Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
If you’re a Walking Dead fan… or if you’ve been waiting for the right time to jump on board one of the best regularly published comics in recent history… or if you’ve been hoping to score some back issues but just can’t find them or they’re too expensive… then you may want to pre-order a copy of The Walking Dead: Compendium One. This big boy is 1,088 pages reprinting The Walking Dead issues 1-8 in one massive trade paperback edition.
I got the Jason Walker quick sketch that I posted today, two years ago at an Orlando Con. Jason, Gary McKee and Mike Torrence had joined together to do a sketchbook. All three were giving free head sketches to anyone who picked up a copy. Since I consider all three guys friends (and I dig their art), of course I was down for a copy. I’ll post Gary and Mike’s quick sketches soon.
Anyone here caught any of the History Channel’s new series, BC Battles? It’s really well done, but Frank Miller should be getting a kickback on every episode. Not only is the action made to look like scenes from the movie “300” but the type face on logos and any lettering looks just like Miller’s from the comic. Well, we all know what they say about homage and all that.
I’m a bit surprised at how fast “Watchmen” dropped at the box office. I liked the movie a lot. Of course, I’m a comic fan and don’t think that the graphic novel is the “be-all, end-all,” so I’m probably the perfect audience for the film. Still, I thought it would do better…
I’m really looking forward to the FX show. Beatty and I always have a blast and the guest list is really packed. If you’re planning to be there, post a comment and let me know.
Mood: Glad
Listening to: Can’t Get Enough of Your Love by Barry White
Reading: Patient Zero by Jonathon Mayberry
Watching: BC Battles on the History Channel
Playing: Catch-up
Eating: Salsa & Cheese Omlette
Drinking: Diet Coke
The one genre of music that I’m not much into is metal. That might mean that I’ll get a bit more joy out of seeing Eric Powell’s The Goon kick a bit of metalhead butt in the one-shot called, appropriately enough, “The Goon Vs. Dethklok.” It’ll be written and drawn by Eric Powell and should hit local comic shops in July. You can get a sneak peak of the full cover and a see an exclusive MTV promo for “The Goon Vs. Dethklok” by clicking here.
That’s me and John Beatty back in 1991. Although it looks like we’re either Siamese twins or getting ready to cut a WWE promo, we’re actually fooling around at a comic book show. John and I have been attending comic book conventions since we were in high school [a few years before he became a professional funny book tracer] and we’re still doing it. Guess [Hope] we’ll never grow up.
John will be a guest at FX International next month. He’ll be there with a ton of other comic book artists, movie and tv celebs and thousands of fans. If you happen to be one of the above and are going to the show, swing by and say, “Hi!” Who knows, maybe you can join us for a funny photo.
I’m a Ron Salas fan. He’s an extremely humble and talented artist. I try to get something from him as often as possible. He’d already done a Jack Carter and Rocky for me. So when I saw Ron at MegaCon, I asked for a Rambo sketch. Ron created my favorite piece from him so far!
You can check out Ron Salas’ work here and here.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since it was announced that Eric Powell’s The Goon had been optioned by David [Se7en] Fincher for an antimated 3D feature. Harry, at AICN, posted a first look at what we can expect with two huge images that you can see here.
Today I posted the Ron Salas Rambo sketch I picked up at MegaCon. It’s my third piece from Ron and hopefully not my last.
The bad news is it looks unlikely that I’ll attend TampaCon this month. The great news is Big John Beatty is now a guest at FX. I’m really psyched about this. John and I have a blast hanging out at his table, seeing old friends, making new ones and generally having all kinds of fun. He’ll be sketching and I’ll be attempting to get a few new additions to my Stallone sketch collection. Good times.
I’ve also got two sketch commissions lined up with Jesus Antonio. Jesus is currently trying to raise some cash to help his mother with some doctor bills. Check his art out and if you like what you see [I know you’ll like his prices!], order a commission or two for yourself. You’ll be happy, Jesus Antonio will be happy, his mother will be happy, and the doctor will be happy. Heck, even I’ll be happy. How often does something like that happen?
Happy
I’m really digging the time I spend at DeviantArt. There are tons of great artists posting some really cool work.
Frank Miller and Charles Schultz fans should get a kick out of Schultz City. It’s a two page piece written by Jean Luc Pham with art by “Ninjaink”. Here’s page one and this will get you to page two.
Enjoy!
The Pitch: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s classic comic story brought to life on the big screen by Zack Snyder.
The Overview: It’s 1985… Richard Nixon is President… superheroes are real… and someone is killing them off.
The Good: The story was considered unadaptable to film, but this is near perfect. The direction is spot on. The sets, the costumes, the special effects, and the casting are also on point. Jeffrey Dean Morgan [The Comedian] and Jackie Earle Haley [Rorschach] own every scene they are in. Matt Frewer as Molach. The Night Owl’s flying machine. The more I think about the movie, the more I like it. Rorscach’s two classic lines while being threatened in prison. Dr. Manhattan.
The Bad: At times Matthew Goode as Ozymandias reminded of Dana Carvey from Saturday Night Live.
The Ugly: Compound fractures in some of the fight scenes. Blocking the prison cell door.
The Summary: Although I read the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons Watchmen comic mini-series [it wasn’t published as a graphic novel until later] when it was first released, I wasn’t as taken with it as most. I enjoyed it. I liked the movie better than the source material. [Quit booing, it’s just my opinion.] The story changes didn’t bother me a bit… in fact they may have made the movie better.
I wish that Alan Moore didn’t distance himself from the project. It’d be interesting to hear his thoughts. Dave Gibbons praised the film. Who am I to agrue with Dave?
I can’t wait to see the movie again. Who knows, after that I may even want to pull the graphic novel off the shelf and reread it.
I posted the Mitch Byrd sketch I got at MegaCon. Pretty nice, huh?
love Mitch’s art and am surprised we don’t see more of it in comics and on-line. Mitch said he doesn’t do anything with a computer and any of his art on-line was put there by someone else. If you ever get the chance to see Mitch at a show, don’t miss it. His portfolio is amazing. He’s a very humble person and such a talented artist. I hope that my first Mitch Byrd piece is not my last.
Tim Gordon’s Tampa Con is quickly approaching. It’s Sunday, March 22nd from 10am – 4pm. The funny thing is the con is now in Largo. I haven’t been to the new location, but am thinking about making the trip on the 22nd. My wife and mom would like to go down that way to visit a family member and I could be dropped off at the show. LOL. It could work. Hmmmm…. Here’s a link to the show [link] of you planning to attend?
FX is the con that I’m really looking forward to. There are a ton of artists planning to attend. I haven’t been able to talk my buddy, John Beatty, into going so it looks like I’m going to have to do this one solo. The guest list is just too good to pass up. Funds are tight, but I have to work this con in. Here’s the link [link] who’s with me?
Mood: Joy
Listening to: Groove Line by Heat Wave
Reading: Another Life by Andrew Vachss
Watching: Babylon A.D.
Playing: Internet Spades
Eating: Spanish Omelet
Drinking: Vitamin Water
IDW Publishing recently announced that in October they will release two editions of Dave Stevens’ “The Rocketeer.” Both editions will feature all of Stevens’ Rocketeer material in a single volume [recolored by Laura Martin — the colorist that Stevens handpicked]. The project’s editor, Scott Dunbier said the deluxe edition will be:
“Oversized, about 8 x 12 inches, and loaded with unpublished Dave Stevens Rocketeer art. There will be tons of drawings, sketches, cover roughs—100 pages of them! How’s that for the ultimate Rocketeer collection?”
Pretty good, I’d say.
It’s no secret that I’m a Dave Johnson fan. It’s no secret that I’m a Howard Chaykin fan. Up until today I did not know that Howard Chaykin is a HUGE Dave Johnson fan. At WonderCon this past weekend Chaykin helped moderate a panel along with and about Dave Johnson. As you can imagine, it was insightful, funny, informative and pulled no punches. Here’s a taste from a CBR.com report:
Chaykin: . “Dave is consistently the finest cover designer working in the field today. He finds the bridge between the intellectual and the emotional.”
Johnson {when he was praised and not fired after submitting a radical cover): “I realized I just had to be fearless (when creating a cover).”
Johnson (on his influences): “John Byrne, Michael Golden. Byrne is a total *******, though—I met him once and I vowed never to do that again.” Chaykin chimed in again: “The good thing about Byrne is, as long as he’s alive, you know you never have to be the most despised man in comics.”
The piece by Dave Sikula is really well written and informative. It goes on to tell how Steranko vindicated Johnson after he was over-ruled by an editor, why it’s tough to be the cover artist for Eduardo Risso, what Byrne, Art Adams and Michael Golden have in common, how Johnson approaches covers and much more. You can read the whole piece right here.
It was nearly six years ago when I first posted about, the very talented writer and artist, Rick Remender. It’s funny to note, that even in that very first piece, I was excited to hear about Rick’s proposal for “The Last Days of American Crime.” As the years have rolled by Rick has gone on to write, draw and create some really cool comics [Fear Agent, XXXombies, etc.], but it has always been “The Last Days of American Crime” that I’ve wanted to see.
The great news is the wait is almost over. “The Last Days of American Crime” will debut later this year in a three issue [48 pages each] mini-series with art by Greg Tocchini.
Derek Fridolfs offers a free headsketch with every sketchbook purchased through his website. I own two pieces by Derek and am looking forward to more. You can check out Derek’s work here.
I made it over to MegaCon yesterday. I got to touch base with John Higashi, Hal, Matt Haloub, Andy Smith, John Beatty [with Bob McLeod and Jason Sobel at the tables on either side], Mark Dail, Pat Broderick, Mike Kott, Joe Pekar, Derek Donovan, and Jimmy Sanders. I split the day between hanging out at Beatty’s table [he got me in on a guest pass] and walking the show with Hal. It was a really enjoyable day.
I picked up two pieces for my Stallone collection. Ron Salas did a very nice Rambo headshot [usually it’s Rambo giving someone a headshot and not the other way around] and Mitch Byrd [who I’d wanted to get a piece from for years] did an amazing Jack Carter sketch. I’ll post them soon.
FX is coming up in April. I plan to attend. Anyone else going?
4 Comments
Mood: Tired
Listening to: Every Time I Move I Lose by LTD
Reading: Another Life by Andrew Vachss
Watching: Medium
Playing: Internet Spades
Eating: Muffin
Drinking: Diet Coke [goes good with the muffin]
~whoisrico Mar 1, 2009 Professional General Artist
Aw man, I’ve never seen Mitch Byrd at a show! I woulda sent you some cash to get me a saucy Batgirl if I was paying attention!
~CJZ Mar 1, 2009
Rico,
I’d been hoping for a piece from him for a couple of years. You would have died to see some of the art he had. His Hellboy piece was amazing. He did a King Kong for a guy that was so cool. He charges twenty bucks for a basic commission. More for pre-done pieces. The highest price I saw was $75. Many of his pre-done sketches were five bucks a piece.
I think he is going to be at FX in April. I plan to attend and will let you know as the date gets closer.
~whoisrico Mar 2, 2009 Professional General Artist
Aw man! 5 bucks?! dang!
~CJZ Mar 2, 2009
Yeah, it was amazing.
