Marvel Brings French Publisher Soleil's Books to the States

[PhotoJones]

Marvel struck a deal with French comic book publisher Soleil and will now begin publishing their titles in English to American audiences. ****in' A. I've been waiting a long time for some of these properties to come stateside.

Offical press release and preview images are at CBR.

 

[Xofenroht]

"Universal War One"...oh HELL yeah!

 

[PhotoJones]

Yeah, I'm excited about pretty much all of these books. Hopefully this will translate into some of the French creators doing Marvel proper projects.

 

[Dread]

I don't know much about that French company...but new talent is often never a bad thing.

 

[Xofenroht]

Seriously, what a breath of fresh air.

 

[Dread]

Seriously, what a breath of fresh air.

Yeah, some of those titles don't sound too bad.

It will bring some more variety to Marvel, which isn't a bad thing either. I know, I'm hardly the person to talk about variety as a good 99.999999% of things I buy are superhero stuff, but objectively I know the market is better when there is a variety of genres out there besides superheroes, and sales seem to reflect that (THE BEAT printed a few articles on their website about that, given that they're all indie snobs at heart).

 

[Xofenroht]

This really is an awesome move on both Marvel and Soleil's part. You're definitely right about the variety. It's also great for us in the states, because you rarely hear an American talking about how great the comics from foreign countries are (aside from Manga, which is pretty mainstream in our community.) but you always hear people from foreign countries talking about American comics.

 

[PhotoJones]

For anyone who's looked at a French comic book before, those guys blow us out of the water in terms of mastery over their craft. I can't wait to see some truely awesome art.

 

[iloveclones]

It all looks very interesting. Can any of you give a run down on some of the titles they mentioned?

 

[iloveclones]

For anyone who's looked at a French comic book before, those guys blow us out of the water in terms of mastery over their craft. I can't wait to see some truely awesome art.

Not just art, but storytelling. From those preview pages, I would have to agree with you. I'll definately be taking a look.

 

[Dread]

This really is an awesome move on both Marvel and Soleil's part. You're definitely right about the variety. It's also great for us in the states, because you rarely hear an American talking about how great the comics from foreign countries are (aside from Manga, which is pretty mainstream in our community.) but you always hear people from foreign countries talking about American comics.

Very true.

It all looks very interesting. Can any of you give a run down on some of the titles they mentioned?

SKY DOLL : "a timely socio-political thriller in which a young android must decide her destiny by challenging the very government and faith that has controlled her life."

Other titles mentioned were UNIVERSAL WAR ONE, SAMURAI and LE FLEAU DES DIEUX.

 

[Themanofbat]

If it's anything remotely close to Tintin and Asterix and Les 4As and all those old Belgium/French comics, I'm in.

 

[PhotoJones]

Not just art, but storytelling. From those preview pages, I would have to agree with you. I'll definately be taking a look.

If you want to check some out now, Archaia Studios Press publishes a lot of French books in English. They've currently got The Killer, Okko and The Secret History on the racks, all of them being completely well worth the cover price.

 

[Themanofbat]

If you want to check some out now, Archaia Studios Press publishes a lot of French books in English. They've currently got The Killer, Okko and The Secret History on the racks, all of them being completely well worth the cover price.

The Secret History has been awesome...

 

[iloveclones]

Very true.



SKY DOLL : "a timely socio-political thriller in which a young android must decide her destiny by challenging the very government and faith that has controlled her life."

Other titles mentioned were UNIVERSAL WAR ONE, SAMURAI and LE FLEAU DES DIEUX.

Well, I saw that one. I was hoping someone would know about the other ones.

 

[iloveclones]

The Secret History has been awesome...

Description please...

 

[Xofenroht]

Yeah, spit it out. The words "Secret" and "History" gets me all excited inside.

 

[iloveclones]

And I don't want some Wikipedia reference. I want a real Hypster review.

 

[Themanofbat]

Description please...

First 4 Books of 7 have been released...

From their home page...

Four immortal brothers and sisters entrusted with ivory cards in the dawn of prehistory by a dying shaman, and told never to use the cards together. Four immortal brothers and sisters, four archons, leaping through time, consumed in an epic struggle to influance and shape the history of Western civilization. From Moses’ challenge to the Pharaoh to the origin of the Grail myth; from the Pope’s extermination of the Cathars to Nostradamus’ travels in Italy; from the Spanish Armada and the Great Fire of London to Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt; and finally to the Angel of Mons appearing over the trenches of World War I: a secret occult history of the world told in seven chapters.

Seven books, each 48 square-bound pages.

http://www.daradja.com/the_secret_history.php

There's some preview art from Book One there as well...

And I don't want some Wikipedia reference. I want a real Hypster review.

It's basically what PJ said... if you're into the alledged untold truths about man's history and not a blind follower of the printed word as told by the winners of any epic battles, it's a great read... I read "The Holy Blood & the Holy Grail" about 10 years before Dan Brown's DaVinci Code made it a household name, and it was freakin' awesome then, and this book spreads itself all over history in a similar and unbiased way... it's very good, in my humble opinion.

 

[PhotoJones]

The Secret History has been awesome...

Description please...

At the dawn of time, four archons are each given a special rune that gives them incredible power. If the runes are used together, they cause immense destruction. Knowing this, the four archons go their separate ways, while all crossing paths through history. Basically, it tells the untold history of the world and how these archons played a hand in making it, from Moses and the Red Sea to the Crusades to WWI. It's excellent.

EDIT: TMoB beat me to it.

 

[Xofenroht]

Well, there you have it folks. Another book for me to read.

 

[iloveclones]

Only available in comics or any trades ?(I've got an amazon gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket...)

 

[PhotoJones]

I'm sure a trade will be issued once the book completes.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'll probably pick at least a few of these French books up. I like a lot of the art in those previews.

 

[PhotoJones]

EDIT: I'm drunk.