Category: Comics

Viking #1 Sells Out

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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

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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

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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
:iconjohnbeatty:
Mood: Optimism*johnbeatty Mar 29, 2009

I’ll be watching you at the FX-Show, too! My eyes are always on you…:eyepopping:

-John

Reply

:iconcjz:
Mood: Joy~CJZ Mar 29, 2009

LOL!… 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

Are You Ready for Red?

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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.

A Whole Lot of Walking Dead

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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.

Jason Walker, Frank Miller, Watchmen & FX

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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 Goon Vs. Dethklok

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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.

FX International – Join Beatty & Zablo for a Funny Photo

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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.

Ron Salas’ Rambo

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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.

Ron Salas, Cons & Jesus Antonio

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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?

  • Mood: Happy
  • Listening to: Your Smiling Face by James Taylor
  • Reading: The Hardcore Diaries by Mick Foley
  • Watching: Gangland on A&E
  • Playing: Internet Spades
  • Eating: Chicken Finger Sandwich
  • Drinking: Water

 

Craig Watches “The Watchmen”

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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.