News

For a group of con men and a descendant of Van Helsing, robbing Dracula's castle could be the score they need to be set for life, but things get complicated when vampires stand in their way of a big payday in Stephan Franck's graphic novel series Silver. With Dark Planet Comics launching a Kickstarter campaign for Silver Volume 3, we had the chance to catch up with Franck for our latest Q&A feature to discuss the influences of Bram Stoker's Dracula on his work, what readers can expect to see in Volume 3, and much more.

Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us today, Stephan. When and how did you first come up with the idea for Silver?

Stephan Franck: It’s my pleasure, thank you for having me. Two of my greatest fascinations in story have always been vampires and conmen, and this notion...

Comic Book Reviews: Marvel Round-Up Week 07-20-2016

After a nice vacation overseas, I’ve returned to see how much has Civil War II invaded the nice worlds of my favorite comic book series! In some cases it’s bad! And in others, not so bad. Regardless, I know a bunch of big changes are coming to the Marvel U, and Civil War II is just the tip of the iceberg. So sit back, read some reviews and see if anything strikes your fancy this week!

A-Force #7

Story: Kelly Thompson Art: Ben Caldwell, Scott Hanna Colors: Ian Herring

Review: We are finally getting the wrap up issue of the Countess Saga! Not an official name, just what I’m calling it. For the past several issues, we’ve seen the team completely fail to stop the Villainess and become powerless to the mind controlled Nico. Well no more! Kelly...

Even though it’s Independence Day today, I am going to talk about Flag Day. It was a couple of weeks ago, and on that day Geek Culture paused to remember the passing of a favorite son. It was a day to celebrate the legacy of Mark Gruenwald, taken away too early twenty years ago. And for a guy who loved Captain America, it was fitting that his birthday was on Flag Day.

Catherine Schuller organized a wonderful tribute to her late husband celebrating the passion and humor with which he lived his life. By just looking at the crowd in the funky New York City club where it was held, you could tell his passion was infectious and long lasting.

My first exposure to Mark Gruenwald came from his visionary fanzine. Omniverse was published long before the Internet provided an infinite number of virtual spots for fans to gather...

Matthew Weiner has always been more comfortable talking about the past of “Mad Men” rather than letting anyone know anything about the future — even when that future is only seven episodes long, starting Sunday, April 5 at 10 p.m. Having spent enough time over the years asking Weiner questions that he responded to with a very guarded, “Well, you’ve got to watch,” I knew enough to focus as much on the past as possible when we recently sat down for an hour-long interview to discuss the end of his Emmy-winning baby. We talked about the last days of production, looked back all the way to the show’s origins when Weiner was a staff writer on “Becker” looking for a different kind of career in television, the show’s long acting Emmy drought, and more. And I made it almost to the end without a single “You’ve got to watch.

Moon Knight #13

Written by Cullen Bunn

Pencils by Ron Ackins; Inks by Tom Palmer, Walden Wong, & Victor Olazaba

Colors by Dan Brown

Published by Marvel Comics

A latest “arc” of Moon Knight begins with the new creative team of Cullen Bunn and Ron Ackins. The title is quite a strange one. Given the majority of the big two’s output is overpopulated with comics deliberately written to fit into a six issue trade paperbacks a regular series from Marvel comprised of self-contained stories and only the barest of inter-issue continuity is nearly alien. While trying to follow up from the excellent run by Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey is quite the Herculean feat but it’s safe to say the team is more than qualified for the task.

Bunn does a masterful job to match the haunting howling mood set the previous writers but also makes it his own. The...

Rowan Atkinson is to appear in the next series of Horrible Histories.

The Blackadder star will feature in the upcoming sixth series of the BBC's historical comedy children's show, playing Henry VIII.

Ben Miller will also appear in the series as King John, while Kevin Eldon will play William the Conqueror. Sanjeev Bhaskar will also feature in an unconfirmed cameo role.

Lorna Watson and Kathryn Drysdale will have roles as Boudicca and Cleopatra during the series, which will also focus on historical figures such as George III, Napoleon and Winston Churchill.

Meanwhile, series regulars Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby and Sarah Hadland will continue to feature.

Jessica Ransom, Adam Riches, Naz Osmanoglu, Jalaal Hartley, Louise Ford, Natalie Walter, Tom Stourton and Tom Palmer (Totally Tom) complete the lineup.

Cbbc controller Cheryl Taylor said: "Horrible Histories has a well-earned reputation as one of the most popular TV shows of a generation, delighting children and adults alike.

Angela: Asgard’s Assassin #1

Written by Kieron Gillen and Marguerite Bennett

Pencilled by Phil Jimenez; Art by Stephanie Hans

Inked by Tom Palmer

Colors by Romulo Fajardo

Published by Marvel Comics

Originally created by Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane for Spawn, Angela made her first appearance in the Marvel Universe at the end of the Age of Ultron event after a long legal battle. Since then, she has joined the Guardians of the Galaxy and recently found out in Original Sin that she was the long lost daughter of Odin. This made things complicated, and writers Kieron Gillen and Marguerite Bennett along with an All-Star art team including former Wonder Woman penciller Phil Jimenez, veteran Marvel inker Tom Palmer, and French painter Stephanie Hans explore what makes this angel tick in Angela #1. Jimenez continues his tradition of drawing strong, beautiful women and has a knack for using different panel layouts...

Marvel has revealed that actor Patrick Brennan will soon be appearing on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” where he’ll be taking up the role of Marcus Daniels, better known to comic book fans as Blackout! Brennan has confirmed that he’s signed for at least two episodes of the ABC series beginning with the 18th episode, “Providence” as well as the followup episode.

Cover of Nova #19

Originally created by Marv Wolfman, Carmine Infantino and Tom Palmer, the character first appeared as a villain of Nova in “Nova” #19 released back in 1978. Much like his comic book counterpart who can create constructs, energy blasts and portals due to his manipulation of energy from the Dark Force dimension, his “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” character will have the ability to absorb energy from anything standing nearby.

While speaking with Marvel.com, Brennan discussed the introduction of his character on the series, saying “When you first see...

(Cbr) Marvel.com reports another new face is set to appear on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." in upcoming episode "Providence": "The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn, Part 2" actor Patrick Brennan has been cast the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Marcus Daniels, also known as the Marvel Comics villain Blackout. Created by Marv Wolfan, Carmine Infantino and Tom Palmer, Blackout first appeared in "Nova" #19 in 1978. While his comic book powers range from darkforce manipulation, energy blasts, portal creation and flight, the "Agents of Shield" version of the character will rather have the ability to suck the energy out of anything around him. "This guy, Marcus Daniels, a.k.a. Blackout, was shrouded in darkness, his soul, everything about him was shrouded in darkness until he comes across this Cello player," Brennan explained to Marvel.com. "And the music was the only light that came into his soul, and it gave him...

Banshee, Season 2: Episode 10 – “Bullets and Tears”

Written by Jonathan Tropper

Directed by Greg Yaitanes

Renewed for a third season to premiere in 2015

In last week’s review, I talked a little bit about how the decision to keep Rabbit around for another season might have been an understandable misstep for the freshman series, Banshee. “Bullets and Tears” makes the best case possible for why Rabbit’s presence this season has at least been important in helping develop the relationship between the man known as Lucas Hood (or Tom Palmer, as he would have been known in another life) and Anastasia. And even though I would have liked to have seen more Proctor or Chayton in the main antagonist roles this season (more on that below), “Bullets and Tears” is about as perfect of an ending to the Rabbit years of Banshee as you could get.

Part of that comes...

30th October & 6th November

Infinity (Jonathan Hickman, Jerome Opeña) reached its penultimate issue this fortnight, which sets the stage its the climax. It’s already been announced that Marvel are launching a new book about the Inhumans next month, so we have an idea of what players will emerge in what kind of world after the events of this cosmic saga. If you’ve been following these posts, you’ll know that I’ve had both positive and confused opinions regarding the mini-series. The Avengers, most of whom are gallivanting in space, fighting back against the Builders’ hostile takeover of the universe, have left earth relatively unprotected. Meanwhile, purple space-bastard Thanos has destroyed the Inhumans’ city Attilan and defeated their king Black Bolt and is now set on finding and killing his son, who is in hiding. We get a kind of unsatisfying answer as to why exactly Thanos wants to do this.

X-Men Battle of the Atom #2

Writer: Jason Aaron

Pencillers: Esad Ribic and Giuseppe Camuncoli

Finishes: Andrew Currie and Tom Palmer

Colorists: Ive Svorcina, Andres Mossa, and Guru eFX

Publisher: Marvel

There are lots of cooks in the Battle of the Atom kitchen which has four epilogues and a total of ten pencillers/inkers/finishers working on the book. However, Jason Aaron is the master chef that gives this event a decent ending with consequences and not just a reset button. He is a great choice to write the conclusion to “Battle of the Atom” because he is the longest tenured X-Men writer and penned the Schism miniseries that started the whole Cyclops vs. Wolverine mess. X-Men: Battle of the Atom #2 does a great job tying up the storyline Aaron has been working on since Schism and also solves some the time travel dilemmas that Brian Michael Bendis introduced in All-New...

by Brett White

Wednesday is new comic book day, which also means it's new potential-movie-source-material day. Here are all of the comics and collections out today starring the comic book characters from the movies and television shows of today, tomorrow and yesterday.

Of particular note this week: catch up with Walt Simonson's classic run on Thor with a new trade paperback, prep for Marvel's next big event with Avengers #17, and find out more about the Anti-Batman in Detective Comics!

2013 Movies

("Iron Man 3" "Man of Steel" "The Wolverine" "Kick-Ass 2" "Thor: The Dark World")

» Action Comics #23

Written by: Scott Lobdell, Backup Written by: Frank Hannah, Art by: Tyler Kirkham, Backup Art by: Philip Tan, Jonathan Glapion

» Iron Man #14

Story By Kieron Gillen, Art By Greg Land, Jay Leisten, Colors By Guru-eFX

» Kick-ass 3 #2

Story By Mark Millar, Art By John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer, Colors By Dean White, Letters...

by Brett White

Wednesday is new comic book day, which also means it's new potential-movie-source-material day. Here are all of the comics and collections out today starring the comic book characters from the movies and television shows of today, tomorrow and yesterday.

Of particular note this week: Scott Snyder and Jim Lee's epic continues in Superman: Unchained #2, the latest Wolverine storyarc comes to a big conclusion, and S.H.I.E.D. starts a new mission in Secret Avengers #6.

2013 Movies

("Iron Man 3" "Man of Steel" "The Wolverine" "Kick-Ass 2" "Thor: The Dark World")

» Superman Unchained #2

Written by Scott Snyder, art by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, backup art by Dustin Nguyen

» Wolverine #6 (pictured above)

Story by Paul Cornell, art by Mirco Pierfederici, Tom Palmer, colors by Andres Mossa

2014 Movies

("Captain America: The Winter Soldier" "X-Men: Days of Future Past" "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" "Guardians of the Galaxy")

» Astonishing X-men #64

Story by Marjorie Liu,...

After months of confusing bait ‘n’ switches, time travel anachronisms, and numerous (and it turns out, pointless) superhero deaths, we come to the finale of Marvel’s latest Event with Age of Ultron #10.

Before getting into the issue proper, I’ll say that the way Marvel have hit all of their deadlines on the numerous comics this Event has had in the tight timeframe they gave it, is impressive. Marvel waited until all of the issues had been drawn before they began releasing them and I think all future Events should be done like this – 4 months, knock ‘em out, get it done, no more year-long story arcs or prolonged releases because of missed deadlines. This is the winning formula – publishing-wise that is.

Marvel touts Age of Ultron #10 as so packed with surprises that they published all of the comics in individual black plastic wraparound covers so no-one could casually pick...

Ok, folks. It’s official. The zombie thing has gone on way too long. Time to stomp them back into the ground and move on.

Truth be told, and with all due respect to George Romero and Robert Kirkman, I was never much of a zombie fan. There’s not a lot you can do with the buggers, and even by stretching the rules and applying our contemporary wussification of the monster legends… there’s still not that much you can do with them.

There have been zombie stories that I’ve enjoyed, particularly Stan Lee and Bill Everett’s classic “Zombie!” from Menace #5, July 1953. Twenty years later this inspired something of a revival with Marvel’s black-and-white magazine Tales of the Zombie. Or, in other words, it took two decades and the combined talents of Roy Thomas, Steve Gerber, John Buscema and Tom Palmer to finally come up with a worthy sequel.

by Brett White

Wednesday is new comic book day, which also means it's new potential-movie-source-material day. Here are all of the comics and collections out today starring the comic book characters from the movies and television shows of today, tomorrow and yesterday.

Of particular note this week: jump on a brand new arc with "Astonishing X-Men" #62, continue having adventures in Smallville with "Smallville: Season 11" #13, and fill the "Walking Dead" void in your life with issue #110.

2013 Movies

("Iron Man 3" "Man of Steel" "The Wolverine" "Kick-Ass 2" "Thor: The Dark World")

» Iron Man #258.2

Story by David Micheline, art by Dave Ross & Bob Layton

» Thor: God Of Thunder #8

Story by Jason Aaron, art by Esad Ribic

» Wolverine #3 (pictured above)

Story by Paul Cornell, art by Alan Davis & Mark Farmer

2014 Movies

("Captain America: The Winter Soldier" "X-Men: Days of Future Past" "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" "Guardians of the Galaxy")

» Astonishing X-men #62

Story by Marjorie Liu,...

by Brett White

Wednesday is new comic book day, which also means it's new potential-movie-source-material day. Here are all of the comics and collections out today starring the comic book characters from the movies and television shows of today, tomorrow and yesterday.

Of particular note this week: Batman gets a new partner in "Batman and Red Robin #19," a new storyarc starts in "Thor: God of Thunder" #7 and "The Walking Dead" #109 comes along to fill the gap left by the television show.

2013 Movies

("Iron Man 3" "Man of Steel" "The Wolverine" "Kick-Ass 2" "Thor: The Dark World")

» Essential Iron Man Vol. 5 paperback

Collecting Iron Man (1968) #62-87, Iron Man Annual #3

» Thor: God Of Thunder #7

Story by Jason Aaron, art by Esad Ribic

» Wolverine #2

Story by Paul Cornell, art by Alan Davis & Mark Farmer, colors by Matt Hollingsworth

» Wolverine: Covenant paperback

Story by Cullen Bunn, art by Paul Pelletier

2014 Movies

("Captain America: The Winter Soldier...

Sean Howe shows us proof that Marvel sold original artwork instead of returning it to the artists, or compensating them in any way.

Marvel began returning current pages to artists sometime in 1974, and eventually worked retroactively back a few months, to comics cover-dated from January 1974; among the earliest issues from which art was sent back were Avengers #119 and Amazing Spider-Man #128.

But a year earlier, Marvel sold the covers to these issues, cover-dated January 1973, to the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Seven covers, plus progressive proofs and color guides for each, for a total of $770.

Back in 1986, Irene Vartanoff (who began managing artwork return in 1975) told The Comics Journal that Marvel would occasionally send artwork to exhibits. But as far as I know, this is the only evidence that exists of Marvel actually accepting money for pages of original art.

It’s unclear if the gallery still possesses the pages; nothing comes up on their inventory database.

Kicking off the new season with our first round of predictions, the action starts with the amazing London double header at Twickenham where last year’s relegation dodgers Wasps take on champs’ Harlequins and Saracens take on London Irish. Let us know your predictions either in the comments below or on Twitter @Ballintouch

For this season on Whatculture, we will be providing previews and predictions for every single Aviva Premiership game. Also watch out for our new “Rugby Round-up” after every weekend’s action to summarise for your convenience what exactly happened.

For Round 1, the fixture generator has already thrown up some interesting match ups. The double header at Twickenham between the London sides will revive some local rivalries whilst the match up of new boys London Welsh against Leicester will be a baptism of fire and put a marker down for how they will fare this season. In another...

• Something terrible is happening in the Gulf of Mexico, building to the biggest Scarlet Spider story yet. • When Houston based mega-corporation Roxxon is attacked, Scarlet Spider finds himself right in the middle of it... defending Roxxon?!? • Plus: Find out as the legendary team of Khoi Pham and Tom Palmer (Daredevil) join Chris Yost for a bold new era of web-spinning excitement in the Mighty Marvel Manner! Click on the preview pages below to view the full-size versions. Scarlet Spider #7 Written by Chris Yost Pencils by Khoi Pham Cover by Ryan Stegman • X-Force land themselves somewhere you’ve never seen them. • A new member joins the team! • Rising star Julian Totino Tedesco (Venom: Circle Of Four, John Carter Gods Of Mars covers) joins the best creative team in comics for two issues! Click on the preview pages below to view the full-size versions. Uncanny X-force #27 Written by Rick Remender Pencils by...

England faces South Africa in the second test of this three game series. After losing last week in Durban, Stuart Lancaster’s men must win on Saturday to draw the series and take it to a winner takes all game next week. Leave your predictions or comments either in the comments below or as always on Twitter @ballintouch

England’s best chance of beating South Africa on this tour was probably last week, at sea level against a side with barely a week’s preparation together and several new caps. The result if you missed it was a narrow 22-17 loss for Stuart Lancaster’s men that showed some encouraging stuff that ultimately fell short.

The next game this Saturday is in Johannesburg at Ellis Park, a stadium renowned for being at altitude and a happy hunting ground for South Africans, especially in 1995. Besides the extra week of getting-to-know-you time...

Having ridden a wave of support since taking charge as caretaker and then full time, the honeymoon period will be well and truly over on Saturday for Stuart Lancaster as he unleashes his young guns on South Africa in Durban for the first Test of the three match series. Let us know your thoughts on the team or predictions for Saturday either in the messages below or on Twitter @ballintouch

For all their hospitality off the pitch,South Africa will be far from welcoming on it. Any fresh faced men in white who pause to take in the moment, be it their first cap or trip to the Southern Hemisphere, will find themselves flattened by a tsunami of South African aggression. If you ain’t local, you’re in trouble.

Counting in England’s favour is that this is Heyneke Meyer’s first game in charge and there are also...

The following is a list of all comic books, graphic novels and special items that will be available this week and shipped to comic book stores who have placed orders for them.

Aazurn Publishing

Indie Comics Magazine #5 (Douglas Paszkiewicz Variant Cover)(not verified by Diamond), Ar

Indie Comics Magazine #5 (Gary Scott Beatty Regular Cover)(not verified by Diamond), $6.49

AC Comics

Crypt Of Horror Volume 14 Tp, $29.95

Action Lab Entertainment

Double Jumpers #1, $3.99

Antarctic Press

Gold Digger #139, $3.99

Steamcraft #1, $3.99

Swimsuit Steampunk #1, $3.99

Ape Entertainment

Caspers Scare School #2 (Of 4), $3.99

Kung Fu Panda #5 (Of 6), $3.99

Mecha-Nation Androidology #2 (Of 3)(resolicited), $3.99

Mecha-Nation Androidology #3 (Of 3)(resolicited), $3.99

Ramiel Wrath Of God #2, $3.99

Archie Comics

Life With Archie #20, $3.99

World Of Archie Double Digest #18, $3.99

Ardden Entertainment

Minx Tp (resolicited), $19.99

Avatar Press

Bleeding Cool Magazine #0, $1.49

Crossed Badlands #7 (Jacen Burrows Regular Cover), $3.99

Crossed Badlands #7 (Jacen Burrows Red Crossed Incentive Cover), $3.80

Crossed Badlands #7 (Gianluca Pagliarani Torture Cover), $3.99

Crossed Badlands #7 (Raulo Caceres Wraparound Cover), $3.99

Dan The Unharmable #2 (Rafael Ortiz...

Ireland travelled to a damp Twickenham as England looked to secure an previously unthinkable runners-up medal with their young and inexperienced side. Let us know your thoughts on the game either in the comments below or on Twitter @BallinTouch

With the destination of the Six Nations Trophy already decided, this was a battle for second place. Like in Cardiff the weather was a bit grim, a sheen of rain lying on the pitch.

The first scrum of the game yielded an immediate penalty for England which Farrell slid over for the three points. It was to be a telling omen for the afternoon.

Ireland’s first chance came after a series of turnovers for both sides ended up in the mitts of Keith Earls, the centre causing the Twickenham crowd to catch their breath with his speed before ignoring the man outside and ending up enveloped in the arms of the covering Ben Foden.

With France on course for a Grand Slam, England travelled to Paris looking to make amends for a narrow loss against Wales in the last round.

With England having made steady progress this tournament, the trip to Paris had been highlighted as the most difficult challenge for Stuart Lancaster’s men in this year’s Six Nations. England started brightly with a break by Lee Dickson, much like Chris Ashton was making last year off the inside shoulder, but there wasn’t the support and the move broke down. An early high, wide and short drop goal from Beauxis when nothing was on gave an indication of what we could expect from the French half backs.

The sight of Dylan Hartley popping up at the first scrum would have worried England scrum coach Graham Rowntree and amissed penalty kick quickly followed by a conceded penalty on the England try line did nothing for English nerves.

England cross the Channel for their fifth game of the tournament as they take on France at the Stade Francais this Sunday at 3pm.

Despite the constant media buzz of speculation over the future of his role as England manager, Stuart Lancaster has insisted it is business as normal and picked the same side that just lost to Wales in the last round as he continued to show faith in a side that sees Lee Dickson, Ben Morgan and Geoff Parling make their second starts, while Farrell continues at fly half.

The loyalty to those players who had served him so well so far this tournament meant that Charlie Hodgson returns to the bench after a hand injury meaning Toby Flood was sent back to his club, much to the consternation of the Tigers coaching staff.

Despite their criticisms, Flood has yet to show sparkling form that could justify a place in the starting xv,...

Ball In Touch: England travelled to a snowy Rome as Italy looked to win for the first time in 18 attempts against the English. Let us know what you thought of the game or anything else either in the comments below or on Twitter @Ballintouch and remember to use our handy beginners A-z guide to rugby, here.

England 2.0’s journey continued in deepest Rome as they came back from behind against Italy on a patchwork quilt of a pitch, as evidence of heavy snows across Europe remained across two thirds of the field.

The cold was no hardship for the home fans filling the Stadio Olimpico. England seemed keen to attack after having seemingly spent 80 minutes defending in Edinburgh last week, a promising early drive failing at the hands of some forwards hanging out on the wing.

Neither side was in any mood to spend too much time standing still, but...

Renowned as launch pad for politicians and TV personalities, the school has found new role as source of acting talent

From Wellington to Gladstone, and Macmillan to Cameron, Eton College has long been a seedbed for British politics and for the diplomatic service. More recently a smattering of television personalities, conductors and Olympic sportsmen have also been able to look back at schooldays spent on the celebrated playing fields. Now though, that famously establishment school near Windsor is increasingly being hailed as a first-rate launch pad for a theatrical career.

Leading Old Etonian actors such as Tom Hiddleston, Harry Lloyd, Eddie Redmayne, Henry Faber and Harry Hadden-Paton are suddenly at the top of the list for casting directors on the most prestigious film and television projects.

This week Hiddleston, star of Steven Spielberg's War Horse, is in Wales filming Sir Richard Eyre's Henry IV, along with Faber and Lloyd,...

The Rfu announced the new England Elite Performance Squad on Wednesday, revealing the names of those expected to take England forward into the Six Nations.

The squad has 15 players who were not in New Zealand, with the older heads of Mike Tindall and Nick Easter failing to make the cut.

Nine players are uncapped, with the likes of Own Farrell and Ben Morgan getting their chance as has been predicted in the media for some weeks now. Four others have one cap to their name, in the form of Mouritz Botha, Charlie Sharples, Chris Robshaw and Joe Simpson.

Other players getting a chance include young Harlequins prop Joe Marler, who is likely to celebrate with a typically outrageous hair style, the perennial nearly man Phil Dowson in the back row, alongside fellow Saint Calum Clark, raising the prospect of a all Northampton Back row with Tom Wood.

Louis Deacon is...

Ball In Touch: The latest edition of WhatCulture’s first regular rugby column by our rugby correspondent, Jeff Ball. With the new England Elite Performance Squad to be announced on Wednesday, we discuss who is likely to be picked.

England Reborn

A new year traditionally is seen as a fresh start, an opportunity to clear out the clutter and begin again. Therefore is it particularly apt England will be naming a new Elite Performance Squad (Eps) for the forthcoming Six Nations with 2012 barely two weeks old.

With what has went before dissipating into the haze of 2011, a wave of mid-season optimism is washing over the England set-up, a curious sensation given it is a feeling normally only seen around clubhouses in the middle of summer as boots are dusted down for the start of pre-season.

The man at the middle of this mood is Stuart Lancaster, king-in-waiting whilst the king...

The Mother****er and his team of Toxic Mega-***** are running rampant through New York City. With his life in shatters and his allies dead or locked away in prison, it falls to Kick-Ass to strike back against the supervillain uprising, with a little help from everyone’s favorite pint-size death-dealer: Hit-Girl. The fight to save NYC from the Mother****er’s masterplan beings here!

Story by: Mark Millar

Art by: John Romita Jr.

Cover by: John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer

Publisher: Icon

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: Wed, December 28th, 2011...

Marvel have unveiled the cover And two awesome new variants covers for Kick-Ass 2 #5, from the team of Mark Millar, John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer and Dean White – including one cover from superstar artist Bryan Hitch colored by Paul Mounts, and a special, and uh-amazing, photo cover that no fans of the series will want to miss!

Clicketh to enlargeth!

Kick-ass 2 #5 (AUG118087)

Kick-ass 2 #5 Hitch Variant (AUG118167)

Kick-ass 2 #5 Photo Variant (AUG118168)

Written by Mark Millar

Pencils and Cover by John Romita Jr.

Inks by Tom Palmer

Colors by Dean White

Variant Cover by Bryan Hitch

Foc – 10/24/11, On Sale – 11/16/11...

The Sidekick Foundation is a new confederacy that seeks to generously aid comics creators in need of financial and medical assistance. Sidekick’s board of directors and advisors consists of established, respected comics professionals who have agreed to support the organization’s initiative which, in its first year, shall be to donate 90% of all generated proceeds directly to those in need.

“Sidekick was established by Clifford Meth, whose work on behalf of comics creators in need is well known,” said Jim Reeber, president of Aardwolf Publishing and Secretary of Sidekick. “By adding the weight of some of the industry’s most respected names to his own, I believe Cliff can help more people than ever before and do so more effectively.”

“I’ve spent the last three years working for well-known charities and non-profits,” said Meth, a former Executive V.P. of Idw Publishing and recent spokesman for Kars4Kids.

With storms forecast and wind swirling around Eden Park in Auckland, it wasn’t just the weather that made this seem like a UK based affair. With the crowd swelled by those who had made the pilgrimage to the other side of the world to see their side, the anthems were belted out with a passion that sent tingles down the spine, the faces of the players showing just how much this game means.

This game was a must win for both teams, despite England being able to qualify with a narrow defeat in a low scoring game. The early exchanges were Tartan in colour, showing determination to play the hard running game the team selection had suggested. Sean Lamont, playing at 12, caused the defence a few early troubles, with England giving away a couple of free kicks at the set piece.

After ten minutes Paterson was giving the opportunity...

A battle of wits developed very early on Saturday, both sides thinking they had the advantage on several occasions. There were several lulls punctuated by sudden bursts of activity. But enough about my battle for supremacy of the snooze feature with my alarm clock, you probably want to know about the rugby.

In the ‘greenhouse’ of the Dunedin stadium, England started brightly against a youthful, and dare I saw raw, Romanian side, Jonny dissecting the posts within a minute with a penalty.

After a brutally honest review, by all accounts, of the disappointing Georgia game, England played with a breath-taking energy for the next five minutes, twice ruined by soft penalties for not securing ruck ball and then a forward pass.

As is typical of such teams, it looked like it was the scrum Romania would put up the biggest challenge. But is was out wide England wanted to play,...

With seven changes to the team that beat Georgia 41-10 last Sunday, all the headlines were on Hrh Mike Tindall, who has been targeted by the media following the release of CCTV footage of him talking to a woman. The fact nothing of note actually happened has been overlooked by the papers, and it’s not something I would expect to affect Tindall’s performance as he replaces Shontayne Hape. Martin Johnson is clever enough not to take the risk if he even thought there was a chance. And who would argue with Johnno? Anyone? Exactly…

In what could be considered close to the first choice Xv, Mark Cueto makes his return for the unfortunate Delon Artmitage. Manu Tuilagi is given another chance to find his feet at the top level at outside centre, and Jonny Wilkinson slots back in to fly-half after an encouraging performance last week from Toby Flood.

As I sat at an hour that time forgot and my shoulders draped in an England flag (thanks 02) doubling as a poor excuse for a duvet, my overwhelming feeling for this game was “please be better England.”

Not “please win”, just better. Why? Well this game, with the greatest respect, was not one that should have been thought of as a ‘maybe’. Admittedly the Georgians have made great strides from World Cup’s of old (anyone remember 85-6 against England in 2003?) and gave the Scots a though time earlier this week, but given our standing in the world game, anything but a ‘W’ would have been unacceptable.

The team selection didn’t give too many surprises. As is the done thing now, the team was rotated wholeheartedly with the Youngs and Flood partnership given the chance to validate a more attractive attacking set up.

An opportunistic early try from Shontayne...

Once again, a look into the future, with some very interesting looks at the past, including the reprinting of a comic that was never released in America in the first place, the infamous Elseworlds 80 Page Giant that was pulped because of concerns about Superman’s babysitter.

And of course, a whole lot of #3 issues, which is traditionally the issue where Spider-Man guest stars.

Shall we? Surely!

As usual, spoilers may lurk beyond this point.

Justice League #3

Written by Geoff Johns

Art and cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams

1:25 Variant cover by Greg Capullo

1:200 B&W Variant cover by Jim Lee

On sale November 16 • 40 pg, Fc, $3.99 Us • Rated T

Combo pack edition: $4.99 Us

Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.

The superstar team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee continue to make history as they unleash the amazing Amazon,...

I’m Baron Fortnightly and these are my recommendations for comics that have shipped in the last two weeks.

Pilot Season: 7 Days From Hell | Image Comics | W: Bryan Edward Hill & Rob Levin | A: Phil Noto

Interesting story about redemption in which an assassin who’s saved from Hell by a female demon/fallen angel who gives him a target to kill every 7 days, if he doesn’t make the deadline he goes back to hell. All done in Noto’s trademark style.

Turf 3 (of 5) | Image Comics | W: Jonathan Ross | A: Tommy Lee Edwards

Less wordy that the first issue, it’s good to see plot threads coming together, especially as there are so many of them – vampires, aliens, mobsters and reporters… oh my, and all drawn by Edwards.

The New Avengers 5 | Marvel | W: Brian Michael Bendis | A: Stuart Immonen

I think there are more word balloons in this issue than...

Marvel Comics is to release a collection of artist Gene Colan’s work in conjunction with charitable organisation the Hero Initiative. The Invincible Gene Colan is a 128-page hardcover release celebrating the illustrator's acclaimed artwork. It also includes analysis from Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, John Romita, Walter Simonson, Neil Gaiman, Tom Spurgeon and Tom Palmer. "As a fiction writer in the early 1990s, I had the profound good fortune of seeing Gene Colan illustrate several of my stories," said book editor Clifford Meth. "Then last year, Gene contacted me with the hopes of finally retiring. That call sparked the genesis of this book. "The Invincible Gene Colan is a lasting and long-overdue tribute to perhaps the greatest master to touch the comic (more)...

When you think of the classic Marvel artists, you think of masters of the medium such as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr, John Buscema, and Gene Colan. No wonder Marvel left all other American comics publishers in the dust.

This coming February, Marvel Entertainment will honor one of those gentlemen by releasing The Invincible Gene Colan, a visual tribute and biography of one of the most brilliant and influential comic artists in the genre's history – and one of the nicest guys on the block. Edited by our pal Clifford Meth, the book includes observations from Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Neil Gaiman, Walter Simonson, Marv Wolfman, Tom Palmer, John Romita Sr., and Tom Spurgeon, as well as tons of Gene's beautiful art.

Aardwolf Publishing will have the exclusive signed-numbered copies as well as the extremely limited double-lettered remarqued, book-plated edition (each containing a unique sketch from the hand of...

Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz have come aboard Fox's Molly Shannon-starring comedy pilot Cracking Up as directors and executive producers. Meanwhile, Adam Bernstein has been tapped to direct CBS' comedy pilot Rubbing Charlie. Cracking Up, from 20th TV and Brad Grey TV, centers on a psychology grad student (Nicolas D'Agosto) who moves into the guest house of a nutty Beverly Hills couple (Shannon, Christopher McDonald). Jay Roach was initially attached to the project as an executive producer/director but later departed because of a scheduling conflict. The Weitz brothers are joining Cracking Up executive producers Mike White, who also wrote the pilot, and Brad Grey. Cracking Up marks the first pilot directing stint for the Weitz brothers, who executive produced the WB Network's comedy Off Centre. Best known as producers of the American Pie movies, the two were nominated for an Oscar this year for their adaptation with Peter Hedges of Nick Hornby's novel About a Boy. Rubbing Charlie, from Big Ticket TV and writer Tom Palmer, is a single-camera comedy starring Scott Wolf as a doctor who spends his time trying to help others but remains uncertain of what he wants out of his own life. Bernstein's single-camera comedy directing credits include NBC's Scrubs, Leap of Faith and Ed.