Page Sage Everything about the new
DEADPOOL Kings Folly:
A rising webcomic The return of
Astérix and Obélix! Year 1, #1, January 2016
$10.00
Page Sage
Editor’s Letter What does geek culture truly mean nowadays? For years, comic books were considered cheap entertaiment for children and teenagers. However, slowly but surely, that definition has been changing during recent years, and more and more people are getting invested in the characters and stories that this medium presents. Could it be because the quality of comics has gotten better as of late,
or could it be because the general public has become more acceptant? Can we really blame the general public for taking so long in getting interested? Those are questions that may or may not remain unaswered, but what we can’t deny is the recent boom of what people now refer to as “geek culture”. Movies, shows, conventions, various merchandise... All of
them have gotten incredibly popular, and the comic book market is growing more and more. Keeping track of it all can be a difficult task. And that’s where we come in! Here at PageSage our main goal is to keep you, the fans, updated on the most recent news that involve the comic book world,
and any other world that could be related. So look for a comfortable chair, your favourite snack, and enjoy. We hope you’ll remember fondly reading through our articles.
The Team
02
Editor in Chief:
Harley Quinn
Typesetter:
Barbara Gordon
Creative Director:
Tony Stark
Business Editor:
Dick Grayson
Editor:
Susan Storm
Creative Assistant:
Steven Rogers
Writers:
Manuela Suárez Clark Kent Louis Lane
Webmaster:
Selina Kyle
Logo Designer:
Manuela Suárez
Graphic Designer:
Manuela Suárez
Cinema Reviewer:
Nick Fury
Director of Human Resources:
Bruce Wayne
Art Director:
Stan Lee
Photography:
Peter Parker
Ardvetiser:
Natasha Romanoff
Contents
04
Scoops: News in the Geek World
06
Silver Screen: Deadpool
08
Silver Screen: Suicide Squad
10
Silver Screen: The Future
11
Websurfing: Kings Folly
15
Beyond the sea: Vanitas no Carte
17
Beyond the sea: One Punch Man
19
Origins: Starfire’s Story
20
Origins: 52 years with Mafalda
Page Sage
News in the
Geek World
We know how hard it is to keep up with all the news, so here’s a little help! From famous american comics, shows and movies, to manga, webcomics and classic comics, we have it all. Sit down, relax, and enjoy the ride. You may discover what will be your new favourite story, or the movie that will change your life. So be sure to read them all!
Avatar: The Legend of Korra comic book announced
Dark Horse Comics announced plans to continue the story of “The Legend of Korra” in an all-new comic series. Helmed by co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino, the series’ story will be fully in canon, exploring Korra’s world following the conclusion of the hit Nickelodeon animated series.
04
Release of the official trailer of Justice League vs Teen Titans
We finally get a first full length trailer for Justice League Vs. Teen Titans! Obviously, this is not the same animated team you saw in Bruce Timm’s early-aughts classic. Damian Wayne is now Robin, Starfire and Cyborg appear to be from the original team, and Raven and Beast Boy look as though they are rebooted.
Astérix and Obélix return
PARIS -- Asterix and his friend Obelix tackle the leak of top secret Roman information with a strong dose of humour Thursday as the hugely-anticipated new opus of their adventures comes out in France and abroad.
Scoops
Supergirl and The Flash are finally teaming up The Flash is no stranger to crossovers, having shared many an evening so far with its sibling Arrow. But now the show is getting a new partner to share an evening with in CBS’ newest hit show Supergirl. Fans of both shows have been hoping for a while that the two heroes might team up. According to Variety, in a statement today, executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg announced this dream team-up is on the way and expressed their excitement for the episode, giving credit to the fans’ and journalists’ dedication.
New York Times Manga Best Seller List for January 24-30 #1 - Akame ga Kill (volume 5) #2 - One Punch Man (volume 4) #3 - Naruto: The 7th Hokage #4 - Noragami (volume 10) #5 - One Punch Man (volume 2) #6 - Tokyo Ghoul (volume 1) #7 - Blue Exorcist (volume 14) Taken from animenewsnetwork.com
05
Page Sage
Everything about the new
DEADPOOL movie
Silver Screen You can incinerate, eviscerate, even decapitate Deadpool, and he’ll keep on coming. One atrocity he barely survived, however, was Wolverine: X-Men Origins, in which the merc’s mouth was literally sewn shut. Deadpool heals those old wounds with an entertaining, brash origin story that finally showcases the potential of this atypical hero
THE REVIEW One of the reasons Deadpool works is Ryan Reynolds, who seizes the chance to do right by the character. He’s charismatic, exuberant, and largerthan-life, which isn’t easy considering how much of the film he spends either in a full-body costume or beneath heavy prosthetics. It helps that the suit looks like it walked straight out of a Marvel comic, but it’s really brought to life by Reynolds’ physical performance and some subtle CGI on the mask to really give this the character the level of expression he requires. And Reynolds doesn’t shut up for the entire movie. From the first minute, you’re bombarded with one-liners, put-downs, and metafictional asides. It’s relentless stuff. Inevitably, when you’re throwing out so many lines, there’s going to be quite a few duds, but Deadpool’s hit ratio is pretty good. There’s plenty of crass humour, but Deadpool is strongest comedically when it gets weird, and places its hero in more unexpected situations, like taking a cab, doing his laundry, or relaxing at
home while his blind elderly flatmate builds IKEA furniture. A quaint yet surreal tone underpins Deadpool’s best scenes, and it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in another superhero film. There’s a definite Monty Python influence at work, which comes to the surface with Deadpool’s wonderful take on Holy Grail’s action-comedy, and that’s no bad thing. In fact, I wish there were more of these offbeat digressions. Even though it takes plenty of risks with its central character, Deadpool plays it safe when it comes to its choice of plot and villains. It’s a relatively straightforward origin story which evolves into an equally straightforward tale of revenge. Wade Wilson falls in love, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and eventually enters a research programme that might cure him. Instead, he’s tortured and disfigured in wan attempt to make him into a secret weapon. Wilson then spends the rest of the movie hunting down Ajax, the man in charge of this research project. This idea of revenge works well in conveying how Deadpool differs from other costumed
characters. Most superhero films typically feature a montage early on in which the hero has fun testing their newfound abilities – it usually involves leaping across rooftops – before accepting the responsibility of those powers and becoming a hero. Deadpool’s take on this sequence features him chasing leads and murdering those who have done him wrong with bloody style. While it is unexpected to see a costumed character use their newfound abilities to hurt and not help people, the revenge plot ultimately lacks bite and a satisfying conclusion since the targets are so weak. In the comics, Deadpool marauds through the Marvel Universe, lampooning its heroes and creating unhinged mayhem. In the movie, however, he feels slightly constrained. The X-Men do feature – well, two to be exact – in an attempt to give Deadpool a bit more scale and tie him into a larger universe. It’s great to see more of Colossus on the big screen, and he’s played more comedically than his previous incarnations. Negasonic Teenage Warhead is also a fun addition, playing
Colossus’s sullen trainee, but they’re used sparingly. Ultimately, it feels like Deadpool has been slightly confined in his first outing – maybe it’s because the present-day X-Men timeline is a bit up in the air, or simply budgetary reasons. To its credit, the movie is keenly aware of those problems, and in true Deadpool-style, turns it into yet another gag. One area in which Deadpool doesn’t hold back is its gory, well-crafted action. The choreography is stylish throughout, with Deadpool switching elegantly between pistols and katanas, severing heads before round-housing them across the screen. He breaks bones and, simultaneously, the fourthwall, providing amusing commentary on what’s going down, like exactly how many bullets he has left or whether he’s left the stove on. These are refined sequences full of creative violence and wit. Review by Daniel Krupa Taken from ign.com
07
Page Sage
Suicide Squad:
What to expect?
In 2016, Warner Bros. is releasing two DC movies. First up is Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the titular characters of which everyone has heard. Later this year, though, movie-goers will be treated to a different kind of comic book film. Suicide Squad, set for release on August 5th, will follow a group of supervillains who are coerced into going on dangerous missions. That’s right: it won’t be a superhero headlining this film – it’s a group of bad guys! The Suicide Squad has appeared in a variety of media, such as Justice League Unlimited, Batman: Assault on Arkham and Arrow, but this will be their first theatrical appearance. The specific plot for the movie hasn’t been revealed yet, but we can expect the basic premise from the comic books to
08
be the same. The Suicide Squad, officially designated Task Force X, is a secret team of supervillains who have been imprisoned by the United States government. The team undertakes high-risk missions for the government in exchange for amnesty. If they succeed in their mission, they live to fight an-
other day, and get their sentences reduced. But if they fail, they can just be written off. Hence the nickname, “Suicide Squad.” In the source material, team members also have micro bombs implanted inside them, which can be detonated if they try to escape or cause trouble during the mission. Whether or
not this will be featured in the film is not yet known. It was announced back in September 2014 that David Ayer will helm Suicide Squad. Ayer is most famous for directing films like Street Kings and End of Watch. Most recently, 2014 saw the release of his World War II drama Fury, which followed tank operators during the final days of war in Europe, as well as the over-the-top violent cop drama Sabotage. In addition to directing, Ayer – who previously penned scripts for movies like Training Day, The Fast and the Furious and S.W.A.T. - also wrote Suicide Squad. As you can tell, his resume is primarily based around action movies, so he seems like an ideal fit for this film. During pre-production and filming, Ayer used social media to give fans looks behind the scenes, from shots of unique weapons to teasing a certain Batman-related locations. The mwovie is more or less a parallel of Marvel’s Gaurdians of the Galaxy. I know what you are thinking, “What the Hell is this guy talking about?! This isn’t some fun loving, colourful, space comedy!” And you are quite right, it is a nitty gritty, villain orientated movie. But it is DC’s expansion of their greater universe of heroes villains and teams, and they are counting on this movie to do for them what Guardians did for Marvel;
Silver Screen introduce the audience to their wider universe. DC is betting quite a bit on this movie, probably more than you think. We all know that Ben Affleck’s Batman is going to make an appear-
ance in the film, but again that’s all it is. An appearance. Probably to set up a history for Harley Quinn and that’s it. Yeah, all the Suicide Squad members are part of Batman’s rogue
gallery but this is their movie, not Batman and the Joker’s. The Joker is so important in the history of DC Comics, that surely this DC Cinematic Universe version is being set up for big
THE JOKER
In 2016, Jared Leto will become the fourth person to play Batman’s greatest enemy on the big screen - following in the footsteps of Caesar Romero, Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. We don’t yet know the specifics of how The Joker will fit into the plot of Suicide Squad. His Suicide Squad costars have said he went very method while playing the Joker role, and from what we’ve seen of him so far,
things post-Suicide Squad as well. With another solo Batman movie rumored to be a part of the upcoming line-up, might Joker have some part to play?
it looks like he’ll be terrifying.In the trailer it was suggested that Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller has thrown The Joker into a hole and thrown away the hole – however, all of the other footage that’s been provided of Leto in character features him out and about.
HARLEY QUINN She was created specifically for Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, and 24 years later Harley Quinn is finally making her live-action film debut. Originally a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, Dr. Harleen Quinzel was corrupted by The Joker and became his assistant/girlfriend. Although Harley has primarily been a Batman character, recent years have seen her branching out into other corners of the DC universe. It was during the New 52 re-launch of DC Comics that she was added onto the Suicide Squad, and she’s been one of its primary mem-
bers ever since. Margot Robbie is playing Harley, and based on the footage that we’ve seen it appears as though she is ready to steal Suicide Squad with her performance. Her mannerisms and voice are great matches to her cartoon counterpart. Robbie’s performance is easily one of our most anticipated aspects of the film, and the The Wolf of Wall Street star looks like she’s ready to deliver. Ayer has also been putting a lot of thought into what drives Harley’s madness, so we can take comfort knowing she won’t be a mere one-dimensional player.
Let’s look forward to this new version of everyone’s favorite clown lady.
Article by Eric Einserberg and Thomas Wall Taken from cinemablend.com and moviepilot.com
09
Silver Screen
What the future holds Here are some of the most awaited movies coming soon in the comic book world: -Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice -Captain America: Civil War -X-Men: Apocalypse -Doctor Strange -Wonder Woman ...and more!
Websurfing
Kings Folly: A rising webcomic “The eyes are the window to the soul” In recent years, the internet has become the perfect platform for creators to share their work and reach an unlimited public, without having to depend on big companies or on selling the rights to their creations. And this fact gave
birth to webcomics. We’re here today to talk about a particular webcomic called “Kings Folly”. Written and illustrated by college student Alexis Kristedja, this comic takes us to a magical world through its beautiful art and its likeable characters.
THE PREMISE The eyes are the window
to the soul. Those born with brightly colored souls wield unimaginable abilities, some are even rumored to be immortal. The more vibrant the color the more powerful the person but two stand far above the rest, the White and the Black King. A pair of Kings are born every 500 years. Opposing forces, they fight each other to determine the morality of what is
good and what is evil. To the victor go the spoils. However the current generation of Kings is missing. The Black King who ruled over the Southern Kingdom disappeared while the White King has never been found. With the Kings missing and a strange plague spreading, changing all who encounter it into soulless shadows, the world and it’s inhabitants are plunged into chaos.
11
Page Sage Two Princes escape the fall of their kingdom and delve into the unknown. The eldest prince, Elliot, holds a secret that will be the key to stopping the never ending nightmare. Kings Folly is a story about the dawn of two new Kings and their struggle against each other in order to shape the world to however they see fit. That though is only the main story, there will be six underlying stories that all play an essential part.
THE AUTHOR Alexis Kristedja (23) is a college student currently attending full time at the Academy of Art Universi-
Interested? Read Kings Folly for free at:
tapastic.com/series/Kings-Folly Support the artis on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/whispwill?ty=h And check her Deviantart gallery:
whispwill.deviantart.com 12
ty. She’s been sharing her comic online for free since the first chapter. It’s interesting to note how while authors in the past depended on big company names to get popular, in recent times contact with the fans is key in order to get any work or art to be succesful. So far, the author of Kings Folly has been self publishing her own story with the help of crowdfundings. The interaction between author and fanbase has become more and more important. Activities like livestreams and chatting with fans are something this author does on a regular basis.
Beyond the Sea
Beyond the sea
Vanitas no Carte:
Jun Mochizuki’s new manga Vanitas no Carte is the new awaited series from mangaka Jun Mochizuki (author of Pandora Hearts). This time, the talented artist and writer takes us to an alternative version of XVII century Paris: one where there are vampires! The first information revealed about this new story included the fact that there would be steampunk elements and vampires. Vampires are so overused in today’s pop culture, that fans
weren’t too thrilled about those news. However, Mochizuki has managed to deliver once more. With only three chapters released so far, the mangaka has been able to create a compelling story, a complex world and characters that are both charming and in-
triguing. That, mixed with her beautiful art and her talent to masterfully tell stories by interwinding different time-lines and the character’s inner stuggles, makes for a manga that promises a brilliant development. Another interesting thing about this new manga is the fact that Yen Press is releasing the translated version of the chapters the same day as the japanese release. Fans have received this new modus operandi in diverse ways: On one hand, having the official translation available almost instantly is incredibly convenient, but on the other hand, illegal fan scanalations are harder to find, which means you can only read the manga by buying it online in the sites where it’s available. Supporting the artist should be a joy to the fans, but the kindle and e-book format present varios limitations even for those who buy the chapters legally. So we’ll have to wait and see if this method will become the new rule for the publication of manga overseas, or if some changes will be made in the future. Those matters aside, it is undeniable that Jun Mo-
15
Page Sage
chizuki deserves all the support she can get. In the short span of three chapters (which are by the way longer than most monthly manga chapters) she’s been able to establish a quirky and interesting dynamic between the two leads, and has introduced so many mysteries that’s impossible not to read each new establishment. What is the book of Vanitas? Who is Vanitas? What are true names? What’s the origin of the relationship between vampires and their true names?No matter what the answers to those questions may be, we can be sure that Mochizuki won’t dissapoint, especially if we look at the complex story of her previous work. So what are you waiting for?
Beyond the sea
One Punch Man: The hero we don’t deserve The phenomenal success of One-Punch Man in the West is no accident. With its recent topping of the New York Times Manga Bestseller list and its equally popular anime adaptation, it is worth going back to its origins in order to appreciate why this manga and anime only needs one punch. The initial version of OnePunch Man started out as a viral Japanese webcomic penned by the enigmatic One. Featuring a nonchalant and glisteningly bald protagonist by the name of Saitama. The comic followed his adventures as a low level superhero, except that he was in fact preposterously powerful, only requiring the titular one punch to dispatch his powerful enemies. Its immense popularity in Japan then resulted in Jump Comics picking it up and having Yusuke Murata update its basic albeit charming art. As you’d imagine, much of what made One’s original comic strips so appealing was their nascent humor as Saitama faces off against seemingly more powerful opponents. With him dispatching each of them with ease, though
not without a fair share of pyrotechnics in the process. In Saitama’s travels he also acquires various disciples, such as the incredibly powerful cyborg Genos, amazed at his prowess as well as his seemingly laid-back attitude. Much of the series’ charm and humor stems from Saitama’s chilled approach in comparison to his somewhat zealous though well-meaning compatriots. What took One-Punch Man up a notch was Murata’s manga version. Not only was it beautifully drawn but also Murata went so far as to actually key frame the action sequences like an anime.To clarify, in animation you have certain key frames, which link the in-between animation. Normally, these frames are crucial in making the animation work and key animators are some of the most talented artists in the field.
The manga is still ongoing; both in One’s version and Murata’s slick follow up. With its mix of irreverent humor, solid pacing and amazing artwork One Punch Man has clearly amassed a huge following, both in Japan and now in the West, and all it took was one punch. Article by Ollie Barder Taken from forbes.com
This gave the manga an amazing visual kineticism and later gave Madhouse an excellent starting point for their anime version. With the latter being possibly one of the finest animated series of recent memory. And that is saying something without a doubt.
17
Origins Born into the Royal family of Tamaran, Koriand’r was the second eldest of three children. When her older sister, Komand’r, was a child, she suffered from a illness that crippled her ability to fly. She was ruled on unworthy to inherit the throne, making Koriand’r next in line to be queen. Komand’r, humiliated and disgraced, came to hate her younger sister and her people and would run away when the two were sent to train together. Allying herself with the Citadel, she helped them invade Tamaran. The only way to ensure peace came at the price of Princess Koriand’r, whom the King traded to the Citadel. Koriand’r suffered slavery for about six years under Komand’r, who tortured and passed her sister around with pleasure. She was freed when Komand’r and herself were captured by the Psion for experimentation. When Komand’r forces came to
rescue her, Koriand’r used the distraction to free herself. However, out of kindness and love, she decided to free her sister as well Komand’r, only for the older to attack her with her new powers. Koriand’r escaped
her sister’s hold and found her way to Earth.
There, she was found ho home with her new family—the Teen Titans—and soon enough became ro mantically involved with thenRobin—
later Nightwing— Dick Grayson. She began staying with Donna Troy and for a time,
due to her extreme beauty and joyful personality, became a popular model. Kory is not only a symbol of sexual freedom and invincible power, but a testament to unbelievable resistance to defeat and pain. She has suffered torture, oppression, and genocide time and again. She has a list of reasons why she should be enraged and depressed, but she does not. Kory flies into the air singing about love, thrills at the sight of the sun, beams with happiness out of every part of her, and refuses to let her fate deny her life. Kory’s strength is immeasurable; rather than be engulfed in pain, she has decided to embrace every second with a smile. Article written by redundantthinking on Tumblr.com
Starfire’s story A look into the past of an alien princess
19
Page Sage
52 Years with
Mafalda
20
Mafalda is an Argentine comic strip written and drawn by cartoonist JoaquĂn Salvador Lavado, better known by his pen name Quino. The strip features a 6-year-old girl named Mafalda, who reflects the Argentinian middle class and progressive youth, is concerned about humanity and world peace, and has serious attitude problems but in an innocent manner. The comic strips ran from 1964 to 1973 and was very popular in Latin
America, Europe, Quebec and Asia, leading to two animated cartoon series and a book.Mafalda, a sixyear-old girl, with a great concern for the state of humanity and a noted hatred for soup. She often leaves her parents at a loss by asking about mature or complex topics. Mafalda is generally a pessimist to the point of being accused of being so by her friends; to this she responds that things are not so bad as to stop discussing them.