Changing Ways Launch

If you’re a West Australian like me, then this launch of Gestalt’s Changing Ways OGN by writer/artist Justin Randall will be of interest. I may even be there myself, but don’t let that stop you from going.

Changing Ways
Graphic Novel Launch

THURSDAY OCTOBER 7 AT 7PM

CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Gestalt Publishing and Curtin University invite you to the launch of Justin Randall’s Changing Ways graphic novel.
Celebrate the publication of the book that has been called “the most important step forward in Australian comics” with Writer/Artist Justin Randall and Editor Wolfgang Bylsma.

The launch speech will be delivered by Associate Professor Donal Fitzpatrick, Head of the School of Design & Art (SODA).

Justin will be discussing his vision and creative process and, of course, signing books! Artwork from Changing Ways Book 1 (and a sneak peek at pages from Book 2) will be projected onto the gallery walls!

VENUE:

The John Curtin Gallery
Building 200, Curtin University
Kent Street, Bentley WA
Australia [Map]

September 30, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 2 Comments

Chaykin And Clones In Star Wars Mags

Two new press releases regarding Star Wars magazines below.

STAR WARS INSIDER ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE HOWARD CHAYKIN COVER AND POSTER!

To mark the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, Titan’s December edition of Star Wars Insider magazine includes an exclusive limited edition collector’s cover and large size pull-out poster drawn by original Star Wars comic book artist, Howard Chaykin!

Chaykin, who drew the first limited-edition Star Wars poster in 1976, has now created a special Empire Strikes Back image exclusively for Star Wars Insider, the official magazine of the Star Wars saga. This limited edition collector’s cover of Insider is only available through comic stores and the large size pull-out poster comes free with the regular Insider newsstand edition.

This issue of Insider explores the making of the original Star Wars comic book by Chaykin and writer Roy Thomas and includes a never before published transcript of a meeting between George Lucas and Chaykin regarding the adaptation of Star Wars for a Marvel comic series.

Chaykin on the Star Wars characters:
“I feel that kid who plays Luke is a little soft in the face so I’m going to harden him up a little bit. He’s got a great cleft and that’s fine, but he looks like he’s 16. It’ll make him more heroic in the picture. Han Solo is perfect. He looks like I drew him. He looks my cliché mercenary hero. He looks like [classic comic book hero] Cody Starbuck. Chewbacca will be no problem. Same thing is true of Darth Vader…. He looks like a comic book character—Doctor Doom.“

The magazine also features interviews with the team behind The Clone Wars series, remarks from the Mark Hamill panel at Star Wars Celebration V and an Endor location guide. Plus, there’s much more must-have material for all Star Wars fans.

Retailers can order this special Star Wars Insider with exclusive Howard Chaykin cover and large size pull-out poster from October’s Diamond Previews. See Star Wars Insider “Featured Item” listing within the Books & Magazines section in Previews for more information.

Star Wars Insider #122
On-sale December 14, 2010

To subscribe to Star Wars Insider click here:
http://bit.ly/9MJYpo

Star Wars Insider is also available to read in full on PC, Mac or iPad at Zinio.com, the world’s largest digital newsstand. To subscribe to the online version of Star Wars Insider click here:
http://bit.ly/bZYEDg

Readers can keep up to date with more news and announcements from Star Wars Insider at the official Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/StarWarsInsider

Star Wars : The Clone Wars  Magazine #1

Coming to newsstands and comic stores near you on October 5 is an all-new Star Wars: The Clone Wars Magazine bursting with action and adventure!

In the first awesome issue, find out all about your favorite characters and vehicles with in-depth profiles and re-visit some classic The Clone Wars moments with episode guides. There’s also a chance to win a bundle of fantastic Hasbro toys in the Issue 1 competition! Plus, if you’ve not had a chance to check out Sony Online Entertainment’s new Clone Wars Adventures virtual world, now’s the time as there’s a code for a one-month free trial in this issue! And the magazine is chock-full of games and puzzles that are all sure to entertain!

Each issue will also feature a mini The Clone Wars comic adventure, eight pages of pure action! Issue 1’s story is called The Droid Deception and finds Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi on a Geonosian shipyard in deep space. Will they succeed in denting Grievous’ ability to maintain his vast fleet, or are they walking into a Separatist trap? Find out only in Star Wars: The Clone Wars Magazine #1!

September 29, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Facebook Creator Gets A Bio Comic

Bluewater’s timely biographical comics have run the gamut from politicians to entertainers to anyone who’s in the pop culture spotlight. Mark Zuckerberg falls into the latter category, especially with David Fincher’s film on the founding of Facebook, The Social Network opening late next month. Here’s the press release on Zuckerberg’s comic book tale.

“MARK ZUCKERBERG: CREATOR OF FACEBOOK” A DIFFERENT KIND OF COMIC BOOK BIOGRAPHY FROM BLUEWATER

In December, Bluewater Productions is publishing a biographical comic book called “Mark Zuckerberg: Creator of Facebook”, a 48 page giant sized issue priced at $6.99. Written by Jerome Maida and penciled by Sal Field, with cover art by Michal Szyksznian, it will be available from comic book stores and online retailers.

Who is the real Mark Zuckerberg? The answer, of course, is somewhere in between and Bluewater Productions is announcing it is filling that gap and exploring the background of the website’s founder in the medium of comic books.

The young billionaire and creator and CEO of Facebook who announced recently that he is generously donating $100 million to public schools in Newark? Or the cold-blooded businessman who walks over people to get what he wants – the way he is portrayed in the critically acclaimed movie “The Social Network”.

“This is a fascinating story” says Maida. “I enjoyed researching it because it’s extremely compelling. Think about it. Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire on the planet and created something that has already had a profound impact on the world. Yet hardly anyone knows much about him. It’s amazing.”

The road to success, Maida says, was not preordained nor was it always a smooth ride.

“Mark was offered loads of money at a young age and turned all his suitors down because deep down he knew he had higher goals than to work for someone else”, says Maida. “Bill Gates offered Mark a million dollars while Mark was still in high school to work for him and Mark turned it down. I mean, how many high school kids will ever be made an offer like that? Very few. And how many would have the confidence to turn it down and pursue their own path? Very few, if any. But that’s what Mark did.”

Of course, Mark wasn’t able to do everything on his own. He received help to various degrees and in different capacities from others. Many of these business relationships did not end well.

“Rightly or wrongly, Mark dealt harshly with some people on his way to where he is today”, says Maida. ” As we see, he left many people feeling betrayed. I try my best to be fair here. No one is totally innocent in this story. I try to represent each of the major players’ point of view.”

“Bluewater is looking to tell unique stories that are just not about celebrities”. Said publisher Darren G. Davis “The 1st biography one shot we are doing is about Father Yod and The Source Family and Mark Zukerberg will follow the next month. These books are not only good reading to get to know the subjects but are also being used as a tool in schools and libraries. ”

“Mark Zuckerberg: Creator of Facebook” will hit shelves in December but will be available to order at bookstores, comic stores or online at www.tfaw.com.

For more information, visit Bluewater online at www.bluewaterprod.com.

September 28, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Extra Sequential Episode Eight

The eighth episode of our podcast is now online. Myself and my co-host Mladen chat about Spider-Man bedsheets and all manner of comic book-ery goodness. Hear it below, download it here or find us on iTunes or Mixcloud.

2:18 NEWS

The big shake ups at DC Comics, the outrageous prices of floppies at Borders, the diverse list of possible directors for the upcoming Superman film and our opinion on the All Star Superman animated trailer. Also, Ghost Rider 2 and Fantastic Four Reborn.

18:58 WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

First up – video games, including Halo Reach and Scott Pilgrim.

Thor #615. The first issue from the new creative team of Matt Fraction and Pasqual Ferry.

Peter Pan by Regis Loisel. A French, and mature, prequel to the classic tale.

Skullkickers #1. The sleeper hit from Image by Jim Zubkavich, Chris Stevens and Edwin Huang. Lethal Weapon via Lord of the Rings.

Gon, “the little dinosuar with the heart of coal,” by Masashi Tanaka.

41:41 Trade Swap

Sea Bear and Grizzly Shark. A one-shot Image story that is insane and entertaining.

EmiTown by Emi Lenox. A cute and largely amusing visual diary.

1:00:40 WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Kick Starter. If you have an arty idea and need funding, or would like to fund others’ ideas, this is the place for you.


September 27, 2010
Categories: Games, Movies, New To Comics?, News, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Cursed Pirate Girl on Kickstarter

I was only vaguely aware of this series from creator Jeremy Bastian and Olympian Publishing. All I knew was that it was a critical darling and made with much care and detail. Then a friend at work today was looking at Kickstarter (a site where support and financial contributions are encouraged to see unique projects come to life) so I thought I’d share this. You can check out all the info and a video explaining the project here. Funding opportunities will close on October 14.

Here’s how the project is described:

Cursed Pirate Girl is the comic book tale of a salty little adventurer traveling in search of her lost father, one of the dreaded Pirate Captains of the mythical Omerta Seas. Rendered in a stunning pen and ink style the story begins in Port Elisabeth, Jamaica in the year 1728, and quickly heads across- and beneath- the waves.

“It’s all too rare that I see work that is truly original- and I almost never see work THIS original- Jeremy Bastian is a genius.”
–Mike Mignola, Eisner Award winning creator of Hellboy

“A throwback to classic storytelling that any age can enjoy.”
-David Petersen, Eisner Award winning creator of Mouse Guard

The story is like the fairy tales we all grew up with- perfect for kids, but with bits that will make them shudder… If you’re an adult who likes Terry Gilliammovies, or movies like The Princess Bride, you’ll love this more than the kids do.

We’re now preparing to release the collected edition of Cursed Pirate Girl, just over 100 pages and representing three years of Jeremy’s dedication to telling her story. We’ve made a commitment to environmentally conscious printing in North America, and that means that the cost to manufacture our books is more than twice what it would cost if we were printing them overseas with mass produced materials.

To offset the costs of printing using all recycled materials and still be able to keep the collected edition competitive at $20 cover price, we’re putting together some packages that are only going to be offered this month, and only through Kickstarter. We’ll be using the same heavy papers, and we’ll also be stamping each and every copy of the book by hand to make each one unique. We hope that as Cursed Pirate Girl’s audience continues to grow, you’ll be happy that you have something that we believe is really special, and your Kickstarter edition will show that you were part of helping make this book happen.

We should also mention that there are some really special things in Cursed Pirate Girl’s future, including an audio version that we’re currently working on with some stars that you wouldn’t believe reading the characters, including MirrorMask star Stephanie Leonidas as Cursed Pirate Girl, comic legendsGrant Morrison and Dave McKean as the Swordfish Brothers, and the greatest UFC fighter of all time, Randy Couture, as the vile henchman Sharky.

September 22, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Comics Pipeline

Here’s a press release for those of us that like good, original comic art and want to get it easily.

EXCLUSIVE, ORIGINAL COMICS ARTWORK “PIPELINED” DIRECTLY TO FANS

COMICS PIPELINE debuts new pairing of top comic creators with web technology!

COMICS PIPELINE is a new website that is partnering with some of the hottest talent in the comics industry to deliver exclusive, never-before-seen artwork directly from the artists’ drawing table to their fans.

Comics Pipeline is now offering a taste of some of the exclusive artwork by Ben Templesmith (Choker, 30 Days of Night), Tyler Kirkham (Green Lantern Corps), Talent Caldwell (Batgirl), and Jimmie Robinson (Bomb Queen), just four of the many creators that will be launching with Comics Pipeline in November!

“The possibilities for both the creators and the fans are endless,” explains Kristen Simon, recent editor for industry leader Image Comics, and now the Creative Director for Comics Pipeline. “Fans can subscribe to their favorite creators and gain access to all-new, full-realized comic book stories, webcomics, sketches, ideas, and behind-the-scenes artwork from their favorite series!”

Jason Simon, Director of Operations, adds, “Comics Pipeline is redefining comics. ComicsPipeline.com will contain only original, never-before-seen artwork and stories by the exciting creators that drive this industry. We don’t deal with material that people have already seen and read. The artwork and stories found on ComicsPipeline.com will be fresh and new, not merely reprinted, presented in an online format.”

Comics Pipeline is officially launching in November, 2010, and has partnered with Chicago-based web developer Tecture to launch its site and hone its online, social, and mobile strategies.

September 21, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Extra Sequential Podcast Episode Seven

Wordless wonders is the name of the game in the seventh episode of the new Extra Sequential podcast by myself and my mate Mladen Luketin. Besides the below topics we ramble onto subjects as diverse as Buster Keaton, Garfield, annoying dinosaurs and superhero evidence in court.

Download it here, hear it below or on iTunes or Mixcloud.

1:16 NEWS

Black Panther is the new Daredevil, cheap comics from publishers Top Shelf and Drawn and Quarterly, and retailer Mile High, Back to the Future game, Atlas Comics returns, Watchmen writer Alan Moore talks to aliens (or at least leaves them a message), the possible return of cinematic slackers Bill and Ted, 24 Hour Comics Day and Australia’s Reel Anime festival.

13:54 Panel Plays

We re-enact a scene from a classic comic. You guess which one, and we’ll tell you at the end!

16:07 What We’ve Been Reading/Watching

Transformers: Drift from Perth writer Shane McCarthy, Wilson from Daniel Clowes, Thor: First Thunder by Bryan J.L Glass and Tan Eng Huat, Muppet Sherlock Holmes, ’60s TV series The Prisoner and Smallville Season 8.

36:55 Wordless Wonders

Comics without words? Insanity!

The Graphic Witness collection of pioneers of wordless storytelling, anthology World War 3 Illustrated from Top Shelf, Chris Ware’s Acme Novelty Library, The Arrival by Aussie writer/artist Shaun Tan, Vowels by Skye Ogden and Gestalt Comics, Moebius’ Arzach, Matotti’s Chimera, German Jens Harder’s weird large whale tale, Leviathan and New Engineering by Yuichi Yokoyama.

On the comedic side of things we discuss Spy vs Spy, Mad magazine, Perry Bible Fellowship, the little dinosaur Gon by Masashi Tanaka and Andy Runton’s cute Owly. As an added bonus, G.I Joe #22 and Marvel’s ‘Nuff Said issues from 2002.

70:25 Website of the week and the Panel Play answer

Cereal Geek – a PDF and print magazine all about the wonders of ’80s cartoons.

September 20, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, Games, Movies, New To Comics?, News, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Ten Great Autobiographical Comics

Over at this nifty site there’s a post entitled 10 Autobiographical Comic Books You Should Read. That headline pretty much says it all, and I must say, I agree with their list. Most of the featured books we’ve mentioned on the new podcast I’m co-hosting, such as Stitches, Asterios Polyp, Blankets and Maus.

It’s a great rundown and introduction to indie books if you want something different from superheroes in your reading stack.

September 20, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Drawn and Quarterly Sale

Publisher Top Shelf just announced their huge sale. Now it’s Drawn and Quarterly’s turn. Let’s hope we get Fantagraphics or Oni Press doing the same tomorrow, to give us a nice hat trick.

September 14, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Extra Sequential Podcast Episode Six

We get all nostalgic in this week’s podcast when, amongst a bevy of other things, we discuss our fave comics from our past or as my co-host Mladen describes it:

We show each other the comics from our childhood. We also find time to talk about gay men’s interests magazines, Juggernaut’s Butt, and envelopes filled with hair.

Listen to it below, download it here or get it on iTunes.

1:10 – NEWS

A forgotten graphic novel from beat writer William S. Burroughs, a possible new Vertigo TV series, next year’s Comic Con tickets and more.

10:15 – WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING/WATCHING

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo film, disappointing sci-fi flick Pandorum, Oishinbo (a food focused manga), love-Indian style in Viminarama, Blazing Combat classic war tales, the sketchbook story of Joshua Cotter’s Driven by Lemons, documentaries on classic Spider-Man artist and current recluse Steve Ditko and French artist Moebius. We also yak about the luscious looking Thor: For Asgard mini-series, Wolverine’s relaunch, and finally a new paranormal/spy series from Archaia called Lucid.

30:54 – COMICS FROM OUR CHILDHOOD

First up we hear voices from the past when classic Marvel creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby before we move onto comics from the ’70s to the ’90s. Classic Spider-Man adventure, hilarious ads involving facial hair, and cheap triangles. Also – Mladen as Gwen Stacy. The geographical education from Asterix, dodgy covers, expensive jackets, licensed comics, passing fads, X-Babies, Beavis and Butthead’s juvenile comedy, the confusion of time-travelling superheroes, and an unlikely Superman team-up with Muhammad Ali.

68:55 – MISCELLANEOUS

The teaser trailer for The Avengers film, and my Thor impression.
72:00 – WEB-COMIC OF THE WEEK

Hark! A Vagrant!

September 13, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, Movies, New To Comics?, News, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Another Massive Top Shelf Sale

Quite possibly my fave indie publisher Top Shelf is having another great sale until September 24. If you’re in the U.S or Canada it’s a must-do as postage is relatively cheap. For us international fans it is $50 but if you can pool your wish lists with other readers, it just might be worth it. Check out the complete list of cheap goodies here.

There’s a very impressive selection of $3 comics and OGNs such as Alan Moore’s Voice of the Fire novel, Volumes 1 and 2 of The Surrogates and That Salty Air.

$5 titles include Dodgem Logic (Alan Moore’s new magazine) and Super Spy Vol. 2 and you can also find Owly, American Elf, Far Arden, Moving Pictures, Dragon Puncher and so much more at all generously discounted prices. Have a look!

September 13, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Graphic Gaffe: Thor #614 and X-Men #1

A new #1 for Marvel’s biggest franchise is something that’s sure to get attention, and scrutiny from the fanboy/girl fraternity. It’s a shame that the latest relaunch, which kicked off in July, suffered from two typos, as shown below. Excuse the photos due to lack of a scanner. Wolverine has had the “l” dropped from his name and Wolvie himself seems to suffer from a stutter.

A more recent release is Thor #614, the final issue before writer Matt Fraction and artist Pasqual Ferry take over next month. This gaffe seems to have stayed put during the entire production of its pages while being ignored or put in the “that job’s not mine” basket. A handwritten note reads “Scan of map of Asgard?” on an empty parchment. Good idea. Shame no-one actually made it happen.

September 11, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, Graphic Gaffe, News . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Daredevil Reborn and Titanium Man #1 Preview

Ol’ Hornhead himself Daredevil has been battling his own friends as the now evil head of The Hand ninja clan. After the Shadowland event ends, Daredevil will be..reborn. His new series starts in January next year. That’s all we know at this stage, and these 2 images from British artist Jock aren’t revealing much either.

On sale on October 6 is another Iron Man series. Subtitled Titanium it features four different stories from four different creative teams. Official details and text-free preview pages below.

Your First Look At Iron Man: Titanium #1!

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Iron Man: Titanium #1, with four all-new adventures of the Golden Adventure from writers Adam Warren, Mark Haven Britt, Matteo Casali, and Tim Fish alongside artists Salva Espin, Nuno Alves, Steve Kurth, and Filipe Andrade. Witness the return of Titanium Man! See Maria Hill and Tony Stark combat Ultimo! Watch as a spiteful ex-classmate hijacks the Iron Man armor from Stark and more in Iron Man: Titanium #1!

IRON MAN: TITANIUM! #1 (AUG100610)

Written by ADAM WARREN, MARK HAVEN BRITT, MATTEO CASALI, & TIM FISH

Pencils by SALVA ESPIN, NUNO ALVES, STEVE KURTH, & FILIPE ANDRADE

Cover by DAVID YARDIN

Parental Advisory …$4.99

FOC – 9/16/10, On-Sale – 10/6/10

September 11, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, News . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

My Best Friend is a Wookiee: A Memoir

Below is the press release for what looks set to be an interesting and funny read, and a story that us geeks ca certainly relate to.

So begins the real-life hero’s journey of Jedi Knight wannabe Tony Pacitti. In this hilarious coming-of-age memoir, our hapless hero sees Star Wars for the first time at the age of seven–and is never the same again. The epic film saga becomes little Tony’s moral compass, mentor, even psychologist, helping him battle the Evil Empire wherever he finds it. He uses the Force to navigate the perils and pitfalls of childhood–from the bullies who badger him at the bus stop to the beautiful girl who mocks Obi-Wan and breaks Tony’s heart. Then George Lucas releases The Phantom Menace, and a disappointed Tony turns to the Dark Side of adolescence, falling in with stoners and Goths and nu-metalheads so lame even Jar Jar Binks would shun them. However, armed with the sense of humor of Han Solo, the will power of Luke Skywalker, and the wise attitude of (a much younger) Yoda, Tony grows into a man worthy of riding shotgun with a Wookiee.

Find out more right here.

September 10, 2010
Categories: News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

« Previous Page — Previous page Next page — Next Page »

  • Calendar

    • March 2026
      M T W T F S S
       1
      2345678
      9101112131415
      16171819202122
      23242526272829
      3031  

  • Search