Marvel Heats up Fight with Kirby Family, Seeks to Retain Copyrights
Iconic artist Jack Kirby certainly contributed to some of the most famous battles, scenes and story arcs in comic book history through his storytelling and distinct artwork, but perhaps even he couldn’t imagine the epic battle that’s about to be waged between members of his estate and Marvel Comics! Several months ago, the members of Jack Kirby’s estate served Marvel with notices of copyright termination, stating their intent to reclaim the rights to characters such as The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Spider-Man and The Avengers. Current law permits creators to seek to reclaim rights to their work after a period of waiting over several years. Read more
Comic Book Highs, Lows, Misses and More for 2009!
Get out the champagne, party horns and confetti! The new year is soon upon us, and like most other people who are out there reflecting on the year that was, we’re taking stock of the triumphs, the tragedies, the highs and the lows. Of course there are those “did that just happen” moments as well, just to keep things interesting. Let’s take a trip back over the past twelve months, shall we, to see the highs, lows and wth’s over this year in comics, using our own unique system of categories, labels and examples! Read more
Stan Lee Writes Story For 2009 Marvel Digital Holiday Special
It’s always special when comic book legend Stan Lee writes a story, and with that in mind, we’ve got some good holiday news. Stan Lee will be making his Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited exclusive debut with a special Fantastic Four story in the 2009 Marvel Digital Holiday Special.
The 2009 Marvel Digital Holiday Special is an exclusive, four-part comic available only at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Stan Lee’s Fantastic Four story will be called Marvel Digital Holiday Special: Rock of Ages and have art by Nick Dragotta.
In the story, The Thing will teach the rest of Marvel’s First Family all about Chanukah, and in turn, they impart some lessons of their own on some would-be street toughs. There will also be an art cameo by Lee’s Fantastic Four co-creator Jack Kirby.
Jack Kirby’s Family Seeks to Reclaim Rights From Disney, Marvel
Acclaimed comic book artist Jack Kirby was responsible for co-creating some of the most memorable characters in comic book history, as well as illustrating some of its iconic and classic battles. Now, Kirby’s children are possibly creating an epic battle of their own. According to the L.A. Times, the late Kirby’s four children have filed what has been referred to as “notice of copyright termination” for 45 characters to companies such as Marvel Entertainment, Disney, Universal Pictures, the owners of Hulk distribution rights, and 20th Century Fox, owners of the movie rights to distribute X-Men and Fantastic Four films. Read more
Comic Book Previews for August 26th, 2009
The kids back in school this week aren’t the only ones starting a new term and a new direction, as this Wednesday gives us the highly anticipated debut of the Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham creative team behind The Fantastic Four with issue 570. A new story arc also begins in Secret Warriors #7, as the Dark Avengers, Thunderbolts and Nick Fury’s Secret Warriors find themselves on a collision course, with Ares’ son the prize! New Avengers #56 promises some shocking action, as the events of the previous issue unfold with several heroes having their power drained. The Incredible Hulk #601 sees the return of the recurring title with a new world for Bruce Banner and company. Dark X-Men: The Beginning wraps up with issue three, bringing to a close the origin of this deceptive, Emma Frost-led team. Read more
My Marvel Memories: A Personal Reflection on Marvel’s 70th Birthday
One of the things my late grandfather was always lamenting to me was his treatment of comic books when he was a youngster in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. I started collecting comic books when I was in high school, the mid-1990’s, and my grandfather was always quick to tell me about how they used to be a dime, how he couldn’t believe he got rid of them, and of how they burned so many of them for warmth or used them for various bodily functions and household cleaning.
I know for a fact, based on his observations, that several of those long-lost comics came from Marvel, then known as Timely Comics. The comic book collector/reader/writer I am today cringes when I think of all those lost gems and characters and my grandfather’s memories of them, but I know, on this 70th birthday of Marvel’s, that I will have plenty of my own memories for years to come. Read more
Comic Book Releases for August 5th, 2009
August is here! This first week of our eighth month has lots of comic book action and goodness, so hold on, here we go!
Marvel releases several big issues this week, with Captain America: Reborn #2 continuing the surprising events and twists from Captain America #600 and Reborn #1. Ultimatum’s finale sees the release of two one shots, wrapping up the stories of the Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four in two separate Requiems. Black Panther kicks off it’s second arc with issue seven, and expect an interesting run on the limited series Ghost Rider: Heavens Fire, which starts this week as well. Luke Cage is given an interesting solo story in the creative Luke Cage Noir #1, which sees the hero back home in the Prohibition era! Read more
Fantastic Four 569 Finally Delivers on the Action
As Mark Millar concludes his run on Marvel’s Fantastic Four, the next creative team of writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Dale Eaglesham is waiting in the wings to take the series in a new direction. Millar’s run on the series has been an interesting one, with a few hits and an equal amount of misses as the narratives have spanned universes and timelines, and now this final issue in the current storyline, Doom’s Master, is here with issue 569. This plus-sized issue promises us a conclusion to the FF’s showdown with the Marquis of Death and the wedding of Ben Grimm! Overall this issue finally delivers on this arc’s narrative promise and clears the slate for Hickman. Read more
Comic Book Releases for July 29, 2009
Well kids of all ages, the final days of July are upon us, and as we turn to our final vacations, cookouts and day trips before the children head back to school and the final heat waves hit us, it’s time to celebrate the last week of this month with some comic book happenings for July 29th, 2009! Mystery, terror and lots more await us! Let’s dive right in! Read more
Can Someone Please Save the Fantastic Four?!
Marvel’s first family has taken many beatings over the years. They’ve faced down Doctor Doom, the Frightful Four, Klaw, the Mad Thinker, Namor and a host of others in their over forty year history, and while the lineup has changed some over the years, most recently when Storm and Black Panther filled in for Sue and Reed, the original adventurers have remained the core team, and one of Marvel’s most recognizable and exciting franchises, always central to some of Marvel’s biggest story arcs over the years.
Until recently. Read more
