Joe's Comics Imprint

[Ubik]

Interesting!

[Jan]

In the same thread on FB where JMS talked about 'Ten Grand', fans asked:

About more "Book of Lost Souls":

Craig: Who can say?

About more "Dream Police":

Craig: stay tuned.

then I asked what time was on the clock (which I can't seem to copy the photo of over here):

Jan, at Joe's Comics it's ALWAYS five minutes to midnight....

So fingers very tightly crossed for more 'Book of Lost Souls' and 'Dream Police'!

Jan

[Ubik]

In the same thread on FB where JMS talked about 'Ten Grand', fans asked:

About more "Book of Lost Souls":

About more "Dream Police":

then I asked what time was on the clock (which I can't seem to copy the photo of over here):

So fingers very tightly crossed for more 'Book of Lost Souls' and 'Dream Police'!

Jan

Looking forward to more JMS creator owned work, but definitely not holding out for more Dream Police. The one issue that came out left me pretty cold. It just struck me as very run of the mill for JMS, and ever so slightly hackneyed.

Perhaps more could be done with the concept over the course of a proper series. I'll reserve judgment for now.

[Jan]

Looking forward to more JMS creator owned work, but definitely not holding out for more Dream Police. The one issue that came out left me pretty cold. It just struck me as very run of the mill for JMS, and ever so slightly hackneyed.

Perhaps more could be done with the concept over the course of a proper series. I'll reserve judgment for now.

Oh, I'd love to see more. Every once in a while it's nice to see JMS do something just for fun and this was definitely it. And the artwork was great, too, I thought.

Jan

[Ubik]

Oh, I'd love to see more. Every once in a while it's nice to see JMS do something just for fun and this was definitely it. And the artwork was great, too, I thought.

Jan

I remember the art being very nice, but I think the key issue here is that JMS' sense of humour doesn't always work for me. It's 50/50 for me, he does have his funny moments, but they don't always hit the mark (for me). Ah well, humour, is a very personal thing I guess!

In any case, more comics = good.

[Jan]

A fan posted a question to JMS' Facebook page the other day that I didn't pass along until I'd seen the item he was asking about myself.

There was a full-page ad in Previews Magazine (mostly for comic shops but big comics fans get it also) for Joe's Comics this week.

Here's the part from FB:

The fan asked about the four titles and if JMS could say anything about the title changes:

Just a matter of a) picking the right books to go in the right order, and we've been moving around some pieces, b) Peter David having asked for one name change as a personal favor since it was close to one of his books, and c) shifts in artist availability

and

Forgot: we also moved a a few more things around a bit in order to hit C2E2 with our first issue of Ten Grand (and a speical, convention-only variant cover).

I'm trying to see if I can upload an image of the ad but just in case:

"Falling Angel" is now "Angel Descending" (which I like better) and "Guardians" is now "Protectors, Inc."

And I had to chuckle when I saw the slogan on the bottom of the ad: Joe's Comics...where it's always five minutes to midnight. I don't think for a single moment that the slogan wasn't long in place but I smiled when I remembered that the first time I saw it was when I asked JMS about the time on the clock a week or so back.

ETA: linking to the image didn't work but you can see it on the JMSNews Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JMSNe...type=1&theater

Jan

[Jan]

JMS posted a Joe's Comics poster (yeah, fine...*after* I schlepped all the way to the comic shop to beg the page out of 'Previews' ) and also posted in response to a request for more information:

More will be released the closer we get to the debuts. Meanwhile, I should also add for our friends in France that a deal has been struck for a French language edition of Joe's Comics, so we are now officially international.

Another fan asked about the slogan "Read at Joe's":

We use both as the mood strikes.

Jan

[Ubik]

Summary of new Image Comics solicitations over at Bleeding Cool

Includes a summary of Joe's 'Ten Grand', which has art by Ben Templesmith. For a moment there I thought it was a new issue of Warren Ellis' 'Fell', due to similar cover art. (which would also be cause for excitement in my book)

Here's the blurb:

TEN GRAND #1 (MR)

(W) J. Michael Straczynski (A/CA) Ben Templesmith

Joe Fitzgerald was a mob enforcer until the day he met Laura, who convinced him to leave that world behind. Before quitting, Joe agreed to one last job, little realizing that the man he’d been sent to kill was deeply involved in demonlogy. He survived Joe’s attempt and came after him, fatally wounding Joe and killing Laura. As he lay dying, an angelic force (who may or may not be what she appears) pointed out that where she is going, he can’t follow, and where he is going, he wouldn’t want her to follow. But if he will agree to work for them as a different kind of enforcer, they will bring him to life and keep on bringing him to life every time he is killed in a righteous cause. The reward: for those five minutes of death, he will be with Laura again. Would you endure an eternity of pain and death, dying over and over, to be with the woman you love for just five minutes each time you died? Most people might say no. But Joe Fitzgerald isn’t most people.

A bold new era begins with the long-anticipated return of Joe’s Comics, the imprint that brought you MIDNIGHT NATION and RISING STARS. All-new stories from J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI (Babylon 5, Jeremiah, Thor, Amazing Spider-Man, Superman: Earth One) return in 2013 with an action packed line up featuring everything from superhero action to supernatural thrillers. Watch this space as a new wave of exciting, challenging and experimental stories begins!

[Jan]

Thanks, Ubik! Yay, new details. I like the way we see the woman's face behind him. And at this point we can't know whether it's Laura or the 'angelic force'.

Can more knowlegeable folks than I tell if Templesmith was the artist for the art we saw back at Comic-Con last year? https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.ph...type=3&theater

I'm glad JMS upped it to Joe being able to spend *five* minutes with Laura. I thought only one was awfully short. Can't even get one decent kiss in only a minute.

Jan

[Ubik]

Thanks, Ubik! Yay, new details. I like the way we see the woman's face behind him. And at this point we can't know whether it's Laura or the 'angelic force'.

I like the overall concept. Cheating death (with strings attached) seems to be a recurring theme that JMS likes to explore. Once you've been following a writer for a while you begin to notice these things!

Can more knowlegeable folks than I tell if Templesmith was the artist for the art we saw back at Comic-Con last year? https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.ph...type=3&theater

Based on that image I'd say no. It doesn't look like Templesmith's work to me. The colouring is too polished and definied, he tends to go for a more sketchy luminous watercolour look. I'm struggling to describe it, but his style is looser and more decorative. To me, he's like a more focused Ashley Wood (of Popbot fame). I rate Templesmith as an artist. Definitely give 'Fell' a look, there's a TPB of the existing run published by Image. It's yet to be concluded but it will happen soon I hope. Warren Ellis experienced a hard drive crash and lost a few issues worth of scripts, which he's still recovering from!

I'm glad JMS upped it to Joe being able to spend *five* minutes with Laura. I thought only one was awfully short. Can't even get one decent kiss in only a minute.
Jan

Yep, seems sensible! Seriously, what are you going to do with one minute?

[Jan]

JMS just posted this link:

The solicits are out for the first issue of Joe's Comics, Ten Grand, art by Ben Templesmith, variant cover by Bill Sienkiewicz! Diamond's Gem of the Month!

http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/917?stockItemID=STK529770

ETA: And a glimpse of art inside Issue #1:

A special peek just for readers here from Ten Grand #1: an angel speaks to Joe Fitzgerald through a dancer at a strip club.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=546145148753686&set=a.141141352587403.20034.139652459402959&type=1&theater&notif_t=notify_me

ETA2: JMS added:

We're also doing an ultra-rare, limited run second variant cover that we'll be giving out at C2E2 to tie into the convention.

I asked if it was going to be the same issue #1 or an issue #0 or something and he replied:

A free convention variant for issue one.

Jan

[Jan]

JMS just posted a link to a small video interview and some more preview art for Ten Grand:

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/02/27/jms-joes-comics-ten-grand/

Making "Ten Grand" extra-special is a QR code in the back of the first issue leading them directly to an audio performance of the book’s dialogue by top voice actors including "Babylon 5" alums Robin Atkin Downes, Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt.

Memo to self: figure out how to use a QR code by the end of April!

Jan

[Jan]

Anot article about Joe's Comics and Ten Grand:

http://www.comicosity.com/straczynskis-ten-grand-coming-to-image-comics/

...with some excellent testimonials from Andy Lanning, Ron Marz and others.

One thing I noticed was this part:

SIDEKICK, the second title to be launched from Joe’s Comics, will debut at Comic-Con International in San Diego with a convention variant. This will be followed in the fall by ALONE and PROTECTORS, INC. (artist announcements pending).

...so I posted to JMS' page asking if 'Alone' is a name change from 'Angel Descending' or an error. Hope he'll see it and answer.

ETA: ZOOM...fast as a speeding electron, JMS asnwered already:

We're holding Angel Descending for later; Alone is a more provocative story.

ETA2: More Ten Grand art available here: http://imagecomics.tumblr.com/post/4...traczynski-and

Jan

[Jan]

JMS posted a link to a nice, long interview with some artist info on the other books coming up.

http://robpatey.com/2013/02/28/j-michael-straczynskis-triumphant-relaunch-of-joes-comics/

: TEN GRAND will be followed by SIDEKICK, drawn by Tom Mandrake, which will debut at San Diego Comic Con. Then comes Alone (which will have an A-list artist who weÆre still negotiating with but hope to announce soon), and Protectors Inc., drawn by Gordon Purcell.

Jan

[Jan]

Okay then....

Comic Shop Retailers: issues 1 and 2 of Ten Grand lettered and done! Guaranteed to ship on time or I will have your baby!

Oh, Myyyyyy...

Jan