KC Carlson. Art by Keith Wilson

A KC COLUMN by KC Carlson

Ah, my first column from my hidden bunker…

Here’s some cool stuff that should be out today (March 25). Hope your comics get to you soon without too many troubles…

From Beyond the Unknown Giant #1

100-Page From Beyond the Unknown Giant: Hey, Wayne Markley recently wrote a great rundown on DC’s recent 100-PAGE GIANTS series, so I thought I’d look at a specific one: From Beyond the Unknown Giant #1! Long-time DC readers will instantly remember this title/series as presenting (or more usually re-presenting) some of DC’s classic science fiction shorts. Well… this one’s not exactly like that, as the main stories here star DC’s superheroes — including Superman, Batman, The Flash, and Green Lantern — although some of DC’s science-fiction-or-science-fiction-only characters are involved! So, be aware that folks like Kamandi (The Last Boy on Earth!), Adam Strange, and the Legion of Super-Heroes are also included. I’m certainly looking forward to it! (Maybe because I used to edit the LSH in what feels like a parallel world.)

Justice League of America: The Nail – The Complete Collection

Speaking of things from a parallel world, DC is reissuing the 312-page Justice League of America: The Nail – The Complete Collection by writer/artist Alan Davis and artist Mark Farmer. Once upon a time, long, long ago, this was one of my projects as a DC Comics editor, and I had a blast working with these great professionals (and really funny guys, as well)! Unfortunately, I had to leave the project before it was completed, and the guy that followed me got the official DC editing credit (because that was the rules), but I was mostly just happy to have been associated with the project at all. This absolutely should be included in any list of the JLA’s best stories! Alan. Mark. Cheers!

Fantastic Four Marvels Snapshot #1

Over at Marvel, a new line of one-shots is showcasing Marvel’s greatest characters from the Golden Age to today (and probably beyond!). First up is Fantastic Four Marvels Snapshot #1. It’s written by Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer (Beasts of Burden, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast) and illustrated by Benjamin Dewey (Beasts of Burden). It’s Johnny Storm’s ten-year high school reunion (Jeez, do I feel old…), so there are plenty of old girlfriends, ex-villains, strange souvenirs, a weenie roast on the beach, and of course… the Inhuman hound known as Lockjaw! (So much for the weenies…) Best of all, every issue of this new “Snapshot” format series will be “covered” by a painting of each issue’s main character by Alex Ross!

Hellions #1

Hellions has been a long-running sub-franchise of Marvel’s X-Men (some of them actual villains), and a new Hellions series debuts today — the Dawn of X Hellions. It’s written by Zeb Wells and drawn by Stephen Segovia, and the initial cast will include Empath, Havok, Mister Sinister, Nanny (oh, please, no…), Orphan-Maker, Psylocke, Scalphunter, and Wild Child. And that’s pretty much all we know, so we’ll be learning more along with everybody else!

Immortal Hulk #33

If you look at the solicitations for Immortal Hulk #33, you’ll see a whole bunch of variant covers for the issue — almost like it was some sort of celebration or something. Well, gosh darn it, it is a celebration! Immortal Hulk #33 is actually The Incredible Hulk #750 — if you add up all of Hulkie’s previous series since just after the Tales to Astonish days. And just think… he’s still wearing the same torn-up pants! (Ewww…) (BTW, I’m trusting Marvel’s math on this one…)

Legion of Super-Heroes #5

There’s a long-standing tradition of adding new members to the Legion of Super-Heroes, which happens again in today’s issue #5 (and into #6)! Usually these things don’t go very well (because LSH creators and editors generally run on the sadistic side…), so this might actually be one of those “anything can happen” issues that the LSH was once known for! Watch out for Gold Lantern, Monster Boy, and Doctor Fate! (Hmm, it seems like at least one of those things is not like the others! Another LSH tradition!) This is by BMB (aka Brian Michael Bendis), Ryan Sook, and Travis Moore.

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KC CARLSON — Former LSH editor… and people still won’t leave me alone. Run… run… I have Legionnaires Disease!

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you. Week One of putting my new comics into quarantine. (I am allowing them to read each other. They can do that because they have crazy stick-arms — like Johnny DC! Remember him?)

Which reminds me… Why isn’t there a Johnny DC Funko figure? Too many cross-trademarks?