Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Today we have the teaser for The Walking Dead: The Final Season, Part 1. I look forward to seeing how this series ends. The Walking Dead is one of the tv series that I can say I was with from the start (and if all goes well) and saw every episode. It’s been a fun ride.
The Walking Dead returns for Season 11 on Sunday, August 22.
The Daytona Beach Comic Book Convention will return but at new location on September 18 and 19, 2021. It will now be held at the Tommy Lawrence Arena at the Volusia County Fair Grounds, 3150 E New York Ave, DeLand, Florida 32724.
In addition to new comic books, magazines, pulps, underground comix, original art, toys, action figures, POPs, Disney, and other collectibles for sale, fans will be able to meet comic book artists, writers, and creators. Guests include: Pat Broderick, Bill Black, Sergio Cariello, Jeff Whiting, Javier Lugo, Steve Conley and more to come. There will even be a small press expo area!
If you can make it, I hope to see you there!
Titan Comics and Hard Case Crime are teaming up to present Gun Honey, a four issue mini series written by Charles Ardai (Hard Case Crime co-founder), with art by Ang Hor Kheng. The series will premiere in September with variant covers by Bill Sienkiewicz (shown above), Robert McGinnis, Ang Hor Kheng, Andrea Camerini, Kendrick Lim and Fay Dalton.
The weapon you need, where you need it, when you need it – she’ll get it!
When a gun smuggled into a high-security prison leads to the escape of a brutal criminal, weapons smuggler Joanna Tan is enlisted by the U.S. government to find the man she set loose and bring him down!
If you’d like to see all the variant covers and more interior art, you can at ComicBook.com.
How about a new “Suicide Squad” poster?
Today we have a poster and trailer for Suicide Squad.
Normally Suicide Squad wouldn’t be something that would be on my must-see list. What changes that is a few things:
1. Sly Stallone voices the King Shark character.
2. It has a great cast: In addition to Stallone we have Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Michael Rooker, Viola Davis, Nathan Fillion and more!
3. It’s directed by James Gunn.
4. It’s written by James Gunn and John Ostrander (who wrote the comics).
5. I can see it for free on opening day on HBOMax.
Our only hope to save the world is a bunch of supervillains — what could go wrong? Check out the new trailer for James Gunn’s #TheSuicideSquad, in theaters and streaming exclusively on HBO Max* August 6.
*Only available on the Ad-Free plan. Available for 31 days from theatrical release. Films and release dates subject to change.
I was extremely happy to read that Shelton Drum, the man behind Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find and HeroesCon, announced that there would be a Giant-Size Charlotte Mini-Con on November 6th and 7th. Here’s the lowdown:
Coming to the Charlotte Convention Center:
Saturday, November 6: 10AM-6PM and Sunday, November 7: 10AM-4PM.
This show will feature 80,000 Sq Ft of the BEST COMIC BOOK DEALERS in the country, as well as a curated Artist Alley hosting some of the industry’s greatest!
This event will be a Comic-Book Collector’s DREAM!! A room FILLED with comic books from every generation of the medium!
This show is a “GIANT-SIZE” version of our long-running CHARLOTTE MINI-CON, and we will not be hosting panels or additional programming during this event. We will return with incredible panels and additional programming for the 40th Anniversary Heroes Convention, returning next June 2022.
The GIANT-SIZE CHARLOTTE MINI-CON is all about the COMIC-BOOKS! We hope you will join us for this GIANT-SIZE “old-school” Comic-Convention!
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TICKETS:
There are TWO TICKET OPTIONS for the Giant-Size Charlotte Mini-Con:$10.00* – SATURDAY (includes BONUS SUNDAY admission!)
$5.00* – SUNDAY ONLY
KIDS 18 & UNDER = FREE (must register for ticket)
*Tickets are non-refundable
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ATTENTION HEROESCON 2020 & 2021 TICKET HOLDERS!!
If you purchased a ticket for the 2020 or 2021 Heroes Convention before April of 2021, your HeroesCon ticket will automatically get you into both days of the GIANT-SIZE CHARLOTTE MINI-CON as an extra added bonus! You will NOT need to purchase an additional ticket for the Giant-Size Charlotte Mini-Con, this event is included with your existing HeroesCon 2022 ticket!We appreciate your continued support over the past year and hope that you will come out and enjoy this exciting bonus event!
It is awesome that Shelton is giving free admission to those of us who had purchased tickets to HeroesCon 2020 or 2021 since those shows had to be cancelled due to Covid.
I’m looking forward to the GIANT-SIZE CHARLOTTE MINI-CON. It will be great to see old friends and meet new ones.
George Marston at GamesRadar posted his choices for 1970 – 1979: Each Year’s Best Marvel Character’s Debut. Comparing his choices to mine looks like this:
|
Year |
Marston |
Zablo |
Other Options |
1970 |
Valkyrie |
Conan the Barbarian: How could any of these characters be picked over Conan? He seemed the obvious choice to me and by a wide margin. | Agatha Harkness, Howard Stark, Red Wolf, Kull the Conqueror |
| 1971 |
Man-Thing |
Morbius the Living Vampire: was my choice but Man-Thing would be in my 2nd slot for 1971. | Mockingbird, Doc Samson, |
| 1972 |
Luke Cage |
Luke Cage: We agreed on this choice. That first issue blew me away. I’d have gone with Werewolf by Night in my 2nd slot. | Werewolf by Night, Adam Warlock, Dracula, Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze), Night Nurse, Shuma-Gorath, Tigra, Shanna the She-Devil |
| 1973 | Howard the Duck | Shang-Chi: started good and got better when Moench and Gulacy arrived. (And don’t discount the Moench & Mike Zeck run!) | Moondragon, Drax the Destroyer, Thanos, Mantis, Blade, Brother Voodoo (Doctor Voodoo), Daimon Hellstrom, Killmonger |
| 1974 | Wolverine | Wolverine: The obvious choice and we both agree. I’d put the Punisher in my 2nd slot. | Jackal, Punisher, Iron Fist, Deathlok, Colleen Wing |
| 1975 | Storm | Misty Knight: This was a tough choice for me. I like the Misty Knight character just a tad more and feel she has even greater potential to become a major player. | Korvac, Jamie Madrox (Multiple Man), Colossus, Krakoa, Nightcrawler, Gamora, Moon Knight, Moira MacTaggert |
| 1976 | Rocket Raccoon | Star-Lord: would be my pick in a tough year without any real standouts. I almost went with Nova so he’d get my 2nd slot. | Hellcat, Bullseye, Jack of Hearts, Black Tom Cassidy, Union Jack, Nova (Richard Rider), Captain Britain, Eternals |
| 1977 |
Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) |
Sabretooth: gets my vote. | Arnim Zola, Corsair, Machine Man, Godzilla King of the Monsters, Deathbird, Gladiator (Kallark), Henry Peter Gyrich |
| 1978 |
Mystique |
Ben Urich: A non-superpowered character gets my top slot for 1978. | Arcade, Paladin, Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Moon-Boy and Devil Dinosaur, H.E.R.B.I.E. |
| 1979 |
Northstar |
Ant-Man (Scott Lang): easily gets my top spot for 1979. My 2nd slot would go to James Rhodes. | Shadow King, Justin Hammer, Cassandra Lang, Black Cat, Rom the Spaceknight, James Rhodes |
I’m always on the look out for a great crime story whether it is a novel, movie, graphic novel or comic book. Originally written as a novel by William Christopher Baer, Kiss Me, Judas came to my attention thanks to a Kickstarter for the graphic novel adaptation by Baer and artist Jefferson Costa.
Check out the synopsis and a couple of pages of art from the book below. Who knows, maybe you’ll want to jump on board the Kiss Me, Judas Kickstarter. I did.
An artist called 12sketches created the faux Columbo comic book cover. He/she even created the distressed look, the logo and the comic box with the price and Comics Code Authority approval. Well done, 12sketches!
If you’d like to see faux covers for Matlock and X-Files plus more 12sketches art, you can by clicking here.
Tom Richmond of MAD magazine fame opened up his commission list and I jumped on with a request for Jack Carter (Sly Stallone) and John Wick (Keanu Reeves). As you can see Mr. Richmond came through with a winner, which is no surprise.
This is my second commission from Tom Richmond, the first was a Rocky (Stallone) and Clubber Lang (Mr. T.). I’ll post it once I get it scanned. It is larger than my current scanner and a photo doesn’t do it justice.
If you’re a sketch collector, I highly recommend Tom Richmond. He does great art, has wonderful communication and packages the art securely.
On October 12, 2021, Dark Horse Books is releasing two new editions of Frank Miller’s Sin City: The Hard Goodbye. One will be a prestige slipcased hardcover with extras. Here’s more…
The crime noir masterpiece that has gripped audiences for decades is back in an oversized and slipcased hardcover that includes a portfolio, exclusive print, and a sketchbook of never-before-published development art.
There is no light in a place like Sin City—only misery, crime, and perversion. Amid the filth and degenerates, the hulking and unstable ex-con Marv has found an angel. Her name is Goldie—a goddess who has blessed this wretched low-life with one night of heaven. But good things never last—a few hours later, Goldie is dead—murdered at his side without a mark on her body. Who was she? And who wanted her dead? The cops are on their way—it smells like a frame job, and this time, they won’t let him live. Whoever killed Goldie . . . is going to pay.
Frank Miller returns to his comic opus with luxury editions of the graphic novel series, beginning with Volume 1 The Hard Goodbye. A combination of high-end materials, finishes, and iconic textures from the series make for an elegant package which evokes the grittiness of Sin City. Housed in a cloth covered slipcase with foil stamping and printing is an oversized hardcover featuring a soft touch matte finish with spot gloss and foil stamping. The hardcover includes an exclusive sketchbook of never-before-published development art selected by Frank. As well, this volume contains the pinup gallery created for the 2021 editions of Volume 1, featuring art from Joyce Chin, Amanda Conner, Klaus Janson, Paul Pope, Philip Tan, and Gerardo Zaffino. Also included in the slipcase is a portfolio featuring a deluxe print of new artwork by Frank Miller.
As an added bonus, each volume’s slipcase has a different letter from the logo, placed on the front cover in such a way that alone it looks like a splash of red wrapping around the slipcase. But when all seven volumes are together it is clear that the grouping spells out “Sin City.”
Discerning fans and new readers can experience this unparalleled noir masterpiece in this, the most luxurious edition to date!
FOR MATURE READERS.
The Frank Miller’s Sin City: The Hard Goodbye regular edition will be an trade paperback edition featuring a new cover by Frank Miller and a new pinup gallery featuring art from Joyce Chin, Amanda Conner, Klaus Janson, Paul Pope, Philip Tan, and Gerardo Zaffino!
I already own an original signed and numbered hardcover slipcased edition of Miller’s The Hard Goodbye, but the idea of having all the Sin City stories in the same deluxe format is tempting since other editions weren’t given the same treatment. Miller’s Sin City stories are some of my all-time favorite comics… and I do have a birthday in October…
David Anthony Kraft, author and publisher, died yesterday from COVID pneumonia. Mr, Kraft was 68 or 69 (depending on the source).
David Kraft began his career as a rock and roll journalist. In 1974, Kraft founded Fictioneer Books which would go on to publish works by Robert E. Howard, Otis Adelbert Kline. and Jack London among others. In 1975, he began working for Marvel Comics as editor of FOOM and later a writer on many of Marvel’s most popular characters. Mr. Kraft also worked as a writer for DC Comics in 1976 and again in 1983/84.
In 1983, he began publishing David Anthony Kraft’s Comics Interview. The magazine ran for 150 issues with each issue focused on in-depth interviews with comic creators. The magazine was a favorite with fans and pros alike. It was a great source of background information, previews of new stories and art in those days before the internet.
My first exposure to David Anthony Kraft was through his Fictioneer Books publishing. Dragonflame was written by Don McGregor with several illustrations by Paul Gulacy. My favorite David Anthony Kraft comics were his Captain America stories with Mike Zeck and John Beatty. And like so many comic fans, I was a regular reader of his Comics Interview magazine.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to David Anthony Kraft’s family, friends and fans.
One of my favorite movies (it gets my highest recommendation) is The Big Heat. Released the year I was born (1958), The Big Heat was directed by Fritz Lang and starred Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn Brando, Alexander Scourby and Lee Marvin.
I probably watch The Big Heat at least once a year. TCM was showing it the other night. I was checking out Twitter when the drawing above came into view. Yes! Patrick Zircher aka Patch must have been watching! How cool is Patch’s take on Glenn Ford as Dave Bannion? Too cool not to share!
Patch is pretty active on Twitter. His posts are thoughtful and his art is wonderful. Often we get both in a single helping.
This rarely seen Bernie Wrightson riff on The Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of my favorite Wrightson and Creature drawings. Thanks to the Estate of Bernie Wrightson for sharing it.
