Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
MegaCon starts tomorrow.
I love me some MegaCon. There’s a ton of guests, including my buddy, John Beatty. Although I won’t be there tomorrow, I do plan to attend on Saturday. If you’re there swing by Beatty’s table. Odds are I’ll be there. The main reason to swing by though is to check out the really cool sketches John will be kicking out. Big John is even offering a coupon for a discount on his sketches!
Hope to see you there!
I’m looking forward to is “Viking” by Ivan Brandon [writer] and Nic Klein [artist]. Who wouldn’t want to read a Viking crime story?
If this sounds like something you’d like then check out CBR.com’s mini-interview with Ivan Brandon and a six page preview of Nic Klein’s art.
Then be sure and reserve a copy at your local comic book shop!
My buddy, John Beatty turned me on to Derek Fridolf’s artwork. I was visting John and he handed me Derek’s latest sketchbook. I was instantly into the art. I said to John that I bet that Derek could do a pretty cool Stallone. Beatty laughed and handed me the sketch above. I was floored.
Derek offers a free headsketch with every sketchbook purchased. John wanted the sketchbook, but doesn’t collect art. So he asked Derek to do a Stallone piece that he would give to me. Derek agreed and created his very cool take on Rambo. You can check out more of Derek’s work here. And of course John Beatty can be found here and here.
Thanks to Derek and John.
MegaCon is quickly approaching. Next weekend in fact. I usually attend for at least two of the three days, but this year it’s just not possible. If things work out the way I hope, I’ll be there all day Saturday. So, I’ll have to pack three days of fun into one. It’s doable… with the proper planning.
It’s a good thing I’m having dinner with my buddy, John Higashi, Thursday night. John is a “convention-sketch-master.” He approaches shows with the same level of preparation as generals getting ready for an offensive. It’s good to learn from the master.
If you’re planning to attend MegaCon, let me know. I’d like to be able to swing by and at least say “hi.”
Mood: Joy
Listening to: 70’s Music
Reading: Another Life by Andrew Vachss
Watching: The Oscars — go Mickey Rourke
Playing: Internet Spades
Eating: Chocolate Muffin
Drinking: Diet Coke [goes good with the muffin]
*johnbeatty Feb 22, 2009
Your good for Saturday…Sunday too, if you want it?
~CJZ Feb 22, 2009
Cool. Sunday may be a possibility. I really appreciate it, brother.
*johnbeatty Feb 22, 2009
I knew you would.
When I was in Junior and High School, Paul Gulacy was without a doubt my favorite artist. Gulacy, along with writer, Doug Moench, created a comic book called Master of Kung Fu, which should be required reading for anyone who enjoys graphic stories. The drawing above is a recreation of one of Paul’s classic splash pages. You can see the man can still rock it.
The back issues of Master of Kung Fu are worth searching out. I wish that Marvel would repackage them in a nice hardback, but due to rights issues involving Fu Manchu [really], that probably won’t happen. Still, the back issues are worth a look and you can always check out Paul’s official site to get your Gulacy fix filled.
Kyle Baker is a busy man. He’s currently producing, directing, and starring in an animated version of The Bakers for Fox. He just completed the first Special Forces storyline, He’s doing a biography of President Obama and is on tap to create two new comic series this year for Image. He also wants to do a new Bakers book to appear with the Fox release.
Whew! Talk about a workload. Everything Kyle Baker is involved in, is worth a look. It shouldn’t be hard to find something he’s involved in.
And while we’re on the subject of posters, here’s a cool new one for “Watchmen.” You can click here to see an IMAXED sized version at IMPAwards.com.
Chris Warner has been at Dark Horse Comics since their very first issue over twenty years ago. His Black Cross character was featured in their premiere title. Warner went on to work on other Dark Horse properties like The American, Predator, Barb Wire and many others. Occasionally he would even come up with a new Black Cross story. [It’s way past time for another Black Cross mini-series!]
Eventually Warner moved into an editorial position where he suggested the first Aliens vs Predator mini-series [years before the movie came about]. Chris Warner is now the editor in charge of both the Alien and Predator properties for Dark Horse and boy, does he have plans for them this year! He tells Newsarama [and you] all about it [if you click here].
I love Evan Bryce’s approach to art. His blog is a daily stop on my internet travels. Now it looks like I’ll have another stop to add. Evan has teamed with Dean Trippe to create a weekly web comic called President Awesome. Dean and Evan say they will…
...have fun with the media coverage and the cultural phenomenon that is Obama!
Well, who doesn’t love a little fun?
I love attending Comic Book Conventions. It’s great meeting artists that I admire, and seeing friends that I seldom get to see. Getting sketches for my Stallone collection is an added bonus.
This year doesn’t look to be as promising for me getting to shows. Fewer days at shows will definitely limit my ability to get new art for the collection.
What to do then?
My plan is to purchase more sketches through the mail. Several artists offer free head sketches with the purchase of their sketchbooks. What a great deal!
My buddy, John Beatty, got me thinking about the idea when he ordered Derek Fridofs’ sketchbook. Since it came with a free head sketch, and John doesn’t collect art, he thought of me and asked for a Stallone sketch. [John has done similar things for me many times – and this is another chance to publicly thank him!] Derek came through with a very cool Rambo piece.
I saw that Francesco Francavilla offered the same deal as Derek so I ordered his Chiaroscuro sketchbook with a Cop Land piece. In the mean time I had been checking out Derek Fridofs’ site and really dug his work. I ordered his sketchbook and got his extremely cool take on Jack Carter.
Because these transactions went so smoothly it got me thinking about doing more. The prices were reasonable, the artists were people whose work I admired. The books/art were sent in secure packaging and the time between the orders and getting the pieces was very reasonable.
So I’m on the look out for artists who offer similar deals. I’d like to see if I can work out one a month. Any suggestions?
Mood: Optimism
Listening to: 70’s Music
Reading: Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
Watching: “The Wrestler”
Playing: Internet Spades
Eating: Peanut Butter on a Bagel
Drinking: Skim Milk
It’s no secret that I love crime novels, movies and comics. Since 100 Bullets [the partial cover to number 99 is pictured above] is getting ready to end it’s 100 issue run, I was glad to read that DC’s Vertigo line is gearing up to produce a series of crime comics. You can read all about their upcoming titles by clicking here. Filthy Rich, by Brian Azzarello and Victor Santos sounds the most promising to me. I like Azzarello’s writing and after checking out Santo’s blog really dig his art.
Things are looking up for crime comic fans.
My buddy, Bill Black, has moved AC Comics into the 21st century!
Everything, and I mean everything that a fan could love about Bill’s diverse product line is available with a click. Femforce is here. Giant Women [yes, giant women] are here. Bill’s dvd line is available [with selected trailers]. If you’re into Golden Age Heroes, then click here. Western Reprint fans will want to click on this. You can even click here to read Femforce:Origins.
I can’t wait to see what Wild Bill has planned for the 22nd century!
I’ve been a fan of Robert Kirkman’s Walking Dead comic series since the first issue. I generally pick up my comics once and month and invariably the first that I look to read is The Walking Dead. Part of the reason is you never know who is safe or what is going to happen. This series has had more jaw-dropping-I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened moments than any other series I’ve ever read.
The current issue is no exception. There is a scene so tough to read [not because it is gory and not as much for what is happening, but more for what is about to happen] that I actually paused to think, “Kirkman wouldn’t really do THAT, would he?” I honestly didn’t know. After what he did to the Governor and many of the major cast members, perhaps he would. [And no I am not going to spoil it for those of you who haven’t read the issue yet.]
Suffice it to say that the panel shown above made me as happy as when Burt Reynolds showed up with his crossbow in “Deliverance.”
I’m not much of a Hawkman fan, but I’m a big enough fan of writer and artist Kyle Baker that I’ll give his new Hawkman comic a look. In fact you can check out a sample page posted at Kyle’s site by clicking here.
So many ZONErs are eagerly anticipating “The Watchmen” movie that I’d be shot if I didn’t mention that there will be an Art of the Film Watchmen book. CBR.com has a few exclusive photos. In addition to the Art of the Film Watchmen book, there will also be The Watchmen: The Official Companion and Watchmen Portraits… not to mention the original graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Oh, and that reminds me that Dave Gibbons has a book coming out called Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel.
Whew! After we read all those books perhaps the movie will be out.
