Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The photo above of Josh Brolin as “Jonah Hex” is showing up all over the web. They’ve definitely got the look of the character down.
If the movie is half as good as the latest Jonah Hex comic by Gray/Palmiotti and Gulacy we’ll really be in for a treat!
This is the splash page to the first Cody Starbuck story that I ever read. In fact it may be the first Cody Starbuck story that Howard Chaykin ever created. It was part of an independent anthology comic called Star*Reach that I picked it up at the first comic book convention that I ever attended, OrlandoCon 77. That’s a lot of firsts, isn’t it?
Cody Starbuck was good stuff. It reminded me of an Errol Flynn movie in outer space, but created for a modern audience. Someone should reprint all the stories in a nice new hardback edition. Then once that’s done they can check back here to see what I else I’d like.
Next week is the Florida SuperCon in Miami. With over 100 media celebrities and comic guests in attendance [including Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Chris Claremont, Tony Moore, Dick Giordano, Dennis Calero, Mitch Breitwesier and scores of others], costume events, video gaming, panels and more, there should be something for everyone.
I’ll be there on Saturday checking things out. Hope to see you there!
Earlier this month I posted this Howard Chaykin drawing of his Dominic Fortune character. I also spoke of how much I loved Chaykin’s work on the Dominic Fortune stories. The drawing was from nearly thirty years ago, about a little known [at least to the masses] comic book character.
Last night as I was looking through the latest issue of Previews I was surprised to read that Howard Chaykin is bringing back Dominic Fortune in a new story that Chaykin is writing, penciling and inking! That’s the solicitation art above and here’s what they say about the story:
“The depression’s going strong, so when Dominic Fortune is hired to bodyguard Jock Madison, Vaughn Lorillard and P.T. Oakley, three drunk and disorderly Hollywood stars, he jumps at the chance to pick up what looks like a few easy bucks, and maybe have a few laughs in the bargain. But when the trio of old school hambones and horndogs prove to be a bigger pain than he anticipated — and he accidentally stumbles across a conspiracy headed by mysterious American businessman Malcolm Upshaw and Delatriz Betancourt, the recklessly sexy granddaughter of Confederates who fled Reconstruction for South America — Fortune finds himself in hot water…with the fate of the USA at stake. Explicit Content …$3.99 In stores August 5th“
It’ll be fun to see what Chaykin has cooked up. Who knows, maybe if I post some drawings of Cody Starbuck and Monark Starstalker, Chaykin will revisit them as well!
You probably read this blog because we like a lot of the same things. If that’s the case, then you’re probably going to really get a kick out of Doc Monster!
Hey, if you’ve got some time to kill [and you must or you wouldn’t be here], then you might want to check out Chris Mills‘ latest blog, which he calls the SpyFi Channel. I don’t know which I like best, the name or the header that Chris created.
At the SpyFi Channel, Chris will cover the world of spies — movies, books, tv — the whole enchalada. Be advised that Chris won’t update regularly, but when he does, it will definitely be worth a view. He’s started off with a look at Robert Conrad’s spy series [no, not The Wild, Wild West – one of my all-time favorite shows] A Man Called Sloane.
It’s cool that Chris has another blog going… as long as it doesn’t take away from getting the next Gravedigger story out. And I still think a Gravedigger novel could really work! Until then, you’ll find me at the SpyFi Channel!
Miguel Insignares gifted me with this cool shot of Sly from “The Expendables”. Miguel said that once I send him a high-res copy, he’ll color it and add Sly’s tats. Miguel always has several irons in the fire and he’s currently developing a very cool concept for a comic/movie. I can’t say any more about it at this time, but believe me, I’ll keep you posted as it develops.
Big thanks to Miguel for hooking me up!
Bill Black, who I was just talking about the other day, popped in with some info about this Steranko Nick Fury sketch. Bill also provided a jpg of the Steranko Hercules cover above. It’s obviously a homage to Steranko’s own classic Hulk cover.
Ever wonder how many other homages to that cover there have been? Wonder no more.
Evan Bryce wasn’t the only artist profiled on Newsarama today. My buddy, Bill Black, got the same treatment! It’s kind of cool that Evan is just breakin’ in, Bill is a 40 year veteran of the comics biz and their interviews both appear on the day.
You’ve heard me talk about Evan Bryce’s art for a while now. I’ve been crowing that he’s an artist to watch. Today Newsarama came to the same conclusion.
Congrats Evan!
Yesterday I posted the cover to The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #14 published by Marvel back in 1975. Today we have the front piece to the same mag, again featuring Bruce Lee, but this time drawn by Howard Chaykin. One of the interesting things about this is that it’s a departure from Chaykin’s usual style.
I wish that the scan had come out better because the pencil work was much more delicate than it appears here.
Two legends grace this cover of Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #14 published by Marvel back in 1975. Who’s the other legend, you ask? Well, it depends on which you see.
Action fans immediately know that it’s Bruce Lee shown on the cover. Comic art fans just as quickly see that Neal Adams did the art. My guess is, if you regularly read the ZONE you recognized both,
Dan Panosian gifted me with this Jack Carter drawing at the recent FX Show. Dan is a Stallone fan and decided on “Get Carter” with no prompting from me. I love Dan’s work, so to get a piece from him was a thrill. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
Check out more of Dan’s art here and here. Plan to spend some time, because everything he draws is worth a look!
I’m thinking I may plan a little road trip down to the this convention. Anyone else going?
Time for another dip into the ZONE vault and this time we score a fanzine spot illo done in the late 70’s by Kerry Gammil. The Sub-Mariner is about to lay a final backhand to Tiger Shark. Although I think the Sub-Mariner is a cool character, I never really read a lot of “his” comics. And while Tiger Shark is a perfect villian for the Sub-Mariner, he really isn’t one of my favorite bad guys. Kerry Gammill is a fine artist, but would be down a ways on my favorite artist list.
Yet, I’ve always dug this piece. I must like it to have kept it in the vault for nearly 30 years.
