Walking Dead Preview
CBR.com has a preview of the best regularly published comic going today. That’s right, by clicking here, you can get an advance look at Walking Dead 60 by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn.
Category: Comics
Chris Lopez & FX Countdown
Today’s Stallone sketch is by Chris Lopez. I love his work, but Chris’ website disappeared years ago and unfortunately I have no idea what happened to him.
Chris Lopez is a very talented artist who used to run SpaceBop.com. I sent Chris an e-mail praising his work and the next day this digital sketch and explanation appeared in my e-mail:
“The Lords of Flatbush is one of my favorite flicks. So I figured I’d do one of Stanley. I loved the scene with him in the pigeon coop, or when he goes to buy the engagement ring and gets pressured into buying the more expensive one. Oh yeah, swinging around 2 football helmets!!! Classic stuff.
So anyway, here it is. I hope you like it. I really had fun doing it. I tried not to fall back on the stereotypical Sly caricature features (eyes, lip) and give him a more realistic approach.”
That was about eight years ago. I lost track of Chris when SpaceBop.com went offline. [There is a site with the same name now, but it’s not Chris’.] Periodic searches for Chris on the internet haven’t turned him up.
Maybe one of you know him??
We’re less than a week away from FX and the fever is growing. I had breakfast yesterday with Big John Beatty [who else has a milkshake with a sausage & cheese omelet?] and he’s ready to rock some sketches. LOL. Mike Zeck is putting us up for the weekend. Too bad we can’t get Mike to join us for some FX fun. Mike, like Bella [John’s wife] and Doralya [my wife] will probably enjoy the quiet while Beatty and I are at the show.
- Mood:
Sunny Mood - Listening to: Smiling Faces by The Undisputed Truth
- Reading: Patient Zero by Jonathon Mayberry
- Watching: Pitch Black
- Playing: Dead
- Eating: Easter Dinner soon!
- Drinking: Diet Coke
FX is a Week Away!
We’re a week away from FX International. My buddy, John Beatty will there as a guest along with other comic book artists, movie and tv celebs and thousands of fans. I’ll be hanging out at Big John’s table on Friday and Saturday as he autographs and sketches. [Oh, and if you plan to get a sketch from John be sure and print out his Big Beatty Stimulus Bucks Coupon! It will get you five dollars off any sketch purchased!]
Speaking of sketches, I’ll be hoping to get a few more additions to my Stallone theme, as well as a couple of autographs.
Drop me a comment if you plan to attend. A fun time will be had by all.
Darwyn Cooke’s Big Update
Yesterday Darwyn Cooke wrote a guest article for Jimmy Palmiotti’s blog and gave us quite an update! Here are a few highlights:
- Darwyn is providing covers for The Last Resort which he describes as a “Horror/Comedy… kind of a cross between an Irwin Allen picture and some of the great serials that you’d get back in the day from Heavy Metal.” It’s written by Jimmy Palmiotti and will be published by IDW this summer.
- Darwyn is designing and contributing color for the dustjackets on The Complete Torpedo Collection, the five volume set which for the first time ever collects the entire Sanchez Abuli and Jordi Bernet classic series.
- Our buddy, John Highashi got a shout out for his bowling prowess!
- Darwyn’s work on Richard Stark’s The Hunter is nearly complete and the book is scheduled for a July release!
- Darwyn’s friend Calum Johnston hosts “Almost Darwyn Cooke’s Blog” which provides updates on what the main man is working on. Until yesterday I didn’t know this blog existed and now it’s on my must read list.
Speaking of must read — if you want to check out Darwyn’s entire guest article, then click here.
“28 days later” Gets a Criminal Cover Artist
Sean Phillips announced that he will be providing the covers for the 28 days later comic series. Sean is an excellent choice for cover artist. I’m interested to hear whose going to be writing and drawing the stories. It might be cool to have a rotating art team.
“28 days” Again
I’m a fan of “28 days later” and its sequel “28 weeks later” so I was happy to read Boom Studios announce that a new comic series will premiere in July bridging the events between the two movies. Although a creative team has yet to be announced, this project sounds like it could be a winner. Especially if the art for the new series is as good as the cover above.
Gary McKee and Jeff Wamester
Today I posted a quick sketch that I got from Gary McKee in 2007. Gary, Jason Walker and Mike Torrance were offering free head sketches to anyone who purchased their sketchbook. That’s always an enticing deal!
In fact Jeff Wamester just made the same offer and being a fan of his work, I couldn’t pass it up. Here’s the link if you’re interested, but check to make sure he still has sketchbooks available! [link]
- Mood:
Satisfied - Listening to: September by Earth, Wind and Fire
- Reading: Patient Zero by Jonathon Mayberry
- Watching: Apocalypto
- Playing: with your emotions
- Eating: Scallops & Artichoke-Mushroom Pasta
- Drinking: Diet Coke
20 All-Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture
Entertainment Weekly.com listed their choices for the 20 All-Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture. (Sadly the list is no longer available.) I decided to play along. Just using their list, I came up with my top ten:
10. Spider-Man: Who wouldn’t want spider-senses, be able to swing through the city, and girlfriends like Mary Jane Parker and Gwen Stacy? I’m talking the comic book versions of course.
09. Superman: When I was a kid I loved tv series. The first movie with Christopher Reeves also rocked. Everything after that — not so cool.
08. Mad Max: If it wasn’t for Beyond Thunderdome, Max might have rated higher!
07. Dirty Harry: Who doesn’t love Clint as Harry Callahan?
06. John McCane: Yippe-kiaaaaaa!
05. Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford’s signature role is nerdy cool!
04. Batman: So many versions [Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, Frank Miller, Adam West, Tim Burton’s, Christopher Nolan’s, etc.] and each one works.
03. Jack Bauer: No matter how bad things get, Bauer stays cool.
02. James Bond: Like Batman, so many versions, but Connery and Craig are the coolest Bonds.
01. Captain James T. Kirk: Star Fleet Captain and ladies man. Now THAT is cool.
Okay, I played fair and used EW’s list… but what about John Rambo, Riddick, Marv from Sin City, and James West to name just a few who didn’t make the cut?
DC Comics Bloggin’ It
Did you know that DC Comics — the folks that publish Batman, Superman, 100 Bullets, Incognito, Criminal, well, you get the idea — has their own official blog?
Viking #1 Sells Out
I can’t wait to pick up my copy of Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein’s first issue of Viking. If you feel the same, I hope that you’ve already put your order in with your local comic retailer. If you haven’t you could be out of luck — at least if you’re hoping for a first printing.
What’s crazy about this unprecedented situation is that the comic hasn’t even reached stores yet and won’t until April 22nd. It’s sold out at from Image Comics and the distributor. Stores will still get the copies that they’ve ordered, but once they’re gone, they’re gone. The good news is there will be a second printing.
Killer of Demons Kills
The Pitch: “Frailty” plus a sense of humor meets comic books as presented by writer Christopher Yost and artist Scott Wegner.
The Overview: Dave Sloan wakes up to see actual demons from hell are living among us. Only Dave can see them. Well, that‘s not quite true. The little heavenly cherub angel can see ’em and, between puffs on his cigar, is telling Dave to kill them all.
The Good: Wegner’s art works really well with Yost’s story. Demons and humans, seen through Dave’s eyes as they go about their daily activities. The ad for “Old Scratch.” The last page.
The Bad: What happens if you look like a demon to Dave.
The Ugly: The second issue isn’t available NOW.
The Summary: Killer of Demons is a lot of fun. Yost and Wegner have created a winner!
Mike Torrance, FX w/ Beatty & Killer of Demons
Today I posted a sketch that I got from Mike Torrance back in 2007. Mike, Jason Walker and Gary McKee had joined together to create a sketchbook and they were offering free head sketches to anyone who purchased one. Talk about a great deal!
The FX Convention is a week closer. Man, I am so looking forward to the down time. It’ll be great to hang with my bro, John Beatty. He’s a blast to be around — you never know what he’s going to say or do — and he’ll be sketching too. John has created his own Big Beatty Stimulus Bucks Coupon which gives fans a discount on any art purchased from him. If you’re going to be at FX, drop me a line.
Anyone reading Killer of Demons by Christopher Yost and Scott Wegener? It’s a lot of fun and even better than I thought it would be… and I thought it would rock.
2 Comments
*johnbeatty Mar 29, 2009I’ll be watching you at the FX-Show, too! My eyes are always on you…
-John
Reply
~CJZ Mar 29, 2009LOL!… Remember the quote: “If you can see me, it means I can see you. If you can’t see me it means I could be about to attack!”
Oh, sorry… that’s not me the quote is about, it’s Chuck Norris!
We’re going to have fun at the show, Mr. Beatty!
– Craig
Reply
- Mood: Joy
- Listening to: My Life by Billy Joel
- Reading: Batista Unleashed by Batista
- Watching: Hell’s Kitchen
- Playing: Fast and Loose
- Eating: Salsa, Ham & Cheese Omlette
- Drinking: Diet Coke
Trailer for 100 Bullets
You really should check out this trailer for the 100 Bullets comic series. The trailer, like the series, is extremely well done.
Bruce Lee vs Iron Man
Bruce Lee vs Iron Man. My money is on the Dragon.
Are You Ready for Red?
I’ve been singing the praises of the Warren Ellis/Cully Hamner mini-series for years. It’s got a cool story and great art by Cully. Red has even been optioned for the big screeen.
So why am I writing about Red today you ask? (And I’m glad that you did.) Because on June 9th, for the first time ever, it will be released as a standalone graphic novel! It will also include the Warren Ellis’ script to the first issue and never-before seen development art by Cully! You can pre-order your copy by clicking here.
