Walking Dead Preview
CBR.com has a preview of the best regularly published comic going today. That’s right, by clicking here, you can get an advance look at Walking Dead 60 by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn.
Chris Lopez & FX Countdown
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!
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!
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.
“Moon”
This trailer for “Moon” starring Sam Rockwell and directed by Duncan Jones looks interesting… although I think I’ll probably wait for dvd or cable.
Yet Another “Terminator Salvation” Poster
IMPAwards posted up a slightly larger version of the “Terminator Salvation” poster above. I like this one.
Darwyn Cooke’s Big Update
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 work on Richard Stark’s The Hunter is nearly complete and the book is scheduled for a July release!
- 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
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
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
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!
“28 days later” Gets a Criminal Cover Artist
Sean Phillips announced that he will be providing the covers for the 28 days later comic series. Sean is an excellent choice for cover artist. I’m interested to hear whose going to be writing and drawing the stories. It might be cool to have a rotating art team.
“28 days” Again
I’m a fan of “28 days later” and its sequel “28 weeks later” so I was happy to read Boom Studios announce that a new comic series will premiere in July bridging the events between the two movies. Although a creative team has yet to be announced, this project sounds like it could be a winner. Especially if the art for the new series is as good as the cover above.
Gary McKee and Jeff Wamester
Today I posted a quick sketch that I got from Gary McKee in 2007. Gary, Jason Walker and Mike Torrance were offering free head sketches to anyone who purchased their sketchbook. That’s always an enticing deal!
In fact Jeff Wamester just made the same offer and being a fan of his work, I couldn’t pass it up. Here’s the link if you’re interested, but check to make sure he still has sketchbooks available! [link]
- Mood:
Satisfied - Listening to: September by Earth, Wind and Fire
- Reading: Patient Zero by Jonathon Mayberry
- Watching: Apocalypto
- Playing: with your emotions
- Eating: Scallops & Artichoke-Mushroom Pasta
- Drinking: Diet Coke
WWE Hall of Fame
Although I loved professional wrestling when I was a kid back in the 60’s and early 70’s, I haven’t regularly watched it since my sons lost interest more than a few years ago. Still, I enjoy seeing clips of old matches/interviews and reading biographies of professional wrestlers. You wouldn’t believe some of the stories — and that’s just the ones that they’ll share!
Last night the WWE Hall of Fame Inductions included “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Ricky “”The Dragon” Steamboat, “Cowboy” Bill Watts, Dory and Terry Funk, announcer Howard Finkle and the Von Erich family.
Here’s a bit of trivia: Did you know that “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is set to co-star with Sly in The Expendables and Terry Funk had featured roles in Sly’s Paradise Alley and Over the Top?
Baseball Cheers
My nephew, Josh Gonzaga, plays college baseball for the East Tennessee Buccaners. Today they had a doubleheader against North Florida in Jacksonville. Since Josh was starting pitcher in the second game, the family decided to drive up. When I say family, I mean family. In attendance were Josh’s mom, dad and brother Justin, my nephew Joey and his wife, my wife, my son Mike and his girlfriend Erin, and Grandma Peggy.
Now the one thing you have to know about Grandma Peggy is that she has little interest in sports and knows even less about them. You could tell her that the pitcher just threw for three touchdowns and she’d not question it. You could say that the batter just earned a TKO and she’d believe you. Grandma Peggy was just there because Josh was playing and she loves being with her family.
As the game got underway there were the normal cheers. “Go Bucs!” “Give him your best pitch!” “Great pitch, Josh!” “Battle back, kid!” “Come on blue, get in the game!” There were also a few new [at least to me] cheers: “Hey Blue, I thought only cows slept standing up!” “Hey Blue, don’t be chicken to call a foul (fowl)!” As the game tightened up and got down to the middle innings it seemed that everyone in the family was cheering something. And that’s when Grandma Peggy yelled:
“That batter swings like a pole dancer!”
Everyone in the family suddenly got quiet and all eyes went to Grandma Peggy who was proudly smiling. “Uh, mom, what does that mean?” I asked. “I don’t know, I just thought it sounded right” came her response. We all busted out laughing. For the rest of the game, every so often, you’d hear someone yell, “That batter swings like a pole dancer!”
So if you’re ever at a baseball game and you hear that cheer… remember you read it here first at the ZONE! [Take THAT, Joey!]
