are encouraged to check back with the site frequently for new exclusive content and to track the progress of the election.

“This is what it all comes down to – the fans getting in there and telling us what they want to see more of. It took us a bit longer than expected to get our Death Star fully operational but it was worth the wait. It’s a bold untested experiment and I for one can’t wait to see the fans take control,” said Top Cow Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Filip Sablik.

The final Pilot Season issue, The Angelus: Pilot Season #1 is in stores this week. Additional information regarding Pilot Season can be found at www.myspace.com/pilotseason.




Angelus Pilot Season and Dark Sector #0 reviewed by Earth-2.net

Angelus Pilot Season and Dark Sector #0 this week during Earth-2.net : The Show, episode 177. Angelus talk at 12:00, and Dark Sector at 28:48.

Angelus Pilot Season "Every panel is dripping hotness!"
- Desmond Reddick

"Stjepan Sejic is a future superstar of this industry!"
- Michael David Sims

Dark Sector #0 pull quotes:
"The art was beautiful, but that goes without saying."
- Desmond Reddick
CLICK HERE


FoxPro Blog mentions Wanted

FoxPro Blog mentions Wanted CLICK HERE


Friday, December 14, 2007

Gaming Steve names Darkness a Top 10 Game of 2007

Sure everyone loves to read about the best games of year, but just how many times can you read about Super Mario Galaxy and Mass Effect? I’m here to tell you about ten excellent games that somehow fell through the cracks in 2007, all of which well deserve your time and attention. CLICK HERE Although we disagree that "no one played" a Platinum selling title like The Darkness:)




Jim D. Praises The Darkness #1

Jim Demonakos, former Marketing Director at Image Comics and owner of the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle, runs a regular and popular blog called 'Technogreek'. Yesterday he had some kind things to say about The Darkness #1.
CLICK HERE to read his thoughts.



Thursday, December 13, 2007

Ron Marz talks Green Lantern, Witchblade, and more

On sale today, the solicitation for DC Comics' "Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents: Ion" tells you all that you need to know: "This book sets the stage for Kyle Rayner for years to come." CLICK HERE




Pilot Season Trailer on spike & Bumspot

Check it out on Spike TV.CLICK HERE

Check it out on Bumspot CLICK HERE


Unusual Suspects review

The simple premise behind this collection is much better than anything I have read in a long, long time. Two buddies meet for dinner and discuss one’s current comic book prospects. While a fun romp through the industry, it is also a jeering prod to the comics industry. CLICK HERE





Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Wizard Adds The Darkness to Market Watch

Market Watch: Comics takes readers behind the scenes to let them know what comics they should be paying attention to and what books are moving in stores around the world. CLICK HERE




Maxim Names The Darkness in Top 10 Video Games of 2007 -

TIME's list of the best ten games released this calendar year had its controversial entries, but I highly doubt anyone will dispute gaming bible Maxim's choices. Basically, all you really need to know is that 2K Games The Darkness surpassed Metroid Prime 3: Corruption in Maxim magazine's year end wrap up of the best games of 2007. What else did The Darkness beat out? CLICK HERE




See Silvestri Draw on Fanboy Video

Our friends at Fanboy Radio have launched a new site called Fanboy Video where you can see short video segments from conventions and other special events. Among the first round of videos available is a look at the Heroes4Heroes event at WizardWorld Texas. Check it out if you want to see Marc Silvestri, Phil Hester, and others drawing live!



Tuesday, December 11, 2007

IN STORES THIS WEEK

IT'S HERE!!
The Darkness #1
(W) Phil Hester (A) Michael Broussard (Cov) Marc Silvestri, Dale Keown, Stjepan Sejic

Following in the wake of the hugely successful The Darkness video game and the summer’s smash hit, First Born, The Darkness returns in a brand new ongoing series by Phil Hester (Deep Sleeper, Green Arrow) and Michael Broussard (Unholy Union)! Irrevocably changed by the events of First Born, Jackie Estacado has relocated to the secluded nation of Sierra Muñoz. But every paradise has dark secrets under the surface. And what does the mysterious Professor Kirchner stand to gain by allying himself with Jackie?
Don’t miss the next great chapter of the Darkness mythos beginning with an oversized first issue featuring bonus pages of story and art!

Cover A – Marc Silvestri CLICK HERE
Cover B – Dale Keown CLICK HERE
Cover C – Stjepan Sejic CLICK HERE
COVER D - PHIL Hester (TOP COW STORE EXCLUSIVE) CLICK HERE

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 ongoing series





The Angelus: Pilot Season #1
(W) Ian Edington (A) Stjepan Sejic (Cov) Stjepan Sejic

Spinning directly out of the events of First Born! Following their encounter with the Witchblade and her child, the Angelus and Celestine have become more than the sum of their parts. Celestine has long sought after piece of mind and for the first time the Angelus questions if she's more than simply a weapon of righteous wrath?
But writer Ian Edington (2000 AD, Warhammer: 40,000) and First Born artist Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade) show this is just the calm before the storm as Celestine confronts a past she never knew!

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 pilot issue
Stjepan Sejic COVER CLICK HERE

Stjepan Sejic TOP COW EXLCUSIVE COVER CLICK HERE