Just wondering if there's any fellow He-Fans on this board and if you were not only aware of the new He-Man toy line to be released in July, but also of the new cartoon that will air on the Cartoon Network beginning in August. Check out http://www.he-man.org for information and an awesome trailer for the new cartoon. No, I don't work for the site, I'm just a huge fan looking to spread the word on the new line.
They had a huge booth set up at last year's San Diego Comic-Con International. The booth was easily the biggest attraction all four and a half days of the show. They had large maquettes of the new figures and display boxes (including the "gift sets") of the old figures as well. There were also several marathon autograph sessions with the designers and sculptors. It was absolutely crazy.
80s toy/cartoon nostalgia is the big thing right now, especially in the comics industry.
They're publishing the following: (for the love of mike, don't tell me about which of the following "rule" and which don't).
G.I. Joe (with toyline) Transformers (with toyline) Micronauts (with re-released toyline) Battle of the Planets (with toyline) Thundercats (they're hitting the bottom of the barrel already)
Are any of them any good? I seem to remember Transformers getting quite good at one point, when the guy who had done the English comic started doing the 'official' American version and Hasbro had stopped taking any interest in the concept. This was near the end of the title's run when someone used to die pretty much every episode. The old G.I.Joe books used to hold my attention too.
Ahh, this was about 10 years ago, though, so my memory might be a little hazy.
"Nobody enjoys a good time more than I do, but this business of yours is as legitimate as a three-legged donkey...which of course is illegitimate because as we all know donkeys have four legs."
I really really really enjoy the new G.I. Joe book. The new issue's out today. It's published by Image Comics. Licensing Wunderkind Josh Blaylock (who has the best hair in the comics industry -- it's McMahon quality, seriously) and his publishing house Devil's Due Press grabbed the rights from Hasbro and is writing the story. It's been wildly successful.
There's a flash "trailer" up online for the new issue (and there's one for all the past issues, too). Click Here to check it out.
Marvel is also reprinting the old issues in trade paperbacks, ten issues at a time. Vol. 2, oddly enough, is out today (you'd think they were trying to capitalize on the success of the new series or something. lol)
As for Transformers, I was a fan as a kid, but I'm not a fan of the publishing company that snagged the rights for the new comic. I read the first issue and was really unimpressed, partly because of the "manga" style art and mostly because the Transformers appear in roughly 12 panels(!!!) of the book.
Devil's Due also has the Micronauts license. I believe issue one comes out next week. I know they're very excited about that book. It features artist Eric Wolfe Hansen turning in some shockingly good art. Probably the best of his career.
BotP and Thundercats have yet to hit the streets. BotP is being spearheaded by painter extraordinaire Alex Ross, but from what I've seen the book looks like it's Not My Thing.
Thundercats is published by Wildstorm (Jim Lee's former company) and will feature Ed McGunniess on the miniseries and the perpetually late J. Scott Campbell on art chores on issue #0 -- both out in August.
I also understand DC has the He-Man license and isn't afraid to use it.
Edit: I forgot to go into business for myself. I did a two-part interview with the G.I. Joe creative team awhile back. If you're interested, I can post the url to it.
(edited by Papercuts! on 12.6.02 0817) --Jason Baldwin Writer of Stuff About Comic Books
Maybe DC will reprint the DC Comics Presents issue with Supes and He-Man, not to mention the 16-page insert.
Sometime soon, probably in the aformetioned in another thread of the new issue of our magazine, I'm ready to go off on a huge rant about this whole stupid nostaglia wave. Enough already! is the short version.
Banded together from remote galaxies are 13 of the most sinister villains of all-time: The Legion of Doom. Dedicated to a single objective: the conquest of the universe.
"MV Creations run by Val Staples, of the graphic design and coloring studio Hi-Fi has been awarded a “non-exclusive” He-Man license to produce comics, posters, calendars lithographs and wall scrolls. Creative team and further publishing details were not revealed."
Staples is one of the creators and owners of the previously mentioned heman.org.
Thanks for that link Papercuts!, and please do put a link to that interview. Seems from that site that G.I.Joe has picked up where it left off, and by that I mean it could easily be subtitled "The Continuing Adventures of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow" (not that I'm complaining!). I may have to track some of those issues down...
"Nobody enjoys a good time more than I do, but this business of yours is as legitimate as a three-legged donkey...which of course is illegitimate because as we all know donkeys have four legs."
Originally posted by Qubberand by that I mean it could easily be subtitled "The Continuing Adventures of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow" (not that I'm complaining!).
Actually, it's been anything but. They're not going ninja crazy at all. Storm Shadow had a brief appearance in issue 6 and really isn't the focus of anything until next month's issue 8. The first five issues are "ninja-free". But yes, they picked up where they left off -- with the government reinstating the team. When you read the interview, you'll see what I mean. Click Here for part one. Click Here for part two.
GI Joe is a great read and captures the spirit of the old comics and cartoon quite well. Transformers had a terrible first issue, but dramatically improved by the second and third.
As for the nostalgia comics thing I was for it, until I saw Alex Ross' plans for "Battle of the Planets" and the orgasmic reception for the "Thundercats" revival, neither of which is a good thing for humanity.
Now I'm pretty much against the nostalgia thing. Stop it people. The world is not demanding "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors" or "Bionic Six" revivals, and if you do, well, you need to be punched very hard in the groin.
Originally posted by Enojado Viento Now I'm pretty much against the nostalgia thing. Stop it people. The world is not demanding "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors" or "Bionic Six" revivals, and if you do, well, you need to be punched very hard in the groin.
But I am pining for a new TURBO TEEN comic!
I think if you are in the passing lane, and not passing, your license should be revoked, and you should be forced to ride the bus until you promise to never delay the rest of us again. --George Carlin
Originally posted by Enojado Viento Now I'm pretty much against the nostalgia thing. Stop it people. The world is not demanding "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors" or "Bionic Six" revivals, and if you do, well, you need to be punched very hard in the groin.
HE-MAN ruled, but GI JOE kicked all kinds of ass back in the 80s. I use to plead for car rides to 7-11 to go get the latest issue and loved each and every one. Dreadnocks were by far the most awesome JOE characters. Unfortunately my GI JOE buying days stopped around the year that the series with "Road Pig" came out. Why I did not hold on to all of my old toys and comics I have no idea.
Actually, I did hold on to a lot of my old comics, the oldest one I have being the issue with the captured Cobra Commander on the cover. I always tried to sell old GI JOE comics back then though and my local shop never wanted to buy them, said there was no market for them. It seems things may have changed with that now though.
The message I get is that PETA might inadvertently cause a boom of furries, or the the worst, animal rapists. I don't know; it's hard for me to empathize with PETA if only for the whackjob sensationalist stunts like this.