Simpsons Super Spectacular #5

Bongo Comics for May 2007

The Simpsons Summer Shindig #1

by DiGerolamo and Yambar

"The world is Bart's playground and we are merely along for the ride, so when Bart hits the fairgrounds this summer amongst the townsfolk of Springfield, he definitely doesn't play fair! Visit the beach with Homer and learn proper surfside etiquette; do time with Bart in summer school; beat the heat with Lisa; and find out how to make the most out of the lazy days of summer with the whole Simpson family!"

Simpsons Comics #130

by Boothby

"Marge is cleaning house and everything must go... on sale on the internet! But as all the Simpsons' worldly possessions and fond memories go out the door, it becomes apparent that only one person is buying the buried treasures... one person who might bring about the end of the Simpson family forever!"

Futurama Comics #31

by Boothby

"Leela takes Nibbler to the veterinarian and gets some shocking news... her cute little Nibblonian has worms -- worms that cause wormholes. Nibbler's disgusting ability to open portals to new worlds at the drop of a... well, you know, is at first considered a blessing, until the two-way wormholes put the DOOP in deep doo-doo!"

See also: The Big Beastly Book of Bart Simpson

Big Beastly Book of Bart Simpson

Due in May:

"Big Beastly Book of Bart Simpson" TPB

"Bart Simpson gets brutal with a brilliant and brand-new collection of comics and stories brimming with bitter rivalries, baseball gone bionic, bully bonding, and babysitters gone bad. Bart and Homer find themselves up a creek when they go fishing together. Bart tries to elude haunted detention slip with his name on it. Principal Skinner bribes Bart to keep him on his best behavior, while Nelson Muntz hosts a guide to adult nerds. Bart reveals the secrets to staying home sick, and when he makes the cheerleading squad, shows off his unique brand of school spirit. And to top it all off, Maggie and Moe find themselves mulling over a murder mystery. Bart Simpson is here to soothe the savage beast!"

Futurama Comics #30

Due next month:

Futurama Comics #30

by Wein and Kazaleh

"One of the benefits of living 1,000 years into the future is that all your worthless junk can suddenly become very valuable. Fry starts his own Internet auction business, but is some evil bidder doing the evil bidding of an evil biddy?"

Bart Simpson #34

Due next week:

Bart Simpson #34

by DiGerolamo & Griffith

"Lisa finds her self in a load of trouble when she tries to do an unsupervised load of laundry. Bart meets a new friend from way out of town. On a lazy day, Bart and Milhouse make a fort out of a refrigerator box. And finally, Uter displays his penchant for physics as he teams up with Bart on the playground."

Beach Blanket Bongo

Due next week:

Simpsons Comics Vol 15 "Beach Blanket Bongo" TPB

"Catch a wave of good humor and hang ten with the Simpsons in their newest, gnarliest comic collection. Homer, Lenny, and Carl think they will be living the sweet life when they all opt for Mr. Burns' early retirement plan, but their former boss' tropical island retirement community turns out to be for the birds -- literally! Bart meets a reclusive B-movie director who announces that his collection of horror, science fiction, and Radioactive Man memorabilia is up for grabs, and every geek, nerd, and dweeb in town sets out on a quest to get their sweaty little hands on it. Krusty the Clown becomes Springfield's newest doctor, and it's not long before he has the town in stitches while delivering big laughs. Principal Skinner takes you into the inner sanctum of Springfield Elementary to reveal untold tales of the Permanent Record File! Bart's arch nemesis, a now surgically altered Sideshow Bob, is released from prison, and Bart must figure out which newly arrived citizen is really Bob in disguise. Then, not to be outdone, Sideshow Bob's brother Cecil arrives on the scene with revenge on his mind and a grudge against Lisa Simpson. So sit down by the seashore and slather on the right amount of SPF to prevent you from being over done by the fun."

Simpsons Comics #127

In comic shops today:

Simpsons Comics #127: "Simpson Family Robinson Crusoe"

"A three-hour tour turns into a long-lost adventure, stranding the whole Simpson family on a deserted island in a classically illustrated tale of survival."

Mary Trainor: Script
John Costanza: Pencils
Phyllis Novin: Inks
Art Villanueva: Colors
Karen Bates: Letters
Bill Morrison: Editor


Click image to enlarge.

25 Hours and 24 Minutes

"24 Minutes" is set to become the landmark 400th episode of The Simpsons on May 20, 2007. Featuring 24's Jack Bauer and Chloe O'Brian (guest-voiced by Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub) it will tell the story of Springfield Elementary's CTU (Counter Truancy Unit), presumably in real time.

Before that, however, the March issue of Simpsons Comics will contain a 24 parody of its own:

Simpsons Comics #128

by Boothby & Ortiz

"It's the longest day of Homer Simpson's life! With the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant set to self-destruct and the lives of everyone in town at stake, only one man can set things right and save the world in the next 25 hours. If only he would put his pants back on!"

Manga-Style Simpsons Comic from Bongo

Last month spacecoyote announced on her deviantART Journal that she'd been hired by Bongo Comics to do the pencils on a manga-style Simpsons comic book. To the left is her rendition of Lisa Simpson in the style that she'll be using in the comic.

She also mentions that she's been contacted by 20th Century Fox about working on mechandising art for Futurama, in conjunction with the upcoming relaunch of the television series.

These job offers came, of course, as a result of the massive popularity of the manga-style Simpsons and Futurama cast pictures she posted on deviantART:

The Simpsonzu

Futurama: Super Happy Fun Show

For more updates, you can read her LiveJournal. Also, check out space coyote dot com.

"Infinite Annihilation of the Heroes"

Yes, DC Comics fans, The Simpsons comics are making fun of you.

In a thread on the DC Comics Message Boards -- titled "What should the next Crisis be called?" -- user "dcurep" articulately suggests that some of the entries in the "Events" section of the Super Simpsons Handbook (such as the Infinitely Secret Crossover Crisis, parts I and II) might be poking fun at recurring events in the DC Universe.

So, just for you, I'm posting a couple of pages from Simpsons Super Spectacular #4, released last week, in which Martin Prince describes the plot of "Infinite Annihilation of the Heroes" to Wendell. (Click the images to enlarge).

Simpsons Super Spectacular #4

Bongo Comics released Simpsons Super Spectacular #4 last week. Edited by the inimitable Bill Morrison, the new issue contains three stories:

Bartman in "Shadow Apocalypse of the Sciencester!"
Tom Peyer: Script
Ty Templeton: Pencils
Mike Rote: Inks
Nathan Hamill: Colors
Karen Bates: Letters
"Bartman meets his newest and perhaps least effective nemesis, the sinister genius known as The Sciencester! (Yeah, that's the best we could come up with)."

Bartman vs. Screamapillar in "Scream a Little Scream..."
Nathan Hamill & Jason Ho: Script
Jason Ho: Pencils
Mike Rote: Inks
Nathan Hamill: Colors
Karen Bates: Letters

"The Day Radioactive Man Quit!"
Batton Lash: Script & Pencils
George Broderick: Inks
Art Villanueva: Colors
Karen Bates: Letters
"Radioactive Man becomes aware of the fallout from his nuclear powers and decides to give up super-heroing forever!"

Batton Lash posted this message about his Radioactive Man story in the Supernatural Law blog:

Radioactive Man a la Shelly

Batton here: I've been writing the exploits of Bart Simpson's favorite comic book hero, Radioactive Man, for some time now, and many talented artists have illustrated my scripts. The current issue of Simpsons Super Spectacular (No.4, published by Bongo Comics), however, has the rare Radioactive Man story written and drawn by yours truly. It's a pastiche of a late 50's Batman story, done in the manner of "Bob Kane" (but really Bill Finger and Shelly Moldoff!). The story was inked by George Broderick, Jr (doing his best Charles Paris!). it was fun to do and I hope you will have fun reading it. Headlining the issue are a couple of new Bartman stories, brought to you by Tom Peyer, Ty Templeton, Mike Rote, Nathan Hamill and Jason Ho. So what are you waiting for? Simpsons Super Spectacular No.4 should be available at your local comics store now!

Check out the Super Simpsons Handbook for 3 new entries: The Sciencester, Kid Queasy, and the Cane Gang!

"Bartman Begins"

Tonight's episode of The Simpsons (JABF05, "Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Three Times") added a whole new set of supervillains to Bartman's Rogues Gallery.

Combined with the fact that Simpsons Super Spectacular #4 ships this week, that means I really need to update the Super Simpsons Handbook.

Bongo Comics: October 2006

SIMPSONS COMICS #123

by Boothby and Ortiz

Someone's out to kill Bart Simpson, but Sideshow Bob is nowhere to be seen... ­­unless of course you tune into to his new prison reality show. Who can Bart turn to when it seems like everyone is out to get him? And will Sideshow Bob ever learn to speak Cantonese? It's a comic classic to kill for this October!

SIMPSONS CLASSICS #10

The city of Springfield becomes ground zero for newly-appointed Fitness Ambassador Rainier Wolfcastle's Battle of the Bulge. But with an entire town on a diet, inspired by the presidential promise of a community water park, only one very fat man stands in the way...Homer Simpson! Then witness the miracle of Springfield, when the statue of Jebediah Springfield starts crying real tears and true believers from all over begin a pilgrimage to the holy site. But does one spiky-haired prankster have a hand (or a hose) in Springfield's newest attraction? (Collects Simpsons Comics #18-19)

BART SIMPSON #32

by McCann, Trainor and Lloyd

Bart loses control with his new Krusty Clone at Home Kit; Maggie battles Mr. Burns for a mysterious and cursed artifact; and Ralph gets mistaken for a prized pig at the Springfield county fair.

Bongo Comics for August

SIMPSONS COMICS #121

Ian Boothby and Phil Ortiz

Does anybody really know what time it is? Not if you ask anyone in Springfield. Homer takes his beef with Daylight Savings Time to Mayor Quimby. The mayor promptly rescinds the order but accidentally creates a loophole that allows everyone in town to set their own random time schedule. Be it Eastern, Central or Pacific Standard Time, chaos ensues.

BART SIMPSON COMICS #31

DiGerolamo, Dorkin and Lloyd

Bart wins a shopping spree at Krusty's Land of Misfit Toys, but it doesn't take long before all his friends and family members are asking him to score them some free toys. Then Maggie and Moe take a trip to Wall E. Weasel's, stumble into a plot of international intrigue, and come face-to-face with another crime-solving duo -- Gerald, the one-eyebrowed baby and Titania.

Bernie Wrightson Autograph

I got to meet my favorite horror artist at the Dallas Comic Con on Saturday... the master, Bernie Wrightson. He signed my copy of Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #11, which contains "Squish Thing," the story he did with Swamp Thing co-creator Len Wein.

Bongo Comics for July 2006

The new Diamond Previews hit comic shops today, so here we go:

Simpsons Comics #120

by Bates & Delaney

It begins with the pursuit of a home run ball and ends with the downfall of America's greatest pastime. One man will rock the very institution of Baseball down to its foundation in pursuit of the American dream... and lots and lots of money.

Simpsons Classics #9

Patty & Selma lose their jobs at the DMV, and the Simpsons end up with two more cigarette-smoking mouths to feed. Things begin to look up for Marge's twin sisters when they take new jobs as flight attendants, but the skies above Springfield will never be safe again. Then, don't touch that dial! Bart & Lisa turn a local cable access station into a big broadcasting concern. Check you local listings to see if they have the maverick manner to outmaneuver Murdoch. Collects Simpsons Comics #16 & 17.

Futurama Comics #26

by Boothby & Kazaleh

After a freak accident with Professor Farnsworth's Time Rifle, Leela is blown to past, present, and future bits, dividing her into her toddler, teen, and elderly selves. Any way you look at it, there's a whole lot of Leela going on.

Futurama Volume 3: Time Bender TPB

by Boothby, Lloyd, & Delaney

The four-part trilogy returns in an all-new trade paperback collection. Fry, Leela, Bender, and Professor Farnsworth's clone/ward Cubert take an intergalactic trip, and when they return to Earth, they find the planet uninhabited. First, our merry band of messengers must fight off alien invaders bent on claiming the planet as their own. Then they must go in search of their missing colleagues as well as billions of citizens from Planet Earth. And before long the intrepid crew quite literally goes to Hell and back again. Will the world ever get back to normal, or is everyone totally boned?

Bongo Comics for June 2006

Simpsons Super Spectacular #3

by Beland, Boothby, Delaney, & Lash

Three superior superheroic stories in one ish! Meet Gastritus, the swallower of whole galaxies and a lot of pork rinds. Then, Stretch Dude, Clobber Girl, and Battle Baby find themselves on the wrong side of the law when the local league of Women Voters outlaws superheroes. And finally, some of Radioactive Man's female friends from the Superior Squad grab the spotlight in a stirring adventure.

Simpsons Comics #119

by Boothby and Costanza

Having deprived the citizens of Springfield of electricity one too many times, and discovering his popularity at an all-time low, Mr. Burns decides to win back the public with a weekly television show giving one lucky person a chance to become his protege'. Who will become... "The Flunky"? Toady trumps tyrant this June! Includes a hum-diddly-dinger of a door hanger featuring friendly neighborino Ned Flanders.

Bart Simpson Comics #30

by Digerolamo, Lloyd, Ortiz, and Peyer

Bart gets bent out of shape when all of his friends get caught up in a reading frenzy over the newest kid's fantasy novel, and he literally sets out to destroy literacy. Then, a school field trip goes awry when Bart, Milhouse, and Martin end up on a runaway train. Also, picture if you will, Bart as the newest action star!

Bongo Comics for May 2006

Simpsons Comics #118

by Boothby & Ortiz

The lovelorn men of Springfield find that they have little prospect of romance and even less to live for, but when they put their lives on the line by participating in extreme sports, the adrenaline rush makes them feel born anew. The high life brings higher risks and a higher profile, but will it all come to an end with one high impact? Live on the edge with Simpsons Comics in May!

Futurama Comics #25

by Boothby and Kazaleh

Gather 'round and hear tell of the three "deliverers" who fell from the sky and liberated the good and filthy people of Bottingham... and the metal rebel who threw off the chains of oppression and overtaxation and without faint heart challenged the dastardly sheriff... the one who robbed from the rich, gave some to the poor, and kept most of it for himself... Robot Hood! Hear ye! Hear ye! Futurama Comics will set you free this May!

The Simpsons Volume 5: The Big, Bouncy Book of Bart Simpson (trade paperback)

Bart Simpson puts the spring in Springfield with a brand-new collection of comics and stories brimming with delicious donuts, derring-do, water balloons, warm milk, sidekicks, spy rings, moviemakers, Molemen, zip lines, and zombies. Soar above rooftops with three generations of Simpson superheroes. Dive in as Bart and Nelson go head-to-head in an all-you-can-eat battle royale and Milhouse and Martin spend a potentially exciting day without Bart. Leap into action with Bart and Lisa as they enter an enigma of elementary school espionage. And jump for joy that Bart Simpson is back and in the bindings of a brand-new book. Boundless bliss is yours to behold this May! ($13.95)

Futurama Comics #23

Also in comic shops this week, Futurama Comics #23, which includes a splash page cameo appearance by the Silver Surfer!

(Click picture to enlarge)

This is a great issue, particularly the spin it puts on the Robert Silverberg short story/Twilight Zone episode "To See the Invisible Man."

The League of Extraordinary Barts!

Simpsons Super Spectacular #2 hit comic shops this week, chronicling the epic meeting of Bartman, Stretch Dude, and Cupcake Kid.

Also, the "Marvels" of Zenith City are viewed through the lens of a prickly photographer in the back-up story, "Bongos."
Previously mentioned here.