Tagged: Jim Shooter

Review: ‘X-O Manowar: Birth’

There’s something so gleefully ridiculous about the concept of X-O Manowar that you can’t help but smile while flipping through this paragon of 1990s comics.

Essentially Encino Man meets Battlefield Earth (though far better than such a comparison implies), [[[X-O Manowar: Birth]]] (Valiant, $24.95) collects the series’ beginnings as Aric, a fifth-century Visigoth, escapes from his alien captors with the aid of a miraculously powerful suit, then finds himself in the modern world.

The creative team — Bob Layton, Jim Shooter, Barry Windsor-Smith and Joe Quesada — push the fish-out-of-water story to the extreme, with the evil arachnid-like, laser-zapping aliens on a quest to enslave humanity and only the brutish, idiotic Aric standing in their way (actual sample of Aric’s dialogue: “But why I can… no… uh…”).

The story is completely over the top and doesn’t offer much to ponder over, but it’s also not striving for that. Screw pathos, this is a down-to-the-last-out laser battle with spider aliens! Aric bounces from one fight to another, and each comes through with a surprise or two.

Included are issues 0-6, with some scripts and original drawings for issue 0, and the original story “[[[The Rise of Lydia]]].” The collection is also recolored and remastered, and it’s an attractive hardcover volume. I’d recommend this primarily for those who either are long-time X-O fans, or for those who can’t pass up a good, messy fight with aliens.

Review: ‘Harbinger: The Beginning’ by Jim Shooter and David Lapham

I had forgotten how much superhero comics had changed in the past 15 years when I picked up Valiant’s new Harbinger: The Beginning collection ($24.95), which revives the book’s first issues from 1992.

It’s impossible to evaluate the stories without looking at the context of their era. True, [[[Harbinger]]] never reached the excessive silliness of Liefeld’s [[[X-Force]]], but it’s populated by edgy characters with dated nicknames like “Torque,” who spout even more dated phrases like “buttlick.”

Since the crash of the ’90s, comics have largely moved toward a more serious and realistic tone, and Harbinger (created by Jim Shooter and David Lapham) stands in stark contrast. All the same, in many ways the book holds up, probably no surprise since it once garnered a great number of fans.

What’s especially appreciable about Harbinger is how it strays from the superhero stereotype, something even today’s books struggle to do. The protagonist, Pete, is not a clear-cut hero; instead he’s an immature and often egotistical teen who doesn’t understand the dangers of his powers. The villain, Harada, is no great man, but his central goal is to protect the world from Pete.

As much as anything, Harbinger is about the folly of youth and the lessons to be learned from those mistakes. It falls into cliché and hollow edginess, but more often jumps in surprising directions and offers a new (again, in context) take on heroes.

Paramount Snaps Up ‘Harbinger’ Comic Book Series

Paramount Snaps Up ‘Harbinger’ Comic Book Series

  • News
  • March 11, 2008

According to Variety, Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to the Valiant comic book series Harbinger, which will be made into a live-action feature. The feature, which is being developed as a possible vehicle for director Brett Ratner, will be produced by Alexandra Milchan, Jay Stern and Ratner and may go under the MTV Films banner.

Harbinger, created in the ’90s by Jim Shooter, was a hit when it was first released and concerns humans with extraordinary powers and abilities that can be unlocked by so-called "Omega" harbingers. One of these humans, teenager Pete Stancheck (aka "Sting"), is able to realize this potential under the instructiion of his mentor, Toyo Harada.

But once Harada starts down an evil path and Pete learns it was his mentor who was responsible for a friend’s death, Pete is determined to bring his former teacher to justice. So, with the help of friends Kris, Zephyr, Flamingo and Torque, Pete begins his quest to take down Harada and the evil Harbinger Foundation.

According to the article, after directing X-Men: The Last Stand, Ratner was looking for a superhero franchise to start from scratch and found it with Harbinger. Producer Milchan was also very pleased to find Harbinger and be able to bring it to Ratner:

"The movie is in the vein of a young ‘Blade Runner,’ as this 17-year- old gifted kid helps other kids tap into these parts of their brains," Milchan said.

No word yet on potential casting for the film or a start date. But when there is, we’ll bring it to you.

Remembering Archie Goodwin

Remembering Archie Goodwin

  • News
  • February 9, 2008

Blog@ guest columnist Tim O’Shea notes that March 1 will be the anniversary of the passing of comics legend Archie Goodwin, and writes at length about the editor and his legacy.

While editor-in-chief of Marvel from 1976 to 1978, he was credited in the late 1970s with securing the publishing rights for Star Wars. Given how successful Marvel is these days–making movies out of their own characters and such–securing Star Wars may not seem like that big of a deal. But back in a 2000 interview with CBR, Jim Shooter said: “If we hadn’t done Star Wars … well, we would have gone out of business. Star Wars single-handedly saved Marvel… ”

 

Steven Massarsky: 1948-2007

Steven Massarsky: 1948-2007

  • News
  • October 7, 2007

Steven J. Massarsky, an attorney and businessman best known for co-founding Valiant Comics with Jim Shooter, died October 5, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. in Manhattan from complications related to cancer.

In 1989, Massarsky co-founded Voyager Communications Inc. (Valiant Comics), which grew into the third largest comic book publisher in the U.S. The company was sold to Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. where Massarsky remained as President and Publisher of the Acclaim Comics division until their bankruptcy. Prior to that, operated an entertainment law practice. His clientele included Nintendo, The Wailers, Cabbage Patch Dolls, the Psychedelic Furs, Collins Management, Aerosmith,

Tom Chapin

and

Willie Mays

.

The response to Massarsky’s passing has been mixed. One industry pro said that thanks to a royalty agreement he signed with Massarsky, "I got the biggest damn check I’ve ever seen. Paid off all back debts and made a sizable downpayment on the home I am now in — which would never have happened otherwise. Because of the deal Massarsky made with me." On the other hand, other industry pros said Massarsky never paid them for work performed and that he "was such an asshole he was kicked out of rock ‘n’ roll by Aerosmith while they were still on drugs."

For a detailed, although obviously biased, look at Massarsky’s time with Valiant, see this interview with Jim Shooter.

BIG BROADCAST: Jim Shooter Speaks!

BIG BROADCAST: Jim Shooter Speaks!

He started in comics almost before he started junior high school – and four decades he is ready to make his comeback at the very spot where it all started. Yes, Jim Shooter tells The Big ComicMix Broadcast why he’s returning to The Legion of Super-Heroes!

We also give you a rundown of missing comics, new DC variants and the word on the Transformers DVD release – plus we tell you the story of a guy who hooked up with The Who, flamed on and had a hit record!

PRESS THE BUTTON and we might lend you a Legion Flight Ring!!!

Jim Shooter: Long as well as tall

Jim Shooter: Long as well as tall

  • News
  • September 10, 2007

With the announcement that Jim Shooter is returning to a regular writing gig on Legion of Super-Heroes, he takes over a different title as well: he’s the man with the longest writing career currently writing a comic series.

Jim’s first comic, as we all know, was Adventure Comics #346, cover dated July 1966. Taking over Legion means that his career as a comics writer now spans over 41 years. But did you know that Jim laid out those early Legion stories as well as writing them?

The little Ant that could

The little Ant that could

Take one popular super heroine and roll her into a whole new comics company — that’s the path of Big City Comics. Spun from the former Image series, Ant, Big City has a table full of new projects and a kick ass attitude about comics — and you get it here  first.  Plus proof that some internet rumors are true as Jim Shooter returns to the Legion of Super Heroes, more DC deadline drudgery, and a little girl from the stage of the Apollo Theater who used her big voice to hit the charts.

One – Two – Three – PRESS THE BUTTON!

(more…)

New Shooter work at Valiant

New Shooter work at Valiant

Like many of you, I thought the Valiant universe was dead and gone. Well, not so fast.

CBR reports that Valiant will be releasing a hardcover collection entitled Harbinger: The Beginning (which will be "digitally recolored and remastered using state-of-the-art computer techniques") which will include a brand-new story written by one-time Valiant head-honcho Jim Shooter, with art by Bob Hall (who drew Valiant’s Shadowman) entitled "The Origin of Harada."

The book is solicited in June previews, which means it’ll be in stores in August (Valiant’s shooting, pun intended, for the 29th).  I’m very pleased because this item gives me an excuse to run a picture of one of my favorite all-time comic book characters, the lovely and zaftig Zephyr.

Artwork copyright Valient Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Categories

Archives

Everything you need to make great comics!

comicmix-pro-300x69-2

Nucleus X

Bookshop Zaks