Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
How about this Jaws poster by Matt Ferguson? It is being offered as a print from Vice Press starting tomorrow. Vice Press is featuring a nice poster for The Thing by Tom Whalen as well. Both are worth a closer look!
Tony Stella posted his take on a Point Blank poster and it is beautiful. To see a larger version, click over to Tony Stella’s site.
Check out Paul Blow’s clever print for The Wizard of Oz. Mondo is offering two limited editions that are signed and numbered. The Wizard of Oz is one of my all-time favorite movies and I’m glad it is still getting attention over 80 years after its release.
This morning I saw the beautiful Frankenstein poster above created by Paul Mann. I then followed a link to Mann’s website and went down a rabbit-hole admiring the beautiful art in his portfolio. There are movie posters, book covers, original preliminary pieces for sale and more. If you love art then you owe it to yourself to check out Paul Mann’s portfolio.
I recently discovered (very late to this party) the web comic One of Those Days by Yehuda and Maya Devir. With a wonderfully fun art style, the jokes hit home and leave you looking forward to their next installment.
Based on the wildly popular webcomic, One of Those Days chronicles the life and love of Yehuda and Maya Devir as they take on the minutiae of marriage, the ups and downs of daily life, and the paradigm shift of new parenthood.
Yehuda and Maya Devir began illustrating their life in comics when they moved into their first apartment together in Tel Aviv as newlyweds. In the years since, One of Those Days has become one of the biggest webcomics on the Internet, with millions of followers around the world. Yehuda Devir grew up on superhero comic books, and the Devirs’ visual style is downright kinetic and bursting with life.
In this collection—the first time that the Devirs’ comics have been compiled in one volume—they share stories that are heartwarming, hilarious, and universally recognizable. So even for those who don’t feel like pulling out an assault rifle to wage war on a kitchen cockroach, the Devirs’ challenges and triumphs are instantly familiar to anyone who’s had one of those days.
Negan Lives! is a one-shot published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Spurned by a slowly rebuilding society, Negan lives a life of desperate isolation… or does he? In the tradition of Here’s Negan, this all-new story in Negan Lives #1 gives readers a glimpse into what has happened to one The Walking Dead’s most popular characters in the time since his last appearance in The Walking Dead #174.
The Walking Dead is one of the few (and easily the longest-running) series that I bought from issue one and went on to buy every single issue published. I’m a big fan.
When Negan Lives! was announced, I initially thought it was a bad idea. The tale had been told. Time to move on. Then I read that Negan Lives! would be made available to comic shops for free to help store owners recover revenue lost during the Covid pandemic. My opinion changed: it was a cool idea for shops, but not so much for readers.
I was wrong.
Negan Lives! is a fun story that answers some questions from The Walking Dead and actually could pave the way for more Negan stories.
Kirkman creates a situation that is obvious to the reader but in most stories would be oblivious to the main character. Not so, here. Negan is right there with us wondering if he is being set up. I won’t give anything away. It’s a fun story.
I’ve always enjoyed the team of Adlard and Rathburn and Negan Lives! is a great example of their abilities. Man, this one-shot reminded me of how much I missed that monthly Kirkman/Adlard/Rathburn fix.
Negan Lives! and we’re better off for it.
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Lost Soldiers #1 is part of a five-issue mini-series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Vietnam, 1969. Juarez, forty years later. Three men tied by the war they left behind—on collision course with a new one.
Lost Soldiers isn’t your typical war comic. It’s more Sicario than Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, more Platoon than Our Army At War. Issue 1 lays the groundwork for the series, alternating between flashbacks of three young soldiers who first met in the jungles of Viet Nam and are now older career vets prepping for a mission into Juarez against a highly armed and motivated cartel.
When talking about Lost Soldiers, Alex Kot said, “The world needs bad men willing to do bad things so the world can stay good. Lost Soldiers is what happens when you buy into that idea so much that it becomes a curse… it is unflinching about the consequences of our actions. It spells them out in blood and pain and loss. And maybe, if you’re lucky, a sliver of hope.” Kot in this first issue bridged the 40 year gap between Nam and now by choosing scenes that move the story forward and give insight into his characters.
Lucas Casalanguida’s art adds to the gravitas of the story. Like the best comic artists Casalanguida hits the right blend of realism and exaggeration. I love his bold art in this issue. Check out that splash on page 12.
Heather Marie Lawrence Moore’s color choices enhance the mood of the story. I applaud her choices. She’s not afraid to back off color, use one bright color on a muted page or let her hues run like a watercolor. Awesome.
Lost Soldiers #1 is a winner.
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Bruce McCorkindale posted the Bruce Timm art above on his Twitter with this…
Bruce Timm graphically depicts all the “no-nos” when working on animated Batman. ♪ Bat-nos! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na BAT-NOS!! ♫
Can you spot all the “no-nos”? I had trouble finding one, but eventually did locate all of ’em.
That Texas Blood #2 is part of an on-going series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
“A BROTHER’S CONSCIENCE,” Part One The first five-part story arc BEGINS HERE! Los Angeles-based writer Randy Terrill returns to his abandoned home of Ambrose County, Texas after the sudden and mysterious death of his brother Travis.
If you missed the sold out first issue of That Texas Blood you’re in luck. Second printings should be available and issue 2 starts a new story arc.
Randy Terrill has bad memories of Ambrose County, Texas. He and his brother, Travis, used to drink, party, and well, do other things that Randy wants to put behind him. He moved to LA and gave up his wild ways. It wasn’t easy and the bad memories linger.
When Randy receives word that Travis has died Randy knows, despite all misgivings, he has to return home. Things can’t get any worse.
No one is happy to see Randy back in town or unhappy that his brother died. And then Sheriff Joe Bob Coates tells Randy something that makes things a lot worse.
That Texas Blood maintains the quality from Condon and Phillips that earned issue 1 universal rave reviews. That Texas Blood continues to earn my highest recommendation.
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This is the cover to Reckless, the first of three new graphic novels coming from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips through Image Comics. Each of the graphic novels will be a complete separate standalone crime story. Here’s how Brubaker describes Reckless…
Meet Ethan Reckless: Your trouble is his business, for a price.
A former student radical, with the scars to prove it, Ethan is one part repo man, one part private eye, and one part wrecking ball. But when a fugitive from his Weather Underground days reaches out for help, Ethan will have to face the only thing he really fears… his own past.
It’s sex, drugs, and murder in early ‘80s Los Angeles, as Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips launch their first graphic novel series with an electrifying new take on the paperback pulp hero.
Brubaker goes on to say that Reckless will be 144 pages, premiere in December with the second book scheduled for April 2021. Again, each of these books will be a completely standalone graphic novel. Man, this hits a bunch of my crime fiction sweet spots.
If you subscribe to Brubaker’s free newsletter you are able to see three pages from Reckless and they look wicked. If you don’t subscribe, you’ll definitely want to check out The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage: Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips to Launch Graphic Novel Series ‘Reckless‘.
Dead Body Road: Bad Blood #2 is part of a six-issue mini-series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Hunter Hale is on the run from Monk Sinclair, boss of everything underground in their county…at least until Bree Hale declares war on him to defend her brother.
Dead Body Road: Bad Blood 2 picks up where issue one left off. The chase is on. Hunter Hale is scared and on the run with Monk Sinclair’s woman. Monk is following leads and growing more enraged with each passing moment. Bree (Hunter’s sister) doesn’t know what Hunter has gotten himself into, but she knows if she doesn’t reach him first, Hunter won’t live to tell her.
Justin Jordan, Benjamin Tiesma, Matt Lopes and Pat Brosseau are back with another great issue. And let’s not forget the cover by Matteo Scalera and Moreno Dinisio.
Dead Body Road: Bad Blood continues with a story that should entertain all crime / action fans.
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Check out this sweet Rocky / Apollo poster created by Jarrod The Yardsale Artist Alberich and Mark Hatherley. Jarrod took on Rocky and Mark brought his talents to Apollo.
What makes this even cooler is that the created the art during one of their weekly Livestream sessions. They were joined by John Beatty (creating a commission for one of his fans). I also provided some color commentary for the video. I’ve embedded the video below, if you’re so inclined.
Also if you’re interested, Jarrod has made the Rocky / Apollo print available for fans!
Check out this cool Cobra poster created by Salvador Anguiano. Giclee prints of it are available from HCGArt.com.
Dia de los Muertos is a paperback that collects the three issue mini-series published by Image Comics.
*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***
Inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead, artist extraordinaire Riley Rossmo (Debris, Green Wake, Cowboy Ninja Viking) joins forces with nine different writers to tell tall tales from beyond the grave!
Riley Rossmo teams with 9 different writers to present 9 stories set against the backdrop of Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. There is a supernatural undercurrent running through each tale.
It is interesting how Rossmo changes his art style to compliment each story being told. I enjoyed each of the tales, but I’d the standout for me was Mine by Joshua Williamson and Rossmo. It has a great set-up and leads the reader to a surprise ending. If you’re a fan of Rod Serling’s The Night Gallery, then you should like this collection.
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