Category: Comics

Steranko and the American Hero Gallery Showing!!

Posted on by

If you’re able to get to Youngstown, Ohio between May 3 and July 5 this year, the Butler Institute of American Art will host a gallery showing of 60 select paintings by Steranko!

…STERANKO was cited by Stan Lee as one of the prime architects of the Marvel Universe; the co-creator of NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D.; and the artist-writer of CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE HULK, SUPERMAN, and THE X-MEN (for which he designed the classic title logo). He generated more than 150 original storytelling devices and techniques that changed the direction of the comics’ medium, and evolved a devoted cult of followers who nicknamed him The Innovator.

Steranko has painted a multitude of movie posters, record albums, and book covers; and in 1975, created RED TIDE, the First Modern Graphic Novel. As the editor-publisher of the international newsstand entertainment magazine PREVUE, he conducted hundreds of superstar interviews and penned more than three million words. He numbers among his friends and associates writers Mickey Spillane, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury, and directors Federico Fellini, John Huston, and Orson Welles.

That Texas Blood by Chris Condon & Jacob Phillips is Coming!

Posted on by

That Texas Blood is a new on-going crime series from Image Comics.  Written by Chris Condon with art by Jacob Phillips, That Texas Blood looks to be a winner.

Sheriff Joe Bob Coates has always lived in Fort Lehane. He’s always been in Ambrose County. It’s always been in his blood. It’s a Texas thing. But the crimes don’t stop. And they don’t get easier.

For some reason… they keep getting worse. And worse. And… Well. It’s Texas. And Joe Bob is tough. Maybe he’s tough enough to fight it. To last. It’s in his blood, after all. THAT TEXAS BLOOD.

I’ll be getting this.  If you’d like more info, check out ThatTexasBlood.com.

Real vs TV Western Heroes by John Severin!

Posted on by

It’s no secret portrayals of real people are often glamorized in movies and TV.  Well, way back in 1960, when westerns were king of television air waves, Cracked magazine had John Severin create drawings showing the differences between Real and TV western heroes. 

Above we can see the differences between the real and TV versions of Billy the Kid and a Bounty Hunter.  If you click over to BookSteve’s Library you can check out Real vs TV… Lawmen, Cochise, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hicock and Jim Hardie.

Dead Body Road: Bad Blood is Coming!

Posted on by

Dead Body Road was/is a six issue mini-series published by Image in 2014.  Written by Justin Jordan with art by Matteo Scalera (pencils & inks) and Moreno Dinisio (colors).  I loved the series and would suggest if you’re a fan of crime fiction you seek it out.

I’m also going to suggest that you keep an eye out for Dead Body Road: Bad Blood.  Justin Jordan returns with a new artist, Benjamin Tiesma, and new colorist, Mat Lopes, and letterer Pat Brosseau. Matteo Scalera will return to provide covers for the series along with Moreno Dinisio.  The synopsis sounds great…

Bree Hale has left a lot behind in her life. Crime. The military. But she can’t leave behind her own family, and when the local crime boss puts a hit out on her brother, there’s nothing she won’t do to save him. Absolutely nothing.

Dead Body Road: Bad Blood #1 (Diamond Code MAR200042) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, May 20.

The Expendables Go to Hell by Sly Stallone & Chuck Dixon with Art by Graham Nolan & Others!

Posted on by

The Expendables Go To Hell is a full color graphic novel with a story by Sly Stallone & Chuck Dixon and art by Graham Nolan, Kelsey Shannon, Jason Johnson, Butch Guice and Daniel Brown.  The idea is that The Expendables are killed in combat and awaken in hell. There they find fallen comrades, famous and infamous folks from history and more than a few surprises.

Graham Nolan will handle the art chores on the 50 page main story with three side stories adding to the graphic novel’s page count.  Here’s how they break down:

  • THE BRIDGE- Barney Ross is stunned to find the soul of his still-living friend Tool, trapped in Hell! Art by Jason Johnson (TEAM 7).

  • CHRISTMAS IN HELL- Lee Christmas is lured away from the team just when they need him most! Art by Kelsey Shannon (NORAH’S SAGA)

  • BARBARIAN’S HOLIDAY- Gunner Jensen makes the most of a bad situation! Art by Butch Guice (DOCTOR STRANGE).

The Main Cover will feature art by Kelsey Shannon. In addition, there will be Variant Covers by…

  • Billy Tucci (SHI)

  • Richard C. Meyer (JAWBREAKERS, IRON SIGHTS)

  • Jason Johnson (TEAM 7)

  • Renzo Rodriguez (DESOLATION WAVE)

  • And possibly MORE!

The Expendables Go To Hell is being crowd-funded on Indiegogo.  As the campaign grows, STRETCH GOALS will be unlocked which will add more value to each perk with no additional cost! Pin-ups, bookmarks, decals and more and projected.

Since the initial goal was $10,000 and The Expendables Go To Hell is now over $36,000.00 we should start seeing quite a few stretch goals soon.  This is going to be a fun project.  I’m on board (for the Kelsey Shannon cover!) and look forward to watching the project grow.  Click over and join in!

Rot & Ruin Novels or Webtoon by Jonathan Maberry

Posted on by

Ask most folks if they are familiar with Rot & Ruin and if they are, they’ll begin talking about Jonathan Maberry’s award-winning four book series that takes place in a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America.  The series is good enough to have twice won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Young Adult Fiction.

But that’s not the Rot & Ruin I’m talking about today.

Today I’m talking about the Rot & Ruin webtoon.  Adapted by Mayberry with art by Alempe, this Rot & Ruin posts an update every Monday.

Benny Imura and his friends must navigate a post-apocalyptic zombie-infected America in which teenagers are forced to find labor or face starvation. When Benny grudgingly joins his annoying older brother Tom as an apprentice zombie hunter, he soon discovers that almost everything he believed about his sheltered life is wrong–and zombies aren’t the greatest thing to fear in the Rot & Ruin. Based on the novel Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry.

Check it out!

Maximus Wrecks by Steve Bryant is 1980s Post-Apocalyptic Fun!

Posted on by

Maximus Wrecks by Steve Bryant should appeal to a lot of folks who swing by here.  Take it away Steve…

I have a confession: I love every aspect of 1980s post-apocalyptic fiction. From movies to comics to music videos, it’s one of my absolute favorite genres. Classics like Escape from New York or Mad Max? Of course I love them. That’s a no-brainer. I also love weird, cheesy epics like Slipstream, Cherry 2000, and Space Hunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone.

For comics, I’m a sucker for Tim Truman’s Scout, and Doug Moench & Paul Gulacy’s Slash Maraud…and probably half a dozen other comics with that same aesthetic that I’m forgetting right now.

I’m delighted by every cornball set piece and costume design from 80s music videos. Tom Petty’s You Got Lucky? You bet. Billy Idol’s Dancing with Myself? Of course. The Police video for Synchronicity? How could I not? But also Rick Springfield’s Bop ‘Til You Drop, The Warrior by Scandal, Duran Duran’s Wild Boys, Screaming in the Night by Krokus, and a whole lot more goofiness.

So all of that is in the DNA of Maximus Wrecks.

I’ve wanted to dive back into webcomics for years, and this has been the project that I want to do it with.

If Maximus Wreck is something you’d like to check out, then click on over!

Going “Full Tilt” with Jason Copland!

Posted on by

Jason Copland recently sent out a newsletter update on his crime-scifi-noir graphic novel Full Tilt which stars Massimo Miller.  I’ve loved the look of the series from my first reading of the synopsis…

Massimo is the Consigliere for the Chessa Family, a position bestowed upon him by the syndicate’s boss, Russo Chessa. As Consigliere, Massimo acts as advisor and liaison in all matters that pertain to the family business giving him meaningful influence over syndicate affairs. Holding this position of power is all the more remarkable due to the fact that most of Massimo’s life was spent as a slave of a rival crime organization. Chosen for his loyalty and integrity, Massimo is no yes man. He is a heavy smoker, however, much to Russo’s chagrin. Massimo’s preferred brand is Marlboro XXV Kings.

Full Tilt is going to be full of interesting characters such as the gentleman above.  You can swing over to Jason’s site and check out more of mugs, thugs and dames that populate his Full Tilt world.

If you’re so inclined (and I hope you are) after seeing preview art for Full Tilt, that you’ll follow Jason on Twitter and sign up for his newsletter.  If you’re on the newsletter e-mail list, you’ll get Full Tilt updates with behind the scenes art, process discussions and be entered into drawings for free art. (Congrats to this newsletter’s winner, Juan Albarran.)

As you can guess, I’m going to end this post by suggesting that you follow Jason Copland on Twitter and sign-up for Jason’s newsletter.  Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.