It’s the episode Blake and Chase have been hoping to record for over ten years now! (That’s right. Even before podcasting existed.) The Valiant Universe — home of heroes such as Harbinger, X-O Manowar, Archer and Armstrong and Rai and the Future Force — is slowly making a return with new hardcover editions, and the promise of new comics to come. This week, the guys tell you their favorite Valiant stories, cross their fingers for the return for Magnus: Robot Fighter and Solar: Man of the Atom to the line, and explain how they would resurrect Valiant as a line of ongoing comics. In the picks this week, Blake cheers for the return of Firebreather and Chase is still in love with Green Lantern: Secret Origin. In the next two weeks we’re going to talk Wanted and Mark Millar, then an episode focusing on our favorite Webcomics, so e-mail us with your comments, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com! And if you’ve got a Webcomic suggestion, be sure to include the URL!

2 in 1 Showcase Episode 73: Valiant Comics Reborn

They can’t all be as good as Iron Man. Maybe I’m wrong, but the Punisher War Zone trailer does not look good. This is the third attempt at the Punisher franchise. When will they learn to just adapt a Garth Ennis story?

If you are a fan of comic strips, and let’s face it, you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. You are going to want to check out a new quarterly magazine called Stay Tooned Magazine. Stay Tooned is remarkable for its insight into the creative process of cartoonists and artists. In an interview with Marcus Hamilton, the artist hand chosen by Hank Ketcham to take the reigns of Dennis the Menace, we get a unique view of four distinct variations of the same comic panel. This is a great opportunity to see the amount of work that goes into making a single panel and the dedication of the artist to get it just right. Not to be missed are the examples of sketches to finished product and the great interviews with Greg Cravens, Marcus Hamilton, Steve Kelley, John Rose, Marshall Ramsey, John Deaton, Rob Corley, Scott Stantis, and Steven Butler. Our preview copy of Stay Tooned was hand delivered by the editor and publisher John Reed and we are looking into the possibility of carrying future issues. If you would like to peruse the premiere issue and add it to your subscription just let us know.

Those of you who are frequent visitors to the website Boing Boing may be familiar with blogger Cory Doctorow. Cory is a big proponent of Creative Commons and a staunch opponent of DRM. All of his novels have been released under the Creative Commons license which allows him to grant the right to remix his works for non profit. So, it’s no surprise that with the release of Cory Doctorow’s Futuristic Tales of the Here and Now that Cory and IDW have released PDF’s and JPG’s of the entire collection. If you would like to download the entire collection you can do so here. And if you would like to purchase a hard copy we have them in stock.

In one short week, friends, comic fans will flood the movie theaters to see Edward Norton as The Incredible Hulk! This week, the Showcase boys dish on the history of the Hulk, their all-time favorite Hulk stories, and the current state of the books in the Hulk “Family.” In the picks this week, Chase is happy to see She-Hulk #29 making a comeback, while Blake trumpets the virtues of How to Make Webcomics. E-mail us with your comments, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

Episode 72: The Incredible Hulk

Wednesday, June 4th is another big day for comics. Be sure not to miss the kick off of the new weekly series from DC, Trinity, with art by fan favorite Mark Bagley.

The lead feature explores the unusual bond — and importance — of DC’s top three characters, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, as a mysterious dream links them together and may prophesy important changes in their trinity!

Also, don’t miss issue 3 of Secret Invasion where a guy with an eye patch finally arrives to save the day.

Lastly, we are offering something special for Ultimate Origins. For a limited time we will be selling issue number 1 of this pivotal story for 25% off (remember when comics were $2.25?). What is Ultimate Origins?

The story that finally reveals the conspiracies behind the entire Ultimate Universe! When they first met, Bruce Banner mysteriously warned Spider-Man that “Everything is connected.” Now it’s time to discover the jaw-dropping secrets that men have fought and died to protect. From the dark days of World War II to the frightening present, journey through history to learn what’s really behind the Super Soldier and Weapon X programs–and how heroes such as Captain America, Nick Fury and Wolverine have more in common than codenames and costumes. The dream team of Brian Michael Bendis and Butch Guice (CAPTAIN AMERICA, IRON MAN) unite for the first time for the Ultimate series of the year that is a must-read lead-in to ULTIMATUM!

Ever since the release of the trailer for The Spirit, the internet (and our customers) have pointed out that it looks too much like Sin City. Especially the lonesome red highlights among an otherwise black and white trailer. Well, Frank Miller has listened to these concerns and takes some time to blog about it and says,

To drive the point home, THE SPIRIT, despite any accidental impression left by that kickass teaser-trailer, is a full-color movie. SIN CITY—and I hope to make of it a movie trilogy all its own, come Hell and high water—is, visually, a playhouse for black and white.

Well, the title pretty much sums this one up. If you didn’t know it, John Hodgman not only likes comics, but he’s also a good reviewer. In this NY Times article Hodgman reviews Jack Kirby’s “Fourth World Omnibus”, Eric Shanower’s “Age of Bronze” and Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s “Y: The Last Man.”

Chase had to sit out this week, so Mark Blicharz joins Blake for a chat about the big crossovers of the summer and Mark’s feelings on The Hulk. In the e-mail section, the guys offer their Comic Convention Survival Tips and play “Casting Call” with a few characters, then head into the picks of the week, where Blake bids farewell to Shadowpact and Mark spreads the love for All Star Superman #11. The Hulk and Valiant episodes are coming up soon, friends, so e-mail us with your comments, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

Episode 71: Showcase Tangent III