Category: Comics

PUSH THE WALL by Frank Miller / Z-View

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PUSH THE WALL by Frank Miller Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: S&S/Saga Press First sentences…
How to start a story? At the ending. Know your ending. I repeat: Know your ending.
The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

If you know of Frank Miller, it could be for any number of reasons.  Perhaps it was because of the comics he took to new heights (Daredevil; The Dark Knight Returns; Batman: Year One) or those groundbreaking comics that he created (Ronin; Sin City; 300) to name just a few.  Maybe you know Miller from his work as a writer and/or director on feature films (Sin City; 300; Robocop 2 and Robocop 3; The Spirit).  Miller revolutionized comics.  Then he went to Hollywood.  He’s considered a living legend.

PUSH THE WALL is Miller’s memoir.  Through stories and remembrances he takes us back to his childhood in Vermont.  Wanting to be a comic artist from an early age.  Coming to New York City and discovering he’s not ready.  Getting work.  Getting lucky.  Honing his craft.  Getting better and wanting to be better still.  Success that took him to the stratosphere.  Expectations that rose as well.  Falling short.  Going to Hollywood.  Again success… and failure.  Getting back to what he loves… comics.  With more stories to tell.

Miller set the book up as a series of lessons.  These are lessons that he learned and can be used by other writers/artists to improve their craft.  Miller’s anecdotes are both entertaining and enlighting.  We get a glimpse behind the curtain of Miller’s thought processes, as well as the artists, comics, books and movies that influenced him.  All told in a writing style that makes you feel as he’s talking to you.

The more of a Frank Miller fan you are, the more you will like the book.

Rating:

Jack Carter and Marv Meet at Kadie’s by Marc Lapierre!

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Every year the Cartoon Art Museum does a fundraiser.  Artists take on commissions with the funds raised going to support the Museum.  It’s a great cause supported by exceptional artists who share their talents in an effort to support the Museum.

This year I commissioned Marc Lapierre again.  Last year Marc created one of my favorite comissions of the year.  I asked for Stallone as Jack Carter with Keanu Reeves as John Wick.  Here is the beauty Marc produced.  Not only did Marc nail the likenesses (which is always a plus), but the captions were the icing on the cake.  I hoped this year lightning would strike again.

As you can see, I asked for Stallone from Get Carter and gave Marc a choice of three characters to choose from to add to the scene.  The characters were, in no particular order: Seth Gecko (Geore Clooney) in From Dusk Till Dawn, Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) from Justified and Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City.

Marc liked all of the choices, but knew immediately which he was going to draw.  He came through with another great in-joke and wonderful drawing.  I hope to add another to the collection the next time.  I also suggested  with his drawing talent and sense of humor, that a book of “bar interactions” between pop culture icons would be a cool thing!

I cannot thank Marc Lapierre enough for this sweet addition to my Stallone art collection.

“Rocky 3” by Brian Haberlin!

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I discovered this cool Rocky 3 painting by Brian Haberlin in the collection of Kirk Dilbeck.

When I asked for permission to share the piece, Kirk reached out to Brian to make sure it was okay with him.  Brian said, “Okay but please post that I did this as a TEEN. That it’s really old. :)”  

Talk about talent.  Check out Haberlin’s current work.  When you’re done there give Dilbeck’s collection a look.  Plan to stay a bit of time in both.  (And it’s well worth the time!)

“I Don’t Deal with Psychos.” by MARK Stegbauer!

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At HeroesCon 2026, I commissioned Mark Stegbauer for two sketch cards: Sly Stallone as Marion Cobretti from Cobra and Stallone as Stanley Kowalski from Lords of Flatbush.  This (obviously) is the Cobra card.  Sweet, right?

I will post the Lords of Flatbush card commission in the near future.

Each August Mark does an Action Against Alzheimer’s art campaign.  It’s a great way to pick up cool art and at the same time help a wonderful cause.

“I don’t deal with psychos. I put ’em away.” – Marion Cobretti

Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by David Lapham!

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David Lapham is an Eisner Award-winning​ comic book creator best known for his independent crime series Stray Bullets.  When Lapham offered a headsketch special, I thought he’d be a great choice to draw Sly Stallone as Jack Carter.

Lapham’s response was immediate and positive.  So much so that I asked about a second sketch – Sly as Rocky Balboa.  Lampham again quickly responded that he was up for it.  I immediately sent a paypal for the amount requested and a few bucks more.  He emailed a “thank you” and that was the last I heard from him for four years.

Every so often, for the first couple of years, I sent an e-mail to see if he was okay or going to do the sketches.  No response ever came back.  Then in February of this year, I was surprised to get an e-mail from Mr. Lapham apologizing for his lack of communication.  He said that he wanted to get the art to me.  This week (six months later) the sketches arrived.

I don’t know what the hold-up was.  I’m just happy to have the sketches and hope Mr. Lapham is doing well.

“Sienkiewicz That Polish Guy” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The Poster and Trailer for (Bill) Sienkiewicz That Polish Guy is here.  Bill Sienkiewicz broke into comics while still a teenager.  Some (at first) wrote him off as a Neal Adams clone… but even those folks couldn’t deny Sienkiewicz’s talent.  Soon enough Bill Sienkiewicz was creating groundbreaking art.  Never one to rest on what he had already done, Sienkiewicz’s art was always morphing into something new.  That is why Bill Sienkiewicz is many fans’ favorite and an artist’s artist.

Deal me in.

THAT POLISH GUY is the feature documentary on Bill Sienkiewicz, the artist who broke every rule in comics and changed the medium forever.

Directed by Remsy Atassi
Produced by Sal Abbinanti
Presented by Comic Book Pros

Sly Stallone is Jack Carter by Andy Fish!

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Andy Fish is is a freelance artist and writer.  Fish’s clients include DC Comics, Warner Bros. Animation, Dark Horse Comics, Archie Comics, Papercutz Books, Chartwell Books, Quarto Publishing, McFarlane Press, Warner Licensing, Marvel Comics, Penguin Random House, Makimono Entertainment as well as hundreds of freelance illustration projects, graphic design projects, packaging, character design, movie and TV storyboards and much more.

I got this sketch of Sly Stallone as Jack Carter at a HeroesCon.  The scan doesn’t do the original justice.