sidetracked

Been hyper busy the past several days, cooking for a local orphanage. Saint Joseph's Children's Home. I have been offline completely, and return today to hear word of certain individuals doing a motherload of trash-talking behind my back. You'd think I skullfucked their grandparents, each and every one, alive or dead.
I am a bastard. And I cook for kids without families. I am on the books still with the Kentucky Justice Association, sitting in on mock trials from time to time, so that prosecution and defense teams can map out the course of pending trials, all in the name of justice for all. I am on the interim board of directors for the non-profit Friends Of Lulu organization, which (among many other things) fights to promote the works of female creators in the comic book industry, as well as building readership numbers among females. I also do online research for the EFF, which aims to fight censorship online altogether, as well as safeguarding privacy and security for everyone the world over.
I do more to help fix the world than persons who supposedly actually give a damn.

"If you are not an active part of the solution, then you are just another part of the problem."

Cast stones my way then, you fucking inbreds.

tu fui ego eris

Earlier today, while searching through what remains of my worldly belongings for anything yet worth selling, I thought to try my giant old relic of a microwave. As it occurred to me that it had not seen use in some three years now, I was curious. It was, however, quite dead. Which means I had possibly been lugging the beastly device, larger than some televisions, about for three years with it deader than a proverbial doornail.
Not to be confused with living doornails.
Such a great example for why life rates not a second or third glance. So I let off steam and destroyed the fucker by tossing it around the driveway for a bit. I ended up throwing out a number of other things as well, filling up the garbage bin just in time for trash pickup tomorrow morn. I threw out the alarm clock and coffeemaker, neither of which has attracted any money in recent weeks so both were torn to shreds by my bare hands as well, along with most of my old VHS tapes, a collection of action figures, and a large bag of clothing I had previously pulled together for goodwill. Ridding myself of so many possessions all at once, and at once so randomly, was very cathartic, I think. It was all just taking up space, going unused, and all of it too worn by the past to be worth anything more substantial than memory.
In the carnage I was reminded of a conclusion long ago reached.
That there is no afterlife. Make a heaven on earth for those whom you love, and make a hell on earth for those whom you loathe. The many persons left over do not matter. This life and this world is all there is, and if it does not leave you violently angry then you are ignorant and sheltered and you do not matter.

If you provoke neither love or hate in others then you do. not. matter.

a shot of Aponoia

Haven't been online much the past several days, obviously. Selling off more of my worldly goods, walking about town, trying to find an employer who is not a complete waste. Reading almost round the clock as well. Scary dreams have nixed any and all remnants of a sleep schedule. I am broke and starving and I know I am better off than just about anybody.
I do have some reviews coming, but they will need to wait til I have more of an interest in lingering about these mechanized color-boxes for more than a breached birth baby's breath.
The world in my head, the future behind my eyelids, is just a lot more interesting right now. And the conversation is exhilarating. In truth, getting some emails from some long-silent "friends" has been reassuring. Some offers, but nothing I care to bite on anytime soon. Dropping the rest of the way out of society is actually making more and more sense, but time will tell.

However, certain other efforts have been nice with giving me some new windows to gaze out of. Like the Friends of Lulu. Of which, nominations for the 2010 Awards are still in the works, so I invite all readers to hop to it.

So, what's new with you, pussycats?

TIME BOMB 1

TIME BOMB 1 of 3
Created & Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Grey
Illustrated by Paul Gulacy & Charles Yoakum
Colored by Rain Beredo
Lettered by John J. Hill
Edited by Rob Levin
Published by Radical
http://www.radicalpublishing.com

the three cents:
Holy hell what a fun read. An old Nazi fortress is found underground in Berlin, and as a research team is sent in, they unwittingly release something called the Omega bomb- a splurge of bio-chemical warfare that consists of the fastest moving and most lethal virus the world has ever seen. With only days left before the end of all life on the planet, a team of specialists are brought together to make use of the Time Bomb experiment, an abandoned project of our own dealing with time travel. Hoping to send the four aces back only a few days so as to warn the world's powers that be of this Nazi threat, humanity's last chance instead lands in something they were not all all expecting.
Palmiotti and Grey have a winner here, with a politically topical framework diving head over heels into an adventure story hipdeep in science fiction and the ugliest sides of war. Their premise is unbelievably grim, but maintained in presentation with a realistic, albeit glib, style. The characters are all with well-formed personalities, but the atmosphere compels the reader to acknowledge the feeling that this is the kind of action-packed no holds barred plot that may not be at all kind to its stars. Great banter, intelligent exposition, and a sweet cliffhanger ending for this first issue.
Gulacy is a master at what he does. He's been steadily working for more than thirty years and his style is so good it hasn't seen much reason for change. Although in the past few years, some genius editors have realized how much more solid even his work can be when paired with craftsmen inkers and colorists, and that is exactly what he has here with Yoakum (whose work has grown immensely since his early days long ago at Defiant) and Beredo (who worked over Gulacy on the Penance mini-series not too long back). This is as cool a team as art teams can possibly be, and the total package here has already proven that this will be one drunken rollercoaster of a series.
Lots of shooting and some naughty words, this is by no means for the kids, but for longtime fans of Gulacy's work, and for those who enjoy seeing Palmiotti and Grey cut loose from the Big Two, this is the way to fly. A rock-solid setup to what will undoubtedly be an eventful thriller, Time Bomb is worth the money. (It's actually double the page count of a standard monthly, for almost the same price. So yea- very worthwhile). I cannot wait to see where this goes.

Dusk One Shot

Dusk: One-Shot Special
Written by David Doub
Illustrated by Jolene Houser & Jerry Gonzales
Lettered by Jaymes Reed
Self-Published
http://www.duskcomics.com

the three cents:
This brief follow-up to the Dusk graphic novel introduces several new characters while casting a different light on Eve. There is a secretive cell of magic-users determined to halt the practices of magic-abusers, one miscreant at a time, and they are on Eve's trail. And does the emotionally unstable heroine even have the right to defend herself, with her own actions clearly being in the wrong? A definite new wrinkle in the ongoing story of the vampire thrall.
While the plot does quite a bit in expanding the world of Dusk that much more, with plenty of droplets of healthy character development, there were some annoying errors- misspellings and improper grammar and out of place words. Really, almost every single page had an obvious mistake, which was highly distracting. However, the addition of the mystic vigilantes was a great device, opening doors for a variety of plot points later on. It just could have used some serious proofreading. I like this crew, so it is awkward having to point out such a thing, but then I take pride in some measures of honesty. I see what they're trying for, but mistakes are mistakes are mistakes.
The art was attractive, with Houser drawing some solid layouts that may have faltered somewhat as the story progressed- the first few scenes were certainly the best- but her skill at storytelling is the best I've yet seen from this publisher's bullpen. And Dusk mainstay Gonzales rounding out the team allowed for this chapter to remain well inside the confines of the company's house style. Houser and Gonzales make a good tagteam, and I'd like to see them have the chance to grow together, like a one-two punch.
I think Doub is putting more and more thought into defining the world of Dusk, and this special would serve as a good starting point for new readers. The stage is being set with many players now, and things are building to a fairly cumbersome boiling point for both Eve and her Ash, undoubtedly. For some vampy action without the sparkle or anorexia, Dusk: One-Shot Special is now available for free download at their website. Free download, he wrote!

Shrapnel and Hubris

Shrapnel: Hubris #2 of 3
Created by Mark Long & Nick Sagan
Written by Nick Sagan & Clinnette Minnis
Illustrated by "Concept Art House"
Cover by Stephan Martiniere
Published by Radical
http://www.radicalpublishing.com

the three cents:
Captain Vijaya "Sam" Narayan, the star and hero of last year's Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising, is back with this new mini-series that pushes the interplanetary fight for freedom right to the door of the oppressive government's own shining Tranquility City. While the assault against the Venusian colonists begins anew, Narayan and company lead a covert attack aiming to cripple both the energy reserves as well as the respectability of the government itself, at whatever costs.
While Hubris is being written by Shrapnel creators Long and Sagan, the first series writer, M. Zachary Sherman's absence is felt. While not filled with the intensive battlefield insanity that he detailed so well in the previous arc, this issue is very thoroughly steeped in the geopolitical landscape of this war-torn future. And this is in fact a war comic, under the guise of science fiction. With this issue we cross the midway point in the overall projected Shrapnel series of series, but with the outcome of this story the odds now seemed stacked out of either side's particular favor. But the expansiveness of Shrapnel: Hubris is just incredible. Every avenue is explored fully, with a story that is thankfully not being written down to anybody. Very enveloping stuff, and with some surprisingly personal touches.
Now while the art is of course of the same house style as the first story arc, it is frustrating, the anonymity of such full bleed work being summed up by nothing more than a studio's name. How many guys and gals does it take to render these ghostly images of lunar cities waiting to implode in socio-political strife? Who is responsible for this stellar outpouring of insightful design and imaginative execution? My only actual qualm with the visuals, aside from the inability to give credit where credit is wholly due, is with the faces of the many characters. Not the most expressive, and indeed the least realistic and lifelike aspect of these soldiers and politicians and spaceships and the like. The full page spreads are especially wonderful, virtually any one of which would make for a nice poster or digital wallpaper.
War is Hell, even in futuristic space. This journey of Sam's, her seeing the dark implications of her own potential, countered by the government's realization of increasing powerlessness at its own arrogant and empirical underestimations, is rich. Allegorical? Icing on the cake. This is an epic story, nothing as crazy as a new mythology, but it has so many attractive draws to its depth and foresight. I hope more readers take the time to ingest this magnum opus in the here and now of its comic book form, before it eventually sees further life as a video game or sci-fi cable series. Because a story this massive could spill out just about anywhere. And deserves to. But comics rock, and this is a fine enough example why.

Dusk v.1

Dusk: Volume 1
Created & Written by David Doub
Illustrated by Maki Naro, Jerry Gonzales, Franc Czuba, & Chris Scott
Lettered by Jaymes Reed
Self-Published
http://www.duskcomics.com

the three cents:
Dusk is the story of a woman named Eve, who plays the faithful agent provocateur for a centuries-old vampire called Ash. Yes, this is a vampire tale, and Ash is one of the rare good ones- so good, that he wishes Eve would find strength enough to return to a life more normal. Unfortunately, Eve has no life to return to, being a survivor of Domestic Abuse, among other things.
Despite the glimpses of her past given in the first two of four chapters in this original graphic novel, Eve is a strong and capable woman. In the time since she began her new life she has gone from playing servant to a more vile vamp leader to learning how to fight, how to kill, with incantations and gunshots and generally smooth moves. Aiding Ash in his quest to end the more bloodthirsty of his kind, Eve has at last found purpose. However, writer Doub slyly reveals that Eve has more addictive reasons for remaining on her chosen path, reasons not so easily presumed by the reader. Later in the book we see very different scopes to the strange life shared by Ash and Eve, as they align with human agents (possibly even working for some manner of governmental body) and on to an example of the drastic decisions which must be made along the way in their ongoing mission. But still, her past keeps reaching for her, in her days and in her dreams. Although some of the lines of dialogue felt somewhat shaky, with missing and/or misplaced words, and although there were overreaching stabs at melodrama throughout, the later chapters truly helped expand the scale of the overall narrative, suggesting a plot much more expansive than initially intimated.
The art is black and white, with Naro and Scott handling most of the work. Though the art is indeed shared by multiple persons, the style stays consistent enough so as to never really be very distracting. Though obviously amateurish, there are some nice moments of design and layout, and the growth in skill does noticeably exert itself by the book's end. The work of the horribly underestimated Reed and DigitalCAPS on typography and production did, as expected from this reviewer, provide enough spitshine as to allow Dusk to stand out that much more from the majority of first tries into the realms of self-publishing.
Dusk has a lot of violence to it, and yet skirts about a story larger than one might first guess. Eve is developed enough for the reader to see how conflicted she really is. Ash is developed enough for the reader to see how little he ultimately has in common with the stereotypes perpetuated by Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer, and Charlaine Harris. While Dusk: Volume 1 may not offer much in the way of newness for the vampiric lore so popular in current modern fiction, it does tell a roundabout and action-packed story. It is enough, for what it is. Because sometimes you don't really need to aim so high in life.
Just high enough to stab out the heart.

burning question

Might Gödel's incompleteness theorems pretty much kill the Evolution vs Creationism debate altogether?

generica blogger/blogspot title

generica blogger/blogspot post:

witty comments in an attempt to sound intellectual.

left field reference obscure enough to additionally limit readership.

slight innuendo of topical concerns.

further commentary striving obscurely for recognition of esoteric and/or geo-political social consciousness.

ill-conceived sexual metaphor.

witty comments in an attempt to sound intellectual.

closing statement explaining tersely how global economic crises can in fact be blamed upon the price of tea in China.

random picture of a farm animal found online, photoshop optional depending on amount of hard liquor consumed.

nervous laughtrack.

move along

Nothing to see here.

Announcing the 2010 Lulu Awards!

(as I am currently on the interim Board of Directors...)

FRIENDS OF LULU and LONG BEACH COMIC CON To Team up for The 2010 Lulu Awards!

The awards that recognize amazing comic and cartooning work by and/or about women will be held at THE MOST EXCITING NEW COMIC CONVENTION ON THE WEST COAST on OCTOBER 29, 2010 at the Long Beach Convention Center!
http://www.longbeachcomiccon.com
Plus: The Lulu Awards Nominations Are Now OPEN To The Public! Please visit http://comicsareforeveryone.blogspot.com/p/2010-lulu-awards-nominations-open-to.html

Long Beach Comic Con has generously granted women in comics organization Friends of Lulu a venue for their 2010 Lulu Awards, as well as a booth at the show and a panel. The Lulu Awards will be held on October 29th, 2010 at the Long Beach Convention Center, and will recognize the fantastic comic and cartooning work by and about women from the year 2009.
The partnership with Friends of Lulu demonstrates LBCC’s commitment to expanding the boundaries of the comic book reading audience, and their support of women in comics.

Martha Donato, Executive Director of Long Beach Comic Con, commented on the exciting collaboration:
“Long Beach Comic Con and Friends of Lulu have a lot in common – we’re both proud supporters of women in comics, and the comics business overall. I’m particularly pleased that we can give them a home for their Awards ceremony that publicly recognizes the contributions women have made in the business. We look forward to expanding our Women in Comics programming opportunities with the help of Valerie and her talented staff.”

Valerie D’Orazio, President of Friends of Lulu, expressed her excitement at the prospect of teaming with LBCC in October:
“Long Beach Comic Con has provided Friends of Lulu with an opportunity that has literally energized the organization. We are very much looking forward to representing women in comics at LBCC and presenting the Lulu Awards to another year’s worth of talented individuals.”

Also, please note that nominations for the Lulu Awards are now open to the public. The categories include:

• Kim Yale Award for Best New Talent
• Lulu Of The Year
• Woman of Distinction
• Leah Adezio Award For Best Kid-Friendly Work
• Female Comic Creator’s Hall of Fame
• Best Female Character

Eligible comics for nomination in this year’s awards must have been published (via print or the Web) in 2009. Visit the official 2010 Lulu Awards page for more details and to enter your nominations. NOMINATIONS CLOSE AUGUST 23rd.

ABOUT LONG BEACH COMIC CON: Long Beach Comic Con began 2009, in a grand inaugural convention that featured Stan Lee in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. LBCC -- placing comics first -- has a commitment to provide fans the most diverse and exciting convention in the West Coast. Please visit their official website for more information.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF LULU: Friends of Lulu was established in 1994 as an organization to promote and celebrate women in both the comics industry and fandom. They have also taken up the cause of expanding the all-ages comic reading audience. Please visit their website for more information and to find out how to volunteer.

Deadbeat

The Deadbeat
Written & Illustrated by Jeremy Massie
Edited by Peter Simeti
Published by Alterna
http://alternacomics.com

the three cents:
The Deadbeat was originally born as a mini-series of mini-comics, finding more of an audience once later being collected into this nicely packaged volume. The story of an over the hill Superman-like hero who on one otherwise nondescript night at his local drinking hole finds the doorway to his past thrown wide open, with the poor guy forced to then deal with the repercussions of mistakes long, long past.
While this collection was indeed released a few years back, the fact that it was not so much as nominated for either an Eisner or a Harvey serves as fine a testament as any to the two big beefy industry awards having somehow grown into complete abominations of what they started as. And while I have never shared words with Massie in any way, shape, or form, I hope he pardons my saying that although he seems to sell himself as being a curmudgeonly example of self-depreciation, the truth of the matter is that the Deadbeat freely and earnestly exhibits so much genuine heart as to blow that façade right out of the water. Now, I absolutely cringe whenever the terms "superhero" and "poignant" are used in the same sentence, as such does sound like the definition of oxymoron...but damnit, the Deadbeat is simply that good.
Drawn in a brushy style, the illustrations are almost childlike, yet tell the story well. I was reminded in my reading of homemade comics I had drawn as an elementary schooler. This is obviously the work of somebody who grew up on old Marvel and DC comic books, and the passing nods to both Steve Ditko and Gardner Fox were at once both pleasant and wholly appropriate.
Yes, we all should support small press. But don't stop there. Support well-conceived small press, like the Deadbeat. It may not have been the intention of the book to so bluntly wear its heart on its sleeve, but it is what it is. If you want an excellent graphic novel in your collection that apparently, criminally went below the radar of entirely too many folks- find this book. Hunt it down on Amazon or wherever, and read it and enjoy it and display it well. Turn others onto the Deadbeat. Because, it is simply that good.

Ryder On The Storm

Ryder On The Storm #0
Written by David Hine
Illustrated by Wayne Nichols
Lettered by Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt
Coloured by Feigian Chong & Sansan Saw Of Six Creation
Edited by Rob Levin
Cover by Francesco "Matt" Mattina
Published by Radical
http://www.radicalpublishing.com

the three cents:
Ryder is a private dick. In this Radical Premiere issue, he's hired by a beautiful songbird caught in the apartment of her lover- a wealthy man who saw fit to take an electric drill to his head ten times more than necessary. Reuniting the awesome writer-artist team who transformed FVZA from a geekish website into one of the finer horror comics of recent years, Ryder On The Storm is the start of what looks to be a hardcore detective thriller. And this one's NOT for the kids, no matter how precocious they may be.
I love how this "preview comic" is the size of what most publishers would qualify as standard, whereas traditional Radical books contain easily 50% more material for the buck than this. Why is this factoid not acknowledged more often? It's penis envy, isn't it? Anyways, as such, I imagine this issue contains most of what will be in number one, just enough plot to get curious at what Hine has in store. How a man with what I see as a disturbingly generic drawing style can write things as intense as this...it takes some getting used to, this notion that it's one and the same man. Elements suggest the setting is in the near future, and a bombshell at the end suggests something far more devious than any traditional bout of murder and/or suicide. Works for me.
The art is stoic, very well laid out. While Nichols actually shared pencil duties on FVZA with Roy Allan Martinez, he has not received nearly enough big time solo credits for me to ascertain much of his individual style before. This is work to be proud of. The shot of Ryder's office from an early page is what I and likely many others would imagine Warren Ellis working late in. Little details really stick out here, like the car-boats and the looks of the period but non-period buildings. This is retro 1940's architecture and general stylings, filtered quite realistically for the here and now. Extremely solid design work. What he lacks in portraying emotion realistically, he makes up for in the technicalities of the pulp-heavy backdrops. Again, works for me.
Likely to end on a note that's suggestive of something deeper than merely the evil that men do, Ryder On The Storm offers a new character, a new world, and what will hopefully shape out to be a sweet new mystery for those of us who hate being able to so easily guess what next month's story will bring. Despite the stylized look and feel of this comic book's subject matter, it still seems closer to being something from the real world than any other Radical comic I can think of off the top of my head. I personally like the concept of realism as a starting point. Should be a nice little joyride.

KING!

KING! #1
Written by Thomas Hall
Illustrated by Daniel Bradford
Published by Blacklist
http://www.blackliststudios.com

The creators of the popular Robot 13 unleash their new thing next week, the adventures of KING. Any relation to that other King? Maybe, but we never see his drawing skills. Ha! This antihero is an ex-wrestler turned bounty hunter and shooter of...things. He's living on the border when he gets recruited by a flying organ to fend off an interdimensional raid from the grounds of a fast food place. Then the situation turns weird.
Hall's appreciation for mythology and the supernatural is evident enough with the Robot 13 series (which currently is one of the most downloaded digital comics of all time). Here, he shows off a surprising talent for one-liners. And I mean this is one funny book. Not funny like fart jokes funny, but funny in terms of improper usage of the Spear Of Longinus in the removal of giant demon nipples. Great imagination. Though some might consider this premise as a rip from Bubba-Hotep, Hall's story has more plot, more testosterone, and far far more tentacle. But is there any relation to the other King? Maybe, though we are just not given the chance to really hear his thoughts regarding race relations. Ha!
Bradford's art is going to start raising some serious eyebrows, if this tale is any indication. He swings full line art, along with letters and colors. His style here is noticeably more detailed than in Robot 13, and while this is certainly a more comedic work, he manages to keep the mood from visually sliding into parody/spoof territory. His skill at telling a story is increasing as well. Structurally, his images and moods are still of the Mike Mignola/Guy Davis school of inspiration, though here we also see suggestions of Keith Giffen, Kyle Hotz, and maybe even some Kevin Nowlan. For now, he and Hall make for a tremendously adept team, so I hope neither goes anywhere else anytime soon.

I imagine this will be released similarly to R13, as an irregularly-published ongoing. But Hall and Bradford are so good at coming up with these fun ideas for comics, longtime readers should not mind the wait. KING! is a silly, silly comic of a book, violent and gory and with no love given to lengthy soliloquoys. While this King's identity and past may well remain a mystery, his unfolding story should greatly appeal to fans of Marvel Zombies (although this is more respectable), Atomic-Robo (although this is several levels more serious in tone) and of course Hellboy (although KING! is by far less "Muppet" than those movies). Crazy stuff, and like with Robot 13 I sure hope it sticks around for a spell.

Priceless as Self-Flagellation

Your tax dollars at work, citizens. Courtesy of the NY Times.

I wonder what the Bureau's response would be if I were to have their insignia tattooed on the head of my cock.

Formera v.2

Formera: Volume 2
Written & Illustrated by Andrew Dobson
Edited by Peter Simeti
Published by Alterna
http://alternacomics.com

the three cents:
Continuing the strange adventures of poor young Darian, stuck on the alien world of Formera, this next sizable volume advances the plot tremendously while the action never relents. Following the abduction of Keisha by the evil Mezteck, and the near death of Darian himself at the hands of that same evil Mezteck, we are given glimpses into past scenes of Darian's life back home that provide much explanation for how the hot-headed kid hero's mind really works. Additionally, the character of Hippie Young Man is given a chance at redemption, and we learn that the girl behind the mask is actually one of the good guys.
Dobson furthers his colorful yarn, having shown much of the Formera world in the last volume, he now wisely focuses on exhibition of the origins and motives behind his growing cast of players. He keeps his forward momentum though, with Darian desperately trying to beat the bad guy and rescue the girl. Even as we learn some of the magical mechanics of how Formera operates, the comedic dialogue runs its course just fine. Lots of positive energy, both in the basic framework of the narrative and in the development of his core characters. While there are scary things such as awakening corpses on spears in this volume, the overall tone remains generally lighthearted and adventurous. Some drama, but no melodrama. This is an all-ages/family-friendly tale, and the good guys will surely win in the end. Which hopefully won't be anytime soon.
Dobson's art continues to exhibit his manga/anime influences, with an effective style that is as animated as it is easy to digest. This is the manner of good, action-packed fun that Saturday morning cartoon enthusiasts have been deprived of for years.
For a solo creator, Dobson has done well to create a world for his fantasy constructs, as well as inhabiting it with a mix of imaginative characters, and progressing the story towards a grander and grander scale. I still believe that this series would be great for starting new young readers on the path of comic book zombification, as there is nothing at all offensive here. For us older readers, it's not rewriting any rules, but it does make for some nice escapism moments.

Stiletto: RED

Good news this morning from John B. Lai and the gang at Ultimate Comics Group. Their first trade collection is officially on sale now, gathering the complete run of the Stiletto mini-series. This rates my attention because (A) the stories were very very fun, and (B) I wrote the introduction for this book.

What is Stiletto? The humorous story of an intergalactic stripper. So obviously this is an adults-only comic, and clearly not for everyone. This is not pornography. This actually challenges some of the many absurdities of prudence and caution and censorship. This is harmless fun, and while RED is the just-completed debut series, many more arcs are planned for down the road. If you feel like some tongue in cheeky cheek reading material, check out something a wee bit off the beaten path. Order a copy hereabouts. The fate of the universes may be at stake. Or not.

radicalizations

Heidi MacDonald's The Beat is a more worthwhile comics media site than newsarama and comicbookresources combined. Usually. A new post challenges the pipe dream of comic books as a launching point for screenplays. I do agree with much of the article's sentiment, I still felt obligated to speak my mind in the comments section, which I'm reposting here for posterity:

Is this “pick on Radical day”?

They put out many a great book. I’ve reviewed their stuff since the start. Now, of course it is bothersome using Hollywood names to sell books, and it is self-destructive for the medium allowing Hollywood folks to cut in front of the long, long line of more earnest writers and artists who have been slaving for years for a chance at the limelight, or even to see work actually go to print.
Though Radical is guilty to a degree of this, they are far from being the only publisher responsible, not the first and certainly not the last. While many of their properties are self-contained, I really feel that it is the minority of books created with the sole aim of oneday seeing life on film. I say this as a fan who has followed their output all along, and I say this as someone who has shared words with many of their creative staff as well as persons behind the scenes. Gianluca Glazer in particular is more modest and honest and inoffensively efficient than any of the Marketing persons from fellow mid-range publishers on up to the big boys.
It was frustrating seeing the stoically talented Dave Elliott part ways, though David Wohl, Renae Geerlings, and the editorial powerhouse that is Marie Javins have done much to keep things moving forward. This despite the awkwardness of the Nick Simmons debacle, etc.
Just look at the roster doing work for the company. The end product that Radical releases is absolutely high quality stuff, and I wish more publishers had such a broad range in taste. Are there a mess of movie deals past and present, in the works? Yes. But the majority did not start out with those intentions, and considering the books that might indeed become film- they are far from any public stereotype of what constitutes a comic book…which must be a good thing ultimately. I am offended by the notion that comics in general can so easily be transferred cross-medium. Every medium has its distinctions, its own strengths. Thankfully, Radical is not at all opposed to putting out original, intelligent, and imaginative comics material, movies or no movies.

Formera v.1

Formera: Volume 1
Written & Illustrated by Andrew Dobson
Edited by Peter Simeti
Published by Alterna
http://alternacomics.com

the three cents:
Originally beginning life as a webcomic, Formera is the lengthy story of Darian, a young boy who mysteriously falls from the sky into a prehistoric land very different from the home he knew back on Terra Firma. Alternately saving and being saved by the village girl Keisha, the two earning the enmity of the villainous Mezteck, and the whole adventure taking the budding hero through strange lands and stranger characters.
Dobson's epic debut effort actually premiered just a few years ago, his tale of the unearthly lands of Formera and young Darian's struggle with the powerful Mezteck. Keeping things all-ages and family-friendly, he has created a story that to my mind serves as a sort of male counterpart to the likes of Alice In Wonderland and the Wizard Of Oz- namely, an adventuresome coming of age fantasy for little boys, ala Nemo In Slumberland. A fast-moving plot carries an at times painfully amusing dialogue, and with black and white art that does nothing to hold back the colorful personalities of some of the supporting players therein. Plenty of quirks to keep things moving, keep things interesting. Lots of lighthearted originality, Formera could easily serve well as narrative and designs for a heckuva fun computer or video game, something I suspect Dobson would not oppose at all.
The art is cartoonishly effective, though not quite brushy and certainly not amateurish. His scenes are light and airy and noticeably influenced by anime and manga. Everything is as exquisitely consistent as it is expressive. Every character on every page is very animated, with a vivid imagination having a field day with the episodic action and locations. Very inoffensive material, on all accounts.
Andrew Dobson's Formera series is told in such a way that is rather easy to digest. The underlining plot thread of how exactly Darian landed thereabouts is a nice unfolding mystery, the core story moving forward swiftly but creative enough not to leave gaps along the way. If you have a preteen sibling or cousin and you're looking for something to help pull them in to the questionable habit of comic book fandom, the hefty-sized trade collection that is Formera: Volume 1 is a cool place to start. Look for my review of Volume 2 in coming days.

Deep Cut!

Hotwire: Deep Cut #1 of 3
Created by Warren Ellis & Steve Pugh
Written & Illustrated & Kitchen Sink'd by Steve Pugh
Edited by Marie Javins
Published by Radical
http://www.radicalpublishing.com

the three cents:
Alice Hotwire, the star of last year's Hotwire: Requiem For The Dead is back! Steve Pugh's Detective Exorcist, the super genius pug-faced waif with a bite returns six months after saving her city from the blue lights of returned spirits and the inner political conflicts of her police department. Six months spent recuperating from her injuries, regrowing limbs while a mysterious new turn of events is building up to draw her back into action.
Pugh's work on this series is the best of his career. His passion for Alice Hotwire and the futuristic world he's creating for her is infectious. This is smartly-written science fiction with strong horror elements throughout, and the biting dialogue that comes from anything Warren Ellis leaves his mark on. Particularly, the eeriness of certain of the blue lights as they realize their distance from humanity and from the living is portrayed here exquisitely well. So much imagination. It's also nice to see the rest of Hotwire's supporting cast return as well, such as fellow Detective Peter Mobey and the friendly Coroner Love. For someone primarily known for his art, Pugh is consistently turning out some incredibly well conceived, well paced stories here, full of action and intrigue.
And the art? Like I said, these stories are showcasing Pugh's finest work. A skilled line artist and painter, he is running this entire show on his own, branching even into digital work and lettering. Hotwire is something that has been with him for many a year, with the end result being some of the most gloriously electric pages published today. Thank the gods above and below this man is not wasting his efforts on more mainstream material. Hotwire is self-evidently the kind of inspired Art that only sees the light of day when creators can fully invest themselves, in themselves. Watching an extremely talented creator cut loose like so on a project they clearly love is one thing, but for so many of the themes to be so on the nose...this is my cup of bourbon- through and through.
While Deep Cut is to be slightly briefer than the previous series, we are getting some hints as to the past of the sexy little leading lady. Such an original and three-dimensional character is wonderfully refreshing, and I just cannot stress enough how excitedly thrilled I am at the prospect of additional stories of this "William Gibson on bad acid" world. If you want a story with a strong, intelligent female lead, if you want your horror more atomic than Celtic Frost, if you want pages of art so beautiful, so well designed as to maybe even scare off some prospective creators from even bothering to try breaking in to the biz, Hotwire: Deep Cut is the way to go. So many genius new twists on so many excellent old threads...to not give this book a shot is pure masochism. Nuts to that.

Rocktronic Mixtape

Americans UK: Rocktronic Mixtape Volume 1
Created & Edited by Jef UK
Written & Illustrated by Jef UK, Donal Delay, Sam Vaughan, Aaron Bir, Ronald Salas, Ben, Nick Thompson, David Kushner, & Jeff Powell
Cover by ZEES
Self-Published

the three cents:
The Americans UK are a real-life, New York-based band fronted by Jef UK. After producing a fun mini-series the team is releasing this, their first anthology. Five stories are presented by the Am/UK and friends, loaded with more attitude than your best local dive bar band just getting started on tomorrow's hangovers. Generally comedic with elements of sci-fi and fantasy and left field bizarre, Rocktronic Mixtape is a hard one to pin down. Even if I might well be one of the only reviewers in the world who has covered every issue thus far.
The first story, John Loves Wayne, is a Western, though not necessarily in the Brokeback sense. This is far, far worse. It has six-shooters. And, it is a direct adaptation of lyrics from one of the band's newer songs (which you can size up here).
Story two is a slice of life tale if by slice of life you mean finding a headful of gold in your freezer. Cause yea, that doesn't happen. At least not outside of Texas.
Story three has little to do with the band, with rock and roll, or with bodiless heads. It is however, a fantastically-drawn short that twists a stereotype around until ears bleed.
Story four may be my favorite of the book, even if it is rendered in a style comparable to that of most ten-year olds. Actually, this tale is a somewhat continuation of events that transpired in the series, with a fun Anime-like fight sequence and a shocking guest appearance from one of the world's greatest bands of all time. No, not Winger.
And the final story is also very easy on the eyes, and smartly spoofs a toy that most self-respecting adults own. And the kid getting drunk and macking on his friend's mom? Icing on the cake.
Americans UK are an imaginative, colorful lot. They are comic book-knowledgeable and do not shy away from lyrics involving time travel and/or monkey men. What Jef has done and is doing with these comix is a world of fun, a gas and a half. Honestly, these are the sort of comics that Fredric Wertham got a hard-on over, undoubtedly. This is degenerate material, even if it lacks nudity or verbal vulgarity. Yet this does attempt to capture in sequential art form the spirit of the music...or the music of the spirit. It may not be for everyone, sure, but then what is?
No, not Winger. Damnit.

Driver For The Dead

Driver For The Dead #1 of 3
Created & Written by John Heffernan
Illustrated by Leonardo Manco
Lettered by Todd Klein
Paints by Kinsun Loh & Jerry Choo
Edited by Renae Geerlings
Published by Radical
http://www.radicalpublishing.com

the three cents:
Driver For The Dead is the Creole-Gothic story of Alabaster Graves, a no-nonsense hearse driver plying his trade amidst all the horror-enthused supernatural elements that New Orleans has to offer. His current case is the delivery of the recently departed Mose Freeman, a local hero whose corpse is direly wanted by the demonic Fallow, who seems to have no qualms about cutting out whatever he wants from those unfortunate souls who cross his path.
With tonal commonalities to works as diverse as the Transporter film series and the John Constantine comics, writer Heffernan delivers a high-octane southern horror premise here. The hero of the tale, Alabaster, is prone to noir pulp inner monologues while the villain of the piece, Fallow, is a dead (pun somewhat intended) ringer for that 90's wrestler called Undertaker. While over-utilized characterizations involving such things as vampires and witches and demonic possessions I could give or take, his approach to Americanized black magic lore is interesting and well-enough inspired, and the "tortured tough guy" ethos dripping from the main character is handled surprisingly well in this first issue.
These are some pretty concise pages being produced from Manco and Radical regulars Loh and Choo. Very dynamic POVs and fantastic storytelling executed on every page. While there seems to be an offensibly lazy trend among too many mainstream comics artists these days to photoshop/trace over photographs while ignorantly calling the end product sequential art, Manco is among those many who have indeed traded in their own style to work from photos. However, instead of producing the utter blandness of a Tommy Lee Edwards or the eyesore ugliness of a Sal Larroca or the unprofessional inconsistency (and unabashed crap) of a Greg Land, Manco is among the very very few who still manages to invoke a level of actual Art into his pages. He presents credible moods and well-conducted actions on every page. Great eye for design too. Clearly, having him cut loose on a violent horror series will amount to some fun reading. This creative team is a loaded gun, wait and see.
Driver For The Dead is nothing terribly new. Nothing groundbreaking, just borderline escapism. The story and core characters are solid enough, although I do not get the vibe that there will be much mystery in the unfolding of the series plot. I would still rate this setup higher than most of the books on sale now from the big two publishers. Throw in these hellacool, electrically Satanic pages from Manco and color artists Loh and Choo and you have a mini worth adding to your collection. Is this just a vehicle for a prospective movie pitch? Probably. But though such books usually and completely miss the mark as to what the comic book medium is, Driver For The Dead surprisingly rates in the upper echelon of worthwhiles, I guarantee.

after dark

After Dark #1 of 3
Created by Antoine Fuqua & Wesley Snipes
Written by Peter Milligan
Illustrated by Jeff Nentrup & Sara Biddle
Lettering by VC's Clayton Cowles
Edited by Renae Geerlings
Cover by Francesco "Matt" Mattina
Published by Radical
http://www.radicalpublishing.com

the three cents:
Alright, so the director of the street-smart Training Day film Fuqua and the notoriously infamous actor Snipes have created a dark science fiction thriller comic book. If you're like me, then you are not easily swayed by Hollywood types infecting the funny book medium, their names pushing them ahead in the long line of earnest writers and artists who have been slaving for years for a turn at the spotlight. That said, this is actually a sweet read. In this premiere issue, we are introduced to a distant world, an Earth fallen on the hardest of times. It was generations past when assorted natural catastrophes came to a head (and we are here clearly invited to fill in the blanks with our own timely threats of climate change and of the dire need for alternative fuels, etc), and with the science meant for destruction attempting to then right the wrongs, only to make matters even worse. Solar City is the last great refuge of humanity, although with a claustrophobic political landscape igniting increasingly severe rioting, and with little to none natural resources remaining, and with the mass of the Earth enveloped in a total and toxic night...times are grim. The world is falling apart. Shades of Highlander 2, only far more interesting, far more literate.
And that is due entirely to the efforts of ace scribe Milligan. In the early to mid-90's the man was at his creative zenith, before wasting too many years working on stories involving men in tights. He has been making a strong, strong comeback however, and After Dark is a righteous example of nothing less. His dialogue is captivating and hypnotic, every nuance of characterism and mannerism is so well-thought out, so distinct in voice and style. A group of military troopers are teamed with a ragtag number of rebels and criminals on a rescue mission to seek out a near-mythic female revolutionary not seen in over a decade. What a great premise.
It almost saves the art.
Yes, Radical has extremely high standards for graphic presentations, but somehow, certain aspects of this story fall a wee bit shy of that. The layouts were often muddled to the point of it just not being very clear as to what the heck was going on. There was a fight scene in particular that was poorly choreographed, poorly drawn, with mismatched limbs and awkwardness in each frame. The landscapes, on a finer note, were breathtaking. The "outside" shots, the city, the vessels, were so imaginative. Enormous machine-buildings that look straight out of the acid-infused mind of the very best sci-fi authors circa the 1960's. Overall, there is potential here, if anything. Although, Leonardo Manco is credited as artist for the next issue in this mini-series, so I have hopes.
Final verdict...for a comic created by a pair of Hollywood stars, this ain't half bad. There is a strong enough groundwork laid out here, and certainly Milligan is one of the better and more inventive mainstream comic book writers working today. As dark as the world shown in After Dark is, I have a little faith that this series will be a bright spot on my reading list in months to come.

Hello. do YOU work here?

HELLO, do YOU work here?
Compiled & Edited by Peter Simeti
Stories from workers nationwide
Illustrated by Michael Oppenheimer, Kelly Williams, Michael Nelson, John Shaver, John Bulmer, Tom Kelly, J. Rozen, Brian Beardsley, Daniel Thollin, Jeff McComsey, Dave Arhar, Kevin Christensen, Bret M. Herholz, Chad Strohl, Steve Black, Michael S. Bracco, Oliver Kirby, Michael Czerniawski, Gary Goodrich, Jeremy Massie, Andi Papelitzky, and Douglas Draper Jr.
Introduction by Alex Robinson
Published by Alterna
http://alternacomics.com

the three cents:
This graphic album, technically illustrated prose, is the brainchild of Alterna Publisher Simeti. Collecting stories from a colorful mix of personalities, all united in the sentiment of the working man's blues. Funnier much more often than not, the tales recounted in these pages are a humorous series of observations into the blue collar ethos of slave wages and daily sacrifices and irate customers aplenty. Most of the anecdotes are refreshingly light-hearted, while some are just as bizarre as this modern age of ours can be. Working class readers will identify with at least a few of these stories.
Standouts would be the creepiness of late night drive-through customers as told by May Syeda in "Drive-Thru Oddity". Or the woes of balancing creative pursuits with a nine to five, as told by Simeti himself in "Best Sellers List". And then there's the trials and tribulations of scrubbing pots and pans as told by Joseph G. Phillips in "An Ode To A Dishwasher". And Shea Hennum's tale, "The Oblivious Customer" is a fine testament to never ever underestimate the base stupidity of the average patron. And in Chad Lambert's "That Thing I Sent Ya..." readers might cringe in perverse horror to hear of how some boardroom decisions are carried out. And reading writer/artist Jeremy Massie's "A Hallmark Moment" will hopefully inspire many of the more impressionable readers to really think outside the box when next weighing options on how to adequately bail on a crappy job.
The art offers a range of styles, as the content of the stories are a bit all over the place as well. Full-page black and white illos from a laundry list of creators, many of whom are Alterna mainstays, and every single one is perfectly appropriate. Some are cartoony, some are painted realistically, and all share the glib love brotherhood of selling our time for Ramen money. This book was my introduction to the work of Steve Black, Oliver Kirby, and Douglas Draper Jr, which is a good thing, and it was nice to see more established talents like Daniel Thollin, Jeff McComsey, Kevin Christensen, Bret M. Herholz, and Michael S. Bracco each experiment with their individual presentations outside of traditional sequential art. Lots of overlooked talent.
This was obviously a fun idea for a book, and well executed by Simeti and company. While this is not a comic book per se, fans of slice of life humor especially (no matter the medium) should all rightfully get a kick out of this one.

lulu

Left field, but I have some words concerning a positive effort in the works.

As Valerie D'Orazio recently shared in her own blog Occasional Superheroine, I will be assisting with the Friends Of Lulu on the new temporary(?) Board of Directors. Granted, I am low on the totem pole, but I look forward to helping anyway I can to get this great collective back on its feet.

Want to know more? From the FoL website:

What is Friends of Lulu?

Friends of Lulu is a national organization whose main purpose is to promote and encourage female readership and participation in the comic book industry. Among the goals of the organization are:

1. To increase female readership of comics

2. To promote the work of women in comics

3. To offer networking opportunities and general support to women in comics

4. To facilitate communication among women and men who share the organization’s purpose

What does Friends of Lulu do?

Friends of Lulu:

1. Provides educational and research material about women in comics

2. Provides input to publishers, retailers, and the public on the kinds of comics that appeal to a female readership and on how to reach that readership

3. Facilitates networking opportunities for females in the comic book industry

4. Connects young women who wish to create comic books with female professionals for mentorship

5. Publishes a recommended reading list

6. Offers seminars on select topics

Who can join?

Membership is open to women and men of all ages who support the organization’s goals. You can join if you are a professional (a person who works or has worked in or on behalf of the comic book industry) or simply someone who reads and enjoys comics. If you are under 18 you are considered a “Jr. Lulu.”