After the Hype: A Quick SDCC 2009 Comic News Round-Up

San Diego Comic-Con is a hectic media-fest where comics, movies, television, and… well just about every type of media you can imagine collide in an explosion of announcements, movie deals, celebrity appearances, focus panels, signings, and much more.

I didn’t even attempt to keep up with the news after Friday, because the hype was overwhelming, and frankly, I was too busy to stay glued to all the “live” coverage around the net. Now that the con has finished though, and Hollywood has done with the comic industry for another year, here is a list of things that caught my attention:

Ben Templesmith and Ben McCool announced a new series they are working on called The Choker, to be released through Image Comics

- Probably the most interesting piece of Con news if you ask me. Templesmith and McCool are two top class blokes, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what twisted little tales their deranged minds come up with! I talked a bit about this on the site on Friday, so head there to read more. This was also talked a bit about it at the Image Comics panel where Templesmith said:

[Choker] is a crime noir with a bit of a twist in an odd setting. Warren Ellis has given me permission to say that it’s going to be a bit like ‘Fell,’ but with its face ripped off and with a bad case of gonorrhea… If you like ‘Twilight’ and you’re a tween, [Choker] is perfect for you

Chris Ryall is writing a new series about the mythical Bat Boy character from The Weekly World News

- Why? Because he is mental! Why else It’s probably going to be very silly, and very funny. Keep your eyes open for this. Chris has a good round-up of all the news reportage on his blog.

The Return of Marvelman/Miracleman – Marvel comics purchased the rights to the classic character

- I talked a little about this on the site on Friday, so head there to read about it. I also posted Marvel’s official Press Release about the announcement. CBR managed to track down Mark Buckingham and quiz him a little about the announcement. I’m not sure how i feel about this. I would really like to see all those old story reprinted, because the individual issues and TPBs are insanely expensive on eBay. I’m not sure I would like to see the character integrated into the Marvel U though. I just don’t think he would fit in, and would seem as ridiculous a character as the Sentry! Let’s see what happens. I imagine we will see a new mini from Neil Gaiman (remember that he said he had a 3rd Marvel mini after 1602 and Eternals?). Maybe Mark Buckingham will be involved in some way, but Alan Moore? Hahahahhaha….

The 2009 Eisner Award winners were announced

IDW announced that Fables scribe Bill Willingham will be taking over their Angel ongoing series beginning with issue #28

- I really like Willingham’s writing, but I’ve never been into Buffy or Angle, so I’m not sure I’ll check this out

Tank Girl gets a new Image comics series

- I’ve been quite enjoying the new Tank Girl stuff that Alan Martin & Rufus Dayglo have been doing for Judge Dredd Megazine recently. I also really enjoyed the stories that Martin did with Ashley Wood over at IDW, so these Tank Girl one-shot are a definite buy for me.

Geoff Johns to write The Flash and Sterling Gates to Write Kid Flash

- I loved Geoff’s old Flash run, and I’ve been enjoying Flash: Rebirth. Johns, along with Mark Waid is definitely one of my top choices to write the character. Sterling Gates is also a good choice to write Kid Flash, he’s a very talented individual, and can even make a character as lame as Supergirl readable!

Chris Robertson announced his new series I, Zombie and Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love at Vertigo

- The Clockwork Storybook writer is set to write a Fables spin-off series, as well as a new zombie title. Both through Vertigo. I’m very excited! Especially because the artist on I, Zombie is none other than the legendary Mike Allred!

Joe Casey & Andy Suriano announce new series Doc Bizarre, MD coming to Image Comics

- I think I am one of the only people that read Casey and Suriano’s previous series Charlatan Ball, so while I was pleased to hear about this cool new series, I don’t expect many others will be.