I spoke to writer Edmund Shern on his work on the Scar webcomic, which is part of the new ShiftyLook site that re-imagines classic arcade games as webcomics.

I also interviewed the pair behind the thrilling OGN, The Art of War to be released in July that’s inspired by Sun Tzu’s ancient treatise of the same name.

Read the interview here.

It’s a great book, which you can get here and here is my interview with Boyett.

The quintessential voice of the Man of Steel – primetime television star Tim Daly – once again returns to his original animated role of Superman in JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies.

Daly set the standard as the voice behind the world’s ultimate super hero for Superman: The Animated Series as well as in several animated movies and video games. While fanboys hail his vocal performance as their point of recognition, the Emmy nominated actor is known well throughout the world for his primetime television series roles, including eight seasons on Wings, an intense recurring role on The Sopranos, a memorable turn on HBO’s landmark mini-series From The Earth To The Moon, and his current ABC hit series, Private Practice.

QUESTION: What’s the crux of JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM from Superman’s perspective?

TIM DALY: Well, as usual, it’s all about saving the planet. But first, the Justice League has to save the Justice League. Batman disappoints his colleagues in the Justice League by having a plan to stop any rogue Justice League member, and by allowing those plans to be stolen. Superman understands Batman, though – he really has created these contingency plans for  a pretty noble reason.  He’s trying to protect the world by inserting some checks and balances into this system, realizing that the Justice League has an incredible amount of power, and he wants to make sure that they always use that power in a way that’s not destructive.

QUESTION: Are you able to turn on and off the Superman voice without hesitation, or is there some sort of warm-up involved – mentally or vocally?

TIM DALY: There’s just a lot of technical things to keep in mind. You get warmed up like you do with anything and, after a little rehearsing, it’s all second nature. That doesn’t mean I didn’t want to go back and do a few lines over again – you want these things to be just right. But you don’t necessarily jump straight back in. I mean, it’s not like I walk around being Superman in real life.  But when you read the script and put yourself in the position that Superman is in – I mean, he’s always saving the planet, for God’s sake. When you realize that, it’s not difficult to take the gravitas of the situation and make your voice do what it needs to do.

QUESTION: As well as you know this character after all of these years, are you ever shy to offer suggestions about how certain dialogue might be presented or altered?

TIM DALY: Usually the writing is pretty great, but then again, I can’t keep my mouth shut.  If I think something can be better, I’ll speak up and say so. But I will explain why I’m making the suggestion. I actually find that writers respond very well to being asked questions.  “Why would Superman say that?”  “Would it be better if I said it this way?” You don’t just want to be critical – that doesn’t benefit anyone. The best creative work usually comes from a collaboration.

QUESTION: Have you ever found yourself using the Superman attitude or voice in real life?

TIM DALY: I did a little bit when my kids were young.  And I found that it worked much better on my daughter than my son.  I would say to her, (beefs up his voice), “Stop that right now.” And she would be suitably taken aback. But my son, he didn’t really care.

QUESTION: Has providing the voice of Superman helped you learn anything about yourself or changed you in any way?

TIM DALY: Maybe a little bit.  Maybe some of what gets you through your walks in the world is attitude.  Certainly Superman has a lot of power and he doesn’t have to be showy, rather he carries that confidence quietly.  He knows what he can do. I certainly am not capable of pulling that off in my own life.  But knowing that, I can fake that attitude to help me out now and then.

QUESTION: What Superman memorabilia have you collected over the years?

TIM DALY: I have a beautiful wooden Superman statue with a removable cape – I really love that piece. I have a cel from the original Superman series cartoons.  And I have a gold Superman “S” pin. And then there’s my tights, uh, but don’t tell anymore.

QUESTION: TV and film is usually a one-way experience for you.  You don’t really get to see the final product with an audience very often.  But you’re coming back to the Paley Center in Los Angeles for the premiere of JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM – and this will be your second time seeing one of the DC Universe animated movies alongside the fans. What was your experience like watching Superman/Batman: Apocalypse last time?

TIM DALY: It was really great because the fans were so into it.  Fan reaction is really wonderful to experience in person, especially fans of this genre. They’re so passionate. And it was also fun because it was just my voice and Superman’s image.  Usually when I see myself in a film or on television, there’s about a six-month period where I can’t look at it because all I’ll see are the mistakes. I’m just appalled by the person that I see.  The camera sees me from angles that I’ve never seen myself, so I never think it’s me.  I look at that and I think, “My God, that’s me.” But with these films, I can look up and it is Superman on the screen.  So I don’t have to go through all that. He has no flaws.

QUESTION: What’s the magic of working with dialogue director Andrea Romano?

TIM DALY: The great thing about working with Andrea is that she loves it so much, and she’s so positive about it.  You can’t fake that.  Even after all this time, doing 41 shows at a time, all the series and films, she’s right there with the same enthusiasm and love for the material. I don’t know how she keeps it all straight. Plus, she really loves actors – you always feel like she’s rooting for you.  And that makes it very easy.

Look for the first ish on shelves on October 26.

Catch previews of Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #1, and Red Lanterns #1 (also both out this week) here. There’s also a teasing interview with Edmondson, and artist Mitch Gerads about his next few projects, including the pair’s December releasing series here.

Finally, here’s a preview of the much anticipated fifth issue of Who is Jake Ellis? from Edmondson and artist Tonci Zonjic. WIJE? #5 lands on September 21, and somehow this slipped by me, but WIJE? has been extended from a 5 ish mini to…something longer. Good news.

Get it here now for only $1.49!

You can grab The Frontiersman #26 for only $1.49 right here.

With Action Comics, we’re certainly dealing with a Superman that doesn’t have his parents anymore. Both Ma and Pa Kent are dead in this version, and it’s kind of like the original Superman where you saw him standing over their graves in the same way that Batman did and vowing to always fight for the right. He’s kind of a lot more isolated in that sense, even though he’s not a brooding or inward-turning character like Batman is.

Catch the whole interview here.

Sarkar, with his background in comics and film is an interesting guy. The interview can be read here and if you’d like to see Sarkar, you can do so at a signing tomorrow. Details for that are under the pretty pictures.

MEET SAM SARKAR, CREATOR AND WRITER OF THE VAULT

On July 27th, starting at 7:00 P.M., Golden Apple Comics will present an autograph signing with Sam Sarkar, for the release of the new comic book from Image Comics, THE VAULT.

THE VAULT is about a small team of treasure hunters, struggling to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the “Graveyard of the North Atlantic.” Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature’s fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash.

“THE VAULT is kind of a contemporary Pandora’s Box story,” explained creator and writer, Sam Sarkar. “Though it appears on the surface to be a pretty straightforward story, it has most of its mythology buried deeply. It gets uncovered both literally and figuratively as the pit gets excavated.”

THE VAULT issue #1 autograph event will take place in Los Angeles at Golden Apple Comics on July 27th, 2011 from 7-9 P.M. at 7018 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. For more information, please call 323-658-6047.

I think it’s kind of funny when I hear people say they have no time to write, but they also talk endlessly about the syndicated re-run they watched just last night for the umpteenth time. I also had to (painfully) say no to hanging out with friends, playing video games and going out to the movies. A couple of weeks ago I went to see a matinee movie and it was the first thing I’ve watched at the theater in years. Basically, I cut out almost every non-essential activity. I worked late into the night and I got up early before heading to work. At lunch, I skipped going out with co-workers and locked myself in my office and wrote. Did it get old? Oh, yeah. But I knew I was working toward something and I kept telling myself I could see the light at the end of the tunnel (even on — especially on — days that I couldn’t).

Read the whole interview here.