Geek Of The Week : Lady Mechanika # 3

Blimey . . . Tha’ Is One Very Big Arse

In Lady Mechanika # 3 from Aspen, the title character continues on her quest to learn the secrets of her past. A mission that had brought a dead mechanical girl across her path. When the mechanical girl’s body is stolen, Lady Mechanika sets off to track her down.

The trail takes Mechanika to the Cirque du Romani. Once there she is confronted by several of the circus performers. Her questions to find the mechanical girl aren’t met well, and this leads to Mechanical scuffling wit ht he circus’s knife thrower and his big cat.

The owner of the circus, Madame Divinite, breaks up the fight and things calm down. With cooler heads thinking, it is discovered that the mechanical girl is Seraphina, the daughter of the knife thrower, and she isn’t dead. It is revealed that the promise of fame and fortune lured Seraphina and her boyfriend away to join another circus. Although the it is deduced that the two lost performers weren’t lured away by another circus, but rather they were tricked to follow a mercenary working for the Blackpool Armaments Company.

After learning the new information Lady Mechanika and her associate travel to Mechanicon, the Annual Mechanika City Convention of All Things Innovative, Scientific, and Industrial. It is here that they find Nathaniel Blackpool, the person that Lady Mechanika believes is holding Seraphina. At the opening ceremony for Mechanicon, Blackpool introduces his Helio Arx, a giant airship and fortress that Mechanika believes she will need to infiltrate if she is to find the mechanical girl.

Lady Mechanika is an interesting and enjoyable comic book set in a steampunk world. The characters, costumes, and environment are all amazing. There is a great style and flare to this comic. The comic is written and drawn by Joe Benitez, with Peter Steigerwald providing colors, and Josh Reed on lettering. The story and characters are engaging, and the artwork is beautiful. This is a comic book that you should be buying.

Transformers #29 : Preview

Transformers Chaos

“The Last Story On Earth” ends here! When Prowl makes a breakthrough in his investigation, he assumes that he has the answers to all his questions… until a shadowy adversary brings some shocking revelations to the Autobot’s attention. Could this be the end of the human/Autobot truce? Mike Costa and Brendan Cahill bring this tale to its unexpected conclusion!

Transformers #29
Mike Costa (w) • Brendan Cahill (a) • Marcelo Matere, Cahill (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

IDW Is Infested Again

IDW Gets Infested Again

From: IDW Publishing

IDW’s ground-breaking, multi-universe event returns in January with Infestation 2. As with the blockbuster original, this epic invasion will spread throughout the IDW-verse and into many fan-favorite titles. With Infestation 2, tentacled Lovecraftian “Old Ones” reach across time and space and threaten to destroy everyone everywhere and everywhen.

“Last year, we were just figuring out how to do a monstrous event for the first time,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief. “This year, we’re going to build on the monstrous part, both in terms of story, titles affected and the threat itself. So people can expect a bigger event here, with lots of legs. Well, tentacles, anyway. We’ve got great creators and a very exciting plan to give people more of what they liked the first time, with some crazy twists and new properties affected, too.”

Coming in January, the kick off issue, Infestation 2 #1, will be written by best-selling novelist and comic-book writer Duane Swierczynski and feature art byInfestation/Infestation: Outbreak artist David Messina. This gripping issue sets the stage for Lovecraft’s “Old Ones” to break through time and space and invade many titles, including Transformers, Dungeons & Dragons, and a special fifth-week one-shot, Infestation: Team-Up, featuring Bat Boy and Groom Lake’s grey alien Archibald in February. Then in March, the Infestation spreads even further, infecting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and G.I. Joe. In April, vampires battle zombies in 30 Days of Night: Infestation, followed by the stunning closing issue, Infestation 2 #2.

Joining Swierczynski and Messina on covers for Infestation 2 #1 and #2 will be Alex Garner and Livio Ramondelli. Infestation 2 #1 will also feature unique temporary tattoos.

In February, writer Chuck Dixon and artist Guido Guidi will return to the often-requested “Hearts of Steel” timeline for the bi-weekly Infestation 2 Transformers #1 and #2. Plus, Dungeons & Dragons novelist Paul Krill will introduce a brand-new campaign setting to IDW with Infestation 2 Dungeons & Dragons: Eberron #1 and #2. Infestation 2: Team-Up will be written by Chris Ryall and illustrated by his Weekly World News partner Alan Robinson, and feature covers by Eric Powell and The Simpsons’s Bill Morrison.

In March, Tristan Jones and Mark Torres pair up for Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 and #2, while Mike Raicht and Valentine de Landro present Infestation 2: G.I. Joe #1 and #2. Infestation 2 architect Duane Swierczynski and artist Stuart Sayger will explore the effect of Lovecraft demons on vampires in the Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night one-shot.

As a special bonus for fans, every issue of the Infestation 2 event will feature a connected cover by artist Livio Ramondelli, and IDW will be producing special incentive temporary tattoos with each issue, too.

Stay tuned to IDWPublishing.com as more creative teams for this epic crossover event are announced. Plus, readers can get a sneak peek at Infestation 2 by asking their local retailer about the Infestation 2 ashcan, coming in late November and featuring interviews, artwork and information about this momentous event.

Infestation 2 #1 ($3.99, 32 pages, full color) will be available in stores on January 25, 2012.

Infestation 2: Transformers #1 & #2 will be in stores on February 1 and 15, 2012, respectively.

Infestation 2: Dungeons & Dragons Eberron #1 & 2 will be in stores on February 8 and 22, 2012, respectively.

Infestation 2: Team-Up will be in stores on February 29, 2012.

Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 & #2 will be in stores on March 7 and 21, 2012, respectively.

Infestation 2: G.I. Joe #1 & #2 will be in stores on March 14 and 28, 2012, respectively.

Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night will be in stores on April 4, 2012.

Infestation 2 #2 will be available in stores on April 11, 2012.

The Death Of Optimus Prime

Now Light Our Darkest Hour

Coming this December, Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, will become one with the Matrix. Following the events of Chaos, the Transformers event that stretched throughout 2011, Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime will roll into comic stores and the Apple iTunes store. The war between the Autobots and Decepticons may be coming to an end, but Cyberton remains in turmoil. And Optimus will have to question whether or not he is the leader that is needed to unite Cybertron. And spinning out of this issue will be two new ongoing Transformers comic book series starting in January.

Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime will be 32 pages written by John Barber and James Roberts, with art by Nick Roche. There will also be different variant covers, including a Livio Ramondelli cover, and an exclusive wraparound cover featuring all 125 IDW Transformers covers, with foil enhancements.

From IDW Publishing:

In stores this December, IDW is proud to announce Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime, setting a whole new direction for the Autobot leader and the Transformers comic book universe. IDW’s Chaos event, spanning throughout 2011, represented the closing of a chapter in Transformers history for the comic book universe. On Earth, the Autobots learned of the treachery of their human allies–and their loyalty was pushed past the breaking point. In space–with the fate of the universe at stake–the Transformers waged the final battle for the fate of Cybertron. With the end of Chaos, the war between the Autobots and Decepticons is over.

Now the hard part begins, as the survivors must confront their future head-on. The Transformers’ homeworld is reborn–but it’s not the safe home the Autobots had hoped for. Amidst a hostile planet–and an angry population–Autobot leader Optimus Prime must try to unite the divided loyalties of his fellow Transformers. In the process, he is forced to question whether he is the ruler a united Cybertron needs. IDW’s December comic, Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime, answers that question, once and for all.

Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime will be available in comic stores and through the Apple iTunes store this December. The futures of Earth and Cybertron culminate together in this monumental issue, launching an all new-era for IDW’s Transformers comics. Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime will feature 32 pages of full-color, action-packed story, written by John Barber and James Roberts, with art by Nick Roche. Fans are encouraged to ask their retailers about the different variant covers, including a Livio Ramondelli cover, and an exclusive wraparound cover featuring all 125 IDWTransformers covers, with foil enhancements. This special issue sets the stage for two new ongoing Transformers comic series starting in January!

Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime ($3.99, 32 pages; full color) will be available in December 2011.

Dynamite Entertainment Forms Voltron Comic

Form Blazing Sword

Dynamite Entertainment is reviving another classic 80s property with a comic book series. Dynamite will launch a Voltron comic, based on the animated  TV series about five pilots that command robot lions which could also combine to form the giant robot, Voltron. This Voltron Force protected the planet Arus from the evil King Zarkon , his son Lotor, and the witch Haggar, along with their monstrous Robeasts.

The one time merchandising juggernaut will return in a comic book series written by Brandon Thomas, and with covers by Alex Ross.

From Dynamite Entertainment:

This December, the pop culture phenomenon known as Voltron is returning to a comic book store near you! Under a series of amazing covers by master painter Alex Ross, and written by Dynamite’s own up and coming writer Brandon Thomas, the series is destined to be a sure fire hit!

Dynamite will present all new adventures of the classic robot super-hero! Originally released in 1984, Voltron: Defender of the Universe quickly skyrocketed to be the number one children’s program in the United States. Merchandising rapidly followed and more than 100 different Voltron products were on shelves around the world.

“Voltron is one of the most well-known cartoons of all-time,” says Dynamite President Nick Barrucci. “Classic Media and World Events Productions are working with a wide-range of licensing partners to ensure Voltron’s success. With the upcoming cartoon and a feature film in the works, now is the perfect time to launch a Voltron comic book for a new era, which will feature amazing Alex Ross covers! Our acquisition of this incredible brand is another step in Dynamite’s exciting growth and builds on the ongoing success of our line.”

“I grew up loving the big robots from Japan,” says legendary artist Alex Ross. “And Voltron is one of the coolest-looking of them!”

Voltron featured a team of five young pilots commanding five robot lions which could be combined to form Voltron. In an undefined future era, the Voltron Force was in charge of protecting the planet Arus (ruled by Princess Allura) from the evil King Zarkon (from planet Doom), his son Lotor, and the witch Haggar, who would create huge Robeasts to terrorize the people of Arus.

“We’ve been given a lot of latitude by our partners at Classic Media and World Events,” said Dynamite Editor Joe Rybandt. “Nothing is off the table and if you’ve followed our releases featuring pop culture icons, you know that we take the best and add the new and create something unique and special on its own. Expect no different from Voltron.”

Founded in 1982 to meet the ever-growing need for the development of quality television entertainment, World Events Productions has continued to be a leader in technological innovation and programming excellence ever since. Headquartered in St. Louis, WEP has been on the cutting-edge of top quality entertainment production and international distribution.

World Events’ more recent program, Voltron: The Third Dimension, was the first full 3D CGI series produced solely in the United States. However, classic Lion Force Voltron remains the general favorite among fans. And fans have much more to look forward to in the future as the Voltron Universe continues to expand.