Manhunter v1

The Manhunters (alien robots that served as antagonists to the Green Lantern Corps) originally appeared in 1977 and were created by Steve EnglehartandDick Dillin.

The ‘Manhunter’ concept actually pre-dates the Manhunters’ first appearance by three decades with Adventure Comics #72 (1942): a character named 'Manhunter’, created by Joe SimonandJack Kirby, who appears similar in appearance to the Manhunters EnglehartandDillinintroduced.SimonandKirby’s Manhunter (aka: 'Paul Kirk’) fell into obscurity around 1944 when various factors, due to a direct result of World War 2, caused DC comics to shorten the length of it’s publications.

The 'Paul Kirk’ Manhunter was revived* by Archie GoodwinandWalter Simonson in a 1973 back-up feature that ran in Detective Comics from issue #437 to #443 and was promptly killed off afterwards.

A new Manhunter (aka: 'Mark Shaw’) was introduced in DC’s 1st Issue Special #5 (1975) by Jack Kirby - but fan reaction did not merit 'Mark Shaw’ recieving his own ongoing series. Mark Shaw re-appeared in 1977’s Justice League of America #140 - #141 (in which EnglehartandDillin introduced the Manhunters) and tied Mark Shaw and Paul Kirk to the whole 'Manhunters’ mythos that Englehart created - a nice example of Englehart incorporating some previous continuity to tie everything together. Mark Shaw appeared in a few issues of Justice League of America in various incarnations during 1977 and pretty much remained in comic book limbo until John Ostrander gave Shaw his big break in the 1987 Suicide Squadseries.

Ostrander was drawn to Mark Shaw and the character’s quest to 'uncover his identity’ and decided to include him in a Suicide Squad story arc dealing with the inter-company Millennium cross-over (Suicide Squad v1 #8 to #10). The issues were well-received by fans and generated renewed interest in the character. It should be noted that the Millennium cross-over event spotlighted the Manhunters across every DC title being published at the time. Also, by this point, Goodwin/Simonson’sManhunter back-up feature from 1973 had achieved cult-like status among fans (and was reprinted as a Baxter edition in 1984). Thus: a combination of the Millennium event, the demand for the Goodwin/Simonson Manhunter reprint and his appearance in Suicide Squad created the 'perfect storm’ of interest to allow this character to receive his own ongoing series. It was originally planned as a 4 issue mini-series, but became an ongoing series thanks to fan response.

While the series *could* be considered an unofficial Millennium spin-off, I’m sure it’s creation had more to do with Ostrander’s treatment of the character in the pages of Suicide Squad rather then the cross-over event itself. This is relevant, since it’s Ostrander and (his wife) Kim Yale’s scripting and writing of the Manhunterv1 series that makes it so enjoyable to read. At the time, Ostrander was writing 3 other DC titles (Suicide Squad,Deadshot, and Firestorm) and it wasn’t unusual to have supporting characters from one series featured in another. For example, the first issue of Manhunter has Mark Shaw apprehending Captain Cold (a Flash rogue) who ends up joining the Suicide Squad in the following month’s Suicide Squad (issue #16). It’s the tight cohesion of these four titles that made these series’ so enjoyable to read - almost like a mini-Ostrander universe (Ostraverse?) that only you are privy to. Another example: shortly after Count Vertigo appears in Manhunter v1 #7 does he become a member of the Suicide Squad in Suicide Squad#24.

TheManhuner series was brilliantly written as a detective/espionage thriller. The premise of the series is: Mark Shaw, in an effort to make money and clear the Manhunter name, decides to use his abilities and powers (a bionic face mask and a high-tech baton) to hunt down and capture escaped super-villains at large. Essentially, Mark Shaw is a soldier of fortune who only targets meta-criminals. This was a great excuse to feature a lot of super-villains from other titles - which Ostrander/Yale take full advantage of - we have appearances from the Penguin, Captain Cold, Catman, Dr Alchemy, Count Vertigo, Kobra, and a thug in a LexCorp battlesuit throughout the series. Mark Shaw *did* have his own personal antagonist named Dumas, but he was killed off at the end of the first four-issue story arc (much to the dismay of the fans). Ostrander/Yale ensured that there were lots of references to the current happenings of the DCU in the series, and the Invasion! inter-company cross-over event played a huge part in this series. This series also played a bit part in the Janus Directive cross-over that ran between a few DC titles in 1989.

For the most part Ostrander/Yale gave the fans exactly what they wanted: when fans requested an issue where the story is told from a villain’s point-of-view, they got it in Manhunter #16. When fans wrote in to request a Mark Shaw/Batman team-up, they received one in issue #17. Fans wanted more integration with Ostrander’sSuicide Squad title, and they received a few cross-overs with the title.

One of the things that really stands out about this series is that it is written in such a way that you get a lot of insight into the thinking of Mark Shaw - which allows the reader to identify him as an 'everyman’ and thus feel some sort of connection with him. My favorite story arcs from this series were issues #10 - #12 (which featured a big 6-way battle with guest stars galore that was laugh out loud funny) and issues #8 - #9 (which tied in with the Flash v2 #21 and #22 in a very unique and clever way).

All 24 issues of Manhunter v1 were written by John OstranderandKim Yale (and often Yale would write an issue on her own). Doug Rice was the regular penciller up until issue #15 when Grant Miehm took over regular pencilling chores. During Rice’s run there were quite a few fill-in pencillers (Kelley Jones, Mary Mitchell, Pablo Marcos) because it took Rice longer than a month to pencil an issue. Back-up features were also included in order to get the issue to print because often the main feature wasn’t 100% completed before deadline. Sam Keith pencilled and inked a back-up feature in issue #12 which, upon closer examination, is probably the precursor to him developing his artistic style that he would end up using in his 1993 The Maxx series (from Image comics).Keith began inking the first few issues of Manhunter, but was quickly whisked away and assigned to work on Neil Gaiman’sSandmanbefore the first four issue story arc was completed.

As previously mentioned, the Manhunter v1 series lasted 24 issues (no annuals and no specials) and, while being a hot concept with lots of fanfare at the beginning of the run, by the second year interest in the title had waned. As a matter of fact, Miehm became the new regular penciller (replacing Rice) completely aware that the series would be cancelled. Unlike most ongoing series’ that are cancelled abruptly, Ostrander/Yale had the luxury of ending Manhunter v1 with plenty of time to conclude the book at their own pace. Due to popular demand, Dumas made a return to the series and was the main antagonist in the 6-part “Saints and Sinners” story arc that was more or less the death rattle of the book. The last 7 issues of the series were spent taking Mark Shaw back to his 'roots’, resolving his romantic life and basically providing a resolution to the series. Mark Shaw would appear a few more times in Ostrander’sSuicide Squad before being killed off in Eclipso #13(1993).

There are a few major themes running through this book, some obvious (ex: Mark Shaw’s search for identity/redemption) and some not so obvious (ex: Ostrander/Yales fixation with masks - allegorical or otherwise), but a theme most people seem to glaze over is the major undertones of Japanese culture predominant in this series. Just to further that last point: the entire series is more or less a 'martial arts’ book, a few adventures take place in Japan, Mark Shaw’s costume/mask/baton appear to be a homage to the costumes Kabuki actors wore and the warrior code of the samurai is a recurring idea that keeps cropping up throughout the series. Most people aren’t aware of this, but OstranderandRice had collaborated prior to this project on a series called Dynamo Joe that was published by First Comics from 1986 to 1988. Dynamo Joe was a 'giant robot’ series (akin to Voltron/Robotech) and it was no secret that Rice was a Japanese magna fan (Manhunter v1 #10 - 12 appear to be a throwback to the Dynamo Joe series, also the fusion of martial arts and high tech devices - bionic mask and high-tech baton - just screams 'japanime’). Ninjas were very trendy in North American pop culture during the 1980s, so this would all tie together. Yale even goes so far as to list the book 'Yakuza’ by David E KaplanandAlec Dubro as a valuable reference for the series.

Great premise, great writer(s), great series. Highly recommended.

*Originally there wasn’t meant to be any connection between the Goodwin/Simonson Manhunter and the Simon/Kirby Manhunter. Apparently, it was a last minute addition made for continuity convenience.

Shazam! The New Beginning

Fawcett Publications more or less shut down it’s comic book publishing division and sold off the majority of their characters to rival comic book companies in 1953 - this was the aftermath of a twelve-year legal battle with DC comics over allegations of Fawcett’s Captain Marvel being a copyright infringement of DC’s Superman. Part of the settlement included Fawcett never publishing another Captain Marvel or Mavel Family comic book again. You can find more information about the lawsuit at National Comics Publications v. Fawcett Publications.

In 1972, DC comics licensed the rights to Captain Marvel (and associated characters) from Fawcett Publications with the intention of taking advantage of the fanfare Captain Marvel had built up in the 1940s. DC comics were no longer able to use the name ‘Captain Marvel’ however, since Marvel Comics had trademarked the name in 1968. Thus, DC renamed 'Captain Marvel’ to 'Shazam!’.

In the 1970s, DC had used Shazam! to full effect - not only did he receive an ongoing series in 1973, but he was also the lead character in a 1974 live-action television series (Filmation’sShazam!) and starred in two episodes of NBC’sLegends of the Superheroes in 1979. Despite all of the publicity DC put into Shazam, it did not sell as well as it *should* have. DC cancelled the Shazam! ongoing series in 1978 after 35 issues, and Shazam!’s adventures continued in the pages of World’s Finest. Apparently, Fawcett’s licensing agreement with DC had a per-use fee for every appearance a Fawcett character made in a DC publication, hence DC’s reluctance to use the characters after the Shazam! series ended.

In 1981, Captain Marvel got ANOTHER crack at television - this time in an animated cartoon produced by Filmation that ran from 1981 to 1982. NBC’sThe Kid Power Hour with Shazam! ran on Saturday mornings, featured Captain Marvel as well as of the Marvel Family and their associated rogues, and lasted 13 episodes.

Sometime in the early 1980s, Roy Thomas,Don Newtonand Jerry Ordway submitted a proposal for a new Captain Marvel. This new version of Captain Marvel would be an Earth-One character (as Shazam! and the rest of the Marvel Family in the 70s Shazam! ongoing series were part of the Earth-S/Earth-5 universe) and would be an African-American character who would turn into Captain Thunder when he said the word “Shazam”. Calling this new character 'Captain Thunder’ was obviously a throwback to the original Fawcett version of the character (Captain Marvel was originally intended to be named Captain Thunder, but couldn’t - due to trademark reasons). The proposal never saw approval from the DC editorial board.

In 1985 the Crisis On Infinite Earths cross-over event happened, which was DC’s effort to simplify it’s continuity by eliminating all of those 'other’ earths in the DC multiverse (Earth-S/Earth-5 included). Shazam and the Marvel Family were now part of the same DC universe as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. For reasons I cannot explain, DC decided to publish a re-adaptation of the Shazam!/Captain Marvel origin (as per the Fawcett Publications version) in Secret Origins #3 (1986). This is a little confusing to me since Roy Thomas retconns Shazam!/Captain Marvel’s origin once again in the Shazam! The New Beginningmini-series.

As explained by Roy Thomas, the goal of this mini-series was to re-introduce the Shazam!/Captain Marvel mythos back to DC readers, but in a way that was more in line with the current state of comic books. The theory was that the reason why DC’s Shazam! never hit the astonomical sales numbers of it’s Fawcett Publications heyday was because the stories were too silly/whimsical for the modern audience - the new modern audience wanted more realistic stories/art that could relate to the world they lived in. So, Roy and (his wife) Dann Thomas got to work scripting the new Shazam!/Captain Marvel reboot.

Major changes Thomasintroduced:

• Dr Sivana became Billy’s evil uncle
• Uncle Dudley became Billy’s real uncle
• Billy kept his own personality when becoming Shazam! (versus switching between his and Captain Marvel’s personality - as seen in Fawcettissues)
• Black Adam is quickly introduced and is part of Captain Marvel’s origin
• No plans of introducing Lieutenant Marvels
• Fawcett city is removed, Shazam! now operates on the West Coast of the USA
• A little more insight into Billy Batson’s life before the death of his parents is given. This is meant to flesh out the character of Billy Batson.
• origin of Wizard Shaman set before age of pyramids in Egypt - mentions “God-Birds” (I am 99.9% sure they are sliding in a Hawkman reference here)
• the Wizard Shazam is aware of the pre-Crisis Marvel family from Earth-S/Earth-5
• Dr Sivana is no longer a humorous villain, he is now deadly and a threat to be taken seriously.

On a side note, Thomas originally wanted to make Billy a more typical kid with a typical job, but the first issue ofLEGENDS got plotted and penciled before the LEGENDS creative team were made aware of Thomas’ new plans for the character. Shazam! The New Beginning was actually a prequel to the LEGENDS mini-series (although this mini-series would only be published as LEGENDS was ending), and Shazam! became a member of Giffen’s Justice League in 1987. Shazam! even got an action figure of himself in the third wave of Kenner’sSuper Powers Collection toyline (1986).

Illustrated by artist Tom Mandrake, the mini-series was a great read and did really well in sales. According to Thomas, when the possibility of an ongoing series was discussed, the idea was shot down by DC management. Shazam! later appeared in 1988’s Action Comics Weekly for a few issues and a new Shazam! ongoing series was announced, but the idea never saw the light of day. Some have speculated that the reason the idea never went anywhere was because DC didn’t completely own the rights to Shazam! (Filmation acquired the television rights to Captain Marvel in the 1970s), and didn’t want to invest heavily in a character they weren’t guaranteed would actually belong to them.

DC would ultimately purchase the full rights to Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family fromFawcett publications in 1991 and Jerry Ordway would go on to reboot the Shazam!/Captain Marvel origin yet again in DC’s Power of Shazam! 1994 graphic novel.

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
Dir: Chris McKay
“Sir, if you don’t mind my saying, I’m a little concerned. I’ve seen you go through similar phases in 2016 and 2012 and 2008 and 2005 and 1997 and 1995 and 1992 and 1989 and that weird one in 1966. Do you want to talk about how you’re feeling right now?”

The Haunted Mansion

Developed by Shannon Tindle

Disney Television Animation, 2017

GARETH EDWARDS OFICJALNIE REŻYSEREM PIERWSZEGO SPIN-OFFU “STAR WARS”. PREMIERA 16 GRUDNIA 2016

Gwiezdnowojenna orkiestra pod batutą Disneya ani myśli zwalniać tempa, zaś kolejne spośród ogłoszonych przed kilkoma miesiącami punktów jej planów nabierają kształtu.

Zabawne w tym wszystkim jest zaś to, że ledwie wczoraj zastanawiałem się, kiedy ujawnione zostaną pierwsze szczegóły na temat zaplanowanych spin-offów sagi Star Wars, mających trafiać do kin na przemian z kolejnymi epizodami nowej trylogii. Cóż, najwidoczniej nie było mi dane czekać zbyt długo.

Gareth Edwards, reżyser bijącej aktualnie rekordy popularności najnowszej inkarnacji Godzilli (w wydaniu amerykańskim, ma się rozumieć) został oficjalnie zatrudniony na stanowisku reżysera filmu z uniwersum “Star Wars”, który trafi do kin dokładnie w dniu 16 grudnia 2016 r. Ma być to pierwszy ze wspomnianych spin-offów, który - o ile plotki okażą się prawdziwe - traktować będzie o postaci młodego Hana Solo, bądź Boby Fetta.

Wynika z tego co następuje:
- prace pre-produkcyjne filmu muszą być już w bardzo zaawansowanym stadium,

- Disney i LucasFilm zdecydowanie chcą kuć żelazo, póki gorące, a plany snute względem marki “Star Wars” zostaną zrealizowane: każdego roku, począwszy od grudnia 2015, na wielkim ekranie naszym oczom ukazywać będzie się napis “Dawno, dawno temu, w odległej galaktyce”, poprzedzający seans kolejnego gwiezdnowojennego obrazu,

- grudzień będzie tradycyjnym miesiącem premiery kolejnych filmów z serii, podczas gdy okres wakacyjny zarezerwowany zostanie dla produkcji Marvela - tym samym firma uniknie potencjalnej kanibalizacji swoich flagowych produkcji,

- Gareth Edwards prawdopodobnie nie stanie za kamerą zapowiedzianego przed kilkoma dniami sequela “Godzilli”. Wygląda jednak na to, że rozstanie z Legendary Pictures przebiegło w dobrej, zdrowej atmosferze - powyższy obrazek opublikowany został na oficjalny, profilu studia na Facebooku,

- kinomanów oraz entuzjastów sagi “Star Wars” czekają naprawdę obfite lata i Moc zabawy. W to mi graj!

AKTUALIZACJA:

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon(Hanyō no Yashahime)

“Princess Half-Demon” Characters Design

I think Towa is very interesting
Who do you prefer?

(pics from Anime News Network Website, edit by me)

[Hikari]

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon(Hanyō no Yashahime)

Plot: “The daughters of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha set out on a journey transcending time!

In Feudal Japan, Half-Demon twins Towa and Setsuna are separated from each other during a forest fire. While desperately searching for her younger sister, Towa wanders into a mysterious tunnel that sends her into present-day Japan, where she is found and raised by Kagome Higurashi’s brother, Sota, and his family.

Ten years later, the tunnel that connects the two eras has reopened, allowing Towa to be reunited with Setsuna, who is now a Demon Slayer working for Kohaku. But to Towa’s shock, Setsuna appears to have lost all memories of her older sister.
Joined by Moroha, the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome, the three young women travel between the two eras on an adventure to regain their missing past.”

Very interesting
What do you think about it?

(info from Anime News NetworkWebsite)

[Hikari]

Finally I can release the #GameOfThrones spin off posters I’ve been working on. For those characters we had to say goodbye, now there’s room to tell their story from the beginning. For those who survived, we get the chance to dive deeper into their worlds. The sixth of the series portrays the story of Tarth, focused on Brienne of Tarth, beautifully performed by the amazing incredible Gwendoline Christie @gwendolineuniverse - Definitely my personal favorite character of all series. Also, my favorite human. We’ve all watched Gwen’s interviews and she’s such an inspiration, such a strong soul and full of life. Her performance has given voice to so many around the world and set the bar so high. I hope very soon we can see a shower of awards to this extraordinary woman.
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Design by @CardiCode  // Check the rest of the series on my profile

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