Dancing With Skeletons Reviews Madame Mirage

A very sharp script with beautiful art combine for a great superhero story. When bio-engineering and technology start to make super powered people a reality, the emergence of super villains overshadowed the existence of super heroes. A backlash ensures that the science and technology were outlawed and the inventors imprisoned. The more perceptive blended into the corporate background and continued with their activities on a more covert level. A mysterious woman is picking off the villains that hide behind their legitimate business ventures. The story develops very nicely, the reveals are cleverly staged and tired, familiar expectations are raised and dodged and the climax is satisfyingly sour. Also it has the best supervillian corporation name I have ever read.

Read the full review here.

Source: Dancing with Skeletons

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Prize Alert: Follow @TopCow on Twitter for a Signed Dini Variant

Top Cow is looking to give away this Madame Mirage #1 Sketch Variant signed by Paul Dini (@Paul_Dini).

All you have to do is be @TopCow's 4000th follower on Twitter.

Do it. You know you want to.

Source: Twitter/TopCow

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Madame Mirage casts illusions of excitement

In a world where the villains have heavy hardware, heroes can still have an edge. Madame Mirage proves that one can use her mysterious skills to outwit the bad guys.

In Madame Mirage, mega-technology used by heroes becomes banned by international law. The heroes cease activities while the villains go on to forming organizations, paying off officials, going legit and offering their services along with their mega-technology to those who can afford them. Madame Mirage is determined to stop one organization by using a few tricks of her own.

READ MORE.

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Multiversity Comics' Friday Recommendation: Madame Mirage

A small beef was ignited a couple of weeks ago during our Francis Manapul. It was nothing serious, and I don't even think anyone at Top Cow was truly miffed, but our interviewer made a small crack about the genre of so called “T & A” comics and it was misconstrued as us not liking the brand, which couldn’t be further from the truth. We love comics no matter what they look like. If they’re good, we’ll love them, simple as that. Top Cow even gave us one of my favorite artists of all time, the late, great, dearly departed Michael Turner.

But I digress, during Wondercon some months back, while I was looking through the dealer hall, I came across a book by one of my favorite writers on a book I hadn’t heard of before. Paul Dini had taken the time to write a book that wasn’t focused on Batman? Huh…who’d have thought? I picked it up, and it was one of my favorite stories by one of my favorite writers.

Madame Mirage is a complex story.

READ MORE.

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Spotlight on Jingle Belle

The latest Christmas comic book I've read was also the latest installment in Paul Dini's annual adventures of Santa Claus's little known daughter Jingle Belle. Santa vs. Frankenstein is a light-hearted one-shot that takes a stab at the recent "holiday crossover" phenomenon, perhaps best known from the Tim Burton film The Nightmare Before Christmas. While Halloween isn't mentioned overtly, Frankenstein is undoubtedly a mascot for the hallowed holiday, capturing its haunting spirit. Further, Jing's best friend is Polly Green, the self-appointed "official witch of Halloween," so what's a few months between pals? No, Dini was right to bring the two seemingly contrasting mythologies together. Think about the way we teach the holidays to children, the way we maintain and illustrate holiday tradition; we've essentially asserted that a realm of fantastic characters work parallel to our year, ringing in the new year, then making people fall in love, then granted folks good luck, etc. Why wouldn't these characters work in concert? Heck, we're lucky they haven't unionized and gone on strike! How would a Santa scab hit all those homes on Christmas night? READ MORE.

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Beth Davies-Stofka of Comic Book Bin says JINGLE BELLE is one of her favorite Christmas comics

can't close out this appreciation without mentioning two of my favorite Christmas comics. This year's Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein from Top Cow is hilarious. You will be amazed to discover that Santa Claus and Frankenstein are both real, and you'll love how these creatures of magic and fantasy conspire to expose the all-too-real machinations of the politically correct. Beware the Mom who screams out for censorship, or any curb on civil liberties, "for the sake of the children." Paul Dini is the comics version of the ACLU and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart creative team all rolled together, and he's just one person! READ MORE.

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The Washington Times Reviews JINGLE BELLE

Joseph Szadkowski of The Washington Times calls JINGLE BELLE: SANTA CLAUS VS. FRANKENSTEIN a "wonderful mix of pop culture, humor, action and a fun Halloween twist." Click here to read the rest of the review.

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Jazma Online interviews Paul Dini for JINGLE BELLE: SANTA CLAUS VS. FRANKENSTEIN

Allen: I want to start by saying Thank you Paul for doing interview with me.

Paul Dini: No problem!

Allen: Tell me all about Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein. Also. How does Frankenstein get to North Pole? Is idea based on something Mary Shelly wrote?

Paul Dini: According to Mary Shelley's original novel, he never left. After the creature finds Victor Frankenstein dead aboard the ship that rescued him, the monster mourns his creator then resolves to take his own life. He vanishes into the wastes near the North Pole, and we pick him up some 200+ years later in more or less the same locale.

Allen: Tell me about artist.

Paul Dini: No one does classic animation-inspired comics quite like Stephanie Gladden. This story has girls, monsters, wacky animals, wacky people, and different types of elves from all over the world. I don't know of anyone who could have handled a huge cast like that better than Steph.

Allen: Please give history of character Jingle Belle and world lives in.

Paul Dini: Jing is Santa Claus' daughter. You'd think she'd be right in step with all the Christmas stuff, but she's much more into being a teen-age girl. She likes her friends, she likes snowboarding; sitting in a mall and listening to little kids' toy demands, not so much. She'd rather be on a date. READ MORE.

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Paul Dini appears on Comics on Comics.

Comics on Comics roars back to the world famous Batcave in Dream World Comics for our blockbuster eleventh episode! Host Juan-Manuel Rocha teams up with comic book superstar Paul Dini (Detective Comics, Batman: The Animated Series, Madame Mirage), magician Misty Lee (Second City), Dean Haglund (X-Files, Lone Gunmen) and Ian Bagg (Comedy Central Presents, History of the Joke) for an unforgettable night of comics and comedy! READ MORE.

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CBR reviews Jingle Belle

This tale waffles somewhere between wanting to grow up and wanting to be a snappy read for younger readers. Behind the concept of Santa Claus being an outdated, borderline negative influence, a politician drives a campaign to rid the holiday season of one of its most recognizable icons.

Dini does an admirable job of making this book approachable to all readers, limiting the story and action to a handful of explicitly distinct individuals. The situations he puts those characters in, coupled with the resolutions to those situations, runs heavily on the side of cliche. That's not to say it reads to a more elementary scale; it doesn't. Sometimes, however, comics need to be formulaic and predictable.

Gladden is a suitable choice for the art to this tale. A veteran of nearly every cartoon-related comic, she brings a Chuck Jones/Tex Avery quality of line and character made static through the magic of paper. The straightforward story calls for straightforward storytelling and Gladden delivers with wonderful scenes interspersed to showcase her abilities (look for the narwhals and you've found what I'm talking about). READ MORE.

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Blog at Newsarama picks Jingle Belle as one of their weekly comic picks

Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein: Top Cow Productions is the latest home for Paul Dini’s Jingle Belle comics, which started out at Oni Comics before moving to Dark Horse for a time. Dini and artist Stephanie Gladden tell the tale of Jing’s dad coming face-to-face with, well, it’s all right there in the title. READ MORE.

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Wizard Spotlights Jingle Belle

Simply put, Jingle Belle rocks.

Created by award-winning writer Paul Dini, the Jingle Belle series of books follows the varying misadventures of Santa's bratty daughter Jingle as she finds countless ways to cause trouble and irritate her jolly dad. After hopping around from publisher to publisher, Dini's line of "Dinicartoons" found a home at Top Cow—kicking off with this week's Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a pretty big Dini fan—and a fan of the Jingle Belle concept in general—I went in with pretty high expectations. The best part of this book is that Dini's latest installment surpassed not only my expectations, but everything that came before. The one-shot pokes fun at a number of real-life political issues (see the PREVIEW PAGES below this review for an idea) while simultaneously providing an enjoyable and fun read for people of any age—hence the whole All Ages thing. Stephanie Gladden's art really shines and feels like the best ever on the series. READ MORE.

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The Frankenstein Blog covers the JINGLE BELLE one-shot

As Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein ends, The Monster is last seen jumping from Walton’s ship “upon the ice raft which lay close to the vessel. He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance.”

Many writers have conjectured on The Monster’s fate as he disappeared into the merciless Arctic night. Turns out, according to Paul Dini, writer-producer of numerous animated TV series including Batman and Justice League, that the Big Guy ended up as a doll maker at Santa’s North Pole Workshop. READ MORE.

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Reflections with Paul Dini on CBR

Thanksgiving is over, though its leftovers remain. Black Friday, with its traffic jams and “you take that and I’ll cut you” mentality, is past, though the bruises and scratches remain. And now you are either finished trimming the house or still putting it off until the last moment possible. After all that, don’t you deserve an early present?

While your loved ones may sneer and change the combination to the safe’s lock to keep the presents hidden, Paul Dini has something festive right up your alley.

This week, Dini’s Christmas-themed creation Jingle Belle returns in a new Top Cow one-shot that could only be called “Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein.” Sounds like the perfect present, no? READ MORE.

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Girls Entertainment Network talks to JINGLE BELLE writer Paul Dini

I’m really honored to get the chance to talk with you, Paul! Thanks for taking the time. I’m a big fan of yours. But on to the questions! First let’s talk about your creation, Dinicartoons, which you’re bringing to Top Cow. What exactly is Dinicartoons, and how did it get started? What made you decide to incorporate it into the Top Cow line-up?

Paul Dini: Hey, Stephanie—wow, two Stephanies! How often does that happen? Nice to talk to you, too.
I had a really good experience with Top Cow on MADAME MIRAGE and we both agreed it would be fun to work on other projects together. Dinicartoons is the overall title for a new line of books that, like MIRAGE, are original creations of mine. Some of the characters come from other books I’ve published elsewhere, like JINGLE BELLE or MUTANT, TEXAS; others are brand-new creations. READ MORE.

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Paul Dini spotlights Jingle Belle on Newsarama

EDITOR'S NOTE: Newsarama is hosting writer Paul Dini as he introduces the various characters who are center stage in his new "Dinicartoons" imprint at Top Cow. The imprint kicks off with the release of Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein this Thursday, Devember 4th.

CHARACTER: Jingle Belle

FIRST APPEARANCE: Oni (Dini) Double Feature #13

In most stories Santa Claus has no children. There’s Mrs. Claus, the elves, the reindeer and that’s about it. Then about 10 years ago I started thinking, if Santa had kids in today’s modern world, what would they be like? Here’s this guy who means so much to the kids of the world, but around the house, he’s just plain dad. How does his own kid relate him, warts and all? With that in mind, the rest of Jingle Belle’s character quickly fell into place.

READ MORE.

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Paul Dini talks Star Wars and Jingle Belle

The next episode of Star Wars: Clone Wars should be one that will interest Jedi and Dark Knight fans alike. It marks the return of Paul Dini to George Lucas’ universe.

Note the word, “return.”

What many don’t realize is this is not the first time Dini worked on a Star Wars project. Years before he worked on Batman: The Animated Series, before he worked with Bruce Timm, Dini was a staff writer, story editor and producer of the series Ewoks & Droids for Nelvana. So, his writing the upcoming episode “Cloak of Darkness” is something a coming home. Then again, when one hears what the episode is about, it’s totally understandable.

While this is also the holiday season, and Mr. Dini is just about to release his latest adventures of one of his best spunky female characters ever, we felt it appropriate to talk about that book a bit, too. As any Jedi fan knows, the universe is full of amazing things, big and small. Some new Jingle Belle tales sure fit that order. READ MORE.

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Greg Horn Cover for JINGLE BELLE Revealed!

We are happy to reveal the second cover for the forthcoming Top Cow book, Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein!

This stunning yet playful cover was drawn by Wizard Fan Award-winning artist Greg Horn (Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk) and features the book’s title character, Jingle Belle. This one-shot issue kicks off the move of superstar creator Paul Dini’s line of characters in the Dinicartoons universe to Top Cow.

Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein
(W) Paul Dini (A) Stephanie Gladden (Cov) Stephanie Gladden, Greg Horn

Paul Dini’s JINBLE BELLE comes to Top Cow in a special “Halloween collides with Christmas” one-shot written by Dini and drawn by Stephanie Gladden (POWERPUFF GIRLS, CHOWDER, HOPSTER’S TRACKS). In years past, Santa has triumphed over a variety of enemies, including the Devil himself. Now, St. Nick gets ready to face his greatest challenge ever in JINGLE BELLE: SANTA CLAUS VS. FRANKENSTEIN!

Inspired by Mary Shelley’s original novel (sort of), the story of Frankenstein’s monster takes a new twist when he is found by Jingle in the Arctic wastes and “rehabilitated” to fit in with the elves at Santa’s Workshop. All goes well until an ultra-PC city declares Santa Claus taboo and awakens Frankie’s monstrous side in a misguided attempt to help his friend. It’s up to an ailing Santa and a reluctant Jingle Belle to stop their monstrous “apprentice” before he destroys the town and ruins the reputation of Christmas forever!

Cover A – Stephanie Gladden
Cover B – Greg Horn

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 one-shot


The issue is schedule to be in stores on Dec. 3rd.

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Newsarama runs profile of Dinicartoons character Polly Green

Newsarama is hosting writer Paul Dini as he introduces the various characters who are center stage in his new "Dinicartoons" imprint at Top Cow. The imprint kicks off with the release of Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein later this year.

But now with Halloween still a warm memory in our minds, we present the first profile: Polly Green.

Name: Polly Green
First Appearance: Jingle Belle Jubilee (2001)

When under appreciated middle child Polly Green showed a serious talent for witchcraft, her normal but greedy parents realized they had a gold mine on their hands. Far from keeping Polly's magical skills a secret, her mom and dad dressed her in orange and black and quickly began to promote their daughter as the official witch of Halloween. Not an ideal situation for a nice girl who just wants to stay home and craft healing and self-esteem spells for her friends. READ MORE.

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2 Reviews of MADAME MIRAGE trade paperback

ThickOnline.com Review
What makes Paul Dini so good? Is it the rich feeling of old pulp fiction he brings to his stories? Maybe it’s the concise story telling that provides what so many new writers seem to miss - full arcs to their stories that deliver satisfaction throughout. He’s not rewriting the book with Madame Mirage. Instead, he’s delivering a story that seems as though it’s always been there. Like a song you hear for the first time that resonates so perfectly inside you, you can’t help but feel that you’ve been listening to it for years. Madame Mirage was the book I’ve been reading in my head since I was watching cartoons in my parents living room. READ MORE.


Fantasy Book Critic Review
ABOUT MADAME MIRAGE: Who is this beautiful woman who appears out of the mist? As deadly as she is beautiful, she is cutting a bloody path through the city's villains, who now wear suits and have “legitimate” businesses. But who is her ultimate prey? And how does this Mirage take form? These and many other questions will be asked along with the most pivotal question of all—Who is Madame Mirage?
READ MORE.

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