Matt Fraction Talks Fear Itself

[From Bleeding Cool]

Well, the series will centre on Thor and Captain America, an Eden-like myth in Norse history revolving around the God Of Fear, the serpent cast out by Odin, killed his followers and churches and has hidden his existence. And Sin, the daughter of Red Skull, and now the new Red Skull, finds him.

A god that thrives on fear itself. And the more you fear him, the stronger he becomes, and he launches a war on earth, scaring everyone and turning each person into a weapon feeding Fear.

It’s designed to be modular. Like Civil War, you can just read the series and that’s fine, but you can spin off on tangents in other books if you wish.

[Listen to the interview at Word Balloon]

MONDAY TELEMETRY For December 27th, 2010

Welcome to another installment of Monday Telemetry, a weekly blog from The Launchpad that covers some of the more interesting releases or events that are coming to the store this week.

ITEM! Hope everyone had a Happy Holiday! We'll be open our regular hours on New Year's Eve and closed on New Year's Day.

ITEM! We're extending our Trade Paperback sale to New Year's Eve!

ITEM! DC Heroclix 75th Anniversary boosters will be back in stock this Wednesday! We're getting a bunch so if you want to lay your hands on another brick let us know.

ITEM! The rollbacks continue... This week we have Carnage #2 rolledback to $2.99!

BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1
Comics superstar David Finch takes full creative control (both writing and illustrating!) on this brand-new Batman monthly series! Joined by the best of the best - Scott Williams - on inks, this new series is sure to be on everyone's must-read pile! Delving into the more supernatural and esoteric areas of Gotham City, the 6-part storyline explores the horrific murder of one of Bruce Wayne's childhood friends...and the terrible ramifications the brutal crime has on Batman's life! 

SHIELD #5
"The Forgotten Machines of XXXXXX XXXXX"
The story that has taken the comic book world by storm marches on with an issue so secretive that we can't even reveal the full title! WHO IS THE NIGHT MACHINE?! Find your answer here from Jonathan Hickman (FANTASTIC FOUR) and Dustin Weaver (X-MEN). Every issue has sold out and gone into multiple printings. IT'S GOOD! WE PROMISE! Don't miss the sleeper hit of 2010!

TRUE BLOOD #6 (OF 6)
Sookie and Eric, Tara and Sam, Jason and Lafayette-they've all spilled their guts, revealing their deepest, darkest secrets-feeding the trickster spirit's need for shame; hoping he'll release them when they're finished. Now it's Bill's turn, and the 184-year old vampire's story of personal regret in post-civil war Louisiana is the most shameful of all!  But the sun is coming up, and it's up to Sookie to uncover the spirit's true intentions. Will she discover the monster's secret in time?  

WIDOWMAKER #2 (OF 4)
Who is hunting Marvel's super spies? Espionage agents around the world are being assassinated, their covers blown, and governments' intelligence & security capabilities devastated!  The person behind it: an all-new Ronin! The next two super-spies targeted for death: Black Widow and Mockingbird!  The wildcard determined to unmask the killer: Hawkeye! Let the game begin as Marvel's spy community collides with it's superhuman agents!

David Aja's covers for Marvel's 5 Ronin

 

This looks great! Check out the other covers here.

Marvel's Fear Itself

Coming in April 2011, mounting paranoia and anger will force the Marvel Universe to face its biggest foe yet: Fear Itself.

Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada along with VP – Executive Editors Tom Brevoort and Axel Alonso gathered at Midtown Comics on December 21 to address fans about their upcoming plans for 2011. After a week’s worth of teasers and speculation, the trio announced Fear Itself, a brand new mega comics event.
“It's undeniable that there's a certain something in the air right now,” said Quesada. “Tapping into that is what we do at Marvel and it brings out the best in our creators. But it's all through the eyes and stories of our heroes.”

Anchored by a seven-issue limited series, Fear Itself will involve the entire Marvel Universe—but who will be the eight most worthy?

Weaving this web of anguish and trepidation wills a superstar line-up of Marvel creators headlined by writer Matt Fraction and artist Stuart Immonen along with inker Wade Von Grawbadger and colorist Laura Martin on the core series.

“Like the best of all Marvel stuff, it’s something that speaks to the world we live in,” said Fraction of the story. “Everyone is afraid of something right now.”

In addition to the central limited series, Fear Itself will be supplemented by other event-specific limited series and specials as well as ancillary tie-ins in ongoing titles that will exist as their own standalone stories.

The action starts up in March 2011 with a prologue written by Ed Brubaker with art by Scot Eaton. Set during World War II, the story revolves around Captain America and the Invaders doing battle with the Red Skull. Deep in the history of the Marvel Universe, a secret lurks that unlocks the first key to Fear Itself.
“Fear, above all else, is a great motivator,” said Quesada. “There's no shortage of charlatans, tyrants or despots ready to stoke the flames. All they need is a spark.”

Fear Itself Press Conference | Marvel Heroes | Videos | Marvel.com

MONDAY TELEMETRY For December 20th, 2010

Welcome to another installment of Monday Telemetry, a weekly blog from The Launchpad that covers some of the more interesting releases or events that are coming to the store this week.

GREEN LANTERN LARFLEEZE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL #1
It's BRIGHTEST (CHRISTMAS) DAY! What do you want for Christmas? Orange Lantern Larfleeze wants everything - including Santa Claus himself! And nothing, not even the heroes of the DC Universe can to stop the Orange Lantern from getting what he wants! Plus, you won't want to miss the strange holiday season shenanigans starring the rest of the Orange Lantern Corps! Superstar writer Geoff Johns and artist Brett Booth team up for an unbelievable sleigh ride adventure!

HAUNT #12
THE SENSES-SHATTERING SECOND STORY-ARC CONCLUDES!
Hurg and his secret organization have been dragged into the open and exposed.  Now is the time to strike! Haunt and the agency must act now - before he moves deeper underground.  He had Kurt killed, he set these events leading to the birth of Haunt into motion - and now it's time to pay for what he's done!

MICE TEMPLAR VOL 3 #1
THE AWARD WINNING SERIES CONTINUES! Karic has accomplished his goal - the rescue of his family from captivity-but their freedom has come with a terrible price. Karic now lies comatose, his spirit lost to a realm of nightmare, a portal to the Outer Darkness where ancient demons have been cursed. Yet Cassius risks all for the young mouse who restored his faith, even death at the blade of his old Templar rival Ronan. Meanwhile, the druids and the rat army unleash a new wave of tyranny in retaliation for Karic's audacious attack. Only the heroic Maeven archers can stand against the MORTAIR, the deadly sisterhood of rat assassins!A perfect starting point for new readers!

TANK GIRL BAD WIND RISING #1 Of (4)
A holiday. A hold-up. A murder. A car chase. A mound of dog poo. A very large vodka. A fistfight. A kick in the groin. An earthquake. A mutant surfer. A lorry heist. A thousand pairs of panties. A tiny moped. And a gang of killer kangeroos after Tank Girl's scalp. Don't miss this twisted action adventure!