Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
That’s the cover to Dark Horse Presents #3 and yep, that’s Steranko’s classic private eye, Chandler. If you’re a fan of crime comics and haven’t read Steranko’s Chandler, you’re missing out. The great news is that Dark Horse Presents #3 will feature a 13 page preview of the soon to be re-released graphic novel plus a new interview with Steranko. The preview and interview alone are worth the price of admission.
[Via CBR.com]
Mike Torrance aka The Krayola Kidd did this for me earlier this week. Mike Torrance does it all – pencils, inks and colors. You can see more of Mike’s art at The Daily Sketch with The Krayola Kidd and his Deviant Art site.
You’re also going to be happy to know that once a month Mike has a contest for someone to win a free sketchcard! This sketch of Jack Carter was what I chose when I won! What would you choose?
Mike is available for commissions and his prices are very reasonable. I just ordered four cards [three Stallone pieces and one for a friend so the subject must remain secret… at least until he gets it.]
Loose Ends by Jason LaTour [writer]. Chris Brunner [pencils & inks] and Rico Renzi [colors] is described as…
It’s no secret that I love hardboiled crime stories and great art. Loose Ends is gonna have both. It’s the one comic that I can’t wait to get my mits on. Loose Ends will be the first comic that I’ll read [Yep, Criminal and Walking Dead will have to wait] when it hits comic shops in July.
Jason has set up a great story and Chris’ art with Rico’s colors are amazing. Truly. I think that Loose Ends is going to break big and I’m encouraging everyone who might like it to give Loose Ends a try.
If you like what you see, please order up a couple of dozen copies from your local comic shop. [The copies will make great Christmas and birthday gifts.] If you don’t like what you see, it’s time to get your eyes checked.
Normally when I post a piece of art:
1] I tell you who drew it…
2] What the art was for and…
3] Why I’m posting it.
Not today. Today, I can tell you that…
1] The piece is by Howard Chaykin…
2] I’m not sure what it was for. My guess is something to do with Cody Starbuck, but I’m not sure…
3] I’m hoping someone reading this will know and fill me in.
The sketch above comes from the Zablo vault with a bit of a story. The sketch was a copy of a Neal Adams original. The colors [by John Beatty] were done on a copy of the sketch.
I was at an OrlandoCon back in the late 70’s. I was just starting to collect original art. I was approached by a guy about my age who had a pencil sketch of Conan by Neal Adams that he was offering me. The sketch was in a mat covered by acetate. It was a really nice sketch, even if it was a bit costly. I showed it to my buddy John Beatty. John looked at it and then took a closer look.
“It’s a xerox. It’s a good copy, but it’s definitely a copy.”
The guy acted surprised… with acting being the key word. I couldn’t swear that he knew the piece was fake, but you’d be hard-pressed to convince me otherwise. Needless to say, I didn’t buy the piece, but I think the guy gave me a copy because I’m pretty sure that’s it posted above. The colors were added to the copy on one of Beatty’s visits to my apartment in Orlando when I was still in college.
At least that’s how I remember it.
Dave Wachter joins us this week with his take on Sly pounding the beef from Rocky. I’m a huge fan of Dave’s art and own several pieces [and hope to get more in the future]. He’s a tremendous artist, but more importantly an all-around decent guy. You can see more of Dave’s art at his site. – Craig
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?
I like something in almost every genre or type of music. Pop, rock, blues, disco, gospel, oldies… you name it and I can tell you artists and/or songs I like. Truth be told, I really didn’t know much of anything about cigarbox guitar music. One thing I do know is if the genre as a whole is a good as “If I Had My Way: A Cigarbox Guitar Tribute to Blind Willie Johnson” then I’ve been missing out big time.
Oh, and by the way, Thomas Boatwright did the very cool CD Cover. You can see more of Thomas’ art here and here.
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.
The drawing above is of a character created by Chris Warner called Black Cross. He made his first appearance [Black Cross, not Chris Warner] in Dark Horse Presents #1. DHP #1 was an anthology and the first comic published by the folks who would go on to give us Frank Miller’s Sin City, Eric Powell’s The Goon, Hellboy by Mike Mignola, and on and on and on.
Black Cross was popular enough to spin off into a mini-series, a couple of stand alone short comic stories and a one-shot. At one point, Black Cross was close to becoming a big screen feature with Howie Long in the title role. At about the same time another Black Cross mini-series was in the works called “My War.” Neither it or the movie ever happened.
I always hold out hope that one day Chris Warner will bring back Black Cross.
JoBlo broke the news today that Thomas Jane is set to join Sylvester Stallone in “Headshot.” Walter Hill is set to direct the adaptation of the crime comic published as “Bullet to the Head.” Stallone plays a hitman and Jane a NYC detective who are brought together after a series of murders. According to Jane…
Variety reported today that…
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.
Matthew Warlick provided the sketch above of Rocky Balboa as a bonus for purchasing his sketchbook. Matthew is no stranger to the SZ. Here he provided us with a video of when he inked a very cool Jack Carter sketch. Thanks to Matthew for sharing his talent! – Craig
That my friends, is a beautiful Mike Zeck piece that he did for the December 1977 issue [#140] of The Rocket’s Blast Comic Collector. Mike was a regular contributor to the RBCC back in the day and a major reason to pick up the fanzine.
Sly Stallone as Barney Ross from The Expendables by Ron Salas. Obviously I’m a huge fan of Ron’s art. Of course when he does pieces like his take on Sly from “The Expendables” who wouldn’t be? You can check out more of Ron’s art here.
