Memories of BATMAN: JOKER'S LAST LAUGH From DIXON & BEATTY, 16 Years Later

And some nixed bloody moments.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37461-memories-of-batman-joker-s-last-laugh-from-dixon-beatty-15-years-later.html

KODANSHA February 2018 Solicitations

Including a new manga from the creator of YURI!!! ON ICE.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37480-kodansha-february-2018-solicitations.html

DC Collectibles Naughty or Nice Holiday Sweepstakes

DC Collectibles Naughty or Nice Holiday Sweepstakes

Have You Been Naughty or Nice This Year?

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DCE Editorial
via DC Comics

http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2017/11/22/dc-collectibles-naughty-or-nice-holiday-sweepstakes

Best Shots Reviews: KINO #1, THANOS #13, ABOVE THE TIMBERLINE

Three of this week's big books.

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https://www.newsarama.com/37487-best-shots-reviews-kino-1-thanos-13-above-the-timberline.html

Exclusive Preview: GREEN ARROW ANNUAL #1

Exclusive Preview: GREEN ARROW ANNUAL #1

In this 5^th week of November, in DC’s first oversized annual issue of GREEN ARROW, Oliver wakes up on Christmas morning to celebrate with friends…but things take a rocky turn.   

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DC Publicity
via DC Comics

http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2017/11/22/exclusive-preview-green-arrow-annual-1

LEGENDARY February 2018 Solicitations

PACIFIC RIM continues.

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https://www.newsarama.com/37481-legendary-february-2018-solicitations.html

Silver Age Adventure with JOHNNY UNITAS In FU JITSU #3 Preview

The Golden Arm gets his due.

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https://www.newsarama.com/37472-silver-age-adventure-with-johnny-unitas-in-fu-jitsu-3-preview.html

Indie Comics Spotlight: Jenny Finn #1, Dark Fang #1, and The Harcourt Legacy #1

By: Jonathan Pilley (@omnicomic)

Jenny Finn #1

“This world’s no better for us bein’ in it.”

Times in older eras were rough for a variety of reason. London was no exception, as the din and clamor of the river it sits on made every day an adventure in society. In Jenny Finn #1 from Dark Horse Comics, that difficulty is further compounded by a mysterious horror stalking prey. The issue is written by Mike Mignola, illustrated by Troy Nixey, and colored by Dave Stewart.

London’s dockside is threatened by the twin terrors of a plague that leaves bodies covered in tentacles and a slasher killing women in the night, all of which began after the arrival of a strange young girl who is followed by whispers of doom wherever she goes.

Mignola is no stranger to the strange and his work in Jenny Finn #1 is certainly no exception. The story follows Joe, a seemingly well-intentioned individual who has to grapple with a decision he makes regarding a spate of murders in London. Mignola funnels the entirety of the narrative through him, providing information to the reader along the way and demonstrating his exceptional grasp of storytelling. There’s something strange (probably supernatural) about Jenny Finn and the events of the book, but Mignola leaves a lot of it to the imagination. It’s likely that Mignola has something in mind when it comes to the tale in general and he does very well to not completely tip his hand in the first issue.

The artwork by Nixey is what really gives the book a different tone. Nixey’s work focuses on making everyone look ugly in a way that likely represents the ugliness in their personalities. Nixey offers perspectives of the characters that reflect a certain grotesque nature about them that would make Richard Corben proud. Nixey’s presentation near the beginning of the issue that demonstrates the abnormal way people are dying meshes well with Mignola’s take on the events and furthers the notion that things are ugly in Jenny Finn’s London. Stewart’s colors are appropriately present per normal, imbuing the book with just the right amount of a washed-out sense that reminds the reader they’re in another era.

Jenny Finn #1 is haunting in a way that relies more on a subversion of the horror genre by emphasizing the normalcy of things. Joe wants to do and be good, but it turns out there are things beyond his control that don’t always encourage that approach. Mignola’s script is very subtle in its presentation and pacing, gradually building up a suspense throughout that keep’s the reader curious. Nixey’s artwork is beautifully ugly in that it reinforces the macabre sword dangling over the events. Jenny Finn #1 isn’t shy about being a story about an unknown terror and how such an event can be haunting in its own right.

Jenny Finn #1 is available now.

Dark Fang #1

“I call forth my powers. It was foolish to begin without them.”

Climate change is real and it’s happening fast. It’s on humanity to take steps to slow the damage, but there are some who don’t feel the need to step up. That’s where an environmentally conscious vampire like Valla in Dark Fang #1 from Image Comics comes in. The issue is written by Miles Gunter, illustrated by Kelsey Shannon, and lettered by Taylor Esposito.

Her name is Valla. In life she was a fisherwoman. In death she is a vampire residing peacefully on the bottom of the ocean. When a mysterious dark plague descends upon her aquatic paradise, she must venture to the surface in search of answers. What she finds is a world headed towards an environmental collapse that will eventually wipe out her food supply. If Valla is to continue to have the blood she needs to survive, then she must stop the fossil fuel industries from destroying the planet — no matter the cost.

The overarching theme in Dark Fang #1 of climate change is a very ambitious one, even if it’s barely discussed in the first issue. Instead, Gunter focuses on Valla as the lead character, giving the reader a quick look at her history and how she’s coping with the present. The bulk of the issue revolves around Valla adapting to a society obsessed with feedback and willing to pay good money for it thanks to social media. Gunter’s approach actually make the series seem to be a lot more about the social media feedback loop than anything else as it spends much more time on that path. The pacing of the issue is a little jarring because of this as Gunter moves quickly through Valla finding a “career,” flashing back to her time before being a vampire, and then coming back to the present where her ambitions are laid bare.

Shannon got the laid bare memo as well, seeing as how the illustrations are hyper-sexualized to reinforce Valla’s existence as a hedonistic vampire. Shannon’s artistic approach is very slick and Valla is presented as almost a fantasy; her looks definitely fit well with her plan to get money from viewers. Aside from the sexiness, Shannon also emphasizes her more vampiric nature by working in a few scenes of gore that don’t come across as that gory thanks to the somewhat cartoonish illustrative approach. Panels are laid out just as cleanly as the artwork, as Shannon relies on the clean, empty gutters to better emphasize the artwork. And the colors are vibrant in a way that seems counter-intuitive for a book about a vampire, but it works because of the more modern nature of the story.

Dark Fang #1 really embraces the concept of a vampire as a sex symbol and runs with it. Valla seems to have a grander mission in mind, though, even if it’s not entirely apparent in the first issue. Gunter’s script seems to have larger ambitions, but by the end of the first issue that aim is a little murky. Shannon’s artwork is very modern and cartoonish in its appearance, adding a bit of levity to the story that’s otherwise intended to be pretty deep. Dark Fang #1 is being billed as a statement on climate change even if it doesn’t really delve too much into that aspect of things by the end of the issue.

Dark Fang #1 is available now.

The Harcourt Legacy #1

“I understand now.”

Family inheritance is always a thorny subject. Some relatives feel they get too little, while others feel that a relative got something they should have. Very rarely is magic involved in the inheritance as it is in The Harcourt Legacy #1 from Action Lab Entertainment. The issue is written and lettered by Brendan Cahill, illustrated by Jason Federhenn, and colored by Josh Burcham.

Rich occultist Edward Harcourt lies on his deathbed. After a lifetime of searching for true magic, Edward thinks he’s found some answers, and he wants to pass them along to his grandniece, a gloomy teenager named Violet. But that may be a problem for Edward’s sister Edwina, who has her own plans for his legacy.

The crux of The Harcourt Legacy #1 is family and expectations, both of which Cahill does a solid job of impressing upon the reader. Violet is a typical teenager who’d rather be anywhere else all of the time so Cahill’s decision to funnel the narrative through her is interesting. And Cahill prevents the issue from being just another family inheritance saga by infusing it with a slight tinge of magic and the unknown. Granted, Cahill doesn’t delve too deeply into the magic portion of it in the first issue; rather, he focuses instead on establishing the players and previewing the stakes. His dialogue achieves this end rather flawlessly, in that each of the characters have distinct personalities that make them more believable to the reader.

Federhenn presents the characters in a very slick and sharp way. There’s a very pronounced, sharp approach in how he renders the characters that gives the book a very modern feel that juxtaposes well against the seemingly older sensibilities that the magic component bring. Each panel evokes a sense of meticulousness that shows Federhenn’s approach is very methodical and well-executed. There’s also a few panels where Federhenn double-illustrates a character in a way that shows a quick motion; it’s not the first time it’s been done, but Federhenn’s take on it is fantastic. Burcham imbues the book with a rich spirit thanks to bold, vivid colors throughout the issue.

At its core, The Harcourt Legacy #1 is about just what the title represents: legacy. Violet is thrust into a role that she neither expected nor fully understands, but that doesn’t mean she’s not capable of taking on the task. Cahill’s script knows where it wants to be at the end of the issue and hits all the right notes for a first issue. Federhenn’s illustrations are very clean and demonstrate a strict attention to detail. The Harcourt Legacy #1 is a good first issue that takes the premise of magic and blends it with family dysfunction.

The Harcourt Legacy #1 is available now.

admin
via The Nerd Machine

http://www.nerdhq.com/indie-comics-spotlight-jenny-finn-1-dark-fang-1-and-the-harcourt-legacy-1/

BONGO COMICS February 2018 Solicitations

Spongebob Squarepants, the Simpsons, and more.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37482-bongo-comics-february-2018-solicitations.html

A Patriotic Finale In U.S. AVENGERS #12 Preview

"It’s a final battle for the soul of America — over a million light-years from Earth," says Marvel.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37478-a-patriotic-finale-in-u-s-avengers-12-preview.html

JUDE LAW In Talks To Play Marvel's CAPTAIN MARVEL... Wait, What?? - Report

As the film's male lead.

via The Nerd Machine

https://www.newsarama.com/37486-jude-law-in-talks-to-play-captain-marvel-wait-what-report.html

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT February 2018 Solicitations

JAMES BOND, THE SHADOW/BATMAN, DEJAH THORIS, and more.

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https://www.newsarama.com/37477-dynamite-entertainment-february-2018-solicitations.html

Join The Fraternity of Raptors In DARKHAWK #51 Preview

He's back.

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https://www.newsarama.com/37475-join-the-fraternity-of-raptors-in-darkhawk-51-preview.html

Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Review

By: Eric Flapjack Ashley (@flapjackashley)

It’s been a long four years since the last mainline Animal Crossing game has been released in North America. In reality, that is par for the course for the series: there were three years in between the GameCube original and Wild World on the Nintendo DS, and there were five years of waiting from 2008’s City Folk on the Wii to the most recent New Leaf on the 3DS (2013). But this wait just feels longer, and that could be because New Leaf was so good – and the highest selling of the series so far – or that the 2015 spinoffs (Happy Home Designer and amiibo Festival) were more insulting to fans than pleasing, and with Nintendo’s new Switch system selling like hotcakes, it makes our wait that much more painful.

However, that does not mean we are going to go without any new Animal Crossing content going forward to tide us over. A new mobile game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, has made it to the Google Play and iOS App Store and has a lot of excitement around it. But will this early holiday offering be more of a warm cookie and glass of milk, or a lump of coal in our stockings?

Welcome to Camp

After starting up the game, you are offered an option to link the game to your My Nintendo account (existing or start a new one), and that is highly recommended as it will save your game data across your devices so you won’t have to start all over if you lose or replace your phone or tablet. It will also give you a bunch of free in-game goodies and such. Then, it doesn’t take long for the game to feel like a real Animal Crossing game as you’re led through a lengthy, unskippable tutorial – although, to be fair, it does cover a lot of new ground given this is a mobile title with different goals and objectives.

Seeing Isabelle greet you is like walking into a warm embrace. You feel like you are in good hands, and much like in New Leaf, she is there to assist you as you are the new Camp Manager. Her role, however, is greatly reduced – gone are the days of having to seek her permission to place something on your grounds.

Your goal this time is to build a small camp ground of your dreams and make it where villagers will want to come and camp forever, or at least until they have worn out their welcome and you give them the boot. If you are into the designing aspect of the series, this game will meet your needs and more. You are in charge of the theme the camp has, the kind of furniture and tents it will offer, and commissioning Cyrus to make and design new items to display. You can also design your own camper and expand it, much like you would your house in the main series.

Cyrus’s services, however, do not come without a fee.

Friends Forever

The heart of the game is building friendships with the villagers. The game separates your home screen into different, specific areas, where you meet a rotating roster of familiar animals. When going to visit them, they will ask you to find certain items for them and doing so will increase your friendship level with them. Finding the items they want is where a lot of the actual gameplay comes in, visiting different areas to shake trees, fish, or catch the bugs that they are looking for. The interface for these tasks are very user friendly on a touchscreen of a phone or a tablet, so no worries there. Once you build up enough of a friendship with them, they will tell you what their “style” is and if you want to invite them to stay at your camp, you must include items that they find appealing, so unlike the non-grading designing style of Happy Home Designer, how you choose to decorate and stock your campsite actually matters.

Everyone starts off with the same few animals to interact with, but once the player advances past level five in achievements, the available animals begin to become randomized. Choosing your camp’s style and matching that with villagers means that while the total (to date) available villagers may be somewhat small to choose from, there are still many different combinations and options so each camp you visit can be unique.

I’ll Be There For You

Interacting with friends is also a centerpiece in the game. You can add people via a friend code, or by connecting the app to Facebook and/or Twitter (much like Nintendo’s other mobile games like Super Mario Run or Fire Emblem). Handy is the ability to have your own little “storefront” of excess items you collect and want to sell, and your friends can buy them – you can set what you sell, for how much and how many. If I get bored of trying to find a Tiger Butterfly and I see that my friend Gabe has one for sale, I can just use my bells and buy from him.

You can also visit your friend’s camp and see their style and also browse in their camper that is customizable. Sadly, and obviously due to the nature of mobile games as opposed to a full console game, the interaction you have with your friend is extremely limited: you can’t talk to your friend nor his villagers and you can’t leave messages. It may actually be more of a safeguard for the younger players of the game, but it’s disappointing that you can’t leave a greeting like you could with typing a message for their message board in New Leaf.

What you can do, though, is leave a “kudos.” It is basically giving them a “thumbs up,” and the game will let you know who leaves one. The function also figures into the game’s daily goals which can lead to more bells and rewards…

Pay the Piper

…Which leads me to talk about the aspect of free-to-play games that is almost universally hated: microtransactions. They are unpopular, but there is no doubt that large numbers of people will buy upgrades and items – Super Mario Run opted for a flat fee to play and was much less profitable than Fire Emblem, which was loaded with options to buy things throughout the game.

The in-game currency is called Leaf Tickets. They function similarly to bells, and both can be earned with natural progression in the game, but for those of us who are impatient, you can buy them to speed things up. In some cases, leaf tickets are required alongside bells or in-game earned materials in order for Cyrus to make new furniture for your camp or camper.

Luckily, the game is pretty liberal with giving the player bells and tickets and materials. You get 50 free Leaf Tickets for the aforementioned linking of your My Nintendo account to start you off, and you can earn dozens throughout the day by advancing levels and progressing in the game. One of the things that I was really impressed is that while the microtransactions are present, you are not hit over the head with them, and you can certainly play and enjoy the full game without spending a penny – although at a slower pace.

Happy Camper

Mobile games have a real love/hate relationship with players. I have been pleasantly surprised with this game. The game could definitely be improved in areas such as more ways to interact with friends, more villagers to choose from and expanding their scripted dialogue, and the game even lacks an optional push notification feature to alert you of friend requests or when Cyrus completes a project. But those can all easily be addressed in app updates, and if there is ever any game that can benefit from updates and additions, it’s Animal Crossing.

This game also does something that has been extremely rare when a franchise dips its toes into the waters of mobile gaming: Pocket Camp manages to simplify the game into smaller, bite-sized pieces required of a good mobile game while keeping all of the charm and heart of the main games. If you go into the game not expecting the full console experience, I think you will find Pocket Camp a pleasing app that I look forward to opening up every day.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was a pleasant surprise and this is one camp I don’t want to be sent home from.

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http://www.nerdhq.com/animal-crossing-pocket-camp-review/