Ah, the PSA comic, they aren’t as plentiful as they used to be, but they were a big part of my childhood. When I received the first look for Archie Double Digest #217, the first thing I noticed was the blurb about a story from MADD and the NFL. Based on the preview pages, it looks like someone is going to get into a bit of a scrape involving drunk driving, but I bet with the help of Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, everything will turn ok. At least, I hope so. If you’re not into the whole PSA thing, I’ve two things to say to you. First, this won’t feel as forced as some PSA comics have been. Second, it’s a double digest! There are 160 pages of comic in this puppy, if you don’t like PSAs there is plenty for you to enjoy. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the preview pages, I definitely want to know what happens to Archie’s dad after he and Arch climb Veronica’s fence together!

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #217
“It’s a Steal,” “Career Sphere” and “Sore Loser”
In “It’s a Steal” robbers have the residents of Riverdale terrified, but Archie and Jughead create more fear as they help! Next, in “Career Sphere”, Archie tries to decide his future vocation, but they all end in disaster! Finally, “Sore Loser” finds Archie’s dad following Archie in an attempt to lose weight and write a diet book. Will he lose his mind before he loses any weight?
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher, George Gladir, Angelo DeCesare
ARTIST: Stan Golberg, Al Milgrom, Tim Kennedy, Ken Selig, Bob Bolling, Jim Amash
COVER: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith and Tito Pena
Shipping Date: 3/16/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 3/23/2011
Newsstands: 4/5/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

In the past week two new Game Of Thrones trailers have popped up. The first is entitled “The Game Begins”

Fear and Blood

With just one month and one day away from this series coming to HBO I can officially say I’m getting really excited.

I am really really excited for this game. I’m even more excited now that I know JK Simmons is on board and voicing Aperture science’s head honcho. For those who haven’t played Portal 1 yet, please do so. Then you’ll be as excited as I am for the sequel.

Unlike certain other comic cons, you won’t have to scramble in an online queue to attend RDCC ’11! Archie Comics was kind enough to pass along the solicit for June’s Archie & Friends #156. As you can see, the Riverdale gang is doing the cosplay thing. Some of the costumes are inspired, such as Jughead as Spock and Chuck as Mace Windu (no comment on Betty as a Na’vi). On the other hand, Reggie is wearing the wrong Hogwarts’ house colors! He’s always struck me as more of a Slytherin. As it is, I am very much looking forward to reading this one. Not only do we have the inherent coolness of the Riverdale folk going geek, it’s also a mash-up of all of the Archie/Riverdale properties at once. The thing that’ll get me to buy it though, is the fact that Archie PR man extraordinaire, Alex Segura is helming the writing chores on this one. He’s an awesome guy, and I can’t wait to read it!

RIVERDALE COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL

In a tale by Alex Segura, Archie and the kids from Riverdale High run into Sabrina and Josie & the Pussycats at the Riverdale Comic-Con. It’s bigger than the San Diego Comic-Con and hitting right in the middle of the busy comic convention season.

What will the kids find at the biggest sci-fi, comic and entertainment event to hit Riverdale? Will Veronica win the costume contest? Find out as superstar Archie artist Bill Galvan draws this wild, wacky tale! Coincidentally, Bill himself was discovered by Archie Comics at a comic book convention. Will Riverdale’s own comic artist Chuck Clayton be as lucky?

ARCHIE AND FRIENDS #156
SCRIPT: ALEX SEGURA
ART AND COVER: BILL GALVAN
Shipping Date: 6/1/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 6/15/2011
Newsstands: Week of 6/21/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

Personally, I’m not really impressed. The last series of TMNT I was on the fence about. I wasn’t a huge fan, but I didn’t think it was all that bad either. When I heard Nickelodean had bought the Ninja Turtles, I was really excited to see some great animation. Some of my favorite cartoons growing up were on Nick: Rocko’s Modern Life, Ren & Stimpy, etc.

The fact they are going the CG route on this is dissappointing to me, especially considering how lack luster it looks. No real textures to speak of. Now, I get that this is a “Sneak Peak” and it isn’t the final product. I get that. But this hasn’t given me a lot of faith for the direction they’re going. It reminds me of those terrible GameCube games. Hopefully I will be proven wrong.

Via: Mtv

SO, the folks at Marvel sent us a First Look of their “Hero Formerly Known as Captain America” Annual #1. I can’t really comment on it, because there is just art in this preview, but at least it’s good art! Apparently, this is the second part in a 3-part annual event. Like I said, I’m not terribly sure of what’s going on, but I will say it’s kind of cool to see Namor in a hybridized X-uniform! Don’t tkae my word for it, here’s is the the take, directly from the House of Ideas!

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at the second cataclysmic chapter of “Escape From The Negative Zone,” from writer James Asmus and artist Ibraim Roberson in Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier Annual #1! The X-Men have been marked for execution by King Blastaar but luckily, Steve Rogers is on his way into enemy territory to save them! Can the original Sentinel of Liberty take on the entire Negative Zone alone?

Spinning directly into next month’s Namor: The First Mutant Annual #1, the senses-shattering crossover event of the spring continues in Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier Annual #1! With their biggest threat still a mystery, can Steve and the X-Men make it out of the King Blastaar’s realm alive?

Plus don’t forget to see how this epic story begins in Uncanny X-Men Annual #3 on sale next week!

STEVE ROGERS: SUPER-SOLDIER ANNUAL #1 (FEB110542)
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Penciled by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by BLACK FROG
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 3/21/11, On Sale – 4/13/11

Archie Comics once again has sent us a preview of an upcoming book. This time it’s Betty & Veronica Double Digest #189. I personally really like the digests. Where else can you get 160 pages worth of comics for $4 nowadays? That being said, the preview here is only the tip of the iceberg. You not only get the two Betty-ccentric stories previewed here, but also a nice dose of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. And certainly Veronica won’t be letting Betty hog the spotlight! You can pick the book up in your shop this coming Wednesday, but if you’re a traditionalist and want to buy it in the supermarket checkout, you’ll have to wait until March 29th. Until then, enjoy!

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #189
“Sign of the Times” and “Concrete”
In “Sign of the Times” Betty’s friend Carol’s cartoons aren’t too popular in the school paper, but when Betty gets her to draw a sign for her bake sale, Carol may get a second chance at drawing a crowd! Then, in “Concrete,” Betty’s traumatized when she hears her and Archie’s initials in the cement are about to be covered up! What ultimate gesture of his affection can Archie make to re-cement his love for Betty?
SCRIPT: George Gladir and Mike Pellowski
ARTIST: Jeff Schultz, Jon D’Agostino, Robert Bolling and Jim Amash
COVER: Jeff Shultz, Al Milgrom and Tito Pena
Shipping Date: 3/9/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 3/16/2011
Newsstands: 3/29/211
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99

Lucasfilm has given us another new look at the upcoming episode of The Clone Wars. This time we have a preview of the last chapter in the Citadel Saga, which is the penultimate story arc in Season 3 of The Clone Wars.

From the official press release:

After their ship is destroyed, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi must find a new means of escape from the Citadel. They lead the freed prisoners – including the Republic’s Captain Tarkin – across the planet’s perilous landscape as Plo Koon commands a Jedi armada through Separatist defenses in a daring rescue attempt. It’s the thrilling conclusion to a three-part Clone Wars storyline in “Citadel Rescue” – airing at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 11 on Cartoon Network.

For Stephen Stanton, assuming the iconic role of Tarkin – made famous by Peter Cushing in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope – was not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Using the first Star Wars film as a starting point and a foundation, Stanton immersed himself in the legendary actor’s filmography and early TV work, while at the same time dissecting the character for clues to Tarkin’s personal trajectory.

“Peter Cushing’s original Tarkin was the epitome of someone who had succumbed to the dark side. [He] is that quiet, elegant, grandfatherly kind of villain that you want to believe in with all your heart. And when you do, he turns on you with a smile and says ‘You’re far too trusting’ – and then destroys everything that you hold dear,” says Stanton. “But since I don’t believe anyone is born evil, I approached the younger version of his character from the standpoint of a career military man who fervently believes that what he is doing is the right thing. That gave me a certain amount of latitude to ask questions of the character – like, what was he like before he embraced the dark side? On one hand, I am using Peter Cushing’s voice and performance as a template, so I want to keep the essence of what he did. But on the other hand, I’m creating the voice of a young Tarkin – who no one has heard before. I think these new episodes challenge our ideas of who Tarkin was in A New Hope more than it reflects his character and what we know about him at the end of his days.”

Accused of “holding Vader’s leash” by the captive Princess Leia in Episode IV, Tarkin has the distinction of being the one Imperial officer with some authority over the menacing Sith Lord. He commands Vader with haughty impunity, publicly dressing down the master of the Force. According to Stanton, that relationship had to start somewhere.

“The relationship between Anakin and Tarkin – and ultimately Vader and Tarkin – is what is being explored now in The Clone Wars,” he says. “Who exactly is this Grand Moff and why is he able to exert control over Lord Vader? It was never fully explained in the films, but we’re getting some hints of how it all might have started. For myself as a viewer, I think Tarkin recognizes a kindred spirit in Anakin. It’s the choices they make and why they make them that will determine their destination. How their story evolves should be quite interesting.”

After a 4 issue sojourn as a semi-private eye, everyone’s favorite bottomless pit, Jughead is back to his old antics in next week’s Jughead #206! Archie Comics was kind enough to send another of their generous first looks out way, and it looks to be a nice return to the multiple stories in one issue format.  This time out, it looks like we have Jug using his culinary expertise to help out lunch lady Ms. Beazly, being Riverdale’s #1 trend-setter by coming up with an ingenious way to avoid a certain powerful smell, and finally discovering the warm and comfort of a combination robe and blanket. It looks like a lot of fun, give it a look!

JUGHEAD #206
“Snug as a Jug in a Rug” and “Information Please”
“Snug as a Jug in a Rug” finds Jughead so comfortable in his new Snuggly Wuggly blanket he wants to sleep forever! Archie finally gets him out to help him on a job, but Jughead falls asleep in the mailroom and ends up being shipped out as bulk mail! Then in “Information Please”, Jughead’s knowledge saves Ms. Beazly by knowing the secret ingredient in her special dish, Fiesta a la Beazly!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ARTIST: Rex Lindsey and Jim Amash
COVER: Rex Lindsey and Tito Pena
Shipping Date: 3/9/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 3/16/2011
Newsstands: 3/29/2011
Comic, 32 pgs, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

Hey, do you like inter-company crossovers? Even if you don’t, one happened recently that was the perfect meshing of worlds. The Tiny Titans met Little Archie and his friends! If you missed it, now you have the opportunity to buy the whole story for a song, in convenient digest format! The people at Archie are the ones who get to reprint it, and they provided us with a very generous 15 page preview. Confidentially, I consider this book to be the perfect gateway to get your little one into comics. If you like what you see, give it a read when it hits shops next Wednesday!

WORLD OF ARCHIE #5
“Little Archie/ Tiny Titans” Parts 1-3.
The world ofThe world of Archie Comics and DC Comics collide in the complete collection of the three-part Little Archie/Tiny Titans crossover! Pandemonium and brand new friendships abound as a simple laundry switch leads to adventures with Robin, Beast Boy, Josie and the Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Archie & friends! Plus, is Miss Grundy related to Solomon Grundy?
SCRIPT: Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani
ARTIST: Art Baltazar
COVER: Art-chie Baltazar
Shipping Date: 3/2/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 3/9/2011
Newsstands: 3/22/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US