I’ve been a Marvel fan for the past six and a half years, going all the way back to Bendis’s New Avengers #1. At the time, I never in a million years thought I could pick up a Marvel book, but hey. I got hooked and I’ve been reading your comics in mass opiate quantities ever since.

But I’m going to have to quit you.

I know times are tight and tensions are running high. I know the comics market is shrinking. Individual issue sales are down and decreasing across the board. Having giant movie blockbusters every summer doesn’t seem to be affecting monthly issue sales too much (especially in terms of people coming into the stores). Both you and DC are having a hard time, but that’s okay for you because you guys are the bigger, stronger company at the moment. Your books are dripping with talent and creativity and it’s showing in the numbers.

But I don’t know why you insist on continuing this petty rivalry even in the face of adversity.

I’m all for rivalries. Competition makes the world go round. But when your brand of competition comes out on Twitter and in interviews as jabs and digs, you guys come off sounding petty and immature. Take the September Previews catalog, for instance. You thought it best to take a swipe at DC by advertising your solicitations with tags like  “Uncanny X-Men: Still #543!” or “New Avengers: Still #16!” in some attempt to make yourselves look good in the wake of DC’s complete #1 relaunchment in September. Nevermind the fact that Uncanny X-Men is canceled and rebooting after issue #544 (October’s issue) or that New Avengers just relaunched 16 issues ago (I remember, I was there). Anything to show that you guys are the bigger guy.

And as if that’s not bad enough, you have someone like C.B. Cebulski, a talent scout and widely known, high profile, upper echelon, Senior Vice President at your company, coming out and SLAMMING DC over Twitter for its most recent Green Lantern film by saying:

“Man, DC just loves the number 52, huh? They even used it in their weekend GL movie grosses. Good thing we like bigger numbers at @Marvel!”

I can’t help but get a little offended at the sheer unprofessionalism of his comment. Granted, Cebulski later said it was a “nice little jab” and he was just “poking fun at the competition,” but that doesn’t really sound so much it’s “all in good fun” as much as it is pointing and laughing at someone and using that to brag about one’s own awesomeness. It’s petty, it’s cheap, and it’s kicking the competition when it’s down. Was Green Lantern perfect? Hell no. I’m the first to admit that. But does that mean one of your top guys has to backhand the competition on a bad day?

And fine, maybe that’s just Cebulski talking off the cuff (if Twitter could be considered off the record, which it isn’t), but I don’t really see him apologizing or thinking he did anything wrong. Nor do I see anyone at Marvel saying “the views of Mr. Cebulski are just Mr. Cebulski’s, not necessarily those of Marvel.” No. You must have heard it. Your company’s Twitter account follows him. He got plenty of @replies. He even spent some time firing back a few self-righteous responses. Surely it must be on your radar. Saying nothing tells me that either you’re ignorant of your employee’s actions in the public sector (which in the modern internet age is hard to believe, especially given his high profile) OR that you endorse this rhetoric and behavior (which is unprofessional and immature, to say the least). Given what I know about you as a company, I’m almost certain it’s the latter.

The worst part of all this? This is par for the course. This ritualistic DC bashing is the sort of thing we see from your people all the time at Con panels and on Twitter. When it’s mean-spirited and personal, that’s not you being the cute rival, it’s roasting the competition simply to be a giant dick about it. This isn’t a roast. It’s a place where I expect some modicum of decency in the public sector. Behind closed doors, misbehave, berate, and bash as much as you want, fine. I can’t stop you. But there’s no need to alienate potential fans who like both major comics companies in favor of making the die-hard Marvel Zombies go “Heh heh, yeah. Fuck those guys.”

And if that’s your goal, to make the Die-Hard Marvel Zombie happy, then fine. I guess that’s your prerogative. But I have to ask, do you actually care about the Die-Hard Marvel Zombie?

I ask because at the time of this writing I’m just hours away from finding out what happens at the end of Ultimate Spider-man #160, the purported (but not really because you’re re-launching in September with a new #1, but I’m not here to bitch about that) final (again!) issue of Ultimate Spider-man, despite the fact that the issue won’t be coming out for another couple of days. I know this because Bendis was talking it up on Twitter this afternoon, bragging about how he got off the phone with the AP and USA Today and who knows who else so your company could tout and spoil the ending for Ultimate Spider-man so you can get as many people as you possibly can into the stores come Wednesday.

Fine. That’s business, I suppose. I mean, it worked for Captain America a few years back. And in Bendis’s own words, this is about getting the fans you don’t have, not about keeping the ones you do.

And I get that. You want the sexy chick across the bar, not the one who’s in your lap. But isn’t that basically saying existing Marvel fans don’t matter as much as potential Marvel fans? Isn’t that just kicking your existing base because you know you’ll get away with it?

You’re damn right it is. Because you know as well as I do that your fans aren’t going anywhere. You have enough fans that will stick around regardless of your behavior, fans you guilt into buying more comics so you can keep the existing ones alive, fans who will stick around despite you increasing prices on your books to $3.99 “because you can.” I know, because I’m one of them. Or, I used to be.

So when I hear about you guys doing this, I get outraged. I get livid. I’ve been buying and reading Ultimate Spider-man nonstop for the past eighty issues (that’s double-dipping single issues and trades) despite going through three years of high school and four years of college. And now, on the eve of this long, long story getting to one of its fantastic turning points, you’re going to kick me (a loyal customer) in favor of the hundred or so (max) people who are going to pick up the FINAL issue of your not-in-real-continuity Spider-man and then never pick up a comic again?

And you’re going to get away with this, Marvel. I know because C.B. Cebulski is not going to apologize (nor are you going to pretend to attempt to make him). I know because the people his comments are going to enrage won’t stop reading comics. I know because people are still reading Fantastic Four (even if it’s not called that). I know because this “revealing the ending before it happens” bullshit has become “something we as comics fans just have to live with” because “this is our reality.”

But not for me. I refuse to continue to put up with your bullshit. I refuse to ignore or put up with your immaturity. I refuse to have you spoil the stories I’m reading. I refuse to stand silently by while you kick your base to make a quick buck.

And it’s because of this, Marvel, that I have to quit you. I’ve been a loyal reader for six and a half years. I’ve bled THOUSANDS of dollars into your books since then. I’ve gotten tons of my friends into comics (not just yours, but yours too). I love your properties, I love your stories, I love your comics. I’ve loved, cried, and laughed at your books since becoming a Marvel fan.

But no more. I can’t handle your attitude and I can’t handle the way you treat a fan like me. How dare I decide to support DC’s failed movie so we can get more non-Batman-or-Superman DC movies? How dare I support non-spoiled stories (Super 8 only made $40 million its first weekend. What must C.B. Cebulski think of that)? How dare I demand maturity from a company owned by Disney, who would NEVER allow such discourse from executives or VPs in “more respected media” like film or television?

I think of it differently. More like how dare I continually support your company in the face of all this? I can’t. Maybe if you guys acted with a bit more professionalism, you could help make this medium look a bit more grown up. I’m done fighting against being viewed as immature while your company perpetuates just that mentality.

But that’s okay, guys. I’m sure your massive-and-ever-expanding-and-growing comic fanbase will keep you guys afloat. There’s plenty of fans to keep kicking around while you try to bring in more so you can do just that.

I’m sure I won’t be missed at all.

Sincerely,

Matt Smith

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Be part of the show:

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SuperGeeks  13

Superhero News

• Matthew Vaughn comments on the status of “Kick Ass 2″ movie.
• Isaiah Mustafa’s promo video for a Luke Cage movie
• 2nd villain in “The Avengers” to be Thanos??
• The “Dark Knight Rises” is looking for extras!!
• G4 Channel to debut Marvel Comics anime in July
• ****Featuring Wolverine, Iron Man, X-Men, Blade

The Super Topic

• DC Comics announces they will relaunch their entire universe!!
• 52 brand new #1 issues to come out in Sept.
• New costumes, origins, and mythologies
• DC Comics titles will now be available for Digital Download on the SAME DAY as the comics release!

Join Thomas and Jeff later this week for an extra “Green Lantern: First Flight” movie commentary!!

Be part of the show:

• Comment on the website.
• Leave us Itunes reviews.
• Email us at the new email address:  Supergeeks@geekshowentertainment.com
• Keep up with the show BEFORE we record by following Thomas on Twitter—-@ChronoFett

SuperGeeks  11

Superhero News

• Ryan Reynolds chose between Deadpool and The Flash!
• LOTS of “Dark Knight Rises” news
• Bane picture released, casting news and a possible teaser trailer???
• Green Lantern for dummies new trailed debuts for “Pirates 4″.
• Stan Lee spoils his “Amazing Spiderman” cameo!!  (Spoiler Warning!)
• Image released of Wonder Woman TV show final costume.
• Spiderman: Musical preview

Comic Book Reviews—-DC Comics Review

• Batman Incorporated Continues
• War of the Green Lanterns—Part 7,8,9
• Flashpoint—-the new Flash-centric Multiverse adventure

Questions of the Week

• Email or comment on the website for a chance to win this week’s prize!!
• This week’s prize……..

“Next Avengers” animated DVD movie!!

Reading Listener emails

• What was your first comic book ever?

News

• Darren Aronofsky OFF “The Wolverine”
• Batman 3 casting news
• “Wonder Woman” TV show premieres new costume
• Superman casting news
• Trailer for Independent super hero movie, “Super” came online

C2E2 Comic book/entertainment Convention

• Chris Hemsworth Q&A Panel
• Marvel and DC Creators Panel
• Dressing up in costume

Comic Book Reviews

• Fantastic Four canceled?
• Steve Rogers: Super Soldier
• Wolverine and Jubilee
• Generation Hope

TV Show/Media Reviews

• Young Justice—New Episode:  “Bereft”
• DVD release of “Astonishing X-Men” Motion comic
• It turns out “Chuck” likes Brian K. Vaughn

The Super Topic Discussion

• Is it better to read the book first or watch the movie first??
• Our review of “All-Star Superman” the DVD and the graphic novel.

Video Games

• Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• DCU Online

Silliness at the End

• Winner of last weeks email contest!!!
• Questions of the week
• This weeks contest prize!

Music – “You Make My Dreams” – Hall & Oates

Questions will now be raised as to how this will effect the future of all Marvel comics, movies, and video games, amongst other potential properties such as television shows. This now makes Marvel part of one of the biggest media conglomerations around, competing on a similar level to the Warner Bros. owned DC Comics. There is no doubt that this comes with some inherent bonuses. The ability for product placement in movies and TV shows could be a huge advertisement stream for the comic giant, for instant.

However, it’s clear that the DC Comics/Warner Bros. merger of the past hasn’t always worked out in the favor of DC Comics. Being restricted to only having your movies produced by Warner Bros. has in recent years led the DC movies to be of a lower quality level than the Marvel properties. For every Batman Begins and The Dark Knight that the company has released, there have been equally troubling decisions such as Catwoman and the Joel Schumacher Batman films. In addition, it has been at times puzzling as to why Warner Bros. has failed to take advantage of the Super Hero movie boom of sorts that we had been witnessing in recent years.

However, for better or worse, this move is the future of Marvel Comics. You certainly have to give credit to Disney for recognizing good opertunities to grow their company. In 1995, Disney picked up a majority stake in ABC and ESPN. Disney followed up in 2006 with the purchase of Pixar Studios. Amongst a handful of other properties, Disney is certainly creating a strong family of companies to compete in the modern media market. Time will tell which of the two parties, if not both, will benefit from this arrangement. But it’s needless to say that the game has changed.

Marvel announced at Comic Con that it would be releasing a ‘new’ medium – Motion Comics.

DC has already done this with Batman and Watchmen.

AppleInsider reports, “The series will launch with two titles from some of the art form’s biggest names. Astonishing X-Men will debut from Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, while Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev will weave readers into the new story of Spider-Woman.”

From the preview, the Marvel approach looks promising.

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

Not too long ago, you might remember a post very similar to this one in which I announced that we were looking for a writing staff for the site. Well, at the time, we filled every position but one.

We’re still very interested in getting someone to write about comics for the site, its a subject that I really want the site to expand upon this year, and I think getting a regular comics writer is a big step in the right direction. So, if you read comics, or would be willing to read comics on a more regular basis (whether in the trade paperback or monthly format), please contact us.

In a bit of very recent news, we’ve lost our television critic, Tim Costello, due to his very busy schedule. We all completely understand of course, but are sad to see him go so soon regardless.

But this, of course, presents all of you with an opportunity. We need a television critic. Think you have what it takes? Contact us, tell us why you should be our new TV critic, and what some of your ideas for the position  might be. Also, attach or link to a few of examples of your work as a writer. Just remember, you MUST be available to write one review/article per week.

If you’re interested in either position (that’s Comic Writer and TV Critic) PLEASE contact us ASAP. You do so by emailing write @ geekshow.us

Thanks everyone!

GOTHAM CENTRAL BOOK ONE – IN THE LINE OF DUTY

Written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka

Artwork by Michael Lark

Published by DC Comics

A Review by Scott Carelli

I’ve been an avid comic reader for quite a while. Not as long as others, mind you, but long enough that I’ve had the chance to read a lot of the usual suspects on the thousands of “must read” lists, and I consider myself to be pretty well-versed. Before I started reading, I loved comic book movies and always looked forward to them coming out even if I gathered most of my knowledge from their respective animated series. Before the superhero movie renaissance, I had the toys, I watched the cartoons, and I regularly ran around my house with a towel attached to my back. I’ve always been a comic fan, even before I really knew what that meant, and there’s always been one question that I’ve thought about time and time again:

What would it be like to live in Gotham City?

Now, maybe it wasn’t always Gotham specifically, but just the idea of living in a city that larger than life heroes protect and call home. Whether it’s Metropolis, home of the big blue Boy Scout, or the Marvel U’s New York City, what would life be like in a city where superheroes and villains run amuck. I mean, sure, you get a good idea of what life is like for the heroes, but what about that guy on the street who’s pointing from the street shouting “Look! Up in the sky!” or the millions of people just like him? How do you go about your everyday life knowing that at any time you could be taken hostage by a supervillain? This is something I’ve always wondered, and finally, I have my answer in the form of Gotham Central.

Written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, Gotham Central follows the lives of Gotham City’s Finest (and not so finest) as they work in a city overrun with the most colorful and violent criminals in the world and where a vigilante wages a one-man war against crime dressed as a bat. The idea of being a cop in a city like Gotham has always been an interesting one to me, where a routine murder investigation can end with a surprise run in with The Joker. It’s just so fascinating. How do these seemingly average people deal with such extraordinary circumstances?

While no one in this book has superpowers, I’d be lying if I said it was filled with “Joe Schmo Nobodies” as the characters in this series are anything but average. To be a cop in a city like Gotham, thought, wouldn’t you have to be a little exceptional? This is a story about the men and women who put their lives on the line every single day in one of the most dangerous cities in the country, but they never get any credit. Why would they when Batman is so much more interesting? The stark reality is that, to be a cop in Gotham, you have to believe in what you’re doing enough that you never need any acknowledgement or praise, and that is remarkable.

The characters in this book are very well-rounded, and only get stronger as the series goes on. This first volume collects the first three story arcs with each writer concentrating on a particular shift at Gotham City Police Department. Brubaker focuses on second shifter Marcus Driver dealing with the murder of his partner at the hands of Mister Freeze, right before his eyes. He becomes driven to bring Freeze to justice, and investigate the unsolved case of his dead partner, without the help of the Dark Knight.

The real gem here, though, is “Half a Life” by Greg Rucka. This five issue story is about Detective Renee Montoya being “outed” as a lesbian to her coworkers and family while at the same time being framed for murder. Not only is “Half a Life” one of the best examples of comic storytelling I’ve come across in a long time, but the character of Renee Montoya, as written here, is one of the strongest and realistic portrayals of a gay character I’ve ever come across in any medium. She struggles with her desire to be happy and free to be the person she truly is, and her fear of being disowned when her devout Catholic family learns the truth. It’s a heart wrenching journey that I couldn’t put down, and I’m not the only one. It won a number of awards, including an Eisner in 2004 for Best Serialized Story.

I think my favorite part of this series is it’s depiction of Gotham City’s villains. Batman’s rogues’ gallery never really seemed that scary most of the time, but it wasn’t until I read this that I realized why. They can’t be so long as Batman’s around. It’s understood that he’ll always save you, and so no matter what, if Batman’s in the room, his villains are never at full strength. You never get to see them through the eyes of their victims, but within the first six pages of Gotham Central, that all changes. I’ve never been more terrified of a man with a freeze gun before reading this book. This series does a phenomenal job at opening your eyes to the fact that you would never want to come across these guys in a dark alley. No matter how ridiculous they might look, Gotham’s rogues are scary. While I’ve gushed about the writing, I think that a lot of the credit for this has to go to the artwork.

Artist Michael Lark is the cog that makes the whole series work. He has a knack for giving life to even the most ludicrous of villains and giving grit and realism to a city that so justly deserves it. Gotham is dirty and corrupt and you can see it smeared across every page. Some would say that his pencils have improved since his work on Gotham Central, but there’s a magic to this series that hasn’t been matched since. These three have reunited recently in the pages of Daredevil, and while it’s good, it just doesn’t compare.

So if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live in Gotham, look no further. Gotham Central allows you to visit a city that you never thought you could.

Welcome to Gotham City. Enjoy the trip.

Invincible: The Series takes the actual pages of Kirkman and Walker’s comic book and animates them through a process called Bomb-X. The stories are filled with motion, music and vocal performances similar to those of a traditionally produced cartoon.

When high school senior Mark Grayson inherits his superhero father’s abilities, he trades his fast food apron in for a flashy costume and starts saving lives and trading blows with the world’s most powerful super-villains as Invincible.

The first 12 episodes of the series, which encompass the first four issues of the comic, are available now, with a total number of 36 episodes planned for release by mid-September.

For a look at Invincible: The Series, check out the trailer by clicking the image below:

Come ready to talk.

From Newsarama.com:

Turner was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma (a bone-based cancer that attacks the cartilage) in March of 2000, which ultimately cost him his right hip, a portion of his pelvis and several pounds of bone. Turner was very open about his cancer, making convention appearances throughout the entire time, and never giving in to the illness.

Since his initial diagnosis in 2000, Turner had several ups and downs, but, surely thanks in part to his positive attitude, he was seen as the guy who was going to beat it, and be drawing for years to come – he just had to kick this thing first. Mike was 37.