Category: Comics

Jack Carter Quick Sketch by John Beatty!

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My buddy, John Beatty used to host something he called Sketch Society.  Artists would get together at different designated spots (donut shops, book stores, etc.) for drawing sessions.  Some artists worked on commissions, others work assignments and some just drew for fun.

John whipped up this quick sketch of Sly as Jack Carter for me at a Sketch Society meeting in September 2006.  He drew it without any reference.  I love the bold lines and use of negative space.

Sly Stallone (and Marvin) by Tom Armstrong!

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Tom Armstrong is the creator/writer/artist of the long-running Marvin cartoon strip.  I met Mr. Armstrong way back in 2004 at the Cavalcade of Comics 2nd Annual Benefit to fight Tourette’s Syndrome. Comic’s legend Don Perlin and his wife spearheaded the event.

Tom Armstrong was one of the artists sketching and he did his take on Sly Stallone for me.  As Tom was signing it, he added a little Marvin peeking over Sly. How cool is that?

Jack Carter & John Wick by Karl Slominski!

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The Jack Carter & John Wick piece above was created as a commission for me at HeroesCon 2017 by Karl Slominski. It was my first piece by Slominski. It wasn’t my last.

My second piece by Karl was Jack Carter and Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City.

My third piece from Karl was Carter and Raylan Givens from Justified.

I wonder what my fourth piece will be.

BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 created by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene / Z-View

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BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 created by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene

Coloring: Matt Herms

Lettering: Hasson Otsmane-Elhaou

Publisher: Image Comics

Going back as far as can be told the Sangeryes have been Jinoo hunters. Jinoo were once human.  They became so poisoned by greed, hate, racism and other evils that the Jinoo became monsters. Some could be cured.  Others had to be killed.  But the cost to the Sangerye family was heavy.

Now, in the year 1964, the United States government say the Jinoo have been eliminated.  The Sangerye family knows differently.

When a bus load of young civil rights activists are brutally murdered in Mississippi, government agents are sent down.  The agents discover the destroyed bus.  The corpses, at least those that they can find, were butchered.  Recent attacks in Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana were increasingly brutal.  This is even worse.

The lead agent is unwilling to say Jinoo have returned. Meriah Manigo, a member of the Sangerye family knows differently.  And she’s now on site.

The original BITTER ROOT series received my highest recommendation.  I love that the original creative team of writers David F. Walker and Chuck Brown along with artist Sanford Greene have returned.   They haven’t missed a beat as they continue the BITTER ROOT story.  Kudos also to colorist Matt Herms and letterer Hasson Otsmane-Elhaou.

Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t read the original series.  You don’t need it to enjoy BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT.  (But I do encourage you to seek out the original series as well!)

BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

FULLY LOADED #1 created, written, illustrated and lettered by Jimmy Broxton / Z-View

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FULLY LOADED #1: THERE GOES THE FUTURE Part 1 created, written, illustrated and lettered by Jimmy Broxton

Publisher: Verity/Scratch Comics

The year is 2065.  Ten years ago Carson Blake betrayed the only “family” he ever knew.  And the only woman he ever loved.  So he left the city.  No reason to go back.

Then Blake gets a call.

It’s from Austin Roper.  The one man who knew how to get in touch.  Austin Roper.  The bravest and most loyal soldier Blake knew.  Austin Roper.  The man who saved Blake’s life.

Roper tells Blake, “Atticus and his crew have kidnapped my wife and kids.  If I can’t get you to come back –”  Roper doesn’t even finish the sentence.  Blake is on his way.

Now Blake has a reason to return.  Better buckle up.

Jimmy Broxton’s Fully Loaded checks all the right boxes.  It has a vibe that feels like Broxton took the best parts of Blade Runner, Frank Miller’s Sin City, The Road Warrior, classic gangster movies and filtered them all through his sensibilities.

Broxton introduces us to the Fully Loaded world while moving the story forward.  There’s a mystery to exactly what Blake did that put him at odds with the family and cost him the love of his life.  Broxton has created a story with all the makings of a fun ride.  Honor, betrayal, loyalty, are all coming into play.

Broxton’s art is amazing.  Printed in beautiful black and white.  Jaw-dropping double-page spreads.  Atmosphere oozes off every page.  And let’s not forget Broxton’s use of lettering as sound effects.

Jimmy Broxton’s Fully Loaded was offered as a trade edition on Zoop.  I supported the campaign, but couldn’t pass on issue one when I saw it was available.  In addition to the story, Broxton gives us four pages that appear as ads from 2065 plus one page hinting at next issue.  I cannot wait!

FULLY LOADED #1 gets my highest recommendation.

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“Happy Face” (2025) starring Annaleigh Ashford & Dennis Quaid / Z-View

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Happy Face (2025)

Created by: Jennifer Cacicio; based on Happy Face by Melissa Moore and SHATTERED SILENCE by Moore and M. Bridget Cook

Director: Michael Showalter (Eps 1), Jennifer Getzinger (Ep. 2), Steven Piet (Ep. 3); Laurel Parmet (Ep. 4); Ramaa Mosley (Ep. 5); Darren Grant (Ep. 6); Samira Radsi (Ep. 7); Darren Grant (Ep. 8)

Teleplay by:  Jennifer Cacicio (Eps. 1, 8); Andrew Gettens & Lauren Mackenzie (Ep. 2); Adam Toltzis & Sal Calleros (Ep. 3); Sarah Beckett (Ep. 4); Erica Saleh & Inda Craig-Galván (Ep. 5); Bam Johnson, story by Andrew Gettens & Lauren Mackenzie (Ep. 6); Tiffany Ezuma & Brandi Nicole Payne (Ep. 7)

Starring: Annaleigh Ashford, James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne, Benjamin Mackey, David Harewood, Damon Gupton, Michael O’Neill, Charles Zuckermann, Marci T. House and Dennis Quaid.

Tagline: Melissa, You Can’t Hide Forever

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Melissa is happily married to Ben.  They have two children.  They also have a secret.  Melissa is the daughter of the infamous serial killer known as Happy Face.  Melissa and Rex have kept Melissa’s dad a secret. No one at their work knows.  Their friends are unaware.  Even Melissa and Max’s children are unaware that grandpa is a serial killer.  Melissa’s dad has written her dozens of letters from prison.  She never reads them.  She won’t accept his calls.

Melissa works as a make-up artist on The Dr. Greg Show.  One day she is called into the office.  The Happy Face Killer contacted Dr. Greg.  Happy Face informed Dr. Greg that Melissa is his daughter.  Further, he said that he is ready to confess to an additional murder, but will only make the confession to his daughter.

Melissa thinks her dad is just playing for attention.  She initially refuses to meet.  Then she learns that a man sits on death row for the murder her father is ready to admit he committed.  Reluctantly, Melissa agrees to meet with her dad.  Dr. Greg loves the story.  His ratings are going through the roof as The Happy Face Killer slowly doles out information about the murder.

As the clock ticks down and an innocent man’s execution date draws near, Melissa marriage, her relationship with her children suffer.  Melissa is compelled to try to save the man on death row… but what if her dad is truly playing everyone?

Expect twists.

Thoughts…

Happy Face is based on a true story.

Dennis Quaid is more creepy than menacing.  Which makes him even scarier as a serial killer.

Happy Face (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.