Image Comics has announced that Madman Atomic Comics #14 will feature a collaboration between Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone.

“Darwyn and I are like twins separated at birth,” Madman creator Mike Allred said in a prepared statement. “We dig all the same things and get ridiculously excited about whatever we’re working on.  We also throw fits whenever we’re told ‘no’ by ‘the Man’, and, sometimes to our detriment, have a ‘burned earth policy’ when it comes to doing a project the way we want.  Fortunately, we usually get the support needed to build our visions, and MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS is a prime example of that.  Image Comics could not be more supportive in their backing me up with all my crazed paper dreams in MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS.  They’re just as jazzed as I am to invite Darwyn and mutual pal, and cool genius, J.Bone, on MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #14!”

The duo will deliver, “Madman: The Movie,” which takes Frank Einstein and company down the treacherous road to Hollywood as a film studio intends to loosely adapt Frank’s life story with some very strange results.  The 32-page issues arrives November 19, 2008 for $3.50.

via Image Comics

Or - “Things Get Even WEIRDER…”

One of the most entertaining facets of Mike Allred’s Madman stories (and, indeed, most of the rest of his output as well) is that it’s not just another adventure story.  A Madman story could only take place with Frank Einstein as the main character, as his peculiarities drive the narrative, and his strange point-of-view makes even the most straightforward story a bit wonky.  Now, imagine that the story is already freaky-deakier than a night spent on Quaaludes in Amsterdam with Hunter Thompson, Austin Powers, and the guy who dreamed up Snuffleupagus, talking about the symbolism inherent in Darth Vader…  For some moments in life, you just have to siddown, strap in, shaddup and hold on.

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It’s Friday, and Image has once again delivered the goods when it comes to sneak peeks for next week. Killing Girl, Brit, and Astounding Wolf-man are just a few of the titles shipping next week.

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Fans of Dynamo 5 will want to check out this week’s sneak peeks from Image Comics. Also on the short list this week - Madman Atomic Comics 4, Gutsville 2, Repo 4, After the Cape volume 1, and the Nighly News trade paperback. All these titles arrive in stores next week.

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Image Comics must be super happy as it has announced five titles (Dust #1, Invincible #43 & #44, Madman Atomic Comics #3, and the Walking Dead #39) have completely sold out at Diamond.

“Having such a wild variety of titles sell out at the same time showcases what’s great about Image,” said Erik Larsen, Publisher of Image Comics. “Each of these titles caters to a completely different audience, but every single one is in major demand. These are cartoonists, writers and artists at the top of the game doing the work they’ve wanted to do their entire lives with an immense amount of success. It’s books like these I dreamed of when we first formed Image. I couldn’t be happier.”

I haven’t read Dust, but Invincible, Madman, and the Walking Dead are all high on the Major Spoilers reading list.

Or - “Part Two Of Our First Inaugural Bruce Otter Friday!”

Depending how this flies, we may go ahead and package this sort of thing for all the loyal Spoilerites.  Mark I. Mondays, Tom Grice Tuesdays, Starleafgirl Saturdays, Salieri St. Swithins Day, Brent F. Boxing Day, James Deckert…uh…  Japanese New Year.  Um… Rowan…  Ralentine’s Day…  Baal Bawdily Bouncing Banana Boomerang Day.  (Don’t feel bad if I didn’t get to y’all, it wasn’t exclusionary, I just managed to kill the joke dead before getting to you.)  Actually, I hadn’t necessarily intended to recap Bruce’s absolute fave-rave characters, two of the best 80’s era pseudo-superheroes the same day, but I suppose wherever you go, there you are.  Though Nexus was focused on entirely physical concerns, Madman thus far has been not-so-firmly rooted in the realm of the metaphysical, and this issue is about to make the philosophical overtones of the first two look positively anemic in comparison.

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Even though it has been a crazy holiday week, Image Comics has sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek at tiles arriving next week.

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Or - “Sometimes It’s So Good To See An Old Friend, You Don’t Notice That He’s Crazy…”

Mike Allred is one of those creators where even the people who don’t enjoy his art don’t say it’s bad, they say they don’t “get it.”  The stylization and animation influences in his drawing can be off-putting to some readers (Hi, Tom!) but the same can be said of Frank Miller’s Sin City work, which draws on many of the same influences (film noir, Hong Kong action movies, ultra-violence and movie romance) but in a completely different way.  I may be the first person to make this connection, but if you like ’Sin City,’ then Madman may have something for you.

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It’s Thursday and that can only mean one thing - my latest article over at SciFi.com is up. No wait, this isn’t one of those tech blogs Sneak Peeks from Image Comics! This week the fine folks from Image have provided Major Spoilers with previews of Casanova Volume 1, Coyote Volume 5, Dynamo 5 #3, Fell Volume 1: Feral City, Loaded Bible 2: Blood of Christ, Madman Atomic Comics #2, and PvP #33.

Holy cow! This is the biggest Sneak Peek of the Week to date and it looks like there is something for everyone buried inside.

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Image Comics has announced Mike Allred’s Madman Atomic Comics #1 has sold out. The company says it will go back to print for those fans who missed it the first time (you might also want to read Matthew’s Review).

“When a comic book legend like Mike Allred steps back into the game, it gets everyone’s attention,” says Image Comics’ Executive Director Eric Stephenson. “MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #1 is both a fantastic jumping-on point for new readers and an exciting new chapter for longtime Madman fans. Allred is at the top of his ginchy game.”

The second printing is available for pre-order now.

via Image Comics

Or - “They’re Coming To Get Your Disposable Income, Bruce…  They’re Cooomiiiinggg!”

See, that was supposed to sound like Johnny from “Night Of The Living Dead…”  My old pal Bruce, you see, has the same relationship with comics that Michael Corleone has with ‘The Family’:  every time he thinks he’s out, they PULL HIM BACK IN.  The return of Madman is one that is met with much accolades from a few thousand die-hards and a collective “Buh?” from those too young to remember the salad days, or too mainstream to have picked up a book without an ‘X’ or a bad girl in it.  Suffice to say that Frank Einstein’s adventures are right up there with “Bone,” “Sin City,” and “Preacher” as the best stuff happening in comics in the 90’s, and it’s a wonderful feeling to see an old favorite returning like this.  I haven’t felt this psyched about a comeback since Sci-Fi picked up Doctor Who…  Step behind the curtain, and I’ll show you why.

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It’s Thursday, which can only mean Image has dropped off a couple of sneak peeks to keep you occupied until Monday. This week features the return of Madman (my guess is reader Bruce will be picking this one up) and the first collected trade for Cross Bronx.

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Variety is reporting Dimension Films will be turning Madman into a live action film.  Robert Rodriques will produce the film through his Troublemaker Studios, with George Huang directing.  Huang will also be sharing writing credits as he will pen the script with Michael Allred - creator of Madman.

The film will also be shot at Rodriquez’s studios in Texas.  In the story, the hero is killed in a car accident and brought back to life Frankenstein style, complete with enhanced senses, psychic powers, and exceptional physical skills.  Unfortuantely Dr. Frank Enstien can’t fix his face, so Madman must where a costume to conceal his identity and scars

We’ve previously reported Allred is relaunching his Madman Atomic Comics through Image Comics.

via Variety (link)

Allred’s Pop Masterpiece Jolts to Life At Image!

This April, Michael Allred’s pop classic MADMAN bolts back to stores from Image Comics! A modern masterpiece, MADMAN was Adult Swim before cartoons were cool. Now Image is taking the character to the next level with an all new series, and a hardcover collection of every MADMAN adventure!

For Allred, it’s a dream come true. “From the first page I drew, I knew MADMAN was exactly what I wanted to do in comics. I’m proud to be working with Image – the only company that really gets what creator freedom is all about – to bring Frank’s stories back in the way I’ve always wanted to show them!”

First up in the MADMAN revival is MADMAN GARGANTUA! a mammoth 852-page, full color hardcover collecting every MADMAN tale from Madman, Madman Adventures, and Madman Comics in a single, oversized, handsomely produced volume. A must for lovers of Allred’s unique brand of pop illustration, MADMAN GARGANTUA! is the holy grail!

Launching immediately on the heels of MADMAN GARGANTUA! is the all new monthly series MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS! “Artistically, this is my best work ever,” Allred says. “The first storyline is called Jumping Silent Cars That Sleep At Traffic Lights, and it will turn the Madman world upside down. It’s designed so that new readers can jump on, but buckle up, because it’s gonna be a strange and scary rollercoaster ride!”

“Image has always been the company designed by creators, for creators, and we’re honored to welcome Mike aboard!” says Image Executive Director Eric Stephenson. “He’s always had a great vision for his comics, and we’re excited to be the ones to bring his vision out to the world.”

MADMAN GARGANTUA! is scheduled for February release. MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS is scheduled for an April release. Full ordering information and product details will be announced in the February edition of Diamond Previews.