Joe Gordon over at the Forbidden Planet International blog [no relation to the chain of comic stores] has posted a nice piece about his recent trip to France and the BD he found there. The link is:
http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=6671
Have fun!
This is the part of running a news site I don’t like.
I just received an email with some very sad news. Dave Stevens,creator of The Rocketeer,died yesterday. Apparently he had been suffering from leukaemia.
In the 1980s Stevens’ work,whether in black and white or colour was a joy. The Rocketeer,of course,was what many will remember him for,as well as the movie it spawned. The comic artwork was still better and introduced many of us to rather nubile young lady resembling a certain Betty Page!
“Girly art” is what Stevens will also be remembered for -and some fantastic figure art at that!
Stevens was the first to win the Russ Manning Award in 1982. And his first professional work was to ink Manning’s pencils for the syndicated daily Tarzan strip. And there are many,many fans of his Johnny Quest comic covers produced for Comico.
It was,however,The Rocketeer,that he began in 1982 that really brought him fame around the world.
Fans will no doubt cherish Stevens’ work but at least we do have that to remember a true Master Of Comic Book Art.
I know there are still a lot of Reboot fans out there waiting for a new series -you haven’t been holding your breaths have you?
You can check news and fan art out at:
Cancer Charity Auction
Thanks to Terry Pavlet for forwarding this.
Today, March 8th, the Comics 2 Games sketchcardexhibit for the benefit for the American CancerSociety and auction begins at 5 pm EST. Nearly 200artists contributed (including yours truly as cancersurvivor) and over 1,000 pieces of original art willbe on display and auctioned off.
Artist: Donna Barr, John Beatty, Steve Bissette, Tony DeZuniga, Dick Giordano, Greg Horn, NateLovett, Todd Nauck, Jimmy Palmiotti, Terry Pavlet,Don Perlin. Steve Rude, Billy Tan, many, many more.
For info:
http://www.comics2cars.com/sketchcardshow.htm
100% of all the proceeds go to the American CancerSociety so if you can please bid and bid high. Anamazing group of artists donated their time and artfor this good cause, please check it out.
Auction link:
http://stores.ebay.com/Comic-2Games_W0QQ_trksidZp284Q2em158QQtZkm
“EVER-SO-VERY LOONEY TUNES”
The Bile Storyby Grossadmiral Mudwig Dans
A5 24 pages colour,
£5 + p&p.Available from
www.ledilly.com
I’ll apologise now for comic book readers(or “graphic-navel” gazers) everywhere.This isn’t in any way whatsoever a comic book of any description.Actually, part of the problem I have in attempting anything even resembling a review of the contents, is finding a way to even begin to describe what the Good Grossadmiral Mudwig is up to upon the pages herein. Let’s start by at least attempting to put this into some kind of context. Mudwig Dans work has been featured in various pricey hardbacked books depicting”urban art”(to coin a nauseous, and overrated phrase), arty magazines, and has been exhibited widely, as well as produced various packaging and t-shirt designs for the likes of Warp records.His work straddles betwen the rather tedious graffitti/urban art ghetto, and a more conceptual fine art of galleries and pretentious noncery.
Anyway, the pages within the black-humoured Bile Storys’ cover; how to sum them up? To (mis)quote the great Rod Serling; “Imagine, if you will”…..um, Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart have gone on tour with the frozen remnants of Walt Disney, and Zappa has been taking loadsa photos of stuff, which Beefheart has scribbled all over, while Uncle Walt drools half-remembered body parts of his cartoon creations over bits of Beefheart’s scribbles.Get the idea? Um, probably not, but don’t worry, you’re in a majority.
Dans’ work is not so much a collage of kitschy 70’s product ads, pornography and high school yearbook photos, combined with quirky doodles that warp their not-too-obvious reference points: rather it’s more an appalling pile-up of twisted metal and furry cartoon carcasses you feel oddly compelled to rubberneck on a visually demented highway in the Twilight Zone of borrowed consumer culture.
Phew ! More purile-ism than Surrealism perhaps.This certainly isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste, but personally, I think the guy’s a genuine original when it comes to a certain halluncinatory vision. If I have a criticism, it’s that I’d much rather he concentrated on pure drawing, his real skill, rather than the juxtaposition of the drawing to the appropriated photo-imagery.Also, I think there’s mileage in considering taking some of the visual characters and working a narrative around them. Still, that aside, have fun attempting to work out exactly what his original drawing reference was, before it metamorphed into a Mudwig character. As already mentioned, there’s Dr Seuss to be found, as well as some odd buildings, an over-emphasis on strange meat products that might be the decapitated body parts of Bugs Bunny, not to mention of course, the battleship hulls of the Grossadmiral’s own fleet, floating above the cityscape.In all, it’s a visual delight of 21st century Heironymous Bosch proportions, filtered through a retarded You-Tube running on LSD Batteries.
There, at least is my attempt at a review pushes all the pretentious noncery buttons that Mudwig intends to avoid. A final note must be made of the very good quality production job on this,deserving the fiver tag for what many would still consider a “zine”.
Well done Le Dilly. And thankfully Uncle Tel, I’m still able to avoid reviewing the stuff that sits on the shelves of the local Forbidden Planet, hooray !
In the last week the Manga,Manhua and Manhwa items have been sky-rocketing hits-wise. All the interviews and features seem to be getting a lot of hits.
Is there something going on I don’t know about?
I have discovered that items are being featured on a large number of international sites as well as interviews so this is obviously attracting more people here.
Hence more Manga fans,I’d guess [I’m not really that bright!].
Hopefully you’ll be catered for in the up-coming months with more interviews and -hopefully- the much promised how to draw and get that “Manga Look”!
And remember -news and reviews are welcome!
T
Well,it’s all wrapped up now it seems. Warner’s official site has literally been dry of news and one of the worst I’ve seen to date,though secrecy seems to govern everything from new comic projects to movies and TV these days!
However,a few thumbnail images have been released.
The Comedian
Nothing negative here. Looks pretty accurate as far as the comic character is concerned. Nice.
Silk Spectre
Ooh. Is it because I’m 50 years old or does -hrrmph- Uh,okay. Those heels! Dana Scully may have been able to run in them but..
Ozymandias
ohhhh,crap. We’re into Batman Forever costume wardrobe here.
Nite Owl [learn to spell!!]
ohhh,crap we’re into Batman Forever wardrobe..have I said that already?
Seriously,leather and rubber is so,so..crap. Why is it so impossible for designers and film executives to get clothing made from non-fetish material? The X-Men films used up 52 herds of cattle and 5643 tonnes of rubber [I made that up].
Pleeeeeease,even a sex shop DVD shelf stacker would baulk at the amount of leather and rubber in super hero films!
Rorschach
ah,to think I used to dress like this in the 1980s to visit Mr Brown..his little pinkie was never the same.
Let’s face it,fans,no comic book is EVER going to be seriously made to look like the comic book [ooh,I said “comic book” not “graphic novel”!]. Though one day..one day. Indeed.
PROJECT SUPER POWERS #1
Dynamite Entertainment
Hmm. Long feted as “Alex Ross’s Golden Age Super Hero Revival” I was surprised that Ross is credited as “Plot,covers and Art Direction”.
The plot and script,as you’ll know if you purchased the book,is by Jim Krueger with art by Carlos Paul. In places the art style can look a little ugly or odd but it is not as awful as I first thought. I think that the story let’s everything down. I said it once I say it 343000 times;it’s as though The Watchmen or The Dark Knight is the only reference to bringing back old heroes. They are not.
I did want to try an interview with Alex Ross or Jim Krueger to try to get some feel of what their thinking was but,apparently according to Dynamite,I cannot interview Ross or Krueger on the series.
Well,**** you. Way to get support from the media but then again CBO only gets 16000 hits per week so we probably are not important enough! I have a very long memory,though.
I’m going to see how #3 turns out because I really want to see how things develop,though I,for one [and there are many others if you check internet groups,who feel the same] do not consider these to be the Golden Age heroes I know and love.
Just another Public Domain spin-off. See what you think.
NEW EXILES #2
Marvel Comics
I know,I try to avoid Marvel or DC comics [after all they don’t send review material!] but I’d hate anyone to miss the New Exiles –nice story-telling by Chris Claremont and Tom Grummett and great inking by Scott Hanna [as though you could expect otherwise] and Wilfredo Quintana does an excellent job on colouring.
Okay,I have no idea why they had to start fron number 1 again or add “New” to the title and I still call it The Exiles –as do most fans. Seriously,this comic shows how a comic book should look and feel and is a treat from cover-to-cover.
A title Marvel should be proud of. Buy!
THE TWELVE #2
Marvel Comics I’m sorry,but I just hate this cover.
Interior art is very nice and excellent inking by Garry Leach. However,I’ll refer you all to my comments earlier re. Project Super Powers.
These are not the heroes of the Golden Age Timely Comics. Dynamic Man displays his racial prejudices thusly,once again,showing that Straczynski hasn’t realised that the character was an android –you might ask,after #1,why an android would be labelled as possibly gay but now you have to ask whether an android would be racist??
And if Rockman is so overwhelmingly concerned about his underground kingdom after 60 years,why,why,why doesn’t he just find a ******* cave and return to it?!! And wouldn’t the Moleman have overthrown that kingdom by now??
We also have to [yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn] once more hear that some of the original Golden Age heroes,such as the Blue Blade,were nothing more that publicity-seeking glory hounds.
Thank the lords that Straczynski did not profess any great “love for these Golden Age Timely greats” pre-publication! I believe that Straczynski seriously burned out of ideas after his run overlording Marvel’s Maxx line of Hyperion,Squadron Supreme,etc.. It’s all becoming very,very stale. As with Project Super Powers,I’ll keep checking this out but mainly for the art.
CHINESE HERO:TALES OF THE BLOOD SWORD vol.5
Author: Wing Shing Ma
ISBN: 978-1-59796-124-0
Date Published: 2/27/2008 Format: Paperback / Soft cover/ Color
Number of pages: 240
Rating: 13+ Price: $18.95
Pre-order: $17.95
Hero defeats Steel Bull and rescues the captured people in Steel Bull Valley. However, before dying, Steel Bull lets out a battle cry, calling a stampede of mad bulls charging into the valley and furiously attacking everyone. The crazed bulls are eventually defeated, but with tragic consequences…
While Hero is trying to get back to China Tower, he meets a soothsayer who tells him that he is going to be lonely for the rest of his whole life. Hero sees this as a dark omen of more unfortunate events to come… Meanwhile,China Tower is attacked while Hero is gone, and Zhi, Qin and Ghost Servant fight for their lives as they desperately try to fend off the Black Dragon Gang. Will China
My problem,of course,is to look at these books critically. I just cannot.
Wing Shing Ma is a legend in Chinese language comics –some may recall the influx [very briefly] of Tony Wong’s Jademan Comics in the 1980s when we first read Blood Sword in English. Those comics showed Ma’s wonderful art style but these Dr Master books are something else!
The book contains chapters 33-39 and as is usual,Dr Master Publications production quality is superb. Thankfully,there has been no attempt to wipe out Chinese text effects because that would have really spoilt the look.
The action is rendered in Ma’s usual standard with characterisation and action looking good and flowing well. It is just a treat to hold and go through these books and if only a few of the thousands who visit CBO purchased copies to see what I mean I truly think Ma would be recognised as a comic genius –and maybe get some of the fame he deserves in the West.
10 out of 10 for this one [though it should be 25 out of 10!!]
METRO SURVIVE vol.1
Author: Yuki Fujisawa
ISBN: 978-1-59796-125-7
Date Published: 02/25/2008
Format: Paperback / B & W Number of pages: 204
Rating: 15+ Price: $9.95
Pre-order: $8.95
Mishima is your average spineless pushover, working as a repairman for the Exopolis Tower,Tokyo’s largest and hottest high-rise business and entertainment building. He promises to come home in time to celebrate his son’s birthday, but when he lets his pushy boss saddle him with overtime, the task takes him all night.
On the morning subway train heading home, a massive earthquake strikes and collapses both Exopolis and its underground train lines.
Now Mishima is trapped deep underground with the other passengers of the train, some of whom are less than cooperative. Will he be able to take the initiative for once and lead them all to freedom, or will they starve in their underground prison?
If you are expecting a Manga version of Stallone’s “Daylight” –forget it. This book is far more enjoyable! Sadly,letratone in these books is growing on me!
The pace and characterisation is good and I guess you always wonder what might happen if this scenario really happened –more than likely a lot of people sitting around muttering “family will be glad –they don’t have to pay for a coffin now!” Or is that just me?
A nice eye-catching cover and I can see Manga fans loving this one. Ahh,then there’s…
LUNAR LEGEND TSUKIHIME vol.5
Author: Sasakishonen ISBN: 978-1-59796-171-4
Date Published: 2/28/2008 Format: paperback / B&W
Number of pages: 224
Rating: 15+ Price: $9.95
Pre-order: $8.95
After rescuing Shiki from his dangerous encounter with Roa, Ciel warns him in vain to stay away from Arcueid, who may have an ulterior motive. Meanwhile, Shiki cannot shake off the feeling that he knows Roa, and a visit to the garden of his house jolts his memory, piercing him with visions of Roa as a child, along with a voice telling him that he will become a “true monster” someday.
Darn it! I got volume 5!!! Not sure how you can review a series five issues in but I’ll try.
I sat down and read this one straight through. It’d make a great movie! Shiki’s childhood memories keep haunting him and I liked the way things were paced so that when the violence does taka place it jars wonderfully –especially as the killer has been so cute up to that point.
A secret personal and family secret –and much,much more makes this a well recommended book –see if you can find volunes 1-4!
Abe Sapien: The Drowning #2
Writer: Mike MignolaArtist: Jason Shawn AlexanderCover Artist: Mike MignolaColorist: Dave StewartGenre: Horror, Action/Adventure
Awards: Mike Mignola: Winner 2002 Eisner Award Best Limited Series for Hellboy: Conqueror Worm,Mike Mignola: Winner 2000 Harvey Award Best Artist for Mike Mignola (Hellboy: Box Full of Evil),Mike Mignola: Winner 2003 Eisner Award Best Humor Publication for The Amazing Screw-On Head,Mike Mignola: Winner 2004 Eisner Award Best Comics-Related Book for The Art of Hellboy Supernatural forces converge on the island of
Publication Date: Mar 05, 2008 Format: Full color, 32 pages Price: $2.99
The End League #2 Writer: Rick RemenderPenciller: Mat BroomeInker: Sean ParsonsColorist: Wendy BroomeGenre: Action/Adventure Lobotomized and insane with rage, Thor returns from the dead with one goal-the annihilation of his former teammates. The fate of the world once again rests on the shoulders of The Miraculous Astonishman, the only man living with the power to stop a God of Thunder gone mad. Meanwhile, the mysterious man known only as Black uncovers the truth behind mastermind Dead Lexington’s renewed interest in the demise of the last remaining heroes on Earth.
Publication Date: Mar 05, 2008 Format: Full color, 32 pages, Ongoing Price: $2.99
© 2007 ComicBitsOnline.com. Powered by Wordpress wearing MyJournal Hypereal by 
BlogoSquare
There are currently 648 posts extending over 16 categories with loads upto 87 comments with valid XHTML and CSS.
