MAKING A MARK THIS WEEK: DREW STRUZAN

Yes - even Police Academy had one good point. In the 1970's and 80's you knew you had a hit movie on your hands if Drew Struzan painted it's poster. While computer imaging software has significantly affected the need for painted posters, Drews talent is such the master of the field still continues to make hit promotional images for some of todays biggest Hollywood franchises.

Struzan doesn't just draw movie posters through - his career has seen him render jaw-dropping art for a range of album covers and other collectibles, including this awesome cover to Action Comics #800 (That's Drew running away in bottom left).

In terms of the man's style, it wasn't his realism, knack for compositions or ability to make any collage work, that made Drew the first painter whose art I could tell at a glance - it was his use of colour. With strong light sources, and bold, vibrant colours, his powerful imagery is often more iconic then the film it represents.

From Blade Runner to Harry Potter, Indianna Jones to Hellboy, Drews volume of work is as impressive as it is expansive. For more on the only artist Steven Spielberg allows to draw E.T, visit his website.

TRAILER FOR JSA ON SMALLVILLE RELEASED

Doesn't that shot of Dr Fate, from the Justice Society of America's upcoming debut on SMALLVILLE, kick some major league tail? That's not all though, as revealed in the fresh-new trailer below, Fate, Hawkman and Stargirl aren't the only three JSAer's dropping in on Clark and Green Arrow! I counted five members helping to convey the mantle and tradition of the team. As for who - see for yourself...

STAR-SPANGLED SATURDAY: Previewing Wonder Woman #38

Don't say you weren't warned; the end of 2009 is tipped to hold BIG changes for DC's Avenging Amazon, and you don't want to start 2010 kicking yourself if you miss them. Before Decembers big revelations, jump into Novembers issue 38 for the return of Artemis, the mysterious Crows, and more of the great plot twists and turns from writer Gail Simone, the likes of which have already lead to Wonder Woman stripped of her title, labelled a criminal, and imprisoned by her own people. Beware missing it.

WONDER WOMAN #38
• COVER BY: Aaron Lopresti • WRITER: Gail Simone • ART: Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan • $2.99 US • IN STORES: Nov 25

STAR-SPANGLED SATURDAY: Previewing Captain America: Who Will Wear The Sheild

Captain America fans do allot of star-gazing. We looked to the skies when writer Ed Brubaker brought back Bucky, fearing further signs of the apocalypse would follow, and now we look to the skies again, as Bucky (now Cap) faces the return of the man who made the name an icon; Steve Rodgers. With who will wear the Red, White and Blue determined in this Decembers aptly named one shot: CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD?, Marvel has released the following preview, which could offer a few clues as to how things will play out.

I think even a blindman can see Steve Rodgers will be Cap again, the real question will be what becomes of Bucky? After years of working for others, I hope he gets to step to the side and form his own shadow as the Winter Soldier. One of the strongest and most interesting 'new' Marvel characters, the man with the cyborg arm deserves his own series, and easily forms a nice trinity with other Cap inspired heroes, such as the Falcon and Hawkeye.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD? #1
• COVER BY: Gerald Parel • WRITER: Ed Brubaker • ART: Butch Guice • $3.99 US • IN STORES: Dec 16

GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST: Iron Man Brings The Savings

In 1984 Iron Man had allot to be happy about, not that you could tell from the mask. The seminal story of his battle with booze 'Demon In A Bottle' had been collected into trade paperback for the first time, and while the iron hat and jacket combo may not suggest it was a battle Stark had won, it is a prime example of just how cool the themed subscription pages of yesterday were.

IMAGE COMICS: February Cover Shots

Image Comics keeps getting better in 2010, with these 3 cover shots highlighting their February solicitations. Spawn hits the milestone 200th issue and super-star artists TODD MCFARLANE, GREG CAPULLO (shown), DAVID FINCH, JIM LEE, ROB LIEFELD, MARC SILVESTRI and ASHLEY WOOD each donate a variant cover. Existence 3.0 #4’s brilliant cover is courtesy of RON SALAS, and the best cover I’ve seen in a bit wraps around Popgun, Vol. 4 OGN thanks to BEN TEMPLESMITH.

For more on Image in February visit Newsarama.

RIDDLE ME THIS: How Much Worth Has A Good Night's Sleep?

The answer to that question I guess varies on your ability to access it at the time. Last night I would've brought the person who gave me a fail-safe method of catching some zzz's a beer, campaigned on their behalf for a Nobel prize, and maybe even offered them one of my first born children - after I woke up of course.

Every cloud though does have the proverbial silver lining, and in looking for something to replace the counting of faulty sheep, (which sounds like a great name for a punk band) I randomly dove into my comic stash and settled into a few issues from the glory days of Wildstorm's The Authority.

While alot of books nowadays offer the trademark Warren Ellis / Mark Millar-ish 'Authority scale' stories and action, last night as I flipped back through their runs on the title, I was struck with awe once again at how the series truly was 'lightning in a bottle' - and that's not just the sleep deprivation talking.

While I've never met a Frank Quitely drawn book I didn't like, I just thought I'd do a quick post here, chucking up a classic scene from my man the Midnighter, so everyone can share in the nostalgia, and I can soak up a few the-mornings-come-to-early coffees and prepare for the day ahead.

ONE SIDE LADIES: 5 Males Who Could Steal The Spotlight Of Blackest Night

Males save the world, females save creation. At least that seems to be the hidden theme in DC’s ‘bigger than Ben Hur’ event Blackest Night. With the dead rising across the universe, the emerging key players on the side of good are all females; Mera, Donna Troy, Dove, Indigo-1, and that’s before the solid gold bustier of Wonder Woman takes to the stage. Still as we hit the half-way point, here are five males who could still grab the limelight, helping turn the tables in the war of light.

Resurrection Man: In one of the best comics you may never have read Mitch Shelley, The Resurrection Man, literally died to save you time and time again. Now with the universe facing more come-backs than your average 80’s pop-band, who better to have on your side than a man who can beat the enemy at their own game?

Rainbow Raider: Don’t laugh, think about it; here’s a guy whose sole power is creating solid beams of right from all colours of the spectrum, and at the heart of Blackest Night are the Armies of Light. While he’s currently a member of the undead in the pages of Blackest Night, if this books set-up doesn’t sound like a cue for ol’ Roy G. Bivolo to get out his rainbow sled and take another shot at fame, nothing does.

Zauriel: With the dead rising you’d think the armies of Heaven would have something to say about it, least of all their most earthbound soldier Zauriel. Through a union of warriors from the various ‘eternal realms’ like Rama and Artemis, Zauriel could help ensure the faith of the living, by showing that even the Blackest Night will have it’s dawn.

Ares: Sure Wonder Woman put an axe in his skull and left his body lying on the beach, but as shown in the latest edition of the Avenging Amazon’s self-titled series you cant keep a good God of War down. With conflict consuming the cosmos, Ares could showcase for all the true power of the Gods of Myth.

Darkseid: Okay so everyone got an overload of the Lord of Apokolips in Final Crisis, but Darkseid is all about one thing; Finding the answer to the anti-life equation. If he can’t put two and two together in a galaxy plagued by the undead he may as well put a dunce hat on and go sit in the corner.

Anyone you want to add to the list?

PANEL-BEATER: Comic Of The Month: Secret Six #15

"Let's walk. That way, if I go nuts, you're the only one who dies."

Batman's death affected everyone differently. Nightwing assumed the mantle of the bat, Damian became the new Robin, the old Robin became Red Robin, and the vigilante Deadshot? He meets with a man of the cloth, seeking answers for why he suddenly wants to fire six rounds into anything with a pulse.

If that sounds like a man with more issues than TIME Magazine, you're right, but legendary guest scribe, John Ostrander covers them in one. A fill in issue of writer Gail Simones cult success Secret Six, Ostrander drops 5 bullets from the chamber and delivers a top-class character study that only the man who put the 'soul' into the Spectre can do.

Rendered in some of J. Califore's best artwork, featuring one of the best 'Bruce Wayne' depiction's in a long while, and wrapped in a stunning LuVisi cover, this issue creates a welcome resting space between story-arcs, and massive multi-title encompassing crossovers.

For fan's of DC's 80's hit Suicide Squad, it's a writer/character reunion that's been a long time coming. For me it's made even sweeter by the fact that earlier this year Ostrander was the personally the subject of one of the most positive events in recent comics history, then a few months later he fills on a title I've had my eye on and 'Bam!' it's on my pull-list in a single shot.