Archive for November, 2014

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November 20th, 2014  Posted at   Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast
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Welcome to the world of Tangent Comics — where you only know the names. Parallel Lines: A DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast is a bi-weekly, issue-by-issue exploration of DC Comics’ Tangent Universe events, hosted by Shawn Engel and Michael Bradley.

Tangent/Batman #1

“An innocent was wrenched from my grasp — and must be returned, lest salvation elude me forever.”

The second wave of Tangent books begins with THE BATMAN as an brooding crusader from days of yore stalks modern-day streets in the name of justice. But when a woman is abducted, can this dark knight atone for his own past sins and save the damsel before experiencing a knight … fall (sorry)? Find out as we look at “Covenant of Iron,” courtesy of comic book legends Dan Jurgens and Klaus Janson!

DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE directly, or subscribe via iTunes or RSS feed using the links below!

Tangent/Batman backmatter

NEXT TIME: The reign begins with THE SUPERMAN #1!

Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe PodcastNever miss an episode: Subscribe via iTunes or the RSS Feed! All feedback is warmly welcomed. Send your thoughts to tangent(at)greatkrypton.com! Share your thoughts on the episode and the stories discussed. Seriously, we want to hear from listeners. You also can connect with us on Facebook to leave feedback and get show-related updates and content!

November 18th, 2014  Posted at   Superman & Batman
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Superman & BatmanWelcome to episode 35 of SUPERMAN & BATMAN, featuring your two favorite heroes in one podcast together!

The show’s premise is simple: Each episode, host Michael Bradley celebrates seven decades of the World’s Finest heroes by looking at stories featuring the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight, chosen at random mostly from the pages of World’s Finest Comics.

This episode

“You Can Take the Boy Out of Smallville …”

GUEST HOST: J. David Weter of Dave’s Daredevil Podcast!

ORIGINAL PUBLICATION: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #192 (cover date November 1982)

WHAT TO EXPECT: Superman (when he was a boy) and Batman in one adventure together!

ALSO FEATURING: Metaphorical gut-punches, Jim Aparo art and Haney Memory©!

PLUS: A look at the book’s other content and what else was on the stands!

DOWNLOAD: Directly or via iTunes

Fine print

Subscribe to the show via iTunes or the RSS Feed! Got questions or comments? Additions or corrections? How about a story suggestion? Drop a line! Share your thoughts on the episode and the issue. Seriously, I want to hear from listeners. You also can connect with show on Facebook and Twitter to send feedback and get show updates!

Superman & Batman is a proud member of the Superman Podcast Network. And don’t forget to visit the Superman Homepage!

November 7th, 2014  Posted at   Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast
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Beginning in the summer of 2007, nearly a decade after their original publication and on the eve of the return to the universe, DC Comics collected all 18 books from the original Tangent waves from 1997 and 1998 in a series of three trade paperbacks. If you’ve been enjoying Shawn Engel’s and my coverage of the books on your own, but are more of a trades-only person, here’s a closer look at the trades that are available.

Each edition featured a brand new cover by Dan Jurgens and Kevin Conrad featuring some of the characters in that specific volume. Even though the Flash, the Green Lantern, the Joker and individuals from Nightwing each are featured in two separate volumes (as they headlined two books), only the Green Lantern gets two cover appearances on the trades. Regardless, as a bonus, since those front covers of the trades are easy to find at online retailers and comic indexes across the Internet, I’ll be offering a look at the back cover of each edition, which are composed using artwork from the comics’ original covers.

Tangent, Vol. 1

Released: Aug. 29, 2007
Cover price: $19.99
Pages: 208
Edition editor: Peter Hamboussi

Tangent, Vol. 1 trade paperback

Contents: The Atom #1, Metal Men #1, Green Lantern #1, The Flash #1 and Sea Devils #1
Note: All five books are from the 1997 wave.

Tangent, Vol. 2

Released: Jan. 23, 2008
Cover price: $19.99
Pages: 192
Edition editor: Peter Hamboussi

Tangent, Vol. 2 trade paperback

Contents: The Joker #1, Nightwing #1, Secret Six #1, Doom Patrol #1 and The Batman #1
Note: All books except Batman are from the 1997 wave.

Tangent, Vol. 3

Released: June 25, 2008
Cover price: $19.99
Pages: 208
Edition editor: Sean Mackiewicz

Tangent, Vol. 3 trade paperback

Contents: The Superman #1, Wonder Woman #1, Nightwing: Night Force #1, The Joker’s Wild #1, The Trials of the Flash #1, Tales of the Green Lantern #1, Powergirl #1 and JLA #1
Note: All books are from the 1998 wave. The shorter page counts in the second-wave books allowed them to collect more in one edition.

But what about Tangent: Superman’s Reign, the follow-up series that began in 2008? It’s been collected, too, in two volumes. The first featured a new cover by Dan Jurgens and Trevor Scott that paid homage to the iconic cover to FLASH #123. The second used artwork by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, recycled from issue #11 of the series.

Here’s a closer look at each volume.

Tangent: Superman’s Reign, Vol. 1

Released: Feb. 4, 2009
Cover price: $19.99
Pages: 160
Edition editor: Sean Mackiewicz

Tangent: Superman's Reign, Vol. 1 trade paperback

Contents: Tangent: Justice League of America (Vol. 2) #16 (first story only) and Superman’s Reign #1 through 6

Tangent: Superman’s Reign, Vol. 2

Released: Sept. 9, 2009
Cover price: $19.99
Pages: 144
Edition editor: Sean Mackiewicz

Tangent: Superman's Reign, Vol. 2 trade paperback

Contents: Tangent: Superman’s Reign #7 through 12

To date, none of the original Tangent books or issues of Superman’s Reign have been collected in hardcover form. However, the Justice League of America story also was collected in the trade paperback and hardcover editions of Justice League of America: The Injustice League.

November 6th, 2014  Posted at   Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast
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Welcome to the world of Tangent Comics — where you only know the names. Parallel Lines: A DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast is a bi-weekly, issue-by-issue exploration of DC Comics’ Tangent Universe events, hosted by Shawn Engel and Michael Bradley.

Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast

In the Tangent Universe … the Atom looks like Superman, and the Flash is a teenage girl in a skintight outfit.

Going for nine episodes strong, and the show gets a new promo (kind of?) courtesy of fellow podcaster, friend of the show, all-round nice guy and the only man to climb Mount Everest naked (or so we’ve heard) … Charlie “What the &%!# is a Niemeyer” Niemeyer! Give it a listen, eh?

DOWNLOAD THE PROMO directly, or subscribe via iTunes or RSS feed using the links below!

NEXT TIME: Wave 2 begins with BATMAN #1

Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe PodcastNever miss an episode: Subscribe via iTunes or the RSS Feed! All feedback is warmly welcomed. Send your thoughts to tangent(at)greatkrypton.com! Share your thoughts on the episode and the stories discussed. Seriously, we want to hear from listeners. You also can connect with us on Facebook to leave feedback and get show-related updates and content!

November 5th, 2014  Posted at   Parallel Lines: The DC Comics Tangent Universe Podcast
,    |   Comments Off on Designing a Tangent: Behind the Logos

Earlier this week, I posted an interview with Rian Hughes, who conceived and designed the trade dress and logos for the DC Comics’ Tangent books in 1997. The also designed the logos for the 1998 wave and the more recent Superman’s Reign, with in-house designers echoing his styles for the trade dress on those books.

Rian was kind enough to share some long-unseen preliminary cover-design work as well as unused logo concepts for the books. Many, many thanks to Rian for sending and allowing me to post them.

First up are some cover-design roughs, which Rian talked more about in the interview:

Tangent cover design concept 2 Tangent cover design concept 3 Tangent cover design concept 4

When a designer is commissioned to create a logo, especially one that will be used to represent an entire product line, clients often want to see several concepts. And from a creative standpoint, it’s simply good process to design several concepts in order to work out the bugs in your own ideas. Here’s a look at several of Rian’s conceptsfor the Tangent line’s logo that ultimately were not used.

Tangent Comics unused logos 1 Tangent Comics unused logos 2 Tangent Comics unused logos 3 Tangent Comics unused logos 4 Tangent Comics unused logos 5

And finally, here is a look at some concepts and variations of logos from the first wave of books in 1997.

Tangent Wave 1 unused logos: Atom Tangent Wave 1 unused logos: Green Lantern Tangent Wave 1 unused logos: Flash
Tangent Wave 1 unused logos: Joker Tangent Wave 1 unused logos: Nightwing Tangent Wave 1 unused logos: Seret Six Tangent Wave 1 unused logos: Doom Patrol

And the 1998 wave:

Tangent Wave 2 unused logos: Batman Tangent Wave 2 unused logos: Superman Tangent Wave 2 unused logos: Wonder Woman
Tangent Wave 2 unused logos: Nightwing: Night Force Tangent Wave 2 unused logos: Power Girl Tangent Wave 2 unused logos: JLA

Thanks again to Rian for these great behind-the-scenes looks at the creative process. Rian’s hard work really helped establish not only a distinctive look for the books, but help embellish the overall concept, furthering the idea that the Tangent books were something special.

Don’t forget to visit his site, Device for more of Rian’s design and illustration portfolio.

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