UFC Predictions

Posted on by

Just a quick post before I head off to bed to get a few hours of sleep.  John Beatty is picking me up at 7am for our trip to FX.  It should be a fun couple of days.  Then on Sunday I’m meeting up with Rob Smith to catch up on the latest news of his travels and art.

This post isn’t about any of that though.  Instead I thought I’d give you my picks for Saturday’s UFC event.  So right to the point: Silva will defeat Leites in what should be a very technical fight, and Liddell will win against Shogun.  Yeah, that’s right don’t count out the Iceman.

Now for some zzzzzzzs!

Star Trek Me

Posted on by

When I was a kid I loved the original Star Trek series.  [Who am I kidding?  I still enjoy it.]  When we’d play Star Trek I always wanted to be Spock.  I had the haircut and even asked my mom if I could get my ears fixed like his.  Thankfully she didn’t give in on that.

I’ve never watched any of the Star Trek spin-offs.  It was just the original series for me.  I am going to check out the Star Trek re-boot since it features the original characters.  Still, it will be strange seeing someone else playing Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew.  Although it won’t be as strange as the photo above with me as Spock, John Beatty as Kirk and Jim Ivey as a Romulan warrior.

100 Bullets Hits 100

Posted on by

100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso has consistently been one of the best comics published each month during it’s 100 issue run.  I’m sorry to see it end, but 100 Bullets was designed to go for just 100 issues.  And it did.  And with the same creative team [including Dave Johnson‘s magnificent covers] in every issue.  CBR.com has a spoiler heavy review right here.

I’m going to miss my monthly 100 Bullets fix… but have to admit I am looking forward to whatever Azzarello, Risso and Johnson do next.

Chris Lopez & FX Countdown

Posted on by

Today’s Stallone sketch is by Chris Lopez.  I love his work, but Chris’ website disappeared years ago and unfortunately I have no idea what happened to him.

Chris Lopez is a very talented artist who used to run SpaceBop.com. I sent Chris an e-mail praising his work and the next day this digital sketch and explanation appeared in my e-mail:

“The Lords of Flatbush is one of my favorite flicks. So I figured I’d do one of Stanley. I loved the scene with him in the pigeon coop, or when he goes to buy the engagement ring and gets pressured into buying the more expensive one. Oh yeah, swinging around 2 football helmets!!! Classic stuff.

So anyway, here it is. I hope you like it. I really had fun doing it. I tried not to fall back on the stereotypical Sly caricature features (eyes, lip) and give him a more realistic approach.”

That was about eight years ago. I lost track of Chris when SpaceBop.com went offline. [There is a site with the same name now, but it’s not Chris’.] Periodic searches for Chris on the internet haven’t turned him up.

Maybe one of you know him??

We’re less than a week away from FX and the fever is growing.  I had breakfast yesterday with Big John Beatty [who else has a milkshake with a sausage & cheese omelet?] and he’s ready to rock some sketches.  LOL.  Mike Zeck is putting us up for the weekend.  Too bad we can’t get Mike to join us for some FX fun.  Mike, like Bella [John’s wife] and Doralya [my wife] will probably enjoy the quiet while Beatty and I are at the show.

 
  • Mood:  Sunny Mood
  • Listening to: Smiling Faces by The Undisputed Truth
  • Reading: Patient Zero by Jonathon Mayberry
  • Watching: Pitch Black
  • Playing: Dead
  • Eating: Easter Dinner soon!
  • Drinking: Diet Coke

Be Careful How You Say It!

Posted on by

The first vanity plate that I can remember seeing in person was “Smooth1.” It belonged to my buddy’s sister.  At that time, about 30 years ago, vanity plates were pretty rare.   These days they’re fairly common and most are along the lines of — “Gr8 1”—  “2Fast4U” — “I C U 8 1 2.”

Sometimes people like to slip in profanity or double entendres and so states have to carefully review all vanity plate requests.  Unfortunately for Kelly Coffman-Lee her request for a Colorado vanity plate was denied.    Coffman-Lee is a vegan who loves tofu.  She covers her car with bumper stickers promoting her lifestyle and decided to take it to the next level and get a personalized plate.  Her request to have the message “I LOVE TOFU” was denied because to fit the plate it would read “ILVTOFU.”

FX is a Week Away!

Posted on by

We’re a week away from FX International.  My buddy, John Beatty will there as a guest along with other comic book artists, movie and tv celebs and thousands of fans.  I’ll be hanging out at Big John’s table on Friday and Saturday as he autographs and sketches.  [Oh, and if you plan to get a sketch from John be sure and print out his Big Beatty Stimulus Bucks Coupon!  It will get you five dollars off any sketch purchased!]

Speaking of sketches, I’ll be hoping to get a few more additions to my Stallone theme, as well as a couple of autographs.

Drop me a comment if you plan to attend.  A fun time will be had by all.

Darwyn Cooke’s Big Update

Posted on by

Yesterday Darwyn Cooke wrote a guest article for Jimmy Palmiotti’s blog and gave us quite an update!  Here are a few highlights:

  • Darwyn is providing covers for The Last Resort which he describes as a “Horror/Comedy… kind of a cross between an Irwin Allen picture and some of the great serials that you’d get back in the day from Heavy Metal.”  It’s written by Jimmy Palmiotti and will be published by IDW this summer.
  • Darwyn is designing and contributing color for the dustjackets on The Complete Torpedo Collection, the five volume set which for the first time ever collects the entire Sanchez Abuli and Jordi Bernet classic series.
  • Our buddy, John Highashi got a shout out for his bowling prowess!
  • Darwyn’s friend Calum Johnston hosts “Almost Darwyn Cooke’s Blog” which provides updates on what the main man is working on.  Until yesterday I didn’t know this blog existed and now it’s on my must read list.

Speaking of must read — if you want to check out Darwyn’s entire guest article, then click here.

Maberry & Patient Zero

Posted on by

I’m currently about halfway through Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry and I’m totally diggin’ it.  The story reminds me of something that you’d get if you combined the best of Charlie Huston, Lee Child, Steve Niles and Duane Swierczynski.  Yeah, it’s THAT good.

Maberry has a blog where you can learn more about him and Patient Zero [and it’s sequels — I can’t wait!], read interviews, reviews and more.

20 Before You Die

Posted on by

Yahoo posted their list of 100 Movies to See Before You Die.  Using just their list I give you (in alphabetical order) my list of 20 Movies to See Before You Die:

  • Blazing Saddles (1974)
  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
  • Casablanca (1942)
  • Die Hard (1988)
  • Double Indemnity (1944)
  • Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
  • Enter the Dragon (1973)
  • The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather II( 1974)
  • Goodfellas (1990)
  • Jaws (1975)
  • King Kong (1933)
  • The Maltese Falcon (1941)
  • The Matrix (1999)
  • Psycho (1960)
  • Pulp Fiction (1994)
  • Rocky (1976)
  • The Searchers(1956)
  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  • The Usual Suspects (1995)
  • The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Thanks to Control Central for the idea.

“The Wrestler” Wrestles

Posted on by

Last night Mickey Rourke was ringside for Wrestlemania 25.  As you can imagine, Rourke got some ring time and even laid the smackdown on Chris Jericho.  Sounds like fun.

Of course some folks will probably bash or at least question Rourke’s participation in “rasslin’.”  Not me though.  I say if Mickey Rourke wants to get in the ring and have some fun, more power to him.  The only thing that would have made it better is if he’d have won the Oscar!