Gerardo Moreno
SZoner, Gerardo Moreno is back with his version of a new “First Blood″ teaser poster.
Well done, Gerardo! To see more of his art, click here.
Category: Books
Drive: Crime Classic in the Making
Have you seen the trailer for “Drive”? It is the best looking trailer I’ve seen in a long time and if the movie turns out to be as good as the teaser indicates, then we are in for a crime classic. The source material is more than solid since it’s based on the crime novel Drive by James Sallis [that I reviewed here].
Ok. Enough of my praise. Check out the redband trailer and see for yourself.
Talking with Duane Swierczynski and Josh Bazell
Recently a couple of my favorite writers, Duane Swierczynski and Josh Bazell sat down for a two part conversation. In part one Duane and Josh talk about how they write novels, the influence of comic books & movies, and why they want to keep readers turning the page. In part two Duane and Josh discuss their first jobs, their first books, 80’s movies and tv shows, James Ellroy’s White Jazz and more.
Brock Lesnar Taps Like Gregory Hines on a Hot Plate
After Brock Lesnar nearly got whipped by Shane Carwin, I thought that Brock developed a bit of humility. Then when Cain Velesquez beat Brock in every aspect of the game and pounded him into the fetal position before a ref stopped the fight, I was pretty sure that Brock became more humble. I was wrong.
The first paragraph of Brock’s forthcoming autobiography ends with this sentence…
- “I handed this guy, who will never be half the man I am, a victory he didn’t deserve.”
Brock is talking about Frank Mir. You know, the guy who made Brock, in the first round, tap like Gregory Hines on a hot plate. Sure, Brock won the rematch by ref stoppage in the second, but which loss was quicker and more humiliating? Exactly.
At any rate, Brock Lesnar has an autobiography coming out soon. It’s called Deathclutch: My Story of Determination, Domination and Survival. Any bets on how much humility he shows in it?
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor
On September 27, 2011, the first prose Walking Dead novel, The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor will be available. You can actually pre-order it now through Amazon.com. I did. Of course I am a major fan of the comic and tv series.
What’s that? You are too? Then what are you waiting for?
Want Some Real Cheap Yellow Medicine?
I guess I’m old fashioned. Or maybe just old. You see, I like the books I read to be real… not some digital concoction that you read from a machine. I love being able to read a great book and then place it in my collection on my bookshelf. But that’s not what this post is about.
What this post is about is the fact that Anthony Neil Smith, the author of two excellent crime novels featuring bad cop Billy Lafitte is offering a super deal on the first, titled Yellow Medicine. Starting May 1st at 2pm you will be able to get a copy of Yellow Medicine for just 99 cents. The idea is to get everyone who wants a copy to jump on at the same time and get Yellow Medicine on the charts.
At 99 cents the novel is a steal. Heck, I paid a lot more than that for my hardcover copy and the story was so good, I thought I got a bargain. So if you read your novels from a screen, then give Yellow Medicine a try. [And if you’re like me and want a “real” book then order up one here.]
Batman: Year One – Feature Length Animation
One of my all-time favorite graphic novels is Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. I was pleased to read in The Hollywood Reporter today that a feature length animated adaptation is in the works with Bruce Timm on board to executive produce. Timm indicates that the production will closely follow the graphic novels story and look when he says:
“The source material is surprisingly cinematic; it’s a pretty straight forward literal retelling… Mazzucchelli’s artwork is beautifully composed and we were able to refer to the comic for about 80 percent of the camera setups.”
Ben McKenzie will provide the voice for Batman/Bruce Wayne and Bryan “Breaking Bad” Cranston will do the same for Liet. James Gordon. You can read more about the production here and here.
Lee Marvin, Mel Gibson & Jason Statham
Variety reported today that…
- Jason Statham is in negotiations to star in the thriller “Parker” with Taylor Hackford directing… based on the book series by Donald Westlake [aka RIchard Stark], [and] revolves around a thief who, though at times is forced to be a killer, still lives by a code of honor that includes never stealing money from people who need it. His word is his bond, and if he is crossed he will strike back relentlessly.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Richard Stark’s Parker novels as well as the graphic adaptations by Darwyn Cooke. I also enjoyed Lee [“Point Blank”] Marvin and Mel [“Payback”] Gibson in movies based on the Parker character. I have little doubt that Taylor Hackford directing Jason Statham will be welcome additions to the Parker legacy.
Cooke, Stark, Parker: A Better Martini
Earlier today I posted about Hunter: The Martini Edition which will combine The Hunter and The Outfit into an oversized 9×13 package with 65 pages of additional material [344 total page count] for a very reasonable $75.00 price tag. At Wondercon, today, the cover of the edition [shown above] was previewed. In addition, Scott Dunbier, the editor of the project said that Hunter: The Martini Edition will…
“contain both of the graphic novels that Darwyn did — both of them were pretty widely acclaimed. It’ll have a number of illustrations, sketchbook material, a lot of cool little extras. One of the best is, it’ll actually have an original eight-page story that will only be available in this Martini Edition.”
Now, more than ever I think that IDW should print up an edition of extras for those of us who have supported the books from the start.
[Via CBR.com]
Cooke, Stark, Parker & The Martini Edition
If you missed out on Darwyn Cooke’s two best-selling, award-winning adaptations of Richard Parker’s Stark novels, you’re in luck. This July, IDW is publishing them together in a deluxe format they’re calling Parker: The Martini Edition. The new edition will combine The Hunter and The Outfit into an oversized 9×13 package with 65 pages of additional material running the total page count to 344. It is set to retail at $75.00.
While I’m happy that the books are doing well enough to warrant the special treatment, it bugs me that fans who bought the original editions from the start will miss out on the bonus materials. I understand that in order to make the “special edition” special, bonus materials are needed. I guess it’s a catch-22, but wouldn’t it be nice if IDW published a “bonus materials only” special for folks who had supported the books from the start? They could even do it in the same format as The Man with the Getaway Face and I’d love it. Plus it would be another revenue source to help support the production of the next Cooke/Stark Parker graphic novel.
Conan in Motion
This is a pretty cool poster. I wish Conan was closer and looking straight at us with a “you’re next” look on his mug.
The Secret Life of Houdini
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Secret Life of Houdini, The Making of America’s First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman is being developed as an…
…action thriller featuring a character who is part Indiana Jones and part Sherlock Holmes, documenting his rise as a magician along with his covert involvement with the Secret Service.
Sly Stallone Scores a Headshot
- Way back in October of 2008, I posted about a French crime comic called “Headshot” that had been optioned by Warner Bros. “Headshot” was about a hitman and cop who, when their partners are killed, form an uneasy alliance to get revenge on the powers that set them up. At that time, I said that I’d love to see an American edition of the comic and that I’d keep an eye out on the progress of the movie.
- Then in May of 2010, I posted that “Headshot” was being published with an English translation by Dynamite Comics using the title “Bullet to the Head.”
- Today I’m happy to report that “Headshot” is moving forward with Sylvester Stallone playing one of the hitmen and Wayne “Running Scared” Kramer set to direct.
- Here’s how /Film describes “Headshot”… In the film, Stallone’s character “teams with a young NYPD detective in a high-stakes investigation that leads from the dingy back alleys of New Orleans all the way to the power corridors of Washington, D.C. The unlikely duo, brought together by two vicious murders, take on all who stand in their way, and are willing to sacrifice everything to exact revenge.”
- IM Global [the company making “Headshot”] CEO Stuart Ford said… “Headshot is exactly the type of fast-paced, universally themed project that suits our business model. Sylvester Stallone is an international icon and we’re really excited to be in business with him.”
- “Headshot” is set to being filming in May and I couldn’t be happier.
Indiana Jones and the Death Rumors
There’s been quite a bit of speculation lately, that Harrison Ford would like to see Indy killed off in the next Indiana Jones movie. Depending on which article you read, Ford either…
- wants Indy to die and pass the fedora and bullwhip on to his movie son played by Shia LaBeouf or…
- … the reports that Ford wanted to kill off Indy are false.
Either way, the rumors have some die hard Indiana Jones worried. Although I’m an Indiana Jones fan and would look forward to another outing, I’m not in the least bit worried about the character. Seriously, if Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull didn’t kill off the character, nothing will.
The Walking Dead Books It
One of my favorite comics, The Walking Dead, may soon become one of my favorite tv shows. It may also become one of my favorite novel trilogies. That’s right, it’s been announced that…
…Thomas Dunne Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press, will publish a trilogy of original novels set in The Walking Dead “universe,” beginning in 2011. Kirkman will conceptualize and outline the books, which will then be developed by horror novelist Jay Bonansinga (Perfect Victim, Shattered).
