Parody has spawned some successful properties, for example, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Lorna is a Trailer Trash Tomb Raider Parody, and it wholeheartedly owns up to this fact, with tongue firmly planted in cheek. But, does this One Shot of Lorna become a National Treasure? Or is it a Temple of Doom?
Note: This book arrives March 23, 2011, so SPOILERS AHEAD!
Diamond Comic Distributors has announced that this year’s Free Comic Book Day T-shirt will be done by Darwyn Cooke.
“This year’s shirt is truly a wearable piece of art!” commented FCBD spokesperson Leslie Jackson. “We think Darwyn has done a beautiful job of celebrating comic book shops and Free Comic Book Day. A special thanks also goes out to the folks at DC, for allowing the use of their iconic characters in the design.”
The shirt will be available in orange, denim blue, and black with sizes small through double extra large and can be pre-ordered now.
I was completely blown away by Darwyn Cooke’s first adaptation of Richard Stark’s Parker novel, and I’m really excited to get The Outfit when it arrives in stores this October. The first book featured a blue-tone throughout the book, and with the cover of The Outfit getting all done up in red, I wonder if each book will see a particular monochromatic color scheme.
The complete press release about the book, after the jump.
Press Release
On Saturday, January 30th at 4 PM, award-winning creator Darwyn Cooke will read from his much-lauded graphic novel, The Hunter, which is based on the groundbreaking Richard Stark (a.k.a Donald Westlake) novel, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. One of the most acclaimed books of 2009, The Hunter has been included on over 50 “best of†lists, including NPR, Publisher’s Weekly, and Aint it Cool News. Cooke’s defining work has also been named best graphic novel of 2009 by over 15 outlets, such as The Village Voice, IGN and MTV.
Cooke will read from Stark’s novel while presenting images from his adaptation, demonstrating how creatively and accurately he interpreted Stark’s tale. A limited number of tickets are available for this exclusive event through the Museum.
Or – “Fifty Issue, Fifty Graves…”
I’m actually remarkably impressed at the longevity of this book in a climate where even superhero titles are tanking with regularity. It’s most assuredly not just a “superhero with guns instead of capes” title, focusing on a protagonist who doesn’t even like HIMSELF, and a rotating cast of misfits, rogues and malcontents who don’t really like him either. This issue marks an important milestone for Jonah Hex, both for the title and for the man himself…Â
This week on the Major Spoilers Podcast, the gang takes a look at Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s Parker character in Parker: The Hunter.
The Hunter, the first book in the Parker series, is the story of a man who hits New York head-on like a shotgun blast to the chest. Betrayed by the woman he loved and double-crossed by his partner in crime, Parker makes his way cross-country with only one thought burning in his mind – to coldly exact his revenge and reclaim what was taken from him! Richard (Donald Westlake) Stark’s groundbreaking Parker books are adapted for the first time as a series of graphic novels by Darwyn Cooke. The initial graphic novel brings to life the first Parker book, The Hunter, which introduces readers to the dangerous anti-hero’s cold and calculated world of criminals, thugs, and grifters.
As always, the Major Spoilers Podcast is nothing without comments from great readers and listeners like you. You can use the comment section below, drop us a voice mail by calling (785) 727-1939, or record your comments and send it as an MP3 file in an email to podcast@majorspoilers.com.
Here’s your chance to be heard on the show! Give us your thoughts on this trade paperback, or if you want to share your thoughts on the state of the comic book industry, or anything else that might be on your mind drop us a line. Only the most awesome comments (good or bad) make it on the show, so get your stuff to us right away!
(Click for 1012 x 1500 image)
Anyone get a chance to read Parker since its release last week? I have it sitting here, but have been quite swamped with comic convention coverage, and other work stuff to dive into it.
Press Release
In its first week of release, IDW is proud to announce that Darwyn Cooke’s The Hunter, an adaptation of Richard Stark’s novel, debuted on The New York Times best seller list at number three. The Hunter has earned high praise for Cooke’s compelling interpretation of Parker, and has been critically lauded nationwide by The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly.
Darwyn Cooke, the Eisner Award-winning writer and artist of such classics as DC: The New Frontier, Selina’s Big Score, and The Spirit, brings to life one of the true classics of crime fiction: Richard Stark’s Parker. Stark was a pseudonym used by the revered and multi-award-winning author, Donald Westlake.
The Hunter, the first book in the Parker series, is the story of a man who hits New York head-on like a shotgun blast to the chest. Betrayed by the woman he loved and double-crossed by his partner in crime, Parker makes his way cross-country with only the thought of revenge burning in his mind.
IDW Publishing has its own take on zombie, but sending them to an island resort and letting all Hell break loose. The Last Resort arrives from the company in July and is written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray with cover art by Darwyn Cooke, and illustrated by Giancarlo Caracuzzo.
Jimmy Palmiotti commented, “The Last Resort is just what I want after months of super hero comics. I want my comics: R-rated; I want my sexy broads topless and I want our characters to be regular Joes that will just about do any atrocious thing to stay live. The great thing about working with IDW is that, unlike most companies, they let us write whatever we want, and we went nuts with this book.â€
Being familiar with the work of Palmiotti and Gray, I’m interested in seeing what they can do with a story that doesn’t feature a large chested female superhero beating the crap out of everything and everyone. Check out the sneak peek at the company website to see what is in store for readers this July.
I love well produced indie films – especially when they are episodic, as it gives me more time to enjoy the work, and share it with the rest of the world. This trailer combines the best of 50′s sci-fi with a noir feel, and best of all A BRAIN IN A JAR!
More info at The Mercury Men website, include a very awesome poster that reminds me a lot of Darwyn Cooke’s New Frontier (or Saul Bass posters from the 60′s). Too bad we have to wait until the fall to see the whole thing.
Press Release
The highly anticipated final issue of 100 BULLETS (Vertigo / 48 pages / color / $4.99) by Chicago writer Brian Azzarello (Joker) and Argentinean artist Eduardo Risso hits stores April 15th. Nearly a decade in the making, 100 BULLETS is one of the longest running comic book series to be produced, without interruption, by the same writer, artist and cover artist, Dave Johnson.
This Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic book series has garnered significant critical acclaim from the literati, artists, crime publications and the comic trade press alike. It has also found high profile fans in comic superstars Jim Steranko, Howard Chaykin, Jim Lee, and Darwyn Cooke, novelists Greg Rucka and Jason Starr, and Tom Fontana, writer for HBO’s OZ.
Image Comics has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in March 2009. Among the list of items to check out includes the awesome four panel cover to Invincible #60, and Madman Atomic Comics featuring artwork by Darwyn Cooke.
Press Release
26 November 2008 (Berkeley, CA) – This February, after over a year in the making, Image Comics will debut JERSEY GODS, the superhero epic by THE GRAY AREA writer Glen Brunswick and DOCTOR WHO artist Dan McDaid.
“JERSEY GODS represents a lifetime spent dreaming of superheroes,” said Brunswick. “Ever since I was young, the seeds of what would become JERSEY GODS were kicking around. JERSEY GODS is to me what SAVAGE DRAGON is for Erik Larsen or INVINCIBLE is for Robert Kirkman – it’s the superhero series I want to tell without an end; one I hope will keep readers coming back for years and years to come. Working with an artist as talented and versatile as Dan makes this a real dream come true.”
As originally previewed in Robert Kirkman’s INVINCIBLE, JERSEY GODS stars Barock, a superhero from another planet, and Zoe, a high maintenance Jersey girl, soon after they’re married. However, it’s only a matter of time before Barock’s previous life threatens to tear their world apart. Each issue of JERSEY GODS features covers by some of comics hottest names, including MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS’s Mike Allred, DC: NEW FRONTIER’s Darwyn Cooke, HEAVY LIQUID’s Paul Pope and SAVAGE DRAGON’s Erik Larsen with many more to come. A limited-edition variant by McDaid is also available.
JERSEY GODS #1 (DEC082237), a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be available February 4th, 2009.