Archive for the ‘Matthew Sturges’ Category
Well it was fun while it lasted
Has it really been three years? Three years since Infinite Crisis introduced readers to Jaime Reyes, a teenager who picked up a scarab and became the new Blue Beetle? In three years we’ve seen Jaime learn to use his powers to fight crime, defeat an alien invasion, land a super hot girlfriend, and build an extended family of those willing to go the distance to help him in his battle against those that would do evil. It’s too bad everything comes crashing down on Jaime’s head in this final issue. Well, Ted Kord does make an appearance, so that’s a plus…
Sometimes Actions Have Repercussions
One of the best stories to come out of the most recent Blue Beetle series featured Jaime Reyes and friends kicking the butts of the alien Reach who were invading the Earth. That battle ended when Jaime and his scarab (the Khaji-Da) severed the connection between the Blue Beetle alien technology and the invaders. With one issue to go after this one, one might think the tale being told would settle down a bit.
Press Release
Written by Matthew Sturges, writer of the Eisner-nominated JACK OF FABLES, and his JACK co-writer, FABLES creator Bill Willingham, HOUSE OF MYSTERY: Room and Boredom Vol. 1 (Vertigo | January 14, 2009 | 128pg. | Color | Softcover | $9.99 US | ISBN: 9781401220792), collecting issues #1-5, takes a classic DC Comics concept into the twenty-first century.
Everyone is a prisoner in one way or another, and Fig Keele—a feisty young architect who just happens to be running for her life—is no exception. Unfortunately for Fig, she’s ended up in the House of Mystery, a strange place like something out of her nightmares.
Fig is one of five unfortunate characters trapped at the House, trying to solve the mystery of how and why they’re imprisoned there. Each one has a terrible past they’d like to forget, and with no books, newspapers or TV allowed, they face an eternity of boredom. However, the House contains a supernatural bar where an eclectic mix of visitors eat, drink, and repent for their sins. To cover their tabs, stories become the new currency, and amazingly enough, the House attracts only the finest storytellers.
In his U.S. debut, artist Luca Rossi has illustrated HOUSE OF MYSTERY in the classic Vertigo horror tradition. Each issue in the first storyline also includes a second feature—a story told by one of the patrons—written by Willingham and illustrated by a myriad of guest artists, including two-time Eisner Award nominee Ross Campbell (WATERBABY), SANDMAN fan favorite and multiple Eisner winner Jill Thompson and, Mike Allred, best known for his Harvey Award nominated MADMAN. This collection is enclosed in an ethereal cover from Sam Weber (The New Yorker, The New York Times, Time Magazine).
“Magic—properly understood—is metaphor. When it comes to magic, you see not what is, but who you are.” Come on in to the HOUSE OF MYSTERY.
Wham! Bam! A Dead Blue Beetle?
This title can’t come out often enough, but sadly, the faster the issues come, the sooner the series ends (thanks DC). With two issues to go, the big showdown between the new Doctor Polaris and Blue Beetle comes to a head. Only… Blue Beetle died last issue.
Over at his blog, Matthew Sturges has officially announced a sequel to his novel Midwinter, something he alluded to on his appearance on the Major Spoilers Podcast.
Since it’s been announced elsewhere, I guess it’s safe for me to announce that I’ve sold a sequel to Midwinter, which is tentatively titled The Office of Shadow. I pitched it as “a spy thriller set in Faerie” and I think that’s actually one of the most accurate elevator pitches I’ve ever come up with. It follows directly from the events of Midwinter, and will hopefully be released sometime around early 2010.
Sturges has recently been announced as one of the co-writers for JSA (the other being Bill Willingham), when Geoff Johns leaves the title with issue #26.
I love it when a plan comes together. Wait, there’s a plan?
One of the great things about the Blue Beetle series is how the writers who have taken on the challenge of this series are able to bring the collected group of heroes together to fight a common enemy. While the big bad doesn’t get his comeuppance in this issue, it’s good to see everyone come out of the woodwork to give aid to our favorite beetle in blue.
Secret origins are fun
I miss the days when comic books would spend an issue telling the back story of how the latest villain of the week became the villain of the week. It was fun to discover how that person was wronged or what led him down the path to evil, and best of all it was all revealed in a single issue. After reading Blue Beetle #32, those good ol’ days are back again.
Buy the book, read the book, love the book, save the book
I’m sure more than a few readers were a tad apprehensive when John Rogers stepped away from writing Blue Beetle and Matthew Sturges took over. But now that Sturges has more than a few issues under his belt, it is clear that the title isn’t suffering due to a change in writers. It’s as strong as it’s ever been.
In this outing: The news yas can use! The comic book reviews! The Statue of Bruce! Kirk and Han’s number twos! The Sturges interviews! Tag might make you say “eewwwws!” Beetle’s got the blues! And one listener in ten gets the joke when I say, “Burma Shave.” All this and more, cause papa needs a new pair of shoes
This episode is sponsored in part by the Mid-Ohio-Con (www.midohiocon.com)
Show Notes (and more art) after the Jump
Arriving in stores this week is the updated tales from the House of Mystery. Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges, these new tales feature the trials and struggles of five unfortunate souls trapped in the house, and illustrated by Luca Rossi.
Take the jump for a sneak peek of the issue.
How Blue-Devil Got His Groove Back
Only two issues to go before Shadowpact closes up shop, and there are a lot of open story lines that need wrapping. Fortunately Matthew Sturges answers one, and sets readers up for a smack down of godly proportions in The Burning Age, the first installment of a three part arc from DC Comics.
DC has announced the final issue of Salvation Run will get a page increase from 32 to 40 pages to complete the story of villains trapped on remote planet (of dooooom!).
In this issue, written by Matthew Sturges with art and cover by Sean Chen & Walden Wong and a variant cover by Neal Adams, the ultimate game of survival between the DCU’s villains reaches its dramatic end! Who will live? Who will die? Will anybody make it home?
While I’m all for more work from Sturges, the page increase doesn’t come without a price. DC will bump the cover price from $2.99 to $3.50.
Salvation Run #7 is scheduled to arrive May 7.
via DC Comics
I was as surprised and let down as the next person when I found out fave scribe Bill Willingham stepped down from writing Salvation Run. After reading his explanation, I’m ready to forgive.
The short version is that I got sick, and on doctors orders I needed to dial back my workload specifically the most stress-inducing part of my workload and picked the most likely candidate to give up, Bill Willingham told CBR News. Theres a longer version with more nuance, many more details, some interesting subplots, a few surprise dramatic twists and even a musical interlude or two, but in the interest of discretion and decorum well stick with the short version.”
On the plus side, Clockwork Storybook co-founder Matthew Sturges will finish the series.
The rest of Willingham’s comments can be found over at Comic Book Resources.
Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges, two of my favorite writers, have teamed up with Vertigo for the new ongoing comic series House of Mystery.
A Pirate. A Poet. Tormented Lovers and the woman who tries not to come between them. For reasons unknown even to them, they have all been imprisoned in the House of Mystery, which functions as a tavern in an abandoned secret location. Together, they maintain the tavern and coax stories out of its patrons, all while they seek to discover the secrets behind their connections to each other and their unusual abode.
The House of Mystery series has been around for decades as a horror and suspense story. It was later revised and used as part of The Sandman. Willingham and Sturges say they will bring a brand new take to the title, that follows the lives of the house’s imprisoned characters. Art for the series will be done by Luka Rossi.
Take the jump for the full page.
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