SPOILERS - TEN GRAND news and reviews

[Optimous Douche]

I've read issue 1 & 2 and it's great folks. Spoilers ahead, but don't let your knowledge of the plot trick you into thinking I've spoiled it all.

http://robpatey.com/2013/03/25/ten-grand-1-review-joes-comics-has-wings-baby/

[Jan]

Cool, thanks. Shared!

Jan

[Ubik]

Looking forward to it! Cheers for the review.

[Jan]

Just found word of JMS doing a signing on release day.

Yesteryear Comics
9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd D-2
San Diego, California 92123
(858) 279-6121

May 1 at 3:00 PM PDT

Jan

[Jan]

JMS has posted the covers for Issue 2:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=567095596658641&set=a.141141352587403.20034.139652459402959&type=1

...and Issue 3:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=567095936658607&set=a.141141352587403.20034.139652459402959&type=1

Beautiful and disturbing by turns.

Jan

[Jan]

An interview with JMS about TEN GRAND.

http://www.comicosity.com/interview-j-michael-straczynski-kicks-off-joes-comics-with-ten-grand/

I noticed this part and asked him about it, as it sounded like each issue would have the QR link:

So for instance, when you buy an issue of Ten Grand you will find a QR code in the back of the book that links directly to a full audio performance of the dialogue from the book. This way, you can either read the book on its own, or simply sit back and enjoy BenÆs amazing art while you listen to the story being acted out by some of the best voice actors in the business (Robin Atkin-Downes, Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal).

JMS just replied:

Just the first one of each title for now, so Sidekick is next. As we get income from the books, we can expand some of these things.

I'm pretty sure SIDEKICK comes out at SDCC.

Jan

[Ubik]

Very intrigued by the radio drama idea. It’s an interesting take on expanding the comic beyond its original format. Of course, as a reader I tend to create my own voices for the characters, so I imagine it might be a bit odd to have them provided for you. That said, I can see the two existing independent of each other without it being a problem. I think I’ll read the comic first, get my own internal impressions of the characters, then listen to the radio drama. Should be a curious experience. Will also give us a taster of what to expect from the Crusade dramatisations.

In any case, it’s great that JMS is providing these additional goodies.

[Jan]

I also tend to hear the characters in my mind as I'm reading. When JMS did the 'Wonder Woman Players' reading at SDCC a few years ago, though, it was amazing to watch the pictures on the big screen and hear the voice actors he brought in. Very much looking forward to this, too.

Jan

[Looney]

Cool

That does sound awesome. And it is another excuse for people to stop learning to read or forget how to if they already do. LOL

[Jan]

That does sound awesome. And it is another excuse for people to stop learning to read or forget how to if they already do. LOL

Nah, just the other way around! If only the first issue is dramatized, they'll get hooked and have to learn to read in order to get the rest of the story!

Jan

[Jan]

JMS posted that he'll be doing a signing on Free Comic Book Day, May 4:

http://comicsandcards.net/?page_id=4199

CollectorÆs Paradise Comics & Gallery
7131 Winnetka Ave
Canoga Park, CA 91306
818-999-9455

Jan

[Dan Dassow]

JMS posted that he'll be doing a signing on Free Comic Book Day, May 4:

http://comicsandcards.net/?page_id=4199

Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery
7131 Winnetka Ave
Canoga Park, CA 91306
818-999-9455

Jan

Interesting! This comic book shop is only 30 miles from Caltech. This would be a perfect opportunity for Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj to interact with JMS. Too bad "The Big Bang Theory" has probably finished filming for the season.

May the 4th be with JMS!

[Jan]

Excellent interview with JMS on Comic Book Resources - with some staggering pre-order figures:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=45104

One way or another, though, we should have three titles coming out per month by November, all of them titles that I’m very passionate about and excited to tell. We’re out to have fun, break some conventions, and tell some good stories, and we hope that the readers out there will continue to check us out and come along for the ride.

Woo-Hoo!!

Jan

[Jan]

TEN GRAND issue #1 - SPOILERS

Here I've got my very own TEN GRAND #1 C2E2 variant comic. On this cover, we see Joe Fitzgerald and his love, Laura along with some arcane witing. There are going to be eight variant covers altogether for this issue. They're lettered:

Cover A: by Ben Templesmith shows Joe Fizgerald waiting for new clients.
Cover B: shows somebody holding up a cell phone/camera with a demonic eye by Bill Sienkiewicz.
Cover C: C2E2 exclusive of Joe and Laura by Temploesmith.
Cover D: Heroes Initiative/Dynamic Forces exclusive variant by Jae Lee-color
Cover E: Dynamic Forces exclusive by Lee - black & white.
Cover F: Phantom variant exclusive (probably my fave)
Cover E: Forbidden Planet exclusive (B&W of Cover A)
Cover F: Mile High Comics exclusive (gold variant of Cover A)

But enough of that collector stuff - what about the comic?

It's great. It's not said when this happens but it jumps in with Joe Fizgerald taking on a new client who's looking for her sister who'd been involved with a cult which was into domonology. During the comic Joe muses on how he got to where he is and we find out how both he and Laura died and the bargain he's made. Joe's contact is a being he calls Angel but iit's not a comfortable relationship and I think this kind of angel is the big scary powerful version. She taunts him that Laura misses him.

There are no ads interrupting your story experience!! Affter the story, you get a look at next month's cover and then there's a 'Joe's Counter' column by...well, Joe Straczynski. I'm hoping it's a regular feature. In this one JMS gives a bit of a mission statement for Joe's Comics and that's where I found the QR code to hear the audio drama of the issue...

...which is *great*! It's about 15 1/2 minutes long and really goes well with the art and feel of the book. The voice artists are Robin Atkin Downes, Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt...but I could swear I heard Pat Tallman's voice in there, too - I'll try to ask her this afternoon. There's no narration, only the dialogue and some sound effects and it's very effective.

Definitely an exciting start and I'm really looking forward to more.

Jan

[Ubik]

Cheers for the review and summary Jan. Damn, are there enough variant covers there? Cough, splutter. (Good thing I don’t collect variant covers!).

I noted that Bleeding Cool also reviewed the comic earlier this month, and called it ‘Constantine done right’, which sounds good to me. I may wait for the trade, as I’m trying to ditch buying floppies. In this case I may have to make an exception, and I guess it’s important to support Joe’s new book so that it’ll continue. Although, that said, looking at his issue 1 order figures I really don’t think he’ll be in the ‘struggling indie artist’ category!

Currently I only get a few select titles as singles – (note these are ALL Image titles, they’re killing it right now in my humble opinion).

Prophet by Brandon Graham
Multiple Warheads by Brandon Graham
Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Fatale by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

Once those end , I want to stop accumulating single issues and just buy trades, which I do for the vast majority of comics I buy now. I have two long boxes containing ONLY full runs of series I absolutely love, and that’s more than enough. I vowed never to go over two longboxes as far as single issues are concerned.

Anyhow, can’t wait to read the comic in whatever format.