Getting the Word Out
Bus ads are supposed to be good advertising, so I, uh, got on board. You can create your own bus ad by clicking here.
“He’s Mine”
I’ve been a fan of Robert Kirkman’s Walking Dead comic series since the first issue. I generally pick up my comics once and month and invariably the first that I look to read is The Walking Dead. Part of the reason is you never know who is safe or what is going to happen. This series has had more jaw-dropping-I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened moments than any other series I’ve ever read.
The current issue is no exception. There is a scene so tough to read [not because it is gory and not as much for what is happening, but more for what is about to happen] that I actually paused to think, “Kirkman wouldn’t really do THAT, would he?” I honestly didn’t know. After what he did to the Governor and many of the major cast members, perhaps he would. [And no I am not going to spoil it for those of you who haven’t read the issue yet.]
Suffice it to say that the panel shown above made me as happy as when Burt Reynolds showed up with his crossbow in “Deliverance.”
Kyle Baker’s Hawkman
I’m not much of a Hawkman fan, but I’m a big enough fan of writer and artist Kyle Baker that I’ll give his new Hawkman comic a look. In fact you can check out a sample page posted at Kyle’s site by clicking here.
Reading The Watchmen
So many ZONErs are eagerly anticipating “The Watchmen” movie that I’d be shot if I didn’t mention that there will be an Art of the Film Watchmen book. CBR.com has a few exclusive photos. In addition to the Art of the Film Watchmen book, there will also be The Watchmen: The Official Companion and Watchmen Portraits… not to mention the original graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Oh, and that reminds me that Dave Gibbons has a book coming out called Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel.
Whew! After we read all those books perhaps the movie will be out.
UFC Results
Let’s take a look at my predictions and the results:
Nate Diaz vs Clay Guida — my prediction: Diaz. Winner: Guida by split decision.
Manny Gamburyan vs Thiago Tavares — my prediction: Tavares. Winner: Tavares by unanimous decision.
Karo Parisyan vs Dong Hyun Kim — my prediction: Karo. Winner: Karo by split decision.
Jon Fitch vs Akihiro Gono aka “The Japanese Sensation.” — my prediction: Fitch. Winner: Fitch by unanimous decision.
Stephan “The American Psycho” Bonner vs Jon “Bones” Jones. — my prediction: The Psycho. Winner: Bones.
Lyoto Machida vs Thiago Silva. — my prediction: Flip a coin. Winner: Machida via 1st round KO
BJ Penn vs George St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship — my prediction: GSP. Winner: GSP byTKO when Penn can not answer the bell for the 5th round.
UFC Tonight
Tonight the UFC is putting on a really good card. Predictions are that it will be the biggest UFC pay-per-view ever. Although I’m not sure about that [I think that they could have picked a better date — this is the second pay-per-view this month and the day before the Super Bowl] — but I do believe it’s going to be an excellent card.
Nate Diaz vs Clay Guida should be very entertaining. Both are agressive, in your face fighters. Diaz has height, reach and youth on his side and Guida has experience. I’m going with Diaz.
Manny Gamburyan vs Thiago Tavares could be a technical battle. I think that Tavares is going to be too much for Manny though. I don’t think this will go the distance.
Karo Parisyan vs Dong Hyun Kim should be a great fight. Kim is undefeated. Karo has crazy skills and a ton of experience against tough opponents. He may not be favored, but I’m pulling for Karo.
Jon Fitch vs Akihiro Gono aka “The Japanese Sensation.” I’ll be surprised if this one goes the distance. Fitch for the victory.
Stephan “The American Psycho” Bonner vs Jon “Bones” Jones. Jones is undefeated and Bonner is coming off an extended layoff due to injuries. However, their nicknames alone seal the deal. The Psycho will defeat Bones.
Lyoto Machida vs Thiago Silva. How often do two undefeated, 13-0, fighters match up? Not very. They’re both 6’1″ and weigh 205. Flip a coin, then sit back and enjoy the fireworks.
BJ Penn vs George St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship. This is the second time that they will meet. GSP won the first battle in a tough split decision match. Both fighters are much better now and they were very good then. This should be a war. I’m going with GSP. He’s the current title holder. Penn is coming up in weight to fight him. These two facts give GSP a slight edge, at least in my book.
The Art of “Viking” Crime
A series that I’m looking forward to is “Viking” by Ivan Brandon [writer] and Nic Klein [artist]. Who wouldn’t want to read a Viking crime comic set in the 9th century? If this sounds like something you might like, then check out this Newsarama interview with Nic Klein [who also previews more of the art].
This Could Be The Favorite
It’s only January, but it wouldn’t surprise me if in December, this was still one of my favorite posters of the year.
Time for a Laugh
This is the true story of George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he’d left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.
He immediately phoned the police, who asked “Is someone in your house?” and George said. “No” and explained the situation. Then the police explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.
George said, “Okay,” hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.
“Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don’t have to worry about them now because I’ve just shot them all.”
Then he hung up. Within five minutes three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.
One of the policemen said to George: “I thought you said that you’d shot them!”
George said, “I thought you said there was nobody available!”
Take Me Back to “Babylon A.D.”
The Pitch: “The 5th Element” meets “Blade Runner” with a little bit of “Children of Men” in the mix.
The Overview: Set about 30 years in the future, Toorop [Vin Diesel] is a mercenary hired to deliver a woman [Melanie Thierry] from Russia to the US. Since border crossings are no longer easy, and Toorop is considered a terrorist in the US, it ain’t gonna be easy. Of course if it were easy, we wouldn’t have much of a movie, would we?
The Good: The sense of time and place is excellent… from poor battle-torn slums in Russia to a frozen sea crossing to the bright lights of NYC. The unexpected stuff that seems expected to the characters in the movie — the helicopter/car ride, the submarine rising from the ice to transport refugees, paper maps that work like computers, etc. Toorop keeping his word when he is first brought in. That technology is everywhere. The cast. Diesel in a cage fight. Melanie Thierry is believable as Aurora.
The Bad: The advertising for “Babylon A.D.” — and the fact that the director complained that he wasn’t able to achieve his full vision. The ending is somewhat quick, but totally works with everything given.
The Ugly: The slums of Russia. What happens to Gorsky.
The Summary: “Babylon A.D.” was so much better than I thought it would be. I watched the unrated version [it and the theatrical version are on the dvd] and totally enjoyed it. It’s not a great film, but one that I believe will grow better with each viewing. I look forward to it joining my dvd library.
Joe Bluhm Gives It Away
Joe Bluhm’s drawings are dead-on. Folks say Joe Bluhm has “crazy skills.” “Mad talents” cry others. I’m starting to wonder if maybe both groups are right… and not just about his skills and talents. See, Joe has a new art book coming out called Sketch Infectus. And that’s where things start to head into crazyville.
Joe’s Sketch Infectus is an 80 page hardcover art book filled with nearly 400 of Joe’s drawings. He’s selling this sweet package for just $19.95. That comes to less than 20 cents a sketch. Insane, right? Well, it gets better my friends.
Joe also went out and gathered quotes, tips and advice from some of the top artists working today. People like Tom Richmond, Steven Silver, Phillip Burke and others. Did Joe raise the price? Nope.
Then to show you how out there Joe is with this offer, let’s quote the man himself:
Anyone who pre-orders by February 5th (happens to be a good friend’s birthday!) will get an original sketch. And by sketch, I don’t mean I’ll draw a little 5 second scribble… I mean I’ll actually be cutting out the sketches from these and other sketchbooks and giving them to you! You might get something IN the book and you might get something else! Your sketch might have a doodle on the back. Who knows!
Now that deal is insane and crazy. And if you don’t jump on it, you’d have to be too.
Flatulene – Stinky Good Time
If Rev. Dave Johnson aka “The Potentate” draws it, I’m there. So today we have a link to Rev. Dave’s trailer for “Flatulene.” What is “Flatulene” you ask? Well, here’s how “The Potentate” describes it:
Farting for fun and profit… About 3 days of work to put this together for Titmouse Studios second annual 5 second animation day… As I worked on it, her story started to write itself… My inspiration was Russ Myers ‘Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill’… I might even try to pitch this to Adult Swim.
So if a smokin’ hot chick with irritable-bowel syndrome, fast cars and a partner who’s a flesh-eating zombie sounds like something you’d like to check out, then click here. VROOM! VROOM!
Ledger Deserves It
It was announced today that Heath Ledger has been nominated for a Best Support Actor Oscar for his work as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Although most say that it’s enough to be nominated, I’d really, really like to see Ledger win. [I’ll be pulling for Mickey Rourke in the Best Actor category, but not quite as hard.]
Time for a Laugh
A first grade girl handed in the drawing below for a homework assignment.
After it was graded and the child brought it home, she returned to school the next day with the following note:
Dear Ms. Barnes,
I want to be very clear on my child’s illustration. It is NOT of me on a dance pole on a stage in a strip joint. I work at Home Depot and had commented to my daughter how much money we made in the recent snowstorm. This photo is of me selling a shovel.
Mrs. Fife
Who Wants to go “12 Rounds”
While it’s true that this trailer for “12 Rounds” starring WWE wrestler, John Cena, looks like it will be a “by-the-numbers” action movie, it’s also true that it looks like it might be a fun way to spend a couple of hours.
