Get Ready for Dark Horse Presents

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Every so often I’ll post about Dark Horse Presents #1.  That’s the first comic put out by Dark Horse.  It was an anthology comic and over the years featured work from Frank Miller, Harlan Ellison, Matt Wagner, Mike Mignola, Eric Powell, Chris Warner, and many, many other talented folks.

Usually when I post about Dark Horse Presents, it’s to say it’s time to see a new Black Cross series by Chris Warner or at least a compilation of the stories in a nice trade edition.  And although I’d love to see the return of Chris Warner’s Black Cross, the focus of this post is something else…

Dark Horse is bringing back the anthology comic Dark Horse Presents!  The first issue will feature work from Frank Miller [Xerxes, the prequel to 300] and Paul Chadwick [Concrete].  Dark Horse Presents will definitely be worth a look and CBR.com has a preview of the covers for issue one.

Falling Skies, Raising Expectations

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Have you seen this trailer for Falling Skies?  So, what’d you think?  Although I’m not sold from just seeing the preview, I do like the concept…

… FALLING SKIES opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force…

… and the people involved…

FALLING SKIES is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost (Justified, The Pacific) and screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat, who earned an Oscar® nomination for his screenplay for Saving Private Ryan, wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg. Mark Verheiden (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica) and Greg Beeman (Heroes, Smallville) are co-executive producers. The pilot was directed by Carl Franklin (One False Move, Out of Time)…

The series stars: Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, and Colin Cunningham.

Hero, Dynamite and Henchman

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That’s the cover above to Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1.  I can remember buying the first issue off the stands [cover date June 1972].  Lucas was sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  In an effort to get early release, Lucas agreed to an experimental treatment designed to boost a person’s immunity to illness.  Instead it gave him super-strength and steel hard skin.  Lucas used his new powers to escape prison and take on the identity of Luke Cage, Hero for Hire.

I loved the idea of a hero who took on cases like a private eye.    And although Cage was a “Hero for Hire” he often took on cases for no pay when the cause was right.  I really got into the comic.   In “shop” class we had to create business cards, so while other kids were creating cards as lawyers, plumbers and the like, I created cards that read “Blackjack Joey, Hero for Hire.” I explained to the teacher that “Blackjack Joey” was my secret identity [taking the moniker of my favorite professional wrestler, Blackjack Mulligan, and combining it with my middle name Joseph].

That was over 38 years ago.  So you can imagine my amusement when looking through the December issue of Previews to see these two comics coming out in the early months of 2011.

That’s the cover to Black Dynamite: Slave Island coming from Ape Entertainment.  It’s a 48 page full color graphic novel based on the “Black Dynamite” movie which starred Michael Jai White.  Black Dynamite: Slave Island was written by Brian Ash with art by Jun Lofamia.   The book is suggested for mature readers and will set you back $5.95.

Harry Walton: Henchman for Hire is a 62 page full color graphic novel [$9.95] from Arcana Studio.  Written by Zak Sherman with art by Tom Martinek and Jason Worthington, it is the story of a “disenfranchised ex-super-hero sidekick” who decides to “work his way up the ranks” and become a super-villain.

I’m not sure either of the two books are my cup of tea, but they did make me want to go back and re-read Luke Cage, Hero for Hire.

Andy Kuhn Gets Carter

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Andy Kuhn does the best sketches! He is a master of spotting blacks and knowing just what needs to be put in and more importantly left out. I love Andy’s sense of design so I was extremely pleased to get on his sketch list at Heroes Con and asked him for Jack Carter. As you can see he rocked it. You can check out more of Andy’s art at his blog and his DA site.

Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Merry Kwanza, and of course there’s Festivus for the rest of us. Oh, and if you don’t celebrate any of these, than good day! I hope that you’re surrounded by friends and loved ones and that the day brings you all that you desire.

The Santa used in today’s post was drawn by John Beatty for a charity comic story that we did last year. John has posted the entire three page story on his site, so if you have the desire you can see it there. Hope that you enjoy it, if you take a look.

[This was the same Christmas day post that I used last year, but because the sentiments haven’t changed and because some new readers may have missed our Christmas comic, I’m running it again.]

Riddick Returns

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Earlier this afternoon, Vin Diesel posted on his facebook page the art above and a tidbit about the third Riddick movie:

So the director of Riddick, my partner on COR [Chronicles of Riddick] since the beginning, DT [David Twohy]… has a new challenge in store. He wants me to have 3 different body looks for this next chapter… There is the DiNorscio type, the Dom type, and the lean Furyan type… but all in the same movie, haha… When it comes to art, we all like a challenge.

You can read more about the third Riddick movie here at Bloody Disgusting.

Indiana Jones and the Death Rumors

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There’s been quite a bit of speculation lately, that Harrison Ford would like to see Indy killed off in the next Indiana Jones movie.  Depending on which article you read, Ford either…

  1. wants Indy to die and pass the fedora and bullwhip on to his movie son played by Shia LaBeouf or…
  2. … the reports that Ford wanted to kill off Indy are false.

Either way, the rumors have some die hard Indiana Jones worried.  Although I’m an Indiana Jones fan and would look forward to another outing, I’m not in the least bit worried about the character.  Seriously, if Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull didn’t kill off the character, nothing will.

Fringe: It Ain’t Over…

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Although Fringe isn’t my favorite tv show, I do look forward to it every week and would hate to see it get cancelled.  Fox’s decision to move the show to Friday is seen by almost everyone, including the folks who make the show, as a potential deathblow.

I’m glad to say that the creative talent behind Fringe are facing the move to the scheduling graveyard head-on.  io9.com also posted Five Things We Can Do to Save Fringe.

So, will Fringe be able to turn the move to Fridays into a rallying call for hardcore fans to bring in new viewers, or will it suffer the same fate of most shows moved there?  Time will tell…

Dustin Harbin Gets Carter

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This week we have Dustin Harbin‘s look at Jack Carter. Dustin is a freelance illustrator working out of Charlotte, NC. I’ve known Dustin for years through his outstanding work with Heroes Con. It was only recently that I discovered Dustin’s talent for cartooning.

Well, you just know I had to see Dustin’s riff on Sly. I hope you dig it as much as me. Dustin will be back soon with his take on Sly as Freddy from “Cop Land.”

John Beatty @ Collectors Comics

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Those mugs in the photo above are Keith Mallow and John Beatty.  Mallow and Beatty have been my buddies for years.  Yeah, I know.  My mom used to warn me about the company I keep.

Anyway, Keith is having Big Beatty down to his Collectors Comics store today.  Beatty will be drawing free headsketches for anyone who spends $25 bucks.  I’ll be there to heckle Mallow and cheer on John.  Heck, I may even try to finagle a new Stallone sketch.  Look for live tweets and later a full report.  If you’re within driving distance come on by!  For more information call 1-772-878-9229.

RIP Blake Edwards

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I was sorry to read that Blake Edwards passed on today at the age of 88.  Although Edwards is perhaps best known for his work on the Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers, he did so much more.  Here are just some of my favorites from Blake Edwards‘ credits:

  • The Great Race [original story, director]
  • Wild Rovers [screenplay, director]
  • The Return of the Pink Panther [screenplay, director]
  • The Pink Panther Strikes Again [screenplay, director]
  • Revenge of the Pink Panther [screenplay, director]
  • 10 [writer, director], Victor/Victoria [writer, director]
  • Experiment in Terror [director[

Blake Edwards also created the classic PI tv series Peter Gunn [I’ve only seen clips] as well as the classic films Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Days of Wine and Roses [both of which I’ve also never seen in case you’re wondering why they weren’t listed in the credits above].

Mr. Edwards is survived by his wife Julie Andrews as well as their two children and his two children from a previous marriage.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Edwards, his family, friends and fans.