Heroes and Villains

Hero of the Week: Del Rey for getting into the graphic novel game with an all new Shannara story by Terry Brooks. Brooks is writing the story, which will be adapted to script form by Robert Napton and then illustrated by Edwin David. The Shannara books were a well-loved part of a lot of childhoods and are still going strong today, but what makes this especially exciting is Del Rey’s commitment to publishing original material and not just adaptations of previously published work.

Villain: CW for not picking up the Aquaman TV show. There wasn’t a whole lot of excitement about the show (which at one point was being called Mercy Reef – gag) until the trailer started making the Internet rounds. Now it actually looks like something worth watching; we’re just not going to get to.

Hero: Shocker Toys for their upcoming line of indie comics action figures. For everyone who’s as tired of seeing Batman and Spider-Man in the toy stores as they are of seeing them on the comic racks, Shocker has developed Indie Spotlight. The line will feature well-known characters like Dick Tracy, the Phantom, and the Lone Ranger, as well as cult-favorites like Sachs & Violens, Grim Jack, and Scud the Disposable Assassin.

Villain: Marvel for continuing to play coy about the non-Alpha Flight Alpha Flight book.

Hero: Marvel for making a non-Alpha Flight Alpha Flight book.

Hero: Douglas Wolk for attempting what every comics blogger would love to, but doesn’t have the guts to try: a weekly blog that analyzes every issue of DC’s 52.

Hero: TOKYOPOP for releasing manga resurrections of dead properties. They’ve been talking about the forthcoming Star Trek: The Manga, based on the original series, for a while now, but they’ve also recently announced manga sequels to Labyrinth (debuting at San Diego Comic Con this year) and The Dark Crystal (to be published in early 2007).