Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Miguel Insignares gifted me with this cool shot of Sly from “The Expendables”. Miguel said that once I send him a high-res copy, he’ll color it and add Sly’s tats. Miguel always has several irons in the fire and he’s currently developing a very cool concept for a comic/movie. I can’t say any more about it at this time, but believe me, I’ll keep you posted as it develops.
Big thanks to Miguel for hooking me up!
As you can see from the photo above, “Sugar” Rashad Evans was knocked out in the second round by Lyoto “Dragon” Machida. Everything Evans lost, Machida gained… both had undefeated records going in to the fight [Evans lost his and Machida gained another win], Evans had the championship belt which will now rest around the waist of Machida.
Matt Hughes won a close, but unanimous decision [29-28 on all three judges cards] over Matt Serra. It was the last fight on Hughes’ contract, but he expressed an interest to keep fighting and feels he can be competitive in the division. Serra, on the other hand, seemed more interested in getting some pasta.
I really thought I’d be more stoked for tonight’s UFC 98 card. There’s really only two fights that interest me and they are, naturally enough, the co-main event fights.
Matt Hughes and Matt Serra are going to finally get to settle their differences in the octagon. I think that Hughes will dominate Serra. He’s bigger, stronger and has the much better record against tougher competition. Of course that was true when Serra fought GSP and we all know how that turned out.
“Sugar” Rashad Evans risks his title and undefeated record when he faces Lyoto “Dragon” Machida. Machida is also undefeated. Evans always goes in as the underdog, but also always finds a way to win. Ye Gods! I may be wrong, but I’m going with Machida.
Results tomorrow!
Bill Black, who I was just talking about the other day, popped in with some info about this Steranko Nick Fury sketch. Bill also provided a jpg of the Steranko Hercules cover above. It’s obviously a homage to Steranko’s own classic Hulk cover.
Ever wonder how many other homages to that cover there have been? Wonder no more.
Evan Bryce wasn’t the only artist profiled on Newsarama today. My buddy, Bill Black, got the same treatment! It’s kind of cool that Evan is just breakin’ in, Bill is a 40 year veteran of the comics biz and their interviews both appear on the day.
You’ve heard me talk about Evan Bryce’s art for a while now. I’ve been crowing that he’s an artist to watch. Today Newsarama came to the same conclusion.
Congrats Evan!
Yesterday I posted the cover to The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #14 published by Marvel back in 1975. Today we have the front piece to the same mag, again featuring Bruce Lee, but this time drawn by Howard Chaykin. One of the interesting things about this is that it’s a departure from Chaykin’s usual style.
I wish that the scan had come out better because the pencil work was much more delicate than it appears here.
Two legends grace this cover of Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #14 published by Marvel back in 1975. Who’s the other legend, you ask? Well, it depends on which you see.
Action fans immediately know that it’s Bruce Lee shown on the cover. Comic art fans just as quickly see that Neal Adams did the art. My guess is, if you regularly read the ZONE you recognized both,
The “Inglorious Basterds” website has gone live!
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!
I’m thinking I may plan a little road trip down to the this convention. Anyone else going?
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.
This trailer for The Road makes it clear that there’s been changes made from Cormac McCarthy’s award-winning novel of the same name… but, boy, does the movie still look worthy!
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.
