Marvel's 'Run The Jewels' Variant Covers Are Unbearably Cool

Holy cow, Run the Jewels are just moving from strength to strength nowadays! A scant three months after releasing one of last year's best hip-hop albums, coordinating a massive world-wide graffiti project, and embarking on a tireless tour across the U.S., The abrasive rap-duo are set to be canonize into the annals of comic-book stardom with the announcement of two radically awesome variant covers courtesy of Marvel!

Run Them Jewels Fast!

The collaboration between the group and Marvel was spearheaded by none other than Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso who, after witnessing his son's appreciation for the group during a football game, got in contact with Jaime and Mike to make it happen. The covers, seen above, are set to release later this month. I'm still picking my jaw from off the floor in awe that this is happening.

Mitchell X Mondo X Marvel - A Staggering Amount Of Cool Marvel Portraits

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Currently on display at the Mondo Gallery in Austin, artist Mike Mitchell created a very comprehensive set of awesome retro portraits of Marvel characters circa the early 90's. The main tell were the somewhat retro outfits, and the appearance of characters including Ghost Rider and Jubilee. All the characters are presented in a profile stance (With the exception of the always third wall breaking Deadpool) with different colors in the background to help them pop.

Mitchell created  of these in total, so check them all out when you get a chance! We selected a dozen of our favorites for you guys to peruse after the break.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Trailer

Hey guys, here's a trailer for a comic book movie based off of an obscure Marvel property. Gauging the reaction this trailer got, this movie might also be the equivalent of the second coming of Jesus/Buddha combined (Insert 'my body is ready' jokes here). Warning: Wacky humor, super clever dialogue, excessive sarcasm, aliens, Blue Swede's Ooga Chaka song.

Bartkira Is Out Of Control (In The Best Way Possible)

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I can't make this stuff up. I'm in awe of what the internet has enabled us to do..No scratch that, the entire internet has lead up to this moment right here: A Simpsons flavored recreation of the entire Akira saga that Otomo masterfully crafted decades ago. The original comic/anime was for many their first taste of the mind blowing fruits that the Japanese anime industry had to offer, myself included. The Simpsons offered pop culture a more grown up taste of what syndicated Western cartoons could provide, with protagonists that were anything but role model quality. And in 20XX/2013? These two cultural juggernauts have collided in an absolutely incredible display of collective awesomeness, as marked by the incredibly active Bartkira blog.

Initiated by artist Ryan Humphrey, the project has grown to have over 700 active artists contributing to recreate the entire series in the ultimate collective project we've seen yet. The Tumblr blog is filled to the brim with samples of what's to come, including 'Bartkira'd' promotional materials, covers, sample pages and more. Check out just a few images from the incredible blog after the break starring Milhouse's dark decline, and praise the moment in time in which such a bizarre, yet wonderful idea came to be.

Kick-Ass 2 Red Band Trailer

Kick-Ass was a fantastic film. It was ridiculous, over-the-top and in a lot of ways it felt like a far superior comic book movie than the likes of the more recent Marvel films. Possibly the best part of Kick-Ass was the ridiculous decision of casting Nick Cage, which turned out for the best. The next entry is looking to up the ante with likes of Jim Carrey, who is absolutely perfect for the role of Colonel Stars and Stripes.

While I'll still hold my excitement back for the movies release (let's face it the Kick-Ass 2 comic run was pretty meh), if this trailer is any indicator we're in for a treat.

Iron Man 3 Official Trailer

Other than The Avengers, I felt the majority of stand alone entries for the Marvel universe fell relatively flat; suffering from a predictable "super hero formula" that Marvel Studios has grown far too friendly with. Even with the cookie cutter format, Iron Man has always stood out as Marvel's flagship movie because lets face it, rich cocky assholes have never been more entertaining. Thankfully, Marvel isn't done with Mr. Stark as we're finally presented with their official trailer for Marvel's upcoming Iron Man 3.

The newest trailer is probably the most "serious" one yet, going for a much more dramatic tone compared to previous entries, although this time I can't seem to get as excited as I once did. Maybe I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the amount of films Marvel has been putting out, but it also seems that this newest entry to the Iron Man series is falling into the same clichés the rest of the Marvel universe seems to be falling into. Here's hoping that come April 2013 I'll be singing a different tune, because I really want to keep watching these movies.

Deadpool: The Game

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make to San Diego Comic Con this year (hopefully next year?) but I was still able to sit back and enjoy the announcements. One of the biggest surprises happened to be Deadpool: The Game, which was originally teased as being a Hit Monkey video game. I'm not as big of a fan of the more recent Deadpool's shenanigans but that doesn't stop me from being ridiculously excited for this game, despite the lack of gameplay. Here's hoping High Moon Studios can work some magic in the Deadpool universe, but honestly, I'd still really like that Hit Monkey game.

Turboten : Comics With Trailers

Why hasn't this practice caught on in the US? Just like Ankama's 'Teotl' comic trailer that we posted a few months ago, it seems like indie comic artists get the benefit of actually getting animated trailers to promote their upcoming manga-esque titles.

Turbo Ten jumps on the entire shonen-sports category bandwagon, an entire genre which has the magical power of making any athletic activity look absolutely badass. The only unfortunate downside is that these fine comics haven't yet made the jump overseas. Here's to hoping, because I'd pick this up day one.

Superman: Earth-Two

A Superhero who DOESN'T need underwear on the outside. (Via)

This May, DC comics will be releasing a new title under it's 52 range based around a concept very few people know outside us comic geeks; Earth-Two. In the 1960's, Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age (Earth-One) versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts. Basically how they could have two different Flash's, Green Lanterns and why Batman never seemed to age. Bringing this concept back is pretty sweet, as the comic can develop narrative that will encompass new heroes from distinctly different backgrounds.

This sketch design, designed by Jim Lee, showcase that comic-book designs really are an art talent in themselves. The design is faithful to the original 1940's costume whilst keeping the most recognisable aspects of the last few years. I'm excited to see the other designs, and whilst the idea of a 'sadder and potentially deadlier' frustrates me to no end I'm more than willing to pick up this comic for the art alone. Nicola Scott is pencilling the series, and she has done some amazing inking in the past (as well as being one of the few women artists in main stream comics). This series has a lot going for it so check it out when it comes about!

Free Comic Books Day! DC Releases New Info

Free; a word EVERYONE loves, especially us collectors! (Via)

Free Things? I hear you like them. As always Free Comic Book Day, a celebration and promotion of the comic book world, is happening in May and DC has revealed what they plan for that lovely wrapped present.

This 2012 DC comics will be offering preview material from the publisher's "Second Wave" of the 52. "The "Second Wave" of the New 52 was announced earlier this month, heralding both six new titles beginning in May and the cancellation of "Men of War," "Mister Terrific," "O.M.A.C.," "Hawk and Dove," "Blackhawks" and "Static Shock" at the end of April (with no real surprise from anyone).

This "Second Wave", and thusly the free comic book, will include "Batman Incorporated," "Dial H," "Earth 2," "G.I. Combat," "The Ravagers" and "Worlds' Finest". Personally I can't wait for Dial H, a comic that was once a back-up for others which involves a mysterious dial phone that enables an ordinary person to become a superhero for a short time by selecting the letters H-E-R-O in order. Batman Incorporated is a gamble, but after talking to RoboBrain....well, I'm sure he'll share his opinion of Grant Morrison sometime soon on a podcast.. DC have said they have a few more surprises on Batman's utility belt for the day so stay tuned for more information.

Look forward to Free Comic Book Day on the 5th of May. Check out the official site for locations and more information. Or, alternatively, just hound your local comic-book store. Looking forward to Free Comic-Book Day or the Second Wave of the DC "52" reboot? Let us know through the comments, twitter, or the forums!

Doctor Who, Batwoman & Batgirl Get Red

3 Red Heads with the power of making my dreams come true... (Via)

I love Doctor Who. I love Batman and most of all I love Barbara Gordon, the most famous Batgirl and the amazing Kathy Kane, AKA Batwoman, in one of my favourte DC runs, Batwoman (which I couldn't recommend more and if you haven't read it already check out W. Haden Blackman's run on the series). One thing they share with Amy Pond, Doctor Who's newest assistant? They share a very similar hair colour. Which is why I love this mashup of franchises.