Category: Comics

Celebrity Encounters at MegaCon 2014

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This Friday and Saturday I spent time at MegaCon with my buddy John Beatty.  While I was at the show hanging with Big John, my wife, Doralya was relaxing at the hotel.

On Friday afternoon Doralya sent me a text that Steven Yeun (who plays Glen on The Walking Dead) was staying in our hotel and she saw him getting into a limo.  I could tell from her text and the number of exclamation points that she was excited to see a celebrity up-close.

At dinner that night Doralya told me of an encounter that she had with Bryan Johnson, one of the stars of Comic Book Men.  Doralya was sitting outside reading when Bryan Johnson walked by.

They made eye-contact and Doralya said, “I know you! I watch you on tv every week!”  Bryan smiled and replied, “You do?”  He was probably surprised since my wife doesn’t look like someone who would watch Comic Book Men.

A few minutes later Bryan walked back through the area and made a point to say, “Good-bye” to Doralya.

I teased Doralya a bit that the only thing she could think to say was, “I know you” to a complete stranger.  We laughed and headed back to the hotel.

Doralya was standing in front of me as the elevator doors opened and I heard her say in a surprised voice, “Well, hello!”  I heard a voice say, “Hello.”  It was Ming Chen of Comic Book Men.  As he left the elevator we made eye contact…

… and the only thing I could think to say was, “Well, hello.”  Ming replied, “Hello” as he continued to wherever he was going.

As we got on the elevator I expected Doralya to return the teasing I gave her.  At least her comment to a celebrity was original.  All I could think to say was to repeat what Doralya had said.  She didn’t tease me though.  I guess she understood that I wasn’t as used to celebrity encounters as she was.

MegaCon or Bust!

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This Friday and Saturday I’ll be in Orlando.  My buddy, John Beatty will be there Friday through Sunday. We’ll be hanging out with several thousand other like-minded folks.  Yep, it’s time for MegaCon. 

John is going as a guest  of the show.  That means while John is sketching for fans, I’ll either be hanging at his table keeping the fun at it’s maximum level or I’ll be visiting with other artists/friends looking to get a sketch or two for my Stallone Sketch theme collection.

If you’ve never been to MegaCon, you’re missing out.  There’s something for everyone.  There are celebrity guests, comic book creators, dozens of artists sketching for fans, panels, gaming, and more.

If you’re in driving distance of the show, come on down.  If not, there’s always next year.  Hope to see you there!

Powell & Churilla: “Big Trouble in Little China”

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That’s Eric Powell’s cover (one of many variants) for the new Big Trouble in Little China comic series coming from Boom! Studios.  Eric “The Goon” Powell will be taking on the writing chores with art from Brian “The Sixth Gun” Churilla.

Powell and Churilla were recently interviewed about the project at CBR,com so if you’re a fan you ought to click over.

David “Brohawk” Williams Takes on Rambo

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I’ve been a fan of David “Brohawk” Williams’ art from the moment I first laid eyes on it.  Most folks become fans that quickly because Brohawk is THAT great.  

When I had a chance to meet David at HeroesCon in 2012, I was thrilled when he agreed to do a Stallone Rambo sketch for me.  Awesome, isn’t it?  And that’s just from a photo.  The actual art is too big for my scanner!

Undertow #1 / Z-View

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Undertow is an on-going series created by Steve Orlando & Artyom Trakhanov published by Image.

Writer: Steve Orlando

Artist: Artyom Trakhanov

Atlantis is the world superpower, and Redum Anshargal is its worst enemy. If you want to break free of the system, he can offer you a place at his side, exploring the wild surface world in his watertight city barge The Deliverer. He and his hostage-protege Ukinnu Alal hunt the Amphibian, a legend that could be the key to an air-breathing life on land. But as they become the hunted, can Anshargal’s team survive long enough to turn the tables on the godlike beast they set out for?

The Pitch: ”Hey, the world needs a comic set in Atlantis featuring a fully developed world from issue one, with a story that expects a lot from the readers, doesn’t dumb things down and features art smart enough to match the story.”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “You can die right here or be reborn.”

The Overview: Ukinnu Alal was an Atlantean born to privilege.  Growing up, Alal‘s potential friends had to be vetted before he could even meet them,  Alal attended the best private schools. Upon graduation his marriage to a trophy wife and office job were pre-determined and waiting.  It wasn’t until Alal joined the military that he was truly free.

We meet Alal in the middle of a terrible undersea battle against soldiers led by Redum Anshargal. Anshargal‘s troops are brutally slaughtering Alal’s Atlantean soldiers. Alal faces certain death.  Anshargal appears and offers  Alal a chance not only to live but to join Anshargal in a quest to break free from the yoke of Atlantis and explore the world above.

*** Beware – minor spoilers are found below ***

The Good

  • Trakhanov‘s cover (shown above).
  • We are dumped into a foreign world that is fully developed.  We are strangers in a strange land and understanding may not come easily at first.
  • Orlando‘s story is dense and doesn’t dumb down for readers.  This isn’t a comic one can read in five minutes.
  • The artwork created by Trakhanov is very good.

The Bad:

  • This isn’t a comic one can read in five minutes.  Some readers won’t like working for their story.
  • The coloring is hit or miss.  Sometimes it is spot on and at other times makes the lettering hard to read or overpowers the linework.

The Ugly:

  • Going to battle against Redum Anshargal.

I liked Undertow and have a feeling that it is going to just get better and better with each new issue.  I want to know more about Redum Anshargal‘s back story.  It will be interesting to learn why Ukinnu Alal was allowed to live and more importantly why Anshargal has brought him into his inner circle.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The White Suits #1 / Z-View

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The White Suits is a four issue mini-series created by Frank Barbiere & Toby Cypress published by Dark Horse Comics.

Writer: Frank Barbiere

Artist: Toby Cypress

Mysterious killers dressed in white, they savaged the Cold War Russian underworld—then disappeared. Now they have resurfaced in New York, leaving a trail of dead mobsters. In this bloody wake, an amnesiac and an FBI agent search for the answer to a single question: Who are the White Suits?

The Pitch: “Mysterious hit men, a resourceful female FBI agent with a personal quest and a tough guy suffering from retrograde amnesia.  What do ya say?”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “Sometimes you can tear a memory wide open.”

The Overview: The White Suits, mysterious hit men who took on the Russian underworld, have resurfaced in the US and are now going after American mobsters.  Sarah Anderson was a little girl when her dad disappeared along with The White Suits.  How and why is a mystery.  She’s now a FBI agent now and wants answers.  We also have a man with a violent past who suffers from retrograde amnesia.  The three are on a violent collision course.”

*** Beware – minor spoilers are found below ***

The Good

  • Frank Barbiere creates a story that moves.  He has a lot of ground to cover but it never feels like exposition.
  • The White Suits is a crime comic that encompasses a mystery or two or three but never at the sake of action.
  • Cypress’ art is loose and unique.
  • The black and white art with a splash of color works!

The Bad:

  • What happens to mobsters when The White Suits show up.
  • Cypress’ art is loose… and won’t be to everyone’s taste.

The Ugly:

  • Automatic weapons in a crowded night club.

I’m a sucker for crime fiction.  Especially well done crime fiction.  The White Suits qualifies on both counts.  Bring on issue 2!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Jeremy Treece’s Bad Rambo Quickie Bonus Sketch

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Jeremy Treece has created art for comic books, trading cards, animation and independent films. Last week I posted Treece’s take on Sly Stallone.

Today I want to share the quickie sketch that Jeremy drew on one of the backing boards sent to protect the art.  Gotta love it!

You can see more of Jeremy’s art here… and hopefully again here at the SZ in the future.