DC Comics has brought back a popular (especially with anthro-fans) side-character from the Batman series: Dr. Kirk Langstrom, the geneticist whose secret formula frequently changes him into the savage Man-Bat. (Dr. Langstrom’s formula was the source of many human-animal ‘morph plots in the Batman animated TV series.) In the new Man-Bat full-color one-shot (spinning off from plot points in the current Batman: Battle for the Cowl miniseries), Dr. Langstrom is pressed into the services of the evil man known as Dr. Phosphorous — who’s in for much more than he bargained for! The Man-Bat one-shot is written by Joe Harris, with art by Jim Calafiore and a cover by Ladronn (of Hip Flask fame).
Comic Book News
New from Boom!
Boom! Studios has quite a roster of full-color comic book mini-series coming along that should be of interest to furry fans of many stripes. Disney/Pixar’s Cars (by Alan J. Porter and Albert Carreres) takes us back to the origins of superstar (supercar?) Lightning McQueen. The Muppet Show (by Roger Langridge) takes us behind the scenes as Fozzie, Ms. Piggy, Gonzo, and the rest try to lift Kermit the Frog out of a deep blue funk — in the most surreal ways imaginable. And Farscape: Strange Detractors (by series creator Rockne S. O’Bannon, with Keith DeCandido and Will Sliney) brings us new adventures (and new dangers) for the crew of the living ship known and Moya. While you’re at it, look for the Farscape Volume 1 hardcover collection, which brings together the first four issues of the Farscape comic by O’Bannon, DeCandido, and Tommy Patterson. All of them should be on the shelves now.
Funny Animals vs. the Undead!
And now for something completely different… Blue Water Comics brings us Vincent Price Presents #7 (in full color, by Chad Helder and Brian Hess). In this issue, adorable forest animals meet the apocolyptic zombie horde! Young Stevie the skunk wants to stink like the other boys at school. But when he makes a devil’s bargain with the sinister magic owl… all hell breaks loose!
From Boy Wizard… to Cat!
Salem the cat is a fan-favorite character from the Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV series and comic book line. Now the latest issue of Sabrina from Archie Comics begins a 4-issue series of Salem before he became a feline… back when he was a young boy wizard! Everything changes the day that Salem meets a talking frog who says that he was was a wizard, too. The series is brought to you in full color by Ian Flynn and Chad Thomas.
The Gwaii Collection
The first set of issues of The Gwaii by Sean O’Reilly and Pedro Del Gado have been released in a new full-color hardcover collection by Arcana Studio. Tanu is a young sasquatch lost in the great Canadian wilderness when his mother is captured by Fearsome Creatures. To get her back, he’ll have to use all his skills as he faces frightening mythological beings.
The Mice Templar Sketchbook
New from Image Comics: The Mice Templar Sketchbook by Bryan Glass and Michael Avon Oeming. This full-color trade paperback features “never before seen artwork by Michael Avon Oeming from all phases of the development of the acclaimed anthropomorphic series”. It also features a brand new short story that bridges the gap between the Mice Templar, Volume 1: The Prophecy hardcover collection and the upcoming Volume 2.
Free Comic Book Day
Free Comic Book Day is an annual event where comic book publishers put out special full-color mini-comics for distribution free to the public at various specialty and comic book stores. This year the big day is Saturday, May 2nd, and once again there are anthropomorphic comics to be found if you go looking. Boom! Studios is offering Disney/Pixar’s Cars by Alan J. Porter and Albert Carreres, which gives us a sneak-peak at the premier issue of the new Cars comic book series — and tells us the origin of Lightning McQueen! Cartoonapalooza from Ape Entertainment brings us (among other things) the further adventures of Go-Go Gorilla and the Jungle Crew. Archie Comics present a special introduction to the world and history of Sonic the Hedgehog with Sonic the Hedgehog: Evolution of a Hero (by Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley). From Gemstone Publishing comes a special double-issue, featuring an excerpt from Don Rosa’s The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck as well as selected pages from Mickey and the Gang: Classic Stories in Verse. Owly and Friends is a triple-treat from Top Shelf Productions, featuring new stories of Owly by Andy Runton, Johnny Boo by James Kochalka, and Korgi by Christian Slade. Th3rd World Studios presents a special preview of their new series The Stuff of Legend (by Mike Raicht, Brian Smith, and Charles Paul Wilson III). It’s “a dark fantasy adventure in which a group of toys fight an unseen war to save their human master from every child’s worst nightmare: The Boogeyman!” Whew. Wildcard Ink brings us new adventures in Toyland with the Gumby Two-in-One by Andrew Joseph, Shepherd Hendrix, and Ken Hooper. Perhaps the biggest news of the day: To celebrate its 25th anniversary (!), Mirage will be publishing a special free re-print of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue #1 from 1984 (by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, of course!). Look for all of these at your favorite comic book store on the first Saturday in May. But look quickly — you know they’re going to go fast!
Comic Book Tie-In
Just in time! Titan Comics has released Monsters vs. Aliens, The Comic, a new full-color 4-issue miniseries. The comic is here, of course, to tie-in with the new hit 3D CGI film from Dreamworks. The comic follows the plot of the movie — Captured classic monsters band together to save the earth from an evil alien invader — and also includes the secret files that General W.R. Monger keeps on various monsters, secret installations, presidential candidates, and more…
