Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
A series that I’m looking forward to is “Viking” by Ivan Brandon [writer] and Nic Klein [artist]. Who wouldn’t want to read a Viking crime comic set in the 9th century? If this sounds like something you might like, then check out this Newsarama interview with Nic Klein [who also previews more of the art].
It’s only January, but it wouldn’t surprise me if in December, this was still one of my favorite posters of the year.
If Rev. Dave Johnson aka “The Potentate” draws it, I’m there. So today we have a link to Rev. Dave’s trailer for “Flatulene.” What is “Flatulene” you ask? Well, here’s how “The Potentate” describes it:
Farting for fun and profit… About 3 days of work to put this together for Titmouse Studios second annual 5 second animation day… As I worked on it, her story started to write itself… My inspiration was Russ Myers ‘Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill’… I might even try to pitch this to Adult Swim.
So if a smokin’ hot chick with irritable-bowel syndrome, fast cars and a partner who’s a flesh-eating zombie sounds like something you’d like to check out, then click here. VROOM! VROOM!
I love crime stories. Movies, comics, novels, it doesn’t matter if it’s well done. I’ve read modern crime stories, futuristic crime stories, but I’ve never read a viking crime story. That’s about to change in April. Check out what writer Ivan Brandon had to say about his project:
“VIKING is everything I love about crime fiction filtered through one of the most violent and fascinating periods of human history. It’s been in the works for so long at this point that I’m overwhelmed to finally get to show it to people. The overwhelmingly positive response to the teaser alone has Nic and I humbled.”
Yeah, I know I just talked up Robert Kirkman’s Walking Dead the other day. And yeah, I know I talk about the series quite a bit. But the series is THAT good. It’s so good that I’m going to mention that Kirkman has a brief interview at CBR.com today.
I’ve talked about what a great artist and writer Kyle Baker is many times. On many occasions I’ve encouraged you to visit Kyle’s site. Tonight, I’m going to once again suggest that you stop by. If you do, check out Kyle’s graphic novel, I Die at Midnight,
Kyle posted up the entire book which can be read for free, and told me:
I thought this might be a cool experiment, since I had the PDF anyway. If people respond well, I’ve got about 20 books to follow it up with. It might be nice to turn my site into a public library. We’ll see if people download it. The fascinating thing about the web is the access to statistics. I’m often surprised at which posts get the most hits. We’ll see if this is popular.
How cool is that? Most folks would post up a preview and then try to get you to buy the book. Kyle not only posts it up in its entirety, but talks about doing the same with his other books.
Kyle Baker is a great artist and writer — he’s a generous one as well.
The Walking Dead is THE comic that I read first each month. My admiration for the comic is legendary. So you just know I’m going to link to this interview, with Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, at Newsarama.
Big congratulations (on the first issue sell out of Icognito) to Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Ed Brubaker discusses the situation over at Newsarama and it’s worth a read.
I’m not an artist, but I’ve always loved art. I believe that comic books were the start of it all. Like most kids of my generation, I loved comic books. Unlike most, I never outgrew them.
In junior high I met John Beatty. He was also into comic books and original art. He wanted to be a comic book artist. During our high school and my college years, Beatty and I spent a lot of time at Jim Ivey’s Cartoon Museum. Jim’s was THE place for comics and original art. We also started attending conventions. I was in college and Beatty had become a comic book artist.
I sold off my art collection when I was ready to graduate college. I kept just one piece, a Paul Gulacy commission of Sylvester Stallone [my favorite actor]. Over the years some of my artist friends gifted me pieces of Stallone art. When my sons were in their mid-teens we started attending comic conventions. I realized that getting sketches of Stallone from my favorite comic artists was a perfect mesh of my hobbies.
So, no, I don’t draw ’em, I just collect ’em.
Mood: Joy
Listening to: 70’s Music
Reading: The Wildwood Boys by James Carlos Blake
Watching: “Serenity”
Playing: Internet Hearts
Eating: Wings
Drinking: Tea
Chris Mills made my day when he posted the cover above to Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s novel The Hunter. If anyone is more excited about Cooke’s plans to adapt Stark’s work than me, it’s probably Chris Mills. He is not only an author himself, but also an expert in the crime genre… and do I have to remind any ZONErs how much I dig Chris’ character Gravedigger?
I’m a huge Kyle Baker fan. [No wisecracks, Beatty!] Baker is a talented artist and writer. So you probably think I’m going to link to some of his art or a page from one of his comics.
Nope. Instead I’m linking to Kyle Baker’s review of “The Spirit” movie. Don’t you just love how he gets his point across.
If you have any interest at all in “The Watchmen” then you owe it to yourself to check out this featurette of Zack Snyder talking about his movie adaptation. It runs just a bit over 4 minutes and when it’s over you’ll wish it wasn’t. Thanks to the fine folks at CBR.com for the link.
If, like me, you’re looking forward to the new mini-series, Incognito by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, then you’ll probably want to check out “7 Things to Know About Incognito” brought to us by the good folks at Newsarama.com.
I‘ve been following Eric Powell’s “The Goon” since his self-publishing days. Although it’s been eight years and Eric has moved into the big leagues with Dark Horse publishing “The Goon,” it’s as good as ever. And I’m not the only one who feels that way. This year Eric picked up two Eisner Awards [Best Painter and Best Humor Writer/Artist].
f you’re already a Goon fan, then you know what I’m talking about. If you’re not a fan, then you should check out CBR.com’s preview of “The Goon #31.” Who knows, maybe you’ll become one.
Believe it or not, no one is up in our house yet, but me. The kids, the wife, the dogs — everyone is still fast asleep. That’s okay though. I’m enjoying the quiet before the storm of Christmas morning.
There are so many things I love about Christmas. One of them is when folks make their own Christmas cards. The one at the top of this piece is by the uber-talented Dave Johnson. It’s just one of the many posted over at Newsarama.com. Oh, and be sure and check out this really cool one by Rick Burchett and Chris Mills.
Oh-oh. Sounds like everyone is starting to wake up. Have a great day!
