Today is a big day at Marvel: it’s the day we release the DARK TOWER HARDCOVER. This mighty volume collects issues 1-7 of the Dark Tower comic, which adapts and expands upon Stephen King’s 7-novel series about the adventures of Roland, a gunslinger on a quest. I’m proud of my involvement with this book, but more so of the hard work of the creative team: writers Robin Furth and Peter David, artists Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, and letterer Chris Eliopoulos, not to mention Stephen King himself. There was also a large and multi-faceted group here at Marvel that came together to make this happen. In one example, Raphael Rodriguez, who works behind the scenes in Marvel’s Print Logistics, actually had to travel out of state to the printing plant, where every 8 hours he would inspect prints from this book as they rolled off the press.
But seeing this hardcover go on sale isn’t just an opportunity to pat myself and my colleagues on the back – it also marks an important distinction for Marvel, because this is arguably the biggest and most significant project we’ve created beyond the traditional marketplace for comics. The hardcover is meant not just for comic store patrons, but for the bookstore market as well, and we expect it to be many people’s introduction to graphic storytelling.
So it tops my recommended reading list, but do be aware that it has a Parental Advisory rating. Mature teens and adults are the intended audience.
This week offers some good selections for the younger crowd, too: MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #33 and MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #5 are both available in comic stores today, and both are great reads for any age group.
A new limited series premieres today: SILVER SURFER: IN THY NAME. Its four issues constitute a self-contained story, making it a good starting place for new readers – and it stars a character already widely familiar from the second Fantastic Four movie. In the first issue, the Silver Surfer finds himself a guest in a mysterious utopian world. When he accompanies his hosts to help the residents of a less idyllic society, trouble begins to stir. It’s a space adventure with moody undertones and lush art by Tan Eng Huat and Jose Villarrubia. Rated A.
OMEGA: THE UNKNOWN #2 also comes out today, continuing the story that premiered last month by novelist JONATHAN LETHEM. The first issue was a hook: a precocious teenager, a sad and weird traffic accident, and a connection to a super-powered being all made for an intriguing introduction. It also caught the notice of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, making it onto the magazine’s “Must List.” Rated T+.
AXM? Recommended reading and no Astonishing X-Men? o_O
Posted by aimerzz4 on 2007-11-09 20:03:43
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About this blog: A guide to Marvel’s comic offerings for librarians, parents and teachers.
About the author: Nicole Boose is an Associate Editor at Marvel Comics, working on various titles including the Marvel Illustrated classics. She oversees the comics in Marvel’s custom publishing program.