ATOMIKA #4

[MattBrady]

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004-Cover-A.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004-Cover-A-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="" / align="right"></a>Newly-independent Mercury Comics and creator Sal Abbinanti have provided Newsarama with a four-page preview plus a look at all four covers (details below) from <b>Atomika #4</b>, due in stores on August 17th.

The solicitation copy for the issue reads:

<b> ATOMIKA #4</b>
Story & Pencils: Sal Abbinanti
Writer: Andrew Dabb
Inks: Buzz
Colors: Christina Strain & Beth Sotelo
Cover A by Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald.
Cover B by BUZZ & Peter Steigerwald
Cover C by Michael Turner
Cover D by BUZZ
In store date: August 17th

Originally scheduled to debut August 4th at Wizard World Chicago, will now be released in stores on August 17th due to a printing error.
Russia’s western steppes were once a paradise, home to lush farms, thriving villages, and bands of gypsies who had been traveling since the dawn of time. But that was long ago. Now the fields have been stripped to feed Moscow’s poor, the young men and women of the villages conscripted into the Red Army, and the gypsies branded traitors to the Empire. Paradise has been re-made a wasteland, one ruled over by the ancient swamp god Pripet-the deity Atomika has come to kill. Meanwhile, back in the capital, powerful forces are assembling, all with the same question on their lips: “Has the God of Technology outlived his usefulness?”
Featuring a regular cover by fan favorite artist Michael Turner (Witchblade, Soulfire), and a variant cover by artist Buzz (JSA, Vampirella). Also in conjunction with RuppsWorld.com and JayCompanyComics.com two additional covers are available, these exclusive covers feature the original pencil artwork of Michael Turner and Buzz. For more information on Atomika and Mercury Comics visit www.MercuryComics.com


<p align="center"><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/Copy_of_ATOMIKA004_Cover_C.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/Copy_of_ATOMIKA004_Cover_C-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="" / vspace="1" hspace="1"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004-Cover-B.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004-Cover-B-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="" / vspace="1" hspace="1"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/Copy_of_ATOMIKA004_Cover.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/Copy_of_ATOMIKA004_Cover-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="" / vspace="1" hspace="1"></a><br>
<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004001_let.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004001_let-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="Atomika #4, pg. 1" / vspace="1" hspace="1"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004002_003_let.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004002_003_let-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="Atomika #4, pg. 1" / vspace="1" hspace="1"></a><br><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004004_let.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004004_let-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="Atomika #4, pg. 4" / vspace="1" hspace="1"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004005_let.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/mercury/ATOMIKA004005_let-.jpg" border="0" width="165" height="251" alt="Atomika #4, pg. 5" / vspace="1" hspace="1"></a></p>

[josefrootgum]

nice BUZZ cover!

[deathlok]

is mercury taking over this book with issue # 4?

[nme00]

I'm really digging both of these covers! Not really into the interior art though:(

[Bakema NL]

Very nice covers, but the interior art is what really suits the story. And yes, Mercury taking over with #4? Series has a bit of a bumpy ride, but as long as it's all coming our way there's no problem of course.

[delawarejoel]

I will keep on harping on this book -- it obviously doesnt need my help -- but this is one of the most remarkable comic books I have seen in some time. I will be the first to admit that I am rather frustrated with the state of comics storytelling right now; a lot of what I see either looks like books of what should be posters with a few words in them masquerading as story, or else long, meandering multi-issue stories that feel like they could be told in one or two issues, not four or five.

Atomika should bother me on BOTH of those levels, but it doesnt. There is always the exception. Sal's full-page or double-page art gives me the same kind of tingle that Kirby's full/double page spreads did when I was a kid -- the landing of the Celestials in Eternals; the incredible scenes in 2001; the fights in any of the Fourth World books. Today, almost 30 years later, I look at Eternals #7 (found in the Jack Kirby Masterworks volume) and am agog at his ability to portray scale and overwhelming size and make you gasp just a little. Sal's artwork does that for me.

Further, the art and story remind me of the kind of really great material that used to be in Heavy Metal when I was reading it in the early '80's -- particularly the magnificent Phillipe Druillet, who was able to convey that Kirbyesque scale combined with a very subtle storytelling ability that is lacking in many artists and writers these days. (Especially in Heavy Metal, which appears to have become largely a porn magazine, rather than an adult comics magazine dealing with issues of sexuality. But I digress.)

To be honest, I dont think it is really the fault of the artists; to this day, a great story with mediocre art will hold me much longer than a poor story with great art. Atomika has great story (at least so far) and great art, and I look forward to it every month.

Yes, I am living in the past.....but I liked the past! Peace.

[Bakema NL]

That's some nice harping there delawarejoel. And I agree with you. It's one of those titles a lot of people just don't get, be it story, art or both. I think this could do well over here in Europe, seems like a better market than in the USA for this.

[adamcasey]

Four variant covers? Two of which are variants of the variants?

[Fazhoul]

Originally posted by nme00
I'm really digging both of these covers! Not really into the interior art though:(
Same here.

[OcCaM]

Hmmm art is hit or miss with me. That 4th page is really nifty to look at for some reason. 1st page does hae a Kirbyish vibe.

The other two pages get a meh from me.

So, I'll consider a trade for this one. IF it's not more expensive than the singles.

[Lord Ice]

Nice covers, but the it's the incredible art inside that sells the book to me (that and of course the great story). :)

[kiddo]

OK. Here we go again. First it was going to be out August 4th after being a month late in the first place. Then It was going to be out August 10th and now it's going to be out on th 17th. If number 4 is so late, my question is how late will number 5 be?
I am impressed that a book so late can still get all this press every time you claim it's coming out again and again. How can other small press books get this much press when they are really late? I ordered some for my shop and I believe this date now officially makes this book returnable.Yes?
This kind of lateness is why it is getting so hard for small press to get on the shelves of comic shops. Stores fear trying anything new because they are not sure if they will see another issue. Lets stop with all the press releases and just get the book out on time.

[gredenko]

Originally posted by kiddo
How can other small press books get this much press when they are really late?
Try advertising with the news source!

I agree though, late is lame and is a risk that a small publisher can't afford.

[atomika]

First I want to Thank everyone who has taken the
time to post their thoughts good or bad about my book Atomika.
Please pick up more Indy titles we need you.

OK, Why Atomika is late??

Well believe me I know that tardiness is the enemy of any
momentum in sales and the bitchy ex-wife of any retailers
taking a shot on a non-DC, Marvel book.

Just getting retailers to look in the Indy section of Previews
is half the battle.

That being said Atomika #4 was delivered from the printer
with 4 pages out of order and one page missing.
So we had to go back to press to fix the snags.

My apologies for the delay.

Thank you again
Warmest regards

Sal Abbinanti

www.mercurycomics.com

[evilelvis696]

That explains it being late now- what's the excuse for being late the first two times Kiddo mentioned? Wasn't this book supposed to be out in June or July at the latest?
I go with the majority of the board, some of the covers are good but the interiors don't grab me. I bought the first two, but I can't buy comics for the covers. Plus the third one was late so I figured it was a good time to stop buying. Looks like I was right.

[EmeraldGuy32]

Originally posted by adamcasey
Four variant covers? Two of which are variants of the variants?
Welcome to the 21 century ;)

[Royal Nonesuch]

Regardless of when the issues come out, Atomika is one of the better new comics to come across my reading pile in some time. I love how ambitious it is, and the story is so engaging.

[deathlok]

who published the 1st 3 issues?

[Bakema NL]

Originally posted by deathlok
who published the 1st 3 issues?

Speakeasy.

[adamcasey]

Originally posted by Bakema NL
Speakeasy.

But in truth, Mercury was going to self publish, but then switched over to Speakeasy.

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15716

[Bakema NL]

Originally posted by adamcasey
But in truth, Mercury was going to self publish, but then switched over to Speakeasy.

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15716

Affirmative.....sometimes it's a bit tough to keep track with indies, there are and have been those who switched publisher a few times. Could hurt a series and in other cases it's a good decision.

[deathlok]

so did issue #4 come out this weeek?

[Bakema NL]

Originally posted by deathlok
so did issue #4 come out this weeek?

Yeah it did, picked it up yesterday....haven't gotten around to reading it though.

[evilelvis696]

Went to the comic store yesterday and saw Atomika #4 on the racks. After the post earlier this week, I decided to spend some time and take a look at it.
Almost three months late and it still looks rushed. Tons of splash pages, little storytelling (in the artwork at least) and sloppier than the previous issues. Also they did a flip on the coloring, going with a different color scheme which wasn't so bad- I actually preferred it to the almost continuous red scheme of the first few issues.
Pretty much exactly what I thought- an over-hyped book getting later and later and looking much the worse for it. But I did give it a chance and took a look anyway, just to be fair.
I know the artist will jump on here with more excuses, but please don't bother. Instead of wasting time hyping on the net, take that valuable time and work on your art and get the book out on time. No excuses, no "production problems", just buckle down and get your act together.
I may not like your art or book, but there are people out there who do. If they bother to spend their hard earned money on your title, the least you could do is work harder to get it to them on time and have it be the best it could be.

[atomika]

I'm on it.
I apologize for the tardiness of the book.

Thank you for taking the time to check it out.

Warmest regards

Sal

Atomika Artist

ps- The Splashes and double page spreads are by design not as
short cuts. I'm trying to convey storytelling that mimics
the Russian comics of the 1920's avante garde period
( Deconstructive)
Believe me they take a hell of a lot more work.

[KoBane]

Originally posted by josefrootgum
nice BUZZ cover!

I just got around to reading issue #4 and I think it's GREAT! :) Sal A's artwork is stunning! Granted, if you were looking for this month's Marvel Manga artist doodling some mutants, you've come to the wrong place. But if you want something unique and visually captivating? This book is it. I find the art exciting and at times disturbing. It really moves me. This is stuff that gets your heart beating! ;) Take the time out to study the detail on the pages and you will know that there were absolutely NO shortcuts taken as one poster theorized. My only complaint is I'm not crazy about the coloring and that I couldn't find the Buzz cover at any of the three stores in my area. :(

Also personally, I think it's worth the wait. What book doesn't have some delays here and there. You guys want to talk about the Ultimates or Planetary? I don't mind waiting to a certain extent if the wait is for something good and in this case, Atomika is one of my fav reads.

KoBane