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Weekend Reading: Bob Bolling, Dave Simons, Kirk Alyn and Chuck Jones
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Reviews, Television, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
Hey Librarians! Pack up your decimals of Dewey and head out to Washington DC, where all the cool graphic novels are going to be talked about. It’s the American Library Association’s annual conference, and it’s set for June 24-June 29. Early Word has the word on all the graphic novel programming just waiting for you.
Dave Simons: It’s been one year since the death of the acclaimed artist Dave Simons and his friend Daniel Best and 20th Century Danny Boy remembers him with stories and quotes, like this one: “Here is my recipe for a winning comic book cover: Flame. Gorilla. Skull. Hot chick. Other elements of interest: Nazis, dinosaurs.” I would totally buy Flaming Gorilla Skull Chick Vs. Nazi Dinosaur #1 from any publisher. Even at $3.99. I’ll even write it. And I wish Dave was still alive to draw it.
Superman Serials: The Bijou Blog takes a look at those Superman movies that most comic book fans don’t care about: the old serials like Superman and Atom Man Vs. Superman, starring Kirk Alyn. “His Superman seems stern at times, then happy-go-lucky, but also happens to take a sadistic glee in cracking two crooks’ heads together. The cape appears to give him some trouble. Alyn is seen to push it out of his way several times and he never runs while in costume, doing more of a ballet leap to keep from tripping.”
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Bob Bolling, Dave Simons, Kirk Alyn and Chuck Jones
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PHOTO: The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes Comes to Life
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Television, Image Comics,
As if we’ve let The Walking Dead television series slip out of our thoughts, AMC has consistently
reported on the crew’s production.
Earlier today, the network posted its first image of Andrew Lincoln as the comic book’s troubled hero, Rick Grimes. Although I was really hoping that they’d cast someone who looked a little more like Rick, I must quell such lame fangirl thoughts and put my faith in Frank Darabont and crew (I’m guessing that Lincoln’s acting chops must have compensated for it, though).
Do you think that he’s a believable Rick? Oh and seriously—check out the zombie school video after the jump.
Click to continue reading PHOTO: The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes Comes to Life
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Weekend Reading: Comic Con International, Tom Peyer, Ultraverse and Paul Cornell
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials, Interviews, Movies, Reviews, Television, Independent,
Comic Con International in San Diego is closer than you think. Years ago, I started compiling my own list of convention secrets starting with a great place to go to the bathroom that’s tucked away in a corner, just minutes from the convention floor, and no one seems to know about it. Then I read the list compiled by Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter and I am ashamed of my own ineptitude. If you’re going to the con this summer, you need to read Tom’s list of 135 tips.
After you’ve finished reading Tom’s tips, here are a few other links to brighten your weekend…
Want To Be A Writer?: Of course you do. Who doesn’t? Step into any cocktail party or backyard barbecue and it’s full of people bursting with ideas, if only they can find someone who could take a few minutes to write it all down for them. The real trick is finding places that might be interested in publishing something once it’s all written down. If you feel like writing some stuff down, John Scalzi (the Hugo Award-winning sf author) and Wil Wheaton (yes, that Wil Wheaton) have joined forces to create a writing contest that’s win-win-win for all. Maybe even you.
First Look: The Walking Dead Production Begins
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Interviews, Television, Image Comics,
Nearly a year after Robert Kirkman sealed the deal with Frank Darabont, production has finally begun on The Walking Dead television series. As filming commenced in Atlanta, AMC released photos of the zombies ready to walk on set.
AMC also posted a video of director/writer/producer Frank Darabont talking about his interest in the undead story (in case you were wondering how one goes from directing The Green Mile to researching George Romero films). His best line? “We hope to do for zombies what Mad Men has done for advertising.”
Check out more zombie photos and the complete video after the jump!
Click to continue reading First Look: The Walking Dead Production Begins
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American Idol Ruined By Homosexuality? Christian Newswire Says Yes
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Cable, CBS, FOX, NBC, American Idol, Gossip, Video,
In this week’s installment of Extremely Offensive Articles, we have Christian Newswire’s director stating - for all the world to read - that American Idol is struggling with ratings because Ellen DeGeneres is gay.
According to director Gary McCullough: “I am confident that the producers of American Idol will be shocked when their market share has cratered, and will in all honesty find a dozen other reasons for the drop in ratings. After all, what successful television producer could have a clue what wholesomeness is as long as they see promoting homosexuality as a virtue?”
In the article, McCullough writes “[Ellen] DeGeneres’ ‘Yes, I have loved a woman,’ comment from the May 11th show, was the most obvious lesbian-one-liner, but it wasn’t the only one, and it is hurting the show’s ratings.”
Furious yet? Just wait - it actually gets worse!
Click to continue reading American Idol Ruined By Homosexuality? Christian Newswire Says Yes
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Weekend Reading: Vertical, Fantastic Four, Cowboys & Aliens and Lost
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics, Independent, Marvel Comics, Viz Media,
Happy holiday weekend for those of us in the US who love a long weekend, some grilled meat and a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon. And since there’s no football game, you can spend that extra time surfing the internet. Here are some links to fill the game-less void:
Vertical: Given the significant changes at manga publishers Viz (massive layoffs) and CMX (DC shuttered the division), it’s interesting to read about someone with a little different take on events. Rod Lott at Bookgasm has a chat with Ed Chavez at Vertical (publishers of Osamu Tezuka’s Black Jack, among other things). “While I will always say there is plenty of grade-A material to license from Japan available, access to those properties has become quite limited over the last three to four years. I find it curious that this lack of competition has occurred during the recent decline of the U.S. manga market.”
Steve Perry: The death of the Thundercats and Timespirits writer is just about the saddest way for a comic book creator to go. Johnny Bacardi exchanged correspondence with him recently, but I don’t want to spoil his story, except to say that it’s one you’ll want to read.
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Vertical, Fantastic Four, Cowboys & Aliens and Lost
Weekend Reading: Brian Wood, Joss Whedon, Groucho and Bob Fingerman
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Reviews,
The hits just keep on coming as the comics industry starts looking like someone’s old four-color punching bag. On the heels of the cutbacks at Viz Media, now comes word that DC has shuttered their CMX imprint. And now you’re wondering, is this all just manga-specific or is it an early warning system for a greater industry-wide problem that we don’t want to talk about because…hey! Look! The new comics are here!
But that’s a question for people smarter than me to think about. I’m busy looking forward to July 22, where I’ll be at the Marriott bar in San Diego navel-gazing into my second Pale Ale. Now let’s read some fun stuff…
Brian Wood’s DMZ, Matt Bird makes the case that Hollywood should seriously consider adapting it. “We get angry when the occupied become insurgents, but we also can’t help but wonder: ‘What would I do if the war came to my town?’ That big, fat question needs to be vented on screen.”
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Brian Wood, Joss Whedon, Groucho and Bob Fingerman
Items Du Jour: Olsens Look to London, Zac Looks to Paris, and Rodarte on Daytime TV
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Celebrities, Fashion Designers, Fashion Shows, Health & Beauty, Models, News, Rumors,
- At last night’s big Belvedere Pink Grapefruit event in New York, Ashley Olsen revealed that a certain city across the pond will be the inspiration for the pair’s next Olsenboye collection. That’s nice and all, but I’d really appreciate if they’d concentrate on getting the line out of JCPenney.
- While it may not be London who calls for Zac Posen, Paris has caught the American designer’s eye. Posen, who has been unhappy with how New York critics have treated him during fashion week debuts, says that he wants to show in the city of love because “they understand my clothes.”
- With a slew of dark looks lately, Lady Gaga performed at the Rainforest Fund’s 21st Birthday Celebration in an all-white custom Calvin Klein creation. She even wore a light gray wig to match!
- As her younger sister Georgia Jagger steams up the latest Chanel ads, model Elizabeth Jagger is contemplating full-on nude spreads now that she’s getting older. Has she seen Helena Christensen and Claudia Schiffer lately?
- There’s a new bag in town, and it’s called the Schitbag. If only I made these things up. I’m almost tempted to buy it simply to tout the fact that I have a fashionable schitbag.
Evangeline Lilly Lost Without Show
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Television, Where Are They Now?,
Freckled starlet Evangeline Lilly is “homeless and unemployed.”
The actress admits she has found herself at a loss since filming her final scenes for Lost in Hawaii but has only just realized the extent of her situation.
“I did live in Hawaii and now I am essentially homeless. I’m a gypsy a bit, living out of my suitcase, and I’m unemployed. I was filling out a form at the dentist the other day and I realized when they said ‘Put your address and your occupation’ that I was homeless and unemployed.”
The brunette beauty admits she has always enjoyed moving from place to place as it allowed her the opportunity for reinvention. She explained to talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, “When I was a kid we moved a lot and then when I was in high school I stayed still for a long time. I must have gotten a bit of fever - whatever it was that makes you want to change - because I looked around me and saw people who were different to me and interesting, and I decided I wanted to try to be them. I would move towns - because you can’t change who you are when people know you already - and I would take on a new. I wouldn’t suddenly put on 50lbs and pretend I was a man.”
Steve Gerber and Garko The Man-Frog
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Marvel Comics,
I fought the law and the law won. Because I am not the law. And I didn’t really fight them because I was wrong. Recently I was editing a script for an episode of an animated TV show that featured a singing frog. Well, to be more precise, the frog doesn’t sing at all, but his croaks are treated as if they come right out of Pink’s mouth.
For a long time, the frog character didn’t have a name, but when it came time to give him one, I thought it would be funny – and a nod to my old pal Steve Gerber – to have this non-singing amphibian called (you guessed it), Garko. Published by Marvel Comics, the Howard the Duck story that pits the cigar-chomping mallard against Garko The Man-Frog is one of my favorite Gerber (and Howard) stories of all time.
Click to continue reading Steve Gerber and Garko The Man-Frog
