PRESS RELEASE

Bluewater Inks Comic Book Deal with William Shatner

Bellingham, WA- Bluewater Productions proudly announces a partnership with iconic actor and bestselling author William Shatner. The Washington based comic book company has contracted to do four titles with Shatner based on his popular science fiction novels. Bluewater’s “William Shatner Presents” franchise will include Shatner’s The TekWar Chronicles, Quest for Tomorrow, Man O’ War, and an exclusive new title that Shatner will create specifically for the publisher.

The comics will showcase storylines that will be continuations of the established plots featured in the fast-paced, sci-fi action-adventure books as opposed to direct adaptations of the titles. Shatner will be the creative force in the venture and will be working directly with Bluewater’s writers and artists, along with writer/producer Craig Nevius (The Fantastic Four, Black Scorpion), to develop the concept and look of the comics.

Shatner said: “Working with Bluewater is a great opportunity to bring these novels to a whole new audience.”

Bluewater’s publisher Darren G. Davis comments on the collaboration: “Mr. Shatner is a savvy businessman and a creative mastermind. We’re honored to be partnering with him and are confident our efforts will create comic books both his fans and ours will embrace.”

Science fiction fans all over the world are familiar with Shatner’s TekWar novels. The books showcase a hard-boiled private eye story set in the 22nd century. The plot revolves around an ex-policeman protagonist whose quest is to track down a missing scientist whose invention could win the war against the insidious computerized drug known as “Tek.” The novels were initially adapted by Marvel Comics in the 1990’s, and subsequently developed into an television series which ran from 1994-1996 for The Sci-Fi Channel in which Shatner co-starred, produced and directed.

Shatner has cultivated a career that has spanned over 50 years as a actor, director, producer, screenwriter, recording artist, and author. Before his iconic portrayal of Captain Kirk in the long-running Star Trek franchise, science fiction fans embraced the actor for guest starring in two classic episodes of The Twilight Zone. Currently, Shatner stars in ABC’s critically acclaimed legal drama Boston Legal for which he has won two Emmys and a Golden Globe Award. He was also recently inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and remains one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures.

Bluewater will launch all four of the “William Shatner Presents” titles during the first quarter of 2009. The “TekWar Chronicles” will be an on going series while the three additional titles will be crafted into a mini-series.

About Bluewater Productions:

Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one if the top independent production studios of comic, young adult books and graphic novel titles. In the tradition of great storytelling and cutting edge art, Bluewater has stormed onto the comic book and graphic novel scene. With impressive titles, including such smash hits as the “10th MUSE,” “VSS,” “THE LEGEND OF ISIS,” and “Wrath of the Titans” and “Sinbad” from legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen. Bluewater Productions is committed to continue to produce engaging stories with art from both the top names in the industry alongside up and coming stars. New titles from Bluewater include “Vincent Price” and “Bartholomew of the Scissors,” and will launch in the fall of 2008.

From the Mortal Kombat franchise, you’ll be seeing:

* Scorpion
* Sub-Zero
* Sonya
* Jax
* Shang Tsung
* Liu Kang
* Raiden
* Kitana
* Kano
* Baraka
* Shao Kahn

DC Universe:

* Batman
* Superman
* Catwoman
* Green Lantern
* The Joker
* Shazam
* The Flash
* Wonder Woman
* Deathstroke
* Lex Luthor
* Darkseid

I wonder if there will be any unlockable characters. Who would you have liked to have seen make it into the game? Apparently the caveat is that the game takes place in a magic dimension and that’s how you can beat on Superman.

More Info at http://www.worldscollide.com/

Well, I stopped at the Comic shop this week and there are three (hopefully) kick ass new books out this week that I’m excited to read. But I have them all preordered and since this is supposed to be about books, I’ve yet to order. I skipped all three. (They’re listed in the order list below.

So, this week I’m going to go back to the one I said I hoped to hit last week, in hopes that you, dear reader, could maybe give me a little insight on it.

Fringe #1

Written by Zack Whedon, Julia Cho, Alex Katsnelson, and Denielle Dispaltro; Art by Tom Mandrake and Simon Coleby

Alright can someone explain to me what the hell I read?
Apparently this is somehow supposed to tie in to the new JJ Abrams project of the same name on Fox. Which i have DVRed, so I guess this issue served it’s purpose. But I have a very OCD personality, which makes me DVR the first episode of every new show on the fall schedule and, at least, give it a try.

Why the hell am I talking about television? I’m dealing with comics here. Anyways, The art is strong. Not quite Tony Harris, whom I love, but the above average strength Vertigo/Wildstorm style that many comics strive for and fail.

And it’s Anthology-esque, which I absolutely love, because a lower page count forces the pages to do more to squeeze in the story.

The first story deals with harvard in 1974, where a prodigal genius hooks up with another genius and they get some mice tripping on acid and electrocute them to see if their brains will synch up. But apparently they hit the acid themselves instead.

The second story deals with a man that goes to sleep and finds himself, apparently, in the body of a convict. To be honest, the art’s a little unclear here, but this is what I think the story shows. Convict uses his phone call to call his wife. Who doesn’t believe him because her husband is right there.

The first story is the stronger of the two and is apparently supposed to give some insight into what happens in the series, but as the book came out before the pilot it just makes me go wha?

And the second story, I know I’ve seen that plot used before, probably multiple times. not that one exactly with the apparent brain switch (maybe?) but with the “my husband’s just fine, you must be lying” aspect.

So, if this is supposed to get me into the series, it peaked me just enough to record the pilot, but not quite enough to actually watch it yet. But I give it an extra point for trying something new.

7.5/10

And the Order List:

APE ENTERTAINMENT
Comics Now #3

BOOM! STUDIOS
Blood Bowl Killer Contract #3 (of 5)
Enigma Cipher TP

DC COMICS
Green Lantern Corps #28

IMAGE COMICS
Dragon Prince #1
Dynamo 5 #16
I Kill Giants #2 (of 7)
Invincible #52

MARVEL COMICS
Amazing Spider-Girl #24
Big Hero 6 #1 (of 5)
Deadpool #1

VIPER COMICS
T Bird And Throttle #0 (of 3)

And I’m still looking for a title to this “column.” If you’ve got one, leave it in the comments or drop me an email. and I’ll consider it. I’m taking suggestions until the end of the month, that will give me time to rebuild the prize drawer.

Alright, I’m going to really try to start blogging. I promise.

You guys know I love new comics, so this will be one more chance to look at new Comics. I’ll write about a new book or two I’ve picked up just to check them out, and give you the list of what I’m waiting for until the end of the month mail order shipment.

First up:
El Diablo #1
Written by Jai Nitz
Pencils by Phil Hester
DC Comics

This book had 2 things that made me want to pick it up.

1. Phil Hester. I love Phil Hester’s artwork. I’m in fact a bit gay for Phil Hester’s artwork. If he’s doing art, the book at least makes it to the first consideration pile. This book is no exception. Of course, a large part of the beauty of Hester’s work is the inking by Ande Parks. You’ve probably seen them work together on Green Arrow, The Irredeemable Antman, or recently Nightwing. Hester and Parks’ work especially well when the book has a slightly darker look, which this book does. So it’s hitting on all cylinders with some especially great iconography when the main character Chato becomes El Diablo.

2. Luchador Masks Okay, the first issue only has one Luchador style mask, but that’s enough for me. I really hope we see more though. i just love the Luchador aesthetic. Of course, this book actually has nothing to do with Luchadores, aside from a tangential link that Chato is an American of Mexican descent, Luchador is associated with Mexico. Thus Chato’s costume resembles that of a luchador. Weak, I agree.

At least, Jai Nitz tries to quickly move past the necessary and usually overwrought origin story. By the end of this issue, we have our hero in costume, we know what his schtick is. We know why he does it. We get the “why we should care despite the lead being a gang banger at the beginning” story. And a intro to what I can only presume will be his first villain and the mystery of who’s behind it. So when issue 2 arrives we should be able to hit the ground running.

unfortunately all the problems that come from compressing a story in that way appear hear as the main character tells us “why we should care despite the lead being a gang banger at the beginning” instead of showing us why we should care about him. But at least the origin’s not decompressed to a six issue series.

Overall I’d give it a 6/10 on the being too harsh but at least I didn’t leave it on the shelf scale.

What else will I be waiting on from this week?

AAM MARKOSIA
N-Guard #2, $3.50

DARK HORSE
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #18, $2.99

DC COMICS
Green Lantern #34, $2.99
Vinyl Underground #12, $2.99

IDW PUBLISHING
Angel After The Fall #12, $3.99
Galaxy Quest Global Warning #2, $3.99

IMAGE COMICS
Noble Causes #36, $3.50
Savage Dragon #137, $2.99 (which yes, I’m getting just for the cover.)

MARVEL COMICS
Dead Of Night Devil Slayer #1 (of 4), $3.99

I also picked up Fringe #1, which I may review tomorrow, if I think of it.

Anyways, what should I name this column? Weekly Ones? Weekly Progress Report? The Try Pile?
Name the new column, get a free prize. It’ll be cool I promise.

Thanks to those of you that still check in with Comics Radar.

I finally have a space in my schedule where I can start doing the show again. Maybe even, dare I say it, LIVE!!!!

In fact, There would be one now if I hadn’t had to scavenge a bit of my podcast setup for my work setup. I’ll be moving over the next week or so, but after that I’ll be back behind a mic, with hopefully some cool new stuff.