INFORMATION ATTACK! SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #4

Ryan's print cover

Here are the solicit points for the fourth PRINT issue of Smallville, Season 11, as well Ryan Benjamin's cover. As a BONUS, here's also a preview of Cat Staggs' cover for the digital chapters that cover the same ground.

(Courtesy DC Comics) 

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #4

Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by RYAN BENJAMIN and JOEL BENJAMIN
On sale AUGUST 1 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

A preview of Cat's digital cover• The story arc kicking off the SEASON PREMIERE EVENT concludes!

• CHLOE and OLIVER make a shocking discovery as they come face-to-face with the sole survivor of the crash.

• More machine than man, an out-of-control HENSHAW must be stopped – this looks like a job for SUPERMAN!

And, for serious, as great as these covers are... once we reveal the covers for the first installment of the next episode? Internet. Implodes.

IN STORES NOW: SMALLVILLE SEASON 11: GUARDIAN (PART 1 of 4)

Covers by: Gary Frank, Cat Staggs, Ryan Benjamin & Ryan Benjamin (I have seen it - you CANNOT!)

Today, Wednesday, May 2nd, the first PRINT issue of Smallville: Season 11 hits stores. Each print issue will compile 3 digital chapters. The first 4 print issues comprise the season premiere mega-sode, "Guardian." The cost is $3.99. Print issues will include behind the scenes content (like Pere's assortment of concept designs for Clark's new Super-suit), as well as a parsed out series episode guide. As with any normal comic book, ads will also be included within the pages.

Many of you have purchased this digitally, and for that (sales have been GREAT), I am eternally grateful. Print sales on this book are just as important as digital sales. Even if you don't plan on buying the print issues, please spread the word as they become available. If sales weren't an issue, believe me, I wouldn't be talking about these as much as I am. But they are. Bottom line - the more you buy, the longer we'll go.

For Smallville fans, this is a continuation of characters and stories that you know and love. For non-Smallville fans, this is a Superman Year One story that builds off of the mythology as presented in the show. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL COMIC SHOP (LCS) 

Thank you all for you support. I hope you enjoy the ride!

THE UNSINKABLE STEPHANIE BROWN

Cover to Batgirl #17 (Dustin Nguyen)

Artgerm covers Batgirl #12Yes you can!

It's no secret that Stephanie Brown is a character close to my heart, whom I miss writing dearly (with an almost crippling pain, I assure you).

She represents the best of us, and fights for something in Gotham City that's in short supply - HOPE.

As fate would have it, our girl is featured in DC Comics online's SPOTLIGHT digital collection for the week, HERE! Issues are just $1.99.

Her print trades are becoming increasingly hard to find online, so, if you haven't yet had the chance to meet (and subsequently be charmed by) the Eggplant Avenger, the Dork Knight herself, give Batgirl, Vol. 3 a whirl.

RELATED: Batgirl Vol. 3 lands on IGN's Top 25 Comic Book Runs of the decade, HERE!

Which, when you think about it, is really all you need in life.

Update on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 10:54AM by Bryan Q. Miller

UPDATED: The Steph-as-Batgirl sale starts TODAY. For everyone who wants to see not only another Steph-headlined book, but more books that carry the same tone and have the same approach, THIS is your opportunity to "move the needle" as they say. I know I've brought this up over on the "Smallville" side of the fence, but sales, at the end of the day, are what really matter in getting decisions made on high. Know a friend that missed out on Steph's time under the cowl? Send them over. Know a kid (11+) that's gotten into comics in the last year? Send them over. Want to have our Purple Pollyanna on your phone or tablet, wherever you go? She's just one click (and a few dollars away). It's worth the trip.

REVIEW: ¡DONUTS ABROAD! (or, The Tim Hortons Project)

WHERE: APPARENTLY, EVERYWHERE THERE'S OXYGEN IN CANADA
PAY: Cash or Charge 

So... THIS happened:

My wife-of-wives, blood-of-my-blood, has been stranded in Canada on a work trip for the last 900 years. So... what's a loving husband to do? I strapped on the 'ole passport, jumped into the 'ole autogyro, and ventured to the Great White North!

While abroad, how could I pass up the opportunity to see what confectionary wonders, what toroidal solids (edible), this land beyond the Wall had(s) to offer? Yet, to my chagrin, the only donut-centric confectionaries within a reasonably wide walking distance of the hotel were Tim Hortons. Then more Tim Hortons. Then, just when you start to think, "Wow. Thems a lot of Tim Hortons..." BOOM! ANOTHER Tim Hortons.

Do I like reviewing corporate, chain-type places? Not really. But this is the official donut dispensary of Canda, right? So, with that in mind...

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT, CORPORATE CANADIAN CONFECTIONARY! 

OLD FASHIONED, GLAZED - Really, REALLY great, almost bready consistency to the cake. Nice level of moisture in the dough, too. Sticky as all hell, though. Not quite as sticky as it's analog at Krispy Kreme, but still a multiple napkin ordeal.

THE MAPLE DIP - SUGAR. BOMB. However? Very tasty. Nice glaze consistency (though again, a tad too sticky for we of "not liking sticky"-ness). Great maple icing up top. Light an thin enough so as to not change the texture of the bite, between the donut itself and the topping. 

THE "CANADA" DONUT - And how, exactly, was I NOT supposed to eat this donut? Those aren't just sprinkles, fair Reader... they're MAPLE LEAF sprinkles. That said, pretty much the same donut experience as the maple dip, swapping out maple for vanilla and sprinkles.

"Dee... uh... BET-ez?"

OVERALL - Were they good? Yes! Did I feel kinda gross and guilty after eating three of them? Yes. Donuts should be a somewhat decadent delight, to be sure. But the amount of sugar pouring out of all three of these left a bad taste in my mouth. To be fair, I'm not the biggest fan of Kripsy Kreme, either. However, if you're looking for SHOOOOOOOGRRRRRRRR in your donuts... and you're in Canada, hit 'em up, hit 'em up, hit 'em up!

IT HAS BEGINNINGED! BEGINNINGEDED! STARTED!

Twitter blew up this morning - very happy everyone's enjoying the "show" so far. Believe me, there's more to come. Like... for a while. The train has officially left the station. ;-)

Thank you ALL for the kind words. Now spread those words - let's sell the hell out of this thing, huh?

SO... let's say you HAVEN'T had a chance to get your digital hands on it yet. "How do I find it?"

If you have a tablet device or smartphone, you'll need to download the free DC Comics (iTunes / Android) or Comixology apps (iTunes / Android). If you're new to these apps, the DC app (quite naturally), gives you access to select DC comics past and present for a per issue fee. The Comixology app is more of a catch-all, multi-publisher hub (DC, Marvel, Image, etc.), where you'll be able to purchase installments of Season 11, as well as MANY other things.

If you don't have a tablet or smartphone, fear not! You can still read the Smallville comic online by visiting comixology.com and opening an account (again, free to sign up, followed by a per issue purchase fee). You will have to enter credit card information at some point, much as you would have to for iTunes. This goes for the app, as well -- it will not auto-purchase each week's issue for you. You will have to stop by the site/open the app every Friday and make the purchase.

You can do the same at https://read.dccomics.com/.

Plus... it's got Otis. OTIS!

Interviews from this week can be found here (via DC Women Kicking Ass), here (via Kryptonsite) and here (via USA Today).