Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Bret Blevins has worked as a comic artist, animation storyboard artist, and painter. I met Bret at a convention and was lucky enough to get on his commission list. I let him choose the Stallone character he wanted to draw. Bret surprised me by going with Frank Nitti from Capone! What a great choice and wonderful drawing!
I was at MegaCon 2003. I’d never met Rodney Blackwell before. I’d never heard of him. But I liked the art he had on display and decided to get a sketch from him. Rodney’s riff on Jack Carter found a welcome place in my collection.
I’ve known Bill Black for over forty years. Bill began his professional comics career in 1969 illustrating horror stories for Warren Publications’ CREEPY and EERIE magazines. Since then Bill worked in advertising and in film production and illustrated comics for Marvel.
Bill’s real claim to fame came when he started AC Comics, one of the first 5 Independent comic book publishers in America and the only one of that group still in business. Over the years Bill has done it all — writer, penciler, inker, painter, publisher. What an amazing career!
I’ve been fortunate to know Bill as a friend. I say fortunate because Bill is one of the most positive, fun people I’ve ever met. Waaay back in 2006, Bill gifted me his take on Sly Stallone as Stanley from Lords of Flatbush. I love it!
My buddy, John Beatty used to host something he called Sketch Society. Artists would get together at different designated spots (donut shops, book stores, etc.) for drawing sessions. Some artists worked on commissions, others work assignments and some just drew for fun.
John whipped up this quick sketch of Sly as Jack Carter for me at a Sketch Society meeting in September 2006. He drew it without any reference. I love the bold lines and use of negative space.
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Simon Bisley.
Source: Jeremy Mehring.
Sly Stallone as Jack Carter and Keanu Reeves as John Wick is one of the commissions I got from Dean Beattie when he opened up a commission list. I jumped on board, got this beauty, a Rocky piece, a Rambo head sketch and two of his sketchbooks. If you’d like to see more of Dean’s art you can at his webpage or his Instagram.
I met Kyle Baker at HeroesCon 2007. I was (and still am) a huge fan of Kyle Baker’s art and comics. You can imagine how happy I was to get Kyle’s take on Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa.
Tom Armstrong is the creator/writer/artist of the long-running Marvin cartoon strip. I met Mr. Armstrong way back in 2004 at the Cavalcade of Comics 2nd Annual Benefit to fight Tourette’s Syndrome. Comic’s legend Don Perlin and his wife spearheaded the event.
Tom Armstrong was one of the artists sketching and he did his take on Sly Stallone for me. As Tom was signing it, he added a little Marvin peeking over Sly. How cool is that?
Every now and again with need something from 100 Bullets by Eduardo Risso.
I absolutely love this sketch of Rambo – Stick Fighter by Jason Shawn Alexander. I got it way back in 2003. You could tell Jason was destined for great things.
Tony Moore has an interesting take on Frankenstein and the Wolfman… and I like it!
Source: Longbox of Darkness.
The Jack Carter & John Wick piece above was created as a commission for me at HeroesCon 2017 by Karl Slominski. It was my first piece by Slominski. It wasn’t my last.
My second piece by Karl was Jack Carter and Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City.
My third piece from Karl was Carter and Raylan Givens from Justified.
I wonder what my fourth piece will be.
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Dave Johnson.
Source: Lou Valenti.
Rich Hennemann is a freelance artist. A few years ago I picked up his sketchbook and a sketch and I was hooked. Since then I’ve gotten several sketches from Rich. This Sly as Rambo is one from my collection. I already have another commission from Rich in the works.
BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 created by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene
Coloring: Matt Herms
Lettering: Hasson Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Image Comics
Going back as far as can be told the Sangeryes have been Jinoo hunters. Jinoo were once human. They became so poisoned by greed, hate, racism and other evils that the Jinoo became monsters. Some could be cured. Others had to be killed. But the cost to the Sangerye family was heavy.
Now, in the year 1964, the United States government say the Jinoo have been eliminated. The Sangerye family knows differently.
When a bus load of young civil rights activists are brutally murdered in Mississippi, government agents are sent down. The agents discover the destroyed bus. The corpses, at least those that they can find, were butchered. Recent attacks in Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana were increasingly brutal. This is even worse.
The lead agent is unwilling to say Jinoo have returned. Meriah Manigo, a member of the Sangerye family knows differently. And she’s now on site.
The original BITTER ROOT series received my highest recommendation. I love that the original creative team of writers David F. Walker and Chuck Brown along with artist Sanford Greene have returned. They haven’t missed a beat as they continue the BITTER ROOT story. Kudos also to colorist Matt Herms and letterer Hasson Otsmane-Elhaou.
Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t read the original series. You don’t need it to enjoy BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT. (But I do encourage you to seek out the original series as well!)
BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 gets my highest recommendation.
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