BATMAN & MARVEL Rule Surprisingly Down NOVEMBER 2016 Comic Book Sales

By Michael Doran December 9, 2016 07:34am ET

Credit: DC Comics

The Dark Knight ruled the top of the comic book sales chart and Marvel's "Marvel NOW!" once again has them on top of the market share categories, but despite having five sales weeks compared to 2015's four, November sales were down against last year, but it still looks like 2016 will eek out a narrow gain over 2015 when December's sales are tallied. 

Credit: DC Comics

According to sales figures released by Diamond Comic Distributors Friday morning, Bane's return helped Batman #10 and #11 top the November comic book sales charts, in a top 10 also featuring All-Star Batman #4 (4) and Batman Annual #1 (7). Marvel's Civil War II #7 (3) was there bestselling title. 

Credit: Cliff Chiang (Image Comics)

Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang's Paper Girls Volume 2 from Image Comics was November's best-selling graphic novel. 

Despite DC dominating the top of the comic book chart and perhaps aided by six entries in the graphic novel top 10, Marvel is once again the market hate leaders after ceding the position to DC for a few months during the initial months of "Rebirth."

Their 38.08% dollar share and 39.46% unit share easily topped DC's 26.17% dollar share and 31.30% unit share. 

But despite the advantage of having an extra week, November sales lagged behind sales one year ago by 4.25%. Graphic novel sales were up versus last year a robust 21.56%, but a 12.71% deficit in comic book sales wound up pulling the month into negative territory.

November 2015 featured the strong debuts of DC’s Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 and Marvel’s Star Wars: Vader Down #1 (over 820k copies between them) so while surprising, it may simply be a matter of circumstance and not a trend.

But you can always find more insight at our friends at Comichron. 

Year-to-date 2016 still leads 2015 by 1.82% in overall sales, so it still looks like the year will likely finish up for the sixth consecutive year.

The November 2016 Market Share, Comparative Sales Data, and New Titles Shipped charts, along with Top 10 Comic Books and Top 10 Graphic Novels charts follow below.

TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS

RETAIL MARKET SHARE PUBLISHER SHARE MARVEL COMICS 38.08% DC ENTERTAINMENT 26.17% IMAGE COMICS 8.99% IDW PUBLISHING 5.23% DARK HORSE COMICS 3.65% BOOM! STUDIOS 1.98% TITAN COMICS 1.61% VIZ MEDIA 1.52% DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 1.40% ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 1.01% OTHER NON-TOP 10 10.38%

UNIT MARKET SHARE PUBLISHER SHARE MARVEL COMICS 39.46% DC ENTERTAINMENT 31.30% IMAGE COMICS 9.06% IDW PUBLISHING 4.59% DARK HORSE COMICS 2.85% BOOM! STUDIOS 1.66% TITAN COMICS 1.30% DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 1.23% VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC 1.15% ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS 1.06% OTHER NON-TOP 10 6.34%

COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS

	DOLLARS	UNITS
NOVEMBER 2016 VS. OCTOBER 2016
COMICS	-10.33%	-13.26%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	19.48%	18.91%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-2.72%	-11.35%
TOYS	28.48%	53.60%
NOVEMBER 2016 VS. NOVEMBER 2015
COMICS	-12.71%	-6.09%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	21.56%	25.78%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	-4.25%	-4.15%
TOYS	-9.53%	-12.99%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2015
COMICS	1.85%	1.97%
GRAPHIC NOVELS	1.74%	0.77%
TOTAL COMICS/GN	1.82%	1.87%
TOYS	-5.60%	-8.56%

NEW TITLES SHIPPED

PUBLISHER	COMICS SHIPPED	GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED	MAGAZINES SHIPPED	TOTAL SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS	88	44	0	132
DC ENTERTAINMENT	84	35	0	119
IDW PUBLISHING	46	25	0	71
IMAGE COMICS	50	9	1	60
DARK HORSE COMICS	28	26	0	54
VIZ MEDIA	0	45	0	45
TITAN COMICS	23	18	2	43
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT	23	8	0	31
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT	25	5	0	30
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS	15	4	0	19
OTHER NON-TOP 10	136	217	30	383

TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	VENDOR
1	BATMAN #10	$2.99	DC
2	BATMAN #11	$2.99	DC
3	CIVIL WAR II #7	$4.99	MAR
4	ALL STAR BATMAN #4	$4.99	DC
5	INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1	$3.99	MAR
6	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS #1	$4.99	MAR
7	BATMAN ANNUAL #1	$4.99	DC
8	VENOM #1	$3.99	MAR
9	THE WALKING DEAD #160 (MR)	$2.99	IMA
10	IVX #0	$4.99	MAR

TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS

RANK	DESCRIPTION	PRICE	VENDOR
1	PAPER GIRLS VOLUME 2 TP	$12.99	IMA
2	MARVEL: THE HIP-HOP COVERS VOLUME 1 HC	$34.99	MAR
3	DC SUPER HERO GIRLS VOL. 2: HITS AND MYTHS TP	$9.99	DC
4	STAR WARS: DARTH VADER VOL. 4: END OF GAMES TP	$19.99	MAR
5	UNBELIEVABLE GWENPOOL VOL. 1: BELIEVE IT TP	$16.99	MAR
6	SANDMAN OVERTURE TP (MR)	$19.99	DC
7	DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH DELUXE EDITION HC	$17.99	DC
8	VISION VOL. 2: LITTLE BETTER THAN BEAST TP	$17.99	MAR
9	MOON KNIGHT VOLUME 1: LUNATIC TP	$15.99	MAR
10	DEADPOOL V. GAMBIT: V IS FOR VS TP	$16.99	MAR

"

| BATMAN | MARVEL | Rule | Surprisingly | Down | NOVEMBER | 2016 | Comic | Book | Sales | Michael | Doran< | span> | December | 07:34am | p> < | div> Credit: | Comics< | cite>< | div> The | Dark | Knight | ruled | comic | book | sales | chart | Marvels | Marvel | NOW! | once | again | them | market | share | categories | despite | having | five | weeks | compared | 2015s | four | November | were | down | against | last | year | still | looks | like | will | narrow | gain | over | 2015 | when | Decembers | tallied | p> < | div> Credit: | cite> According | figures | released | Diamond | Distributors | Friday | morning | Banes | return | helped | Batman | strong> | strong> top | charts | also | featuring | Star | Annual | Civil | there | bestselling | title | Cliff | Chiang | (Image | Comics)< | cite> Brian | Vaughan | Chiangs | Paper | Girls | Volume | from | Image | Comics | Novembers | best | selling | graphic | novel | p>Despite | dominating | perhaps | aided | entries | hate | leaders | after | ceding | position | months | during | initial | Rebirth | p> Their | dollar | unit | easily | topped | p> But | advantage | extra | week | lagged | behind | Graphic | versus | robust | deficit | wound | pulling | month | into | negative | territory | p> November | featured | strong | debuts | DC’s | III: | Master | Race | Marvel’s | Wars: | Vader | (over | 820k | copies | between | them) | while | surprising | simply | matter | circumstance | trend | always | find | more | insight | friends | Comichron< | p> Year | date | leads | overall | likely | finish | sixth | consecutive | p> The | 2016 Market | Share< |  Comparative | Data< | and New | Titles | Shipped < | strong>charts | along | with Top | Books< | strong> and Top | Novels< | strong> charts | follow | below | p> TOP | COMIC | BOOK | PUBLISHERS< | strong>< | p> RETAIL | MARKET | SHARE< | td> < | tr> PUBLISHER< | td> SHARE< | tr> MARVEL | COMICS< | td> 38 | 08%< | tr> DC | ENTERTAINMENT< | td> 26 | 17%< | tr> IMAGE | td> 8 | 99%< | tr> IDW | PUBLISHING< | td> 5 | 23%< | tr> DARK | HORSE | td> 3 | 65%< | tr> BOOM! | STUDIOS< | td> 1 | 98%< | tr> TITAN | 61%< | tr> VIZ | MEDIA< | 52%< | tr> DYNAMITE | 40%< | tr> ARCHIE | PUBLICATIONS< | 01%< | tr> OTHER | td> 10 | 38%< | tr>< | tbody>< | table>< | td> < | td> UNIT | td> 39 | 46%< | td> 31 | 30%< | td> 9 | 06%< | td> 4 | 59%< | td> 2 | 85%< | 66%< | tr> VALIANT | ENTERTAINMENT | LLC< | 15%< | td> 6 | 34%< | table>COMPARATIVE | SALES | STATISTICS< | p> < | td> DOLLARS< | td> UNITS< | tr> NOVEMBER | OCTOBER | 2016< | tr> COMICS< | td> | 33%< | 26%< | tr> GRAPHIC | NOVELS< | td> 19 | 48%< | td> 18 | 91%< | tr> TOTAL | COMICS | 72%< | 35%< | tr> TOYS< | td> 28 | td> 53 | 60%< | 2015< | 71%< | 09%< | td> 21 | 56%< | td> 25 | 78%< | 25%< | 53%< | tr> YEAR | DATE | YEAR | 97%< | 74%< | td> 0 | 77%< | 82%< | 87%< | table> NEW | TITLES | SHIPPED< | p> PUBLISHER< | td> COMICS | td> GRAPHIC | NOVELS | td> MAGAZINES | td> TOTAL | td> 88< | td> 44< | td> 0< | td> 132< | td> 84< | td> 35< | td> 119< | td> 46< | td> 25< | td> 71< | td> 50< | td> 9< | td> 1< | td> 60< | td> 28< | td> 26< | td> 54< | td> 45< | td> 23< | td> 18< | td> 2< | td> 43< | tr> BOOM | td> 8< | td> 31< | td> 5< | td> 30< | td> 15< | td> 4< | td> 19< | td> 136< | td> 217< | td> 383< | table> TOP | BOOKS< | p> RANK< | td> DESCRIPTION< | td> PRICE< | td> VENDOR< | tr> 1< | td> BATMAN | td> $2 | td> DC< | tr> 2< | tr> 3< | td> CIVIL | td> $4 | td> MAR< | tr> 4< | td> ALL | STAR | tr> 5< | td> INVINCIBLE | IRON | td> $3 | tr> 6< | td> AMAZING | SPIDER | MAN: | RENEW | YOUR | VOWS | tr> 7< | ANNUAL | tr> 8< | td> VENOM | tr> 9< | td> THE | WALKING | DEAD | (MR)< | td> IMA< | tr> 10< | td> IVX | table>TOP | GRAPHIC | & | TRADE | PAPERBACKS< | td> PAPER | GIRLS | VOLUME | td> $12 | td> MARVEL: | COVERS | td> $34 | td> DC | SUPER | HERO | HITS | MYTHS | td> $9 | td> STAR | WARS: | DARTH | VADER | GAMES | td> $19 | td> UNBELIEVABLE | GWENPOOL | BELIEVE | td> $16 | td> SANDMAN | OVERTURE | UNIVERSE: | REBIRTH | DELUXE | EDITION | td> $17 | td> VISION | LITTLE | BETTER | THAN | BEAST | td> MOON | KNIGHT | LUNATIC | td> $15 | td> DEADPOOL | GAMBIT: | div> |

Thank Very Much for Read this News

X-MEN: PRIME Ushers in a New Era for Marvel’s Mutants

We’ve got a ton of Marvel Comics news in this, your weekend edition of Comics Relief! Aside from all the Marvel news, we also have the scoop on a major indie publisher getting in on the superhero shared universe, plus more comics announcements. Read on for all the details!

With the titles and creative teams announced now for the >X-Men RessurXion run (see our item down below for the final one), Marvel has announced thatâ€"in order to get the entire Mutant Renaissance goingâ€"they are releasing a one-shot special called X-Men: Prime. The name itself calls back to the team’s heyday, as X-Men: Prime was also the special that relaunched the team after >Age of Apocalypse in 1995.

X-Editor Daniel Ketchum said, “ResurrXion is all about embracing the [X-Men’s] original dream of coexisting with humans and fighting together to make a better world. All the books in some way, shape, or form, embrace that idea. We’re going to get back to flights, and tights, and capes, and all the classic X-Men tropes. We very much want to harken back to that era where it’s the most classic iteration of the X-Men.”

One tidbit Ketchum dropped in the X-Men: Prime announcement was that the >X-Men: Blue teamâ€"which features the original five membersâ€"would add another female to the team. Considering that former X-23 and current Wolverine Laura Kinney is on the cover, I’d say she is a good bet to join the gang. For more from Ketchum on X-Men: Prime, plus sketches of the team’s new/old costumes, click on the following link: [Entertainment Weekly]

The last X-Men: ResurrXion title to get their creative team announced was the new >Cable series, but this week Marvel finally gave us the details. The new book will be coming from writer James Robinson, who wrote Cable for a stint in the ’90s, along with artist Carlos Pacheco. The new ongoing series will focus on Cable as a time jumping warrior. You can see preview artwork for the new series above.

According to Robinson, “Time travel is part of his make-up in almost every aspect of his history â€" no pun intended. This series will be Cable on a race against time to fix time. The reason Cable must take on this quest will reveal itself as the story and mystery unfolds, but he’s doing it for the sake of the Marvel Universe, which will fall apart if he doesn’t take action.” For more on the new Cable book, click on the following link: [Marvel]

For decades, publisher Fantagraphics was the ultimate anti-mainstream comics publisher. Home of such notable works as >Love and Rockets and >Eightball, you couldn’t find a cape and tights anywhere near a Fantagraphics logo. That changes in 2017 though, as the indie publisher has announced plans to launch a line of superhero books under the banner All Time Comics.

The new line was started by alternative cartoonist and writer Josh Bayer, created with his brother Samuel Bayer (director behind music videos like Nirvana classic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and the not-so-classic remake of >A Nightmare on Elm. St).

The All Time line will have six individual but interconnected superhero stories featuring both veteran mainstream artists and some lesser known, indie cartoonists. The series launches this spring with Crime Destroyer #1, (for which you can see a teaser image for above), featuring the last art of longtime >Incredible Hulk artist Herb Trimpe who passed away last year. All Time Comics begins in March from Fantagraphics. For more info on the new line, be sure to click here: [CBR]

In anticipation of Danny Rand’s upcoming Netflix debut, Marvel has announced plans for a new >Iron Fist ongoing series, from writer Ed Brisson and artist Mike Perkins. The new series will debut in March and pick up where the Kaare Andrews 2015 Iron Fist: The Living Weapon series left off.

Brisson said in a statement, “Danny’s in a weird place. He’s questioning who he is and he’s pushing himself. He’s a person filled with self-doubt, but he’s always going to have his sense of humor about him â€" even if he’s using it to cover his own pain. He’s an outsider who’s always trying to fit in, trying to find a place where he belongs.”

Iron Fist will continue to star in the >Power Man and Iron Fist series, and will also take center stage in another title, Iron Fists, by Kaare Andrews and Afu Chan. The new Iron First hits in March, and you can see a teaser for issue #1 above. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Maybe as a way of cosmically balancing out the dark and sexy version of Archie, Jughead, and friends heading to the CW next year in >Riverdale, publisher Archie Comics is now teasing an even more wholesome version of their flagship characters. Archie Comics has posted a teaser image to their Facebook page featuring the outline of what looks like a tiny Archie Andrews and the words “Baltazar. Franco. LITTLE.”

Looks like the creators of Tiny Titans and Itty Bitty Hellboy Art Baltazar and Franco are coming out with a cute kid version of Archie and friends. The image features the heading “March, 2017”, so it looks like we won’t have to wait long for this one. You can see the new teaser image above. [CBR]

If you guessed that >Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine‘s upcoming work for Marvel was going to be centered around a monster type character, then you get a cookie and a gold star, as the publisher has announced R.L. Stine as the new writer behind their upcoming >Man-Thing series, a five-issue miniseries featuring the fearsome swamp beast.

Artist German Peralta will partner on the miniseries, and Stine will write the backup stories, which will have a new artist for each issue. The main story of the series will revolve around Ted’s attempt to escape his fate as the Man-Thing for good. For the full scoop on this new series, check out our full story right here: [Nerdist]

And finally, this week saw the release of >Wonder Woman ’77 Meets the Bionic Woman from Dynamite Entertainment and DC Comics. (You can read our review of issue #1 right here). The series had no shortage of artists who wanted to contribute art for the historic meeting of these feminist icons, and several produced covers for various retailer exclusives, including ’90s >Catwoman artist Jim Balent, Ben Caldwell, Mike McKone, Dan Parent, Andrew Pepoy, and J Bone. You can see each of the covers down below in our gallery. [Bleeding Cool]

Images: Marvel Comics / DC Comics / Dynamite Entertainment / Archie Comics / Fantagraphics

"

| X-MEN: | PRIME | Ushers | Marvel’s | Mutants | We’ve | Marvel | Comics | news | this | your | weekend | edition | Relief< | Aside | from | also | have | scoop | major | indie | publisher | getting | superhero | shared | universe | plus | more | comics | announcements | Read | details!< | p> < | p> With | titles | creative | teams | announced | the X | RessurXion< | em>< | a> run | (see | item | down | below | final | one) | Marvel< | thatâ€"in | order | entire | Mutant | Renaissance | goingâ€"they | releasing | shot | special | called | Men: | Prime< | name | itself | calls back | team’s | heyday | that | relaunched | team | after | Apocalypse< | 1995 | p> X | Editor | Daniel | Ketchum | said | “ResurrXion< | about | embracing | Men’s] | original | dream | coexisting | with | humans | fighting | together | make | better | world | books | some | shape | form | embrace | idea | We’re | going | back | flights | tights | capes | classic | tropes | very | much | want | harken | where | it’s | most | iteration | ”< | p> One | tidbit | dropped | announcement | Blue< | teamâ€"which | features | five | membersâ€"would | add another | female | Considering | former | current | Wolverine | Laura | Kinney | cover | I’d | good | join | gang | sketches | costumes | click | following | link: | [Entertainment | Weekly< | a>]< | p> The | last | ResurrXion< | title | their | Cable< | series | week | finally | gave | details | book | will | coming | writer | James | Robinson< | wrote | stint | ’90s | along | artist | Carlos | Pacheco< | ongoing | focus | Cable | time | jumping | warrior | preview | artwork | above | p> According | Robinson | “Time | travel | part | almost | every | aspect | history | intended | This | race | against | reason | must | take | quest | reveal | story | mystery | unfolds | he’s | doing | sake | Universe | which | fall | apart | doesn’t | action | [Marvel< | p> For | decades | Fantagraphics< | ultimate | anti | mainstream | Home | such | notable | works | Love | Rockets< | Eightball< | couldn’t | find | cape | anywhere | near | Fantagraphics | logo | That | changes | 2017 | though | plans | launch | line | under | banner | Time | started | alternative | cartoonist | Josh | Bayer | created | brother | Samuel | Bayer< | (director | behind | music | videos | like | Nirvana | “Smells | Like | Teen | Spirit” | remake | Nightmare | Time< | individual | interconnected | stories | featuring | both | veteran | artists | lesser | known | cartoonists | launches | spring with | Crime | Destroyer< | (for | teaser | image | above) | longtime Incredible | Hulk< | Herb | Trimpe | passed | away | year | Comics< | begins | March | info | sure | here: | [CBR< | p> In | anticipation | Danny | Rand’s | upcoming | Netflix< | debut | Iron | Fist< | Brisson< | Mike | Perkins | pick | Kaare | Andrews | 2015 | Fist: | Living | Weapon< | left | p> Brisson | statement | “Danny’s | weird | place | He’s | questioning | pushing | himself | person | filled | self | doubt | always | sense | humor | even | using | pain | outsider | who’s | trying | belongs | p> Iron | Fist | continue | star | Power | center | stage | another | Fists< | Chan | First< | em> hits | issue | [The | Hollywood | Reporter< | p> Maybe | cosmically | balancing | dark | sexy | version | Archie | Jughead | friends | heading | next | in Riverdal< | em>e< | teasing | wholesome | flagship | characters | posted | Facebook | page< | outline | what | looks | tiny | words | “Baltazar | Franco | LITTLE | p> Looks | creators | Tiny | Titans< | Itty | Bitty | Hellboy< | em> Art | Baltazar< | Franco< | cute | “March | 2017” | won’t | wait | long | p> If | guessed | Goosebumps< | creator | Stine< | a>‘s upcoming | work | centered | around | monster | type | character | then | cookie | and< | gold | Stine | Thing< | miniseries | fearsome | swamp | beast | p> Artist | German | Peralta | partner | write | the backup | each | main story | revolve | Ted’s | attempt | escape | fate | Thing |  For | full | check | right | [Nerdist< | p> And | release | Wonder | Woman | ’77 | Meets | Bionic | Woman< | Dynamite | Entertainment< | (You | read | review< | here) | shortage | wanted | contribute | art for | historic | meeting | these | feminist | icons | several | produced | covers | various | retailer | exclusives | including | Catwoman< | Balent | Caldwell< | McKone | Parent< | Andrew | Pepoy< | Bone< | gallery< | strong> | [Bleeding | Cool< | p> Images: | Entertainment | p> |

Thank You Very Very Much for Visit this Article

Marvel Brings Back Long Dead SPIDER-MAN Character

Welcome to your mid-week edition of Comics Relief, comics fans! To start our collection of comics news off this week, we have the scoop on a long gone character from Spider-Man’s past that I’m not entirely sure anyone was really clamoring to have back. But they are back anyway, like it or not. Read on for all the details!

Proving that absolutely no one stays dead in comics forever, even characters no one really liked in the first place, Marvel Comics revealed Wednesday as part of their ongoing Spider-Man-centric >Clone Conspiracy storyline that the mastermind villain behind Peter Parker’s current drama is none other than Ben Reilly, the infamous Spider-Clone who also once went by the name the Scarlet Spider.

Dan Slott’s The Clone Conspiracy has had Spider-Man dealing with a medical tech company called New U, which was producing “miracles”, bringing people who were once believed to be fatally sick or gravely wounded back from the brink of death. Peter naturally thought this all too good to be true, and he was right â€" turns out the people “saved” go a wee bit crazy.

But the leader of New U wasn’t Peter’s old nemesis Miles Warren, AKA the Jackal, as he once thought. Turns out it’s none other than Ben Reilly, the Spider-Clone was was once thought to be the real Peter Parker himself. Last time we saw him was 20 years ago, where he literally melted away in front of Peter. But what’s a little disintegration between clones? The new Clone Conspiracy story is only half over, so we’ll see if Ben Reilly sticks around this time. If he does, I hope he gets a better costume and name than “the Scarlet Spider.” [Comic Book]

[embedded content]

Another Marvel event coming soon is >Monsters Unleashed, a five-issue miniseries which hits stores in January, which features Marvel’s heroes fighting off the giant monsters who ruled at the publisher before the era of super-heroes. Now Marvel has released a special behind-the-scenes video detailing the event, and giving fans a sneak peek at the artwork. You can watch the full video above.

Frank Miller is still knee-deep in >Dark Knight III: The Master Race, but it seems he won’t be done with DC Comics once that story has concluded. During a panel featuring Miller at the recent Brazil Comic-Con Experience, the >Sin City creator revealed plans for what he hopes will be his next DC project, saying “I have a fixation by World War II and I’m talking to DC on a project with their heroes at that time.” Could this be the big >DC Rebirth version of the Justice Society of America relaunch that’s been hinted at? Or a Superman story set in WWII? Only time will tell. [CBR]

Aside from the JSA, another missing team from DC’s history that might be making a comeback soon is the Legion of Super-Heroes. Although the team has always had strong ties to the Superman family, they are now being teased by writer Tom King in the pages of >Batman.

In recent issues of Batman, we see Legion founder Saturn Girl is, for some reason, in Arkham Asylum. In an interview, King said “We saw one of the pieces in Batman #9 with Saturn Girl, who was also in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 and plays a role in the story going forward. She’s in Gotham City, and she is in Arkham Asylum… We’ll see what that means both to her and the Legion of Super-Heroes.” [CBR]

Last week, Valiant Comics released a teaser image for their new >X-O Manowar relaunch, and now we have the details on this new series. According to the official description, writer Matt Kindt will begin this new iteration of the character “by separating Aric from his armor and sending him to a far-flung alien planet and continue into a yearlong science-fiction epic split into different arcs.”

Each of these arcs will be drawn by a separate rising star artist, with each artistic interpretation meant to reflect the different stages of Aric’s latest journey. We’ll go  from “Soldier” to “General” to “Emperor” to “Visigoth.”  X-O Manowar #1 is set to hit stores March 22, 2017, and for more info on the new series, be sure to click on the following link: [Entertainment Weekly]

When most people hear the name Jack Kirby, they think of the man who co-created the bulk of the Marvel Universe icons, like The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, etc. And while he did work at DC for a time, and created their vast New Gods mythology, he isn’t known for any significant runs featuring their iconic characters like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Except once. In 1984, as a tie-in to their >Super Powers toyline, DC produced a series of mini-series featuring the Justice League under the Super Powers banner, and drawn by the legendary Kirby. This is the only time Kirby drew characters like the Flash, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman, and they are all now finally being collected in hardcover format after thirty years. The collection will come out on August 29th for $34.99, and it will collect Super Powers Vol. 1 #1-5, Super Powers Vol. 2 #1-6 and Super Powers Vol. 3 #1-4. [Bleeding Cool]

Brian Michael Bendis’ current crossover epic >Civil War II got an extra issue to wrap up from Marvel, but artist David Marquez is getting some help to wrap this sucker up. Seven additional artists are joining Marquez to complete the delayed final issue.

Civil War II #8 will now have 32 pages by Marquez with eight additional pages, which are being described as a “special top secret interior sequence”, will be drawn by artists Esad Ribic, Leinil Yu, Adam Kubert, Alan Davis, Mark Bagley, Marco Rudy, and Daniel Acuna. The release date for Civil War II #8 remains set at December 28, an eight-week delay from the originally solicited November 2 release date. [Newsarama]

Images: Marvel Comics / DC Comics / Valiant Comics 

"

| Marvel | Brings | Back | Long | Dead | SPIDER-MAN | Character | Welcome | your | week | edition | Comics | Relief< | comics | fans! | start | collection | news | this | have | scoop | long | gone | character | from | Spider | Man’s | past | that | I’m | entirely | sure | anyone | really | clamoring | back | they | anyway | like | Read | details!< | p> < | p> Proving | absolutely | stays | dead | forever | even | characters | liked | first | place | Comics< | revealed | Wednesday | part | their | ongoing | Man< | centric Clone | Conspiracy< | em>< | storyline | mastermind | villain | behind | Peter | Parker’s | current | drama | none | other | than | Reilly | infamous | Clone | also | once | went | name | Scarlet | p> Dan | Slott’s< | em> has | dealing | with | medical | tech | company | called | which | producing | “miracles” | bringing | people | were once | believed | fatally | sick or | gravely | wounded | brink | death | naturally | thought | good | true | right | turns | “saved” | crazy | p> But | leader | wasn’t | Peter’s | nemesis | Miles | Warren | AKA the | Jackal | Turns | it’s | real | Parker | himself | Last | time | years | where | literally | melted | away | front | what’s | little | disintegration | between | clones | story | only | half | over | we’ll | sticks | around | does | hope | gets | better | costume | “the | [Comic | Book< | a>]< | p> [embedded | content]< | p> Another | event | coming | soon | Monsters | Unleashed< | five | issue | miniseries | hits | stores | January | features | Marvel’s | heroes | fighting | giant | monsters | ruled | publisher | before | super | Marvel has | released | special | scenes | video | detailing | giving | fans | sneak | peek | artwork | watch | full | above | strong>< | p> Frank | Miller< | still | knee | deep | Dark | Knight | III: The | Master | Race< | seems | won’t | done | concluded | During | panel | featuring | Miller | recent | Brazil | Comic | Experience | City< | creator revealed | plans | what | hopes | will | next | project | saying | “I | fixation | World | talking | Could | em> Rebirth< | a> version | Justice | Society | America< | relaunch | that’s | been | hinted | Superman< | WWII | Only | tell | [CBR< | p> Aside | another | missing | team | DC’s | history | might | making | comeback | Legion | Super | Heroes< | Although | always | strong | ties | Superman | family | being | teased | writer | King< | pages | Batman< | p> In | issues | founder | Saturn | Girl | some | reason | Arkham | Asylum | interview | King | said | “We | pieces | Universe: | Rebirth< | plays | role | going | forward | She’s | Gotham | City | Asylum… | We’ll | means | both | Heroes | p> Last | Valiant | teaser | image | Manowar< | details | series | According | the official | description | Matt | Kindt< | begin | iteration | “by | separating | Aric | armor | sending | flung | alien | planet | continue | into | yearlong | science | fiction | epic | split | different | arcs | ”< | p> Each | these | drawn | separate | rising | star | artist | each | artistic | interpretation | meant | reflect | stages | Aric’s | latest | journey |  from | “Soldier” | “General” | “Emperor” | “Visigoth | March | 2017 | more | info | click | following | link: | [Entertainment | Weekly< | p> When | most | hear | Jack | Kirby< | think | created | bulk | Universe | icons | Fantastic | Four< | Men< | Thor< | Iron | Hulk< | while | work | vast | Gods< | mythology | isn’t | known | significant | runs | iconic | Batman | Wonder | Woman< | p> Except | 1984 | Powers< | toyline | produced | mini | League | under | banner | legendary | Kirby | This | drew | Flash< | Green | Lantern< | Woman | finally | collected | hardcover | format | after | thirty | come | August | 29th | collect | [Bleeding | Cool< | p> Brian | Michael | Bendis’< | crossover | epic Civil | extra | wrap | David | Marquez< | getting | help | sucker | Seven | additional | artists | joining | Marquez | complete | delayed | final | p> Civil | eight | described | “special | secret | interior | sequence” | Esad | Ribic< | Leinil | Adam | Kubert< | Alan | Davis< | Mark | Bagley< | Marco | Rudy | Daniel | Acuna | release | date | Civil | remains | December | delay | originally | solicited | November | [Newsarama< | p> Images: | Comics < | p> |

Thank U Very Much for Read this News

Iron Fist 'is no white saviour' in Netflix's newest Marvel show

>

---

Thursday 8 December 2016

Game of Thrones actor Finn Jones enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Iron Fist

Netflix

WIRED recently visited the set of Marvel's Iron Fist, observing how Netflix shoots and converts a show for 4K HDR video quality.

ADVERTISEMENT

While behind the scenes, we spoke with Iron Fist showrunner Scott Buck and Allie Goss, Netflix's vice president of Original series. Here, the creators discuss the genesis of the series, controversy over the casting, and the impact of Marvel's superheroes.

[embedded content]

Iron Fist is the fourth of the originally announced Marvel series, following Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, and leading into team-up series The Defenders. While the heroes chosen for the crossover are all "street level" characters, Iron Fist himself is the most supernaturally tinged.

Power-wise, he's no Thor, but Danny Rand â€" Iron Fist's secret identity - did grow up in a mystical realm known as K'un-Lun, where he trained in martial arts and fighting skills long lost to the mortal world. He eventually gained the power and title of the Iron Fist; the ability to channel his chi into explosive strikes. Don't expect to see too much of that backstory laid bare in the first season, though.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The mythological aspect, we sort of keep as a mystery that lingers throughout the series. We haven't fully explored it in this first season," Buck tells WIRED. "We approach Danny Rand as a person, and try to see the world through his eyes. As for the flashiness of the fist, it's dealt with in what we hope is the most realistic way possible.

Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick), Danny Rand, and recurring Marvel supporting character Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) are the core trio of Iron Fist

Netflix

The mythological aspects of the character could have made him the hardest character to fit into the mix â€" and indeed, is probably the reason Iron Fist was last in the line-up to debut, giving the creators longer to get their approach just right. For Buck, it was Danny Rand's personality that appealed most, though, as well as the opportunity to explore who he is after he returns to present day New York after being presumed lost and dead for decades.

ADVERTISEMENT

"To me, when I first encountered the character, it seemed to me like these were not the greatest super powers in the world. Like, 'all he can do is punch really hard?'," Buck recalls. "But that's sort of what appealed to me about it â€" he has this one gift, and he can use it some ways, but in the rest of [his] life, it's just not all that significant."

"[Danny's] greatest gift is just his martial arts skills, and that's not a super power â€" that's something he struggled for and earned by training day and night throughout his whole childhood," he continues. "So from that perspective, we do try to keep it very real and grounded."

From Goss' perspective, the human side of the characters is what's been most important about the Marvel shows Netflix has produced so far.

[embedded content]

"What we've strived to do together, both on this show and prior, is just to tell a great character driven story first, and a superhero story second," Goss says. "We don't want to downplay powers or abilities, or the fact these characters are derived out of comics and graphic novels â€" that's what's so special about them. But we want to expose them in a way where you really get to see the character's story, that's a little more aimed towards adults and explores these people in a way beyond just the 'superhero'. That feels a little generic, given how deep these characters have the ability to be."

The capacity of the comics to tell compelling, character-driven stories first and super-powered fables second was what originally impressed Goss about the source material. Discovering there was such depth to them initially came as a surprise.

"I remember when I first started reading comics years ago, I literally called a friend who was into them and I was like 'oh my gosh, these are just good stories!'," she says. "I didn't realise that, but once you get into it, they're rich full characters with so much to explore."

Jessica Henwick's Colleen Wing is a long-time ally of Iron Fist in the comics - a skilled swordswoman and renowned martial artist in her own right

Netflix

Long-time comics fans are well aware of that depth, and the decades of continuity that some characters have. It's a trick the Netflix Marvel shows have been employing since the first season of Daredevil, where packets of drugs being distributed by crime lord Wilson Fisk â€" the Kingpin â€" bear the insignia of the Steel Serpent, one of Danny's major foes from the printed page.

"Sometimes things are done because they're fun, just drop them in and go 'Eh, the next series will figure them out!'," Buck says of the continuity between the series. "There's a bit of that, but I do speak to the other showrunners, and because we are leading into The Defenders, we have to leave our show in a very specific place [but] we do plant seeds and stories that will then come to fruition."

Ultimately, each series also needs to stand on its own merits though. Buck continues, "there does have to be a lot of co-operation between the different groups but other than that, we work distinctly by ourselves."

Beyond 4K: Netflix lets us in on plans to push the HDR revolution - starting with Iron Fist

Beyond 4K: Netflix lets us in on plans to push the HDR revolution - starting with Iron Fist

---

The production of Iron Fist hasn't been without controversy, though. Aside from ill-founded rumours it had been cancelled due to its challenging mythological aspects, supposedly being replaced by The Punisher in the pre-Defenders billing (instead, Punisher is getting his own show, spinning out of the events of Daredevil season two), there has been debate around the character's ethnicity.

Iron Fist was created in 1974 by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane, inspired by the popularity of kung-fu cinema at the time. While badly dubbed Shaw Brothers films filled American grindhouse theatres, the comic book industry reacted with colourful variants on the genre, including the likes of Bronze Tiger at DC and Shang-Chi, another Marvel character.

Iron Fist, proving books are more powerful than violence

Netflix

In translating Iron Fist to another medium â€" especially one already dominated by Caucasian characters â€" many fans suggested Marvel should reimagine Danny Rand as an Asian American hero, even giving rise to the trending hashtag #AsianAmericanIronFist. It was a complicated issue â€" ignoring fidelity to the comics, you're left with broadly two options; either you end up with an Asian character whose 'superpower' is kung-fu, hitting the all Asians know martial arts trope, or stick with a white character who somehow becomes magically better at kung-fu and saves the day â€" the Mighty Whitey cliché at best, the problematic white saviour syndrome at worst.

The character and his background was originally unknown to Buck before getting involved with the series.

"When Marvel came to me with this idea, I had never heard of Iron Fist or Danny Rand," Buck says. "I had never read the comics. What [executive producer] Jeph Loeb pitched to me specifically was this character, and that's what pulled me in, what intrigued me."

"The other aspects are things I've only learned about afterwards," Buck continues. "I can say definitively that Danny Rand is no 'white saviour'. He's trying to save himself, if anything."

ADVERTISEMENT

Ultimately, Buck and Marvel decided to stay true to the comics, while hoping to avoid the clichés. While the version of Danny Rand that viewers will meet when the series debuts in March will still be Caucasian, he may be different to the comics in other ways.

"One of the things that appealed to me about Danny was that even though there have been several comic books written about him, there wasn't this great big backlog of information or stories about him," Buck says. "It allowed us to be a little bit more creative and take a slightly different direction with this character."

"Also, if you do go back and read the Iron Fist comics, some of them show a completely different origin story from one series to another, and Danny is very different character in different comics. That gave us the freedom to create the character we specifically wanted to."

Iron Fist season one will premiere on Netflix on March 17, 2017.

"

| Iron | Fist | white | saviour | Netflixs | newest | Marvel | show | a> Thursday | December | 2016< | p> < | p> < | noscript>< | div> Game | Thrones | actor | Finn | Jones | enters | Cinematic | Universe | Fist Netflix< | p> WIRED | recently | visited | Marvels | Fist< | observing | Netflix | shoots | converts | show< | video | quality | p> ADVERTISEMENT< | h5> While | behind | scenes | spoke | with | showrunner | Scott | Buck | Allie | Goss | vice | president | Original | series< | Here | creators | discuss | genesis | series | controversy | over | casting | impact | superheroes | p> [embedded | content]< | p> Iron | fourth | originally | announced | Marvel< | following | Daredevil | Jessica | Luke | Cage< | leading | into | team | Defenders< | While | heroes | chosen | crossover | street | level | characters | himself | most | supernaturally | tinged | p> Power | wise | Thor | Danny | Rand | Fists | secret | identity | grow | mystical | realm | known | where | trained | martial | arts | fighting | skills | long | lost | mortal | world | eventually | gained | power | title | Fist; | ability | channel | explosive | strikes | Dont | expect | much | that | backstory | laid | bare | first | season | though | h5> The | mythological | aspect | sort | keep | mystery | lingers | throughout | havent | fully | explored | this | tells | WIRED | approach | person | through | eyes | flashiness | fist | dealt | what | hope | realistic | possible | div> Colleen | Wing | (Jessica | Henwick) | recurring | supporting | character | Claire | Temple | (Rosario | Dawson) | core | trio | p> The | aspects | could | have | made | hardest | indeed | probably | reason | last | line | debut | giving | longer | their | just | right | Rands | personality | appealed | well | opportunity | explore | after | returns | present | York | being | presumed | dead | decades | h5> To | when | encountered | seemed | like | these | were | greatest | super | powers | Like | punch | really | hard | recalls | thats | about | gift | some | ways | rest | [his] | life | significant | p> [Dannys] | something | struggled | earned | training | night | whole | childhood | continues | from | perspective | very | real | grounded | p> From | human | side | whats | been | important | shows | Netflix< | produced | p> What | weve | strived | together | both | prior | tell | great | driven | story | superhero | second | says | dont | want | downplay | abilities | fact | derived | comics | graphic | novels | special | them | expose | little | more | aimed | towards | adults | explores | people | beyond | That | feels | generic | given | deep | capacity | comics< | compelling | stories | powered | fables | impressed | source | material | Discovering | there | such | depth | initially | came | surprise | p> I | remember | started | reading | years | literally | called | friend | gosh | good | stories! | didnt | realise | once | theyre | rich | full | div> Jessica | Henwicks | Colleen | time | ally | skilled | swordswoman | renowned | artist | right Netflix< | p> Long | fans | aware | continuity | trick | employing | since | Daredevil< | packets | drugs | distributed | crime | lord | Wilson | Fisk | Kingpin | bear | insignia | Steel | Serpent< | Dannys | major | foes | printed | page | p> Sometimes | things | done | because | drop | next | will | figure | out! | between | Theres | speak | other | showrunners | leave | specific | place | [but] | plant | seeds | then | come | fruition | p> Ultimately | each | also | needs | stand | merits | does | operation | different | groups | than | work | distinctly | ourselves | p> Beyond | lets | plans | push | revolution | starting | a> Beyond | span>< | h3> < | div> < | div> The | production | hasnt | without | Aside | founded | rumours | cancelled | challenging | supposedly | replaced | Punisher< | billing | (instead | Punisher | getting | spinning | events | two) | debate | around | ethnicity | created | 1974 | writer | Thomas | Kane | inspired | popularity | kung | cinema | badly | dubbed | Shaw | Brothers | films | filled | American | grindhouse | theatres | comic | book | industry | reacted | colourful | variants | genre | including | likes | Bronze | Tiger< | Shang | Chi< | another | div> Iron | proving | books | powerful | violence Netflix< | p> In | translating | medium | especially | already | dominated | Caucasian | many | suggested | should | reimagine | Asian | hero | even | rise | trending | hashtag | AsianAmericanIronFist< | complicated | issue | ignoring | fidelity | youre | left | broadly | options; | either | whose | superpower | hitting | Asians | know | arts< | trope | stick | somehow | becomes | magically | better | saves | Mighty | Whitey< | cliché | best | problematic | saviour< | syndrome | worst | background | unknown | before | involved | p> When | idea | never | heard | read | What | [executive | producer] | Jeph | Loeb | pitched | specifically | pulled | intrigued | only | learned | afterwards | definitively | trying | save | anything | h5> Ultimately | decided | stay | true | while | hoping | avoid | clichés | version | viewers | meet | debuts | March | still | p> One | several | written | wasnt | backlog | information | allowed | creative | take | slightly | direction | p> Also | back | completely | origin | gave | freedom | create | wanted | premiere | 2017 | p> |

Thank Very Very Much for Visit this News