Michael Neno's New Comic - The Signifiers

Michael Neno, winner of the Award of Excellence from the Governor of Ohio, has recently produced a great new comic book featuring a sci-fi apocalyptic war story with a character named Splash who has to choose to obey or fight against a mysterious force called The Voyst.  Michael Neno is the recipient of a Xeric Grant, has done lettering for Dark Horse and Paul Pope's Horse Press, written and drawn the cover story for Silver Comics #8, 2 contributions to Cracked Magazine, coloring for a Beetle Bailey charity drawing by Mort Walker, and illustrations for the upcoming anthology, The American Zig-Zag.  Michael also writes and draws the online graphic novel, The Mesh.

I recently received a signed copy (thanks Michael) of .The Signifiers #1, and I found it quite interesting.  What or who are The Signifiers?  I don't know.  This is what makes it cool because Michael's unique writing style left us hanging at the end of the first issue.  Great writers are known for cliff hangers and leave the reader wanting to read more, salivating for the next issue.  While I admit that I had some trouble following the story in the beginning, by the time I got to the end I was left wanting to know who The Signifiers were!

The other thing I loved about this book was the art style.  It was done in black and white but in old school style.  It had a Kirbyesque look about it, and it was clearly done with a pen and india ink style of artwork.  This is art that is penciled and inked by hand with a brush or inking pen.  In fact, my copy was so fresh I could still smell the fresh ink off of the press.  I have always been a fan of Jack Kirby and while I am sure Michael wants to establish his own unique art style, I could not help but make that comparison.  It is unique in it's own right but also has that Kirby appeal to it. 

There is also a story about Landlark, The Heat Seeking Dwarf.  It is an interesting tale that quickly captures your attention and holds it.  This 48 page comic is priced at $4.95 and you can get an autographed copy directly from Michael Neno at the following link...http://www.nenoworld.com/The_Signifiers_No.1.html
This is a link directly to Michael's site because we do not have any here at Krypto-Knight Comics!   We know you will enjoy this book so get your signed copy today! 

Visit us on the web at http://www.kryptoknightcomics.com

Teen Titans - Future Heroes of Earth?

In Brave and the Bold #54, DC Comics told a story from a different angle. They joined the sidekicks of the greatest heroes and put them together in a story. Who were these young heroes? Robin (Dick Grayson), Aqualad and Kid Flash. Although they were not referred to in the storyline as the Teen Titans, this book is credited with their first appearance. In May 2008, a 9.4 CGC issue sold for $2,293.

Later, in Brave and the Bold #60 they appeared for the first time as the Teen Titans and the group included one more member, Wonder Woman's sidekick, Wonder Girl. These four teenage superheroes would form the corps of what the Teen Titans would become. In 1966, DC gave the fab four their own title, Teen Titans. The series had 53 issues and ended in 1978. Through it's run Green Arrow's sidekick, Speedy, eventually joined the team

In 1980, the group was reborn at the hands of Marv Wolfman and the great George Perez. This time the team included the originals and some new members: Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash, Raven, Changeling (Beast Boy), Starfire, Cyborg and Wonder Girl. Others would eventually become members as well. Heroes such as Terra and Jericho. This version of the Teen Titans were an older group of teens unlike the previous stories. Their battles were more epic and they dealt with issues of growing into adulthood, love and independence. Robin and Starfire shared a love interest, for example. The majority dropped their former sidekick identities and adopted new mantles to indentify themselves, no longer as sidekicks, but as individuals. Robin left Batman and became Nightwing. Wonder Girl became Troia. Kid Flash became the Flash after the death of Barry Allen. Speedy took on the name Arsenal and Aqualad became Tempest, although he continued to serve alongside Aquaman in Atlantis but not as a sidekick.

The team has had reunion books and the Teen Titans have continued on but with a much younger group. The original Titans grew up and have become full grown heroes in the DC Universe. The former members have always been a popular group. Cartoon network created a Teen Titans cartoon that consisted of the original members from the 1980 series. The only difference is that Robin is Tim Drake instead of Dick Grayson and Wonder Girl is not a member. Robin and Starfire even have feelings for each other as they did inthe 80's.

The modern Teen Titans consist of members unheard of or they are members who resemble the characters of old but have different alter egos. Robin, Superboy (now dead), Kid Flash are examples of members that have different secret identities from the originals. As these characters grow up we cannot help but wonder if the former team will eventually replace the Silver Age heroes. There seems to be so much revamping and rebuilding of universes that it can be hard to keep up. The old heroes never seem to grow old and the new young heroes are stuck in time. It's the group in the middle that seems to be the only group that ages. Will we one day feel about the Bronze/Copper Age heroes the same as we do about the Silver Age? Will this group one day be the heroic corps saving our planet day after day? Only time will tell.

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