SIDEKICK News & Reviews- SPOILERS

[Jan]

Found on the newly revamped StudioJMS.com website:

Tom Mandrake,
SIDEKICK artist

ôIÆve been illustrating comics professionally since 1980. I have handled art chores for a number of high profile titles and characters including Batman, Superman, The Martian Manhunter, The New Mutants, Justice League of America, New Teen Titans, Shazam, Firestorm, Swamp Thing, Grimjack and The Spirit, my creator owned Image book, Creeps, and was acclaimed for my five-year run on The Spectre.

Most recently IÆve completed To Hell You Ride, working with actor Lance Henriksen and writer Joe Maddrey on their first published comic book work through Dark Horse comics. With experience drawing superheroes, science fiction, fantasy and westerns IÆm probably best known for my work in the horror/superhero genres with projects like Superman and Batman vs Vampires and Werewolves. I am the co-developer with Joe Kubert of the correspondence course in horror comics for the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, I also graduated from the school and teach there!ö -Tom Mandrake

Check out his work at: http://www.tommandrake.com/

and

HiFi,
SIDEKICK colorist

Hi-Fi color design is a digital color studio founded in 1998 to bring together talented colorists with one goal; great visual storytelling. Even without knowing it you may have seen Hi-FiÆs work in books, comics, magazines, movies, video games, and toys. Behind the Hi-Fi logo stands a team of talented color artists working around the clock bringing your favorite comic books to life with beautifully rendered color. Check them out at: http://masterdigitalcolor.com/

Jan

[Jan]

JMS posted a promo poster for SIDEKICK:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580129848688549&set=a.141141352587403.20034.139652459402959&type=1&theater

Jan

[Ubik]

I am not so hot on the poster art, but will refrain from making judgements until we see more.

[Jan]

JMS posted the cover art for issue #2:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=512622248785998&set=a.512617402119816.1073741829.512597738788449&type=1&theater

Going ahead and adding the Spoiler tag to the thread title now since the SDCC release is only six weeks away so reviews may start popping up shortly.

Jan

[Jan]

Just found the official press release for SIDEKICK:

http://www.comicosity.com/image-announces-new-joes-comics-title-sidekick/

ôSidekick is designed to turn the usual superhero tropes upside down,ö said writer Straczynski. ôFlyboyÆs gradual disintegration into madness and crime is fueled by his desperate need for approval. His downward spiral slowly drives him to the dark side of the law, where he begins an affair with the villainous Moonglow Twins, who one night whisper something to him about the fate of his mentor that he could never have imagined possible. That secret may be the key to FlyboyÆs redemption, or his damnation, giving him something to live forà and maybe, just maybe, something to kill for.

Jan

[Jan]

An interview with CBR about Sidekick. A few spoilers included:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=45968

We have absolutely no qualms about going too far. We're not necessarily looking to create franchises with these characters. The books will stay around as long as we can tell good stories and not a second longer, so we're absolutely fine with the idea of beating the crap out of our characters and going straight for the taboos.

We've been warned!

Jan

[nottenst]

Already from reading the summary in Previews I had bad feelings about Sidekick. Then seeing those two quotes makes my decision. I think this series is going to be darker than I want at this time. So, I'll pass on getting it monthly. I can always revisit this decision if it is successful and collected.

[Jan]

I'll admit to a certain amount of nervousness myself. But JMS' skill at storytelling has earned a fair trial from me so I'll five it at least 3 or 4 issues. It would be a really unusual move if he created a character/series without some hope of redemption, after all. <fingers crossed>

Jan

[Jan]

JMS has posted a trailer for SIDEKICK now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-A0Bma0gII

Jan

[JoeD80]

I think this series is going to be darker than I want at this time.

As Joe said on twitter:

Yeah, but sometimes the darker you go, the funnier it gets...

[Jan]

Yeah...but I think that's a 'funny' I may not be equipped to appreciate. BUT it would appear from the trailer and preview pages in issue #2 of TEN GRAND that Flyboy does have the seeds of a true hero in him. So let's hope for the best.

Jan

[Ubik]

I think it looks promising. I doubt Joe's likely to do a series this dark without a bit of light creeping in further on down the line. A darker tone doesn't really bother me. Will give it a look when the first trade hits.

I don't really do single issues anymore. I have two longboxes that are full, and I swore I'd never go beyond that. Would rather a nice collected volume on my bookshelf.

[Jan]

JMS just posted a sneak preview of the San Diego Comic-Con variant of the first issue of SIDEKICK:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=599095276792006&set=a.141141352587403.20034.139652459402959&type=1

Jan

[Jan]

Interview/article on SIDEKICK:

http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/977?articleID=136148

It's looking a little more complex than it had before. I'll be interested to see the first issue.

Jan

[Jan]

Somebody didn't like the hero name in SIDEKICK:

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/07/studio-jms-sues-self-publisher-in-feud-over-sidekick-character/

Synopsis: A C&D letter was sent by somebody who'd written a comic featuring a character named the 'Cowl'. JMS didn't see any similarities but changed his hero's name to the Red Cowl and let the lawyer know.

Then it got interesting. The opposing lawyer went way overboard and even threatened "... to make Studio JMS ôposter childrenö for enhanced damages, meaning the court would have the discretion to levy an award of up to three times that of compensatory damages (itÆs usually reserved for instances of willful infringement). " That's when JMS filed his countersuit.

Methinks that the Hamilton attorney had no idea what he was letting himself in for.

Jan