Category: Comics

Merry Christmas from George McManus!

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I came across this Christmas art by George McManus this morning at The Bristol Board (where you can see a larger version of it).  The art which features McManus’ character Jiggs from his beloved comic strip Bringing Up Father sure brought back a lot of good memories.

I loved reading Bringing Up Father when I was a kid. And I wasn’t alone.  Bringing Up Father was published in newspapers for 87 years, from January 12, 1913, to May 28, 2000!  It spawned plays, (on and off Broadway), a radio series, 9 animated silent shorts, three live-action two reel shorts, several live-action feature films, three different comic book series as well as books collecting and reprinting the newspaper strips.

While the strips were funny, McManus’ art was a joy and the combination of the two were impossible (at least for this guy) not to love.  I had a chance to purchase a strip or two (even a Sunday page) back in my college days when I hung out at Jim Ivey’s Cartoon Museum.  Sadly, they were out of my price range, but I did enjoy the chance to hold the originals.

The Swords of Heaven, Flowers of Hell by Moorcock & Chaykin: New Edition Coming!

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If you’ve never read Howard Chaykin’s adaptation of Michael Moorcock’s The Swords of Heaven, Flowers of Hell, and you can’t get your hands on the rare 1979 edition… then you’re in luck.  Titan Comics is releasing a new hardcover edition on May 15, 2018.

Here’s how they describe it…

MICHAEL MOORCOCK LIBRARY: THE SWORDS OF HEAVEN, THE FLOWERS OF HELL HC

Writer: Michael Moorcock & Howard Chaykin

Artist: Howard Chaykin

144pp • $29.99 • On sale Date: April 18, 2017 • ISBN: 9781785863307

Award-winning writer and artist Howaard Chaykin joins forces with Michael Moorcock to bring the Eternal Champion known alternatively as Erekose, Urlik of Skarsol or John Daker to vivid life in this classic tale from 1979.

Includes an exclusive introduction by acclaimed comic book writer Cullen Bunn.

Here’s a link to pre-order if you’re so inclined.  I have to admit that even though I have the ’79 edition, a new hardcover is tempting.  ; )

Dave Wachter Deals a Winning Hand: The Man with No Name, Maverick, Django & Jonah Hex!

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Dave Wachter has another winning hand with his art above.  Click on the drawing to get a bigger look at the poker game between Jonah Hex, Django and Brett Maverick.  Oh, and let’s not forget The Man with No Name who is making his entrance.

The only way this could have been better is if Cheyenne Bodie and Jim West also made an appearance.

Mike Zeck & Dan Gearino Chronicle the 1971 Comic Art Con!

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Cosplayers are extremely popular these days.  Some of the best are listed as featured guests at comic conventions around the country.  The Black Bolt player above came in first place in one of the first large comic cons ever – the 1971 Comic Art Convention in New York.  What makes this even more interesting is that the person playing Black Bolt is Mike Zeck.

Yep.  Mike Zeck.  The uber-talented artist that went on to draw professionally for Marvel, DC and others.  The Mike Zeck known for his work on The Punisher, Batman, Spider-Man, Secret Wars… well, you get the idea.

Not only was Mike the winner at the 1971 Comic Art Convention but he took photos of his time at the show and the guests there — Frazetta, Gil Kane, Harvey Kurtman and others.  You can learn more about the con and see some of Mike’s photos by clicking over to Dan Gearino’s site.

Preview of John Wick #1!

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John Wick #1 from Dynamite Comics is available now…

JOHN WICK: BOOK OF RULES PART ONE

When a young John Wick emerges from prison and embarks upon his first, epic vendetta, he comes up against a strange, powerful community of assassins and must learn how to master the Book of Rules that guides their lethal business. What are the Three Bills? Who is Calamity? And who was John Wick before he became the Baba Yaga? Here for the first time, read the thrilling origin story of John Wick, from “Planet Hulk” writer Greg Pak and “Dark Horse Presents” artist Giovanni Valletta.

If you’d like to see a 5 page preview plus all of the variant covers you can by clicking over to The Outhousers.com.

The Best Movies That Should Be Made Into TV Shows

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IndieWire recently asked critics to pick the Best Movies That Should Be Made Into TV Shows.  Of all the movies suggested, I liked the idea of Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins Devil in a Blue Dress being turned into a series.  If it did well then other Easy Rawlins’ yarns would be ripe for the picking.

If I was to suggested movies that would make great tv shows, I’d suggest these three for starters…

  • The Expendables (where team members were actually expendable)
  • Sin City (using Miller’s stories)
  • Night of the Living Dead (focus on different stories/casts each season from the first few nights of the zombie outbreak)

Comic Legends: Was Punisher Initially Going to Die in His First Series?

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My buddies, John Beatty and Mike Zeck are at the center of CBR.com’s Comic Legends: Was Punisher Initially Going to Die in His First Series?

That was an exciting time for comics.  The Punisher, up to that point, had been a secondary, guest-starring character who had real potential.  Steven Grant had the right take on Frank Castle and of course, Mike Zeck and John Beatty were the team to bring the project to life.

Sadly, Grant, Zeck and Beatty didn’t get to complete the series. Although as the piece says, “John Beatty’s finishes made it all look as consistent as possible.”  Thankfully, Grant, Zeck and Beatty did re-team on the Punisher graphic novel Return to Big Nothing.