This week’s Sunday Pages brings you news of two free comics from rising talent Marc Ellerby, some discussion of Chuck Dixon’s abrupt exit, and an article that’ll potentially transform the experience of watching The Incredible Hulk!

Marc Ellerby, artist on Oni Press’ Love the Way You Love, has uploaded a couple of his sold out minicomics onto his livejournal. The first is Venal Muse, and the second is Polar Opposites and they’re both very different and equally great. Seb and I both furnished Marc with money at the recent Bristol expo - I bought his minicomics “Speed Trail” and “Ellerbisms” and Seb bought Love the Way You Love, volume 1. If, after seeing these, you too want to furnish him with money, get to it. I’m also reliably informed that while it’s sold out from the author, copies of Venal Muse are available from Dave’s comics in Brighton, so if you’re really impressed that’s who to get in touch with! (JH)

So, Chuck Dixon has left DC. A turn-up for the books, and somewhat abrupt - he’d made a recent return to Robin writing duties that was generally considered to have been rather successful, particularly in finally bringing back Spoiler. Will we ever know the reasons why? The suddenness of the announcement - and the brusqueness of his post announcing the fact - would suggest that it was unexpected, and perhaps revolving around some kind of falling-out. It doesn’t do to speculate too much about what might be personal reasons, of course, but I can’t imagine it really being for professional reasons - it hardly seems like the work he’d been turning in was at odds with any kind of “vision” that the DC editors might have had. DC have declined to comment on the story, while Dixon seems reticent to comment further as well. Will it go down as one of those stories we’ll never get to the bottom of, or will someone like Rich Johnston manage to do some digging? Nevertheless, it’s a shame - no-one really writes Tim Drake like Dixon, and in much the same way as Marv Wolfman felt like a perfect fit during his brief stint on Nightwing, there feels like a great sense of missed opportunity, particularly when the main two Batbooks are doing so well under the stewardship of Morrison and Dini. But where to from here? I’d like to see one of DC’s up-and-coming writers given a shot - it may have been external workload that led John Rogers to leave Blue Beetle, but he did such a good job there that I wouldn’t mind him taking on another character-driven teen book. Will Pfiefer’s done a couple of half-decent fill-ins of late, as well - first on Blue Beetle, and then an excellent Supergirl issue this month. Or even, going for a different tack, someone like Wolfman? Just, for god’s sake, whatever you do, Didio, don’t give it to Judd Winick… (SP)

Finally, if you haven’t had a chance to go see Hulk yet, make sure to read my latest Alternate Cover column, “The Incredible Hulk companion” which will help you win friends and influence people off the back of the film. Probably. (JH)

Tags: Chuck Dixon, Hulk, Marc Ellerby
Publisher: The Sunday Pages