The Bum’s Rush #86

WARNING! None of the news or rumors you see here in The Bum’s Rush should be considered FACT until it actually happens. It might never happen. How do you know I’m not just making all this crap up? I could, you know. You’ve been warned!


You, Sir Are Worse Than Hitler

I do an awful lot of lying to you guys in this column. But it’s not at all intentional, believe me! Except when it is. And they it’s for entertainment purposes and I know you laughed about it so don’t you judge me you sonnuva… wha… what was I talking about? Oh yeah, lying. To you. Again.

So yeah, this week was supposed to be part one of a three part series on the best comics of the year. Only now it’s not. See, trying to figure out my favorite comics, writers, artists and comic related injuries (oh, there I go lying again) of 2006 is no easy task. Especially not this year, a year that I felt was sorely lacking in really great comics. Not to mention my own dwindling interest in the mainstream and my desperate attempts to actually get excited about reading comics again, both of which greatly impede my ability to state that anything was really the “best of the year”.

But never fear because I actually do have a working list, which is at this point mostly filled out. And I’m pretty happy with it. There was more good stuff this year than I thought. Some really good stuff. So tune in next week for the first of a two-part series on the best comics of 2006! Would I lie to you?


Run-Run-Run-Run-Runaway

Over on his blog Humberto Ramos revealed a number of character sketches of the main characters from Brian K. Vaughn’s Runaways. Apparently these sketches were in preparation for a run Ramos was supposed to do on that book. Was Ramos the original artist picked to take over the book with writer Joss Whedon after Vaughn and current artist Arian Alphona depart with issue #24? Or was going to rotate arcs with the book’s official new artist Michael Ryan? I guess we’ll never know now as Ramos was moved from Runaways over to X-Men where he’ll be filling in for Chris Bachalo for three issues, starting with issue #194.   Click on an image to view full size in a new window

                              

However, according to the March 2007 solicitations released by Marvel this week Ramos will still be doing some Runaways work via the Runaways Saga, a 48-page one-shot which recaps the entire series to date and features an original story bookending the recap, written by C.B. Cebulski and drawn by Ramos. And yet as cool as it would be to see Ramos’ take on the Runaways I can’t see myself shelling out four bucks for yet another Marvel “special” featuring a ton of reprinted material and a few new pages of thrown in to trick the reader into thinking it’s a new book.

Despite looking, for the most part, like a massive waste of paper the Runaways Saga is a good sign as it’s most likely a precursor to the return of the Runaways ongoing under the guidance of the aforementioned Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan. I’m totally psyched about these guys taking over the book, especially Whedon. He’s the perfect choice for a book that has consistently been one of my favorite ongoing series since its debut in 2003 and a natural successor to Brian K. Vaughn, one of the most talented writers in the industry right now. So look for Runaways #25 to debut some time in April 2007. Unless they do something stupid like relaunch the series… again. Which they probably will in which case look for Runaways Vol. 3 #1 to debut some time in April 2007 instead.


Fruity Oaty Bars! Make a man out of a mouse! Fruity Oaty Bars! Make you bust out of your blouse! Eat them all the time! Let them blow your mind... ohh! Fruity Oaty Bars!

In other Joss Whedon news, in a recent interview on Fanboy Radio the writer/director confirmed that he and Brett Matthews are working on new three-issue Serenity/Firefly comic entitled Better Days. The series may or may not come out early next year and most likely depends on Whedon’s schedule. No word on whether or not the comic will take place before or after the events of the Serenity movie.


He Has Eaten The Pancake, He Will Never Come Back To Us Now

Upon visiting the Hellboy website () the other day I happened across a veritable cornucopia of information on upcoming Hellboy-related projects. And this being the holiday season and me being such a generous spirit I've decided to bestow this awesome knowledge upon you, the gentle reader. Please to enjoy:

The next BPRD mini-series, The Garden of Souls by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis is scheduled for release in March 2007. The story centers on Abe Sapien as he deals with the secrets of his past life.  Click on image to view full size in a new window



Hellboy: Darkness Calls by Mignola and Duncan Fegredo is scheduled for April 2007.

Mignola is writing a 5-issue Abe Sapien mini-series, which details Abe’s first case without Hellboy as he encounters the corpse of a vampire trapped on a 100-year old shipwreck. Jason Alexander will draw the series.  Click on an image to view full size in a new window



Other forthcoming comics include a Lobster Johnson mini-series and a new BPRD series exploring the history of the organization.


The Future Looks Blight

One of my favorite mini-series from a few years ago was Top Cow’s The Agency by Paul Jenkins and Kyle Hotz. Taking place in a rather… unpleasant future where law enforcement is now a profitable business, the series followed a security-for-hire group as they tracked down a vicious serial killer. The story was a dark, nasty and at times hilarious action thriller the likes of which I’ve never seen, before or since. And Kyle Hotz’ artwork on the series was phenomenal, just as dark and nasty and exciting as the story itself.

Why in the world am I singing praises about a 5-year old comic? Because Top Cow is finally putting out a collection of the six-issue mini in February 2007! The trade will also feature a number of extras including character designs and page layouts. And hey, if you don’t believe me when I tell you how great The Agency is (I don’t know why you wouldn’t, have I ever lied to you?) then you can check out the entire first issue for yourself RIGHT HERE!

You’re welcome.


Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na Bat Lash!

In a recent interview with Wordballoon DC Comics Executive Editor, Dan Didio revealed that a new western series, Bat Lash was in the works. Sheldon Meyer and Sergio Aragonés created Bat Lash in 1968 in response to the popularity of Westerns at the time and DC’s own desire to branch out. The character was unlike most western heroes in that he tasteful, peaceful man who just happened to be an excellent shot. Following his first appearance in Showcase #76 Lash received his own series, which lasted a mere 8 issues. Bat Lash has made several appearances in the DCU since the end of his series, most recently in Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray’s Jonah Hex series.

But why should you care about a new western series featuring a character you’ve probably never even heard of? Because the series itself will be drawn by one of the best artists in the industry, the living legend, John Severin! At 85 Severin is still drawing some damn fine looking comics such as Desperadoes: Quite of the Grave, Punisher: The Tyger, Caper and the controversial Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather mini-series published by Marvel’s mature readers imprint, MAX in 2003. The guy has become one of my favorite comic book artists of all time and I get pretty damn thrilled whenever I he’s mentioned in connection to any upcoming project. So it’s a pretty safe bet that Bat Lash is going to be at the top of my pull list whenever it hits the stands.

Didio also said that Bat Lash’s co-creator Sergio Aragonés would plot the series. Whether or not this means that the series will have a regular writer to adapt Aragonés’ plots was not addressed. It’s also unclear whether or not the series will be finite or ongoing and exactly when the series is supposed to hit the shelves. Whatever the case may be I know I’ll be anxiously waiting to find out. Severin, baby!!! WHOO!

That Time Of The Month

DC Comics Solicitations for March 2007

Marvel Comics Solicitations for March 2007

Dark Horse Comics Solicitations for March 2007


In Case You Didn’t Know…

This is an example of really bad cover art:
Click on an image to view full size in a new window

I
Apparently Salvador Larroca’s new approach to drawing is to suck really hard.


The Only Comics That Matter

Last Week –
Doctor Strange: The Oath #3 by Brian K. Vaughn & Marcos Martin
Invincible #37 by Robert Kirkman & Ryan Ottley

This Week –
The Spirit #1 by Darwyn Cooke & J. Bone
Stormwatch: PHD #2 by Christos N. Gage & Doug Mahnke
X-Factor #14 by Peter David & Pablo Raimondi

Next Week –
Criminal #3 by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips
New Avengers: Illuminati #1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Reed & Jim Cheung
Punisher #42 by Garth Ennis & Leandro Fernandez




If you have any interesting news, rumors, lies, etc. about comics and think I should know about it too just email me at thesuperleezard@yahoo.com.

Read more dumb crap written by me at www.livejournal.com/users/superleezard.
 

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