The original version of this piece appeared on my blog, The Matt Signal, on Aug. 23, 2013, shortly after news broke — and stink rose — that Ben Affleck would be playing Batman in a yet-to-be-named live action movie. Seven years later, we find ourselves in a similar situation, so I think it’s time to…
As far as comic storytelling formats go, one rapidly gaining popularity over the past year or so is the season-based format. It is essentially when a story is divided into 6- to 12-issue, self-contained arcs. It also allows for special or one-shot issues in between. Writer David Booher and Artist Drew Zucker released Canto last…
Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Batman: Three Jokers #1: No one picked this, but it feels silly to ignore the elephant in the room of this week’s releases, DC’s long-threatened Black Label Bat-mini by writer Geoff Johns and artist…
Don’t: Go to a movie theater and see what’s probably going to be a bad movie Do: Listen to us talk about a great comic Ranked The Episode: New Mutants #18-20 (Demon Bear) X-Force vol 3 #7-10 (Old Ghosts) Uncanny X-Force vol 2 #1-6 (Let It Bleed)
In 2012, 10 years after the first Free Comic Book Day, Diamond Comic Distributors rolled out Halloween ComicFest, a similar promotion in which comic shops gave out free (to customers) books on the last Saturday in November. While not having quite the same cache as FCBD, it capitalized on a holiday when kids and fans…
In the summer of 2018, times were strange but good. Since my youngest had been born only that spring, he was still pretty attached to my wife, Christi, which led to a new division of labor, in which I got our eldest son to bed while Christi went to bed early with the baby. Now…
Bryan Edward Hill and Gleb Melnikov revitalized and reimagined Angel for a new age in Angel & Spike. This September, Zac Thompson and Hayden Sherman are continuing that reimagination, starting Sept. 23 in Angel & Spike #14, and hoping to create stories in the BOOM!-fyverse that both capture the magic of the original series and…
Taco Bell. Just the name brings up images of garbage food you get at a drive-thru at 2AM and savor every bite of. Not every menu item is good. I’d even say most of them are bad. But some of them are great. Just like characters in the X-Men franchise! Today I bring to you…
After the events of Power Rangers: Ranger Slayer, Kimberly is determined to purge the world of Lord Drakkon’s legacy, starting with Deadlock; the prison tower where Drakkon held all those who opposed him. But even the Ranger Slayer has no clue of the true power kept in Deadlock — and what unlocking the doors will…
There was once a dark age. A time when there was no internet. A time when the knowledge of comic book characters’ backgrounds could not be found in wikis, but in the memories of fans and in specially printed comics. Comics called handbooks or guidebooks. This week, DC released a guidebook to its “Dark Nights:…
The creative team of Donny Cates, Nic Klein, Matt Wilson, and VC’s Joe Sabino bring us the finale of their first arc on THOR! Herein lies a lot of Galactus (though a bit less after this), the last whimper of the Black Winter (?), and a glimpse at the death of Thor! Chris Eddleman: Well,…
This week, the indie arm of Xavier Files brings you reviews of Decorum #4, courtesy of Chris Eddleman, and Savage Dragon #251, courtesy of Robert Secundus. Enjoy! Decorum #4 Writer: Jonathan Hickman, Artist: Mike Huddleston, Colorist: Sasha E. Head, Letterer: Rus Wooton, Publisher: Image Decorum has been an interesting journey through the world created within,…
Nothing to add from the peanut gallery here. This is pretty neat and good. Check it out. Press Release New York, NY— August 19, 2020 — This November, Marvel celebrates Indigenous history with a landmark special, MARVEL’S VOICES: INDIGENOUS VOICES #1, written and drawn by some of the industry’s most renowned Indigenous talent along with…
Hello friends and readers, it’s another installment of the Empyre War Report! The tie-ins are getting a bit light these days, and as such we have a solo outing. Justin Partridge looks at the radicalization of the Swordsman in Lords of Empyre: Swordsman #1 by Alex Paknadel, Thomas Nachlik, Marcio Menyz and VC’s Ariana Maher….
Captain Marvel and her new crew of Carol Corps Accusers investigate the devious dealings of Wastrel in this story by Kelly Thompson, Cory Smith, Adriano di Benedetto, Tamra Bonvillain, and VC’s Clayton Cowles. Cat Purcell: I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for Lauri-Ell and ready to follow the lead with Wastrel. After the team up…