Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Dan Panosian gifted me with this Jack Carter drawing at the recent FX Show. Dan is a Stallone fan and decided on “Get Carter” with no prompting from me. I love Dan’s work, so to get a piece from him was a thrill. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
Check out more of Dan’s art here and here. Plan to spend some time, because everything he draws is worth a look!
Time for another dip into the ZONE vault and this time we score a fanzine spot illo done in the late 70’s by Kerry Gammil. The Sub-Mariner is about to lay a final backhand to Tiger Shark. Although I think the Sub-Mariner is a cool character, I never really read a lot of “his” comics. And while Tiger Shark is a perfect villian for the Sub-Mariner, he really isn’t one of my favorite bad guys. Kerry Gammill is a fine artist, but would be down a ways on my favorite artist list.
Yet, I’ve always dug this piece. I must like it to have kept it in the vault for nearly 30 years.
Dippin’ into the ZONE vault today we find a drawing by Howard Chaykin of his Dominic Fortune character. Chaykin is best known for his groundbreaking work on his American Flagg comic series. And while all honors and praise that came Chaykin’s way for it was well deserved, the series was just one of his many milestones.
Howard Chaykin is one of those artists whose work I will follow on just about anything. His track record is pretty amazing. Cody Starbuck. The Scorpion. Dominic Fortune. Monark Starstalker. American Flagg. The Midnight Men. Black Kiss. That’s just off the top of my head and just listing the characters that Chaykin created.
The last I heard, Howard Chaykin was working on a very cool sounding graphic novel about the last days of the wild west and the start of modern society. Man, I can’t wait to see it.
Another item from the ZONE vault. This time we have one of my favorite Master of Kung Fu covers. It’s from issue 80 cover dated September 1979. Penciled by Mike Zeck and inked by Gene Day. Nearly 30 years later and I’m still diggin’ it.
Another dip into the ZONE vault finds this ultra-rare pencil sketch that Frank Miller did for me back in the early 80’s. Meeting Frank was cool and because, at the time, not as many people wanted sketches, and Miller wasn’t as well known then. I was able to sit and talk with him as he sketched it out.
I told him I wanted something iconic with Daredevil and Bullseye. Frank thought for a second and then asked, “Do you care who’s winning?” “Not at all,” I replied. Frank then proceeded to draw the piece above.
A year or so later I saw that Klaus Janson was going to be at a show within driving distance. I made it a point to also be at the show. I spoke to Klaus about inking the Miller sketch. He agreed, but wanted to wait until he had returned home to ink it. He was in Florida for the con and staying with his buddy, fellow inker, Bob McLeod. About a week went by and then I received a call from Klaus. He couldn’t find the sketch. He profusely apologized and offered to pay for the art or replace it. I could tell that he was truly upset. I told him, that perhaps the art would turn up and not to worry about it.
Flash forward a bunch of years later. I had long since gotten out of collecting original art [and had yet to start on my Stallone art theme]. I got a call from my buddy, John Beatty. John had gotten a call from Bob McLeod. Bob had been preparing to move, or doing some major spring cleaning or something… and guess what he found. Yep. My Frank Miller sketch. Bob was sending it back to me by way of Beatty. Since I was no longer collecting original art I decided to sell the piece and buy a laser disc player. Truth be told, I think I’ve gotten more enjoyment out of this xerox of the Miller sketch than I did out of the laser disc player!
This is my fourth Stallone sketch by Ron Salas. Obviously I’m a huge fan of his work. Of course when he does pieces like his take on Sly from “The Expendables” who wouldn’t be? You can check out more of Ron’s art here.
While we were diggin’ around the ZONE vault yesterday, I came across this drawing that I commissioned from Paul Gulacy back in 1980. Unfortunately it was stolen/lost in 1983. Oh well… at least I have this copy…
Time for another dip into the ZONE vault. This time we come up with the front piece to “The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #26” published by Marvel and cover-dated July 1976. Ah, that was a great time. My senior year in high school had yet to start… ah, but I digress.
The front piece is a tribute to the legendary Bruce Lee as drawn by Marshall Rogers.
Mark Schultz has a new art book coming out. That’s the cover posted above. You can hear, uh, read him talk about that and a lot more in this interview at CBR.com.
John Beatty gifted me with this cool sketch of Sly yesterday when he was drawing and signing for fans at Free Comic Book Day at Collector’s Comics in Port St. Lucie.
My admiration for Paul Gulacy’s art goes back to the first time I saw it when i was in junior high. I’ve followed his career since then, so it’s with a great deal of confidence that I say that Jonah Hex #43 [written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray] looks to be some of Paul’s best work ever.
Today is Free Comic Book Day. Comic shops all over the country will be giving away free comics, having store signings with comic book writers and artists, offering big discounts on comic related items, having drawings, costume contests and all sorts of fun. Although I love going to comic conventions, meeting artists and writers, and having all sorts of fun, I’ve never attended a FCBD event. Today that changes.
The Queen and I have been up since 4:30am [had to drop my son & his girlfriend off at the Orlando airport] and have already driven well over 100 miles. In an hour or so, we’re getting back on the road and heading down to Famous Faces & Funnies in West Melbourne, Florida. Derec Donovan and Karl Moline will be there sketching and signing autographs. We’re going to check out the festivities [and maybe see about a Stallone sketch or two].
Then it’s back on the road and down to Collector’s Comics in Port St. Lucie, where my buddy, John Beatty will be sketching and defacing comics with his signature. His lovely wife, Bella, will also be there and it will be a chance for her and the Queen to get together and compare notes. Oh, and store owners Keith Mallow and Monica will be on hand to keep Beatty and I in line. A good time for all is guaranteed.
Then the Queen and I will get back on the road to head for home. If we time it right a dinner a Dixie Crossroads is in the plans. Yeah, this looks to be a great day.
That sweet Reverand Dave Johnson cover will kick off a four-part mini-series by writer Victor Gischler and artist Goran Parlov. Titled “Welcome to Bayou” begins in “Punisher: Frank Castle” #71, in stores June 10th. Gischler describes the mini-series as
‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ meets ‘Devil’s Rejects’ with a little ‘Deliverance’ thrown in,”
You can get a six page preview thanks to the good folks at CBR.com simply by clicking here.
I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. I can’t wait for Rick Remender’s “The Last Days of American Crime.”
Here’s another gem from the ZONE vault. I dug it then… and I digs it now. This is a spot illustration created by Doug Hazlewood back in 1977. It’s of course a drawing of Oliver Reed from “Curse of the Werewolf.” What, you didn’t recognize ole Oliver under all that make-up?
Growing up I always thought that the wolfman was one of the coolest of all monsters and that the “Curse of the Werewolf” werewolf was the version of the wolfman that I liked best… and I still do!
