Rambo Changes Course

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Hey SZoners – I just received an e-mail from Sly for all SZoners:

From Sly

Hi Craig,

This is from Sly to your followers:

To all the loyal SZoners out there,

I’m letting you know that Rambo has changed course and the story about hunting the man/beast will be done using another character in the lead. RAMBO himself will be heading over the border to a violent city where many young women have vanished .

There will be blood.

Best,
Sly Stallone

This is great news since it means that we should get two Stallone movies – a new “Rambo” [back to the concept everyone seemed to dig] and what sounds like “Hunter” based on the novel written specifically for Sly by James Byron Huggins. It’s no secret that I and many SZoners have been hoping that Sly would adapt the novel for the big screen. – Craig

$10 Head Sketch Saturday

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John Beatty is gearing up for another $10 Head Sketch Saturday.  So if you missed out on the first one, here’s another chance: Saturday, November 14th starting at about 11am.  You can order your sketch and then watch John draw it live on UStream.  I’ll be there co-hosting the event and even if you’re not ordering, drop in and join the fun!  Details can be found at John’s site.

Hope you can join us!

The Ghoul

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If this description doesn’t get you interested… 

The Ghoul, a monstrous investigator with a reputation for solving the world’s weirdest crimes…

…then perhaps knowing that it’s created and written by Steve “30 Days of Night” Niles with art by Bernie “Frankenstein” Wrightson will be enough to get you to pick up a copy.  Of course you may be a real hard sell and want to see CBR.com’s five page preview before you’re willing to part with your hard-earned cash.

John Beatty’s Quick Carter

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My buddy John Beatty recently did this quick sketch of Sly as Jack Carter. Not too long ago John began doing a weekly Wednesday Night Sketch Session live on UStream. These are full figure pieces and fans have the option of getting them with or without gray tones. Here are a few of examples [with tones /without tones / and again with tones]. Fans get on his list, John let’s them know the date he’ll be doing their piece and they can tune in [along with others] and interact with John as he completes the art. This has been going over so well, that John is booked through the end of the year.

In addition, John set aside a monthly time [usually a Saturday midday] that he goes live on UStream and does Ten Dollar Head Sketches. Because these move at a much faster pace [usually 20 to 30 minutes] and the turnout is so great, I serve as co-host. Here are two of my favorites – Captain America and Two-Face from the last session.

If you’re interested in getting in contact with John, just click here!

“Yes, Timmy, there is a Santa Claus”

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Today I’ll be at the Tampa Comic Con & Toy Show.  Tim Gordon, who runs the show, is debuting his first Christmas Comic for Charity and John Beatty and I have a story in it.

When Tim decided to put together his charity Christmas comic, he contacted several artists and writers to see if they would donate a pin-up or a short Christmas-related story.  John decided that he wanted to participate and said that if I would write a short story, he’d pencil, ink and color it.  How could I refuse?

What you see below is the result of our efforts.  I hope that you enjoy them.

Tampa Comic & Toy Convention

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This Saturday, I’ll be joining my buddy, John Beatty at Tim Gordon’s Tampa Comic Book and Toy Convention.  If you’re a regular ZONE reader, then you’ve probably read about Tim’s shows  many times.  We try to attend as many as possible because they’re always a blast.

This one should be no exception.  In addition to Big Beatty, you can also meet Todd Nauck, Billy Tucci, Tommy Castillo, Dick Giordano, Alex Saviuk, Gene Gonzalez, “Leaping” Lanny “The Genius” Poffo, Santa Claus, and a whole bunch of other talented folks.  There will be a film room, give-a-ways, artists sketching and more.

Isle of the Dead

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It’s no secret that I’m a fan of movies and books which focus on a small band of people who find themselves up against incredible odds in a life or death struggle. That’s one of the reasons that zombie stories appeal to me. Not because of the gore, but how much more outnumbered and against it can you be then when you’re fighting a world of dead beings?  That’s why I love really good zombie stories like the original “Night of the Living Dead”, the remake of “Dawn of the Dead” and the comic series “The Walking Dead”. 

Of course the “bad guys” don’t have to be zombies.  The could be aliens [“Aliens”], nazis [“The Dirty Dozen”],  Mayans [“Apocalypto”], but there’s just something about zombies that kick things up a notch.  Maybe because they want to eat you and maybe because anyone in the group could become one.  At any rate…

Earlier this year Miguel Insignares told me about a project that he’s putting together called “The Rufnex: Isle of the Dead”.  It was such a cool concept that I wanted to start talking it up right away, especially after seeing some of the prelimiary art and names attached to the project.  Yesterday Miguel’s Isle of the Dead site went live.  If you go there, you’ll learn more about the project as well as see the names already attached.  You’ll even learn how you could become a zombie in the comic.  What could be better than that?