Survivor Finale

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The season finale of “Survivor Fiji” is on tonight. We’re down to:
  • Kenward “Boo” Burns, 34, a construction worker from Lafayette, La. who has won the last two immunity challenges. Boo should be the next to go if he doesn’t win immunity
  • Yau-Man Chan, 54, a computer engineer from Martinez, Calif. who has had the best strategies so far into the game. Yau-Man has become a fan favorite [as well as the one I hope wins it all] due to his kind heart, strategic planning and cunning moves
  • Earl Cole, 35, ad exec from Santa Monica, Calif. is Yau-Man’s strongest alliance. Will Earl be as loyal as Yau?
  • Cassandra Franklin, 42, civil engineer manager from Los Angeles has been flying under the radar. She is the least athletic, and has gone far because she isn’t a threat. She could be the biggest threat to Yau-Man because she [on the sly] provides Dreamz the support he needs
  • Andre “Dreamz” Herd, 25, cheerleading coach from Wilmington, N.C. Talk about a waffler. Dreamz switches alliances so often, he even has a hard time keeping track of what he’s said to who.

I’m pulling for Yau-Man to win it all. If not Yau, then Earl or Boo. Cassandra and Dreams are just lucky to be around this late in the game.

Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find

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It’s never to early to start talking up one of the best comic book convention’s in the world! Heroes Con, in its 26th year, is stronger than ever. This year’s guest list continues to grow. Despite the impressive size of the guest list, the show retains a small con feel. Due to a packed schedule of activities, there’s something for everyone. The show is perfect for families [in fact, for years we’ve made Heroes a part of our family vacation]. If you have any interest in comics, art, or just having a great weekend, then you should come to the con!

You Are Here

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Remember when I said that last week I’d ordered two graphic novels and told you how much I enjoyed Last of the Independents by Matt Fraction and Kieron Dwyer? Well, today I’m going to tell you about the second book, You Are Here by Kyle Baker that I enjoyed even more!

Noel Coleman thinks he’s got it made. Coleman is in love with Helen; a beautiful, spiritual and sesitive animal lover. They’ve been together a year and Coleman is ready to settle down and marry her. There’s just one catch. Coleman isn’t the man he’s led Helen to believe he is. Sure, he’s a talented painter… but he’s also criminal who’s been on the run for a year. Hoping to leave his checkered past behind, Coleman goes back to New York City to sell his apartment so he can return to the country and live happily ever after with Helen.

You just know that ain’t happenin’.

Shortly after arriving in New York, Coleman accidently meets up with his old crime partner, Oscar. Coleman and Oscar decide to hit some of their old haunts and Coleman learns that the cops and a homicidal maniac are still looking for him. Helen shows up to surprise Coleman and before you know it they’re both running for their lives. The book ends with a fight to the death and a conclusion that you won’t be expecting!

Kyle Baker’s art is amazing. You Are Here is visually stunning. Baker’s use of color and a storyboard panel design is to complete advantage. The story is full of humor and yet the book never loses it’s pulp feel. It’s a crazy combination that works. It’s not a comedy, but there are comedic moments. It’s not noir by the strictest definition, but it has that undercurrent. The art is cartoony but not in a bigfoot way. And you gotta love it that Robert Mitchum plays the homicidal maniac. I loved every page. You probably would too.

You Are Here rates an A+

Criminally Good

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One of the best monthly comics being published today is CRIMINAL by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. The first story arc just finished up and is available in a trade paperback. The second arc, Lawless, is getting ready to hit the stands later this month. That’s the cover above for part one.
If you’re not reading Criminal and you enjoy crime stories consider giving it a look. 

Medium – Well Done

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If you asked me what my current favorite shows are, Medium wouldn’t be the first, second, or even third show that I’d mention. But it would make the list. Medium is one of my favorites. I DVR it each week and then my wife and I watch it whenever. Medium is always good for a storytelling twist and sometimes even a “scare” or two. It also features the most realistic family on television.
I’m pleased to post that NBC has given an early renewal to Medium. It’ll return for a fourth season this the fall. NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly was quoted as saying, “‘Medium’ is a quality show with an outstanding star that has always delivered a very loyal audience. We are pleased to know that we can look forward to more of its unique storytelling next year.”
Me too.

Last of the Independents

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Last week I ordered two graphic novels that I have been meaning to get for literally years. The first, which I’ll talk about today, is Last of the Independents by Matt Fraction and Kieron Dwyer.I’d meant to purchase Last of the Independents when it was first published back in 2003. I just never got around to it. But when Christopher Mills posted a perfect 6 out of 6 review for it on his Guns in the Gutters blog, my interest was rekindled. Then in this month’s issue of Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips [also worth picking up], Matt Fraction joined Charlie Huston and Greg Rucka [two of my favorite authors] in a discussion of 70’s crime movies. [The issue is worth picking up just to read their thoughts on the subject.] At any rate, Fraction talks about getting his title Last of the Independents from the unused title for “Charley Varrick” [a 70’s crime flick]. So I was sold and ordered Fraction and Dwyer’s graphic novel.

Last of the Independents is Fraction’s love letter to the creators and fans of the movie “Charley Varrick”. Like in the movie, a middle aged guy and his crew knock off a small town bank only to discover it’s mob money that they’ve stolen. There are other similarities, but never does this feel like anything more than a tip of the fedora to a movie, a genre and an era that had an enormous impact on crime fiction fans. Fraction’s story and script are first rate. He drops us in as the bank is being robbed and introduces us to the main characters quickly without wordy exposition. In fact, he often lets Kieron Dwyer’s art tell the tale. Dwyer’s art is perfect for the graphic novel. [I’ve been a fan of his work for some time and hope to someday see a piece by him in my Stallone Gallery.]

One final note, the graphic novel is presented in a “widescreen” format. I usually get annoyed by graphic novels that don’t fit nicely on the book shelf. The publisher, AIT/Planet Lar, must have realized how picky collector’s can be because this graphic novel comes with a vertical slipcover that makes it possible for it to be shelved on the bookcase with other “regular” graphic novels. Kudos for whoever worked out such a creative and simple solution.

Last of the Independents rates an “A”.

Happy, Happy to JBI

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Yesterday I received an e-mail from my buddy, Wild Bill Black that several of Jim Ivey’s friends were getting together to belatedly celebrate Jim’s 82nd birthday. Although it was short notice, I worked it out so that I could get over and share in the festivities.

I first met Jim back in the mid-70’s [the decade, not his age]. Jim was the owner of The Cartoon Museum in Orlando, Florida and the main man behind OrlandoCon. My buddy, John Beatty and I were still in high school, but would make the trek over to buy our comics and original art from Jim. Jim’s shop was an amazing place. At the time there weren’t many places that you could buy original art, but Jim’s Cartoon Museum was wall to wall art. Kirby, Steranko, Barry Windsor-Smith, Paul Gulacy, John Buscema… and so much more. You never knew what you’d see or who you’d meet while at The Cartoon Museum. I can’t begin to tell you how much time I spent there and I wouldn’t trade one hour there for a day anywhere else. Beatty and I made the trek to Jim’s at least once a week. Usually we’d end up playing cards but always having a great time no matter what we were doing. When I moved to Orlando to attend UCF, I’d go to the shop several times a week [my wife always knew where to find me]. We’ve stayed in touch over the years, but never as often as I’d like.

So today about 15 of us met to celebrate Jim’s 82 birthday. Jim, true to form, had prepared cards for each of us [and true to form — had enclosed a scratch off lottery ticket. Mine was good for a free ticket!]. Each of us had brought cards and gifts and a story or two for Jim. In fact, Jim looks shocked in the photo above… I hope it wasn’t from something I said!


It was great seeing Jim again. It was also a lot of fun hanging with Wild Bill Black. Special props to “The AAB” for putting the plan in place. And once last shout out to Jim Ivey — “Happy, happy, SIR!”

Jericho!

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Anyone watching Jericho? I am, have been since the start, and enjoy it more with every passing week. Normally I would have made sure that the nuclear mushroom cloud was pictured in the logo above, but the show has grown less about the bombs than it is about just SURVIVING. With a great cast of characters and enough subplots to keep us interested, this is a show to watch.
The season finale is next Wednesday, and I can’t wait. But if you haven’t been watching it, perhaps you should. My guess is that they’ll rerun all of the episodes this summer. You can get caught up and then be ready for the new season… which we all know started with a [big] bang!

Pike Takes the Lead

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Robert Crais is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read [and enjoyed] all of his novels… and I’m proud to say that I’ve been with his sigature characters Elvis Cole and Joe Pike since their first appearance in The Monkey’s Raincoat. In each previous novel, Cole was always center stage with Pike coming in to back-up his partner. Pike was the tough, no-nonsense hardened gunman. We knew little about him other than he had a strict code of honor, he was loyal and he never backed up.

With The Watchman, Crais turns the tables and gives Joe Pike center stage when he agrees to protect a young heiress who has become the target of a hit squad. Seems she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and now the US Government wants her as a witness and a terrorist wants her dead. Pike is more than up to the task of protecting her [especially with Elvis Cole backing him]. The book is fast paced and just as good as the previous novels featuring Cole and Pike. I just wonder if long time readers are going to like the way Crais has filled in some of the blanks about Pike’s life. As for me, I can’t wait for their next “case” — no matter who is at center stage.

Guy Ritchie’s Gamekeeper

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I read Guy Ritchie’s The Gamekeeper last night. Written by Andy Diggle with art by Mukesh Singh, and based on a concept by none other than [Madonna’s husband and film director] Guy “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” Ritchie.

Ritchie isn’t what caused me to pick up the comic though. I saw “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” and thought it was okay, and have never seen “Snatch” or possibly any of Ritchie’s other movies. [And NO, I didn’t buy it because of the Madonna connection.] I did buy it because I enjoyed Diggle’s work on The Losers and because the preview art looked pretty good.

In the opening issue nothing is as it first appears. A runaway shows up on a Scottish estate. He is taken to the owner of the estate, a kind older man, by the Checen groundskeeper [or should I say “Gamekeeper”]. Before the day is over the estate is attacked by several well-armed men. The runaway, the older man and the Gamekeeper are all more than what they seem at first glance. And that mystery is reason enough to come back for issue two.

MallowCon Report

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Last weekend I had the good fortune to attend the first Comics Collector’s Comic-Con in Port St. Lucie. The show was put on by Keith Mallow [pictured above probably wondering how he ended up in a StalloneZone t-shirt]. You’ve heard me talk about Keith [and his lovely wife Monica] before. They’re good people [well, at least Monica is…]. I was there with my best buddy, Big John Beatty, who was a guest at the con. Here’s how the show went…
Beatty and I arrived early. The room was already packed with dealers. Keith led us back to Big John’s table. I was surprised to see Jesse “Cadre” Hansen set up at a table behind us. I should have known that Cadre would be at the con since he is “the hardest working man in comics.” Jesse had his latest project on hand, the #1 issue to Cornerstone which features four stories by the Cadre Corner Crew [say that three times fast!]. It’s a nice package, and I’d have said that even if Jesse didn’t give me a shout-out in the “Thank You” section!
Soon enough Ethan Van Sciver arrived. His table was next to Beatty’s. My buddy, John Higashi, had asked me to get a sketch from Ethan for him. Ethan agreed to the Star Wars piece [adding another figure to this one that he had drawn earlier].

I decided to take a walk around the room before the doors opened. There were quite a few dealers set up. Tim Gordon was there. Tim’s a great guy and he puts on the Tampa show that you’ve heard me brag about over the years. Keith Mallow and Tim are working together cross-promote their shows and see that they don’t overlap. Pictured above is a shot of the America Man table. They were giving away free copies of their America Man comic. Since the doors were getting ready to open, I headed back to Beatty’s table.

From the time the doors opened until almost closing time, the show stayed busy. Every fan I talked with said he/she was having a great time and making some good purchases. Dealers seemed to be doing good business as well. When both the fans and dealers are happy, you know it’s a great show!

Ethan was able to finish Higashi’s sketch, but then about an hour into the show suddenly had to leave. Hopefully, whatever emergency called him away was been positively resolved.

Beatty had a sketch list that kept him busy through the show. That coupled with a ton of autograph requests [and even a couple of newspaper interviews] made the day flow by quickly. Beatty was in the zone when it came to his sketches. Each one was a winner, but this Punisher sketch [purchased by uber Punisher fan Bart ] was my favorite of the show.

As the show came to an end, everyone started to say their good-byes. We told Tim that we’d be at his show in August, if we didn’t make the one in May. Cadre said that he and his crew would be down for the next Sketch Society meeting. We told Joe “Ladder Leg” that we’d see him at the next show. There was just one last thing to do before hitting the road… and that was to thank Monica and Keith for putting on a great show… I decided that it would be best for Beatty to thank Keith…

Statham & Some Sly Casting

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It looks like Jason Statham may take the starring role as “Frankenstein” in the remake of Roger Corman’s cult classic “Death Race 2000.” Paul W.S. Anderson has written and is set to direct the updated actioner.

Although the remake was originally planned as a [pardon the pun] vehicle for Tom Cruise. Cruise has decided to pass on the starring role, but instead stay on as a producer. The original “Death Race 2000” was released in 1975 and starred David Carradine and a pre-“Rocky” Sylvester Stallone. Word is that Anderson would like for Sly to reprise his role as “Machine Gun Joe.”
This could be fun… especially if Sly returns.

Party-time in Port St. Lucie

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If you’re anywhere near Port St. Lucie, Florida this Sunday you might want to swing by the community center [2195 SE Airoso Blvd.] for a Collector’s Comics mini-convention. My buddy, John Beatty will be there signing autographs and doing sketches. Ethan Van Sciver will also be on hand working his artistic magic. The show runs from 10:00am-4:30pm. Phone 772-878-2277 for more details. Hope to see you there!