Uncanny X-Men: Dark Phoenix saga

Writer: Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Penciller: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Bob Sharen and Glynis Wein
Publisher: Marvel Comics

What's it about?
The X-Men are a team of mutants.  That is, their genetics give them superpowers - anything from a healing factor, to telekinesis, to angel wings, to the ability to phase through solid objects.  Professor Charles Xavier, a phenomenal telepath, is the head of the X-Men.  As a team they fight terrible threats from this earth and beyond, and struggle to gain acceptance from regular humans who sadly are taught to hate and fear them.

Jean Grey is also a telepath. She's incredibly powerful but too young to fully handle this power, so has blocks placed on her abilities (by Xavier) to ensure she doesn't harm herself or others.  The Dark Phoenix saga is the story of how these blocks are lifted, how she gains power beyond measure and threatens the entire universe, and how the X-Men (and others) save the world.

Podcasts

I thought I'd do a post about podcasts as I have recently been involved with one, and it struck me that they can be a pretty good way to hear about the latest comics news.  What follows is a list of podcasts recommended to me.  Unfortunately I can't listen to them all myself because my internet connection is rubbish and keeps cutting out. 

Radio Bamf
OK this wasn't recommended to me, this is included because I guested on episode 13.  It gets swung to the top of the list because it is available at a variety of places, including youtube which has (automatic) captions so it is accessible to hard of hearing and Deaf people too.  We like accessibility here.
Radio Bamf covers comics news, reviews and odd points of view, for all sorts of comics - Marvel, DC and the indies.  Find Bamf here:
Youtube
We are arcade
itunes 

Fire and Water
This is run by a couple of people, one of whom I know, and focuses on the characters Aquaman and Firestorm (giving the Fire and Water name) but also provides a Who's Who of the DCU.
New posts are listed on the blog and all are available through itunes. 

Three Chick Review Comics
Another one I haven't listened to myself, but I know one of the presenters from Twitter, and she is excellent.  They cover all sorts of comics, reviews and news.
Listen to the pods here. 

Crazy Sexy Geeks
Also recommended to me.  This covers comics and other geeky stuff - Dr Who, Disney, Star Wars, Buffy actors, films, TV, etc etc.  Run by a couple of really good tweeters.
Listen to the podcasts here.

I hope you enjoy!  If you know of any other good ones, or if you run one yourself, please leave a link in the comments :)

Edited to add - a lot of these recommendations came from @JimmyMcG on Twitter.  Thanks for the help Jimmy :)

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Writer: William Shakespeare

Adapted by Richard Appignanesi

Art: Kate Brown

Publisher: Self Made Hero

What’s it about? 

This is an adaptation of a William Shakespeare play.  To my mind, it’s the most magical and comedic one.

Theseus and Hippolyta are due to be married in Athens, Greece.  Theseus' servant Egeus has a daughter named Hermia.  Hermia and Lysander are in love and wish to marry, however Egeus has decided that Demetrius is an appropriate husband.  Helena loves Demetrius but, as he wants Hermia, he is not interested in Helena.

In honour of Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding a group of inept craftsmen decide to put on a play about star-crossed lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe.  It’s a tragedy where the lovers kill themselves, so not entirely fit for a wedding – I did say they were inept!

In the forests of Athens the fairy court is in session.  Oberon, King of the fairies, and Titania, fairy Queen, are embroiled in an argument.  Oberon wants a human boy that Titania has adopted, but Titania won’t give him up.  Oberon plots revenge, and here is where the plots converge...

Oberon gets his servant Puck to enchant Titania so she falls in love with the first hideous thing she sees.  Hermia and Lysander have run away to get married and are pursued by Demetrius, who is in turn pursued by Helena.  Oberon witnesses this and instructs Puck to enchant Demetrius to fall in love with Helena, except Puck gets it wrong and enchants Lysander instead.  The enchantment of Titania is successful, as Puck gives one of the craftsmen, Bottom, a donkey’s head, and Titania falls for him.

This takes up the first half of the play.  The second half concerns the humans and fairies trying to sort out the mess Puck has caused. 

The creation of a comic

I found this nifty diagram recently which summarises the comics creative process.  I thought it would be interesting for readers of this blog:

 

I suspect that this is relevant more to comics that inhabit a shared universe, for example DC and Marvel comics, than to independent comics where books are created as one off, entirely self contained stories.

Interesting huh? It's a wonder anything gets made!

Starman review updated

A couple of years ago a review of James Robinson's Starman was posted.  I have just read the series and I haven't been so impressed by a comic in a long time.  As such, I've just added my own comments to the review and I would encourage you all to take another look at the series and consider reading it.

It is unlike most other comics.
It is magnificent.

Comixology sale of Action Lab comics!

Comixology has another one of their marvellous 3 day sales on. This time it's for the Action Lab publisher house's books.  Most issues are 99 cents each.

There's a range of books here, from horror to pirate detectives, to unconventional princesses, time travel, fairies and other folklore.  You'll find something for kids and adults and everyone in between.

I recommend picking up the Princeless series, which we reviewed here.  Also worthwhile is the Princeless/Molly Danger sampler, which is free, and The Order of Dagonet which is simply fab.

I don't know the others but I am tempted to get Back in the Day, Jack Hammer: Political Science, Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa Vol 1, Monsters Are Just like Us, Pirate Eye: Mark of the Black Widow, Snowed In and the Order of Dagonet issues 1 to 3.

Happy reading!

Superman: Birthright, the origin of the Man of Steel

Writer: Mark Waid

Penciller: Leinil Francis Yu

Inker: Gerry Alanguilan

Colorist: Dave McCaig

Letterer: Comicraft

Publisher: DC Comics

What's it about?

This is an origin story for Superman.  I won't say 'the' origin story, because there have been lots.  This one is particularly good and it resonates with a lot of readers.