Category: Comics

Art Plans for 2009

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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

Crime Comics Lookin’ Good

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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.

Welcome to the 21st Century, Wild Bill

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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!

“He’s Mine”

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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.”

Reading The Watchmen

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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.

Flatulene – Stinky Good Time

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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!

Viking Crime Story?

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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.”

I Die at Midnight for Free

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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.

I Don’t Draw ‘Em

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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