|
THE GIFFEN UPDATE 11/25/03 COMIC CLIPS Share the Lovecraft There's a brand new Sneak
Peek at dccomics.com that Giffen fans are surely going to want to check
out. LOVECRAFT, the graphic novel Keith was adapting while doing
SUICIDE SQUAD is finally set to be
...and the preview can be seen by clicking through here: http://www.dccomics.com/pdfs/vertigo/lovecraft.pdf Bear in mind that you have to have Adobe Acrobat to view the 4 page preview. If you don't have it, I'm sure you'll be prompted to dload it from the site. Anyway, be sure to post thoughts and comments here. I'm anxious to see what everyone thinks of the project. Also, since many of you probably haven't seen the interview I conducted with Keith, and what he had to say about LOVECRAFT at the time, I'm including an excerpt of it here for you to check out... KEITH GIFFEN: SUICIDE KING - Excerpt JOZIC: I've also heard
about a Lovecraft project that you are
GIFFEN: That is going
to be something else. It's a hardcover 140 page graphic novel based on
the screenplay by Hans Rodionoff that John Carpenter has attached himself
to direct. So, we get the graphic
JOZIC: Are you a Lovecraft fan? GIFFEN: Yeah, I like Lovecraft a lot. I was brought in to, first of all, turn the screenplay into a graphic novel, but there's also things about the screenplay that…Film and comics are two…The difference between people who are in film or comics is that people who are in film are bigger pussies than the people who do comics. So, for a Vertigo graphic novel, I could pull out all the stops. I could go for really horrific, mind-f***ing scenes, whereas in the screenplay, you have to have it happen off camera or massage it, [and] it looks good. JOZIC: Is there an official release date yet? GIFFEN: I don't know when it's coming out. I have no idea. My attitude is, this guy is doing such brilliant work on it, leave him alone. Publish it when it's done. Don't even schedule it because it's just gorgeous stuff. Don't rush with it. For the full interview go
to http://giffint-aug3101.notlong.com
UP'N'COMING IN DECEMBER FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis; art and cover by Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein The former members of the
Justice League match wits with the universe's regal re-decorator - Manga
Khan! At stake: the lives of L-Ron and G'nort! Thrilling stuff, indeed.
Guest-starring the JLA. (No,
DC UNIVERSE | 32pg. | 6 of
6 | Color | $2.50
THE AUTHORITY/LOBO CHRISTMAS CROSSOVER Written by Keith Giffen and Alan Grant; art and cover by Simon Bisley The crossover that no one expected! When Jenny Quantum discovers a book chronicling Lobo's assassination of Santa Claus in the bowels of the Carrier, she reacts like any child would: She wants Lobo punished! Unbeknownst to our heroes, the Main Man himself has set his sights on the Authority for a whole different reason and when these trains collide, it ain't gonna be pretty! EYE OF THE STORM |
MATURE READERS | 48pg. | Color | $4.95
BATTLE ROYALE Volume 4 Soccer player, Kazushi Niida
gets a kick out of 'the program' when he decides to think of it as an exhibition
game. How many goals will this all-star player make before his time on
the field runs out? When
MSRP $9.99
REIGN OF THE ZODIAC #5 Written by Keith Giffen;
art by Colleen Doran and Bob Wiacek; cover
On Eidolon, the House of Virgo unearths a long-lost Boot Portal, but it may possess a fatal flaw. Meanwhile, the half-breed accused of helping two lovers escape forms a wary alliance with her Arian guard. And on Earth, the warrior sisters of the wayward bride arrive, determined to kill her! DC UNIVERSE | 32pg. | Color
| $2.75
THE GIFFEN UPDATE 10/30/03 COMIC CLIPS When I can't get the news from Keith himself, my favourite place for Reign of the Zodiac information these days is the DC Message Boards over at www.dccomics.com. One of the regulars in the forum is none other than ROTZ artist, Colleen Doran, who shares insights and responds to comments and criticism from readers. Just prior to the first issues release, Doran clarified that they are, indeed, an ongoing series (which we of course already know) but are "contracted to a twelve issue minimum." This is good news for those of us who like the series and worry about its ability to attract a wider audience. It means that even if the series gets cancelled because of low sales, Keith and Colleen will likely be able to tell a complete 12-issue story and not leave readers with too many loose ends. Still, Doran holds a lot of hope for the series' ability to hang in there and likens it to another diamond in the rough of years past. "The sales look pretty good so far and the buzz is that this will have a Sandman-like sales arc and appeal. My agent predicted the sales right on the dot and his estimate is a Sandman-like sales curve." The issue with Zodiac's overall appeal and chances of survival in today's marketplace has to do with the series' slower pace, dense storytelling and rich, detailed artwork which doesn't lend itself very well to a 10 minute read on the bus or in the head. But, in the final analysis, "the sales are, in the words of our editor, "Respectable". We move about the same number of copies as Hellblazer. Our first issue sold about double what Elfquest #1 sold, if that gives you some perspective." Good news for ROTZ readers, certainly, and as far as the creative team is concerned? "We're pretty pleased especially considering it is non DC Universe, non-superhero, no previous track record, non-heroic fantasy, and in every way exactly what traditionally does not sell at all. "Everyone who has seen it agrees it is not a run of the mill comic in the least," says Doran, but adds that, "people who do not like or read comics are liking and reading this one, that's for sure. Even my mother gave it a thorough read! "That's right! It has Colleen's
mom's seal of approval!"
UP'N'COMING IN NOVEMBER FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE
JUSTICE LEAGUE #5
Because Keith Giffen demanded
it...Manga Khan is back! After the events at Roulette's underground fight
club, Captain Atom is down for the count…just when the former heroes of
the JLI need him most. Now the League's only hope may rest in a furry,
former Green
DC UNIVERSE | 32pg. | 4 of
6 | Color | $2.50
BATTLE ROYALE VOLUME 3 The mysterious transfer student, Kawada, has an escape plan! But can Shuuya trust him when he discovers that Kawada was last year's program's winner?! Meanwhile Mimura finds his buddy Yutaka as they plan their own revenge on Yonemi. Sugimura has less luck as he runs in search for a certain 'someone.' As if the machine gun-toting Kiriyama wasn't enough trouble, Mitsuko gets her hands on a heater, as well. How many will die today? MSRP $9.99
SYN #3
Syn undergoes a transformation the likes of which the universe has never before witnessed. Machine has become human! But it may be more than Syn was prepared for as she has now become the only human in a world filled with machines, and when her presence is discovered she may be in for the fight of her life! Written by Keith Giffen (Lobo) and illustrated by Greg Titus and Julian Washburn. Published November 12, 2003
FC, 32pg
REIGN OF THE ZODIAC #4 Written by Keith Giffen;
art by Colleen Doran and Bob Wiacek; cover
In a race to capture the illicit lovers who've escaped to Earth, the Houses of Aries, Capricorn and Virgo all rush for access to a powerful Boot Portal. Their desperation takes them to the most lawless part of Eidolon: the free zone known only as the Brace. DC UNIVERSE | 32pg. | Color
| $2.75
THE GIFFEN UPDATE 09/27/03 COMIC CLIPS "FYI: Issue two was actually done BEFORE issue one. Strange, no?" - Colleen Doran on the DC Message Boards Since the "second" issue
of Keith Giffen's newest monthly, Reign of the Zodiac, is officially
out, and series artist Colleen Doran so much as spilled the beans on the
DC message boards, I thought it
"When you read the first
issue of Zodiac, keep in mind that it was not the first issue,"
said Giffen in a recent chat. "They insisted we do a new first issue."
Considering the possible impact the news could have on the fledgling series,
Keith requested that I keep mum on the subject, allowing readers to experience
the "first" issue without any preconceived notions or biases. Besides,
new first issue
"Having to do a first issue before the first issue," he says, "I think a lot of really good stuff came out of it, because I got to play around with narrative." "[And] the fact that the new first issue works at all," he added, "is a testament to Colleen Doran's artwork." I think I can agree with that assessment. Take care and see you in a months time if all is well!
THE GIFFEN UPDATE 08/28/03 UNANSWERED QUESTIONS DEPT. A lot of readers have been
wondering about the status of Keith's Image series, DOMINION, and
rightly so. The first two issues were released with quite a gap between
issues, and the third one has yet to hit store shelves. I, personally,
have not even seen #2, and some shop owners are informing their customers
that the book has been
Well, they're wrong. And sort of right. When asked if DOMINION was dead in the water, he responded: "Uhhh…It's on the Spawn schedule. I even told them, just change the indicia to read DOMINION is published whenever we goddamn well feel like it." Overall, good news for fans of the book, but shortly after having confirmed the series' continuing lease on life, Keith received an e-mail that surprised us both. KG: I just got an e-mail saying we're going to have to cancel this. MJ: [laughs] So, Dominion is cancelled? KG: Uhhhhh…yeah. It is. I guess so. [chuckles] It's kind of unbelieveable. So, it appears that DOMINION has, in fact, seen its last days. Whether or not the third issue will come out is still unknown. The whole thing was a bit confusing, and even Keith is a little bewildered by the whole situation. As always, I'll keep you posted of any new developments on this subject. --- Another request from Dispatch readers was to clear up the confusion of Keith's last cancelled series, SUICIDE SQUAD. The book ended with almost every principal character being killed and a few more questions about the identities of Rock and Bulldozer being posed. KG: Bulldozer getting up out of the wheelchair and walking off was not mine, but I love it anyways. What I had done with Bulldozer, I left him in the wheelchair, but Tomasi had him get up and walk away. When they approached me with it and said, "We want to do this," I said, "Go with it!" It ends like THE PRISONER. Make of that what you will. But it ended on this really bizarre twisted kind of note. I wasn't going to leave the characters alive for anyone else to [mess] with, you know? So, we killed them all except for Bulldozer. I like the fact that it ends in a really, really bizarre way that you can read whatever you want into it. Finding the Rock mask in the empty cell, that was definitely mine. MJ: There have been theories about Rock having been the Unknown Soldier the whole time. KG: No. We saw the Unknown Soldier recruit him. By the way, Rock was not my idea, he was given to me, and the ending was pretty much a way of saying to the fans, "Yeah, he probably did die on the last day of World War II, so don't worry about it." But I loved that book. I had a ball doing that book. --- Hopefully that clears up those topics to everyone's satisfaction. FILMWERKS I also asked Keith about any upcoming film projects, or the ongoing status of his previous efforts and he was pretty tight-lipped on the subject. KG: I've signed two non-disclosure agreements and I've got four projects that are going out September 1st that people are kind of thrilled with. COMIC CLIPS While most of our comic talk was off the record, Keith did hint at some very cool projects that are coming down the pipe. From the sound of it, LOBO UNBOUND may not be the last time Giffen writes for the Main Man. Whether you want it or not, it looks like we may be seeing another storyline featuring the boisterous bounty hunter sometime in the near future. And while it is not breaking news that FORMERLY KNOWN AS… will be followed by another mini-series by the same creative team, I thought that I would let fans know that everything that I've heard about I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE JUSTICE LEAGUE sounds like a heck of a lot of fun. And watch for Keith, J.M. and Kevin to revisit some of the classic gags of the original series, but with a little more punch (I daresay, that should be clue enough to JL readers of bygone days). ZODIAC is keeping Keith all a-twitter, and he hopes readers check out the new series with artist extraordinaire, Colleen Doran. "That is genuinely the book that my entire career has been leading up to." Like SANDMAN or TRANSMETROPOLITAN,
the storyline that Keith has planned for ZODIAC is a finite one,
and will, if sales are good enough to support the series, run for 72 issues.
"I could close my eyes and see the whole story. And at the end of six years,
if it is collected into trade paperback you have the twelve books of the
We'll only see those trades if we support the book, however, so as Keith says, "Buy the book. Buy it for the art. Even if you don't read it, buy it. Buy it for kindling, I don't care. Just buy the book." Remember PENTHOUSE COMIX? Remember that Keith did some work for them while they were still publishing? Well, don't be surprised if you see Keith returning to writing some comedy/porn in the future. Avatar has recently obtained the rights to VIVID and Keith may see some work from them coming his way (no puns there, get your minds out of the gutter). "There's nothing better than doing super-hero porn," he says with a chuckle. "It's fun." SYN continues (I have
to say I really like this series) over at Dark Horse's imprint, Rocket
Comics and Keith continues to have a blast doing the adaptation of BATTLE
ROYALE for TokyoPop. In fact, he's probably having more fun there than
on any of his other projects, getting his hands dirty in one of the most
extreme and graphic
November 02, 2001 - Ola, everyone. As promised, I have gone and updated the page again after my long absence. As I mentioned on the list, I was swamped with other work and gone for neck surgery, but most of that is done with or under control, so expect more frequent updates from now on (well, frequent for me, anyhow). This time around I have done up the Filmwerks section with a new Batman Beyond episode that Keith storyboarded, and I've finally added the Static Shock! stuff to that section as well. Not much else other than that at this time, but I'll be back with more soon.
November 01, 2001 - From the DC Direct Contact Newsletter:
Don't miss the following hot projects scheduled to be in stores on
THE POWER COMPANY: JOSIAH POWER ($2.50, 32 pages)
Not sure I care for the concept or the parent book, but if Keith draws it I, and I'm sure many of you, will buy it.
September 05, 2001 - The first issue of Suicide Squad is getting the flash treatment! DC's webpage has the Squad featured in their little animated promo box. It's kind of cool in its simplicity, and almost hypnotising in its repetition. Go to the DC Comics webpage to check it out.
August 31, 2001 - As promised I got on the phone with Keith and had a chat about Suicide Squad and many other things. The "interview" portion is available at Silver Bullet Comicbooks and the rest of the chat will be put into an upcoming Giffen Update or something. Not everything, as you'd expect, made the final cut.
The call to Keith has been delayed somewhat (I know, I know) but I am trying to work it into my schedule very soon. In fact, I am hoping to get around to it today, if possible, so expect some new Giffen info soon. And I mean it this time. *grin* Anyway, I hope the images
are to your liking, and I'm sure you'll post any thoughts on the Daily
Dispatch list, the link to which is located at the bottom of this page.
August 09, 2001 - There's a new addition to the Gallery section today. I've added the cover for Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine #8 by Keith and the ever-wonderful, Bruce Timm. The image is full colour and text free, pulled fresh off of the Marvel.com July previews. I also just received my B&W preview copy of Suicide Squad from DC today and thought I would let you all know that I plan on posting all the pages of said preview on the Resource Page as soon as I get my hands on a scanner (I dropped mine a couple of months ago and it stopped working...go figure). Anyway, that's the score for this update. As always, there'll be more when I get around to it.
June 26, 2001 - M. Cardwell posted this heads up on the Daily Dispatch news list and I thought I would add it here for those of you stubborn enough not to go and sign yourselves up. "Great news day at www.comicon.com/newsarama for Giffen fans. Interview, Suicide Squad preview pages, a mention of the Rose and Thorn project, the lot. The little discussion group afterwards reminds me there's still a sh!tload of affection out there for Keith. Paco's art is looking better than ever. Lets help make this a hit!"
June 23, 2001 - A little bit of Paco Medina news I picked up off of the Dark Horse comics site and posted on the Dispatch news list: "If you didn't already know, Paco will be doing PLANET OF THE APES work for Dark Horse, as indicated by this News Feature from the Dark Horse website. I do find it odd that they mention his Man of Steel stuff, but not his upcoming SUICIDE SQUAD stuff. Possibly a question for the Giffster? Definitely! Anyway, Paco gives a few words on the POTA franchise and how much he loves to draw monkeys, so check it out if you're interested."
I've also added to the Bwahahaha! section the page that Keith did for Paradox Press', The Big Book of Urban Legends. The story is called, "Fart in the Dark." That is, unfortunately, it for this time. I don't really have much time on my hands and will continue the somewhat irregular update schedule for the time being. As usual, though, you can always find the newest of the news over at the Daily Dispatch to which there are many and sundry links scattered throughout the site for you to use if you haven't been there yet (and shame on you if you haven't). So, until next time, see you later, or until Suicide Squad #1 hits the stands!
May 27, 2001 - I just saw this on the Marvel Comics site and thought you folks might be interested in it... Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine #7 Cover by Keith Giffen & Bruce Timm Continuing Marvel's yearlong celebration of the FF's 40th anniversary in the classic Lee/Kirby tradition! What is Dr. Doom's ultimate goal? And exactly how will the Inhumans help him attain it? It's another bombastic blowout -- brought to you by Erik Larsen, Eric Stephenson, Tom DeFalco, Keith Giffen, Rick Veitch, Ron Frenz, Al Williamson, Al Gordon, Joe Sinnott, Mike Manley and Bruce Timm!
April 26, 2001 - Talk Supe
Screenwriter Paul Attanasio has been tapped by Warner Bros. to write a
by Brian Linder 2001-04-20
Originally appeared @ IGN Film Force
Just when you thought Warner Bros. might let Superman slip back into
Unless you've been living in a cave for the past 5 years, you know
Attanasio – co-creator of Homicide: Life on the Street and writer of
THR says that Attanasio will sift through three or four previously
The latest directorial names churned out by the rumor mill include Tim
Warner Bros. is also courting Attanasio to pen an adaptation of author
– Brian Linder hopes Attanasio tackles Superman before Good German.
April 20, 2001 - I've added some links to the Credits & Links page, but no other major updates yet. I do have some great new images that I can't wait to get up though, so keep the peepers peeled! They'll be up by the end of the month, I'm sure.
April 05, 2001 - Thomas Deacock, longtime Giffan and visitor to the site posted this news bit on the Dispatch board regarding a Mr. Monster/Trencher jam piece that had never seen publication by Giffen and Mr. Monster's creator, Michael T. Gilbert: This jam-piece will finally be published as part of the MR MONSTER: HIS BOOKS OF FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE VOLUME ZERO TP, coming in june 2001 from Twomorrow's Publishing (check the current PREVIEWS issue page 301). Thanks Thom!
April 03, 2001 - m.cardwell posted this bit on the Daily Dispatch News List: The news sites are buzzing with DC's latest publicity blow out. It includes a mention for a hardback called Lovecraft, apparently scripted by Keith as an adaption of a screenplay by John Carpenter. The art is by Enriqque Breccia. There's also confirmation of The Suicide Squad, though I've forgotten who the penciller was named as (it has since been discovered that Paco Medina will be said artist). I've also heard it rumoured that known Giffen-associate Mike McKone is about to sign on as pick up artist on the Legion for Olivier Coippel, who can only comfortably manage around nine issues a year. This might be complete bollocks, but I hope not.
March 22, 2001 - It has recently come to my attention that there is an interview with Tom and Mary over at ComicbookGalaxy.com. In it, they discuss, among other things, the V.4 Legion and some of the plans that were never seen thorugh as a result of both their removal from the book, and Keith's departure. There's some interesting stuff there, even if you don't get the whole story on some points, but decent reading for the purist. Here's the addy: http://www.comicbookgalaxy.com/interviews/tmb.html
March 12, 2001 - I've got a Giffen update coming up in a day or so, bbut until then I thought I would mention that Keith's stuff is once again featured in issue #3 of the FF maxi-series. He does pages 17-22 in King Kirby style and I believe he is inked, as before, by Al Gordon.
February 24, 2001 - Believe it or not, the Suicide Squad will be returning to monthly comics in 2001 courtesy of DC Comics' Annual event and someone who is no stranger to DC or team books, Keith Giffen. Giffen, who helped redefine team books for the company in the late 80s, has signed on as the regular writer of the book, and tells me that an artist has officially signed on to the project as well, although at the time of this writing his name remains unknown. I am told that the artist is a relative newcomer and has done some recent work on the Superman line of books, which leads me to believe that a strong list of maybes would include Eric Canete, Duncan Rouleau and Lee Bermejo (which, by the way, is pure unadulterated speculation on my part). The new direction the creative team will be taking will be a fresh beginning for the Suicide Squad, as a concept, a team and a series. "We're startin' from scratch," says Giffen. "A brand new take on it." The "brand new take" will see Giffen introduce a Mission: Impossible-like element to the series, and no set base of operations like the previous teams Belle Reeve headquarters. The book will showcase a rotating, mobile team of operatives with a greater capacity to respond to crisis situations quickly and effectively. Brand new characters will also be introduced in the series, although many of them will be long-time residents of the DCU, with the first and most noticeable change being the team's leader. Amanda Waller, who had been in charge of the Squad since the Legends mini-series of several years ago, will no longer be involved with the team in any capacity that I am aware of. Her position will instead be taken up by a former member of the newly elected president's cabinet, Frank Rock. Ol' Sgt. Rock will find himself joined by another member of the legendary Easy Company, the now wheelchair-bound Bulldozer, as well as two new characters of Giffen's creation. "Modem is the ultimate cyber hacker with a very snotty Hercule Poirot attitude and there is also a woman named Havanna, who will be the latin fireball stereotype. She's declared Wednesdays as Spanish Day and will only speak spanish which drives everyone else crazy." The humour that marked Giffen's five year run on the Justice League books will be returning, to a certain degree, in the pages of the new Suicide Squad. The first team of sacrificial lambs will consist of none other than the old members of the Injustice League, otherwise known as Justice League Antarctica. "The book will definitely be levened with humour," claims Giffen. "I find that the best humour comes from dire situations." And there are few situations more dire than the entire team being wiped out while fulfilling their objectives (I did say this was the Suicide Squad, right?). And for fans now fretting over the fates of Major Disaster and his crew of misfits, Giffen reassures me that they will all go in a blaze of glory, possibly earning the respect they desired so much in life through their deaths. When more information becomes available (particularly some dates and possibly artwork) you'll hear it here first.
February 05, 2001 - Hey, folks...I've just done some long overdue updating to the site today. Nothing major, just bringing the site's Dispatch up to date with the e-group's and some minor maintanence here and there. Still, if you aren't a part of the Dispatch group, some of the news here (dating back to October 30, 2000, I think) may be new or, at the very least, still a curiosity for you. I'll try and get something more substantial up in the near future to whet your appettites for the upcoming onslaught of Giffen projects that I've alluded to from time to time. I'm just getting some dates confirmed from the man himself before posting some great Giffen news, so hold tight and pick up The World's Greatest Comic Magazine: Fantastic Four while you wait. The stuff looks great and it's a fun read to boot! Oh yeah, before I forget, to keep totally abreast of the goings on in the world o' Giffen you should sign up for the Yahoo! Groups e-list that I've been running for the last few months. All the current news gets posted there first and makes its way here eventually. So hop on the bandwagon and sign up already!
January 12, 2001 - DC has just advertised a new doll in their plush soft toy line to be released in May of 2001. I asked Keith, the co-creator of the character, what he thought of this bold new direction in marketing The Main Man and he commented, "It joins other plush toys that you've always wanted such as DEATH. It's like, let's make the least likely plush toys of all. Let's make Death, and who else have we got here...The Corinthian, let's do the Corinthian. Let's make a plush toy with teeth for eyes. Or Preacher!" The doll, which looks as if it is modelled on the animated Lobo who appeared in two episodes of the Superman animated series, will stand 7 inches tall and comes with a removeable soft hook. The figure will join other DC plush dolls such as the aforementioned Death, Delirium, Bat-Mite, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Krypto the Super Dog and Goldie the Gargoyle from The Dreaming.
January 02, 2001 - Keith gave us a look back at the year 2000 and a glimpse of what he sees on the horizon for 2001 recently in Beau Yarbrough's The Comic Wire and I've linked to it here for anyone who is interested in seeing Keith's take on the past and future of comics.
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
