Newsarama's Best Shots Advance Review: Pilot Season: 39 Minutes #1

With movies such as Takers, The Town, and The Hurt Locker gaining praise and big box office numbers (the latter took home a Best Picture Oscar), it's no surprise that crime/military dramas would start making a comeback of sorts in comics. In this year's Pilot Season, there is such a book that incorporates that type of story, and it's not too shabby. 39 Minutes tells the story of former military commander John Clayton, who is incarcerated for bogus charges, and his former team that has currently gone rogue and in the middle of a crime spree.

For those of you looking for something without capes, I'd recommend 39 Minutes. While it's not perfect, it's still a hearty read.

Read the full review here.
Source: Newsarama

Guerrilla Geek Reviews Pilot Season: 39 Minutes #1

Kicking off Pilot Season 2010 is Pilot Season: 39 Minutes #1, set for release on 22 September. This title was created and written by William Harms (Impaler), and debuts up-and-coming artist Jerry Lando, along with a cover by Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire). Its premise is the classic heist story, but turned on its head. Inspired in part by the 1997 robbery of the North Hollywood Bank of America, Harms wanted to take the idea of a skilled team of criminals and set them to robbing banks in small, isolated towns. However, in writing, the story has evolved into a more complex tale of betrayal and sacrifice.


Read the full review here.
Source: Guerrilla Geek

Newsarama Exclusive Preview: Pilot Season: 39 Minutes #1

Pilot Season: 39 Minutes #1
(w) William Harms (a) Jerry Lando (cov) Rafael Albuquerque

Pilot Season Begins Anew as a 5-Week Event in 2010!

Robbing a bank is easy — it’s the getaway that’s hard. The bank’s surrounded by police officers, alarms are blaring, customers and employees are screaming, and the streets are blocked off. So what’s the solution?

Kill everyone in town.

Created and written by William Harms (Impaler) and debuting up-and-coming artist Jerry Lando along with a cover by Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), 39 Minutes turns the heist story on its head.

32 Pages Full Color Pilot Issue $3.99

See the full preview here.
Source: Newsarama

Comic Book Page Podcast Chats Pilot Season 2010 with Filip Sablik

Bob Bretall talks with some of the creators about items in the July 2010 Previews catalog.

Items mentioned:
Top Cow Pilot Season 2010: Interview with Filip Sablik
Pilot Season: 39 Minutes: Interview with William Harms
Freedom Fighters #1: Interview with Jimmy Palmiotti

Get the podcast here.
Source: comicbookpage.com

The Graphic Novel Reporter Includes Impaler Vol. 2 in Hottest Adult Fiction Graphic Novels for Summer 2010

Millions of vampires have descended upon America. In a desperate attempt to defeat them, the U.S. military nuked New York City. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. The legendary vampire hunter Vlad the Impaler has returned to stop them, and NYC Detective Victor Dailey has become his unwilling companion. International Horror Guild Award finalist William Harms (Wolverine: The Anniversary) returns to his reimagining of the vampire mythos with this second volume.

Read the full article here.
Source: graphicnovelreporter.com

Nfamous Gamers Reviews Impaler #5

This is my first exposure to Impaler, and oh my stars and garters, is this a great story. Where the fuck was I when this first came out? Vampire armies decimating the US… army soldiers trying to survive while wondering who they can count on… a family on the run trying to get away from the invading undead… and two unlikely heroes maybe on a fools run trying to stop it all. Wow, this is the best vampire story out there. Forget Twilight and that pansy crap; Impaler is an awesome representation of the traditional vampire mythos… of course spun around just a bit, but still keep with the horror and destruction a creature of that kind could inflict. The story is spot on; William Harms is a freaking master working on a piece of art. It is definitely deserving of being a finalist of the International Horror Guild Award. And the art work…

Read the full review here.
Source: nfamousgamers.com

Comic Addiction Reviews Impaler #5

Harms told a rock solid horror story in this book and it was paced very nicely but Matt TImson is really the star of the show. He may be an extremely slow artist but the man was perfect for this book. The panels were stunning and I would gladly pick up future issues of this book should Top Cow open up the piggy bank to fund a volume 3.

Read the full review here.
Source: thecomicaddiction.com

Fangoria Reviews Impaler Vol. 2

Getting sick of all those handsome, young, well-dressed, romantic, glittery, wimpy vampires that keep popping up as of late? Do you crave the good ol’ days when the best way to deal with creatures of the night was to stake them, not kiss them? Do you prefer crimson blood over glistening sparkles? Well, take Top Cow Productions’ five-issue miniseries IMPALER Volume 2, and call me in the morning. That is, if you can survive the night.

Read the full review here

Source: fangoria.com

Nfamous Gamers Reviews Impaler #5

Impaler tells the story of a vampire army invasion of the US. New York, Boston, and Philadelphia have all fallen despite the best efforts of the US Army, and the surprise hero of the story Vlad Tepes, more commonly known as Dracula. Tepes has also given some of his cursed power over to NYPD detective Victor Dailey with hopes to help him defeat the evil army. With the vampires marching westward and onto Washington, D.C., and their number swelling thanks to the newly turned because of the previous battles, all seems lost. But can a bunch of tattered soldiers hold out any hopes of survival, and what chances do Vlad and Victor have at really stopping the undead from taking over America?

This is my first exposure to Impaler, and oh my stars and garters, is this a great story. Where the fuck was I when this first came out? Vampire armies decimating the US… army soldiers trying to survive while wondering who they can count on… a family on the run trying to get away from the invading undead… and two unlikely heroes maybe on a fools run trying to stop it all. Wow, this is the best vampire story out there. Forget Twilight and that pansy crap; Impaler is an awesome representation of the traditional vampire mythos… of course spun around just a bit, but still keep with the horror and destruction a creature of that kind could inflict. The story is spot on; William Harms is a freaking master working on a piece of art. It is definitely deserving of being a finalist of the International Horror Guild Award. And the art work… if you have read my previous write ups, you know I am a fan of clean and crisp art styles. But Matt Timson’s work on this book certainly plays up the mood and overall feel of the book. In that capacity, it is simply perfect. Pick this one up. I can’t stress that enough. I know I will definitely be going back and trying to find the older issues. I just hope they aren’t like sky high expensive cause I really do want them…

Story: 5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Source: Nfamous Gamers

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Pendragon's Post Reviews Impaler #5

It takes a lot for me to read a vampire story these days. With the media being plagued with vampire stories, I tend to shy away from them, just because I am tired of fangs and pale skin showing up everywhere. That's not to say I don't like vampires; I just don't like sub-par storytelling, especially when it comes to vampires. When I read the synopsis of Top Cow's Impaler, I decided to put my prejudices aside and give this vampire story a try. I am glad I did. William Harms and Matt Timson have created a story that is a solid vampire story, but also tells the story of humanity in crisis.


Harms' writing is beautifully complemented by Matt Timson's art. Timson's style visually depicts the bleakness the survivors face, where landscapes and interiors in neutral tans and grays give way to pools and spatters of blood. My favorite scenes were the wide angle shots, especially of the New Mexico desert.

Read the full review here.

Source: Pendragon's Post

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Newsarama's Best Shots Reviews Impaler #5

Impaler #5 (Published by Top Cow; Review by David Pepose): You'd think with a name like Impaler that this would be standard ignorable horror/action fare. But this book surprisingly isn't, due to the striking artwork by Matt Timson. Reminding me a little bit of Mike Choi mixed with Jae Lee, he gives everything oppressive shadows and fangs, giving this vampire story a real menacing tone to it all. But William Harms adding in the storyline about new vampire Victor Dailey also provides new readers with a great jumping on point, as he begins his journey as a creature of the night with the titular Vlad the Impaler. Let's just say that the visuals are the real hook in this story, with this book looking every bit as threatening as any sort of horror film, down to the streaking across pale desert sands. While the end of the issue sort of falls back into familiar territory, you should at the very least take a look at the art, and let that decide if this book is your cup of hemoglobin.

Source: Newsarama

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CBR Exclusive Preview: Impaler #5

This fresh, new take on the vampire mythos from International Horror Guild-nominated writer William Harms concludes with an oversized issue!

Vampires have taken over the East coast of the United States. The few survivors are stranded where they have taken refuge while those watching on the news have abandoned their homes in a bid to outrun the vampire swarm. Now the vampires are marching West and nothing can stop them. The only thing standing in their way is Vlad Tepes, the historical Dracula, and the suicidal homicide detective Victor Dailey. But when events take a turn for the worst, will Victor be able to take up Vlad's mantle as Vampire Hunter?

See the rest of the preview pages here.

Source: CBR

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What The Con: CBR's ECCC Coverage of Top Cow's "Herd It Through the Bo-Vine" Panel

Last year, Top Cow Productions had a limited presence at the Emerald City ComiCon: there was no official Top Cow panel, and publisher Filip Sablik only showed up to host an interview with acclaimed writer and BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Mark Waid. In 2009, Sablik had hosted a panel that was fun and informative, but ultimately lacking in major announcements or convention-exclusive dish (though they have established an ECCC tradition of giving out issues with special convention-only variant covers year after year). Fortunately, Top Cow rolled out with a much larger presence at this year’s Eighth Annual Emerald City ComiCon. The company’s "Herd it Through the Bo-Vine 2010" panel was one of the con’s first, and Sablik and panelists Phil Hester, Michael Broussard, and William Harm made an effort to kick Saturday off in style.

In true Top Cow fashion, attendees to the 12:00 PM panel were rewarded with a free copy of "The Darkness" #83, featuring a variant cover by the artist Whilce Portacio.

Read the full article here.

Source: CBR

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What The Con: Top Cow's Emerald City ComiCon's Signing Schedule

Here's our signing schedule for Emerald City ComiCon:

Saturday, March 13:

10:30AM - 11:30AM: William Harms (Impaler)
1:30PM - 2:30PM: Phil Hester (The Darkness) and Michael Broussard (The Darkness)
2:30PM - 3:30PM: John Tyler Christopher (Witchblade)
3:30PM - 5:00PM: Eric Basaldua (Witchblade Annual)
4:00PM - 5:00PM: Joshua Ortega (Necromancer)

Don't forget to drop by Panel Ballroom A (4C1-2) for Top Cow's Herd It Thru The BoVine 2010 Panel at 12PM.

TOP COW: HERD IT THROUGH THE BO-VINE 2010
Join Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik for a fast-paced discussion of Top Cow's 2010 plans including early looks at series like Magdalena, Velocity, Artifacts, and Top Cow mainstays Witchblade and The Darkness with creators Phil Hester, Michael Broussard, William Harms and Eric Basaldua. Plus every attendee will receive a free gift!

Sunday, March 14:

11:00PM - 12:30PM: John Tyler Christopher
12:30PM - 2:00PM: Phil Hester, Michael Broussard and Whilce Portacio (Uncanny X-Men)
2:00PM - 3:30PM: Eric Basaldua, Joshua Ortega
3:30PM - 4:30PM: William Harms

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CBR Announces Top Cow's ECCC 2010 Schedule

Top Cow Productions, Inc. announced its plans today for this weekend’s Emerald City ComiCon, the Pacific Northwest's premier comic book and pop culture convention. This year’s Emerald City ComiCon will be held at the Washington State Convention Center on March 13-14, 2010. Fans are encouraged to stop by the Top Cow booth (#304) to meet their favorite creators, pick up the Emerald City ComiCon convention variant as well as their favorite Top Cow comics.

Top Cow creators who will be exhibiting at Emerald City ComiCon include Ron Marz (Witchblade), Phil Hester (The Darkness), Michael Broussard (The Darkness), William Harms (Impaler), Eric Basaldua (Witchblade Annual) and Joshua Ortega (Necromancer).

This year, Emerald City ComiCon will have available four Top Cow exclusives: an ECCC 2010 limited edition wrap-around variant of Angelus #2 (by Marz and Stjepan Sejic), an ECCC 2010 limited edition variant cover of The Darkness #83 by Whilce Portacio (with interior story by Hester and Broussard), a limited edition Witchblade ECCC print by Broussard and Sunny Gho, and the official ECCC 2010 t-shirt featuring the art of Broussard. The latter two exclusives will be available at the official Emerald City ComiCon booth.

Also available at the Top Cow booth (#304) are free preview books, prizes and other giveaways. Fans interested in sketches from the artists should stop by at the beginning of each day to acquire a sketch ticket.

For more information on the show, please visit www.emeraldcitycomicon.com. You can also receive up-to-date information including an Emerald City ComiCon signing schedule by following Top Cow on Twitter: @TopCow.

Source: CBR

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Comicon.com: Top Cow at ECCC 2010

Official Press Release:

Publisher Returns To The Emerald City With Special Guests, Exclusives And Giveaways

Top Cow Productions, Inc. announced its plans today for this weekend’s Emerald City ComiCon, the Pacific Northwest’s premier comic book and pop culture convention. This year’s Emerald City ComiCon will be held at the Washington State Convention Center on March 13-14, 2010. Fans are encouraged to stop by the Top Cow booth (#304) to meet their favorite creators, pick up the Emerald City ComiCon convention variant as well as their favorite Top Cow comics.

Top Cow creators who will be exhibiting at Emerald City ComiCon include Ron Marz (Witchblade), Phil Hester (The Darkness), Michael Broussard (The Darkness), William Harms (Impaler), Eric Basaldua (Witchblade Annual) and Joshua Ortega (Necromancer).

This year, Emerald City ComiCon will have available four Top Cow exclusives: an ECCC 2010 limited edition wrap-around variant of Angelus #2 (by Marz and Stjepan Sejic), an ECCC 2010 limited edition variant cover of The Darkness #83 by Whilce Portacio (with interior story by Hester and Broussard), a limited edition Witchblade ECCC print by Broussard and Sunny Gho, and the official ECCC 2010 t-shirt featuring the art of Broussard. The latter two exclusives will be available at the official Emerald City ComiCon booth.

Also available at the Top Cow booth (#304) are free preview books, prizes and other giveaways. Fans interested in sketches from the artists should stop by at the beginning of each day to acquire a sketch ticket.

For more information on the show, please visit www.emeraldcitycomicon.com. You can also receive up-to-date information including an Emerald City ComiCon signing schedule by following Top Cow on Twitter: @TopCow (www.twitter.com/topcow).

Source: Comicon.com Pulse

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Want to Win Copies of Top Cow's Impaler from William Harms?

Yesterday, William Harms posted the following in a forum:

I'm the writer of Impaler, an acclaimed vampire series published by Top Cow. Since we're nearing the end of the second story arc (which culminates with a double-sized issue), I thought I'd offer five people the chance to win copies of Impaler # 1 through # 4, all signed by yours truly. I'll choose the five people at random, so if you're interested, please reply below.

If you end up getting one of the free sets, and you like the book, all we ask is that you help us get out the word on it. Tell your friends, your comic shop, hell, come back here and post about it. I'll pick the winners in about a week.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Impaler, it's about Vlad Tepes, the "historical" Dracula. Only in Impaler, he's the ultimate vampire hunter. The art is by British artist Matt Timson, and I've put a sample page below.

The first issue is also available via Newsarama.

Source: 606studios

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Imapler Writer William Harms Gets IGN's Best of 2009 Nod

IGN recently announced the winners of their Best of 2009 Awards this week.

Top Cow's very own Impaler writer William Harms' inFamous received Best Story for their PS3 Awards.

The sandbox game has been aching for a decent superhero story, and in 2009, Sucker Punch delivered an outstanding one with Infamous. A bomb has gone off in Empire City; it's killed thousands, given you superpowers, and led to the island's quarantine. Do you save the day or rule what's left?

READ MORE.

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Project Fanboy reviews Impaler #4

Impaler is one of those high concept books that runs the risk of settling to the bottom of the stack. A book about vampires by a team that I’m not really familiar with… I don’t know. But, Matt Timson’s art style brings this dreary realism that immediately haunts the reader. Somehow, Timson is able to cast a heavy dark mood and a feeling that the world is eroding while providing a bright, sympathetic clarity to potential victims of this catastrophe.

READ MORE.

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Pendragon's Post reviews Impaler #4

Were you ever afraid of the dark? I know I was. As a child, be it the deep black of night or just the dusty dark of a shadowy hallway, I always felt terror. Even now as an adult, I can’t help but think twice about trekking into areas where I cannot see. Perhaps now it is even worse, for even though my minds logic tells me my fears are unwarranted, my imagination can’t help but run away with itself.

READ MORE.

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